So, while you're at home over the break...

See if you have any of these lying around. Under the bed perhaps? ;)

Library Holiday Hours

Week of December 13th: Open Monday-Friday 8 am-5 pm

Week of December 21st: Open Monday-Wednesday 8 am-5 pm

Week of December 28th: Open by appointment only-- please call (770) 720-9120 for admittance

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!

(Of course our 24-hour areas of the library are always open for Reinhardt students, faculty and staff with Eagle cards)!

US Government Offers $3.4 Billion Settlement?

Hello all,
Heard this on NPR this morning. A good sign? A fair settlement? Or beads for Manhattan: too little, too late? Or is anything better than nothing? Let's discuss!

After A History Of Mistrust, $3.4B For Indians
by Liz Halloran
December 8, 2009
For most of its 122-year history, the government trust fund program that pays American Indians royalties for use of their land has been a tragic mess, plagued by bureaucratic mismanagement and accusations of flat-out theft.

Tribal members have long contended that they are owed billions of dollars in unpaid dues for farming, grazing, timber-cutting and other government leases on their land dating back to the 1887 federal act that broke up reservations and gave Indians individual parcels.

Records about who owns — and are owed — are scattered across the country in remote locations and dusty files, or simply don't exist.

And many tribal elders waiting for their rightful recompense have been dying in poverty.

That, perhaps more than anything, says Indian activist Elouise Cobell, is what persuaded her to agree this week to settle her 13-year legal fight to force the government to account for what's due to a half-million Indian landowners, and to pay up.

She joined administration officials Tuesday in announcing an agreement under which the government would spend about $3.4 billion to pay out a fraction of the unpaid royalties claimed in the lawsuit, and to help tribes acquire small, Indian-owned parcels to establish larger, more usable tracts.

Read the rest of the article here.

Day of Infamy: December 7, 1941

Today is, of course, Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day. We have several books and films available about the attack and its aftermath. Many of these are new to the library, part of the Triplett Memorial Military History Collection. Here are just a few of our newest additions...

Books
Book of War by Dwight John Zimmerman
Rising Sons: the Japanese American-American GIs who Fought for the United States in World War II by Bill Yenne
Just Americans: How Japanese Americans Won a War at Home and Abroad by Robert Asahina

Films
"WWII"
"Tora! Tora! Tora!"
"Attack on Pearl Harbor: a Day of Infamy"
"Air Power"
"Memories of War"
"December 7th: the Movie"

These materials and others are currently available from the Triplett Memorial Military History Collection at Reinhardt College. More are being added to our circulating collection on a daily basis!

"Year Of" History Moment: December 6, 1830

On December 6, 1830, President Andrew Jackson delivered his second State of the Union address, in which he praised the Indian Removal Act passed that year.

"It gives me pleasure," Jackson said, "to announce to Congress that the benevolent policy of the government... in relation to the removal of the Indians beyond the white settlements is approaching to a happy consummation" (emphasis mine).

This address particularly demonstrated the paternalism Jackson felt toward the indigenous nations. Those native leaders who protested removal (such as Chief John Ross of the Cherokee, Speckled Snake of the Muscogee and George W. Harkins of the Choctaw) obviously did not understand how being forcibly ejected from their own homelands was really for their own good.

"The consequences of a speedy removal will be important to the United States, to individual States, and to the Indians themselves..." Jackson said. "Toward the aborigines of the country no one can indulge a more friendly feeling than myself, or would go further in attempting to reclaim them from their wandering habits and make them a happy, prosperous people." Jackson also claimed that the Cherokee and Choctaw had with "great unamity" agreed to accept the "liberal offers" presented to them by the US government.

Ross, on the other hand, made it very clear in his 1836 letter to Congress that the Treaty of New Echota, which dictated the terms of Cherokee removal, was not authorized by the Cherokee Nation. "The instrument in question is not the act of our Nation; we are not parties to its covenants; it has not received the sanction of our people. The makers of it sustain no office nor appointment in our Nation, under the designation of Chiefs, Head men, or any other title, by which they hold, or could acquire, authority to assume the reins of Government..."

Harkins, in an 1831 letter to the American people, compared his people's situation to a man, led on by false pretenses, finding himself lost and surrounded on all sides by fire and water. "The fire was certain destruction, and a feeble hope was left him of escaping by water. A distant view of the opposite shore encourages the hope; to remain would be inevitable annihilation. Who would hesitate, or who would say that his plunging into the water was his own voluntary act?"

Most of the displaced indigenous peoples rightly opposed removal. Some, such as the Cherokee, tried legal channels, taking their case to the Supreme Court (they won, but were forcibly removed anyway). Some, like the Seminoles in Florida and the Sacs and Foxes in the Midwest, tried to resist by force. But in the end, Jackson had his way.


Sources: Fighting Words: Competing Voices from Native America, edited by Dewi Ioan Bell and Joy Porter; The Trail of Tears and Indian Removal by Amy H. Sturgis; and Encyclopedia of American Indian Civil Rights, edited by James S. Olson, Mark Baxter, Jason M. Tetzloff and Darren Pierson.

All of these documents were found on American Indian Experience, an excellent database we have from Greenwood Publishing. I can't urge you enough to give it a look. It's fascinating and profoundly touching to read primary documents from this time in particular, to read the actual words of the peoples affected. Recommended!

"Year Of" Movie TODAY at 2 pm: Crazy Horse

The Year of North American Indigenous Peoples committee would like to invite all of you to come out to today's film, Crazy Horse, about the Lakota warrior who helped defeat General Custer at the battle of Little Bighorn. The 1996 biopic from Turner Pictures was nominated for two Primetime Emmys and an Eddie award from American Cinema Editors USA. The movie will be shown in the theater at the Funk Heritage Center. Library director and "Year Of" chairman Michael Martinez will be on hand to offer his comments and answer questions. This will be the last "Year Of" movie for the semester.

Remember: write a review of any "Year Of" book or movie, and you could win a t-shirt, a flash drive or even a Wii! Click here for more information about the Year of North American Indigenous Peoples and the contest!

More help for the panicked-- from Reinhardt's own Dr. Emanuel!

Here are some finals tips from Dr. Catherine Emanuel, Director of the Center for Student Success at Reinhardt:

Like voting, studying should be done early and often. If you feel as if you do not understand the material, come to the Center for Student Success or tune in to your Reinhardt email for study groups that are occurring throughout this week.

Mix it up---Take different approaches to studying. Read, copy notes, make outlines, teach difficult concepts to other people in the class, make mind-maps for difficult to remember material. Figure out your best learning method--hearing, seeing, teaching, speaking, writing, synthesizing notes--and make use of that technique.

Do not pull all-nighters! Make a To-Do list and reward yourself for studying and for reading, but do not expect to retain all the information you glean from last-minute cramming.

Study different parts of the upcoming exam in different places. By changing locale, you can remember where you were when studying and you may dredge up the material by associating setting with material.

Ask professors to explain difficult concepts, and also ask them for the format of the test. You will study differently for a multiple choice test than you would for a discussion one.

Eat healthily and get plenty of rest. Postpone your social life for a week and a half. The friends will still be there, but the opportunity to do well in the course will not.

Dr. Emanuel has also provided us with a list of review/study sessions being held today. They are:

Dr. Martinez's Old Testament final exam study session: 2 and 3 pm in Tarpley 109

Dr. Ast's History 111 final exam study session: 2 pm in Tarpley 111

Dr. Wheeler's History 251 final exam study session: 4 pm right here in Library 311

Take advantage of these study sessions, and stop by the Center for Student Success in Lawson 35 if you need more help. Throughout the semester they have tutors to assist you, as well as advice and support on how to make the best of your academic career at Reinhardt. They have the tools to help you succeed!

Help for the Panicked!!!

I'm convinced now that Dr. Laurie Rozakis of Farmingdale State College of Farmingdale, NY, is the GURU of test-taking. I was just enjoying her book Test-Taking Strategies & Study Skills for the Utterly Confused (copyright 2003 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc), which, fortunately for us we have available as an e-book through NetLibrary, when our public services librarian Karen Preslock walked up and handed me Dr. Rozakis' Super Study Skills: the Ultimate Guide to Tests and Studying (copyright 2002 by Scholastic, Inc), which we have on Reserve. Super Study Skills seems to be aimed more toward middle and high schoolers and has a lot of general study tips, while Test-Taking Strategies is more appropriate for the college student concerned about finals (we don't know any of those, do we?). Both have some great advice that you can use to make the best of your exams.

In both books, Dr. Rozakis offers a Power Study Plan, which I love. Yesterday I posted the final exam schedule. Did you think that was when your exams started? No, your exam starts NOW--when you start preparing for it. Making a plan can help you make the most of your study time (and, we hope, eliminate the need for the classic all-nighter before the final).

Step one of the Power Study Plan starts four days before the test. Reread your notes and the textbook.

Step two is done three days before the test. Skim your notes and the text, and recite the important points aloud. (It really does help to say the words and listen to yourself say them. I might not even shush you for it! Just don't do it so loudly you disturb the other students, please).

Step three: Two days before the test, recite the key points without looking at your notes, and then check to make sure you're right.

Step four: Finals Eve! Dr. Rozakis suggests you make a sample test and answer the questions, or have someone quiz you. Skim your notes and the text again, and identify the most important points. (Lay out your clothes and supplies the night before to minimize morning stress, and get a good night's sleep)!

Step five: Test Day! If you have time before the test, skim your notes one last time. Take a deep breath and relax! I know you can do it!

Check out Dr. Rozakis' books for yourself, and remember to ask us if you need help. Good luck!

Or, as I like to call it, our library's "tourist season"....

FINAL EXAM SCHEDULE-- FALL 2009

MONDAY, DEC. 7:

MWF 10 am classes will have finals from 8 am to 11 am. TuTh 9:30 am classes will have finals from 11:15 am to 2:15 pm. MW 2:30 pm classes will have finals from 2:30 pm to 5:30 pm.

TUESDAY, DEC. 8:

MWF 8 am classes will have finals from 8 am to 11 am. TuTh 11 am classes will have finals from 11:15 am to 2:15 pm. MW 4 pm classes will have finals from 2:30 pm to 5:30 pm.

WEDNESDAY, DEC. 9:

TuTh 8 am classes will have finals from 8 am to 11 am. MWF 9 am classes will have finals from 11:15 am to 2:15 pm. TuTh 12:30 pm classes will have finals from 2:30 pm to 5:30 pm.

THURSDAY, DEC. 10:

MWF 11 am classes will have finals from 8 am to 11 am. TuTh 4 pm classes will have finals from 11:15 am to 2:15 pm. MW 1 pm classes will have finals from 2:30 pm to 5:30 pm.

FRIDAY, DEC. 11

MWF noon classes will have finals from 8 am to 11 am. Friday 1-3:45 pm classes will have finals from 11:15 am to 2:15 pm.

REMEMBER we are here to help you! Check out our delicious.com page for some helpful study tips! GOOD LUCK!

Happy Birthday, Mark Twain!

Samuel Langhorne Clemens, better known as Mark Twain, was born November 30, 1835, in Florida, Missouri (did you know there was a Florida in Missouri? I didn't until just now). He spent most of his formative years in the nearby town of Hannibal, on the Mississippi River, and took his famous nom de plume from the steamboatmen's term for two fathoms of water. Clemens had little formal education, but in my not-always-humble opinion, he has few peers among American writers, and perhaps no equal.

We have several of Twain's novels available in the library in both print and e-book formats, including (again, in my opinion) his greatest work, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. This novel is a profound indictment of slavery, racial and social injustice and societal hypocrisy, as well as just being a darn good story. (It's also a frequent target of censorship).

Maybe sometime during these next couple of weeks, you might have the urge to make like Tom Sawyer and play hooky. While I don't advocate blowing off your finals (or faking your own death, like Tom did), a few minutes with Twain may prove a great stress relief. I advise going beyond the required-reading Twain novels you've been assigned in English classes over the years, and check out some of his more obscure work (a favorite of mine: The Diaries of Adam and Eve, [PS1301 .A1 1971] on the third floor of the library).

Twain famously predicted his own death, joking that as Halley's Comet had appeared during his birth year, he should die the next time the comet came around. In 1909, he wrote,

"I came in with Halley's Comet in 1835. It is coming again next year, and I expect to go out with it. It will be the greatest disappointment of my life if I don't go out with Halley's Comet. The Almighty has said, no doubt: "Now here are these two unaccountable freaks; they came in together, they must go out together."

Twain passed away on April 21, 1910 in Redding, Connecticut.

Source for biographical information: NoveList

Happy Thanksgiving

The Hill Freeman Library & Spruill Learning Center is thankful for all Reinhardt students, faculty and staff who pass through our doors.

We will close today at 2 pm in honor of the holiday and reopen at 2 pm on Sunday. We wish all of you and yours a very happy Thanksgiving.

(The picture is from Daily Life America. I found it in a very fascinating article that tells about the true origins of the holiday. It's probably not what you were taught in kindergarten. Intrigued? Check it out for yourselves. I am grateful to have so many online resources at my fingertips through my job at the library, and thankful for the chance to share them with you through this forum)!

IN THE NEWS: Cartersville's Daily Tribune Nov. 23, 2009

Thanks to Marie Nesmith and The Daily Tribune News of Cartersville, GA, for an OUTSTANDING article on Don Wesley-Brown and the Triplett Memorial Military History Collection!

Read the article here.

Did you know...?

...that you can suggest books and media for the library to add to its collection?

You can find a suggestion form on our library homepage. Let us know what you'd like to see on our shelves!

Have you perused our Leisure Reading collection on the second floor lately? This collection is continually being changed and updated. We recently got in several new books, including the latest by Jodi Picoult and Joel Osteen, and in the "posthumous" category, the last book by George Carlin and the newest chapter in the Wheel of Time series.

Maybe you'd like to pick up a novel for Thanksgiving break, in case you need a respite from too many relatives, or an escape from all that studying I know you'll be doing...

"Year Of" Movie TODAY at 2 pm: "Soldier Blue"

Today's offering in our Year of North American Indigenous Peoples film series is the graphic 1970 film Soldier Blue by director Ralph Nelson.

This film was the first motion picture account of one of the most tragic and infamous incidents in the history of the American West: the massacre of an entire village of Cheyenne and Arapaho by the Colorado militia in 1864. The movie was released during America's involvement in Vietnam, shortly after the events of the My Lai massacre were made public.

Posters in theater lobbies during showings of Soldier Blue warned patrons of the film's "controversial and devastating" subject matter. The film was also unusually graphic for its time in its explicit depiction of violence, including close-up shots of bullets ripping into flesh.

Soldier Blue will be shown at 2 pm today in the theater at the Funk Heritage Center.

Happy 81st birthday to my favorite rodent

Entertainment icon Mickey Mouse made his "talking picture" debut on November 18, 1928 in an animated short called Steamboat Willie. His trademark squeaky voice was provided by Walt Disney himself.

I actually got to see Steamboat Willie for the first time a couple of months ago when I went to the Walt Disney World resort, and I must say the little mouse has held up pretty well!

There's an incredible article by M. Thomas Inge about Mickey Mouse in American Icons: an Encyclopedia of the People, Places and Things that have Shaped Our Culture, edited by Dennis R. and Susan Grove Hall. Our library has access to this work through the Pop Culture Universe database; Reinhardt folks can read it here. This article looks at the mouse from a sociological perspective, examining both the societal influences on Mickey's creation (was his appearance really based on a stereotypical character from a minstrel show?) and the influences Mickey himself has had on world culture (did you know that in China the folk figure of the Monkey King has been depicted with Mickey's face)? Just one of the many titillating revelations in the piece: Walt Disney apparently admitted that he loved Mickey Mouse more than any woman he'd ever known!

Check it out!

Speaker Today in the Library @3pm!

Today at 3:00 pm on the third floor of the library, James Melton of Emory University will present "From Salzburg to Savannah: A Pietist Utopia in Colonial Georgia, 1734-1776."

A brief bio of Dr. Melton from the Emory web site follows:

"His last book, The Rise of the Public in Enlightenment Europe (Cambridge University Press, 2001), is a work of comparative synthesis focusing on England and France as well as the German-speaking territories. As the first book-length, critical reassessment of what Jürgen Habermas termed the “bourgeois public sphere,” it builds on Professor Melton’s longstanding interest in absolutism and political culture in early modern Europe. His earlier book, Absolutism and the Eighteenth-Century Origins of Compulsory Schooling in Prussia and Austria (Cambridge University Press, 1988), was awarded the Biennial Book Prize by the Central European Conference Group of the American Historical Association. His edited works include Pietism in Germany and North America, 1680-1820 (co-editor), (Ashgate Publishing, 2009), Cultures of Communication from Reformation to Enlightenment: Constructing Publics in the Early Modern German Lands (Ashgate, 2002); Paths of Continuity: German Historical Scholarship from the 1920s to the 1960s (Cambridge University Press, 1994); and a translation (with Howard Kaminsky) of Otto Brunner, Land and Lordship: Structures of Governance in Medieval Austria (University of Pennsylvania Press, 1992).

More recently his interests have turned to the Atlantic World, notably German migrations to North America in the eighteenth century. In 2008 he received an NEH Research Fellowship for his project on the transatlantic migration of Salzburg Protestants to the Georgia colony in 1734. Fleeing their alpine homeland as part of the largest expulsion of a religious minority in eighteenth-century Europe, a small band of Salzburgers founded a utopian Pietist community on the Savannah River that for a time was the most successful settlement in colonial Georgia. The book, Migrations of Conscience in the Old World and the New: From Alpine Valley to Colonial Lowcountry, addresses questions of interest to European and colonial historians alike. How did clandestine religious minorities resist or accommodate efforts to impose confessional uniformity? What led some exiles to seek refuge across the Atlantic when other options were available in Europe? Once in North America, how did a previously isolated alpine folk react to the rapidly expanding institution of slavery? What attitudes toward race did they import from their European homeland, and how did these views lead them to oppose slavery?

Some recent or forthcoming articles: “New Perspectives on Germans in the Atlantic World,” "Otto Brunner und die ideologischen Ursprünge von Begriffsgeschichte," (2009); "From Alpine Miner to Lowcountry Yeoman: Transatlantic Worlds of a Georgia Salzburger, 1693-1761,” Past and Present 200, no. 2 (2008); “Confessional Power and the Power of Confession: Concealing and Revealing the Faith in Alpine Salzburg, 1730–34," in H.C. Scott and Brendan Simms, eds., Cultures of Power in Europe during the the Long Eighteenth Century (Cambridge University Press, 2007).

This date in history: Elizabethan Age Begins

"It is the Lord's doing, and it is wonderful in our eyes.--Psalms 118:23, quoted by Queen Elizabeth I of England upon hearing of her accession to the throne.

On November 17, 1558, at 6:00 in the morning, the English Queen Mary I died at St. James Palace in London. Parliament convened and by 8:00 decided that Mary's half-sister Princess Elizabeth should succeed her. Mary and Elizabeth, the daughters of King Henry VIII by his first and second wives, Catherine of Aragon and Anne Boleyn, respectively, had had a troubled relationship for the five years of Mary's reign. Mary, like her mother, was a devout Catholic and had earned the nickname "Bloody Mary" for her intense anti-Protestant legislation. Some of her Protestant subjects attempted to overthrow her and put Elizabeth on the throne, leading Mary to arrest Elizabeth and put her in the Tower of London on suspicion of complicity in the plot. However, on her deathbed, Mary accepted that Elizabeth would inherit her throne.

Queen Elizabeth I, known as the Virgin Queen because she refused to marry and share power with a husband, reigned for 44 years, bringing stability to the country and seeing the emergence of England as a world power. Her reign coincided with the flowering of the English Renaissance and has been called the "Golden Age" of England.

We have several good works available in the library about Elizabeth I, including the splendid biography by Alison Weir [DA355.W36 1999], some of the Queen's own writings [DA350.A25 2000], several historical novels and the 1998 Polygram Entertainment film starring Cate Blanchett (trailer below courtesy of Youtube). You can also read more about her accession in this article from History Today, which I found in our World History Collection database.

One man's gift to benefit "generations" of scholars

The Hill Freeman Library & Spruill Learning Center has exciting news to share! We recently received a generous git of over 5,000 materials--books, artwork, historical artifacts, maps, media and more--from a single donor. Mr. Don Wesley-Brown of Bartow County, a veteran of the 101st Airborne and a lifelong military history collector, has given his incredible collection to us. It will be called the Triplett Memorial Military History Collection, and will be given a place of honor in our library.

Appropriately, the library held a presentation of the collection on Veterans' Day, in honor of all who have served in our country's armed forces, and in special appreciation of Mr. Brown and his generous gift. Mr. Brown, who often speaks to groups on his favorite topic, the American Civil War, gave a short talk about how his interest in military history evolved, and how he began collecting.

Although he was born in Chattanooga, Tennessee, a city he describes as a "living Civil War museum," Brown said he didn't fully appreciate its history while he was growing up.

"I lived on Missionary Ridge, where I believe the true turning point of the war took place," Brown admitted, "but when you grow up in a place, you tend to take it for granted." While Brown's interest in military history had not yet kindled, his interest in books and reading certainly had. Brown described himself as the kind of kid who "always lived in the library."

Brown enlisted in the military in order to pay for college, but his real interest in military history was sparked when he saw Ken Burns' acclaimed documentary on the Civil War. This doesn't mean he was exactly a fan of Burns' work.

"The political correctness of it made me want to throw a brick through the television," Brown said. He had a feeling there was more to the story than what Ken Burns described, so he started researching the war for himself. Buying and books about the war soon became a passion.

"If you want to know the truth, about 95% of these books were bought when I really couldn't afford them," he said. "But I went through a book every three or four days."

Naturally, Brown began to wonder if any of his own ancestors had fought in the war. When he researched his family name "Triplett," he found over 200 Tripletts had fought in the war (on both sides, although Brown quipped that he tries to play down his Yankee relatives). Through further research, Brown discovered that the Tripletts hailed from Mt. Vernon, Virginia, and were one of 13 families personally invited to attend the funeral of President George Washington.

"So I got interested in Washington and the Revolutionary War," Brown said. "Then I found out there had been a Triplett in the armed forces in every war from the French and Indian War to the present time." In other words, the story of his family was in a way the story of America's military history and the story of America itself. Brown was well and truly hooked on his subject.

One day, Brown said, he looked around his house and saw how many books he had stored in boxes, and realized that his collection should be somewhere it could be used. A chance drive through Waleska gave him the powerful feeling that he had found the perfect new home for his beloved collection.

"This is a great treasure," a guest at the Veterans' Day program announced, to murmured agreement from those assembled.

Reinhardt College President Dr. Isherwood thanked Brown on behalf of "the generations and generations and generations that will learn from your life's work."

"There is no greater gift that you can give to these generations," Dr. Isherwood said.

Right now practically every member of the library staff, including student workers, are busily working on getting Mr. Brown's incredible donation processed and ready for the shelves. We have boxes stacked five high and four deep, and Brown joked that more may be forthcoming.

"Unfortunately," he said, "I'm still in the habit of buying books! So just set another shelf aside for me, because I'll be coming back with more."

THANK YOU, MR. BROWN!!!!!! We are all extremely grateful to you!

Triplett Memorial Military History Collection donor Don Wesley-Brown addresses a Veterans' Day assembly at the Hill Freeman Library & Spruill Learning Center.
Reinhardt College President Thomas Isherwood chats with Mr. Wesley-Brown after his remarks. Dr. Isherwood thanked Wesley-Brown on behalf of the "generations and generations and generations" of Reinhardt students who will benefit from this generous gift.
Library director Michael Martinez studies an original map of the Chickamauga Battlefield, one of the approximately 5,000 items Don Wesley-Brown has donated to the collection.
A World War I-era song book used by soldiers in the US Army, part of the Triplett Memorial Military History collection donated by Mr. Wesley-Brown.
Technical services librarian Joel Langford discusses the new collection with a patron.
Library patrons peruse some of the items in the Triplett Memorial Military History Collection.

"Year Of.." Movie TODAY at the Funk: "Little Big Man"

Greetings Reinhardt! Today's "Year of North American Indigenous Peoples" film will be the 1970 classic Little Big Man starring Dustin Hoffman as "either the most neglected hero in history or a liar of insane proportion!"

Hoffman plays Jack "Little Big Man" Crabb, a 111-year-old man on his deathbed relating the tale of his life (told in flashback) to a historian. His incredible life story includes being raised as a member of the Cheyenne tribe, a gunslinger, a sidekick of Wild Bill Hickock, and a scout for General Custer. As a Caucasian boy adopted by the Cheyenne, Crabb is in a unique position to view both cultures.

This film combines satiric comedy and drama, and serves as a social commentary about prejudice and injustice. It is also considered one of the anti-establishment films of the era, portraying members of the US Military as villains in order to protest American involvement in the Vietnam War. Director Arthur Penn has commented that elements in the film were comments on American genocide, similar to the Holocaust.

Chief Dan George was nominated for a Best Supporting Actor Academy Award for his portrayal of Old Lodge Skins, Little Big Man's adoptive father.

As with all of the films in our "Year Of" series, Little Big Man will be shown at 2 pm in the theatre at the Funk Heritage Center on campus. Library director and "Year Of" chairman Michael Martinez will be on hand to offer commentary and answer questions.

Remember, our "Year Of" contest is ongoing! See any "Year Of" film or read any "Year Of" book, write a brief review, and send it to Karen Preslock at kp1@reinhardt.edu. Each month one winner will be chosen to receive a "Year Of" t-shirt and a 4-gig flash drive. A second-place winner will also be chosen to win a t-shirt. ALL PARTICIPANTS (you can even enter more than once) will be entered into a drawing at the end of the year for a Nintendo Wii. The more times you enter, the better your chances are of winning! Good luck!

11:00, 11/11

Why 11/11?

There is an excellent article on the history of Armistice Day/Veterans Day in the Encyclopedia of American Holidays and National Days by Len Travers, which we have here courtesy of Daily Life Online. November 11 marks the anniversary of the end of World War I.

"On the morning of November 11, 1918 the German government signed an armistice with Britain and France that called for the end of the war on the eleventh hour. In the morning, the war continued, but at 11:00 the guns fell silent."

Congress made Armistice Day an official federal holiday in 1938 (on the eve of World War II), but many Americans privately observed the date in the '20s and '30s by pausing for a moment of silence at the eleventh hour. On November 11, 1922, President Warren G. Harding lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. This became a presidential tradition. ("Year Of" tidbit: Before the tomb was sealed, Crow leader Plenty Coups offered a traditional blessing for the souls of the unknown).

1n 1954, Armistice Day was offically renamed Veterans Day to honor the veterans of all American wars, not just of World War I.

Do not forget to join us today at the library at 1 pm for a special Veterans Day remembrance and the preview of the new Triplett Memorial Military History Collection!

Thank you to all of our Veterans and to those now serving.

New Hiltonian Posted

Hello all! Just wanted to let you know there is a new issue of Reinhardt's online student newspaper The Hiltonian. This blogger reads it all the time to catch up with "you kids." Check it out...

Come to our Veterans' Day observance at 1 pm TODAY

More about the Berlin Wall for all you post-Cold War kids...

We have a number of excellent resources at the library about the rise and fall of the Berlin Wall, including the documentary When the Wall Came Tumbling Down: 50 Hours That Changed the World [DD881 .W53 1999]. But for my money, nothing tells the story as powerfully as the children's book The Wall: Growing Up Behind the Iron Curtain by Peter Sis [JUV 921 SIS]. This remarkable book combines bold, densely-packed illustrations, photographs and text to tell the story of the author's childhood in Cold War-era Prague. This powerful book took my breath away. Thank you, Karen, for recommending it to me. We should never, ever forget.

Berlin Wall--courtesy of YouTube...

And one more, from yesterday: Lech Walesa--the first elected President (1990-1995) of the Republic of Poland--starts the fall of over 1,000 8-foot tall dominoes where the wall once stood:

Also, happy 40th birthday to...

Yes, Sesame Street premiered on November 10, 1969. Personally, I intend to observe this date in history with milk and COOKIES.
(Image courtesy of Pop Culture Universe)

Two MAJOR events in the library this week...

TODAY from 2-4 pm on the third floor of the library, we will have GRAFFITI FOR FREEDOM to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall. You are invited to come and decorate a "piece of the Wall" and learn about why this date is so significant.

Also, from 3:20 to 4 pm there will be an informational meeting about Reinhardt's Study Abroad program and next summer's trip to Central Europe!

Tomorrow (11/11) is Veterans' Day, and the library is holding a celebration to thank and honor all those who have served our country, and one man in particular. We recently received a tremendous and generous donation of approximately 5,000 materials--including books, art, media, maps and flags--from a single collector, Mr. Don Brown of Cartersville. Mr. Brown served in the armed forces for over 13 years as a member of the 101st Airborne. He has spent the past two decades amassing his collection of books on US military history, with a particular concentration on Civil War history. At 1:00 pm tomorrow we will be making a presentation of the Don Brown history collection to the library and the college. Please come out to view a selection of the donated materials and meet Mr. Brown in person. We would love to have everyone come out and offer their thanks to him for his service to the country and for his generosity to Reinhardt College!

(Image of the Berlin Wall courtesy of the library at Mississippi State University)

This date in "Year Of" history...

On November 9, 1875, Indian Inspector E.C. Watkins submitted a report to Washington DC, stating that hundreds of Sioux and Cheyenne associated with Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse were "hostile" to the United States. The government responded with an order that the Native Americans "be informed that they must remove to a reservation before the 31st of January, 1876" or else they would be "turned over to the War Department for punishment."

Of course, since this decree was issued in November, by the time couriers delivered the message to these "hostile Indians" it was already winter. The government expected the Sioux to travel approximately 200 hundred miles across frozen ground with no provisions for themselves or grass for their ponies (or maybe they didn't expect it at all). When the Sioux missed their deadline, the matter was turned over to the War Department. In March of 1876, General Philip Sheridan ordered in the troops. Among the officers leading the forced removal? General George Armstrong Custer.

(Source: history.com. In photograph: Chief Sitting Bull)

Remember. remember

Remember, remember the fifth of November, the treasonous Gunpowder Plot. I know of no reason why the gunpowder treason should ever be forgot...

Over four centuries have passed, and they're still holding a bit of a grudge against Guy Fawkes... Religious extremism and terrorism in 17th century England, and now it's an excuse for a party...

"Year Of" Movie today: "I Will Fight No More Forever," 2 pm at the Funk

Today's Year of North American Indigenous Peoples movie offering is the 1975 film "I Will Fight No More Forever," starring Ned Romero as Chief Joseph of the Nez Perce. The Nez Perce nation lived in the Wallowa Valley of Idaho and Oregon. When President Grant opened the Valley to white settlement, the Nez Perce were given only 30 days to move to a reservation. Chief Joseph had promised his father on his deathbed that he would not allow his people to lose their land. ("A man who would not defend his father's grave is no worse than an animal," Chief Joseph said).

The army was sent to force the removal. Chief Joseph and his people managed to evade the pursuing units for 108 days, finally surrendering when his starving, outnumbered band was too weak to continue.

On October 8, 1877, Chief Joseph supposedly made his famous speech. "From where the sun now stands, I will fight no more forever." (There has been some debate whether or not he actually spoke those words, but they are an indelible part of his legend). For his principles and his conduct, Chief Joseph has become renowned as a humanitarian and a peacemaker. For the rest of his life, he spoke out against injustice and worked to improve the lives of his people. Chief Joseph died in 1904. According to his physician, the cause of death was "a broken heart."

The movie also stars James Whitmore, as the leader of the federal troops pursuing Joseph, and Sam Elliott.

All "Year Of" movies are shown in the theater of the Funk Heritage Center on campus.

King Tut...how'd you get so funky?

THIS DATE IN HISTORY.. On November 4, 1922, a water carrier employed by archaeologist Howard Carter discovered the steps that led to the discovery of the tomb of Tutankhamun--better known these days by the nickname "King Tut." The unusually well-preserved tomb made Tut a sensation. Ironically, while King Tut is now one of the most famous of the Egyptian pharoahs, there is evidence that he had fallen out of favor among his contemporaries. Those who came after him tried to suppress his memory and wipe out his cult. As a result, the tomb was lost and forgotten. The theory suggests that grave robbers couldn't find Tut, and that is why his tomb was so well preserved. Those who tried to banish the young king's memory may have helped him become more popular than ever!

We have a lot of good books on King Tut, his tomb and its discovery. Check out Treasures of Tutankhamun [DT87.5, on the third floor] or the ebook Howard Carter: The Path to Tutankhamun by T.G.H. James, available from both eBrary and NetLibrary. King Tut is also featured in the A&E series Mummies Tales From the Egyptian Crypts, available in our media section.

Resource for voice students

Vocalists, especially opera singers, are often called upon to perform songs in many different languages. As it's impractical to attain fluency in every language, singers often learn to pronounce the words phonetically. Of course, it also helps to know what you're singing about.

Now the library has a good resource to help voice students prepare pieces in many different languages. IPA Source is now available through the Hill Freeman Library & Spruill Learning Center. This database contains pronunciation guides for several languages. Selected songs are presented with the lyrics, their pronunciation guide in the International Phonetic Alphabet, and the English translation. Check it out!

Dead Man's Party: Feliz Dia de los Muertos

Hola! I hope everyone had a fun and safe weekend.

Today is one of my favorite foreign holidays, although it is gaining popularity in the United States. It is the Day of the Dead.

When it comes to honoring and remembering our lost loved ones, I think the Mexicans have the right idea. When I go, I hope those who cared about me in life will still invite me to a party every now and again.

There is an excellent and very thorough article by Cynthia D. Bertelsen on the Day of the Dead. It appears in the book Entertaining from Ancient Rome to the Super Bowl, and is available through the library in the database Daily Life Online. I highly recommend it.

Happy Halloween (and All Saints' Day)

Happy Halloween everyone! I hope everyone has a safe weekend, whether you're partying at the Monster Mash tonight, handing out candy tomorrow night or scaring up some fun some other way. Your blogger is going to Netherworld haunted house tonight if she doesn't chicken out. It's pretty remarkable that we have one of the best (regularly ranked in the top 2) haunted houses in the entire country practically in our backyard.

As for spooky tales literally in our backyard, I've been talking with Reinhardt folks who've told me about "Catherine," who haunts the Administration Building, the strange bumps in the night at Gordy Hall and the terrifying something in Paul Jones. I also have witnesses who swear the drawers in Captain Reinhardt's desk open on their own sometimes. I understand the good captain himself has been spotted on campus sometimes, although I prefer to believe the college's founder is enjoying a more peaceful, well-earned repose. (Even if he does feel the need to check in with us, I think he'd be pleased with what he saw, don't you)?

However you celebrate All Hallows' Eve, take some time on Sunday to remember your lost "saints," and be grateful for those who came before you.

Happy Halloween from your friends at the Hill Freeman Library & Spruill Learning Center! (Look around for me today--I'm the one dressed as Amelia Earhart).

TWO "Year Of" events today at 2 pm

Greetings! It's my pleasure today to tell you about TWO events happening on campus this afternoon, both of which tie into our "Year of North American Indigenous Peoples" observance.

Of course, we have our weekly film series, shown at 2 pm every Thursday in the Funk Heritage Center. Today's offering is Geronimo: An American Legend. This 1993 film stars Wes Studi as the Apache warrior, and features Jason Patric (of Lost Boys fame), Gene Hackman, Robert Duvall and Matt Damon, and was directed by Walter Hill.

In the film, the Apache Nation is chafing under the government's orders to settle on a reservation and adopt a lifestyle alien to their culture. Several Apache are fed up with the government's broken promises and decide to strike back. Under the leadership of the warrior Geronimo, a group of Apaches go on the attack to reclaim what is rightfully theirs. The movie dramatizes the events leading up to Geronimo's capture in 1886.

Library director Michael Martinez will be on hand to discuss the film and answer questions. Remember, if you attend you can write a brief review and submit it to Karen Preslock for entry into our monthly contest!

Also at 2 pm will be the Chapel Moment for this month. Today chapel will meet in the Echo Garden rather than in Hagen Chapel. The Reverend Ed Swehla will lead a presentation on Native American worship. For more details, contact Chaplain Leigh Martin. It should be a beautiful day for the service.

It's a shame to have to choose between these events, but whichever one you attend, I'm sure you'll get something out of it!

Type to ya again tomorrow, when I will be dressed as a Historical Figure, the subject of a movie currently in theaters! Until then...

Zombies in the databases!

Check out the October 2nd blog by Elizabeth Millar in the Pop Culture Universe database. She writes about the new movie Zombieland(no spoilers--I'm going Friday) and other zombie films (Ms. Millar is a self-professed "zombie junkie").

I'd like to second Ms. Millar's recommendation that you seek out other spooky subjects in PCU's database, such as vampires and ghosts, and especially check the film studies reference section for articles on midnight movies and the horror genre! You'll be well-prepared to make fascinating small talk at the Monster Mash this Friday!

Reinhardt College PARANORMAL ACTIVITY??? Duh duh dummmmm....

Several months ago I came across this site which collects stories of "haunted places" in the state of Georgia. Mind you, I take these stories with a pillar of salt, but it is the time of year when we like to speculate on such things. The site mentions Cobb, Gordy and Paul Jones halls at Reinhardt as potentially "haunted" places. A friend of mine confirms the Paul Jones story from his own experience. In addition, there has been some spectral speculation about the library, specifically Captain Reinhardt's desk...

I'd like to issue an invitation to readers of this blog. If you have any "haunted Reinhardt" stories, or if you have historical evidence to "bust" any of the ghost myths, please leave a comment or email me at amm "at" reinhardt.edu. I will protect your anonymity if you wish...

If you have an interest in supernatural tales, check out our database Daily Life Online and do a search for ghost stories in "Tales, Myths and Legends." You can find creepy-crawly stories from Europe, Africa, Asia, North America, Latin America and the Caribbean, from ancient times to the present day. Don't be scared to do a little research! You may just find it spellbinding.

Give Blood TODAY-- 12-5pm at the Glass House

Reinhardt College's fall blood drive for the American Red Cross is going on today from 12 noon to 5 pm in the Glass House. To schedule your appointment, go to www.givelife.org and enter the sponsor code "Reinhardt" or contact Jenny Smoller or Nichole Cholakian. All participants will receive a discount coupon for Saw VI compliments of Fandango, plus other goodies to celebrate Halloween.

One pint of blood can save as many as three lives!

New music database!

Hello all! I hope everyone had a great weekend! I know I did--I attended the Reinhardt Trick-or-Treat with my kids, Snake-Eyes and Bubbles the PowerPuff Girl. As usual, it was a riot. Kudos to you students who outdo yourselves every year with the costumes and the decorating! You make me so proud!

Some of you may not know that my primary responsibility at the library is the maintenance of our journal collection. I try to keep our subscriptions up-to-date and get the most useful titles for the Reinhardt community. At the same time, I try to save our budget and help out the environment by limiting our print journals to those not covered in the databases. As a result, I'm pretty familiar with what the databases cover. I was really thrilled to see one of our newest databases added to the collection: International Index to Music Periodicals.

It's rare to find a database that covers music journals, and I really want to thank our director, Michael Martinez, for getting this one for us. IIMP contains the full text of more than 100 music journals (some scholarly, some less so), and the indexes of more than 300 more. These contain a range of titles from International Journal of Music Education to Ethnomusicology to Rolling Stone. A wide range of subjects are included, from the teaching of music to music composition to performance in all musical genres. Whether you're researching Rachmaninoff or rap, you'll find a good resource here.

A couple of things I particularly appreciate about this database: you can easily limit your search to the full-text collection if you wish, and you can view title lists from both the complete collection and the full-text collection of journals. That not only makes my job easier, it makes it easier for you to find the resources you can use. Remember if you find an article you want, and it's not available in full-text from the site, we can get it for you through interlibrary loan.

Check this one out, music students!

RIP Soupy Sales

You kids are too young to remember--heck, this blogger is too young to remember--the work of comedian Soupy Sales. However, all of us who've ever laughed at someone getting a pie in the face owe a debt of gratitude to Milton Supman, who passed away yesterday at the age of 83. Before Captain Kangaroo, before Mr. Rogers, before big yellow birds and purple dinosaurs, Soupy Sales was the meringue-smeared face of children's television. Yeah, his jokes were cornier than the corn bread in the Gordy Center, but that didn't matter. Soupy drew on vaudeville and borscht-belt tradition, employed some hand puppets, dressed up as a wacky ensemble of memorable characters and cracked up whole families in the '50s and '60s. Now, through the magic of YouTube, the pies fly on.



I have to admit, the sight of a pie-faced Alice Cooper still has the power to warm the cockles of your heart. Soupy was beloved by generations, and he'll be missed.
If you want to learn a bit about the Soupman's impact on popular culture, look no farther than my favorite database, Pop Culture Universe. Here is a biography of Sales from The Encyclopedia of Jewish American Popular Culture, courtesy of PCU.

Now, in honor of Soupy Sales, I want all of you readers to go into your roommates' wallets, pull out those funny little pieces of green paper and send them to the archive room in the library. And I'll send you an e-mail from Puerto Rico. ;)

Rest in peace, Soupy.

"Year Of" Movie: "Fort Apache" 2:00 TODAY at the Funk

Greetings, Reinhardt! I hope everyone attended the Body and Soul Expo today in the Glass House and got their flu shots! The Expo is going on until 3 p.m. Go now and get your shot, and then head over to the Funk Heritage Center at 2:00. You can recuperate while you check out the 1948 John Ford film Fort Apache, starring John Wayne and Henry Fonda.

The storyline is based very loosely on the Battle of Little Bighorn and the Battle of the Hundred Slain (aka the Fetterman Massacre). Wayne stars as respected Civil War veteran and Cavalry officer Captain Kirby York. York is expected to receive the command post at Fort Apache, however he is passed over for the position in favor of Fonda's character, Lieutenant Colonel Owen Thursday. Thursday is a West Point graduate and a Civil War general who, despite his military training and record, lacks experience and understanding of the Native Americans he is expected to oversee.

When a corrupt government agent causes unrest among the Natives, Thursday rejects York's counsel that he treat them with respect. Thursday refuses to address their grievances and defends the agent, exacerbating the situation and driving the Apache into open revolt. Things pretty much go downhill from there...

Fort Apache was one of the first movies of its kind that attempted to portray Native Americans in a sympathetic light. Library director Michael Martinez will be on hand for the showing today, and he'll offer some insight as to the accuracy of the portrayal.

Go to the Expo, take care of yourself, and then go to the film! I got my shot today. Did you get yours?

Native Sun News now available in the library

This year, as part of the Year of North American Indigenous Peoples, the Hill Freeman Library & Spruill Learning Center has obtained a subscription to Native Sun News, a weekly newspaper committed to, in its own words, "bringing freedom of the press to Indian Country."

Native Sun News is in its first year of publication, but its founder and editor Tim Giago is hardly a novice in the world of journalism. Giago, a member of the Lakota Nation, has been in the newspaper business for more than three decades. He began his career at the national Native American newspaper Wassaja, then worked as a reporter and editor with other publications before starting his own paper The Lakota Times, in 1981. During the Times' years of operation, the offices were firebombed and their windows were shot out three times. Giago received numerous death threats and survived at least one attempt on his life, but he maintained his commitment to investigative journalism. The Times was renamed Indian Country Today in 1991. Giago started another publication, the Lakota Journal in 2000, and "retired" in 2004.

He came out of retirement this year to start the Sun, seeing the need again for a solid investigative newspaper to serve the indigenous Nations of America.

In a world that often trumpets the demise of print journalism, Native Sun News is a rarity. There is no online edition, because, as Giago says, many of his readers have no access to the Internet. This is a publication by the Native community for the Native community.

This blogger is inviting you to power down your computers for a few minutes, come out of your dorm rooms and offices, blink into the light, and actually walk to the library, pick up the Native Sun News and give it a good read. Get Native news from a Native perspective.

What your Library can do to help YOU get into Grad School!

My apologies for being just a few days "overdue" with this one. I'll now wrap up my series on graduate school planning with some wisdom from our head of reference, Karen Preslock!

At the graduate school workshop this semester, Ms. Preslock emphasized the library's strength in research. Over and over again the panelists referred to the importance of research when applying to graduate school: research the major; research the job market; research the school, the program and the faculty; research financial aid. Well, if you need help with that research, come to us! We have books to help you every step of the process.

Ms. Preslock offered three pieces of advice to keep in mind: Never say never, ditch your preconceived notions (for example, did you know that financial hardship is more common among undergraduates than among graduate students?), and become well-informed. Knowledge, she pointed out, is power.

Ms. Preslock offered several starting points for your research, including your library's own Delicious page for student success. This page has links some of the best sites for graduate school research that we've found.

One of the best sites we've found, Ms. Preslock said (and I agree), is EducationPlanner.com. This site is full of tips on every stage of the process, from selecting a college to applying to it and paying for it. Sample topics include writing a killer essay, application dos and don'ts, and why NOT to choose a school.

Another place to look would be the Web sites of professional organizations such as the American Psychological Association or the American Bar Association. Many of these organizations offer special reduced membership rates for students. Join the organization, find an active chapter in your area and attend the meetings. You'll make great contacts in your field and be privy to some of the newest information out there. Also, these organizations often have information on scholarships, grands and funding opportunities for their members.

If you're going to go the Google route, Ms. Preslock recommended Google's advanced searches to help you narrow your results to the most precise information you need. You can research programs which match your interests and qualifications. You can research scholarships to the specific colleges you're considering. As an example, Ms. Preslock did a search for federal money for education. Did you know that many federal agencies will repay your student loans if you work for them? Check out the Web sites for agencies like the Veterans' Administration or the Census Bureau. Learn about the careers available. Some sites offer virtual job shadowing. Search current federal job openings at www.usajobs.gov.

Often the best way to secure an internship and get a foot in the door is to contact the staff person with whom you're interested in working, and see if they're interested in working with you. Don't be afraid to ask!

And if you need help with your research, don't be afraid to ask a librarian--or indeed, anyone here at Reinhardt. We're here for you!

And the winners are....

Hello all! Sorry for the delay in blogging--I'm back in business now! And the first order of that business is to congratulate this month's winners in the Year Of North American Indigenous Peoples contest! JAMIE LANDERS is our first place winner for her review of the film The New World. She received a stylish 'Year Of" t-shirt and a 4-gig flash drive from the Year Of committee. Coming in with a close second-place finish is CONSTANCE CHASE with an excellent review of the book Power and Place: Indian Education in America. Constance also received a t-shirt. Congratulations!

Speaking of those stylish tees, our library director and "Year Of" chairman Michael Martinez has informed me that we are now selling the t-shirts at a special reduced rate for students: $10!

Of course, every month brings a new opportunity to win a shirt. Just see one of our "Year Of" movies or read a "Year Of" book, write a brief (one- or two-paragraph) review, and submit it to public services librarian Karen Preslock at kp1@reinhardt.edu. Each month's winner receives a t-shirt and flash drive, and ALL participants will be entered into the drawing at the end of the year for the Nintendo Wii. Entering more than once improves your odds!

Thursday movie at the Funk: Cheyenne Autumn!

Come out to the Funk Heritage Center this Thursday, October 15, at 2 pm for this week's "Year of North American Indigenous Peoples" movie. This week's offering is the 1964 western Cheyenne Autumn.

The movie features Khan, I mean Ricardo Montalban, and Gilbert Roland as Cheyenne chiefs. When the government fails to deliver supplies to their desert reservation in the Oklahoma territory, the starving Cheyenne embark on a brutal trek back to their homeland in Wyoming. The government and the press take this desperate measure as an act of rebellion and send the cavalry after them. During the pursuit, US Cavalry Captain Thomas Archer comes to respect the Cheyenne for their courage and nobility.

This was the last western John Ford directed. Ford said he intended it to honor the Native Americans who had been abused by the American government.

"Cheyenne Autumn" was shot in Monument Valley Tribal Park on the Arizona-Utah border, and was nominated for an Oscar for Best Cinematography. While Ford used non-native actors for the tribal leaders (including Khan of course), he did use several members of the Navajo nation in the production.

The movie also features this blogger's FAVORITE actor of all time, James Stewart, as Wyatt Earp--in a bit often edited out of the picture.

As usual, the library's own Michael Martinez will be on hand to discuss the film and give background information. Remember, if you see one of our "Year Of" films (or read one of our "Year Of" books) and write a brief review, you could be eligible to win a t-shirt and a flash drive, and be entered into a drawing for a Nintendo Wii to be given away at the end of the year. Send reviews to Karen Preslock at kp1@reinhardt.edu. Good luck!

Yeah, I couldn't resist--sorry

Professors offer perspective on graduate school

This is the third in a series of posts about the recent Graduate School Workshop held in the library at Reinhardt College.

Dr. William DeAngelis, Dean of the School of Math and Science and Professor of Psychology, has degrees in both Psychology and Law, so he was able to speak with authority on both academic graduate school and law school. He urged students to approach the search for the right program the way they approach life, specifically the dating process. You don't run off and marry the first person you meet. You take the time to get to know people and see with whom you're compatible. Similarly, take the time to research different schools and programs and find the one that's the best fit for you. "What kind of program do you want to marry yourself to for the next couple of years?" he quipped. "Graduate schools vary quite a bit. You have to look at the data and see what they want."

For example, the graduate program in Psychology is very competitive, with a heavy emphasis on research. Dr. DeAngelis said the school only accepts nine people a year, and 77% of students in the program have presented at least one paper at a national or state convention. If that's not you, you don't have to give up hope (or stop rooting for the Bulldogs). Look at other schools, maybe some which don't emphasize research quite so heavily.

Dr. DeAngelis recommended the book Getting In, published by the American Psychological Association, which details different graduate programs in Psychology and how to match your qualifications to the programs. (We have two copies of this book in the library. One is a circulating copy, and one is in Reference. The call number is BF80.7.U6 G47 2007).

Law school, Dr. DeAngelis said, is extremely competitive, and they're not just looking for students with Pre-Law degrees.

"They are looking for really good students who can read and write well and express themselves," Dr. DeAngelis said, naming English, History and Psychology majors as good law school candidates. Again, research the programs, look at the Web sites, and be realistic about your chances. The LSAT is required for most programs.

Dr. Kevin Crawford, Assistant Professor of English and Theatre, offered his take. Students applying for graduate school in this day and age have an advantage over their forebears. "There is so much information out there now...for the potential grad student who plans ahead." Net-savvy students can visit any program's Web site and learn details about the program's requirements and who's filling the slots, not to mention information about the school itself and the professors. Research can potentially yield ways to fund your academic pursuits. Look for programs which offer teaching assistantships and fellowships, and apply for them.

Dr. Crawford emphasized letters of recommendation. Professors get requests for letters from students they barely know. To have a recommendation letter which stands out, cultivate a good relationship with your professors. Find someone who knows you well, who can go beyond a mere listing of your accomplishments and say something personal, tell why you stand out.

Assistant Professor of Biology Dr. Irma Santoro used to review graduate applications in her previous position as Director of Academic Services for graduate students in the School of Biology at Georgia Tech. Before you go to graduate school, she advised, have some idea of what you want to do with your degree. That is important not only in choosing which program will best prepare you, but will help you when writing the cover letter for your application. Talk about your past--your experience--and your future.

Dr. Santoro said many schools use GRE scores as a cutoff when evaluating applicants. Some schools value a high GPA more than others do, as it's hard to compare grades from different schools, but they do look at it as a long-term indicator of how well you will perform your job as a student. Usually programs look at your junior and senior grades. Recommendation letters are highly considered, and Dr. Santoro echoed Dr. Crawford's advice: form letters aren't very good. You want a recommendation letter that's personal.

Dr. Santoro advised talking to current graduate students to find out what their programs are like, and what the program is looking for in an applicant. Talk to the professors, too. "In my field, many students go to grad school already knowing who they're going to work for," she said. If a professor wants you to assist her, she may pull for you with the department to get you accepted!

Come back Friday for the THRILLING conclusion of the series (and of course one close to this blogger's heart): Karen Preslock speaks about what your LIBRARY can do for you in preparation for graduate school.