Posted on Mar 1, 2007

Robert Olberg, the Florence B. Sherwood Professor of Life Sciences, will deliver the DuPont Lecture at the University of Arizona's Neurobiology Department on March 22. The planned title of the lecture is, “The Elegant Precision of Dragonfly Prey Interception: From Neurons to Behavior.”

Louisa Matthew, professor of Art History, is presenting a paper at the interdisciplinary conference, “From Easel Painting to Musical Instrument: Varnishes, Binders and Colors,” in Paris, March 6-7. Her paper is entitled “Varnish in the Shops of the Vendecolori.”

Daniel Mosquera, associate professor of Spanish, was invited by the Latino Alliance and the African American Student forum at RPI to screen and give a talk about his first documentary, “St. Pacho, for Whom?” (2003-2006) as part of African History Month. The documentary explores how this Afro-centered religious festivity honoring Saint Francis of Assisi in Colombia deals with a massacre that took place in March 2002 in Choco, Colombia.

Lori Marso, director of Women's and Gender Studies and professor of Political Science, has been invited to give several talks about her book, Feminist Thinkers and the Demands of Femininity (2006), to celebrate Women's History Month. She is the keynote speaker for the Midwest Women's Studies Association conference in Vermillion, S.D., and the University of Vermont's Women's History Month Speaker's series. Her interview with WAMC's Mary Darcy as part of a special series on feminist thinkers will air on “51%.” Marso also will have an edited book published in late spring by Duke University Press, titled W Stands for Women: How the George W. Bush Administration Shaped a New Politics of Gender.

Posted on Mar 1, 2007

Juniors Kaitlin A. Canty and Stephen D. Po-Chedley have been named finalists for the Harry S. Truman Scholarship, which honors students who embody the leadership traits of the 33rd president. The two are competing with 199 other U.S. students from 130 colleges.

Canty, of Cheshire, Conn., is active in community service and organizations that address inequities and issues of concern for women. A double major in political science and women's and gender studies, she is a leader of “Safe Space,” a support group for survivors of rape and sexual assault, and a member of the Sexual Assault and Harassment Committee and Bias Crimes Committee. She helped bring “The Vagina Monologues” to campus recently, serving as the show's producer. She plans to pursue a law degree.

Po-Chedley, of Buffalo, has focused on campus environmental issues. He helped create U Recycle and coordinated a campaign to challenge students to reduce consumption and waste. A member of Ozone House and Campus Action, he won a 2006 Udall Scholarship for his leadership in environmental issues.

The Truman Scholarship Foundation, which dates to 1978, provides financial support for graduate study, leadership training and fellowship opportunities. A panel of leaders in government, non-profit and other public service fields will interview the finalists; the winners will be announced March 27.

For more information, visit http://www.truman.gov.

Posted on Mar 1, 2007

The Café Ozone will be dishing up an all-organic selection of locally grown and health-conscious cuisine once again on Friday, March 2, noon-2 p.m. at Old Chapel. The student-run café hosts an Indian theme this week with a menu of organic tikka masala chicken, organic curried vegetables, basmati rice, cucumber mint salad and naan.

The weekly Friday café provides an alternative dining atmosphere, promoting sustainability and local agriculture. Student volunteers act as hosts, waiters and servers, teaming up with Dining Services, which prepares the food. The program has grown incrementally in popularity since its inception last year, now serving more than 200 members of the Union community each week.

“I think the increased popularity of Café Ozone shows a strong campus interest in being environmentally conscious about the way we eat,” says Liz Gustafson '07, a founding member of the café and weekly volunteer.

“Dining Services purchases and prepares the food and the students serve it and clean it up. We're really working together. It's a great process and it's successful,” says Dan Detora, director of Dining Services. “Since last spring, we've grown from 30-50 customers per week to more than 200.” 

Café Ozone is open to faculty, students and staff. For students, one organic meal is worth one meal at Upper Class or West Dining. For more information, visit http://www.vu.union.edu/~recycle/ozone.html.