| October 18, 2006 | Vol 8. No. 4 |
Classes In Session, Power Fully Restored On Canisius Campus
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| The college’s facilities management team is hard at work cleaning up the Canisius campus following last week’s storm |
“Most students were able to stay with friends or returned home in the local area,” says Al Pilato, associate director of residence life. “The whole process went smoothly and the students really rose to the occasion.”
“Our biggest concern is the safety of our students,” said Ellen O. Conley, PhD,” vice president of student affairs, on the decision to cancel classes Friday through Tuesday. “Many of our commuter students travel from the heavily affected areas where travel bans were in effect and many traffic lights were non-functional.”
Clean up on campus by the college’s facilities management team is well underway. The process will likely take a few weeks, according to Edward P. Cogan, director of facilities management.
“At least fifty percent of the trees on campus sustained some sort of damage as result of the storm,” says Cogan. “But in terms of clean-up, I am confident that our facilities management team will get the job done quickly.”
On Monday, a crew of nearly 70 faculty, staff and students organized by the Office of Campus Ministry helped clean up debris at Benedict House on Main Street and The Lutheran Church Home on East Delavan. The volunteer efforts did not go unnoticed.
Luanne Tunmore, associate campus minister and Jill Conlon, associate vice president for enrollment management, take part in the post-storm clean up efforts in the neighborhood.
“What your group did in one day would probably have taken our staff three to four weeks to accomplish,” says Michael Barthel, administrator at the Lutheran Church Home. “We are truly blessed to have Canisius as our neighbor.”
Canisius was also fortunate to receive crisis assistance of its own from another local college.
“We have a joint emergency preparedness agreement with Niagara University,” says Cogan, who lent us approximately 100 cots (for the temporarily relocated students) and several generators for use at Agassiz Circle and the Koessler Athletic Center.”
According to Pilato, the Departments of Public Safety and Residence Life assisted 15-20 students who lost power in non-college owned neighborhood housing. Those students were temporarily placed in college-owned housing.
The Health Science Building, Koessler Athletic Center, Demerly Hall and the Center at Amherst also lost power for a length of time.
According to Gary Everett, director of public safety, several important safety issues still remain in the wake of the storm.
“The Buffalo Fire Department has informed us that all downed wires, no matter what type, should be assumed to be live and should NOT be touched,” says Everett.
He adds that some traffic lights in the area remain out and do not have officers directing traffic. Non-functional traffic lights should be treated as four-way stop signs. In addition, downed trees and piles of brush and trees in the neighborhood could block your line of vision while walking or driving. Please use caution.
Nelson to Retire as Vice President for Academic Affairs
After serving nearly a decade in the college's top academic post, Herbert J. Nelson, PhD, Canisius' vice president for academic affairs, will step down at the end of the 2006-2007 academic year. He will then retire from his faculty appointment in the college's Philosophy Department. A national search will be conducted to select Nelson's replacement. Appointed vice president for academic affairs in 1997, Nelson oversees the college's 215 full-time and several hundred adjunct faculty members; its School of Arts & Sciences, School of Education and Human Services and Wehle School of Business; Bouwhuis Library; Information Technology Center; Registrar's Office; and Office of Enrollment Management.
Under Nelson's leadership, the college has added new academic programs and introduced new signature learning opportunities for students; improved instructional and research facilities for both students and faculty; heightened its research and study related to the Jesuit Catholic tradition; and increased the size of the faculty and the student body.
"I am very grateful to Dr. Nelson for his academic leadership at Canisius College," said President Rev. Vincent M. Cooke, S.J. "Throughout his tenure, he has demonstrated an unparalleled commitment to enhancing Canisius' position as a quality educational institution, the benefits of which are evident in the college's faculty, students and graduates."
In his role as academic vice president, Nelson also served as the college's Mission and Identity coordinator, secretary to the Canisius College Board of Trustees Academics Committee and as a member of the Canisius Budget Committee.
Prior to his current position, Nelson was a professor of philosophy at Canisius College and former chair of the department. He is a graduate of the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome, Italy, where he earned both bachelor's and licentiate degrees in philosophy. He also holds a doctorate in philosophy from the University at Buffalo.
Service Recognition Ceremony to Honor College Employees
Canisius College will recognize faculty, staff and administrators who have reached their five, 10 and 15 year service anniversaries at the sixth annual Service Recognition Ceremony on Friday, November 17 at 2:30 p.m. in the Montante Cultural Center. All employees are encouraged to attend the ceremony and celebrate with their colleagues who have reached these service milestones.
Canisius Open House Welcomes Prospective Students
Canisius College will welcome more than 600 prospective students and their parents during its fall 2006 open house. For the third year in a row, open house will be held in two sessions, Saturday, October 28 and Saturday, November 11. Registration begins at 9:30 a.m.
Faculty, administrators, students, alumni, and of course, Canisius President Rev. Vincent M. Cooke, S.J., will be on hand to greet prospective students. The program includes campus tours, academic presentations by faculty, and information involving financial aid, student life and admissions procedures.
Participants pick up personalized agendas when they check in at open house. The admission staff tailors each agenda according to preferences prospective students select when they pre-register. Prospective students still have the option to choose what sessions to attend that day.
For more information on fall 2006 open house, contact Rachel Voerg, assistant director of admissions, at Ext. 2201.
October Issue of Connections On-Line
The October issue of Connections, the on-line newsletter of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities (AJCU) is now available. The theme of this issue, which includes an article by John D. Occhipinti, professor of political science, is "Engaging Students in the Political Process." To read Connections, click here.
CANISIUS EVENTS
Raichle Lecture Series Welcomes Rosen
The Canisius College Frank G. Raichle Lecture Series on Law in American Society will welcome Jeffrey Rosen to campus on Tuesday, October 24 at 8:15 p.m. in the Grupp Fireside Lounge. Rosen's lecture is entitled Constitutional Futurology: How the Courts Can Serve Americans in the 21st Century. For more information on Jeffrey Rosen's lecture, contact Peter J. Galie, PhD, director of the Raichle Pre-Law Center and chair of the Political Science Department, at Ext. 2699 or click here. Campus Ministry Ignatian Retreats
Faculty, staff and administrators are welcome to attend the Ignatian retreats offered this year. The Weekend Ignatian retreat will be held from November 3-5 at the Center of Renewal in Lewiston. The four-day Ignatian retreat will be held from January 11-14 at Mt. Carmel in Niagara Falls, Ont. For more information, click here contact the Office of Campus Ministry at Ext. 2420.
Native American Art Unveiling
The Canisius College Native American Art Project will unveil original artwork by Eric Gansworth, professor of English and Lowery Writer-in-Residence, on Thursday, November 2 from noon to 1 p.m. in the Grupp Fireside Lounge. There will be Native American food and musical entertainment, and Gansworth will be available to answer questions about the artwork. The Native American Art Project focuses on bringing art to Canisius that celebrates diversity and the cultures which make up the college community. For more information, contact The Office of Multicultural Affairs at Ext. 2787.
A reception to celebrate Gansworth's latest book, Breathing the Monster Alive, will be held on Thursday, November 9 at 6 p.m. in the Grupp Fireside Lounge. A collection of poems, essays and paintings, Breathing the Monster Alive embraces the broad figure of Sasquatch/Bigfoot, and in particular, the Fouke Monster, as manifested in the low-budget early 1970s horror film The Legend of Boggy Creek. Gansworth will read from Breathing the Monster Alive, take questions from the audience and sign copies of the book. Original paintings featured in the book will be on display. For more information, contact Gansworth at Ext. 2113 or send an E-mail to ganswore@canisius.edu.The BPO "Goes to College"
The Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra comes to the Canisius campus for a special performance on Thursday, November 8 at 7:30 p.m. in the Montante Cultural Center. Diane Wittry will conduct the concert, which will feature Ansgarius Aylward, violin; Betsy Reeds, flute; and Jane Cary, harpsichord. Tickets are $25 for general admission and $10 for students. For tickets or for more information, contact the Fine Arts Office at Ext. 2542.
Canisius Hosts Pulitzer Prize-Winning Poet
Canisius welcomes Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Carl Dennis, PhD to campus on Tuesday, November 14 at 8 p.m. in the Grupp Fireside Lounge. Dennis, professor of English at the State University of New York at Buffalo, will read from New and Selected Poems (2004). A book signing and reception will follow the reading, which is made possible by a gift from English alumni John Kolaga '82 and Judy Kubiniec '83. For more information, contact Sandra Cookson, PhD, chair of English, at Ext. 2653 or send an E-mail to cookson@canisius.edu Canisius Community Day and Thanksgiving Food Drive
Whitney Card '08 and Amanda Marts '07 work in the kitchen at Little Portion Friary homeless shelter as part of Community Day on September 23. Nearly 190 Canisius students, faculty and staff lent a hand during the last Community Day.
What better way to give thanks than to give back? Join Canisius faculty, staff and students for Canisius Community Day or the Thanksgiving Food Drive on Saturday, November 18.
Volunteers will assist agencies in the community with various projects at meal programs, food banks, homeless and refugee shelters, Habitat for Humanity and others. For the Thanksgiving Food Drive, you can help out by collecting non-perishable food at local supermarkets. Community Day runs from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The Thanksgiving Food Drive times vary from 9:15 a.m. − 12:30 p.m. and 11:45 a.m. − 3:00 p.m. To sign up or for more information, contact Joe Van Volkenburg in The Office of Campus Ministry at Ext. 2875.
Latin Jazz Project Performs at Canisius
The Latin Jazz Project entertained the lunchtime crowd in the Peter Gust Economu Dining Hall on Thursday, October 5 in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month. Chartwells also featured a special menu of Hispanic cuisine. The event was sponsored by Chartwells and the Office of Multicultural Programs.
Quadrangle Seeks Submissions
Canisius College faculty, staff and administrators are invited to submit their literary and visual works of art to the Quadrangle for consideration in the magazine's 2007 edition. Editors are interested in receiving poetry, short fiction, short non-fiction prose, artwork and photography (digital or otherwise).
To submit, send work to quadmag@canisius.edu or drop them off in Tower 916 and include your name, title of the work and a contact E-mail address. The deadline for submissions is Friday, February 9, 2007. Notification will be no later than Wednesday, February 28, 2007.
The Quadrangle began its run during the 1951-1952 academic year. It is one of the college's longest running traditions.
Women's Studies Luncheon: Mark Your Calendar
The Women's Studies Spring Luncheon will be held on Friday March 9, 2007 from 12:00 p.m. - 2:00 pm in the Grupp Fireside Lounge. The guest speaker will be Lisa Bloch Rodwin, chief of the Erie County District Attorney's Office Domestic Violence Bureau. Nominations forms for I. Joan Lorch Awards will be sent via interoffice mail after Christmas break.
CANISIUS KUDOS
Instone African Service Trip
Debra Instone, PhD, associate dean of arts and sciences (center) with daughter, Marleah Noonan, 16; among Masai women in Kenya.
Debra Instone, PhD, associate dean of arts and sciences, spent six weeks this summer in Africa on a service trip, where she lived among the among the Masai tribe in Kajiado, Kenya; located southwest of Nairobi. She and her 16-year old daughter, Marleah, taught in an elementary school with 400 students but just seven teachers and very few supplies. According to Instone, Masai families usually have to sell a cow to afford to send one of their children to school.
“Most Masai fathers can’t afford to send all of their kids to school, so some kids go to school and some don’t,” says Instone. “Some kids get to tend the cattle, which actually is perceived as a higher status than going to school.”
The Masai believe that God has entrusted them to take care of his cattle and therefore wealth is measured in number of cattle.
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| Construction at the Kimuka School as a result of Marleah Noonan’s effort’s. |
With $1,600 that Marleah raised through family and friends and at her high school, she and Instone had new desks built, painted the school’s walls, and bought supplies including books, pencils and soccer balls.
“I have never met children so hungry to learn and so poorly equipped to do so,” says Instone. “My experience in Kenya was both heart wrenching and heartwarming.”
Instone was one of 30 volunteers who made the trip to Kenya (six to Masailand) through the Global Volunteer Network. Last summer, she traveled to China to teach English to a class of 26 teenagers through a grant from the college’s Center for Teaching Excellence.
Bellia Book Deciphers Financial Aid Confusion
Students can afford the college of their choice, according to a new book by Anthony J. Bellia, dean emeritus of enrollment management at Canisius College.“Financial Aid for the Utterly Confused” helps readers unscramble the jargon and master the procedures to secure the maximum amount of financial aid available to them. In the book, Bellia explains how to start the financial planning process early; how to find federal, state, college-sponsored, military and private aid; how to search for scholarship opportunities; and how to take advantage of 529s and other trusts.
“Financial Aid for the Utterly Confused” sells for $18.95 and can be purchased at amazon.com and barnesandnoble.com
Skinner Presented With Award for Assisting Buffalo Police
Christine Skinner, officer for public safety, was presented with an award by Ellen O. Conley, PhD, vice president for student affairs, on October 4 for assisting the Buffalo Police Department (BPD). Skinner spotted a car in front of the Koessler Athletic Center that was connected with two armed robberies in Buffalo. The BPD was notified and the suspects were subsequently arrested on East Delavan Ave. From left to right: Skinner, Gary Everett, director of public safety and Conley.
Lewis is Newest Public Safety Officer
The Department of Public Safety’s newest officer, Charles Lewis, was sworn in on Friday, September 22. From left to right: Buffalo Police Officers Clay Twitty and Keith Beatty (Officer Lewis’ uncle); Charles Lewis Sr.; Buffalo Police Officer Kim Beatty; Charles Lewis, officer for public safety; Ken Kruly, director of government relations; Gary Everett, director of public safety; and Dominic Barone, assistant director of public safety.
Barker Presents Paper at APSA Meeting
Ray Barker, PhD, adjunct professor of history, presented his paper “Michael Howard’s Effectiveness as Leader of the Opposition” as part of a British Politics Group panel, “Measuring Political Effectiveness: Prime Ministers, Legislators, and Leaders of the Opposition” at the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Political Science Association (APSA) in Philadelphia on September 2, 2006.
Volonino is Keynote Speaker at IS Conference
Linda A. Volonino, PhD, chair and professor of information systems, was the keynote speaker at the fourth annual Information Security Conference in Lousville, Kentucky in October. Her presentation, which focused on computer forensics, was entitled “When Cyber Crimes Occur, Whose Fingerprints are on the Digital Media Weapon?”