The Reporter is a publication produced by Western Carolina University featuring news, events, and campus community updates for faculty and staff. The publication began in August of 1970 and continues digitally today. Click on the link in the “Related Mate

• Creator
  • Western Carolina University
• Format
  • Newsletters
• Type
  • Text
• Date
  • Date original: 1992-12-04
  • Date digitized: 2018-03-23
• Extent
  • Dimension: 11" x 8.5"
  • Pages: 4 pages
• Subject - Topic
  • Western Carolina University -- Periodicals
• Location
  • Jackson County (N.C.)
• Source institution
  • Western Carolina University
• Source Collection
  • The Reporter, Western Carolina University
• Identifier
  • HL_Reporter_1992-12
• Related material
  • Https://news-prod.wcu.edu/the-reporter/
• Repository
  • Western Carolina University Hunter Library

Reporter ® r +hir\ News thef oFCran scsui /l/t-fy\/ arrnnndl SCft/^al f1 f of Western Carolina University December 4, 1992 Cullowhee, North Carolina D The proof is in the portfolio eliberating how to restructure their graduate program in behavior disorders, Human Services professors Lisa Bloom and Ellen Bacon went right to the source. They asked middle-grade and high school kids with behavioral disorders, "What do your teachers need to learn about teaching you?" "We want to be able to solve our own prob­lems," they quickly answered. That response gave Bacon and Bloom an idea for not only what to teach the teachers, but ho w to teach them. "Our graduate students want to be able to solve their own problems in the classroom; they need tools to be independent," Bloom remembers realizing. The two coordinators revamped their graduate program, infusing To our faculty and staff colleagues: It is very likely that we approach the holiday season from many perspectives. Some of us prepare for travel, some plan family gatherings at home, some observe religious celebrations, and some anticipate a time for reflection and just "catching up" in our busy lives. Whatever our preference, the holidays do afford opportunities for fellowship and renewal of our personal relationships within the university community. It is a special time to consider how fortunate we are to find our own ways to create opportunities for our students to learn ultimately to serve one another. During this season of warmth and sharing, Mrs. Coulter and I have all of you in our thoughts, and we send our very best wishes to each of you and your families for happy holidays and a fulfilling year ahead. Sincerest warm greetings for the season, Myron L. Coulter Chancellor creativity and opportunities for problem-solving into every course, without radically changing the thirty-six-hour curriculum. Two years ago, the program had five graduate students. Now it has thirty, most of them full-time teachers in surrounding counties. Recipients of a U.S. Department of Education grant in August 1990, Bacon and Bloom could offer such recruit­ment incentives as tuition support, book money, and use of laptop computers and video equipment. But the "portfolio idea" is what really attracted students, say the coordinators. A creative portfolio demonstrating skills and experience is de rigeur for artists or writers, but for special-ed teachers? Portfolios have proven a perfect method for meeting program objectives: to show competencies, think creatively, and develop professionally. In each class, students design a portfolio project tackling a real classroom dilemma — bringing special-ed kids back into mainstream classrooms, handling inappropriate behavior, collaborating with parents and agencies. Methods for executing the project are up to the students, too, pending faculty permission. One student videotaped new teaching strategies; another wrote a grant for Power Partners, an idea she fash­ioned after the Big Brother program. She received the grant, and Power Partners is now up and running in her county. Other portfolio projects have been adapted in classrooms and communities, too. Bacon and Bloom are thrilled by the numbers of people affected by portfolio projects. Before they revamped the program, students demonstrated their knowledge by writing traditional, theo retical papers "and only I read them," Bloom says. "Nobody else got to benefit from all the work students did." Bacon remembers, "People would go through the whole program, take tests, learn to do studies and research, but then go back and teac h the same way. What they learned wasn't being put into action like it is now; it didn't affect day-to-day work." Western's program is affecting other educators, too, as Bacon and Bloom present their findings at conferences. Although other graduate programs are "working toward the portfolio idea," no other in this continued inside Portfolio continued region has actually adopted it, much less proven its success. Students who prefer more structure can opt to execute projects the professors devise, rather than their own, and tradi­tional written compency tests are still required. The program's success still surprises Bloom a bit, she admits. Two years ago, she wondered whether students would embrace the portfolio idea. "Being creative and working independently is a lot harder than simply following a rigid structure." Participating in the program now takes "a lot more work," but no one seems to mind, and word of mouth — the graduate program's new recruiting tool — suggests prospective students are equally enthusiastic. - Susan Nicholl WHEN ARE BOTH THE EARTH AND MOON REALLY STARS? Answer: when they're headliners for a "show" on campus this month. The Department of Chemistry and Physics will offer an up-close look at a lunar eclipse, which occurs when the Earth's shadow passes over and hides the face of the moon. The eclipse will occur Wednesday, December 9, and astronomer Paul Heckert (Chemistry and Physics) will set up several telescopes at the campus picnic area for viewing the phenomenon. The "Eclipse Party" will begin at about dusk, with total eclipse occurring at 6:07 p.m. The event is open free of charge. Young children should be accompanied by an adult, and all participants should dress warmly. If skies are cloudy or rainy, the event will be canceled. For more informa­tion, call Heckert at 227-7260. 'TIS THE SEASON FOR DECORATED TREES, and the one you'll find on the N.C. 107 side of Robinson Building this holiday was donated to the university by longtime Physical Plant secretary Norma Coggins, who retired in October. Coggins gave the tree, an eighteen-foot Frazier Fir from her property in the Caney Fork community, in the name of the WCU Association of Educational Office Personnel (AEOP). She was a member of the organization for more than twenty years and was active in its local, district, state, and national activities. The donation is to express her gratitude for professional development and social activity WCU AEOP provides, Coggins said. December 4, / 992 WESTERN CAROLINA UNIVERSITY Monday 7 Outdoor equipment and clothing sale. Cherokee Room, UC, 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Women's basketball, Cats vs. UNCA. Asheville, 7:30 p.m. Concert, Brass Ensem­ble. MRH, 8 p.m. Free. Western After Hours, conversation. Cherokee Room, UC, 7-9 p.m. 14 Tuesday 8 Last day of classes. Christmas Bazaar and Gift Show. Grandroom, UC, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. (227-7206) Christmas Tree Pro­gram. UC lawn, 6 p.m. Men's basketball, Cats vs. UNCA. Civic Center, Asheville, 8 p.m. Faculty recital with William Peebles, double reed. MRH, 8 p.m. $5 adults, $2 students. 15 WCUAEOP meet­ing and Christmas luncheon. Hospi­tality Room, RAC, 11:30 a.m.-l p.m. Exhibits "Migration of the Scotch-Irish People," a permanent exhibit; "Irons in the Fire," an exhibit and slide-tape show on mountain blacksmithing; and "A Quiltin'," an exhibit of nineteenth- and twentieth-century quilts. MHC. 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday. "Recent Works in Pastels," by Charles Basham (through December 16). Chelsea Gallery, UC. 8 a.m.-l 1 p.m. Monday-Friday; 10 a.m.-ll p.m. weekends. "To What Do We Aspire?," a sculptural installment by Stephen Lockwood (through April). Belk Building. 7 p.m.-midnight, Monday-Friday; 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday. "Urban Places Cityscapes," by Rudy Burkhardt, Larry Day, and Kathryn Hall (through December 11). Belk Building art gallery. 9 a.m.-noon and 1-4 p.m. Monday-Friday (or by appointment, 227-7210). T Wednesday 9 Reading day. Christmas Bazaar and Gift Show. Grand-room, UC, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. (227-7206) 16 Key HFR H.F. Robinson Administration Building MHC Mountain Heritage Center MRH Music Recital Hall RAC Ramsey Activity Center UC University Center Telephone numbers to call for more information appear after some listings. The Reporter December 7-20 Thursday 1 0 Final exams begin. Run through December 16. 17 Seminar, "Introduction to MS-DOS 5.0." 320 For­syth Building, 8-9:45 a.m. (Part 1) and 1:15-3 p.m. (Part 2). Call to register. (227-7282) ROTC fall commission­ing. Hospitality Room, RAC, 10-11 a.m. Seminar, "Introduction to Word Perfect 5.1." 320 Forsyth Building, 10- 11:45 a.m. (Part 1) and 3:15-5 p.m. (Part 2). Call to register. $10 for four sessions. (227-7282) The Reporter Friday 1 1 Saturday 1 2 Sunday 1 3 Hunter Library hours Final exams 8 a.m., Wednesday, December 9 - midnight, Friday, December 11 Saturday, December 12 Noon, Sunday, December 13 - midnight, Tuesday, December 15 Wednesday, December 16 Thursday, December 17 - Wednesday, December 23 Open continuously 9 a.m.-midnight Open continuously 8 a.m.-6:30 p.m. 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Closed weekends 18 Women's basketball, Cats in South Florida Classic Tournament. Tampa, Florida. Seminar, "Introduction to MS-DOS 5.0." 8-9:45 a.m. (Part 3) and 1:15-3 p.m. (Part 4). Conference for outdoor leaders and experiential/ adventure educators, sponsored by WCU Parks and Recreation Manage­ment Club. Cherokee Room, UC, 9 a.m. Call to register. (227-7645) Seminar, "Introduction to WordPerfect 5.1." 320 Forsyth Building, 10- 11:45 a.m. (Part 3) and 3:15 p.m.-5 p.m. (Part 4). Call to register. $10 for four sessions. (227-7282) 19 Women's basketball, Cats in South Florida Classic Tournament. Tampa, Florida. Men's basketball, Cats vs. University of Tennessee. Knoxville, Tennessee, 2 p.m. 20 This is the last issue of the Reporter before the holiday season. Publication will resume in the spring semester. December 4, 1992 The Reporter Is published by the Office of Public Information. Mail notices and changes of address to the Reporter. 1601 Ramsey Center. 1,450 copies of this public document were printed at a cost of $188.50, or $0.13 per copy. Western Carolina University is an Equal Opportunity Institution. December 4. Hunter scholar Miller gives talks in Cullowhee, Sylva Gayle H. Miller (English) delivered a pair of public talks this week on her ongoing literary research into medieval mystics and their percep­tions of the world. The presentations were part of Miller's responsibilities as 1992 winner of the university's Hunter Scholar Award. Miller offered her presentation, entitled "Vision and Society: A Medieval and Mystical Perception of the World," December 1 in Hunter Library and December 3 at the Jackson County Public Library in Sylva. The talks explored societal concerns common to both the fourteenth and twentieth centuries—a growing loss of faith, constant search for meaning in life, questioning of traditional values, and reexamination of the worth and va lue of the individual—all as perceived by a small group of medieval mystics. The Hunter Scholar Award was established in 1987 to promote and reward traditional scholar­ship at WCU. Activities • Dr. Elizabeth Addison (English) presented a paper entitled "Ishmael and the Woman Reader Anima and Animus in The Grand Armada' Chapter of Moby Dick" at the annual meeting of the South Atlantic Modern Language Association in Knoxville, Tenn. Addison also published a poem entitled "Late Child" in the October issue of College English and an article entitled "Compensation and the Price of Purity: An Old Quaker Impresses the Young Emerson" in the book Studies in the American Renaissance, 1992. • Kathryn Stripling Byer (English) was poet-in-residence last month for a graduate-level writing program at UNC-Greensboro, where she con­ducted a poetry workshop, met with individual students, and read from her own works. Byer also gave poetry readings recently for the Southern Festival of Books in Nashville, Tenn.; Rainbow Books in Winston-Salem; and the Macon County Historical Association in Franklin. Byer's recent publications include Wildwood Flower, a book of poems, and a poem entitled Bittersweet, which appeared in the September 10 issue of the Independent. • Dr. Marilyn Feldmann (Education and Psychology) chaired a visitation team last month to Shaw University in Raleigh for the State Department of Public Instruction and to Eastern Kentucky University in October for the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education. The teams reviewed teacher-education programs. • William Hyatt (Criminal Justice) presented a paper entitled "Criminal Prosecution in the Twenty-first Century: A View of the Future" at the annual conference of the American Society of Criminology, held in New Orleans, La. • Suzanne Hill McDowell (Mountain Heritage Center) presented the video "Coverlets: New Threads in Old Patterns" at the annual conference on "The State of the Arts in Appalachia," held at the University of Kentucky in Lexington, Ky. The conference was sponsored by the Appalachian Center of the University of Kentucky and Appalshop, a Kentucky film and video company. • Dr. Laura J. Moriarty and Duane Davis (Criminal Justice) published an article entitled "Firearms, Self-Protection, and Crime Prevention: A Citizen Survey" in the July issue of the Journal of Security Administration. Davis also was invited to present a paper at the annual conference of the American Society of Criminology, held in New Orleans, La. His presentation was entitled "Self Protection as a Moral Obligation: The Role of Firearms in the Balance of Power." Davis also took part in a "Second Amendment Scholars Seminar" with other invited scholars, attorneys, and consultants from around the nation. •Jennifer Williams (Student Development) made a presentation entitled "And the Two Shall Become One: The Marriage of Academic and Student Affairs" at the Conference on Enhancing Minority Attainment, held at Indiana University in Kokomo, Ind. Susan Clarke Smith (Academic Services) made the same presentation in Balti­more, Md., at the annual Academic Affairs Administrators Conference. In addition, Williams and Van C. Wilson, former director of retention services, made a presentation entitled "Project C.A.R.E.: Enhancing Cultural Diversity Through the Union of Academic and Student Affairs" at "Innovative Strategies for Challenging Times," the conference of the Southern Association for College Student Affairs, held in Atlanta, Ga. Annual Christmas bazaar set for December 8 and 9 Area artists and craftsmen will sell their work at the university's annual Christmas Bazaar and Gift Show, set for 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday, December 8 and 9, in the Grandroom of the University Center. The bazaar, a holiday tradition at WCU for more than twenty years, includes holiday ideas and gifts, plants, pottery, weaving, needle work, paintings, Christmas decorations, and homemade cakes, candies, and other foods. The event is open to the public free of charge. For more information, call the University Center at 227-7206. The Reporter