		Pipeline	Weeks of Nov. 21-27 & Nov. 28-Dec. 4, 2009
		Published weekly for faculty and staff by the Monmouth College Communications Office.
		Phone: (309) 457-2117 • E-mail: mcnamara@monm.edu Copy deadline: Thursday, 3 p.m.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Tickets on sale for Scots' playoff game
Advance ticket sales for Monmouth College’s first round playoff game on Saturday, Nov. 21, against the University of St. Thomas at April Zorn Memorial Stadium will be on sale Friday from 1 to 4 p.m. in the business office, located on the first floor of Poling Hall. Ticket prices are $8 for adults and $4 for students. All seating is general admission.

Tickets will also be available on game day beginning at 10 a.m. in the lobby of the Hewes Library. Gates for the game between the No. 8-ranked Fighting Scots and the No. 10 Tommies will open at 10:30 a.m., with the kickoff scheduled for noon.

Fans unable to attend the Monmouth-St. Thomas game will be able to view the action on their computer. The college, in conjunction with the Midwest Conference and the Web company Penn Atlantic, will be producing a live webcast with full audio and video. Due to the expected volume of viewers, fans are encouraged to log on between 11:30 and 11:45 a.m. at www.midwestconference.tv.

Playoff game creates philanthropic opportunities
It’s very likely that Saturday’s NCAA playoff game between Monmouth College and the University of St. Thomas will pump more than $1,000 into the local economy. What it has also done is serve as the catalyst for two separate philanthropic efforts of $1,000 apiece.

Earl Wilfong, director of facilities management, and his wife, Brenda, are heroes to students after Wilfong paid the way for many of them to attend the game for free. Students have not had to pay for home games all season, but NCAA rules stipulate that the college must charge students $4 apiece for a playoff ticket. Wilfong’s $1,000 gift was a pleasant surprise to the first 250 students who went to Poling Hall on Thursday to buy a ticket.

Wilfong said that as he participated in a staff meeting on Tuesday to go over the logistics for Saturday, he heard about how the NCAA controls the seating in the stadium and sets the ticket prices. Recognizing that all students should have the opportunity to attend the playoff game and wanting to encourage student participation, he stepped forward with his gift. The tickets were made available on a first-come, first-served basis beginning at 10 a.m. on Thursday. By 12:39 p.m., all the donated tickets had been distributed to students.

MC’s Community Service House has also used the playoff game as a philanthropic opportunity, selling playoff T-shirts. The group received enough orders that they were able to donate just shy of $1,000 to Monmouth’s Jamieson Community Center for Thanksgiving dinners for families in need, according to junior Cami Johnson, who led the project, along with classmate Laura Graff.

MC receives $22,500 grant
Monmouth College has received a $22,500 grant from the Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation to fund a feasibility study for the college’s proposed wind energy project.

The college is exploring the possibility of locating a wind turbine on an 80-acre property that it owns in Warren County. To complete the feasibility study, the college will contract with a wind energy company that is active in the area.

Physics professor Chris Fasano has worked with the company over the past year, engaging in extensive analysis of the data derived from meteorological towers in Warren County. Data accumulated by Fasano, which constituted the first phase of the feasibility study process, suggests the project should proceed. Or, in the professor’s words, “Using the enlarged dataset and a cubic spline function that interpolates the manufacturer’s power curve, we find excellent conditions for generating electricity.”

Monmouth is now ready for the second phase of the study, which will address issues of environmental impact and economic analysis. Completion of the phase, which will involve Fasano, biology professor Ken Cramer and vice president for finance and business Don Gladfelter, is expected in the spring of 2010. A comprehensive report will be submitted to President Mauri Ditzler and, subsequently, with his approval, to the college’s board of trustees for its review and possible action. Should the project be approved, the college hopes to initiate construction of the wind turbine within the next two years.

“Electricity produced by wind via a wind turbine would provide the college with exciting educational opportunities,” said associate academic dean Bren Tooley, who assisted with the grant proposal. “We envision educational programs associated with the wind turbine for both students and the general public. Eventually, we would hope to establish a Web page that would provide public information on the project.”

EVENTS

Monmouth Chamber Orchestra to present concert
The Monmouth Chamber Orchestra will present a concert on Sunday, Nov. 22, at 2 p.m. in the Kasch Performance Hall of the Dahl Chapel and Auditorium. The event is free and open to the public.

Carolyn Suda, director of string activities, said the ensemble will perform several pieces for string orchestra.

“We are doing two modern folk-inspired works – an intense and exciting selection called ‘Fire in the Valley’ by Jeffrey Bishop, and ‘River Songs,’ an arrangement of the two spirituals ‘Deep River’ and ‘Shall We Gather at the River?,’” she said.

The orchestra will also perform two major works from the classical repertoire. The Vivaldi Concerto Grosso in G minor will feature freshman Will Grunow of Hawthorn Woods and senior Seth Cocquit of Magquon as violin soloists. The concert will conclude with two “exciting” movements from Joseph Haydn’s masterpiece, Symphony #104 in D Major, nicknamed the “London Symphony.” Suda said the finale will require a complement of winds and percussion.

MC to host bilingual education forum
Monmouth College will host a regional forum on bilingual education on Sunday, Nov. 22, from 2 to 5 p.m. in the Whiteman-McMillan Highlander Room in the Stockdale Center.

Titled “Here + There = Now: Multicultural Education in West Central Illinois,” the forum will present an opportunity for elementary and secondary teachers from the region to share perspectives on bilingual education. Teachers from a variety of backgrounds will be present, as will two MC faculty members –associate professor of modern foreign languages Heather Brady and associate professor of sociology and anthropology Judi Kessler. Brady will introduce the forum, while Kessler will speak on demographic issues and the historical context of migration to Monmouth.

MC students participating in the forum will be Claudia Gomez, Lauren Nelson, Kayla Bonjean, Jen Koerner, Jenna Thompson, Amanda Cozzi, Morgan Koss and Karen Skadow. Several of the students will speak about community engagement projects in which they are involved at Willits Elementary School and Monmouth-Roseville High School. Gomez will join VISTA volunteer Teresa Cabrera to speak about their organizational experiences in the community.

“The students involved are all in my Citizenship class and are conducting this forum as part of their community service or service-learning,” explained Brady.

Also planned are discussions about bilingual education strategies and engaging family participation, as well as a brainstorming session on best future practices. The latter session will examine how schools can keep young people in the community and future projects that might better connect the high school and the college.

Other forum participants will include local teachers Hayley Townsend, Todd Franks and Ana (Fisher) Franks, who are all MC graduates. Gloria Delaney-Barmann of Western Illinois University will serve as the moderator.

'A Christmas Carol' continues this weekend
In what has become a holiday tradition, Monmouth College and the Buchanan Center for the Arts have teamed up to present a community production of Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol.” Public performances begining at 7:30 p.m. opened on Nov. 19 and will continue through Saturday, Nov. 21, in the college’s Wells Theater. There will also be a 2 p.m. matinee on Nov. 21.

Tickets are available at the Buchanan Center during regular business hours or by phone at 309-734-3033. Prices are $4 for MC students with IDs; $5 for senior citizens and high school and elementary students; and $6 for the general public.

Student exhibition now on display
MC’s annual Student Art Exhibition and Competition, featuring some of the best work of its students, is being presented now through Dec. 19 in the Len G. Everett Gallery, located in Hewes Library.

On Friday, Nov. 20, at 2 p.m., an awards ceremony will be held in the gallery, followed by an artists’ reception and gallery talk. The exhibition, awards ceremony, reception and talk are all free and open to the public.

First- and second-place awards for the student artwork will be announced in the categories of ceramics, design, drawing, painting, photography and sculpture. In addition, the juror for the competition, Western Illinois University art professor Julie Mahoney, will select a single piece for Best in Show and another for the prestigious Waltershausen Sculpture Award.

EMPLOYEE INFORMATION

ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND HONORS

Thompson receives ICTM scholarship
Monmouth College recently participated in the annual meeting of the Illinois Council of Teachers of Mathematics. Several students attended the event, and one of them came home with a prestigious honor.

Senior Jenna Thompson, an education major with a minor in mathematics, received a $1,500 scholarship. The ICTM has awarded the scholarships since 1989, and has increased the number of recipients steadily throughout the years, presenting five awards since 2005. To be eligible, a student must be enrolled in an accredited university or college in Illinois, be a junior or senior, have mathematics and education components to their bachelor’s degree and have a 3.0 GPA. Students also write an essay, complete a lesson planning form and submit two letters of recommendation.

Monmouth’s contingent of students, which included seven from the college’s Secondary Math Methods Class, attended several workshops and sessions, learning how to integrate different math techniques into the classroom. They were also able to interact with current teachers and learn strategies that those professionals are using in the classroom today.

“The information that we obtained from this conference will be very beneficial when we step foot into the actual classroom because it was information from math teachers for math teachers,” said junior Dustin Murray, who is majoring in mathematics with a secondary teaching classification. “I can definitely see myself using some of the information that I learned in my future classroom.”

THE BUZZ

Saturday, Nov. 21

Theatre Production: "A Christmas Carol" – Wells Theater, 2 p.m.

Circle K: Black and White Dinner and Silent Auction – Scotland Yard, 5:00p.m.

Theatre Production: "A Christmas Carol" – Wells Theater, 7:30 p.m.

Sunday, Nov. 22

Concert: Monmouth Chamber Orchestra – Dahl Chapel, 2 p.m.

Darwinpalooza Film Series – Electronic Classroom, 7 p.m.

Monday, Nov. 23

Angel Tree Project – Stockdale Center Lobby, Lunch and Dinner

Space for Grace – Dahl Chapel, 12:10 p.m.

Protecting your Personal Computer – Trotter

Tuesday, Nov. 24

Angel Tree Project – Stockdale Center, Lunch and Dinner

Library Closes at 4:30 p.m.

Thanksgiving Break Begins at End of Day

Wednesday, Nov. 25

Thanksgiving Break

Library Closes at 4:30 p.m.

Thursday, Nov. 26

Thanksgiving Break

Library Closed

Friday, Nov. 27

Thanksgiving Break

Library Closed

Saturday, Nov. 28

Thanksgiving Break

Library Closed

Sunday, Nov. 29

Newman Center Mass – Dahl Chapel, 4 p.m.

Monday, Nov. 30

Holiday Banquet Sign-up – Stockdale Center Lobby, Lunch and Dinner (all week)

Up ‘til Dawn: Letter Writing – Highlander Room, 10 a.m.

Space for Grace – Dahl Chapel, 12:10 p.m.

Tuesday, Dec. 1

International Student Host Family Dinner – Highlander Room, 6 p.m.

ASAP: Movie – Dahl Chapel, 7 p.m.

Wednesday, Dec. 2

MC Employee Luncheon – Private Dining Room, 12 noon

Wackerle Wednesday – Stockdale Center Lobby, 12 noon

ASAP: After Hours – Scotland Yard, 9:30 p.m.

Thursday, Dec. 3

Final Day to Turn in Angel Tree Gifts – Stockdale Center

Meeting of the Minds: College Is Where All the Change Begins – Highlander Room, 6 p.m.

Friday, Dec. 4

Newman Center Christmas Movie – HT's Finley Lecture Hall, 6:30 p.m.

SPORTS RESULTS/SCHEDULE

Home athletic events
Football vs. St. Thomas, 12 noon, Nov. 21

Men's Basketball vs. Central, 4 p.m., Nov. 21; vs. Eureka, 7 p.m., Nov. 25

Women's Basketball vs. Fontbonne, 6 p.m., Nov. 21; vs. Eureka, 5 p.m., Nov. 25; vs. North Central, 5 p.m., Dec. 1

Athletic results
Men's Swimming placed second of eight teams at Monmouth College Invitational

Women's Swimming placed third of eight teams at Monmouth College Invitational

Women's Cross Country placed 13th of 39 teams at the NCAA Midwest Regional

Men's Cross Country placed 25th of 39 teams at the NCAA Midwest Regional

Women's Basketball lost 75-51 to Carthage

Men's Basketball lost 90-57 to Minnesota State

Sports highlight of the week ... Beyer stars in re-run
For the second consecutive year, junior Mary Kate Beyer has qualified for the NCAA Division III Championships. Beyer placed 14th in the field of 273 runners at the NCAA Midwest Regional in Winneconne, Wis., earning all-region status. Her time of 22:03 was the second-best in her career for the 6K distance. Senior Katie Staab earned her first all-region honor and just missed joining Beyer at the national meet. She was less than a half second off her season’s best time and placed 21st, just 1.9 seconds shy of the last national qualifying spot. The two frontrunners helped Monmouth place 13th out of 39 women's teams. At the national meet, which will be held Saturday at Highland Park Golf Course in Cleveland, Ohio, Beyer will aim to improve on her 74th-place finish from a year ago.

MISCELLANEOUS

MC hosts college-to-career conference
Monmouth College recently hosted its second annual Scots Connection: College-to-Career Conference, an event that enables current students to learn more about professional opportunities from MC alumni now in the working world.

The two-day conference was a joint effort between the college’s Career Development Office, directed by Michelle Shawgo, and the Alumni Programs Office, directed by Lucy Thompson. A total of 18 alumni participated, sharing their experiences in small groups at a networking dinner, at roundtable discussions and in a panel discussion titled “Everything I Needed to Know I Learned at Monmouth College.”

The roundtable discussions focused on specific career fields, including opportunities related to English, medicine and physical education. Students also learned about working for non-profit organizations, fitting into a work environment and the business knowledge required to work in any field.

“We want our alumni and students to share ideas, to share experiences and, ultimately, to share in success – success that we hope can be traced, in parts large and small, to their time here at Monmouth College,” said President Mauri Ditzler in his opening remarks.

Ditzler added that although students typically learn many of their lessons from their professors, there is also a great deal of education that takes place outside the classroom.

“I’m a firm believer that this type of setting is one of those places, as students meet with alumni and not only learn valuable information about a specific career, but so much more,” he said. “They have the opportunity to be inspired by some of these professionals and to form initial connections with them that might fully blossom years from now.”

In fact, two of the students were hired over the weekend for future internship opportunities, said Thompson, who added, “To attend this weekend’s conference, students had to be nominated by faculty members. They are some of our best and brightest students, and some of our most inquisitive and outgoing.”

Alumni who attended the event included Pam Wyeth Bellm ’76, Chris Byers ’89, Dan Cotter ’88, Jennifer Hootselle Cybart ’95, Jay Dickerson ’00, Michael Frantz ’99, Addie Dallas Hebard ’98, Trevor Hiel ’99 and Elysia Logan Mahoney ’04.

Also, Eric Matthews ’99, Jeff Miller ’84, Rebecca Ortiz ’99, Mike Salaway ’89, Debra Jackowniak Scarlett ’95, Chad Simpson ’98, Joe Stefani ’04, Darcy Crandall Thorp ’93 and Ralph Velazquez ’79.

MC's Newman Club has a new home
MC students don’t have to travel far to visit a new off-campus meeting place.

Located just across the street from the western edge of campus, the St. Augustine Catholic Newman Center at 502 N. Sixth Street has been “up and running since March,” according to Kathy Mainz, an MC staff member who serves as the adviser for the college’s Newman Club.

“The Catholic Diocese of Peoria purchased the home last November as a service for the students at Monmouth,” explained Mainz. “We had minimal programming there last spring, but this fall, we’ve kept regular hours from 7 to 11 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays.” Adult members of the local community serve as “house hosts” throughout the week.

The Newman Center actually opens a bit earlier one day a week for “Sunday Suppers,” an event that the college’s Newman Club president, senior Damon Bautista, says is a popular one, attracting more than a dozen students each week.

“It’s a great chance for us to get together and have a nice, home-cooked meal,” said Bautista, who reported that students “kick in a couple bucks each week” to enjoy hearty meals such as chili, chicken noodle soup or “breakfast for dinner.”

Besides serving as an area for fellowship, the Newman Center is also a quiet place to study. Mainz said it has “huge tables, which really lets the students come in and spread out,” and it is equipped with Wi-Fi to accommodate laptop computers. She said the house also has another level of quiet, with a “reflection room” that is reserved for individuals seeking solitude for prayer.

On the opposite end of the sound spectrum, the Newman Center has a 52-inch TV that is “quite popular on Monday nights,” said Mainz.

In addition to being a center for fellowship and study, the facility is also a place where students can learn more about the Catholic faith through RCI (Rites of Catholic Initiation) classes, which are also open to local residents.

“It’s not just for Catholics,” Bautista said of the classes. “It can be for individuals who don’t know what they are and are just trying to find their way.”

Another spiritual opportunity is a weekly Catholic Mass, which is held in the college’s Dahl Chapel and Auditorium. The time has varied this semester, but Mainz is hoping to settle on a 4 p.m. start time in the spring. The Mass is led by the Rev. Anthony Bernas of Monmouth’s Immaculate Conception Church.

Bautista said that the Newman Club is also planning to sponsor a series of talks next semester on issues such as faith, spirituality and hope, and the organization plans to join forces with the Newman Club at Western Illinois University for a spiritual retreat.

Found on college campuses around the world, Newman Clubs typically focus on opportunities for students to make friends, perform service projects and worship together. The clubs are named in honor of Cardinal John Henry Newman (1801-1890), whose writings encouraged societies for Catholic students attending non-Catholic universities.

Monmouth College’s Newman Club actually dates to the 1950s but had become inactive in recent years. Since being reactivated, though, Mainz said there has been a “tremendous outpouring of support” from the campus community, including the administration.

“When we started putting the house together, I had a ‘wish list’ of stuff, and that list has been completed much sooner than I could have ever hoped,” she said. “Many people have stepped forward with their support.”

FROM THE MESSAGE BOARD

Technology training opportunities
Technology training sessions offered by the Information Systems Center in the Trotter Computer Lab in Wallace Hall will be held on Friday, Nov. 20 at 1 p.m. ("Creating PivotTable Reports and PivotCharts in Excel") and Monday, Nov. 23 at 3 p.m. ("Protecting Your Personal Computer"). The workshops are open to all faculty, staff and students. To sign up for any of the sessions, ask questions or to schedule an alternate training time, contact Marcie Beintema at marcie@monm.edu or 309-457-2194.

OFF-CAMPUS EVENTS

WANT ADS

House in rent
A two-bedroom house located approximately 2½ blocks northeast of campus is available for rent in December. The house also features 1½ baths, hardwood floors on the first floor, a finished basement with a fireplace, screened-in outside room and a one-car garage. It has two refrigerators, a stove, a dishwasher, a washer, a dryer and central air, and some furniture is included. The utilities are reasonable, and rent is $650 per month. For more information call Terri Rankin at 457-2315 or Jeff Rankin at 457-2314.