http://www.syr.edu/newsSyracuse University News.en-us http://www.syr.edu/news/articles/2011/eighth-blackbird-01-12.html http://www.syr.edu/news/articles/2011/eighth-blackbird-01-12.html Syracuse University’s Arts Engage welcomes the sextet eighth blackbird for a performance of Schoenberg’s ‘Pierrot lunaire’ on Tuesday, Jan. 24. The production will take place in the Carrier Theatre at the Civic Center at 7 p.m. The Chicago-based, Grammy-award winning group combines the sounds of a string quartet, a rock band and a storefront theater company. Its adaptation of Schoenberg's "Pierrot lunaire" continues eighth blackbird’s commitment to performances that blur the boundaries between music and theater. Directed by renowned New York choreographer Mark DeChiazza, the production features soprano Lucy Shelton, dancer Elyssa Dole and eighth blackbird percussionist Matthew Duvall. The musicians of eighth blackbird perform the challenging work entirely from memory. In addition to SU, "Pierrot lunaire" will be presented at the Kennedy Center and the McAninch Arts Center. Chicago performances include a Reich-fest in Millennium Park, Composition Competition finals, premieres by Nico Muhly and Sofia Gubaidulina, and a mini-festival at the Museum of Contemporary Art. General admission tickets are $15 for the general public and $10 for non-SU students and senior citizens, and free tickets can be reserved for SU students, faculty and staff. To reserve tickets, email SUartspresenter@syr.edu, or call 443-0296. The members of eighth blackbird hail from America's Great Lakes, Keystone, Golden and Bay states, and Australia's Sunshine State. The group holds ongoing ensemble-in-residence positions at the University of Richmond and University of Chicago, and has led short-term residencies at the Curtis Institute, Colburn School, University of Michigan, Oberlin College, Southern Methodist University and Rice University. Arts Engage is part of Syracuse University's Office of the Arts Presenter and engages and inspires SU and the surrounding Syracuse community through diverse performance art. The 2011-2012 Arts Engage season includes David Sedaris, Buglisi Dance Theatre, Harlem stride pianist Stephanie Trick, Kronos Quartet, Diavolo and much more. Arts Engage is also proud to collaborate with Syracuse Stage and Ping Chong & Company in the ongoing creation of "Cry for Peace: Voices from the Congo," a documentary theater production based on the stories of CNY Congolese refugees. http://www.syr.edu/news/articles/2011/rock-the-dome-01-12.html http://www.syr.edu/news/articles/2011/rock-the-dome-01-12.html Hip-hop superstars Ludacris and Rick Ross are slated to co-headline University Union’s inaugural Rock the Dome concert on Feb. 2. University Union is aiming to create a new SU tradition by hosting a new, large-scale Carrier Dome show in addition to the springtime Block Party concert, open to students and the greater SU community. The show will take place in the Carrier Dome, with doors opening at 7 p.m. and music starting at 8 p.m. Atlanta-based rapper, actor, philanthropist and restaurateur Chris “Ludacris” Bridges is one of the most dynamic and well-respected artists in the hip-hop scene. Since the release of his 2000 debut album, “Back for the First Time,” Ludacris has released six additional albums, which have produced Billboard hits such as, “Stand Up,” “Get Back,” “Number One Spot” and “Money Maker.” He is slated to release his latest album in early 2012. During his 10-year career, Ludacris has won three Grammy awards, nine BET awards and three MTV Video Music awards. In addition to being one of the most dominant forces in hip-hop, Ludacris is also an accomplished actor, having appeared in episodes of the hit NBC series, “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” and the films “Hustle & Flow” and “Crash,” for both of which he was nominated for a Screen Actors Guild Award; he won for “Crash.” Following in the tradition of the Southern hustler-turned-rapper like fellow artists T.I. and Young Jeezy, Miami-based rapper Ross first burst onto the hip-hop scene with his 2006 debut album, “Port of Miami,” which went straight to No. 1 on the Billboard 200 album chart. Ross has since released three additional albums, all of which also debuted in the top 10 on the Billboard charts. Ross is also known for his collaborations with some of the greatest names in hip hop, including Drake, Lil Wayne, Diddy and Jay Z. His latest album, “God Forgives, I Don’t,” is slated for a 2012 release, with his new mixtape, “Rich Forever,” being released on Friday, Jan. 6. Tickets will first be available for purchase for $15 to SU and SUNY-ESF students during a special online-only ticket presale between Monday, Jan. 9, at 10 a.m. and Wednesday, Jan. 11, at midnight. Presale tickets can be purchased exclusively through Ticketmaster. Presale order link information will be sent to students via email. Tickets will go on sale to the general public for $45 on Friday, Jan. 13, at 10 a.m. At that time, any remaining tickets for SU and SUNY-ESF students will only be available for purchase through the box offices at the Carrier Dome and the Schine Student Center, with a valid student ID required for purchase. Follow University Union’s social media accounts on Twitter—@uuinsider—and Facebook—facebook.com/universityunion—for the latest updates on all University Union events. http://www.syr.edu/news/articles/2011/white-house-jobs-1-12.html http://www.syr.edu/news/articles/2011/white-house-jobs-1-12.html SU officials attend Jan. 5 White House announcement of Summer Jobs+ program The White House has announced Summer Jobs+, a new call to action for businesses, nonprofits and government to work together to provide pathways to employment for low-income and disconnected youth in the summer of 2012. As part of the Summer Jobs+ announcement made at the White House on Jan. 5, Syracuse University, in collaboration with CNY Works, will continue to work as local partners in this federal and private sector initiative to provide 50 positions for 16-21 year-olds through the Summer Youth Initiative. Additionally, SU has committed to provide 200 jobs to college-aged students working in Say Yes to Education Summer Camps, which provide academic and youth leadership enrichment. SU's Kal Alston, senior vice president for human capital development, and Eric Persons, associate vice president of government and community relations, attended Thursday's White House announcement by invitation. Summer Jobs+ has committed to creating nearly 180,000 employment opportunities for low-income youth in the summer of 2012, with a goal of reaching 250,000 employment opportunities by the start of summer, at least 100,000 of which will be placements in paid jobs and internships. “Syracuse University’s commitment to Summer Jobs+ will empower our community’s youth to make a difference,” says SU Chancellor and President Nancy Cantor. “By providing opportunities to contribute to nationally prominent programs such as Say Yes to Education Syracuse, we’re helping our young people build skills and confidence, as well as our community’s vital social infrastructure.” The jobs created through the SU-CNY Works partnership are for youth currently at risk, attending high school and out of school for the summer. The elements of the program are all focused on adding value to the work experience, specifically including, but not limited to: professional development, mentoring opportunities, job training through work experience, career/college exploration, nurturing a respectful workplace, resume writing and interviewing skills, financial management, time management, exposure to the SU community and an opportunity to build positive and lasting relationships between youth and supervisor. Say Yes is a partnership between SU, the Say Yes Foundation Inc. and the Syracuse City Schools that provides across-the-board support services to city school students and their families, with the promise of a full tuition scholarship upon successful graduation and admittance to college. The students employed at Say Yes Camps include the Say Yes college students (attending a number of participating colleges in the Say Yes consortium) who are home for the summer, and they work with children on academic, leadership and enrichment opportunities, youth engagement activities and skills/talent development activities. Many of the employed students qualify for substantial financial need irrespective of whether they are Say Yes students.  To read the full White House announcement, visit: http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2012/01/05/we-cant-wait-white-house-announces-federal-and-private-sector-commitment. http://www.syr.edu/news/articles/2011/kane-public-relations-01-12.html http://www.syr.edu/news/articles/2011/kane-public-relations-01-12.html Erin Martin Kane has been named associate vice president for public relations at Syracuse University. The appointment, made by Kevin Quinn, senior vice president for public affairs, is effective Jan. 3. A resident of Pittsford, N.Y., Kane most recently served as founder and president of EMK Public Relations, a boutique public relations firm based outside of Boston. A communications strategist with nearly 20 years of in-house, agency and consulting experience, Kane led the public relations and communications efforts for the award-winning PBS news and public affairs series "FRONTLINE." At "FRONTLINE," Kane directed national publicity and community outreach campaigns for more than 200 documentary films and investigative reports, securing coverage in the pages of every major market newspaper in the country. Kane has also worked on several high-profile PBS productions and specials with co-production partners including The New York Times, ABC News, the BBC and NPR. In 2010, she led the national community engagement campaign for the American Experience/FRONTLINE co-production "God in America," a six-hour report on the intersection of religion and public life in America. “Erin brings us extensive experience creating and directing national proactive media campaigns and will serve the University extremely well as we continue to raise our visibility with top-tier media outlets, thought leaders and other core constituents,” says Quinn. In her new role, Kane will oversee the Office of News Services and work with Quinn and other senior University leadership to create a unified and proactive communications agenda for the University. Prior to public broadcasting, Kane worked in public relations for several years in Boston teaching hospitals. She began her professional communications career in 1991 in the external affairs office at Tufts New England Medical Center. She later went on to manage media relations at Deaconess Hospital, a teaching hospital for Harvard Medical School. After the birth of her two sons, Kane launched EMK Public Relations, where she continued to consult on national media projects, including the launch of GlobalPost.com, the first Internet news website dedicated exclusively to international news. For three years, Kane was a visiting professor at Framingham State University, where she taught "Introduction to Public Relations." Kane is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. http://www.syr.edu/news/articles/2011/light-work-looking-01-12.html http://www.syr.edu/news/articles/2011/light-work-looking-01-12.html Light Work has announced the exhibition “Looking & Looking,” featuring photographs by Jen Davis and Amy Elkins. Both artists create work that focuses on gaze and identity, with Davis looking at herself and Elkins looking at young male athletes. The images in the exhibition explore the perception of how men and women are supposed to appear in society—men should be strong and confident, women should be beautiful—and the crafting of a self-image. The exhibition will run Jan. 17-March 8, with a gallery reception Feb. 23 from 5-7 p.m. Davis creates self-portraits that deal with issues surrounding beauty, identity and body image of women, and challenges the perceptions and stereotypes of how women should look in their physical appearances. Elkins depicts the more aggressive, competitive and violent aspects of male identity in her series “Elegant Violence,” which captures portraits of young Ivy League rugby athletes moments after their game. Elkins’ images explore the balance between athleticism, modes of violence or aggression and varying degrees of vulnerability within a sport where brutal body contact is fundamental. Both artists focus on the construction of identity—the players are astutely aware of how they are presenting themselves, while Davis draws attention to her own self-image in a more emotional way. Shown together, the works of Davis and Elkins urge the viewer to consider expectations and perceptions (both societal and individual) of identity. Davis received her M.F.A. from Yale University, and her bachelor's degree from Columbia College Chicago. Her work has been exhibited internationally, including at Musée de l'Elysée in Lausanne, Switzerland; Joy Wei Gallery in New York; SI FEST: Savignano Immagini Festival in Italy; Museum of Fine Arts, Boston; Center for Photography at Woodstock; Stephen Daiter Gallery in Chicago; Milwaukee Art Museum; and Galerie Priska Pasquer in Cologne, Germany, among others. Her photographs are in the collections of the Art Institute of Chicago, the Sir Elton John Photography Collection, and the Library of Congress. Davis is represented by Lee Marks Fine Art. Elkins received her B.F.A. in photography from the School of Visual Arts in New York City. Her work has been exhibited both nationally and internationally, including shows at Kunsthalle Wien in Vienna; The PIP International Photo Festival in Pingyao, China; Gallery Elsa in Busan, South Korea; National Arts Club, Tina Kim Gallery, and Yancey Richardson Gallery in New York, among many others. Elkins and Cara Phillips co-founded wipnyc.org, a platform for showcasing both established and emerging women in photography. Elkins is represented by Yancey Richardson Gallery in New York. http://www.syr.edu/news/articles/2011/whitman-capstone-12-11.html http://www.syr.edu/news/articles/2011/whitman-capstone-12-11.html Sixty-three student teams representing more than 300 Whitman seniors competed in the semiannual Capstone Business Plan Competition held Dec. 9-10 at the Whitman School of Management. At the conclusion of both the fall and spring semesters, Whitman's Department of Entrepreneurship and Emerging Enterprises hosts the Capstone Business Plan Competition. Every Whitman senior participates in the Capstone experience—an experiential program that brings together all of the elements of the Whitman education in the context of an original business concept that students conceive and develop as a viable, sustainable and truly innovative new venture. A participant in the competition, Victoria Di Napoli ’12, notes, “This class brought together students from all majors and backgrounds within the business school. It allowed the students to combine their knowledge and skill sets, which they are not able to experience to this degree in any other class.” Student teams present their business plans before panels of judges composed of entrepreneurs, venture capitalists and others from the entrepreneurial community in Central New York. First place and a prize of $500 was awarded to WaterPort, LLC, consisting of team members Christopher Grant, Di Napoli, William Craine and Hunt Lau and mentored by Ken Walsleben. “It was a great personal achievement and testament to our hard work,” saysDi Napoli, speaking on behalf of the entire team. “We are very grateful for everyone who helped us along the way in developing our idea and guiding us to the best resources.” Second place and a prize of $300 was awarded to Sweet Spot, consisting of team members Olga Litvinenko, David Ben-Hayun, Mitchell Bernstein, Katie Galezo and Kelly Geer and coached by Whitman faculty member John Torrens. Third place and a prize of $200 was awarded to DENTprotect, consisting of team members Zach McClure, Roz Amirfazli, Alyssa Georgian, Crystal Zhou and Jon Eisenberg (also mentored by Torrens). The top teams also earn the chance to represent the Whitman School at national business plan competitions. Honorable mentions were given to teams Reference Points and Snowshield. Reference Points team members included Jonathan Carrubba, Joseph Ottenstein, Jorie Richlin-Zack, Erica Taylor and Robert Zaccaria, and was coached by Alejandro Amezcua. Snowshield team members included Conrad Cutler, Hyunji Kim, Brandon Tan, Alexandra Tartell and Sarah Rittenhouse and was coached by Torrens. http://www.syr.edu/news/articles/2011/newhouse-higgins-award-12-11.html http://www.syr.edu/news/articles/2011/newhouse-higgins-award-12-11.html Syracuse University’s S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications has established the John M. Higgins Award for Best In-Depth/Enterprise Reporting as part of the annual Mirror Awards for excellence in media industry reporting.  Supported by a gift from Discovery Communications and Time Warner Cable Inc., the award carries a $5,000 cash prize. Each of the Mirror Awards’ additional juried journalism awards carries a $1,000 cash prize.  “We are honored to recognize John Higgins in this way and we thank Discovery and Time Warner Cable for the opportunity,” says Newhouse Dean Lorraine Branham. “This gift allows us to further strengthen our efforts to seek out and pay tribute to those whose job it is to shine a light on the media and ‘watch the watchdogs.’ As John Higgins did, they provide the credible voices that keep the business of journalism honest and ethical, and allow it to continue to be a cornerstone of American democracy.”      Higgins served as the business editor for Broadcasting & Cable and was a longtime reporter on the media and Wall Street. One of the most well-respected journalists of his time, he died in 2006 at the age of 45.  Entries and nominations for the Mirror Awards are now being accepted online at mirrorawards.com. Deadline for entering is Feb. 10, 2012. Anyone can nominate, and there is no fee to enter.  The competition is open to anyone who conducts reporting, commentary or criticism of the media industries in a format intended for a mass audience. Eligible work includes print, broadcast and online editorial content focusing on the development or distribution of news and entertainment. All entries must have been published or broadcast between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31, 2011.  Award categories include: Best Single Article, Traditional/Legacy Media ($1,000 prize) Best Single Article, Digital Media ($1,000 prize) Best Profile, Traditional/Legacy Media ($1,000 prize) Best Profile, Digital Media ($1,000 prize) Best Commentary, Traditional/Legacy Media ($1,000 prize) Best Commentary, Digital Media ($1,000 prize) John M. Higgins Award for Best In-Depth/Enterprise Reporting ($5,000 prize)  Detailed submission guidelines for each award are available at mirrorawards.com.  Entries are evaluated based on three criteria: excellence of craft; framing of the issue; and appropriateness for the intended audience. Winners are chosen by a group of journalists and journalism educators. An awards ceremony will be held in June 2012 in New York City.  The Mirror Awards are the most important awards for recognizing excellence in media industry reporting. Established by the Newhouse School in 2006, the awards honor the reporters, editors and teams of writers who hold a mirror to their own industry for the public's benefit.  For more information, contact Jean Brooks at 315-443-5711 or mirror@syr.edu or visit mirrorawards.com. http://www.syr.edu/news/articles/2011/law-llm-12-11.html http://www.syr.edu/news/articles/2011/law-llm-12-11.html The Master of Laws (LL.M.) for foreign students at Syracuse University College of Law is a new 24-credit-hour graduate program designed to offer students with a foreign (non-U.S.) law degree or its equivalent, advanced study in American law. Applications are being accepted through May 15, 2012, for students entering in fall 2012. “We believe in the international exchange of ideas and we are dedicated to welcoming students to this program from varied legal backgrounds and nations,” says Aviva Abramovsky, associate professor of law, associate dean for special projects and director of the LL.M. program. “Whether you are seeking a comprehensive overview of the American system of laws or seek to specialize in concentrated areas of course work, our one-year LL.M. program will provide you with that knowledge and expertise.” In this one-year residential program, students will take two foundational courses together, one to introduce the students to basics of the American legal system, and a second in legal writing, with a third required research seminar of their choice. The remainder of the program allows students to tailor their own experience in the LL.M. from among the diverse courses offered at the College of Law. The Syracuse Law LL.M. program is exclusively available to graduates in law from foreign academic institutions or those who are otherwise licensed to practice law in their home jurisdictions. Individuals from diverse legal backgrounds, including corporate, government and private practice, judicial and academic, are encouraged to apply. To learn more about the Syracuse University College of Law LL.M. program visit www.law.syr.edu/llm-admissions or email llmadmissions@law.syr.edu. http://www.syr.edu/news/articles/2011/paris-noir-12-11.html http://www.syr.edu/news/articles/2011/paris-noir-12-11.html In “Shadow and Act,” a collection of essays about the black experience, Ralph Ellison describes jazz as the “art of assertion within and against the group.” Each jazz moment, he writes, springs from a context in which each musician challenges the rest of the group—every solo representing a link in the chain of tradition. Although Ellison’s characterization is nearly 50 years old, it still resonates among scholars of the African diaspora. Among those captivated by it is Janis Mayes, Syracuse University professor who uses the “jazz moment” to conceptualize her popular summer program, “Paris Noir.” Each summer for the past decade, she has led 12-15 students on an intense journey through black literature, art and contemporary life in Paris and the surrounding “banlieue.” The result is a signature course that has not only put SU on the diaspora map, but also addressed the question “What does Paris Noir mean today?” Mayes elaborates on the “jazz moment” metaphor. “Ralph Ellison thought that the balance struck among players in a jam session was a ‘marvel of social organization,’” she says. “This kind of framework applies to ‘Paris Noir’ because it supports an exchange of different perspectives. If the seminar was a piece of music, ‘Paris Noir’ would be the ‘theme,’ and the responses to my question [‘What does the “noir” in Paris Noir mean today?’] would be a set of variations.” One way to understand the “jazz moment”—and Mayes’ project in general—is to look at its historical context. During the 1920s and ‘30s, Harlem was home to a growing number of African Americans (many of whom were from the South), whose experiences with racism were conveyed through art, literature and music. This flowering of black consciousness also occurred in France, which attracted many students, artists and intellectuals (not to mention, returning World War I soldiers) from around the globe. The French slogan of equality, fraternity and liberty must have seemed like a hit of fresh air to people under the yoke of colonization or segregation. Just some of the many ex-patriots were the cultural icon Josephine Baker; writers Langston Hughes, James Baldwin, Anna Julia Cooper, Richard Wright and Barbara Chase-Riboud; artists Henry O. Tanner and Beauford Delaney; and musicians Louis Armstrong, Ada “Bricktop” Smith, Duke Ellington, Miles Davis, Dexter Gordon and Nina Simone. It is against this milieu that Mayes leads one of SU’s most innovative courses. During the five-week program, students stay at an apartment hotel, meet daily at the historic Café de Flore (a favorite of Baldwin and philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre), visit historical and cultural landmarks, and discuss topics ranging from history and culture to race and identity. “Many conversations revolve around the idea of discernment—seeing what others regard as invisible in black culture,” she says. “The students rigorously explore the ‘noir’ in French society, as it is expressed in the arts and in everyday life.” The only program of its kind in the academy, “Paris Noir” is divided into three parts. The first, “On Becoming Paris Noir,” examines the historical, social and political forces that led to a black presence in Paris. “To focus on this aspect, we visit various museums and historical landmarks,” says Mayes. “At the Louvre, we study the large glass pyramid by I.M. Pei outside the museum’s entrance and the Egyptian art inside, drawing connections between Africa and the modern French world. We also analyze Picasso’s masks, which capture a borrowed aesthetic from ancient African sculpture, and Géricault’s highly influential ‘Raft of the Medusa.’” The second part of the course examines the Paris Noir of today. Here, students pore over literary and cultural texts, as well as engage with such black luminaries as saxophonist Archie Shepp, writer Jake Lamar, poet/activist Sonia Sanchez, historian Pap Ndiaye, photographer Kim Powell, publisher Christiane Yandé Diop and members of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. (A few lucky students were able to meet singer Nina Simone and witness her last concert in France, months before her death in 2003.) The third part of “Paris Noir” is an independent research project of the student’s choice. Mayes says this part can often lead to a personal awakening that is gratifying for student and teacher alike. “I want students to have a clearer sense of the beauty and struggle of living somewhere else and then use it to better understand themselves. I want ‘Paris Noir’ to touch them on a personal level,” she says. “Research can provide that catalyst.” Kishauna Soljour and Tiarra Currie are undergraduates who attended “Paris Noir” last summer. “’Paris Noir’ changed my life as a scholar and a person through a process I call ‘re-learning,’” says Soljour, a junior majoring in African American studies and television, radio and film. “In the United States, I had been socialized to accept prepared truth and to regurgitate it, as if it were derived from my own psyche. In Paris, I've learned to question, communicate and arrive at my own conclusions about my black identity. As a result, I no longer question who I am. I have become the master of my destiny by accepting my identity with clarity and purpose.” Currie—a senior majoring in psychology, with a triple minor in child and family studies, early childhood and sociology—had a similar epiphany. She shares several experiences that reinforced her decision to study abroad, including one involving a panel discussion of black women that was so moving, it “almost brought tears to [her] eyes.” “'Paris Noir' exposed me to history like never before,” she says. “I felt like I had learned more about myself in those five weeks than in the past 20 years.” Currie credits “Paris Noir” for helping her embrace her own blackness. “I learned that there is no one black face or black story,” she continues. “All of us come from different backgrounds and have different complexions and experiences. It this common thread of racism and history that binds us together.” Open to graduates and undergraduates alike, “Paris Noir” is co-administered by SU Abroad and the Department of African American Studies in SU’s College of Arts and Sciences. (The course is crossed-listed among AAS; English; women’s & gender studies; and the French program in languages, literatures, and linguistics.) Students hail from all over the country. Samir Meghelli was a junior at the University of Pennsylvania when he enrolled in “Paris Noir” in 2003. Since then, he has returned to Paris many times to conduct research and to lead seminars for SU on the history of hip-hop in France. “The ‘Paris Noir’ program has had an indelible impact on my intellectual development and scholarly trajectory,” says Meghelli, a Ph.D. candidate at Columbia University. “One leaves the program with a far more profound understanding of the global nature of the African diaspora.” Meghelli also credits “Paris Noir” for laying the groundwork for his senior thesis, his doctoral dissertation and his book, “The Global Cipha: Hip Hop Culture and Consciousness” (Black History Museum Press, 2006). “The course is a remarkable way of merging theory and practice, of making Paris our classroom,” he adds. David Baker G’05, who handles rights and clearances for ABC News, echoes these sentiments. “The program helped me understand race and identity as constructs that shape political, economic and social discourse,” he says. “It also helped me acquire a broader view of the effects of race and identity, domestically and internationally.” Baker was surprised to learn that many young Parisians’ views of blacks were shaped by American television, especially rap videos. As “Paris Noir” enters its second decade, Mayes is optimistic about the future. She ultimately hopes to see the creation of a “trans-oceanic corridor,” linking SU with similar academic programs throughout Africa, Europe and the Americas. These kinds of connections, she hopes, will cultivate alumni and supporters of SU, while stimulating other kinds of immersion opportunities (e.g., internships and co-ops). “By having a greater understanding of the racial and cultural realities of Europe, our students can view themselves as part of a global community,” she concludes. “I want all of our students to use ‘Paris Noir’ to gain global literacy and to experience the agency that comes with it.” http://www.syr.edu/news/articles/2011/bbi-employer-resources-12-11.html http://www.syr.edu/news/articles/2011/bbi-employer-resources-12-11.html Employer Resources, developed by the Burton Blatt Institute (BBI) at Syracuse University under its Employer Demand Project, are now available online. The Employer Demand briefs and toolkit are designed to provide employers with resources on incorporating people with disabilities into the workplace and improving employment outcomes for all workers. Exploration of these issues strives to positively influence the employment of people with disabilities. Detailed information about the project, as well as the briefs and toolkit, can be found at http://bbi.syr.edu/projects/corpculture/empmodels_overview.htm. The Demand-Side Employment Placement Models project (2006-2012), funded by the National Institute for Disability and Rehabilitation Research, is a systematic investigation utilizing scientifically rigorous and evidence-based methods to develop, identify and evaluate employment demand-side models that better understand demand characteristics for qualified workers with disabilities. In the final year of the project, BBI is translating the findings into valid and practical tools for large and small businesses in different market sectors to improve employment outcomes for all workers, including qualified persons with disabilities. BBI reaches around the globe to advance the civic, economic, and social participation of people with disabilities. BBI builds on the legacy of Burton Blatt, former dean of SU’s School of Education and a pioneering disability rights scholar, to better the lives of people with disabilities. BBI engages in projects on civil and human rights, entrepreneurship and employment, technology access, and economic empowerment. With a staff of more than 50, BBI has offices in Syracuse, Washington, D.C., and Atlanta. http://www.syr.edu/news/articles/2011/newhouse-newspro-12-11.html http://www.syr.edu/news/articles/2011/newhouse-newspro-12-11.html Syracuse University’s S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications is the top journalism school in the country, according to a recent survey conducted by NewsPro, the magazine for news professionals.  Newhouse “easily claimed the top spot,” according to an article published in the December 2011 issue of NewsPro. Rounding out the top five were Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism; the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism; University of Missouri at Columbia School of Journalism; and the University of Southern California’s Annenberg School for Communication & Journalism.  The survey was distributed to TVWeek.com and NewsPro readers, with 438 responding. http://www.syr.edu/news/articles/2011/ischool-microsoft-12-11.html http://www.syr.edu/news/articles/2011/ischool-microsoft-12-11.html The School of Information Studies (iSchool) and Microsoft Corporation announce a partnership to better understand how Microsoft’s new social software So.cl can be used with students who have grown up with social software, study information science and design communication tools. So.cl (pronounced “social”) combines search and social networking for the purpose of learning, and is the latest experiment from Microsoft Research arm FUSE Labs.  The application, closely tied to Facebook, allows users to create rich posts by assembling montages of visual web content, and provides a platform for rich media sharing and real time sharing of videos via “video parties” to encourage interaction and collaboration. Microsoft Research hopes that students will use So.cl to extend their educational experience and rethink how they learn and communicate. “This is a tremendous opportunity for our students to work with emerging social media tools from our partners at Microsoft,” says Anthony Rotolo, assistant professor of practice at the iSchool.  “The social media landscape is evolving at a rapid pace, and the iSchool is at the forefront of this area of study. Our students are uniquely positioned to offer innovative ideas and feedback to Microsoft researchers as they develop cutting-edge technologies, and early access to these tools allows our students to develop a forward-looking view of how social media will take shape in the years ahead.” http://www.syr.edu/news/articles/2011/newhouse-cision-12-11.html http://www.syr.edu/news/articles/2011/newhouse-cision-12-11.html More than 70 percent of online media journalists and other content contributors now interact with public relations professionals through popular social media sites such as Twitter and Facebook, according to a 2011 survey of North American online media conducted by Cision and the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications. Download a full summary of the report (PDF).    The survey of more than 1,000 digital influencers confirmed that Twitter and Facebook presences are essential to online journalists – as well as those writers, bloggers, editors, academics, marketing/branding/advertising people, public relations and communications professionals and consultants who create online content but do not identify themselves as journalists. Seventy-three percent of the journalists responding to the survey said they interact with public relations professionals on social media, with most of that interaction happening on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn. At the same time, 69 percent of other digital influencers reported engaging with PR professionals via those sites, although they also rely significantly more on blogs and other social media platforms such as YouTube, Flickr and Posterous.  The survey also found that email remains the top choice by far for journalists fielding press releases from PR professionals, with 94 percent of journalists and 79 percent of other content creators reporting a preference for receiving news releases via email. Fewer than five percent of respondents reported a preference for telephone or fax contact.  Of those who responded, 55 percent interact with public relations professionals on Twitter and 47 percent on Facebook. Sixty-three percent of respondents also said they welcome story pitches and ideas sent through social publishing sites. Eighty-seven percent of journalists and 85 percent of other content creators said they maintain a Twitter presence for their blogs or news websites, while 81 percent (journalists) and 78 percent (other contributors) maintain Facebook pages.  "The Cision/Newhouse School survey results document the fact that we've hit a tipping point in marketing and communication, with social media now a key way to communicate with and through the media," says Heidi Sullivan, vice president of global media research for Cision.  "In the past, public relations generated 'earned media' by communicating through a narrow channel – mainstream journalists," she added. "But in the past five years, social media has transformed earned media into a direct conversation among marketers, media, digital influencers and customers."  An Essential Tool – With Credibility Challenges  At the same time, Sullivan cautioned that while the 2011 survey confirms that social media has become essential to all digital influencers, journalists still trust it less as a source of credible news and information than other content creators.  Although 47 percent of "other" digital influencers thought social media content is "somewhat reliable," only 37 percent of journalists responded likewise to the question.  "Even as public relations professionals depend on social media for much of their engagement with the journalism community, they must be aware that journalists remain as skeptical as ever and continue to maintain high standards for accuracy and objectivity," she says.  One respondent says, "I think social media has the potential to be extremely useful, reliable and helpful as a news source. It also has the potential to be harmful and spread misinformation and outright false news quickly."  "As far as reliability [goes], the volume of tweets, etcetera, indicates interest or the importance of the topic, [and] that's what I tend to focus on, not the actual data," another says. "Social media is good as an initial news source in the same way that Wikipedia isn't a bad place to start research."  About the Survey  In June 2011, Cision and four faculty members from Newhouse's Public Relations Department conducted a survey of online media contributors and digital influencers. The goal was to provide a better perspective on how public relations professionals can reach online media contributors, including journalists, via social media, and how social media has changed the way these media contributors work on an everyday basis and consider the credibility of sources.  For more information, contact Bob Kucharavy, Newhouse professor of practice in public relations, at (315) 443-2747 or rmkuchar@syr.edu. http://www.syr.edu/news/articles/2011/soe-race-to-the-top-12-11.html http://www.syr.edu/news/articles/2011/soe-race-to-the-top-12-11.html The New York State Education Department’s “Race to the Top” grant awarded $1.6 million to Syracuse University’s School of Education to start the teacher-preparation pilot program “Syracuse Urban Inclusive Teacher Residents (SUITR).” The grant is part of a statewide effort to effectively prepare and motivate teachers to educate students in high-needs schools and to increase retention of teachers in order to positively affect student achievement.  Research shows that a clinically based approach centered in schools increases teacher retention in high-needs schools and also helps prepare teachers for the realities of working in such classrooms. In an effort to improve teacher retention and teacher impact, the New York State Education Department invited institutions to participate in a pilot program to address teacher shortage issues through a graduate-level teacher preparation program.  Corinne Smith, professor and chair of Teaching and Leadership Programs is principal investigator on the SUITR grant.  “We are looking forward to receiving applications from individuals with bachelor's degrees in a broad range of fields who desire to become secondary education specialists within the general education classroom to make the curriculum fully accessible to students with disabilities," she says. "Our aim is to augment the achievement of students with disabilities by tailoring the curriculum to their particular learning needs and styles.”   Thirty-six candidates will participate in the pilot program, a four-semester residency in which they will develop their skills teaching secondary education, special education and other topics in general education in urban high schools. Through a partnership with Hughes School and William Nottingham High School of the Syracuse City School District, the candidates will create a corps of secondary special education teachers who will improve student performance through integrating content, professional knowledge and clinical experience.  The grant provides funds for SU's School of Education to test its new, 7-12 Special Education Master's Program that follows the school's tradition of devoting particular attention and resources to inclusive education for all special needs students. The goals of increasing teacher performance, effectiveness and competence are outlined in the program, and each graduate will leave with knowledge from "tried-and-true" practices from the School of Education's years of experience, skills gained through working with a talented school-based mentor team, and competencies from a number of NCATE-accredited programs.  Applications for the SUITR program are currently being accepted for the fall 2012 semester.  Students accepted to the SUITR program will receive generous stipends in addition to a tuition reduction.  SUITR’s will also receive one-to-one mentoring from expert teacher mentors in the field.  Smith says, “We welcome inquiries from individuals who already have education degrees and also those who don’t.  The talents that non-education majors bring to their work in special education is an added value in creative educational planning for our students.”  In addition to SU, the other academic institutions that were awarded grants include Mercy College, Union College, Fordham University, Queens College, SUNY Albany and SUNY Oswego.  The "Race to the Top" funds reward states that are reforming and innovating education in order to increase student growth, close achievement gaps, improve high school graduation rates and effectively prepare students for college and professional positions in the workplace.  This Graduate Level Clinically Rich Teacher Preparation Pilot Program and its activities are supported, in whole or in part, by a grant from the New York State Education Department.  For more information about the program and how to apply, visit http://soe.syr.edu/future/financial_aid/SUITR/ or call 315-443-1468. http://www.syr.edu/news/articles/2011/chancellors-leadership-project-12-11.html http://www.syr.edu/news/articles/2011/chancellors-leadership-project-12-11.html When Secretary of State Hillary Clinton recently announced at the United Nations Human Rights Commission in Geneva, Switzerland, that the United States would consider gay rights when making future aid and asylum decisions, she acknowledged what scholars and activists have known for a long time: that the struggle to recognize rights around sexual orientation must be understood in a global context. “Being gay is not a Western invention. It is a human reality,” Clinton told the delegates. Her demand for recognition of gay rights as human rights broaches a complex question about sexual orientation and sexual identity around the world: Can one speak of sexuality in universal terms that transcend national boundaries, cultural differences and diverse histories? This important question and many other ones inspired the international conference “LGBT/Queer Studies: Toward Trans/national Scholarly and Activist Kinships,” which SU hosted at its SU Abroad Madrid Center in July 2011. The event was part of Transnationalizing LGBT Studies, a multi-year Chancellor’s Leadership Project that responds to the need to develop global and comparative perspectives on sexual identities, cultures and communities. “We are always looking for ways to embed our scholarship into broader contexts of teaching and learning,” says Chancellor Nancy Cantor. “The Madrid conference presented many opportunities to expand our understandings of the issues woven into queer lives as they are contained in and shaped by images and networks of power within and across national boundaries.” Margaret Himley, associate provost for international education and engagement, echoes these sentiments, saying the conference furthered an ongoing conversation about the transnational intersections of sexual and gendered identities, theories, politics and collective action. “We live in a transnational and technologically mediated world where people, ideas, images and capital move across borders in rapid and complicated ways, thus opening up possibilities and creating challenges,” says Himley, who also serves as professor of writing and rhetoric in the College of Arts and Sciences' Writing Program. She co-founded the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Studies Program at SU with Andrew London, professor and chair of sociology. Featuring more than 130 participants from 24 countries on five continents, the interdisciplinary conference brought together scholars and activists from a variety of fields, including sociology, anthropology, political science, literary studies, communication, rhetoric, history and public administration. It also included 30 panelists and four keynote speakers: Zackie Achmat, co-founder and former chairman of the Treatment Action Campaign, South Africa’s most important AIDS organization; Sunil Gupta, an award-winning photographer, writer and curator based in London and New Delhi; Jin Haritaworn, a University of Helsinki fellow who studies the intersection of race, gender and sexuality in multicultural Europe; and Ghadir Hilmi, a queer Palestinian activist. Organizers and participants agreed that Achmat’s opening address about sexual orientation equality in Africa was one of the conference highlights. Like Clinton, Achmat emphasized the fundamental importance of locating LGBT activism within the context of human rights. But he also stressed the need for transnational solidarity and a deeper understanding of local, national and regional differences. “An uncritical adoption of the American, Australian and European rights-based strategies almost exclusively focused on the lobbying of parliaments, litigation in the courts and creating visibility through the media has led to an impasse in Africa and allowed the forces of reaction to organize,” he told attendees. Achmat went on to argue that LGBT activism in Africa must also address inequalities of class, gender, ethnicities, religion, race and tradition. He called on LGBT scholars to develop deeper understanding of diverse sexualities within global, national and local contexts. Andrew London and Roger Hallas, current co-directors of the LGBT Studies Program, reflected on the success of the Madrid conference—how it grew out of a smaller international conference at SU from the year before, how a course offered by LGBT Studies at SU Madrid provided the impetus for the location, and how the conference has seeded a transnational dialogue among scholars and activists. London says the conference and its umbrella project, Transnationalizing LGBT Studies, are about global engagement. “Since we launched this project, we have been amazed at how many people have enthusiastically joined the conversation via our listserv and the conferences we have hosted; humbled by how much good work has been done, as well as by how much we all still need to figure out, know and do; and inspired to think of ways to develop and sustain connections between LGBT/queer scholars, activists and artists around the world,” he says. “The desire for opportunities to engage questions related to LGBT/queer sexualities in a rapidly globalizing world is enormous.” Add to that interdisciplinary education, says Hallas, an associate professor of English. As an example, he cites the LGBT Studies Program, which involves faculty members from Arts and Sciences, the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, the School of Education, the School of Architecture, the College of Law and the College of Visual and Performing Arts. The program offers an undergraduate minor in LGBT studies, which has become one of SU’s most popular interdisciplinary minors since its establishment in 2006. Hallas notes how the minor appeals to a wide range of students, not only to those who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or queer. “Students drawn to the minor recognize that LGBT studies are not only about marginalized sexual communities, but also produce the kind of critical knowledge that has wide-ranging implications for our understanding of culture and society at large,” he says. “Such research speaks to the vital concepts of political governance and social policy, such as family, nation and citizenship, as well as to more philosophical concepts, such as time and happiness.” Benjamin Zender, senior administrator for SU’s Forensic and National Security Sciences Institute and a current writing and rhetoric major and LGBT studies minor, labels the program—and Transnationalizing LGBT Studies, in particular—as one of SU’s more viable examples of collaborative scholarship. Much of this, he says, is because LGBT studies as a field of study operates on the borders of multiple disciplines. “I think what’s notable about our LGBT program is that it has been able to document and build on work that has been happening here for a while,” he says. “The combination of cutting-edge curriculum, a large contingent of interdisciplinary faculty and a strong sense of program identity and mission has made us successful.” This interdisciplinary approach is further underscored by the Journal of Diverse Sexualities, a forthcoming open-access, peer-reviewed journal devoted to LGBT/queer scholarship, criticism and commentary, which will be published by Syracuse University Press. Scheduled for launch in early 2013, with a double issue featuring selected highlights from the project’s two conferences, the journal will foster a transnational and interdisciplinary exchange of knowledge among researchers, teachers, artists and activists. “We chose the free, open-access format to permit a wider readership and address those people often denied access to traditional scholarly journals—that is, people outside the academy,” says Hallas. “Inspired by Achmat’s call at the Madrid conference for more scholarship that activists and organizers can use, the journal aims to sustain a transnational and democratically accessible space for knowledge about diverse sexualities.” Hallas and London are convinced that Transnationalizing LGBT Studies and the emerging Journal of Diverse Sexualities promote understanding and equality among all people. “Learning about any oppressed group,” London says, “has the potential to promote change and is of value to anyone interested in equality and justice." http://www.syr.edu/news/articles/2011/cantor-honorary-degree-12-11.html http://www.syr.edu/news/articles/2011/cantor-honorary-degree-12-11.html On Sunday, Dec. 18, Syracuse University Chancellor and President Nancy Cantor will receive an honorary degree from the University of Michigan (U-M). The honorary doctor of laws degree will be presented at U-M's winter commencement exercises at the Crisler Arena in Ann Arbor, Mich. Cantor is one of four honorary degree candidates, including Jill Ellen Abramson, executive editor of The New York Times; scientist Leslie Benet, professor in the Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences at the University of California, San Francisco; and author Robert David Putnam, the Malkin Professor of Public Policy at Harvard University. A former provost at U-M, Cantor is SU’s 11th chancellor and president and is helping forge a new understanding of the role of universities in society as SU pursues its vision, Scholarship in Action. “We’re proud that that Chancellor Cantor is being recognized for her distinguished leadership in higher education by the University of Michigan,” says Richard L. Thompson, chairman of the Syracuse University Board of Trustees. “It is another recognition of the Chancellor’s overall academic achievements and her national role in pursing public scholarship and understanding the critical importance of universities as anchor institutions in their communities.” A distinguished professor of psychology and women’s studies in The College of Arts and Sciences, Cantor received her A.B. from Sarah Lawrence College and her Ph.D. in psychology from Stanford University. Among Cantor's honorary degrees are a doctor of education degree from Northeastern University, and a doctor of laws degree from Emory University. To read more about Cantor, visit: http://syr.edu/chancellor/about_chancellor_cantor/. To read the full news release from U-M, visit: http://www.ur.umich.edu/update/archives/111010/honorary. http://www.syr.edu/news/articles/2011/ssic-clean-energy-12-11.html http://www.syr.edu/news/articles/2011/ssic-clean-energy-12-11.html The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) announced today that it is providing funding to Syracuse University’s South Side Innovation Center (SSIC) for a pilot program to put aspiring entrepreneurs on the path to start businesses in the clean energy sector. Beginning in winter 2012, the six-month pilot will provide training in computer literacy, energy efficiency techniques and standards, financial literacy and other issues important to successful entrepreneurship. “The entrepreneurial training program provides a solid foundation for people who choose to develop their skills and opportunities as entrepreneurs rather than working for others,” says Francis J. Murray Jr., president and CEO of NYSERDA. “Funding of the South Side Innovation Center program will provide career pathways to jobs that not only help improve energy efficiency, but reduce energy costs and decrease greenhouse gas emissions.” "NYSERDA's partnership in this inventive SSIC pilot program will broaden and deepen its impact," says Syracuse University Chancellor and President Nancy Cantor. "SSIC's expansive collaboration—which exemplifies SU's approach to cross-sector, reciprocal engagement—is tapping our region's cumulative expertise in both sustainable technologies and entrepreneurship. Bringing NYSERDA's expertise in clean energy to this winning combination makes it that much stronger." With collaborations with Associated Builders & Contractors (ABC), the National Association of Minority Contractors Upstate Chapter (NAMC-Upstate) and Onondaga Community College’s energy efficiency training and certification program (part of the Center for Energy Efficiency and Building Science network) and others, the first-year program will have a significant reach. “This public-private-university collaboration is the kind of focusing of resources that will help develop an economic resurgence in Central New York,” says Debbie L. Sydow, president of Onondaga Community College. “Onondaga stands as a willing and committed partner to this collaboration.” “We are delighted to be working with Syracuse University, NYSERDA, SSIC and others on this program,” says Steve Lefebvre, president of Empire ABC. “It holds great promise for development of new jobs and opportunities in this clean energy sector, something our members are very interested in. This is a unique and exciting program.” “The collaboration with the National Association of Minority Contractors-Upstate Chapter demonstrates SSIC’s continued commitment to developing opportunities for minority entrepreneurs in this area,” says Shawan East, director of NAMC. “We have enjoyed a strong partnership with the incubator and look forward to this collaboration.” “In a challenging economy, it’s no surprise that many people are exploring new directions and career possibilities,” says Bob Herz, director of the SSIC. “The NYSERDA program provides a tremendous opportunity to move forward in another pathway.” SSIC, the region’s general business incubator, is recruiting individuals in neighborhoods particularly hard hit by the economic downturn. Applicants will be tested to determine business and construction skills. SSIC’s targeted program provides services, training, technical assistance and counseling for these individuals based on needs. The program will also introduce participants to successful entrepreneurs from the region. NYSERDA is supporting the training development and implementation with approximately $24,000 in funding. It is expected to train a minimum of 10 individuals in the next six months, and potentially more. The program prepares participants for more advanced technical training through the several resident programs at SSIC, including the Entrepreneurial Assistance Program Center, the WISE Women’s Business Center, SBAPRIME and the South Side Innovation Center Academy. The value of the training is estimated at in excess of $3,500 per individual, excluding overhead and support costs. The additional support is being provided by SSIC and SU. NYSERDA works with more than 50 training partners across New York state to support energy efficiency and renewable energy programs approved by the NYS Public Service Commission. Since 2006, NYSERDA has provided $34 million to train more than 11,000 New Yorkers for jobs across the clean energy spectrum, including home energy efficiency, multifamily building efficiency, commercial energy efficiency and renewable energy, such as photovoltaic, solar thermal, wind, small wind, geothermal and fuel cell technologies. SSIC provides a full range of services and facilities to new and current entrepreneurs, including office space and equipment, intensive hands-on training and counseling, roundtables, networking, classroom courses, business plan development, access to loans, marketing assistance and help in opening markets. It was launched by SU's Whitman School of Management in April 2006 to make university resources available in the community. On average, SSIC annually provides hands-on counseling, training and mentoring to about 1,500 existing and aspiring entrepreneurs, including 600-900 new and early stage entrepreneurs, incubates 27 businesses which develop on a three-year timeline (period of residency), assists at least 10 percent of total clientele in creating a business entity, of which at least 30-50 begin operating within that 12-month period, provides assistance to another 75–120 existing companies, and creates a minimum of 50 new jobs. http://www.syr.edu/news/articles/2011/cyber-engineering-12-11.html http://www.syr.edu/news/articles/2011/cyber-engineering-12-11.html On Dec. 14, Syracuse University celebrated the completion of its Cyber Engineering Semester program by the first cohort. The program—the first of its kind in the nation—prepares students to design, build and verify highly assured systems and to meet the cybersecurity challenges in today’s world. The Cyber Engineering Semester program is an 18-credit undergraduate course of study offered by Syracuse University’s L.C. Smith College of Engineering and Computer Science (LCS). The program is jointly taught by SU faculty and researchers from the Air Force Research Laboratory-Information Directorate (AFRL) in Rome, N.Y. Kamal Jabbour, Air Force senior scientist for information assurance, conceived the program and worked with LCS faculty members and researchers to develop curricula. The program is relevant to the Cyberspace Warriors Act, a bill proposed earlier in June by U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee. The bill calls for the Secretary of Defense to work with an independent research organization to study the department’s requirements for cybersecurity personnel, as well as needs for education and retention. “Cyberwarfare is an emerging threat that could affect every aspect of our national and economic security,” Gillibrand says. “Terrorists could shut down electric grids in the middle of winter, zero-out bank accounts, or take down a stock exchange causing an unimaginable amount of disruption and harm. Syracuse University’s Cyber Engineering Program will harness some of America’s brightest minds, cutting-edge facilities and world-class knowhow to develop the talent we need to protect our national security, right here in New York.” “We are truly excited about the Cyber Engineering Semester as it leverages a strength within the University and builds on an established partnership with AFRL to help solve a pressing need of national importance. This program is designed to address the mission assurance needs within the Department of Defense and to create a strong cyberengineering workforce,” says SU Vice Chancellor and Provost Eric F. Spina. “Syracuse University has a long and storied history of responding to defense and security needs of our nation, in a timely fashion, and frequently with our partners at Rome Lab.” “L.C. Smith has one of the strongest cybersecurity faculty groups in the United States. By partnering with the Air Force Research Laboratory, we are able provide an intensive semester of learning to SU and ROTC students from around the country to help defend against this threat to American military and economic security,” says Laura Steinberg, dean of the college. “The L.C. Smith faculty members involved in this program have worked for many years with members of the AFRL staff, and together they have created a unique program to address the pressing regional and national need for technically trained cybersecurity experts.” Jabbour says full attention must be placed on the need for cyberengineering in today’s world. “In the same fashion that engineers and scientists recognized the importance of space to national security in the second half of the 20th century, we acknowledge the critical role of cyberengineering to national security in the new millennium,” says Jabbour. “We must evolve from the original concept of cybersecurity as a supported domain into the reality of cyberoperations as a supporting domain. We need a cadre of professionals educated with breadth of science, social sciences and humanities, and depth in physics, engineering, math and cyber operations, who can meet the challenges of the dynamic domain of cyberspace.” The technically and mathematically rigorous program is similar to a semester abroad in that it fully immerses participants—both civilian and ROTC students from across the country—into cyberengineering topics and culture. Within the five courses they take during the semester, students are introduced to the fundamentals of computer architecture, with an emphasis on security measures; learn about major subsystems and concepts of operating systems and networks; and learn about theory, practice and tools for building highly assured systems. They are also taught to design and implement hardware to preserve the confidentiality and integrity of data and hone their skills through technical discussion, problem solving, writing and public speaking. In addition to the five courses, the students are engaged in an internship with the AFRL. “In the class, we educate them on the science; in the internship, we educate them on the art of cyberwarfare,” says Jabbour. Instructors use case studies of past historical events, such as Gettysburg, the Space Shuttle disasters and 9/11 to help students sharpen their practical thinking skills and understand the strategic decisions that had to be made in those situations. Breaking into systems is as much a part of their education as fixing them. At the completion of the program, they are invited to apply for a 10-week summer internship at the AFRL. Six students—four from SU, one from Texas A&M University and one from Michigan Technical University—comprised the initial program cohort. Jabbour expects the program to expand in size next year, and sees this as a first step towards offering a bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity engineering in the future. The Cyber Engineering Semester is the latest collaboration between SU and the AFRL. Ten years ago, Jabbour created the Advanced Course in Engineering (ACE) Cybersecurity Boot Camp to develop students into future cybersecurity leaders. More than 200 students graduated from the ACE program, which ran for eight years. SU and the AFRL also collaborated in developing a cybersecurity K-12 curriculum, which was piloted at Rome Catholic High School in Rome, N.Y. in 2006. That curriculum is now deployed at more than 40 schools around the country. The Cyber Engineering Semester is open to undergraduates with junior or senior status who have a background in computer science, computer engineering or electrical engineering. Students must have completed appropriate prior coursework and have a grade point average of 3.5 or higher. Students must also be eligible for entry into military installations. The courses have been designed to transfer to other institutions. For more information on the Cyber Engineering Semester, call the LCS Department of Ele http://www.syr.edu/news/articles/2011/pan-am-service-12-11.html http://www.syr.edu/news/articles/2011/pan-am-service-12-11.html The chaplains of Syracuse University's Hendricks Chapel will conduct a remembrance service on Wednesday, Dec. 21, at 2:03 p.m. in the chapel's Noble Room to honor the 270 people who died aboard Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland, on the same date 23 years ago. Thirty-five students studying through SU’s Division of International Programs Abroad (now SU Abroad) were lost in the tragedy. The service will include prayers, reflections and a reading of the names of the 35 SU students who were lost aboard the flight. Following the service, those in attendance will proceed to the Wall of Remembrance, located in front of the Hall of Languages, where a brief memorial statement will be offered and the Crouse Chimes will sound 35 times. The Chaplain's Council of Hendricks Chapel holds the SU memorial service each Dec. 21 at 2:03 p.m., the exact time and date of the crash of Flight 103 in 1988. A service at the Pan Am 103 memorial cairn at Arlington National Cemetery, organized by the Victims of Pan Am Flight 103 families group, will take place simultaneously on Dec. 21. For more information, contact Hendricks Chapel at 443-2901. http://www.syr.edu/news/articles/2011/library-morris-lapidus-12-11.html http://www.syr.edu/news/articles/2011/library-morris-lapidus-12-11.html Syracuse University Library has acquired the personal papers of the flamboyant and trend-setting architect Morris Lapidus. Lapidus, who died in 2001, is perhaps best known for hotels like the Fontainebleau, Americana and Eden Roc in Miami Beach, Fla., buildings which embodied the growth of leisure in American life during the 1950s and 1960s. The Fontainebleau has served as a backdrop for variety of iconic scenes in American film, including the James Bond thriller “Goldfinger” (1964). Most of Lapidus’ buildings exhibited a mélange of historical styles—French provincial, Italian and Baroque—and anticipated the post-modernism of later architects. Lapidus was born in Odessa, Russia, in 1902, but his family immigrated to the United States soon thereafter. As a wide-eyed youth, he marveled at the splendor of Coney Island and he would later impart a similar spirit of excess to his work as an architect. That spirit would place him at odds with his function-minded modernist peers. However, contrary to the editor’s choice of title for his 1996 autobiography, “Too Much is Never Enough,” Lapidus was interested less in hedonism than he was in a “quest for emotion and motion in architecture.” Frustrated by his sometimes antagonistic relationship with the architectural establishment, Lapidus destroyed many of his firm’s records when he retired in 1984. However, he retained a core collection of especially valuable papers that he entrusted to his last collaborator and confidant, architect Deborah Desilets. The archive includes a large collection of photographs dating to the 1920s, conceptual drawings, manuscript drafts of his written works and correspondence with his long-time friend, mystery writer Ellery Queen. Desilets approached Syracuse, which has held a small Lapidus collection since 1967, and a gift of the material was finalized in December. Speaking on her decision to place the archive with Syracuse, Desilets says, "The archive is an extremely important missing link in the discourse on Lapidus’ influence on 20th-century architecture. I am thrilled to place it in such a distinguished research institution where it will be available for use by generations of students and scholars." In Syracuse’s Special Collections Research Center, the Lapidus archive will reside in one of the most important mid-century modern collections in the country. Among the other architects represented are Marcel Breuer, William Lescaze and Richard Neutra, as well as designers like Russel Wright and Walter Dorwin Teague. Syracuse School of Architecture faculty member Jon Yoder offered this assessment of the Lapidus archive’s value for teaching and research: “The recent proliferation of architect-designed boutique hotels, coupled with the pervasive disciplinary focus on architectural effects suggests that Lapidus was indeed one of the most influential architects of the 20th century. This acquisition of his personal archive comes as welcome news to designers and scholars who are finally beginning to reassess the lavish contributions of this much-maligned architect across a surprisingly broad spectrum of design disciplines.” For more information, contact Sean Quimby, senior director of Special Collections, at 315-443-9759 or smquimby@syr.edu. http://www.syr.edu/news/articles/2011/whitman-libraries-12-11.html http://www.syr.edu/news/articles/2011/whitman-libraries-12-11.html Second-year MBA students in the Whitman School of Management will present their research, “The Impact of Onondaga Public Libraries on the Lives of Patrons and the Community,” on Wednesday, Dec. 14, as part of the seminar in marketing research course. The presentation will take place from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. in the Milton Room (fourth floor) of the Whitman School building, 721 University Ave. In a large-scale investigation, the students have addressed different sources of impact that county libraries have on the lives of patrons and the local community from various perspectives, including tangible services the library system provides and influence that patrons perceive. The study covers the entire Onondaga County public library system and a large sample of respondents. Study adviser Tridib Mazumdar, Howard R. Gendal Professor of Marketing, says of the students’s research, “Public libraries are now asked to provide services that go far beyond lending books, DVDs and travel guides. They offer job training to the unemployed, Internet services to people without the means to connect to the world, language classes to newly arrived immigrants and a safe environment for people to meet. It is undoubtedly difficult to capture and monetize the scope and depth of the services that today’s public libraries provide. Personally, I myself wasn’t aware of the pervasiveness of the library’s influence on the lives of Onondaga County residents. I hope that the study will shed some light on this issue.” For more information on the study, contact Mazumdar at tmazumda@syr.edu, or Amy McHale, director of experiential learning, at ammchale@syr.edu. http://www.syr.edu/news/articles/2011/whitman-distinguished-entrepreneurship-12-11.html http://www.syr.edu/news/articles/2011/whitman-distinguished-entrepreneurship-12-11.html Patricia P. McDougall, director of international business and William L. Haeberle Professor of Entrepreneurship at Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business, has been named the 2011 Falcone Distinguished Entrepreneurship Scholar by the Department of Entrepreneurship and Emerging Enterprises at the Whitman School of Management. McDougall shared her knowledge in the field during a lecture, “Untangling the Relationship Between New Venture Internationalization and Performance,” held earlier this month at the Whitman School. McDougall has been named a 21st Century Entrepreneurship Research Fellow and entrepreneurship division chair by the Academy of Management. She served as associate dean of the Kelley School from 2004-09 and chair of the management department from 2000-03. Considered a pioneer in the field of international entrepreneurship, she and her co-author were presented with the JIBS Decade Award for their 1994 article on the early internationalization of new ventures. McDougall has received several teaching and research recognitions, including Indiana University’s Trustees’ Teaching Excellence Recognition Award and the Kelley School’s Full Professor Research Excellence Award. She has co-edited four books and published numerous articles in a variety of academic and professional journals, including the Academy of Management Journal, Journal of Business Venturing, Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, Strategic Management Journal, Journal of Management and Journal of International Business Studies. Her business teaching cases appear in more than 25 leading textbooks, and her research has been presented in various business publications, including Inc. magazine, USA Today and the Wall Street Journal. http://www.syr.edu/news/articles/2011/connective-corridor-funding12-11.html http://www.syr.edu/news/articles/2011/connective-corridor-funding12-11.html The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has awarded the City of Syracuse a $10 million grant to pay for the next two phases of the Connective Corridor, a project linking downtown Syracuse and the Syracuse University area with a pedestrian-and bike-friendly streetscape to provide positive economic, social and environmental benefits for the region. Syracuse is receiving this funding through the DOT's Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery, or TIGER, program. The TIGER Discretionary Grant programs provide a unique opportunity for the DOT to invest in road, rail, transit and port projects that promise to achieve critical national objectives, and that have a significant impact on the nation, a region or a metropolitan area. Of the 55 funding applications submitted from New York state for TIGER III, only two were funded, including the Connective Corridor proposal. The University’s Office of Economic Development and Community Engagement co-wrote the application with the City of Syracuse. “This U.S. Department of Transportation grant represents renewed recognition of the critical role that the Connective Corridor can play both in Syracuse’s revitalization and as a model for older industrial cities,” says SU Chancellor and President Nancy Cantor. “The Corridor builds on successful strategies not only to connect neighborhoods, but to catalyze cultural and economic rejuvenation. The cross-sector collaboration between the City of Syracuse and Syracuse University absolutely wouldn’t be possible without the vision and strong, bipartisan support of Senators Schumer and Gillibrand and Representative Buerkle.” The federal money will go toward a $17.2 million project to build new sidewalks, benches, energy-efficient lighting and bicycle lanes to limit the distance pedestrians must travel to cross between streets as they travel the Corridor. Matching funds, totaling $7.2 million, for the TIGER grant are New York state grants previously secured for the Corridor by Assemblyman William Magnarelli, and monies from the the Onondaga County Green Infrastructure Fund. The Connective Corridor is emerging as a signature strip of cutting-edge cultural development connecting the University Hill with downtown Syracuse. A free bus service, provided by Centro and SU, already conveniently connects downtown with the University. Corridor construction is currently underway on University Avenue, the Syracuse Stage pedestrian plaza, Foreman Park and the park in front of Syracuse University’s Warehouse, connecting Armory Square with Syracuse’s Near Westside.  The Connective Corridor is making investments in these key locations to support historic landmarks, cultural institutions and private development. These areas include the emerging arts districts along East Genesee Street Firefighters Park, Columbus Circle, Armory Square and the “Civic Strip,” where the Oncenter complex and the Everson Museum tie into the center of downtown. In addition to its focus on culture, the Connective Corridor plan features creative lighting, sustainable transportation options, green infrastructure, technological hot spots and more. http://www.syr.edu/news/articles/2011/dot-funding-cc-12-12.html http://www.syr.edu/news/articles/2011/dot-funding-cc-12-12.html The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has awarded the City of Syracuse a $10 million grant to pay for the next two phases of the Connective Corridor, a project linking downtown Syracuse and the Syracuse University area with a pedestrian-and bike-friendly streetscape to provide positive economic, social and environmental benefits for the region. Syracuse is receiving this funding through the DOT's Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery, or TIGER, program. The TIGER Discretionary Grant programs provide a unique opportunity for the DOT to invest in road, rail, transit and port projects that promise to achieve critical national objectives, and that have a significant impact on the nation, a region or a metropolitan area. Of the 55 funding applications submitted from New York state for TIGER III, only two were funded, including the Connective Corridor proposal. The University’s Office of Economic Development and Community Engagement co-wrote the application with the City of Syracuse. “This U.S. Department of Transportation grant represents renewed recognition of the critical role that the Connective Corridor can play both in Syracuse’s revitalization and as a model for older industrial cities,” says SU Chancellor and President Nancy Cantor. “The Corridor builds on successful strategies not only to connect neighborhoods, but to catalyze cultural and economic rejuvenation. The cross-sector collaboration between the City of Syracuse and Syracuse University absolutely wouldn’t be possible without the vision and strong, bipartisan support of Senators Schumer and Gillibrand and Representative Buerkle.” The federal money will go toward a $17.2 million project to build new sidewalks, benches, energy-efficient lighting and bicycle lanes to limit the distance pedestrians must travel to cross between streets as they travel the Corridor. Matching funds, totaling $7.2 million, for the TIGER grant are New York state grants previously secured for the Corridor by Assemblyman William Magnarelli, and monies from the the Onondaga County Green Infrastructure Fund. The Connective Corridor is emerging as a signature strip of cutting-edge cultural development connecting the University Hill with downtown Syracuse. A free bus service, provided by Centro and SU, already conveniently connects downtown with the University. Corridor construction is currently underway on University Avenue, the Syracuse Stage pedestrian plaza, Foreman Park and the park in front of Syracuse University’s Warehouse, connecting Armory Square with Syracuse’s Near Westside.  The Connective Corridor is making investments in these key locations to support historic landmarks, cultural institutions and private development. These areas include the emerging arts districts along East Genesee Street Firefighters Park, Columbus Circle, Armory Square and the “Civic Strip,” where the Oncenter complex and the Everson Museum tie into the center of downtown. In addition to its focus on culture, the Connective Corridor plan features creative lighting, sustainable transportation options, green infrastructure, technological hot spots and more. http://www.syr.edu/news/articles/2011/cny-regional-economic-12-11.html http://www.syr.edu/news/articles/2011/cny-regional-economic-12-11.html CNY Regional Economic Council, co-chaired by SU Chancellor Nancy Cantor and CenterState CEO’s Rob Simpson, wins $103.7 million in funding for region On Dec. 8 in Albany, New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo announced the winners of the NYS Regional Economic Development Council competition. Of the 10 regions in the state vying for $785 million in state funding, the Central NY Regional Economic Council’s strategic plan was selected as the No. 1 plan across the state. The region was awarded $103.7 million in new state funding—the most of any region.   The Central New York Council was spearheaded and led by two co-chairs—SU Chancellor and President Nancy Cantor and Rob Simpson, president and CEO of CenterState CEO.  The CNY plan was a holistic economic strategy that reflected the input of thousands of Central New York residents who participated in the process, hundreds of issue experts, more than two dozen Council members and several national foundations, consultants and think tanks, all of which have been working hand in hand with the Central New York region for years to transform its approach to economic growth.  The plan embraced the region’s economic diversity and its anchor institutions, leveraged its unique assets and prioritized innovation and collaboration, and is evidence of the positive benefit, to both the University and region, of SU’s community engagement and outreach efforts.  To view the Governor’s press release, which provides more details on the completion and results, visit: http://www.governor.ny.gov/press/12082011RegionalCouncils. http://www.syr.edu/news/articles/2011/speech-language-12-11.html http://www.syr.edu/news/articles/2011/speech-language-12-11.html Last year, more than 700,000 preschoolers were eligible for services under the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA); 46 percent of those children were identified with speech or language impairments, according to U.S. Department of Education statistics. Because of a national shortage in speech-language professionals, school districts are increasingly hard pressed to provide services for this growing population. High-needs rural and urban districts are especially hard hit. “There is a critical shortage of speech-language professionals (SLPs), particularly those with the special skills needed to work with children, ages 3 to 5, living in poverty or low-achieving school districts,” says Linda Milosky, associate professor and chair of the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders in Syracuse University’s College of Arts and Sciences. “Yet studies repeatedly demonstrate that focused, early intervention in language and pre-reading skills improves children’s reading and language abilities in later years.” To be sure, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects an increase of almost 20 percent in employment opportunities for SLPs by 2018. To help fill the demand, SU’s College of Arts and Sciences received a five-year, $1.25 million grant from the federal Department of Education’s Office of Special Education to prepare graduate students to work with preschoolers from high-needs rural and urban school districts. Milosky is the principal director of the grant. Co-directors are Janet Ford, director of the Gebbie Speech-Language Clinic and assistant professor of clinical practice; and Tanya Eckert, associate professor of psychology and director of the department’s school psychology program. Graduate students who are accepted into the program, called Project Meaningful Differences, will receive a substantial scholarship to cover the majority of their tuition costs, a stipend and travel expenses to attend professional conferences. In return, the graduates agree to work up to four years in a high-needs rural or urban school to provide speech-language services for preschoolers. “This is an enriched, intensive program for select graduate students who are committed to working with preschool children from high-needs backgrounds,” Milosky says. The federal grant will support the development of new courses and professional outreach programs for the new preschool track in the department’s speech-language pathology master’s program. The M.S. program, which is accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, also prepares graduates for certification as a Teacher of Students with Speech-Language Disabilities in New York State. The new coursework will enable Project Meaningful Differences scholars to better understand and work with high-needs preschoolers and their families. “We are developing an interdisciplinary seminar program that will focus on child development and poverty,” Milosky says. “The seminar will include such topics as nutrition, self-regulation and behavior, family structure and the psychological impacts of poverty, and will leverage expertise of colleagues across campus.” Students will also learn to implement a data-collection technique called “single subject design.” Single subject design is a research-based assessment tool that enables practitioners to better determine the impact of their interventions on a child’s learning and development. Students will apply the methodology during their initial clinical experiences in the Gebbie Clinic and during their externships in high-needs districts. Their externship supervisors will also receive professional development in single subject design and in facilitating its use in a school setting. Additionally, the program aims to bridge the gap between research and clinical practice by teaching students and their externship supervisors how to incorporate findings from large-scale research studies into their practice. A relatively recent study found that 88 percent of speech-language professionals reported keeping up to date with the latest research. However, the majority also said it was difficult to adapt the research findings to private practice due to the scope and conditions under which the large-scale studies are implemented. “We are excited about the possibilities for this program and for the positive impact it will have on our students, the professionals in our community who work with our students, and on the children they serve,” Milosky says. http://www.syr.edu/news/articles/2011/heisman-anniversary-12-11.html http://www.syr.edu/news/articles/2011/heisman-anniversary-12-11.html A celebration of the 50th anniversary of Syracuse University alumnus Ernie Davis ’62 becoming the first African American to win the Heisman Trophy will be held Friday, Dec. 9, in New York City. Syracuse University will honor Davis for his impact on and off the field with a program featuring historic sports figures. The event will begin at 7 p.m. in the New York Historical Society Museum in New York City.To commemorate the event, Vice President Joseph R. Biden L’68 will deliver remarks.  Following his remarks, there will be a film tribute to Davis and a panel discussion addressing the evolution of diversity and equal rights in athletics.  The master of ceremonies for the evening will be Marv Albert ‘61, a classmate of Davis’ at Syracuse. The panel discussion, “Breaking Barriers, Building Dreams: The Landmark Achievement of Ernie Davis,” will be moderated by sportscaster Len Berman. Participants will include: Dave Bing ‘66, mayor of Detroit and Basketball Hall of Fame inductee; Frank Deford, Hall of Fame sportswriter, author and commentator; Mike Garrett, the second African American to win the Heisman Trophy; Billy Hunter ’65, executive director of the NBA Players Association; Floyd Little ’67, College and Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee; and Art Monk ’80, Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee. Fifty years ago, the Civil Rights Act was three years from becoming a reality. It would be four years until voting rights of all Americans were protected by federal law. But an unassuming sports hero was about to play an important, yet unintentional, role in the burgeoning civil rights movement. On Dec. 6, 1961, SU running back Davis was awarded the Heisman Trophy. It was the first time in history that an African American was honored as the best college football player in the country, even though blacks had participated in the game since the late 1800s.          The panel will discuss what it took to reach that milestone and how far our society’s approach to diversity and equal rights has evolved since that landmark achievement, as SU commemorates and celebrates an event that helped shape the course of history.  Ernie Davis '61 Nicknamed the “Elmira Express,” Davis was the first African American to win the prestigious Heisman Trophy. During his Syracuse career, the two-time All-American led SU to the 1959 National Championship as a sophomore and to the Liberty Bowl title against Miami in 1961. After Syracuse, Davis was drafted by the Washington Redskins and almost immediately traded to the Cleveland Browns in 1961. His life and career were cut short by leukemia, diagnosed in 1962. He died in 1963 at the age of 23. President Kennedy sent the following telegram to Davis in 1963 after a celebration of Davis’ achievements in Elmira, N.Y.:"Seldom has an athlete been more deserving of such a tribute. Your high standards of performance on the field and off the field reflect the finest qualities of competition, sportsmanship and citizenship.  The nation has bestowed upon you its highest awards for your athletic achievements. It’s a privilege for me to address you tonight as an outstanding American, and as a worthy example of our youth. I salute you." In the fall of 1979, Davis was posthumously inducted into the National Football Foundation’s College Football Hall of Fame. He was named to Syracuse University’s All-Century team in November 1999.   EVENT PARTICIPANTS:   Marv Albert ’61: Award-winning American television and radio sportscaster Albert was a classmate of Davis at Syracuse. He has been honored for his work as a member of the Basketball Hall of Fame and is commonly referred to as “the voice of basketball.” Len Berman ’68: A native of Brooklyn and a fixture in New York City television for 30 years, Berman is currently seen on NBC’s "Today Show" with his popular feature “Spanning the World.” Berman was a weekday evening sports anchor for WNBC- TV (1982-2009), and was a popular sportscaster at NBC and ESPN. Dave Bing ’66: Mayor of Detroit and Basketball Hall of Fame inductee, Bing played 12 seasons in the NBA, primarily for the Detroit Pistons (1966-75). He was a seven-time All-Star. A consensus All-American in 1966, Bing was the second overall selection in the 1967 NBA Draft. He established the Bing Group with four employees in 1980 and built it into a multi-million dollar conglomerate. Frank Deford: A senior contributing writer for Sports Illustrated, Deford is also an author and a commentator for National Public Radio and correspondent for Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel on HBO. He is the recipient of numerous national awards for his work in sports journalism, including induction into the Sportswriters Hall of Fame. Mike Garrett: The 1965 Heisman Trophy winner and two-time All-American, Garrett was a tailback for the University of Southern California. He was the second African American in history to win the Heisman Trophy. Garrett played professional football for eight seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs and the San Diego Chargers and then served as athletics director at his alma mater from 1993–2010. Billy Hunter ‘65: Executive director of the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA), Hunter is a former wide receiver for the NFL’s Washington Redskins and Miami Dolphins. He earned his law degree and became one of the youngest U.S. Attorneys in history. Since 1996, Hunter has been the executive director of the NBA Players Association. While an undergraduate at Syracuse, Hunter joined the Orange football team as a freshman when Ernie Davis was a senior. He helped organize the school’s boycott of southern schools whose stadiums were segregated. Hunter is an emeritus member of the Syracuse University Board of Trustees. Floyd Little ’67: A College and Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee and three-time All-American, Little donned the hallowed No. 44 for the Orange, which was handed down from Jim Brown to Ernie Davis to Little. A first-round draft pick by the Denver Broncos in 1967, Little starred for the team for nine seasons and became one of the first players honored in the Broncos Hall of Fame. The recipient of more than 18 professional athletic achievement awards and more than 30 distinguished community service awards during his career, Little joined SU in July as the special assistant to the athletics director. Art Monk ‘80: A Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee, Monk was a four-year Syracuse letterwinner and still ranks in the top 10 on several school career record lists. The recipient of countless awards in pro football, Monk played for the Washington Redskins, the New York Jets and the Philadelphia Eagles. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2008, recognizing his 16-year NFL career, which included three Super Bowl championships, three Pro Bowl selections and two All-Pro honors. A current member of the Syracuse University Board of Trustees, Monk is a respected business leader and community service activist. http://www.syr.edu/news/articles/2011/wendy-finerman-12-11.html http://www.syr.edu/news/articles/2011/wendy-finerman-12-11.html Wendy Finerman, the award-winning independent film and television producer whose credits include “Forrest Gump” and “The Devil Wears Prada,” will present a lecture via videoconference on Thursday, Dec. 8, at 6:45 p.m. in the Lender Auditorium, located on the concourse level of the Martin J. Whitman School of Management. The lecture is part of the Bandier Program’s Soyars Leadership Lecture Series in the College of Visual and Performing Arts' Rose, Jules R. and Stanford S. Setnor School of Music. It is open to the University community. Finerman began her career in entertainment at the Movie Channel after graduating from the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania. After working as a business affairs executive for Universal Television, she joined Tisch/Avnett as vice president of production and development in 1985 before founding Wendy Finerman Productions in 1988. Since then, she has worked with every major motion picture studio, television and cable network and has garnered numerous awards for her extensive list of credits. Collectively, all of her films have grossed $1.5 billion dollars in international theatrical release and been nominated for more than 140 awards. Finerman spent nine years bringing the story of “Forrest Gump” to the big screen and was rewarded with an Academy Award for Best Picture in 1994; she was the first solo female producer in the history of the Academy to do so. The film was the third-highest-grossing movie after its theatrical release and currently ranks in the top 50 worldwide box office grosses of all time. “Forrest Gump” was nominated for a total of 13 Academy Awards, for which it won six. It also received a Golden Globe Award for Best Picture Drama, Best Film from the National Board of Review and earned more than 60 other award nominations. Finerman’s other film credits include “I Like It Like That,” “FairyTale: A True Story,” “Stepmom,” “Drumline,” and “P.S. I Love You.” Her upcoming projects include “One for the Money,” “The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane” and “Into the Beautiful.” Her television credits include “In a Class of His Own” on Showtime and the CBS telefilm “Surrender Dorothy.” Finerman has served on the Wharton School of Business Executive Undergraduate Board for more than 10 years. She also serves on the board of the CityKids Foundation, a nonprofit organization that supports young people as they address complex social issues through artistic expression. For more information about the lecture, contact David Rezak, director of the Bandier Program, at (315) 443-3280 or dmrezak@syr.edu. http://www.syr.edu/news/articles/2011/vpa-csa-12-11.html http://www.syr.edu/news/articles/2011/vpa-csa-12-11.html The Tepper Semester program in the Department of Drama at Syracuse University’s College of Visual and Performing Arts (VPA) and the Casting Society of America (CSA) announce a new premier training program partnership and apprenticeship. SU is the only institution of higher education to connect in such a meaningful and collaborative relationship with the CSA, the premier organization of theatrical casting directors in film, theater and television. The program, set to begin in the spring of 2012, is a joint effort to maintain a high standard of professionalism and artistic integrity within the field.  “We could not ask for a better partner than the Casting Society of America and are excited that their talented members have agreed to share their expertise—in the classroom and in the real world—with the students in our program,” says Arielle Tepper Madover, SU alumna, trustee and Tepper Semester program founder. The semester-long immersion program is designed to provide drama students with rigorous training in New York City’s Theater District. “From the beginning, my vision for the Tepper program was to help drama students interested in all areas of the theater and entertainment industry to find their way and to be successful, and this partnership definitely expands that mission.”  “When we learned about the intense immersion and training that takes place during the Tepper Semester program we knew right away that this was just the kind of collaboration we were looking to create,” says Pam Dixon, CSA president. “With the design of the new casting concentration, we are confident we are successfully preparing future casting directors.”  “Casting directors are an essential component to our business as artists,” says Ralph Zito, professor and chair of VPA's Drama Department. “This collaboration provides the department with an opportunity to deepen the relationship between casting offices and other parts of the theater community and create a greater sense of synergy within the industry itself. The premier program will also mentor and educate young casting directors entering the profession.”  The syllabus for students in the casting concentration is being meticulously planned and the program itself is highly selective. Only four to six students per semester will be accepted. This will allow for an intimate, intense and focused training. Prospective students will be interviewed by Lisa Nicholas, director of the Tepper Semester, as well as a CSA committee member to ensure students are just the right fit and have the dedication needed to succeed in this competitive industry.  Marc Hirschfeld is a SU alumnus, former EVP of casting at NBC Universal Television and the owner of Hirschfeld Casting. Hirschfeld is linked to numerous hit shows, including the iconic "Seinfeld," as well as "The Larry Sanders Show," "Married with Children," "That 70’s Show" and ABC’s newest hit comedy starring Tim Allen, "Last Man Standing." “We want to find students who not only participate, but are able to ask ‘why;' be an active participant,” says Hirschfeld.  Hirschfeld has been active in working with Nicholas to make the program as beneficial and successful as it can be for both partners. “There’s a long learning curve to be able to read a script and be able to say, ‘Hey, George Clooney would be the right fit for that role.' We need someone who asks intelligent questions, someone genuinely interested in finding talent—going through agent submissions, reviewing video auditions. Our goal is simple. When they complete this semester, they will be ready to be an immediate asset to any casting office.”  The program has been designed specifically for casting students, including key professional components and some core courses with fellow Tepper students. Participants in the casting program will be trained on industry software such as the Cast It system. They will tour New York City museums, attend actor showcases around the city and see as many as two shows a week—about 28 shows in all—during their semester. Students will also receive special assignments like attending acting workshops and film festivals and going to improv clubs to scout out new talent. All of this is designed to develop their skills and instincts as future casting directors.  The final and perhaps most important component to the new casting concentration is the internships these students will have access to. Leading theatrical casting directors will participate, and currently signed are major companies like Warner Brothers, NBC and ABC as well as casting director heavyweight Tara Rubin Casting. “The exposure these select students will have in the casting world will provide a lifetime of benefits,” says Nicholas. “Graduates of the Tepper program will enter the field with established relationships, the skills, knowledge and confidence necessary to enter the profession and succeed.”  All student casting apprentices will be called upon to assist in preparing and delivering casting sessions. Students will be exposed to what it takes to evaluate a resume and to learn why or why not an actor was a smart selection for an audition. They will also interface with assorted industry reps, producers and actors, and be expected to present the most professional image for that casting office.  “Even in its infancy, this program is very much in line with Chancellor Nancy Cantor’s vision for Scholarship in Action,” says Zito. “These chosen students will be working in the world of casting, where the work they do will be framed in the larger context, and at the same time give them an opportunity to develop considerable communication and management skills. I look forward with great excitement to where this new path will lead the program.” The Casting Society of America is the premier organization of theatrical casting directors in film, television and theater. Although it is not a union, its members are a united professional society that consistently sets the level of professionalism in casting on which the entertainment industry has come to rely. Its more than 490 members are represented not only in the United States, but also in Europe, Canada, Australia and South Africa. http://www.syr.edu/news/articles/2011/mlk-dave-bing-12-11.html http://www.syr.edu/news/articles/2011/mlk-dave-bing-12-11.html Syracuse University will hold its 27th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration on Saturday, Jan. 21, 2012, in the Carrier Dome. This year’s theme is “A Living Legacy: The Fierce Urgency of Now.” Dave Bing ’66, H’06, mayor of Detroit, will be the keynote speaker. "It is an honor to celebrate the life and contributions of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.," says Bing. “Syracuse University helped give me the knowledge and value system to pursue a career in public service. It is important that we pass that legacy on to the next generation." SU’s annual celebration is among the largest university-sponsored events in the United States to commemorate King. Last year, more than 2,000 people attended the event. The evening program, which will include the presentation of the 2012 Unsung Hero Awards and entertainment, begins at 6:30 p.m. and is free and open to the public. Tickets for the dinner, which precedes the program at 5 p.m., are $25 for the general public and $15 for students without meal plans. Students with meal plans will be charged for one dinner. For ticket information, call Hendricks Chapel at 315-443-5044. A community festival celebrating arts, culture and education in the Syracuse community will be held on Saturday, Jan. 21, from noon-3 p.m. at Dr. Weeks at Shea Middle School, located at 1607 S. Geddes St. “We are proud to once again host our annual Martin Luther King Jr. Dinner Celebration, a communitywide tradition lasting more than a quarter of a century,” says Tiffany Steinwert, dean of Hendricks Chapel. “One of the nation’s largest celebrations of Dr. King’s legacy on a university campus, it provides campus and community alike the opportunity to gather together and to celebrate Dr. King’s living legacy. His message of equality, dignity, peace and justice still speaks to us today, urging us to press on until his dream becomes reality for all people in this country and around the world.” “The Dr. King Celebration Committee is delighted to welcome Mayor David Bing as the keynote speaker for the 27th Annual Dr. King Celebration at Syracuse University,” says Marissa L. Willingham, program associate in the Office of Multicultural Affairs and chair of the 2012 Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Committee. “In his social and political life, Mayor Bing embodies the virtues espoused by Dr. King and challenges all around him to live a life of honesty and high moral integrity. In the spirit of Dr. King and consistent with the theme of our celebration, Mayor Bing will challenge us to contribute to world peace through freedom and social justice.” Bing was elected the 62nd mayor of the City of Detroit in May 2009. A native of Washington, D.C., Bing earned a bachelor’s degree in economics from Syracuse University in 1966 and was bestowed an honorary doctorate of laws degree in 2006. He was a standout basketball player and an All American in both high school and during his college career. Bing was drafted by the Detroit Pistons as their No.1 pick in 1966. He was voted one of the Top 50 basketball players of all time, and was inducted into the Michigan Hall of Fame in 1984 and into the Naismith Hall of Fame in 1990. Bing turned his winning strategies from the basketball court to the boardroom as the founder of an automotive supply corporation, the Bing Group, in 1980, where he served as president and chairman until April 2009. Within a decade, The Bing Group was recognized as one of the nation’s top minority-owned companies by Black Enterprise. Answering yet another call to serve, Bing decided to run for mayor to help rebuild a city that he has loved and been a part of for more than 40 years. Proving that the basics of good performance, integrity and business can be applied to any area or industry, Bing has brought a renewed sense of trust and hope to the City of Detroit. For more information about the Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration, call Hendricks Chapel at (315) 443-2901 or visit Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Syracuse-University-Martin-Luther-King-Jr-Celebration/179128475430845.