SouthernLife
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A NEWSPAPER FOR THE CAMPUS COMMUNITY
Southern Connecticut State University
MARCH 2014 • Vol.17 No. 4
INSIDE:
4 Finding the Seeds of Hypertension 5 Carrying His Father’s Torch
SCSU's new downtown location for academics, admissions and community engagement. SOUTHERN
NOW HAS A PRESENCE in the heart of New Haven’s downtown business district, providing the university with the opportunity to expand its student services and enhance its institutional profile. The SCSU Foundation has entered into an initial 12-month lease with the Greater New Haven Chamber of Commerce for a suite of offices and seminar rooms on the 10th floor of 900 Chapel Street, adjacent to the chamber headquarters. The space, which overlooks the New Haven Green, was previously occupied by the University of New Haven. Programming for the newly named “Southern on the Green” is now being finalized. Activities will focus on several areas, including fundraising; admissions, financial aid and advisement; business development and community engagement and academic programming. "Having a strategic and highly visible presence downtown will enable us to maximize networking, development and partnership opportunities with the city’s key players in politics, commerce, education and the non-profit sector,” says President Mary Papazian. “The convenient location will also provide us
with the chance to expand our collaborations with nearby Gateway Community College, and enhance the recruitment of transfer students,” Papazian says. As well as being an easily accessible “walk-in” center for prospective students to meet with admissions and advisement staff, the venue will also host off-campus classes for academic programs and networking events for student internships and job recruitment. A Graduate Admissions Open House highlighting several newly developed programs in workforce demand areas will be held at Southern on the Green on Monday, April 7 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. The programs are: the Accelerated MBA program (to be offered this fall); the master’s degree in applied physics and cybersecurity and software development tracks in the computer science master’s program. At Southern’s 501 Crescent St. location – in New Haven, but close to the municipal line with Hamden – the university has too often historically been viewed as an Elm City institution in name only, the president notes. “In my State of the University Address last September, one of the key initiatives that I identified DOWNTOWN CONTINUED ON PAGE 6.
Enrollment Initiatives SPOTLIGHTING NEW AND INNOVATIVE PROGRAMS S OUTHERN
HAS BEGUN A TARGETED
of several programs with growth potential as part of an effort to increase university enrollment. With the number of high school graduates declining each year, higher education institutions across the nation are being challenged to maintain their enrollment levels. The university is seeking to create and bolster academic programs that show promise of significant student enrollment and growth. “We have so many excellent programs at Southern, but we have chosen several that we believe have the best potential to grow significantly in numbers over the next several years,” says Marianne Kennedy, interim provost and vice president for academic affairs. Among the newly created programs in the spotlight are: an accelerated Master of Business Administration degree; a certificate in accounting and an undergraduate degree (both a Bachelor of Science and a Bachelor of Arts) in interdisciplinary studies. The existing programs that are being highlighted are Master of Science degrees in computer science, exercise science and applied physics, which are all being reinvigorated to boost enrollment. The accelerated M.B.A. is designed for the hardworking professional seeking to advance their career. Students can earn their degree in 17 months through a combination of Saturday and online courses. The certificate in accounting is designed for individuals who are seeking to become a Certified Public Accountant. The certificate is a major stepping stone toward being eligible to take the CPA exam. The B.S./B.A. in interdisciplinary studies offer students an alternative to a traditional major, enabling them to design their own MARKETING CAMPAIGN
program of study. This flexibility allows them to tailor their coursework in distinctive directions. The B.A. combines two concentrations, such as environmental studies/marine studies, media studies/ethnic studies or criminal justice/forensic science. The B.S. combines three concentrations, such as public health/sociology/biology and Spanish/Latin American studies/political science. The M.S. in computer science has been restructured so that its emphasis is on two tracks – cybersecurity and software development – that represent growth fields. Software development, for example, was listed as the number one career field for 2014 by Forbes magazine, with a 30 percent increase in the number of jobs anticipated by 2020. The M.S. in exercise science has two available concentrations – human performance and sports psychology. The human performance concentration includes assessment of cardiopulmonary fitness, body composition and muscle/joint strength, and stability and biomechanical analysis. The sports psychology concentration includes an in-depth study of health psychology, performance enhancement and intervention. The M.S. in applied physics has two tracks – materials science/nanotechnology and optics/optical instrumentation – and is intended for individuals seeking applied research and management positions in the high-tech industry. In turn, that would help develop the state’s workforce. President Mary A. Papazian thanks the faculty who have devised and implemented these programs. “If this new marketing approach is successful, as we believe it will be, it will not only boost our enrollment, but provide a template for future academic programming by departments campus wide,” she says.
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SOUTHERN TO LAUNCH USE OF COMMON APP Students wishing to apply to Southern will have one less obstacle to deal with starting next year. The university has been accepted into the Common Application membership association – a not-for-profit organization that aims to streamline the applications process for prospective college students. As a result, Southern will accept what is popularly known as the “Common App” – a uniform application used by more than 500 colleges and universities throughout the United States, as well as other several other countries. Students who apply to Southern for the fall semester of 2015 (starting this fall) will be able to submit this standard application – a change that will save students the time to fill out a separate form, according to Kimberly Crone, associate vice president for enrollment management. The Common App makes it more likely that students who are considering Southern as one of several options will actually submit the paperwork needed to apply. “Generally, schools that use the Common App see an increase of between 10 and 30 percent in their applicant pool,” Crone says.
“This is especially valuable at a time of declining high school enrollments. The Common App also is likely to increase the geographic diversity of our applicants.” But Crone says while the Common App should bolster the number of applications, the university is also developing a strategy to convert the increased number of applicants into higher yield rates and increased enrollment. Alexis Haakonsen, director of admissions, agrees. “We are developing a comprehensive plan to communicate with students at every stage of the admissions process, continuing the very successful on-campus events for which Southern is well known, and involving the faculty and our alumni in the yield process,” Haakonsen explains. The university coordinates various events during the year, such as open houses, orientation sessions and programs aimed at high school students. “It’s all about making connections with students, whether it’s by their academic interests, a student organization, a faculty LAUNCH CONTINUED ON PAGE 6.
A Message from the President
President Mary A. Papazian
Dear Colleagues Thanks to the many of you who attended our recent town hall-style meeting and shared your thoughts about the findings of our Student Success Task Force. Its recommendations were pointed – we still have a great deal to accomplish, despite all the good work that has taken place in recent times. Our 4-year and 6-year graduation rates of 17 percent and 49 percent, respectively, do not compare favorably with those of all public universities in Connecticut (40.6 and 61.5 percent), and public universities nationally (31.3 and 56 percent). While our graduation rates have started to swing upward, we clearly have some catching up to do. The task force – to which many of you contributed – recommends improvements in many key areas. For example, creating an ombudsman-type position to help students find assistance when they have questions or concerns; or introducing more flexible hours of operation in key student service offices. To help bolster our retention rate, the task force recommends examining the credit-load needed for graduation and reinforcing our advisement ranks – some students are accumulating as many as 149 credits, meaning extra months in the classroom and the added burden of extra tuition and
Photo: Moto Photo
President Papazian meets with Gov. Dannel Malloy (right) and Hamden Mayor Scott Jackson at the Hamden Regional Chamber of Commerce Governor’s luncheon.
related expenses. Other proposals included recommending more opportunities for student employment on campus; increased support for second-year and transfer students and enhanced academic intervention. The full report is now available online, with an opportunity for members of our community to offer comments and suggestions during March. Soon, we will announce a new team to review the recommendations and carry them forward within the structure of our Strategic Plan - ensuring that this is a living document that will generate positive change on our campus. I have met with Gov. Dannel Malloy twice in recent weeks – once at the launching of his new Transform CSCU 2020 Initiative, and again at the Hamden Chamber of Commerce’s annual Lunch with the Governor, where I had the pleasure of offering remarks. As you know, this multi-year initiative will provide more than $134 million across our 17 institutions, with an emphasis on access, affordability and retention – all themes that we are intimately familiar with at Southern. The program also provides for more smart classrooms, in an effort to create technology-rich learning environments; seeks to streamline administrative processes to ease the path to registration and degree completion, and looks to create effective bridges between K-12 schools, community colleges and higher education institutions like Southern. Coming as it does in the second year of a biennial budget cycle, this initiative can be viewed as an initial investment that will be repeated if we are successful in advancing its agenda. At the Hamden Chamber luncheon, I emphasized the work that we are already undertaking to enhance both access and retention. I also detailed how we are adapting
both our facilities – such as the new science building – and our academic offerings, (e.g. the Accelerated MBA; M.S. in applied physics) to meet the future needs of our students and Connecticut’s workforce. Reflecting the themes contained in the Governer’s initiative, ConnScu President Gregory Gray has proposed that tuition and fees be capped at 2 percent for the 2014–2015 academic year. He recommends that this becomes part of a long-term tuition plan extending through 2016–2017. The Board of Regents has a stated goal to keep college accessible and affordable for Connecticut residents – as President Gray pointed out: “Higher education must remain within reach if Connecticut is to develop a strong, thriving economy.” With inflation expected to exceed 2 percent annually over the next several years, individual institutions will need to make up much of the budget differential through efficiencies and increased enrollment. At Southern, the lower tuition increase will present less of a financial deterrent for many prospective and current students; and new developments, such as the implementation of the Common App, will help to expand our pool of applicants. But the onus will be on all of us to continue our work to enhance enrollment and improve retention, following the recommendations outlined by the Student Success Task Force and through the development and implementation of our new Strategic Plan. Sincerely,
Mary Papazian, Ph.D. President
News from the Vice Presidents’ Offices ACADEMIC AFFAIRS
SouthernLife
Published by the Southern Connecticut State University Office of Public Affairs Patrick Dilger, Director EDITOR
Patrick Dilger WRITERS
Betsy Beacom Bailey Brumbach Mike Kobylanski Joe Musante Villia Struyk DESIGNER
Janelle Finch PHOTOGRAPHER
Isabel Chenoweth
SouthernLife is published monthly when classes are in session, from September through June, by the Southern Connecticut State University Office of Public Affairs, 501 Crescent Street, New Haven, CT 06515-1355. News and calendar inquiries should be addressed to Wintergreen 162, campus mail, or call 392-6586. Story ideas, news items and comments can also be e-mailed to the editor at DILGERP1. The editor reserves the right to consider all submissions for timeliness, space availability, and content.
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During the Spring Forum, faculty members were updated with the latest data regarding student success and retention, as well as provided insight about students belonging to the Millennial Generation. Jennifer Hudson, faculty development associate, said the program featured several Southern speakers. Tracy Tyree, vice president for student affairs, presented institutional data and discussed the findings of the Student Success Task Force. Erin Larkin, assistant professor of world languages and literatures, presented a workshop on “Teaching Millennial Students: What Matters Most.” The Millennial Generation is a term referring to those born roughly between 1982 and 1995, although demographers vary by a few years on the specific boundaries. Also speaking were Adam Goldberg, associate professor and undergraduate coordinator of elementary education, who presented a workshop, “Creating a Caring Classroom: What Matters Most;” and Frank LaDore, director of academic advising, who talked about advising and mentoring students for success. “It was an interesting and informative program that we believe was valuable for our faculty,” Hudson said.
FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION
Plans are moving forward for the renovation of the Wintergreen Building, Executive Vice President James Blake has announced. Blake said a temporary building is tentatively scheduled to be placed in the parking lot area behind the building this summer. That facility will house various departments during the first phase of the project, which would involve work to the front end of the building. Many of the offices in the front end would move further back into the building while that work is underway. The back area of Wintergreen will be renovated
SouthernLife • MARCH 2014
after the first phase is completed. “I think people will see a significant improvement in the quality and aesthetics of the building after the renovation work is complete,” Blake said. He noted the goals include enhancing workspace for employees and to improve customer service with a realignment of some departments. For example, the Office of Admissions will be moving into the building, which also houses such departments as Financial Aid, Academic Advisement and The Office of the Bursar. Plans are to create it a “one-stop shopping” area for student and enrollment services.
INSTITUTIONAL ADVANCEMENT
On Feb. 26, Southern celebrated TAG (Thank a Giver) day, emphasizing the importance of philanthropy and providing students with an opportunity to show their appreciation to donors. The event was held in Engleman Hall, where students were invited to sign a “Thank You Donors” banner and thank you postcards. In keeping with the theme, signs were displayed throughout the building, citing compelling statistics on the importance of giving. In conjunction with the event, a “Thanks a Latte” donor recognition table was set up those who supported the 2014 Faculty and Staff Campaign for Student Success. Donors received coffee and a university travel mug at the table, which also had been set up at various other sites on campus during the week. In addition, representatives of the 2014 Senior Class Campaign attended the TAG event, encouraging members of the graduating class to make a symbolic contribution of $20.14. A student/ donor “thank you” video will be created from footage of the day. In other news, a New York City Alumni Network is being established for those who live and/or work in the Big Apple. A kick-off event
will be held on May 13 at Sardi’s Restaurant in the Theater District. Tickets are $25 per person for the gathering. More information is at SouthernCT.edu/alumni. Looking forward, other regional alumni networks will be forming soon.
STUDENT AFFAIRS
The Student Success Task Force has submitted its report, the result of a year-long process, to President Mary A. Papazian, announced Tracy Tyree, vice president for student affairs. A year ago, President Papazian charged this task force with focusing on improving the university’s retention and its 4- and 6-year graduation rates. The task force broke down into nine subcommittees, each of which was to examine a contributing factor in retention and graduation rates. Each subcommittee developed a report based on its findings, and these reports became the foundation of the final full report, which presents six broad areas of recommendation: 1) advance a culture of “student-centeredness”; 2) create a Student Success Center; 3) transform academic advising; 4) modify academic programs, policies and instruction; 5) refresh university branding and marketing; and 6) improve student financing and affordability. President Papazian will create a new committee to oversee implementation of the recommendations and help institutionalize student success as the university’s ongoing highest priority. Tyree said that the recommendations, when implemented, will bring about “a new day at Southern,” by helping everyone on campus to understand his or her own role in this transformation. “The only way we will realize this culture of student centeredness is for every person on this campus to say, ‘I am part of this,’” Tyree says. “It takes a university initiative to make this really happen.” A town hall-style meeting to present the report to the university community was held March 3.
Accelerated MBA Geared for Professionals on the Move IT IS A DILEMMA OFTEN FACED by ambitious employees pursuing a position in upper management. They are willing to work toward obtaining a Master of Business Administration degree to improve their chances of being selected for a top-level job, but their busy work schedule prohibits them from making it to class regularly on a weekday evening. Southern is creating a program that clears a pathway for hardworking professionals to obtain their degree in a timely manner and to take classes at convenient times. An accelerated MBA program will be offered by the university for the first time starting in August. “The MBA program itself is not new and the course work will be as rigorous as the traditional program. But it’s a new approach – an approach that meets the needs of more students,” says Samuel Andoh, director of the SCSU MBA program. The program will include 17 courses for a total of 51 credits, which can be completed in 18 months. The courses will be taught during nine, eight-week sessions and students will generally take two courses during each session with a one-week break between each session. The final component of the program will be a special project. Most of the courses will be a hybrid – split evenly between on-campus classroom work and an online component. The on-campus
portion would be conducted on Saturdays. “Going to class at 5 p.m. during the week can be very difficult and people generally aren’t going to want to quit their job to get a degree,” Andoh says. “But the combination of Saturday classes and online instruction is going to give individuals greater access to obtaining an MBA.” Andoh says the accelerated courses will be taught by the same faculty members who teach in the traditional MBA program.
To be admitted into the accelerated program, students must have earned a bachelor’s degree with at least a 3.0 GPA. They also must submit a resume, as well as two letters of reference attesting to their leadership potential, ability to work independently and as part of a team. Those who do not meet the GPA requirement must submit GMAT test results for evaluation. “One of the nice aspects of this program is that it’s designed for people with
all kinds of backgrounds,” he says. “That only enhances the experience of all of our students.” Andoh says he anticipates that the first group of students to be numbered at 25. A second cohort is scheduled to begin amid the spring semester. The traditional MBA program includes about 150 students. Anyone with questions about the accelerated MBA program may call (203) 392-5616 or (203) 392-5860.
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An accelerated MBA program is set to begin in August for an initial group of up to 25 students.
New Certificate Leads to In-Demand CPA INDIVIDUALS
INTERESTED IN MAKING A
to accounting will be able to take a major step toward that goal with a new program being offered at Southern. The certificate in accounting program, scheduled to begin at the start of the fall 2014 semester, is designed for college graduates who have a degree in a discipline other than accounting. Students will take eight required courses in undergraduate accounting for a total of 27 credits. Admission to the program requires a minimum GPA of 2.3 at the undergraduate level, along with a bachelor’s degree. “The Certified Public Accountant (CPA) is a highly regarded, dynamic and lucrative profession,” says Janet Phillips, chairwoman of the Accounting Department. “There is tremendous demand for CPAs both because
CAREER CHANGE
employment opportunities for accountants and auditors are anticipated to grow rapidly, and because of the expected exodus of soon-to-be-retired CPAs. The new certificate program is an excellent avenue to aid in the pursuit of joining the accounting profession as a second career.” A 2012 report by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 13.1-percent growth between 2012 and 2022 for accountants and auditors. The national median annual salary for an accountant in May 2012 was $63,550. Phillips says the program is geared toward two populations of students already holding undergraduate degrees; those with a non-accounting, business degree (such as marketing, management or finance), and those with a degree in a non-business field.
“Students who have an undergraduate accounting degree and are looking to advance their education would be better served by the MBA program with a concentration in accounting,” she says. Phillips notes that becoming a licensed CPA is a multi-step process. First, individuals must meet the minimum education requirements to take the exam. The certificate in accounting will enable them to do so provided that they also have 22 credits in general business courses outside of accounting. Second, students must pass the CPA exam. Third, students must gain two years of experience working full time for a CPA, as well as having accumulated at least 36 credits in accounting; 30 credits in general business courses and a total of 150 overall
credits. Individuals also must pass a self-study ethics course in Connecticut. The exam for CPAs in Connecticut includes four sections – auditing and attestation; financial accounting and reporting; regulation, and business environment and concepts. “The new SCSU certificate of accounting program is a practical, accessible and affordable means to begin meeting qualifications to become a Connecticut CPA,” Phillips says. “The certificate is evidence of the SCSU School of Business’s commitment to meeting the needs of the state workforce and emerging economy.” For further information about the program, call the Accounting Department at (203) 392-5691.
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SouthernBrief ly
After a national search, SCSU’s director of international education position has been filled withAfter the appointment of Erin E. Heidkamp. a national search, SCSU’s director of Heidkamp has served as interim director of filled international education position has been international education since January 2012 with the appointment of Erin E. Heidkamp. Heidkamp has served as interim in director of internaand as an associate coordinator the Office tional education since Januaryfrom 2012April and as an associate of International Programs 2010 to coordinator in the Office her of International Programs from January 2012. During time as interim director, April 2010 to January 2012. During her time as interim Heidkamp has coordinated the merger of three director, Heidkamp has coordinated the merger of three branches of international education at Southern: branches of international education at Southern: study study abroad and reciprocal exchange programs abroad and reciprocal exchange programs (formerly the (formerly the Office of International Programs); Office of International Programs); J-1 visa and risk manJ-1 visa and risk management (formerly housedand agement (formerly housed in Sponsored Programs in Sponsored Programs and Research) and Research) and matriculated international student services matriculated international student services (formerly International Student Services). During her tenure, studentInternational study abroad participation has increased by (formerly Student Services). During 25 percent, spring break participation and summer study her tenure, faculty-led student study abroad abroad programs increasedfaculty-led by 40 percent and the has increased byhave 25 percent, spring number of reciprocal exchange partner universities has break and summer study abroad programs increased by 40 percent. Heidkamp earned her Ph.D. have increased by 40 percent and the number and M.A. at the University of Connecticut and her B.A. of reciprocal exchange partner universities has at Sonoma State University. increased by 40 percent. Heidkamp earned her
SCSU student-athletes excelled in the classroom during the fall 2013 semester. As a group, the Owls’ 392 student-athletes combined to record a semester grade point average of 3.04, the best mark in school history. Eleven of the Owls’ 19 programs achieved a team grade point average of 3.0 or higher during the fall semester. The women’s cross country team posted a 3.6 team GPA to lead all programs, while the men’s swimming and diving team’s 3.03 GPA was tops among men’s squads in the fall. Iindividually, 46 percent of Southern’s student-athletes achieved a semester grade point average of at least a 3.0. A total of 25 percent of student-athletes registered a semester GPA of 3.5 or higher, with five student-athletes scoring a perfect 4.0 GPA during the semester. The Center for Communication Disorders — Southern’s speech, language and hearing clinic — is offering free comprehensive speech-language evaluations and audiological (hearing) evaluations to SCSU
faculty, staff and students and their immediate families. The center works with a wide array of children and adults with a variety of speech, language and hearing needs. Evaluations take about two hours in length and are done at the center in Davis Hall. Contact the center at (203) 392-5955 for more information or to schedule an appointment. The 2013 SCSU Campus Security and Fire Safety Report – in compliance with the Jeanne Clery Act -- is available both online and in hard copy. The report contains important university crime statistics, suggestions on how members of the campus community can stay safe and information about university resources related to safety and security. A printed copy of the report is available at the university Police Department, located at 10 Wintergreen Ave. Additional copies may be found at the information desk in the Adanti Student Center. To request a copy via snail mail, call the univerity Police Department at (203) 392-5375. The report is online at www. SouthernCT.edu/universitypolice/campuscrimereport/
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Fight-or-Flight Response ‘Silent’ Signs of Hypertension Found in Young, Healthy Black Women
'Exercise by AfricanAmerican women at a young age could prevent, or at least delay, the start of hypertension.' Peter Latchman, assistant professor of exercise science In a Southern neurophysiology lab, Peter Latchman measures the pulse wave velocity of graduate assistant, Whitley Roper, while graduate assistant, Pam Winkler, watches the results on a computer screen.
T HE
HIGHER PREVALENCE OF HYPERTENSION among African-American women compared with white women is well documented — with diet and quality of health care often identified as likely culprits. While these factors almost certainly contribute to that health disparity, a new Southern study shows evidence of a deeper, physiological factor that appears to be at least partially responsible for the difference. The study, led by Peter Latchman, assistant professor of exercise science, looks at a number of factors, including the baroreflex, which is responsible for the body’s ability to stabilize blood pressure when elevated. Among young, sedentary women with normal blood pressure readings, the baroreflex appears to be generally less sensitive in black women than in their white peers. Conversely, sympathetic sensitivity — commonly known as the “fight-or-flight” response (which raises blood pressure) — is greater among the black women. The study shows that their scores are almost twice as high as white women on this aspect of the testing. “What we found is that the body’s ability to regulate a stable blood pressure was not as strong in young AfricanAmerican women as it was in young white women,” Latchman says. “In effect, these young black women were already showing very early signs of prehypertension that were not yet measurable with the standard sphygmomanometer [blood pressure machine].” The research compares a group of nearly two dozen healthy white women of college age with an almost identical number of healthy black women of the same age. The women are also comparably healthy and have a similar body mass index. While the participants do not have hypertension based on traditional measuring devices, all are living a generally sedentary lifestyle in terms of exercise. The study was published in the August 2013 edition of the journal, “Clinical Autonomic Research.” Latchman was joined in the research by Robert Axtell, graduate coordinator of the SCSU Exercise Science Department; Jason Pereira, who was then an SCSU graduate fellow; Gregory Gates of Albert Einstein College of Medicine at Yeshiva University in the Bronx; Matthew Bartels of the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine of Columbia University; and Ronald Edmond De Meersman of the College of Medicine at Alfaisal University in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Latchman hopes the research will enable scientists and
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the medical community to conduct related studies and help develop earlier methods of controlling blood pressure in African-American women — before a diagnosis of hypertension or prehypertension. “The mechanisms explaining these differences remain elusive, but future studies examining baroreflex under stressful conditions may provide additional insight into these different responses,” he says. In fact, Latchman already has begun exploring the role of exercise in preventing these very early signs of prehypertension in young black women. That research, while still underway, shows that young black women who engage in regular physical activity do not exhibit these same signs, which can set the stage for prehypertension or hypertension.
In effect, their results are the same as white women who also are regularly physically active. “That would seem to indicate that exercise by AfricanAmerican women at a young age could prevent, or at least delay, the start of hypertension,” he says. “While this is also true among young white women, it is even more crucial among young black women because of a predisposition toward high blood pressure.” Latchman adds that this test helps to shed new light on the onset of hypertension, especially among AfricanAmerican women. He said he is unaware of any other research comparing the baroreflex and sympathetic sensitivity of young black and white women who have normal blood pressure readings.
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SouthernProfiles
From Nigeria to New Haven:
Memoir Recounts a Remarkable Journey WHEN
ONE IS ON A JOURNEY, Kalu Ogbaa says, one pays attention. His chronicle of his journey through life – the recently published “Carrying My Father’s Torch: A Memoir” – reveals the SCSU English professor’s attentiveness to detail as well as to the big picture, as he tells the story of his odyssey from a small village in Nigeria to his current life as a university professor in America. Referring to the title of the book, Ogbaa says the nature of the symbolic torch is threefold: maintaining family tradition, avoiding bringing any disgrace to the family and always striving to achieve in whatever one does. The book fleshes out these three central values as it follows Ogbaa from Umuchiakuma to New Haven. Along the way he lived through poverty, civil war, ethnic violence and “postcolonial malaise” in his homeland, while also struggling with his relationship to his father, whom he calls “both an exacting taskmaster and a beloved ideal.” Ogbaa explains that he wrote this book largely because he wants to tell the stories of his life so that they live on after he is gone. He has 11 children, nine of whom are in America, and four grandchildren. One son died in 2009. He wanted his children to know more about him and about their heritage, but he intended to present an example to other readers as well. “I left my native land to come [to
America],” he says. “I am getting old. Part of my family is in Nigeria and part in this country. Every achievement I have made can encourage not only my family members to strive and succeed in what they do, but also others who read the book. They can adapt the lessons from the book to their own lives.” Indeed, Ogbaa hopes that the book will be particularly helpful to rapidly Americanized immigrants. He intends for it to be instructive to other young people with backgrounds in poverty, to show them that it is possible -- with hard work and struggle -- to become successful in life. “My Christian upbringing emphasized moral living and hard work,” he says. “My background challenges me to work harder and achieve more.” In spite of having grown up in poverty and living through the devastating Nigeria-Biafra War, Ogbaa says the most difficult challenges in his life have come from very personal losses. His divorce from his first wife affected him deeply, and the accidental death of his son, Ndubuisi, in 2009 was very painful. “It was the worst trauma I’ve ever been through,” he says. Yet, Ogbaa adds, “even though he’s not here with me, his memory is with me because he was very close to me. To have had him for the years I did should make me happy that I had him for as long as I did. As a Christian, you learn to live with the happy and not so happy events.” Ogbaa says that writing a book as personal as a memoir can be difficult. “You begin to relive painful events that you went through in the past,” he says. “You recall the love and the lessons of life and the sense of direction you received from your parents and friends who
The author (behind his father), before leaving home for school. Nigeria, 1958.
KALU OGBAA
are now deceased.” Ogbaa has kept diaries for years, so while he had to research some areas in preparation for writing the memoir, he was also able to go back to the diaries. “When you have the kinds of experiences I have had, the experience is always internalized,” he says, “so you can call it up and give it a form in writing.” A member of the Southern faculty since 1992, Ogbaa earned his B.A. at the University of Nigeria, his M.A. at The Ohio State University and his Ph.D. at the University of Texas at Austin. His areas of specialization include African literature, African-American literature and modern poetry. He has published several books about Igbo people, Nigerians and Africans. Ogbaa believes he has passed the torch to his children. He speaks with pride of the achievements of his oldest son, Michael, a bank manager in Nigeria; his second oldest son, Ikenna, a medical director at a pharmaceutical company; and his oldest daughter, Nneka, a medical doctor. When he gave the book to his elder son, he autographed it and wrote the message: “The torch is now passed on to you.”
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Breaking the Rules
17th Century Grammatical Devices Slowly Changing
DON’T END A SENTENCE WITH A PREPOSITION. And don’t you dare split your infinitives. These and other grammatical rules were probably drilled into your head as a child by your English teachers, at least one of them. Sure, you might be able to get away with breaking the rules a bit in a science report. Even a social studies teacher might let it slide. But the following sentences were likely to get you some “red ink” on your English composition essay: Nobody knew where the marchers were from. That is what it was all about. We are planning to gradually improve our grades. They decided to fully implement the system. Ending sentences with a preposition was a no-no. And splitting an infinitive – generally by putting an adverb in between “to” and a verb -- was frowned upon, at best. But why? Most students – even those who failed to remember or understand these rules – just accepted them as “grammatical” gospel. But where did these rules originate? To be blunt: Who said we can’t end a sentence in a preposition or split an infinitive? Dina Brun, an adjunct faculty member at Southern who teaches Introduction to Linguistics, says the history of these rules dates back to the 17th century. She says Joshua Poole, a grammarian and rhetorician, and John Dryden, a literary writer and poet, have largely been credited with the preposition rule. Dryden was also associated with the split infinitive rule. “These two individuals, and others, wanted to make English more like Latin,” Brun says. “In Latin, an infinitive is a single word, so there is no split.”
For example, she points to the Latin word, clamare, which means to claim, and habere, which means to have. The “re” part of the word is the English equivalent of “to.” Brun says the rules have been getting much more relaxed in recent years. “It’s been a gradual process throughout the 20th century to the point where today, ending a sentence with a preposition is pretty much accepted,” he says. “The same is true of the split infinitive.”
And Brun says that is not necessarily a bad thing. She points out that when sentences are constructed intentionally to avoid ending in a preposition, some awkward constructions may result. For example: This is the book I told you about. To comply with the old rule, it would need to be changed to something like: This is the book about which I told you. The same is true of abiding slavishly to the “no split infinitives” rule. For example: We need your help to fully implement the process. That would have to be changed to: We need your help to implement fully the process. Brun says that before the 17th century, there really was no such rule. She notes that even great literary geniuses, such as Shakespeare, ended sentences with prepositions. Other language rules also are beginning to change. For example, Brun notes that the differentiation between “who” and “whom” is beginning to wane. She says that pe ople are b eg inning to drop “whom” and replace it with “who.”
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Dina Brun, an adjunct faculty member in the World Languages and Literatures Department, teaches a class in linguistics.
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Revisiting a New Haven Landmark AN EXHIBIT PRODUCED by a Southern art faculty member that displays the rich history and societal impact of the Winchester rifle factory -- including strikes, art and music in the workplace – is on display at the Gateway Community College Art Gallery in downtown New Haven. The exhibit, “Our Community at Winchester: An Elm City Story,” was designed and produced by Jeanne Criscola. It was organized by the Greater New Haven Labor History Association (GNHLA) and is on display until March 21. The “Winchester” name was implemented in 1866 when Oliver Winchester restructured the New Haven Arms Co. and changed its name to the Winchester Repeating Arms Co. (WRAC), which was once the largest employer in New Haven. But business in the Elm City drastically declined after 1965, when Winchester decided to move its central production line to Illinois due to the rising cost of skilled labor. It became progressively unprofitable for the company to produce the classic Winchester designs. After a machinists’ strike in the late 1970s, the Winchester plant was sold to U.S. Repeating Arms Company Inc., which is the present-day business name of the WRAC. Criscola says she was intrigued by this exhibit project primarily because it is a story about the city that reached her on a personal level, as she attended elementary school near Winchester in New Haven. “I got to relive the impact Winchester had on the city, its politics, and the people,” Criscola says. “The repercussions were widespread and devastating and are still here.” In 2006, the New Haven plant closed. The 75-acre old factory complex is now the site of Science Park, which was created in 1981 by Yale University, the city of New Haven and the Olin Corp. The idea behind the creation of Science Park was to use and redevelop the buildings and surrounding areas where the former factory was located. The historical project was brought to Criscola’s attention
Jeanne Criscola, an adjunct faculty member at Southern, stands in front of her exhibit at the Gateway Community College Art Gallery. Photo courtesy of Jeanne Criscola.
by archivist and editor of the GNHLHA Joan Cavanagh, “whom I had worked with a few years earlier on an Ethnic Heritage Center exhibition, ‘An Ethic History of New Haven,’” says the artist and designer. “My involvement began in 2011 with sketches and mockups of a few panels to facilitate the project’s funding.” Criscola says she was able to review various original documents, photographs and objects, which were organized by Cavanagh, before starting her design process for the exhibit. “My design approach was to create a timeline narrative with the various printed items and treat them as objects in a larger-than-life size scale. To do this meant first preserving the integrity of the archive by digitizing and re-mastering it at a significant size to produce an exhibition of them,” Criscola says. Then, Criscola says she took into consideration the typographic elements that were needed to provide the right
Owls Flourish in the Pool
The men’s swimming and diving team celebrates its fourth straight NE-10 title.
THE SOUTHERN
MEN’S AND WOMEN’S
SWIMMING and diving programs saved some of their top performances of the 2013-14 campaign for the postseason. The Owls took part in two conference championship events during February and enjoyed success at both. Southern hosted the Northeast-10 (NE-10) Conference Championship from Feb. 5 to 8. At that competition, the men’s program won its fourth consecutive NE-10 title and 10th in 11 years. The women’s program finished as the runner-up at the event, marking the 11th straight finish in either first or second. “Winning has never felt so good,” said men’s senior co-captain Kyle Pietro. “To bring the trophy back home here four years in a row (feels great).” The Owls trounced the rest the competition, winning by nearly 175 points. For the second year in a row, Raymond
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Cswerko was named the Most Outstanding Performer of the Championship on the men’s side. The junior shattered the conference records in the 400-yard intermediate medley, finishing first with a time of 3:53.64 (the previous mark had been 4:00.58), and in the 100-yard breaststroke with a time of 54.81, which also reset the pool record at SCSU’s Hutchinson Natatorium. During the following evening, the NE-10 and pool records for the men’s 200-yard breaststroke fell when he touched the wall in 1:59.15. All three of the record-setting times were among the top six performances in Division II this season. Cswerko was also a part of four NE-10 record-setting relays, as Southern set new benchmarks in the 200-yard freestyle relay (1:23.34), the 400-yard freestyle relay (3:05.59), the 200-yard medley relay (1:31.08) and the 400-yard medley relay (3:20.61) en route to the conference title.
“voice” for the exhibit. Once the order of the elements was established, the layout of each panel was uniquely constructed. With a total of 40 panels in the exhibit, the focus of each one was based on the imagery and flow of the panels, together, in the timeline. Criscola says her participation in the project has been multi-faceted, including work with the creative direction, design, production and post-production. Criscola has been an adjunct faculty member in the Art Department at Southern since 2012, and has taught graphic design and processing, an open-source computer program for drawing and visualizing with codes for design, media art and electronic arts. For additional information, visit the exhibit at Gateway Community College, or go online at www.criscoladesign.com or www.laborhistory.org.
As a result of his individual efforts, Cswerko was also named as the College Swimming.com Men’s Division II Swimmer of the Week, as well as the ECAC Division II Men’s Swimmer of the Week and the NE-10 Conference Men’s Swimmer of the Week. The women’s program, competing with just 15 participants, gave a valiant effort before being overtaken by a deeper Assumption squad. But the quality of the Owls’ performances outweighed the quantity of performers. Senior Libby Hess captured first place finishes in both the 100-yard and 200-yard breaststroke to lead the individual efforts. She also swam a leg of the winning 400-yard medley relay. “I’m definitely proud of our entire team,” said senior co-captain Anna Pleban, who was part of two NE-10 champion relays in the 400-yard medley relay and the 400yard freestyle relay. “Everyone poured their hearts into their races. I am so proud as a senior, as a captain. I think it made my NE-10’s just knowing that everyone gave their all.” The Owls braved through another winter storm to compete during the following week in the Metropolitan Championships at Rutgers University. This annual competition features Division II and Division III programs from across New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. At that competition, the women’s program placed fourth, while the men’s program was fifth. Junior Jess Renzo earned the Stetz Award as the women’s diver of the meet, while diving coach Jesse Cyr was selected as the Metropolitan Conference Diving Coach of the Year. The Owls wrap up their season at the NCAA Championships in Cleveland beginning March 12. Cswerko will look to repeat his All-America performance from a year ago, while Renzo and fellow diver Laura Richard both qualified for the second consecutive year.
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DOWNTOWN CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1. was the need for Southern to become a more active and integral part of the New Haven community,” Papazian says. “A downtown location is a natural progression, given our historical connection to the Elm City, New Haven’s standing as a vibrant cultural and economic center, and our university’s longstanding commitment to civic engagement and educational partnerships with city schools.” The venue will help to further establish Southern as both a community resource and an active partner in town-gown initiatives, says Robert Stamp, vice president for insititutional advancement. Development staff will be on site during the workweek and on weekends as required. The downtown presence will provide a convenient, centralized location to meet with and cultivate potential donors and corporate sponsors, Stamp says. And these new ties with the corporate sector will lead to enhanced opportunities for community partnerships and financial support for scholarships and academic programming, he says.
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LAUNCH CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1. mentor, sports, activities or on-campus living,” Haakonsen adds. “I want to see every incoming student connected to Southern in a direct and personal way as they transition into our community.” During the 2012-13 school year, 723,576 individuals used the Common App, according to the association’s website. Most of those were generated within the United States — from 47 states and the Washington, D.C. — though a small number were from outside the nation. That total represents a 9.2-percent increase from the previous year. During the four-year period from 2008-09 to 2012-13, an increase of 74.9 percent has been recorded. Regionally, New England schools generated the highest number of applicants in America with 5.4 per individual. Schools in other U.S. regions recorded averages ranging from 3.6 to 5.2 a person.
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Career Services The following events are presented by the Office of Career Services. For information about any of these events, call (203) 392-6536 or visit careers.southernct.edu. MAR 12 • RESUMANIA Wintergreen Lobby. 2- 4 p.m. MAR 26 • RESUMANIA Wintergreen Lobby. 2:30-5:30 p.m. APR 2 • CAREER FAIR Meet prospective employers and discover career possibilities. Dress like you mean business! Adanti Student Center Ballroom. 1-4 p.m. Conferences & Colloquia MAR 28 & 29 • 24TH ANNUAL NORTHEAST REGIONAL CONFERENCE ON AUTISM The conference, “Bridging Communities: Strategies for Success,” will feature a keynote by Dr. Temple Grandin, internationally respected autism expert and author of “The Autistic Brain.” Adanti Student Center. Registration fees vary. For more information or to register, visit www. autismconnecticut.org/annual-conference APR 11-12 • 21ST ANNUAL WOMEN’S STUDIES CONFERENCE “Ecology, Spirituality, Sustainability: Feminist and Indigenous Interventions.” Keynote speakers: Majora Carter — visionary, urban revitalization strategist and public radio host —- and Dr. Hyun Kyung Chung — Korean eco-feminist and theologian and associate professor of ecumenical studies at Union Theological Seminary in New York. (203) 392-6133.
Dates to Remember MAR 16-23 • Spring recess Films Programs Council will present the following Movie Nights in the Adanti Student Center Theater from 8-10 p.m. Come see a movie and enjoy free snacks! Call (203) 392-5511 for more information. MAR 11 • “HUNGER GAMES 2: CATCHING FIRE MAR 28 • “HOME FRONT” APR 1 • “CAPTAIN PHILLIPS” APR 8 • “HUNGER GAMES: RIDE ALONG” Lectures MAR 11 • “READING AS INTERPRETATION: JOHN DONNE’S USE OF THE TARGUM – THE ARAMAIC TRANSLATION OF THE HEBREW BIBLE” Professor Chanita Goodblatt of Ben-Gurion University of the Negev. Engleman B121. 3:25-4:25 p.m. Free. (203) 392- 6642.
Charles Atkins will deliver the annual Aavo Rakfeldt lecture.
APR 1 • “THE CO-OCCURRING MATRIx: MOvING FORWARD WITH INTEGRATED ASSESSMENT AND TREATMENT” Charles Atkins, M.D., will deliver the annual Aavo Rakfeldt Memorial Lecture. Atkins is a board-certified psychiatrist, published author, clinical trainer and medical director of Community Mental Health Affiliates (CMHA). He has published books on bipolar disorder and Alzheimer’s disease. Adanti Student Center Theater. 5 p.m. Free. Call (203) 392-6565. Music & Dance MAR 22 • U.S. ARMY FIELD BAND JAZZ AMBASSADORS Join the official touring big band of the United States Army for a lively evening concert. Tickets are free but are required for admission (limit four). Lyman Center 7 p.m. (Doors for seating open at 6:30 p.m. Seats will be released to nonticket holders 15 minutes prior to concert start time.) (203) 392-6154. MAR 29 • PIECES OF A DREAM Kick it old school with a jazz concert packed with
Dr. Temple Grandin to keynote conference on autism.
Sports 8-9 p.m. (203) 392-8971.
Photo: Rosalie Winard
something for everyone. Lyman Center. 8 p.m. Tickets: $33 general public, $28 jazz series. (203) 392-6154 or Tickets. Southernct.edu. APR 11 • AN EvENING OF JAZZ WITH CANDY DULFER Get ready to enjoy a special concert with this international jazz superstar. Lyman Center. 8 p.m. Tickets: $33 general public; $28 jazz series, $30 faculty/staff, SCSU student guests (limit two); $18 SCSU students with valid ID (limit one). (203) 392-6154 or Tickets.Southernct.edu. APR 12 • SPRINGFEST 2014 Featuring IAMSU and Sage the Gemini. Outside, on the campus mall. 5 p.m. (entertainment: 5-6 p.m.; IAMSA: 6-6:30 p.m.; Sage the Gemini: 6:30-7 p.m. (203) 392-6154.
Open House
APR 7 • GRADUATE OPEN HOUSE The School of Graduate Studies will hold its spring open house, focusing on the university’s business, computer science and applied physics graduate programs. To learn more, join us at Southern on the Green (900 Chapel St., 10th floor) in downtown New Haven! 5-7:30 p.m. (203) 392-5240.
Potpourri
MAR 31 • OPEN MIC NIGHT Come out and show your talent! Snacks will be provided. Farnham Programming Space. 7-11 p.m. (203) 392-5870. APR 3 • HERITAGE BALL Black tie gala, cultural performances, awards, dinner and party. Adanti Student Center Ballroom. 6 p.m.-1 a.m. Sponsored by Black Student Union. Tickets available for purchase at the Lyman Center Box Office. Tickets: $10 students, $15 outside guests. (203) 392-6154. APR 5 • COLIN MOCHRIE AND BRAD SHERWOOD Stars from the Emmy-nominated show “Whose Line Is It Anyway?” team up to present an evening of extraordinary improvisational comedy. Colin and Brad’s “Two Man Group” show is a funny, interactive and completely improvised tour de force. Lyman Center. 8 p.m. Tickets: $35 general public, $30 FUN4 pack when four or more tickets are purchased. (203) 3926154 or Tickets.Southernct.edu. APR 9 • LAUGH OUT LOUD COMEDY NIGHT: NIKKI GLASER WITH SPECIAL GUEST See the star of “Nikki and Sara Live” on MTV and one of the hottest young comedians working today. Nikki has performed standup on “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno,” “Conan” and “Last Comic Standing.” Lyman Center. 8 p.m. (203) 392-6154 or Tickets.Southernct.edu.
MEN’S BASEBALL MAR 22 • Merrimack College. Noon. MAR 22 • Merrimack College. 3:30 p.m. MAR 23 • Assumption College Noon. MAR 23 • Assumption College. 3:30 p.m. MAR 26 • Adelphi University. Garden City, N.Y. 3:30 p.m. MAR 29 • Le Moyne College. Noon. MAR 29 • Le Moyne College. 3:30 p.m. MAR 30 • Le Moyne College. Noon. APR 1 • University of New Haven. 3:30 p.m. APR 5 • Saint Anselm College. Manchester, N.H. Noon. APR 5 • Saint Anselm College. Manchester, N.H. 3:30 p.m. APR 6 • Saint Michael’s College. Colchester, Vt. Noon. APR 6 • Saint Michael’s College. Colchester, Vt. 3:30 p.m. APR 9 • Adelphi University. Garden City, N.Y. 3:30 p.m. APR 12 • American International College. Springfield, Mass. Noon. APR 12 • American International College. Springfield, Mass. 3:30 p.m.APR 13 • American International College. Springfield, Mass. Noon. WOMEN’S SOFTBALL MAR 11 • Post University. 2:30 and 4:30 p.m. MAR 12 • Merrimack College. 2:30 and 4:30 p.m. MAR 15 • Dowling College. Noon and 2 p.m. MAR 18 • LIU Post. Brookville, N.Y. 1:30 and 3:30 p.m. MAR 20 • Queens College. Flushing, N.Y. 2:30 and 4:30 p.m. MAR 21 • Stonehill College. 2:30 and 4:30 p.m. MAR 23 • Bentley University. Noon and 2 p.m. MAR 25 • University of New Haven. West Haven, Conn. 3 and 5 p.m. MAR 27 • University of New Haven. West Haven, Conn. 3 and 5 p.m. MAR 30 • Dominican College. Noon and 2 p.m. APR 2 • Adelphi University. Garden City, N.Y. 3 and 5 p.m. APR 5 • Franklin Pierce University. Rindge, N.H. 1 and 3 p.m. APR 6 • Southern New Hampshire University. Manchester, N.H. Noon and 2 p.m. APR 8 • Adelphi University. 3 and 5 p.m. APR 10 • Assumption College. Worcester, Mass. 3 and 5 p.m. APR 12 • Saint Rose. Noon and 2 p.m. APR 13 • Saint Rose. Noon. WOMEN’S GYMNASTICS MAR 15 • University of Pennsylvania. Philadelphia, Penn. 1 p.m. MAR 22 • ECAC Championships. West Chester, Penn. 1 p.m. APR 11-13 • USAG Nationals Providence, R.I.
Workshops
MAR 12 • THE ART OF BEING ENOUGH: FREE YOGA NIGHT Join Denise Zack, RYT, for a cleansing and invigorating vinyasa flow yoga class. Bring your own mat, towel and water. Farnham Programming Space. 7-8:30 p.m. (203) 392-5475. APR 2 • COUNSELING SERvICES COACHING SERIES: LIFE GOALS BOOT CAMP In this workshop, we will focus on specific goal attainment and follow-through. Farnham Programming Space. 7-8:30 p.m. (203) 392-5475. APR 7 • FIT 4 FUN HIP HOP Come join Jesse Kroll for this fun hip hop dance class and learn choreography set to a popular hip hop song. Adanti Student Center Ballroom.
WHAT’S OPEN WHEN ALUMNI RELATIONS OFFICE Mon.-Fri. 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Wintergreen 108 D, (203) 392-6500. BOOKSTORE Adanti Student Center, street level. Call (203) 392-5270 for hours. BULEY LIBRARY Mon.-Thurs. 8 a.m.-11 p.m.; Fri. 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.; Sat. 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sun. 1-9 p.m. COMPUTER LABS Adanti Student Center 202: Mon.-Fri. 7 a.m.-11 p.m., Sat. 9 a.m.-6 p.m., Sun. 2-10 p.m. Buley Library 409 & 410: open with building Jennings Hall 130: open with building RECREATIONAL Recreation times and open swims may be preempted by athletic events. Moore Fieldhouse: Mon.-Fri. 6:30-9:15 p.m. Pelz Pool: Mon.-Thurs. 6:30-9:15 p.m. FOOD SERVICE Conn Hall: Mon.-Sun. 7 a.m.-midnight. Bagel Wagon: Mon.-Thurs. 7:30 a.m.-8 p.m.; Fri. 7:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Sat. & Sun. closed. North Campus: Sun.-Thurs. 3-10 p.m.; Fri. & Sat. closed. Davis Hall Kiosk: Mon.-Thurs. 8 a.m.-8 p.m.; Fri. 8 a.m.-2 p.m.; Sat. & Sun. closed. STUDENT CENTER Building: Mon.-Fri. 7 a.m.-11 p.m.; Sat. 8 a.m.5:30 p.m.; Sun. 2-10 p.m. Dunkin’ Donuts: Mon.-Thurs. 7 a.m.-8 p.m.; Fri. 7 a.m.-7 p.m.; Sat. 8 a.m.-3 p.m.; Sun. closed. Food Court: Mon.-Thurs. 7:30 a.m.-8 p.m; Fri. 10:30 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sat. and Sun. closed. Fitness Center: Mon.-Thurs. 7 a.m.-10 p.m., Fri. 7 a.m.-8 p.m., Sat. 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m.; Sun. 2-7 p.m. GRANOFF HEALTH CENTER Mon.-Fri. 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. LYMAN CENTER BOX OFFICE Mon.-Fri. 11 a.m.-5 p.m. (when the university is open). Box office: (203) 392-6154.
Jazz it up with Candy Dulfer — April 11 at Lyman.
WOMEN’S LACROSSE MAR 11 • University of New Haven. 7 p.m. MAR 15 • Southern New Hampshire University. Manchester, N.H. 1 p.m. MAR 17 • Saint Michael’s College. 3 p.m. MAR 19 • Adelphi University. Garden City, N.Y. 7 p.m. MAR 22 • University of Bridgeport. Bridgeport, Conn. 1 p.m. MAR 25 • Post University. 7 p.m. MAR 29 • Franklin Pierce University. Rindge, N.H. 2 p.m. APR 2 • Assumption College. Worcester, Mass. 7 p.m. APR 5 • Bentley University. Noon. APR 9 • Stonehill College. North Easton, Mass. 7 p.m.
Photo: John Secoges
Laugh out loud with Nikki Glaser — April 9 at Lyman.
An evening at Lyman with Pieces of a Dream — March 29.
CALENDAR ON THE WEB! Visit our website for updates on Events@Southern: SouthernCT.edu SouthernLife • MARCH 2014
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A PHOTO ESSAY BY ISABEL CHENOWETH
Barcelona
SouthernFocus SCSU’s Choir performs at three cathedrals
Over New Year’s week, SCSU’s choir, directed by Terese Gemme, traveled to Barcelona, Spain. The choir performed in several beautiful churches in Manresa and Barcelona to packed audiences, including an informal concert in Sagrada Familia, architect Antoni Gaudi’s masterpeice. The choir worked with guest conductor Craig Hella-Johnson and other choirs from Spain, Texas, and Wisconsin; explored Barcelona’s Gothic Quarter; enjoyed a New Year’s Eve dinner and celebration together; visited Montserrat; and even experienced sunrise over the Mediterranean Sea. The incredible music, Andulsian culture and natural beauty of Spain made for an unforgettable week!
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