BU Grad pursues advanced degree in Security and Intelligence Studies

Dear Bloomsburg University students and faculty,

My name is Corey Diehl.  I attended Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania from 2009-2013, earning a Bachelor of Arts in History. After spending a year outside of school, I decided to attend the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public and International Affairs.  At this program I am pursuing a Master of Public and International Affairs with a Major in Security and Intelligence Studies.

 My classes were challenging last semester, but they were rewarding.  The most challenging was a course on counterinsurgency that had us study both theoretical and quantitative work and then combine them into our own study.  I also took a course on Geographic Information Systems software to try to gain a practical skill.  I am taking Farsi and have really enjoyed the course.  Outside of courses, I am involved with two different student working groups.  The first is focused on Megacities, particularly political violence in Lagos, Nigeria.  The second is focused on the policy options available for states, particularly in the EU, to deal more efficiently with the influx of Syrian refugees.  I completed my internship requirement for GSPIA as a staff writer/social media intern for Homeland Security Today magazine.  While the organization doesn’t necessarily align with my views on certain issues, I have still found it to be a valuable experience.   I’ve also begun a second internship at the city of Pittsburgh’s Office of Emergency Management and Homeland Security (OEMHS)/Fusion Center.

Thanks to a generous scholarship from the Nationality Rooms here at Pittsburgh, I was able to travel to Cairo, Egypt over the summer of 2015 in order to study Arabic.  It was my first opportunity to study abroad and Egypt proved to be an incredible experience, and I found it to be a once in a lifetime experience.  Ramadan was an incredible time and was unlike anything I personally have seen before.  The streets would be empty throughout the day, and after the evening prayer it was like the entire city came alive.  In a city of over 10 million people it is impossible to understate this.  I studied Arabic at the Fajr Center for the Arabic Language and was pleased with the class.  It was an intensive program, with class occurring five days a week, five hours per day. If any students are interested in affordable options for studying abroad I would highly recommend the center. 

Aside from study, while none of my friends wanted to do much  during Ramadan I still was able to see many of the points of interest in Cairo.  I had the opportunity to see much of Islamic Cairo.  Some examples are the Al-Azhar mosque, Muhammad Ali mosque, and the markets.  The sheer size of the minarets and mosques is indescribable.  Of course, I was intent on seeing the Great Pyramids and Sphinx as well.   To say they are impressive is an understatement.   I unfortunately was not able to travel outside of the city.  I also found the opinions of some of my Egyptian friends on what is going on in their country incredibly interesting.  Due to political conditions, I had to get to know them quite well before they spoke on a lot of issues.  However, I came to believe that the Egyptian people are not given nearly enough credit for their political awareness.  They are acutely aware of the state of the country and also aware of the limitations they have to instigate change. 

I really enjoyed being in an environment where the lifestyle and culture were so different from my own.  The most difficult transition was definitely the sense of time.  Everyone was always late if they showed up at all.  The preeminent example of this for me was when my apartment had plumbing issues.  I spoke to the plumber over the phone several times, and I heard Insha'Allah very often. This cultural tendency was initially very frustrating, but I adapted.  Overall, Egyptians are deserving of their reputation for friendliness and generosity.  A great example of this is when my neighbors had the kindness to cook my roommates and me a meal of duck and rice. 

Traveling to Egypt was truly a once in a life time opportunity and I would encourage others to do the same.  I would urge anyone planning to study abroad to seriously consider Egypt.  I would also encourage them to avoid major institutions such as American University in Cairo.  This is due to the fact that American in Cairo is incredibly expensive for foreigners.  Furthermore, I would also suggest that anyone who travels abroad try to avoid staying with other Americans.  I had the good fortune to live with several students from around the world and am better for it.  From Fiji, Germany, the UK, and of course Egypt, I truly was able to meet a wide variety of people from all over the world. 

There are several suggestions I will make for anyone who is interested in traveling to Egypt.  The first is to travel light to the country.  However, keep in mind that clothing and shoes in particular can be comparatively expensive.  In fact, domestic goods in Egypt will often be very affordable while anything imported is extremely expensive.  The second suggestion I would have would be to avoid asking for directions or anything when in a tourist area.  People will often be waiting for foreigners around such sites, and upon asking for directions they will take you to their shop.  A third suggestion would be to always travel with an Egyptian when possible.  By doing so, you will save yourself a significant amount of money and time in any activity you set out to do.  The last suggestion I have would be to remember that nobody will help you for free.  Tipping is obligatory, and the individual will often refuse it at first.  This is just a cultural politeness habit; you have to pay.

I hope anyone reading this found it helpful and would be encouraged to travel to Egypt in order to study abroad.  If I can offer anyone suggestions or aid in any way, I encourage interested individuals to email me at cod23@pitt.edu.

Sincerely,

Corey Diehl

Students Gain Professional Communication Experience in the Classroom

There are a wide variety of campus offices and student-run organizations at Bloomsburg University where students can work to enhance their professional communication skills. Another opportunity for students involves working with an outside client in the classroom. Many local businesses and non-profit organizations value the chance to connect with students in various ways. Several courses in COLA and across the university provide such opportunities, and last fall Elizabeth Petre (Communication Studies) taught two classes that worked to connect students with local organizations and the university as a whole.

In Communication for Business Professionals (COMMSTUD 307) students worked with area businesses on semester-length client projects geared toward promoting their organizations. Students were divided into five teams split among three local businesses: Key Partners Realty LLC, the Columbia Montour Chamber of Commerce, and the Bloomsburg Children’s Museum. 

Students developed various promotional and marketing materials including brochures, newspaper ads, and posters. Other innovative materials the students designed included a sample PowerPoint slidedeck to be presented to potential clients. Each organization that worked with the students received copies of the students’ final ideas in a formal report and were invited to attend the final presentations. One student even landed an internship with the organization his team was assigned to work with. The picture featured below shows two student teams with their course clients following final presentations delivered in class.

Students enrolled in Leadership and Team Building (COMMSTUD 426) also participated in a client project with a slightly different focus. Students worked with the Center for Leadership and Engagement (CLE) on campus to develop ways to promote and enhance the recent10th annual Husky Student Leadership Summit. The summit isa free day-long conference focused on honing students’ leadership skills that takes places on campus each spring. Two teams developed and presented student-run panel sessions for the conference; one concentrated on leadership skills for student-athletes and the other focused on different ways students can understand (and make use of) their leadership abilities. The other two teams developed marketing ideas using social media and proposed ways for students to select future keynote speakers for the conference. One team led the audience through an exercise where participants had to arrange cups into a pyramid shape as a group (see picture below). This team went on to apply to present their session at the actual conference in the spring. All students in the class worked with George Kinzel, Director of the CLE, on this project. Representatives from the CLE, the Alumni office, and other students were invited to attend the final presentations which took place in the McCormick 1303 auditorium last fall.

Dr. Petre enjoyed the opportunity to work with students on these projects and engage with the campus community. In addition to working with the CLE office, she received support from the Center for Professional Development and Career Experience (CPDCE) on campus. Laura McCay Suchanick, the Organization Engagement Coordinator, and Robyn Defelice, the Director of Internships and Career Experience, provided contact information for local businesses interested in working with students. They also attended some of the final presentations. Through these class projects, clients benefitted from working with student teams and hearing an outsider’s perspective on their organization or business. Students developed their professional communication skills through formal presentations and interpersonal interactions meeting with their clients. As a whole, the client projects provided students a great hands-on learning experience.

Thanks to Dr. Elizabeth Petre for providing this entry.

Haas Gallery features cameras as instruments and art

Neal Cox's approach to photography is unique. His exhibition in the Haas Gallery shows twelve images taken with twelve different pinhole cameras that he designed and built himself. Each image and its camera are placed adjacent to each other. The cameras are complex, three dimensional objects in their own right, opening like the layers of an onion to reveal their inner workings. In some cases, there is a bit of mystery about how they work at all. The images relate to the cameras in their geometric shapes and use of color.

Cox writes:
 

Of the many considerations driving my core practice of designing, building, shooting with, and making prints from cameras, the following rank highest in priority:

Serendipity: I have a basic interest in seeing how things happen without my dictation. I design a complex, multi-aperture camera using pre-existing forms of geometry mainly so I can experiment with serendipity. By design, I leave the viewfinder out of the camera so that composition belongs to the process following exposure. The many ways that lines, values, shapes, etc., cross borders from one exposure to another intrigue my sense of aesthetics.

Dimensionality: Many of the cameras I have designed exploit anamorphic distortion. By creating a dimensional film plane and exposing onto film that has multiple planes, I have the opportunity to flatten the three-dimensional exposure and create a non-standard photographic view of the subject matter.

Aesthetics: I satisfy a personal drive to make objects by making cameras. I satisfy a personal drive as a trained printmaker to make prints by using the negatives in a broad range of techniques to make prints: collotypes, gum prints, cyanotypes, van dyke prints, screen prints, photogravures, tintypes, inkjet prints, etc. Each process affords a satisfying way to interpret photographic mark making. I satisfy a personal drive to make books by using, book art materials, primarily, such as book cloth and book board in the construction of my cameras. I satisfy a personal drive to draw by initially conceiving of my camera designs in a sketchbook, using ballpoint pen to bring the idea to life.

Research: In order to realize a given idea, I often must conduct research into geometry, physics, or some other non-art specific field. I delight in learning new principles with applications to my craft.

Cox is an Associate Professor of Art at Stephen F. Austin State University School of Art in Nacogdoches, Texas. His show will run from Oct 15 to Nov 12, with a closing reception on Nov 12, 11 to 2pm, and an Artist Lecture at 1:15pm.

Sociologist Studies Sport

Brandon Lang (Sociology, Social Work and Criminal Justice) has been very busy over the last few months.  He edited a book entitled Sociology of Sports that is to be published in 2016 and has administered surveys at several professional sporting events, asking fans a series of questions relating to their degree of concern regarding the Washington Redskins team name. 

The twenty-three chapters of Sociology of Sports examine a number of issues that are central to the sociology of sports.  Here is the blurb from back cover of the book:

The Sociology of Sports explores the sociological significance of sports in the United States and around the world.  The anthology features diverse readings and perspectives that illustrate the important role of sports in the lives of millions of people.

The text is organized into six sections.  The first provides an overview of the main theories used to shed light on all social behavior and explains sports sociology.  The second examines how sports perpetuate race, class, gender and religious inequality.  Section Three explores the positive and negative effects of technology on sports.

Section Four includes descriptions and analyses of recent trends in youth and amateur sports, while Section Five considers changes in fan and player behavior over time.  The final section discusses how sports shape and are shaped by politics and the economy.

Accessible and interesting, The Sociology of Sports alerts readers to legitimate concerns about sports while also celebrating the positive role that sports play in health and community building.

As for Lang's research, he has become very interested in the growing social movement to pressure the Washington Redskins to change their team name.  His upcoming sabbatical in Spring 2016 will be spent analyzing survey data that was collected at 6 different NFL and MLB games, including ones in Washington and Cleveland.   He collected over 500 surveys and plans to examine why some groups of fans are more concerned than others regarding Native American team names and imagery in sports.



Lang is also collaborating with Dr. Todd Hoover in Education and Dr. Mohsen Shabahang, the Director of General Surgery at Geisinger, on two projects.  One project conducted focus group research to uncover the extent to which different learning styles among residents impact their capacity to progress through their respective programs; the second examines the importance of emotional intelligence in helping residents navigate the ups and downs of surgical training.