“With All Deliberate Speed”
Attorney John Britain, chief counsel and senior deputy director of the Washington D.C.-based Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law and former lead attorney in Connecticut’s famous Sheff vs. O’Neill public school desegregation case, delivered a powerful keynote address at the “Life after Brown 2005: With All Deliberate Speed…Looking Back, Moving Ahead” Conference on April 15-16.
The two-day conference marked the anniversary of the second U.S. Supreme Court decision associated with the landmark Brown v. Board of Education case in 1955, in which the court specifically instructed school districts across the country to desegregate schools “with all deliberate speed.”
The conference brought distinguished educators from across the region to campus to examine the impact of Brown on public education today; media coverage of the Brown cases was also explored. The conference also hosted a day of special activities for high school teachers and students, including a lesson on Brown facilitated by Eastern Education Department faculty members, a campus tour, an overview of Eastern’s admissions process, a panel of current Eastern students giving their perspective on college life, and a special lunchtime motivational speaker.
Senator Dodd Visits with Eastern Student/Parents
A packed house in the Johnson Community Conference Room of the J. Eugene Smith Library listened recently as seven Eastern students who are parents of young children provided U.S. Sen. Christopher Dodd valuable input on a bill he is proposing that could help them get federal financial assistance as they pursue their degrees.
Bonnie Arcari, Alicia Benson, Rebecca Swanson, Raymond Wykowski, Charlene Wilcox, Natasha Reed, and Paulina Rodriguez spoke with Dodd during his March 30 visit to campus to announce the legislation, co-sponsored by Sen. Olympia J. Snowe of Maine. The legislation, aimed at low-income students, expands eligibility and assistance levels in section 419 of the Higher Education Act, which authorizes the Child Care Access Means Parents in School (CCAMPIS) Program. The program provides financial assistance to eligible students to allow them to afford on-campus child care for their children.
The students told Dodd their families make just enough money to be eliminated from qualifying for financial assistance, but not enough to pay for child care, mortgages, and other bills.
Dodd, father of a three-week-old child and a three-year old, told the students to keep their fingers crossed as the bill makes its way through Congress.
Research and Exhibition Conferences a Success
Eastern students know how to put on a show! Within five days in April in Webb Hall, the J. Eugene Smith Library, and the Media Building, more than 400 of them from every academic department showcased their intellectual and creative skills during the School of Arts and Sciences Sixth Annual Student Research and Exhibition Conference, held on April 23, and the School of Education and Professional Studies Fifth Excellence Expo, held on April 27.
More than 200 students in Arts and Sciences presented during the Research and Exhibition Conference. Some of the topics included “Real-Time Control Software,” “Sustainable Energy Lab Projects and Renewable Energy Systems for Connecticut Residences,” “Euripides and Religion,” “Women’s Rights in Iraq,” and “Acquaintance Rape on College Campuses,” to name a few. Peter Bachiochi, associate professor of psychology at Eastern and 2004 Excellence Award Winner for Creative/Scholarly Activity, delivered the keynote address, “Curiosity and the Liberal Arts.”
More than 200 students in the School of Education and Professional Studies presented at the Excellence Expo on April 27. Presentations — most of them using impressive PowerPoint techniques — covered a variety of topics on health, ethics, international finance management, economics, marketing, and advertising. Faculty and staff and community representatives judged the presentations, including the gallery photo exhibit and popular poster contest, called them “awesome.”
New Students Visit Eastern
Sunday, April 24 was a special time for students planning on attending Eastern this fall as they and their families and friends visited the campus to learn more about the University’s programs and services.
Patricia Kleine, dean of the School of Education and Professional Development, told the crowd of 1,800: “We welcome you today, and I hope you welcome us to you — we want to get to know you and your families. Help us to tell your story.”
Professor Philip Elliott, director of the Honors Program, said Eastern’s commitment to the liberal arts is an “identity that informs most of what we do at this University.” Vice President Laura Tordenti, division of student affairs, told the incoming students, “There are many meaningful experiences to be had outside the classroom. You will find our students are active, engaged, involved, and committed.”
President David Carter closed the welcome ceremonies with these words: “I believe that your generation — called the ‘Millennial Generation’ by some — is going to transform our country.” He promised the students that Eastern would not only help them learn academically, but would present opportunities for them to practice integrity, trustworthiness, and respect. “Let your rudder be your spiritual well-being,” he concluded.
Award Reception Honors Latin American Leaders
Two members of the campus community and a local high school teacher were honored on April 21 at Eastern Connecticut State University’s annual Latin American Distinguished Service Awards ceremony.
Joanna Rivera, a junior majoring in social work, received the award in the student category. In addition to serving as vice-president of the Organization for Latin American Students (OLAS), Rivera has been a resident assistant at Eastern for two years and is a Minority Undergraduate Fellow.
Sandra Matthews received the award in the faculty/staff category. A 2001 Eastern graduate in psychology and Spanish, Matthews is the area coordinator for Noble Residence Hall and OLAS advisor.
Karen Lapuk, a teacher in Windham High School’s bilingual program, received the award in the community member category. Originally from California, Lapuk has taught at Windham for three years and also serves as the yearbook advisor. She is on the board of a local Montessori school and coach of the Columbia/Windham Soccer Alliance.Page 1 2
