The Voice chosen among the nation’s best

BU’s student newspaper, The Voice, has been recognized by the Columbia Scholastic Press Association with 11 Gold Circle Awards for 2010. These national awards are given annually to individual student journalists for excellence in writing and design. This year’s competition attracted 9,460 entries from college, university, and secondary school newspapers, magazines, and online media sites throughout the U.S. and Canada.

Students honored for academic excellence

During its recent annual Freshman Awards Ceremony, BU's chapter of the National Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi and Ira Blake, interim provost and vice president of academic affairs, recognized more than 80 sophomores who demonstrated outstanding academic achievement during the 2009-10 academic year. Phi Kappa Phi is the nation's oldest, largest and most selective all-discipline honor society. The society's mission is to recognize and promote academic excellence in all fields of higher education and to engage the community of scholars in service to others.

Husky Spirit reaches Maryland third-graders

Third-graders at Port Towns Elementary School, Bladensburg, Md., were introduced to Husky Spirit, thanks to the efforts of BU education majors, who “adopted” two classrooms. BU’s Education House LLC launched a partnership with the school to send pencils, pennants, mugs and mascot stuffed animals to be used as “reading buddies.” BU students also sent notes, inviting each of the third-graders to become a pen pal.

Students enjoy Al Pacino's work on stage

A group of students in Todd Borlik’s Shakespeare class went to New York City this fall to see A Merchant of Venice starring Al Pacino at the Broadhurst Theatre. They say Pacino had a dominating stage presence and dynamic delivery, which brought his complex character to life.
 
Prior to the trip, students read the play and watched the 2004 film. Afterwards, they agreed the theatrical version, due to immediacy of its intolerance and violence, was as powerful as the film.

Preschoolers learn new language

To recognize Deaf Awareness Week this fall, Jennifer Harned's preschoolers welcomed a special guest, Nicole Laszczynski, a BU deaf education graduate student who is also deaf. Laszczynski taught the Campus Child Center preschoolers what it’s like to be deaf, signed stories and then taught them some American Sign Language (ASL).

BU veterans lend hand to disabled vets

BU's Student Veterans Association donated more than $1,200 to the Wounded Warrior Project from a successful coin drop fundraiser last spring. The group conducted another coin drop collection on Nov. 11 at the Lightstreet-Main Street intersection to help support various projects and programs for BU's student veterans.

(L-R) Jocelyn Kerr, National Guard, assoc. treasurer; Ebony Taylor, NG; Nina Dacey, Mark Bauman, faculty advisor; Shelby Maly, Jeff Long, interim VP of student affairs; Jeniffer Kobe, assoc. VP, Jared Ramsey, NG; Jill Reed, assoc. secretary, Todd Bucher, retired Marine Corps; Gina Grasso, social coordinator; Joshua Bentley, NG; Jake Kenney, NG, assoc. president, BU President David Soltz.

Influential business thinker visits BU

Harvard professor Howard Gardner recently presented, “Multiple Intelligences: New Horizons and the Promotion of Good Work,” in Mitrani Hall, continuing his work as the Hobbs Professor of Cognition and Education at the Harvard Graduate School of Education and senior director of Harvard Project Zero. Best known for his theory of multiple intelligences, Gardner has written extensively on creativity, leadership, professional ethics and the arts.

Become a Kozloff scholar

BU students are invited to apply for the Jessica S. and Stephen R. Kozloff Undergraduate Research and Scholarship Grant competition, which is open to students who are rising sophomores, juniors or seniors at the time the research is conducted. Each student must have a faculty sponsor. Awards may range from $500 to the equivalent of one semester's tuition at BU.

Applications must be submitted to the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs, Centennial Hall, by 4 p.m. on Feb. 28, 2011. Recipients will be notified no later than the first week in April. Contact Jerrold Harris, director of research and sponsored programs, (570) 389-4129 for more information.

Students show talents in Model Arab League

BU’s Arabic Club recently participated in the Model Arab League (MAL) in Washington, D.C., which gave students an opportunity to acquire and develop practical leadership skills related to the U.S. and one of the world’s most vital regions. Students learned about social, economic, cultural and political issues facing Arab leaders and ordinary citizens.

Alum gives real world lesson on campus

Christopher D. Root, a ’06 graduate of BU’s Electronics Engineering Technology program, recently presented his work experience to the students in Intro to Engineering and Technology class taught by Biswajit Ray, prof. of physics and engineering technology.

Root, an engineer with ArcelorMittal Steelton, Rolling Mills, is responsible for maintaining and modernizing electrical systems for steel production for the U.S. market. Root spoke on his engineering and managerial experience relating to various projects, including energy efficiency improvement, man-machine interface upgrade, rail test simulator and hardening improvement.

Bucknell team to showcase math skills

BU’s Mathematics and Computer Science seminar series continues Tuesday, Nov. 16, at 3:30 p.m., with a presentation by the Math Modeling Contest team from Bucknell University. Joined by their faculty advisors, the Bucknell team will present their solution to a problem from the national COMAP Mathematical Contest in Modeling. The problem: Develop a method to aid local police in their investigations of serial criminals, using at least two different schemes to generate a geographical profile.

Lecture on Muslim-American Experience

Pakistani-American writer and commentator Rob Asghar will discuss his experiences as a Muslim-American during a lecture Tuesday, Nov. 16, at 8 p.m. in McCormick Hall 2303. The event is open free to the public. Hosted by the Frederick Douglass Institute and the Helping Professions LLC, the lecture aims to inform the public about struggles in the Middle East and how Muslim-Americans have been treated since Sept. 11, 2001.

Main Event captures “Abraham Stories”

Protestant Campus Ministry, together with Hillel and the Muslim Student Organization, recently hosted an evening program on “Abraham Stories.” The event focused on sharing stories from Jewish, Christian, and Muslim traditions about Abraham and his descendants. Main Event will next be Thursday, Nov. 18, at 6 p.m., SSC 140.

Join the OWL family

BU’s Orientation Workshop Leaders program is accepting applications for a new crew of OWLs to begin work this summer. Applications are available in the orientation office and at the KUB Information Center. Applications due Dec. 3. Contact Kristin Austin at (570) 389-4659 for more information.

In the spirit of autumn

Students in BU’s Honors Program recently spent time together to carve pumpkins in celebration of Halloween and the autumn season. Students also recently visited New York City and navigated Rohrbach's Hayride and Cornmaze.
 

Forensics Team places well in competitions

BU’s Forensics (Speech and Debate) Team recently won awards at two speech tournaments, taking seventh at the Keefe Memorial Speech Tournament on Oct. 9 to 10 at West Chester and fourth at the Collegiate Forensic Association’s Fall Tourney on Oct. 15 to 16 at Randolph-Macon College, where every BU student won at least one speaking award.

Scott Kenyon placed sixth in Editorial Impromptu at the Keefe tourney followed by winning Impromptu Speaking and Extemporaneous Speaking at the CFA tourney. There, BU also had award winners from Joe Wright, Daniel Barry, and Mary Pellant. Kayla Vollmer and Nakita Rager also competed for BU at the Keefe tourney.

International Studies LLC Lecture Series

The final lecture in BU’s fall 2010 International Studies Living and Learning Community Lecture Series will be “Who Are the Arabs? The Lost Narrative.” The free lecture will be given by Nawal Bonomo, assistant to the dean of the College of Liberal Arts, on Monday, Nov. 8, at 6 p.m. in Hartline Science Center room G42. For details, contact Ferda Asya, associate professor of English and director of International Studies LLC, at (570) 389-4433.

Tennessee professor presents seminar

BU’s Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry is hosting Mark Dadmun, professor of chemistry at the University of Tennessee, who will be speaking on “Designing Better Plastics: Understanding and Improving Polymer Mixtures,” at 2 p.m., Friday, Nov. 5, in Centennial Hall 108. Refreshments will be served at 1:45 p.m.

A search for all student tattoos

Students in the Museum Exhibitions Class are holding an open call Tuesday, Nov. 2, at 11 a.m., Andruss Library, for students with tattoos. The class, which is creating an exhibit on the openness and awareness of tattooing, will be taking photos and getting stories behind the tattoos. Exhibit opens Nov. 18, Haas Gallery.

Exceptionality professor honored by NERA

Darlene Perner, professor of exceptionality programs, recently received the Leo D. Doherty Memorial Award at the 2010 Northeastern Educational Research Association (NERA) conference in Rocky Hill, Conn. Perner, noted for her outstanding leadership and service in special education, has participated in numerous organizations worldwide, with intent of bettering special education.

Not only is Perner dedicated to NERA, she is also involved in the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) at the state and national levels, and United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

SLED fundraiser to support Camp HERO

Students Linked to the Education of the Deaf (SLED) is selling sweatshirts for $20 to benefit Camp HERO, an annual week-long summer experience at Camp Victory, Millville, for children who are deaf or hard of hearing. All profits go towards sending a deaf child to Camp HERO. Contact SLED for details on how to get a sweatshirt.