Unveiling BU's visual and performing arts

An afternoon of free entertainment, A Taste of the Arts, is planned for the Moose Exchange in downtown Bloomsburg, Saturday, Feb. 4, from 2 to 5 p.m. Sponsored by the College of Liberal Arts, the event will introduce the BU’s new Center for Visual and Performing Arts to the community. Students and faculty in the art and art history, English, and music, theatre and dance departments will showcase their talents in the facility at 203 W. Main St., Bloomsburg.

Kick off the spring with Program Board

BU's Program Board will host a number of events for the first weekend back in February.

• Friday, Feb. 3: The first Midnight Pizza of the semester. Free Pizza and Soda will be offered to students with a BU ID and a paid spring 2012 activities fee and $3 for guests.
• Friday, Feb. 3: Black History Month Bingo. Come down to KUB multi-purpose rooms A and B for Black History Month Bingo and take your chance at winning a $350 cash prize! $.25 per card. Must be a BU student with ID and a paid spring 2012 community activities fee to play.
• Saturday, Feb. 4: Nite Class Dance Club. Free for BU Students with ID and a paid spring 2012 community activities fee and $3 for guests. A variety of sodas will be served as well as frozen non-alcoholic strawberry daiquiris.

Get ready for the GRE

BU will be hosting two computerized practice GRE sessions for students getting ready to apply for graduate school. Registration begins Monday, Feb. 6, for practice exams on Saturday Feb. 25, and Saturday, April 14. Enrollment is limited, and participants must be registered to attend the exam sessions. Registration ($10 cash only per test) is available for the GRE Prep Program on Tuesdays, from 11 a.m. to noon and 2 to 3 p.m.; and Thursdays, from 2 to 3 p.m. and 6 to 7 p.m., in McCormick Center 2155. Registration ($10 cash only per test) is available for the GRE Prep Program Study Groups on Mondays, from 5 to 6 p.m.; Tuesdays, from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m.; Wednesdays, from 5 to 6 p.m.; and Thursdays, from 5 to 6 p.m. in McCormick Center 2149. All majors are welcome to participate.

Free GRE preparation available — BU is offering free GRE preparation for students, staff and alumni beginning Monday, Feb. 6 through April 19 on the verbal and quantitative sections. Free one-on-one tutoring is also available. Group study sessions will be held in McCormick Center 2149 on Mondays and Wednesdays, 5 to 6 p.m., for quantitative section reviews and on Tuesdays, 12:30 to 1:30 p.m., and Thursdays, 5 to 6 p.m., for verbal section reviews. Contact Jennifer Johnson at (570) 389-4635 for more information.

Go back stage with the Student Concert Committee

BU's Student Concert Committee is now accepting applications — Kehr Union Information Desk by Monday, Feb. 20, at 4 p.m. — for students with a knowledge and passion for different genres of music. The concert committee requires students in a good academic standing and to attend weekly meetings.

The job description includes organizing and planning concerts on campus, maintaining social networking sites, surveying the student body to gather information for future concerts, and working the concert days.

Get a closer look at sorority life

Registration is now open for Panhellenic sorority recruitment. Women interested in joining one of the 10 Panhellenic sororities can get more information by visiting the recruitment table in the KUB main lobby (between the Information Desk and Husky Lounge) from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Women interested in participating in formal recruitment must be undergraduates enrolled at BU for the spring 2012 semester.

They must also have a 2.5 cumulative grade point average and 12 completed credits. The recruitment calendar for all Greek organizations will be updated regularly.

A discussion on educator accountability

Thomas Starmack, associate professor of Education Studies and Secondary Education, will be hosting a series of three educational seminars throughout the semester. Titled “Educator Accountability in a Standards Aligned System,” Starmack plans to discuss specific topics that impact Pennsylvania educators. The three seminars, beginning on Monday, Feb. 6, from 7-8:30 p.m., in McCormick 2303, will be held in the same room and time.

The first seminar presentation is the “Pennsylvania Department of Education Standards Aligned System: Navigating the SAS including Tools for Teachers.” On March 19, Starmack’s second seminar is “PDE’s New Educator Evaluation Rating System and Rubric.” Monday, Apr. 23, his last presentation is “Teacher Accountability a Principals Perspective,” featuring a panel of regional principals.

The seminars are open to all education majors, faculty members, and anyone else interested. Starmack’s main purpose is to provide extended opportunities for a more depth of knowledge on the Pennsylvania education system. The event is free and seating is first come, first serve.

New location brings new adventures for campus preschoolers

With a new location, BU’s Campus Child Center preschool is enjoying student-driven learning centers such as block play, trains, computer, writing, discovery, creative arts, dramatic plays and a rice table. Since moving to Montour Hall in December, the preschool — led by Nicole Cappello — has taken advantage of its new home to allow students to have a choice in their learning, which increases their motivation and involvement. The child center will soon be working with Mary Katherine Duncan, professor of psychology, using the resources of the
Toy Library. The children will enjoy “interactive reading” which includes reading stories while using puppets, and acting out literary situations.

(L-R) Everett Chappell, Madalyn Kratzer, Ryan Derr, Larson Kocher, Tala Almalki, Zainah Alajmi, Bader Almalki, Seraphim Kramarz, Jack Talbot, Bjork Millard. Preschoolers not pictured: Cerick Austin, Teddy Petrovich, Emily Shapeero, and Jameson Lapos.

Huskies hockey stays perfect with two wins

BU’s Ice Hockey Club remained undefeated with two wins earlier this month. The Huskies improved to 9-0-0 in the Delaware Valley Collegiate Hockey Conference American Division with a 4-3 overtime victory over Rutgers Camden and a 3-2 win over Shippensburg University. Zach Gower (two goals) and Andrew Carney (goal) started the scoring against Rutgers, while team captain, Chris Kocher, scored the game winner in overtime. Against Shippensburg, Gower (two) and defenseman, Bobby Lynch, scored for Bloomsburg. Next up is East Stroudsburg University on Saturday, Feb. 4, at noon at the Revolution Ice Center, 12 Old Boston Road, Pittson.

Have you seen the new Roongo?

We’re looking for the next “Roongo” the famous Huskies mascot. Are you someone who is outgoing, can be creative and loves the Huskies? The next Roongo needs to be between 5-foot-7 and 5-foot-11 and in good physical shape, and also available to attend a wide variety of sporting events and work within the rules of a mascot. If it's you, let us know!

Get fit ... with fitball

BU’s intramural department is launching a new fitness incentive program that comes with a unique twist — compete weekly through match-ups leading to a postseason. Plus, it’s free. Teams consist of two to four participants and earn points through their own workouts, group fitness classes, intramural events and personal training sessions. Prizes will be awarded to top teams and individual performances. Participants must register by Feb. 7. Contact Tony Dreckman, intramural director, for more information.

A sustainable way to promote Haas Gallery

Sculptor Michael Donovan's exhibition, "Sustainable," is on display in Haas Gallery through Feb. 10. A reception will be held Thursday, Feb. 2, from noon to 2 p.m., with an artist lecture at 1:15 p.m. Haas Gallery is open free of charge Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday from noon to 2 p.m. Contact Rebecca Rugg, gallery associate, at (570) 389-4708 for more information.

See the nation's capitol up-close

BU's Program Board will host a bus trip to Washington, D.C., on Saturday, Feb. 25. The bus will depart from Bloomsburg at 6 a.m. and begin its trip back at 6 p.m from D.C. Tickets are $30 per person with a BU ID and a paid spring 2012 community activities fee and $35 for those with just a BU student ID and guests. The trip is not open to the general public. Students can sign up now in the Students Activities Office, 350 KUB, Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. and Saturdays 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Time to pick your intramural team

BU’s Intramural Department is accepting registration for its Spring I Sports Season, which include men’s and women’s basketball along with co-recreation volleyball. The deadline is Feb. 7. Captains must take the Captain’s Quiz before registering a team. Contact Tony Dreckman, director of intramurals, at (570) 389-5288 for more information.