JUMP's Alisha Zare (left) and Tiffany Ardisana are spearheading the plastic bag drive on campus. Ten plastic bags or more can be swapped for a more sustainable one.

Plastic Bags Ladies Find New Use for Local Schools

The Campus Wide Events program through JUMP (Join Us Making Progress) asks that the campus community donate plastic shopping bags to a good cause during the week of Monday, February 25 through Friday, February 29. Pull them out of the closet, from under the sink, out of the pantry, etc. Bring them to the JUMP Office on the first floor of the Student Union and any donation of ten or more can be exchanged for a free canvas bag. "Not only will the new reusable bag save the environment from hundreds of possible plastic bags, but increased awareness will help make change in our community" says organizer Alisha Zare.

Supplies of the renewable bags are limited so it is best to act quickly, she notes. All of the plastic bags contributed will be donated to Evergreen Elementary School in Rohnert Park in order to raise money for their classrooms. Many elementary schools around the community are participating in these kinds of recycling programs. For more information, contact Zare or Tiffany Ardisana at jump.events@sonoma.edu, 4-4277, or stop by the JUMP Office on the first floor of the Student Union, next to the Copy Center.

Campus Forums Announced for Challenges Ahead

The fiscal and other challenges expected in the next academic year will require understanding and collaboration between the administration, faculty, staff and students. To facilitate an understanding of the complexities of the CSU and SSU budgets and how the University strategic planning process will work, several "Campus Forums" will take place throughout the year.

At these Forums, issues such as budget, strategic planning, fundraising, and other topics that affect faculty, staff and students, will be discussed through presentations and a question/answer session. The campus community is invited and encouraged to attend these sessions that will be hosted by the various divisions of the University. A schedule and topic list will be available soon and published in NewsBytes. For more information, contact Susan Kashack, Associate Vice President for Communications & Marketing, susan.kashack@sonoma.edu.

Research in Action! Third Annual Graduate Student Research Showcase Set for March 18

"Research in Action" is the theme of the third annual Graduate Student Research Showcase set for Thursday, March 18 from 4 to 7 p.m. in the Cooperage. The Showcase features paper presentations, creative and multimedia presentations, and poster sessions developed and presented by master's degree candidates and recent master's degree recipients from programs across campus. Information about SSU master's degree programs will also be available. Refreshments are provided. For a complete list of research projects on view that day, visit http://www.sonoma.edu/aa/gs/showcase.shtml in early March.

Don't Miss Fridays at Four

Today in the University Club!