Forum on Patriot Act to be held March 16

A forum examining the provisions of the U.S. Patriot Act and its effects on research, speech and student life will be held from 9:30-11:30 a.m. March 16 in 202B Bowen-Thompson Student Union.

Speakers include Steven Dettelbach, a U.S. attorney based in Cleveland; Herbert Strentz, a professor at the School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Drake University; Philip T.K. Daniel, a professor at Ohio State University’s School of Education and Law, and Tracy Mitrano, a professor and policy adviser for Cornell University’s Office of Information Technologies.

Dettelbach will present a legislative history of the act and Department of Justice concerns with respect to public universities. Strentz will address the Department of Justice’s recent subpoena of Drake University requesting meeting and personnel records related to a meeting of the National Lawyers Guild at Drake.

Daniel will address the Patriot Act’s implications for student privacy and free speech, and Mitrano will address the management of information and technologies on campus in the wake of the Patriot Act.

Open to the public, the forum is presented by the Faculty Senate Committee on Professional Affairs, the Office of the Provost/Vice President for Academic Affairs, the Office of the Executive Vice President, University Libraries and the School of Communication Studies.

Nominations due for President's awards

Nominations are being accepted for three President's awards. They are the President’s Award for Academic Advising of Undergraduate Students by Faculty and Staff; the President’s Award for Collaborative Research and Creative Work, and the Elliott L. Blinn Award for Faculty-Undergraduate Student Innovative Basic Research/Creative Work.

The awards will be presented at the annual Faculty Recognition Dinner.

A description of each award and guidelines for nominations can be found on the Web at www.bgsu.edu/offices/provost/Pres_Award_Guidelines_04.pdf.

Nominations and supporting materials must be received in the provost’s office by April 5. Call Sharon Mason at 2-9939 with any questions.

Arts & Sciences Forum to spotlight learning communities

“Learning Communities and the Value of Democracy and Diversity” will be the topic of the next College of Arts & Sciences Forum March 18.

David Schoem, a noted author and faculty director of the University of Michigan Community Scholars Program, will speak on how learning communities provide students an ideal environment for intellectual inquiry, civic engagement and participation, and dialogue with peers from diverse backgrounds and perspectives.

A $6.55 (plus tax) soup and salad buffet will begin at noon in 202B Bowen-Thompson Student Union. Reservations are due by Friday (March 12). Contact the college office at 2-2017 or ajoyce@bgnet.bgsu.edu with your BGSU ID number.

The 12:30 p.m. presentation is free and open to faculty, staff, students, groups and classes.