HEADLINES

Freshmen learn to think outside of comfort zones
Professor to attend Nobel Celebration
Brass quartet to perform student's composition
Students earn Kennedy Center nominations
Professor elected to national math organization
'On Golden Pond' playwright, actors offer advice to students
Trustee named Hungary's Foreign Minister
Heartbreaker at Hopkins; Hugus heading to NCAAs
Alumni Travel Program 2005
Hill Happenings
Thanksgiving Recess Information

The class of 15 freshmen have sampled Korean and Indian foods. In the weeks since the first-year seminar began, they have meditated in an attempt to induce a past-life transgression.

These new McDaniel students have listened to a tape of a drumbeat while lying on the floor with eyes covered. Some traveled to the underworld in the course of this shamanic journey and were greeted there by spirit animals: a wolf, gorillas, a bird – for each student an individual experience.

Welcome to "Critical Thinking," one of 29 first-year seminars offered during the fall semester.

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In her classes on Third World politics, Associate Professor of Political Science and International Studies Christianna Nichols Leahy presents the life story of Wangari Muta Maathai as a great example on how a person can change the lives of thousands, if not millions, of others by empowering others to change their situation.

Winner of the 2004 Nobel Peace Prize and native-born Kenyan, Maathai is recognized for her efforts in the founding of a grassroots movement in the late 1970s whose focus was women's groups planting of trees to conserve the environment and improve East African women's and their families' quality of life.

"She is someone with whom Amnesty International has focused on in a joint campaign with the Sierra Club of defending those who give the Earth a Voice," says Nichols Leahy.

That's why Nichols Leahy will be proud to represent Amnesty International at the Nobel Peace Prize Celebration in Oslo, Norway, Dec. 9-12. As a member on the Executive Committee of the Alumni and Friends of the International Institute of Humanitarian Law, Nichols Leahy has helped organize the Institute's program for the Peace Prize ceremonies and attendant activities.

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It's all in his head. Notes. Rhythm. Sounds. The parts each instrument will play. McDaniel sophomore Jimmy Dell knows his music, but it is the software program "Finale" that allows him to put the music on paper.

"I love to compose," says the musician who began tuba lessons in fourth grade. "It is very satisfying to hear something in my head and put it on paper and have someone play it."

When The McDaniel Brass performs in concert at 7 p.m. Nov. 22 in Baker Chapel, one of the songs on the program for the low brass quartet is "Brainless Activity" by Jimmy. The music is contemporary – "upbeat and rhythmic," according to mentor Don Horneff, adjunct lecturer in music.

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Six McDaniel theatre students were nominated to compete for national awards at the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival Jan. 4-9 at Muhlenberg College.

These nominations followed stellar acting and production work in recent performances of "The Tempest" Oct. 28-Nov. 6:

• Carolyn Ricks '05, Barbizon Design Award in Costuming
  
• Andrea Bock '06, Mehron Makeup Design Award
  
• Matt Weese '07, Stage Management
  
• Andrew Pecoraro '05, Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship Award for his portrayal of "Ferdinand"
  
• Jessica Behar '07, Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship Award for her portrayal of "Trinculo"
  
• Erin Shinholt '05, as the alternate nominee for an Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship Award for her portrayal of "Ariel"

Francis "Skip" Fennell, professor of Education, has been elected president-elect of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM). His one-year term of service as president-elect will begin at the end of NCTM's annual meeting in April 2005 followed by a two-year term as NCTM president beginning in April 2006. The full-time position will require Fennell to take a leave of absence from his teaching at McDaniel.

"This honor usually goes to an educator from a large university," says College President Joan Develin Coley. "It's a double tribute to our colleague Skip whose expertise has earned national renown, but also his election reflects well on liberal arts institutions like ours."

Founded in 1920, NCTM is the world's largest mathematics education organization located in Reston, Va., with nearly 100,000 members and 250 Affiliates throughout the United States and Canada. Amy Rice Mirra, class of 1997 and electronic resources coordinator for NCTM, is thrilled with Fennell';s election. "He has been a wonderful mentor to me since my days a student on the Hill and will surely inspire math educators nationwide."

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When a group of McDaniel theatre students traveled to the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., to catch the Oct. 13 performance of "On Golden Pond," they didn't plan on catching a few minutes with the stars.

After the performance, actors James Earl Jones, Leslie Uggams, and Peter Francis James, as well as playwright Ernest Thompson talked shop with the students and faculty members Ira Domser, Charles Neal, and College President Joan Develin Coley backstage.

Thompson also traveled to Westminster Oct. 14 to speak to Theatre Appreciation and Acting classes.

Thompson is best known for penning "On Golden Pond," which won an Academy Award for best adapted screenplay in 1981. He received an honorary Doctor of Letters from the College in 1983, and his father, Dr. Theron Thompson, was a professor of education at McDaniel from 1961 to 1974.

Foreign service diplomat and member of the College's governing board since 1994, Ferenc Somogyi was sworn in Nov. 1 as Foreign Minister of Hungary.

Dr. Somogyi's career spans over two decades, travel to more than 50 countries and ambassador postings in Rangoon, Burma, between 1969 and 1971 and to Lagos, Nigeria, between 1971 and 1973. He has witnessed and participated in world events of profound historic significance. He was a member of the small group of Hungarian political leaders who chose to allow East German tourists to cross the Hungarian border into Western Europe. Thus, began a chain of extraordinary events that ultimately led to the collapse of the Berlin Wall.

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After sophomore Chris Martin's 76-yard punt return for a touchdown in the final minutes secured the 7-6 win for McDaniel football versus Muhlenberg Nov. 6, only Johns Hopkins stood in the way of an outright Centennial Conference title for the Green Terror.

For the fourth year in a row, the Blue Jays had McDaniel's number, handing the Green Terror a 9-12 loss in the final contest of the regular season. McDaniel's 6-3, 4-2 record still grants them a share of the Centennial title.

Junior Broderick Maybank's 230 yards rushing versus Hopkins put him over 1,000 for the year.

The helmets and pads aren't going into storage just yet, as Green Terror football hosts Albright for the ECAC South Atlantic Championship Nov. 20.

Junior Paul Hugus' ninth-place finish at the NCAA Cross Country Mideast Regionals Nov. 13 qualified him for the Division III National Championships at Wisconsin-Eau Claire Nov. 20. This is the second trip to the Championships in as many years for Hugus. He is the first athlete in Green Terror history to compete in consecutive National Championships.

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The Alumni Travel Program for 2005 stretches from the warm coastal waters off Costa Rica to the icy blue around Alaska. Faculty-hosted trips planned for the summer are:

Italy: Food for the Soul
May 23-June 7, 2005
Hosted by Sue Bloom, professor of art and art history

The Ultimate Fishing Trip: Costa Rica
Mid-June, 2005
Hosted by Herb Smith, professor of political science

Tour of England and Scotland
July 29-August 13, 2005
Hosted by James Lightner '59, professor of mathematics emeritus

Alaska – Voyage of the Glaciers
August 16-27, 2005
Hosted by Sam Case '63, former provost and professor of exercise science and physical education emeritus, and Susan Snodgrass Case '65

Book early; space is limited. For more information visit the Alumni Travel Program Web page, or contact the Office of Alumni Relations and Annual Giving at 410-857-2296 or alumni@mcdaniel.edu.

• The Art of Sunny Moon, featuring decorative, realistic freshwater fish carvings, opens Nov. 29 in the Rice Gallery. An opening reception will be held 7 - 9 p.m. Nov. 29. The McDaniel College Faculty Art Exhibit is currently on display, and will close Nov. 17. Call 410-857-2595 for information and gallery hours.
  
  
• A Piano Recital features the students of David Kreider, senior lecturer of music, at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 12 in Levine Recital Hall. Free and open to the public.
  
  
• The Student Chamber Music Ensembles perform at 7 p.m. Nov. 15 in Baker Chapel. Free and open to the public.
  
  
• André Bernard, trade publisher of Harcourt, Inc., and regular columnist for The American Scholar, presents the Holloway Lecture "Can Publishing be Interesting?" at 8 p.m. Nov. 16 in McDaniel Lounge. Free and open to the public.
  
  
• The Department of Deaf Education and the ASL House welcome Ava Barron-Shasho, LCSW, for a discussion on her experiences as a mental health therapist and working with Deaf individuals at 12 noon Nov. 18 in Gold Room A (near the pool). Free and open to the public; light refreshments will be provided. Call 410-751-8653 for more information.
  
  
• Librarian Jane Sharpe reviews books for adults and children at "Books for Holiday Gifts" at 12 noon Nov. 18 in McDaniel Lounge. Light refreshments will be provided. Free and open to the public.
  
  
• The McDaniel College Department of Music presents the College Band Concert at 7 p.m. Nov. 19 in WMC Alumni Hall. Free and open to the public.
  
  
• The Masterworks Chorale of Carroll County offers Mendelssohn's "Elijah" at 3 p.m. Nov. 21 in Baker Memorial Chapel. Please call 410-871-3371 for information and tickets.
  
  
• The McDaniel College Theatre Arts Department presents "Playback Theatre" at 8 p.m. Dec. 3 and 4 in WMC Alumni Hall. Playback is improvisational theatre which honors personal story. The actors listen to the teller's tale, and then "play back" what they hear as the essence of the story. Free and open to the public.
  
  
• A Workshop for Educational Interpreters will be held from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Dec. 4 at McDaniel College. For more information, contact Connie Newton at 410-386-4683 or NEWTONWATS@aol.com.