HEARD IN WASHINGTON --WORLD CAMPUS DIR. GARY MILLER
"The real power of the Web is its ability to bring people together around ideas to create communities of interest. At a university, that means to create learning communities." -- Gary E. Miller, associate vice president for Distance Education and executive director of the World Campus, spoke at the National Academy Workshop yesterday on the Impact of Information Technology on the Future of the Research University. Miller stressed that the Web is qualitatively different from other media used to enhance education in the past. For information on the Word Campus, go to http://www.worldcampus.psu.edu/pub/index.shtml
BLACK HISTORY MONTH CELEBRATIONS SCHEDULED
Penn State is celebrating Black History month university-wide throughout February. Activities include concerts, lectures, exhibits and more. For example at University Park, The Black Graduate Student Association Achievement Conference will be held Saturday, Feb. 3, the African-American Read-In will be held Sunday, Feb. 4, and the movie SANKOFA will be shown Tuesday, Feb. 6. For listings of Black History Month activities at many campuses, go to http://www.psu.edu/ur/archives/intercom_2001/Jan25/bhm.html. For activities at the Paul Robeson Cultural Center, go to http://www.psu.edu/ur/2001/africanconsciousness.html
FOOD NETWORK SHOWS NITTANY LION TAILGATING TONIGHT
The Food Network is repeating "The Football Café," a special program to celebrate world-class tailgating and the Super Bowl, tonight at 10 p.m. and again at 1 a.m. Thursday for the night owls. Several Newswire readers wrote in to say they had seen the first showings earlier this week and recommend it highly. The show takes a look at two of America's favorite passions: Football and Food. Hosted by Holly Robinson Peete, wife of Oakland Raiders star Rodney Peete, the show features the hottest tailgating spots around, including State College and the Nittany Lions. For the Food Network, go to http://www.foodtv.com/
JIM BROADHURST TO HEAD GRAND DESTINY CAMPAIGN
Penn State's Grand Destiny capital campaign has a new chair -- Jim Broadhurst, a 1965 Penn State graduate and chairman and CEO of Pittsburgh-based Eat'n Park Hospitality Group Inc. Broadhurst's predecessor, Edward R. Hintz, stepped down from his campaign leadership post to serve as chair of the University's Board of Trustees. The Trustees elected Hintz chair at their Jan. 19 meeting. "This is a very exciting time to lead the campaign, and I am deeply honored," said Broadhurst, who currently heads the Pittsburgh region of the campaign. "My goal will be to build on the achievements that the campaign has seen since it began in 1996, and to continue to reach out to friends and alumni of the University so that they take an active role in shaping Penn State's future."
The campaign began in 1996 and is scheduled to run until June 30, 2003.. As of Dec. 31, 2000, gifts and pledges totaled $875 million, which supports students, faculty, academic programs and other University needs. For the full story, go to http://www.psu.edu/ur/2001/broadhurst01.html
PENN COLLEGE HOSTS PROGRAM ON DIGITAL DIVIDE
Pennsylvania College of Technology’s North Campus will be a host for the next Pennsylvania Rural Development Council Rural Issues Forum, which will use a new Web-based format to address the rural "digital divide" and related telecommunications issues. The live webcast will be held from 9:30 a.m. to noon on Friday, Jan. 26, in Room 117 at the North Campus, located on Route 6 east of Wellsboro. Scheduled topics include: A presentation and update on infrastructure deployment throughout rural Pennsylvania; a presentation by representatives of a rural community on how they implemented a community-technology solution; and a discussion of resources and technical assistance available to rural communities. For more information, go to http://www2.pct.edu/news/events/ruralwebcast0101.htm
DISTINGUISHED SPEAKER SERIES -- NAVRATILOVA FEB.6
Athlete and activist Martina Navratilova will speak at Penn State's Eisenhower Auditorium on Tuesday, Feb. 6, beginning at 8 p.m. The event is free and open to the public, but tickets are required. Tickets for University Park faculty and staff will be available beginning Jan. 31. The general public may pick up any remaining tickets beginning Feb. 1, on a first-come, first-served basis. The Eisenhower box office is open from 8:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Limited tickets may also be available the night of the speech. When Navratilova defected from Czechoslovakia to the United States in 1975, she had one goal - to be the best women's tennis player in the world. By the time of her retirement, she had acquired more tournament titles than any man or woman in tennis history and was named "Athlete of the Decade" for the 1980s. Navratilova is an influential advocate for many causes, including women's issues, gay rights, children's causes, animal welfare and the environment. For more information, go to http://www.psu.edu/ur/2001/martina.html.
LONDON CITY OPERA TO PERFORM BIZET CLASSIC CARMEN
The Center for the Performing Arts presents the London City Opera's production of Georges Bizet's Carmen at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 1, in Eisenhower Auditorium. The opera will be performed in French with English supertitles. The London City Opera's orchestra will accompany the performance. The opera tells the story of Carmen, a Spanish gypsy who exudes enough free-spirited energy and sensuality to drive Don Jose, a humble soldier, to tragic distraction. Bizet's genius lies not only in his musical evocation of Seville but in his masterful portrayal of Don Jose's lovesick descent from militiaman to insubordinate, deserter, smuggler and, ultimately, killer. Audio description of Carmen will be available through the View Via Headphones program of The Sight-Loss Support Group of Central Pennsylvania. For tickets or more information, contact the Arts Ticket Center at (814) 863-0255. Outside the local calling area, phone (800) 278-7849. Most major credit cards are accepted. For more, go to http://www.cpa.psu.edu/hot.html
EIGHT NAMED AS DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI
The Penn State Board of Trustees has selected eight Penn State alumni to receive the Distinguished Alumni Award, the University's highest award for an individual. They are:
-- Mr. Donald P. Bellisario of Hollywood, Calif., an undergraduate student from 1953-55 and 1959-61 in journalism from the College of Communications, is Executive Producer of Belisarius Productions.
-- Mr. Michael J. Farrell of Pittsburgh, a 1971 bachelor's degree graduate in accounting and management information systems from the Smeal College of Business Administration, is President and CEO of Farrell and Company.
-- Dr. Shirley M. Malcom, of Clarksville, Md., a 1974 doctoral degree graduate in ecology from the Graduate School's Intercollege Graduate Degree Program, is head, Directorate for Education and Human Resources Programs of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.
-- Dr. John W. Moore of Terre Haute, Ind., a 1970 doctoral degree graduate in higher education administration from the College of Education, is President of Indiana State University.
-- Mr. Arthur J. Nagle of Bronxville, N.Y., a 1961 bachelor's degree graduate in arts and letters, College of The Liberal Arts, is Chairman of Vestar Capital Partners, Inc.
-- Ms. Hellene S. Runtagh, of Universal City, Calif., a 1970 bachelor's degree graduate in psychology from the College of The Liberal Arts, is Executive Vice President of Universal Studios, Inc.
-- Ms. Suzie McConnell-Serio of Pittsburgh, a 1988 bachelor's degree graduate in elementary and kindergarten education from the College of Education, is a teacher and high school basketball coach at Oakland Catholic High School and a professional basketball player in the WNBA for the Cleveland Rockers.
-- Mr. Obie Snider, of Imler, a 1950 bachelor's degree graduate in dairy husbandry of the College of Agricultural Sciences, is the Managing Partner of Singing Brook Farms.