Monday, March 1, 2010 * Volume 12, Issue 11
A bi-weekly newsletter published by the University of the Ozarks Public Relations Office
Marathon participants
competing to benefit
Jake Tull Scholarship
Chinese New YYear
ear Celebration
By Andrea Dankert
Communique Editor
University of the Ozarks is known for
its family-like atmosphere, and nothing
proves that more than the campus’ recent
efforts to endow the Jake Tull Memorial
Scholarship. As the Marines say, “We
take care of our own.”
Jake Tull was an Ozarks student who
died last year while pursuing one of his
passions, studying the environment in
Africa.
Associate Professor of Life Science
Education Dr. Kim Van Scoy said, “Jake
was a really special student for me. His
memory reminds us that we all have great
potential to do things that sound impossible,
like marathons or half marathons or even
climbing Mt. Kilamanjaro.”
Almost immediately after his death,
Jake’s friends and family started the Jake
Tull Memorial Fund with the goal of
Continued on Page 2
Jack Rossmaier and Robyn Crow were
named King and Queen during the 2010
Homecoming ceremony, held Feb. 20.
President and First Lady Rick and Sherée Niece hosted a Chinese New Year’s Celebration at their home on Saturday, Feb. 13.
Weiss turns colleagues into action figures
By Don Lee
Web Content Writer
Q: What do these things have in
common? G.I. Joe, Hulk Hogan, Luke
Skywalker, Gene Simmons from Kiss,
Spider-Man, and Ozarks President Dr. Rick
Niece.
A: They are all action figures.
Action figures? Even Dr. Niece? Yes, even
our beloved president, turned into
miniaturized 3-D movable art (with bendable
joints), thanks to the hobby crafting of
Sociology professor Dr. Jesse Weiss.
“I’ve always liked toys,” says Dr.
Weiss. “I started a collection of action
figures in college, a mishmash of superhero
and sports star figures – everyone from
Michael Jordan to Batman – and rock
stars.” He points to the bookshelves in his
office, which also contain incredibly lifelike
figures of Elvis Presley, Jimi Hendrix, Kurt
Cobain, and Joey Ramone of the Ramones.
“Then one day I noticed that you could
take them apart without destroying them,”
he says. “I always enjoyed painting models
Dr. Jesse Weiss
as a kid, so I started making new
characters out of the parts, professional
wrestlers or movie characters that didn’t
already have action figures based on
them.”
Dr. Weiss says once he mastered
using a dremel tool to be able to carve the
figures, and sculpey, a clay-like product
that hardens when heated, he was able to
create new hair, beards, and glasses. “I
Continued on Page 2
Tull Scholarship Continued from Page 1
DARRELL WILLIAMS
Business Manger
It is always a great feeling to be able to provide new
and renovated facilities for our students, faculty, and staff. It
is especially gratifying to be able to provide facilities our
students have been asking for. When we started the
planning process last summer for the Seay Center
expansion and renovation and for a fourth residence hall, the
actual construction seemed way down the road. Now, the
beginning of construction is upon us.
Our campus is blessed with many dedicated employees
who devote themselves to Ozarks. Our campus planning
committee was no exception. These members dedicated
many extra hours working with our architects to develop
plans for the facilities we all will be proud of.
The Seay Center Expansion and Renovation will
include:
Fitness facility
Aerobics area
Men and women’s dressing rooms
Security office
Health clinic offices
Conference center
Renovated and expanded student dining area
Banquet preparation area
The fourth apartment style residence hall (Trustees
Hall) will provide additional housing for 20 students and will
be very similar to Mabee Residence Hall.
The following is our projected timeline for these
projects:
March 11, 2010 - Bid opening
March, 2010 - Contractor selection and approval
April, 2010 - New construction begins
April 23, 2010 - Ground-breaking ceremony
May-July, 2011- Student dining renovation and
expansion
August 1, 2011 - Projects completed
In addition to these two projects, we will be remodeling
our quantitative chemical analysis lab and replacing all the
old single-pane windows with energy efficient windows in
the Smith-Broyles Science Center. We anticipate the
project starting in May, 2010, and being completed by
August, 2010.
With any new construction or renovation on a college
campus comes many challenges and opportunities. We look
forward to these challenges and opportunities as we
improve our campus for future generations.
Darrell Williams
Business Manager
creating a scholarship for JLC students with financial need.
Last semester, Ozarks professors Dr. Kim Van Scoy and Dr.
Heather McFarland invited the Ozarks campus to join them in
the Little Rock Half Marathon scheduled for March 7.
It all began with a few people who wanted to create healthier
lifestyles, but it turned into something much greater. “We knew
that we wanted our work to go toward some type of charitable
cause. We discussed several local charities, and then we thought
about Jake’s scholarship,” said McFarland.
Jake had been a student in both of the professors’ classes,
and he had touched the lives of many of the people who were
running the marathon, so the decision was easy. As time went
by, the cause continued to grow.
Julia Frost, a first-time marathon participant, said, “The race
really brought the scholarship to people’s attention. Just recently,
we reached our goal of raising $20,000 so that it could be
endowed.”
This experience has proved to be valuable for everyone
involved. As Dr. Van Scoy said, “We’re all benefitting from this.
We’ve improved our health and fitness, made new friends, and
improved our self-confidence.”
Everyone is invited to join in the event on Sunday, March 7,
in Little Rock. Posters and noisemakers will be provided for those
who wish to cheer on the runners.
Runner Zach Doty said, “It’s inspiring to have campus
members cheering you on during the race. It reminds you of why
you are running.”
So feel free to crowd the sidelines and help the runners and
walkers reach their goal.
Action Figures Continued from Page 1
did one of my dad, my brothers and myself,” he said. “Since then
I’ve done Dr. Niece, Dr. [Sean] Coleman, and some others. It’s
kind of random – you can’t really do one for everybody. I have
done a few on commission through eBay, though.”
He said he did one figure based on the father of a tattoo
artist from Fayetteville who had been a wrestler. “My wife and I
have standing offers for free tattoos from that guy,” Dr. Weiss
says. “We haven’t taken him up on it yet.”
He says he has a large plastic bin with drawers filled with
spare parts. “The figures I use are from a manufacturer called
Jakks Pacific. Unfortunately, they quit making the figures last
December, but I have enough spares to keep me going for awhile.”
Toy modification has made its way into Dr. Weiss’s sociology
classes, where he often uses a “Barbie Bash” to teach about
gender roles to his students. “After Christmas I buy up a lot of
Barbies off the clearance racks,” he said.
“The students are asked to examine gender roles and to
redesign their Barbies against gender roles. So on display
downstairs are the Stay-At-Home Ken doll and the President of
the United States Barbie, among others.”
At the end of the interview for this piece, Dr. Weiss presented
its astonished author with a remarkable sight – a Web Site Content
Media Writer Don Lee action figure, its fingers curled just right
to tackle the keyboard.
Phyllis Johnson
The annual Spring Preview Day,
Discover Ozarks, will be held Saturday,
March 13. Help Ozarks welcome all of the
prospective students and their parents ...
Learn how to improve your grades by
sharpening your study skills. Come by to
hear valuable advice from Doty Pelts at
the Study Skills program in Smith Hall
on Monday, March 1 at 7 p.m. … The
Arkansas Jazz Orchestra will be in
concert on Tuesday, March 2, at 7 p.m.
You don’t want to miss out on the
opportunity to hear these talented
musicians doing what they do best …
Warm up your vocal chords because
Karaoke Night is coming up on March 5.
The stage will be awaiting you in the
Student Center, complete with
microphones and lyrics … The time has
come for Mr. U of O to win his crown.
The annual show will be held on Saturday,
March 6, at 7 p.m. in Rowntree … Come
out and support the Ozarks Lady Eagles
softball team as they play their season
home opener against Blackburn College on
March 8 at 1 p.m. … Knock down some
pins on Friday, March 12, at the Sherwood
Bowling Alley in Clarksville. The games
start at 9 p.m. … Make sure to cheer on
the Ozarks tennis team as they play at
home against Louisiana College on March
13 at 10 a.m.
3/1- Study Skills Program*, Smith Hall
3/2- Chapel*, 11 a.m.
WAIS*, Arkansas Jazz Orchestra, 7 p.m.
3/5- Karaoke Night, SC
3/6- Mr. U of O, Rowntree 7 p.m.
3/7- CCM Mass*, Chapel 4 p.m.
3/8- Softball, Home 1 p.m.
3/9- Chapel*, 11a.m.
3/11- Softball, Home 2 p.m.
3/12- Tennis, Home 3 p.m.
Bowling Night, 9 p.m.
3/13- Tennis, Home 10 a.m.
* Denotes Convo Credits
Phyllis Johnson has taught business at
University of the Ozarks for seven years. She
graduated from University of Arkansas in 1978
with a degree in Business Education.
What brought you to Ozarks?
After graduating from the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville in 1978
with a degree in Business Education, I started teaching at Huntsville High
School where I had over 150 students. I was a very happy teacher at
Huntsville when I received a phone call from my adviser telling me about
an opening at Ozarks. I told him I would think about it and get back with
him—after a couple of days, I decided NOT to apply—I was too content
with my current position. However, Ozarks had some very determined
individuals who decided to call and ask me to “at least come down for
lunch and look the school over.” Of course I did, and by the time the
business division personnel got through talking to me and showing me
around the school, I was sold. Thus in August of 1980, I came to teach
here at Ozarks. The only problem with the situation in the 80’s was the fact
that the school was experiencing a financial crunch—as a fairly new
professor I was asked to take a five percent cut in my salary. That really
put a crimp in my budget (I was trying to raise two sons on just my
salary), so when I received another phone call asking me to apply for the
position of Department of Education state PBL Adviser, I accepted. I really
didn’t want to change jobs, but finances dictated my leaving. About three
years ago in the fall of 2006, I got another phone call asking me if I
would be interested in coming back to Ozarks—I said YES, because I
never forgot just how much I loved it here.
What is something most people do not know about you?
I play a mean hand of bridge.
If you could transport yourself to anywhere in the world at this very
moment, where would you go? That would have to be Egypt. I want to
see the pyramids, and besides, IT’S WARM there.
What do you admire most in a person?
I most admire integrity and the ability to have empathy for others.
What has been your most rewarding moment as a teacher?
There have been so many that it would be hard to pick just one, but just
knowing that our students will do better in life because of our interaction
with them is the most rewarding part of teaching.
Budget committee approves tuition increase
The University’s Campus Budget Committee has approved a 7.5 percent increase for on-campus students (including tuition, room, board and fees) for the 20102011 academic year. For residential students, the increase will be $1,880. For commuter students, the tuition increase is 8.9 percent (from $18,300 to $19,930).
The University’s Budget Committee was made up of the administrative council,
as well as representatives of the students, faculty, staff and the Board of Trustees.
The increase will help the University maintain its exceptional quality of education
as well as to improve technology access and capability. Plans are currently underway
to have wireless capability in all of the residence halls by the start of the 2010-2011
school year. Expansion of the Seat Student Center and construction of a new residence hall are also expected to begin this spring.
Eagles win one of three from Sul Ross State
The U of O Eagles’ pitching staff threehit Sul Ross State in a 9-5 game one win,
but then gave up 13 hits in a 10-3 game
two loss Saturday in American Southwest
Conference cross-over action on Saturday
at Qualls Field
The Eagles dropped the third game to
Sul Ross, 19-3, on Sunday.
Bobby Osburn, Brett Wood and Bill
Smith struck out a combined nine batters
and allowed just three hits in the Eagles’
seven-inning win. Osburn started and went
two and two-third innings before being
relieved by Wood (1-0). In his first
appearance of the season, Wood fanned
five through three and one-third innings to
receive the win. He did not allow a hit
during his time on the mound. Smith then
pitched the final inning to complete four
and one-third hitless innings.
Trailing 1-0 after the top of the first,
Tad Turner reached base on a single and
then crossed home plate after Chris
Driedric powered his first career home run
to put the Eagles (3-7, 0-0) ahead 2-1.
Mitchell Powers later recorded an RBI on
a fielder’s choice for the third run for
Ozarks, and Sul Ross (7-4, 0-0) committed
an error for the fourth run. The Eagles went
up 5-1 in the bottom of the second when
Jonathan Cox scored on a wild pitch.
Lady Eagles split games
In Irving, Texas, event
The Lady Eagles went 1-1 in softball
action at the University of Dallas Kickoff
Saturday in Irving, Texas.
Lady Eagles senior Stephany Henson
threw a three-hit shutout to lead Ozarks
to a 3-0 win over Cornell College in game
one. Ozarks dropped the second game
against University of Dallas 3-0.
Henson (1-1) kept Cornell at bay
throughout the game, fanning four through
seven innings of work. Henson, who did
not issue a walk the entire game, allowed
just two base runners through the first five
innings. Kelsey Mefford delivered an RBI
double for the first run of the game in the
fourth. In the same inning, the Lady Eagles
(1-3) added two more runs.
The Lady Eagles out hit University of
Dallas in game two, but couldn’t get the
timely hits necessary to pull out a win. Ali
Mathis paced Ozarks with a 2-for-4
performance at the plate.
Senior second baseman Tad Turner applies the tag on a Hendrix College baserunner
during a recent home game. The Eagles defeated Hendrix 4-3.
Ozarks’ lead evaporated in the third
when the Lobos scored four runs on two
hits, one of which was a three-run homer,
to tie the contest at 5-5 in the third. Scott
Dietz and Jeremy Hogan each notched
RBI in the bottom of the fourth to give
Ozarks the lead for good. The Eagles
tacked on two more runs in the bottom of
the fifth thanks to a pair of Sul Ross errors.
Wood did the rest as he didn’t allow a base
runner in the third and fourth innings, and
walked just one in the sixth.
Turner finished 2-for-4 with two runs.
Driedric was 1-for-3 with two RBI.
In game two, Jonathan Cox (1-2)
received the loss after tossing six innings.
Hogan and Cory Briggs each had two hits
to lead the Eagles.
Tennis is in full swing
Senior Brett Spahn and freshman Emily Drake compete for the U of O tennis teams in a
recent home match against Harding University. The teams will be at home for matches
on March 12 and March 13.