The 23rd Annual Winter Jazz Concert will take place Feb. 18 at the Majestic Theater.

The Gettysburg College Jazz Ensemble, directed by Prof. John "Buzz" Jones, will perform a variety of big band jazz music beginning at 8 p.m.

Renowned jazz violinist and Philadelphia native John Blake, Jr. is the guest soloist. Classically trained, Blake first gained recognition on recordings he made as a touring member of Grover Washington, Jr.’s popular “crossover” jazz band. He also spent five years as a member of numerous ensembles led by legendary pianist McCoy Tyner. Blake is currently a professor at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia and at the Manhattan School of Music.

The fusion of classic and contemporary jazz along with Blake, Jr.’s much-anticipated performance will create an exciting night of musical entertainment. Tickets for the Feb. 18 concert are $5. There will be no charge for Gettysburg College students and employees with college identification. For ticket information visit www.gettysburgmajestic.org or call 717-337-8200.

Founded in 1832, Gettysburg College is a highly selective four-year residential college of liberal arts and sciences with a strong academic tradition. Alumni include Rhodes Scholars, a Nobel laureate, and other distinguished scholars. The college enrolls 2,600 undergraduate students and is located on a 200-acre campus adjacent to the Gettysburg National Military Park in Pennsylvania.

Contact: Tracey Dukert, assistant director of news content, 717.337.6521

Dr. Sheri Parks, associate professor and co-director of American Studies at the University of Maryland, will speak about the sacred dark feminine Feb. 7. The lecture will be held in Gettysburg College’s Mara Auditorium at 7 p.m. Admission is free and the public is invited to attend.

Parks’ topic will be "Interested Strangers and Fierce Angels: The Strong Black Woman and Redemption in American Popular Culture." This talk examines the ways in which popular culture narratives have picked up and popularized the sacred dark feminine and what the images have meant for mainstream and minority audiences. Films such as "The Help" and "The Secret Life of Bees" draw from the paradox image of the sacred dark feminine: nurturing yet fierce, strong yet gentle, female and masculine, black yet able to lead her charges to the light.

Parks is the author of “Fierce Angels: The Strong Black Woman in American Life and Culture.” Her research focuses on public aesthetics, with particular concern for popular culture as public mythology and its effect upon individuals, families, and minority cultures. In 2008, Parks was recognized by the University of Maryland as the Outstanding Woman of Color and as Faculty of the Year in the University Honors Program.

The Africana Studies Program, the Diversity Commission, and the Intercultural Resource Center present this lecture in honor of Racial Awareness Week at Gettysburg College during Black History Month.

Founded in 1832, Gettysburg College is a highly selective four-year residential college of liberal arts and sciences with a strong academic tradition. Alumni include Rhodes Scholars, a Nobel laureate, and other distinguished scholars. The college enrolls 2,600 undergraduate students and is located on a 200-acre campus adjacent to the Gettysburg National Military Park in Pennsylvania.

Contact: Tracey Dukert, assistant director of news content, 717.337.6521

“Oh, the Places You'll Go!” isn’t just a popular book by Dr. Seuss.

It’s a popular phrase heard in Gettysburg College’s office of Off-Campus Studies. And oh, the places students DO go! From Morocco to Madagascar, hundreds have studied abroad, living, learning, and making memories that last a lifetime. Check out what a few of them had to say about their fall 2011 study abroad experiences:

Name: Sarah Barrett ’13
Major: Philosophy
Studied in: Amsterdam, Netherlands
Favorite class: Introduction to Dutch language (or "Survival Dutch" as my instructor called it)
Reflection on experience: I fell in love with the Netherlands and the Dutch lifestyle, learned more about Amsterdam than I knew about my own city, and met some really amazing people. I learned so much about my own thoughts, opinions, and strengths, as well as my ability to stay sane within a group of seventeen women.
Explain the photo: This is me outside of the wooden shoe workshop/museum at Zaanse Schans, a preserved traditional Dutch town in North Holland.

Name: Kelsey Gerber ’13
Major: Anthropology, Classics
Studied in: Athens, Greece
Favorite class: Art and Archaeology of Ancient Greece and the Aegean
Reflection on experience: My study abroad experience was full of on-site learning. I spent a lot of time travelling, visiting ancient locations, and learning about historical sites and their contexts, all while seeing breathtaking places and enjoying an incredible culture at what could be a crucial part of their contemporary history.
Explain the photo: This picture, which was taken on the island of Santorini, is of the town of Oia just before sunset.

Name: Joy Hallfors ’13
Major: Health Sciences
Studied in: Wollongong, Australia
Favorite class: Transnational Media and Intercultural Communication
Reflection on experience: I originally had no intention of studying abroad, but that changed after hearing so many great things about it. My experience was an eye opener; I had never travelled outside of the U.S., and because of this opportunity I learned a lot about myself and other cultures from around the world. It was great to try many new things and meet new people.
Explain the photo: This is an underwater picture of coral taken during my spring recess trip to Coral Coast, Fiji.

Name: Xavier Harding ’12
Major: Interdisciplinary Studies
Studied in: Merida, Mexico
Favorite class: Periodismo Digital (translates to Digital Journalism in English)
Reflection on experience: I studied in Mexico because I wanted to immerse myself in Spanish and take a journalism class abroad. Rebecca Bergren, director of Off-Campus Studies, suggested the Merida program and it was a great opportunity for me. I learned a lot about the Spanish language, matured as a person, and tried a bunch of new foods. I even learned how to swim!
Explain the photo: This picture of me was taken while I toured the ruins of Chichen Itza, which was one of the largest Maya cities.

Name: Ryan LoScalzo ’13
Major: Organization and Management Studies
Studied in: London/Lancaster, England
Favorite class: Sustainability in the City
Reflection on experience: My study abroad experience allowed me to visit a number of places in Europe, explore various cultures, and take courses that applied towards my degree. My semester began in London, a city whose culture I was eager to experience first-hand, and ended at Lancaster University. I had the opportunity to discuss world issues with other students, which enabled me to better comprehend international relations and the role of the United States in an ever-changing world. I am certain the cultural knowledge I gained has made me a more rounded applicant for any future job.
Explain the photo: This picture was taken during my weekend visit to Bath, England. After touring Bath, a couple of students hopped on a train to Salisbury and then caught a bus to Wiltshire - the location of Stonehenge. I’m wearing a Gettysburg hat and Stonehenge is reflected in my sunglasses.

Name: Mairead McGuirk ’13
Major: Health Sciences
Studied in: Geneva, Switzerland
Favorite class: Global Health and Policy Development
Reflection on experience: I studied public health and lived with a Swiss family in a small town called St. Prex, which borders Lake Geneva. I took French classes and attended public health lectures at the United Nations during the week, and on the weekends I travelled throughout Switzerland, hiked the Alps, ate chocolate, and visited castles; it was truly an unforgettable semester.
Explain the photo: This is the Glacier of Altesch in Valais, Switzerland.

Name: Emily Miano ’13
Major: Psychology, International Affairs
Studied in: Nairobi, Kenya
Favorite class: Health and Development
Reflection on experience: Studying abroad was an eye-opening experience that led to lifelong memories and lessons in humanity. I met incredible people doing incredible things to empower a nation, and the semester was one of the best and most valuable experiences of my life.
Explain the photo: This is a photo of me (on the right), another student, Caitlin Falvey (this is her photo), my host nephew, and my host second cousin during my rural homestay in the Shirazi Village.

Name: Alexis Moyer ’13
Major: Environmental Studies
Studied in: Copenhagen, Denmark
Favorite class: Holocaust and Genocide
Reflection on experience: Studying abroad was a life changing experience that taught me about myself and the world around me. My experience consisted of interesting classes and fascinating field studies mixed with study tours across Europe. I studied sustainability and renewable energy technology, and also took courses on genocides and Nordic mythology. My program was perfectly suited to my major, and the opportunity to travel to Greenland for a week was a once in a lifetime experience I will never forget.
Explain the photo: This is me standing in front of a breathtaking section of the ice sheet in Kangerlussuaq, Greenland.

Name: Ross Nichols ’13
Major: Economics, Globalization Studies
Studied in: Cairo, Egypt
Favorite class: International Economics
Reflection on experience: I studied in Egypt because I wanted to experience a place and culture very much different from my own, and I was lucky enough to be at the American University of Cairo during a historic time in the Middle East. The first free elections in Egyptian history began near the end of the semester, and I was able to interact with Egyptian students and professors to better understand their perspectives. I got to witness history being made firsthand, and this is in addition to traveling throughout Egypt and Turkey; words cannot describe the amazing things I got to see.
Explain the photo: This picture was taken at the Pyramids of Giza. The Pyramid of Khafre is in the foreground and the Pyramid of Menkaure is behind it.

Name: Haley Stauch ’13
Major: Psychology
Studied in: Athens, Greece
Reflection on experience: I had an excellent time studying abroad; I was able to experience life in Athens during the academic week, and during free time on weekends and breaks I travelled throughout Europe. Travelling abroad is an experience that everyone should take advantage of; I now have a better understanding of European culture, and notice the differences between each country I visited. I made great friends and cannot wait to travel to Greece again in the future!
Explain the photo: This picture, which was taken in Mykonos, Greece, is of a local boy welcoming a fishing boat back to port.

Name: Mary Strang ’13
Major: Psychology
Studied in: Madagascar
Favorite class: Environmental Field Study Seminar (one of the highlights being the lemur behavior study)
Reflection on experience: In order to get to the village I stayed in, I flew from the capital of Madagascar to Maroantsetra and then hiked (with my guide) 50 km along the coast and through mountainous areas. I lived in a small, rural village of 136 people and during my study, I explored village life and Betsimisaraka culture. I owe the greatest thanks to all of the villagers of Ambatomizana for allowing me to fall in love with another culture, despite the language barrier, and I thank them for welcoming me with unmatched hospitality. I also owe special thanks to my host family; being around all of them warmed my heart and I am blessed to have been able to meet them.
Explain the photo: I took this picture while on top of a rock that overlooked the village I lived in. My host sister, Floreta, is also in this photo. She is three years old and is a very special, selfless girl.

Name: Sarah Tuttle ’13
Major: Music
Studied in: Vienna, Austria
Favorite class: Gustav Mahler and Turn-of-the-Century Vienna
Reflection on experience: My time in Vienna reaffirmed my hopes and aspirations as both a musician and a student; I learned just as much about myself as I did the subject matter in my classes. I find it remarkable how many connections exist between art, music, philosophy, science…
Explain the photo: This is an apartment block in the 3rd District of Vienna that was designed by an artist named Hundertwasser. He became progressively more interested in architecture during his career, and believed man should be at harmony with nature and it should be reflected in his architecture. The artist and his long-term colleague, Josef Krawina, created this apartment complex, which features intentionally uneven floors, bursts of color, and trees growing from within the building. A popular destination for locals and tourists alike, Hundertwasserhaus is a Viennese cultural icon.

Name: Kylie Wright ’13
Major: Religious Studies
Studied in: Samoa, South Pacific Ocean
Favorite Class: Pacific Studies Seminar
Reflection on experience: I decided to study in Samoa because I knew nothing about that part of the world. Through my study abroad program, I was completely immersed in the culture of the South Pacific. I participated in experiential education and got the opportunity to travel to other islands including Savaii, American Samoa, and Fiji. It was an experience I will never forget.
Explain the photo: This is me in Lotofaga Village, Samoa. The students in my program were helping to prepare a feast in the umu (outdoor kitchen), and I was in charge of scraping the coconuts.

Gettysburg College’s office of Off-Campus Studies offers semester, academic year, and summer term study abroad programs to students, and more than 50% of students seize this opportunity and study abroad. Few schools can claim this. So few, that according to the Institute of International Education (IIE), Gettysburg ranked 8th in the nation for baccalaureate leading institutions by mid-length (one semester) duration of study abroad for 2009-10. And Gettysburg ranked 28th in the nation for total number of students at baccalaureate leading institutions studying abroad in 2009-10.

“Our programs around the world offer students opportunities to increase their global awareness, enhance their on-campus academic learning, develop a career-oriented skill set, encourage language learning, and support their personal growth,” said Rebecca Bergren, director of Off-Campus Studies.

After immersing themselves in new cultures, students return to campus feeling invigorated and energized. Many develop a new perspective on life and learning. “Our office, our academic departments, and many other areas of our campus work hard to support our students as they incorporate their experiences abroad into their academic choices and future plans,” added Bergren. “We believe a Gettysburg education is a global education.”

In the words of Dr. Seuss, “Your mountain is waiting, so get on your way!”

Founded in 1832, Gettysburg College is a highly selective four-year residential college of liberal arts and sciences with a strong academic tradition. Alumni include Rhodes Scholars, a Nobel laureate, and other distinguished scholars. The college enrolls 2,600 undergraduate students and is located on a 200-acre campus adjacent to the Gettysburg National Military Park in Pennsylvania.

Contact: Tracey Dukert, assistant director of news content, 717.337.6521

Gettysburg College's Eisenhower Institute (EI) hosted U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack on campus Jan. 25.

Vilsack met with students and faculty members as part of the EI's Women In Leadership program, which is led by Jennifer Donahue, the EI's Cardin Public Policy Fellow.

Vilsack credited his own liberal arts education with preparing him to lead a wide-ranging organization like the Department of Agriculture (USDA), and to communicate effectively with a broad range of audiences, including "the countries we do business with," he said. "My professors were instrumental in making sure I could write well and speak well - two important components of success in any occupation - and in creating a sense of opportunity."

"The country needs you to be involved and engaged," Vilsack told students during a campus gathering. "There are enormous opportunities in government service to profoundly influence people's lives in a positive way."
Women in Leadership provides students with a firsthand look at politics in Washington, D.C. under the guidance of an experienced professional like Donahue, who regularly provides live commentary for MSNBC's Hardball, CNN's American Morning and Anderson Cooper360.

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Donahue also spoke at the campus event. She appears frequently on ABC World News Tonight and Nightline, CBS Evening News and NBC Nightly News. She is regularly quoted in the New York Times, Washington Post, Newsweek, USA Today, and Boston Globe, and is a contributor for the Huffington Post, and National Public Radio. and other networks.

Women in Leadership culminates in a symposium during which students present semester-long research projects.

Vilsack was appointed by President Barack Obama as the 30th secretary of the USDA and sworn into office in 2009. He previously served two terms as the governor of Iowa, where he was also as a state senator and mayor of Mt. Pleasant. A native of Pittsburgh, Pa., Vilsack was born into an orphanage and adopted in 1951. He received a bachelor's degree from Hamilton College in 1972 and a law degree from Albany Law School in 1975. Following school, he and his wife Christie moved to Mt. Pleasant, her hometown, where he practiced law.

Honoring the legacy of Dwight D. Eisenhower, the Eisenhower Institute is a distinctive program of Gettysburg College. With offices in the heart of the nation's capital and in the historic Gettysburg home once occupied by Dwight and Mamie Eisenhower, the Institute combines top-level dialogue among policy-makers with a premier firsthand learning experience for undergraduates.

Founded in 1832, Gettysburg College is a highly selective four-year residential college of liberal arts and sciences with a strong academic tradition. Alumni include Rhodes Scholars, a Nobel laureate, and other distinguished scholars. The college, which enrolls 2,600 undergraduate students, is located on a 200-acre campus adjacent to the Gettysburg National Military Park in Pennsylvania.

Contact: Jim Hale, associate director of editorial services

Hundreds attended the 32nd annual Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Jan. 23 in Gettysburg College's Christ Chapel.

Educator, author, and civil rights advocate Dr. Bettye F. Baker recounted her youth in segregated Louisville, Ky., warned of resurgences in educational segregation and suppression of minorities' voting rights, and urged audience members to continue King's work toward a just society.

The event also featured performances by lyric soprano Jessica Gondwe, daughter of late Gettysburg College economics Prof. Derrick Gondwe; Prof. Jocelyn Swigger, coordinator of keyboard studies in the College's Sunderman Conservatory of Music; the Gettysburg Children's Choir, led by Prof. Brent Talbot, the Sunderman Conservatory's coordinator of music education; and the Biglerville High School Jazz Band, led by Jamie Cope.

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The annual Living the Dream Award was presented to local residents whose life and work have furthered King's dream of freedom and equality for all. Recipients were Jorge Perez Rico and, posthumously, Cassie Nutter. Rev. Dr. Karl Mattson, former chaplain of Gettysburg College and founding director of its Center for Public Service, presented Rico's award. King Celebration Committee member Deb Geesey presented Nutter's award, accepted by the honoree's sister, Mary Alice Nutter. The YWCA of Gettysburg & Adams County and the United Way of Adams County sponsor the award.

A freewill offering was collected to support the Adams County Career Aid Project, which provides need-based financial aid to Adams County students, including Salvador Andrew Tamez, who spoke. Unlike many other educational aid programs, ACCAP provides assistance to students of all ages. This year, ACCAP has awarded more than $11,300 to students attending Harrisburg Area Community College, Penn State University, West Chester University, Shippensburg University, McDaniel College, the Baltimore School of Massage, and Albright College, among many others.

Gettysburg College Chaplain Joseph Donnella gave the invocation. Rosie Bolen of the Adams Unity Coalition introduced Baker. Dr. Joseph Levenstein, lay leader of the Adams County Jewish Community, gave the benediction. King Celebration Committee Chair Mark Berg welcomed the audience.

Baker, a Gettysburg resident, has been a teacher and educational consultant for more than 25 years. She has written political and opinion pieces, book reviews and poetry, and published a children's picture book, "What is Black." Baker is married to Lieutenant Colonel (ret.) William Baker, the last official researcher of the Brownsville Incident in Texas in 1906. Baker's research resulted in the reversal of President Theodore Roosevelt's decision to discharge without honor 167 African American soldiers for shooting up the town of Brownsville.

The event was delayed a week from King's birthday so that Gettysburg College students, returning from winter break, could join community members.

Founded in 1832, Gettysburg College is a highly selective four-year residential college of liberal arts and sciences with a strong academic tradition. Alumni include Rhodes Scholars, a Nobel laureate, and other distinguished scholars. The college, which enrolls 2,600 undergraduate students, is located on a 200-acre campus adjacent to the Gettysburg National Military Park in Pennsylvania.

Contact: Jim Hale, associate director of editorial services

Some of the biggest names in media, government, history, business and academia will serve on Gettysburg College’s honorary committee for the 150th anniversary of the American Civil War.

The committee will support the College’s efforts to serve as the intellectual center of the Sesquicentennial -- both throughout the course of the four-year commemoration, and specifically during the year 2013, the 150th anniversary of the enactment of the Emancipation Proclamation, Battle of Gettysburg and President Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address.

Gettysburg College will host a number of Sesquicentennial events throughout the commemoration. At the forefront of upcoming events in 2012 are:

• March 20 “When Billy Came Marching Home: Union Veterans and the Trials of Homecoming,” a lecture by 2009 Gettysburg graduate Brian Jordan (7:30 p.m. in the College Union Building’s Room 260)

• April 3 “Picturing a State Divided: Missouri Artist George Caleb Bingham and the American Civil War,” a lecture by Dr. Joan Stack, Curator of Art Collections at The State Historical Society of Missouri (5:30 p.m. in Pennsylvania Hall’s Lyceum)

• April 12 Lincoln Lyceum, “The Fiery Trial: Abraham Lincoln and American Slavery,” a lecture by historian and 2011 Pulitzer and Lincoln Prize winner Eric Foner, the DeWitt Clinton Professor of History at Columbia University (7 p.m. in Masters Hall’s Mara Auditorium)

• Sept. 21, “Forever Free: A Conversation with James McPherson & Allen Guelzo,” with Civil War historian and Princeton University Professor Emeritus McPherson and Guelzo, Henry R. Luce Professor of Civil War Era Studies and professor of history at Gettysburg College (8 p.m. at Gettysburg College’s Majestic Theater)

More information on Gettysburg’s Sesquicentennial events, both on campus and in the community, can be found at http://www.gettysburg.edu/civilwar2013/ and http://www.gettysburgcivilwar150.com.

About the committee members:

Tom Brokaw is one of the most trusted and respected figures in broadcast journalism. He co-anchored the Today Show, was the anchor of NBC Nightly News and has conducted some impressive reporting, including an exclusive U.S. one-on-one with Russian President Gorbachev, reporting the night the Berlin Wall fell, and acting as the first American anchor to travel to Tibet to interview the Dalai Lama. Brokaw also authored five books, including the best-selling The Greatest Generation and most recently The Time of Our Lives.

Sam Donaldson is a longtime political reporter in Washington D.C. He has been a correspondent and anchor for ABC News for forty-four years, covering presidential campaigns, Capitol Hill, the White House, and more.

Ken Burns is an award-winning historical documentary filmmaker. His The Civil War was named one of the most influential documentaries of all time by Real Screen Magazine. Burns’ films have won 12 Emmy Awards and two Oscar nominations, and the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences honored Burns with a Lifetime Achievement Award.

Stephen Lang is a renowned actor of stage and screen. He portrayed George Pickett in Gettysburg and Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson in Gods and Generals. He also starred in James Cameron’s Avatar, the highest grossing movie of all time, and Stephen Spielberg’s show Terra Nova.

Ronald F. Maxwell is an independent film director and writer. He is best known for writing and directing the American Civil War epics Gettysburg and Gods and Generals. Maxwell is a member of the Writers Guild of America, Directors Guild of America and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

Fred Fielding, a 1961 graduate and trustee of Gettysburg College, is a former counsel to Presidents George W. Bush, Ronald Reagan and Richard Nixon. He has served on a number of governmental boards and commissions, including the 9/11 Commission. Fielding is a partner in the D.C. office of the international law firm of Morgan, Lewis & Bockius.

Doris Kearns Goodwin is a Pulitzer Prize-winning author and Presidential historian. Her “Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln,” was a New York Times bestseller, and was awarded the Lincoln Prize. Goodwin, who formerly taught at Harvard, assisted President Lyndon Johnson during this his last year in office and helped him prepare his memoirs.

James McPherson is a Civil War historian and Princeton University Professor Emeritus. He has written or edited 25 books, such as “Battle Cry of Freedom,” which won a Pulitzer Prize. McPherson also won the Pritzker Prize for Lifetime Achievement in the field of military writing.

Henry Louis Gates, Jr. is the Alphonse Fletcher University Professor at Harvard University and director of the W.E.B. Du Bois Institute for African and African American Research. He is editor-in-chief of TheRoot.com, a daily online magazine focusing on issues of interest to the African American community.

Patrick F. Noonan is founder and chairman emeritus of The Conservation Fund, a non-profit organization dedicated to conserving America's natural and historic heritage. A former president of The Nature Conservancy, he is a founder and former chairman of the American Farmland Trust. Noonan is a 1965 graduate and Trustee Emeritus of Gettysburg College.

Gabor Boritt is a Gettysburg College Professor Emeritus and founder of the College’s Civil War Institute. He has authored or edited 16 books, including The Gettysburg Gospel, which appeared on the cover of US News & World Report. Boritt received The National Humanities Medal from the President George W. Bush.

Edwin Johnson is the former CEO and founder of The Johnson Companies, and presided over its growth to a 415 person benefits, compensation consulting, and insurance brokerage firm. He is a 1951 graduate and Honorary Life Trustee of Gettysburg College.

Jim Corkran is a 1969 graduate and Trustee Emeritus of Gettysburg College. He is a retired partner and director of Cottman Transmission Systems, Inc., and was formerly involved with the Eastern Pennsylvania Better Business Bureau.

Jim Thomas is a 1953 graduate and Trustee Emeritus of Gettysburg College. He is the former chairman and CEO of Bestfoods Baking Group.

Andy Gurley is a 1960 graduate and Trustee Emeritus of Gettysburg College. Gurley is a retired managing director of UBS Securities, LLC.

Founded in 1832, Gettysburg College is a highly selective four-year residential college of liberal arts and sciences with a strong academic tradition. Alumni include Rhodes Scholars, a Nobel laureate, and other distinguished scholars. The college enrolls 2,600 undergraduate students and is located on a 200-acre campus adjacent to the Gettysburg National Military Park in Pennsylvania.

Contact: Nikki Rhoads, assistant director of communications, 717.337.6803

The second part of Gettysburg College's Conflict and Resistance in the Middle East series begins on Jan. 30 with the emphasis shifting to Palestine. The reading, film, and lecture series looks at life during conflict in the Middle East. This part of the series includes book discussions, films, and lectures by internationally-recognized Middle Eastern scholars and writers. All events are free and open to the public.

"The Palestinian-Israeli conflict seems to be one of the most intractable in contemporary times. The news media bombard us with coverage of numerous parties debating certain solutions yet never finding consensus," says Professor Amy Young Evrard, one of the program's planners. "Our events will help sort through some of this rhetoric by analyzing media coverage; examining peaceful solutions offered by scholars, NGO practitioners and civil society leaders; and exploring various Palestinian and other views of the conflict through films and books."

The first event is a film screening of "Live from Bethlehem" at 7 p.m. on Jan. 30 in Bowen Auditorium, McCreary Hall. It will be followed by discussion with the filmmaker, Professor Matt Sienkiewicz. Other films include "Waltz with Bashir" on March 7 and "Promises" on March 22. After each screening, a faculty member will lead a short discussion about the film.

There are two books: "Hello Everybody!: One Journalist's Search for Truth in the Middle East" (also known as "People Like Us: Misrepresenting the Middle East")  by Joris Luyendijk and "Mornings in Jenin: A Novel" by Susan Abulhawa. Participants are invited to read each book and then join the discussions facilitated by faculty and students. On April 19, Abulhawa will visit campus for a public lecture and book signing. These books are available for purchase at a 15 percent discount at the College Bookstore.

In addition to the lecture by Abulhawa, there will be a discussion on the "Two-State Solution" by Hussein Ibish, senior fellow at the American Task Force on Palestine on Feb. 9. On March 1, Middle East scholar and author, Stephen Zunes, will visit campus to lecture on "Civil Insurrections, U.S. Foreign Policy, and the Future of the Middle East."

The Conflict and Resistance in the Middle East series is sponsored by a grant from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation and cosponsored by Gettysburg College. For more information visit www.gettysburg.edu/library or call (717) 337-6600.

Founded in 1832, Gettysburg College is a highly selective four-year residential college of liberal arts and sciences with a strong academic tradition. Alumni include Rhodes Scholars, a Nobel laureate, and other distinguished scholars. The college, which enrolls 2,600 undergraduate students, is located on a 200-acre campus adjacent to the Gettysburg National Military Park in Pennsylvania.

Contact: Nikki Rhoads, assistant director of communications, 717.337.6803

With nearly fifty years of experience as an artist, and thirty spent at Gettysburg College, Jim Agard, professor of art & art history is nearing retirement.

After being approached by Gettysburg College's Schmucker Art Gallery to produce a retrospective show of his work, he decided to go forward when alumna and good friend Kerri Rosenstein '98 offered her assistance. Rosenstein, once a student of Agard's, has curated art spaces and exhibitions for the past ten years and will select the work for the show and prepare the corresponding catalogue.

Agard recalls that his relationship with Rosenstein started when she was a talented freshman in his Intro to Drawing class. Rosenstein, passionate about art and looking for an on-campus job, became Agard's student assistant for four years. After graduation, Rosenstein received her Masters of Fine Arts (MFA) in Painting/Drawing from University of Montana, Missoula and credits part of her desire to attend graduate school to Agard's encouragement.

Agard and Rosenstein have maintained correspondence since Rosenstein's graduation, always keeping each other updated on their current work and continuously learning. "We've both been students with one another and both been teachers for one another," says Rosenstein. "There are so many rich opportunities for learning and growth in fostering relationships with faculty. I feel very grateful."

When approached to curate the exhibition for Agard, Rosenstein did not hesitate. She and Agard will be working closely over the next couple of months to place the finishing touches on the exhibition. Those who visit the exhibition can expect to see many different pieces by Agard, including sculptures, drawings, maquettes, illusional pieces, and iPad drawings.

"I'm excited to see the exhibition in its final form and discover if people can find the commonality through the years of my work," says Agard.

The exhibition "Jim Agard Retrospective" will be open from January 27 to March 9, 2012.

A gallery talk with Agard and Rosenstein will be held in Schmucker Art Gallery on January 27 at noon. Lunch will be provided. An opening reception for Agard's exhibition will follow in Schmucker Art Gallery from 5 to 7 p.m.

All events are free and open to the public.

For more information, contact Shannon Egan, Director of the Schmucker Art Gallery, 717.337.6125

About Agard & Rosenstein

Agard's work is frequently a means to pursue a quality of perception somewhere between mind and body and the ever-changing nature of illusion and reality, usually in the form of drawing, sculptures and maquettes. He has participated in numerous solo and group exhibition and competitions, and his work can also be seen in private collections. Agard received his Bachelor of Science in Art Education from State University of New York at New Paltz and his Master's Degree of Fine Arts from Rutgers University.

Kerri Rosenstein's work often pertains to themes of impermanence, presence and the cycling nature of things, usually in the form of drawing, sculpture, installation and large collaborative efforts. Her work has been shown nationally and internationally, including an exhibition at the Schmucker Art Gallery from September 3 to October 9, 2010. Rosenstein has curated art spaces since 2000 and maintains various roles as an arts educator and facilitator for both academic and alternative programs.

About Schmucker Art Gallery

The 1,600-square-foot Schmucker Art Gallery is a lively art space that displays seven to eight different exhibitions each year. Included in the gallery calendar are shows by local, national, and international contemporary artists, a faculty exhibition, a student exhibition, the annual senior art-major show, and exhibits of works selected from public and private collections.

Founded in 1832, Gettysburg College is a highly selective four-year residential college of liberal arts and sciences with a strong academic tradition. Alumni include Rhodes Scholars, a Nobel laureate, and other distinguished scholars. The college enrolls 2,600 undergraduate students and is located on a 200-acre campus adjacent to the Gettysburg National Military Park in Pennsylvania.

Article by Lindsay Preucil, communications and marketing intern
Contact: Nikki Rhoads, assistant director of communications, 717.337.6803

Late one night in June 1998, Physics Prof. Larry Marschall and Akbar Rizvi ’99 were at the Gettysburg Observatory monitoring the explosion of a supernova. Little did they know, the data they were collecting would become part of research that won the Nobel Prize in Physics more than a decade later.

“I never imagined that our observations made so long ago would become part of an acclaimed body of scientific work,” said Rizvi, a physics and mathematics double major at Gettysburg. “I was quite stunned and pleasantly surprised to hear that some of our collaborators had gone on to win the Nobel.”

Longtime questions in the field of physics revolve around how rapidly the universe is expanding. Physicists have long tried to determine the relation between distance and speed in the universe. The furthest galaxies seem to be receding the fastest, but the precise distance of remote galaxies has proven very hard to measure.

The late 90’s saw a big push for the collection of data regarding supernovas, which are exploding stars so powerful that astronomers thought they might be a key to measuring exact distances. Marschall and research assistant Rizvi were ready to record data when the alert went out that supernova SN1998bu in the galaxy M96 in the Leo group of galaxies, around 38 million light years away, was exploding.

Marschall and Rizvi carefully determined the brightness and the color of this distant supernova to help determine exactly how much light it was giving off.

The data they collected that night helped to calibrate the supernova’s distance scale. These measurements and others, published in the Astrophysical Journal Supplement, contributed to the determination of the speed and distance of this supernova. Forty-two scientists, including Rizvi, Marschall, and two of this year’s Nobel winners, coauthored the publication.

Many such “supernova calibration” papers were written by astronomers during the 1990s, each one contributing a little bit to the establishment of standards of supernova power that could be used to determine the distances to other galaxies too remote to measure any other way.

Eventually, using these calibrations, Saul Perlmutter, Brian Schmidt, and Adam Riess conducted surveys of much more distant galaxies than those observed from Gettysburg, finding, to everyone’s surprise, that not only was the universe expanding, but it was also speeding up! It was being pushed outward by “dark energy,” a mysterious force that acts in a way opposite to gravity. For their work in discovering the accelerating universe, the three astronomers received the 2011 Nobel Prize in Physics.

Marschall has been a coauthor with all three of this year’s prizewinners, Schmidt and Riess in this paper and Perlmutter and Schmidt in an article in Astronomical Journal in 1993.

About Rizvi

A native of Karachi, Pakistan, Rizvi ’99 (pictured above loading liquid nitrogen into a camera at NURO in 1997), a physics and mathematics double major, was the advertising manager for the college newspaper and treasurer of the International Club, in addition to his work as a research assistant at Gettysburg College.

“Gettysburg provided me with an excellent opportunity to do hands-on work at the Gettysburg Observatory,” said Rizvi (pictured at right with Marschall (far left) and other physics students hiking at the Grand Canyon during a 1999 trip to NURO). “Additionally, thanks to Dr. Marschall, I got to carry out many observations at the National Undergraduate Research Observatory (NURO) in Flagstaff, Ariz.”

As a Physics student, Rizvi also had the opportunity to accompany Marschall to the American Astronomical Society meeting in Austin, Texas. He was one of the only undergraduate students there.

Another memorable experience for Rizvi was when he traveled to the National Institute of Standards and Technology in spring 1997 with other students in Prof. Tim Good’s optics class. During that trip he had another close encounter with the Nobel.

“It was a state-of-the-art facility, and we were given a tour by Dr. William D. Phillips, who was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics for his work later that year, which he shared with two other physicists,” said Rizvi. “It was quite a feeling to have met a Nobel Laureate.”

After graduating from Gettysburg, Rizvi pursued graduate studies at West Virginia University, obtaining his M.S. in physics and M.A. in secondary education. He is now teaching math and physics at a charter school in Flagstaff.

“Having made five trips to Flagstaff between 1996 and 1999 for astronomy work at NURO, I never imagined that I would someday end up moving to Flagstaff to teach. It is great being here,” said Rizvi.

About Marschall

Physics Prof. Marschall joined the Gettysburg faculty in 1971. He teaches courses in astronomy, physics, and science writing. Marschall's areas of research include observational studies of binary stars, very young stars, and supernovas and recently, asteroids.

He is known for his work in astronomy education, both in promoting the use of electronic cameras for undergraduate research at small observatories, and in directing Project CLEA (Contemporary Laboratory Experiences in Astronomy), which develops innovative computer exercises in astronomy that are used by tens of thousands of students in all 50 states and 50 foreign countries. Marschall received the 2005 Education Prize from The American Astronomical Society in recognition of his contributions to astronomy education worldwide.

Founded in 1832, Gettysburg College is a highly selective four-year residential college of liberal arts and sciences with a strong academic tradition. Alumni include Rhodes Scholars, a Nobel laureate, and other distinguished scholars. The college enrolls 2,600 undergraduate students and is located on a 200-acre campus adjacent to the Gettysburg National Military Park in Pennsylvania.

Contact: Nikki Rhoads, assistant director of communications, 717.337.6803

Laura Strickler ’95, one of the top investigative journalism producers at the CBS Evening News with Scott Pelley, has used her liberal arts education advantageously.

Strickler spent her college career highly involved with theater and the Center for Public Service (CPS). Strickler admits “CPS was the most influential component of my Gettysburg education, as it exposed me to different communities and experiences.”

Through CPS, Strickler spent a summer in Jamaica educating children, worked in various DC homeless shelters, and met several individuals who influenced her years after graduation. Strickler’s first job was conducting advocacy for children’s issues, a position she acquired networking with those she met through CPS.

While at Gettysburg College, the sociology major remained up to date with current events and considered ways to solve the problems of the day. While working in children's issues advocacy, Strickler noticed how journalists were able to expose corruption and enrolled at Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism.

After working for a few years on Capitol Hill as a public radio reporter, a former professor called Strickler to say that the CBS Evening News was forming a new investigative team with the network’s Chief Investigative Correspondent, Armen Keteyian. Immediately, Strickler jumped at the opportunity to work with the esteemed network and she has remained with CBS News since.

Strickler describes day-to-day life as “always different, fast paced and addictive.” New stories, spotlights, and breaking news create an exciting and changing environment, with journalists responding to spontaneous events and news topics. In Strickler’s unit with five other investigative producers and Keteyian, the televisions are always tuned into news stations, as the reporters could potentially drop everything to switch focus.

Working in the investigative unit differentiates from general news reporters. “We don’t focus on specifically what happened, but why it happened,” Strickler explains. For instance, while covering the Upper Big Branch Mine disaster, Strickler was required to look back at government reports and inspections, focusing mainly on what was known about the mine prior to the accident.

Currently, Strickler is working on both short-term and long-term stories. Covering the political season, Strickler, along with her team, is following money in the campaigns and investigating the candidates’ backgrounds. Short-term stories include the recent Penn State scandal.

For students aspiring to be news reporters or journalists, Strickler recommends pursuing a strong background in economics: “My one regret is that I never took an economics course in undergrad. Majoring in economics would have undeniably prepared me for my current career. When discussing and analyzing politics, almost all of it centralizes around the current economy. It’s truly a part of every story I write.”

Strickler also advises that students study Mandarin or Arabic, as both languages are the root of many global issues and events.

Becoming involved and gaining writing experience is equally important. “Look at your environment as an investigative opportunity,” Strickler suggests, “and think about how you would cover the relevant issues. Sports and the Greek system are both great examples as they are significant on Gettysburg College campus.”

Proud of her Gettysburg degree, Strickler has been assisting current students gain exposure and experience in the media world. Josh Scheinblum ’11 interned with Strickler working on a story for the network that eventually won an Emmy for Outstanding Investigative Journalism in a Regularly Scheduled Newscast (Strickler pictured above, with her award). With an Emmy in hand and countless priceless experiences, Strickler has turned an interest in public service into an amazing and unique career.

Read more about Scheinblum's internship with Strickler here.
Find out what Scheinblum is up to now here.

Founded in 1832, Gettysburg College is a highly selective four-year residential college of liberal arts and sciences with a strong academic tradition. Alumni include Rhodes Scholars, a Nobel laureate, and other distinguished scholars. The college enrolls 2,600 undergraduate students and is located on a 200-acre campus adjacent to the Gettysburg National Military Park in Pennsylvania.

Article by Libby Conroy, office of communications and marketing intern
Contact: Nikki Rhoads, assistant director of communications, 717.337.6803

Educator, author, and civil rights advocate Dr. Bettye F. Baker will speak at the 32nd annual Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration January 23. The event will be held in Gettysburg College’s Christ Chapel at 7 p.m. Admission is free and the public is invited to attend.

Baker has been a teacher and educational consultant for more than 25 years. She has written political and opinion pieces, book reviews and poetry, and published a children’s picture book, “What is Black.” Baker is married to Lieutenant Colonel (ret.) William Baker, the last official researcher of the Brownsville, Texas, Incident of 1906. Baker’s research resulted in the reversal of President Theodore Roosevelt’s decision to discharge without honor 167 African American soldiers for shooting up the town of Brownsville.

The event will also feature performances by lyric soprano Jessica Gondwe, pianist Jocelyn Swigger, and the Gettysburg Children’s Choir. The Biglerville High School Jazz Band will perform as a prelude to the event at 6:40 p.m.

The annual Living the Dream Award will be presented during the event to a local resident whose life and work supports King’s dream of freedom and equality for all. The award is sponsored by the YWCA Gettysburg & Adams County and the United Way of Adams County.

A freewill offering will be collected to support the Adams County Career Aid Project, which provides need-based financial aid to Adams County students. Unlike many other educational aid programs, ACCAP provides assistance to students of all ages. This year, ACCAP has awarded more than $11,300 to students attending Harrisburg Area Community College, Penn State University, West Chester University, Shippensburg University, McDaniel College, the Baltimore School of Massage, and Albright College, among many others.

Free shuttle service to Christ Chapel from the college’s Constitution and Master’s parking lots will be available from 6:15 to 7 p.m. with return service beginning at 8 p.m. Free child care will be available in the college’s Weidensall Hall during the event. For more information on the event or ACCAP, call Adrienne Camel at 717-334-7634, ext. 147.

Founded in 1832, Gettysburg College is a highly selective four-year residential college of liberal arts and sciences with a strong academic tradition that includes Rhodes Scholars, a Nobel laureate and other distinguished scholars among its alumni. The college enrolls 2,600 undergraduate students and is located on a 200-acre campus adjacent to the Gettysburg National Military Park in Pennsylvania.

Contact: Kendra Martin, director of media relations & news content, 717-337-6801

Political expert Jennifer Donahue, Cardin Fellow of Public Policy at Gettysburg College’s Eisenhower Institute, predicts that despite strong numbers heading into this week’s primary, support for presidential candidate Mitt Romney will erode in New Hampshire.

“It’s a tall order to beat Romney, but I will say that they will whittle him down. And that’s the intent of every one of them,” said Donahue of the other GOP candidates on the Jan. 4 edition of Hardball with Chris Matthews. “I think you’re going to see Romney’s numbers fall to earth.”

When asked further about Romney’s strong polling numbers, she continued, “This is an unpredictable state. You’re going to see a lot of people who are Democrats, who are registered Independents, pick up ballots for the Republican ticket, and vote for Huntsman, and vote for Paul. They are going to send a message. New Hampshire always sends a message.”

Additionally, Donahue confirmed the possible influence of a large number of former Massachusetts residents now living in New Hampshire.

“[There] are people who moved out of Massachusetts because of Romneycare and because they’re Tea Party voters, and they don’t like the way Massachusetts was being governed under Mitt Romney. So there’s a real protest vote that could develop,” she said.

While Donahue admits that Romney’s reputation as a “fix-it” candidate could serve him well with voters who are concerned about the state of the economy, she also asserts that he has not won over voters concerned about other issues -- a topic she discussed on the Jan. 5 edition of CNN’s Starting Point with Soledad O’Brien.

“Conservatives who care about social issues, and who care about issues other than the economy, just haven’t coalesced around him. He doesn’t seem to have that retail campaign ability that sucks people in, and gets them to look him in the eye and say, ‘I like this man. I want him to be my president.’”

Donahue believes that a lot of undecided conservative voters in New Hampshire may come together in support of Rick Santorum. She says that Santorum is picking up steam in New Hampshire, doing retail campaign events that make a difference. Santorum is working the grassroots and is connecting with voters in New Hampshire, and is in a position to take advantage of the momentum he gained in Iowa.

In addition to her work with the Eisenhower Institute of Gettysburg College, Donahue is a Huffington Post featured contributor, and regularly provides live commentary for MSNBC's Hardball with Chris Matthews and CNN's American Morning and Anderson Cooper 360. She also appears on ABC’s World News Tonight and Nightline, the CBS Evening News and NBC Nightly News. Donahue has been quoted in the New York Times, Washington Post, Newsweek, USA Today and The Boston Globe.

The Eisenhower Institute is a distinguished center for leadership and public policy that prepares the successor generation to perfect the promise of the nation and honors the legacy of Dwight D. Eisenhower.

Founded in 1832, Gettysburg College is a highly selective four-year residential college of liberal arts and sciences with a strong academic tradition. Alumni include Rhodes Scholars, a Nobel laureate, and other distinguished scholars. The college enrolls 2,600 undergraduate students and is located on a 200-acre campus adjacent to the Gettysburg National Military Park in Pennsylvania.

Contact: Nikki Rhoads, assistant director of communications, 717.337.6803

Josh Scheinblum '11 is living his dream.

After graduating from Gettysburg College with a degree in political science, he moved to Cedar Rapids, Iowa and became a reporter for KGAN/KFXA, the local CBS and Fox television news affiliate. Scheinblum has covered everything from the 2011 floods of Dubuque County to a visit from President Barack Obama. And now he is a part of history in the making as he reports live from the 2012 Iowa caucuses.

Scheinblum recently caught up with his alma mater and answered a few questions about his experiences since he graduated this past May.

What do you do?

I am the primary morning show reporter for "CBS 2 This Morning" and the "Fox News at 7 AM" for KGAN/KFXA based out of Cedar Rapids, Iowa. I also do packages for broadcasts at noon (CBS), 5 and 6 p.m. (CBS), 9 p.m. (Fox), and 10 p.m. (CBS).

What is your favorite part of your job?

My favorite part of my job is covering stories that are on the national scene. I have had some pretty cool moments being assigned the same stories as people I worked with/met when I interned at CBS - from Presidential visits to presidential candidate campaign stops. One moment I will never forget was when I covered President Obama's visit to Peosta, Iowa. Sitting with the Washington press pool next to Wolf Blitzer, while talking politics with Norah O'Donnell, and debating baseball with Chuck Todd, in between live shots was the moment for me when I knew all of the hard work I put in when I was in school was paying off.

Who have you covered so far in the 2012 presidential race?

Since July I have covered Michelle Bachmann, Ron Paul, Mitt Romney, and Rick Santorum. I have been given the opportunity to ask questions of Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum. I haven't had a conversation with fellow Gettysburg alum Ron Paul '57 yet, but I hope our paths cross.

Do the polls reflect what you are seeing and hearing on the ground?

It's hard to say if the poll numbers actually represent what is going on in the state, but at least for Santorum, I think that is definitely the case. In the last couple weeks he has surged into the polls into third place. I can tell you in my experience, there was hardly anyone at the campaign stops where I covered him five months ago other than a few members of the local press and his staff. But now, his events have been packed with supporters and local/national media alike. I am really curious to see how he finishes tonight.

What has been the highlight of your career so far?

Fun little Gettysburg story: I did a story on Rick Santorum when I first started at KGAN and before I interviewed him we spent some time reminiscing how he had been a guest on my radio show, "The Josh and Jeff Experience," when I was in college. Today I spent my day doing live shots explaining to folks how the caucuses actually work, I think political science Prof. Bruce Larson would have been proud.

Caucus day is here in Iowa!!! I'm live at one of Linn county's larger spots (st. Mark's, Marion) to tell you how it all works!

— Josh Scheinblum (@joshshiney) January 3, 2012

Founded in 1832, Gettysburg College is a highly selective four-year residential college of liberal arts and sciences with a strong academic tradition. Alumni include Rhodes Scholars, a Nobel laureate, and other distinguished scholars. The college enrolls 2,600 undergraduate students and is located on a 200-acre campus adjacent to the Gettysburg National Military Park in Pennsylvania.

Contact: Tracey Dukert, assistant director of news content, 717.337.6521

In 1999, four faculty members from what was then the Women Studies Program traveled to Haiti to give workshops on feminist theory and learn about the work of women's organizations there. Their ongoing connection to the country led to them providing assistance following the devastating 2010 earthquake. However, they wanted to do more. The first step was raising awareness of Haiti's problems in the campus community.

Women, Gender and Sexuality (WGS) faculty, along with the Eisenhower Institute (EI), worked to better inform the campus community about ways in which Haiti continues to recover from the earthquake. The result was a semester-long program of lunch and learns, "Eyes on Haiti."

The series began in September 2011 with the film screening and discussion of "Nou Bouke: Haiti's Past, Present and Future," which helped to put contemporary Haiti into historical perspective.

The next event was a talk by Marie St. Cyr, director of the Lambi Fund, a Haitian NGO initiated in Haiti and supported by Haitian Americans. Her moving talk, "A Model for Rebirth: Lambi Fund in Partnership with Rural Farmers," focused on the idea that Haiti does not want to be endlessly dependent on the outside world for survival.

Paul Austerlitz, of the Gettysburg College music department and Sunderman Conservatory, also shared his experiences in Haiti with a talk, "Vodou, Music and Liberation in Haiti."

He was followed by Richard Kurin, Under Secretary for History, Art, and Culture at the Smithsonian Museums in Washington, DC, who oversees the Smithsonian Cultural Recovery Project in Haiti. His illustrated lecture demonstrated how Haiti's extensive artistic legacy is being rescued, safeguarded and restored in the wake of the quake.

Katherine Conway Turner, Provost of Hood College and Education Director for H.O.P.E., an American-based NGO working in northern Haiti, described a mobile classroom project that brings education to young people in a hard-to-reach mountain area.

The culminating event in November was a panel discussion, "Help for Haiti," featuring Diane Duarte from Madre and Angela Bruce-Raeburn of Oxfam America. This well-attended program brought together key representatives from major NGO's to discuss safety for women in tent camps, work projects that employ Haitians and the proliferation of unregulated NGO's.

In addition to the EI, funding for "Eyes on Haiti" was provided by twelve College departments and programs, many of which offered classes tied to the Haiti lectures. Citizens from the local community also attended the Lunch and Learn sessions, adding to the lively discussions that followed each lecture. An Immersion Experience in January 2012 will allow students to travel to the Dominican Republic and Haitian refugee camps there under the auspices of the Gettysburg College Center for Public Service.

Founded in 1832, Gettysburg College is a highly selective four-year residential college of liberal arts and sciences with a strong academic tradition. Alumni include Rhodes Scholars, a Nobel laureate, and other distinguished scholars. The college enrolls 2,600 undergraduate students and is located on a 200-acre campus adjacent to the Gettysburg National Military Park in Pennsylvania.

Article by Janet M. Powers, Professor Emerita of Interdisciplinary Studies and Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies
Contact: Nikki Rhoads, assistant director of communications, 717.337.6803

Everyone is talking about what's wrong with college athletics, from cover-up scandals to outlandish salaries, but nobody is talking about what's right. And what's right is mostly in Division III. 

Division I has become a big business - with coaches being paid in the millions instead of the thousands, arenas and stadiums receiving upgrades and luxury boxes, and the question of whether or not the student-athletes should be paid.  

Division III is not a stand-alone big business barely connected to a college or university, but instead a core part of an institution's mission of developing students. Division III is the last true bastion of amateur athletics after the interscholastic level. Student-athletes in Division III play for the love of the game and they attend the institution not looking for a professional sports contract, but instead a degree that will lead them into their professional life. This is the experience for some 163,200 student-athletes annually who participate in Division III. 

Part of the problem at Penn State, Ohio State, and Syracuse is that individuals became bigger than the institution. At Gettysburg College, we focus on the development of every individual - student-athletes, coaches, and staff. For our student-athletes, we don't make a choice between athletic achievement and academic excellence. We choose both. Our list of Academic All-Americans totals 23 selections and in fact, historically, the GPA of athletes has been equal to and sometimes higher than the GPA of the overall student body.

At Gettysburg College, we don't turn our student-athletes into commodities; but rather into principled and broadly educated leaders. To lead our athletic department, we don't bring in CEOS and corporate executives who have dedicated their lives to maximizing the bottom line. We hire mentors who have dedicated their lives to maximizing the opportunities for student-athletes.

Division I programs live in a bubble; Division III lives as an integrated and core part of the institution. And athletics is a critical part of the co-curricular program at Gettysburg College.

It is disappointing that scandals and rules infractions are encircling Division I athletic programs. The win-at-all-cost mentality is a result of the pressure that these programs are under from the institutions that are paying their salaries. The more pressure to win, the more the integrity of the process is compromised.

Division III coaches are under pressure as well - usually self-imposed because they want to be successful. The coaches I work with, however, know that integrity in collegiate athletics and building character in their student-athletes are paramount.

Dave Wright is the athletic director at Gettysburg College, a four-year college of liberal arts and sciences that competes in the NCAA Division III Centennial Conference. He is also the former head men's soccer coach at Gettysburg, and was a first-team All-America soccer player at SUNY Cortland.