4.28.10 / News
CLARION, Pa., April 29 –
Clarion University was subject to notable technical difficulty when many of the computers on campus were rendered inoperable.
“The PC issues we experienced at the university starting on Wednesday were the result of a faulty software update from our anti-virus software vendor (McAfee),” said Sam Puleio of computing services.
According to Puleio, an update from MacAfee triggered “false positive” virus detections on Windows XP systems on campus and many other groups.
The PCs were not actually infected with a virus, but many systems using McAfee software were rendered inoperable with continuous error messages and broken network connections.
More »
4.28.10 / News
Dr. Joseph Grunenwald has been president of Clarion University for many years, and now he is stepping down from his role.
“After 40 years of public service, including the last 32 here at Clarion, I am going to enter a little more relaxed phase of life,” said Grunenwald.
“I am very much looking forward to having more personal time and schedule flexibility,” said Grunenwald, “a luxury that I have not enjoyed for many years.”
Grunenwald is leaving behind many things at Clarion, including the new Eagle Commons dining facility and Science and Technology Center, projects completed during his time as president.
More »
4.22.10 / A&E
Some people may indeed consider a movie with the title of “Kick Ass” to be a bit presumptuous. If someone promotes a film with such a title, one should be able to deliver on such a lofty title. However, in the newest addition to the comic book adaptation, the title is fully earned. This flick is most certainly “kick ass.”
4.22.10 / A&E
Artist Profile: Emily Byrtus (Chantel Wilson / The Clarion Call)
Emily Byrtus is a senior graduating this spring. She is earning a CFA in art with a dual concentration in graphic design and drawing, as well as three minors in history, art history and honors courses.
Byrtus’ series, titled “A Series of Tubes” after the quote from Senator Ted Stevens regarding the nature of the internet.
4.22.10 / Features
Carly Masiroff / The Clarion Call
Erin Davies has been the victim of discrimination for being a lesbian. However, she has not let that keep her down. Rather than let the phrases “fag” and “you are gay,” which were sprayed onto her car, make her feel bad about herself, she decided to keep them on her car and drive around the countryside, from Florida to California, from Tennessee to Canada, spreading the message that hate is wrong.
Davies visited Clarion University April 15, three days from the three-year anniversary of the date that her car was sprayed. Her visit to Clarion was sponsored by the local chapter of Allies, an organization of gays, lesbians, bisexuals, transgendered and straight individuals who have come together to work for the presentation of human rights of all individuals, and the Clarion Young Democrats.
During her visit, she displayed her rainbow-colored, refurbished Volkswagen Beetle, dubbed the “Fagbug,” and presented a documentary about her yearlong journey driving around the country with the hateful words sprayed on her car.
Davies said the journey allowed her to uncover more serious stories. The documentary has aired at 35 film festivals.
“I’m really proud of it,” said Davies.
More »
4.21.10 / News
Karen M. Whitney has been teaching for the last 25 years. (Lamont Sinclair/ The Clarion Call)
CLARION, Pa., April 22 – Karen M Whitney, a potential candidate for president of Clarion University, said she sees herself as one in a long line of teachers.
“I view myself as an educator first,” she said, citing her family’s long line of educators.
Whitney has been working in higher education for 30 years, starting as a resident adviser and working her way up, including working in executive administration for the past 10 years.
She has been teaching for the last 25 years. She also writes and presents scholarly papers on a regular basis.
More »
4.15.10 / News
CLARION, Pa., April 15- The Pennsylvania Department of Revenue is looking for graduate or alumni accounting majors to fill revenue tax auditor trainee positions around the state.
“We hire all of our auditors through the path. Everyone who wants to work for us has to complete this training,” said Shelly Forte’, chief of the classification and placement division of the bureau of human resources within the department.
4.15.10 / News
Dr. Charles J. Fey petitions Clarion to accept him as president. (Justin Gmoser / The Clarion Call)
CLARION, Pa., April 15- Dr. Charles J. Fey came to Clarion University April 14 to tell the campus and community why he feels he would be qualified to fill the void that will be left by President Joseph Grunenwald this coming year.
Fey comes from University of Akron, where he currently serves as the vice president of student affairs.
Fey said that Clarion University’s legacy as a normal school and teacher’s college makes this an institution with student success at its core.
This is a concept that is very important to him as a Clarion University presidential candidate.
“The faculty-student relationship is central to the learning environment,” Fey said.
4.1.10 / News
CLARION, Pa., April 1- Clarion University students Gregory Ford, 24 of Pittsburgh, and Jamar Mitchell, 19, of Munhall, were arrested March 29 on charges of robbery, burglary, discharge of a weapon into an occupied structure and simple assault in incidents that occurred March 1.
According to a state police report, Ford, Mitchell and others entered a Brookville, Jefferson County home, stole a gun and threatened the residents at gunpoint.
Ford, Mitchell and the others then traveled to a residence in Rural Valley, Armstrong County and attempted to break into an apartment.
Andrew Helo, of North Wales, a Philadelphia suburb, then used the stolen rifle to fire several shots into the SUV parked outside the apartment.
Helo also fired several shots into the apartment. Ford and Mitchell are presently being held in the Armstrong County Jail on $25,000 bond each.
Both were arraigned Monday before District Judge Sam Goldstrohm, according to a report in the Leader Times.
Helo, who faces charges of burglary, attempted burglary, theft, criminal mischief, discharge of a firearm into an occupied structure and two counts of simple assault, is free on $25,000 bond.
A charge of robbery was withdrawn at the time of Helo’s preliminary hearing, the Leader Times reported.
4.1.10 / News
CLARION, Pa., April 1- The National Survey of Student Engagement, or NSSE , is getting ready to wrap up its polling across Pennsylvania.
The 14 state-operated universities, including Clarion, have chosen to participate in the national poll.
The goal of the survey is to gather information from four-year colleges and universities on activities and participation, with the goal in mind of getting an accurate assessment of how undergraduate students spend their time during their college career, according to the official NSSE Web site.
The questions in the survey, are designed to reflect the “good practices” of students during their time at college and how their cultivated from the beginning of their college career to the end of their schooling studies.
More than 1,300 universities in the U.S. and Canada are participating in this survey.
The success of the survey has spawned other surveys such as Beginning College Survey of Student Engagement, the Community College Survey of Student Engagement, the Faculty Survey of Student Engagement and the Law School Survey of Student Engagement.
Robert D. Theroux, Clarion’s director of academic services, said the survey, is used to understand the experiences of first-year and senior students.
The survey looks at such topics as extracurricular activities, class engagement and interaction with professors, as well as other positive areas in student life.
Theroux’s goal for the university is to have Clarion get the best response rate of all the Pennsylvania universities surveyed this year.
However, according to Theroux, the survey needs as many surveys filled out as possible in order to reach their goal.
Theroux says that once the information is totaled and gathered, staff will begin looking at the data and implementing changes to better serve students at the university.
E-mail surveys were sent to students in February and March. A final e-mail survey with the subject “Clarion wants your feedback” will be sent out to students April 6. Students can click on a hyperlink to complete the survey. Participation is encouraged. Those who participate are in the running to a $25 Eagle Dollar Card usable on Clarion campus at a variety of locations.
4.1.10 / News
CLARION, Pa., April 1- Clarion University’s Career Services Center offers a wide variety of opportunities and services for students seeking assistance in the development of their future career.
Connie J. Laughlin, career services director, said the Career Services Center offers services to students seeking to build career portfolios.
Services include a career resources room, career planning guides, resume building workshops, individual appointments with career counselors, part-time jobs on campus, internship opportunities, federal work studies, resume postings, job fairs and career expos and mock interviews. More »
3.17.10 / News
CLARION, Pa., March 18-It’s 2010, and that means it’s time for the United States government to administer the census.
Every 10 years, the federal government and U.S. Constitution mandate a survey of the nation’s people.
According to the web site 2010census.gov, a census is distributed to “achieve an accurate assessment of the number and location of the people living within the nation’s borders.”
The filling out of the census survey is vital, as it not only helps to determine how the members of Congress are appointed, but even has an effect on the way that $400 billion is distributed among state and local organizations in the United States, according to 2010census.gov.
3.17.10 / A&E
Dr. Deborah Williams performs Wednesday night during the monologues faculty and alumni performance (Caitlin McGill / The Clarion Call)
The Vagina Monologues at Clarion University is reaching its tenth anniversary this year. This year’s show is directed by junior film major Carly Masiroff and fifth year English/Spanish major Mariah Yancey. According to Masiroff, who has been involved with the Monologues for the past two years, this year’s performance has “much more power.”
3.4.10 / News
CLARION, PA., March 4 – An e-mail was recently sent out to students on behalf of Eagle Commons, Gemmell Food Court and the Carlson Library with a survey asking for student input.
The survey is designed to get students’ opinions on food service as the university begins work on making updates for the upcoming year’s meal plans.
“As we begin to develop future plans for the dining program, we would like to get your thoughts on the dining services Clarion has to offer and get a sense of what type of national brands interest you,” the e-mail reports.
Clarion’s food services are presently provided by Chartwell’s. All three areas are catered by Chartwell’s, and is also working in conjunction with the Starbucks in the ground floor of Eagle Commons.
In addition to the survey and a request for feedback, the e-mail also offers incentive.
Those who take the survey can complete an information page, which enters them into a raffle for $100 worth of Chartwell’s Dollars, which can be used anywhere on campus.
“We’re always trying to look ahead,” said Jeff Gauger of food services. “We’re trying to see what we’re doing in the future. We’re trying to stay ahead of the competition.”
Gauger said he hopes that the survey will allow the food services to stay on top of new trends.
Reception so far is difficult to gauge, said Gauger, as a third party is handling the survey itself. Gauger said that so far, the students who he has talked to have given him positive responses. Gauger said, “We’re not going to start building right away, but we want to see what people want and what they’ll pay for.”
The survey asks questions such as if students would prefer certain name brands over generic products, and how it would affect eating habits.
It also asks questions about housing, years of schooling, favorite and least favorite places to eat on campus, time of meals and how much money goes into meals.
At the end of the survey there’s an opportunity for additional comments.
Nathan Yost, a junior accounting major at Clarion University, said he feels mostly positive about the way things are presently with food services.
“I think it’s OK. It’s not the best, but it gets the job done. It’s a lot better than Chandler; that was the worst.” Yost said, “I like the Budget Bites at Gemmell.
“They’re good and cheap,” said Yost. “That’s what’s important, really.”
He also pointed out that Eagle Commons, especially the Italian food menu, has provided students with a more varied and enjoyable diet than what would have been available to them at Chandler Dining Hall in the past.
Yost said that he does not presently plan on filling out the survey sent in the e-mail, as he feels it is a waste of his time.
“They don’t read those things,” said Yost.
Jonathan Winkler, a senior communication major at Clarion University, also voiced his views on the present food service.
“I think it’s good. It’s a lot better than it used to be,” said Winkler.
He had also commented on the additions and improvements that the university has made to dining services on campus since the opening of Eagle Commons during the start of the Spring 2009 semester of last year.
“I like the Mongolian Grill,” said Winkler. “I think its so good.”
Winkler also commended the dining services on the improved conditions of the salad bar at Eagle Commons. Winkler agreed with Yost, also stating that he also does not plan to fill out the survey sent out either.
“I just don’t feel like it.” Students who want to take the survey and enter the raffle, as well as share their opinions and concerns about dining services, can visit www.surveymonkey.com/s/clariondining to have their voice heard.
2.25.10 / A&E
“Shutter Island” is director Martin Scorsese’s most recent film. The film came out Feb. 19, and stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Mark Ruffalo and Ben Kingsley.
The plot of the film starts out in 1954, with Federal Marshals Teddy Daniels and Chuck Aule arriving at Shutter Island to investigate the disappearance of one of the patients at the asylum.
2.18.10 / News
(Courtesy photo / Rep. Glenn Thompson)
CLARION, PA., Feb. 18 -Republican Congressman, Glenn Thompson, visited Clarion University on Feb. 17 for a meet-and-greet with students and residents of the area.
At the meet-and-greet, he thanked students for attending; “I couldn’t be here without you. Clarion County is part of my family,” he said. The meet-and-greet is part of Thompson’s tour across the Fifth District of Pennsylvania, which he represents.
Thompson said, “If you’re going to do the job right, you have to know the people you’re working for.”
At the meet-and-greet, Thompson talked about his work regarding Pennsylvania dairy farmers, his opposition to the Interstate 80 toll and his ideas on health care reform.
In addition, there was also a question and answer portion from those who attended, as well as an announcement of his intent to be re-elected into the seat of congressman. More »
2.18.10 / News
CLARION, PA., Feb. 18 – Possible e-mail scams are finding their way into student accounts.
Many Clarion University students have been receiving e-mails asking them for personal information such as student e-mail addresses and login information for student accounts.
Sam Puleio of computing services, cautioned students in an e-mail that they should never send their personal information via e-mail.
Puleio said that there can be a variety of ways to try to scam e-mail recipients. The bottom line is that students are asked to send in personal information, or something will happen.
Puleio said the spam filters for the university are attempting to find and block any such “phishing” attempts. More »
2.11.10 / News
CLARION, Pa., Feb. 11 – Clarion University is preparing to switch over to a new e-mail system. Eagle Mail, the new Internet service, is in conjunction with Microsoft.
The new e-mail system, which will be implemented on Feb. 16, will give users 10 gigabytes of storage space, as well as a new modified format of address. Also, it will allow students to keep their new address after graduating.
2.4.10 / News
Clarion's Owens-Brockway Glass plant prepares to shut its doors permanently this summer (Courtesy graphic / Owens-Illinois)
The Clarion Owens-Brockway Glass plant is preparing to shut its doors for good July 1. In a press release sent out on Jan. 27, Owens-Illinois, the parent company of Owens-Brockway, is closing the plant due to a lack of production volume. The plant has been called one of the most expensive for the company to operate.
More than 400 employees from the factory have been given the option to transfer to different factories. According to O-I president Miguel Escobar, “While we regret the impact this has on our Clarion employees, it is imperative that we take such actions to ensure the long-term health of the company.”
According to the press release, union leaders and company officials will meet to discuss further details. Employees of the plant could not be reached for comment on the matter. More »
Russel Pekelnicky is a news staff writer for The Call.
