Media Watch (July 5–11, 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.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) announced the awarding of 12 grants totaling $15.5 million over three years to combat underage drinking and drug abuse by promoting innovative screening, brief interventions and referral to treatment of college and university students with a high risk of substance use disorders. The University of Hartford will receive $364,064 per year for three years to provide substance abuse intervention to university students in collaboration with Connecticut Renaissance Inc. At least 900 student clients will be served over the three years. (Yahoo News, July 6)

Warren Goldstein, chair of the history department in the College of Arts and Sciences, wrote an opinion article for the “Review” section of the Chronicle of Higher Education about the role religion is playing in today’s politics. Goldstein argues that people should not forget the results of the heady mix of liberalism and religious activism in the 1960s. “Just as it’s entirely too soon to write the epitaph of political liberalism, reports of the death of liberal religion, especially liberal Protestantism, have been wildly exaggerated,” he wrote. (Chronicle of Higher Education, July 8)

Goldstein also had a commentary article published in the Hartford Courant, Minneapolis Star-Tribune and other newspapers about the overwhelming vote by the governing body of the United Church of Christ to “affirm equal marriage rights for couples regardless of gender,” thereby becoming the first mainline denomination, and the largest Christian denomination in the world, to support same-sex marriage. (Hartford Courant, July 10; Minneapolis Star-Tribune, July 7)

Jilda Aliotta, chair of the politics and government department, was quoted in a front-page story in the Hartford Courant about the possibility that President Bush will nominate a Latino to replace Justice Sandra Day O’Connor on the U.S. Supreme Court. While such an appointment may gain the Republican Party some favor with Hispanic voters, there are a number of other issues on which Hispanic voters favor the Democratic Party’s positions, she said. (Hartford Courant, July 11)

Al DiChiara, director of the criminal justice department at the university, was quoted in a story about the potential of the ComStat computer program to help Hartford police in their crime-fighting efforts in North Hartford. He said that it’s a misperception to call ComStat a crime prevention tool—it is a “police management system which has crime prevention implications.” He said people should not expect it will enable Police Chief Patrick Harnett to stop the shootings. (Hartford Advocate, July 7)

Matthew Silver, a visiting professor at the university, wrote an opinion article for the Connecticut Jewish Ledger about the pointlessness of comparing America’s Fourth of July celebrations with how Israel celebrates its Independence Day. Jews in both America and Israel “understand that realistic discussion of differences between American Jewish life and Israeli life need not detract from the strategic and moral viability of the special relationship which has been established between America and Israel,” Silver notes. (Connecticut Jewish Ledger, July 8)

Sarah Laub, director of Hartford Hillel at the university, was interviewed for a Connecticut Jewish Ledger story about the value of programs that help college-age students travel to Israel during the summer. “It gives students a place in Jewish history and culture and turns them on to Judaism. It’s the best thing I can do for them because Israel is the most alive and tangible aspect of Judaism that we can present to students,” Laub said. (Connecticut Jewish Ledger, July 8)

David Watson, a professional actor and assistant professor of theater at The Hartt School, was to direct a production of “Romeo and Juliet” as part of the Central Connecticut Shakespeare Festival that started on July 8 at St. Joseph College. (Hartford Courant, July 7)

The building of the University High School facility on Mark Twain Drive Extension and the proposed University of Hartford Performing Arts Center was cited as among “Hartford’s Top Construction Projects” in the Hartford Business Journal’s “Book of Lists” issue. The university is also listed as number five on the list of top colleges and universities in Connecticut. (Hartford Business Journal, July 5)

Former University of Hartford standout Julie Turner shot a 1-under-par 71 for an early lead in the first round of the CIGNA Chip In For A Cure Connecticut Futures Classic, held at the Gillette Ridge golf course in Bloomfield. Unfortunately that score was wiped out by the July 8 rainstorm. She finished the tournament in a tie for fifth place, five shots behind the winner. (Hartford Courant, July 9, 10)

Other News

Adam Vergara, a 20-year-old business major at Quinnipiac University, says tardiness to his summer internship saved him from one of the bombings that tore through London last week. The route takes him through King’s Cross, one of the stations hit by the explosions. (Associated Press, July 7)

David Kyuman Kim, a visiting assistant professor of religious studies at Connecticut College, has been named the inaugural director of the college’s newly formed Center for the Comparative Study of Race and Ethnicity. The CCSRE, will become the “intellectual home and think tank” for the examination of diversity and pluralism issues with a particular focus on questions of race and ethnicity. (The Day, New London, July 6)

E. Forbes Smiley III, 49, a New York dealer in antique maps and atlases is charged with stealing rare maps from Yale University’s Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library— including a rare map of early New England. The FBI says he may have targeted other libraries that have items missing from their collections. State Judge Richard Damiani set bail at $175,000 when Smiley appeared in New Haven Superior Court and prohibited him from leaving the country. Smiley faces three larceny charges. (Newsday, July 9)

Dr. Milton Markowitz, 87, a founding faculty member and longtime associate dean at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine, died on July 7 in Farmington. (Hartford Courant, July 9)

Laura Jawitz, 19, of New Haven, a Bennington College student who was injured when she fell through a dance studio window in March, is trying to reach a financial settlement with the school. Jawitz, who has accumulated medical bills that far exceed $75,000, and Kelly Muzzi, 20, of Troy, Mich., were rehearsing in a college dance studio on March 30 when they leaned on a plate glass window and broke through, falling about 20 feet to a brick patio below. Muzzi died April 1 of injuries suffered in the fall. (Associated Press, July 6; Newsday, July 6,)

Many college admissions officers support the idea of students taking a year off between high school and college. While cautioning that a “gap year” isn’t for everyone—and that just goofing off isn’t worthwhile—they say many students who take one return more confident and self-aware. (CNN, July 11)

Boston University has abandoned an ethics guideline regarding trustee conflicts of interest that it trumpeted last year when it unveiled a series of changes designed to make the university a national model of good governance. The board of trustee’s audit committee determined that some of the language in the code would make it unworkable for the university. (Boston Globe, July 5)

For students in elementary and secondary schools, states have few developed standards or required courses in computer science – a field that goes beyond basic literacy to encompass hardware and software design, real-world applications and computers’ effect on society. Such lean course work means that many students don’t have the chance to study the science of computers until college, where a declining number are majoring in the subject. Somehow, teachers say, states must embrace the idea of training sophisticated computer users at a younger age. (Associated Press, July 5; Washington Post, July 5)