HEADLINES

Deaf students sign to hearing people with videophone
Alumnus receives highest honor from Mexican Government
Students produce first-semester documentary
Wireless on the Hill
Kennedy awards go to Theatre students, faculty
Romance your sweetheart on Valentine's Day
Chief Information Officer named at McDaniel
Something for everyone
Winter sports warming up
Mark your calendars
Happy Holidays

This is the last News@McDaniel until next semester. News@McDaniel will resume on Monday, January 24, 2005 - the first day of classes of the spring semester. Until then, look for current news and events at www.mcdaniel.edu.

Jenna Hubble sits in the small yellow booth in the McDaniel Library Commons. Her hands sign her message in front of a video camera perched on top of a television screen.

On the screen, Jenna and an interpreter are visible. Jenna's hands move quickly. The interpreter, stationed at Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C., has a headphone. She signs to Jenna and speaks into the headphone to the hearing person Jenna is calling. Jenna's roommate and best friend is on the other end of the phone – and they are going to meet for lunch.

The roommates set it up, but the point is real. With the newly installed Video Relay System from Sorenson Media in California, Deaf students and professors can communicate with hearing people via the telephone. Three videophones are installed in the Deaf Education office.

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"In the hands of this man, ideas become living things." These words define the world-renowned scholar of Mesoamerican religions Dr. Davíd Carrasco, who was awarded the Mexican Order of the Aguila Azteca, the highest and most important honor awarded to foreign citizens for extraordinary contributions and services to Mexico. The award was presented by the Mexican Ambassador Carlos de Icaza on behalf of President Vicente Fox and Secretary of Foreign Affairs Luis Ernesto Derbez. The ceremony was held Dec. 9 at the Mexican Cultural Institute in Washington, D.C.

Speaking in both Spanish and English, the Ambassador praised Carrasco for his generous heart and spirit and compared his intelligence to Einstein.

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The students held their audience spellbound. No one coughed or whispered or even shifted in their seats during the 75-minute film.

"Fresh: Falling into 2004" saw its world premiere Dec. 9 in Decker Auditorium.

"Welcome to your world premiere," said their mentor, Assistant Professor of Communication Jonathan Slade, joking as he added, "No world premiere would be complete without fake wine and plastic glasses."

Then, on a serious note, Slade held his glass high to toast his "Documentary Production" class. The students and their professor wore the film's trademark T-shirt bearing the film's title plus its world-premiere date on the back.

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By early February McDaniel College students can pop open their laptops to check email around the campus and have their coffee—or cocoa too. New wireless technology and hot spots are coming to the Hill.

Several favorite gathering places have been identified where students can connect their computer laptops to the campus network, other computer servers, and the Internet through a wireless network, without plugging into a network port. Wireless network access can be activated on most laptop computers by using built-in internal hardware or by attaching an external wireless adapter card. Two wi-fi laptops will be available for student use in Hoover Library's hot-spot lounge.

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The Chair of Region II of the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival awarded Certificates of Merit to (left to right) Professor and Chair of the Theatre Arts department Ira Domser for set and light design, Andrea Bock '06 for makeup design, Assistant Professor in Theatre Arts Elizabeth van den Berg for direction and for "Special Understudy Recognition," Matt Weese '07 for stage management, (in front) Carolyn Ricks '05 for costume design, and (not pictured) Alumna Kristin Lagana '04 for song composition.

The awards came under the recommendation of Kathryn Robinson of Penn State University who saw the production and made a recommendation to Chair of Region II Debra Otte.

Not all declarations of love sparkle in the moonlight. Some warm the heart with fine dining, romantic music, and "Reflections on Love" by our own master of love Dr. Ira G. Zepp, Jr.

Celebrate your love Feb. 12, 2005, with a Valentine's Dinner on the Hill. Take a nostalgic walk around campus from 3 to 5 p.m. visiting Baker Chapel and Baker Memorial Chapel. Stroll over to McDaniel Lounge for cocktails from 5 to 6 p.m., and then dine on gourmet Italian cuisine and listen to music by candlelight from 6 to 9:30 p.m.

Hold hands as you listen to Ira Zepp reflect on love. Remember when you first felt cupid's arrow – whether that's one year or 40 ago.

Tickets are $70 per couple. Reservations must be made by Feb. 1. The evening is a great gift for the holidays, and a special gift card for holiday presentation will be issued for all paid reservations received by Dec. 17.

But hurry, space is limited. Tickets will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. Call the Office of Alumni Relations at 410-857-2254 or make reservations online.

Michele M. Reid of Westminster, Md., has been appointed McDaniel College's first Chief Information Officer with responsibility for the strategic planning and direction of technology and information services in support of the College's curricular and wider educational mission. Reid will also continue as Director of Hoover Library, a position she has held since 2002.

Her experience managing networked and cooperative online information systems and support technology, as well as her understanding of the challenges of making relevant information usefully accessible through new technologies and the Internet, position her to lead the critical restructuring and expansion of the College's complete range of academic and administrative information services to meet the developing needs of all campus constituencies.

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McDaniel College Bookstore employees Christy Chillson '07 (left) and Stephanie Pickett are bundled and ready for winter's first blast.

Thankfully, the Bookstore has sweatshirts, hats, blankets, Nalgene bottles, and other items at holiday discounted prices for Green Terror fans of all ages.

For more information and holiday hours, please call 410-857-2277, visit the online store at http://mcdaniel.bkstore.com, or stop by the Bookstore in Decker Center.

Got an avid reader on your list? Librarian Jane Sharpe's Books for Holiday Gifts lists great books for adults and children.

Winter's warming up for Green Terror athletics. Wrestling, indoor track, and men's and women's basketball are all juggling the end of fall semester with the beginning of winter's battles.

After three consecutive losses to Villa Julie, Gettysburg, and Dickinson, McDaniel men's basketball and Mike DiPiero '06 (left) defeated St. Mary's 69-66 Dec. 11.

Although the fall season is in the record books, a few Green Terror athletes have added post-season honors.

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With only a few exam days left in the fall semester, spring 2005 is right around the corner. Here are some academic and event dates to mark on your new calendar before hanging it on the refrigerator after New Year's:

• Jan Term runs Jan. 3-21. Spring semester classes begin at 8 a.m. Jan. 24.
  
  
• Chamber Music on the Hill presents "An Elephant, A Wolf, and Two Pianos" at 3 p.m. Feb. 6 at the Scott Center for the Arts at Carroll Community College. Call 410-857-2599 for tickets and information.
  
  
• "Something's Afoot" on the Hill when McDaniel College Theatre performs the murder mystery spoof at 8 p.m. March 2-5 on the WMC Alumni Hall Mainstage. Call 410-857-2448 for tickets and information.
  
  
• The 2005 Bothe Lecture features Ann Townsend, associate professor of English at Denison University, at 8 p.m. March 8 in McDaniel Lounge. Free and open to the public.
  
  
• The Evelyn Mackenzie Performance Series welcomes guitarist Rico Stover for a recital of Latin American music at 7 p.m. April 1 in Baker Memorial Chapel. Free and open to the public.
  
  
• McDaniel College Theatre presents "Noises Off" at 8 p.m. April 20-23 on the WMC Alumni Hall Mainstage. Call 410-857-2448 for tickets and information.
  
  
• The Department of Music features Jazz Night at 8 p.m. May 5 in Decker Center Forum. Free and open to the public.
  
  
• The 135th McDaniel College Commencement will be held May 21.

From the Office of Communications
and Marketing
at McDaniel College