Catalog 12-13.indd - McMurry University

PhysicsThe Department of Physics laboratories are well equipped for teachingand undergraduate research. Recently renovated spaces allow for innovativeteaching approaches with active use of modern instructional technology.Equipment includes lasers, Geiger and scintillation counters andscales, modern PASCO data collecting systems, LabVIEW programminglanguage operated ELVIS data acquisition card, Michelson interferometers,grating and prism spectrometers, oscilloscopes, and an ample stockof meters and laboratory standards. A collection of telescopes is alsoavailable for student instruction. Additionally, the Physics Department isa member of the National Undergraduate Research Observatory and thusfaculty and students have access to a 31” telescope at Lowell Observatoryin Flagstaff, Arizona.CAMPUS LIFEStudent AssociationThe Student Association is the most inclusive of the McMurry studentorganizations. Composed of all full-time students of the University, thisorganization exists primarily to promote the democratic expression andexercise of student opinion, and to represent, serve, and assist students inmatters relating to student social life, activities, and elections. The leadershipof the Student Association is the McMurry Student Government whichis divided into executive, judicial, and legislative branches, the last ofwhich is composed of the Senate. All offi cers of the Student Associationare elected by the student body or appointed by the Executive Council.AthleticsMcMurry University fi elds teams that participate in nineteen intercollegiatesports. Men are provided opportunities in baseball, basketball, crosscountry, football, golf, soccer, swimming, tennis, track and fi eld (indoor),and track and fi eld (outdoor). Women are provided opportunities inbasketball, cross country, golf, soccer, swimming, tennis, track and fi eld(indoor), track and fi eld (outdoor), and volleyball. The University aims tofoster physical development of students and to cultivate a spirit of equality,cooperation, and clean sportsmanship through its intercolegiate athleticprograms, both intercollegiate and intramural.Philosophy and Purpose of Intercollegiate AthleticsThe purpose of athletics at McMurry University is to provide an opportunityfor students to compete in intercollegiate sports in an educationally sound,Christian environment. The athletics program is administered in such away that athletics remains in keeping with the University’s liberal arts tradition.Athletics should is a part of the total educational process and there isa broad base of opportunity for participation. The program creates a rallyingpoint for students, faculty, and alumni while still enhancing educationalvalues. It is understood that while striving to be competitive, institutionalintegrity will never be sacrifi ced.There should be an equal opportunity for men and women with an emphasison participation for the enjoyment and love of the sport.Athletics at McMurry University exists within the educational mainstreamof the University and is administered with the same controls, budgetaryprocedures, and program responsibility as any other academic or administrativefunction.MUSIC ORGANIZATIONSMcMURRY MARCHING BAND: The McMurry Marching Band consistsof students from all areas of study, including music majors and nonmajors.The Marching Band presents half-time shows at football gamesand parades during the Fall semester, and becomes the Symphonic Bandin the Spring semester, during which it appears in concert at schools,churches and community events. The Marching Band meets daily andmembership is open to any student with prior high school or college instrumentalexperience. Participation is required for all music majors and thoseon departmental merit scholarships.CHANTERS: This group is the premiere touring choir of McMurry University.Membership is through competitive audition and offers studentsan opportunity to experience a challenging ensemble with a rich choraltradition. Chanters serves as ambassadors of McMurry University, and13Campus Lifetour each semester, performing at churches, schools and conventions.National or international travel is planned on a rotational basis oppositeregional tours around Texas and contiguous states. While Chanters singprimarily a cappella music, they are also called upon to perform a widerange of musical genre including choral/orchestral works. Our goal is toeducate students, and touch and change lives through our music.McM SOUNDS: A small, select choral ensemble, Sounds performs awide variety of a cappella literature which demands excellent musicianship.Typically the group presents signature selections by some of theworld’s leading jazz arrangers. Sounds works to develop choral blend,musical accuracy and artistic interpretation for a variety of musical styles,and often performs without a conductor. McMurry Sounds typically tourswith Chanters and performs for numerous university and civic events. Studentsare eligible for this group if they are a current member of Chantersand are selected through a competitive audition at the beginning of the fallsemester. Our goal is to build individual musicianship and artistry in theadvanced singer.SYMPHONIC BAND: The Symphonic Band is the entry band for theUniversity, and is the Spring counterpart to the fall’s Marching Band. Thislarger ensemble performs a couple of times during the semester, and oftenserves as the training band for music majors who are learning a secondaryinstrument. As a concert ensemble, Symphonic Band plays a widerange of band literature, and presents not only classic literature for band,but alsoWIND ENSEMBLE: The Wind Ensemble is the top band at McMurry University.Well known for its remarkable presence and dynamic range, thisfavored group has traveled the globe on invitation to attend conferencesand present unique music. This storied ensemble has had a long legacyof excellence of presentation in instrumental circles, and many notableband directors have come from their midst. Membership to the WindEnsemble is by competitive audition, and participants are expected to tourwith the ensemble each year.PUBLICATIONSTHE GALLEON: The University literary magazine, The Galleon, publishesthe best essays, poetry, short stories, and other literary efforts ofthe greater McMurry community. Students, alumni, and faculty interestedin creative writing and visual arts are invited to contribute to this annualmagazine edited by students and published under the auspices of theDepartment of English.TALON: The University yearbook, Totem, is published in the fall. It presentsa record of student and campus life during the previous academicyear. The Totem is published by the Offi ce of University Relations.THE WAR HAWK HERALD : The offi cial newspaper for the greaterMcMurry community, Tribe Tribune, is published biweekly by studentsunder the auspices of the Offi ce of University Relations. Reporting on currentcampus events, the Tribe Tribune is devoted largely to the interests ofthe student body. The Tribe Tribune Editorial Advisory Board, consisting ofstudents, faculty, and administrators, works together with student editorsand writers to determine editorial policy and content. The Tribe Tribune isnot published during recesses or summer sessions.NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETIESALPHA CHI: The James Winford Hunt chapter of Alpha Chi, a nationalscholarship society, was organized in 1926. Eligibility is based upon characterand scholarship. Members are elected from the top ten percent ofthe junior and senior classes. Its purpose is to encourage sound scholarshipand devotion to the truth.ALPHA KAPPA DELTA: The Phi chapter of Alpha Kappa Delta, aninternational sociology honor society, was chartered at McMurry in 1990.The purpose of Alpha Kappa Delta is to promote an interest in the study ofsociology and the research of social problems.ALPHA LAMBDA DELTA: A national honor society for freshmen with aGPA of at least 3.5. McMurry’s chapter was installed in 2001.