General News

Former Trumpet Player for 'Beck' to Be Guest Artist at ENMU Jazz Fest on March 4-5
by Wendel Sloan
Communication Services

Jon Birdsong, former trumpet player for eclectic artist Beck, will be the featured guest artist for the 2004 Eastern New Mexico University Jazz Fest, to be held on March 4-5 on the Portales campus. It is free and open to the public.

Events on March 4 in Buchanan Hall in the Music Building start at 4:30-5:30 p.m. with a clinic by Mr. Birdsong. The evening concert begins at 7 p.m. with performances by the High Winds Jazztet and the Bert Dalton Trio.

The concert on Friday evening at 7 p.m. will be in the University Theatre Center and feature the ENMU alumni

sextet and the ENMU jazz ensemble with guest artist Jon Birdsong, trumpet.

Mr. Birdsong has appeared on Grammy award-winning artist Beck's "Midnight Vultures" (Geffen Records, 1999) and toured internationally with the group. He has worked with Brit Award-winning artist Beth Orton, playing on and doing horn arrangements for her album "Daybreaker" (EMI records, 2002).

Mr. Birdsong has also played on Victoria Williams’ records and toured internationally with her as well. He has appeared on and penned arrangements for bossa nova duo Smokey and Miho's "Tempo de Amor" and their self-titled albums. The group played jazz festivals internationally including the Newport Jazz Festival and Montreal Jazz Festival last year.

He has had a diverse career in popular music but comes from a background in jazz, studying at the University of North Texas, graduating in 1992. Mr. Birdsong grew up in Canyon, Texas. Mr. Birdsong has led his own groups while living in San Francisco, New York, and now Antwerp, Belgium, where he is collaborating with creative musicians there.

The Bert Dalton Trio is a straight-ahead piano trio based in the Santa Fe-Albuquerque area. This tightly arranged trio has been performing every Monday and Tuesday night at the La Fonda Hotel in Santa Fe since its formation three years ago. Led by pianist Bert Dalton, the group features Rob "Milo" Jaramillo on bass and John Bartlit on drums. The trio performs a mix of standards, Latin jazz, Brazilian, and original compositions. The trio recently performed works for trio and orchestra with the 70-piece Allen Philharmonic Symphony in Allen, Texas.

The High Winds Jazztet is a newly formed quartet (May 2003) from the Portales area. Their repertoire consists of jazz standards, popular classics, and original compositions. The group can be heard at many fine dinning establishments throughout the region. An upcoming date in Alamogordo on the Flickinger Center's outdoor "tailgate concert series" this August is expected to be a highlight. Faculty members of the group from ENMU include: Chris Beaty-saxophone, Jim Constantopulos-bass and Neil Rutland-Drums. Travis Erwin, guitar/vocals, completes the quartet and is a faculty member at South Plains Community College.

2004 marks the first year that an alumni group, the ENMU Alumni Jazz Sextet, will perform at the Jazz Fest. The sextet will feature traditional combo arrangements, jazz standards and vocals. All group members were students during the early 1960's era and all members of the "first generation" of jazz ensembles at Eastern. The early 60's groups were under the direction of Dr. Merle Hogg.

The ENMU Jazz Ensemble, under the direction of Chris Beaty, is open, by audition, to those students who wish to perform and develop an appreciation for the jazz ensemble/big band literature. Repertoire covers a wide range of jazz styles. The jazz ensemble performs throughout the fall and spring semesters for University and civic events.

For more information, contact Mr. Beaty, Jazz Fest director, at 505.562.2471, or e-mail christopher.beaty@enmu.edu.
(courtesy photos)

ENMU Will Present 'My Fair Lady' on March 11-14
by Scarlet Smith
ENMU Communication Services

Eastern New Mexico University will present "My Fair Lady" at the Campus Union Ballroom on March 11-14. An optional dinner will be at 6 p.m., with show time set for 7:30 p.m., and a 2 p.m. English High Tea on Sunday.

Dinner will feature English fare, including glazed ham and roast beef. For the Sunday matinee, a repast typical of English High Tea will be featured.
Dinner theatre tickets are Adult $20, Senior Citizen $19, Student $18, and ENMU ID $17. High tea tickets: Adult $15, Senior Citizen $14, Student $13, ENMU ID $12. Show tickets only: Adult $7, Senior Citizen $6, Student $5, and ENMU ID $4.

The ENMU Student Activities Board and the Department of Music have created a "spectacular evening for all musical theatre lovers," according to director Jean Wozencraft-Ornellas, professor of music. The co-director is Dr. Eugene Thomas, assistant professor of music.

ENMU students Jennifer Livingston will perform on Thursday and Saturday, and Christina Hall on Friday and Sunday, as the title character, Eliza Doolittle. Both are from Albuquerque. Ms. Hall said, “My Fair Lady is a classic Cinderella story. It’s the excitement of waking up one morning and finding out you can be more than you ever imagined possible. Eliza Doolittle, after her lessons to be a lady, is the princess in all of us just waiting to be discovered.”

Other cast members include Larry “Hoss” Bichsel of Lubbock as Professor Henry Higgins, Ben Bruelhart of Hobbs as Colonel Pickering, Rory Golden of Artesia as Alfred P. Doolittle, Monica Macias of Las Cruces as Mrs. Pearce, Tamie Klein of Los Alamos, Theresa Bridges of Carlsbad and Leah Stovall of Clovis.

William Dale Curry of Moriarty, a design/technical major who designed the costumes and set, said, “The audience will see the show they have come to expect but with a conceptual twist on the classic musical.”

According to Dr. Ornellas, "This popular story is about a flower girl transformed into a lady. The original story, by George Bernard Shaw, was about a sculptor who creates a marble statue so beautiful that he falls in love with his own work. Aphrodite, Goddess of Beauty, took pity on the love-sick sculptor and turned the statue into a living woman and presided over their marriage. The show includes such favorite musical theatre songs as ‘I Could Have Danced All Night,’ ‘Wouldn’t it be Loverly’ and ‘Get Me to the Church on Time.’”

The show will run approximately two hours, with one intermission.

Tickets for the dinner must be ordered by March 5. Tickets are also available for the show only, and can be reserved by calling 505.562.2561, or purchased at the door.

Tickets can also be purchased by mail at: My Fair Lady Tickets, ENMU Station 16, Portales, NM 88130.
(left photo by Wendel Sloan)

ENMU Presenting Spring Choral Concert
Eastern New Mexico University will present a Spring Choral Concert at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, March 2, in Buchanan Hall of the Music Building. Admission is free and the public is invited.

The concert will have a variety of secular and sacred pieces from the 16th through 21st centuries. It will be directed by David Gerig, dean of the College of Fine Arts.

For more information, call 505.562.2373.

ENMU Freshman Uses Crocheting to Impress the Ladies
by Scarlet Smith
Communications Services

Eastern New Mexico University freshman Christopher Glaser has a talent for crocheting. "It's a great way to relieve stress and impress my crushes," he explains.

Christopher is also a talented musician, playing the euphonium, an instrument that looks like a mini-tuba and has a deep baritone sound.

The son of Albuquerque residents Angelina Baca and Robert Glaser, Christopher graduated from Albuquerque's Highland High School in 2003. He is double-majoring in music education and music performance.

"By pursuing a double major in music, I expect it should take five to six years to complete," he estimates.

Christopher decided to come to ENMU through a relative chance. He

was not familiar with all that ENMU has to offer until his cousin, Janice Baca, enrolled six years ago.

He began crocheting around the age of 10 to relieve a boring summer. He watched his mother crochet at home and asked her to teach him. Ms. Baca bought him a book on the subject, and he then taught himself.

He now takes time to crochet when at home, or between classes. Among his favorite creations are beanies and small rugs.

When asked about his male peers' view of crocheting, he says, "I am not concerned what others think. My personality is my personality. Actually, no one has ever hassled me about it. In fact, I have been told by my male and female friends that it is awesome."

Christopher, who has crocheted gifts for friends, recently made his first sale – a $15 purple beanie to the editor of the Monday Memo. "With all the snow we've been enduring, I needed something to keep my head warm," the editor commented. "The beanie also brought back memories of my high school football days for the purple-clad Tigers of Mt. Vernon, Texas. The crocheted headgear, though better crafted than my high school headgear, gave me flashbacks about the freezing nights when I'd keep my purple helmet on the whole game to stay warm on the bench."

Christopher is willing to take orders for the customized beanies. "Anything larger than a beanie, such as Afghans, are extremely time consuming. Unless you don't mind waiting a few years, there is no guarantee that I can get them done before students become alums," he cracks with confident freshman sardonicism.

For more information about the beanies, call Christopher at 505.562.3521, or e-mail kristoferlees@msn.com.
(photos by Wendel Sloan)

28th Annual Williamson Lectureship Set for Thursday, March 11
Please plan to join colleagues and friends of Eastern New Mexico University's international award-winning science fiction grand master, Dr. Jack Williamson, for the 28th annual Williamson Lectureship on Thursday, March 11 at ENMU. Noted guest authors Robert Silverberg and Frederik Pohl will join the award-winning sci-fi author and emeritus professor in a lively exploration of this year's theme, "Space Opera, Then and Now!"

The lectureship luncheon begins at 11:45 a.m. on March 11 in the Campus Union Ballroom. The $7 cost is payable at the door. The evening panel will be in Buchanan Hall of the ENMU Music Building at 7 p.m., and is free and open to the public. Books by the authors will be available for purchase at the luncheon and evening panel.

At age 95, Williamson has written numerous books and stories and been awarded top awards in science fiction, including four of the coveted Hugo Awards as well as five Nebula Awards and five Locus Awards.

The Oxford English Dictionary credits Williamson with inventing the terms "genetic engineering" and "terraforming." Williamson's next novel, "The Stonehedge Gate," is due for publication in 2005.

For luncheon reservations and more information, call Dr. Patrice Caldwell at 505.562.2315.

ENMU Hosting Southeastern New Mexico Regional Science and Engineering Fair on Saturday, March 6
(Volunteer Judges to be Rewarded with Food)
by Rosemary Mathews
Science Fair Secretary

The Southeastern New Mexico Regional Science and Engineering Fair, to be held at Eastern New Mexico University in Portales on Saturday, March 6, needs volunteer judges. No previous experience is required. Judges will receive refreshments and lunch.

If you have had college courses in any of the following subjects, you would be welcome as a volunteer judge. People from the communities of Clovis, Portales, Dora, Elida, and Floyd are particularly invited to participate.

Categories to be judged include: Behavioral and Social Science, Botany, Computer Science, Medicine and Health Science, Chemistry, Physics, Earth and Space Science, Microbiology, Engineering, Environmental Science, Zoology, Biochemistry and Mathematics.

For more information or to volunteer, e-mail science.fair@enmu.edu, or call 505.562.2309.

To view the activities for Science Fair participants, click [here].

ENMU Joins Online Behavioral Support System for College-Age Students
by Marc Schoder
Communication Services

Eastern New Mexico University's Counseling and Career Services has joined a complete online behavioral support system for young adults of college age called Ulifeline.org. The site, launched by the Jed Foundation, is providing services to college students in need of an anonymous yet supportive link to their college mental health center.

Students from ENMU can access the website by selecting <http://www.ulifeline.org>. Students (or staff) then choose "Student Log-in," "New Mexico," then "ENMU." According to Ty Walker, director of Counseling and Career Services, Eastern is the second university in New Mexico to sign on with this program; University of New Mexico in Albuquerque was the first. “Ulifeline has almost every single area of counseling, particularly for suicide and depression,” says Ty.

Eastern also provides in-person grief counseling and other personal confidential counseling in the Counseling Services office. With the sudden recent death of a former student, some students have come for grief counseling. “We have had three or four folks come in for grief counseling since his death,” says Ty.

Some of the preventative measures that counseling services have taken is to train the resident assistants in the residence halls on campus to look for warning signs of depression. “We teach the RA’s what depression really is; we have ideas about depression and we also show them the characteristics of it,” says Ty, an up-and-coming noon-time hoopster.

In the RA’s training, Ty gives the example of if they see a student that isn’t going to class or maybe that the grades are poor, the RA talks with them to see if the student needs to be pointed in the direction of Counseling Services.

Anyone needing the services of Counseling and Career Services should call 505.562.2211.

ENMU Student Doesn't Have Time to Horse Around
by Tracy Chavez
Communication Services

Velvet used to gallop her way across the Artesia desert with Artesia High School alumna Erin Chaney sitting proudly atop.

Chaney and her rodeo horse saw many competitions together during her pole bending and goat tying days in Eddy County. However, in the fall of 2003 Chaney packed up her saddles and joined the rodeo team at Eastern New Mexico University in Portales where she battles strictly in goat tying and riding barrels.

“There’s a good rodeo team here,” she said. “The people I used to compete with are now my teammates.”

In high school, Chaney took second in the state of New Mexico, before advancing to nationals. She said she didn’t go to very many competitions with the ENMU team this year because she’s been busy getting settled in.

“She’s very competitive and is a pleasure to be around,” ENMU rodeo coach David Browder said. He also said that with all of Chaney’s hard work she’ll be able to accomplish her goals. “She works hard at keeping herself and her horses in shape,” Browder said.

When Chaney’s not at the ENMU arena practicing, she’s there grooming Velvet and her other horse, Sooner. “I ride pretty much everyday,” she said. “I don’t know what else I’d do.”

Chaney said she chose ENMU because it’s a school where she can continue her 10-year rodeo career, and because it’s also inexpensive and close to home. “I’m pleased (with my decision); I’m a small town girl and I like it here a lot,” she said. “The small-town atmosphere helps me out and and everybody’s really nice.”

She said she recommends Eastern because the professors get to know their students and said that makes the classes more enjoyable. When she finishes with school, she plans to be a high school teacher. Currently, she is majoring in English.

When she walked the halls of Artesia High School, she was probably making her way to one of the five organizations she was involved in. Those included: honor society, youth group, the basketball team, student council and choir.

She still makes her way back to Artesia on the weekends to compete in local rodeo.
(courtesy photos)

ENMU-Roswell Participates in National Survey
by Donna Gutierrez
ENMU-Roswell

Next month, Eastern New Mexico University-Roswell will participate in a new national survey focusing on teaching, learning, and retention in technical and community colleges. The survey will take place between March 17 and April 16. The project, the Community College Survey of Student Engagement (CCSSE), is funded by The Pew Charitable Trusts and the Lumina Foundation for Education.

The Community College Leadership Program at The University of Texas at Austin administers The Community College Student Report (CCSR), which examines student engagement and retention issues. Research shows that students who read and write more, and who interact in positive ways with their teachers and peers, gain more in terms of essential skills and competencies.

"Identifying what our students do in and out of the classroom, knowing their goals, and understanding their external responsibilities will help us to create an environment that can enhance student learning, development, and retention," said Dr. Judy Armstrong, ENMU-Roswell provost.

The survey will be administered in classes randomly selected by CCSSE to ensure a representative sample and to preserve the integrity of the survey results. Instructors whose classes are selected for survey administration will receive specific information.

"Superior student learning is ENMU-Roswell's major, on-going goal," said Armstrong. "We are determined to be a leader in education, and this survey can assist us in identifying where we are and what further action may be helpful in our continuing work to support and strengthen teaching and learning and our services to students," she said.

Read ENMU-Roswell's March Newsletter – Click on [The Grapevine].

Snow Doesn’t Stop Lubbock Estacado High Students from Visiting ENMU
by Tracy Chavez
ENMU Communication Services

On Wednesday, Feb. 24, the Lubbock Estacado High School administration gave their seniors a choice; stay home and sleep in or visit one of four universities. Wesley Whitfield and 18 of his classmates chose to spend their day in Portales at Eastern New Mexico University.

“I wanted to see what it was like,” he said. “So far, it’s pretty good.” Whitfield plays basketball at Estacado and hopes to join the ENMU Greyhounds. “It’s a small school so that means I can’t get lost,” Whitfield said.

Though ENMU fell under heavy snow that day, the President’s Ambassadors were able to show the students the broadcast center, Greyhound Arena, the Bookstore and other parts of campus. The students also had a chance to meet with Financial Aid and Admissions, as well as with Dr. Steven Gamble, ENMU president.

“It was hard (to give the tour); everything was under snow, but we did it,” shivering recruiter Michelle Wallis said.

Jimatta Dickson, also an EHS student, said she thought the campus was pretty and is leaning towards attending Eastern to join the EHS graduates that are already enrolled. Though Alise Thomas already signed up to join the Navy after high school graduation, she said she wanted to see ENMU and may want to attend after the Navy. “Until then, I’ll recommend it to others,” she said.

The other universities that the students had the option of visiting were, Angelo State, South Plains Junior College or Texas Tech University.

Amy Carpenter, EHS counselor, said she’s been working with Wallis for three years and wanted to send students her way. “She works hard to get our kids,” she said. “It was worth the trip to bring some up to see the campus.”

Carpenter said she didn’t know what to expect when she arrived at Eastern. “I was pleasantly surprised,” she said. Now that she’s seen ENMU with her own eyes, she wants to send more students to visit.
(photos by Richard Salas)

I Can Name That Turtle in Three Notes
Why did the turtle cross the road? Well, if you really must know, come and ask the turtle yourself.

The snapping turtle in the Natural History Museum (NHM) exhibit located in Roosevelt Hall at Eastern New Mexico University arrived in the same fashion as in the road joke. A concerned citizen saw him crossing the highway north of Portales, caught the turtle in a 50-gallon plastic trash can, and brought him to the Museum where he now resides.

The NHM staff has another question. What do you name a turtle that arrived under these circumstances? We would like your opinion! Come to the Museum in Room 112 of Roosevelt Hall and place your suggestions for a name.

At the end of March, the Museum staff will choose a suggested name, and the winner will receive a $25 gift certificate to the ENMU Bookstore and an autographed copy of Dr. Tony Gennaro’s book, Nature’s Way.

For more information, call the Museum at 505.562.2174.
(photo by Jill Butler)

Special Thank You

"Thanks for the ENMU Pep Band for doing a fantastic job at the ENMU basketball games! Oh, let's not forget the announcer, Ferron Lucero. He has done a magnificent job! He's in the top along with the guy that says "'Let's get ready to rumble.'" – Dorothy Bulls

"Let's also not forget the Cheerleaders and Silverados." – anonymous editor

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

Don't Forget

The Greyhounds play at home at 7 p.m. tomorrow night, Tuesday, in a Lone Star Conference quarterfinal playoff games. The Zias are on the road. All the details, including tcket prices, can be found by clicking on "Announcements" at the top of this page.

Employee Briefs

Counseling and Career Services would like to congratulate Ms. Yolanda Vela on receiving her LPC (Licensed Professional Counselor) license from the State of New Mexico licensure board. Please accept our congratulations on your promotion and our very best wishes for your continuing success. – Ty Walker and Staff

Dr. Dann Brown, associate professor of agriculture, has been selected to serve with agriculture faculty from Iowa State, Washington State, and Michigan State, and Virginia State Universities on a national peer-review panel for USDA Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service Tribal Colleges Extension Program Grants. These projects involve extension education and outreach proposals from 1994 Tribal Land Grant Colleges and the five-person panel will evaluate Extension Special Emphasis Projects in Washington, D.C., from March 15-17. These grants address special needs, taken advantage of important opportunities, and/or demonstrate long-term sustained benefits of Extension projects in agriculture and food science.

Candid Camera

Front Page News! (scanned by Betsy Chavez)

ENMU Makes Front Page of Albuquerque Journal – ENMU made the front page of the Feb. 23 Albuquerque Journal with an article on Blackwater Draw by Journal higher education writer Olivier Uyttebrouck. Photos were taken by Journal photographer Richard Pipes.

When It Comes to Alumni Scholarships... (photo by Jill Butler)

Women Rule (the Roost-er) – Eleven ENMU students have been selected to receive 2004-2005 Eastern Alumni Association Scholarships totaling $11,000. All recipients participate in college and community service activities and possess excellent academic credentials. This scholarship was established in 1993 by the Alumni Association Board of Directors to provide financial assistance to ENMU graduates' children and grandchildren pursuing their degrees at Eastern. Since that time, the board has awarded 71 scholarships totaling more than $49,000. The MBNA affinity credit card program, sponsored by the Association, produces income for the scholarships. Pictured are: (Front Row) Jenni Williams, Ashley Ferguson, Brandy Propps; (2nd Row) Ashley Canard, Terra Foster, Brook Parker, D'Layna Reed, April Roach; (3rd Row) Justin Villareal. Not Pictured are Hillary Alford and Sara Guastaferro.

Connie Silva Won... (photo by Wendel Sloan)

The AEOP Valentine Basket – but apparently tapped into the sparkling "cider" and hasn't been seen since.

Scenes from African-American 'Players Ball' Banquet (photos by Richard Salas)

The Real ENMU-Roswell Softball Team? (not sure who took photo)

Or Are They Bringing Ringers? – ENMU-Roswell has challenged ENMU-Portales to a faculty/staff softball game on April 1 in Portales. This is reportedly the softball team they are bringing, but we think it may actually be the group that attended the recent Community College Day in Santa Fe. Anyway, pictured are: (left to right, back row) Cherryl Kilness, Associate Dean of Instructional Support and Chairperson of Developmental Studies; Carolyn Shearman, Chairperson of the Business and Science Division; Avon Wilson, Adult Basic Education Director and State Representative; Jane Batson, Chairperson of the Health Division, Robert Rhodes, Chairperson of the Center for Workforce and Community Development; (left to right, front row) Dina Jenks, Career and Technical Education recruiter; Nancy Moorhead, Medical Assisting instructor; Dusty Heritage, Associate Dean of Career and Technical Education; Donna Gutierrez, Community Relations Director (notice Dusty and Dwight steadying her); Dr. Dwight Rogers, Dean of Instruction; and Brandon Whatley, Welding instructor.

(photo by Donna Gutierrez)

See, They Are Bringing All-State Ringers! – ENMU-Roswell All-State student Jeneva Dearing, State Representative Avon Wilson, and All-State student David Smith pose during the reception in Santa Fe (although we suspect they are actually all-state softballers).

ENMU's Ballet Folklorico (photos by Richard Salas)

Recently performed at Festival Romanico.

Cheerleaders on Top of their Game (photos by Richard Salas)

Come out and help them cheer the Greyhounds tomorrow night.

The Silverados will also be doing their part.

Best in Show? (photo by Tracy Chavez)

Or Just a One-Dog Night? – These two got tired of waiting on their master and mom to put the paper to bed at The Chase school newspaper and decided to put themselves to bed instead in the wee hours of a snowy night. (Dog – Landry; Kid – Marcos Traball; Mom and Master – Lilly Traball)

Find details about the Greyhounds' and Zias' playoff games by clicking on"Announcements" at top of page.

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 Jill Butler ENMU-Roswell Contributing Editor Donna Gutierrez ENMU-Ruidoso Contributing Editor Jim Miller Technical Support ENMU Web Team