The Mercury

Master of Arts in Humanities Fall_2011 Towson University Est. 2002 A letter does not blush. -Marcus Tullius Cicero ________ Upcoming HUMA Seminars Registration Starts December 17, 2011 Spring 2012 HUMA611 Rhetoric: The Pursuit of Eloquence, Dr. Zosha Stuckey, Th 6-8:40 HUMA603 Disease, Health, and Healing in Western Lit, Dr. Jennifer Ballengee, T 6-8:40 HUMA616 The Human, Dr. Steve Scales, W 6-8:40 HUMA751 Master Works: Don Quixote, Dr. Beverly Leetch, M 6-8:40 ________ Preview: Summer 2012 HUMA602 Literature of Empire, StudyAbroad, Dr. Jennifer Ballengee HUMA611 Rhetoric: Pursuit of Eloquence, Dr. George Hahn

Humanities Offers First Study Abroad Courses

Prof. Jennifer Ballengee is pleased to announce the Humanities Program's first core-credit study abroad course, HUMA 602 Literature of Empire, to be offered this summer. Another study abroad opportunity, Prof. Allaire Stallsmith's HIST 594: Crete: Crossroads of Mediterranean Civilization, is open to graduate students as an elective during Spring Break 2012. In HUMA 602, participants will examine how ancient Greek myth - as it appears in literature, art, and architecture - has combined with symbolic space to communicate cultural ideologies over the course of history. The program features visits to Athens, Tolo, Corinth, Olympia, Paros, Delphi, and Delos. Highlights include visits to the Acropolis, the National Archaeological Museum, the Palace of Mycenae, Epidaurus and more. Please visit the course's Study Abroad web page if you would like to participate.

In HIST 594, students will study the history of Crete, tracing Cretan history from the Neolithic period to the late 19th century when revolutionary movements led to union with the Greek mainland. Students will spend time in Athens, Heraklion, Chania, and Aghios Nikolaos with visits to the Acropolis, the National Archaeolgical Museum, the Palace of Knossos, local monasteries, the Commonwealth War Cemtery in Souda, Psychro Cave, and more. Visit the Study Abroad web page for the course for more information.

Students Star in Recruiting Video

The Humanties web page has an updated look with new media. Be sure to check out our edgy yet tasteful promotional video starring Mikhail Petrukhov (MA 2011) and MA candidate Jessica Baldwin.

Marlana Portolano, Director Master of Arts in Humanities Towson University 8000 York Road Towson, MD 21252 mportolano@ towson.edu Dr. Portolano's office is in the new Liberal Arts Building, room 5355

Don't Forget to Apply for Graduation

If you are nearing the completion of your master's degree in Humanities, there are a few administrative tasks on your to-do list. First, come in to see Dr. Portolano for graduation advising. If you are nearing the final semester and are thinking about a thesis, you must choose your thesis committee, including the chair, the semester before you begin the thesis. Guidelines for this process, including student and

chair responsibilities and needed forms, can be found in the Graduate School's Thesis Handbook. If you choose the anthology option, you should make an appointment with Dr. Portolano to review guidelines and the required format, and to go over your graduation plan. Regardless of the degree options you choose, an application for graduation is required early in the semester of your planned graduation. You may apply online at the Graduate School's website. The application deadline for spring is January 20, 2012; the deadline for summer is July 4, 2012.

A New Grading Scale for Graduate Classes

The new grading scale has taken affect for graduate level classes at Towson University, adding to the old A/B/C and fail options a range of plus and minus grades. Professors may now choose to award A/A/B+/B/C or fail in graduate courses. It is also permissible for professors to grade by the old scale, so check your syllabus for specific class guidelines.

Here Come the Dons!

The Redoubtable Dons, our informal band of local thinkers, has scheduled two more speakers for Fall 2011. We hope you can come. All talks begin at 4pm at the University Club in the Towson University Marriott Hotel. Nancy Siegel (Art History) will speak on "The Graphic Body: Bawdy Political Prints in Eighteenth Century Britain and America" on Friday, October 21. Walt Fuchs (Philosophy) will discuss "Existentialism: A Philosophy for Our Time?" on Friday, November 18.

Capt. Gerald Ross, Rest in Peace

Towson Humanities student Captain Gerald Joseph Ross, 80, died August 13, 2011 at Gilchrist Hospice Care, in Towson, surrounded by his 2 daughters, Stacey Starkman and Allison Schulte. "Captain" received his first BS degree from the US Merchant Marine Academy in 1952. He received his second BS degree in History from Towson University in 2007 and was pursuing the Humanities M.A. at the time of his death. He held a Masters Ocean unlimited license with the US Coast Guard and was a member of both the Society of Maritime Arbitrators and the Marine Society of New York. Capt. Ross is predeceased by his loving wife Glennys who passed away in 1999. We'll miss you, Captain!