The project, which started as a KSC 2008 Academic Excellence Conference presentation called “Rock the Vote: Using Cultural Climate to Reinforce Students’ Historical Thinking,” encourages students to explore multiple genres of primary sources from a specific time period to gain a deeper understanding of why people may have voted as they did in a presidential election. Using the presidential election of 1992 as an example, the sample lesson unit presented looks at Time magazine articles, MTV’s “Rock the Vote” campaign, and news coverage of the period to define the societal climate. The presentation concludes: “While certainly not a fail-safe predictor of elections, using these primary sources in conjunction with detailed information about the Presidential campaigns and data from the polls, students will find that elections from the past can take on almost as much meaning as the elections they live through today.”

“We turned his AEC presentation into a national-conference-worthy proposal and submitted it in March,” says Endacott. “I am very proud of Mike’s performance at this national-level event, and I think it says a great deal about what we do here at KSC.”

Szafir is now teaching at the Woodstock Academy in Connecticut.

Courtesy photo: KSC alum Michael Szafir ‘08 and Jason Endacott (Social Sciences) at the National Council for the Social Studies Conference in Houston.

Photo: Robin Dutcher; Music majors (l to r) Lori Gellander ‘10, Megan Fleagle ‘11, Vivianne Belanger ‘09, and Mark Perry ‘10 (seated) practice in one of the new music practice modules at the Redfern.

Once a week the Owl athletes, affectionately known as “Big Feet” have teamed up with their “Little Feet” — students in the third, fourth, and fifth grade — in an after-school running and walking club organized by Beth Corwin, a physical education specialist at the school.

“When I came here, there weren’t any after-school opportunities for the kids,” said Corwin, who is in her thirteenth year at the Symonds School. “There was a need for the students to have an alternative sport to those already offered in the community. We wanted to do something different.” Corwin says the program is all about having fun, participating, and loving physical activity.

Piling into the gym after their class day is done, the students meet with their Big Feet, who are assigned to groups based on speed. After limbering up with a few stretches and calisthenics, everyone heads outside for a running game. After scampering around Wheelock Park for 20 minutes, the ringing of a cowbell summons all runners back to the school.

Both members of a masters swim program at KSC, Corwin and Owl swim coach Jack Fabian came up with the running/walking club while brain-storming to find a way for the Owl athletes to work with the Symonds School students.

“When I presented the program to the swimmers and divers, I thought only a few would be interested,” said Fabian. “To my surprise, 15 athletes immediately volunteered. It’s a great experience for the athletes, to promote wellness and to serve as mentors to the students.”

Corwin said the several aspiring runners have sprouted from the program. “Six kids from Symonds have been running all the way through high school and all of them credit this little after-school program with developing their initial excitement about the sport,” she said.

Courtesy Photo: Students from the Keene’s Symonds Elementary School with KSC Swim and dive team “Big Feet.”

Rebecca Briggs (KSC Dining Services) reports two students in the Community Service LLC in Pondside III, Jackie Lozeau and Danielle Ledger, helped implement the can drive in the Residence Halls. There were also collection locations in the Dining Commons and Lloyd’s Marketplace.

Keene State Dining supports the Community Kitchen of Keene on a regular basis with donations from a bi-annual online dining survey process and donations from a “Cookies on Campus” program. To learn more about other Sodexo initiatives, visit www.helpstophunger.org.

Locally grown root vegetables, such as sweet potatoes, carrots, and squash, are also still available. Remember that, in general, the greener the tastier! Send any questions or comments to econotes@keene.edu.

We are making this request because Thursday and Friday, November 27 and 28, are campus holidays. In addition, many members of our campus community may elect to be away from the office on Wednesday, November 26. With the volume of timesheets that are processed each pay period, it is difficult to process all of the timesheets in one day.

Also, because of the holidays, paychecks for salaried faculty and staff will be available on Wednesday, November 26, after 8 a.m. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the Payroll Office at 8-2479.

You can make the switch to Office 2007 now, and we encourage you to take advantage of the upcoming winter break and begin to use Office 2007. It’s easy to get started. Simply open this link to place your request for the software download. Once your form is reviewed, you will be contacted directly by the HelpDesk.

If you want to take a quick peek first, we will be hosting preview sessions on November 26 and December 5 and 11, in addition to other dates in January. Register for one of the preview sessions at http://www.keene.edu/it/helpdesk/training/default.cfm.

There are many support options available to you: our new Office 2007 training website, the “Get Started” tab located on the Word 2007 ribbon, and other information on the HelpDesk website. So, don’t hesitate! Call the HelpDesk at 8-2532, stop by our office on the second floor of Elliot Hall, or email helpdesk@keene.edu with questions regarding this or any other technology need.

Courtesy Photo: Business Office runners/walkers Karen House, John Halter, Sue Freitas, Liane Wiley, Matthew Kimber, and Renee Harlow (Jim Draper also walked but snuck away before the picture was taken).

Upon review of abstracts, the committee will make one of the following recommendations:

• Accepted: Congratulations! Your abstract is accepted. Please work with your faculty/staff mentor to prepare for the conference.
• Accepted with Minor Revision: Please work with your faculty/staff mentor to revise the abstract addressing issues identified by reviewers. Resubmit your proposal by the posted re-submission deadline.
• Denied: The AEC Committee regrets to inform you that your proposal has been denied.
The committee members are looking forward to receiving proposals and wish mentors/sponsors and students well as the final proposals are crafted. For more information contact Donna Hinz at dhinz@keene.edu.