Category Archives: Minnesota State University Moorhead

Paralegal professor authors national textbook

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Richard N. Jeffries, an adjunct professor for the Personal Injury class in the Paralegal Department at MSUM, has authored a revolutionary new textbook on torts and personal injury. The textbook, published by Pearson Publishing, became available nationwide this spring.

The book goes far beyond the traditional approach of teaching the black letter law of torts. The book includes practical hands on assignments, extensive appendices for use by the student, a discussion of medical issues and a discussion of insurance issues with related documents. A particularly unique and helpful aspect of the book includes a multitude of “workplace skills tips” throughout each chapter.

Jeffries received his B.A. in Business Administration from MSUM in 1965 and his Juris Doctorate with distinction from the University of North Dakota. He spent 37 years practicing law concentrating his practice in the areas of civil litigation personal injury. He was named a Leading Minnesota Attorney, received an “av” rating (the highest available) from Martindale Hubbell.

Jeffries is licensed to practice law in Minnesota, North Dakota, and Florida. He is serving as a consulting attorney to an Arizona law firm practicing in the area of construction defects.

Jeffries is co-teaching the Personal Injury class at MSUM with his former long-time paralegal, Terri Bourcy Smith.

MSUM students participate in Arrowhead Model United Nations

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Twenty-two MSU Moorhead students participated in the Arrowhead Model United Nations conference April 18-21 at Winona State University in Winona, Minn.

At the conference, the teams participated in committees focused on global issues and worked as delegates from various countries to pass resolutions.

They were advised by Dr. Andrew Conteh, Political Science and International Studies, and led by co-presidents Hannah Salscheider and Sarah Danielson.

Two individuals won awards: Sarah Danielson, delegate for India, won Best Delegate honorable mention for Political and Security Committee; Clay Schwartzwalter, delegate for Pakistan, won Best Delegate honorable mention for his role in Security Council.

Thanks to the many individuals who make this annual event possible.

Samuel Barber’s violin concerto and Edward Elgar’s violin sonata

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Tara Cherry to present & perform at SAC April 16

By Meredith Wathne

The deep amber color, the twisted tight strings and the soothing sounds that resonate after a legato bow stroke. It’s hard not to be romantic about the violin. Music education and music performance major Tara Cherry found romance and has been in a serious relationship with the violin since she was eight years old.

“I love everything about the violin,” Cherry said. “I had to push my parents to take lessons; it wasn’t the other way around.”

The Missoula, Mont., native will present on Samuel Barber’s violin concerto and Edward Elgar’s violin sonata because she will perform them at her senior recital in the fall. The research she’s conducted on these pieces will ensure she knows them top to bottom and front to back.

Barber and Elgar are both composers from a similar time period with different styles, but, “They have a lot of similarities in the two pieces, which is really surprising,” Cherry said.

Cherry’s presentation will touch on three main points—the similarities and differences between the styles and harmonic elements (tonal and atonal), the differences between the composers, and the history of the pieces.

Cherry hopes to inform her audience about the two composers and build a connection to the styles and different parts of the pieces themselves.

“They are two pieces that people do not really know about if they are not in the music world,” Cherry said.

During the conference she will present a variety of musical selections available to help showcase the style and history she studied. However, instead of having an audio file of the track, Cherry will play them on her violin, creating a more personal connection.

Cherry aspires to take her passion for the craft and share it with others by teaching.

Read more Student Academic Conference profiles in the conference booklet, www.mnstate.edu/sac

Invisible Women and the Flood of 2009

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By Emily Farwell

Kathryn Kottenbrock to present flood research at SAC April 16

Casselton, N.D., native Kathryn Kottenbrock is an advocate for homeless women in the Fargo-Moorhead area

Kottenbrock, a women’s and gender studies major, was inspired to learn about the invisible women who were negatively affected by the Red River Valley flood of 2009 through her internship with the Minnesota Coalition for the Homeless. She engaged in advocacy work for people who were homeless and was asked if she wanted to be involved in a research project about how the flood of 2009 affected women.

Kottenbrock was surprised by the lack of previous research on marginalized populations. There is a lot of literature that focuses on the plight of middle-class people. Her research provides insight on work that needs to be done to protect vulnerable populations in the Red River Valley. “Nobody wants to be forgotten,” Kottenbrock said. “I hope people will stop and realize that we all need to take the time to make sure these people are remembered, especially in a time of crises.”

Kottenbrock, who is still researching the flood and homeless women, will demonstrate the need for advocacy and promote some ideas for change. She hopes to discover benefits for those who are affected the most by natural disasters in the Fargo-Moorhead area.

One of Kottenbrock’s goals is to educate others on small steps that can be taken to help everyone in our community. She also hopes to identify other unmet needs and explore new policies.

See who else is presenting at the Student Academic Conference.

MSUM celebrates 50 years of Celebration of Nations

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Minnesota State University Moorhead celebrates the 50th anniversary of Celebration of Nations. Celebration of Nations is an annual event at MSUM in which international students set up booths to display art, clothing and information about their countries. The students also cook traditional foods to sample, provide entertainment of traditional music and dances. The celebration ends with a fashion show. Nearly 800 guests attend Celebration of Nations every year.

To celebrate the 50th anniversary, MSUM has invited a Vietname Dance Group from Minneapolis to perform a Lion dance. The Lion Dance will be the opening act and is a part of the Vietnamese culture and custom in celebrating holidays and any special events.

There will also be a brief presentation on the history of international students at MSUM.

Along with this being the 50th year of hosting Celebration of Nations, it’s also a record setting number of international students at MSUM. This semester, MSUM has a total of 430 enrolled international students from 59 different countries and 65 international students on post completion work authorization. The top countries represented on campus are Nepal, Nigeria, Republic of Korea, Japan, and China.

Our first international student came to MSUM in 1951 from Nigeria. All documentation was type or hand written and mailed from and to the student.

Celebration of Nations is Saturday, April 6, from 6-10 p.m. in the Comstock Memorial Union (CMU) ballroom. The opening celebration will begin at 6:30 p.m., with the silent auction, flag parade, fashion show, entertainment, food booths and country booths to follow. Entrance to the main event is $2 per adult and kids under the age of five are free.

The Children’s World is from 4-6 p.m. in the CMU ballroom and is free for children. Activities at Children’s World include origami, games, coloring and other activities.

Local Professionals Talk Workplace Ethics

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MSUM Ethics Day noon panel is open to the public

Matt VonPinnon, editor of The Forum; Birch Burdick, Cass County state’s attorney; and Paul Richard, chief legal officer, Sanford Health, are among a dozen area business leaders who will share their experiences about ethics in the workplace during Minnesota State University Moorhead’s Ethics Day Thursday, March 21.

More than a dozen professionals representing the fields of accounting, business, computer science, construction management, healthcare, mass communications, operations management and paralegal will speak in College for Business and Industry classes throughout the morning.

The public is invited to the free, noon panel discussion on workplace ethics in the Center for Business 111.

“We discuss theory in the classroom, but hearing from professionals in various disciplines is how we really learn about ethics in the workplace,” said Marsha Weber, Dean of the College of Business & Industry. “Students can ask pointed questions and learn from our guest speakers who will talk about ethical dilemmas they face daily.”

“Eventually we’re going to be the professionals having to make ethical decisions,” said Anna Hansen a senior mass communications major. “I’m glad we get the chance to learn from example and see the application, not just read about it in class.”

Ethics Day is sponsored by the MSUM College of Business & Industry.

MSUM professor honored at Addy Awards

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Bill Hall receives AAF-ND award for lifetime achievement in advertising, marketing and communications.

Bill Hall, Professor of Mass Communications, was awarded the 2012 Silver Medal award by the American Advertising Federation of North Dakota (AAF-ND) at the Addy Awards on Feb. 22. The Silver Medal recognizes lifelong achievement in the region’s advertising, marketing and communication industries. Recipients are chosen by a committee based on outstanding contributions to advertising, creative excellence, and responsibility in areas of social concern.

Hall began his career at Minnesota State University Moorhead (MSUM) in 1975. He has taught almost every class in his department, including Introduction to Mass Communications, Principles of Advertising and Public Relations, Layout and Typography, Television Production, Visual Communications, Advanced Advertising, Public Information Processes and Media Buying. He was instrumental in instituting the advertising and PR programs at MSUM.

He has been recognized as aiding in the growth of the local advertising community as he initiated many new programs. He established the Ad Club at MSUM the local chapter of Public Relations Student Society of America. He worked with the AAF-ND to establish the Student Achievement Scholarship that is awarded each year by AAF-ND. He was also instrumental in establishing Pro-Am Day in our advertising/public relations community so students can partner with advertising executives in the area for a day of job shadowing. Hall is also responsible for the establishment of the North Force Drum and Bugle Corps, a Boy Scout Explorer project, of which he served as director for many years. He has served as a fund-raiser and campaign consultant on the Board of Directors of the United Way of Cass-Clay and has coordinated successful clothing drives for victims of an earthquake.

MSUM Student Awards

In the student category, MSUM Mass Communications students captured 10 of the 14 awards given. The following students received awards:

Ryan Kartes, Multi-Media Advertising Campaigns, 1 Gold, 2 Silver,
Sophie Haren, Consumer Magazine Campaign, Gold
Sarra Leeman, Photography, 2 Gold
Adam Hansen, Billboard, Silver
Sophie Haren/Adam Hansen, Multi-Media Campaign, Silver
Danielle Krolak, Postcards, Silver
Eric Dallmann, Consumer Magazine Campaign, Silver
Hannah Sargent, Stationery Package, Silver

AAF-ND, one of 210 local American Advertising Federation affiliates, is a nonprofit, professional trade association serving the local advertising, marketing and communications community, including agencies and marketing service firms, advertisers, media, suppliers, and students. For more than 50 years, AAF-ND has strived to enhance advertising, marketing and communications by supporting and recognizing its diverse membership and their contributions to the Red River Valley’s vitality, economy, and culture. For more information, please visit www.aaf-nd.org.

The Global Warming Stew

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Chop up science, add religion, simmer in politics

Minnesota State University Moorhead’s Department of Anthropology and Earth Science professor, Russ Colson, will give a lecture on global warming Tuesday, March 5, at 7 p.m. in the MSUM Science Lab room 118. The lecture is titled, “The Global Warming Stew.”

Colson’s presentation is the first lecture in the MSUM College of Social and Natural Sciences lecture series. The lecture series focuses on current issues in the sciences.

Colson was the 2010 Carnegie Foundation national professor of the year.

This lecture is free and open to the public.

Taking care of Curie

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By Kristin Kirtz

Harrison holding Curie, the iguana.

Harrison Pantera, a junior at MSU Moorhead, has a real dedication to school, and it doesn’t just pertain to his studies.

Everyday Pantera sets time aside to take care of Curie, an eight-year-old iguana that lives in the Science Lab on campus.

For a year and a half Pantera hasn’t had a day off from his duties of feeding, changing the water and cleaning Curie’s enclosure.

“I even came in on the snow day this year,” Pantera said.

Although it can be a bit of a burden, Pantera enjoys his time with Curie.

“It’s a really good stress reliever,” he said. “Once you spend a lot of time with him, you get to know his personality, which isn’t something you’d expect from a reptile.”

Curie was originally a former student’s pet and was donated to MSUM when the school’s prior iguana, Niko, died.

Now, three years later, Curie and Pantera have built what some would call a friendship.

“I like to take him outside for walks in the summer, and feed him berries for treats,” Pantera said. “I think it keeps him sane.”

Shireen Alemadi, biosciences professor, said, “Students love it when they are walking from classes and see Curie out.”

Pantera is looking into attending a research program over the summer, but he isn’t sure how he feels about letting someone else take on his responsibilities.

“Even for a few months, I’m kind of nervous about letting someone else take care of him,” Pantera said.

But no matter who takes on this task, one thing will remain constant–Curie will be adored by MSUM Dragons.

Click on the pictures below to enlarge.

 

MSUM Planetarium Presents “Season of Light”

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This holiday season the MSUM Planetarium is showing “Season of Light,” a Loch Ness Productions special program that explores the history of holiday traditions.

The presentation runs from Nov. 29 to Dec. 23. Showings will be held Mondays and Thursdays at 7 p.m., and Saturdays and Sundays at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.

Learn about holiday customs including the burning of the Yule log, candles in windows, kissing under the mistletoe, gift giving and the lighting of the Hanukkah Menorah. The show narrates to not only Christian and Jewish traditions but also Celtic, Nordic, Roman, Irish, Mexican and Hopi.

The audience will learn a variety of astronomy related details including, hemisphere winter constellations, why we have seasons and the possible astronomical explanations for a “Star over Bethlehem.”

The MSUM Planetarium is located at 11th St. and 8th Ave S. on the MSUM campus in Bridges Hall room 167.

General admission is $5 and $2.50 for children, seniors, and Tri-College students.

For more information about the MSUM Planetarium, visit mnstate.edu/planetarium.