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Past News from BU Today

Thursday, June 26

Anthropology professor, alumna, publish book on Native Americans

Anthropology professor Dave Minderhout and anthropology alumna Andrea Frantz had their book, Invisible Indians: Native Americans in Pennsylvania published by Cambria Press. Invisible Indians is based on three years of research, giving readers an insightful account of Native Americans in Pennsylvania. The book is available directly through Cambria's website or through Amazon.com. Royalties are going to be donated to a Native American organization. For more information or to order a book contact Minderhout at dminderh@yahoo.comWith the help of BU's Institute for Interactive Technology, Minderhout has also created a Web site, Pennsylvania's Native Americans: An Online Resource for Educators. The site features interactive maps, history, activities and quizzes.

Nelson pool hours change

Effective Monday, June 23, Nelson Field House pool hours are 8 to 9 a.m. Monday through Thursday.

Students return from tour of Central Europe

Eighteen BU students and 19 students from James Madison University have returned to the U.S. after a month long summer study abroad program in Central Europe. The program is a partnership between the two universities led by Mark L. Usry, finance and legal studies. The tour included stops in Hungary, Germany, the Czech Republic and Austria. In Austria, students visited the castle where Richard the Lionhearted lived during his exile from England, the Melk Abbey (classic example of baroque architecture) and the Mauthaussen Concentration (extermination) Camp. In Salzburg students visited the home of the Mozarts, the Cathedral, one of the homes used during the filming of the Sound of Music as well as the gazebo of "You are 16" (pictured). One of the highlights was a dinner and Mozart Concert in the Hohensalzburg (castle of Salzburg).

Incoming freshmen, families visit campus for orientation

Fall freshmen and their families were on campus for one-day orientation programs the week of June 16. Programs continue this week, June 23 to 26. Summer freshmen will arrive on campus June 28, and the Act 101/EOP students on June 29. Transfer student days will be July 9 and 10. The fall freshmen orientation program includes a welcome from president David Soltz, meetings with deans and faculty from the students' majors, and lunch in Scranton Commons. At right, incoming students and family members check out the Bank and Information fair in the Kehr Union Multicultural Center. In addition to banks, the fair includes representatives from the campus ministries, ROTC programs, Alumni Association, and DAWN.

Monday, June 23

Custodial supervisory John Switay to retire

John Switay, the 4-12 shift custodial supervisor, will retire on Friday, June 20. His staff held a small gathering in his honor with a flyfishing theme since Switay is an avid fisherman and hunter. Switay was a recipient of the STRIVE award several years ago.

BU student David Thomas passes away

David W. Thomas, Jr., 24, of Bloomsburg, and formerly of Wilkes-Barre and Pittston passed away Wednesday, June 18, in Richmond, Va. The funeral will be held Monday, June 23, at 10 a.m. from E. Blake Collins Funeral Home, 159 George Ave., Wilkes-Barre. Services will be conducted by Msgr. John Sempa, Pastor of the Catholic Community of North Wilkes-Barre. Interment will be in Memorial Shrine Park, Carverton.

Services for Elizabeth Hildebrand Monday

Elizabeth Hildebrand, 19, a sophomore BU nursing major, died in an automobile accident Wednesday. Funeral services will be Monday, June 23, at 11 a.m. from the Clarke Piatt Funeral Home, 6 Sunset Lake Road, Hunlock Creek, with her pastor, Gail Kitchen, officiating. Friends may call at the funeral home Sunday from 7 to 9 p.m. Interment will be in Oakdale Cemetery, Hunlock Creek.

Thursday, June 19

BU student dies in auto accident

Jeremiah Joseph "J.J." Getkin, 22, of Sunbury, died on Saturday, June 14, as a result of injuries sustained in a motor vehicle accident. Getkin was a senior in BU's theatre arts program and appeared in numerous productions on campus. Visitation will be Thursday from 9 to 11 a.m. at St. John's United Methodist Church, Second and Arch streets, Sunbury, followed immediately by a memorial service. Interment will be at Pomfort Manor after the memorial service. Donations may be made to the Degenstein Library or St. John's United Methodist Church. Arrangements are by the David T. Zweier Funeral Home, Sunbury.

Road to close between Haas and Columbia

Effective Wednesday morning, June 18, the section of Osuna Drive between Haas and Columbia will be closed for renovations to the parking lot and road. Work is scheduled to be completed by mid-August. Vehicle traffic near Haas, Navy, Bakeless, and Student Services will have to exit via the McCormick/Bakeless parking lot to Lightstreet Road while the road is closed. Access to Simon, Montour, Schuylkill, Old Science, and the Heating Plant will be via Schuyler Drive while the road is closed. The gate in front of the University Police office will remain open during that time.

BU employees sponsor memorial ride

BU staff member Todd Karnes and his wife are sponsoring a "Tim Shaffer Memorial Ride" on Sunday June 22. Shaffer was 19 years old when stricken with testicular cancer and died at age 23 without insurance to help his parents, Marilyn and Mark Shaffer, with funeral expenses. The family has held numerous yard and bake sales to pay off the burial debts and have established the "Tim Shaffer Courage Against Adversity" Fund. This fund gives scholarships to students from the Columbia/Montour Area Vo-Tech School, which Shaffer attended, who face their own challenges and also helps other uninsured families pay for funeral expenses with similar situations as the Shaffer's. Details.

Audiology faculty, students participate in Special Olympics hearing program

Two audiology faculty and all of the second year audiology doctoral students participated in the Health Athlete-Healthy Hearing Program at the Special Olympics of Pennsylvania State Games. Faculty members Jackie Davie and Suzanne Sklaney along with students Kristin Ciongoli, Christina Faidley, Lindsey Fichthorn, Ashley Franklin, Tyson Hale, Surayya Saleem, Amanda Scheno, and Joseph Weisberger evaluated hearing and ear function along with completing hearing aid evaluations on nearly 250 athletes and volunteers. The State Games were held on the Penn State University Campus June 5 to 8. Shown from left are: Lindsey Fichthorn, Surayya Saleem, Amanda Scheno, Ashley Franklin, and Kristen Coingoli. Second row: Christina Faidley, Jackie Davie, Suzanne Sklaney, Tyson Hale, and Joe Weisberger.

Supervisory Roundtable selling Kaiser rolls

The Supervisory Roundtable is selling Dalo's Kaiser rolls as a fund raiser. Cost will be $2.50 a dozen with delivery on July 2. Orders are due by June 27 to Kim Schmitz or fax at 389-4377.

Quest sponsors Amazon Adventure Camp

BU's Quest program is holding two Amazon Adventure Kids Camps this summer. The camp, for children ages 10 to 14, meets on the BU upper campus every day except for Friday (will be in Danville for outdoor rock climbing). Cost is $120 per student and includes rock climbing, high ropes, orienteering, kayaking, games and more. Lunch is included on Friday. Students need only bring comfortable clothes and shoes, lunch for Monday-Thursday and a blank white t-shirt to decorate (for Wednesday). Camp hours are 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Camps are June 23 to 27 and July 7 to 11. Learn more at www.buquest.org

Friday, June 13

Storm fells huge tree on campus

A fierce storm that swept through the area Tuesday night blew down a huge red oak in front of Fenstemaker Alumni House, narrowly missing the building. Carver Hall Chapter Alumni attending a summer picnic under a tent near the building took shelter in the Great Room and witnessed the event at about 7 p.m. They immediately offered to donate a replacement. The tree was estimated by workmen at 150 years old and which measured 13 feet in circumference. Other than its age and size, the tree had no particular significance. Alumni Affairs Director Lynda Michaels said memorial trees at the site were not damaged.

Professor emeritus Frank G. Lindenfeld passes away

Frank G. Lindenfeld, professor emeritus of sociology, social welfare and criminal justice, died Sunday, June 8, at the Geisinger Medical Center, Danville. A resident of Bloomsburg, he was 74. He taught from 1985 to 2002. Born March 4, 1934, in Vienna, Austria, his parents and both sets of grandparents escaped the Nazi invasion of their homeland and came to the United States in 1937, where he later gained his U.S. citizenship. Lindenfeld was the co-founder and one of the editors of the newsletter "Grassroots Economic Organizing" (GEO). He was also the co-founder and co-facilitator of the Local Enterprise Assistance Program.

Memorial services will be held in September, at a time and place to be announced. Memorial donations may be sent to the GEO Newsletter, c/o Dr. Len Krimerman, 18 Liberty St., Vernon, CT 06066. Checks should be made payable to EDINA and are tax deductable. Arrangements are in charge of the Dean W. Kriner Inc. Funeral Home, 325 Market St., Bloomsburg.

Supervisory Roundtable raises funds for child's medical expenses

The Supervisory Roundtable recently contributed $1,000 to offset the medical expenses of Breanna Dalton, the granddaughter of University Store employee Linda Brown. Shown from left are: mother Dawn Dalton, Roundtable member Judy Ohl, Breanna with father Jim Dalton, Roundtable member Kim Schmitz, Linda Brown and Roundtable member Jill Bond.

Spectrum magazine places first in state competition

BU's Spectrum magazine recently placed first in statewide collegiate competition sponsored by the Pennsylvania Press Club. According to the judges' comments, Spectrum is "impressive both visually and in content. Graphically, the publication is imaginative and doesn't play it safe. But none of this would matter if it was deficient in content. Happily, Spectrum is rich in informative stories." Spectrum, concluded the judges, "has pizzazz!" The magazine competed against collegiate newspapers and magazines in Pennsylvania. Details.

Incoming freshman receives nursing scholarship

Katherine Fowler, Milford, recently received the Victoria T. Robinson Memorial Scholarship in the amount of $1,800. Fowler will major in nursing at BU in the fall after graduating from Delaware Valley High School.

Wednesday, June 11

BU junior passes away

Bloomsburg University junior Colin B. Rooney, 20, of Shenandoah, passed away Tuesday, June 3, in Pottsville Hospital. Funeral services will be held Saturday, June 7, at 11 a.m. at the Annunciation Center Church, 218 West Cherry Street, Shenandoah. Viewing will be held Friday, June 6, from 5 to 9 p.m. and Saturday, June 7, at 9 a.m. at the Walukiewicz Oravitz Fell Funeral Home, 132 South Jardin Street in Shenandoah.

Barth named chair of BU's Council of Trustees

Steven Barth, Lewisburg, was appointed to a two-year term as chair of Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania's Council of Trustees during the Wednesday, June 4, meeting.

Barth, a member of the Council of Trustees since 1998, formerly served as vice chairperson. Robert Dampman, Ringtown, was named vice chairperson of the Trustees and Marie Conley Lammando, Harrisburg, will continue as secretary.

In a related matter, the Trustees approved a resolution honoring former chairperson Robert Gibble, a 1968 BU graduate. The resolution recognized Gibble, a member of the Trustees since 1999, for his advocacy and service to the university. Gibble will continue to serve on the Council of Trustees.

Details.

Spring Dean's List released

BU's Dean's List for the spring 2008 semester has been released. Full-time degree students whose semester QPA is 3.5 or higher in 12 or more semester hours of coursework for which a grade or grades are received are be named to the Dean's list for that semester. See the list.

BU enters agreement with Cameroonian universities

BU Provost James Mackin and English professor Ekema Agbaw formalized exchange agreements this spring with three Cameroonian universities- Buea, Yaounde I and Yaounde II.

"The three universities that we have committed to working with are among the premier universities in Cameroon," says Mackin. "We hope to begin student exchanges with all of these universities almost immediately, with faculty exchanges to occur in the near future. I'm sure Bloomsburg students will come away from a visit to Cameroon with a whole new sense of their place in the world."

According to Mackin, officials at Buea and Yaounde I universities expressed interest in enrolling their students in BU's audiology/speech pathology, exceptionality and institute for interactive technologies programs while officials at the University of Yaounde II focused on BU's business programs.

Above, Mackin signs an signing ceremony with Professor Vincent P.K. Titanji, the Vice Chancellor (equivalent of President) of Buea University in Cameroon.

Manga and Anime club to meet Tuesdays

The BU Manga and Anime Club will hold summer meeting Tuesdays until August 12 from 7 to 10 p.m. in Bakeless Center, room 103. Meetings will feature screenings of anime and live-action Asian films. All are welcome to attend.

Friday, June 6

Belick interns at Anthracite museum

History major Nicole Belick just completed an internship at the Pennsylvania Anthracite Heritage Museum in McDade Park, Scranton (a Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission site). The Museum explores the story of European immigrants who labored in area coal mines and textile factories. During her internship, Belick gained experience in professional archival, museum, and library work under the direction of Historic Site Administrator Chester Kulesa and his staff. She organized and catalogued personal and company papers, conducted research to answer personal inquirers from genealogists and other researchers, and worked with the museum curator. Belick also introduced guest speakers, helped with the museum's Charter Day event, and talked with other museum professionals in Harrisburg, Scranton, and Washington D.C. Chester Kulesa praised Nicole's performance and concluded that she "went above and beyond her responsibilities." Nicole said that her classes at BU in Historiography and Historic Methods and Research and Writing prepared her for the experience.

Crystal Andrezze wins STRIVE Award

Crystal Andrezze, secretary for the department of exceptionality programs, has been presented with the STRIVE (Staff and Team Recognized in their Valuable Efforts) award for both her technical expertise and strong interpersonal skills. Tim Knoster, Darlene Perner and Nancy Edwards from the department of exceptionality programs wrote the nomination letter for Andrezze. Shown are left are Andrezze and President David Soltz. Details.

Students organize 5K run

Two BU students are using a 5K race to honor family and friends who have passed away from cancer and to inspire their local community to help fight the disease. Shannon Hoffman, a junior mass communications major, and Susan Wade, a sophomore medical imaging major, are the organizers of the annual JesVic 5K race in their hometown,Watsontown. The second annual race and walk will be held on Saturday, June 7, at 9 a.m. at Watsontown Elementary School. A half-mile kids' race will began at 10 a.m. Pre-registration for the 5K race is $15 and $5 for the kids' race. Race day registration is $20 for the 5K race and $7 for the kids' race. Shown are Wade, left, and Hoffman. Details.

Monday, June 2

Deaf/hard of hearing faculty featured on WNEP

Samuel Slike, curriculum coordinator for BU's education of the deaf/hard of hearing program, and Pamela Berman, instructional designer for the Institute for Instructional Technology, were featured in on WNEP Channel 16's "People you should know" feature on Tuesday, May 26, at 7 p.m. They recently received a 2008 International Distance Learning Award from the United States Distance Learning Assocation (USDLA). Slike and Berman received the award, Best Practices for Distance Learning Programming - Online Technology in Higher Education, for their use of Wimba Classroom, a virtual learning program that combines interactive technologies with traditional styles of instruction. A link to the program is available on BU's deaf education web page.

HR Spring newsletter available

The Spring 2008 issue of the Human Resources Quarterly Newsletter is here! The newsletter is designed to help faculty and staff stay up-to-date with the latest information in benefits, payroll and training.

The Spring 2008 issue contains:

• Important Reminders
• Payroll News, including leave and Local Service Tax information
• Training and Development News
• Benefits News, including Social Security benefits and PASSHE Open Enrollment information
• Upcoming Events, including Retirement Representative campus visit dates

We welcome your ideas for future newsletter topics. Please email suggestions and ideas .