Author: cmo015

Christina Oddo

Aaron Mitchel, assistant professor of psychology, and Swanson Fellow in the Sciences and Engineering, is currently researching how we depend on more than sound to figure out what someone else is saying. On Mitchel’s Faculty Story page on the University Website, Mitchel describes that the way we react when we cannot understand what someone is saying, whether due to background noise or to the presence of a different language, begins to explain that more exists beyond auditory signals.

“We don’t live in just an auditory environment,” Mitchel said on his page. “We typically have multiple senses interacting, with very important and very rich cues coming from visual input.”

Mitchel believes we can use facial information to help figure out where a word begins and ends—this task becomes difficult because speech is a “constant flow.” Visual cues can also be used to help distinguish words that people often say differently based on sound.

Mitchel’s research is explaining how we perceive speech depending on whom we think is speaking. Mitchel came to this by having subjects distinguish ambiguous sounds coming from different speakers.

Such research can potentially and positively affect those with hearing impairments, for example. The understanding of visual cues may help these people look to overcome such challenges.

“First we have to do the basic research to know what the important visual cues are,” Mitchel said on the website.

After this, parents could potentially be trained, for example, to accentuate important visual cues to help children.

Mitchel is currently working with students Laina Lusk ’13, Adrienne Wendling ’13, Chris Paine ’14 and Alex Maclay ’15 in the lab.

Mitchel is focusing his research on using an eye-tracker to identify which facial cues are being used by listeners to learn word boundaries.

“For example, we know we use facial cues more when we’re in a noisy environment (you can think of trying to understand someone in a crowded restaurant–to understand someone you need to look at their face, and specifically look at their mouth), and so in the future I hope to introduce noise to the audio stream to see how that changes the recruitment of facial cues,” Mitchel said. “This may, much further down the road, have implications for individuals with cochlear implants, who have great difficulty segmenting speech on the basis of auditory cues.”

Mitchel became interested in this research topic based on his previous research on language acquisition. Mitchel noticed that this field was exclusively focused on the auditory input to learners, and recognized that there is more to language than this.

In order to fully comprehend the environment in which we learn, Mitchel believes it is more than necessary to consider all of the input available for language learners. This concept stood out the most for Mitchel when he attended a talk at the major conference on language development.

“The presenters were showing a video of a parent-infant interaction, and they only described the nature of the auditory input (it was a study on infant-directed speech), even though right there in the video the infant was fixated on the mother’s face, intently watching every lip movement and head bob,” Mitchel said. “Clearly, infant directed speech wasn’t just about shaping the auditory input, there was something very important going on in the face! Indeed, a study (by different authors–I wish I had thought of this) in 2010 found that speech-relevant facial cues are exaggerated in infant directed speech, suggesting an important learning benefit for visual speech.”

This is just one line of Mitchel’s research, and he looks to expand these ideas in future studies.

Christina Oddo

The annual Bison Bruiser, an urban obstacle race, took place on April 14 at 10 a.m. It was hosted by the Outdoor Education and Leadership and sponsored by BuckWild, the Bucknell Outing Club and CLIMBucknell. The event took place across campus as well as downtown.

The Bison Bruiser is a relay adventure race where participants jump, bike, paddle and run throughout campus and town to find clues that eventually lead the groups to a celebration. Food and beverages were served in the Smith parking lot throughout race day.

“I was on the committee that helped organize the event along with at least 10 other Outing Club members,” Rebekah Hupp ’13 said. “It was a lot of work to prepare for, but the event was definitely a success. We had a good turnout for the event, especially on a busy Bucknell weekend. Every group that came to my station seemed enthusiastic and happy to be participating.”

Registration began March 25, and people were able to sign up in groups of four or five. The event was also free and t-shirts were available for purchase.

“It was great to see Bucknell students getting outside and running around campus,” Hupp said. “I had multiple people text me saying that they saw people running around and that it looked like fun. Thanks to everyone that participated! A special thanks should go to Liz Semeraro ’16, Monica Herzog ’13 and Tony Stafford (Director of Outdoor Education) for the hours that they put into organizing the event. Also, for all of our volunteers on race day. They made the day work!”

Jackson McCarron

Contributing Writer

Parents of a University student are facing misdemeanor charges for supplying and consuming alcohol with underage students in February.
The story was first published on the front page of the Sunday edition of The Daily Item, a local paper serving Lewisburg and the surrounding area.
According to a police affidavit, Michael R. Ruff and his wife, Victoria B. Ruff, purchased and consumed hard alcohol with their daughter and her friends on Feb. 2 at a party thrown in their daughter’s dorm room.
The situation was brought to the attention of a University employee, who wished to remain anonymous, when a Residential Advisor (RA) sent an email expressing concern about the safety of the students living on her hall.
In the email, which was reported in a criminal complaint filed by police at the Union County Magistrate’s office, the RA stated that according to the residents she spoke with, the Ruffs had purchased between seven and nine handles of alcohol.
The RA expressed her surprise at seeing Michael Ruff on the hall that night when students were drinking. She stated in the email that one of her residents witnessed him pressuring underage students to drink. According to the email, Ruff commented on one female student’s belly-shirt, saying that it made her look “more like a slut.”
The email sent to the University employee ended with the RA’s assertion that the Ruffs exhibited a shocking lack of concern for the underage residents’ safety, and she feared a similar situation might occur if the Ruff’s were to return for House Party Weekend.
Several photos uploaded to Victoria Ruff’s Facebook page, cited as evidence in court documents, place the Ruffs in a downhill residential hall and in the presence of opened handles of alcohol with minors present.
Victoria Ruff commented on one such photo of herself, her daughter and 14 other girls, which has since been removed, saying, “ … It was fun reliving my college dorm days with my girls.”
Another photo, included as evidence in court documents, depicting Victoria Ruff and six of her daughter’s friends, was captioned, “Reliving my college days with my daughter and her friends at Bucknell! Lucky to be included in the ‘pre-gaming.’ Maybe next time I’ll make it to the frat party.”
One of the underage female students present at the party was later admitted to the hospital, according to the police affidavit. The student told police in an interview conducted on Feb. 5 that Michael Ruff was pouring shots for other women in his daughter’s room and poured at least one of her shots that evening. The student recalled that she took eight or nine shots total that night.
Between Feb. 5 and 6, police conducted a series of interviews with four female students involved in the incident, including the Ruff’s daughter. All of the women placed the Ruffs in their daughter’s room on the night of Feb. 2.
All of the women recall the Ruffs being present in their daughter’s room sometime between 9 p.m. and 10 p.m. on the night of Feb. 2, and all of the women were aware that the liquor and wine in the dorm room had been supplied by Michael and Victoria Ruff.
Richard C. Roxin, the lawyer for Lisa’s Liquor Barn near the Ruff’s New York home, sent Detective Jeff Ettinger a receipt from the store that showed seven purchases of alcoholic beverages. The MasterCard used to purchase the beverages was the same one Michael Ruff used to pay for his and his wife’s room at the Country Inn and Suites, the police reported.

Information security

Brianna Marshall

Contributing Writer

The average University student spends countless hours every day on a computer, whether in class, the library or around campus. Everyone can relate to attempting to do homework, only to abandon productivity for shameless Facebooking. But how often do University students consider who insures the ability to safely access the Internet and its many sources of procrastination? Technology extends beyond required password changes and Tech Desk visits to the important issue of information security.

Information security involves preventing unauthorized individuals from accessing private information and harming technological networks. In the case of the University, this would mean defending the Bucknell Network from people unassociated with the University, as well as from potential threats such as viruses. Although relatively unpublicized among the student body, the University takes these possible threats seriously and upholds strong information security standards.

“Information security is a critical part of every Bucknellian’s electronic life,” Eric Smith, the University’s chief information security officer (CISO), said. “Think for a moment about how many systems, either on the Bucknell Network or out on the Internet, hold data or provide services which are critical to your ability to complete your academic work, keep in touch with friends or check your bank account. What would happen if you were to lose access to these resources? How would you be affected if key information, such as a private Facebook chat or your social security number, were to become public? The results could be disastrous. The CISO role was established in order to develop systems, policies and procedures to insure that your digital Bucknell identity remains safe and secure.”

Smith is not only in charge of information security at the University but has recently accepted a joint appointment position with Franklin & Marshall College in Lancaster, Pa. and Susquehanna University in Selinsgrove, Pa. This position allows for collaboration among the three institutions and provides an opportunity for greater knowledge and understanding about the importance of information security. The exchange of effective practices and strategies for maintaining safe technology has the potential to positively impact many individuals, including the University community.

The next time you Skype with your best friends during their semester abroad or pull an all-nighter writing that never ending research paper, consider the importance of information security and those who work to maintain the University’s technological protection.

Jonathan Bloom

Kerong Kelly

Writer

Throughout the week of April 8, Jonathan Bloom, journalist and author of “American Wasteland: How America Throws Away Nearly Half its Food (and What We Can Do About It),” organized and hosted several events on campus regarding food waste awareness and prevention.

Bloom’s most recent visit to the University was the third out of his four, week-long visits that are geared towards creating a campus-wide discussion about food waste. He is the O.V.W. Hawkins Expert-in-Residence, part of a lectureship series that was first established by the University’s Board of Trustees and funded by Hawkins, a former trustee. The lecturer’s focus is in the fields of public policy, politics and government.

Bloom’s visits are part of the University’s year long initiative on reducing food waste, eating locally and serving the needy, titled, “Feeding Our Hearts, Expanding Our Vision.” This initiative was the University’s response to the White House’s Interfaith and Community Service Campus Challenge, directed at colleges and universities to bring people together who are both religiously affiliated and who are not, in an effort to work on projects that will benefit the common good. After extensive research, Bloom estimated that nationally 25 percent of the food that is brought into the home is eventually wasted.

Bloom first started visiting college campuses about three years ago. He wanted to spread the word about the impact of food waste to the upcoming generation in order to promote awareness and possibly influence public policy.

“This generation has a disadvantage of growing up not knowing how to cook for the most part,” Bloom said. “The idea of wasting food is not seen as a problem or an issue. I’m trying to raise awareness on how much we do waste and to get people to see it as a problem, ethically and environmentally, and then to try to hopefully impact their behavior.”

Prior to writing his most recent book, Bloom contributed to publications such as the New York Times, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, Boston Globe and Newsweek, to name a few.

Bloom, both in his book and in his lectures, emphasized the importance of eating locally. Bloom refers to the idea that locally grown food cuts down on the cost of transportation as well as the amount of food that is wasted throughout the distribution journey. Food purchased from farmers markets, though it may not have what Bloom calls the “supermarket model,” a reference to the perfect façade of supermarket food, is not thrown out simply because it is misshapen or discolored.

“Eating locally teaches you that taste is more important than appearance,” Bloom said.

In addition to lecturing in several classes from different areas of study, including The Ethics of Consumption, taught by Professor of Religion Maria Antonaccio, and Urban Economics, taught by Professor of Religion Carol White, Bloom organized a Zero Waste Dinner on April 10. The ultimate goal of this meal was to produce minimal to no waste. The dinner included student participation throughout all the stages–the shopping, the preparation and the cleaning. In addition to striving for no waste, Bloom also wanted to raise awareness about the importance of locally grown food. To do so, a group of students purchased food from the local Lewisburg Farmers’ Market.

A few students cancelled at the last minute, resulting in the donation of extra food to the local soup kitchen, Community Harvest, a hot meal program that offers food to the people of Milton and surrounding communities. A total of 12 students attended and aided in the preparation of the dinner.

In addition to the Zero Waste Dinner, Bloom facilitated the second food waste weigh-in of the 2012-2013 school year. Both weigh-ins were held between 11:30 am and 1:30 pm in the Bostwick Marketplace. According to Bloom there was a 33 percent reduction in food waste between the first weigh-in in October and the second weigh-in in April. In October 2012, 1,017 people ate lunch, creating 93 pounds of food waste or approximately 1.5 ounces per student. In April 2013, 917 people ate lunch, creating 55 pounds of food waste or 1 ounce per student.

“The food waste weighing served as a constant reminder of the careless amounts of food we throw away. It truly encouraged me to think about the staggering amounts of people who would do anything to have the food that we just waste,” Brandon Holden ’16 said.

Over the past few years, the University’s dining services have worked on initiatives to reduce the amount of food waste. In 2009, the tray-less initiative was launched in hopes of minimizing waste. Recently, students and members of dining services have worked together to put signage in Bostwick Marketplace in order to provide additional information about the University’s progress on food waste. According to John Cummins, general manager of resident dining for Parkhurst Dining Services, 37 percent of the food in Bostwick Marketplace comes from local sources.

“I think that the staff and myself have always been very focused on waste as it correlates to supplying different types of food to people and being conscious of what the volumes are,” Cummins said. “We really enjoyed working with Jonathan. I feel like he became a friend of ours during this time. I think he’s had an effect on the institution and on what we serve.”

The University’s Emily Singleton ’12 passed away on April 7 in an apparent accident in a NY subway station. Police still do not know the direct cause of death – just that she was found on the tracks at the Canal Street station. Originally from Downington, Pa., Emily was living in Park Slope, Brooklyn, enrolled in The Neighborhood Playhouse School of Theatre since September of 2012.

Emily graduated with a BA in Theatre and Women’s & Gender Studies, but was also a “vibrant student in numerous philosophy and dance courses,” according to Paula Davis, associate professor of Theatre and Dance.

Davis shared a message on the Message Center Digest to illustrate Emily’s involvement and influence on campus:

“Emily was an active member of the theatre program, appearing in the Bucknell productions of ‘Twelfth Night,’ ‘Blood Wedding,’ shading silhouettes of smaller ones, ‘No Exit,’ ‘Chicago,’ ‘Just Space’ and ‘The Wild Party.’ Many students from across campus worked with her and remember her fondly for her direction of ‘The Vagina Monologues’ in the spring of her senior year in 2012. She was also a member of the acapella group, Two Past Midnight, and an avid advocate for the LGBT community as a member of FLAG & BT. In addition to her training at Bucknell, Emily also studied in NYC at The Neighborhood Playhouse School of Theatre, The Circle in the Square Theatre School, the Stonestreet Studios Film School and most recently at NYU.”

Emily’s overall involvement on campus has been noted by many.

“When our community gathered to process this tragedy, I was most struck by how much Emily did on campus and how many people her life touched,” Kelly Knox, associate professor of dance, said. “So many students from singers in Two Past Midnight, to activists who took part in ‘The Vagina Monologues,’ to fellow actors, technicians and stage managers in the Department of Theatre and Dance all spoke of her passion, intensity and authentic engagement.”

Knox was referring to an informal memorial gathering which was held in Harvey Powers Theatre on April 9 at 4 p.m.

Emily was involved with V-Day Bucknell and last year, along with Mollie Morris ’12, she directed ‘The Vagina Monologues’–an annual benefit performance that raises awareness and funds for anti-violence groups.

“’The Vagina Monologues’ combined what Emily was most passionate about–theatre and women’s issues–and as she did with everything else, she put 100 percent into it,” Lindsay Allardyce ’14, director of this year’s ‘Vagina Monologues’ said.

According to Allardyce, two days before the show, one of Emily’s actors dropped out. Emily took on the role herself and memorized the actor’s lines in such short notice. She then performed it with confidence and theatrical strength.

“I did not know Emily well, but did know her to be a woman who was committed to her work and to making a difference,” Tracy Shaynak, director of the Women’s Resource Center, said.

According to Allardyce, Emily was one of the strongest, most outspoken allies of the LGBT community that the group has ever had.

Emily’s influence on campus was inspirational, especially in the Performing Arts departments.

“I worked with Emily her freshman year in ‘Blood Wedding’ and her senior year in ‘The Wild Party,’” Dustyn Martincich, assistant professor of Theatre and Dance said. “She brought a rush of energy to each process, took on challenges with fierce determination and, in her mile-a-minute way, did it with a smile and a laugh.”

Emily proved to not only excel in her talent and willingness to take on challenges with enthusiasm, but also as a friend.

“I was lucky enough to do a few shows with Emily during our time at Bucknell,” Ali Keller ’12 said. “The one that stands out the most to me was shading silhouettes of smaller ones, by Bianca Roman ’10. Emily and I were sophomores at the time, we had a few classes together and were friends, but I really got to know her through that experience. That process allowed me to get to know Emily (and the rest of the cast and crew) on an incredibly personal level. She became the person I looked to in class when I felt out of place and alone. I would look over and she was always there to catch my glance as if she knew before I had even turned my head that I needed her for a moment.”

Allardyce highlights Emily as such a presence in normal life “that on stage she was 10 times more amplified.”

“I knew Emily best through designing costumes for her for the many productions she was in,” Davis said. “She was an incredibly gifted performer who could act, sing and dance, and invoke deep emotion in an audience. Onstage and off, I found her to be present in every moment–this was her gift to those around her.”

Emily’s fervor for life, theatre and her community will never be forgotten.

“Emily was the most encouraging and kind person I’ve been lucky enough to know in my life–and as evidenced by the response to her tragic accident, I know I’m not the only person who felt that way,” Keller said.

Davis relayed a message from Dean of Students Susan Lantz to the students of the Theatre and Dance department. Lantz urges students to reach out to one another, and to seek resources, such as Psychological Services and the staff of the Office of Religious Life. According to Lantz, plans for a more formal memorial gathering on campus will depend on the wishes of Emily’s family. Any questions or suggestions about this service may be forwarded to the Office of Religious Life. As soon as details are known about a service on campus,  students will be notified.

National Public Safety Telecommunications Week

Kerong Kelly

Contributing Writer

The University will recognize National Public Safety Telecommunications Week from April 14 to April 20.

“To me, we’re the nameless, faceless voice on the other end of the phone.” Selena Mull, Manager of Communications and Security Technology at the University said. “People don’t really recognize us unless they’re in distress or have an emergency. I wanted to honor all of the dispatchers for their hard work throughout the year.”

The University’s Public Safety division provides emergency and daily services such as crime and fire prevention, educational outreach programs on sexual assault, event management and more. Through a collaborative effort, the 10 current telecommunications officers allow for and develop such programming and emergency assistance.

National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week first gained attention in 1981, when Patricia Anderson of the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office of California synthesized the idea of dedicating the second full week of April to the men and women who work as public safety telecommunicators. As a result, the Virginia and North Carolina chapters of the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) then appealed to Congress for an official proclamation. In June 1991, Representative Edward Markey from Massachusetts introduced H.J. Res. 284 also known as “National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week.”

Though the official name introduced in Congress in 1991 was “National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week,” other names such as “National Public-Safety Telecommunications Week” and “International Public Safety Telecommunicator’s Week” are also now used. At the time, an estimated 500,00 telecommunications specialists and 200,000 dispatchers were included in the national figures. Telecommunicators include 9-1-1 call takers, dispatchers, technicians that maintain radio and emergency phone systems, staff trainers and other additional staff who work to ensure emergency services.

Kerong Kelly

Writer

Members of the International Student Services, Bucknell Student Government’s (BSG) Committee on Diversity and the Career Development Center hosted the second annual “A Trip Around the World” on March 28.

The event drew in 640 students as documented by the number of student identification cards swiped at the entrance. In addition to the large student turn out, several faculty members and their children also attended, raising the total number of participants to around 700. The evening consisted of information about the different cuisines, as well as samples of the different cuisines, and the customs of over 20 countries including Russia, Tanzania, India and more.

“I thought it was fun because I had no idea how many countries were actually represented by the student body before the event,” Caitlin O’Connor ’13 said. “All the food was delicious, and you were able to sample a bunch of different things. I also liked seeing all the dances by the international students who performed.”

BSG allocated several thousand dollars to the event’s budget in order to ensure its success. The Committee on Diversity, comprised of members from the University’s diversity groups, worked alongside the Career Development Center to provide an event that focused specifically on the different cultures.

“I wanted this event to not just be about the food or the people,” Mahilet Oluma ’13, president of the Committee on Diversity said. “Instead, I wanted it to break stereotypes and break borders.”

A similar event held last year focused on highlighting the different opportunities in the represented countries, as well as offering study abroad information. The survey that was sent out following the event provided important feedback and reported that students were more interested in the study abroad programs as a result of the informative evening.

To ensure the future of diversity awareness events, a group of Deans, as well as President Bravman, have promised the continuation of funds in support of such initiatives.

“The experience opened my eyes to how unique every country is,” Leah Hochman ’16, who represented the Israeli station, said. “Every country that was represented at the dinner brought a little bit of flavor. It was a fantastic opportunity.”

Victoria Hollo

Contributing WRiter

The Lewisburg Community Garden, a partnership between the University and the Borough of Lewisburg, is located on the corner of St. Anthony and North Water Streets. Comprised of 12,600 square feet, the garden is divided in half between a large communal plot and rental sections for $20 per season.

The goal of the garden is to support community members who wish to be involved in organic gardening by providing land at an affordable rental price. The garden also increases access to healthy food options while lowering operational costs. The produce grown gets donated to local hot meal programs among the greater Lewisburg area, as well as to the Union County Food Bank.

The 2013 gardening season has begun and volunteers are currently busy planting over 1,500 seedlings in the University greenhouse for the plant sale on May 4. Volunteers have also been preparing the garden for the upcoming season by tilling the soil, according to Stacey Sommerfield, assistant director of Service Learning, who oversees the whole Community Garden program. Most planting will begin around May 15, the predicted date of the last frost, although certain crops that can withstand the cold may be planted earlier in April.

Recently, the garden acquired 4,000 square feet of additional land, approved by the Borough Council in March 2013. The extension will allow the garden to extend the number of rental plots available from 22 to 38.

The Community Garden provides a great way for University students and local community members to collaborate together. Last year over 300 community members volunteered thousands of hours and cultivated over 56 varieties of fruits and vegetables in the plot. Students who wish to participate in the program can sign up online on a week-by-week basis through the Community Garden’s website.

Connections between the campus and community continue to ensue. A Management 101 company has been working closely with the Community Garden in particular. This company decided to sell sunglass straps and tank tops after conducting extensive research on campus, and all of the profits will be donated to the company’s two service clients, Community Harvest and Community Garden.

“Our company is working with these two organizations to make a great impact on our local community here in Lewisburg,” Loren Jablon ’15 said.