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      Kelly Barcello a 2006 graduate of the University is the first UB student to have completed the B.A. in Social Science with a concentration in criminal justice, on January 23, 2007 Kelly presented her senior thesis “A socio-historical analysis of female offending” to faculty members of the International College.
     Her 90 page thesis reviewed growing trends of female crime and she proposed ways in which recidivism can be addressed. In preparing her thesis, Miss Barcello used journal articles recent publications and she also interviewed female prisoners. The faculty responded very favorably to Kelly’s presentation, and she plans to begin her master’s in criminal justice in Fall 2007.



Micheal Buck and Emily Gunning seniors in the IPED program have been awarded a $1,500 from Pi Sigma Alpha the National Political Science Honor Society to conduct a seminar, in April 2007 on the Middle East. The pair coached by IPED Chair Zhiqun Zhu, plan to bring together scholars from the region to discuss the Middle East crisis. And provide insight into both the origins of the problem and the challenges that must be addressed to find solutions.



                This year’s CISSE event took place from December 4-14, 2006 over the world wide web. CISSE 2006 is co-sponsored by the University of Bridgeport and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE).  CISSE 2006 provides a virtual forum for presentation and discussion of the state-of the-art research on computers, information and systems sciences and engineering.

        The on-line structure of this high-quality event allowed academic professionals and industry participants to contribute work and attend world-class technical presentations based on rigorously refereed submissions, the CISSE 2005 received 255 research paper submissions and the final program included 140 accepted papers, from more than 45 countries. CISSE 2006 received 650 research paper submissions from 72 countries, and the final program includes 370 accepted papers. The program size has more than doubled since 2005.


World Quest 2005

On Thursday, March 31st, a team of 10 representatives from the University of Bridgeport traveled to Darien to compete for the second time in the annual contest/ fundraiser hosted by the Council for World Affairs entitled, “World Quest.”  Delegates included President Salonen, Dr. Thomas Ward, Dr. Zhiqun Zhu, Sana Sarr, Tamami Kawamura, Obakeng Phiri, Mekleat Sahle, Charlie Bingham, Daniel Bessell and Gabriella Kirkley.  UB was sponsored, for the second year in a row, by the US Trust Fund in Stamford. 

UB collected a motley crew, including first generation Europeans, Asians, Africans and New Worlders, ranging from the under-twenty-one-year-olds to the ageless encyclopedic members. UB was the first team to arrive at Giovanni’s II, and found that the seating arrangement put them at front and center of the spacious suite. UB yelled and cheered the loudest for their alma mater’s team, and ultimately enjoyed the dignity of being the highest scoring university team among those present.

Among 38 teams (each of which had 8 to 10 people filling the room with about 350 people), the highest scores were garnered not by university groups, but by groups made up of elder people with names like, “The Foggy Bottom Raiders.” Clapping generously for the three winning teams, there was speculation at UB’s Table 3 on how those teams succeeded with the high score of 45+ correct answers out of 60.

Participant Tamami Kawamura felt that it was a highly enjoyable event, as it aimed at awareness on the international level all the while raising funds for an important organization.  Junior, Obakeng Phiri “enjoyed the competitive atmosphere” 
 
To learn more about the World Affairs Forum in Stamford, CT, please visit: http://www.worldaffairsforum.org/home_page.htm
To try your hand at the questions: http://www.worldaffairsforum.org/quiz.htm.
*IAC: International Awareness Club

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In the Footsteps of the Chinese Philosophers

Prof. Mark Setton visited the East Coast of China in preparation for an upcoming student tour May 30 – June 15th entitled, “In the Footsteps of the Chinese Philosophers.” The tour, which will be offered for three credits, will cover the home towns of the great Chinese thinkers as well as key Daoist sights. The tour will include the White Cloud Temple in Beijing, a Daoist hermitage at the peak of Mt. Tai as well as the home-towns of Confucius and other philosophers that he inspired.

 

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The 2005 4th University of Bridgeport Martial Arts Seminar

On Saturday, January 15th 2005 the University of Bridgeport’s Martial Arts program hosted its 4th Martial Arts seminar at Carlson Hall, Bridgeport Ct. Around 50 Masters attended this seminar traveling from 6 states around the country. The attendees were Masters from the Tea Kwon Do, Hap Ki Do and Ki Mind Training backgrounds.

 

 

The seminar opened with Dr. Chang Young Lee, a University of Bridgeport visiting scholar’s presentation on safety & first aid in Martial Arts training. The second presentation on Martial Arts training & pressure points was given by Dr. Soo Ho Lee, an acupuncture professor at the University of Bridgeport. Grand Master Byung Min Kim (NY) presented on MA school management and then Grand Master In Ki Kim (VA) presented on Martial Arts and self defense.

The 2005 Annual University of Bridgeport Martial Arts award was presented to Grand Master Soon Kil Jang by the University’s President Neil Albert Salonen for his leadership in training juvenile offenders since 1992, in Judge City NY.Grand Master Jang remarked, “I am very grateful to the University of Bridgeport. It is an honor to receive this award from the first college Martial Arts program in the US.” The other five speakers received awards from Dr. Thomas Ward, Dean of the International College.

Every year, this Martial Arts seminar increases its participation and will continue every year in the Martin Luther King weekend of January. Professor Yong Bom Kim remarks, “Next year’s seminar will be divided into two programs: theoretical & practical. It will also be open to instructors of all Martial Arts areas.” For more information, please refer to the article: http://www.tkdm.com/school_news/011505.htm

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Dr. Zhu writes US-China Relations in the 21st Century: Managing a Potential Power Transition
from a Historical Perspective

(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? My book engages in a thorough theoretical, historical and policy exploration on this important security issue. I select 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, I focus on U.S.-China relations (1990-2004) as the main case for analysis.

As a contribution to international relations theory, this research 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. This 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.

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Dr. YanMin Yu

Yanmin Yu recently contributed a book chapter entitled “Politics in Taiwan’s Broadcasting and Television” in Taiwan in the Eyes of Chinese-American Scholars:  Critical Analyses of Taiwanese Society in the 21st Century.  This book is edited by S. Lu and X. Tian and published by Showwe Information Co. in Taipei, Taiwan, December 2004.

In the chapter, Dr. Yu examined the unique relationship between the electronic media in Taiwan and the Taiwanese government in the areas of ownership, operation, and editorial decisionmaking.  When government officials can own electronic media, participate in their operation, and make editorial decisions, the consequences cannot be overlooked, especially when the electronic media market is not completely open and when the advertising market is dominated by the three major electronic media giants that were established by the Taiwanese government in the early times of the industry.

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Review of the Chinese Cultural Revolution with Prof. Yu

On March 31st, 2004, Chair of the Department of Mass Communication, professor Yanmin Yu shedded light on the historic significance and explained in detail the process of the Chinese cultural revolution.

Many students attended the event to learn from a person that had gone through the upheaval and bloodshed of the revolution. The professor delivered a first-hand experience to the curious students starting from Mao Zedong's rise to the Great Leap Forward to the Cultural Revolution, and, finally to Tiananmen Square. She presented her personal experience as a young student sent to a labor farm where many intellectuals were put to work. Despite the terrible situation she was in and the bad condition of the labor farms, she was able to secretly study with the intellectuals while working in the fields. This is just one example of the hardships the Chinese had to go through in the Cultural Revolution.

The event finished with a very lively Q&A session.

 

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UB participates in WorldQuest

On March 25th, 2004, the University of Bridgeport was sponsored by the First National Trust Company to attend the the "2004 WorldQuest" hosted by the World Affairs Forum.

The "UB team" consisted of 10 participants, including eight undergraduate students (Kimikami Miyake, Sylvia Andreev, Dusan Bogunovic, Sana Sarr, Tamami Kawamura, Ablorderrey Setor, Amalia Lugojanu, and Moondo Field). The president of the University of Bridgeport (Neil A. Salonen), and professor of the International College Dr. Dave Benjamin were there to support the team. There were 22 teams present at the event. The UB team ranked in the top third, scoring highest among the colleges that participated.

WorldQuest is a fun and fast paced international group trivia contest played by world affairs councils around the country. It tests the contestants' knowledge on international affairs.

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Will there ever be peace between Israel and Palestine?

The International Awareness Club and the International College of the University of Bridgeport hosted a presentation on the topic "Will There Ever Be Peace Between Israel And Palestine?" by Zuhair Suidan on Tuesday, March 23rd, 2004.

Mr. Suidan brought a unique perspective to the seemingly intractable difficulties in the region and the ongoing Israeli/Palestinian conflict. As an American, a Palestinian, an Israeli, and an Arab Christian, Mr. Suidan's outlook has been framed by a life of many cultural and geopolitical experiences amid a varied geography. He was born in Palestine. As a young boy he became a refugee in Lebanon for 5 years, received his high school education in Israel, and his university education in the United States.

Mr. Suidan's remarks focused on the evolution of the conflict leading up to the current situation on the ground, and the likely parameters of a just and lasting peaceful settlement. He also provided his perspectives on what the Palestinians, Israelis, and the United States need to do, and what we as individuals can do, to achieve this peace.

Mr. Suidan had a 23-year professional career with IBM. Since 1993, he has headed Suidan Associates, an international management consultancy providing consulting and training services in the areas of strategy development and marketing planning.

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TaeKwonDo Championships


Welcome letter from the Martial Arts Institute Director.

The 2004 National Collegiate TaeKwonDo Championships will be held at the Harvey Hubbell Gymnasium and the Wheeler Rec. Center. Click here for directions on how to get to the University of Bridgeport and the two specified locations.

For more information regarding the event and to register for the Taekwondo Championship please download the following registration form (Adobe Acrobat Document). After filling it out attach to an email and send it to ybkim@bridgeport.edu. Additional information regarding the event is included in the registration form. Click here for some additional information on the official travel agency for this event.

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Congressman Benjamin Gilman

Congressman Benjamin Gilman, who served as Chairman of the House of International Relations Committee, visited the International College in September 2003, where he presided over a ribbon cutting ceremony marking the opening of the Carlson Wing of the International College. Congressman Gilman was awarded an honorary doctorate from the University in this occasion and was also named an honorary fellow of the college. Here he is meeting with Dean Ward and Professors Yu and Van der Giessen of the college.=

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PSCI 299 Development, Diplomacy and the UN; A class at the UN

Students from the University of Bridgeport had a chance to study at the United Nations through the course Development, Diplomacy at the UN. The course was meant to provide an orientation into the work of United Nations and the role that diplomacy plays in dispute settlement, protection of human rights, furthering sustainable development, and protecting the environment. The course introduced students to the unique dimensions of the United Nations, including its universality, the nature and scope of its operations, and the unavoidable tension and strain that it addresses in adapting to globalization.\

Students at the UN Headquarters.

Dr. Noel Brown introducing a UN representative.

The course provides participants to hear from UN senior officials, meet key delegations, and observe selected sessions and proceedings of the United Nations and United Nations-related entities such as encounters with representatives of Permanent Missions and non-governmental organizations. In keeping with the spirit of inquiry and engagement, students were able to observe the United Nations at close range.

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Martial Arts Center opens in Wheeler Recreation Center

Fifteen grand masters in Tae kwon do and scores of youngsters and young adults joined the university in formally opening its new Martial Arts Centre in the Wheeler Recreation Center.

The center will provide a home for a martial arts program that is in its early stages of development at UB.

President Neil Albert Salonen welcomed a crowd of 150 people to the center and explained the university's commitment to martial arts and its exploration of offering an undergraduate major in Tae kwon do. He noted that the university offers three martial art courses (Tae kwon do, Won ha do and Tai chi), with more than 100 students enrolled. In South Korea, he said, 13 universities offer the program as a major course of study.

Professor Yong Bum Kim is director of the martial arts program at UB and is leading the effort to fully establish the program. Grand Master Yeon Hwan Park, who is president of the Advisory Board for the UB Martial Arts Program and president of the New York Tae Kwon Do Association presented the university with a check for $10,000 to support the program. Other support comes through a grant from the Chung Shim Hospital Foundation in Korea.

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Chinese journalists speak on China in lecture at UB

Two distinguished Chinese journalists and academics spoke on recent developments in business and the media inside the Peoples Republic of China in a public lecture Tuesday evening at the University of Bridgeport.

Nanjing University Professors Ding Boquan, director of Department of Journalism and Communication, and Zhang Wei, director of the Institute of International Communication Studies, spoke at 6 p.m. in Room 216 in Mandeville Hall at the UB School of Business.

The university's Mass Communications Department and the International College are hosting the visitors, who also will lecture to classes of students during the day. Ding is a counselor of China Journalism Education Society and editor of the journal, Journalism & Communications Forum. Zhang worked for many years as a journalist and an editor for the Beijing Review, the most prominent news weekly in China. He won several Chinese national literary and journalistic awards. Here is a link to the event.

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Life after Death: Intimations of Immortality

November 21, 2002

On the evening of November 21 the International College of the University of Bridgeport (the University's UN College) sponsored a symposium on the topic Intimations of Immortality: Perspectives on Life After Death. About 60 students and faculty participated in the seminar. It consisted of several speakers:

Reverend Yang, a Seminary Trained Unificationist Pastor, represented the Unification Perspective. He shared about the Unification view of the importance of experience love as parents, children, spouses, and siblings in order to resemble God and to be able to dwell with God in the spirit world.

The second speaker was Dr. Larry Phillips who spoke from a Humanist perspective. Professor Phillips shared about what he felt about life after death and explained his understanding that after death there is nothing. His talk stirred a lot of discussion and an intense series of questions following the presentation.

The Third speaker was International College Visiting Professor, Dr. Kim Setton, who provided some insights into how Confucianism, in spite of Confucius never having articulated his views on life after death, prepares people through living and acting properly on earth to live properly in the spiritual world.

Reverend Douglas House who teaches Public Speaking in the International College is also a Congregationalist Minister. He spoke on the Christian view of life after death. He is the only speaker who spoke about Near Death Experiences. He spoke of a man whom he had known who throughout much of his life had had a very negative outlook. In his presentation, he shared a very interesting experience about a man who had had a negative outlook throughout his life. As he faced death he had a near death experience. He returned from the experience very pleased and said, "So that is what death is like?" From that point on he never complained and developed a positive outlook on life.

The final speaker, Dr. Michael Grant, a former Provost of the University and an Ambassador for Peace, shared about a book that he is writing on the spirit world. It was a very interesting presentation emphasizing that unless we prepare while on earth we cannot go to where we need to go in the spirit world. Dr. Grant concluded his presentation by distributing a questionnaire that he has developed to solicit people's views on life after death. He is utilizing this questionnaire as an additional source for his book.

Dr. Kurt Frey, Professor of Psychology, served as moderator of the program and Dr. Tom Ward, the Dean of the College, offered the closing remarks, thanking everyone, particularly Mr. Jory Cook, the International College Senior who organized the event.

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UN Day

October 26, 2002

On Saturday, October 26, 2002, the International College celebrated United Nations Day, in conjunction with the University's Open House that was also taking place that day. Prospective students and their families, as well as the students, professors, and faculty of UB who volunteered to assist with the Open House gathered at around 9 am in the Social Room of the Student Center. At around 10:30 am, all the participants of the Open House welcomed the President of the University, President Neil Albert Salonen, and in his opening remarks he extended his warmest welcome to everyone who was visiting the University.

After his remarks, he invited Dr. Thomas Ward, the Dean of the International College and Vice President of the University to commence the ceremonies for United Nations Day. Dr. Ward commented on the University's strong ties with the United Nations, ranging from former Professors who were once Presidents of the General Assembly to students who are now employed at the United Nations. He also read a letter of gratitude sent by the Permanent Representative from Nepal, who thanked the University for never failing to commemorate United Nations Day on our campus. The commemoration ended with the cutting of a cake that was decorated with the flag of the United Nations, and this was done by President and Mrs. Salonen, Dr. Ward, and five student representatives of the International College.

Some History on the United Nations: The name "United Nations" was devised by United States President Franklin D. Roosevelt and was first used in the "Declaration by United Nations" of January 1, 1942, during the Second World War, when representatives of 26 nations pledged their Governments to continue fighting together against the Axis Powers.

The United Nations Charter was drawn up by the representatives of 50 countries at the United Nations Conference on International Organization, which met at San Francisco from April 25 to June 26, 1945. Those delegates deliberated on the basis of proposals worked out by the representatives of China, the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom and the United States at Dumbarton Oaks (Washington, D.C.) in August-October of 1944. The Charter was signed on June 26, 1945 by the representatives of the 50 countries. Poland, which was not represented at the Conference, signed it later and became one of the original 51 Member States.

The United Nations officially came into existence on 24 October 1945, when the Charter had been ratified by China, France, the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom, the United States and by a majority of other signatories. United Nations Day is celebrated on 24 October each year.(Source: http://www.un.org/Overview/origin.html)

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September 11th Personal Reflections and Social Commemoration

September 12, 2002

On September 12, 2002, one year and one day after the tragic events of September 11, the International College, the Psychology Department, and SCUBA sponsored an event entitled, "September 11: Personal Reflections and Social Commemoration." The event consisted of two parts: the first part focused on the sharing of people's individual testimonies about how they felt on the actual day as well as after, and the second part focused on how to best commemorate September 11.

The moderators for both discussions were Professor Kurt Frey (representing the Psychology Department) and Professor Thomas Lamont (representing SCUBA). During the first session, a group of students from all different backgrounds and several faculty members shared their hearts, and though many testimonies were wrought with shock and sorrow, the general atmosphere was that of love, caring, and understanding, rather than anger and hatred. In fact, there was a mutual agreement that anger and hatred in retaliation for the attacks were not the best ways to better the situation of America, and that the war against terrorism could never be won without truly understanding the complexity of the situation.

Many people expressed distress over the outbursts of violence and bigotry against people of Arabic/Muslim descent and the commercial patriotism that took place in America after the attacks. To be brief, most people felt that it did no good to show the strength of America through its fear-based extreme patriotism, because the strength of America shines through only in its ability to understand the complex nature of the situation, and be mature enough to take time to learn how to better the circumstances through a means other than acts of anger and hatred.

After a brief refreshment break, the discussion became more intimate as a handful of students and faculty stayed behind to relate their feelings as to how to best commemorate September 11. People continued with the idea that America should learn how to love and understand, and other than these sentiments, there was not much in terms of how to best commemorate the tragedy. One substantial idea was putting a commemorative statue in the bare circle located in the middle of the Pedestrian Mall. The statue would be made up of four or five different people, each of a different nationality (painted a different color, similar to the Olympic rings), and each person would have a hand stretched outward to hold onto a torch. This torch would represent not only the "lamp of knowledge" as depicted in our UB insignia, but also the light of hope for tolerance and understanding of the differences in humankind. The statue would commemorate September 11, as well as the tragedies of the past and would stand as a reminder that we must love understand each other to prevent future tragedies.

The event ended with enthusiastic approval of the idea as UB is such an international school, providing a great environment in which to set the example for peace. Professors Frey and Thomas encouraged us to make our opinions promoting tolerance and understanding through writing editorials to the Scribe. All in all, it was a wonderful event, where people really could connect through sharing their hearts about the shock, the sorrow, and most of all, the hope for peace.

Pictures of Events and Honorary Guests

Hon. Ambassador Sharma, Vice-President of General Assembly & President of the 6th Committee of the General Assembly (2001)

Hon. Ibrahim Gambari UN Under Secretary-General & Advisor to the Secretary_general for special assignments in Africa (2000)

Hon. Sheikh Hasina, Prime Minister of Bangladesh (2000)

Hon. Victor Chernomyrdin, former Prime Minister of Russian Federation (1999)

Hon. Mr. Hennadiy Udovenko, President of the 52nd Session of the UN General Assembly & Foreign Minister of Ukraine (1997)

 

 

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