I am proud to announce that Dr. Deryl B. Johnson, professor of Speech Communication and Theater has accepted the position of director of the KU GLBTQ Resource Center.  The university community welcomes and celebrates this achievement.  Dr. Johnson brings passion, dedication, experience, and leadership to this relatively new campus initiative, its programs, and services.

         Barbara M. Taliaferro, associate vice president for Diversity & Inclusion

The Daily Brief will not be published Dec. 25 -  Jan. 3.  All announcements submitted to the Daily Brief over the holiday break will be posted in the Jan. 4 edition.

        Julie Gartside, editor, Daily Brief

The campus fire alarm network will be off-line beginning this morning, Dec. 21 at approximately 8:30 a.m. until approximately 5 p.m. The fire alarm system in each building will continue to provide protection, it will not be capable of reporting an alarm condition to Public Safety. 

Important: If the fire alarm should activate in any campus building, a call must be placed to Public Safety immediately. Call Public Safety at ext. 3-4001 to report any fire alarm activation in campus buildings on today between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. For more information and questions, please contact the Office of Environmental, Health and Safety by phone ext. 3-4050, e-mail firesafety@kutztown.edu or visit our Web site. 

        Stephen Helms, director, Environmental, Health & Safety

Upgrades to campus fire alarm systems will occur throughout the semester break period (Dec. 21, through Jan. 15).  These upgrades will include replacement of the PC-based graphical command center at Public Safety and programming of voice-communication fire alarm systems to support the university’s new Mass Notification capabilities. SimplexGrinnell fire alarm technicians will also conduct testing of the voice communication/mass notification network, which will include sounding the new emergency notification tone and selected messages.  A pre-announcement, alerting you to the impending test, will be provided before the test is conducted.  Additional information on the Mass Notification system will be provided in January 2010.

       
        Stephen Helms, director – Environmental, Health & Safety

Steam service to University Place and Bonner will be interrupted for an emergency repair of the steam and condensate pipes, today, starting at 9 a.m. and lasting for  4 - 8 hours.  The result will be a loss of hot water and room temperatures may decrease until steam is restored.   

        Tom Green, assistant director, Campus Energy Services

Please be advised that parking behind Old Main will be limited today, in order to repair the damaged macadam resulting from Wednesday’s water main break.

        Tom Green, assistant director, Campus Energy Services

The Financial Aid Services staff extends thanks to all who attended and were a part of the 2009 Non-Instructional Staff Holiday Luncheon.  A special thank you to our campus colleagues for their generous donations for the One by One Cat Rescue Shelter and the Almost Home Animal Sanctuary.  We gratefully acknowledge the support of all those who contributed to this annual KU tradition.

        Your hosts, the Financial Aid Services staff

On behalf of the Community Outreach Center and Friends Inc., thank you to all individuals, offices, departments, and organizations that contributed to the Holiday Food Box drive for Friends Inc.   We met our goal of 75 boxes! In addition we were able to give about $300 in gift certificates that will go to purchase turkeys. These boxes combined with other boxes from local high schools, junior high schools, and elementary schools will provide about 200 families a holiday with a little extra cheer thanks to your generosity and holiday spirit. Students from the Community Outreach Center and staff from the Student Services and Campus Life division volunteered to distribute these boxes at the Food Pantry on Thursday. We are grateful for their help as this is the busiest month of the year for the  Friends Inc Food pantry.

 Thanks again to everyone for showing the KU Holiday Spirit!  

        Jerry W. Schearer, assistant dean, New Student Programs and Services

The Kutztown University Academic Achievement Awards are presented to a select group of senior students who have achieved exceptional individual achievements in specified areas. The awards were established through a generous gift provided by Dr. Carlson R. Chambliss, who served as a member of the KU faculty from 1970 until 2003.  

Faculty and staff at KU are strongly encouraged to nominate students worthy of consideration for this prestigious award. The areas of individual achievement are: 

        a) Successfully completed research projects.

        b) Original artwork of high quality.

        c) Artistic performances (music, chorus, drama, etc) of high quality.

        d) Original writing in literature or meritorious writing in other fields.

        e) Noteworthy achievements in athletics.

        f) Outstanding service to the Kutztown University community.

The application may be downloaded at http://www.kutztown.edu/divisions/studentservices/do/awards.aspx by clicking on "Academic Achievement Nominations" or by e-mailing a request to nolan@kutztown.edu.

Completed nomination forms must be submitted to the Office of the Associate Vice President for Student Services and Campus Life, 262 McFarland Student Union Building by Feb. 12. Any questions about the process may be directed to nolan@kutztown.edu or watrous@kutztown.edu.

        Julianne Nolan, director, Community Relations and Development Services
 

Home Athletics Events – Week of Dec. 21-27

Tuesday, Dec. 22, Men’s Basketball vs. UDC, 7 p.m. at Keystone Arena

Holiday Athletics Schedule Schedule

        Rob Knox, director, Sports Information

Holiday Athletics Schedule Schedule

Tuesday, Dec. 29

Women’s Basketball at Philadelphia University, 2 p.m.

Men’s Basketball vs. Lincoln, Pa., Keystone Arena, 7 p.m.

Saturday, Jan.2

Women’s Basketball vs. Gannon University, Keystone Arena 1 p.m.

Men’s Basketball vs. Gannon University, Keystone Arena, 3 p.m.

Sunday, Jan. 3

Women’s Basketball vs. Clarion University, Keystone Arena 1 p.m.

Men’s Basketball vs. Clarion University, Keystone Arena, 3 p.m.

        Rob Knox, director, Sports Information
 

We will be open in the McFarland Student Union Taylor & Byrnes on Monday, Dec. 21, Tuesday, Dec. 22 and Wednesday, Dec. 23 from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and then on Christmas Eve, Thursday, Dec. 24 from 8 a.m. to noon. We will be serving the Taylor & Byrnes baked goods for breakfast and then featuring grilled or cold sandwiches on flatbread or sourdough, salads, and soup. 

The Soup Menu will be:  Monday- Corn Chowder, Tuesday - Chicken Veggie, Wednesday - Beef Vegetable.
Holiday Special - Get cup of soup and 1/2 sandwich for only $4.

So drop on by and let Andy and Scott create something just for you!

        Scott Moyer, general manager, Cub Cafe