Jesuits make donation to Jesuit Institutions

The Jesuit Community of Scranton has made a multi million dollar gift to the University of Scranton and Scranton Prep. The University and the Prep school will split the gift.

UofS Student Atheletes Shine in the Classroom

Four University of Scranton student-athletes were named to the inaugural Landmark Conference fall sports all-Academic teams.

Former associate provost named president

Former associate provost of academic affairs at the University of Scranton, Dr. Spectar was inaugurated as the fifth president at the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown on Friday, September 28.

The University of Scranton is now Dunder Mifflin Headquarters

The only thing in the news right now related to the University of Scranton is THE OFFICE CONVENTION. Since there is nothing else out there I've decided to take the "if you can't beat em, join em" approach. (Which is fine by me because I love the office!)

I think this should be the marketing approach for UofS admissions this year...

TAKE A CHANCE ON ME!

Take it away Andy...

Scranton football?!?!?!

In case you didn't know a current NBA coach is the son of a former University of Scranton football coach.

Don't believe me?

Check it out for yourself: The News Tribune

The Office Convention Writers Block

The Gracious Host

UofS Hosted some CRAZY fans and some even crazier cast members of NBC's THE OFFICE.


Here are some links to the coverage of it:
International Herald Tribune
Washington Post
Kentucky.com
The Republican & Herald
The Morning Call.com
The Modesto Bee - This one is great! It tells those who don't know about Scranton was it real and what isn't!

Great job by the UofS to get the tshirts on the show, the shawl on one of the cubical walls on the show and to HOST THIS CONVENTION!!!

Blue-collar blues on U of S-city project

Bob Bolus of Scranton rips Scranton officials for letting the University of Scranton help to develop the city of Scranton. It seems that he is a little fearful that the University of Scranton will take over the city... I'm not sure where he is pulling this from, but it's an entertaining read!

Men's Soccer post a 0-0 tie

Men's Soccer tied DeSales 0-0. We had more shots, 14-11, but close only counts with horseshoes and hand grenades.

Punctuation Day!

In today's Times-Tribune Dr. Casey shares her thoughts on Punctuation Day. God know she could probably take her red pen to this blog and light it up like a Christmas tree. Dr. Casey, if you're reading this please be gentle!

Better Sidewalks, Lighting Coming to Mulberry Street

Here is a bit of of a Newswatch 16 article. Apparently the University of Scranton is fixing up things on and off campus. It's great to see that we are giving back to the community in different ways. Many of us have spent time in the community through service learning and Collegiate Volunteers but that can go unnoticed by many in the community, unfortunately. It's nice to have some positive visibility.

Better Sidewalks, Lighting Coming to Mulberry Street

A new look is also on the way for that well-traveled section of the city of Scranton.

City leaders have been pushing to improve the appearance of a stretch of Mulberry Street where the University of Scranton's campus meets the streets downtown.

It's called the Mulberry Street Improvement Project and the university has committed a lot of money to change the way the neighborhood looks.

There will be new sidewalks, curbs and more period lighting coming in the spring to go with construction of a new $35 million student center at the university this winter.

The university is paying more than a million dollars for a streetscape project from Jefferson Avenue to North Webster Avenue.

City leaders said even though the university is off the tax rolls, this will provide a non-monetary donation to the life of the city and a gateway to downtown Scranton.

"That was part of my plea to the non-profits, maybe if they couldn't give monetarily, an actual donation, that they would try to help the community in some way," said Scranton council president Judy Gatelli.

The project covers six city blocks along Mulberry Street. Some of the sidewalks are still in good condition, but some of the sidewalks are falling apart. That's why the city and the university are taking action.

Al Roker Coming to the University of Scranton!!!!

EVENT
Al Roker Live
(The Office)

Friday, October 26 7 a.m.




Al Roker will broadcast live with The Today Show from the University of Scranton to kick off The Office Convention.

Event Phone
570-941-7400

Event Location
University of Scranton
800 Linden St.
Scranton
570-941-7400

University seeking loan for new hall

Here's an article from the Times Tribune. The University is looking for a little help financing the proposed residence hall and a few other projects...

BY STACY BROWN
STAFF WRITER
09/11/2007

The University of Scranton is seeking a $30 million loan to help finance a new student residence hall and to make other improvements at the school.

Although the tax-free bond would be issued through the Scranton-Lackawanna Health and Welfare Authority, City Council must still approve the transaction. It's among 19 pieces of new legislation, with 268 pages of supporting documents, council is scheduled to consider tonight in its first meeting since a six-week hiatus that began in July.

"The city simply must act as a pass-through on this loan," Mayor Chris Doherty said. "We have no obligation whatsoever on this. We cannot be held responsible, there is no liability on our part, this is just procedural."

Under the 1986 Internal Revenue Code, the city's role is simply to declare that the project is desirable for the health, safety and welfare of the residents of Scranton. The school has expressed a desire to house all of its students on campus and potentially eliminate off-campus housing as an option, Mr. Doherty said.

The university is building a seven-story, 394-bed dormitory it hopes to be completed next year. Last week, university officials gathered for a blessing of the property and to announce that the dorm will be named after university benefactors Christopher "Kip" and Margaret Condron, Ph.D.

Condron Hall, which would be the largest residence hall on campus at 108,000 square feet, will be a sophomore hall and consist of two-bedroom, one-bathroom units that will each house four students. Occupancy is expected by August.

Council meets at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall.

Former professor passes

Former Professor of Military Science at the University of Scranton, George Maxim Lindsay, 88, died at his San Francisco home on September 3rd. He was a highly decorated infantry officer, Ranger, Airborne, Special Forces, who served in the Pacific theater in WWII, and in Army Intelligence in the Korean conflict, receiving the Purple Heart, two Bronze Stars, and numerous other combat medals. He retired from the Army in 1965, after 26 years of service, with the rank of Lt. Colonel.

New dorm one year away!

The University of Scranton will be putting up a new $26 million,386-bed, dorm on the corner of Linden and Webster in the next year!

University of Scranton Student to Profit from Bonds' Ball

A senior history major at The University of Scranton sat one seat away from the guy who caught the Barry Bonds record breaking home run. Apparently being close isn't reserved for just horse shoes and hand grenades. This guy gets to keep 49% of the earnings!!!

Man Who Stole From University of Scranton Sentenced

I hadn't heard anything about this prior to reading this but apparently a former University of Scranton employee who stole thousands with a school credit card was caught and it looks like the University does not want him to serve jail time.

Scranton has lowest poverty rate of Pa.’s seven largest cities

Very interesting: Apparently Scranton has the lowest poverty rate of the state’s seven largest cities for 2006, but has a higher rate than the state and national average, according to U.S. Census figures released Tuesday.

Happy New (Academic) Year

Fr Pilarz has an article online!

Here is the opening:

This week, along with teachers across the country, I will perform one of August’s most cherished rituals for educators. I will prepare a syllabus for the course I’m offering over the next 15 weeks. Such preparation, while tempered with some trepidation, is an act of love, hope and faith, to invert a biblical triad.

Check out the rest at Inside Higher Ed

FRESHMAN MOVE IN

Most of us can probably remember the day we moved into Scranton. I woke up from a nap in the car right before we got there and I was a little disoriented and then my car was attacked by an army of "purple people." They were so helpful that they took our "car blanket" and some other things that belonged in my car right up to the room.
I'm sure you all have your own stories. Here is an article about it all from the Times-Tribune.

Happy Move in Day!

Facts about the freshman class:

Drawn from 7,608 applicants, representing an increase of 12.5 percent over applications received last year

An average SAT score of 1,121

14 valedictorians and five salutatorians

63 children of University of Scranton alumni

Seven sets of twins

13 states represented Source: University of Scranton

Scranton among the ‘best’ colleges

The Times-Tribune
08/26/2007

The University of Scranton received three national accolades in seven days. Northeast Pennsylvania’s Jesuit university was the only college in the region to be among the elite colleges in the nation profiled in the Princeton Review’s “The 366 Best Colleges,” marking the sixth consecutive year that Scranton made Princeton Review’s exclusive list. The guide was published on Aug. 21.

The university was also listed as one of the top 10 master’s- level universities in the north by U.S. News & World Report. This is the 14th consecutive year the magazine has ranked Scranton among the top 10 schools in the north. The list, published on Monday in the annual edition of “America’s Best Colleges,” also listed Scranton among the “Great Schools at a Great Price,” which relates academic quality to the cost of attendance. Also, for the fourth consecutive year, Scranton has been named among the five schools in its category listed for having the “Highest Graduation Rates.”

The University of Scranton was also the only area college to be listed in Kaplan/Newsweek’s 2008 publication “How to Get Into College,” which listed Scranton among the nation’s “372 Most Interesting Schools” for the second consecutive year. The Kaplan/ Newsweek guide was published on Aug. 15.

Way to go Ryan!!!

Alright this isn't "real" University of Scranton news or actual NBC's "the office" news, but to many Ryan of Dunder Mifflin is a TRUE University of Scranton graduate. So Ryan, on behalf of the University of Scranton alumni community congratulation. Remember us when you make it big in paper!

Guobadia volunteers for Scranton lacrosse team

Laxpower.com reported that Efosa Guobadia, a former UMass lacrosse player, will join the University of Scranton men’s lacrosse team’s coaching staff as a volunteer assistant for the 2008 season.

Mmmmmm Chocolate

Glad to hear we are still doing good things on campus! A blog article entitled Chocolates - The Healthy Food mentions that The University of Scranton proved that chocolate has high antioxidant content when compared with the other foods. Nice work!

New Men's LAX Assistant Coach named

Kevin Dugan, head men's lacrosse coach at The University of Scranton, has announced the appointment of Tim Marshall as assistant coach. In addition, Dugan announced that Hunter Greene and Efosa Guobadia will join the staff as volunteer assistants for the upcoming 2008 season.

Scranton coach Joe Bochicchio dies

The University and the city of Scranton lost a coach and a mentor back in July. Here is the article posted on the NCAA website.

Honorary Degree for Haiti Catholic Relief Services Rep

The University of Scranton will present an honorary degree to William A. Canny, the country representative for Haiti for Catholic Relief Services, during its new- student assembly on Saturday. Part of the fall welcome activities planned for incoming undergraduate students and their families, the assembly will begin at 2:45 p.m. in the Byron Recreation Complex.

America's Best Colleges 2008

The University of Scranton ranked 10th in Master's Universities in the North.

Not too bad for 14 consecutive years.

New possibilities for Hill Section

It looks as thought their could be some big changes in the hill section. It would be nice if the city government could work with the University to make the area nicer.

Ratings show growth for WUSR

The listenership of WUSR, 99.5 FM, the radio voice of the University of Scranton, has increased 154 percent, and its cumulative listeners have almost doubled from 2003 to 2006, according to the Arbitron rating report. While WUSR is a college-owned and student-run radio station, a large percentage of its listeners are from the greater Scranton community.