Media Watch (Oct. 16-23, 2006)

"Media Watch" is a round-up of recent stories in the media about the University of Hartford, as well as significant stories about other local and peer institutions and news about trends and issues in higher education.

David Desplaces, assistant professor of entrepreneurial studies at the Barney School of Business, was interviewed on the “Dan Lovallo Show” on WDRC-AM. Desplaces previewed an upcoming panel discussion on identifying funding sources for entrepreneurial ventures and talked about issues facing entrepreneurs in Connecticut. (WDRC-AM, Oct. 17)

State Department of Public Health officials informed the University of Hartford that that a student who was taken ill on Oct. 11 has been identified as a suspect case of tuberculosis and a confirmed case of pneumonia. That news, delivered to the campus community in a broadcast email, triggered extensive television news coverage. Most of the stories included brief interviews with University students for their reaction, and most gave positive comments about the University’s response. (WFSB-TV Channel 3, Oct. 19 and 20; NBC 30, Oct. 20; Fox 61, Oct. 20; WDRC-AM, Oct. 20)

The Hartford Courant featured two color photographs on the front page of its "Connecticut" section on a group of Clark Elementary School students who came to the University’s television studio to record a rap CD and video about the importance of reading. The project was a joint inititative between Educational Main Street; Clark Elementary School, a Educational Main Street affiiate school in Hartford; and WQTQ radio at Weaver High School. Educational Main Street's Connie Coles co-wrote the rap song and Television Studio Manager Dan McNamara was featured in one of the photos. (Hartford Courant, Oct. 19)

The Hartford Courant offered a glowing review of a performance by alto saxophonist Sue Terry, who was the first recipient of a jazz degree from the University of Hartford in 1981. The show at the Wadsworth Atheneum on Oct. 20 also included guitarist Saul Rubin, who attended The Hartt School 25 years ago with Terry. (Hartford Courant, Oct. 22)

In its Sunday “Arts” section, the Hartford Courant previewed a talk by Jonathan Franzen, acclaimed author of The Corrections, as part of the University’s Cardin Reading Series. His novel, published in 2001, won the National Book Award for fiction. (Hartford Courant, Oct. 22)

A Hartford Courant editorial endorsed the re-election bid of Demetrios Giannaros, a professor of economics in the Barney School of Business and the incumbent Democrat in the 21st District in the Connecticut House of Representatives. “Considering his expertise and credibility, voters in Farmington’s 21st House District should return Democratic incumbent Demetrios Giannaros to a seventh term in the General Assembly,” noted the editorial. (Hartford Courant, Oct. 20)

In a feature story about Hartford’s strong electronic music scene, the Hartford Courant quoted Bora Celik, 31, a former DJ, who started spinning records in 1992 in his native Turkey and who continued doing that when he moved to Connecticut in 1996 to study at the University of Hartford. (Hartford Courant, Oct. 22)

Christopher Costa, a 2002 graduate of the University, is training to run the New York City Marathon to raise funds for the battle against cystic fibrosis, which his wife was diagnosed with in 2004. His effort was highlighted in a story in the Albany Times Union. (Albany Times Union, Oct. 19)

Javier Colon, a graduate of The Hartt School, continues to draw rave reviews for his solo CD, “Left of Center.” A write-up on Colon in Soul.Joint.com said, “Embracing diverse musical palettes that include splashes of R&B, hip-hop, rock, pop balladry and straight-up soul, ‘Left of Center’ is an engaging project that should even have naysayers praising Javier’s name.” (SoulJoint.com, Oct. 22)

Richard Chiarappa, who studied orchestral and choral conducting at The Hartt School and was the music director of the Bristol Symphony Orchestra from 1991 through 2002, was interviewed by the West Hartford News in conjunction with the five-year anniversary of the West Hartford Symphony Orchestra (WHSO). Chiarappa was one of the founders of the WHSO. (West Hartford News, Oct. 19)

Mark Noon, a former All-State player at St. Paul High School in Bristol, Conn., and a University of Hartford All-American in the late 1970s, was recently inducted into the New England Basketball Hall of Fame. (Bristol Press, Oct. 18)

Other News

David G. Carter was officially installed as the chancellor of the Connecticut State University System that includes Central Connecticut State University, Southern Connecticut State University, Western Connecticut State University, and Eastern Connecticut State University (ECSU). Carter, former president of ESCU, replaces William J. Cibes Jr., who retired in February after more than a decade as chancellor. (Hartford Courant, Oct. 20)

Trinity College has received pledges totaling $39.5 million from three anonymous donors. The money, roughly equal to the largest single gift in the college's history, will be used to support endowed faculty positions, financial aid for international students, and the general endowment at the private liberal arts college. (Hartford Courant, Oct. 20)

S. Prestley Blake of Somers, co-founder of Friendly Ice Cream Co,. and his wife, Helen Davis Blake, have donated $2 million to Springfield College in Massachusetts. The college will change the name of Wilbraham Hall to Herbert P. Blake Hall in honor of S. Prestley Blake’s late father. (Hartford Courant, Oct. 17)

Volunteering among college students has surged with the growth rate more than doubling that of adults, according to a report released by the federal Corporation for National & Community Service. In 2005, 3.3 million college students nationwide—or 30.2 percent— volunteered, up from 2.7 million in 2002. The Corporation for National & Community Service credits the increase to the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, as most college volunteers were in high school in 2001 and witnessed heroic acts by police and firefighters. (Macon Telegraph, Oct. 17)

Applicants to Nazareth College will no longer need to submit SAT or ACT scores starting with this fall's applications. The college is among a growing number of schools nationwide going “SAT optional.” About 27 of the nation’s 100 best liberal arts schools as ranked by U.S. News and World Report do not require students to submit scores, said Robert Schaeffer, public education director of FairTest: National Center for Fair and Open Testing, an educational advocacy group. (Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, Oct. 17)

At Gallaudet University, a university for the deaf in Washington, D.C, officials postponed homecoming festivities because of an ongoing clash with hundreds of protesters who have erected a tent city on its Washington, D.C., campus. The protesters, who control all but one entrance to Gallaudet, then vowed to stage a series of “alternate” events. The decision to sideline the school’s signature fall event came as alumni and parents were already arriving. President Designate Jane K. Fernandes said she is determined to be the next president of Gallaudet University in Janurary, even as some board members continued to urge her to resign. The Board of Trustees has split, with one group backing Fernandes, a slightly larger faction believing she must step down, and several undecided or whose position is unknown. (Washington Post, Oct. 18; Washington Post, Oct. 20)

Boston College is giving its administrators the right to reject student-recruited speakers if their views or opinions conflict with the school’s Catholic and Jesuit identity. If a presentation includes a speaker with views contrary to Catholic teaching, administrators can require a speaker with an opposing viewpoint. Some faculty and students say the policy threatens free speech on campus. (Boston Globe, Oct. 18)

Stetson University is experimenting with “speed hiring” for its young alumni. Modeled after popular speed dating events, speed networking seeks to make perfect business matches. Participants bring business cards, prepare a short speech, and have one minute to talk. Then everyone moves to the next seat and next partner. (The Mercury News, Oct. 16) Young people are flocking to medical schools in record numbers. For the second consecutive year, the number of students enrolled in U.S. medical schools increased “significantly,” according to a report released by the Association of American Medical Colleges. The association said first-time enrollees in the incoming 2006 class increased 2.2 percent to nearly a record17,400. (Chicago Tribune, Oct. 19)

A report by the Campaign for America’s Future suggests that Hispanics are disproportionately hurt when it comes to rising tuition. The report found that the cost of tuition for four-year public institutions rose by $2,786 between 2000 and 2005. The Hispanic median household income fell by 4 percent. The report stated the total cost of college is 32 percent of the Hispanic median household income, compared to 24 percent of a white family’s median household income. (Deseret Morning News, Oct. 16)

Brigham Young University and one of its professors are suing pharmaceutical giant Pfizer, claiming BYU was defrauded of profits of at least $1 billion and credit for work that led to the well-known drug Celebrex. The lawsuit describes BYU as a trusting university that didn’t know much about patents in biomedical breakthroughs and that was allegedly deceived by an experienced drug company. (Deseret Morning News, Oct. 19)