A Conversation with Senator Robert Menendez '76

Foreign Language Research and Teaching Press of Beijing Visits O'Toole Library

A delegation of representatives from the Foreign Language Research and Teaching Press of Beijing, China, visited Saint Peter's College on Tuesday, May 17 to discuss the teaching of Chinese in the United States and here at the College. The delegation was met by Lan Jiang, Ph.D., adjunct professor of Chinese, Rev. Mark DeStephano, S.J., chairman of the department of modern & classical languages and literatures, and David Ornstein, Ph.D., director of the O'Toole Library. Dr. Ornstein spoke to the group about the innovations that have been made in the College's library, giving particular attention to new research and archival facilities, as well as about the opportunities available to conducting research online.

The delegation made a donation to the College library through a variety of Chinese-language teaching materials, including books and computer programs, which will be incorporated both into the book collection and the data section of the new language laboratory that is being constructed through the College's Title V grant. The College's relationship with the Foreign Language Research and Teaching Press will be ongoing, as part of the expansion of the Asian Studies program.

Presentation by 1010 WINS Reporter John Montone ’76

Students and faculty from Saint Peter's College are preparing for a special event on this Wednesday, March 9. The very popular morning drive street reporter for 1010 WINS, John Montone '76, will be speaking and engaging in a Q&A session at 12:00 p.m. Read more about him online, and listen to some of his recent segments and topics. General Manager of WSPC Radio-TV and Adjunct Professor of Communications Joseph J. Lamachia will moderate the event.

Anti-Bullying Rally at Saint Peter's College

CBS reports on an anti-bullying rally held for Jersey City public schoolchildren at Saint Peter's College. The dynamic event was well-attended and showcased the talents of students through dance, song and additional performances. Dr. Eileen Poiani, special assistant to the president, addressed the crowd and welcomed them on behalf of the College.

Professional Development Workshop

The Saint Peter's College School of Education is partnering with several organizations to present a one-day program titled "Successful Solutions for Dealing With Unacceptable Employee Behavior." The event is free and open to the public. The program will run from 8:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m., on January 28, at the Vermeule/North Plainfield Community Center in North Plainfield, New Jersey. Refreshments, including breakfast and lunch, will be provided. Please reserve your space with Julie Frank at jfrank@lindabury.com.

Holiday Quotets Concert

James Adler, celebrated pianist and adjunct lecturer in fine arts at Saint Peter's College, will perform three movements from Eight Pieces for Clarinet, Viola and Piano, op. 83 by Max Bruch. Additional musicians perfoming with Mr. Adler include clarinetist Fran Novak and violist Michael Vannoni. The concert will be held on Saturday, December 11, at 7:30 p.m. in New York City. Tickets and more information are available online.

Red Carpet Film Premiere!

Over the summer, Saint Peter's College shared the resources of the Englewood Cliffs campus with young people from MarbleJam Kids and the Joey Travolta Short Film Camp. Approximately 50 participants created three short films and a public service announcement for autism awareness. This Sunday, November 21, there will be a red carpet premiere on the Saint Peter's Jersey City campus for their work. Tickets can be purchased online. The event starts at 1:15 p.m. - don't miss the grand entrances of the filmmakers and stars!

Fine Arts Department Semi-Annual Exhibition and Concert

Join the Saint Peter's College community to celebrate the hard work of Saint Peter's students in art programs. The Display Case Gallery, located on the second floor of the Rankin Hall on the Jersey City campus, is an exhibition space devoted to the presentation of student artwork. The Gallery is free of charge and open to the public Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. For more information contact Beatrice Mady, M.F.A., at (201) 761-6484.

The opening reception and concert will be on Thursday, November 18, from 12:00 - 2:00 p.m. Student musical performances include pianists Jayron Mainor, Christopher Ware, pianist/vocalist Jonathan Cordova and vocalist Jacob Hines. The Vocal Arts Ensemble will also perform several selections. Artwork on display are created by degree candidates majoring in graphic arts, photography and fine arts. Refreshments will be served.

Guarini Lecture: Crisis Management & Communication

Raising Money and Awareness

More than 80 members of the Saint Peter’s College community recently participated in the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk. The group raised and donated over $2000 to fund cancer research. Hoping to continue that spirit of care and generosity, all members of the Saint Peter's College community are invited to participate in two upcoming events on Saturday, October 30. The CROP Walk will begin at 8:30 a.m.with registration in McIntyre Lounge. The CROP Walk is a walk to raise money to end poverty and hunger. The walk will consist of proceeding down Montgomery to the waterfront and back to Saint Peter’s. Any donations can be dropped off at Campus Ministry or brought on the day of the walk. For more information about the CROP Walk, contact Erich Sekel (201) 761-7395.

Also on Saturday, October 30th is the annual Alzheimer’s Association Memory Walk at Liberty State Park in Jersey City. You can sign up online and click on Join Our Team. For more information contact Maria Santiago at (201) 761-7432.

The Ethics of Nursing and Health Care: A Legacy and A Vision

The School of Nursing hosts the first annual Distinguished Lectureship on November 11, 2010. Dr. Amy Haddad, a well-known speaker, author and professor of ethics, will offer lectures on both campuses of Saint Peter's. She will speak at 12:00 p.m. in the McIntyre Lounge on the Jersey City campus, and at 7:00 p.m. in the main building on the Englewood Cliffs campus. Both lectures are followed by receptions and are open to the public. Kindly reserve a seat by calling the School of Nursing at (201) 761-6270.

Dr. Haddad's recent book, Nursing and Health Care Ethics: A Legacy and A Vision, outlines the history and future of ethics in nursing. She is the director of the Center for Health Policy at Creighton University and focuses her research on teaching and learning in ethics education. This exciting lecture is the first of a series that is certain to promote intellectual discourse on critical nursing topics.

Modern Immigration

Amy Gottlieb, an immigration lawyer, adjunct faculty member at Rutgers Law School – Newark and program director of the American Friends Service Committee Immigrant Rights Program in Newark, will present on modern immigration in the United States. Freshmen are required to attend, but anyone interested may join as well. The presentation will include a lecture and discussion. This lecture is part of the Common Reading Program, a program designed to help foster community among first year students, promote shared values, and a create a sense of academic rigor. This year’s book selection is Crossing into America:  the New Literature of Immigration, a collection of works edited by Louis Mendoza and Subramanian Shankar. Ms. Gottlieb's event is the first in a series of activities that will serve to connect faculty and student affairs personnel by enhancing the classroom experience with co-curricular activities. The lecture and discussion will be held Wednesday, October 6, 2010, from 12:00 - 1:00 p.m. in the Yanitelli Recreational Life Center.

Economics of Immigration

The Guarini Institute for Governmental Affairs hosted its first lecture of the year on September 30 with economics and social policy expert George Borjas, Ph.D., an alumnus from the class of 1971. Dr. Borjas provided a summary of recent research on the economics of immigration and the implications for the future of United States immigration policy. He is the author of Wage Policy in the Federal Bureaucracy; Friends or Strangers: The Impact of Immigrants on the U.S. Economy; Heaven’s Door: Immigration Policy and the American Economy; and the textbook, Labor Economics. Prior to joining the faculty at The John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, Borjas was a professor of economics at the University of California, San Diego.

Established in 1994 by former New Jersey Congressman Frank Guarini, the Guarini Institute for Governmental Affairs aims to provide a non-partisan forum for discussion of key public policy issues among Saint Peter’s students. The Institute sponsors lectures and programs throughout the academic year to raise awareness, promote critical thinking, debate and encourage careers in public service. These lectures are an important part of intellectual debate and discussion at the College.

Living the Legacy

On September 22, 1965, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. addressed a crowd of approximately 500 people at the College's Michaelmas Convocation, an annual ceremony that recognizes Saint Peter's College students for outstanding academic achievement. During his visit to the Jersey City campus, Dr. King was awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws and Letters degree, the first offered by a Jesuit college or university.

According to an account in the school newspaper, Dr. King spoke against segregation and violence, and despite setbacks in the civil rights movement, King expressed optimism. "Although some will be scared, lose jobs and be called bad names, our problems will be solved," King said. "We shall overcome."

This special video was created collaboratively by Wilton Fontenette, manager of prospect research at Saint Peter's College, and her husband, George Fontenette. It features archival photos of Dr. King's appearance, beautiful music and information about his message. The video debuted as part of several events commemorating Dr. King's visit to Saint Peter's. Many students, staff, faculty and friends contributed to the success of the day's events. Keynote speaker Raymond Brown, Esq., delivered an educational presentation, sharing personal family stories about the civil rights movement, the history of Jersey City and the changes at Saint Peter's College over the past decades. The chorale and vocal performances were absolutely inspiring and left the audience hoping for an encore later this year. Students spent their lunch breaks in a popular campus café watching videos of Dr. King's speeches on a large projection screen. All around the campus, signs were posted letting the community know where the different activities were scheduled. Stay tuned for a future blog post with a list of upcoming campus events related to Dr. King's work.

CMST Opening Video

Missed the official opening of the Center for Microplasma Science and Technology? This twenty-five minute video will share the highlights and offer a quick explanation for what microplasma is, what it can do, and why everyone is so excited about its potential.

Living the Legacy: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Mark your calendars for Wednesday, September 22. Saint Peter's College commemorates the 45th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s talk and honorary degree from the College with a day of events across campus. The schedule is as follows:
8:00 – 10:00 a.m., Saint Peter Chapel
Recordings of Dr. King's speeches will be played.
10:00 – 11:00 a.m., Roy Irving Theatre
President Eugene J. Cornacchia, students, and alumni will speak during this portion of the event, as a logo is unveiled and video clip is shown.
11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., Roy Irving Theatre
Keynote speaker Raymond Brown, Esq., offers a presentation titled “Martin Luther King Jr.: The Man vs. The Myth.”
12:00 – 1:00 p.m., Roy Irving Theatre
The Voices of Praise, Aiden C. McMullen Chorale and soloists sing civil rights movement songs.
1:00 – 3:00 p.m., Jazzman's Café
Videos relating to Dr. King and civil rights videos will be shown and discussed.
3:00 – 5:00 p.m., Jazzman's Café
The celebration continues with a poetry slam and Saint Peter’s College Dance Team performance.
5:00 – 7:00 p.m., Hudson Room
Dinner tonight features Dr. King's favorite foods: ribs, corn, collard greens, fried chicken, sweet potato pie and pecan pie.

Senator and Legislators Gather for the CMST

Today's official opening for the Center for Microplasma Science and Technology included remarks by Senator Robert Menendez, an alumnus from the class of 1976. He commented,“I’m proud to return to my alma mater for such an auspicious occasion. The Center will be at the cutting edge of building technologies for another great American century. This is an investment in the future, and Saint Peter’s will stand at the center of this unique, national mission.”

The group gathered had a sense of awe and excitement about the potential breakthroughs offered by expanding study and application of microplasma technology. The updated article online shares more details. Check back next week for a video of the event!

Official Opening of the CMST

Tomorrow is a big day for Saint Peter's! It's the official opening for the Center for Microplasma Science & Technology. The CMST is is a designated Center of Excellence (CoE) and the National Laboratory for Advanced Research and Development in Microplasmas. The CMST was founded in 2009 through Department of Defense (DoD) funding from the Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR) to serve as the United States of America's first and only scientific and educational center devoted entirely to the emerging field of microplasmas.The celebration begins at 9:30 a.m., and will include remarks from Eugene J. Cornacchia, Ph.D., president of Saint Peter’s College, and welcome Senator Robert Menendez, Congressmen Steve Rothman and Albio Sires, Mayor of Jersey City Jerramiah T. Healy and Dr. John W. Luginsland, program manager of the Plasma and Electro-Energetic Physics program of the Department of Defense’s Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR). Read more about the CMST online or in a previous issue of Saint Peter's College magazine (PDF link).

Tomorrow: Mass of the Holy Spirit

Saint Peter's College welcomes faculty, staff, students and friends to the Mass of the Holy Spirit. It will be held on the Jersey City campus in the Roy Irving Theatre at 12:00 p.m. on Wednesday, September 8, 2010. A picnic in the quad will follow. All are encouraged to attend this liturgical celebration of the new school year. The photo shows a group of student singers from last year's Mass, which was standing room only, so try to get there early to get a good seat!  

119th Commencement Ceremony

Congratulations to the Saint Peter's College Class of 2010!

CNN Hero Alfa Demmellash, the chief executive officer and co-founder of Rising Tide Capital, Inc. in Jersey City, will address the class of 2010 at the 119th commencement exercises for Saint Peter’s College. The ceremony will take place at 10:00 a.m. on Sunday, May 23, 2010, at the PNC Bank Arts Center in Holmdel, N.J. The College will award degrees to 743 students at the undergraduate and graduate levels; Demmellash will receive a Doctor of Humane Letters degree, honoris causa, as will honorary degree recipient Dr. H. Friedrich Holzapfel. Read more about the honorary degree recipients. Graduation ceremony details are available online.