Ives’s collection of six one-acts is a comedic rollercoaster that explores the wildness of communication and strange daily coincidences in life. This is production is student directed by Matt Taylor, a senior theatre major of Magnolia.

“The journey is a fun one and full of so much diverse comedy that you never get bored with same old routine over and over again,” said Taylor. “Buckling over with laughter should be expected!”

“Sure Thing “is a look at Bill (Stephen Searles – Texarkana) and Betty (Lauren Rodriguez – Round Rock, Tx.) and the possibilities of a first meeting.

“Words, Words, Words” takes a gander with the hypothesis that if a monkey set at a typewriter for 1000 years it would eventually type “Hamlet,” featuring Brennan Beams of Magnolia, Sissy Martin of Mena,Ark., and Tyler Orsak of Magnolia.

What if someone could create a language that was a true melting-pot, in this verbal play with words? Well, Don (Prof. Lee Crouse – Magnolia) does just that. The shy Dawn (Anna Kolesnikova – Moscow, Russia) comes to learn Unamunda, the strange language, which she hopes will eliminate her stutter.

In “Philip Glass Buys a Loaf of Bread,” the audience goes on a journey into what could have been going on in the bizarre mind of composer Philip Glass (Searles) on a chance encounter with his ex (Lindsay Walters – Sheridan, Ark.,) in a bakery. Also features Brandon Gray of Magnolia and Rodriguez.

“Going inside anyone’s head can be an experience in itself but the journey through Philip Glass’s mind has been one of fun and intricate vocal timing. It’s an absolute blast from the past,” said Walters.

“The Philadelphia” deals with those days in life when it seems like no matter what you cannot get your way. Features William Kilgore of Queen City, Tx., Dedra Joiner of DeQueen, Ark., and JimCarlos Ocasio of San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Russian leader Leon Trotsky (Crouse) led a revolution yet had strange fears and an even stranger death, with a mountain climber’s axe smashed into his head. How on Earth could this possibly happen? “Variations on the Death of Trotsky” surely can find at least a few hilarious possibilities with the help of his wife (Kolesnikova) and the gardner Ramon (Searles).

“It’s a fast paced comedy with witty lines, hilarious situations, and just down right chaos; that no one should pass up seeing!,” said Searles.

For more information, contact the SAU office of Theatre and Mass communications at (870) 235-4257.

Dr. Bernadette Fincher, Chair of the SAU Department of Nursing, said the expansion comes at a good time as there is a growing need for registered nurses, particularly in rural communities.

“The expansion of SAU’s Wharton Nursing Building is an important element toward increasing the number of professional nurses available in south Arkansas to provide the surrounding health care facilities with qualified nurses to meet current and future workforce demands,” said Fincher.

The new addition and renovations were completed in two phases. Phase 1 was conducted January through March of 2007 and included connecting the building to the University’s district cooling loop, renovations to the mechanical room and design work necessary for Phase II. All work connected to Phase I was made possible through a Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) grant of $334,000 sponsored by Congressman Ross.

Phase II included renovation of three existing classroom/laboratories and the addition of 10,287 square feet in new classrooms/laboratories, offices, support facilities and parking. This phase was conducted February through November 2008, cost approximately $1.9 million and raised total square footage to 25,114. The building addition was designed by CADM architects of El Dorado, Arkansas and constructed by general contractor Coker Building Company Inc. of Arkansas.

Dr. Tim Wise, SAU’s 2008-2009 Honor Professor, will provide the commencement address. Wise has been at SAU since 1993 as an instructor of marketing and completed his doctoral work in 1995. Dr. Wise has taught both management and marketing courses at SAU. In 2007, he became the chair of the Department of Marketing, Management, and MIS and, in spring 2008, was promoted to full professor and awarded the title of honor professor.

In addition to teaching, his research, and his service on the Faculty Senate and a number of committees, Dr. Wise has written four science fiction and fantasy novels and is pursuing an additional degree from the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. He also owns a small publishing company and design firm.

Dr. Wise earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in education from Louisiana Tech University and taught for two years in the public school system before returning to Louisiana Tech for an MBA and DBA in business administration.

The Nursing department is holding a separate ceremony for their graduates at 4 p.m. in Harton Theatre.

Graduates, family and SAU faculty and staff are invited to an SAU Alumni Association sponsored reception from 4:30 to 6 p.m. in the Donald W. Reynolds Campus and Community Center Blue and Gold Room.

The presentation will include: an overview of the Arkansas State Crime Laboratory; a discussion of drug trends in Arkansas (with specific local data); prescription drug abuse information; and other current topics.

The public is welcome to attend. For more information, call (870) 235-4322.

In this provocative, part historical–part autobiographical presentation on religion and African American culture, professor Dixie will explore how memories and impressions of a rural South in which he never lived, impacted and shaped African American religious experiences in the urban North.

Dixie holds a bachelor of arts in urban policy from James Madison College at Michigan State University, a master of arts in religious studies, and a doctorate in church history from Union Theological Seminary in New York City. His research interests include the African American religious experience, religion and the civil rights movement, African American Baptist history, and hip-hop and spirituality.

A native Hoosier, Dr. Dixie spent six years (1997-2003) serving on the faculty of the religious studies department at Indiana University, Bloomington, where he taught a wide range of courses on religion in North America. In fall 2003, he returned home to Fort Wayne to develop a program in religious studies at Indiana University-Purdue Fort Wayne. He is the co-editor with Cornel West of “The Courage to Hope: From Black Suffering to Human Redemption,” and the co-author with Juan Williams of “This Far by Faith: Stories from the African American Religious Experience.” Dixie is also and editor of the four-volume publication, “The Papers of Howard Thurman, 1899-1981,” due out in 2009. In addition, he has co-authored “Witness!: The Bicentennial History of Abyssinian Baptist Church in the City of New York, 1808-2008” (2009).

The lecture is free and open to the public. For further information, contact Dr. Linda Tucker, assistant professor of English at (870) 235-4210.

The new name will be announced in Magnolia at a 2 p.m. news conference, Thursday, October 30 in the Donald W. Reynolds Campus and Community Center on the Southern Arkansas University campus. The conference will be hosted by the Arkansas Small Business Development Center at Southern Arkansas University. SAU Vice President of Academic Affairs Dr. Brian Canfield, College of Business Dean Dr. Lisa Toms and a Representative from U.S. Congressman Mike Ross’ Office will join Center Director Paul Considine and other ASBDC officials in making the announcement.

“Changing our name illustrates an extension of our mission to serve Arkansas’ entrepreneurial community,” said Janet Roderick, Arkansas Small Business Development Center state director. “We began a decade ago to develop services for innovation and technology-based businesses when it became apparent that a key to economic growth in Arkansas would be our own innovation. Arkansas must be on the leading edge of technology to compete with other states and internationally in this economy.”

The center earned special technology accreditation from the national Association of Small Business Development Centers late last year. Of 63 SBDC’s across the country, Arkansas was just the fifth to receive the technology designation. ASBDC had to demonstrate the ability to assist clients in areas such as technology transfer, commercialization, research and development funding, intellectual property and equity financing.

Arkansas Small Business Development Center assists innovation-based businesses through its network of offices across the state. Established in 1980, the program is a partnership of the U.S. Small Business Administration and the University of Arkansas at Little Rock College of Business.
In addition to the lead center at UALR and office at SAU, other regional offices are located at Arkansas State University, Henderson State University, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, University of Arkansas – Fort Smith and University of Arkansas at Monticello College of Technology in McGehee. All services, which include consulting, research and training, are available at low or no cost through the center’s partnership with the SBA and higher education institutions across Arkansas.

About the SBDC Network
Uniting private enterprise, government, higher education and local non-profit economic development organizations, the Small Business Development Center national network is the SBA’s largest partnership program, providing management and technical assistance to help Americans start, run and grow their own businesses. With approximately 1,000 offices across the nation, the SBDC network assists approximately 725,000 small businesses every year.

For more information, call Felicia Bozeman, fabozeman@saumag.edu, (870)235-4007 or Gwen Green, gagreen@ualr.edu, (501)683-7700.

The $2,500 grant proposal was written by Christensen and psychology major Keri Humphries, of Camden, during the summer.

“Keri was the logical choice to coordinate this grant as she contributed creative ideas for student service-learning options,” said Christensen. “We hope to teach students that one person can make a positive impact, especially related to our grant theme, hunger.”

One project incorporated into the grant is a campus wide food drive, “We Can Canned Food Drive,” open to all student organizations. The drive began October 1 and concludes on October 30. All donations will benefit the Stew Pot of Magnolia, a community organization which serves hot meals daily and is celebrating their 25th anniversary. Students involved in this project have been volunteering about five hours weekly throughout October.

Sixteen student organizations have signed-up to participate in the contest. Additionally, the psychology and criminal justice departments will contribute 1707 cans to the student organization can auction held on the “We Can” Facebook page from noon to 6 p.m. Monday, October 27.
The student organization that collects the most cans wins a $500 prize. Those who would like more information can join the Facebook group, “We Can Food Drive,” or contact Student Affairs at (870)235-4925. Student Affairs, as well as Brookshire’s, have played partnership roles in this project.

An education day will be held November 4 with students from development psychology presenting their research about the impact of hunger through a lifetime, explained Christensen. The students will use slam poetry, skits, public service announcements and other creative media. Also on November 4, Heifer International, a non-profit organization whose goal is to help end world hunger and poverty through self-reliance and sustainability, will provide the keynote for the event. The winner of the $500 cash prize for the most cans collected will be announced as well.

For more information about the project, contact Christensen at (870) 235-4934.

The groundbreaking will include brief comments from SAU President, Dr. David Rankin, Jasper Lewis, associate vice president for facilities, Dr. James Rasmussen, chair of the biology department and Kara J. Way, a senior pre-med biology student. Refreshments and light hors d’oeuvres will be served.

The University Science Center is planned to be completed within the next year, a timeframe that will coincide with the University’s Centennial Celebration.

“This is going to be a tremendous facility with state-of-the-art technology that will serve students who are beginning our next centennial of success at Southern Arkansas University,” said SAU President Dr. David Rankin.

The cost of the 64,000-square-foot project is estimated to be $16,747, 986, which includes the main building, district cooling system upgrade, parking, landscaping, furniture, audiovisual equipment and design fees. The general contractor for the project is CDI Contractors of Little Rock and the architects are WER and Associates of Little Rock.

The new facility will house the departments of biology, chemistry, and physics within the College of Science and Technology. Planning for the Center began in 2003 when the Arkansas General Assembly appropriated $240,000 to SAU to prepare a proposal for a science and technology building. During the next two bienniums, the University received additional funding, and in 2006, Governor Mike Huckabee awarded $601,747 to the project. Governor Mike Beebe followed with a $1 million award in 2007.
As a result of a special election and the passage of the Higher Education Technology and Facility Improvement Act, SAU will receive $1,432,980 for the project. The University has also issued bonds in the amount of $14 million.

“The Southern Arkansas University Science Center will be the type of facility that will ensure that students who use the facility will be exceptionally well prepared for work or further education when they receive their degrees,” Rankin said. “Classes are currently held in five different buildings, and this center will help centralize many of the programs.”

The SAU Foundation is continuing to seek gifts for the completion of this project. Naming opportunities are available for many of the classrooms and offices. Please contact the SAU Foundation at 870-235-4078 for more information.

In mid-July, Waterfield went to Shreveport because a family friend told him about the opportunity to be in a film. His head shot, taken by his wife, professional photographer Denise Waterfield, happened to be a winner with the casting agents and Waterfield was offered the opportunity to play Richard Armitage, who served as the deputy secretary of state during George W. Bush’s first term.

When asked if he thought he bore any resemblance to the actual Armitage, Waterfield’s response was quick.

“No, he outweighed me by a couple hundred pounds, but that didn’t bother me. After all, I got to be in an Oliver Stone film!” Waterfield said.

Waterfield’s main scene is in the White House Situation room. While he is in the background in the scene, he is in the company of stars such as Richard Dreyfuss, Scott Glenn, Jeffrey Wright and Bruce McGill.

The actual filming days involving Waterfield were grueling in terms of hours. Most days ranged from 12 to 18 hours not counting the drive back to Magnolia. For that reason, Waterfield said he would have to really think it through before agreeing to be in another movie.

“There is a lot of sitting down and waiting,” Waterfield said. “It would really depend on the movie. It’s kind of more fun to look back on the experience than it was actually doing it.”

But Waterfield didn’t leave the set empty handed. He sweet talked one of the crew members out of a memento, a White House coffee cup. Even though the cup is really just Styrofoam, Waterfield said he treasures the souvenir.

Another way the experience helped Waterfield is by giving him some first-hand experience to relay to students in his film appreciation class that he is teaching this fall. Since Magnolia is about an hour and a half from Shreveport, some of Waterfield’s students have gotten to experience having bit roles in a movie too.

Waterfield has been a faculty member of SAU’s Department of Art and Design since 2000. He became department chair in 2004. Apart from painting, he has also enjoyed some success as a documentary film maker. He has a bachelor’s in fine arts degree in graphic design from Louisiana Tech University, a master of arts in art history from Louisiana State University and a master of fine arts degree from Louisiana Tech University in studio art. He lives in Magnolia with his wife, Denise, and their two children.

Southern Arkansas University officials announce plans for the new University Science Center to be completed within the next year, a timeframe that will coincide with the University’s Centennial Celebration.

“This is going to be a tremendous facility with state-of-the-art technology that will serve students who are beginning our next centennial of success at Southern Arkansas University,” said SAU President Dr. David Rankin.

According to Jasper Lewis, associate vice president for facilities, the cost of the 64,000-square-foot project is estimated to be $16,747,986, which includes the main building, district cooling system upgrades, parking, landscaping, furniture, audiovisual equipment and design fees. The general contractor for the project is CDI Contractors of Little Rock and the architects are WER and Associates of Little Rock.

The new facility will house the departments of biology, chemistry, and physics within the College of Science and Technology. Planning for the Center began in 2003 when the Arkansas General Assembly appropriated $240,000 to SAU to prepare a proposal for a science building. During the next two bienniums, the University received additional funding, and in 2006, Governor Mike Huckabee awarded $601,747 to the project. Governor Mike Beebe followed with a $1 million award in 2007.

As a result of a special election and the passage of the Higher Education Technology and Facility Improvement Act, SAU will receive $1,432,980 for the project. The University has also issued bonds in the amount of $14 million.

“The Southern Arkansas University Science Center will be the type of facility that will ensure that students who use the facility will be exceptionally well prepared for work or further education when they receive their degrees,” Rankin said. “Classes are currently held in five different buildings, and this center will help centralize many of the programs.”

The SAU Foundation is continuing to seek gifts for the completion of this project. Naming opportunities are available for many of the classrooms and offices. Please contact the SAU Foundation at 870-235-4078 for more information. The date for a planned ground breaking ceremony will be announced in the near future.