International Student Panel Discussion
  An international graduate panel discussion was held on Friday January 21 in the College of Education. The topic of discussion was Idaho State University, International Students, and the World. Panel members were Adrian Ramirez-Almaguer of Mexico, Hamdan Said of Malaysia, Precious Mudiwa of Zimbabwe, Sachiko Fukuoka of Japan, and Wanhsing Wang of Taiwan.
  Generally, panel members agreed that ISU has much to offer to international graduate students in developing their potential. ISU needs to recruit and hire more people of color to mirror the actual multiracial and multicultural of America, integrate international perspectives into the curriculum, and be responsive to the needs of international students. The panelists agreed that ISU is a very safe and conducive place for studying.

Keynote Speaker for Human Rights Celebration
  Dolores Huerta, a civil right leader and a keynote speaker for ISU Human Rights Celebration, will address farm workers' past and current struggles for improved working conditions and labor practices on Tuesday January 25.
  Dolores Huerta is the most prominent Chicana (Mexican American Women) labor leader in the United States. She is cofounder and first vice president emeritus of the United Farm Workers union, and president of the Dolores Huerta Foundation. For more than thirty years she has dedicated her life to the struggle for justice and dignity for migrant farm workers. She is small in body but gigantic in spirit and energy. Her passion for justice and equal opportunity makes her one of the most powerful and respected labor movement leaders in the United States. Honored with countless community service, labor, Hispanic, and women's awards, Dolores Huerta is definitely a role model for Mexican American Women.

National Stalking Awareness Month
  The purpose of Stalking Awareness Month is to focus on the serious and deadly crime that victimizes 8 percent of American women (1 in 12 women) and 2 percent of American men (1 in 45 men) each year. The goal of Stalking Awareness Month is to promote knowledge and understanding about the crime of stalking, its seriousness, and resources available for victims.
  What is stalking? Each state defines stalking a little differently. In its simplest definition, stalking can be defined as “the willful, malicious, and repeated following and harassing of another person” (Meloy, 1998). Stalking behavior varies from annoying and intrusive to threatening and harmful. Stalking can have devastating consequences. The victims are often feel unsafe, anxious, and vulnerable; forced to relocate; changed jobs; obtained orders of protection; and sought counseling (Moley, 1998).
Want tips on “ What to do or not to do if you are stalked ”, “How to recognize a stalker”, “Definition and Types of stalkers”, and “Court cases on stalking?” Click on the link. How about testing your knowledge on “how much you know about stalking?”

Stalking Presentation
  A presentation on Stalking will be held on Wednesday January 26 at noon in the Heritage Room SUB. The presenter, Joannie Brummond, a stalking survivor will discuss the basics of stalking and specifics of her case.

African American History Month
  February is dedicated to African-American History Month. This year's theme is “The Niagara Movement: Black Protest Reborn, 1905-2005.” This theme was chosen to recognize the founding and contributions of the Niagara Movement in fighting racial discrimination in the United States.
  The Niagara Movement was established by African Americans (including W. E. B. DuBois, John Hope, and William M. Trotter). It ran from 1905 to 1910 and was first founded on the Canadian side of Niagara Falls. At its peak, the Niagara Movement had 30 branches in various cities in United States. Although it failed to gain the support of most blacks, many of its ideas were adopted in 1909 by a new interracial organization called the National Association for Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).
  How can we incorporate African American experience in our curriculum? Education World offers fun and interesting lessons suitable for first grade through grade twelve. If you are interested in integrating the African American experiences into your curriculum, click here. For fun activities, click on the following topics.
  Black History Treasure Hunt
  Sampling African American
  Cloze Activities

Chinese New Year
  At midnight on February 8, 2005 the Chinese community in America and all over the world will celebrate Chinese New Year (pronounced in Chinese as “xin nian”), the year of the Green Rooster (Wooden and Metal Rooster). This New Year's celebration occurs on the first day of the first month of the lunar calendar (also known as the Chinese calendar). The Chinese tradition follows the Chinese calendar in many special activities, although the Gregorian calendar is used for day-to-day business purposes. Let us together say Gung Hey Fat Choy (meaning Wishing You Prosperity and Wealth ) to all of the Chinese community at ISU.
  In the Chinese calendar, an ordinary year has 12 months whereas a leap year has 13 months. An ordinary year has 353, 354 or 355 days and a leap year has 383, 384 or 385. Leap years are determined by counting number of new moons between the 11th month in one and the 11th month in the next year. If there are 13 full moons then a leap month must occurs.
  Unlike the Gregorian calendar, the Chinese calendar does not count years continuously. It works in 60 year cycles. Hence, the Year 2005 on the Gregorian calendar is the Year of 4702 on the lunar calendar.
  There are many versions of the story behind the development of the Chinese zodiac, but in general all versions are based on the results of a race. The cunning Rat hitched on the back of the Ox and crossed the winning line first. The Rat was followed by (in order) by Ox (Cow), Tiger, Rabbit (Cat), Dragon, Snake, Horse, Ram (Goat or Sheep), Monkey, Rooster (Chicken), Dog, and Pig (Boar).
  Besides the Chinese calendar, there are other calendars which differ from the Gregorian. These calendars include the Islamic calendar, the French Revolutionary calendar, the Maya calendar, the Hebrew calendar, the Persian calendar, and the Druid calendar. Each of these calendars has different way of calculating the passage of time. To know more about how the passing of time is measured on each, click on each calendar.

National Girls and Women in Sports
  Saturday February 12, ISU will celebrate National Girls and Women in Sports Day (NGWSD) by hosting sports and activity clinics in Reed Gym for kindergarten through sixth grade girls. The NGWSD is celebrated annually during the first week of February. This national day was created in 1987 by the Women's Sports Foundation to remember and honor Flo Hyman, an Olympic volleyball player. The day has grown into an event to celebrate all girls and women who involve in sports, to encourage participation, and to celebrate sports leaders. This year's theme “More Than a Game” is chosen to recognize the progress of girls and women in sports and the benefits that sports and fitness activities can bring to the lives of all girls and women.
  Among the activities arranged for girls on this day are dance, basketball, judo, rock climbing, golf, volleyball, tennis, gymnastics, soccer, track and field, softball, and swimming. Interested parents are encouraged to register their children early. Advance registration is $10, while on-site registration in the Reed Gym lobby is $15. Registration and check-in start at 8:30 am, and activity clinics will run from 9:00 am to 12:30pm. Girls will participate in three different sport/activity clinics, one every hour. Parents are required to complete and return the registration and parental consent/waiver form along with the stated fees to NGWSD –Attention Department of SSPE, Idaho State University, Campus Box 8105, Pocatello, ID 83209-8059.

Women's Yoga and Meditation Retreat
  ISU Counseling and Testing Services will be conducting Women's Yoga and Meditation Retreat at Aura Soma Lava in Lava Hot Springs on Saturday February 26 from 10:00 am to 4:30 pm. The instructors, Paulette Canfield and Dr. Louise Peters, will introduce the transformative practices of Hatha yoga (one of eight yogas) and mindfulness meditation to increase strength, flexibility, balance, concentration, well-being, and wisdom. Emphasis will be placed on the union of body, mind, and spirit, through yoga and meditation sessions. The instructors will integrate gentle fluid movement, breath awareness, and the art of stillness. Participants will leave feeling relaxed and renewed.
  Registration fees are $65 for community members and $40 for current ISU students. Enrollment for this program is limited to 16 participants. For more information, contact Counseling and Testing Services at 282-2130.

Academic Diversity
  Dr. Lori Head, assistant professor of the SSPE department, will be presenting a paper on Academic Diversity at Oxford University (England) in August 2005.


 

Note:
The images in this newsletter were retrieved from the National Organization for Women Web site at http://www.now.org/lists/, AntiStalking Web site at http://www.antistalking.com/, Animal in You Web site at http://www.animalinyou.com/, Amazon Web site at http://www.amazon.com/, Association for the Study of African American Life and History Web site at http://www.asalh.com/, and ISU photo gallery.