FREE PUBLIC LECTURE AND DISCUSSION

Lauren McGrath (Sierra Club) and
Heath Lovell (Vice President, River View Coal)

Thursday, February 23, 2012
7:00 p.m. Brescia University
Taylor Lecture Hall – Science Building
717 Frederica St.  Owensboro, KY

One of the most important issues facing the world today is energy – in particular, consumption, availability, cost, and the impact on the environment. As residents of Kentucky, the future of coal is an item of particular interest, as many are concerned that our dependence on non-renewable sources of energy is a potential problem; others worry about the economic repercussions of weaning us off of those energy sources. Two experts in this field, Lauren McGrath and Heath Lovell, will offer a joint presentation from different professional vantage points. Lauren McGrath, a representative from the Sierra Club ‘Beyond Coal & Clean Energy Transition’ campaign based in Louisville Kentucky, and Heath Lovell, Vice President of River View Coal, will both provide their unique positions on the future of energy in Kentucky and beyond.

This program is sponsored by the Owensboro Area World Affairs Council. For more information, contact OAWAC via e-mail at: goawac@gmail.com. Visit us on the web at http://legacy.owensboro.kctcs.edu/oawac and Facebook

Ain’t I a Woman! celebrates the life and times of four powerful African-American women: renowned novelist and anthropologist Zora Neale Hurston, ex-slave and fiery abolitionist Sojourner Truth, exuberant folk artist Clementine Hunter, and fervent civil rights worker Fannie Lou Hamer. The musical score is drawn from the heartfelt spirituals and blues of the Deep South, the urban vitality of the Jazz Age, and contemporary concert music by African-Americans. Ain’t I a Woman! is a joyful exploration of the trials and triumphs of  four passionate and accomplished women. Taylore Mahoganny Scott portrays multiple characters while interacting with the onstage musical trio of cello, piano and percussion.

Since 1993, the Core Ensemble has toured in every region of the United States and internationally to Australia, England, Russia, Ukraine, and the British Virgin Islands.

This event is co-sponsored by the Diocese of Owensboro, Greenwell-Chisholm Printing Company, Owensboro Human Relations Commission, Owensboro Rotary Club, Independence Bank, H.L. Neblett Center, Sacred Heart Parish, St. Agnes Parish, and Girls, Inc.

by Tom Riesing

Brescia University’s Anna Eaton Stout Art Gallery will exhibit the work of Marcia Goldenstein and Tom Riesing during the month of February. Both Goldenstein and Riesing are internationally-exhibiting landscape artists. Goldenstein is a professor at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville. Riesing is the Chair of the Art Department at Ball State University.

by Marcia Goldenstein

“(Land) Scape(s)²” will be open to the public January 31-March 1. An opening reception takes place Tuesday, January 31 from 6-8 pm in the Art Gallery which is located on the second floor of the Brescia University Campus Center. It is open Monday – Friday from 8:30 – 4 pm.

Marcia Goldenstein is a Professor at the University of  Tennessee School of Art, teaching both Drawing and Painting. She has been a Visiting Artist at the National Academy of Fine Arts, Bratislava, Slovakia; Tudor Hall, United Kingdom; University of Texas, San Antonio; Arizona State University; University of Indianapolis; Sichuan University and Beihang University in China as well as at other schools and museums. She has had numerous solo and group exhibitions in the United States, Europe, and China. Her paintings and mixed media works have strong ties to regional landscape painting traditions. She is interested in representing specific sites and phenomenon as well as the ways in which nature is transformed and romanticized for domestic consumption. Goldenstein received both her BFA and MFA degrees at the University of Nebraska.  

Prior to becoming Chairperson of the Department of Art at Ball State University in July 1, 2010, Riesing taught painting and drawing at the University of Tennessee from 1973 to 2010.  He was a visiting professor at the University of Texas in San Antonio in 1992, the National Academy of Fine Arts in Bratislava, Slovakia in 1993, and Beihang Univesity in Beijing, China in 2009.  Since 1995 he has been a visiting artist/lecturer at eighteen different Universities and Academies in China. Riesing has exhibited his work extensively in the USA and abroad.  He was one of three western artists invited to participate in the 1998 Asia-Pacific Contemporary Art Exhibition in Fuzhou, China.  In February of 2008 had a two-person exhibition, Under the Peaceful Sky, at the Blue Dreamland Gallery in Chengdu, China, and in June of 2009 he had a two-person exhibition, Shared Spaces, at the Beihang University Gallery in Beijing, China. He attended the University of Nebraska from 1966-73 where he received his BFA and MFA degrees. 

Soles4Souls, Brescia University and Independence Bank will be collecting your new or gently worn footwear and/or donations for three weeks to make a tangible difference through the gift of shoes. Every donation will support the charity’s initiative to distribute shoes to those in need.

“With tragedies such as the earthquakes in countries like Haiti and Japan, on top of the enormous needs elsewhere, we can use the estimated 1.5 billion shoes taking up space in the closets of ordinary people to change the world one pair at a time,” said Founder and CEO of Soles4Souls, Wayne Elsey.

Elsey added, “We need partners like Brescia University and Independence Bank to get behind Soles4Souls. Donating shoes is one of the most simple yet profound acts you can do, because it will greatly improve someone’s life in the most difficult of times.”

The shoe drive takes place from January 30 – February 19. Collection boxes are located in all the main Brescia University campus buildings and all three Independence Bank branch locations (Frederica Street, Highway 54, and Parrish Avenue).

Be sure to join Independence Bank and Brescia University for the Brescia Bearcats men’s and women’s basketball games on Saturday, February 11 at the Sportscenter for the Independence Bank “In It to Win It” competition, which occurs during half-time. The competition will center around the shoe drive. Game times are at 6 and 8 pm.

People and companies interested in donating can visit the organization’s website at www.giveshoes.org.

About Soles4Souls®, Clothes4Souls®, and Hope4Souls™
Soles4Souls collects new shoes to give relief to the victims of abject suffering and collects used shoes to support micro-enterprise efforts to eradicate poverty.  Soles4Souls’ other two divisions, Clothes4Souls and Hope4Souls, provide the same relief and support through clothing and other necessities. Donating parties are eligible for tax advantages.  Visit www.giveshoes.org, www.clothes4souls.org, or www.hope4souls.org  for more information.  

At this event, student leaders from University teams and organizations will be recognized and the two “Spirit of Angela” recipients will be announced.  The “Spirit of Angela” recipients are students who were nominated by faculty, staff or other students because they embody the characteristics or qualities that were evidenced in Angela Merici’s life. Angela Merici is the founder of the company of Saint Ursula. It was the Ursuline Sisters who established Mount Saint Joseph Junior College, which was later moved to Owensboro and renamed Brescia College. In 1998 it became Brescia University.

His love for the University compelled him to purchase t-shirts, hats, and sweatshirts and have Brescia University imprinted on them for the Sisters and Priests on campus, faculty, staff, and the student choir. His love for Bearcat athletics was displayed by purchasing duffel bags and sock caps for the men’s and women’s basketball teams. He believed in promoting the University by supplying Brescia apparel for the campus community, knowing it would enable Brescia’s name to be in the public.

Jim will be missed but never forgotten. His passion for his alma mater was the catalyst for writing a song for the University in 2006, entitled “Brescia, Brescia.” Though he had no musical background, he did not let that deter him from penning a song that is now sung at every academic convocation and graduation ceremony. Below is the alma mater Jim wrote for the University:

“Brescia, Brescia, alma mater, keep us faithful to thine honor.
Science, Culture and Religion, light our way.
Soli Deo Gloria, onward and upward.
Truth and honor, light and learning, be with us forever.
Onward Brescia, fill our spirit with the fire of life’s endeavors.
In our heart dear Brescia, love thee forever.”

The Brescia Student Choir performed the alma mater at the Annual Christmas Concert in December. You can view the clip by clicking the link below.

Regionally accredited colleges and universities are required to undergo a reaffirmation of accreditation process every ten years. In 2009 as a part of its decennial review, Brescia was placed  on warning, which meant that its accreditation was continued but reaffirmation was delayed until the institution could demonstrate compliance principally in two areas: assessment of outcomes and financial stability and resources.

Already in 2007-2008 Brescia had begun to address these issues with the development of a new strategic plan, a new institutional effectiveness plan, and a three year financial stabilization plan, all of which had achieved their goals by 2010-11.  During this period Brescia had increased its full-time undergraduate degree seeking population by 61%, with the freshman full time population increasing by 60%, leading to the largest freshman class since 1979. Brescia also expanded its online educational presence during this time and experienced incredible growth from 22 full time equivalent students in 2007 to 214 full time equivalent students in 2011.

In October 2011, a special committee from SACS visited Brescia to assess the progress toward addressing these concerns. The committee found Brescia completely in compliance with all standards and requirements and had no further recommendations.   This report was the basis for the SACS Board of Trustees’ decision to reaffirm Brescia’s accreditation and remove the institutions from warning.

President Hostetter, who was at the meeting, said: “While there was never any doubt in the reaffirmation process about the quality of a Brescia education, the previous financial situation gave concern to our accreditors. It is gratifying to know that SACS has recognized the incredible progress of our institution over the last few years.  With our renewed financial stability and strength we will continue to provide a quality educational experience made unique by the Brescia Difference. Our faculty and staff deserve a huge ‘thank-you’ for their dedication to the Brescia mission. Without them we would not have been able to make the strides that we have.”

There are two programs that Brescia students could participate in:

a.      Contemporary Japan Program in Nagoya: Classes in art, political science, culture, history and business would be offered in English for a visiting student. Generally speaking, courses would transfer to Brescia (student should consult with Academic Dean).

b.      Japanese Language and Japanese Studies Program: The main focus here is mastery of the Japanese language.

A brochure is located in the President’s Office.

The second international study abroad opportunity is a two-week study tour in Rome, Italy that takes place in June 2013. President Larry Hostetter will lead this tour that will consist of an intensive theology course which will study the way Catholic theology is manifested in the art of Rome and Italy. Excursions from Rome may include Florence, Orvietto, Assisi, Naples and Pompei.

For more information on either of these study abroad opportunities, contact the President’s Office at 270-686-4236.