News @ Commonwealth College

COMMONWEALTH COLLEGE NOTICES

COMCOL LOUNGE EVENTS & ACTIVITIES

ADVISING REMINDERS & INFORMATION

SCHOLARSHIPS, FELLOWSHIPS & INTERNSHIPS

CAMPUS & COMMUNITY EVENTS

STUDENT LIFE

 

COMMONWEALTH COLLEGE NOTICES

SESAME STREET WRITER COMES TO WRITING BUTTERFIELD, APRIL 25

On Tuesday, April 25, at 7:30pm (in the Butterfield Lounge), join us to hear David Korr read some of his work and talk about writing that engages children (as well as his other accomplishments).
    David Korr's writing credits include stage plays (productions at the Tyrone Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis and Off-Off Broadway in New York), television scripts ("Sesame Street" -- 13 Emmys), children's books and recordings (a Grammy nomination for best children's recording, several ASCAP awards for popular music writing), short films (which he also directed), medical articles and film theory. Screenplays he's written have weathered several "almost"s, including a Hallmark Hall of Fame and a PBS American Playhouse production, both in the planning stages when "business concerns" forced their cancellations.
    Korr has taught writing and filmmaking at New York University, The Cooper Union Art School, The New School, and the University of Massachusetts. He has been a guest teacher and artist in residence in grammar schools, talking and writing with children. Most recently, he's worked with public and private school teachers, instructing them in methods for helping children learn to write. His primary focus is now adult fiction, including novels and short stories, although he keeps himself confused with competing projects -- including a play, a screenplay, a book on Hamlet, a book about teaching writing, and the occasional stab at poetry.

BE A LABOR DAY ORIENTATION LEADER! APPLY by APRIL 28

Remember the “blue shirt people” from your Labor Day Orientation? Or maybe your generation was overseen by the “orange shirt people”? Whatever the case, Commonwealth College is looking for motivated students to be brightly garbed LDO Leaders. LDOLs move in a few days early (Thursday, August 31st) to prepare to welcome the incoming ComCol freshmen.
   Leaders will be expected to receive the freshmen on Friday, and help out at the orientation activities Friday evening through Saturday evening (culminating in the ever-popular Casino Night!). We provide all the meals from Thursday to Saturday in addition to providing for your early move-in cost for residents of the dorms.
   This is a great opportunity to get to know your peers, help out freshmen, and beat the move-in rush. If you are interested, please download and complete the application available here, and return it to the Commonwealth College office in 504 Goodell or by email to peers@comcol.umass.edu. Applications are due to the office no later than Friday, April 28 @ 2:00. Informal group interviews will be held during the week of May 1.

GRADUATING COMCOL SENIORS—WANT TO ADDRESS YOUR PEERS?

We’re seeking a senior student speaker for the Celebration of Excellence (Saturday, May 27th 2006, 9a.m. the Mullins Center)…If you’re interested, please send a 3-4 page (double spaced) sample of what you’d like to speak about. Send submissions to Jennifer Bennett, 504 Goodell Building by May 12th. Please call Jennifer Bennett if you have any questions (545-2483).

3-CREDIT BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS MENTORING PROGRAM

Having trouble finding another class? Interested in doing something amazing for the community while getting college credits at the same time? Enroll in this 3- credit honors course and answer to the needs of youth in this community and fill your schedule at the same time!
WHAT: Big Brothers Big Sisters Mentoring Program designed to foster positive relationships between youth and college students.
All Mentors:
-Receive full comprehensive training
-Earn 3 Honors credits for Fall Semester
WHEN: One weekly meeting Tuesdays: 3-5 PM, Plus 3-5 hours/week with your “Little”
   Applications are available at the Office of Community Service Learning, 610 Goodell. For more information, contact Shakira Alvarez-Ferrer at 253-2591 or salvarez@chd.org, or OCSL at 545-2015 or servelearn@acad.umass.edu. This is an Honors Course but you DO NOT have to be in ComCol to participate.

COMCOL LOUNGE EVENTS & ACTIVITIES

NEXT PIZZA & PROF, APRIL 24

Pizza & Prof resumes April 24 with Prof Shelley Velleman of the Department of Communication Disorders. Prof Velleman's presentation will start at 6:00 in the ComCol lounge of 504 Goodell. Pizza will be served at 5:45. Come join the feast and fun ... and bring your friends. To reserve a seat and a slice, email pizzaprof@comcol.umass.edu. For more information, visit the Pizza & Prof page of this site.

FILM SERIES CONTINUES, APRIL 25

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!

Do the Right Thing [1989] was Lee's third motion picture (following She's Gotta Have It and School Daze), but this was the movie that put him on the proverbial map. Never before or since, not even with the epic Malcolm X, has he courted controversy so aggressively. The movie confronts racism head-on, with the kind of clear-eyed and unflinching attitude that is rarely seen in major motion pictures. Lee does not pander to political correctness, nor does he sermonize. He introduces a group of characters, sets up the situation, then allows events to play out. (Review by James Berardinelli)

WWWORKSHOP: DON’T BE A FOOL, APPLY TO GRAD SCHOOL, APRIL 19

You’re invited to attend this week’s workshop about applying to graduate school. The workshop will cover GRE pointers, a timeline to follow, and helpful suggestions about graduate school research and preparation. 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!

ADVISING REMINDERS & INFORMATION

WALK-IN ADVISING CONTINUES

- Walk-in advising continues through April. 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.
- Juniors: check out your Capstone Experience options online.
- Seniors: review the requirements for submission of your Capstone Experience manuscripts online.

SCHOLARSHIPS, FELLOWSHIPS & INTERNSHIPS

FALL'06 GRANTS/FELLOWSHIPS DEADLINE, APRIL 25

Applications for fall 2006 Honors Research Grants and Research Assistant Fellowships are due on Tuesday, April 25, 2006.

OCSL STUDENT OFFICE ASSISTANT POSITION '06-'07

Four office assistant positions with the UMass Office of Community Service Learning at Commonwealth College will be available both fall ‘06 and spring ‘07 semesters. Positions are for 5-10 hours/week at an hourly rate of $6.75/hour. Upon satisfactory performance, student staff may receive pay rate increases each semester (up to a maximum of $10/hour). Work study and non-work study positions available. Possibility of summer 2006 positions, too.
  For details, including application information, click here.

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.

CAMPUS & COMMUNITY EVENTS

RELAY FOR LIFE, APRIL 21-22

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!

DISTINGUISHED CITIZEN SCHOLAR TO SPEAK, APRIL 26

The 2006 UMass Distinguished Citizen Scholar, Dr. Marshall Ganz, will give a public talk on Wednesday, April 26, 2006, at 4:00 p.m. in 917 Campus Center at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Dr. Ganz's topic is "Knowledge of How to Combine: Reclaiming the Democratic Process," and he will be awarded the 2006 UMass Distinguished Citizen Scholar Medal at this event.
    Now a teacher, researcher, and writer at Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government, Dr. Ganz spent 16 years with Cesar Chavez and the United Farm Workers, eventually becoming Director of Organizing. He continues to work with numerous electoral campaigns and grassroots organizations. For more information, see the announcement flyer.
   The event is free and open to the public. It is sponsored by the Citizen Scholars Program of the UMass Office of Community Service Learning at Commonwealth College and by UMass Amherst Outreach.

STUDENT-DIRECTED PERFORMANCE OF THE AMERICAN DREAM, APRIL 26-9

Performances of Edward Albee’s "The American Dream," directed by Commonwealth College student Michael Marceline, will take place Wednesday 4/26, Thursday 4/27, Friday 4/28, & Saturday 4/29 at 8:00pm. A 2:00pm show will also take place on Saturday. Performances will be in FAC 204 (Theater Dept). They are free and open to the community.

LOBBY DAY FOR CLEAN ELECTIONS, APRIL 26

Have you ever thought of running for office, but couldn't afford it? Do you know anyone who would make a great State Senator but they don't have the funds? Do you ever get the feeling that all legislators are starting to look alike?
   Basically, campaigns have become incredibly expensive. The only people who can afford to run for office are the wealthiest people. Everyday people (firefighters, teachers..) are left out of the system.
   Well, now's our chance to change all that.
We're organizing a Lobby Day in Boston. We are going to be advocating for fair election systems which provide state funding for political candidates. With your help, Massachusetts will have a better election system that would allow virtually anyone to step up to the plate and run for office!
   The Lobby Day will be held on Wednesday, April 26th at the State House in Boston. Transportation will be provided! This is a great opportunity to meet and feel comfortable interacting with your elected officials.
   Don't know how to lobby? Not a problem! There will be trainings during the week of Tent State University here at UMass.

If this sounds like something you would enjoy or if you have any questions, contact Kate Baldacci at kate.baldacci@gmail.com.

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.

INTERGENERATIONAL CONFERENCE: DIVERSITY IN EAST ASIA, MAY 6

A Three-Generational Approach to Synergy and Mentoring for Honors, Masters, and PH.D. Candidates
Saturday, May 6, 2006
This one-day event will focus on the topic of “Diversity in East Asia.” There will be two panels in the morning and two in the afternoon. The conference highlights will include an after-lunch keynote address by Prof. David L. Howell (Prof. and Chair of E. Asian Studies and Prof. of History, Princeton University), a distinguished scholar in the field of East Asian Studies. For more information, contact Asian Languages and Literatures at IGSC@asianlan.umass.edu or visit http://www.umass.edu/asianlan/IGSC/IGSChome.htm
Sponsors: Asian Languages and Literatures; Commonwealth College; Department of History’; Department of Languages, Literatures and Cultures; Five College E. Asian Languages Program; The Graduate School; Mark Jolly ’00.

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.

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."