Student Newsletter

Poltical science faculty member offers presentation

Posted Friday, November 13, 2009

Daniel DiLeo, associate professor of political science at Penn State Altoona, will present "Intimate Hierarchies and Porously Bounded Selves: Aristotle's Critique of Deliberative Democracy" on Monday, November 30 at 11 a.m. in room 101 of the Misciagna Family Center for Performing Arts. Pizza and soda will be served. Students, faculty, staff, and members of the community are welcome.

World AIDS Day 2009: Dispelling the myths of HIV/AIDS

Posted Wednesday, November 18, 2009

In commemoration of "World AIDS Day 2009: Dispelling the myths of HIV/AIDS," Penn State Altoona's Gay Straight Alliance will be hosting several events on Tuesday, December 1, 2009 from 7 - 10 p.m. in room 101 of the Misciagna Family Center for Performing Arts.

From 7 - 7:45 p.m., a representative from the Bon Secours campus of the Altoona Regional Health System will present "Dispelling the Myths of HIV/AIDS." HIV educator Brittany Date will offer a "Safe-Sex Primer" from 7:45 - 8 p.m. An HIV Trivia Competition will be held from 8 - 9 p.m. and will feature prizes donated by CAC, Eco-action, BUST, and Frito Lays. The evening will conclude with a 9 p.m. showing of the AIDS documentary "The Fire Within," featuring survivor Bob Bowers.

All members of the Penn State Altoona and surrounding communities are invited to attend this fun and educational event. Refreshments will be provided.

Information session for students transferring to University Park

Posted Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Students: Are you planning to change campuses to University Park for either January or August 2010? If so, plan to attend an informational session on Tuesday, December 1, 2009 from 12 noon - 1 p.m. in the TV Lounge of the Slep Student Center. Find out what you need to know regarding making a successful academic transition including information on entrance to major, the academic transition to larger classes and more competition, course load for the first semester, and advisor assignments. Students will also get information about on and off campus housing at University Park and in the State College area. The program is sponsored by the Academic Information and Advising Center, Housing and Food Services, and Student Affairs.

Faculty Colloquium: Richard Flarend

Posted Thursday, November 19, 2009

The Division of Math and Natural Sciences at Penn State Altoona is pleased to announce that Richard Flarend, associate professor of physics, will present "Seasonal Storage of Solar Thermal Energy" at the colloquium on Wednesday, December 2, 2009, from 12 noon - 1:15 p.m. in rooms 101-103 of the Misciagna Family Center for Performing Arts. Lunch will be provided.

Penn State Altoona welcomes wilderness writer and hunter

Posted Wednesday, November 11, 2009

ALTOONA – Penn State Altoona's environmental studies and English programs invite the community to a lecture by acclaimed author and environmentalist Rick Bass, Wednesday, December 2, 2009 at 7:30 p.m. in Misciagna Family Center for Performing Arts.

Bass is the author of twenty-four books of fiction and nonfiction dealing with the natural world and hunting. A hunter and environmental activist, Bass has won the PEN/Nelson Algren Award, a "Los Angeles Times" Best Book of the Year Award, a "Rocky Mountain News" Best Book of the Year Award, a Pushcart Prize, and the O. Henry Award for short fiction, as well as selection in "The Best American Short Stories." His work is most often set in the rugged wilderness of the Yaak Valley in northern Montana where he has lived for more than two decades with his wife and two daughters.

The event is free and open to the public.

Penn State Altoona celebrates Religious Education Awareness Week

Posted Monday, November 23, 2009

Penn State Altoona's Office of Institutional Equity and Diversity will offer several events in commemoration of Reglious Education Awareness Week.

"Jesus Freaks? Youth in Today’s Church," presented by the Newman Club, is an evening of music and testimony featuring the talent and stories from some of the young leaders in the "generation revelation" going on in the Catholic Church today. The event will be held Monday, November 30, 2009 in the Edith Davis Eve Chapel. Time for this event is yet to be determined.

A panel discussion titled "Stereotypes and Misconceptions of World Religions" will be held on Tuesday, December 1, 2009 in the Edith Davis Eve Chapel from 12:10 - 1:30 p.m. The panel will consist of representatives from various faiths discussing common stereotypes related to their religions. Lunch will be served on a first come first serve basis.

A Buddhism meditation and contemplation program will be held on Wednesday, December 2, 2009 from 1 - 2:30 p.m. in the Edith Davis Eve Chapel. Buddhist meditation encompasses a variety of meditation techniques that develop mindfulness, concentration, tranquility, and insight. Core meditation techniques are preserved in ancient Buddhist texts and have proliferated and diversified through the millennia of teacher-student transmissions.

Also on Wednesday, December 2, 2009 "A Taste of Judaism" will be held from 1 - 3 p.m. in the TV Lounge of the Slep Student Center. The event will provide information about the Jewish faith, traditions, and food.

Penn State Altoona will wrap up it's celebration of Religious Education Awareness Week with Christian Comedian Chris Clark on Thursday, December 3, 2009 at 8 p.m. in the Edith Davis Eve Chapel. A true Renaissance man, Chris shines as a talented actor, singer/songwriter, as well as a stand-up comedian. Born and raised in South Jersey, Chris has charmed audiences at the Gospel Legend Ball in Hollywood, Florida, The Philadelphia Convention Center, The Keswick Theatre, in New York City, and on the Spirit of Philadelphia, just to name a few. Chris' phenomenal talents have allowed him to share the stages with Patty Labelle, Vanessa Bell Armstrong, Albertina Walker, Shirley Murdock, Trinitee 5:7, Melvin Williams, Tracy Shy, Lonnie Hunter, Tonex, and Benita Washington. Chris' comedy includes everything from his often humorous upbringing in the church to his laughable opinions about church folk.

For more information about these and other programs offered by the Office of Institutional Equity and Diversity, please contact Yolanda Avent at 814-949-5053 or yla1@psu.edu.

Penn State Altoona to hold auditions for "The Vagina Monologues"

Posted Friday, November 20, 2009

Auditions for the February 2010 production of Eve Ensler's "The Vagina Monologues" at Penn State Altoona will be held on Wednesday, December 2, 2009 from 7 - 10 p.m. in room 260 of the Hawthorn building and on Thursday, December 3, 2009 from 12:15 - 1 p.m. in room 101 of the Misciagna Family Center for Performing Arts. The play will be performed February 27 and 18, 2010. For more information, contact Maria Canela at mdc5083@psu.edu or Christy Lusiak at cal273@psu.edu.

Emerging Writer-in-Residence Casey Wiley offers reading

Posted Thursday, November 19, 2009

Casey Wiley, 2009 emerging writer-in-residence at Penn State Altoona, will present a reading of his work on Thursday, December 3, 2009 at 5 p.m in the Edith Davis Eve Chapel.

Wiley earned his MFA from George Mason University. Specializing in creative nonfiction, he has published in such journals as "Emerson Review," "Pindledyboz," "Monkeybicycle," "Word Riot," and "Fringe Magazine," among others. Wiley was also selected as a finalist for "Glimmertrain’s" short story award for new writers.

The event, sponsored by the English program’s Writers and Speakers Series, is free and open to the public.

Penn State Altoona goes green with Summer Rayne Oakes

Posted Thursday, November 12, 2009

ALTOONA – Eco-model, environmental activist, and Planet Green television host, Summer Rayne Oakes will speak at 7:30 p.m., Thursday, December 3, 2009 in the Adler Athletic Complex on the Penn State Altoona campus.

Oakes' journey of environmentally- and socially-relevant modeling, has taken her all over the world, as has her work with sustainable development projects, the climate change movement, ecosystem conservation, and fair trade. She's been the recipient of many accolades along the way, including Global Citizen by "Vanity Fair," one of "Outside's" Top Environmental Activists, "Cosmopolitan's" Fun, Fearless Female of 2007, and one of "Amica Magazine's" 'Top 20 Trendsetters Under 40.'

Oakes is a spokesperson, resident expert, and the youngest member of the board of advisors for Discovery Channel's Planet Green, a network devoted entirely to the environment. She writes articles for magazines and Web sites and helps run a boutique consultancy business that develops, implements, and manages campaigns across the globe. She even created an educational curriculum entitled 'ECO FASHION 101' that was launched in Philadelphia schools in 2005. Her book "Style, Naturally: The Global Guide to Sustainable Fashion and Beauty" is out this December.

The event is free and open to the public. Tickets are needed and can be picked up at the Book Store or at the box office.

Penn State Altoona to investigate anesthetics

Posted Friday, November 13, 2009

ALTOONA – Laura Palmer, assistant professor of biology, will be the speaker for the December 4, 2009 Teaching and Learning Consortium’s Free University Series. Palmer will take the floor at 7 p.m. in the Devorris Downtown Center to discuss the discovery of general anesthetics. Although the medical field has been using these drugs for more than 150 years, scientists still do not know exactly how they work. Palmer will talk about her lab research which focuses on trying to understand how anesthetics cause their effects at the cellular level.

Palmer holds her Ph.D. in biochemistry and molecular biology. She teaches courses in introductory biology, genetics, and signal transduction. Her research and scholarly interests encompass two areas: laboratory-based molecular biology/genetics research conducted primarily in the simple organism Saccharomyces cerevisiae (yeast); and pedagogical pursuits in the field of biology. Her lab-based research is currently centered on using yeast as a model organism to understand how general anesthetics cause the effects associated with the physiological state of anesthesia. In addition to her lab-based research, Dr. Palmer also pursues scholarly activities related to biology education. She has developed and presented lessons on forensic science and DNA fingerprinting for middle school students in the local community and lessons on DNA extraction from bacteria and on bioethics for high school students.

The free series strives to create an open forum that encourages the discussion of ideas on a broad range of topics. For more information, visit www.altoona.psu.edu/tlc online.

Penn State Altoona offers a "One Night in December" experience

Posted Monday, October 5, 2009

ALTOONA – Penn State Altoona’s Ivyside Pride will hit the stage once again December 3 - 5, 2009, in the Paul R. and Margery Wolf Kuhn Theatre in the Misciagna Family Center for the Performing Arts. "One Night in December" offers a funny, warm, family-centered holiday story enriched with an arrangement of Broadway and popular songs. Performances are Thursday and Friday, 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $5 for Penn State students and $7 regular admission.

Ivyside Pride is under the direction of Bonnie Cutsforth-Huber, assistant professor of music at Penn State Altoona. The group is a twenty-five-voice student vocal ensemble. Acceptance requires an audition and registration for a 3-credit course. Ivyside Pride performs at least two productions during the academic year and also performs for private functions, banquets, and special events in the surrounding communities. This year’s group will travel to Germany and Switzerland in the spring semester for a performing tour.

Tickets for "One Night in December" are available at the Misciagna Family Center for Performing Arts Box Office, Monday – Friday, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. and before and during all performances. Telephone reservations may be made by calling 814-949-5452.

The Paul R. and Margery Wolf Kuhn Theatre is handicapped accessible and open to the public. For further information, call the Misciagna Family Center for Performing Arts of visit the Misciagna Center Web site at www.altoona.psu.edu/misciagna online.

Dr. William Ayers to speak at Penn State Altoona

Posted Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Penn State Altoona's chapter of Kappa Delta Pi will present Dr. William Ayers, Thursday, December 10, 2009 in the Slep Student Center. Ayers will deliver "Democracy and Public Schools" from 4 - 5:30 p.m.

Ayers is a progressive education theorist who works with education reform, curriculum, and instruction. He is a professor in the College of Education at the University of Illinois - Chicago, holding the titles of distinguished professor of education and senior university scholar. During the 2008 Presidential campaign, a controversy arose over his past contacts with President Barack Obama.

The event is free and open to the public, and is first-come, first-seated.

Penn State Altoona presents "Wide Open"

Posted Wednesday, November 18, 2009

ALTOONA – The Ivyside Dance Ensemble will present "Wide Open," December 9 - 10, 2009 at 7:30 p.m. in the Wolf Kuhn Theatre of the Misciagna Family Center for Performing Arts. The program will include a showing of fall projects from the ensemble as well as works from the Children's Dance Theater Workshop held earlier in the fall.

Ivyside Dance Ensemble will perform several new pieces. "The Next Sudden Start" is a work honoring the creative process of Merce Cunningham, a legendary modernist who died in 2009. This dance, created in real time with audience participation, is choreographed by Caitlin Osborne, instructor in dance and integrative arts. "Disorderly Conduct" is a raucous jazz work choreographed by Assistant Professor of Dance and Integrative Arts, KT Huckabee. It features high intensity and in-your-face contact improvisation. Repertory pieces include "Patsy," a humorous and affectionate take on the emotional ballads of Patsy Cline, and "Encounter the Sky," a lyrical vignette set to music originally created for Cirque du Soliel. Also featured will be ballet and folk dance, created by student Josh Barr and faculty member Christi Charles.

The Children's Dance Theatre Workshop will present "Celestial Events," created by the children and guided by KT Huckabee. The piece explores imagery of space set to music by Gustav Holst.

Tickets for "Wide Open" are available at the Misciagna Family Center for Performing Arts. They are $7 for general admission and $5 for Penn State Altoona students. Stop by or call the Box Office at 814-949-5452 to purchase tickets.

Penn State Altoona to exhibit student work

Posted Thursday, November 12, 2009

ALTOONA - The Division of Arts and Humanities will exhibit the works of Penn State Altoona student, Laura Hovenstine, December 3 - 12, 2009. Her photography will be on display in the McLanahan Gallery of the Misciagna Family Center for Performing Arts. A reception will be held December 3, 2009, from 3 - 5 p.m. in the Titelman Study.

Hovenstine, from Hollidaysburg, is currently an undergraduate student at the college working toward a B.A in visual art studies with an emphasis on photography. Upon graduation, she plans to take a few years and travel the world before returning to graduate school to become a teacher.

One of Hovenstine’s biggest influences was her father, an artist in his own right, who showed her that it was possible to make a career doing something she was passionate about. Hovenstine’s love for photography goes hand in hand with her compassion and desire to understand the people around her. Her work focuses on ordinary people doing ordinary things as these simple tasks often hold a great beauty that is often overlooked. She likes to capture the look after the first shutter click, the sigh after the smile is released, or the perfect natural emotions people try to withhold.

The McLanahan Gallery is open Monday - Friday, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. and before and during all performances. Information may be obtained by calling the Box Office at 814-949-5452 or by visiting www.altoona.psu.edu/misciagna online.

Honor Society Holds Book Drive

Posted Monday, November 9, 2009

Sigma Tau Delta, Penn State Altoona's English Honorary Society, is seeking donations for a Better World of Books book drive to benefit Books for Africa and the Invisible Children Fund. Green and white collection boxes are being set up at the campus bookstore, and in the Hawthorn, Science/Holtzinger, and Smith buildings. The boxes will remain through finals week. The group is seeking any books from the last 5 - 10 years that could be used in a college classroom. Highlighting and writing in books is fine. During the 2009 Spring Semester, over 900 books were donated. Many of the books donated will be sold online to raise much-needed funding for Books for Africa (100% of profits, after all costs, will go to BFA as unrestricted funding), and some books will be directly sent to BFA and distributed to African countries in need.

ABOUT BOOKS FOR AFRICA:
Books For Africa (BFA) is the largest shipper of donated textbooks to the African continent. Founded in 1988, the St. Paul-based organization has delivered more than 14.3 million books to 27 African countries. According to Patrick Plonski, executive director of Books For Africa, the need for books on the African continent is great: “In many African villages, seven children share one book. Some village schools own no books whatsoever.” Learn more by watching BFA’s 10-minute video: www.booksforafrica.org/video.html.

ABOUT THE INVISIBLE CHILDREN FUND:
Through a partnership with Better World Books, your Schools for Schools book drives will provide students in northern Uganda with books while raising cash for Invisible Children's programs. Learn more at http://s4s.invisiblechildren.com/get_involved/collect_books.

ABOUT BETTER WORLD BOOKS:
Better World Books (BWB) capitalizes on the value of the book to fund and support literacy initiatives locally, nationally, and around the world. Since its founding in 2003, Better World Books has raised more than $1.3 million for its non-profit literacy partners (including over $900,000 for BFA), provided more than 450,000 books for direct use & diverted in excess of five million pounds of books from landfills! Learn more at www.betterworldbooks.com.

Spring 2010 Peer Tutoring

Posted Monday, November 16, 2009

Applications are being accepted for peer tutoring jobs for spring semester. For more information, please visit www.altoona.psu.edu/lrc/apply2.htm online.

United Way Accepting Prom Donations

Posted Monday, November 16, 2009

The United Way of Blair County, Claysburg-Kimmel Cares, and Cove Counseling Center have teamed up to help Blair County juniors and seniors attend their prom.

This group is collecting prom attire so that all students have the opportunity to attend their prom, regardless of financial circumstances. The goal is to help as many girls and boys as possible. We will accept donations of gowns, men’s formal wear, shoes, jewelry, hosiery still packaged, and gift cards to local stores or malls that will help defray the cost of attending a prom. For more information or to make a donation, please contact the United Way of Blair County, 814-944-0884.

Donations will be collected through February 12, 2009. Give-a-way will be held February 13, 2009 at the United Way of Blair County and February 20, 2009 at Cove Counseling Center, Roaring Spring.

Formal Wear can be dropped off at: United Way of Blair County, 5414 Sixth Avenue. Monday through Friday 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.

November Issue of Student Health 101

Posted Tuesday, November 3, 2009

The November issue of Student Health 101 has lots of great info to help you have a great month here at Penn State Altoona! Student Health 101 is the monthly online health and wellness magazine, with tips from reducing stress to succeeding in your classes to eating well on campus, Student Health 101 has something for everyone.

The November issue online at http://readsh101.com/altoona.html

Here’s what you’ll learn in Student Health 101 this month:

How do YOU Facebook?
How to enjoy social networking…without compromising your grades, relationships or career.

Putting Time on Your Side
Mastering time management to relieve stress and improve grades.

Money Management Made Easy
How to take control of your finances and save money…

Birth Control and STIs: The Complete Guide
The information you need to make decisions about your sexual health.

Big Tobacco Wants You!
PLUS: Twilight’s Jackson Rathbone’s anti-smoking campaign

Study Abroad in Australia or New Zealand!

Posted Thursday, October 1, 2009

Do you want to go to Australia or New Zealand but just can't afford a full semester there? Well check out these two short-term programs to Australia and New Zealand offered through the Department of Recreation Park and Tourism Management.

International Tourism Field Studies (ITFS)

RPTM 497A – 4 credits, Australia, May 10-June 4 RPTM 497B – 4 credits, New Zealand, May 17-May 11

These two courses are Embedded Spring Courses that will meet on Tuesdays from 4:15 to 5:45 throughout the spring semester at the University Park campus – students from other campuses will participate remotely using Angel and Skype. The courses have an international component in the South Pacific lasting 3.5 weeks (dates listed above).

These multidisciplinary courses focus on eco-sustainability, natural resource management and conservation, local society and politics, tourism development, and indigenous cultures and identity. Students can use the credits to meet requirements in a variety of majors and minors – please ask your academic advisor for specific information. In Australia, students will snorkel in the Great Barrier Reef, visit Daintree Rainforest, and interact with Aboriginal people in the Outback. In New Zealand, students will travel the South Island, hike on Fox Glacier, visit Fiordland National Park by boat, and sea kayak in Abel Tasman National Park. For more information about these courses, please contact Lindsay Usher (leu105@psu.edu) or visit the ITFS web page and the ITFS Facebook group.