Weekly Bulletin

Speaker discusses black studies and higher education

Martha Biondi, associate professor of African American studies and history at Northwestern University, will speak on “The Black Revolution on Campus: Student Activism and the Transformation of Higher Education” on Thursday, Feb. 28 at 4:30 p.m. in 904-08 Campus Center.
 
According to Biondi, the incorporation of black studies in American higher education was a major goal of the black student movement, but the promise to implement it was typically followed by another period of struggle.

Clear state vehicles of snow, advises Transportation Services

Campus department have the responsibility to remove snow and ice from official vehicles parked in campus lots, according to Transportation Services. Those vehicles need to be moved after a snow fall to allow for complete snow removal in the parking lots.

Before driving state vehicles, snow should be thoroughly removed before driving to ensure the safety of others. Massachusetts law dictates that the driver of a vehicle must remove all the snow from the roof, hoods, trunks, windows and windshields of all vehicles before they are driven. This includes trucks, vans and box trucks.

Any citations

Library invites submissions for student awards

The Libraries invite submissions for two student awards: the Emily Silverman Book Collecting Contest for undergraduates and graduate students, and the Friends of the Library Undergraduate Research Award. 

The deadline for both contests is March 1. Winners will be announced in early April and first place recipients will receive their awards at the Library’s Dinner with Friends on April 6. Submission guidelines and evaluation criteria for both awards are available at http://bit.ly/contest_award.  
 
The fourth annual Emily Silverman Book Collecting Contest celebrates reading and the pleasure

Women sought for muscle recovery study

Stephen Foulis, a doctoral candidate in the Muscle Physiology Lab in the Kinesiology Department, is seeking participants for his dissertation study, which is focused on how muscles recover following an exercise bout and what effect that has on everyday function in young and older adults.

Qualified participants must be female, 25-40 or 65-85 years old, non-smokers who are not currently exercise training.

This study involves four or five visits, each of which will last approximately 1-2 hours. Participants will be compensated up to $50 for their time.

For more information, contact Stephen

Flags lowered for Brookline soldier

Gov. Deval L. Patrick has ordered that the U.S. and Commonwealth flags be lowered to half-staff at all state buildings from sunrise until sunset on Tuesday, Feb. 12 in honor of Army PFC Michael A. Gorman of Brookline, who died Feb. 5 at Fort Drum, N.Y.

Maryland researcher to examine neural networks model of culture

Christine A. Bachrach of the Maryland Population Research Center will speak on “Can Meanings be Modeled? Exploring a Neural Networks Model of Culture” on Thursday, Feb. 21 at 4 p.m. in 904-08 Campus Center as part of the Center for Research on Families’ Tay Gavin Erickson Lecture Series.
 
Concepts of culture have undergone dramatic transformations in recent decades, from institutional models that emphasize values, norms and roles, to “tool kit” models that emphasize individuals’ freedom to choose from among many different cultural scripts, values, worldviews and more.

Fermann gives STEM talk on 'The Science of Craft'

Justin Fermann, senior lecturer in Chemistry, will present a Tuesday STEM Talk, “The Science of Craft," on Feb. 19 at 4 p.m. in 138 Hasbrouck.

According to Fermann, learning scientific principles and skills needed to understand and master the crafts of blacksmithing, ceramics, brewing and glassblowing.

Doctoral oral exams for Feb. 19-22

The graduate dean invites all graduate faculty to attend the final oral examinations for the doctoral candidates scheduled as follows:

Ali Eslami, Ph.D., Electrical and Computer Engineering. Wednesday, Feb. 20, 1:15 p.m., 201 Marcus Hall, Conference Room. Dissertation: “A Non-Asymptotic Approach to the Analysis of Communication Networks: From Error Correcting Codes to Network Properties.” Hossein Pishro-Nik, chr.

Craig Versek, Ph.D., Physics. Thursday, Feb. 21, 1:15 p.m., 409 Hasbrouck. Dissertation: “Charge Transport Studies of Proton and Ion Conducting Materials.” Mark Tuominen, chr.

Workshop for employees who are caregivers at home

"Prepare to Care: Essential Skills for Elder Caregiving,"  a two-session workshop for employees who are caregivers at home, is being offered through the Labor/Management Workplace Education program on Feb. 28 and March 7 from 10:30 to noon in 115 South College.

Many employees have two jobs: work at UMass Amherst and work as caregivers for family.

Campus and Community Coalition is focus of chamber breakfast

Representatives of the Campus and Community Coalition to Reduce High-Risk Drinking (CCC) will discuss its efforts at the next monthly breakfast of the Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday, Feb. 13, 7:15-9 a.m., at the Red Barn at Hampshire College. Admission is $15 for chamber members and $20 for non-members. The event is sponsored by Amherst Office Park and UMass Five College Credit Union.

CCC co-chairs Sally Linowski, assistant dean of students, and Lisa Queenin, the director of Community and Regional Legislative Relations, will join other CCC members for a panel discussion about

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