Page 2
Click here to go back to Page 1
|
Project Vote Smart Rolls into Eastern
|
|
 With the Iowa and New Hampshire primaries only weeks away, the Democracy Coalition on campus hosted the Project Vote Smart Bus Tour on Nov 6. Project Vote Smart is a non-profit, non-partisan interest group from Philipsburg, MT. The Smart Bus drives across the country to celebrate democracy and promote its web-site, www.votesmart.org. The site provides non-partisan information on elected officials and candidates for all state and national offices. Web site visitors can find biographies, past speeches and debates, and where candidates stand on particular issues, which is helpful when deciding how to vote in upcoming elections.
Volunteers and workers on the tour come from all over the United States. The group is funded by its 40,000 members. A ten-minute video was shown to those who stopped by the bus. It explained how “anger and fear” are used to win votes. Facts are checked up to five times a day. The tour visits libraries, universities, and community centers and one bus is in service at a time.
Linda Chang ’11 remarked, “I didn’t even know that information like this existed. I am definitely going to use this site to help find information on candidates so that I can confidently make my decision.” Brian Shaw ’11 remarked, “I love Project Vote Bus because the people on it have the facts!”
Persons interested more in the project and various candidates can visit www.votesmart.org.
|
|
Stoloff is Fulbright Scholar in Thailand
|
 David Stoloff, professor and chair of the Department of Education, is serving as a Fulbright Scholar on an exchange program at Chiang Mai Rajabhat University in Thailand from Dec. 2 to Jan. 14.
While in Chiang Mai, the largest city in northern Thailand, Stoloff is teaching workshops on Internet resources for English as a Second Language to high school teachers; seminars on online learning and teaching for university faculty; and classes on U. S. cities, American family life, U. S. government, and the U. S. educational system.
Stoloff's host, Anchalee Wongla, spent Sept. 15 – Oct. 29 at Eastern, participating in Education Department classes and conferences on multicultural education and educational technology. At the end of her visit, Anchalee’s husband, President Ruangdet Wongla of Chiang Mai Rajabhat University, signed a formal memorandum of understanding with Eastern’s administration to initiate student and faculty exchanges between our two universities. |
|
Tibet Monks Finish Mandala for Peace
|
 |
Eastern and the surrounding community were presented an intricate demonstration of sand art in Eastern’s Akus Gallery when Tibetan monks from the Dalai Lama’s Namgyal Monastery in North America arrived on campus to create a Sand Mandala for Peace and Compassion in early December. The process, which involves producing a piece of art one grain of sand at a time, took place Dec. 3 through Dec. 9. The event drew large audiences, including busloads of schoolchildren, who learned about the prayers and rituals of Tibetan Buddhist culture.
President Nunez hosted a reception for the monks in the Akus Gallery on Dec. 3. They presented an additional lecture and demonstration during Eastern’s weekly University Hour on Dec. 5. On Sunday, the final day, the monks dismantled the entire mandala, and along with Eastern students, faculty and staff, alumni, and members of the community, proceeded to the Bridge of Flowers where the sand was tossed into the Willimantic River, accompanied by prayers for peace throughout the world. |
|
Eroica Trio Performs at Eastern
|
The Eroica Trio, one of the most sought after trios in the world, lived up to its reputation on Nov. 27 as a group that “thrills audiences with flawless technical virtuosity, irresistible enthusiasm, and sensual elegance.” The group performed in Shafer Auditorium, demonstrating skills on piano, violin, and cello heretofore unheard of at Eastern.
Next up in Eastern’s popular Arts and Lecture Series is a presentation on Feb. 12 by heralded actor Mel Johnson, Jr., who will collaborate with writer/director Tom Dugan to present “Frederick Douglas: In the Shadow of Slavery.” Johnson’s Broadway credits include Mufasa in The Lion King; and The Rink with Liza Minnelli and Chit Rivera; Hamlet; and History of the American Film (Hartford Stage). He has been on national television as well, performing in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine; The Practice, Fresh Prince of Bel Air, and the miniseries, Liberty.
|
|
Congratulations to Jenna Germain! |
|
Jenna Germain, a senior from Berlin majoring in health and physical education, was recently named “Connecticut Future Professional of the Year” by the Connecticut Association of Health, Physical Education, and Dance (CAPHERD). She will be honored at CAPHERD’s Eastern District Association Convention, Feb 29 - March 1 at the Marriott Hotel in Newport. |
Michael Lessard, a graduate student in majoring in education who earned his undergraduate degree in history with a minor in theatre, and Philip Trostler, a senior majoring in performing arts/theatre, perform in Tom Stoppard’s On the Razzle in Eastern’s Harry Hope Theatre, Nov. 6–11. On the Razzle, Stoppard’s 1981 adaptation of Johann Nestroy’s hilarious play, was directed by guest artist Jerry Winters.
|
Performing arts/theatre majors Alana Falanga and Kelly Schreier in Tom Stoppard’s On the Razzle, directed by guest artist Jerry Winters in Eastern’s Harry Hope Theatre.
|
STOP, in the Name of Love |
For Eastern’s newly-established student chapter of the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People), Oct. 23 hopefully marked the beginning of the end — the end to accepting negative and degrading images of African American women in the media and the exploitation of minority groups in all avenues. The Eastern chapter hosted a discussion panel in conjunction with the national STOP Campaign.
The STOP Campaign hopes to encourage dialog surrounding images and stereotypes associated with minorities in the media and bring an end to negative portrayals of African Americans in these mediums. A panel consisting of Susan Heyward, director of academic advisement; Karen Powell Sears, professor of sociology; Milton Jackson, Laurel Hall director/advisor; and student representative Nikita Mason, and moderated by Dwight Bachman, Eastern’s public relations officer, focused on the topics of socialization and representation of African American women in the media. The discussion included statements from the panel, questions from the audience, and comments from the 50 students in attendance, who represented Eastern and Central Connecticut State University. Fannie Braboy, president of the local chapter, closed the discussion saying, “It’s time to stop allowing any and everything to be displayed and perpetuated about African Americans in the media.” Brayboy said the panel discussion was the first of many to be hosted by Eastern’s new student chapter of the NAACP.
|
- On Nov. 28, the Willimantic Chronicle and Norwich Bulletin ran major stories about billboards in Willimantic that focus on the town’s cat ordinance. The billboards were crafted by design students in Professor June Bisantz’s classes.
- On Nov. 22, the Willimantic Chronicle, Norwich Bulletin and Connecticut Post gave extensive coverage to Eastern’s “Day of Giving,” organized by Jason Budahazy, a junior from Bridgeport majoring in sports leisure management.
- On Nov. 16, the American Prospect featured an article by Visual Arts Professor Sharon Butler.
- On Nov. 7, the Inquiring News ran a front-page story on Eastern’s first Minority Alumni Reception and Scholarship Banquet, calling it “a stunning success.”
- On Oct. 22, the Hartford Courant ran a major story on Eastern’s New Student Center.
- On Oct. 15, the Willimantic Chronicle ran a front-page story on the Windham Area Relay for Life Cancer Walk, hosted at Eastern on Oct. 14.
|
|
