News from Transy

LEXINGTON, Ky.—Transylvania University junior Jessica Beard has been selected to be an intern in Frankfort, working at least 30 hours a week for a member of the Kentucky General Assembly through the 2010 Frankfort Semester Legislative Internship Program. Beard, a political science major from Albany, Ky., will be responding to constituent inquiries, assisting in the crafting and passage of legislation and performing other duties integral to the legislative process. In addition, she will take two upper division seminar courses focusing on state government, legislative history and research. The internship program is an initiative of the Association of Independent Kentucky College and Universities (AIKCU), a group made up of the 20 nonprofit, independent colleges and universities in Kentucky. This is the 10th year of the program, whose aim is to enhance students’ academic, civic and professional skills through the internship experience. “After graduation from law school, I plan to become actively involved in Kentucky government, and this experience with the AIKCU program will provide me with both the knowledge and connections that are essential aspects of being a successful member of government,” said Beard. In even-numbered years, interns work directly for members of the general assembly, while in odd years they serve in a variety of state government agencies. Juniors, seniors and graduate students in good standing and attending one of AIKCU’s member institutions are eligible to apply for the internship. The program begins in January and runs through mid-April.

Olson, far right, with members of Transy Boys A Cappella (TBA). LEXINGTON, Ky.—Kristofer Olson wants to make one thing clear—this isn’t your grandfather’s barbershop quartet. “The popular misconception is that barbershop harmony is sung only by old guys in straw hats and striped jackets,” Olson says. “The fact of the matter is, there is such an exciting and growing youth population in barbershop.” Take Olson, for instance, a senior music major at Transylvania, who proudly claims to be “a 22-year-old guy who loves barbershop quartets.” His love led him to attend a weeklong set of master classes this past summer through Harmony University, a series taught by the best people in the barbershop business – the best quartets, solo singers, and directors.A place where, Olson emphasizes, “you will not see a straw hat anywhere.” The program, sponsored by the Barbershop Harmony Society, took place in St. Joseph, Mo., from July 26 to August 2, and was an opportunity for burgeoning barbershop singers to hone their craft alongside peers from more than seven countries. The overall experience was what Olson calls, “one of the most fun and intense weeks I’ve had as a singer.” He particularly relished the ability to not only learn from genre masters, but apply his new a cappella knowledge to his other focuses in his major. “I can think of few other fields where this is possible,” he said. Among the classes Olson took were “Elements of

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LEXINGTON, Ky.—Jeff Mudrak, director of human resources at Transylvania University, received the College and University Professional Association for Human Resources (CUPA-HR) Distinguished Service Award at the association’s national conference in Las Vegas in October. The award, sponsored by Kronos Incorporated, is given to CUPA-HR members who have given outstanding service to the association through constituent activities, including service in governance or leadership roles or through professional development contributions in support of the association. Kronos donated $1,500 to Transylvania in honor of Mudrak. Mudrak has been a member of CUPA-HR for 18 years and began his leadership in the association in 1999 when he joined the Kentucky Chapter board of directors. He served as chair for two years and past chair for two years. From 2001 to 2008, he served in several capacities on the association’s Southern Region board, including secretary/treasurer, chair and past chair. During that time he also served a three-year term on the national board of directors and on several committees and task forces, including the Building Task Force, the Policy Committee and as chair of the Chapter Task Force, where he helped establish CUPA-HR’s on-line chapter leader resources. Mudrak has been a chapter advocate during his entire tenure of volunteer service. He helped strengthen the Kentucky Chapter by finding ways to increase corporate partner support, which led to improvements in chapter programming; helped increased attendance at chapter conferences by offering free registration to first-time attendees and led

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LEXINGTON, Ky.—From 1935-1975, Lexington was home to the United States Narcotic Farm, a federal narcotic prison and treatment center. Volunteers who checked themselves into the center for help with their drug addictions worked alongside convicted addicts who were housed as inmates. Now the center is the subject of a book, The Narcotic Farm: The Rise and Fall of America’s First Prison for Drug Addicts, and a documentary, The Narcotic Farm. Transylvania University will host a performance piece on November 9 and a screening of the film on November 10. Both events are free and open to the public. Monday, November 9, 8 p.m. Carrick Theater, Mitchell Fine Arts Center Book co-authors Nancy Campbell and Luke Walden and filmmaker J. P. Olsen will present a live multi-media performance that developed out of their collaborative work on The Narcotic Farm. Live jazz, book text and archival film come together in this engaging and provocative piece. Tuesday, November 10, 7 p.m. Cowgill Center, room 102The Narcotic Farm, a one-hour PBS feature, includes personal interviews with inmates and administrators, along with government 16mm film and still footage that focuses on the personalities and often contentious ground-breaking programs that characterized The Narcotic Farm. The Narcotic Farm events are part of the Drugged America Series at Transylvania, sponsored by the Bingham-Young Fellowship Program. For more information on the film and book, visit www.narcoticfarm.com.  For more information on the events at Transylvania, contact the public relations office

Read “"The Narcotic Farm": Events at Transylvania showcase book and film about The Narcotic Farm, a former federal drug prison and treatment center in Lexington”