Phi Sigma Pi clears pins for children

Phi Sigma Pi, a BU service fraternity, recently held a Bowl-a-Thon at Mid-way Lanes in Danville, raising more than $400 for Geisinger's Children's Miracle Network. This was Phi Sigma Pi's fourth year supporting the Children's Miracle Network, Danville.

Sigma Gamma Rho talks college

Four sisters of BU's Rho Omicron Chapter of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority spoke with Williamsport high school students Nov. 10 about applying to college, college life and transitioning to college. The community service as a part of the sorority's national program Project Reassurance. (L-R) Felicia Ellzy, Tiana Patillo and Asia Burnett.

Student art on exhibit

Artwork from Greg Mueller's 3-D class and Sue O'Donnell's Computer Art Graphics class were on display in the Old Science Hall lobby from mid-November to Thanksgiving break. The students showcased what they're doing in these two foundation level courses.

Former COB board members honored

Two former College of Business Advisory Board members were recently presented with a clock for appreciation of their service. (L-R) James Cleary, BU President David Soltz, Nancy Vasta and COB Interim Dean Dennis Gehris. Cleary is retired from Geisinger Health System, and Vasta is the product development director at CIGNA HealthCare.

BU breast cancer fundraiser honored

BU's recent breast cancer awareness walk/5K run event has been recognized as the PA Breast Cancer Coalition's Fundraiser of the Month for October. Pictured: Madelyn Rodriquez, who organized the event with Linda Sowash, with Roongo at the Oct. 25 fundraiser on campus.

Interim provost to stay at BU well into 2011

Dr. Ira Blake, interim provost and vice president of academic affairs, will remain BU's interim provost until a full-time appointee takes office in summer of 2011. A national search for provost and VP of academic affairs will begin in September 2010 with an anticipated appointment date of July 1, 2011.

BLOOMSBURG — Dr. Ira Blake, interim provost and vice president of academic affairs, will serve as BU's interim provost until a full-time appointee takes office in summer of 2011. A national search for provost and VP of academic affairs will begin in September 2010 with an anticipated appointment date of July 1, 2011.

During her two-year term, Blake will – among many responsibilities – provide continuity and skill in leadership of the restructuring of general education, further development and implementation of learning outcomes assessment, completion of the MSCHE Monitoring Report (due April 1, 2011) and completion of the NCATE accreditation institutional and program reports (due March 15, 2011).

Blake joined BU on Aug. 31 after serving as associate vice chancellor of academic and student affairs for the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE). She replaced James Mackin, who served as BU's provost since 2005. Mackin accepted the position of provost at Abu Dhabi University in the United Arab Emirates.

Arabic Club participates in Model Arab League

Ten members of BU's Arabic Club participated in the Model Arab League (MAL) in Washington D.C., which offered students an opportunity to acquire and develop practical leadership skills directly related to the United States and one of the world's most vital regions.

BLOOMSBURG — Ten members of BU's Arabic Club participated in the Model Arab League (MAL) in Washington D.C., Nov. 6 to 8, which offered students an opportunity to acquire and develop practical leadership skills directly related to the United States and one of the world's most vital regions.

In the process, students learned about the social, economic, cultural and political issues facing Arab leaders and ordinary citizens. BU's Arabic Club delegates, who represented the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan were: Jennifer Baney, Curtis Cordeiro, Bryan Crowley, Jessica Dowsett, Zachery Graybill, Michael Kennedy, Lauren McLaughlin, Michelle Sarver, Ann Vinatieri and Adam Wendoloski.

BU students participating in the Joint Defense Council and the Council of Arab Social Affairs Ministers – Bryan Crowley, Adam Wendoloski, Michael Kennedy, and Jessica Dowsett – won honorable mention. Nawal Bonomo is the club's adviser.

Giving Tree project brings joy

SOLVE, in conjunction with Greek Life, has begun its annual Giving Tree community service project, which allows participants to pick an ornament in exchange for a gift for a local needy child. Watch for the tree in Kehr Union and SSC lobby through Nov. 20 to pick your ornament.

Grad students attend conference

Students from BU's master of education program in counseling and college student affairs attended the 28th annual Pennsylvania College Personnel Association conference, which covered issues in college student affairs and higher education administration.

(L-R) James D'Amico, Lauren Lewis, Crystal Hoser, Fallon Nagy, Wendy Westover, Mark Bauman.

BU duo has research published

David Minderhout, retired professor of anthropology, and Jessica Dowsett, senior anthropology/French major, had an article accepted for publication for Practicing Anthropology, a publication of the Society for Applied Anthropology. The article, "Our Stories, Our Future: The Oral History Project of the Eastern Delaware Nations," is based on the pair's research with members of the Eastern Delaware Nations.

Ministry holds spiritual drumming

Protestant Campus Ministry and guest Annie Clark held a drumming circle recently as part of PCM's Main Event, which is held every Thursday, 6 to 7:30 p.m., in the Kehr Union Multicultural Center. The latest theme was "Jesus on the Radio: Popular music as a window to the soul" with Meredith Holladay.

Halloween fun at Camp Victory connecting with children

BU's Camp Victory Student Organization participated in the Camp Victory Halloween Party, organizing craft activities for the children. (L-R): Elizabeth Carollo, Megan Shields, Lynnsey Hoodovan, Colleen Smith, Gina Grassio, Katherine Hutchison, Andrea Miller, Melissa Jones. Interested in joining, contact Smith by e-mail.

BU staffer, faculty present reserach study findings

Noreen Chikotas, associate professor of nursing, and Terina Oman, CRNP at BU's Student Health Center, presented results of a study, "Urinary Tract Infections and the Relation to Health Behaviors," on Oct. 11 at the Mid-Atlantic College Health Assoc. '09 Conference, Morgantown, W.Va.

BLOOMSBURG — Noreen Chikotas, associate professor of nursing, and Terina Oman, CRNP at BU's Student Health Center, presented results of a study, "Urinary Tract Infections and the Relation to Health Behaviors," on Oct. 11 at the Mid-Atlantic College Health Association 2009 Conference in Morgantown, W.Va.

The purpose of the presentation was to disseminate information from a quantitative research study, which explored the relationship between health behaviors (risk factors) and the occurrence of UTIs in college-aged women. The overall goal of the study was to obtain a better understanding of the factors contributing to UTI in college-age women.

Honors students showcase research projects

Students from BU's Honors Program recently presented their study projects at the National Collegiate Honors Conference, Washington, DC., and met former BU Honors student, Chris Corley, who is now director of Honors Program at Minnesota State University.

Four students from BU's Honors Program recently presented their independent study projects at the National Collegiate Honors Conference in Washington, DC. The students also toured the White House and Washington Monument, as well as met with a former BU Honors student, Chris Corley, who is now the director of Honors Program at Minnesota State University, Mankato.

The students and project titles were:

* Sarah Beltz, "Teaching Chinese Culture in an Elementary Classroom from the Chinese Perspective"
* Steven Budd, "Mobile Device Internet Forensics"
* Jared May, "Garcino, a Histone Acetyltransferase Inhibitor, Antagonizes Azole Antifungal Activity in the Fungal Pathogen Candida glabrata"
* Jennifer Simpson, "Cultural Competency: An Investigation of Bloomsburg University Nursing Students"

Students design spaghetti bridge, win class challenge

Students in Introduction to Engineering Technology recently competed against each other in designing a bridge from cylindrical spaghetti and epoxy/glue. Bridges were judged on a performance index. Jordan Politza and Tyler Pongrazzi were the winning team.

BLOOMSBURG — Students in Introduction to Engineering Technology recently competed against each other in designing a bridge from cylindrical spaghetti and epoxy/glue. Bridges were judged on a performance index. Jordan Politza and Tyler Pongrazzi teamed to create the winning bridge.

Specifications for the bridges were: span of 50cm, road surface width of 4cm (minimum), vertical depth of 25cm (maximum), and a mass of 300g (maximum). The performance index was defined as the ratio of maximum load the bridge can support to its mass.

Politza and Pongrazzi's 287g bridge carried a load of 48kg, resulting in a performance index of 167 (a performance index in excess of 100 is considered a solid design). If you think you can beat the record set by winning bridge, contact Biswajit Ray by e-mail for the supplies and more information.

BUCC OKs minor's name change

BU's Curriculum Committee (BUCC) recommended approval of a minor's name change and course requirements during its Nov. 4 meeting. The committee OK'd the name change from "Business Information Systems" to "Information and Technology Management." Also during the meeting, the group discussed the information that must be listed on the omnibus form for program changes and new courses.

BU team among finalists in national competition

Eric Otruba, of Reading, and Tyler Latsha, of Northumberland, recently won a national undergraduate research poster competition following a 10-week summer research program at Brookhaven National Lab with Ju Xin, a BU associate professor of physics. As finalists, they advance to the Oak Ridge National Lab, Tenn., to compete with a dozen peers in the finals.

Community-wide reading campaign begins

Ferda Asya, associate professor of English, along with the Bloomsburg Public Library, has been awarded $3,500 by the National Endowment for the Arts to organize a community-wide project, The Big Read, for Columbia-Montour counties in April 2010.

The Big Read is an initiative to encourage reading for pleasure and enlightenment, specifically to young reluctant literary readers.

BLOOMSBURG — Ferda Asya, associate professor of English, along with the Bloomsburg Public Library, has been awarded $3,500 by the National Endowment for the Arts to organize a community-wide project, The Big Read, for Columbia-Montour counties in April 2010. The Big Read is an initiative to encourage reading for pleasure and enlightenment, specifically young reluctant literary readers, 18 to 24 years old.

The Big Read will bring together partners across Columbia-Montour counties, including school districts, schools, school libraries, public libraries, museums, theaters, bookstores, coffee houses, literary and historical societies, boutiques, stores and several organizations, to conduct reading and discussion series, exhibitions, film screenings, stage productions and activities on Edith Wharton's Pulitzer Prize winning novel, The Age of Innocence, throughout April.
Forms being accepted

CGA is recruiting students to participate in its one-day community service project for The Big Event. Participation forms were sent to all student organizations and individuals who live on campus.

Forms can be turned in at CGA's office, 428 Kehr Union. Contact Anikka Brill, CGA vice president, by e-mail for more information.

"The community-oriented and reading-inducing aspects of the project very much appealed to me," Asya said. "Being a Wharton scholar, I was also attracted to the novel, The Age of Innocence, which had just been added to the reading list of The Big Read. I instantly decided to bring this project to our community."

For the opening ceremony, Asya has invited the mayor of Bloomsburg to officially open the month-long events and Dr. Carol J. Singley, a prominent Wharton scholar from Rutgers University, to deliver the keynote speech. She has also invited Dr. Abby H.P. Werlock, the past-president of the Edith Wharton Society, to give the closing speech at the closing ceremony.

At the Andruss Library, Robert Dunkelberger, BU archivist, will assemble a display showing the town of Bloomsburg and BU during the time period in which the novel is set, and Katie Yelinek, government documents librarian, will coordinate in April four discussion sessions led by Asya.

"The concept of belonging or lack of belonging in this novel can be a fascinating theme for young readers," Asya said. "Presently, I'm working to attract more partners and add more events to the program. I'm truly excited about The Big Read, as I am certain the readings and discussions – and a large variety of activities based on the themes of the novel – will instill the love and habit of reading in especially the young readers in our community."

Contact Asya by e-mail or phone at 389-4433 for more information on The Big Read.

BU duo present research in Texas

Two sociology, social work and criminal justice students presented research papers at the Southern Demographic Association Meeting, Galveston, Texas. Sarah Burkhardt, left, presented, "Examining Public Opinions of Open Adoption by Gender," and Roxann Heath presented, "The impact of Childhood Poverty Later in Life," co-authored with Megumi Omori.

Fraternity, sorority team up for charity

Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity and Sigma Gamma Rho sorority recently raised more than $800 for the St. Jude's Children's Hospital from a welcome back to school, "The Breakthrough," fundraiser, which drew more than 350 people. Each Greek organization donated roughly $400.

Nursing students help Alzheimer's Association

BU's chapter of Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing and Student Nurses Association recently participated in the Alzheimer's Association's Memory Walk. The team, lead by senior team captain, Kayla Whitmoyer, raised more than $1,270.