Are you achin’ for some bacon? Join us as the Newman Center hosts its fourth annual meat raffle on Saturday, March 7, at the Knights of Columbus, 1530 Kenmore Avenue, Buffalo, NY 14216. Doors open at 6:00 p.m.; the first spin is at 7:00 p.m.

Tickets are $10 per person. Tables of 10 are available for $90. All tickets include an entry in the door prize raffle, beverages (beer and soda), and pizza. Other raffles taking place throughout the event include a large prize raffle, a 50/50 split raffle, and a basket raffle. Those attending must be 18 years or older. Outside food is welcome.

We are always looking for ways to improve the event. This year we are excited to have a new sound system!

For tickets, please contact the Newman Center, 882-1080. All proceeds benefit our services to Buffalo State students (service projects, retreats, leadership training, and ministry resources).

The Graduate Advisory Council is accepting nominations for Outstanding Master’s Theses and Outstanding Master’s Projects. The purpose of these awards is to recognize outstanding student research and applied work at the graduate level. Up to three thesis awards and three project awards will be made. Applications will be accepted for students who graduated in J-Term 2019, May 2019, August 2019, or December 2019.

Nominations may be made by thesis or project advisers or by students themselves. Additional reviews are required from the department chair and one external evaluator. Guidelines and forms are available on the Graduate School website.

The deadline for submission of nominations and evaluation forms to the Graduate School, Cleveland Hall 204, is Wednesday, February 19. Please direct questions to Marnie Letzelter, executive assistant to the dean of the Graduate School, 878-5609.

Africana studies has invited roughly 50 McKinley High School students and 20 Buffalo State College students to come together to discuss different dimensions of youth leadership in a workshop on Friday, February 14, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. in the Campbell Student Union Assembly Hall. The discussion will be facilitated by community partners in the fields of entrepreneurialism, black identity, and leadership studies. Come and meet these community partners, hear the voices of youth, and contribute to fostering ethical leadership skills in a dynamic interaction with McKinley High School and Buffalo State students. Lunch will be served.

The Africana studies program will showcase some of its students’ research to highlight their individual achievements and to illustrate the kinds of exciting and often game-changing questions and revelations afforded by the discipline on Thursday, February 13, from 12:15 to 1:30 p.m. in Bulger Communication Center 214.

What difference does Africana studies make? As scholars of Africana studies, we hear this question a lot, asked in various ways. While the answer is intuitive to us, we understand that it may not be to others. Africana studies research is relevant to many students, and it can pique their interest and help retain them as students here at Buffalo State College. Come and support four of our Africana studies student researchers as they discuss the Black Power Movement in the Caribbean, speech-language pathology in Ghana, the effect of curriculum on black adolescent identity in Buffalo, and a little-known civil rights activist. This event is open to the campus and community.

Student representatives of the African American Students Organization, NAACP-Buffalo State Chapter, Black Active Minds, Pan-African Students Organization, and Caribbean Students Organization will lead an informed discussion about how they would envision Africana studies in a way that would draw in their respective student constituencies on Wednesday, February 12, from 5:00 to 6:30 p.m. in Ketchum Hall 113.

When students do not perform at our standards, is it their fault or ours? What if students told us frankly what they would need a department or a course to look like and do to get them excited to “buy in”? In Africana studies, we think these questions are important for all disciplines and faculty members to consider, and we have created an activity to hash them out. Please come and meet these students, hear their voices, and contribute to the broader issue of effective teaching and learning at Buffalo State College. This event is open to the campus and community. Light refreshments will be served.

The Africana studies program in the School of Natural and Social Sciences invites campus community members who have extensively read or otherwise engaged with the work of Nobel laureate Toni Morrison to contribute to an evening "read-in" on Tuesday, February 11, from 4:30 to 7:00 p.m. in Classroom Building B118. Share thoughts on a favorite book, read a favorite quote, explore a moving idea, provide a general opinion, or read an academic paper. Presentations will be five to 10 minutes in length, 15 minutes for academic papers. Please send your topic to Aimable Twagilimana, professor of English, by Monday, February 3.

Please join us for a panel discussion with five African American community leaders who will discuss ways to foster mutually productive and sustainable partnerships with Buffalo State’s Africana studies program on Monday, February 10, from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. in Bacon Hall 115. The panelists, who work in the grassroots sectors of education, business, health, spirituality, and culture, will speak frankly about how they would steer a college department or program in ways that would be relevant to their constituencies. Panelists include distinguished educator, historian, and author Eva M. Doyle, who is currently a columnist for the Criterion, Western New York’s oldest black newspaper. This event is free and open to the campus and community. Light refreshments will be served.

Please join the International Education Office in South Wing 430 to learn more about opportunities for Buffalo State College students to study away—including study abroad, exchange partnerships, national student exchange, and international internships—during the following open advisement and information sessions. No appointments are needed. 

Open Advisement
Monday, Wednesday, Friday: 10:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.
Tuesday, Thursday: 2:30–4:30 p.m. 

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Information Sessions
12:15–12:45 p.m.

Tuesday, February 11
Thursday, February 20
Tuesday, February 25
Thursday, March 5
Tuesday, March 10
Wednesday, April 8
Thursday, April 16

For more information, please contact the International Education Office, 878-4620

Please join the Civic and Community Engagement Office for the interactive workshop "Community-Engaged Research: Supporting Community-Driven Priorities," led by Diane Doberneck, associate director of Michigan State University’s National Collaborative for the Study of University Engagement, on Friday, February 21, from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. in Caudell Hall 123. The workshop will include

• an introduction to designing, implementing, and publishing research to support community-driven priorities;
• a group discussion of community-engaged research in relation to traditional scholarship;
• strategies to utilize community-engaged research to support promotion and tenure; and
• examples.

Diane M. Doberneck, Ph.D., is the director for faculty and professional development in MSU's Office for Public Engagement and Scholarship, where she conducts research about community-engaged scholarship, coordinates the MSU graduate certification in community engagement, and leads University Outreach and Engagement’s Educational Programs Team.

RSVP for the workshop by e-mail at cce@buffalostate.edu.

Please join us for an estate planning seminar presented by Voya Financial on Tuesday, February 11, from noon to 1:30 p.m. in Caudell Hall 234.

Estate planning is not just for wealthy, married, or older people. Everyone has something he or she cares about or wants to protect. This seminar helps educate individuals about the basic aspects of an estate plan, considerations for getting started, and the value to planning for all facets of life, including one's legacy. Lunch will be provided.

Seating is limited; reservations are required. Please contact Molly Pecoraro, (716) 626-3928 by Tuesday, February 4, to register.