Archive for September, 2006

Fretz’s approach to service learning is academic

Eric Fretz’s service-learning approach is a pragmatic one. DU’s new Center for Community Engagement and Service Learning (CCESL) director says he embraces the philosophy of John Dewey and other early 20th century American philosophers who believed truth comes from what works. In particular, Dewey’s belief that the individual’s value comes through […]

Chancellor calls for investments in faculty and staff

In his Convocation speech Sept. 29 in Magness Arena, Chancellor Robert Coombe called on the University to invest in faculty and staff to ensure DU’s continued success. That, he said, will “enable us to make good on a debt of honor we owe the people of this wonderful city whose […]

College of Ed’s Michalec reinvigorating DPS teachers

Nervous high school, middle school and elementary students entering the classroom on the first day of school might not believe it, but the teachers often are as uncomfortable as they are.  It is DU College of Education Professor Paul Michalec’s goal to instill Denver Public School teachers with confidence and […]

Nature or nurture? Keenan is starting to figure it out

For decades, parents who wanted to raise brilliant readers were told to read to their children daily. Reading, many parents believed, was an entirely nurtured skill. Psychology Professor Jan Keenan, recipient of the University of Denver’s 2006 Distinguished Scholar Award, says her research shows that nature also plays into a […]

Saitta targeted as a ‘dangerous’ professor

The University of Denver’s new Faculty Senate president is one of the 101 most dangerous academics in America, according to author and activist David Horowitz. Dean Saitta, professor and former chair of anthropology at DU, was named in Horowitz’s new book, The Professors: The 101 Most Dangerous Academics in America (Regnery […]

Wall Street Journal ranks Daniels College of Business No. 3 in ethics

The Daniels College of Business at the University of Denver tied Yale University for the No. 3 ranking for producing students with strong ethical standards, according to The Wall Street Journal’s/Harris Interactive 2006 rankings of graduate business schools released Sept. 19. Daniels was ranked No. 12 on the list of the […]

Students rank DU high in student engagement

University of Denver students again rated their college experience higher than peer institutions in four of five benchmark categories, according to this year’s National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE). The survey measures effective educational practice in five areas: level of academic challenge, active and collaborative learning, enriching educational experiences, student-faculty […]

Hillel dedicates new Merage & Allon Hillel Center

The University of Denver Hillel chapter will dedicate the new Merage & Allon Hillel Center from 4–6 p.m. on Sept. 26. The two-story, 8,000-square-foot center is 10 times larger than the group’s former building. Chancellor Robert Coombe, building namesakes Harvey Allon and David Merage, and Eran Gasko from Hillel’s International […]

DU’s new carillon program reunites friends

Todd Fair and Andrea McCrady followed the siren song to the Netherlands Carillon School in the mid-70s. There they met, became friends and studied under the masters on the bells of the Tower of Our Lady in Amersfoort.  Fair stayed in the Netherlands for the next 24 years, learning Dutch […]

A Night in Naples features Neapolitan songs, food and wine

Central City Opera Festival Italiano Orchestra tenor Brian Downen and Maestro John Baril will present A Night in Naples at the Newman Center’s Gates Concert Hall at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 21. Part of the Newman Center Presents series, the performance includes the likes of “Aprile,” “Santa Lucia” and “Mattinata” and ends […]

Engineering program building bright future

Founded just three years ago, the School of Engineering and Computer Science (SECS) continues to grow and evolve. It is, in a sense, re-engineering engineering education.  Teamwork and internationalization are the driving forces behind the latest SECS innovation. The school recently entered a partnership with several overseas universities to create a […]

Kosher wine tasting connects Jewish community to cultural roots

Loosely translated from Yiddish, “Not Your Bube’s Manischewitz,” means “Not your grandma’s sickly-sweet wine.” It was the title of DU’s Center for Judaic Studies’ kosher wine tasting Sept. 14. Approximately 80 people attended the event, which raised about $1,500 for the ALEPH Institute for Jewish Culture. For an $18 donation, attendees […]

DU students serve as mentors at PeaceJam conference

There were more than just high school students PeaceJamming this weekend. DU students played a major role in the largest gathering of Nobel Peace Prize winners ever on U.S. soil. The Nobel laureates were on campus for PeaceJam’s 10th anniversary celebration Sept. 15–17. About 120 DU students served as mentors […]

Workshops set stage for PeaceJam’s focus on activism

The weekend-long 10th anniversary celebration of PeaceJam kicked off Friday with a series of workshops aimed at engaging PeaceJammers and motivating them for the activities ahead. DU faculty, staff and students joined community members to present 20 sessions ranging from genocide and environmental justice to campus activism and U.S. immigration. John […]

PeaceJammers plant trees in Sun Valley

More than 80 PeaceJammers and 20 DU students got down and dirty Friday afternoon in an effort to plant more than100 trees in Denver Housing Authority’s (DHA) Sun Valley neighborhood. The event, part of Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper’s initiative to plant a million trees in Denver during the next 20 […]