Alumni, Students Come Together for Homecoming 2007
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INSIDE GSPH to host forum on aging......................… 2 Pitt pitches in for United Way.................… 5 PittNewspaper of the University of PittsburghChronicle Volume VIII • Number 28 • October 15, 2007 AAAC to Honor Five During Sankofa Weekend By Patricia Lomando White The University of Pittsburgh African American Alumni Council (AAAC) will host the annual Sankofa Weekend this Friday, Saturday, and Sunday to welcome home alumni and honor five distinguished graduates during the University’s Home- coming 2007. Honorees are Ysaye M. Barnwell (FAS ’75), Charlene Mickens Dukes (EDUC ’87G, ’92G), Henry “Model T” Ford (CBA ’55), Margaret D. Garner (CAS ’86), and Ludwick Hayden Jr. (CAS ’66, EDUC ’68G). The AAAC Sankofa weekend begins at 9 a.m. Friday with the Apple Seed Project, a community service initiative that gives alumni the opportunity to share their time and talents with students in the Pittsburgh Public Schools. A Sankofa Marketplace from 5 to 11 p.m. and the AAAC Welcome reception, “It Ain’t Nothin’ but a House Party!” from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m., will be held at the Omni William Penn Hotel, Down- town. The AAAC Sankofa Awards Reception Alumni, Students Come Together and Banquet, “Honoring our Partners in Progress” at 6 p.m. Saturday at the Omni William Penn, will include the AAAC Distinguished Alumni Awards presenta- For Homecoming 2007 tion, honoring the five outstanding African American alumni who have achieved recog- nition in their chosen profession and have Festivities kick off Wednesday; reunions, fireworks, live performances among highlights demonstrated support for the University By Patricia Lomando White and the AAAC. Notable events for Thursday include a Legacy Laureate Leadership Other AAAC homecoming festivities Alumni, students, and friends will include the AAAC board and advisory celebrate Homecoming 2007 this week with Panel Discussion in Posvar Hall with this year’s Legacy Laureates— committee meeting at 9 a.m. Saturday in the a fireworks and laser show, a homecoming Omni prior to the noon Pitt Panthers football extravaganza, a career-networking event, alumni recognized for their outstanding personal and professional game against the Cincinnati Bearcats. school reunions, theater performances, A Sunday worship service, “Rejoice in and Saturday’s football game between the accomplishments—and Pitt alumni and student leaders participating. the Miracle” from 10 to 11 a.m., and fellow- Pittsburgh Panthers and the Cincinnati ship brunch, “Until We Meet Again” from Bearcats. with this year’s Legacy Laureates—alumni at 9:30 p.m. Friday from the closed-off Big- 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., both at the Omni, bring Homecoming festivities begin with a recognized for their outstanding personal elow Boulevard between the Cathedral of AAAC’s festivities to a close. ’50s Reunion for all 1950-59 Pitt graduates and professional accomplishments—and Learning and William Pitt Union. The night The idea for an African American at 5 p.m. Wednesday in the Twentieth Cen- Pitt alumni and student leaders participat- continues at the Homecoming Extravaganza alumni association originated with a small tury Club, 4201 Bigelow Blvd. Highlights ing. at 10 in the William Pitt Union with Casino group of Pitt graduates in the early 1980s. will include the Alumni Dance Band, a 1957 From 6 to 8 p.m., alumni will offer Night, music, and refreshments. The group met in the intervening years and class photo, and memories from alumni who insights into their occupations at “Path- The African American Alumni Council sponsored several events, generating the attended the Ellsworth Center, a building way to Professions: A Career Networking (AAAC) will host a welcome home recep- interest and participation of an increasing that served the post-World War II overflow Event,” to be held in Alumni Hall’s Con- tion at 8 p.m. Friday in the Omni William number of African American graduates. of Pitt students from 1947 to 1951. nolly Ballroom. Penn Hotel, 530 William Penn Place, The increased interest and growth led to the Notable events for Thursday include a The free Pitt Program Council fire- Downtown. group’s recognition as an affinity group of 2-5 p.m. Legacy Laureate Leadership Panel works and laser show welcomes everyone to the Pitt Alumni Association. Discussion in Posvar Hall’s Provost’s Suite campus with explosions of color and sound The AAAC’s mission is to support Continued on Page 4 African American alumni, students, faculty, staff, and administrators and to strengthen their connection to the University through its many programs and activities. For more International Stars Gathering for Pitt Jazz Week information, call 412-624-8229 or 1-800- By Sharon S. Blake 258-7488 or visit www.alumni.pitt.edu. For more details about the AAAC events, Jazz enthusiasts from throughout the Guest performers include Monty styles and show’s impromptu nature. Tickets visit www.alumni.pitt.edu/homecoming/ region will converge on campus Oct. Alexander, piano; Randy Brecker, are $18; students with a valid ID pay $8. sankofa.html. Biographical information on 30 through Nov. 3 for the 37th trumpet; Jon Faddis, trum- Tickets are available at any Ticket- the AAAC honorees follows. annual Pitt Jazz Seminar and pet; Peter King, alto sax; Master location, by phone at 412-323-1919, Concert, the longest-running Benny Golson, sax; Abra- online at ticketmaster.com, and at the Pitt Ysaye M. Barnwell event of its kind in the United ham Laboriel, bass; Idris William Pitt Union (WPU) box office. For States. Muhammad, drums; Claus more information, call 412-624-4187. Composer, author, singer, and actress, Under the theme “Jazz Reichstaller, trumpet; and William R. Robinson, District 10 repre- Barnwell was a professor at Howard Univer- Meets the World,” a stellar Yotam Silberstein, guitar. sentative on the Allegheny County Council sity’s College of Dentistry for more than a group of international jazz They will perform and a former state representative, will serve decade. She also administered public health musicians will hold free on- under the direction of as the evening’s master of ceremonies. programs at Children’s Hospital National campus lectures and demon- Nathan Davis, saxophonist, While in the Pennsylvania General Assem- Medical Center and at Gallaudet University strations, visit area schools and professor of music, and head of bly, Robinson helped obtain funding for a in Washington, D.C. community venues, and convene Pitt’s Jazz Studies Program, and state-of-the-art, 32-track digital record- In 1977, Barnwell founded the All for the annual concert at 8 p.m. Nov. 3 Benny Golson founder of the annual event. ing facility in Pitt’s Music Building. That Souls Jubilee Singers, and in 1979 she was in Carnegie Music Hall, 4400 Forbes The Nov. 3 concert is a one-of-a- Ave., Oakland. kind performance, given the diverse playing Continued on Page 4 Continued on Page 3 2 • Pitt Chronicle • October 15, 2007 First in National Series of Forums on Aging to Be Held Here Wednesday BrieflyNoted By Jason Togyer Senate Plenary Presents The first in a planned nationwide series According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Fitness Forum at WPU of roundtable discussions on designing more than 17 percent of residents of Allegh- healthy, “livable” communities for older eny County are over the age of 65. The Pitt’s fall 2007 Senate Plenary, titled Romer was the governor of Colorado for three Americans will be held Wednesday at the national average is 12.4 percent. “Embracing Fitness for Life: Taking an Active Role terms, from 1986 to 1998, becoming the nation’s University of Pittsburgh, hosted by the Pennsylvania Governor Edward G. Graduate School of Public Health (GSPH). Rendell, Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Raven- In Improving Your Health,” will take place from 2 to senior Democratic governor. As governor, he served as State and local officials will join Pitt stahl, and Pittsburgh City Council President 4:30 p.m. Wednesday in the Assembly Room of the chair of the Educational Commission of the States and Chancellor Mark A. Nordenberg; Donald S. Doug Shields are among those expected to William Pitt Union. the National Education Goals Panel. Romer currently Burke, dean of GSPH; Neil Resnick, profes- participate. Chancellor Mark A. Nordenberg chairs the Strong American Schools “ED in ‘08” sor of medicine and director The new series of forums will deliver the event’s welcoming campaign. of the University of Pitts- is sponsored by the AARP remarks, and Senate President Before becoming superintendent burgh Institute on Aging; According to (formerly the American Asso- John J. Baker will open the of the second-largest school district in Steven M. Albert, professor the U.S. Census ciation of Retired Persons) session. Pennsylvania, Roosevelt was a state of behavioral and com- and is being organized by Diane Holder, executive representative in Massachusetts, munity health sciences and Bureau, more than Congressional Quarterly and vice president of the University serving in the state’s General Court associate chair of research its sister publication, Govern- and science for Pitt’s GSPH; 17 percent of resi- ing, a monthly magazine for of Pittsburgh Medical Center (legislature) from 1986 to 1994, and other community lead- governors, mayors, legisla- and president of UPMC where helped pass the Education ers and educators at the dents of Allegheny tors, and others involved in Health Plan and UPMC’s Health Reform Act of 1993. That law changed Governing Summit on Liv- municipal and state affairs. Insurance Division, will deliver the the funding mechanism for school able Communities. County are over Congressional Quar- keynote address, titled “What’s Hap- districts and raised standards for statewide Events are scheduled the age of 65. terly spokesperson Amanda pening to Our Workforce: Why Wellness Diane Holder testing.