Media Watch (May 23-31, 2005)

"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.

A review and photo of the exhibit “Keith Sonnier: Sculpture, Drawing, Media Work,” currently on display in the Joseloff Gallery, was featured in the “Art Review” section of The New York Times Connecticut section. Art critic Benjamin Genocchio wrote that Sonnier’s sculptures are “established classics, even solid investments.” (The New York Times, Connecticut section, May 29)

David Desplaces, assistant professor of entrepreneurial studies at the Barney School of Business, was quoted in an article about a Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) pilot program, in which DECD identified industries as sectors where it needed to woo state companies to retain and expand operations. “What needs to be done next is to set up a systematic way of tracking how these prospects are followed through,” said Desplaces. “Historically, nobody has taken the time to see what happened to the companies that came for help because too many agencies are involved.” (Hartford Business Journal, May 23)

Madeline McKernan, the community and university liaison for the University of Hartford Magnet School, was quoted in an article about how the waiting list for Hartford magnet schools is long and continues to grow. The article said some parents say just about anything to get their child enrolled in the magnet school. McKernan always comes back with the same response: “It’s a blind lottery and we don’t play favorites.” (Associated Press, May 30; Newsday, May 30)

Students from the Hartt School Community Division were interviewed on WTIC-AM’s “Afternoons with Bruce and Colin” show to talk about the Community Division’s Third Annual Fortissimo Concert at The Bushnell on Sunday, June 5. The program will include the first-ever performance of “Give Back Peace” by Hartford composer David Macbride with narrator Colin McEnroe. (WTIC-AM, May 27)

A column about baseball in the Shore Line Times said that when improving and playing baseball, the words of Gary LaRocque, the former University of Hartford athlete and vice president for Development and Scouting for the New York Mets, come to mind. “If there is somebody out there with talent, a player with potential as a professional, we'll find him,” said LaRocque. “That’s why it is so important for kids to take every opportunity to play.” (Shore Line Times, May 26)

Other News

Eight Connecticut College faculty members were granted tenure by the college board of trustees at its May meeting. Trustees approved five new faculty appointments, adding specialists in ceramic sculpture, Hispanic literature and Asian art. (The Day, New London, May 31)

Former baseball commissioner Fay Vincent has resigned from the board of trustees at Jesuit-run Fairfield University and refused to accept an honorary degree from Sacred Heart University in protest over the Vatican’s decision to remove the Rev. Thomas Reese, editor of a prominent Roman Catholic magazine. (Associated Press, May 27)

In an opinion piece, Evan S. Dobelle, president and chief executive of the New England Board of Higher Education, and former president of the University of Hawaii and of Trinity College, wrote that New England should capitalize on our “brand” by telling the story of how New England colleges and universities fuel our economy. (Providence Journal, May 31)

Uconn’s million-dollar basketball coaches, Jim Calhoun and Geno Auriemma, might leave the school—or demand millions more from the state—if the ethics commission shuts down their lucrative deals with Nike and other companies, their agents say. (WTNH-TV8, May 26)

Mary Robinson, the former president of Ireland and former United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, will give the keynote address at an event honoring University of Connecticut history Professor Amii Omara-Otunnu on Wednesday at the Hilton Hotel. Omara-Otunnu is a United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) chairman for human rights, (Hartford Courant, May 31)

Central Connecticut State University will receive more than $1 million to make major improvements, including installation of smoke and heat detectors in one building. The funding will improve Davidson Hall, the Kaiser Hall Annex, and create a fiber optic cable connection between the main campus and the Institute of Technology and Business Development building downtown. (Hartford Courant, May 25)

Christian Burns, 13, was the youngest graduate in the history of Tunxis Community College when he and 300 fellow students collected degrees. This fall, he expects to be a junior at Cornell University studying biology with the goal of becoming a veterinarian and zoologist. (Hartford Courant, May 25)

Henry Winkler, an award-winning children's author, child advocate, stage actor, and leather-jacketed pop icon Arthur Fonzarelli, was commencement speaker at Southern Connecticut State University; Willard Holmes, director of the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art, addressed the graduating class of 655 people at Manchester Community College; and Gateway Community College graduated the largest class (540 students) in the history of the college. (Hartford Courant, May 27, May 28)