Below are a variety of items about upcoming events and other news notes on the campus of Youngstown State University:

• YSU theater presents 'The Cripple of Inishmaan'
• Sweet's paper featured in Presidential Perspectives

• JA Business Challenge comes to YSU this week
• Women in Science and Engineering set for Saturday
• Safe Zone training offered this month on campus

Calendar
Wednesday, March 17, 12:15 p.m. Free Music at Noon concert features the Dana School of Music's Jazz Combos in the Butler Institute of American Art.

Wednesday, March 17, 8 p.m. Dana School of Music Faculty Artist Recital in Room 2222 in Bliss Hall on the YSU campus. The recital features Glenn Schaft (drums), Nathan Douds (piano), Dave Morgan (bass), Dave Kana (saxophone) and the music of Chick Corea.

Thursday, March 18, 3 p.m. YSU's softball team kicks off the home schedule with a doubleheader against St. Francis (Pa.) in McCune Park. Read about this year's team at http://ysusports.com/softball/index.htm.

Thursday, March 18, 8 p.m. Brian Kiser Tuba/Euphonium Studio Recital in Bliss Recital Hall. Also at 2 p.m. Saturday, March 20.

Thursday, March 19, 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. YSU's Williamson College of Business Administration will host the first annual Mahoning Valley JA Business Challenge in Williamson Hall. See News Brief below.

Friday, March 19, 8 p.m. The Dana Spring Choral Concert in St. Columba Cathedral features the Peiyang Chorus of Tianjin University in China.

Saturday, March 20, 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. YSU presents the 13^th annual Women in Science and Engineering Career Workshop in Kilcawley Center. See News Brief below.

Saturday, March 20, 8 a.m. High school students from throughout the region compete in the 2010 Physics Olympics in Beeghly Center on the YSU campus. For more information, visit http://cc.ysu.edu/physics–astro/Physoly.htm.

YSU theater presents 'The Cripple of Inishmaan'

University Theater presents the comic drama "The Cripple of Inishmaan" March 25 to 28 and April 1 to 3 in Spotlight Theater in Bliss Hall on the campus of Youngstown State University.

Thursday through Saturday performances begin at 7:30 p.m. while the Sunday matinee performance on March 28 is at 3 p.m. All seats are general admission.

Tickets may be reserved by calling the University Theater Box Office at 330–941–3105. Ticket are free for YSU students with ID; $10 for adults; $5 for senior citizens, YSU faculty and staff and high school and college students from other universities, Penguin Club members and YSU alumni. Parking is available in the Wick Avenue parking deck for all shows for a nominal fee.

An Opening Night Dinner Buffet is scheduled for 6 p.m. Thursday, March 25, in the Bliss Hall Box Office lobby next to Ford Theater in Bliss Hall. A package price of $20 includes dinner and a ticket for the performance. The dinner price for season ticket holders is $15. Reservations and payment must be made with credit card via the University Theater Box Office, 330–941–3105 or mailed in to the Performing Arts Series, One University Plaza, Youngstown, OH 44555 by Tuesday, March 23. Only paid reservations will be accepted; no walk–ins can be accommodated. Reservations are limited to 80.

Sweet's paper featured in Presidential Perspectives
Youngstown State University President David C. Sweet's white paper titled "Growing a University in a Shrinking City" is featured in the latest release of Presidential Perspectives, a higher education leadership series for college presidents.

The new white paper, available at www.presidentialperspectives.org, details how strategic partnerships and planning with city leaders and other external stakeholders can impact the success of the university and the city it calls home.

"Through Dr. Sweet's leadership and the university's strong partnership with the city, Youngstown is taking on a proud new role as a community development leader and trend–setter for urban cities across America," said Marylouise Fennell, executive editor of Presidential Perspectives. "Presidents of colleges and universities can use this white paper as a blueprint to begin or revive discussions with their city."

Sweet, who became YSU's president in 2000, retires June 30.

In the paper, Sweet describes how a challenged community with an urban center that struggles with above–average unemployment rates, chronic poverty, blighted neighborhoods, a declining population, a dwindling tax base, and a poor national image, can hinder the progress of the local college or university.

In order to meet these challenges, Sweet says he forged a partnership with then–Mayor of Youngstown, George McKelvey, and subsequently with Mayor Jay Williams, and they agreed to initiate a unique collaborative planning process that would identify and support mutual goals. The city developed a comprehensive plan called Youngstown 2010 and the university developed its Centennial Campus Master Plan as a single integrated plan.

The Youngstown 2010 plan is organized around four platforms focusing on city size, the new economy, community image, and quality of life. (Full descriptions of each can be found in the chapter). The university's master plan called for a series of projects, including new student housing, a recreation and wellness center, a new business college building, and campus gateway enhancements. A university housing development corporation was formed and the university''s partnership with the city has been and continues to be essential to successful completion of these projects.

"The Youngstown 2010 plan is grabbing the attention of development advocacy groups, writers, and business analysts from around the country and the world who see its potential as a proposal to revive other beleaguered cities," Fennell added.

Presidential Perspectives publishes 10 monthly chapters, written by college presidents, on a variety of topics, including Investment and Finances, Campus Sustainability, Customer Satisfaction, Institutional Change and more. The 10–part series culminates with a bound book containing all chapters. All chapters can be found at www.presidentialperspectives.org.

JA Business Challenge comes to YSU this week
Youngstown State University's Williamson College of Business Administration will host the first annual Mahoning Valley JA Business Challenge 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Friday, March 19 in Williamson Hall.

Junior Achievement of Mahoning Valley has invited 21 teams of students from Mahoning, Trumbull, Columbiana and Ashtabula counties to attend the event to increase their understanding of running a business in a competitive, high–tech marketplace. Each team consists of two or three students and will work with a local business mentor.

Teams will use an interactive online business simulation called JA Titan that offers a way for young people to learn what it takes to compete in the marketplace and to run a successful business. JA Titan is designed to complement high school economics, math and social studies curriculum.

Students will determine the success or failure of their business based on how well they manage key issues such as setting prices, filling production requests, establishing marketing, investing in research and development, and capital equipment. Students analyze situations, apply information under time pressure, interpret and chart data, build censuses, think critically, make decisions, solve mathematical problems, and work together as a team using the on–line software.

The JA Business Challenge is sponsored by the Williamson College of Business Administration, Home Savings Charitable Foundation and Falcon Foundry Company. For more information, call Christine Shelton, WCBA coordinator of external relations, at 330–941–3068.

Women in Science and Engineering set for Saturday
Hazel Marie, assistant professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Youngstown State University, will be the keynote speaker at the 13^th annual Women in Science and Engineering Career Workshop 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Saturday, March 20 in YSU's Kilcawley Center.

The free event is designed to expose young women in grades 6 through 12 to career opportunities in science and technology. Panel discussions will be held during the morning and hands–on activities and lab demonstrations will be held in the afternoon. The workshop is open to all middle school and high school girls from Mahoning and Trumbull counties and western Pennsylvania. Parents can receive college planning and financial aid information and take campus tours while their daughters participate in the workshop.

Registration deadline is March 18. For more information and to register online, visit www.ysu.edu/WIS. To receive a registration form in the mail, call Diana Fagan, director of the Women in Science and Engineering Career Workshop and YSU associate professor of Biological Sciences, at 330–941–1554 or e–mail dlfagan@ysu.edu.

Marie earned a bachelor of science degree in Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science from the University of Texas at Austin and a master of science degree in Mechanical Engineering from YSU. She also received a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Akron.

Marie's research uses computer models of a mechanical part or a biological tissue that is subjected to stress (heat, weight or stretch). The data is then analyzed to measure changes in the materials, including visualization of how the material bends or twists. It can be used to design or test mechanical parts or equipment or to analyze the strength and elasticity of biological tissues. She also uses a similar method to examine the flow of fluids in equipment (oil or sewage) or biological tissues (blood).

She is currently conducting research with members of YSU's Department of Biological Sciences and Humility of Mary Health Partners to examine the addition of biomaterials to a surgical incision or hernia in order to improve wound healing.

She has worked with NASA to develop turbine jet engine parts and has acted as a consultant for numerous local companies.

Marie was recently awarded a National Science Foundation grant with the Ohio Supercomputer Center to explore the integration of computational modeling techniques between industry, academia, and supercomputing hubs. She will discuss her career and touch upon various types of science and engineering careers available today.

Safe Zone training offered this month on campus
YSUnity and the Safe Zone Advisory Council at Youngstown State University is offering Safe Zone training 1 to 5 p.m. Thursday, March 25 in the Jones Room of Kilcawley Center.

Faculty, staff, student employees and student leaders are invited to attend the training to become a Safe Zone ally.

The Safe Zone project is an ongoing effort by YSUnity and the Safe Zone Advisory Council to make the YSU campus a safer place for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, intersex, and ally students. Persons signing the Ally Pledge upon completing a Safe Zone training session will be given a small sign to display in their workspace. The Safe Zone message on a door or window indicates the person inside has volunteered for the training and can be expected to have a level of awareness of issues related to LGBTQIA individuals.

Interested participants can register on the YSUnity website at http://www.ysu.edu/stu_org/ysunity/ysunity_009.htm.

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