W E S T E R N C O N N E C T I C U T S TAT E U N I V E R S I T Y V O L . 1 0 , N O . 2 F E B . / M A R C H 2 0 0 8

Governor signs bonding package

Media Mentions Below is a sampling of mentions aboutWestConn that appeared recently in thelocal media. Unless otherwise noted, thearticles appeared in The News-Times:

Late 2007/Early 2008

CLASSIC THEATERBaring one’s soul is considerablydifferent than baring one’s backside, butthat’s the 180-degree turn the theatre artsdepartment at WestConn has taken withits fall production - going from the malestrippers of last season’s “The Full Monty”to the orchard strippers of Chekhov’s“The Cherry Orchard.”

WCSU CONTINUES TO GROWWestConn’s record enrollment of 6,211full- and part-time students this fall is atestament to its efforts over the past twoyears to recruit students to Danbury and

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by Paul Steinmetz

Governor M. Jodi Rellcame to WCSU in November tosign into law a bond packagethat provides nearly a billiondollars for the ConnecticutState University System (CSUS),including more than $90million for a new Visual andPerforming Arts InstructionalCenter at WestConn.

“If there is a crown jewelin this bonding bill, it is theprogram that will continue theglorious transformation ofhigher education inConnecticut,” Rell said. “Thattransformation began with‘UConn 2000’ and continuestoday with ‘CSU 2020.’ Overthe next 10 years we arededicating nearly $1 billion toremake the CSUs.”

CSUS Chancellor Dr. David

G. Carter attended the ceremonywith the presidents of the fouruniversities and severalpoliticians to celebrate thesigning.

Rell gave each of theuniversity presidents a signedcopy of the bill.

WestConn President JamesW. Schmotter thanked thegovernor and the legislature fortheir support of the four CSUuniversities.

“WestConn students willbenefit tremendously fromcapital improvement projectsthis bond package makespossible,” Schmotter said. “I ampleased that the leaders of theSenate and House andGovernor Rell worked hard tocraft a compromise that, byenabling the Connecticut StateUniversity System to continue togrow and improve, will benefit

all of the state’s citizens. Iespecially want to thank CSUSBoard of Trustees (BOT) ChairLarry McHugh, the leadershipof both houses and our locallegislators, who all understandthe significance of WestConn tothe region and were steadfastin their support. The future ofConnecticut is brighter becauseof what they have done.”

(clockwise from top) (l-r): SCSU President

Cheryl Norton, State Sen. Donald E. Williams,

State Rep. Bob Godfrey, CSUS BOT Chairman

Lawrence D. McHugh, WCSU President

James W. Schmotter, CSUS BOT Trustee L.

David Panciere, CSUS Chancellor Dr. David G.

Carter and CSUS Student Trustee Andrew

Wetmore applaud as Gov. M. Jodi Rell signs

the bonding package. Gov. Rell addresses the

crowd. (l-r): Gov. Rell, State Rep. Godfrey and

President Schmotter listen to State Sen.

Williams. (l-r): CSUS Chancellor Carter, ECSU

President Jack Miller, WCSU President

Schmotter and SCSU President Norton at

the signing.

help them stay. The efforts range fromexpanded advising programs to courses inwhich students study abroad as a class.

YOU NEVER KNOW WHO THENEXT EINSTEIN MIGHT BEKids can venture into the world of scienceSaturday and get up close and personal tomini explosions, chemical reactions andbubbling experiments. It’s all part of theWizards of Chemistry show in Danbury.Resident wizard Alex Csengery is theorganizer of this interactive show atWestConn. But he’s a bit secretive about thespecific experiments to be conducted.

GOVERNOR PRAISES WESTCONNConnecticut Gov. M. Jodi Rell signed thelong-delayed state bonding bill at WestConnon Friday afternoon. “I love this school,what it has done, what it has accomplished,”said Rell in a speech that praised WestConn

and the other three schools in the stateuniversity system - Southern, Central andEastern.

A CELEBRATION OF SUCCESSNearly 200 people came out Wednesdayto celebrate the success of the WestConnwomen’s soccer team. ... The Colonialswere among the final four teams in theNCAA Women’s Soccer Championshipsplayed in Orlando, Fla., last month.

TURNING A PAGE BY TURNINGHER CHEEKCarlotta Walls LaNier doesn’t rememberhow many times she was spit on. But thehate always came off with a little soapand water. ... LaNier will tell herremarkable story Jan. 21 as the keynotespeaker at WestConn’s Dr. Martin Luther

King Community Celebration.

Expert on U.S. power and diversity to speak forPresident’s Lecture Series

by Paul Steinmetz

Amy Chua, the provocativeauthor who argues that diversityhas helped the United Statesdominate the world, will discussthe state of U.S. power, federalimmigration policy and her ownexperience as a second-generation immigrant when shespeaks on March 25 at WesternConnecticut State University.

Chua’s latest book is “Day ofEmpire: How Hyperpowers Riseto Global Dominance — andWhy They Fall.” A hyperpower,Chua says, is the raregovernment that has amassedenough military, intellectual andcultural might to dominate theentire world. The United Statesis the latest hyperpower, but thelist includes ancient Rome, thePersian Empire, the TangDynasty of China, and GenghisKhan’s Mongols.

One trait that allows agovernment to achievehyperpower status, Chua says, istolerance and incorporation ofethnic and racial minorities.Although previous hyperpowerswere often brutal, they didwelcome conquered peoplesinto facets of government —particularly the military — whichallowed the regime to buildoverwhelming might andconquer more lands.

“Every hyperpower inhistory rose to global dominancethrough tolerance,” Chua said. “Idon’t mean tolerance in themodern human rights sense.Rather, I mean lots of differentkinds of people live, participate,prosper and rise in your societyregardless of race, ethnicity ornationality. In order to dominatethe world, a society has to be atthe cutting edge of the world’stechnological, economic andmilitary frontier. At any givenpoint in history, the world’s mostvaluable human capital is nevergoing to be found within any

one ethnic group or within anyone religion. So to pull awayfrom your rivals on a globalscale, you’ve got to be able topull in the best and brightestfrom the world.”

Conversely, hyperpowers inhistory have all fallen when theybecame more insular andintolerant toward other racesand ethnicities. Chua will discussthe United States as the world’scurrent hyperpower and the rolethat diversity, respect, tolerance,assimilation and political strategyplay in the country’s democracy.

Chua has been a member ofthe Yale Law School facultysince 2001. Her Chinesegrandparents lived in thePhilippines and owned one ofthe largest plasticsconglomerates in the country.Her father immigrated to theUnited States to attend M.I.T.and earned his Ph.D. He and hiswife were so poor, however, thatduring their first two years inthis country, they could notafford to heat their apartment.

Chua will discuss her insightinto the role immigrants andminorities play in U.S. society, aswell as federal immigrationpolicy and the challengeunrestricted immigrationimposes on local communities.

Chua recently wrote in anop-ed article for The WashingtonPost that the United Stateshistorically has successfullyincorporated immigrants into itssociety largely because thecountry has a national identitystrong enough to hold togetherdivergent communities.

But, she warned, “America’sglue can be subverted by toomuch tolerance. Immigrationadvocates are too often guilty ofan uncritical political correctnessthat avoids hard questions aboutnational identity and imposes noobligations on immigrants. Forthese well-meaning idealists,

Congratulations to WestConn’s Women’s Soccer Team, which captured the Little East

Conference title and then advanced to the semi-final round of the NCAA Division III Women’s

Soccer National Championships in Orlando, Fla.

WCSU Women’s Soccer sets new standard

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cont’d. on page 5

Communique

Paul Steinmetz

Director, University Relations(203) 837-8771steinmetzp@wcsu.edu

Sherri Hill

Assistant Director, University Relations(203) 837-8774hills@wcsu.edu

Robert Taylor

University Assistant, University Relations(203) 837-8826taylorr@wcsu.edu

Catherine Cote

Secretary, University Relations(203) 837-8486cotec@wcsu.edu

To request additional copies, please callCatherine at (203) 837-8486.

Vol. 10, No. 2Feb./March 2008

This section is reserved forcorrecting errors or clarifyingstatements appearing in theCommuniqué. Please report factualerrors or items needing clarificationby calling (203) 837-8486 orsending an e-mail to pr@wcsu.edu.

CORRECTIONS &

CLARIFICATIONS

COMMUNIQUE STAFF

Western Connecticut

State University 181 White Street

Danbury, CT 06810(203) 837-9000

or toll free in CT 1-877-837-WCSUwww.wcsu.edu

Dr. James W. Schmotter

President

Dr. Linda Rinker

Provost

Maribeth Amyot

Vice President for Finance and Administration

Dr. Koryoe Anim-Wright

Vice President for Institutional Advancement

Dr. Walter Bernstein

Vice President for Student Affairs

Lorraine Capobianco

Chief Information Officer

William Hawkins

Enrollment Management Officer

Charles Spiridon

Associate Vice President for Human Resources

Dr. Lynne Clark

Dean, School of Professional Studies

Dr. Walter Cramer

Dean, Student Affairs

Dr. Ellen Durnin

Dean, Graduate Studies and External Programs

Dr. Carol Hawkes

Dean, School of Visual and Performing Arts

Dr. Allen Morton

Dean, Ancell School of Business

Dr. Linda Vaden-Goad

Dean, School of Arts and Sciences

Western Connecticut State University is anaffirmative action/equal opportunity educatorand employer, fully committed to the goal ofproviding equal opportunity and fullparticipation in its educational programs,activities and employment withoutdiscrimination.

Communiqué is published bimonthly(September - December & February -May) by the Office of UniversityRelations at Western Connecticut StateUniversity.

Managing EditorPaul Steinmetz

Associate EditorSherri Hill

EditorsRobin DeMerell

Anastasia FaulknerRobert Taylor

PhotographyPeggy Stewart

Layout & DesignEllen Myhill

Send comments/suggestions to:pr@wcsu.edu

A R O U N D C A M P U S

by Ariel Jaquez

A celebration was heldthis fall to commemorate theWCSU Child Care Center’s 10years as part of the WestConnand Danbury communities.However, the groundworktoward this accomplishmentbegan before the opening ofthe center in 1997.

“By the time we opened,we were the only one of thefour CSUs to not have a childcare center,” said MaureenGernert, director of WestConn’sCareer Development Centerand chairwoman of the ChildCare Center board. “It was agrassroots effort with staff,students and people from thecommunity coming together tomake the center viable.”

The center initially wascreated to provide affordablechild care assistance for theuniversity community,particularly students withchildren.

“The center has helpedmake it easier for students tocontinue their educationbecause they do not have to

worry about their kids,” Gernertsaid.

It also has been used as aneducational resource by variousdepartments, including socialwork and psychology, providinga lab school for WestConnstudents.

This is something thecenter’s director, ArleneSalvador, would like to expandupon.

“We want to becomeinclusive of children from birthto kindergarten,” she said. “Bydoing this we’ll be able to

A story and a cookie - just a few of the fun

things found at the WCSU Child Care Center.

better serve as a lab schoolfor other programs — and wewould be able to serve morepeople.”

Last year the centerreceived a $71,000 grant fromthe state’s fund for earlychildhood readiness centers toimprove the playground,security system and educationprogram. “We renovated theplayground, replaced thecarpet and we painted,” saidMaureen Monaghan, a teacherwho has been with the centerfor seven years. “We alsobought educational toys tohelp the students’ learning.”

Accredited by theNational Association for theEducation of Young Childrenand operated by EducationConnection, the center’s staffcares for 32 children betweenthe ages of 3 and 5throughout the year, andaccommodates the changingschedules of parents utilizingthe facility. “We’re veryadaptable and we’re here forthe community,” Monaghansaid.

10Child Care Center celebrates10th anniversary

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Civicengagementthrough civiceducation

by Leah G. Stambler

Dr. Leah G. Stambler, professor ofeducation and educational psychology,presented a paper at this year’sAmerican Democracy Project annualmeeting sponsored by the AmericanAssociation of State Colleges andUniversities. Following are excerptsfrom Stambler’s talk, which also waspublished in the AASCU publication“Democracy and Civic Engagement:Implications for Teacher Preparationand A National Agenda for Inquiry.”

The importance of civicengagement among the nation’syouth has been catapulted intothe forefront of curriculumconcerns. Publication of the1998 National Assessment ofEducational Progress (NAEP)tests’ results attested to a lack ofproficiency in Americanstudents’ knowledge about civicsand government. Society’sconcern with the apparent out-of-control behavior of Americanyouth has led to a reawakeningof interest in having schoolssystematically infuse curriculumwith civic education as a schoolresponsibility.

The Connecticut CommonCore of Learning (CCCL)mandates the teaching of civicsand character education in thekindergarten through 12th gradeclasses of public schools inConnecticut. Students areexpected to “apply knowledgeof the U.S. Constitution, how the

cont’d. on page 7

by Robert Taylor

At 7 p.m. one evening thisfall, students in WestConn’sMaster of BusinessAdministration capstonemarketing class gathered inScience Building Room 135 toget down to work with theirclassmates — who were meetingsimultaneously at 7 a.m. the nextday and half a world away, atSias International University incentral China.

Welcome to the age ofglobalization — and to theremarkable evolution of aninternational relationship that isopening a world of possibilitiesfor instructional and researchexchange between WestConnand Sias, a pioneering highereducation institution that hasgrown dramatically since itsfounding in 1998 in Zhengzhou,capital of Henan province.

The live video-conferencinglinkups between research teamsin Associate Professor ofMarketing Dr. Karen L. Koza’sMarketing 534 course and theirpartners at Sias University reflecta dynamic and continuingcollaboration that has involvedmore than 150 students inWestConn’s Ancell School ofBusiness (ASB) and SiasUniversity’s business programsince it began during the springsemester of 2006. Students in theM.B.A. course during the fall

term and Koza’s capstoneundergraduate course Marketing490, offered each spring, haveestablished an uncommonlyclose research partnership withtheir Sias colleagues throughvideo conferences, e-mail,discussion boards and othercommunication. Together theyhave produced case studies withteaching notes and strategicmarketing plans addressing real-life decisions facing Chinese andU.S. companies engaged in therapidly expanding Sino-Americanbusiness relationship.

“Not many colleges anduniversities are involved in suchextensive internationalcollaborations of this kind,especially at the undergraduatelevel,” Koza observed.

The seeds for the WestConn-Sias relationship took root froma 2005 encounter at HarvardUniversity between ASB DeanDr. Allen Morton and SiasFounder and President ShawnChen. That discussion ofpossibilities for institutionalcooperation gave rise to thelaunch in spring 2006 of a seriesof collaborations betweenstudents in the WCSU Marketing490 and 534 courses andundergraduate business studentsat Sias to develop case studiesand marketing plans exploringopportunities for China’s third-largest bus manufacturer,Zhengzhou-based Yutong Bus

Company, to break into the U.S.marketplace. Over the course ofthe next year-and-a-half, jointteams of WestConn and Siasstudents analyzed the U.S.transportation sector, evaluatedexport potential for Yutongmodels, and assessed a widerange of issues such as brandand country-of-originidentification, best practices,quality and cost factors, andniche target marketing.

A prestigious case-writingcompetition sponsored byBusiness Week magazine andthe Society for Case Researchrecently singled out two Yutongcase studies submitted byWCSU-Sias teams for HonorableMention recognition, among justeight award citations in theentire nationwide contest. Thestudies, each prepared by threeWestConn M.B.A. studentsworking with two students atSias, revealed how muchparticipants at both institutionsbenefited from collaboration onthe Yutong project.

“Working with a livecompany provides a richerlearning environment for thestudents, and growing therelationship between WCSU andSias is important for enrichingthe global dimension of thestudents’ learning experience,”Koza observed.

WestConn missions to Chinaduring the summers of 2006 and

‘China connection’: Research in the age of globalization2007 have taken important stepstoward building the foundationsfor further expansion of thecooperative relationship withSias in coming years. PresidentJames W. Schmotter, Morton,Koza and EnrollmentManagement Officer WilliamHawkins paid a ground-breakingvisit to Zhengzhou in July 2006.Schmotter joined Chen insigning a memorandum ofagreement and understandingthat committed the twoinstitutions to explore means tostrengthen collaboration throughthe development of jointcurriculum and research projectsand the promotion of studentand faculty exchanges.

Last July, Morton and Kozawere joined in their return tripto Sias by Professor of MarketingDr. Ronald Drozdenko,codirector with Koza of theWCSU Center for BusinessResearch (CBR), and DonnaCoelho, CBR coordinator ofcommunity relations. Coelhonoted three students from Koza’sspring 2007 Marketing 490 classparticipated in the mission tojoin their Sias counterparts in amajor presentation of theirresearch findings and strategicmarketing plan to managementexecutives of the Yutong BusCompany. Their plan identifiedthe tour bus and shuttle busniches in the U.S. transportation

cont’d. on page 7

3A R O U N D C A M P U S

by Paul Steinmetz

To energize theaffirmative action processduring searches for faculty, Dr.Bryan Samuel, director ofmulticultural affairs, is taking anew approach.

Instead of relying only onadvertising in publicationsaimed at minorities who mightbe looking for work, Samueland WCSU are partnering withan organization of AfricanAmerican women in highereducation, the Sisters of theAcademy (SOTA).

While the effort does notinvolve explicit offers for openfaculty positions, Samuel’stheory is that as membersbecome familiar withWestConn, many will apply forpositions as they becomeavailable.

“Most institutions aren’tdoing these kinds of proactivethings,” Samuel said. “This is anew way to reach people wehave historically beenchallenged in reaching. Wehave to do more.”

that might lead to visitingprofessorships for SOTAmembers.

The April symposium isexpected to bring 100 AfricanAmerican doctoral recipientsand candidates to campus. Dr.David G. Carter, chancellor ofthe Connecticut StateUniversity System, will speakat the gathering. Attendees willtour WestConn and learn aboutthe university’s mission andstrategic plan.

“I reached out to thembecause it was a good idea,”Samuel said. “I think of it asripples in a pond that spreadout from the center. I want togive them an opportunity toincrease their knowledgeabout WCSU. If we show theminformation about ourinstitution, you’re bound to seesome return to our institution.The return might not beimmediate. But it’s a ripple.”

For more information, call the Office of

Multicultural Affairs at (203) 837-8278.

WestConn wins grant to increase ‘underrepresented’ populationby Paul Steinmetz

WestConn has been chosenby the Nellie Mae EducationFoundation to participate inProject Compass, thefoundation’s new multi-yearinitiative aimed at increasing thenumber of underrepresentedpopulations graduating withfour-year degrees. WCSU will beawarded an initial grant of$100,000 to support a year ofplanning and capacity building.

WestConn is one of six NewEngland universities chosen forthe grant.

“Our effectiveness ineducating students fromunderrepresented groups shouldbe measured by their academicsuccess, not just by access toour curriculum,” said WCSUPresident James W. Schmotter.“Project Compass will enable usto partner even morepurposefully with localcommunity organizations toachieve this goal.”

WCSU will define initiativesto increase access, improveretention and support academicsuccess for its Latino/Hispanicstudent cohort, primarily first-generation students from low-income backgrounds. ProjectImpact (Improving MinorityPaths to Achievement throughCommunity Transformation)takes a student-focusedapproach to broad-basedcommunity transformation witha project team that includesacademic and student lifecampus leaders, andrepresentatives from localschools and communityorganizations.

The initiative is beinglaunched at a time when collegeretention is a major highereducation issue, especially forlow-income students andstudents of color who are nowthe fastest-growing segments ofNew England’s population.Project Compass will supportinnovative institutional programsand strategies that strive toeliminate achievement gaps andsignificantly increase academicsuccess, retention andgraduation rates for minority andlow-income undergraduatestudents.

“With Project Compass,we’re continuing theFoundation’s long-standing

commitment to college successfor underserved students,” saidNellie Mae Education Presidentand CEO Nicholas Donohue.“We’re excited to work withWestern Connecticut State andhope that, in doing so, we’llhelp inspire and nurture thetype of bold thinking aroundpostsecondary education thatwill be necessary if we want toensure that the majority of alllearners acquire the skillsneeded to succeed in the 21stcentury.”

The new initiative will beadministered by the NewEngland Resource Center forHigher Education (NERCHE) atthe University of Massachusetts-Boston. It will create a learningcommunity of colleges anduniversities that aims to achievemeasurable improvement inacademic outcomes forunderrepresented students,while at the same time changinginstitutional policies andpractices to sustain and expandthose efforts.

“NERCHE looks forward toworking with these sixcampuses to shape institutionalresponses that increase theretention and academic successof underrepresented students,”said John Saltmarsh, director ofNERCHE. “The Foundation’sinvestment in Project Compass iscritically important for exploringand creating effective models forinstitutional change.”

The initiative will servestudents from variouspopulations who are currentlyunderrepresented on NewEngland college campuses: fromfirst-generation immigrantstudents in Connecticut to NativeAmerican populations innorthern Maine; from urbanstudents of color, to rural low-income learners. The collegeswill work to identify challengesto academic success for thesepopulations in order to helpstudents persist and graduate.

The other five publiccolleges from around NewEngland chosen to join theinitiative are: EasternConnecticut State University,Bridgewater State College inMassachusetts, Lyndon StateCollege in Vermont, theUniversity of Massachusetts-Boston, and the University ofMaine at Presque Isle.

The initiative will beorganized into two distinctphases. The first phase will fundthe chosen six institutions for aplanning and capacity-buildingyear. During the second phase,the Foundation will award up tofour years of annualimplementation grants of$150,000 to $200,000. The

second-phase grants arecontingent upon the institutions’yearly progress on objectivesdeveloped during the planningyear.

The Nellie Mae EducationFoundation is the largestphilanthropy in New Englandthat focuses exclusively onpromoting access, quality and

effectiveness of education.Established in 1998, theFoundation provides grants andother support to educationprograms in the region designedto improve underservedstudents' academic achievementand access to higher education.The Foundation also fundsresearch that examines criticaleducational opportunity issues.Since it was established, theFoundation has distributednearly $72 million in grants.Currently, the Foundation isrealigning its programinvestments. It will continue tofocus its grantmaking onstrategies that supportunderserved learners whilebuilding knowledge about howto dramatically improveoutcomes for the majority ofNew England’s learners. Whilethe funding focus transitions to

Deliberative Polling planned on campusby Paul Steinmetz

WestConn is tapping into anascent worldwide movement toincrease civic discussion andknowledge.

The project, calledDeliberative Polling, aims tocreate opportunities to talkabout important — andpotentially divisive — issues inways that will help participantsunderstand them better andmake decisions.

At WestConn, the questionposed during Deliberation Daywill center on religious toleranceand whether people of differentbeliefs can live and worktogether.

The Rev. Mark Horton ischairman of the committee thatwill bring the project to campus.

“The subject is crucial to not

only our democracy but ourcivilization and its ability tosucceed and thrive,” Horton said.“It will be fascinating to workwith people as they deal withtheir ideas, their prejudices andtheir aspirations, and seewhether we can bring themtogether at the end of the day tofind potential solutions.”

WestConn was selected asone of 15 universities in thecountry to participate in a year-long test of Deliberative Pollingsponsored by the AmericanDemocracy Project, which is aproject of the AmericanAssociation of State Colleges andUniversities.

Deliberative Polling is aprocess in which participants arequestioned about their views ona specific subject beforeengaging in a discussion led by

Lissette Rivas is a member of WestConn’s Latin

American Student Organization and president of

the Rotaract Club on campus.

cont’d. on page 5

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a moderator with knowledgeof the subject. After thediscussion and presentation offacts, the participants arepolled again and the results ofthe two polls are compared.

The process reveals thatas people become betterinformed about subjects thatare often complicated andcontroversial, they becomemore open to a variety ofviews and potential solutions.Thus, community discussionon important issues canbecome more productive.

Deliberation Day atWestConn will be on Friday,March 28.

For more information, call the Office of

University Relations at (203) 837-8486.

WestConn’s oldest living alumna, Mary Edgett, recently celebrated her 104th birthday, with

WestConn’s help. She was born in 1903, the same year the university was founded.

Happy Birthday, Mary

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Partnership promotes affirmative actionThe SOTA mission is to

create an educational network ofblack women in highereducation in order to fostersuccess in the areas of teaching,scholarly inquiry and service tothe community; to facilitatecollaborative scholarship amongblack women in highereducation; and to enhancemembers’ professionaldevelopment.

WCSU President James W.Schmotter welcomed the project.

“This kind of proactiveoutreach makes great sense,”Schmotter said. “Diversity is oneof the building blocks of ourstrategic plan, and we want tocreate a supportive environmentfor everyone as we continue toincrease our enrollment andcapitalize on the culturalvibrancy of our region.”

SOTA leadership met atWestConn for several days inNovember to plan the group’sinaugural research symposium,which will be held at theuniversity April 10 – 13. Duringthat meeting, WCSU Provost Dr.Linda Rinker held discussions

4 A L U M N I & D E V E L O P M E N T

by Paul Steinmetz

One of the most rewardingmoments for WestConn studentsvisiting the United Nations thisfall came about because theyand their leader — the normallystudiously judicious Friar MikeLasky of the Newman Center —were willing to engage in aslight deception.

The members of the groupfound themselves near anenclave where a ceremony wasabout to be held to ring theU.N. Peace Bell. They took theinitiative.

“We weren’t supposed toget into that, but we walked likewe knew what we were doing,”Lasky said. “The only non-U.N.people there were us and theRoots and Shoots people fromWCSU.” (The Roots and Shootsgroup had been invited.)

It was the type ofserendipity that Lasky, a veteranof several U.N. pilgrimages, hascome to expect as studentsventure to New York to examinethe harshness and sublime

promise of life in the world’scapital.

U.N. Secretary-General BanKi-moon, primatologist andWCSU supporter Dr. JaneGoodall, and Nobel laureate ElieWiesel all spoke at theceremony.

“Elie Wiesel was absolutelyamazing,” Lasky said. “He talkedabout ‘Romeo and Juliet’ andhow what we’re taught in schoolis a lie. We’re told it’s a tragiclove story. It’s not a love story,it’s a terrible story about howparents don’t get along and theirkids suffer as a result. He saidwe need to think higher and feeldeeper.”

That message resonatedlater when the students visitedCentral Park and stopped at thestatues of Shakespeare, RobertBurns and Sir Walter Scott.Wearing T-shirts that bore themessage, “Poetry is an act ofPeace,” they recited verse andprose (Romeo and Juliet atShakespeare’s statue) and thenwrote their own poems.

They also took part in a

United Nations visit offers intrigue, insightvideo conference with otheryouth from the Congo, Sudanand Lebanon.

WestConn student MercedesDeMasi, an anthropology/sociology major, asked arepresentative from Sudanwhether Americans who donateto that country can be certainthe money goes to people inneed, instead of governmentofficials.

The Sudanese said theft ofdonations “is a difficulty,” butrecommended American donorsshould make sure to sendmoney through groups that havea good reputation for operatinghonestly in Sudan.

Students also heard from ateen-age volunteer from Chile,who was only 11 years oldwhen she founded a nonprofitcharity to benefit an orphanagein her home country. The charityis still going strong and theyoung organizer has plans toexpand.

“It was a real example toour students,” Lasky said. “If youwant to make a difference, don’tjust sit around, do something!”

Lasky has led severalgroups of 10 to 20 students,faculty and staff to the U.N. overthe past couple of years. Thefirst trip was one of the originalprojects supported by thePresident’s Initiatives Fund. TheNewman Club and the ProgramActivities Council now financethe trips, which Laskycoordinates through theFranciscans International.Another U.N. trip took place onHuman Rights Day, Dec. 10.

For more information, call the Newman Center

at (203) 744-5846.Friar Mike Lasky talks with WestConn students during a visit to the United Nations.

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her heart. She was a trueinspiration to everyone whoknew her.”

Eaton said in seeking to finda way to share a piece of hiswife’s life with those who lovedher — and even those whonever had the privilege to makeher acquaintance — he seizedupon how inspiring othersfound her. That’s why he andother family members createdthe Khalda Logan InspirationScholarship at WestConn.

The annual scholarship willbe awarded to a WestConnstudent who “embodies thecompassion, spirit and drive thatProfessor Khalda Logandisplayed throughout her life.”

Criteria for the scholarshipinclude a concentration in mediacommunications, dance oreducation with a 3.5 minimumgrade point average andfinancial need.

Applicants will be asked toread a biography about Logan-Eaton and respond in a 1,000-word essay to one of twoquestions: “How do I feel Iwould carry on the legacy ofachievements accomplished byProfessor Logan in my area ofstudy to reflect my personalpassion?” or “Where do I seemyself in 5-10 years in mychosen profession?”

Eaton is quick to sharemany heartwarming stories ofhow his wife’s smile and lovingways impacted those she

encountered, and his hope thatthe scholarship will enableLogan-Eaton’s legacy to continueto make others’ lives better, “oneperson and one moment at atime.”

Logan-Eaton’s sister, DebbieGriffith, said that while the lossof her younger sister is “justbottomless,” one of the mostprofound things she took awaywas her sister’s celebration ofknowledge.

“As a passionate educator,Khalda challenged her studentsnot to study just for the sake ofpassing a test, but to actuallycommit to learning whateversubject material was beingtaught and strive to master it inorder to have the reward of a‘celebration of knowledge,’”Griffith said.

“She truly touched manylives, which is why we want herlegacy to continue. This willkeep her passion alive.”

A benefit event, “ACelebration of Dance — APerformance to Benefit theKhalda Logan InspirationScholarship,” was held before afull house in Ives Concert Hallin October. A memorialfoundation also has beenestablished in Logan-Eaton’sname to fund scholarships atWestConn and NYU. The Website is www.khaldalogan.org.

For more information, call the Office of

Institutional Advancement at (203) 837-8298.

Scholarship pays tribute to beloved professor’s inspiring spirit

by Sherri Hill

When Associate Professor ofCommunication Khalda Logan-Eaton succumbed to cancer lastMarch, a stunning sense of lossswept the university communityand all those who had knownher. Only 39 at the time of herdeath, Logan-Eaton already hadaccomplished more than mostcan aspire to in a lifetime twiceas long — yet left behind somuch unfulfilled promise.

Not only a professor atWestConn, Logan-Eaton also wasan alumna, adding a WCSUBachelor of Arts in mediacommunications, cum laude, to

the Bachelor of Science inbiology/pre-med that she hadobtained previously at AdelphiUniversity. She subsequentlywent on to receive a Master ofArts in media ecology and aMaster of Fine Arts in dance,both at New York University(NYU).

In addition to her duties asan associate professor ofcommunication at WestConn,Logan-Eaton also was a principaldancer with thenicholasleichterdance companyin New York, and mentored theWCSU Dance Team.

But for those who knewand loved her, Logan-Eaton was

so much more than a scholar, ateacher and a dancer.

“Khalda was simply themost amazing person I haveever known,” said her husband,Michael Eaton. “I believe thatshe was a true angel in everysense of the word. She gavemore than just guidance andwisdom to her students. Theway she treated people andlooked at the world, youcouldn’t help but want to be abetter person.

“She could light up even thedarkest room by just walking in,”Eaton continued. “The amountof joy she gave with her smilewas only eclipsed by the size of

Members of the nicolasleichterdance company perform at an October benefit event to support the Khalda Logan Inspiration Scholarship.

(l-r): Dean of the School of Professional Studies Dr. Lynne Clark, President James W.

Schmotter, Evan Bernstein, Lt. Susan Jano, Petra Volinski, WestConn CIO Lorraine Capobianco

and Provost Dr. Linda Rinker

School of Professional Studies honorsdistinguished alumni at ceremony

WestConn’s School ofProfessional Studies (SPS)celebrated its 30-yearanniversary by honoringdistinguished alumni in anachievement award celebrationin November.

The honorees included:Lorraine Capobianco, who

graduated in 1977 with abachelor’s in mathematics andcomputer science. Capobiancois WestConn’s chief informationofficer. She has held variouspositions in informationtechnology and has taught 37mathematics and computerscience courses at WestConn.

Petra A. Volinski, whograduated in 2004 with abachelor’s in health science.She later earned a master’s inresource management andadministration at AntiochUniversity New England.Volinski helped pass a law thatbanned the use of pesticideson elementary and middleschool grounds. She is self-employed as an environmentalconsultant.

Susan Jano, who

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graduated in 1987 with abachelor’s in nursing.Lieutenant Jano has 20 years ofmilitary nursing and medicalreadiness experience with astrong clinical focus onmedical-surgical nursing andaeromedical evacuation. In2005, she was named Air ForceField Grade Nurse of the Year.She is a student at the Air WarCollege at Maxwell AFB inAlabama.

Evan R. Bernstein, whograduated in 1998 with abachelor’s in social work.Bernstein served as aprofessional consultant forCommunity Counseling Serviceand now is the director ofmajor and planned gifts for theJohn C. Lincoln HealthFoundation, one of Arizona’slargest and most respectedhealth care systems.

The event was sponsoredby the SPS and the WCSUFoundation.

For more information, call the SPS at (203)

837-9500.

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5A L U M N I & D E V E L O P M E N T

in 1970, and he accomplishedmuch during his time at theuniversity. Mel founded the firstuniversity Weather Center inNew England at WestConn, andpushed for creation ofConnecticut’s first Bachelor ofArts in Meteorology.

Goldstein wasn’t satisfiedwith that. Through his consultingwork, he helped governmentsand industry prepare for theeffects of bad weather. Hedeveloped a severe storm indexand was the only forecaster topredict the devastating tornadothat hit Windsor Locks inOctober 1979. Because of thattype of work, Gov. Ella Grassoappointed him as her personalforecaster, and she would callhim whenever she had aweather-related question.

Goldstein also was busyduring those years as atelevision and radio personality,culminating with hisappointment as chiefmeteorologist at News Channel8-WTNH in New Haven. Hismedia work didn’t stop there.For 20 years, Goldstein wrote adaily newspaper column on the

weather for The HartfordCourant and later authored “TheComplete Idiot’s Guide toWeather.”

Not everything Goldsteindoes has to do with the weather.In 1996, he was diagnosed witha form of cancer called multiplemyeloma. Rather than feel sorryfor himself, he fought back, andhas become a national leader inpublicizing the disease andraising money to treat it.

Goldstein’s work has notgone unnoticed. He received theWCSU President’s Medal,honorary degrees from MitchellCollege and Albertus MagnusCollege, the ConnecticutBloomer Award for contributionsto the state of Connecticut, anomination for an Emmy awardfor a series of educationalvignettes about the weather and“Best of Connecticut” recognitionfrom the readers of ConnecticutMagazine for on-airmeteorologist every year since2000.

For more information, call the Office of

University Relations at (203) 837-8486.

(l-r) WestConn meteorology students interact with a legend in their intended field — Dr. Mel

Goldstein — as Goldstein’s wife, Arlene, looks on.

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WestConn, WTNH honor Dr. Mel Goldstein at scholarship event

by Paul Steinmetz

WestConn, News Channel 8-WTNH and MyTV9 honored Dr.Mel Goldstein in late Septemberwith the establishment of ascholarship for meteorologystudents in his name.

“Dr. Mel is a treasure to thiscommunity, to WestConn and to

the state of Connecticut,” saidDr. G. Koryoe Anim-Wright, vicepresident of InstitutionalAdvancement at the university.“His many years in meteorologyhave made him a householdname in Connecticut andbeyond. Finding a way toappropriately say thank you isnot easy, but we hope this event

conveys, in a small way, to Meland his family the love, respectand admiration the universityand the community at large havefor him and his work.”

Goldstein taught atWestConn for 27 years and hasbeen chief meteorologist atWTNH and MyTV9 since 1986.He also has inspired countlesspeople as a survivor of multiplemyeloma, a type of bone cancer.

Goldstein was born to studythe weather. By the time he wasin second grade inMassachusetts, Goldstein hadlived through a tornado and ahurricane. As a teenager, hesaid, his best days were spenton the beach watching stormsdevelop over the Atlantic. Hestarted a meteorology club whenhe was in eighth grade, and thatwas only the start of hisacademic interest in weather.

Goldstein earned a master’sin meteorology at Penn StateUniversity and his Ph.D. fromNew York University.

Dr. Mel, as he was knownthereafter, always intended toteach. He fulfilled his goal whenhe joined the WestConn faculty

Development highlights:Philanthropy Week(l-r): Institutional Advancement Financial Assistant Lynn Bricker

talks with CHOICES Coordinator Sharon Guck during WestConn’s

Philanthropy Day celebration on Sept. 14. The event capped a

weeklong program featuring poster presentations and information

displays highlighting the many contributions that donors have made

to enriching the university’s academic and extracurricular programs

and enhancing its physical infrastructure.

Vice President for Institutional Advancement Dr. Koryoe Anim-

Wright said the theme of the celebration, “Time, Talent, Treasure —

Give Your Way,” reflected the wide diversity of opportunities

for current and prospective donors to support the university’s

mission.

Golden Circle LuncheonPresident James W. Schmotter joins alumni guests at WestConn’s

11th Annual Golden Circle Luncheon on Sept. 14 in Warner Hall to

view a photographic display providing a nostalgic look back at

student and faculty life over the course of the institution’s 104-year

history.

Schmotter offered welcoming remarks at the Warner Hall event,

which honors the dedication of alumni who graduated 50 years ago

or more. The annual luncheon offers a special occasion for the

alumni to reunite with old friends and become reacquainted with

their alma mater.

Alumni Golf OutingEconomic Development Director for the City of Danbury Wayne

Shepperd, honorary co-chair of the WCSU Alumni Association Golf

Tournament, sizes up a putt during the annual outing that raises

funds each year to support university scholarships and academic

programs.

The 2007 event, held Oct. 2 as part of Homecoming Week

festivities, marked its return to Danbury at the Richter Park course.

Save the date to participate in the 2008 tournament at Richter

Park on Sept. 29, 2008.

Holiday Wine TastingThe Ninth Annual Holiday Wine Tasting on Nov. 4 provided another

opportunity to sample a dazzling array of wines and hors d’oeuvres

while supporting the Caraluzzi Scholarship Endowment, which has

financed scholarship grants exceeding $52,000 to nearly 60

WestConn students over the past seven years.

Marilynn Glen (pictured at center), a longtime benefactor of the

WCSU theatre arts department, joined other friends of WestConn in

filling the Grand Ballroom of the university’s Westside Campus

Center to evaluate the vintages and pick their favorites. President

James W. Schmotter praised the Caraluzzi family as a model for

building strong ties between the university and local business

communities.

new program work, theFoundation is building on whathas been learned throughsuccesses in order to define thefuture. The emerging programareas include early learning, theuse of time in learning, theexamination of the pathwaysinvolved between secondary andpostsecondary education, andadult learning with a focus onpostsecondary opportunities. Formore information on theFoundation’s current work, visitwww.nmefdn.org.

NERCHE is a center forinquiry, research, and policy.The center supportsadministrators, faculty, and staffacross the region in becomingmore effective practitioners andleaders as they navigate thecomplexities of institutional

innovation and change. NERCHEfocuses on higher educationinstitutions as complexworkplaces, providing resourcesfor practitioners who areexploring innovative ways toshape higher education andcreate opportunities for learningand applying their collectiveknowledge and experience.NERCHE’s research projects,programs and activities drawupon the practitioner perspectiveto improve practice and toinform and influence policy,moving from the local toregional and national levels. Formore information, visitwww.nerche.org.

For more information, call the Office of

University Relations at (203) 837-8486.

WestConn wins grant (cont’d.)

there is no such thing as toomuch diversity. The right thingfor the United States to do —and the best way to keepAmericans in favor ofimmigration — is to takenational identity seriously whilemaintaining our heritage as aland of opportunity. U.S.immigration policy should betolerant but also tough.”

Chua will speak at 7:30 p.m.on Tuesday, March 25, in Room125 of the Science Building onthe Midtown campus. The talkwill be free and open to thepublic. Copies of “Day ofEmpire” will be available forpurchase following the lecture.

Chua, the John M. Duff, Jr.Professor of Law, joined YaleLaw School after teaching atDuke, Columbia, Stanford andNew York University. Herexpertise is in the areas ofcontracts, law and development,international businesstransactions, and law andglobalization. She received YaleLaw School’s DistinguishedTeaching Award in 2003.

Chua wrote the 2002 NewYork Times bestseller, “World on

Fire: How Exporting Free MarketDemocracy Breeds Ethnic Hatredand Global Instability.” She holdsa B.A. and J.D. from HarvardUniversity. While at Harvard LawSchool, she served as executiveeditor of the Harvard LawReview. After graduating, sheclerked for Chief Judge PatriciaWald of the United State Courtof Appeals for the D.C. Circuit.

For more information, call the Office of

University Relations at (203) 837-8486 or the

Office of the President at (203) 837-8754.

Expert on U.S. power to speak (cont’d.)

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Amy Chua

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6 C A M P U S B R I E F S

Congratulations!

The Connecticut StateUniversity System (CSUS)honored Assistant Professor ofBiological and EnvironmentalSciences Dr. Ruth Gyure withboth a university-level TrusteesTeaching Award as a WestConnfaculty member, and a system-wide Trustees Teaching Awardfor which she was selectedfrom a field that includeduniversity-level winners fromCentral, Eastern and SouthernConnecticut state universities. Itis the first time this award hasbeen conferred by the CSUSBoard of Trustees (BOT).

Associate Professor of

English Dr. Shouhua Qireceived a university-levelTrustees Research Award at theceremony.

CSUS BOT ChairmanLawrence D. McHugh said,“The quality of teaching andlevel of research throughoutthe university system is trulyremarkable, and thescholarship by these facultymembers is both inspiring andsignificant.”

If you have an announcement about a recent

appointment to a board, award or other

professional accomplishment you’d like to

share, please e-mail pr@wcsu.edu.

In August 2007, TerrenceDwyer retired from the New YorkState Police (NYSP) after 22highly decorated years on thejob. The awards and honors heamassed included 14 NYSP TroopCommander’s Letters ofCommendation, four NYSPSuperintendent’s Letters ofCommendation, a NYSPSuperintendent’s Award, citationsfrom the New York State

Assembly and New York StateSenate, and several othercommendations andappreciation awards. During hiscareer as an investigator, Dwyerwas involved in a number ofhigh-profile organized crimeand homicide cases inManhattan, Dutchess andWestchester counties. His workon one of those cases — thePartners-N-Crime drug gang —resulted in Dwyer’s receipt lastNovember of an Investigator ofthe Year award from theFederal Law EnforcementFoundation.

That’s a pretty impressiveresume for anyone in lawenforcement, but that’s onlyhalf of Dwyer’s story. He’s alsoa principal partner in thePoughkeepsie, N.Y., law firmJordan & Dwyer, and isadmitted to practice inConnecticut and New York.

He also joined WestConn’sDivision of Justice and LawAdministration ( JLA) as anassistant professor teachingcriminal procedure law, realestate law, family law, and acourse about wills, trusts andestates.

Dwyer’s been an adjunctinstructor at other institutions,but at WestConn he’s on atenure-track.

“I like teaching,” Dwyer

said. “I don’t find it boring atall. I miss the excitement ofthe 3 a.m. call, but in realitypolice work is 98 percentsheer boredom and 2 percentsheer terror. I can teach mystudents both the theoreticaland real-world scenarios sothey can understand thevariables and the nuances inthe law.”

JLA Chairman Dr. MichaelFoley said Dwyer’s extensive— and impressive —background in lawenforcement is one of thereasons WestConn has “thefinest criminal justice programin the tri-state area.”

“One of the strengths ofJLA is that our faculty has suchan enormous amount ofpractical experience in theirfields,” Foley said. “It’s a greataccomplishment to see howwell our graduates and facultyare doing.”

It seems WestConn hadquite a presence at theWaldorf Astoria awardceremony that day — anotherrecipient of an Investigator ofthe Year Award was NewJersey State Police Officer andJLA alumnus Aaron Auclair.

For more information, call the Division

of Justice and Law Administration at

(203) 837-8340.

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Justice and Law Division boasts two 2007 ‘Investigators of theYear’: one a faculty member, the other an alumnus

Student research methodology awardsSince 1989, the Certificate of

Excellence in ResearchMethodology has been aninternal-to-the-department awardgiven to students whodemonstrate superior motivation,persistence and discipline in Dr.Machell’s sections of thedemanding course JLA 400Research Methodology in Justiceand Law Administration.

This course is focused onhelping the students to become:

(1) Literate and criticalanalyzers of the practitioner-oriented experimental designliterature in the social scienceportion of the criminal

justice/public administrationfields (including statisticalinterpretation) and

(2) Practiced in thetechnical writing of researchthrough a sequential series oftechnical writing exercises.

The recipients of theCertificate of Excellence inResearch Methodology in Justiceand Law Administration for thefall semester are:

Deborah AbramsStephanie Paulson

For more information, call Machell at (203)

837-8696.

Gyure, Qi honored with Board of Trusteesawards for teaching, research

Associate Professor of Theatre Arts Elizabeth Popiel, on the set of “Good Morning America.”

Popiel’s efforts yield Emmy Award On weekdays, Associate

Professor of Theatre ArtsElizabeth Popiel usually can befound in her studio designingsets for WestConn’s theatre artsproductions. On weekends,Popiel’s still designing sets, butshe’s doing it in New Yorkwhere she works as the setdesigner/art director for “GoodMorning America, WeekendEdition.”

Popiel has worked forABC on and off since 1993,but when “Weekend Edition”was launched in 2004, thatbecame a steady weekend gig.She maintains the regular setsand also designs thebackdrops for specialsegments, such as the studiokitchen necessary when ChefEmeril Lagasse appears.

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Her WestConn studentshave been fortunate to be ableto visit the ABC scene shopsand watch other professionaldesigners at work.

“It’s wonderful to be ableto combine my love forteaching and my craft,” Popielexplained when asked howshe juggles both her weekdayand weekend jobs.

Her hard work paid offrecently when Popiel receivedan Emmy Award for hercontributions to “GoodMorning America.” WhilePopiel said she’s been honoredfor her creative work in manyways in the past, this is herfirst big industry award.

For more information, call the Office of

University Relations at (203) 837-8486.

Dean of the School of Arts & Sciences Dr. Linda Vaden-Goad and Assistant Director of Media

Services Scott Volpe received the Governor’s Service Award from Gov. M. Jodi Rell at a

ceremony held in Hartford in early December. Each was named an ‘Employee of the Semester’

at WestConn, which resulted in their awards from the governor.

Vaden-Goad, Volpe receive Governor’sService Awards at December ceremony

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Assistant Professor of Justice and Law

Administration Terrence Dwyer was named a

2007 ‘Investigator of the Year’ by the Federal

Law Enforcement Foundation in November.

Faculty awarded tenure, others promoted at December luncheonThe following faculty arepromoted or awarded tenure.

School of Arts and Sciences

Dr. Carina A. BandhauerAssociate Professor, Social Sciences.

Awarded tenure.

Dr. Michael ChappellPromoted to Associate Professor of English.

Dr. Robin C. FlanaganAssociate Professor, Psychology.

Awarded tenure.

Dr. Christopher L. KukkAssociate Professor, Social Sciences.

Awarded tenure.

Dr. Paula MaidaPromoted to Professor of Mathematics.

Dr. Shane M. MurphyAssociate Professor, Psychology.

Awarded tenure.

Dr. Lydia NovozhilovaPromoted to Associate Professor,

Mathematics, and awarded tenure.

Dr. Charles F. Rocca Jr.Associate Professor, Mathematics.

Awarded tenure.

Dr. Wynn W.Gadkar-WilcoxPromoted to Associate Professor, History

and Non-Western Cultures.

Dr. Abbey L. ZinkAssociate Professor, English. Awarded tenure.

Ancell School of Business

Dr. Richard BassettAssistant Professor of MIS.

Awarded tenure.

Dr. John R. ColemanAssociate Professor, Management.

Awarded tenure.

Dr. Neil DworkinPromoted to Associate Professor,

Management.

Dr. Karen L KozaPromoted to Associate Professor, Marketing.

School of Visual andPerforming Arts

Dr. Marjorie CallaghanAssociate Professor, Music and Music

Education. Awarded tenure.

Elizabeth L. PopielAssociate Professor, Theatre Arts.

Awarded tenure.

School of Professional Studies

Dr. Karen M. DaleyAssociate Professor, Nursing.

Awarded tenure.

Eileen Patricia GeraciPromoted to Professor of Nursing.

7A R O U N D C A M P U S

U.S. system of governmentworks and how the rule of lawand the value of liberty andequality have an impact onindividual, local, state andnational decisions,” as well as“demonstrate knowledge of therights and responsibilities ofcitizens to participate and shapepublic policy and contribute tothe maintenance of ourdemocratic way of life.”

Three components ofWestConn’s mission address thisresponsibility by emphasizingthe teaching of “strong skills incommunication, problem solvingand critical thinking,”“opportunities for experiential,cooperative and internshipexperiences,” and “a strongsense of commitment to publicservice.”

The methods of teachingand environment for learningthat the author implements atWCSU seek to encourage civicengagement through civiceducation understandings andoutcomes across the disciplinarylines of history, social science,and philosophy in a variety ofcourses.

To give an example,curricular focus on civiceducation, the exploration ofkey U.S. Supreme Court casesand analysis of the U.S.Constitution, for the purpose ofencouraging critical thinkingabout contemporary educationalpolicy issues, are integrated in

course plans for ED 206Foundations of Education andED 500 ContemporaryEducational Issues, using avariety of essential questions,such as:

• How is American educationlinked to the nation’sgovernmental structure? Why?

• Who is getting how much ofthe educational pie? Why? Whatare the consequences?

• What are the consequencesof educational policy decisionsrelated to curriculum?

• How do the establishmentand free exercise clauses interactwith public education practices?What are the differencesbetween the clauses?

• How does due processinteract with educational issues?

•What are the policyconsequences for stakeholders inpublic education?

Civic engagement through civic education (cont’d.)• How has equality of

educational opportunity inAmerican education beenimplemented for various ethnicgroups? What are theimplications?

Students in ED 440 and 385who are preparing to teachEnglish, history, social studiesand science at the secondaryschool level benefit from theinclusion of the civic educationtopics in the teacher preparationcourses because they makeconnections between theirdiscipline and the practicalcontent of civics education.Opportunities also are availablefor secondary math teachercandidates to make similarconnections between theirdiscipline and civic education.

For more information, call the Office of

University Relations at (203) 837-8486.

sector as the most promisingopportunities for market entry.

“We toured Yutong, and thestudents presented their 120-page report,” Coelho said. “Itwas like preparing a thesis, andit has been gratifying to learnthat Yutong has been modifyingsome of its practices and its Website based on what our studentsrecommended.”

Morton and Chen markedanother milestone in the WCSU-Sias relationship during the July2007 mission when they signedan agreement establishing aformal affiliation between CBRand Sias’ newly foundedTransnational Business ResearchCentre. The agreement willprovide the framework for futureresearch collaboration andexchange visits by faculty andstudents of the two institutions.Members of the WCSUdelegation participated inceremonies marking the openingof the Sias Business ResearchCenter, and spoke before apacked auditorium about theprinciples and practices ofbusiness education and researchin the United States.

Coelho noted that asignificant benefit of formalizingthe two institutions’ researchrelationship will be to promoteongoing student and facultyexchanges. One sign of things tocome was the successful musicstudent exchange this yearcoordinated by Professor ofMusic Dr. Dan Goble, whichbrought Sias students toWestConn this spring and WCSUmusic students to Sias thissummer to collaborate inperformance of the Gilbert &Sullivan operetta “The Pirates ofPenzance.”

“So far, everything has been

done on an ad-hoc basis, andwe would like to expand theexchanges by working outarrangements to come over on aregular basis,” Coelho said.

While business curriculumsand educational practices differmarkedly between East andWest, Coelho sees a level ofcommitment among Siasstudents — who have joined theresearch collaborations withWestConn on a noncredit basisin addition to their demandingcourse requirements — thatreminds her of WestConnstudent participants in the morethan 50 case research projectsfor business and nonprofitclients sponsored by CBR overthe past decade.

“Most of our students areworking, juggling school and ajob, and as nontraditionalstudents, their time is cramped,”she said. “It also means they arebetter time managers and,because they have beenworking, they bring a higherlevel of work involvement to theclass.”

With the Yutong projectnow concluded, students inKoza’s M.B.A. class during thefall 2007 term embarked withtheir Sias colleagues ondevelopment of a business planfor Staples to evaluate strategicopportunities for growth in theChinese market. Koza noted thestudents will be weighingbranding issues confronting theU.S. office supplies company,which remains largely unknownto domestic Chinese firmsbeyond its present markets inBeijing and Shanghai, as well asthe potential value ofpartnerships such as Staples’recently announced affiliation inChina with UPS.

‘China connection’: Research in the age of globalization (cont’d.)During the President’s

Forum on “The Impact ofGlobalization” in November,Koza described the researchcollaboration with Sias as one ofmany ways in which WestConncan “bring the world into theclassroom.”

“Today’s reality is that mostof our students are going towork in multinationalcompanies, or at least work incompanies with multinationalinterests,” she observed. “Wehave an opportunity to makeWestConn an institution oflifelong learning, where ourstudents engage differentcultures and perspectives andacquire ever-changing skill setsto compete and succeed in aglobalized economy.”

In his introduction at theforum, Schmotter concurred:“Our challenge is to prepare ourstudents to live and work in aworld of globalization.”

For more information, call the Office of

University Relations at (203) 837-8486.

Western Connecticut State University

HomecomingHomecoming 2007

Homecoming 2007 at WestConn from Oct. 1 through 7 offered a full program of events

celebrating the university’s academic and student life, historical roots and comprehensive

athletics program. Pictured in descending order from the top:

Alumni Sharon Fusco ’67 (far left) and Jack Quinlan ’67 (far right) flank Homecoming 2007

king John Wilson and queen Haizel Cabral in celebrating the selection of the royal court.

WestConn inducted five alumni athletes, coaches and supporters into the WCSU Athletic Hall

of Fame during the annual Hall of Fame Dinner held on Oct. 5 at the Grand Ballroom of the

Westside Campus Center. The 2007 inductees (l-r) are Patrick Hackett ’87 (football), Nicholas

Mongillo ’85 (football), former women’s basketball coach and Professor of Health Promotion

and Exercise Science Jody Rajcula, longtime athletic program supporter Leon Stolle, and

Philip Bergen ’87 (football).

The student a cappella group Play It By Ear sings the National Anthem at the start of the

Colonials’ Homecoming Day Football Game on Oct. 6 vs. William Patterson University at the

Westside Athletic Complex. Colonials players Josh Aviles and Travis Melchior lift their helmets

at the conclusion of the Anthem.

Homecoming Day begins on a note of gratitude as the university’s benefactors, staff and

families gather near Old Main on the Midtown campus for the annual Alumni and Friends

Circle Rededication, celebrating the contributions memorialized in permanent dedications on

the circle’s bricks.

Homecoming 2007 offered many occasions for alumni to celebrate memories and friends.

Gathered around the picnic table (l-r) are softball coach Heather Stone ’94, Maura Keenan

’97, Trisha Blood ’93, head women’s basketball coach Kimberly Bernstein, Jody Rajcula,

assistant women’s basketball coach John McNamara, and Shannon Flowers ’95.

WestConn faculty and staff are instrumental in developing thearea’s first community health assessment. In partnership with theCity of Danbury and Danbury Hospital, WCSU is spearheading thecreation of a document to be used by professionals and thegeneral public that will increase awareness of health-relatedissues, identify health issues that need priority attention andencourage joint planning and problem solving to promote healthylifestyles and improve wellness in Danbury and surroundingtowns. To learn more, visit the Community Report Card Web site atwww.wcsu.edu/reportcard.

Community Health Assessment planned with Danbury Hospital, City of Danbury

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(top): WCSU and Sias faculty, staff and students

at the Unveiling Ceremony for the forming of the

Joint Research Centers – WCSU/Sias.

(bottom): WCSU and Sias faculty, staff and

students at Zhengzhou Yutong Bus manufacturer.

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Office of University Relations

181 White StreetDanbury, CT 06810

Non-profit org.

U.S. Postage

PAID

Danbury, CT

Permit No. 40

Inside this issue:

Amy Chua, the provocative author

who argues that diversity has helped

the United States dominate the world,

will discuss the state of U.S. power,

federal immigration policy and her

own experience as a second-

generation immigrant when she

speaks on March 25 at WestConn.

WestConn’s theatre arts department willpresent the classic rock opera about the tragic

pinball–playing boy who achieves famewith his exploits.

Berkshire Theatre, Midtown campus. Cost.

“Great Women of Danbury, A Musical Voyage”

An event highlighting Marian Anderson andother women important in local history.

7:30 p.m., Student Center Theater, Midtown campus.

Amy Chua is the Yale law professor and authorwho argues that diversity has helped the

United States dominate the world.

7:30 p.m., Science Building, Room 125,Midtown campus.

3/25

what’s on

President’s LecturePresident’s LectureTHE WHO’S “TOMMY”

4/24–26 5/3 5/16 & 18

at westconn2/27-3/1, 3/6-8

The 13th Annual WestConn/Litchfield PerformingArts Jazz Festival will include three evening

concerts. Feature Concert: Cedar Walton Quartet with Jimmy Heath, 4/25.

Ives Concert Hall in White Hall,Midtown campus. Cost.

This gala night of fun –– and fundraising ––will honor WCSU benefactors

Anthony and Roberta Caraluzzi.

6:30 p.m., O’Neill Center, Westside campus. Cost.

Celebrate with the graduates as the universitysalutes their achievements. Graduate

commencement: Friday, May 16, Feldman Arenaat the O’Neill Center, Westside campus.

Undergraduate ceremony: Sunday, May 18, at the Westside Athletic Stadium

with speaker Farooq Kathwari.

COMMENCEMENT

Dates and times are subject to change. Check our online events calendar to ensure the event you are interested in is still scheduled. All events are free and open to the public unless otherwise noted. For more information about these and other events, please call the Office of University Relations at (203) 837-8486 or visit www.wcsu.edu.

Need directions?Please visit www.wcsu.edu/directions.

3/11

UNIVERSITY BALLUNIVERSITY BALL“Escape to Tuscany”

JAZZ FESTIVAL

THE WHO’S “TOMMY”

Cedar WaltonQuartet

with JimmyHeath

“Escape to Tuscany”