Connection Fall 2006 by Georgia College & State University

LETTER Letter from the President

November 2006 Dear Friends, We tell our students that making the most of their education at Georgia College involves more than earning a degree. The degree is certainly impor tant! Yet extraordinar y oppor tunities for intellectual and personal growth also exist outside of the formal classroom setting at Georgia College. We call this the co-curriculumâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;a fancy name for student clubs and organizations, ar t exhibits and concerts, visiting scholars and other dignitaries, mentoring programs and volunteer projects. The campus at Georgia College is alive with activity designed to enrich the total student learning experience, and I am happy to report that our students are fully engaged in their learning both inside and outside of the classroom.

7 Whether hosting a political debate, discussing the origins of humankind, gaining firsthand experience in an internship, participating in a residential learning community, or exploring other cultures, Georgia College students are taking charge of their own education. They are intellectually curious, imaginative, caring, determined and often bold. On a daily basis, they renew my faith in the future leadership of our communities, state, and nation. This issue of Connection will put you in touch with a sampling of the people, events and programs that help to create the vibrant community of learning that we nurture and cherish at Georgia College. If you havenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t visited us recently, I hope that something in this issue of Connection will inspire you to do so. I admit to owning a healthy dose of pride in our students, faculty and staff, and an equally deep appreciation for the continued support of our alumni and friends! Yours sincerely,

Dorothy Leland

16 President Dorothy Leland Vice President for University Advancement Amy Nitsche Director of University Communications Bryan Jackson

Please send change of address, class notes and deaths to: University Advancement Campus Box 96 Milledgeville, GA 31061 joi.thomas@gcsu.edu

Senior Photographer Tim Vacula

GCSU Campus Box 97 Milledgeville, GA 31061 bryan.jackson@gcsu.edu

Graphic Designer Jon M. Scott

www.gcsu.edu

CONTENTS Table of Contents

Departments 4

Up Front Short takes to provide a glimpse of the Georgia College community.

Inaugurating a Hall of Fame Ten star athletes from the past are invited inside Georgia College’s first hall of fame.

Alumni Profile Kim Martin, ’82, is general manager for WEtv, a cable network reaching 60 million U.S. households.

Class Notes Catch up on news of fellow classmates.

Features 10

More than Chasing Windmills: Santiago on Menéndez Professor of Modern Languages Santiago García-Castañón releases his 11th book to Spain.

Right Place, Right Time Senior Melissa Medlin covers a story at the Pentagon that circulated to the world press.

Ringing with Activity Again Professor Bob Wilson traces the history of Bell Hall which reopened to students in September.

From Oman to Georgia: Sharing Arabic Culture Georgia College welcomes Fatma Al Maamari.

UPFRONT UpFront

Discussing the Origins of Humankind Dr. Donald Johanson, considered by many to be among the most important and accomplished paleoanthropologists of our time, delivered a lecture in September titled, “The Origins of Humankind: The View from Africa” He discovered the 3.2 million-year-old hominid fossil known as “Lucy” in 1974. The skeleton possessed a mixture of ape-like features, such as a projecting face and small brain, but also had characters considered human, such as upright walking. Having a key fossil is one thing; being able to fully use that fossil and put it in the context of other discoveries within the field of paleoanthropology is one of Johanson’s “stellar achievements,” says Dr. Melanie DeVore, Georgia Power Endowed Professor of Environmental Science at Georgia College.

Professor Johanson’s visit to Georgia College was highlighted in the October 2, 2006 issue of Newsweek in a stor y about the discovery of a three million year old skeleton of a pre-human child thought to be related to the species of “Lucy” – the fossil of a pre-human adult female he discovered in 1974. Johanson’s presentation at GCSU drew a crowd of more than 600 and attracted wide media attention.

Midnight Madness Opens Hoops Season at GCSU Guest coaches, pancakes, and a goodnatured “gr udge match” kicked of f GCSU’s annual Midnight Madness welcome of this year’s basketball season. The event pitted GCSU President Dorothy Leland against State Senator Johnny Grant, MPA, ‘04 in a scrimmage that featured opposing squads of Lady Bobcats at the Centennial Center on October 14th. The evening provided plenty of excitement as Leland and Grant directed the battle on the cour t, with Leland’s team eventually prevailing by 24 to 21. However, both guest coaches were tactfully advised not to quit their day jobs.

President Leland with alumnus Johnny Grant. 4

Georgia College & State University Connection • Fall 2006

U P F R O N T

Hosting Politicians

Linked to Peace When Peace Corps volunteers return from serving the world, they will now have the oppor tunity to fur ther their education by enrolling at Georgia College. Returning Peace Corps volunteers can enroll as Fellows in one of four degree programs including master of education, specialist in education, master of arts in teaching, and master of fine arts in creative writing. With the renewed partnership, GCSU will be the only university in Georgia to host a Peace Corps Fellows/USA program. Fellows/USA enables returned volunteers to pursue graduate degrees at reduced cost while aiding underserved U.S. communities through internships. The program has established partnerships with more than 40 universities nationwide. “This par tnership has par ticular significance as former Peace Corps Director Paul Coverdell’s papers are housed at GCSU and the university continues to be a strong supporter of Peace Corps and the Peace Corps’ Coverdell World Wise School program, begun by the late senator,” said Peace Corps Deputy Director Jody Olsen. “We are excited about having returning volunteers on campus as graduate Fellows, especially with the unique experiences and backgrounds they bring to the classroom,” said Dr. Roy Moore, associate vice president for academic affairs. “They will find a very welcoming environment with several former Peace Corps volunteers already here at the university, including President Leland.” Dr. Leland was a volunteer in India from 1968-69. Since 1961, more than 182,000 Peace Corps volunteers have helped promote a better understanding between Americans and the people of the 138 countries where volunteers have ser ved. Peace Corps ser vice is a 27month commitment.

The election for the Georgia District 12 seat in the U.S. House of Representatives is receiving national attention. Even Georgia College’s own Dr. Mike Digby, professor of political science, was quoted about the contentious race in a recent USA Today ar ticle. And, because Georgia College has the Coverdell Institute on campus with the charge to foster civic engagement and democratic leadership skills among students, hosting political debates are a natural outgrowth of that mission. On August 28, Congressman John Barrow (D-GA) and For mer Congressman Max Burns (RGA) paired off for a fiery yet civil debate with Randall Savage, a Pulitzer Prize journalist and special assignment editor for 13-WMAZ in Macon, ser ving as moderator. Sophomor es Emily Currington, Jason White and senior Will Thompson served as the panel of questioners.

Rock the Vote campaign GCSU exceeds voter registration goal More than 300 Georgia College students registered to vote during the university’s “Rock the Vote” campaign in the first weeks of October. Sponsored by the university’s Coverdell Institute as part of its American Democracy Project, the total exceeded the original goal of 200. With over 80 universities participating, the goal is to register 300,000 students as new voters across the nation.

Georgia College & State University Connection • Fall 2006

U P F R O N T

Chemistry Accolades GCSU junior chemistr y scholar, Lindsey Peaden from Brooks, Georgia, received a prestigious award from the American Chemical Society in September. Lindsey was awarded a Cer tificate of Merit from the Division of Envir onmental Chemistr y at the 232nd National Meeting of the American Chemical Society in San Francisco which was given for outstanding content material and outstanding manner of presentation. This award is rarely, if ever, given to undergraduate chemistry students. Lindsey was competing against graduate student presentations and post doctoral presentations from all over the country. The American Chemical Society is the world’s largest scientific society. More than 12,000 scientists attended the spring meeting, and over 7,000 presentations were given. Lindsey works under the guidance of Dr. Catrena H. Lisse and the title of her presentation was “H2Oconee and Beyond: Keeping an Eye on Your Water Supply”. Dr. Lisse’s research group, which started four years ago, consists of five undergraduate chemistr y majors (Katherine Harper, Ben Barfield, David Wilson, and Steven Rowland) with Lindsey as the student group leader. The Department is proud of all their students that attended and continues to foster undergraduate research as the primary focus of scientific learning.

Lindsey Peaden The front landscape of historic Russell Auditorium received a makeover during the summer, transforming what was a parking lot into a tree-lined courtyard and grand entrance.

A Streetcar Named Desire February 21 – 25 Make plans now to attend our Theatre Mainstage Production, “A Streetcar Named Desire,” a collaborative production of our acclaimed music and theatre departments. Times: 8 p.m., Wednesday through Saturday; 2 p.m., Sunday Location: Russell Auditorium Tickets: $12 gen. admission; $8 sen. citizens Reservations: (478) 445-4226

Georgia College & State University Connection • Fall 2006

U P F R O N T

GCSU Student Receives

Daily Point of Light Award On October 11, sophomore Chris Turner received the Daily Point of Light award for his work with the GCSU Santa Miracle Fund. One award is given each day to recognize the notable work of a single volunteer, or volunteer effor t in the United States. Chris was cited for creating the GCSU Santa Miracle Fund, a ser vice program that works directly with the Children’s Hospital in Macon. The program gives children the opportunity to purchase holiday gifts for themselves through a gift card campaign.

Chris Turner

GCSU Foundation Completes Purchase of Downtown Macon Site for Graduate Programs that include cultural attractions, convenient shopping and restaurants.”

The Georgia College & State University Foundation has completed the purchase of 30,000 squar e feet of space in the Thomas Jef ferson Building on Cher r y Street in Macon to house the university’s new Center for Graduate and Professional Learning. The Foundation also announced it had received a lead gift of $500,000 from the Peyton Anderson Foundation for the pr oject. GCSU Pr esident Leland expressed special thanks for its generous gift, which will allow the university to play a significant role in the revitalization of downtown Macon.

President Leland said the new center will allow the university to place its graduate programs under one roof, enabling it to better serve its mission of providing graduate programs that are responsive to area workforce needs. The new center will occupy three floors of the building and provide courses in business, education, and nursing. In addition, the center will emphasize class schedules that meet the needs of working professionals.

“Downtown Macon is the per fect site for our new Center for Graduate and Professional Learning,” said President Leland. “The Thomas Jefferson building offers ample space for classrooms, offices and student support, as well as amenities

“We are proud of the progress Georgia College has made in becoming one of the South’s most academically competitive and distinguished institutions of higher learning,” said Stanford G. Wilson, Chairman of the GCSU Foundation and a 1977 graduate

of Georgia College. “I am pleased that the Foundation has been able to play such an important role in furthering this advancement.” “This new facility will be an important educational resource for working professionals and area employers,” added Macon businessman J. Russell Lipford, a 1971 graduate of Georgia College and past Chair of the GCSU Foundation. “Our goal is to contribute to a more educated workforce that, in turn, benefits the region’s economy.” The new Center for Graduate and Professional Learning is expected to open mid-2007, following renovation of the building to accommodate classrooms, study facilities, and offices.

Georgia College & State University Connection • Fall 2006

U P F R O N T

Athletics In 2006, the Bobcats baseball and softball programs had seasons for the ages, and expectations will be high when the 2007 seasons swing into action the first week of February.

Greetings to Chancellor Davis Dr. Deborah Vess, professor of history, was invited by the Board of Regents to represent all university system faculty at the inauguration of Chancellor Erroll Davis on September 13.

GCSU receives gift to endow Hispanic scholarships, recruitment Georgia College & State University has received a gift of $700,000 from The Goizueta Foundation that will provide scholarships and aid in the recruitment and retention of Hispanic students, announced President Dorothy Leland. The gift will enable more Hispanic students whose families currently reside in the United States to attend Georgia’s public liberal arts university by establishing and endowing The Goizueta Foundation Scholars Fund to provide need-based scholarship assistance. The gift also provides for immediate need-based scholarship assistance to Hispanic students and supports the establishment a Hispanic bilingual recruiter and retention specialist position. A scholarship endowment for Hispanic students will allow Georgia College to further

concentrate recruitment efforts on this specific target group, said Dr. Paul Jones, vice president of institutional research and enrollment management. “Georgia has experienced a dramatic shift in its demographics, which in turn has had a dramatic impact on higher education,” he says. “It is estimated that by the year 2018, Hispanic students will make up 29 percent of the public schools in the southern region.” Roberto C. Goizueta established The Goizueta Foundation in 1992 to provide financial assistance to educational and charitable institutions. Goizueta was Chairman, Board of Directors, and Chief Executive Officer of The Coca-Cola Company until his death in October 1997. He was a native of Cuba and a graduate of Yale University.

Georgia College & State University Connection • Fall 2006

Bobcats baseball won its first Peach Belt Conference Championship and returned to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2002, finishing 53-12 overall, one win shy of matching a school record. Georgia College hosted the NCAA South Atlantic Regional for the first time in school history, and coach Chris Calciano was named the Peach Belt Conference Coach of the Year. The Bobcats were ranked No. 1 in the nation for a school record eight weeks during the season and ended the year tied for seventh in the national poll. Bobcats softball won the NCAA Division II South Atlantic Regional Tournament, and advanced to the NCAA II Softball Championships in Salem, Va., for the second time in the last four years. The Lady Bobcats finished 45-13 overall and were the Peach Belt Conference runnerup. Coach Ginger Miller was named 2006 Peach Belt Conference Coach of the Year.

U P F R O N T

Congress to Campus Students recently had the oppor tunity provided by the Congress to Campus Program to meet and converse with Former U.S. Representatives Jim Lloyd (D-CA) and Dan Miller (R-FL) as they visited with classes and hosted a town hall meeting that discussed the ideas and voice of America’s moderates. The Congress to Campus Program provides the oppor tunity for insight and commentar y about how Congress and the government really work.

Leading the African Literature Association Dr. Eustace Palmer, professor of English and coordinator of Africana Studies, was recently installed as the 32nd president of the African Literature Association in an elaborate ceremony in Accra, the capital of the West African State of Ghana. Palmer, born in the African country of Sierra Leone, was installed like a traditional ruler or Ashante “king,” in the presence of the Vice President of the Republic of Ghana Alhaji Aliu Mahama and scholars from around the world at the Great Hall of the University of Ghana, Legon, in Accra, Ghana. Traditional “royal” sandals were placed on his feet, he was swathed in heavy traditional “kente” cloth,” he was made to sit on a traditional stool, a traditional sword was placed in his hand and he was made to swear an oath of loyalty and service. Palmer delivered his presidential address and the magnificent ceremony ended with joyful traditional and modern dancing. The African Literature Association is a worldwide professional association dedicated to the advancement of African literar y studies and the promotion of the welfare of African writers and scholars of African literature.

Dr. Palmer, seated, with colleagues in Ghana. Georgia College & State University Connection • Fall 2006

Georgia College & State University Connection â&#x20AC;˘ Fall 2006

CAMPUS Around Campus

More than Chasing Windmills: Santiago on Menéndez dventurous, sarcastic, pedestrian, historical – terms you’d likely see accompanying a description of the stories and poems of Santiago García-Castañón, “I don’t write because someone expects me to do it,” he says. “I need to write just like I need to breathe.”

Born in Avilés, Spain, the hometown of famed explorer Pedro Menéndez who founded St Augustine, Fla., Santiago grew up with a steeped history in one of the oldest cities in the northern region of Asturias. Santiago’s latest book is, in fact, about the legendar y Pedro Menéndez. “It’s set in sixteenth centur y Spain and written in archaic Spanish,” he says. Even the way the book is organized looks more like a first edition of Don Quixote than a modern release, without as many windmills being chased in the text. “The book opens with traditional sonnets that celebrate the author and the stor y,” says Santiago. “I’ve also included the mandator y authorization from an officer of the government that would be expected of a book during that time.

about his contextual identity. “I’ve spent half of my life here,” he says in his tucked away office in Terrell Hall. “I love the United States and I still love my countr y of Spain.” It’s a conflict that writes itself into not only his stories but also his poetry. “I tend to write poems about pedestrian issues,” he says. “I write about simple things; I nostalgically look back at why a person has arrived at a particular point in their life and ask what the passing of time does to a human being.” Santiago is both an avid writer, with 11 books and numerous scholarly articles to his name, and a dedicated teacher. “I love to teach,” he says. “I always look forward to working with students.

“As a pseudo-autobiography, Menéndez looks back and gives an account of his adventurous life from his deathbed,” Santiago says. “It took a lot of research since I based the book on the available history, but research is the enjoyable part. We know some things about Menéndez. We know he sailed from Spain with 11 ships and about 2,000 soldiers. We know his only son died on the journey at 20 years of age. We know he arrived on the Florida coast on August 28, 1565, for example. But, there are some gaps in his childhood and in fleshing out the stor y generally. So, I include commonplace elements for that era – knife fights and hidden tr easur e and Jules Ver ne type adventur es.” As to Santiago’s personal adventure, he came to the States for college and graduate school. He makes it back to Spain ever y summer. Because his wife is native to Georgia and his children have grown up in the Southern context, he has mixed emotions

Georgia College & State University Connection • Fall 2006

A R O U N D

C A M P U S

Santiago Samples:

Como yo te amo Unpublished

Spanish and English

Un día cualquiera From Rota memoria (Broken Memory), October 2006 Abrir los ojos y ver sólo vacío, escuchar el silencio que has dejado, percibir en los poros de mi piel que tu cuerpo está lejos, alimentar el alma de residuos de emociones vencidas, de sueños derrotados por el tiempo, moverme entre cadáveres vivientes que pueblan los espacios y ser como uno de ellos. Andar como un autómata, sentir en el costado la puñalada hiriente del desprecio. Ser una sombra que deambula desde que te has ido, un alma penitente que arrastra las cadenas del dolor vagando por lugares en donde tú estuviste. Crear una ficción, una falsedad dulce y compasiva que haga pensar en lo que nunca querría que me hubiera sucedido. Y luego, rebelarme contra las pesadillas, ahuyentar los fantasmas de la angustia, no admitir que la vida se limite a esto que está ocurriendo, luchar con adversarios invisibles que habitan en mí mismo. Por fin volver, abrir la puerta de la que fue tu casa y sentir la cuchilla de tu ausencia, buscar en los rincones del pasado y saber que no estás.

A Day Like Any Other To open my eyes and see only emptiness, To listen to the silence you’ve left behind, To perceive on the pores of my skin That your body is far away, To feed my soul with drags Of defeated emotions, Dreams vanquished by time, To move among the living phantoms Dwelling space And be one of them… To walk like a robot Feeling on my chest The wounding stab of scorn, To be a shadow Wandering since you left, A penitent soul Dragging chains of grief, Roaming the places you used to inhabit. To create a fiction, A sweet, compassionate lie To make me think Of what I wished had happened. And then, To rebel against the nightmares, To frighten off ghosts of anguish, To deny that life is nothing But this that’s happening, To fight against invisible opponents Living in myself. Finally to go back, To open the door of what was once your home And feel your absence’s sharp blade, To look among in the crannies of the past And know you’re gone.

Georgia College & State University Connection • Fall 2006

Me gustaría poder decirte que te amo como se ama a Dios, al cielo, al honor, a la vida; con la pureza con que se ama al Sagrado Corazón de Jesús o a la primera novia adolescente. Pero no creo en Dios, en el cielo, ni en el honor. En cuanto a la vida, tampoco es para tanto, y ni el Sagrado Corazón de Jesús ni la primera novia despiertan mis instintos animales. De modo que te amo como el hombre que soy, elemental y primitivo; te amo con deseo, con sudor, con gemidos, con el espasmo que brota de mi cuerpo: te amo húmedamente y sin medida, como se ama a una mujer.

The Way I Love You I would like To be able to tell you I love you As one loves God, Heaven, life, honor; With the purity with which one loves The Sacred Heart of Jesus Or the first adolescent girlfriend. But I do not believe in God, Heaven, or honor. As for life, It doesn’t matter much, And neither Jesus’ Sacred Heart Nor the first girlfriend Awaken my animal instincts. So I love you like the man I am, Elementary and primitive; I love you with desire, With sweat, with moans, With the spasm springing from my body: I love you mistily and immoderately, As one loves A woman.

A R O U N D

C A M P U S

More Books by GCSU Faculty Anne Bailey

Renee Dodd

Professor of History Invisible Southerners: Ethnicity in the Civil War UGA Press

Part-Time Instructor in English, Speech, and Journalism A Cabinet of Wonders The Toby Press

“Most Souther ners who fought in the Civil War were native bor n, white, and Confederate. However, thousands with other ethnic backgrounds also took a stand and not always for the South. Invisible Southerners recounts the wartime experiences of the r egion’s German Americans, Native Americans, and African Americans. Bailey looks at how such outsiders responded to demands on their loyalties.” (From The University of Georgia Press Website, www.ugapress.uga.edu.)

A Cabinet of Wonders is the stor y of members of a Freak Show with a traveling carnival in 1927. “I wanted to be the first literar y novelist to really go inside of this world, making these always marginalized characters the center of the story,” says Dodd. “I wanted to write the book in such a way that forces the readers to exchange their discomfort, pity, or distant fascination for an intimate knowledge of complicated human beings who are just as similar to the readers as they are different from them.” (Renee Dodd)

John D. Cox

Alice Friman

Assistant Professor of English Traveling South: Travel Narratives and the Construction of American Identity UGA Press

Poet-in-Residence Poetry editor of Arts & Letters Journal of Contemporary Culture Book of the Rotten Daughter BkMk Press

“Traveling South is the first major study of how narratives of travel through the antebellum South helped constr uct an American national identity during the years between the Revolutionar y War and the Civil War. Cox makes his case on the basis of a broad range of texts that includes slave narratives, domestic literatur e, and soldiers’ diaries, as well as more traditional forms of travel writing.” (From The University of Georgia Press Website, www.ugapress.uga.edu.)

This collection of poems was inspired by Friman’s experience as caregiver for her aging mother and father, exploring such topics as illness, nursing homes, guilt, grief, and familial relationships. “The book isn’t about death but about the living’s reaction to it,” Friman says. (From an editorial r eview on www.amazon.com)

Georgia College & State University Connection • Fall 2006

Georgia College & State University Connection â&#x20AC;˘ Fall 2006

CAMPUS Around Campus

Right Place, Right Time by Bryan Jackson CSU senior Melissa Medlin had lots of offers to intern through the university’s Mass Communications program, but she wanted an oppor tunity that would give her an experience that would be like no other. And that is exactly what happened when she found herself at the Pentagon asking Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld questions on behalf of a reporter who was unable to cover the briefing for CNN.

“I guess being in the right place at the right time pays of f,” Melissa wrote shor tly after wards in an email to her Mass Communications Professor, Mary Jean Land. “The footage on the news feed has been pooled all over the world, and my question was used in many packages that have been airing on CNN. Be proud of me!!” But it turns out that Melissa’s good fortune was more than just luck. Although she had been offered a number of internships at leading media outlets, including WSB-TV and CNN’s headquarters in Atlanta, she wanted something that would give her the chance to be witness to events that shape the world. Through a combination of her hard work and the support of GCSU’s faculty, Melissa found herself working at CNN in Washington, DC. “I’ve been placed right in the heart of our nation’s politics and government, and I’m in the biggest news bureau that CNN operates,” Melissa says. “There are so many decisions being made right where I am, and so much politics being discussed… and I’m front and center in it!” That was especially true the day she found herself with a CNN news crew at the Pentagon covering a briefing with Secretar y Rumsfeld and Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai. Unable to attend, Pentagon correspondent Jamie McIntyre text messaged the crew’s producer with questions he wanted the Defense Secretar y asked about the budget for the war in Iraq. Melissa and the producer followed through and soon footage of Rumsfeld’s response to their questions was sent around the world by CNN as one of the day’s biggest news stories. Although Melissa admits it can all be overwhelming at times (“I’m face-to-face with world leaders, but I can’t be like ‘Oh my God, that’s President Bush,’” she muses), her background and education prepared her well for the opportunity. Growing up not far from the GCSU campus in Milledgeville, she attended Baldwin High School, where she participated in a new program that allowed stu-

dents to earn credit for producing a morning television show that featured school news. Melissa auditioned to be the show’s anchor and was given the job. “It was my favorite class,” she says. “Only about eight students, but we all took the opportunity and learned from each other.” The experience left Melissa with a new appreciation for the role of journalists, and a desire to follow the road she had been shown. After exploring GCSU’s courses in Mass Communications, she enrolled and immediately became involved in ever y oppor tunity the program afforded her. Among them was working as a reporter for the university’s television station. “I was a reporter-editor for the Apple Digital Conference Learning Institute. We were running around like crazy covering events and editing them into packages,” she recalls. “That was the first-ever Podcast — and I still have it on my iPod. I was making video Podcasts before the majority of the people in my business today. I couldn’t have asked for more!” Despite her small-town roots, the preparation GCSU provided to Melissa has helped her survive and prosper in the nation’s capitol, where stress is a way of life. “The people I work with at CNN treat me as a colleague, not an intern. They have me doing work right along side them,” she says. Melissa, who graduates in December, hopes the experience of her internship, and the contacts she has made, will lead to a full-time job with a major news organization. Although she knows she will have to “pay her dues,” her ambition is to become an international reporter whose work contributes to making the world better. “The media is a very powerful entity in today’s society. We have the ability to bring the entire world to people and show them what’s really going on. As a journalist, my biggest goal is to help those who don’t have a voice in society to get the ‘whole’ story out.” Clearly, Melissa knows the importance of being in the right place at the right time, but she also knows it is more than just luck. “I’m an opportunist. I don’t sit around waiting for something to happen – I make it happen. Never give up on something you can’t go a day without thinking about.”

Georgia College & State University Connection • Fall 2006

COVER

Cover Story

Ringing with ActivityAgain by Dr. Bob Wilson, Professor of History and University Historian (with thanks to Binky Strickland and Lauren Lundin) 16

Georgia College & State University Connection â&#x20AC;˘ Fall 2006

istoric Bell Hall, after nearly two years of extensive renovation, is once again providing a home for Georgia College students as it has done for close to eighty years. About 60 percent of its new residents are participants in the Honors & Scholars Program. The Honors Program has for years sought to engage our very best students with a challenging and rewarding academic environment. That environment now includes a residence center where the students can not only connect socially, but can even attend some of their classes right in the residence hall.

The new Bell Hall residents are appreciative of the honor and love the convenience (though tardiness for an early morning class is now admittedly hard to defend). Students enjoy the warm colors of the high-ceilinged rooms, convenient laundr y facilities, suitestyle rooms, a second-floor internet lounge, and a large community room that faces on what once was the Bell courtyard. Bell Hall was constructed in 1928 during the presidency of Dr. J. Luther Beeson.

“We used raincoats to cover up our pajamas when we went across the street to get food at the Piggly Wiggly. And we’d wear our raincoats over our pajamas when we went to breakfast.” – Carolyne Hammond Guitton, ’64 The building committee consisted of President Beeson, Dr. E.A. Tigner (a dentist and local historian), and Miller S. Bell for whom the new dormitor y was named. Miller Bell had ser ved on the Board of Directors since 1909 and had been the college’s treasurer since 1907. A vigorous, rather aristocratic looking gentleman, Bell was Milledgeville’s leading citizen in the early 20th century. He was the town’s longest serving mayor—eight terms, stretching from 1908 to 1928. Roads were paved, sidewalks installed, and a much improved water works plant was built during his energetic tenure. He became president of the Milledgeville Banking Company, where most of the college accounts were kept, and was the guiding spirit in building the new (1915) Methodist Church

“I met Bill, my husband, at Bell. He was in a group of young military men from Fort Gordon that came to an Open House. That is my best memory of Bell.” - Sandy Mills, ’64 building, which was intimately connected with the school during the GN&IC and GSCW years. Bell and college President Marvin Parks (1906-1926) were close friends and allies. They played baseball together and worked hand in glove to modernize the college and the city. Whenever Parks was fighting in Atlanta for more state appropriations for the college, his most stalwart supporter on the Board of Directors was always Miller Bell. Miller’s brother, E.E. Bell operated a ver y successful dr y goods store (now The Brick) where the young women at the college bought their uniforms. A portrait of Miller S. Bell will soon be reinstalled in the Bell Hall front lobby. Bell, in its earlier years, offered a virtual cloister for the girls. Its back annex connected with the now vanished back annexes of Terrell Hall to create a courtyard where the students could gather, read, and sun bathe in near total seclusion. Life was not always idyllic. Bell now has central air and heat, but older residents recall the blistering heat on the third floor, even with the big fans they brought from home. Up until 1935, the Baldwin County Jail was side by side with Bell on the east side. The girls could hear the cries and laments of the inmates and had to keep their shades drawn since the prisoners could look right into their rooms. During the World War II years when the campus was host to thousands of Navy WAVES, the regular Jessies crowded three and four to a room, and for dining, many sought a little privacy in Bell’s own Tea Room, a small cafeteria in the back basement. The girls had cur fews—10:30 on weeknights and 11 on weekends, and a sign-out system that they only challenged at their peril. Times have certainly changed.

historic

Miller Bell passed away in 1941, but there is little doubt that he would take immense pride in the newly renovated facility named in his honor and in the quality of the students that now reside there. Georgia College & State University Connection • Fall 2006

CAMPUS Around Campus

From Oman to Georgia: Sharing Arabic Culture by Libby Davis, Associate Director of International Education and International Student Adviser

his fall GCSU welcomed its first Arabic instr uctor as par t of the For eign Language Teacher Assistant (FLTA) Program, a State Department-funded program managed by the Institute of International Education. It took several days, two missed flights and over 8,000 miles of traveling, but Fatma Al Maamari finally arrived in Milledgeville, Georgia, all the way from Saham, Oman. En route to the U.S. on the same day of the London bomb scare that turned airport security upside down, Fatma had to overcome many obstacles to reach her much-anticipated new home on August 12. Her luggage arrived a week later.

Despite the initial problems, Fatma is starting to call Milledgeville home. “I like Milledgeville because it is quiet and small, not like other places that are crowded and noisy. Also, the people are very friendly and helpful here, which makes me feel more comfortable.”

menting with interactive activities and games to of fer students a chance to practice the language. When she runs into her students on campus, they greet her with a proper “Marhaba.” “The Arabic class is the most enjoyable part of my experience here,” Fatma shares. “My students are very motivated and interested in learning the language. Everyday we exchange different ideas and opinions.” Closely tied to teaching the language is teaching the culture. To learn more about the tradition of Ramadan, Fatma’s students are fasting for one day and will share an evening Omani meal prepared by Fatma. Fatma’s interest in cultural exchange prompted her to apply for the FLTA program. She wanted to serve as an ambassador for her country and inform others about the Arab world. While at GCSU, she is also reaching out to learn more about American culture. First on her list was to visit a church. Even though she is a Muslim, Fatma explains, “I like to know about other religions and compare common prayers and rituals.”

The FLTA program brings 400 teachers of Arabic and other critical languages to the United States each year from 58 countries, including 20 Omanis this academic year. Faculty and students at Georgia College are embracing the opportunity to learn the language. “Arabic is one of the less commonly taught languages at U.S. college and universities, but it is spoken in 28 countries in Africa and the Middle East by over 200 million people,” explains Dr. Roger Noel, chair of the Depar tment of Modern Foreign Languages. “We hope that there will be a Certificate in Middle East Studies at GCSU in the near future, and Arabic will be an important component.”

Fatma plays an important role in internationalizing the campus at Georgia College by participating in numerous programs. Among other events, she served as one of the panelists for a Middle East Global Democracy Teach-In sponsored by the Coverdell Institute. She has visited classes on campus and plans to go to local schools. When she gives presentations, Fatma first tries to dispel common misunderstandings by stating simple facts: “Not all Arabs are Muslim and not all Muslims are Arab.”

Seventeen students have signed up for the Arabic class and have already star ted learning the Arabic alphabet and a variety of vocabulary words from songs and dialogues. Fatma enjoys experi-

Fatma is already being inundated by requests from students to join her class spring semester, as the interest in Arabic/ Middle East studies at Georgia College continues to grow.

Georgia College & State University Connection • Fall 2006

ATHLETICS

Athletics Inaugurating a Hall of Fame

eorgia College & State University recently announced the formation of an Athletics Hall of Fame with an inaugural induction of ten members. Georgia College has a proud history of fielding teams that win titles and graduate students to succeed in their chosen careers. We congratulate the inductees and look forward to a history of honoring the athletic spirit and accomplishments of some of Georgia College’s finest. Each inductee was presented a plaque. A banner and plaque will also be permanently displayed in the Centennial Center.

• Phil Arp – Baseball (1980-83). Arp was a two-time NAIA All-American and All-Area selection, and a four-time NAIA All-District honoree. He was the first GCSU baseball player to be drafted by a major league team. He holds the school single season record for home runs and career record for batting average, and ranks in the top four for home runs, career runs scored, hits, doubles, RBI, and slugging percentage. • Sherita Ballard – Women’s basketball (1987-91). Ballard was a threetime NAIA All-District selection and a First Team All-Peach Belt Conference selection as senior when GCSU moved to NCAA Division II. She is GCSU’s career leader in games played, points, field goals, steals, and minutes played. • Tom Gorman – Baseball (1983-86). Gorman was a three-time NAIA AllAmerican and All-Area selection. He was also a four-time All-District honoree. He is the GCSU career leader in hits, doubles, RBI, and total bases, and ranks in top five in GCSU history for runs scored, triples, home runs, slugging percentage, and batting average.

• David Robinson – Golf (2000-2003). Robinson was a three-time NCAA All-American, three-time All-Conference selection, and a three-time Peach Belt Conference Player of the Year. He was also the winner of the prestigious Michael Peeler Award. He earned medalist honors in seven tournaments during his career.

• Jennifer Joiner – Softball (2002-2003). Joiner was an NCAA All-American and All-Region selection in 2003 while helping the team finish as the national runner-up in its first trip to the College World Series. She was a two-time All-Peach Belt Conference selection, the NCAA Regional Tournament MVP in 2003, and also selected to the 2003 College World Series All-Tournament Team. Joiner was also named to the Peach Belt Presidential Honor Roll. She holds GCSU career pitching records for victories, lowest earned run average, strikeouts, strikeouts per game, shutouts, fewest hits per game, and fewest walks per game.

• Julia Roudkovskaya Dimitrov – Women’s tennis (1999-2002). Dimitrov was a four-time All-American and All-Peach Belt Conference selection. She was also the NCAA Region Senior Player of the Year in 2002, Peach Belt Conference Freshman of the Year in 1999, a three-time ITA Rolex Doubles Regional Champion and National Runner Up, an ITA Regional Singles Champion in 2000, and the GCSU Female Athlete of the Year in 2002. She was also named to the Peach Belt Conference Presidential Honor Roll.

• John Kurtz – Baseball Coach (1976-1993). Coach Kurtz posted 577 career wins in 18 seasons with a .610 winning percentage. He tallied 14 winning seasons including five 40+ win seasons and two 50+ win seasons. Kur tz’s teams also won seven conference championships and four district titles, while making two World Series appearances. He recruited and coached 45 All-District players and 14 All-Americans. The baseball field is named after him. He also coached the men’s soccer team. • Dr. J. Michael Peeler – Athletics Director and Golf Coach (1981-1990). Coach Peeler was one of the leaders in founding the Peach Belt Conference and led GCSU’s transition from NAIA to NCAA Division II. He was primarily responsible for the tremendous upgrade in GCSU athletics facilities, and the West Campus Athletics Complex was named in his honor.

• Duward Whelchel – Tennis Coach (1988-2000). Whelchel’s teams won two men’s conference championships, five women’s conference championships, made eight trips to men’s national tournament (NAIA and NCAA), and seven trips to women’s NCAA tournament. He was a seventime conference coach of the year, two-time NCAA Regional Coach of the Year, and the 1995 NCAA Men’s National Coach of the Year. • Robert Williams – Men’s basketball (1973-77). Williams earned NAIA All-American honors and is GCSU’s career leader in points scored and field goals. He also posted a career scoring average of 20.3 points per game. For more information about the Georgia College Hall of Fame, times and locations for current games, and any season scores and highlights, visit www.gcsu.edu/athletics.

Georgia College & State University Connection • Fall 2006

Georgia College & State University Connection â&#x20AC;˘ Fall 2006

ALUMNI Alumni Profile

Kim Martin Mixing Passion, Fun, and TV Jobs are like shoes,” says Kim Martin in a recent visit to campus where she showcased her work and gave advice to current students who packed the ar ts and sciences auditorium. “You have to try them on and figure out if they feel right. So, do as many jobs as you can before you get set in a career path. It’s the only way you’ll know if you like what you’ve chosen.”

“

Kim is a 1982 graduate of Georgia College and currently general manager for “WE tv”, a cable network that is particularly geared toward women viewership. Her accolades include being named as one of The Top 50 Most Influential Women in Cable by CableWORLD in 2005. “When I started in this role about two years ago,” she says, “the network had an older audience and basically aired movies. I wanted to change that and make the viewership younger and really think about what women want to see on television.” The change appears to be working. Kim says that the network has increased 18 percent in total audience just this year. That’s an amazing amount for a cable channel in the overpopulated television dial of today. Now, more than 60 million U.S. households,

according to Nielsen Media Research, receive WE tv in their cable package. Kim graduated as a political science major with an ambition to become a lawyer. That changed when she went to work for ATARI in a marketing capacity. After completing her MBA, she found a job at a new and little known cable channel called Discovery. “I think I was employee number 34,” she says. “Now, Discovery is vastly larger with a number of channels.” Kim says she “got lucky.” But, she tempers this with a few points of advice. “I learned some valuable lessons along the way,” she explains to current Georgia College students. “First, as I’ve said, do as many jobs as you can. Second, network and find mentors who you trust. And third, find something you are passionate about. The motto of WE tv is ‘We have more fun.’ And I can honestly say that’s how we work in the office. It’s great to want to go to work.”

Next time you are watching Bridezillas, Secret Lives of Women, or new shows like America’s Cutest Puppies and Kari Whitman: Designer to the Stars, know that Kim Martin, an ambitious and passionate Georgia College graduate, is behind the scenes making WE tv successful.

Georgia College & State University Connection • Fall 2006

NOTES Class Notes

1960s Mary Ellen Mitchell, ‘69, welcomed her first grandchild, Travis, into the world. Proud parents Charlotte and Luke adopted Travis recently.

1970s

received her MBA from Georgia Southwestern College & University in 1992. Lawrence Mink, ‘92, has been appointed to the board of directors at Mid South Federal Credit Union.

Peggy H. Walker, ’74, was appointed by Governor Perdue in May 2006, to serve on the State Commission on Family Violence. She works as a juvenile court judge for Douglas County, Ga.

William Emmette Vinson IV, ‘92, married Merry Blossom Samuel of Lawrenceville on October 1, 2005, at Chota Falls in Clayton, Ga.

Cathy Hamilton, ‘79, ’91, is a Financial Analyst for Navcom Defense Electronics Inc.

Sharon Murphy Augustine, MAT ’93, married J. Michael Augustine, Director of Admissions at GCSU, on July 1, 2006. Sharon and Mike live in Milledgeville and Sharon is currently on faculty at Mercer University.

1980s Michael Gilstrap, ‘82, has retired from the Medical College of Central Georgia. Edward Allan Walsh, ‘83, has been appointed the President of the Summit Group in Macon, Ga. Harriet Strickland Collins Agen, ‘85, married Gregory S. Agen, SMSgt, USAF (Ret.) on July 24, 2005. She also received the National Board Certification in Early Adolescence/English Language Arts on November 18, 2005.

Rebecca Castaldi Miles, ‘94, was promoted to Coordinator of Graduate Admissions at GCSU in August of 2005. She and her husband, Tom, ’91, live in Milledgeville with their son, Tommy. Lori Heayberd, ‘95, is currently employed at GCSU in the office of University Advancement Services as an accountant. Puneet Puri, ’96, is working in Delhi, India, in the marketing department for India’s largest media company.

Georgia G. Slagle, ‘87, was elected to Security Bank of Bibb Country’s Board of Directors. She currently serves as a partner with the Macon CPA firm of Howard, Moore & McDuffie PC.

Jody Mathis, ‘97, has been appointed the Controller of Century Fire Protection LLC in Duluth, Ga.

Velinda Stanley, ‘88, ’91, has been named the Director of the University System of Georgia’s Dublin Center.

Johnathan Sadlock, ‘97, is a franchised operator of a Chick-fil-A restaurant that opened May 23, 2006 in Spanish Fort, Ala.

Bridget Moten, ‘89, has been appointed the Marketing Director for Geotechnical & Environment Consultants in Macon, Ga.

Michelle Nicole Young, ‘99, has recently moved from Atlanta, Ga. to Greenville, S.C. after receiving a promotion at GE Energy to become the new Commodity Site Leader at the Gas Turbines plant in Greenville.

Frank Askew, ‘89, is the President/CEO of Washington County EMC.

1990s Vonda Massingill Cooley, ‘90, and husband, Bruce, welcomed a son, Jonah Bruce, to their family on October 3, 2006. He joins sisters Adriana, 4, and Cara, 2. Elizabeth Hines, ‘90, ’92, has accepted a job at GCSU as the director of development. Elizabeth comes to her new position with years of development experience and was the Executive Director of the Jekyll Island Foundation before returning to work for her alma mater. Ann Shepherd Young, ‘91, received her Jurist Doctorate degree from John Marshall Law School in May 2005, and also received the State Bar of Georgia Award for Tax Law. She

Terri Hoffman Duffield, ‘99, and her husband Casey Duffield, ‘97, celebrated the birth of their first child, Emily Marie Duffield. Emily was born on May 6, 2006 at Northside Hospital in Atlanta. The family currently resides in Woodstock, Ga. Brian Smith, ‘99, and his wife, Danielle Smith, welcomed their first child, Lydia Caroline Smith on October 27, 2005. Cynthia B. Worthen, Ed.D., ‘99, received a doctorate in organization leadership (Ed.D.) from the University of La Verne in May 2005 and in October 2005 accepted a position at the University of Redlands (California) as its Burbank campus director.

Georgia College & State University Connection • Fall 2006

Brandon Mercer, ‘99, has been promoted from First Vice-President to Senior Vice-President and Senior Lender of the New Southern Bank.

2000s April Brooks Bragg, ‘05 and Terry Bragg, ‘95 welcomed the birth of their first child, Abigail Brooklyn on Monday, October 16, 2006. Abigail Brooklyn weighed in at 9 lbs and 14 oz. Maurice Smith, ‘01, ’06, has been named assistant coach for the GCSU women’s basketball team. Jason Peterson, ‘01, received Honorable Mention on his doctorial paper presented at the American Journalism Historians Association in San Antonio. He is completing his degree at the University of Southern Mississippi in Mass Communications. William V. Randall II, ‘02, ’04, is a Colonel in the U.S. Air Force and the Deputy Commander of the Mission Planning Systems Group at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida. Gregory Shayne Rozier, ‘02, graduated in May 2006 from the Medical College of Georgia School of Dentistry with a Doctor of Dental Medicine degree. Kathryn ‘Katie’ Tek, ‘02, married Brandon Youmans, ‘03, on April 22, 2006 on St. Simons Island. Meredith Marie Wilson, ‘02 and David ‘Rhett’ Barnwell have announced their engagement. The couple is employed by GEICO Auto Insurance and makes their home in Knoxville, Tenn. Tiffany M. Agnew, MPA ‘03, is currently employed as the Program Coordinator for the Environmental Bio-safety Program in the office of Research compliance at Texas A&M University. Leah Blasingame, ‘03, is a Project Manager at the Macon Economic Development Commission in Macon, Ga. As Project Manager, Leah oversees the integral details of the business/industrial recruitment, retention and development processes in the Macon-Bibb County area. Crystal S. Cammon, ‘03, ’05, is currently working as a Program Manager for the Department of Defense in Fort Mead, Md. Crystal recently received recognition for having exceeded goal expectations for her division. Kim Grahl Fowler, ‘03, married Jason Hoyt Fowler on October 1, 2005 in Fort Valley. She is currently employed at the Cherokee Tribune in Canton, Ga.

C L A S S

N O T E S

William Hatcher, ‘03, ’05 is currently in the doctoral program at Mississippi State University. Patrick McKeown, ‘03, has recently been promoted to work in the internet sales division for GEICO in Washington, D.C. Kate Brannen, ‘05, married Cainan Whelchel, ‘05, on April 22, 2006 in Jesup, Ga. and they now reside in Centerville, Ga. Alex Brown, ‘04, is now working for Wachovia Bank in Tucker, Ga. Holly Crosby, ‘04, and Lee Snelling, ‘01, ’03, recently announced their engagement. They plan to wed in December 2006. Holly currently works in the Alumni and Development office at Mount de Sales Academy in Macon, Ga. and Lee is working as a development officer at GCSU. Andrew R. Dow, ‘04, recently accepted a position in California as a traveling nurse. With his new position he will have the opportunity to help patients at various hospitals all over the state and country. Jamie Goss Gray, ‘03, and Bryan Gray, ‘04, recently wed. Jamie received a graduate degree in Child and Family Studies from Mercer University and works as a family counselor. Bryan has accepted a position working for Georgia Power. The couple reside in Milledgeville, Ga. Amanda Williams Scott, ‘04 and Andrew F. Scott, ‘04 have just purchased a new home in the Atlanta area. Amanda is currently in a master’s degree program for Christian Counseling. Andrew works as a Hospital Development Liaison for LifeLink of Georgia. Amber Smith, ’04, is director of campaign management at MoreVisibility, a company based in Boca Raton, Fla.

Friends from the Class of 1955 at a recent gathering in St Teresa, Fla. Standing from left: Martha Lewis, Jerri Haines Hurst, Myra Bagwell Harris, Patsy Orr Cox, Jan Anderson McGahee, Jan Haines Brown Kneeling from left: Joan Klecan Kemp, Elaine Durham Mobley, Jane Adams Edmonds

Michael Haun, MBA ’05, has been promoted to Marketing Manager of Auxiliary Services for GCSU and is married to Tifanie S. Haun, ‘06. Elaine Harris, ‘05, is the Marketing Coordinator at Cuscowilla on Lake Oconee and is responsible for all advertising, public relations and other marketing programs. Bryan Hinkle, ‘04 and Jessica Norsworthy, ‘06 are planning to wed and live near Lake Lanier after a honeymoon in St. Lucia. Josh Hyder, ‘05, is enrolled in an 18 month MBA program in Tian Jin, China. He is enrolled through the University of Oklahoma and began his program in July 2006. Alyson McGoldrick, ‘05, was promoted to Assistant Vice-President and Trust Advisor at SunTrust Bank. Grace Rebecca Moore, ‘04, is a Registered Nurse for the Ambulatory Core Unit of the Oconee Regional Medical Center in Milledgeville, Ga.

Jenni Prosnak Bruckman, ‘05, is currently employed as the marketing director for Coldwell, Banker in Raleigh, N.C. Jenni and her husband, Paul, reside in Wake Forest, N.C.

Kaneice Bembry Lucas, ‘04, was named a ‘master teacher’ by the Georgia Department of Education. She received this honor by showing significant gains in the test scores of her students. Kaneice now functions as a teacher and a mentor to teachers in the Warner Robins middle school system.

Bret Benson, ‘05, is currently working for the Wachovia Corporation as a Licensed Financial Specialist in Atlanta, Ga.

Tara Marie Schroeder, ‘05, has accepted a position as manager of a Bath and Body Works store and lives in Titusville, Fla.

Courtney Carney, ‘05, has been accepted into the Master of Arts Program at Ball State University.

Louis “Bo” D. Shell, ‘05, is currently working for the Southern Voice as a Community Reporter and Staff Photographer in Atlanta, Ga.

Brett Cook, ‘05, has been named in the October issue of Georgia Trend as one of the top “40 under 40”. He currently serves as the City Manager of Darien.

Erin Shipman, ‘05, is engaged to Coit Jefferies. The couple plan to be married in February 2007.

Dilanka Seimon, ‘03, is enrolled at Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business in their cross-continent Executive MBA program. He is currently working at Sequent Energy Group and ACI Surgical Associates. Tara Springfield, ‘05, received her Master of Accountancy at GCSU in the spring of 2006 and is now a staff accountant with Cheryl Williams, CPA in Milledgeville, Ga. Christopher Yarbrough, ‘05, is in his first year of law school at John Marshall Law School in Atlanta, Ga. Jennifer C. Jones, ‘05, is now the Public Relations Manager for the North Central Health District which is now a part of the Georgia Department of Public Health. She will now oversee the health departments and emergency preparedness programs of 13 counties. Jessica Ward, ‘05, is currently in the master’s degree program for Higher Education Administration at the University of Kansas. James Michael Madison, ‘06, began an MBA program at GCSU this fall. Christy Marie Purvis, ‘06, married Ryan Purvis on August 6, 2005. They now reside in Savannah where Christy works as a Practice Representative for Savannah Surgical Group and ACI Surgical Associates. Harold C. Mock, III, ‘06 is currently in the masters & doctoral program at the University of Virginia. Harold is a graduate assistant which allows him to get great experience for his future endeavors as a professor. Christina Homer, ‘06, recently accepted a position at Fox Sports as a Sales Associate in Atlanta, Ga.

Georgia College & State University Connection • Fall 2006

Non Profit Org. U.S. POSTAGE PAID Permit No. 73 Milledgeville, Georgia

University Advancement Campus Box 96 Milledgeville, Georgia 31061 CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED

Georgia College & State University, established in 1889, is Georgiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Public Liberal Arts University. University System of Georgia.