WESTERN NEW ENGLAND COLLEGE NEWS

Law and Business Center to Explore Undocumented Entrepreneurs (Click Here to View) The Western New England University Law and Business Center for Advancing Entrepreneurship will host a presentation on “Undocumented Entrepreneurs: Business Structure and Immigration Compliance” by David Weber, assistant professor at Creighton University School of Law, on Tuesday, January 24, beginning at noon in the Blake Law Center Commons. The event is free and open to the public. Weber’s lecture will address the unique legal and financial issues faced by undocumented entrepreneurs. He will explore the business planning, formation, tax liability, financing, and local/state licensing, and compliance problems that undocumented entrepreneurs may face. Prior to joining Creighton’s faculty, Weber worked at the law firm of Fredrickson & Byron, P.A., in Minneapolis, where he did corporate work including work in mergers and acquisitions and general corporate counseling and entity formation with a focus on undocumented entrepreneurs. In addition, Weber has served and consulted with many nonprofits specifically regarding the issues that arise when unauthorized immigrants become business owners. The Western New England University Law and Business Center for Advancing Entrepreneurship was established to provide graduate business and law students with an opportunity to offer practical consultation to entrepreneurs. The initiative uses the combined resources of the School of Law and College of Business to foster new business development. For more information about the Center or the speaker series, call 413-796-2030 or visit www.wne.edu/lawandbusiness.

 

OTHER WESTERN NEW ENGLAND COLLEGE NEWS

Stageless Players to Perform "25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee"
The Western New England University Stageless Players present their spring musical, the Tony-winning musical comedy 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, on Friday, March 30, at 7:00 p.m. and Saturday, March 31, at 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. in Sleith Hall Auditorium. Tickets are $3 for students and seniors, $5 for faculty, staff, and alumni, and $7 for the general public. 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee chronicles six pre-adolescent outsiders competing for acceptance, love, and first place in the spelling bee competition of a lifetime. The musical is directed by Hillary Haft Bucs, Assistant Professor of Drama at Western New England, with musical direction by Pan Morigan, professional vocalist, voice teacher, and composer with the Chrysalis Theater in Northampton.


Why Sustainability Matters
Associate Professor of Sociology and Director of the Sustainability Program Michaela Simpson presented a lecture titled "Why Sustainability Matters" on March 15 as part of the Athenaeum Series. In her lecture, Simpson addressed the myths of sustainability and examined the challenges we face as a civilization. Her presentation was sponsored by the Department of Criminal Justice and Sociology and D'Amour Library.


Color of Law Welcomes Namita Tripathi Shaw
The School of Law hosted Namita Tripathi Shaw as part of its Color of Law Roundtable Discussion series on March 14 in the Blake Law Center. During her visit, Shaw, a partner at Day Pitney LLP, spoke with the campus community on her path to becoming a legal professional. “What got me into Day Pitney, frankly, was networking and I just really want to stress that to everybody and its great that you’re all here because this is the first step; making introductions with attorneys in the area,” advised Shaw. “The more you network, the better. Assume nothing is going to come of it, but it might.” She went on to say that "when you are looking at where you want to work, the things that I found important were working for a place that values pro bono work, values diversity, and allows you to have a work-life balance. Those are the softer parts about it. Obviously you want to work somewhere you have good, quality people to learn from as well.”


Economics of the 2012 Election
     Sheldon Richman                                  Steve Horowitz The Economics Department hosted its annual Jolicoeur Economics Seminar on March 13. This year's topic, "Economics of the 2012 Election," was split into two sessions. The first session focused on "The Economy and the Great Recession" and was presented by Professor Steve Horwitz of St. Lawrence University and Gerald Friedman of the University of Massachusetts. The second session, which discussed "The 99% and the 1%," was presented by Sheldon Richman of the Foundation for Economic Education and Gerald Friedman of the University of Massachusetts. The Jolicoeur Economics Seminar is funded through the generosity of William and Patricia Jolicoeur.


Up Close and Personal with ESPN International
On March 12, students in Assistant Professor Curt Hamakawa's international sport management class were visited by ESPN International Senior Director of On-Air Promotion and Development Andy Bronstein. In his lecture, Bronstein related perspectives about television broadcasts of sports programming in various foreign markets across the globe. In addition to placing a premium on foreign language fluency, Bronstein told students of the importance of understanding local culture in developing "promos" that are locally relevant in the viewing country. Students learned that the company founded just three decades ago in Bristol, CT, has nearly 6,000 employees, and broadcasts in more than 200 countries and in 16 languages.


RealTest Links Students with Alumni
Shaun Kelly and Andrew Mastriani present their project Senior management students had the opportunity to network with alumni and receive guidance during the College of Business' RealTest, which took place on March 9. Students were tasked with creating a team presentation on how they would handle a business situation based on a case study. The alumni served as coaches and mentors for participating students. (L-R) Alfred Colonna Jr. of Cambridge Credit Counseling Corp., John Dion of Bose Corporation, and David McGuill of Related Management Company serve as the alumni panel RealTest is a program that blends the experience of practicing business professionals with the next generation of graduates from the College of Business Management Students Program. It was organized by the Department of Management with the support of the Office of Alumni Relations.


Dr. Seuss' Birthday
In honor of Dr. Seuss' birthday, Western New England students involved in the CARE club participated in a read-aloud program on March 2 at the Alfred Glickman Elementary School. Students volunteered to read to students as part of the partnership that Western New England has with Glickman. In addition to periodic read-aloud programs, Western New England students intern at the library and regularly tutor Glickman students in various subjects including math and reading. The University swim team athletes also teach second graders to swim each spring and the D'Amour library staff helps with Glickman's accelerated reading program. Tom LeClaire, a senior majoring in Psychology, reads to students


Students from Belgium Visit Campus
A group of law students and faculty from the Facultés Universitaires Saint-Louis located in Brussels, Belgium, visited Western New England University. While here, the group attended classes with first-year law students, met with Law and Society and Political Science undergraduates, visited local courts, and met with various faculty and School of Law alumni.


School of Law Discusses Gender Performance Requirements of the U.S. Military
The School of Law hosted Mary Anne Case, professor of Law at the University of Chicago School of Law, as part of its Clason Speaker Series on March 6. Case delivered a lecture titled "'You're telling me it's wrong to do to the prisoners what the Army does to its own soldiers?' Gender Performance Requirements of the U.S. Military in the War on Islamic Terrorism."  During her lecture, Case discussed feminization within the military saying that “the use of feminization, as a way of disciplining and denigrating soldiers is quite common.” The next Clason Speaker will be Zachary Kramer, Professor of Law at Arizona State's Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law. Kramer's lecture, titled "Of Meat and Manhood: Vegetarian Discrimination and Gender Stereotyping Under Title VII," will take place on April 10 in the Blake Law Center Commons at 12:00 noon.


Poll: Voters See Brown Stronger on Bipartisanship, Warren Tougher on Wall Street
Latest poll identifies voters’ perceptions of Senate candidates’ strengths and weaknesses Massachusetts voters view Republican Scott Brown and Democrat Elizabeth Warren roughly evenly in terms of who is honest and trustworthy, while Brown holds the edge on working across party lines in the Senate and Warren is more often viewed as a strict regulator of the financial industry. The latest poll conducted by the Western New England University Polling Institute in partnership with The Republican newspaper of Springfield, MA and MassLive.com found that voters are making clear distinctions between the candidates for the U.S. Senate. But the data also show that there is still plenty of opportunity for the candidates to define themselves and each other. See also: Brown Holds 8-Point Lead in Massachusetts Senate Race (March 4, 2012) The statewide telephone survey of 527 registered voters, conducted Feb. 23 through March 1, 2012, asked: “Regardless of how you plan to vote in the Senate election, please tell me whether you think each of the following statements applies more to Scott Brown or Elizabeth Warren:” Is honest and trustworthy Has the experience to effectively represent Massachusetts in Washington Cares more about people like you Can work with senators from both  parties to solve problems Has the best ideas for creating jobs in Massachusetts Will be tougher on Wall Street Has the best ideas to improve health care Brown, who was elected to the Senate in a special election in 2010, and Warren, a professor at Harvard Law School, ran roughly evenly on who is honest and trustworthy. Thirty-four percent of voters gave the nod to Brown and 31 percent cited Warren. Brown scored highest on having the experience to effectively represent the state in Washington, with 47 percent of voters saying the statement best described him, and 29 percent attributing that characteristic to Warren. Brown also received high marks for bipartisanship, with 45 percent of voters saying he could work with senators from both parties to solve problems. Twenty-six percent of voters said the statement best described Warren. “Bipartisanship has been a consistent theme of the Brown campaign, and that message seems to be reaching voters,” said Tim Vercellotti, associate professor of political science and director of the Western New England University Polling Institute. Warren, on the other hand, was more often described as caring “more about people like you.” Forty-one percent of voters said the statement best applied to Warren, while 35 percent said the statement described Brown. “That a candidate can empathize with the average voter is an important trait, especially during tough economic times,” Vercellotti said. “Warren, whose early advertising has presented her as coming from humble origins, has a slight edge in this area. But Brown is only a few points behind on this trait, which may reflect his ongoing efforts to present himself as someone with a modest background as well.” Warren came away with a much larger advantage when the survey asked which candidate would be tougher on Wall Street. Fifty percent of voters said Warren, while 27 percent said Brown. Warren chaired a congressional panel that monitored the federal government’s program to bail out troubled financial institutions and she also led efforts to create the federal government’s Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. “Warren’s background in this area has clearly made an impression with voters,” Vercellotti said. “Across almost all demographic groups, voters gave her the advantage on this issue.” Voters gave Brown the nod when it comes to having the best ideas for creating jobs in Massachusetts, 36 percent to Warren’s 27 percent. But Warren had the edge when it came to having the best ideas for improving health care, with 39 percent to Brown’s 25 percent. Forty-two percent of women said Warren had the best ideas to improve health care, while 24 percent said Brown. Men also favored Warren over Brown, but by a smaller margin of 35 percent to 27 percent. Click here to view the complete poll results. Vercellotti said it is hard to tell from the data whether Warren’s advantage in this area is related to the recent debate over Senate legislation that would allow employers to tailor health insurance coverage for employees to reflect employers’ moral or religious convictions, including whether to cover contraception. Brown supported the legislation and Warren opposed it. The Senate defeated the measure on March 1. “While Warren receives higher marks from women on health care, Brown’s standing among women generally has not fallen significantly in this latest survey,” Vercellotti said. “There is not a lot of evidence in the data to indicate that this recent debate in the Senate has made a sizable difference in the campaign.” Large numbers of voters either could not or would not offer an assessment of Brown or Warren on some of the candidate traits, including who has the best ideas for creating jobs or improving health care. Twenty-eight percent of voters said they did not know or declined to give an answer in both policy domains. Vercellotti said the results likely reflect gaps in voters’ knowledge of the candidates and their policy positions. “When you have that many people failing to offer an assessment of a candidate on an important issue like jobs or health care, that suggests the campaigns have not succeeded in getting their messages across in those areas yet,” he said. Some voters also struggled to describe Brown and Warren in terms of political ideology when asked which of five categories best described the candidates: very liberal, somewhat liberal, moderate, somewhat conservative or very conservative. Voters also were offered the option to say they did not know. Thirty-four percent of voters described Brown as “somewhat conservative” and 26 percent described him as “moderate.” But one-quarter of voters said they could not give an answer. The uncertainty was even greater for Warren. Twenty-two percent of voters described her as “somewhat liberal” and 19 percent described her as “very liberal,” but 42 percent said they did not know. “That such a large number of people had difficulty placing the candidates in a category may reflect the early stage of the campaign,” Vercellotti said. “Voters clearly still have a lot to learn about the candidates.” METHODOLOGY The Western New England University Polling Institute conducted telephone interviews with 576 adults ages 18 and older drawn from across Massachusetts using random-digit-dialing Feb. 23 through March 1, 2012. The sample yielded 527 adults who said they are registered to vote in Massachusetts. Unless otherwise noted, the figures in this release are based on the statewide sample of registered voters. The Polling Institute dialed household telephone numbers, known as “landline numbers,” and cell phone numbers for the survey. In order to draw a representative sample from the landline numbers, interviewers first asked for the youngest male age 18 or older who was home at the time of the call, and if no adult male was present, the youngest female age 18 or older who was at home at the time of the call. Interviewers dialing cell phone numbers interviewed the respondent who answered the cell phone after confirming three things: (1) that the respondent was in a safe setting to complete the survey; (2) that the respondent was an adult age 18 or older; and (3) that the respondent was a resident of Massachusetts. The landline and cell phone data were combined and weighted to reflect the adult population of Massachusetts by gender, race, age, and county of residence using U.S. Census estimates for Massachusetts. All surveys are subject to sampling error, which is the expected probable difference between interviewing everyone in a population versus a scientific sampling drawn from that population. The sampling error for a sample of 527 registered voters is +/- 4.3 percent, at a 95 percent confidence interval. Thus if 45 percent of registered voters said Elizabeth Warren will be tougher on Wall Street, one would be 95 percent sure that the true figure would be between 40.7 percent and 49.3 percent (45 percent +/- 4.3 percent) had all Massachusetts voters been interviewed, rather than just a sample. Sampling error increases as the sample size decreases, so statements based on various population subgroups are subject to more error than are statements based on the total sample.  Sampling error does not take into account other sources of variation inherent in public opinion studies, such as non-response, question wording, or context effects. Established in 2005, the Western New England University Polling Institute conducts research on issues of importance to Massachusetts and the region. The Institute provides the University’s faculty and students with valuable opportunities to participate in public opinion research. Additional information about the Polling Institute is available at www1.wne.edu/pollinginst.  


Poll Finds Obama Holding Commanding Lead in Massachusetts
President leads former Governor Romney by 24 points, Santorum by 39 points President Barack Obama leads two of his potential Republican rivals by large margins in the race for the presidency in Massachusetts, according to the latest poll conducted by the Western New England University Polling Institute in partnership with The Republican newspaper of Springfield, MA and MassLive.com. In a hypothetical matchup with former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, Obama received support from 60 percent of registered voters, compared to 36 percent for Romney. The survey also found that former Senator Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania trails Obama by a margin of 66 percent to 27 percent. Click here to read The Republican's coverage of the poll on MassLive.com. The telephone survey of 527 adults who identified themselves as registered voters, conducted Feb. 23 – March 1, 2012, found that Obama has higher favorability ratings than Romney, Santorum and Newt Gingrich, the former speaker of the House of Representatives. Sixty-one percent of voters said they view Obama favorably, while 34 percent said they viewed him unfavorably. The three Republican presidential candidates included in the survey all had net negative favorability ratings, with Romney at 41 percent favorable, 46 percent unfavorable; Santorum at 18 percent favorable, 54 percent unfavorable; and Gingrich at 14 percent favorable, 73 percent unfavorable. Click here to view complete poll results. Even Republican voters in the state had net negative views of Santorum, with 33 percent favorable and 48 percent unfavorable, and Gingrich, with 32 percent favorable and 60 percent unfavorable. Republican and independent voters in Massachusetts were more likely to view Romney in a positive light, with 74 percent of Republicans viewing him favorably and only 12 percent unfavorably, and 48 percent of independent voters viewing him favorably and 37 percent unfavorably. Seventy percent of Massachusetts Democrats view Romney unfavorably, and only 21 percent have a favorable view. Obama’s lead over Romney in the survey is similar to Obama’s margin of victory in the 2008 presidential election in Massachusetts, in which Obama defeated Republican John McCain 61 percent to 36 percent. “Needless to say, Massachusetts seems to be safely in Obama’s column for the general election,” said Tim Vercellotti, associate professor of political science and director of the Western New England University Polling Institute. Obama and Romney have each consolidated their base, with 94 percent of Democrats in the survey saying they would support Obama and 90 percent of Republicans saying they would back Romney. Romney leads Obama narrowly among independents, 48 percent to 46 percent, but Romney’s showing among independents is not enough to offset Obama’s support from Democrats, who far outnumber Republicans in Massachusetts. Obama’s lead over Romney is larger among female voters, 65 percent to 31 percent, compared to 53 percent to 42 percent among male voters. Sixty-two percent of college-educated voters say they would back Obama, compared to 35 percent for Romney. The race is closer among voters with a high school diploma or less, with 54 percent supporting Obama and 39 percent backing Romney. Obama’s 39-point lead over Santorum reflects dissatisfaction with the former Pennsylvania senator not just among Democrats and independents, but also among some Republican voters. The survey found that 23 percent of Republicans said they would vote for Obama if they had to choose between him and Santorum in the general election. Women flock to Obama in large numbers in a race against Santorum, 70 percent to 24 percent. Obama leads Santorum among men by a margin of 61 percent to 31 percent. The gap between Obama and Santorum increases as education levels increase. Obama leads Santorum by 28 points among voters with a high school education or less, but the difference grows to 48 points among voters with a college education. While the survey found that Obama is in a strong position to carry the state in the November election, the poll also showed that Obama’s job approval rating has diminished considerably since the start of his term. Fifty-five percent of voters said they approve of the job Obama is doing as president, while 37 percent said they disapprove. By comparison, a Polling Institute survey conducted in February 2009, a few weeks after Obama’s inauguration, found that 68 percent of voters in Massachusetts approved and only 11 percent disapproved of the job he was doing in the short time he had been in office. METHODOLOGY The Western New England University Polling Institute conducted telephone interviews with 576 adults ages 18 and older drawn from across Massachusetts using random-digit-dialing Feb. 23 through March 1, 2012. The sample yielded 527 adults who said they are registered to vote in Massachusetts. Unless otherwise noted, the figures in this release are based on the statewide sample of registered voters. The Polling Institute dialed household telephone numbers, known as “landline numbers,” and cell phone numbers for the survey. In order to draw a representative sample from the landline numbers, interviewers first asked for the youngest male age 18 or older who was home at the time of the call, and if no adult male was present, the youngest female age 18 or older who was at home at the time of the call. Interviewers dialing cell phone numbers interviewed the respondent who answered the cell phone after confirming three things: (1) that the respondent was in a safe setting to complete the survey; (2) that the respondent was an adult age 18 or older; and (3) that the respondent was a resident of Massachusetts. The landline and cell phone data were combined and weighted to reflect the adult population of Massachusetts by gender, race, age, and county of residence using U.S. Census estimates for Massachusetts.  All surveys are subject to sampling error, which is the expected probable difference between interviewing everyone in a population versus a scientific sampling drawn from that population. The sampling error for a sample of 576 adults is +/- 4.1 percent, and for a sample of 527 registered voters is +/- 4.3 percent, at a 95 percent confidence interval. Thus if 55 percent of registered voters said they approved of the job that Barack Obama is doing as president, one would be 95 percent sure that the true figure would be between 50.7 percent and 59.3 percent (55 percent +/- 4.3 percent) had all Massachusetts voters been interviewed, rather than just a sample. Sampling error increases as the sample size decreases, so statements based on various population subgroups are subject to more error than are statements based on the total sample.  Sampling error does not take into account other sources of variation inherent in public opinion studies, such as non-response, question wording, or context effects. Established in 2005, the Western New England University Polling Institute conducts research on issues of importance to Massachusetts and the region. The Institute provides the University’s faculty and students with valuable opportunities to participate in public opinion research. Additional information about the Polling Institute is available at www1.wne.edu/pollinginst.


Students Visit Boston for Financial Aid Day
(L-R) Michelle Steenland-Gilbert '15, Mark Martinez '15, Kelsey Hawkins '15, and Kristey Riley '12 Four Western New England University students traveled to the State House in Boston on February 28 to take part in Student Financial Aid Day. Participants joined over 200 students and higher education administrators from across the Commonwealth in visiting with lawmakers to urge their continued support of need-based financial aid for Massachusetts college students. Speakers for the day included Speaker of the House Robert DeLeo and Senator Michael Moore, who serves as Chair of the Joint Committee on Higher Education and is an alumnus of Western New England University. The event was organized by AICUM – the Association of Independent Colleges and Universities in Massachusetts.


Brown Holds 8-Point Lead in Massachusetts Senate Race
Nearly one-third of voters who expressed a preference say they may change their mind Republican Scott Brown leads Democrat Elizabeth Warren by eight percentage points among registered voters in the race for the U.S. Senate, according to the latest poll conducted by the Western New England University Polling Institute in partnership with The Republican newspaper of Springfield, MA and MassLive.com. Click here to view complete poll results. The telephone survey of 527 adults who identified themselves as registered voters found Brown with support from 49 percent and Warren with 41 percent, while 10 percent were undecided. The poll, conducted Feb. 23 – March 1, 2012, has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.3 percentage points. Brown held a five-point lead over Warren in a survey conducted by the Western New England University Polling Institute Sept. 29 – Oct. 5, 2011. The latest results suggest that Brown is making inroads among voters who identify themselves as Democrats, while maintaining his advantage among voters identifying as Republicans or independents. Warren, a professor at Harvard Law School, leads Brown by a margin of 70 percent to 22 percent among Democrats, compared to an 82 percent to 9 percent margin among Democrats in the fall survey. Independent voters preferred Brown over Warren 58 percent to 29 percent in the latest survey, compared to 57 percent to 32 percent in the fall. Brown leads Warren 94 percent to 4 percent among Republican voters, virtually unchanged from his standing among Republicans in the fall. “Warren needs to shore up her base of support among Democrats and make progress with independent voters if she is to close the gap with Brown,” said Tim Vercellotti, associate professor of political science and director of the Polling Institute at Western New England University. “As it stands now, Brown is in a strong position to win re-election.” The survey also found, however, that a sizable percentage of voters said they are not firmly committed to their choice. Thirty-one percent of voters who expressed a preference for a candidate said they might change their minds before Election Day. Such was the case for 34 percent of Brown’s supporters, and 28 percent of Warren’s supporters. “With eight months to go until the election, a large number of voters are keeping their options open,” Vercellotti said. “This race is far from over.” The poll results also found Brown’s job approval rating has not changed significantly since the fall survey, despite Brown’s recent support for Senate legislation that would allow employers citing moral concerns to opt out of federal requirements to provide health insurance coverage to employees. The Senate tabled the measure on Thursday. In the latest survey, 54 percent of voters said they approve of the job that Brown is doing in the Senate, while 28 percent said they disapprove, compared to 54 percent and 30 percent respectively in the fall. Vercellotti noted that an analysis of the polling data for each day of the survey revealed no statistically significant day-to-day changes in Brown’s job approval through the end of data collection on Thursday night. In addition, Brown’s standing among women in particular did not show significant signs of fallout from the debate, which centered on whether the federal government should require employers to include contraception in the insurance coverage they provide to employees. Female voters approved of the job that Brown is doing as senator by a margin of 50 percent to 28 percent in the latest survey, compared to a 47 percent job approval rating and a 31 percent disapproval rating among women in the fall survey. Vercellotti noted that the differences are within the margin of error for the latest survey. Brown’s overall favorability rating has declined since the fall, however. Forty-seven percent of voters said they have a favorable view of Brown, down from 52 percent in the fall, while his unfavorable rating was up one percentage point to 28 percent. Brown’s favorability rating among women showed slight changes, but the changes were within the margin of error for the latest survey. His favorability rating of 43 percent among women dropped three percentage points from the fall survey, while his unfavorability rating of 31 percent among women was up one percentage point from the last survey. Warren’s overall favorability ratings also changed somewhat, but also within the margin of error. Thirty-seven percent of voters said they have a favorable view of Warren and 20 percent said they have an unfavorable view. Each rating is up four percentage points from the fall survey. Warren has become better known among voters since the fall survey, when nearly half of registered voters said they hadn’t heard of her or did not have an opinion of her. About one-third of voters offered those responses in the latest survey. Twenty-one percent of voters said they had not heard of Brown, or did not have an opinion of him, up two percentage points from the fall survey. “Warren, and to a lesser extent Brown, still have opportunities to shape their images with a segment of the electorate,” Vercellotti said. “But each candidate’s opponent also has that opportunity.” METHODOLOGY The Western New England University Polling Institute conducted telephone interviews with 576 adults ages 18 and older drawn from across Massachusetts using random-digit-dialing February 23 through March 1, 2012. The sample yielded 527 adults who said they are registered to vote in Massachusetts. Unless otherwise noted, the figures in this release are based on the statewide sample of registered voters. The Polling Institute dialed household telephone numbers, known as “landline numbers,” and cell phone numbers for the survey. In order to draw a representative sample from the landline numbers, interviewers first asked for the youngest male age 18 or older who was home at the time of the call, and if no adult male was present, the youngest female age 18 or older who was at home at the time of the call. Interviewers dialing cell phone numbers interviewed the respondent who answered the cell phone after confirming three things: (1) that the respondent was in a safe setting to complete the survey; (2) that the respondent was an adult age 18 or older; and (3) that the respondent was a resident of Massachusetts. The landline and cell phone data were combined and weighted to reflect the adult population of Massachusetts by gender, race, age, and county of residence using U.S. Census estimates for Massachusetts. All surveys are subject to sampling error, which is the expected probable difference between interviewing everyone in a population versus a scientific sampling drawn from that population. The sampling error for a sample of 527 registered voters is +/- 4.3 percent, at a 95 percent confidence interval. Thus if 55 percent of registered voters said they approved of the job that Scott Brown is doing as U.S. Senator, one would be 95 percent sure that the true figure would be between 50.7 percent and 59.3 percent (55 percent +/- 4.3 percent) had all Massachusetts voters been interviewed, rather than just a sample. Sampling error increases as the sample size decreases, so statements based on various population subgroups are subject to more error than are statements based on the total sample. Sampling error does not take into account other sources of variation inherent in public opinion studies, such as non-response, question wording, or context effects. Established in 2005, the Western New England University Polling Institute conducts research on issues of importance to Massachusetts and the region. The Institute provides the University’s faculty and students with valuable opportunities to participate in public opinion research. Additional information about the Polling Institute is available at www1.wne.edu/pollinginst.


Western New England University to Launch New Engineering Management Ph.D.
Western New England University is now accepting applications for a new program leading to a Ph.D. in Engineering Management. Students will have the option of pursuing their degree either full-time or part-time through the program beginning this fall. Offered through the University’s College of Engineering, the Ph.D. in Engineering Management is designed to provide working professionals with the skills to conduct rigorous research in areas related to the design, improvement, and management of projects and programs. The skills can be employed in a variety of settings, including engineering, healthcare, service, and logistical/transportation systems. Western New England University will host an information session for prospective students on Thursday, March 15 at 5:30 p.m. in the Kevin S. Delbridge Welcome Center. Candidates should possess a master’s or bachelor’s degree in engineering or a closely related discipline. For more information, visit www.wne.edu/graduatestudies or contact the Admissions Office by calling 413-782-1517 or emailing study@wne.edu.


Historical Society Visits Hartford
The Historical Society recently visited Hartford, Connecticut in the first leg of its semester-long "Paging through History" tour which focuses on New England's rich literary history. On February 25, eleven students joined Associate Professor of History Jonathan Beagle in touring the Mark Twain House and the Harriet Beecher Stowe House as part of the program. In the coming weeks, students will visit Hawthorne's Salem and travel to Concord to study the Transcendentalist movement.


Western New England University Announces Information Session for Teachers
Western New England University will host an information session for teachers interested in earning their master’s degree on Wednesday, March 28 at 5:00 p.m. in the Kevin S. Delbridge Welcome Center. Western New England offers three accelerated part-time master’s degree programs designed for working professionals: a Master of Arts in English for Teachers (MAET), a Master of Arts in Mathematics for Teachers (MAMT), and a Master of Education in Elementary Education (MEEE). Classes are offered in11-week terms at a tuition rate that is half the cost of traditional graduate courses. For more information, visit www.wne.edu/graduatestudies or contact the Admissions Office by calling 413-782-1517 or emailing study@wne.edu.


Conference to Explore Economics of the 2012 Election
The Department of Economics at Western New England University will host its Ninth Annual Jolicoeur Economics Conference on Tuesday, March 13 from 9:30 a.m. to 12:20 p.m. in Sleith Hall Auditorium. This year’s topic is “Economics of the 2012 Election.” The event is free and open to the public. The conference will feature two sessions. Session one from 9:30 to 10:20 a.m., titled “The Economy and the Great Recession,” will feature Professor Steve Horwitz of St. Lawrence University and Jerry Epstein of the University of Massachusetts. The second session from 11:00 a.m. to 12:20 p.m., titled “The 99% and the 1%,” will discuss the distribution of income. Speakers include Sheldon Richman of the Foundation for Economic Education and Jerry Epstein of the University of Massachusetts. The Jolicoeur Economics Seminar is funded through the generosity of William and Patricia Jolicoeur.


School of Law Hosts Transactional Lawyering Meet
The School of Law hosted a Transactional Lawyering Meet on February 17 in the Blake Law Center.The event offered students from various Law Schools throughout the country the premier "moot court" experience for those interested in transactional practice. Students worked in teams to draft a transactional agreement and negotiated its provisions with opposing student teams.


Ebony Food Fest Celebrates Black History Month
The annual Ebony Food Fest and Gospel Concert took place on February 23 in Rivers Memorial Hall. Sponsored by United and Mutually Equal (U&ME) and Student Activities, the event was held in celebration of Black History Month and featured soul food along with performances by various local choirs.


How to Beat the Recidivism Odds
Jackie Lageson, lecturer of Sociology at the University of Massachusetts Boston, presented a lecture titled "Is the Deck Stacked Against Reentry?: How to Beat the Recidivism Odds - Restorative Justice as the Ace in the Hole" on February 23. During her talk, Lageson identified the obstacles to successful return to the community, discussed the restorative justice philosophy, and applied the philosophy of restorative justice to shift the systemic design. She went on to say that this systemic design shift will facilitate a successful reintegration of formerly incarcerated individuals to our communities and that the outcome would be lower recidivism for the formerly incarcerated individual and safer communities. Lageson's lecture was sponsored by the Department of Criminal Justice and Sociology and D'Amour Library and is part of the Richard Luxton Series.


Center for International Sport Business Hosts MAAC Commissioner Richard Ensor
Sharianne Walker, Chair and Professor of Sports Management, speaks with Richard Ensor The Center for International Sport Business welcomed Richard Ensor, Commissioner of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference, on February 22 as part of its "For the Love of the Games" speaker series. Ensor's talk, entitled "Commissioner as CEO," was the 11th in the series and was sponsored by the Alumni Association. Richard Ensor addresses the crowd During his visit, Ensor reinforced a message that is drilled into sport management students at Western New England University; that they must be aggressive about establishing and maintaining a network of friends, mentors, colleagues, and acquaintances early in their careers. He also commented on the economic impact of the MAAC tournament on the local economy and the powerful synergy of the MassMutual Center, Basketball Hall of Fame, and Springfield business community that made Springfield such an attractive draw to Conference officials. His presentation detailed the role that sporting events and particularly NCAA championships can play in serving as a regional economic engine. Richard Ensor stands with Charles Drago, president of the Sport Management Association Ensor told students that in his role as Commissioner, “you are running a small business, which is something they don’t necessarily tell you coming in,” as he is in charge of overseeing a $4 million annual budget and a staff of more than a dozen.


Clason Speaker Series to Explore Gender and the Military
Western New England University School of Law’s Clason Speaker Series will feature a talk Mary Anne Case on Tuesday, March 6 at noon in the Blake Law Center Commons. The talk, titled “’You're telling me it's wrong to do to the prisoners what the Army does to its own soldiers?’ Gender Performance Requirements of the U.S. Military in the War on Islamic Terrorism,” is free and open to the public. In her lecture, Case will explore the effects on sex equality and military effectiveness through feminization as a means of degradation, whether in interrogation of male Islamic prisoners or in basic training of U.S. military personnel. She will look at how these practices may do gender-based harm, not only to the male victims, but also to the military women involved. Case serves as the Arnold I. Shure Professor of Law at the University of Chicago School of Law, where she teaches feminist jurisprudence, constitutional law, marriage, regulation of sexuality, and European Legal Systems. Prior to joining the faculty in Chicago, Case litigated for Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton and Garrison in New York. She is a graduate of Yale College and Harvard Law School. Now in its 23rd year, the Clason Speaker Series hosts expert lecturers to enhance the academic environment at the Western New England University School of Law. The series is named after Charles R. Clason, a prominent attorney and member of the U.S. House of Representatives who served as Dean of the School of Law from 1954 to 1970. Case’s appearance is cosponsored by the School of Law’s Center for Gender and Sexuality Studies. For more information, call 413-796-2279.


Students Work with WAMC Northeast Public Radio
Students in Professional Educator Brenda Garton's Advanced Journalism/Radio Reporting class were visited by WAMC Northeast Public Radio's News Director Katie Britton on February 9. In this class, students work with Britton to produce stories that are later aired on WAMC and heard in seven states. Britton's visit was an opportunity for students to pitch their story ideas for the semester and receive feedback.


Center for Gender & Sexuality Studies to Host Workshop on New Transgender Rights Law
The new Center for Gender & Sexuality Studies at Western New England University School of Law will host a workshop on “Massachusetts’s New Transgender Rights Law: Strategies for Compliance and Advocacy” on Tuesday, February 14. The workshop will take place at the Blake Law Center Commons beginning at 12:00 noon, featuring a panel of experts discussing the new law and how it will be enforced. The event is free and open to the public. The workshop will explore steps that employers, landlords, lenders, and others should take to ensure their compliance with this new law that prohibits discrimination on the basis of gender identity. Panelists include Julian Tynes, Chair of the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination; Susan Fentin, Partner at Skoler, Abbott, and Presser, P.C.; Whitney Holovach, Civil Rights Specialist at the Massachusetts Fair Housing Center; and Jennifer Levi, Professor at Western New England University School of Law. Established in 2012, the Center for Gender & Sexuality Studies is a resource for students, alumni, and faculty of Western New England University School of Law, the legal community, and the general public. The Center works to engage with the legal community, with the University, and with members of the School of Law on core issues of gender and sexuality across a broad spectrum of law, including criminal law, immigration, employment, family law, health law, discrimination, prisoners’ rights, legislation, leadership and business, and international and comparative law.


Study Abroad Fair
Students interested in learning more about the Study Abroad program had the chance to speak with representatives at the Study Abroad Fair on February 9. Those in attendance were able to gather information about the different opportunities available to them. The University offers short term, intersession, semester, and year-long programs as well as international internships to interested students. Those who were unable to attend the fair can learn more by visiting the Study Abroad page.


Art Gallery to Feature Work of Minoo Khanbabai
The Western New England University Art Gallery presents “A Breeze from a Garden of Persia: Landscapes of Iran,” an exhibit by painter Minoo Khanbabai, from March 4 through April 12. The Gallery, located in St. Germain Campus Center, will host an opening reception Sunday, March 4 from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. Khanbabai will offer insight into her work during a special gallery talk Thursday, March 8, at 7:00 p.m. General Art Gallery hours are from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Monday through Saturday, and 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Sunday. All events are free and open to the public. Khanbabai captures the beauty of nature and often portrays the interplay of light and color in her work. She enjoys painting seascapes, landscapes, and garden scenes of New England and her native Iran. She obtained a BA in graphic design from the College of Fine Arts in Tehran, Iran, but has continued to pursue her painting career in the U.S. for more than 30 years.Khanbabai maintains her studio at the Indian Orchard Mills Studios and Dane Gallery in Indian Orchard. Khanbabai’s works have been displayed in the Springfield Museum of Fine Arts, Arts Unlimited Gallery in Chicopee, and the Springfield Art League. Her work has also been displayed in many local exhibits such as Wilbraham and Monson Academy, Westfield State University, Baystate Medical Center, and the Town Gallery in Longmeadow to name a few.


Western New England Students Volunteer at MATHCOUNTS Competition
Student graders (L-R) Carey Reed, Sarah Lippincott, Jill Carneglia, and Jessica Ginepro Western New England hosted approximately 100 students from grades 6, 7, and 8 on February 4 for the 29th Annual MATHCOUNTS Competition. Participants hailed from 13 local middle schools and were tasked with answering math problems that were then graded by Western New England students from the Math Center and the Math Club. At the conclusion of the event, three teams and three individuals were selected to proceed to the state level of the competition. To view event coverage, click here or visit the University's YouTube Channel.


15 Years of Sport Management
The College of Business celebrated 15 years of sport management at Western New England with a special Athenaeum Series event which featured author Marty Dobrow and Major League Baseball agent James Masteralexis, who is also an assistant professor of Sport Management at Western New England. At the event, Dobrow and Masteralexis discussed the realities of sports agencies and what it takes to succeed in the big leagues. Additionally, the two discussed Dobrow's book Knocking on Heaven's Door: Six Minor Leaguers in Search of the Baseball Dream, which features Masteralexis. The event was sponsored by the College of Business, the Department of Sport Management, and D’Amour Library.


Color of Law Hosts Julie Alleyne
Julie Alleyne, director of the Bond Claim Department at The Hartford Financial Services Group, speaks with law students as part of the Color of Law Discussion Series.


Open House at Western New England University February 18
Western New England University will host high school students and their parents at an open house on Saturday, February 18 from 10:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The event is free, but advance reservation is requested by calling 1-800-325-1122, ext. 1312, or 413-782-1312. Students and parents will have the chance to tour the campus, explore the breadth of academic programs, attend a session on the first year experience, learn about financial aid options, and chat informally with faculty, support staff, coaches, and students. A highlight of the day is a student panel discussion where current students share their insights on campus culture and first year transitions. Prospective students interested in learning more about careers in Sport Management, Marketing, Criminal Justice, or Computing and Information Technology are invited to a specialized information session before open house. The College of Business will host its Careers in Sport session starting at 10:00 a.m. in Sleith Hall and the Marketing session at 10:30 a.m. in the D’Amour Library’s Digital Learning Center; the Department of Criminal Justice will host its session starting at 9:00 a.m. in the Campus Center; and the Institute for Computing will host its session starting at 9:30 a.m. with registration starting at 8:30 a.m. in the Campus Center. For more information, visit www.wne.edu/admissions and select “Open Houses” from the menu.


Art Gallery Hosts Opening Reception
The Art Gallery hosted its opening reception for Donald Blanton on January 29. His exhibit, titled "Keeping the Arts Alive," features pieces by Blanton as well as works created by students at his Distinctive Art Studio. At the reception, approximately 150 students attended to see their work on display. Blanton will be available to offer insight into his work during a special gallery talk on February 2 starting at 7:00 p.m. in the Campus Center Art Gallery. This event is free and open to the public. His exhibition will be on display through March 1 and General Art Gallery hours are from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Monday through Saturday, and 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Sunday.


Invitation for Public Comments
Western New England University will undergo a comprehensive evaluation visit March 25 by a team representing the Commission on Institutions of Higher Education of the New England Association of Schools and Colleges. The Commission on Institutions of Higher Education is one of seven accrediting commissions in the United States that provide institutional accreditation on a regional basis. Accreditation is voluntary and applies to the institution as a whole. The Commission, which is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, accredits approximately 240 institutions in the six-state New England region. Western New England University has been accredited by the Commission since 1965 and was last reviewed in 2002. Its accreditation by the New England Association encompasses the entire institution. For the past year and a half, Western New England University has been engaged in a process of self-study, addressing the Commission’s Standards for Accreditation. An evaluation team will visit the institution to gather evidence that the self-study is thorough and accurate. The team will recommend to the Commission a continuing status for the institution. Following a review process, the Commission itself will take the final action. The public is invited to submit comments regarding the institution to: Public Comment on Western New England UniversityCommission on Institutions of Higher EducationNew England Association of Schools and Colleges209 Burlington Road, Suite 201Bedford, MA 01730-1433E-mail:  cihe@neasc.org. Public Comments must address substantive matters related to the quality of the institution. The Commission cannot settle disputes between individuals and institutions, whether those involve faculty, students, administrators, or members of other groups. Comments will not be treated as confidential and must include the name, address, and telephone number of the person providing the comments. Public comments must be received by March 25. The Commission cannot guarantee that comments received after that date will be considered.


Lunchtime Concert Features Milo Sprague
Milo Sprague, jazz pianist, delivers a lunchtime performance on February 2 in D'Amour Library as part of the Athenaeum Arts Series.


Springfield High School Students Attend Academic Achievers Conference
Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering Bart Lipkens works with students in the "Computer Aided Design for the Future" session Approximately 400 high school students from Springfield in grades 10 through 12 were invited to Western New England for the 10th annual MassMutual Academic Achiever Conference January 10. The conference, titled "Building Your Future," gave students the tools and knowledge to construct a blueprint for their education and careers. Students earned an invitation to the conference by maintaining a “B average or better” for four consecutive marking periods during grades 10 through 12. Associate Professor of Physics Karl Martini in his "Science is Cool...Cooler...Coolest" session where students made ice cream During the luncheon, students were addressed by Derek Kellogg, head coach for the UMass men's basketball team. Kellogg told students to follow their dreams with passion, determination, and enthusiasm. He gave his story as to how he rose to become a successful basketball coach with the message that anyone can make their dreams come true with the right attitude. Derek Kellogg addresses the crowd To view more photos, click here or visit the Campus Photos page.


Law and Business Center to Explore Undocumented Entrepreneurs
The Western New England University Law and Business Center for Advancing Entrepreneurship will host a presentation on “Undocumented Entrepreneurs: Business Structure and Immigration Compliance” by David Weber, assistant professor at Creighton University School of Law, on Tuesday, January 24, beginning at noon in the Blake Law Center Commons. The event is free and open to the public. Weber’s lecture will address the unique legal and financial issues faced by undocumented entrepreneurs. He will explore the business planning, formation, tax liability, financing, and local/state licensing, and compliance problems that undocumented entrepreneurs may face. Prior to joining Creighton’s faculty, Weber worked at the law firm of Fredrickson & Byron, P.A., in Minneapolis, where he did corporate work including work in mergers and acquisitions and general corporate counseling and entity formation with a focus on undocumented entrepreneurs. In addition, Weber has served and consulted with many nonprofits specifically regarding the issues that arise when unauthorized immigrants become business owners. The Western New England University Law and Business Center for Advancing Entrepreneurship was established to provide graduate business and law students with an opportunity to offer practical consultation to entrepreneurs. The initiative uses the combined resources of the School of Law and College of Business to foster new business development. For more information about the Center or the speaker series, call 413-796-2030 or visit www.wne.edu/lawandbusiness.


MassMutual and Western New England University to Hold Tenth Annual Academic Achiever Conference
Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (MassMutual) and Western New England University are teaming up to present the 10th annual MassMutual Academic Achiever Conference on Tuesday, January 10 from 8:00 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. on the University’s Springfield campus. More than 400 Springfield public and private school students in grades 10 through 12 are scheduled to attend. The free conference, titled “Building Your Future,” is designed to give students the tools and knowledge to construct a blueprint for their education and careers. Workshops will touch on college and career planning, problem solving, and time and money management skills. MassMutual Academic Achievers earn an invitation to the conference by maintaining a “B average or better” for four consecutive marking periods during grades 10 through 12. “Choosing the career path that is right for you is half the battle in attaining a successful future,” said Nick Fyntrilakis, Assistant Vice President, Community Responsibility at MassMutual. “As part of the MassMutual Career Pathways program, the Academic Achiever Building Your Future conference strives to help students understand the many career opportunities that are available in financial services at MassMutual and beyond. Now in its fourth year, our Career Pathways program encourages local students to excel academically and helps to cultivate a strong workforce for our region.” This year’s conference will offer students a variety of hands-on activities in various fields, including financial services, business, information technology, broadcast communications, criminal justice, medicine, and the sciences. Workshops will also address the college admissions process, paying for college, making a good first impression, and financial skills. The keynote speaker for the conference luncheon will be Springfield native Derek Kellogg, head coach for the UMass men’s basketball team. “This annual event is an opportunity and a reward for Springfield high school students with strong academic performance. The many workshops they attend allow them to explore and prepare for a successful transition into college,” said Brian Zelasko, director of community relations for Western New England University. “Students have fun and learn from many experts in various fields, including several distinguished members of our faculty.” Other highlights of the conference include a video contest and a raffle featuring a laptop computer and other prizes. The snow date for the conference is Friday, January 13.


Law and Business Center To Host Extreme Business Makeover
The Western New England University Law and Business Center for Advancing Entrepreneurship will host its Extreme Business Makeover on Wednesday, January 18. This event will feature a team of marketing and media experts offering advice to a company owner trying to devise a strategy for getting the message out about the value proposition of her business. The makeover recipient for the upcoming session is Witalisz & Associates, Inc. The event will run from noon until 1:30 p.m. in the NUVO Bank Community Room at 1500 Main Street. The event is free and open to the public, and will be of particular interest to entrepreneurs and small business advisors. Lunch will be served. Real estate has been one of the hardest hit industries in this challenging economy. As part of this event, experts will advise Westfield realtor Kathy Witalisz on how to effectively get her company’s message out to potential clients. The Western New England University Law and Business Center for Advancing Entrepreneurship was established to provide graduate business and law students with an opportunity to offer practical consultation to entrepreneurs. The initiative uses the combined resources of the School of Law and College of Business to foster new business development. For more information about the Center or the speaker series, call 413-796-2030 or visit www.wne.edu/lawandbusiness.


Law and Business Center Hosts Financial Seminar on Product Pricing and Break-Even Analysis
The Law and Business Center for Advancing Entrepreneurship hosts a workshop titled “Pricing Your Products and Services and Break-Even Analysis” as part of its Financial Literacy for Small Businesses series on Friday, January 6. The workshop takes place at the Blake Law Center, Room D, from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. and will be taught by Executive Director Christopher Sikes and Senior Loan Analyst Sam Ortiz, both of Common Capital. The workshop is open to the public and costs $20 for the session. For details, call (413) 796-2030 or email lawandbusiness@wne.edu. The Financial Literacy for Small Businesses series is a complete curriculum of classes designed to help business owners with little or no business background get up to speed with useful business concepts. The classes are accessible, practical, and interactive. The program provides coverage of a wide range of important business ideas. For more information on the series, click here.


Girls and Women in Sports Day Set for January 21
Western New England Univeristy will host its 13th Annual Girls and Women in Sports Day Saturday, January 21 from 8:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the University’s Alumni Healthful Living Center. The free event is designed for girls between the ages of 7 and 12 from the greater Springfield area. Admission is free; however, participants are asked to bring a personal hygiene product (hair products, deodorant, toothpaste, paper towels). All items collected will be donated to a local domestic violence shelter. To register or for more information, call 413-796-2229 or visit www.wnegoldenbears.com and click on the “GWS Day” link. Photo from last year's Girls and Women in Sports Day Girls and Women in Sports Day is celebrated nationally to promote the participation of females in athletics and encourage a life-long interest in physical activity. Participants will have the opportunity to select two sport clinics instructed by Western New England University coaches and varsity athletes. Clinic offerings include basketball, dance, field hockey, soccer, softball, and volleyball, with time alotted for both instruction and play. In addition, recreation time will be made available for swimming, racquetball, and squash. A complimentary lunch will be served. All participants and their families are invited to remain at the Alumni Healthful Living Center and watch the Golden Bears take on the University of New England in women’s basketball at 1:00 p.m. and men’s basketball at 3:00 p.m. Admission to both games is free to Girls and Women in Sports Day participants and their families.


School of Law to Host 37th Annual Basketball Tournament
The Western New England University School of Law will host its 37th Annual Law Basketball Invitational from February 17-19 at the Alumni Healthful Living Center. Teams consisting of alumni, students, and faculty will compete against students and colleagues from other law schools across the northeast. The games are free and open to the public. The Law Basketball Invitational is the nation's largest and longest running law school only basketball tournament. The cost to register a team is $325 which includes access to all weekend events as well as food. To register or receive more information on this event, contact Amber Gould or Adam Zahn at wneulawbasketball@gmail.com.


New Certificate Program to Address Meeting the Challenges of Aging
Western New England University is offering a new certificate program on “Meeting the Challenges of Aging.” Designed for human service professionals, the program consists of ten three-hour sessions beginning Tuesday, February 7. The sessions meet every other week from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon and focus on developing skills to effectively serve the needs of aging and/or disabled clients. Topics to be explored include normal and creative aging; cognitive changes and disorders; care management; grief; medications/healthcare proxies; substance abuse; cultural, ethical, and legal issues; family dynamics; tools for managing behavioral problems; and continuum of services for the elderly.  This program has been approved for three Category I Continuing Education Hours per workshop for social work only, for a total of 30 by the end of the program. Certificates of Completion will be issued to participants who attend all sessions. Registration for all ten sessions is $299 ($279 if registering before January 30). For companies registering three or more participants from the same agency, the registration fee is $259 per person. For more information or to register, call 413-782-1472 or visit www.wne.edu/pd. The certificate program is sponsored by Western New England University’s Professional Development Office and BSW Program, in partnership with Keystone Commons and Keystone Woods, and The Landmark at Monastery Heights.


Western New England to Offer radKIDS Children's Safety Program
Western New England University will host a series of radKIDS safety program classes in January for children between the ages of five and thirteen. The classes will run Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. in the University’s Rivers Memorial Building starting January 10. Registration for the program, which is open to the public, is $25 per child, with registration fees refunded upon successful completion of the course. Pre-registration is recommended as space is limited. The radKIDS Personal Empowerment Safety Education program is a ten-hour family-centered program that emphasizes essential decision-making skills as well as physical resistance options to escape violence. Ideally, children are joined in class by a parent or other adult to create a true safety partnership. The curriculum focuses on the ability to make safe decisions through recognizing, avoiding, and if necessary to escaping violence or harm. The program also emphasizes character development, citizenship training, and personal fitness. For more information or to register for the radKIDS program, contact Judy Curran at 413-796-2324 or email judith.curran@wne.edu.


Two Professors Selected for Joint Genome Institute
               Dawn Holmes                               Jessica Rocheleau The Department of Energy's Joint Genome Institute (DOE JGI) recently selected Assistant Professors of Biology Dawn Holmes and Jessica Rocheleau and Western New England University for its Undergraduate Research Program in Microbial Genome Annotation. Western New England is one of 26 institutions across the country to be selected for inclusion. The program enables scientists from universities and national laboratories around the world to probe the hidden world of microbes and plants for innovative solutions to the nation’s major challenges in energy, climate, and environment. Holmes and Rocheleau will represent Western New England and travel to the Joint Genome Institute in Walnut Creek, CA, from January 19 through January 20 in order to collaborate with the Department of Energy.


Omicron Delta Kappa Spreads Holiday Cheer
Omicron Delta Kappa members Danielle Gwozdz and Nicole Gakenheimer present winter clothing to Glenn Yarnell Jr., director of adult education at The Gray House in Springfield. The Western New England University chapter of the national leadership honor society held a "Warm Up Your Day with ODK" winter clothing drive on campus, collecting everything from scarves to ski pants from faculty, staff, and students to donate to the Gray House, a neighborhood human service agency in Springfield's North End.  


Sedeline Joseph Presents Award to Lieutenant Governor
(L-R) Lieutenant Governor Timothy Murray L'94, Sedeline Joseph, and University President Anthony S. Caprio The Association of Independent Colleges and Universities of Massachusetts, AICUM, recently held its annual dinner with more than 400 people packing the Seaport Hotel ballroom in downtown Boston. The evening's guests honored the Patrick-Murray Administration for their consistent commitment to need-based financial aid funding for needy Massachusetts college students. Western New England University senior Sedeline Joseph was chosen to present the award to Lieutenant Governor Timothy Murray L'94, and gave a speech about the importance of the Massachusetts student grant programs for which she received a standing ovation for her remarks.


Association of Behavior Analysis Research Students Present Semester Projects
Students and faculty in the community-based Association of Behavior Analysis research classes hosted a presentation of their projects from this semester’s research on December 13. Throughout the semester, students in the research courses co-designed, implemented, and experimentally evaluated projects to improve children’s success in a variety of service settings in Springfield. The projects focused on testing a popular but under-researched tactic for rapidly teaching young child with autism, assessing and treating language difficulties of high-functioning children with autism, evaluating a computer-based program to teach abduction prevention skills to preschool children, assessing and treating nighttime sleep problems with young children, and the effect of the number of responses, magnitude, and history of reinforcement on responding during extinction. The methods used to conduct these projects and the preliminary results were described during the poster presentations. Those in attendance had the chance to speak with the authors of each project and learn more about the findings. To view more photos from the event, click here or visit the Campus Photos page.


Students Craft Innovative Products
Students show off their "Smash Cap" which uses wireless technology to detect if a concussion occurred, its intensity, and what action should be taken Students enrolled in the Interdisciplinary Product Development and Innovation course presented their inventions on December 14. During the course, which pairs Engineering students with Business students, teams were tasked with creating an innovative product. Resulting products included a device to monitor concussions, a hospital sterilization tool, a new drill bit that can be utilized on a variety of surfaces, a bike operated battery charger, and a personal accessory that monitors four vital signs. During the presentations, an expert panel of business executives, investors, and faculty evaluated each idea.


School of Law to Host Minority Law Day Event
Western New England University will host a workshop on minority and diversity issues with the application process for law school on Saturday, January 21 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. in the Blake Law Center. This event is free and open to the public but reservations are required. Lunch will be provided. The focus of the workshop is to educate minority and diversity students about the law school application process and to answer frequently asked questions. GLBT and non-traditional students will also benefit from this program. Participants will hear from current and former law students, as well as admissions professionals from the Western New England University School of Law, Boston University School of Law, New England Law Boston, and University of Connecticut School of Law. Topics covered will include résumés, letters of recommendation, personal statements, internships, and the Law School Admission Council (LSAC). In addition, a KAPLAN representative will give information on the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) and administer a free practice LSAT to participants. Anyone interested in law school is encouraged to attend, regardless of where they are in the application process or where they plan to apply. To make a reservation or to obtain more information on Minority Law Day, visit www.law.wne.edu/minoritylawday.


College of Engineering Hosts "Green" Vehicle Race
The College of Engineering held its annual Interdisciplinary “Green” Vehicle Race on December 8 in Rivers Memorial Hall. The projects demonstrated the collaborative effort involving teams of computer, electrical, and mechanical engineers. In less than one semester, these teams of engineers moved from feasibility studies to working prototypes of remote controlled vehicles. Students were tasked with developing zero emission electric powered vehicles which raced both the traditional drag race and a figure eight course.


Social Work Department Holds Annual Luncheon
(Back L-R) Shaye Slepchuk, Kayla Basile, Western New England Professional Educator Paula Nieman, and Katy Golan(Front L-R) Emily Bateman, Madison Provost, and Rudi Scherff This semester, the Department of Social Work offered an Introduction to Social Work course to students from Minnechaug Regional High School. Several of the high school students attended the Department's annual luncheon on November 29 along with Western New England students majoring in social work. During the event, Voices From Inside, a group of women who were previously incarcerated and used poetry to talk about their experiences, spoke with students.


Improv Hosts Last Show of Semester
Western New England’s improvisational comedy troupe, Improv on the Rocks, presents its final show of the semester on December 8.


Students Named to Who's Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges
There are 33 students that have been selected for inclusion in the 2011-2012 edition of Who's Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges. The University's nominating committee and editors of the annual directory have included the following students based on academic achievement, service to the community, leadership in extracurricular activities and potential for continued success: College of Arts and Sciences Joseph AcampadoChristina D. BarbarisiChristopher R. ChewAmanda L. DeCostaJennifer L. DelibacBryan C. DickinsonMolly E. HigbieChristopher T. KelleyKaylee R. McDonaldAlex M. NogaLori N. PaglianoAlexandra D. PetrosinelliAshley M. ReynoldsKatie A. TothElizabeth K. WalshMichelle T. WiggettBryan J. WilmotLashawna A. Wright College of Business Brenden A. BoucherJackie BuczkowskiShawn M. FitzpatrickTheresa M. GlodElizabeth F. GoldschienShaun P. KellyJamie E. KirschnerChristopher P. MilanesiAnna R. PhillipsTeresa M. SpazianiJoseph G. Van Huysen College of Engineering Laura M. DanielJoseph A. FazioLindsay M. TenczaJeffrey P. Wagner To view more photos from the Who's Who awards reception, click here or visit the Campus Photos page.


Two Israeli Students Discuss Views on Israel and U.S.
Western New England University hosted two recent Israeli high school graduates, Shih Ricon and Tal Sarig, on December 13 as part of Campus Ministry's Lunch and Learn program. The students shared with the campus community their views of Israel and the United States. This event was made possible thanks to the Anna P. Housen Israel Desk of the Jewish Federation of Western Massachusetts and the Western New England University Campus Ministry.