Case Western Reserve Nursing Student Spending Third Summer with Orphans in Rwanda
Since childhood, Rachel Ballen, a second-year student at Case Western Reserve University's Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing, has been fascinated by Africa. A trip with her family to South Africa in 1998 sealed the deal.
Now, 10 years later, Ballen, who hails from Katonah, N.Y., is getting ready to leave in July for her third consecutive trip to Rwanda, where she works at an orphanage in the village of Rwamagana.
Ballen wanted to be a part of a long-term, self-initiated community service project, rather than a quick mission where a team visits a community, builds or repairs a structure and goes back home, never to return again. Read more.
School of Law Alumnus Honored as One of the Most Influential African Americans in the United States
Case Western Reserve University School of Law alumnus John Fitzgerald Harris was recently named as one of the 150 most influential African Americans in the United States by Ebony magazine.
Harris is currently the assistant general counsel for Ford Motor Company.
The editors of Ebony, as well as national experts and leaders in the fields of politics and law, business, religion, arts, entertainment and media, education, military and public service, are consulted for this ranking. Read more.
Campus News
The June 25 Campus Summer Barbecue on the Crawford deck will feature 14-hour smoked Texas barbecue brisket and Andouille chicken sausage. Slaws, potato salad and black bean salad, along with grilled bananas and ice cream for dessert, will finish out the menu. Admission price of $7.95 includes the main dish and salad, featured beverage and dessert. Bottled water and sodas are extra. All summer barbecues feature hamburgers and vegetarian options. Instrumental guitarist and multiple "best of" award nominee Doug Wood will entertain the crowd. In the event of rain, Wood will perform in Tomlinson Marketplace.
Beginning the week of June 30, traffic on Cornell Road will be reduced from three lanes to two lanes due to construction. One lane of the northbound and southbound automobile traffic will be maintained throughout the construction process, as will the east sidewalk of Cornell (the west sidewalk of Cornell will be closed along with the west lane). Pedestrians will be instructed to use the crosswalk located south of the overhead bridge on Cornell Road to cross the street.
For Faculty and Staff
The deadline to submit claims for reimbursement from 2007 Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) is June 30. Claims must be for eligible health care and/or dependent care expenses that were incurred between January 1 and December 31, 2007. Completed claim forms and proper expense documentation should be mailed to: Meritain Health, 19800 Detroit Road, Cleveland, Ohio 44116-1816. Health care FSA claim forms and dependent care FSA claim forms are available online, as well as information about the spending account programs. Call Benefits Administration at 368-6781 or Meritain Health at (877) 801-1500 with questions.
The Staff Advisory Council (SAC) is accepting nominations for representatives through June 25. Eligibility for membership on the council is defined as all regular, full or part-time, exempt and non-exempt, non-faculty employees with at least six months of service with the university. Representatives will be elected for a two-year term. Terms of membership begin on the third Monday of September of every year. The following management centers will be filling positions this term: the College of Arts and Sciences, Case School of Engineering, the School of Law, the School of Medicine and the Weatherhead School of Management. Employees are invited to nominate themselves. Send all nominations via e-mail to Robin Kramer, with the subject line "SAC Elections Committee." Call Kramer at 368-5942 with questions.
Case Western Reserve employees, as well as employees of other University Circle institutions, are invited to the Housing Fair Happy Hour from 4-7 p.m., June 26 at Park Lane Villa, 10510 Park Lane. Attendees can learn more about the recently announced Greater Circle Living initiative, which offers home buyer assistance, rental assistance and home improvement grant programs for those interested in living near University Circle, and speak directly with housing specialists. Enjoy complimentary food in the newly restored historic Park Lane Villa ballroom. For information, send an e-mail to Tom Mignogna or Melissa Salon.
For Students
The Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences is offering its award-winning International Short-Term Immersion Courses for graduate and undergraduate students to Bangladesh and El Salvador in December. Students can earn three credit hours. The Bangladesh program will take place December 27 through January 11, 2009, and the El Salvador experience will take place December 6-13. In addition, plans are being made for spring break 2009 trips to Israel, Guatemala and the Netherlands. Learn more.
Events
The Recognitions, a collaborative project of the Cleveland Foundation, Case Western Reserve University and the Cleveland Institute of Art, will have an opening reception from 5-7 p.m., June 26 at the Cleveland Foundation, 1422 Euclid Avenue, suite 1300. No RSVP is required.The exhibit, on display through September 15, was curated by Arnaud Gerspacher, a graduate of the art history and art program.
RePlay for Kids is hosting a toy repair workshop to benefit children with disabilities from 4-6 p.m. today in Nord Hall, Room 310. RePlay for Kids is a tax-exempt, nonprofit organization of volunteers who repair and adapt toys and assistive devices for children with disabilities.
Refer to the Web event calendar for a list of events and activities on campus and in the community today and in the days ahead.
The views and opinions of those invited to speak on campus do not necessarily reflect the views of the university administration or any other segment of the university community.
