Newsflash
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Ten Connecticut legislators took time from their busy schedules to visit with Eastern faculty, staff, administrators, and students at the annual legislative breakfast, held on Jan. 30. President Elsa Nuñez thanked the legislators for their support of Eastern¡¯s ¡°unique brand¡± of liberal arts education, quoting a former Xerox executive who noted that ¡°The only education that prepares us for change is a liberal education.¡± Connecticut State University System Chancellor David Carter also joined the group. State legislators in attendance included Sen. Pro Tempore Don Williams; Sen. Edith Prague; Rep. Joan Lewis; Rep. Claire Janowski; Rep. Kevin Ryan; Rep. Jack Malone, Rep. Shawn Johnston; Rep. Elizabeth Ritter; Rep. Dennis Merrill; and Rep. Bryan Hurlburt.
Vision of Optimism
President Elsa Nuñez was one of several dignitaries who spoke on Feb. 2 at a reception to recognize a new art exhibit gracing the walls of the Willimantic Juvenile Court lobby. ¡°Vision of Optimism¡± is a joint project that brought together young artists from the Willimantic school system and design students from Eastern¡¯s Visual Arts Department to create uplifting artwork for the lobby, hallways, and courtrooms of the Juvenile Court. President Nuñez told the standing-room only audience, ¡°Those of you who are getting an education are privileged, because not everyone has been able to attain that level of success. You need to turn around and find ways to share your good fortune with those less fortunate. This art project is an example of how giving of yourself can benefit the entire community.¡±
MASQUE Un-Masked
World-traveler and mask artist Larry Hunt energized his University Hour audience on Feb. 7 with a series of short skits using masks to illustrate his views on the function of art. Hunt and his company MASQUE, use mask art and movement to tell stories and move audiences. ¡°Art is not entertainment,¡± Hunt declared. ¡°It exists to create doubt, ask questions, to seek out, and open doors.¡± He explained that masks were the oldest functional artifact known to mankind, with masks appearing on the famous prehistoric cave wall drawings of France. Mask art is ¡°a safe place for the artist,¡± because you can remove your ego. Mask art can convey information without words in a language known to all. Saying mask theater was about ¡°symbols and metaphors,¡± Hunt quoted the painter Matisse who said, ¡°I don¡¯t paint things, I paint relationships.¡±
Lights Off!
During the summer 2006, Eastern exceeded its goal of reducing electrical consumption by asking the campus community to conserve energy and by switching to generators in certain buildings. The effort paid off. In this photograph, Ann Bazinet of Connecticut Light and Power presents a check for $121,000 to President Elsa Nuñez, Vice President Dennis Hannon, and Nancy Tinker, director of facilities management and planning, for reducing electrical consumption when requested during summer peak demand times.
Relief Support for Hurricane Katrina Survivors Continues
On Feb. 8, students and faculty in the Department of Health and Physical Education, with support from the Department of Athletics, raised more than $500 during ¡°Half Day Hustle: Hurricane Relief for New Orleans,¡± a 12-hour event held at the Sports Center to raise awareness on the conditions in New Orleans and to raise funds to replace athletic and recreation equipment at New Orleans City Park that was destroyed by Hurricane Katrina and the flooding that followed.
Student volunteers included Ashley Gomes, Michelle Bruneau, Meredith Merchant, Matt Mitchell, Lindsay Raymond, Christina Amato, Ashley McFetridge, Caitlin Muldowney and Travis Jacobson. Health and Physical Education Professor Charles Chatterton and several of the students involved with the Half-Day Hustle joined faculty and students from Westfield State College to visit New Orleans on Feb. 23-28. The Eastern contingent presented their donation to City Park Administrators on behalf of the Eastern community and participated in other activities coordinated by Habitat for Humanity that were related to ongoing Hurricane Katrina relief efforts. In addition, Professor Chatterton participated in his fourth marathon in six months as part of his work with the ¡°Brake the Cycle of Poverty¡± organization.
You Can¡¯t Get Lost!
Eastern now has a beautiful labyrinth near the Arboretum entrance, thanks to the inspiration of Carol Williams, associate dean for the School of Continuing Education. Unlike a maze, a labyrinth has no dead-ends. As one student noted, you can ¡°enter the labyrinth with stress and leave with solace.¡± The stone benches for the site are recycled granite taken from other on campus construction.
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