|
|
|
The Champlain Explorer
Welcome to Champlain's campus newsletter - The Champlain Explorer -
named in honor of our namesake Samuel de Champlain. It is your weekly guide to what's happening on campus and beyond.
One of the benefits of this weekly campus-wide newsletter is the vibrant picture it paints of the interesting events, people and activities on campus. From theater to film to lectures, there is something for everyone to enjoy and learn from on campus this week. Plus, you can plan ahead to participate in the 23 Hours of Art project, the 6th annual International Photo Contest, and the Elevator Pitch competition.
A gentle reminder - please send items you would like to have included in The Explorer two weeks in advance so we can make sure to get the word out on time.
Happy Valentine's Day to all.
You can help play a role in the success of this effort by sending the news you want to share with a broader campus community to news@champlain.edu. You will also be able to find an online archive of The Champlain Explorer at www.champlain.edu/marketing.html. If you have ideas for the newsletter, please send them to Stephen Mease, Public Information and News Director, smease@champlain.edu.
|
|
|
|
In this issue:
|
|
|
|
WCAX Campus Connections: Champlain College
 The number of students applying to Champlain College has more than doubled over last year. A look at what draws students from near and far to Champlain was captured by WCAX's Keith McGilvery last Friday, as he talked to admissions counselor Sarah Boston Andriano, and student ambassadors Julia Haass and Lauren Stevens. |
|
Cybercrime News & Events
 Prof. Duane Dunston Gives Presentation on Cybercrime and Personal Information at UVM
TODAY, Tuesday, Feb. 12 at 7 p.m. in Room 216 Commons, Living/Learning Center at the University of Vermont.
As part of the local chapter of the Foreign Policy Association "Great Decisions" series, Dunston will discuss cybersecurity in a presentation titled: "It's not about you, boo boo, but what makes you YOU."
The lecture will be about privacy and understanding the value of personal information to cybercriminals, how to protect it, and what legislators can do to help with the systemic security issues surrounding protecting data.
Read a recent article that features Professor Dunston's recommendations about Internet use.
Champlain Computer Forensics Prof. Jonathan Rajewski has another article in the Huffington Post, titled, "Identity Theft -- Your Use of Passwords Could Be Your Only Line of Defense." 
When hackers stole 250,000 passwords from Twitter, some if not all of those victims could become a target for identity theft. In the growing complexity of identity theftschemes, villains are relying on several tactics to gain access to your protected data on the Internet. You can protect yourself by employing a simple plan to outsmart the underlining schemes that the identity thieves rely on to steal your identity.
Some may feel this concept is a given, but identity thieves steal identities to profit -- the person stealing the identity might not be the person using it -- but they can sell the information on the Internet's black market. READ ON
Rajewski was also featured in article by Geoff Williams of U.S. News & World Report "5 Reasons an Identity Thief Might See You as a Patsy." As for those passwords, Jonathan T. Rajewski, assistant professor of digital forensics at Champlain College in Burlington, Vt., suggests using a passphrase such as your favorite song lyrics, but supplementing part of them with special characters. For instance, Rajewski says if you like the line, "God bless America, land that I love," turn it into "godble55ameri9a,LandThatILove." VIEW ARTICLE
|
|
Canvas to Replace Angel Learning Management System
 Here's a quick update on the LMS conversion to Canvas. Demo Sessions: There will be 50-minute demo sessions on Canvas this semester, before formal training sessions start:
- Wednesday, Feb. 27, 3:30 p.m. in MIC 308
- Friday, March 15, 9 a.m. in MIC 308
- Wednesday, March 20, 3:30 p.m. in MIC 308
DIY Introduction to Canvas: Can't wait for an information session to get a tour of Canvas? Here's a tease: Watch and see what you can do with Canvas (1.25 minutes)
Want to watch a demo on your own time? Here is a pre-recorded demo from Instructure (30 minutes).
February Project Activities: Here are some of the things being worked on now:
- Training the eLearning team
- Recruiting and hiring temporary one year migration positions (Migration Coordination and Migration Specialists)
- Scheduling instructor training sessions (by Instructure trainers) the afternoons of May 6 and 7 and Aug. 12 and 13
- Writing online training courses for faculty teaching online courses
- Identifying Canvas "faculty advocates" for each division
- Working with the Design Committee and determining Canvas customizations
- Creating lists and timetables of courses to be migrated beginning March 1
- Working on courses that will be launched in the Spring term II and Summer phased implementation
If you have questions or special interests, please contact elearning@champlain.edu.
|
 It's Yaktastic!
Now up to 100 backers, The Vermont Yak Company's "YakItToMe" Kickstarter is still trying to raise funds to buy and deploy a mobile BBQ food cart beginning this summer.
Vermont Yak Company is partnering with business major Nicholas Foss (at right with backer, Professor Kristin Wolf), who will manage the "YakItToMe" food cart and prepare and grill the food this coming summer.
"After five years of raising grass-fed yaks in Mad River, our business model and brand are evolving," explains VYC co-owner and Champlain Professor Rob Williams. "We are excited to work with Nick to bring our Vermont Yak Company products - burgers, sausage, and tee shirts - to a larger audience of adventurous eaters and yak enthusiasts."
READ MORE IN 7DAYS
Kickstarter.com is a popular micro-funding platform that has launched a number of entrepreneurial projects here in central Vermont. To find out more, watch their pitch, and back their project, visit YakItToMe! Vermont Yak Mobile BBQ Food Cart
|
|
 Puppeteer wanted...
...to create puppet/character and perform as host for a documentary on puppets in particular and the suspension of disbelief in general.
The project is being produced by the creative team behind Worst Thing About Coming Out, led by DFM Prof. Rob Schmidt Barracano, director of feature films "Wrong Turn" and "Alphabet Killer," among others.
Please email your resume and letter of interest to Rob Schmidt Barracano at rbarracano@champlain.edu.
Speculative project, compensation will be percentage of net profit if any.
|
 Champlain Recognition Dinner
It's that time of the year when the Office of HR & OD and the Events Center begin planning the Annual Recognition Dinner. The date this year is Friday, May 10.
If you are planning to retire by June 30, 2013, please send an e-mail to Karen Patno at patno@champlain.edu by Friday, March 22 confirming your official retirement date. We need to hear from you to ensure dinner invitations accurately acknowledge you and your retirement.
Additional details about the event will be coming from the Event Center. This year's dinner will be another exciting and memorable evening for Champlain faculty and staff!
|
 Stall Street Journal
Learn about the daily events on campus - fitness schedule, club meetings, and events. View this week's Stall Street Journal PDF here:
|
 View the latest Sustain Champlain E-Bulletin for
announcements, opportunities and events related to sustainable living at Champlain College and in the broader community. NEW BLOG!
3rd Annual Kill-A-Watt Challenge
Res Life & Sustain Champlain are hosting the 3rd Annual Kill-A-Watt Challenge. This event has residence halls competing with each other to see who can achieve the most energy savings and participate in related events, but it is promoting energy saving methods anyone an use! The Kill-A-Watt Challenge runs from February 4- March 3. Keep up with the latest at http://cckillawatt.wordpress.com
Tip of the week: Set your computer to sleep mode, so that it shuts down after a certain amount of time that you determine.
|
|
|
Send your news and notables to news@champlain.edu
 |
|
Noah Goldblatt, VP of Operations Ying Xue (NAHTC), Champlain College President David Finney, Dean David Guixi (SIFT), and Associate Provost James Cross at the Shanghai Institute for Foreign Trade
|
|
JIM CROSS FEATURED IN CHINA-US FOCUS
Jim Cross, Associate Provost and Senior International Officer at Champlain College was invited to contribute an article to online publication, China - US Focus. His article, "US-China Education Exchanges Present Opportunities and Challenges," went live last week:
"As the balance of trade continues to widen between the US and China, education collaboration increasingly becomes a shining light. Based on the latest data from the US Department of Commerce, international students contributed $21.3 billion to the US economy annually through living expenses for themselves and accompanying dependents, expenditures on tuition, books, fees and other education related expenses. China led the way contributing close to $4 billion followed by India, South Korea, the European Union and Canada. China's contribution represented a 28.3% increase over the previous year compared to a 6.5% increase for India.
So why the sudden increase? In a culture that views education as a critical factor for advancement; economic growth combined with high personal savings rates and a one child policy, has put a college education within the reach of more people. The problem is that unless these students get into the top tier universities in China they will not get the higher paying jobs or any job at all for some, upon graduation. Youth unemployment is becoming a concern for the government, recent graduates and their families placing even more stress on the students to get into a top tier school." READ MORE
 SABBATICAL PRESENTATIONS: This spring semester, seven faculty
members who were on sabbatical for some or all of the 2011-12 academic year will give on-campus presentations in which they will discuss and answer questions about what they did and accomplished during their sabbatical leave. All members of the faculty and staff are invited to attend each of these presentations.
The second presentation will be by Joanne Farrell, on Wednesday, Feb. 13, from 11 a.m.-12:15 p.m., in the Hauke Boardroom. In her own words, Prof. Farrell will "share my sabbatical journey in search of Shakespeare's Hamlet - the play, the character, and ultimately a directorial vision. In addition to addressing some of the challenges of producing this monumental work, we'll explore two relevant questions: why Hamlet and why now?"
 BROWN BAG LUNCH #6 "Using Forensic Science to Identify the Disappeared Victims of the Pinochet Dictatorship in Chile"
Guest Speaker: Dr. Adam Rosenblatt, Assistant Dean for Global Engagement/Assistant Professor, Core division When & Where: Friday, Feb. 15, 12:30 p.m., Morgan Room in Aiken Hall
About this discussion: During the 1973-1990 right-wing dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet in Chile, many activists, students, and other suspected "subversives" were forcibly disappeared: arrested without charge, often tortured, killed, and buried in secret locations. In Chile as in many other countries, an important part of the transition back to democratic rule is the attempt to locate the graves of these victims of state violence, gather evidence of the crimes committed against them, and identify their bodies so that their loved ones can bury them with dignity. For decades, forensic scientists have used bones, teeth, clothing, and DNA samples to identify Chile's Disappeared; in 2006, however, it was revealed that a high percentage of the remains returned to relatives had been misidentified. The resulting scandal not only caused tremendous suffering for families of the Disappeared; it also called into question the ability of Chile's new democracy to manage a complex scientific process as well as its commitment to human rights. Professor Rosenblatt will discuss the results of recent interviews with scientists, families of victims, government ministers, and human rights activists in Chile, focusing on the crucial relationship between moral and scientific authority in the transition from dictatorship to democracy.
To volunteer for a brown bag talk, please contact Paula Olsen, olsen@champlain.edu
 ART EXHIBIT BY PROF. HAL MAYFORTH "Subversive in His Own Little Way," a variety of paintings by Champlain Professor Hal Mayforth will be on exhibit from Feb. 8 - May 11 in the Amy E. Tarrant Gallery at the Flynn Center for the Performing Arts. For more information, contact Hal Mayforth at hmayforth@champlain.edu or visit http://teachableevents.wordpress.com/feb-8-may-11-art-exhibit-champlain-professor-hal-mayforth/
|
 Workshop with Feminist Author Kathleen Barry
This Thursday and Friday, there are two exciting opportunities for students, faculty and staff to get engaged in anti-war/feminist dialogue with a renowned author, Kathleen Barry. She will be in Burlington from 2/13-2/16 and be giving several talks and workshops throughout the city.
Feb. 14 from 11 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. she will be on campus in the Morgan Room presenting "Awaken our Consciousness to the Inhumanity of War: From Empathy to Action." In this workshop participants will uncover the untapped potential of empathy in making change. Through various exercises and consciousness raising discussions, women and men will identify how to stand against and transform masculine violence in everyday life and in political protest.
Feb. 15 at 7 p.m. at Contois Auditorium, City Hall, she will be giving a talk entitled "Overcoming Masculine Violence In War and at Home: A Call to Action." Refreshments will be served.
Ash Wednesday Catholic Mass
The Champlain College Catholic Students along with the UVM Catholic Center will be hosting an Ash Wednesday Mass in the Morgan Room, Aiken Hall, 3:15 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 13. All are invited to attend. Contact Eric Heiman '15 for more information.
"Anti-Christ" Official Trailer |
Campus Film Series
DFM is running a weekly Wednesday film series on "Semiotics and the Feminine Other."
On Wednesday, Feb. 13 the film is Anti-Christ, directed by Lars von Trier, about a grieving couple that retreats to their cabin in the woods, hoping to repair their broken hearts and troubled marriage. In the film, nature takes its course and things go from bad to worse.
It will be shown in Perry Presentation Room at 5:30 p.m. and is free and open to the public.
For more information, contact Karen Klove at Klove@champlain.edu. For more information on campus film series (DFM, Middle Eastern Film, and Heroines and Heroes) visit teachableevents.wordpress.com
Champlain Theatre Presents 'Hamlet, Prince of Denmark'
 | | Champlain Theatre's Hamlet |
Hamlet has returned home from graduate school for his father's funeral to discover his mother already remarried to his uncle who has usurped the throne. Suspecting treachery, Hamlet sets on a journey of revenge. But how can he be sure his cause is just? Should he strike or stand down? Directed by Joanne Farrell, the play's the thing in this contemporary interpretation of Shakespeare's towering revenge tragedy that promises to be fast-paced, fresh and engaging.
PERFORMANCES: February 13-16 and 20-23 at 7:30 p.m. in Alumni Auditorium at Champlain College - Tickets at the door: $10/ Champlain faculty and staff; students free with Champlain College ID.
 Entrepreneurship Event at UVM
Thursday, Feb. 14, 10:30 a.m. - 3 p.m. in the Grand Maple Ballroom, UVM Davis Center. Free.
Champlain's friends at the Burlington Community & Economic Development Office (CEDO), the VT Small Business Development Centers, UVM and CCV have extended a warm invitation to Champlain students to attend this love fest for entrepreneurship on Valentine's Day.
For more information, contact Prof. Charlie Nagelschmidt at Nagelschmidt@champlain.edu
Countdown to the 2013 Elevator Pitch
 Registration is closed for the 6th annual Elevator Pitch, brought to you by the BYOBiz Program, Career Services, the Oral Communication Lab, the Center for Service & Civic Engagement, and the Office of Advancement. This year's preliminary round will be held on Tuesday, Feb. 19, with finals on stage at Champlain's Alumni Auditorium on Tuesday, Feb. 26, at 8 p.m. with alum Tim Kavanagh (of Late Night Saturday fame) as host. Come on out for this fast-paced, entertaining competition and support Champlain College students representing nearly every program!
American Red Cross Blood Drive The annual spring American Red Cross Blood Drive, hosted by Spinner Place Residential Staff is Tues., Feb. 26. 10:30 a.m. - 4 p.m. in the Hauke Conference Room. Look out for resident assistants tabling in the IDX Student Life Center Atrium to schedule an appointment. E-mail Jason Borges at jborges@champlain.edu for more information.
23 Hours of Art!
 The CREM.BFA program will be sponsoring the 2nd year of the Art Marathon: "23 Hours of Art." The idea is to stage an art marathon over 23 hours in Hauke Lounge from Fri. March 15 at 6 p.m. through Sat. March 16 at 5 p.m.
The question is: what is art? Ideally, 101 different presenters will each present a different work of "art" (any and all genres, media) during the marathon (each is responsible to fill 10 minutes).
- 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 room mate 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.
- There is no discussion or debate during the ten 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. We will build in ample discussion/debate time throughout the event.
Who should be involved? All those involved with CREM.BFA major, faculty from CCM, COR 220 instructors, and any student/faculty/staff person who cares about art.
Let Eric Ronis (Ronis@champlain.edu) know if you're interested in being one of 101 presenters so he can put together a planning session this week. Please recommend the event to students as well.
6th Annual International Photo Contest
 | 2011 People's Choice
"The Flags of Italy" Photo by Devon Mcgarry |
Submit your photos of your international travels by Friday, March 22 at 5 p.m. for a chance to win prizes in three categories:
- People & Culture
- Landscape & Natural World
- Architecture
Entrants may submit one photo per category (3 photos total). There will also be a People's Choice Award! Throughout the month of April, stop by the display of photos in the Miller Information Commons to vote.
Photos will be judged on artistic merit and/or how well the photograph captures the culture. Prizes will be awarded to 1st, 2nd & 3rd place winners in each category ($75, $50 and $25 cash or gift cards).
Current Champlain College students, staff, and faculty are welcome to enter.
The awards ceremony will be held Tuesday, April 16 from 2-3 p.m. in the Miller Information Commons.
Contest is sponsored by the Office of International Education. E-mail Kathy Lynn at lynn@champlain.edu for a PDF Entry form.
Mindful Meditation on Mondays
Every Monday from 12:15 to 12:45 p.m. in MIC 301 - Vista Room (library). Beginners are welcome. Open to all. Give yourself some time to relax. Visit Champlain Academic Advising's Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/champlainacademiccoaching?fref=ts for more tips and ideas.
| |
|
 | |
Trudging to class on Friday, Feb. 8, as Nemo "just kept snowing" throughout New England.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
