February 22-28, 2010

1. WEEKLY SERVICES IN THE GLC

  • Career services walk-in advising: Wednesdays, 1:30-5:00pm, GLC Study Room
  • Walk-in counseling: Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, 1:00-5:00pm, Green Room (across from G)
  • Writing support: Mondays (4-6pm) and Wednesdays (4-7pm), Student Lounge

2. ETHICS BOWL 2010-sign up now
Register by Friday, Feb 26, to test your sense of ethics and communication and critical thinking skills during the 3rd annual Ethics Bowl organized by the Graduate School. Consider, discuss and resolve case-study based ethical dilemmas with fellow students and faculty on Tuesday, March 2, 3:00-4:30pm in the GLC Multipurpose Room. You may sign up as a team of 3-4, or as an individual and be assigned to a team by the organizers. Teams may include current VT students, faculty or staff, but team leaders must be graduate students. Judges include VT faculty and a guest from Lockheed Martin.

3. EATING ISSUES AND BODY IMAGE AWARENESS WEEK
A series of activities and events will mark the eating issues and awareness week of Feb 22-26. The keynote address will be on Tuesday, Feb 23, 7:00pm in the GLC Auditorium.

4. LaTeX WORKSHOP II
Tuesday and Wednesday, Feb 23 and 24, 5:30-7:30pm, GLC Room F (same presentation both nights)
This workshop is designed to address intermediate level concerns of LaTeX users. It will cover more extensive preamble options (e.g. creating and renewing commands, page layout, title/author information, internal/external referencing), environments (e.g. equations, tables, figures and floats in general), creating a final LaTeX file from multiple LaTeX files, and a brief introduction to citation management (BibTeX) and presentations (via the beamer package). The presentation will leave some time for a Q&A session. Questions: Contact  Jonathan Duggins.

5. BLACK HISTORY MONTH LUNCH
Wednesday, February 24th, 11:30-1:30, GLC Room F
Join the Graduate School Office of Recruitment and Diversity Initiatives for lunch on Wednesday, February 24, 2010, in celebration of Black History Month.  Meet and greet fellow African American graduate students and faculty as well as the Graduate School deans.  This is also an opportunity to share ideas and discuss issues related to the African American community at Virginia Tech.  If you are interested in attending, please sign up for the lunch.  For more information, please contact Jane Rorrer by e-mail or by phone (540) 231-2494.

6. SPEAKERS ON LEADERSHIP & SKILLS IN AN HOUR (SPLASH): FINANCIAL HEALTH
Wednesday, Feb 24, 1:30pm, Brush Mountain A
Financial consciousness is a leadership attribute; train yourself for financial independence and understanding through exercises designed to get participants thinking. This is a two part series: Part 1 on Monday at 5:30pm, Part 2 on Wednesday at 1:30pm. For further information contact Marcela Uribe, doctoral student in education, at .

7. BONE-MARROW REGISTRY DRIVE TO HELP RECENT GRAD

Thursday, Feb 25, 7:30am-5:30pm in 219 Squires
The Biology Graduate Student Association is sponsoring a Bone-Marrow Registry Drive: the process involves filling out some health history forms and a simple cheek swab to determine your genetic information.  A recent graduate was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma recently and he’s in need of a bone marrow donor.  In addition to the cheek swabs to join the registry, the group is helping raise funds for "Be the Match," the bone marrow registry, by hosting a bake sale outside Squires 219.

8. CINEMATECH SCREENING SERIES
Thursday, Feb 25, 7:00pm in 1045 Pamplin
This month, the CinemaTech screening series presents Akira Kurosawa’s "Throne of Blood" with an introduction by Kurosawa specialist Dr. Stephen Prince of the School of Performing Arts & Cinema at Virginia Tech. Please contact doctoral student Anja Haelg Bieri for more information about this series.
Last Thursdays every month:
Mar 25: Karl Precoda presents " Hell’s Hinges"
Apr 29: Ashley Maynor presents "Playtime".

9. GRADUATE NETWORK FOR COMMUNITY-ENGAGED SCHOLARSHIP
Friday, Feb 26, 12:00-1:00pm, GLC Room G
All graduate students interested in becoming involved with graduate student engagement in service and community are invited to attend. Have a slice of pizza, learn about opportunities for community service or support for community-engaged scholarship in your research, and network with other graduate students and groups. Keynote Speaker: Andy Morikawa, Executive Director of the Community Foundation of the NRV. Spring semester meetings will be held on the last Friday in February and March, culminating with a poster session highlighting graduate student community-engaged scholarship in April. Sponsored by:  CSECP- Center for Student Engagement & Community Partnerships. To learn more, check out the website.

10. FROM VINTAGE TO VELOUR: PARTYING THROUGH THE DECADES – NEW DATE!!!
Friday, Feb 26, 7-9pm, GLC Multipurpose Room
The party is back on! Break out your poodle skirts, go-go boots, leg warmers, and skinny jeans for this welcome back party sponsored by the GLC Fellows. Dress up in fashion from your favorite decade, listen to a variety of music from old-school until now, and enjoy snacks and refreshments. Bring a picture of yourself from the past to share! It will be a totally cool and rad event. Be there or be square!

11. LET’S TALK ABOUT TEXT CONFERENCE //POLY-PERFORMANCE READING EVENT
Saturday, Feb 27, 9:00am-4:30pm//8:00-10:00pm Shanks Hall//Gillie’s
The VT English Graduate Student Organization invites you to its annual conference. Graduate students from VT and elsewhere will present papers; Keynote by Geoffrey Sirc, Professor at the U of Minnesota on "Mixtape as Composition." Pre-registration is available. EGSO also invites you to the conference-affiliated PolyPerformance event at Gillie’s that evening from 8:00-10:00 (no registration necessary, admission free); creative writers and performers may present material that evening. More information: visit the event site or contact conference co-chairs Melissa Smith or Katherine Sullivan.

12. LUNCH WITH THE PRESIDENT
Monday, Mar 1, 12:00-1:30pm, The Inn at Virginia Tech
Chat with President Steger, Provost McNamee, and Dean DePauw! Lunch will be provided. All graduate students are invited to attend. Sign up by Feb 22: Questions? Contact Rebecca French, Grad Rep to VT BOV.

13. GRADUATE STUDENT PHOTO & ART CONTEST 2010 – enter by March 10
Help us decorate the GLC and win an award during Grad Ed Week! The Graduate School seeks submissions of photographs and artwork by graduate students for display in the Graduate Life Center. All selected entries will be displayed in the GLC on a temporary, rotating basis. Enter by March 10. This year’s theme: The NRV through Graduate Students’ Eyes. The new set of photos and artwork will be unveiled during Graduate Education Week, March 22-26. Download the submission form or read more about the contest on our website.

14. WALK-IN STATISTICAL CONSULTING
A statistical consultant is available Mon-Fri 12:00-2:00pm through May 6 to answer your quick questions or to help with research projects requiring less than 30 minutes of assistance. The LISA Walk-in Consulting Service is located in 401 Hutcheson Hall near the elevator by the east side stairwell. Knock loudly. For more in-depth questions or longer projects, complete the LISA Request Form and a team of statistical collaborators will be assigned to work with you. Note: LISA does not assist with class projects or homework. Closed: Spring Break (March 6-14) and on the Day of Remembrance (April 16).  To learn more, visit the Laboratory for Interdisciplinary Statistical Analysis (LISA).

15. MOVIE MANIA – SURVEY OF INTEREST
The GLC Fellows are working on bringing a series of movies to the GLC that would interest graduate students. The Fellows would appreciate your assistance in selecting the kind of movies you would like to see. Please complete the survey. If you have any questions, contact Josey Chacko.

16. GLC RESIDENT FELLOW POSITIONS OPEN FOR 2010-2011
Residence Life and the Graduate School are seeking motivated graduate students to live in the GLC and take on Residence Life and programming duties. An ideal candidate would have previous Residence Life experience. Compensation includes a free room in the GLC, a monthly stipend and a partial tuition waiver. Application materials must be turned in to the Graduate Student Services office (110 GLC – Lauren Keister) by noon on Friday, Feb 26. For more information contact Katie Greenleaf, 231-5691 or Lauren Keister, 231-9561.  Download applications.

17. GRADUATE ASSISTANTSHIP POSITION AVAILABLE 2010-11

Assessment coordinator graduate assistantship position available for the next academic year in the Division of Student Affairs’ Communications & Marketing Department in New Hall West. The position reports to the Associate Director of Administration for Communications and to the Chief of Staff. Duties include developing and implementing assessment strategies that lead to continuous improvement of programs and services that support the division’s mission.  Must have master’s degree; experience working with assessment of student affairs programs; understanding of accreditation criteria and standards; collaborative attitude; data collection, management and analysis skills; ability to write and present clear and concise reports.  The position would likely pay at step 13. Contact Kimberle Badinelli, 1-5258 to apply or for further information.  Apply by March 1.

18. JOB FAIR IN NORTHERN VA GRAD CENTER (FALLS CHURCH, VA)
Attend the 19th Annual National Capital Region Job Fair sponsored by the Virginia Tech Alumni Association. More than 65+ professional and high tech companies from Virginia, Maryland, and DC will be recruiting for all levels and disciplines. No cost to attend and all job seekers are welcome. Parking is limited, so please take the Orange Line Metro to the West Falls Church – VT/UVA Metro Station. Register online and submit your resume by March 5. Even if you can’t attend, you may submit your resume for inclusion in the resume book provided to all recruiters.

19. EVENING WITH THE INDUSTRIES

Wednesday, Mar 17, 6:30pm, Old Dominion Ballroom in Squires
Sponsored by the Society of Women Engineers, Evening with the Industries can help you meet potential employers from all backgrounds of engineering. This is a sit down dinner prior to CAMEO’s Careerfest in March. Cost: $10. Pre-registration and payment are required. Contact Coco McBride  to register.

20. CALL FOR ABSTRACTS FOR GSA RESEARCH SYMPOSIUM – final posting
Abstract submission deadline Feb 26. The 26th Annual GSA Research Symposium will be held on Mar 24 in the Graduate Life Center, and the GLC Plaza. The symposium includes poster and oral presentations and video and performance categories. Students from the National Capital Region will participate through video-Conferencing. $9500 in prizes will be awarded! The keynote speaker is 2007 Nobel Laureate Dr. Andrew Weaver, a lead author of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. If you have questions, please contact the GSA Research Symposium Chair, Ganesh Balasubramanian.

21. SUSTAINABILITY SPEAKER SERIES – 2nd posting

The GLC Speaker Series is looking for volunteers wishing to present their work in an inter-disciplinary environment pertaining to sustainability. Sustainability, in this context, is broadly defined and submissions are welcome from all disciplines. If you wish to relate issues of sustainability to the earthquake in Haiti, this is a welcoming forum to do so. If interested, please submit a brief statement of your research/talk to Meredith Katz. Speaker series will run throughout the Spring 2010 semester.

22. GSA TRAVEL FUND APPLICATIONS ACCEPTED NOW
The GSA Travel Fund Program (TFP) offers awards to support the cost of presenting at a conference.  Master’s students may receive up to $350 and doctoral students up to $500.  The application period for travel between January 1 and June 30 will be open from February 1 to March 5.  Visit http://www.gsa.uusa.vt.edu/programs/travel_fund for instructions on how to apply.  Please contact Lora Cavuoto at lcavuoto@vt.edu with any questions.

23. GRADUATE RESEARCH DEVELOPMENT FUNDS AVAILABLE

Cycle II of the Gradate Research Development Program (GRDP) is now open through Feb 26, 2010. GRDP is a competitive research funding program administered by the GSA to support qualified research and innovative ideas proposed by VT graduate students. Applications go through a rigorous review process by a panel of graduate students and faculty. Visit http://www.gsa.uusa.vt.edu/programs/research_program to learn more about this opportunity. All questions should be directed to the program chair, Mr. Amine Chigani, achigani@vt.edu.

24. AEL GRAD HONOR SOCIETY SEEKING NEW MEMBERS – 3rd posting
Application are accepted for the AEL Grad Honor Society: Alpha Epsilon Lambda (AEL) is the academic excellence and leadership honor society of graduate and professional school students. Graduate students may become members based on their academic achievements and leadership experiences. Apply by Feb 26 at http://www.graduateschool.vt.edu/academics/honors_awards/ael/application.html. The induction ceremony for new members will take place during Graduate Education Week, Mar 22-26.

25. GSA STUDENT FEES COMMITTEE NEEDS YOUR FEEDBACK
The GSA Student Fees Committee was established a couple of years ago to address the issues and concerns regarding graduate student fees at VT. The comprehensive fees have increased in recent years while assistantship stipends have not. This committee is committed to helping explore possible solutions to this growing problem but they need your help. Please fill out a brief survey to give feedback about your concerns and needs on this topic. If you have any questions please contact the GSA Fees Committee Chair, Sonal Mazumder.

26. GET INVOLVED WITH CITIZEN SCHOLARS
Does your research benefit the local or global community?  Would you like to
help out Haiti but aren’t sure how? Learn more about how to get involved with the Citizen Scholar Experience project. Email Eric Hodges at hodgeseb@vt.edu any questions or concerns.

27. HOKIES HELPING HAITI & PARTNERS IN HEALTH

The graduate student community raised $1000 in the collection jars in the GLC. You contributed $500 and the deans matched it! Special thanks to all of you who have contributed, and to the students in Computer Science and Drs. DePauw, Rankin, Blieszner and Pérez-Quiñones.

28. UPCOMING EVENTS:

CLOGGING – WOMEN’S MONTH DANCE SERIES
Tuesday, Mar 2, 12:00-1:00pm, GLC Multipurpose Room
Join a few Hoorah Cloggers in an easy clogging lesson and learn to do a few traditional clogging steps yourself.  Learn a bit about local Appalachian history, music and dance and impress all your friends next time you go dancing!  Please wear shoes that have slippery soles (leather, hard plastic, etc. (Tennis shoes are hard to dance in). Questions?  Lindsay Moss at lcmoss@vt.edu

HOOP DANCE – WOMEN’S MONTH DANCE SERIES
Tuesday, Mar 2, 5:30-6:30pm, GLC Multipurpose Room
In this one-hour workshop, Becca of Wild Earth Hoops will instruct participants on the basics of hoop dance including hooping on the waist, hips and hands. More advanced instruction will be available at the end of the workshop for those familiar with hoop dance.  Grab your favorite Sister Friend and come see what the hoopla is all about!  Hoops will be available for the duration of the workshop. Questions?  Lindsay Moss at lcmoss@vt.edu

AMATEUR READIO TEST SESSION
Tuesday, Mar 2, 8:15pm in Dogwood Room in Squires
The VT Amateur Radio Association will hold an amateur radio test session. The test fee is $14, payable by cash (preferably) or check (made out to VT Amateur Radio Association). Photo ID required (Hokie Passport or a driver’s license is sufficient). Please plan on arriving five to ten minutes early. All three license classes will be offered (Technician, General, and Extra).  If you pass the first test, you may take the next test (all the way up to Extra).  You may bring a calculator, but you may not store any data in it that was not programmed at the factory. Contact ECE grad student Mike Benonis mjb8h@vt.edu for more information. VTARA Website: <http://www.vtara.org.vt.edu>

CLIMATE CHANGE DOCUMENTARY
Wed. March 3; 7:00pm, GLC Student TV Lounge
Come out and hear from a fellow graduate student who attended COP15 to watch the documentary “Home” about mother earth and our life.  Scientists tell us that we have 10 years to change the way we live, avert the depletion of natural resources and the catastrophic evolution of the Earth’s climate.  Participate in a lively discussion before and after the film.  Questions? Xiaochen Zhang at zxc@vt.edu.

MONTHLY BOOK CLUB
Thursday Mar 4, 6:00-8:00pm, Easy Chair Coffee Shop
The Blacksburg Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc will hold its monthly Book Club with special guest discussion leader Dr. Gena Chandler, asst professor of English. Each month the club reads a different book and then meets to discuss it.  The book for March is Victoire: My Mother’s Mother by Maryse Conde (participants secure their own copies). If you are a graduate student who enjoys extra-curricular reading and lively discussion, please join. All are welcome.  For more information please contact Alicia Feagins:  afeagins@vt.edu