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NEWS:

WSU and FSU Announce
Collaborative Nursing Program


WSU Receives Grant to
Support Writing Assessment

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NOTEWORTHY:


Lisa Krissoff Boehm (Urban Studies) and Steven H. Corey (Urban Studies) spoke at a roundtable about their book, The American Urban Reader: History and Theory at the Social Science History Association Annual Meeting in Boston on November 18. Boehm and Corey were invited by the SSHA's program committee to organize the session. Lizabeth Cohen, interim dean of the Schlesinger Library, and Jon Teaford, Department of History, Emeritus, Purdue University, and Corey Dolgon, director of Service Learning, Stonehill College, also spoke on the panel. Cohen, Teaford, and Dolgon have their work featured within the reader and offered comments and insights on the book project.



Bruce Cohen (History) has published a book review of AFSCME's Philadelphia Story by Francis Ryan in the December 2011 issue of the Journal of American History.



William F. O'Brien (Business Administration and Economics) presented a paper titled "If At First You Don't Succeed, Try, Try Again: Massachusetts Votes on Tax Policy Initiatives" on November 6 in Philadelphia, Penn., at the 38th Annual Meeting of the Northeast Business & Economics Association (NBEA). In the paper O'Brien empirically estimated the socioeconomic determinants of nine Massachusetts state referendum votes on tax policy using data ranging from 1962 all the way up to two 2010 initiatives proposing to reduce the state sales tax to 3% and to eliminate the state sales tax on alcohol. O'Brien, who serves as secretary and webmaster of the NBEA, will co-chair the 39th annual meeting of the NBEA to be held at Port Jefferson, Long Island, New York from October 23-25, 2012.

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AROUND CAMPUS:

TWA Students Select Journalist as the Next Courageous Conversations Speaker
By Chelsea Tougas '12

In keeping with the theme "Courage to Change: America's Dilemma," student members of Third World Alliance are working closely with the Multicultural Affairs Office to bring Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Jose Antonio Vargas to campus on Thursday, March 15 for the 5th annual "Courageous Conversations" lecture. In his lecture, titled "Illegal versus Undocumented: My Life as an Undocumented Immigrant," Vargas, who was born in the Philippines and came to the U.S. when he was 12, will share how he found out he was undocumented and how he had to hide his identity his entire adult life to succeed in the field of journalism.

In early October 2011, TWA brought Central American environmentalist Julio Sanchez and Latin culture expert Patricia Alvarado Núñez to speak in recognition of Latin Heritage Month. Also this semester, the Worcester area's ALANA (African American, Latino/a, Asian American, and Native American) student community came together for a barbecue at Anna Maria College. All 12 colleges and universities in and around Worcester participated and more than 300 student leaders attended, including members of TWA. The purpose was to bring in other multicultural organizations together and develop a network of people to share and learn new ideas. TWA also worked with Chartwells on a "Flavors of the World" dinner in the Lancer Loft Cafe in November.

Leadership training is a key role for faculty and staff advisors to Third World Alliance. Each year, new TWA leaders attend a training session on leadership, education, identity and economic issues. Sidney Buxton, Jr., a faculty advisor, brings the student leaders together to form a committee that chooses a theme for the following academic year that is based on their learning and growth in the present year. The purpose of developing themes is to promote diversity (pluralism), unity, and change among the campus community. Isaac Tesfay, academic coordinator for Upward Bound, and Marcela Uribe-Jennings, assistant dean/director of Multicultural Affairs, present theme ideas to the committee. Geovanna Diaz, president for TWA, has been working with Laxmi Bissoondial, academic coordinator for the Alternatives for Individual Development Program, to implement this academic year's activities.




Holiday Auction and Dinner Raises
Scholarship Funds for Students

Charlie Rose, senior vice president and dean of City Year, Inc., was the keynote speaker at the inaugural Holiday Dinner and Auction to support the McCarthy Coyle Wagner Scholarship for Community Activism. The event, held on Dec. 9 in the Blue Lounge, was sponsored by the Center for Service Learning and Civic Engagement. More than $3,600 was raised to support the scholarship and help Worcester State University students interested in community activism and improving civic life.

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ANNOUNCEMENTS:

Auditions for Dead Man's Cell Phone
Auditions will be held Tuesday, January 17 beginning at 6:00 p.m. in Fuller Theater (2nd Floor Admin Building) for the spring production, Dead Man's Cell Phone by Sarah Ruhl. In this imaginative and quirky comedy, the guy at the next table just bit the big one and his cell phone won't stop ringing. When Jean answers his phone, her fateful act dials her deeply into the dead man's mysterious business and his eccentric family -- not to mention trips to the afterlife and the black market. Needed: 2 men / 4 women. Readings will be from the script. Portions of the script (sides) are available in the Department of Visual and Performing Arts (LRC 325). Auditions are open to all; no experience necessary. Come try out. Rehearsals: Mon/Wed/Thu 6:00-9:00 Feb. 27- Mar 15; Mon/Wed/Thu/Fri Mar 26-Apr 13. Performances: Feb. 19-22. For more information contact Professor Adam Zahler -- azahler@worcester.edu.

Library Extends Hours
In response to student requests, as presented by SGA President Patrick Hare and others, President Barry M. Maloney has authorized the Library to extend their hours of operation this semester. The Library will be open until 12:00 midnight on the following days: Monday, Dec. 12; Tuesday, Dec. 13; Wednesday, Dec. 14; Thursday, Dec. 15; Sunday, Dec. 18; Monday, 19; Tuesday, Dec. 20; and Wednesday, Dec. 21. The Library will maintain its normal hours ? closing at 5:00 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 16 and Saturday, Dec. 17.

2012 Baseball Clinics
WSU will host four baseball clinics in 2012. The clinics cover the basics of hitting, throwing, pitching, and catching.

The 6th Annual 6-Sunday Baseball School Clinic runs from January 22 to February 26 for grades 1-12. Cost is $85 for 1 session and $150 for both 1 hour sessions.

The 17th Annual 3-Day Hitting Clinic runs on February 20, February 21, and February 22 for ages 8-18. Cost is $75.

The 4th Annual 1-Day Defensive Clinic runs on February 24 for ages 8-18. Cost is $40.

The 11th Annual 2-Day Pitchers and Catchers Clinic runs on April 17 and April 19 for ages 8-18. Cost is $60. For more information, please contact
Dr. Dirk Baker at dbaker1@worcester.edu or call 508-929-8852 and 774-230-3872.

Free Classes for 60+, Register on January 12
Worcester State University Intergenerational Urban Institute (IUI) will hold a mandatory Elder Pre-registration on January 12, from 12-1 p.m., in the Blue Lounge of the Student Center. Following the meeting, registration will be held from 1-3 p.m. in the Register's Office of the Administration Building. IUI offers classes that educate, engage, and energize elders. Classes will begin on January 17, and at no cost to Massachusetts residents age 60 and over. For more information or questions, please call 508-929-8900 or visit our website www.worcester.edu/iui.

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WSU IN THE NEWS:

Worcester State memorial honors memory of a life lost
Telegram & Gazette 12/8/11
John Dunn of Millbury raised money for this granite memorial to his sister at Worcester State University.


An Unlikely Road to the White House
WGBH.com 12/8/11
BJ Hill '09 was interviewed on WGBH Callie Crossley show about his cross-country trek gathering thoughts from everyday Americans to deliver to President Obama.


Medical Memos
Telegram & Gazette 12/8/11
Adults seeking hearing health care have a new resource in the Worcester State University Speech-Language-Hearing Center thanks to a...

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