Search for New Director of Athletics Underway
The search for a new director of athletics at Canisius College is underway after the resignation of Timothy J. Dillon.  Both Dillon and Marshall Foley, associate director of athletics, resigned following the completion of an internal investigation that concerned an incident with the college's hockey team last December in North Dakota. 

Cary Anderson, PhD, dean of students, will chair the search committee for a new director.  John Maddock, associate athletics director for external affairs, will oversee day-to-day operations of the Athletics Department until a replacement is named.

Dillon served as director of athletics since April 2000 and led the department through many significant changes and improvements, including the reduction in the number of sports programs from 23 to 16, the renovation of the Koessler Athletic Center, and the implementation of programs that emphasized the academic performance and personal development of student athletes.

To read the complete story, click here. 
 
Senator Clinton's Appearance at Canisius Garners National Media Coverage

Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY) spoke at Canisius on January 31 in front of a standing-room only crowd of more than 500 people in the Montante Cultural Center.  The appearance garnered national and international media attention, as Clinton had fainted during an earlier appearance at the Saturn Club.  Canisius College was mentioned on every major television network's evening news, as well as by CNN Nightly News, The Insider and even Entertainment Tonight.  The story was picked up by more than 100 news outlets in countries as far away as the United Kingdom, Russia, Kazakhstan, Japan, South Africa and India. 

Clinton dismissed her fainting spell as "not as dramatic as it sounds" and attributed it to a 24-hour stomach virus.  She pressed on with her talk, which lasted approximately 40 minutes. Several dozen people gathered outside of Montante to protest Clinton's speech at a Catholic college, primarily because of her pro-choice stance on abortion. 

But Clinton's speech addressed the need for some type of government involvement in health care, so that more Americans could have coverage.  She said it is the moral responsibility of individuals, people of faith and especially the government to help ensure Americans get proper health care. 

"The Christian response to pain and suffering should never be one of passivity," said Clinton.  She added that despite the fact that the United States spends 15 percent of its gross national product on health care -- more than any other country -- 45 million Americans currently lack health insurance. 

"The number one reason for family bankruptcy in the United States is because of medical expenses," said Clinton.  "If we are spending so much money on health care, why aren't we covering everybody?"

Clinton's lecture entitled "The Government's Role in Caring for the Sick," was part of the Governmental Role in Effectuating the Corporal Works of Mercy lecture series created by the Hon. John J. LaFalce, '61, HON '90, Peter Canisius Distinguished University Professor.  LaFalce introduced Clinton, praising her work on health care during her eight-year term as First Lady. 

"We formed a very close personal and working relationship and I came to know not only her knowledge but her passion and her commitment to bringing health care to every American as a right of citizenship," said LaFalce, who served in Congress during the Clinton administration.

Canisius Viewbook Wins National Marketing Award
Congratulations to the team who worked on the 2004 -2005 Canisius College viewbook, which recently earned a Gold Award from Admissions Marketing Report: Linda Prinzi, associate director of creative services; Anne Marie Moscovic, co-director of admissions; Jill A. Conlon, associate vice president for enrollment management; Debra S. Park, director of public relations; and Jennifer Paterson, director of creative services.
 
The prize-winning viewbook is unconventionally sized (square) and designed to stand out from others in a very competitive college recruitment field.  The publication has a strong visual impact, with high-quality professional photographs complemented with easy-to-read, vibrant copy. More than 50,000 high school juniors and seniors receive the viewbook each year.

This was the 20th year for the competition, which recognizes excellence in the field of admissions marketing and advertising.  Admissions Marketing Report is a national publication of marketing for higher education and is read by nearly 4,000 admissions and marketers around the country, and at international colleges and universities. 

Elephas Maximus Premieres to Packed Audience
Nearly 100 people turned out for the premiere of Elephas Maximus: The Biology and Conservation of the Asian Elephant.  The educational was video produced by Michael Noonan, PhD, and his students in the Canisius Ambassadors for Conservation (CAC) program.  The screening took place in the college's Regis Room on January 26. 

Shot on-location in Sri Lanka (summer 2004), Elephas Maximus showcases the behavior and ecology of one of the most magnificent animal species on Earth: the Asian elephant. The video takes viewers into the animal's natural habitat to tell the story of its dependence on plants and the land that supports them, and concludes with highlights of the various, positive steps humanity is beginning to take, to preserve the Asian elephant, its habitat and ultimately, its future.

The DVD will be ready for distribution within the next four weeks. It will be sent to every BOCES library in New York State, which ultimately will make it available to hundreds of middle and high schools throughout the state.  In addition, copies will be sent to the education departments of all North American zoos.

February 2005 Connections Now On-line 
The February 2005 issue of Connections is now available at http://www.ajcunet.edu/connections.  To access it, please click on the URL or copy and paste it into your browser.

College Closed for President's Day
The college will be closed, except for essential operating personnel, on Monday, February 21 in observance of President's Day.  Classes will not be in session on Monday, February 21 or Tuesday, February 22.  Evening graduate business classes WILL be held on February 21.