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Vo l u me 13, Nu mbe r 33 De C. 12, 2011
Re a d t h e Jo urn a l o n l in e : www.calu.edu/news/the-journal
Cal U Joins Partnership for STEM Education
C
al U is joining the Carnegie
Science Center and Chevron
Corp. as a founding partner in the
Chevron Center for STEM Education
and Career Development.
Launched Nov. 30 at the Science
Center in Pittsburgh, the new “center
without walls” is dedicated to improving
education in the subject areas collectively
known as STEM — science, technology,
engineering and mathematics.
“The Chevron Center …
encompasses the Science Center’s
existing STEM education programs and
brings together teachers, students,
parents, corporations, universities,
foundations and legislators to collectively
address STEM education challenges,”
said Ann Metzger, the Henry Buhl Jr. codirector of Carnegie Science Center.
In a news release announcing the
launch, Metzger called the STEM
subjects “key to maintaining our global
competitiveness and driving our future
economic growth.”
The new center will manage many of
the Carnegie Science Center’s current
programs for preschool through high
school students, including its Science on
the Road outreach programs. Among
them is “Rockin’ Robots World Tour,” a
Cal U is a founding partner in the Chevron Center for STEM Education and Career
Development, which was launched Nov. 30 at the Carnegie Science Center.
hands-on exploration of robotics
sponsored by Cal U.
“Our faculty members are excited
about this partnership,” said Craig
Butzine, vice president for Marketing and
University Relations. “It aligns with the
University’s special mission in science
and technology, as well as our historic
role in preparing high-quality teachers to
work in our public schools.
“We believe it will create
opportunities for synergy, both with the
Science Center and with industry, that
can benefit our Cal U students and K-12
students throughout the region.”
Cal U has partnered with the
Carnegie Science Center in the past. In
addition to sponsoring the “Rockin’
Robots World Tour” program, students in
the Earth Sciences Department created
StormFest, a hands-on exploration of
geoscience hosted by the Science Center.
The University also provided
educational programming in roboworld™,
the Science Center’s permanent robotics
exhibit that opened in June 2009.
“Cal U has built a reputation for
world-class affiliations, and the Carnegie
Science Center has certainly been among
them. We look forward to working with
all the partners in this new enterprise,”
said University President Angelo
Armenti, Jr.
“Cal U has long been a leader in
STEM education. This new center
directly addresses the need to engage
both teachers and learners in these
important subject areas, and it reflects
Cal U’s mission of building careers in
science, technology, engineering and
math.”
Other founding partners in the
Chevron Center for STEM Education
and Career Development are Duquesne
Light, Eaton Corp., LANXNESS Corp.,
NOVA Chemicals and the PPG
Industries Foundation.
Convocation Center Ready
to Host Commencement
C
ommencement
ceremonies will be held
for the first time in the
new Convocation Center this
week.
Graduate students will receive
their master’s degrees and be
vested in their academic hoods at
7 p.m. Friday.
Undergraduates will be
awarded their diplomas at 10
a.m. Saturday.
Both ceremonies will take
place in the arena of the new
Convocation Center, which offers
comfortable seating for family
members and guests. The doors
open at 5:30 p.m. Friday and at 8
a.m. Saturday.
offers programming for seniors
and a Caring Corner for grieving
children, adolescents and their
families.
Before joining the community
center in 2008, Chandler-Wright
was director of Library and
Learning Services at Community
College of Allegheny County. She
has been director of the Learning
Barbara
Assistance Center and
Chandler-Wright
Advisement Center at CCAC, an
admissions coordinator at
Westmoreland County
Community College, and a case
manager at Fayette County
Mental Health/Mental
Retardation and later at Goodwill
Industries of Fayette County.
In addition to teaching at the
The speakers
community colleges, ChandlerTeri Gass
Dr. Barbara Chandler-Wright
Wright has taught graduate-level
’88 will address the master’s
courses at Carlow University, in
degree candidates. A longtime educator
Pittsburgh, and at Cal U.
with a background in social work and
She holds a bachelor’s degree from
counseling, she volunteers with a nonprofit
Marietta College, Ohio; a Master of Social
organization that coordinates services for
Work from West Virginia University; a
criminal offenders as they return to the
master’s degree in counselor education from
community.
Cal U; and a Doctor of Education in
Administration and Policy Studies from the
Chandler-Wright is the former executive
University of Pittsburgh.
director of East End United Community
Insurance industry specialist Teri Gass
Center, which provides homework
’77 will address the undergraduates.
assistance and a safe, educationally
A director at Aon Global Risk
stimulating environment for children and
teens in Uniontown, Pa. The center also
— Continued on page 3
Cal U introduced the public to its new Convocation Center with festivities and an
exciting afternoon of Vulcan basketball on Dec. 3.
Fans Wowed by
New Home for Hoops
A
new era in Vulcan basketball began Dec. 3 when Cal U introduced
the public to its $59 million arena at the New Convocation Center
Tip-Off.
Both the men’s and women’s teams defeated Mansfield University in the
first games played inside the 142,000-square-foot Convocation Center — the
largest indoor venue between Pittsburgh and Morgantown.
A “grand opening” event will be held in April, University officials said,
but a brief dedication ceremony for the new arena was held between the
men’s and women’s games.
“The Convocation Center was built with the Mon Valley and all of
southwestern Pennsylvania in mind,” said Cal U President Angelo Armenti, Jr.
“This facility is a regional asset, as well as a substantial investment in the
— Continued on page 3
Tech Ed
Students
Win at
Conference
C
al U captured seven awards,
including two first-place finishes,
when 34 members of the
Technology Education Association of
California (TEAC) competed last month
at the Technology Education Collegiate
Association Eastern Regional
Conference.
TEAC is a professional organization
for “tech ed” majors. The Cal U students
took part in 11 contests, facing off against
nearly a dozen East Coast schools during
the Nov. 13-15 conference in Virginia
Beach, Va.
TEAC students earned first-place
honors in both Problem Solving and the
Manufacturing contest, where Cal U has
taken the top prize 11 times in the past 14
years.
TEAC members scored second-place
finishes in Technical Challenge and K-5
STEM contests, and they took third place
in Automated Systems, Instructional
Modules and the poster contest.
As a result, TEAC members will
compete March 13-15 at the largest
technology conference in the world, the
International Technology Education
Association Conference in Long Beach,
Calif.
In addition to competing, TEAC is
committed to community service.
Members recently assembled an indoor
playground at The Village, a nonprofit
child-care facility at the Center in the
Woods.
Members also help to maintain a
walking trail at the Center, participate in
various community cleanups and work
with Habitat for Humanity.
Drs. Laura Hummell and Mark
Nowak are TEAC’s faculty advisers.
Coming Soon
Malarie Munden, an elementary and special education major, touches up one of the pieces that will be part of ‘Leonardo da Vinci: Machines in
Motion,’ which will be on display Jan. 2 through May 6 in the south wing of the Convocation Center. For more information, visit www.calu.edu
Cal U’s Service to Vets Recognized
F
or the fourth consecutive year, Cal U has
been named one of America’s Top
Military Friendly Colleges and
Universities by Military Advanced Education, a
magazine for service members who are
continuing their studies.
MAE recognized Cal U for its convenient
online offerings and GoArmyEd participation,
tuition discounts to military students, dedicated
Veterans Affairs Office and “world-class”
service to veterans.
The MAE recognition is one of many
honors Cal U has received recently for its service to veterans
and military members.
Earlier this year Military Times EDGE magazine ranked Cal
U fourth in the nation for its commitment to helping military
veterans pursue higher education. Cal U is the only school in
the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education to be
included in the 2011 “Best for Vets” list. For three consecutive
years, G.I. Jobs magazine has named Cal U one of the nation’s
top Military Friendly Schools. And since January 2009, Cal U
AET Faculty Present at
2011 TEEAP Conference
A
discussed their use in non-robotic
Cal U administrator and
applications such as games, radiofaculty from the Department
frequency identification and
of Applied Engineering and
greenhouses.
Technology contributed to the 2011
• Department chair Dr. John
conference of TEEAP, the Technology
Kallis incorporated a live robot
and Engineering Education
demonstration into his presentation
Association of Pennsylvania.
on “RobotC-Problem Solve with
• Associate Provost and past AET
Programming Tools.”
chair Dr. Stanley Komacek conducted
Fifty Cal U students also attended
an overview of how technology and
Dr. Stanley Komacek
the conference, which Nowak said
engineering education can contribute
was not only a terrific networking opportunity,
to Pennsylvania’s economic and workforce
but also a chance to visit commercial exhibits
development efforts. At a Cal U alumni
showcasing state-of-the-art tools that students
reception held during the conference, Komacek
someday might use in their own classrooms.
also received the TEEAP Lifetime Achievement
The alumni reception at the conference
Award.
enables current AET faculty to update alumni
• Dr. Laura Hummell presented
about growth.
“Instructional Technology Action Research:
“Our biggest recruiting tools are our
What Do Your Students Own, Operate, Want
graduates themselves. That’s how we get most of
and Need.” Attendees discussed using action
our students to come, and we are proud to
research techniques, implementing technology
maintain a 100 percent placement rate for our
assessments and incorporating instructional
graduates,” Nowak said.
technologies in the classroom.
The TEEAP conference was held last month
• Dr. Mark Nowak presented “Bio-Related
in Camp Hill, Pa.
Technology: What’s New at Cal.” He also
The presiding TEEAP president is Dr.
distributed a compact disk describing lab
Daniel Engstrom, Cal U’s director of student
activities developed to meet state Education
teaching and associate dean in the College of
Department and ITEA standards.
Education and Human Services. Immediate past
• Dr. Mark Bronakowski presented “Low
presidents are Brandt Hutzel ’00 and AET
Cost and Alternative Microcontrollers” and
faculty member Dr. Peter Wright. The newly
“Non-Robotic Applications of
elected president is Michael Cichocki ’96. Kallis
Microcontrollers.” He compared and contrasted
is TEEAP’s deputy president
the microcontrollers’ characteristics and
2
has been among an elite group of colleges and
universities designated as “eArmyU schools”
— preferred providers of online education for
soldiers through the GoArmyEd portal.
About 230 military veterans attend classes
on Cal U’s campus in southwestern
Pennsylvania. An additional 260 service
members around the world are enrolled in
Global Online, Cal U’s Internet-based learning
community.
The University’s Office of Veterans Affairs
provides military veterans and their families
with assistance in many areas, including financial aid,
academic advising, counseling and career guidance. An active
Veterans Club offers information and opportunities for
networking and community service.
“Cal U is proud to serve both veterans and service
members on active duty,” said University President Angelo
Armenti, Jr. “Cal U is committed to helping military members
and their families meet their educational goals, whether they
study on campus or complete their courses online.”
Campus BRIEFS
Cadets in Line for Commissions
Lt. Col. Andrew Loeb will be the guest speaker when the
Department of Military Science holds a commissioning
ceremony at 10 a.m. Friday in Steele Hall Mainstage Theatre.
ROTC cadets Joseph Andrew Sinclair and Daniel Michael
Brim will be commissioned as second lieutenants in the U.S.
Army.
Loeb has been ROTC commander and a professor of military
science at the University of Pittsburgh since June. He was
commissioned as an engineer officer in 1995 at the University of
Dayton. He has served with the Army’s 2nd Infantry Division,
101st Airborne Division (AASLT), and most recently with the
10th Mountain Division. He served three tours in Iraq and was
stationed in the Republic of Korea. In more than 16 years of
active service he has been a platoon leader, executive officer,
assistant professor of military science, company commander, and
battalion/brigade/division staff officer.
Loeb is a graduate of the Engineer Officers Basic, Advance
Course, and the Command and General Staff College. He holds
a masters degree in engineering management from the University
of Missouri.
Spring Semester Starts Jan. 23
Students, faculty and staff are reminded of these important
dates on the academic calendar:
• Jan. 23: First day of classes for spring semester.
• Jan. 24: Spring Faculty Convocation, 11 a.m., Learning
Resource Center auditorium in Morgan Hall.
• March 12-16: Spring break for faculty and students.
All University offices will be closed Jan. 16 in observance of
Martin Luther King Day.
Writing Center Tutors Make Presentations
C
al U was well represented at this
year’s National Conference on
Peer Tutoring in Writing
(NCPTW), held last month at Florida
International University in Miami.
Dr. Kurt Kearcher, associate professor
of English and director of the Cal U
Writing Center, and four Cal U students
made presentations at three sessions
during the conference.
Kearcher’s presentation was titled
“From Problem Solvers to Problem
Finders: Developing Practicing Scholars
and Practicable Scholarship in the
Writing Center.”
It described how the Cal U Writing
Center is developing staff members’
critical understanding of their tutoring
work by encouraging them to think about
teaching writing in innovative ways. This
approach adds a critical, scholarly
dimension to the “service” role often
assigned to tutors and the writing center,
Kearcher said.
Nate Folkemer, a senior political
science major, addressed specific issues
that arise when tutors and student writers
meet.
His presentation, “The Initial Consult:
An Alternative to ‘Triage Tutoring,’”
suggested having a student submit his or
her paper to the tutor via e-mail before
their face-to-face writing conference. The
tutor then spends time becoming familiar
with the writer’s work and generating
Participants at the 2011 National Conference on Peer Tutoring in Writing included (from left)
Dr. Kurt Kearcher, Leann Orris, Theresa Bush, Adam Kavulic and Nate Folkemer.
responses to that work before meeting
with the writer in person.
“Being familiar with the paper prior to
meeting allows the tutor and student to
focus their discussion on specific revision
strategies,” Folkemer said.
Theresa Bush, a senior English and
secondary education major, joined
graduate students Adam Kavulic and
Leann Orris, both in the Master of Arts
teaching program, in a presentation
inspired by the Cal U Fusion initiative.
The trio shared the results of their
research using the iPad 2 tablet computer
to support their work in the writing
center. The group evaluated available apps
and explored effective ways of using the
tablet as an alternative to traditional
means of accessing information before,
during and after tutorials.
Crista Colantoni, another graduate
student in the MAT program, also
contributed by submitting a video
produced on an iPad 2.
In addition to presenting, members of
the Cal U group attended several sessions
New Facility Wows Hoops Fans
— Continued from page 1
future of our University.”
Music, family activities and
giveaways gave the Tip-Off a festive
air, and two $1,000 scholarships
were among the prizes awarded to
Cal U students who attended.
Guests had fun with a photo
booth set up in the spacious lobby,
where the Student Government
Association organized a collection
of holiday toys for the Marine
Corps Toys for Tots of Washington,
Pa.
Basketball boosters may have
come for the games, but the building
itself was an early holiday treat for
many Vulcan fans.
“It’s awesome — even nicer then
I ever imagined,” said Jodie Dovec
’03, who returned to her alma mater
from North Huntingdon, Pa. “To
have this on our campus is
amazing.”
The state-of-the-art facility
undoubtedly will help the Vulcans
retain their home-court advantage.
Over the past 10 years, the
basketball teams combined have a
264-39 cumulative home record,
with four undefeated home seasons.
“We are honored to call one of
the premier facilities in the country
our home,” said men’s head
basketball coach Bill Brown, now in
his 16th year.
“Anyone who plays in here or
simply comes into the Convocation
Center will realize California’s
commitment to excellence.
Everything about it just beams
class.”
The pride of playing in the
Convocation Center was evident.
“As a women’s basketball
student-athlete, I congratulate
President Armenti and the
administration for making this
beautiful Convocation Center
possible,” said Stephanie Michaels,
on topics related to writing centers and
tutoring.
“I met a lot of dedicated people who
shared my goals but approached them
from a different point of view,” said
Kavulic. “I listened to a lot of
presentations on ways to improve my
tutoring and better help Cal U’s Writing
Center. It was an honor to contribute at
this conference.”
Kearcher currently serves as a member
of the NCPTW’s steering committee.
Having staff members participate in such
scholarly activity improves their service to
the hundreds of Cal U students they work
with each semester, he said.
“Not only were we able to make
contributions to writing center
scholarship, but we also were able to
experience people and cultures different
from those we are used to at home. In the
writing center, where we work with
students from a variety of cultural and
writing backgrounds, this appreciation of
differences is invaluable.”
Cal U President Angelo Armenti, Jr.
and the Office of Academic Affairs
provided funding for the students’ trip.
The Cal U Writing Center in Noss Hall
provides free tutoring to all undergraduate and
graduate students. For more information about
the writing center and other academic support,
visit www.calu.edu ; click on “Information for
… Current Students” and choose “Academic
Resources.”
Center
Ready for
Commencement
— Continued from page 1
Jeremy Posey goes up for two during the first men’s basketball game at the new
Convocation Center. The men’s and women’s teams both defeated teams from
Mansfield on Dec. 3.
a junior biology major and team
captain. “The students always come
first here.”
The arena can accommodate
about 5,000 fans in comfortable
fixed and retractable seating, with
room for 1,000 more seats on the
floor. It features a suspended
electronic scoreboard and sound
system, NBA-caliber baskets, and a
premium hardwood floor that can
be removed for events such as farm
shows and trade shows.
The building also features two
wings equipped with “smart”
classroom and videoconferencing
technology for academic use and
executive-level conference services.
The University is poised to open
a major exhibition in the south
conference wing. Leonardo DaVinci:
Machines in Motion will be open to
the public through early May.
Outside the Convocation Center,
electronic messages spiral around an
80-foot tower “painted” with digital
images — a high-tech feature that’s
visible from the campus gates.
“The sturdy bell towers of Old
Main remind us of the University’s
past,” said President Angelo
Armenti, Jr. “This new tower with
its up-to-the-minute digital display
speaks of the progress we have
made to date and our aspirations for
the future.”
Consulting in Atlanta, she is responsible for
developing pre- and post-loss mitigation strategies for
major corporations.
Gass brings a financial focus to her work with
clients. She has multi-line claims experience and
special expertise in Workers’ Compensation issues.
During her career Gass has worked in marketing
and as a manager of customer service for insurance
accounts throughout the southeastern United States,
including 40 nationally ranked accounts.
A certified teacher of motivational and coaching
courses for supervisors and front-line workers, she has
developed improvement plans and audited both
technical proficiency and interpersonal skills for
employees.
Ms. Gass is a native of South Heights, Pa. Before
moving to Atlanta in 1981 she worked as a child
advocate for Beaver County Children and Youth
Services, then entered the insurance industry as a
multi-line claims adjuster for a major carrier.
Ms. Gass earned executive secretarial certification
at Bradford Business School in Pittsburgh before
enrolling at Cal U, where she graduated with a
bachelor’s degree in psychology with minors in
political science and sociology. She also served as
president of Cal U’s chapter of the Delta Zeta sorority.
A licensed broker and counselor in Georgia, Ms.
Gass has been a chartered property and casualty
underwriter (CPCU) since 1990. She and her husband,
Jim, have a daughter, Dina, who is a sophomore at
Louisiana State University.
Free parking
Free parking is available on campus for graduating
students and their guests. University Police will direct
traffic, and Student Ambassadors will be on hand to
guide visitors through the new building.
Cal U’s 173rd Commencement recognizes students
who completed their studies in August and December.
Nearly 720 undergraduates and more than 730
graduate students will receive their degrees, although
not all will attend the ceremonies.
For more information, including directions and parking
maps, visit www.calu.edu/commencement .
3
UTech Analyst Wins Fellowship
E
ric Hartman, a systems analyst with University
Technology Services, has been awarded a Jane N.
Ryland Fellowship to attend an EDUCAUSE
professional development event in the coming year.
The grant program was established to expand
professional development opportunities for information
technology professionals. It bears the name of Jane N.
Ryland, president of EDUCAUSE from 1986 to 1998.
Hartman was recommended for the fellowship by his
supervisor, Andy Caudill, and by Dr. Charles Mance, vice
president for University Technology Services.
“As we convert to more of a customer service
organization, we look for our team members to have these
kinds of development opportunities,” said Mance. “I think
is great to see Eric recognized for his hard work, especially
in helping with all the changes we are making with our Help
Desk.
Formerly the lead for UTech’s customer computing
experience team, Hartman recently was appointed to the
systems analyst’s post. He will attend the EDUCAUSE New
Managers IT Program, which focuses on providing first-time
managers, or those aspiring to management roles, with basic
management and supervisory skills.
The program will be held in conjunction with the 2012
EDUCAUSE Mid-Atlantic Regional Conference, Jan. 10-13
in Baltimore, Md.
Hartman, of Greensburg, Pa., worked for Westmoreland
County Community College before coming to Cal U in
April 2005.
“My background is more from a technical side,” he said.
“This program will benefit me considerably since my focus
will be more project management-oriented now, as opposed
to task management.”
According to Dr. Diana G. Oblinger, President and CEO
L
Eric Hartman has been awarded a Jane N. Ryland Fellowship to
attend an EDUCAUSE professional development event next
month in Baltimore, Md.
of EDUCAUSE, Hartman was selected from a large
number of strong applications.
“Our Fellowship Advisory Committee was impressed
with the well-focused, practical commitment reflected in his
application,” she said. “Eric was selected by the Committee
to receive this award based on their belief that his
participation in the program will have a significant impact
on his own career as well as a positive impact for his
institution and for our profession.”
Athlete Reflects on International Games
A
fter helping the Canadian
national senior softball team
earn a silver medal at the 2011
Pan American Games, Cal U senior
infielder Jillian Russell is hoping the
experience can lead to PSAC and
NCAA gold this spring.
Russell, along with former Vulcan
standout Megan Timpf, represented
Canada at the XVI Games in
Guadalajara, Mexico. Canada won
seven of nine games before bowing to
Team USA in the gold medal game.
The two Vulcans combined for
seven hits and four runs. Timpf scored
the first run in Canada’s 4-0 semifinal
victory over Cuba, and Russell had one
of the team’s three hits in the
championship game.
Russell, a two-time PSAC-West
Player of the Year and 2011 third-team
National All-American, said she
enjoyed the ceremonies surrounding the
Games.
“It was amazing,” she said. “All of
the Canadian athletes took part in a
flag-raising when we got there, and the
opening ceremony for me was the best
part. It was just like what you see on
TV, and I always dreamt about being a
part of it. That was awesome.”
Still, Russell said she was glad to
return to Cal U, where she majors in
justice studies.
“(My professors) were all very
supportive and made sure I could do
Laser
Lights, ‘Fog’
Urge Crows
to Depart
Cal U senior infielder Jillian Russell
helped the Canadian national senior
softball team earn a silver medal at the
2011 Pan American Games.
everything I needed to before I left and
when I got back,” she said. “They were
very understanding and very good to
me.”
This was Russell’s second
experience with international
competition. In July she and Timpf
helped Canada win the bronze medal at
the World Cup of Softball, held in
Oklahoma City, Okla.
Russell said the level of play is
faster at international games. Primarily
a shortstop at Cal, she played several
positions for Canada and was in right
field for the title game.
Russell also did some bullpen
catching and was used as both a pinchhitter and pinch-runner.
She said playing for Canada can
only enhance her game as she prepares
for her final season as a Vulcan.
“Without a doubt, this gives me
more confidence,” said Russell, whose
hometown is London, Ontario. “Being
on that team helps you set a high
mental standard for yourself.”
Last spring Russell tied Cal U Hall
of Fame inductee Jen Wagner’s 1994
school record with 14 home runs in a
single season. She batted .366, with 50
RBI.
Although the Vulcans captured the
PSAC title last year, they won just one
of five post-season games in 2011.
Russell said she’s determined to lead
Cal to a better finish this spring.
“I love this team, and we are ready
to go out and end on a good note this
season,” she said.
Head softball coach Rick
Bertagnolli believes his senior captain’s
international experience benefits the
entire team.
“Having this kind of world
experience obviously helps her and
brings notoriety to the program,”
Bertagnolli said. “But she also brings
this back to share with the other
players, and it just creates a
championship atmosphere.”
ike the famous swallows that
return each year to
Capistrano, the crows came
back to Cal U.
And University officials wasted
no time in sending them on their
way.
Beginning Nov. 26, Cal U began
taking humane measures to move the
large flocks of roosting birds off
campus — before they created
unpleasant and unsanitary
conditions, as they did last fall.
By Nov. 30, staff from Facilities
Management had sounded the “all
clear,” but they warned that the
pesky birds might not be gone for
good.
The crow dispersal program
mirrored efforts that were successful
in relocating the birds in 2010.
Trained and licensed pest
removal technicians carried out the
program, which is approved by the
U.S. Department of Agriculture. The
technicians used bright lights and a
natural, plant-based “fog” to disperse
the flocks before they began to
congregate on the Quad.
The anti-roosting measures do
not harm the crows; they simply
change the birds’ roosting habits and
encourage them to relocate. The laser
lights and natural grape-extract mist
employed by the technicians are not
harmful to humans or other animals.
Ken Grzelak, assistant director
for campus support services, asked
campus police to keep an eye out for
returning crows.
“Since crows are an intelligent
bird and can be very persistent, there
is no assurance that they will not
return,” he said in an e-mail.
“However, we are asking Public
Safety to remain vigilant in their
observation of the campus, as we
are prepared to respond
immediately.”
Based on conversations with
pest-removal technicians and
wildlife experts, University officials
had anticipated the crows’ return. In
Harrisburg, for example, a similar
crow dispersal program is employed
annually on the grounds of the
Capitol Complex.
Last year the crows arrived at
Cal U somewhat later in the season,
and the relocation effort began in
late December.
This year, the anti-roosting
measures began while the University
was closed for the Thanksgiving
holiday.
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. Charles Mance
Vice President for University Technology Services
Craig Butzine
Vice President for Marketing and University Relations
Geraldine M. Jones
Provost/Vice President for Academic Affairs
Ron Huiatt
Vice President for Development and Alumni Relations
Christine Kindl
Editor
Dr. Lenora Angelone
Vice President for Student Affairs
Robert Thorn
Interim Vice President for Administration and Finance
Bruce Wald, Wendy Mackall, Jeff Bender
Writers
Office of Communications and Public Relations
4
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California, PA 15419
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wald@calu.edu
Re a d t h e Jo urn a l o n l in e : www.calu.edu/news/the-journal
Cal U Joins Partnership for STEM Education
C
al U is joining the Carnegie
Science Center and Chevron
Corp. as a founding partner in the
Chevron Center for STEM Education
and Career Development.
Launched Nov. 30 at the Science
Center in Pittsburgh, the new “center
without walls” is dedicated to improving
education in the subject areas collectively
known as STEM — science, technology,
engineering and mathematics.
“The Chevron Center …
encompasses the Science Center’s
existing STEM education programs and
brings together teachers, students,
parents, corporations, universities,
foundations and legislators to collectively
address STEM education challenges,”
said Ann Metzger, the Henry Buhl Jr. codirector of Carnegie Science Center.
In a news release announcing the
launch, Metzger called the STEM
subjects “key to maintaining our global
competitiveness and driving our future
economic growth.”
The new center will manage many of
the Carnegie Science Center’s current
programs for preschool through high
school students, including its Science on
the Road outreach programs. Among
them is “Rockin’ Robots World Tour,” a
Cal U is a founding partner in the Chevron Center for STEM Education and Career
Development, which was launched Nov. 30 at the Carnegie Science Center.
hands-on exploration of robotics
sponsored by Cal U.
“Our faculty members are excited
about this partnership,” said Craig
Butzine, vice president for Marketing and
University Relations. “It aligns with the
University’s special mission in science
and technology, as well as our historic
role in preparing high-quality teachers to
work in our public schools.
“We believe it will create
opportunities for synergy, both with the
Science Center and with industry, that
can benefit our Cal U students and K-12
students throughout the region.”
Cal U has partnered with the
Carnegie Science Center in the past. In
addition to sponsoring the “Rockin’
Robots World Tour” program, students in
the Earth Sciences Department created
StormFest, a hands-on exploration of
geoscience hosted by the Science Center.
The University also provided
educational programming in roboworld™,
the Science Center’s permanent robotics
exhibit that opened in June 2009.
“Cal U has built a reputation for
world-class affiliations, and the Carnegie
Science Center has certainly been among
them. We look forward to working with
all the partners in this new enterprise,”
said University President Angelo
Armenti, Jr.
“Cal U has long been a leader in
STEM education. This new center
directly addresses the need to engage
both teachers and learners in these
important subject areas, and it reflects
Cal U’s mission of building careers in
science, technology, engineering and
math.”
Other founding partners in the
Chevron Center for STEM Education
and Career Development are Duquesne
Light, Eaton Corp., LANXNESS Corp.,
NOVA Chemicals and the PPG
Industries Foundation.
Convocation Center Ready
to Host Commencement
C
ommencement
ceremonies will be held
for the first time in the
new Convocation Center this
week.
Graduate students will receive
their master’s degrees and be
vested in their academic hoods at
7 p.m. Friday.
Undergraduates will be
awarded their diplomas at 10
a.m. Saturday.
Both ceremonies will take
place in the arena of the new
Convocation Center, which offers
comfortable seating for family
members and guests. The doors
open at 5:30 p.m. Friday and at 8
a.m. Saturday.
offers programming for seniors
and a Caring Corner for grieving
children, adolescents and their
families.
Before joining the community
center in 2008, Chandler-Wright
was director of Library and
Learning Services at Community
College of Allegheny County. She
has been director of the Learning
Barbara
Assistance Center and
Chandler-Wright
Advisement Center at CCAC, an
admissions coordinator at
Westmoreland County
Community College, and a case
manager at Fayette County
Mental Health/Mental
Retardation and later at Goodwill
Industries of Fayette County.
In addition to teaching at the
The speakers
community colleges, ChandlerTeri Gass
Dr. Barbara Chandler-Wright
Wright has taught graduate-level
’88 will address the master’s
courses at Carlow University, in
degree candidates. A longtime educator
Pittsburgh, and at Cal U.
with a background in social work and
She holds a bachelor’s degree from
counseling, she volunteers with a nonprofit
Marietta College, Ohio; a Master of Social
organization that coordinates services for
Work from West Virginia University; a
criminal offenders as they return to the
master’s degree in counselor education from
community.
Cal U; and a Doctor of Education in
Administration and Policy Studies from the
Chandler-Wright is the former executive
University of Pittsburgh.
director of East End United Community
Insurance industry specialist Teri Gass
Center, which provides homework
’77 will address the undergraduates.
assistance and a safe, educationally
A director at Aon Global Risk
stimulating environment for children and
teens in Uniontown, Pa. The center also
— Continued on page 3
Cal U introduced the public to its new Convocation Center with festivities and an
exciting afternoon of Vulcan basketball on Dec. 3.
Fans Wowed by
New Home for Hoops
A
new era in Vulcan basketball began Dec. 3 when Cal U introduced
the public to its $59 million arena at the New Convocation Center
Tip-Off.
Both the men’s and women’s teams defeated Mansfield University in the
first games played inside the 142,000-square-foot Convocation Center — the
largest indoor venue between Pittsburgh and Morgantown.
A “grand opening” event will be held in April, University officials said,
but a brief dedication ceremony for the new arena was held between the
men’s and women’s games.
“The Convocation Center was built with the Mon Valley and all of
southwestern Pennsylvania in mind,” said Cal U President Angelo Armenti, Jr.
“This facility is a regional asset, as well as a substantial investment in the
— Continued on page 3
Tech Ed
Students
Win at
Conference
C
al U captured seven awards,
including two first-place finishes,
when 34 members of the
Technology Education Association of
California (TEAC) competed last month
at the Technology Education Collegiate
Association Eastern Regional
Conference.
TEAC is a professional organization
for “tech ed” majors. The Cal U students
took part in 11 contests, facing off against
nearly a dozen East Coast schools during
the Nov. 13-15 conference in Virginia
Beach, Va.
TEAC students earned first-place
honors in both Problem Solving and the
Manufacturing contest, where Cal U has
taken the top prize 11 times in the past 14
years.
TEAC members scored second-place
finishes in Technical Challenge and K-5
STEM contests, and they took third place
in Automated Systems, Instructional
Modules and the poster contest.
As a result, TEAC members will
compete March 13-15 at the largest
technology conference in the world, the
International Technology Education
Association Conference in Long Beach,
Calif.
In addition to competing, TEAC is
committed to community service.
Members recently assembled an indoor
playground at The Village, a nonprofit
child-care facility at the Center in the
Woods.
Members also help to maintain a
walking trail at the Center, participate in
various community cleanups and work
with Habitat for Humanity.
Drs. Laura Hummell and Mark
Nowak are TEAC’s faculty advisers.
Coming Soon
Malarie Munden, an elementary and special education major, touches up one of the pieces that will be part of ‘Leonardo da Vinci: Machines in
Motion,’ which will be on display Jan. 2 through May 6 in the south wing of the Convocation Center. For more information, visit www.calu.edu
Cal U’s Service to Vets Recognized
F
or the fourth consecutive year, Cal U has
been named one of America’s Top
Military Friendly Colleges and
Universities by Military Advanced Education, a
magazine for service members who are
continuing their studies.
MAE recognized Cal U for its convenient
online offerings and GoArmyEd participation,
tuition discounts to military students, dedicated
Veterans Affairs Office and “world-class”
service to veterans.
The MAE recognition is one of many
honors Cal U has received recently for its service to veterans
and military members.
Earlier this year Military Times EDGE magazine ranked Cal
U fourth in the nation for its commitment to helping military
veterans pursue higher education. Cal U is the only school in
the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education to be
included in the 2011 “Best for Vets” list. For three consecutive
years, G.I. Jobs magazine has named Cal U one of the nation’s
top Military Friendly Schools. And since January 2009, Cal U
AET Faculty Present at
2011 TEEAP Conference
A
discussed their use in non-robotic
Cal U administrator and
applications such as games, radiofaculty from the Department
frequency identification and
of Applied Engineering and
greenhouses.
Technology contributed to the 2011
• Department chair Dr. John
conference of TEEAP, the Technology
Kallis incorporated a live robot
and Engineering Education
demonstration into his presentation
Association of Pennsylvania.
on “RobotC-Problem Solve with
• Associate Provost and past AET
Programming Tools.”
chair Dr. Stanley Komacek conducted
Fifty Cal U students also attended
an overview of how technology and
Dr. Stanley Komacek
the conference, which Nowak said
engineering education can contribute
was not only a terrific networking opportunity,
to Pennsylvania’s economic and workforce
but also a chance to visit commercial exhibits
development efforts. At a Cal U alumni
showcasing state-of-the-art tools that students
reception held during the conference, Komacek
someday might use in their own classrooms.
also received the TEEAP Lifetime Achievement
The alumni reception at the conference
Award.
enables current AET faculty to update alumni
• Dr. Laura Hummell presented
about growth.
“Instructional Technology Action Research:
“Our biggest recruiting tools are our
What Do Your Students Own, Operate, Want
graduates themselves. That’s how we get most of
and Need.” Attendees discussed using action
our students to come, and we are proud to
research techniques, implementing technology
maintain a 100 percent placement rate for our
assessments and incorporating instructional
graduates,” Nowak said.
technologies in the classroom.
The TEEAP conference was held last month
• Dr. Mark Nowak presented “Bio-Related
in Camp Hill, Pa.
Technology: What’s New at Cal.” He also
The presiding TEEAP president is Dr.
distributed a compact disk describing lab
Daniel Engstrom, Cal U’s director of student
activities developed to meet state Education
teaching and associate dean in the College of
Department and ITEA standards.
Education and Human Services. Immediate past
• Dr. Mark Bronakowski presented “Low
presidents are Brandt Hutzel ’00 and AET
Cost and Alternative Microcontrollers” and
faculty member Dr. Peter Wright. The newly
“Non-Robotic Applications of
elected president is Michael Cichocki ’96. Kallis
Microcontrollers.” He compared and contrasted
is TEEAP’s deputy president
the microcontrollers’ characteristics and
2
has been among an elite group of colleges and
universities designated as “eArmyU schools”
— preferred providers of online education for
soldiers through the GoArmyEd portal.
About 230 military veterans attend classes
on Cal U’s campus in southwestern
Pennsylvania. An additional 260 service
members around the world are enrolled in
Global Online, Cal U’s Internet-based learning
community.
The University’s Office of Veterans Affairs
provides military veterans and their families
with assistance in many areas, including financial aid,
academic advising, counseling and career guidance. An active
Veterans Club offers information and opportunities for
networking and community service.
“Cal U is proud to serve both veterans and service
members on active duty,” said University President Angelo
Armenti, Jr. “Cal U is committed to helping military members
and their families meet their educational goals, whether they
study on campus or complete their courses online.”
Campus BRIEFS
Cadets in Line for Commissions
Lt. Col. Andrew Loeb will be the guest speaker when the
Department of Military Science holds a commissioning
ceremony at 10 a.m. Friday in Steele Hall Mainstage Theatre.
ROTC cadets Joseph Andrew Sinclair and Daniel Michael
Brim will be commissioned as second lieutenants in the U.S.
Army.
Loeb has been ROTC commander and a professor of military
science at the University of Pittsburgh since June. He was
commissioned as an engineer officer in 1995 at the University of
Dayton. He has served with the Army’s 2nd Infantry Division,
101st Airborne Division (AASLT), and most recently with the
10th Mountain Division. He served three tours in Iraq and was
stationed in the Republic of Korea. In more than 16 years of
active service he has been a platoon leader, executive officer,
assistant professor of military science, company commander, and
battalion/brigade/division staff officer.
Loeb is a graduate of the Engineer Officers Basic, Advance
Course, and the Command and General Staff College. He holds
a masters degree in engineering management from the University
of Missouri.
Spring Semester Starts Jan. 23
Students, faculty and staff are reminded of these important
dates on the academic calendar:
• Jan. 23: First day of classes for spring semester.
• Jan. 24: Spring Faculty Convocation, 11 a.m., Learning
Resource Center auditorium in Morgan Hall.
• March 12-16: Spring break for faculty and students.
All University offices will be closed Jan. 16 in observance of
Martin Luther King Day.
Writing Center Tutors Make Presentations
C
al U was well represented at this
year’s National Conference on
Peer Tutoring in Writing
(NCPTW), held last month at Florida
International University in Miami.
Dr. Kurt Kearcher, associate professor
of English and director of the Cal U
Writing Center, and four Cal U students
made presentations at three sessions
during the conference.
Kearcher’s presentation was titled
“From Problem Solvers to Problem
Finders: Developing Practicing Scholars
and Practicable Scholarship in the
Writing Center.”
It described how the Cal U Writing
Center is developing staff members’
critical understanding of their tutoring
work by encouraging them to think about
teaching writing in innovative ways. This
approach adds a critical, scholarly
dimension to the “service” role often
assigned to tutors and the writing center,
Kearcher said.
Nate Folkemer, a senior political
science major, addressed specific issues
that arise when tutors and student writers
meet.
His presentation, “The Initial Consult:
An Alternative to ‘Triage Tutoring,’”
suggested having a student submit his or
her paper to the tutor via e-mail before
their face-to-face writing conference. The
tutor then spends time becoming familiar
with the writer’s work and generating
Participants at the 2011 National Conference on Peer Tutoring in Writing included (from left)
Dr. Kurt Kearcher, Leann Orris, Theresa Bush, Adam Kavulic and Nate Folkemer.
responses to that work before meeting
with the writer in person.
“Being familiar with the paper prior to
meeting allows the tutor and student to
focus their discussion on specific revision
strategies,” Folkemer said.
Theresa Bush, a senior English and
secondary education major, joined
graduate students Adam Kavulic and
Leann Orris, both in the Master of Arts
teaching program, in a presentation
inspired by the Cal U Fusion initiative.
The trio shared the results of their
research using the iPad 2 tablet computer
to support their work in the writing
center. The group evaluated available apps
and explored effective ways of using the
tablet as an alternative to traditional
means of accessing information before,
during and after tutorials.
Crista Colantoni, another graduate
student in the MAT program, also
contributed by submitting a video
produced on an iPad 2.
In addition to presenting, members of
the Cal U group attended several sessions
New Facility Wows Hoops Fans
— Continued from page 1
future of our University.”
Music, family activities and
giveaways gave the Tip-Off a festive
air, and two $1,000 scholarships
were among the prizes awarded to
Cal U students who attended.
Guests had fun with a photo
booth set up in the spacious lobby,
where the Student Government
Association organized a collection
of holiday toys for the Marine
Corps Toys for Tots of Washington,
Pa.
Basketball boosters may have
come for the games, but the building
itself was an early holiday treat for
many Vulcan fans.
“It’s awesome — even nicer then
I ever imagined,” said Jodie Dovec
’03, who returned to her alma mater
from North Huntingdon, Pa. “To
have this on our campus is
amazing.”
The state-of-the-art facility
undoubtedly will help the Vulcans
retain their home-court advantage.
Over the past 10 years, the
basketball teams combined have a
264-39 cumulative home record,
with four undefeated home seasons.
“We are honored to call one of
the premier facilities in the country
our home,” said men’s head
basketball coach Bill Brown, now in
his 16th year.
“Anyone who plays in here or
simply comes into the Convocation
Center will realize California’s
commitment to excellence.
Everything about it just beams
class.”
The pride of playing in the
Convocation Center was evident.
“As a women’s basketball
student-athlete, I congratulate
President Armenti and the
administration for making this
beautiful Convocation Center
possible,” said Stephanie Michaels,
on topics related to writing centers and
tutoring.
“I met a lot of dedicated people who
shared my goals but approached them
from a different point of view,” said
Kavulic. “I listened to a lot of
presentations on ways to improve my
tutoring and better help Cal U’s Writing
Center. It was an honor to contribute at
this conference.”
Kearcher currently serves as a member
of the NCPTW’s steering committee.
Having staff members participate in such
scholarly activity improves their service to
the hundreds of Cal U students they work
with each semester, he said.
“Not only were we able to make
contributions to writing center
scholarship, but we also were able to
experience people and cultures different
from those we are used to at home. In the
writing center, where we work with
students from a variety of cultural and
writing backgrounds, this appreciation of
differences is invaluable.”
Cal U President Angelo Armenti, Jr.
and the Office of Academic Affairs
provided funding for the students’ trip.
The Cal U Writing Center in Noss Hall
provides free tutoring to all undergraduate and
graduate students. For more information about
the writing center and other academic support,
visit www.calu.edu ; click on “Information for
… Current Students” and choose “Academic
Resources.”
Center
Ready for
Commencement
— Continued from page 1
Jeremy Posey goes up for two during the first men’s basketball game at the new
Convocation Center. The men’s and women’s teams both defeated teams from
Mansfield on Dec. 3.
a junior biology major and team
captain. “The students always come
first here.”
The arena can accommodate
about 5,000 fans in comfortable
fixed and retractable seating, with
room for 1,000 more seats on the
floor. It features a suspended
electronic scoreboard and sound
system, NBA-caliber baskets, and a
premium hardwood floor that can
be removed for events such as farm
shows and trade shows.
The building also features two
wings equipped with “smart”
classroom and videoconferencing
technology for academic use and
executive-level conference services.
The University is poised to open
a major exhibition in the south
conference wing. Leonardo DaVinci:
Machines in Motion will be open to
the public through early May.
Outside the Convocation Center,
electronic messages spiral around an
80-foot tower “painted” with digital
images — a high-tech feature that’s
visible from the campus gates.
“The sturdy bell towers of Old
Main remind us of the University’s
past,” said President Angelo
Armenti, Jr. “This new tower with
its up-to-the-minute digital display
speaks of the progress we have
made to date and our aspirations for
the future.”
Consulting in Atlanta, she is responsible for
developing pre- and post-loss mitigation strategies for
major corporations.
Gass brings a financial focus to her work with
clients. She has multi-line claims experience and
special expertise in Workers’ Compensation issues.
During her career Gass has worked in marketing
and as a manager of customer service for insurance
accounts throughout the southeastern United States,
including 40 nationally ranked accounts.
A certified teacher of motivational and coaching
courses for supervisors and front-line workers, she has
developed improvement plans and audited both
technical proficiency and interpersonal skills for
employees.
Ms. Gass is a native of South Heights, Pa. Before
moving to Atlanta in 1981 she worked as a child
advocate for Beaver County Children and Youth
Services, then entered the insurance industry as a
multi-line claims adjuster for a major carrier.
Ms. Gass earned executive secretarial certification
at Bradford Business School in Pittsburgh before
enrolling at Cal U, where she graduated with a
bachelor’s degree in psychology with minors in
political science and sociology. She also served as
president of Cal U’s chapter of the Delta Zeta sorority.
A licensed broker and counselor in Georgia, Ms.
Gass has been a chartered property and casualty
underwriter (CPCU) since 1990. She and her husband,
Jim, have a daughter, Dina, who is a sophomore at
Louisiana State University.
Free parking
Free parking is available on campus for graduating
students and their guests. University Police will direct
traffic, and Student Ambassadors will be on hand to
guide visitors through the new building.
Cal U’s 173rd Commencement recognizes students
who completed their studies in August and December.
Nearly 720 undergraduates and more than 730
graduate students will receive their degrees, although
not all will attend the ceremonies.
For more information, including directions and parking
maps, visit www.calu.edu/commencement .
3
UTech Analyst Wins Fellowship
E
ric Hartman, a systems analyst with University
Technology Services, has been awarded a Jane N.
Ryland Fellowship to attend an EDUCAUSE
professional development event in the coming year.
The grant program was established to expand
professional development opportunities for information
technology professionals. It bears the name of Jane N.
Ryland, president of EDUCAUSE from 1986 to 1998.
Hartman was recommended for the fellowship by his
supervisor, Andy Caudill, and by Dr. Charles Mance, vice
president for University Technology Services.
“As we convert to more of a customer service
organization, we look for our team members to have these
kinds of development opportunities,” said Mance. “I think
is great to see Eric recognized for his hard work, especially
in helping with all the changes we are making with our Help
Desk.
Formerly the lead for UTech’s customer computing
experience team, Hartman recently was appointed to the
systems analyst’s post. He will attend the EDUCAUSE New
Managers IT Program, which focuses on providing first-time
managers, or those aspiring to management roles, with basic
management and supervisory skills.
The program will be held in conjunction with the 2012
EDUCAUSE Mid-Atlantic Regional Conference, Jan. 10-13
in Baltimore, Md.
Hartman, of Greensburg, Pa., worked for Westmoreland
County Community College before coming to Cal U in
April 2005.
“My background is more from a technical side,” he said.
“This program will benefit me considerably since my focus
will be more project management-oriented now, as opposed
to task management.”
According to Dr. Diana G. Oblinger, President and CEO
L
Eric Hartman has been awarded a Jane N. Ryland Fellowship to
attend an EDUCAUSE professional development event next
month in Baltimore, Md.
of EDUCAUSE, Hartman was selected from a large
number of strong applications.
“Our Fellowship Advisory Committee was impressed
with the well-focused, practical commitment reflected in his
application,” she said. “Eric was selected by the Committee
to receive this award based on their belief that his
participation in the program will have a significant impact
on his own career as well as a positive impact for his
institution and for our profession.”
Athlete Reflects on International Games
A
fter helping the Canadian
national senior softball team
earn a silver medal at the 2011
Pan American Games, Cal U senior
infielder Jillian Russell is hoping the
experience can lead to PSAC and
NCAA gold this spring.
Russell, along with former Vulcan
standout Megan Timpf, represented
Canada at the XVI Games in
Guadalajara, Mexico. Canada won
seven of nine games before bowing to
Team USA in the gold medal game.
The two Vulcans combined for
seven hits and four runs. Timpf scored
the first run in Canada’s 4-0 semifinal
victory over Cuba, and Russell had one
of the team’s three hits in the
championship game.
Russell, a two-time PSAC-West
Player of the Year and 2011 third-team
National All-American, said she
enjoyed the ceremonies surrounding the
Games.
“It was amazing,” she said. “All of
the Canadian athletes took part in a
flag-raising when we got there, and the
opening ceremony for me was the best
part. It was just like what you see on
TV, and I always dreamt about being a
part of it. That was awesome.”
Still, Russell said she was glad to
return to Cal U, where she majors in
justice studies.
“(My professors) were all very
supportive and made sure I could do
Laser
Lights, ‘Fog’
Urge Crows
to Depart
Cal U senior infielder Jillian Russell
helped the Canadian national senior
softball team earn a silver medal at the
2011 Pan American Games.
everything I needed to before I left and
when I got back,” she said. “They were
very understanding and very good to
me.”
This was Russell’s second
experience with international
competition. In July she and Timpf
helped Canada win the bronze medal at
the World Cup of Softball, held in
Oklahoma City, Okla.
Russell said the level of play is
faster at international games. Primarily
a shortstop at Cal, she played several
positions for Canada and was in right
field for the title game.
Russell also did some bullpen
catching and was used as both a pinchhitter and pinch-runner.
She said playing for Canada can
only enhance her game as she prepares
for her final season as a Vulcan.
“Without a doubt, this gives me
more confidence,” said Russell, whose
hometown is London, Ontario. “Being
on that team helps you set a high
mental standard for yourself.”
Last spring Russell tied Cal U Hall
of Fame inductee Jen Wagner’s 1994
school record with 14 home runs in a
single season. She batted .366, with 50
RBI.
Although the Vulcans captured the
PSAC title last year, they won just one
of five post-season games in 2011.
Russell said she’s determined to lead
Cal to a better finish this spring.
“I love this team, and we are ready
to go out and end on a good note this
season,” she said.
Head softball coach Rick
Bertagnolli believes his senior captain’s
international experience benefits the
entire team.
“Having this kind of world
experience obviously helps her and
brings notoriety to the program,”
Bertagnolli said. “But she also brings
this back to share with the other
players, and it just creates a
championship atmosphere.”
ike the famous swallows that
return each year to
Capistrano, the crows came
back to Cal U.
And University officials wasted
no time in sending them on their
way.
Beginning Nov. 26, Cal U began
taking humane measures to move the
large flocks of roosting birds off
campus — before they created
unpleasant and unsanitary
conditions, as they did last fall.
By Nov. 30, staff from Facilities
Management had sounded the “all
clear,” but they warned that the
pesky birds might not be gone for
good.
The crow dispersal program
mirrored efforts that were successful
in relocating the birds in 2010.
Trained and licensed pest
removal technicians carried out the
program, which is approved by the
U.S. Department of Agriculture. The
technicians used bright lights and a
natural, plant-based “fog” to disperse
the flocks before they began to
congregate on the Quad.
The anti-roosting measures do
not harm the crows; they simply
change the birds’ roosting habits and
encourage them to relocate. The laser
lights and natural grape-extract mist
employed by the technicians are not
harmful to humans or other animals.
Ken Grzelak, assistant director
for campus support services, asked
campus police to keep an eye out for
returning crows.
“Since crows are an intelligent
bird and can be very persistent, there
is no assurance that they will not
return,” he said in an e-mail.
“However, we are asking Public
Safety to remain vigilant in their
observation of the campus, as we
are prepared to respond
immediately.”
Based on conversations with
pest-removal technicians and
wildlife experts, University officials
had anticipated the crows’ return. In
Harrisburg, for example, a similar
crow dispersal program is employed
annually on the grounds of the
Capitol Complex.
Last year the crows arrived at
Cal U somewhat later in the season,
and the relocation effort began in
late December.
This year, the anti-roosting
measures began while the University
was closed for the Thanksgiving
holiday.
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. Charles Mance
Vice President for University Technology Services
Craig Butzine
Vice President for Marketing and University Relations
Geraldine M. Jones
Provost/Vice President for Academic Affairs
Ron Huiatt
Vice President for Development and Alumni Relations
Christine Kindl
Editor
Dr. Lenora Angelone
Vice President for Student Affairs
Robert Thorn
Interim Vice President for Administration and Finance
Bruce Wald, Wendy Mackall, Jeff Bender
Writers
Office of Communications and Public Relations
4
250 University Avenue
California, PA 15419
724-938-4195
wald@calu.edu