Monday, November 28, 2011

Blue Stool Pop-up Lecture




Cinse Bonino of Champlain College talks about the "Zen of Oddness" at a Blue Stool Lecture in Hauke Courtyard in November. 

Friday, November 18, 2011

The Dedication of the Leahy Center for Digital Investigation


The Tent City Experience

It was Tent City week at Champlain College to help raise awareness of the plight of homeless people in Burlington. A series of workshops supplemented the camping out on Aiken Green. A soup kitchen meal was provided and on Thursday, the Reality Bite Hunger Banquet was held. Depending on the admission ticket participants picked, they had a full turkey dinner, a dinner of simple rice and beans or  just rice and "dirty" water.

Thursday, November 17, 2011

Smoking Policy Report


Gina Bullard of WCAX News was on campus Thursday to talk with students about the new "smoke-free" zone awareness campaign to help define smoking areas on campus. She is shown talking with Ariel Grover, a senior, who is part of the College Council's Smoking Policy Taskforce.

http://www.wcax.com/story/16069209/champlain-college-works-to-curb-smoking-on-campus


Champlain College works to curb smoking on campus

By Gina Bullard / WCAX 
Burlington, Vermont - November 17, 2011
Tyler Ury started smoking cigarettes when he was a sophomore at Champlain College.
"It gets stressful during some periods and I feel like that five-second nicotine breaks cuts back on the stress," he said.
He's now a senior and says smoking is common on campus.
"There is a lot of people here who smoke. We're a very small school, but this whole courtyard is filled with people talking, smoking, even people not smoking are talking to people who are smoking," Ury said.
To address the growing problem, the school teamed up with students to form a smoking policy task force to educate students about the dangers of lighting up.
"Today is important because we're tabling to spread awareness about smoking on campus," said Ariel Grover, a junior.
Awareness also about the impact to nonsmokers. Orange tape on campus marks 20 feet from doors and air intake vents, the recommended smoke-free zone to cut down on secondhand inhalation. According to the American Cancer Society, secondhand smoke causes almost 50,000 deaths a year.
"A lot of nonsmokers are happy, but the smokers aren't too happy," Grover said.
Professor Jonathan Ferguson is on the task force. He's allergic to cigarette smoke and likes the taped-off areas.
"I basically go around holding my breath and go from clean air spot to clean air spot," Ferguson said.
Champlain College is currently surveying to find out how many students smoke on campus, which could lead to a permanent ban on smoking.
"We have done research and there are over 500 schools that are completely smoke-free right now," Grover said.
But for smokers like Ury, the tape is an inconvenience but not motivation to stop.
Reporter Gina Bullard: Any plans to quit?
Tyler Ury: I always say I do, but I haven't found that perfect moment. But I'm not sure it will be there.
A tough habit to kick, but Champlain College hopes this message of courtesy to nonsmokers does kick in.


Monday, November 14, 2011

Leahy Center for Digital Investigation Dedicated

US Sen. Patrick Leahy and his wife, talk with Champlain College senior Meghan Percy
at the dedication ceremony of the new Patrick Leahy Center for Digital Investigation. 
New Educational Forensic Lab Offers
Champlain College Students Real-life Experience
Burlington, VT – A new center of excellence at Champlain College, offering students a fully-equipped, state-of-the-art facility in which to learn and practice digital forensics investigation techniques, will be named in honor of U.S. Sen. Patrick J. Leahy, according to Champlain College President David F. Finney.
The Patrick Leahy Center for Digital Investigation (LCDI) provides a high-tech educational setting and a fully equipped, secure digital forensics lab to bring professional investigators and law enforcement officers together with Champlain’s computer and digital forensics students to work on gathering digital evidence from computer hard drives, smartphones and other digital media storage devices.
“Thanks to your long-standing support, the Leahy Center for Digital Investigation is now fully functional on the third floor of our new Miller Center at Lakeside Campus,” Finney said at the dedication ceremony of the LCDI, adding, “We are poised to build on our technology degree programs and the past successes of the digital forensics center to improve the functioning of the criminal justice system in Vermont.”
The core operating goal of the LCDI, Finney noted, is to give Champlain students the opportunity to work on real-world projects in a supervised environment – enhancing their education and increasing the digital forensic capacity of Vermont law enforcement.
Leahy secured the three-year, $500,000 US Department of Justice Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) grant in 2010 to provide educational and technical support to Vermont law enforcement agencies related to critical digital forensics issues and a $650,000 grant in 2006 to staff the digital forensics program at Champlain College and conduct digital investigations with Vermont law enforcement. After receiving the most recent grant, Champlain College invested additional college funds to build a secure LCDI facility and teaching lab at the new Miller Center. The project has also received material support from, and maintains operational relationships with the Burlington Police Department, Vermont State Police and the Vermont Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.
“Champlain College is building a real-world classroom that gives students careers skills for the 21st Century, gives Vermont’s law enforcement agencies a revolutionary digital forensics resource, and that once again shows Champlain College’s incredible ability to innovate and implement cutting-edge learning programs,” Leahy said, adding “This is a program that already has proven itself invaluable in putting criminals behind bars.” READ THE REST OF THE STORY


Watch a short video of the event




To learn more about relevant undergraduate programs, visit http://www.champlain.edu/Undergraduate-Studies/Majors-and-Programs.html.

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

INDIECON 2011 and Champlain


Saturday, Nov. 12, noon — 5 pm at the BCA Center, Church Street Markeplace, free, all-ages


CHAMPLAIN COLLEGE PRESENTS TWO PANELS plus a lot of music.


BUILDING A GLOBAL MUSIC COMMUNITY.
Champlain's Eric Sample hosts a panel discussion exploring globalization, technology, and the future of music. As technology radically reshapes the way music is made and distributed, how can we in Vermont use technology to build global music connections? Topics such as Clouds, live Internet sessions, making and maintaining global connections will be discussed.

Panelists include Jacob Edgar, host of Music Traveler; Jordon Mensha, drummer from Ghana;

Dev Jana, musician and Champlain professor; Gabe Jarrett, drummer; Malcom Francis, composer; Eric Sample, Champlain professor, Sonic Arts Director


MUSIC FOR INDEPENDENT GAMES.
Dev Jana takes you into the workings of the Indie Game world and how to do music for games and find an audience.

Veterans Day Observance


Tie a Ribbon on an Honor Tree
Veterans Day 11.11.11
9 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Hauke Conference Room and Miller Center, Lakeside Campus Café

You are invited to tie a ribbon on an Honor Tree as a silent way to say “Thank You” to many different groups that have been affected by past and present wars.

White: In memory of a family/friend who gave/lost their life in service
Purple: In honor of a family friend who is serving
Yellow: General support and thanks to all Veterans and Service Members
Black: In recognition of someone who was a POW/MIA
Blue/Green: You are a Champlain College student or community member serving or who has served

(The colored ribbon will be available at each tree or you can bring and tie on your own)

Internship Fair At Champlain College


Champlain College fair links interns, businesses
Champlain College Internship Fair.
(photo by Stephen Mease | Champlain College)
If you hadn't noticed, many career paths these days begin with an internship -- more than one, likely as not.
So, Champlain College's Fall Internship Fair, held Monday afternoon, has become a staple event for students planning their futures. More than 60 companies and nonprofits -- from Fort Ticonderoga to Champlain Chocolates -- were on hand to discuss internship prospects, and some of them were represented by interns.
Caitlin Golub, a Champlain College senior and communications major, was at the table for the Women's Rape Crisis Center, where she's interning this fall. Her temporary role in the organization? Helping to plan special events, such as Mardi Gras or Take Back the Night. She previously did an internship with Vermont Commons and expects to do other internships in the spring and summer.
Champlain College
 Internship Fair. 
(photo by Stephen Mease |
 Champlain College)
"Experience is key," she said.
If she wants more special-events experience, she might consider applying for the spring internship with Rep. Peter Welch, D-Vt. Welch is looking for someone to organize the Congressional Art Competition among Vermont high school students.
At the door, one of the women checking in visitors to the fair was an intern herself. Rachel Perras, a senior majoring in social working, is interning this fall for the college's Career Services department, doing research and setting up workshops. Career Services organized the event, which was open to students from other colleges.
"I tweaked my resume for this fair," Perras said. "A lot of the employers are the same as those at the job fair in the spring."
Some internships lead to paying jobs. That's what happened to Josh Kirkpatrick, who worked on Internet marketing as an intern for Pete's RV Center before he graduated from Champlain College in May. That was his third internship, but it did the trick.
Champlain College Internship Fair. 
(photo by Stephen Mease | Champlain College)
Now Kirkpatrick is an employee of Pete's, focusing on search engine optimization and social media marketing. And there he was Monday afternoon, soliciting more interns for Pete's.
For many Champlain College students, internships are a curricular requirement for their major field of study. Some students line up internships even when they're not required, just to gain the experience. In a down economy when jobs are scarce, even unpaid internships are in demand.
"To get a job out of college is really tough," said Dayna Comeau, a junior majoring in graphic design. "If you can get your foot in the door and build up your resume, you have a better chance of getting a paying job."
That's what Justin Keskin is thinking. He's a senior majoring in graphic design who has done two unpaid internships and is looking to line up another for the spring, and yet another for the summer.
"A lot of jobs require years of experience out of college," he said. "It's tough. It's looking like another internship after graduation."
A decade ago, Champlain students were more typically finding jobs before they graduated, said Daphne Walker, assistant director of Career Services. "Now they realize they're expected to do as many internships as they can."
Not all the fair-goers were youngsters. Some were middle-aged people changing careers. Tim Schonholtz, for example, is a student in Champlain's continuing professional studies program, studying Web development. He's 48 years old and hoping to land an internship.
"The value of an internship is to build on your course work and what you've learned in school," he said.
Champlain College Internship Fair. 
(photo by Stephen Mease | Champlain College)
Curricular internships are vetted by ChamplainCollege faculty. Other unpaid internships have another form of quality assurance -- standards issued last year by the U.S. Department of Labor, among them: "The internship experience is for the benefit of the intern," and "The intern does not displace regular employees."
Emma Interlandi, operations manager for Democracy in America, a political advocacy organization, said drudge work was not on the agenda. The organization has 20 paid staffers and about that many interns in the summer.
"We take interns all year," she said. "There's no getting coffee and making copies. We consider them equals."
Contact Tim Johnson at 660-1808 or tjohnson@burlingtonfreepress.com. Follow Tim on Twitter a twww.twitter.com/flyonthe.

Monday, November 7, 2011

22+ hours of art at Champlain


The "23 Hours of Art" at Champlain College was held this past weekend with the hope of answering the question: what is art?

"Art" means any and all genres and media, Each presentation was roughly 10 minutes in length  and there were only two ground rules:

1. The art work presented cannot be one's own. So you could present a poem by Yeats, a snippet of a Hitchcock film, an image from Georgia O'Keefe, a monologue that your roomate wrote, a sculpture you bought at a yard sale, or even a really beautiful wine bottle. But it's not your own--no need to defend or to prove anything.
2. There is no discussion or debate during the 10 minutes. The presenter presents the work and says why it's art or what s/he likes about it or feels about it or . . . . The audience listens and accepts.

The Art Marathon was a blast according to faculty organizer Eric Ronis. They made it 22 hours of  fascinating and diverse presentations, performances and discussions.

Below is the list of the 72 "official" presentations from the event (though there were many more artists and art works cited and discussed). Thanks to all who participated.

Special shout out to students Andrea Asacker and Taylor Silvestri for helping to coordinate the event. Taylor made it the whole 22 hours, according to Ronis. 

 WHAT IS ART? (list of presentations for the 2011 Art Marathon at Champlain College)


  • Whistler’s Mother (painting)
  • “Lamentation” by Martha Graham (dance)
  • Eagles vs. Giants football game—“the comeback!” (event)
  • “Monsters” by Miles Glover, age 5/6 (drawings)
  • Art as transcending technique and craft in Film Editing
  • Hiroshige (printmaking)
  • Jacqueline du Pre playing Elgar’s Cello Concerto  (music)
  • “The Bride Stripped Bare by Her Bachelors, Even” by Marcel Duchamp
  • AlKindi, Arabic philosopher/poet
  • Floria Sigismondi’s music video for “Beautiful People”
  • Papyrus and Egyptian Hieroglyphics
  • Pieter Bruegel’s “Tower of Babel” (painting)
  • “The Path” by Tale of Tales (game)
  • Helaman Ferguson, Mathematics in Stone and Bronze (sculpture)
  • “Daddy” by Sylvia Plath (poetry)
  • Damien Hirst’s “Diamond Encrusted skull”
  • The Wire (television)
  • FLUXUS
  • Eileen Mayson, Kate Gilmore, Shannon Plumb (video)
  • Bill Morrison, “Decasia” (film)
  • The Moog synthesizer
  • Music!
  • Playing the djembe drum
  • Indie music video editing
  • Robert Altman’s “Nashville” (film)
  • Sonnet XCIV by Pablo Neruda
  • “Dead Snow” (film)
  • “Adam and Eve” by Tony Hoagland (poetry)
  • Louis C.K. “Why?” (stand up comedy)
  • Qwaqa “Pencilhead” (animation)
  • The art of Hooping—movement precedes thought
  • Sintel and Blender (animation)
  • Bindlestiff Family Circus (performance)
  • “Hush” episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer (television)
  • Cinse’s sugar spoon (object)
  • J-pop—language as art (music video)
  • The Pigman by Paul Zindell (novel)
  • Beyonce, “Single Ladies” (music)
  • Chris Cornell, “Two Drink Minimum” (song)
  • Patrick Chapin vs. Gabriel Nassif, Magic the Gathering championship (event)
  • “The Serpent Tale” by Leonid Andreyev (drama)
  • Ocaraina of Time (game)
  • “What Teachers Make” by Taylor Molly (slam poetry)
  • Eric Leva’s music: “Burn Out Again,” “Fictional Friend”
  • John Cage’s  4’ 33” (music? Performance?)
  • LasagnaCats Garfield “tributes” (video)
  • “Wooden Heart” by Listener (spoken word/music
(Note: perhaps when we have more time, we can link some of these pieces to the websites. We'll also post some photos if available. ) 

Champlain Volunteers Help Homeowner

Jim Douglas joins volunteers to rebuild a home
By Kyle Midura / WCAX News November 5, 2011 - Richmond, Vermont
Saturday Ayeshah Raftery's home turned into a construction site. Tropical storm Irene caused tens of thousands of dollars-worth of damage as rainwater rose to the height of the first floor.
Raftery and her family had to be removed by boat. I have got FEMA funding and unfortunately it just wasn't enough. Now, 40 volunteers are doing what they can to make it livable again.
"There was a time I was thinking about just walking away from this house." says Raftery. "I feel very lucky that I live in such a wonderful community."
"I used to give orders, but today I'm taking them." says Former Governor James Douglas. He and his wife Dorothy painted the interior.
"I am unskilled labor to put it charitably." he laughs.
Lauren Lavallee and 11 fellow seniors from Champlain College covered much of the exterior.
"I was born and raised in Vermont so it really holds a strong place in my heart so I think we all just came together, saw what we love in VT, and wanted to help out in our community." Lavallee comments.
They worked under the watchful eyes of volunteers from the Home Builders Association. No one watched the clock.
"It was hard getting them to take a break." said the grateful homeowner, "Without the help of everyone I definitely would not even be thinking about returning to this home in December."
Ayeshah's neighbors needed help as well, and with the huge turnout at her place, they were able to spare a couple hands and some brushes.
The former VT Governor noted, "A lot of people are still suffering, and incurring tremendous financial loss."
Douglas says he'll continue to volunteer his time, and the students say their social networking efforts are expected to stir up even more painters and scrapers next week, as Vermont's recovery continues, one house at a time.



International Week Updates


CHAMPLAIN COLLEGE
OFFICE OF INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION
PROUDLY PRESENTS

International Education Week – Nov. 14-18

Weekly Events: 
International & study abroad students will share their culture and travel experiences through displays.  Look for these exhibits in IDX during lunch & dinner hours throughout the week. Sodexho will prepare theme lunch meals throughout the week from different continents around the world. 

Monday, Nov. 14
Improv Night - International Coffeehouse, 7-10 pm, IDX Fireside Lounge. Enjoy talented musicians, poets and international students as we celebrate culture.  Music, hot drinks & food. Co-sponsored by CCA- Cultural Community Alliance & Office of International Education

Tuesday, Nov. 15
Zumbathon – World Music & Dance, 6-8 pm, Argosy Gymnasium. Come dance & enjoy international music to raise awareness of hunger & homelessness throughout the world.  Food donation to Chittenden Emergency Food Shelf. Co-sponsored by Student Life & Center for Service

Wednesday, Nov. 16             
ChinaTownHall, 7-9:30 pm, Hauke Conference Room, Champlain College. ChinaTownHall  - Local Connections, National Reflections  –   A live webcast featuring Zbigniew Brzezinski, former National Security Advisor followed by China: Contradictions of an Emerging Superpower A presentation by Champlain College’s Assistant Professor, Craig Pepin and discussion with the local audience. Co-sponsored by Office of International Education, The Vermont Council on World Affairs & National Committee on U.S. China Relations

Thursday, Nov. 17
A Third Culture?  Globalization’s Impact on Cultural Self Image & Self Expression, Office of Diversity & Inclusion, Noon, IDX Fireside Lounge. A look at the impact of Hip Hop and International Beauty Pageants in Nigeria.

Reality Bite - Hunger Banquet Experience, 8:30-10 pm, Hauke Conf. Room. Participants will gain awareness of local & global hunger & poverty issues through an interactive & discussion-based experience. Co-sponsored by Office of International Education & Center for Service

Designated by the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Education, this week is part of an effort to promote programs that prepare Americans for a global environment and attract future leaders from abroad to study, learn, and exchange experiences in the United States.  

3rd Annual Winter Warmth Program


This year EHS and the Social Work Club are collecting and distributing hats, mittens/gloves, scarves, new socks, and lightly used coats and boots to the local community by …   Friday, Dec. 9 

How to contribute:
  • Knit, crochet, purchase, or give cash to buy winter hats, mittens or gloves, scarves, and newsocks and drop them off in the EHS Division Office – Freeman Hall Suite 200. 
  • Give cash donations to Tawnya McDonaldFreeman Hall Suite 200; 383-6684
  • Drop off lightly used and clean coats and boots in the EHS Division office
  • Like to knit or crochet or are interested in learning? Contact Tawnya McDonald for free yarn, and crochet and knit patterns for hats and scarves.  Come to any of the following 1 hour sessions to knit and crochet together:

Wednesday 11/9             4:30-5:30 pm                 Joyce 313
Monday 11/14                 5:30-6:30 pm                 Joyce 310
Monday 11/28                 noon-1 pm                      IDX 309 Conference Room

Bring your knitting needles, and/or crochet hooks. Don’t have any knitting/crocheting supplies? We will try to supply extras.

For more information please E-mail Tawnya McDonald  tmcdonald@champlain.edu                               

Friday, November 4, 2011

Tent City at Champlain College


Dear Colleagues,
Happy Fall!  If you were on campus last November you are probably already aware that Tent City must be quickly approaching.  If you were not here last year, you are in for a treat. As the temperatures drop and the days get shorter, our Champlain Community comes together to raise funds and awareness about local hunger and homelessness. This year’s National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week falls on Nov. 12-20, and as such Tent City will be Monday, Nov. 14 through Thursday, Nov. 17.  We dedicate this one week to bring attention to those in need, especially during these long, dark, and cold months.
During this week-long solidarity event, students, staff, and faculty will be participating in fundraising efforts, sleeping outside in tents in the middle of campus, attending speakers and films, eating soup-kitchen style dinners in the dining hall (thanks to Sodexo), and giving up such amenities as cell phones and showers (though you’re welcome to use internet in the Library and shower in the Gym- thanks to those staffs as well). 
There is one fun and easy way to get involved: donate money to make your colleague sleep outside for one night of Tent City!  Various staff and faculty members have already committed to sleeping outside on Thursday, Nov. 17 if the dollar amount they indicate is raised by that night.  Members of the Center for Service will be tabling in the IDX Atrium between 11 am-1 pm every day next week through Nov. 17 and will have individual jars with each person’s name and picture on them, so drop by to make your move (aka donation).  To ensure that your office mate sleeps outside you can borrow their jar from the Center for Service and bring it to your department so everyone can contribute!  All of the money we raise will be donated to COTS, the Committee on Temporary Shelter in Vermont.  Last year we raised more than $2,000 and I know we can do even better this year!  **Plus, there is still time to sign up to have a jar (or sign up a coworker!).  
We invite you to participate in as much or as little of this week as you would like.  You can see the list of events below as well as the list of staff/faculty who have a fundraising jar.  Please consider attending one or all of the events and encourage your students to attend!  
Thank you in advance for your support and participation.  Please be in touch if you have any questions or if you would like to have a fundraising jar added in your name! 
Take careMaggie Melvin, Service Coordinator, Center for Service
Tent City Events:
Monday, Nov. 14: 8:30-10pm – Veterans and Homelessness – Film/Discussion – Hauke Conf. Room
Tuesday, Nov. 15: 6-8pm – Zumbathon – World Music and Dance – Argosy Gymnasium (Admission= one can food )
Tuesday, Nov. 15: 8:30-10pm – Youth and Homelessness – Speaker Justin Verette – Hauke Conf. Room
Wednesday, Nov. 16: 8:30-10pm – Families and Homelessness – Speakers from COTS – Hauke Conf. Room
Thursday, November 17: 8:30pm-10pm – Hunger and Homelessness – Reality Bite Hunger Banquet Experience w/ Office of International Education – Hauke Conf. Room
Staff/Faculty Fundraising Jars:
Chuck Bashaw: $500
Cinse Bonino: $333
Kenzie Bruso: $250
Kyle Dodon: $100
Mike Fife: $200
Eric Friedman
Claire Giroux-Williams: $900
David Keys: $250
Dave Madonna: $300
Tawnya McDonald
Maggie Melvin: $200
Abby Mendenhall: $50
Kiley Phelan: $200
Sarah Potter: $300
Mark Zammuto: $18.78