Central’s Own — Keith Ratzlaff (English) will read 7:30 p.m., Thursday, March 4, in the Geisler Library Reading Room as part of this year’s Writer’s Reading series. His new poetry book Dubious Angels, based on the drawings and paintings of the late Paul Klee, will be published in 2005. This reading is being held in conjunction with Central’s sesquicentennial celebration.

Wilson Fellows — Author Lynne Schwartz will read from her new book Referred Pain 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, March 9, in the Cox-Snow Recital Hall as part of the 2003-4 Writers Reading series. Schwartz and her husband Harry Schwartz will be on Central’s campus the week of March 8-12 as the school’s 2004 Woodrow Wilson fellows. During the week they will make class visits and presentations, attend dinners and meet with students and faculty. This reading is being held in conjunction with Central’s sesquicentennial celebration.

Alumni and Friends — Please join us at The Brown Bottle, 1111 Center St., in Cedar Falls, Thursday, March 18, at 6:30 p.m. Central College has reserved a room where all alumni and friends can gather to socialize and eat dinner. Appetizers will be provided. Please RSVP to the alumni office by Wednesday, March 10. Call (800) 447-0287 or e-mail alumni@central.edu.

Springfest 2004 Carnival of Health — The campus-wide Health Fair will bring in 34 health-related stations this year. Join us on Thursday, April 1, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Maytag. All stations are free except for the blood screening and bone density test. Hourly staff is allowed a one-hour release during working hours to attend. Register for door prizes. Join the fun and stay healthy. Sponsored by the health service and the wellness committee.

Sesqui Speakers to Continue — Mark your calendar for a very special speaker March 30 in conjunction with Central’s sesquicentennial celebration. Patricia Ireland, attorney and former president of the National Organization for Women (NOW), will speak at 7:30 p.m. in Douwstra Auditorium.

Beethoven Festival Preview — Central’s A Cappella Choir will perform with the Des Moines Symphony, the Des Moines Chorale Society and the Drake University Choir at the Beethoven Festival, 8 p.m., Saturday, May 1, and 2:30 p.m., Sunday, May 2, at the Des Moines Civic Center. Soloists are Simon Estes, Edwin Griffith, Kim Fitch and Kishna Davis. There will be pre-concert lectures one hour before each performance in the east lobby of the Civic Center. Tickets are $22-$48 for adults, half price for students in advance and a student “rush” price of $7 on the day of the performances only.

This spring, Phil Webber (German) will give several presentations on ethnicity in Iowa under the sponsorship of Humanities Iowa, the state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities. He recently presented some of the videotaped interviews made during his last sabbatical to a meeting of the Schleswig Holstein Association in Davenport.

Pat Joachim Kitzman (Career Center) attended the 12th Annual Career Conference: “Career Centers for the Future: Collaboration and Advocacy” Feb. 15-17 at the University of Missouri in Columbia, Mo. She attended sessions on career counseling theory, career courses, inventories/assessments, advancing technologies and marketing career services on a small campus.

Nancy McNee (Spanish) attended the Iowa Culture and Language Conference in Des Moines on Feb. 19. The conference had as its focus strategies for helping English language learners at all levels, from elementary through adults.

Dawn Reece (sociology) has been selected for inclusion in the eighth edition of Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers, 2004. Who’s Who honors a select 5 percent of our nation’s teachers.

Gabriel Espinosa (music) and the Central College Jazz Band went to the Elmhurst Jazz Festival at Elmhurst College in Illinois last weekend and jazz band singer, junior Jill Osheim of Forrest City, got an outstanding performer award.

John Olsen (admission) has resigned as vice president for admission and student enrollment services. John has accepted a position as dean of enrollment at William Jewell College in Liberty, Mo., beginning April 1. Over the past seven years, our enrollment has steadily increased, due to John’s efforts as well as the hard work of the admission staff and our dedicated faculty. Carol Williamson has been named acting dean of admission. The Central College family wishes John and his wife, Pat, all the very best in their new venture.

Thanks so much to the Central community for the plant you sent after mom’s (Katy Van Vliet) passing. Your thoughtfulness was a comfort to us at this sad time — Del (physical plant) and Pat Wichhart.

Lisa Whitmore was hired as catering events coordinator in dining services. Lisa is a graduate of the DMAC Culinary program.

Tony Lopez was hired as catering assistant in dining services. Lopez is a Pella High School graduate and former student manager in dining services.

No news this week.

The theatre production On the Verge: or the Geography of Yearning, written by Eric Overmyer, will show at Central’s Kruidenier Center at 7:30 p.m., Wednesday through Saturday, March 3-6.

Yearning is a verbal romp that follows the adventures of three Victorian-era lady travelers as they don pith helmets and thwack their way around the globe and into the mysterious reaches of Terra Incognita, or “The Unknown Land.” Like three female Indiana Joneses, they visit jungles, mountains and the polar ice flows sharing date bread and cream cheese as well as stories of their previous encounters with indigenous peoples and crocodiles.

They later turn creatively to “chronokinesis” or time travel as these prim and proper ladies find themselves whizzing through the early decades of the 20th century and landing in the good ole’ USA of 1955.

Along the way these women meet a Vegas lounge singer, Mr. Coffee, a grease monkey and the Abominable Snowman, among others.

Steven Bouler, Central assistant professor of theatre, will direct the production.

“ This play is a natural choice for me,” said Central’s newest theatre professor. “Overmeyer’s play combines the sensibilities of Star Trek with the verbal gymnastics of a Tom Stoppard play. If you’re ready for a clever, laugh-packed, theatrical journey around the world and through time, this comedy is just for you.”

Student actors include seniors Jessica Heerema and Anna Haustein, sophomore Kate Baumert and freshman Michael Tweeton.

Tickets for the play are $5 for adults, $2 for seniors and free with a Central I.D.

Department: Physical Plant
Description: Custodian — 3 full-time positions
Budgeted Hours:
1.) 40 hours per week night position at Kuyper Athletic Center, Sun-Thurs, 11 p.m. to 7:30 a.m.
2.) 32.5 hours per week night position at Jordan and Maytag
Sun-Thurs, 10 p.m. to 5 a.m.
3.) 40 hours per week day position at Central Market
Mon–Fri, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and every third Sat 1- 4 p.m.
Grade: TS8 (minimum hiring range $7.65 - $8.20/hr)
Qualifications: Requires cleaning experience. Good interpersonal skills. Ability to communicate and interact with a wide variety of individuals served by the college; ability to follow oral and written instructions. Lift, push or pull up to 40 pounds. Stand up to four hours and climb and use a ladder.
Effective: Immediately
Deadline: Review of candidates will begin immediately.

Department: Physical Plant
Description: Lead custodian for Graham Center
Budgeted Hours: Full time (2080) Mon-Fri, 7 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. and
every third Saturday if there is an event
Grade: TS6 (minimum hiring range $8.36 - $9.06/hr)
Qualifications: Cleaning experience required of over three and up to six months effective experience. Requires good interpersonal skills. Ability to follow oral and written instructions, organize and coordinate tasks. Lift, push or pull up to 40 pounds, use and climb a ladder. Stand up to four hours.
Effective: Immediately
Deadline: Review of candidates will begin immediately.

If interested, please complete an application at human resources office or call 628-5199 or 628-7681 with questions. For more information or to print off an application, go to the Web at www.central.edu/humanresources. Central College is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer and actively seeks a diverse pool of candidates.

Staff Professional Development Retreat — Remember to RSVP for “Don’t Die Until You’re Dead” presented by Steve Siemens, motivational speaker, 10 a.m., Tuesday, March 16, in the Graham Conference Center Banquet Room. Two hours paid release time (RT8) will be given to support staff who attend.

Student Employment Job Fair — Mark your calendars for the student job fair 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Thursday, March 25, at the Maytag Student Center. Students and supervisors will be asked to make their work-study selections for 2004-05 at this time. The fair will be held in Maytag Center, which is a change from the past when it has been held in the Central Market. Students are encouraged to attend and interview for work-study jobs and make their choice of assignment for next school year. This is the most efficient way for a students and supervisors to make their selections for work-study assignments.

Summer Applications — Applications for summer work on campus are now available to pick up in the student employment office, lower level of Central Hall.

Good Friday Holiday – Good Friday is included in our holiday schedule. All general offices will be closed Friday, April 9. There may be exceptions based on the need to cover ongoing services. In those cases select personnel may be required to work, which will be arranged by your immediate supervisor.

Tenure Track — Central College invites applications for an assistant professor of education. This is a tenure track position beginning August 2004. Qualifications include a Ph.D. or Ed.D. (ABDs may be considered), experience in PK-12 setting and a commitment to excellence in teacher preparation in a liberal arts college. Please view our Web site at www.central.edu for a full position description.

Spring Break Reading — Spring break Library and media center hours for Central College will be:

• Saturday and Sunday, March 13-14: library and media center closed
• Monday-Friday, March 15-19 : library and media, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
• Sunday, March 21: library, 5 p.m.- midnight; media, 5-9 p.m.
• Monday, March 22: regular hours resume