Services Announced for Dr. Michael Hudson

Dr. Michael Hudson, associate professor of geology, began teaching at Ashland University in 1982, where he taught earth science courses including mineralogy, geochemistry, metamorphic petrology and natural disasters. Beloved by his students, Dr. Hudson, or "Doc," served as the adviser to the Geology Club and director of the annual Mohican District Science Fair, and was the recipient of three Mentor Awards, a program that recognizes faculty or staff whose academic leadership with regard to students extends beyond the classroom. He was active with his students in geochemical research on rocks from both northern New York and north-central Ohio. He also served several terms as Faculty Senate president and was very active on various campus committees. He was a member of the Geological Society of America.

A memorial service celebrating Michael's life will be 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 3, 2016, at First Presbyterian Church, 320 Church St., Ashland, with the Rev. Michael Parker officiating. Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 2, 2016 at the church. Memorial contributions may be made to First Presbyterian Church, 320 Church St., Ashland, Ohio; or to Ashland University Geology Club. READ MORE

Sandra Tunnell Tapped as Celebrity Tubist for AU TubaChristmas

The local holiday favorite TubaChristmas returns to Hugo Young Theatre on Saturday, December 3 at noon with Sandra Tunnell, Ashland City Council person and Ashland Main Street executive director, as the "Celebrity Tubist." The concert is free and open to the public and invites area tuba, euphonium and baritone players to perform. Musician registration will begin at 10:00 a.m. followed by a rehearsal at 10:20 a.m. READ MORE

Students Welcomed into Sigma Tau Delta

On Nov. 14, fifteen students carrying a G.P.A. in English courses of 3.0 or above were welcomed into Sigma Tau Delta, the international English honor society, at the new member induction. Dr. Russell Weaver delivered an address on the subject of literary interpretation. Congratulations to our new members: Maggie Andrews, Natasha Arnold, Sarrah Betz, Maria Cardona, Emily Cardwell, Jessica Frichtel, Emily Holp, Ariel McCleary, Bethany Meadows, Alexandra Newhouse, Madelyn Rumbaugh, Corinne Spisz, Alyanna Tuttle, Madison White, Amanda Wise

Dr. Swanson Passes Exam MFE

Dr. Chris Swanson took the Society of Actuaries Exam on Models for Financial Economics on November 18 and passed. This was one of his goals for his senior study leave. Congratulations, Dr. Chris Swanson!

Stevenson Promotes Columbus Radio Group

Digital Media Production 2014 graduate Andrea Stevenson always loved the radio profession. From her days as on air talent at WRDL to her current position as Promotions Director for Columbus Radio Group, Andrea approached her craft with determination and passion. Andrea stated that she really loved her job because one of the biggest perks was that "I get to meet a lot of cool celebrities like Ellie Goulding, Charlie Pugh, Rachel Platten, and Andy Grammar."

Philosophy IS cool...

Philosophy has always been useful, and practical, and theoretical too. The staff at the Houston Chronicle were able to sit down with Professor Gwen Bradford, her department chair Donald Morrison, and Peter Zuk, a graduate student at Rice University, to discuss the joys of philosophy.
"On the NBC sitcom "The Good Place," a young woman dies and gets an undeserved ticket to heaven. Once there, she enlists the help of a philosophy professor to teach her to become — belatedly — a good person." FULL ARTICLE

Vocal Majors to Perform Senior Recitals

The Department of Music at Ashland University announces the senior vocal recitals for Deric Dove, baritone, and Abbie Brady, soprano, who both study private voice with Stephanie Sikora. The recitals will be held on Sunday, Nov. 20 in the Elizabeth Pastor Recital Hall. Dove's recital begins at 3 p.m., and Brady's at 7:30 p.m. The concerts are free and open to the public. READ MORE

Fighting Terrorism Debate, Nov. 17

Ashland University’s Alexander Hamilton Society and the Institute for Humane Studies will host a debate titled “What is the best way to Fight Terrorism?” on Thursday, Nov. 17, at 5 p.m. in the Ronk Lecture Hall located in the Dwight Schar College of Education. There will be multiple perspectives offered at the debate, including those from a libertarian, a moderate and an interventionist, and these perspectives will be represented by Dr. Will Ruger, Dr. Michael Rubin and Dr. Tom Nichols, respectively. FULL STORY

Coburn Opens New Exhibition Nov. 17

The Coburn Gallery will host simultaneous exhibitions including a fiber installation entitled “Divergence” created by Ohio artists Susan McClelland and Clare Murray Adams, and the senior art exhibition of Kara Mcwhinney. The exhibition will run from November 17 through December 18 with an opening reception on Thursday, Nov. 17, 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. FULL STORY

Environmental Lecture Features Award-Winning Author/Photographer

The Environmental Lecture Series will feature a lecture by award-winning author and photographer Dr. David FitzSimmons on Thursday, Nov. 17, at 7:30 p.m. in the Ronk Lecture Hall in the Dwight Schar College of Education. FitzSimmons will share his experiences of studying, photographing and writing about vernal pools in a presentation titled “If You Build It, They Will Come: Vernal Pools, Fauna, and a Whole Lot of Fun!” READ MORE

AU Faculty, Alumni, Students & Collaborators Publish Paper

Dr. Jeff Weidenhamer, Trustees' Distinguished Professor of Chemistry, along with Professor of Chemistry Rebecca Corbin, Associate Professor of Geology Michael Hudson, senior biology major Meghann Fitzpatrick, and recent graduates Alison Biro and Peter Kobunski, are authors of a paper titled "Metal exposures from aluminum cookware: An unrecognized public health risk in developing countries," which has been accepted for publication in the journal Science of the Total Environment.

Jazz Concert Nov. 21 - Alumni Rehearsal Nov. 16

An Ashland University Jazz concert will be held on Monday, Nov. 21, at 7:30 p.m. in Hugo Young Theatre. The concert is free and open to the public. Under the direction of Dr. Scott Garlock, the concert will offer pre-concert music from a jazz combo followed by jazz standards performed by the Ashland University Jazz Orchestra (AUJO) and a newly formed AUJO Alumni Band. For any alumni who are interested and available to participate, a rehearsal will be held on Wednesday, Nov. 16, from 7 to 9 p.m. in the Elizabeth Pastor Recital Hall. READ MORE

Is that a Picasso or a Monet?

Students in Dr. Metzger's Theories and Principles of Learning (PSYC 324) were recently learning about discrimination training and viewed an interesting video of pigeons that have learned to discriminate between the painting style of Picasso and Monet.  The video goes on to show that these simple birds can discriminate some stimuli more effectively than humans! VIDEO HERE

Thoughts Following the Election

By Craig Hovey

After yesterday’s election—indeed after months and months of the election—many people are exhausted and today a lot of Americans are profoundly nervous about what a Trump presidency will hold. I am one of those people too...But I’ve always insisted that there’s more to peace than simply avoiding war. Nonviolence is also a gentle spirit that looks for concord, that advances respect for people who are different, that lifts up the weak, and seeks justice for the oppressed. FULL STORY

Dvořák's Mass in D, Nov. 13

Antonín Dvořák's Mass in D will be performed under the direction of Elizabeth Slade with the Ashland Area Chorus and several guest soloists including organist Susan Gregg, mezzo-sopranos Denise Milner Howell and Sandra Ross, tenor Tim Johnson and baritone Brian Keith Johnson. The concert will be held on Sunday, November 13 at 4 p.m. in the Jack and Deb Miller Chapel. The performance is free and open to the public with a freewill offering accepted to benefit the Sandy Brown Honorary Vocal Music Teacher Mini-Grant Fund. READ MORE

Ashland Police Detective Visits Criminal Law Class

Ashland Police Detective Kim Mager was a guest speaker for CJ 362: Criminal Law class. Detective Mager, who is an Ashland University alumna, has been with the Ashland Police Division for 19 years, and specializes in the investigative bureau's sex offense cases.  She spoke to the class regarding investigations and interrogations. READ MORE

Social Work Club Raises $1,677

AU's Social Work Club collected $1,677 in meal swipes and monetary donations through its "Give a Meal" service project. The money will be used to purchase food in bulk through AU's dining services, which will be donated to Associated Charities and the Ashland County food bank.

AU Converged Election Coverage

Beginning at 7 pm on Tuesday, Nov. 8, AUTV-20 will broadcast a live five hour show that will cover the results from local, state and national races. WRDL 88.9 FM will simulcast the audio from the AUTV-20 special and The Collegian will report with live stories on its online site. For those who cannot receive the Armstrong Cable feed of AUTV-20, the station can be viewed live through this streaming link: web stream link

WRDL Celebrates College Radio Day

On Friday, November 4, WRDL/88.9 FM, observed College Radio Day. All across the country, hundreds of college radio stations celebrated the rare format that is college radio.

        2016's theme, "Igniting the Soul of College Radio," paid homage
to the documentary aired in the special simulcast.

“College radio stations are some of the last independently owned stations – that is, not belonging to large media networks – in the country,” says Derek Wood, student General Manager of WRDL. In addition to it being an independent station, “WRDL is unique because it has an FCC license, something which many college stations don’t have,” adds Wood. FULL STORY

2016 ACM Programming Contest

Twelve computer science students participated in the 2016 ACM East Central North America Regional Programming Contest that was held at Youngstown State University on Saturday, October 29. The students were split into four teams. For the first time in history of AU participation in the contest, each of the four AU teams solved one problem. STATS HERE

Metzer Presents Distance Research Talk

Dr. Mitchell Metzger, Professor and Chair of Psychology, presented a "distance research talk" titled Sugar, Faces, and Rats:  The Winding Road of Psychological Research to faculty and students at Mississippi State - Meridian and the University of Central Missouri.  He connected with these two sites using the Collaborate function in Blackboard. RECORDING HERE,

Criminal Justice Students Learn Through Hands on Approach

Dylan Shockey takes notes as
Mike Gentile  photographs the scene.

Students in the Criminal Investigation class have begun their multi-step crime scene project by processing a mock crime scene. 



This is the second year for the project and Dr. Marc Hedrick, the professor of this course, and the one who developed this project last year, feels this project has both practical and academic applications.  

 

Students documented the crime scene through notes about what they observed, as well as through photographs and measurements. Students then used these notes, photos, and measurements to create a to-scale sketch of the crime scene.   

A Tribute to Dr. Stratton

By Diana Popa, class of 2011, English and Spanish major

Grammar and Usage was the first class I took that counted towards my English major, and I had the privilege of having Dr. Stratton as my instructor. In truth, my first impression of him was a little bit cryptic. He spent the whole class period talking in analogies, many of which involved blue and red Chinese vases. I took copious notes, furiously scribbling down all manner of Chinese vase-related things, trying to decode some kind of message. I’m relieved to report that I eventually decoded most of what he was saying in that first class period—at least I think so. FULL STORY

JDM's Gollhardt Excells in Career

After graduation, 2015 JDM graduate Rachel Gollhardt accepted a job as a general assignment reporter for KFDA NewsChannel 10 in Amarillo, Texas. She was then promoted to morning reporter on The Early Show and has been anchoring the News at Noon program for the past seven months. Rachel reflects on her career saying, "I thank my professors at Ashland University for my education, as it has certainly helped me become a leader in the newsroom. My advice to students is to follow your dream and apply to places that are out of your comfort zone."

Jamieson's Review Published

Dr. Duncan Jamieson's review of An Alternative History of Bicycles and Motorcycles: Two-Wheeled Transportation and Material Culture appears in the November issue of Choice.  Read an excerpt HERE.