2018

The University of Scranton recognized students and their high school teachers, who they credit for contributing to their success, with Rose Kelly Awards at a ceremony held recently on campus.

The Rose Kelly Award was established by University of Scranton alumnus Joseph Wineburgh, Ph.D., to link the efforts of educators to the achievements of college students. The award is presented jointly to a student in each of the University’s colleges who has completed two years at Scranton and to the teacher whom he or she recognizes as having a great impact in his or her life. Students are selected based on exemplary achievement in both academics and general campus involvement.

(above photo)  Abbey Murphy, Mountain Top, received the Rose Kelly Award for the Kania School of Management. From left: Christy Laubach, the teacher Murphy honored from Crestwood High School; Murphy; and Murli Rajan, Ph.D., interim dean of the Kania School of Management.

From left: Debra Pellegrino, Ed.D., dean of the Panuska College of Professional Studies, and Kayla Collins, Prince Frederick, Maryland, who received the Rose Kelly Award for the Panuska College of Professional Studies. The teacher she honored, Selva Kumar, from Saint Mary’s Ryken High School, was absent from the photo.

Frank O’Hara medals were given University of Scranton students with the highest grade-point averages in their first-, second- and third-year in the College of Arts and Sciences, the Kania School of Management and the Panuska College of Professional Studies for the 2017-18 academic year. The awards, named in honor of the late Frank O’Hara who served the University for 53 years in various administrative positions, were presented at a ceremony held recently on campus.

From left: Brian Conniff, Ph.D., dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, and recipients of the Frank O’Hara medals from the College of Arts and Sciences: Anna Maria Giblin, Samuel Morano and Zackary Rieker.

College of Arts and Sciences

Zackary Rieker, Pottstown, received a medal for academic achievement for his freshman year. He is currently a sophomore biology and biomathematics double-major on a pre-medicine track. He plans to pursue a career as a pediatrician.

Anna Maria Giblin, Berwyn, received a medal for academic achievement for her sophomore year. She is currently a junior majoring in history. She serves as a tutor for several subjects through the University’s Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence (CTLE). She plans on attending law school after graduation. During this past summer, she completed a paid internship at the law firm Marshall Dennehey Warner Coleman & Goggin in Philadelphia. 

Samuel Morano, Clarks Summit, received a medal for academic achievement for his junior year. A recipient of the University’s full-tuition Presidential Scholarship, he is currently a senior biology major on a pre-medicine track, and is also pursuing minors in psychology and biochemistry. He is a member of Alpha Sigma Nu, the national Jesuit honor society, Beta Beta Beta, the national honor society for biology, and Alpha Epsilon Delta, the national health professional honor society. He has served as a tutor, a teaching assistant and a team leader for the University’s FIRST program. He volunteers with Big Friends Little Friends and the Leahy Clinic and participated in a domestic outreach program to St. Michaels Association for Special Education in Navajo Nation. Last year, he received the Frank O’Hara award for his sophomore year.

From left: recipients of the Frank O’Hara medals from the Kania School of Management: Tarquin McGurrin, Daniel Muenkel and Daniel Buzzerio; and Murli Rajan, Ph.D., interim dean of the Kania School of Management.

Kania School of Management

Tarquin McGurrin, Clarks Summit, received a medal for academic achievement for his freshman year. He is currently a sophomore majoring in accounting, who plans to earn his bachelor’s degree and MBA from the University in four years. He is a member of Scranton’s tennis team and had received first-team honors for both singles and doubles in the Landmark Conference for his freshman year. McGurrin plans to pursue a law degree after graduation.

Daniel Buzzerio, River Edge, New Jersey, received a medal for academic achievement for his sophomore year. He is currently a junior majoring in accounting, who is also a member of the undergraduate Honors Program and the Business Leadership Honors Program. He is treasurer of the Italian Society and the Business Club. He is s resident assistant and has helped lead the Connections retreat. He is pursing research with Douglas M. Boyle, DBA, associate professor, Accounting Department chair and DBA program director.

Daniel Muenkel, Fishkill, New York, received a medal for academic achievement for his junior year. He is currently a senior accounting and finance double-major with a minor in Mandarin Chinese and concentration in Asian studies. He is also a member of the Business Leadership Honors Program. He is captain on the Men’s Swim team and a lector on campus. Last year, he received the Critical Language Scholarship from U.S. State Department, and spent two months in China studying Mandarin Chinese. Muenkel interned for PwC as an assurance intern and will begin working with them in Manhattan full-time after graduation.

Panuska College of Professional Studies

Emily Campo, Haddonfield, New Jersey, received a medal for academic achievement for her freshman year. She is currently a sophomore majoring in occupational therapy. She is a member of the Student Occupational Therapy Association and the Helping Professions Residential Learning Community. She has volunteered with several organizations, including the Arc of Northeastern Pennsylvania. She is also a member of the Royal Signers.

Madison Heaton, Medford, New Jersey, received a medal for academic achievement for her sophomore year. A recipient of the University’s full-tuition Presidential Scholarship, she is currently a junior occupational therapy major, who is also pursuing minors in psychology and human services as well as a concentration in human development. She served an orientation assistant and participated in the Scranton Emerging Leaders program. She is the president of the Sophomore Helping Professions Living Learning Community, secretary of the Royal Signers, a member of Student Occupational Therapy Association and a certified yoga instructor. An active volunteer, she is also a member of Beading Hope and Autism Speaks U.

Melissa Busch, Yardley, received a medal for academic achievement for her junior year. She is currently a senior occupational therapy major, and is pursuing minors in psychology and counseling and human services, as well as a human development concentration. She has served as a teaching assistant and tutor on campus. This is the third O’Hara award Busch has received, having also earned O’Hara Awards for her sophomore and freshman years at Scranton. She went on the spring break service trip with Habitat for Humanity in Cumberland County, New Jersey, and a summer international service program trip to Jamaica. She is an orientation assistant and has volunteered with Big Friends Little Friends, and SMART, a mentoring program for high school students from Scranton High School.

On the weekend of Nov. 16-18, a team of 11 students led a group of 38 retreatants on the sixth Manresa Retreat at the Chapman Lake Retreat Center. The Manresa Retreat is based on Ignatian spirituality and focuses on the five stanzas of the First Principle and Foundation, which is the introduction to the Spiritual Exercises by St. Ignatius. The themes of these stanzas include Finding God in All Things, Gratitude and Reverence, Faith that Does Justice, Ignatian Indifference, Magis, and Discernment. The student leaders offer witness talks and facilitate prayer services based on these themes to encourage students to think about their personal relationships with God and where they experience God’s love in their lives.

“Manresa was, for me, an opportunity to take a step back from a hectic semester and immerse myself in an environment of reflection and remind myself that I am from love, of love, and for love. It becomes easy to get caught up in my day to day as an over-involved student, and Manresa gave me the chance to slow down and explore my values in light of Ignatian spirituality," said Anna Giannantonio '18.

Campus Ministries offers more than 20 different types of retreat experiences on most weekends during the Fall and Spring semesters. A variety of different retreat experiences provide choices from which students can choose. The retreats offer time and space for students to deepen awareness of God’s Presence and to cultivate a healthy relationship with that Presence, both individually and communally.

For a list of the Spring 2019 retreats, check out our web page soon! 

The University of Scranton Institute of Management Accountants Student Chapter presented donations to Campus Ministries’ International Service Program on Wednesday, Dec. 5.  The Accounting students held a donation drive throughout the semester for dental and first aid supplies and toiletries that will benefit communities in Belize, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, Jamaica and Mexico. 

In addition to a variety of much-needed supplies, over 100 band-aids, 1,400 yards of dental floss and 250 toothbrushes were collected!

To add to their donation, please contact barbara.king@scranton.edu.

Chris Whitney, director of the Center for Career Development at The University of Scranton, offers advice on what students can do during the winter break to prepare for their future careers.

Job Searches Peak in January

According to Chris Whitney, January is a peek time to look for jobs, as many employers will be posting new positions after the new year. If you haven’t already, winter break is a great time to make use of Handshake.com. You can log on by visiting scranton.edu/careers and clicking on the link provided. Currently, Handshake lists more than 8,000 postings, including nearly 2,000 internships.

Build and Refresh your Network

Intersession is a great time to get in touch with people, especially alumni, whom you have met during your time at Scranton. Send them an email and ask if they would be available to talk or meet with you. This is a chance for you to learn about what successful men and women in your field have done to get where they are. Whitney suggests asking them about their journey and their career, as well as for advice as you start to think about your future. This will show intellectual curiosity and is a great way to practice communication skills without the stress of interviewing.

If you feel awkward reaching out to alumni you barely know, Whitney says don’t. Talking with alumni about your career is a safe place to start and alumni want to help Scranton students succeed. Most will feel flattered that you want to hear their stories and listen to their advice.

Revamp your Resume

A break from coursework offers an ideal time to focus on your resume, one of the most important documents needed in your career search. Whitney offers a few things to keep in mind when revamping your resume:

Organization: keep the most relevant experiences and skills at the top of your resume. (Many employers will stop reading if the first item does impress them);

Research: once you have decided the positions you want to apply for, look at the job descriptions and make sure your resume exhibits the skills and experience the employer mentions in the job listing. Again, Handshake is a great tool for this. Be sure to include industry terms mentioned in your resume and cover letter. Usually, everything you need to mention is included in the job description.

Use your network: ask alumni to look at your resume and take their advice to heart;

Customize your resume: some students think that a resume should be a one size fits all deal. It is not. If you are applying to slightly different positions at different companies or organizations, your resume might have to be different too depending on the skills and experiences needed for each position. Each resume should be tailored to the position you want.

Practice your Interview Skills

Don’t have any interview experience? Whitney suggests getting some practice during the break by using Big Interview, an online mock interview program. All you need is a computer with a webcam and the website will provide sample interviews based on industry with three difficulty levels from which to choose. The website will record your responses for your review. You can also share your responses with career counselors at the University or members of your network for feedback. To get started, just visit scranton.edu/careers and scroll down for the link.

Professor Peter Leininger, Ph.D., of the Physical Therapy Department at The University of Scranton, said there are amazing new technologies in exercise science that are revolutionizing the field, shortening the time from surgery to full recovery.

Among the most exciting is blood flow restriction (BFR) therapy. Essentially, a tourniquet is wrapped around the upper or lower extremity, with controlled and monitored blood flow restriction to the muscles and joints of the knee, hip, ankle, shoulder, elbow or wrist, which greatly hastens the rehabilitation process.

Dr. Leininger, the only physical therapist in the Scranton area currently certified in BFR, explained that the method started in the military, then spread to professional sports and is now being used by major universities, clinics and hospitals to treat their injured athletes.

In January, Dr. Leininger and his students will present their BFR research (a systematic review) at the annual American Physical Therapy Association’s national conference in Washington, D.C.  They are also completing a second systematic review studying the effect of BFR training with the older adult population.

Several research studies are planned at the University utilizing the BFR Delphi unit (currently the only FDA approved blood flow restriction device). The BFR device is being used on campus with several patients following ACL reconstruction to their knees.

“What is clear is that light-load exercise with a tourniquet that is used properly is safe and effective,” said Dr. Leininger, whose department owns the aforementioned Delfi device.  “It’s a very good way to do light-weight resistance exercise where you don’t damage what was repaired, and recovery is demonstrably faster, decreasing the time necessary to develop increased muscle mass and strength of the injured or surgically repaired region of the body.”

He says this latest therapy modality is being used more widely following knee surgery, including anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction, as well as rotator cuff, hip and ankle surgical procedures.

University Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) graduate students who will be presenting their research at the upcoming conference in January are Matthew Aitken ’17, Edison, New Jersey; Omar Amer, Scotch Plains, New Jersey; Berta Carmo, Parsippany, New Jersey; Sophia DiCamillo ’17, Abington; Christine Kiefer ’17, Wantagh, New York; Dannylyn Manabat, Long Beach, California; and Jonathan Mayes, Dublin (PA).

Ignatian Family Teach-In for Justice 2018

Campus Ministries’ Center for Service & Social Justice coordinated a group of 21 University of Scranton students, faculty and staff in early November to attend the 21st annual Ignatian Family Teach-In for Justice in Arlington, Virginia and Washington, D.C. They joined nearly 2,000 individuals from more than 125 institutions across the Jesuit and greater Catholic network. This year’s theme, Discipleship at the Crossroads, drew inspiration from Pope Francis’ call to “get to know people, listen, expand the circle of ideas” to better journey together “towards the Good.”

Our group was made up of both undergraduate and graduate students who are passionate about issues including climate change, racial justice, mass incarceration, and the state of migrants and refugees. Participants had opportunities to listen to keynotes from Bishop George Murray, SJ, on racism, and Dr. Nichole Flores, a professor of religious studies at the University of Virginia on the virtue of solidarity. The final day included advocacy visits to Capitol Hill. Our group met with staff members from the offices of Pennsylvania Senators Casey and Toomey to advocate on legislation regarding immigration and mass incarceration.

Avianna Carilli ’22 said, “It was amazing to see so many people in one room who are so passionate about the same things I am passionate about. You don’t need to know a lot about all the issues. I went there to learn. Since I returned from the Teach-In I decided to declare a Peace & Justice concentration.”

Senior Anna Giannantonio reflected, “IFTJ gave me the opportunity to learn and grow with my Jesuit-educated brothers and sisters across the nation (and in some cases, across the globe) so that we are better equipped to stand in solidarity with those that need it most. I learned a lot, but my biggest takeaway is that you can’t necessarily ever walk around in someone’s shoes – a concept I always used to love. You, can however, appreciate the shoe in the experiences that it walked through and you can love the foot it fits.”

Rose Hricko ’22 added, “I think it was important to attend IFTJ because being an active and practicing Catholic means living your faith in ways that promote and work for justice. IFTJ both educates and prepares students to do just that.”

The University of Scranton Programming Board (USPB) held its annual Tuition Raffle throughout the Fall 2018 semester, with the final drawing occurring at USPB’s Christmas on the Commons event on Sunday, Dec. 2, 2018. 

The recipient this year is Enis Murtaj from Clarks Summit, PA and a graduate of Abington Heights High School. He is a member of the Class of 2020 and is an Accounting major in the Kania School of Management. On campus, he has been involved with Student Government, the Business Club and currently serves as President of the Commuter Student Association and as a School Board Member for the Abington Heights School District. 

This annual Tuition Raffle is an opportunity for students and families to win a reimbursement of tuition for a full time student up to the amount of $22,066.00, which is applied to the spring 2019 term. In order to participate, a student must be currently enrolled as a full-time undergraduate at The University of Scranton. 

The Tuition Raffle greatly helps in deferring the cost of programming events for the senior Class of 2019. Such events include the Senior Holiday Happy Hour and Senior Week activities. While the University provides a portion of funds for campus-wide programming, it does not fully cover senior class programming. Therefore, this raffle is the Senior Programming Committee’s main source of funding for the entire academic year and all senior events.

Mission Statement: 

The University of Scranton Programming Board (USPB) is a student run organization with the purpose of sponsoring social, cultural, educational, and recreational events at The University of Scranton. We strive to make all of our programs accessible and enjoyable for the campus community. The students involved in USPB will gain valuable leadership experience and learn more about programming and the implementation of both small and large-scale events. Each year, we plan nearly 60 events as “men & women for and with others” that are open to university students, faculty and staff, and most of which are free.

For more information, please visit The University of Scranton Programming Board at www.scranton.edu/USPB. For more information, contact USPB at (570) 941-6233 or email uspb@scranton.edu.

The Office of Campus Ministries sponsors a Theology on Tap program for grad students and undergrads who are 21 years old and up.  Based on the national program of the same name, students engage in dialogue with a guest presenter on topics of faith, spirituality, religion and (of course) theology.  Our students gather at The Wine Cellar (a local bar on Mulberry St. across from the University) once per month on Fridays between 5:30 p.m. and 6:45 p.m. 

Theology on Tap is unique in that it is not structured as a lecture. Presenters are encouraged to prompt students to first share their own thoughts on the topic of the day and then present his or her material as a response to what the students say; hence creating a dialogue. 

“The students who have participated in the program so far this semester have really engaged in the discussions,” said Fred Mercadante, campus minister for Retreats and Sacramental Formation.  “They seem to relish the opportunity to interact with each other and in particular with the presenter in ways that are very different than what they are used to in the classroom.  Theology on Tap is truly answering the call of Pope Francis who is inviting the Church to ‘get out of the sacristies and into the streets.’” 

Fr. Scott Pilarz, President of the University, presented in October on the topic of “The Church in 50 Years – Could’s and Should’s.” Dr. Maria Poggi Johnson, Professor of Theology/Religious Studies, presented in November on the topic of “Why Me?  Faith When Things Go Wrong.” 

Plans for presenters in the spring semester include Bishop Bambera, The America Magazine Jesuitical Podcast team, and Dr. Cyrus P. Olsen III, associate professor of theology/religious studies.

This story originally appeared in IT Matters, the IT newsletter. 

The University’s ability to prepare for and mitigate an emergency always remains a priority. In the event of an emergency, University Police will activate the Emergency Notification System once it has been confirmed that there is any significant emergency or dangerous situation. Then we think, what next?

It was in October 2015 when a shooting occurred at Umpqua Community College. The suspect went from one building to the next, as we watched those events unfold live on CNN. The reporter asked, how the suspect could continue to enter buildings when surely Umpqua was in lockdown. Probably at a secondary school where there is typically a single building that would be easy. But we recognized on an open college campus, that’s not always so easily done, especially with so many buildings. Back then, facilities manually unlocked and locked all the doors. And in an emergency could we really expect staff to start manually locking doors, and how long might that take? Consequently, we recognized the importance of implementing some measures to prevent what happened at Umpqua.

Therefore, in 2017, University Police, Facilities and IT embarked on a project to be able to remotely control all doors through the Blackboard Transact system. Now with the click of a mouse, most exterior doors can be put into “Royal Card Access Only” or in an extreme situation, a total lockdown. Educating the University Community on how these systems work during an emergency is an ongoing effort.

Continue reading this story here. 

Take a study break and come get a healthy snack! The Peer Health Educators will be hosting Study Smoothly on Thursday, Dec. 6 from 9-11 p.m. on 1st floor DeNaples.

We will be handing out free smoothies, and there will be a craft table where you can make stress balls and get information on healthy sleeping habits!

Chill out with CHEW during our Stress Less Week! We are hosting a number of events to help students relax during the week before finals start.

We kick off the week with Stress Less Fest (a craft collaboration with USPB), offer free chair massages on Tuesday and Wednesday, and we will have our annual Study Smoothly event on Thursday night from 9-11 p.m. on 1st floor DeNaples! 

Look out for our PHE's during the week-- they will be giving out information, treats, and positive vibes around campus!

The Commuter Student Association and the Office of Off Campus and Commuter Student Life, in collaboration with Se Habla and The Italian Society, cordially invite you and the local community to a Holidays Around the World Event. On Dec. 5 from 5 to 7 p.m. in the DeNaples Center Student Forum (and rooms 213/214) we'll be offering a variety of free snacks, activities and crafts in celebration of a variety of faith and cultural traditions. We hope you can join us! Look for the poster around campus and on Royal Sync.

For questions, please contact Julia Leighow at (570)941-6292 or julia.leighow@scranton.edu.

The University of Scranton’s fourth annual Future Accountants Leadership Conference, held Nov. 17 on campus, was attended by 78 top high school students with an interest in business or accounting. The students represented 68 high schools and four states. The conference included an interactive experience with members of the Kania School of Management’s faculty, the Accounting Department Professional Alumni Council and students from the Business Leadership Honors Program and Beta Alpha Psi, the accounting honor society.

Eighty elementary and middle school students and their teachers from Howard Gardner MI Charter School and the Lutheran Academy attended “Presenting El Salvador” at The University of Scranton as part of its International Education Week programming. International graduate MBA student Ingrid Maria Serrano Bran of El Salvador gave the presentation about her home country on Nov. 12 in the McIlhenny Ballroom of the DeNaples Center.

After introductory remarks given by event organizer Huey Shi Chew, director of international student and scholar services, and Sunil Ahuja, Ph.D., associate provost for academic affairs, Serrano Bran asked the school children to guess at trivia facts such as El Salvador’s national bird, currency and the continent on which it is located. She handed out small prizes to students who could provide the correct answer. 

After sharing photos of beaches, mountains and volcanoes in El Salvador, Serrano Bran then gave a brief overview of the nation’s history, beginning with a description of the indigenous populations, covering independence through to modern times. When discussing the current political and economic situation of El Salvador she mentioned high poverty and low literacy rates in the country, saying the average educational level in the country is sixth grade due to “the violence and environment,” which affects “especially the poorer class.”

Serrano Bran also discussed cultural aspects of her homeland, sharing colorful photographs of dancers, food, soccer teams and traditional arts of El Salvador. She also explained the special connection between the Jesuit university of El Salvador and The University of Scranton since 1999. She shared a photo of a Scranton sweater that was made in El Salvador.

Serrano Bran urged the children to sympathize with those who want to leave El Salvador for better opportunities. She shared a photo of a young boy who was fleeing to Mexico even though he knew he could die in the process. “The kids just want to play and have a good future,” she said. “When we understand each other’s problems, we can open our minds and hearts to solve them together.”

Following the presentation, the students were invited to taste El Salvador’s most popular food: Pupusas (a thick corn tortilla stuffed with a savory filling).

The Department of Communication will host an informational meeting for its faculty-led study abroad course in Ireland on Monday, Nov. 19, at 4:30 p.m. in LSC 406.

The course, which will be led by Dr. Matt Reavy, is scheduled for June 2019 and includes 12 days in Dublin, Galway and other places in Ireland. For more information, please email matthew.reavy@scranton.edu.

The Men's Club Volleyball team will be playing the Wilkes Varsity team in the Long Center this Sunday, Nov. 18 at 3:30 p.m. Come by and support.

Each academic year University of Scranton accounting students participate in winter and summer internships with "Big Four" and other accounting firms, as well as with various private companies. These internships provide valuable practical experience for our accounting students and often lead to full-time employment offers to the student interns after graduation. 

Additionally, many students earn three academic credits for their accounting internships. James F. Boyle, DBA, CPA, assistant accounting professor and faculty advisor for accounting internships, indicated, " I enjoy working with student interns and reading their journal papers describing their internship experiences."

Read about the experiences of Kieran Bracken, Maeve Dooley, Brian Price Gianna Tramantana, Patrick Fitzgerald, Jeremy Mammen, William Lang and Tarquin McGurrin on pages 8 and 9 of The Ledger, the accounting newsletter, here.

Data collected through an American College Health Assessment (ACHA) administered survey of Scranton’s undergraduate population have been used to inform services and health promotion offerings, as well as related Student Life planning and programming. 

The survey of University students, organized by the University’s Center for Health Education and Wellness (CHEW), in collaboration with Student Health Services and the Counseling Center, was given in the fall of 2016. The data has not only helped to inform daily operations, but has also assisted Student Life practitioners in understanding the current needs, perceptions and behaviors of the University’s student population, according to an article by Stephanie Adamac, director of CHEW, and Jeffrey Kegolis, Ph.D., director of student conduct and assessment, published in the fall 2018 newsletter of the Office of Educational Assessment.

Key findings of the survey showed: 87.2 percent of students described their health as good, very good, or excellent; stress (39 percent) and anxiety (31 percent) were the top two health factors that students reported negatively impacted their academic success; and health information students reported wanting to receive in the future included stress reduction (81 percent), how to help others in distress (78 percent), nutrition (75 percent), depression and anxiety (72 percent) and sleep difficulties (71 percent).

In response to the survey, for the past three semesters, CHEW has prioritized proactive mental health education and services and alcohol education with an increased emphasis on bystander engagement and the promotion of the University’s Amnesty/Good Samaritan policy. In addition, CHEW has prioritized improving, increasing and promoting programs and services related to stress management, health coping skills and resiliency.

Among the stress reduction programs offered by CHEW is a biannual Stress Less Week prior to finals each semester. This semester’s Stress Less Week is planned for the week of Dec. 3 through Dec. 7 and includes daily stress relief events.

Liva Arts Company presents, "I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change!" This hilarious revue pays tribute to those who have loved and lost, to those who have fallen on their face at the portal of romance, and to those who have dared to ask, "Say, what are you doing Saturday night"?
Location: Loyola Science Center, Room 133

Show dates & times:
- Thursday, Nov. 15 @ 8:00pm
- Friday, Nov. 16 @ 8:00pm
- Saturday, Nov. 17 @ 2:00pm AND 8:00pm

Tickets:
$5 for All (students, staff, general admission, etc.)

Niko Kallianiotis, the photographer of the exhibition “America in a Trance” now on display in the Hope Horn Gallery, was joined by photographer Luke Wynn, documentary and street photographer Parker Reinecker and award-winning author and journalist Seamus McGraw in a panel discussion about the exhibit and on capturing the cultural identity of small towns in Pennsylvania in images. The three panelists also wrote short essays on Kallianoitis’ work.

Kallianiotis, originally from Athens, Greece, first visited the United States by going to New York City in the late 1980s, but wanted to truly experience the country by seeing its small towns.

“I wanted to explore small town industrial America as a way to find myself and assimilate myself with the country and the state,” Kallianiotis said. “One of the difficulties of having two countries and loving two countries is to try to find yourself and find your identity through the place you live.”

Kallianiotis’ “America in a Trance,” involves photographs from across Pennsylvania capturing scenes of deindustrialization.

“If you have read the essays it’s almost like they’re expressing their own life histories through the essays, and I’m expressing my life histories and concerns through the photographs,” Kallianiotis said.

McGraw commented on how Kallianiotis captured the essence of Pennsylvania and put it on display.

“The towns he takes pictures of, they were never meant to be forever, they’re named after guys who came here to take what they could take and left as soon as they got it. They left fossils behind,” McGraw said. “Niko catches that when you freeze the last moment of life that last moment of hope, and that is the inspiring thing about all of these pictures.”

Wynn then asked Niko on his process of taking photos in this area and what inspired him to do it.

“I don’t have a process, the process and inspiration was, for this project and is for many projects that I do, my own life experiences,” Kallianiotis said.

Even though Niko’s project attempts to capture the idea of industrialization he still encourages people to go out and explore small town America.

“This project has been and still is an education for me, and I recommend visiting all of these places, getting in your car, driving there and coming to your own conclusions,” Kallianiotis said.

Reinecker concluded the discussion by describing the feeling of taking photographs in these small-town areas.

“It isn’t even about getting the picture, it’s about being there and watching that moment unfold,” Reinecker said.

The panel discussion ended with a question and answer, followed up by a public reception at the Hope Horn Gallery.

This story originally appeared in the fall 2018 issue of The Scranton Journal. 

In the Jesuit tradition, students practice listening to understand in a recent civic engagement initiative to bridge the political divide.

Students arrive on campus each fall with distinct, sometimes very personal stories that have shaped their evolving political identities. In today’s polarized environment, their instinct might be to engage only with those like-minded or, in class discussion, to shy away from sharing their experiences or their values. The result is lost opportunities.

“At a time when talking to people with different political views seems like a dying art form, Scranton’s strong campus community — with its Jesuit emphasis of care for the other — has made this kind of challenging engagement possible,” said Julie Schumacher Cohen, director of Community and Government Relations at the University, whose office coordinates a collaborative new initiative at Scranton called “Bursting Political Bubbles: Dialogue Across Differences.”

The initiative aims to bring students together, outside of class but in connection with academic courses, to share their personal experiences and beliefs — and, more important, to listen to others — in a space that is confidential and respectful and open to the unexpected and uncomfortable. Using a method called Reflective Structured Dialogue conceived of by Essential Partners, a nonprofit organization based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, that helps “foster constructive dialogue where conflicts are driven by differences in identity, beliefs and values,” students can begin to feel more secure in their own stories and less fearful of others.

“A lot of times we tend to put a certain view on another group — that they are liberal or conservative — then we think, ‘Well, they definitely believe this or believe that,’ and we never give them the chance to share and show what their views are,” said Nailah Harvey ’18. “People don’t just fit into one little box.”

The initiative has campus-wide involvement, run by a Campus Working Group.*

“These dialogues are about better understanding where other people are coming from, understanding where the person’s belief system comes from and, ultimately, building empathy,” said facilitator Teresa Grettano, Ph.D., faculty member in the English and Theatre Department, who in the 2018-19 academic year is coordinating a Clavius seminar for faculty and running an academic course as part of the initiative.

Learning to listen

Each political dialogue session — three in the spring of 2018 — was structured carefully. After opening sessions to understand biases and present the “rules” of communication, including respecting others’ stories and perspectives, students broke up into smaller groups, and facilitators followed a consistent format to ensure the students did the talking. And the listening.

“It takes you out of your own little bubble,” said Harvey, who attended two of the three sessions in the spring. “We all surround ourselves with people who agree with us constantly. We never really listen to dissenting views. And if there are dissenting views, we either unfollow them on Facebook or unfriend them. The sessions allowed us to share our own views but also be open to listening to what everyone else was sharing.”

Listening. It’s not a new idea. Here is St. Ignatius of Loyola in 1546 speaking to the fathers attending Council of Trent: “Be slow to speak, and only after having first listened quietly, so that you may understand the meaning, leanings and wishes of those who do speak. Thus, you will better know when to speak and when to be silent.”

“We put together the practical facilitation skills from Essential Partners with the spiritual guidance of St. Ignatius of Loyola. Together, they create an environment where students can begin to engage with genuine curiosity and conviction, honesty and humility. It’s not about glossing over differences or staying neutral — in fact, the dialogue process can make you a more effective advocate. It’s not easy, though,” said Schumacher Cohen.

Enis Murtaj ’20 said he knows he should listen, but he thought it was effective to have the rules set out so that people — including him — did.

Murtaj found it particularly difficult, as he is a self-proclaimed debater. “I had to hold back a little,” he said. “We had agreed to respecting each other, not talking over each other. It made the environment open.”

That “open” space is crucial in a reflective structured dialogue so that all students have the same amount of airtime, said facilitator Jessica Nolan, Ph.D., associate professor of psychology. “The reflective dialogue helps to accomplish the goal of creating groups of equal status,” she said.

Continue reading this article in the fall issue of The Scranton Journal, here. 

The University of Scranton Players will present “The Beyoncé” by Eliza Bent, directed by José Zayas, Nov. 15-18 in the Studio Theatre of the Joseph M. McDade Center for the Literary and Performing Arts. Thursday, Friday and Saturday performances begin at 8 p.m., and the Sunday performance begins at 2 p.m. Seating is limited.

“The Beyoncé” is a contemporary comedy based on Anton Chekhov’s short story “The Fiancé.” Bent puts a modern spin on Chekov’s classic story about Nadia, a young woman who is engaged, and finds herself struggling with finding her place in the world. Nadia is content with settling into marriage and motherhood until her lifelong friend Sasha arrives in town for the wedding and inspires her to confront her aspirations for a bigger life.

Bent is the inaugural, 2018-19 Humanities Initiative Artist-in-Residence. A prolific theatre artist, she has collaborated with renowned New York theatre groups and artists as well as worked for American Theatre magazine. Her play “The Hotel Colors” premiered at Bushwick Star, and she has most recently been featured at Abrons Arts Center in her solo show, “Aloha, aloha, or when I was queen.” Bent was the recipient of the 2014 Payne Award for Outstanding Theatrical Event. T

he production of “The Beyoncé” features Nia Moore as Nadia, Nicolas Gangone as Sasha, Ali Basalyga as Nina, Zachary Pavlocak as Andre Andre, Victoria Pennington as Gran Marfs, Ellie Rosentel as Pops, and Julia Consiglio as Consuelo. Basalyga is a graduate of West Scranton High School, Pennington is a graduate of Wyoming Area Secondary Center, and Rosentel is a graduate of Wyoming Seminary.

For tickets, contact the Players box office at 570-941-4318 or visit us at thescrantonplayers.com. Tickets are $10 for adults and $7 for senior citizens, students, and University of Scranton faculty and staff.

The University of Scranton Players is an academic theatre program that brings exceptional theatre to Northeastern Pennsylvania every season. The Players’ productions feature University of Scranton students in a mix of classical and contemporary works under the direction and mentorship of award-winning faculty and guest artists.

For more information, contact players@scranton.edu or find us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Alumni from KSOM, PCPS, and CAS will be on campus to talk about their career journeys and their experiences working in the nonprofit industry.

This panel will be helpful to any student in any major! You will be able to ask questions and network after the event!

Wednesday, Nov. 14 at 5:00 p.m. in DeNaples 405.

Home to the Celtic Tiger, a nickname for their booming economy, Ireland is known as the Emerald Isle for another kind of green as it is blanketed with lush grasses and clover making it appear green from space. Global Insights is pleased to offer four native Irish students to present Ireland at the next luncheon on Nov. 15 at 11:30 a.m. in Brennan Hall, the Rose Room, 509. Registration required to attend this event. See the link below.

Studying abroad at Scranton for the fall semester, Rebecca O’Sullivan-Ryan ’20, Education, and Gráinne Doherty ’20, Education, say if you want to experience the Irish culture, walk through Galway. They feel it is a better representation than the capital of Dublin. Shop Street is the main drag for action and culture.  Bustling with activity, including modern eateries, pubs and shops, Shop Street is home to ancient Lynch’s Castle, built in the 1500’s by the once most powerful family in Galway. 

O’Sullivan-Ryan, who comes from County Wexford in southeast Ireland,   related how Irish culture is highlighted by the rich and wonderful festivals. The Fleadh Cheoil festival is mainly a music festival lasting for one week that moves from county to county in Ireland each year. This year’s attendance is estimated at a half million people. Doherty, originally from County Mayo, explained that our cultures are similar, yet different, in some ways. “After a night out, instead of going for pizza, we would go to a chipper for burgers and fries.” French fries in Ireland are known as ‘chips’. O’Sullivan-Ryan added, “For a spice bag, which has fries, veggies, shredded cheese, peppers and spices.” As Irish culture is rich with history and mythology, Doherty mentioned that she would tell the mysterious tale of the curse of County Mayo during the presentation.

Liam Mooney ’15,  a returning graduate student in Rehab Counseling, remarked how the fast-paced lifestyle here in Scranton contrasts with that of his native Galway City. He has traveled within the U.S. and says “Georgia reminds me most of home.” He describes Galway City as a young person’s town, home to a university, and music and film festivals. Gary Guinane ’21, Business Administration, comes from Limerick City to study at Scranton. he related, and the others agreed, that the Irish culture embraces a great sense of humor. They enjoy time with friends and ‘going for a pint’ on occasion. Guinane’s one piece of advice when visiting Ireland was “Don’t kiss the Blarney Stone.” 

This program is being offered by the Office of International Student and Scholar Services, the Cross Cultural Centers, Residence Life and the Office of Equity and Diversity. A light lunch featuring cuisine from the highlighted country will be served.

Registration for this event is required. Click here to register. For more information, please contact Huey Shi Chew at hueyshi.chew@scranton.edu or 570-941-7575.

"Mankiller" is a recent film about the life of Wilma Mankiller, the Cherokee Nation's first female principal chief. Mankiller was known as an activist, feminist, and social change agent, even beyond her years in office when she continued to lecture on topics such as tribal sovereignty, women's rights, and health care.

Join us on Thursday, Nov. 8 at 7 p.m. in DeNaples Moskovitz Theater to watch this film and for a brief discussion afterward in honor of Native American Heritage Month, and to see a poignant example of a strong woman leader.

For questions or future topics contact the Cross Cultural Center at jwkc@scranton.edu 

Most Reverend Bernardito C. Auza, Apostolic Nuncio and Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations, discussed “Global Migration: Shared Responsibility and Solidarity” at The University of Scranton.

“On the 30th of July this year, delegations to the United Nations conference on migration informally adopted what is now called the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration,” said Archbishop Auza, who has served at the United Nations since 2014.

 The Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (GCM) seeks to improve governance and attempts to address the challenges associated with migration today. In 2017, 250 million people migrated to different countries and 68.5 million of the people migrating were forced from their homes, according to Archbishop Auza.

“Refugees in 2017 grew to almost 27 million from around 11 million in 2010, an increase of more than 60 percent in only seven years,” Archbishop Auza said. “These are just some of the figures that tell us why the international community has come together and decided to come up with a compact.”

The GCM acts as a framework for dealing with massive movements of migrating people around the world and seeks to lower death rates when migrating.

“In September 2018 – that is just last month – one fifth – that’s 20 percent – of the migrants and refugees who tried to cross the Mediterranean from Libya to Italy or Greece perished, they drowned or simply disappeared,” Archbishop Auza said.

In addressing the question of why people leave their homes, Archbishop Auza said there are “many factors that drive migration.” He continued saying “you can generally divide them into two: the so called push factors that are the factors that drive people to leave their homelands to go somewhere else; and the so called pull factor, those are the factors that make people move to a particular country.”

 “The number one push factor now is war and conflict,” Archbishop Auza said. “The pull factors that attract people to go somewhere else like the search for better opportunities and changes in labor markets.”

The top three nationalities who crossed the Mediterranean from January 2015 to March 2016 were Syrians at 47 percent, Afghans at 21 percent and Iraqis at nine percent, according to Archbishop Auza.

“What is the common denominator of these three countries? War and conflict,” Archbishop Auza said.

The General Assembly for the UN will hold an intergovernmental conference on international migration in December of this year, with the idea of adopting the GCM. The GCM has several principles that seek to help ease migration, an example of a principle is the “recognition that migration is a natural positive phenomenon,” according to Archbishop Auza.

“The global compact is now the international framework for global and shared responsibility toward migrants,” Archbishop Auza said. “This Global Compact on Migration is the first ever – there has never been a global compact or international document on migration. This is historic.”

The lecture ended in a panel discussion with members from the University and closing remarks from Rev. Scott R. Pilarz, S.J., president of the University.

How to get there:

Pennsylvania registered voters can head to Pennsylvania's voting website or  GetToThePolls.com to find out the closest polling location.

Still not convinced? Here are what two Scranton students have to say about why voting is essential.

"I think it’s important for students to vote in the upcoming election because the youth vote has the power to be so influential in our country. Students don’t realize that they have the power to directly influence issues that affect or could in the future. Our world seems to be going backward and young people tend to complain instead of actually doing something that can be impactful like simply voting can do so much. Older generations see the world differently and they have a larger voter outcome which is clearly seen in our country today. Voting is a privilege and having a larger college student vote turnout can make a huge difference in shaping and fixing our country. We have the ability to voice our concerns and make change for our future and generations to come. It’s about moving forward in a positive light."

"Personally, I am not involved enough in politics but I know I should be. My parents are very active and they have lots of conversations about them. Through them and my personal beliefs, I know that I look for candidates that want the best for others but still don’t take away given rights. I identify as a Republican, but I feel I’m economically conservative and socially liberal. It’s also difficult to find information on the candidates and their beliefs because almost everything is biased. There’s no perfect way to vote but we are given our right at the age of 18 for a reason. This has to do with the people who run our country and if we’re not involved in that decision we can’t complain that we don’t like who’s in charge. We’re the next generation, we are the rising adults. It’s become our say and we want our children and their children to come into this world knowing the importance of who is in office and how they are running the particular position."

Allison Steitz '20

Get to the polls Nov. 6 and vote the change you wish to see in the United States!

Applying to colleges can be an overwhelming process.  Visiting schools can make this process less stressful, and attending an open house is a great way to learn about campus life while getting to see it in person! The University of Scranton will host a second “A Day on the Commons” on Sunday, November 4.

Current Scranton students are always happy and willing to talk to prospective students. They can offer great insight into what life at Scranton is really like, including information about academics and activities offered on campus.

Julia McKinney is a junior neuroscience and philosophy major and a tour guide on campus.

“Open House is a great opportunity to see and get a feel for the campus, and to visit students’ favorite places to hang out or study,” McKinney said.  “Above all, Open House provides plenty of ways that prospective students can talk to current students, visit and tour research labs, meet with professors and learn about academic programs – things that are not normally offered on a regular tour.”

It is good to go into an open house informed.  Having a few questions prepared beforehand can help ease your mind when you arrive on campus.

"Think of some academic programs or departments that you are interested in getting more information about,” McKinney said.  “Also have a few clubs or activities in mind that you would like to get involved in on campus, and come up with a few questions to ask any professor or student you talk to.”

The most important piece of advice for visiting a campus is to be attentive and receptive to everything the school has to offer.  Don’t let preconceived notions about a major or any other aspect of college life cloud your impression of a school.  You might find courses or clubs that you are interested in that you have never even heard of before.

“Open Houses are meant to be a fun and exciting experience for students, so there is no need to be nervous! This is a time where the prospective student can really get a feel for the campus and community that they will be calling home for the next four years," said McKinney. "It would also be a good idea to know what ideals and aspects of a college you are looking for and are important to you. However, it is always a good idea to keep an open mind!”

More information about this Sunday's Open House can be found here.

Even rain couldn’t stop the army of dinosaurs, vampires, fairies and ghosts who came to celebrate the Halloween spirit at The University of Scranton’s annual Safe Trick or Treat in the Residence Halls hosted by Campus Ministries’ Center for Service and Social Justice.

More than 600 students volunteered for Saturday’s event which included leading more than 200 area children and their families through 22 residential hall floors where students opened their doors and treated the children to buckets of candy.

Following the visit to the residence halls, volunteers representing 40 student clubs and organizations arranged for games and crafts for the participants in the Byron Recreation Complex. A free lunch was also provided.

The University’s annual Safe Trick or Treat, gives children from local communities such as Friends of the Poor and United Neighborhood Center the chance to experience the traditions of Halloween in a safe and fun environment. It also gives University students the chance to interact with the Scranton community.

Nyssa Thompson, from Waldorf Maryland, has volunteered at the event for three years.

“I love seeing the children get so excited about the candy and crafts,” said Thompson, a junior neuroscience and philosophy double major. “Plus, they are so cute when they shyly say thank you when you compliment their costumes.”

Step back in time, immerse yourself in a vibrant, foreign culture, and dig deep into bucket-loads of controversy. Visiting Cuba feels like traveling a world away and decades back in time, even though it is only 90 miles south of the Florida Keys.

Consider exotic Cuba for your Spring Break!! 

With fundamental political and economic changes possible in the near future, now is the time for you to visit Cuba (and earn 3 academic credits, too!!). ***
***The students can register for the course MKT 584/384 Special Topics: Study Abroad in Cuba to get 3 graduate or undergraduate academic credits during Spring 2019. For undergraduate students, tuition of the course will be covered within the flat rate tuition (18 credits total), and tuition for 3 credits over 18 will be $1132(cost of 1 credit). For graduate students cost of 1 credit (as appropriate for the program) wil l be charged for the 3 credits. 

Program Fee: $3000 (in addition to reduced tuition, if applicable)

INCLUDED:

• Study Abroad Program Application Fee and Mandatory Insurance required by University of Scranton
• Airfare NYC-HAV-NYC, Cuban Visa
• Transfer airport-accommodation-airport in Cuba
• All transportation while in Cuba in a charter bus with guide and driver
• Lodging in Casas Particulares (private owners who rent bedrooms in their houses, a hybrid between a b&b and a homestay family)
• 6 hours of lectures at University of Havana
• Panoramic tour of Havana & Old Havana
• Meetings with local artists
• Meetings with cuentapropistas (Self-employed/entrepreneurs)
• A visit to a tobacco factory
• Visit to a school
• Visit to a clinic and meeting with doctors
• Visit the Museum of the Revolution
• Trip to Trinidad stopping in Santa Clara to visit Che Guevara's memorial and brief tour of Santa Clara 
• On the way back to Havana, a stop in Cienfuegos for a brief tour and meeting with local artist (Cienfuegos is famous for their artists)
• All breakfasts, lunches and dinners (except 2 dinners) 

• Personal expenditures
• Phone/internet costs
• Optional activities

For Additional Information Contact: Dr. Satya (SP) Chattopadhyay spc354@scranton.edu 
Ms. Diane Lang (Admin. Asst.) diane.lang@scranton.edu x7612

The Friends of the Weinberg Memorial Library presented writer Lorene Cary with The Royden B. Davis, S.J., Distinguished Author Award at a dinner reception Oct. 13 in the McIlhenny Ballroom of the DeNaples Center.

Cary is the author of the best-selling memoir, “Black Ice,” and novels such as, “If Sons, Then Heirs,” “The Price of a Child,” “Pride,” and “FREE! Great Escapes on the Underground Railroad.” Cary founded Art Sanctuary, which creates unique programs for African-American artists, performers and writers in Philadelphia. Such programs have garnered up to 1,500 participants a year. She has also been a senior lecturer at the University of Pennsylvania.

The program began with a toast by Cathy Ann Hardaway, director of domestic relations for Lackawanna County, and an invocation by Rev. Ronald McKinney, S.J., professor of philosophy at the University. Jeffrey Gingerich, Ph.D., senior provost and vice president of academic affairs at Scranton, welcomed all attendees to the event. Charles Kratz, dean of the library and information fluency, and Gretchen Welby, Ph.D., Distinguished Author Award committee chair and vice-president of the Friends of the Library, also spoke at the event.

“Lorene, tonight, we celebrate the stories that you tell in such searing, exuberant and poignant ways,” Dean Kratz said. “And how eloquently you weave together your roots and your imagination.”

The Royden B. Davis, S.J., Distinguished Author Award series, according to The Friends of the Weinberg Memorial Library, is a way to honor notable fiction and non-fiction authors and to give them the opportunity to share their literary pursuits and impressions with Northeastern Pennsylvanians. Proceeds from the event benefit the Friends of the Library Endowment Fund, which supports special gifts for the Weinberg Library collections and services.

“Thank you, thank you so very much. I’m grateful, really grateful to be here,” Cary said upon formally receiving the award. “I’ve been so moved by the Friends of the Library.”

Previous Distinguished Author Award recipients include Stephen Karam, Colum McCann, Susan Campbell Bartoletti and Jay Parini, among others.

Hundreds of University students volunteered to clean-up streets near campus, downtown, at Nay Aug Park and at two community gardens during the fall Street Sweep on Oct. 14. Student Government officers who helped to organize the Street Sweep are: Matthew Coughlin, president, a political science and philosophy double major from Jenkintown; Fahad Ashraf, vice president, a biology and philosophy double major from Clarks Summit;Paige Nonnenmacher, executive treasurer, an exercise science major from Avenel, New Jersey; Marlene Geerinck, executive secretary, an international studies major from Riverdale, New Jersey; John (Jack) Prendergast, director of technology, a computer science major from Malvern; Madalyne Sunday, director of communications, a biology major from South Abington Township; and Kimberly Barr, chief of staff, a biology and philosophy double major from Nazareth.

“I do not think it is an overstatement to claim that the role of the humanities and liberal arts in the contemporary university is the most pressing issue facing the president of any University, especially a Catholic and Jesuit University,” said Rev. Scott R. Pilarz, S.J., president of The University of Scranton at a talk presented by the Schemel Forum in collaboration with the Office of the President. Father Pilarz presented “The Humanities: Now More Than Ever” at the lecture held on Oct. 18 on campus.

“It is obvious, as it has been for some time, that humanities and liberal arts are on the run across the landscape of American higher education and, in fact, American culture at large,” Father Pilarz said.

Humanities and liberal arts classes have been decreasing in most colleges and universities across America, according to Father Pilarz. He made a case for important role the humanities and liberal arts play in higher education by first referencing the history of St. Ignatius Loyola.

“Ignatius returned to school in his 30s to learn Latin. Subsequently, he studied at several European universities but found the model of education at those universities wanting,” Father Pilarz said. “Instinctively, Ignatius wanted a more engaged educational experience, rounded especially in classical literature and philosophy.”

Ignatius found this rounded education at the University of Paris and lived in Paris for seven years.

“Throughout his years in Paris, Ignatius and his companions encountered a radically new educational paradigm,” Father Pilarz said. “The paradigm understood education as a dynamic process and that the study of fundamental disciples, the liberal arts and humanities, would lead ultimately to greater focus on more sophisticated subjects.”

Father Pilarz discussed the two educational institutions the Jesuits used: the college and the university.

“The first was the college, which humane letters, languages and a little bit of Christian doctrine formed the curriculum,” Father Pilarz said. “The second was the university, where the higher disciplines taught logic, metaphysics, ethics, some rudimentary sciences, mathematics and theology.”

This was the basis for the first Jesuit schools that allowed students to engage more in their classes, according to Father Pilarz.

“This gave to the Jesuits an organized plan for the progress of students through increasingly complex materials and a codification of pedagogical techniques designed to solicit active response from the learner,” Father Pilarz said. “In the end, the first Jesuits with their emphasis on humanities and liberal arts sought to move students to an interior appropriation of ethical values.”

This gave Jesuit students, who went to these schools, a desire to take part in their community after education.

“Out of the schools, Jesuits came to understand themselves to have a role the shaping of culture,” said Father Pilarz.

In honor of Saint Romero, Residents Life and Campus Ministries will be showing the Film "Romero", and serving authentic Salvadorian food in the DeNaples Theater on Thursday Oct. 26 at 8PM.

Come to learn about the meaning and significance of Saint Romero's work while enjoying authentic Salvadorian food!

If you can’t be perfect, 99.9 percent will just have to do.

The University of Scranton’s undergraduate class of 2017 are 99.9 percent successful in achieving their post-graduation plans according to survey data compiled by the University’s Gerard R. Roche Center for Career Development.

Chris Whitney, director of the University’s Center for Career Development, said that while the success rate is outstanding, the “knowledge rate,” or percentage of graduates for whom their outcome is known, is 90 percent, far exceeding the national average knowledge rate of 63 percent (as reported by the National Association of Colleges and Employers). 

“We are proud to be able to report the success of our undergraduate students. We believe that students are meeting their career goals because of their hard work and The University of Scranton community is committed to working together in the best interest of our students,” said Whitney. “Collaborations with faculty, advising, student life, and alumni ensure that our graduates are prepared and confident in their plans.” 

One-year after graduation, 99.9 percent of Scranton’s undergraduate class reported being successful in their choice of career path of employment, pursuing additional education or other career path within one year of graduation, based on career success data obtained on 90 percent of the undergraduate class. Of these graduates, 52 percent reported being employed full time, 43 percent report being enrolled in graduate school and 4.9 percent report success in their choice of a different career path, such as volunteer or military service or part-time employment.

The average (mean) salary reported was $51,116, based on the bachelor’s degree graduates that provided salary information.

The full First Destination Survey reports can be viewed on the Center for Career Development webpage.

Senior occupational therapy students will be selling Scranton emblem scrubs as a fundraiser for their upcoming Kauai service clinical trip this intercession.

Table sits to buys scrubs will be held Thursday, Oct. 18 from 1-3 p.m. and Friday, Oct. 19 from 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. in Edward Leahy Hall in front of Einstein's.

Thank you for your support!

A recruiter from the Jesuit Volunteer Corps (JVC) will visit campus on Sunday/Monday, Oct. 21 and 22.
He will be speaking at the 4:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. Masses on Sunday, and be available to chat afterward.

Info session is Monday at 7 p.m. in DeNaples 405.

Billie Tadros, Ph.D., teaches poetry and first-year writing at The University of Scranton.  She has completed bachelor’s degrees in creative writing and in music at Susquehanna University in Pennsylvania, a master’s degree in writing at Sarah Lawrence College in New York, and a doctoral degree in English and creative writing at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. She previously taught at universities in Alabama and Louisiana. This is Dr. Tadros’s first year teaching at Scranton.

We asked Dr. Tadros for some advice on how to succeed at the mid-semester point.

What are some helpful tips to avoid a mid-semester slump?

Make sure you’re taking care of your body, not just your brain. Eat real food. Hydrate. Sleep. (Do as I say, not as I do.) And, as far as your brain goes, be sure you’re addressing your mental health—not just your grades. Take advantage of the resources available to you on campus, including the university’s Counseling Center, and recreational sports and the fitness center.

If you’re having a hard time motivating yourself, or if you’re stressed out, talk to your friends about it. Though people often present a façade that suggests they’ve totally got it together (especially on social media—some of y’all still use Facebook too, right?), the likelihood is that you’ve got friends who are stressed or struggling too. Sometimes just knowing you’re not alone in that can helpful, and what’s even better is when you’re able to support each other—maybe just by chatting and checking in, or maybe by having accountability study sessions where you sit together for two hours in the library or in DeNaples and work separately on what you need to get done in each other’s company.

Remember the things you love about this place—there’s so much to love! Take a break to take a walk through campus. Allow yourself to be present for your favorite class without spending the whole fifty minutes worrying about the next ten things you have to do. Go to a sporting event. Or, if you’ve got a lot of work to do, get a nice hot tea and go get some of that work done in your favorite quiet spot outside or in the library.

How can someone best pick up their grade in a class when the semester is already half over?

Every class is different, of course (pun intended!), as is every instructor, but I would encourage students to talk with their instructors about their concerns as early as possible (even if that is as far along in the semester as mid-term). I can only speak authoritatively for myself when I say this, but I’m much more inclined to consider extra credit opportunities, for example, when students come to me with their concerns and goals, when they take the initiative to start that conversation. More importantly, though, having a one-on-one conversation with your instructor allows him/her/them to offer you specific advice unique to you as an individual learner, something that instructors are rarely able to do during a regular class period in the classroom itself. (If you’re having trouble keeping up, or if you’re not sure why your study habits or your writing habits aren’t earning you the grades you want, a one-on-one conversation with your instructor might also yield helpful insights and new work strategies.)

The simple, unspecific advice I have if your grade is lower than you want it to be is this: do something differently. Maybe that means talking to your instructor. (I think it probably should mean this.) Maybe it means asking a friend who’s progressing comfortably in the course for study tips. Maybe it means changing the environment in which you complete course readings, write papers, or study for or complete exams. Maybe it means sleeping more. Maybe it means visiting the CTLE to work with a tutor, or visiting the Counseling Center to talk about outside pressures or stresses that may be influencing your work in your classes. But change something; be proactive.

Is there any other advice you think is important to pass on to students?

Do your best, of course—that’s what you want for yourself, and it’s what we, as your instructors, want for you. But recognize that you don’t have to be perfect. (Spoiler alert: none of us is perfect either, so it would be pretty unreasonable for us to expect for you to be.) You will not always perform as well as you hope you will—in class, on your assignments, in athletics or other extracurricular activities. And other times you will far exceed your own expectations. Both of those realities are OK. While the stakes are definitely high in college, you have plenty of opportunities to make up for the disappointing performances.

And remember that most problems have solutions, so when you find yourself struggling with one, take a deep breath and take advantage of all of the resources you’ve got here on campus to help you.

To read more tips from Dr. Tardros, visit the Campus Corner article, here.

Bern Gavlick, an eighth-grade guidance counselor at FDR Middle School in Bristol Township, has spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy and used assistive technology for the first time when he was in the first grade.

Bill Zeigler, an assistive technology consultant with Bucks County Intermediate Unit 22 in Doylestown and an Apple Distinguished Educator, introduced Gavlick to a device called the “Unicorn board,” which acted as a giant pad that had all of the letters of the alphabet on it so Gavlick could spell out words by touching it.

Together, they spoke about how assistive technology helped Gavlick throughout his life in “Working Through the System,” the keynote presentation at The University of Scranton’s 17^th annual U.S. Conference on disAbility, which was held Oct. 11 on campus.

Later, when Apple released one of their first desktop computers, Zeigler upgraded Gavlick’s technology, attaching a joy stick (mainly used in flight simulators) to the Mac. Gavlick was able to easily navigate and spell out words without using a mouse and keyboard.

Gavlick’s cerebral palsy worsened when he was 11 and he was unable to use his hands. Zeigler turned to voice navigation, but unfortunately, the technology was not advanced enough to fully implement word use. Gavlick had to spell out each letter using the military phonetic alphabet to spell one word.

Because this process was tedious, Gavlick came up with his own idea on how to spell words faster. He put a pencil in his mouth one day and used it to type on a keyboard.

As technology advanced, Gavlick was able to return to voice navigation to make sentences type out on the computer faster.

During his time working with assistive technology, Gavlick attended K-12 school and Ursinas College in Collegeville. He only used the assistive technology at home and not while he was at school, saying he would “do things kids would do at his age,” such as ski, swim and help out at his school’s “Gym Night” by bringing out gear for his fellow students to use.

Currently, Gavlick works as a special education guidance counselor and helps students with their disabilities as they move into middle school. He said the students he teaches have a “smooth transition into middle school.”

The presentation ended with Gavlick and Zeigler showing videos of Gavlick throughout his life, including climbing a rock wall in his high school gym and skiing at Jack Frost Ski Resort.

The presentation ended with a Question and Answer session with Gavlick, Zeigler and Gavlick’s parents.

The annual U.S. Conference on disAbility brings together national, state, and regional experts to discuss a multifaceted approach to improving employment, independent living and transition for all people with disabilities. The conference is hosted by the University’s Panuska College of Professional Studies with the support of the Edward R. Leahy Jr. Endowment and Honorary Conference Co-Chairs Edward R. and Patricia Leahy.

Join the Spanish Fulbright Teaching Assistant from Colombia for a night full of Spanish music and dance! Learn how to dance, listen to Spanish music, and learn about Colombian culture at this event sponsored by the World Languages and Cultures Department. No RSVP required.

Date: Thursday, Oct. 25
Time: 4:00-5:00 p.m.
Location: Collegiate Hall (foyer of Redington Hall)

We will be holding general information sessions for anyone interested in studying abroad on the following days:

Tuesday: Oct. 16 at 7:30 in LSC 334
Wednesday: Oct. 17 at 7:30 in LSC 334
Thursday: Oct. 18 at 7:30 in LSC 334

Hope to see you there!

Campus Ministries’ Peer Facilitator Training began on Tuesday, October 9.   The Domestic Outreach and International Service Programs are blessed to have 18 amazing student leaders who will work closely with our students and faculty/staff chaperones participating in the 2019 spring service trips.  Keep them all in your prayers!

Students who attended Campus Ministries' International Service Trip to the Dominican Republic in 2018 wanted to share their experience with their University of Scranton community by inviting Isidro Berique to campus. Isidro is a human rights advocate who works to address the injustices that Dominicans of Haitian descent are currently facing concerning denial of citizenship in the Dominican Republic (DR). Over 200 students attended the viewing of the documentary "Hasta La Raíz" on Oct. 1. Isidro is featured in the documentary and is a leading figure in Reconoci.do, an activist movement in the DR that advocates for the rights of Dominicans of Haitian descent. He also addressed over 20 faculty and staff at a luncheon on Oct. 3 hosted by The Jesuit Center.

The situation in the DR is similar to that of the “dreamers” in the United States. Like the dreamers knowing only the United States as their home country, Dominicans of Haitian descent born in the DR only know the DR as their home country. The government has passed laws that have effectively invalidated their Dominican nationality and made them stateless. 

Please join us for our "Dia de los Muertos 2018 Celebration" on Friday, Oct. 26 from 10:00 p.m. - 12:00 a.m. in the 1st-floor lobby and 2nd Floor Fireplace Lounge, DeNaples Center. We will be featuring music, skull decorating, face painting, take a picture, a traditional altar and traditional food served during this celebration. New this year, we will be also holding a prayer service in collaboration with students & faculty from our ISP trip to the Quino Border & Campus Ministries.

El Dia de los Muertos (the Day of the Dead) Although is marked throughout Latin America, Dia de los Muertos is a Mexican celebration, is a day to celebrate, remember and prepare special foods in honor of those who have departed. On this day in Mexico, the streets near the cemeteries are filled with decorations of papel picado , flowers, candy calaveras (skeletons and skulls), and parades.

This program is sponsored by the Multicultural Center, Late Night and Campus Ministries! 

This year, the event will include an educational aspect about migration courtesy of students involved in the Kino Border Initiative.  

If you are a faculty or staff member who took a trip to the Kino Border Initiative and would like to help spread the word about migrants or you would like to receive information, please email megan.steinmetz@scranton.edu!

Come to Collegiate Hall (in Redington Hall) on Friday, Oct. 12 at 10 p.m. for AppleFest, a collaboration event between The Office of Residence Life and Late Night at Scranton!

Enter into our raffle, make your own caramel apple and apple chip nachos, enjoy a round of the card game "Apples to Apples", indulge in Krispy Kreme donuts, paint your own wooden apple, and try different varieties of apple cider! It will be an apple-solutely incredible time, so stop by!

Matthew Meyer, Ph.D., discussed the impact of neoliberalism on democracy at his Schemel Forum “University for a Day” talk, “The Real Road to Serfdom?” in September. He is an associate professor of Philosophy at the University, and oversees the Pre-Law concentration.

            Neoliberalism, a system of political beliefs most prominent during the Reagan administration, calls for freedom of private property and from governmental control, Dr. Meyer explained. The problem, Meyer said, is that sometimes Neoliberalism places more value on the importance of such freedoms than it places on democracy.

            “Neoliberalism understands freedom as the ability to do what one wants,” Dr. Meyer said.

            “The Road to Serfdom,” a book by famed economist and philosopher F. A. Hayek, hypothesizes that democratic nations will become enslaved socialists if their people embrace too much democracy. Hayek believes neoliberalism is the answer to too much democracy: Democratic nations should not favor their democracy more than individual rights. Neoliberalism is a reaction, Hayek argues, to socialism.

            One way in which societies become too democratic, according to Hayek, is that they see all citizens as “created equal” when they should be seen only as equals before the law. 

            “Nowhere is the difference between the reasoning of the older liberalism and that of neoliberalism clearer and easier to demonstrate than in their treatment of the problem of equality. The liberals of the eighteenth century, guided by the idea of natural law and of the Enlightenment, demanded for everyone equality of political and civil rights because they assumed that all men are created equal,” Dr. Meyer quoted famed neoliberal Ludwig von Mises. “Nothing, however, is as ill-founded as the assertion of the alleged equality of all members of the human race.”

            Dr. Meyer named his talk “The Real Road to Serfdom?” because he questions Hayek’s hypothesis of what leads nations into serfdom.

            “Does Hayek’s thinking represent the real road to serfdom?” Dr. Meyer asked. “Hayek is a father of one of the key proponents of neoliberal thinking […] Does the spread of neoliberalism, or neoliberal ideas, prepare the way for the conditions of authoritarian rule?”

            Yes, Dr. Meyer believes, neoliberalism does pave the way for authoritarianism. In “The Road to Serfdom,” Dr. Meyer pointed out, Hayek even writes wistfully of authoritarian governments.

            “Democracy is essentially a means, a utilitarian device for safeguarding internal peace and individual freedom, we must not forget that there has been much more cultural and spiritual freedom under autocratic rule than under some democracies,” Dr. Meyer quoted Hayek. “In other words, if democracy starts getting into your business, it would be a lot better to live under authoritarian rule.” He added that the quote shocked him when he first read it.

            Dr. Meyer’s biggest concern about neoliberalism is that it gives citizens a lot of rights without much responsibility. “It strips away, therefore, the demands upon us […] from having any deep commitments […] to the common good and the project called democracy,” said Dr. Meyer. The differences between the economic winners and losers created by neoliberalism are so extreme that they lead to oligarchy, which makes citizens angry and tired enough to elect a strongman. Once a strongman is in power, serfdom ensues.

            “I simply don’t think that we can have a democratic society without a robust sense of, [and] a significant number of people who are committed to, notions of the common good,” Dr. Meyer said.

Other speakers at the University for a Day were James Campbell, Ph.D., Edgar E. Robinson Professor in U.S. history at Stanford University; Mark C. Alexander, J.D., Arthur J. Kania Dean and professor of law at Villanova University’s Charles Widger School of Law; and Josephine Dunn, Ph.D., professor of art history, oral history and European cultural history at Scranton.

            For more information on the Schemel Forum, please contact Sondra Myers, director of the Schemel Forum, at 570-941-4089, or at Sondra.myers@scranton.edu.

The University of Scranton has awarded 14 students from its class of 2022 four-year, full-tuition Presidential Scholarships. The Presidential Scholarship recipients are Shannon Broderick, Colleen Chan, Sean Connolly, Patrick Dawid, Eric Dittmar, Jessica Goldschlager, Erin Horan, Charles Kulick, Robert Maloney, Ashley Mullan, Meghan Rohr, Elias Shomali, Anna Wengyn and Sarah White.

Presidential Scholarships are awarded to incoming first-year students with outstanding records in high school and notable community involvement. The scholarship covers four years of full tuition provided that the student maintains at least a 3.25 grade point average.

Shannon Broderick, New Fairfield, Connecticut, graduated from New Fairfield High School. She was a member of the National Honor Society, the National Math Honor Society and the Italian Honor Society. She was class secretary, president of a peer-mentoring program, president of the Italian club, a National Honor Society tutor and a member of the New Fairfield High School Rebel Senate. She participated in lacrosse and indoor track and was captain of the field hockey team. Broderick volunteered as a camp counselor and an elementary school classroom assistant and volunteered for Relay for Life and the American Red Cross. Broderick will major in nursing at Scranton. She is the daughter of Geraldine and Michael Broderick.

Colleen R. Chan, East Brunswick, New Jersey, graduated from Bishop George Ahr High School. She was a National Merit Scholarship Finalist and the Herff Jones Journalism Award recipient. She was a member of the National Honor Society, the National Math Honor Society, the National Science Honor Society and the National Hispanic Honor Society. An active leader in many high school clubs and organizations, Chan was captain of the club and varsity swim teams, a student ambassador, yearbook editor-in-chief and a Teen Action Group executive board member. A volunteer with over 300 hours of logged service, she served as an EMT and volunteered at her local library in addition to other service projects. Chan is a nursing major. She is the daughter of Carol Rusin and Donald Chan.

Sean P. Connolly, Danbury, Connecticut, graduated from Immaculate High School. He was a member of the National Honor Society and Key Club. Connolly was captain of the varsity cross-country and track and field teams at his high school. He has volunteered with the United Way of Western Connecticut and the Special Olympics of Danbury. A member of the University’s Special Jesuit Liberal Arts Honors Program, Connolly is an undeclared major in Scranton’s College of Arts and Sciences. He is the son of Andrea and Patrick Connolly.

Patrick Dawid, Dupont, graduated from Scranton Preparatory School. Dawid earned gold medals in national German and Latin exams. He was an involved member of his school’s Business Club and Astronomy Club and played on the football team for three years. He served his community through school programs and volunteered at a summer program with the ARC of Scranton. A member of the University’s Special Jesuit Liberal Arts Honors Program, Dawid will major in biochemistry as Scranton. He is the son of Ewa and Zbigniew Dawid.

Eric Dittmar, Stroudsburg, graduated as salutatorian from Pocono Mountain East High School. He was an AP Scholar with Distinction. He was the president of his school’s marching band and a member of Odyssey of the Mind. He volunteered his time at the Animal Welfare Society of Monroe County and the Lehigh Valley Hospital Pocono. A member of the University’s Special Jesuit Liberal Arts Honors Program, Dittmar will major in computer science on the pre-med track. He is the son of Susan and Matthew Dittmar.

Jessica R. Goldschlager, Magnolia, Delaware, graduated as valedictorian from Caesar Rodney High School. She is a National AP Scholar. She competed in the cross-country and speech and debate teems in her school and participated in the Delaware Congressional Delegation Youth Conference. She was also involved in martial arts, Olympic weightlifting and marathons. She served many hours as a volunteer occupational therapist’s assistant at Bayhealth Medical Center, as a teacher as Camp Hola, and as a children’s health educator and peer-teacher the John S. Charlton School. Goldschlager will major in occupational therapy at Scranton. She is the daughter of Margaret Bell and Steve Goldschlager.

Erin B. Horan, Massapequa, New York, graduated from Holy Trinity Diocesan High School. She was a member of the National Honor Society, the Math Honor Society, the Thespian Honor Society and the Music Honor Society. A Science Olympiad, she was a member of Math Fax and the senior leadership group L.I.G.H.T.S. She was captain of the volleyball team and a member of the varsity winter track team and varsity badminton team. She was also involved in the select choir, school musicals and music ministry. Horan volunteered as a religious education teacher as St. Ignatius of Loyola Parish. Horan will major in occupational therapy at Scranton. She is the daughter of Elizabeth and Daniel Horan.

Charles Kulick, Pittston Township, graduated as valedictorian from Scranton Preparatory School. He was a National Merit Scholar Finalist. A Science Olympiad member and Mathlete, he was president of the Advanced Technology Club and president of the Creating Writing Club at Prep. He participated in a service trip with the South Carolina Habitat for Humanity and was involved as a volunteer with the Seasons of Love Soup Kitchen. Kulick will double major in mathematics and computer science at Scranton. He is the son of Sharon and Mark Kulick.

Robert Maloney, Staten Island, New York, graduated from Xaverian High School. He was a member of the National Honor Society. He was a student ambassador and as president of the Clipper Society at his school, he assisted in open houses and reunions. He was a member of the varsity swim team, the ultimate Frisbee club team and of concert band. Maloney volunteered his time as a National Honor Society tutor, a counselor at Candlewood Knolls Children’s Camp, a server and cleaner at Chips Soup Kitchen and a volunteer at the New York City Marathon. Maloney will major in accounting at Scranton. He is the son of Mary Ann and Robert Maloney.

Ashley E. Mullan, Huntington, New York, graduated from St. Anthony’s High School. She was a National Merit Commended Scholar, a National Hispanic Scholar and an AP Scholar with Distinction. She was a member of the National Honor Society, the National Foreign Language Honor Society, the National English Honor Society, the National Math Honor Society and the Music Honor Society. A member and leader of many clubs, Mullan was president of the Critical Review Board, publicity director of a peer mentoring program and a retreat leader. She is a second-degree black belt and certified instructor in jiu jitsu. She was also a member of the honors orchestra and jazz band in high school and a volunteer piano accompanist. A member of the University’s Special Jesuit Liberal Arts Honors Program, Mullan will major in applied mathematics at Scranton. She is the daughter of Dina and John Mullan, who is a 1988 graduate of The University of Scranton.

Meghan Rohr, Audubon, graduated from Villa Maria Academy. She was a member of the National Honor Society and a Math Honor Society officer. She was on the Student Integrity Committee, a Speak Up representative, a Respect Life Club officer and a member of the Pennsylvania Math League. She was a member of her high school’s cross country and field hockey teams. An active volunteer, she served at the Phoenixville Hospital, the Brandywine Valley S.P.C.A. animal shelter and Visitation B.V.M. Parish among others. She also helped organize food and clothes drives and the annual Giving Tree. A member of the University’s Special Jesuit Liberal Arts Honors Program, Rohr will major in nursing at Scranton. She is the daughter of Terri and Jay Rohr.

Jacob Shomali, Ellicott City, Maryland, graduated from Loyola Blakefield High School. He was an AP Scholar with Distinction. A trombone player in school’s jazz band and the Jazz Academy Orchestra in Washington, D.C., and active member of musical theater programs, Shomali won the Louis Armstrong Award. He was a senior captain of the forensics team, captain for club travel soccer, a retreat volunteer and a student ambassador. He spent much of his summer volunteering at hospitals and clinics in Baltimore City, Maryland, and he has volunteered at food banks and homeless shelters. A member of the University’s Special Jesuit Liberal Arts Honors Program, Shomali will major in neuroscience in Scranton on the pre-med track. He is the son of Margret and Mansur Shomali.

Anna E. Wengyn, Chalfont, graduated as salutatorian from Lansdale Catholic High School. She was an AP Scholar with Distinction and a member of the National Honor Society and the World Language Honor Society for Spanish. She was president of her high school’s drama club, a student government representative, a student ambassador and an orientation leader. She was a member of the choir and played on the field hockey team. A member of her school’s Community Service Corps and her parish’s youth group, Wengyn volunteered many hours serving her community. A member of the University’s Special Jesuit Liberal Arts Honors Program, Wengyn will major in biochemistry, cell and molecular biology at Scranton. She is the daughter of Tammy and Joe Wengyn.

Sarah V. White, Brooklyn, New York, graduated as salutatorian from Marymount School of New York. She was a National Merit Commended Scholar, a member of the National Honor Society and she earned a gold medal in the National French Competition. She was captain of the softball team, co-president of the Women in Our World club, co-chair of the club's gender equality summit, co-president of Book Club, school retreat leader and a student ambassador. She served as an intern in the New York University’s Langone Department of Cell Biology. Her numerous service projects include serving as a lector at St. Anselm R.C. Church and editing a fundraising journal for St. Anselm’s Catholic Academy. A member of the University’s Special Jesuit Liberal Arts Honors Program, White will major in biology at Scranton. She is the daughter of Eileen and Andrew White.

The University of Scranton Players will present “The Laramie Project” by Moises Kaufman and members of the Tectonic Theater Project, directed by Bob E. Gasper, Oct. 12-14 and 19-21. Performances run in the Royal Theatre in the Joseph M. McDade Center for Literary and Performing Arts. Friday and Saturday performances begin at 8 p.m., and Sunday shows begin at 2 p.m.

“The Laramie Project” recalls the aftermath of the brutal murder of 21-year-old college student Matthew Shepard through interviews of the residents of Laramie, Wyoming, conducted by the Tectonic Theatre Project. Shepard was beaten to death for being gay in the outskirts of Laramie. His death sparked outrage in communities across the nation and led to landmark hate crime legislation named in his honor.

This year marks twenty years since Shepard’s murder. The Players plan to honor his memory by opening their production on the day of his death. Additionally, the Players will host post-show discussions after both Saturday performances to offer an open space where people can explore and process Shepard’s story. Kaufman’s play premiered at the Ricketson Theatre in Denver in February 2000. The play was later turned into an Emmy-nominated HBO film. “The Laramie Project” remains a groundbreaking piece of theatre that continually invites us to interrogate who we are, as a community.

The production features Ali Basalyga of Scranton; Shaye Santos of Wrightstown, N.J.; Holly Ferrence of Harding, Pa.; Samantha Gurn of Brackney, Pa.; Catherine Karpiak of Scranton; Jim Shygelski of Scranton; Peter Sims of Yardley, Pa.; Nicholas Yanni of Scranton; Matthew Valunas of Dunmore, Pa.; and Dalton Gorden of Taylor, Pa. The cast features graduates from local schools including West Scranton High School, Scranton Preparatory School, Wyoming Area Secondary Center, Dunmore High School, Montrose High School, and Wyoming Seminary. Director Bob Gasper is also a graduate of West Scranton High School.

For tickets, contact the Players box office at 570-941-4318 or visit us at thescrantonplayers.com. Tickets are $10 for adults and $7 for senior citizens, students, and University of Scranton faculty and staff. Second weekend is free for first-year students.

The University of Scranton Players is an academic theatre program that brings exceptional theatre to Northeastern Pennsylvania every season. The Players’ productions feature University of Scranton students in a mix of classical and contemporary works under the direction and mentorship of award-winning faculty and guest artists.

For more information, contact players@scranton.edu or find us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Join Ad Club as they welcome speakers from Target, FCB Health, MNI Targeted Media, TwentyFiveEightProductions, Posture Interactive, Socialocca, Roivant Sciences and protocol 80 for this conference to learn about campaigns, jobs outside of traditional advertising and the transition from a student to professional.

Saturday, Sept. 29, 1-4 p.m. LSC 433. Prizes and snacks! For more information, email stacy.smulowitz@scranton.edu.

See you there!

The University of Scranton celebrated the Inauguration of our 27^th president, Rev. Scott R. Pilarz, S.J., the morning of Sept. 21 in the Byron Center. Father Pilarz, who also served as the University’s 24^th president, was welcomed by a University community elated for his return.

More than 1,000 members of the University and local communities filled the Byron Recreation Center to watch the academic procession usher Father Pilarz onto the stage. Following the procession, Father Pilarz and the audience were treated to a surprise. Wycliffe Gordon H’06, award winning trombonist, played his original composition “Me, We.”

Next, everyone viewed a short video welcoming Father Pilarz back, which featured Scranton students, faculty, staff, Scranton Mayor Bill Courtright and New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy. The video highlighted the University’s anticipation of Father Pilarz’s Inauguration, calling it “the return of a great leader.”

Joshua Rosenblum conducted the world premiere of his original piece “Don’t Waste Love,” commissioned specially for Father Pilarz’s Inauguration and performed by The University of Scranton Band and Choir. Rosenblum’s inspiration for the lyrics, which included the past speeches of Father Pilarz, other prominent Jesuits, and Pope Francis, set the tone for an Inauguration focused on love.

When Father Pilarz began his remarks, he said he only had one thing to say.

“I love this place and I am blessed to be back here with you.”

Of course, he joked, the Board of Trustees might be disappointed if he only said one thing, so he went on to call on the University community to act out of love more than ever now.

“We cannot be complacent,” he said. “Communities everywhere are under stress … We must be a source of hope for the local community going forward.”

The way forward, he said, is clear. To lead the way, and to ease the stresses and division of communities both great and small, The University of Scranton must further commit itself to liberal arts and humanities, Father Pilarz said. Members of the University community must be agents for positive change in the world.

“The humanities teach us not to waste love,” Father Pilarz said.

Even those students, faculty and staff who do not primarily work within the humanities benefit from their liberal arts courses, he said.

“What sets aside a good doctor or nurse?” Father Pilarz asked. “A deep understanding of the human condition.”

To better enable its students to be men and women for others, Father Pilarz announced a $1 million commitment to a new center for the humanities from Betsy and James Slattery ’86, who is co-vice chair of the University’s Board of Trustees. 

Also at the Inauguration, Father Pilarz received important symbols of his presidency. Judee Bavaria G’72, co-vice chair on the Board of Trustees, entrusted Father Pilarz with the Charter. Slattery gave Father Pilarz the Presidential Medallion. Rev. Herbert B. Keller, S.J., H’06, the 26^th President of the University, presented Father Pilarz with the Mace.

A reception on the Dionne Campus Green immediately followed.

Students: The Schemel Forum is offering 25 students, on a first come-first served basis, a free pass to "Music and Medicine: Leonard Bernstein."

This talk, piano performance and reception celebrating the life and work of Leonard Bernstein will be held on Thursday, Sept. 27 at 5:30 p.m. at the Scranton Cultural Center

Contact Alicen Morrison at alicen.morrison@scranton.edu or 570-941-6206.

This article originally appeared in our Campus Corner blog, written by current students. You can find the blog here.

The first few weeks of the semester can be pretty hectic. There are club fairs to explore, floor meetings and programs to attend, and new buildings to navigate, not to mention going to classes and figuring out how to use your syllabus. But now the first week is over, and you may be wondering, what’s next? We’re here to help you find fun events, plus recommend some things to do in these first weeks to guarantee a successful semester!

Getting Situated

Get a Planner! One syllabus can be intimidating, but after 4 or 5 class syllabi, you may be feeling entirely overwhelmed. Don’t worry! Your syllabus is actually one of your best resources this semester. It lets you know every due date, exam date, and homework assignment waaay ahead of time, so you can be prepared and start bigger projects early. Head over to the bookstore to grab a cute planner or a jumbo-sized calendar, and start filling in those due dates!

Club Meetings How many clubs did you sign up for at the Student Activities Fair? They’ll probably start sending you emails soon regarding when their first meetings will be! Go ahead and visit as many as possible to see what you’d like to be involved in this semester. Clubs are an excellent way to connect with new friends who are interested in the same things as you!

Check Your Email Daily Prior to college, email might not have been on your radar, but now it’s one of your main sources of communication! Be sure to keep an eye on your email throughout the day, as professors and various organizations will send you updates regarding assignments, mandatory meetings (such as the Royal Taps Program and PACT), and important upcoming events. Plus, don’t be afraid to email your professor with questions or concerns!

Pro Tips for Academic Success

Academic Advising/Center for Career Development Not sure you’re enjoying your classes? Worried about choosing a career? Set up a meeting with your academic advisor to change/drop a class, or schedule an appointment with a counselor at the Center for Career Development. They can talk through your concerns with you, and even give you a career assessment quiz to help find your strengths and passions.

Schedule an appointment with the Center for Career Development here.

For academic advising information, click here.

Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence (CTLE) Struggling with a certain class? CTLE’s got you covered! Whether you need help with specific concepts or just want some extra practice, tutoring through CTLE is a great resource, plus it’s free! You will be assigned a student who has already taken the course and achieved a B+ or higher, and you will have the opportunity to meet weekly to ask questions and review problems. An email with sign-ups for tutoring will be hitting your inbox shortly, or you can send a request for a tutor to ctle@scranton.edu.

Office Hours Tutoring is a great resource, but if you are having a lot of difficulty with a course, don’t hesitate to talk to the professor! Most professors generally have drop-in office hours three times per week, sometimes more! Take this opportunity to pay them a visit early on and introduce yourself, even if you don’t have any specific questions yet. Don’t be shy!

Career Expo Take that resume that the Center for Career Development helped you to fine-tune and head over to the Career Expo! Even if you don’t think that you’re ready to pursue an internship or actual job, the Career Expo is a great opportunity to get some experience with networking and talking to potential employers. The event will be held in the Byron Center on Sept. 28 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

This article originally appeared in the Political Science newsletter, which you can read here.

"The Voter Engagement Conference taught students how to develop their own voter engagement groups on campus. This was specifically intriguing for our University because we are trying to change our culture of political apathy. The conference actually evolved into a summer project I will personally be heading for Student Government. After attending the conference, we learned that to change the culture on campus, we need to get students registered. Registering students coupled with a streamlined precinct process can encourage local politicians to pay attention to student issues. All-in-All, the experience was something I never believed a college could create I hope to create a program that can come to last on campus to change our politically apathetic trend." - Matthew Coughlin, Class of 2019

The Ignatian Global Citizenship Program (IGCP) sponsored several successful spring events and provided financial support for students to participate in statewide conferences. Matt Coughlin attended a Voter Engagement Conference at Franklin and Marshall. Matt is a double major in Political Science and Philosophy, member of the Special Jesuit Liberal Arts Honors Program (SJLA) and University of Scranton Honors Program. He is now President of Student Government.

Kylie Mignat (pictured) presented her research on “Framing Undocumented Immigrants in the Media: Effects on Public Support for Immigration Policies” at two conferences and on campus. In May, she graduated summa cum laude with a triple major in International Studies, German Cultural Studies, and Hispanic Studies, as well as Latin American Studies concentration. After graduation, Kylie accepted a position as a bilingual legal advocate at My Sister’s Place, an organization that “strives to end domestic violence and human trafficking through comprehensive services, advocacy and community education.”