Come and celebrate Mass on the First Friday of each month at 8:00 a.m. in the Newman Center Chapel. We will gather for Mass and start the month with a renewed perspective. Stay for a cup of coffee afterward or take a cup to go. Our next Mass will take place Friday, May 6.

The Newman Center is located at 1219 Elmwood Avenue, across from the Burchfield Penney Art Center. For more information, contact us at 882-1080 or newmancenter@buffalostate.edu.

Faculty and Staff members are cordially invited to Campus House for a "Cherry Chill" event, a celebration created and planned by students in the Event Management Class, to help kick off the third annual Cherry Blossom Festival, on Monday, May 2, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.

Hospitality student volunteers have partnered with Friends of the Japanese Garden in Delaware Park and Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy to bring awareness to the cherry tree grove in the Japanese Garden in Buffalo.

Activities include:

• Meet and greet with Friends of the Japanese Garden and cash bar
• Ceremonial green tea station and Cherry Blossom Festival information table
• Hand-painted souvenir wine glasses available for purchase
• Slow-food tasting of Japanese popsicles and "Barrel and Brine" display
• Matcha tea ice cream demonstration and ginger cookie tasting with chef Sue

The cost of the event is $20 per person; all proceeds go to Friends of the Japanese Garden

RSVP to Campus House or call Krista Constantino, guest services manager, at 878-3300
Visit the event website for more information.

Kids Day, presented by Tops Friendly Markets, is Tuesday, April 26, and thousands of volunteers will help sell a special Kids Day edition of the Buffalo News. Proceeds from the sale of this special edition are presented to Variety, the Children’s Charity, to benefit Women and Children’s Hospital of Buffalo, the Robert Warner MD Center for Children with Special Needs, Children’s Charities of Western New York, and Cradle Beach.

Members of the Inter Greek Association will be volunteering for their seventh year and hope to reach their fundraising goal of $1,500. Meeting this goal will bring their total donations to $10,000. Please have your donation ready as you approach campus.

Thank you for your continued support.

All students, faculty, staff, alumni, and community members are invited to participate in the 11th annual Walk a Mile in Her Shoes event on Sunday, April 24, at Crisis Services, 2969 Main Street in Buffalo. Registration is free and begins at 11:00 a.m.; games and activities begin at 11:30 a.m.

Special guests attending this year include New York State Senator Tim Kennedy, Acting Erie County District Attorney Michael Flaherty, and former Buffalo Sabre Darryl Shannon. We encourage as many people from the Buffalo State community to attend as possible in the form of one large Buff State team. The event recognizes the largest campus (ratio per enrollment). UB and other schools typically have a large presence from their campuses, sports teams, cheerleaders, and student organizations. This event is a great way for campus organizations to get involved in the community and raise awareness for an important cause (plus plenty of photo ops). The event is family and dog friendly.

Thank you to everyone who has assisted by donating to and promoting this event and the good work of our community. For reaching the $1,000 goal, as promised, Buffalo State University Police Chief Carey will participate in the walk and will be in good company with Dean of Students Charles Kenyon!

Donations are still being accepted.

All proceeds go to the Advocate Program at Crisis Services, which provides confidential response and support services for survivors of rape, sexual assault, domestic violence, family violence, and elder abuse 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The closing celebration will feature activities, prizes, and more. Don’t forget to wear your heels! Gentlemen: If you need heels for the walk, don’t worry. We will have shoes available for you in any size!

Please visit the Walk a Mile Facebook page for photos and videos from past events. Contact Paula Madrigal, assistant director of prevention and health promotions, 878-4719, for more information.

Saturday, April 30, is National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day, and Buffalo State will host a drop-off site from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. in Cleveland Circle (front of Cleveland Hall).

Recent news about the detection of prescription drugs in drinking water has caused concern about the impact on human health. Also, storing expired or unwanted medications in your home increases the risk of accidental poisoning. Help protect our water and your safety by disposing of medicines properly through collection and incineration.

Please bring medications in the original labeled containers; blacken out personal information. The following items will be accepted, no questions asked:

• prescription or over-the-counter medications (any type, expired or unwanted)
• syringes
• inhalers
• liquids
• ointments
• patches

Please DO NOT bring mercury-containing or radioactive products.

For a full list of the drop-off locations or more information, please visit the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration website or call (800) 882-9539.

Faculty and staff members can enjoy a free lunch in the Resident Dining Hall when they sign the Green Pledge in honor of Earth Week. Join us between 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. to enjoy your lunch with us.

Faculty and Staff members are cordially invited to Campus House for a "Cherry Chill" event, a celebration created and planned by students in the Event Management Class, to help kick off the third annual Cherry Blossom Festival, on Monday, May 2, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.

Hospitality student volunteers have partnered with Friends of the Japanese Garden in Delaware Park and Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy to bring awareness to the cherry tree grove in the Japanese Garden in Buffalo.

Activities include

• meet and greet with Friends of the Japanese Garden and cash bar,
• ceremonial green tea station and Cherry Blossom Festival information table,
• Hand-painted souvenir wine glasses available for purchase,
• Slow-food tasting of Japanese popsicles and "Barrel and Brine" display,
• Matcha tea ice cream demonstration and ginger cookie tasting with chef Sue
  (starts at 5:00 p.m.).

The cost of the event is $20 per person; all proceeds go to Friends of the Japanese Garden.

RSVP to Campus House or call Krista Constantino, guest services manager, at 878-3300. Visit the event website or Facebook page for more information.

The campus community is warmly invited to attend the annual International Cultural Fiesta on Saturday, April 23, at 6:30 p.m. in the Campbell Student Union Social Hall. Doors open at 6:00 p.m. Food and exceptional entertainment from around the world are on the program. Admission is $5 for students and $7 for the general public. Advance tickets are available at the Rockwell Hall Box Office.

For more information, please contact Jean F. Gounard, director of international student affairs, 878-5331.

This year’s Celebration of Life Memorial Service will take place on Friday, April 29, from 3:00 to 4:00 p.m. in the Campbell Student Union Assembly Hall. Please join us.

For the past 15 years, Buffalo State students, faculty, and staff have come together to celebrate the lives and memories of those who have passed away during the last year. This event is a meaningful tradition at Buffalo State that provides a forum to remember those members of our Buffalo State community who are no longer with us. This nondenominational, spiritual celebration honors their lives through music, poetry, readings, and the lighting of candles. The name of each deceased individual will be read aloud, followed by the ringing of our memorial bell.

The Celebration of Life Memorial Service is coordinated by the Counseling Center and supported by numerous campus departments. If you are aware of someone who has died since April 15 of last year, and if you would like to add his or her name to the list of remembrances, please e-mail the Counseling Center today with the relevant information. Thank you.

The Volunteer and Service-Learning Center’s Alternative Break student leadership team is hosting its second annual Spring Plant Fundraiser. Proceeds will benefit the Alternative Break Scholarship, which covers payment expenses for students who would otherwise be unable to participate in an Alternative Break trip experience. 

The student leadership team is selling locally grown organic basil, cilantro, marigold, and parsley plants. The plants come ready to be transplanted to your garden or patio pot and are $3 each or two for $5. You can have your order delivered to your office or you may pick it up on Thursday, May 5.  

Spring Plant Fundraiser orders are due by Monday, April 18. Orders can be placed online.  

To learn more about Buffalo State’s Alternative Break program, please visit our website. Any questions regarding the Spring Plant Fundraiser can be directed to buffalostateab@gmail.com.

The Alternative Break student leadership team thanks you for your support!

Darran Booker, Junior, Business
Kendry Brown, Junior, Business
Afiya Cousins, Junior, Speech-Language Pathology
Theresa Dahn, Sophomore, Social Work
Ada Garcia, Sophomore, Exceptional Education
Stephanie Hanson, Junior, Earth Science Education  
Leanna Kalinowski, Senior, Psychology
Dominique Lamour, Junior, Psychology
Rachael Mark, Senior, Social Work
Michelle Ostrovskis, Senior, Business
Dallas Taylor, Senior, Psychology
Ashley Termini, Senior, Psychology
Aye Min Thant, Sophomore, Art
Scott Thompson, Senior, Urban Planning
Saša Vann, Senior, Psychology and Hospitality