Author: wmf008

Copper Josephs

Contributing Writer

Several invasive plant species pose a threat to the University’s arboretum.

The Norway maple, Japanese knotweed, and Goutweed are all dangerous to the arboretum because they are able to out-compete native species, Associate Professor of Biology Mark Spiro said.  

“These invasive, exotic species have no natural enemies in the community, so they will continue to out-compete the native trees unless something is done,” Spiro said.

Soil erosion caused by facilities’ large lawn mowers is another issue facing the arboretum. The mowers cannot go up the steep areas of the arboretum without knocking off a layer of topsoil. This layer, called humus, is essential to sustaining healthy trees.

Spiro and others have been communicating with the Department of Facilities to isolate specific regions of the grove where grass will not be cut, so that the humus can aggregate.

“The Bucknell Arboretum has turned into a living lab that teaches students about invasive species and various sustainability methods used to keep native plants alive,” Spiro said.

Dates when faculty and staff can help out with the University’s Arboretum project will be announced soon.

“We need all the hands we can get with this project,” biology major Ray Schlitt ’15 said.

Schlitt has been working with Spiro since 2012, interning over the summer to assist in the rejuvenation of the arboretum.

“Based on the amount of rings that some of these trees have, you can date these trees back over 230 years,” Spiro said.

“These trees are an integral part to the Bucknell experience, and we should use the resources available to help preserve them,” Schlitt said.

Ethan Zubkoff

Writer

Cadets from the Bison Battalion finished their field training for the 2013-2014 academic year early on September 21 in Cowan, Pennsylvania.

At the Forest D. Brown Conference Center, the cadets consisted of students from Bucknell University, Susquehanna University, Bloomsburg University, Lycoming College, and the Pennsylvania College of Technology.

Cadet Drew Taylor ’16 said that the training they completed included basic drill ceremony techniques, which included facing movements, saluting, and commands. The training also consisted of land navigation and individual movement techniques.

“It was all the basics this time,” Taylor said.

The training that the cadets received is equivalent to what is commonly used by soldiers in combat situations.

The training concluded with question and answer sessions with junior cadets who will be attending the Leadership Development and Assessment Course, the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) capstone summer training event.

Although the event was originally planned to last all weekend, excessive rain and weather issues cut the trip short, Taylor said.

Kerong Kelly

Staff Writer

On Sept. 24 in Trout Auditorium, Peter Warren Singer, senior fellow at The Brookings Institute, discussed the impact technology has had on how the United States wages war as part of the University’s ongoing series “Tech/No.”

Singer is the director of the Center for 21st Century Security and Intelligence at the Brookings Institute, as well as the author of the recent book “Wired for War, ” which examines the effect technology and robotics has played in 21st century politics, war, and law. He graduated from the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs at Princeton University and received his PhD from Harvard University.

Entitled “NextWar: Trends and Technology Shaping the 21st-century Battlefield,” Singer’s talk focused on how technology has impacted both international diplomacy and domestic politics.

Singer highlighted the reasons why the United States has not declared war since 1942 and how it can be attributed to an increase in technology while the economic and financial incentives have been on a steady decline.

Singer’s research is primarily focused on the issues of the future of war, the current U.S. defense situation, and the future of U.S. defense. He is also an expert in U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East.

“I think we’ve seen it [technology] play an incredibly disruptive role to the established powers,” Singer said.

In addition to his work on many government projects, Singer’s has also worked closely with the video game Call of Duty.

“Both the Pentagon and the Call of Duty series were interested in what kind of technology will dominate in the future, what the conflicts will be about, who will be the key actors fighting,” Singer said.

Ethan Zubkoff

Contributing Writer

On Sept. 22, University President John Bravman said that providing for the health and safety of students downtown will prove to be difficult after making the decision to cancel House Party Weekend as an official University event.

In a speech before the first session of the Bucknell Student Government (BSG) Congress, Bravman spoke about the possible effects of his Aug. 1 decision to cancel House Party Weekend and the feedback he has received so far.

Bravman also said that he is concerned for the safety of the students if the activities typical of past House Party Weekends are taken off campus.

Any attempts to hold an event the size of House Party Weekend downtown could result in a riot or encounters with local police, Bravman said.

“There is literally not physical space [downtown],” Bravman said.

Bravman also answered questions from Student Government representatives about the new medical amnesty policy.

“[There is] some concern … that this will actually promote a substantially higher degree of dangerous drinking, but even if it does, I want to come down on the side of health and safety,” Bravman said.

Madeline Diamond

Contributing Writer

The University will soon begin construction on a new wrestling center and athletics leadership facility east of the existing athletic center complex.

As part of his May 1 update to the Board of Trustees, University President John Bravman included information regarding a $9 million gift to the University from trustees Bill Dearstyne ’62 and Bill Graham ’62. The donation will completely fund the project, which will be finished in December 2014.

The facility will house a new training space for the men’s wrestling team and will total 16,887 square feet and two stories, according to plans recently approved by the East Buffalo Township Planning Commission.

“I am excited about the facility and this will provide a huge boost for our wrestling program,” wrestling head coach Dan Wirnsberger said.

In addition to the wrestling space, the project will also include an athletics leadership facility. This area will include gathering space for co-curricular activities, as well as room for seminars and classrooms.

“The most exciting piece is the leadership portion of the building, which provides a fantastic opportunity for our student athletes to grow into future leaders in their athletic and professional endeavors,” Wirnsberger said.

Ethan Zubkoff

Contributing Writer

International

• A shopping mall in Nairobi, Kenya became a battleground on Sept. 21 as armed militia stormed the mall killing more than 60 civilians and wounding scores more. The siege came to an end on Sept. 24 as police and military forces reclaimed the mall, killing five terrorists and capturing 11. The terrorist group al-Shabaab, an affiliate of Al Qaeda, claimed responsibility for the attack. The terrorist attack marks Kenya’s largest since the 1998 bombing of the US Embassy in Nairobi. (Reuters and the Washington Post)
• Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov expressed hope before the United Nations General Assembly that the UN Security Council could reach an agreement on a resolution this week about Syria’s chemical weapons stockpile. The resolution would require all five permanent members of the Security Council (Russia, China, the United States, Britain, and France) to agree to the plan. (Reuters)
• A 7.8 magnitude earthquake hit western Pakistan on Sept. 24, killing more than 250 people. The quake caused a portion of seabed to rise and create a small island about 600 meters off the nation’s western border in the Arabian Sea. (Reuters)
• On Sept. 26 at the United Nations, a meeting took place between Secretary of State John Kerry and Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif. This was the highest level of engagement taken between the US and Iran in more than 30 years. (The Wall Street Journal)

National

• North Carolina Central University campus police shot and killed an armed gunman late on Sept. 23. The man, who was not a student of the University, fired a shotgun at police which prompted them to initiate a three-hour lockdown of the University. No officers were injured. (Reuters)
• Republican Senator Ted Cruz of Texas filibustered for 21 hours on Sept. 25 against a White House plan to implement another segment of the Affordable Care Act next week. Across the capitol, Congressional Democrats and Republicans must reach a budget deal to prevent a government shutdown. The House already passed a measure to keep the government running until December, but their plan would strip funding from the Affordable Care Act. Senate Democrats have already refused to consider such a plan. (The Washington Post)
• Secretary of State John Kerry signed the UN Arms Trade Treaty on Sept. 25, which set standards for any and all cross-border transfers of conventional weapons. The National Rifle Association (NRA) claims that the treaty will undermine American sovereignty, a point Kerry has repeatedly attempted to address. (Reuters)

State

• The Marcellus Shale Coalition on Sept. 25 began its Shale Insight Conference in Philadelphia. The coalition is comprised of  drilling industry leaders, and usually attracts protesters concerned about the environmental effects of hydraulic fracturing and other drilling practices. Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich closed the conference with a speech yesterday. (StateImpact – NPR)

Brianna Marshall

Writer

Students and faculty in the music department will continue providing music education to special education programs in the greater Lewisburg area.

Associate Professor of Music Kim Councill founded the program, known as Musical Universe in Special Education (MUSE), to create an opportunity for students to do important, charitable work.

“The satisfaction is immediate–as soon as you see these children’s faces light up when they are making and participating in music, you can’t help but be blown away with how wonderful it is to be a part of this,” Councill said.

MUSE participants from the University visit classrooms in both Selinsgrove and Mifflinburg school districts to work with 60 special education students ranging from ages eight to 21. The students have various special needs, including Down’s syndrome, cerebral palsy, autism, and other conditions.

Sophomore and junior music education majors participate in MUSE in conjunction with Music for the Exceptional Child, a major-related course taught by Councill. The course includes the planning and teaching of music lessons in special education classrooms and assisting the children in participation, such as playing musical instruments. University students also observe Councill’s lessons in order to gain expertise in instructing special education children.

Volunteers from any major or area of interest can volunteer for the program. Special education children are extremely receptive to the involvement of college students, Councill said.

“College kids are cool and these children just eat up all of their attention,” Councill said.  “Bucknell students walk away from this experience really feeling like they’ve made a positive difference.”

Ethan Zubkoff

Writer

Fifteen new leaders and representatives from the class of 2017 were elected this past week to the Bucknell Student Government (BSG).

Three of those 15 include class President Yacouba Sidibe ’17 from New York City, Vice President Mitch McBride ’17 from Erie, Pa., and Secretary/Treasurer Katie Chambers ’17 from Harvard, Mass.

“My goal is to bring the class together. The most important thing is for everyone to get to know each other,” Sidibe said.

Sidibe’s fellow representatives echoed his words, stressing the importance of bonding events for the freshman class. McBride and Chambers both suggested organizing a movie night for all 935 members of the freshman class.

First-year representative Mark Merino ’17 from Los Angeles, also suggested a restaurant night for a class unity event, in which 10 percent of the profits would go to the restaurant.

Sidibe and McBride are committed to being the voices of the class of 2017. They want to ensure that first-year students are heard within BSG, and want to speak for them about any serious issues that may arise. They want their fellow classmates to feel comfortable coming to them if they need anything or believe something could be changed.

The rest of the representatives for the class of 2017 includes: Yash Balasaria, Chris Shadek, Alex Breakstone, Lizzie Sheprow, Mark Merino, Gabby Gottschall, Alex Fox, Nina Nevarez, Madeline Kling, Victoria Karakis, Daniel Dudt, and Taylor McCready.

Ethan Zubkoff

Writer

International

• A deal has been reached between the United States and Russia regarding the control of Syria’s chemical weapons stockpile. Although details about the deal are still forthcoming, both sides have agreed to allow the United Nations to authorize a resolution. It will be the UN’s responsibility to dispose of all of the weapons, which will take a few years to complete. (USA Today and Reuters)
• The fallout from Edward Snowden’s leak continued this week as Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff canceled a planned visit to the United States. Brazilian officials have objected to the National Security Agency’s ability to spy on other countries, including Brazil. Rousseff was scheduled to be at the White House on Oct. 23 as the guest of honor. (USA Today)

National

• Tragedy struck the nation’s capital on Sept. 16 as gunman Aaron Alexis killed 12 people at the Washington Navy Yard. Alexis, a former Navy reservist who was given an honorable discharge in 2011, was military contractor at the Navy Yard. Alexis was 34 years old and acted alone. (The New York Times)
• Colorado evacuees returned to their homes after flooding began on Sept. 11. More than 3,000 people were evacuated as flooding threatened their homes and lives. National Guard crews have been working around the clock in the largest aerial rescue operation since Hurricane Katrina ravaged New Orleans. As of Sept. 17, the number of people missing dropped to 580 with eight confirmed deaths. (ABC News)
• Former Treasury Secretary Larry Summers withdrew his name for consideration for Chairman of the Federal Reserve, after several Senate Democrats said they would oppose his nomination. This has cleared the way for Janet Yellen, the current vice-chair of the Federal Reserve as the frontrunner. Current chairman Ben Bernanke’s tenure is expected to come to an end in January. (USA Today and CNBC)

State

• Potential Pennsylvania gubernatorial candidate Katie McGinty finds herself in second place behind Democratic Congresswoman Allyson Schwartz. McGinty commissioned the poll. According to the poll, Schwartz leads potential candidates McGinty, State Treasurer Rob McCord, and former Revenue Secretary Tom Wolf with 34 percent of likely Democratic voters in Pennsylvania. (Politics PA)
• Rick Santorum, the former senator from Pennsylvania and Republican Primary candidate, officially endorsed Pennsylvania Governor Tom Corbett for reelection in 2014. (Politics PA)

Nick Salvo

Contributing Writer

Local officials are considering making new policy changes to prepare for a changing downtown dynamic after the University announced an end to its participation in House Party Weekend.

With the on-campus activities during the weekend–which included registered parties and live musical performances–canceled, many students expect the festivities to move off campus and into downtown houses. Lewisburg Mayor Judith Wagner and East Buffalo Township Police Chief Paul Yost also anticipate this shift and plan to take action to ensure a safe environment.

“Word on campus is that there will be a big deal downtown. We have to protect our residents. Safety is our main concern,” Wagner said.

Yost expressed similar concerns, noting that the lack of an official House Party Weekend creates uncertainty regarding when and where downtown parties will occur. Communication between University administration, students, and the borough will allow for the township police department to properly allocate resources to help keep students and residents safe, Yost said.

Yost’s main concern is “student resistance,” which has resulted in downtown riots as recently as 2008. Rioting will only occur if students refuse to cooperate with local officers, Yost said.

Yost referenced changes adopted by the town of Bloomsburg, home of Bloomsburg University, when speculating about possible Lewisburg council ordinances to control downtown parties.

Bloomsburg Town Council instituted an ordinance in 2010 in an attempt to regulate the student-sponsored Block Party Weekend, a weekend noted for large downtown parties and high numbers of arrests. The ordinance required any student at Bloomsburg who is hosting a party involving alcohol and more than 150 people to obtain a permit from the town. The ordinance also instituted strict rules concerning time, security, restroom facilities, and post-party clean up.

While instituting ordinances to curb downtown partying has been debated in Lewisburg Borough Council meetings in previous years, Wagner said that she wants to avoid making a knee jerk decision and instead hopes students will communicate with the borough to determine the best course of action.

The borough will ask for help from students to gather data and allow the council to have an informed debate and reach a reasonable solution, Wagner said.

“We have enjoyed a very good relationship with Bucknell University students,” Wagner said. “It would certainly be great if something really productive came out of this dialogue.”