News @ Commonwealth College

COMMONWEALTH COLLEGE NOTICES

ADVISING REMINDERS & INFORMATION

SCHOLARSHIPS, FELLOWSHIPS & INTERNSHIPS

CAMPUS & COMMUNITY EVENTS

STUDENT LIFE

 

COMMONWEALTH COLLEGE NOTICES

CSL DEAN'S BOOK COURSE OPEN FOR FALL '06, APPLY NOW

Want to give back to your community? Want to finish your Dean’s Book requirements in 1 semester? Apply for Dean’s Book CSL!
   The Dean’s Book Community Service Learning class is a 3-credit course that combines 291, 391, and a community service component. You must have junior status or above by Fall 2006 to be eligible for the class. This fall, there will be two books, Aquariums of Pyongyang, by Chol-Hwan Kang and another chosen by the instructor. Students then do 20 hours of community service based on the themes from the book. It should be a really exciting semester. If you would like to apply for the course, either stop by 610 Goodell to pick up an application, download an application here, or contact the community service coordinator, Meghan Henry, at mehenry@student.umass.edu. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling admission basis so the sooner you apply the better your chances are of getting into the class. Thanks!

WWWORKSHOP: STAYING ON TRACK, APRIL 5

You’re invited to attend this week’s workshop about the Capstone Experience. This workshop is devoted to covering things you should have done, and things you should be thinking about. The workshop will be separated by class year. Workshops run from 6-7pm in the Goodell Lounge, and include sandwiches from the Loose Goose. Please RSVP to peers@comcol.umass.edu if you plan on attending!

STUDENT ADVISORY BOARD OPEN MEETING, APRIL 11

This week’s agenda is focused on requirement adjustments for students joining ComCol after freshmen year (Do they help the college to be inclusive, or are they being taken advantage of?) and the layout of news@comcol (we will take a look at the webpage, and brainstorm possible suggestions for change). The Student Advisory Board will be meeting on Tuesday, April 11, from 6 to 7 pm in the Goodell Lounge to discuss these issues. All Commonwealth College students are welcome to attend! Dinner will be provided. Please RSVP to Melissa Beesley at mbeesley@comcol.umass.edu if you are interested in attending, and see the SAB website for a more detailed agenda.

"GENDER AS PERFORMANCE ART," APRIL 11

Time: 8:00pm
Place: Herter 119
    Diane Torr, internationally acclaimed performance artist and filmmaker, will be giving a performance/presentation, "Gender as Performance Art," at 8:00pm in Herter 119. Torr’s work has been the subject of profiles in national and international publications such as G.Q., The Washington Post, Village Voice, The Manchester Guardian, and German Vogue. Torr has received grants and awards from NYSCA, Jerome Foundation, Lila Wallace Readers Digest Fund, and Art Matters among others. Her gender performance-transformational workshop for women, "Man For a Day," was featured on NPR'S "This American Life" in February. Torr's installations and performances are known for their wit, humor, and experimental use of movement, film, slides, written text, and evocative materials such as smell-boxes. This event is presented by the Commonwealth College Capstone, "Courageous Chaos: Art From Life."

FILM SERIES: A PLACE IN THE SUN

Come join us and watch a critically acclaimed classic as we continue with our 'Rebel With a Cause' Film Series on Tuesday evenings at 7:30 in the Goodell Lounge. Snacks and refreshments provided! Check out the review below!

A Place in the Sun (1951) is a powerful social drama and romance from director/producer George Stevens. The black and white film plays on the audience's emotions, by involving and drawing them into complicity with the tragic resolution. Methodically, the film is stylistically dark, almost with film-noirish qualities, yet it has some of the most romantic and passionate sequences ever filmed - between the radiant debutante, 18 year-old Elizabeth Taylor (in her first adult role) and 29 year-old Montgomery Clift, who stars as a laboring wage slave. (Tim Dirks, http://www.filmsite.org/plac.html)

WWWORKSHOP: PODIUM POINTERS, APRIL 12

You’re invited to attend this week’s workshop, which will provide public speaking tips for presentations, oral defenses, and general life experiences. Workshops run from 6-7pm in the Goodell Lounge, and include sandwiches from the Loose Goose. Please RSVP to peers@comcol.umass.edu if you plan on attending!

WILLIAMSON LECTURE: GOD, DESIGN, AND DARWIN: EVOLUTION & THE BATTLE FOR AMERICA'S SOUL, APRIL 19

Fine Arts Center Concert Hall
UMass Amherst Campus
4:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m.
Free Admission
Kenneth R. Miller, Professor of Biology, Brown University, and one of the leading opponents of the intelligent design movement will give the 6th annual Kathryn and Paul Williamson Commonwealth College Lecture on "God, Design, and Darwin: Evolution and the Battle for America's Soul." A practicing Roman Catholic, Professor Miller is well known for his defense of evolution in the evolution-intelligent design debate. He has appeared as an expert witness in court cases and has frequently debated proponents of intelligent design. Recently, he was the lead expert witness for the evolution side in the federal court case brought against the Dover, Pennsylvania, school board that had mandated the incorporation of intelligent design into the school curriculum. Professor Miller promises to offer interesting counterpoint to Dr. Michael Behe’s February lecture challenging Darwin’s theories of evolution. Click here for more information.

ADVISING REMINDERS & INFORMATION

HONORS ADVISING BEFORE PRE-REGISTRATION

Pre-reg is right around the corner – April 10. Now is a good time to meet with an honors advisor to discuss honors course requirements for the fall. You may call 545-2483 to make an appointment.

BE AN ACADEMIC PEER ADVISOR IN ORCHARD HILL

Live with and mentor a wing of Commonwealth College learning community students. Work with the designated faculty members of the learning community. Be a source of information and answer questions for students. You and your roommate will have a guaranteed room in Orchard Hill, and you’ll receive $1000 per semester.
   Click here for complete information, or contact Melissa Beesley with questions (mbeesley@comcol.umass.edu). Interviews will be held April 10-13, and decisions will be made by April 14.

PRE-REGISTRATION REMINDERS

- Walk-in advising begins April 10. Hours are 9:30 – 11:30 and 1:00 – 4:00. Lines are shorter first thing in the morning!
- Print and bring a current SPIRE Degree Progress Report to avoid advising delays and to help us determine your ComCol status
- Get an early start: download registration contract forms and instructions for Honors Independent Studies and Independent Capstones: http://www.comcol.umass.edu/forms/index.html.

CAPSTONE EXPERIENCE REMINDERS

- Juniors: check out your Capstone Experience options online.
- Seniors: review the requirements for submission of your Capstone Experience manuscripts online.

SCHOLARSHIPS, FELLOWSHIPS & INTERNSHIPS

NEWS OFFICE STUDENT ASSISTANT POSITION, FALL 2006

The Office of News and Information is seeking candidates for a Student Assistant for the 2006-07 academic year. Learn how to create and distribute news and feature stories for the news media and the campus community. Write, edit, proofread and help manage the hometown news program. Provide telephone and clerical support in fast-paced office. Computer skills a big plus. Up to 20 hours per week, $8 per hour. Outstanding opportunity for students considering a career in public relations or journalism. Orientation period will begin soon. CONTACT: Christine Davies, Office of News and Information, 200 Munson Hall. Call 545-0444, or e-mail davics@urd.umass.edu.

STATE SENATE SUMMER INTERNSHIPS AVAILABLE

Summer Internship positions (unpaid) are available in the State House office of Senator Cynthia Stone Creem, a progressive Democrat representing Brookline, Newton, and Wellesley. Senator Creem is looking for professional and hard working individuals with an interest in gaining valuable experience in state government and legislative politics. See posted announcement for details.

PAID INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITY WITH TEACH FOR AMERICA

Teach for America is currently hiring Campus Campaign Managers to work with Teach For America's recruitment team to create and implement an ambitious recruitment campaign to recruit talented and diverse college seniors for the 2007 corps. Campus Campaign Managers work on campus to network with faculty, present in classrooms, and engage in strategic marketing plans in order to inspire future leaders to join the movement to end educational inequity. Interested? Visit our website to learn more.

FALL WORK-STUDY & INTERNSHIPS AT EVERYWOMAN'S CENTER

Everywoman's Center is now hiring new staff for next fall. We offer work-study, volunteer, and internship positions. Serve your campus and community women while gaining valuable skills. Click here for full information.

CAMPUS & COMMUNITY EVENTS

GET INVOLVED WITH RELAY FOR LIFE!

The Five College Relay For Life is an annual event put on by the American Cancer Society, and is being held April 21-22 this year. It is a terrific event where teams pledge to spend 18 hours walking around the track at Amherst College to raise money and awareness about cancer research. Teams from all five colleges will be involved, making a great opportunity to meet people and make new friends! The night will be filled with many fun events, including live music, contests, games and prizes! If you're interested in joining a team or forming one of your own, please email UMassRelay@hotmail.com or check out the Relay For Life website. Let's join together in the fight against cancer!

EDITOR OF TIKKUN MAGAZINE TO SPEAK, APRIL 6

Editor of TIKKUN magazine Rabbi Michael Lerner will speak about his new book, The Left Hand of God: Taking Back Our Country from the Religious Right, on Thursday, April 6, at 7:30pm in Flavin Family Auditorium, Isenberg School of Management, Room 137.In this his latest book, Rabbi Lerner argues that the Religious Right has gained power by speaking to the real spiritual hunger of many Americans but channeled that hunger into support for war and militarism, cuts to programs for the poor, tax breaks for the rich, and environmental irresponsibility. For more information, visit http://www.umass.edu/jewish/.

“VIOLENCE IN ADOLESCENT GIRLS,” APRIL 6

4:00pm–5:00pm --- Lecture
5:00pm-6:00pm ---Book Signing
Campus Center Room 1009
Admission: Free
The School of Public Health & Health Sciences presents “Violence in Adolescent Girls” by Dr. Deborah Prothrow-Stith. Dr. Prothrow-Stith is a nationally recognized public health leader, and she was appointed as the first woman commissioner of Public Health for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in 1987. She has authored and /or co-authored over 80 publications on medical and public health issues.For more information please contact Kathern F. Perreault at Kathern@nursing.umass.edu or 413-545-2526.

6th ANNUAL JUNIPER LITERARY FESTIVAL, APRIL 28-29

Memorial Hall,
University of Massachusetts Amherst
A yearly gathering of poets, writers, editors, publishers, scholars, and readers, the Juniper Festival is dedicated to celebrating important new work and exploring issues vital to the literary arts and independent publishing. This year’s festival, A Celebration of the Work of John Ashbery, will explore the world-renowned poet’s half-century of contributions to and influence on contemporary literature. The festival is free and open to the public. Click here for full information.

STUDENT LIFE

KISS A SENIOR GOODBYE

Want to show your favorite Senior(s) just how much you'll miss them? Send them a champagne glass or Class of 2006 coffee mug full of Hershey kisses! The cost is only $6 per glass or mug. It is one graduation present they won't forget. Make the UMASS-Amherst memories last long after graduation. You can order them online until May 12th at www.umassalumni.com/students or at the S.A.A. Table in the Campus Concourse from April 24th to last day of classes. Order them as soon as possible! (Sponsored by Student Alumni Association)

5K BENEFIT ROAD RACE FOR PUSH AMERICA, APRIL 29

"Eric's Race,” a 5k road race, will be held on campus April 29th at 9 am. The cost is $5 with college ID, and all participants will be entered into a raffle for gift certificates from local business and an iPod. The winner will also receive an iPod. Profits will go to benefit Push America, an organization that serves people living with disabilities. Registration sheets and more information can be found at www.pikappumass.com.

LAST CHANCE TO HAVE YOUR SENIOR PHOTO TAKEN!

Hey Seniors: This is your last chance to have your senior photo taken! The yearbook photographer will be on campus April 4-13 to take your picture. Go to www.ouryear.com, or call 1-800-OUR-YEAR to register today. The school code for UMass is 147. It's your yearbook, why wouldn't you want to be in it?!

BOWL WEEKEND: OPEN MIC TALENT REVIEW!

The long awaited Bowl Weekend is coming up rather quickly and we need you! If you have any talent such as singing, dancing, telling jokes, juggling, or can swallow fireballs then you’re perfect for Bowl Weekend’s Open Mic Talent Review! During Bowl Weekend’s Bowl Day/Country Fair, held May 13th from 11am-4pm, we will be giving you the chance to strut your stuff and show the entire campus what you’ve got. Invite friends, have fun, and join! We'll need entries in by May 4th at 8pm. If you enter then, you will be guaranteed a spot, if you’re late we will be accepting you the day of Open Mic. Come by the Orchard Hill Area Government (OHAG) office located in 112 Field right next to Sweets N’ More from 8-10pm Monday-Thursday or e-mail us at orchardhillag@gmail.com and please title your entry as “Open Mic."

SUBMIT YOUR WORK TO mOthertongue

Do you write? Do you write in more than one language? Then submit and be published in this year's mOthertongue! mOthertongue is a multilingual literary journal for the Five College community, based out of UMass. To submit, simply email your writing in a foreign tongue, along with an English translation, to mothertongue.complit@gmail.com. We'd also be happy to answer any questions you might have.
    mOthertongue is a fantastic opportunity to publish in a unique medium -- we encourage native speakers to submit in their tongue, and English speakers to submit in another language they have learned; plus it's not just for undergrads -- grad students, too!