Please join us for "Mayan Archaeoastronomy," a full-dome animated movie that examines the Maya understanding of the cosmos through their knowledge of astronomy, on Wednesday, September 27, from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. in the Whitworth Ferguson Planetarium in the Science and Mathematics Complex. All are welcome.

Celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month by viewing the documentary The Garifuna Journey on Tuesday, September 26, from 12:15 to 1:30 p.m. in the Student Union Assembly Hall. With vivid and engaging footage shot entirely in Belize, the film honors the continuity of Garifuna culture in the face of overwhelming odds. This event is free and open to the public.

Celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month by joining in Salsa/Afro Latin Dance with Fanny Olaya, ’20, on Thursday, September 21, from 12:15 to 1:30 p.m. in the Student Union Assembly Hall. Olaya is a professional dancer and dance instructor. This event is free and open to the public.

Please join us for the Latin@ Poetry Slam on Tuesday, September 19, from 12:15 to 1:30 p.m. in the Campbell Student Union Assembly Hall. This event is part of National Hispanic Heritage Month, a monthlong celebration of the contributions of Hispanic Americans to the history, culture, and achievements of the United States. Hope to see you there.

Please join us for the documentary film Mexico and Peru: The Black Grandma in the Closet today, September 15, from 12:15 to 1:30 p.m. in the Campbell Student Union Assembly Hall. This event is part of National Hispanic Heritage Month, a monthlong celebration of the contributions of Hispanic Americans to the history, culture, and achievements of the United States. Hope to see you there.

Buffalo State University will celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with a series of events from September 15 to October 15:

Documentary: Mexico and Peru: The Black Grandma in the Closet
Friday, September 15
12:15–1:30 p.m.
Campbell Student Union Assembly Hall

Latino Poetry Slam 
Tuesday, September 19
12:15–1:30 p.m.
Campbell Student Union Assembly Hall

Salsa/Afro Latin Dance with Fanny Olaya (Buffalo State alumna)
Thursday, September 21
12:15–1:30 p.m.
Campbell Student Union Assembly Hall

Documentary: The Garifuna Journey
Tuesday, September 26
12:15–1:30 p.m.
Campbell Student Union Assembly Hall

Mayan Archeoastronomy
Wednesday, September 27
6:00–7:00 p.m.
Whitworth Ferguson Planetarium, Science and Mathematics Complex

Hispanic-Themed Student-Faculty Mixer
Thursday, September 28
12:15–1:30 p.m.
Modern and Classical Languages Department
Buckham Hall B234

Mayan Archeoastronomy
Friday, September 29
1:00–1:50 p.m.
Whitworth Ferguson Planetarium, Science and Mathematics Complex

Latin@ Roundtable Discussion
Thursday, October 12
12:15–1:30 p.m.
Campbell Student Union Assembly Hall

Experiencia Latina (a Music–Modern and Classical Languages Collaboration)
Thursday, October 12
7:30–8:30 p.m.
Ciminelli Recital Hall, Rockwell Hall

All events are free and open to the public.

For more information, please contact Marko Miletich, assistant professor of modern and classical languages, (716) 878-4837.

Please join the Biology Department and the Great Lakes Center for the seminar “Distribution, Evolution, and Functional Importance of the Enigmatic Inteins,” presented by Olga Novikova, assistant professor of biology at Buffalo State University, on Monday, September 11, at 3:00 p.m. in Science and Math Complex 151.

Attendees are welcome to arrive at 2:30 p.m. to enjoy coffee and cookies before the seminar.

Abstract
Inteins, also called protein introns, are self-splicing mobile elements found in all domains of life, as well as numerous viruses. Inteins carry out unique biochemistry called protein splicing, which is a multistep biochemical reaction composed of both the cleavage and formation of peptide bonds. Protein splicing capabilities of inteins are “nature’s gift to protein engineers” and have been exploited in numerous biotechnological applications. Although inteins are famous as versatile protein splicing tools, the importance of inteins for the native host and their function remain largely a mystery. In Dr. Novikova’s lab, her team combines bioinformatics and experimental research with the goal of elucidating potential functional roles of inteins in microorganisms. The large-scale survey of genomic data highlights a biased distribution of inteins among functional categories of proteins in both bacteria and archaea, with a strong preference for a single network of functions containing replisome proteins. Many nonorthologous, functionally equivalent replicative proteins in bacteria and archaea carry inteins, suggesting a selective retention of inteins in proteins of particular functions across domains of life. This peculiar bias provides hints for the functional importance of the inteins. They argue that selective retention of some inteins might be beneficial under certain environmental stresses, to act as panic buttons that reversibly inhibit specific networks, consistent with the observed intein distribution. They propose that inteins can act as environmental sensors that adapt to a particular niche and could potentially increase the chance of the intein becoming fixed in a population. Indeed, there are inteins modulated in a stimulus-dependent manner, which points to the possibility that some inteins may adapt to intracellular niche and become post-translational regulatory elements.

The Dr. Katherine S. Conway-Turner Civic and Community Engagement Office is proud to present the fall 2023 Civic Engagement Series. This is an opportunity for Buffalo State students, faculty, and staff members to learn about social justice issues on a local and national level, engage in on-campus service projects, and become aware of volunteer opportunities.

This semester, we have four service projects available:

DIY Sugar Scrub Soap Jars for Refugees with the CAC Adult Education
Tuesday, September 12
12:15 p.m.
Caudell Hall 209

Building Beds for Foster Children with Sleep in Heavenly Peace
Saturday, October 21
8:30 a.m. (transportation and lunch provided)
Off Campus - RSVP REQUIRED

DIY Laundry Soap for Schoolchildren in Need with the Good Day Grocery Pantry
Wednesday, October 25
12:30 p.m.
On campus (Location TBD)

DIY Greeting Cards for Parkinson Patients with Art Moves Me
Wednesday, November 15
12:15 p.m.
Location TBD

Complete with a presentation by the community partner or a review of the organization’s information sheet, a hands-on service project, and an attendance tracker reflection survey, participants will receive credit toward the President’s Certificate of Recognition for their participation and completion of the workshop.

The series is made possible with support from the Grant Allocation Committee and Residence Life. The programs are a collaboration with our community and campus partners: the Community Academic Center, the Good Day Grocery Pantry, Sleep in Heavenly Peace, Art Moves Me, the Women’s Softball Team, the Chemistry Club, and the Anne Frank Project.

Visit the CCE Bengal Connect page for more information and to RSVP.

Please email the CCE with questions.

Edmund Haspett from TIAA will be on campus for individual consultations with Buffalo State faculty and staff members on Tuesday, September 12, between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. in Cleveland Hall 416.

Appointments are required.

Space is limited! Visit the TIAA website to schedule an appointment or call (800) 732-8353 weekdays between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m.

Discuss your financial situation with an experienced TIAA consultant to help you plan for your future and pursue your financial goals. Take this opportunity to review your retirement savings or to increase or start a tax-deferred annuity.

Get answers to these questions and more:

• Am I invested in the right mix of investments to help meet my goals?
• Am I saving enough to create the retirement income I need?
• How do I take income from my retirement account once I stop working?

Space is limited. Sign up today.

The CSEA Local 640 Veterans Committee wants to remember and honor the lives lost on September 11, 2001, and in the years that followed. Many heroes came out that day, and many more continued to fight for our freedom afterward. Let us never forget their sacrifices.

If any CSEA members are veterans and would like to be added to the list for upcoming celebrations and holiday gifts, please email Julie Wholf, administrative assistant 1 in the Elementary Education, Literacy, and Educational Leadership Department. Thank you for your service, dedication, and sacrifice.