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Each semester, University of Scranton faculty, staff and students are asked to verify and update their contact information in order to receive notices of emergencies, school closings or delays via e-mail, text and phone messages.

Those who have not already verified or updated their contact information this semester, should do this prior to the system test. Verifications and updates to emergency contact information can be made through a link from the My.Scranton portal. Please enter information carefully to ensure you receive the alerts.

The University will test the emergency notification system once each semester.

It has been more than two weeks since sophomore Martha Triano returned to Scranton from Uganda, but no amount of time will ever make her forget the welcoming and hopeful spirit she witnessed in the Ugandan people.

“We were so welcomed,” said Triano. “They were just ready to share their love and faith with us.”

Triano, Scranton, was one of 10 students in the Special Jesuit Liberal Arts (SJLA) Honors Program who took part in The University of Scranton’s academic trip to Uganda Jan. 11 to Jan. 26. The trip was part of the “Christianity in Africa” course taught by Charles Pinches, Ph.D., professor and chair of the Theology/Religious Studies Department. Kim Pavlick, Ph.D., assistant professor of communication, and Daniel Haggerty, Ph.D., associate professor of philosophy and director of the SJLA Honors Program, also took part in the trip.

To read the full article, available on TheTimes-Tribune.com, click here. (The article was written by Cory Burrell ’14, Simpson, a student correspondent.)

Tashika Griffith, the director of Office of Multicultural Affairs, examined how African-American and black women are portrayed in various media, including film, television shows, advertisements and in the news in “Real Talk: Exploring Black Women in Popular Culture,” presented by the Office of Multicultural Affairs on campus Feb. 1.

Griffith began her presentation by asking audience members to recall a film they recently saw that portrayed an African-American or black woman in a lead role. She then asked for a few words to describe the character.

Griffith pointed out that many times black women are viewed in broad terms. To demonstrate this, she gave audience members a continuum, which featured words often ascribed to black women. Griffith said she collected these words after talking to friends, sorority sisters and family members. She said adjectives like “elegant,” “exotic” and “caretaker” have been assigned to black women and ultimately affect how they are portrayed in film, television and in music.  

To read the full article, available on TheTimes-Tribune.com, click here. (The article was written by Elizabeth Klassner '12, Peckville, a student correspondent.)

The innate beauty of nature has inspired many artists, including Koval Grippo, who takes a simple approach toward this theme.

“Sometimes you don’t have to be in full control,” Grippo said. “It can be nice to have a piece that takes you somewhere simple ... sometimes magic just happens, and I enjoy that.”

Grippo presented a lecture on her exhibit, “Scared Birch: Paintings by Koval Grippo,” currently on display at The University of Scranton’s Hope Horn Gallery, on Feb. 3 at the Pearn Auditorium in Brennan Hall.

Grippo’s talk focused on some of the key aspects of her work, such as the constant growth in nature that inspired her to create “Moon’s Thoughts are Beginning to Grow.”

To read the full article, available on TheTimes-Tribune.com, click here. (The article was written by Cory Burrell ’14, Simpson, a student correspondent.)

University of Scranton Professor Andrew LaZella, Ph.D., received a development intersession grant from the University for a research project focused on medieval philosopher John Duns Scotus and his analysis of some of Aristotle’s major works, especially “The Categories.” The project is titled “Univocity, Equivocity, and Proper Concepts in Duns Scotus’s Quaestiones Super Praedicamenta Aristotelis.”

Dr. LaZella, an assistant professor in philosophy, said that he researched “in the general area” of this topic for his doctoral dissertation and is excited to delve further into the subject. He said that an interesting part of this project is the difference in Scotus’ ideas in his early works compared to his later writings.

To read the full article, available on TheTimes-Tribune.com, click here. (The article was written by Cory Burrell ’14, Simpson, a student correspondent.)

“Snow capped,” “patriotic,” “rustic,” “fanciful” and other elaborate turn of the century letters of the alphabet are on display at the Weinberg Memorial Library Heritage Room exhibit that continues through Thursday, April 5.

The exhibit features some of the intricate, hand-crafted alphabets from the Zaner-Bloser Penmanship Collection, which is one of the most extensive collections of American ornamental penmanship from the late 19th and early 20th centuries and is housed among the University’s Special Collections.

The Commonwealth Medical College, The University of Scranton’s Panuska College of Professional Studies and The Leahy Community Health and Family Center invite you to attend a special Global Health Lunch Lecture titled "Relief Medicine after Natural Disasters" with Vladimír Krčméry, M.D., Ph.D., Sc.D., FRCP, FACP, professor and dean, School of Public Health, University of Trnava, Slovakia, and former rector, Saint Elizabeth University of Health and Social Sciences, Slovakia. The event will be held on Monday, March 5, from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in Lecture Hall 2001, The Commonwealth Medical College, 525 Pine Street, Scranton.

Please join us for this educational event to explore disaster medicine and effective international responses to global health crises after earthquakes, hurricanes, tsunamis and floods. Dr. Krčméry will lead an engaging
and inspirational talk directed at action. RSVP by Friday, March 2, to Joanne Reichle at ReichleJ1@scranton.edu. It is sponsored by The University of Scranton’s Department of Health Administration & Human Resources
through the federal Health Profession Education & Training Grant.

To see the event's promotional flyer, click here.

The Office of Equity and Diversity (OED) is pleased to announce a collaboration with TCMC to sponsor a bus to the 32nd annual Marion Thompson Wright Lecture Series on Saturday, Feb. 18, at Rutgers University. Admission and transportation are free for all University members.

The theme for this year’s one-day conference is "Taking Good Care: A History of Health and Wellness in the Black Community." Featured speakers are former Surgeon General Dr. Joycelyn Elders who will present "Health Disparities in Black America" and Dr. William Owen who will follow with comments and lecture titled “My Genetic Code or my Zip Code: Which Is More Important?” To read the full release, click here.

Think spring! The Office of University Ministries invites all students, faculty, staff (professional, clerical, maintenance and dining), spouses and 
children (appropriate for ages 10 and older) to a unique, one-of-a-kind retreat experience incorporating God, faith, and baseball. "Lookin' for the Signs," a pilgrimage to the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y., will be held Saturday, March 31, from 8:30 a.m. - 10:30 p.m.

Luxurious bus accommodations, tail-gate lunch, admission to Hall of Fame are all included. The day ends with mass in Cooperstown with Fr. Rick Malloy, S.J. The costs are as follows:

Adults: $35
University Students: $25
Children ages 10 - 17: $20

Space is very limited. Payment due at time of registration in Office of University Ministries, DeNaples Center, room 200. For more information, contact Brian Pelcin at 941-5458 or
pelcinb2@scranton.edu.

Do you remember getting ready for your prom? Do you remember finding the perfect dress? You can make that dream come true for someone else. Many girls cannot afford a dress for prom. As a result, they stay home - missing out on a cherished memory. Cinderella's Closet provides free or low cost dresses, shoes and accessories (based on availability) to high school girls who otherwise might not be able to afford to go to prom. 

Please consider donating prom dresses in good and fashionable condition (sorry, no 1980s wear or soiled dresses), shoes and accessories that you no longer need. Dresses can be dropped off now through Wednesday April 5, in the Community Outreach Office, DeNaples Center, room 205B. All dresses will be given to Cinderella's Closet via the Junior League of Scranton. For questions or more information, contact Ellen Judge at judgee2@scranton.edu.