2004-2005 News

Department of Speech Communication

Minnesota State University, Mankato

 

 

  • Alum Accepts Position at Winona State University
    Amy Wolff (MA, 2005) has accepted a full-time one-year appointment to teach public speaking at Winona State University.

 

  • Relay for Life a Success!
    MSU hosted the first Relay for Life cancer research fundraiser on Saturday, May 21, raising more than $17,000 for research and for Mankato area patient services. More than 119 people participated on 12 teams representing area businesses, clubs, organizations and student groups. The event was organized by Speech Communication majors     Heidi Branstad and Heather Purcell, with the help of other members of the Lambda Pi Eta, the communication studies honor society. Teams of walkers hiked all night on a Myers Field House route lit with luminaries that were purchased in memory of someone who died of cancer. The event included food, games, live music and a silent auction. Participants included students and faculty from Colleges Against Cancer, an organization sponsored by MSU's Speech Communication Department. Top individual fundraiser was Travis Van der Steen, who brought in $743. His team, TGIFriday's, raised more than any other team – $3,469.81.

 

  • Alum Accepts Position at MCTC
    Kathryn Diedrichs (MA, 2003) has accepted a full-time limited instructor position at Minneapolis Community & Technical College (MCTC). MCTC's Speech Communication Department has two full-time unlimited instructors, one full-time limited, and two part-time instructors. MCTC offers Fundamentals, Public Speaking, Interpersonal, Intercultural and Group Process and Discussion, along with the occasional special topics. Kathryn will also be the "star" of a lecture video for the entire school on how to give a speech, for those teachers who do not teach speech, but want to have their students present. The video will cover the fundamentals of creating a speech.

 

  • Dr. Dowlin & Dr. Bunkers complete MTR project 
    Dr. Sheryl Dowlin, professor emeritus, and Dr. Suzanne Bunkers, professor of English, have completed work on the "Moving Towards Respect" ("MTR") project and its follow-up assessment component.  This research and curriculum project was funded by a $15,000 "Learning that Lasts" Grant from MnSCU's Center for Teaching and Learning as well as by funding from other educational organizations. Dr. Dowlin's and Dr. Bunkers' scholarly paper, based on their collaborative work directing the "Moving Towards Respect" project, was presented at the Conference of the International Association for Intercultural Education (IAIE), in Verona, Italy, in April 2005.  Their scholarly paper, translated by Dr. Hamid Bashiriyeh, is being published in "Report on Dialogue," the journal of the International Centre for Dialogue among Civilizations in Tehran, Iran.           The International Centre For Dialogue Among Civilizations Organization promotes global interaction. It was founded in Feb. 1999, after the UN declaration of "2001: Year of Dialogue Among Civilizations" as proposed by President Khatami." http://www.dialoguecentre.org/

 

 

  • Alum Earns Ph.D.
    John Katsion (MA, 1997) graduated this past May from Regent University with a Ph.D. in Communication Studies. His dissertation was "Images as Discourse: The Visual Rhetoric of United States Silver Dollar Coins from 1794 to 2000." John is currently the chair of the Communication Arts Department at Hannibal-LaGrange College, Hannibal, MO. A modified form of one of his dissertation chapters won one of the top paper awards in visual rhetoric at this past fall's NCA convention in Chicago. John wrote, "I found that the program set me up well for my doctoral studies, especially Patti Palm's classes in Rhetorical criticism and her work as my advisor. She was great."

 

  • Dr. Nan Johnson-Curiskis, associate professor, has been appointed a CETL Faculty Fellow by the administration. Nan will be receiving 50-percent release time in order to work 1/2-time with Stewart Ross in the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CETL). Nan will be working with faculty to support changes and improvement in pedagogy.  The CETL at MSU, Mankato promotes excellence in teaching and learning by providing resources, Faculty Learning Communities, communication, and strategies to support, strengthen and recognize high quality and innovative teaching. The Center offers a place for all instructors to meet formally and informally to support each other in the scholarship of teaching.

 

  • Jason Edward (MA) has an article accepted for publication in The Howard Journal of Communication. The article should come out in December 2005. The article is titled: Community-Focused Apologia in International Affairs: Japanese Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayma's Apology.  Jason was also selected to participate in this year's National Doctoral Honors Seminar at the University of Oklahoma.

 

  • Dr. David Engen, assistant professor, has two articles accepted for publication:
    • "The Civic Imagination and Awareness Assignment" will be published in upcoming issue of Communication Teacher.
    • "Everyday Interaction Between Social Classes: Toward an Understanding of the Misunderstanding" will be published in the 2005 issue the Communication and Theatre Association of Minnesota Journal.

 

  • Alum Receives Teaching Award
    Nicole Schultz (MA, 2004), a doctoral student at Bowling Green State University, was honored this spring by BGSU's School of Communication Studies with the 2004-2005 Doctoral Student Graduate Teaching Excellence Award. Nicole was also elected by her peers to serve as president of the School of Communication Studies Graduate Communication Association during the 2005-2006 school year.

 

  • Dr. Patty Palm, faculty emeriti, has been making the most of her retirement. In June of 2005 she started her term as the President of the MRCI Auxilary. The Mankato Rehabilitation Center Incorporated  [MRCI] is a work source which creates opportunities for people with disabilities or disadvantages. Patty has been a volunteer for the past three years as a board member and as the "book lady" at the MRCI Thrift Shop in Mankato. Patty has also been appointed Parliamentarian for Zonta International for the 2004-2006 biennium.  As such she travel a few times a year to International Headquarters in Chicago for board meetings and training seminars. Patty will be the Parliamentarian for the 2006 International Convention in Melbourne Australia. She will be in Denver, Colorado for an inter-district meeting of North American Zonta clubs the last week-end in June.Patty is also very active in District 7 Zonta activities which includes the states of Minnesota, Iowa, North and South Dakota, Missouri, and Kansas; and the District 7 Parliamentarian and attend all board meetings, area meetings, and conferences throughout the year. The fall conference is scheduled for October at Cape Girardeau, Missouri.

 

  • Heidi Schara (MA, 2001) has accepted a position as an instructor of speech communication at Riverland Community College starting in Fall 2005.

 

  • Kate Winkels successfully defended her master's thesis. The title of the thesis is "A Qualitative Research Study Examining Identity , Perception and Gender in Stay-at-Home Dads."

 

  • Dr. Nan Johnson-Curiskis has earned tenured and been promoted to the rank of associate professor effective the first duty day of the 2005-2006 academic year. 

 

  • Dr. Martine Harvey has earned tenured and been promoted to the rank of associate professors effective the first duty day of the 2005-2006 academic year.

 

 

  • Alum recognized for service
    Donovan Leigh     (BS 1991, MA 1993), instructor at Anoka Technical College, was recognized for 10 years of teaching and service at Anoka Technical College on May 4th, 2005.

 

  • Professor Receives Honor
    Dr. Scott Olson, professor in Speech Communication and vice president of Academic Affairs, has been named a Paul Harris Fellow of the Rotary International Foundation.

 

  • Faculty Members Receive RIP Grants
    Dr. Kate Cady, assistant professor, and Dr. Dan Cronn-Mills, professor, were both awarded grants as part of the university-sponsored Research Incentive Program (RIP) for the 2005-06 academic year. The grants provide release time from one class during the year to work on a research project.

 

  • Karla Sand has completed her internship analysis paper titled “Fabricating Organizational Communication at Quality Metalcrafts” and earned her Master of Science degree in Speech Communication.

 

  • Alisa Jamshidi has completed her internship analysis paper titled “Becoming part of the radical culture: A unique view of the American Civil Liberties Union” and earned her Master of Science degree in Speech Communication.

 

  • 2005 MSU Undergraduate Research Conference
    Department-Sponsored Student Research
    (faculty sponsor is in parenthesis)
    • David Brennan (B. Klosa)  Star Wars: A Critical Analysis Of The Social And Cultural Influence Of The Films
    • Elizabeth Drommerhausen (B. Klosa)  Past, Present, And Future Technologies In The Field Of Weather Modification
    • Elizabeth Drommerhausen (L. White)  Privatization And Commercialization Of Our National Parks
    • Elizabeth Drommerhausen (L. White)  The 1000 Journals Project-A Communication Analysis Using Karen Mitchell’s Theory Of Seamless Intertexts
    • Emily Kofoed (B. Klosa)  The Sexualization Of Female Athletes And The Female Sports Double Standard
    • Emily Kofoed (J. Dimock)  Evaluation Of Pharmacogenomics And Its Applications To Biological Race
    • Emily Kofoed, Karie Menser, Cynthia Saba, and Jamie Kunkel (B. Klosa)  Academia Is Really Difficult: A Reader’s Theatre Examining The Hardships Of University Professors
    • Joshua Randall (B. Klosa)  Campus Paper Waste
    • Joshua Randall (B. Klosa)  ESPN:  25th Anniversary
    • Joshua Randall (B. Klosa)  Spider-Man: Sacred Vs. Profane
    • Julie Lemley (J. Dimock)  Gendered Construction Of The Female Identity
    • Lianna Erickson (D. Cronn-Mills)  An Ethnographic Study Of The Communication Practices Of A Recovering Alcoholic During The First Month Of Sobriety
    • Lindsey Thompson (B. Klosa)  Soft Drinks:  A Legal Drink Of Poison
    • Lindsey Thompson (J. Dimock)  Amplichip:  Diagnostic Tool Of The Future
    • Lindsey Thompson (L. White)  Islamica:  Creating A Muslim-American Identity
    • Matthew Collie (B. Klosa)  The Corneal Imaging System
    • Matthew Collie (L. White)  Privatized Military Firms: A Detriment To The United States

 

  • MSU Speech Communication Alum Earns Ph.D.
    Karen Daas (MA, 2001) is now Dr. Karen Daas (Ph.D., University of Nebraska). Dr. Daas successfully defended her dissertation, "Women, weddings, and popular culture: An intertextual analysis of college women’s negotiation of the wedding-industrial complex." Congratulations to Dr. Dass may be sent to     kdaas@stmarytx.edu

 

  • MSU Speech Team places 16th nationally; Matthew Collie finishes fifth
    MSU's Speech Team placed 16th overall and 2nd in the President's II Division in the National Forensic Association's national championships earlier this month. Junior Matthew Collie ranked fifth overall in Individual Sweepstakes - best individual finish ever for an MSU student. More than 500 student speakers from across the country competed in the tournament, held April 14-18 at the University of Akron (Ohio). In addition to ranking fifth overall in Individual Sweepstakes, Collie placed third nationally in Rhetorical Criticism, fourth in Informative Speaking, among the top 12 (semifinalist) in Impromptu Speaking & Extemporaneous Speaking, and among the top 24 (quarterfinalist) in After-Dinner Speaking. Other MSU students who took part in the National Championship Tournament are Mike Witthaus, Nicole Goebel and Michelle Nyman. The National Forensic Association includes more than 100 university and college intercollegiate forensic programs. The President's II Division, in which MSU finished second, comprises schools entered in 7-14 national events. Early this month the MSU team placed 22nd overall at the American Forensic Association National Individual Events Tournament in Manhattan, Kansas. MSU students competing in that tournament included Collie, Cynthia Saba, Emily Kofoed, Karie Menser, Tom Bergstrom, Kim Cossairt, Joshua Randall, Lindsey Thompson, Jamie Kunkel, Elizabeth Drommerhausen, Mitch Batty and David Brennan. And earlier this year the MSU team captured first in the Minnesota Collegiate Forensic Association State Tournament - the fourth consecutive state victory for the Mavericks. The MSU team is coached by Director of Forensics Leah White, Assistant Director Brian Klosa, and graduate student coaches Desiree Rowe, Jessica Samens, James Kozinski, David Nadolski, Merci Decker, Suzanne Loen and Sarah Wolter.
    [    http://www.mnsu.edu/news/read.php?id=1114008574]

 

  • Jessica Buckingham, a recent graduate of the Speech Communication Department, was awarded the Carolyn Coakley Hickerson Teacher Award sponsored by International Listening Association (ILA).  The award was presented at the 26th annual ILA conference in Minneapolis on Saturday, April 16, 2005.  Ms. Buckingham received the award by demonstrating excellence of teaching in a public school setting in the local area of the annual conference and for her desire to contribute to the field of listening.  Jessica is a 3rd year Communication arts and literature teacher at Owatonna Public Schools.  Jessica was nominated by Dr. Nan Johnson-Curiskis, Assistant Professor in the MSUM Speech Communication Department, who is a founding member of the ILA.

 

  • Dr. Nanette Johnson-Curiskis, assistant professor, was presented with the 2005 Outstanding Listening Educator of the Year award by the International Listening Association (ILA).  The award was presented at the 26th annual ILA conference in Minneapolis on Saturday, April 16, 2005. The recipient of the ILA Outstanding Educator Award must be an individual who is a member of ILA, is a teacher at any level; is knowledgeable about listening and how to teach listening; teaches listening and shares his or her knowledge and techniques for teaching listening with others through presentations, publishing, teacher in-service, etc..  Dr. Johnson-Curiskis has been active in the organization for 26 years.  She is a founding member of the ILA, is the current secretary of the Executive Board, and was the local arrangements chair of this year’s conference.

 

  • Maverick Forensics team hosted a demonstration debate on Thursday, April 21 in AH 101 from 7-8 p.m.. The demonstration was designed to show the campus something of what the debate team does and to give us a chance to show off our students and the activity. 

 

  • Dr. Kristen Treinen has been invited to join the Journal of Applied Communication Research Board of Reviewers.

 

  • Amy Wolff, graduate teaching assistant, has successfully completed her project for the completion of her Master of Science degree. The title of her project is “Humor Me: An Investigation of Humor in the College Classroom”
  •  
  • Stephen Croucher (MA, 2003), doctoral student at the University of Oklahoma, has been selected as the top graduate student for the year in his department. The award is based on publications, teaching evaluations, grades, and recommendations.

 

  • Stephen Croucher (MA, 2003), doctoral student at the University of Oklahoma, has an article accepted by the International Journal of Communication. The article is titled: "A comparative analysis between France and the United States: Why does the US have an easier time assimilating its immigrants?" The article will come out in the winter of 2005.

 

  • Amy J. Koeppe, graduate teaching assistant, has successfully completed her project for the completion of her Master of Science degree. The title of her project is “Communication at Midwest Wireless: A Public Relations Perspective.”

 

  • Kara Sand, graduate teaching assistant, has successfully completed her project for the completion of her Master of Science degree. The title of her project is “The Master of Spin: Communication Theory and Application in a Public Relations/Marketing Department.

 

  • Dr. Nan Johnson-Curiskis, assistant professor, has been elected to a two-year appointment as the A&H representative to the university-wide Faculty Development Committee.

 

  • Sara Wolter, graduate teaching assistant, has successfully defended her master's thesis titled, " Where do we stand?: Identifying the influence of relational communities on the professional identities of women assistant professors at Minnesota State University, Mankato."

 

  • Dr. Sheryl Dowlin, professor emeriti in Speech Communication, is the recipient of a $1,000 MHC primary scholar grant to document the “Hochunk Journey into the Past” event, May 7, 2005.  The Blue Earth County Historical Society will serve as the fiscal agent.  Approximately 60 Hochunk (Winnebago) elders and children will come to Mankato, St. Clair and Rapidan to visit the Hochunk agency and village sites of their ancestors.  These individuals lived in this area until 1863 when they were forced to leave their homes and were shipped out with the Dakota.  This will be a first time reconciliation effort by Mankato and the surrounding area with this tribe. Dr. Dowlin will be recording the day’s event as well as doing some interviews with elders about their reflections and responses to the things they have heard and seen during their visit. Dr. Dowlin plans to make a video documentary and distribute it to various related Historical Societies, libraries, K-16 schools and the Hochunk communities in Nebraska and Wisconsin.

 

  • GTA honored with teaching award
    Sarah Wolter, 2nd-yr graduate teaching assistant, has received word she is the recipient of the 2005 ICA-IDD Outstanding Teaching by a Graduate Student  award. The announcement from the division states, in part:
    Congratulations on the Outstanding Teaching by a Graduate Student  award . This award is sponsored by the Instructional and Developmental Division of the International Communication Association (ICA). Our division is designed to meet the needs of individuals like you who are interested in research on communication instruction and the development of communication processes across the life cycle. For instance, in the last several years, members of our division have presented research on the design of safety messages for children, communication with the elderly, health communication training, effective pedagogy for large communication courses, children's and adolescent's communication skills, and the impact of mass media on children.
    Once again, on behalf of Lynda McCroskey, our division chair, and all members of our division, I congratulate you on your outstanding teaching and thank you for your conscientious efforts as a teacher.  Individuals like you are fundamental to the continued vitality of communication scholarship.
    Moniek Buijzen, Ph.D.
    Instructional and Developmental Division Secretary (ICA)

 

  • AFA-NIET Results
    The MSU-Mankato speech team traveled to the American Forensic Association National Individual Events Tournament at Kansas State University this past weekend.  The team placed 22nd overall.  Junior Matthew Collie advanced to the quater-final round (top 24 students) in Extemporaneous Speaking and the semi-final round (top 12) students in Impromptu Speaking.  There were over 130 students entered in each of these events.

 

  • MSU, Mankato selected as site for 2007 AFA-NIET. This event will bring more than 700 people from colleges and universities around the nation to our campus and community.

 

  • Anne (Gerbensky) Kerber (MA, 2003) and Daniel Cronn-Mills, professor, have received word a manuscript has been accepted for publication in the National Forensic Journal. The article is titled, "The State of Forensic Scholarship: Analyzing Individual Events Research in the National Forensics Journal from 1990-2003." The article is scheduled for publication in the Fall 2005 issue.

 

  • Matthew Collie, a junior on the Maverick Forensics team, has been elected by his peers as the 2005-06 District IV Student Representative to the AFA-NIET.
    *District IV is composed of all the colleges and universities in Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Iowa, and Nebraska.

 

  • Desiree Rowe, graduate teaching assistant, successfully defended her master’s thesis on March 28, 2005. The thesis is titled “Boxes: Exploring Gender Identity through Performance.”

 

  • Dr. Scott Olson, professor in Speech Communication and academic vice president has had two previously published book chapters translated into Russian and published in Russia.
    • Olson, S. (2005).  Применение стратегий «синержи» для продвижения торговых марок: тематический контекст и сублимация реальности в практике product placement.  In M. Galician, Ed. Product placement в средствах массовой информации.  Moscow: ETC Publishing.  [ Information at the following link: www.etcpublishing.net/index.sema?a=books&sa=book&id=59.]  ISBN 5-94983-025-3 (Translation --  Product placement through environmental simulacra.  In M. Galician, Ed.  Handbook of product placement in the mass media: New strategies in marketing theory, practice, trends, and tactics.)
    • Galician, M., Bourdeau, P., Friedman, T., Kruckeberg, D., Lubbers, C., Natharius, D., Nelson, R., Olson, S., Siegel, P., Turner, C., and Turner, K. (2005).  Перспективы развития product placement в XXI веке. In M. Galician, Ed. Product placement в средствах массовой информации.  Moscow: ETC Publishing. [Information at the following link: www.etcpublishing.net/index.sema?a=books&sa=book&id=59.]  ISBN 5-94983-025-3 (Translation -- Galician, M., Bourdeau, P., Friedman, T., Kruckeberg, D., Lubbers, C., Natharius, D., Nelson, R., Olson, S., Siegel, P., Turner, C., and Turner, K. (2005).  Product placement in the 21st century.  In M. Galician, Ed.  Handbook of product placement in the mass media: New strategies in marketing theory, practice, trends, and tactics.)

 

  • Jason Edwards (MA, 2002) received the Top Student Paper in the Rhetoric and Public Address Division at the 2005 Southern States Communication Association conference. The paper is titled "Meeting the Challenge of Globalization: Bill Clinton's Rhetorical Response."  Jason is also up for the Bostrom Award given to the best graduate student paper of the conference

 

  • Jason Edwards and Karen Daas (MA, 2001) are part of a Top Four Paper Panel in the Political Communication Interest Group at Central States Communication Association conference.  The paper is "Bill Clinton and the Rhetoric of Partnership in His African Tour, 1998: Toward a Post-Cold War Foreign Policy Rhetoric?"

 

  • Larry Schnoor, faculty emeriti, and James Kozinski, graduate student, have an article in the latest issue of the National Forensic Journal (vol. 23, issue 1, spring 2005). The article is titled "Building a Team" (lead article in the issue).

 

  • Brian Klosa, instructor, has an article in the latest issue of the National Forensic Journal (vol. 23, issue 1, spring 2005). The article is titled "Finding Coaching Help."

  • Dr. Leah White, assistant professor, has an article in the latest issue of the National Forensic Journal (vol. 23, issue 1, spring 2005). The article is titled "The Coach as Mentor."

 

  • Desiree Rowe, graduate student, and Dr. Daniel Cronn-Mills, professor, have an article in the latest issue of the National Forensic Journal (vol. 23, issue 1, spring 2005). The article is titled "When 'Van Talk' Steers Out of Control: A Theoretical Exploration of Team Traditions."

 

  • Dr. Martine Harvey, assistant professor, has been invited to teach a seminar on Intercultural Conflict and Mediation in June 2005 at the University of Verona, Italy.

 

  • Department in the March 8, 2005 edition of the MSU Reporter! 

Relay For Life Coming to MSU Campus

by Michelle Campbell
March 08, 2005

In the time it takes to read this article, at least one person in the United States will die from cancer.

The American Cancer Society and Colleges Against Cancer are trying to change that statistic. The groups' flagship event, the Relay for Life, will come to Minnesota State for the first time ever May 21-22 in Myers Fieldhouse.

"I have seen too many of my friends watch their mothers fight breast cancer, and I have seen too many others fight for their own lives," said Heidi Brandstad, president of MSU's Colleges Against Cancer said. "I have hope that one day we will no longer have to worry about cancer. That's why I believe joining this fight against cancer is so important."

According to the American Cancer Society's Web site, 557,271 U.S. citizens die from cancer every year. That means that the country loses more than one person per minute on average.

Christa Brown, an MSU speech communication instructor and the Colleges Against Cancer advisor, has experienced the effects of cancer first-hand. She said she tries to attend Relay for Life in New Ulm, Minn., every year with her grandmother -- a cancer survivor.

"My family has been hit hard with cancer, and this has been a driving force for me," Brown said.

Brandstad said she, too, got involved in Relay for Life because her family and friends have been affected by cancer.

Relay for Life is an overnight team event established to raise funds for cancer research. The event will consist of entertainment, food, games, team competitions, the Cancer Survivors' Walk and the Candlelight Ceremony. Since the event will take place indoors, candles will be replaced with balloons, Brown said.

Relay for Life is the world's largest fund-raising event and is held in more than 3,000 locations in the United States. Last year, $7.5million was raised on college campuses throughout the United States.

"We are also collecting quarters to raise money. If we can collect enough quarters to line the edge of the track, we will raise $1,750," Brown said. "Hopefully, we can make it around at least once."

Throughout the night, prizes will be awarded to the team that raises the most money and the team that has the most creatively decorated campsite. Each team member will receive a Relay for Life T-shirt.

"Students don't have to be part of a team to participate in the event," Brown said.

For more information on how to get involved in Relay for Life, contact christa.brown@mnsu.edu or heidi.branstad@mnsu.edu.

 

  • Jim Dimock, instructor, leads discussion on "Interrogation or Torture"
    "A Fine Line: Interrogation or Torture?" is the topic for the Community Forum on Thursday, March 10, at 6:30 p.m. in the North Mankato Police Annex Meeting Room.  This free public discussion will feature James Fleming, chief public defender for Minnesota's Fifth Judicial District and Jim Dimock, instructor in the Speech Communications Department at Minnesota State University, Mankato. Dimock specializes in the impact on perception and behavior that language makes on war and violence.  One of Dimock's current projects is the study of words used in memos from government entities such as the State Department in making  policy cases. As an attorney, Fleming will discuss the definition of such words as "interrogation" and "torture" and how they fall on a continuum of public understanding to arrive at what is permissible and what is not in the questioning of prisoners of war. Sponsored by the North Mankato Public Library and Citizens' Voices, this series of forums is free and open to the public.  The audience will participate with plenty of time for questions and comments.

 

  • Dr. Kristen Treinen and Dr. Kathryn Cady have been recognized by the Sisters of Sigma Sigma Sigma Sorority for making a positive impact on a sister's college career. They have received certificates thanking them for their "outstanding professional service to the women of this sorority."

 

  • Dr. Sheryl Dowlin (professor emeritus) has received  word she is the recipient of a “We the People” Minnesota Humanities Grant in the amount of $1,000 . Dr. Dowlin will serve as the  Primary Project Scholar to document an historic collaborative reconciliation project between the Winnebago (Hocak) and southern Minnesota communities  ( e.g., Mankato, N orth  Mankato, St .  Clair, Rapidan,  and  Good Thunder ) .  Hocak elders are scheduled to come to Mankato on  May 7 to see and visit many of the historic village and reservations sites where their ancestors lived prior to being forced out of Minnesota in 1863 with the Dakota.  Most of the elder guests have never visited this area.. All are invited to a Free Public Program the evening of the  May 7 from 7-9 pm at the Lutheran Church, Rapidan, MN to participate in “A Conversation with the Hocak elders.”

 

  • This is a quick note the department received from Heidi Schara. She and her husband, Dewey Schara, both graduated from our master's program.  "We are both INCREDIBLY thankful to have graduated from the excellent program at MSU. If you ever need a spokesperson for your program, let us know. The experience had and knowledge gained definitely moved us into excellent work and life roles."
    -- Heidi Schara

 

  •  Desiree Rowe, a graduate teaching assistant and forensics coach, has officially accepted a graduate assistantship in the communication studies doctoral program at Arizona State University.

 

  • Maverick Forensics Dominates State Tournament: Wins Fourth Straight State Title
    On Feb 19th and 20th, the Minnesota State University, Mankato speech and debate team travelled to Bethel University in Arden Hills, MN to compete in the 2st Minnesota Collegiate Forensic Association State Tournament against 12 other teams in the state. The team finished with 233 total sweepstakes points earning Mankato its fourth consecutive state title.  The Mavericks finished with a total of 21 state finalists including bringing home state championships in seven of the 13 events.  The Mavericks also had the three out of the top five overall speakers at the tournament, including the overall individual state champion.
    Results:

 

    • Informative Speaking- Matthew Collie-1st place, Emily Kofoed-2nd place, Elizabeth Drommerhausen-5th place
    • Prose Interpretation- Karie Menser-3rd place
    • Impromptu Speaking- Matthew Collie-1st place, Dave Brennan-5th place
    • Extemporaneous Speaking-Matthew Collie-1st place
    • Oratory-Matthew Collie-5th place, Elizabeth Drommerhausen-6th place
    • Program Oral Interpretation-Mitch Batty-1st place, Jamie Kunkel-2nd place
    • Duo Interpretation- Mitch Batty and Karie Menser-1st place, Tom Bergstrom and Karie Menser-3rd place
    • Dramatic Interpretation-Jamie Kunkel-2nd place, Tom Bergstrom-5th place
    • After Dinner Speaking-Emily Kofoed-4th place
    • Poetry Interpretation-Tom Bergstrom- 1st place, Kim Cossairt-4th place, Mitch Batty-5th place
    • Readers Theatre-Karie Menser, Jamie Kunkel, Emily Kofoed, Cynthia Saba-1st place
    • Parliamentary Debate-Matthew Collie and Randy Domstrand-quarterfinalists
    • Matthew Collie-2nd place debate speaker awards
    • Matthew Collie-1st place individual sweepstakes award
    • Karie Menser-3rd place individual sweepstakes award
    • Jamie Kunkel-5th place individual sweepstakes award
    • Team sweepstakes-1st place

We are very proud of the student's hard work and performances. Winning four state titles has established Mankato as the premiere forensics program in the state.

 

  • Desiree Rowe, master’s candidate, has her thesis performance on March 9th, 2005. The doors of Performing Arts (PA) 113 open at 6:30pm, and the show starts at 7pm. Boxes runs about 45 minutes to an hour. The major themes of the performance are identity construction, confession, and intertextuality.

 

  • Dr. Kate Cady, assistant professor, will be a part of the panel "Bitches in the Sacred Grove: Negotiating Third Spaces in Academia" at the upcoming Western States Communication Association annual convention in San Francisco.  Dr. Cady's presentation will focus on peer writing groups and the rhetorical process of invention. 

 

  • Dr. Martine Harvey, assistant professor, and her colleague from Norway,  Dr. Oyvind Okland, will be presenting a paper titled:"Lutaburger": Digitally connected with students from Norway and Minnesota" at the Realizing Student Potential Conference on March 4, 2005. [LUTA = Lutafisk (Norway); BURGER = Hamburger (USA)]

 

  • Dr. Nan Johnson-Curiskis, assistant professor, has a presentation accepted for the Realizing Student Potential Conference, March 4, 2005 at Minneapolis Community and Technical College. The session is on "Planning an Online Course."
    • Abstract: Good course planning is essential in online courses as well as on campus classes. During this session, participants will receive a model which has been successfully used for 2 years in 7 online courses/sections and used with D2L. Participants will learn how to begin online course planning including determining online readiness, aligning course outcomes with course goals; preparing content and activities and discussion. Whether you are required to teach an online course or are just interested in teaching one, this session will be helpful.

 

  • Maverick Forensics Dominates SCSCU Tournament
    On February 4 and 5, the MSU, Mankato Speech Team traveled to the St. Cloud State University Invitational Speech Tournament. The team placed first. Individual awards are listed below:
    • Prose - Amanda Gorke 6th place
    • Informative - Emily Kofoed 5th place
    • POI - Kim Cossairt 6th place
    • POI - Emily Kofoed  4th place
    • Duo- Tom Bergstrom and Karie Menser- 1st place
    •  Duo - Dave Brennan and Matt Collie-3rd place
    • ADS - Emily Kofoed 6th place
    • ADS - Lindsey Thompson 5th place
    • ADS - Karie Menser 4th place
    • ADS - Dave Brennan 1st place (AFA-NIET qualification)
    • Poetry- Tom Bergstrom 1st place
    • Drama- Tom Bergstrom 2nd place
    • Drama - Dave Brennan  5th place
    • Kiddie Lit- Kim Cossairt 6th place
    • Dave Brennan and Lindsey Thompson-semi finalists Parli debate
    • Dave Brennan 2nd place individual sweepstakes
    • Tom Bergstrom 1st place individual sweepstakes
    • All 16 Mavericks who competed earned points for sweepstakes

 

  • Maverick Forensics travels to Kansas for a national tournament preview
    On January 29th and 30th, the MSU-Mankato forensics team traveled to the “Little Apple” (Manhattan, Kansas) for two speech tournaments that showcased some of the best of what the forensics nation might have to offer.  On Saturday at the Power Cat Preview, MSU's Matthew Collie placed 5th in informative speaking, and on Sunday at the Nebraska in Kansas tournament Mr. Collie earned 5th place in impromptu speaking and 4th place in informative speaking.

 

  • Maverick Forensics traveled to South Dakota State University for the 13th Annual Bunny Bop tournament.  The following students received awards:
    • Josh Randall - 6th place Persuasion, 4th place Communication Analysis, 2nd place After Dinner Speaking
    • Lindsey Thompson-2nd place Communication Analysis (Thompson qualified Communication Analysis for the American Forensics Association National Individual Events Tournament this April at Kansas State University)
    • Michelle Nyman/Nicole Gobel-6th place Dramatic Duo

 

  • Christa Brown, instructor, has organized the first annual Relay for Life event will be held on MSU's campus in the field house on May 21, 2005 from 5pm - 9am on May 22, 2005!  This event is being planned and implemented by the Communication Club.  We will be hitting everyone up in the next few months in hopes you will be participants in the Relay.  Of course, even if you don't participate in the event, we hope everyone will at least stop by sometime during the night to visit the event and see what we have worked so hard for and accomplished with the American Cancer Society.

 

  • Stephen Croucher (MA, 2003) has an article in the latest issue of the National Forensic Journal titled "Like, You Know, What I'm Saying: A Study of Discourse Marker Frequency in Extemporaneous and Impromptu Speaking." Stephen is a doctoral student, teaching assistant, and director of forensics at the University of