Did blacks actively fight for the Confederacy during the Civil War, and if so, why? “Colored Confederates: Myth or Matter of Fact,” a documentary film by Ken Wyatt, sheds light on a corner of American history and further explores this debate. The screening will be held on Thursday, October 11, from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. in the Burchfield Penney's Peter and Elizabeth C. Tower Auditorium. This event is free and open to the Buffalo State community.

Presented by the Burchfield Penney Art Center and the Communication Department and curated by Meg Knowles, documentary film producer and associate professor of communication, and Michael Niman, media and social critic and professor of communication, "Consider the Alternatives" uses an eclectic array of subject matter to explore both alternative responses to social problems and alternative ways of living and organizing families and societies, all the while celebrating human triumph over adversity and repression.

Award-winning documentary filmmaker and East Carolina University faculty member Ken Wyatt is an educator from Rochester, New York, whose works have been screened and distributed on television, at festivals, at independent theaters, and through Internet and educational venues worldwide.

The show Elaborate Paper will exhibit selected experimental student projects developed this semester in a cooperation between the interior design sophomore studio Spatial Experiments and the fiber design junior studio taught by associate professors Jörg Schnier and Jozef Bajus. You are invited to attend our reception and enjoy the finished projects this evening at 5:00 p.m. in the Czurles-Nelson Gallery in Upton Hall.

On display will be a huge variety of small paper texture samples exploring the aesthetic and structural properties of paper products. Building on this design research, the students are currently in the process of designing wearable sculptures. Elaborate Paper is on display through October 26.  For more information, please call the Interior Design Department at ext. 5252.

Open enrollment for the 2013 NYS Flex Spending Account (FSA) is Tuesday, October 9, through Friday, November 9. The account offers two benefits: the Health Care Spending Account (HCSAccount) and the Dependent Care Advantage Account (DCAAccount). 

The HCSAccount allows employees to set aside from $100 to $2,500 annually in pretax salary to pay for health-care expenses not reimbursed by health insurance.

The DCAAccount allows employees to set aside up to $5,000 annually in pretax salary for eligible child care, elder care, or disabled dependent care expenses. The DCAAccount employer contribution is available in 2013 for employees who are represented by unions that have ratified contracts with the state. For employer contribution updates, please visit the FSA website.

Participants currently enrolled in the HCSAccount or DCAAccount must reenroll to continue benefits in 2013.

Paperless enrollment is quick, easy, and secure. For program details or to enroll in the FSA, visit www.flexspend.ny.gov or call the FSA hotline at (800) 358-7202.

The deadline for 2013 enrollment is strictly enforced. Please be sure to enroll by November 9.

Today’s tools for online collaboration are readily available and relatively simple to use. With a quick introduction to Buffalo State’s licensed Blackboard Collaborate system, we will look at various tools to integrate online collaboration into your instruction. We will also discuss various situations where we might use virtual conferencing and how to choose the best tool for your needs. Sometimes Skype just isn’t robust enough, but Collaborate is overkill. Presented by Ken Fujiuchi on Wednesday, November 7, from noon to 1:00 p.m. in the Professional Development Center, E. H. Butler Library 181B. A light lunch will be provided.

Register at http://bscintra.buffalostate.edu/registration/classdetails.asp?class=2911.

Instructional decisions are strongly influenced by one’s beliefs about teaching and learning. A statement of teaching philosophy incorporating these beliefs forms the basis for creating a teaching portfolio. In addition, course learning goals emerge from these beliefs. To effectively teach and help students learn, learning goals should be as clear as possible. Engage with various tools designed to guide reflection on your beliefs, document aspects of your teaching philosophy, and use these reflections to create or clarify learning goals for your courses and to begin the creation of your teaching portfolio. Presented by Sue McMillen on Tuesday, November 6, from 12:15 to 1:30 p.m. in Bacon Hall 115. A light lunch will be provided.

Register at http://bscintra.buffalostate.edu/registration/classdetails.asp?class=2908.

Do you want to add more video content to your courses? Do you have trouble locating it? Do you know the content you want but can’t seem to find it anywhere? Explore the many resources available to you in the E. H. Butler Library collection and on the Internet. You will learn how to find videos and how to include them in your ANGEL courses. Presented by Al Riess and Mark McBride on Friday, November 2, from 11:00 a.m. to noon in E. H. Butler Library 314.

Register at http://bscintra.buffalostate.edu/registration/classdetails.asp?class=2926.

The SEFA/United Way Campaign is well under way. The campaign kicked off on Tuesday, September 11, in the Burchfield Penny Art Center with 90 faculty and staff members in attendance. The campaign has reached 50 percent of its goal with two weeks remaining. The campaign deadline is Friday, October 19.

The Buffalo and Erie County community thanks you for giving from the heart during the campaign. To ensure accurate accountability for cash, checks, and payroll deductions, we request that all SEFA pledge cards be returned.

Sandra Jones, a graduate student in the forensic science program at Buffalo State, will present a literature seminar, "Rapid Screening of Oral Fluids in the Detection of Illicit Drugs," at 12:30 p.m. Thursday, October 11, in Science Building 272. The seminar abstract is as follows:

Rapid oral fluid detection may prove to be a reliable indicator of recent use of a wide range of abused drugs. During this talk, the principles and efficacy of rapid screening of oral fluid for illicit and abused drugs will be discussed. This talk will first demonstrate whether oral fluid can be as effective as other biological fluids for testing drugs of abuse. The validity of the screening devices and methods for rapid oral fluid detection will be presented by comparing their results with those obtained with exhaustive and conclusive tests involving GC-MS or LC-MS. The sensitivity and accuracy of oral fluid test kits proved favorable as compared with industry standard methods. Finally, the prospect of screening devices for the drug test will be provided.

References

Crooks, R. C.; Brown, S. (2010). Roche DAT Immunoassay: Sensitivity and specificity testing for amphetamines, cocaine, and opiates in oral fluid. J. Anal. Toxicol. 34, 103–109.

Gandhi, S.; Sharma, P.; Capalash, N. (2008). Group-selective antibodies based fluorescence immunoassay for monitoring opiate drugs. Anal. Bioanal. Chem. 39, 215–222.

Pehrsson, A.; Blencowe, T.; Vimpari, K.; Langel, K.; Engblom, C.; Lillsunde, P. (2011). An evaluation of on-site oral fluid DrugWipe 5+ and Rapid STAT using oral fluid for confirmation analysis. J.  Anal. Toxicol.  211–218.

Samyn, N.; Laloup, M.; De Boeck, G. (2007). Bioanalytical procedure for determination of drugs of abuse in oral fluid. Anal. Bioanal. Chem. 1437–1453.

Registration is now open for the fall 2012 Western New York Service Learning Coalition conference, "Exploring Engagement: Beyond Traditional Campus-Community Partnerships," to be held at Niagara University on October 26 and 27. Buffalo State is a member institution, so member rates apply for all faculty and staff members. Students may apply for scholarships. Additional information and registration information can be found at http://www.wnyslconference.org, or you may call the Volunteer and Service-Learning Center at ext. 5811.

A series of events and programs will be held to educate and promote personal responsibility and safety around alcohol during National Collegiate Alcohol Awareness Week (NCAAW), October 15–18.

If you would like to use any of these events as extra credit for your students, please contact Paula Madrigal to request sign-in sheets.

Schedule of Events

Monday, October 15
Event: Chalking Contest
Who: Any student group, organization, Greek fraternity or sorority, athletic team, honor society, or residence hall or floor, or just a group of friends or a class.

Description: Registered contestants will be assigned an alcohol-related slogan and a square in a location around campus. The goal is for each group to draw its interpretation of the slogan with the assigned materials and space. Starting Monday, October 15, supplies will be available for pickup at the Health Promotions Office, located in Porter Hall 14A and 15 (lower level). Chalking designs must be completed by 6:00 p.m. Wednesday, October 17. View complete rules and guidelines on the Health Promotions website. To register your group or organization, please fill out the chalking contest online registration form.

Tuesday, October 16
Event: Alcohol Wheel, Resource Tables, and More!
Time: 12:15–1:30 p.m.
Place: Student Union Quad

Wednesday, October 17
Event: Game Night: On the Rocks
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Place: Ethel Lockman Newman Lecture Hall (Bulger Communication Center North)

Description: AEPhi and USG will host the game show On the Rocks. This interactive, fun game will require students to answer questions related to alcohol prevention and education. Participants will include registered student groups and organizations. Prizes will be awarded to the winners. To register your group, please fill out and submit the game night registration form.

Thursday, October 18
Event: Arrive Alive Tour Car Simulator
Time: 11:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
Where: Student Union Quad

Description: The Arrive Alive Tour Simulator uses impact videos and a high-tech simulator inside a real car to allow students to have a firsthand experience, in a controlled environment, with the potential consequences of distracted or drunken driving. Students get a “ticket” showing them the results of their driving-while-distracted experience. During this event, participants can also visit with various community resource tables, participate in video testimonials, take a photo pledge, and have a few mocktails.

Event: Alcohol-Free-Night Programming – USG Movie Night: The Dark Knight Rises
Time: 6:00 p.m.
Location: Student Union Game Room

If you would like to be involved, or if you have any questions, please contact Paula Madrigal, ext. 4719.