Stephanie Meyer Becomes an Ambassadorial Scholar

Idaho State University’s Stephanie Meyer was chosen by the Rotary District Foundation Scholarship Committee to be the 2011-12 ambassadorial scholar for Disctrict 5400, and is set to study at Payap University in Chiang Mai, Thailand.

In addition to the opportunity for international travel, she will receive a scholarship for $26,000.

Meyer was nominated by the Pocatello Rotary Club, and is majoring in anthropology. In the event that Meyer cannot take advantage of her scholarship, Natasha Bortz of Twin Falls was selected as an alternate.


The purpose of the Ambassadorial Scholarship program is to further international understanding and friendly relations among people of different countries and geographic areas. While abroad, scholars serve as good will ambassadors to the host country and give presentations about their homelands to Rotary clubs and other groups. Upon returning home, scholars share with Rotarians and others experience that led to a greater understanding of their host country.

“Thanks to the Rotary Ambassadorial Scholarship, my dreams of becoming an anthropologist in Thailand are becoming realities,” said Meyer of the upcoming experience.

Meyer has also started a blog in order to record and share her preparation for and time spent in Thailand. The address for her blog is www.thaichaang.wordpress.com.

For more information on the Rotary club or the Ambassadorial Scholarship visit www.rotary.org.

Former Idaho State University President Carl W. McIntosh

It has been about a year and half since former Idaho State University President Carl W. McIntosh died of natural causes at age 94 in his Bozeman, Mont., home on Jan. 19, 2009.

Carl McIntosh

Our office helped put out a news release on his passing(http://www2.isu.edu/headlines/?p=1623), but an acquaintance of President McIntosh, Pricilla Hearst, informed me at a meeting for a Pocatello community group that our story hadn’t captured the essence of ISU’s seventh president, who served from 1946 to 1959. At the time, in late January 2009, I told Pricilla I would contact her to get some additional information for the 2009 spring edition Idaho State University Magazine story on McIntosh, but I failed to do so.

To try to make some amends for my omission, I recently visited Hearst, 84, who is a retired social worker and forever activist for many different causes. She is the widow of Joseph Hearst, former dean of the then ISU College of Liberal Arts and political science professor and chair, for whom ISU’s annual Frank Church Symposium Joseph Hearst Memorial Lecture is named. Joseph Hearst founded this annual symposium that takes place on ISU’s campus.

Pricilla is a captivating speaker and tells a good story, so I visited her hoping I could film her using our office’s Flip video camera. She refused to be interviewed on camera, but I did take some notes. Thus, blog consumers, you’ll have to settle for my stilted re-telling of Hearst’s stories, instead of hearing it straight in video form from this lively and good-humored woman.

“CARL McINTOSH,” said Hearst, “was such a fun man and such a wit, who had a marvelous sense of humor. I just have to call him a real wit because he just had a way with words and could make you laugh.”

“I was a new faculty wife of my husband, Joe, and I was worried sick about meeting President McIntosh, but when I met him he made me feel so welcomed. It was nice. It was like we were old friends. I haven’t met another ISU president, yet, that I could say that about. He established a camaraderie on campus, whether you were in physics or humanities, you were a part of the college (at the time, ISU was the University of Idaho Southern Branch.)”

“He was very social and very down to earth, but he and his wife never thought of themselves above anybody, but he didn’t put up with a lot crap, either.”

Hearst relayed three stories she thought would illustrate McIntosh’s character. These stories may shed light on some other bastions of ISU history, as well.

Story No. 1: A trick played on Eli M. Oboler, for whom Idaho State University’s Library is named

“When they were just beginning to build the old library, Eli Oboler was librarian. He had worked and begged to have a new library and the state built it. When it was built, it was HIS library, not ISU’s or the state’s. This is when Carl played his trick.”

Eli Oboler

McIntosh gathered some co-conspirators, including Larry (Laurence E.) Gale (for whom the Gale Life Science Building is named) and Rufus Lyman (for whom College of Pharmacy has created in his name the annual Rufus A. Lyman Award).

Larry Gale

Rufus Lyman

“Mac brought in these two men and said ‘this is what we’re going to do: go over there with tape measures and start measuring the library.’ So the two went over there and starting measuring the front of the library and Eli comes storming out, ‘What are you doing to the library?’ Larry and Rufus said ‘the president told us to make these measurements because he got some money from some alumni to buy a neon sign to point to the museum and the library.’

“Eli blew,” in Pricilla’s words, and stormed over to McIntosh’s office where he saw the President sitting in his chair, his back to him, looking out the window. The person in the chair, however, wasn’t McIntosh, but instead the late Chick Bilyeu, “who looked like McIntosh from behind.”

Chick Bilyeu

“Eli slams open the doors, races in and started yelling at the president, and went into a whole flourish of words. What happened during this big diatribe was that Chick turns around and says, ‘why, is something wrong?’ McIntosh then came in and told him it was just a trick. It took poor Eli two or three days to settle down.”

Story No. 2: McIntosh’s Prologue to the Faculty Handbook:

“Dr. McIntosh wrote a Faculty Handbook the he got printed up,” Pricilla said. “In the prologue it said ‘This will be the faculty handbook and remain in force until such time as it is demolished by faculty culture.’ That is the kind of message he wrote in the handbook. Even that had a twist of fun in it.”

Story No. 3: Pricilla’s missing daughter.

“My daughter Alice, my blue-eyed little girl, was picked as the May Queen crown bearer to walk beside Dr. McIntosh, to carry the crown so it could be placed on the Queen’s head. I left Alice in the charge of one of the attendants because I had to go back to work. When I came back to pick her up, there was no Alice. I asked what happened to her and the attendant said last time I saw here she was with Dr. McIntosh, so I rushed over to Dr. McIntosh’s home and asked him if he’d seen my daughter. He said ‘she’s here having a bowl of ice cream.’ And there, Alice sat, eating ice cream appearing to be having the best time in the world.”

Epilogue:

“I just wanted to let you know what kind of man he was,” Pricilla said. “I wanted you to get the feeling of what kind of man he was like.”

ISU Intramurals

ISU intramurals: another place to see students in action in Reed Gymnasium, the Student Recreation Center and at an ISU lawn or sports field near you.

There are 45 other intramural sports and activities students can sample, from racquet ball and water polo, to ping-pong and dodge ball, to a golf scramble and sideline “rock, paper, scissor” contests.


“We target all different types of people, you don’t have to be a superstar to participate,” Shelby noted.

According to Shelby total active participation in intramurals was 3,200 during the 2008-09 academic year . But active participation isn’t the full story about intramurals: during fall semester 2009 there were 7,500 “inactive” participants – i.e. spectators, friends and evil spies from other teams – who were attracted to intramural activities.


In addition, intramurals provide student job opportunities, from being a scorekeeper to officiating games.

“There is a lot of student life opportunity,” Shelby said. “There are a lot of chances to get involved.”

For more info on intramurals, visit http://www.isu.edu/camprec/intramurals/.

Next year I vow better coverage of intramurals some way or another.

World Café

World Café diversity training in early February was a well attended and interesting endeavor. About 150 people participated in small-group activities directed by Kathleen Roberts, Director, ISU EO/AA and Diversity. I was surprised by the experiences from some of my co-participants, one of whom who grew up in the South, talked about how as a youth a cross was burned in his family yard in the south. One participant talked about being judged by her tattoos.

Below is a Flip video of Roberts at the World Café.

I’ve also included a brief interview with ISU student Kevin Armstrong’s about his experience with the World Café.

Multitasking

Some activities we do as workers don’t always fit neatly in a job description. For example, as a Public Relations Specialist would you expect to knit outfits for candy bars? This is exactly what Chris Gabettas, PRS at the ISU-Meridian Health Science Center, did in January for the ISU media luncheon held during the Higher Education Week at the Idaho Legislature. On her own time, Chris created unique candy wrappers for the luncheon and then knitted scarves and hats for her “Bengal Bars.”

Speaking of Chris, her niece, Ainsley Jackson of Pocatello, shows off a Bengal cheer she learned from ISU Bengal Cheerleaders during the ISU Girls and Women in Sports Day in March. at the Idaho State University Bengal Cheerleading Camp this March.

Veterans Day Video

In November, Idaho State University-Idaho Falls celebrated Veterans Day with a variety of activities. Grace Latham produced this video chronicling the events put on by the Armed Forces Veterans Club (AFVC) in Idaho Falls. Latham is on the ISU-Idaho Falls Student Activities Board and is a marketing assistant for Chez Barnes, director of the Bennion Student Union at University Place in Idaho Falls.

The Campus Rope Walkers

What is this guy doing up in the tree, walking through air?

That is what I asked myself walking back to my office through Hutchinson Quadrangle in late April. Mostly the Quad features antlike students and faculty and staff walking to and fro but one never knows. It can feature spirited cricket games by Indian students, campers during Earth Week festivities, bands and barbeques put on by the Student Involvement Center, Dutch oven cooking classes by the Outdoor Adventure Center, proponents at tables exposing various causes, or disc golfers playing through on their own personally designed course.

On this day, however, the main attraction was Idaho State University student Tony Law engaged in the act of “high lining.” I believe his actions speak for themselves.

Below are two Flip clips, one of Tony talking and one of Tony walking.

Miller Stadium

It might not be as impressive as the sea parting before a prophet, but there was, perhaps, a fortuitous omen last week for the ISU women’s softball program: between a stormy, windy rainy morning and evening, the clouds parted and the sun came out on May 6 for the 1 p.m. groundbreaking ceremony for the new Miller Stadium located on Bartz Field.




ISU President Arthur Vailas, donor Sylvia Papenberg, representatives from DeWall Construction and Pocatello Mayor Brian Blad were among the VIP’s in attendance who gave speeches and used a shovel to make a ceremonial dig toward the completion of the stadium, which will be completed next fall.


Miller Ranch Stadium was made possible with a gift of land in the Teton Valley in the Driggs area by Sylvia Papenberg back in 2008. The donation of land, valued at over $1 million, is the largest single contribution to the athletic department in school history. The property in the Teton Valley formerly housed the family ranch, Miller Ranch, hence the new stadium's name.



“This is a great day for Idaho State University softball,” Papenberg said. “Beginning next season, those girls will be able to play softball on campus.” Later on, nearly in tears, Papenberg noted, “This is for you mom and dad.”

She also recognized and thanked the other donors and supporters of the project. After the speeches and the ceremonial shoveling – besides the collection of VIPs members of ISU’s current Bengal softball team took their turn making a symbolic dig towards their program’s future – guesst gathered at the Stephens Performing Arts Center to mingle and enjoy some refreshments.


Miller Ranch Stadium will be completed in two phases. The first phase will be feature a completely graded out and level playing surface, with new sod and a clay infield, batting cages, full-length in-ground dugouts, an electronic inning by inning scoreboard, and bullpens. The field will have a six-foot outfield fence with a full wind screen as well. The second phase, to be commenced upon the selling of the land, will feature the full amenities, such as a full press box, grandstands, concessions, and permanent bathrooms.

Graham Garner and Roy Collins Say Farewell

Last month, on Jan. 21 to be exact, Idaho State University said good-bye to two fine employees who are moving on to different rodeos. Not better rodeos, just different ones.

My former boss, Graham Garner, director of the ISU Office of University Relations, was honored at a reception in the Photographic Services studio/office/hangout area in the Fine Arts Building, while former associate general counsel Roy Collins was honored an hour later in the Pond Student Union Wood River Room. I attended both gatherings to bid farewell: the cookies were better at Garner’s reception, but word has it the carrot cake at Roy’s was really good.

Graham has left ISU for the position of Vice President for Advancement at the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology. We challenged him to wear his Harley leathers to his first staff meeting at his place of new employment, but we’ve not heard back. He was too big a whimp to haul a U-Haul behind his Harley during the winter move and had some moving company do most of the moving labor for him --- ah, the perks of vice presidency! Graham was an excellent boss who tried to push us further, without getting into our business much in the process. We wish him, his wife, Kacee, and their son, Isaac, well in South Dakota where they join former ISU Provost Robert Wharton who is now that university’s president.

Roy Collins has moved on to Associate General Counsel for the University of Hartford, Conn., which puts him in closer proximity to his daughters and other family members.

I know Roy mostly from brief but regular interaction during or after our irregular forays to Reed Gymnasium to exercise around noon. Collins rebounded hard and set mean picks in pickup basketball games, before tweaking his knee (or was it an ankle?) and settling on more sane pursuits in the gym. Roy is a very affable man and it was interesting exchanging two-minute observations and discussions about ISU and other topics during the three or so years he was here. Good luck Roy.

Their time here has been a blur, but I hope both Graham and Roy can have their cake and eat it, too.

Potato Expo 2010

Wandering and wondering through the Pond Student Union often bears fruits, or, in this case, vegetables, namely Idaho’s most famous, the potato.

A habit I’ve grown into the last 10-plus years working at ISU is to poke my nose around in the Pond Student Union. Every January the annual Idaho Potato Conference, which runs in conjunction with the Eastern Idaho Ag Expo held in Holt Arena, is something worth checking. If you missed it this year, try next. It runs through noon Jan. 21.

It is everything potato. I picked up a free miniature chocolate baked potato as a gift to my departing boss. I tested a foam, life-sized Russet potato stress squeezer thing. Organizers were giving out free samples of tater tots, smiling deep-fried mashed potatoes and French fries. I sampled the smiling deep fried mashed potatoes and they were excellent. My buddy gave me a free copy of “Spudman” magazine and I now have a bumper sticker on my car that says “Proud to be a Spudman.” Exhibitors on hand were showing off dozens of variety of potatoes. This is a Mecca of sorts for an Idahoan, where potatoes and the products that help grow them are exhibited in splendid wonderment. I’ve rarely felt as close to my potato heritage.



This is one more example of how Idaho State University is a center for this community, the region and the state. The Unions attract an incredible variety of events and people. Annette Lattin, event service coordinator for ISU scheduling and events services, says that her office handles 5,000-plus reservations per year in the Student Union facilities. A single event may require more than one reservation for different rooms, etc., but that is still an impressive number – on average, about 14 different reservation per day during a year. The Student Unions host everything from the Women’s Holiday Fair and a quilt show, to a giant gun show and high school debate tournaments.

I recommend poking your nose into some of these events to see what’s going on. The rewards can be many, from hearing an amazing speaker during the Frank Church Symposium, to eating a juicy tater tot dripping with ketchup.

Written By Andy Taylor

Reed Gym Expansion

Bengal Nation, get ready to get buff in the new ISU campus recreation center. I recently took a tour of the facility with Doug Milder, director of Idaho State University Campus Recreation, along with ISU photographer Julie Hillebrant and Magic Jim, the camera guy. (see accompanying photos, video if you please)

Milder couldn’t contain his excitement (and we have the video to prove it) about the 32,000-square foot, $7 million expansion of the Student Recreation Center – funded by the generous Associated Students of Idaho State University at Reed Gymnasium. Construction is proceeding right on schedule.

I won’t pull an “Apocalypse Now” and say “There’s nothing like the smell of napalm in the morning,” but I will say just the smell of this new construction is hopeful, a mix of some of the paint being sprayed by a worker combined with fresh dust, that definitely hinted to my senses that something new is going on. There are also workers all over getting stuff done so the work was being completed before our eyes.

The building construction should be completely finished by the end of April. Students will be able to begin using the facility no later than July 1, and perhaps sooner, depending on how long it takes to acquire and install equipment and add the finishing touches to the facility. An official “grand opening” ceremony will be held in September when a fuller contingent of students, faculty and staff are back on campus.

Facilities at the new two-story structure will also include a large multi-purpose recreation room, cardio machines and exercise areas, campus recreation offices, bathrooms upstairs and down, a lobby area, lounge areas and an equipment checkout area. New exercise equipment will also be purchased.

I was impressed by the overall spaciousness of the two-story structure that features a lot of room and open spaces, characteristics that many others have commented on, according to Milder. You won’t feel claustrophobic here pounding your weights or pedaling away on a new-fangled exercise machine. A great feature of the top floor, which I hate, is the inside view of the adjacent tennis courts. It is bound to create greater competition and use of the tennis facility, which means I will have a harder time reserving courts to hone my unhoneable game. Thus, when using this facility it is recommended you use the cardio machines and weights that border the big windows on the outside of the building so you can look at all the outside stuff. Who knows, perhaps a Northern Harrier or a Sharp-Shinned Hawk will fly by and you can tell your friends about it?

“A lot of people have asked me how this stacks up to our sister institutions Boise State University and the University of Idaho,” notes Milder. “Our new facilities are very comparable and on par with theirs, and they are a quantum leap forward from what our students had previously.”

I hardily concur with him. There will be a lot of new places of Bengals and Bengalettes and Bengalites, and Bengalezeans to get fit, trim and happy. It will also be a great recruiting tool for new students. It is so impressive in its rotundness and siren call to exercise that even madly addicted texters will put down their phones long enough to move muscles and sweat.

Counting the tennis center and student gymnasium that contains the climbing wall, the total ISU Student Recreation Center offers about 100,000 square feet of recreational facilities for students, and that doesn’t count the Reed Gym swimming pool. Come July, there are no more excuses for ISU students not to exercise, although some probably still won’t.

It’s not always possible to get a guided tour, but those curious about the facility can get some good looks of it from the outside, feeding dreams of buffer, more aerobic Bengals for the future.

Written By Andy Taylor