NSU News - Home

Photography exhibit by Robert Crew to open Nov. 30

David West — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0600

     NATCHITOCHES – Robert Crew started photography as a way to help his students, but over the next 40 years photography grew into an enjoyable avocation.

     Crew will display two exhibits in the Orville J. Hanchey Gallery at Northwestern State University beginning Monday, Nov. 30. “Here Comes the Bride: Four Decades of Bridal Fashion and Portraiture” will be in Gallery 2 and “Places and Faces: Photographs of Louisiana Architecture and Characters” will be in the Main Gallery. The exhibits will run through Dec. 31. The Galleries are open weekdays from 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. while the university is in session.

     “These exhibits include a lot of my favorite photographs,” said Crew, who is the executive assistant to the president at NSU. “They include wedding photos, characters and shots that I needed to shoot such as still shots and statues.”

     The characters include Natchitoches attorney Tom Murchison and a Clarence man known as “Slim,” who walked from Clarence to Natchitoches daily always declining rides because he said, “I am in a hurry.” The exhibit will also feature wedding photographs he has taken through the years to illustrate the evolution of bridal fashion.

     Crew has been executive assistant to the president since 1997. He earned his bachelor’s degree at NSU in 1965 and his Master’s of Education at Northwestern in 1968. A classroom teacher in Caddo and St. Mary’s Parish from 1965 until 1970, Crew worked in the Louisiana State Department of Education from 1970 until 1997.

     Crew began taking photographs when he was teaching at Oak Terrace Junior High in Shreveport. Students at the school wanted to have a yearbook, and principal Stan Powell said he would buy a camera if someone would learn to use it. Crew volunteered.

     “As my photography got better, our yearbook improved,” said Crew. “I realized I had a lot to learn about taking pictures.”

     The following summer, he worked at Urbach Photography Studio in Shreveport and took a class in yearbook photography at the University of New Mexico.

     “The rest I’ve learned through experimentation, trial and error and practice,” said Crew. “I think you have to have an eye to see the shot before you take it.”

     Initially, Crew stuck to taking photographs of “things that didn’t move.” He started taking wedding photographs as a favor to a fellow teacher then agreed to continue doing it.

     “Shooting wedding was very stressful. You only got one shot in most instances because this was before digital photography and Photoshop,” said Crew. “For some reason I was fortunate and my photos always came out.”

     But he admits things didn’t always go smoothly.

     “One time, I was loading and reloading in the dark thinking I was using color film. After about six shots, I realized I had the wrong film,” said Crew. “I turned the cake around, turned the bride and groom around and never missed a beat.

     “At another wedding, the groom and the uncle of the bride got into a fight. I didn’t know whether to keep shooting or help break up the fight. The bride asked me to help break up the fight, so I did.”

     As Crew got more experience, he gained more opportunities to do professional work. He was the official photographer at two inaugurations of former Gov. Edwin Edwards and was photographer for the Louisiana Teachers Association.

Annual Christmas Gala to be presented Dec. 3-4

David West — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0600

     NATCHITOCHES – The Mrs. H.D. Dear Sr. and Alice E. Dear School of Creative and Performing Arts at Northwestern State University will present the annual Christmas Gala Thursday, Dec. 3 at 7 p.m. and Friday, Dec. 4 at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m.

     Tickets are $10. NSU, Louisiana School for Math, Science and the Arts and BPCC@NSU students are admitted free with a current student I.D. Reservations or advance sales are not available.

     The Gala is an NSU 125th Anniversary event. The theme will be “Northwestern Through the Years” written by Coordinator of Theatre and Dance Scott Burrell.

     Each area of the School of Creative and Performing Arts is involved in the Gala. Students and faculty from theatre and dance and music perform and handle technical work. Students and faculty in fine and graphic arts create the Gala poster and program.

     Performances will be by Northwestern Theatre and Dance, the NSU Jazz Orchestra, the Wooden Soldiers, the Rockettes, the Demon Dazzlers, Natchitoches-Northwestern Symphony Orchestra, NSU Choirs and the NSU Percussion Ensemble. The Jazz Orchestra will provide music 30 minutes prior to curtain time.

     For more information, call (318) 357-4483.

University to close Nov. 23-27 for Thanksgiving

David West — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0600

NATCHITOCHES – Northwestern State University will be closed Nov. 23-27 for Thanksgiving. Administrative offices will reopen and classes will resume Monday, Nov. 30.

Multicultural Christmas Concert scheduled for Tuesday, Dec. 1

David West — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0600

     NATCHITOCHES - A Northwestern State University Multicultural Christmas Concert will be held Tuesday, Dec. 1 at 7:30 p.m. at the Treen Auditorium at the Louisiana School for Math, Science and the Arts. Admission is free and open to the public. Canned foods will be collected at the concert to support the DOVES program. The concert is sponsored by the Louisiana Folklife Center at Northwestern and the NSU Office of Cultural Diversity.

     Performing groups include the Lifted Voices Choir from NSU, the Back Porch Band, the NatNaz Chorale, the Shekinah Glory COGIC Choir, the Natchitoches Central High School Concert Band, Hardrick Rivers and the Korean Christmas Choir.

     For more information contact the Louisiana Folklife Center at (318) 357-4332 or visit http://louisianafolklife.nsula.edu.

Dennis honored as Professor Emeritus

Leah Jackson — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0600

NATCHITOCHES - Northwestern State University bestowed the honor of Professor Emeritus on Dr. William Dennis of Natchitoches, who served in NSU’s Department of Engineering Technology from 1972 until his retirement in 2003. During his tenure, Dr. Dennis made outstanding contributions to the department’s growth, according to Dr. Thomas M. Hall Jr., professor and department head.

“Dr. Dennis saw great change in the department during his 30 years,” Hall said. “Initially created as industrial arts education at the end of World War II, the department grew and changed over the years—always staying relevant and true to its mission of producing graduates who would be productive members of the local and regional workforce and society. As he began his tenure at NSU, industrial arts had spawned degrees in industrial technology and electronics engineering technology, and a new degree in computer technology was being created. It was in this environment of growth and change that Dr. Dennis came to make his mark.”

Dennis served as department head from 1997-2000. During his career, he saw the initial accreditation of the industrial technology degree in 1982 and wrote numerous proposals for funding for equipment and developing curriculum guides and safety manuals for industrial arts in state high schools. He fostered partnerships with area industry and oversaw the development and accreditation of the electronic engineering technology curriculum. He helped create the industrial engineering technology degree in 2002, which was accredited that same year.

“While these are but a few of his significant contributions, Dr. Dennis always sought ways to bring technology into the department,” Hall said. “Through his constant interface with industry, he was always able to stay current and drive the department to remain relevant in a changing world.”

Upon Dennis’s retirement in 2003, Hall noted, he was the last of the industrial arts faculty members in the department.

Dr. Austin Temple, dean of the College of Science and Technology, made note of Dennis’s contributions to the department during a time of transition.

“Bill readily offered to teach new courses and participated in course redesign, which was no small contribution to the department,” Temple said. “This is a capstone. This puts closure on a career and indicates what a fine job Bill did as a teacher and researcher in the department.”

“I enjoyed my 31 years at Northwestern,” said Dennis, who described the transition from “shop-type application to engineering technology implementing research and design. The department now emphasizes the implementation of design and includes design, drafting and research.”

“Yet, through the years he changed with the needs of industry. He not only adapted to change in the department, but also created change—always moving forward,” Hall said.

The luncheon in Dennis’ honor was held in conjunction with Northwestern’s year-long celebration of its 125th anniversary, which has been highlighted with activities within the College of Science and Technology throughout the month of November.

35th Annual Basket Day to be held Saturday, Dec. 5

David West — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0600

NATCHITOCHES - Northwestern State University will host its 35th Annual Basket Day Saturday, Dec. 5 from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. in the Williamson Museum in Room 208 of Kyser Hall. Admission is free and open to the public.

Those attending will be able to browse through vendor exhibits showcasing authentic Native American arts and crafts from regional tribes. Basket Day is held each year on the same day as the Natchitoches Christmas Festival.

NSU, BPCC sign agreement making it easier for students in five degree programs to transfer credits

David West — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0600

     NATCHITOCHES – Northwestern State University and Bossier Parish Community College have signed a Memorandum of Understanding allowing BPCC students in five degree programs to transfer to Northwestern without losing any credit hours.

     The agreement covers associate and baccalaureate programs in music, telecommunications/journalism, theatre, industrial control systems/electronic engineering technology and art/fine arts. Both institutions have worked together so that each course at BPCC in these degree programs has an equivalent course at Northwestern.

     “The relationship between Northwestern and Bossier Parish Community College runs long and deep and we are grateful for that,” said Northwestern President Dr. Randall J. Webb. “We have a good working relationship, and hope these agreements will lead to students who choose to continue their education after graduating from BPCC to enroll at Northwestern.”

     BPCC has branch campuses on Northwestern campuses in Natchitoches and Leesville-Fort Polk to accommodate students who do not meet NSU’s admissions standards. Northwestern has also set up a branch campus on BPCC’s main campus.

     “Bossier Parish Community College and Northwestern have established a model for how two institutions can work together,” said BPCC Chancellor Jim Henderson. “Both institutions are responsive to the needs of the region and work to make the most of their resources.”

     NSU and BPCC collaborated to pilot the successful Center for All Louisiana Learners (CALL) Program which helps adult learners complete a college degree. They are also partnering in a Title III grant to better prepare nursing students for clinicals.

     Webb and Henderson said Memorandums of Understanding for additional degree programs are being discussed.

Lecture on practice of hoodoo to be held Tuesday

David West — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0600

     NATCHITOCHES – Dr. Jeffrey Anderson, an assistant professor of history at the University of Louisiana at Monroe, will present a lecture about the development and practice of hoodoo in the African-American community of the Southern United States Tuesday, Nov. 17 at 4 p.m. in the Ora G. Williams Television Studio (Room 142) in Kyser Hall. Admission is free and open to the public. The lecture is sponsored by the Louisiana Folklife Center.

     Anderson first became interested in hoodoo while still an undergraduate student attending Samford University in Birmingham, Ala. According to Anderson, Hoodoo is widespread in the African-American population, “but largely invisible” to the white community. He continued his research into the history of hoodoo in the South while receiving his master’s and doctoral degrees from the University of Florida. He found that outside of the Mississippi River Valley, hoodoo is commonly referred to as “conjure.” Anderson has published two books on the topic, Conjure in African American Society (Louisiana State University Press, 2005) and Hoodoo, Voodoo, and Conjure: A Handbook (Greenwood Press, 2008).

     While he does not practice or promote “conjure” or “hoodoo,” Anderson views hoodoo as a fascinating element of Southern culture and will discuss how hoodoo functions in society. He will begin with the late Antebellum period and discuss the relationship between hoodoo and slavery. Anderson will then show how the practice of hoodoo has evolved to match the changing needs of African-American society. Anderson observes, “they don’t need a spell to protect escaped slaves anymore,” but in the current economic climate, spells to “help find a job” are a lot more useful.

McCalister, Higginbotham named 2009 Miss, Mr. NSU

David West — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0600

     NATCHITOCHES – Two close friends were able to receive Northwestern State University’s highest student honor as Rachel McCalister of Natchitoches was named Miss NSU and Eddie Higginbotham of Jennings was named Mr. NSU.

     “It makes me feel good because I didn’t do anything other than be myself. I never thought I would receive an honor like that,” said McCalister.

     Higginbotham was selected as the 2009 Homecoming Honor Court King last month.

     “It was humbling and a bit surreal,” said Higginbotham, a senior health and exercise science/pre-physical therapy major. “I remember the people I looked up to who got this honor and I never thought I would get it.

     “Rachel was one of the first people I met when I got here. I didn’t know anyone, but I just threw myself out there and got involved.

     McCalister, a senior secondary business education major, is the daughter of Dr. Pam McCalister and Rickey McCalister. She is a member of Phi Mu Fraternity, serving as the organization’s president and holding other leadership positions.

     “Students should be involved. I feel it is a way of giving back to the university which has provided me with a scholarship and a good education,” said McCalister.

      McCalister has been a member of the Student Activities Board, Demon Volunteers in Progress, Blue Key, Alpha Lambda Delta, Phi Kappa Phi and the Student Alumni Association. She is president of Kappa Delta Pi Education Honor Society. McCalister was the 2008 Homecoming Honor Court Queen and the 2009 Greek Woman of the Year. She said working with incoming freshman in the Freshman Connection program was one of the best opportunities she could have had.

      “One reason I did Freshman Connection was that it was a great way to meet new people,” said McCalister. “It was also a way to help me become more well rounded which is the kind of thing that is looked for in the workforce. It helped me learn to contribute to solving problems and to lead people.”

     Higginbotham is the son of Eddie Higginbotham III and Ella Higginbotham. He is president of Theta Chi Fraternity and the Student Activities Board. Higginbotham was a member of the Freshman Connection orientation staff and Demon Volunteers in Progress. He is an Interfraternity Council delegate, Greek Ambassador and a member of Phi Eta Sigma Honor Society, Phi Kappa Phi and the Order of Omega. Higginbotham was the 2009 NSU Student Leader of the Year and Greek Scholar of the Year.

     “I feel as if I have had the full college experience instead of just going to class,” said Higginbotham. “I was able to get involved and meet new people. I love being around people so that has been great for me.”

     Higginbotham said he wanted to take advantage of the opportunity to be part of a variety of student groups.

     “It helps to be in different types of organizations because each one does its own types of events and sometimes you can take a leadership role and at other times, you can just be part of the organization,” he said.

     According to Higginbotham, the varied experiences he has had as a student leader will help him in his career as a physical therapist.

     “As a physical therapist, you help people get back to how they perform,” he said. “You have to be willing to serve people. I want to help people make their day a little better and get back to 100 percent.”

      McCalister plans to earn a master’s degree in educational administration and teach middle school math.

      “As a teacher, I will shaping those who will lead this country in the future,” said McCalister. “I’ve learned to deal with people who have a variety of outlooks on life by being involved in student organizations. It has helped equip me for teaching.”

NSU developing Turnaround Specialist certification program

Leah Jackson — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0600

NATCHITOCHES - Northwestern State University’s College of Education is partnering with the Louisiana Department of Education to implement the Louisiana Turnaround program, a certification program targeted to newly-appointed principals of low-performing schools. The Louisiana School Turnaround Specialist Program is a leadership development program based on a corporate model. It is designed to strengthen the leadership skills of principals to lead low-performing schools to higher student achievement.

Eight universities in Louisiana are participating in the program and will provide resources to participants in their service areas. The two-year program focuses on training principals to lead through communication, goal setting, analyzing data and dealing with personnel with the goal of turning failing schools around. Participants will earn 18 hours of graduate credit and, if their schools meet performance criteria, will be endorsed by the state as a designated Turnaround Specialist.

The program is based on Louisiana’s pilot participation in the University of Virginia’s Virginia Turnaround Specialist program.

“This program is an executive leadership program. It’s focused on team building and it can work,” said Sheila Guidry, project administrator of the Louisiana Department of Education. “It requires thinking about things in a different way. The principal in the school will be working with NSU who will provide resources to service schools in a customized way.”

NSU’s role, as well as those of the other seven universities serving as regional providers, will be to develop and implement the curriculum and coursework, tailoring the program to the needs of the participant.

“As a partner in the program, we will offer night, weekend or hybrid classes to accommodate the participants’ schedules to minimize the time an administrator is away from the school,” said Dr. Wendell Wellman, NSU’s team leader in developing the program.

Candidates for the program must apply to the state through their school superintendent. Priority will be given to schools with a high level of academic assistance. Grants from the Wallace Foundation will fund the first two of six semesters for participants.

The model for the program is the University of Virginia’s Darden/Curren Partnership for Leaders in Education (PLE), a join venture of the Darden School of Business and the Curry School of Education. PLE works to establish aligned leadership among state, district and school-level administrators, legislators and board members and to build the internal capacity necessary to turn around low-performing schools. It has received national attention collaborating with some 40 school districts, in 10 states and in cities such as Chicago, Philadelphia, St. Louis and New Orleans.

“This program is developing very quickly,” said Dr. Vickie Gentry, dean of Northwestern’s College of Education. “We’re training faculty and developing courses that will start as B-term courses in the spring. Each participants’ needs will be different. It’s very prescriptive.”

Registration for spring semester at NSU begins

David West — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0600

     NATCHITOCHES - Early registration for the Spring 2010 semester at Northwestern State has begun.

     Priority Internet registration will be held through Friday, Nov. 13 based on a student’s classification. Freshmen with 30 or fewer earned hours and students without Web access can sign up in their academic department Nov. 13 and Nov. 16-20.

     Internet registration will be held through Jan. 3, 2010. Regular registration on the Internet is on Jan. 4-10, 2010. Departmental registration will be held on the Cenla campus Jan. 4, at Leesville/Fort Polk Jan. 5, on the Shreveport campus Jan. 6 and on the Natchitoches campus Jan. 7-8.

     For more information, contact the Northwestern Registrar’s Office at (318) 357-6171 or go to http://registrar.nsula.edu.

Excellence in Teaching Awards presented

Leah Jackson — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0600

Northwestern State University recognized a faculty member from each of the university’s colleges with Excellence in Teaching Awards. Recipients were chosen by their colleagues based on their contributions to their college and university in the area sof scholarship, leadership and service. Honored were Bill Shaw, College of Liberal Arts; Dr. Margaret S. Kilcoyne, College of Business; Dr. Ron McBride, College of Education; Dr. Rondo Keele, Louisiana Scholars’ College; Renee Downey, College of Nursing, and Dr. Sonia Tinsley, College of Science and Technology

Shaw is an assistant professor of criminal justice. He is a graduate of the State Police Academy and served as a law enforcement office in Louisiana and Texas. He is a retired detective sergeant from the city police department of Mineral Wells, Texas. Shaw holds graduate degrees from NSU and the University of North Texas in anthropology and criminal justice, respectively. In addition to NSU, he has served as a faculty member of Weatherford College in Weatherford, Texas, Lee College in Baytown, Texas, and Louisiana College in Pineville.

Kilcoyne is an associate professor of business administration and the director of business programs at Northwestern. Dr. Kilcoyne earned her Ph.D. at Louisiana State University. Her research has been published in refereed journals and she has made numerous presentations internationally, nationally, regionally, and locally. In 2004, she won the 2004 McGraw-Hill/Irwin Distinguished Paper Award Winner and the Thomson Business & Professional Publishing Outstanding Educator of Association of Business Information Systems. In 2005 she won the Outstanding Doctoral Research Award from Delta Pi Epsilon, the Outstanding Career & Technical Educator of the Year (Louisiana) in Business Education, and the Outstanding Post-Secondary Business Educator (Louisiana).

McBride is a tenured full professor in the College of Education with work experience in secondary, community college, and higher education. He is a pioneer in Louisiana in distance education since 1986. He is a former director of Telelearning, Project Outreach at the Louisiana School for Math, Science and the Arts, a predecessor of the Louisiana Virtual High School; the Office of Telecommunications and Distance Learning at Northwestern. McBride is a former head of the Department of Journalism; and currently coordinates the graduate program in Educational Technology at NSU. Dr. McBride has served as principal investigator for $1.4 million and co-investigator for $1.13 million in grants. McBride has received two international awards, one national and other recognition for his work with educational programs delivered at a distance.

Keele is an assistant professor of philosophy in the Scholars' College. Before coming to NSU, Keel worked at the American University in Cairo, Egypt. His specialty is medieval philosophy, in particular William of Ockham. He also teaches introduction to philosophy, ancient philosophy, logic, and world religions, a subject enriched by his stay in Egypt where he had the opportunity to enter a number of the pyramids (for insight into the ancient world) and to be surrounded by Muslim culture (increasing his understanding of this major religion). Keele did his undergraduate studies and graduate studies at the University of Utah and obtained his Ph.D. in philosophy from Indiana University. Keele studies mediaeval manuscripts in his research and enjoys Latin literature. He recently presented a paper called "The Matter of Soul: Candia Contra Averroistas," at the International Workshop on Peter of Candia hosted by the University of Cyprus. In addition, he's currently working on Islamic influences on mediaeval Christian theories of the soul.

Downey is an assistant professor for the Bachelor of Science in Nursing Program at the NSU College of Nursing Shreveport Campus. She is the coordinator of the medical and surgical levels for nursing students and she is the advisor for the Shreveport Student Government Association. She is also a member of several distinguished organizations, including the national honor society Sigma Theta Tau, the America Nurses Association and the Shreveport District Nurses Association.

Tinsley is an assistant professor in the Department of Health and Exercise Science. She serves on the Teacher Education Council, Institutional Review Board, and the Athletic Council at NSU and is a member of the State and National Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance. She has been selected as the 2009 Louisiana college health educator of the year for the Louisiana AAHPERD. Tinsley is also a member of the Louisiana Action for Healthy Kids Team. She has also been a facilitator of the School Health Index and the Wellness Policy Tracker for the School Wellness Committees in Allen, Catahoula, Vernon and Grant parish schools. She has also made a variety of presentations throughout the state of Louisiana related to coordinated school health, teacher stress and female college athletes and stress. Sonia is currently a co-coordinator for the Natchitoches Parish School Health Advisory Board.

NSU Jazz Orchestra to perform Oct. 18

David West — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0600

     NATCHITOCHES - The NSU Jazz Orchestra will present a concert Wednesday, Oct. 18 at 7:30 p.m. in Magale Recital Hall. Admission is free and open to the public.

     Galindo Rodriguez is the director. Guest artists will be Northwestern State faculty members Dr. Paul Forsyth and Dr. Malena McLaren.

     The program will include The Heat’s On by Sammy Nestico featuring Neil Cosby on tenor saxophone and Michael John Butler on drums, Take the A Train by Billie Strayhorn and the Atlanta Rhythm Boys and arranged by Frank Foster featuring Cosby and Mike Jackson on trumpet and Jack the Bear by Duke Ellington and transcribed by David Berger featuring McLaren, Jackson, Adam Thomas on baritone saxophone, Kirby Atkins on trombone and Michael Herren on bass.

     The Jazz Orchestra will also perform Misty by Johnny Burke and Erroll Garner and arranged by Dave Wolpe, I Loves You Porgy by George Gershwin and arranged by Bret Zvacek with Andrew Bezik on trumpet/flugelhorn, Pegasus by Hank Levy with Rodriguez on flugelhorn and Forsyth on alto saxophone, Rock This Town by Brian Setzer and arranged by Wolpe, Sing, Sing, Sing by Louis Prima and arranged by Mike Lewis with Kali Broussard on drums and April in Paris by Harburg and Duke and transcribed by Jeff Hest.

NSU student Jessica Lopez finds perfect part in The Merry Widow

David West — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0600

     NATCHITOCHES – Jessica Lopez feels she found the perfect character to play in her first major role at Northwestern State University.

     Lopez, a vocal music education major from Henderson, Texas, plays Hanna Glawari, the object of attention in The Merry Widow, which will be performed Nov. 11, 13 and 14 at 7:30 p.m. in the A.A. Fredericks Auditorium.

     The Merry Widow by Franz Lehar is the story of a rich widow, played by Lopez, who is attempting to find a husband.

     “She is the widow and everyone is trying to get with her, some for love and some for money,” said Lopez. “I really wanted this part. I felt I could take on the challenge. I couldn’t have found a better character. I am perfect for her. There is a lot of me in her. I don’t seek attention, but it is how she carries herself. She is very confident. It was not hard for me to develop the character and put it all together.”

     Lopez thinks The Merry Widow will be enjoyable for a wide audience including those who have never attended an opera.

     “The show is going to be great. There is nothing complicated about it,” said Lopez. “This would be a good opera to see if you have never seen one before. The audience will like the different characters that range from funny to serious and the events that take place. There is good interplay between the characters.”

     The Merry Widow is a collaboration between the NSU Opera Theatre, Northwestern Theatre and Dance and the Natchitoches-Northwestern Symphony Orchestra.

     “I spend my time in the music area, so I don’t get a chance to work with the people in theatre,” said Lopez. “Our goal was for everyone to work together and we have done that. I have made some friendships I wouldn’t have had. Now we are a big group of friends.”

     Lopez said knowing Fernando Barrow, who plays Count Danilo Danilovitch, has helped her in rehearsal.

     “Fernando and I play characters who love each other but are always bickering. We are good friends and that has made it much easier,” she said.

     Lopez was first runner up in the 2009 Miss Northwestern Lady of the Bracelet Pageant. She is a recipient of the Sigma Alpha Iota Undergraduate Scholarship and the Imogene Holmes Scholarship. Lopez is a Dean’s List student. Getting a part in Pirates of Penzance in the spring 2008 semester spurred her to seek other roles.

     “My mother always encouraged me to sing and I did that,” said Lopez. “Then I began to solo in the church choir and in school. Until recently, I didn’t realize I loved the performance aspect of it. I am doing what I love and hope to perform more.”

     Barry Stoneking is the stage director and choreographer and Michael Rorex is the musical director and vocal coach. Douglas Bakenhus will conduct the orchestra.

     Tickets are $12 for adults and $8 for senior citizens. Northwestern State, Louisiana School for Math, Science and the Arts and BPCC@NSU students are admitted free with a current I.D. Tickets for all other students are $8. For ticket information, call (318) 357-4483.

Northwestern Theatre, Opera Theatre and Symphony to present The Merry Widow Nov. 11, 13 and 14

David West — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0600

     NATCHITOCHES - The NSU Opera Theatre, Northwestern Theatre and Dance and the Natchitoches-Northwestern Symphony Orchestra will present The Merry Widow Nov. 11, 13 and 14 at 7:30 p.m. in the A.A. Fredericks Auditorium. Tickets are $12 for adults and $8 for senior citizens. Northwestern State, Louisiana School for Math, Science and the Arts and BPCC@NSU students are admitted free with a current I.D. Tickets for all other students are $8. For ticket information, call (318) 357-4483.

     Barry Stoneking is the stage director and choreographer and Michael Rorex is the musical director and vocal coach. Douglas Bakenhus will conduct the orchestra.

     The Merry Widow by Franz Lehar is the story of a rich widow who is attempting to find a husband.

     Members of the cast are Taylor Marrs of Ponchatoula as Baron Mirko Zeta, Lauren Hill of Pineville as Valencienne, Fernando Barrow of San Pedro Sula, Honduras, as Count Danilo Danilovitch, Jessica Lopez of Henderson, Texas, as Hanna Glawari, Jamie Green of Opelousas as Camille de Rosillon, Zach Judge of Natchitoches as Vicomte Cascada and Dustin Gaspard of Lockport as Raoul St. Brioche.

     The cast also includes Phillip Benson of Slidell as Bogdanovitch, Victoria Olivier of Lafayette as Sylviane, Malcolm Smoot of Cottonport as Kromov, Eileen Peterson of Woodworth as Olga, Kruz Landry of Kaplan as Pritchitch, Shannon Williams of Natchitoches as Proskovia, Taylor Anderson of Ponchatoula as Njegus and Sarah Caffey of Austin, Texas, as Madame de Maximes.

     Members of the chorus are Heather Gross of Natchitoches, Megan Adams of Pineville, Amanda Sykes of Keller, Texas, Taylor Morgan of Prairieville, David Turner of Baton Rouge, Andy West of Pitkin, Reshad Horton of Shreveport and Mathew Bernard of Cottonport.

     The dancing chorus includes Lee Cee Felix of Birmingham, Ala., Lauren Bovia of Maurepas, Rebecca Brown of Arlington, Texas, Austin Babin of Gonzales, Jacob Starks of Boyce, Gregory Spencer of Crowley, Courtney Murphy of Baton Rouge, Kristen Martino of Pearl River, Cami Ambeau of Gonzales, Stacey Ledoux of Kaplan, Hannah Smith of Pleasant Hill, Texas, and Brandi White of New Orleans.

Pianist Jeongwon Ham to perform Tuesday in Magale Recital Hall

David West — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0600

NATCHITOCHES - Pianist Jeongwon Ham will present a recital at Northwestern State University Tuesday, Nov. 10 at 7:30 p.m. in Magale Recital Hall. The concert is part of the Louisiana Piano Series International. Tickets are $10. Students are admitted free. Dr. Francis Yang and Dr. Christine Burczyk Allen are the organizers of the Louisiana Piano Series International.

     Ham has won numerous piano competitions, including the Bartók/Kabalevsky International competition, Paul Hindemith competition, Simone Belsky competition, and Folkwang piano competition. Also, she won top prizes at the Epinal International Piano Competition and Artur Schnabel Piano Competition. The New York Concert Review referred to her debut recital in Merkin Hall, New York City, as “an admirable piano recital.” The German newspaper Frankfurter Rundschau has written, “Jeongwon Ham possessed astonishing and effortless technique. She plays not only with incredible warmth, but also with great power.”

     Ham gave her New York City debut recital at the Merkin Concerto Hall and has performed in Europe , Asia, and the United States. In 2005, she went to Beijing, China, as the artist in residence at the Renmin University of China and gave a recital, master classes, and a workshop. In the same year, she also gave recitals, workshops, master classes, and radio interviews in several cities in Germany and Korea. Recently, she performed in Beijing and performed solo recitals in Sheffield, England, and in Berlin, Germany. She has been a featured pianist at international and national conferences and festivals including the Hawaii International Conference on Arts and Humanities and Festival Internationale Incontri Musicali di Sorrento in Italy.

     As a soloist, Ham has performed with orchestras including Das Symphonie Orchestra Berlin and Symphonie Orchestra of the Hochschule der Künste in Berlin, Orchestra of University Essen (Essen, Germany), and Philharmonie de Lorraine (Epinal, France). In the United States, she also performed with Keweenaw Symphony Orchestra (Michigan), North Arkansas Symphony, OU Wind Symphony, University of Northern Iowa Symphony Orchestra, and Waterloo-Cedar Falls (Iowa) Symphony Orchestra.

     Ham has been an adjudicator at many international and national piano competitions including the Bartók/Kabalevsky/Prokofiev International Piano Competition, Sonatina and Sonata International Youth Piano Competition, Starr Young Artist National Piano Competition, and Dallas Symphony Young Artist Competition. In addition, she is frequently invited to judge numerous MTNA (Music Teachers National Association) piano competitions at regional, divisional, and state levels.

     Ham obtained degrees from the United States and Germany. In Germany, she graduated with highest distinctions (Reifeprüfung) from the Folkwang Hochschule für Musik in Essen and the Hochschule der Künste in Berlin (Konzertexamen). She received her Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Kansas.

     She has held teaching positions in Germany and the U.S. In Germany, she taught at the Hochschule für Musik Hans-Eisler and Carl Phillip Emmanuel Bach Arts School in Berlin, and the University of Duisburg. Ham has been a faculty member of the University of Arkansas and the University of Northern Iowa. Currently, she is an associate professor of piano at the University of Oklahoma.

Northwestern State to expand number of available degrees in CALL Program

David West — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0600

     NATCHITOCHES – Northwestern State University has received approval from the State Board of Regents to expand its offerings in the Center for Adult Learning in Louisiana (CALL).

     Northwestern will offer the Bachelor of Science in Addiction Studies, Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and RN to BSN (Registered Nurse to Bachelor of Science in Nursing) through CALL beginning this fall. A Bachelor of Science in Psychology with a concentration in Substance Abuse will be available in the spring 2011 semester. NSU will also be a partner in a collaborative effort by University of Louisiana System to offer a Bachelor of Science in Business. All eight UL System institutions will be involved in the initiative.

     “The degree programs to be offered by Northwestern were proposed based on their alignment with top demand and fastest growing occupations as defined by the Louisiana Workforce Commission,” said Northwestern Vice President for Technology, Research and Economic Development Dr. Darlene Williams. “We are very pleased that all four of Northwestern’s proposals were recommended. The additional program offerings will provide even greater opportunity for adults to complete a bachelor’s degree.” 

     CALL is a joint initiative between the Louisiana Board of Regents, the Southern Regional Education Board (SREB), and the Consortium for Education, Research and Technology of North Louisiana aimed at making it easier for Louisiana adults without a college degree to enroll at a Louisiana public college or university and earn a degree or other college credential.

     CALL aims to expand adult participation in postsecondary education by: better understanding the needs of adult learners in Louisiana; establishing innovative programming to respond to those needs; aggressively promoting adult learning services and programming and creating convenient pathways to postsecondary certificates and degrees.

     The Bachelor of Science in Addiction Studies is designed to provide more extensive training for addiction counselors and prevention specialists. The program was the first of its kind in the state and goes beyond many existing curriculums which focus on alcoholism and drug abuse.

     The Bachelor of Arts in Journalism provides a program of study that prepares students from diverse academic and cultural backgrounds for varied careers in journalism and mass communications or for advanced studies. Built on a broad liberal arts tradition, the program incorporates the values, ethics and attitudes associated with professional standards of mass media.

     The RN to BSN program offers an individualized plan for learning to assist registered nurses who would like to pursue a Bachelors of Science in Nursing. The purpose of the program is to train students to become: a provider of direct and indirect care to individuals, families, groups, communities and populations, a designer, manager and coordinator of care and a member of a profession.

     For more information on CALL at Northwestern, go to http://call.nsula.edu.

Work composed by LSMSA faculty member Kenneth Olson to be performed by Natchitoches-Northwestern Symphony Thursday

David West — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0600

     NATCHITOCHES – The Natchitoches-Northwestern Symphony Orchestra will debut a work by Louisiana School for Math, Science and the Arts faculty member Dr. Kenneth Olson Thursday, Nov. 5 at 7:30 p.m. in Magale Recital Hall. Tickets are $10. NSU, BPCC@NSU and Louisiana School students are admitted free with a current I.D. Douglas Bakenhus is the conductor. LSMSA will host a pre-concert reception and tour of the new Center for Performance and Technology at 6 p.m.

     The program will also include Schubert's Rosamunde Overture, and Haydn's Symphony No. 104.

     “This is an evening of celebration for the Louisiana School for Math, Science and the Arts, Northwestern and the community,” said Bakenhus. “All of the works we will perform are very joyful in keeping with a time of celebration.”

   Olson’s composition Cathedral was inspired by the construction of the new Center for Performance and Technology.

     “I began working on it in the Spring of 2008 while the building was going up,” said Olson, who teaches Russian and German. “The idea occurred to me that this could be an opportunity for a celebratory work. We had been waiting for this facility for 20 years and I could help turn it into a celebration.

     “It is difficult to get an orchestra to perform a new work. I am grateful that Doug (Bakenhus) was willing to do perform the piece. It is quite an honor.

     Olson said the audience will find his work easy to follow.

     “It is a new piece, but not modern. It uses interesting instrumentation with drums, gongs and harp as well as the entire orchestra,” he said. “The work is both meditative and monumental. It starts quietly, meditatively and then goes into faster motion. It breaks off into the main part with a continuing, ascending melody then returns to the meditative part.”

     Bakenhus said he was impressed with Olson’s work.

     “It is a very well composed work. Dr. Olson is a very good composer,” said Bakenhus.

     According to Bakenhus, Cathedral evoked the long process LSMSA went through in getting the new Center for Performance and Technology.

     “The opening is desolate and vague, like you are looking for something such as a place to begin,” said Bakenhus. “The work then slowly builds until it gets very busy. Then it is like things disappear. It begins building again with more force then ends in a tightly controlled way.”

     Olson is an active composer and has won several international competitions. He recently wrote works for Northwestern faculty member Paul Christopher and pianist Charles Jones, an LSMSA faculty member and had another piece recorded. Olson said the writing of Cathedral was an enjoyable process.

     “Once I began writing, the composition wrote itself,” said Olson. “I started with an idea and it gave rise to other ideas. I could immediately see where it was going.”

     Olson earned his doctorate at Texas Tech in fine arts and has been an LSMSA faculty member since 1991.

     Schubert's Rosamunde Overture was composed for an opera that was never staged. The composer used it again for a play that has been lost and later used it for another play that was also lost.

     Haydn's Symphony No. 104 was the final symphony written by Haydn when he was in London.

      “Haydn was working with a larger symphony than he was accustomed,” said Bakenhus. “It was an innovative work for its time and was very well received.”

Pleasant Grove High wins Northwestern State Marching Contest

David West — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0500

      NATCHITOCHES - Pleasant Grove High School of Texarkana, Texas, was named the Grand Champion Band Saturday at the 21st Annual Northwestern State University Marching Contest at Turpin Stadium. Thirty-two bands from Louisiana, Texas and Arkansas were in the contest.

     Pleasant Grove was named the Most Outstanding Band in Class III and also had the Most Outstanding Drum Major and Most Outstanding Auxiliary in Class III.

     Kaplan had the Most Outstanding Band in Class I while Delcambre was the Most Outstanding Band in Class II and Parkway had the Most Outstanding Band in Class IV.

     Many had the Most Outstanding Drum Major in Class I and Pickering had the Most Outstanding Auxiliary and Percussion in Class I.

     In Class II, Ashdown (Ark.) had the Most Outstanding Drum Major, Tioga had and Most Outstanding Auxiliary and Abbeville had the Most Outstanding Percussion.

     Canton (Texas) had the Most Outstanding Percussion in Class III and Mabank (Texas) had the Most Outstanding Soloist.

     Parkway had the Most Outstanding Auxiliary and Percussion in Class IV and Robert E. Lee (Texas) had the Most Outstanding Drum Major.

     Ouachita Parish was honored for having the Most Entertaining Show. Bossier was recognized as having the Most Spirited Boosters and Supporters.

NSU Concert Choir to perform Tuesday in Magale Recital Hall

David West — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0500

NATCHITOCHES –The NSU Concert Choir will perform Tuesday, Nov. 3 at 7:30 p.m. in Magale Recital Hall. Admission is free and open to the public. Dr. Christopher Gilliam is the conductor.

The concert is entitled “Songs of Love, Life and Laughter.” Elena Kuroda and Greg Handel are the accompanists on piano.

“This concert lives up to its name,” said Gilliam. “The music is varied and lively. Of particular interest will be Rondes, which is an experiment in 20th century techniques that defines music as ‘organized sound.’ It should be a crowd favorite. It's very interesting.”

The choir will perform Finale from Gondoliers by Arthur Sullivan, Quick, We Have But A Second by Charles Villiers Stanford, Tant que vivray by Claude de Sermisy and Il est bel et bon by Pierre Passereau.

Also on the program are The Bluebird by Charles Villiers Stanford featuring soloists Megan Adams and Kallie Stephenson, O Whistle and I'll Come to Ye by Mack Wilberg, Shenandoah by James Erb, Sing a Song of Sixpence from Five Childhood Lyrics by John Rutter, Amor de mi alma by Z. Randall Stroope, Rondes by Folke Rabe, You are The New Day arranged by Peter Knight and Cindy by Mack Wilberg featuring Brendon Mizener on xylophone, Joey Lindsay on organ and students from Northwestern Theatre and Dance.

Intertribal Native American dance demonstration set for Wednesday, Nov. 4

David West — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0500

     NATCHITOCHES – An intertribal Native American dance demonstration will take place Wednesday, Nov. 4 at 6:30 p.m. in Theatre West on the Northwestern State University campus. Admission is free and open to the public. The demonstration is sponsored by the Native American Culture Association at NSU.

     Tunica-Biloxi and other Native American powwow and stomp dancers will perform traditional dances including the Men’s Fancy Dance, the Women’s Jingle Dance, the Gourd Dance, the Women’s Fancy Shawl Dance, the Women’s Buckskin Dance, and the Stomp Dance.

     According to Northwestern Professor of Anthropology Dr. Hiram F. “Pete” Gregory the demonstration “will show people what goes on at a powwow. We’re trying to explain the regalia, clothes, music, and dance.”

     Gregory said at a regular powwow the performers are too busily engaged in the activities of the event and often lack the time to explain the cultural aspects of the powwow.

     This event will provide a rare opportunity for students and the surrounding community to gain a much clearer understanding of how the Native American participants perceive the event. The event will also be a raffle fundraiser for the upcoming powwow which will be held at NSU on January 23, 2010.

Pierite family to present Native American dances and songs Wednesday

David West — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0500

     NATCHITOCHES - Native American songs and dance will be performed by the Pierite family at Northwestern State University Wednesday, Nov. 4. at noon in the Friedman Student Union Ballroom. Admission is free and open to the public.

     Dressed in native regalia, the Pierite family will perform some of their traditional songs and dances to the beat of sassafras sticks and the sound of rattling gourds. Native American narration will also be part of this culturally rich performance.

     Donna Pierite and her husband Michael have two children, daughter Elizabeth, a bead-worker and dancer, and son Jean-Luc Pierite, a tribal crafts-man and graphic artist. Donna Pierite and her family belong to the St. Joseph Roman Catholic Church in Marksville where she and her children are multilingual chanters. Donna Pierite, her daughter, son and brother Steven Madere wrote and produced Tawaka (in Tunica “sub-commander”), the language and culture page that appeared in the Tunica-Biloxi tribal newspaper.

     Along with her husband, children, and her brother, Donna Pierite has given presentations at schools, universities and other venues including performances at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. She has also made several televised appearances, including a featured role in “Taste of Louisiana with Chef John Folse.” In an effort to gain more exposure for the tribe’s language and culture, the Pierite Family can be seen at the Alligator Feeding Shows at the Paragon Casino in Marksville each Saturday.

     The performance is sponsored by the Louisiana Folklife Center and Office of Cultural Diversity to promote international cultural awareness.

Athletic program provides exposure, positive benefits to all areas of the university

David West — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0500

     NATCHITOCHES – At Northwestern State, the value of its athletic program goes beyond, wins, losses and championships.

     Northwestern’s 14-sport, Division I athletic program competes in the Southland Conference generating national exposure for the university and numerous opportunities to reach alumni and students in prime recruiting areas in Louisiana, Texas and Arkansas.

     “Athletics provides a level of excitement that is vital to the college experience,” said Director of University Recruiting Jana Lucky. “Many things spring out from athletics such as the marching band, danceline, cheerleaders and pompon line. Athletic events are an important part of the university calendar and provide opportunities for our student organizations to come together. Our collegiate sports teams bring pride to the university. In addition, students that participate in the athletic programs tend to be easier to retain. These students make a true life-long connection to the university.”

     Northwestern receives national media exposure for its athletic program on a regular basis. Over the past 10 years, 12 NSU games have been telecast on CBS or ESPN. Football and men’s basketball scores along with other Division I teams are run on ESPN networks. The Demons have wins in recent years over nationally prominent schools including LSU, Iowa, Mississippi State, Oregon State, Notre Dame, TCU and Minnesota. Highlights of Northwestern’s last second win over Iowa in the 2006 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament was shown thousands of times, and continues to be played each March during TV coverage of the highly-rated NCAA Tournament. That shot helped earned the university a $100,000 scholarship from Pontiac in a national contest.

     Northwestern’s athletic programs help the Natchitoches area by making the community more attractive to prospective businesses and retirees and providing a boost to local businesses throughout the year. NSU athletic events, along with athletic events hosted by the university bring up to 150,000 visitors to the Northwestern campus annually.

     “The economic impact of the NSU athletic program to Greater Natchitoches is at least $40 million annually and that is a hard and indisputable figure which directly benefits every household and business in the area,” said Director of Athletics Greg Burke. “The soft dollar benefits - the fact that Demon and Lady Demon athletics generate an immeasurable amount of recognition and publicity and that the quality of life and entertainment value factors for those within the NSU service area are greatly enhanced - just solidify the positives of having a Division I athletic program at Northwestern State University.”

     Student-athletes at Northwestern promote the quality of the university’s academic programs through their performance in the classroom. Northwestern has had the highest NCAA Graduation Success Rate of any Louisiana Division I institution. The university has also performed strongly in NCAA Academic Progress Rate reports. The men’s and women’s soccer programs have received national commendations from the NCAA for ranking among the top 10 percentile among all 340 Division I institutions.

     “Academics is emphasized from the first time we meet as a team each year,” said senior Chelsea Brozgold of Arlington, Texas, a member of the NSU women’s soccer team. “We know there is an expectation that we will maintain high standards both on the field and off.”

     Brozgold, an Honor Roll and Dean’s List student majoring in health and exercise science, says her experience as a student-athlete has prepared her to enter physical therapy school after graduation and move successfully into her career.

     “In order to be a successful student-athlete, you have to show dedication and a strong work ethic,” said Brozgold, who is president of the NSU Student-Athlete Advisory Council. “There are a lot of demands on your time and you have to go to class and keep your grades up. You also have to practice and take care of yourself to be able to perform at the highest level.”

     Being part of a team also has other benefits Brozgold says will be helpful on the job.

     “When you are on a team, you have to learn to work together with a diverse group of people from different backgrounds,” she said. “You have to interact with each other to come to an agreement and make things work.”

     Student-athletes at Northwestern were involved in more than 2,200 hours of community service in 2008-09. Those activities include reading to local elementary school students and constructing playground equipment at a local school.

     “It’s been great to go out and do things in the community,” said Al Smith of Matthews, a senior business administration major at Northwestern who plays defensive line on the football team. “The children look up to us and pay attention to the things we say.”

     Getting student-athletes out into the community is one way Northwestern’s athletic program provides a well-rounded college experience for team members.

     “I have had a great college experience at Northwestern,” said Smith, who is an Honor Roll student and plans to attend graduate school after earning a bachelor’s degree. “Everything I have learned in and out of the classroom has prepared me for the rest of my life.

     “Without an education, you have nothing. A football career could be over in a second, but you never lose an education.”

     In addition to those on athletic scholarships, a large number of students are at Northwestern because of the athletic program. The acclaimed “Spirit of Northwestern” Marching Band is part of any football game day experience at NSU. Members of the band also perform in a number of ensembles within the School of Creative and Performing Arts. Band members are in a variety of academic majors, helping boost university enrollment.

     “The School of Creative and Performing Arts, and in particular the marching band, profits from a strong athletic program in that it provides positive exposure for the entire University,” said Director of the School of Creative and Performing Arts and Director of Bands Bill Brent. “This, in turn, greatly assists in the recruiting process. When one of our teams gets a big win, high school students know about it.”

Thirty-two bands to take part in annual NSU Marching Contest Saturday

David West — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0500

     NATCHITOCHES –Thirty-two high school marching bands from Louisiana, Texas and Mississippi are scheduled to compete in the 2009 Northwestern State University Marching Contest Saturday, Oct. 31 beginning at 9 a.m. at Turpin Stadium. Admission is $5. The “Spirit of Northwestern” Marching Band will perform at 6 p.m. followed by the awards ceremony at 6:30 p.m.

     Participating bands will compete in four classifications with an overall grand champion selected along with a top band in each class.

     Schools competing in class I will be: Many, Bossier, Caldwell Parish, Pickering and Merryville.

     Class II participants are Tioga, Grant, Leesville, Delcambre, Pineville, Central, North Vermilion, Port Allen, Kaplan, Ouachita Parish, Hooks (Texas), Ashdown (Ark.), Abbeville and Alto (Texas).

     Bands in Class III are Sam Houston, Pleasant Grove (Texas), West Ouachita, Canton (Texas), Zachary, Atlanta (Texas), Mabank (Texas), Barbe, Haughton and Ruston.

     Schools competing in Class IV are R.E. Lee (Texas), Airline and Parkway.

     Adjudicators will be Rey Meza of San Antonio, Jim McDaniel of Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD in Carrollton, Texas, Tom Shine of Duncanville High in Duncanville, Texas, Estelle Gravois of Fort Worth, Chris Whorton of Kearns, Texas and Thom Hannum of Hadley, Mass.

Annual Journalism Day to be held Dec. 4

David West — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0500

     NATCHITOCHES – High school journalism students looking to further their skills after graduation have the opportunity to speak with professionals and collegiate journalists at the 42nd annual Journalism Day on Friday, Dec. 4. The event is hosted by Northwestern State University’s Department of Journalism on the NSU campus in Natchitoches.

     Participants will learn about careers available in mass communications and journalism. Industry professionals will lead sessions to offer guidance in academic course choices and job expectations.

     Those taking part will also have the opportunity to compete in journalism-related events. Categories include media writing, television broadcast news, radio and photojournalism. Participants can submit a school newspaper or yearbook to a separate publication competition.

     Workshops on new media and media writing will also be offered during the event. Each will be limited to 15 participants.

     To register, contact Dr. Jung Lim at limj@nsula.edu or at (318) 357-5213. Registration forms are also available at http://www.nsula.edu/journalism.