General News

ENMU Offering Summer Class on Baseball
by Helena Rodriguez
Communication Services

Summer is a time when millions of Americans take to the great outdoors to enjoy the all-American sport – baseball. Dr. Jerald Spotswood of Eastern New Mexico University feels summer is also a great time to study, analyze and review the history of America's pastime.

Dr. Spotswood, associate professor of English, is offering a new class, “Take Me Out to the Ballgame,” beginning on July 6 in the Jack Williamson Liberal Arts Building. The four-week, upper division class, English 447 and English 547, will expose students to baseball literature through five novels, a play and several films, including “The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars & Motor Kings” and “A League of Their Own.”

“The class will focus on the way in which baseball has affected our culture,” said Dr. Spotswood, the chair of Eastern’s Languages and Literature Department and a lifelong baseball fan and avid reader of baseball literature.

“Since it is the first year, the class will be a little experimental. We will explore what were the white professional ranks and how this reflected and brought us to the Civil Rights Movement. We’ll also look at women in baseball,” Dr. Spotswood said.

Already, several students have signed up for the first-year class. Although it has a fun title, Spotswood said the class is for “English majors and anyone with a desire to read, analyze and talk about the social issues of baseball.” Last summer Spotswood taught another class with a fun title, “Bruce Springsteen and the Working Life.” While it was creative, he said students soon found it also involved a lot of reading.

Dr. Spotswood said a background knowledge of baseball and baseball literature will help students, but that it is not a requirement.

Dr. Spotswood began playing baseball when he was five and read quite a bit of baseball literature while growing up. In addition, his father often had season tickets to the Dodgers games when his family lived in Southern California.
“Baseball is the sport with the longest history in America,” Spotswood said. “It is over 100 years old. The first league was formed in the 1880s or 1890s.”

For more information, call Dr. Spotswood at 505.562.2138.

Former 1938 Student Body President Donates to Alma Mater in Honor of Parents
by Marc Schoder
Communication Services

Elizabeth Burke-Overstreet grew up poor in Portales. When she came to Eastern New Mexico University, she came on scholarships from various organizations.

“When I came to Eastern I had a scholarship from the Rotary Club, as well as a scholarship from the school for leadership,” says the 85-year-old Ft. Worth, Texas, native.

Ms. Overstreet’s early memories of Portales include football between the neighboring towns. “I remembered that there was such a hated rivalry between the football programs of Clovis and Portales.”

The former president of the Baptist Student Union, as well as school vice president turned president during the 1938 school year, remembered a specific class that she had taken while at Eastern. “I had taken a religious studies class and I thought I knew all about it,” says Ms. Overstreet. She admits after the flunked the test, it gave her a wake-up call, “ I didn’t know it, and I thought that I could get away with not having to study since I thought I knew it.”

She remembers that jobs for women back then gave her very limited choices. “The job market for women back then wasn’t as good as it is for the women of today. Back then we were limited to teaching and nursing, as well as being a secretary,” she says. “I felt that going into teaching would be the line of least resistance.”

After she graduated from school, she heard the calling of the military. “When I went into the military my commanding officer looked over my educational background and asked me to go to officer candidate school,” she adds. Ms. Overstreet spent a few years in the military, taking her to at first Lubbock Texas, where there was the only military glider school was in the country. “I went to glider school in Lubbock, then on to San Antonio, with my last stop being San Angelo before I left the military to go into teaching until I retired in 1975."

Ms. Overstreet, who graduated from Eastern with a BA in elementary education in 1944, knew that she wanted to give something back to the school that had given her so much. “When I first started the idea of doing the scholarship, I was told by a friend not to make rules,” says the retired educator.

The scholarship was started with a mere $500 and has grown with Ms. Overstreet’s additional contributions as the years have gone on. “When I started to buy annuities a few years back, I named The Friends of Eastern as the beneficiary when I pass on,” says Ms. Overstreet.

The purpose of the Dobbs-Burke Memorial Scholarship, named for both of Ms. Burke-Overstreet’s parents as well as her grandparents, is to give someone the same chance that she had to attend college on a scholarship.

“I did it to give an opportunity to someone who might not get the chance to come to school,” says Ms. Overstreet. Her family was one of the first to settle in Portales around 1898.

ENMU Couple Hope Voters Approve New $7 Million Sciences Building in Fall General Election
Story and photo by Scarlet Smith
Communication Services

Dr. Zhiming Liu and his wife, Jane, are originally from Guangzhou, near Hong Kong, China. In 1990 Dr. Liu received his master's degree from the School of Fisheries at the University of Washington. He received his Ph.D. in 1994 from the Department of Range, Wildlife and Fisheries Management at Texas Tech University. For the next four years he remained at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center as a postdoctoral research associate funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Dr. Liu currently teaches courses at ENMU such as: Cell Biology, Molecular Biology, Endocrinology, and Biotechnology. Mrs. Liu has also been working at ENMU and often serves as an interpreter for Chinese visitors.

If New Mexico voters approve the G. O. Bond in the general election this November, ENMU will receive $7 million dollars for construction of a new science building. Dr. Liu said, "This new science building will provide more state-of-the-art classrooms and laboratories. We really do need more space to house all of the new science equipment that we have been able to purchase through our grants from National Institute of Health. The new building will provide more opportunities for interdisciplinary research and teaching." Mrs. Liu added, "The new science building would be wonderful for teaching and student learning because of so much more classroom space and updated technology.

In the years that Dr. Liu has been with Eastern, many of his students have gone on to be very successful. One of them, Stephanie Parrish, is working in the Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics at the University of Maryland. She is doing research for molecular toxicology. When Ms. Parrish was hired in a biological position, she wrote to Dr. Liu, "The professors I work for are very impressed with my education and my knowledge of biology. They did not interview anyone else for the position. This shows how much I learned from you."

Another student, Chad Bower, was in Dr. Liu's endocrinology course and wrote, "I wanted to let you know that I am finishing my master's in endocrinology. I plan to go to medical school and eventually become an endocrinologist. I really am so very happy I was able to take your endocrinology class, it is such an important field today with diabetes on the rise."

Dr. Liu added, "Eastern is very good at emphasizing teaching quality. We care about our students success. I am able to give all my students personal attention with their studies and enjoy teaching them at Eastern."

Dr. Liu said, "The new science building will provide the increased space needed for the faculty and the improved facilities needed to carry out modern, scientific research and teaching. Eastern~{!/~}s students will have more opportunities to experience the joy and excitement of doing real, hands-on science."

Student Regent Taking Full Advantage of ENMU Opportunities
Story by Britt Hochhausler
Photos by Ronnie Birdsong
Communication Services

Eastern New Mexico University students become leaders, even before they graduate. Just ask Tracy Henderson, secretary/treasurer for the Eastern Board of Regents, the governing body for the University.

Tracy, a 1999 Tucumcari High School graduate, came to Eastern because of the reputation of the Department of Communicative Arts and Sciences. "I came to Eastern because I knew I wanted to major in public relations, and I heard Eastern had an outstanding communication program," Tracy noted.

She has been involved in many activities at Eastern, and excelled and received awards for her efforts. Last year, she won the award for Outstanding Undergraduate Student in Public Relations and was appointed by New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson to the Board of Regents, an honor given to only one student every two years.

"Hands-on experience is what you get when you attend a smaller school like Eastern," Tracy said. "I know the generous opportunities I've taken advantage of at ENMU will give me an edge when I'm competing with other new graduates for positions."

Tracy definitely has taken advantage of the opportunities. She recently completed work as a graduate assistant in the Office of Communication Services, has been the workstudy supervisor at Services for Students with Disabilities; was the founder and president for the Students of Public Relations Club; and was a movie critic and graphic designer for The Chase, Eastern's student newspaper.

Tracy believes that the quality of the professors at Eastern have contributed to her success. "The professors in the communication program have kept me going and always make sure I am on track; I really feel like the professors are preparing us for our careers. I think the overall personal touch at Eastern really complements the high quality education and student success that you receive here.

Tracy's husband, Toby, was also an ENMU student majoring in computer science. They met while Tracy was attending Tucumcari High School. Toby is current serving in Iraq as a member of the military.

Tracy says she decided to also attend graduate school at Eastern because, “I’ve had a great experience here. Graduate School is the same rewarding experience I have had as an undergraduate."

Tracy plans to get her master's in communication and pursue a career in event coordinating. She also says that she would love to be able to come back to Eastern and use her degree as a professional, continuing the tradition of excellence that continues to draw new classes of students to ENMU.

Q & A with ENMU Alumna Leslie Neal
by Marc Schoder
Communication Services

Leslie Neal is a Community Development Banking Officer with the First National Bank of Santa Fe. She coordinates the bank's affordable housing initiatives and identifies projects that involve emerging, low-income entrepreneurs. She also focuses on building and maintaining strong relationships with community organizations through extensive community outreach, public presentations, media coordination and active participation on influential, community-based boards. The following is a question and answer session the Office of Communication Services conducted with her.

First Question: Out of all of the schools in the country, why did you choose Eastern New Mexico University?

Answer: I grew up in Santa Fe, New Mexico, and looked at colleges throughout the Southwest. After considering several large, out-of-state schools (and even attending Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas), I decided that I preferred a smaller in-state school where I would receive more personal attention and be closer to home. Additionally, I was able to afford to attend ENMU without either myself or my parents having to go into debt.

Second Question: What prompted you to go for a BBA in Business Administration?

Answer: I knew I wanted to have a career in business but I didn’t have a specific area of specialization in mind. Business Administration seemed like a well-rounded business major that would prepare me for a variety of different career possibilities. By the time I graduated in 1982, the country was deep into a recession and good jobs were very scarce. Having the flexibility of a Business Administration degree was very helpful.

Third Question: What do you remember about your college days?

Answer: I thoroughly enjoyed the variety of my life at college. Naturally, my business courses were very important in terms of a future career, but I was also able to take a number of art history and philosophy classes that encouraged a lifelong interest in the arts and an understanding of different belief systems. Perhaps most importantly, I was able to continue to explore my love of music by participating in vocal ensembles and campus productions in the School of Music.

Fourth Question: What were a few good traits that you picked up while you were in school that you took into the business world?

Answer: Between my regular studies, music rehearsals and performances, and participation in several service and professional sororities and fraternities, I maintained a very full schedule throughout my college years. I became very comfortable relating to and working with people with a wide variety of interests and backgrounds. After taking on leadership responsibilities in both academic study groups and volunteer organizations, I found myself well prepared to transfer those skills to the business world. Although “multi-tasking” was not a term we used in the early 1980’s, that is certainly the most important ability I learned from successfully juggling my academic, artistic and volunteer commitments throughout my college career. And best of all, at the time, I just thought I was having fun!

Fifth Question: What would be your response if a parent came to you and said, "Why should I send my child to Eastern New Mexico University?"

Answer: At Eastern, your daughter or son can receive a quality, affordable education in a supportive, stimulating environment and be treated as a valued individual, not a number!

ENMU-Roswell to be Recognized at National Technology Conference
by Donna Gutierrez
ENMU-Roswell

The Association for Communications Technology Professionals in Higher Education (ACUTA) plans to recognize Eastern New Mexico University-Roswell at the organization’s 32nd annual conference in Chicago Aug. 1-5. ENMU-Roswell will receive the Institutional Excellence in Communications Technology Honorable Mention Award during the awards luncheon on August 4.

Arthur Leible, dean of Information Services at ENMU-Roswell, will accept the award certificate. Since 1993, in three categories, only 21 awards have been presented and only five Honorable Mention awards over that same time period.

The Institutional Excellence in Communications Technology Award recognizes innovative and exemplary telecommunications endeavors at member institutions that are providing significant advantages to the institution, faculty, staff, and students. The primary goal of the award is to give recognition to campuses that have enhanced productivity, efficiency, excellence, and professionalism by successfully exploiting the potential of communications technology.

ACUTA's mission is to support higher education institutions in achieving optimal use of communications technologies. ACUTA is an international non-profit educational association serving colleges and universities. The organization represents nearly 2,000 individuals at 825 institutions of higher education, with members ranging from small schools and community colleges to the 50 largest U.S. institutions representing diverse Carnegie classifications in all 50 states, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. ACUTA also has Corporate Affiliate members, representing all categories of communications technology vendors who serve the college/university market.

Read the July Issue of ENMU-Roswell's Monthly Newsletter, The Grapevine – [read]

Special Thank You

Thank you to the Physical Plant and Scott Smart for making arrangements to accommodate the noon-time basketball players this summer during the re-finishing of the gym floors.

If you would like to pubicize a special thank you to someone, e-mail information to monday.memo@enmu.edu.

Don't Forget

The second four-week summer term begins today, July 6.

Employee Briefs

Will Kayatin, director of Student Activities and Organizations, successfully defended his doctoral dissertation in History at the University at Albany, State University of New York on April 22.

His chairman recently informed him that his post-defense corrections have been accepted. Dr. Kayatin's major was American Labor History and minor was Public Policy Cognate Field – Higher Education Administration and Policy Studies.

His Dissertation was "Higher Education Unions and Social Responsibility: United University Professions' Response to Social and Political Change in New York State, 1973-1993."

Dr. Kayatin has recently joined the noon-time hoopsters on campus.

(photo by Shannon Osbourne)

Dr. Newton Hilliard, assistant professor of chemistry and chair of the South Plains Section of the American Chemical Society (ACS), has received notification that the local ACS section has been selected as a finalist in the 6th Annual ChemLuminary Awards for the Committee on Community Activities' Most Original Hands-on Activity or Chemical Demonstration.

Dr. Phillip Million, associate professor and chair of Communicative Disorders, has had a paper accepted for presentation at the 2004 annual meeting of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, in November in Philadelphia, Penn.

Mr. Prem Lawrence with Sodexho Campus Services has accepted the General Manager position at Grand Canyon University in Phoenix, Ariz. He will be leaving on the July 5. Trevor Ivy will be the interim General Manager for Sodexho at ENMU until the position has been filled. Please direct all Campus Dining questions and concerns to Mr. Ivy.

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Candid Camera

New Recruiting Office in Albuquerque (photo by Wendel Sloan)

Won't Always Be This Well Staffed – Eastern is moving into a new recruiting office at 1540 Juan Tabo in Albuquerque. This army of recruiters – Christine Zamora, Chris Gregg, Cody Spitz, April Blaskowski, Michelle Wallis, Fred Chilson and Viviano Archuletta – recently van-pooled to Albuquerque to assist in the move. In the future, the office will be staffed by ENMU recruiters on a rotating basis.

(photo by Wendel Sloan)

Hard at Work – Eastern's recruiters tested out the comfort-level of the chairs and cush-iness of the floors at the new Albuquerque office to make sure that prospective recruits would feel comfortable.

Jack Williamson Sculpture Dedicated (photo by Richard Salas)

In Front of Jack Williamson Building – The sculpture was dedicated on Saturday, June 26, with remarks by Dr. Williamson, President Gamble, and Board of Regents president Marshall Stinnett. The bronze bust was donated to ENMU from Xian Jiao Tong University in the Shanxi Province of the Peoples Republic of China. The artist, Jia, Zhuofei, sculptor of the Williamson bust and professor at Xian Jiao Tong University, along with Huo Baozhu, president of Shaanxi Five Rings Sculpture Art Co., Ltd., visited ENMU in March to confer about the details of installing the sculpture. The bust alone weighs nearly 350 pounds, took five strong men to lift it to its pedestal and seven days to install. The bust is surrounded by a bronze square arch with the titles of Dr. Williamson’s award-winning novels, such as Legion of Space, Stonehenge Gate, The Black Sun and Darker Than You Think.

(photo by Scarlet Smith)

A Nice Crowd Attended Sculpture Dedication

Communication Center Groundbreaking (photo by Richard Salas)

Gets Eight-Shovel Headstart – Groundbreaking for the long awaited, state-of-the-art Communication Center was also held on Saturday, June 26. The building is being made possible thanks to the voters of New Mexico. In November of 2002, voters approved a general obligations bond to fund the multi-million dollar facility. If the 2004 G.O. Bond passes, ENMU will receive $7 million for a new sciences building. The Communication Center will house both the Broadcast Center, home of KENW/KMTH TV and FM stations, and the Department of Communicative Arts and Sciences. The Department of Communicative Arts and Sciences serves hundreds of mass communication, journalism, public relations and speech communication majors.

Here Is What It Will Look Like

After the Ceremonial Groundbreaking (photo by Richard Salas)

The People Who Will Actually Use the Building – were told to get to work because the building wasn't going to build itself.

Communication Professors (photo by Wendel Sloan)

Claire, John and Margaret Kirby – said that, until after the shoveling experience, they had no idea when they moved from New York City to accept teaching positions at ENMU what "other duties as assigned" meant.

XCEL-lent Donation (photo by Scarlet Smith)

Xcel Energy Donates $5,000 to ENMU – The Xcel Energy Foundation has donated $5,000 to Eastern New Mexico University's Alliance for Minority Participation (AMP) program. The AMP assists individuals from minority groups to finance their higher education. Present at the ceremony in the ENMU president's office last Tuesday were: (L-R) Roy Cahill, manager for Xcel Energy; Dr. Steven Gamble, ENMU president; and Noelle Bartl, ENMU director of development.

Rambunctious Roswell Roustabouts Reminisce (photo by Wendel Sloan)

About Days Gone By – Donna Gutierrez of ENMU-Roswell and former Roswell resident Julie Hughes, now at New Mexico State University, recently shared whispered memories of days gone by when they were the twin terrors of Roswell. The pair, now masquerading as domesticated professionals, were attending the "Making a Case for CASE Conference" in Albuquerque. ENMU-Portales staff were instrumental in organizing the conference, which featured a media panel, presentations by President Gamble, and the initial meeting of a committee promoting the G. O. Bond in this fall's election. If the bond passes, all three ENMU campuses will benefit.

Blessid Union of Souls

Will Give a Free-Admission Concert – in Eastern New Mexico University's Greyhound Arena at 10 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 28. ENMU's Student Activities and Organizations is sponsoring and paying for the concert. The public is invited.

The Monday Memo is published by the Office of Communication Services Editor Wendel Sloan Monday.memo@enmu.edu 505.562.2253 Staff Writers Scarlet Smith Marc Schoder Helena Rodriguez Staff Photographer Richard Salas Jillian Butler ENMU-Roswell Contributing Editor Donna Gutierrez ENMU-Ruidoso Contributing Editor Jim Miller Technical Support ENMU Web Team