Top Stories
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F.W. de Klerk speaks at Bucknell Forum
Former South African President F.W. de Klerk spoke to a group of about 800 students, faculty and community members at the Weis Center for Performing Arts on Feb. 19. “The future well-being depends on how the United States will play its global role, its global leadership role in a world full of threats,” he said. [full story]
De Klerk was the inaugural speaker in the new Bucknell Forum series, “Global Leadership: Questions for the 21st Century.” In his talk, “Bridging the Gap: Globalization without Isolation,” he challenged the nation to hold on to the ideals of its foundation and to lead by example.
De Klerk was instrumental in dismantling South Africa’s century-old system of apartheid and in 1990 released Nelson Mandela from prison. In addition to the Nobel Peace Prize, Mandela and de Klerk also shared the Philadelphia Peace Prize in 1993. In 2002, President Thabo Mbeki bestowed on them the order of Mapungubwe: Gold in honor of their exceptional contribution to the process of peace, national reconciliation and nation-building in South Africa.
A telecast of de Klerk’s talk is available on myBucknell until March 30.
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Bucknell makes Community Service Honor Roll
Bucknell was named to the President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll, the highest federal recognition a school can achieve for its commitment to service-learning and civic engagement. [full story]
“Success and service reinforce each other at Bucknell, and help our students apply the broad knowledge of a liberal arts education however their passion drives them,” said Bucknell President Brian C. Mitchell. The Corporation for National Service recognized a total of 635 schools as Honor Roll, Honor Roll with Distinction and Presidential Award members.
The University’s community service efforts were also recognized by the 2009 MLK Day of Service Technology Contest, which awarded Bucknell a $400 mini-grant for its winning video documenting the efforts of 420 Bucknell volunteers who worked 1,230 service hours in Lewisburg and surrounding areas.
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Students participate in Clinton Global forum
Five Bucknell students — Grace Han '11, Muyambi Muyambi '11, Molly Burke '10, Abhay Agarwal '09 and Jacquelin Kataneksza '09 — attended the Clinton Global Initiative University (CGI U) Meeting at the University of Texas–Austin in February. Nearly 1,000 students from colleges and universities across the nation were selected to attend. [full story]
At CGI U the students heard from a variety of academic, social and political leaders, including former President Clinton. Kataneksza presented a “Commitment to Action,” which involves raising funds to rejuvenate the Women’s Development Savings and Credit Union, a women’s cooperative in Zimbabwe. In 2008, Muyambi received a $5,000 Clinton Global Initiative grant for his project, Bicycles Against Poverty, which he will launch this summer in Uganda with the help of Bucknell students.
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Students head to Nicaragua with Bucknell Brigade
One group of students and another of alumni will travel to Nicaragua this month as part of the Bucknell Brigade, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary. The delegations will bring donated medicines and inventory supplies for the pharmacy and assist with manual labor on various projects. [full story]
The Bucknell Brigade teaches participants about micro-enterprise initiatives, grass roots development and Nicaragua’s history and culture. Since March 1999, more than 435 students, alumni and faculty have participated in 22 Brigade trips to Nueva Vida, a resettlement community outside the capital city of Managua, Nicaragua.
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Professor’s discovery is national news
Assistant Professor of Biology DeeAnn Reeder, along with her state game commission research partner, made national headlines when she confirmed that white-nose syndrome is killing bats in large numbers in Pennsylvania. The Philadelphia Inquirer, The Boston Globe, The Scientist and many other publications reported on the discovery. [full story]
Erratic behavior reported by a Lakawanna County resident led to finding hundreds of dead bats outside caves where they should have been hibernating, said Reeder. This confirmed that the syndrome had spread to Pennsylvania from New York, where it was first discovered in 2006.
A multi-state research effort is underway to determine what causes white-nose syndrome in bats. Reeder and a team of Pennsylvania researchers have received grants totaling more than $120,000 to study the syndrome and its causes, and immune function in infected bats.
For more media coverage of the University, subscribe to Bucknell in the News, a weekly e-newsletter distributed each Friday via e-mail.
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Campus gears up for spring events
This spring, Bucknell invites alumni, students and families to celebrate the arts. [full story]
Spring Arts Weekend is April 24–26 and includes the 20th anniversary celebration of dance at Bucknell. The Association for the Arts will partner with the Department of Theatre and Dance to host dance alumni networking opportunities and a master class led by Danny Buraczeski ’70. The Spring Dance Gala will feature student choreography and a fusion piece for graduating seniors. Guest artists and Bucknell faculty will debut jazz, modern dance and contemporary ballet choreography. Tickets are available.
