Month: October 2012

Kerong Kelly
Writer

Biz Stone, the co-founder of Twitter, is scheduled to come speak as a part of the University’s new forum series, “tech/no” on Oct. 23. Stone will talk about the impact media has had on today’s society and culture as it continues to expand drastically.

“I am excited to hear about Stone’s road to success and about the impact he has had on the general public,” Scott Ernenwein ’16 said.

The “tech/no” series forum aims to discuss and inform on the pros and cons of newer technology as it pertains to politics, science, business etc.

“I think it’s great that Bucknell is bringing in current people such as Biz Stone that have founding experience. I hope to hear more people from different fields,” Jared Feindt ’16 said.

In the spring semester, the University looks forward to welcoming Arianna Huffington, founder of the Huffington Post Media Group. She will be speaking on Feb. 19, as part of the “tech/no” series.

The consensus on the speaker choices on campus is positive. From Kevin Clash, the voice of Sesame Street’s Elmo, to Edward Albee, renowned playwright, recent speakers have covered a wide range of topics from different fields.

“In general, I like that they have a good variety of people,” Carolyn McPhee ’15 said.

As social media outlets continue to expand, speakers such as Stone and Huffington are becoming even more important not only as role models, but also as leaders in their fields.

Paige Bailey
Writer

The University will be a part of a national China Town Hall event featuring a webcast with U.S. Ambassador to China, Gary Locke, on Oct. 29. Just one week before the presidential election, members of the University will be able to engage in a discourse regarding United States-China relations with both Locke and a leading China expert, Bonnie Glaser.

The China town hall will begin at 6:45 p.m. in the Terrace Room with Glaser’s talk, “U.S. Strategic Rebalancing toward Asia and Its Impact on US-China Relations.” Glaser is a senior fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies as well as a member on the Council on Foreign Relations. She specializes in issues of defense and international security in China, East Asia and the Pacific and Korea. Her writings have been published in an array of academic journals and newspapers.

The National Committee on United States-China Relations (NCUSCR) relations is the oldest American organization focused on the promotion of strong, friendly relations between the two countries. Zhiqun Zhu, associate professor of political science and international relations and MacArthur Chair in East Asian Politics, said the NCUSR sponsors these webcasts primarily to “ … remind Americans that a strong and cooperative US-China relationship serves the best interests of the two countries.”

After Glaser’s talk there will be a webcast led by Locke, who was a two-term governor of Washington and the U.S. Secretary of Commerce prior to his confirmation as Ambassador to China. He is also the first person of Chinese descent to be the Ambassador to China.

Zhu also said that students should be excited about this forum because, for the first time, “Bucknell will be joining some 50 other locations across the country to host this important event just one week before the U.S. presidential election.”

Zhu believes that the way that the event is set up facilitates dialogue about “China-related issues” between citizens and policy experts and senior officials.

“It’s a tribute to the stature of Zhu that he has been able to bring together the participants in this event,” said Pete Mackey, vice president for communications and community relations.

Mackey also said that this forum is representative of the “vibrant intellectual and cultural dialogue that Bucknell encourages on campus and beyond.”

Alexis Birnberg, a senior Management major with an East Asian Studies minor echoes Professor Zhu’s enthusiasm. “There have been various discussions in U.S. politics, most recently within the presidential election, debating future affairs with China. Attending this event will introduce people of all majors to both the costs and benefits of Chinese relations, adding substance to the debates you may see on TV regarding this topic. China’s booming economy has also played a large role in the United States economic prosperity. There are various facets of China that could affect the future of the U.S. – [everyone] should want to be informed of this relationship, ” said Birnberg.

The China Town Hall is sponsored by the MacArthur Chair in East Asian Politics, the Departments of Political Science, International Relations and East Asian studies and Communications and Events Management offices and the National Committee on United States-China Relations.

Allison Busacca
Writer

“Tech/no,” the University’s fourth Forum National Speaker Series, commenced this fall, and will run through the spring of 2014. The mission of this series, according to Forum Chair Pete Mackey, is to “explore the positive and negative influences and effects of technology on multiple aspects of human life and society.”

The series is called “tech/no” because its goal is to consider not just the “promises” of technology, but also its “perils.”

The Forum will kick off its “tech/no” speaker series with Biz Stone, co-founder of one of the biggest social media platforms, Twitter, on Oct. 23 at 7:30 p.m. The event will take place in the Weis Center for the Performing Arts. When choosing speakers for this theme, student task force member Katurah Klein ’13 believed they “could not do a ‘tech/no’ series without adding in a factor of social media. So who better than the co-founder of Twitter?

The Bucknell Forum has announced that its “tech/no” speaker in the spring will be president and editor-in-chief of the Huffington Post Media Group, Arianna Huffington.

“[Stone and Huffington] are two of the most influential people to come to Bucknell,” student task force member Lindsey Myers ’13 said.

Myers is an interdepartmental media studies major, so she is especially excited to hear from them on the “link between media and technology.”

Working on this “tech/no” series has made Klein more aware of how we are constantly “plugged-in,” and she hopes the Forum’s speakers will evoke “thought-provoking conversations” on the advantages and disadvantages of technology.

Another upcoming event planned for this series is a performance titled, “Un/real and Un/true: ‘The Agony and Ecstasy of Steve Jobs,’” on Nov. 27 at 7:30 p.m. in Trout Auditorium.

“[‘The Agony and Ecstasy of Steve Jobs’] will feature human and multi-media interruptions scripted by the task force with students that explore the truth, lies and meaning of the controversy over Apple’s manufacturing in China, the recent hit off-Broadway play ‘The Agony and the Ecstasy of Steve Jobs’ and our shared responsibility as consumers for the products we use,” Mackey said.

The theme of the first series (fall 2007-fall 2008) was “The Citizen & Politics in America,” the second series (spring 2009-spring 2010) was “Global Leadership,” and the third series (fall 2010-spring 2012) was “Creativity: Beyond the Box.” The Forum has hosted many leaders, scholars and commentators to speak on these themes, including moderator of NBC’s “Meet the Press” Tim Russert in 2007, environmental lawyer Robert F. Kennedy Jr. in 2010, Pulitzer Prize winners and more recently, nine-time Grammy Award winner John Legend.

Brianna Marshall
Writer

The University welcomed 14 new full professors this semester with the promotion of 12 faculty members and the introduction of two additional professors. These individuals represent a wide range of majors and disciplines in both the College of Arts and Sciences and the College of Engineering. The Board of Trustees conducted these promotions on the basis of intensive departmental reviews and recommendations.

“Being promoted to full professor is the highest form of recognition in the profession,” Provost Mick Smyer said on the Bucknell University website [“Faculty Stories: Meet our new full professors,” Oct. 11, 2012]. “These faculty are deeply invested in pushing our students to think more deeply and broadly about the subject matter. At the same time, they continue to do rigorous scholarly work and contribute knowledge to their respective fields.”

Professor of English Shara McCallum is among those promoted to full professor status.

“Connecting deeply with the students I’ve worked with here, and building relationships that have lasted with many of them years after their graduation, has been one of the most enriching aspects of my teaching at Bucknell. I’ve also been grateful to help deepen an appreciation of contemporary poetry–on campus, in the local community and regional area and nationally–through my role as director of the Stadler Center,” McCallum said.

Other familiar faces to be promoted from the College of Arts and Sciences include Gregory Adams and Tom Cassidy, professors of mathematics; Eric Tillman and Brian Williams, professors of chemistry; Katharina Vollmayr-Lee, professor of physics; Christopher Magee, professor of economics; Alexander Tristan Riley, professor of sociology and Slava Yastremski, professor of Russian. James Maneval, professor of chemical engineering; Mike Toole, professor of civil engineering and Constance Ziemian, professor of mechanical Engineering, are the newly promoted full professors within the College of Engineering.

Two new professors have also been hired: Alan Cheville, professor of electrical engineering and Judith Grisel, professor of psychology. Cheville is set to arrive on campus next semester, while Grisel has started teaching already.

“I just moved to Bucknell in August and am thrilled with everything–including the northward ‘promotion,’” said Grisel.

For more information and new full professor profiles, check out the faculty stories on the University website.

Elaine Lac
Writer

Hiro Maeda ’09 majored in computer science and economics and has since started Open Network Lab, a Tokyo-based incubator. The company provides advice, funding and office space to small start-up companies. The large technology companies like Panasonic are failing, and Maeda’s fresh and innovative management techniques are just what Tokyo needs. The Bucknellian sat down to ask him a few questions about his career path.

What drove your interest in start-up Internet companies at the University?

“During my freshman year at Bucknell, a lot of interesting and successful internet platforms emerged. Facebook was getting started and was exclusive to college students at that time. The product was evolving every day and the growth was insane. YouTube became really huge and was acquired by Google. Digg and Reddit were both growing fast and were competing to become the “frontpage of the Internet.” I felt that this is another huge opportunity so I decided to switch my major from electrical engineering to computer science.”

How did the idea of Open Network Lab come to be?

“Before starting Open Network Lab, I have started a company and invested in a few companies as well. I became addicted to innovation and entrepreneurship. But both my entrepreneurial and investment activities were in the U.S.A. I wanted to do something in Japan (since that’s where I’m from). At that time, (2008-2009) there was barely any activity in Japan.

I was fortunate enough to meet the CEO of Netprice.com, Teruhide Sato, who shared my vision of creating an ecosystem and a community of entrepreneurs in Japan. After meeting him, I decided to join him at Netprice.com and moved to Tokyo.

After doing some research, I found out that that there are two very successful incubators called TechStars and Y Combinator, which did a new-style of investing. They invested in companies synchronously and focused on building a network so that entrepreneurs and mentors can help each other. I thought that was a brilliant idea. I proposed my idea to Teruhide. He then introduced me to co-founders of Digital Garage, Joi Ito and Kaoru Hayashi. We had a discussion going and together we decided to become partners to start Open Network Lab.”

What makes the company effective?

“It’s the support of successful entrepreneurs and investors such as Teruhide Sato, Joi Ito and Kaoru Hayashi. They have brought in a global network of mentors and supporters who are helping us build successful companies.”

Do you have any advice for current University students about their future careers?

“Be adaptive and responsive to change. Take action to whatever you think is right and put your whole heart into it.”