Southern Life, September 2014

SouthernLife

Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Permit No. 501 NEW HAVEN, CONN.

A NEWSPAPER FOR THE CAMPUS COMMUNITY

Southern Connecticut State University

SEPTEMBER 2014 • Vol.18 No. 1

inside:

4 Provost Seeks Support for Non-Traditional Students 5 New Dean for School of Education

A Success Story in the Making Several initiatives designed to improve

the university’s graduation and retention rates are being implemented this fall as part of Southern’s commitment toward greater student success.

The creation of an Academic Success Center, as well as the hiring of both a director of new student and sophomore programs and a coordinator of financial literacy and advisement, are among the developments resulting from a report of the Student Success Task Force last semester.

“The report was only released in February, but we’re already taking some significant steps intended to improve student success at Southern,” says Tracy Tyree, vice president for student affairs. “I really believe we’re on the path to doing some great things.”

The Academic Success Center — which will provide support for students seeking help in maintaining the university’s academic standards, as well as for those who are already good students but want to excel further — will eventually be located in Buley Library. The area will be designated after the renovation project to the building is completed.

“I’m hoping that a year from now, we’ll have a physical location,” Tyree says. “In the meantime, the concept of the center will be developed. We are already looking at several initiatives, including online tutorials and peer coaching programs, in which upperclassmen work with underclassmen.” Katie De Oliveira has been hired for the position of the center’s director.

Meanwhile, Sal Rizza has been named the director of new student and sophomore programs. Rizza, who had been the associate director of student life, will look to create co-curricular programs for freshmen, sophomores and transfer students. Among the possible programs are a transfer student social organization and a peer mentor program. He will work closely with Nicole Henderson, director of the First-Year Experience program.

“Research shows that students who have social and co-curricular connections to the university are more likely to succeed and are less likely to drop out of college before attaining their degree,” Tyree says. “We have an excellent first-year student program already, Success continued on page 6.

Southern is launching several projects this year to enhance student engagement and improve graduation rates.

Helping Students Achieve Financial Literacy Managing

finances has always been

for college students, who are often on a tight budget and on their own for the first time. But in recent years, students are borrowing more to pay for college, resulting in skyrocketing loan debt. In fact, student loan debt in America exceeded $1 trillion in 2014.

In an effort to help students plan for the cost of education and manage their financial a challenge

obligations, Southern has created a new position devoted to providing financial literacy and planning information for current and prospective students, as well as their families.

Lew DeLuca, who had served in the university’s Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships for 10 years, has been tapped for the position of coordinator of student financial literacy and advising. Through advising, outreach and

on-campus programming, he will work closely with students and parents to raise awareness about financial literacy, student aid programs and scholarships, as well as the advantages of the timely completion of a degree.

“Southern is excited to provide financial planning services to our current and future students and their parents to help ensure our students are informed and prepared for the full cost of the degree, not just for one semester or year,” says Kimberly Crone, associate vice president for enrollment management.

Both Crone and DeLuca agree that the new service will bolster student success and ultimately improve overall degree completion.

“Financial aid departments in colleges and universities have people who talk with students, but generally not in the kind of depth Lew DeLuca, coordinator of student financial literacy and advising, meets with a student, Taylor Andrews (left), and her mother, Karen Andrews, to assist them with their budget planning.

that we will be able to provide on a consistent basis,” DeLuca says. “And we are available to talk with high school students and potential transfer students, as well.”

The position was created in response to recommendations by Southern’s Student Success Task Force. “There was a clear, demonstrated need to help students gain financial literacy,” he says.

DeLuca says he has financial planning worksheets geared toward undergraduate and graduate students, both in-state and outof-state.

“We can look at the estimated yearly tuition and fees, as well as the projected costs for room and board, books and supplies, transportation and other items,” DeLuca says.

“We’ll then estimate how much in revenue a student has – including grants and scholarships, student/parent loans, savings and credit cards.”

Learn more about about the university’s financial literacy and advising at SouthernCT. edu/financial-advising.

:

Building the Future

Expect

to see a dramatically

different campus landscape less

than a year from now as two major building projects are completed. And the upcoming creation of a new Master Facilities Plan will provide a long-term preview of the university’s future course of development.

According to James Blake, executive vice president, the renovation to Buley Library and the construction of the Academic Laboratory Science Building are on time and progressing well.

“This is really an exciting time to be on campus, as you can see the progress being made from week to week,” Blake says.

The renovation work to the older wing

of Buley Library should be completed by late November or December, according to Blake. He says that once that is finished,

the newer wing of Buley will undergo some final preparation work that should be completed early in 2015. When all is said and done, the library will span about 245,000 square feet and will include an atrium and skywalk connecting the two sections of the building.

Among the features of the library will be the creation of an art gallery, as well as space for media collections, special collections and a cyber café.

Meanwhile, the new science building is more than halfway completed, Blake says, and should be ready for occupancy by the end of next spring. The four-story, 103,608-squareFuture continued on page 6.

A Message from the President Several outstanding new additions to our Senior Leadership team — Bette Bergeron (provost and vice president for academic affairs), Rob Rennie (chief information officer), Stephen Hegedus (dean of the School of Education) and Jay Moran (director of intercollegiate athletics) — provide another source of optimism for the future. Their collective talents and fresh perspectives will be invaluable assets as we move ahead.

This year we will continue to develop our 10-year Strategic Plan, a process that will give us the opportunity collectively to chart the future of our university. In this second year of planning, the innovative ideas, vision and energy of the campus community will be critical in our President Mary A. Papazian successful adoption of a strategic plan that is aspirational and visionary.

Our Student Success Task Force and the Graduate Program Prioritization Task Force have completed their initial reviews and, in the case of the Student Success Task Force, the recommendations are beginning to be implemented (see article, Page1). A town hall-style meeting on the findings of the Graduate Program Prioritization Task Force has been scheduled for Sept. 19 at 1 p.m. in the Adanti Student Center Ballroom. This is your time to add your voice to the conversation as we develop our next steps.

Our final fall enrollment numbers are not yet available, so we cannot yet assess their overall impact on our budget. But clearly, we must reverse the trend of declining enrollment, which will be a key challenge for us and our sister institutions during the coming years. With that in mind, and to avoid the negative fiscal consequences that follow declining enrollment, we will explore several potential growth areas for Southern. These include developing more timely and relevant programs targeted President Mary A. Papazian and her Cabinet provide service with a smile during the recent to areas of workforce need, particularly at the ice cream social to mark the start of the new academic year. graduate level.

Dear Colleagues, I am excited to welcome you back to campus for the start of a new academic year. I am sure all of us welcome the return of our students, and are inspired to renew our dedication to their well-being and education. They are the reason for our existence as an institution, and how successful we are in supporting them is a measure of our dedication and effectiveness.

Our colleagues in Student Life have done a wonderful job instilling the Southern spirit into our new freshman class — the Class of 2018!

I am also pleased to welcome an outstanding class of full-time tenure-track faculty members to our ranks. These 31 new colleagues join us from across the country and around the world. We look forward to the contributions each of them will make to our classrooms and programs in their many disciplines throughout the university.

In addition, we will look to create new global educational experiences for our students, both on campus and abroad. After all, most of our large industrial enterprises are internationally based. We must develop more hybrid and online courses to enhance our outreach to targeted prospective student populations. We will expand the sustainability initiatives that have earned us state and national recognition as a green campus. And we will better serve our host and neighboring communities through the existing downtown New Haven site at Southern on the Green, and through new opportunities that we have been exploring with city leaders in Bridgeport.

We have a busy agenda for the coming year, one that includes updated master facilities planning, implementing recommendations from the President’s Commission on Campus Climate and Inclusion, and aligning our campus vision with the emerging strategic vision of our CSCU system, Transform 2020. I will discuss these and other goals for the new academic year during my State of the University address Sept. 17 at 1 p.m. in the Adanti Student Center Ballroom.

As we showed in 2013-14, we can accomplish a great deal, guided by strategic planning and driven by the dedication, energy, and talents of our faculty, administrators and staff. I hope you all enjoyed a refreshing summer, and I look forward to working with you in this new academic year to meet the challenges and embrace the plentiful opportunities that lie ahead.

Sincerely,

Mary Papazian, Ph.D. President

News from the Vice Presidents’ Offices ACADEMIC AFFAIRS

SouthernLife

Published by the Southern Connecticut State University Office of Public Affairs Patrick Dilger, Director EDITOR

Patrick Dilger WRITERS

Betsy Beacom Mike Kobylanski Joe Musante Allison O’Leary Villia Struyk DESIGNER

Janelle Finch PHOTOGRAPHER

Isabel Chenoweth SouthernLife is published monthly when classes are in session, from September through June, by the Southern Connecticut State University Office of Public Affairs, 501 Crescent Street, New Haven, CT 06515-1355. News and calendar inquiries should be addressed to Wintergreen 162, campus mail, or call 392-6586.

Story ideas, news items and comments can also be e-mailed to the editor at DILGERP1.

The editor reserves the right to consider all submissions for timeliness, space availability, and content.

2

SouthernLife • SEPTEMBER

About 100 faculty members attended the recent “Forum,” a program sponsored by the Office of Faculty Development.

This semester, the event focused on the teaching of writing and featured Tim Parrish, an author and professor of English. He has taught at Southern since 1994, and his memoir, “Fear and What Follows: The Violent Education of a Christian Racist,” has been selected for this year’s “Southern Reads.” He also is the author of the novel, “The Jumper,” as well as a shortstory collection set in his hometown of Baton Rouge, La., called “Red Stick Men.” “This semester’s Forum generated some useful dialogue, especially with regard to the importance of faculty understanding the writing ability level of their students,” says Jennifer Hudson, faculty development associate.

At the beginning of each fall and spring semester, Forum addresses issues of importance to faculty.

FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION

Alicia Carroll and Esteban Garcia have been hired as the new bursar and assistant bursar, respectively, Executive Vice President James E. Blake has announced.

As bursar, Carroll will oversee student financial accounts and business office functions. She had worked for the last six years at Ridley-Lowell Business and Technical Institute, which has an office in New London. During that time, she performed in various capacities, including as a regional director, school director and financial aid director. She previously had been a legal assistant. She holds an M.B.A. in business administration from the University of New Haven.

As assistant bursar, Garcia will handle the

2014

cash management, customer service and daily deposits of that office. He had worked at People’s United Bank in Colchester for the last five years, where he served as customer service manager and assistant vice president. He holds an M.B.A. from the University of New England College of Business and Finance.

“We are delighted to have these two talented and experienced individuals join our team here at Southern,” Blake says. “I am confident they will do an excellent job.”

INSTITUTIONAL ADVANCEMENT

Southern students will have the opportunity to explore a wide variety of careers at “Meet the Alumni Professionals Day,” on Wednesday, Oct. 1 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. The event, designed to encourage students to meet with Southern professionals in a relaxed, casual setting, will take place in the center of campus — under a tent on the Academic Quad in front of Buley Library. Refreshments will be served.

Alumni will provide an insider’s look at many occupations, including education, nursing, art, journalism, scientific research, federal law enforcement, accounting, law, and more. The event is part of the “Alumni Volunteering — A to G (Admissions to Graduation)” initiative, which offers many ways for Southern graduates to share their time and talents.

In other news, on Oct. 18, Homecoming 2014 will feature a host of activities, including an alumni tent party for members of the Alumni Association. Located behind the scoreboard, the alumni and children’s tents will offer food, beverages, children’s activities and more. Admission is $15 per person for active members and includes a game ticket; children 12 and under are free. Save time at registration by becoming an active member of the Alumni Association

with a gift of $35 or more to Southern.

For more information, call the Office of Alumni Relations at (203) 392-6500.

STUDENT AFFAIRS

For the first time this year, the university has offered to incoming first-year residential students a First-Generation Student Living/ Learning Community (LLC). The response to this LLC was positive, with 60 students applying for about 20 available spots.

Tracy Tyree, vice president for student affairs, explains that the students in the LLC live together and take two courses (Inquiry and Critical Thinking) together. They also receive programming centered around such topics as how to use the resources of the various campus student support offices, the importance of campus involvement and ways to plan for financial well-being. In addition, faculty, administrators, staff and student leaders involved in teaching, mentoring and overseeing these students are almost all the first in their families to graduate from college.

Tyree says that first-generation students can be at greater risk of not completing their education, as they may lack support at home.

“We recognize that we have a significant number of students – more than 50 percent of our student population – who identify as first generation,” says Tyree, explaining that the university’s specific definition of “first-generation student” is a student whose parents never finished college.

The goal of this LLC, she says, is to provide a support network and help those students in the program to succeed through their connections to each other, peer mentors, faculty and staff.

The LLC “speaks to the university’s commitment to access,” Tyree says.

Connecting On and Off Campus You

probably won’t see him walking about campus with a wrench, a tool belt or any fancy electrical or technological equipment. But you could call him the university’s new technician.

Ian Canning, who has been selected for the newly created position of director of special academic programs and sessions, will be taking innovative ideas generated by faculty and staff and trying to turn those concepts into reality. Meanwhile, he also will seek to streamline some of the internal processes of the university.

“I like to look at my job as building the plane while flying it,” he jokes.

“On one hand, I’ll be doing some nuts and bolts work of trying to improve processes and efficiencies, such as helping clear a path for more timely degree completions, making sure we consistently offer courses that students need to finish their majors, and connecting departments and individuals with one another to improve communication on various projects. At the same time, I’ll be involved in working to generate new courses, certificate programs, non-credit classes and programs that students and the workforce need and want.

It’s all very exciting.”

Canning, who reports directly to the provost, says he has nearly a decade of experience in higher education that he believes has prepared him for the position.

He served at Johnson & Wales in Providence, R.I., for two and a half years before starting at Southern in May, most recently as director of continuing and professional education. He previously worked for three years as director of business and industry services at Middlesex Community College, and as continuing education coordinator for three years before that at Quinebaug Valley Community College.

He has dual master’s degrees – an M.A. in Latin American studies and an M.B.A. from George Washington University.

“Ian brings a wealth of experience in the areas of continuing education, strategic planning and program development, and possesses impressive business and economic skills,” says Marianne Kennedy, associate vice president for academic affairs. “I believe he will be a tremendous asset to the university in providing us with both the administrative experience and innovation to expand our academic program

Ian Canning

offerings to students and the community.

Canning knows that bolstering enrollment, as well as improving graduation and retention rates, are priorities for the university, and he is optimistic that much can be done to address those areas.

“As I researched the university before I was hired, I was impressed with many aspects of Southern,” he says. “And after taking the job, I hear much less of ‘we can’t do that,’ or ‘that’s impossible’ than you usually hear when you’re the new person at a job. After less than six

months on the job, I really believe that Southern is poised for tremendous growth.”

Canning says he is a firm believer that offering more certificate programs will ultimately help Southern’s enrollment, in addition to assisting the state’s workforce. “Many times, people will take some courses and find themselves closer to a degree than they think. They often start thinking that if they are only five or six courses away from a graduate degree, why not keep going for a few more semesters and get that degree.”

:

Polls, Pundits & Popcorn Forum to Examine 2014 National and State Elections The

fight for control of

Congress

and the campaigns for Connecticut’s most hotly contested elections will be examined by some of the state’s top political analysts at an Oct. 6 forum at Southern.

The event, “Election 2014: Polls, Pundits and Popcorn,” will look at the key U.S. Senate races that will determine whether the Republicans wrest control of that body, or the Democrats hang onto its levers of power.

The program also will analyze the battle for control of the U.S. House of Representatives, including Connecticut’s more competitive contests; how the results of the Congressional elections could affect the last two years of President Barack Obama’s administration; and the race for governor in Connecticut.

The forum will run from noon to 2 p.m. at SCSU’s Michael J. Adanti Student Center, Grand Ballroom. It is free and open to the public.

Jennifer Dineen, director of the University of Connecticut/Hartford Courant poll, will deliver an overview of the latest polling numbers in her keynote address.

A panel discussion will follow and includes Laura Baum, project director of the Wesleyan Media Project, who will look

at the trends in political TV advertising; Art Paulson, chairman of the SCSU Political Science Department; Gary Rose, chairman of the Sacred Heart University Department of Government and Political Science; and Scott McLean, professor of political science at Quinnipiac University. Christine Stuart, editor of CTNewsJunkie, a daily, online publication that focuses on news and ploitics, will serve as moderator of the forum.

A question-and-answer period will follow. Light refreshments (including popcorn) will be available.

The program is being sponsored by the Office of Public Affairs, which has organized several forums in recent years, including those on the Millennial Generation and postMillennials and the situation in Ukraine. In 2012, it held a forum on the presidential and congressional elections that featured keynote speaker Erin McPike, who was then a reporter covering the presidential election for Real Clear Politics. She is now a correspondent for CNN and frequently covers national political stories.

For further information, contact Joe Musante, forum coordinator, at (203) 392-5073, or at MusanteJ1@SouthernCT.edu.

Learn more at: SouthernCT.edu/special/

elections2014.html

:

Be on The

university has moved to a new

to announce campus crises, as well as weatherrelated cancellations and delays.

For the last several years, the campus had been using SCSUAlert, which was provided by a company called MIR3. But since Aug. 8, the university has switched to SouthernAlert, provided by Everbridge, Inc. Current faculty and staff members, as well as currently enrolled students, were sent an email during the summer enabling them to create an account with the new system. Those individuals’ email addresses – and only their email addresses -- were automatically added to the new system. But from the account, individuals can add text messaging and voicemail notifications that will be received each time SouthernAlert is activated. In particular, text messaging notifications are recommended, according to Chief of Police Joseph Dooley.

“We strongly encourage all members of the campus community with a cell phone to add the text messaging option, as this can be the fastest and most mobile means emergency notification system

of communicating during an emergency,” Dooley says. “SouthernAlert is designed to keep the campus community – whether they are on campus or off campus – notified of emergency situations. It is also a means to let people know during inclement weather that the university has been closed, or in which there is a delayed opening or early dismissal.”

Dooley says that SouthernAlert, as well as various other communication devices — such as the siren/public address system, university website, traditional media and social media — are also used when needed.

He stresses that faculty, staff and students also should be aware that their previous selections to opt into the SCSUAlert text messaging and/or phone messaging options were not automatically transferred to the new SouthernAlert system.

The system will be tested soon, according to Dooley.

Users can learn more about their notification options at SouthernCT.edu/southernalert.

They can also contact the HelpDesk for technical assistance at HelpDesk@SouthernCT. edu or at (203) 392-5123.

:

SouthernBrief ly The public draft of the Graduate Program Prioritization Report is now available online at SouthernCT.edu/ go/gradprioritizationreport. A town hall-style meeting to discuss the report will be held on Sept. 19 from 1-2:30 p.m. in the Adanti Student Center Ballroom. All members of the university community are invited to attend.

Any comments or questions pertaining to the report that you would like addressed at the meeting may be directed to Gregory Paveza, dean of the School of Graduate Studies, at PavezaG1@SouthernCT.edu.

Terry Bynum, professor of philosophy, was recognized recently at a conference of the American Association of Philosophy Teachers (AAPT), an organization he founded some four decades ago.

“Approximately 3,000 philosophers over the past 40 years have had the opportunity to improve their teaching craft by participating in events facilitated by the (AAPT). Each is indebted to Terry Bynum for inspiring and leading the creation of the AAPT,” says David Concepcion, AAPT president. “Part of what makes the AAPT such a vibrant organization is the spirit of camaraderie and friendliness

that Terry insisted upon at its founding. Our organization is stronger, and we are better people, because of the example (he) established.”

Tim Parrish, professor of English is the author of “Fear and What Follows: The Violent Education of a Christian Racist,” which was selected as the 2014 Southern Reads book. A series of campus events has been planned to generate conversation around Parrish’s book. One such event -- a panel discussion, “Writing Race,” on Sept. 17 in Engleman A120 -- will feature poet and fiction writer Steve Davenport and nonfiction writer Audrey Petty, with Parrish moderating. The discussion will focus on how race plays into their writing, why it’s important to their writing, and why writing about race is important to the larger landscape of American writing. Check SouthernCT.edu/go/southernreads for other events in the Southern Reads series.

All incoming students (new and transfer) will now be required to complete an online course, “Haven-Understanding Sexual Assault,” which launched in late August. This thoughtful, educational course addresses important life skills regarding sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence and stalking. It provides

students with the education and tools needed to build and sustain healthy relationships, as well as ways to safely intervene as a bystander. The ultimate goal of requiring this course is to enable students to help build and maintain a healthy, safe campus community that supports the well being of all. Contact Catherine Christy, coordinator of the Women’s Center, at (203) 392-6946 or ChristyC1@SouthernCT.edu with any questions.

Former Southern defensive lineman Ike Igbinosun has signed with the Buffalo Bills and will be a part of the organization’s practice squad once again this fall. This is the second year in a row that Igbinosun will serve in that role.

Igbinosun spent the 2012 season with the Pittsburgh Steelers and Dallas Cowboys and was with the Cowboys during the 2013 preseason. Igbinosun enjoyed a standout senior season in which he collected All-Northeast-10 Conference, All-ECAC and Don Hansen’s Football Gazette All-Region honors. He ranked fourth in the club – and tops among defensive linemen – with 58 tackles, while leading the team in sacks (7), tackles for loss (12) and quarterback hurries (8). His seven sacks ranked fourth in the conference. Igbinosun also tied for the team lead in forced fumbles and fumble recoveries.

SouthernLife • SEPTEMBER 2014

3

New Provost Eyes Enhanced Support For Non-Traditional Students Though she has been provost and vice president for

Bette Bergeron

academic affairs for less than three months, Bette Bergeron says she already has been impressed with many aspects of the university.

“It’s the people who make the place and Southern has many terrific people,” she says. “There is a real collegiality, commitment and energy on the campus.”

Bergeron – who made several visits to Southern before she began June 15 — says she hopes to build upon the many successes of the university and help it reach the next level.

“We have done a wonderful job in supporting our first-year students and I plan to do all I can to help us continue along that path,” she says. “But I would like to see us provide more support and resources for sophomore students, as well as non-traditional students, such as our veterans and international students. I believe that is an important part of our commitment to access and diversity.”

She also would like to bolster Southern’s community outreach through academic, technological, sustainability and other partnerships.

Bergeron says she was able to play an important role in reaching out to area communities in her previous position as dean of the School of Education, Health and Human Behavior at Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville (SIUE). During her seven-year tenure as dean, she oversaw five academic departments – curriculum and instruction; special education and communication disorders; psychology; kinesiology and health education; and educational leadership.

The SIUE School of Education, Health and Human Behavior is the largest of that university’s six schools.

President Mary A. Papazian notes many accomplishments at SIUE during Bergeron’s tenure. “Through Bette’s leadership, student access and retention have been increased through initiatives including articulated collaborations with regional community college partners, technology-enhanced courses,

and evening and three-year options for key programs,” she says. “Overall, enrollment grew by 11 percent during her seven-year tenure as dean.”

Bergeron says that as an administrator, she wants people to feel comfortable in talking with her and sharing ideas. “They shouldn’t wait for an invitation to meet with me,” she says.

“I’m not really a formal person in that way. I’m always happy to talk with people, whether it’s a one-on-one meeting, or at an event or activity.”

Before her appointment at SIUE, Bergeron led the development of educator preparation programs at Arizona State University’s Polytechnic campus, and served as a faculty member and program chairwoman at Purdue University, Calumet.

She earned her Ph.D. and M.S.Ed. degrees at Purdue.

But her move to Southern is actually a return to her New England roots. “I’m a ‘Maine-i-ac,’ she jokes, noting that she obtained her B.S. at the University of Maine, began her career in education as a second grade teacher in Veazie, Maine, and grew up in that state.

She has published several articles in professional journals and has made many conference presentations on her research, which includes topics such as accountability in higher education, effective educator preparation and early literacy instruction.

When she is not busy at work, Bergeron says she enjoys the outdoors – including visiting botanical gardens and going cross country skiing. “And I love football,” she says. “I’ll be attending many of the Southern games this fall. In fact, that might be one of the few times when I wouldn’t want to be distracted. I really like to focus on the game.”

“I believe that Bette’s proven leadership, talent for innovation and wide-ranging experience in areas critical to Southern, such as enrollment and retention, online learning and graduate programming will serve us well,” President Papazian says.

She also praised the work of Marianne Kennedy, who served as interim provost and vice president for academic affairs since April 2011. “Marianne provided outstanding leadership and vision during her tenure as interim provost,” the president says. Kennedy is now serving as associate vice president for academic affairs.

:

CIO Seeks to Enable and Engage Rob Rennie

says he came to Southern with “the intention to listen and analyze, and move from there.” The university’s new chief information officer (CIO) arrived in July and began his tenure by taking a broad look at the campus culture as well as the university’s overall operations.

He wants Information Technology (IT) to do some outreach “to see how things are going with technology around the university,” and to bridge a perceived “disconnect between what IT does and what the university needs.” He believes in being proactive, uncovering the types of problems people are having and then finding a way to address them.

“We need to fix some core things within IT while also looking outside the department,” Rennie says. “We don’t want to be isolationist. There are good people here, and we need to invest some time and engage.”

Rennie came to Southern after retiring from Florida State College at Jacksonville, where he had been vice president of technology and CIO since 1997. Before his work at Florida State, Rennie was the CIO for Mount San Antonio College in Los Angeles. He is a former principal of the technology strategy practice of Xentrek Systems, Inc., and held a visiting scholar appointment in information systems at the John E. Anderson Graduate School of Management at UCLA. Rennie has been a CIO for more than 30 years and is known for building the reputations of organizations on a foundation of innovation, value creation, excellence and technology leadership. He serves on Software AG’s International Executive Committee, is a member of Apple’s University Executive Forum and is an advisory board member of Curriki, a nonprofit K-12 global community with a mission of equalizing access to curriculum materials.

During his tenure at Florida State College, the institution won many awards for its highly innovative and successful technology environment. It was ranked first in the nation three of four years by the Center for Digital Education, rated “Most Wired” campus by Yahoo, featured for best practices and successful innovations by several major technology firms

4

SouthernLife • SEPTEMBER 2014

and named a Computerworld Gold Laureate in 2008.

In 2004, Rennie was honored as one of Computerworld’s Premier 100 IT leaders. He received his bachelor’s degree from Rollins College, a master’s degree from The University of Oklahoma and a Ph.D. from the University of Florida.

In his short time at Southern, Rennie believes that collaboration within IT has been affected by campus geography, with staff working from multiple locations across campus. He wants his department to begin “engaging at a level people aren’t used to,” looking at policies, and putting together a governance structure.

Among the questions Rennie is asking as he becomes familiar with Southern is whether IT has been controlfocused or enablement-focused. As an example, he questions whether faculty ought to have administrative rights to their computing devices. “I think they should, with our support. It’s counterproductive to have an environment where everyone has to depend on [IT],” Rennie says. “You need to do it yourself in order to grow. You need to use your capabilities.”

Rennie is also looking closely at the Help Desk and how it serves the Southern community. He wants to improve the flow and range of support the Help Desk provides, advocating a shift “from controlling to enabling.” Previously, all requests to the Help Desk went into one queue, Rennie says, but he and his staff have decided to separate traffic into two queues – students and faculty/staff. He expects this separation will yield a high percentage of first-call resolution and an environment where tech management expertise is encouraged.

Other plans include stabilizing basic services such as email outages and network outages, and establishing a refresh schedule for faculty and staff computers on campus.

“Right now we’re on a three-year cycle,” he says, “but we can reduce that by increasing memory and processing on machines so they can last an additional year.”

:

Rob Rennie

SouthernProfiles

New Dean’s Background Adds Up for Southern Stephen Hegedus may the American Dream.

Stephen Hegedus

his 25-year career in collegiate athletics. He’s been a coach, assistant athletic director and for the last 12 years, athletic director. He’s also filled the roles of father, husband, mentor and even mayor of Manchester.

Moran recently added another title to an impressive portfolio this summer when he was appointed as the fifth director of athletics in Southern history. He officially started his duties on Aug. 11.

Moran joined the Owls after 10 years as the athletic director at the University of Bridgeport.

During his tenure with the Purple Knights, the women’s gymnastics program claimed six consecutive team USAG National Championships, while both that program and the men’s swimming squad boasted individual national champions.

Originally from West Haven, Moran is no stranger to Greater New Haven. He also previously served as the athletic director at Albertus Magnus College from 2002-04.

He will now usher the Owls into a new era, and look to build upon the successes achieved by the department on the playing fields, in the classroom and in the community.

“I’m excited to be here,” Moran says. “I’m happy to be here. I like being an Owl, and I think that we’re going to do some great things.”

Moran cites many factors that contributed to his interest in the position.

“I spent 10 years in Division II at the University of Bridgeport, so Division II was a draw for me because I have the experience,” he says.

Moran points to the tradition of the Owls’ program, the coaching staff, the administrative support staff, the students and the vision of President Mary A. Papazian that ultimately sold him on the job.

During his first few weeks, Moran has directed most of his efforts to connecting with former and current coaches, staff and student-athletes.

British,

but he is living

He grew up in a modest household – his dad having fled his native Hungary during the failed 1956 revolution in that country when Hungarian citizens sought to overthrow the ruling Soviet-backed Socialist Party. His grandmother was unable to read or write.

But his family helped instill in him an appreciation for hard work and determination. He would become the first in his family to earn a college degree – having attained a B.S. degree with honors in mathematics and economics, and a Ph.D. in mathematics education – both from the University of Southampton in England.

For the last 14 years, Hegedus has served at the University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth, where he enjoyed a 13-year stint as chairman of the Mathematics Department, and is the founding director of the Kaput Center for Research and Innovation in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).

And this summer, Hegedus began his new role as dean of the School of Education at Southern. Deborah Newton had served as interim dean for the previous 18 months, and is currently the interim associate dean.

“I am excited about the opportunity to be part of the team at Southern,” Hegedus says. “I was attracted to Southern for several reasons – including its rich history in teacher education, the commitment to access and outstanding faculty. I was impressed with President Papazian’s vision for the future, and felt that I could provide leadership that can help us move in that direction.”

Hegedus says he is excited about the prospect of having an elementary school on the campus in the near future. Plans call for a K-4 school to focus on the STEM disciplines, an area that is near and dear to the heart of Hegedus.

“Our society has changed culturally in the 21st cen-

Be-knighting a New Owl Jay Moran has worn many hats during the course of

be

tury, but we haven’t changed the culture of education in our nation’s schools,” he says. “The teaching of math is an excellent example. I want students to be able to not only understand mathematics in the traditional way, but to be able to see its practical uses in life. We need to give students an opportunity to ‘touch’ mathematics, and ‘see’ mathematics, as well as to hear its sounds.”

Hegedus says an elementary school on the campus of Southern also would enable the university to have a role in giving students that chance. He notes that it would give our own students, especially those in education, more opportunities for student teaching and other classroom experiences.

Hegedus says he believes his experiences growing up and becoming a first-generation college student in his own family can help him relate to students at Southern, many of whom are first-generation college students as well.

He adds that part of leadership is getting to know your team, including their strengths and weaknesses, and then maximizing their strengths and being honest about the weaknesses.

“Sometimes in higher education, we see faculty members who are very strong in certain areas, and yet don’t teach in their areas of strength. I never really understood that.”

Hegedus describes himself as “someone who appreciates humor, but who is also a pretty serious person and who works hard. I also like to work collaboratively with people – and not just with people I may agree with, but with those who have different views on things,” he says.

“With academic freedom, the culture on a college campus is very different from some places of employment. There is lots of intensity, but diverse ways of thinking. You have to be able to work with a wide variety of people.”

Hegedus lives in Guilford with his wife, Natalie, and their three sons – ages 8, 10 and 12. “We like to travel and enjoy the outdoors. I’m glad we were able to stay in New England, and that we are still close to New York City.”

:

Moran Leaves UB to Become Southern AD

“In my first week, I got to bring back Bob Dikranian, the former men’s soccer coach who was involved in so many national championships around here,” he says. “I met a few of the other former coaches. I tried to reach out to some of the former coaches so we can get back some of the alums.

“The best thing that’s happened in the (first) two and a half weeks is that I finally got to meet some great men and women that are our student-athletes. I got to meet with most of the fall teams to introduce myself. Trying to get to know the student-athletes has been a great experience. They seem like a great group of young men and women.”

Moran began his foray into collegiate athletics as an undergraduate at the University of Connecticut, where he later served as the director of recreation and intramurals.

Moran was director of development and alumni relations at his scholastic alma mater, Notre Dame High School of West Haven, from 1991-93 and oversaw a $2 million capital campaign during that time.

He went on to serve as assistant athletic director for facilities, recreation and intramurals at the University of St. Joseph in West Hartford (1993-2002).

During most of his tenure at St. Joseph’s, he also served as the university’s cross country coach.

An active member of the community, Moran has served as mayor of Manchester since April after several months as deputy mayor. He was a youth group director at St. Bridget Church in Manchester from 1989-

2001 and also has been a Babe Ruth and American Legion baseball coach in his hometown.

Moran also has served in a leadership capacity among his peers — including as president of the East Coast Conference Athletic Directors’ Council from 2007-11, and has been president-elect of the Eastern College Athletic Conference for the past year.

Moran has already started to map out his vision for success at Southern, pointing to the need to provide students and teams with the resources they need to be successful athletically and academically.

“For every institution, the key is to graduate your studentathletes because we know they go on to do other things besides sports after they graduate,” he says. “At the end of their career if they leave here as better people, then I think that we’ve done our job.”

:

Jay Moran

SouthernLife • SEPTEMBER 2014

5

Planting the Seeds of Success

Botany Student Earns National Research Fellowship

Kirsten Famiglietti liked science as a kid. She even started working at a garden center as a senior at Guilford High School.

But she never intended to major in biology when she came to Southern a few years ago – let alone set her sights on the field of botany. Yet her intentions began to change after taking a few classes with Rebecca Silady, an assistant professor of biology and the university’s botany specialist.

“At one point, she asked me if I would be interested in volunteering in her botany lab,” Famiglietti says. “I did and enjoyed it a great deal. I was learning quite a bit. The only downside is that I wasn’t getting paid, so I couldn’t spend as much time in the lab as I would have liked.”

Silady saw a fellowship program opportunity that was being offered by the American Society of Plant Biology (ASPB) and quickly suggested that Famiglietti apply. A few months later, Famiglietti received an email saying that she had been selected as one of 15 winners

across the nation. She competed amid 55 applicants for the fellowship. In addition, she was one of only four students attending a “primarily undergraduate institution.”

Famiglietti, a senior, is working during the summer doing laboratory research on the small, flowering plant called Arabidopsis thaliana, which Silady calls the “lab rat” of plant biology. Arabidopsis thaliana is in the mustard family. “We use it for experiments in the lab because it is small and grows faster than most crop plants,” Silady says.

The goal of the research is to see how the plant responds to various stimuli, such as sunlight and gravity, and involves using mutant variants of the plant to compare the results. It hones in on how the seeds of the plant store protein, which can eventually help botanists and breeders learn about the nutritional value of grains.

“This is a wonderful opportunity to have the time and the resources to apply my research skills,” Famiglietti says.

She is earning a $4,000 stipend for the 10-week program, which runs from midJune to mid-August.

She will present her work next year at the annual meeting of the ASPB. Both Famiglietti and Silady had to submit paperwork as part of the application process.

Candidates for the felBiology student Kirsten Famiglietti (left) researches how plant seeds lowship were judged store protein. Rebecca Silady (right), an assistant professor of biology, served as her faculty mentor. on a variety of criteria, including a student’s promise as an undergraduate student and the to them. proposed project itself.

“Winning (the grant) and seeing my plans The fellowship winners are featured in come to fruition have motivated me to work the May/June edition of the organization’s even harder and be more confident in pursumagazine, ASPB News. In the article, each ing my long-term academic goals,” Famiglietti individual tells why the award is important says in the article.

:

A Summer to Remember for Undergraduate Research Alyssa Battipaglia

had planned to

work on her honors thesis this fall – a project

that would require a considerable amount of time during her busy senior year.

But thanks to Southern’s new Undergraduate Research Grant program, the psychology major (and Honors College student) was able to launch her research during the summer months and earn $3,000 for her hard work.

And by being able to complete a considerable portion of the project early, she has time to engage in a valuable internship this fall in the Marriage and Family Therapy Department – a position that will enable her to get first-hand experience in a field she is exploring as a career path.

“My heart stopped when I read the letter that I had been awarded one of the grants,” she says. “It is a wonderful opportunity and I am really thankful to Southern for it. Battipaglia is

Success continued from page 1. and now we want to continue our work to improve the experience for second-year and transfer students, as well.”

In addition, Tyree notes that a Commuter Student Lounge has been established in the Michael J. Adanti Student Center. “We’ve noticed that many students spend the time in between their classes in their cars,” she says.

“This will give them a place to go and to be more engaged in the campus community.”

Tyree also says that enhanced student engagement is the impetus behind a change in late night dining options this year. The food court in the student center will remain open

6

SouthernLife • SEPTEMBER 2014

exploring a topic that affects a significant portion of the college student population — the relationship between Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) and substance abuse. An estimated 5 to 11 percent of college-age students in the United States tend to have measurable symptoms of the disorder, according to Kenneth Walters, assistant professor of psychology and faculty mentor to Battipaglia.

Studies also have shown that between 1 and 6 percent of the general population actually has a BPD diagnosis.

By starting her project during the summer, Battipaglia will have an opportunity to share her findings next spring during a poster presentation at the Eastern Psychological Association’s annual meeting. In addition, she plans to make three other poster presentations on other research topics at the New England Psychological Association annual meeting this fall.

longer at night, while Connecticut Hall will close earlier.

“We believe that having students in the student center at night will encourage them to become more involved in the university because of the flurry of activities in that building,” she says.

Learn more about the university’s Student Success Task Force at SouthernCT.edu/studentsuccess.

:

future continued from page 1.

foot facility is designed to be the focal point for the university’s science programs. The two wings of the building will be configured

Battipaglia is one of five undergraduates to receive the $3,000 grant this summer. The program was an initiative of President Mary A. Papazian and operates under the auspices of the Office of the Provost. The funding stems from the SCSU Foundation. Faculty advisers working with these students also will receive a stipend for their work.

“By providing financial assistance to students to carry out their research during the summer, we hope they can work less in jobs unrelated to their academic and career goals, and spend more time engaged in learning,” says Marianne D. Kennedy, associate vice president for academic affairs.

Kennedy says funding already has been secured from the SCSU Foundation for grants to be awarded for the summer of 2015. “We owe a big thank you to the SCSU Foundation,” she says.

Walters says his student’s research is exploring some new territory.

“We know a lot about Borderline Personality Disorder. We know a lot about substance abuse. And we know a lot about college students. But there hasn’t been much research published regarding the link between BPD and substance abuse among college students,” he says.

What Battipaglia found – based on archival data – is that college students (between the ages of 18 and 24) with BPD symptoms drink more heavily on average than their peers. This

is likely due to their tendency toward impulsivity and to engage in risky behavior.

In fact, while the average college student consumes 11 alcoholic drinks a week, those with BPD symptoms have an average of 15.

And the bulk of the drinking – both for those who have BPD and those who do not – tends to be on Friday and Saturday nights. In other words, many students will have five drinks on each of the weekend nights, but the average college student with BPD would have seven.

“We know that BPD affects women in greater numbers than men, so that increased drinking due to the disorder is obviously going to affect young women more than young men,” she adds. “And because women generally weigh less than men, their tolerance to alcohol is less, creating the potential for devastating consequences.”

Alyssa Battipaglia is among the first cohort of students to earn a summer Undergraduate Research Grant. Kenneth Walters (right), assistant professor of psychology, is Battipaglia’s faculty mentor.

• Chandra Kelsey, public health, examining the attitudes, trends and health behaviors of shoppers in Bridgeport’s farmer’s markets. Peggy Gallup, faculty mentor.

in the shape of an “L,” and located next to Jennings and Morrill halls.

Plans call for a covered skywalk connecting the new science building with Jennings. The new building will host teaching and research labs for physics, earth science, environmental science, molecular biology and chemistry. It will also include a supercomputing lab for research in theoretical physics, bioinformatics and computer science, and will house the Werth Center for Coastal and Marine Studies and the ConnSCU Center for Nanotechnology.

Blake notes that a new university Master Facilities Plan – a document that outlines

the university’s facility needs for the next 10 years – will be developed during the next six months. A consultant will examine the current and projected enrollment, space allocation and other factors to determine final recommendations. In addition, a Master Facilities Plan Committee is scheduled to hold its first meeting on Sept. 18. The plan eventually will go to the Board of Regents for review.

“I’m sure there also will be at least one or two town hall-style meetings for the campus community to learn about the plan and offer suggestions and insight,” Blake says.

:

Other students who have been awarded summer research grants include:

• Aileen Ferraro, biology, testing the ability of plant root bacteria to remove the harmful chemical Atrazine from the soil.

Elizabeth Roberts, faculty mentor.

• Michelle Ritchie, geography, assessing the experiences of people living in a New Haven “food desert.” Patrick Heidkamp, faculty mentor.

• Liana Feinn, chemistry, studying the synthesis of tetrazoles – commonly used in explosives and pharmaceuticals -- using late transitional metals. Adiel Coca, faculty mentor.

:

SouthernCalendar Art AUG 28-OCT 19 • EXHIBIT: “TO CROWN THE RAINBOW”: NEW WORKS BY LAUREN BRITTON Britton’s art explores the queer experience using icons and signifiers and investigates the rainbow as a problematic signifier in culture. Lyman Center Lobby Gallery. Free.

Open Mon.-Fri. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Opening reception: Sept. 14, 2-5 p.m. (203) 392-6154.

Career Services

SEPT 16 • BRIGHT HORIZONS INFO TABLE Adanti Student Center. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. (203) 392-6536.

Forum

OCT 6 • FORUM: “ELECTION 2014: POLLS, PUNDITS & POPCORN” A look at polls and developments in the nationwide elections as well as Connecticut’s most hotly contested campaigns, including the gubernatorial race.

The event includes a keynote, panel discussion and Q&A. Adanti Student Center Ballroom. Noon-2 p.m. (203) 392-5073.

Music & Dance SEPT 27 • CHUCK LOEB, JEFF LORBER AND EVERETTE HARP Three titans of contemporary jazz come together to bring you a show filled with jazz, funk and soul! Lyman Center. 8 p.m. Tickets: $32 general public; $25 jazz series; $30 faculty/staff, SCSU student guests (limit 2); $20 SCSU students with valid ID (limit 1). Reserved seating. (203) 392-6154 or tickets.southernct.edu/

Open House

OCT 19 • UNDERGRADUATE ADMISSIONS OPEN HOUSE The Southern community welcomes prospective undergraduate students and their families and friends to an informative and fun day on campus. Meet faculty and students from all academic departments, explore student clubs and organizations and talk with staff from admissions, financial aid, the First-Year Experience, student services and much more. Adanti Student Center. 11 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. (203) 3925644.

Theater

OCT 10-12, 16-19 • “GODSPELL” The classic musical recreation of the Gospel of St. Matthew, with music by Stephen Schwartz and book by John-Michael Tebelak. Directed and choreographed by Larry Nye. Lyman Center Mainstage. Performance dates: October 10,11,16,17 at 8 p.m.; October 12,18,19 at 2 p.m. (203) 392-6154 or tickets.southernct.edu/

Workshops

SEPT 16 • “THE WITNESS” Learn relaxation skills and about the process of mindfulness and meditation. Farnham Programming Space. (203) 392-8859.

SEPT 17 • “MAKEUP SEX: IT’S NOT WHAT YOU THINK” A discussion on the intimate relationship between women and their makeup. Why do we use makeup and what is its impact on us and on others?

Farnham Programming Space. 5:30-6:30 p.m. (203) 392-6946.

SEPT 23 • “BRAIN FUNCTIONING” Begin to understand the hard-wiring of your brain by learning which parts of the brain are responsible for your emotional reactions and which parts elicit more effective and skillful decision-making. Farnham Programming Space. 5-6:45 p.m. (203) 392-8859.

SEPT 30 • MINDFULNESS SERIES: SELF-REGULATION Learn a step-by-step strategy for understanding and working through emotionally reactive situations and getting back in the driver’s seat! Farnham Programming Space. 5-6:30 p.m. (203) 392-8859.

OCT 7 • MINDFULNESS SERIES: LIFE STORY What is your life story? Discover and realize connections that lead to certain ways of thinking, feeling, believing and behaving.

Farnham Programming Space. 5-6:30 p.m.

(203) 392-8859.

Potpourri

SEPT 12 • WELCOME BACK LAUGH OUT LOUD COMEDY NIGHT: JOSH RABINOWITZ AND LIL REL Josh Rabinowitz has been named one of Comedy Central’s “Comics to Watch,” and was featured on “Just for Laughs: All Access.” Lil Rel has Josh Rabinowitz been seen on NBC’s “Last Comic Standing” and his Comedy Central special. Lyman Center. 8 p.m. Tickets: $15 general public; $5 faculty/staff/active alumni and SCSU student guests (limit 2); free for SCSU students with valid ID (limit 1). Seating: general admission. (203) 392-6154 or tickets.southernct.edu/ SEPT 17 • PRESIDENT’S STATE OF THE UNIVERSITY ADDRESS President Papazian will speak about university goals, new initiatives, facilities, construction, outreach and student success initiatives for the 2014-2015 academic year. Adanti Student Center Ballroom. 1-2 p.m. (203) 392-5250.

SEPT 29 • FACULTY DIALOGUE Adanti Student Center Ballroom. 1-2:30 p.m. (203) 3925358.

OCT 1 • PROMOTION AND TENURE RECEPTION Join President Papazian in congratulating

CALENDAR ON THE WEB!

WHAT’S OPEN WHEN

this year’s promotion and tenure recipients.

Location TBD. 4-5 p.m. (203) 392-5250.

OCT 6 • ALCOHOL PANEL The Drug and Alcohol Resource Center will sponsor a panel discussion about alcohol. Farnham Programming Space. 7-9 p.m. (203) 392-5074.

OCT 9 • HEART WALK VIP RECEPTION Join President Papazian for a reception recognizing this year’s SCSU Heart Walk VIPs. Adanti Student Center Ballroom. 5:30 p.m.

(203) 392-5250.

Sports FOOTBALL SEPT 13 • Saint Anselm College. Noon.

SEPT 20 • Pace University. New York, N.Y. SEPT 27 • American International College.

Noon.

OCT 4 • Assumption College. Noon.

FIELD HOCKEY SEPT 12 • Franklin Pierce University. 5 p.m.

SEPT 19 • Merrimack College. North Andover, Mass. 4:30 p.m.

SEPT 22 • Assumption College. 5 p.m.

SEPT 30 • American International College.

Springfield, Mass. 4 p.m.

OCT 4 • Saint Anselm College. Manchester, N.H. 1 p.m.

OCT 8 • Mercy College. Dobbs Ferry, N.Y. 4 p.m.

WOMEN’S SOCCER SEPT 13 • Merrimack College. North Andover, Mass.

SEPT 17 • Adelphi University. Garden City, N.Y. 4 p.m.

SEPT 20 • Franklin Pierce University. 1 p.m.

SEPT 23 • American International College.

Springfield, Mass.

SEPT 27 • Southern New Hampshire University. Manchester, N.H.

The Crescent Players and Theatre Department present“Godspell” Oct. 10-12, 16-19

OCT 1 • Le Moyne College. 7 p.m.

OCT 4 • Saint Anselm College. 5 p.m.

OCT 7 • University of New Haven. West Haven, Conn.

MEN’S SOCCER SEPT 13 • Bentley University. 5 p.m.

SEPT 20 • Assumption College. Worcester, Mass. 1 p.m.

SEPT 24 • College of Saint Rose. 7 p.m.

SEPT 27 • Merrimack College. 5 p.m.

SEPT 30 • Le Moyne College. Syracuse, N.Y. OCT 3 • Stonehill College. North Easton, Mass.

OCT 8 • American International College. 7 p.m.

VOLLEYBALL SEPT 11 • Molloy College. Rockville Centre, N.Y. 7 p.m.

SEPT 13 • University of Bridgeport. 3:30 p.m.

SEPT 15 • Concordia College - New York. 7 p.m.

SEPT 19 • Holy Family University. 7 p.m.

SEPT 20 • Dominican College. Orangeburg, N.Y. 1 p.m.

SEPT 23 • Pace University. New York, N.Y. 7 p.m.

SEPT 25 • Merrimack College. North Andover, Mass. 7 p.m.

SEPT 27 • Bloomfield College. Lakewood, N.J. 1 p.m.

SEPT 27 • Georgian Court University. Lakewood, N.J. 3 p.m.

ALUMNI RELATIONS OFFICE Mon.-Fri. 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Wintergreen 108 D, (203) 392-6500.

BOOKSTORE Adanti Student Center, street level. Call (203) 392-5270 for hours.

BULEY LIBRARY Mon.-Thurs. 8 a.m.-11 p.m.; Fri. 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.; Sat. 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sun. 1-11 p.m.

COMPUTER LABS Adanti Student Center 202: Mon.-Fri. 7 a.m.-11 p.m., Sat. 9 a.m.-6 p.m., Sun. 2-10 p.m.

Buley Library 409 & 410: open with building Jennings Hall 130: open with building RECREATIONAL Recreation times and open swims may be preempted by athletic events.

Moore Fieldhouse: Mon.-Fri. 6:30-9:15 p.m.

Pelz Pool: Mon.-Thurs. 6:30-9:15 p.m.

FOOD SERVICE Conn Hall: Mon.-Thurs. 7 a.m.-8 p.m.; Fri. 7 a.m.2:30 p.m.; Sat. closed; Sun. 10 a.m.-midnight.

Bagel Wagon: Mon.-Thurs. 7:30 a.m.-8 p.m.; Fri. 7:30 a.m.-2 p.m.; Sat. & Sun. closed.

North Campus: Sun.-Thurs. 3-10 p.m.; Fri. & Sat. closed.

Davis Hall Kiosk: Mon.-Thurs. 8 a.m.-8 p.m.; Fri., Sat. & Sun. closed.

STUDENT CENTER Building & Info Desk: Mon.-Thurs. 7 a.m.-midnight; Fri. 7 a.m.-10:30 p.m.; Sat. 7:30 a.m.-10:30 p.m.; Sun. 2-10 p.m.

Food Court: Mon.-Thurs. 7 a.m.-midnight; Fri. 7 a.m.-10 p.m.; Sat. 7:30 a.m.-10 p.m.; Sun. closed.

Dunkin Donuts: Mon.-Thurs. 7 a.m.-midnight; Fri. 7 a.m.-10 p.m.; Sat. 7:30 a.m.-10 p.m.; Sun. closed.

Fitness Center: Mon.-Thurs. 7 a.m.-11:30 p.m.; Fri. 7 a.m.-9:30 p.m.; Sat. 8 a.m.-9:30 p.m.; Sun. 2-9:30 p.m.

GRANOFF HEALTH CENTER Mon.-Fri. 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

LYMAN CENTER BOX OFFICE Mon.-Fri. 11 a.m.-5 p.m. (when the university is open). Box office: (203) 392-6154.

SEPT 30 • Saint Rose College. Albany, N.Y. 7 p.m.

OCT 4 • Le Moyne College. 3:30 p.m.

OCT 7 • Assumption College. 7 p.m.

OCT 9 • Bentley University. Waltham, Mass.

7 p.m.

Southern_Reads_Logo_Layout 1 9/3/14 11:18 AM Page 1

The following events are part of the 2014 Southern Reads program.

This year’s book selection is “Fear and What Follows”

by English professor Tim Parrish.

SEPT 17 • “WRITING RACE”: A PANEL DISCUSSION Poet and fiction writer Steve Davenport and nonfiction writer Audrey Petty discuss how race plays into their writing, why it’s important to their writing and why writing about race is important to the larger landscape of American writing. English Professor Tim Parrish moderates. Engleman A120. 1:10-2 p.m. (203) 392-6832.

SEPT 29 • FORUM: MALE BODY IMAGE A discussion to focus on the unrealistic expectations placed on the male body through media. Adanti Student Center 306. 1-2 p.m.

SEPT 29 • FILM SCREENING AND DISCUSSION: “TOUGH GUISE” “Tough Guise” is a documentary examining the relationship between pop cultural imagery and the social construction of masculine identities in the United States. Adanti Student Center Theater. 1:30 p.m. (203) 392-6828.

SEPT 30 • STUDENT PANEL: “FEAR AND THE POWER OF SELF-REFLECTION” An opportunity to reflect and dialogue on the impact

Tim Parrish

of fear. Listen to SCSU student panelists as they speak about their personal fears and the effect these fears have had on their lives. Part of the fall 2014 Common Read series. Adanti Student Center Ballroom. 7:30 p.m. (203) 392-6828.

OCT 1 • FORUM: “PTSD AND WHAT FOLLOWS” Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a very serious reality facing many of today’s returning war veterans.

Don Spencer, SCSU graduate and Iraq War Veteran, will help us understand PTSD and what it’s like returning to civilian life after war. Jack Mordente, SCSU’s Veteran Coordinator, will also be on hand to explain the campus services available to vets as well as strategies for instructors to help them cope. Engleman B121. 1-2 p.m. (203) 392-6828.

OCT 14 • FILM: “AMERICAN HISTORY X” A film screening and discussion of this controversial drama about the tragic consequences of racism in a family. Adanti Student Center Theater. 7:30 p.m. (203) 392-6828

Visit our website for updates on Events@Southern: SouthernCT.edu SouthernLife • SEPTEMBER 2014

7

a photo essay by isabel chenoweth

8

SouthernLife • SEPTEMBER 2014

SouthernFocus