December 10th, 2009

Bud Winsor (Physical Plant) reports that the 8-10 inches of heavy, wet snow that fell in Keene on December 9 made it difficult for the KSC Building and Grounds crew to keep the campus parking lots and sidewalks clear. On Tuesday the crew began spreading Ice-Ban, the thin brown syrup applied prior to a storm to prevent snow and ice from freezing to the pavement. And on Wednesday they worked from 6 a.m.-6 p.m. It takes about three days to clean up after a storm of this size (scraping pavement and trucking away snow). Bud says that the forecasting tools available now have helped with storm-related tasks: “real time” forecasts indicated that the temperatures would rise after snowfall, so the crew focused on scraping snow rather than spreading salt (which also saved the College money).

Photo: Hannah Dale

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Keene State College is one of 30 colleges that U.S. News & World Report has singled out for offering “small classes on a budget.”

“Attending a big, affordable public university doesn’t doom a student to huge lecture halls …” the report stated, “Here are 30 well-regarded and affordable colleges with lots of small classes.” The list includes 30 colleges and universities nationwide that offered small classes (19 or fewer) and in-state tuition and fees under $10,000 in 2008. Researchers recognized Keene State for offering 52 percent of its classes with 19 or fewer students.

“We are pleased to be recognized for the small classes and individualized attention we offer,” says Keene State Provost Mel Netzhammer. “Our small class sizes are a critical part of important changes we’ve been making that are paying great dividends for our students.”

Netzhammer notes that a recent move from a 3-credit to a 4-credit curriculum at Keene State has led to a revision of all courses, allowing for more depth in courses. There is a new focus on undergraduate research, service learning, learning communities, and other “high impact practices” that, according to recent research, leads to improved student learning. Data recently released by the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) documents significant improvements in student engagement at Keene State since the survey was administered three years ago. Additionally, the College’s new Integrative Studies Program is an “exemplar” program in AAC&U’s Liberal Education and America’s Promise initiative (LEAP).

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From Bill Menezes, Redfern: The Association of Performing Arts Presenters (Arts Presenters) has announced that the Redfern Arts Center is one of 31 semifinalists in the 2010 Creative Campus Innovations Grant Program. The Creative Campus initiative began in March 2004, following the 104th American Assembly at Columbia University, where more than 60 arts and higher education leaders gathered to examine the factors that characterize effective partnerships in education and the arts - the projects, proposals, curricula, and creative forces that make such partnerships work.

Keene State is one of 31 semifinalists chosen from a pool of nearly 150 applicants for the 2009 grants. Each school will be given $7,000 to help develop a project concept for full consideration as part of the final selection process of this grant program. Up to 10 one- to two-year project grants, ranging from $100,000 to $200,000 each, will be awarded in August 2010 to college- and university-based presenters from among these semifinalists (see the complete list here).

In 2006, Arts Presenters initiated The Creative Campus Innovations Grant program with funding from the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation. This program was designed to support a set of innovative performance-based projects on American campuses that exhibit the importance of the arts to the educational, service, and scholarly missions of the academy and that fully integrate the performing arts into the life of the academy and the community. In 2007, eight campus-based presenters were awarded one- or two-year grants to implement projects that had the potential to increase value and expand support for integrating the performing arts into the academy and the campus community.

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From William Fleeger, Environmental Studies: The Environmental Studies department invites you to an open-house celebration of the completion of a natural resource inventory (NRI) for Robin Hood Park from 10:30 a.m. to noon on Tuesday, December 15, in the Atrium Lounge (room 138) of the Student Center.

As a capstone service-learning experience, students in the department’s junior/senior seminar worked tirelessly during the year-long course to inventory and assess the condition of the ecological and social resources relevant to the park. Their professional quality NRI provides valuable new information and important baseline data necessary for the development of a management plan for this popular and centrally located city property. This informal event is an opportunity to view the completed NRI, learn about the student’s experiences, and express our gratitude for the support provided by our partners, the City of Keene Conservation Commission and Parks and Recreation Department. For more information, please contact Renate Gebauer (8-2577) or Bill Fleeger at (8-2989).

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From Rodney Obien, Mason Library: The Mason Library received a donation of Edward Gorey material from Mr. Robert Hubbard of Walpole, New Hampshire. The collection consists of more than 60 rare and unique items, including books, magazines, and broadsides.

Edward St. John Gorey was born February 22, 1925, in Chicago, Illinois. He is best known for his “gothic” style illustrations in black and white and his numerous children’s books, although he did publish adult books as well. Gorey attended Harvard University and graduated in 1950. He published works under his own name and also under many playful pseudonyms. Some of his most famous works are The Doubtful Guest (1957) and The Guilded Bat (1966). Gorey died April 15, 2000, in Massachusetts at the age of 75.

The gift - to be named the Hubbard-Gorey Collection - will be housed in the Mason Library’s new special collections and archives facility (due to be completed in the 2010 spring semester). “The Hubbard-Gorey Collection makes a fantastic addition to our special collections, which already includes the Children’s Literature Manuscript Collection,” said Library Dean Irene Herold. “We are honored to have been entrusted with this collection from Mr. Hubbard, who attended Harvard University during some of the same years as Gorey and told me stories about what a colorful character Gorey was.”

For more information about the Hubbard-Gorey Collection, contact Rodney Obien, archivist, Mason Library Special Collections & Archives (8-2717).

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From Chris Burke, Health and Wellness: The State of New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services has moved to “tier three” for distribution of the H1N1 vaccine. This tier includes:

• anyone from 6 months to 24 years old
• anyone 24 to 64 years old with a chronic medical condition

KSC will be hosting three H1N1 vaccination clinics:

Thursday, December 10, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., in the Atrium Conference Room, Student Center
Friday, December 11, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., in the Madison Street Lounge, Student Center
Tuesday, December 15, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., in the Mabel Brown Room, Student Center

All students and staff up to age 24 are eligible as well as any students, staff, or faculty who have a chronic medical condition and are 24 to 64 years old. Given the potential risk of H1N1 to the traditional-age college population, we strongly encourage students to receive the vaccine. The vaccination is free. We are planning to distribute 600 doses at each clinic on a first-come, first-served basis. Most eligible individuals will qualify for and receive the flu mist vaccine, which is inhaled rather than injected. The H1N1 vaccine carries the same benefits and risks as the seasonal flu vaccine.  Please visit www.keene.edu/alerts for informational sheets on both the injection and the mist vaccine.

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From Jim Tuttle, Business Office: Please note that paychecks for the B1-26 (12/12/09-12/25/09) work period for salaried employees will be available to those who pick their pay checks up on campus on Wednesday, December 23. The Direct Deposit pay date for this B1-26 pay period will be Thursday, December 24. Please be aware that these salaried checks will be dated 12/24/09. We ask those who pick up their checks not try to cash or deposit them until Thursday, December 24. This updated schedule and holiday pay information is available on the Business Office website.

If you have any questions about pay dates during this holiday season, please call or e-mail Jim Tuttle (8-2482).

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From Recreational Sports: End of the semester/winter intercession Recreation Center facility hours:

Monday-Thursday, December 14-17, 6 a.m.-11 p.m.
Friday, December 18, 6 a.m.-6 p.m.
   (Regular pool hours Monday-Thursday; no pool hours on Friday.)
Saturday & Sunday, December 19 & 20, Closed
Monday & Tuesday, December 21 & 22, 6 a.m.-6 p.m.
Wednesday, December 23, 6 a.m.-5 p.m.
    (Pool hours will not be held December 18-23)

The Recreation Center will be closed December 24-January 4, and will re-open on Tuesday, January 5, 2010.
Winter intercession facility hours:

January 5-15, 6 a.m.-7 p.m.
            (There are no pool hours during the winter intercession, and the facility is closed  on Saturday and Sunday.)

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From the IT Group: Normally, when you want to close a pop-up that has opened on your computer screen, you simply click on the red X located in the upper right-hand corner and the pop-up goes away. In most cases this does not harm your computer.
 
However, as viruses and spyware/malware become more sophisticated, clicking the red X may infect your computer. You know that McAfee is the Anti-virus/Spyware tool used by the college to keep your computer free from problems. As virus programmers get craftier and craftier, they’ve devised a way to make certain pop-ups look convincingly like anti-virus programs intended to help you. What you don’t know is by clicking on the red X, you’re asking for trouble.
 
A good rule of thumb: if you ever receive a suspicious pop-up, do not click on the red X to close it. The best way is to end the task. Simply press control-alt-delete to bring up the Task Manager. Click on the Applications Tab, find the name you see in the title bar of the pop-up, click on that application to highlight it and click the End Task button on the bottom. That will close the pop-up without infecting your computer. If this box continues to reappear, your computer begins to run very slowly, or you have pop-ups that are continuous and annoying, contact the HelpDesk and we will be happy to help you get your computer back in good condition.

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This is the last 2009 issue of Campus News. The first issue of 2010 will be on Thursday, January 14 (deadline Monday, January 11, at noon).

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You still have one last chance to celebrate Keene State’s centennial year! Keene City Clerk Patricia Little contacted the College and asked if part of the Celebrating Our Centennial 1909-2009: 100 Years of Academic Community (at the Thorne last summer) could be condensed and brought downtown. College and Media Relations designer Lynn Roman sifted through the original exhibit’s photographs and memorabilia chronicling the college from 1909-2009 and assembled the display currently in the Ingersoll cabinets in the lobby of City Hall. The lobby is open to the public from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

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Bob Madden, faculty emeriti, recently saw the movie 2012 and notes that a character broadcasting from Yellowstone National Park (played by Woody Harrelson) not only says the Mayans knew the world would end in December, 2012, but that Charles Hapgood warned us in 1958.

Charles Hapgood was professor of the history of science at Keene Teachers College when he wrote The Earth’s Shifting Crust. This and two other books, Maps of the Ancient Sea Kings and The Path of the Pole, proposed the radical theory that the earth’s axis has shifted numerous times during geological history.

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From Andy Robinson, Student Affairs: The Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs cordially invites you to join us for hors d’oeurves at a retirement reception in honor of Carol Symonds on Wednesday, December 16, from 2 to 4 p.m. in the Madison Street Lounge.
 
Carol started her career at Keene State College more than 20 years ago as the scheduling coordinator in the old Student Union Building and has provided support to the Office of the Associate Vice President for Student Affairs/Dean of Students, and to Keene State College students and their families for the greater part of her time here.
 
We hope you can join us to share your stories and reminisce about Carol’s time at KSC. If you are interested in contributing to a gift for Carol, please contact Barbara Preston bpreston@keene.edu.

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From Paul Striffolino, Student Affairs: Keene State College is pleased to announce the arrival of Josef Quirinale, the new General Manager of Keene State Dining Services. Please help us welcome Josef to our campus community in January 2010. Josef comes to Keene State with extensive experience in resident dining, retail, catering, and marketing. In his many years working with Sodexo, he has spent time at Western Connecticut State University, Plattsburgh State University, and the University of Vermont. Josef’s vast knowledge of campus dining is sure to compliment all of our dining locations and enhance the campus community at large. He is excited to join our dining staff and is looking forward to being a part of our community.

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From Bartlomiej Sapeta, TDS: The KSC Architecture Club and Architecture Program are proud to present a lecture by Paul King, “The Interlocking Fields of Architecture and Sustainability,” on Tuesday, December 8, at 6 p.m. in the Mable Brown Room, Student Center.

Paul King, a principal and lead designer with Einhorn, Yaffee, Prescott Architecture & Engineering PC, has more than 25 years of experience in the design of college and university facilities, laboratories, corporate headquarters, and governmental buildings, as well as residential, retail, transportation, and hospital facilities both in the U.S. and internationally. Recent projects include the New Visual and Media Arts Building at Keene State; a 322-bed residence hall and a 60,000-square-foot data center, both at Boston College; a 200,000-square-foot interdisciplinary science building at Hamilton College; and a 48,000-square-foot research facility at The Jackson Laboratories. In addition to his design work, Paul has been a guest critic at colleges and universities including the City College of New York, the New Jersey Institute of Technology, North Carolina State University, Syracuse University, the University of Maryland, and the University of Miami. He is a graduate of the University of Virginia. For additional information, please contact Bartlomiej Sapeta, 8-2847.

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From Therese Seibert, Sociology: On Thursday, December 10, Stephanie Hurley will present “Songs of Hope and Resistance from the Holocaust” in the Lantern Room of the Student Center from 10:30 to 11:45 a.m.

Music served many functions for those interned in concentration camps and ghettos during the Holocaust. These songs speak of the experiences and feelings of those persecuted during the Holocaust: the suffering and hope, shared experiences, daily news, resistance, unity, and entertainment. Supplemented by a PowerPoint slideshow, Stephanie will describe the historical context and personal stories behind each song. Stephanie’s clear and emotive voice expresses the pain as well as the hope of the victims and brings a deep sense of connection to another place and time.

Singer Stephanie Hurley is an accomplished vocalist in many genres of music. She graduated with honors from Keene State College in May 2003, receiving a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance and a Bachelor of Arts in Music History. This performance is an extension of her research conducted at the Cohen Center for Holocaust Studies at Keene State College, for which she was awarded the 2003 Hildebrandt Award.

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From Connie Lester, Redfern: The Keene State College Jazz Ensemble, conducted by KSC artist-in-residence Don Baldini, will perform “Music of the Silver Screen” on Wednesday, December 9, at 7:30 p.m. at the Redfern Arts Center. The Ensemble will perform tunes from famous movies over the decades. Guest artist and tenor saxophonist Frank Newton of Amherst, Mass., will be a featured soloist.

The concert will include “Somewhere Out There” from Stormy Weather, “Over the Rainbow” and “Ding-Dong! The Witch is Dead” from The Wizard of Oz, “I Can’t Stop Loving You” from Blazing Saddles, the theme from The Pink Panther, and “Soul Bossa Nova” from Austin Powers, as well as many other movie tunes. Tickets are available through the box office at 8-2168 or online.

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From Connie Lester, Redfern: The KSC Concert Choir will perform their fall concert featuring British composers on Sunday, December 11, at 7:30 p.m. in the Alumni Recital Hall of the Redfern Arts Center.

The KSC Concert Choir, conducted by music faculty member Diane Cushing, will celebrate the splendor of creation with songs by British composers. They will perform the U.S. premiere of “The Eternal Sun” by John Tavener, as well as his The Lamb. Also performed will be “For the Splendor of Creation” by Gustav Holst, “My Spirit Sang All Day” by Gerald Finzi, and the seven movements of John Rutter’s Magnificat. English folksongs by Ralph Vaughn Williams and “When She Loved Me” by Randy Newman, arranged by KSC student composer and music technology major Timothy Price ‘11 will also be performed. The choir will be accompanied by KSC faculty member Scott White. For tickets, call the box office at 8-2168.v

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From Mary McEntee, Student Center: First Book is a national literacy program that works through local Advisory Boards to provide new books for children in need. KSC-First Book has helped to distribute more than 2,000 books in the Monadnock Region and will hold another book grant cycle for interested programs in March. Children in an eligible program have the opportunity to receive a monthly free book (for six months) to take home and read with their family.
 
We are planning a used-book sale at the Winter Celebration on December 9th as a fundraiser for First Book. The books you donate will be resold and the money raised will be used to buy new books for local children in need. There will be a collection box (no textbooks please) in the Student Center Atrium labeled “First Book,” or you can email Student First Book Coordinator Chelsey Rothermel to have books collected anywhere on campus. Thank you in advance!

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From the Thanksgiving Basket Committee: This year’s Thanksgiving Basket Drive was a success that touched the hearts of many local families. Students, student organizations, departments, faculty, staff, and even a local bank prepared 111 baskets with personal touches.

In addition, an astounding amount of additional food items were donated: six large boxes of winter outerwear for men, women, and children and boxes filled with toothbrushes, toothpaste, floss, stuffed animals, coloring books, crayons, household supplies, and so much more. Again this year, the young daughter of a KSC family wanted her birthday guests to bring one unwrapped toy to go to the children of the Community Kitchen. With a generous amount of cash donations, we were able to provide for an additional 31 WIC families for a total of 142 baskets! It is truly a reflection of our campus community that for 24 years we have worked together to contribute to so many people during the Thanksgiving holiday.
 
This year’s event was a success due to extraordinary teamwork, generosity, and efforts by many. Volunteers included 45 students from a variety of Greek and student organizations, along with over 26 faculty and staff from all corners of our campus community.
 
We are grateful to the local vendors who added an assortment of coupons and items for distribution to the Community Kitchen. Be sure to say “thank you” to these participating vendors and friends: Children’s Dental, Chili’s Restaurant, Delta Dental, Jack’s True Value, Dr. Peter Welnaks’s office, First Book Reading Program, Friendly’s at the West Street Shopping Plaza, Hannaford Supermarket, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, Price Chopper Supermarket, the Richmond Family, Shaw’s Supermarket, St. James Thrift Shop, Studio H Hair Salon, Supercuts, Toadstool Bookshop, Uptown Salon, Wal-Mart, Yankee Lanes Bowling, and Sylvania/Osram.
 
We would like to extend our most sincere thanks to the Equinox for their support of our ads, Sodexho for supplying refreshments as well as baskets, the KSC Bookstore for their contributions along with two boxes full of baby food, the Physical Plant for their pickup and delivery services - and 14 baskets - as well as those individuals who initiated the collection for their departments. Amazing. Thank you!

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From Mark Reynolds, College and Media Relations: OK, you’ve had that Monadnock United Way pledge card on your desk for a few weeks now. You keep thinking, “Yeah, I’m going to donate as soon as I get a free minute.” Well, it’s time to pick up that card, and your pen, and offer some critical help to our neighbors in need. Even a small donation will make a big difference. Let’s show the community how KSC steps up to the plate when it needs us.

Please, chip in what you can. You’ll feel good about yourself - and don’t forget, your gift is tax deductible.

Send in the pledge cards you received, or contact Francis Brush (8-2652, MS 3101) or Melissa Laughner (8-2865, MS 1603), our General Campaign chairs, or Mark Reynolds (8-2147, MS 1502), the Leadership Giving campaign chair. They’d love to hear from you.

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From Mary Jensen, Sustainability: The Keene State College campus is invited to a review of the KSC Climate Action Plan (CAP) on Tuesday, December 8, 2009, from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in the West Dining Room of the Young Student Center. Stop by and add your comments and suggestions. If you are interested in learning more about the CAP, please join us for a brown-bag lunch discussion in the Madison Street Lounge from noon to 1 p.m., also on December 8.

What is Keene State College’s Climate Action Plan?

KSC’s Climate Action Plan (CAP) is a guide to help Keene State reduce its greenhouse gas emissions and eventually achieve carbon neutrality. Our CAP is divided into 10 areas of concentration; Educational Opportunities, Heating & Cooling, Electricity, Transportation, Waste & Recycling, Purchasing & Contracts, Grounds & Land Management, Architecture & Planning, Water, and Food.

Why is KSC creating a Climate Action Plan?

KSC, along with many other colleges and universities throughout the country, is a signatory of the American College & University Presidents’ Climate Commitment (ACUPCC). The ACUPCC is a high-visibility effort to address global warming by garnering institutional commitments to neutralize greenhouse gas emissions, and to accelerate the research and educational efforts of higher education to equip society to re-stabilize the earth’s climate.

Building on the growing momentum for leadership and action on climate change, the Presidents’ Climate Commitment provides a framework and support for America’s colleges and universities to go climate neutral. The Commitment recognizes the unique responsibility that institutions of higher education have as role models for their communities and in training the people who will develop the social, economic, and technological solutions to reverse global warming.

What is the President’s Council for a Sustainable Future?

The President’s Council for a Sustainable Future is a KSC Council that strives to support educational and institutional activities that promote environmental awareness and stewardship through local action and global thinking. KSC’s Climate Action Plan and the process of developing it is one of the Council’s projects.

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The last two Diversity Dialogues of the semester will be held this week:

Monday, December 7: “Feminism: the F-word”: 12 p.m. to 1:15 p.m., Student Center 309. Facilitated by Candice Bosse, assistant professor of Modern Languages Feminism-the word and, by extension, the movement-has suffered from an image problem. Women of all ages, colors, and socio-economic classes have both embraced it and disdained it. Why is this? What does it mean to be a feminist in the U.S.? What can we do to re-invigorate this F-word and charge it with new meaning?

Wednesday, December 9: “Microaggressions”: 12 p.m. to 1:15 p.m., Student Center Atrium Conference Room (located next to the ATM machine). Facilitated by Dottie R. Morris, Chief Officer for Diversity and Multiculturalism. This dialogue will focus on microaggressions and their impact on individuals within a community.

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From Jay Kahn and Karen Stanish, Planning Council co-chairs: Principal Administrators have forwarded 56 Departmental Initiative Requests to the Planning Commons for review prior to FY2011. This is fewer than the 73 requests received a year ago. These Initiatives have been forwarded to review committees as stated in the requests. You can track the progress of requests by referencing the Planning Council website: look at the left side of the page under Campus Planning Process. You can also see the Planning Timeline under the same heading. Thank you for your participation in this process and for supporting efforts that advance the College’s Strategic Goals.

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