A Texas Wesleyan University - Office of Communications Publication

November 19, 2008

Dedication for Texas Wesleyan Community Center Set For Nov. 21

A historical building at the corner of Rosedale and Wesleyan streets has been given new life, following a $1.2 million renovation of the 5,000-square-foot edifice. From its roots as a commercial property to its more recent use as a scene shop, the building has served many purposes. Now it will host a community center, offices and a dining area. The formal dedication and ribbon-cutting ceremony will be at 1:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 21, at 3021 E. Rosedale St.

     The building will be named for Maxine and Edward Lawrence Baker, parents of Wesleyan Trustee Louella Baker Martin. She and husband Nick Martin, Fort Worth philanthropists, have been generous supporters of the University. Ed Baker served as chairman of the Texas Wesleyan Board of Trustees (Texas Wesleyan College, at that time) and his father, James B. Baker, also served on the board beginning in 1894 (when it was the Polytechnic College Board).

     In 1927-1928, the building housed five businesses, two facing Rosedale Street and three facing Wesleyan Street. The first tenants included a dry cleaner, a grocery store, and the First State Bank of Polytechnic. Other tenants included the Polytechnic Herald. It has served as a scene shop for the Theatre Arts Department for more than 25 years.

    Congresswoman Kay Granger, Congressman Michael Burgess, State Representative Marc Veasey, and Mayor Pro Tem Kathleen Hicks are among the elected officials scheduled to attend the event.

    Renovations were made possible thanks to generous donations from the Amon Carter Foundation, Nick and Lou Martin, and other donors. Funding was also provided by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Lady Rams Heading to National Soccer Tournament

The opponent and location for the Texas Wesleyan University women’s soccer team’s contest in the 2008 NAIA Women’s Soccer National Championship Opening Round has been set. The Lady Rams will head to Riverside, Calif., to take on California Baptist University on Saturday, Nov. 22. The winner of that match will advance to the tournament’s second round in Daytona Beach, Fla.
     The Lady Rams earned the program’s first bid to the NAIA National Tournament by winning the Red River Athletic Conference Tournament. The eighth-ranked Lancers, seeded seventh in the tournament, received the first of six at-large bids after being upset by 19th-ranked Concordia University California in the semifinals of the Golden State Athletic Conference Tournament. Texas Wesleyan holds a record of 11-6 on the season. At 6-1 in conference play they won their first RRAC regular season title. They then took wins over Texas College and Northwood University on their way to the program’s third RRAC tournament championship.

Women’s Basketball Coach Stacy Francis Sets Record for Most Wins

Congratulations to Stacy Francis, head coach of the women’s basketball team, on setting a school record for most wins with her 106th victory. The team accrued the significant win in their home opener, when they defeated Philander Smith College by a score of 64-60.

   The 2008-2009 season marks the 39th season of women’s basketball at Texas Wesleyan.  Francis began her eighth season tied with Miriam Satern (1975-82) at 105 victories. With Saturday’s win, Francis now stands alone atop the career coaching list.

    Terry Waldrop, the men’s head basketball coach, also set a record for most wins at the
end of the spring season.

Automated Emergency Communications for Texas Wesleyan University Community

The newly implemented Wesleyan Emergency Management System (WEMS) will provide accurate and timely information to the historic campus, law school and Burleson site during crisis situations, utilizing the latest in emergency notification technology. In the case of severe weather or a campus crisis, the University will utilize WEMS to alert students, faculty and staff of the nature of the emergency and of any steps the recipient should take to safeguard his or her personal welfare.
     Each student, faculty and staff member should report – and update as necessary – current local and home emergency contact numbers where Texas Wesleyan can most effectively provide the person time-sensitive emergency information; usually this will be a mobile phone or other handheld electronic device. All information submitted is confidential and secure. Use of this emergency contact information will be used for only the most urgent campus emergencies.
     If you have not already done so, log on to the WEMS web site to provide contact information. After registration, emergency information will be rapidly delivered to your phone or other handheld device if an emergency event is in progress or imminent. Depending on your individual communication plans, you may be charged for each WEMS notification.

Accounts Payable Holiday Notice
Due to the University closings Nov. 27 and 28 for the Thanksgiving holiday, all check requests must be received in the Business Office by 12 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 19. Checks will be available for pick-up Friday, Nov. 21, in the Cashier’s Office. Accounts payable and student checks will not be printed the week of Nov. 24- 26. Normal check printing will resume Monday, Dec. 1. If you have any questions, please call Maria Romero at 817-531-4417 or Marian Crossley
at 817-531-4416.

Faculty and Staff Thanksgiving Luncheon

All faculty and staff are invited to a special holiday luncheon from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday, Nov. 24. The buffet lunch will be served in the newly renovated Baker Building, on the corner of Rosedale and Wesleyan.

Wesleyan Chorale in Concert Nov. 25

The Wesleyan Chorale will perform in concert at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 25, in Martin Hall. Under the direction of Jerome Bierschenk, director of choral activities at Texas Wesleyan, the chorale will present two exciting works: George Frideric Handel’s Dixit Dominus and Franz Joseph Haydn’s Lord Nelson Mass. The Dixit Dominus is a multi-movement setting of Psalm 110, which was written for use during the evening Vespers service. An example of exquisitely beautiful and creative writing, the piece was composed in 1707 when Handel was only 22 years old. Haydn's Lord Nelson Mass was written amid world turmoil - the Napoleonic Wars. Unique in its orchestration, the work is scored for strings, trumpets and timpani only. This is a reflection of hard economic times; there was simply not even money to hire more musicians. The piece ends in an uplifting setting reflecting Haydn’s hope for a successful end to the conflict and ultimately his confidence in the good of mankind.

Theatre Wesleyan Presents The Menaechmus Twins
Theatre Wesleyan's final performance of the fall semester will be a lively rendition of The Menaechmus Twins, written by Titus Plautus, a playwright of the ancient Roman Republic. The play, directed by Connie Whitt-Lambert, professor of theatre, will be at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 20-22 and at 2 p.m. Nov. 23 in the Thad Smotherman Theatre. This version of the Roman play was edited and translated by renowned scholar Lionel Casson. Providing a very approachable, very humorous translation, Casson’s work pulls the play out of ancient Rome and transports it into present-day vernacular, all while maintaining the integrity of the

original piece.
     Menaechmus of Syracuse (Michael Kreitzinger) and his faithful slave (Ben Phillips), set out to find the estranged Menaechmus twin (Alfredo Martinez), separated from the family at a young age. Landing in Epidamnus, a city known for its loose morals and loose women, Menaechmus of Syracuse doesn’t realize that he has found the home of his long-lost brother, even though he is almost immediately mistaken for his twin by the wife (Rene Sarradet), mistress (Suzanne Fordering), table companion (Joy Millard), and father-in-law (Rob Carroll) of his sibling. The two brothers, unaware of each other’s presence, unwittingly make mischief for the other as they work out deals and promises with the inhabitants of Epidamnus, none of whom realize they are dealing with two different people. Chaos and hilarity ensue through the device of mistaken identity played out in a very Seinfeldesque manner.
     Tickets are $8 for general admission; $6 for Wesleyan faculty and staff; and $4 for all students with a valid ID. The box office is open from 1:30 to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and one hour before curtain on performance days. The box office phone number is 817-531-4211. For more information, visit Theatre Wesleyan's web site or call 817-531-5867.

The Thirty-Ninth Annual Omega Chi Christmas party for underprivileged children is scheduled for 6 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 11. This has become a very important and worthy tradition on our campus—one that needs your support in order to continue. For some children in the Polytechnic community this may be the only Christmas party they will have and the only gifts they will receive. Your help is needed to support the children.

     A list of names of about 130 needy or underprivileged children from the Polytechnic area, ranging in age from infancy to teenagers, has been obtained from the Community Center. Omega Chi will assign names from this list to participating sponsors. Sponsors will act alone or in teams. If you cannot afford to sponsor a child by yourself, find a friend to help sponsor along with you. The Sponsors are asked to do the following:

• Purchase gifts (one toy and one article of clothing with a total value of no less than $30 and no more than $50) for the child. 
• The gifts are to be left UNWRAPPED and turned in to Omega Chi by 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 9.  Please take your gifts by the religion department or the chaplain's office on the 3rd floor of Polytechnic United Methodist Church.
• Please put the child’s full name and your name on the bag containing the gift.
• If you would like to sponsor a child but would rather not do the shopping, you may do so by sending a check for $30, $40, or $50 made payable to Omega Chi of Texas Wesleyan (for Christmas gifts for the needy) to Jesse Sowell, Department of Religion.
• All are welcome to attend the party (Omega Chi can use your help there, too).  If you know you can help, please call Omega Chi vice president Melissa McDuffee at 832-205-5074 or email her at mmmcduffee@mail.txwes.edu.

Please send your name, phone number, email address, and mailing address to Melissa McDuffee via email or deliver to PUMC 308. Omega Chi will get you the information on your child as soon as possible. Contact Melissa McDuffee at 832-205-5074 or email her at mmmcduffee@mail.txwes.edu with any questions.

Texas Wesleyan in the Parade of Lights

The Texas Wesleyan Alumni Association is once again sponsoring a float in the Fort Worth Parade of Lights. The parade will be at 6 p.m. Friday, Nov. 28, in downtown Fort Worth. The parade concludes with the lighting of the Christmas tree on Main St. All members of the Wesleyan community are invited to help decorate the float, ride on the float during the parade,
or cheer everyone on from the crowd! The float will be decorated a few days before the event. If you're interested in volunteering for decorating or riding in the float, contact David Martin at (817) 271-2757 or dmartin@scrtx.com or Amy Tate-Almy at aatalmy@hotmail.com.

Bear Hunt

The School of Arts and Sciences is collecting new toy bears and friends for the Fort Worth Police Department's East Division. Officers share the bears and other stuffed animals with children in crisis situations. Deliver captured bears to the dean's office, room #256 in Polytechnic United Methodist Church, by Wednesday, Dec. 3. Call Patricia Ersland at 817-531-4900 with any questions.

Christmas Gifts for Meals on Wheels Clients

This holiday season, the West Library is collecting Christmas gifts for Meals on Wheels clients. If you would like to participate:

Examples of gifts include scarves, flashlights, socks, and nightlights. If you should have any questions, please contact Sheri Parker at (817) 531-4821.

Listening: For Wisdom and Empowerment

Join Courage & Renewal - North Texas for a day of personal and professional renewal. Twyla Miranda, professor of education, will facilitate the day-long retreat, "Listening: For Wisdom and Empowerment" from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, Dec. 5, in the Louella Baker Martin Pavilion. The retreat focuses on developing one's ability to tap the deep source of wisdom that rests in all of us and to listen to others in ways that deepen their capacity to utilize their own resources. As a result, we and they are empowered to live and work with courage. Many alumni of “courage” experiences say that this way of listening and questioning has been one of the most important skills that they have learned. This retreat will utilize the Circles of Trust model of personal and professional renewal developed by Parker J. Palmer. For more information contact Margie Mann, Registrar at mmann@couragenorthtexas.org or 817-882-8222.

Six Lady Rams Named All-RRAC

Six members of the Texas Wesleyan University volleyball team were honored as part of the Red River Athletic Conference All-Conference volleyball team.

• Freshman Katlynn Romig was named Libero of the Year. Romig led the conference and ranked 32nd nationally with five digs per game. She also earned a remarkable seven RRAC Libero of the Week Awards.
• Brittney Person joined Romig on the 1st-team. Person led the Rams with 371 kills on the season while notching a .204 hitting percentage.
• Four other Lady Rams were named to the 2nd-team:

• Evoni Darling, who was named RRAC Setter of the Year as a freshman in 2007, earned All-Conference recognition again despite missing eleven matches this season. Darling posted 4.4 assists per game. She split the setting duties with freshman, Emily Millican who averaged 5.5 assists per game and also ranked fifth on the team in kills, third in blocks, and second in digs.
• Junior middle blocker Destiny Clemmons and sophomore hitter Kristen Venhuizen rounded out the second team. That duo ranked second and third on the team with 274 and 242 kills respectively.

     Texas Wesleyan and RRAC tournament champion Wiley College were the most recognized teams in the
All-Conference balloting. The Rams finished third in the conference at 9-2 this season. They reached the semifinals of the RRAC tournament where they were defeated in a dramatic 5-game match with the eventual champion, Wiley. With no seniors and just three juniors on the team, the Lady Rams have high hopes for
the 2009 season.

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