Monday, April 2, marks the 30th anniversary of the Argentine invasion and recuperation of the Falkland/Malvinas Islands. In commemoration, the History and Social Studies Education Department will screen the movie Blessed by Fire (104 minutes) at 3:15 p.m. in Bulger Communication Center West 2. The following brief presentations will accompany the film:

"Starting a War: Look Before You Jump," by Rene de la Pedraja, professor of history, Canisius College

"Las Malvinas eran, son, y seran Argentinas: Argentine Public Education and Media during the Falklands/Malvinas War," by Bridget Chesterton, assistant professor of history and social studies education, Buffalo State College

"Fish and Sheep: The Falkland War and Kelper Identity," by Felipe Villela, student, History and Social Studies Education Department, Buffalo State College.

The spring 2012 “Conversations” lecture series continues this Friday, March 30, as Kyeonghi Baek, assistant professor of political science, presents “The Tide and the Turbulence: Analysis on Political Risks and the Flow of Foreign Direct Investment” at 3:00 p.m. in Ketchum Hall 320. Colleagues, friends, graduate students, and advanced undergraduate students are welcome.

The women and gender studies program invites the campus community to attend its fourth annual Research Symposium on Friday, March 30, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. in the Burchfield Penney Art Center's Tower Auditorium. Refreshments will be provided. Participants from several area institutions, including Buffalo State, will be speaking on a broad range of topics. The full schedule and more information about the day's events can be found at www.buffalostate.edu/womensstudies/x583.xml.

The symposium is sponsored by the women and gender studies program, the Faculty-Student Association, the Graduate School, the Research Foundation, and the School of Natural and Social Sciences. Please contact Jennifer Ryan, ext. 6820, with any questions.

Native American artifacts, such as lacrosse sticks, wampum belts, medallions, regalia, rattles, and artwork, will be on display in the glass cases in the lobby of E. H. Butler Library during the month of April, which is Native American Heritage Month. The exhibit is sponsored by the Buffalo State Native American Students Organization.

Come and join us for an open house for the Weight Watchers at Work program, sponsored by EAP, on Thursday, March 29, at noon in E. H. Butler Library 208. The meeting is free, and our leader, Debbi, will offer an information session, healthful snacks, and raffles. If you have any questions, please contact Melissa Slisz.

A campus screening of the film Miss Representation will be shown on Monday, April 2, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. in Bulger Communication Center South. Miss Representation provides a critical examination of how the media portrays women and the impact those portrayals may have on women.

"In a society where media is the most persuasive force shaping cultural norms, the collective message that our young women and men overwhelmingly receive is that a woman’s value and power lie in her youth, beauty, and sexuality, and not in her capacity as a leader.... The film challenges the media’s limited and often disparaging portrayals of women and girls, which make it difficult for women to achieve leadership positions and for the average woman to feel powerful herself. Stories from teenage girls and provocative interviews with politicians, journalists, entertainers, activists, and academics, like Condoleezza Rice, Nancy Pelosi, Katie Couric, Rachel Maddow, Margaret Cho, Rosario Dawson, and Gloria Steinem build momentum as Miss Representation accumulates startling facts and statistics that will leave the audience shaken and armed with a new perspective." -- from www.missrepresentation.org

This event is open to all students, staff, and faculty. Following the film will be a discussion facilitated by Lisa Hunter, assistant dean of intellectual foundations and first-year programs; Heather Maldonado, assistant dean of University College; and Jennifer Hunt, associate professor of psychology.

Sponsored by Intellectual Foundations and the women and gender studies program.

Employees who were enrolled in the Flex Spending Account for the 2011 plan year have until Saturday, March 31, to submit reimbursement requests for eligible expenses incurred under the Health Care Spending Account and the Dependent Care Advantage Account. Under the IRS "use it or lose it" rule, if you fail to submit requests for all your eligible 2011 expenses by the March 31 deadline, you will forfeit the remaining funds in your 2011 account. For reimbursement forms and additional information, visit www.flexspend.ny.gov or call the FSA hotline at (800) 358-7202.

The NYSHIP Opt-Out Program for PBANYS employees becomes effective April 1, 2012. You have until 4:30 p.m. today to enroll for this year. This program allows eligible employees who have other employer-sponsored group health insurance to opt out of their NYSHIP coverage in exchange for an incentive payment. The other coverage cannot be NYSHIP coverage provided through employment with the State of New York. The annual incentive payment is $1,000 for waiving individual coverage or $3,000 for waiving family coverage.

To be eligible for the program, you must have been enrolled in NYSHIP by April 1, 2011, and remain enrolled through March 31, 2012, unless you became newly eligible for NYSHIP benefits after April 1, 2011.

If you are currently enrolled in NYSHIP and wish to participate in the Opt-Out Program, you must elect to opt out during the Special Option Transfer Period that ends today and attest to having other employer-sponsored group health insurance.

The complete Opt-Out Program description, including eligibility requirements and enrollment forms, is available in Cleveland Hall 410 or on the Human Resource Management website.

The opt-out enrollment form must be returned to Cleveland Hall 410 today.

Please call Human Resources at ext. 4821 with questions or for additional information.

The health insurance Special Option Transfer Period for PBANYS employees ends today. The new health insurance rates, effective April 1, 2012, can be viewed on the Human Resource Management website.

PBANYS employees who wish to change their health insurance plans during this Special Option Transfer Period have until 4:30 p.m. today to do so. If you wish to make a change, you must complete and return the option transfer form to Cleveland Hall 410.

You may want to review "Choices," a summary of health insurance plans, before you decide to change insurance carriers or to remain with your current carrier for your health insurance coverage.

No action is required if you wish to keep your current health insurance option.

Please note: The regular annual Option Transfer Period held at the end of the calendar year will be available, and you will have the opportunity to review health insurance plan options and rates for 2013 as you normally do.

If you have questions, please call Human Resource Management at ext. 4821.

Saturday, April 28, is National Prescription Drug Drop-Off Day. Prescription-drug abuse is an epidemic across the country and the No. 1 drug problem in Western New York. Check your medicine cabinet today and drive in…drop off, no questions asked. Keep unneeded, unwanted medications out of children's hands.

There are 28 drop-off locations in Western New York, including Buffalo State College, Lot C, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. All medications from residential homes—prescription and over-the-counter—will be accepted for proper disposal, no questions asked.

For more information and a list of drop-off locations, visit www.nationalprescriptiondrugdropoff.com.