Campus Currents

Framingham State University celebrated five female leaders, as well as one all-female non-profit organization, during the second annual “Women Making History Now” ceremony held last Friday during Women’s History Month.

“This month, as we celebrate the many contributions of women throughout history, we also want to recognize women who are having a powerful impact on their communities today,” says Framingham State President F. Javier Cevallos. “Each of our honorees are passionate and driven leaders who work tirelessly on behalf of others.”

This year's recipients included Attorney General Maura Healey; FSU's very own Chief of Staff and General Counsel Rita Colucci; Framingham Public Schools Chief Academic Officer Dr. Sonia Diaz; Vice Chair of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Sylvia Ruiz; Executive Director of the MetroWest Visitors Bureau Susan Nicholl; and the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

An article on the ceremony that appeared in the MetroWest Daily News can be found here.

Thursday,  April 6, 2017 at 5 PM, Forum, McCarthy Center
 
TAWA (Turkish-Armenian Women’s Alliance), a grassroots effort to bring together a group of Armenian and Turkish women in Boston, embarked on an unusual journey to tackle the subject of the Armenian Genocide: an all-female conversation which rejected dogmatic narratives wrapped within a masculine chauvinistic language.  At this event, Gonca Sonmez-Poole will screen videotaped interviews with the participants of TAWA as their “difficult dialogue” was taking place, followed by an open discussion.

The Spring Nutrition Fair will be on Tuesday, April 4th from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m in the McCarthy Center Commons and Market Place

This Semester's theme:  Consume a Tune. It will feature seven music bands with lots of nutrition information, raffles, games and Food!

Presented by the Senior Nutrition Students in the Coordinated Program. Sponsored by The Food and Nutrition Department and Dining Services.

Questions?  Please contact:  Karen White  kwhite12@framingham.edu

The 15th Annual NES/MAA Dinner Meeting in Memory of Kenneth J. Preskenis (the 2017 Preskenis Dinner) will be held on Thursday, April 6, 2017; the registration deadline for the Dinner is Monday, April 3, 2017.

The lecture, titled "Who is really in charge? Connecting Graph Theory to Social Network Analysis," will be given by Dr. Donna Beers, Simmons College.  Dr. Beers is the 2015 winner of the NES/MAA Award for Distinguished College or University Teaching; the 2012 winner of the Toby Sloane Award for Student-Centeredness in Teaching at Simmons College; and the 2007 winner of The Mathematical Association of America (MAA) Certificate for Meritorious Service for her service to the MAA and her commitment to the advancement of mathematics.  She is co-author of the MAA Guidelines for Undertaking a Self-Study in the Mathematical Sciences as well as the author of numerous articles in the areas of group theory and group algebras of infinite abelian groups, teacher education and preparation, and the scholarship of teaching and learning.

Abstract for Dr. Beers's Presentation:

Have you ever wondered who is really in charge? Who is at the center of whatever is trending? Who influences policy decisions? Who motivates groups that bring about change?

Leaders, whether in business, government, or education, are interested in who is at the heart of all that is happening, whether those individuals be trendsetters, revolutionaries or superspreaders of a contagious disease.

In this talk, we provide a brief introduction to network analysis and to the graph theory tools and techniques for detecting the key actors within a social network. With these tools, we will show how to find out who was really in charge among the revolutionaries prior to the American Revolution as well as among the individuals behind 9/11. We will offer examples of projects where students may discover who is in charge by applying graph theory and computational tools to analyze social networks.

The Dinner, supported by Sodexo, will be held from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. in the Faculty/Staff Dining Room on the 3rd Floor of the D. Justin McCarty Center, and the Preskenis Lecture will be held from 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in the Heineman Ecumenical and Cultural Center.  The Reception, sponsored by the Office of the Vice President of Academic Affairs, follows the Preskenis Lecture, 8:30 p.m. to 9 p.m., in the Heineman Ecumenical and Cultural Center.

Additional information about the Annual Preskenis Dinner and Lecture can be accessed at https://www.framingham.edu/faculty/smabrouk/preskenis/annual/fifteenth.htm, and information about the annual NES/MAA Dinner Meeting in Memory of Kenneth J. Preskenis, in general as well as past dinners, can be accessed at https://www.framingham.edu/faculty/smabrouk/preskenis/.   The cost for the Dinner is $23.25 per person for faculty/staff and $10 per person for FSU students, and reservations for the Dinner must be made by Monday, April 3, 2017; the registration form for the Dinner can be accessed at https://www.framingham.edu/faculty/smabrouk/preskenis/annual/fifteenth.htm.

The Preskenis Lecture and Reception are free and open to all; reservations are not required for the Preskenis Lecture or Reception.

Submitted by Suzanne Wright '19

Over Spring Break, the History Club sponsored a successful and productive trip to Philadelphia! Philadelphia thoroughly kept everyone engaged with its rich history and wonderful museums. Even with a snow day on Tuesday, all enjoyed four fascinating group tours of the Library Company, Eastern State Penitentiary, the Mütter Museum, and the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts for their unique learning experiences. For example, the Library Company brought everyone up close and personal with eighteenth-century objects, and Eastern State Penitentiary taught us about prison reform in the early United States. Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell, and the Betsy Ross House were especially rewarding to visit because of their importance to our nation’s history. Additionally, students visited amazing exhibits at both the National Museum of American Jewish History about life as a Jewish American since the seventeenth century and at the Constitution Center about Prohibition. Visiting Philadelphia reinforced the importance of historical sites and museums that teach us about the past or allow us to see works of art in person. By actually seeing places significant to the past and works of art, it allows us to generate understandings that supplement and expand upon what is sometimes not possible to learn in the classroom.

Monday, April 10, 1:30 to 2:30 p.m., Alumni Room, McCarthy Center

Through posters, the major means of communication 100 years ago, Back to the Future, describes why, what, and how the US government launched a national campaign to conserve food and reduce waste to help win World War I. This national, decentralized organizing effort to reduce consumption of sugar, wheat, fats, and meat, and increase consumption of fish, oats, corn, potatoes, molasses, and home grown vegetables is strikingly similar to the current efforts to reduce food waste and eat healthfully.  The first poster recommended that Americans ‘buy local foods.’ The link between this campaign and the founding of the American Dietetic Association celebrates the 100th anniversary of our professional organization.

Tuesday, April 11, 2017 at 2:30 PM, Whittemore Library

April 2017 marks the 100th anniversary of the United States entry into World War I.  In recognition of that milestone, this event brings together history, art and nutrition to reflect on that time period.

Shortly after the United States entered WWI, President Wilson created the US Food Administration (USFA) with the goal to conserve food and boost agricultural output.  Thus began a concerted national, decentralized community organizing effort to reduce consumption of sugar, wheat, fats, and meat, and increase the use of fish, oats, corn, potatoes, molasses, and home grown vegetables.  

Mass media in was in its infancy in 1917 and the USFA utilized a variety of outreach efforts mostly relying on newspaper, magazine, and poster advertising directed to identifiable segments of the US population.  Immigrant groups, communities of color, businessmen, children, women’s magazines, restaurants owners, home and school gardeners were specifically targeted.

A home pledge card outreach effort elicited 14 million to join the campaign.  The program was informally called ‘Hooverism,’ as Herbert Hoover served as the USFA Director after returning from his self-appointed post in Europe where he organized the delivery of food to starving populations in Belgium and France.  This outreach effort was entirely voluntary and in the end, 33,841,307 pounds of food, equaling $5,234,028,208 was delivered to Europe during the war and reconstruction period.  

Join us for this important event sponsored by the Global Studies Program on Monday, April 10, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., Alumni Room, McCarthy Center
 
Prostitution involving children is a complex global phenomenon with huge health implications. In this lecture, Dr. Georgina Yaa Oduro focuses on a case study to unearth some factors responsible for prostitution involving children aged between 14 and 17 in one metropolis in Ghana. The lecture explores the nature and drivers of child prostitution, background of children involved in the practice, their clientele and effects of the practice on the girls and the community.
 
Speaker Bio: Dr. Georgina Yaa Oduro holds a PhD in Sociology of Education from the University of Cambridge, UK. She is a Senior lecturer in Sociology at the University of Cape Coast, Ghana. She has research interest in gender and sexuality, youth and beauty cultures, reproductive health, gender-based violence, the social context of HIV/AIDS, and the health of African women.

FSU Showcase Event: Monday, April 10, Heineman Ecumenical Center

Enjoy the closing Midday Performance event as we showcase the many talents of Framingham State community members!

Wednesday, April 12, 2017 at 7 PM, Dwight Performing Arts Center

Written and Performed by Sarah Ford. Director/Dramaturge Zoya Kachadurian

Georgia O’Keeffe, the American painter who defied the male art world in the New York of the 20’s and 30’s, confronts Sarah in the midst of a spiritual crisis in dreams, challenging her to rekindle her creative fire! From a bistro in New York City, to New Mexico, to a showdown in the Texas Panhandle……….it’s never too late to find out who you thought you were.

Tuesday, April 11, 4:30 p.m., Heineman Ecumenical Center

Ani Gjika is an Albanian-American poet, literary translator, teacher, and author of Bread on Running Waters (2013). She is the recipient of a Robert Pinsky Global fellowship and an NEA grant for her translation of Luljeta Lleshanaku’s Negative Space, forthcoming from New Directions (January 2018). Gjika’s poems have been featured in fishousepoems.org, Plume, Seneca Review, Salamander, and elsewhere. Her translations have appeared or are forthcoming in Asymptote Journal, AGNI Online, Ploughshares, World Literature Today, Tupelo Quarterly, and elsewhere. She teaches at Massachusetts International Academy and Grub Street and is currently a judge for ALTA’s 2017 National Translation Award in Poetry.

Sponsored by the Department of English.

Speed Networking with South Middlesex County Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
Monday, April 3rd, 6:30pm, Center for Inclusive Excellence
Please join us and make sure to send your resume to Chon’tel Washington at cwashington@framingham.edu by Thursday, March 30th.

CIE Community Conversation: Autism Awareness Day
Tuesday, April 4th, 4:30pm, Center for Inclusive Excellence: with Emmanuel Destine

M.I.S.S Presents: #WCW
Wednesday, April 5, 1:30, Center for Inclusive Excellence
This #WCW event features Dr. Patricia Sanchez-Connally! Come listen as she talks a bit about herself and her life!

Movie Screening: Gender Revolution
Thursday, April 6th, 4:30 pm, Center for Inclusive Excellence
Join Wellness Education, Pride Alliance, and the Center for Inclusive Excellence for a screening and discussion of the documentary Gender Revolution by Katie Couric. Food provided!

Brother 2 Brother Presents: Testimonios
Thursday, April 6th, 7pm, Center for Inclusive Excellence  
Come listen to the stories of DACA students followed by an open panel discussion.
Please contact Teo Barbalho tbarbalho@student.framingham.edu.

Brave Space Series: LGBT+ 101 Workshop Wednesday
4/12, 1:30pm-2:20pm, Center for Inclusive Excellence
Discussion led by Jace Williams and Mattie Bennet. Still not sure on some LGBT+ definitions? Want answers to any questions you have about the LGBT+ community? Come on down and learn the 101 of the LGBT+ community! Sponsored by CIE.

Movie Screening: Mask You Live In
Thursday, April 12, 4:30, Center for Inclusive Excellence
Wellness Education and the Center for Inclusive Excellence will be hosting a screening of the documentary Mask You Live In. This documentary and discussion explores masculinity and the ways that narrow definitions of masculinity affect boys, men, and society at large.

For questions about any of the events list please contact Chon’tel Washington at cwashington@framingaham.edu.

All are welcome to participate in our 7th annual “Book-themed” cake decorating contest.  All you need to do is bake a cake and decorate it to represent a scene or character from a favorite book, be it a beloved children’s book or your favorite adult book.  (Only one cake per person and no commercially decorated cakes allowed!)

The rules for the event are simple.  Register with Colleen Previte at cprevite@framingham.edu or x4648, if you wish to participate in the contest.  Bring in your “Book-themed” cake to the Henry Whittemore Library by 9 a.m., Thursday, April 13th.  Please have your cake properly covered with clear plastic wrap.  This will be taken off when the judging commences.  Please do not put your name on your cake; you will be assigned a number for your cake submission.  

We are allowing anyone coming through the library to judge the cakes, and they will put a token in the box of the cake they find to be the best.  There will be bragging rights, a photo in our library blog, and ribbons for 1st-3rd place as well as notices for honorable mentions.

Judging will run from 9 a.m. to noon.  Winners will be announced at 12:30pm or via phone/e-mail.  At that time we will cut into these delicious creations and offer them to patrons, unless told otherwise.

We hope you will consider participating in our Seventh Annual Literary Cake Decorating Contest!
Thanks

- Henry Whittemore Library Staff

Join Sociology Professed Patricia Sánchez-Connally and students as they share their experiences from their service trip to El Paso, TX. This Tuesday, April 4th, at 2:30 p.m. and/or Friday, April 14th at 10:30 a.m. both in the Center for Inclusive Excellence, Whittemore Library.

What Can You Do with a History Major?  
Monday, April 3, 7:00 p.m. May Hall 318

Are you interested in studying history?
Are you curious what possibilities await after graduation?
Do your parents want to know what you’ll do if you don’t become a teacher?
Come to our careers panel to learn more!

For more information, contact:
Dr. Stefan Papaioannou (spapaioannou@framingham.edu) or
Dr. Joseph M. Adelman (jadelman@framingham.edu)

Santander Career Day
Thursday, April  6, 2017, 9:00 a.m. -  5:00 p.m., McCarthy  514

Meet hiring managers and have on-the-spot interviews for many career
opportunities at Santander!

Coca Cola On-Campus Summer Internship Interviews

Coming in April — Contact the CSER Office for more info.

Reverse Career Fair
Friday, April 7, 2017, 12:00 p.m.—3:00 p.m., MC Forum

The “Reverse Career Fair” is intended for EMPLOYERS to view course work from many majors/concentrations including graphic and web design seminar classes and computer science, marketing, management and business technology majors.

Presenting students please reserve your showcase table today: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/9P9N33Q

Coca Cola On-Campus Summer Internship
Interviews - Tuesday, April 11, 2017, 9:00 a.m. 0 2:30 p.m.,
McCarthy Room 514
Meet hiring managers and have one-on-one interviews for Coca-Cola North American Group “Cooperative Position”/Summer Internships  with the Field Service on Premise (FSOP) Team.  Space is limited. Interview Spot preregistration required.  Call the CSER Office to schedule your interview 508-626-4625.
 
SAVE THE DATE: MERC Education Fair
Thursday, April 20, 2017 , 9:30 a.m.- 3:30 p.m., at Boston University

Come to the largest education fair in New England -  Over 100 school systems and agencies attend!  This annual recruiting event brings together teaching candidates and school systems across the country for networking and job opportunities in public /private schools.  Must register at: www.merccareerfair.com.
 
Employer Showcase Series: (See dates and times below)
9:00AM to 6:00PM every Wednesday in the McCarthy Center Lobby

4/5/17
9:00 a.m.—3:00 p.m.—Target (Watertown, MA)

4/12/17
9 a.m. to noon - Tom Curren Companies
Noon—3:00 p.m.—Mystic valley Regional Charter School

4/19/17
9 a.m. to noon - New York Life
Noon – 3:00 p.m.- Soccer Super Stars

4/26/17
Noon – 3;00 p.m. - AnswerNet & Travelers

5/3/17
9:00 a.m.—Noon—Sherwin Williams

Thursday, 4/6, 4:30-6:30 p.m., CIE: Gender Revolution documentary showing with food

Wednesday, 4/12, 4:30-6:30 p.m., CIE: The Mask You Live In documentary showing with food
    **This is a time and location change from a previously scheduled showing of the film.

Monday, 5/1, 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Forum: Pause 4 Paws

Wednesday, 5/3, noon to 2 p.m., Crocker Grove (Rain Room: Forum): Fresh Check Day

Orientation Dates 2017

May 31, 2017                            Transfer Orientation
June 19, 2017                           First-Year Orientation I
June 20, 2017                           First-Year Orientation II
June 22, 2017                           First-Year Orientation III
June 23, 2017                           First-Year Orientation IV
June 26, 2017                           First-Year Orientation V
June 27, 2017                           First-Year Orientation VI
June 28, 2017                           Transfer Student Orientation
August 16, 2017                        First-Year Orientation
August 17, 2017                        Transfer Student Orientation

-Director of Career Services and Employer Relations Dawn Ross is again a finalist for the MetroWest ATHENA Leadership Award given out by the United Way of Tri-County and the MetroWest Chamber of Commerce Women's Leadership Committee. The organizations will be announcing the recipients of the award on Friday, May 5th, at the Verve Crowne Plaza in Natick, from 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m., at the conclusion of the MetroWest Chamber of Commerce Women's Conference. Ross was recognized for her professional excellence, meaningful contribution to community service, and active assistance of other women as they work to attain professional and leadership skills.

-Dr. Sarah Mulhall Adelman of the History Department published an article in the most recent issue of Common-place: The Journal of Early American Life.  Her article, “‘Permitted to Proceed Unmolested’: Childhood and Race in the Burning of the Colored Orphan Asylum,” was solicited for a special issue on Care and Dependence in Early America.  A link to the article can be found here.

-FSU Art History major Heather Walker will be one of eight featured student presenters at the 9th Annual Art History Symposium on Saturday, April 8th, 12:00-4:45pm. This event is free and open to the public. The talks will be held in the Alfond Auditorium at 465 Huntington Avenue. This event is sponsored by the Visual Culture Consortium. Congratulations to Heather and to her mentor, FSU professor Dr. Erika Schneider.

-Rebecca DeMeo and Nate Natanel, two seniors at FSU, shared their expertise about smartphones with another group of "seniors" at Temple Israel in Natick, as part of a Healthy Aging program provided by Jewish Family Services. Their workshop was so successful that they have been asked to develop a series of workshops for several Independent Living residents in MetroWest.