Aluminum comes to life on Bedell stage

CAPE GIRARDEAU, MO (KRCU) - Theatrics and dazzling performance graced the River Campus of Southeast Missouri State University when the Aluminum Show visited the Donald C. Bedell Performance Hall last night.

The performance is a world renowned attraction featuring large scale aluminum puppets as well as dancers clad in the shiny metal complimented by a stimulating combination of music and light work.

The audience-interactive show was created in Israel and quickly gained popularity for its unique use of industrial metals mixed with performance to create a colorful and entertaining spectacle.

The Aluminum Show will continue its tour of the U.S. until June when it begins performances in Madrid’s Teatro Coliseum.

Daniel Rohr, KRCU

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Spring into Dance combines movement, sound, and sculpture

CAPE GIRARDEAU, MO (KRCU) - Percussionist Taylor Stanton is accustomed to teamwork. As a member of the Southeast Missouri Orchestra’s rhythm section, he has to keep his ears open to sounds of his fellow musicians. But for the new Spring into Dance recital, that collaboration goes beyond music.


Listen to the story. 

“It was a joint collaboration between Dr. Reynolds, Dr. Strauss, some people in the Art department, and all of the heads of the Dance department too,” Stanton said. “It’s one big collaboration between all three departments.”

Spring into Dance is a dance production that features lives music from the Southeast Missouri Orchestra, choreography by Southeast dance instructors, and original sculpture pieces by the Department of Art.

The production will continue through Sunday.

This year’s production consists of two acts, the first featuring choreography by Southeast faculty and students, as well as renowned guest choreographer, Susan Quinn. The second act features 20th century works by Gustav Holst’s The Planets.

Holst’s work was composed from 1914-1916 during the war-torn years of World War I. The sense of destruction and subsequent rebuilding is sensed through the music, and reinforces every move performed by the dancers.

Instructor of Dance and Choreography, Philip Edgecombe describes how the interdepartmental collaboration sheds a new light onto how important working with others can be to enhance artistic creation.

“I think overall with the collaboration we are accomplishing something that would have been impossible,” Edgecombe says. “The joy of having live music, I think the joy of having original art created for the pieces, and original choreography coming together somewhat harmoniously, but also sometimes not, I think that creates something kind of exciting.”

Four of the nine works of Holst’s opus will be performed, including Mars- Bringer of War, Venus-Bringer of Peace, Mercury- the Winger Messenger, and Jupiter- the Bringer of Jollity.

Mars begins with strong and powerful orchestral movements, followed by the harmonious melody of Venus and the swift, stream-lined sounds of Mercury and closes with the joyous music of Jupiter.

Each movement underscores the progression of war, from times of hardship and battle followed by peace, and the inevitable rebuilding and healing brought about through the passage of time.

Associate Professor of Art, Chris Wubbena, and his team of students have been toiling away for several months to complete several large-scale elements for the performers to utilize during the show.

The sculptures range from about five feet tall to twelve feet tall and are very interactive. Some will be suspended from the ceiling while others glide effortlessly across the floor, all providing a stunning visual element to the performance.

Not only does he believe that each own department has an important job to create something compelling, but the combined artwork of all three departments is vital to the show.

“I also think the end result and the creation of artwork is important,” Wubbena says. “Maybe that is the most important thing. Creating something that is powerful, impressive, and inspiring. All those things, but using the different means of student collaboration and faculty collaboration. Those things, I think, add to that experience in the end.”

The hopes of the students and faculty of the production are not only to create an impressive display of performance and music, but to inspire future performers and artists to put their heads together and work with others on projects down the line.

Wubbena feels that while collaboration between departments is challenging, a compelling result that makes an audience feel inspired is the end that justifies the means.

“If I would have to say something is the most important, I would have to say the overall artwork, in general, and what it leaves the viewer with at the end is probably the most important,” Wubbena says.

Spring into Dance shows at the Donald C. Bedell Performance Hall at Southeast Missouri State University’s River Campus from Thursday April 14th through Saturday April 16th at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday April 17th at 2 p.m.

Daniel Rohr, KRCU

Photo courtesy of Southeast Missouri State University

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Democrats and Republicans point finger at other party for budget delays

A possible government shutdown may be in the cards and Democrats and Republicans are busy blaming each other.

When asked why the Democratic budget plan was not finished at the beginning of the last fiscal year, Missouri Senator Claire McCaskill points the finger at bipartisanism.

"There is an equal opportunity for blame here on why we did not get the budget done last year," McCaskill said. "The Republicans were not wanting to help with that process. They wanted to blame us for not getting a budget and they wanted us to hold off so they could try to put their priorities in place which you’re seeing happen right now. This was part of their strategy."

However Missouri Senator Roy Blunt feels the problem has been caused by poor negotiation when the House was under Democratic control.

"We’re dealing with issue that they could have resolved any way they wanted to last year," Blunt said. "So their negotiating position is dramatically impacted by their unwillingness to deal with these issues when they were totally in control."

Daniel Rohr, KRCU

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Southeast Missouri and Southern Illinois Symphonies come together at Bedell

CAPE GIRARDEAU, MO (KRCU) - The Southeast Missouri Symphony Orchestra and the Southern Illinois Symphony Orchestra came together for a night of musical collaboration at the Donald C. Bedell Performance Hall at the River Campus of Southeast Missouri State University.

The orchestras worked together on Monday night to present music from 19th century composer Richard Wagner, famous for his piece ‘Flight of the Valkyries,’ as well as 19th-20th century composer Max Bruch and 19th century composer, Modest Musorgsky.

Plenty of SEMO students were in attendance to appreciate the evening, such as Dakota Price. Studying music as a Minor, she felt the collaboration was beneficial to the knowledge of the musicians.

"As far as a collaboration goes, I think it’s a big thing for schools, especially music programs, to do because with music you can learn a lot of different things, and I think collaborating with another school and with other musicians helps a lot in terms of learning how to be a better musician," Price said.

The performance featured Violin Soloist David Halen, the Concertmaster of the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, who performed with the orchestras during Max Bruch’s arrangement, Violin Concerto in G Minor.

Daniel Rohr, KRCU

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Southeast's new Global Cultures degree melds various disciplines

CAPE GIRARDEAU, MO (KRCU) - Southeast Students studying Anthropology, Global Studies, or Foreign Languages will now attain a B.A. in Global Cultures and Languages, with an emphasis in their respective fields. Specific courses are laid out to fit the needs of each emphasis of study. 

In the past, students have been able to acquire a Bachelors degree in these specific areas with a separate distinction recognized amongst the areas of study. Now these three areas of study will be grouped together in a department known as The Department of Global Cultures and Languages.

At a Wednesday meeting, Department Chair Dieter Jedan said his program is doing something that is in step with many universities. 

"Every other university in the state of Missouri pretty much is following our lead. They all made the same change. And nation-wide also, well over 50% of the language departments have already made this change or are in the process of making this change," Jedan said.

Students who have already declared their major in these areas will be grandfathered in to finish their degrees without any changes, but future students will be required to now study towards a degree in this new department.

Daniel Rohr, KRCU

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Corvettes galore at Show-Me Center

CAPE GIRARDEAU, MO (KRCU) - Car enthusiasts gathered at the Show Me Center on Saturday, March 5th for a collector car auction held by Smith’s Auction Company of Dexter, Missouri. 

Many buyers, sellers from all over made the trip to Cape Girardeau for the event, including car enthusiast Jacob Albers of Belleville Illinois who traveled two hours to attend the auction. He was impressed by the diversity of vehicles.

“They had quite a few Corvettes, and there was actually a really nice custom Corvette that was there, also a GTO and a couple of SS’s. So there were a couple that stuck out to me,” Albers said.

The auction’s line list consisted of 79 new and classic vehicles, ranging from a 1929 Ford Model A station wagon to a 1998 Lincoln stretch limousines. The Chevrolet Corvette was one of the most prevalent models at the show. 

Daniel Rohr, KRCU

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Speaker stresses sustainability in outdoor recreation

CAPE GIRARDEAU, MO (KRCU) - If you are going to enjoy the outdoors, do so within respect.

That’s the message that conservation educator J.D. Tanner delivered Wednesday at the Missouri Department of Conservation’s Nature Center.

Tanner’s lecture covered the importance of environmental sustainability in outdoor recreation, and the impact that we have on our environment.

Tanner gave some eye opening facts about the impact that we have on the environment. He stated that a main concern facing our world is our society’s tendency to over-consume unnecessary things like plastic water bottles, and the unwillingness to recycle such objects.

"We now go and we buy water bottles, an item that is intended to be discarded immediately but we build it to last forever. So we go out, we buy and we buy, and things don’t make it back to recycling areas. We recycle 5% of plastic bottles, the whole world does," Tanner said.

J.D. Tanner is an influential advocate for environmental sustainability. He continues to inform people of our responsibility to protect the world we live in by teaching classes on such topics at San Juan Community College in Farmington, New Mexico.

According to Tanner, the best answer to getting people to act more responsibly in our environment is through education.

Daniel Rohr, KRCU

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Blackstone buys West Park Mall

CAPE GIRARDEAU, MO (KRCU) - Cape Girardeau’s West Park Mall is changing hands.

The mall was recently purchased by U.S. based BRE Retail Holdings Inc., an affiliate of Blackstone Group LP.

West Park is one of 588 shopping malls owned by the Australian-based Centro Properties Group. Centro sold all of its mall holdings to Blackstone. The transaction means that approximately 96 million square feet of real estate will come under Blackstone's control, according to Centro’s website. The $9.4 billion purchase will covers debt amassed by Centro.

Blackstone Group LP is a global investment firm. The office administering this acquisition is based out of New York City.

Much of the money will go to reimbursing Centro’s stockholders.

Daniel Rohr, KRCU

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Cape County eligible for Emergency Food and Shelter funds

The Emergency Food and Shelter Program (EFSP) announced that Cape Girardeau County is eligible to receive federal funding in order to provide support to those in need of place to live and food to eat.

Local agencies who meet general requirements for the federal grant, such as practicing accepted accounting principles and demonstrating the ability to deliver food and/or shelter programs, have been encouraged by the EFSP to apply.

Last year Cape Girardeau County received a total of $38,126 to provide support, and is once again eligible to receive money.

The Emergency Food and Shelter Program was created in 1983 by Congress in order to assist those without the means to provide themselves with a place to live and/or food. All Federal Funds appropriated by the organization are used to solve this problem in the U.S.

Daniel Rohr, KRCU

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McCaskill sounds off on budget cuts, Egypt

In a telephone conference call Thursday, Senator Claire McCaskill stated that larger budget cuts need to be utilized for large corporations, such as the oil industry, in order to ease the financial strain on taxpayers.

The Senator also commented positively on the uprisings in Egypt,

"I think it is always good when people want to rise up and feel that incredible lift that freedom gives, and I think that's what happened in Egypt," McCaskill said. "This was a rising up. Good old fashioned people saying 'we want to speak freely and we want to be able to elect our leaders.'"

McCaskill stated that the strong relationship between U.S. and Egyptian militaries is helping U.S. knowledge of overseas events. But it is important for the U.S. military to not intervene, in order to maintain respect for other nations.

Daniel Rohr, KRCU

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St. Louis Symphony Orchestra thrills audience at Bedell

Classical music was in the air when the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra performed at the Donald C. Bedell Performance Hall in the River Campus yesterday afternoon.

Musical Conductor Robert Franz led the orchestra through three compositions from the 19th and 20th centuries ... Mendelssohn's A Midsummer Night's Dream Overture, Copland's Appalachian Spring, and Beethoven's Symphony No. 7 in A major.

Many local fans of the symphony were in attendance, such as Elaine Pinar of Perryville.

"It's worth a trip to St. Louis for this. And the conductor, Robert Franz, you can feel that he just lives that music," Pinar said.

The next symphonic performance at Bedell will be the Southeast Missouri Symphony Orchestra on March 1.

Daniel Rohr, KRCU

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Course redesign conference focuses on technology

Southeast Missouri State University hosted a conference yesterday on course redesign.

Guest speaker George Mehaffy stated that current institutions have become outdated, and universities must utilize present technology to enhance student learning.

Biology professor Allen Gathman illustrated course redesign by presenting several models of learning that encourage active learning. Dr. Gathman explains one such model, known as the 'Emporium Model' used at Jackson State Community College in Jackson, Tennessee.

"Instead of doing lectures or class meetings, you have a big room with a bunch of computers, and the students work on, essentially, self-paced software that then takes them from where they are through where they need to be, and you have people available all the time to answer questions in the room," Gathman explained.

Gathman says that Jackson State saw increased student post-test scores, better retention, and less cost per student.

Dr. Gathman stated that an important purpose of course redesign is for faculty members to rethink the way they deliver instruction by using unique technology in order to ultimatly improve student learning.

Daniel Rohr, KRCU

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