Professor by day, groupie by night
The write stuff: Writing samples can replace SAT scores
Latino symposium observes 10th anniversary: Salute to customs and community at SU
Susquehanna goes to the dogs
Choir Tour 2005: SU's group may be singing near you!
Field of dreams
Comedic legend comes to SU
Business students hear "You're hired!"
Theatrical giant visits campus
SU professor studies a mystery of the deep
Women's rugby team scores championship
Keep on Track: Admissions/Financial Aid Timeline

professor by day
     groupie by night

Gary Fincke, professor of English and creative writing and director of The Writers' Institute at Susquehanna University, rocked the literary world with a new book, Amp'd: A Father's Backstage Pass. The book follows Fincke's son, Aaron, through winning MTV's Ultimate Cover Band Competition with the band "Strangers With Candy" to being signed by Universal in the band "Lifer" and then signed a second time as part of "Breaking Benjamin" by Hollywood Records. The single So Cold, played in every major market in the country, put "Breaking Benjamin" at the top of the Active Rock and Alternative Rock charts.

Through his experiences attending 60 shows, hanging out backstage, following the bands on national tours, and conversing with other band members and fans, Fincke creates a literary narrative that gives an inside look at celebrity, success and family. The book received favorable reviews in Entertainment Weekly and Library Journal and praise by such renowned authors as Tom Perrotta.

Fincke has published 17 books of poetry and short fiction, including Writing Letters for the Blind, a collection of poems which won the 2003 Ohio State University Press/The Journal Book Award, and Sorry I Worried You, which won the 2003 Flannery O'Connor Award for Short Fiction.

--Victoria Kidd, News Services Manager

So, what's it like to study under an award-winning author? Junior creative writing major Zachary Macholz fills us in: Studying under Dr. Fincke is unique for a number of reasons. What continues to amaze me the most is that he has had and continues to have success writing and publishing in all three genres -- fiction, creative non-fiction, and poetry. As far as I can tell, this kind of success is rare. His publishing success is certainly an inspiration to me. Dr. Fincke isn't shy about sharing the details of the publishing process with his students, and talks knowledgeably about submitting work to contest judges and publishers, how to make your work attractive to editors, the ins and outs of having a literary agent, etc. Dr. Fincke is a man of few words in the classroom. He likes to get a workshop started and then let students run with it, but he always has a few poignant questions to focus our discussion. It's rare for him to ever lecture to us, since that isn't the nature of writing workshop, but when he does speak, we all listen. What he has to say comes not just from someone we respect as a teacher and mentor in the classroom, but from someone who can speak firsthand about getting published.

The write stuff

Writing samples can replace SAT scores

The Write Option Examples of appropriate writing samples may include: an essay that includes analysis of a book, work of art, literary style or theoretical position; a research project from a natural or social sciences course; a position paper.

Few students enjoy standardized tests, and while most Susquehanna University students score well above the national average, some students are not good standardized test-takers or do not feel their test scores properly reflect their academic course work. Susquehanna's Write Option is an alternative for first-year applicants whereby, instead of submitting SAT or ACT scores, students submit two graded writing samples. The Write Option allows students' academic work in high school to speak for itself.

Director of Admissions Chris Markle explains: "While we recognize the value of standardized tests in the admissions process, our most successful students tend to be those who've challenged themselves by pursuing a rigorous high school curriculum. Academic performance in high school really seems to be the best predictor of academic success in college."

In the past, The Write Option was only available to students in the top 20 percent of their class, but this is no longer the case. Now, any student can take advantage of this admission option -- there is no minimum GPA or ranking requirement.

The Write Option began in the fall of 1994, when Susquehanna University joined a select group of colleges and universities making standardized tests an optional part of the admissions process for applicants meeting certain criteria. At the time, Susquehanna and Franklin & Marshall were the only two colleges in Pennsylvania to offer such a program. A decade before, the faculty at Bates College in Maine paved the way for this growing trend by voting to make SATs optional for admission.

In describing the program's success, Markle said, "Our research shows that students who've been admitted to Susquehanna through The Write Option program have nearly identical SU grade point averages and graduation rates as their peers who've submitted SAT or ACT scores."

There are, however, specific requirements for the writing samples that students submit. The two graded samples must come from college preparatory courses taken in the junior and/or senior year. The samples should demonstrate an ability to communicate complex ideas, theories and opinions, and to write effective, well-supported arguments, while also demonstrating the ability to apply knowledge gained in the classroom.

If students are not sure if a graded piece is an appropriate sample, an admissions officer will be happy to advise them. Students can contact the Office of Admissions by phone at 570-372-4260 or 1-800-326-9672, or e-mail at suadmiss@susqu.edu.

Latino symposium observes 10th anniversary

Salute to customs and community at SU

Jose Rosales leads a dance workshop for visiting high school students.

Hundreds of Central Pennsylvanians came together for a “celebración” through dance and drama, song and service at Susquehanna University’s 10th annual Latino Symposium. High school students and community leaders joined Susquehanna students, faculty and staff to explore and honor Latino culture at the October 2004 event.

Highlights of the symposium, titled “Dreaming the Impossible Dream,” included a performance by the Flamenco Vivo/Carlota Santana Spanish Dance Company, preceded by a dance class for the university community led by the troupe’s choreographer, a performance by the group “AZUCAR,” student presentations on Latino literature and Central American and local service-learning programs, and a luncheon honoring community leaders for their contributions to the regional Latino community.

Susquehanna students enrolled in a Spanish class delivered a dramatic reading of the first chapter of Miguel de Cervantes’ Don Quijote for both high school students from the area and other Susquehanna students. The performers were assigned the book for class and came up with the idea to do a public reading to introduce the symposium.

“It was a worthwhile opportunity to share with the high school students and to give something back to the Latino community. It was something that we had a lot of fun with. Making Quijote accessible as a hero for our audience was an enjoyable experience for everyone,” said Sean Capkin, a junior at SU. His performance as the character of Quijote was his first experience working with the Latino Symposium.

Senior Jose Rosales has been involved with the Latino Symposium for four years and has seen a growing interest among students and the Selinsgrove community. “This year was awesome because of the large number of people that came to take part in the various learning experiences provided, such as the Don Quijote dramatized reading, the live music and the other events,” Rosales said.

--SU Senior Jessica Paulshock

Susquehanna goes to the dogs

First-year student Kate Haldeman says hello to Hannah during “Dog Days.”

A “pet project” of Susquehanna Director of Counseling and Associate Dean of Students Kathy Bradley debuted on Susquehanna’s campus in September 2004. Two evenings a week for the first two months of the fall semester, “Dog Days” had several dog-owning members of the Susquehanna faculty and staff meet in front of the university’s campus center to greet Susquehanna students.

The gatherings were designed to combat a serious problem — homesickness — which some first-year students experience in their first weeks at college. “What we’re really aiming to do is get students acquainted with us and with each other in a welcoming situation. You have to combat homesickness with a sense of familiarity and belonging, which happens when a student meets other students, faculty and staff,” Bradley said.

The program was well received by students, and planning is already underway to reassemble the pooches next fall with the expectation that Susquehanna’s incoming Class of 2009 will find “Dog Days” a real treat.

--Victoria Kidd

Choir Tour 2005: SU's group may be singing near you!

This year, the 54-member Susquehanna University Choir will be performing in several New England and Mid-Atlantic states during its annual spring tour. You’re cordially invited to see and hear the university’s premier traveling performance group.

This year's tour dates and locations include:

March 4	Hazleton, Pa.
March 5	Meriden, Conn.
March 6	Attleboro, Mass.
March 7	Webster, N.Y. (Rochester area)
March 8	Bloomsburg, Pa.
April 1	West Chester, Pa.
April 2	North Wales, Pa.
April 3	Palmerton, Pa.
April 3	Bangor, Pa.
April 15	Tannersville, Pa.
April 16	Cherry Hill, N.J.
April 17	Wilkes-Barre, Pa.
April 14	Annual Campus Concert, at Susquehanna University in Selinsgrove, Pa.

For more information regarding performance locations and times, visit the choir’s Web site or contact Choir Manager Jason Steigerwalt by phone at 570-372-4295 or by e-mail at stretans@susqu.edu.

--SU Sophomore Erin Markel

Field of dreams

New athletic facilities at Susquehanna debuted this fall. The Sassafras Fields serve six varsity sports with a softball field, a multipurpose practice field, and a multipurpose field with an artificial playing surface and lights. Overall, the university has 23 intercollegiate NCAA Division III teams.

Comedic legend comes to SU

Four-time Grammy winner George Carlin performed in front of a packed house on the campus of Susquehanna University in December 2004. His visit was sponsored by Susquehanna University’s Student Activities Committee. Carlin’s career includes 13 HBO specials, two New York Times bestsellers, and induction into the Comedy Hall of Fame. Comedy Central ranked the veteran comedian #2 on the “100 Greatest Stand-ups of All Time” list.

--Victoria Kidd

Business students here "You're hired!"

Senior accounting major Michael Ozlanski

While many college seniors are sending out résumés and preparing grad school applications, Susquehanna University accounting major Michael Ozlanski is doing neither. Instead, he will be focusing on campus activities and “enjoying Susquehanna.” Ozlanski already has a job waiting for him after he graduates in May.

His success is remarkable but not unique. Several other accounting seniors in the Sigmund Weis School of Business (SWSB) at Susquehanna University have also landed job offers before the end of the fall semester. Senior finance major Jason Eck is another who has already accepted an offer of employment upon graduation. He’ll be working for Goldman Sachs.

For both seniors, the job offers arose from summer employment they had secured through the SWSB Business Internship Program. The program was set up to enable students to narrow their focus on career plans and increase their awareness about employment opportunities available upon graduation. It gives students an opportunity to apply their knowledge in a business setting and gain some on-the-job insight and experience. The program is open to all SWSB students, but is geared primarily for students seeking internships between their junior and senior years. Last summer, 135 business students participated in the program.

In the case of Ozlanski, an internship led to an offer from PricewaterhouseCoopers. He’ll be working with the firm’s assurance practice in their Philadelphia location. While the Internship Program afforded him the work opportunity, Ozlanski also recognizes that he stood out among other interns because of “the personal interaction with professors, the continual emphasis on academic excellence, and the numerous opportunities for active and experiential learning” he experienced at Susquehanna.

--SU Junior Kirsten Sundberg

Theatrical giant visits campus

Award-winning playwright Tony Kushner meets SU seniors Erica Lopatofsky and Kelly Jean Graham as well as President L. Jay Lemons before speaking on campus in October 2004. Kushner has won a Pulitzer Prize, two Tony Awards, and many other honors for his epic play Angels in America. Its TV adaptation won 11 Emmys in the fall of 2004. --Erin Markel '07

SU professor studies a mystery of the deep

Associate Professor of Chemistry Chris Janzen prepares to to board Alvin.

The ocean floor might not seem like an obvious place for a chemistry experiment, but for Associate Professor of Chemistry Chris Janzen, the location of the Pacific Ocean hydrothermal vents was a valuable learning site.

Clustered around these vents is an entire ecosystem located more than a mile beneath the ocean’s surface, further than light can penetrate. This hidden world gets its energy not from sunlight, but from chemistry.

Last April, Janzen traveled to the East Pacific Rise on a research cruise and had the chance to see this unique ecosystem with his own eyes through the windows of deep-sea diving Alvin, the same submersible that explored the Titanic wreck.

Janzen and 25 other scientists studied this ecosystem during the trip, using Alvin to get a rare chance to conduct deep-sea research. Janzen’s work during this sabbatical focused on how the chemistry of hydrothermal vents and the organisms that live around them make an impact on each other.

To do this, Janzen traveled to the bottom of the ocean in Alvin twice. Janzen, another scientist and a pilot shared the six-foot-diameter submersible from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. “It’s very cramped,” Janzen said. “There are no restroom facilities, so we were working caffeine-free as well.”

It took an hour and a half to reach the bottom, where Alvin conducted scans of temperature and iron, manganese, oxygen and sulfide levels. Sulfide levels are crucial to understanding this ecosystem, because sulfide is the energy source of the bacteria on which the vent-dwelling organisms feed.

Janzen originally planned to spend his sabbatical learning from a colleague who pioneered electrochemical techniques to measure sulfide.

One day, Janzen received an e-mail from his colleague, beginning, “So Chris, you claustrophobic?” The professor had gotten him a space on the cruise and the opportunity to go diving with Alvin.

Consequently, Janzen learned the techniques in the Pacific Ocean instead. Such techniques are valuable to the university’s ongoing research at Centralia, the site of a still-burning underground mine fire in central Pennsylvania. The town has been the subject of interdisciplinary research by both students and faculty members.

Janzen is one of the authors of several papers that will be published as a result of thecruise. He and his colleagues will also present their findings at the National Meeting of the American Chemical Society in March 2005 in San Diego, Calif.

--Erin Markel ‘07

Women's rugby team scores championship

The Susquehanna University women’s rugby club defeated Gettysburg College 46-0 to win the East Penn Rugby Union’s Division III Collegiate Playoffs in November 2004. The team will compete for the East Coast Championships for the second consecutive year in April.

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