Anne's Arts & Activities Blog

As a tribute to the renowned opera star and Bradford native, Marilyn Horne, the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford changed the name of its six-story downtown property from the Seneca Building to Marilyn Horne Hall. The University of Pittsburgh Board of Trustees approved the name change Friday in Pittsburgh. In May Pitt-Bradford will open a 3,400 square-foot museum in the hall dedicated to Horne, who donated her archives to the University of Pittsburgh. “Ms. Horne is beside herself with joy and excitement that a building in the place of her birth is being named in her honor,” said Dr. Livingston Alexander, president of Pitt-Bradford. “She is truly humbled by the honor and looks forward to joining us on May 6 for the dedication and opening of the Marilyn Horne Museum and Exhibit Center in Marilyn Horne Hall.” Horne, who is Bradford’s most famous native daughter, was born in 1934. Her father, Bentz Horne, encouraged her to pursue her musical dreams. She moved with her family to L...

To bring facts and clarity to the public debate about immunization in light of the recent measles outbreak, the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health today unveiled a computer simulation that explores the impact of measles outbreaks in cities across the U.S. Users can see how an outbreak would play out if their city had high or low vaccination rates. The simulation – which is easily accessible from mobile devices – is an adaptation of the popular Framework for Reconstructing Epidemiological Dynamics (FRED), a free resource created at Pitt. By visiting fred.publichealth.pitt.edu/measles measles, people can select cities they’re interested in and watch short animations that play out an outbreak with either high or low vaccination coverage. “FRED users can see on a map of any major metropolitan area in the U.S. how one case of measles can turn into a major outbreak or be quickly quashed, all depending on the vaccination rates of a community,” said Donald S. Burke,...

The University of Pittsburgh is creating the Live Like Lou Center for ALS Research to study a cure for ALS, the degenerative nerve disease named for baseball player Lou Gehrig. The center is named after a charity founded by Neil and Suzanne Alexander, a Pittsburgh couple who started the fund at The Pittsburgh Foundation after Neil Alexander was diagnosed with ALS three years ago. Read more at UPMC.com . The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

University of Pittsburgh Chancellor Mark A. Nordenberg, whose significant support of the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford has resulted in unprecedented growth, received the Presidential Medal of Distinction at a tribute reception and dinner on Thursday evening. The presidential medal is Pitt-Bradford’s highest honor. “We’re delighted to have the opportunity to celebrate the accomplishments of a remarkable leader, whose impact has extended well beyond the Pittsburgh campus,” said Dr. Livingston Alexander, president of Pitt-Bradford. “Throughout his tenure, Chancellor Nordenberg has been an ardent supporter and advocate for our campus. He inspires us to do our very best to advance the university.” Last summer Nordenberg announced he would step down after serving 19 years as chancellor in August of this year. During his tenure, enrollment has increased and average SAT scores have risen at the campus in Pittsburgh and in Bradford. ...

The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford will name its new residence hall in honor of Lester Rice, chairman emeritus and former CEO of KOA Speer Electronics Inc. and the Mukaiyama-Rice Foundation, and his wife, Barbara. The University of Pittsburgh Board of Trustees approved the naming of Lester and Barbara Rice House at its meeting today in Pittsburgh. Rice House will become home to 109 students this fall. Pitt-Bradford broke ground for the $9.3 million residence hall, which is located near Hanley Library, in October. “Les Rice, and his wife, Barbara, are tireless advocates for our campus and, by example, helped to establish a legacy of giving not only to our campus, but to this community in general,” said Dr. Livingston Alexander, president of Pitt-Bradford. “We’re honored and thrilled to have their names grace our newest residence hall.” The Rices, along with KOA Speer Electronics and the Mukaiyama-Rice Foundation, have provided s...

The University of Pittsburgh’s board of trustees has chosen a high-ranking administrator with the federal government to be its 18th chancellor. 50-year-old Patrick Gallagher will succeed Mark Nordenberg, who announced in June that he will step down from the job he’s held for nearly 20 years. Gallagher is currently the acting deputy secretary at the Department of Commerce. President Obama appointed him to the post in June. Gallagher received his PhD in physics from Pitt in 1991. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Between them, Dr. George and Susan Evans of Bradford have attended five different universities, yet they’ve steadfastly supported the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford even though neither of them were ever students there. The couple’s generosity to Pitt-Bradford has been so significant that they were inducted last month into the University of Pittsburgh’s prestigious Brackenridge Circle, which honors donors whose planned gifts and pledges total at least $1 million. Since the circle’s inception in 2010, the Evanses are two of only three Pitt-Bradford affiliated donors who have been inducted. The third was Rich Johnson. George Evans, who retired as a journalism professor from St. Bonaventure University after 29 years, earned his doctorate in mass communication and political science from Syracuse University, his master’s degree in mass communication from The Ohio University, and his bachelor’s degree in journalism from Rider University. Susan E...

The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford plans to break ground next week on a $9.3 million, 109-bed residence hall. Earlier this month, the University of Pittsburgh Board of Trustees’ property and facilities committee approved the project, which is expected to be approved by the full board on Friday. The 40,120-square-foot, three-story residence hall will be located on the side of the lawn in front of Hanley Library nearest to Blaisdell Hall. “This will be the fourth residence hall we’ve built in 8 years,” noted University President Dr. Livingston Alexander. “This rate of campus construction reflects not only the growth in our student population, but also its changing profile. Since more of our students are coming to us from distant locations, more of our students now require on-campus accommodations. We’re very grateful to the Board of Trustees for their recognition of our growing need for new student housing.” The additional rooms should b...

The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford is celebrating Founders' Day on Tuesday. September 3 marks the 50th anniversary -- to the day -- that the very first classes were held at Pitt-Bradford. In case you missed this past Tuesday's LiveLine, in which Dr. K. James Evans and Pat Frantz Cercone talked about Founders' Day, you can listen here (click on the "local programs" tab). During the show you can hear Evans and Cercone describe the new bronze panther statue created by Bradford native Dave Hodges that will be unveiled Tuesday. Evans, who has been with Pitt-Bradford for 37 years, said then-president of the university Dr. Richard McDowell told him during his job interview, "Just wait to see what we can become, and you can grow with the college." "Every time I go onto campus," Evans said Tuesday, "I’m just so pleasantly surprised at how the college has grown and developed in terms of student body, academic programs and the magnifice...

University of Pittsburgh chancellor Mark A. Nordenberg has announced his retirement. During a university trustees meeting this morning Nordenberg said he plans to retire effective in August of 2014. Nordenberg joined the faculty of the university’s School of Law in 1977. He served as Dean of the School of Law from 1985 to 1993, and was elevated to the special faculty rank of Distinguished Service Professor of Law in 1994. He served as Interim Provost in 1993-94 and chaired the search committee for the Senior Vice Chancellor for the Health Sciences in 1994-95. He was elected Interim Chancellor by the Board of Trustees in June of 1995 and, following a national search, was elected Chancellor in June of 1996. Nordenberg’s successor will be chosen by way of a nationwide search. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Calling the University of Pittsburgh a “world class research university” with an “unwavering commitment to excellence” and referring to its administrators as an "extraordinarily talented and beloved leadership team,” a newly released Middle States Commission on Higher Education accreditation report praised the University’s institution-wide system of assessment and reaffirmed its accreditation for a 10-year period, without qualification, the maximum permissible time for an extension of accreditation. The accreditation also covers the university’s four regional campuses, including Bradford, which received high marks from the Middle States evaluators. “Accreditation review team members met with administrators, faculty, staff and students during their on-site visit to Pitt-Bradford last spring,” said Dr. Livingston Alexander, president of Pitt-Bradford. “Team members made special note of our planning and evaluation processes. In my view, this is a clear reflec...

The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford will host the University of Pittsburgh Varsity Marching Band for its annual pre-season camp Aug. 17 to Aug. 21. This will be the 24th year that the band will hold practice sessions in Bradford and the 17th year that the band will be led by Jack Anderson, band director. Practices during the band’s stay will be open to the public. Daytime practices are held on the soccer field along Campus Drive, on the field in front of Hanley Library or in Swarts Hall or Blaisdell Hall. Each evening at dusk, the band relocates to the Bromeley Family Theater in Blaisdell Hall. The public is welcome to attend these evening rehearsals. This is the 101st season of performing for the Pitt band, which has about 260 members. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A 64-year-old man from Ireland has been charged with emailing dozens of bomb threats to the University of Pittsburgh. Adam Stuart Busby of Dublin has been charged with sending more than 40 emails targeting the University between March 30 and April 21. The threats forced more than 100 evacuations at Pitt’s Oakland campus, and one at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford. Busby faces 17 counts of wire fraud, 16 counts of maliciously conveying false information in the form of bomb threats and two counts of international extortion. U.S. Attorney David J. Hickton announced the charges alongside FBI Special Agent in Charge Gary Douglas Perdue and University of Pittsburgh Chancellor Mark Nordenberg during a news conference at FBI headquarters this afternoon. Busby is also charged with threatening Hickton and claiming bombs had been placed at courthouses in Pittsburgh, Erie and Johnstown on June 20 and 21. 24-year-old Alexander Waterland of Loveland, Ohio, and 26-year-old Brett Hudson of Hi...

The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford will host two scholars from the Confucius Institute during the 2012-13 academic year who will teach Chinese language and culture to Pitt-Bradford students. The scholars, Professors Yidan Huang and Liulin Zhang, will also present seminars and noncredit courses to members of the community. “We’re thrilled to have these talented and resourceful scholars join our faculty for the next year,” said Dr. Livingston Alexander, president of the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford. “I’m confident that our students and our friends in the community will take advantage of this unique resource. More and more businesses in our region are expanding operations into China, and I suspect that they too may find it beneficial to become familiar with the language and customs of China.” Both women are graduate students in the College of Chinese Language and Literature at Wuhan University in Wuhan, China. Wuhan is a partner with the University of...

An Ohio man has been charged with making Internet threats against the University of Pittsburgh, but not specifically with the bomb threats that had the campus on edge for months. 24-year-old Alexander Waterland of Loveland, Ohio, is accused of posting a YouTube video on April 26 that claimed the group known as "Anonymous" had hacked into the university’s computer system and stolen records related to students, faculty and alumni. Part of the video contained a demand that University ChancellorMarck Nordenberg issue a public apology for not safeguarding students' welfare or the stolen information would be publicly released. US Attorney David Hickton says the charges pertain to specific cyberthreats in April and May, and were part of the series of threats received since February. Hickton added that the investigation is comprehensive and ongoing. Waterland told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review newspaper today he has "no idea" why the FBI charged him. The charges carry...

Money restored for Pitt, Penn State, Temple, Lincoln Better than anticipated revenues over the past few months enabled the Senate to pass a General Fund budget bill for Fiscal Year 2012-13 on Wednesday that makes significant restorations without raising taxes, according to Senator Jake Corman, Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee. “Senate Bill 1466 will provide substantial restorations to certain areas of the Governor’s proposed budget that reflect the fiscal realities that we have today. Increased revenues over the past few months allowed us to alter what the Governor had initially proposed back in February, including significant restorations to higher education, basic education, early childhood funding, and social service funding,” Senator Corman said. General Fund spending for Fiscal Year 2012-13, as proposed in SB 1466, is $27.656 billion, $517.2 million, or 1.9 percent more than the Governor’s budget request in February. “This budget, which is sustainable ...

PITTSBURGH — As part of the University of Pittsburgh’s ongoing efforts to reduce costs in the face of sharply declining state support, a significant administrative realignment is taking place at the University’s Titusville and Bradford regional campuses, Pitt Provost and Senior Vice Chancellor Patricia E. Beeson announced today. Effective immediately, both campuses will report to Livingston Alexander, who, as president of the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford since 2003, has been credited with strengthening that campus’ position as an institution that provides access to students and fosters success among first-generation college students. Alexander will remain at the helm of Pitt-Bradford and also will become president of the University of Pittsburgh at Titusville. In addition, other major administrative functions for the two campuses will be centralized at the Bradford campus. David Fitz, currently the vice president for academic affairs at Pitt-Titusville, has been named int...

The bomb threat received for Pitt-Bradford’s Hanley Library was one of six received by the university Friday morning. The main campus received the other five, bringing the total since February 13 to 85, according to The Pitt News, the daily student newspaper. Pitt-Bradford is the first of the university’s branch campuses to receive a threat. The other branch campuses are in Greensburg, Johnstown and Titusville. Pitt-Bradford spokeswoman Pat Frantz Cercone says the Hanley Library threat was similar to those received for the main campus. Friday’s threat for the Hanley Library was sent by e-mail to Pitt’s main campus and was forwarded to Dan Songer, Pitt-Bradford’s Director of Campus Police and Safety. Kathleen Schreiber, the university’s regional manager of campus police, also called Songer. The library, which houses the office of university president Dr. Livingston Alexander, was evacuated at just before 11 a.m. After a thorough search of the outside and inside of the building, people w...

The bomb threat that closed the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford’s Hanley Library late this morning was similar to the threats received at the university’s main campus. Pat Frantz Cercone, Pitt-Bradford’s Director of Communications and Marketing, tells WESB and The Hero the threat came in an email, which was immediately forwarded to Campus Security Director Dan Songer, who was also contacted by phone. Songer ordered an evacuation of the building at just before 11 a.m. At the same time, voice, e-mail and text messages were sent to people in the campus community who subscribe to the emergency notification system, she said. Police sealed off the building and established a perimeter, and Bob Rinfrette of the Cattaraugus County Sheriff’s Department brought in his bomb dogs. The inside and outside of the building were thoroughly searched. No bomb was found, and people were told they could go back into the building at around 12:30 p.m., Cercone said. The Bradford Township fire and police ...

UPDATE: All clear at Pitt-Bradford as of around 12:30 p.m. The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford received a bomb threat at just before 11 o'clock this morning for the Hanley Library. Everyone was told to evacuate the building. The office of University President Dr. Livingston Alexander is in that building, but he was at the Bromeley Family Theater for the honor’s convocation. We’ll have more information as it becomes available. Pitt's main campus has received about 70 bomb threats since mid-February. Pictured, Bradford Township volunteer firefighters get ready to leave campus as Pitt-Bradford police officer Mark Burns removes crime scene tape from around the Hanley Library, following a bomb threat. WESB photo The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947