TheSynApse
Vol. 12, No.5
May 31, 2002
The Spring 2002
Graduation
For the first time in its
116-year history, Winthrop University held two separate ceremonies to
honor graduate and undergraduate students receiving their degrees this
year. The key reason was
that the combined commencement ceremony had become too big for the
coliseum. The Spring
commencement is the largest indoor event in York County with more than
6,500 people expected to be in attendance this year.
The separate ceremony also allows the university to give more
recognition to its more than 100 graduate students.
The Master of Liberal Arts
program graduated three students this spring.
From
left to right: Tom Moore,
Dean of the College of Arts & Sciences (former MLA director),
graduates: Greg Schauble, Ann Doss Helms, Bill McGinnis, and current MLA
program director, Dave Rankin
Summer Session has begun
Maymester
is almost over.
It is not too late to register for courses that begin later this
summer.
Following are some of the courses still available.
Ginger Williams is teaching U.S/Latin American Relations which
begins July 8th and runs through August 7th (D
session).
Alice Burmeister is teaching Arts of Oceania also in D session
(7/8-8/7).
Richard Morris is teaching Statistical Methods for Decisions
during B session (June 3 – Aug. 2).
There are several others.
Call the MLA office for details.
(803/323-2368)
LAMAS
Activities
We
would like to schedule another Sunday matinee at the Manor Theater some
time toward the end of July.
To those in the Charlotte area, watch for a special mailing with
the announcement of the film, date and time.
(The Manor Theater management does not know until two weeks prior
to the date what they will be showing.) There will be a wine, cheese and
movie discussion after the movie at the Rankin’s house.
Our first film matinee went very well but we would like to see
more of you attend.
The movie seen then was “No Man’s Land” and received raves
from all who attended.
The
annual Pig Pickin’ is scheduled for August 10th at Jen and Don
Sparacin’s home from 3:00 until the pig is picked.
More information and directions will be sent to you in July.
Last year’s Pig Pickin’ was great!
We had a good turnout and everyone had a
wonderful time. We will
have an even better time if more of you come this year.
Recruitment Activities
Our active students list has been somewhat reduced over the past
several years. We need your
support in recruiting new students.
You all know what a valuable experience going the program has
been for you. Please share
your experiences with friends and encourage them to sign up.
We want to thank those of you who have already given us contact
names. Dave will be calling
them in the next few weeks to discuss the program.
Bancroft Makeover
Stop by and see the changes in Bancroft
and our offices.
We have new carpeting, freshly painted walls and have rearranged
the office layout.
The hallways have lowered ceilings, new carpeting, new lighting
and fresh paint.
All the windows in Bancroft will be replaced in August before
fall semester begins.
By fall all the renovations will be made and Bancroft will be a
much more pleasant and comfortable place in which to work in, pass
through, or have classes.
We
also have a new room number.
All the office numbers have been changed.
The annex offices no longer end in an “A.”
Thus the necessity of the renumbering.
We are now 150 Bancroft.
Stop
by and say hello.
Remember our hours are Monday – Thursday 8:30 – 2:30 with
Friday and evening hours by appointment only.
From the Director
Those of you who attended our
spring MLA picnic in historic Brattonsville were blessed with good
weather, food, company, and a truly gracious host—our own program
alumnus Gardner Chappell. The
picnic, which honored our three spring graduates, was especially
successful because of Gardner’s efforts.
Not only did he help with planning, setting up (table cloths and
flowers), and food (food pick-up and a delicious pasta salad of his own
making), but he also conducted a private tour of the grounds.
His articulate, informal, and witty explanation of the
settlement’s history—food, farming, clothing, tools, art,
architecture, and more—complemented in a unique and memorable way that
which we do in the MLA program. Many
thanks, Gardner.
The newly formed MLA Advisory
Committee consists of student member Lee Miller, alumnus Diane Simpson,
faculty members Houston Craighead (philosophy), Susan Ludvigson
(English), Tim Boylan (political science), Tom Moore (ex officio), (Jen
Sparacin (ex-officio), and me. We
held our first meeting March 26th and discussed recruiting
strategies, the adding of “tracks” in such areas as writing,
developing a good working relationship with the Interdisciplinary
Program in Graduate Liberal Studies at UNC Charlotte, developing
guidelines for LART 604 projects, and creating ways of
evaluating/assessing our own program’s effectiveness.
The student and faculty members of the committee can all be
reached at their Winthrop email addresses (lastnamefirstinitial@winthrop.edu
- for example, rankind@winthrop.edu);
the alumnus, Diane Simpson can be reached at diane.simpson@yorkcountygov.com
. Please send the committee
members your thoughts, concerns, or suggestions about our program.
Even
if you have not read Steven Pinker’s earlier books, The Language
Instinct and How the Mind Works, you need to give his newest
book, Words and Rules, a chunk of your time.
You won’t be disappointed.
Pinker connects language and grammar (don’t be put off by the G
word)
to an incredible range of topics in the sciences (genetics, brain
imaging, neural networking, and computer simulation) and in the
humanities (origin and history of languages, Western philosophy, and
human conceptualization,).
The book is one of the best on explaining how the mind works, and
the examples from language, because they are specific and
easy-to-follow, make the arguments compelling and convincing.
Vikki and I hope you will join us for Sunday matinees at
Charlotte’s Manor Theater followed by suitable refreshments at our
house. Dates and film
selections will be announced in separate mailings to all of you who live
in the area. Until we see
you again, stay healthy and happy.
Dave
