Chapman University - PR - Happenings: June 29, 2009

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— Week of June 29, 2009 —

Free Family-Friendly Summer Concerts at the Piazza

Get those dancing shoes ready for Friday nights. Chapman's Summer Concert Series of family-oriented live performances on the Wells Fargo Stage in Fahmy Attallah Piazza starts July 31 at 6 p.m. with the sweet and easy Big Band sounds of the Orange County Swing Band. On Aug. 14, it's time for some beach-blanket bingo with Surfin' USA, featuring Beach Boys hits and good-time rock. And Aug. 21 — back by popular demand — The Alley Cats, America's premier doo-wop group, return with their incredible a cappella energy.

Bring low-back lawn chairs, blankets and a picnic dinner. We'll provide the free popcorn, lemonade and coffee. Parking in the Lastinger structure (under the stadium — enter from Walnut Avenue) is also free. No smoking or barbecue grills on campus. For more information, call 714-997-6681 or visit www.chapman.edu/summerconcerts.

Dean Bob Bassett Appointed to Asian Filmmakers Association Board

Given the many Asian initiatives of Dodge College of Film and Media Arts, it seemed only natural that Dean Bob Bassett was invited to address the opening ceremonies of the recently created Pacific Rim Asian Filmmakers Association or PAFA. Dean Bassett was introduced to PAFA President Philliph Yoo, a Korean filmmaker, by Sue Kint, a member of Chapman's Board of Governors, who brought Yoo to Chapman for a tour of Marion Knott Studios.

The new organization seeks to provide networking opportunities for Asian filmmakers in the United States and around the Pacific Rim. "This wonderful young organization provides another opportunity for us to connect our young filmmakers with working filmmakers along the Pacific Rim. It also fits in with our focus on Asia through our programs in Singapore, Korea, Cambodia and Taiwan," said Bassett, who also was appointed to the PAFA Board of Directors.

Record for Chapman: 12 student-athletes named to All-American teams

Twelve Chapman University student-athletes were named to their respective All-America teams during the 2008-09 academic year, a record for the Panthers. In the 1995-96 academic year, Chapman had 10 All-Americans. The award is based on athletic achievement.

"This is a tribute to our coaches, faculty, administration and outstanding generosity of our donors," said Director of Athletics David Currey. "I'm so proud of our student-athletes. We have come so far and so far and yet we feel we are just getting started."

The record number of All-America athletes at Chapman comes in the same year when the Donald P. Kennedy Intercollegiate Athletics Program moved into its new home in the Lastinger Athletics Complex, which opened last fall. "Chapman's new facilities are some of the finest in Division III and here's proof that our student-athletes are as well," Currey said.

Headlining the Chapman All-Americans are a trio of three-time honorees: Jill Felger (volleyball), Alex Mulé (men's water polo) and Wayde Kitchens (baseball). All three are the first in their sports to earn All-America honors three times at Chapman. Liz Lewis (women's tennis) is a two-time All-America selection.

The others: Linda Ly (volleyball), Austin McElvaney (men's water polo), Kelley Fox (women's tennis), Clifford Yook (men's tennis), John Semel (baseball), Tristan Phillips (baseball), Sabrina Cook (women's water polo) and Celia Huling (women's water polo).

Five of the 12 student-athletes have graduated, so the other seven will likely return for the 2009-10 school year. Semel - a junior - was drafted by the New York Mets in this month's baseball draft, but would be eligible to come back to the Panthers if he opts not to sign a contract.

Mulé will attempt to become Chapman's first four-time All-America selection since Jessamine Maiben '98 (softball) when he takes the pool for his senior season in September.

Bravo! Young baritone to sing title role of Figaro in Italy

Efrain Solis performing in an opera Just getting to travel to Italy as a teen is pretty awesome. But singing the lead in a famous opera in Rome — wow! Sophomore Efrain Solis, 19, a student at Chapman University's Conservatory of Music, will sing the title role in Le Nozze di Figaro in Operafestival di Roma from July 21-25. He will be joined by his voice teacher, Peter Atherton, associate professor of music and Chapman's director of operatic studies, who will direct the production in Rome.

Solis, who is from Santa Ana and will graduate in 2011 with a vocal performance degree, will sing in the 15th century courtyard of S. Ivo alla Sapienza in central Rome. (You can check out this famous Baroque building at http://www.greatbuildings.com/buildings/S._Ivo_della_Sapienza.html.) Some of Solis' classmates will be singing in various opera festivals throughout Italy.

Chapman's Conservatory of Music has an enviable record of former students singing roles in the great opera houses of the world — the Metropolitan, Covent Garden, Vienna Opera and La Scala.

More info: For tickets (http://interensemble.org). To learn more about Operafestival di Roma programs (www.operafest.com). To help Efrain Solis and other opera students defray the cost of their trip, contact Professor Atherton at ext: 2085 or email him at: atherton@chapman.edu.

Watch a clip from one of his Chapman performances!

"Friend" the art collection on Facebook!

This is pretty cool for Facebook/art lovers. Curator Maggi Owens now has Chapman University's permanent collection of art up on Facebook. If you're a member of Facebook, search for the page under "Chapman University Permanent Collection of Art." Also, click on the link she has on Facebook — www.chapman.edu/permanentArtCollection/ — and you'll see the latest acquisitions to the collection. Since 2000, Chapman's permanent collection has grown to 300 pieces and is worth $2 million.

Come on baby, light my tower — with different colors

Thanks to LED technology, the Alumni Tower on Beckman Hall can now use different colors in its lighting on holidays and other special days — and save energy to boot. "We are replacing the existing inefficient high-energy-consuming light fixtures with new LED fixtures that can produce an equal or greater amount of light for just a small fraction of the utility cost," said Kris Eric Olsen, executive vice president for campus planning and operations. "These LED can also produce any color imaginable, which can be done through computer programming to sequence as many colors at whatever interval we choose." Holiday colors are planned for Christmas and Hanukkah, "as well as orange for Halloween, Chapman's colors for sporting events, green for St. 'Day, etc. Of course we will still do the current bright white light that is our every-night standard for the tower," Olsen said.

Construction Updates

The Residence Center — The brand-spanking-new $46 million residence hall opens to students in mid-August. (Dining commons, conference center, rock climbing wall, etc.) View live webcams (webcam 1, or webcam 2) of the work.
Human Resources moves to DeMille Hall mid-July.
Alumni Relations returns to the Alumni House mid-July, following repairs from last year's fire.

This Week on TV

Dialogue With Doti and Dodge

Tuesday, June 30 at 11:30 p.m. and Sunday, July 5 at 11 a.m. on KOCE-TV: John Hall, associate professor of law, Jeff Swimmer, associate professor of film and media arts, and students Emily Wilkinson, Zac Petrillo and Sasha Milonova, all creators of the documentary "Giant Steps."

Dialogue with Doti and Dodge also airs on the OC Channel:
Monday,Wednesday, Friday and Sunday at 7:30 a.m.
Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday at 8 a.m. and 7 p.m.

Wednesday, July 1, 8:30 a.m., on KOCE-TV

Show host Larry Santora, M.D., and his patient Carol Stedman re-enact her heart attack treatment in the emergency room. Brennan Peterson, Ph.D., assistant professor of psychology, discusses how infertility emotionally affects both men and women.

Sunday, July 5, 8:30 a.m., on the OC Channel

Melvyn Sterling, M.D., showcases the advances in treatment for chronic pain. Shalizeh Shokooh, M.D., describes how best to detect and treat heart disease in women. Show host Larry Santora, M.D., explains the difference between long and short exercise sessions.

The OC Channel, which is a partnership between KOCE and Chapman University, may be viewed on Channel 50.2 on digital television, Channel 235 on Time Warner, Channel 810 on Cox Communications Cable and Channel 470 on Verizon Fios.

Staff & Faculty Notes

Congrats to Behzad Binesh, who has been promoted to the position of associate vice president for finance and controller, and Mike Price, who has been promoted to assistant vice president for finance and budget. Behzad and Mike have served Chapman for many years. Behzad started his Chapman career as a student in July 1978, and Mike began his Chapman career in October 1982.

Jennifer Backhaus, adjunct professor of dance, has been named to OC Metro's "40 Under 40" list, which includes some of the most successful young movers and shakers in Orange County. The interview can be found at http://www.ocmetro.com/t-CoverStory_40Under40_25_JENNIFER_BACKHAUS0509.aspx.

Tibor R. Machan, R. C. Hoiles Chair in Business Ethics and Free Enterprise at the Argyros School of Business and Economics, had his paper "What Rights Do We Have?" accepted for publication in The Journal of Value Inquiry.

Liz Maxwell, assistant professor of dance, was invited to perform her solo "Return" in Anatomy Riot, an ongoing monthly dance/performance series curated by Meg Wolfe and guest curators to provide a platform for local artists to share new and upcoming works. This installment was a collection of dance works guest curated by UC Riverside professor Anna B. Scott and UCLA graduate student Arianne Hoffman.

We're all atwitter about Twitter

Keep up to date on the latest events and news about Chapman University by following ChapmanPR on Twitter. Click on this link to follow: www.twitter.com/chapmanpr

Tell us what you're doing this summer

Just get back from a super vacation or planning one? Or maybe you're hanging around the beach or tending your garden? Perhaps you've got a new addition to the family — grandchild, niece, nephew ... Even a family pet. We'd love to hear what you're up to this summer for Happenings. Send to pr@chapman.edu. (We love photos and video, so don't be bashful! And you've got a July 4 weekend, so get those cameras out!)

Here are a few to get us started:

Knit 1, purl 2: Diana McCabe, writer for Chapman communications/media: I am frantically trying to knit a scarf to mail to Scotland as part of a global charity project. The knitted materials will be joined together and mounted on ramparts on the Skye Bridge. Later, the items will be sold to raise money for charity. My piece needs to be done so I can mail it out to arrive in Scotland by Sept. 25. (I am a very, very slow knitter and a beginner to boot!) Here's a link to the project if you're interested: http://www.stitchesonthebridge.co.uk/index.asp?pageid=124090

Wish you were there? If you can't get to Europe this summer, read about it and see it live on the Web. Chapman students are posting daily as they trek through London, Paris and Rome, led by Chapman's Lee Estes, Ph.D., associate professor of history, and Bill Cumiford, Ph.D., associate professor history. Check out their blog (and see some great photos) here: /wilkinson/history/travelBlog.asp

Happenings, Chapman University's faculty and staff newsletter, is published by the
Office of Communications and Media Relations.

Send your Happenings news and feedback to pr@chapman.edu, or by campus mail to the PR Department.
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