Congratulations, high school graduates! You have achieved a milestone in your education careers. But please do not think you have learned all there is to learn.
If you have not yet chosen a college, there is time. If you have already lined up a job, there is still time. And if you have been working for a while in a job you'd rather not be doing ten years from now, your time has come.
If you've already been accepted to FVSU, we'll see you, our newly minted freshmen, in the fall. If you haven't yet applied, there's still space for you.
It's never too late to continue your education. Just ask your teachers.
Friday, May 23, 2008
Newly minted freshmen
Thursday, May 22, 2008
A library worth the trip
While I was in Oxford, I was bound and determined to use what little free time was available to me to engage in some serious research in the library system at the University of Oxford, especially the Bodleian Library. Gaining access to this library, as an American, is not as simple as heading down to the Peach County Public Library and obtaining a library card. Instead, I had to first find an Oxford alum to sponsor my application for admission. Luckily, Dr. Kern Alexander, the former president of Murray State University in Kentucky, was the facilitator of the Roundtable and an Oxford alum. He sponsored my application.
Then, I took my application form, and the twelve pound application fee, to the library’s administration building, where my research proposal was considered. After another half hour, I had my picture taken and I was asked, by a very serious looking young lady, to recite the infamous Bodleian oath:
"I hereby undertake not to remove from the Library, nor to mark, deface, or injure in any way, any volume, document or other object belonging to it or in its custody; not to bring into the Library, or kindle therein, any fire or flame, and not to smoke in the Library; and I promise to obey all rules of the Library."
Then, after another 15 minutes, I was handed a shiny plastic card. I was an official patron of the University of Oxford library system. I could now walk past the velvet ropes and security guards which keep the tourists and other riff-raff at bay and, for the rest of my life, enter the oldest library in the English speaking world.
What is now the Bodleian dates back to a 14th century collection of books and manuscripts kept by Thomas Cobham, the Bishop of the University Church of Saint Mary the Virgin. In 1489, the Duke of Gloucester ordered that a suitable room be built atop the Divinity School to house the now enormous collection. That room is still in existence today and is known as Duke Humfrey’s Library. (However, only three of Humfrey’s books remain in the collection.) This room is a remarkable hall, filled floor to ceiling with ancient books and manuscripts. You’ve probably seen it as it has been prominently featured in the Harry Potter series of films.
I was guided to a small research nook by a stereotypically British research librarian. He was a wizened older gentleman with tiny rectangular reading glasses perched on the end of his long and winding nose. “Murphy, eh?” His pale blue eyes twinkled as he ran a gnarled hand through his thin white hair. “Yeh look more Irish than American.”
He smiled again as he read over the computer-generated list of books I had requested when I entered the building. The books were primarily 15th century schismatic texts and manuscripts; but I couldn’t resist asking to see the Tolkien manuscripts while I was there. “Yeh’ll be needin’ these, I suppose.” My companion fished a pair of white cotton gloves out of his pocket.
Within a few minutes, the ancient books and manuscripts arrived, each in its own white archivist box. I was shown how to correctly open the box and how to properly remove the contents and place them on the soft foam book form in front of me with my now-gloved hands. No photocopying was allowed, nor was the use of ink allowed, so I began studiously copying the passages I needed, in pencil, into my notebook.
The sheer sensual and tactile experience was overwhelming. The unmistakable aroma of the ancient parchment pages mixed with the leather binding to create a scent that was headier than the perfume of lilies to book lovers. As far as one could see, in the muted task lighting, stood row after row of ancient oak bookshelves; each filled with equally ancient manuscripts. I physically started when I noticed that, shelved directly in front of me, was a later copy of the Codex Sinatica, which was Constantine’s version of the Bible. The desks at which each researcher quietly worked were equally ancient and time-worn. Shallow grooves had been worn in the wood from centuries of rushed pencils copying down passages from these tomes. I was struck, however, by the noticeable lack of graffiti.
Despite that one lack of words, the Bodleian makes up for it by housing some very impressive works among its collections. Among the most famous are:
· William Shakespeare’s first folio of works.
· A Gutenberg Bible
· Poet Percy Bysshe Shelley’s letters.
· Four copies of the Magna Carta. (Another copy is held in a small chapel just outside of Oxford and you can get much closer to the document at this lesser-known chapel.)
· The Song of Roland.
· A famous Aztec work known as the Codex Mendoza.
Currently, the Bodleian’s 117 miles of shelving hold over eight million works (not counting their digital holdings). The library is growing so fast that they have taken over a defunct salt mine in Cheshire to use as a site to store holdings. Work is also underway to improve facilities for the preservation and archiving of rare manuscripts.
You can see why my new library card is the one souvenir I allowed myself while in Oxford. I was also able to discover a great deal of rare and original source material which, I hope, will lead to a new article about a faked appearance of the Virgin Mary (or the Holy Spirit) in 1555.
You should also be able to tell why I’ve already got the itch to go back.
Then, I took my application form, and the twelve pound application fee, to the library’s administration building, where my research proposal was considered. After another half hour, I had my picture taken and I was asked, by a very serious looking young lady, to recite the infamous Bodleian oath:
"I hereby undertake not to remove from the Library, nor to mark, deface, or injure in any way, any volume, document or other object belonging to it or in its custody; not to bring into the Library, or kindle therein, any fire or flame, and not to smoke in the Library; and I promise to obey all rules of the Library."
Then, after another 15 minutes, I was handed a shiny plastic card. I was an official patron of the University of Oxford library system. I could now walk past the velvet ropes and security guards which keep the tourists and other riff-raff at bay and, for the rest of my life, enter the oldest library in the English speaking world.
What is now the Bodleian dates back to a 14th century collection of books and manuscripts kept by Thomas Cobham, the Bishop of the University Church of Saint Mary the Virgin. In 1489, the Duke of Gloucester ordered that a suitable room be built atop the Divinity School to house the now enormous collection. That room is still in existence today and is known as Duke Humfrey’s Library. (However, only three of Humfrey’s books remain in the collection.) This room is a remarkable hall, filled floor to ceiling with ancient books and manuscripts. You’ve probably seen it as it has been prominently featured in the Harry Potter series of films.
I was guided to a small research nook by a stereotypically British research librarian. He was a wizened older gentleman with tiny rectangular reading glasses perched on the end of his long and winding nose. “Murphy, eh?” His pale blue eyes twinkled as he ran a gnarled hand through his thin white hair. “Yeh look more Irish than American.”
He smiled again as he read over the computer-generated list of books I had requested when I entered the building. The books were primarily 15th century schismatic texts and manuscripts; but I couldn’t resist asking to see the Tolkien manuscripts while I was there. “Yeh’ll be needin’ these, I suppose.” My companion fished a pair of white cotton gloves out of his pocket.
Within a few minutes, the ancient books and manuscripts arrived, each in its own white archivist box. I was shown how to correctly open the box and how to properly remove the contents and place them on the soft foam book form in front of me with my now-gloved hands. No photocopying was allowed, nor was the use of ink allowed, so I began studiously copying the passages I needed, in pencil, into my notebook.
The sheer sensual and tactile experience was overwhelming. The unmistakable aroma of the ancient parchment pages mixed with the leather binding to create a scent that was headier than the perfume of lilies to book lovers. As far as one could see, in the muted task lighting, stood row after row of ancient oak bookshelves; each filled with equally ancient manuscripts. I physically started when I noticed that, shelved directly in front of me, was a later copy of the Codex Sinatica, which was Constantine’s version of the Bible. The desks at which each researcher quietly worked were equally ancient and time-worn. Shallow grooves had been worn in the wood from centuries of rushed pencils copying down passages from these tomes. I was struck, however, by the noticeable lack of graffiti.
Despite that one lack of words, the Bodleian makes up for it by housing some very impressive works among its collections. Among the most famous are:
· William Shakespeare’s first folio of works.
· A Gutenberg Bible
· Poet Percy Bysshe Shelley’s letters.
· Four copies of the Magna Carta. (Another copy is held in a small chapel just outside of Oxford and you can get much closer to the document at this lesser-known chapel.)
· The Song of Roland.
· A famous Aztec work known as the Codex Mendoza.
Currently, the Bodleian’s 117 miles of shelving hold over eight million works (not counting their digital holdings). The library is growing so fast that they have taken over a defunct salt mine in Cheshire to use as a site to store holdings. Work is also underway to improve facilities for the preservation and archiving of rare manuscripts.
You can see why my new library card is the one souvenir I allowed myself while in Oxford. I was also able to discover a great deal of rare and original source material which, I hope, will lead to a new article about a faked appearance of the Virgin Mary (or the Holy Spirit) in 1555.
You should also be able to tell why I’ve already got the itch to go back.
Dr. B. Keith Murphy is the Associate Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Fort Valley State University
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
It's academic
Really. That's the defense I use when I tell people about things like the upcoming SC3: Slayage Conference. (Fans of the television series Buffy The Vampire Slayer are suddenly paying attention.)
With keynote speakers such as Jeanine Basinger of Wesleyan University (not to be confused with Macon's Wesleyan College), Matthew Pateman of Britain's University of Hull, and Elizabeth Rambo of Campbell University, and sessions that will tackle gender issues, religion and literary themes in the series, I'm not only interested because I'm a fan of the series, but I'm fascinated because Buffy was one of the first television series' in which the lead role was a strong teen aged female. She saved the world (a lot) and still graduated from high school. She made friends, she made enemies, she dealt with love and loss on a level that teens and young adults could relate to.
As with Keith Murphy's course in comics here at FVSU, there will always be naysayers who believe this can't be serious study. But teachers, are your students going to better relate to Romeo and Juliet or Buffy and Angel? The story is the same, and hey - there's a five-paragraph essay in there somewhere.
http://www.slayageonline.com/SC3/index.htm
--Misty Cline works in the Office of Marketing and Communications.
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Same memory, different decade
Recently I have been noticing some parallels in history between my generation of folks well into their 40’s and my parents' and grandparents' generations. For one thing, we are still complaining about the price of things such as gas and oil, much as my parents did back in the 70’s when there were oil embargoes and lines at the pumps. The stock market crash of the 1930’s was a direct influence on the economic times back then, while today the economic turmoil makes one wonder what is around the corner for us.
At dinner with friends a few nights ago, someone asked me “do you remember what you were doing when the towers got hit?” I didn’t even have to think about it; an instant flashback put me at my desk in my old office in the Annex building of the vet department. Our secretary, Donna, called me and asked what was in the World Trade Center in New York City. When I asked why, she said someone had flown a plane into the side of it. As the popular Alan Jackson song asked “Where were you when the world stopped turning, that September morn?” (http://www.countrygoldusa.com/where_were_you.asp), think a minute, chances are you remember exactly where you were, who you were with, and what you were doing.
In many ways, 9/11 will be the day of infamy that lives in the hearts of our generation much the same as another tragic day of infamy played out in Hawaii in 1941. And much in the same way as our parents and grandparents have reminisced about World War II, never letting the memories fade, we will sit and reminisce well into our dotage about 9/11. On a visit to Pearl Harbor, I took my place on a small boat which ferried groups out to the USS Arizona’s final resting place. I took comfort in the quiet, respectful behavior of the occupants of the ferry; not a word was spoken, and it didn’t need to be. The silence bore the honor for our fellow man, both then and now, who have died in pursuit of liberty and justice for all, much the same as the silence which surrounds memorials and monuments all around this great land that bear soundless witness to those who give all.
They say that history has a way of repeating itself, and if you think about it you see this every day. Take the white powder scare a few years ago. An envelope of Anthrax spores reached Senator Tom Daschle and Senator Patrick Leahy and soon law enforcement agencies around the country are besieged with calls about suspicious white powder being spotted everywhere from underneath Cousin Slim's deer stand to the streets of San Francisco and everywhere in between. I am not downplaying this episode of national security, but nationwide panic stemming from the power of suggestion is nothing new. Orson Wells did it with a simple radio program that got out of hand in October of 1938, suggesting that an invasion of Earth by Martians had occurred and triggering a mass hysteria of sorts. I wasn’t there, but I heard about it plenty of times over the years from - you guessed it - Mom and Dad; just like our grandchildren will hear about the Anthrax scare. People don’t change much, just ask an elderly Japanese American who remembers internment camps, or anyone of Middle or far-Eastern descent these days. Both are facing the same types of ethnicity-based challenges - six decades apart.
As you go through your day, take a moment and notice all the things that are happening in our old world today; it really is a series of repeat performances. The only question is: will we learn from our mistakes or be destined to repeat them? Until next time….
At dinner with friends a few nights ago, someone asked me “do you remember what you were doing when the towers got hit?” I didn’t even have to think about it; an instant flashback put me at my desk in my old office in the Annex building of the vet department. Our secretary, Donna, called me and asked what was in the World Trade Center in New York City. When I asked why, she said someone had flown a plane into the side of it. As the popular Alan Jackson song asked “Where were you when the world stopped turning, that September morn?” (http://www.countrygoldusa.com/where_were_you.asp), think a minute, chances are you remember exactly where you were, who you were with, and what you were doing.
In many ways, 9/11 will be the day of infamy that lives in the hearts of our generation much the same as another tragic day of infamy played out in Hawaii in 1941. And much in the same way as our parents and grandparents have reminisced about World War II, never letting the memories fade, we will sit and reminisce well into our dotage about 9/11. On a visit to Pearl Harbor, I took my place on a small boat which ferried groups out to the USS Arizona’s final resting place. I took comfort in the quiet, respectful behavior of the occupants of the ferry; not a word was spoken, and it didn’t need to be. The silence bore the honor for our fellow man, both then and now, who have died in pursuit of liberty and justice for all, much the same as the silence which surrounds memorials and monuments all around this great land that bear soundless witness to those who give all.
They say that history has a way of repeating itself, and if you think about it you see this every day. Take the white powder scare a few years ago. An envelope of Anthrax spores reached Senator Tom Daschle and Senator Patrick Leahy and soon law enforcement agencies around the country are besieged with calls about suspicious white powder being spotted everywhere from underneath Cousin Slim's deer stand to the streets of San Francisco and everywhere in between. I am not downplaying this episode of national security, but nationwide panic stemming from the power of suggestion is nothing new. Orson Wells did it with a simple radio program that got out of hand in October of 1938, suggesting that an invasion of Earth by Martians had occurred and triggering a mass hysteria of sorts. I wasn’t there, but I heard about it plenty of times over the years from - you guessed it - Mom and Dad; just like our grandchildren will hear about the Anthrax scare. People don’t change much, just ask an elderly Japanese American who remembers internment camps, or anyone of Middle or far-Eastern descent these days. Both are facing the same types of ethnicity-based challenges - six decades apart.
As you go through your day, take a moment and notice all the things that are happening in our old world today; it really is a series of repeat performances. The only question is: will we learn from our mistakes or be destined to repeat them? Until next time….
-Oreta Samples is the lead veterinary technician in Fort Valley State University's Veterinary Science department.
Monday, May 19, 2008
Educating the community
Some baby boomers barely keep up with the newest technology and latest dietary trends, so imagine how their parents are doing.
To keep the older generation up-to-date, Fort Valley State University is offering a free senior enrichment program, May 29, at its C.W. Pettigrew Farm and Community Life Center. The event, which begins at 10 a.m., is also open to caregivers and professional educators who work with the elderly.
During the five-hour workshop, presenters will cover several topics including cell phone usage, practicing healthy eating habits and gardening. Arthur Willis Jr., greenhouse manager and grounds supervisor for the university’s College of Agriculture, Home Economics and Allied Programs, will do a demonstration on how to plant flowers or vegetables.
“This is an opportunity for seniors to pick up a few tips that can keep them up-to-date with what’s going on in the world. Everyone doesn’t have children who can show them how to send a text message or have access to the Internet which can provide tips on how to eat healthy,” said Kena Torbert, the FVSU family life specialist who’s coordinating the event. “The Cooperative Extension Program at FVSU is reaching out to those who need help, or a refresher course, on some important life lessons.”
As people age their bodies change, and as a result they need to adjust their eating habits, Torbert said. She also noted how difficult it can be for older customers to use a cell phone or understand the many cell phone plans.
“I like to do the senior program because it’s fun for me. I just enjoy working with the people. It’s a way to meet someone new and show them that we care,” Torbert said. “Plus, it’s a great chance for seniors to get out of the house and mingle.”
Workshop information: When: May 29 from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. Where: Fort Valley State University, C.W. Pettigrew Farm and Community Life Center, 1005 State University Drive, Fort Valley, Ga. Cost: Free. How: Participants can register by contacting Kena Torbert, FVSU’s family life specialist, at (478) 825-6573 or torbertk@fvsu.edu.
Friday, May 16, 2008
Growing pains
Securing on-campus housing at Fort Valley State University may be tricky for returning Wildcats. That’s because a bumper crop of more than 1,000 new students are expected when fall classes begin in August. Due to the anticipated influx of freshmen, residential life administrators are encouraging all current students interested in university housing to prepare for alternative, off-campus living arrangements. Returning students who did not meet the May 2 deadline for housing applications will be placed on a waiting list.
FVSU Vice President of Student Affairs Dr. Terrance Smith says the university is in the process of compiling a list of safe, reputable apartment complexes within the local Fort Valley area and surrounding communities. FVSU’s Housing Director Hosea Lewis will visit each facility on the list, negotiate the best rates for students and develop a directory based on his inspections and discussions with apartment managers. The directory will contain a brief description of the property and its amenities.
Besides expanding its housing inventory, university administrators have assembled a residential life transition team to assess other needs of students, such as transportation. “This is just one of the ongoing challenges associated with FVSU’s rapid growth,” said Smith. “We’re approaching the challenges as opportunities and we’re working to ensure that our students have the accommodations needed,” he said.
For inquiries about university housing, please call (478) 825-6100.
--Christina Milton works in the Office of Marketing and Communications
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Golden years
It's hard to say "farewell" to any member of the Wildcat family. That's especially true of those who have been fixtures on campus for many years. At a retirement banquet last week, we attempted to do just that. The following Fort Valley State University employees were honored and lauded for their service:
Mrs. Barbara Davis, clerical lead, President’s Office
Dr. Yvonne Oliver, associate vice president academic affairs
Mrs. Janice A. Nelson, director of FVSU Foundation
Ms. Lauren Glover, residential life dorm director
Mrs. Gwendolyn Davison, residential life dorm director
Sgt. Richard Bizzell, campus police
Mr. Bonzie Lee Curtis, plant operations
Ms. Alveta Taylor, plant operations
Dr. Nathaniel B. Brown Jr., Head of Agricultural Economics
Rev. Dr. Willie Wright, Research Professional, Agriculture
Ms. Nellie Perry, Head Start, Family Consumer Sciences
Mrs. Mattie Watson, Head Start, Family Consumer Sciences
Ms. Annie Reeves, Residential Life
Mr. Leroy Troupe, Campus Safety
Ms. Shirley Dunn, Office of Title III
Ms. Phyllis Stripling, Mass Communications, Residential Life
Of course, this being Wildcat Country, we know that we'll see most of these folks around campus again - at homecoming, football games, the Black History Month Scholarship Luncheon... After all, you can take the Wildcat off campus, but he's sure to track his way back home.
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