postmedieval is a cross-disciplinary, peer-reviewed journal in medieval studies that aims to bring the medieval and modern world into productive critical relation. It is an interdisciplinary journal with its primary audience comprised of medievalists (historians, literary critics in various languages, art historians, philosophers, etc.). Every issue includes non-medievalists, and its content frequently engages with those working outside of the humanities.

Seaman has been incredibly proud of the journal since its first appearance in May 2010.  “In 2008, when we brought postmedieval to Palgrave Macmillian [the publisher], we knew it wasn’t the best time. In fact, ours was the one journal they committed to publishing that year. In the past 18 months, postmedieval has received an incredibly positive reception and it’s wonderful to have our contribution recognized with the PROSE Award, by those in publishing outside of medieval studies, and even outside of the humanities.”

The PROSE Awards, sponsored by the Professional/Scholarly Publishing Division of the Association of American Publishers (AAP),  annually recognize the very best in professional and scholarly publishing by bringing attention to distinguished books, journals, and electronic content in over 40 categories.

Seaman co-edits the journal alongside Eileen Joy, professor of medieval literature at Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville.  Holly Crocker, professor of medieval literature at the University of South Carolina, is the Book Review and Forum Editor.  Palgrave is the publisher of postmedieval. The journal is affiliated with the BABEL Working Group, a scholarly collective.

Starting in 2012, the journal will be produced quarterly, after being published three times per year in its first two years  A subscription of postmedieval can be found in the Marlene and Nathan Addlestone Library. The journal can be found here: http://www.palgrave-journals.com/pmed/index.html.

For more information, contact Myra Seaman at seamanm@cofc.edu or 843.953.5760.

The Princeton Review and USA Today have released the 2012 “Best Value Colleges” list, which includes the College of Charlestons among 150 of America’s top undergraduate schools offering excellent academics, generous financial aid, and/or relatively low cost of attendance.

The Princeton Review called the College of Charleston “a moderately sized school that manages to make itself feel like a small school, a ‘Southern secret’ that is ‘extremely diverse’ and offers ‘many great fields of study.’”

The report also stated that the College manages to maintain relatively small class sizes, which “allows professors to pay individualized attention to students and to make time to advise their students outside of class.”

The Princeton Review chose its “Best Value” schools based on analyses of data the company collected from an initial list of 650 institutions it identified as having excellent academics. More than 30 data points were assessed across three primary areas: academics, cost of attendance, and financial aid.

The Princeton Review also factored in data from surveys of students attending the schools who shared assessments of their professors and their satisfaction with their financial aid awards.

The College of Charleston was one of four South Carolina schools to make the list. For more information, visit the Princeton Review website.

Since the MBA program was launched in 2010, students had the option of choosing a focus area in either marketing or finance. With the new focus in hospitality revenue management, candidates can choose one of three specialized areas for their studies.

According to Susan Thronson, Marriott International’s senior vice president of global marketing, in the 2010 Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International’s 2010 Special Report, “Revenue management has continued to grow as a science and an art over the past several years in many industries, including the hospitality industry. A solid understanding of revenue management is critical throughout an organization, from top to bottom.”

Sales directors, owners, operators, and general managers are increasingly harnessing the value and expertise of revenue management in Charleston and in the worldwide hospitality industry.

“The new MBA focus in revenue management provides a valuable, specialized niche for graduate students around the globe to learn in Charleston, a top destination city in the U.S.,” says Alan T. Shao, dean of the School of Business. “Our hospitality and tourism management faculty are rated among the very best scholars and teachers in the world. By combining the faculty’s global recognition with the industry’s need for professionals with revenue management backgrounds, our MBA graduates will have valuable, ready-to-work skills needed to make direct impacts on their employers’ bottom lines.”

Based on a survey of employers and job postings for mid-level managers and analysts, the results showed that starting salaries range from $50K to $80K, depending on the location and industry. Our graduates will be well prepared and equipped to apply the tools and technology used in revenue management. An MBA with a focus in revenue management will also position them for senior-level management career opportunities in travel and lodging-related companies around the world.

Revenue management is designed to prepare hospitality professionals for organizations that implement such profit-generating strategies. MBA candidates who choose the revenue management focus area will build on their knowledge from MBA classes such as finance, operations management and global enterprises, and take three courses to:

1. Examine the principles and application of revenue management in hospitality;
2. Provide the analytical requirements and skills necessary for forecasting and understanding booking windows, pace, demand, market share and channel predictions across market segments.
3. Formulate and monitor a revenue strategy for an organization.

Students who complete the three courses will then apply and hone their skills in an international setting. The Spring 2013 trip is slated for Hong Kong. The study abroad component is a requirement for the fulltime, accelerated, global MBA program.

Interested candidates should visit mba.cofc.edu to learn more about the program and admission requirements or contact Penny McKeever, associate director of graduate and professional programs, at mckeeverp@cofc.edu or 843.953.8112.

Nominations may highlight excellence in academic achievement, teaching, student learning/leadership, athleticism, individual contributions to the campus community, and/or professional, social, and cultural leadership.  The nomination categories include Outstanding Student of the Year, Outstanding Faculty of the Year, Outstanding Staff of the Year, The Good Neighbor Award for Excellence, and more.

All nominations for the 2012 ExCEL Awards will be reviewed and judged by the awards committee.  Recipients of the awards will be revealed at the sixth annual ExCEL Awards Program on Wednesday, April 4, 2012 at 5:00 p.m. at the Sottile Theatre.

The nominations form is on-line at http:www.cofc.edu/excelawards/excel-nominations/index.php

For questions regarding the nomination process or the ExCEL Awards, contact Ernest Brevard, Jr. at BrevardE@cofc.edu or call 843.953.5367.

The Student Chapter of the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) is producing the computer science competition, which will be held in the JC Long Building (9 Liberty Street) from 4:30 to 9:30 p.m. Using Python 3 programming language, student teams will solve three programming assignments. Each year, there are typically 15 teams with no more than three students per team representing high schools from South Carolina and North Carolina. Participating students will hear from John Smith, chief technology officer of SPARC.

The Math Meet, hosted by the Department of Mathematics, will be held at various locations on the College of Charleston campus from 8:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. More than 700 students come from across the Southeast to participate in the Math Meet and this year there will be several major changes based on survey results from last year’s participants. The Timed Sprints will feature a fixed amount of time to answer a series of questions. Also, the Brainstorm will be held with all teams in one large room, instead of separating into smaller rooms.

“The Math Meet has a reputation among teachers and high school students for being one of the most entertaining and rewarding events of its kind,” says Alex Kasman, Math Meet organizer and professor of mathematics. “We pride ourselves on the fact that there are many high school math competitions run by colleges and universities, but many of our participants insist ours is the best. We will continue to make improvements to maintain this standing.”

For the first time this year, the South Carolina Stingrays sponsored an online competition for three South Carolina high schools. Teams from Charleston Charter School for Science and Math, Clover High School, and Stratford High School answer hockey-themed questions in a timed competition. Charleston Charter School for Math and Science won recognition and tickets to a Stingrays hockey game.

The computer science competition has also made changes for 2012.

“This year, the College of Charleston student chapter of ACM marks the sixth year of our new competition paradigm,” says Paul Anderson, ACM faculty adviser and computer science professor. “The state of the practice and the state of education in software engineering emphasize quality. Consequently, the new approach focuses on the quality of the submissions from the competing teams and removes the fastest-to-complete constraint entirely. We focus on both technical quality and artistic quality.”

The ACM event is sponsored by the College of Charleston’s Department of Computer Science, Hawkes Learning Systems, and Google.

More information about the High School Computer Programming Competition or contact ACM Faculty Advisor Dr. Paul Anderson at andersonp@cs.cofc.edu or 843.953.8151.

More information about the Math Meet or contact Dr. Alex Kasman at kasmana@cofc.edu or 843.953.8018.

College of Charleston Mathematics professor emeritus Robert M. “Mick” Norton has written a book called Tales of a College Math Professor, Over-Easy, on Wry.  The book consists of memorable and off-the-wall incidents that grew out of Norton’s career in mathematics and statistics.

The book is written for a popular audience, particularly for people who would give math and humor a chance to mix.  There are stories about expert witnessing, consulting, teaching, and about looking at the world through lenses tinted with mathematics and statistics, and with humor. Witty chapters in the book range from being called, “Maybe I’m just Not Good at Your Tests” to “An Argument Larry Summers Could Have Used.”

Robert M. Norton received his Ph.D in mathematics at Oklahoma State University and BS degree in mathematics from Northeast Missouri State University (now Truman State University).  He is the author of A Quick Course in Statistical Process Control and numerous journal articles in the areas of statistics, statistical process control (SPC), and statistics education and mathematics.

Now a professor emeritus of Mathematics at the College of Charleston, Norton continues to teach occasional courses, work with students, and engage in two of his favorite hobbies—serving as a statistics expert witness, and consulting with manufacturers on statistics and SPC issues.

Filmmaker and activist Mary Morten’s documentary Woke Up Black will have its South Carolina premiere at the Avery Research Center for African American History and Culture on Thursday, February 9, at 6 p.m.

Woke  Up Black  focuses on five Black youth, along with their struggles and triumphs as  they start their journey into adulthood. The film places at its center the  voices of Black youth – their ideas, attitudes and opinions that are often  overlooked in today’s society.

For  two years, Morten and associate producers Keisha Farmer-Smith, Aparna  Sharma, and Marisol Ybarra followed five youth from the Chicago area to  explore their experiences when it comes to navigating the world they live  in. As they move through their personal challenges this documentary also  mirrors the complexities of this often ignored group that are at the  center of many socio-political issues including discrimination, political  participation, sex and relationships, music, and the media portrayal of Black youth.

The  documentary subjects are:

· Rosalee, 18, is a recent graduate of Lakeview High School. Rosalee is the oldest in  a family of eight where she, her brother and three sisters were adopted by  her aunt and uncle. She is the first person in her family to attend college. Rosalee struggles with life away from her family and the college experience.

· Carter, 16, was adopted by two African American gay men when he was 10. As the  oldest of eight children he was bounced around in foster care for several  years. Carter is finishing up his last year of high school and is  balancing his class studies, sports, and family life while trying to  figure out his future.

· Ace, 17, is a self-identified gender queer youth who struggles to maintain  relationships with members of her family who do not understand and are not  supportive of her gender identity.

· Morgan, 19, lives in an affluent western suburb of Chicago and is in her second  year of college at a prestigious out-of-state university. While being  raised to be a strong Black woman by her parents, she has lived the  majority of her life in situations where she is the only African American  or one of a few.

· Sheldon, 20, is a new father and an organizer at a south side community based  organization that works with youth on issues of social justice. At the age  of 17, he was incarcerated for six months for committing a felony crime. He is currently working to expunge his record.

Morten, an activist, filmmaker and consultant, started work on Woke Up  Black after reading a report by Dr. Cathy Cohen for the Black Youth  Project. Cohen, a professor at the University of Chicago, was the  principal investigator of this groundbreaking report.   The report was a national research project launched in  2003 that examined the attitudes, resources, and culture of African  American youth exploring how these factors and others influence their  decision-making, norms, and behavior.

The film has received positive reviews from both activists and publications.  FilmCatcher.com said “The stories not only focus on the struggles  these youth face but also their dreams of a world in which they can  thrive, prosper, and fulfill their potential.” Jet Magazine  selected the film as one of their “Editor’s Picks of the Week” in April  2011. Woke Up Black was also an official selection of the San Diego  Black Film Festival, San Francisco Black Film Festival and the Bronze Lens  Film Festival of Atlanta. The film had its broadcast premier on WTTW-TV,  Chicago’s public television station, on June 26, 2011.

Woke  Up Black’s  South Carolina premier is sponsored by the Avery Research Center and the  College of Charleston’s African-American Studies  Department.

The film has screened in Chicago and Madison, Wisc. More screenings are  planned for Chicago, Memphis, Raleigh, Minneapolis, New York City and  Pittsburgh. The film is on the festival circuit and is available to public  television stations across the country.

For more information, contact Savannah Frierson at the Avery Research Center at 843-953-7609.

]]> http://news.cofc.edu/2012/02/02/college-of-charleston-to-host-documentary-woke-up-black/feed/ 0 http://news.cofc.edu/2012/02/01/homecoming-2012-kicks-off-monday/ http://news.cofc.edu/2012/02/01/homecoming-2012-kicks-off-monday/#comments Wed, 01 Feb 2012 18:04:27 +0000 Melissa Whetzel http://blogs.cofc.edu/news/?p=4404 The College of Charleston community will celebrate Homecoming 2012 during the week of February 6-11.  This year’s theme is Charleston. Cougars. Cremins. Cougar Nation.  This theme encourages the College community to celebrate everything that makes the College of Charleston a great place to learn, from the local businesses that support us to the ways in which the Charleston community is unified through Cougar Athletics.   

Homecoming Week basketball games include a 7:00 p.m. women’s game on Monday, February 6 versus Appalachian State University and men’s games on Thursday, February 9 versus Western Carolina University at 8:00 p.m. and Saturday, February 11 at 3:00 p.m. versus Davidson University.

Social events include a highlighter dance party and pep rally on Wednesday, February 8 at 8:00 p.m. in the Johnson Center practice gym as well as the annual tailgate, which will be held on Saturday, February 11, from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. Free food and music will be provided at both of these events.

This year’s service component, “Cougars Taking Action,” will be a day of service at Charles Towne Landing, where students will work on maintaining the cougar exhibit as well a pet supply drive to benefit local animal welfare groups. For more information, visit the Homecoming 2012 website or contact the Center for Civic Engagement at volunteer@cofc.edu.

Social media sites will be a great resource for students to find out about deals that local businesses will offer to them throughout the week. Deals and promotions will be announced via the Homecoming 2012Facebook page and via Homecoming 2012’s Twitter page.

To end homecoming week, Chiddy Bang will be performing at the Music Farm at 8:00 p.m. on Saturday, February 11, with doors opening at 7:00 p.m.  Tickets are available at the Stern Center Information Desk and are $20 for students and $25 for the general public, with a limit of two tickets per purchaser.

The annual Spirit Cup Competition will be taking place throughout the week. For more information, groups should refer to the Homecoming website.

Get pumped, Cougars, because you are part of COUGAR NATION!

The group served over 200 meals to the homeless to show support for Crisis Ministries and its important mission of fighting homelessness in the Charleston region.

“Crisis Ministries is a vital resource for our neediest citizens,” Benson said. “The College is honored to be one of many local organizations that support their work.”

Crisis Ministries is the largest homeless service provider in South Carolina. Founded in 1984 out of a soup kitchen in Grace Episcopal Church, the shelter has evolved into a comprehensive service agency, dedicated to helping the homeless become self-sufficient again. Along with serving a daily meal to the public, these services include emergency housing, case management, primary health care, legal services, employment services, and veteran services.

Students interested in volunteering at Crisis Ministries or other organizations should contact the Center for Civic Engagement at 953.5838 or volunteer@cofc.edu.

As part of the School of Business, the Cougar Apprentice Program teaches high school students valuable skills such as applying for a job, working in retail, and learning how to manage customer expectations.

Anderson Townsend, Principal of Military Magnet Academy said “The Military Magnet Academy is very fortunate to be able to participate in the Cougar Apprentice Program at the College of Charleston. Our students will receive hands on work-based learning which will foster necessary business skills.”

College of Charleston President P. George Benson said the apprentice program is another example of the College’s strong relationship  with K-12 schools in the Charleston area. “One of the College’s core values calls on us to strengthen and nurture local assets. By helping to prepare local high school students for the workplace, we are contributing to our region’s economy and quality of life.”

Two academic magnet student trainees will be working at the SIFE CUBE retail space on Friday, February 3rd from 8:30-12 noon  alongside their college level coaches.

The SIFE  team at the College of Charleston has a long history of community outreach and  development over the past few years, including running a youth business  plan  completion, a lemon-aid stand project, and many other initiatives. SIFE is a global non-profit organization, offering university students the opportunity to apply Market Economics, Entrepreneurship, Business Ethics and Financial Literacy Skills to solving real life problems.