Volume 56, Number 33    April 27, 2009         

Transportation fringe benefit increased
Federal tax regulations allow employees to use a portion of their pre-tax income toward certain commute costs, including fare on public transit such as BART, Muni and SamTrans. As part of a federal stimulus program, the monthly cap for the transit/vanpool portion of the transportation fringe benefit has been increased from $120 to $230 effective immediately.

Employees are now able to take the larger amount pre-tax from their paychecks to pay for commuting costs. The new higher amount further reduces transit commute costs and lowers taxable income. To sign up or change current amount, visit www.commutercheckdirect.com or call 1-800-531-2828. Those not currently enrolled in the Commuter Check program can learn more on the Human Resources Web site at www.sfsu.edu/~hrwww/whats_new/whats_new.html#commuterincrease

Transit tickets/passes or vouchers are mailed directly to participants each month. If needs change, employees have the option to reduce or increase the amount ordered for the following month.

Stimulus funds for education provide little relief to CSU budget deficit
Flanked by state and local education leaders, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger announced April 18 in Long Beach that California is the first state in the nation to receive federal stimulus money that will be passed on to school districts and the state’s universities. Earlier in the month, Schwarzenegger had filed an application with the federal government to receive California's share of the Education Stabilization Fund that was created as part of the federal stimulus bill. The governor's application calls for $268.5 million of one-time funds for the CSU. This amount includes $255 million that was already built into the CSU budget that was passed by the legislature in February. Because the funds were part of the approved budget, they are not new and do not change the CSU's difficult budget situation. The governor's application does include $13.5 million of federal funds, one-time money that will not continue into future budgets. The $13.5 million will slightly offset the $50 million reduction that had been planned for in the 2009-10 budget. The CSU budget, however, remains underfunded almost $587 million because of budget cuts and mandatory new costs for the 2008-09 and 2009-10 fiscal years.

University Housing executive director candidates to visit campus
A search is underway for a new University Housing executive director. Four candidates will be meeting with the campus community on the following dates, with meeting locations to be announced later. D.J. Morales, SF State, May 6 from 12:45 to 1:45 p.m.; Mark Goodrich, SF State, May 8 from 12:45-1:45 p.m.; John White, University of Texas, San Antonio, May 13 from 12:45 to 1:45 p.m.; Lovellie "Happy" Cimenski-Almogela, CSU, San Bernardino, May 14 from 12:45 to 1:45 p.m.

Ethnic studies anniversary call for proposals
The College of Ethnic Studies invites proposals for papers, panels, roundtable discussions, workshops and performances for a conference Oct. 7-10 that marks the 40th anniversary of the founding of the College of Ethnic Studies and the emergence of the field of Ethnic Studies. The 40th anniversary of the college presents an opportunity to examine contributions, developments and challenges within the field of Ethnic Studies. For more information and directions for proposal submissions, visit www.sfsu.edu/~ethnicst/fortieth.html

Office of International Programs awards
The Office of International Programs announced the winners of the Faculty International Development award and the Curriculum Internationalization Incentive Award. Faculty International Development Award winners include: Associate Professor of Anthropology Peter Biella, Assistant Professor of Elementary Education Ali Borjian, Assistant Professor of Urban Studies and Planning Ashok Kumar Das, Assistant Professor of Counseling Hsin-Ya Liao, Assistant Professor of Social Work Candida Madrigal, Professor of Special Education Philip Prinz and Assistant Professor of Classics David Grant Smith. Winners of the Curriculum Internationalization Incentive Award include Assistant Professor of Design and Industry Hsiao-Yun Chu, Assistant Professor of Geography Jason Henderson and Professor of Jazz Studies Dee Spencer.

This week in Insiders: Assistant Professor of Philosophy Justin Tiwald won an award and Assistant Professor of Management Denise Kleinrichert served on a panel.  

Read Insiders: www.sfsu.edu/~news/cmemo/spring09/april27insiders.htm

This week in Newsmakers: Assistant Professor of Management Mitchell Marks discusses pay cuts, Professor of Geosciences John Monteverdi comments on new tornado research and Professor of Biology John Hafernik discusses research by SF State students.

Read Newsmakers: www.sfsu.edu/~news/cmemo/spring09/april27news.htm

This week we remember Don Worth, professor emeritus of art.

Read In Memoriam : www.sfsu.edu/~news/cmemo/spring09/april27memoriam.htm

Monday
Trauma, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and Psychopathology lecture
Malak Al-Rasheed, visiting professor in the School of Social Work, will present her research in the lecture, "Civilian War-Zone Traumas, Complex PTSD & Psychopathology: The Case of Kuwaiti Women," Monday from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in HSS 224.

Tuesday
William Corbett-Jones 80th birthday concert
The College of Creative Arts celebrates Professor of Music William Corbett-Jones' 80th birthday Tuesday at 3 p.m. with a concert. Corbett-Jones, a pianist who joined SF State in 1967, will perform with School of Music and Dance Director/violinist Jassen Todorov and San Francisco Symphony cellist Margaret Tait. The program includes works by Leclair, Mozart, Fauré and Brahms. Tickets are $25. For details and tickets, call ext. 8-2467 or visit http://creativearts.sfsu.edu/events/performing-arts/712

Obama, Europe and the future
The European Studies program will sponsor the panel discussion, "The Future of European-U.S. Relations in the Obama Era," Tuesday from 2 to 3:30 p.m. in SCI 270. The panel will include: French Consul General in San Francisco Pierre-François Mourier, Professor of International Relations Andrei Tsygankov and Associate Professor of International Relations Angelika von Wahl.

Wednesday
Anthropology brown bag lunch
Anthropology graduate student Emma Fuentes will give a talk titled, "Cultural Responses to Terror," Wednesday from 12:10 to 1 p.m. in BUS 218 as part of the Anthropology department's brown bag lunch series.

Future of journalism discussion
Associate Professor of Journalism Rachele Kanigel will lead a panel discussion on the future of journalism featuring Robert Rosenthal, Center of Investigative Reporting, David Cohn of Spot.us, Alexis Madrigal of Wired, and Lila LaHood of The Public Press, on Wednesday from 2:10 to 3:25 p.m. in HSS 130.

ImprovisAsians: The Art of Agency
ImprovisAsians: The Art of Agency is a three-day intercultural collaboration between Asian Improv aRts and SF State's World Music and Dance program, presenting panel discussions, lectures and performances exploring the traditions and hybrids in forming community. On Wednesday at 7:30 p.m., in Knuth Hall, Creative Arts building, "Sound Come-Unity" returns as this year's grand-finale concert, with a host of faculty, students, alumni and community arts activists coming together for one-of-a-kind, improvised sound creations honoring the memory of SF State Dance Lecturer Alicia Pierce. All events are free except "Sound Come-Unity," which is $10 general and $5 students and seniors. For details and tickets, call ext. 8-2467 or visit http://creativearts.sfsu.edu/events/performing-arts/704

Thursday
Storytelling and bilingual students
The Center for Teaching and Faculty Development will host the session, "What Does Storytelling Tell Us About Language and Learning of Bilingual Students -- Implications for Language Sciences and Children’s Education," Thursday from 3:30 to 5 p.m. in HUM 473. Professor of Foreign Languages and Literature Masahiko Minami will explore how different languages signal meaning and the larger implications for teaching bilingual children and adults. To register, call ext. 8-6456, e-mail ctfdreg@sfsu.edu or enroll online at http://power.sfsu.edu 

Nicholas Samaras reading
Greek-American poet Nicholas Samaras will read from his book in progress, "Skiathos (Shadow of Athos)," Thursday at 7 p.m. in HUM 587. Samaras won The Yale Series of Younger Poets Award with his first book, "Hands of the Saddlemaker," and in 2004, was awarded a grant from The Lilly Endowment Inc. to attend the Athens Olympics and write new material.

'Still Dreaming…1968…'
The departments of Raza Studies and Sociology will present "Still Dreaming…1968…" Thursday at 7 p.m. and May 1 at 8 p.m. at the Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts, 2868 Mission St. The event will celebrate the role of artists in the student movements of 1968 and those who came before and after. The event will also feature live musical performances and presentations by SF State faculty. For more information, contact Ed McCaughan, Sociology Department chair, at ejmcc@sfsu.edu or ext. 8-1090.

Roger Woodward performs Bach and Shostakovich
Professor of Music Roger Woodward, a pianist, performs solo concerts at 7:30 p.m. Thursday and May 7 in Knuth Hall, Creative Arts building. Woodward has recorded more than 100 albums and videos of concertos, chamber and contemporary music and performed in 45 countries covering five continents. On April 30, Woodward plays Bach’s Das Wohltemperierte Clavier Book I. On May 7, he plays Shostakovich’s 24 Preludes and Fugues. Tickets are $15 general and $10 students and seniors. For details and tickets, call ext. 8-2467 or http://creativearts.sfsu.edu/events/performing-arts/713

Coming Up
Center for Teaching and Faculty Development brown bag
Dean of Faculty Affairs Wanda Lee will be the guest for the Center for Teaching and Faculty Development's brown bag lunch on May 1 from noon to 1:30 p.m. in BH 333. Beverages and fruit are provided.

'The Bartered Bride'
"The Bartered Bride" is Bedrich Smetana's classic romp, which involves a Czech couple and their disapproving parents, resulting in a scheme involving the entire village, especially the marriage broker. The production includes 50 cast members, a 12-piece orchestra, 40 crewmembers and one dancing man in a bear suit. Professor of Theatre Arts Roy Conboy serves as stage director, with Associate Professor of Music Alissa Walters Deeter as musical director. "The Bartered Bride" plays May 1-2 at 8 p.m. and May 3 at 2 p.m. in McKenna Theatre, Creative Arts building. Tickets are $15 to $20. For details and tickets, call ext. 8-2467 or visit: http://creativearts.sfsu.edu/events/performing-arts/701

Health policy advocacy talk
Catherine Dodd, deputy chief of staff for the office of the mayor of San Francisco, will speak May 4 from 3:30 to 6 p.m. in the Seven Hills Conference Center. The talk, "Health Policy Advocacy: Transforming Passion into Action," is presented by the School of Nursing. For more information, call ext. 8-1802.

Poetry Center reading
Rick Campbell, founder of Anhinga Press, will talk about the art of publishing poetry, and will also read from his latest book of verse, "Dixmont," May 5 at 4 p.m. in The Poetry Center, HUM 512. For more information, contact Jennifer Arin at ext. 8-2719 or jarin@sfsu.edu  

Community of Academic Technology Staff online conference
The 2009 CSU Community of Academic Technology Staff (CATS) Online Conference will take place May 6-8. The 12th annual, and first virtual conference, is open to all CSU faculty and staff and will feature the theme, "Community Arcade: Exhibits of Excellence." Sessions will focus on the technological and educational advances influencing the direction of academic technology. The online registration form is available at http://cats.cdl.edu/online_2009 For more information about the conference and events at SF State, contact Noelia Mendoza at ext. 8-6906 or noelia@sfsu.edu
 
Generations: Two nights of jazz at Yoshi's
Generations Jazz, a project of the International Center for the Arts, takes over Yoshi's San Francisco on May 6-7. Generations combines leading lights of three jazz generations into one explosive combo, featuring Jimmy Cobb, veteran of the great Miles Davis bands. May 6 at 8 and 10 p.m., the Generations Band performs. Tickets are $20. On May 7 at 8 p.m., "The Battle of the Combos" takes place. The two finalist bands of the Generations International Competition compete onstage for a yearlong fellowship at SF State. The Generations Band will play a set and jam with the two exciting young combos. Tickets are $15. Yoshi's is located at 1330 Fillmore St. For details and tickets, call 415/655-5600 or visit http://creativearts.sfsu.edu/events/performing-arts/849

Friends of Leonard Library meeting
The Friends of Leonard Library invite the campus to its annual meeting May 7 at 3 p.m. in SCI 270. After a short business meeting, Professor Emeritus of English Manfred Wolf will speak about his book,  "Almost a Foreign Country."

For more upcoming events, see the University Calendar

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Last modified April 27, 2009 by University Communications.