General News

History Professor Publishes Book of Civil War Love Letters
by Wendel Sloan
Communication Services

"Oh darling, I love you too much. I have loved you more than I love all on earth besides, or all in heaven. I am afraid I have sinned in my wild idolatry, and God has punished me."

	(photo by Wendel Sloan)

PORTALES – Dr. Donald Elder III, professor of history and chair of the Department of History at Eastern New Mexico University, has published a book of love letters written between a husband and wife during the Civil War.

Love Amid the Turmoil: The Civil War Letters of William and Mary Vermilion is published by the University of Iowa Press.

Dr. Elder is also the editor of "A Damned Iowa Greyhound: The Civil War Letters of William Henry Harrison Clayton.

For more information, contact Dr. Elder at 505.562.2601, or e-mail donald.elder@enmu.edu.

The following excerpt from the book is a letter Mary Vermilion wrote when she found out her husband had been in the Battle of Helena.

* * *

Saturday Night, July 12th, 1863

My Own Darling,

I am going to try to write to you a few lines tonight my loved one, though for two long days I have not written one word. I could not write, I don't believe I can now, but it is right today.

I am in some trouble, darling. Last Thursday I heard of the battle at Helena, and up to this minute I have not heard one word from you, sweet pet. Do you wonder that your Dollie is almost crazed? That she can't write or do anything? Every day we send for the mail, and get it, but there is nothing from Helena since the battle. This morning I got your letter of the 28th. Yesterday I got one written the 30th ult. (ultimo – previous month) That is the latest I have, my love, though Mr. Maiken and others have letter written the 3rd inst. (instant – current month) But none of us has a word since the 4th. [more]

ENMU Graduate Donates 'Island' Set of Paintings to University
by Wendel Sloan
Communication Services

Julie Camarata, the most decorated art major of the Class of 2003, recently formally donated a set of paintings called "Island" to the College of Fine Arts. Dr. David Gerig, dean of the College of Fine arts, accepted the paintings in his office on behalf of the college.

Julie, a Clovis resident, graduated Magna Cum Laude with a BFA from Eastern at the 2003 spring commencement. Some of her awards include "Best in Show" at the ENMU Student Juried Exhibition, E. Denyse Carter Memorial Award in Art, Loraine Schula Project Grant 2002, Loraine Schula Project Grant 200, and the Scottish Rite Temple Scholarship.

Her manuscripts include "Deconstruction of Art and Aesthetics," "The Manifesto of Pluralism," and "The Manifesto in Contemporary Art."

Of "Island," Julie says, "This piece was created with the intention to explore the relationship between multimedia collage and landscape. It was used as a testing canvas for pieces that were displayed at the Senior Show. While being a test set, they developed their own personality and unique coloration during the process.

"Multimedia is a way to express one or morew ideas on the same canvas, so the ideas that are expressed here are that other media can describe the shape or the color of the landscape and the idea that through color and texture one can categorize the environment."

In her artist's statement, Julie writes: "We are on the brink of a revolution! In this time of Pluralistic thought, art must meet the standards of the evolving mind. Multimedia is a wonderful way to express one or more conflicting ideas within the same piece. I enjoy using the juxtaposition of mediums and subject matter, which allows me to explore different views on the same topic.

" When I wake up in the morning I am not satisfied nor can I be at rest until I have purged my mind of the ideas that are running rampant. When I paint it is a colorful bursting of creativity onto a surface. To watch me is exhausting yet exciting. I attack a painting with all of the materials that I deem suitable, then I go back and pick out the most appealing parts of the painting and make them the foci.

" My visual representation of duality is a tribute to obsession and repetition. My deep love of art history fuels my work. I delight in things that are made by the craftsmanship of the human hand. I avoid creating works that seem manufactured or tightly composed. Through my expressions I explore the world around me and explore myself. I believe that my masterpiece is myself and after I have made myself then I will be a true artist."
(photo by Wendel Sloan)

New Head Softball Coach Named
by Robert McKinney
Sports Information Director

PORTALES – Eastern New Mexico University has hired Kevin Blaskowski as head coach of the Zia softball team. Blaskowski, age 39, who spent the past five seasons as the head softball coach at Southern Arkansas University, will begin his duties immediately. He replaces Ron Landschoot, who served as ENMU’s interim head softball coach this spring.

	(photo by Robert McKinney

Eastern will begin its eighth season of intercollegiate softball competition in 2004. The Zias were 38-14-1 and tied for fifth place at the NCAA Division II National Finals in 2001. ENMU was 24-29 this spring.

“We are extremely fortunate to have Kevin Blaskowski join our staff,” Athletic Director Mike Maguire said. “He will be an excellent addition to the program. We look forward to the 2004 season.

“We also want to express our gratitude to Ron Landschoot for serving as our interim head coach,” Maguire added. “His time and effort were appreciated, and we wish him the best of luck in future endeavors.”

Blaskowski, who started the SAU softball program from scratch prior to the 1999 season, has an overall record of 136-126 (.519) in five seasons with the Riderettes. SAU earned a 31-19 record this season, including 19-4 in the Gulf South Conference West Division.

“I’m very excited about coming to Eastern New Mexico University,” Blaskowski said. “I think its exciting to join a program that’s been to the National Tournament ... and is interested in getting back to the national level.

“I’m aggressive,” Blaskowski said regarding his coaching style. “We’ve got to recruit some quality athletes. We’re going to be aggressive ... we’re going to run.” [more]
(photo by Robert McKinney)

Two Faculty Members Invited to Play at Clarinet Symposium in Oklahoma
by Britt Hochhausler
Communication Services

Two faculty members from Eastern New Mexico University played at the University of Oklahoma Clarinet Symposium on June 8 in Norman, Okla.

Dr. Tamara Raatz, assistant professor of music education and clarinet, was invited by the director of the Symposium to perform as a guest artist. Dr. John Olsen, chair of the Department of Music and professor of music and piano, performed with Dr. Raatz. They played pieces by Ivana Loudova, a 20th century Czech composer, and Walter S. Hartley, an American composer who is noted for his saxophone compositions. John Kennedy, assistant professor of high brass and music education, provided accompaniment on trumpet.

The Symposium is an annual international event featuring critically acclaimed clarinetists, professors and other artists. It is currently in its 24th year. This year's also featured other prominent clarinetists, such as Richard Morales, principal clarinetist for the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, and Richard Hawley, principal clarinetist for the Cincinnati Symphony.

GEAR-UP to Start Summer Session in Roswell
by Donna Gutierrez
ENMU-Roswell

Gear-Up (Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Program) will begin its summer tutoring session on Monday, June 9. Parents and students in grades 4-9 are urged to enroll in the program, which promotes college awareness and academic instruction. Gear-Up provides ENMU-Roswell instructor-led tutoring on all academics, Kids Kollege classes, mentoring in the Six Pillars of Character, free lunches on site, and activities promoting education and recreation through field trips and local speakers. All services are provided at no cost.

Gear-Up will be providing services at the following sites this summer: Mesa Middle School, 1601 E. Bland, portable #2; ENMU-Roswell College Services Center, Suite 201-Adult Basic Education; Roswell Boys and Girls Club, 201 S. Garden; and Pecos Elementary School, 600 E. Hobbs. Instructors will be available at Mesa Middle School and at the Roswell Boys and Girls Club Monday through Friday from 1-5 p.m. The ENMU-Roswell site will be open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to noon. The Pecos Elementary site will be open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Parents and their children are encouraged to visit one of these sites to make the necessary arrangements to participate in the program. For more information, contact Hilda Pacheco at 624.7260.

Read the Latest Issue of The Grapevine ( ENMU-Roswell Newsletter)
[more]

Candid Camera

Scenes from Boys' State at ENMU (photo by Rebecca Holden)

Whirlybird – The Albuquerque Police Department flew in a presenter to speak to the boys about options in law enforcement. The presenter was a Boys' State alum.

(photo by Tracy Henderson)

(photo by Tracy Henderson)

(photo by Tracy Henderson)

These photos were taken Tuesday afternoon during the June 1-6 State Party Convention for Boys' State in the CUB Ballroom. The boys in the picture are building their platforms for the primary election. Boys' State has been held at ENMU for the last seven years. This year 220 boys participated from around the state. There were 35 counselors from in and out of state. The boys are juniors about to be seniors. The goal is to teach the fundamentals and structures of government.

Future Pulitzer Prize Winners? (photo by Wendel Sloan)

High School Journalism Workshop – The New Mexico Press Association High School Journalism Workshop, co-sponsored by the NMPA and ENMU, was held on campus last Monday-Wednesday. Twenty-one students participated. Six of the students, along with advisor Connie Blue, visited Communication Services to get an inside look at what goes on behind the cubicles. Picted are: (back to camera) Carolyn Edwards (ENMU – Med. 1976), editor of Eastern Magazine; (L-R) Connie Blue, (ENMU – BA 1979, MA) instructor for the workshop; David Thurman, Senior, Artesia High School, Artesia; Christa Tyler, Senior, Capital High School, Santa Fe; Tonia Neil, Junior, Ruidoso High School, Ruidoso; Rebecca Blue, Sophomore, Floyd High School, Portales; Anastasia (Stacey) Cadena, Junior, Ruidoso High School, Ruidoso; and David Angelus, Junior, La Cueva High School, Albuquerque. For more information, call Shelly Ratner, Executive Director, at 505.275.1371.

Way Back When

Opening night of the 1968-69 season in Greyhound Arena

Oh, the Joy

In this undated photo, former trainer Bill Joy demonstrates the proper technique for shooting free throws while avoiding back pain.

Pigskin All Over the Place

This photo was labeled as being ENMU vs. Kansas State, but some old-timers have opined that it was not the same Kansas State that we know today.

Pigskin of a Different Era (photo by Donna Gutierrez)

ENMU-Roswell provost Judy Armstrong presented the "Hike It/Spike It" traveling trophy in the intramural division to a team from Roswell which unseated the reigning champs from Las Cruces.

Employee Briefs

The ENMU faculty jazz players – John Kennedy-trumpet, Chris Beaty-saxophone, Dustin Seifert-euphonium, Jorge Valenzuela-piano, Jim Constantopoulos-bass, and Neil Rutland-drums – will perform on two concert series this summer. On June 14 they will be the opening concert at the Space Hall of Fame in Alamogordo on the Flickinger Center's 2003 "tailgate concert series." They will also appear in Ruidoso on Aug. 24 as part of an outdoor music concert series sponsored by the Ruidoso Arts Council.

Lela Goar, State Project Director for Family, Career and Community Leaders of America – located at Eastern New Mexico University, has been selected as a recipient of the 2003 American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences Leaders Award. The Leaders Award program was instituted to commemorate the 75th anniversary of AAFCS and to recognize and honor outstanding family and consumer sciences professionals who have made significant contributions to the profession and the Association. Ms. Goar's honor will be acknowledged in the Journal of Family and Consumer Sciences: From Research to Practice.

Dr. Don Holladay, director of the Wesley Foundation, has had four "sermon briefs" published in the 2004 edition of The Abingdon Preaching Annual. The Annual is a trusted resource for preaching, prayer and worship ideas. Abingdon Press is oocated in Hashville, Tenn. Dr. Holladay's contributons are based on passages from Luke chapters 12-13.