2009april20journaldraft1.qxp:03-24-08 CAL U JOURNAL.qxd 4/16/09 8:02 AM Page 1

California University

VOLUME 11, NUMBER 14 APRIL 20, 2009

Lecture to
Be ‘Guide to
Crazy New
World’
Krauthammer
Next in Noss
Lecture Series

W

This robot will greet visitors
to the exhibition.

Cal U, Carnegie Science Center
Partner for Robotics Education
University Will Provide Programming in New Exhibition

C

alifornia University and
Carnegie Science Center on
Pittsburgh’s North Shore
have announced a partnership to
provide educational programming
in roboworld™, the Science
Center’s new permanent robotics
exhibition opening June 13.
The $3.475 million exhibition
will include more than 30
interactive, hands-on exhibit
stations designed to demonstrate
how robots sense, think and act.
Upon opening, the 6,000-square-

foot exhibition will be the world’s
largest and most comprehensive
permanent robotics exhibition.
California University, which is
launching an associate degree
program in Robotics Engineering
Technology this fall, will present
“Cal U Saturdays,” weekend
programs in the exhibition’s Robot
Workshop, a dedicated space
within roboworld allowing visitors
a more in-depth, guided robotics
experience.
The University will also

sponsor the Science Center’s 2009
Science Summer Camps, and Cal
U undergraduates will have the
opportunity for internships at the
Science Center, where they will
participate in the maintenance and
repair of exhibits and robots in
roboworld.
“This is truly a world-class
partnership,” said Cal U President
Angelo Armenti, Jr. “Visitors to
the roboworld™ exhibition will get
a comprehnsive look at how
— continued on page 2

hen Pulitzer Prize-winning
political commentator
Charles Krauthammer
appears in Steele Hall at 7 p.m.
Wednesday, he will continue Cal U’s
tradition of presenting prestigious
speakers as part of the Noss Lecture
Series.
Krauthammer will discuss
“America on the Brink: The Politics of
Obama’s
Washington,” a
talk he
describes as “a
preliminary
guide to this
crazy new
world.”
A reception
and book
signing will
follow the
lecture. The
The Noss Lecture
event is free
Series tradition of
bringing worldand open to
class speakers to
the public.
campus continues
Honored
Wednesday
evening with
for his bold
Pulitzer Prize
and lucid
winner Charles
commentary
Krauthammer.
by organizations from
every part of the political spectrum,
Krauthammer’s writings have helped
to frame the shape of American
foreign policy. The commentator who
first outlined “the Reagan Doctrine,”
he now writes a monthly essay for
Time magazine and a weekly column
that appears in the Washington Post
and more than 190 newspapers
— continued on page 2

State Schools Deserve Aid Program
Editor’s note: John C. Cavanaugh is chancellor of
the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education.
This op-ed was published in the Philadelphia
Inquirer on March 30, 2009 in response to coverage of
Gov. Edward G. Rendell’s proposed Tuition Relief Act.

G

ov. Rendell’s proposed budget includes a
tuition-relief program for students
attending community colleges and the
commonwealth’s 14 state-owned universities.
Students attending public colleges and
universities would benefit most from the
program. But, contrary to recent criticism, private
universities are not being penalized.
The governor is also proposing to expand

financial assistance to students at all schools by
increasing funding for the Pennsylvania Higher
Education Assistance Agency.
As to the tuition-relief program, it can’t
disregard the relative costs of attending different
kinds of universities. Otherwise, it would be far
more costly.
Average yearly tuition at a university in the
Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education
is $5,358, with an average total attendance cost of
$13,794. Tuition at the branch campuses of Penn
State University and the University of Pittsburgh
is double that of tuition at the state system’s
schools. And private Susquehanna University, for
— continued on page 3

PASSHE Chancellor Dr. John C. Cavanaugh offers insight about Gov. Ed
Rendell’s tuition relief program through his op-ed piece, which was
originally published in the Philadelphia Inquirer.

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Cal Honors Alumni Couple
for Generosity and
Commitment to University

N

ow retired after lengthy careers
in education, Richard ’60 and
Barbara Moluski ’62 Webb
maintain a high regard for the university
where they received their undergraduate
degrees in education, and where they
both enjoyed distinguished careers.
For their dedication and
commitment to their alma mater, the
Webbs are the recipients of Cal U’s 2008
Alumni Couple of the Year Award. Cal
U President Angelo Armenti, Jr.
presented this prestigious honor to the
couple at a special luncheon held April
5 in the Kara Alumni House.
Richard Webb served the University
for 30 years and retired as vice president
for University Advancement in
December 1998.

He began his career as a faculty
member and served in a number of
administrative roles. Before returning to
his alma mater, he was an English
teacher and guidance counselor at
California Area High School.
Cal U’s 1960 Homecoming queen,
Barbara Webb served in the College of
Education and Human Services for 15
years, working extensively in the Energy
and Teacher Enhancement offices. She
retired as projects coordinator in 2002.
Before returning to Cal U she was a
speech therapist for Allegheny County
students in grades K-12 and a substitute
teacher in the Belle Vernon Area School
District for 19 years.
Generous benefactors to the
University, the Webbs have established

President Angelo Armenti, Jr. proudly presents the 2008 Alumni Couple of the Year award to
Barbara Moluski Webb ’62 and her husband, Richard ’60, at a recent luncheon in their honor.

an endowed scholarship fund through
the Foundation for California University
of Pennsylvania.
“Dick and Barbara’s generosity and
commitment to California University
over many years is noteworthy and

commendable,” said President Armenti.
“They have shown their love for their
alma mater in so many ways, and we
truly appreciate their efforts on behalf of
our students.”
The couple resides in Roscoe.

Cal U, Carnegie Science Cal U Artists to Present
‘A Taste of Ink’
Center Partnership
— Continued from page 1
robotics plays a role in so many facets of our
lives.
“Cal U is a leader in training technicians
to work in the fast-growing robotics industry,
and we are pleased to support Carnegie
Science Center as it explores and explains this
fascinating topic.”
In keeping with its commitment to teacher
education, Cal U will sponsor the roboworld
Educator Preview on June 9 at the Science
Center. The pre-opening event will preview
the robotics exhibition for southwestern
Pennsylvania teachers, including alumni from
Cal U’s College of Education and Human
Services and Eberly College of Science and
Technology.
“We are grateful and fortunate to have
strong partners like Cal U involved in the
development and programming of roboworld,”
said Science Center co-director Ron Baillie.
“Putting college students currently studying
robotics in the exhibit to help visitors

understand this complex topic is a win-win for
both the Science Center and Cal U. Our
visitors have access to Cal U students working
in robotics, and Cal U students gain the
experience of presenting their current work
and research to the public.”
California University is home to the thirdlargest technology education program in the
United States. Cal U is taking the lead in
robotics education through NCRETE, the
National Center for Robotics Engineering
Technology Education, which is developing
the nation’s first two-tier associate and
bachelor’s degree program in robotics
engineering technology. Working in
partnership with Carnegie Mellon University
and its Robotics Institute, the world’s largest
robotics research organization, Cal U is
committed to providing professional
development for educators and preparing a
regional workforce for both the military and
the commercial robotics industry.
For more information, visit
www.aet.cup.edu/robotics.

Krauthammer to Speak Wednesday
— Continued from page 1
worldwide. He is a contributing editor to The
Weekly Standard and The New Republic, a
regular panelist on “Inside Washington” and
a contributor to FOX News.
“Cal U has established itself as a leader
in bringing an extraordinary array of
speakers to campus,” said Dr. Melanie
Blumberg, professor of History and Political
Science who also directs the American
Democracy Project on campus.
“Charles Krauthammer is the fourth
award-winning journalist to address the
university and local communities within the
past six years,” she added. “Thomas
Friedman, Charlayne Hunter Gault and Juan
Williams spoke to standing-room-only
audiences, and they generated much
discussion on topics ranging from foreign
relations to civil rights. I expect that students,
faculty, staff and area residents will be
talking about Krauthammer’s analysis of
Beltway politics for quite awhile.”
The Noss Lecture Series has sponsored
lectures by environmental activist Robert
Kennedy Jr., FBI profiler John Douglas,
Nobel Peace Prize recipient Lech Walesa,

2

civil rights leader Coretta Scott King and
political activist Ralph Nader.
The series is named in memory of
Theodore Bland Noss, the principal of Cal
U’s predecessor, the South-Western Normal
School, in the late 1880s and early 1900s. In
1883 Noss instituted a series of lectures
meant to bring thought-provoking speakers to
campus. He passed away in 1909, and the
Noss Lecture Series was re-instituted in 1983.
“Like my colleagues, I always encourage
students to attend these outstanding events,”
Blumberg said. “Where else would they have
the opportunity to meet nationally
recognized personalities such as Mary
Frances Berry, Donna Brazile, and Robert F.
Kennedy Jr.? My students, including those
who stay in touch long after they graduate,
never fail to reminisce about meeting one of
the luminaries. (Political pundit and
campaign organizer) Donna Brazile even
paved the way for a political science major to
work on a presidential campaign.”
Blumberg praised President Angelo
Armenti, Jr. for his continued support of the
Noss Lecture Series, saying it “helps make
Cal U the standout among Pennsylvania
colleges and universities.”

at Local Gallery

Emerging Artists Display Works at Jozart

F

our student artists will
display their printmaking
skills in “A Taste of Ink,”
an exhibition opening Thursday
at Jozart Studios, 333 Second
Street in California.
An opening reception will be
held from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday
with a performance by singersongwriter AJ Shanti. The
exhibition continues through
April 29.
Artists Sonita Lewis of
Pittsburgh, Maria Macaluso of
Greensburg, Candice Moreau of
Uniontown and Courtney
Richards of Hermitage are
students in the Advanced
Printmaking class taught by Dr.
R. Scott Lloyd. They are required
to exhibit their fine art prints
formally, in an off-campus
location, and then are guided on
how to handle preparation,
presentation and publicity in a
professional manner.
“These emerging artists
worked very hard, individually
and as a group, to create an
exhibition with the idea that it
will be presented as
professionally as it was
prepared,” said Lloyd.
Each artist works with a
different theme.
Lewis’ prints represent the
seven deadly sins.
“I chose this theme because I
felt the integrations of sins were
timeless, and the history and
mythic stories derived from them

continue to drive me forward,”
she said.
Macaluso’s work is based on
the city of Pittsburgh.
“The contrast between the
dark, cold colors of the buildings
against the warm, bright colors of
the lights and people surrounding
them involve simple shapes and
implied lines,” she said. “This
made for an easy cross-over from
my graphic design background to
the printmaking world.”
Moreau’s work stems from
her family’s passion for
Halloween.
“In my family, Halloween is
an unceasing event,” she said,
“so my art generally focuses on
dark, morbid and gruesome
subjects, and I enjoy using color
in tandem to enhance the images
to give them alluring quality.”
Richards’ inspiration comes
from animals.
“I want my prints to inspire
everyone to put forth and effort
to help endangered species,” she
said.
Gallery hours at Jozart
Studios are 7 to 9 p.m. Mondays,
Tuesdays and Thursdays; noon to
3 p.m. and 7 to 11 p.m.
Wednesdays; 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Saturdays and Sundays.
Appointments can be scheduled
for viewings on Fridays and
during the weekends.
For more information, contact
Macaluso at 724-561-9876 or
mac3742@cup.edu.

Staff Recognition Dinner Set June 26
Staff members should mark their calendars for the 28th annual
Staff Recognition Dinner on June 26. The event will include dinner,
entertainment, and door prizes provided by the Foundation for
California University.
Invitations and RSVP cards for this year’s event will be distributed
with University paychecks on May 8.

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DUCK DAYS
Hannah Zeffiro, a second-grade student at Rostraver Elementary School, leads two ducklings through the courtyard while learning about imprinting during Cal U’s Duck Days. The annual event brings
Cal U elementary education students to local elementary schools to teach second-graders while incorporating live ducklings into the lessons.

Pennsylvania
Schools Deserve
Aid Program
— Continued from page 1

College Awards
California University presented five awards during its Cal Pride Weekend celebration. The awards included College Alumni of the Year
recipients and the Lifetime Achievement award. Featured in the photo are (sitting from left): Dr. David Amati ’70, ’72, director of
Global Automotive Business and Automotive Headquarters, SAE International (School of Graduate Studies and Research award);
Dr. Frank Mascara ’72, former U.S. Congressman (Lifetime Achievement award); and Steven Toprani ’01, Washington County’s district
attorney (College of Liberal Arts award). Standing, from left, are: Carol Mitchell ’72, ’75, president and CEO of Verland (College of
Education and Human Services award); President Angelo Armenti, Jr.; and Mary Beth Buchanan ’84, U.S. Attorney for the Western
District of Pennsylvania (Eberly College of Science and Technology award).

Book Sale Raises Scholarship Funds

F

College, Pa. so the books can be
or the past 47 years, the AAUW
categorized and used in the May book
(American Association of
sale.”
University Women) has worked
The sale, which takes place at the
to improve the lives of women. The
Snider Agricultural Arena at Penn
State College branch has been involved
State, will be held May 9-12. Books are
in several different activities, one of
divided into more than 25 categories
which is a book sale that supports
and displayed on more than 250 tables.
scholarships for women who want to
As one of the largest used book
go to college.
sales on the East Coast, the project
The Department of Biological
accepts donations from anyone and is
Sciences at California University has
considered to be one of the “cleanest”
donated books the past two years and
sales around. Last year, about 9,000
chairperson David Argent hopes to see
people went to Penn State to browse
more involvement from others, as well.
Dr. David Argent
through and buy books.
“We’ve had faculty who have retired,
“I think it would be great if not only our
and we’ve had new textbooks come in for classes,” he
department, but other departments, would get involved,”
said. “Rather than throw the books away, we collect
Argent said. “It really goes towards a good cause.”
those, and then a couple of us will take them to State

example, charges tuition of $32,450, with the
total cost of attendance listed at $41,240.
Pennsylvania already provides more than $100
million a year in direct support for private colleges
and universities, more than almost any other state.
And private colleges and universities that don’t
receivestate appropriations get direct payments in
state financial aid to students.
Incidentally, students attending more-expensive
private colleges are eligible for larger state grants
than those who attend public universities. But that
doesn’t mean public-school students are being
penalized.
State support plays an important role in
allowing the state system’s universities to keep
their tuition affordable. So does the system’s
commitment to controlling costs. Since 2000, we
have eliminated more than $200 million in costs.
Controlling for inflation, the system spends less
per student today than it did a decade ago.
Such efforts have helped the state-owned
universities hold tuition increases below the rate of
inflation for the last four years, while continually
enhancing the quality of education students
receive. No private institution can make this claim.
Based on the National Survey of Student
Engagement, a nationally recognized assessment,
our students rate their college experiences as equal
to those of Penn State and Temple students. For
example, 85 percent of seniors at Bloomsburg,
Indiana, Slippery Rock, and West Chester
universities rated the quality of their entire
educational experience as “good” or “excellent” comparable to ratings at Penn State and ahead of
those at Temple.
Since their inception, public colleges and
universities have played a role very different from
that of private institutions. They provide access
and opportunity to students who otherwise would
not be able to continue their education beyond
high school.
Students benefit from that opportunity, but so
does the commonwealth.
Nearly 90 percent of our students are
Pennsylvania residents, and most will remain here,
contributing to the vitality of the commonwealth
for years to come. That’s an investment worth
making.
Reprinted by permission of the Philadelphia
Inquirer.

3

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THE CALIFORNIA
UNIVERSITY
FORUM
April 21, 2009
4:00 p.m./LRC Auditorium
TENTATIVE AGENDA
I. CALL TO ORDER
II. ROLL CALL
III. ADOPTION OF
AGENDA
IV. MINUTES OF
MARCH 17, 2009
(Approved by e-mail ballot – refer
to Forum website or Public
Folders in Outlook)

THE CALIFORNIA UNIVERSITY FORUM
March 17, 2009 / 4:00 p.m., LRC Auditorium
MINUTES
The California University
Forum met in regular
session Tuesday, March 17,
2009, in the LRC
Auditorium. Presiding
Officer Hoover called the
meeting order at 4:15 p.m.
The following senators
were in attendance:
Dr. Lenora Angelone
Ms. Cinthia Arcuri
Dr. Angelo Armenti, Jr.
Dr. Bill Biddington
Dr. Jane Bonari
Ms. Angela Burrows

Dr. Leonard Colelli
Ms. Sharon Elkettani
Ms. Fran Fayish
Dr. Allan Golden
Dr. Joyce Hanley
Mr. Tom Hasbrouck
Mr. Ryan Jerico
Ms. Geraldine Jones
Ms. Adraine Lewis
Dr. John Nass
Ms. Rebecca Nichols
Dr. Nancy Pinardi
Mr. Paul Sible
Mr. Matthew Weiss
Dr. Tom Wickham
The following were
also in attendance:

V. MINUTES OF EXECUTIVE
COMMITTEE
(Informational Only – Minutes of
April 7, 2009)
VI. PRESIDING
OFFICER’S REPORT
A. Miscellaneous
Information
B. President’s Response to
Motions Passed
C. Notice of Executive Committee
Meeting: August 25, 2009 –
University Community Welcome
VII. PUBLIC COMMENTS
VIII. INTERPELLATION
A. Strategic Plan – Final Draft
(Informational Only)
B. Safety and Social Equity
Committee’s Response RE:
Call Boxes/Lighting – Safety
Concern
C. MOTION: That the Forum
extends its gratitude to the
students who served on the
Forum – Ashley Briggs, Diane
Dever, Kay Dorrance, Rebecca
Giles, Mercedes Himmons,
Ryan Jerico, Donald Marszalek,
Christine Schlieper, Marguerite
Smith, Matthew Weiss – whose
service to the Forum will end
with this meeting.
IX. NEW BUSINESS
X. ANNOUNCEMENTS
Next FORUM Meeting Sept. 1,
2009
XI. ADJOURNMENT

AET Annual
Conference
Set for Thursday

C

al U’s 42nd Applied Engineering
and Technology spring conference
will be held Thursday at the Eberly
Science & Technology Center.
The agile robotics and other labs will be
open for tours, presentations and hands-on
activities for high school teachers, students
and the public.
Teachers who attend can apply for Act
48 credit hours. For more information, visit
www.cup.edu/eberly/aet/index.jsp.
To register, e-mail croftcheck@cup. edu.

Mr. Douglas Hoover,
Presiding Officer Mr.
Loring Prest,
Parliamentarian
Mrs. Dana Turcic,
Recording Secretary
The following senators
were absent:
Dr. Mohamed
Benbourenane
Mr. Rick Bertagnolli
Ms. Ashley Briggs
Ms. Diane Dever
Ms. Kay Dorrance
Ms. Rebecca Giles
Dr. Arcides Gonzalez
Ms. Mercedes Himmons

Mr. Keith Kappel
Dr. Chad Kauffman
Dr. Kevin Koury
Mr. Donald Marszalek
Mr. Josh Mrosko
Dr. Susan Ryan
Ms.Christine Schlieper
Ms. Jenifer Sigado
Ms. Marguerite Smith
Dr. Linda Toth
Dr. Jacqueline Walsh
Dr. Brian Wood
Due to the lack of a quorum
of Forum senators,
Presiding Officer Hoover
adjourned the meeting at
4:45 p.m.

RESULTS OF FACULTY ELECTION
CALIFORNIA UNIVERSITY FORUM
Members of the Executive Committee of the
California University Forum met in open session on
Tuesday, March 10, 2009 at 4:00 p.m., in Room 408
of the Manderino Library. The purpose of the
aforementioned meeting was to certify the faculty
election results. The following members were in
attendance: Dr. Lenora Angelone, Dr. William
Biddington, Mr. Ryan Jerico, Dr. Susan Ryan, Ms.
Jenifer Sigado and Dr. Tom Wickham. Also present
were Douglas Hoover, Presiding Officer, Loring Prest,
Parliamentarian and Dana Turcic, Recording
Secretary.
Eligible faculty members were notified via e-mail on
February 16 and 17 that the election would take place
on February 18th and 19th, 2009 and the instructions
on how to vote were included in the e-mail. Two
hundred seventy-eight (278) full-time permanent
faculty members were eligible to vote. Thirty-five (35)
votes were recorded; for a voter participation rate of
thirteen percent (13%.)
The Office of Continuous Improvement submitted the
results, which were tallied electronically and reported
the results as follows:
Notification and Certification
of Faculty Election Votes
Eberly College of Science and Technology:
Vote for two (2):
Tom Mueller
17
48.6%
Kimberly Woznack
12
34.3%
Mohamed Benbourenane
10
28.6%
John Confer
9
25.7%
Lisa Kovalchick
8
22.9%
Steve Whitehead
3
8.6%
Not Applicable
2
5.7%
College of Liberal Studies:
Vote for one (1):
**Andrae Marak
**Michael Slaven
Kelton Edmonds
Not Applicable
At-Large
Vote for one (1):
Kimberly Woznack
Gary Seelye
Tom Mueller
Ellen West
Kelton Edmonds
Mary Kreis
John Confer

13
13
7
2

6
5
4
4
3
3
2

37.1%
37.1%
20.0%
5.7%

17.1%
14.3%
11.4%
11.4%
8.6%
8.6%
5.7%

Lisa Kovalchick
Andrae Marak
Katherine Mitchem
Mohamed Benbourenane
Michael Slaven
Steve Whitehead
Not Applicable

2
2
2
1
1
0
0

5.7%
5.7%
5.7%
2.9%
2.9%
0.0%
0.0%

By unanimous decision of the Executive Committee,
the faculty election results were certified. Because of
a tie for the College of Liberal Arts seat, a run-off
election was held on March 19 and 20, 2009.
Members of the Executive Committee of the
California University Forum met in open session on
Tuesday, April 7, 2009, at 4:00 p.m., in Room 408 of
the Manderino Library. The purpose of the
aforementioned meeting was to certify the faculty runoff election results. The following members were in
attendance: Dr. Lenora Angelone, Dr. William
Biddington, Mr. Ryan Jerico, Ms. Gerri Jones, Dr.
Susan Ryan, and Dr. Tom Wickham. Also present
were Douglas Hoover, Presiding Officer, Loring Prest,
Parliamentarian and Dana Turcic, Recording
Secretary.
The Office of Continuous Improvement submitted the
results, which were tallied electronically and reported
the results as follows:
Notification and Certification
of Faculty Run-off Election Votes
College of Liberal Studies:
Vote for one (1):
Michael Slaven
Andre Marak

21
16

56.8%
43.2%

Notification and voting instructions were sent via email to eligible faculty members on March 16th and
17th regarding the run-off election held on March 19
and 20, 2009. Two hundred seventy-eight (278) fulltime permanent faculty members were eligible to
vote. Thirty-seven (37) votes were recorded; for a
voter participation rate of thirteen percent (13%.)
By unanimous decision of the Executive Committee,
the faculty run-off election results were certified.
A plurality of the votes cast was necessary to win.
The successful candidates will assume their terms at
the September 1, 2009 Forum Meeting.

The California Journal is published weekly by California University of Pennsylvania, a member of The Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education.
Dr. Angelo Armenti, Jr.
University President

Dr. Allan J. Golden
Vice President for Administration and Finance

Geraldine M. Jones
Provost/Vice President for Academic Affairs

Dr. Lenora Angelone
Vice President for Student Development and Services

Dr. Joyce Hanley
Executive Vice President

Dr. Charles Mance
Vice President of Information Technology

Angela J. Burrows
Vice President for University Relations
Christine Kindl
Editor

OfficeofCommunicationsandPublicRelations,
250UniversityAvenue,California,PA15419
724-938-4195wald@cup.edu

The Journal is printed on paper made from trees harvested under the principles of the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (www.SFIprogram.org).

4

Bruce Wald
Writer