March 2022

Inspired by Pope Francis’ 2015 encyclical titled “On Care for Our Common Home,” The University of Scranton’s Sustainability Office has selected the theme “We Are All Connected” for their Spring sustainability initiative. To celebrate this theme, especially as Earth Day approaches, the Sustainability Office will host several events for students, faculty and staff as well as guests from the greater Scranton community.

Area students in grades 5-12 may participate in the University’s Earth Day Essay Contest. Submissions will be accepted through April 4. This year’s theme is “We Are All Connected.” For submission rules and details, visit: https://www.scranton.edu/sustainability/docs/earth-week-2022/earthday-2022-essay-rules.pdf.

Winners of the essay contest will be announced at the Evening of Environmental on Wednesday, April 20, in the Atrium of the Loyola Science Center on campus. The event takes place from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. and features interactive science experiments run by University students. The event will also include a display of the essays submitted. Finalists will receive Earth Day medals and certificates at a ceremony.

On the following day, April 21, the University will host a lecture by renowned American climatologist and geophysicist Michael Mann, Ph.D., author of “The New Climate War: The Fight to Take Back Our Planet.” Dr. Mann is the Distinguished Professor of Atmospheric Science at Pennsylvania State University, with joint appointments in the Department of Geosciences and the Earth and Environmental Systems Institute. He is also director of the Penn State Earth System Science Center. He is the author of five books on climate change, as well as more than 200 peer-reviewed and edited publications, numerous op-eds and commentaries. The lecture begins at 7:30 p.m. in the McIlhenny Ballroom of the DeNaples Center on campus.

The final Earth Day event for the month of April will be an art show address on April 25 by Laura Kern, an artist from rural Pennsylvania who uses her sculptures to emphasize the connection between humans and the environment, as well as to highlight prominent environmental and societal issues. Kern will present her address in tthe Heritage Room of the Weinberg Memorial Library. The event runs from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Other events open to University students, faculty and staff include an Environmental Art Show on the fifth floor of the Weinberg Memorial Library from April 19 to April 26; an Earth Day Fair in the lobby of the Loyola Science Center from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on April 19; an Environmentally-Friendly Tie-Dye event, taking place on the Dionne Campus Green at 5 p.m. on April 20; and a kayaking trip on the Susquehanna River on May 7.

Several related events also took place in March, including a screening of “The Human Element,” a film in which photographer James Balog uses his camera to document and uncover how environmental change affects the lives of Americans each day. The University also hosted a celebration of World Water Day on March 22.

All of these events are sponsored by the University’s Sustainability Office with the support of the Jesuit Center, the Kania School of Management, the Multicultural Center, the environmental studies concentration and major, the Weinberg Memorial Library and the Society for Sustainability and Conservation student organization.

On the weekend of Apr. 9-10, The University of Scranton will offer a series of pysanka workshops to teach the art of decorating Ukrainian Easter eggs with traditional folk designs using a wax-resist method. Come, gather with us to write a pysanka in support of Ukraine. One hundred percent of the workshop fee will be donated to humanitarian aid in Ukraine via World Central Kitchen. Participants will be taught how to write pysanky, or Ukrainian Easter eggs. All materials will be provided, and each participant will take home their own, blown-out pysanka.

Four pysanka workshops will be offered as follows: on Saturday, April 9, 2022, at 2 p.m. and 3:30 p.m., and again on Sunday, April 10, 2022, at 2 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. All workshops will take place in the Smurfit Arts Center, Scranton, PA 18510 on the corners of Vine St. and Madison Ave. Masks are required. Each workshop is limited to 10 people and children must be accompanied by an adult. The workshop cost is $25, payable by cash or check. Registration is required at: surveymonkey.com/r/PysankaApril2022

Workshops will be led by Dr. Amelia Randich, Assistant Professor of Biology at The University of Scranton. Dr. Randich is a fourth-generation Ukrainian-American, and this art has been passed down through the women in her family. She has been writing pysanky for over 30 years and teaches pysankarsvo at various retreats in the US.

“The tradition of pysankarsvo has been handed down through the women in my family and I’m tremendously proud to continue the art. I’ve been writing pysanky with my mother since before I can remember. Easter on my mom’s side has always been a treasured holiday, and the days of Lent before it are a special season for writing pysanky. I now write pysanky year-round and have the honor of having some of my pysanky in the Pysanka Museum in Kolomyya, Ukraine,” said Dr. Randich.

Dr. Randich has a dedicated website, “Saving the World One Egg at Time,” to illustrate her work in pysanka along with the meaning and importance of their creation. The act of creating is vital.

“Pysanky have always been prayers for peace and prosperity in both pre-Christian and Christian times. It is said that as long as pysanky are being written somewhere in the world, the balance between good and evil is maintained. This Lent they are particularly evocative as Ukraine faces atrocities from Russian forces.” said Dr. Randich.

To learn more about Dr. Randich and her work creating and teaching the art of pysanka, please visit https://pysankypower.wordpress.com/

You can also view Dr. Randich’s work and follow her on social media on Facebook: @pysankypower & Instagram: @AmeliaRandich.

These workshops are offered by The University of Scranton and are co-sponsored by the Hope Horn Gallery and the Office of Community and Government Relations. 

“These workshops are a wonderful way for university and Scranton community members to come together, learn about Ukrainian culture and art, and create something beautiful in a way that offers solidarity during this time of violence, conflict and human suffering in Ukraine. The proceeds will provide humanitarian relief at a critical time when we continue to pray for peace,” said Julie Schumacher Cohen, associate vice president of Community Engagement & Government Affairs at The University of Scranton. 

For questions, please contact community@scranton.edu.

The University of Scranton will host the Inaugural Conference on Ethics and Excellence in Public Service for public officials, leaders of nonprofit organizations and students on April 9 on campus. The half-day, in-person conference begins at 8 a.m. with registration and refreshments and will take place on the fifth floor of Brennan Hall.

The annual conference is a key initiative of the University’s recently launched Center for Ethics and Excellence in Public Service (CEEPS) with the goal of helping to provide a foundation for ethical governance in Northeastern Pennsylvania by developing and nurturing a community of scholars, public officials and citizens dedicated to improving and protecting democracy at the state and local level.

“We expect that the conference will help connect state and local governing officials to one another and make them aware of the opportunities and training offered by the Center,” said JoyAnna Hopper, Ph.D., assistant professor of political science and co-director of CEEPS. “Additionally, we expect that the Conference will offer scholars interested in promoting and protecting democracy through the study of ethics at the state- and local-level an opportunity to present and share research. That research can be disseminated through the Center and shared with community members and state and local governments.”

Dr. Hopper also sees the conference as a way to introduce University students to issues concerning ethics and government effectiveness and further engage them in career opportunities in the public and government service sector. University students will participate in a panel discussion about their efforts in 2020 to increase voter registration among young adults.

Additional topics covered in panel discussions at the conference include “Local Government Ethics Boards and Codes;” “Grant writing: Best Practices for Local Governments;” and “Legislative Pay, Per Diems, and Ethics.”

The conference will conclude with a luncheon keynote address by author Craig Wheeland, Ph.D., a noted scholar in the area of public administration and senior vice president for academics and professor of public administration at Villanova University. Dr. Wheeland has published numerous articles and has also published two books on the topics of local government and urban politics. His research on city management has received external funding from organizations such as the American Political Science Association.

Additional information and a schedule of speakers can be seen on the Conference on Ethics and Excellence in Public Service webpage.

Registration is required to attend and fees vary for the conference. Reservations and additional information is also available online. A $15 registration fee includes all meals and materials for the day.  If you are unable to pay the $15 registration fee, there is an option on the registration form that will allow you to register and attend without paying the fee. The conference is free for students.

The University of Scranton health and safety protocols in place on April 9 outlined in the Royals Back Together plan must be followed by conference attendees.

For additional information, email ceeps@scranton.edu or contact Sharon Olechna, administrative assistant for the Political Science Department, at 570-941-6326 or by email at sharon.olechna@scranton.edu.

Legendary musician and composer Dr. Wycliffe Gordon, H ’06, will return to The University of Scranton for two upcoming concerts presented by Performance Music.

On Wednesday, April 6, Gordon will perform with The University of Scranton Singers and Scranton Brass Orchestra at the 14^th Annual Gene Yevich Memorial Concert. Then, the following night, Thursday, April 7, Gordon will perform a second concert with The University of Scranton Jazz Band. Both performances will begin at 7:30 p.m. in the Houlihan-McLean Center, Mulberry Street and Jefferson Avenue.

Admission is free, with seating on a first-come, first-seated basis. All audience members are required to wear a higher-grade mask (N95, KN95, KF94 or double masking) at all times. Please check Performance Music’s website within 24 hours of the recital for the most current information on additional required audience COVID-19 mitigation measures (e.g., masking, vaccination, distancing, etc.).

At the concerts, Gordon and the ensembles will perform a wide variety of selections. Programming on the April 6 concert will feature Gordon as a soloist on trombone, trumpet and singing with the choir and brass orchestra, and will include music ranging from  popular selections from The Great American Songbook and spirituals to O Fortuna from Orff’s “Carmina Burana” and Va Pensiero from Verdi’s “Nabucco.”

Programming on the April 7^th concert with the Jazz Band will feature Gordon again both playing and singing, and a number of the works performed will be Gordon’s own acclaimed big band compositions, according to Performance Music Conductor and Director Cheryl Y. Boga.

The recipient of an honorary doctorate from the University and commencement speaker in 2006, Gordon’s long friendship with Boga has also become a close relationship with the University. He’s performed and taught at the University on many occasions with almost every one of the student wind and choral ensembles, and has composed a number of new works for the university ensembles.

“Wycliffe Gordon is my single favorite musician – he’s my musical hero,” Boga said. “He’s bigger than life. It’s like what Itzhak Perlman is to violin and Pavarotti was to voice, Wycliffe is to trombone. And I don’t know any musician in the world as generous with their time and talent. To me, he’s the closest thing we have to Louis Armstrong still with us.”

A genuine virtuoso on the trombone, Gordon was recently named “Trombonist of the Year” for the 14th time by the Jazz Journalists Association, while the Downbeat Critics Poll has named him “Best Trombone” on six occasions.

A former member of the Wynton Marsalis Septet and The Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, Gordon has received numerous other accolades, including the Louie Award for his dedication and commitment to the music of Louis Armstrong; the International Trombone Association Award; the Satchmo Award from the Sarasota Jazz Club; the Louis Armstrong Memorial Prize from the Swing Jazz Culture Foundation; Artist of the Year from the Augusta Arts Council; and the ASCAP Foundation’s Vanguard Award, among many, many others.

Gordon’s compositions have been performed throughout the world, he has been a featured guest artist on television, film, and every other broadcast medium, is one of the nation’s most in-demand music educators, and also serves as director of Jazz Studies at Augusta University in Augusta, Georgia.

Sponsored by former Scranton Mayor David Wenzel and his wife, Janet, the April 6^th Yevich Memorial Concert is a celebration of the life of former Scranton Fire Chief Gene Yevich, Boga’s late father. Besides his career as a fireman, Yevich, who passed away in 2005, was also a highly accomplished local musician. A multi-instrumentalist known for his virtuosity on the accordion, he was a longtime member of the bands the Novelaires and the Mediterranean Sounds, who were regulars at Italian festivals in the Scranton area and New York City.

Yevich was married for almost 50 years to the former Julia Pucher, with whom he had three children, Boga and University graduates Michael Yevich and Cynthia Yevich. His grandchildren are Joseph Boga, trumpeter with the legendary band Vince Giordano and The Nighthawks, who often performs and leads clinics and masterclasses at the University, and Magdalyn Boga, who earned a master’s degree from the University and is a member of its history faculty, and is also an operatic soprano.

For further information on the concerts, call 570-941-7624, email music@scranton.edu or visit scranton.edu/music. For more information on Gordon, visit wycliffegordon.com.

On Monday, Mar. 28 at 5 p.m., The University of Scranton’s Hope Horn Gallery is hosting an artist lecture “Mapping Shinnecock: Exploring Indigenous Identity, Culture, and Assimilation” featuring photographer Jeremy Dennis. Dennis is a tribal member of the Shinnecock Indian Nation living and working on the Shinnecock Reservation in Southampton, New York. In his talk, Dennis will explore issues of identity, culture, and assimilation, and how these manifest within his work. Registration for this Zoom event is required here.   

His current exhibition at the Hope Horn Gallery, "Mapping Shinnecock: Sites and Portraits. Photographs by Jeremy Dennis" will be presented through April 29, 2022. The exhibition features a selection of images from the online projects "On this Site" and "The Shinnecock Portrait Project" which Dennis has developed over the past few years. In this exhibition, Dennis’s photographs will be on display in the gallery and there are additional project websites that also include interactive components such as Google Street views and recorded interviews that add to interpretations of the works. For more information about Dennis and the supporting interconnected websites, please visit the Hope Horn Gallery’s event page.  

Artist Jeremy Dennis has explained his work as “a means of examining my identity and the identity of my community, specifically the unique experience of living on a sovereign Indian reservation and the problems we face...As racial divisions and tensions reach a nationwide fever pitch, it’s more important to me than ever to offer a complex and compelling representation of Indigenous people.”   

In addition to his work as an artist, Dennis is also the founder and leader of Ma’s House & BIPOC Art Studio Inc., a project started in June 2020 to create a communal art space based on the Shinnecock Indian Reservation in Southampton, New York. The family house, built in the 1960s, features a residency program for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC), art studio, library, along with hosting an array of art and history-based programs for tribe members and the broader local community.  

On Friday, April 1 from 5 – 9 p.m., the Hope Horn Gallery will be open for visits to the "Mapping Shinnecock. Sites And Portraits. Photographs By Jeremy Dennis" exhibition as a part of this April’s First Friday Scranton. Light refreshments will be available. Additional visits to this exhibition are available by appointment now through April 29, 2022, by emailing darlene.miller-lanning@scranton.edu. 

This lecture is offered in conjunction with the" Scranton's Story, Our Nation's Story" project's third theme, Indigenous History of Northeastern Pennsylvania. While the Shinnecock Nation is based in Long Island, New York, and not local to NEPA, this exhibit and lecture will address broader issues related to understanding historical and contemporary representations of Indigenous cultures.  

Additional events in the “Indigenous History of Northeastern Pennsylvania” theme will include humanities lectures and a community visit by a Delaware/Lenape leader. On Wednesday, May 11, scholar Nicole Eustace, professor of history at New York University, will present “‘Murder and Merc’”: A Colonial Encounter in the Susquehanna Valley” and the following week on Wednesday, May 18, Samantha Seeley, associate professor of history at the University of Richmond, will present “Removal and the Right to Remain in the Early United States.” In November 2022, there will be a visit and presentation by Curtis Zunigha, an enrolled member of the Delaware Tribe of Indians (Oklahoma); the Delaware/Lenape people are among the original inhabitants of what is today Northeastern Pennsylvania, a region that is part of their traditional and ancestral homeland. Zunigha is an expert on Delaware/Lenape culture, language and traditional practices and co-director of the Lenape Center based in New York City.    

For more information on all events and the “Scranton’s Story, Our Nation’s Story” project, please visit scranton.edu/scrantonstory. 

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

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

The University of Scranton held a Byzantine Catholic prayer service for Ukraine in the Byzantine Rite Chapel in Ciszek Hall on campus just prior to spring break. Rev. Dr. Eduard Shestak, a native of Ukraine and Byzantine Catholic priest and theology instructor at the University, led the Molében to the Precious and Life-Giving Cross.

Since Feb. 26, The University has lit the Ukraine flag in its three-story, Class of 2020 Gateway sign to show support for the people of Ukraine. Rev. Joseph Marina, S.J., president of The University of Scranton, also addressed the crisis happening in the Ukraine in an Ash Wednesday message sent to the University community on March 2.

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Performance Music at The University of Scranton will welcome back acclaimed violinist Kako Miura for a recital on Saturday, April 2. The recital will begin at 7:30 p.m. in the Houlihan-McLean Center, Mulberry Street and Jefferson Avenue.

Admission is free, with seating on a first-come, first-seated basis. All audience members are required to wear a higher-grade mask (N95, KN95, KF94 or double masking) at all times. Please check Performance Music’s website within 24 hours of the recital for the most current information on additional required audience COVID-19 mitigation measures (e.g., masking, vaccination, distancing, etc.).

Originally from Tokyo and currently based in New York City, Miura has performed internationally as a soloist with orchestras in Asia, Australia and the United States. Her solo and chamber music performances have taken her to a number of high-profile venues, including Alice Tully Hall at Lincoln Center, Weill and Zankel Halls at Carnegie Hall and the Sydney Opera House.

According to Performance Music Conductor and Director Cheryl Y. Boga, “The stunning virtuosity of Ms. Miura’s performances mesmerizes our audiences and students every time she is here. We are delighted to welcome her back to our hall along with two of her colleagues.”

The recipient of numerous accolades, Miura took first prize in the Nagano International Music Festival Violin Competition, Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra’s Young Artists Competition, and Sound Symphony Orchestra’s Solo Competition. She also received the National YoungArts Foundation Award.

Long committed to community engagement and music education, Miura has worked extensively with the Music Advancement Program of The Juilliard School’s Preparatory Division, teaching violin and courses on historical performance and curricular studies. In 2019, as part of Juilliard’s Young People’s Concerts series, she conceived, directed and performed “A Day in the Life of a King,” an original interactive concert centered around Baroque music, for elementary school students in New York City.

Miura earned a Bachelor of Music from Juilliard, where she also attended the Pre-College Program, and a Master of Music from The Colburn School. She’s now pursuing another graduate degree in historical performance at Juilliard under the guidance of Cynthia Roberts, Elizabeth Blumenstock and Robert Mealy. She’s also studied under Robert Lipsett and Masao Kawasaki.

Miura will be joined at the recital by cellist Cullen O’Neil, whose performances have brought her to venues such as Alice Tully Hall, the Kennedy Center, Mariinsky II in St. Petersburg, Great Hall of the Moscow Conservatory, Royal Albert Hall as part of the BBC Proms, the Helsinki Musiikkitalo and the Philharmonie de Paris alongside Les Arts Florissants. Also performing will be pianist/harpsichordist Elliot Figg, an active member of several New York-based early music and contemporary ensembles, whose recent engagements include as conductor and harpsichordist for the U.S. premiere of Chevalier de St-Georges’ L’Amant Anonyme with Little Opera Theatre of New York, assistant conductor and harpsichordist for Vivaldi’s Farnace, and for Cavalli’s Veremonda, both with Spoleto Festival USA, and assistant conductor and harpsichordist for Dido and Aeneas with L.A. Opera.

For further information on the recital, call 570-941-7624, email music@scranton.edu or visit scranton.edu/music. For more info on Miura, visit www.colburnschool.edu/calendar/season-overview/kako-miura.

Two upcoming Schemel Forum World Affairs Seminars at The University of Scranton will explore topics related to Russia.

Fredrik Logevall, Ph.D., Laurence D. Belfer Professor of International Affairs at Harvard University, changed his planned topic in light of the invasion of Ukraine. On Thursday, March 24, Dr. Logevall will now present “A New Cold War? How to Think about the Struggle in Ukraine.” The noon luncheon seminar will take place in the Rose Room of Brennan Hall on campus. A remote option is also available for participation.

On Friday, April 22. Russian expert Jill Dougherty, who formerly served as CNN’s Moscow Bureau Chief for nearly a decade, will discuss “Russia and the Post-Truth Society.”

“During the Cold War, the USSR tried to convince the world that communism was the future of humankind,” said Dougherty, a CNN on-air contributor. “The U.S. tried to convince the world that democracy and capitalism gave people a better life. Today, propagandists still try to convince but, more and more, try to confuse and to overwhelm their target audiences with a firehose of mis- and dis-information.”

Dougherty, who is currently teaching a course titled “Information Wars” at Georgetown University, will explore the new paradigm, what it means for Russia, and what it could mean for America. The noon luncheon seminar will take place in the Kane Forum of Edward Leahy Hall and will also be offered in a remote format.

Admission is free for University students, faculty and staff and Schemel Forum members. For non-members, the luncheons are $25 in person and $10 remotely. To register for the seminars, contact Alicen Morrison, Schemel Forum assistant, at 570-941-6206 or alicen.morrison@scranton.edu. To pay by credit card over the phone, contact Kym Fetsko at 570-941-7816, or to pay online, visit: www.scranton.edu/schemelforum.

For more information on Schemel Forum programs and memberships, contact Sondra Myers, Schemel Forum director, at 570-941-4089 or sondra.myers@scranton.edu.

For the seventh annual presentation in the Jay Nathan, Ph.D. Visiting Scholar Lecture Series, The University of Scranton will host Her Excellency, Ambassador Bergdís Ellertsdóttir of Iceland. Ambassador Ellertsdóttir will present a lecture titled, “Iceland: History, Culture, Environment” on Tuesday, March 29, at 4 p.m.

Ambassador Ellertsdóttir’s presentation will explore the intricacies of Iceland, its government, economic system, history and culture. A panel discussion will accompany the presentation. Following the panel discussion, there will be a demonstration of Icelandic culture in a performance by the classical violinist Eva Ingolfsdóttir. At the conclusion of the event, a reception will be held for all those in attendance.

Ambassador Ellertsdóttir began to serve as Iceland’s ambassador to the United States on Sept. 16, 2019. Prior to this appointment, she held positions at Iceland’s Ministry for Foreign Affairs, the Icelandic Embassy in Germany and the European Free Trade Association. Ambassador Ellertsdóttir has also previously served as ambassador of Iceland to Belgium, Netherlands, Luxemburg, Switzerland and San Marino. She received her education at the University of Freiburg in Germany, studying German, political science, English and history. Then, at the University of Iceland she continued studying political science and English. She earned her master’s in European studies from the University of Essex in Britain.

Ingolfsdóttir is a classical violinist, animator and composer with her first album of compositions in the works. She started to play the violin at a young age and has studied broadly in Europe, beginning her training at the Conservatory of Reykjavík, and traveling to conservatories in Brussels, Geneva, and Amsterdam. She has played solo recitals around the globe, including stages in Iceland, Japan, the United States, Russia and Europe.

This lecture is sponsored by the Weinberg Memorial Library and will take place on March 29 in the Moskovitz Theater of the DeNaples Center. The event is free of charge and open guests from the greater Scranton community through the generous support of Dr. Nathan. Reservations are encouraged and can be made on the Jay Nathan, Ph.D. Visiting Scholar Lecture Series webpage or by calling Kym Balthazar Fetsko at 570-941-7816.

Health and safety protocols that are in effect on March 29 as outlined in the Royals Back Together plan must be followed by those in attendance.

The University of Scranton’s Weinberg Memorial Library will hold its annual Book Sale on Saturday, April 30, from 9 a.m. until 8 p.m. and Sunday, May 1, from noon until 4 p.m. in the Scranton Heritage Room on the fifth floor of the library. Book prices begin at 50 cents and the large assortment of used hardcover and paperback books available for sale include children’s books, cookbooks, fiction and non-fiction.

A special preview sale will be held on Friday, April 29, for current Friends’ members and Schemel Forum members.

All proceeds from the event will benefit the Friends of the Weinberg Memorial Library Endowment, which supports library collections and services.

The Weinberg Memorial Library is accepting paperback and hardcover books in good condition, such as children's books, young adult books, cookbooks, fiction, and non-fiction books. Appointments to donate books are needed. The library is also seeking volunteers to help work the book sale. Volunteer shifts are flexible. To schedule an appointment to donate books, obtain clarification on accepted books, or to volunteer, please reach out to Melisa Gallo at melisa.gallo@scranton.edu or by phone at 570-941-6195.

The University of Scranton health and safety protocols in place on April 30 and May 1 outlined in the Royals Back Together plan must be followed by volunteers and guests.

The University of Scranton’s Political Dialogues Working group in collaboration with various campus and community partners and in conjunction with the “Scranton’s Story, Our Nation’s Story” project will offer a nonpartisan Political Dialogue on “Freedom and Our Founding: What do they mean for us today?” on Tuesday, March 22 from 7 – 8:30 p.m. This dialogue event will offer an opportunity for University students, faculty and staff, and Scranton area community members alike to engage in a nonpartisan open discussion about the foundational concept of freedom.  

This dialogue will be held on The University of Scranton campus in The Kane Forum in Edward R. Leahy, Jr. Hall and will involve facilitated small-group structured dialogues that will allow participants to reflect on freedom and the founding along with our role as citizens in a democracy. Participants will have a chance to both share their own experiences and perspectives on issues that relate to freedom and equality today while listening to others’ views and engaging in conversation.  Registration for this public dialogue is required at: surveymonkey.com/r/FreedomDialogue2022 

The University has organized similar discussions on campus since 2017 as part of an ongoing Dialogue Across Differences Initiative, which blends the reflective, structured dialogue methods of national non-profit Essential Partners with St. Ignatius of Loyola’s teachings of discernment and reflection. For tips on how to have your own constructive dialogue that involves both listening to and learning from others, click here.  

This dialogue event is a part of the “Scranton’s Story, Our Nation’s Story” project’s second theme, “The U.S. Citizen and the American Founding,” which focuses on the concept of freedom – both for our founders and for us today. Theme events, hosted by The University of Scranton along with community partners, will engage with the larger questions and concerns surrounding the topic of freedom and our shared democracy as our nation approaches its 250th anniversary. 

Theme 2 events began with a Book Discussion on Freedom: An Unruly History on Thursday, Feb. 3 from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Participants reflected on excerpted readings of the book, “Freedom: An Unruly History,” by scholar Annelien de Dijn and shared their own views on the concept of freedom in a discussion led by Dr. Matt Meyer, University of Scranton Philosophy faculty member. Discussion themes included the origin of the concept of freedom along with the relationship between freedom and government, the common good, and rules. This hybrid event was hosted by the Scranton Public Library.  

Theme events continued Mar. 1 with a humanities lecture held via Zoom at 5 pm, “Freedom and Our Founding: What do they mean for us today?,” featuring distinguished scholars Annelien De Dijn, author, Freedom: An Unruly History, and Aziz Rana, author, Two Faces of American Freedom. This event explored the evolution of the concept of freedom, how it was understood at the time of our nation’s founding almost 250 years ago, and how we can re-engage with its meaning today. The recording is now available for this event on the project’s playlist within The University of Scranton's YouTube channel here. 

For further details including event updates, humanities resources, and information on upcoming themes, please visit the “Scranton’s Story, Our Nation’s Story” project website at scranton.edu/scrantonstory and contact community@scranton.edu with questions.   

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

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

Women in northeastern and central Pennsylvania who are interested in becoming more involved in government can attend the Ready to Run Northeastern Pennsylvania Program at The University of Scranton on Saturday, April 2. The day-long, nonpartisan training session, titled “Wanted: More Women Like You in Politics and Government,” is directed towards women in Bradford, Carbon, Columbia, Lackawanna, Luzerne, Monroe, Montour, Northampton, Northumberland, Pike, Schuylkill, Sullivan, Susquehanna, Wayne and Wyoming counties.

The session begins with check-in/registration at 9 a.m. on the fifth floor of Brennan Hall on the University’s campus and ends at 4:30 p.m. Continental breakfast, lunch and a binder with information materials are included with the registration fee.

The Ready to Run NEPA Program, offered by the University’s Center for Ethics and Excellence in Public Service (CEEPS), trains women to run for office, work on campaigns and get more politically engaged in their community. Participants will gain insight into establishing themselves as credible and viable candidates as well as inspiration to launch a campaign. Topics covered include presentation and messaging skills; fundraising; and how to get started with your campaign. Participants will also gain an understanding of what the underrepresentation of women in Pennsylvania's state and local governments means for women, their families and our communities.

According to Jean Wahl Harris, Ph.D., professor of political science at Scranton and co-director of CEEPS, research shows women govern differently than do men and they bring different priorities and solutions to policy-making process. 

“Women public officials work to make government more transparent to their constituents and more accessible to the diversity of people, voices, and concerns in their communities,” said Dr. Harris.

The event is co-sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Lackawanna County. WNEP is the media partner.

Registration is $50 for the general public or $15 for students with ID. A limited number of partial scholarships are also available. Registration is required to attend and can be completed at Scranton.edu/readytorun.

For additional information visit Scranton.edu/readytorun, or contact Sharon Olechna, administrative assistant for the Political Science Department, at 570-941-632 or sharon.olechna@scranton.edu or readytorun@scranton.edu.

Area students in grades five to 12 can participate in The University of Scranton’s Earth Day Essay Contest 2022. The contest is offered free of charge and this year’s essay theme is “We Are All Connected.” Topics students can write about include conservation, recycling, healthy eating, agriculture, renewable energy, eliminating single use containers, bees, gardening or transportation, among other subjects.

Essays for students in grades five and six must be between 200 to 400 words. Essays for students in grades seven and eight must be between 300 to 500 words. Essays for students in grades nine to 12 must be between 500 to 700 words. Electronic submissions must be sent to susan.falbo@scranton.edu on or before Monday, April 4. Mail-in entries must be postmarked on or by April 1 to be considered and can be sent to: The University of Scranton, Office of Sustainability, Smurfit Arts Center, 445 Madison Avenue, Scranton, PA 18510, Attn: Earth Day Essay Contest.

Visit the University’s Sustainability website for complete submission rules and details.

Winners of the Earth Day Essay Contest will be announced by the University’s Sustainability Office and student Sustainability and Conservation Society at an Evening of Environmental Science program for participants and their families and teachers on Wednesday, April 20, 2022, beginning at 6 p.m., in the atrium of the Loyola Science Center on campus.

Each week, University of Scranton students will use the two kitchens of a newly dedicated Rev. Pedro Arrupe, S.J., House on Clay Avenue to prepare 100 meals for area residents in need. In another room, students will crochet hats and blankets, many of which will be given to the homeless in our area.

Rev. Joseph Marina, S.J., president of The University of Scranton, blessed the house at a ceremony that will be used for some of the many student volunteer programs offered by the University’s Center for Service and Social Justice that allow students to put their faith into action each day.

“Since day one, my first day here on campus last June, I have been marveling at the great work these students do,” said Father Marina at the March 1^st dedication. “We know how challenging going to college can be, especially these days. In addition to that, to find not only the time, but to find it in your heart to give of so much time, energy and passion to keep this Center going and to feed so many and to affect so many people for the good is just a marvelous thing.”

The house was dedicated in honor of Father Arrupe, the 28th Superior General of the Society of Jesus (1963 to 1983), who is now in the process toward beatification and canonization by the Roman Catholic Church. His profound belief in justice informed his understanding of the goal of Jesuit education, saying “our prime educational objective must be to form men and women for others; men and women who will live not for themselves but for God and his Christ.”

In his remarks at the dedication ceremony, Rev. Herbert B. Keller, S.J., vice president for Mission and Ministry, said Father Arrupe “was a man of great spiritual depth who made it his life’s work to educate women and men to serve others – an ideal that now guides Jesuit institutions across the world. Considered by many as the “second founder” of the Society of Jesus, Father Arrupe revolutionized the Society’s mission towards a service of faith that requires the promotion of justice … May the Arrupe House be a reminder to us every day on this campus of our obligation to be men and women for others.”

The Arrupe House will provide space for the We Care Meal program, for which students prepare 100 meals weekly. The meals include a main course, side, drink, dessert and handmade card. Students volunteer to make, package and deliver the meals to the Community Intervention Center, Friends of the Poor, as well as to families living in low income housing developments such as Valley View Terrace, Bangor Heights, Hilltop and Jackson Terrace. The house also provides space for the Craft for a Cause program through which students make cards, crochet items, jewelry and other crafts that are donated to the Catherine McAuley Center and Friends of the Poor. The building also houses EFFORT, which is a program that collects non-perishable food items, and the Royal Restore Food Pantry that can be accessed by students or University community members in need. The Arrupe House also has additional group meeting spaces for students working with other Center for Service and Social Justice programs.

Also speaking at the dedication ceremony were: Patricia Vaccaro, director of the Center for Service and Social Justice; Shannon Everton, a 2021 graduate of the University from Sykesville, Maryland, who is currently pursuing her master’s degree in occupational therapy and is the graduate assistant for The Center for Service and Social Justice; and Brandon Dagrosa, a health administration major from Hazle Township and a work study student for The Center for Service and Social Justice.

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The Clothes Line For Men is a satellite of Scranton’s Friends of the Poor initiative, which individuals with the company of a sponsor, can come pick out clothing and hygienic supplies to use for getting back into the workplace. This initiative, facilitated with the support of The University of Scranton’s Center for Service and Social Justice, offers a needed service for men in the Scranton community.  

University of Scranton coordinator of Local Service & Community Outreach Lynn Gavin said that there is clothing available for men working in all different types of fields. 

“We offer anything from full suits and belts to Dickies pants and work boots,” Gavin said. “We even offer things such as underwear and socks, which we really need more of.” 

The Clothes Line also offers fitting rooms for individuals to try things on before walking out, along with complimentary gift bags with each order which include essential items such as razors, socks, underwear and other items. 

“Those who shop at the Clothes Line for Men do so by filling out an application, which is then approved by us and a sponsor,” Gavin said. “These individuals can then fill out exactly what they are looking for on a sheet and our volunteers will put the order together for them so it is ready for them to pick up.”  

According to Gavin, the service originally offered in-store shopping hours like a department store, but due to COVID-19 concerns, it had to put that service to a halt. 

“Sometimes it gets cluttered here with so many bags, but with the help of student volunteers we are able to get organized quickly as new donation bags come in almost daily,” Gavin said. “We were receiving so much stuff, that we had to acquire another house, which, conveniently, is right next door.” 

Aside from putting together orders, volunteers also assist in going through donation bags that are dropped off on the porch in garbage bags. 

“I tell my volunteers, 'If you wouldn’t wear it then get rid of it,'" Gavin said.  

Gavin said she is grateful for the opportunity to take charge of the newly acquired buildings to use for the service just outside of campus on Linden Street across from the University’s Linden apartments. 

“This is a dream job for me. I have volunteered and done community work my whole life, and after working at the university for 27 years, I think this is perfect,” she said. 

The concept of the service was developed over eight years ago by a duo of women who used the house to run their operation in giving underprivileged men proper clothing to either get back in the workforce after being in prison or immigrants to the area among other situations according to Gavin. 

She said that students really seem to enjoy volunteering at the clothesline. Nursing major Abbey Knight ‘23 said that although she has completed the required service hours for her program, this isn’t the end of volunteering for her. 

“I love it so much I’m going to come back even after my hours are done,” Knight said. 

Some students are using their opportunity at the Clothes Line for Men to help those in need and bring joy to others. Senior occupational therapy major Erin Grell '22 said those who have the time should volunteer. 

“As humans, we have an obligation to help each other and bring good into the world,” Grell said. 

Students who would like to volunteer for The Clothes Line For Men can expect to work in shifts that are flexible for students schedules. As of now, shifts start at 1 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays and end at 3 p.m. The first shift unbags and the second fill orders. 

For those looking to donate, high-demand items the Clothes Line is looking for include: sneakers, work boots and underwear. The Clothes Line averages around 12-15 orders per week consisting of over 15 individual items in each order. 

Other services offered by the Friends Of The Poor at the Clothes Line For Men are arts and crafts and freshly cooked meals and baked goods on-site. 

University of Scranton students interested in volunteering for Clothes Line For Men can sign up here. 

Sign-ups are released monthly so keep on the lookout. 

Community members interested in accessing services offered by the Clothes Line for Men can contact the Friends of the Poor at 570-348-4429 or email clothesline@fotp-ihm.org for more information. 

 

This Thursday, March 3, the “Scranton’s Story, Our Nation’s Story” project is launching its “I am Scranton” social media campaign. This campaign will highlight various Scrantonians by sharing a part of their “Scranton Story” across the project’s social media platforms. This campaign is a part of the project’s oral history project, a multitiered story gathering effort that is collecting stories in various formats throughout the duration of the project.  

Started in the fall of 2021, the “Scranton’s Story, Our Nation’s Story” project is an effort led by The University of Scranton with multiple community-partners and supported by a generous grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities to explore Scranton’s history, culture and role in the nation at large. This project aims to tell the story of our nation through the lens of Scranton, Pennsylvania, through eight project themes each focusing on a vital thread of the tapestry of this city and nation. A key component of capturing this story is amplifying the voices, experiences, and ideas of the people of Scranton, both those that live here today and those that have important connections to our city.  

The “I am Scranton” social media campaign is the first part of the project’s story-gathering effort. To participate, follow the “Scranton’s Story, Our Nation’s Story” project on Facebook and Instagram @ourscrantonstory and on Twitter @scrantonstory. Each week a new “Scranton Story” profile will be released. Community members, alumni, and anyone with a connection to Scranton are encouraged to follow along and create their own post to share a part of their “Scranton Story” using the hashtag #IAmScranton. Project team members will be reposting and sharing stories with this hashtag.  

The “I am Scranton” social media profiles were collected with the support of students in two community-based learning (CBL) communications courses. In the fall of 2021, students in communications faculty member Dr. Brian Snee’s COMM 240 Research Methods course worked to collect and format the initial set of “I am Scranton” interviews and also to design the accompanying social media graphics.  

"The 'I am Scranton' social media project offered communication and media majors an exciting opportunity to do real work for a real client. That the project was about the history and residents of a great city that we all share and love was indeed a wonderful bonus.  We can't wait to see the final product!"  said Dr. Snee.  

During this spring semester, students in Communications faculty Dr. Kimberly Pavlick’s COMM 224 Media Writing course are working to research and produce additional profiles that will be added to the “I am Scranton” campaign starting in April 2022.  Pavlick said having students participate in community-based learning takes them off campus and into the community, which is valuable training, particularly since many of us have been siloed in our own social circles during the pandemic. 

"Learning to talk to people you don't know and genuinely taking an interest in them allows students to learn and grow in a different way from traditional class learning. We learn from every person we interact with," Pavlick said. 

Offering students an opportunity to further engage with the city of Scranton and its people has proved to be a rewarding experience for students supporting the "I am Scranton" campaign. In addition to the work by students in CBL Communications courses, James Leonard '22, communications intern in the Office of Community and Government Relations is working to finalize profiles and support the social media release of the campaign. 

"I think it is a great privilege to be able to work on a project like this. During my four years here, I have always tried to embrace the Scranton community and I have learned that the people here are extremely passionate about their city are seeing it grow. Even during the short time I've lived in the city, I have seen it make so much progress and based on what the people I've worked with throughout this project have said, they see the same and will continue to work hard to make that vision a reality." said James Leonard. 

In addition to the social media campaign, there is also an online submission form that can be found on the project's website where users can submit their Scranton Story in multiple formats. This online form offers a chance to share your story in a short statement, in a face or place via photo upload, in a clip via video upload, or in a “Dear Scranton,” letter. Submissions to this form may be shared to the Oral Histories page on the “Scranton’s Story, Our Nation’s Story” website and will also be shared on the project’s social media pages.  

“Through this project, we want to honor and share the experiences and perspectives of many different Scrantonians. We have been inspired by Colum McCann, the Irish-American author who has visited Scranton on different occasions, who says, ‘The one true democracy we have is storytelling. It goes across borders, boundaries, genders, wealth, race -- everyone has a story to tell,’” said Julie Schumacher Cohen, assistant vice president for Community Engagement and Government Affairs and the Scranton’s Story, Our Nation’s Story project director.   

In addition to the social media campaign and online submission form, additional storytelling opportunities will continue throughout the duration of the project. These efforts include pop-up story collection opportunities that will take place at outdoor events and festivals during the summer of 2022 along with a series of spotlight stories that will be shared at the culmination of the project in the fall of 2023.  

For more information about this project, please visit scranton.edu/scrantonstory.  

To receive project updates and reminders, join the project email list by emailing community@scranton.edu  

You can submit your own Scranton Story at www.scranton.edu/iamscranton

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