2014march3journalFINAL:03-24-08 CAL U JOURNAL.qxd 3/19/14 1:04 PM Page 1
California University
Volume 16, Number 5 mArCH 24, 2014 Read the JouRnal online: www.calu.edu/news/the-journal
Trustees Approve Price Break for Service Members
A
t its first quarterly meeting of 2014, the University’s Council of Trustees welcomed a new member and officially approved a twoyear pilot program that will reduce tuition costs for active-duty military members and their families who enroll in Cal U Global Online. Roberta “Robin” Betza, a 35-year veteran of the insurance industry and a vice president for Navigators Management Co. Inc., joined her fellow Trustees in voting to implement the pilot program this summer. A graduate of Edinboro University, Betza replaces Michael Napolitano ’68, whose term as a Trustee expired. The tuition reduction for service members is one of six “flexible tuition” initiatives approved in January by the PASSHE Board of Governors. Under Cal U’s pilot program, the cost of undergraduate tuition for service members, as well as their spouses and eligible dependents, will match the Military Tuition Assistance reimbursement. Currently, the reimbursement rate is $250 per credit for undergraduate programs. Also under the plan, service members and their families who enroll in Global Online graduate programs will pay about 90 percent of the in-state tuition rate, or $399 per credit. Lawrence “Larry” Maggi, the
First Robots Play Ball ®
I
Nick Drew, a member of the U.S. Navy, works on an online assignment. Drew is one of many who will benefit from a two-year pilot program that will reduce tuition costs for active-duty military members and their families who enroll in Cal U Global Online.
council’s chair and a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, said “the word is out” among veterans and service members, who recognize Cal U as a military-friendly institution. The University projects a 5 percent increase in Global Online military enrollment during each of the pilot’s two years, resulting in a 5 percent gain in revenue in the program’s second year. “This is one of many initiatives to
help us recruit students and retain students,” said interim University President Geraldine M. Jones. In other business: • President Jones reported on other recruitment initiatives, including Application Day events that feature onthe-spot admissions decisions for high school students and new efforts to enroll tuition-paying students from overseas. — Continued on page 3
magine six, 120-pound robots playing a game that looks like a cross between soccer and basketball. Organized into competing three-member “alliances,” the remote-controlled players move red and blue exercise balls around a 25’ x 54’ playing field. The robots roll the balls and toss them into goals. They rumble across the floor, trying to block their opponents’ shots. Sometimes they heave the ball over a truss suspended about 5 feet above the playing surface. That’s worth extra points – and the crowd goes wild. Now imagine what it takes to design and build these robotic “athletes” — science, technology, engineering and math. All that, plus creativity and teamwork, is what FIRST ® Robotics is all about. More than 1,100 students in grades 9-12 will put their custom-built robots to the test at the Greater Pittsburgh Regional FIRST Robotics Competition, a varsity Sport for the MindTM coming to Cal U March 27-29. In all, 48 teams will travel across Pennsylvania and from as far away as Florida and Ontario to compete in the Convocation Center arena. Winners in the regional event will travel to the national competition next month in St. Louis, Mo. — Continued on page 4
Scholars Honored at Convocation
S
henda Hershfield ’09 will deliver the honors address when California University recognizes nearly 1,400 of its most accomplished scholars at an Honors Convocation 2 p.m. April 5 in the Convocation Center. The University recognizes academic excellence on the part of master’s, bachelor’s and associate degree-seeking students by honoring Presidential Scholars at this annual event. In addition to meeting other requirements, Presidential Scholars carry a grade-point average of 3.25 or higher. Both fulland part-time students are eligible for the award. The names of qualifying students will be announced, and each student will receive a personal greeting and a special Presidential Scholar pin. Interim University President Geraldine M. Jones will preside over the Convocation, and Acting Provost Bruce Barnhart will introduce the platform party. Dr. Gwendolyn Perry-Burney will serve as faculty mace-bearer. Dr. Gregg Gould will be herald. In keeping with tradition, a distinguished graduate will address the scholars. Hershfield is a digital product manager at Fox News Channel and Fox Business Network in New York City. In this role she engages with show producers, talent and the Web design team to create new and engaging websites. Using her knowledge of best practices and latest trends in digital media, she creates websites that provide viewers with interactive experiences. Previously, Hershfield was a Web show page producer for the channel’s No. 1-rated shows “Hannity,” “Fox Report,” “America Live” and many more. — Continued on page 3
Heather Arnet, the film director and chief executive officer of the Pittsburgh-based Women and Girls Foundation, participates in a question-and-answer session during the during the Audrey-Beth Fitch Women’s Conference inside the north wing of the Cal U convocation Center.
Conference Celebrates Women
“Y
ou can get involved,” guest speaker Heather Arnet told the audience as the ninth annual Audrey-Beth Fitch Women’s Studies Conference got under way March 6 in the Convocation Center. The theme of the daylong conference was “Employing a Critical Lens: Engaging with film to Explore Media, Politics and the Military.” She delivered the message of action after the premiere of Madame Presidenta: Why Not U.S.? — Vamos Meninas! (“Let’s Go Girls.”) Arnet, who is the chief executive officer of the Women and Girls Foundation, used her
extensive experience in theater and film to make the movie in partnership with ELAS Women’s Social Investment Fund in Rio de Jaeiro. Madame Presidenta explores the cultural and economic landscape in Brazil and how the country’s policies and values led to the election of that country’s first female president. The film also touched on issues such as reproductive rights, voter rights and women’s roles in crafting legislation. “Stop asking for permission to enter the political system,” Arnet told the audience. “Get — Continued on page 2
2014march3journalFINAL:03-24-08 CAL U JOURNAL.qxd 3/19/14 1:04 PM Page 2
PAge 2
mArCH 24, 2014
Winter Puts Archaeological Survey on Hold
S
enior Kyle Norman, an archaeology major, can’t wait to get back outdoors. This winter’s frigid temperatures and snowy weather did more than disrupt his class schedule. It also put his hands-on archaeology work on hold. Norman is one of about a dozen Cal U students involved in archaeological fieldwork at the new Fayette Business Park site in Dunbar Township, Pa. Under the auspices of the Mon-Yough Chapter of the Pennsylvania Society for Archaeology, the group is assessing the site for prehistoric or historic artifacts. “It’s like a dream, finally getting paid to do what I love,” said Norman, who’s planning a career in archaeology. “Mostly, though, I did it for the experience. Now professionals in the business know my name, archaeological firms know my name. … It’s been an amazing experience.” Led by Dr. John Nass, professor of anthropology and the principal investigator on the project, the group began to assess the site in October. “The Fay-Penn Development Corp. bought the property to develop the business park,” he explained. “Because they are receiving some state funding, Fay-Penn must, by law, assess whether the known sites on the property have archaeological significance.” Fay-Penn made arrangements for the Mon-Yough Chapter to conduct the assessment. In turn, Nass made his
Archaeology students use field skills at the Fayette Business Park site.
students aware of the opportunity. “It’s a wonderful hands-on learning project for our students — but now we’re waiting for the weather to break, so we can complete the work.” Before winter set in, the students laid out a grid and dug “shovel test pits” at regular intervals, carefully sifting the earth for artifacts. The site includes both open
fields and wooded areas. “Aside from field school, undergraduates don’t often get the opportunity to be out doing fieldwork — especially work we get paid for,” said sophomore Ressa Throckmorton, an anthropology major with a minor in biology. This was Throckmorton’s first hands-
Annual Conference Celebrates Women
Enjoying a moment at the March 6 Women’s History Month Banquet are President’s Commission for the Status of Women’s Outstanding Woman of the Year recipients (from left) Daelynn Roach, student recipient; Dr. Susan Jasko, faculty recipient; and Bridgitt Nobili, staff recipient.
— Continued from page 1
Three Named Spring 2014 Women of the Year
T
he President’s Commission for the Status of Women regularly honors women for their contributions to the University community. Award recipients have been successful in their personal or professional lives, and they also have supported women’s issues or other women on campus. Three women were honored March 6 at the Women’s History Month Banquet. • Student Daelynn Roach’s concern for women reaches across the globe. Among other activities, she organized last year’s campus bra drive for Free the Girls, a nonprofit group that supports victims of human trafficking in Mozambique, Africa. Bras are a luxury item there, and women can make a living selling them rather than entering the sex trade. The Activists Club’s campus bra drive collected 800 new and gently used undergarments.
on experience in her field. “I had alumni and recent grads who were teaching me about the shovel testing. They talked about their time at Cal U, and they told me about grad school and the job market in archaeology,” she said. “Dr. Nass came out and supervised. He talked about what we were doing and why, and what would be different if it was an ancient or prehistoric site. It was like having another class out in the woods. It helped me connect everything I learned in class with what I was doing in the field.” Several prehistoric archaeological sites previously were identified within the bounds of the business park, Nass said, but the group has yet to pinpoint their locations. The survey team did turn up evidence of two previously unknown historic sites: depressions in the ground where 19thcentury outbuildings may have stood. “We can’t tell from the historical records” what they might be, Nass said, but students are seeking clues in tax documents and other public records in the Fayette County Court House. Once the ground thaws and the field is plowed and disked, the group will return to complete the assessment. “You can’t beat being out there,” Norman said. “I’ve always wanted to do this.” “I’ll add this to my resume,” Throckmorton said. “It’s nice to feel you’re actually learning through experience.”
• Staff member Bridgitt Nobili, of Career Services, is the career adviser to the College of Education and Human Services and related graduate and Global Online programs. She was recognized for activities that included organizing a Women’s Networking Reception to connect successful female alumni with Cal U students. More than 80 people attended the first event. Nobili also is an adviser and mentor to Sigma Kappa sorority. • Faculty member Dr. Susan Jasko, of the Department of Communication Studies, was honored for her work with the National Weather Service, where she has contributed to efforts aimed at improving communication about approaching storms. An internship adviser and a mentor for many young women at Cal U, she has fostered collaboration between communication and social science experts on campus and beyond.
in there. Talk about how this is also an economic development issue, not just a women’s issue.” Cal U’s showing of Madame Presidenta was its regional premiere; the film was scheduled to air March 29 on WQED-TV, Arnet said. Other conference highlights were a screening of The Invisible War, an Academy Award-nominated film about sexual assault in the U.S. military; a presentation by Faith J. Dickinson, founder and president of Women in Film and Media Pittsburgh; and a screening of Miss Representation, which examines how the media portrays women and girls. The conference concluded with a banquet celebrating women’s organizations on campus: the President’s Commission for the Status of Women, the PASSHE Women’s Consortium, the Women’s Studies program, the Women’s Center and the Cal U Women United mentoring group. Sponsors of the event were the President’s Office, the Provost’s office, the College of Liberal Arts and Women’s Studies. Dr. Marta McClintock-Comeaux, director of Women’s Studies, drew a contrast with the not-too-distant past, when women’s professional options were limited. “Now women have entered and excelled in diverse careers,” she said, noting the range of professions represented at the event. “As I look across this room, I feel hopeful.” That diversity of expertise and experience found a voice in the event’s closing panel, which featured faculty members Odeese Kahlil, of the Arabic language program; Dr. Sheri Boyle, of the Social Work Department; Dr. Mary Kreis, of the Sport Management program; Dr. Margo Wilson, chair of the English Department; and Dr. Ayanna Lyles, of the Department of Health Science. Bringing the day’s message full circle, they also urged young women to get involved. “Learning takes place every minute of every day,” Khalil reminded them. “Be active in your community, your neighborhood, your school. Get your name out there.”
Students, Families to Visit for Academic Open House April 5
O
n April 5, Cal U welcomes students and their families to the final Academic Open House of the spring semester. Registration begins at 8 a.m., and the program continues from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Academic Open House is designed to introduce
prospective students to Cal U and to give students who already have been accepted a chance to explore the campus. Students and families can learn more about Cal U’s programs of study, housing, extracurricular activities and student life. They also can talk with students, meet faculty
members and tour the campus. For more information or to register online, visit www.calu.edu. Prospective students also may contact the Welcome Center at 724-938-1626 or e-mail Carrie Pavtis at pavtis@calu.edu.
2014march3journalFINAL:03-24-08 CAL U JOURNAL.qxd 3/19/14 1:04 PM Page 3
mArCH 24, 2014
PAge 3
English Department Presents Acclaimed Journalist
T
Cal U students (from left) Jason Capello, Cody Schwanger and Gabe Martin prepare venison wrapped in bacon at last year’s Outdoor Bash and Wild Game Dinner. This year’s dinner is set for 6 p.m. Saturday at the Richeyville Fire Hall.
What’s for Dinner? Wild Game
C
al U’s student chapter of The Wildlife Society will host its 17th annual Outdoor Bash and Wild Game Dinner at 6 p.m. March 29 at the Richeyville Fire Hall in Richeyville, Pa. Doors open at 5 p.m. In cooperation with the Pennsylvania Game Commission and the National Wild Turkey Federation, the chapter will offer a variety of game dishes, such as deer, elk, bear, pheasant, rabbit, wild turkey, duck and goose, alligator and steelhead.
Side dishes, desserts and drinks are also on the menu. Raffle and door prizes will be awarded throughout the evening. Ticket price is $15 in advance or $20 at the door. This fundraiser allows member of the Cal U chapter of the Wildlife Society to participate in hands-on workshops and attend conferences, including the National Wildlife Society Conference, where members are able to network with wildlife biology professionals.
To purchase tickets, e-mail club adviser Dr. Carol Bocetti at bocetti@calu.edu, club president Kaitlyn Kelly at kel1045@calu.edu, or any Cal U student member of The Wildlife Society. The Wildlife Society — a professional community of scientists, managers, educators, technicians, planners and others who work to study, manage and conserve wildlife and habitats worldwide — is celebrating its 77th anniversary this year.
Scholars Honored at Convocation — Continued from page 1
Hershfield also spent five months as chair of the Southwest Caucus of the Pennsylvania She left Fox to work for eight months as an Federation of College Republicans prior to associate social media manager for Avon, and graduation. then returned to Fox in September. In the summer of 2009, Hershfield interned At Cal U, Hershfield earned a bachelor’s with Fox News Channel. Fox hired her three degree in communication studies, with a weeks before she earned her diploma in concentration in TV and radio broadcasting. December 2009. She was president of Cal Campaign A native of Penn Township, Pa., and a Consultants, a multidisciplinary organization graduate of Serra Catholic High School, Shendy Hershfield that teaches students the basics of professional Hershfield now lives in Brooklyn, N.Y. She campaigns, and she served for three years as chair of the regularly attends Cal U Alumni and Friends events in Cal U College Republicans. the greater New York area.
ony Norman, book review editor and award-winning columnist at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, will speak at 7 p.m. Thursday in Eberly Hall, Room 110. “A Night With Tony Norman” is sponsored by the English Department. Admission is free and the public may attend. “I’ve been reading Tony Norman’s column since moving to Pennsylvania in 2002 and from the start, I was impressed with his writing skill and intelligence,” said Dr. Margo Wilson, chair of the English Department. “I wanted our students to meet someone who makes his living writing the kinds of persuasive essays that we teach in Composition I and II. He is a voice of fairness, justice, creativity and Tony Norman urbaneness in southwestern Pennsylvania, and I’d like for the campus community, as well, to better get to know him and his work.” During the past 25 years at the PostGazette, Norman has performed many roles, including clerk, pop music/culture critic and general-interest columnist. In November 2012, Norman was appointed the newspaper’s book review editor, along with his other duties. In 1999, the National Society of Newspaper Columnists awarded Norman’s Post-Gazette general-interest column first place for newspapers with a circulation of 100,000 and up. Norman also has won first place in the Keystone, Golden Quill and Pittsburgh Black Media Federation competitions. His columns have won awards from the American Association of Sunday and Feature Editors, and Women in Communication. In 2005 and 2006, Norman took a sabbatical at the University of Michigan, where he was a Knight-Wallace Journalism Fellow. During his sabbatical, he also lectured at his alma mater, Calvin College, in Grand Rapids, Mich. Norman has been an adjunct journalism professor at Chatham University since 2001.
Trustees Hear News on Winter College, Budget — Continued from page 1 She also touched on workforce planning, noting that some personnel has been redeployed to areas of strategic need and other positions have been left vacant after a retirement or resignation. No furloughs are planned “for the time being,” she said, adding that “we will continue looking at those positions that are vital to the University’s workforce strategy.” • Dr. Bruce Barnhart, acting provost and vice president for Academic Affairs, reported on Cal U’s successful Winter College session. The online program attracted 762 students, who chose from a menu of 26 online courses. “Winter College helped some students make progress toward a degree, and gave others an opportunity to
improve their grades,” he said. He reported that several new programs are “in development” and may be rolled out this fall. • Robert Thorn, vice president for Administration and Finance, reported that current budget projections indicate the University will end the fiscal year with a slight surplus. The Trustees voted “yes” on a capital spending program that includes renovations to Coover, Morgan and Keystone halls, and construction of a science building that will replace Frich and New Science halls. Also approved was a 2.1 percent increase in board costs for the 2014-2015 academic year. • Dr. Nancy Pinardi, interim vice president for Student Affairs, focused on the area’s efforts to address alcohol and
drug abuse, as well as problem gambling. Through a $5,000 grant from the Washington County Drug and Alcohol Commission, Cal U will hold a conference April 4 to explore issues related to gambling addiction. A pending grant proposal would fund creation of a “clean and sober community” at Vulcan Village. The Counseling Center’s Cal Clean and Sober group meets weekly to support students. • Craig Butzine, vice president for Marketing and University Relations, explained the strategy behind Cal U’s new marketing campaign, which includes television ads that have aired during highprofile events. A new media element, cinema advertising, will see the Cal U commercial reach 340,000 moviegoers per month in six western Pennsylvania counties.
• In his role as interim vice president for University Development and Alumni Relations, Butzine reported that gifts and commitments for the Campaign to Build Character and Careers now total more than $34 million, on the way to the $35 million goal. Cal U surpassed $2 million in fundraising for calendar year 2013. • Dr. Charles Mance, vice president for University Technology Services, reported on his area’s work with PASSHE’s Security Policy Assessment. The second phase of the UTech Services risk remediation plan has begin, and work continues on projects including the Vulcan Information Portal (VIP) and FlexReg, a registration system for personal enrichment courses. The Council of Trustees is scheduled to meet again on June 18.
2014march3journalFINAL:03-24-08 CAL U JOURNAL.qxd 3/19/14 1:04 PM Page 4
PAge 4
mArCH 24, 2014
Photographer: ‘Believe in Your Dream’
“E
Cal U students Rashee Ferguson and Danielle Burns get autographs and speak with photographer Eunique Jones, who closed out Cal U’s celebration of Black History Month with words of encouragement and inspiration in Vulcan Theatre.
Freshman Leads Women’s Track
A
fter winning two league titles, freshman Summer Hill became the first female Cal U student-athlete in program history to be named Most Outstanding Track Athlete of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Indoor Track and Field Championships. The meet took place March 1-2. A native of Honesdale, Pa., Hill took first place in the 1-mile run, with a time of 4 minutes, 57.73 seconds. At the time, this was among the 15 fastest times in NCAA Division II this season. Hill also was part of Cal U’s championshipwinning distance medley relay team, with teammates Alex Zanella, Allison Hall, and Julie Friend. The Cal U quartet won the event by more than 17 seconds, with a time of 12 minutes, 0.87 seconds. Hill also earned all-conference honors by finishing third in the 800-meter run, with a time Summer Hill of 2:19.78. Zanella took second behind Hill in the 1-mile run. The pair of championships were just the second and third indoor league titles in program history. Overall, Cal U’s women’s team finished fifth at the conference meet, tying the 2012 team for the program’s best-ever finish at the event. The Vulcans finished 12th at last year’s indoor league championships. Also an exceptional student, Hill is a communication studies major with a minor in public relations. She earned the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association individual AllAcademic honors last month for cross country. To qualify, a student-athlete must have earned a grade-point average of 3.25 or greater and have placed in the top 50 percent at the NCAA National Championships or in the top 30 percent at the NCAA Regional Championships. Hill was one of 42 student-athletes that achieve a perfect 4.0 grade-point average last fall. “Summer is just the epitome of competitiveness,” said Daniel Caulfield, Cal U’s head coach for track and field, as well as cross country. “She, along with her teammates, went into the PSAC meet looking to exemplify that attitude, and the results showed.”
veryone should have a dream. Dream. Believe. Act.” Photographer Eunique Jones Gibson closed out Cal U’s celebration of Black History Month with words of encouragement and inspiration for students, staff and faculty gathered in Vulcan Theatre on Feb. 27. A desire to share a rich history and inspire a promising future through images prompted Jones to create the Because of Them We Can campaign. In February 2013, she released 28 photos showing children dressed as a variety of African-American achievers — Muhammad Ali, Frederick Douglass, Kerry Washington, Condoleezza Rice and more. The buzz surrounding the project grew quickly, prompting Gibson to quit her corporate job in social media and marketing and create images for 365 days, available in book form. “Twenty-eight days just wasn’t enough,” Gibson told the audience at Cal U, her only university stop during this year’s Black History Month.
“Because of Them We Can went from an idea to a project to a campaign to a movement,” Gibson said. “It has become bigger than a month.” Next up: Expanding the movement to include inspirational leaders, such as Mother Teresa, of all cultures and ethnicities. “The state of the world and America is depending on us,” Gibson said. She spent the day before her appearance on campus at the White House, where her project was recognized for celebrating black people’s contributions in science, technology, engineering and math. “Do you know who Lonnie Johnson is?” Gibson asked the Cal U crowd. “Ever play with a Super Soaker when you were a kid? That’s Lonnie Johnson. He invented it.” Gibson urged Cal U students to focus on their self-esteem and to ignore “all the forces telling you your dreams are too big.” “Believe your dream is possible. Act as if someone’s life hinges on your ability to believe and to act. Think of your impact and potential to change lives.”
Mystery in ‘Veronica’s Room’
C
al U’s Department of Audiences will be treated to an evening filled with Theatre and Dance continues its 2014 delightfully uncomfortable spring season with Veronica’s moments. The performance Room, a chilling mystery contains subject matter that thriller that explores the fine may not be suitable for young children. line between fantasy and reality, madness and murder. Curtain time is 8 p.m. Written by Ira Levin, best Thursday and Friday, with known as the author of shows at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. Rosemary’s Baby, this play Saturday. All performances are centers on students Susan and in the Gerald and Carolyn Katey Sheehan, left, and Christina King Larry, who find themselves at Blaney Theatre in Steele Hall. Ticket price is $12 for patrons of all ages. the Brabissant mansion as invited guests of an Cal U students with valid CalCards pay 50 elderly couple. Struck by Susan’s strong resemblance to cents, plus a $5 deposit that is refunded at the Veronica Brabissant, long-dead daughter of the show. For more information, or to order tickets family for whom they work, the couple convince (with a credit card) by phone, call the Steele Hall Box Office at 724-938-5943. Susan to impersonate Veronica.
FIRST Robots to Play Ball ®
— Continued from page 1 The FIRST Robotics challenge is different every year. This year’s game, Aerial AssistSM, was announced at a kickoff event in January. The students had just six weeks to build their robots, supplementing a standard “kit of parts” with whatever extras the team could afford. Mentors — typically professional engineers and former FIRST competitors — advise the students, and teams solicit funds for parts and travel expenses. Once the “build phase” expires, the robots are placed in sealed bags until the competition begins. The time limit is strictly enforced. “That’s part of my job, to keep the playing field as level as we can,” FIRST regional director Patricia DePra said. “The teams come from a
variety of high schools and community groups, such as 4-H clubs, but everyone plays by the same rules.” The robots will come out of their bags for practice sessions March 27 in the Convocation Center. FIRST qualification matches will be held on March 28 and 29. Between matches, students market their teams, tune up their robots and make last-minute repairs in the Convocation Center’s “pit” and machine shop areas. Award ceremonies on Friday and Saturday recognize the winners. The public is invited to attend and cheer for their favorite teams. Admission is free on all three days of the competition. Camera crews from KDKA-TV will capture the action for a 30-minute television show set to air next month.
The California Journal is published by California University of Pennsylvania, a member of The Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education. Geraldine M. Jones Interim University President
Robert Thorn Vice President for Administration and Finance
Dr. Nancy Pinardi Interim Vice President for Student Affairs
Dr. Bruce Barnhart Acting Provost/Vice President for Academic Affairs
Craig Butzine Vice President for Marketing and University Relations/ Interim Vice President for University Development and Alumni Relations
Christine Kindl Editor
Dr. Charles Mance Vice President for University Technology Services
Office of Communications and Public Relations
250 University Avenue
California, PA 15419
Bruce Wald, Wendy Mackall, Jeff Bender Writers 724-938-4195
wald@calu.edu