November 2021

Pulitzer Prize-winning and Tony Award-nominated playwright, novelist and screenwriter Ayad Akhtar was the recipient of the 2022 Royden B. Davis, S.J., Distinguished Author Award from The University of Scranton’s Friends of the Weinberg Memorial Library. The reception and dinner took place in the McIlhenny Ballroom of the DeNaples Center in November.  Prior to the reception, a book signing took place. Proceeds from the event benefit the Friends of the Library Endowment Fund, which supports special gifts for the Weinberg Library collections and services.

Continuing a time-honored holiday tradition, Performance Music at The University of Scranton will present its 54^th annual Noel Night concert on Saturday, Dec. 4. The concert will begin at 8 p.m. in the University’s Houlihan-McLean Center (Mulberry Street and Jefferson Avenue). Doors will open at 7:20 p.m., and there will be an organ prelude beginning at 7:25 p.m.

The concert will feature The University of Scranton Singers with pianist Ron Stabinsky, organist Christopher Johnson, trumpeter Mark Gould, a quartet from The Scranton Brass Orchestra and members of the University’s String Orchestra. The performance is open to invited guests and all members of the University community. Admission is free, and all audience members must wear masks throughout the performance. University campus access and other health and safety information will be updated throughout the semester and can be seen on the Royals Back Together webpage. Please check Performance Music’s website, scranton.edu/music, within 24 hours of the recital for the most current information on audience COVID-19 mitigation measures (e.g., masking, vaccination, distancing, etc.).

Noel Night is now more than a half-century into its existence as the University’s Christmas gift to the community. “It’s always a deeply meaningful musical evening,” said Performance Music Conductor and Director Cheryl Y. Boga. The student mixed choir is comprised of members of the University community from majors and departments spanning the curriculum (the vast majority of them undergraduate students, none of whom are music majors) joined by a few alumni, all brought together by their mutual love of music-making. They will be joined by leaders of the University community offering greetings and readings of the Nativity Martyrology, Prologue to The Gospel of St. John and St. Luke Nativity Narrative. The program will include works by Bach, Handel, Holst, Leontovich, Nelhybel, Saint-Saens and more.

Pianist Ron Stabinsky is among the most sought-after freelance pianists in the Northeast. He performs as a solo, ensemble and collaborative pianist throughout the world in concerts and events spanning a stunningly wide variety of genres. His debut album, “Free for One,” received four stars in DownBeat magazine and tied for the No. 1 debut of the year in the 2016 NPR Music Jazz Critics Poll. His recent festival appearances include Newport Jazz Festival, North Sea Jazz Festival (Netherlands), Moers Festival (Germany), Jazzfestival Saalfelden (Austria), Outreach Festival (Austria) and Jazz and More Festival Sibiu (Romania).

Organist Christopher Johnson, a graduate of The Cleveland Institute of Music, Manhattan School of Music and Yale University is the newly-appointed organist and director of music at Covenant Presbyterian Church in Scranton. He previously served as director of music and organist at The Riverside Church and artist-in-residence at Union Theological Seminary - both on Manhattan’s Upper West Side - for a number of years, and is the long-time director of Chapel music at The Interchurch Center in New York City. He also performs regularly as flautist with The Knights, an exceptional New York City-based orchestra that tours and records extensively.

Mark Gould served as principal trumpet with The Metropolitan Opera Orchestra for more than 30 years. Either he or his students have performed with virtually every major orchestra, chamber group or brass ensemble throughout the world, and he has guest conducted and rehearsed ensembles all over the globe. His professional contributions as performer, teacher and conductor have influenced or impacted – directly or indirectly – virtually every accomplished trumpeter in the world today, and have positively transformed the world of brass playing and brass pedagogy. He is sought after throughout the world as a performer, conductor, teacher and clinician.

For further information on the Noel Night concert, call 570-941-7624, email music@scranton.edu or visit scranton.edu/music.

The University of Scranton held the Inaugural Sondra and Morey Myers Distinguished Visiting Fellowship Lecture, presented by The Gail and Francis Slattery Center for Humanities on Nov. 18. Lonnie Bunch III, the 14^th secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, presented “The Humanities, Democracy and Race” at lecture in a virtual format. A reception immediately followed the talk at the Slattery Center on campus.

Lecture namesakes, Sondra and Morey Myers, J.D., are esteemed community leaders whose work has encouraged and enriched the practice of community engagement here in Scranton and nationally. Sondra Myers serves as senior fellow for international, civic and cultural projects and director of the Schemel Forum at The University of Scranton. The Distinguished Visiting Fellowship in Humanities and Civic Engagement serves to commemorate their commitment to the humanities.

Secretary Bunch is an American educator, curator and historian whose scholarly works cover a wide range of topics from diversity in museum management to the impact of politics on museum funding. He is the Smithsonian Institution’s first Black secretary and the founding director of the National Museum of African American History and Culture.

Students and members of The University of Scranton community gathered to pack food baskets for area families in need as part of its annual Thanksgiving Food Drive organized by the University’s Center for Service and Social Justice. The food baskets included turkeys as well as other food items needed to prepare a traditional Thanksgiving dinner.

More than 80 students and staff members volunteered at the Friends of the Poor warehouse in South Scranton on Nov. 21 to prepare and distribute the food baskets to local families.

Monetary contributions for the food items were made possible by employees of The University of Scranton.

WNEP TV covered this year’s annual Thanksgiving Food Drive in a news story.

On Thursday, Nov. 18 The University of Scranton's Commuter Student Association (CSA) in partnership with the Office of Community and Government Relations hosted the first-ever “Java Journey” event offering 60 University students the opportunity to explore six of the many enjoyable cafes in Scranton. 

Inspired by the success of their first “Scranton Restaurant Fest” held last spring, the CSA wanted to offer a new event to provide University students with a chance to visit some of the great cafes in Scranton.  

“The Commuter Student Association wanted to continue the success they had with Restaurant Fest in the spring but do something a little different. The CSA board enjoys connecting both residents and commuters with the Scranton community and local partners, so this was a perfect event to reach that goal,” said Kayla Betacchini, assistant director, Center for Student Engagement. 

CSA members realize that local cafes are an ideal spot for college students, offering specialty coffee and tea drinks, snacks, free Wi-Fi, and, for some, even free parking. With so many great spots in Scranton, this event was a natural fit for the CSA to host.  

"This event was a great opportunity to get students acquainted with the local coffee shops. I've heard nothing but great things from everyone who participated, and I think that there are many people who've found their new favorite place. I'm so glad that I got to organize such a fun event for students and to cooperate with the community that I live in," said Jimmy Greenfield '22, CSA president and Scranton native.  

Exposing all University students to the many great local businesses and places to enjoy in and around the city of Scranton is at the core of the CSA’s mission. Many members love our city and hope to share this love with students that are new to Scranton who call our city home during their time at the University.  

The participating cafes were equally excited to welcome Scranton students, especially University students that have never found their businesses before. Cheerful balloons, University of Scranton-themed cookies, signs, and welcoming staff are just some of the ways that the local cafes let University students know that Scranton is ready to welcome them in and to inspire the students to come back again.  

“This was such a fun event to run! I hope it becomes a new CSA tradition!” said Chloe Calabro ‘22, CSA vice president.

Participating cafes included: Adezzo, the Blackwatch Café, Commonwealth Coffeehouse, Heaven and Earth Gift Shop and Café, Northern Light Espresso Bar and Café, and Zummo's Café. 

With the cool winter weather and finals approaching, University students can find great places to study, relax, and meet with friends in Scranton’s cafes. Additionally, many cafes offer college student discounts. For a listing of Royal ID discounts, University of Scranton students can visit the Office of Community and Government Relations Royal Card Downtown website.

The Gail and Francis Slattery Center for Humanities will present the Inaugural Sondra and Morey Myers Distinguished Visiting Fellowship Lecture Thursday, Nov. 18 at 11:30 a.m.  A viewing will be held in the Pearn Auditorium of Brennan Hall. Keynote lecturer, Lonnie Bunch III, the 14^th secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, will present “The Humanities, Democracy and Race.”

The lecture can also be watched via a zoom live steam.

Secretary Bunch is an American educator, curator and historian whose scholarly works cover a wide range of topics from diversity in museum management to the impact of politics on museum funding. He is the Smithsonian Institution’s first Black secretary and the founding director of the National Museum of African American History and Culture.

Additionally, Bunch was elected to the Committee for the Preservation of the White House by President George W. Bush in 2002 and reappointed by President Barack Obama in 2010. Bunch has spent nearly 30 years in the museum field and is regarded as one of the nation’s leading figures in the historical and museum community.

The Gail and Francis Slattery Center for Humanities opened in the fall of 2019 with the intention of enhancing the Universities liberal arts tradition. With the support of benefactor and University Trustee James M. Slattery ’86 and his wife Betsy, the center serves to create programs of scholarship, sponsor insightful lectures from prominent speakers and encourages community members to think about careers in non-corporate settings.

Lecture namesakes, Sondra and Morey Myers, J.D., are esteemed community leaders whose work has encouraged and enriched the practice of community engagement here in Scranton and nationally. Sondra Myers serves as senior fellow for international, civic and cultural projects and director of the Schemel Forum at The University of Scranton. The Distinguished Visiting Fellowship in Humanities and Civic Engagement serves to commemorate their commitment to the humanities.

University campus access and other health and safety information will be updated throughout the semester and can be seen on the Royals Back Together webpage.

The University of Scranton will host a special roundtable event “Scranton & the Nation: Who Are We and who Do We Aspire to Be?” on Monday, Dec. 6 from 5-6:30 p.m. in the PNC Board Room, Brennan Hall. This event will feature an opening discussion with resource speakers followed by a moderated roundtable discussion.

Scranton has been called “the best-known small city in America.” We have many of the key elements of the American experience: including the ongoing impacts of industrial-era growth and decline and ethnically and religiously diverse immigration past and present, as well as recognition of the diverse history of African-Americans and Native American peoples. As we look ahead to the 250^th anniversary of the United States, we will consider the role of our city in the nation’s progress, or as urbanist Jane Jacobs wrote: “what Scranton is, has been, and can be.”  

During the roundtable event, participants will have an opportunity to reflect on this role and on excerpts from Glenna Lang’s book Jane Jacobs’ First City and Our America: Who are We? edited by Sondra Myers.

This event is a part “Portrait of Scranton, Portrait of a Nation,” the first theme in the 2-year “Scranton’s Story, Our Nation’s Story” National Endowment for the Humanities grant funded project led by The University of Scranton with the collaboration of community partner organizations.

Resource Speakers include Alejandra Marroquin, Immigrant Inclusion Committee co-chair, Maureen McGuigan, Deputy Director of Arts & Culture for Lackawanna County, and Larry West, City of Scranton Business Administrator with co-moderators Julie Schumacher Cohen, Asst Vice President of Community Relations and Govt. Affairs and Sondra Myers, Senior Fellow for International, Civic and Cultural Projects and Director of the Schemel Forum both of The University of Scranton.

Space for this special event is limited to 30 participants. Registration is required at:  https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ScrantonWhoAreWe

Masks are required indoors at this event regardless of vaccination status.

For more information on this program or for registration assistance, please email alicen.morrison@scranton.edu. For more information on all "Scranton's Story, Our Nation's Story programs, please email community@scranton.edu or call 570-941-4419.

Follow “Scranton’s Story, Our Nation’s Story” on Facebook and Instagram @ourscrantonstory and on Twitter @scrantonstory.

This roundtable discussion has been made possible in part by the National Endowment for the Humanities: Democracy demands wisdom.  Any views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this walk do not necessarily represent those of the National Endowment for the Humanities.

This event is a collaboration of The University of Scranton's Schemel Forum and Office of Community and Government Relations with the support of the Scranton Immigrant Inclusion Committee, Lackawanna County Department of Arts & Culture, the City of Scranton and additional project partner organizations including WVIA.

Performance Music at The University of Scranton will present a concert featuring the University’s Symphonic Band on Saturday, Nov. 20. The concert will begin at 7:30 p.m. in the Houlihan-McLean Center, Mulberry Street and Jefferson Avenue.

The concert is open to invited guests and all members of the University community. Admission is free. Audience members must wear masks throughout the performance. University campus access and other health and safety information will be updated throughout the semester and can be seen on the Royals Back Together webpage. Please check the Performance Music website, scranton.edu/music, within 24 hours of the concert for the most current information on audience COVID-19 mitigation measures (e.g., masking, vaccination, distancing, etc.).

The program will include works by James Barnes, Luigi Denza, Eric Ewazen, Julie Giroux, H. Owen Reed, Ottorini Respighi and Frank Ticheli.

The University of Scranton Symphonic Band is a 60-plus member ensemble comprised of members of the University community from majors and departments spanning the curriculum. The vast majority of members are undergraduate students, joined by a few graduate students and members of the faculty and staff, none of whom are music majors, who are all brought together by their mutual love of music-making.

For further information on the concert, call 570-941-7624, email music@scranton.edu. For more information on Performance Music at The University of Scranton, please visit scranton.edu/music.

The University of Scranton’s President and ROTC students participated in a Veterans Day service at the Lackawanna County Courthouse and University students, faculty and staff gathered for an All Faiths Prayer Service on-campus to honor and remember veterans on Nov. 11.

University President Rev. Joseph Marina, S.J., was the principal speaker at a Veterans Day event held at the Lackawanna County Court House Square. University ROTC cadets served as the Color Guard at the ceremony.

Father Marina began his remarks by playing his cell phone’s ring tone – The United States Coast Guard song “Semper Paratus,” which is the branch the military where his father served. He spoke of the songs for each branch of the military intended to “spark the bravery in the women and men who will risk everything to protect others … And with God’s Grace and purpose, high has been the call for those who have served so bravely in all the branches of the U.S. military and those who continue to serve today.”

Father Marina also spoke of the University’s long history educating men and women in the military through the ROTC program, as well as through programs at Scranton that support student veterans and their families.

On campus, current student veterans Benjamin DeTrempe of Scranton, Shannon Stoddard of Scranton and Kyle Twitchell of Barnesville, Maryland, led an All Faiths Prayer Service hosted by the University’s Student Veterans Organization, Veterans Advocacy Committee, Student Life, Financial Aid and Campus Ministries. University student Selene Lopez, New Rochelle, New York, sang the National Anthem at the service.

At the ceremony, a plaque was unveiled and blessed honoring Lt. Col. (Ret.) Joseph K. Wetherell, who served at Scranton for 25 years in the Military Science Department and University’s Office of Admissions. He passed away in 2020.

The University’s observance of Veterans Day also included a “Field of Flags” on Founders Green and a tribute on its Class of 2020 Gateway sign.

The University of Scranton is proud to report that student voting on its campus increased significantly in last year’s presidential election, rising to 73.1% in 2020 from a rate of 50.6% in 2016 and 7 points above the 66% 2020 student national average. The University also increased voter registration rates, with 86.7% of eligible voters registering compared to the 83% national average. The full campus report can be viewed here. 

In addition to the national context of increased voter turnout amid high polarization, The University of Scranton implemented new non-partisan civic engagement initiatives aimed at spurring student voting. In 2020, the University launched a new “Royals Vote” initiative to help increase student voter turnout through voter engagement and education. This effort was a partnership between Student Government and the Office of Community and Government Relations and included programs such as in-class presentations by student government senators, voting office hours and a call-in line, an extensive social media campaign and the creation of a website to share the most up-to-date voting information as the election drew near. This information was especially important due to the increase of mail-in voting options during the COVID-19 pandemic and on election day 2020, student government organized outdoor campus tabling to provide information on polling locations. 

“This [initiative] was a way for us to foster civic engagement among our student body and learn more about our democracy. We found that Scranton students were engaged and excited about the election and appreciated the Royals Vote initiative for giving them direction on voter registration and education. Many students wanted to participate in the election but needed guidance on how, where and when to get involved. Royals Vote was able to answer these questions and more,” said Julia Hack ’21 who served as the chief of staff of Student Government for the 2020-2021 academic year. 

In addition to launching the “Royals Vote” initiative, this year the University joined The ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge, which empowers colleges and universities to achieve excellence in nonpartisan student democratic engagement. During the 2020 election cycle, The University of Scranton participated in the ALL IN Challenge 2020 by creating a civic action plan to further involve the campus community in the effort to increase voting rates and engagement. The Royals delivered this election cycle with 73.1% voting rate, earning the University a Gold Seal from the ALL IN Challenge. You can view the 2020 Action Plan and learn more about the ALL IN Challenge here. 

“It’s incredibly important that we engage with our peers and the campus community about the importance of voting in every election. Positioned in a swing region of the most important swing state in the country, our votes have the power to sway the outcomes of critical elections for Governor, U.S. House, U.S. Senate, and others in next year’s midterm elections” said Conor Nelon ’22 Political Science & Strategic Communication Major and Student Government Chief of Staff.

Additionally, the University’s Political Dialogues Working Group, begun in 2017, held a series of topical dialogues that connected voting, values and civic identity in the runup to the 2020 election. 

“The most powerful tool we have as citizens is our ability to vote. When we work together as a community to increase the number of people that vote in each election it means our community receives better representation, more funding and a better quality of life. As we make progress together it is imperative that we understand the history of voting and the availability of neutral informational resources in order to increase voter turnout,” said Sultana Rahman ’22, political science, criminal justice & Arabic minor and community and civic engagement intern with the Office of Community and Government Relations.

This report detailing University of Scranton voting data in the context of comes from the Institute for Democracy & Higher Education (IDHE), creators of the National Study of Learning, Voting, and Engagement, or NSLVE. IDHE is located at Tufts University’s Tisch College of Civic Life.

Nationwide, the study’s authors report a record-breaking set of findings. On campuses across the country, students built on the momentum swing of 2018 and voted at high rates in the 2020 election, with voter turnout jumping to 66% in last year’s presidential election. The 14 percentage point increase, from 52% turnout in the 2016 election, outpaces that of all Americans, which jumped 6 percentage points from 61% to 67%, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

“That students, often younger and first-time voters, turned out at rates commensurate with the general public is nothing short of stunning,” said IDHE director Nancy Thomas. “We attribute this high level of participation to many factors, including student activism on issues such as racial injustice, global climate change and voter suppression, as well as increased efforts by educators to reach students and connect them to the issues and to voting resources.”

The 2020 election cycle is one that will be long-remembered for the many political factors surrounding the election and with the unique challenges posed by the onset of the pandemic.

“Despite the many personal challenges that University of Scranton students faced during the 2020 election, I am highly impressed with the level of engagement and civic concern expressed by our students as they participated in the civic process, many for the first time. I am hopeful that this experience will translate into our Royals becoming life-long voters,” said Carolyn M. Bonacci, community and civic engagement coordinator at the University.

One big step to continuing this momentum forward is for everyone to ensure that their voter registration is accurate and up-to-date. This can easily be done at vote.gov. 

IDHE’s National Study of Learning, Voting and Engagement (NSLVE, pronounced n-solve) is the nation’s largest study of college and university student voting. Institutions must opt-in to the study, and at this time, nearly 1,200 campuses of all types—community colleges, research universities, minority-serving and women’s colleges, state universities, and private institutions—participate. The dataset reflects all 50 states and the District of Columbia and includes 49 of the nation’s 50 flagship schools. IDHE uses de-identified student records to ensure student privacy. The 2020 dataset is robust with 8,880,700 voting-eligible students representing 1,051 colleges and universities. 

For more information or questions about Royals Vote, please contact community@scranton.edu.

On Friday, Nov. 12, Performance Music at The University of Scranton will present a concert featuring the University’s Jazz Ensemble with acclaimed trumpeter and vocalist Benny Benack III as their guest soloist. The concert will begin at 7:30 p.m. in the Houlihan-McLean Center, Mulberry Street and Jefferson Avenue.

The concert is open to invited guests and all members of the University community. Admission is free, all audience members must wear masks throughout the performance. University campus access and other health and safety information will be updated throughout the semester and can be seen on the Royals Back Together webpage. Please check Performance Music’s website, scranton.edu/music, within 24 hours of the recital for the most current information on audience COVID-19 mitigation measures (e.g., masking, vaccination, distancing, etc.).

The program will feature Benack soloing with the band on both voice and trumpet, and will include a variety of songs such as Bye Bye Blackbird, Choo Choo Ch’Boogie, Operator, Sway, St. Louis Blues and more.

Performance Music Conductor and Director Cheryl Y. Boga is excited for Benack’s first visit to Scranton. “I have known Benny since fall of 2009 and have truly enjoyed watching and listening to him develop into such a mature, versatile and exciting musician and entertainer,” said Boga. “I am really looking forward to having him work with our students.”

A 2014 finalist in the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Trumpet Competition and winner of the 2011 Carmine Caruso International Trumpet Competition, Benack has already proven himself to be a rare talent as both a jazz trumpeter and vocalist. A frontman for Postmodern Jukebox, the vintage music collective famed for its old-school covers of modern pop songs, Benack in 2020 released “A Lot of Livin’ to Do,” the follow-up to his well-received 2017 debut album, “One of a Kind.” 

The third in the generational line of a legendary family of Pittsburgh jazzmen, Benack has been showcased in international headliner tours at Jazz at Lincoln Center Shanghai, JALC’s “NY Jazz All-Stars” (Mexico), throughout Asia and Europe, and has headlined his own group’s tours throughout the U.S. He has performed at New York City’s leading jazz venues, as well as played in the house band for NBC’s “Maya & Marty” and performed as a trumpet soloist with the Christian McBride Big Band, Ann Hampton Callaway, Josh Groban and Ben Folds.

The University of Scranton Jazz Band is a 22-member ensemble made up of students from majors spanning the curriculum. There is no music major at the University, and all enrolled Scranton students (undergraduate and graduate) are eligible for membership in the University bands, choirs and string ensembles, with neither an audition nor enrollment fee required for membership. Other programs within the department, including both large ensemble and chamber ensemble music-making opportunities, guest artist concerts, World Premiere Composition Series, the Nelhybel Collection and Scranton Brass Orchestra, closely coordinate programming with the student ensembles and offer unique opportunities for student musicians in the ensembles to hear, observe, interact and perform with numerous world-class musicians and artist-teachers.

High school juniors and seniors who are considering applying to Scranton are encouraged to contact Performance Music to arrange to sit in on a rehearsal, meet the staff, attend a concert, or tour the building.   

For further information on the concert, call 570-941-7624, email music@scranton.edu or visit scranton.edu/music. For more info on Benack, visit bennybenackjazz.com.

The fall 2021 State of Scranton Seminar Series will take place on Wednesday, Nov. 17, from 9 a.m. – 10:30 p.m. in The Kane Forum in Edward R. Leahy, Jr. Hall at The University of Scranton, and focus on the State of Housing in Scranton. In this seminar, panelists will discuss the current challenges and opportunities surrounding housing in Scranton, Pennsylvania.

The pandemic has put renewed focus on housing, with small to mid-sized cities across the nation facing an array of challenges and opportunities. Individuals and families seeking to live in smaller cities like Scranton have spurred new investment and restoration of historically blighted properties while low-and moderate-income residents have faced rising housing costs amidst increased economic distress. This seminar will seek to address the important questions surrounding the current state of housing in Scranton today, including: What is the status of affordable housing units in Scranton? What is the current and future outlook for market-rate housing? What kinds of best practices in economic and community development can Scranton utilize to ensure that all residents are able to access a safe, welcoming and dignified place to live? How can cities innovate at this critical time? 

This event will begin with an opening presentation with panelists: Eileen Cipriani, Director, Office of Community Development, City of Scranton; Marty Fotta, Vice President of Community Development, United Neighborhood Centers of NEPA; Dana Hanchin, President and CEO, HDC MidAtlantic; and Sara Levy, Associate Broker and Regional Sales Manager, Classic Properties. A Q&A session with follow along with table-discussions around related themes, including: housing challenges and opportunities, equity and access issues and economic and community development best practices.

Registration is required for this event at: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ScrantonHousing For questions, please email community@scranton.edu and for more information please visit here.

This presentation and discussion are a part of the State of Scranton seminar series. Through campus and guest speakers, this series serves to engage the varied opportunities and challenges facing the Greater Scranton area. Q&A and table discussions will provide an opportunity for engagement

This event is cosponsored by The University of Scranton, NeighborWorks NEPA, and the Scranton Area Community Foundation with special thanks to the following University offices for their support: the Office of Community and Government Relations, Center for Service and Social Justice, the Jesuit Center, Faculty Senate, Staff Senate, the Ellacuría Initiative and the Political Science Department.