mosaicsmosaicsUniversity of Missouri-Columbia The College of Arts and Science Winter 2006 innovation, creativity and happy endings dean’s letter montage FEATURES Statistics vs. Anecdotes Trifecta tradition When the Professor Is a Pop Star 17 By Dean Richard B. Schwartz These winners are three of a kind. A&S Virtuosity Is Its Own Reward 18 students won a trio of national academic Poetic Justice 20 Academic statistics are always interesting. As I began to write this titles in 2005 and elevated MU as one of Gift of Gab 24 introduction, I received the fall enrollment numbers. Students in the only 17 institutions in the nation with Dog Psychology 26 College represent nearly one-third of MU’s 27,985 record total. Since Truman, Goldwater and Udall scholars in For All We Call Mizzou: my arrival in summer 1998, the University has added more than 5,000 the same year. A Million Thanks 28 students — the equivalent of a small to medium-sized liberal arts college. The winners are Harry S. Truman That Was Creepy! 32 Since 1998 the size of the College faculty has grown, the endowment has more than Scholar Annie Morrison, a biological sci- Check Out These Plants 34 doubled and the growth of external research support has skyrocketed. What is clear, ences and English major from West Plains, Sharing Space at the however, is that although statistics are important, they tell a very partial story about a Mo.; Barry Goldwater Scholar Matt Top of the Math World 36 university’s success. Simpson, a physics major from Columbia; Investing Heart and Soul for 25 Years 38 The real stories are the stories you hold in your hand — the stories about people and Morris K. Udall Scholar Jared Cole, Will Work for Funds 40 and the manner in which those people change other peoples’ lives. The stories concern a sociology and environmental studies Rock Icon Leads a Master Class 42 distinguished teaching, incisive and innovative research, impressive student accom- major from Leawood, Kan. This Is the Future 43 plishments, the fascinating career tracks of our graduates, and the great generosity of As one of only 75 Truman Scholars Brothers Bonded 44 our supporters. nationally, Morrison received $30,000, PHOTO BY DAN GLOVER This issue may take the prize for stories with unique slants, with an account of which she plans to apply toward medical in a campus recycling effort called Sustain Outstanding students, from left, Jared Cole, Annie Associate Professor Deb Bell’s prize-winning English toy spaniel, to visits by rock star school. Morrison founded and coordinates Mizzou. Morrison and Matt Simpson won national acclaim as The College gratefully thanks the A&S Alumni Udall, Truman and Goldwater scholars. Organization for financial assistance with the Sting and Preston Sharp of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. We know that we have Women of Worth (WOW), a mentoring All three winners say the application production of Mosaics magazine. a beautiful campus and a serious, successful academic enterprise, but it is good to know program that pairs college women with process for the national scholarships can So why is Ries spending so much time that we also have fun and that we provide students some wholly unexpected but truly troubled girls and teenage mothers. The be daunting, especially when combined talking about tight writing and pointing Send all comments to [email protected] memorable experiences. program supports young women who seek with regular class requirements. out dangling participles in student papers? Our new provost, Brian Foster, is fond of quoting former A&S Dean Milt Glick’s assistance with health issues and education. A friend kept Cole on track by urging Ries, winner of a 2004 William T. On the Cover: Husband and wife Nadine Meyer frequent observation that “data is the plural of anecdote.” Anecdotes have an advan- Morrison says her work with women him to finish the process when he talked Kemper Fellowship for teaching excel- and Steve Gehrke are seasoned winners of poetry awards, but even they were stunned with two recent tage over data, however, in that because data are notoriously manipulable, their audi- who are struggling under the health care of quitting. Morrison just wanted to lence, teaches the statistics department’s announcements. Photo by Karen Johnson. ence is inherently skeptical. The audience for our anecdotes, however, is more recep- system has challenged and inspired her. survive the six-week process of applica- writing-intensive senior seminar. It’s one tive, because everyone loves a good story. “Good health is a real possibility in our tions, written revisions and interviews. of the numerous courses offered as part The virtue of these stories, of course, is that they are all true as well as interesting. society if we take a responsible approach Simpson was relieved at having had the of MU’s nation- Unfortunately, we must restrict their number and cram them into a magazine of 44 to our citizenship,” she says. advantage of research experience. ally recognized pages. This is our greatest challenge. Those of you who have recently received depart- Talking with Simpson about his phys- The threesome is encouraging peers to Campus Writ- mental newsletters know that we could fill Mosaics with accounts of recent doings in ics research takes considerably more keep the trifecta tradition intact at Miz- ing Program. two or three of our 30-plus departments and programs. effort than a casual conversation. He zou in future years. For the To give but a single example, we have included an account of Professor Gabor For- works in atomic force microscopy. Under fourth con- gacs’ work. In Gabor’s department, physics and astronomy, there have been two other the guidance of Professor Haskell Taub, Principals and secu- major grants this fall, the total value of the three being more than $10 million, and the Simpson probes samples of alkane miner- participles research involved is even more interesting than the amounts of the grants. Enjoy our als to measure their physical structure In their comment cards, stories, knowing that they are representative but not all-inclusive, and enjoy your role and friction. When he’s not engaged in students praise Larry in our wonderful community. research or his own study, Simpson shares Ries’ ability to teach his talents as a tutor in the Physics Help statistics. They refer to Center. some of his lecture material as wor- Winning a national title is a familiar thy of a stand-up comedy routine and mosaics is published annually for alumni and friends of the College of Arts and Science at routine to Cole, who collected his second value his clear explanations of such the University of Missouri-Columbia. consecutive Udall scholarship in 2005 and subjects as p-values. PHOTO BY CHRIS DETRICK EDITOR Nancy Moen, 317 Lowry Hall, Columbia, MO 65211, (573) 882-2209 Composer Stefan Freund, right, took inspiration from E-mail: [email protected] reached the finals for the Truman award. Larry Ries teaches writing skills to students faculty colleague Leo Saguiguit, left, and piano stu- PHOTOGRAPHERS Chris Detrick, Dan Glover, Rob Hill, Karen Johnson, Justin Kelley He’s known at MU for his work as an as he teaches statistics. dent Patrick Dell to win a national composition title. ART DIRECTOR Blake Dinsdale environmental activist and his leadership PHOTO BY DAN GLOVER 2 | ARTS & SCIENCE WINTER 2006 WINTER 2006 montage montage tive year, teachers such as Ries have 2003. helped put MU’s name in the U.S. News • The Modern Language Association se- & World Report’s “Best Colleges” issue. lected John Foley’s experimental edition- The 2006 publication lists Mizzou’s translation of South Slavic oral epic The Campus Writing Program among the Wedding of Mustabjey’s Son Becirbey as nation’s best “writing in the disciplines” Performed by Halil Bajgoric as winner programs. of the MLA Award for a Distinguished Ries enforces the rules of good writ- Scholarly Edition for 2004–05. The prize ing by asking students to write critiques represents the highest national award for of magazine or newspaper articles that scholarly editions of literature. Foley is involve uses or misuses of statistics. Other Curators’ Professor of English and Classi- times he requests written explanations cal Studies. of statistical procedures and concepts • Heading down the national highway geared toward different audiences. In one again is a familiar route for history Pro- assignment he asks his students to explain fessor Steve Watts as he lectures and signs a p-value to a student who has no knowl- PHOTO BY ROB HILL books to promote his newest, Henry Ford, edge of statistics. and radiology Professor Kattesh Katti is Carol Anderson’s knowledge of history earned her a The People’s Tycoon: Henry Ford and “The papers I have read on that topic the 2005–06 recipient of the renowned position on the historical advisory committee for the the American Century. Watts has been U.S. Department of State. have been quite interesting. It is one thing Gauss Professorship. Katti was selected featured on PBS, C-Span and National to understand something but quite an- from nominees worldwide. He is known in Madrid this August. The prestigious Public Radio. other to explain it to someone who lacks for his innovative nanomedicine tech- group meets only every four years. • Chemistry department Chair Jerry PHOTO COURTESY OF MU PUBLICATIONS context,” he says. niques to combat prostate cancer and is • Instructor of Japanese Marty Holman Atwood became a Fellow of the Royal Perhaps one of his finest — and funni- Walter Johnson Auditorium, the landmark auditorium in Middlebush Hall, is renamed after the economics To qualify for teaching a writing-in- the principal inventor on 14 patents that and some of his MU students will appear Society of Chemistry in May.