Students learn basic baseball skills; get paired up with collegiate athletes they can look up to (literally); and, most importantly, have fun on the field and learn a love of baseball.

WHAT: SAU Baseball Big Brother Youth Mentoring Program
WHEN: 4 – 6 p.m., Friday, October 24, 2008 and continuing on Fridays at the same time, unless told otherwise
WHERE: SAU Baseball Field
COST: FREE!

The grant will be used to make improvements to the Southern Arkansas University baseball field, but plans have not yet been finalized. Some of the ideas being considered include a new score board, a new press box, a concession stand, public restrooms and possibly office space for coaches to meet with players and prospective recruits in private.

SAU Foundation Director Jeanie Bismark said she and Josh Kee, associate director of the foundation, received a letter Tuesday that the grant was accepted. The group applied for the grant in February.
On Wednesday morning, the pair, along with Mulerider Baseball Coach Allen Gum, SAU Athletic Director Jay Adcox and SAU President Dr. David Rankin, took part in a conference call thanking the foundation for the gift. They spoke to Debbie Walker, Executive Director of the Willard and Pat Walker Charitable Foundation.

“I just wanted to tell you what a huge difference these grants make in the baseball program,” Gum said. “So much of recruitment is driven by the quality of the facilities and we continue to attract better recruits each year with one of the nicest quality baseball fields in (NCAA) Division II baseball.”

The Walker Charitable Foundation first granted SAU a $160,000 matching grant in July 2005 which provided the lights at the baseball field.

Adcox described this year’s gift from the Walker Charitable Foundation as “tremendous” and said the benefits of a top notch baseball facility impact more than just the baseball team.

“This facility is a pride factor for the University and the whole community,” Adcox said.

Rankin said one of the goals for the University is to eventually to host the NCAA Division II South Central Regional Conference tournament which ended this past weekend. The Muleriders’ season ended at the semi-finals of the conference with a loss to Delta State.

The loss was the end of a phenomenal season by SAU (46-12) as they reached the 40-win plateau for the third consecutive year and reached the No. 1 ranking in the country in April for the first time in University history. Southern Arkansas’ 46 victories matches the highest season win total set by the 1987 NAIA World Series team that finished third in the nation.

The lecture, “Overrepresentation of African-American Student Athletes in Division 1A Sport Programs: Route to Success or a System of Cordoning Off?” will be delivered by Dr. Earl Smith, professor of sociology and the Rubin Distinguished Professor of American Ethnic Studies at Wake Forest University. He is also director of the Wake Forest University American Ethnic Studies Program.

Dr. Smith is the former chairperson of the department of sociology, Wake Forest University, from 1997-2005. Prior to his appointment at Wake Forest University, Smith was dean of the division of social science at Pacific Lutheran University (PLU) in Tacoma, Washington. He also served as chairperson of the department of sociology at PLU. Professor Smith has numerous publications in the area of professions, social stratification, family, urban sociology, and has published extensively in the area of the sociology of sports. His most recent books are: “Race, Sport, and the American Dream” (2007) and “African American Families” (2007), which he co-authored with Dr. Angela J. Hattery. Dr. Smith will be the Lindsay O’Connor Professor of American Institutions at Colgate University in 2008-2009.

The lecture, sponsored by the Honors College and Multicultural Services, is free and open to the public. For more information, contact Dr. Linda Tucker, assistant professor of English at (870) 235-4210.

Judy Vasser, assistant professor of theatre and mass communication and Robert Murphy, who is classified as a heavy equipment operator at the Physical Plant, were honored as a part of Mulerider Madness which involved special recognition at each men’s basketball home game this season. Head Basketball Coach Eric Bozeman said both individuals demonstrate an extremely positive attitude at work.

“Both of these individuals display an attitude that is infectious and inspiring to others,” Bozeman wrote in an email recently. “These two do not seem to ever have a bad day!”

Vasser, who began part-time at SAU in 1979 and has been fulltime since 1982, said she has enjoyed every role she has played at the University over the years including teaching an introduction to speech class, a dance and stage movement class and working as an admissions recruiter. These days she is happily involved with the Encore program.

“I am just so blessed that I get to do this. I look forward to going to work everyday and I’m doing everything I love to do and teaching it,” Vasser said. “The best thing is that I get to share it with all these great kids. They bless me more than I could possibly bless them. I feel like it is a great privilege to be here.”

Vasser grew up in Lewisville and said both her parents graduated from the University when it was known as Agricultural and Mechanical College, Third District.

Murphy, who is 73-years-old and has been working for SAU for almost 19 years, said he likes to tell his co-workers that he looks like he is 29-years-old. Most people around campus recognize him because he usually wears rainbow suspenders.

Murphy’s main jobs include mowing, blowing leaves and tiding up the debris around campus. He attended Southern Arkansas University after he finished high school, but he was not able to finish due to family obligations, he said. But he would still like to take another history class at night if he can figure out how to do that and not miss spending time with his eight grandchildren who visit him almost each day.

“I remember the class that I took in the 60s was about civilization up to 1646 and after 1646,” Murphy said. “I hope to be able to take the course again. It is interesting to see why we are doing what we are doing,” Murphy said.

Until he gets the time to reenroll in school, he said he will continue to enjoy being a part of the campus in his own way.

 “I find my job invigorating—the work, the students, the faculty and staff people,” Murphy said. “If you exert a positive attitude, then that is what you will get in return. I feel like everything is OK if I see a smile on my grandbabies face or a smile on the face of the students.”

MAGNOLIA, Ark. –The Lady Mulerider tennis team will sponsor a hamburger luncheon from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 1, at the Magnolia square.
The meal will consist of a hamburger or cheeseburger, chips, and a drink for $6. The hamburgers will be provided by Mules’ Cantina of Magnolia.
Tickets may be purchased from Lady Mulerider tennis team members.

Due to the recent tornadoes that hit northern Arkansas, the American Red Cross is in dire need of blood. For this reason, the men’s Mulerider basketball team is working together with Sigma Pi fraternity to sponsor a blood drive.

“The basketball team was originally doing this drive to help the service men and women they will honor at their game that night. Since the tornadoes, we’ve tried to change it up a bit. My fraternity normally does this once a year with the American Red Cross because they will give the blood to those in urgent need,” said John Hirzel, one of the fraternity members organizing the drive.

The blood drive will be held in the studio of the W.T. Watson Gym between 2:30 and 7:30 p.m. For sign up information, please contact John Hirzel at (903) 701-6757 or Mykolas Sakevicious at (501) 590-9907.

• Student Organization Night —January 24 vs. Delta State — All campus student organizations are eligible for the event, including other sports teams from SAU. The student organization with the most people present will receive $500 and the student organization with the most spirit will receive $500. Organizations are encouraged to wear costumes, paint faces and make creative signs to display.
• Classroom Appreciation Night —January 31 vs. Harding — All classroom teachers (public and private) in the “Golden Triangle” area will be honored and appreciated. Drawings will be held and prizes will be awarded to a majority of teachers in attendance. Prizes will include day spa retreats, gift certificates, teacher’s handbags, etc.
• Faculty and Staff Appreciation Night —February 7 vs. Christian Brothers — Each SAU faculty and staff member will be eligible for a $1,000 giveaway during the second half of the men’s basketball game. SAU administration and coaches are not eligible for this promotion.
• Service Men and Women Night —February 14 vs. Henderson State — All United States Military, local firefighters, local police and local emergency personnel are eligible for $1,000 worth of gifts/door prizes to be given away during the men’s basketball game. All service men and women in attendance will be honored during halftime of the men’s basketball game.
• Community Faith Appreciation Night — February 23 vs. Ouachita Baptist — All area faith based organizations are eligible for prizes which will be donated to that organization’s youth group. A $500 prize will be awarded to the organization with the most people and $500 will be awarded to the organization that displays the most spirit.
• Senior Citizen Appreciation Night —March 1 vs. Arkansas-Monticello— Age appropriate gifts/doors prizes will be given away during the men’s basketball game. Area senior citizens will be recognized during halftime of the men’s basketball game.

That is why this year women have something exciting to look forward to on the opening day of the hunting season, “Doe Day!” from noon to 1 p.m. this Saturday on the lawn of the Welcome Center.

Women are encouraged to come relax, be pampered and let the SAU male cheerleaders wait on your hand and foot. Women will be served lunch on a silver platter beneath a tent especially decorated for “does.”

Each participant will receive a goody bag and a camouflage T-shirt that says, “I was chased by Mules on opening day of Deer Season!” A game similar to the popular “Let’s Make a Deal” will also be played except it will be called, “I’d rather have five bucks than five dollars,” and will force participants to choose between an envelope and what is behind a buck, which also will have a variety of prizes.

All this will take place before the 2 p.m. football face-off between the Muleriders and Henderson State University.

For more information, contact Ceil Bridges, director of alumni relations at (870) 235-4092.

Babineaux was recently honored as the Young Alumni award recipient at the 2007 Distinguished Alumni Dinner held Oct. 19 as a part of SAU’s Homecoming activities. He graduated from SAU in 2004 with a Bachelor’s degree in mass communications and won a place on the Seattle Seahawks roster that same year. Due to football obligations, he was unable to attend the dinner to receive his award.

The Alumni Association is sponsoring this trip as a way to give interested persons the opportunity not only to watch Babineaux play, but also to meet with him personally and present him the award for Young Alumni 2007. Participants will also receive an autographed jersey.

A $125 deposit to cover bus fare and ticket to the game is required. The group will be staying at the Holiday Inn Select in downtown St. Louis located across the street from the Edward Jones Dome. The cost per night is $104. Reservations can be made by calling 1-800-HOLIDAY.

The group will leave by charted bus at 10 a.m. on Nov. 23 from the Welcome Center parking lot and return after the game on Nov. 25.

Those interested in going are asked to RSVP with Director of SAU Alumni Relations Ceil Bridges at 870-235-4092 or 870-235-4079.