In this modern day riff on The Scarlet Letter, Hester La Negrita, a homeless mother of five, lives with her kids on the tough streets of the inner city. Her eldest child is teaching her how to read and write, but the letter "A" is, so far, the only letter she knows. Her five kids are named Jabber, Bully, Trouble, Beauty and Baby, and the characters are played by adult actors who double as five other people in Hester's life: her ex-boyfriend, her social worker, her doctor, her best friend and her minister. While Hester's kids fill her life with joy—lovingly comical moments amid the harsh world of poverty—the adults with whom she comes into contact only hold her back. Nothing can stop the play's tragic end.

The Pre K-12 teaching community is invited to a free special event at the Burchfield Penney Art Center on Thursday, October 8 from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m.

Learn about changing Homeland Security regulations impacting our international students. Even required course activities such as internships, Volunteer Service Learning, and student teaching now may require approval from Homeland Security before international students can participate. Immigration lawyer James Eiss will also discuss regulations concerning course loads, volunteering and other on/off campus activities. Dr. Jean Gounard will share the services provided by Buffalo State’s International Student Affairs Office.

Workers on the Student Union Quad project plan to reopen access to the south (main) entrance of Bulger Communications Center this week. Pedestrian walkways to the east (Caudell Hall) and west (Upton Hall) will also be available. Construction fencing will go up around the north entrance and loading dock, however, making those areas inaccessible for several weeks.

All faculty and staff members are invited to attend one of the most exciting campus events of the semester—the Science and Mathematics Complex Groundbreaking ceremony—on Friday, September 25, at 3:00 p.m. in the John Urban Auditorium, Science Building 213.

Spread the word! Student Life PB&J Mondays series aims to help commuter students feel welcome and that they are a vital part of the Buffalo State community. Join the Student Life Office plus faculty and staff in the Fireside Lounge in the Campbell Student Union today from 11:30 am - 1:30 pm.

STUDY SKILLS: TESTWISENESS is the next session in the Workshops to Success series sponsored by University College’s Academic Skills Center and offered free to Buffalo State students. Instructor-tutor Lauren Copeland will show students that how they prepare for their exams is as important as what they know about the content of the course. Her tips on test-taking preparation will help all students develop confidence in their test-taking skills.

If you had NYSHIP FAMILY coverage as of February 1, 2009, you should have received information sent to your home by the NYS Department of Civil Service (Employee Benefits Division) and Budco Health Services Solution to verify eligibility of all dependents on your plan as of February 1, 2009.
It is EXTREMELY IMPORTANT that you IMMEDIATELY read all materials you received and follow the instructions by the stated deadlines. It is urgent that you respond to this communication before October 5, 2009. Failure to timely document eligibility of all dependents may result in loss of the dependent(s) coverage and you may be responsible for repaying all claims paid under NYSHIP.
This is an independent audit being conducted by Budco Health Services Solution on behalf of the NYS Department of Civil Service. The Employee Benefits Office is unable to participate in this audit. All questions concerning this project and the materials received must be directed to Budco at 1-888-358-2196. For more information about the project, please visit http://www.cs.state.ny.us/nyshipeligibilityproject/overview.cfm

During the week of September 21, work to determine the scope of future masonry restoration projects will continue. During this second week of a month-long undertaking, workers will investigate Ketchum Hall, Rockwell Hall and Upton Hall. The activity involves high rise man lifts and rope access on seven campus buildings. A weekly update will be provided. Questions or concerns may be referred to Campus Services at ext. 6111. For more information on campus construction, please visit www.buffalostate.edu/construction.

Where would you want your students to study if they had close to 200 colleges and universities to choose from? If you would like your students to learn more about the National Student Exchange (NSE) program, I will be more than happy to visit your classrooms. Please contact me, Christine Cali, at extension 4328. Hope to hear from you!