UPbeat

News for and about University of Portland faculty and staff.

11-02-2015

Synod on the Family Forum, Nov. 12

Pope FrancisFaculty from the theology department will engage in a forum-style discussion on the outcomes and implications of the 2015 Synod on the Family on Thursday, November 12, at 7:30 p.m., in Shiley Hall Room 301. Many complex issues are being addressed by the Synod, including the status of divorced and remarried Catholics and that of homosexual members of the Church; artificial birth control in married life; issues of economic justice and immigration; as well as other topics pertaining to family life situations in a wide variety of cultural settings in the contemporary world. Starting with the historical context of the Synod, the forum will address the complex ethical issues and problems pertaining to these topics.

For more information contact the theology department at x7274 or theo@up.edu.

Student Threats And Faculty Responsibilities

U of P

At the May 2015 Faculty Development Day session on responding to student mental health problems, several questions were posed by faculty concerning how they must respond to student threats of self-harm. Specifically, there were questions about whether such self-disclosure on students’ parts should be kept confidential, or are faculty members mandated reporters of such things, even if the student asks that the professor not say anything? Are faculty liable when students follow through on threats to hurt or kill themselves?

Facilitators Will Meek and Karen Eifler recorded the questions and brought them to the University’s general counsel, Danielle Hermanny (pictured). The document available at this link provides fairly succinct yet detailed answers to those questions. The document has been vetted by outside legal counsel as well, but Hermanny cautions that this serves only as general guide, and every case is unique. If faculty have specific questions about responsibility or liability where student disclosures of intent to harm themselves are concerned, Hermanny invites them to contact her at hermannd@up.edu or x8715. For more information contact Karen Eifler at eifler@up.edu.

“Unfolding Sacred Scripture” with Michael Cameron, Nov. 9

Staff and faculty portraitsUP theology professor Michael Cameron shares from his new book, Unfolding Sacred Scripture: How Catholics Read the Bible, on Monday, Nov. 9, at 7:15 p.m., in the Pilot House Bookstore, in celebration of the 50th anniversary of The Constitution on Divine Revelation from the Second Vatican Council. In his book, Cameron presents a distinctively Catholic way of understanding Scripture as an “audible sacrament” – a way that Christ offers himself to humankind in the form of spoken words. The event is free and open to all, and is sponsored by the Garaventa Center. Refreshments will be served.

For more information, contact the Garaventa Center at 7702 or garaventa@up.edu.

Kenna Women’s Leadership Forum: Joane Moceri, Nov. 10

U of PThe second Kenna Women’s Leadership Forum of the year will be Tuesday, November 10, at 7 p.m., in Franz Hall Room 120. Nursing dean Joane Moceri will share the story of her path to leadership, the decisions and choices along the way, and the unique gifts and challenges to being a woman in her role.

The Kenna Women’s Leadership Forum connects students with dynamic and successful women leaders from UP and the greater community to highlight the idea that to “Lead Like A Woman” is to lead from women’s unique experiences and perspectives. All students, faculty, and staff are welcome.

For more information contact Molly Cullen, residence life, at 7569 or cullen@up.edu.

Prayers for Peace, Nov. 11

prayers for peace copyIn honor of Veteran’s Day, international students and others from the UP community will offer public calls for peace in their native language on Wednesday, November 11, at 2 p.m., at the Buckley Center International Peace Garden. The service is co-sponsored by international student services and the Garaventa Center.

For more information or if interested in offering a prayer, contact international student services at iss@up.edu.

Lunch & Learn Session, Nov. 10

positive thinking dreamstimeThe human resources office’s Lunch & Learn session, “How Optimism Can Improve Your Quality of Life” by Lisa Mitchell of Cascade Centers, will take place on Tuesday, November 10, from noon to 1 p.m., in the Clark Library conference room (no. 222). Mitchell posits that people can change their outlook on life in a positive way, which can change their quality of life. A definition of optimism, how to think differently, and a process to help people be more optimistic will be provided.

For more information contact HR at hr@up.edu.

David Brooks Tickets On Sale Monday, Nov. 2

brooks copyNew York Times columnist David Brooks will speak on Wednesday, March 16, 2016, at 7 p.m., in the Chiles Center. Tickets go on sale Monday, November 2 and can be purchased by calling the Chiles Center box office at x7525 between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Faculty and staff will be limited to two tickets each and the cost per ticket is $10. A total of 650 free tickets are available for UP students with a limit of one ticket per person. When those tickets are gone, UP students may purchase a ticket for $10. General admission tickets are $20, and preferred seating is $25, with a limited number available.

Brooks is also an analyst on PBS Newshour and National Public Radio’s All Things Considered, a frequent contributor on Meet the Press, and author of The Road to Character. His previous books include The Social Animal, On Paradise Drive, and Bobos in Paradise.

Brooks’ lecture is sponsored in part by UP’s Dundon-Berchtold Institute for Moral Formation and Applied Ethics and by Nossa Familia Coffee and AAA Oregon/Idaho.

For more information on Brooks and The Road to Character go to: http://theroadtocharacter.com/.

Schoenfeldt Distinguished Writer Martin Flanagan, Nov. 5

flanaganRenowned Australian writer Martin Flanagan will speak and read from his work as the fall 2015 guest of the Schoenfeldt Distinguished Writers Series. His talk will take place on Thursday, November 5, at 7 p.m., in the Bauccio Commons Boardroom, and is free and open to the public.

Flanagan is the author of 13 books of fiction, nonfiction, and poems, including The Call, an imaginative reconstruction of the life of Tom Wills, the founder of Australian football, which was adapted into a play in 2004. Martin’s other books include collections of his newspaper essays, several books about his beloved “footy,” an autobiographical novel (Going Away), and a masterful inquiry into sport and violence and Australian character called The Game in Time of War. He is also the author, with his late father Arch Flanagan, of The Line, based on Arch’s experiences on the infamous Burma Railway, when he was enslaved by the Imperial Japanese Army during the Second World War.

Widely considered Australia’s finest journalist, Flanagan was born into a large family in Tasmania (one of his brothers is the novelist Richard Flanagan, winner of the 2014 Booker Award) and graduated in law from the University of Tasmania in 1975. He and his family live in Melbourne, where he writes for The Age newspaper on sport, politics, Australian culture, and the relationship between indigenous and non-indigenous Australians. His most recent work, The Short Long Book, is about Aboriginal footballer Michael Long.

The Schoenfeldt Distinguished Writers Series was founded in 1988 by Rev. Arthur Schoenfeldt, C.S.C., of the University’s Holy Cross community, and his sister, University regent Suzanne Schoenfeldt Fields, in honor of their parents. Twice each year (usually in February and October), Schoenfeldt guest writers offer a public reading and also visit students and faculty during their time on The Bluff, especially in literature, science, and journalism classes.

For more information contact Brian Doyle at 8225 or bdoyle@up.edu.

“Retirement Security Solutions” with Ted Wheeler, Nov. 3

Ted wheelerOregon State Treasurer Ted Wheeler will discuss how the state and individuals can create justice and security for retirees, one of the fastest growing segments of the population, on Tuesday, Nov. 3, at 7:15 p.m., in Franz Hall Room 120. The event is free and open to all, and is sponsored by the Garaventa Center. Refreshments will be served.

For more information, contact the Garaventa Center at x7702 or garaventa@up.edu.