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: 2008-12-01
  • Date digitized: 2018-10-17
• Extent
  • Dimension: 11" x 8.5"
  • Pages: 8 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_2008_12
• Related material
  • Https://news-prod.wcu.edu/the-reporter/
• Repository
  • Western Carolina University Hunter Library

Campus Invited to Participate in Angel Wings Program Pan of what receptionist Lisa Wilson enjoys most about coordinating the annual Angel Wings program at WCU is seeing how excited students, faculty and staff get when they drop off bags of new children's clothing, books and games for families in need. "It's touching to see how people care about their community," said Wilson, who will accept Angel Wings contributions in the Depanment of Residential Living office on the first floor, west wing of Scott Hall through Friday, Dec. 12. "Western has a great history of working with the Jackson County Christmas Store to help families in need. Whether a person gives one dollar or 50, one gift or several, or volunteers their time at the store, they make a difference." Gifts or donations to the Angel Wings program benefit the Jackson County Christmas Store, which for 20 years has invited families in need to come to a store set up at WCU's Baptist Student Union and select holiday gifts. The store's wares come from gifts and donations made by programs such as Angel Wings and area merchants, churches and community members. The families helped are referred to the Jackson County Christmas Store by assistance agencies or schools, and store organizers strive to make sure children served receive an outfit, socks, underwear, candy, stuffed animal and age appropriate toy, game and book. This year, 375 families have been invited to participate, said Elaine White, co-director of the Jackson County Christmas Store. "We don't know what kind of demand we'll have this year," said White. "Sometimes it is hard to believe so many people are living on the edge financially. This community effon enables those families to have something special for the holiday while continuing to pay their bills. It's just a real blessing." White said it was the generosity of many, including the students, faculty, staff and ;r:hl: •k;- dep;:;·rmo:I't F.~ V: CU, that makes the holiday store possible. WCU's Depanment of Residential Living developed the Angel Wings program to carry on and expand the effons that began nearly rwo decades ago when students from a residence hall sponsored a few children for the holidays. "For our residents, this program creates a greater awareness of those less fonunate and our ability to help them, which ties back into our mission," said Keith Corzine, director of residential living. "We also are extremely proud of the contributions of our student organizations, such as the Resident Student Association, National Residence Hall Honorary, Student Government Association, Greek Life, Last Minute Productions and The Leadership Institute, to name a few, for the continued success of this wonderful program." To participate in Angel Wings by buying a new gift, take an ornament or angel from an Angel Wings tree display set up in The Cats Den at Brown, Dodson Dining Hall, AK. Hinds Universiry Center, H.E Robinson Administration Building, Ramsey Regional Activity Center or the residential living office. Purchase an item from a List posted online at http://housing.wcu.edu/angelwings.pdf. Deliver the unwrapped gift item with the Angel Wings ornament to the residential living office on the first floor, west wing of Scott Hall. To panicipate by making a monetary donation, direct cash or checks payable to the Jackson Counry Christmas Store to the residential living office with the notation "Angel Wings." WCU Scores Well on National Student Engagement Survey Western Carolina continues ro earn high marks on a national survey measuring the qualiry of undergraduate education based upon student involvement with their srudies, professors and campus communities. Recently released results from the 2008 National Survey of Student Engagement indicate that WCU srudents are more engaged than their peers at colleges and universities across the United States. The 2008 NSSE (pronounced "Nessie") report is based on information from about 380,000 randomly selected first-year and senior students at 722 four-year colleges and universities in the United States. The report shows Western Carolina outperformed a peer group of21 instirutions of similar size and mission (as categorized by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement ofTeaching) in four benchmark categories - active and collaborative learning, student-faculty interaction, level of academic challenge, and enriching educational experiences, said Melissa Wargo, director of assessment at wcu. "Also, compared to all colleges in the survey regardless of size and mission, we scored better on level of academic challenge, active and collaborative learning, studentfaculry interaction, and supportive campus environment," Wargo said. "Moreover, Western performs as well as, or in some cases better than, those colleges identified by NSSE as highly engaging institutions on two benchmark categories - active and collaborative learning and student-faculry interaction." Although NSSE does not publish the names of the high-performing institutions due to its policy against ranking of institutions, it is likely that WCU is in the top 50 percent of all NSSE 2008 schools for first-year students in the categories of active and collaborative learning and student-faculry 2 ~Reoorter- December 1. 2008 interaction, Wargo said. And, the average Western first-year srudent is as engaged as the average srudent attending NSSE 2008 schools scoring in the top 10 percent on active and collaborative learning and studentfaculry interaction, she said. "The NSSE benchmarks reflect educational practices that have been consistently linked with higher levels of student learning and development," Wargo said. "We are pleased with what our srudents are saying about their experiences at Western Carolina." Among the 2008 NSSE results: • Sevenry-six percent ofWCU first-year students reported they had asked questions or contributed to class discussions, compared with 59 percent at peer institutions and nationally. Similarly, 84 percent ofWCU seniors reported they had asked questions or contributed to class discussions, compared with 73 percent at peer institutions and 71 percent nationally. • Fifty-eight percent ofWCU firstyear students reported making a class presentation, compared with only 36 percent at peer institutions and 33 percent nationally. • Fifty-three percent ofWCU first-year students reported talking about career plans with a faculry member or adviser, compared with 34 percent at peer institutions and 32 percent nationally; and 60 percent ofWCU seniors reported they talked about career plans with a faculry member or adviser, compared with 47 percent at peer institutions and 29 percent nationally. • Sixry-three percent ofWCU first-year srudents reported they discussed grades or assignments with their instructors, compared with 53 percent at peer instirutions and 50 percent nationally. • Forty-two percent ofWCU seniors reported they discussed ideas from class witb faculry outside of class, compared with 31 percent at peer institutions and 29 percent nationally. "One of the things I am most surprised to find is that 53 percent of freshmen are talking with their advisers and professors about future career plans, which is something I did not think about then," said Hunt Boling, a senior from Cumming, Ga., majoring in sport management. "There are so many social and service outlets on campus that will enhance younger students' careers here at Western by exposing them to ideas and activities that relate to their majors and future careers." Now in its ninth year, NSSE is sponsored by the Carnegie Foundation. The survey is designed ro give schools an idea of how well their students are learning, and to provide a measure of what students put into and get out of their undergraduate experience. For more information about engaged learning at Western Carolina Universiry, visit www.wcu.edu/engagement. -By BILL STUDENC WCU Sets Another Record for Generosity As rhe holiday season approaches, Western Carolina employees can be very proud of rhe gifts they already have given through rhis year's Srare Employees Combined ampaign. As of Nov. 19,244 employees had pledged a rota! of $46,484. Even though WCU traditionally exceeds irs ECC goal, ir was harder than ever to ask people to open their checkbooks as the nation's economy slipped into crisis and the state started planning for budget cuts, said Leila Tved t, this year's SECC chair at WCU. "I appreciate the effort of the soliciro rs who encouraged their co-workers to give, and I am deeply grateful to every employee who made a contribution," said Tvedt. "Wirh amounts ranging from $5 to thousands of dollars, the contributions rook us way over the top of rhis year's goal of $40,000. That's awesome." Keith on.ine, next year's E co-chair at W U, said he thought W U employees were openhanded because they realized how much their gifts help others. "Whether you support a local, state or national charity, you are making it possible for them to serve people who need help," said orzine. " ome of those people are friends and neighbors right here in Cullowhee and Western North Carolina. With all of our gifts together, we are making a difference throughout rhe region." Campus Rec Center Offers Gift Memberships Nearly 250 faculty and staff members, their spouses and dependents, and retirees joined the Campus Recreation Center after the facility's official opening Aug. 17. Gift memberships for the spring 2009 semester are currently being sold. In addition, "Try Before You Buy" free workout visits and other events open to faculty and staff are being planned to kick off the spring. For more information, contact Shauna Sage, assistant fitness director, at 227-7068 or sage@wcu.edu. The season of giving is here, and I want to take a moment to thank you for all that you give every day, all year long, to make a difference in our Western Carolina community. Together, we accomplished much in 2008. With a dozen programs and departments officially piloting our Quality Enhancement Plan, "Synthesis: A Pathway to Intentional Leaning," you brought engaged learning to life. Not every chancellor gets to tell the University of North Carolina Board of Governors, which met on our campus this year for the first time in nearly a decade, about recreational therapy students working hands-on with Alzheimer's patients or engineering students seeking patents for their research. Thank you for developing innovative activities that meaningfully engage our students and apply your scholarship with the world beyond our campus. Your commitment to service learning led the Corporation for National and Community Service co name us to the President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll. In addition, WCU was one of 16 institutions nationwide selected to participate in the American Democracy Project's Civic Agency Initiative, a three-year effort to develop a model for successfully preparing and motivating undergraduates to be leaders in their communities. Nationally, Western Carolina continues to rank among institutions with the largest number of students selected to present at the country's most prestigious undergraduate research conference. U.S. News & World Report rated WCU 14th among master's degree-granting public universities in the South and recognized us for offering a great education at a great price. Our master's degree program in project management was ranked first in quality and affordability by the distance education information clearinghouse GetEducated.com. The Princeton Review ranked Western Carolina University's College of Business among the nation's best schools at which to earn a master's degree in business administration. We have climbed a long way in one year. What you do at Western Carolina makes a far greater difference than you or I will ever know. You are what makes Western Carolina University the pride of the mountains, and I am honored to work with you. Deborah and I wish you a safe and happy holiday. Sincerely, ~ 4Hd 'Dehtale a'aW ~Reoorter - December 1. 2008 3 Relay from Boone to Cullowhee Raises Money for Research Three WCU fac ulty members and nine students trained this fall for the inaugural Mountain Jug Run for Research, a continuous 175-mile relay from Boone, the home ofWCU rival Appalachian State University, to Cullowhee. The run raised money for the National Athletic Trainers' Association Research and Education Foundation, which annually awards research grants and academic scholarships in the field of sports medici ne. Each runner planned to complete five, fivemile legs of the course starting on Friday, Nov. 21. Participating faculty members were James Seifers, director of the athletic train ing program; Ashley Long, assistant professor of athletic training; and Jill Manners, associate professor of athletic training. "In addition to teaching the students about the value of philanthropy, the event is providing an excellent service learning opportunity in the areas of injury prevention, proper nutrition and hydration, as well as management of environmental conditions in athletics," said Seifers. Nutrition Students Take Checkered Flag in Food Drive A Western Carolina pennant will hang in a classroom at Appalachian State University for the rest of the semester because ASU conceded Saturday, Nov. 15, that WCU won a food drive contest. Of course, the real winners are the families who will benefit from the donations to regional food pantries. April Tallant, assistant professor of health sciences, extended a food drive challenge on behalf of 44 students in her first-year personal nutrition seminar to students in nutrition and health classes at ASU, Western Carolina's Southern Conference rival. On behalf of the 159 students in the ASU classes, an ASU professor accepted the challenge to see which school could collect the most food items per student in the participating classes in four weeks. WCU students partnered with two events - Haunted Moore and an indoor triathlon at the Campus Recreation Center- and gave prizes to participants who brought the most food items to the events. Students helped advertise the events with fliers, recruited participants, volunteered as timers at the indoor triathlon, and supervised food collection tables. Some also went trick-or-treating for nonperishable food or set up collection boxes in residence halls and community businesses. Erika Holub, a freshman special education major from Concord, found a lot of support for the project among members of a campus leadership organization and neighbors on her residence hall and in her home community. "It was a lot of fun," said Holub. "Carrying the cans up to Moore was amusing, since the building is at the top of the mountain. This food drive was different than others I have participated in because I had to go out there and collect the food myself instead of bringing it in for someone else to take. I felt like a big help to 4 ~Reoorter- December 1. 2008 my class and to Community Table." By Friday, Nov. 14, WCU students had collected 728 food items, including peanut butter, collard greens, macaroni and cheese, canned pineapple, breakfast bars, pasta and more By Saturday, Nov. 15, ASU had conceded, which didn't stop WCU students, who continued to bring in dozens of donated items. The food collected at both universities will be distributed to food pantries in Western North Carolina. Tallant said service learning is a requirement of the course, and she invites students to select the service activity. After studying food insecurity and hearing from the director of Community Table about hunger in the region, students selected a food drive. "Students also expressed interest in volunteering, so they are volunteering at Community Table or at agencies in their home community," Tallant said. INSIDE THE BUS james Arvel Kuykendall About two years ago, James Arvel Kuykendall joined WCU's team of drivers for CAT-TRAN, the Catamount On-Campus Transportation System. Driving the loop from A.K. Hinds University Center to Reynolds and Robertson residence halls from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. each weekday, Kuykendall and his bus have become popular with srudenrs during the cold, windy days of November and December. Along with his fdlow drivers, he helps transport more than 1,200 riders each day. Kuykendall, a native of Haywood County, spoke about his life, his family, and his time at Western Carolina as he drove his route on a chilly day in November. for your shift. KMyltnuudl: I get up at about 4:45 a.m. J,l,l,l;:ll.l.l.~~"" Is that easy for you co do? KMyftnulttll: Yeah. I wake up before my alarm even goes off. I don't really have ro set an alarm anymore. u.u.:<IJ.i.:l~.l.:I.II With such an early schedule, do you have a flvorite breakfast? KMyftnultt/l: Yes, rna' am. Not every day, but I do like to eat gravy with biscuits and Rathbone's sausage and one egg. And black coffee. And I can say that I make as good a biscuit as anyone in Haywood County. Sometimes I bring a Bojangles' biscuit with me for my daughter, who works in the library. Or she brings me breakfast or lunch.! don't need anything today, though. Dale [another transit driver) brought me some banana pudding. __ ,...... There's nothing better than homemade banana pudding. KMyltenJall: That's true. I'll fight someone over banana pudding. It's my favorite. -.--_......, ... Your daughter works in the library. Do you have any other flmily at Western? /UtyltenJall: Yes, my granddaughter, Holly [a freshman at WCU]. I see her about every day, and if I don't see her, I call her. I always want to keep ties with my family. That's important co me. to Western? /Utyltnu/all: I put 31 years of good, hard labor in at Dayco. Then I worked nine years at Laurel Bank Campground and rwo years at Pisgah View Ranch. From 1956 co 1958, I was in the Army. I was infantry, more or less. My MOS [military occupational specialty) was as a radio and telephone operator. ' ' ' · What's your favorite season? Kuyltnu/all: It depends. I like the spring because I can plant my garden, but I like the winter and fall, roo, because I get to hum. ' ' ' · You like to garden and hunt in your free time. What else do you like to do? KMyken.Ja/l: I like to ride horses, go trail riding. A bunch of us retirees from Dayco go out. h's how we stay in couch and socialize with one another. We all kid each other, always saying our horses are the best. I always say mine is the best. -...---What are your hor es' names? KuykenJall: I have three horses. Dolly's my walking horse. My Hallinger, Pearl, is a little workhorse, a carthorse. Pearl recently had a baby, a little mule we nanted Candy. ride on? KuykenJall: I like Bradley Creek. You can ride so many places. There's a big field and a campground, and you can go fishing too. You can go all the way into Turkey Pen or into Brevard. You could spend a whole week in there. ..... .._ .......... What's your favorite television channel? KuyltenJall: CNN and the Western Channel. rn,...,.,-!hm How old were you when you first learned how to drive, and in what car? KuykenJall: Oh, gosh. I learned how to drive at 14 or 16 years old. I had a little pickup truck I traded a Jersey calf for that truck. It was made by Dodge, but it was a Plymouth pickup, a 1937 model. r,...,.,~m What color was it? KuykenJall: I painted it yellow with a paintbrush and house paint. But I got my first driver's license with Daddy's car. He had a 1939 Chevy. L.L.I..:1~......,,.. What's your favorite memory associated with CAT-TRAN? Kuykendall: Good people. Granville, Dale, Don, Andrew- that's a good memory. I see them in the morning and in the evening. They're memories that will last me for the rest of my life. I've met some good people at Western Carolina University. They're some of the finest people I know. And the young people have always been nice to me. They all respect me, and I respect them. No one's ever said a short word to me. ~ Reoorter - December 1. 2008 5 Provost's Grants Help Students See Supreme Court, Go Digital Business law students heard arguments at the Supreme Court and interior design students created podcasts and movies this fall as a result of grants two faculty members won to reconstruct their courses. "The Provost's Instructional Improvement Grants are designed not only to support but also to encourage faculty innovation in teaching," said Provost Kyle Carter. "The faculty role is very complex. They are pulled in many directions and have lots of choices for how to spend their time. These grants often provide the extra push for faculty to commit their ideas to action." The 2008-09 recipients Candace Roberts, assistant professor of interior design, and Jayne Zanglein, assistant professor of business law, each won grants of more than $2,000, and Carter said their course innovations have truly benefitted students. Roberts applied for the grant to fund the purchase of a Mac Book Pro that would enable her to incorporate podcasts and iMovies into the curriculum of a senior-level residential design course as a way to create a more active, hands-on learning environment. For the fall semester, Roberts created podcasts related to universal design concepts while students became teachers, creating podcasts about different themes from their textbooks. "Doing the project did help us grasp the material, as we had to review, decide what was important and organize it in a way the others in the class would find useful," said Margo Peck, a senior interior design major from Sylva. "I am not generally on my computer exploring these rypes of things, and these projects made me stretch in that area." In addition, after students studied homes and family belongings in other countries featured in the book "Material World: A Global Family Portrait," students created "My Stuff" Animoto movie dips documenting their own belongings. "Before this semester, I had never used Animo to," said Valerie Robertson, a senior interior design major from Hendersonville. "The program was super easy to learn, and we could use it to help with our presentations in the future." Students also used a wiki to participate in class discussions online. As a result of incorporating digital media features into the course, more class time has been devoted to small group work and work on student residential design projects, said Roberts. "This has been a great experience," said Roberts. "The learning curve is gerring smaller the more I use the software programs, and using them prepares students to graduate with additional tools to win over prospective employers and clients." Roberts said next steps include creating blogs for students to post rheir work and see feedback from design faculty and other students, and moving toward digital student portfolios. 6 ~Reoorter- December 1. 2008 Meanwhile, in Zanglein's Law 475 course, students become associates in a virtual law firm- keeping time sheets, tracking billable hours, negotiating contracts, writing judicial opinions, networking and completing continuing legal education credits and pro bono work. Last year, a student in the class, Rachel Newbold, rook the lead in preparing a winning application for an instructional improvement grant from the provost that would enable Zanglein to design new activities, revise materials, conduct student surveys, fund creation of a student-made video, and aid fundraising for trips, bonuses, supplies and books. This semester, students in the class are creating a new organization for student mediators called Western Lifelines, applying for (and winning) grant money for expanding a student mediation program, researching mediation in land trust cases, restructuring and marketing a Sylva art studio, and working with members of the American Federation of Musicians Local 802 in New York City to revise its collective bargaining agreement with the American Ballet Theatre into plain English. The grant also helped Zanglein take seven students to Washington to hear oral arguments in the Supreme Court case Kennedy v. Plan Administrator for DuPont Savings and Investment Plan. WCU senior John Hubler and Zanglein had co-written an article about the case for the October edition of Supreme Court Preview. In the case, rhe court is asked to clarify a process questioned after the daughter of a divorced couple opposed $400,000 paid in savings and investment plan benefits to her mother, the named beneficiary of the plan, despite a divorce decree in which her mother gave up rights to such benefits. "Hearing the argument was definitely more than I expected," said Ashley Brabenec, a senior business law major from Cashiers. "It was so intense. I was sirring on the edge of my seat the entire time. I actually was sitting next to one of the lawyer's parents, so I got a litde extra insight on the case." In addition, the students visited the Library of Congress, the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum and the Smithsonian Institution. They attended the AIG bailout hearings before the Commirree on Oversight and Government Reform of the U.S. House of Representatives. They also dined out to practice skills learned at WCU's Etiquette Dinner, which also was funded in part by rhe grant. "It's been a busy semester," said Zanglein. - By TERESA KILLIAN Professor to Lead Study on Improving Understanding of Evolution KefYn M. Catley is on a mission co improve rhe qual icy of secondary science educacion in rhe Uniced Scares. Cadey, associate professor of biology and head ofWCU's secondary science educacion program, and Laura R. Novick, a professor of cognicive psychology and former colleague ar Vanderbilt Universicy, recemly secured a $665,247 grant from rhe U.S. Deparrmem of Educacion co research ways of improving high school and college biology curricula. The three-year srudy wilt begin chis spring, wirh pares of ir raking place ar inscirur ions across che United Scares, including WCU, Vanderbilt Universicy and Tuscola High School in Haywood Coumy. "Ic's a cotlaboracive effon across insrirucions," Cadey said. The inicial phase includes diagnostics co determine how scudems chink in evolurionary terms. Ulcimarely, based on rhe study's findings, Cadey and Novick will create a biology curriculum char rhey hope will produce be[[er and stronger srudems. Catley's specialcy is educadon in evolucionacy biology, and he has narrowed his focus co helping high school and universicy scudems be[[er understand rhe processes and principles of char copic. Cadey co mends char many srudems - and rheir reachers - have a poor undemanding of macroevolucion, che study of change char occurs ar or above rhe level of species over a long duracion. Microevolurion, in comrasr, is the srudy of smaller evolurionacy changes within a species or populacion across a shoner span of dme. For example, a microevolucionary theory would explain how the beaks of a small populacion of birds changed over a decade. A macroevolurionary theory would explain how birds evolved as a group. Withour a firm grip on macroevolucion, Cadey said, srudems lack an undemanding of rhe comprehensive hisrocy of life on rhe planer. Catley and Novick's research focuses in large parr on rhe role of diagrams in helping srudems comprehend evolurion. Called cladograms, these diagrams can illuscrare with branching lines "che origin and fare of species and natural groups of species: rhe persistence through rime of some and the excinccion of ochers," according co a 2006 arcicle by Cadey. A cladogram might provide evidence, for example, of how birds are indeed modern dinosaurs. Comprehending these diagrams is called "cree chinking," or rhe habit of calling on knowledge of the hiscory of life on Earth as evidence as one constructs a hierarchical model of che natural world. The diagrams are che backbone of undemanding macroevolurion, withour which "an undemanding of the full speccrurn of evolurion is simply nor possible," scares the arcicle, called "Darwin's Missing Link-A Novel Paradigm for Evolurion Educacion." "Cladograms are excremely powerful predictive cools in modern biology," rhe article reads. Bur while professionals in rhe field have used cladograms for a long rime, rhe diagrams, which biologists consider rescable hypotheses, nor face, "have yer co be urilized co any degree in life science education." Cadey and Novick recendy led a study documeming che cype, frequency and dimiburion of evolucionary diagrams in 31 comemporary rexrbooks aimed ar a wide array of readers from middle school co rhe undergraduate level. Results of rhe study appeared under rhe ride "Seeing rhe Wood for che Trees: An Analysis of Evolucionary Diagrams in Biology Textbooks" in the November issue of BioScience, the journal of rhe American Insdrure of Biological Sciences. The srudy found char while evolurionary diagrams appeared frequenrly in rexrbooks, many of them were "confusing and open co mulciple imerpreradons." Randi Neff is a biology reacher ar Tuscola, where beginning in rhe spring approximately 80 sophomore science srudems, including NefFs, will parcicipare in rhe diagnostic porrion of Carley and Novick's grant-funded study. She and Carley mer when they were bach working coward their master's degrees in biology ar WCU. Ar a conference of Western North Carolina science reachers hosted ar WCU in Occober, she suggested increasing the number of subsrandve science courses for reachers - an approach she has long been advocadng. Her undergraduate reaching degree left her feeling "incredibly unprepared co reach biology," she said. Calling evolutionary biology the "rock of biology," Neff said char reachers often don't know how co rie the concept ro their course of srudy because their own understanding of ir is limited. She will help develop the new curriculum and chen implement and rest ic in her classroom. The curriculum will likely exceed srare requiremems, she said. James Costa, a professor in WCU's biology deparrmem and director of the Highlands Biological Sradon, said Carley is performing imponanr work. "In school these days, srudems gee very lircle informacion about macroevolution. Kefyn is addressing a significant oversight," he said. "Tree thinking is such a critical aspect of evolutionary biology, it's ironic char it's an area that srudems are exposed co che least." It is Costa's hope char once Cadey's work incorporadng a be[[er understanding of macroevolution imo secondary educadon is complete, it will become influemial in the field. While some segmems of sociecy might resist broadening evolucionacy educadon because of ics somedmes comroversial narure, biologists argue it's critical co bach filling rhe ranks of U.S. sciemisrs and keeping the United Scares compecicive worldwide. As Cadey sees ir, improving science literacy is imponanr because understanding bach the comem and workings of science is key ro a healthy economy and funcrioning democracy in rhe United Scares. "If you want co work in a welt-paid job these days, you really need ro be literate in science," said Carley. ''A good understanding of science underpins democracy." According co Costa, the nature of worldwide com peri don makes strengthening science educadon a logical goal. "There are many councries, both industrialized and nonindustrialized, char provide their populadons with rigorous sciemific craining, and these people are hungry for progress," he said. "There is a danger with science educacion in chis country char it's nor of the same rigor in the college preparacory level that you see wich our main compeciror coumries." - By JILL INGRAM ~Reoorter - December 1. 2008 7 Raportart. ---- Dec.1-Jan.12 --------------------- Monday, Dec. 1 EPA faculty and non faculty holiday open house -6:30-8:30 p.m. Chancellors residence. (227-7100) Tuesday, Dec. 2 Catamount Concert Series - Piano duo of Bradley Martin and Andrew Adams. 8 p.m. RH. (227-7242) Wednesday, Dec. 3 Meeting - WCU board of trustees. 9:30a.m. Room 510, HFR. (227-7100) Musical theater - Campus lunchtime performance. 12:20 p.m. UC lawn. (227-7242) Concert -Inspirational Choir. 6 p.m. Grand room, UC. (227-7242) Thursday, Dec. 4 The ElectriNetSM - "Creating the Electricity Network of the Future," presented by Revis W. James, director of EPRI's Energy Technology Assessment Center. 11 a.m.noon. UC theater. (227-2159) Old-time music and bluegrass -ian Moore and Hal Herzog. Open jam to follow. 7-9 p.m. MHC auditorium. (227-7129) Concert- Wind Ensemble. 8 p.m. FAPAC. (227-7242) Friday, Dec. 5 Last day of regular class meetings- (227-7495) University Club TGIF - For members and their guests. 5 p.m. UCiubhouse, Central Drive.$. (227-3933) Friday, Dec. 5-Saturday, Dec. 6 Madrigal Christmas dinners - Pageantry, music and food. 6:30p.m. Grand room, UC. $. (227 -7206) Saturday, Dec. 6-Friday, Dec. 12 Final exams for all classes.-(227-7495) Sunday, Dec. 7 Concert - "Sounds of the Season."3 p.m. FA PAC. $. (227 -7242) Lady Catamount basketball - vs. Middle Tennessee State. 4 p.m. RRAC. $. (227-7338) Thursday, Dec. 11 Staff Forum -8:30a.m. Cardinal Room, UC. (227-3107) SPA holiday open house- 9-1 1 a.m. Chancellor's residence. (227-7100) Friday, Dec. 12 University Club TGIF- For members and their guests. 5 p.m. UCiubhouse, Central Drive.$. (227-3933) Galaxy of Stars Series - "A Red, Hot ... & Blue! White Christmas!"7:30 p.m. FAPAC. $. (227-2479) Saturday, Dec. 13 Fall commencement - 2 p.m. RRAC. (227-7495) Monday, Dec. 15 Catamount basketball - vs. Tennessee Wesleyan. 7 p.m. RRAC. $. (227-7338) Wednesday, Dec. 17 Catamount basketball - vs. Gardner-Webb. 7 p.m. RRAC. $. (227-7338) Friday, Dec.19 Lady Catamount basketball - vs. College of Charleston. 7 p.m. RRAC. $. (227-7338) Sunday, Dec. 21 Lady Catamount basketball - vs. Georgia Southern. 4 p.m. RRAC. $. (227-7338) Tuesday, Dec. 30 Lady Catamount basketball- vs. UNCWilmington. 7 p.m. RRAC. $. (227-7338) JANUARY 2009 Thursday, Jan. 8 Catamount basketball- vs. UNC Greensboro. 7 p.m. RRAC. $. (227-7338) Thursday, Jan. 8-Sunday, Jan. 11 Mountain Dulcimer Winter Weekend -Classes, concerts. Register at http://dulcimer.wcu.edu. Lambuth Inn, Lake Junaluska.$. (227-7397) Friday, Jan. 9 Residence halls open for all students( 227-7317) KEY: $- Admission fee; BB- Belk Building; CAC -Catamount Athleti< Center; CAT-Center for Applied Technology; CCB-Cordelia Camp Building; CRC Campus Recreation Center, esc -Catamount Softball Complex; fAPAC -fine and Performing Arts Center; HA-Hoey Auditorium; HfR-H.f. Robinson Administration Building; Hl-Hunter Ubrary; HS/Cf-Hennon Stadium/Childress field; MHC -Mountain Heritage Center; NSA-Natural Sciences Auditorium; RH-Recital Hall, Coulter Building; RRAC -Ramsey Regional Activity Center; UC -A.K. Hinds Uni"Rr1ity Center; WS!BW-Whitmire Stadium/Bob Waters field. Submissions: Send news items, calendar notices and address changes to Aeporter@email.wcu.edu or WCU Calendar, 420 H.F. Robinson Building. Submit items for The Reporter calendar at least four weeks prior to the event. Saturday, Jan. 10 Lady Catamount basketball- vs. Samford. 4 p.m. RRAC. $. (227-7338) Catamount basketball- vs. Elan. 7 p.m. RRAC. $. (227-7338) Monday, Jan. 12 All classes begin- (227-7317) Lady Catamount basketball - vs. Chattanooga. 7 p.m. RRAC. $. (227-7338) EXHIBITS Fine Art Museum "Lewis Buck: Beyond the Surface"-A career survey of the Black Mountain artist's life. Through Dec. 15. Sculptural ceramics by James Tanner - Abstract, masklike ceramic forms. Jan. 22-March 8. "Inspired Design: Jacquard and Entrepreneurial Textiles" - Innovative textile design. Jan. 22-March 8. Hours: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday; 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Thursday; 1- 4 p.m. Saturday. (http://fapac.wcu.edu or 227-3591) Mountain Heritage Center "Mountain Trout"-Slideshow spotlight, December. "Corn: Milling, Tilling and Stilling"-Slideshow spotlight, January. "The Artistry of Plain-Style Furniture"Handmade WNC furniture. Gallery C. Through Dec. 30. Hours: 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday. (www.wcu.edu/mhc or 227-7129) Hunter Library "Bartram's Journey"-The 18th century botanist's life and observations. Ground floor, through December. "Phases of Currency"- Original artwork by Erin Tapley. 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday. Second Floor Gallery, through December. Book sculptures - Student works of sculpture. Main floor, through December. (http://library.wcu.edu or 227-3398) Jason Emerson Brady Hunter Library Hunter Library