September 2017

Sam Soares is a senior computer science major from Scranton.

Note: We asked Sam Soares some questions about his Facebook internship, which he answered earlier this summer.

Tell us a little bit about your internship.

I am currently doing a 12-week software engineering internship at Facebook’s headquarters in Menlo Park, California. I work on a team in Android infrastructure.

Describe a typical day on the job.

Most days, I get picked up by the shuttle in the morning. When I arrive, I grab breakfast with some friends at one of Facebook’s cafes before heading back to my desk. I like to spend my first half hour reading up on company news and internal discussions on Facebook/Workplace about our products and business. I plan ahead and set goals for my morning, day, and the rest of the week. I write down whatever tasks I need to get done and people I need to see. I get moving on those tasks until lunch time. I generally eat lunch with my team, but sometimes I go check out a new cafe with a friend. I head back to my desk and complete the tasks I set aside for the afternoon. I take breaks regularly throughout the day by taking a walk through campus to clear my head or think through a problem I am facing.

On other days I'd attend one of the intern events, planned for us most weeks, including Q&A sessions with company leaders like Mark Zuckerberg, Kevin Systrom (founder of Instagram), Brian Acton (founder of WhatsApp), and Nate Mitchell (founder of Oculus).

I also participated in an intern-only Hackathon. Interns have the chance to work on a project that they believe will have a lasting impact. Lots of Facebook’s features started off as intern hackathon projects. The top teams get a chance to present their projects to Mark Zuckerberg and receive support from full-time engineers to ship their project.

Some days were more active than others and I would play in intern-only games of Quidditch. We had an intern field day where we split up into different teams and competed in games like kickball, capture the flag, human foosball, and soccer. There were a ton of events planned out for us throughout the summer and all expenses were covered. We did not even have to worry about food or transportation.

What are some hard skills you've learned?

I have certainly learned more about Android development. Most of the hard skills I have learned deal with handling problems at Facebook level scale. We recently reached 2 billion monthly active users. We have to figure out how to ship our products to all those 2 billion users and make them work smoothly. We have to evaluate each line of code to ensure that it is optimal in terms of memory, storage, and processing resources. Minor inefficiencies add up over time to create a huge impact. Figuring out how to solve major problems at scale has been a great part of what I’ve learned this summer.

How about some soft skills?

Some people do not realize that being social is a critical skill for software engineers. It is a job where we work on a team and every team needs to communicate if they are going to succeed. We take on new problems together by discussing the problem, possible solutions, and figuring out the best way to move forward. If we encounter any issues along the way, we have to stop and work it out as a team. One of the things that surprised me the most is that one of Facebook’s company values, “move fast,” is real. Figuring out how to “move fast” while still effectively communicating with my team is the biggest soft skill I learned this summer.

 

What did this teach you about the real world and the tech industry?

This internship taught me how quickly things move in the tech industry. Getting to market first is crucial to a product or feature’s success. It also showed me how much companies in Silicon Valley work together on issues. I surprised to see how well Facebook works together with partners who work at Google or other tech companies within the industry.

What did you learn about the real world and the tech industry that inspired or frustrated you the most?

What I learned about the tech industry is that most of the founders of the tech giants did not intend to start a company. They each focused on what they were passionate about and eventually it led to a company. Nobody started off by wanting to start a company and then focusing on an idea. It inspired me to just focus on what I love and am passionate about because that will lead to the biggest impact.

What's the biggest mistake you've made?

I believe the biggest mistake I’ve made was not taking more advantage of what Facebook has to offer. I believe some of the brightest people in the world work here, and I have not done enough to reach out to them and learn from them more. We have access to educational courses taught by employees and I could have done more to take advantage of the opportunity they gave me. I also wish I could have done more to network and meet more interesting people.

 

Most important lesson you learned?

The most important lesson I learned is that I have to be bold. In order to be successful, you have to take risks. We may not always know where a decision will lead. You have to look at all of the options and then make a decision. Often times, the worst thing you could do is nothing at all. The tech world changes so quickly and you’re guaranteed to fail if you do not take any risks. Everyone at Facebook is encouraged to “be bold” even if it means we make the wrong decisions sometimes.

What are you most proud of?

I was not sure if I would be able to quickly learn Facebook’s code base and internal tools to make a lasting impact. At previous internships, the first few weeks were spent on getting my computer setup and getting access to the tools I needed to do my job. I knew coming in that we would only have two days of training before we were sent off to our teams. I was worried that I would not pick up on everything I needed to do my job and that I would be left behind. That did not happen at all. I was able to contribute to the code base quickly and I shipped code into production my very first week.

What’s been your most surprising, unexpected, memorable experience?

There was one morning where I was tackling a problem and got stuck. I researched the problem on Stack Overflow, an online community commonly used by developers to learn and share their programming knowledge. I found the right post and scrolled to the top answer. I read it over and found it to be extremely well written and documented. It turned out to be written by one of my teammates this summer. My teammate answered my question about six years before I even got a chance to ask it. After looking into his profile, I saw that he is ranked in the 0.30% as an overall contributor on the site. I shared what I found with him and my entire team and we all had a laugh. It was a moment where I realized that I was working with and learning from some of the brightest in the industry.

What did you learn about yourself through this experience?

This experience taught me that working for a technology company is what I want to do. I learned that I enjoy working in a challenging environment that moves fast. I was worried that I would not be able to handle the work, but I am more confident in my abilities and education through this experience.

What’s it like to intern at Facebook? Can you talk a little bit about the company culture, and the people who work there?

Interning at Facebook has been a dream come true. I have been trying to work in Silicon Valley since I was a student at Scranton High School.

My absolutely favorite part of working here is the company culture and the people. Facebook is a mission-driven company that makes its decisions based on social impact. Employees and interns alike are trusted with lots of autonomy. We are trusted to make our own decisions on how we want to move forward with a project. My formal summer assignment was only a short paragraph, and I had the flexibility to execute in the way I felt was best. I had complete control over my project and I was trusted to take it in a direction I felt was right. This kind of autonomy is not found anywhere else.

The open culture makes it not only easy to know about projects going on within the company but to give honest feedback on them. We had access to the entire codebase of all of our products including Instagram, Oculus, and WhatsApp. We are trusted with a lot of confidential information. Employees are the first to try out any new features and we test our own products. Facebook moves extremely fast. I kept hearing about how quickly things move here, but it was even faster than I imagined. A lot is expected from us, but we have great resources and people around who are eager to help. Nobody at Facebook has a private office, including Mark Zuckerberg. We all have a desk on an open floor. Everyone is accessible and approachable.

 

I believe the people who work here are some of the most intelligent people in the industry and the world. I had lots of chances to meet with influential people this summer. Mark Zuckerberg holds a Q&A weekly where anyone can ask him a question in person. I got a chance to not only meet, but to question the founders of Oculus, Instagram, and WhatsApp. We met with Sheryl Sandberg who is our COO. I certainly learned a lot by interacting with executives and other company leaders, but I learned the most from the people around me. The people who I worked with are some of the brightest in the industry and they served as excellent mentors. I went to them with any issues and they were happy to help and teach me.

Any advice for others?

It is not difficult to find out what topics Facebook expects you to know and what experience you need to get an internship. You just have to put in the time to learn each of those topics and you have to make sure you gain the experience they are looking for. Simply going to class and doing well is not enough to get recognized. You have to put in a lot of work outside of class to learn new technologies and work on interesting side projects. There are tons of resources online that I used. You have to be persistent. I received lots of rejections before being accepted at Facebook. I was even rejected for a Facebook internship last summer after doing an interview. The technical interviews are extremely challenging, so you have to dedicate lots of time to prepare for them. I applied through Facebook’s careers page. Feel free to reach out to me if you have any questions!

 

 

Undergraduate students research rocket launches and rocket fuel.  Read more below from the September Physics/EE newsletter.

Rocket Launch and Orbit Simulation using Python

 

Matthew Owens ‘17 – Advisor: Prof. Nicholas P. Truncale 

The purpose of this project is a to create a two-dimensional simulation of rocket launches and orbits that makes it possible to both replicate real launches and see the results of changes in various parameters of the launch vehicle and flight path. We started by creating a simulation of Newton’s Cannonball thought experiment and proceeded by adding other forces acting on the spacecraft individually (air resistance, thrust, etc). The simulation calculates the rocket’s two-dimensional position over a set number of discrete time steps and plots the orbital path of travel in the (x,y) plane.

 

Emission and Absorption Spectral Analysis of Rocket Fuel

Natalie Krupka ’20 – Advisor: Prof. Nicholas P. Truncale 

To observe the emission and absorption spectrum of rocket fuel, we will be using a PASCO spectrometer in two ways: known light absorption spectrum comparison with a liquid sample in a cuvette and direct light collection through a fiber optic cable. The spectrometer has an input, which allows one to place a liquid sample in a cuvette and measure the absorbed light of that substance. Light from a tungsten source passes through the samples in the cuvette and a high diffraction grating to detect the light that makes it through. Whatever light does not make it through, must be absorbed by that substance in the cuvette. This allows the production of the absorption spectra of the substance. The fiber optic cable captures light through a narrow slit and passed that light directly through a high diffraction grating allowing the spectrometer to show the emission spectrum of the source. Using these two methods, I hope to be able to determine the elements in rocket fuel.

Eighteen University of Scranton education majors are serving as student teachers during the fall semester at 11 different local schools, which include the following six school districts: Forest City Regional, Lakeland, North Pocono, Scranton, Valley View and Wayne Highlands.

The following is a list of undergraduate students who are serving as student teachers during the fall semester at the schools to which they have been assigned.

Jade Bauer of Whippany, New Jersey, will student teach at John Adams Elementary School;

Courtney Boag of Whippany, New Jersey, will student teach at Neil Armstrong School;

Andrea Catalano of West Harrison, New York, will student teach at Mayfield Elementary School;

Tiffany Cecere of Morristown, New Jersey, will student teach at William Prescott School;

Colette Daibes of Englewood, New Jersey, will student teach at Valley View Elementary Center;

Katie Doyle of Media, will student teach at Valley View Intermediate School;

Keely Flanagan of Morris Plains, New Jersey, will student teach at North Pocono Intermediate School;

Harlee Gogas of Scranton, will student teach at Isaac Tripp Elementary School;

Tess McCormick of Kings Park, New York, will student teach at Valley View Elementary Center;

Caitlin Nicosia of Breezy Point, New York, will student teach at Forest City Regional Elementary School;

Kelly O’Donnell of South Amboy, New Jersey, will student teach at Mayfield Elementary School;

Shannon Peer of Huntington, New York, will student teach at Neil Armstrong School;

Emma Percival of Granby, Connecticut, will student teach at Stourbridge Elementary School; 

Jackie Pesavento of Clarks Summit, will student teach at Moscow Elementary Center;

Alyssa Pizzi of Florham Park, New Jersey, will student teach at John Adams Elementary School;

Sarah Redick of Equinunk, will student teach at Forest City Regional Elementary School;

Rebecca Silverman of Westbury, New York, will student teach at Valley View Elementary Center;

Courtney Sobotka of Caldwell, New Jersey, will student teach at Stourbridge Elementary School.

Here at the University of Scranton, many students choose to study abroad whether its over the summer, intersession or for a full semester. However, when preparing for such a big step in life there is a lot that needs to get done! The preparation alone can be exhausting. Thankfully, a group of Scranton students have advice to give to those who wish to go abroad.

Junior Bethany Walsh studied abroad in Ireland over intersession and said that the Study Abroad Office at the University is very helpful. The program she set up her trip with really helped her to prepare. They gave her a list of things to bring and tips on what to pack. Walsh said to “do as much research as you can about the trip and not to be afraid to ask for help.”

Junior Megan Melchione went to Italy for a full semester. "Studying abroad is the best experience to create independence and travel to amazing places," she said. "I definitely recommend saving money in advance and having a plan before you go.”

A recent Study Abroad Fair gave students more information on deadlines, what certain countries are like, and what to expect when traveling.

Junior Kevin Duque works in the Study Abroad Office. “At the Study Abroad Office, we [the staff] like to encourage the entire student body to consider looking into studying abroad because most students don't realize that they have that option," he said. "Whether you're deciding on doing an intersession trip, a summer term or a full semester, the staff at the Study Abroad Office can help facilitate you through planning your trip and helping you through the application process.”

For those students who wish to study abroad, don’t forget that Rev. John Sivalon and the entire Study Abroad Office in Saint Thomas Hall are here to help! Or visit scranton.edu/studyabroad.

The University of Scranton Players will present Tennessee Williams’ play “The Glass Menagerie” Sept. 22-24 and Sept. 29-Oct. 1

 

The University of Scranton Players will present Tennessee Williams’ play “The Glass Menagerie,” directed by Gabriel Vega Weissman, Friday through Sundays Sept. 22-24 and Sept. 29-Oct. 1. Performances begin at 8 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and at 2 p.m. on Sunday in the Joseph M. McDade Center for Literary and Performing Arts on the University’s campus.

 One of the masterpieces of American modern drama, “The Glass Menagerie” is universally hailed as a poignant play about family and the persistence of memory. “The Glass Menagerie” tells the story of the Wingfield family through Tom’s memories of his mother, Amanda; his sister, Laura; and Laura’s gentleman caller. Recently, the work was revived on Broadway with Oscar winner Sally Field as Amanda.

The University of Scranton Players production features: Conor Hurley of Woodside, New Jersey, as Tom Wingfield; Ali Basalyga of Scranton as Amanda Wingfield; Victoria Pennington of West Wyoming as Laura Wingfield; and Nicolas Gangone of Howard Beach, New York, as the gentleman caller. Basalyga is a graduate of West Scranton High School and Pennington is a graduate of Wyoming Area Secondary Center.

Tickets may be purchased or reserved by calling the box office at the McDade Center at 570-941-4318, or online at thescrantonplayers.com. Tickets are $10 for adults and $7 for senior citizens, students, and University of Scranton faculty and staff. Performances during the second weekend are free for first-year students.

For additional information, contact the Players Box Office at 570-941-4318 or email players@scranton.edu, or visit thescrantonplayers.com. ​

 

This year, The University of Scranton held a Campus Safety event during National Campus Safety Week to help educate students on how to stay safe throughout each semester.

The event held numerous demonstrations on the dangers of intoxication and taught people about the importance of never driving while drunk, as well as had tables with tips on how to stay safe on and around campus. Officers offered advice on theft prevention, safety in residence halls and reminded students that if they were ever in need they can utilize the Royal Ride. The Royal Ride van is a shuttle service the school provides to students in case they are ever out at night and need assistance home. It is available weekends starting at 10 p.m. and it runs until 3:00 a.m. University Police also offer safety escorts 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Campus officers gave their advice.

If you are going out at night make sure you always walk in groups
Utilize the royal ride if you are in need of assistance
- Officer Eric Hernandez, who is on bike patrol for the University

 

Never allow unauthorized access to people you don’t know into your dorm buildings

Always keep your doors locked
Report any suspicious activity to University police immediately
- Student Officer Lieutenant Paul Vervlied

 The University of Scranton’s police force is always available to help. If you ever are in need of assistance you can contact them at (570) 941-7888.

The President's Business Council Annual Award (PBC) Dinner honors those who have achieved strides and distinction in their fields and who have showcased extraordinary consideration for others. This award dinner has become the University's leading fundraising event. As a student in the Business Leadership Honors Program, we are invited to the President’s Business Council Award Dinner, which takes place at The Pierre Hotel on Fifth Avenue in New York City. And, for such an incredible event, as expected, there are certain things students need to know.

First, it is a black-tie event, which means I get to wear my first gown since my high school prom (something I’m really looking forward to). Second, this can be used as a networking opportunity. This means we need to be prepared to meet and converse with many different people, and we need to have our resumes and business cards in hand, as well as prep some talking points. Finally, proper etiquette techniques are important to have and know (I had no idea what a salad fork was until I asked!). The PBC Dinner is something I’m looking forward to and I am happy to attend.

Learn more about the PBC Award Dinner, here.

It’s something I look forward to every year: Family Weekend. The weekend where I get to see everyone I hold near and dear -- my mom, my sisters and, of course, my dog. On Friday night, after multiple laps of walking my energetic Yorkie (Cooper), we gathered in my apartment to sit back, relax and watch some movies. We saw "Sing" and "Moana" for the first time while going through two bags of popcorn. Saturday, we spent the day on campus stopping by some of the events the University hosted for Family Weekend. After enjoying some brunch, we went out on the Dionne Green which was packed with many different visiting families and students. Together we watched the Dance Team perform, walked through the Community Fair on the Royal Way, listened to the Octaves and Royal Harmony perform, cheered on the Urban Beats Crew as they danced on the Dionne Green and, finally, played some Bingo to end the day (sadly, we didn't anything).

Family Weekend means so much to my family and me. Having them visit my second home where I learn and live is an opportunity each year. As a senior, this Family Weekend made me look back and realize how much The University of Scranton means to me and how it has helped me grow and progress, not only as a student but as a person who is ready for the world.

Check out some pictures from Family Weekend, here.

The University of Scranton Players’ performance of Tennessee Williams' classic, "The Glass Menagerie," had a successful opening this past Friday with performances continuing through Saturday and Sunday of Family Weekend. Set in 1937 St. Louis,"The Glass Menagerie" tells the story of the Wingfield family through brother Tom’s memories of his mother Amanda, a Southern belle whose husband’s disappearance has left the family in a fragile state, and his sister Laura in their pursuits to find her a gentleman caller to finally appease their mother’s wishes. The University Players’ performance featured Conor Hurley ’18 as Tom Wingfield, Ali Basalyga ’19 as Amanda Wingfield, Victoria Pennington ’19 as Laura Wingfield, and Nick Gangone ’19 as Jim O’Connor, the gentleman caller. The cast and crew produced a captivating performance with mystical lights and sound, raw and emotional scenes, and an overall mesmerizing and poignant story.

Natalie Gray ‘20, the production stage manager, reflected on the rehearsal process. “The cast and crew would meet five days a week for several hours at a time to rehearse," she said. "It is because of this hard work and dedication that the show was able to become a success.”

The actors found the process both enjoyable and challenging– in the best way! Junior Ali Basalyga (Amanda Wingfield) said, “It’s really an honor to have such a challenging and dense role in one of the great American plays." Junior Nick Gangone (gentleman caller) said, “Being the gentleman caller has put into perspective how the definition of being a standup guy has changed since the '30s.” Senior Conor Hurley (Tom Wingfield) described the experience of playing a character based on Tennessee Williams himself to be “profoundly challenging and fulfilling. I’ve really grown as an actor because of it."

More performances of The Glass Menagerie will take place Friday, Sept. 29 at 8, Saturday, Sept. 30 at 8 and Sunday, Oct. 1 at 2. Click here more information on The Players or to purchase tickets.

The University of Scranton’s Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence (CTLE) -- located on the fifth floor of the Loyola Science Center and hosted in the library -- fosters and upholds the idea that teaching and learning, in line with the Ignatian values, are all part of maintaining a strong sense of community on campus.

"The CTLE is the hub for student support on campus. We work with students in various capacities: we offer tutoring (both drop-in and appointment), academic coaching, reading assistance, and accommodations for students with disabilities. We also have a full writing center where we work with students to help them become more confident in their writing skills,” said Amye Archer, CTLE Writing Center coordinator. “On any given day the CTLE is bustling with students and staff members working together to achieve academic success. The CTLE also assists faculty members through our instructional technology support and faculty development. In essence, the CTLE is the very embodiment of the Ignationtradition of cura personalis: individual attention to students and respect for the uniqueness of each member of the University community."

The CTLE, along with the library, works with faculty and students to form an atmosphere that encourages student learning, the use of technology and faculty improvement. The CTLE often provides faculty and students the chance to work side-by-side to develop a positive environment as well as teach the students how to improve their academic performance.

Don’t know how to sign up? Check out the steps below:

How to sign up for a tutor:

1.) Log in to myscranton.edu

2.) Go to Self Service

3.) Click on Student & Financial Aid

4.) Select CTLE Menu

5.) Tutor Request Form

6.) Read and Review the guidelines

7.) Accept

8.) Select what classes you need help with

For any other questions check out the CTLE page, here.

The University of Scranton is a community based on helping others, which is why each year the Volunteer and Service Fair is so important to Scranton students! This year, there were over 60 organizations that attended the fair with the same goal: getting students to sign up and help out their cause. There is a wide range of organizations that attend the fair, which made it hard to narrow down which organization to join! Many of the clubs are returning from previous years, but sometimes there are new charities that start booths to build up their staff. Regardless, each club is formed to help a good cause and it’s always great to get involved!

This year, the Scranton Random Acts of Kindness (RAKS) Club was promoting Hurricane Harvey relief at the fair. Juniors Gab Fletcher, president of RAKS, and Emily Carr, vice president of RAKS, discussed their club. The club is meant to promote helpfulness and provide relief in any way that they can, said Carr.

"We want to help others in any way that we can. Even if it's just raising money to send to help with relief projects, it's better than doing nothing," said Fletcher.

Another charity that is known around the United States is the Ronald McDonald House. This charity helps sick children in their time of need and hopes to overall improve their well-being. Scranton has its own branch and it is holding a 5K run this semester to raise money for the organization.


Missed the fair? Check out current volunteer opportunities here.

All incoming first-year students at The University of Scranton are required to read a book chosen for them through Royal Reads. This year, the Class of 2021 was assigned to read The Jesuit Guide to (Almost) Everything: A Spirituality for Real Life written by James Martin, S.J.

Sept. 14 was just one time they would hear about the book. They will also discuss in their courses throughout the year.

Talking mostly to a room of first-year students, Fr. Martin gave some advice to make them feel less worried about their years at Scranton. He said that it’s okay not to know everything at the beginning because everyone will eventually find his or her place in this world and God is here to help with that journey. He said, “God gives us all the capacity to make good decisions” and that He “helps to build us up, calm us down, and give us hope.” Through the first few weeks of school it is normal to be nervous or feel out of place, but, in the end, God is there to help everyone find their way.

Fr. Martin’s speech gave advice that was helpful to students. He said that it is okay to change your mind. It is important to be happy with yourself because “Jesuit spirituality wants us to be the person God wants us to be in order to serve others.” It is also all right to have desires. Fr. Martin also said that desire is an important part of Jesuit spirituality because it is a key way for God to communicate with each person.

Read more about Royal Reads here.

Rev. James Martin, S.J. H’17, the author of the New York Times best-selling book “The Jesuit Guide to Almost Everything,” and editor-at-large of America magazine, will present the Ignatian Values in Action Lecture at The University of Scranton Thursday, Sept. 14, at 7 p.m. The lecture, which is free of charge and open to the public, will take place in the Byron Recreational Complex.

“The Jesuit Guide to Almost Everything,” which gives humorous stories and accounts of the lives of Jesuit saints, priests and brothers, was selected for this year’s Royal Reads Program at the University. Members of the incoming class of 2021 are required to read the book and attend the lecture. The purpose of the Royal Reads Program is to create a shared experience for Scranton’s newest students through the reading of a carefully selected book, which introduces them to the Ignatian values.

Fr. Martin also published award winning books such as “Jesus: A Pilgrimage,” “Between Heaven and Mirth: Why Joy, Humor and Laughter are at the Heart of the Spiritual Life,” “My Life with the Saints” and “A Jesuit Off-Broadway: Center Stage with Jesus, Judas and Life’s Big Questions.” Fr. Martin has commented on religion and spirituality on numerous national programs, including NPR’s “Fresh Air with Terry Gross” and “Weekend Edition,” Comedy Central’s “The Colbert Report,” Fox News Channel’s “The O’Reilly Factor” and Vatican Radio. He served as a commentator for ABC News during the 2013 papal conclave and during Pope Francis’s visit to the United States in 2015.

Fr. Martin earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Pennsylvania and his master’s degree from Weston Jesuit School of Theology in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He was ordained a Catholic priest in June 1999. He recently received an honorary degree from The University of Scranton at the 2017 commencement.

For information call 570-941-7659 or email teresa.grettano@scranton.edu.

 

As you may know, the Trump Administration announced its decision today to rescind the Department of Homeland Security’s Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (“DACA”) program. Deeply troubled by this, I join with Catholic and Jesuit leaders nationwide to call for the protection of undocumented students brought to the United States as children.

DACA gave undocumented young people authorization to work and study free from the crushing fear of immediate deportation. DACA students, including University of Scranton students, dream and aspire to contribute in significant ways to their professions and communities in the same way as all students. Through no fault of their own, they are now being placed in legal limbo and could be forced back into the shadows of our society.

Our Catholic and Jesuit mission demands that we uphold the dignity of every person and stand in solidarity with those on the margins. As a statement from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops noted:

“The Catholic Church has long watched with pride and admiration as DACA youth live out their daily lives with hope and a determination to flourish and contribute to society…. Now, after months of anxiety and fear about their futures, these brave young people face deportation. This decision is unacceptable and does not reflect who we are as Americans.”

Please join me in prayer for those in our midst and around the country who today face renewed anxiety and uncertainty, and in taking action on their behalf by appealing to Congress in collaboration with partner Catholic and Jesuit organizations, through the University’s Advocacy Corner. As Fr. Timothy Kesicki, S.J., President, Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States, has said, “We call upon Congress to act without delay in enacting a lasting solution, but more than ever, we commit ourselves to living out God’s law, which calls on us to love the stranger, remembering that our ancestors in faith were once strangers in a foreign land.”

For our part, I renew the promise made by Jesuit college and university presidents last November to protect to the fullest extent of the law undocumented students on our campus. The University of Scranton remains a place of welcome for all students.

Sincerely,

Rev. Herbert B. Keller, S.J.

Interim President

 

U.S. Senator Bob Casey toured some of the “Best Science Labs” in America during a visit to The University of Scranton today. In addition to meeting with University students conducting summer research projects in Scranton’s Loyola Science Center, Sen. Casey visited a Girls Who Code summer camp that was taking place at the University.

Earlier this week, The Princeton Review ranked Scranton’s science labs No. 9 in the nation in its 2018 edition of the “Best 382 Colleges” guidebook. A total of five Pennsylvania colleges were included in the well-known guidebook’s list of just 20 of the “Best Science Labs” in America. This is the third consecutive year that The Princeton Review ranked Scranton among the top 10 science labs in the U.S. This is also the 16th consecutive year The Princeton Review included Scranton in its “Best Colleges” book.

Scranton was one of just a dozen colleges in the nation to host a Girls Who Code day camp, which is part of a national initiative to encourage more young women to pursue careers in the field of computer science. The two-week summer camp for females in grades 9 to 12 focuses on the introduction to web development. The University currently hosts a Girls Who Code club that meets on campus during the academic year.

“It was my pleasure today to meet with these impressive young women breaking down barriers in the world of technology,” said Sen. Casey. “We have to continue to push for pay equality for women and give young people, no matter their gender, the tools they need to succeed whether it is quality education or jobs that pay family-sustaining incomes.”

University of Scranton students Elizabeth Dennis (left), a biochemistry major from Honesdale, and Stefan Olsen, a biochemistry major from Kingston, discuss their research project with U.S. Senator Bob Casey during his tour of the Loyola Science Center. For the third consecutive year, The Princeton Review ranked Scranton’s science labs among the 10 best in the country, coming in at No. 9 in 2018 edition of the “Best 382 Colleges” guidebook, which published earlier this week.

U.S. Senator Bob Casey meets with Girls Who Code summer camp participants, from left, Jenna Patel, Aanika Patel and Trinity McAndrew (facing away from camera). The University of Scranton is among just a dozen colleges in the nation hosting Girls Who Code day camp this summer.

U.S. Senator Bob Casey tours The University of Scranton’s Loyola Science Center with lab supervisor Renee Giovagnoli. Scranton is among five Pennsylvania colleges included in The Princeton Review’s list of the nation’s “Best Science Labs.”