Theatre Central — The theatre production Arsenic and Old Lace, which was written by Joseph Kesselring and premiered on Broadway in August 1941, will show at Central’s Kruidenier Center at 7:30 p.m., Wednesday through Saturday, Nov. 19-22. Arsenic and Old Lace ticket prices are $5 for adults, $3 for students and free with a Central I.D. They are available at the information booth in the Maytag Student Center. Call (641) 628-9000 for more information. Thursday’s show will include sign language interpreters for the deaf.

Get Into Some Central Music — Central’s Vocal Combo II jazz ensemble will perform 8 p.m., today, Wednesday, Nov. 19, in Cox-Snow Recital Hall. Performances will consist of modern pop songs and jazz standards.

The College-Community Chorus will put on a performance at the Central College Chapel at 4 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 23.
The chorus, consisting of 60 Central students, faculty, staff and Pella community members, will sing the “Magnificat” by 20th-Century English composer, John Rutter.

The Symphonic Wind Ensemble, as well as the College-Community Band, will take the stage 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 25, in Douwstra. “Paris Sketches” by Martin Ellerby, “Danza Caribe” by Alford Reed (featuring the Flying Pans), as well as a premier piece by Gregory Mertl called “Fanfare To An Open Sky” will be featured. The College-Community Band will perform “In The Forest Of The King” by Pierre La Plante as well as “How Long Has This Been Going On?” by George Gershwin.

Candlelight Christmas — The Central College music department once again generates holiday spirit as it presents its annual Christmas Candlelight Concert. The concert, a Central tradition for around 30 years, takes place at 8 p.m., Thursday-Saturday, Dec.4-6, in Douwstra Auditorium. Admission is $5 for the general public, $2 for students and seniors and free with Central ID. Tickets can be purchased at the information booth in the Maytag Student Center.

As an additional benefit this year, in honor of Central’s yearlong sesquicentennial celebration, the college is offering a series of nine cultural dinners that will highlight delicious recipes from its international sites. At 6:30 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 4, before the Christmas Candlelight Concert, the third cultural dinner will be held in the Boat-Moore- Weller Rooms in the Maytag Student Center featuring foods from the Netherlands. Dinners are $10 a plate, unless a pass has already been purchased for the whole series. Students may use their meal plan plus pay $2 to enjoy the meal. For more information or to RSVP call Susan Canfield at (641) 628-7642. RSVP for each dinner need to be made at least 48 hours in advance.

Bob Schanke to Read — Author Bob Schanke, Central professor emeritus of theatre, will read from one of his most recent books, That Furious Lesbian: The Story of Mercedes de Acosta, 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 9, in the Geisler Library Reading Room. A native Iowan, Schanke taught at various schools throughout his career including William Penn College, Susquehanna University, Midland Lutheran College and finally, Central College for 27 years. Schanke has achieved many accomplishments, including writing for more than 20 publications as well as numerous honors, offices and awards for his efforts.

Festival of Trees — Come see Central’s sesquicentennial Christmas tree at The Festival of Trees 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 19, through Saturday, Dec. 6, at the Pella Opera House. The festival will also be open 4-8 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 20; 7-9 p.m., Monday, Nov. 24; 4-8 p.m., Friday, Nov. 28; 4-6 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 29; 4-5:30 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 6. The tree auction will take place 4 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 6. Trees may also be purchased by silent auction in the days prior to the auction.

Les Miz — Central College has reserved tickets for the widely popular Les Misérables for Central College alumni and friends Thursday, Jan. 8, at the Civic Center of Greater Des Moines. Before the show, please join other alumni at the Renaissance Savery Hotel, 411 Locust St., just northwest of the Civic Center, in the ballroom for hors d’oeuvres and a reception beginning at 6 p.m. Tickets for the show are $47.50 each. Please RSVP to Central by Friday, Dec. 5. For more information call (800) 447-0287 or e-mail alumni@central.edu.

Phil Webber (German) recently served as part of the evaluation team convened by the National Endowment for the Humanities for review of the programs of Humanities Iowa, our state’s humanities council.

Anya Butt (natural science) attended the annual Geological Society of Iowa field trip on Nov. 8. The trip this year was located in Fayette, Iowa, and focused on the Echo Valley State Park and the Volga River State Recreation area.

Kathleen Streeter’s (student life) first publication appeared in West’s Education Law Reporter (180 (1), 23 Oct. 2003, p. 25-38). “The Risks of Litigation: A Case Study of Resident Assistants” (Helms, Pierson and Streeter) is the result of some work Streeter did during an independent study in law during her second year in grad school at Iowa. She earned a master’s in student development in postsecondary education with a minor in higher education law in May 2002.

Ronald Kane Hardy (library) attended the Iowa Library Association annual planning meeting Nov. 7 in Prairie City, Iowa. He is the continuing chair of the ILA editorial committee. He also accompanied several students from Common Ground to the second annual Queer Iowa Student Conference in Iowa City, Iowa, Nov. 8-9. The theme of the conference was: “Creating a United Front for Social Change.”

Don Racheter (political science) attended the annual meeting of the Iowa Conference of Political Scientists Nov. 1, in Indianola. Racheter served on the nominating committee of the business meeting and served as a discussant on the panel on the 2004 caucuses.

Jann Freed’s (business management) manuscript titled: “Creating a Total Quality Environment for Learning (TQE)” has been accepted for publication in the Journal of Management Education, a publication of the Organizational Behavior Teaching Society.

Pamela Ewell (education) completed a three-year commitment serving on the Iowa Department of Education stakeholder group charged with the responsibility to develop Iowa’s professional development process for K-12 educators. In May 2001, the Iowa General Assembly passed landmark legislation that identifies professional development as a key component of school reform in Iowa. The intent of the Iowa General Assembly, as stated in Senate File 476, is to create a student achievement and teacher quality program that acknowledges that outstanding teachers are a key component in student success.

Jim Zaffiro (political science/environmental studies) presented: “Pula! A Political History of National Water Policy in Botswana,” at the 46th annual African Studies Association meeting Oct. 30, in Boston.

Nancy McNee (Spanish) gave a presentation at the Strengthening and Valuing Latino Communities in Iowa Conference at the University of Iowa Nov. 1. Her presentation was about the Fulbright-García Robles scholarships available for Mexican citizens applying to do graduate study in the United States. The contact institution for the scholarships is COMEXUS (The Commission for Educational Exchange between Mexico and the United States).

Several members of the Central College Community attended the Strengthening and Valuing Latinos in Iowa conference at the University of Iowa on Nov. 1. The conference, cosponsored by the Iowa Division of Latino Affairs and the University of Iowa School of Social Work, explored the changing demographics and dynamics of the Latina/o community in Iowa and the responsiveness of policy makers, business leaders, educators and community-based organizations to the fastest growing population in Iowa. The keynote speaker was Victor Villaseñor, the best selling author of such books as Rain of Gold and The Thirteen Senses.

Faculty and staff who attended were: Carol Wallace, Nancy McNee, Jose Neto and Jamie Wilson (Spanish); Steve Ybarrola (anthropology); Keith Yanner (political science); María Carla Chiarella and Jim Schulze (psychology); Eddie Moore, Jr. and Joanna Daniel (intercultural life); Cheri Doane (director of community-based learning) and Lisa Rock ’87. Doane attended a pre-conference institute titled “Ethical Considerations in working with the Latino Community.” The following students attended: language assistant Silvia Mira; juniors Jennifer Wood, Patricia Galván and Helen Landaverde; sophomores Kandace Hudson, Megan Stewart, Elizabeth Loomis, Wendy Mielke; and freshmen Heriberto (Eddie) Ochoa and Esperanza Pintor.

The Central College PLACES program was named “Outstanding Educational Organization” and received an award from Lt. Governor Sally Pederson. The program was recognized for its partnerships with more than 20 different agencies and organizations that serve Latinos in Iowa.

Eric Bumgardner (college relations) and wife Kiersten welcomed their new baby Sean Joseph in to the world Oct. 21. Sean weighed 8 pounds, five ounces and was 21” long.

No news this week.

Several Central students are involved in this month’s production of the theatre classic Arsenic and Old Lace, directed by Ann Wilkinson, visiting professor of theatre. The story of Arsenic and Old Lace is set in the innocent pre-war days of 1941, in a quaint Victorian house in Brooklyn where sisters Abby and Martha Brewster maintain the genteel lifestyle of their by-gone youth. The charmingly eccentric ladies have also quietly poisoned 12 old men and buried them in the cellar. Add three nephews — one who thinks he’s Teddy Roosevelt, one who bears an uncanny resemblance to Boris Karloff and another who is engaged to a minister’s daughter. Toss in a policeman who thinks he’s a playwright, and you have the ingredients for some irresistible fun for the whole family. Students involved are freshmen Michael Trotter, D.C. Felton, John Anderson, Derek Klopfenstein; sophomores Joe Cerwinske, Tyrell Huey, Kate Baumert and Emmalee Moffitt; juniors Mike Poundstone and Mitch Alford; seniors Suzanne Parcher and Jessica Heerema, the production’s stage manager.

Many things in our lives are measured by numbers. The admission team is wrapping up their fall travels and they are excited about the contacts they have made to this point. Our application base is ahead 11 percent over the fall of 2002 and 15 percent of our accepted students have come from out of the state of Iowa. Twenty-three percent of these students have earned or are currently in the process of earning college credit. Thirty-three applicants are students of color or are considered international students.

Our campus visits are up 21 percent. The number of seniors is off 13 from last year’s mark of 290. The increases have been in juniors and other family members. Students are co-purchasers these days. Parents are a very important part of the final decision making process. It is very encouraging to see so many parents involved in the college visit process too.

We have truly been enjoying our new facilities in admission. It is so fun to see and hear the responses our visitors have when they walk through our doors. The “WOW” factor creates a wonderful first impression. I want to add a special “thank you” to our physical plant team who moved us to Graham last spring and back again this fall. I also want to thank the Graham custodial team that cared for our needs all summer long as well as Lowell Olivier and Sue Visser for graciously sharing their space with all of us while the Central Hall renovation was in process.

Thanks to all who made this project flow so smoothly and in a timely fashion. The outcome has been beyond my greatest expectation. Collecting artwork for our common spaces is in full swing. We hope to bring Central College alive to all of our guests with pictures of students participating in student activities all across the campus and around the world. Here’s wishing each of you a very Happy Thanksgiving.

Just the facts

Department: Dining services
Description: Night snack bar worker
Budgeted Hours: 3-11 p.m., Monday-Friday with occasional weekends
Grade: TS 8 (minimum hiring range $7.65-$8.20/hr.)
Qualifications: Requires basic math, reading and cooking skills. Ability to lift up to 50 pounds, stand and walk for sustained periods of time and have the ability to work with students and a wide variety of individuals on campus.
Effective: Immediately
Deadline: Review of candidates will begin immediately.

Department: Dining services
Description: Catering events coordinator
Budgeted Hours: Full time (2080 hrs.)
Grade: TS 4 (minimum hiring range $9.07-$10.47/hr.)
Qualifications: Hours will vary according to events. Requires high school degree plus two to three years of dining services/catering experience. Ability to lift up to 50 pounds, stand and walk for sustained periods of time and have the ability to work with students and a wide variety of individuals on campus. Must maintain a valid driver’s license.
Effective: Immediately

Deadline: Review of candidates will begin immediately.
Department: Physical plant
Description: Custodian
Budgeted Hours: Full-time position
Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.- 4:30 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 a ladder.
Effective: Immediately
Deadline: Review of candidates will begin immediately.

Department: Physical plant
Description: Custodian — Part time REVISED
Budgeted Hours: Part time, flexible working hours, Monday-Friday with 24 hours a week during academic hear and 12 hours a week during the summer.
Grade: TS8 (minimum hiring range $7.65 — $8.20/hr.)
Qualifications: Requires cleaning experience and 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 a ladder

Department: Student Support Services
Description: Gear Up administrative assistant
Hours: Part time with benefits, Monday-Friday
Academic year only 20-25 hrs. per week
Grade: SC 4 (minimum hiring range $8.35-$8.95/hr.)
Qualifications: Responsible to the director of Talent Search and Gear Up for performing a variety of administrative support activities. Requires additional secretarial training beyond high school including computer operations and general office procedures. The Gear Up program is federally funded through the U.S. Department of Education.
Effective: Immediately
Deadline: Review of candidates will begin immediately.

Department: College advancement
Description: Alumni database coordinator
Grade: SC5 (minimum hiring range $8.74-$9.64/hr.)
Hours: Full time, 32 hours a week, Monday-Friday with hours being flexible.
Qualifications: Responsible to the director of alumni and church relations for maintaining the alumni database and for providing general administrative support to the alumni office. Requires training beyond high school with knowledge of office support procedures, computer systems (Windows, MS Office, Excel and Web applications) and database management with 2-3 years of effective experience. Ability to communicate and interact with a wide variety of individuals served by the college.
Effective: Immediately
Deadline: Review of candidates will begin immediately.

If interested in any of the above positions, please complete a job opportunity application at human resources office or call 628-5199 or 628-7681 with questions or you may print one off of our Web site at www.central.edu/humanresouces. Central College is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer and actively seeks a diverse pool of candidates.

TIAA-CREF Individual Counseling Sessions — Forty-five minute sessions will be available noon to 4:45 p.m., Monday, Dec. 8, and 8 a.m. to 1:45 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 9, in Graham Conference Center Rooms 2 and 3. You may schedule your appointment time by going to the Web at www.tiaa-cref.org/moc or by calling Anna Lowery at 1-800-842-2005, ext. 5633.

Thanksgiving Holiday — The campus will be closed for Thanksgiving on Thursday and Friday, Nov. 27-28.

Christmas Break — We are pleased to announce that the college will be closed Wednesday-Sunday, Dec. 24-28. Offices will be open normal office hours on Monday and Tuesday, Dec. 29-30, and until 2 p.m., Wednesday, Dec. 31. Then offices will be closed Thursday and Friday, Jan. 1 and 2. This will add three paid holidays for all regular full-time and majority-time employees based on budgeted hours for the current fiscal year. Minority-time and temporary employees are not eligible for holiday pay. There are a few areas that will require minimal staffing during these days and the relevant supervisor will arrange the necessary coverage. This will allow travelers to make plans well in advance and all of us to be able to look forward to a refreshing break.

New Year’s Eve Release Time — Dr. Roe has approved an early release time of 2 p.m. for those employees working on campus on Wednesday, Dec. 31. In addition to the three paid release days during the week of Christmas, all regular full-time and majority-time employees who are working on campus that day will be paid from 2 p.m. through the end of their normal work shift for that day. Offices must have adequate staffing until 2 p.m. Please be sure to note the release time on your time sheet. Check with your supervisor if you have questions regarding release time.

Inclement Weather Policy — Since the college is basically a residential college, it is not possible to completely close the college in the case of inclement weather. Even if classes are not held, there are essential services that must be provided. Closing announcements will be made through mass voice mail, e-mail and local radio stations in Pella, Knoxville, Oskaloosa and Des Moines by the college relations office through direction of the president or a designated representative.

When the college is not officially closed, even though the weather may seem threatening, classes will be held at the discretion of the faculty member. Faculty members are urged to be sensitive to their own, as well as to, student safety in applying this policy. The policy is not intended to force people to take unwise risks, but rather to keep the academic program operating.

As is the case with faculty and students, members of the administrative and support staff will be permitted to exercise discretion with respect to the relative safety of travel to and from the work place. In this spirit, it is anticipated that staff members will make every effort consistent with their own safety to be at work. If the staff member is unable to get to work, notification to immediate supervisor is required.

When the president of the college, or his/her designated representative, officially closes the college, staff members will be excused from work and will receive pay in the following circumstances:

• The staff member is at work when the closing is announced and is released and paid for their regularly scheduled hours.
• The staff member whose work schedule begins during a closing will not be required to work and will be paid for their normally scheduled hours.

Those staff members who work in areas that cannot close, such as dining services, security, critical maintenance and snow removal should follow the specific procedures established for their area of operation. Employees in these areas will receive equivalent time off during the same week for the hours worked during the official close down period, based on the decision of immediate supervisor. Hours worked before and/or after the close down do not qualify for equivalent time off.

Staff members who do not come to work or leave the college at their own discretion due to inclement weather when the college is not officially closed down will be required to use vacation time, or to forgo their pay for those hours not worked. The absence will be considered excused. Supervisors may require that time lost from work be made up if the workload in their department makes this necessary.