October 5-11, 2015

1.  WEEKLY WALK-IN SERVICES IN THE GLC — updated 9/21

  • Career Services advising: Wednesdays, 2:00-5:00 GLC Lobby
  • Cook Counseling: Thursday & Friday 1:00-5:00pm, Green Room 
  • Graduate School regular hours: 8:00am-5:00pm
  • Immigration advising hours: MWF 1:00-5:00pm, TTh 9:00am-12:00pm
  • LISA Statistical Consulting: Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 10am-12pm, GLC Room A
  • Writing assistance: Thursdays, 5:30-8:30pm, GLC Room A

2. WHAT DOES THE GLC MEAN TO YOU? TELL US!
Monday-Friday, Oct 5-16 (except Wednesdays), 12:00-8:00pm, GLC Lobby
The GLC is celebrating its 10th anniversary, and we want to know what you like about the GLC. Share a favorite memory, funny story, or what you think is the best thing about the GLC. Drop by the GLC Lobby and record a short video. If you don’t want to be in the video alone, bring a friend! All videos will be edited together and shown in various places/events. For questions, email grads@vt.edu.

3. MILK SENSORY PANELS
Wednesday 10/7: 10:30am-5:00pm- Ice Cream Super Snack
Thursday 10/8: 10:00am-5:00pm- Homemade Cookies Super Snack
Monday 10/12: 10:00am-5:00pm- Carol Lee Donut Super Snack
Tuesday 10/13: 10:00am-5:00pm- DOUBLE gift card points
All at HABB1 Bldg, Rm 205, corner of Duck Pond Dr and Washington St SW
Sensory evaluation on milk – see if you can identify different samples. Only takes ~15 minutes. Come and bring your friends! 144 panelists needed each day. Anyone 18+ years old who does not have milk allergies is encouraged to participate. Get free snacks every day for participating. Contact master’s student Hayley Potts at hpotts45@vt.edu for more information.

4. DISCOVER ISLAM
Tuesday, Oct 6, 12:00-2:00pm, Info Booth A in front of Au Bon Pain at Squires
Islam is the fastest growing religion in the world with more than 1.6 billion followers. Muslims come from almost every country in the world and speak almost every language. Learn more about Islam from your Muslim colleagues: stop by, ask questions, get your free copy of Quran interpretation in English, view Islamic art from different countries, get your name in Arabic, and enjoy tasty Arabian dates. Hosted by the Islamic Student Assembly (ISA). Posted on behalf of grad student Amr Nabil, anabil@vt.edu.

5. SHORT STATS COURSE FOR GRADS: T-TESTS AND ANOVA
Tuesday, Oct 6, 4:30-6:30pm, 1080 Torgersen Hall
In science it is often important to address the question of whether mean responses differ from one another between groups. When one is interested in the difference between means of two groups, the most common statistical procedure is known as the t-test. When there are two or more groups, the typical approach is to employ the analysis of variance (ANOVA). Taught by Kris Patton, this short course will review the concepts behind two-sample and paired t tests and one and two-way ANOVA models.  Course attendees will learn the basic motivation and assumptions of each method.  Hypothesis tests, confidence intervals, and measures of effect size will also be described for each approach. Visit the LISA website at www.lisa.stat.vt.edu to register and learn more.

6. LGBTQ CONNECT LUNCH
Wednesday, Oct 7, 12:00-1:00pm, GLC Room F
Would you like to connect and network with other graduate students and faculty/staff that identify with the LGBTQ community or are community allies? If yes, don’t miss out on this great opportunity. The Graduate School hosts this luncheon to facilitate dialogue and fellowship. Register at http://graduateschool.vt.edu/connect_lunch if you plan to attend. If you have any questions, contact Dannette Gomez Beane at dannette@vt.edu.

7. DISTINGUISHED LECTURE: DIGITAL MEDIA USE AND THE EXPERIENCE OF CHILDHOOD IN THE 21ST CENTURY
Wednesday, Oct 7, 7:00-8:00pm, Fife Theatre, Moss Arts Center
Hosted by the Department of Communication, this presentation by Amy Jordan explores the role of media technologies in defining the experience of childhood. Jordan teaches at the University of Pennsylvania, where she is also Director of Graduate Student Professional Development. Her work has been funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Institute of Child Health and Development, and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. She presently serves as co-editor of the Journal of Children and Media and President of the International Communication Association. Free and open to the public. Posted on behalf of grad student Anjelica Smith, anjelica@vt.edu.

8. THESIS THURSDAYS
Thursdays, 8:30am-3:30pm
Need a quiet space to work on your thesis, dissertation, or course work? Gotta study for exams? Absolutely have to get that article out, like, yesterday? Thesis Thursday is your answer! This weekly gathering is for grad students who want to keep accountable to a regular work time and need a guaranteed quiet place to work. Meet each Thursday just a few blocks off campus at 107 Church Street – 2nd floor of the State Farm office (entrance on Church Street). Free coffee and wi-fi, plus multiple spots to sit and study alone or in groups. Stop in any time during study hours. Limited parking available. For more details, contact grad student Morgan Franke at fmorg14@vt.edu.

9. OVER 30 THURSDAYS
Thursdays, starting Oct 8, 12:30-3:30pm, Room D
Did you know? The Grads Over 30 group has reserved space in the GLC (Room D) for each Thursday this semester for those wanting a space to study, meet other students or just hang out. No formal agenda, just an open space to get work done!

10. GLC CAFÉ: GLC-10 COMMUNITY ART PROJECT + HOME-BAKED COOKIES
Thursday, Oct 8, 3:30-5:00pm, GLC Reading Room
The GLC Café is offered throughout the year with free coffee, tea, and cookies in the company of your graduate-student and Grad-School colleagues. Stop by this week to add your mark to a community art project celebrating the 10th anniversary of the opening of the GLC and enjoy some home-baked cookies.

11. KIDS NIGHT OUT – FREE WEEKLY DROP-IN CHILD CARE
Thursdays, starting Sep 10, 2015 6:00-8:30pm, Women’s Center
Need a break? Have to study or attend a lecture? Want to catch up on work? If you are a VT student with children, bring your kids aged 2-12 (must be toilet trained); no need to pre-register. Games, toys, books, crafts, homework help, and plenty of fun for participants. Childcare provided by the volunteers of Chi Delta Alpha sorority. KNO will be held every Thursday throughout the semester with the exception of breaks when classes are not in session. The Women’s Center is located at 206 Washington Street, enter up the stairs in the parking lot. For more information, contact Jessie Meltsner at jmelts@vt.edu or 231-7806.

12. BUILDING A PROFESSIONAL CAREER WITH PURPOSE: DR. RACHEL WILLIAMS
Friday, Oct 9, 12:30-1:45pm, GLC Room C
Meet over lunch with graduate alumna Dr. Rachel K. Williams, director of strategic initiatives and services at General Dynamics. Learn about Dr. William’s journey through graduate school and the steps she took to build a highly successful professional career, balancing work and life. Free lunch provided; registration is requested at https://survey.vt.edu/survey/entry.jsp?id=1443639639581.

13. INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY TAILGATE
Friday, Oct 9, 5:30-7:30pm, 417 Clay Street (behind tennis courts; access on walkway from Washington Street)
All members of Virginia Tech’s international community are invited to this community celebration before a home football game. Traditional tailgate food will be served. Hosted by the Cranwell International Center, Global Education Office, Graduate School, International Support Services, and Language and Culture Institute. Please complete this survey to register: https://survey.vt.edu/survey/entry.jsp?id=1441304595029.

14. SUBMISSIONS INVITED FOR GRAD JOURNAL ‘SPECTRA’ – 1st posting
Spectra, the ASPECT (Alliance for Social, Political, Ethical, and Cultural Thought) graduate journal, is currently seeking submissions for its next issue.  Submissions on research at the intersections of the social sciences, the natural sciences, the humanities, and the arts are especially encouraged.  Potential submissions can include essays, reflection pieces, book reviews, and multimedia.  Abstracts for consideration are due by Oct 15.  For more info go to https://spectrajournal.org/index.php/SPECTRA/announcement/view/6.  Email any questions to Jordan Laney and Anthony Szczurek at editor@spectrajournal.org.

15. PEO INTERNNATIONAL PEACE SCHOLARSHIP FOR INTL GRAD WOMEN – 2nd posting
This scholarship is designed for women who are qualified for admission to full-time graduate study, working toward a graduate degree in the college or university she will attend. Requirements: Applicants must not hold U.S. or Canadian citizenship or permanent residency; must submit a witnessed statement certifying that upon completion of degree program, she will return to her own country to pursue her professional career; must have a full year of course-work remaining and be enrolled and on campus for the entire school year. Doctoral students who have completed coursework and are working on dissertation only are not eligible as first-time applicants. The maximum scholarship for one year of study is $10,000, based upon need (year runs from August to August). Complete details are available at http://www.peointernational.org/about-peo-international-peace-scholarship-ips. Send questions to Terry Arthur at arthurt@cs.vt.edu.

16. SHORT STATS COURSES FOR GRADS BY LISA
LISA (Virginia Tech’s Laboratory for Interdisciplinary Statistical Analysis) is providing a series of evening short courses to help graduate students use statistics in their research. Visit the LISA website at http://www.lisa.stat.vt.edu for instructions on how to register and to learn more. Remaining fall 2015 Schedule:

  • Tuesday, Oct 13, 4:30-6:30 pm: Calculating Sample Sizes and Power for Research;
  • Tuesday, Oct 20, 5:00-7:00 pm: World Statistics Day Celebration: Re-envisioning the 21st Century Global Land Grant University to Build Research Capacity in Developing Countries;
  • Tuesday, Oct 27, 4:30-6:30 pm: Multivariate Clustering Analysis;
  • Tuesday, Nov 3, 4:30-6:30 pm: Intro to SAS University Edition;
  • Tuesday, Nov 10, 4:30-6:30 pm: Comparing Means and Other Measures of Location between Two Populations by Significance Tests and Effect Size;
  • Tuesday, Nov 17, 4:30-6:30 pm: Data Analytics – Classification;
  • Tuesday, Dec 1, 4:30-6:30 pm: Visualizing and Analyzing Spatial Data with R;

17. INTERDISCIPLINARY HONOR SOCIETY NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS – 2nd posting
The Interdisciplinary Research Honor Society (IDR) is accepting new applications for membership up through Friday, Nov 20. IDR was founded at Virginia Tech in 2011 by graduate students to promote and facilitate interdisciplinary cooperation, research, and networking at VT and other universities. Currently there are more than 20 active members and the society offers opportunities to network with professionals and peers, present your own work at an annual poster day, and attend spotlight talks given by individuals heavily involved in interdisciplinary work. Plus, there is food at meetings! Any students, graduate or undergraduate, who are actively involved in research combining multiple disciplines, including science, engineering, business, or education, are encouraged to apply. More details about the society, membership requirements, and the membership application can be found at http://www.idrsociety.org/membership/application. Direct questions to VP of membership, Shabnam Kavousi, at shabnamk@vt.edu.

18. CHILDCARE SPACES STILL AVAILABLE FOR FALL AND SPRING – 3rd posting
The Little Hokie Hangout still has space available! If you are interested in learning more about the Parent Cooperative CHILD CARE option offered through the Graduate School, email childcare@vt.edu for information or to express interest. This conveniently-located program is for children approaching 2 years of age through 5 years of age, and is designed to fit your scheduling needs! Schedule a visit to take a look at the Little Hokie Hangout!

19. PAPERS, WORKSHOPS, PERFORMANCE PIECES AND PANEL PROPOSALS INVITED – 3rd posting
Scholars, activists, and artists from the humanities, social and natural sciences, visual and performing arts, life sciences, disability studies, STEM fields, and queer and feminist science studies are invited to submit papers, panels, workshops, new media, art, and performance pieces that explore the intersections of gender, bodies & technology in contexts ranging from virtual reality labs and engineering classrooms to grassroots movements and queer and feminist hacking spaces. Proposals should be submitted by Nov 15, 2015 to genbodtech@gmail.edu. See complete CFP at: http://www.cpe.vt.edu/gbt/. The “Gender, Bodies & Technology: (In)Visible Futures” event will take place in The Hotel Roanoke, Apr 21-23, 2016. For more information or questions contact Christine Labuski, GBT Coordinator and Conference Director, chrislab@vt.edu. Posted on behalf of grad student Rayanne Streeter, streetrc@vt.edu.

20. SUBMISSIONS INVITED FOR 10TH ANNIVERSARY GLC ART & PHOTO CONTEST – still posting!
Celebrate the 10th anniversary of the opening of the GLC  by participating in the next GLC photo and art contest! Theme: (Snapshots) of Graduate Student Life. Get creative and submit whatever depicts you as a grad student. Submissions are limited to three pieces (art and/or photography) per graduate student. Photos may be submitted online at https://secure.graduateschool.vt.edu/imageupload/ to be printed by the Graduate School. Submission deadline: Monday, Oct 19.  Learn more at http://www.graduatelifecenter.vt.edu/contest/.

21. TWO ASSISTANTSHIP OPENINGS IN TLOS – 1st posting
Learning Experience Design (LED), a  unit of Technology-enhanced Learning and Online Strategies (TLOS) (www.tlos.vt.edu)  is seeking two Graduate Assistants to work with the instructional design and course development, digital media, video editing and production, graphics and web development, digital imaging, assessment, project management and research staff of the unit. These GAs will provide direct support to faculty developing courses and will also be focused on the transition of courses from Scholar to Canvas and adherence to accessibility requirements. Graduate students with experience in any of the above areas are encouraged to submit a resume or CV attached to an email to lbaab@vt.edu, describing how their talents and abilities could contribute to the work of the unit.

22. CHILDREN AGES 8-12 WITH TEMPER ISSUES SOUGHT FOR NEW TREATMENT STUDY – 1st posting
Children ages 8-12 are currently being enrolled for a free treatment study for anger and irritability. The treatment is designed to teach children to regulate their emotions, and will be conducted in 13 weekly sessions. Families will also receive $70 for completing assessment sessions for the study. If interested in enrolling your child in this study, please contact Amber at MoodReg@gmail.com or call 540-231-9735 for more information.

23. RESEARCH SUBJECTS NEEDED FOR BALANCE STUDY – 1st posting
Graduate student researchers are conducting a study to investigate how specific actions affect balance. The study takes approximately 15-20 minutes and will involve standing still for two minutes and performing one of several actions, such as silently counting. Qualifications are: 18-30 years of age, no problems balancing, no history of dizziness, no recent knee or ankle injuries, and no concussions within the previous year. You will be compensated $10 for participating. The protocols in this study have been approved by the VT IRB (IRB#15-795). If interested, contact Peter Fino, 559 Whittemore Hall, fino@vt.edu.

24. SCHOOL-DAY PERFORMANCE VOLUNTEERS NEEDED – 3rd posting
Since the Center for the Arts’ opening in 2013, nearly 8,000 students, teachers, parents, and chaperones have participated in Kindergarten-12 arts activities at the Moss Arts Center (MAC). School-day performances are here again and volunteers are needed to ensure that the students’ experience is top notch. If you are interested in helping, please email Donna Thompson at tdonna27@vt.edu for more information and schedule.

25. CHILD PARTICIPANTS SOUGHT FOR EYE, GAZE & EMOTIONS TREATMENT STUDY – 3rd posting
If you are a parent or legal guardian of a child/children who are having problems with all of the following: * breaking rules, arguing or fighting; * seem insensitive to punishment; * lack concern or empathy for others, contact VT researchers about a free IRB-approved research study on the VT campus for children ages 6-9. Parents/legal guardians complete questionnaires and children complete in-lab tasks and computer games.  Receive between $10-$30 per assessment session, up to $100 total. Contact Lauren at (540) 231-9735; Email:EyeGazeEmotions@gmail.com.

26. PARTICIPANTS SOUGHT FOR SOCIAL ANXIETY STUDY – 3rd posting
Free confidential research study for eligible individuals who are anxious or nervous in social situations; struggle with talking to members of the opposite sex; constantly concerned that they may do or say something that will embarrass them. Participants must be ages 18-55; research study involves brain imaging in social anxiety. If you are interested, or would like more information, contact the VT Social-Cognitive-Affective-Neuroscience Laboratory at (540) 231-8504 or email to  VT.scanlab@gmail.com.

UPCOMING EVENTS:

DANCE OF NATIONS AUDITIONS – SIGN UP NOW!
The Council of Intl Student Organizations (CISO) invites groups to participate in the annual Dance of Nations program to be held Nov 11 in the GLC Auditorium, showcasing a variety of solo to large group performances from around the world. Auditions will be held Mon, Oct 12, 6-8pm; Tue, Oct 13, 5.30-7.30pm; Fri, Oct 16, 6-8pm. Fill out this online form at http://goo.gl/forms/A4YYXnBxsQ by Oct 10 to be scheduled for an audition slot. Slots are limited and will be allotted first come, first served. Send questions to Haseeb Chaudhry at haseeb7@vt.edu.

FREE ANXIETY AND OCD SUPPORT GROUP
Tuesday, Oct 13, 7:00pm, GLC Student Org Suite conference area
Are you feeling overwhelmed by anxiety? Do you struggle with OCD? A free monthly support group meets the second Tuesday of every month. Join the group to learn more about anxiety disorders and OCD, hear success stories from those who have worked to overcome their anxiety and OCD, and receive support in an informal setting. Family members and significant others are also welcome. If you have questions or would like more information, please contact the Psychological Services Center at 231-6914, visit www.psyc.vt.edu/outreach/psc or email ajsmith1@vt.edu.

WHY DID PANGEA BREAK UP? – A RESEARCH A LA MODE PRESENTATION
Wednesday, Oct 14, 5:30-6:30pm, 2062 Derring (Museum of Geosciences)
250 million years ago all the continents were together as the supercontinent of Pangea, but after 50 million years Pangea began to rift apart forming the continents of today. There have been many suggestions for what caused the rifting of Pangea, but none so far really fit with all the geologic data. In this talk graduate student Lisa Whalen discusses the latest idea for why Pangea may have broken up and some interesting things about Pangea she discovered along the way. Come support graduate students learning to communicate their science and enjoy free ice cream after the workshop. Send questions to Lisa at lashley@vt.edu.

GRADUATE STUDENT TRIP TO JOE’S TREES
Saturday, Oct 17, 10:00am – 1:00pm, Meet in the GLC Lobby
Join the GLC Fellows for a fun-filled trip to Joe’s Trees. It’s their Farm Festival Weekend, with exciting activities such as a hayride to the pumpkin patch, corn maze, horse rides, awesome jellies and jams, and much more. Registration required at: https://survey.vt.edu/survey/entry.jsp?id=1443151974781. Transportation is limited, so sign-up soon! Be sure to bring money for lunch, pumpkins or whatever else you want to buy. For more information about Joe’s Trees, check-out their website at http://joestrees.com/. If you have questions, e-mail GLC Fellows at kmpark07@vt.edu or scarlet7@vt.edu.

NAPPY EDGES & GOLDY LOCKS: THE RACE AND GENDER POLITICS OF HAIR
Wednesday, Oct 21, 7:30pm, 3100 Torg
For African Americans, attitudes toward and responses to hair go beyond “big hair” and a “bad hair day.” This presentation examines the complex racial and gender identity politics of head hair. From Barbie, Britney, and Rapunzel to Pocahontas and Beyoncé, Lester shows how a national controversy was generated around the issue of African American hair in a children’s book, Carolivia Herron’s Nappy Hair, and how the issue of hair is central to certain ideals of beauty and femininity. An interactive presentation, this one uses dolls, folklore, music, literature, advertisements, and commercials to interrogate the extent to which African Americans have and have not moved from internalized problematic notions of “good” and “bad” hair. This event is posted on behalf of doctoral student Devon Lee, devonlee@vt.edu.

INTERVARSITY GRADUATE CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP FALL RETREAT – register now!
Friday, Oct 23, 8:00pm – Sunday, Oct 25, 12:00pm, near Lexington, VA (1.5 hours from VT)
All VT graduate students are welcome to join in a weekend of new friendships, indoor/outdoor recreation, Bible study and prayer in a relaxed setting away from campus. Cost is $30 (scholarships are available). Space is limited to 25 participants. For more information and to register online, visit <https://gcfvt.wordpress.com/fall-retreat/>. Contact Robert Howe (robahowe@gmail.com) with any questions.