Students in Business Professor Tom Keen's Public Relations class were busy this semester developing public relations and fundraising ideas and plans to raise money to help support the construction of the new center for autistic children, which will open on the campus of Caldwell College in fall 2010.

The students presented their ideas on Nov. 10 to Caldwell College president Nancy H. Blattner, Ph.D., Dr. Sharon A. Reeve, Coordinator of Graduate Programs in ABA, Steve Freeman, Senior Vice President of Institutional Advancement, Joseph Posillico, Vice President for Enrollment Management, Dr. Patrick Progar, Chair of the Psychology Department, Dr. Bernie O'Rourke, Chair of the Business Division, Colette M. Liddy, Director of Media Relations & Advertising, and several other faculty members.

Professor Keen says that the aim of several simulations conducted in his class is to provide students with a real world experience relative to media relations. "For example, another simulation is where they select a product at the beginning of the semester. They have to create a PR plan including three parts: a campaign plan, a press kit including press releases, bio, backgrounder, fact sheet, photo release, etc. and a budget and flow chart depicting timing and cost for all parts of the plan," he said. As part of that project, the students created questions and answers in a simulated 5 to 7 minute mock TV interview or press conference.

This semester a simulation of generating PR ideas for the College's autism clinic was added to the course. The students' creative ideas ranged from developing public service announcements to targeting major media televisions to hosting a cocktail fundraising extravaganza and creating Facebook and MySpace pages.

The Autism Center will give graduate students hands-on training in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) and will serve the community by providing parents and their children with a place to come for evaluation and training by skilled professionals in the application of ABA techniques. It will occupy space in Mother Joseph Residence Hall on campus.

back to top ^

In recognition of October being Disability Awareness Month, the Caldwell College Athletic Department teamed up with the College's Disability Services to host a wheelchair basketball game on Oct. 28 between Caldwell College students, faculty and staff and the Bulova Nets, a traveling wheelchair basketball team associated with the NBA's New Jersey Nets. The event, which included multiple departments and functions of the College as well as community groups, raised $400 for the Bulova Nets, who rely completely on donations.

Assistant Director of Athletics Linda Cimino worked with Abbe Benowitz, the Director of Disability Services, to bring the Bulova Nets to Caldwell and coordinate the event. Students, student-athletes, including representatives from all 11 of Caldwell's intercollegiate athletic programs, faculty, administration and staff participated in the game. Cimino and Benowitz also received assistance from Caldwell's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee co-presidents Danielle Cleary (Rockaway Twp., NJ/Morris Knolls) and Brittni Frantellizzi (Binghamton, NY/Susquehanna Valley), and treasurer Josh Getka (Cape May, NJ/Lower Cape May Reg.) in coordinating the event. Additionally, food was donated by Christopher Carr, Assistant Professor of Theology, on behalf of the Second Year Experience.

"This was a really fun event for the campus and the community to come together for a good cause," said Cimino, who supervises the SAAC. "It seemed like every department was represented, and it was great to see everyone participating at this event. With the demanding schedules that we all have, it's really rare to see such a good turnout from a variety of areas. More importantly, everyone had a lot of fun."

The Bulova Nets played a 30-minute game in the George R. Newman Center against a team made up of able-bodied people from the College and the community. At halftime, there were relays and shooting contests, with prizes donated by the Caldwell College Bookstore. Participants in the game included new Caldwell College President Nancy H. Blattner and her husband, Tim; Rosann Bar, associate professor of sociology; Ann Marie Callahan, associate professor of business; Trish Verrone, associate professor of English; Luciane Pereira-Pasarin, assistant professor of psychology; Albert Cordona, Director of Residence Life; Sister Kathleen Tuite of Campus Ministry; Sandra Jennings, Director of Academic Advising for athletics; women's soccer coach Nate Guagliardi; and youth basketball players from Roseland Park and Recreation.

"For me it was an evening of awareness," said Sister Kathleen Tuite, who serves as the Special Assistant to the President for Mission and Ministry. "I went in to the game wondering if I could do this and I was afraid I might get hurt. I realized that they have no other option. The Bulova Nets players eased my fears with their jovial nature and sportsmanship. They were not deterred by any disability, as I was deterred by my fears. I put my feet in their shoes for five minutes, and my eyes were opened. We don't know the challenges and hardships others face every day until we really experience it, and this game made me aware."

Among the many highlights of the game for the more than 250 people in the Newman Center stands was watching Vincent Falzon, a senior at Caldwell and the basketball manager for the Cougars, participate in the game. Falzon, who has spinal bifida, impressed the Bulova Nets with his skills and was invited to play with the team for future events.

"It was great seeing Vinnie out there, and hearing the support from the crowd," Cimino said. "We've definitely begun a new friendship with the Bulova Nets, and we are hopeful that we can make this an annual event. We'd love to have them back to play at halftime of some of our basketball games this season as well."

back to top ^

Caldwell College has joined the Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF)/Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) Task Force Committee. The OEF/OIF Task Force serves the Department of Veterans Affairs New Jersey Health Care System (VANJHCS) Transition Units at its main campuses in East Orange and Lyons, New Jersey.

Tom Disch, Admissions Counselor at the Caldwell College Center for Graduate & Continuing Studies, will represent Caldwell College on the Task Force Committee.

OEF/OIF Transition Units warmly welcome and serve returning soldiers by providing health assessments and home integration support. The Task Force organizes many important events for returning soldiers and their families including the popular Annual Homecoming Event and the Holiday Care Package Drive. "Caldwell College is honored to be a member of the Task Force", Disch said. "We fully support the mission of the Task force and feel it's extremely important to reach out and serve transitioning veterans and their family members, and, furthermore, it gives the College the opportunity to continue its commitment to veterans and veteran affairs". Disch said Caldwell College has also partnered with the US Department of Veteran Affairs through the Post 9/11 GI Bill Yellow Ribbon Enhancement Program. The Yellow Ribbon program offers qualified veterans the opportunity to attend Caldwell College tuition free.

For more information on the services offered at the Department of Veterans Affairs New Jersey Health Care System, East Orange and Lyons campuses, visit www.eastorange.va.gov/freedom.asp.

COLLEGE HOSTS VETERANS DAY RECOGNITION CEREMONY

Over 100 faculty, staff, students, and guests attended the first annual Veterans Day Recognition Ceremony at the College on November 11. Dr. Lisa DiBisceglie, Associate Dean of the Center for Graduate & Continuing Studies, welcomed those in attendance and thanked all veterans for their service, particularly the 50 or so current Caldwell College students who are veterans of the armed forces. The event was sponsored by the College's Center for Graduate & Continuing Studies. Members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), Cedar Grove, NJ and the American Legion Post 185, Caldwell, NJ attended the ceremony. A member of Post 185 performed Taps to conclude the ceremony. Annin & Company, a flag manufacturer headquartered in nearby Roseland, NJ, donated several dozen 18"x24" American flags to help decorate for the event. Peter Vasquez, a current Caldwell College student and veteran of the United State Marine Corps, spoke at the ceremony. Ruth Barney, Caldwell College Associate faculty member, read comments from Michelle Smith, a current student and veteran of the US Army who was unable to attend the ceremony. Disch, who in addition to being an Admissions Counselor at Caldwell College is Chair of the Veterans Day Ceremony Planning Committee, said the College received great feedback from those who attended the event. "Veterans and non-veterans from our College community as well as veterans from the greater Caldwell area appreciated the ceremony very much". He said the College hopes to make this an annual event

back to top ^

Caldwell College students played an active role in their local community this fall season. On September 30, several students from SAAC and BACCHUS participated in the Scarecrow Decorating Contest, sponsored by the Caldwell Merchants Association. They contributed a "Cougar Fan" scarecrow and "Do It Sober" scarecrow, which were hung by the Caldwell Fire Department on lampposts along Bloomfield Avenue.

On October 30, the Caldwell College Community Relations Committee hosted a table at the final Caldwell Farmer's Market of the season. Hundreds of residents took advantage of the family friendly activities that the students provided. The Caldwell College booth offered face painting, give-a-ways, and pictures with the Cougar! It was also a great opportunity for college departments to advertise upcoming events.

On Halloween, the fun continued with a Fall Festival on Bloomfield Avenue. Members of the SAAC helped out at the event, which featured free face painting, balloon artists, food, and pony rides.

back to top ^

The Student Government Association (SGA), The International Student Organization and Campus Ministry sponsored a dinner to educate students, staff and faculty about the true meaning of Ramadan. Caldwell College student Enfel Haddouche invited members of her Mosque Taweed Mosque in Jersey City to come to the College and make a presentation on Ramadan. The food was donated by the mosque and a member of the mosque Ammar Al-Shukry provided the group with background on the tradition of Ramadan. Caldwell College Chaplain Father Al Berner said the aim of the gathering was to foster understanding and good will among those who come from different ethnic and faith backgrounds. "The dinner took place right after the tragic shooting at the Fort Hood Army Base in Texas, so the meal took on a greater level of importance, so that so we all can grow in understanding of each other and our common roots," he said.

back to top ^