The AURCO Newsletter will be published each October, January, March, and May. News items received too late for one issue will be held for the next. The public-relations officers at most campuses have now put us on their mailing lists for news releases and newsletters, but anyone affiliated with a regional campus may send items for publication. If your campus is underrepresented in the "News" section, please ask your public relations office to put me on the mailing list for news releases and/or send me personal or campus news highlights directly.

All correspondence should be addressed to:

Martin Kich, Editor

AURCO Newsletter

Wright State University--

Lake Campus

7600 State Route 703

Celina, OH 45822

News items may also be sent by e-mail to:

martin.kich@wright.edu 

Or by fax, marked to the Attention of Martin Kich, AURCO Newsletter, to:

419-586-0368.

Inquiries may be made by telephone to 419-586-0374.

A link to the Web copy of each issue of the newsletter will be sent in an e-mail message to all faculty at regional campuses. I have added to the mailing list that Gordon Aubrecht initially compiled, and I am very willing to add the e-mail addresses of faculty, staff, and administrators who have not been included.

If someone on each campus will send me a message that includes the administrative and staff mailing list for that campus, I will be happy to add them to my mailings.

Within a very short while, all back issues will be available at this web site: http://www.wright.edu/~martin.kich/

Back

Science Building, Room SC. 270, Ohio State University at Lima

6 April 2002

In attendance: Gordon Aubrecht (President), Jim Bode (Secretary), Anne Bower, Mickey Crawford, Lacey Curtis, Rich Dempsy, Shah Ghaffuri, Tracey Hawkins (Treasurer), Art Molitierno (Journal editor), Sheida Shirvani, Mohammed Yousif

The meeting was called to order by president Aubrecht at approximately 7:30.

Any regional campus faculty member may nominate faculty and administrators for the AURCO Distinguished Service Award.  The award is presented for extraordinary contributions to the success of the organization.  Nominations should be sent to arthur.molitierno@wright.edu and should include the nominee's name and institutional affiliation, as well as an explanation in support of the nomination; the nominator should also identify himself or herself and his or her institutional affiliation.

Previous recipients of the Distinguished Service Award have been:

Faculty:

Arthur Molitierno, Wright State--Lake

Martin Kich, Wright State--Lake

Lee Fox-Cardamone, Kent State--Stark

Administrators:

Darby Williams, Bowling Green--Firelands

Dan Evans, Wright State--Lake

William Bittle, Kent State--Stark

Ruth Carlson is director of the associate's degree nursing program at Kent--Tuscarawas.

Colleen Fawcett is an Assistant Professor of Teacher Education at Wright--Lake.

Greg Kremer is a Desktop Technician at Wright--Lake. 

Shari Petersen is an admissions counselor at Ohio State--Mansfield.

Faith Wyzgoski is an Assistant Professor of Chemistry at Ohio State--Mansfield.  [Photo]

In February 2002, four faculty members at Ohio State--Mansfield were selected to attend the OSU President's Salute to Undergraduate Academic Achievement.  The faculty who received this honor were Mary T. Joyce, French, Mark H. Smith, Accounting, John Thrasher, Art, and Edward E. Wachtel, program director of the technology teaching lab.  The faculty were nominated for the honor by students who appreciated their teaching.

In Spring 2002, Paula Bryan, Program Officer, Teacher Education, Wright--Lake, received a "Friend of Education Award" from the Auglaize County Educational Community for outstanding service to education in the region.

In October 2002, Carol Cico, Mathematics, Wright--Lake, was nominated for the Teacher of the Year Award presented by the Ohio Association of Two-Year Colleges.

In Spring 2002, H. Roger Fulk, Office Information Systems, Wright--Lake, was elected to the Board of Directors of the National Association of Business Professionals of America.

In October 2001, Linda Houston, English, Ohio State--Agricultural Technical Institute, was nominated for the Teacher of the Year Award presented by the Ohio Association of Two-Year Colleges.

In October 2001, James Jordan, Political Science, Ohio--Zanesville, was nominated for the Teacher of the Year Award presented by the Ohio Association of Two-Year Colleges.

In October 2001, John Lovell, Biology, Kent--Tuscarawas, was nominated for the Teacher of the Year Award presented by the Ohio Association of Two-Year Colleges.

In October 2001, Christopher Mruk, Psychology, Bowling Green--Firelands, was nominated for the Teacher of the Year Award presented by the Ohio Association of Two-Year Colleges.

In October 2001, Colleen Teague, Health Care Management, Akron--Wayne, was nominated for the Teacher of the Year Award presented by the Ohio Association of Two-Year Colleges.

In February 2002, Ridgeway Press of Detroit published Milldust and Roses, a memoir of the Ohio Valley by Larry Smith, English, Bowling Green--Firelands.  It is Smith's tenth creative book.

Martin Kich, English, Wright--Lake, has written articles on Michael Avallone, R. Wright "Robert" Campbell, and Ed McBain for a forthcoming volume of The Dictionary of Literary Biography.  He has also written entries on Joyce Carol Oates and John O'Hara for the Literary Encyclopedia.  His reviews of Lee Child's Without Fail, Helene Tursten's Detective Inspector Huss, and Brian M. Wiprud's Pipsqueak have appeared in The Mystery Review. 

In February 2002,  the Black History Month program at Ohio State--Mansfield, "Remembering Our Past . . . Strengthening Our Future," included the following presentations by faculty at the campus.  Stephane Dunn, English, presented "SuperBucks and SuperMammas: Revolution and Gender in 1970's Blaxploitation Films."  And Larry Evans, Theatre, presented "African-Americans in American Theater." Thomas V. O'Brien, Educational Teaching and Learning, presented "W.E.B. DuBois and the Education of African-Americans."  Christopher Phelps, History, presented "The Rise and Fall of Segregation."  Scopas S. Poggo, African American and African Studies, Ohio State--Mansfield, presented "The Role of Ancestral Spirits in Marriage, Childbirth, Healing, and War in the Precolonial Kuku Society in the Southern Sudan, 1860-1920." Heather Tanner, History, presented "St. Maurice: A Black Medieval European Saint?" 

In January 2002, Colleen Fawcett, Teacher Education, Wright--Lake, presented "Classroom Modifications for the ADHD Child" at the Chicago Metropolitan Association of Young Children (AEYC) annual conference.

In February 2002, John H. Gordon, Ohio State--Mansfield, presented "The Assassination of President Kennedy," as part of the Arts and Lecture Series at the campus.

In February 2002, Debra Johnyak, English, Akron--Wayne, presented "Dead Silence: Suicide as the Final Word by Shakespeare's Tragic Heroines" at the 8th Citadel Conference on Literature, held in Charleston, South Carolina.

In May 2002, Rhonda Petit, English, Cincinnati--Raymond Walters, read her poetry at the Symposium of the Cultural Heritage of the Midwest/Midwest Poetry Festival, held at Michigan State University.

In April 2002, Christopher Williams, Dean Kent--Geauga, presented "Chistianity and Islam" at the campus' Spring Forum.

In 2002, Debra Johanyak, English, and Susanna Horn, Writing Coordinator, both at Akron--Wayne, were awarded a $55,000 EECAP grant from the Ohio Board of Regents to support a professional development program for high school English teachers, hosted by Akron--Wayne.

In February 2002, the Harold C. and Marjorie Q. Rosenberry Tuscarawas County Foundation awarded a $28,106 grant to Kent--Tuscarawas for equipment for the campus' Science and Advanced Technology Center.

In January 2002, the Ohio State regional campuses at Lima, Mansfield, Marion, and Newark, along with the university's Fisher College of Business, received a grant of $343,000 from the Ohio Board of Regents as part of the technology Initiatives Program for publicly-assisted institutions of higher learning in Ohio.  The funding will enable the General Business Major Program, approved in December 2000, to succeed at Ohio State's four regional campuses by supporting computer-based instruction over the Internet.

In Fall 2001, Bowling Green--Firelands' Respiratory Care Program was awarded the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Educational Programs' highest accreditation status.

In cooperation with the BGSU College of Education and Human Development, Bowling Green--Firelands is currently offering the course work for a bachelor's degree in early childhood studies.

In February 2002, the Education program at Ohio State--Mansfield was named one of six Distinguished Achievement Award winners of the International Society for Technology in Education.  The award recognizes institutions that have exhibited exemplary models of integration on the National Educational Technology Standards for Teachers into their teacher education programs.

Wright--Lake has initiated a new associates-degree program in Graphic Arts and Design Information Technology.  The program is directed by H. Roger Fulk, Office Information Systems.

In November 2001, Bowling Green--Firelands presented a special "teach-in" on "War, Religion, and the World."  The event was sponsored by the campus's Peace and Justice Club.  Dean James M. Smith moderated a panel and open-forum discussion.  Speakers for the program included: Omar Altalib, professor of sociology at Ashland University and a Muslim; Rev. Bill Thompson of the United Christian Fellowship at Bowling Green State University; Dr. Rufus G.W. Sanders, Director of the Emmanuel Center of Sandusky and an area journalist; Sister Deborah Giles, a Sister of Notre Dame and a theology teacher at St. Mary's Central Catholic Schools in Sandusky; and Reb Candy Lobb, a rabbinical student at Aleph Rabbinical Program from Canton.

In November 2001, Bowling Green--Firelands participated in "America Recycles Day," hosting a program by the Erie Huron Community Action Commission Recycling and Litter Prevention.  The program featured a "Pledge and Toss": community residents who signed pledges to buy more recycled products became eligible for prizes made from recycled materials.

In December 2001, the Writing Center at Bowling Green--Firelands sponsored a "Celebrate the Arts" evening cafe party at Sandusky's Coffee Temptations.

In February 2002, Bowling Green--Firelands presented a month-long diversity celebration that included the following events: a talk on "Identity Issues in Latino Culture" by Alberto Gonzalez, BGSU vice-provost, academic services; "Can We Talk?" by the Millennium Project, a panel discussion about racial issues; "Sojourner Truth," a first-person interpretation of the noted abolitionist and advocate for women's rights by Annette E. Jefferson; a presentation on "Indigenous Peoples" by Juan Reynas; a talk on "Migrant Farm Workers in Ohio" by Christiana Velasquez; a presentation on "Whites in Black History: A Choice of Legacies" by Jack Taylor, BGSU special assistant to the vice president for student affairs; "A Card Party," a diversity game presented by Bettina Shuford, BGSU assistant vice-president for student affairs and director of the Center for Multicultural and Academic Initiatives; a presentation on "Islamic Traditions" by Omar Altalib, Sociology, Ashland University; and a presentation on "Buddhist Traditions" by the Venerable Shih Ying Fa, the founder of the Zen Society of Cleveland and spiritual director of Couldwater Zendo, a Ch'an and Pure Land Buddhist Temple in Cleveland.

In Winter and Spring 2002, Bowling Green--Firelands offered the following non-credit courses: "Creative Surface Design on Fabric"; "Performance Coaching"; "Managing Prices, Costs, and Profits"; "How to Be a Successful Investor"; "An Easter Bloom Basket Workshop"; "Basic Photography"; and "Instant Piano for the Hopelessly Busy Person."

In March and April 2002, Bowling Green--Firelands offered two children's theatre workshops, "How to Audition for Children's Theatre" and "Stage Decorum."

In April 2002, Bowling Green--Firelands, in conjunction with the American Lung Association, sponsored a "Kick Some Butts" anti-smoking commercial contest. Teams of students from 14 area high schools, representing 10 counties, worked with Visual Communications Technology students at Bowling Green--Firelands to create commercials that could be broadcast on local television stations.

In Spring and Summer 2002, Bowling Green--Firelands offered the following non-credit courses: "Introduction to Computers," "MS Word 2000," "MS Excel 2000," MS Access," "MS Powerpoint," "Watercolor Workshops," "Wreath-Making Workshops," "Hatha Yoga," "The Big Band Era," "Introductory Golf," "Home-Based Businesses." 

In Fall 2002, Bowling Green--Firelands offered a "Math Refresher" and a "Language Arts Refresher" for 6th and 7th graders.

In December 2001 and January 2002, Kent--Tuscarawas offered courses toward the Microsoft Certified Engineer exams.

In Winter and Spring 2002, Kent--Tuscarawas hosted the following workshops offered through its Ohio Small Business Development Center: "Your Home-Based Business," "Writing Your Business Plan," "Financing Your Business," "Marketing Your Business," "Advertising Strategies," "Information Power for Small Business," "Understanding Financial Statements for Your Small Business," and "Entrepreneurship, Inc."

In January 2002, the Engineering Technology Department at Kent--Tuscarawas sponsored five competitions for area high school students.  The students were trained in digital electronics, computer-aided design, multimedia, robotics, or graphic design.  The submitted entries were judged by a committee consisting of local industry leaders, as well as high school and campus personnel.

In March 2002, Kent--Tuscarawas hosted a Mathematical Olympiad for eleventh and twelfth graders.

In January 2002, the Ohio Small Business Development Center at Kent--Tuscarawas offered the workshop "Your Home-Based Business."

In January 2002, the Institutional Diversity Advisory Committee at Kent--Tuscarawas sponsored a showing of the film Gandhi, which was followed by a moderated interactive discussion.

In February 2002, Kent--Tuscarawas offered a nursing seminar on "Legal Aspects of Care."

In March 2002, Ohio--Zanesville offered a six-hour workshop in "Independent Reading and Creative Writing" presented by visiting author Denise Chavez.

In April 2002, Ohio--Lancaster and Ohio--Zanesville each hosted a program celebrating "Equal Pay Day," a dinner and panel discussion addressing gender pay discrepancies.

In June and July 2002, Ohio--Zanesville presented the workshop "The Count Meets Mr. Wizard," intended to train area teachers in grades three through six to integrate math and science in the classroom.

In Fall 2001, Wright--Lake, in conjunction with the Hospitality Management Department of Sinclair Community College, offered a pilot course in culinary arts.

In November 2001, Wright--Lake hosted "A Dialogue on International Terrorism and Bio-Terrorism."  The featured presenter was Donna Schlagheck, Chair of the Political Science Department at Wright State in Dayton.  Lake Campus faculty who participated in a panel discussion included Robert Hiskey, Biology, Roger McDermott, Chemistry, James Steinberg, Sociology, and Mitch Arnold, Adjunct in History.  The program was organized by Stanford Baddley, Director of Student Services.

In Spring 2002, Wright--Lake, in conjunction with Bowling Green State University, established a Reading Center to enhance the literacy foundations of the school districts in the Lake Campus' service area.  The Reading Center will provide a "Saturday School" that addresses needs in oral language, fluency, vocabulary, comprehension, written language, and computer exploration.  One of the three co-directors is Paula Bryan, Program Officer for Teacher Education at Wright--Lake.

In March 2002, Bowling Green--Firelands hosted the 29th Annual University Business Symposium on the theme "Erie County Outlook: Positioning Your Business.  The keynote address was delivered by Mark Sniderman, senior vice president and director of research, Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland.

In February 2002, Cincinnati--Raymond Walters hosted the 2002 State Competitive Events for Business Professionals of America.

ISAZ held its 2003 conference on August 15 and16 at the Conference Center at Kent State-- Stark. ISAZ is an interdisciplinary society dedicated to the study of human-animal interaction.  Scholarly presentations from a variety of fields centered around the 2003 theme, "The Social Lives of Animals: Cognition, Interactions, Relationships."

In February 2002, Kent--Tuscarawas hosted an Engineering Technology Opportunity Exposition.

In March 2002, Kent--Tuscarawas hosted the Fourteenth Annual Tuscarawas Valley Small Business Expo.

In October 2001, Ohio--Zanesville sponsored the conference "The Women of Appalachia: Their Heritage and Accomplishments."  The conference was attended by more than 120 people from 15 states, and the topic areas included art, culture, education, geography, history, literature, politics, religion, and social issues.

In November 2001, Steve Cagan, director of the organization Cleveland Jobs with Justice, and Daniel Thompson, a poet and activist, presented a discussion and poetry reading on the issues of "The Living Wage" and "Homelessness in America."  Their talk was sponsored by the Bowling Green--Firelands Peace and Justice Club as part of the All-College Book Program, featuring Barbara Ehrenreich's Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting by in America.

In November 2001, painter Vince Torano spoke at Bowling Green--Firelands on the "use of painting as a medium with the potential of telling stories or elaborating on myths using allegory and a pictorial idiom that is visually opulent and complex."

In November 2001, journalist Peter Bergen spoke at Kent--Tuscarawas as part of the campus's Voices of Distinction series.  Bergen is the author of Holy War, Inc. about Osama Bin Laden and Islamic militant groups around the world. [Photo]

In November 2001, Kent--Tuscarawas presented a lunch presentation on "Race Relations in Tuscarawas County."  Featured speakers were Rev. Chris Lowery of the First Baptist Church in Dover and Cliff Biggers of Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church in Coshocton.  Lowery has been active in the Minority Employment Readiness Committee, and Biggers is the director of Race Relations Research, Inc.

In January 2002, Dr. Bharat Oza presented a luncheon talk titled "Glimpses of India" at Kent--Tuscarawas.

In March 2002, Barbara Mann, a specialist in Native American Studies, spoke on the topic of Iroquoian women at Kent--Tuscarawas.

In March 2002, psychologist Angela Neal-Barnett spoke at Kent--Tuscarawas on the topic "Acting White, Being Black, Being Yourself."

In April 2002, Andrea Mitchell, the chief foreign affairs correspondent at NBC News, spoke on the topic "A Worldview from Washington" at Kent--Tuscarawas. [Photo]

In November 2001, Ohio--Zanesville hosted a program called "Celebrate Freedom" to honor the efforts and sacrifices of America's military veterans.  The guest speaker was Korean War veteran and Medal of Honor recipient Ronald E. Rosser.

In February 2002, Kathy Brantley spoke at Ohio--Zanesville on "Zanesville's Involvement in the Underground Railroad," as part of the campus' celebration of Black History Month.  Later in the month, Paul Stillwell presented a talk drawn from his critically acclaimed book, The Golden Thirteen: Recollections of the First Black Naval Officers.

In March 2002, author Denise Chavez spoke at Ohio--Zanesville.  Chavez, whose most recent book is Loving Pedro Infante, spoke on the topic "Ancestral Landscapes," examining the undeniable link of the landscape and family to the writer's creative process.

In January 2002, Robert L. Lawson of Dynamic Professionals of Portsmouth, Ohio, spoke on the topic "Diversity in an Era of Rapid Change: Where Are We and Where Is Dr. King's Dream?" at the campus' annual Martin Luther King  commemoration.

In October 2002, Akron--Wayne held its annual Shakespeare Festival, featuring the Shenandoah Shakespeare Express acting troupe from Staunton, Virginia.

In March 2002, Bowling Green--Firelands staged Golliwhoppers, a children's play about American tall tales, featuring music and dance and written by Flora B. Atkin.  The tall tales feature African-American, Asian-American, and Native-American themes. The production was directed by Ronald M. Ruble, the Caryl Crane Children's Theatre's artistic director.

In March 2002, at Bowling Green--Firelands, Karen Vuranch presented a living history of Pearl S. Buck in honor of Women's History Month.

In April 2002, Richard Figge performed Jason Miller's Barrymore's Ghost at Kent--Tuscarawas.

In May 2002, Ohio--Eastern staged a production of Trophies.

In November 2001, Ohio State--Mansfield staged Stephen Vincent Benet's Stories of America, adapted for the stage by F. Andrew Leslie.  The production was directed by Larry Evans, Theater Department, Ohio State--Mansfield.

In February and March 2002, Ohio State--Mansfield staged On the Town, with music by Leonard Bernstein and book and lyrics by Betty Comden and Adolph Green. [Photo]

In April 2002, the National Shakespeare Company presented The Tempest at Ohio State--Mansfield.

In May 2002, Ohio State--Mansfield presented An Evening of American One-Acts, including short plays by playwrights such as Thornton Wilder and Tennessee Williams.

In May 2002, Ohio State--Mansfield staged Neil Simon's autobiographical play Brighton Beach Memoirs.

In Fall 2001, African artist Kengmo performed in concert at Bowling Green--Firelands.  Kengmo is a dancer, storyteller, choreographer and musician.

In November 2001, Bowling Green--Firelands hosted its seventh-annual "Holiday Jam" concert, benfitting the Victory Temple Soup Kitchen.  Performers included: Bob Gatewood of Calabash; Uncle Meat; Surrender Dorothy; Steve Brownell; Chris Castle; Joe Angelo; Eddie Brunswick and the Flaming Tails; the Coco-Beanos; and Two Bow Ties and Two D's.

In March 2002, the Bowling Green State University Graduate String Quartet performed at Bowling Green--Firelands.

In April 2002, the Bowling Green State University Afro-Caribbean Ensemble performed at Bowling Green--Firelands.

In February 2002, Cassandra MacDonald presented "Spirit of Love," a piano and vocal concert, at Kent--Tuscarawas.

In April 2002, the Lyric Theater Ensemble presented a Broadway Tunes Concert at Kent--Tuscarawas.

In January 2002, pianist James Tannenbaum, professor at the Cleveland Institute of Music, performed pieces by Mozart, Chopin, Debussy, and others, at Ohio State--Mansfield.

In February 2002, the Ohio State University Jazz Ensemble performed at Ohio State--Mansfield.

In October 2001, Ohio--Zanesville sponsored its second annual Juried Appalachian Art exhibit, in conjunction with the conference "The Women of Appalachia: Their Heritage and Accomplishments."  Thirty-nine artists contributed eighty-nine works to the exhibit.  Joyce Browning of Manchester, Ohio, received the People's Choice Award, determined by conference attendees.  Other award categories included: applied art; painting; drawing and print; ceramics, sculpture, and glass; wood and other craft; and photography.

In November 2001, Bowling Green--Firelands exhibited the work of Vince Torano.

In April 2002, Ohio--Eastern exhibited ceramics by Jim and Linda Winegar.

In May 2002, Ohio--Eastern is exhibiting work by students at the campus.

In November 2001, Bowling Green--Firelands faculty, staff, and students collected 502 canned goods for Care at Share at the campus's annual "Begger's Banquet" Thanksgiving celebration.  Over 250 faculty, staff, and students participated.

In December 2001, the Bowling Green--Firelands student government and visual communication technology organization collected 37 boxes of clothing, toys, and special gifts for Safe Harbour Domestic Violence Shelter, Care and Share, and Children's Services.

In Fall 2001, Education students at Wright--Lake collected more than 400 children's books and distributed them on Thanksgiving Day to children in the Lima community at the annual Chester Carey Thanksgiving Dinner held at the Lima Civic Center.

In Spring 2002, Bowling Green--Firelands made thirty-five used Dell computers available to students for use at home.  The computers are loaned to students on a semester-by-semester basis.

Seven groups of students in Lisa Kidd's Visual Communication Technology class at Bowling Green--Firelands presented a public showing of 30-second television commercials that they wrote, produced, and directed.  The commercials advertised one of two fictitious products: Breathe Again air freshener/odor remover or ZAPP! insect/rodent/pest eliminator.

Student teachers who graduated in 2000 from the graduate program at Ohio State--Mansfield had a 100 percent passing rate on the state licensing exam, Praxis II, according to scores released in November 2001.

In March 2002, the Ohio Association of Gerontology and Education honored a paper written by Ohio State--Newark student Kelli Sears with its prestigious Arnedia Smith Award for Best Undergraduate Paper.  Sears's paper is titled "Estimates of Best Age and Hope in Older Adults."

In Fall 2001, four students from Wright--Lake's chapter of Business Professionals of America (BPA) presented a workshop entitled "What Is Post-Secondary BPA?" to area high school BPA members attending the Region 15 Business Professionals of America Fall Conference held at Lima Technical College.  The Wright--Lake student presenters included Brigette Cron, Jan Eckstein, Linda Harruff, and Carol Jones.

Carol Jones, Wright--Lake, was selected as the 2001 Outstanding Post-Secondary Business Education Student in the Nation by the Association for Career and Technical Education.

In February 2002, Office Information students at Wright--Lake earned thirteen 1st-place awards, eight 2nd-places, five 3rd-places, and two 4th-places.

In February 2002, the Bowling Green--Firelands/Tri-County Alumni Chapter sponsored a chapter social and networking party.

In Summer 2002, Benjamin N. Muego, Political Science, Bowling Green--Firelands, led a field trip to Vietnam.

In July 2002, Joel Rudinger, English and Popular Culture, Bowling Green--Firelands, offered "An Alaskan Experience," a field course in Alaska.

We welcome submissions of personal narratives and opinion pieces on topics of interest to regional-campus faculty and staff. Maximum length is 1500 words or six double-spaced pages. Anyone connected to a regional campus may submit.

Regional-campus faculty are invited to submit fiction, poetry, photographs and artwork to the Grand Lake Review, the annual literary journal of Wright State--Lake. Submissions are read year-round, though the editor will make final decisions on some submissions in April and October. The Grand Lake Review is now being published each May and each November, and beginning with the Fall 2002 issue will be published only electronically, on the Web at http://www.wright.edu/~martin.kich/.  Submissions should be directed to  martin.kich@wright.edu or to Martin Kich, Grand Lake Review, English Deaprtment, Wright State University–Lake Campus, 7600 State Route 703, Celina, OH 45822; 419-586-0374. An SASE is required with paper submissions.

Faculty interested in writing about cyberpunk and other cyberfiction, about the electronic novel, or about the future of the novel in the era of the Internet--as well as those interested in reviewing books about cyberfiction, the Internet and electronic documents--should contact Martin Kich at Cyberfict, English Deaprtment, Wright State University–Lake Campus, 7600 State Route 703, Celina, OH 45822; 419-586-0374; or martin.kich@wright.edu The journal Cyberfict is now being published each Winter on the Web at http://www.wright.edu/~martin.kich/. .

In 2001-2002, the seventh annual High School Poetry Contest sponsored by Wright State--Lake generated just under 1000 submissions from high school students throughout Ohio. Prize winners, runners-up, and honorable mentions in both categories have been published in the seventh annual contest journal A Gathering of High School Poets. For the 2002-2003 contest, $50 savings bonds will be awarded for ten prize poems from outside the Lake Campus’ service area, and up to 25 runners-up and 75 honorable mentions will be included in the journal. Beginning with this year's contest, the journal will be published only electronically at http://www.wright.edu/~martin.kich/..  Entries to the contest should be typed and include the student's name, high school, grade-level, and home address and phone number. Each student poet may submit up to fifteen poems. There is no limit on the subject matter, form, or length of submissions. Submissions should be sent to Martin Kich, Poetry Contest, Wright State University--Lake Campus, 7600 State Route 703, Celina, OH 45822. The deadline for submissions this year is June 15, 2003. Electronic submissions are now being accepted and should be sent to martin.kich@wright.edu.

Wright State–Lake is also sponsoring essay and fiction contests. Twenty essays are included in Ohio Essay, and twenty stories are included in Ohio Story, both of which are now being published electronically at http://www.wright.edu/~martin.kich/.. In both cases, three in-region and three out-of-region first-prize winners will each receive $50 savings bonds. There are no restrictions on content or form. Entries should be a maximum of about 1500 words. The deadline for both contests this year is June 15, 2003, and entries will be accepted by regular mail and electronically to the addresses provided above for the high school poetry contest..

"Kitsch Art of the 'War on Terror'"

Martin Kich

I have been collecting advertisements for paintings, figurines, and other kitsch art related to the "War on Terror."  To date, this collection includes almost 60 items.  (I want to re-emphasize that I've been collecting the flyers, not the actual pieces of art--though if the kitsch art related to previous wars is any indicator, this art will probably be worth more in several decades than we can ever imagine now.)

At the outset, I want to make clear that this little illustrated article is meant to be completely a-political.  It is meant to suggest neither a hawk's nor a dove's position on the Bush administration's policies.  One can discuss the kitsch aspect of the "velvet Elvises" without necessarily agreeing on or even having to address Presley's impact on popular music or on the popular culture.  So I'm trying to take the same aesthetic approach to this politically charged art.

I also want to make clear that I am not trying to be condescending toward anyone else's tastes in art.  (Well, if you like the last few samples, I do think you ought to seriously re-examine your tastes--but, as a general principle, I'm not trying to be condescending.)  I just recently read an essay by Gore Vidal, and, as is often the case when I read one of his essays, I ended up laughing uproariously--at myself.  He was taking great delight in sneering at the pedestrian tastes of people who hang prints of Impressionist paintings all around their homes, and his witty disdain made for a wonderful read.  But I haven't yet taken any of our prints off the walls.

The first four of these pieces related to the "War on Terror" are fairly predictable and straightforward reproductions of the Twin Towers done in various media:

Piece #1 

Piece #2

Piece #3

The next four pieces incorporate traditional symbols of American patriotism into various forms and media:

Piece #4

Piece #5

Piece #6

Piece #7

The next three transfer the patriotic symbolism to various modes of transportation, which seem to have been selected less for their inherently patriotic associations than for their popularity as collectible items:

Piece #8

Piece #9

Piece #10

The next two somewhat ridiculously attempt to blend the symbolism of patriotism and that of the Christmas season:

Piece #11

Piece #12

And the last three are just absolutely ridiculous--reducing the very serious matter of national defense to a level of cuteness that is nearly nauseating--and yet, in a strange way, fascinatingly so:

Piece #13

Piece #14

Piece #15

By the way, in case any of you were wondering, as far as I know my last name is not related to the word kitsch.  The name is an anglicizing of the Russian name "Kicz."  My ancestors were from northeastern Austria-Hungary, where there was a great deal of ethnic mix.

But who knows, perhaps one of my great-grandfathers filled the hours between shifts in the coal mines by painting portraits of Franz Josef on black velvet.