News @ Commonwealth College

— COMMONWEALTH COLLEGE —

Special Programs

1. To Dream the Impossible Dream!

Announcements & Activities

1. WWWorkshop-The Next Degree: Applying to Grad School, Oct 4
2. Film Series - Bergman's Fanny & Alexander, Oct 5
3. Student Advisory Board Meeting, Oct 10
4. Pizza & Prof with Sigrid Schmalzer, Oct 16

Achievements & Opportunities

1. ComCol Poet's Piece Picked by Poet Laureate
2. Seeking ComCol Artists

Advising Reminders & Information

1. Thinking of Going to Law School? Advice Available

— CAMPUS & COMMUNITY —

Academic Opportunities

1. Leadership Seminar: A 6-Week Foundational Program

Employment & Other Financial Opportunities

1. Program Assistant for the New England News Council Sought
2. Health & Nutrition Diversity Scholarships, Spring 2007

Events & Activities

1. Poetry Reading by Thomas Sayers Ellis, Oct 5
2. Holocaust Performance Premieres At UMass, Oct 11

— COMMONWEALTH COLLEGE —

Special Programs

TO DREAM THE IMPOSSIBLE DREAM!

Commonwealth College is pleased to present programs designed with a theme related to Don Quixote in the upcoming months. Don Quixote de la Mancha, Miguel de Cervantes's masterpiece, is considered to be the first modern novel in history and one of the most influential on world literature.

We will be holding several related events:

• Boston Ballet performance of Don Quixote on Sunday, October 29th at 2pm in Boston (at the Wang Center). Tickets will be $12 for students, and transportation from UMass Amherst will be provided. Sign-up at the Commonwealth College office will begin on Monday, October 2nd.

• Student Artwork Displays

• Showing of the movie, Man of La Mancha

• Other theatrical/literary events

• These events will culminate with a special symposium involving faculty from several departments and the Chancellor on February 23rd.

Please look for more information in news@comcol soon!

Announcements & Activities

WWWORKSHOP - APPLYING TO GRADUATE SCHOOL, OCT 4

The week's topic is The Next Degree—Applying to Graduate School. On the agenda: GRE pointers, a timeline to follow, and helpful suggestions about graduate school research and preparation.
    Weekly Wednesday Workshops are held every Wednesday evening from 6-7 PM outside of 504 Goodell in the Commonwealth College Lounge. Dinner is provided. Please RSVP to c3@comcol.umass.edu if you are planning to attend. See WWWorkshop page for other dates and topics.

EXISTENTIAL FILM SERIES - FANNY & ALEXANDER, OCT 5

Please join us for our Fall 06 Existential Film Series Thursdays at 8:00pm, 406A Goodell.
    "Arguably Ingmar Bergman's most accessible and upbeat work, this childhood fable is magical, personal, and poignant in the way that other masterpieces of the genre are, most notably Truffaut's 400 Blows and Fellini's Amarcord" (Rotten Tomatoes). Fanny and Alexander will play Sept 28 at 8:00 in 406A Goodell.
    And on Oct 12, plan to see a special Dean's Book Course film—open to all but of particular interest to DBC students. A State of Mind, an astounding documentary shot in North Korea, follows two young gymnasts as they prepare for a lavish spectacle called the “Mass Games” involving as many as 100,000 performers.

STUDENT ADVISORY BOARD MEETING, OCT 10

The Student Advisory Board provides input, feedback, and advice to the dean regarding Commonwealth College programs and policies. Board meetings are open to all Commonwealth College students, and board members welcome your comments and suggestions. The next meeting is Tuesday, October 10, at 6:30 pm in 504 Goodell. Pizza or sandwiches will be available so please RSVP to Caitlyn Burns at ceburns@student.umass.edu. (For the upcoming SAB meeting agenda and a full schedule of Fall '06 SAB meetings, see the SAB web page.)

PIZZA & PROF WITH SIGRID SCHMALZER, OCT 16

Pizza at 5:45
Program starts at 6:00
Place is ComCol lounge, 504 Goodell
Of special relevance to this term's Dean's Book Course:
The night's prof is Professor Sigrid Schmalzer of the History Department. With a doctorate from UC San Diego, Prof Schmalzer focuses on modern Chinese history, the history of science, and popular culture. Come join the feast and fun ... and bring your friends. To reserve a seat and a slice, email pizzaprof@comcol.umass.edu.

Achievements

COMCOL POET'S PIECE PICKED BY POET LAUREATE

Commonwealth College faculty member Alex Phillips's poem "Work Shy" will appear in former Poet Laureate Ted Kooser's nationally-syndicated column "American Life in Poetry" on September 28. The column appears in approximately 200 newspapers and online magazines weekly and seeks to "create a vigorous presence for poetry in our culture." Phillips is the Assistant Director of the Dean's Book Course and teaches the Capstone Course "Lifelong Writing." His chapbook Under a Paper Trellis is forthcoming from Factory Hollow Press.

SEEKING COMCOL ARTISTS

Looking for an opportunity to show your work? Commonwealth College expects to have a few opportunities throughout the year to set up displays of student work. On October 20th, we have an opportunity for a one-evening display as part of a reception on Homecoming Weekend. Interested students should send an email to dean@comcol.umass.edu expressing interest. Please attach photos of part of your portfolio, or make arrangements to bring slides or other representations of your work to 504 Goodell.

Advising Reminders & Information

THINKING OF GOING TO LAW SCHOOL?

Meet with the Pre-Law Advisor, Aaron Lorenz, in E-26 Machmer. You may contact him at prelaw@acad.umass.edu. For office hours and more information about the Pre-Law Advising Office, see the Pre-Law Flyer and website < www.umass.edu/prelaw>.

— CAMPUS & COMMUNITY—

Academic Opportunities

LEADERSHIP SEMINAR: 6-WEEK FOUNDATIONAL PROGRAM

The Center for Student Development is pleased to announce the Leadership Seminar:  a 6-week foundational program for 2nd year UMass Amherst students.  This seminar will introduce students to concrete leadership skills that can be used in all facets of student life.  The ultimate objective of this series is for participating students to apply these newfound skills to specific interest areas including clubs, organizations, work and class settings.

We have organized this program to offer 2 sessions each week on the same topic.  Students can choose between Tuesday evenings (5-7 pm) or Fridays midday (11 am - 1 pm).  We plan to discuss:

   * Week 1 - Values:  The Foundation of Character
   * Week 2 - What is Leadership?
   * Week 3 - Healthy Leadership
   * Week 4 - Working with Complex Organizations & Context
   * Week 5 - Decision Making (with Ethical Component)
   * Week 6 - Community Leadership

If you are a 2nd year student that feels you are a good fit for this program, we encourage you to apply.  We are accepting application forms until October 4 (click here to download form).  The sessions begin on October 10th and 17th.  You can contact Marisa Pizii, 545-4716 or pizii@educ.umass.edu with any questions.  We look forward to seeing you!

Employment & Other Financial Opportunities

PROGRAM ASSISTANT FOR THE N.E. NEWS COUNCIL SOUGHT

http://www.newenglandnews.org
The New England News Council is a collaboration among news professionals, citizen journalists and the public to promote vigorous, trusted, accountable journalism -- and accountable government.  Funded Sept. 1 with a $75,000 seed grant from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, the council is based in the journalism program at UMass Amherst and is gradually launching services during the fall of 2006 and the spring of 2007. 
   The program assistant will work approximately 16 hours a week on a flexible schedule through June 15, 2007, to help with website management, and assure the smooth launch of workshops, forums/hearings, member services and fund-raising efforts of the council.  This job requires significant personal contact with members, users and donors by phone, email and in person. The ideal candidate is super detail-oriented, with excellent telephone and personal-interaction skills.
Exceptional students and non-students will be considered.  A full position description is available.  
    The candidate should have demonstrated concern for the future of media and democracy at the local, civic level. For information and to apply contact Bill Densmore (BDIC '75),Executive Director The New England News Council, 108 Bartlett Hall, densmore@journ.umass.edu or  (413) 458-8001.

HEALTH & NUTRITION DIVERSITY SCHOLARSHIPS, SP '07

The Department of Nutrition at UMass seeks to identify qualified and enthusiastic students who will receive support and funding ($6000) through the Health & Nutrition Diversity Scholars (HANDS) Scholarship Program.  For qualifications, see the HANDS online flyer.  For more information, contact:
Dr. Nancy Cohen, Dept. of Nutrition
215 Chenoweth Lab, UMass
545-1079
cohen@nutrition.umass.edu

Events & Activities

POETRY READING BY THOMAS SAYERS ELLIS, OCT 5

8:00pm
Memorial Hall
  Thomas Sayers Ellis is the author of the poetry collections and chapbooks The Good Junk, The Genuine Negro Hero, The Maverick Room, and Song On. He co-founded The Dark Room Collective and is a contributing editor of CALLALOO.
  Visiting Writers Series events are sponsored by the MFA Program for Poets and Writers and the Juniper Initiative, and are made possible in part by support and grants from the UMass Arts Council, the UMass Alumni Association, Vice Provost of Research, English Department, and Dean of Humanities and Fine Arts.
   The event is free and open to the public.

HOLOCAUST PERFORMANCE PREMIERES AT UMASS, OCT 11

Time: 8:00 p.m. 
Place: Student Union Ballroom
The Office of Jewish Affairs and Stonewall Center are proud to present the western Mass premier of  “Monday Night in Westerbork,” a one-person show by Northampton performance artist S. Bear Bergman, about a cabaret troupe formed inside the Westerbork concentration camp in the Netherlands. The piece explores themes of identity, art, persecution, and resistance, and draws on Bergman’s experiences growing up Jewish  among Holocaust survivors, visiting the  concentration camps, and coming out as queer. Free and open to the public.