We are now less than a week away from the Great North American Eclipse! Are you ready? If you haven't yet solidified your plans for eclipse day, now is the time. Remember that Western New York could see up to a million visitors from outside the path of totality! Residents are advised to go grocery shopping and get gas and other supplies for the next week by Thursday or Friday. Remember that cell phone service might not be reliable because of the additional people who will be on the networks, so plan ahead with family and friends in case you can't get in touch with them. Also, be prepared for very heavy traffic in many areas.  

Do you have your eclipse glasses? If not, time is running out! You can purchase Buffalo proud designs for $2 each during our public planetarium shows and during a special selling event on Saturday, April 6, from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. in the Science and Mathematics Complex. Get them while they last! 

Are My Eclipse Glasses Safe?
As we discussed on February 27, it is important to use proper eye protection when looking directly at the Sun any time except during totality. Most of us will be using eclipse glasses to view the eclipse. Although most eclipse glasses meet ISO requirements for safe direct viewing of the Sun, you might have heard that some "fake" glasses are out there. How do you know if yours are safe? With safe eclipse glasses, you will only be able to see the Sun and bright unshaded lights, such as exposed fluorescent lights or other bright filaments. 

If you can see a shaded light, like a lightbulb through a lamp shade, your eclipse glasses are not safe. Also remember to make sure the film in your glasses isn't punctured, scratched, or wrinkled. 

I'll join you again on the other side on April 9. Here's hoping for clear skies and an awesome eclipse experience on April 8!

Question of the Week: Why do you call it an eclipse "experience"?

Answer: Don't just notice what you see with your eyes, but listen to the noises of animals (including humans) and feel the temperature decrease as the Sun gets blocked by the Moon.

Question of the Week 2: How will I know when it's safe to take off my eclipse glasses?  

Answer: As you are watching the first partial phase through your eclipse glasses, you will see the Sun become a thinner and thinner crescent. Just before totality, you will want to look for the "diamond ring effect" where you see the last bit of the Sun as a single, bright light. Once that disappears and you can't see anything else through your eclipse glasses, it is safe to take them off to enjoy totality!

For information about Buffalo State's eclipse events, please visit the Buffalo State Eclipse website. Questions? Email eclipse@buffalostate.edu.

Three at-large College Senate positions will become vacant on August 31, 2024. At-large senators represent the entirety of the university. In order to abide by Article III. C. of the Bylaws of the College Faculty, two of the at-large seats must be filled by academic staff members, while the other seat can be filled by either an academic or professional staff member. 

Eligibility
Current non-UFS college senators who are completing two consecutive terms in their respective positions are not eligible for election to these positions. For additional information on eligibility requirements, please consult the Bylaws of the College Faculty available on the College Senate website.

University Faculty Senate Vacancies
One University Faculty Senate (UFS) position and one alternate University Faculty Senate (UFS) position will become vacant on August 31, 2024. All full-time academic and professional staff members are eligible to seek the UFS and alternate UFS seats.

Eligibility
Current UFS senators who are completing two consecutive terms are not eligible for reelection. There are no term limits on alternate UFS positions. For additional information on eligibility requirements, please consult the Approved Bylaws of the UFS available on the SUNY UFS website.

Campaigning
The College Senate Bylaws and Elections Committee strongly discourages using Buffalo State email services for campaigning.

Nominations
Nominations for all positions can be submitted between Monday, April 1, at 12:01 a.m. and Friday, April 5, at 5:00 p.m. If you wish to nominate yourself or another eligible person, please contact special assistant to the Senate Kristen Mruk via email at collegesenate@buffalostate.edu.  

Individuals running for a College Senate position in another election may not be nominated or self-nominate for the at-large senator positions or the UFS position while the other election is being conducted. If the other election concludes during the period when nominations are being accepted, eligible individuals may be nominated for the at-large senator positions or the UFS position. 

Elections
Elections for all positions will run from 12:01 a.m. Tuesday, April 9, to 11:59 p.m. Tuesday, April 16.

College Senate Caucus 
The 2024-2025 College Senate Caucus will be held at noon Friday, May 10, in Newman Lecture Hall, Bulger Communication Center 215.

All 2024-2025 college senators are welcome to attend this event and may self-nominate or nominate other 2024-2025 college senators for the following positions at this event:

Chair, Academic Plan Committee 
Chair, Budget and Staff Allocations Committee 
Chair, Bylaws and Elections Committee 
Chair, College Senate Curriculum Committee 
Chair, Faculty and Staff Welfare Committee 
Chair, Instruction and Research Committee 
Chair, Standards for Students Committee 
Vice-Chair, Student Welfare Committee 
Vice-Chair, College Senate 
Chair, College Senate 

2024-2025 college senators who are nominated for one of these positions at the caucus will be asked to make a candidate statement at the time of nomination. 

2024-2025 college senators who are not able to attend the caucus may self-nominate for the positions listed above by contacting the chair of the Bylaws and Elections Committee before the caucus and sharing an appropriate candidate statement, which will be read at the caucus.

Three at-large College Senate positions will become vacant on August 31, 2024. At-large senators represent the entirety of the university. In order to abide by Article III. C. of the Bylaws of the College Faculty, two of the at-large seats must be filled by academic staff members, while the other seat can be filled by either an academic or professional staff member. 

Eligibility
Current non-UFS college senators who are completing two consecutive terms in their respective positions are not eligible for election to these positions. For additional information on eligibility requirements, please consult the Bylaws of the College Faculty available on the College Senate website.

University Faculty Senate Vacancies
One University Faculty Senate (UFS) position and one alternate University Faculty Senate (UFS) position will become vacant on August 31, 2024. All full-time academic and professional staff members are eligible to seek the UFS and alternate UFS seats.

Eligibility
Current UFS senators who are completing two consecutive terms are not eligible for reelection. There are no term limits on alternate UFS positions. For additional information on eligibility requirements, please consult the Approved Bylaws of the UFS available on the SUNY UFS website.

Campaigning
The College Senate Bylaws and Elections Committee strongly discourages using Buffalo State email services for campaigning.

Nominations
Nominations for all positions can be submitted between Monday, April 1, at 12:01 a.m. and Friday, April 5, at 5:00 p.m. If you wish to nominate yourself or another eligible person, please contact special assistant to the Senate Kristen Mruk via email at collegesenate@buffalostate.edu.  

Individuals running for a College Senate position in another election may not be nominated or self-nominate for the at-large senator positions or the UFS position while the other election is being conducted. If the other election concludes during the period when nominations are being accepted, eligible individuals may be nominated for the at-large senator positions or the UFS position. 

Elections
Elections for all positions will run from 12:01 a.m. Tuesday, April 9, to 11:59 p.m. Tuesday, April 16.

College Senate Caucus 
The 2024-2025 College Senate Caucus will be held at noon Friday, May 10, in Newman Lecture Hall, Bulger Communication Center 215.

All 2024-2025 college senators are welcome to attend this event and may self-nominate or nominate other 2024-2025 college senators for the following positions at this event:

Chair, Academic Plan Committee 
Chair, Budget and Staff Allocations Committee 
Chair, Bylaws and Elections Committee 
Chair, College Senate Curriculum Committee 
Chair, Faculty and Staff Welfare Committee 
Chair, Instruction and Research Committee 
Chair, Standards for Students Committee 
Vice-Chair, Student Welfare Committee 
Vice-Chair, College Senate 
Chair, College Senate 

2024-2025 college senators who are nominated for one of these positions at the caucus will be asked to make a candidate statement at the time of nomination. 

2024-2025 college senators who are not able to attend the caucus may self-nominate for the positions listed above by contacting the chair of the Bylaws and Elections Committee before the caucus and sharing an appropriate candidate statement, which will be read at the caucus.

Please join the Institute for European Union Studies at SUNY (IEUSS) for the panel discussion "The European Union: Year in Review" on Saturday, April 13, from 1:30 to 2:45 p.m. in Caudell Hall 233. Panelists will highlight major events with which the EU has grappled over the past year and brief the audience about the upcoming elections for the European Parliament. Includes Q&A.

Moderator
Laurie Buonanno (IEUSS Director, SUNY Buffalo State University)

Panelists
Carolyn Dudek (Hofstra University)
Mert Kartal (St. Lawrence University)
Ryan Meilak (European Parliament)

Carolyn Dudek, Ph.D., is the department chair and a professor of political science at Hofstra University, where she coordinates the European Studies Program and is PI and campus coordinator for Hofstra's Erasmus+ Jean Monnet Module. Dr. Dudek's current research focuses on EU's antidiscrimination policy, including anti-Semitic policy.

Mert Kartal, Ph.D., is an associate professor of government at St. Lawrence University, where his research focuses on international organizations and good governance.

Ryan Meilak is the head of outreach and congressional liaison for the European Parliament in Washington, D.C. He has been a resident fellow at the German Marshall Fund of the United States and a European Parliament fellow at George Mason University.

Please join the Institute for European Union Studies at SUNY for the William Andrews lecture, "Mentality of the Invasion: Why Russia Rolled into Ukraine in the 21st Century; A Psychological and Sociopolitical Point of View," presented by WĹ‚odzimierz BatĂłg, University of Warsaw, Poland, on Saturday, April 13, from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. in Caudell Hall 233.

Dr. BatĂłg is a professor of history at the American Studies Center of the University of Warsaw, where he specializes in world and European history after 1945.

The William Andrews Lecture is named for Dr. William "Bill" Andrews, professor emeritus at SUNY Brockport, a scholar of French politics and founder of the first intercollegiate simulation of the European Union (SUNY Model European Community now called the SUNY Model European Union).

The campus community is invited to attend the New York State EAP monthly webinar "Your Financial Report Card" on Wednesday, April 3, from noon to 12:30 p.m.

The April WellNYS Everyday Monthly Challenge is to organize your finances. If you were to grade yourself, how are you doing with your finances? Join us for a 30-minute wellness webinar that will provide a one-page financial report card with a variety of financial subjects. Grade yourself how you are currently doing with traditional scores of A, B, C, D, and F (+, -). Once you have your grades, you can make improvements. This can be done on your own, or bring the information home to your spouse or accountability partner. This 30-minute seminar will be presented by Linda Carignan-Everts, statewide wellness coordinator, Office of Employee Relations. 

Please register for this free 30-minute webinar through the WebEx meeting registration page. You will receive a confirmation email with instructions on how to join the session.

The Fashion and Textile Technology Department and Africana studies program presents "Interwoven Identities: A Conversation with Samuel Boakye, '13, on Fashion and African Diaspora" on Thursday, April 4, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. in the Campbell Student Union.

Join us for an inspiring evening and meet Samuel Boakye, a New Yorker with Ghanaian roots, who found his passion for fashion while studying at Buffalo State University. 

Starting with menswear suits during his junior year, Mr. Boakye honed his craft in designing wedding and prom attire before taking the leap to launch his own brand, Kwasi Paul, in 2020.

By 2021, he had introduced his brand to the world. Alongside his entrepreneurial endeavors, Mr. Boakye has contributed his expertise to fashion industry giants like WGSN, a trend forecasting company, before transitioning to brand management at PROJECT Mens Tradeshow under the MMGNET Group. 

From New York to L.A., Samuel Boakye's journey is a testament to ambition and the relentless pursuit of creativity in fashion.

Don't miss this opportunity to hear firsthand from Samuel Boakye and be inspired by his incredible story. Light refreshments will be served. Hope to see you there.

This workshop has been fully funded by the Buffalo State Grant Allocation Committee and is free and open to the public.

Learn how to strengthen your online and hybrid skills to enhance your course design and increase student engagement with the Online Course Development Series.

The Online Course Development Series (online asynchronous format offered through Brightspace) will guide participants through a systematic approach to the design and development of online synchronous, online asynchronous, and hybrid courses. Participants will be equipped to make design decisions that support interaction, student engagement, authentic learning and assessment, and meaningful integration of technology. This facilitated online asynchronous series will benefit instructors seeking to design or refresh an online or hybrid course.

Instructional Design and Distance Learning recommends taking the Online Course Development Series at least one year before teaching online or hybrid. A full description of the Online Course Development Series can be found on the Instructional Design and Distance Learning website.

Series Information and Registration
This online asynchronous course will begin Monday, April 22, and end Wednesday, June 5. Learn more and register for the spring/summer Online Course Development Series. 

For more information, please visit the Instructional Design and Distance Learning website. Please contact Brooke Winckelmann, instructional designer, with questions.

As 'E-day' fast approaches, the planetarium is seeking additional volunteers to assist with guest and presenter support at Eclipse Fest. Volunteers must arrive on campus by 10:00 a.m. on April 8 and be willing and able to stay until 5:00 p.m. if needed. All volunteers will be provided with lunch. If you are interested, please complete the online form by noon Thursday, April 4.

Please join us for a film screening and discussion of four short films by Indigenous Cambodian filmmakers on the themes of "Healing, Memory, and Care" on Tuesday, April 9, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. in Upton Hall 230.

The films will be simulcast at over 20 universities across North America including the University of California Berkeley, Cornell, Harvard, and Yale. A full list of screening locations is available online.

Film Lineup
Dull Trail (2020)
Directed by Khon Raksa, Peou Mono and Choey Rickydavid
Bunong Language

My Wish (2021)
Directed by Kasol Sinoun
Jarai Language

Trung (2022)
Directed by Khamnhei Hea
Karvet Language

Alive Skin (2022)
Directed by Veasna Oem and Vantha Rat
Khmer Language

This event is co-sponsored by the Buffalo State Global Studies Institute, the SUNY/CUNY Southeast Asia Consortium, and the Graduate Education and Training in Southeast Asian Studies (GETSEA) consortium and held in conjunction with the International Decade of Indigenous Languages, GETSEA and Bophana Center.