Written by Emily Bonoyer

Willimantic, CT -- Congressman Joseph Courtney (D - Second District) will be the keynote speaker when Eastern Connecticut State University observes Veterans Day on Nov. 11. The public is invited. Admission is free. The ceremony starts at 9 a.m. and will take place on the Wood Support Services Lawn.

            "I honor and thank Connecticut's veterans and their families for their continued service to our country," said Courtney. "For many veterans, their commitment to public service continues long after their military service requirements are completed, which serves as testimony to their special sense of leadership and dedication to strengthening our local communities. And for their devotion to our nation, I will continue to fight for the benefits and resources they need and have earned. I applaud Eastern for creating a Veterans' Center, which provides targeted assistance to troops and veterans who have enrolled at the university."  

As a part of the day's events, Eastern's Veterans Center will conduct the "Veterans Day Challenge." The challenge is the same workout that Lieutenant Michael Murphy, United States Navy (SEAL), of Patchogue, NY, did while he was deployed in Afghanistan. On June 28, 2005, Murphy was killed by enemy forces during a reconnaissance mission. Murphy called his workout "Body Armor" because he wore body armor weighing approximately 20 pounds during the entire workout.

            The challenge is part of the University's Dean's Cup competition among residence halls, an academic-and service-related event that promotes spirit and collaboration among students living in the residence halls on campus.  All proceeds raised from this event will benefit the Eastern Veteran's Scholarship Fund.

            The challenge is a team event comprised of two dominant workouts involving nothing more than each competitor's own body weight, and is designed to test the mind and the body. The team that completes the "Body Armor Regimen" in the fastest total time will receive a prize and bragging rights. "I feel that the event should be a positive reminder about how our veterans have served our country, and how we can continue to give back to the community at large," said Caleb Diebolt '10, sociology major at Eastern. "It is also very encouraging for the community to donate for our veterans' scholarship."

            Courtney was first elected to the U.S. House in 2006. He serves on the House Education and Labor Committee and House Armed Services Committee. On the Armed Services Committee, Courtney serves on the Seapower and Expeditionary Forces and the Military Readiness Subcommittees. He is also the first Congressman from the Second Congressional District to sit on the House Education and Labor Committee since the World War II era, which is notable, given that eastern Connecticut is proudly known as the "higher education district" of Connecticut. Since his swearing in, Courtney has distinguished himself as a tireless advocate for both the nation's veterans and men and women in uniform. In early 2008, in recognition of his efforts, Courtney was awarded the Connecticut National Guard's highest honor, the Meritorious Service Award.

The ceremony is hosted by the University's Division of Student Affairs and the Veterans Education and Transition Services Center. Persons interested in participating in the Veterans Day Challenge, should contact Caleb Diebolt at (860) 465-0401 or E-mail veterans@easternct.edu.

Written by Kate Harner

Willimantic, CT -- Eastern Connecticut State University will host its third annual Day of Giving food drive and Thanksgiving meal for community members who, under normal circumstances, would not receive a traditional Thanksgiving dinner. The Day of Giving will be held from noon to 2 p.m. on Nov. 25 in Hurley Hall on Eastern's North Campus.

The Day of Giving was created by Jason Budahazy '09 in 2007. This year, junior Amy Gorman, president of the student-run club People Helping People (PHP), heads the Day of Giving Committee, a group of students who prepare for the food drives and the actual day of the event. They receive support from local stores, Eastern's Offices of Community Service and Institutional Advancement, the Center for Community Engagement, the Office of Housing and Residential Life and Chartwells Dining Services, among others.

Gorman organized the food drives, which are held over the five weekends before Thanksgiving. "Day of Giving is such a dynamic project because it brings so many people together for one common goal. The Eastern campus community comes together to put on the actual day of event, to collect food in the residence halls and to go out to the stores on the weekends and collect food," said Gorman. "The community makes this event possible by being generous enough to donate food at the stores for the local food pantries."

The Day of Giving food drives are held in all of Eastern's residence halls, as well as Wal-Mart, the Willimantic Food Co-Op, Shaw's Supermarkets and Bob's IGA. Volunteers from different clubs, activities, sports teams and residence halls participate in the food drive, which will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the following dates: Nov. 7 at Bob's IGA in Hebron; Nov. 8 at Wal-Mart; Nov. 14 at the Willimantic Food Co-Op; Nov. 15 at Shaw's in East Hampton; Nov. 21 at Bob's IGA; and Nov. 22 at Shaw's.

Last year, more than 20,000 nonperishable food items were collected and donated to the Northeast Food Collaborative, which includes the Covenant Soup Kitchen, Catholic Charities and Access Agency. So far this year, more than 1,500 food items and $150 in donations have been collected. Beth Zambrano, AmeriCorps VISTA and coordinator in Eastern's Office of Community Service said, "Donations have been extremely generous. Already, we have received greatly needed items like baby formula and items in large bulk."

The second part of Day of Giving consists of a large-scale Thanksgiving meal with all the traditional fixings for those who would otherwise go without. Chartwells Dining Services will provide and prepare food for the day. Students from clubs and activities like PHP, along with members of faculty and staff, will volunteer on that day to make the guests' experience more enjoyable and relaxing. More than 400 community members were served last year.

"Last year, I saw how much people truly appreciated this event," said Gorman. "Some of the guests with whom I interact on a regular basis still talk about it a year later, telling me how much they loved it."

For more information, contact Eastern's Office of Community Service at (860) 465-0684 or ecsu.community.service@easternct.edu.

Written by Jack Meltzer

              Willimantic, CT-  John Hudson, author and artistic director for the experimental New York-based Shakespeare company Dark Lady Players, will speak on Nov.  11 at Eastern Connecticut State University.  The address begins at 3 p.m. in the Student Center Theatre.  The public is invited.  Admission is free.

            The authorship and identity of Shakespeare's plays and works has been a subject of debate for a long time.  Hudson will discuss theories about who might have authored these classic plays.

        The Dark Lady Players aims to re-invent established performance practices in the theater industry. It helps teams, theatrical and otherwise, become more creative and open to inquiry; better able to generate new ideas; and able to re-invent old narratives with new dramatic techniques.

            Hudson has adapted "As You Like It" into an allegorical production presented in New York City, and  is currently working on Amelia Bassano Lanier's biography, "The Dark Lady: The Woman Who Wrote Shakespeare."  He also is the author of a biweekly column on Shakespearean scholarship and dramaturgy, which appears in the Clyde Fitch Report.  Hudson has a Master of Arts in Shakespeare and Theatre from the Shakespeare Institute at the University of Birmingham in England  and a bachelor's degree from the University of Exeter.

Written by Kate Harner

Willimantic, CT -- The English Club at Eastern Connecticut State University will host a reading and book-signing by award-winning fiction writer Charles Baxter at 7 p.m. on Nov. 3 in Room 301 of the Science Building. After the reading, Eastern's bookstore will offer copies for sale of Baxter's novels, "The Feast of Love" and "The Soul Thief," as well as his collection of essays on fiction, "Burning Down the House." Baxter also will hold a question and answer session at 11 a.m. on Nov. 4 in the Student Center Theatre. The public is invited to both events. Admission is free.

Baxter has authored five novels, "The Soul Thief," "The Feast of Love," "Shadow Play," "First Light" and "Saul and Patsy"; four short story collections; three poetry collections; two collections of essays on fiction; as well as other works.

Baxter has received numerous awards, including the Award of Merit in the Short Story and the Award in Literature from the American Academy of Arts and Letters; the Prix St. Valentine in France; and the Catalan Booksellers' Association Award for Book of the Year in Spain. "The Feast of Love" was a finalist for the National Book Award in 2000, and was made into a film by Robert Benton. Baxter's work has appeared in journals and magazines such as the New Yorker and The Atlantic, among others. Baxter currently serves as the Edelstein-Keller Professor of Creative Writing at the University of Minnesota.

For more information, contact the English Club at englishclub@stu.easternct.edu.

Written by Jack Meltzer

Willimantic, Conn. -  Jeff Benedict '91, best-selling author and professor of advanced writing at Southern Virginia University, will lecture at Eastern Connecticut State University on Nov. 4 as part of Eastern's University Hour series.  The address begins at 3 p.m. in the Paul E. Johnson Sr. Community Conference Room.  The public is invited.  Admission is free.  

Benedict's lecture, "The Story Behind Kelo vs. New London," will provide an account of the New London court case regarding eminent domain laws of transferring land from one private owner to another to further economic development.  The case has been going on since 2005. Benedict's most recent publication, "Little Pink Houses: A True Story of Defiance and Courage," is the story behind the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in this case.             

Benedict is the author of nine books, many of which have been the basis for features on 60 Minutes, ABC News 20/20, Dateline, HBO Real Sports and the Discovery Channel.  He obtained his bachelor's degree in history from Eastern and also holds a master's degree in political science from Northeastern and a law degree from the New England College of Law.  

Written by Kate Harner

Willimantic, CT -- The Willimantic Orchestra will begin its 2009-10 concert series by performing at Eastern Connecticut State University. The performance will be held at 3 p.m. on Nov. 8 in Shafer Auditorium. The public is invited. Admission is free; however, a donation is suggested.

The fall concert will feature the vocal stylings of "Grande Romanza" with Stefano and Nina Tanchietti. The orchestra will perform selections from Bizet's "Carmen," Rodgers and Hammerstein, Bernstein's "West Side Story" and Webber's "Phantom of the Opera." It will also perform "Memory" from the award-winning Broadway musical, "Cats."

The Willimantic Orchestra is a nonprofit orchestra made up of local community members committed to authentic orchestral music. David Vaughan conducts the ensemble. 

For more information, contact Fred Wengrzynek, president of the orchestra, at (860) 593-0455 or fred.wengrzynek@charter.net.

Written by Jack Meltzer

Willimantic, CT- Nanette Tummers, health and physical education professor at Eastern Connecticut State University, will be honored by the Connecticut Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (CTAHERD) at its annual banquet on Nov. 19. The banquet will be held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Cromwell, CT.  Tickets for the event are $35.

 Tummers is being awarded the prestigious professional service award for her years of commitment to health education and fitness. Tummers came to Eastern in 2001 from the University of Miami, where she oversaw the health and wellness curriculum for third-year medical students for four years. She also taught personal nutrition at Miami University's School of Nursing and at Barry University in Florida. 

Tummers is widely published, and her articles focus on yoga, the connection between mind and body and fitness, and resistance training. Earlier this year, she published two books, "Teaching Yoga for Life: Preparing Children and Teens for Healthy, Balanced Living" and "Wellness and Stress Management."   She is also a registered yoga teacher with Yoga Alliance and a member of the International Association of Yoga Therapists.

For more information about the CTAHERD banquet, please call Patty Pursell, CTAHERD's awards chair, at (203) 641-4291, or e-mail Pursell15@yahoo.com.

Written by Kate Harner

Willimantic, CT -- Author and financial journalist Charles Morris will present a lecture titled "The First American Industrial Revolution" at Eastern Connecticut State University. The lecture will be held at 1 p.m. on Nov. 12 in the Student Center Theatre. Barbara Tucker, director of the Center for Connecticut Studies and history professor at Eastern, will host the event. The public is invited. Admission is free.

Morris says that this first American Revolution "was centered in the Connecticut River Valley in the first half of the 19^th century. Its importance is much under-appreciated, but it was a key contributor to American industrial dominance in the next century."

Two of Morris's best-known articles are "The Coming Global Boom" in The Atlantic (October 1989) and "Tough Love for the American Economy" in BusinessWeek (August 2008). Some of his books include "The AARP: America's Most Powerful Lobby and the Coming Clash of Generations," "American Catholic: The Saints and Sinners Who Built America's Most Powerful Church" and "The Tycoons: How Andrew Carnegie, John D. Rockefeller, Jay Gould, and J.P. Morgan Invented the American Supereconomy."

Morris has also been a guest on several radio and television programs, such as the NBC's "Today Show," CNN's "Money Line" and NPR's "All Things Considered."

For more information, contact Barbara Tucker at (860) 465-4512 or tuckerb@easternct.edu.

 Written by Jack Meltzer

  Willimantic, Conn. -   Imna Arroyo, professor of visual arts at Eastern Connecticut State University, is showcasing her multi-media exhibit, "Oh, Mi Yemana" at the Provenance Center located at 165 State St. in New London.  The exhibit, which started on Oct.1, will run through Jan. 31, 2010.   The public is invited, and admission is free.

The theme in the exhibit is heavily based on the mythology and spirituality of the Ifa religion, which was brought by millions of Africans to Puerto Rico, Cuba and Brazil. 

 "Oh, Mi Yemaya," includes two major installations by Arroyo; The Many Faces of Yemaya and and La Casa de Yemaya/House of Yemaya.  Each piece of artwork depicts "los siete caminos de Yemaya," the seven paths taken by the Orisha Yemaya. 

 The Many Faces of Yemanya is composed of seven woodblock panels that are printed on satin and framed with Batik fabric from Ghana, West Africa.  Each panel represents the seven paths of the African God, Orisha Yemaya, who has unique charachteristics, both good and bad, that manifest in human life. Shells, glass and hand-made sculptures, along with a six-minute video are  part of the artwork.

The second instillation of the exhibit, La Casa de Yemaya /House of Yemaya,  shows Yemaya living in the bottom of the sea with Olokun, her father and the owner and master of ocean. Yemaya is depicted as a mermaid as well as the Virgin of Merci as she is also known.

This exhibition is sponsored by Connecticut-based Mijoba Communications.  For more information, please contact contact@mckeestudio.com or the curator Migdalia Salas at ajiacocubanartexhibit@gmail.com or call (860) 443-2545.

Written by kate Harner

Willimantic, CT -- Eastern Connecticut State University's Theatre Department will perform Shakespeare's "As You Like It" Nov. 3 - 8 at the Harry Hope Theatre, located in Shafer Hall on the corner of High and Valley Streets in Willimantic. The play will be performed at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 3 - 7. A matinee will be presented at 11 a.m. on Nov. 6. A final presentation will take place at 4 p.m. on Nov. 8. The public is invited. Tickets are $5 for Eastern students and groups of 10 or more; $10 for Eastern faculty, staff, alumni and senior citizens; and $12 for the general public.

The performance is directed by Jerry Winters, part-time professor of theatre at Eastern. This popular pastoral shows the worlds of the court and countryside colliding as it explores the themes of love, betrayal and human follies. Eastern's production gives Shakespeare's plot a modern twist by replacing the original Elizabethan aristocracy with the media empire of Duke Frederick and court entertainment and marketing. It uses recorded and live video, which Kara Williams '10, produced with the help of Communication Professor Denise Matthews. The show will also include live wrestling.

The communities of Eastern and Willimantic worked together on the production. The cast includes theatre majors, other Eastern students and community actors. Local musician and songwriter Kevin Scott composed the production's original music. Robert Sweetnum, theatre professor at Eastern, designed the multilevel set for the show.

For reservations, call the Box Office at (860) 465-5123.