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California University
VOLUME 11, NUMBER 2 JANUARY 19, 2009
Cal’s Maglev Fits Stimulus Plan Criteria
C
alifornia University and
Pittsburgh-based U.S. Maglev
Development Corp. are urging
lawmakers to include Cal U’s urban
maglev demonstration project in the proposed $750 billion federal economic stimulus legislation now under discussion on
Capitol Hill.
Congress is expected to pass the economic stimulus package within weeks,
and President-elect Barack Obama has
said he hopes to sign the completed bill
into law early in his administration.
The Cal U Maglev Sky Shuttle project
is “shovel-ready” and meets the requirements of the stimulus plan, university
administrators and U.S. Maglev officials
say. Construction can begin within 90
days after funding is made available, and
the low-impact, “green technology” project will enhance productivity for the
University, the region and the nation.
“The project has the potential to create hundreds of jobs here in southwestern
Pennsylvania,” said Cal U President
Angelo Armenti, Jr. “This could position
the region as the hub of an emerging
industry with benefits nationwide.”
Since 2001, more than $40 million in
federal, state and industry funds has been
invested in Cal U’s urban maglev project.
Designed to accommodate both passenger and cargo vehicles, it will demonstrate the value of magnetic levitation
technology in hilly urban settings.
Maglev components have been fabri-
Photo courtesy Urban Maglev Group
With designs on bringing state-of-the-art transportation to campus, California University and U.S. Maglev Development Corp. are urging lawmakers to include Cal U’s urban maglev demonstration project in the proposed $750 billion federal economic stimulus package.
cated in western Pennsylvania and a test
track has been constructed by General
Atomics in San Diego, Calif. Testing has
been conducted there during the past
three years and is expected to be completed in 2009.
“We have done our homework,“ said
President Armenti. “The engineering and
design and the required environmental
work for the first phase of the $250 million project are complete. If the funding
is made available, the urban maglev
group can start excavating, build the substructure, and erect the support columns
and guideway for the Sky Shuttle.”
The project’s first phase, requiring an
TEAP Inducts
Peter Wright
as President
Cal U Students Bring
StormFest to
Science Center
E
D
r. Peter Wright, a professor of Technology
Education at Cal U, was inducted as president of the Technology Education
Association of Pennsylvania (TEAP) at the organization’s 56th annual conference in Camp Hill, Pa.
He has been on track for the appointment since
being named president-elect in 2007 and deputy
president last year.
TEAP’s purpose is to define, stimulate,
coordinate and strive for the improvement of
Technology Education programs for all Pennsylvania
students and to help instructors keep pace with
technological changes.
Wright made two professional presentations at
the conference. “Teaching Digital Communication
Systems” was given in conjunction with his
sabbatical research. “Tuning and Technologies in
Kart Racing” was co-presented with Cal U
Technology Education student and kart racing
national champion Craig Wetzel.
After the conference, Wright attended the Board
of Directors meeting of the International
Technology Education Association (ITEA) in
Charlotte, N.C.
“It is gratifying to be able to give back to the field
of technology education at both the state and
international levels and to work to make sure all
students can become technologically literate in
school,” said Wright. “I am also grateful to Cal U
estimated $50 million, would allow for
construction of a 2,200-foot dual-use
guideway, Intermodal Center and stations. Subsequent phases, requiring $200
million, would bring the system from Cal
U’s upper campus downhill to the main
campus in California Borough.
-- continued on page 2
Dr. Peter Wright was recently appointed president of the
Technology Education Association of Pennsylvania (TEAP)
at the organization’s 56th annual conference.
for allowing me to take a fall semester sabbatical to
research digital communications and pursue my
service leadership activities.”
arth Science students from California University
of Pennsylvania have more than a few surprises in
store for school groups and families attending
StormFest Jan. 30 and 31 at the Carnegie Science Center
in Pittsburgh.
The annual event explores the geosciences — geology,
geography, meteorology and more — with two full days
of interactive activities
for students of all ages.
StormFest activities
are free with paid
admission to the Science
Center. School groups
and home-schoolers are
the focus of the Jan. 30
sessions; activities are
open to the public Jan. 31.
Kids can make rocks, rain sticks, lava lamps and
“edible landfills” during the event. They can even create
glurch, a substance that has both solid and liquid
properties.
Cal U students developed these and more than 25
other activities to teach children about the science behind
common and uncommon weather and natural
phenomena.
Extreme weather takes center stage when Nick
Walker, the “Weather Dude” on-camera meteorologist
from The Weather Channel, comes to StormFest on
Jan. 31.
– continued on page 2
2009jan19journaldraft1.qxp:03-24-08 CAL U JOURNAL.qxd 1/14/09 12:48 PM Page 2
Alumni to be Honored Saturday
T
he men’s and women’s basketball
teams will honor past players
Saturday when they host the 10th annual Cal U Basketball Alumni Day.
The event will culminate in two
varsity games against PSAC-West rival
Edinboro University of Pennsylvania.
The Vulcan women play at 6 p.m. in
Hamer Hall, followed by the men’s
game at 8 p.m.
Earlier in the day, the Men’s Alumni
Game will tip-off at 3 p.m., also in
Hamer Hall.
An alumni reception will be held at
4 p.m. in the Booker Great Room at the
Kara Alumni House. The Basketball
Alumnus and Alumna of the Year
Awards will be presented, and the Most
Valuable Player of the Men’s Alumni
Game will be announced. Head coaches
Heather Kearney and Bill Brown will
both offer remarks at the reception.
The award recipients also will be
recognized at halftime of the two varsity
games.
All former Cal U basketball players
are encouraged to attend the Alumni
Day festivities. Former members of the
Vulcan men’s team who are interested in
playing should register with Coach
Brown (brown_w@cup.edu) or assistant
S
Basketball alumni day brings together Vulcans of all eras. Enjoying a moment at last
year’s event are James Zell ’39 and Moe Yeoman ’84.
coach Shea Fleenor (fleenor@cup.edu).
Individuals also can register or learn
more about Basketball Alumni Day by
contacting Leslie Fleenor, assistant
director of alumni relations, at 724-9384418 or fleenor_l@cup.edu.
Cost of the event is $10. All
registered participants will receive a
souvenir T-shirt, admission to the
reception and reserved seating at the
varsity doubleheader for the participant
and a guest.
Students Give Santa, Marines a Hand
I
t took a pickup truck and a minivan
to deliver all the toys collected for
needy children this holiday season
by students at California University of
Pennsylvania.
The on-campus Toys for Tots
campaign began in mid-November and
ended Dec. 10.
Karlee Young, chair of the Student
Government’s On-Campus Community
Service Committee, said thousands of
dollars in toys were donated thanks to
the efforts of student volunteers.
“We had a great response from the
campus community with individual
donations, as well as participation from
other clubs and organizations,” said
Young.
“This is an event that has more than
doubled since last year, and we fully
intend on making it an annual event. I
cannot express my gratitude to the
campus community enough for getting
involved with such a great cause. It was
truly impressive,” she said.
In addition to Student Government,
the Student Association Inc., Japanese
Anime Club, Cal Hockey, Student
Activities Board and Black Student
Union all made monetary donations.
TEAC, the women’s rugby team and
Acacia all donated toys.
Young and Ryan Jerico — president
of both Student Government and SAI,
Cal U students Ryan Jerico and Karlee Young check out toys collected by Cal U
students for Toys for Tots.
and a student representative to the
PASSHE Board of Governors — filled a
pickup and a minivan, then delivered
the toys to the 96.1 KISS-FM’s Stuff a
Bus drive, which provides toys to
deserving children in the greater
Pittsburgh area.
Kids explore geology, geography, weather
Continued from page 1
Cal U’s “Dewey Sleet the Weather Geek” will lead kids in activities throughout
the two-day festival.
Other StormFest events include:
– Friday, Jan. 30: Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader About the Weather?, 11:00
a.m. and 1 p.m.; and Weather Jeopardy!, noon
– Saturday, Jan. 31: Sing along with the Weather Dude, Nick Walker, 11:00 a.m.,
1 p.m. and 3 p.m.
Cal U students from the Earth Science and Communications Studies departments
are planning StormFest, which attracted about 3,000 participants last year.
Elementary Education students will assist at the event.
For more information, visit www.cup.edu/weather or
www.carnegiesciencecenter.org.
2
Inauguration
Day Festivities
Televised Live
from D.C.
The U.S. Marine Corps Reserve’s
annual Toys for Tots program collects
new, unwrapped toys during October,
November and December each year.
The toys are distributed as Christmas
gifts to needy children in the community
in which the campaign is conducted.
tudents faculty and staff at
California University of
Pennsylvania can witness the
inauguration of President Barack
Obama at a gathering Tuesday in the
Performance Center at the Natali
Student Center.
Doors open at 10 a.m. so students
can view the opening Inauguration Day
festivities televised live from
Washington, D.C.
Sponsored by the American
Democracy Project and the Frederick
Douglass Institute, the event is open to
the public.
Provost Geraldine Jones will
welcome the audience at 11:15 a.m.,
shortly before the start of the inaugural
ceremony in Washington. The nation’s
44th president will take the oath of
office at noon, then deliver the
inaugural address.
Dr. Kelton Edmonds, director of
the Frederick Douglass Institute at Cal
U, will speak to students in the
Performance Center when the
inaugural ceremony concludes, about 1
p.m.
Also on hand will be Dr. Melanie
Blumberg, a Cal U professor of
political science and an expert on
presidential politics, and Cal U senior
Shinesa Chowdhury, who led more
than 130 volunteers in a voter
registration drive that registered 2,000
students — more than half the new
registrations in Washington County this
election season.
“In a normal election year, the two
precincts serving the bulk of students at
California University of Pennsylvania
attract a total of about 400 voters,” said
political columnist Louis Jacobson,
who spoke at Cal U this fall. “But on
Election Day 2008, that number more
than quadrupled to a combined total of
more than 1,700. And in those
precincts, Obama crushed Republican
nominee John McCain by margins of
between 2 to 1 and 3 to 1.”
The American Democracy Project
is a multi-campus initiative focused on
higher education’s role in preparing the
next generation of informed, engaged
citizens for our democracy. The project
began in 2003 as an initiative of the
American Association of State Colleges
and Universities, in partnership with
The New York Times. ADP-sponsored
events at Cal U have included a series
of Deliberative Democracy lectures,
presidential DebateWatch and Election
Watch gatherings, and an Election
Analysis Forum.
Maglev Fits Stimulus Plan Criteria
Continued from page 1
Once the project is completed, some
15,000 riders are expected to use the
maglev daily, said David O’Loughlin,
president of U.S. Maglev.
The $250 million total system would
be able to move people or cargo over a
route more than 4 miles long. It would
carry passengers from upper-campus
parking areas to the lower campus,
where parking is being realigned to
accommodate construction and enhance
safety. Plans also call for a stop at The
Center in the Woods senior center.
“I am hopeful that California
University’s urban maglev demonstration project will move forward as a new
administration sets fresh priorities in
Washington, D.C.,” President Armenti
said last month, when the urban maglev
was discussed at an international conference in San Diego.
At the conference both U.S. Sen.
Arlen Specter and Pennsylvania Auditor
General Jack Wagner spoke in favor of
the Sky Shuttle at Cal U, O’Loughlin
reported.
2009jan19journaldraft1.qxp:03-24-08 CAL U JOURNAL.qxd 1/14/09 12:48 PM Page 3
Two Students Commissioned at ROTC Ceremonies
T
wo California University of
Pennsylvania students were commissioned as second lieutenants
Dec. 12 in ceremonies conducted on
campus by the Army’s Reserve Officer
Training Corps (ROTC).
The next morning 2nd Lt. Steven
Morganti and 2nd Lt. Sarah Camp
received their bachelor’s degrees at the
university’s undergraduate
Commencement.
Offering remarks at the commissioning ceremony were Cal U President
Angelo Armenti, Jr., and Col. Mark A.
Remick ’79, vice commander of the
145th Airlift Wing, North Carolina Air
National Guard. Administering the oath
and leading the insignia ceremony was
Lt. Col. Joseph P. Alessi, professor of
Military Science at the University of
Pittsburgh.
Morganti, the son Philip and Robin
Morganti, earned his bachelor’s degree
in science and technology. Born in
Reading, Pa., he is a 2004 graduate of
Schuylkill Valley High School. Morganti
will attend the Basic Officer Leadership
Course II at Fort Benning, Ga., and
then his Transportation Officer Basic
Course at Fort Eustas, Va., before
returning to the 298th Transportation
Company.
Camp, the daughter of Linda Camp,
earned her bachelor’s degree in nursing.
A native of Houston, Texas, where she
graduated from high school in 2003, she
enlisted in the Pennsylvania National
Guard in 2005. Camp will attend an
Officer Basic Leadership Course in Fort
Sam Houston, Texas. Her first duty station will be at Womack Army Medical
Center at Fort Bragg, N.C.
Before praising the Morganti and
Camp for their achievements, President
Armenti spoke about the war our country faces today. The United States is
fighting groups of stateless but motivated
Linda Camp, mother of 2nd Lt. Sarah Camp, pins on her Army insignia. Sarah Camp’s brother, Robert, also assists with the pinning ceremony.
individuals who are prepared to use
America’s openness and technology
against us, he said.
“While the economic and military
weapons we used to defeat the Axis
powers of World War II were ideally
suited to that task — witness our eventual success in forcing their unconditional
surrender — those same tools, while still
clearly necessary for justice, are insufficient to confront the current asymmetrical war that we now face,” President
Armenti said.
“We commend these students as they
stand to take the oath of as an officer in
the U.S. armed forces. California
University of Pennsylvania supports
ROTC and the students who work so
hard to gain a commission. This university is both proud and grateful to you.”
Remick thanked the new officers for
their efforts, spoke of the challenges they
are accepting, and reminded them to
remember to show appreciation for their
spouses-to-be. He then spoke directly to
the audience.
“You need to read and study as much
as you can about the war and leadership,
because reading is the best way to
acquire wisdom,” Remick said. “I
believe leaders are both born and made.”
He emphasized leading fairly and
with a personal touch.
“Wherever you work, you need to
know the cleaning lady’s name,” said
Remick. “I remember saying hello to the
cleaning lady, Sally, in my building, and
she was so surprised when I addressed
her by her name, because of how busy
she said I was. I told her that she has just
as valuable a role in our workplace as I
do. Hers is just a different job, but by
knowing her name, I can help make her
better at what she does. So know the
cleaning lady’s name.”
Alessi concluded the ceremony with
more comments on leadership.
“Leadership is not a right, it’s a privilege and you need to remember that,” he
said. “The Army and military is about
people. You take care of people and people will take care of you and this great
nation.”
Conduct Code Revised, Minus Smoking Ban Enforcement
C
alifornia University’s Council of Trustees ended
the year by approving revisions to the Student
Code of Conduct but refusing to begin
enforcement of a campus-wide smoking ban for at least
six months.
At their final quarterly meeting of 2008 the Trustees
debated the revision, which also changed language in
the conduct code to de-emphasize speech and focus
more specifically on civil behavior.
Proposed changes in the code reflect the
Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education’s
interpretation of the statewide Indoor Clean Air Act.
PASSHE Chancellor John C. Cavanaugh has
interpreted the law to prohibit smoking both indoors
and outdoors on all 14 state-owned university campuses.
The revisions outline a graduated series of disciplinary
measures for students caught smoking on campus.
After lengthy discussion, the Trustees voted to
impose a six-month moratorium on enforcing the
smoking ban. However, they agreed to other code
revisions defining specific behaviors, such as harassment
or stalking, that can lead to disciplinary measures.
“We want to focus on behavioral terms in a broad
way, so as to not infringe on students’ rights,” said Dr.
Lenora Angelone, vice president for student
development and services. “We want our students to live
up to the core values” of integrity, civility and
responsibility.
During his report to the Trustees, University
President Angelo Armenti, Jr. reviewed the second draft
of the University’s strategic plan for 2009-2012. The
plan could add citizenship to the list of Cal U’s primary
goals.
The seven current goals are aligned with the
university’s mission of Building Character, Building
Careers. The new plan would add “Building an
“We want to focus on behavioral terms
in a broad way, so as to not infringe on
students’ rights. We want our students
to live up to the core values” of
integrity, civility and responsibility.
— Dr. Lenora Angelone, vice president
for student development and services
Understanding of the Importance of Good Citizenship
and Contribution.”
“One of our core values is civility, and the idea is to
have a shared humanity,” President Armenti said. “It’s
the role of the University to let our community know
that they have a responsibility not just for themselves but
for all other university citizens.”
In other business:
Interim provost Geraldine Jones explained that since
the September quarterly meeting, Cal U faculty,
administrators and staff had secured nine major grants
totaling more than $2.4 million. She noted the recent
national accreditation achieved by the graphic
communications program and reported that over the
past year 454 internships and 416 new employers were
added to InternLink, the Internship Center’s online data
base.
Dr. Allan Golden, vice president for administration
and finance, presented slides showing the renovation
and expansion of the Herron Fitness and Recreation
Center, which is expected to open next fall. Cal U also
received a favorable annual audit of its financial
statements, he said, with a $2.4 million gain in total
assets from a year ago.
Angela Burrows, now vice president for University
Relations, gave a multimedia presentation detailing the
activities of the marketing, public affairs and alumni
relations offices. “Working together, marketing, public
relations and the web team are evolving into a fullservice, in-house communications operation,” she said.
President Armenti reported that total number of
donors for the first quarter of the 2008-2009 fiscal year
showed a significant increase, from 495 last year to 710.
Even with the troubled economy, he expressed
confidence in Cal U’s development efforts.
“The long-term goal is to bring in more funds, and
the way to do that is get more people in the habit of
giving,” he said.
Leo Krantz, chairman of the Council of Trustees,
adjourned the meeting with a reminder that spring break
will push the first quarterly meeting to Feb. 25 instead of
the usual March date.
“I continue to find our meetings extremely
educational,” he said. “We had some spirited
discussion, and that’s really what it’s all about.”
3
2009jan19journaldraft1.qxp:03-24-08 CAL U JOURNAL.qxd 1/14/09 12:48 PM Page 4
Season of Champions
Cal U Athletics Leads Dixon Cup Race
After winning four conference
championships this fall, California
University of Pennsylvania ranks first in
the initial 2008-09 Pennsylvania State
Athletic Conference (PSAC) Dixon Trophy
standings, the league office announced last
month.
Cal U’s athletic program leads the 16team standings with 90.5 overall points
after earning 16 points for winning the
league crowns in football, women’s golf,
men’s soccer and volleyball. In addition to
the quartet of conference titles, the Cal U
men’s golf team and women’s soccer team
achieved their best seasons in recent years.
The football team won the PSAC
Championship after a 47-36 win over
PSAC-East champion West Chester in the
first conference-championship football
game contested in 21 years. The Vulcans,
under the direction of seventh-year head
coach John Luckhardt, finished the year
with a 12-2 record and advanced to the
NCAA Division II national semifinals for a
second consecutive season.
The men’s soccer team earned its first
conference title in program history after an
improbable run from fourth place in the
Western Division to first place in the PSAC
over the final two weeks of the season.
Coached by 23-year veteran Dennis
Laskey, Cal defeated Slippery Rock (3-1)
and Millersville (3-2) in the PSAC playoffs.
The Vulcans’ soccer team has competed in
Cal U seventh-year head football
coach John Luckhardt (57-24)
guided the Vulcans to a fourth
consecutive PSAC-West title and
the conference’s first contested
football state championship in
21 years this fall, as well as a
second straight appearance in
the NCAA Division II national
semifinals.
six post-season conference tourneys over
the past nine years.
On the links, the women’s golf team
won the PSAC Championship after the
tournament was separated into men’s and
women’s championships for the first time
in past years. Including the conference
championship, the Vulcan women,
coached by MerriLyn Gibbs, won four
invitational tournaments this fall. In
spring, Cal U will host the NCAA
Division II Regional Championship
Tournament.
Cal U’s women’s volleyball team led
the nation with a school-best 40-2 overall
record and won its second-straight PSAC
and NCAA regional titles before losing to
national finalist Cal State San Bernardino
at the NCAA Elite Eight. Led by firstyear head coach Stephanie Burner, Cal
volleyball has won three PSAC titles in
the past four years.
PSAC-newcomer Mercyhurst College
is second in the Dixon Cup standings
with 85.0 points. Bloomsburg University
(83.5), Indiana University of
Pennsylvania (79.5) and East Stroudsburg
University (74.0) round out the top five.
Since 1995-96, the Dixon Cup Trophy
has been awarded annually by the PSAC
to a member institution whose athletic
program earns the best overall finish in
conference
championships
and/or regularseason play.
During
the course
of the
The women’s volleyball team’s school-best 40-2 overall record in 2008, highlighted by winning
second straight PSAC and NCAA Atlantic Regional championships, helped Cal U grab the early
lead in the conference’s Dixon Cup standings. Pictured is senior middle hitter Thais Franca, one
of four Vulcans named to the AVCA (American Volleyball coaches Association)
All-Region team.
academic year, points are awarded based
on an institution’s finish in the 22
conference sports. Only a school’s best 12
finishes, six men’s and six women’s, are
used in the final calculation of the Dixon
Trophy standings.
In 2007-2008, Cal finished a
school-best third in the Dixon Cup
standings with conference titles
in football, women’s
volleyball, men’s basketball
and women’s tennis, and
the women’s basketball
team advanced to
an eighth straight
PSAC
championship game.
Individual performances by Cal U
student-athletes added to the Vulcans’
luster this year. Cross country runner Chris
Clark, a graduate student, placed fourth
nationally at the NCAA Division II
Nationals after winning the PSAC and
NCAA Regional championships. Simone
DeSouza won the individual PSAC
women’s golf title, and women’s volleyball
players’ Ludmila Amaral and Joanna Nist
received PSAC and NCAA Atlantic
Region Player of the Year honors,
respectively.
“When Cal U teams show themselves
to be world class, as our teams clearly did
this past fall, they remind us by their
excellent example of our own personal and
professional possibilities,” said University
President Angelo Armenti, Jr. “They
inspire us to believe that we, too, might
become world class in our own individual
domains by emulating the tremendous
effort, selflessness, team work and
determination they clearly practiced.”
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
Christine Kindl
Editor
Geraldine M. Jones
Interim Provost/Vice President for Academic Affairs
Dr. Lenora Angelone
Vice President for Student Development and Services
Bruce Wald
Writer
Dr. Joyce Hanley
Executive Vice President
Angela J. Burrows
Vice President for University Relations
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
California University
VOLUME 11, NUMBER 2 JANUARY 19, 2009
Cal’s Maglev Fits Stimulus Plan Criteria
C
alifornia University and
Pittsburgh-based U.S. Maglev
Development Corp. are urging
lawmakers to include Cal U’s urban
maglev demonstration project in the proposed $750 billion federal economic stimulus legislation now under discussion on
Capitol Hill.
Congress is expected to pass the economic stimulus package within weeks,
and President-elect Barack Obama has
said he hopes to sign the completed bill
into law early in his administration.
The Cal U Maglev Sky Shuttle project
is “shovel-ready” and meets the requirements of the stimulus plan, university
administrators and U.S. Maglev officials
say. Construction can begin within 90
days after funding is made available, and
the low-impact, “green technology” project will enhance productivity for the
University, the region and the nation.
“The project has the potential to create hundreds of jobs here in southwestern
Pennsylvania,” said Cal U President
Angelo Armenti, Jr. “This could position
the region as the hub of an emerging
industry with benefits nationwide.”
Since 2001, more than $40 million in
federal, state and industry funds has been
invested in Cal U’s urban maglev project.
Designed to accommodate both passenger and cargo vehicles, it will demonstrate the value of magnetic levitation
technology in hilly urban settings.
Maglev components have been fabri-
Photo courtesy Urban Maglev Group
With designs on bringing state-of-the-art transportation to campus, California University and U.S. Maglev Development Corp. are urging lawmakers to include Cal U’s urban maglev demonstration project in the proposed $750 billion federal economic stimulus package.
cated in western Pennsylvania and a test
track has been constructed by General
Atomics in San Diego, Calif. Testing has
been conducted there during the past
three years and is expected to be completed in 2009.
“We have done our homework,“ said
President Armenti. “The engineering and
design and the required environmental
work for the first phase of the $250 million project are complete. If the funding
is made available, the urban maglev
group can start excavating, build the substructure, and erect the support columns
and guideway for the Sky Shuttle.”
The project’s first phase, requiring an
TEAP Inducts
Peter Wright
as President
Cal U Students Bring
StormFest to
Science Center
E
D
r. Peter Wright, a professor of Technology
Education at Cal U, was inducted as president of the Technology Education
Association of Pennsylvania (TEAP) at the organization’s 56th annual conference in Camp Hill, Pa.
He has been on track for the appointment since
being named president-elect in 2007 and deputy
president last year.
TEAP’s purpose is to define, stimulate,
coordinate and strive for the improvement of
Technology Education programs for all Pennsylvania
students and to help instructors keep pace with
technological changes.
Wright made two professional presentations at
the conference. “Teaching Digital Communication
Systems” was given in conjunction with his
sabbatical research. “Tuning and Technologies in
Kart Racing” was co-presented with Cal U
Technology Education student and kart racing
national champion Craig Wetzel.
After the conference, Wright attended the Board
of Directors meeting of the International
Technology Education Association (ITEA) in
Charlotte, N.C.
“It is gratifying to be able to give back to the field
of technology education at both the state and
international levels and to work to make sure all
students can become technologically literate in
school,” said Wright. “I am also grateful to Cal U
estimated $50 million, would allow for
construction of a 2,200-foot dual-use
guideway, Intermodal Center and stations. Subsequent phases, requiring $200
million, would bring the system from Cal
U’s upper campus downhill to the main
campus in California Borough.
-- continued on page 2
Dr. Peter Wright was recently appointed president of the
Technology Education Association of Pennsylvania (TEAP)
at the organization’s 56th annual conference.
for allowing me to take a fall semester sabbatical to
research digital communications and pursue my
service leadership activities.”
arth Science students from California University
of Pennsylvania have more than a few surprises in
store for school groups and families attending
StormFest Jan. 30 and 31 at the Carnegie Science Center
in Pittsburgh.
The annual event explores the geosciences — geology,
geography, meteorology and more — with two full days
of interactive activities
for students of all ages.
StormFest activities
are free with paid
admission to the Science
Center. School groups
and home-schoolers are
the focus of the Jan. 30
sessions; activities are
open to the public Jan. 31.
Kids can make rocks, rain sticks, lava lamps and
“edible landfills” during the event. They can even create
glurch, a substance that has both solid and liquid
properties.
Cal U students developed these and more than 25
other activities to teach children about the science behind
common and uncommon weather and natural
phenomena.
Extreme weather takes center stage when Nick
Walker, the “Weather Dude” on-camera meteorologist
from The Weather Channel, comes to StormFest on
Jan. 31.
– continued on page 2
2009jan19journaldraft1.qxp:03-24-08 CAL U JOURNAL.qxd 1/14/09 12:48 PM Page 2
Alumni to be Honored Saturday
T
he men’s and women’s basketball
teams will honor past players
Saturday when they host the 10th annual Cal U Basketball Alumni Day.
The event will culminate in two
varsity games against PSAC-West rival
Edinboro University of Pennsylvania.
The Vulcan women play at 6 p.m. in
Hamer Hall, followed by the men’s
game at 8 p.m.
Earlier in the day, the Men’s Alumni
Game will tip-off at 3 p.m., also in
Hamer Hall.
An alumni reception will be held at
4 p.m. in the Booker Great Room at the
Kara Alumni House. The Basketball
Alumnus and Alumna of the Year
Awards will be presented, and the Most
Valuable Player of the Men’s Alumni
Game will be announced. Head coaches
Heather Kearney and Bill Brown will
both offer remarks at the reception.
The award recipients also will be
recognized at halftime of the two varsity
games.
All former Cal U basketball players
are encouraged to attend the Alumni
Day festivities. Former members of the
Vulcan men’s team who are interested in
playing should register with Coach
Brown (brown_w@cup.edu) or assistant
S
Basketball alumni day brings together Vulcans of all eras. Enjoying a moment at last
year’s event are James Zell ’39 and Moe Yeoman ’84.
coach Shea Fleenor (fleenor@cup.edu).
Individuals also can register or learn
more about Basketball Alumni Day by
contacting Leslie Fleenor, assistant
director of alumni relations, at 724-9384418 or fleenor_l@cup.edu.
Cost of the event is $10. All
registered participants will receive a
souvenir T-shirt, admission to the
reception and reserved seating at the
varsity doubleheader for the participant
and a guest.
Students Give Santa, Marines a Hand
I
t took a pickup truck and a minivan
to deliver all the toys collected for
needy children this holiday season
by students at California University of
Pennsylvania.
The on-campus Toys for Tots
campaign began in mid-November and
ended Dec. 10.
Karlee Young, chair of the Student
Government’s On-Campus Community
Service Committee, said thousands of
dollars in toys were donated thanks to
the efforts of student volunteers.
“We had a great response from the
campus community with individual
donations, as well as participation from
other clubs and organizations,” said
Young.
“This is an event that has more than
doubled since last year, and we fully
intend on making it an annual event. I
cannot express my gratitude to the
campus community enough for getting
involved with such a great cause. It was
truly impressive,” she said.
In addition to Student Government,
the Student Association Inc., Japanese
Anime Club, Cal Hockey, Student
Activities Board and Black Student
Union all made monetary donations.
TEAC, the women’s rugby team and
Acacia all donated toys.
Young and Ryan Jerico — president
of both Student Government and SAI,
Cal U students Ryan Jerico and Karlee Young check out toys collected by Cal U
students for Toys for Tots.
and a student representative to the
PASSHE Board of Governors — filled a
pickup and a minivan, then delivered
the toys to the 96.1 KISS-FM’s Stuff a
Bus drive, which provides toys to
deserving children in the greater
Pittsburgh area.
Kids explore geology, geography, weather
Continued from page 1
Cal U’s “Dewey Sleet the Weather Geek” will lead kids in activities throughout
the two-day festival.
Other StormFest events include:
– Friday, Jan. 30: Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader About the Weather?, 11:00
a.m. and 1 p.m.; and Weather Jeopardy!, noon
– Saturday, Jan. 31: Sing along with the Weather Dude, Nick Walker, 11:00 a.m.,
1 p.m. and 3 p.m.
Cal U students from the Earth Science and Communications Studies departments
are planning StormFest, which attracted about 3,000 participants last year.
Elementary Education students will assist at the event.
For more information, visit www.cup.edu/weather or
www.carnegiesciencecenter.org.
2
Inauguration
Day Festivities
Televised Live
from D.C.
The U.S. Marine Corps Reserve’s
annual Toys for Tots program collects
new, unwrapped toys during October,
November and December each year.
The toys are distributed as Christmas
gifts to needy children in the community
in which the campaign is conducted.
tudents faculty and staff at
California University of
Pennsylvania can witness the
inauguration of President Barack
Obama at a gathering Tuesday in the
Performance Center at the Natali
Student Center.
Doors open at 10 a.m. so students
can view the opening Inauguration Day
festivities televised live from
Washington, D.C.
Sponsored by the American
Democracy Project and the Frederick
Douglass Institute, the event is open to
the public.
Provost Geraldine Jones will
welcome the audience at 11:15 a.m.,
shortly before the start of the inaugural
ceremony in Washington. The nation’s
44th president will take the oath of
office at noon, then deliver the
inaugural address.
Dr. Kelton Edmonds, director of
the Frederick Douglass Institute at Cal
U, will speak to students in the
Performance Center when the
inaugural ceremony concludes, about 1
p.m.
Also on hand will be Dr. Melanie
Blumberg, a Cal U professor of
political science and an expert on
presidential politics, and Cal U senior
Shinesa Chowdhury, who led more
than 130 volunteers in a voter
registration drive that registered 2,000
students — more than half the new
registrations in Washington County this
election season.
“In a normal election year, the two
precincts serving the bulk of students at
California University of Pennsylvania
attract a total of about 400 voters,” said
political columnist Louis Jacobson,
who spoke at Cal U this fall. “But on
Election Day 2008, that number more
than quadrupled to a combined total of
more than 1,700. And in those
precincts, Obama crushed Republican
nominee John McCain by margins of
between 2 to 1 and 3 to 1.”
The American Democracy Project
is a multi-campus initiative focused on
higher education’s role in preparing the
next generation of informed, engaged
citizens for our democracy. The project
began in 2003 as an initiative of the
American Association of State Colleges
and Universities, in partnership with
The New York Times. ADP-sponsored
events at Cal U have included a series
of Deliberative Democracy lectures,
presidential DebateWatch and Election
Watch gatherings, and an Election
Analysis Forum.
Maglev Fits Stimulus Plan Criteria
Continued from page 1
Once the project is completed, some
15,000 riders are expected to use the
maglev daily, said David O’Loughlin,
president of U.S. Maglev.
The $250 million total system would
be able to move people or cargo over a
route more than 4 miles long. It would
carry passengers from upper-campus
parking areas to the lower campus,
where parking is being realigned to
accommodate construction and enhance
safety. Plans also call for a stop at The
Center in the Woods senior center.
“I am hopeful that California
University’s urban maglev demonstration project will move forward as a new
administration sets fresh priorities in
Washington, D.C.,” President Armenti
said last month, when the urban maglev
was discussed at an international conference in San Diego.
At the conference both U.S. Sen.
Arlen Specter and Pennsylvania Auditor
General Jack Wagner spoke in favor of
the Sky Shuttle at Cal U, O’Loughlin
reported.
2009jan19journaldraft1.qxp:03-24-08 CAL U JOURNAL.qxd 1/14/09 12:48 PM Page 3
Two Students Commissioned at ROTC Ceremonies
T
wo California University of
Pennsylvania students were commissioned as second lieutenants
Dec. 12 in ceremonies conducted on
campus by the Army’s Reserve Officer
Training Corps (ROTC).
The next morning 2nd Lt. Steven
Morganti and 2nd Lt. Sarah Camp
received their bachelor’s degrees at the
university’s undergraduate
Commencement.
Offering remarks at the commissioning ceremony were Cal U President
Angelo Armenti, Jr., and Col. Mark A.
Remick ’79, vice commander of the
145th Airlift Wing, North Carolina Air
National Guard. Administering the oath
and leading the insignia ceremony was
Lt. Col. Joseph P. Alessi, professor of
Military Science at the University of
Pittsburgh.
Morganti, the son Philip and Robin
Morganti, earned his bachelor’s degree
in science and technology. Born in
Reading, Pa., he is a 2004 graduate of
Schuylkill Valley High School. Morganti
will attend the Basic Officer Leadership
Course II at Fort Benning, Ga., and
then his Transportation Officer Basic
Course at Fort Eustas, Va., before
returning to the 298th Transportation
Company.
Camp, the daughter of Linda Camp,
earned her bachelor’s degree in nursing.
A native of Houston, Texas, where she
graduated from high school in 2003, she
enlisted in the Pennsylvania National
Guard in 2005. Camp will attend an
Officer Basic Leadership Course in Fort
Sam Houston, Texas. Her first duty station will be at Womack Army Medical
Center at Fort Bragg, N.C.
Before praising the Morganti and
Camp for their achievements, President
Armenti spoke about the war our country faces today. The United States is
fighting groups of stateless but motivated
Linda Camp, mother of 2nd Lt. Sarah Camp, pins on her Army insignia. Sarah Camp’s brother, Robert, also assists with the pinning ceremony.
individuals who are prepared to use
America’s openness and technology
against us, he said.
“While the economic and military
weapons we used to defeat the Axis
powers of World War II were ideally
suited to that task — witness our eventual success in forcing their unconditional
surrender — those same tools, while still
clearly necessary for justice, are insufficient to confront the current asymmetrical war that we now face,” President
Armenti said.
“We commend these students as they
stand to take the oath of as an officer in
the U.S. armed forces. California
University of Pennsylvania supports
ROTC and the students who work so
hard to gain a commission. This university is both proud and grateful to you.”
Remick thanked the new officers for
their efforts, spoke of the challenges they
are accepting, and reminded them to
remember to show appreciation for their
spouses-to-be. He then spoke directly to
the audience.
“You need to read and study as much
as you can about the war and leadership,
because reading is the best way to
acquire wisdom,” Remick said. “I
believe leaders are both born and made.”
He emphasized leading fairly and
with a personal touch.
“Wherever you work, you need to
know the cleaning lady’s name,” said
Remick. “I remember saying hello to the
cleaning lady, Sally, in my building, and
she was so surprised when I addressed
her by her name, because of how busy
she said I was. I told her that she has just
as valuable a role in our workplace as I
do. Hers is just a different job, but by
knowing her name, I can help make her
better at what she does. So know the
cleaning lady’s name.”
Alessi concluded the ceremony with
more comments on leadership.
“Leadership is not a right, it’s a privilege and you need to remember that,” he
said. “The Army and military is about
people. You take care of people and people will take care of you and this great
nation.”
Conduct Code Revised, Minus Smoking Ban Enforcement
C
alifornia University’s Council of Trustees ended
the year by approving revisions to the Student
Code of Conduct but refusing to begin
enforcement of a campus-wide smoking ban for at least
six months.
At their final quarterly meeting of 2008 the Trustees
debated the revision, which also changed language in
the conduct code to de-emphasize speech and focus
more specifically on civil behavior.
Proposed changes in the code reflect the
Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education’s
interpretation of the statewide Indoor Clean Air Act.
PASSHE Chancellor John C. Cavanaugh has
interpreted the law to prohibit smoking both indoors
and outdoors on all 14 state-owned university campuses.
The revisions outline a graduated series of disciplinary
measures for students caught smoking on campus.
After lengthy discussion, the Trustees voted to
impose a six-month moratorium on enforcing the
smoking ban. However, they agreed to other code
revisions defining specific behaviors, such as harassment
or stalking, that can lead to disciplinary measures.
“We want to focus on behavioral terms in a broad
way, so as to not infringe on students’ rights,” said Dr.
Lenora Angelone, vice president for student
development and services. “We want our students to live
up to the core values” of integrity, civility and
responsibility.
During his report to the Trustees, University
President Angelo Armenti, Jr. reviewed the second draft
of the University’s strategic plan for 2009-2012. The
plan could add citizenship to the list of Cal U’s primary
goals.
The seven current goals are aligned with the
university’s mission of Building Character, Building
Careers. The new plan would add “Building an
“We want to focus on behavioral terms
in a broad way, so as to not infringe on
students’ rights. We want our students
to live up to the core values” of
integrity, civility and responsibility.
— Dr. Lenora Angelone, vice president
for student development and services
Understanding of the Importance of Good Citizenship
and Contribution.”
“One of our core values is civility, and the idea is to
have a shared humanity,” President Armenti said. “It’s
the role of the University to let our community know
that they have a responsibility not just for themselves but
for all other university citizens.”
In other business:
Interim provost Geraldine Jones explained that since
the September quarterly meeting, Cal U faculty,
administrators and staff had secured nine major grants
totaling more than $2.4 million. She noted the recent
national accreditation achieved by the graphic
communications program and reported that over the
past year 454 internships and 416 new employers were
added to InternLink, the Internship Center’s online data
base.
Dr. Allan Golden, vice president for administration
and finance, presented slides showing the renovation
and expansion of the Herron Fitness and Recreation
Center, which is expected to open next fall. Cal U also
received a favorable annual audit of its financial
statements, he said, with a $2.4 million gain in total
assets from a year ago.
Angela Burrows, now vice president for University
Relations, gave a multimedia presentation detailing the
activities of the marketing, public affairs and alumni
relations offices. “Working together, marketing, public
relations and the web team are evolving into a fullservice, in-house communications operation,” she said.
President Armenti reported that total number of
donors for the first quarter of the 2008-2009 fiscal year
showed a significant increase, from 495 last year to 710.
Even with the troubled economy, he expressed
confidence in Cal U’s development efforts.
“The long-term goal is to bring in more funds, and
the way to do that is get more people in the habit of
giving,” he said.
Leo Krantz, chairman of the Council of Trustees,
adjourned the meeting with a reminder that spring break
will push the first quarterly meeting to Feb. 25 instead of
the usual March date.
“I continue to find our meetings extremely
educational,” he said. “We had some spirited
discussion, and that’s really what it’s all about.”
3
2009jan19journaldraft1.qxp:03-24-08 CAL U JOURNAL.qxd 1/14/09 12:48 PM Page 4
Season of Champions
Cal U Athletics Leads Dixon Cup Race
After winning four conference
championships this fall, California
University of Pennsylvania ranks first in
the initial 2008-09 Pennsylvania State
Athletic Conference (PSAC) Dixon Trophy
standings, the league office announced last
month.
Cal U’s athletic program leads the 16team standings with 90.5 overall points
after earning 16 points for winning the
league crowns in football, women’s golf,
men’s soccer and volleyball. In addition to
the quartet of conference titles, the Cal U
men’s golf team and women’s soccer team
achieved their best seasons in recent years.
The football team won the PSAC
Championship after a 47-36 win over
PSAC-East champion West Chester in the
first conference-championship football
game contested in 21 years. The Vulcans,
under the direction of seventh-year head
coach John Luckhardt, finished the year
with a 12-2 record and advanced to the
NCAA Division II national semifinals for a
second consecutive season.
The men’s soccer team earned its first
conference title in program history after an
improbable run from fourth place in the
Western Division to first place in the PSAC
over the final two weeks of the season.
Coached by 23-year veteran Dennis
Laskey, Cal defeated Slippery Rock (3-1)
and Millersville (3-2) in the PSAC playoffs.
The Vulcans’ soccer team has competed in
Cal U seventh-year head football
coach John Luckhardt (57-24)
guided the Vulcans to a fourth
consecutive PSAC-West title and
the conference’s first contested
football state championship in
21 years this fall, as well as a
second straight appearance in
the NCAA Division II national
semifinals.
six post-season conference tourneys over
the past nine years.
On the links, the women’s golf team
won the PSAC Championship after the
tournament was separated into men’s and
women’s championships for the first time
in past years. Including the conference
championship, the Vulcan women,
coached by MerriLyn Gibbs, won four
invitational tournaments this fall. In
spring, Cal U will host the NCAA
Division II Regional Championship
Tournament.
Cal U’s women’s volleyball team led
the nation with a school-best 40-2 overall
record and won its second-straight PSAC
and NCAA regional titles before losing to
national finalist Cal State San Bernardino
at the NCAA Elite Eight. Led by firstyear head coach Stephanie Burner, Cal
volleyball has won three PSAC titles in
the past four years.
PSAC-newcomer Mercyhurst College
is second in the Dixon Cup standings
with 85.0 points. Bloomsburg University
(83.5), Indiana University of
Pennsylvania (79.5) and East Stroudsburg
University (74.0) round out the top five.
Since 1995-96, the Dixon Cup Trophy
has been awarded annually by the PSAC
to a member institution whose athletic
program earns the best overall finish in
conference
championships
and/or regularseason play.
During
the course
of the
The women’s volleyball team’s school-best 40-2 overall record in 2008, highlighted by winning
second straight PSAC and NCAA Atlantic Regional championships, helped Cal U grab the early
lead in the conference’s Dixon Cup standings. Pictured is senior middle hitter Thais Franca, one
of four Vulcans named to the AVCA (American Volleyball coaches Association)
All-Region team.
academic year, points are awarded based
on an institution’s finish in the 22
conference sports. Only a school’s best 12
finishes, six men’s and six women’s, are
used in the final calculation of the Dixon
Trophy standings.
In 2007-2008, Cal finished a
school-best third in the Dixon Cup
standings with conference titles
in football, women’s
volleyball, men’s basketball
and women’s tennis, and
the women’s basketball
team advanced to
an eighth straight
PSAC
championship game.
Individual performances by Cal U
student-athletes added to the Vulcans’
luster this year. Cross country runner Chris
Clark, a graduate student, placed fourth
nationally at the NCAA Division II
Nationals after winning the PSAC and
NCAA Regional championships. Simone
DeSouza won the individual PSAC
women’s golf title, and women’s volleyball
players’ Ludmila Amaral and Joanna Nist
received PSAC and NCAA Atlantic
Region Player of the Year honors,
respectively.
“When Cal U teams show themselves
to be world class, as our teams clearly did
this past fall, they remind us by their
excellent example of our own personal and
professional possibilities,” said University
President Angelo Armenti, Jr. “They
inspire us to believe that we, too, might
become world class in our own individual
domains by emulating the tremendous
effort, selflessness, team work and
determination they clearly practiced.”
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
Christine Kindl
Editor
Geraldine M. Jones
Interim Provost/Vice President for Academic Affairs
Dr. Lenora Angelone
Vice President for Student Development and Services
Bruce Wald
Writer
Dr. Joyce Hanley
Executive Vice President
Angela J. Burrows
Vice President for University Relations
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