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NEWS:

Worcester State Theatre to present
Sarah Ruhl's Dead Man's Cell Phone


April 10 WSU Event to Celebrate Service
and President's Honor Roll Designation


WSU to host "Navigating the Gap:
Crises in Urban Education" Conference

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NOTEWORTHY:

Rodney Oudan (Business and Economics) recently had a paper titled "Market Orientation "Transforming Trade and Firm Performance," published in the International Journal of Marketing Studies (IJMS) Vol. 4, No 2, a double-blind peer-reviewed journal. The paper examines the role of market orientation on trade and firm performance and provides a conceptual framework for research developed by the author. The framework proposed incorporates some significant components of that developed by Kohli and Jaworski et al. The hypothesized interrelationships are supported by previous research and logical reasoning. The paper argues that market orientation is positively related to business performance and output which can result in expanded markets and trade. The implications of this study for future research include the findings that market orientation is a reliable construct which has now become a necessary strategic direction for change in organizations and institutions.



Amaryllis Siniossoglou (Visual & Performing Arts) has been invited to exhibit her artwork at Kouros Gallery, New York, NY for the show "The Other Greece," an exhibition for the benefit of the Fulbright Foundation Greece - Scholarship Program. The show is under the auspices of the Consulate General of Greece in New York and will run from April 3, 2012 to April 28, 2012. An opening reception will take place on April 3 from 6:00-8:00 p.m. The show will be accompanied by two cultural events with the collaboration of Columbia and Fairfield Universities at Kouros Gallery: a reading from the Norton anthology of Greek poets organized by Columbia University's Professor Karen Van Dyck (April 14, 4:00 - 7:00 pm) and a lecture on the Caryatids by Fairfield University's Professor Katherine Schwab (April 17th, 6:00 - 8:00 pm). For more information: KOUROS GALLERY, 23 East 73rd Street, New York, NY 10021 tel. 212-288-5888.



Karl R. Wurst (Computer Science) helped to organize and run three sessions on Teaching Open Source at the Technical Symposium on Computer Science Education held on February 29 - March 3, 2012 in Raleigh, NC. The first was a full-day pre-conference symposium run in the "unconference" style where faculty developed sessions on the fly to discuss topics and issues from their own practice. The second was a Birds-of-a-Feather session for faculty who are teaching participation in open source communities to network and share information. The third was a workshop entitled "Welcome to Makerland: A first cultural immersion into open source communities," which provided interested faculty with a chance to experience the tools, techniques, processes and cultural norms of the open source world. He organized the sessions with Mel Chua (Purdue University), Sebastian Dziallas (Franklin W. Olin College of Engineering), Heidi Ellis (Western New England University), and Gregory Hislop (Drexel University).

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AROUND CAMPUS:

Alternative Spring Break Gives WSU
Students a New Perspective on Global Culture
By Chelsea Tougas '12

Twelve students spent two nights of their spring break at Heifer International's Overlook Farm in Rutland learning about the interconnectedness of the global food chain and the daily struggles of people living in poverty, according to Center for Service Learning and Civic Engagement Director Dr. Mark Wagner. This inaugural alternative spring break program was meant to "connect knowledge to experience," he said.

As part of the farm's Global Gateway program, the students, Wagner and Intensive English Language Institute Instructor Catherine Goodwin received some rice, vegetables and eggs upon arrival and then had to build a fire to cook a meal. They slept in simple housing during their stay.

The students experienced other cultures and perspectives through different educational outlets. One activity featured a huge tarp that was painted with all the world's countries. The students had to guess what countries had the most consumption and what countries had the most population. This activity "opened the students eyes to the world's consumption and how unequally it is spread out," Goodwin said.

Students focused their time in the farm's Global Village. The village was made up of replicas of homes in countries around the globe such as China, Peru, Kenya, Poland, Tibet and the Appalachian region of the U.S. Each home featured historical and educational items such as clothing, posters, and artifacts that clearly represented each culture. There were people inside each house who spoke about that country's agriculture, resources, how they farmed, and how they used animals as a food source. The group participated in daily farm chores such as cleaning out the chicken coops and shoveling hay.

At the Tibetan home, the group made a traditional meal called Zamba, an oatmeal-like dish. They also slept in this home, which had a concrete floor and just a yak rug to sleep on. This helped everyone gain a deeper understanding of sustainable agriculture and what life would be like in another country, Wagner explained.

"Together we learned about how important it is to share the gifts that we as Americans are more fortunate to have," said Katrina Marshall '15, a psychology major. "We also learned about the Heifer program, which is focused on helping communities to grow together and empower themselves through region-specific methods."

The overall experience was "really fun and very educational," she said. "It was really nice to get away from the rush of modern day life, and go out and experience farming. It was a rare opportunity to connect with nature and lead a better, cleaner and less harmful life."

Wagner said he hopes to make the farm an annual spring break trip. To learn more about the farm, visit www.heifer.org.


WSU Theatre Announces
Performances for 2012-2013 Season

Worcester State Theatre and the Department of Visual & Performing Arts are pleased to announce the plays for the 2012/2013 season.

First up will be "Angels in America: the Millennium Approaches" by Tony Kushner. November 15-18, 2012. Part one of Kushner's epic masterpiece about AIDS, American culture and politics, "Angels in America: the Millennium Approaches" was honored with the 1993 Pulitzer Prize along with the Drama Desk Award and the Tony Award. Worcester State Theatre's production will be staged as part of the Fall 2012 Theme Semester, Contagion: How Things and Ideas Spread and Evolve.

Next up will be Peter Sinn Nachtrieb's delightful smart comedy, "boom," February 21-24, 2013. In "boom," a journalism student at a university answers an ad that promises "Sex to change the course of the world" and finds herself in the underground lab of a grad student who is predicting the end of the world. As a docent from the future controls the scene, we see the fate of the human race played out between two offbeat characters.

The season will conclude in April with a play created by the faculty and students of Worcester State, April 18-21, 2013. This devised piece, with the working title "War Children" was inspired by the visit of Emmanuel Jal to campus last fall, and will explore the difficult world of children drawn into the national and international conflicts that ravage their countries. The initial work on a script will be done in a Special Topics course, TH 399 Devised Theatre, taught by Sam O'Connell, Fall of 2012, with the final script created out of rehearsals in the spring semester.


Have a Heart Auction Raises Over
$32k for Three Local Charities
By Chelsea Tougas '12

The Student Government Association (SGA) Auction Committee reports that the 21st Annual "Have a Heart" Auction to Benefit the Homeless and Children in Need has so far raised a record of more than $32,000 for Abby's House, Sherry's House and the Mustard Seed -- surpassing this year's goal of $30,000.

"We would like to thank the entire WSU community for helping to make the auction a success by donating items, and especially the those who attend the auction," said Auction Committee Co-Advisor and Residence Director of Wasylean Hall Josh Katz '06.

"All the students involved in the auction should be applauded for all their time and effort throughout the entire year -- the three co-chairs Trevor Sansoucy ('14), Erin Desmarais ('13) and Sarah Fulginiti ('12) in particular. They have been working on it since May of last year," he added.

The money raised at the March 30 auction will be combined with proceeds from fundraising events held throughout the year. The final amount will be shared by Abby's House, a shelter for homeless women and their children; Sherry's House, a home-away-from-home for children with cancer and their families to receive support financially, emotionally and educationally; and the Mustard Seed, a Catholic soup kitchen fully run by volunteers and donations.

Some of the auction items included Red Sox tickets and autographs, WSU classes, residence hall rooms, WSU parking and meal plans, massages, Celtics and Patriots autographs, hotel stays, winery tours, jewelry, and gift certificates to various Worcester attractions. The event also featured an interactive game called "head or tails," with the chance to win a 40-inch flat screen LCD TV. The game required a $10 heart pin, which was an easy way to donate and possibly win a great prize.

"I had an amazing experience last year, and this year was just as great," Fulginiti said. "The three chairs, two advisors and the auction committee worked very hard to make this event come together, and we were very optimistic about this year's turn out."

The Auction Committee will have a list of items that were passed over available soon to faculty, staff and students for bidding, Katz said.

To learn more about the three local charities that the auction proceeds will be donated to, please visit Abby's House, Sherry's House/Why Me, and Mustard Seed.


Students Awarded Tsongas Scholarship
at Massachusetts State House

Tesha Szczypinski '14 (left), a nursing major, attended the annual luncheon for recipients of the Paul E. Tsongas Scholarship with President Barry M. Maloney and her mother, Stacey Szczypinski. Timothy White '14, a chemistry major, is also a recipient of the Tsongas scholarship, but was unable to attend the luncheon.


20th Annual Battle of the Brains

Battle of the Brains, a fast-paced academic quiz show loosely based on the old College Bowl TV show, took place on March 28. Questions, posed by Tim Sullivan, assistant dean of Student Affairs and director of Student Activities and the Student Center, covered history, math, science, literature, geography, the arts, social sciences, sports and popular culture. Teams of students representing a various department, student organization, departmental organization or academic honor society participated. It was sponsored by the Student Events Committee in conjunction with the Student Activities Office. Photos by Erika Anderson '13.

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RESEARCH:

"Grandma's Tattoos"
Documentary and Panel Discussion

The Worcester State University Philosophy Department and the Armenian Youth Federation of Central Massachusetts will host a screening of "Grandma's Tattoos," followed by a panel discussion on Wednesday, April 18 at 7:45 p.m. in the Ghosh Science and Technology Building Room 102. Admission is free and open to the public.

The documentary, by Suzanne Khardalian, is about Armenian women and girls who, during the 1915 genocide, were taken as sexual slaves by the perpetrators and other groups and often sold repeatedly for some years through a slave-trading network that emerged. The title refers to the fact that owners would tattoo their names on the chests of these women, who after some time often had multiple names tattooed on them.

The panelists for the event include:

Dikran Kaligian, Ph.D.
managing editor, Armenian Review;

Khatchig Mouradian, Ph.D. Candidate
Strassler Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies; Clark University

Sara Brown, Ph.D. Student
Strassler Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies, Clark University;

Maureen McShane '14
Honors Program, WSU undergraduate

Amanda Hewitt '12
WSU undergraduate

This program is in conjunction with the Spring 2012 PH 251 Mass Violence Against Women sections taught by Professor Henry Theriault and the WSU Celebration of Scholarship and Creativity and is co-sponsored by the following WSU offices and programs: Office of the President, Office of the Provost, Dean's Office -- School of Education, Health, and Natural Sciences, Dean's Office -- School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Honors Program, Center for Teaching and Learning, Center for the Study of Human Rights, Women's Studies Program, Global Studies Program and Office of International Programs, along with the Worcester Aram Gomideh of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation, the Armenian National Committee of Central Massachusetts, and the National Association for Armenian Studies and Research.

Refreshments will be served. For more information, contact Henry Theriault at htheriault@worcester.edu or call 508-929-8612.

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ANNOUNCEMENTS:

Annual Employee Recognition Event
The annual Employee Recognition event, hosted by the Human Resources Office, will be held on May 9, at 3 p.m. in the Blue Lounge. This yearly event recognizes employee milestones and retirements and is open to the entire campus community. The Human Resources Office is in the process of putting together the program. A list is currently available of those who will be recognized at this year's event.

Visit wwww.worcester.edu/EmployeeRecognition for a PDF of the list. Please check the list for any errors and omissions. If you have changes to the list or would like to RSVP to the event, please contact Carol Faron at ext. 8666 or email at cfaron@worcester.edu.

Student Senate Fundraiser
The Student Senate is looking to raise money for their organization. They are selling fresh Krispy Kreme glazed doughnuts for $7 a dozen. This is payable by check to SATF, or cash. If you are a school department or not affiliated with the school, they will be delivered to you on Wednesday, April 11. They will also be selling single donuts and some limited dozens at their election tables Wednesday, April 11, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Student Center next to the Food Court. If you would like to place an order please email Kristy Levinson at klevinson@worcester.edu. Thanks for your support!

Tickets on Sale for April Production; April 19-22
Tickets are now on sale for "Dead Man's Cell Phone" by Sarah Ruhl, Worcester State Theatre's next production. Come support this remarkable cast: Christine Begin, Joe Aliberti, Tasha Matthews, Sara Penniman, Kelsey Govoni, and Matt Cunsolo. One of America's freshest and most highly regarded young playwrights, Sarah Ruhl, presents us with a quirky, thoughtful comedy tinged with magical realism. Dead Man's Cell Phone explores human identity and how we connect in the digital age. When the man at the next table refuses to answer his cell phone, Jean discovers he is dead. Taking the phone, she becomes his self-appointed secretary and sets out to heal the rifts in his family - but on the way, finds that the real transformation may be within her. Performances: April 19, 20, 21 at 8 p.m. and Sunday, April 22 at 2 p.m. Tickets are available at the Student Center Info Desk and in the Fuller Theater Box Office. The Box Office is open Monday, Wednesday, Thursday from 10 a.m.- 4 p.m. and Tuesdays from Noon-4 p.m. General Admission $14, Seniors $10, Students $7. For information and reservations call 508-929-8843.

Book Drive for K-8 Summer Reading
Worcester State University will once again participate in the annual Worcester "Give A Book" Drive. The drive is put on by "Worcester: The City that Reads" committee, which is led by Worcester school committee member John Monfredo '64, M.Ed. '67. The goal of the city-wide book drive is to collect K-8 level books for distribution by the Worcester Public Schools to students who don't have the means to obtain adequate books for summer reading. New or gently used books would be greatly appreciated. Books will be collected until May 15 in the Public Relations and Marketing Office (Administration Building, Room 231). If you have any questions or need a helping hand getting them to the office, please call 508-929-8018. Thank you!

National Public Health Week Activities
Please join the MSN students from Community/ Public Health Nursing as they celebrate National Public Health Week, April 2-6. The theme "A Healthier America Begins Today: Join the Movement" will address the issue of prevention and wellness to improve our nation's health.

On Thursday, April 5, please join the WSU Chapter of Institute for Health Care Improvement (IHI) as they kick off their book club. Bring a book that has inspired you in your practice to share with others, talk with your peers, and come away refreshed. All events are held in the lobby of the Ghosh Science and Technology Building from 4-8 p.m., and are open to all interested students and faculty.

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TRANSITIONS:

Welcome to:

Hilda Ramirez, Assistant Director,
Public Policy and Program Incubation, Latino Education Institute

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WSU IN THE NEWS:

On the job: Deborah A. Renholm, registered Nurse 2, Worcester State Hospital, Forensic Unit 1A
Telegram & Gazette 4/2/12
"I've gone from my LPN all the way up to my master's in public health nursing at Worcester State University." "I've been equal amounts of time in long-term care and med-surg nursing...


Where's champ going? Back to nationals
The Sun Chronicle 4/1/12
Karthik Karnik of Plainville on Friday took top honors among 100 students at the event held at Worcester State University, successfully defending his state title...


Worcester State University to Honor Auburn Native
The Daily Auburn 3/30/12
Catheryn McEvoy-Zdonczyk will receive Worcester State University's 27th Annual Distinguished Alumni Awards for their contributions to the education field, insurance and healthcare sectors, and the community.


'Farsi Fridays'
Telegram & Gazette 3/30/12
He was 19 years old, spoke virtually no English and was on the last plane out, headed to Worcester to study at then-Worcester State College.


Finalists in rematch at WSU geography bee
Telegram & Gazette 3/30/12
Karthik V. Karnik of Plainville holds up his answer during a tie-breaker round today at the National Geographic Bee at Worcester State University.


Worcester State to Honor Distinguished Alumni
GoLocalWorcester.com 3/30/12
Worcester State University will honor four graduates at its 27th Annual Distinguished Alumni Awards on Wednesday.


Storro, Winter lead Worcester State softball sweep
Telegram & Gazette 3/30/12
Worcester State 3 Rhode Island 2; Worcester State 3, Rhode Island 1: Erica Cordio scored from third on Kaitlyn Storro's bunt in the bottom of the eighth inning to lift the host Lancers (4-8) in the first game of a doubleheader with Rhode Island College.


Jennifer Toland's campus notes
Telegram & Gazette 3/28/12
Junior Jon Parrella was named MASCAC Outdoor Track Athlete of the Week. At the Bridgewater State Invitational, Parrella took top honors and qualified for the All-New England Championships in the 400 hurdles...


Blais to succeed Forsberg at Worcester Business Development Corp.
Telegram & Gazette 3/28/12
He was an Auburn selectman from 1987 to 1996. In 2010, Gov. Deval Patrick appointed him a trustee at Worcester State University.

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