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NEWS:

WSU to Host "Music to Change
the World" with Joe Jencks


Price To Play In Division III
North-South Senior Classic


Scott Named Capital One
Division III Academic All-American

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NOTEWORTHY:

Stephanie Chalupka (Nursing) is the author of "Planning for Community Change" which appears as a book chapter in the newly released textbook Community and Public Health Nursing: Evidence for Practice. The textbook is published by Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins.



On Tuesday, November 22, Henry Theriault (Philosophy) presented
remarks titled, "Le Génocide arménien: Une résolution juste, à travers les reparations," at the Armenian Cultural Center of Paris, France. With a select group of 21 other scholars from across the globe, he was then a participant in the Universitair Centrum Sint-Ignatius Antwerpen's international workshop, "Preventing Genocide: Root Causes and Coping Strategies," held at the University of Antwerp on November 24 and 25. There he presented the paper, "Forced Moral Responsibility and Perpetrator-Victim Group Conciliation," a part of his current research on long-term resolutions of past genocides and related mass human rights violations. In January he will present "Sharing the Burden as a Path Toward Victim-Perpetrator Conciliation" at the School for International Training Symposium, "Conflict, Memory, and Reconciliation: Bridging Past, Present, and Future," in Kigali, Rwanda.

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AROUND CAMPUS:

Former Warchild Sends Message of Hope

Worcester State hosted a concert and lecture by international hip hop artist and former child soldier Emmanuel Jal on Tuesday, November 29, 2011 in the Fuller Theater of the Helen G. Shaughnessy Administration Building.

As backdrop, images of Jal as a child soldier, along with words from his songs, were projected on a screen for the audience to see and his music filled the theater. He also highlighted integral figures in his life and people that helped him rise above adversity.

Jal began by telling us about his family. He was born in the southern Sudan, where his mother was a teacher and a nurse and his father was a policeman. At the age of seven, his mother died. His father, who had become a commander in the Sudan People's Liberation Army, sent him to Ethiopia to attend school. When Jal arrived, however, he found out they had been duped. It turned out to be a city of young people ages five through thirteen. They did go to school for a while, however they went into a training camp for six to nine months where they learned how to fight and kill people. There were few adults and the aid workers were overwhelmed. The children fought for the next several years, suffering and enduring the horrors of the two Sudanese civil wars. They battled hunger, thirst, and endured unimaginable hardships during this time.

Jal told the audience of about 80 that he and the other children often asked questions like, "Why are we suffering like this? Where is my mother?" And why there was no one there who could answer their questions.

Some of them, including Jal, escaped. Jal soon met Emma McCune, a British aid worker, who later adopted him and smuggled him into Kenya so he could go to school in Nairobi.

In spite of and because of his circumstances, Jal began to write songs and sing about his experiences, hopes, and dreams. He has emerged as an internationally recognized performer in the music industry. Jal's music is an innovative blend of hip hop and polyrhythmic African musical forms. It's full of uplifting inspiration that preaches global unity, solidarity and peace. Jal encouraged his audience to look past the difference of religion, race, and ethnicity and instead be a united force to end discrimination and hate.

In response to a question about what Americans can do to help create social change, Jal said that we need to look for people who care and team up together to create a better world.

In addition, Jal is passionate about Gua Africa, a non-profit charity he founded that aids refugees of the Sudanese civil wars. This charity helps to build schools and foster education for the refugees of those wars. Another organization of Jal's, Lose to Win, inspires individuals to lose something in order to win for the greater good. To learn more about this effort go to www.losetowin.net/Challenge.

This event was sponsored by the Dennis Brutus/Merrill Goldwyn Center for the Study of Human Rights, WSU Theme Semester, "Worcester in the World" and the Office of Diversity.


Twenty-five Students Inducted as Charter
Members to Communication Honor Society

Twenty-five members of the Omega Psi chapter of Lambda Pi Eta, the honor society for undergraduate students in communication, were inducted Sunday Dec. 4 in a ceremony in the Fuller Theater. President Barry Maloney welcomed students, their families and other guests to the historic occasion.

A student initiative during the spring 2011 semester resulted in the formation of this Worcester State University chapter. The National Communication Association chartered it in April 2011 and the WSU Student Government Association recognized it in fall 2011.

Dr. Maureen Shamgochian, associate vice president for Academic Affairs, gave the keynote address.

Chapter officers conducted the induction ceremony. Professor Donald Bullens, chair of the Communication Department, offered closing remarks.
A reception followed the ceremony.

Lambda Pi Eta members must have completed at least 60 credits of undergraduate course work with a GPA of 3.0 or higher and at least 12 credits of communication courses with a GPA of 3.25 or higher and be in the top 35 percent of their graduating classes.

Dr. Barbara Zang is the chapter's faculty adviser. The inductees are:

Meghan Ann Alarie, Melissa C. Brennan, Jessica Lenora Cence (secretary), Kristen Ann Collins, Ashley B. Cornish, Alyssa Christine D'Urso, Samantha E. Dwyer, Caroline Curran Early, Megan A. Gay, Jillian M. St. George (treasurer), Ashley E. Hare (vice president), Erin M. Harvey, Ashley Howe, Ene Idoko, Samantha Janda, Danielle C. Kasabula, Christina M. Labbe, Thomas W. Moir, Katelyn O'Brien, Paola M. Pimentel (scholarship coordinator), Gianna Porcaro, Alicia Strader (webmaster), Matthew L. Tella, Chelsea Lynn Tougas (president) and Jenessa Trupian.


Spirit of the Season
Photo by Matt Wright '10

On Friday, December 2, the WSU chorale, chorus and newly-formed alumni singers performed the Christmas portion of Handel's Messiah at the All Saints Episcopal Church in Worcester. In addition, they performed works by Rutter, Victoria, Howells and others.


Human Rights Day, Dec. 10
By Jamie Savoie, Graduate Assistant,
Center for the Study of Human Rights

Human rights are inherent to each of us, whatever our nationality, place of residence, sex, national or ethnic origin, color, religion, or language. Human Rights integrate us as a global community, and as a global community we share a day in common: Human Rights Day on December 10. Since the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adapted 63 years ago, December 10 has served to mark Human Rights Day around the world. Visit the Center for the Study of Human Rights website to read more.


A Look Back at Worcester in the World
By Chelsea Tougas '12

With the 2011 theme semester coming to an end, Dr. Robert Brooks, chair of the Criminal Justice Department and director of the Theme Semester program, believes that the Worcester State University was very involved with the first theme semester. More than 30 classes were offered during the semester, each relating to the "Worcester in the World" topic.

The faculty "appreciated the power the program had on their students," Brooks noted. The program stimulated different departments to talk to each other and focused on having an integrated learning community.

Brooks said he felt that the students were able to make connections between their different courses because of this theme semester. Students got the sense of being part of a collective group, especially students who took more than one "Worcester in the World" course, meeting the goal to "have courses feel more integrated," he added. Twelve events were tied to the initiative, as well as the John Perkins' lecture, all of which enriched and reinforced the theme of "Worcester in the World." John Perkins' book, "Confessions of an Economic Hit Man," was assigned to all first-year students. This was the first time a common reading assignment was given to all freshmen students. His lecture in October was a definite highlight of the series, almost filling the Sullivan Auditorium on show night, according to Brooks. Other highlights included the EarthView globe set up in the exhibit area of the Student Center on opening day, The Gallery show named "Global Perspectives," the screening of the film "Ciclovida: Life Cycle" and the student play "Good Person of Setzuan."

The fall 2012 theme semester will be named "Contagion," Brooks said, adding that the term has a wide variety of meanings and themes, including concepts of infection and quarantine, addiction, rumors, religion, recruitment, peer pressure, idealism, rebellion, love and hope.

The main focus of this upcoming theme semester will be departments learning from other departments, with information spreading, Brooks explained. Theme semesters are meant to be as broad as possible, he added, so every department can try to have courses tie into the theme.
Adam Zahler, assistant professor of Visual and Performing Arts and WSU Theatre's director, has already gathered a small group of students to generate ideas for the fall 2012 theater performance so it can tie in with the theme contagion. Brooks said he hopes that the University will continue with the Theme Semester program in the coming years and it will continue to grow.

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ANNOUNCEMENTS:

Writing Center Hours for Reading Day
The Writing Center will hold its last day of writing consultations with student-clients on December 12, from 9 a.m.- 6 p.m. An expanded staff will be on hand and students may make appointments or walk in. Due to the anticipated volume of activity that day, consultations will be 45 minute sessions. The goal is to help WSU student-clients identify difficulties and establish revisions strategies for any final papers due.

Change of Date for QuickTime Tutorial
The date of Professor Julian Berrian's QuickTime tutorial has been changed to December 9, from 2:30 -4 p.m. in LRC-117. The tutorial is provided for those with an interest in creating video/audio files for lectures, classroom tutorials, and rants for consumption via internet streaming. Professor Berrian will provide the fundamentals needed to incorporate QuickTime into the classroom and will answer any questions.

Holiday Charity Drives
This holiday season the WSU community is hosting various charity drives to help needy people in the Worcester area. A holiday toy drive, collecting toys for needy children throughout Worcester, will run until December 13. Please drop off your donations in the President's Office, Administration Building. The students of the Health and Science Department are collecting food and toys to benefit AIDS Project Worcester and clothes and household items to benefit Abby's House Thrift Store. Please drop off your donations in the collection boxes on the first floor of the Science and Technology Building. Thank you for your generosity; it is greatly appreciated by people in need throughout Worcester.

Computer Science Education Week
This week is Computer Science Education Week. The Bureau of Labor Statistics findings projects by 2018 more than 800,000 computing jobs will be created. Computing jobs is one of the fastest growing fields. For more information, please visit www.csedweek.org

Holiday Talk and Auction
The WSU Center for Service Learning and Civic Engagement will host a Holiday Gift and Art Auction to support student scholarships on Friday, December 9, 2011, at 6 p.m. in the Student Center Blue Lounge. The event will feature keynote speaker Charlie Rose, a founding board member and current dean of the City Year program, a leader in the growing national service movement, a youth worker, organizer, and entrepreneur. He was honored by the Boston Celtics as a "Hero Among Us." Rose will speak on "20/20 Vision" following dinner and music by acoustic duo Julius and Joe. The auction begins at 8 p.m. and features more than 50 items including a day pass for two to Canyon Ranch, art by notable Massachusetts artists (including WSU faculty), tickets and restaurant gift certificates, a Super Bowl buffet delivered to your home, and more.

Cost of the dinner is $20, with checks made payable to the Worcester State Foundation. Auction proceeds will benefit The McCarthy Coyle Wagner Scholarship for Student Community Activism. For more information, please contact Mark Wagner at mwagner2@worcester.edu or call 508-929-8635.

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WSU IN THE NEWS:

College Town
Telegram & Gazette 12/4/11
The Worcester State University Center for Service Learning and Civic Engagement will host a Holiday Gift and Art Auction to support student scholarships at 6 p.m. Dec. 9 in the Student Center Blue Lounge.....


Athlete of the Week: Teamworks Staff Member Nikki Scott an All American
The Sun Chronicle 12/2/11
Worcester State women's soccer student-athlete Nikki Scott from Berlin has been selected as a Capital One Division III Academic Third-Team All-American by the College Sports Information Directors of America (Co-SIDA)...


MASCAC honors for former AHS star
Patch.com 12/1/11
Worcester State College midfielder Danielle Clifford, the former Attleboro High Bombardier, was tabbed the MASCAC Player of the Year, leading the Lancers to their first-ever ECAC Division III New England Championship...


Bubbe's Kitchen
Boston Herald 11/30/11
SERVING UP FOOD AND ADVICE: Avrom Honig and Bubbe's cookbook "Feed Me Bubbe" is based on their show. **Avrom Honig is a WSU alum (Class of 2006).


Sunny warmth chases away November gloom
Telegram & Gazette 11/30/11
Worcester State University wide receiver AJ Scerra of Marlboro catches a pass while defensive back Graham Y. Asum of Marlboro plays defense on the football ...

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