This photo of the exoskeleton of a land crab on San Salvador Island in the Bahamas taken by Tom Delvaux, a part–time instructor at YSU, won second place in the First Annual Gerace Research Centre Photography Contest. See News Brief below.

Calendar
Tuesday, July 14. The Youngstown State University Board of Trustees meets on the following schedule: 4 p.m., Finance and Facilities Committee, President’s Conference Room, second floor, Tod Hall; 4:30 p.m., Internal Affairs Committee, President's Conference Room, second floor, Tod Hall; 5 p.m., Executive Committee, Manchester Room, first floor, Tod Hall; 5:30 p.m., Special Board Meeting, Trustees Meeting Room, first floor, Tod Hall.

YSU launches Freshman Outdoor Recreation Experience
In an effort to help incoming students with the transition to college, Youngstown State University will conduct its first Freshman Outdoor Recreation Experience on Friday and Saturday, Aug. 14 and 15.

Students who will be entering YSU for the first time in fall semester 2009 will participate in a variety of activities, including an overnight camping trip to Berlin Lake, all for the purpose of making friends, learning more about the university and having fun.

“We want to give students the opportunity to meet other students before they come to campus for the start of classes,” said Joy Polkabla Byers, assistant director of programs in the Department of Campus Recreation, which is leading the activity.

“Many of these students may be a bit nervous or scared about coming to college. This activity will help them in that transition. It’s an incredible introduction to the YSU community.”

The event begins 1 p.m. Friday, Aug. 14, with a trip to YSU’s high ropes course in the Andrews Student Recreation and Wellness Center. The group will then travel to Berlin Lake and set up camp. The evening will include talks by various student groups and organizations. On Saturday, Aug. 15, students will participate in kayaking and hiking activities before returning to campus.

The cost is $60 and includes food, camping frees, travel to and from YSU, tents and sleeping gear. Space is limited and on a first–come basis. For more information, visit www.ysu.edu/reccenter. A registration form can be found on the Web site under “Adventure Rec.” The form and program fee should be mailed to YSU, Andrews Students Recreation and Wellness Center, One University Plaza, Youngstown OH, 44555. For more information, call 330–941–2243 or e–mail Travus Dusz at tudusz@ysu.edu. 

Instructor’s photo of land crab skeleton places in contest

  This photo by YSU student Benjamin J. Dooley showing the Gerace Research Centre in the Bahamas at night was chosen as a finalist in the contest.

Delvaux’s photo is of the exoskeleton of a Cardiosoma Guanahani land crab and was taken on San Salvador Island in the Bahamas.

“The crab is indigenous to islands of the Bahamas and frequents the low–lying mangrove type vegetation areas,” he said. “This skeleton was lying on the path, and I put it in a small bush to prevent it from being stepped on. The photo was actually an afterthought, and I never expected it to place in a contest.”

A photo by YSU student Benjamin J. Dooley was chosen as a finalist in the contest. Dooley’s photo showed the Gerace Research Centre at night.

Delvaux, who earned a bachelor’s degree in anthropology (1996) and master’s degree in history (2000) from YSU, has been teaching anthropology and archaeology classes part–time at YSU since 2001.

He also has been directing YSU’s North Storr’s Lake excavations since 2004. North Storr''s Lake is an archaeology site on San Salvador Island that YSU students have been excavating each December since 1996. The site was inhabited by the Lucayan Indians, who lived throughout the Bahamian Archipelago. Delvaux said students have made a number of unique and important discoveries at the site, including numerous trade items from the large islands of the Caribbean; copper (first in the New World), non–indigenous stone, quartz and flint, pottery from Cuba, and jewelry made from shells.

“What makes these discoveries so unique is most people believe San Salvador is the island where Christopher Columbus made his landfall,” Delvaux said. “We have proof that the site was occupied between 1100 and 1500 A.D., so we uncover items used by the people that met Columbus. I like to tell our students these are the people that first discovered Columbus and the Old World.”

“I feel YSU is a great school that offers numerous opportunities in a variety of areas to students of all disciplines,” he said. “One example is the fieldwork we do in the Bahamas, not only for archaeology but geography and geology students as well.”

The College of the Bahamas’ Gerace Research Centre (formerly the Bahamian Field Station), which occupies a former U.S. Naval Base on the island of San Salvador, has been in operation for more than 30 years as an educational and research institution. The center provides accommodations, laboratory space and logistical support for both teachers and researchers interested in the diverse and unique tropical environments available on San Salvador. For more information, visit http://www.geraceresearchcentre.com/.

Faculty, administrators conferred emeritus status
The Youngstown State University Board of Trustees recently authorized the conferral of faculty emeritus status on Barrent R. Kittle, associate professor of marketing (posthumously); Brendan P. Minogue, professor of philosophy and religious studies, and William A. Wood, chair and professor of the School of Technology (posthumously).

The board also authorized the conferral of administrator emeritus status on Harry E. “Jody” Patrick, senior academic advisor in the Bitonte College of Health and Human Services; and Janice W. Schnall, associate director of administration and operations in Maag Library.

Faculty and professional/administrative staff are eligible for emeritus status when retiring following at least 10 years of meritorious service. Individuals are recommended by the president of the university and approved by the board.

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