Michelle
Dodge has
completed her internship report to earn her Master of Science in Speech
Communication. Her report is titled "Communication Application to
the College Admissions." The committee was Dr. Kristen Cvancara (advisor)
and Dr. Kristen Treinen.
Jessica
Rodning, APP completed, Advisor-Kristen Cvancara, committee member-Christa
Brown. Title of project: Perceptions of work family balance programs
in the workplace
Becky
Rick, APP completed, Advisor: Kristen Cvancara, committee
member:Kristi Trienen. Title of project: Leadership development
and employee morale: Training everyday leaders
Amanda Young has completed her internship report to earn her Master of Science in Speech Communication. Her report is titled "eating Cohesion in Forensics: A Synthesis of Communication and Culture." The committee was Dr. Dan Cronn-Mills (advisor) and Professor James Dimock.
Patrick Loebs has successfully defended his MA thesis titled "To Concede or Command? A Rhetorical Analysis of Bush's 2008 State of the Union Address." Professor James Dimock advised the thesis with Dr. Warren Sandmann and Dr. Thomas Inglot serving on the committee. Patrick did a close textual analysis, applying the theory of criticism developed by Michael Leff to Bush's 2008 State of the Union.
Daniel Kuchinka has submitted all the signed paperwork to the College of Graduate Studies, and has received the signatures and blessing of his committee upon the completion of his MS Project Option Capstone Project. Dan's project was advised by Dr. Warren Sandmann.
Maggie Briggs successfully defended her thesis titled "Understanding Current College Students: An Investigation of Correlations Between Communication, Generation NeXt Characteristics, and Volunteerism." Advisor: Kristen Cvancara; committee members Kristen Treinen and Paul Brown
Whitney Winkels successfully completed her internship paper titled "I'm down on my knees: Nonprofit Fundraising Communication." Advised by Kristen Cvancara; committee member Warren Sandmann
Emily Waterston Heinis successfully completed her MA APP "Leaving Perception Behind: A Critical Analysis of the Bush Administration & No Child Left Behind." Advised by Dr. Daniel Cronn-Mills.
Check out the article "New Web site Features Southern Minn. Oral Histories" from the St. Paul Pioneer Press (first carried by the Mankato Free Press) [http://www.twincities.com/politics/ci_9306430?nclick_check=1]
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The Speech Communication Department is pleased to announce Dr. Maria Beatriz Torres has accepted an offer to join the department in Fall 2008. Dr. Torres will be our lead professor in Organizational Communication. Dr. Torres has a BA from Universidad Nacional de Cordoba in Argentina, and an MA and PhD from Ohio University. Dr. Torres is currently an assistant professor at Keene State College, New Hampshire. |

Patrick Loebs (MA, 2008) has accepted a GTA position at the University of Memphis, Department of Communication, to study with Dr. Michael Leff in rhetorical theory and criticism.
Heather (Kaiser) Diersen (MSU undergraduate alum in speech communication and political science) has accepted a position as a Judicial Law Clerk for the Honorable Ann L. Alton, Fourth Judicial District, Hennepin County District Court, C-1412 Goverment Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55487. Heather earned her juris doctorate from the William Mitchell School of Law.
Adam Tyma (undergraduate MSU alum in Speech Communication), after considering three offers, has accepted a position at the University of Nebraska-Omaha. Adam will be a tenure-track assistant professor of Visual Communication and Culture in the School of Communication Studies. Adam is charged with developing a new Visual Communication and Culture curriculum for undergraduate and graduate students.
On Sunday April 6th, Speech Communication GTA Janna Dziak and her SPEE 100 students presented a video and discussion of the "Invisible Children." Approximately 40 people attend the awareness event. A link to the Invisible Children website is www.invisiblechildren.com/about/
Good News #1
Merci Decker (MA, 2006) has accepted a graduate assistantship for Fall 2008
to the University of Memphis where she will be pursuing a doctorate in Speech
Communication with an emphasis in rhetoric.
Good News #2
Merci has a manuscript she co-authored with Roy Schwartzman accepted for publication
in the spring issue of Studies in Popular Culture. The article is titled "Volvo's ‘Your
Concept Car’: Vehicle for Feminism?

Ms., Mrs., Mr.: Gendered Language in Wedding Invitations
Tavis Riederer (Department of Speech Communication)
Rachel Droogsma, Faculty Mentor (Department of Speech Communication)
The Man Behind the Dress
Zeke Sorenson (Department of Speech Communication)
Leah White, Faculty Mentor (Department of Speech Communication)
Parents as Students: Assessing the Childcare Needs of Nontraditional Students
at Minnesota State University, Mankato
Nicole Goebel (Speech Communication)
Benjamin Heath (Speech Communication)
Andria Monnens (Speech Communication)
Nicholas Rice (Speech Communication)
James Dimock, Faculty Mentor (Speech Communication)
Systemic Racism of the UNICEF Germany’s Ads Depicting Children in Blackface
April M. Larson (Department of Speech Communication)
Rachel M. Droogsma, Faculty Mentor (Department of Speech Communication)
Confidence in College Athletes
Kimberly Halpin (Department of Speech Communication)
Warren Sandmann, Faculty Mentor (Department of Speech Communication
Relationship between Athletes and Role Models
Kaytlin M. LeMier (Department of Speech Communication)
Warren Sandmann, Faculty Mentor (Department of Speech Communication)
Support of Alums within the Forensics Community
Grant Anderson (Department of Speech Communication)
Leah White, Faculty Mentor (Department of Speech Communication)
A Lover's Spat: Utilizing Richard Weaver's Topics to Analyze the Debate in
Book IX of Paradise Lost
Nicole Goebel (Department of Speech Communication)
James Dimock, Faculty Mentor (Department of Speech Communication)
For MSU events: individuals with a disability, who need reasonable accommodation to participate in this event, are asked to contact the Office of Disability Services at 507-389-2825 (V/TTD), 800-627-3529 or 711 (MRS/TTD) at least five days prior to the event.
Several Maverick Forensics team members who have qualified for the American Forensic Association National Individual Events Tournament and the National Forensic Association National Championship Tournament will showcase their performances Tuesday, April 1, for students, faculty, staff and the public.
The Individual Events Showcase will be from 6:30-7:45 p.m. in Ostrander Auditorium.
The National Individual Events Tournament in Austin, Texas -- the nation’s most prestigious collegiate speech event -- will be April 5-7. The National Forensic Association National Championship Tournament will be in Nashville, Tenn., April 17-21.
Maverick Forensics is part of the Department of Speech Communication and serves students from all disciplines of the university. Students learn about the process of human communication through actively engaging in public address, oral interpretation, and debate competition with colleges and universities from across the nation.
For MSU events: individuals with a disability, who need reasonable accommodation to participate in this event, are asked to contact the Office of Disability Services at 507-389-2825 (V/TTD), 800-627-3529 or 711 (MRS/TTD) at least five days prior to the event.
Dr. Leah White has been elected by her peers to serve on the District 4 Committee of the American Forensic Association-National Individual Events Tournament.
Dr. Rachel Droogsma has received a Professional Development Grant from the President's Commission on the Status of Women. The grant will assist travel to the National Women's Studies Annual Convention in June where she will present her Clothesline Project research. The Clothesline Project focuses on sexual assault.
Dr. Karen L. Daas (M.A. 2001; Ph.D. UNL 2005; Assistant
Professor at the University of Texas at San Antonio) received the 2007 B. Aubrey
Fisher Outstanding Article of the Year Award at the 2008 Western States Communication
Association Convention for her article "Negotiating heteronormativity
dialectically: Lesbian couples’display of symbols in culture." The
award is based on the significance of the article’s contribution to the
literature of the discipline and the level of response the article has elicited
from other scholars. The article, which was co-authored with Dr. Elizabeth
Suter,
Dr. Rachel Anderson Droogsma was chosen as the 2008 Project of the Year by the Commission on the Status of Women. Her scholarly article, "Redefining Hijab: American Muslim Women’s Standpoints on Veiling," was chosen because of the quality of her work. The article details research, methodology and results and has been published in a scholarly journal.
Lynn Kuechle (MA, 2007), an instructor in the Speech Communication Department, has received word she has a paper/performance accepted by the Association of Research on Mothering for the 2008 conference in New York City. Lynn's paper/performance is titled "Extraordinary Ordinary: Motherhood in the Face of Outdated Ideology and Unrealistic Stereotypes." The theme of the 2008 conference is Performing Feminist Motherhood: Outlaw Mothers in Music, Media, Arts and Cultural Expression.
Dr. Leah White, assistant professor of Speech Communication and Director of Maverick Forensics has been selected by her peers as the recipient of the 2008 "District IV Larry Schnoor Distinguished Service Award."
On April 3-8, 2008 members of the Minnesota State University - Mankato Speech Team will travel to The University of Texas - Austin in Austin TX to compete at the American Forensic Association National Individual Events Tournament. The AFA-NIET is the most prestigious national speech tournament held each year. Minnesota State Mankato was honored to host this event last year. In order to qualify for the tournament, students must place either 1st, 2nd or 3rd in their events at 3 different regional tournaments during the year. This year MSU qualified 11 students in 27 events. Director of Forensics, Dr. Leah White stated, "This is the most events the team has qualified in the five years I have been at Minnesota State, Mankato. This is even more significant considering of the over 20 students who participated in forensics this year all but three are in their first or second year of college competition." 7 students will attend in a total of 22 events. The following students will attend the tournament:
Senior Zeke Sorenson in Prose Interpretation, Program Oral Interpretation, Duo Interpretation with Reisch, Poetry Interpretation and Communication Analysis. Sorenson also qualified Dramatic Interpretation but due to entry constraints will not be competing in the event.
Sophomore Jason Reisch in Duo Interpretation with Sorenson, Program Oral Interpretation, Dramatic Interpretation and After Dinner Speaking. Reisch also qualified Poetry Interpretation but due to entry constraints will not be competing in the event.
Sophomore Megan Petersen in Duo Interpretation with Lumberg, Poetry Interpretation and After Dinner Speaking. Petersen also qualified in Duo Interpretation with Anderson who will not be attending the tournament.
Sophomore Justin Hathaway in Prose Interpretation, After Dinner Speaking and Poetry Interpretation.
Freshman Sean Paskach in Prose Interpretation, Program Oral Interpretation and Informative Speaking.
Freshman Sarah Walker in Impromptu Speaking, Persuasive Speaking and Communication Analysis
Freshman Suzanne Lumberg in Informative Speaking, Duo with Petersen and Poetry Interpretation
Due to funding constraints, students needed to qualify three events in order to attend the tournament. The following students also qualified events, but will not be traveling to the tournament: Junior Grant Anderson in Duo Interpretation with Petersen, Sophomore April Larson in Duo Interpretation with Franzen, Sophomore Alex Franzen in Duo Interpretation with Larson, Freshman Wade Werner in Dramatic Interpretation.
The team will host a showcase performance of some of the events traveling to the AFA-NIET on April 1st at 6:30 in Ostrander Auditorium on the Minnesota State University, Mankato campus.
Dr. Rachel Anderson Droogsma been awarded a Summer Research Dissemination grant by the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs. Dr. Droogsma will spend a good portion of her summer on her Clothesline Project research. The title of the project is: "'He Might of Cracked My Spirit, but He Never Broke It': A Feminist Standpoint Analysis of Woman Abuse Survivors' Messages in The Clothesline Project."
Special congratulations to Laura, Jayme, and Dan who are undergraduates in our program
HANUCHRISTMAKWANZAKAH: CELEBRATING MULTICULTURAL FAMILIES AND THEIR TRADITIONS
Chair: Jessica Samens
Panelists: Laura Hinrichs, Jayme Sunde, Dan Monahan
Respondent: Kristen Cvancara
Laura Hinrichs
Poster Session: (gender) Competitive poster session
Poster session: Shooting the Boot: Examining traditions, stereotypes and communication
styles of rugby players
Mankato, Minn. - The Minnesota State Mankato's Colleges Against Cancer student chapter will host the fourth annual Relay for Life in Myers Field House Saturday and Sunday, April 12 and 13, attempting to raise $29,000.
Last year the Relay for Life group raised more than $28,000, earning an American Cancer Society award as the top per-capita fundraiser in the Midwest. In the last three years the campus student organization has raised more than $60,000.
The event, from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m., is open to students, faculty, staff and the
public. Relay for Life is an overnight event developed to celebrate survivorship
and raise funds to support the research and programs of the American Cancer
Society. This year's relay includes a survivor lap at 6:30 p.m.; guest speakers
at 7 p.m.; a luminaria ceremony at 8:30 p.m.; and entertainment, a silent
auction, food, games and prizes.
Those who wish to participate or who want more information may go to www.events.cancer.org/rflmnstate-mankato
or call Christa Brown at (507) 389-2367.
Those with a disability who need reasonable accommodations to participate should
contact the Office of Disability Services at least five days before the event
at (507) 389-2825 (V/TTD), (800) 627-3529 or 711 (MRS/TTD).
Individual placings were as follows:
On February 9th and 10th, 2008 the Minnesota State University, Mankato Forensic
Team traveled to Wisconsin to compete in the Wisconsin Double-Up Love Fest
sponsored by the University of Wisconsin, Eau Claire and Ripon College. The
team took second out of seventeen schools at the Grace Walsh Individual Events
Tournament, third at the Red Hawk Invitational, and second in combined team
sweepstakes for the weekend behind Bradley University.
Freshman Wade Werner: 3rd place Prose; 4th place Dramatic Interp
Freshman Sarah Walker: 4th place Communication Analysis
Sophomore Justin Hathaway: 1st place Poetry
Sophomore April Larson: 6th place Informative Speaking
Sophomore Megan Petersen: 3rd place After Dinner Speaking
Junior Grant Anderson: 5th place Extemp Speaking
Senior Zeke Sorenson: 2nd place Communication Analysis
Freshman Wade Werner: 6th place Prose; 4th place Dramatic Interp
Freshman Molly Carmody: 7th place Dramatic Interp
Freshman Sarah Walker: 3rd place Communication Analysis
Freshman Sean Paskach: 2nd place Program Oral Interp
Sophomore Jason Reisch: 5th place Program Oral Interp
Sophomore Megan Petersen: 1st place After Dinner Speaking
Senior Zeke Sorenson: 1st place Communication Analysis
Measurement & Scaling Issues In Communication Science:
What’s Good, What’s Bad, And What’s Needed To Develop And
Advance Theory In The Field
"Measurement and scaling issues in compliance-gaining research: Reliability
and validity of typology-based assessments." Kristen Eis Cvancara, Minnesota
State University
Advanced Issues In Teaching The Basic Course Online
"Incorporating activities in the online basic communication course." Kristi
Treinen, Minnesota State University
The Activism Of Mythic Studies And Rhetorical Criticism: Where
We’ve Been, Where We Are, And Where We’re Going
Chair: Maggie Briggs, Minnesota State University, Mankato
Out Of The Classroom And Into The Community
Chair: Michelle D. Dodge, Minnesota State University, Mankato
Incorporation Of Queer Pedagogy Into Communication Education
Chair: Jessica Samens, Minnesota State University, Mankato
"The Diversity Class" : Discussing The Implementation
Of Diversity Requirements At The University
Participant: Kristen Treinen, Minnesota State University, Mankato
Exploring Family Communication Competitive Paper Panel
Chair: Christa M. Brown, Minnesota State University, Mankato
"No, I Am Not A Student!" : Pedagogical Strategies
And Challenges Of Being A Young Instructor
Chair: Kristen P. Treinen, Minnesota State University, Mankato
Participant: Jessica Samens, Minnesota State University –Mankato
Participant: Kathleen Crawford, Minnesota State University –Mankato
The First Amendment And Religious Expression: An Analysis Of
Political Cartoons
Chair: Rebecca Rick, Minnesota State University, Mankato
Political Activism Before And During The War In Iraq
Chair: Brian Grewe, Minnesota State University, Mankato
Teaching In A Time Of War: Reflections On The Basic Course
Participant: Kristi Treinen, Minnesota State University, Mankato
The Pedagogical Implications Of Norms In Forensics: A Roundtable
Disucssion
Participant: Chad Kuyper, Minnesota State University, Mankato
Participant: Michael Chouinard, Minnesota State University, Mankato
Participant: Sarah Jones, Minnesota State University, Mankato
Conferencing 101: Tips And Tricks For Graduate Students
Participant: Christa Brown, Regent University
Participant: Kristen Treinen, Minnesota Sate University, Mankato
Basic Course And Civic Engagement: Beyond The Classroom - State
Of Minnesota Showcase Program
Participant: Kathleen Crawford, Minnesota State University, Mankato
Participant: Jessica Samens, Minnesota State University, Mankato
Exploring, Explaining And Engaging Through Technology
Paper: Kristen P. Treinen, Minnesota State University, Mankato, "Exploring,
explaining, and engaging through video in online discussion."
Performing Masculinty And Gender
Chair: Maggie Briggs, Minnesota State University, Mankato
Graduate Call To Action: Re-Invigorating Communication Theory
Through Debate Regarding Resarch, Practice, And Pedagogy
Chair: Brian Grewe, Minnesota State University, Mankato
Activism: Inside And Outside The Classroom
Chair: Michelle Dodge, Minnesota State University, Mankato
The Usage Of Popular Culture In Communication Classes: Theories,
Methods, And Artifacts Of Popular Culture
Participant: Jessica Samens, Minnesota State University, Mankato
Socially Responsible Learning: The Communication Course And
Civic Engagement
Participant: Kathleen Crawford, Minnesota State University, Mankato
Participant: Maggie Briggs, Minnesota State University, Mankato
Communication In The Digital Arena: Exploring, Explaining,
And Engaging Human Behavior In Online Environments –State Of Minnesota
Showcase Program
Chair: Christa M. Brown, Minnesota State University, Mankato
Participant: Grant Anderson, Minnesota State University, Mankato
Participant: Nicole Goebel, Minnesota State University, Mankato
Participant: Justin Hathaway, Minnesota State University, Mankato
Participant: Sarah Jones, Minnesota State University, Mankato
Participant: Stephon Sorenson, Minnesota State University, Mankato
A Transient Population: Is That All We Really Are?
Participant: Kathleen Crawford, Minnesota State University, Mankato
Participant: Jessica Samens, Minnesota State University, Mankato
Supernanny: To The Rescue?
Facilitator: Lynn Kuechle, Minnesota State University Mankato
Participant: Lynn Kuechle, Minnesota State University Mankato
Participant: Christa M. Brown, Minnesota State University Mankato
Participant: Kathleen Crawford, Minnesota State University Mankato





8:00-9:00 Light breakfast…coffee, juice, pastries (hallway outside
AH 230)
Stop by for a morning snack and pick up a list of the day's events, information
on the major, minor, internship and scholarship opportunities will be available.
9:00-9:50 Majoring or Minoring in Speech Communication: What it involves and
what you need to know (AH 311)
If you're interested in learning more about the major or minor, want to know
what classes work well together, or if you just want to be sure you're on the
right track for graduation, this is the session for you. There will be plenty
of time to ask your questions!
9:00-9:50 Getting involved beyond the classroom: Building A Resume (AH 334)
This session features panelists discussing a wide variety of outside-of-class
activities—groups such as Colleges Against Cancer, Speech Club, Lamba
Pi Eta (a national honor society), IMPACT, PRSSA, and MSU's nationally-ranked
speech team. Find out how activities beyond the Speech Department can compliment
a major or minor in Speech.
10:00-10:50 A Good Pairing: Minors to Speech Communication (AH 311)
Speech Communication is a general degree, but it can be made more specific
and tailored to student's interests and goals by pairing the major with the
right minor. This session will explore various minors students might not
know about or have not yet considered.
10:00-10:50 Getting involved beyond the classroom: Building A Resume (AH 334)
(This session is repeated to offer more students a chance to attend…please
see earlier description)
11:00-11:50 Want to try your hand at communication research? (AH 334)
Interested in communication research? Maybe even graduate school? MSU faculty
and students discuss some of their unique and interesting research projects.
A valuable session if you think you might someday want to do your own research.
11:00-11:50 Majoring or Minoring in Speech
Communication: What it involves and what you need to know (AH 311)
(This session is repeated to offer more students a chance to attend…please
see earlier description)
12:00-1:00 Free Lunch—Pizza, Pop, and Conversation (AH 334 & 303)
Lunch is on us! Please stop by to chat with other students, faculty, alums,
or community leaders who have Speech Communication degrees.
1:00-1:50 Thinking about graduate school? (AH 334)
Talk with MSU faculty and graduate students about topics ranging from finding
the right graduate program to getting accepted. Many graduate students earn
their tuition by becoming Teaching Assistants—this topic will also
be addressed.
1:00-1:50 Don't sell yourself short! Selling Your Degree to Employers (AH
311)
This session is designed to help Speech majors explain the benefits they bring
to potential employers due to their studies of human communication. Topics
will range from helping you express what skills and knowledge sets you are
learning in this major to tips for composing a resume. Internships will also
be discussed.
Feature Session
2:00-2:50 Your degree, your passion, and the $$: MSU alums tell their stories
(AH 102)
Come hear stories from and talk with three graduates of the Speech Department
MSU—one who is coming back to MSU to work on an MBA degree and two who
applied their degree to business settings. All three of these individuals will
explain how they took their Speech degree into the "real world." (Christi
Bones, Steve Griffiths, Erin Tonga)
The Minnesota State University, Mankato Forensics Team competed in the Icebox Classic in St. Cloud, Minnesota February 1 –2. MSU –Mankato took 2nd place overall with several outstanding individual accomplishments:
On January 26-27, 2008, the Minnesota State University, Mankato forensics
team traveled to Lincoln, Ne to compete in the "Kansas in Nebraska" tournament.
The team competed against such nationally ranked teams as Illinois State University,
Univeristy of Nebraska-Lincoln, and Kansas State Univeristy. The results were
as follows:
Day 1
Jason Reisch: 2nd in Dramatic Interpretation
Day 2
Jason Reisch: 2nd in After Dinner Speaking, 2nd in Dramatic Interpretation
(qualifying the event for the American Forensics Association national tournament),
3rd in Individual Sweepstakes
Dr. Rachel Anderson Droogsma is highlighted in the Winter 2008 I (volume 2, issue 1) of Frontiers magazine, a publication of the university. Congratulations to Rachel!
On January 19 and 20, 2008 the Minnesota State University, Mankato Forensic Team traveled to Iowa to compete in the Iowa Swing held on the campuses of the University of Northern Iowa and Wartburg College. 14 schools competed in the tournament.
Individual Awards Received are as follows:
January 19 –Bill Henderson Invitational at University of Northern Iowa
Senior Zeke Sorenson –2nd in Communication Analysis and 8th in Prose
Interpretation
Junior Grant Anderson –2nd in Duo Interpretation with Petersen
Sophomore Megan Petersen –2nd in Duo Interpretation with Anderson, 5th
in Duo
Interpretation with Lumberg, and 6th in Informative Speaking
Sophomore Jason Reisch –5th in After Dinner Speaking and 7th in Dramatic
Interpretation
Freshman Wade Werner –5th in Dramatic Interpretation
Freshman Suzanne Lumberg –5th in Duo Interpretation with Petersen and
5th in
Informative Speaking.
Freshman Sean Paskach –6th in Prose Interpretation
January 20 –Bob Smith Invitational at Wartburg College
Junior Grant Anderson –6th in Duo Interpretation with Petersen
Sophomore Megan Petersen –6th in Duo Interpretation with Anderson and
3rd in Duo
Interpretation with Lumberg
Freshman Wade Werner –5th in Dramatic Interpretation and 4th in Prose
Interpretation
Freshman Suzanne Lumberg –3rd in Duo Interpretation with Petersen and
5th in
Informative Speaking.
Freshman Sean Paskach –5th in Prose Interpretation and 2nd in Program
Oral
Interpretation
Freshman Sarah Walker –4th in Persuasive Speaking and 3rd in Impromptu
Speaking
Daniel Cronn-Mills 15 Years
James Dimock 5 Years
David Engen 5 Years
Nanette Johnson-Curiskis 10 Years
Kristen Treinen 5 Years
Dr. Kristen Cvancara has a paper accepted for the Realizing Student Potential/ITeach Conference on February 29 in Minneapolis. The presentation is titled "Gaining Student Compliance: Pro-social and Anti-social Tactics in the Classroom." The presentation is a preliminary review of a 2007-2008 RIP Grant project, and will incorporate material Dr. Cvancara has been advancing through the 2007-2008 SoLT Community of Practice, sponsored this year by CETL.
Dr. Kristen Cvancara has a paper accepted for the International Communication Conference to be held in May. The paper is titled "Televised Social Models and Verbal Aggression." The abstract reads: "Understanding how exposure to media may contribute to interpersonal aggression within intimate settings has not been examined fully. Given this, the current study examined the extent to which various aspects of television consumption related to verbally aggressive behaviors during negotiations for intimate physical contact. In general, results show that gender and media consumption variables are related to reported willingness to use verbally aggressive behaviors when seeking physical intimacy. Implications for social policy are discussed and directions for future research are advanced."
The Minnesota State University, Mankato forensic team competed at the University of Wisconsin, Stout tournament November 30 and December 1st in Menomonie, WI. There were 19 schools in attendance, including Gustavus Adolphus College, University of Wisconsin, Eau Claire, and Wartburg College. The MSU, Mankato forensic team placed 5th overall, and individual results were as follows:
Megan Petersen: 6th place in Prose, 2nd place in Duo with Grant Anderson
Zeke Sorenson: 1st place in Duo with Jayme Sunde, 5th place in Dramatic Interpretation,
4th place in Music Interpretation, 6th place in Individual Sweepstakes
Suzanne Lumberg: 6th place in Poetry Interpretation
Justin Hathaway: 4th place in Poetry Interpretation
Grant Anderson: 2nd place in Duo with Megan Peterson
Jayme Sunde: 1st place in Duo with Zeke Sorenson
Dr. Jason Edwards (MA, 2002), an assistant professor at Bridgewater State College has had highly productive year and a half including:
Congratulations to John Perlich who co-edited and contributed (with David
Whitt) chapters to the book "Sith, Slayers, Stargates, and Cyborgs: Modern
Mythology in the New Millennium" published by Peter Lang. Dr. Perlich
received his baccalaureate and master degrees from the Speech Communication
Department at Minnesota State University, Mankato.
Two Speech Communication faculty members, Dr. Dave Engen
and Dr. Kristi Treinen, have been selected as 2008 recipients of the Presidential
Summer Teaching Scholar Fellowship. This is the seventh time in the short history
of the Fellowship that Speech Communication faculty have received this honor,
demonstrating the quality and quantity of scholarship in the Department.
Speech Communication faculty member Dr. Nan Johnson-Curiskis is featured in the fall edition of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system magazine. The article about Dr. Johnson-Curiskis is on p. 21 of the magazine, which is available at http://www.mnscu.edu/media/publications/pdf/mnstate_magazine_fall07.pdf
Speech Communication graduate student Brian Grewe has
had his research cited by one of the leading researchers in the field of relational
communication. In the new 4th edition of Human Relationships (published
by Sage), author Steve Duck has included a citation of Brian's research. Brian
presented his research, titled "Relationships on the rocks: Relational
changes after acquiring a physical disability," at the Central States
Communication Conference in Indianapolis in 2005.
Graduate student Chad Kuyper and Professor Jim Dimock have
had their paper "A
Question of Ethics: John Gibson and the "War on Christmas,'" accepted
for presentation at the 2008 Rhetoric Society of America conference. The conference
will be held in May in Seattle.
Speech Communication undergraduate Nicole Goebel has been
awarded two research grants from the Undergraduate Research Conference. These
grants will help support her research on her two presentations: "Parents
as Students: Assessing the Childcare Needs of Nontraditional Students at
Lynn Kuechle, an aluma, Speech Communications instructor and mother of two, will explore issues of motherhood in a KMSU 89.7 FM master's thesis audio presentation Wednesday, Nov. 14, at 10 a.m., on "Minnesota Morning" with host Karen Wright.
Kuechle interviewed five mothers, all in differing stages of motherhood, capturing their stories. From these stories -- and from her own mothering experience, -- Kuechle created a 45-minute performance piece called "Extraordinary Ordinary: Motherhood in the Face of unrealistic stereotypes and outdated ideology."
Kuechle, along with actresses Rachel Droogsma, Angela Brutlag and Holly Breitkreutz, will present the mothers' stories to illustrate a more realistic picture of the motherhood experience.
Speech
Communication faculty member Dr. Leah White will be presenting "Charlotte
Salomon's Life? Or Theatre?: A Visual Representation of German-Jewish
Woman’s Life" on November 27th from noon-1:00 in CSU
203. This presentation is part of the "Focus on Germany" series
sponsored by the International Programs Office.
This last weekend, October 20-21, 2007, the MSU-Mankato
Forensics team co-hosted and competed in the Minnesota River Swing. The Saturday
portion of the tournament was hosted at
Jimmy Jansen: Impromptu—6th place
Zeke Sorenson: Program Oral Interpretation—1st place; Duo
with Jayme Sunde—4th place, Dramatic Interpretation—5th place
Jayme Sunde: Duo with Zeke Sorenson—4th place
Jason Reisch: Poetry—4th place; After Dinner Speaking—2nd place
Nicole Goebel: After Dinner Speaking—1st place
Kylie Schultz: Dramatic Interpretation—6th place
On October 5 and 6, 2007, the MSU-Mankato Forensic Team traveled to South Dakota State University in Brookings, South Dakota to compete in the Jackrabbit Joust. MSU-Mankato took 3rd place at this competition. 12 schools competed in this competition.
MSU-Mankato Forensic Team members did very well at the Jackrabbit Joust:
A performance of faculty member Lynn Kuechle's thesis is available online at http://msustr0.campus.mnsu.edu:8080/cah/kuechl/thesis.wmv
Two undergraduate speech communication students have articles published in the latest issue of the MSU Journal of Undergraduate Research.
Critique
of the Appropriation of Black Culture by White Suburban Youth
Julie L. Lemley
Professor James Dimock, advisor
The
Reality of Role-Playing Games: How Players Construct Reality Through Language
Jessica Carlson
Dr. Daniel Cronn-Mills, advisor
Issue is online at http://grad.mnsu.edu/research/urc/journal/
Professor
Jim Dimock, faculty member in the Speech Communication Department, will have
his article "Putting the Argument Back in the 'Spheres of Argument'" published
in the Proceedings of the 15th NCA/AFA Conference on Argumentation.
Mr. Dimock recently took part in this conference, held every two years at
the Alta Resort in Sandy, Utah. This conference is one of the premier conferences
for argumentation scholars, and attracts international participation.
MSU Emeritus Professor Larry Schnoor has been informed by the National Communication Association that he has been chosen as the winner of the 2007 Wallace A. Bacon Lifetime Teaching Excellence Award. The award recognizes the teaching excellence of retired NCA members. These scholars have exhibited a lifetime of dedication to distinguished teaching.
Dr. Joseph Daily, award committee chair, writes in the notification letter:
The Bacon Award Committee was especially impressed by the level of admiration expressed by your former students for both your teaching and your administrative work, by your high standards as a teacher, and by your exceptional accomplishments.
So that I may better express our admiration for your work, I have copied below a passage from the committee's letter to NCA Headquarters.
"Professor Larry Schnoor is a top-drawer teacher, exceptional in his level of accomplishment, marvelous in his interactions with students and a wonderful example of the teaching profession. Colleagues praise him as an administrator, forensics coach, leader and friend. He taught at Minnesota State University-Mankato from 1964 until his retirement in 1993, chairing the department from 1978 until 1991. After "retiring," he taught full-time at Concordia College and later at St. Olaf College. As a teacher-mentor he benefited directors of forensics across the country. His passionate commitment has inspired students to excel as researchers, forensic competitors and as members of the human family. In the words of one former student, "Larry is, without question, the foremost educator/facilitator of individual events in collegiate forensics in the nation." One former student says that Professor Schnoor never worked a traditional workweek, that he was always the first in the office and usually the last to go home, and that he often returned at night to work with students. The same person wrote, "Larry Schnoor is the hardest working, most dedicated professional I have met in my life." His profession roles, simply too numerous to mention, have benefited students, colleagues and his profession immeasurably."
Personal
congratulations to Professor Schnoor may be sent to: lschnoor@hickorytech.net
David Nadolski (MFA) has an article accepted for publication in the next issue of the National Forensic Journal. The article is titled "Examining Leadership and Mentorship in Business and Forensics."
Congratulations to Dave!
Dave may be reached at dnadolski@aol.com
The Speech Communication Department MAGS Committee has selected Lynn Kuechle's thesis, Extraordinary Ordinary: Motherhood in the Face of Outdated Ideology and Unrealistic Stereotypes, to represent the Department for the Midwestern Association of Graduate Schools Distinguished Master’s Thesis Award. Leah White was her advisor during this project. Congrats!
Dr. Nan Johnson-Curiskis has been selected to receive the CTAM 2007 "Outstanding Individual in Communication and Theater Award." The award recognizes Nan's distinguished service to communication and theater education in Minnesota. Nan will be honored during the CTAM annual conference in September to be held in Rochester. Nan is the 5th member of the Speech Communication Department at MSU, Mankato to receive this honor. Previous recipients include Larry Schnoor in 1978, Dan Cronn-Mills in 2002, Warren Sandmann in 2003, and Kathy Steiner in 2006.
At the 28th annual convention of the International Listening Association in Frankfurt Germany, Dr. Nan Johnson-Curiskis was named the new Executive Director of the International Listening Association. Dr. Johnson-Curiskis will replace Dr. James Pratt from River Falls who has served since 2001. The Executive Director of the ILA conducts the daily business of the ILA and is responsible for maintaining an office for Association materials, digital files, and any other items necessary for the business of the association. The ED is responsible for all financial transactions including budgets, maintains membership lists, and organizes and coordinates with the First Vice-President on convention planning. The Executive director is appointed by the Executive Board. Dr. Johnson-Curiskis is a founding and life-time member of the ILA. The ILA is the professional organization whose members are dedicated to learning more about the impact that listening has on all human activity. The International Listening Association promotes the study, development, and teaching of listening and the practice of effective listening skills and techniques. www.listen.org
Minnesota Summer Speech Institutes for High School Competitors
•Kristofer Kracht, Gustavus Adolphus College
•Dr. Todd Holm, Concordia College
•Dr. Leah White, MSU, Mankato
Find out how high school students can benefit from summer forensics programs.
The goal of this session is to provide high school forensics coaches with information
regarding the Gustavus Adolphus College Summer Speech Institute, Concordia
College Speech Institute, and the Minnesota State University, Mankato Summer
Speech Camp.
Best Practices and Teaching Ideas for Online Communication Courses
•Angie Seifert Anderson, Anoka Ramsey Community College, Cambridge
•Nanette Johnson-Curiskis, MSU, Mankato
•Mark Grant, Dakota County Technical College
•Rachel Thompson, Connections Academy, Minneapolis
This session brings together online teachers from a variety of educational
backgrounds: a community college, technical college, four year college, and
a virtual K-10 academy. Each instructor will speak about what she or he found
worked for him or her in the online classroom and what did not work. If you
have never taught online and may do so in the future, you can come and learn
from our successes and failures. If you have already taught online, please
come and share your ideas for best practices in teaching online.
Infusing Critical Thinking into Communication Courses
•Kristen Treinen, MSU, Mankato
•James Dimock, MSU, Mankato
•Daniel Cronn-Mills, MSU, Mankato
Communication courses are a central avenue to improving students' critical
thinking abilities. We will discuss how incorporating critical thinking concepts
and strategies into your communication curriculum can enhance your students'
learning experience. Join us and learn about instructional and curricular materials
designed to enhance how students use communication to develop their critical
thinking abilities, including such concepts as mind-maps, cognitive biases,
evidentiary analysis, argument analysis, and other concepts and techniques.
Online Teaching G.I.F.T.S.
Moderator: Angie Seifert Anderson-Anoka Ramsey Community College, Cambridge
•Warren Sandmann, MSU, Mankato
•Lori Halverson-Wente, Rochester Community College
•Shelly Freese, Normandale Community College
•Nanette Johnson-Curiskis, MSU, Mankato
•Mark Grant, Dakota County Technical College
Our traditional G.I.F.T.S. session has a new twist this year: teaching speech,
communication and theatre courses online. Several instructors will share ideas
for teaching online. We will have internet access at this session, so we welcome
all to share ideas/resources you have found for effectively teaching online.
Communication in the Digital Arena: Socio-Rhetorical Dimensions of Online
Environments
•Grant Anderson, MSU, Mankato
•Elizabeth Bendix, Concordia College
•Nicole Goebel, MSU, Mankato
•Justin Hathaway, MSU, Mankato
•Sarah Jones, MSU, Mankato
•Stephon Sorenson, MSU, Mankato
Increasingly, online and digital environments challenge traditional models
of communication. Our understanding of identity, immediacy and what it means
to interact with one another must expand to incorporate expanding sense of
time and space provided by the digital environment. Online environments, such
as My Space, Facebook and gaming "worlds" deliberately construct
environments and contexts within which interaction can take place and relationships
form, providing an ideal case upon which such questions can be explored.
The Little Black Book: What's Up with That?
•Deborah Bendix, ST. Cloud Apollo High School
•James P. Dimock, MSU, Mankato
•Sara Gronstal, MSU, Mankato
•Chad Kuyper, MSU, Mankato
•Holly Manning, Concordia College
•Scott Wells, St. Cloud State University
The "little black book" or the script is required in interpretive
events at the collegiate level but not at the high school level. The panelists
examine the little black book, considering whether or not it is useful, essential
or an imposition on the interper. The practical and theoretical implications
of the little black script book will be discussed.
Corporate Influence on the Discipline: A Debate
Debaters:
•Affirming: James P. Dimock, MSU, Mankato
•Negating: Paul W. Oehlke, St. Cloud State University
Moderator:
•Warren Sandmann, MSU, Mankato
In the winter of 2007, a debate played on the CRTnet Listserv concerning the
impact and influence of business corporations on the academy, on the communication
studies discipline and the National Communication Association. Often contentious,
two of the arguers in that contest bring the debate to CTAM. Mr. Dimock will
begin with a ten minute statement and Dr. Oehlke will respond. The floor will
then be opened up to questions moderated by Dr. Sandmann.
Questioning Our Teaching Strategies: Educating Contemporary College Students
•Maggie Briggs, MSU, Mankato
•Kristen Cvancara, MSU, Mankato
•Dave Engen, MSU,Mankato
•Kristen Treinen, MSU, Mankato
Panelists will explore some of the key challenges and communication issues
we face when teaching contemporary college students (a.k.a. Generation NeXt).
Topics for discussion include:
•ways the "narrative of convenience" is influencing the manner
in which students approach the classroom
•questions about possible connections between students' social class background
and new methods of "content delivery"
•the tension between invitation and coercion as it relates to interacting
with and motivating students
•ways of dealing with students' urge to increasingly multi-task
•the relationship between instructor age and teaching this "technology
generation"
The goal of this panel is not to present completed scholarship on these topics.
Instead, panelists will present their ideas, experiences, and questions relating
to the above. Audience members will discuss these topics, with the hope of
spurring possible research projects and collaborations for presentation at
next year's conference and beyond.
In June, Dave Engen and Carolyn Mager presented an audio documentary/collage titled "The Sound of Work" at the bi-annual conference of the Working-Class Studies Association's annual conference. The project was recorded in the spring of 2007 with editing and mixing completed in May and June. The recently graduated Robert Jersek helped with the recording.
Merci Decker (MA) is currently serving in a seasonal AmeriCorps position as a State Park Naturalist and recently accepted a position at Northwest Missouri State University as Director of Forensics. Merci also has co-authored paper accepted in the Feminist and Women's Studies Division at NCA.
Professor James Dimock has recieved word his competitive paper titled ""Putting the argument back in the spheres of argument" has been accepted for the 15th Alta Conference on Argumentation to be held August 2-5, 2007 in Alta, Utah at the Rustler Lodge.
Dr. Kristen Treinen has earned tenured and been promoted to the rank of associate
professor effective the first duty day of the 2007-2008 academic year.
Dr. David Engen has earned tenured and been promoted to the rank of associate
professors effective the first duty day of the 2007-2008 academic year.
Dr. Kristen Cvancara and Dr. Kristen Treinen have been notified a manuscript titled "Recognizing College Students of Today: Generational Shifts Prompt Pedagogical Shifts" has been accepted for publication in the next issue of the CTAMJournal.
Dr. Nan Johnson-Curiskis, Dr. Dan Cronn-Mills and Dr. Warren Sandmann have been notified a manuscript titled "Developing a Senior Capstone and Portfolio Course" has been accepted for publication in the next issue of the CTAMJournal.
Dr. Kristen Cvancara was interviewed on KMSU by Greg Husak about her summer research grant. The interview aired Thursday, June 14, 2007 at 9:am.
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