Kugelmass

Dr. Brian Clements, coordinator of the MFA in Creative and Professional Writing program, has started a literary humor journal, Kugelmass. 

Summer 2011 in Spain

Dr. Galina Bakhtiarova, Chair of the Department of World Languages and Literatures,will be holding three information sessions about this year's summer program in Spain.  These information sessions will be held on Feb. 1 and Feb. 2 from 12:30-1:30 p.m. and Feb. 7 and from noon to 1:30 p.m. in Warner 101 (lobby).  Dr. Kate Allocco, Assistant Professor of History, also will be teaching in the program this summer.  Students can earn 6 credits in four weeks.  For more information about this exciting program, go to http://www.wcsu.edu/spain/ or e-mail Dr. Bakhtiarova at Bahktiarg@wcsu.edu.  The deadline for applications is Feb. 15th.

Meterology Club attends American Meteorological Society conference in Seattle

Kerri Copello (second from left) is among Meteorology Club students attending the American Meteorological Society conference in Seattle.  Kerri sent this report (via e-mail) about the trip for use on the "A&S at WCSU" blog:

"To kick off the Spring 2011 semester, six WestConn meteorology students (recent graduate Larry Hallock, seniors Kerri Copello and Paul Shupenis, and juniors Kelley Bradley, Emily Roehler and Chris Stiles) along with Meteorology Club Advisor Gary Lessor went to Seattle, Washington, to the 91^st Annual American Meteorological Society Weather Conference on Jan. 23-27, 2011. The meeting allows professionals and students the ability to keep up with the latest scientific findings. This year’s theme is “Communicating Weather and Climate.” Communication is vital to the success of spreading scientific research to those in education and serving the public. The students and professionals attending the conference aimed to find out how to become better communicators, public speakers, and meteorological advocates so that information can be provided to the public more efficiently. 
 
"While attending the conference, the WestConn contingent attended many sessions/presentations. The first session attended was for first-time attendees and provided an overview of the annual meeting and gave suggestions on how to make the most of all the meetings. AMS fellows provided an overview of the programs, special events, exhibits and services the conference offers. One presentation attended was given by Stephen J. Lord, an invited speaker who discussed the recent progress in analysis and prediction at the National Centers for Environmental Prediction and the Environmental Modeling Center. He has verbally committed to come and speak at our next Tri-State Weather Conference scheduled for October 2012. Another presentation we attended was by Michael J. Erickson, a 2002 WestConn alumnus. He made a wonderful presentation on the impact of spatial bias correction and conditional training on Bayesian Model averaging over the Northeast United States. Mike is currently obtaining his Ph.D. from Stony Brook University under advisor Brian Colle. 

"On the first day, several thousand individuals attended WeatherFest, an interactive science and weather fair. Here, the students met with professionals from a variety of meteorological backgrounds and were able to network and ask questions about different careers in meteorology, other science and engineering fields.  There was also a poster session in which schools across the country made posters that showed what each meteorology program did and how they interacted within their community. This was a great opportunity for our students to see what other schools are doing and perhaps implement into our program. Throughout the week, a career fair was held for the students to talk with prospective employers or graduate schools. 
 

"One morning was set aside for an exclusive tour of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). They got to learn about inner workings of the National Weather Service and the National Oceanic Service.  Most students use the National Weather Service to help with forecasting so to get the opportunity to take a tour of this facility was an amazing experience. During other free time, the students saw local spots like the Space Needle, Pike’s Market and other tourist areas to experience local culture. The AMS held a chapter officer breakfast meeting. The WCSU students attended and got to sit with the Executive Director of the AMS, Keith Seitter, and learn more about the organization. The ladies in the group attended a Women in Science lunch Wednesday and got to see all the opportunities that there are and perhaps had never been thought of before. The Annual Banquet was held Wednesday night."

Thanks, Kerri, for sharing your experiences with all of us.  Have a safe journey back! 

Wunderkammer of Knowledge

In Fall 2010, the Honors Programs offered "The Wunderkammer of Knowledge," an innovative course team-taught by seven faculty members.  To learn more, check out Amanda Bloom's "What a Wunderful Class" published 7 Jan. 2011 in The Mercurial.

Jane Goodall Institute looking for interns

The Jane Goodall Institute is looking for interns to work primarily on campus for Spring and Summer 2011.  While working on Roots & Shoots programming, interns will learn or can apply a wide variety of skills including youth leadership, event planning, marketing, graphic design, and writing and editing.  They also will learn firsthand how an international non-profit organization works and how to develop education and service learning programs.  Interested students should send a resume and cover letter to Shawn Sweeney at ssweeney@janegoodall.org or stop by his office in White Hall 029 for more information.  Applications will be accepted through 11 Feb. 2011.  Western and the Jane Goodall Institute are partners in the Jane Goodall Center for Exellence in Environmental Studies.

JFK: 50 Years Later

Over the past few months, Western has been celebrating the 50th anniversary of John F. Kennedy's election as the 35th president of the United States with JFK50, a special exhibit in the Haas Library of JFK memorabilia collected by Western alumnus and former Danbury Mayor James E Dyer.  Dr. Burt Peretti, Interim Dean of Graduate Studies and External Program and Professor of History, offered his reflections on JFK's presidency in "The legacy 50 years after his inauguration," an op-ed piece published on 23 Jan. 2011 in The News-Times.  Dyer's op-ed piece, "President Kennedy ushered in a 'Time for Greatness,'" appears in the same issue.  Dyer and Dr. Marcy May, Professor of History, will participate in "Remembering JFK," a program at 11 a..m. on Jan. 27 in the Haas Library. All are invited.  

Spring Orientation 2011

 A&S had a wonderful turnout at the Spring 2011 orientation on 19 Jan. 2011.  Above is a photo of students and faculty who attended the A&S session at 8 p.m.  Welcome, new students!

Young gamers and addiction

Dr. Shane Murphy, associate professor of Psychology, is among the experts quoted in "Study:  One in 10 Young Gamers Could Become Pathological Addicts," an article published 18 Jan. 2011 in TechNewsWorld.

Looking for today's weather forecast?

The Weather Center at WCSU is a wonderful resource.  Forecasts are updated regularly, and The Weather People, a student-produced program, is available online during the fall and spring semesters. 

What distinguishes false freedom from true freedom?

Dr. Chris Kukk, associate professor of Political Science and director of the Honors Program, explores this question in "Tucson and Free Speech:  False Freedom vs. True Freedom," an op-ed piece published in The News-Times on 16 Jan. 2011.