Regional September 11th, Interdependence & Constitution Day Events

Penn State Worthington Scranton is a major participant in a week-long series of community observances that begins Sunday, September 11th  continues with Interdependence Day on Tuesday, September 12th and culminates with Constitution Day on Monday, September 19th.

September 11th is the Fourth Anniversary of the terrorists attacks marked by incidents at the New York World Trade Center, The Pentagon in Washington, D.C. and an airline crash western Pennsylvania. Penn State Worthington Scranton has scheduled a Campus Open House from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. in the Gallagher Conference Center on that day. A moment of silence during that event will commemorate lives lost on that day and hope retained.

"We believe that bringing people to our campus, curious about education and filled with hope for their future, is the finest expression of freedom we can offer," said Dr. Mary-Beth Krogh-Jespersen, chancellor of Penn State Worthington Scranton. "Belief in the future is the driving subtext of education and a full expression of the freedom we in America hold so dear," she said.

Penn State Worthington Scranton will mark Interdependence Day 2005 on Tuesday, September 12th with a regional seminar entitled: "Conflict Resolution and How It Relates To Today's Global Environment."  The seminar will take place in the K. Bruce Sherbine Lounge from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. The innovative seminar was developed and coordinated through the Penn State Worthington Scranton Student Government. It will join Penn State Worthington Scranton student leaders with high school student leaders from throughout Lackawanna County. Two members of the Penn State Worthington Scranton faculty will be selected to offer presentations as part of this event.

Penn State Worthington Scranton's Student Government seminar marking Interdependence Day is part of a community-wide effort. Events will take place throughout the community during the day. At Noon Sister Margaret Gannon, IHM will discuss "Interdependence: Globalization with a Human Face," during a Rotary Club meeting in Scranton.

At Marywood University a panel discussion will follow a presentation entitled "The Constitution in an Age of Interdependence" by Dr. Craig Eisendrath. The Marywood University event is being sponsored by the Scranton Public Library.

The Scranton Area Garden Exchange and the University of Scranton Women's Center will sponsor presentations on the history of community gardens and SAGE, tips on organic gardening, compost preparation and food preservation. This event is part of the Fall Harvest Festival at the University of Scranton Community Gardens and will happen between 5:00 and 7:00 p.m.

At Marywood University's Nazareth Student Center at 7:00 p.m.,  Interdependence Day Presentations and the Conferring of Liberty Awards will precede a lecture by Ira Rifkin entitled: "Interdependence and Spirituality." The theme of this presentation is the addressing by world religions of the economic and cultural values inherent in globalization. Mr. Rifkin is author of "Spiritual Perspectives on Globalization: Making Sense of Economic and Cultural Upheaval." He previously served as news director for Beliefnet.com and is a Washington correspondent for the Jerusalem Report.

Around the region other events and commemorations will mark the week.

? The theme of Interdependence will by highlighted in weekly religious services.

? Annotated bibliographies and bookmarks on Interdependence will be distributed by the Scranton Public Library and displayed in the Alright Memorial Library.

? The SMART Program will promote Earth Box projects in Scranton Public School elementary classes.

? On Thursday, September 8th, the United Way of Lackawanna County will host a Day of Caring where Committed individuals come together to provide hundreds of hours of volunteer service to the many worthwhile organizations in our community who count of the United Way for support. Anyone interested should contact Nikki Keller at 3243-1267, ext. 237.

? At the Lackawanna County Stadium on Saturday on Saturday, September 10th the Second International Highway Interdependence Day Celebration will take place from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Contact Sheryl Youngblood at 341-5721 for more information.

? On Sunday, September 11th at McDade Park the Lackawanna County Commissioners will host a military color guard and music to mark the September 11, 2001 Anniversary. Time for this event has not yet been established.

? Concurrent with the Monday, September 12 Interdependence Day events at Penn State Worthington Scranton, an electronic Interdependence Day simulcast from Penn State University Park will tale place. This program, presented live at http://live.libraries.psu.edu, will be available for 30 days following the initial simulcast.

 For additional information regarding Penn State Worthington Scranton's marking of Interdependence Day 2005, contact Mr. Leon John at 963-2701.

Penn State Worthington Scranton with other Penn State campuses around the Commonwealth will mark Constitution Day on Monday, September 19th.  A Penn State Constitution Day Website is available at www.psu.edu/oue.  Additionally, a University Park-based panel of experts will examine contemporary constitutional issues and the panel presentation will be video, streamed and available live upon request to all Penn State campuses at 7 p.m., Monday, September 19, 2005.  

Entitled, "The Constitution: An Exploration of Expression," The panel discussion will be held on Monday, September 19, 2005, at 7:00 p.m., in the Foster Auditorium, Pattee Paterno Libraries, at University Park. Panelists include:
Kellie Butler, assistant professor of Political Science; David Dillon, State College Area School District; Charles Garoian, professor and director of the School of Visual Arts; Martin Halstuk, assistant professor of Communications; Nancy Love, associate professor of Political Science, and Patty Satalia (Moderator), executive producer and director of WPSU television station.