Spring 2010 Chancellor's Chat Schedule

Posted Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Listed below are dates and times for the spring 2010 Chancellor Chat sessions. Please feel free to stop by and chat with the Chancellor at any or all of the following sessions. Reservations are not needed.

• Monday, January 18, 2010 at 4 p.m.
• Friday, February 5, 2010 at 10 a.m.
• Tuesday, February 23, 2010 at 4 p.m.
• Friday, March 19, 2010 at 10 a.m.
• Tuesday, March 30, 2010 at 3 p.m.
• Friday, April 16, 2010 at 10 a.m.
• Tuesday, April 27, 2010 at 4 p.m.

All sessions will last one hour and will be held in the special events room in Port-Sky Cafe. Coffee and bagels will be available at the 10 a.m. sessions and coffee and cookies will be available at the 4 p.m.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 kicks off International Week

Posted Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Penn State Altoona's office of Education Abroad will sponsor an Intercultural Panel, featuring faculty and student representatives, and a Cultural Bingo today, Tuesday, November 17, 2009 from 12:10 - 1:10 p.m. in the TV Lounge of the Slep Student Center. The event is being held in celebration of International Week. Lunch will be provided and prizes will be awards.