Categories
Arts & Life

Vampires: Something to Sink Your Teeth Into

For some reason unbeknownst to The Bucknellian staff, vampires have become an area of obsession amongst the human population in recent years. This could be attributed to the fact that the Harry Potter franchise was coming to a close, and people needed a supernatural security blanket of sorts to keep from going insane. Either way, vampire fever has spread across the United States, particularly among the millennial generation. Vampires have sunk their fangs into every aspect of pop culture, including literature, film and television.

 

Excitement for “The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part I”–Michelle Joline

Some of our favorite fantasy novel’s film adaptations are coming out this year, including “The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn: Part I.” We now only have one more film that includes the Edward vs. Jacob rivalry (meaning no more Taylor Lautner taking his shirt off to win the battle). This film has been highly anticipated because fans finally get to see Edward and Bella tie the knot. Sorry if I spoiled this for anyone, but really, if you were a fan, you probably knew that was going to happen already. Not only are we looking forward to seeing Bella’s wedding gown, but also the flash of a baby bump in the trailer is leading to a considerable amount of excitement around campus. “Thank goodness we have Twilight to look forward to during finals,” Libby Henry ’12 said. There are many more students around campus that are anticipating the excitement of the film, with its desirable teen angst and romantic awkwardness that never disappoints. Girls (and maybe boys) are running to buy tickets for the midnight opening, but I don’t think it’s only the wedding gown catching their attention. We all can look forward to seeing just how director, Bill Condon, decided to re-enact some of the most famous scenes from Stephenie Meyer’s risqué novel.

 

Vampires in Literature (in no particular order):

This is where it all started: vampires as a creation in literature. The list could go on for miles, since vampires have been a popular subject in literature as early as the 1700s. For this reason, we are limiting our vampire literature to more “contemporary” authors.

1. The Twilight Series by Stephanie Meyers

2. The Vampire Chronicles by Anne Rice

3. The Southern Vampire Mysteries series by Charlaine Harris

4. A plethora of cheesy romance novels by a variety of authors

5. Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead

6. The House of Night by P. C. Cast & Kristin Cast

7. Bunnicula by Deborah Howe and James Howe

8. Let the Right One In by John Ajvide Lindqvist

9. Little Dracula series by Martin Waddell & Joseph Wright

10. The Last Vampire series by Christopher Pike

 

Vampires in Film (in no particular order):

1.      “Dracula”-1931
2.      “Dracula: Dead and Loving It”-1995
3.      “Van Helsing”-2004
4.      “Nosferatu”-1922
5.      “Interview with the Vampire”-1994
6.      “The Lost Boys”-1987
7.      “Blade”-1998
8.      The Twilight Saga – 2008-2012
9.      “The Addiction”-1995
10.     “Bram Stoker’s Dracula”-1992

 

Vampires in television (in no particular order):

1. “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” (1997-2003)

2. “Being Human” (2008-present)

3. “True Blood” (2008- present)

4. “Angel” (1999-2004)

5. “Dracula: The Series” (1990-1991)

6. “Dark Shadows” (1966-1971)

7. “The Vampire Diaries” (2009-present)

8. “Blade: The Series” (2006)

9. “Sanctuary” (2008-present)

10. “Blood Ties” (2007)

 

 

Students’ Thoughts on Vampires:

For the most part, students were either too ashamed or embarrassed to have their names attached to an article highlighting the popularity of vampires in today’s culture. Luckily, some students didn’t mind sharing their thoughts.

“The theme started in a good place, but has grown way too big and has been taken to a level that is annoying.” -Erin Roy ’14

“As someone who revels in reading and understanding history and its underlying principles, I simply don’t have time to concern myself with fictitious creatures that seduce and eventually suck the blood from their victims.” -Jeffrey Finegan ’14

Categories
Editorial Opinion

Editorial: Addressing the campus climate

We feel a bit like a broken record here at The Bucknellian. A large amount of our editorials pertain to sexual assault, the recent campus climate issues and the debates they stir. However, after President Bravman’s rousing speech last week during the “Take Back the Night” assembly, we began to rethink things.

Like most other students on campus, at first we thought that the recent talks on campus climate and the issues they bring forth reflect our University in a bad way. It is important to understand, however, that our campus is not the only one experiencing these issues. Sexual assault on college campuses is an issue that is, unfortunately, quite prevalent all over the country. President Bravman, in his speech to students and faculty last Thursday, expressed the importance of talking about these issues and not letting them go unnoticed. That is why there is a so much debate about these issues as of late. We are being forced to talk about them and bring them to light, which is not at all a bad thing.

However, there are always speakers that come to campus and events that address important issues, but that is where it ends. For the most part, the only students that go to these events are Greek members (give or take a few people who are genuinely interested) and the only reason they go is to obtain community service hours or because it is mandatory by the organization. For a change to occur, students need to care. They need to have a desire to attend these events or speakers because they personally want to change things. Right now, we get the impression that a select few members of the student community truly care about whether or not the campus climate changes. First and foremost, this needs to change in order for things on campus to change.

In a previous editorial from this semester, we asked what the point was in talking about sexual assault and other negative things that happen on campus. We questioned whether or not it would actually change the things that happen. We, frankly put, were being naive. How can we ask that question when we don’t have any past proof to support out claims? What makes these past few semesters different than previous ones is the leadership the University has been under.

President Bravman, unlike some of our previous presidents, is refusing to ignore the negative things that happen on campus. The issues we have on campus now are the same ones we have had in the past. That is probably the reason the student body is apprehensive towards the idea of “making changes” and “moving forward.” Things haven’t changed in the past so what makes us believe they will now? But we are doing something positive already. We are acknowledging these bad things, which is definitely a step in the right direction and a step we haven’t previously taken. What do we have to lose by talking about this?

Categories
News

Campus rallies against sexual assault

By Nicki Briggs

Writer

Students, staff and administrators took a stand “for a better Bucknell” by participating in “Take Back the Night,” an effort to spread awareness of sexual assault and domestic violence, especially as it relates to improving the University’s campus climate.

Thursday Nov. 10 began with “The Double-Take Project,” a performance directed by Christina Cody ’12 that told personal stories from students who had approached her earlier in the semester. These students offered different perspectives of life at the University and of their experiences with sexual violence on campus. The room was somber when President John Bravman stepped up to the microphone after the last story was told.

“Look what’s happened just 70 miles from here, in the last 10 days,” Bravman said, referring to the recent incidents at Penn State and how they occurred as a result of powerful men choosing not to speak publicly of the mistakes made by their colleagues.

“[The truth] always comes out in the end,” he said.

Bravman made it very clear that he has no intention for the University to ignore its own issues. “There are only two types of schools in the country.  Those that have the issues we do and refuse to talk about them, and those that have the problems we do and will do their best to fix them and become stronger because it,” Bravman said.  “We will talk about this publicly for as long as it takes to fix it.”

Student leaders also gave speeches, including Interfraternity Council president Michael Higgins ’12, Panhallenic president Anna MacAlister ’12 and Bucknell Student Government president Phil Kim ’12. Each speaker sent a different message to the assembly, and each was met with silence as the power of their words settled.

“There are three things you can do,” Mollie Morris ’12 said, as she spoke about how small changes can help others to feel more comfortable on campus.  “You can listen, you can support, and you can believe.”

MacAlister spoke about sexual violence at the University. 

“We are all equally responsible to make sure that no one on campus feels unsafe,” she said.  She went on to share shocking statistics about sexual violence on campus and to provide examples that illustrated her message.

The night concluded in a silent walk down to Smith quad from the Weis Center for the Performing Arts. 

“We march now, so that we may not have to march again in the future,” Kim said.

Various campus a cappella groups were stationed at different spots along the walk. They sang as students walked until they reached the Academic Quad and formed a circle where they could see all of the other students who had chosen to walk “for a Better Bucknell.”

Categories
Sports

Robertson ’12 beaks interceptions record as football dominates Fordham

By Eric Brod

Senior Writer

Behind five turnovers and 204 rushing yards from Tyler Smith ’13, the football team clinched a winning season with a 21-0 win at Fordham this past Saturday. With this victory, the team improved to an overall season record of 6-4, its highest win total since 2006.

Two of the team’s five turnovers were interceptions by Bryce Robertson ’12, giving him 12 for the season. Roberston leads the nation in interceptions this season and now has passed Gene Luccarelli for the most interceptions in program history. 

The Orange and Blue broke a scoreless tie midway through the first quarter when Smith punched the ball in from two yards out. The score capped a five-play, 71-yard drive in which Smith accounted for all 71 yards, 64 on the ground with one seven-yard catch. After their next drive stalled off a Fordham fumble on the kickoff, Derrick Palmer ’14 forced a fumble that set up the Bison’s second score of the game. On the ensuing drive, quarterback Brandon Wesley ’14 hit Victor Walker ’14 for a 35-yard gain, and Jeremiah Young ’13 finished off the drive with a one-yard touchdown run for his second score of the season late in the first quarter.

The Bison held their 14-0 lead into the fourth quarter with Fordham facing a fourth and goal on the Bison five-yard line. The defense was able to force an incomplete pass by Fordham quarterback Ryan Higgins. On the very next play, Smith broke off a career-long run of 52 yards. The run set up Smith’s second score of the game, giving the Orange and Blue a 21-0 lead with less than six minutes left.

“Tyler is a very strong runner and has become a lot more confident in our offensive system,” head coach Joe Susan said. “He is much more patient in the run game and knows how to set up his runs as a game goes on. Tyler’s success is tied into the continued development of our offensive line, fullback and tight ends. We have had the same starting offensive line for nine straight games.”

Robertson’s second interception of the game at the Bison 15 yard line helped preserve the shutout as the Bison clinched their sixth victory of the season.

The Bison ground game dominated the contest, accounting for 250 of the team’s 346 yards. Wesley completed six of 11 passes for 80 yards.  The Bison now have a plus-28 turnover margin.

“We work to stop the run. If we are successful at doing this our opponent will have to rely on the passing game,” Susan said. “We pressure the passer and force him into making decisions in a shorter time period.”

Looking for their first seven-win season since 2004, the Bison will travel to Colgate Saturday to wrap up its 2011 campaign.

“Our challenge defensively is to stop one of the better run teams in the patriot league, if not in FCS football,” Susan said. “Offensively, we have to continue to improve our run game and apply it to their defensive schemes.”

Categories
Arts & Life Featured

Student takes on campus climate for senior thesis

By Courtney Bottazzi

Writer

There was a tangible frustration when the Campus Climate Report was presented to the University community: students wanted their voices heard. An open microphone at a forum is one way to become part of the conversation, but it is not the only way. Christina Cody ’12, a theatre major, has created a different outlet through her senior thesis, The Double Take Project. The Double Take Project is a collaboration of different dialogues that revolve around one important concept: students communicating with other students.

“My whole philosophy is that there’s no end product to change,” Cody said. For a long time, Cody has focused on the idea of theatre creating a social change, a concept often described as Applied Theater.

Cody began her project by conducting anonymous interviews with both students and professors, asking for recommendations about who would be a good person to speak to next. This past summer, Cody was trained in conducting workshops for social justice. Although these workshops are typically used to help people in third world countries, Cody realized this method could also help students on college campuses.

“I wanted to see why things happen the way they do,” she said. “The existence of this outlet can be seen as a challenge to the student community – now’s our chance to be heard, to take initiative.”

Cody is currently collecting research through three simultaneous projects: ongoing workshops, anonymous interviews and a social scene confessional. In her workshops, Cody will give fun scenarios and prompts (for example: pretend everyone is made out of clay and show us what a house party looks like to you). In this way, the dialogue is formed visually rather than conversationally. This form of communication allows students to express their opinions without over-thinking. At the workshops, there has been a valuable variety of perspectives from different students, including fraternity and sorority members, athletes, independent students and first-years.

The benefits of such a variety of students have also been seen during the anonymous interviews. In these interviews, Cody takes great care in shaping her questions; she is not trying to promote a negative or positive view–-she simply wants to listen to what you have to say.

“It’s important to me that I’m not saying ‘This is how you should live,’” Cody said.

The interviewees, thus far, have responded with a somewhat balanced response of positive and negative aspects of the social scene on campus. Students have laughed, recalling stories, and have adamantly expressed certain desires for change. Cody is giving the student community a chance at reflection while talking to someone who will not judge you on what you find. Her third project, the social scene confessional, is another easily accessible outlet to have someone hear what you have to say, whether it be a story you’ve already told to your entire hall or something you have been too afraid to share with your best friend. Christina is there to listen as an unbiased peer.

With her collective research, Cody hopes to make a change–-regardless of whether it is on a personal scale or as part of the next campus climate report.

“Every opportunity is going to a different place. I’m on this path with the rest of Bucknell,” Cody said. “At the end of the day, I gave students a place to talk.”

Additionally, Cody is hoping to have these creative workshops performed as Plan For Prominence (P4P) events so Greek members can get philanthropy credit for participating.

Want to see some of the findings? Cody and other students will be performing some of the interviews at the beginning of the Take Back the Night Rally. She will also be filming actors reading the interviews and showing these clips throughout the Bison. By sharing these stories, she hopes other students will begin to reach out.

“Know that you’re not alone,” she said.

Want to get involved? Contact Cody via email or on the Double Take Project Facebook page. Or you can find Cody in the LC Mall every day from 11-12 pm, carrying a sign that says “Tell me a story about the social scene.”

Categories
Opinion

Reflecting further on chivalry

By Gabriella Fleming-Shemer

Writer

After reading the two articles published last week on chivalry I couldn’t help but contribute to the conversation. Firstly, I think it’s important to look at the history of chivalry and understand how it has become such a valued element of our society. The term “chivalry” can be dated back to as early as 1297 AD, used to describe the valor and militant success of a knight. From the 13th to 18th centuries it has described a set of moral, religious and social practices of knighthood that reflected the exceedingly patriarchal times during which men were admired for asserting forceful dominance whether it be in battle or in the household. The historically “chivalrous” rituals then of holding doors open for women and pulling out their chairs were ways of enforcing ownership and controlling the sphere that women lived in. While traditions die hard and people cannot help but play into its roles, the expectation of chivalry today encourages limiting gender roles that are harmful to both sexes.

Let’s begin with Connor Small’s example of paying for dinner. In his article he talked about the resistance many males have in paying for the first date and how disappointing this is to him. He wrote that “it is natural to get frustrated over feeling like you are an ATM, but if you feel that the girl you are dining with is not worth the price of one dinner, I would question why are you out with her in the first place.” I completely see where he is coming from because paying for another person is showing your respect and admiration for them and therefore should not seem out of place when dating someone. What I disagree with though is the one-sidedness of this practice. If it is only ever men who are expected to buy the meals, pull out chairs and hold open doors what does it say about women? It says that they are the passive ones in the relationship, the ones who need to be taken care of and managed by men. So while I can’t help but appreciate Connor’s desire to fulfill his gentlemanly role, I believe that these long-standing social expectations are outdated and serve to contain women in docile roles.

In stark contrast to Connor’s view that the fundamentally good-intentioned gallantry should prevail, Sarah Morris’s piece held that women today are undeserving of such courtesy due to our increasing promiscuity. In her article, after attributing the initial decline of chivalry to the women’s rights movement, she stated that “too many women are sluts these days.” I’ll admit, even I was momentarily lost for words. But no worries, they’re back.

First off, whether a woman sleeps with 1 or 100 men should not determine how civilly people treat her. What we do in bed, with whom and however often, does not define us, just as how often we workout or how much we eat defines us. Unless we’re placing moral value on abstaining from pleasure, we cannot be contemptuous of those who enjoy this lifestyle. Sarah went on to describe the “sluttiness” of girls at frats who grind with random guys, writing  “I’m not sure that girls who behave like that really deserve to be treated as expected. In that moment at least, when ladylike behavior ceases to exist, so does the opportunity to be treated like one.” Though her point is far from being inexplicit I’ll break it down further: girls cannot both reveal their sexuality and claim respect. So while men continue to be high-fived for scoring a different girl every weekend, women will be persecuted, perhaps have a door shut on her face, because hey, that slut grinded with a stranger last night and who deserves to be treated nicely after that? I would perhaps be more empathetic to her message if she had scorned all “sluttiness” but her point is clear that publically sexual behavior is fine for men and fine for women, if these women are okay with foregoing courteous treatment by men.

Instead of lamenting the so-called death of chivalry, maybe we should look at its effects and ask whether it really is such a bad thing. Rather than blaming dirty dancing or the women’s rights movement (which clearly still has a long way to go) for women’s reduced status, we should work to find ways in which common courtesies can still exist without the structure of oppressive and patriarchal gender roles. Yes, maybe men would feel emasculated for a while when their girlfriends were the ones to drive and maybe women would feel less valuable for a time when they would buy their own coffee but in this world, being chivalrous is a gift both parties could equally give and take. It’s a world where men wouldn’t be forced to empty their pocketbooks on every holiday and women weren’t indebted to them for it. It doesn’t sound too horrible to me.

Categories
Opinion

Politics should be about more than parties

By Gabriella Fleming-Shemer

Contributing Writer

All this news about the upcoming presidential elections has caused me to think a lot about my political views and whether I have been lazy in picking a candidate. Does our political stance develop over time through an accumulation of lessons learned in school, childhood experiences, etc.? Or have we always accepted the political beliefs of our parents but just gradually come to understand them, embracing such ideas as our own?

While I love to feel that I am an independent thinker unbiased by the influences of people and media, in actuality I am far from it, as is a majority of the population. We grew up believing in everything our parents told us, so why would their political ideologies be any different? I think that this only becomes problematic when acceptance of such ideas hinders our ability to understand and appreciate what other parties have to offer. And due to the stark divide between political parties, it makes it even harder for individuals to experiment with new stances on an issue.

For example, I had a Democratic friend who previously felt that abortions should not be legal but she chose to ignore her own thoughts on the matter, as they did not align with her party’s. While my friend and I disagreed on this issue, I think this a great example of how a group’s ideologies can too easily override and eventually deaden the individual’s personal opinions. I know that the first time I went to the polls I voted for all Democrats without knowing anything about them, save for our current president. Even though this is how our government works and for the most part our leaders can adequately represent us, I can see how the system deters people from questioning their acquired political beliefs.

After spending some time reviewing the presidential candidates’ profiles online, I found that a lot more overlap in left and right issues than I had expected. Take former governor of New Mexico and 2012 presidential candidate Gary Johnson. He is a Republican, pro-choice and supports civil unions between gay couples. Then there is Randall Terry, a Democratic candidate who is passionately pro-life and anti-LGBT. The point is that these men, like each one of us, have a unique set of experiences that develop into their accumulated set of beliefs on political issues. It is our job, then, as intelligent people with the ability to vote, to move past the blue or red mindset and challenge our previously held philosophies.

Categories
Arts & Life

Prof. Gary Steiner fights for animal rights

By Mackenzie Halfhide

Contributing Writer

When thinking of Professor Gary Steiner, the term “philosopher” comes to mind. But it was not until his second year of law school that he realized his interest in philosophy, which sprung from his rejection of the assumptions of human nature he learned in law and economics.  After returning to the undergraduate level at the University of California at Berkeley to study human nature and agency, Steiner earned a doctorate in philosophy at Yale University.

It has been more than 20 years since Steiner began teaching here as a visiting professor. In 2005, Steiner was awarded the John Howard Harris Professor of Philosophy, an endowed position established by the eighth president of the University for the recognition of excellence in scholarship, teaching and service to the University.  Though he teaches all course levels, Steiner specializes in Descartes, the history of modern philosophy, nineteenth and twentieth century continental philosophy, and the moral status of animals. Steiner uses the history and the changes in thought as an indirect approach for teaching people how to think.

As a philosopher, Steiner has recently addressed the flaws of advocating for animal rights using postmodern thought because postmodernism defers to “singularity.”  The concept insists that the uniqueness of individual instances and situations renders it impossible to define clear principles for conduct.  Steiner intends to demonstrate that the perspective of postmodernist thinkers is ultimately self-defeating due to conflicting arguments.  The idea of singularity prohibits the ability to proclaim any act or practice as morally wrong, so whether it is rape, murder or violence against animals, the basis of postmodernism allows any atrocity to be justified according to the circumstances. Steiner’s counterargument is that if one can agree that animals are sentient beings capable of suffering and are vulnerable to us, then how can any person justify the exploitation of animals?

Professor Steiner is currently concentrating on the subject of postmodernism and animal rights in a number of different methods, including an essay set to print early next year, and a forthcoming book by Columbia University Press titled “Animals and the Limits of Postmodernism.”  He is also scheduled to lecture at the UCLA School of Law in the spring, and he will be participating in German philosophy conferences in Bern, Switzerland and Vienna, Austria over spring break.

As a proponent of the moral status of animals, Professor Steiner cannot understand how humans can so blindly exploit, abuse and interfere with animals on a daily basis, especially considering that is so easily avoidable.  He converted to vegetarianism nearly 30 years ago, and as of 1996, he has almost no interference with animals as he abides by the vegan imperative, which advocates having as little interference with animals as possible.  Steiner must be vigilant regarding the substance of everyday items because animal by products are used in more products than one would ever believe.  He is willing to make the effort because he feels it is a moral obligation to protect animals and avoid interference.

The one animal interference Steiner does have is with the cat he rescued from a veterinarian who wanted to euthanize it because feline AIDS and leukemia made the animal undesirable. Steiner shows that it is more than possible to avoid meddling and exploiting animals for personal gain. It is a duty to represent those who cannot protect their own existence.

Categories
Arts & Life

Bucknell Dance Company seniors prepare for final performances

By Michelle Joline

Arts & Life Editor

If you have ever ventured down the daunting steps that lead to the Gateway Residence Center and the Susquehanna River, you have probably heard muffled classical and jazz-inspired music coming from what was once the girls’ gym at the University, now known as Tustin Studio Theatre. Many students are not even aware of this building’s existence, but some of Bucknell’s most inspired, talented and creative students can be found working on their projects there. Tustin Studio Theatre is where the Bucknell Dance Company rehearses, and where seven seniors are part of a company of trained dancers and became a quirky group of close friends.

This past week the Bucknell Dance Company’s seniors and I sat on the floor of the Student Space in the Elaine Langone Center to talk about dance, friendship and their upcoming performance, which is expected to be the company’s best thus far.  Katelyn Tsukada, Mikaela Soto, Kourtney Ginn, Elizabeth Burdick, Melissa Leonard, Adrienne Vischio and the one token male in the Company, Daniel Maskas, known by his peers as, “The Don,” make up this year’s senior class.  They describe themselves as an unlikely group of friends. Yet, after long Sunday night rehearsals and many inside jokes, they have formed a family for themselves. In a refreshingly open and warm fashion, they all lit up when boasting about their fellow dancers and expressed true pride in each other’s individual accomplishments.  The support system within the group’s members is apparent in their dancing and ability to coordinate with each other.  They all have different styles of dance, with some preferring ballet, jazz or tap–but it is the combination of their strengths that enhances their ability to create and perform unique and complex works.

The seniors are anxiously waiting to perform their own senior piece, and remembered how emotional and inspiring the senior performance was when they were first-years.  This year, associate professor of dance Er-dong Hu will choreograph the piece that the seven seniors will dance this spring.  The piece is expected to mold the group’s varying styles into one cohesive and emotional statement and will serve as the final chapter in the seniors’  careers in The Bucknell Dance Company, an experience that the group describes as incredible.  The Bucknell Dance Company is “definitely the best part of my Bucknell experience–hands down,” Soto said.

Those not involved with the Bucknell Dance Company, including myself, have to be a bit jealous. A sense of support and family is what everyone would like to find on a college campus, and this tight-knit group of dancers has created such a community for themselves.  This eclectic, talented and warm group of friends are fortunate to have fostered these relationships, and I would be very surprised if they did not continue to communicate and provide each other support after graduation. Behind all the jokes that flew back and forth during my short conversation with this group is a real, honest friendship that will be exciting to see translated into dance during their senior performance this spring.

You do not have much longer to see these talented dancers perform along with the rest of the Bucknell Dance Company. They will perform under the direction of Kelly Knox at 8 p.m. on Dec. 4 and 5 in the Harvey M. Powers Theatre in Coleman Hall.

Categories
News

University receives KEEN grant to strengthen engineering

By Meghan Finlayson

Staff Writer

This past summer, the Kern Family Foundation gave the University a $75,000 grant to be used over two years. The grant was created for engineers to promote an action-oriented entrepreneurial mindset.

The Kern Family Foundation focuses its funding towards long-term programs that promote systemic change. The Foundation created the Kern Entrepreneurship Education Network (KEEN) in 2005 as a collegiate initiative to increase the quantity and quality of U.S. engineering talent. The longterm goal of the program is to help students learn how to contribute economic and technical commerce in their communities.

“[The grant] fundamentally provides support to the College of Engineering for introducing students to a more entrepreneurially-minded approach to their engineering education through course work, speakers and site visits,” Dean Keith Buffinton said.

The KEEN program supports select private U.S. colleges and universities that offer strong engineering programs. The University was one of five universities selected this year.

“We were selected to become part of the KEEN group through a competitive proposal process,” Buffinton said.

“Bucknell’s reputation in undergraduate engineering education certainly helped get the attention of the Kern Family Foundation. Also, many of our faculty in engineering are very active in sharing ideas through conference presentations and publishing their work in journals,” said David Foreman, Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations.

The College of Engineering has many plans to make the most of the funds from the grant.

“Our goal is to expose 100 percent of our engineering students to an entrepreneurial mindset,” Buffinton said.

There are plans underway for a program in January that will feature students coming together to work on a project related to one of the ‘grand challenges’ identified by the National Academy of Engineering.

“We’re planning on having a one and a half-week multidisciplinary design experience for freshmen and sophomores. The students will work in teams composed of peers in different disciplines in engineering to address a relevant problem that affects global society and create a proof-of-concept prototype [displaying their ideas],” said Charles Kim, assistant professor of mechanical engineering.

As a result of this program, “they will learn about major issues in technology and society that include innovation, sustainability, biotechnology, and energy,” he said.

The funding will also go towards courses such as ENGR 100, campus speakers on innovation and entrepreneurship and field trips to visit businesses and corporations.

“Faculty members will also have the opportunity to develop new teaching methods that they learn from workshops and collaborative activities with pedagogy experts and faculty at other institutions. This will improve courses with the infusion of new ideas,” Foreman said.

The College of Engineering is brainstorming ideas on how it can continue to make the most of the grant.

“The staff at the Kern Family Foundation wants to work with us and develop ideas and programs that fit our needs … [it] also provides us access to a network of diverse institutions. We can share ideas and both teach and learn from innovators in engineering education,” Foreman said.

“There were a lot of great ideas that came out of the summer institute in the College of Engineering that are still under development,” Kim said.

The grant is not only a great achievement for the College of Engineering, but for the University as a whole. 

“Bucknell is well known for innovative, active and collaborative teaching and learning. We are using our strength in those areas and working with the KFF to continue to build ourselves as educators,” Buffington said.