| December 13, 2006 | Vol 8. No. 7 |
NetGazette Christmas Legend Contest Winners
Dennis E. Burd, lab manager for physics, with a Canisius College hoodie, his prize in the NetGazette Christmas Legend Contest.
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Congratulations to Dennis E. Burd, lab manager for the department of Physics; Jeffrey J. McConnell, PhD, chair and professor of computer science and Phillip J. Volpe, stationary engineer I for facilities management; winners of this year’s NetGazette Christmas Contest! They picked Legend #2 as the “fake” story and their names were drawn from those who answered correctly. Thanks to everyone who participated! A special thank you to John Tychinski, director of Chartwells and Mike Raham, bookstore manager, who donated contest prizes.
The Christmas tree decorated and lit during “Christmas in the Quad” presented by the Undergraduate Student Association (USA) on December 5 is more than 20 feet tall and stands in front of the Palisano Pavilion. Christmas in the Quad was sponsored by the Senate Programming Board.
Still Time to Brighten the Holidays for Those in Need
The Canisius College Thanksgiving Food Drive was a success. However, monetary donations are still welcome to assist less fortunate individuals and families in Buffalo. Please make checks payable to “Canisius College Food Drive” and send or drop them off in Old Main 207 by December 22. For more information, contact Joe Van Volkenburg in the Office of Campus Ministry at Ext. 2875. Your generosity is appreciated!
In addition, the deadline to donate small toiletry and other useful items for the STEPS baskets is December 15. Baskets will be donated to Vive La Casa and several other shelters. For a list of suggested items or drop-off sites, click here. For more information, contact Diane Wolfe at Ext. 2475 or send an E-mail to wolfe@canisius.edu.
Holiday Shutdown
The college will be closed, except for essential operating personnel, from Monday, December 25 until Monday, January 1. Offices will reopen on Tuesday, January 2.
CANISIUS EVENTS
Jubilee Year Closing Reception
Rev. John J. Bucki, S.J., director of campus ministry and Paula M. McNutt, PhD, dean of arts and sciences, with the college’s new icon of St. Ignatius Loyola at the Jubilee Year Closing Reception. A permanent on-campus location for the icon is yet to be determined.
Canisius College faculty, staff and administrators gathered in the Grupp Fireside Lounge on Wednesday, November 29 to commemorate the close of the college’s Jesuit Jubilee Year celebration.
Paula M. McNutt, PhD, dean of arts and sciences, recapped the series of diverse Jubilee Year events at the college this year and how they relate to the college’s identity. Rev. John J. Bucki, S.J., director of campus ministry, discussed the significant contributions of the Jesuits and the many growth opportunities of the Jubilee Year. Sister Patricia Brady, SSMN, director of service learning, read a prayer she wrote to mark the occasion (see below).
The college’s new icon of St. Ignatius Loyola was on display, as well as a photo collage of the Jesuits of Canisius College and displays on the three founders of the Society of Jesus: St. Ignatius, St. Francis Xavier and Pierre Favre. Canisius joined Jesuits throughout the world this past year in celebration of the Jubilee Year, which was held to renew the spirit of the three founders.
(l-r) Joy A. Scime, PhD, adjunct professor of history and Sr. Patricia Brady, SSMN, director of service-learning at the closing of the Jesuit Jubilee celebration.
Jubilee Year Prayer
By Sister Patricia Brady, SSMN
Director of Service Learning
Let Jubilee resoundMark-in-Gard Etch Program
And bring the sound
Of triple saintly blessing.
Rejoice, remember, regret
The passing back into history
Of those who walked the earth
Embracing needs so pressing.
Ignatius, Francis, Peter
How you shook our world
With words and no words and God’s word
And no corner stayed untouched.
We jubilee with who you are
We jubilee with what you did
We jubilee for 500 years that rejoice in eternity.
Now we celebrate and bless every man and woman
Figure of Ignatius, Francis and Peter.
Gaudeamus! Today our lives touch the eternal!
Public Safety Officer Andrew Nowak applies VIN Etch to a patrol car.
To help protect your vehicle from theft, the Department of Public Safety now offers the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) Etch Program to Canisius College employees and students. The VIN Etch Program is the permanent etching of your vehicle’s federally-registered on the windows of your vehicle. Etching the VIN number on your windows makes your vehicle less desirable to professional car thieves and aids in the recovery of the vehicle if it is stolen. There is no cost to you and participation in this program may save you up to 15 percent on your car insurance. Check with your insurance company for their specific policy.
The finished product – what VIN Etch looks like on the patrol car’s window.
To find out more about the etching process, click here.
If you are interested in the VIN Etch Program, please complete the registration form here. A crime prevention officer will contact you with the date, time and location of the next VIN Etch session. If you have any questions, please contact Gary Everett, director of public safety, at Ext. 3197.
Canisius Community Day
Bruce J. Dierenfield, PhD, professor of history, puts the finishing touch on the walls of 70 Eastwood Place, Canisius’ Habitat for Humanity house, which will soon be home to the Burton family. Dierenfield was among the faculty and staff who volunteered for Canisius Community Day and the Thanksgiving Food Drive on Saturday, November 18. Nearly 170 members of the college community lent a hand to local agencies for Community Day.
AIDS Memorial Quilt
The AIDS Memorial Quilt, part of the national movement to remember the millions of people who have died from AIDS worldwide, was on display at Canisius College from November 29-December 1. Members of the college community and general public were invited to view the quilt in the Regis Room. The event was sponsored by the student organization, Unity.
CSW Dessert and Conversation
Both men and women are welcome to celebrate the New Year with the Committee on the Status of Women (CSW). Join them for Dessert and Conversation on Wednesday, January 10 from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. in the Student Center Conference Room. Bring or buy your lunch, dessert and beverages are provided. Enter to win a book from the Canisius College Press. Fran Mergl, director of development services, is this month’s sponsor. For more information, contact Claudia Hojnacki at Ext. 2180 or hojnackc@canisius.edu.
CANISIUS KUDOS
Journal of Paleontology Honors Paper Co-Authored by Sheets
The Journal of Paleontology, a publication of The Paleontological Society of America, named a paper co-authored by H. David Sheets, PhD, chair and professor of physics, as its 2005 Paper of the Year. The award was presented at the Paleontological Society Meeting at the Annual Meeting of the Geological Society of America in Philadelphia on October 23. The paper, entitled “Patterns and Processes of latest Ordovician Graptolite extinction and recovery based on data from South China,” is co-authored by Chen Xu, Michael Melchin, Sheets, Charles E. Mitchell and Fan Jun-Xuan. It describes the processes involved in the mass extinction of marine fauna at the end of the Ordovician era 435 million years ago. Sheet’s role in the project was to develop and carry out a range of statistical tests.
Vehar’s Compositions Revered
| Composer-in-Residence Persis Vehar garnered her 22nd ASCAPlus Award from the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers. The award recognizes composers for excellence in composition. Vehar’s more than 200 vocal and instrumental compositions range from chamber music to large ensembles and include two operas. Her works have been performed internationally. |
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Four Canisius Employees Complete CERT Training
(l-r) Joseph L. Mrowczynski, athletic field attendant, Koessler Athletic Center; Mark D. Dzielski, coordinator, event management; Dean P. Becker, mechanical trades manager, facilities management; and Charles E. Lewis, II, officer for public safety completed a seven-week long Community Emergency Response Training (CERT) course at Medaille College. The course, which included training in areas such as fire safety, emergency medical operations and terrorism, enables these employees to assist public safety or local police, fire or EMTs in the event of a disaster.
Saramak is Newest Public Safety Officer
Meghan K. Saramak is given her new badge by Gary Everett, director of public safety, after she was sworn in as the college’s newest public safety officer by Kenneth C. Kruly, director of government relations, on Monday, November 20.
Astiz Publishes Article
M. Fernanda Astiz, PhD, assistant professor of education, recently co-authored an article entitled “The Argentinean Case in Comparison” published in the journal Education, Citizenship and Social Justice, Vol. 1(2) pp. 175-200.