Northern Magazine Summer 2013 by Northern Magazine

NORTHERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY

M A G A Z I N E

S P R I N G - S U M M E R 2 0 1 3 VO L U M E 1 1 , N O. 2

1 BENEFITS and OPPORTUNITIES for STUDENTS, ALUMNI, and FRIENDS of NKU!

THE ROAD TO BLACK AND GOLD—THE ORIGIN OF NORSE ATHLETICS

LOVE AND HEALTHY EATING, EXPLAINED

A PHOTOGRAPHIC JOURNEY INSIDE NKU'S RESIDENCE HALLS SPRING-SUMMER 2013

M A G A Z I N E

VOLUME 11, NO. 2 EDITOR

Brent Donaldson ’05

DESIGNER Dionne Laycock ’90

COPY EDITOR Tira Rogers ’01, ’05

PHOTOGRAPHER Timothy D. Sofranko

EDITORIAL INTERN Caitlin Centner ’13

PUBLISHER Deidra S. Fajack Director of Alumni Programs Gerard A. St. Amand Vice President for University Advancement

CONTRIBUTORS Carol Beirne Caitlin Centner ’13 Rich Shivener ’06, ’10 Dan Weber

Molly Williamson

ALUMNI ASSOCIATION EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE David McClure ’83, President Tracy Schwegmann ’95, ’08, President-elect Gregory L. Cole ’82, Immediate Past President Jim Cutter ’82, Vice President Deidra S. Fajack, Secretary/Treasurer

CORRESPONDENCE Northern Kentucky University Office of Alumni Programs 421 Johns Hill Road Highland Heights, Kentucky 41099 phone: (859) 572-5486 web: alumni.nku.edu email:

alumni@nku.edu

Comments, questions, concerns? We want to hear from you! Email us at northernmagazine@nku.edu. N O RT H E R N

SPRING-SUMMER 2013

Before We Get Started

A m e s s ag e f ro m t h e p re s i d e n t A few weeks ago, we celebrated our spring com-

mencements. These ceremonies were the culmination of another excellent academic year at NKU. To our newest alumni, congratulations on earning

You have helped make this transition easy for me and my family. Thank you. Finally, I look forward to welcoming our new students in August. I am also eager to continue working

your degree. You have desire and determination—two

with NKU alumni as we prepare for the next chapter

attributes that will continue to serve you well. I look

in the history of our extraordinary university and

forward to hearing about your future success.

community.

By any measure, this year was a good one for NKU and our community. Some of the notable achieve-

Best wishes for a healthy summer!

ments include our successful move to D-I athletics, the opening of the $5M Student Success Center, and

Geoffrey S. Mearns

welcoming the most academically qualified freshman

President

class in our university’s history. My greatest reward, though, was interacting with our students. I have enjoyed getting to know them. They have ambitious dreams, and they are determined to achieve them. To help them achieve those dreams, NKU began a process to create a new strategic plan that will guide the future of NKU. If you haven’t done so, I encourage you to offer your comments via a survey on the strategic planning website (strategicplanning.nku.edu). At the core of this future is our commitment to student success, which is one of the themes of this issue of Northern Magazine: “Serving Success.” The feature called “Welcome to the Club” is a “reader’s guide” to benefits, initiatives, and opportunities available to both internal and external stakeholders. On a larger scale, this article illustrates the many ways NKU contributes to individual and community success. Many of you have known for quite a while that NKU is a very special place. As my first academic year closes as NKU president, I have come to know why our alumni are so proud of this university—and why you care so much about its future. In these past nine months, I have received great support and encouragement from many people on campus and in the community, including our alumni.

N O RT H E R N

Co n t e nts NORTHERN MAGAZINE

THE Spring–Summer 2013

Departments

Features

PRESIDENT’S PAGE

NORSE NUGGETS

NORTHERN NEWS/ ATHLETICS

ALUMNI JOURNAL

CLASS NOTES

WELCOME TO THE CLUB

By virtue of being connected to NKU, we are all members of the same club. It’s important to know how your club is working for you—and that’s what you’ll find here: opportunities to get involved in your community, services that are always here for you, and alumni benefits that serve as our way of saying, “Welcome.”

OUTSIDE SHOT

For his new book Outside Shot, journalist Keith O’Brien embedded himself into the lives and culture of the high school basketball team of Scott County, Ky. Current Norse guard Chad Jackson was one of the stars of that season’s squad, and his story, excerpted here, is as dramatic as that of the team—and the town that demanded their greatness.

MEET THE RESIDENTS

Sure, plenty of NKU alumni commuted, but for the nearly 2,000 students living on campus, campus life is what college is all about. In this photo feature, we bring you resident life in all of its carefree, often cluttered, joyous glory.

THE ROAD TO BLACK & GOLD

How did NKU go from high school gyms to D-I and The BOKC? In this personal essay, former Los Angeles Times writer and former NKSC Sports Information Director Dan Weber remembers the trials and tribulations at the dawn of Norse athletics.

COVER ILLUSTRATION BY DIONNE LAYCOCK

NORTHERN MAGAZINE IS ONLINE! Check us out at northernmagazine.nku.edu,

and then write us at northernmagazine@nku.edu to share your story!

NORSE NUGGETS

Al um ni As so ci at io

Bracelets, Beads, and Bling

Jeff Walz Leads Cards to National Finals

Looking for the perfect gift? NKU alumna May Tagher is the founder and lead artist of MAYcreations and its line of unique clay, sterling silver, vermeil, and crystal jewelry beads—including handcrafted NKU and Norse pieces. Classy, colorful, and perfect for wearing to sporting events or just to show your Norse pride. Visit mayselect.com to view her entire collection.

If it wasn’t clear before this season, Jeff Walz is one of the best young coaches in women’s basketball. In just his first five years at the University of Louisville, the 1995 NKU alumnus and former men’s basketball player has led the Cardinals to four Sweet 16 appearances and two national runnerups. He led the Cards to a 29-9 record this season, falling to Connecticut in the championship game.

N O RT H E R N

Norse Nuptials

Mack Attack

Hundreds of Norse alumni met their spouses right here at NKU. Whether you met as nervous freshmen on the first day of class or as seniors throwing your caps at graduation, we want to hear your story! How did you meet? In line at Coyote Jack’s? Fetching your love’s umbrella during a windstorm? We know that some of you were married here, so feel free to email your tale to alumni@nku.edu for an invitation to an upcoming Norse Nuptials event!

Artist and The New York Times bestselling author David Mack (’95) is receiving rave reviews for his latest contributions to Marvel Comics’ sprawling Daredevil: End of Days series. Mack has also been working with Showtime for its online series Dexter: Early Cuts. Look for a feature that includes Mack in an upcoming issue of Northern Magazine.

—Quote from CBS News about research performed by NKU professor Cecile Marczinski. Her study concluded that people who drink alcohol with diet mixers have a higher breath-alcohol content than those who use non-diet beverages. The study was reported by hundreds of news outlets around the world, including CNN, ABC News, and Time Magazine online. See our Q&A with professor Marczinski on page 10.

The night they beat Georgetown, my assistants [and I] started getting texts and emails and calls about it saying, ‘That’s you guys in four or five years.’

Women’s Basketball Makes History

Crosstown Knockdown

The women’s basketball team made history in its first Division I season. Under new head coach Dawn Plitzuweit, the Norse posted a 15-13 record and finished an impressive 12-6 in the Atlantic Sun. NKU was rewarded with a No. 4 seed in the 16-team Women’s Basketball Invitational Tournament. The Norse rallied from a 16-point second-half deficit against the College of Charleston on March 20 but fell just short, 72-70.

When your NKU alumna-packed Black-nBluegrass Roller Girls host the Cincinnati Roller Girls at The Bank of Kentucky Center June 22, we’re confident that major jamming, back-blocking, and cannonballing will totally ensue. This is one of only two bouts the Bluegrass Roller Girls will host at the BOKC, so BE THERE! Visit black-nbluegrass.com for more info, now!

#1 in A-Sun In its first year as NCAA Division I contenders, the Norse men’s basketball team took the number one spot for home attendance in the A-Sun conference. The team averaged 3,551 fans for nine dates in The Bank of Kentucky Center— hitting a high March 2 against Jacksonville with 6,719. NKU was the only A-Sun program with both men’s and women’s teams in the top three.

—NKU men’s basketball coach Dave Bezold, quoted on WKRC Cincinnati’s Local12.com about the Norse’s potential to replicate the success of the 2013 NCAA tournament darlings Florida Gulf Coast University. The FGCU Eagles defied all odds by making it to the Sweet 16 after only the Eagles’ second year of postseason eligibility. NKU will be eligible for NCAA postseason play in 2017.

NKU BUZZ

SPRING-SUMMER 2013

NORSE NUGGETS

Mixing alcohol with diet soda may cut down on calories, but it could be making you more drunk.

NORTHERN NEWS

50 Shades of Becca Battoe

How one actress stepped out of her comfort zone and onto the bestseller list There’s something neatly karmic in a young-adultfiction way about the fame Becca Battoe achieved as the audiobook narrator of the bestselling 50 Shades of Grey series. After graduating from NKU’s theatre program in 2002, Battoe was achieving some success in Los Angeles as an actor and audiobook narrator for young-adult novels when the call came. Publishing giant Random House, for whom Battoe had already narrated a number of YA books, told Battoe her acting chops and highpitched voice were exactly what 50 Shades author E.L. James was looking for when she imagined the voices of the book’s main characters—especially the young, naïve virgin, Anastasia Steele. 50 Shades went on to become a worldwide phenomenon and New York Times bestseller, and the audiobook is one of the most popular, ever. Of course, the three-book erotic romance series is decidedly adult, and Battoe has garnered a fan base unlike anything she could have imagined. As Anastasia Steele would say, “Oh my.” —BD

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Northern: Talk about the process about landing this job. Had you read the books before? Battoe: I had not. I am in the Random House database and had been working with them for years doing youngadult novels, generally playing characters ranging from 6 years old to 15. I was at home one day and got a phone call from one of their executive producers and he’s like, ‘OK, Becca, I’ve got a project for you. A lot of young-adult readers would probably turn this down because it is erotica. However, it’s going to be really big. It’s going to be the next Twilight.’ I literally had three days of preparation before I started the project. It was intense. Northern: How did you prepare for and create the voices for the characters? Battoe: The first book I actually did get to read twice. The first time through I get an idea of the tone of the book and who’s in it and all that stuff. Then when I go through it the second time, I literally make an Excel spreadsheet of every single character in the book. I’ll write down how each character is related to the main character, and then I write down what it says about them in the book or I’ll write down my opinion of them. So when I get to that person in the book, I don’t say, ‘Oh, what do they sound like?’ I don’t think so much of changing voice so much as just being that person. Northern: How would you describe the story? Battoe: A very innocent, naïve, college-grad virgin meets an intense, dominant man. It’s almost like a Beauty and the Beast-type love story where he changes her and she changes him and ultimately they live happily ever after. Beauty and the Beast with bondage. Northern: Was there anything in the book that made you uncomfortable? Battoe: There was a moment or two in the book that definitely stepped way outside of my comfort level, when I had to stop, and I looked up at my director like, ‘Really? Okay, all right.’ But for the most part I got through it, and I just stayed present and did my job. Northern: Talk about your experience at NKU. Any professors stand out in your memory? Battoe: Definitely Jane Green. She is, I swear, like heaven incarnate. The theatre department in general is extremely underrated over there. All the professors are amazing and gave me a core understanding of what the business was going to be like, in good ways and bad ways. Northern: Do you have any advice for theater students following in your footsteps? Battoe: When you move to a big city, get in a class. Connect with an alum or somebody you know that’s working. If you want to be an actor, you should be acting, and if you’re not acting professionally, you should be in class 100 percent of the time. Get a cheap camera package for a weekend and shoot something that you can throw on YouTube. My big thing is when somebody gives you an opportunity, you say, ‘Yes!’ So this was just me saying yes to what the universe was handing me.

NORTHERN NEWS

Dionne Laycock

Unhealthy Desires

Trail of the (Un)Dead

Why Marilyn Monroe brand Brussels sprouts will never exist

John Gibson’s “zombie Western” film Revelation Trail hits the big screen

Does a sultry Marilyn Monroe photo make you want to grab the nearest Snickers bar? Does an Abraham Lincoln pic spark interest in fresh spinach salad? NKU professors of marketing David Raska and Bridget Nichols have discovered just that. Raska and Nichols conducted the study “Using Subtle Reminders of Love to Foster Healthy Snack Choices,” published in the Journal of Consumer Behaviour, to compare how exposure to certain images can produce either healthy or unhealthy snack choices. The study postulates that companionate love involves long-term goals, which lead to making forward-thinking and overall healthier choices. Conversely, sexual love, composed of short-term goals, is more likely to lead to unhealthy food choices that satisfy only spontaneous desire. Consisting of 97 undergraduate marketing students, the study asked students to choose a snack item from a vending machine menu that had either hearts (a love symbol) or kisses (a sex symbol) in the background. Each menu included five healthy snacks and five unhealthy snacks. The results confirmed the hypothesis: those exposed to symbols of companionate love were more likely to choose healthy snacks, while symbols of sexual love were more likely to produce an unhealthy choice. The second experiment employed symbols of companionate love (Abraham Lincoln) and sexual love (Marilyn Monroe) to examine whether they would have the same effect. Students were asked to view one of the two images and then make a snack choice from a vending machine menu. “If [marketers] want to help their customers make healthier choices in their environment,” Raska says, “they need to include symbols that represent love.” —Caitlin Centner ’13

Outside of his classrooms, NKU lecturer John Gibson knows a lot about zombies and the 1880s— the backdrop of his feature film Revelation Trail that was released in April. He spent three years at the helm of the project while also teaching film and media courses through the NKU communication department. Gibson wrote, directed, and produced the film, and he helped raise more than $10,000 for it through the crowd-funding site Kickstarter and with support from NKU alumni. “The Western genre, you get people’s lives in a changing frontier because of the railroad or the telegraph,” he says. “That same thing applies in our story, but in this case, we have zombies.” In the film, the walking dead hound the central characters, a preacher and a lawman connected by their story of survival. “Zombies are not the purpose of the film,” Gibson says. “They serve as a catalyst for the characters in the film and the decisions that they make.” The film was shot over four weeks throughout southern Ohio, northern and western Kentucky, and southern Illinois. His production crew largely consisted of NKU students and graduates who consistently put in 18-hour days. One of those days was New Year’s Eve, which was celebrated on set in a muddy fort in Metropolis, Ill., the official hometown of Superman. “A lot of the crew knew ‘teacher John,’ and they didn’t really know ‘director John,’” Gibson says. “Any kind of hierarchy there might be in a classroom setting, it’s completely gone when you’re out in a field, sweating and shooting zombies or falling in the mud.” Revelation Trail premiered in an independent cinema in Paducah, Ky., and screened at NKU in April. Next on Gibson’s undead trail? He’s looking into sequels, comics adaptations, and video game tie-ins, among other projects that expand the film’s universe. The trail is long, and the virus is spreading. —Rich Shivener, ’06, ’10 SPRING-SUMMER 2013

NORTHERN NEWS

The Study That Got Wolf Blitzer-ed Professor Cecile Marczinski’s research spreads ’round the globe By the time Wolf Blitzer introduces your research from CNN’s Situation Room to living rooms and airport televisions across the planet, chances are good that the story has already gone viral. Such was the case with researcher and professor Cecile Marczinski’s latest study published in the journal Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research. The research, conducted in her lab at NKU, showed that alcohol consumed with an artificially sweetened mixer (e.g., diet soft drink) results in higher breathalcohol concentrations compared with the same amount of alcohol consumed with a similar beverage containing sugar. In other words, you get drunker faster with a Beam and Diet Coke than with a Beam and Coke. If you want to read about it, there are more than 71,000 results for a Google search on “Marczinski research.” But since chances are good that you already have, we decided instead to talk to Marczinski about her motivation, her methodology, and the global media attention. — Brent Donaldson Northern: Can you talk a little bit about your background? Marczinski: I’m Canadian by origin, so I grew up in southwestern Ontario and did all my degrees there. I did my undergrad at Western Ontario and my Ph.D. at McMaster Then I came down to University of N O RT H E R N

Kentucky to do postdoctoral work there for several years. Eventually a faculty position opened up at NKU, and it was a great fit. This is my fifth year. I just got tenure. It’s a very nice feeling. I will stay forever and ever. Northern: How would you describe your overall research interests? Are you most interested in the field of dependency and drug and alcohol abuse? Marczinski: I think what really draws me to the field is that people use various substances, and some people have problems and some people don’t. You can observe these various problems in society. And those observations, if you bring them into the lab, you can study them and make cause-and-effect conclusions that you couldn’t have just by observing people. Northern: I imagine that because of your research your students feel more open to talk to you about drugs and alcohol. Marczinski: Oh, definitely. I have a student who was telling me that bars in Newport are promoting energy drinks mixed with alcohol. And so he takes pictures with his camera phone and sends them to me. And that’s how I find out about stuff like that. Northern: Can you talk about the process of putting together a study? Marczinski: Basically we just try

and have everything controlled. We try and mimic what people do in real life but in a controlled way. So we set up our study and we constrain how they drink—timing and things like that—and only give doses that are safe. We tend to only get people’s blood-alcohol concentration up to the legal limit of 0.08. We do everything in one lab, so it’s not a very exciting setting. They do computer tests; they fill out questionnaires about how they feel, how intoxicated they think they are. They are kind of left alone. We have to keep them in the lab the whole time their blood alcohol is above 0, so these individuals are coming to the lab for six hours at a time. Northern: Your last study regarding energy drinks and alcohol didn’t make you any friends in the energy drink industry. Marczinski: Yes, the Red Bull company scientists wrote a critique of my work. They don’t like it. So I get some of that. There’s money at stake. And some people are not going to like what you find. But for the most part, I haven’t had problems. Northern: Do you have an overall goal in your research? Marczinski: I think my overall goal is to provide consumers with as much information as possible so that they can consume things like alcohol and energy drinks safely without causing themselves harm. I think companies who make these products are rather opaque about this safety information, so it’s up to people like me to test the products out and find out what they do or do not do. Northern: So it’s not like you’re telling people not to drink, but rather to be aware of the possible consequences of their actions. Marczinski: No, I like my glass of wine with dinner like anyone else. But there’s a subset of people who develop alcohol problems. And if you do develop alcohol problems, it’s really hard to undo that. So if you can prevent a certain subset of people from going down that path, that’s a good thing.

Catching up with the White Sox pitcher in his second year in the Majors Pitching under the bright lights in the Majors is what every Little League player dreams about. For former Norse pitcher Nate Jones, that dream came true April 8, 2012, when Jones made his Major League debut with the Chicago White Sox. We caught up with the Falmouth, Ky., native during spring training to talk about the Norse, his evolution as a pitcher, and striking out Josh Hamilton. —BD Northern: Can you talk about your experience coming to NKU from Pendleton County High? Jones: It was a great experience—coming from a small town like I did and getting a scholarship to play a sport was kind of a big deal. Once I got there I started to realize the different aspects of the game. There are a lot of games won and lost by just the strategic ability of the coach or the manager. Northern: How did you develop as a player while you were here?

SUN SPOTS

Shining moments in the A-Sun

The women's basketball team on the beach during a Florida basketball road trip.

“Coach tells us to smell the popcorn; enjoy every moment that you get out there. By us not being able to play in the conference tournament, there is no pressure. Just enjoy it, come out with a victory, and have fun with each other. [For our] seniors, this is our last year. After this we’re gonna have the, ‘I wish I was back’ [feeling], so you just gotta enjoy every moment.” —Norse men's forward Ernest “Stretch” Watson commenting in a January 26, 2013, post-game interview. SPRING-SUMMER 2013

NORTHERN NORTHERN ATHLETICS NEWS

Major League Nate

Jones: When I came there I’m not afraid to admit I didn’t throw a lot of strikes. My freshman year I pitched only four innings. My sophomore year I pitched 21. It just took me awhile to mature a little bit baseball-wise, and I owe a lot to Coach Asalon and Coach Dizzy (Peyton) because they didn’t give up on me. Before my junior season, Dizzy and I would get up at 7:30 in the morning and lug out one of those practice mounds and go over my mechanics. Then my junior year took off. Northern: How did you find out you had been drafted by the White Sox? Did you get a phone call? How did that work? Jones: That’s one of the days I’ll never forget. We were at my—she’s my wife now—but at the time my girlfriend’s house and my parents were there; some of my brothers and my sister were there. We started watching the draft picks on the Internet, and I really had no idea where I would be placed in the draft or anything like that. But sure enough in the fifth round my name popped up under the White Sox. It was just chaos. We were celebrating, jumping around, and then my phone rang. It was Mike Shirley, the scout who drafted me, calling and congratulating me. Northern: So, what’s the plan this year? Are you coming back as a closer? Jones: Like I tell everyone, it’s not a guarantee that you’re on the team each year. I keep that mindset and just go out there and pump out the strikes. Northern: So you’re now in your second year in the Majors. What’s been your biggest thrill so far? Jones: My debut came when we were playing the opening series against the Texas Rangers, and that happened to be the ESPN Sunday night baseball game of the week. I was nervous as all get-out. I walked the first two guys and then our pitching coach came out and talked to me and said, “I know you can do this. I know you can throw strikes.” You know, that’s all it took. The next guy grounds out into a double play, and the last guy that I faced was Josh Hamilton. As a Reds fan growing up I watched him on TV and was a big fan of his, so it was a pretty awesome moment facing him. And striking him out made it even better.

11 11

THE

BY: BRENT DONALDSON

A READER’S GUIDE TO THE OPPORTUNITIES AND BENEFITS FOR MEMBERS OF THE NKU COMMUNITY A funny thing happened on the way to writing this feature. It all started when we began reporting on the university’s new Student Success Center—the all-in-one, cross-functional center that, at its core, integrates career and advising services to current and future students. The SSC is part of what President Geoffrey Mearns calls a “fullcourt press” to not only increase NKU’s student retention and graduation rates but also provide integrated support for students seeking meaningful employment and overall success in our increasingly diverse world. Of course, the word “success” means a lot of things to a lot of different people. But what’s universally true is that all of us—not just NKU students, but also alumni, community members, supporters, staff, and faculty—have played a role in both our individual successes and the success of this N O RT H E R N

university. Our fates are, and have always been, intertwined. So rather than focus this story solely on the cool, forward-thinking, new Student Success Center, we think this a perfect opportunity to remind you that NKU has a vested interest in your ongoing success, whether you’re a student, an alum, or simply a friend or member of this community. Think about it this way: by virtue of being connected to NKU we are all members of the same club. It’s important to know how your club is working for you—through direct benefits and discounts, educational opportunities, community service, and much more. That’s what you’ll find on the next few pages—numerous opportunities to get involved, services that are always here for you, and the alumni benefits that serve as our way of celebrating and connecting with you.

Alumni Benefits! Never forget: if you’re a graduate of NKU, you are already a member of the NKU Alumni Association. Unlike many universities, NKU gives you full alumni benefits without having to pay annual dues. So carry your alumni card with pride! With it you can take advantage of the following benefits: • A free subscription to award-winning Northern Magazine, published three times per year. • Invitations to alumni events, including the Alumni Awards Celebration, networking and social events, Norse athletics tailgating events, and more. • Discounted tickets to Norse soccer, volleyball, and basketball games. (All other sports offer free admission!) • Opportunity to take advantage of the many resources at Career Services. • 10 percent discount on many items in the NKU Bookstore. • 15 percent discount on classes offered through NKU Community Connections. • Lifetime borrowing privileges at the W. Frank Steely Library. • Access to RefWorks, an online research-management, writing, and collaboration tool at Steely Library. • NKU car window shade mailed to new alumni parents! • Campus Recreation Center membership discount with annual $50 donation to NKU Foundation. • NKU Visa card through U.S. Bank. • Discounted insurance through Liberty Mutual Insurance. • Affordable short-term health insurance through GradMed. • International travel program through Alumni Holidays and GO NEXT. • Discounts for the NKU Early Childhood Center. • Opportunity to join the Delta Community Credit Union. • Opportunity for your children to join the Norse Athletics Kids Club. • Membership in Brooks Brothers Corporate Incentive program with 15 percent discount. • A way to create your own Norse photo books, mousepads, key chains, posters, etc. at norsememories.nku.edu. For more information on these alumni benefits, visit alumni.nku.edu. If you need a new alumni membership card, just email the NKU Alumni Association at alumni@nku.edu or call (859) 572-5586.

Alumni and Students CAREER SERVICES There’s no reason to gild the lily here: If you are an alum of NKU who is seeking employment, or looking to manage, change, or bolster your career, start with Career Services. In fact, start with careerservices.nku. edu. The website contains virtual mountains of information—each link seemingly takes you to a dozen new resources, including the highly personalized career assessment survey called the Focus 2 (see “Get Focused!” on the next page). The main objective of Career Services is to help students identify and establish academic and career goals, obtain co-ops and internships, secure meaningful employment, and manage their careers. The office also serves as the main point of contact for employers looking to recruit students for co-ops, internships, and full-time work. But for NKU alumni seeking employment or looking to change or enhance their career, Career Services can: • Assist with your résumé. • Add you to the online database for Norse Recruiting (a database accessible to employers that includes résumé searching and job postings). • Provide career advising and coaching. NKU alumni are invited to visit Career Services in University Center 225 during walk-in hours for a quick (15-minute) résumé or cover letter review or to ask quick job-search questions. Check its home page at careerservices.nku.edu for walk-in hour dates and times. Alumni may also call (859) 572-5680 to schedule an hour-long appointment with a career advisor. Need more assistance? As we said, Career Services’ website is a gold mine. Check out its links to Norse Recruiting, its job expos, and its job-search resources along the left-hand side of the website.

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What Matters Most THE SCRIPPS HOWARD CENTER FOR CIVIC ENGAGEMENT People talk about making the world a better place. Here's how it's done. No university exists on an island. (Well, there’s the University of the Virgin Islands, but we digress.) NKU is connected to its greater community in ways that are both full of opportunity and deeply inspiring. The Scripps Howard Center for Civic Engagement fosters citizenship and stewardship in every aspect of its programming. Here are two examples that will, we hope, both make you proud of your alma mater and encourage you to become involved with your community.

THE 505 INITIATIVE Getting a neighborhood on track, one semester at a time

GET FOCUSED! Whether you’re a new student who’s yet to declare a major or an established professional looking to bolster or change your career, the Focus 2 self-assessment test is the place to start. This career and education-planning tool allows you to assess your personal qualities and explore the career areas (or a continuing education track) that are most compatible with your values, skills, interests, and personality. The results include specific options for career paths, industry employment trends, and employment outlook ranked by field of occupation. Your personalized results also include average salary information by occupation from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. For students taking the assessment, the results include a list of specific NKU majors that prepare them for each profession. Get started at careerservices.nku. edu/students/careerplanning.html.

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What if philanthropists, university researchers, service delivery providers, and students all focused on bringing positive change to a single census tract—a census tract that struggles with some of the most compelling economic and social challenges in the entire region? That is what The 505 Initiative is all about. Newport, Ky.’s west-side neighborhood that comprises census tract 505 faces a number of challenges—blight, high unemployment, lack of services, and higher-than-average crime, to name a few. The 505 Initiative brings together faculty and students from NKU, along with students from Gateway Community and Technical College and community advocates, not only to help these residents but also to teach them better ways to help themselves. The 505 Initiative is the first step in Project Hope, a collaboration with the Greater Cincinnati Service Learning Network that intends to launch similar projects throughout the region. “NKU, and higher education in general, has a stewardship mission: to be good stewards of where you’re located, and not only teach students to be biologists and businesspeople but also to be citizens and stewards of the community long after graduation,” said Mark Neikirk, executive director for the Scripps Howard Center, in a Cincinnati Enquirer story about the project earlier this year. Neikirk also says that The 505 Initiative aims to bring a deeper educational experience to students. “There’s ample research that engaged learning improves student performance, retention, and graduation rates. The community experience enriches the classroom experience.”

MAYERSON STUDENT PHILANTHROPY Teaching students that the world’s problems are not too big to solve Generally speaking, the Mayerson Student Philanthropy project works like this: each semester, students enroll in any number of student philanthropy classes available at NKU. Each class has an average of $2,000 to award to either one or two nonprofits that range from battered women’s shelters, to watershed protection organizations, to The Freestore Foodbank, to Girl Scout organizations, to preschool programs. Each class is asked to evaluate community needs, conduct research to determine which nonprofits are most effectively meeting those needs, and, in the end, decide as a class which nonprofits will make the most effective use of the funds. In the years since the Mayerson project was first developed in 2000, it has distributed more than $700,000 to scores of nonprofits around the region and around the globe. Julie Olberding, an NKU professor who has taught a number of these philanthropy courses, described the project this way in an article recently published in the journal Innovative Higher Education: “The Mayerson project helps students to become more aware of nonprofits and social problems and ultimately encourages them to donate, volunteer, and serve on boards after they graduate from NKU. The experience empowers individuals who may have thought that the world’s problems were too big and beyond them. But once they engage locally and see they can make a difference, then they want to do more.” To learn more, visit civicengagement.nku.edu/involved/mayerson.php.

COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS EUROPEAN VACATIONS AND ACT TESTS Taking a trip to Italy this year and want to learn the language? Have a kid who’s about to take her first ACT? Community Connections offers noncredit courses for youth and adults for personal enrichment and academic growth. Classes include languages such as Spanish, Italian, French, and American Sign Language plus test-prep classes for the ACT, LSAT, GRE, and GMAT. Alumni receive a 15 percent discount for these classes. Community Connections also sponsors programs that include K–12 student group visits to campus for demonstrations and workshops, performing arts outreach, and NKU Spirit Day. Close to 10,000 students in grades K–12 participate in Community Connections outreach programs each year, and the staff are always open to serving new schools in the area. Finally, the NKU Connections event calendar provides event information to the community for nearly all of the university’s activities. For more information, visit communityconnections.nku.edu.

OPPORTUNITIES GALORE The Scripps Howard Center for Civic Engagement and Community Connections are two of many ways that NKU seeks to connect the campus and the community. Here are just a few of the other university centers and institutes that provide programs and services to individuals and organizations in our region. For a full list visit nku.edu/ community.html. Alternative Dispute Resolution Center NKU’s Alternative Dispute Resolution Center can provide you with a peaceful way to resolve conflicts and disputes. Center for Applied Informatics CAI provides a collaborative platform for organizations and individuals to drive innovative technology solutions. Center for Economic Analysis and Development CEAD engages in applied business and economic research and conducts high-quality, objective research on issues related to the region’s current and future economic wellbeing. Center for Economic Education This center provides a full range of services to P–12 teachers including professional development workshops, graduate courses, curriculum consultation, teaching resources, and programs for youth. Center for Environmental Education The environmental education center provides professional development, collaborates with other regional and state environmental organizations, and conducts school and community outreach programs and environmental education research. Center for Integrative Natural Science and Mathematics CINSAM enhances the teaching, learning, and applying of science and mathematics at NKU and in the schools of the Northern Kentucky region through interdisciplinary collaboration. Fifth Third Bank Entrepreneurship Institute The EI is one of the largest programs in the region to offer academic and outreach programs in entrepreneurship. METS Center for Corporate Learning METS is the region’s premier meeting and conference center and is located just three miles from the Cincinnati/ Northern Kentucky International Airport. NKU Nurse Advocacy Center for the Underserved The Nurse Advocacy Center improves the health of the underserved in the Northern Kentucky region by reducing health disparities. Training and Development Center This center provides low-cost mental health and social services to underserved residents of Northern Kentucky. Training Resource Center The center provides development, facilities, and resources for foster and adoptive families and community partner agencies. Community training includes child abuse prevention, parenting, and mental health. SSPPRRIIN NG G--SSU UM MM MEERR 22001133

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Student Success Center The new, all-in-one shop for student support services is ready, and it is awesome Here are a few things that are true about NKU students (and college students in general): • The sooner that students find and declare a college major that suits their character and ambition, the more likely they are to graduate. • Today’s students rely on technology and friend networks for support much more than past generations. • While there are numerous support services available for students at NKU, surveys have shown that past students haven’t known how and where to find them. • Surveys have also shown that they haven’t known where to find support services for nonacademic issues. Those last two points were eye opening, says Patrick Moynahan, vice provost for academic affairs. “It was alarming in the sense that we have a lot of support services. As we dug a little deeper our concern was, ‘What are we not doing here?’ It wasn’t that the services weren’t available; it’s that the students weren’t finding them.” Unfortunately, when students aren’t accessing support services, it affects everything from student retention to graduation rates. A period of research, studies, consultations, and committee meetings about the problem resulted in a unified solution: a highly visible, all-in-one center for students seeking support services. Thus was born the Student Success Center. The center integrates core departments that include Norse Advising, Career Services, and a “tech bar” where students can access and test out new electronic equipment that might help their academic career. And now these core departments are neighbors in an open and interactive physical space, which means that Janice the journalism major no longer has to travel to disparate offices across campus to visit the registrar or advising or to schedule her internship interview. The staff in these departments are cross-trained and working collaboratively to ensure that Janice has maximum access to the services she needs to succeed in her classes and after graduation. “Our most important objective is student success,” President Geoffrey Mearns said during spring convocation. “For me, student success means enrolling qualified students, retaining and graduating those students at high rates, and preparing those students to obtain meaningful employment.” And then the president said something that served as the catalyst for this entire feature story. Success is, indeed, about preparing students for a meaningful career, but success is also, he said, about preparing students and members of our entire community for a rewarding, fulfilling life.

THE COMPONENTS OF SUCCESS

The core departments of the Student Success Center Norse Advising Center: a centralized advising unit that assists undecided and university studies students to realize their potential through developmental advising practices. Arts and Sciences Advising: for undeclared students with interest in arts and sciences majors. Career Services: see page 13. IT Tech Bar and Engagement Stations: digital workstations for students. Learning Assistance Programs: a writing center, tutoring services, and more. Student Achievement Center: early alert and student support services for first-generation students and lowincome students. First-Year Programs: offers numerous learning, collaboration, and personal development programs for freshmen. Health, Counseling, and Prevention Services: helps students achieve and maintain optimal levels of physical, mental, and emotional functioning. Testing Services: offers testing services for placement, undergraduate admissions, and certification/ licensure. Disability Services: works with all units of the university to ensure that every student has an equal opportunity to succeed at NKU. International Education Center: develops and promotes global perspectives through engagement in the international arena. The NKU Barnes and Noble Bookstore. SPRING-SUMMER 2013

IEN EITH O’BR K T IS L A OL JOURN IGH SCHO HOR AND H T U E A H , T T F O P ULTURE O IVED DEE UTSIDE SH L C O E D K H N O S A O H S B ONT EW E LIVE FOR HIS N R EIGHT M E TRAGEDIES AND O F INTO TH F L . E Y S K , IM Y H D G TH D COUNT EMBEDDE ARD CHA FOLLOWIN F SCOTT U , O Y G R E M T S A N R E U O T ALL RY, ENT N ALL CO BASKETB D HIS STO ED. CURR BASKETB N ID F A O , IV M T D R A N E A NTY D TOW ON’S T IN THE HE OTT COU TEAM AN HAT SEAS C T S A F F E O O H T S S R F H RY O E STA S. TRIUMP NE OF TH S THE STO REATNES O G A S IR IC A E T W H A T M N DRA NDED JACKSO ERE, IS AS AT DEMA H H T D E N T P W R O HE T EXCE LS AND T CARDINA MAYBE GOD IS AGAINST US THE SON LIKED TO VISIT his father. Not every day or even every week. But every so often, at least every month or so, Chad felt the urge to go see him. Mark Jackson was easy enough to find. He was just across the county line, on the outskirts of Versailles, not far from where Will Schu’s grandfather had once become a high school basketball star. Once Chad hit downtown Versailles, he almost knew the way by heart. Right turn off Main Street. Left turn off the state highway. One more mile now, down on the right, in the shadow of the town’s light bulb manufacturing N NO O RT RT H HE ER RN N

plant, Chad would find his father. With the heating units of the nearby plant whirring in the distance, there was very little tranquility here. But that didn’t matter much to Chad. He just stepped out into the cold, shoved his hands into the pockets of his jeans, and walked the rest of the way, his feet leaving size-13 footprints in the snow and his eyes scanning the tombstones, looking for the one bearing his father’s name. “In loving memory of our son, brother, and father,” the epitaph reads at Mark Jackson’s grave. “October 3, 1967–April 27, 2007.”

Those who had seen both men—the father and the son— play basketball marveled at their similarities: that same bright smile, that same easygoing gait, that same build—lean and muscular and perfect for basketball. Mark was 6-foot-3 and 185 pounds. Chad was 6-foot-4 and 185 pounds. Neither the father nor the son tended to get worked up over anything. With the Jackson boys, there was often no raging fire, just slow-burning embers, which at times people could mistake for laziness. But within a few feet of the hoop, neither the father nor the son could be denied, soaring to the rim with a ferocity that belied their listless demeanor. There they were, two people, divided by two decades, playing a similar game. They even wore their hair in similar styles. As a senior at Woodford County High School, Mark had two lines shaved into the left side of his head, giving him a sort of streamlined appearance. And recently, Chad, unknowingly echoing his father’s style, had done the same, getting two lines shaved behind one of his ears. “It’s almost scary,” said Bob Gibson, one of Mark’s former teammates. Even Chad’s grandfather, Fred Jackson, got confused at times. He often mistakenly turned to his grandson, Chad, and called him by his dead son’s name: Mark. But on the court and off, the father and son weren’t exactly the same. Mark had terrible hands and clumsy feet while Chad, even at his height, could play point guard, smooth with the ball. Chad was more physical than his father, more talented, and more intelligent, too. He wasn’t going to end up like Mark Jackson: in prison, on drugs, dead at age 39, and laid to rest in this cemetery near the light bulb factory. And Chad was also not going to end up like his older brother, Chase, who, at age 20, was already in and out of jail and in and out of trouble. One night that fall, a month before basketball season began, Georgetown police responded to a call that a tall black man was walking naked in the Walmart parking lot. When the police arrived 10 minutes later to investigate, Chase Jackson, 6-foot-10, was wearing his clothes and informed the officer that his twin brother was the man police were looking for. Then Chase walked away from the police, became violent, punched a handicapped sign, ran, and had to be subdued with a Taser. “It’s put a lot of stress on my mom,” Chad said that fall of Chase’s problems, which he rarely discussed with his friends and teammates. “And that’s why I get on my brother a whole lot,” he added. “I just tell him it’s not right.” Chad was worried that Chase was headed down the same path that his father had once traveled. But Chad was on a different road. He had scored well on the ACT standardized test on his first try—far higher than his teammates. He wasn’t just a talented athlete; he was bright—quiet, yes, but mature—and he was determined to

hool where unty High Sc om Scott Co fr unty d Co te t ua ot ad Sc n gr game. As a Chad Jackso als to a 30-7 bounds per in re 2 rd Norse guard 6. Ca d e an th r leading 16.6 points from e honors afte he averaged sfer to NKU rned all-stat ment. A tran ea n na h so ur it w ck to e Ja er , at senior of the st ed playmak e semifinals ’s own as a skill PN kn ES is on n so ed record and th ck e was featur University, Ja ov ab on is ed ad ur M ct James e dunk pi etic talent . Th is year. natural athl January of th in t lis 10 p To er nt Ce Sports

leave Scott County even if it meant going to a small school, like James Madison University, which was one of the few colleges recruiting Chad when he returned home from Myrtle Beach. James Madison was no elite program. But still, it wasn’t Georgetown—and for Chad, that was a start. “I gotta get outta this place,” he told friend Bree Saunders one day while the two lounged in the gym. “The day I graduate, I’m gone.” “Where’s James Madison?” Bree asked him. “Virginia,” he said. “Virginia?” she replied. “You’re going to leave me?” “Yeah,” Chad said again. “I’m gone.” .... [Ed. note: Jackson went on to play one season at James Madison University before transferring to NKU in 2011.] Excerpted from OUTSIDE SHOT: Big Dreams, Hard Times, and One County’s Quest for Basketball Greatness by Keith O’Brien. Copyright © 2013 by Keith O’Brien. All rights reserved. Reprinted with permission. SPRING-SUMMER 2013

meet the residents N O RT H E R N

IT’S TRUE THAT LOTS OF NKU STUDENTS COMMUTE. IF YOU’RE AN ALUM OF THIS UNIVERSITY, CHANCES ARE GOOD THAT YOU DID, TOO. IT’S ALSO TRUE THAT THE PERCENTAGE OF NKU RESIDENTS IS ON THE RISE. AND IF YOU ASK THE NEARLY 2,000 STUDENTS WHO FLEW FROM THEIR NESTS TO LIVE AT THIS UNIVERSITY, THEY’LL TELL YOU: LIVING ON CAMPUS IS WHAT COLLEGE LIFE IS ALL ABOUT. FOR THE ALUMNI AND READERS AMONG US WHO MISSED OUT ON THIS EMBEDDED EXPERIENCE, WE BRING YOU THIS SNAPSHOT OF WHAT YOU MISSED— RESIDENT LIFE IN ALL OF ITS MESSY, JOYOUS GLORY.

Rianna Gayheart and twin sisters Courtney and Christine Roush are as embedded at NKU as can be, especially during basketball season. All three were members of the women’s 2012-13 basketball team that shocked everyone by making it to the postseason in NKU’s first year in D-I. But it’s the camaraderie these three have forged off the court—especially their time spent living in University Suites—that has bonded them like a family. Gayheart, an organizational leadership and communication double major, ticks off scores of social events sponsored by the dorms that have helped her feel at home at NKU. “People always say that you make your best friends when you go to college,” she says, “and I definitely have with my roommates.” The Roush sisters, both biology majors, concur. “I feel like the people who commute here instead of live here miss out on a lot of college life,” Christine says. “Here you can see your friends, get into study groups with them, or go over to other dorms.” Courtney is quick to interject and say what is likely on the mind of many young students: “Plus, if you’re living off campus, you have to see your parents every day.”

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With a Little Help From My Friends

LIVING AND LEARNING COMMUNITIES AND AFFINITY HOUSING COMMUNITIES ARE RESIDENTIAL AREAS DESIGNATED FOR A GROUP OF STUDENTS WHO SHARE SOMETHING IN COMMON, LIKE AN AREA OF INTEREST OR A FOCUS OF STUDY.

Honors Residential Community: This community is open to full-time undergraduate students who have been invited into the honors program or are the recipient of an academically related scholarship. Location: Callahan Hall Intercultural Living Learning Community: This community offers American and international students the unique opportunity to live together within an international community. Location: Woodcrest Apartments The Norse Experience: This community provides a comprehensive introduction to the Norse experience for firstyear freshmen through shared academic, social, cultural, and service activities. Location: University Suites Nursing Community: A close-knit community of nursing students. Location: University Suites STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) Community: This community is open to students with a major in the departments of biological sciences, chemistry, computer science, mathematics, physics, or geology. Location: Callahan Hall Fraternities and Sororities: From the Delta Gammas to the Sigma Eps, six fraternities and sororities have designated floors in Callahan Hall.

(dance, expects to graduate in 2015), says she didn’t want “the whole dorm experience” and was thus pleased when she learned of the apartment-style living in Woodcrest. “I’m a baker,” she says. “I fry stuff. I like to make potatoes and college food—Hamburger Helper. I try not to set off the smoke detectors.” A Lexington native, Marley credits living in Woodcrest with a number of benefits, starting with her social life. “I’ve made a lot of friends by living on campus and see a correlation between people who don’t live on campus not being as socially involved. I met my best friend here. If you want to have the true college experience, this is where you create those bonds.”

FACT OF LIFE: First-year students who live on campus have a higher retention rate, a higher, GPA, and complete more credit hours compared to their peers who commute.

FACT OF LIFE: First-year students who live on campus have a higher retention rate and a higher GPA, and they complete more credit hours compared to their peers who commute.

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FACT OF LIFE: A study last year revealed that 70 percent of students who live on campus live within a 30-mile radius. “Technically they don't have to live on campus,” says Arnie Slaughter, director of university housing, "but they want the campus experience.”

(sports business, expects to graduate in 2015) and Josh Makin (pre-nursing, expects to graduate in 2016) have a lot in common. Both grew up in the suburbs of Cincinnati and now share a room in University Suites. Both say they are not the “frat-type.” In addition, while Matt and Josh each run cross country and track for the Norse, they used to compete against each other in high school when Josh ran for Elder and Matt ran for Mason. “I knew his name, his face,” Josh deadpans. “I wanted to beat him.”

FACT OF LIFE: University Housing requires all RAs (resident assistants) to plan activities and programs for students in their wing throughout the semester. The activities include cookouts, karaoke, movie nights, informal dances, game nights, health counseling, and "Feast for Finals," where faculty and staff serve breakfast at night to resident students on the last Thursday of each semester.

SPRING-SUMMER 2013

(media informatics, graduated May 2013) is a man of many talents. We discovered Brian practicing his skateboarding in the honors hallway in Callahan Hall, a place he called home for four years. Although he wasn't what you would call a “natural” skateboarder, still he was giving it his best shot. But it was when we opened his room that we discovered another talent—fort building. As the single occupant of his room, Brian took creative license and, with a couple of bedsheets and blankets, essentially made himself a home-within-a-home. Brian credits resident life as his foundation of friendships and stability. “Just being able to have a group of people in close quarters, being able to socialize and depend on people—it means a lot.”

The Suite Life

CREATING CAMPUS CULTURE IN HIGHLAND HEIGHTS Meet Arnie Slaughter, director of university housing and the man responsible for overseeing all aspects of residential life at NKU. Overseeing the general wellbeing of nearly 2,000 teenagers and 20-somethings has its challenges (you think?), but Slaughter and his staff have created numerous activities for student residents (Pie Your RA Day!) as they continually look for new ways to keep the villagers happy. Here he talks about adjusting housing policies to meet student needs, safety on campus, and the reason why living on campus is a win for everyone. Northern: You’ve been involved with resident life here for 10 years. Can you speak to how things have changed? Slaughter: For the past 10 years, we’ve been very intentional in trying to create not just a space where N O RT H E R N

residents live but also a space where they have an opportunity to really get engaged both in the NKU campus community and the community within their residential area. When we speak with prospective students and parents, one of the big things we highlight is the concept that when you live on campus it’s not just a bed and a key. Northern: People may assume that most students who live on campus are from outside the region, but that’s not necessarily true, is it? Slaughter: Actually, 70 percent of our students who currently live on campus live within a 30-mile radius. Students who live within that radius get the best of both worlds. They get the experience of being a college resident and being connected to the campus and the community, but when they want to go home they

have that opportunity. Northern: What do you think is the benefit of living on campus? Slaughter: Being connected to the community. A good number of our students that live on campus really are very involved in their student organizations, student groups, etc. An off-campus student can have that opportunity to be involved in campus life, but there is a significant challenge if a student organization wants to meet at 8 o’clock in the evening and this student who lives off campus is done with classes at 3. Are they going to come back? There’s a support system of hall directors who live in each area and manage each facility. It really does create a great safety net for our residents to have an opportunity to be successful, not just living on campus but in the classroom and beyond.

FACT OF LIFE: The Dr. Leon E. Boothe Residential Village opened in 1982, offering NKU students their first opportunity to live on campus. The village consisted of Kentucky Hall and Commonwealth Hall and offered housing for 396 students. Here's a quick look at the growth of university housing since then: 1992–2003: Norse Hall and Woodcrest Apartments opened for occupancy with an additional 596 bed spaces for residents. Maximum occupancy was 992. 2003–2008: University Suites opened for occupancy with an additional 396 bed spaces for residents. Maximum occupancy was 1388. 2008–present: Callahan Hall opened for occupancy in 2008 with an additional 434 bed spaces for residents. Maximum occupancy is 1820, where it remains.

(journalism, expects to graduate in 2016) is the director of housing for the Delta Gamma sorority at NKU. A Louisville native, Smith says the amenities of Callahan Hall were the overriding factor when selecting a dorm. “I’m very much a girl when it comes to having my own bathroom,” she says. Also a factor when selecting NKU? Safety. “We are a safe campus,” she says. “I am not scared to go out here at night.”

FACT OF LIFE: NKU is currently negotiating the purchase of Lakeside Terrace, a former senior citizen living community. After renovation, Lakeside could house an additional 200 students. SPRING-SUMMER 2013

THE ROAD TO IN THE DAYS OF THE BOK CENTER AND NCAA DIVISION I, IT’S EASY TO FORGET THAT NORSE ATHLETICS STARTED OUT IN HIGH-SCHOOL GYMS AROUND THE REGION. AFTER SEEING THE NORSE PLAY THEIR FIRST-EVER D-I GAME IN SAN DIEGO LAST YEAR, JOURNALIST AND FORMER NKSC SPORTS INFORMATION DIRECTOR DAN WEBER REACHED BACK INTO HIS MEMORY VAULT AND PUT TOGETHER THIS ESSAY ON THE EARLY TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS OF NORSE SPORTS.

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BY: DAN WEBER

“Northern Kentucky University?... “Never heard of it,” the ESPN/LA college reporter said upon learning I was hustling to finish my story so I could get to San Diego for the first-ever NKU Division I basketball game. “The Norse,” he said after a quick Google. “What’s their story?” Their story was my story, at least for a while, or at least they let me come along for the ride. Looking back at it now, it was about as much fun as anybody could have ever had in sports. The way it happened. Well, it just happened. Just like that. Like when Drs. Steely, Tesseneer, and Claypool, the first president, chief academic officer, and dean of admissions at the about-to-be-four-year institution, Northern Kentucky State College, showed up at Covington Catholic High School that day in February 1971.

Still located “on the hill” in Park Hills and still a two-year extension branch, Northern attracted more CovCath students than from any other local high school. And as the American studies teacher teaching the entire senior class in two large group sessions, I had the honor of hosting celebrities like Gov. Wendell Ford and Cincinnati vice mayor Jerry Springer when they stopped by. With the dedication of the new Highland Heights campus just months away, it was time for Northern to get the word out. And so they came. Between classes, we had a chance to ask them some questions that we knew our kids had for them that hadn’t come up yet. What about sports? How soon do you think you’ll have an athletic program? There was a club baseball team started by the late Bill Aker that often used the CovCath field, but we were talking official intercollegiate teams. “We’re thinking about next year,” was the answer, “maybe basketball.” Right away the coach in me started thinking—and asking them: “Do you have a coach, a schedule, a team, a place to play?” “Not really,” they said. Actually, not at all. It was just a thought, that day. A hope, really. And an opportunity. As soon as the last class finished, I hustled down to the CovCath coaches’ office where Mote Hils was preparing his basketball team for a record fifth-straight ninth-region title and Sweet 16 trip. “Mote, call Dr. Steely,” I said. “Northern’s going to have a basketball team next year. And they need a coach.” Within a week, Northern had its coach. And Mote had a new gig. And so did I, moving on from a high school social studies teacher and baseball and assistant football coach to a college adventure I’ll never forget. “Whatever you need me to do, Mote, I’ll help you,” I said. There were prospects to scout, and I was still coaching CovCath. There was a schedule to be set. There were places to play that had to be found for a gym-less NKSC. No big guarantee games, no Ohio States, no conference, no flights, no West Coast jaunts. Just basketball. Hard to imagine how it all came together. Mostly Mote. A little of me wherever I could pitch in. Mote put together an interesting schedule. There were just nine home games out of the 27 that 1971–72 season, in high-school gyms around Newport, Alexandria, Dry Ridge, Falmouth, Covington, and Hebron. But the thing I most remember is seeing “NORTHERN KENTUCKY” in the

gold-and-black letters across the front of the brand new uniforms. First time I’d ever seen that on a team of any kind. My home had a team. The colors came from Dr. Claypool’s tribute to his Centre College alma mater, although Centre’s light old gold became bright gold with a much stronger black accent. Looked good. The short shorts look odd now, but Mote bought the best you could buy for that first season. Even so, the young Norsemen looked more like Norse-kids, which was what they were. While basically an all-freshman team playing mostly on the road against a top national NAIA schedule, the Norsemen averaged 84.9 points a game. Four times they surpassed 100. Most impressive was the 103–92 win at Bellarmine at the end of the season. The schedule could not have been more interesting. How we found our way to Calvary and its Pippa Passes campus for the season finale is one of the great college basketball mysteries. I’d been to every one of Kentucky’s 120 counties and had no idea where Pippa Passes was. It’s in Knott County, in case you’re interested. Officiating for a brand-new independent team on the road was a crap shoot at best. Or worse. Typical was the situation Mote faced at Indiana Central with the legendary Angus Nicoson, who came up to Mote on a snowy day to report that the officials couldn’t get to the game. But there were some off-duty Indiana basketball officials in the stands, he said, who had their gear in the car if that would be OK? It wasn’t, but what were you going to do? Angus’ brother-in-law didn’t do Northern any favors in that 93–89 overtime loss. The road opener at Pikeville, a tough three-point loss, was also a tough trip. Still remember pulling into a gas station as we got into Pikeville. “Where’s the Pikeville gym?” we asked the attendant. “Up thar,” he said, pointing straight up. And indeed, it was “up thar” on a mountainside perch. After the game, Jim McMillan had to get back to an early class and got to ride home with me since I had to be at CovCath by 8 a.m. for my first class. The 3:30 a.m. homecoming should have made for a tough day in class but it never seemed to catch up with you. It was that much fun. We were back in Northern Kentucky, and no one objected a bit. NORTHERN KENTUCKY, as the jerseys said. It was who we were and where we came from. We never forgot that. “Neat story,” the ESPN/LA guy said after I finished my story. Indeed. SPRING-SUMMER 2013

CLASS JOURNAL NOTES ALUMNI

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ALUMNI JOURNAL Gatherings Spring Forward! Happy spring, alumni and friends! While at times it seemed as if winter would never end, what an amazing season it was for friends, fans, and alumni of NKU. In January we celebrated Homecoming 2013 in epic fashion with record attendance not only for the Norse basketball doubleheader but also for our 11th annual Alumni Chili Cook-off. After both the men’s and women’s basketball teams defeated Kennesaw State, we held the most successful alumni Homecoming party in the university’s history. What a year for President Mearns and his wife, Jennifer, to experience for the first time the excitement of this NKU tradition! February was packed with out-of-town celebrations starting with a pregame reception in Nashville, Tenn. NKU alumni from all over the region enjoyed great food and refreshments before the Norse whipped-up on A-Sun rival Lipscomb. Two weeks later we were enjoying Southern hospitality with alumni in Atlanta and another Norse win over Kennesaw State. Of course, since going D-I, all NKU athletic teams compete around the country. Be sure to visit the NKU athletics website to see when Norse soccer, baseball, softball, or a number of other teams may be visiting your hometown! In March, your alumni association celebrated the beginning of spring with a truly inspirational event—the annual alumni awards, where outstanding alumni were recognized for their distinguished service and accomplishments. Finally, we wrapped up our spring events with Spring Fling, an annual luncheon for NKU faculty and staff alumni, and our annual NKU Night at the Reds. Please remember that we offer these events throughout the year as a way of connecting and celebrating with YOU, the proud graduates and friends of NKU. Thanks for everything you do! GO NORSE! Deidra S. Fajack Director Alumni Programs and Licensing N O RT H E R N

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1. Young alumni enjoy the Homecoming party in The BOKC Vault following a Norse basketball doubleheader. 2. A packed pregame reception is held at Florida Gulf Coast University before NKU takes on the Eagles. 3. Young alumni pose at the reception prior to a Norse basketball game against The Ohio State University. 4. Recent graduates Jessica Daniels and Matt Bodner enjoy a young alumni council happy hour at Raniero's. 5. NKU Alumni Award winners are honored at this year's alumni awards celebration. 6. Team Billiter celebrates its third win at the annual NKU Alumni Chili Cookoff at The BOKC. 7. Mr. Redlegs and Victor E. Viking greet President Mearns after he throws out the first pitch at NKU Night at the Reds. 8. Winners of Best Decorated Area pose at the Alumni Chili Cook-off. 9. The NKU Young Alumni Council gather with President Mearns at a Norse basketball game.

SPRING-SUMMER 2013

CLASS NOTES

CLASS NOTES 1975

Portrait of Aleia as a Young Woman

Greg Noll (economics and business) has recently joined the Heritage Bank in Burlington as senior lender for commercial banking. Noll will work jointly with commercial lenders and customers on credit opportunities and manage the credit quality of the commercial loan portfolio.

1978 Steve Siry (history), a professor at Baldwin Wallace University, had his latest book, Liberty’s Fallen Generals: Leadership and Sacrifice in the American War of Independence, published by Potomac Books.

1979 Andrew Barczak (history and Master of Education ’87) has been appointed principal at Bishop Fenwick High School effective July 1, 2013.

1981 Jim Cutter (construction management) has recently been elected as the president for the Homebuilders Association of Kentucky in Frankfort and will serve for the fiscal year of 2013. He has been committed to the association for many years, including serving as president for the Northern Kentucky chapter in 2006. “The position allows me to serve and to help our state association as well as our local members and to educate entities on issues that affect the construction industry,” Cutter says. He is also celebrating the 20th anniversary as founder and owner of Cutter Construction. During his collegiate years he was interested in building things, but it wasn’t until an injury ended his baseball career that he pursued it professionally. More than 11 surgeries later, Cutter says he is honored to hold a position with the homebuilders N O RT H E R N

NOTABLE NORSE WHAT WOULD IT BE LIKE TO BE A NATIONAL MUSEUM CURATOR AT THE AGE OF 24? ASK ALEIA BROWN. Meet Aleia Brown, curator of a national museum in central Ohio that reopened this past February after 17 months with its doors closed. Since the reopening of the National Afro-American Museum and Cultural Center, she has been responsible for designing and planning exhibits; testing the exhibits with audiences; working with graphic artists on visual messages and marketing; and grant writing. Brown came into her role during a transitional period for the museum, which had been closed since August 2011 due to mold. Alongside a team of 10 from the Ohio Historical Society, Brown began cleaning and preserving more than 800 artifacts—from automobiles to doll collections and ceremonial and military artifacts. “The museum is rebuilding itself and can set the stage,” Brown says. “It’s a big opportunity for now and for my development in the future.” With a master’s degree in public history, Brown says her education and subsequent internships have prepared her well for the role—especially a course in her last semester on mold damage and other emergencies. Brown’s first curated exhibit, “How I Got Over,” featured both present artists and those from a century ago. The exhibit touches on themes of spirituality, protest, and celebration. “It’s a powerful exhibit that reflects overcoming obstacles,” Brown says. “Even though it’s about African Americans, anyone can relate. Overcoming challenges is part of the human experience.” With more than 10,000 square feet of gallery space to play with, Brown calls it “imagination’s playground” and says the museum has gone through significant remodeling. “I encourage people to come out and visit because it’s such a treasure.” Dr. Carolyn Mazloomi, a West Chester, Ohio, artist and curator, says she’s very excited to see the reopening of the national museum under a “fresh curator with new ideas.” “We need a presence of African American art not always shown in mainstream museums,” Mazloomi says. “Aleia is a wonderful historian in the making; she’s quite dedicated to this. You don’t find many young people like that.” This is an edited version of a story that appeared in a January 2013 edition of the Hamilton JournalNews. Reprinted with permission.

association and to have the ability to give back.

1984 David Herr (Master of Business Administration) has been appointed executive vice president, services sectors, of BEA Systems. Herr will lead the development and implementation of integrated business strategies to support the service sectors, which consist of intelligence and security and support solutions, pursuing new opportunities in the U.S. and internationally.

1985 Mike Hoffman (fire science technology) has recently been promoted to fire chief in Springdale, Ohio. Hoffman, a thirdgeneration firefighter, began his service as a fire investigator in Springdale in 1990 and also served as a hazardous material technician and paramedic.

1994 Tanya “Tanny” McGregor (elementary education and educational leadership ’06) has written a new educational book, Genre Connections: Lessons to Launch Literary and Nonfiction Texts. McGregor is also a nationally known keynote speaker and teacher workshop presenter and has written three books for educators. Nathan Smith (political science) has been elevated to the role of chairman for the Manufactured Housing Institute, the only national trade association representing all aspects of factory-built housing, after serving the organization in a variety of leadership roles. Smith is a partner in SKK Communities—a vertically integrated company that sells, finances, and insures homes and manages manufactured home communities throughout Kentucky, Ohio, and Indiana.

1995 Sylvia L. Burke (Master of Public Administration) retired in June after 11 years at Tetra Tech, Cincinnati, as a web training consultant. She previously retired from AT&T after 27 years in management working as a software interface designer.

Carissa Schutzman (Master of Education) has been appointed dean of workforce solutions at Gateway Community and Technical College. Schutzman will be responsible for collaborating with Gateway’s business, industry, and secondary education partners to develop programs and services designed to spur workforce development and preparation.

proven track record of success, and Bo Drake definitely fits that description.”

1997

2004

Tina Barnes Closser (physics) has recently published a book titled Noncompliance: The Sector with Kristell Ink Publishing. It is a fast-paced science fiction thriller that is available at all major book outlets. Part of the profits from the book will fund scholarships for girls to go into engineering.

Matt Frey (construction management) has joined Skanska as senior director of business development for its Houston office. Frey is responsible for securing new business opportunities in the Houston area and reinforcing Skanska’s reputation of being an industry leader in ethics, safety, and innovation.

1998

Brian Henson (finance) has been promoted to assistant vice president at Fifth Third Bancorp. He is currently a senior financial analyst supporting the investment advisors line of business.

Derek Tye (management) has been elected president of the Southern Ohio Association of Realtors’ 2013 board of directors. Tye lives in Montgomery, Ohio, and is president of The Tye Group, a real estate sales team with RE/MAX United Associates.

1999 Kristen Sketch (business administration) has been promoted to officer by the Fifth Third Bancorp board of directors. She is a business banking sales support team manager at the Wilder branch. Erich Switzer (Master of Business Administration) joins The Life Learning Center in Covington as director of awareness and fund development, bringing 20 years of marketing and business development.

2000 Anna Langlinais (journalism), formerly Anna A. Weaver Knoerzer, is currently working at CNN in Atlanta, Ga.

2001 Albert “Bo” Drake (speech communication) has recently joined Ivy Tech Corporate College as the executive director of the southwest region. Says Ivy Tech chancellor Dan Schenk, “It is very important that [Ivy Tech] is led by an exceptional business person with a

2003 Andrea Lauren Flannery (integrative studies) and her sister Ashley Lauren Flannery (entrepreneurship ’10) have recently opened an Alba organic beauty studio and Cincy-style bar featuring nontoxic beauty products in Oakley.

2007 Elizabeth “Elise” Sebastian (Master of Social Work), the Northern Kentucky branch program manager with the Greater Cincinnati Alzheimer's Association, welcomed her first child, Catherine, into the world last June along with her partner of 13 years, Lisa. Justin Winebrenner (computer science) has been promoted by the Fifth Third Bancorp board of directors to officer. Winebrenner is a consumer risk analyst.

2008 Jeffrey Becker (marketing), 2nd Lt. of the U.S. Army, has graduated from ranger school. Since enlisting in 2010 he has also graduated from OCS officers training as well as infantry school.

2009 Laura Salzman (political science) has joined Fowler Ball PLLC as an associate attorney practicing in commercial litigation and collections. She will provide her clients thorough and thoughtful work that leads to the best resolution, whether it is in the courtroom or through out-of-court settlements. SSPPRRIIN NG G--SSU UM MM MEERR 22001133

CLASS NOTES

When Opportunity Knocks HOW ONE STUDENT LEARNED TO OPEN EVERY DOOR

NOTABLE NORSE Talking to senior Jason Hulett for more than five minutes might give you a small inferiority complex. The Lexington, Ky., native is working on his second degree, has owned his own business, maintains a 3.9 grade-point average, and has multiple side projects and jobs. He participated in the first class of the iNKUbator, Northern Kentucky University’s business accelerator, and conducted marketing research for the entrepreneurs in UpTech Ideas, a Northern Kentucky business accelerator that allows eight entrepreneurs to work with NKU’s College of Informatics students, faculty, and staff to launch their ideas. In addition, Hulett is the president and chief executive officer of NKU’s Collegiate Entrepreneurs Organization and a member of NKU’s branch of Students in Free Enterprise, when he is not slinging pizza at Dewey’s Pizza in Crestview Hills Town Center. And he is always on the lookout for the next big idea. “I want to be open to every opportunity available,” Hulett says. “Everything I am doing is furthering my learning. Through the CEO competitions, I am learning how to develop a business plan. With UpTech, I learn how to do the required research for a business plan, including pricing, researching my competition, and seeing how the product will fare when I take it to the market.” Hulett wants to use all of that knowledge to open his own business. A graduate of Sullivan University in Louisville, Hulett and a classmate opened Bon Temps Catering in 2009. With the downturn in the economy, they eventually closed the business and Hulett returned to school. NNOORT RTHHEERRNN

While he is most comfortable in the food and hospitality industries, Hulett does not want to limit himself. In the iNKUbator, Hulett developed a software application that monitors the effectiveness of restaurant employees. “I have no background in software, but it was good experience to learn how to create an app, because it seems like that is where the market is going,” Hulett says. “I also learned about sustainable businesses in the iNKUbator and how all businesses now must be socially responsible in order to be profitable.” After completing his major in entrepreneurship at NKU, Hulett is leaning toward opening a franchise—an ambition he discovered after interviewing Kona Ice founder Tony Lamb for the Castellini Foundation Master Entrepreneur Awards, where Lamb was honored as a Distinguished Entrepreneur. “Kona Ice is selling more than just a product; it has built a whole brand through its marketing,” Hulett says. “I also like how Kona Ice gives back to the community.” Without the help of his benefactors—the Eva G. Farris Scholarship, BlueStar Scholarship, Spirit of Entrepreneurship Scholarship, and Fifth Third Bank Entrepreneurs Scholarship—Hulett says he could not be as active on campus or explore his entrepreneurial passions. “I have an overwhelming sense of appreciation to the people who are helping me out,” Hulett says. “It gives me a sense of validation that I am on the right path.” To learn more about Hulett’s scholarships, visit financialaid.nku.edu/scholarships/scholarshiplist.php. To support students like Hulett, call NKU Development at (859) 572-6062.

Lee Ann Strausbaugh (nursing) completed her MSN at South University. She is currently the interim PN associate administrator at Education Management Corporation and enjoys both being a nurse and educating future nurses.

ALUMNI ON THE MOVE

Trent Chenoweth (leadership) was promoted to lieutenant at the Hamilton Police Department and is currently serving as training commander. Chenoweth and his wife, Cathy, have three children—Sam, 18, May, 14, and Zeke, 10.

Joelle Welch (business administration) and her husband, Oliver (computer science ’10), welcomed Oliver James Welch January 10, 2013. Joelle finished her master’s in library science at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in December 2012.

2010 Robert Kuhnhein (finance) passed Level 1 of the CFA exam in December 2012. He and his wife, Destinie, welcomed their daughter, Ella Elizabeth, February 7, 2013.

2011 Doug Wilson (Master of Business Administration) was recently hired by dunnhumbyUSA as associate director of client solutions in the Cincinnati office. Wilson will be responsible for working with the Kroger Co. to leverage models and analytical solutions to deliver relevant pricing and promotion strategies. He comes to dunnhumbyUSA from Kroger Co.

2012 Teddy Ingraham (sports business) is currently serving the Hickory Crawdads—the Texas Rangers’ Class A minor league baseball affiliate—in Hickory, N.C., as its food and beverage director as well as authoring Front Office blogs. Andrew Zeiser (criminal justice and journalism) has been hired as a reporter for The Harrison Press. Zeiser is continuing his dream of writing, which he has done since he was a young teenager.

Try This at Home A FITNESS PROGRAM GOES FROM THE BACKYARD TRAMPOLINE TO STANDINGROOM ONLY

Motivation has never been a problem for Melody Hoppius. When she decided to start a fitness program but had nowhere to run it, she held classes in her backyard. Hoppius had her students use paddleboats in a nearby lake; they did suicide drills in her driveway; she placed various objects high up in trees and had her class jump on her children’s trampoline to snag them. Hoppius would work out anywhere and everywhere: churches, schools, parks. Through her perseverance and dedication to living a healthy lifestyle, the program took off. A two-time graduate of NKU (’94, ’97) and a Delta Zeta alumna, Hoppius now runs her boot camp program inside the Impact Life Church in Florence, Ky., and has amassed 600–700 participants (including dozens of NKU alumni) just through word of mouth. After 14 years of working as a nurse in labor and delivery at St. Luke Hospital, she has made fitness a full-time job. Hoppius was overweight when she first began as a boot camper at the YMCA. During a program similar to The Biggest Loser at the “Y,” she lost 41 pounds. Her current program focuses on living a healthy lifestyle inside and outside of the gym. Participants exercise using only a yoga mat and free weights, but they shed pounds. “I myself still struggle to maintain my weight,” Hoppius says. “We’re real people trying to achieve a goal together.” —Caitlin Centner ’13

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CLASS NOTES

Mystery Solved!

Recently a reader pointed out that while he enjoys reading Northern Magazine, it would be nice if we printed more updates when photo subjects are identified. While we usually do print a selection of your responses, we realize that we missed the last issue. So let’s fix that. Thanks for reading, and keep on writing! —Brent Donaldson, editor “Wow, did you make my night. I knew this picture existed but only saw it once in the NKU newspaper. The year was 1973. This was the photo of NKU’s firstever intramural flag football champions, ‘The Old Colonels.’ It was taken after we won the championship game. Every player either played high school football for Dixie Heights High School or Covington Catholic High School. “I think #1 is Kevin O’Toole, #66 Bill Paliobagis, #44 John Hennessey; below them is Terry Boland, #69 Dave Bailey, #80 Jim Courtney, #27 Dean Fookes; next is Pat O’Toole, #82 Bobby Wynn, #32 Jeff Janning, and I am #26, Jeff Eger in the front on one knee. “We won the game on a trick play. I faked an injury and was carried off the field. Our wide receiver split

“I am an NKU graduate of 1983. I graduated from Dixie Heights High School, class of 1972, with several of these guys. They certainly are a motley crew. #66 is Bill Paliobagis; #27 is Dean Fookes; Pat O’Toole is just to the left of Dean; #26 is Jeff Eger. Hope this is helpful.” —Thomas C. Noyes, Ph.D. ••••••••• •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

“I’m a little behind reading Northern Magazine, but I graduated with several of the guys in the football picture. Dixie, class of ’72. We just had our 40th reunion in September. “If you don’t already have names for the faces, here are a few: #66 Bill Paliobagis, who, unfortunately passed away; #27 Dean Fookes; to the right of Dean in the back is Pat O’Toole; second from the left, bottom row, is Terry Boland; #26 Jeff Eger.” —Bev Smith Willman ’81

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out wide on the other side of the field. He stepped out of bounds, and I stepped in bounds onto the field on the bench side. We had informed the officials before the game and were advised the play was legal. I ran unobserved down the field and caught the pass and scored the winning touchdown. Oh, those frat boys were upset. “We called the play The Massillon Special. Shoot, I can’t remember what I had for breakfast yesterday, but I will never forget that play. “By the way, I now live in the Washington, D.C., area where I am the executive director of the Water Environment Federation, an international association of water professionals. “Thanks again. You brought back some great memories.” —Jeff Eger

The gentlemen in your “Mystery Photo” are (from left to right) John Crutchfield, Eric Johnson, and Matthew Rankin—a group of professional actors (not NKU students) that performed on campus May 1 and 2, 1999. They presented a fast-paced parody about the commercialization of sports, in which these three unconventional athletes fumbled their way through everything from basketball to bowling. Their show was called SPORT, and the Department of Theatre and Dance brought them to NKU after I saw them perform at the Southeastern Theatre Conference. On the wall behind the boxing ring is the word SLASTIC, which was a show developed in the 1980s by the Spanish physical comedy troupe El Tricicle, who gave Eric Johnson the rights to create an Americanized version of their show, which is how SPORT came to be. Sandra Forman, Professor NKU Department of Theatre and Dance

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PARTING SHOT A student feels the full force of a sneak attacker wielding gallons of red paint during University Housing's annual Paint Wars event. Resident assistants sponsor the event each year before finals to help students relieve a bit of stress.

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Mystery Photo!

Now we present to you a young man airdropping spaghetti into his mouth. Bon appetit! Here are a couple of guesses as to what’s going on here: Every day at noon, students gathered around Jake in the cafeteria to witness the World’s Worst Table Manners. Or perhaps this shot was taken right after somebody told Jake that his biology final started 10 minutes ago. Or maybe it was just a spaghetti-eating contest and this guy was crushing it. But where? When? Who won? Who's in the crowd? Was there really an intramural pastaeating team? These are important questions, folks! Please email your answers to northernmagazine@nku. edu and help us solve the mystery! In the meantime, pasta anyone?

Photo credit: Schlachter Archives