February 19th, 2009

On Wednesday, February 18, Common Ground and the Campus Commission on Diversity and Multiculturalism hosted a Soul Food and Gospel Event in the Zorn Dining Commons. Students, faculty, and staff listened to music while feasting on Southern fried chicken, roasted sweet potatoes, grit cakes, collard greens, biscuits with sausage gravy, and pecan pie.

Photo: Renee Staudinger

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From Gordon Leversee, Science: Please join us at a campus gathering to celebrate the life of Dr. Johanna Kolodziejski this Friday, February 20, from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. in Science Room 101. Hanna died on February 3 at the age of 32 at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute in Boston. She will be sorely missed.

As much as we mourn her death, it is our hope to capture the spirit of her passion for life — for friends and family, for students and colleagues, for her work as a teacher and scholar. Keene State was her “perfect job,” and we are thankful for her and for us that we shared one memorable year together.

We will gather in Science 101 at 4:30 and Paul Cullity will help us center ourselves. Our colleagues in music will then lead us through the halls of science that Hanna so loved, and we will mourn her passing with a dirge or hymn in the best New Orleans tradition. We will return to Science 101 for reflections and conclude with an uplifting musical celebration of her memory, which lives on in all of us. Dr. K, a gifted musician, played both piano and violin. We think she would approve.

(Biology Department’s original announcement of Dr. K’s death.)

Courtesy photo: Dr. Johanna Kolodziejski, July 18, 1976–February 3, 2009

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Keene State is pleased to announce a new baccalaureate degree in Holocaust and Genocide Studies. The interdisciplinary undergraduate Holocaust and Genocide Studies major is currently accepting students for the 2009–10 academic year.

The Holocaust and Genocide Studies curriculum combines historical study with an interdisciplinary exploration of both the Holocaust and other genocidal events. The major incorporates film, literature, philosophy, psychology, sociology, religious studies, women’s studies, and other offerings. With an understanding of such issues as prejudice, discrimination, and racism, students master the skills needed to analyze contemporary political situations, think critically about ethical responsibility, and respond to injustice.

“These skills are at the heart of a liberal arts education,” said Cohen Center Director Dr. Henry Knight. “In a world still tormented by mass murder, studying the Holocaust offers an analytical framework that can help us to understand ongoing global genocide.”

Program graduates will be prepared to support social studies and history curriculum development, and to pursue careers in social and governmental service. The major also prepares students for graduate studies in history as well as Holocaust and genocide studies, and for other post-graduate work, such as law.

For more information about the Holocaust and Genocide Studies major, or to see a schedule of workshops, in-service training, classroom presentations, and individual curriculum consultations, visit www.keene.edu/cchs.

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From Bill Menezes, Redfern: Featuring some of the United States’ finest tap dancers, Off the Beaten Path: A Jazz and Tap Odyssey (JTO) will make its regional debut at Keene State’s Redfern Arts Center for two performances. There will be a full-length performance on Tuesday, February 24, at 7:30 p.m. and a performance for school children on Wednesday, February 25, at 10 a.m. After both performances, there will be time for the audience to ask the performers questions.

Inspired by nature writer Rachel Carson, pioneer of the modern environmental movement, JTO was created by award-winning tap dancer and choreographer Drika Overton and noted jazz composer Paul Arslanian, along with world-renowned tap dancers Brenda Bufalino and Josh Hilberman. It weaves together music and dance from around the world through the arts of jazz music and tap dance to present an artist’s vision of our human connection to the natural world. Tickets are available through the Redfern box office (8-2168) or online.

Courtesy Photo; Jazz and Tap Odyssey

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From Ian Lord, The Equinox: Started in 1929, The Equinox has been the student voice at Keene State College, delivering hard news, student life and arts and entertainment coverage, sports updates, and insightful opinions and columns.

The Equinox has now expanded to the Internet, delivering breaking news coverage and exploring the realms of new media. As newspapers all over the world converge with new technology to deliver news, so has The Equinox. On our website, you will experience multimedia journalism at its finest. Professionally produced video, podcasts, and photo galleries provide different angles to our print material. And as always, The Equinox maintains the highest standards in journalism and business practices.

Not only are we an award-winning college newspaper, we provide affordable advertising for campus groups and the Keene community, as well as a forum for the public voice. With a dedicated group of editors and staff members, The Equinox looks to go one step further, and continue with its tradition of excellence. The Equinox can also be found on Facebook and Twitter, and we now have a staff blog! Come check out The Equinox! Subscribe and join the family of Keene State College’s No. 1 news source!! Remember, “If it’s in the news, it’s in the ‛Nox!”

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From Heather Jasmin, Continuing Education: “The Great Decisions” program, a nationwide forum of the Foreign Policy Association (FPA), has received a Pepsi-KSC Partnership Grant. Focusing on impartial, thought-provoking analyses of issues concerning U.S. policymakers, the “Great Decisions” format combines a lecture on a topic of current global interest followed by an open discussion period. The series is free and open to the public. “Great Decisions” is designed to encourage thoughtful, non-partisan conversation among community members.

The Pepsi Partnership Grant program supports worthwhile campus projects with unrestricted dollars given by the Pepsi Corporation. Projects should improve the College academically or culturally, enhance its reputation, and/or improve students’ quality of life. Twenty-four proposals were submitted from students, faculty, and staff to fund projects and speakers.

The 2009 “Great Decisions” program includes “Afghanistan and Pakistan” (March 12), “Egypt: Key Ally in the Middle East” (March 26), “Global Food Crisis” (April 9), and will conclude with “The U.S. and Rising Powers” (April 23).

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From Sue Castriotta, Center for Engagement, Learning, and Teaching (CELT): I wanted to let you know about some upcoming CELT-sponsored events and highlight some new resources. Please note that due to changes in WordPress (the software behind the CELT homepage), there is no longer a complete list of upcoming events on the CELT homepage. However, you can still browse all upcoming events by clicking on the “Future Events” link under the “Full Calendar” heading in the bottom right corner of the page. As always, our events are open to all who are interested in attending.

Upcoming Events:
• March 5: “Take a Virtual Leap!” (Google Earth with Dr. Kristi Alvarez); noon–1 p.m., Student Center 309.
• March 11: “10 Ways to Improve Blended Learning Course Design” (On-line seminar from The Teaching Professor); 1–2:30 p.m., Mountain View Room. Recommended for anyone interested in teaching a course using a hybrid (a blend of face-to-face and on-line delivery) course in the future.
• April 17: Promotion and Tenure Panel presentation followed by Q&A to help prepare faculty applying for promotion and/or tenure and to demystify the FEAC process; 3–4 p.m., Rhodes N212.

(Celebrating Scholarship (A&H) presentations and upcoming ISP meetings are also listed on the CELT calendar.)

New Resources:
We now have annual subscriptions to the Teaching Professor, On-line Classroom, and the Academic Leader. For the time being, the printed materials will be kept in binders and stored in my office (Science 183). I also have available in my office the printed resources from our “The Professor in the Classroom” subscription.

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From the IT Group: The abrupt closure of Ruckus is unfortunate for KSC students, who used the service for both academic reasons and for personal music and video pleasure. Ruckus was a totally free service that required no investment by the college or KSC students, and offered an ideal solution to combat the alternative to the illegal downloading trend seen at Keene State and other colleges throughout the country. There does not appear to be another model available to fill this gap, which only emphasizes our disappointment in their demise.

However, it is important to remember that illegal music and video downloading is a copyright violation, and the risk of identification and legal action by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) exists. Please avoid this risk by continuing to use legal download options such as iTunes, Napster II, or one of the many other options available for this purpose.

If you have any questions regarding this or any other technology issue, please feel free to contact the HelpDesk at 358-2532, email helpdesk@keene.edu, or stop by our office on the second floor of Elliot Hall.

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From Forrest Seymour, Counseling Center: The KSC Sexual Violence Prevention Program, in collaboration with the Monadnock Center for Violence Prevention, is gearing up for the 3rd annual Walk a Mile in Her Shoes Men’s March to Stop Rape, Sexual Assault, & Gender Violence. The walk begins at 10 a.m. in the Student Center Atrium on April 18.

This will be the third year that men (in women’s shoes), followed by women and children, will lead a one-mile walk from Keene State College through downtown Keene to Railroad Square. The event raises community awareness of sexual assault and provides support for the Monadnock Center for Violence Prevention.

Walk a Mile in Her Shoes® was created in 2001 by a California Crisis Center as a way for men to show support for the women in their lives who are victims of sexual violence. This event is held at sites throughout the country.

Pre-register online at www.firstgiving.com/MCVP, call 603-352-3844 x 214, or email development@mcvprevention.org. For more information, contact Forrest Seymour at 8-2407 or fseymour@keene.edu.

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From Kaitlyn Taft, Recycling: RecycleMania is underway until March 28! We are currently ahead of UNH, but not by much. And we only rank 99 out of 147 in Waste Minimization with 8.23 lbs of waste per person last week. We can do better, and we need your help! Reduce your waste by these simple tasks:
• Do not print agendas at meetings.
• Avoid disposable dishware.
• Use a reusable coffee mug/water bottle.
• Email whenever possible.
• Reuse all one-sided paper.

With your help, we can reduce the amount of waste headed for landfills, save money and resources, and take the RecycleMania title!
Visit www.recyclemaniacs.org for up to date information about where we rank and the details of the competition.

Another recycling reminder: ROCKS takes a great variety of items for recycling or reuse. They include:
• Ink Jets
• Batteries
• Media: CD’s, VHS, cassettes, floppies, and their cases
• Textiles
• Packing peanuts
• Cell phones
• Compact fluorescent light bulbs
• Electronics
• Transparencies

Contact ROCKS at 8-2567 or visit www.keene.edu/rocks for more information. Thank you for recycling!!

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From Jeanne Hearn, President’s Office: Dr. Robert J. Sternberg, psychologist, psychometrician, and Dean of Arts and Sciences at Tufts University, will be the featured speaker on Friday, February 20, 2–4 p.m., in the Redfern Arts Center Recital Hall.

A summa cum laude graduate of Yale University with a B.A. in Psychology, Sternberg holds a Ph.D. from Stanford University and has authored more than 1000 books, book chapters, and articles. He will discuss his triarchic theory of intelligence, authored in 2003, which broadens conventional definitions of intelligence. During his presentation, Dr. Sternberg will discuss his work at Tufts University in expanding admission criteria for undergraduate students to evaluate their capacity for success, exploring the cultural differences and intelligences of students.

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From Sue Freitas, Business Office: Banner Finance training began on Tuesday, February 17, with “Banner Finance Chart of Accounts and Budget Concepts.” Classes are scheduled for Tuesday mornings from 10 a.m. to noon and Thursday afternoons from 2 to 3:30 p.m. A complete schedule and online self-registration is available here. Contact Sue Freitas at 8-2478 or by email at sfreitas@keene.edu if you have questions.

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From Joe Darby, Music: The music department hosted the 2009 New Hampshire Music Educators Association Solo & Ensemble Festival, on Saturday, February 14. Five hundred student musicians from across the state, their music teachers and accompanists, and hundreds of parents, friends, and relatives — about 1500 people — moved through the Redfern Arts Center throughout the day to enjoy the event.

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Nona Fienberg’s (Arts and Humanities) essay, “Gazing into the Mirror of Wiesel’s Night, Together,” a review of Approaches to Teaching Wiesel’s Night, edited by Alan Rosen, appears in the Winter 2009 issue of Pedagogy: Critical Approaches to Teaching Literature, Language, Composition, and Culture.

Rosemary Gianno (Sociology/Anthropology) and Klaus J. Bayr recently published “Semelai agricultural patterns: Toward an understanding of variation among indigenous cultures in southern peninsular Malaysia” in the Journal of Southeast Asian Studies. The paper analyzes ethnographic and historical evidence, as well as aerial photographs taken in 1948, in an attempt to understand indigenous agricultural and population patterns in Peninsular Malaysia’s southern lowlands. The paper posits that some indigenous cultures there were much more dedicated to subsistence agriculture than was previously thought and focuses specifically on the Semelai people, suggesting that they grew rice, which is a risky crop in that region, largely for symbolic reasons, while also cultivating cassava, which is much more productive and much easier to grow but of less symbolic value, as insurance.

Céline Perron (Theatre and Dance) has received an award from The Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival Region I for her work in puppetry for the Theatre and Dance Department production of the Rolling Collection.

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The College Relations Office maintains an events listing on the web. To submit events to this list, fill out this form. We also run a KSC events ad twice a month in The Keene Sentinel during the academic year. Events listed in the online listing automatically make it into this ad. For more information please contact Antje Hornbeck at 8-2102.

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Did you know that you can print out articles from the online edition of Campus News? If you want to read Professional Activities at your son’s hockey game on the weekend, or if you like to read while sipping coffee at the kitchen table, click an article link under “In This Issue,” scroll to the bottom of the article, and look for the printer icon and “printer-friendly format” link.

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We are rebuilding our Faculty Experts section on the web and need your help. Our information will be listed on our website and in a database for journalists working on local and national stories. Please take a minute to update your information or add to your list of publications and accomplishments, and send it to rdutcher@keene.edu.

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Selected Events

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