University News - Coastal Carolina University

Eurydice to be performed at Coastal Carolina University

2009-11-06 15:55:23

Eurydice, a contemporary update of a timeless story, will be presented by the Coastal Carolina University Department of Theatre at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 11 through Friday, Nov. 13 in the Black Box Theatre in the Thomas W. and Robin W. Edwards College of Humanities and Fine Arts. The performances are free and open to the public, but tickets are required.

Eurydice is the classical myth of Orpheus retold from the heroines point of view, with humor and surprising plot twists. On the day Eurydice is to marry her true love Orpheus, a tragic misstep sends her plummeting to the surreal depths of the underworld. Memories are forbidden in this world of the dead, but an unexpected reunion with her father vividly awakens Eurydices mind with the love she felt in life. When Orpheus braves the gates of hell to find her, Eurydice must decide whether to remain with her father or return to her Earthly love.

Eurydice is directed by Joseph Rosko, a senior musical theatre major at the University. Dramatic arts major Justina Adorno is Eurydice, and James Wells portrays her father. The cast also includes Caleb Jernigan, Townsend Pass, Meghan Perry, Rachel Swindler and Amanda Jeter, all musical theatre majors.

For tickets and information, call the Wheelwright Box Office from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday at 843-349-2502....

CCU establishes new Center for Military and Veterans Studies

2009-11-04 16:54:34

Coastal Carolina University has announced the creation of a new center that will recognize local American military veterans and preserve a record of their service.

The Center for Military and Veterans Studies at Coastal Carolina University will officially open in January on campus. The center is partnering with the U.S. Library of Congress to collect and preserve the memoirs and records of local military veterans, while encouraging public appreciation for veterans and their contributions to the nation.

Located in the Universitys Foundation Center on U.S. 501 on the Universitys east campus, the new center will host interviews with veterans and accept donations of oral history, memoirs, documents and photographs -- all of which will be cataloged and preserved as permanent collections of the Veterans History Project at the Library of Congress. Through the Center for Military and Veterans Studies, the University is also establishing a veterans association for students, faculty and staff.

If youre a veteran of the American armed forces, Coastal Carolina University is interested in your story, and has established a new on-campus center to help you record it and preserve it, said Coastal Carolina University President David A. DeCenzo. Our veterans deserve recognition and appreciation for service to our country, and their experiences deserve to be recorded and preserved. Were also broadening our outreach to veterans within the University family of students, faculty and staff.

A principal sponsor of the new centers activities is Crescent Bank, which is headquartered in Myrtle Beach. We at Crescent Bank are pleased to be a principal activity sponsor for the new CCU Center for Military and Veterans Studies, said M.J. Huggins, III, president of Crescent Bank. Veterans are vital part of the fabric of America, and there are many here along the Grand Strand. It is our honor to be a part of this new endeavor and look forward to supporting it for years to come.

Author and historian Rod Gragg has been named director of the Center for Military and Veterans Studies, which is a companion project to the Universitys popular ROTC program. An adjunct professor of history at the university, Gragg is the author of 16 books on American history, including eight on topics in military history. A former instructor in the University of South Carolina ROTC program, Gragg was the longtime host of SCETVs War Memories television program, which featured oral history by veterans of the Second World War. He was a regional director in the U.S. Department of Defenses World War II Commemorative Committee, and his books have earned the Fletcher Pratt Award and the James I. Robertson Award for military history.

The mission of the Veterans Center is to encourage appreciation for the veterans among us and the sacrifices so many have made on our behalf, while preserving a record of their service through memoirs, photographs and documents, Gragg said. Partnering with the Library of Congress means that our local veterans experiences can become part of the Librarys permanent holdings, and be available to historians, researchers and the general public.

The Center for Military and Veterans Studies will follow established Library of Congress standards, Gragg said, as it works with local veterans to record interviews, and collect memoirs, documents and photographs relating to veterans military service. Donated materials and recorded oral histories will be forwarded to the Veterans History Project at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. There, a collection will be established in the name of each veteran in the permanent holdings of the Library of Congress. Eventually, each collection will be available for study by scholars, genealogists, researchers and the general public.

The Veterans History Projects mission is to collect, preserve and make accessible the personal accounts of American war veterans so that future generations may hear directly from veterans, said Monica Mohnidra, senior liaison specialist with the Library of Congress. It is only through the dedicated volunteer efforts of and collaboration with institutions such as the Center for Military and Veterans Studies that the Veterans History Project is able to collect, record, and preserve these important histories for generations to come.

Oral history interviews compose a key element of the mission at CCUs Center for Military and Veterans Studies, Gragg said. Volunteers will be trained to interview veterans and record oral history of their experiences, which will be supplemented by collateral photographs and documents donated by each veteran. All veterans who are interviewed will be given a DVD copy of the interview for themselves and their families.

Families of deceased veterans may donate military memoirs, records and photographs that belonged to their relatives or ancestors, and collections will be established at the Library of Congress in the names of the deceased veterans. Interviews will be conducted at the Veterans Center office at Coastal Carolina University, and will be scheduled by appointment, beginning in January.

Veterans who wish to donate documents, photographs and memoirs, or be interviewed Veterans History Project, may contact the new CCU center at 843-234-3431.Oral history interviews by American military veterans, along with letters, diaries and documents such as these, will be accepted for historic preservation by the new Center for Military and Veterans Studies at Coastal Carolina University, which will begin operations in January. Author and historian Rod Gragg of Conway is the new centers director. ...

Voice studio recital highlights songs of Leonard Bernstein

2009-11-03 08:36:09

The voice students of Coastal Carolina University music professor Jeffery Jones will perform a selection of songs by American composer Leonard Bernstein at 7:30 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 9 at Coastal Carolina University. The recital is free and open to the public.

The event, which will be held in the Recital Hall of the Thomas W. and Robin W. Edwards College of Humanities and Fine Arts, will showcase students majoring in music and musical theatre. Student performers include Suade Anderson, Drew Benson, Caleb Brannen, Jonathan Cashatt, Caroline Davis, Jennifer Georgilis, Adrienne Griffiths, Rebecca Pack, Meghan Perry, Trey Pittman, Anthony Porter, Felicia Powers, Mason Reich, Rachel Swindler, Drew Trautman, Jamie Wells and Stephen Williams.

From the theatre stage to concert halls, Leonard Bernstein was a constant musical presence during the 20th century, well-known for both conducting and composing. His works projected a simple message of understanding and hope employing both complex and simple forms and styles, an approach best expressed in his score to West Side Story. ...

Flute Studio Recital set at Coastal Carolina University

2009-11-03 11:11:34

Coastal Carolina Universitys Flute Studio will perform at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 12 in the Recital Hall of the Thomas W. and Robin W. Edwards College of Humanities and Fine Arts. Admission is free but tickets are required.

The Flute Studio, directed by Amy Hardison Tully, assistant professor of music, will present solo and chamber works from the traditional flute repertoire. The program includes works by Cecil Chaminade, Otar Taktakishvili, Eldin Burton, J.S. Bach and Georges Bizet. Students performing are music majors at the University, studying with Amy Hardison Tully.

The second half of the program will feature the University Flute Choir, also directed by Tully, performing works by Bela Bartok, Claude Debussy and Phyllis Louke. The Flute Choir is a musical ensemble comprised of five members of the flute family, the piccolo, Eb flute, C flute, alto flute and bass flute.

For tickets and information, call the Wheelwright Box Office from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday at 843-349-2502. ...

American Cancer Society benefit concert at Coastal Carolina University

2009-11-03 16:21:50

Coastal Carolina Universitys Department of Music will present a benefit concert for the American Cancer Society at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 10 in Wheelwright Auditorium. General admission is 5, and donations will be accepted at the door.

The concert is the second annual First-Year Experience benefit concert hosted by the Universitys freshman music majors. The program will feature soloists and groups of music students and faculty performing in a variety of different musical styles including rock-n-roll, classical, jazz and popular music. All money raised will go toward Relay for Life, a charity which benefits the American Cancer Society.

For tickets and information, call the Wheelwright Box Office from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday at 843-349-2502....

Coastal Carolina sweeps S.C. student legislature 2009

2009-11-04 08:44:29

Coastal Carolina University students who attended the Fall 2009 session of the South Carolina Student Legislature SCSL won Best Large Delegation recently, beating out delegations from the University of South Carolina, Clemson, College of Charleston, Converse College, the Citadel and North Greenville University.

Of the 15 politics students who attended the session on Oct. 24, 11 of them wrote, introduced and had bills debated on the floor of the SCSL House and Senate. All 11 bills passed successfully.

A team of three students Caitlin Spahr, Matt Cleary and Trent Ervin won Best Brief before the SCSL Supreme Court.

Tyler Greatorex, a junior political science major from Virginia,, was elected lieutenant governor for the 2010 spring and fall sessions. He will be responsible for working with the SCSL governor to plan the next two sessions, and he will preside over the student senate each day during the next two sessions.

We are so proud of these students, said Holley Tankersley, political science professor who attended with the students. Our Coastal students conducted themselves with the utmost respect and care.

The South Carolina Student Legislature is a student-run mock legislature sponsored by the S.C. General Assembly. Colleges and universities in South Carolina send delegations to two annual sessions to debate bills and further their knowledge about parliamentary procedure and state government. ...

New World Performance Laboratory presents Frankenstein at CCU

2009-10-30 12:31:58

The New World Performance Laboratory NWPL, a professional theatre company based in Ohio, will present its production of Frankenstein by Mary Shelley at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 5 and Friday, Nov. 6 at Coastal Carolina Universitys Black Box Theatre, located in the Thomas W. and Robin W. Edwards College of Humanities and Fine Arts.

General admission is 15, Osher Lifelong Learning Institute Member admission is 10, alumni and seniors are 10, teen and children are 5 children must be accompanied by an adult.

NWPLs imaginative investigation of the classic story, Frankenstein, incorporates images from the novel and scenes from Shelleys own life. This production depicts the epic battle between body, mind and soul fought on a landscape of solitude and horror. Lord Byron, Mary Shelley, her husband Percy Shelley and their friends come to life in this gothic nightmare. The show includes a haunting vocal score that blends 19th century romantic motifs with new music composed by Megan Elk. NWPLs Frankenstein, which premiered as part of the Cleveland Playhouses Fusion Fest, has won acclaim for its original, unconventional approach.

Frankenstein is the work of an internationally acclaimed theatre ensemble. The play is directed by NWPL co-artistic director and University of Akron theatre professor, James Slowiak.

NWPL works in residence at the University of Akron and under the auspices of the Center for Applied Theatre and Active Culture CATAC.

For tickets and information, contact the Wheelwright Box Office Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at 843-349-2502 or boxofficecoastal.edu. Tickets may also be purchased online at http://www.coastal.edu/culturalarts/months/tickets.html....

Coastal Carolina fishing tradition continues

2009-10-30 13:18:43

This year the Coastal Carolina Invitational fishing tournament turns 36. The fishing match, which began in 1974, is the oldest collegiate event of its kind in the country. This years event is scheduled for Friday, Nov. 13.

After 36 years, many things about the tournament remain the same: competition fishing is scheduled for the last Friday in October Oct. 30 king mackerel are the target species Distinguished Professor Emeritus Richard Moore of Coastal Carolina University will judge the results as he has done every year since 1974 the New Inlet Princess from Captain Dicks in Murrells Inlet will be hosting the student anglers and the Hot Fish Club also of Murrells Inlet is preparing the post-tourney awards banquet.

But although the tradition continues, it will never be quite the same. Professor Don Millus, the creator and organizer of the event, passed away in June after a short illness. Although Millusa legendary fishing enthusiast, scholar and poetwill not be present at this years tournament, he is fondly remembered by the participants who have been involved with the tournament over the years.

Dr. Joey Sanders and Captain Ryan Powers, both CCU alumni, are assisting Professor Erin Burge of the Department of Marine Science with the organization of this years tournament. Lyn Smith of Capt. Dicks provided valuable details on the tournament organization, thanks to her long friendship with Professor Millus, and Allan Hickman, a student angler from the 2008 championship team from CCU, is returning for this years match as a special guest. As part of his on-campus job with facilities maintenance, Hickmans crew was tasked with cleaning out Milluss office earlier in the fall in order to make it ready for a new English faculty member. During the cleanup, Allan recognized records and photographs of past tournaments going back to the first match in 1974. He saved these from being discarded and passed them on to Burge.

To challenge the two-year run of Coastal Carolina victories, this years competing student teams include the University of South Carolina, coached by Professor Jerry Hilbish of USCs Department of Biological Sciences, and Clemson University, mentored by Professor Jeff Isley. Coastal Carolina is fielding two teams, one representing the CCU Fishing Club, and another representing the Saltwater Anglers Club, to defend CCUs claim to the fishing trophy. Student anglers and their faculty coaches will drift fish for kings in areas that have been recently productive, according to Captain Jack Orr of Capt. Dicks Marina. In some years the fish run close to the beach, and in others they hold farther offshore. Anglers also have the opportunity to catch bottom fish including black sea bass, triggerfish and grouper.

All student anglers and their coaches begin the day viewing a short video introduction to the history of the tournament. They will depart from the marina for the fishing grounds at 7 a.m., Friday, Nov. 13. The weigh-in for the event is scheduled for 4 p.m. at the dock behind Capt. Dicks. The public is welcome to attend.

Points to each team are awarded based on pounds of legal game fish caught with bonus points for live releases, with an exclusion for sharks. After tabulating the fish caught, the catch will be turned over to the chef at Hot Fish Club, where the banquet and awarding of prizes will begin at 5:30 p.m. The main sponsor of this event continues to be the Coastal Education Foundation and the many volunteers who participate....