Student-Created Newsletter Highlights Achievements of The University Honors Program

From UC News:

Student-Created Newsletter Highlights Achievements of The University Honors Program

The newsletter includes an interview with Raj Mehta, director of the University Honors Program and the new vice provost for International Affairs.

Cincinnati Landmark Productions presents The Wedding Singer - Jul 27-Aug 5!

From Kimberly McGinnis, former RAPP Program Coordinator:

Performance Dates & Time

Friday July 27th 8:00 pm
Saturday July 28th 8:00 pm
Sunday July 29th 8:00 pm
Wednesday August 1st 8:00 pm
Thursday August 2nd 8:00 pm
Friday August 3rd 8:00 pm
Saturday August 4th 8:00 pm
Sunday August 5th 2:00 and 8:00 pm
Gold Section $20 (rows E, F, G, H)
Adults $14
Seniors/College Students $12
High School and Younger $10

Seating Chart

View the Covedale Center for the Performing Arts seating chart.

In THE WEDDING SINGER, it's 1985 and rock-star wannabe Robbie Hart is New Jersey's favorite wedding singer. He's the life of the party, until his own fiancee leaves him at the altar. Shot through the heart, Robbie makes every wedding as disastrous as his own. With a brand new score that pays loving homage to the pop songs of the 1980's, THE WEDDING SINGER takes us back to a time when hair was big, greed was good, collars were up, and a wedding singer might just be the coolest guy in the room.
Call the Box office for tickets
513-241-6550 or
click here to purchase online (ticket fees apply to online sales) 

"The Principles of Hip Hop" - Jul 28th @ Columbus State Community College!

Hip Hop Institute Showcase

“The Principles of Hip Hop”

Saturday, July 28^th, 5-730pm

Columbus State Community College

315 Cleveland Avenue, 4^th Floor, 43215

FREE ADMISSION!

Confirmed Performers

·                 Jon Sands, Writer & Spoken Word Artist

·                 Krate Digga, DJ from Mighty SoundChamps

·                 Marshall Shorts, Visual Artist & BRUSH Experience creator

“The Next Big Thing” Presentations

·         Presenter:  Searius Add

Title:  Hip Hop - Consciousness and Current Events
This presentation will draw a correlation between major events in America over the last 3 decades and rap lyrics during that same time span.

·         Presenter: Racquel L. Armstrong

Title: Hip-hop as a Teaching Tool

As an English teacher in the public school system, it is imperative that I develop innovative ways to teach timeless concepts and skills.  With the increased teacher accountability tied to state and national norms and achievement tests, the K-12 education sector is scrambling for strategies to use in order to reach our inner city youth.  It is my philosophy, however, that we use everyday mediums in order to teach complex concepts.  It is through the analysis of several elements of hip-hop including MC-ing and Graffiti writing that we can teach our underserved students how to access, understand, and formulate knowledge of our world.

·         Presenter:  Bess Bolton

Title:  Green Technology is the Newest Hustle

This presentation will show how youth started Hip Hop as a hustle; unknown, different, radical, etc. and how it evolved and is still a hustle today and profitable. Green technology is similar with green cars, wind turbines, etc. and will need the youth to recognize that there knowledge about this newest hustle could be quite profitable for the hip hop community.

·         Presenter:  Javier Sanchez

Title:  Guard My Heart

Spoken Word piece with an accompanying slide show.

·         Presenter:  Mexie Wilson

Title: The 5th Element – Doin the Knowledge

Most people are aware of the 4 elements in Hip Hop, but many don't know about the 5th Element - Doin The Knowledge. I will explain the meaning of the 5th element and how I personally practice and participate in the element through Hip Hop Activism.

Contact:  Kimberly Brazwell | 614.287.2426 | kbrazwel@cscc.edu

GLSEN Pay-What-You-Can Screening of Xanadu - Aug 9th!

From GLSEN Greater Cincinnati:

Join us August 9th for a preview performance of Xanadu! Roll up your leg warmers for an evening of funny and feel-good '80's pop-rock pandemonium. Tickets are pay-what-you-can, first come first served, beginning at 6:30pm with proceeds benefitting GLSEN Greater Cincinnati. The show starts at 7:30pm.

Based on the 1980 Olivia Newton John movie, beautiful Greek muse Kira has journeyed from Mt. Olympus to Venice Beach, California in a quest to inspire struggling chalk artist Sonny to create the most resplendent and staggering work of art the world has ever known… the roller disco! But can Sonny capture the imagination of a jaded landlord to save his disco from the wrecking ball, and will Kira’s jealous muse sisters destroy Sonny and Kira’s forbidden love? Featuring musical hits including 'Magic', 'All Over The World', 'Suddenly' and 'Evil Woman'.


RSVP and share the facebook event at https://www.facebook.com/events/418492478193366/

Dramakinetics Trivia Fundraiser - Aug 2nd!

From Dramakinetics of Cincinnati:

Dramakinetics Triva Fundraiser
Thursday, August 2nd
6:00PM to 9:00PM

Northside Tavern

4163 Hamilton Avenue, Cincinnati, Ohio 45223

Come join us for a night of trivia, food, raffles, split the pot, and door prizes!!!! All proceeds go to Dramakinetics, a Northside based, non-profit organization that hosts performing arts classes for children and young adults! 

$10 Entry Fee Includes:
-a seat on a trivia team of 4-6 people (bring your own team too)
-a chance at our secret door prize
-free food!
-a chance to help a growing Northside non-profit reach out to more youth in our community!

Stick around after, because Karaoke Fantastic begins at 9pm following trivia!!!

Food and prizes generously provided by:

Melt Eclectic Deli
AJ Greene of the Cincinnati Bengals
Esquire, Mariemont, Kenwood Theaters
Pomodori Pizza
Tantrum
Jewelry by Shareese


Want to know more about the fun and function of Dramakinetics?
Check 'em out on facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dramakinetics
On the web: http://dramakinetics.org/
Email: info@dramakinetics.org

"Gourmet Grub for Good" - Aug 11th!

From Community Shares of Greater Cincinnati:

Gourmet Grub for Good
Saturday, August 11th
7:00PM to 10:00 PM

Mayerson J.C.C.

8485 Ridge Road, Cincinnati, Ohio 45236

Gourmet Grub for Good Highlights:

• Guys AND Gals compete for culinary greatness! Guys, Griddles and Grub now known as Gourmet Grub for Good!
• 300 guests come together for great food and a great cause!
• Up to 50 amateur chefs present their specialties in one of 6 categories: appetizers, soups, salads, entrees, side dishes and desserts. 
• Guests sample as many dishes as they wish and vote for their favorite in each category.
• Prizes presented to winning chefs
• Great musical entertainment and premium wine raffle.
• Silent auction filled with enticing artwork, jewelry, gifts and special theme packages.


Individual tickets $40 in advance/$50 at door
Host tickets $100; Patron/Table Sponsor tickets $250; Corporate Sponsorships begin at $500

Tickets: http://www.cintishares.org/GGG2012.htm

Save the Date: Asian Student Welcome - Aug 31st!

From Ethnic Programs & Services:


Asian Student Welcome
Friday, August 31st
5:00PM-7:00PM
TUC Great Hall

On behalf of the Division of Student Affairs and Services, Department of Student Life, the Office of Ethnic Programs and Services, and the UC Asian American Association (AAA) we would like to invite you to attend the Asian Student Welcome. The program is dedicated to welcoming students of Asian descent to the University of Cincinnati. Please come and enjoy some free refreshments with your friends!

Save-the-Date: Hispanic Student Welcome - Aug 30th!

From Ethnic Programs & Services:


Bienvenidos: Hispanic Student Welcome
Thursday, August 30th
5PM-7PM
Mick & Mack's Cafe


¡Saludos y Bienvenidos a la Universidad de Cincinnati!

On behalf of the Division of Student Affairs and Services, Department of Student Life, and the Office of Ethnic Programs and Services, we would like to invite you to attend the “Bienvenidos” Hispanic Student Welcome. The program is dedicated to welcoming Latino students to the University of Cincinnati. Please come and enjoy traditional Latin American refreshments with your friends!

WHEN: Thursday, August 30, 2012 
TIME: 5:00pm to 7:00pm
WHERE: Mick & Mack’s Contemporary Cafe (Tangeman University Center)

Please RSVP by Friday, August 24, 2012!

Please spread the word to your friends and tell them to RSVP by the deadline. We look forward to seeing you in person! Enjoy the rest of your summer!

¡Hasta Pronto!

The Women's Fund Releasing New Research on Status of Women & Girls in Greater Cincinnati - Aug 15th!

From The Women's Fund of the Greater Cincinnati Foundation:

Many of you remember the 2005 release of the groundbreaking report by The Women's Fund, PULSE: A Study of the Status of Women and Girls in Greater Cincinnati. That report led to many important changes for women from leadership development to partnerships for funding programs that made a difference for women and girls. It is time to update the picture painted in 2005.  The Women's Fund is releasing the first two reports in a new series. The first report delves more deeply into an issue that our community is working on - changing the poverty trends. The second report is an analysis of one of the major hurdles women face on their climb up the self-sufficiency ladder - the Cliff Effect.    You're invited to join us for this research release at our next eXXchange session. This special session is free and open to the public, but registration is required.   The vision of The Women's Fund is to lead the conversation about women's economic self-sufficiency in our community and ignite a shared desire to improve it. Register to attend today and share this event with your colleagues and friends who are interested.

Get more information Register Now!

Thanks for your support and interest in The Women's Fund! We hope to see you on August 15. Sincerely, Vanessa Freyatg Executive Director, The Women's Fund of The Greater Cincinnati Foundation freytagv@gcfdn.org 513-768-6123

Cincinnati LGBT Film Festival 2012 - Jul 20th-22nd!

CNKY Scene Film Festival
On Facebook and online.


CNKY Scene Film Festival fosters a creative outlet for the Greater Cincinnati area where LGBT issues are expressed and discussed through the art of film. 

Dates: July 19-22 2012 

Ticket info: 

Every Scene (Full Festival Pass)-$59.99

This option gives you an all access pass to the festival that includes the following.

Kickoff Party - July 19th
Guest speakers Chris Seelbach and Steve Newsome
Performance by Jeremiah Clark
Food provided by A Catered Affair

Screenings:
Preferred seating and Admission to all 7 blocks of films
Opening film After Party (one Drink ticket)
Continental Breakfast Meet n Greet , Saturday 7/21
Filmmaker Q&A
Saturday Feature After party (one drink ticket)
Sunday Closing after party

http://sa1.seatadvisor.com/sabo/servlets/SeasonSearch?presenter=KNOW&season=CNKY&pkg=CNKY

**Please arrive 10 minutes before each block to secure a seat in the theatre. The Know Theatre is limited to 100 seats. This will allow us to sell the unoccupied seats available at the door.

Your Scene (Individual Block ticket) - $10.00

This option allows you to choose the block of films on the schedule you would like to see and can be purchased the day of the screening.

https://sa1.seatadvisor.com/sabo/servlets/TicketRequest?eventId=591545&presenter=KNOW&venue&event

**Please arrive 10 minutes before each block to secure a seat in the theatre. The Know Theatre is limited to 100 seats. This will allow us to sell the remaining seats available at the door.

Call the Box Office at 513.300.KNOW

Getting Kids Back to Nature - Arlitt's Nature Playscape (Opening Next Month) Highlighted

From WVXU via UC News:

Getting kids back to nature By Ann Thompson 7/17/2012 4:09:15 PM

Playscape at Cincinnati Nature Center A Cincinnati effort to increase the time kids play outside is being held up as a national model. Parents are nervous these days about their kids playing in the woods. U.C's Dr. Vicki Carr lists their concerns. "One, they'll get kidnapped. Some perpetrator will come and grab them or that they will get hurt." But Carr says research has shown the fears are unfounded and in fact there are more injuries on playgrounds. She has helped create the best of both worlds...nature inside a perimeter fence. At the Cincinnati Nature Center 6 year old Brett Maples jumps over a narrow stream onto an unsteady rock with his mother Kelly's help. "I was going to say that one's a little wobbly. You made it easy." Brett gravitates to the water, one of the most popular areas in this one and a half acre playscape. The Nature Center's executive director Bill Hopple says the 11 and under play area also finds kids digging in the dirt and building forts. "I always say no instruction is necessary." This is a place you can pick flowers, go off the trail and experience the outdoors according to the Nature Center's Kristi Masterson. "They're going to get stung by bees. They're going to get poison ivy perhaps. But they are going to engage in nature and learn the consequences of their actions that way." A Nature Playscape for preschoolers will open August 15th on UC's campus. It will be much smaller than the one at the Cincinnati Nature Center. It's the largest totally natural design play environment in the country,according to Hopple. He says the National Wildlife Federation is calling and so are area park districts, hoping to copy the idea.

Mick & Mack's First Chef's Table: German and Austrian Cuisine - Today!

From UC News:

Mick & Mack's First Chef's Table: German and Austrian Cuisine

Please join us for our first Mick & Mack’s Chef’s Table Thursday, July 19, featuring German and Austrian cuisine.

Date: 7/16/2012 3:00:00 PM
By: Victoria Rogers

   
Chef Jonathan Hunt presents:
Chef’s Table: German & Austrian Cuisine 
Thursday, July 19, 2012
Tangeman University Center, Level 3
First course served at 5:30 p.m.
Greetings, Food Lovers!

We have refreshed our Epicure’s Delights dinner events with a new name, Chef’s Table, and updated our format to match our new and exciting event calendar. We will still have the great food you love and enjoy, but the event will now include a discussion with our chefs on cooking methods, tips and ingredients. Recipe cards for our featured menu items will be given.
Our first course will be served at 5:30 p.m. We will be featuring German & Austrian Cuisine that includes a three-course meal with beverage pairings for $20 per person. 
STARTERS:Austrian Apple Soup
Apricot Glazed Kielbasa
ENTRÉES:Beef Goulash with Pumpkin Seed Spätzle
Chicken Schnitzel
DESSERT:Sachertorte
Pear and Almond Tart
FEATURED WINE PAIRINGS:Huber "Hugo" Grüner Veltliner  
Leitz "Ein Zwei Dry" Riesling   
Meßmer Pinot Noir  
Due to the popularity of our events, reservations are strongly recommended and help us to prepare. To make reservations, please contact us at 513-556-3653 or email mick_macks@uc.edu. Must be 21 or older and present valid ID to buy and consume alcohol. Menu items and wines are subject to change based on season and availability. For more details on our events or menu visit us at www.uc.edu/mick_macks.

SAVE THE DATES:Spanish Wine Tasting on Thursday, August 2, featuring Spanish Tapas 
Chef’s Table: Tuscan Bistro, on Thursday, August 16 

UC Partnership Seeks Mentors to Transform the Lives of Foster Youth

From UC News:

UC Partnership Seeks Mentors to Transform the Lives of Foster Youth

Recruitment is underway for mentors to help area foster youth achieve the possibilities of a higher education.

Date: 7/16/2012 12:00:00 AM
By: HEMI Partnership
Phone: (513) 556-4368

   Recruitment is underway in a unique partnership to build on the educational success of area foster children who are aging out of the foster care system. The Higher Education Mentoring Initiative (HEMI) – a partnership represented by UC’s Partnership for Achieving School Success (PASS), Cincinnati State Technical and Community College, Great Oaks Institute of Technology and Career Development, Hamilton County Job and Family Services and the Hamilton County Board of Commissioners – is recruiting mentors to serve 15 high school students in Hamilton County foster care.

This marks the fourth year of the HEMI partnership to assist, encourage and support the academic achievement of foster students through high school and college. 

The partnership served 50 students last year. All students have graduated high school and most are pursuing higher education at various schools including but not limited to UC, Cincinnati State, Great Oaks, the College of Mt. Saint Joseph, and the Ohio State University

“As HEMI approaches the fourth year of the program, we’re continually seeking adults to spend roughly two hours a week to mentor a foster child through their junior and senior year of high school and through their pursuit of a degree or certificate,” says Annie Schellinger, UC HEMI Program Coordinator.

To be considered for the mentor program, participants must fill out an application, undergo a background check and complete an interview process. This includes providing a copy of a valid drivers’ license and proof of insurance. 

To learn more about how to become involved, you can attend a one-hour Information Session on the following dates:
Wednesday, July 18th
Tuesday, July 24th
These sessions will be offered from 5:30-6:30 pm at the County Administration Building, located at 138 E. Court Street, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202.

Mentors must attend either a six-hour training program that will take place on Aug. 25, after they have been cleared for the initial screening process, or they must attend an evening training program on Aug. 14 in early February. To obtain an application and for more information, contact Annie Schellinger, UC HEMI Program Coordinator, at 513-556-4368, or e-mail annie.schellinger@uc.edu

The selected mentors will meet the foster students at an event in September, after undergoing the training program.

Partner for Achieving School Success Program

DAAP Students Design Tsunami-Relief Gift for Japan

From the UC Alumni Association:

Students design Tsunami-relief Gift for Japan Twenty-five students in the College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning recently began an interactive project that will result in a custom-made playground for a Japanese town that was almost destroyed by last year's tsunami. The work involves direct communication and collaboration with children in Japan to gather input about how the playground should be designed, and provides the opportunity to demonstrate a sense of global community spirit while capturing their experiences along the way.

Diversity's Evidences: An Essay on the Significance of Diversity in the Classroom

From Inside Higher Ed:

 

Diversity’s Evidences

July 16, 2012 - 3:00am

By Len Niehoff 

 

This fall, the United States Supreme Court will consider the case of Fisher v. University of Texas, which asks whether that university’s use of affirmative action in admissions passes constitutional muster. I served on the legal team that defended the University of Michigan Law School admissions policy in Grutter v. Bollinger, where the Supreme Court held that fostering a racially diverse student body is a compelling state interest that colleges and universities can pursue in a narrowly tailored way. I believed that the Court correctly decided Grutter when I was helping to litigate the case, but I believe it even more firmly in my newer role as a law school faculty member.

For a number of technical reasons, it seems unlikely that the Supreme Court will treat Fisher as an occasion to revisit Grutter. If the Court does do so, however, then it should let Grutter stand. The reason is simple: The primary reason to leave Grutter alone is that the Court there got it exactly right.

Grutter recognized that having a diverse student body serves a variety of important educational objectives. One of those objectives can be described syllogistically: personal characteristics help determine our experiences; our experiences inform our thoughts and perspectives; therefore, having students with a wide array of personal qualities helps enrich the educational environment by infusing it with a rich variety of ideas and points of view. Of course, a diverse student body serves other educational goals as well, for example, by challenging stereotypes and building cross-cultural understanding. But the heart of the Grutter decision rests on an understanding of the unique value of learning in an environment where we encounter people whose characteristics, experiences, and perspectives differ from our own.

For many years, I have seen the benefits of having a diverse student body in one of the courses I teach — Legal Ethics. This seems unremarkable in light of the fact that the discussion of ethical matters tends to draw out the philosophical, religious, cultural, and experiential differences among the participants. It is therefore unsurprising that I have witnessed many lively exchanges in that class between students who brought dramatically contrasting orientations to the questions at hand.

"Yours Truly, Cincinnati" Documentary Premiere - Jul 19th!

"Yours Truly, Cincinnati" Documentary Premiere

Hosted by 100 Best Communities for Young People - Cincinnati

Thursday, July 19

5PM-7PM

Elementz: The Hip Hop Youth Arts Center

1100 Race St. , Cincinnati, Ohio 45202

 

This documentary piece is the culmination of an eight (8) month collaboration between The STRIVE Partnership and Public Allies Cincinnati to capture the voices, affirmations and dissenting opinions of community residents as they respond to Cincinnati being named one of th...e 100 Best Communities for Young People in 2010 and 2011. Join us as we reveal what citizens had to say, and share your thoughts about work, school and living experiences in Cincinnati.

Free food and free admission. All ages are welcome. RSVP today.

Check it out on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/events/175418542589899/

Grailville Hiring Program Manager - Apply by Jul 27th!

From Grailville:

Program Manager for Grailville Retreat and Program Center

Resume and cover letter by 7/27/12 to bb.grailville@fuse.net or 932 O’Bannonville Rd, Loveland OH 45140. No calls

Grailville in Loveland OH seeks an experienced program professional to implement and expand its ongoing program series which include presentations, workshops and retreats on topics related to spiritual search, social transformation, ecological sustainability, and creativity. Grailville is a center of The Grail in the US, an international movement of women.  

Demonstrated experience developing, implementing and promoting programs in a non-profit setting is required, as is a working knowledge of some or all of our program focus areas. Strong candidates will have excellent written and verbal communication skills, a collaborative working style and successful experience with the various aspects of program management, including supervision, budgeting, program planning, audience development and grants writing.

This position could be full or part-time and includes some weekend and evening hours. Salary dependant on experience and education. Benefits include paid time off and a supportive, team-oriented working environment.  Full-time employees have access to health insurance. Affirmative action, Equal Opportunity Employer

Expanding Age Gap between Whites and Minorities May Increase U.S. Racial Divide

Linked through Diverse Issues in Higher Education:

Experts: Expanding Age Gap between Whites and Minorities May Increase U.S. Racial Divide
by Teresa Wiltz, America’s Wire , July 10, 2012


WASHINGTON – A generation gap in several states between older Whites and younger Latinos and African-Americans has race relations experts concerned that age differences in the population are influencing spending and public policy in areas such as education, transportation, immigration and infrastructure.

As the United States rapidly advances toward having a majority-minority population, Whites continue to grow older, while non-Whites are increasingly younger. Evidence is mounting that what has been considered a racial divide in the country is also crystallizing into a generational divide.

Newly-released U.S. Census data demonstrate a rapidly widening racial age gap. The median age for white Americans is 41, but is 32 for Blacks, 31.6 for Asians and 27 for Latinos. Across the country, 80 percent of senior citizens are White, while nearly half of the nation’s youth are of color. Such significant age disparities, some experts on race relations say, may be having far-reaching implications on resources invested in programs and areas benefiting younger generations.

“Where the old don’t see themselves reflected in the young, there’s less investment in the future,” says Dr. Manuel Pastor, a professor of geography and American Studies & Ethnicity at the University of Southern California where he directs the Program for Environmental and Regional Equity (PERE) and co-directs the Center for the Study of Immigrant Integration.

“Our racial divide has become a generational divide,” Pastor says. “There’s this image of an older generation drawing up the drawbridge just as the younger generation is coming of age in America.”

More importantly, data show that states with a larger gap between median ages of Whites and people of color tend to make fewer investments in social programs that once benefited older generations that were predominantly White, according to a new research project by PERE in conjunction with PolicyLink, a national research and advocacy organization based in Oakland, Calif.

Dr. Manuel Pastor is a professor of geography and American Studies & Ethnicity at the University of Southern California where he directs the Program for Environmental and Regional Equity (PERE) and co-directs the Center for the Study of Immigrant Integration.

Enjoy the Arts "When in Pompeii" - Jul 20th!

From the Cincinnati Museum Center:

I wanted to personally invite you to Enjoy the Arts’ upcoming event “When in Pompeii,” which will take place next Friday, July 20 from 6 to 8 p.m. at FUNKe Fired Arts in Oakley. 

This is going to be an amazing event for our Members and others featuring a make-it-take-it pottery painting activity inspired by artifacts in our current exhibit, wine, food, and an appearance from the Pompeii Street Team.

Tickets are on sale now at https://enjoythearts.org/events. Please feel free to purchase the discounted $20 Member tickets. If you’re unable to attend, please spread the word to friends that might be interested!

When in Pompeii

When: Friday, July 20, 6-8PM

Where: FUNKe Fired Arts
3130 Wasson Road, Cincinnati OH 45209

What: Enjoy a make-it-take-it pottery painting activity inspired by the pottery of ancient Pompii, a wheel throwing demonstration, complimentary wine and light bites, and surprise performance from Enjoy the Arts' Arts & Culture Partners.  Togas are optional, but encouraged!

Tickets: $20 for ETA Members or $25 for non-Members

Purchase your tickets online at www.enjoythearts.org or by phone at 513.455.7140

Save the Date: UC's Homecoming Set for Saturday, Oct. 6

From UC News:

Save the Date: UC's Homecoming Set for Saturday, Oct. 6

Organizers are busy planning the fall campus-wide celebration, and this year's Homecoming has a classic theme: 'We Love Lucy: A Flashback to the '50s.'

Date: 7/9/2012 12:00:00 AM
By: John Bach

   

UC graduate Cindy Chiang Halvorsen, Eng '04, and her husband, Ernie Halvorsen, winners of TV's "The Amazing Race," will serve as Homecoming grand marshals.

The University of Cincinnati Bearcats will take on the Miami Redhawks during the Homecoming game at 7 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 6, in UC’s historic Nippert Stadium. The Bearcats’ rivalry with Miami dates back to 1888 and is considered the oldest NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision non-conference rivalry.
 
The run-up to the big game will again include an entire week of special Homecoming events on and around campus. Among them, the biggest draw is the annual Homecoming parade around campus on game day, which will get started at 3 p.m., four hours prior to the 7 p.m. kickoff.
 
Parade grand marshals this year will be UC alum and 2002 Homecoming queen Cindy Chiang Halvorsen, Eng '04, and her husband, Ernie Halvorsen, winners of TV's "The Amazing Race" in 2011.
 
With this year's theme, "We Love Lucy: A Flashback to the '50s," Homecoming parade spectators lined along Clifton Avenue are likely to see plenty of floats that pay homage to both the classic style of the '50s and UC's own Lucy, the Cincinnati Zoo-based binturong that has become a regular on campus for UC’s big games and events.
 
Stay tuned to the UC Alumni Association's Homecoming website for complete details.

$1 Million Donor Helps UC Bring Economics Education Online

From UC News:

$1 Million Donor Helps University of Cincinnati Bring Economics Education Online 

The UC Economics Center establishes Alpaugh i-Learning program for K-12 educators to expand reach beyond Southwest Ohio.

Date: 7/10/2012 12:00:00 AM
By: Lauren Boettcher
Phone: (513) 556-7703

   The University of Cincinnati will establish the Alpaugh i-Learning Economics Education program, thanks to a $1 million contribution from Peter Alpaugh and the Alpaugh Family Foundation. The gift is the nation’s largest private investment to support online continuing education in economics.

The online program  builds on the UC Economics Center’s more than 30 years of success providing post-graduate professional development courses to K-12 educators and administrators in the Southwest Ohio region. The workshops place a special emphasis on giving teachers the resources and knowledge they need to accelerate their students’ understanding of economics.

Among more than 200 economics centers throughout the country, UC’s Economics Center is ranked No. 1 partially because of its high volume of students. On average, more than 400 educators participate in the center’s 40-plus professional development courses offered each year. The new distance learning program will make the center’s geographic reach limitless.

“The new i-Learning program will allow us to expand our reach exponentially to assist more K-12 educators,” said Julie Heath, director of the Economics Center in UC’s Carl H. Lindner College of Business. “Mr. Alpaugh’s gift will be used to leverage resources and experts in online economics education to most efficiently develop our own online platform. Educators will be able to look to us to provide a one-stop portal for economic and financial education resources.”

The new online program, expected to be in full swing by UC’s 2013 spring semester, will place most of the center’s existing professional development content online, including academic tutorials like: Introduction to Economics for Elementary or Secondary Educators, Teaching Personal Finance for Primary or Secondary Educators, Economic History, Business in the Economy, and Behavioral Economics. 

“We are eager for the opportunity to offer the Economics Center’s premier teaching program to more educators beyond our normal scope here in the Southwest Ohio region,” said Val Krugh, student enterprise program director at UC’s Economics Center. “Online learning is the way of the future, especially for our post-graduate students seeking a more convenient way to continue their education. We are paving the way for future economics education, all thanks to Mr. Alpaugh’s generosity.”

Alpaugh’s passion for early economics education stems from an awareness of limited accessibility to economics education in primary and secondary classrooms. Alpaugh’s father, Walter G. (Pete) Alpaugh, was a founding member of the Economics Center and passed the passion for economics education on to his son, who continues to uphold the UC Economics Center’s core values.

“Educating our young people about Economics is very important for the future of our country,” said Peter Alpaugh, member of the Economics Center Board and President of Cincinnati Equitable Insurance. “The i-learning program will help educate our students about our country’s monetary system in the context of their own personal finances.  My primary goal is to allow our educators to continue their education and then encourage their students to benefit from resources within the program, too.”

Alpaugh’s gift contributes to UC’s $1 billion Proudly Cincinnati campaign, which has raised more than $922 million in private support for the university since 2005. For more information about how to support the Economics Center or other university fundraising priorities, please visit www.uc.edu/foundation.

Digging into the Human Side of Geology

From McMicken College of Arts & Sciences:

Digging into the Human Side of Geology

Doctoral student emphasizes public health and safety in her research on controversial oil and gas extraction technique known as “fracking.”

Date: 6/15/2012
By: Tom Robinette
Phone: (513) 556-8577

Julia Wise went from the culture shock of moving from Santa Fe, N.M., to Cincinnati just a few years back, to now analyzing the metaphorical aftershocks threatening public health and safety that have been caused by the recent surge in popularity of hydraulic fracturing.

This subterranean oil and gas extraction technique, often called “fracking,” produces contaminated wastewater as a byproduct. The potentially toxic water is then disposed of by pumping it underground into wastewater wells. It’s a controversial method. With our nation’s desire to find new energy sources, fracking is seen by many as a viable way to harvest fuel. But if left unmonitored and done improperly, it can lead to contamination of ground water, damage to air quality and other negative effects on human health. 


Wise knows what’s at stake, and she says there will be no slacking on fracking in her research. She completed her master’s degree in geology at the University of Cincinnati this spring and is beginning work in the Geology Department’s doctoral program, where she’ll focus on the health impact of fracking with help from assistant professor Amy Townsend-Small.

“This type of research is exceptionally important in today’s age where if you were to Google ‘fracking,’ your search results would return everything form ‘God’s own hand reaching down and giving gifts to people’ to ‘the very sight of a hydraulic fracturing truck will make  you die,’” Wise says.

Wise began to develop her passion for human health issues during her undergrad at Macalester College in Minnesota where she majored in biology and chemistry with an emphasis on international issues. She also worked as a research assistant at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center when she first came to the city and began taking classes at UC.

When she started work on her master’s degree in metamorphic petrology and geochronology, she spent a lot of time traveling to mountain ranges around the world to sample rocks and analyze their mineral composition. It was an incredibly enriching experience for her, but it lacked the human element that she desired.

“Mountains aren’t people. I missed the human interaction,” Wise says. “I started thinking about how earth materials impact human health and ways that I can incorporate geology with good living and humans.”

As part of her doctoral research, Wise wants to uncover ways to empower communities where fracking is taking place by clearing the misinformation that exists and removing the fear of the science involved. Accessibility is critical to this process. She says people need to know where to get data on water and ground quality and how they can use that information.

“It’s no different than if you’re baking a cake – you check the ingredient list,” Wise says. “It’s a matter of making the processes that will be affecting these folks as accessible as an ingredient list. That’s something UC can do. We can fill that role of alleviating concerns.”

Wise is grateful for the guidance she’s had in developing a strong background in the fundamentals of geology and the freedom she’s been given in the Geology Department. The connection between rocks and human health might be a difficult one for some to make, but Wise says it shows the department’s open-mindedness and its willingness to be on the forefront of interdisciplinary studies. After she earns her PhD, Wise plans to work for a nonprofit organization or think tank where she can continue her geology and health research.

“Research offers the best of both worlds,” Wise says. “You get to solve puzzles to help people. If you’re doing it right, you’re always faced with new challenges and you’re always going for some greater good. That’s pretty sweet.”

If at first Wise doesn’t find what she wants professionally, she’ll rely on what she learned growing up in Santa Fe, a place she says people go to find themselves.

“Because of that, you’re never told that you can’t do anything. People just say, ‘Go for it,’” Wise says. “I don’t see myself limited in any capacity. If there’s not a position I like, then I’ll create one.” 

Nominate A&S Alumni for the Distinguished Alumni Award!

From McMicken College of Arts & Sciences:


Nominate Distinguished Alumni
Nomination deadline for the 2013 Distinguished Alumni Awards is Oct. 31,2012

Distinguished Alumni Award

The Distinguished Alumni Award is presented annually to a McMicken College of Arts & Sciences graduate who is outstanding in their chosen field of endeavor or have made significant contributions that benefit the community, state, nation, college or university.

To nominate a McMicken College alumnus or alumna, please fill out the form below (Please fill in as much information as you know). You may also send addtional materials to janine.boeing@uc.edu or to the McMicken College of Arts & Sciences, PO Box 210367, Cincinnati, OH 45221-0367. All nominations are kept on file and will be automatically reconsidered each year for up to three years.

Click HERE to go to the nomination form!

UC Selects Mehta to Head International Office

From UC News:

UC Selects Mehta To Head International Office

A distinguished marketing professor, currently director of UC’s honors program, has been selected to lead the office responsible for University of Cincinnati international programs, services and planning.

Date: 6/28/2012 12:00:00 AM
By: Greg Hand
Phone: (513) 556-1822

   Raj Mehta has been named Vice Provost for International Affairs at the University of Cincinnati.  Mehta, a member of UC’s marketing faculty since 1990, will continue his role and responsibilities as director of UC’s University Honors program. The appointment is effective July 16.

Raj Mehta

“After much deliberation and discussion regarding the search for a new Vice Provost for International Affairs, I am convinced that the best leader for this role was not in the candidate pool but rather served on the search committee,” said Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost Santa J. Ono. “Raj Mehta was tapped to chair this search because of his deep knowledge of the global context, his broad interest in advancing international programming and partnerships and his longstanding commitment to engaging faculty, staff and alumni in strengthening UC’s global identity and impact. As much as these skills and attributes made him an excellent chair, they make him the best leader to move UC International to the next level.”

Mehta earned his Ph.D. from the University of Utah after earning a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology and a master’s in marketing from Gujarat University. He has directed the University Honors Program since 2006.

“I am a lifelong believer, and a living example, of the benefits of international experience,” Mehta said. “As director of the University Honors Program, I helped set a goal for graduating 75 percent of our students with a study abroad experience.” says Mehta. “A global outlook is an invaluable component of our students’ educations, and an essential priority for a world-class university like UC.”

As Vice Provost, Mehta will play a critical role in the University’s plan to enhance its national standing and strengthen its contributions to the surrounding region and to society at large, Ono said. He will be responsible for overall operation of the UC International office, including oversight of UC’s international programs, services and planning. In doing so, he will work with faculty to develop curricula with strong international components, assist with recruitment of international students, and enhance institutional support for incoming students in areas such as new student orientation, language training, and assimilation programming.

“My role is to champion the importance of UC’s engagement with global cultures and to integrate UC’s diverse activities as part of an overall strategy for the University’s international presence,” Mehta said.

"Wheelchair Diaries" Film Explores Accessibility in Europe

From the Chronicle of Higher Education:

‘Wheelchair Diaries’

A student with cerebral palsy, discouraged from study abroad,
makes a film about accessibility in Europe

When Reid Davenport (above left) learned at freshman orientation that 80 percent of students at George Washington University study overseas, he instantly decided that he would be among them. As his friends began making plans to go abroad in the spring of 2011, so, too, did he—to a program in Florence, Italy. But after he told officials there that he used a wheelchair, they discouraged him, he says. In the end, he didn't go.

As his friends traveled that next semester, Mr. Davenport, who has cerebral palsy, found himself thinking about accessibility in Europe for wheelchair users like him. He wondered: Was there a story to tell? That May he won a fellowship from the university: $5,000 to travel to Europe and document the challenges that wheelchair users there face.

For 20 days this past January, Mr. Davenport and Mark Abramson, a photographer and videographer, traveled through Ireland, Belgium, Italy, and France. Their footage ultimately became a documentary film, produced and directed by Mr. Davenport, titled Wheelchair Diaries: One Step Up. A rough cut of the film was released in April, and a final version will be finished this summer.

The trip involved plenty of headaches. In Dublin, the first stop, Mr. Davenport's wheelchair emerged on the luggage conveyor belt in two pieces. In Brussels, the wheelchair arrived altogether broken: Mr. Davenport walked around with great effort until he found a place to fix it.

Across four cities, Mr. Davenport interviewed more than a dozen wheelchair users about their experiences getting around. Among his "subjects": the leader of a disabled-advocacy group in Paris who became a paraplegic after a car accident about 20 years ago; a French law student with spinal muscular atrophy; a journalist in Brussels with cerebral palsy; and a man in Dublin with chronic progressive multiple sclerosis.

Mr. Davenport, 21, graduated from George Washington in May with a degree in journalism and mass communications. He recently sat down with The Chronicle to talk about his travels and the film. Here are his recollections, as told to Libby Sander.

LINK TO ARTICLE FOR FULL INTERVIEW!

Register at Discount by July 31st for the 2013 Midwest BLGTA College Conference!

From the UC LGBTQ Center:

The MBLGTACC 2013 Planning Coalition would like to remind you about an upcoming deadline to register for the 2013 Midwest Bisexual Lesbian Gay Transgender Ally College Conference. We know that with summer breaks, vacations and traveling (and the wonderful summer sunshine!), people may check their email less frequently — so we wanted to remind you with plenty of time in advance!

Register by July 31st!

Registration, both online and by mail, is currently available at the reduced price of $55. However, registration prices will increase to $65 after July 31st. The registration price will continue to increase according to the following timeline:

– May 1, 2012 – July 31, 2012: $55
– August 1, 2012 – February 1, 2013: $65
– After February 1, 2013: $75

Students and those who work directly with LGBTA students are encouraged to register for the conference.

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In case this is your first time receiving this message, here is further information about MBLGTACC:

What Is MBLGTACC?

MBLGTACC is the largest LGBTA college conference in the nation. It is an annual conference that is hosted at a different Midwest college each year and features about 90 educational workshops, as well as nationally-recognized speakers and entertainers. 

When Is It?

MBLGTACC 2013 will be held February 8-10, 2013, at the Lansing Center in Lansing, Mich., and is organized by students from Michigan State University.

What Are the Workshops About?

If you are interested in presenting a workshop at the conference, the call for workshop proposals is now open. Anyone can submit a proposal — including students, staff, faculty, community members, professionals and advocates! The deadline for submitting a proposal is Nov. 1, 2012.

Workshop topics are about the intersection of LGBTA identities and race; religion; gender; sex; disability; history; education and schools; health; politics; allyship; homelessness; professionalism; leadership; HIV/AIDS; and more. A list of the workshops offered at the 2011 and 2012 conferences is available on our workshops page.

Where Can I Get More Information?

If you are interested in receiving more information about MBLGTACC, please subscribe to our eNewsletter! Be sure to also check out our website, follow us on Twitter and “Like” our Facebook page!

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If you have any questions, feel free to email us at info@mblgtacc2013.org.

Enjoy your summer! We look forward to seeing you in Lansing in 2013!