STUDENT NEWS: Weather, politics stir up a memorable Russian trip

Chapman University senior Andrew McGuigan, spent two weeks in Russia—surviving a freak tornado the first day and meeting with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev near the trip’s end.

McGuigan was a participant in the 2011 International Youth Forum on Lake Seliger. The program takes place literally in the woods on the banks of Lake Seliger in Russia. Acceptance into the program is competitive and based on multiple essays each applicant writes. Campers were divided into four groups based on their entrance essays: international business, world politics, civil society and mass media. McGuigan chose world politics.

The 1,000 youth participants aged 17 to 28 bunked in tents near the lake and spent their days hearing lectures, debating and taking part in projects related to real-world politics. For example, McGuigan participated in a mock G8 meeting where he represented the country of China and was tasked with leading China through the next 20 years dealing with issues such as resources and conflicts.

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FACULTY NEWS: Prof. Meyer, colleagues press on in study of Gospel of Judas

Gathered in Germany this summer to work on the

Coptic text of Codex Tchacos were

(l-r) Drs. Uwe-Karsten Plisch, Marvin Meyer,

 Gregor Wurst, and Hans-Gebhard Bethge

Marvin Meyer, Ph.D., Griset Professor of Religious Studies, Wilkinson College, just returned from Germany, where he worked with colleagues Dr. Hans-Gebhard Bethge, Dr. Uwe-Karsten Plisch, and Dr. Gregor Wurst  on the Coptic text of Codex Tchacos, the ancient book that includes the Gospel of Judas. The goal of the work of this scholarly team, begun over the last weeks at the University of Augsburg, is to take the study of the ancient codex to the next level. Dr. Meyer reports that considerable progress was made, particularly on the other texts in Codex Tchacos.

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STUDENT NEWS: Students in the Graphic Design Program Working on the 2012 Olympics

Wednesday, July 27, 2011 marked the "One Year To Go" date for the 2012 Olympics and Chapman/Wilkinson College was there!

The Graphic Design Program is now in it's third year of working  with the London Organizing Committee for the Olympic Games (LOCOG – the organization that brands and promotes the games), AECOM/EDAW  (the urban planning and Landscape architects for the games), and Buro Happold (the Engineering firm responsible for the games).

Chapman is the only University in the world that has this privilege.

The creative communication problems the students solve are vetted by these professional agencies and the work they produce gives our students an advantage when interviewing for internships and jobs.

They truly have a learning experience that no other students have.

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ATTENTION WC ALUMNI

Attention Alumni!  In honor of Wilkinson’s 20^th anniversary we will be hosting a birthday celebration for alumni at this year’s Homecoming. For the event we are creating a “Wilkinson Video Yearbook”.

We want you to share your personal photos with us, both past and present.

Email photos to stroop@chapman.edu or mail to Taryn Stroop. Include your name, graduating year & major.

We are excited to share in your memories and look forward to seeing your photos.

Click here to learn about the Wilkinson Impact Project!

FACULTY NEWS: Dr. Marilyn Harran featured in Old Towne Orange Plaza Review, July/August 2011

Chapman's Stern Chair in Holocaust Education and founding Director of the University's Rodgers Center for Holocaust Education was recently featured in the Old Towne Orange Plaza Review.

The article, "Building Character at Chapman University" discusses Dr. Harran's involvement with Holocaust Education and what sparked her interest early on in her career.

Article can be read here on page 14 and continues to page 22.

EVENT NEWS: Adoption of Children with Disabilities in Korea with Dr. Hyan Eun Kim, July 25

Looking for an intellectual lecture to attend this summer? Well, Wilkinson College of Humanities and Social Sciences and the Political Science Department are hosting an event titled, "Adoption of children with disabilities in Korea" on Monday, July 25, 2011.

The lecture, given by Dr. Hyang Eun Kim, Associate Professor of Social Welfare at Kosin University in Korea (and currently a visiting Fulbright Scholar of Psychology from University of Minnesota), will be in Roosevelt Hall, Laura Scudder Conference Room, 127, from 12 p.m. - 1 p.m.

This lecture is free and open to the public.

For more information, please contact Dr. Art Blaser, Professor of Political Science, at 714.997.6612 or blaser@chapman.edu.

FACULTY NEWS: Scientist-to-scientist

Dr. David Shafie, assistant professor of Political Science, was invited to Washington, D.C. in June to help formulate a behavioral research agenda for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.  The “scientist-to-scientist” meeting was part of an ongoing initiative by the EPA’s Office of Research and Development (ORD) to integrate social science perspectives and share cross-disciplinary findings relevant to environmental policy.  Dr. Shafie was one of 24 social scientists from various fields who collaborated with the ORD leadership in identifying new interdisciplinary research priorities at the two-day meeting.

“Primetime Nightline” episode featuring Dr. Meyer rescheduled for TODAY!

The planned July 6 airing of an episode of ABC News’ Primetime Nightline featuring  Marvin Meyer, Ph.D., Griset Chair in Bible and Christian Studies, has been rescheduled to today because of last-minute programming changes by the network.

The program exploring reported apparitions of the Virgin Mary, part of  Primetime’s “Beyond Belief” summer series, will air tonight at 10 p.m.
Dr. Meyer was tapped to offer scholarly insights and help the Nightline team and host Bill Weir examine the tradition of apparitions of the Virgin Mary around the world. Dr. Meyer says he appears as “the voice of reason” in the program.

Chapman University bloggers featured in BBC shuttle coverage

While most followers of NASA’s space shuttle program watched the final shuttle launch on televisions and computer screens this morning, two Chapman University scholars enjoyed on-the-spot viewing as media members covering the end of the historic program.

Chapman bloggers Drs. Leahy and Dechow chronicle historic launch of Atlantis.

Anna Leahy Ph.D., associate professor of English and her husband, Leatherby Libraries associate librarian Douglas Dechow, Ph.D., write Lofty Ambitions, a blog about aerospace, aviation history and related issues. They’re covering the final Atlantis launch and voyage in the space blog and were also featured in a BBC News article titled US shuttle goodbyes: Your stories.

‘Wicked’ cool moment highlights Rodgers Center study trip to D.C.

The Chapman delegation enjoying a special tour of The Kennedy Center were (l-r) Dana Hollander, Sonali Toppur, Katy Brannigan, Napoleon Gladney ‘08, Dr. Marilyn Harran, Natalie Larson, Victoria Moyzis and Courtney Widerman.

The annual study trip to Washington, D.C., presented to prize winners in Chapman University’s Rodgers Center Holocaust Art and Writing Contest, is always full of special tours, meetings with dignitaries and unique experiences.

But this year’s group enjoyed a particularly special “Chapman moment” on the last night of the capitol tour when a trip to see a musical ended with a backstage tour and meeting with the two leads in the show, arranged by an alumnus who is a member of the cast.

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Chapman University 150th Celebration

Chapman University celebrates its 150th anniversary with a year-long schedule of festive events, including a huge 150th birthday party and campus open house for the whole community on May 6. Kids events, Alley Cats concerts, festival booths, free food, student performances, a cake in the shape of Memorial Hall and fireworks made this a day - and night - to remember.