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INSIDE THIS WEEK’S NEWS@COMCOL (details below)
+ A Year at Trinity College Oxford, Apply Now
+ EU Politics & Business Honors Program, Nov. 18
+ The Great UMass Ski Sale, Nov. 18-20
+ Defending Palestinian & Israeli Human Rights,Nov.21
+ Writers Work with April Ossmann, Nov. 30
+ Northvalley Special Olympics Jolly Jaunt, Dec. 4
+ Frank Santos, X-Rated Hypnotist, Dec. 6
+ Honor Society Scholarships for Juniors & Seniors
Previously Noted & Still of Interest
+ Honors Course Listings on ComCol Web Site
+ ComCol Advising Hours for Spring Reg.
+ New Community Service Learning Courses
+ Native American Congressional Internships
+ New Certificate Program in Public Policy
+ Sustainable Living Course Offers Honors Colloq
+ Winter Course in Mexico, Honors 397I
+ Alternative Spring Break Culminating Experience
+ Distinguished Faculty Lecture, Nov. 29
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YEAR AT TRINITY COLLEGE OXFORD, APPLICATION DEADLINE DEC. 1
By agreement with Trinity College at Oxford University, each year one student from the University of Massachusetts Amherst is accepted to spend a year studying at Trinity. Commonwealth College has been asked to nominate students to be considered for this opportunity during the 2005-2006 academic year. The fields of study available for a one-year visiting student at Trinity College are English, History, Physics and PPE (Philosophy, Politics and Economics.
Applications for this opportunity can be obtained from Commonwealth College. Along with the application form, you must submit two letters of recommendation from faculty members in the field of study as well as a formal essay stating your interest in the Trinity program. The deadline for completed applications is December 1, 2004. Your application should be returned to Dean Slakey at Commonwealth College.
Upon receipt of the applications, the College will review materials and pass them on to a selection committee. The committee will interview the candidates and select up to three students whose applications will be sent to Trinity College. Trinity will choose one student from among the UMass Amherst applicants.
The standards for admission to the Oxford colleges are extremely high. It is recommended that applicants have a grade point average of 3.75 or higher, as well as substantial background in their major field of study.
The Kathleen and David Scott Scholarship is available to provide assistance to the student selected by Trinity College.
Interested participants may wish to consult JoAnn Bernhard in the International Programs Office for more information about this opportunity (545-4984, jbernhar@ipo.umass.edu). They may also wish to consult the Trinity College website at http://www.trinity.ox.ac.uk/.
EUROPEAN UNION POLITICS & BUSINESS HONORS PROGRAM:
An Honors Culminating Experience Option Combining Coursework and Research at UMass and in Europe
Information Meeting
Thursday, November 18 5:30 pm
Isenberg SOM room 106
Students selected to participate in the EU Politics and Business Program will combine coursework taught at UMass Amherst and at Denmark’s International Study (DIS) Program with independent research and hands-on international experience. Participants in the program will earn a total of nine credits while completing the Commonwealth College Culminating Experience requirements. For more information, see http://www.comcol.umass.edu/news/texts/eu_politics.pdf.
THE GREAT UMASS SKI SALE, NOVEMBER 18 -20
We will have 5 million dollars worth of ski and board equipment at discounted prices! Bring your friends; bring your family (it is close to Christmas!). The sale will take place in the Student Union Ballroom. The hours are as follows: Thursday, Nov. 18, 11 am--8 pm; Friday, Nov. 19, 11 am--8 pm; Saturday, Nov. 20, 11 am--6 pm.
“DEFENDING PALESTINIAN AND ISRAELI HUMAN RIGHTS,” NOV. 21
Rabbi Arik Ascherman, Director of Rabbis for Human Rights (Israel Sunday, November 21 at 4:00 p.m., Campus Center 168
Rabbis for Human Rights (RHR) is an organization of over 100 Israeli rabbis and rabbinical students committed to defending the human rights of everyone in Israel and the Israeli-controlled territories: Israelis and Palestinians; Muslims, Christians and Jews; rich and poor; citizens and foreigners. RHR also works within Israeli society on issues of economic justice, welfare rights and access to adequate health care for all Israelis. Please join us for this important and timely lecture, which is free, open to the public, and wheelchair accessible. For more information, see http://www.comcol.umass.edu/news/texts/rhr.pdf or visit http://www.umass.edu/jewish/
WRITERS WORK with APRIL OSSMANN, NOVEMBER 30
Executive Director, Alice James Books
Tuesday, November 30, 4:00 p.m., ComCol Lounge, Goodell
Please join us for Writers Work with April Ossmann, Executive Director of the esteemed independent poetry press, Alice James Books. April will discuss AJB's unique collective structure, the role of independent and small presses in poetry and literary publishing, and offer advice on pursuing a home for your work, as well as pursuing a career in publishing. Refreshments will be served.
NORTHVALLEY SPECIAL OLYMPICS JOLLY JAUNT, DECEMBER 4
This fundraiser consists of a 4k run or 1k walk starting at the Basketball Hall of Fame. The registration fee is $30. With your registration you get a free T-Shirt and a pass to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. For more information on the run and how you can help us raise more by getting sponsors to help pay your registration fee, please visit our website at http://www.jollyjaunt.org/ .
FRANK SANTOS, X-RATED HYPNOTIST, DECEMBER 6
Southwest Area Government announced that Frank Santos-the X-rated hypnotist-will perform at the Fine Arts Center on December 6th, 2004. Doors will open at 7:00pm with an opener scheduled for 7:30pm and Frank Santos expected to perform at 8:00pm.
Frank Santos, New England’s premiere hypnotist and innovative comedian, has been mesmerizing audiences for over 21 years. His spectacular display of mind-bending antics can turn any skeptic into a fan. His act is always fresh, racy, and like the swirls of a fingerprint--no two shows the same. The audience becomes the show. When Frank performs, you are not merely an idle bystander vicariously absorbing an out-of-date comedy routine. This is the only show where you can fall asleep, fall in love, become a stud, lose your wee wee, and awake feeling well rested and completely refreshed.
Tickets are $5.00 for students (both graduate and undergraduate) and $10.00 for the general public. For more information please see http://www.franksantos.com/ or contact Mina Safain at msafain@student.umass.edu
HONOR SOCIETY SCHOLARSHIPS OFFERED TO JUNIORS & SENIORS
The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi offers three scholarships/awards for juniors and seniors:
- A fellowship for the first year of graduate study worth $8,000. Deadline Feb 1.
- A study-abroad award worth $1,000. Deadline Jan 15.
- A teaching literacy award worth $2500. Deadline, Feb 1.
Forms may be picked up in the Office of National Scholarship Advisement, 408 Goodell Building. Additional information about the awards, and down-loadable forms are available from the society's website at http://www.phikappaphi.org/.
It is worth noting that UMass students have done very well in the competition for these awards, and have won the Graduate Fellowship four times in the last eleven years.
****** Previously Noted and Still of Interest ******
ALTERNATIVE ROUTES TO HONORS COURSE LISTINGS
In the rare event of SPIRE failures, you can find honors course listings on the ComCol website: Go to http://www.comcol.umass.edu/courses/ and select “Course Descriptions.”
COMCOL WALK-IN ADVISING HOURS
Walk-in advising hours during pre-registration are as follows: 9:30am - 11:30am and 1:00pm - 4:00pm every weekday except Thursdays, when walk-in advising will end at 3:30pm. Students may walk in to speak with an advisor beginning two days prior to the start of their enrollment appointment.
NEW COMMUNITY SERVICE LEARNING COURSES FOR SPRING
Check out this new course: Honors 397R Mentoring with Big Brothers Big Sisters Become a Mentor, Learn about Leadership and Mentoring, Get Credit, Make a Difference. We hope you will consider this or one of the other Community Service Learning courses being offered this Spring. Find the complete list of CSL courses for next semester at http://www.comcol.umass.edu/news/texts/new_csl.pdf
NATIVE AMERICAN CONGRESSIONAL INTERNSHIPS
Each year 12 Native American students have the opportunity to learn about the federal government from the inside through a ten-week internship with a congressional office or federal agency in Washington, D.C. The program provides students with practical experience in the legislative process and policy-making. Round-trip airfare to D.C., dormitory lodging, a daily allowance and $1,200 Education stipend are provided. Applicants must be a U.S. citizen, U.S. national or permanent resident; Native American or Alaska Native; college junior, senior, graduate or law student, or graduating from a tribal community college; have a minimum "B" average; and have an interest in tribal government.
Additional information and application materials are available at http://www.udall.gov/p_internships.asp or contact: Monica Nuvamsa, Internship Coordinator, nuvamsa@udall.gov.
WANT TO CHANGE THE WORLD?
Develop the expertise you need with an Interdisciplinary Certificate in Public Policy and Administration.
If having expertise in how government works or a policy issue such as health, education, or the environment would help you help you achieve your dreams, then this is the certificate program for you. This extremely flexible 8-course certificate consists of three required courses (economics, statistics, and one in public policy or administration) and five elective courses. A faculty advisor works with you to build a sequence that matches your interests. Elective courses can be selected from any UMass department. Certificate courses can also be used to fulfill your major and distributional requirements.
To learn more, visit our website: http://www.masspolicy.org/undergrad, email us at ugrdcert@pubpol.umass.edu, or talk with our Undergraduate Advisor, Professor Brenda Bushouse, Center for Public Policy and Administration, 340 Thompson Hall, 545-3940. Office Hours: Tuesdays 2-3pm, Wednesdays 11:45-12:30 and by appointment.
SUSTAINABLE LIVING COURSE OFFERS HONORS COLLOQUIUM
Turn PLNTSOIL 290S, Sustainable Living, into an honors course by also signing up for one of the associated honors colloquia. Sustainable Living introduces students to diverse global perspectives and practical personal solutions related to environmental, economic and social sustainability. The course presents a historical, ethical and technical review of the impact that our daily decisions make on the global condition. Visit the course website at http://www.umass.edu/umext/jgerber/sustliving.htm.
WINTER COURSE IN MEXICO - HONORS 397I
With Professor John Gerber
This new 4-credit January-term course, "Participatory Leadership: Consensus, Conflict and Community" or less formally known as "Leadership for Social Change," will take place in an Ecovillage called Huehuecoyotl in the Volcano Belt of central Mexico. You will join Professor Gerber in learning together how to do the important work of healing ourselves, our institutions and maybe the planet. For more information, see http://www.comcol.umass.edu/news/texts/mexico.htm
ALTERNATIVE SPRING BREAK CULMINATING EXPERIENCE
Grassroots Community Development (Anthro 397H) is an intensive four-credit Honors course that explores how poor communities use local assets and knowledge to combat poverty and political disenfranchisement. The course includes spending SPRING BREAK in a rural community in VA and working side by side with grassroots organizations there.
Largely student directed and facilitated, this unique course has received rave reviews from nearly everyone who has taken it. For more information, see http://www.comcol.umass.edu/news/texts/anthro397h.htm.
DISTINGUISHED FACULTY LECTURE SERIES, NOVEMBER 29
Monday, November 29, 4:00
Massachusetts Room of the Mullins Center
John J. McCarthy, Professor of Linguistics "Pahk Your Cah in Hahvahd Yahd: A Biography of the Boston Dialect"
What are the distinctive properties of this Eastern Massachusetts dialect, heard all over campus? Professor McCarthy, himself a speaker, will describe what is known about its history, geography, and demography, and test conclusions with data collected by students in Linguistics 101. He'll also use the famous r sound to show how speakers have a sophisticated, unconscious knowledge of linguistic structures and rules, and what this and other properties of the Boston accent reveal about how language is represented in the human mind.