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On Campus
University Theme Flows
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For the 2007-2008 academic year, the Susquehanna community will immerse itself in the university theme "Water." Proposed by the Rev. Mark Wm. Radecke, university chaplain, the theme lends itself to critical thinking across a variety of disciplines and fields of study.
From the Gilgamesh epic and the Bible's story of Noah to Odysseus struggling with Poseidon in Homer's "Odyssey," "Moby Dick" and "The Old Man and the Sea," water has been both character and setting in ancient and modern writings.
Water is also a near-universal symbol in the rites, myths and stories of the world's religions. From Mikvah baths in Judaism, the ablutions of Islam and Christianity's sacrament of baptism to the seven sacred rivers of Hinduism and the four elements in Native American creation stories, water plays an important role in the religious practices of people around the globe.
Issues of pollution and potable water also strike humanity on a global level. Only one percent of the world's water is fresh and safe to drink. One in six people worldwide lack access to safe drinking water, and 80 countries - home to 40 percent of the world's population - are encountering serious water shortages.
In addition to the global challenge of safe and clean water, the theme opens itself to other social and environmental considerations, including the issue of Riparian rights and water-related conflicts, natural disasters such as floods, hurricanes and mudslides, the health and preservation of our waterways, and the effects of global warming on oceans, tides, currents and climates.
Now in its fourth year, Susquehanna's university theme presents opportunity for the Susquehanna community to develop a community dialogue around a central idea or question. With both curricular and co-curricular applications, a university theme supports Susquehanna's goals of developing a common experience among students, fostering a culture of intellectual engagement, creating a diverse community, and supporting communication, collaboration and creativity across campus.
To explore the various theme-based events and activities scheduled for this academic year at Susquehanna University, visit the University Theme Web page.
Financial Aid Lender Code of Conduct
Earlier this year, reports of improprieties in financial aid practices at a number of colleges and universities grabbed national headlines. Susquehanna University bases its selection of preferred loan lenders solely on the best interests of its students and their parents. The Office of Financial Aid has issued a Lender Code of Conduct detailing the university's practices. It is available online. The document may also be requested by calling the financial aid office at 570-372-4450.
New Exchange Agreement in Asia
Susquehanna University has entered an exchange agreement with the University of Macau, located on the southeast coast of China 40 miles west of Hong Kong. The 6,200-student university, which offers instruction in English, is located in a former Portuguese colony transferred to the People's Republic of China in 1999. Macau is maintained as a special administrative unit and functions as an independent, market-based economy.
The agreement is already being exercised this fall, with four students
from the school enrolled at Susquehanna. The study-abroad opportunity
is open to Susquehanna students in any major, and after a fall 2007
sabbatical, Professor of Management James Brock, former dean of the
Sigmund Weis School of Business, will accompany several Susquehanna
students to Macau for the spring 2008 semester.
New Residence Halls
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West Village A and B
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Two new residence halls have opened with the start of the new academic year. Pictured nearing completion in early August, West Village A and B offer suite-style amenities to 96 students. The two buildings, situated to the east of West (formerly New Mens) Hall, will support anticipated enrollment growth from the current 1,940 students to 2,200 by 2010.
