UB President emeritus Richard Rubenstein honored at FSU for distinguished academic achievement

Richard L. Rubenstein, UB’s President Emeritus and Distinguished Professor of Religion, was among former outstanding faculty honored at Florida State University recently.

The occasion was the unveiling and dedication of an obelisk recognizing the outstanding scientists and scholars in the university’s history. It was followed by an elegant banquet hosted by the university’s president, T.K. Wetherell.

The scientists and scholars are known as the Robert O. Lawton Distinguished Professor, named for a former professor of English who gave academic leadership to the university as dean of Arts and Sciences and then vice president for Academic Affairs.

Each year the university selects its outstanding professor. Dr. Rubenstein was named in 1977-78. Of all the faculty so honored, he is the only one in the history of FSU from religious studies. Most honorees are from science or mathematics.

The award was particularly memorable for Rubenstein as it was announced at graduation during the very ceremony his son, Jeremy, received his bachelor’s degree.

The Lawton professors are nominated by their departments and then go through a vetting process that includes involvement by faculty and other Lawton professors before the president makes his choice.

The professorship carries with it a stipend, travel and research funds and title, all of which remain with the honoree through their FSU career.

The obelisk is located in a prominent spot in front of Strozier Library, the university’s main library building, on Landis Green, the university commons.

President Emeritus and Distinguished Professor of Religion Richard L. Rubenstein, right, with Florida State University Vice President for Research and former chair of the Physics Department Kirby Kemper. Both are Robert O. Lawton distinguished Professors at the university and their names and years they were awarded the honors are inscribed on the obelisk to their left.

UB Team Awarded at National Model United Nations
By Kimikami Miyake

From April 11th to 16th, University of Bridgeport’s Model UN Team participated in this year’s National Model United Nations conference, where they were recognized with the top academic award for Outstanding Position Paper.

This was the first year the university sent a team to this particular Model UN conference, being the largest one held in the world. More than 400 universities took part, coming from 28 different countries. Students from Afghanistan and Iraq also participated, having been invited by the U.S. Department of State. There was an estimated attendance of nearly 4,000 students worldwide.

Toward the end of the conference, ten percent of the entire delegation was awarded under several honorable distinctions. Representing a small African island nation, Sao Tome and Principe, UB was recognized for the academic award, evaluated by the amount of preparation put in prior to the conference through the submission of position papers.

Dr. Thomas Ward, dean of the International College and advisor of the MUN team, comments, “This was a student-driven initiative, and it is really a testimony to their efforts.” He adds, “I would especially like to recognize Miguel Arroyo for the incredible leadership that he provided and thank each member of the team for having shown incredible commitment.”

This year’s NMUN team included Miguel Arroyo as Head Delegate, Andrea Neal as Deputy Head Delegate, Jorge Bustamente, Michael Buck, Moondo Field, Justin Fong, Emily Gunning, Panchali Hettiarachchi, Kimikami Miyake, and Giovanni Scaringi. All are students of the International College, of which the MUN is a part, in conjunction with the International Awareness Club.

With plans of working as a diplomat in creating a fairer platform for trade, Arroyo has been very experienced with Model UN conferences, having attended eight for the past few years, which doesn’t include ones he’s volunteered for. As a transfer from Miami Dade College, this was the first time he received an award at this particular conference.

“The Model UN is a wonderful opportunity to learn about the United Nations and its significant role in global affairs,” he says, “Besides that, six to eight months of working together will in the end provide really good relationships and a sense of teamwork you wouldn’t establish through other projects.”

Arroyo accredits winning the award to the mission of Sao Tome and Principe since information on Africa’s smallest island nation was very limited. The mission was helpful in providing additional information while the students wrote out their position papers, which had to give an accurate protrayal on the country’s stance regarding today's global issues.

Miguel Arroyo also believes that the team’s exposure to UB’s diversity and plurality of views assisted in the success they’ve received. In view of the team, he includes, “It was really an honor and pleasure to work with the delegation. By far, they’ve been the most disciplined and committed delegation I’ve worked with in my experience with the Model UN.”

The National Model United Nations Conference is sponsored by the National Collegiate Conference Association and related activities. The conference is an authentic simulation of UN bodies and committees which catapults students into the shoes of UN diplomats. The NMUN programs provide students a better understanding of the inner working of the United Nations as they build skills in diplomacy and compromise. Through discussing global concerns in a context that closely parallels the “real world,” students and faculty from five continents work feverishly to propose resolutions addressing regional conflicts, peacekeeping, human rights, women and children, economic and social development, and the environment.

UB Team awarded at WorldQuest 2006

On March 30th, the UB WorldQuest Team was recognized by the World Affairs Forum of Stamford, Connecticut as the 2006 College Champion. This is an annual competition that took place at the Greenwich Country Club in Greenwich, CT.

The UB Team members were Benjamin Manifold, Chris Calabrese, Michael Buck, Moondo Field, Tijana Bokic, and Navena Vatachka. President Salonen, Dean Ward, Dr. Zhu, and Dr. Benjamin were also present.

WorldQuest 2006 College Champion Team

The University of Bridgeport finished first place among the teams that competed, including teams from Yale University, University of Connecticut, and Norwalk Community College. This is the third year that UB has participated in this competition, and it has been the third year in a row that UB has been recognized as College Champion.

UB Taekwondo Team brings medals from MIT Tournament

University of Bridgeport Taekwondo Team wins three gold medals and two silvers at the annual National Collegiate Taekwondo Tournament at MIT.

The University of Bridgeport Taekwondo Team members won three gold medals and two silvers at this years National Collegiate Taekwondo Tournament that took place on February 25 and 26 on the campus of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Boston.

Kimikami Miyake, a senior in the International Political Economy & Diplomacy major, Hyun Ku Seo, a Martial Artial Arts Studies major, and Jessica Thompson, a junior Design major, earned gold medals in the forms competition and Henry Song, a junior in Martial Arts Studies, and Jessica Thompson each earned a silver medal in the sparring competition.

The University of Bridgeport is the first regionally accredited University in the United States to offer a Martial Arts Studies major. The program is a challenging liberal arts program that includes practice of the Martial Arts, as well as the study of at least one East Asian language, as study of the philosophy and cultural milieu of the Martial Arts and study of the psychosocial effects of the Martial Arts. Students who have enrolled in the program have strong academic records and among the highest SAT scores of any academic program at the University.

Dr. Zhiqun Zhu writes

US-China Relations in the 21st Century: Power Transition and Peace
(London: Routledge, 2006)

International relations scholars have identified peaceful power transfer as a central dilemma in world politics, since historically power transition from a dominant nation to a challenger used to be associated with large-scale wars in the international system. Can China and the United States learn from history and manage a potential power transition peacefully? This book engages in a thorough theoretical, historical and policy exploration on this important security issue. The book examines two important cases of power transitions in history: power rivalry between Great Britain and Germany (1871-1914) that led to a major war, and power transition from Great Britain to the United States (1865-1945) that ended peacefully between them. Drawing inferences from history, the book focuses on U.S.-China relations (1990-2005) as the main case for analysis.

As a contribution to international relations theory, this book proposes a new analytical model on global power transition and provides policy recommendations for peacefully handling a potential power transition from the United States to China in the future. The book will not only promote the study of and interest in U.S.-China relations, but also advance research on peaceful conflict resolution in international relations at both the global and regional levels.

Dr. Frank Zolli, Dean of the University of Bridgeport’s College of Chiropractic joined a World Federation of Chiropractic (WFC) delegation for the World Health Organization’s (WHO) annual World Health Assembly that took place in Geneva, Switzerland during the summer break. This year Prince Charles of the United Kingdom served as the Assembly’s keynote speaker. The Prince expressed his strong support for the WHO position, advocating further integration of complementary medicine into national health care systems. In this year’s Assembly, the World Federation of Chiropractic delegation articulated its plans for the coming year. These include a further publication in conjunction with WHO on the efficacy of and the indications for the use of chiropractic (in 2005 WHO issued its guidelines on chiropractic with the support of the WFC); participation in “the next draft of WHO’s proposed report on the legal status of manual therapies; new activities in the areas of exercise, disability and rehabilitation; and further pursuit of public health initiatives in the areas of anti-smoking and obesity.” The WFC began an anti-smoking campaign this past year and distributed its posters at the WHO Assembly. Dr. Zolli commented that the assembly had served to reaffirm WHO’s growing support for the inclusion of complementary and alternative medicine in health care. He noted the important role of chiropractic in this initiative. In addition to his other responsibilities, Dr. Zolli currently serves as the President of the Association of Chiropractic Colleges.

Professor Clement Malin is teaching the course this term on the Geopolitics of Oil. He formerly served as Vice President of International Relations for Texaco. He also held one of the highest positions in the United States Department of Energy. Professor Malin is training his students to think and write on issues related to the oil industry in such a way that they demonstrate clarity and precision. Presenting current issues and real problems he invites students to find practical solutions and is able to share his real life experience in the oil industry with the students in class.

Dr. Benjamin is the author of a number of articles on governance and international politics, including the crisis in Kosovo in 1999, the resurgence of the extreme Right in Europe, implications of mass terrorism for the Caribbean Community, and the Reagan-Thatcher “Special Relationship”. His research interests include governance and vulnerability in small island developing states, the North-South divide, and policy toward the Eastern Caribbean.

Professor Zhiqun Zhu, Assistant Professor of Political Economy, spent this past summer doing research on US-North Korean relations at the East-West Center in Hawaii. Dr. Zhu was chosen as a POSCO fellow and in October he did a presentation to faculty on the findings of his research which was later published by the Korea Times.

Dr. Rubenstein is President Emeritus of the University of Bridgeport. A Distinguished Professor of Religion at the University and a Life Member of the Board of Trustees, Dr. Rubenstein also serves as Director of the University's Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies. He is widely published internationally.

Throughout the trip, Stephe, Vincent, Ric, and Dr. Mark Setton (see bios) will illuminate the locales with fascinating discussions, involving lectures, and unique presentations about martial arts, Taoism, Buddhism, Chinese philosophy, and the world of Asian action entertainment. In the major locations they will provide opportunities to learn, contemplate, and laugh through seminars and screenings on ancient, honored Chinese culture, as well as its exhilarating pop culture.

Participants will receive a certificate of participation which may include in-service credit. Participants have the option of taking three graduate credits as well.

Mark K. Setton, D.Phil.,
Chair, Martial Arts Studies Program
Associate Professor of World Religions
University of Bridgeport
Tel: (203) 576-4965/6