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Dec. 3, Sept. 30,2008 2009| |Vol. Vol.81, 82,Issue Issue145
mudbowl
Synthia Clark | staff photographer
Students participate and watch the Mudbowl Thursday, Sept. 28. This year’s Mudbowl featured two mudpits, but also included rain. View slideshows at www.theallstate.org.
Phi Alpha Theta earns national award By CODY LEMONS Guest Writer
History was made current recently at APSU. Earlier this month, the APSU chapter of Phi Alpha Theta was awarded “Best Chapter of 2009” by the National Phi Alpha Theta History Honor Society. “It is such an honor to have our chapter recognized as Best Chapter by national Phi Alpha Theta,” said Minoa Uffelman, the club’s adviser. “PAT members worked extraordinarily hard.” The award is given nationally to different divisions. APSU is in Division III, which consists of universities with 5,000 to 10,000
“It is such an honor
to have our chapter recognized as Best Chapter by national Phi Alpha Theta.” Minoa Uffelman, Phi Alpha Theta adviser students. Uffelman has been the club’s adviser for the last two years and is now working on her third. “Being the adviser to Phi Alpha Theta is one of the most rewarding positions I’ve ever had,” Uffelman
said. “I work with an incredible group of students. They are smart, dedicated, hard working and fun.” During the time Uffelman has been involved, the club has been made more recognizable on campus. The club has participated in events such as Plant the Campus Red, Homecoming, G.H.O.S.T., intramural sports and Trivia Night at the library. Student Affairs recently named Uffelman “Adviser of the Year” because of the club’s higher recognition on campus. Uffelman said PAT members have been busy this last year. They have prepared and presented papers at the Ohio
Osborn, alumna, releases sci-fi novel, ‘Burnout’ By LIZ HARRISON Guest Writer
Best-selling science fiction author and APSU Alumna Stephanie Osborn released her novel, “Burnout,” in the Tommy Head Atrium of the Sundquist Science Complex Friday, Sept. 25. “I was pleased and honored to be here, to come back to where it all started. This year I have felt completion, and it is so wonderful to be here today,” Osborn said. Osborn had a video trailer set up for her novel at her table along with posters. Allyn Smith, associate professor of astronomy and physics, said he was drawn to the table by the signs, and stayed around to learn about the book. The display and description also caught the eye of APSU student, Kiara Edwards. “It sounds great, really interesting. I looked through it and asked about it, and it sounds like it’s got a lot of the aspects I look for in most of my books—adventure, action, conspiracy,” Edwards said. “It makes you think, What if? It makes you want to go out there and broaden your horizons on this kind of thing, and learn what’s going on.” Osborn worked on “Burnout” for 10 years, writing it in spasms of inspiration.
The book incorporates her personal knowledge as well as her research, and research done alongside her mentor. Osborn holds degrees in physics, mathematics, chemistry and astronomy, with an extensive knowledge of geology and anatomy. She also worked as a payload flight controller, and worked in NASA for 20 years. Osborn has worked with military defense and with the International Space Station, as well as on multiple space shuttle flights. She has also trained astronauts. One of her trainees, Kalpana Chawla, kept in contact with her posttraining and they became friends. “Every time I was in Houston, I’d pop by for a cup of coffee with her,” Osborn said. Chawla passed away in the 2003 Columbia Shuttle disaster. “I had to drop the novel for a long time after that happened,” Osborn said. “Because it was hard. Before that crash, I had described what it would be like in my novel. I felt like I knew too much, like it was my fault. No matter how logically impossible it is, the grief messes with your head.” Osborn’s knowledge of the field let her predict the event with uncanny accuracy. “When I was able to
pick the manuscript back up, I looked over the data investigation for the Columbia Shuttle’s crash. I did not have to change a word,” Osborn said. Jim Woosley, Ph. D. physicist and Heinlein essayist reviewed the novel. “‘Burnout’ is a compelling, impossible-to-put down, first novel in the class of ‘Skylark of Space’or ‘Lifeline.’ It may perhaps be the most realistic view ever published in fiction about what happens behind the scenes at NASA,” Woosley said. Osborn is still writing, working on a novel she wrote with another author, “The Y-Factor,” which will be in print by the end of the year. It is the second in a series. The third book will be out by next summer. Osborn is also planning a sequel to “Burnout,”as well as her own original series. Outside of writing, Osborn tutors students in mathematics and science, and spends time with her husband and her cat, Elrond. She holds an interest in theatrics, bodybuilding, karate and watching polo matches. “Burnout” has been nominated for awards in thriller, science fiction and mystery. It is available for purchase at bookstores. Osborn’s also Web site is www.stephanieosborn.com. F
Valley History Conference, hosted a regional conference with 120 people in attendance, won a Black History Quiz Bowl, organized roundtables with professors to discuss historical articles, held writing workshops open to all APSU students and hosted lectures by prominent historians. The chapter received a certificate from the PAT honoring their distinction, which will be on display in the History Major Student Lounge. The club will also be awarded $250 for books for the library. Michael Ramsey, the club’s 2008-09 president, suggested they purchase two books dealing with the French and Indian War. F
Membership Information
To join the Phi Alpha Theta History Society students must have 12 hours of history and an overall GPA of 3.0. Students must also have a 3.1 GPA in history. For more information on the chapter, contact Minoa Uffelman at 2217704 or at uffelmanm@ apsu.edu
Volleyball Sophomore Ilyanna Hernandez leaps into the air to make a play on the ball. The Lady Govs swept the Eastern Illinois Panthers 3-0, Saturday, Sept. 26, at Lantz Arena. Hernandez had 10 kills in the match.
Lois Jones | senior photographer
Lady Govs undefeated in OVC After a 3-0 sweep of the Eastern Illinois Panthers Saturday, Sept. 26., The Lady Govs are on a four-match winning streak. The last three wins have made the Lady Govs undefeated so far in the Ohio Valley Conference. As of press time, Monday, Sept. 28, they were one of only three teams in the conference still undefeated.
Lady Govs, Stephanie Champine and Sarah Alisaleh both received conference honors this week. Champine was named “Offensive Player of the Week” and Alisaleh was named “Setter of the Week.” See full story and profile of senior Kirstin Distler in Sports page 8.