Rites of Winter - The rites of winter have come upon us as the campus changes once again to the call of the seasons. Campus photographer Linnea Mullins put a watercolor effect to a typical scene on campus these days.

"King Leopold's Ghost" Author
in OLLI Lecture, Dec. 13

Adam Hochschild, author and co-founder of Mother Jones magazine, discusses his most recent book “Bury the Chains: Prophets and Rebels in the Fight to Free an Empire's Slaves,” in Evert B. Person Theatre at 10 a.m. on Dec. 13. His appearance is part of the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute's Holiday Lecture Series and is free and open to the campus community.

“Bury the Chains” describes the campaign started in 1787 by 12 men-with boycotts, pamphlets, flyers, lobbying, and legal test cases-that two decades later brought an end to the British slave trade. His previous works include “King Leopold's Ghost: a Story of Greed, Terror and Heroism in Colonial Africa,” which was a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award.

Something New for Spring Convocation

Last year the Academic Senate conducted a survey on how to improve the Spring Convocation. This year, it will be testing the feedback received on the survey with a brand new approach to the annual event. The campus community is invited to meet in the Commons on Jan. 25, 2006 starting at 8:30 a.m. for refreshments and conversation. The program begins at 9 a.m. with short remarks and a multi-media presentation to provide context for the small-group discussions about what is distinctive about a Sonoma State University education. All members of the University community are encouraged to attend and participate. Information about the Spring Convocation is now posted on the Senate website at http://www.sonoma.edu/Senate/. The results from the 2004 Spring Convocation Survey are posted there as well to provide context for the change in format for the Spring Convocation.

S.A.F.E. Wins National Award for
Campus Efforts with Students

Student Advocates For Education, SSU’s peer education program, was presented the 2005 BACCHUS Network Outstanding Affiliate Award recently. S.A.F.E.’s advisor, Heather M. Howard, the Director of Campus Life and Leadership, was one of five awarded a 2005 Outstanding Advisor Award. From hundreds of schools affiliated with The BACCHUS Network, Sonoma State’s program was deemed the outstanding organization of the year. "It is an honor to be presented with these prestigious awards and will only help to continue the education of responsible alcohol use, safer sex, and sexual assault awareness that S.A.F.E. educates students about at Sonoma State University," Howard said.

The BACCHUS Network is “the leading association of college, community and peer-based programs dedicated to promoting health lifestyles.”  S.A.F.E. has been an affiliate of The BACCHUS Network for six years, and had six student peer educators represent SSU at this year’s 30th anniversary General Assembly in Orlando, Florida in November. More than 900 peer educators and advisors from colleges and universities throughout the United States were in attendance.