Throughout Sweden the feast day of Lucia, or Lucy, is celebrated as a festival of lights. In the early hours of the morning of December 13 a young woman, dressed in a white gown, and wearing a red sash and a crown of lingonberry twigs and blazing candles, would go from one farm to the next carrying a torch to light her way, bringing baked goods, stopping to visit at each house and returning home by break of day. Every village had its own Lucia. The custom is thought to have begun in some of the richer farming districts of Sweden and still persists although the crowns are now electric lights.

On our USC Upstate campus, we have our very own “Lucia” who is the daughter of Laura Karas (Library). Marah dresses in a white gown with candles (fake) in a wreath on her head and brings cookies including pepparkakor (ginger snaps) and light to the darkest day of the year.

The Carolinian , the bi-monthly campus newspaper managed and published entirely by students, is going to have a photography contest for a special winter break edition. Anyone can compete. Winners will receive cash prizes or gift cards. Two entrees per person is the limit. The categories are cutest, prettiest, and funniest. The main photo competition will be for the picture that that captures the holiday spirit the most. The competition deadline will be Thursday, November 30. For further information, email The Carolinian.

Jim Charles (English Education) presented a paper titled " Reading, Learning, Teaching N. Scott Momaday" at the 2006 National Council of Teachers of English Convention in Nashville, Tenn. on November 17. He also participated on a panel titled "The New NCTE GUIDELINES FOR ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS TEACHER PREPARATION: Questions and Issues for the Profession to Consider" on November 19, co-chairing the session titled "The Guidelines and Program Development."

Gayle L. Casterline (Nursing) recently completed National League of Nursing certification as a Certified Nurse Educator (CNE). This credential is a significant milestone because it distinguishes academic nursing education as a specialty area of practice, and allows qualified nurse educators to receive professional acknowledgement for their specialized knowledge, skills, and expertise. Core competencies for the certification include facilitation of learner development and socialization, use of assessment and evaluation strategies, curriculum design, evaluation of program outcomes, and educational leadership and scholarship.  

Theresa Ricke-Kiely , EdD, Center for Nonprofit leadership, Karen Peel, MSN, BSN, MN, CCRN, LMT, School of Nursing, Steve Caldwell, PhD, School of Business, and Cathy Robey-Williams, RN, MS, MBA, CCRN, Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System, presented an interdisciplinary research report, Nurses’ Responses to Research As A Major Organizational Chang Precipitated by Magnet Status, at the Upstate AHEC conference on Collaborative Sharing of Research in Healthcare in Greenville, S.C. on September 29, 2006.

In spite of the dangerous political climate in Haïti, Dr. Danielle Raquidel (Spanish, French) participated, at the beginning of November, in the International Conference on Caribbean Literature in Port-au-Prince, where she presented a paper on René Depestre's novel, Hadriana dans tous mes rêves. She was interviewed by both radio and TV Haitian cultural programs. 

Dr. Warren J. Carson , College of Arts & Sciences, gave a presentation, "Writing and Fighting: Women Literary Artists and Activists of the Harlem Renaissance," at the Evelyn Etheridge Conference on the Harlem Renaissance, "The Duty of the Black Artist: Art for Art's Sake, Commercialism, Social Consciousness" hosted by Paine College, Augusta, Georgia, on November 15.

APPLICATION PROCESS: Visit www.uscupstate.edu/jobs for additional information and online application submission instructions.

STAFF/ADMINISTRATION POSITIONS:

Institutional Effectiveness and Compliance Coordinator (State Title: Program Coordinator I)
Office of Planning and Organizational Development Requisition No. 042739
Online applications accepted through Wednesday, November 29, 2006
Previous applicants for req. no. 042654 are encouraged to reapply.

Chief of Police
(State Title: Law Enforcement Officer IV)
University Police
Requisition No. 042666
Online application accepted through Thursday, November 30, 2006.

December Graduation
The Convocation for the Recognition of December Graduateswill take place on Monday, December 18, 2006 at 7:00 p.m. Spartanburg Memorial Auditorium, with graduate and faculty processionals beginning at 6:40 p.m. Directions to the auditorium can be found at www.spartanburgauditorium.com. 

If you are planning to participate in the ceremony, please note the following:

• Please plan to arrive no later than 6:30pm.
• Please be dressed in full academic regalia.
• Faculty should enter the Auditorium through the arena entrance (bottom floor, near the old box offices) and proceed into the Arena to assemble for the procession.  A graduation marshal will be assigned to the group and will inform you of procedures at that time. PLEASE DO NOT BRING VALUABLES OR PURSES AS THE ARENA AREA WILL NOT BE SECURE.
• The main Auditorium parking lot will be open for all patrons.  The surrounding lots are available for parking as well.

You may contact Frances Krydynski at ext. 5221 if you have questions.

Please encourage your students to check the list of December graduates to make sure their names are spelled correctly.

New Procedure for Courier Service to Greenville Campus
Effective Monday, November 27, 2006 all mail, parcels, and packages going to the University Center Greenville (UCG) will be picked up via courier at Postal Services atSupport Facilities Building instead of Academic Affairs. Therefore, all items to UCG should be placed in departmental daily outgoing mail for pick-up. All mail items must have a return address and a complete mailing address as listed below:

University Center of Greenville or UCG
Attention: Name of Person (if an individual)
Department or Title as needed  

If you are using a plain manila or #10 business envelopes please also write the following endorsement “Courier Service” in the upper right hand corner of the envelope, where postage normally would be applied. Please keep UCG mail separate from any mail being forwarded to mail service for applying postage. Please securely tape all parcels, cartons and boxes, on the TOP AND BOTTOM for transport via the courier service.

The daily courier estimated time of arrival will be Monday through Friday between the hours of 10:30 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. Any items needing delivery to Greenville must be at Postal Service by 10:00 a.m. for departure that day; otherwise it will be held for delivery the next day.

Blackboard Workshops and Assistance
Have you been meaning to learn more about Blackboard, the university’s main online course management system? There are some new features that have been added within the last year, including a new way to upload content in batches and a plagiarism detection tool. You can use a program called Respondus to upload test questions and Breeze to add narration to PowerPoint presentations. Some workshops are going to be offered before the holiday break and early next semester, but your input is needed. Contact Tom Davis and let him know of your interest and availability.

Providing Services for Online Learners
As USC Upstate offers more courses and programs online we need to be aware of the wide range of support services needed by online learners. This online workshop will explore ways in which technology has automated the student's total learning experience, spilling over to the rest of the university such as administration, academic counseling, marketing, and technical support. This three to five hour program will be available online beginning Wednesday, November 29 and will remain accessible until December 31. For more information visit the workshop web site. Contact Tom Davis to register.

Technology Training, Tutorials and Handouts
The university provides online training for faculty and staff on many popular applications, such as Word, Excel, Access, Outlook, Publisher and PowerPoint, through a contract with a company called Element K. Lessons are offered in short segments which you can complete in ten to twenty minutes at your convenience in your office or from home. To enroll, visit the web site to read the participation guidelines and verify your employment. You will receive email confirmation with a username and password. In addition, there are some tutorials and handouts for these and some of the other campus applications on the network “S” or shared drive in a folder entitled Faculty and Staff ITS Info.

Calling All Angels!
As a result of the kindness from the USC Upstate, student, faculty, and staff, we have been fortunate enough to adopt over 100 Angels this year! We would like to continue these efforts, and we still have multiple children available for adoption, so if you have not had the opportunity to adopt an Angel yet, time and children are still available. You can still adopt and here is how! Send an email to April Moore requesting to sponsor an Angel or stop by room 224 in Campus Life Center. Or, you can contribute monetarily, by giving a donation of any kind, towards an Angel, and the gifts will be purchased for you for an Angel! Thanks for making sure the 2006 Angels have an unforgettable holiday!

NEW!

Meeting for South Africa Study Abroad Trip
Tuesday, November 28 … 4:30 – 6:15 p.m. … HPAC 122
This informational meeting is open to all interested parties. Those interested in the arts component of the trip can contact Dr. Rachel Snow (art history) for more information about the meeting or the trip itself. Those interested in the non-profit administration component of the trip should contact Dr. Theresa Ricke-Kiely for more details. Non-specific inquiries can be made to either Dr. Snow or Dr. Ricke-Kiely.

Upstate Feminists Meeting
Wednesday, November 29 … 2:00 p.m. … Hodge 155
Upstate Feminists invite faculty and students to join our meeting for a discussion of the recent election, its impact on women, and the exciting political figure of Nancy Pelosi, a self-declared feminist! Contact Lisa Johnson for more information.

Dedication of the Trees
Thursday, November 30 … 11:00 a.m. … Amphitheatre
The Dedication of Trees is an annual event where donors are invited to the Susan Jacobs Arboretum to mark their tree with a personalized tag. For questions or information, contact Bea Smith.

A Holiday Gathering
Tuesday, December 5 … 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. … CLC Ballroom
Acting Chancellor Dr. Reginal Avery and the Staff Council invite the entire USC Upstate community to an afternoon of friendship and holiday cheer, complete with door prizes and holiday music.

A Preface Event: Commemoration of Peace
December 7 … 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. … CLC and Arboretum
On December 7, 1941, the Japanese raid on Pearl Harbor was a defining moment in history. On this Pearl Harbor Day, we will gather to remember a time of war and to call for peace. The program will begin in CLC with a dedication of the paper cranes folded by members of the USC Upstate community before they are sent to the Children's Peace Monument in Peace Memorial Park in Hiroshima, Japan. Afterwards, the group will move to the arboretum where a tree will be planted to remember those lost in war and to honor those who seek peace, justice, and tolerance. To be held in the CLC Ballroom and the Arboretum. For more information, contact Brenda Davenport.

Friday Focus Nonprofit Series: Topics in Nonprofit Banking
December 8 …12:00 -1:00 p.m. … Rampey Center
Susan Hodge (Carolina Piedmont Foundation) will discuss how to develop a working relationship with your bank and your CPA. Discover how the quality of your board can affect your financial status. Cash management and reporting will be additional topics of discussion. Bring your own lunch for a casual lunch and conversation. For additional information, contact Theresa Ricke-Kiely.

USC Upstate Student Recital (Guitar and Percussion)
Tuesday, November 28 … 8:00 p.m. … HPAC

"Women In" Lunch Series: Women in Chinese History: The Infamous Lady Yang
Thursday, November 30 … 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. … Campus Life Center 317

Seven Hidden Reasons People Leave and Stay
Thursday, November 30 … 3:00 p.m. … Rampey Center

Arbor Day Celebration
Friday, December 1 … 12:00 p.m. … University Readiness Center

Chili Cook-Off
Friday, December 8 … 12:00 – 2:00 p.m. … CLC Dining Hall

Hampton Heights Spirit of Christmas Past Tour of Homes
December 2 & 3 … Hampton Heights
This event will put you in the holiday spirit as you tour six historic homes, listen to live Christmas music and take horse-drawn carriage rides. Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 the day of the tour. For more information, look at the flyer, or call 316-6135, or e-mail hamptonheightstour@earthlink.net.

Hub City Bookfest
Saturday, December 2 … 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. …The Showroom at Hub Bub, 149 S. Daniel Morgan Ave., Spartanburg
The Hub City Bookfest will feature more than 25 Upstate authors who will sign and sell their books this Saturday. Sponsored by the Hub City Writers Project, the Bookfest is free and open to the public. Many favorite Hub City titles will be discounted for this Christmas shopping event! For more information, call 577-9349.Here’s a guide to some – but not all – of the authors who will attend:

• Dot Jackson , a prize-winning reporter from Pickens who burst on the scene recently with Refuge, a highly acclaimed novel about a woman’s impulsive flight to the mountains during the Depression.

• Mindy Friddle , Greenville author of the novel The Garden Angel, an NPR Summer Reading Pick, the story of Southern women trying to honor the past while accommodating the present.
• Meg Barnhouse , author of five books of essays, including the newest from Skinner House Books, Did I Say That Out Loud? and Hub City’s Radio Free Bubba titles.
• Kirk Neely , author of Comfort & Joy: Nine Stories for Christmas, a new book from Hub City already in its second printing.
• John Lane , poet, essayist and newspaper columnist, who has authored the books Chattooga: Descending into the Myth of Deliverance River and Waist Deep in Black Water.
• Sheila Ingle , author of the newest Hub City Book, Courageous Kate: A Daughter of the American Revolution, the story of Walnut Grove Plantation’s Revolutionary War heroine Kate Barry.
• Phil Racine , author of Hub City’s best-seller, Seeing Spartanburg.
• Judge Bruce Littlejohn , the author of four books of memoirs about his half-century on the bench and with the South Carolina Bar Association.
• Angela Knight , a USA Today best-selling author from Spartanburg who has written a series of sensual romance novels.
• John Boyanoski , author of The Ghosts of Upstate South Carolina, the story of the region’s most haunted places.
• Mike Hembree , a Spartanburg native and author who is four-time winner of National Motorsports Press Association Writer of the Year.
• Dr. G.B. Hodge , author of the memoir, Reflections on Building an Institution, the story of the founding of The University of South Carolina Upstate.
• Thomas Webster , author of The Cottonwood Trail: Glimpses of Wildness in the Heart of Spartanburg, along with the book’s photographers, G.R. Davis and Peter Schmunck.

• Bea Hill and Brenda Lee , compilers of the national award-winning book South of Main, the story of urban renewal on Spartanburg’s southside.

Other authors include Roger Meadows, Sandy Waddell, Woody Needham, Doyle Boggs, Susan Turpin, Chris Swager, Gary Henderson, Betsy Teter, Ed Epps and others.