American Heart Association CPR/AED classes are offered at Weigel Health Center free of charge for faculty, staff, and students. Participants will learn how to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), use an automated external defibrillator (AED), and provide relief to choking victims. Skills are taught for use with adults, children, and infants. The class is completed in three hours. Classes will be held in Weigel Health Center 203.

Classes are scheduled as follows:

Friday, February 26
9:00 a.m–noon

Monday, March 7
9:00 a.m–noon

Wednesday, April 27
1:30–4:30 p.m.

Tuesday, May 3
1:30–4:30 p.m.

Reserve a spot in one of these classes or obtain additional information at lifesupport@buffalostate.edu.

If you would like to schedule a more convenient time for you and three others, please contact us to arrange a class that fits your schedule.

Please join faculty, students, and friends of the Fashion and Textile Technology Department for a fundraising event to benefit Runway, the Buffalo State student-run fashion show, on Saturday, February 27, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Modern Nostalgia, 1382 Hertel Avenue.

Fifteen percent of all sales from Modern Nostalgia (women's and men's clothing), Wrafterbuilt (reclaimed wood items), and Emerson James Inc. (unique industrial lighting) will be donated to help fund the production of Runway 2016. The event will feature shopping, drinks, snacks, and music by DJ Projex, as well as a silent auction of sewing machine art, created by local artists such as Gerald Mead, Tom Holt, and Alix Martin.

Runway will be held on Saturday, April 16. For more information, please visit the event website or Facebook page.

Faculty, staff, and students are encouraged to celebrate Random Acts of Kindness Week this week, February 22–26, to help spread kindness, love, and compassion on campus and in the community. 

Simple ways to spread kindness:

Brush the snow off of someone's car. 
Hand out candy to your class. 
Write a note to someone who has helped you. 
Participate in the campus food drive to benefit the Buffalo State Food Pantry.

For more ideas, visit the VSLC website.

Take a picture of yourself committing a random act of kindness or describe the action on social media sites with the hashtag #RAKBUFFALOSTATE to show your support and participation in Random Acts of Kindness Week.

Faculty, staff, and students are invited to join the Volunteer and Service-Learning Center (VSLC) February 22–26 as Buffalo State celebrates Random Acts of Kindness Week, a week to spread kindness, love, and compassion on campus and in the community.

Simple ways to spread kindness:

Leave positive notes in unexpected places (car, desk, purse, backpack, library).
Thank campus staff and colleagues for all their hard work.
Help someone shovel.
Buy a hot beverage for someone working outside.

For more ideas, visit the VSLC website.

Take a picture of yourself committing a random act of kindness or describe the action on social media sites with the hashtag #RAKBUFFALOSTATE to show your support and participation in Random Acts of Kindness Week.

Do you have old books or office supplies that are taking up space? Donate them! Buffalo State freshman Stephanie Obeng-Adjei is organizing a campuswide book and office supply drive for materials to ship back to her home village of Kyekyebon, Ghana. Kyekyebon is a small, remote village several hours' drive inland from the million-person city of Kumasi, located near the southwest coast of Africa. There is a desperate need for books and writing supplies in this small community. All materials donated will be shipped to Kyekyebon to supply the local library and public school. Obeng-Adjei is accepting all donations, including

• children's books;
• fiction or nonfiction, hard or soft-cover books on any topic;
• notebooks, paper, pens, pencils, and other office supplies.

Obeng-Adjei will be accepting donations through the rest of the semester. To make a donation, please send your materials via campus mail to Peter Yacobucci, associate professor of political science, Classroom Building B210. If you have any questions, please contact Obeng-Adjei via e-mail. Your generosity is greatly appreciated.

The Buffalo State Rotaract Club, Health and Fitness Organization, and Nutrition Club will help raise funds for the people of Borgne, Haiti, February 22–26. Haiti Outreach Pwoje Espwa (H.O.P.E.) is a recognized nonprofit organization that works in partnership with the residents of Borgne, Haiti, to address community needs. The schools are in desperate need of French books, and 100 percent of all donations will go directly to purchasing books for the community library. Any donation, small or large, is greatly appreciated. Please join us in helping the community of Borgne expand their world through reading. Donation containers can be found on the third floor of the Campbell Student Union, Campus House, Intercollegiate Athletics in Houston Gym, Cleveland Hall 306, Buckham Hall 238, and Houston Gym 202. Thank you for your generosity.

Milligan’s Buffalo State Food Pantry will conduct a campus food drive on Friday, February 26. Buffalo State has responded to 400 requests for food from our students this year, more than double the number of requests last year. Nationally, campuses are reporting higher numbers of students who need help with food. We have worked to increase awareness that food is available for students who are food insecure.

Background on the food panty and contacts for students who need help are available on the Weigel Health Center website.

This year, we have received food donations from the KIA Memorial Road March, the Homecoming Food Drive, and dietetics students via fundraisers. We are grateful for the donations we have received, but because of the increased need, our shelves are almost bare. Below is a list of the foods most requested, but we will accept any donations. Please contact Kim Jablonski, assistant director for mandated programs, to arrange a pickup from your office. Thank you for your generosity.

Canned fruit
Tuna fish
Canned pasta and sauce (ravioli or spaghetti type items)
Macaroni and cheese
Canned soups
Spaghetti sauce
Pasta
Peanut butter
Jelly
Crackers
Cereal
Protein or snack bars

In celebration of Valentine’s Day, the Student Philanthropy Council (SPC) manned tables in the Campbell Student Union allowing students, faculty, and staff to share what they love about Buffalo State. We learned some of the great things they appreciate about our campus, such as the diversity, Student Life, USG, and the endless opportunities available to them.

SPC would like to thank the members of our campus community for devoting their time, passion, and generosity. With your help, we are able to make our campus great through our many programs, projects, and scholarships. From your hands to ours, thank you for your continued support of Buffalo State College!

Today is the last day to place advance orders for the Hospice Spring Bouquet Sale. Support Hospice Buffalo by purchasing a beautiful mixed bouquet for $8 or a large tribute bouquet for $30. For each tribute bouquet sold, an $8 bouquet will be given to a current Hospice patient. Bouquets will be delivered to Cleveland Hall 307 on Monday, February 29. To place an order or for more information, please contact Donna Doyle, secretary in College Relations, 878-4201. Payment can be made at the time of order or at the time of pickup. Cash or checks only. Please make checks payable to Hospice Foundation.

Every bouquet sold truly does make a difference. Thank you for your support.

The Buffalo State Counseling Center offers free QPR training on a monthly basis and upon request for students, faculty, staff, and groups. QPR stands for question, persuade, and refer—three simple steps that anyone can learn to help save a life from suicide. QPR training provides the knowledge and skills needed to recognize the warning signs of a suicide crisis and to get someone who is contemplating suicide the help they need.

We would like Buffalo State to be a community of upstanders as opposed to bystanders. A common myth is that asking a vulnerable person if he or she is considering suicide will give that person the idea to do so. Instead, it lowers anxiety, opens communication, and lowers the risk of an impulsive act. QPR workshop attendees are not trained to act as counselors but to listen and learn where to refer the struggling person for professional help. Help is available 24 hours a day by phone at (800) 273-TALK (8255). We can create a safety net for our community by listening non-judgmentally and instilling hope.

QPR workshops will be conducted in the Counseling Center 203 (second floor of Weigel Health Center) as follows:

Thursday, February 18, 11:00 a.m. noon
Thursday, March 17, 1:00 to 2:00 p.m.
Friday, April 1, 1:00 to 2:00 p.m.
Friday, April 15, 2:00 to 3:00 p.m.

Please call 878-4436 or e-mail counselingcenter@buffalostate.edu to schedule a session.

Additional trainings are available for classes or other campus organizations upon request. Please contact Ron George, outreach coordinator, for more information or to schedule a training.

Ask a Question, Save a Life—Be an Upstander!