The Harbinger

August 15, 2005

 

Books for Zimbabwe on the way

Another massive shipment of books is on the way to Zimbabwe, courtesy of Gwen Fischer's coordination of the Books for Zimbabwe program at Hiram College.

Partnering with Midlands State University in Gweru, Zimbabwe, Fischer spent the summer collecting books to be sent to Africa.  Mr. Kudzai Shava arranged for the shipping costs for the container-load of books to be paid by Midlands State University.  Mr. Shava is the Director of the Disability Resource Center at MSU.  Fischer recruited Jeff Parker from the Hiram Physical Plant (pictured, right) and others to help pack and load the books.  Fifteen pallets containing over eight thousand volumes were shipped on August 8.

Fischer is Professor of Psychology and will be in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania at the Hubert Kairuki Memorial University for the first semester as part of a Rotary fellowship.   She will be tracking her exploits on her blog at http://blogs.hiram.edu/fischergb/ and on her home page at  http://home.hiram.edu/psychology/GBFHomePage/.

Alumni Volunteer Day set for September 17th

Hiram alumni from across the country will come together next month for a day of volunteering.  The Fourth Annual Hiram Volunteer Day is set for September 17th.  Volunteers will gather in New York City, Pittsburgh, Chicago, Indianapolis, Boston, and Phoenix, as well as various sites throughout Northeast Ohio.  Each project -- from gardening work in Central Park to painting and carpentry work at a hospital to packing baskets at a food pantry -- is coordinated by an area alum.  Everyone registering by September 1 gets a free Hiram Alumni Volunteer Day t-shirt.

Would you like to volunteer or need more information?  Visit http://alumni.hiram.edu or call the Office of Alumni Relations and Annual Giving at x5283.

Faculty Focus

• Joyce Dyer recently heard that the North American Review will be publishing her essay "Pallbearer" in a forthcoming issue.  The essay, about serving as a pallbearer at her uncle's funeral, tells the story of a man who lived his entire life on Grant Street in Akron, Ohio--born in the 300-block and dying just a mile away in the 1300-block.

• Assistant Professor of Art Christopher Ryan had artwork featured in two national exhibitions this summer.  Ryan's mixed media painting "After Sharing the Blood Orange" was included in the 48th Annual Chautauqua National Exhibition of American Art in Chautauqua, New York.  This major show was juried by noted New York critic and painter Stephen Westfall, who selected fewer than 70 artworks for the exhibition out of more than 700 entries.  In addition, Ryan's painting "Silk Glove" was featured in the 69th Annual Midyear National Exhibition at the Butler Institute of American Art in Youngstown, Ohio.  The Midyear Exhibition is a juried event of paintings from across the United States. 

Admission Staff updates

Angela Artman, former assistant director of admission at Bethany College, joined the admission staff as Hiram's newest admission counselor. Angela brings three years experience as an admission professional for the West Virginia Disciples of Christ and liberal arts college.

Artman is originally from Steubenville, Ohio, and attended Bowling Green State University as an undergraduate. As a student highly involved in activities and campus life at BGSU, she gained an appreciation for working in student services. She jumped at the opportunity to work in the admissions office at Bethany after she graduated. “I love all parts of the job—travel, event planning, evaluating applications, and working one-on-one with current students and high school students,” says Artman.

Artman will be recruiting new students from the Cleveland and Columbus areas, as well as her hometown in Steubenville. She resides with her husband in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio.

Two familiar faces are changing roles in the Admission Office this year, too. Amy Szydlowski ’94 (right) was promoted to Admission Counselor for Operations. In her new role, Amy will work with prospective new students from Illinois, Indiana, California, Texas and the southern states. She will work closely with staff in Alumni and Development to grow the Alumni-Admission Partners program as its new coordinator. She’ll also assume responsibilities for coordinating admission event needs.

Dorothy Meyers (left) returns to the Admission Office after two years as the administrative assistant in the Central Services building. Earlier this month she began her duties as the application processing coordinator and is in the process of re-acquainting herself with the office.

The Pelican wraps up the Tyst summer theater series

In its latest production, Tyst is excited to produce one of August Strinberg’s final and most evocative chamber plays. The Pelican will run Aug. 11 through Aug. 28 in Hiram’s Bates Hall. Performances will be Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m.

In this intriguing and ominous work, The Pelican introduces a family of sleepwalkers, a family whose very existence has been built on deception. As each family member begins to wake up, the myth of motherly sacrifice is exposed and revenge is dealt out with ghastly consequences.

The cast includes actors from throughout Northeast Ohio. Hiram Professor of English Ellen Summers plays the cunning matriarch of the family. Justin Tatum, a Shaker Heights resident, plays her neglected and sickly son, Frederick. Case Western Reserve University student Kristie Erin Barnes plays her naïve and temperamental daughter, Gerda; and Gerda’s unscrupulous husband, Axel, is played by Ohio City resident Tom Kondilas. The cast is rounded out by Akron resident Sue Antel who plays the brazen housemaid, Margaret. The production is directed by Cleveland resident Adrienne Moon.

Strindberg is Sweden’s master playwright, novelist, and short-story writer. Combining psychology, naturalism and mysticism, his plays drew on the problems of his marriage and his interest in self-analysis. Moon is the lead director at Dobama’s Night Kitchen in Cleveland Heights.

Hiram College faculty, staff, and students can receive four free tickets to any performance of The Pelican by calling x 5900.