The popular community event will be held Friday, Feb. 25, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at St. Mark’s Parish Hall, 608 W. Main St., Richmond. For a $10 donation, participants will receive a handmade pottery bowl, homemade soup, bread and drink. The event promises to raise more than $8,000, to be divided among four charitable organizations that fight local hunger: the Food Bank of the Kentucky River Foothills Development Council, Home Meals Delivery, Red Cross and the Salvation Army of Madison County.

Dozens of local and Lexington-based businesses, more than 20 area churches, St. Mark School and other schools in the area and statewide, and Eastern faculty, staff and students have united to donate their various talents and resources to ensure the event’s success.

EKU art students will make most of the bowls, joined by local schools and professional potters.

“Many organizations and individuals have worked together on ‘Empty Bowls,’” said EKU President Joanne Glasser, who’ll be among community volunteers helping to serve the meal. “That community spirit is what makes this event such a tremendous success.” Glasser will be joined by city officials, area ministers and others.

In 1997, Richmond became the first city in central Kentucky to organize an “Empty Bowls” project. When Joe Molinaro, an EKU art professor, learned of similar events elsewhere, he began asking local churches for assistance. The request was met with immediate enthusiasm and support, and the event has grown every year since.

Julie Bucknam, who teaches art education at EKU, has been instrumental in involving school children locally and statewide in making bowls.

“We were delighted to see so many people excited about reading,” said Dana Bush, director of the Burrier Child Development Center. “Visitors to the Book Fair bought books for themselves and also for the Burrier CDC library.” Twenty-seven books were purchased for the Burrier CDC classroom through family donations and product profit.

Fair guests browsed the selection of best-selling titles, award-winning books and interactive products. Fair purchases totaled more than $1,600, and the proceeds will supplement classroom activities and support the new playground fund for the Burrier Child Development Center.

President Glasser, College of Health Sciences Dean David Gale, Family and Consumer Sciences Chair Diane Leggett and Burrier CDC Parent Bob Cunningham read during two family night events that were well-attended by EKU faculty and staff and community members.

EKU’s program, which will be launched in June 2006, is unique for several reasons, according to Dr. Charlie Sweet, chair of the University’s Department of English and Theatre:

• Students will be on campus for only 10 days any semester, with the remaining weeks spent in direct contact with a chosen mentor. During the residency, the mentor and the student will agree on a program of studies, which involves reading criticism and creative works as well as writing critically and creatively. “The student writes and the mentor critiques so that after 16 weeks a written project is complete,” Sweet said.
• The program’s coordinator is Laurel County native and EKU graduate Silas House, author of “Clay’s Quilt,” “A Parchment of Leaves” and “The Coal Tattoo.” Faculty include leading “Affrilachian” poet Frank X Walker, prize-winning mystery writers Dr. Hal Blythe and Dr. Charlie Sweet, and award-winning poets Dr. Christine Delea and Dr. Young Smith. Also, several nationally known outside mentors will work in the program.
• In addition to the program’s Appalachian flavor, students can be instructed in popular and mainstream writing. According to Sweet, most creative writing programs frown on popular genres, such as mystery, science fiction, horror, fantasy and romance.

“We think we have arguably the best creative writing program not just in the state, but in the region,” Sweet said. “With such a well known and well published faculty, Eastern is well positioned for its mission of earning national recognition.”

Sweet added that the program “will appeal to anyone who wishes to write, anyone who wishes to teach writing on the college level, and even primary and secondary teachers who wish to develop a writing proficiency in order to strengthen their students’ writing portfolios. Students can participate in the program while maintaining their full-time employment away from campus. Students on campus will benefit because the program will bring prominent writers to campus and because the instructors teach undergraduate as well as graduate courses. The community benefits by having programs and readings from nationally known figures.”

The 200-plus ISA members, representing 58 countries, spoke with friends and professors in efforts to raise the money. ISA’s monetary goal was far exceeded after members hoped to raise at least $100. ISA will donate the money to the Red Cross on Saturday, Feb. 12, at 7:30 p.m. in Case Annex.

“EKU’s international students were deeply moved by the plight of tsunami victims,” said Beth Blanchard, EKU International Education Coordinator. “Many (students) come from the devastated countries (Sri Lanka, India and Indonesia) and immediately wanted to do something to help. I am proud of our international students for demonstrating their concern and compassion for those in need in such a tangible way.”

Dr. Patricia Devine, professor of psychology at the University of Wisconsin, will present “Acceptance or Backlash? Responses to Normative Pressure Discouraging Prejudice” at 7:30 p.m. in the Student Services Building Auditorium. All lectures are free and open to the public.

“I will discuss ways to prevent the counter-intentional effects of normative prohibitions against expressing prejudice,” said Devine.

Devine received her bachelor’s degree in psychology from the State University of New York, Plattsburgh and her master’s degree and doctorate in psychology from Ohio State University.

Hansen, KPA’s Journalism Education Representative, was honored for her work on the KPA committee that conducted a statewide public records audit.

“I relied on no one more for direction and advice to get the project going,” said John Nelson, 2004 KPA president and member of EKU Department of Communication Advisory Board. “From the first suggestion that we conduct an audit, Liz Hansen was on board, asking how to help, volunteering to plan and calling contacts in other states for advice.”

Hansen, who joined the EKU faculty in 1987, is faculty adviser for the Eastern Progress, EKU’s student-produced newspaper. Under her leadership as its president, the Bluegrass Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists was named Best Small Chapter in Region Five (Kentucky, Illinois and Indiana) three times by the national organization.

In 1992, Hansen was a Teaching Fellow in Ethics at the Poynter Institute for Media Studies in St. Petersburg, Fla.

Hansen received her bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Arkansas, master’s degree in journalism and mass communication from Iowa State University and a doctorate in communication from the University of Kentucky.

The award recognizes significant contributions by an occupational therapist in promoting occupational therapy in the political arena by increasing recognition of occupational therapy in federal or state legislation, regulations or by increasing appreciation and understanding of occupational therapy by elected or appointed officials.

Blakeney received the award in recognition for action research and service learning in her “advocacy for clean water for the citizens of Letcher County.”

“This award brings national recognition to the work of the EKU occupational therapy faculty with the citizens of eastern Kentucky,” said Dr. Onda Bennett, chair of EKU’s Department of Occupational Therapy. “Dr. Blakeney’s action research and service learning project benefited both EKU occupational therapy students and faculty as it increased awareness of occupational therapy’s vibrant role in advocating for healthy occupations in a community.”

Blakeney is in her 20th year at EKU. She received her bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Tennessee, master’s degree in occupational therapy from Boston University and a doctorate in anthropology from the University of Kentucky.

Glancy, author of “Stone Heart: A Novel of Sacajawea” and “Pushing the Bear,” will speak at 7:30 p.m. in the Grand Reading Room of EKU’s Crabbe Library, along with leading “Affrilachian” poet Frank X Walker, who now teaches full-time in the University’s Creative Writing Program. The program is entitled “Dual Realities: Diverse Voices along the Lewis and Clark Trail.”

Glancy will also conduct a creative writing workshop for EKU students.

Her visit to campus is sponsored by the Department of English, Women’s Studies Program, Appalachian Studies and the Diversity Office.

“Writing is a conversation,” said Glancy, whose poetry, scripts, essays and fiction have earned numerous literary prizes, including an American Book Award, the Minnesota Book Award in Poetry, the Native American Prose Award and a Sundance Screenwriting Fellowship.

In her work, Glancy often reflects upon the tensions between her mixed Cherokee and European heritage.

She teaches Native American Literature and Creative Writing at Macalester College in St. Paul, Minn.

Larry Colins
Associate Professor, Academic Department Chair, Loss Prevention and Safety
Chair of the NCAA Self-Study Steering Committee

What will this self-study cover?
Detailed investigation of all aspects of EKU athletics with regard to the NCAA criteria for accreditation.

What is the purpose of program certification?
To verify that EKU is in compliance with NCAA which ensures that the athletics program is fair, equitable and all the students are treated as "student athletes" and given every opportunity to succeed in both academics and athletics.

How will the campus be involved in this effort?
The committee is diverse and comprised of faculty, staff, students and alumni. Additionally, the study progress will be available for public input and comment at appropriate times throughout the process.

By what standards will we be evaluated?
NCAA standards.

What are the major elements of the timeline for this study?
Academic Integrity
Governance and Commitment to Rules Compliance
Equity and Student Athlete Welfare

I am very fortunate to have individuals serving on the committee who have a longstanding commitment to EKU, students and EKU athletes and have considerable knowledge of the principles of accreditation set forth by the NCAA.

The final report will be electronically sent to the NCAA on Jan. 16, 2006. A peer review team will visit EKU in late April of 2006. The NCAA Committee on Certification will reaffirm our certification in July of 2006.

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Blanchard, Paul. “Paul Edward Patton.” Kentucky's Governors. Ed. Lowell H. Harrison. Lexington, KY: University Press of Kentucky, 2004. Pgs. 251-263. [Article was reprinted in] Register of the Kentucky Historical Society. Vol. 102 (Winter 2004), pgs. 69-87.

Blythe, Hal, and Sweet, Charlie [Hal Charles] . “Horn of Plenty.” Kentucky Monthly. Vol. 8, No. 2 (February 2005), pgs. 47-48.

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Combs, Dorie. “Divide and Conquer: Create Small Learning Communities in Your Web-Based Classrooms.” It Works For Me, Online!: Shared Tips for Online and Web-Enhanced Teaching. Hal Blythe and Charlie Sweet, eds. Stillwater, Oklahoma: New Forums Press, 2004. Pgs. 8-10.

Combs, D. ; Wilder, M. ; Kull, K. ; Moore, S. ; Newsome, F. ; White, R. ; and Brown, J. . “Eastern Kentucky University’s Middle Grades Methods.” Leaders For a Movement: Professional Preparation and Development of Middle Level Teachers and Administrators. P.G. Andrews and V.A. Anfara, eds. Greenwich, Connecticut: Information Age Publishing, 2003. Pgs. 415-430.

Combs, Dorie. “A Framework for Scaffolding Content Area Reading Strategies.” Middle School Journal. Vol. 36, No. 2 (November 2004), pgs. 13-20.

Hunter, S.L. . “Is There a Doctor in the House?” Domain3. (Winter 2005), pgs. 8-11.

Hunter, Sandy. “The Power of ‘Cultural Tales’ in Promoting Diversity and Learning,” Diversity Conference, Richmond, Kentucky, February 2005.

Hunter, Sandy L. . “Sickle Cell Disease: A Painful Killer,” JEMS (Journal of Emergency Medical Services). Vol. 30, No. 2 (February 2005), pgs. 79-89.

Myers, Marshall. “[Review of] Lincoln at Cooper Union: The Speech That Made Abraham Lincoln President by Harold Holzer,” Register of the Kentucky Historical Society. Vol. 102, No. 1 (Winter 2004), pgs. 108-109.

O’Brien, Shirley P. , and D’Amico, Mariana L. “Scholarship of Engagement and Service Learning: A Natural Fit in Occupational Therapy Curricula,” American Occupational Therapy Association Education Special Interest Section Quarterly. Vol. 14, No. 3 (2004), pgs. 1-3.

Petronio, Karen, and Brashear, Vicki. “Revisiting the Pointing Sign INDEX in American Sign Language,” Linguistic Society of America Conference, Oakland, California, Jan. 8, 2005.

Pierce, Doris. “The Usefulness of Video Methods for Occupational Therapy and Occupational Science Research,” American Journal of Occupational Therapy. Vol. 59, No. 1 (January/February 2005), pgs. 9-19.

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Schneck, Colleen M. . “Visual Perception,” Occupational Therapy for Children. 5th ed. St. Louis: Mosby, 2004. Pgs. 412-446.

Wilder, Melinda; Resor, Cynthia; and Combs, Dorie. “The Role of Action Research in Alternative Teacher Preparation,” SRATE Journal. Vol. 13, No. 1 (Winter 2004), pgs. 20-31.

Wolf, Joyce Hall, and McFarland, Kay Dawn. “Making an Impression: Connections Between Painter, Poet, Pianist,” Hawaii International Conference on Arts and Humanities, Jan. 14, 2005.

Chicken wings…fried chicken…ribs…chips…dips…these things could refer to you and me when we insist on overdoing it in the name of sports. If referees were in our homes, they’d be tossing flag after flag our way and slapping us with a plate “piling on” penalty.

The foods of choice typically range from nachos (1,400 calories a plate), baby back ribs (770 calories per pound), Buffalo wings with bleu cheese dip (1,000 calories per dozen), chips (1,050 calories per 7-ounce bag) with sour cream dip (500 calories per cup), and other high calories junk food.

Planning to go one step further? One regular 12-ounce beer ranges between 150 to 200 calories, while a light beer has about 100 calories. A 5-ounce glass of wine has about 100 calories, as does one ounce of alcoholic spirits such as vodka, gin, or scotch.

However, it is possible to enjoy some of your favorite sports parties and serve healthy snacks that will impress and delight your guests. Instead of the usual potato chips and fattening dip, try some of these alternatives:

• Surround a slow cooker of your favorite soup with low-fat wheat, cheese, onion and saltine crackers.
• Toast fresh pita bread and cut into triangles, and arrange on a plate and serve with your favorite salsa.
• Provide air-popped popcorn instead of the microwave kind.
• Serve pizza but don’t succumb to the topping-heavy fast-food chain pizzas advertised on TV. Make your own with a pre-baked whole-wheat crust, marinara sauce, and a mix of fat-free (or at least low-fat) shredded mozzarella and cheddar cheese. For an extra nutritional boost, add broccoli florets or spinach (just hide it so nobody can see it…works every time).
• Serve chili, but instead of traditional beef chili use low-fat ground chicken.
• Instead of offering full-sized paper or plastic plates, put out the smaller-sized snack ones. This will encourage people to put less on their plates. They may come back for seconds, but they will still be eating less than they would if they had a larger plate.

Enjoy your healthy sporting gatherings!