Suffolk University - Archive 2007

BOSTON – As if the fear of dying at a ripe old age isn’t enough, Massachusetts residents expect another coordinated air strike by terrorists, another tunnel collapse, and a school shooting in their hometown, according to a 7NEWS-Suffolk University poll released today.

When asked, do you believe there will be another coordinated air strike against the U.S. like 9-11, 59% said “yes,” while just 29% indicated “no.” Yet, when respondents were asked if they have avoided flying in an airplane since 9-11 because of the fear of a repeat attack, 82% said “no,” while only 16% indicated “yes.” And when respondents were asked if it is safe to fly, 80% said “yes” while 14% indicated “no.”

“Most people will fly and believe it is safe to fly,” said David Paleologos, Director of the Suffolk University Political Research Center. “Yet, they expect another terrorist air strike and hope it will not be on their plane.”

Two of the four flights hijacked by terrorists on September 11, 2001, originated from Boston’s Logan Airport.

The same thinking applies to tunnel tragedies similar to the July 2006 event when four concrete ceiling panels fell on a motorist traveling through the tunnel on her way to Logan Airport.

When respondents were asked if such an event could happen again in one of the tunnels, a whopping 80% said “yes,” while just 15% said “no.” Yet, when asked if the tunnels in Massachusetts are safe, 44% indicated “yes” and 37% “no” with 20% undecided. And when respondents were asked if they looked up at the ceiling or thought about a ceiling panel falling when they last drove through a tunnel, 45% indicated “yes” and 50% said “no.”

“Massachusetts motorists will never drive through a tunnel the same way,” said Paleologos. “Let’s hope the motorists directly in front of these panel gazers haven’t slammed on their brakes.”

In other 7NEWS-Suffolk University poll findings, further signs of an “it could happen, but not to me” mentality were seen in the confines of the school classroom. When asked if a Virginia Tech-Columbine type shooting could happen in one of the schools in your town, 79% said “yes,” while just 17% indicated “no,” even though 69% said that the schools in their
hometowns are safe.

“This high confidence in their local police and school system is matched by a vote of ‘no confidence’ in society,” said Paleologos.

According to other poll results, Boston hospitals face a big unknown in tackling potential epidemics like the avian flu. When asked if Boston hospitals are prepared for a breakout of the avian flu, just 29% indicated “yes,” while 33% said “no,” and 38% were undecided.

The addendum terrorist, tunnel, and school shooting questions were part of a major health care study taken in early June as part of a Health and Fitness Expo display to be held at the Hynes Convention Center June 23 and June 24. This health care study was both important and timely as Massachusetts embarks on its new universal health care law effective July 1, 2007.

The 7NEWS-Suffolk University poll was conducted from June 4 to June 7, 2007. The margin of error is +/- 4.90% at a 95% level of confidence. The 400 respondents statewide were all residents of Massachusetts.

Additional data gathered from the 7NEWS-Suffolk University poll, including pertinent information regarding the health care issue, will be released on Sunday, June 17, 2007.

Suffolk University is scheduled to release marginals and 270 pages of cross-tabulation data on its Web site (www.suffolk.edu/college/1450.html) on Sunday, June 17, 2007. For more information, please contact Suffolk adjunct professor David Paleologos at 781-290-9310.

June 17, 2007: 7NEWS-Suffolk University Poll Reveals Dangerous Disconnect on Universal Health Care

Poll shows people support new health care law, but not committed to paying for it

BOSTON – While the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is just days away from embarking on a new universal health care law, many people, though aware and optimistic, don’t believe they should be forced to obtain the insurance they are required to buy, according to a 7NEWS-Suffolk University poll released today.

When asked, are you aware that Massachusetts has a new law requiring all state residents to have health insurance, a whopping 92% said “yes,” while only 8% indicated “no.” Yet, when respondents were asked if they believed that all people will purchase the health insurance they are required to buy, 73% said “no,” while only 19% indicated “yes.”

“These questions suggest a symptom of blind optimism as Massachusetts enters the world of universal health care,” said David Paleologos, Director of the Suffolk University Political Research Center. “People expect to receive health care, but not pay for it.”

When respondents were asked if people should be compelled to buy health insurance even if they don’t want it, 42% indicated “yes,” while 49% said “no.”

Yet, an overwhelming number, 92%, said everyone had a right to health care, 79% believed that free health care should be provided to those individuals below the poverty level, and 68% of respondents were very confident in the health care they received.

In other 7NEWS-Suffolk University poll findings, Boston hospitals got higher marks for offering better treatment than suburban hospitals, although most respondents stayed outside of Boston on their last hospital visit. When asked if Boston hospitals offer better treatment than suburban hospitals, 57% said “yes,” while 30% indicated “no,” even though 61% went to a hospital outside of Boston and just 34% went to a Boston hospital on their last trip.

“Geography and convenience trumped quality of health care,” said Paleologos. “People were willing to stay outside of Boston for their last hospital visit even though they believed the care may be inferior to a Boston hospital.”

Boston hospitals face a big unknown in tackling potential epidemics like the avian flu. When asked if Boston hospitals are prepared for a breakout of the avian flu, just 29% indicated “yes,” while 33% said “no,” and 38% were undecided. This particular question was also part of a major health care study taken in early June, as part of a Health and Fitness Expo display to be held at the Hynes Convention Center June 23-24, 2007.

According to other poll results, corporate America received the lion’s share of the blame for the rising cost of health care. When asked who or what was responsible for the rising cost of health care, 18% pointed to insurance companies, 16% said the rising cost of malpractice insurance, 15% cited people using the emergency room for routine medical issues, and 10% blamed high drug prices.

June 26, 2007 -- 7NEWS-Suffolk University Poll Shows Clinton on course to win in New Hampshire, with Gore only obstacle

Poll also reveals Bloomberg hurting Republicans more than Democrats, and Romney leading GOP

BOSTON – With the New Hampshire Presidential Primaries less than seven months away, the Democratic Primary has a clear front-runner, while the Republican Primary is still too close to call, according to a 7NEWS-Suffolk University poll released today.

In the Democratic Primary, when likely voters were asked which candidate they support or lean to, 37% chose Hillary Clinton, 19% picked Barack Obama, while John Edwards and Bill Richardson each received 9%. Just 16% were undecided.

“Hillary Clinton is the 800-pound Soprano in the diner,” said David Paleologos, Director of the Suffolk University Political Research Center. “She clears the field and with only 16% undecided, it is unlikely that any of her announced opponents will catch her.”

Clinton’s large lead over Obama is driven by an age gap, not a gender gap. Among younger voters (ages 18-45), Obama actually led Clinton, 26%-25%, but among older voters (ages 56 and over), Clinton trounced Obama, 47%-15%.

The only obstacle for Clinton in the Democratic primary is Al Gore. Twenty-nine percent of Clinton voters would switch to Gore if he announced for president, and when all of the switches from other Democratic candidates were recalculated, Gore would defeat Clinton. In total, 32% of Democratic voters would support Gore over the candidate they are currently leaning toward.

“The only person who can instantly melt the entire Democratic field, including Hillary, is Al Gore,” said Paleologos. “If he were to enter the New Hampshire Primary next January, he would vault to the top of the Democratic list.” In the Republican Primary, Mitt Romney (26%) led Rudy Giuliani (22%), John McCain (13%), and Fred Thompson (13%), with 17% undecided. Romney's first-place showing contrasts sharply to his third-place finish (17%) in a March Suffolk University Republican ballot test, where he trailed Giuliani and McCain. Romney's current surge is fueled by younger voters (ages 18-45), where Romney bested Giuliani, 41%-25%.

Over half of Republican Primary voters (56%) said that a President’s religion should never affect his or her policy making. This suggests that the Catholic Church’s stance against Giuliani’s pro-choice position may have less impact than some experts have predicted.

With speculation swirling around the possibility of an independent Presidential bid by New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, the 7NEWS-Suffolk University poll finds Democrats benefiting from his entering the race. Bloomberg recorded 6%-8% of likely New Hampshire voters and was tested in six different General Election matchups. In all six scenarios, the Democratic nominees improved or maintained their margins with the independent in the race.

“Unlike the conventional wisdom right now in Washington, it looks like Bloomberg benefits Democrats, and not Republicans, in New Hampshire,” said Paleologos. “That could change, given that half of all Granite State voters have either never heard of him or don’t know enough about him to have an opinion.”

Bloomberg’s candidacy appears to parallel the initial campaign of independent Ross Perot in 1992, which helped Democrat Bill Clinton defeat incumbent President H.W. Bush.

The most important issue to New Hampshire voters was the Iraq war (34%), followed by Homeland Security/terrorism (19%), health care (15%), economy/jobs (8%), education (7%), and the environment (7%).

The 7NEWS-Suffolk University poll was conducted from June 20 to June 24, 2007. The margin of error is +/- 4.38% at a 95% level of confidence. The 500 respondents statewide were all likely voters in the New Hampshire Presidential Primary election next year. Suffolk University is scheduled to release marginals and 600 pages of cross-tabulation data on its Web site on June 27, 2007. For more information, please contact Suffolk adjunct professor David Paleologos at 781-290-9310.

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Suffolk University, located on Boston’s historic Beacon Hill, with campuses in Madrid, Spain, and Dakar, Senegal (Africa), is a comprehensive global institution distinguished by its teaching and the intellectual contributions of its faculty. Suffolk offers a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs in more than 70 areas of study. Its mission is to provide quality education at a reasonable cost for students of all ages and backgrounds, with strong emphasis on diversity. Suffolk has a combined enrollment of more than 8,300 full-time and part-time students at its Law School, College of Arts and Sciences and Sawyer Business School.

July 24, 2007 -- Celebrated Writer-Director Robert Brustein Joins Suffolk University

Distinguished Visiting Scholar in Residence to Premiere New Play

BOSTON -- Robert Brustein, former dean of the Yale School of Drama and founding artistic director of the Yale Repertory Theatre and the American Repertory Theatre, has joined the faculty of Suffolk University’s College of Arts and Sciences as a Distinguished Scholar in Residence.

Brustein has been a professor of English and dramatic literature at Columbia, Yale and Harvard universities. He is the author of 15 books on theater and society, including Making Scenes, which recalls his experiences as dean of the Yale Drama School and The Theatre of Revolt, his landmark collection of essays on the modern theatre.

Brustein has supervised well over 200 productions at the American Repertory Theatre and has acted, directed, translated and written adaptations for a number of them. He was the drama critic for The New Republic for more than 40 years. He has received two George Jean Nathan Awards for dramatic criticism, the 1995 American Academy of Arts and Letters Award for Distinguished Service to the Arts, the Pirandello Medal and a medal from the Egyptian government for his contribution to world theatre. Brustein was inducted into the Theatre Hall of Fame in 2002, and his papers were installed at Boston University in 2003.

World premiere of new play

As a Distinguished Scholar in Residence, Brustein will be enmeshed in the intellectual and social life of Suffolk University’s College of Arts and Sciences. The University, in association with the Vineyard Playhouse, will present the world premiere of his play, The English Channel, in a professional production September 6-15 at Suffolk University’s C. Walsh Theatre. The play is a comic and provocative imagining of Shakespeare’s coming of age as a playwright.

For information, please contact:
A. Nora Long at 617-973-5359, nlong@suffolk.edu

July 25, 2007 -- Initiative for Diversity in Civic Leadership to Honor First Graduating Class

Governor Patrick, Mayor Menino to Participate in Historic Event

BOSTON – Twenty-eight people of color from the Greater Boston area will comprise the first graduating class of the Initiative for Diversity in Civic Leadership (IDCL) on Monday, July 30, 2007, at Suffolk University Law School.

Governor Deval Patrick will be the keynote speaker, and Mayor Thomas M. Menino will deliver welcoming remarks.

The IDCL recently offered a 16-week training program at Suffolk University for current and aspiring political candidates, appointees, public servants and campaign staff. The program was divided into four distinct training tracks: Candidate Training, Public Administration, Adaptive Leadership and Public Policy. Each track combined skill-building exercises and briefings, with modules designed to enhance leadership capabilities.

Diverse community

The IDCL class reflected diversity across age, class, gender, race, ethnicity, disability, education, profession, and political affiliation. Sixty percent of the trainees were men, 40 percent were women. Their ages ranged from 22-60 years; they represented 11 countries; and they worked in the business sector, private sector, non-profit and government sectors. One participant is a medical doctor, while another is a grassroots activist. All are committed to public service.

One of the primary goals of the program was to build relationships that create and sustain community among aspiring and current leaders who are engaged in public life.

"This Initiative for Diversity in Civic Leadership program contributes to much-needed diversifying of government and campaigns,” said Giovanna Negretti, executive director of ¿Oíste?, the Latino Civic Education Initiative and lead managing partner of the IDCL.
“Within the next three years, these faces will be the next generation of public servants in places such as Boston, Chelsea, Cambridge, Somerville, and Framingham.”

Trainees' goals

April Taylor, a program graduate from Dorchester, said: “I now hope to pursue what matters most…a career in politics that is grounded, dedicated and committed to creating a diverse constellation of representative democracy for us all.”

Said Troy Huynh of Jamaica Plain: “We have a mission, a challenge before us: What can we do to better our Greater Boston, our home, our community? We have been provided with the tools. Let’s get to work!”

¿Oíste? was in charge of the overall administration of the program and curriculum development, while MassVOTE was mainly responsible for the development and implementation of the recruitment and admission process. Suffolk University provided the classroom space, administrative and academic support -- including lectures from a number of professors -- and assistance with curriculum development.

"Path-breaking initiative"

"It has been quite an opportunity to work with ¿Oíste? and MassVote to help prepare a diverse group for civic leadership,” said Suffolk University Government Professor Teri Fair. “All of the participants have worked hard and should be proud of what they have accomplished. I am pleased that Suffolk University could be a part of this path-breaking initiative.”

The graduation will take place from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Monday, July 30, 2007, at Suffolk University Law School, 120 Tremont Street, Boston. Invited guests include elected officials, government appointees, funding representatives, distinguished educators, and business and community leaders.

Funding for the IDCL program was provided by The Boston Foundation, The New Community Fund, The Herman and Frieda L. Miller Foundation, The Hyams Foundation, Access Strategies Fund and The Jobin-Leeds Partnership for Democracy and Education, LLC.

The mission of the IDCL is to develop a new generation of leaders of color committed to public service in order to ensure a more representative democracy and a diverse civic community in Greater Boston. The IDCL will provide education and training opportunities to enable individuals from diverse political backgrounds to successfully run for elective office, manage and run political campaigns and serve in all levels of government.

July 26, 2007 -- Rare African Map Donated to Suffolk University

Celebrates Partnership with Afriterra Cartography Collection

A strikingly illustrated 17th century map of Africa, depicting trade centers, contemporary costume, and both real and imagined wildlife, has been donated to Suffolk University by Gerald Rizzo, M.D., executive director of the Afriterra Foundation.

Suffolk University and its Mildred Sawyer Library have supported the Afriterra Foundation in its effort to digitize its collection of rare maps of Africa.

The maps are viewable online, and 1,000 of them will have been digitized by the end of 2007.

The original maps eventually will be housed at the Sawyer Library, which will make them available to scholars and display them in changing exhibits.

In the meantime, the 66-by-44-inch map donated by Rizzo will be prominently displayed on the third floor of the Sawyer Library, placed so that observers can get right up to the glass and examine the details of the map.

"We want to stimulate open and creative interpretation" of the maps, said Rizzo. "The History of Africa has been written by only a few people, and the entire American population has learned this history in a limited and narrow sense."

He also emphasized that the maps offer opportunities for visual learning. "It gives life to a foreign-sounding place name."

“It’s really very generous of Dr. Rizzo to donate this map,” said Robert Dugan, director of the Sawyer Library. “The map display illustrates not only the relationship between Suffolk University and the Afriterra Foundation, but also how higher education works to teach students.

“There is enough information on this map to keep our students busy for ten years. Here is another format that is just as rich as books or the Web. For the first time, I truly believe a picture is worth a thousand words.”

The map is the work of Willem Janszoon Blaeu, Sr., Alexis Hubert Jaillot and Nicolas Berey and is titled “Nova Africae Geographica Et Hydrographica Descriptio.” In addition to geographical information, the illustrations show the mathematical basis of the map, ships battling and mythical figures. Informational text panels surrounding the map are in French and Latin.

Aug. 1, 2007 -- $300,000 Juvenile Justice Center Grant Passes House & Heads to Senate

Congressman Stephen F. Lynch announced that the U.S. House of Representatives has approved $300,000 in federal funding to expand services at Suffolk University Law School’s Juvenile Justice Center (JJC). The funding was included in the Commerce-Justice-Science Appropriations Act for FY 2008, which now heads to the U.S. Senate.

Founded in 1998 with a grant from the U.S. Department of Justice, the JJC provides legal representation, social services and education advocacy for youth in the juvenile justice system. In the last decade, the center has emerged as a major source of legal support, technical assistance and policy leadership in the juvenile justice arena, both in Massachusetts and across the nation. The JJC handles 500 to 600 delinquency cases every year.

Lynch said: “This federal funding is a direct result of the hard work and dedication of President David Sargent, the faculty, staff and students at Suffolk University and the JJC. Their combined commitment has helped thousands of young men and women at risk to earn a real ‘second chance’ and emerge as healthy, productive individuals. I salute President Sargent’s continued support of this noble effort and Suffolk University’s continued service to young people in our region.”

“On behalf of Suffolk University, we thank Lynch for supporting the work of our Juvenile Justice Center,” said Suffolk University President David J. Sargent. “In addition to training young attorneys, this support enables the center to continue its research, education, training and advocacy efforts to benefit court-involved children throughout the state.”

Earlier this year, at the request of Suffolk University, Lynch approached Republican and Democratic leaders on the House Appropriations Committee to formally request federal funding to expand services at the Juvenile Justice Center. Lynch was notified that the funding would be included in the final House version of the bill, which was overwhelmingly approved by the House this week, and will now be sent to the Senate for its approval.

Lynch pledged to work with Senators Kennedy and Kerry to protect funding levels throughout the process.

"We are extremely fortunate to have Senators Ted Kennedy and John Kerry going to bat for us in the Senate,” said Congressman Lynch. Suffolk University is well-served to have both of those gentlemen to champion this cause in the U.S. Senate.”

Contact: Matt Ferraguto, 617-428-2007

Aug. 10, 2007 -- Suffolk University-Boston Private Industry Council 2007 Summer College Prep Institute

Suffolk University and the Boston Private Industry Council (PIC) are co-sponsoring a 2007 Summer College Prep Institute July 9 through Aug. 17 for more than 20 students who will be seniors in the Boston Public Schools in September.

The Summer College Prep Institute is the outgrowth of a summer 2006 pilot program that served 20 Boston Public School students, several of whom are now incoming Suffolk University freshmen.

Partnering summer employers -- Bank of America, Boston City Hall, JP Morgan, Sovereign Bank, and Suffolk University -- agreed to release their student workers two mornings a week, with pay, to attend classes at the University. Suffolk University has been a host employer for the Boston PIC summer jobs program for more than 15 years.

The Summer College Prep Institute’s students, who attend seven Boston Public High Schools and two METCO schools, have passed MCAS, have at least a C or better in English and math courses and are employed through the Boston PIC summer jobs program.

The students each take College 101 and an elective:

College 101 introduces students to the college admissions process, financial aid, effective communication and writing skills, academic advising, college resources, and more.

The electives are:

Government 101 -- Clued into Politics: Introduces the basic structures and responsibilities of local, state, and national government. Students gain a deeper understanding of how political power is organized; how citizens can make change; how issues become part of the agenda; and how participation in electoral and governmental politics affects the political process.
Money Management -- Clued into Finance: Introduces students to the best ways to manage money, credit and loans; banking; and how to pay for college.

The Suffolk University instructors for the Summer Institute are:

Rachael Cobb, assistant professor of Government
Christina DiRico, assistant to the director, Center for Teaching Excellence
Dan McHugh, director of Student Activities and Service Learning
Jeanne Morton, project manager and institutional research analyst
Adam Silver, adjunct professor, Government
Rebecca Fiore, assistant director, Ballotti Learning Center

Contacts:

Moakley Institute Director Beth Bower, 617-305-6255, is coordinating the program with the Boston PIC.
Jeanne Morton, 617-973-1146, is the Suffolk project manager for the 2007 Summer College Prep Institute.
Lori Cawthorne, 617-573-8415, is the point-of-contact for all PIC students employed by Suffolk University.

Aug. 16, 2007 -- Suffolk University to Aid Boston Police Bicycle Officers

Suffolk University will partner with the Boston Police Bicycle Officers to help provide uniforms and equipment to aid them in the patrolling of Area A.

“We see this effort as an extension of Suffolk’s ongoing partnership with the Boston Police Department to help improve the quality of life for people in Boston’s downtown neighborhoods,” said John Nucci, vice president of Government and Community Affairs at Suffolk University.

Added Richard Grealish, director, Office of Neighborhood Response at Suffolk University, “Boston Police Officers on bicycles are very effective in responding to emergency calls on Beacon Hill and throughout the North End. They also do a great job of patrolling the Boston Common at all hours of the day and night. What makes these bicycle officers so valuable is that they can get themselves into certain tight areas or places much faster and more efficiently than officers in a patrol car.”

Aug. 22, 2007 -- Suffolk University Professors Spearhead Green Education Initiatives

Professors at Suffolk University are taking leadership roles outside the classroom as they work on the greening of the higher education curriculum.

Denyce Wicht, assistant professor of chemistry, traveled to Washington D.C. this summer to speak on "Development of an Undergraduate Green Organic Chemistry Laboratory Experiment: Reduction of Citronellal to Citronellol with Poly(methylhydro)siloxane (PMHS).” Her paper, co-authored by 2007 Suffolk University graduate Kathryn E. O’Brien, was delivered at the 11th Annual Green Chemistry and Engineering Conference.

While in Washington, Wicht met with staff members in the offices of Sen. John Kerry and U.S. Rep. Michael Capuano to encourage their support of the Green Chemistry Research and Development bill.

Wicht’s research interests involve creating novel green chemistry experiments that can be used for green organic chemistry laboratory courses.

“Green chemistry lies at the foundation of sustainability, and that sustainability is vital to our global future,” said Wicht.

Another faculty member working to integrate sustainability into the curriculum is Patricia Hogan, associate professor in the Physics Department and director of the Environmental Engineering program. She has seen significant changes in engineering education.

“At one time, engineers were expected to keep their opinions to themselves, but now engineering societies have adopted statements about why sustainability is important,” she said.

Hogan has integrated the concepts of sustainable design into the engineering curriculum for students who want to concentrate on environment engineering. She also is developing a senior-level green engineering course.

To encourage interest among non-science majors, Hogan has introduced “The Built World: How Humans Engineer Environments,” a course that explores how technology-driven societies meet the basic human needs of food water and shelter.

She will co-chair a symposium, “Green Chemistry and Engineering: Equipping Scientists and Engineers to Integrate Ideas into the Curriculum,” at the 235th National Meeting of the American Chemical Society in spring 2008 in New Orleans.

Karen Clarke, co-program director of the Interior Design Department, asked students to redesign a restaurant using sustainable design strategies in the “Sustainable Design for Interiors” course she teaches at the New England School of Art & Design at Suffolk University.

She also worked with students to organize a “Sustainable Exhibition” in the school’s Interior Design Gallery Space. More than 15 industry representatives exhibited their green products, including flooring, walls, ceilings and specialty items.

Clarke also puts green design ideas to work in her professional practice, in which she is working on restoration, preservation, and new construction of a “1950 Modernist House” in Lincoln, Mass., applying principles of sustainable design and Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards.

Aug. 29, 2007 -- Lawyer With Long History of Public Service Chosen to Lead New Rappaport Center at Suffolk Law

The Jerome Lyle Rappaport Charitable Foundation and Suffolk University Law School announced that they have selected Susan Prosnitz, a lawyer who has held several high-level public service positions, as the first executive director of the new Jerome Lyle Rappaport Center for Law and Public Service.

Prosnitz will oversee the operation of the center, which was established last fall at Suffolk Law School through a $5 million gift from Jerry and Phyllis Rappaport and the Jerome Lyle Rappaport Charitable Foundation. The center is dedicated to exploring the intersection between the law and public policy, and identifying and advancing opportunities for law students and lawyers to engage in public service.

“We are fortunate indeed to have Susan Prosnitz as our director of the Rappaport Center,” said Suffolk Law School Dean Alfred C. Aman Jr. “She is a superb lawyer. Her background in and deep commitment to public policy issues, as well as her knowledge of the Greater Boston area, make her the ideal person to direct this center.”

During a career notable for its dedication to public service, Prosnitz has served as the chief litigator for the state’s Executive Office of Public Safety, the state Highway Department, and the Boston Police Department. As well, she directed a panel that reviewed port authority operations after the 2001 terrorist attacks.

“I am excited that Suffolk University has chosen, as the director of its Rappaport Center for Law and Public Service, someone whose enthusiasm, experience, and career choices so perfectly embody the Center’s goals to foster public service within the legal profession,” said Jerome L. Rappaport, the foundation’s founder. “Susan could easily have secured more lucrative offers in private practice, but instead has chosen to create, at this Center, a model through which others can pursue the great rewards of service to city, state and country that have marked her own professional life.”

In her new position, Prosnitz will develop, implement and manage a comprehensive program to advance opportunities in government and public service for Suffolk law students. Her responsibilities will include developing a strategic plan for the center, which will include new initiatives to enhance the law school’s mission of furthering academic and professional excellence in public policy and public service.

Prosnitz also will manage the various fellowship programs associated with the law school, including the Rappaport Fellows Program in Law and Public Policy, a highly competitive program that provides summer internships, educational programming, stipends and individual mentoring for students selected annually from Boston’s six law schools. Additionally, she will advise students interested in public and pro bono service.

“I am grateful for the opportunity afforded me by the Rappaports and Suffolk University Law School to build upon their longstanding commitment to public service,” Prosnitz said. “I believe that committed professionals can truly make a difference in the everyday lives of citizens. The Rappaport Center can and will be a national model for advancing public service opportunities for law students and lawyers.”

The partnership between the Rappaport Foundation and Suffolk University Law School to create the Rappaport Center expanded upon an existing commitment to encourage law students to consider careers in public policy. Suffolk Law graduates have gone on to become United States congressmen and Massachusetts legislators, judges and district attorneys.

“Suffolk University has an outstanding record of producing graduates who engage in public policy work in legislatures, courthouses, and city and town halls across New England,” said Foundation Chairwoman Phyllis Rappaport. “Under Susan’s leadership, the Rappaport Center for Law and Public Service will provide even greater opportunities for young people to make a difference for the better in Boston and Massachusetts.”

Prosnitz most recently served as general counsel for the Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety, a position she held since 2003. She held the same position, serving as chief legal advisor to the secretary of public safety and numerous state agencies, boards and commissions, from 1998 to 2001.

Between her tenures of service for the public safety secretariat, Prosnitz served from 2002-03, as general counsel for the Massachusetts Highway Department, and from 2001-02 as executive director and general counsel to the Special Advisory Task Force on Massport, a panel appointed by former Gov. Jane Swift to review the port authority’s mission, security, organizational structure and management following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

From 1993-98, Prosnitz served as chief of litigation for the Boston Police Department, advising the police commissioner and command staff on a wide range of legal and criminal justice issues. From 1990-92, she was an associate with the civil litigation firm of Hinkley, Allen & Snyder, and from 1989-90, a law clerk in the Massachusetts Superior Court.

Prosnitz is a graduate of Duke University School of Law and Amherst College. She completed a senior executive program at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.

The Rappaports’ gift that established the center last October, the largest contribution in the law school’s history, also created the first endowed chair in Suffolk’s history, the Jerome Lyle Rappaport Chair in Law and Public Policy. The Rappaport Foundation and Suffolk Law School are in the process of hiring an academic leader to fill the faculty chair.

The hallmark of the partnership between the Foundation and the Law School has been the Rappaport Fellows Program in Law and Public Policy, a first-in-the-nation program which attracts gifted law students from the Boston area’s six law schools. Since its inception in 2000, 72 Rappaport Fellows have completed the summer fellowship program, 12 each year, selected from the six Boston-area law schools. These students work side-by-side with top public-policy makers on key issues such as transportation, education, crime prevention, and health care. The experience is designed to promote early leadership involvement in city and state government so that it might lead to a life-long passion for public policy and government work.

About the Jerome Lyle Rappaport Charitable Foundation
The Jerome Lyle Rappaport Charitable Foundation sponsors the work of new and emerging leaders to increase this region’s capacity for generating effective public policy solutions, breakthroughs for neurologic and mental illnesses, and world-class art. The work is accomplished through strategic partnerships with Harvard University, Suffolk Law School, Massachusetts General Hospital, McLean Hospital and the DeCordova Art Museum. The Foundation’s desire is to connect individuals with demonstrated leadership capability, intellectual rigor, and integrity who can make meaningful change in Greater Boston. By valuing and rewarding those who show commitment and success, the Foundation provides grant recipients with opportunities and resources to strengthen their careers in countless ways.

Sept. 4, 2007--Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court and Suffolk Law School Offer Live and Archived Web Broadcasts of Court Proceedings

The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, in partnership with Suffolk University Law School, will provide live Internet broadcasts of oral arguments before the Court from September 4-7, 2007, when the Court begins its new year.

The arguments can be viewed and heard online at www.suffolk.edu/sjc starting at 9:00 a.m. on September 4, 5, 6, and 7, 2007. A schedule and brief summary of the Court cases to be broadcast are available on the website.

Suffolk University Law School will continue to broadcast the oral arguments before the Court during the first full week of each month from September through May when the Court is in session. The arguments will also be archived and easily accessed through the website.

“Educating the public about the role of the courts is an important mission of the Massachusetts judicial branch,” said Supreme Judicial Court Chief Justice Margaret H. Marshall. “Webcasting of the Court’s oral arguments enables people anywhere in the world with access to the Internet to witness the broad range of legal issues that come before the Court and to learn how appellate work is conducted in Massachusetts. It has been an enormously successful educational program because of its potential to reach so many people.”

On April 28, 2005, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court and Suffolk University established a pilot program to provide attorneys, students, media, and the general public with live Internet broadcasts of oral arguments before the Supreme Judicial Court. This was the first time in Massachusetts that the Supreme Judicial Court and a law school have collaborated on such a technologically-advanced venture.

“Suffolk University Law School is honored to continue our partnership with the Supreme Judicial Court on this unique and purposeful program,” said Suffolk University Law School Dean Alfred C. Aman, Jr. “What intrigues me the most is that people of all ages and from all walks of life will have an opportunity to hear attorneys’ presentations and justices’ questions without setting foot in the courtroom. This allows everyone to experience an important part of the appellate process firsthand and in a timely manner.”

Sept. 14, 2007 -- New Suffolk University Legal Clinics Focus on the Rights of Children and Immigrants

BOSTON--Two new Suffolk University Law School clinical programs -- the Child Advocacy Clinic and the Immigration Clinic -- are giving students important experiential learning on current issues while providing much-needed legal assistance to children and young adults.

The Child Advocacy Clinic focuses on children in foster care who have just turned 18 and are legally required to leave their foster homes.

Students in the clinic assist those who have recently aged out of the foster care program in negotiating with the Department of Social Services; applying for Social Security Insurance, Medicaid, and housing assistance; and identifying other government programs for which they might be eligible, according to Assistant Clinical Professor Erik Pitchal. Students also help clients find and enroll in appropriate educational, vocational, or job-training programs. There are more than 700 such cases in Massachusetts every year.

The new Immigration Clinic also deals with child advocacy, but in a very different arena.

Assistant Clinical Professor Ragini Shah leads an Immigration Clinic focusing on unaccompanied minors—young children who come to the United States without their parents.

Students represent undocumented immigrant children before immigration court and the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services agency. Students also may take on deportation defense before immigration court. Other cases concern applications for immigration benefits such as Special Immigrant Juvenile Status, victims of crime visas, or trafficking visas, as well as political asylum matters.

“Students come to law school because they want to practice law and help people, and these clinics are often their first opportunity to do it in a hands-on way,” says Pitchal. “They’re the lead attorneys, and they thrive on it.”

Sept. 17, 2007 -- "From Dairy to Doorstep: Milk Delivery in New England, 1860-1960" at Suffolk University’s Adams Gallery

BOSTON – The Adams Gallery at Suffolk University presents From Dairy to Doorstep: Milk Delivery in New England, 1860-1960, an exhibit that chronicles the origins of home milk delivery and the heyday of the milkman.

From Dairy to Doorstep tells of the rise and eventual decline of the milkman through historic photographs, advertisements and artifacts, such as old-time glass milk bottles, gadgets for separating cream and toys.

The exhibit includes videotaped oral history selections that reveal how the milkman touched the lives of his customers.

From Dairy to Doorstep explains and gives meaning to items associated with milk production, milk delivery, and milk consumption. Visitors will recognize signs, advertising, uniforms, dairy goods and milk bottles.

From Dairy to Doorstep: Milk Delivery in New England 1860 - 1960
Organized by Historic New England, Boston, Massachusetts
October 15, 2007, through January 20, 2008
Adams Gallery, Sargent Hall, Suffolk University Law School, 120 Tremont St., Boston
Open to the public from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily.

About Historic New England

Historic New England is the oldest, largest, and most comprehensive regional preservation organization in the country. It offers a unique opportunity to experience the lives and stories of New Englanders through their homes and possessions. For more information visit http://www.historicnewengland.org/.

Suffolk University’s Adams Gallery presents exhibits on themes related to Boston history. Its location on the Freedom Trail, in the historic heart of Boston, makes it a natural site for exhibits of original materials or reproductions of importance in the chronology of Boston and New England. For more information www.suffolk.edu/offices/1104.html.

Sept. 17, 2007 -- General Joseph P. Hoar, USMC (Ret.) to Lecture on "The Middle East: Many Problems, Few Solutions"

BOSTON -- General Joseph P. Hoar, USMC (Ret.) will speak on "The Middle East: Many Problems, Few Solutions" as Suffolk University’s Center for International Education presents the 2007 Derek W.F. Coward Lecture on Thursday, Sept. 27.

Hoar, who was commander in chief of the United States Central Command (CENTCOM) from 1991-1994, has appeared several times before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee to discuss the war in Iraq.

In January 2007 he told the committee that the "administration’s handling of the war has been characterized by ... a shocking failure to understand the social and political forces that influence events in the Middle East."

He has spoken out against White House policies on torture and on Iraqi refugees on the oped pages of the nation's leading newspapers.
Hoar, a Boston native, was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Marine Corps in 1957 after graduating from Tufts University. He retired from the Marine Corps in 1994.

Hoar's personal decorations include the Defense Distinguished Service Medal; the Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V" and gold star, and the Meritorious Service Medal with gold star. He received an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Suffolk University Law School in 1993.

He is a member of the Suffolk University Board of Trustees and chairperson of the University's International Board of Advisers.

The Derek. W.F. Coward Lecture Series was established in 1997 through the generosity of Derek W.F. Coward, a former vice president of marketing for Gillette's safety razor division and executive-in-residence and associate professor of marketing for the Sawyer Business School. Coward now serves on the University's International Board of Advisers.

The Coward Lecture will take place at 5 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 27, in the McLaughlin Moot Courtroom on the fourth floor of Sargent Hall, 120 Tremont St., Boston. A reception will follow in the DerMarderosian Meeting Room within the Law Deans' Suite.

To RSVP or for more information, please contact R. Scott Reedy at 617-994-4221.

Sept. 17, 2007 -- Award-Winning Classical Guitarist Jankovic to Perform at Suffolk University’s C.Walsh Theatre

Award-winning classical guitarist Petar Jankovic will perform at Suffolk University’s C. Walsh Theatre on Tuesday, September 25, 2007, beginning at 1 pm. The C. Walsh Theatre is located at 55 Temple Street in Boston.

A reception/discussion in the McDermott Conference Room will immediately follow Jankovic’s performance. At that time, the artist will be joined by composer Vuk Kulenovic of the Berklee School of Mosuic.

"I am really looking forward to coming to Suffolk University,” said Jankovic, currently a member of the Indiana University School of Music’s esteemed faculty. “I hope that my performance will resonate within everyone and that I will be able to reach out and establish a wonderful connection through my music with the students, faculty, staff and members of the community.”

Jankovic’s expressive performances and a technical mastery found only among the world’s top musicians make it easy to understand why he has received overwhelming international acclaim.

Since beginning his professional music career in 1985, the Serbian-American Jankovic has delighted audiences at recitals and inspired students in his master classes throughout Europe and the United States. As a performer at major competitions around the globe, his universally evocative sound has won high regard with the world’s classical music community, and as a result, Jankovic has garnered numerous prestigious awards.

Some of these awards include: 1998 bronze medal at the 1998 H.R.H. Princess Cristina 13th International Guitar Competition in Madrid, Spain; 1998 First Prize at the First Annual Competition in Performance of Hispano-American music in Bloomington, Indiana; 1998 bronze medal at the M.M.Ponce International guitar competition in Mexico City, Mexico; and 1997 Graduate Top Strings Award, Indianapolis (Indiana) Matinee Musicale (he was the first guitarist ever to win this award).

Every time he walks on stage, Jankovic exudes talent, skill, intelligence, and charisma. His energy spills into audiences, and whether people have heard him play one time or one hundred times, they find themselves moved.

“Petar Jankovic is both a guitar virtuoso and a dedicated teacher,” said Suffolk University Professor of German and Humanities Dr. Jay Rosellini, who led the effort to bring Jankovic to the university. “It is with good reason that he has been characterized as a consummate artist who is blessed with the natural ability of translating music into emotion and capturing the hearts of those who hear him perform.”

Petar Jankovic maintains an ongoing worldwide performance schedule. To learn more, refer to his website at http://www.petarjankovic.net/.

Sept. 27, 2007 -- Suffolk University To Receive $1.8 Million in Grants to Help Underserved Students Achieve

Suffolk University is in line to receive two federal grants to help students from disadvantaged backgrounds prepare for college and, once enrolled, to engage in a way that prepares them to pursue doctoral studies.

The grants are as follows:

One million dollars through Upward Bound to increase the rate of post-secondary education enrollment and graduation among low-income high school students and those whose parents did not attend college, as well as among low-income military veterans who are the first in their families to pursue a college education.

The amount of $880,000 through the Ronald E. McNair Postbaccalaureate Achievement program, with the goal of increasing the number of students from underrepresented segments of society who successfully pursue Ph.D programs.

Suffolk University will broaden its efforts to support and encourage high school students through the Upward Bound program, so that they may be prepared to enter college and succeed in their post-secondary studies. This success will be measured through increased graduation rates.

Through the McNair program funding, Suffolk University will work closely with students showing strong academic potential, steering them into research and other scholarly activities and encouraging them to enroll in graduate programs. The University will continue to track the progress of these students as they complete their advanced degrees.

“Offering access to excellence in higher education has been Suffolk University’s mission since its founding more than 100 years ago. This funding will enable us to bring more and better prepared high school students to college, and then we can support those students who aim for the highest attainable levels of education,” said University President David J. Sargent.

The funding will be distributed to Suffolk University over four years through the College Cost Reduction and Access Act, signed into law Sept. 27, 2007.

Oct. 9, 2007 -- Suffolk Law School to Honor Judge Nancy Gertner for Extraordinary Contributions to Advanced Legal Studies

BOSTON – Suffolk University Law School will present the Hon. Nancy Gertner, U.S. District Court of Massachusetts, with the Charles P. Kindregan Award on Oct. 25, 2007, in recognition of her outstanding contributions to continuing legal education.

Judge Gertner has spoken, taught, and written extensively on the local, national, and international levels. She also has given generously of her time to the Center for Advanced Legal Studies both as a chairperson of programs and panelist.

When told of the award she said: “I love to teach; I learn more from it than I teach.”

Among the Suffolk University programs in which Judge Gertner has been involved are:

“CSI Effect,” May 2007
“Ensuring a Fair Trial: How to Get a Representative Jury,” May 2006
“Federal Sentencing: What Now?”, March 2005
“Employment Litigation, Thinking Outside the Box,” October 2003
“Impeach Justice Douglas!, A Theatrical Performance & Panel Discussion,” October 2002
“Judgment Calls: What the New Developments in Sexual Harassment Law Mean to Your Practice,” September 1998

Judge Gertner has participated extensively in events and panels involving the United States Sentencing Guidelines, judicial independence, human rights and women’s rights, throughout the United States and abroad.

She also taught courses in trial practice, criminal law and procedure and women’s rights before joining the bench.

The award, named in honor of Suffolk Law School Professor Charles P. Kindregan, Jr., was established in October 2002, to honor those who have given exceptional service to the Law School’s Center for Advanced Legal Studies and to other providers of continuing legal education.

Previous recipients are Professor Charles P. Kindregan, Jr.; Professor Karen Blum; Alex L. Moschella; Hon. Edward M. Ginsburg; and Monroe Inker.

Oct. 16, 2007 -- Suffolk University Business Student Among 50 Students Nationwide Selected for KPMG’s Future Diversity Leaders Program

Letisha Brown, a management student in the Suffolk University Sawyer Business School, has been selected for the Future Diversity Leaders program launched this summer by KPMG LLP, an audit, tax, and advisory firm.

Fifty students from across the nation have been chosen to participate in the program. The FDL program is designed to provide leadership training and financial support for outstanding minority undergraduate business students. KPMG launched the program this summer as part of its continuing effort to increase and support minority representation in the accounting profession.

Brown, 19, of Medford, was nominated for the FDL program as a result of her commitment to high academic achievement, community and campus involvement, and active participation in diversity organizations.

“I am very excited to have been chosen for this program,” said Brown, a sophomore and management major at Sawyer Business School. “This is a wonderful opportunity and I see a world of doors opening up for me.”

“We are pleased that these high-caliber students accepted our offer to participate in the program, and we hope they will come away with the skills, knowledge, and business perspective to become the business leaders of tomorrow,” said Manny Fernandez, National Managing Partner of Campus Recruiting. “KPMG is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workforce, and we believe that focused programs such as this can help increase the number of minority business leaders in the accounting profession and other areas of business.”

This past summer, Brown, along with the 49 other students throughout the United States selected by KPMG LLP, attended a three-day Leadership Training Conference in Hollywood, California. “It was the first time I’ve ever been to California and the whole experience was informative and a lot of fun,” said Brown. “You get to meet many new people and learn so much about the company. They teach you quite a bit, like how to deal with people in the workplace.”

Brown is a 2006 graduate of Medford High School, where she was an honor roll student and secretary of her senior class. She was also a peer mediator, and member of the volleyball team and the chorus club. By her own admission, selecting Suffolk to continue her education was an easy choice.

“Out of all the schools I visited, the people at Suffolk were the most real and down to earth,” explained Brown, whose sister, Jazmin, 22, is a senior and a fine arts major at Suffolk. “I also liked the various programs that they offered and the location was perfect for me.”

At Suffolk, Brown is a member of the Griffin Honor Society (3.57 grade point average), the flagship honors society of the Sawyer Business School. She is also a member of the Vocal Ensemble, a group of student singers that perform within the Suffolk community, as well as at elderly homes around the holidays. In addition, she was a member of the fashion show organized by the Caribbean Student Network.

Upon successful completion of her summer internship at KPMG in Boston prior to her junior year, Brown will become eligible for additional scholarship money, as well as an offer to remain in the intern program the following summer. The internship prior to her senior year is a “Practice Internship,” where the participants of FDL will gain hands-on experience with clients in their chosen business area. In addition to gaining work experience, Brown will be mentored by faculty advisors and KPMG professionals.

“After graduating from Suffolk, I definitely want to do something in the business field, maybe marketing,” said Brown. “Being part of this internship program at KPMG will teach me the first steps I need to know about the business profession that I hope to be part of one day.”

KPMG LLP, the audit, tax, and advisory firm, is the U.S. member firm of KPMG International. KPMG International’s member firms have 113,000 professionals, including 6,800 partners, in 148 countries.

Oct. 17, 2007 -- Suffolk Law Professor Honored By Equal Justice Works

Ilene Seidman, clinical law professor at Suffolk University Law School, received the Equal Justice Works 2007 Outstanding Law School Faculty Award in Washington D.C..
The award, given each year, honors a law faculty member for outstanding work on behalf of students seeking careers in public interest law.
“Ilene played an enormous role in the support, guidance, and inspiration we had while students, and this support continues in our current practice as public interest attorneys,” said Suffolk Law School alumna Lindy Aldrich, who was one of 12 former students nominating Seidman for the award.
She and Kate Lawson, both 2006 graduates who now work at the Victim Rights Law Center, wrote several essays on Seidman’s behalf, detailing her exceptional teaching and guidance.
“She has been an invaluable source of guidance for me in my efforts to develop a legal career rooted in public interest,” said Lawson. “I would not have made it through law school without her commitment to my success and incredible mentorship.”
Suffolk Law Professor Jeffrey Pokorak said that Seidman has advanced institutional support for public interest careers while providing individual counseling, guidance, and support to students.
Seidman said she was honored to be nominated and delighted to be chosen for the award. “I was particularly gratified because the students worked so hard on the process, which seemed quite intense, and I was happy that their hard work paid off,” she said.

Oct. 23, 2007 -- Suffolk University to Host 2nd Annual New Product Innovation Awards Ceremony for Young Innovators and Entrepreneurs

George Davison, CEO of Davison Design, a company that specializes in cutting-edge product design and development, will address a group of young innovators and entrepreneurs at the 2nd Annual New Product Innovation Awards Ceremony at 6 p.m. on Friday, November 2, 2007 at Suffolk University Law School.

The New Product Innovation Competition was established by Suffolk University’s Sawyer Business School in 2006 to encourage innovation among its students.

“Innovation is the key to everything we do,” said Sushil Bhatia, competition founder, and executive in residence at the Sawyer Business School, where he teaches entrepreneurship, global innovation and new product development. “It is essential to new product development, entrepreneurship and even in our relationships. Companies that do not innovate generally fail. By establishing the New Product Innovation Competition, we are teaching our students to embrace change and become better business leaders.”

Entries are submitted and judged by a team of entrepreneurs, intellectual property specialists and venture capital professionals. Students compete for cash prizes of $3,500 (first), $1,000 (second) and $500 (third). This year, the Urvashi Bhatia Green Product Award ($1,000) will be awarded for a new product idea that is environment-friendly. Also, this year, freshman students enrolled in the required business core course Business Foundations will have an opportunity to compete for a special $500 prize.

Corporate Sponsors for the 2007 event include: Bose Corporation, Davison Design, JMD Manufacturing, PID Analyzers LLC., Trigent Software and Suffolk University’s Alumni Association.

Last year over 100 students participated in the competition. Art Fry, inventor of the Post-it-Note Pad delivered the keynote address. The competition was judged by representatives from Motorola Labs, Merrill Lynch, and AmeriVault Corporation among others. Last year’s winning innovations included:

• First Prize: EMBA 900 Chair, a portable deck chair with front table
• Second Prize: Close to Me, a child security device
• Third Prize: Insulin Voyager, a portable insulin device

George M. Davison, III is the President/CEO of Davison. He attended Allegheny College and graduated in 1986 with a degree in Economics. Starting with his initial idea for a germ free toothbrush, Davison decided there must be an easier way to design, develop and present ideas to corporations. Being an inventor himself, Mr. Davison knows the obstacles an inventor faces. These obstacles are what prompted him to come up with a way for inventors to get their ideas designed and presented to corporations for licensing which he calls Inventegration ®.

Dr. Sushil Bhatia is president/CEO of JMD Manufacturing Inc. in Framingham. He is an entrepreneur/innovator who has several patents, publications and new products to his name. He developed /co-developed products used in our daily lives such as: the Glue Stic, convention/seminar name badges, mailing labels, laser/copier labels, binding systems, decorative labels for shampoo, cosmetic food containers, inks for use on milk cartons, food containers like bottles, boxes, plastic bags and paper pouches, electro sensitive paper (IBM project). Companies such as General Motors, Proctor and Gamble, Colgate, Kraft Foods, Johnson & Johnson, Glaxo Smith, Kline and Beechem used products made by JMD Manufacturing.

Bhatia is founder of the Laughing Clubs of America and author of “Laughing Your Way to Fitness with Yoga and Meditation (and that’s no joke).” He is the author of numerous articles and has appeared on CNN, ABC, NBC, Good Morning Canada AM, German TV, Australia, NPR for introducing innovative products.

Oct. 30, 2007 -- Suffolk University Interior Design Student Awarded Scholarship in Contemporary Design Competition

BOSTON – Kate Springfield, a graduate student at the New England School of Art & Design at Suffolk University, recently won a $2,000 scholarship in the Second Annual Montage/Arclinea Contemporary Design Scholarship Competition.

The Design Scholarship Competition was established in 2006 to encourage architecture and design students studying in New England to find innovative ways of incorporating contemporary design within the region’s traditional architecture.

Springfield’s work is currently on display in the window of Montage, a contemporary furniture retailer. Contest cosponsor Arclinea Boston is a kitchen design firm.

“It has definitely boosted my confidence, and it is something nice to have in your back pocket when it comes time to look for a job next year.” said Springfield, who finished in third place.

Springfield is scheduled to graduate from the Master of Arts in Interior Design program in May 2008. She entered the competition along with several classmates, spending about two months to complete her project.

“We all got to see each other’s work and you can tell right away how everyone has a different style,” said the 1998 Newton South High School graduate. “As for me, I am most comfortable using hand renderings in my presentations, as opposed to the photo-realistic images that computer programs can generate.”

In the competition, students were asked to design a contemporary kitchen/living area within either a Back Bay brownstone or a suburban Victorian, and were encouraged to review the design philosophy of Italian architect Antonio Citterio for inspiration. Entries were reviewed by a panel of New England architects, designers and journalists.

“Once again we were able to shine a spotlight on the emerging young talent in the New England design and architecture schools,” said Montage co-owner Christopher Bates, who conceived the idea of the competition. “The industry professionals who helped select the winners were genuinely impressed with the caliber of the students’ work. It’s exciting to have the first look at tomorrow’s design professionals.”

Oct. 30, 2007 -- Suffolk University Professor Named to Fulbright Review Board

BOSTON - Richard Torrisi, associate professor of international business at the Suffolk University Sawyer School of Business, has been appointed to a three-year term on the Fulbright Review Committee for Central Europe.

Torrisi was also recognized by the Polish-U.S. Fulbright Commission in Warsaw for his outstanding contributions as a participant in the 2006-2007 Fulbright Program. Torrisi was a Fulbright Scholar at the Leon Kozminski Academy of Entrepreneurship and Management in Warsaw, Poland.

The Fulbright Scholar Program was established in 1946 under legislation introduced by the late Senator J. William Fulbright of Arkansas. The Program’s purpose is to build mutual understanding between people of the United States and other countries. The Fulbright Program is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State.

Nov. 20, 2007 -- Suffolk University Educating Teachers About History

BOSTON – The Suffolk University History Department is now in the second year of a three-year initiative helping elementary, middle school and high school teachers learn a lesson about history.

Titled the Voices Rising: Assimilation and the American Experience, this initiative is funded through the U.S. Department of Education as part of its Teaching American History grant program. The school districts of Malden, Everett, Medford and Revere, in collaboration with the Tri-City Technology Education Collaborative (TRITEC), have been awarded $1 million for the development of training programs for teachers to enhance their skills in the teaching of American history.

The Voices Rising project is focused on training teachers in grades 3, 5, 8, and high school in these four public school systems to think and act like historians by using and analyzing primary source documents in their teaching of history.

In 2006-2007, Suffolk University faculty, including College of Arts and Sciences Dean Kenneth Greenberg and Professors Robert Allison, Pat Reeve, and Robert Bellinger, designed and delivered a weeklong institute and seminar series for 25 teachers. These content-rich offerings also modeled skills integral to ‘thinking historically.’ Accordingly, participating teachers learned to pose, research, and present (orally and in writing) significant historical problems.

Over the three-year span of the Voices Rising project, 72 teachers from the four districts will each receive 81 hours of intensive professional development in American history content and skills. The project will directly impact more than 2,000 students in the classrooms of these participating teachers. Partnering with Suffolk in this project are the University of Massachusetts at Lowell through the Tsongas Industrial History Center, the Boston National Historical Park, the Lowell National Historical Park, the Saugus Iron Works Historical Site and the Boston African American National Historical Site. The Boston Public Library has provided research services to the participating teachers.

Nov. 26, 2007 -- University Offers Free & Legal Music Downloads Through Partnership With Ruckus

Suffolk University is now making free and legal music downloads available to students through Ruckus.com.

The Ruckus music library contains 3 million tracks from a wide variety of
genres, made possible through the company’s licensing agreements with all of the
major international record labels, as well as thousands of independent labels and artists.

All members of the Suffolk community with a valid University e-mail may join, and nearly 1,000 students had signed up by early November. Faculty and staff may take advantage of the partnership for a monthly fee of $8.99.

In addition to unlimited free downloads, students can share music, create playlists, send personal media recommendations, browse classmates’ profiles and media libraries, and meet new friends.

“Our partnership with Ruckus provides many advantages to our students,” said Fouad Yatim, director of Network & Communications. “Now students can download legal, licensed, and free digital content. Ruckus also creates a community, and students can share libraries and chat about the music online.”

Members of the University community may sign up by visiting http://www.ruckus.com/, clicking on “Join Ruckus” and entering a .edu e-mail address. The registration process takes only a few minutes.

Nov. 26, 2007 -- Wireless Access Now Available Throughout Suffolk University Campus

Suffolk University has gone wireless, and it is now possible to connect to network resources and the Internet through more than 400 access points in 15 buildings around the Boston campus.

Wireless connectivity also is available in Alumni Park on Temple Street, and students, faculty, staff and guests have been able to sit outside and access the University’s network resources while basking in the extended warm weather of this fall.

The wireless network offers access to the Internet, network printers, e-mail, shared folders and more.

Users may gain access to the wireless network by logging in, using their Suffolk University e-mail ID and password, after making a few simple adjustments to computer settings. Full instructions may be found on the Information Technology Services Web page at http://www.suffolk.edu/offices/15169.html.

Visitors to campus who would like to gain wireless access need to be sponsored by a department they are visiting. Request for guest access needs to be made to the ITS support center 24 hours in advance.

Nov. 27, 2007 -- New Suffolk University Scholarship Supports Students Committed to African-American Women’s Health

Suffolk University’s Master of Arts in Women’s Health program has established a scholarship for students committed to working in the field of African-American women’s health.

The annual full tuition scholarship, funded by the University’s College of Arts and Sciences, is designed to develop leadership in an area that will contribute to the health and well-being of African-American women and girls.

African-American women are less likely than white women to have health insurance and are more likely to be dependent upon the political vagaries of Medicaid policies. They confront particularly high rates of cervical cancer, diabetes, hypertension, breast cancer, HIV/AIDS infection, and maternal mortality.

The "Scholarship to Build Leadership in the Field of African- American Women’s Health" aims to train gifted and dedicated students to work effectively to change these patterns.

The Master of Arts in Women’s Health program is housed in the University’s Sociology Department.

Nov. 28, 2007 -- Suffolk University Co-Sponsors Eastern Mass. High School Super Bowls

BOSTON -- Suffolk University will co-sponsor the 2007 Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association’s Eastern Mass. Super Bowls to be held Saturday, Dec. 1, 2007, at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough.

Twelve Eastern Massachusetts high school football playoff winners will meet in these six championship games.

Suffolk University is offering free tickets to fans at each of the 12 participating schools and will be on hand to cheer on the teams.

The University also is offering an online raffle to students attending the game, with a grand prize of an iPhone.

“Suffolk University is pleased be part of the excitement as we support these championship games,” said John Nucci, vice president of Government and Community Affairs at Suffolk University. “The players have shown great competitive spirit during the season and in playoffs, and we honor them and their fans for their commitment and sportsmanship.”

Nov. 28, 2007 - Obama, Edwards Rallying in NH Democratic Primary, Romney in Command of GOP Race, but Many Voters Say they May Switch

7NEWS-Suffolk University Poll also Shows Bill Clinton Big Asset for Hillary Clinton

BOSTON – With the New Hampshire Presidential Primaries just six weeks away, Hillary Clinton’s lead over Barack Obama and John Edwards is shrinking, while Republican front-runner Mitt Romney appears secure, according to a 7NEWS-Suffolk University poll released today.

The poll also reveals how much can change before both primaries. Nearly half of likely voters from both parties said that they may change their minds before Jan. 8, 2008. When asked how likely they are to change their minds from their stated candidate of choice, 11 percent were “very likely to change their mind,” and 38 percent were “somewhat likely.”

Likely voters in the Democratic Primary, which includes independents, gave 34 percent support to Hillary Clinton, while 22 percent chose Barack Obama. Just 12 percent were undecided. However, in a June 2007 7NEWS/Suffolk University poll, Clinton led Obama by 18 points compared to her 12-point spread today.

	November ’07	June ’07	Change
Hillary Clinton	34 percent	37 percent	-3 percent
Barack Obama	22 percent	19 percent	+3 percent
John Edwards	15 percent	9 percent	+6 percent

“Hillary Clinton cannot afford to run out the clock in New Hampshire,” said David Paleologos, director of the Suffolk University Political Research Center. “If Obama could shave off another six points in the next few weeks, he’ll be well within the margin of error – and John Edwards still has a chance to make it a three-person race.”

Hillary Clinton’s trump card could be Bill Clinton. When likely Democratic voters were asked if Bill Clinton was an asset or a liability for Hillary, 81 percent said “asset” and just 12 percent said “liability.”

In the Republican Primary, Mitt Romney (34 percent) topped Rudy Giuliani (20 percent), followed by John McCain (13 percent), Ron Paul (8 percent), and Mike Huckabee (7 percent) with 14 percent undecided. In the June 2007 7NEWS/Suffolk University poll, Romney led Giuliani by four points which has widened to fourteen points today. In the meantime, Fred Thompson, who polled 13 percent support in June, only garnered 2 percent in this poll.

	November ’07	June ’07	Change
Mitt Romney	34 percent	26 percent	+8 percent
Rudy Giuliani	20 percent	22 percent	-2 percent
John McCain	13 percent	13 percent	None
Ron Paul	8 percent	2 percent	+6 percent
Mike Huckabee	7 percent	4 percent	+3 percent
Fred Thompson	2 percent	13 percent	-11 percent

“The dynamics are different on the Republican side,” said Paleologos. “Romney’s up; Giuliani’s down; McCain’s flat; Thompson is toast; and Ron Paul and Mike Huckabee are trying to break into double digits.”

Another sign of Romney’s strength: when likely Republican voters were asked which Presidential candidate they would trust to drive their children to school, 25 percent picked Romney; 17 percent chose McCain; 9 percent, Huckabee; and only 7 percent indicated Giuliani.

The poll also reveals some similarities among New Hampshire voters of both parties, such as:

79 percent opposed driver’s licenses for undocumented immigrants
76 percent believed New Hampshire will have the first presidential primary in 2012
62 percent said selecting a candidate with similar views on issues was more important than winning the White House

The 7NEWS-Suffolk University poll was conducted from Nov. 25 to Nov. 27, 2007. The margin of error is for each party subsample of 300 respondents is +/- 5.65 percent at a 95 percent level of confidence. The 600 respondent margin of error is +/- 4.00 percent. All respondents were likely primary voters in the New Hampshire presidential primary on Jan. 8, 2008. Marginals and 455 pages of cross-tabulation data are available on the Suffolk University Web site. For more information, please contact David Paleologos, director of the Suffolk University Political Research Center, at 781-290-9310.

Dec. 10, 2007 -- Suffolk University Law School Presents The Rappaport Center for Law and Public Service

BOSTON – Suffolk University Law School will officially launch The Jerome Lyle Rappaport Center for Law and Public Service on Dec. 11, 2007, with an opening ceremony featuring Attorney General Martha Coakley as keynote speaker.

The Rappaport Center was established to advance opportunities for law students and lawyers to engage in public service and to explore the intersection between the law and public policy.

“The Rappaport Center allows us to cultivate tomorrow’s public policy leaders and encourage our most promising students to become innovators in public policy as government attorneys, public interest lawyers or members of the bar undertaking pro bono cases and public service,” said Law School Dean Alfred C. Aman, Jr.

The Rappaport Center leverages Suffolk’s ideal urban location and long tradition of public service to create strategic, innovative and practical partnerships between academia and government around issues of law and public policy. It serves as a convening point for state and local policy-makers, policy experts, faculty and staff from other law schools and universities, and citizens interested in public policy, best practices and an improved civic fabric.

The Rappaport Center for Law and Public Service was created in 2007 through a $5 million gift from the Jerome Lyle Rappaport Foundation and from Jerome and Phyllis Rappaport.

“The Rappaport Foundation strives to identify the leaders of tomorrow and give them the tools and experience they need today to positively impact public policy in our region and beyond,” said Rappaport Foundation Chairwoman Phyllis Rappaport.

The new Rappaport Center also will weave together and augment Suffolk Law School's other government, public policy, and public interest resources and initiatives, such as the Summer Public Service Fellowship Program and programs providing placement and career advice for students interested in pro bono and public interest work.

“Committed legal professionals are in a unique position to help improve the everyday lives of citizens,” said Rappaport Center Executive Director Susan Prosnitz. “The Rappaport Center can and will be a national model for advancing public service opportunities for law students and lawyers.”

The Rappaport Center is home to the Rappaport Fellows Program in Law and Public Policy. Since it was founded in 2000 the program has provided access to summer internships, educational programming, stipends and individual mentoring for 12 law students selected annually from among applicants from Boston's six law schools.

“Suffolk University has an outstanding record of producing graduates who engage in public policy work in legislatures, courthouses, and city and town halls across New England,” said Jerome L. Rappaport. “The Rappaport Center for Law and Public Service will provide greater opportunities for young people to positively influence Boston and Massachusetts.”

The opening ceremony will be held from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 11, 2007, at Suffolk University Law School, 120 Tremont St., Boston.

Dec. 12, 2007 -- Obama Closing in on Hillary; Romney Leads GOP, while McCain Surges in NH

7NEWS/Suffolk University Poll Shows Impact of Oprah Winfrey’s Endorsement Limited

BOSTON – With the New Hampshire Presidential Primaries less than four weeks away, Hillary Clinton’s lead has slipped, and she now leads Barack Obama by just seven points, according to a 7NEWS/Suffolk University poll released today. In last month’s 7NEWS/Suffolk University poll, Clinton led Obama by 12 points.

In the Republican race, today’s poll shows that Mitt Romney remains in front, while John McCain has surged into second.

Thirty-three percent of likely voters in the Democratic Primary support Hillary Clinton, while 26 percent chose Barack Obama, and 15 percent selected John Edwards. Nineteen percent were undecided.

	December ’07	November ’07	Percent change
Hillary Clinton	33 percent	34 percent	-1
Barack Obama	26 percent	22 percent	+4
John Edwards	15 percent	15 percent	None
Undecided	19 percent	12 percent	+7

“Obama trails by single digits and is well within the statistical margin of error,” said David Paleologos, director of the Suffolk University Political Research Center. “But the line has been drawn: Obama leads among men, independents and younger voters, while Clinton is well ahead among women, registered Democrats and older voters. Second-tier candidates are seeing their support rotate into the undecided column. The highest ratio of undecided voters were between 46-55 years of age, of whom 25 percent could not pick a candidate.”

Oprah Winfrey’s endorsement did not significantly change the Democratic race in New Hampshire. While 97 percent of likely Democratic Primary voters were aware she had endorsed Obama, just 7 percent said the endorsement would make them support Obama, while 88 percent said it would not. When the same voters were asked whose endorsement was worth more – 56 percent said Bill Clinton’s while just 19 percent said Winfrey’s. In addition, 74 percent of likely Democratic voters said that they would not vote for Winfrey if she were a candidate for president.

In the Republican Primary, Romney (31 percent) slipped since the last 7NEWS/Suffolk University poll on Nov. 28, 2007, but still topped a surging McCain (19 percent), who moved past Rudy Giuliani into second place. Giuliani (17 percent) also lost ground while Mike Huckabee (10 percent), whose national support has grown dramatically, gained 3 percent since the November poll.

	December ’07	November ’07	Percent change
Mitt Romney	31 percent	34 percent	-3
John McCain	19 percent	13 percent	+6
Rudy Giuliani	17 percent	20 percent	-3
Mike Huckabee	10 percent	7 percent	+3

“With Curt Schilling pitching and The Manchester Union Leader going to bat for him, John McCain is coming off the injured list and may well see action in the games that follow New Hampshire,” said Paleologos. “McCain’s comeback and Huckabee’s rise from bench warmer to slugger come at the expense of Romney and Giuliani.”

Romney’s decline may be due in part to a disagreement about the role of religion in government. When likely Republican voters were asked if freedom requires religion, as Romney claimed in his speech on “Faith in America” last week, 55 percent said no, while 34 percent said yes. And when asked if there should be complete separation of church and state, 53 percent said yes, and 35 percent said no.

When voters from both party primaries were asked who is the most candid, McCain topped both fields with 15 percent, followed by Obama (13 percent), and Clinton (11 percent). Yet, when all voters were asked whom they believed would be the next president, 28 percent said Clinton, followed by Romney (11 percent), Obama (11 percent), and Giuliani (10 percent).

The 7NEWS-Suffolk University poll was conducted from Dec. 9 to Dec. 11, 2007. All Democratic interviews were conducted Dec. 10-11. The margin of error for each party subsample of 300 respondents is +/- 5.65 percent at a 95 percent level of confidence. The 600 respondent margin of error is +/- 4 percent. All respondents were likely primary voters for the New Hampshire presidential primary on Jan. 8, 2008. Charts, marginals and 205 pages of cross-tabulation data are available on the Suffolk University Political Research Center Web site. For more information, please contact David Paleologos, director of the Suffolk University Political Research Center, at 781-290-9310.

Dec. 13, 2007 -- BHI: State tax revenues will rise slowly, by 2.4 percent in FY 2008 and 4.1 percent in FY 2009

For more information, please contact:
Frank Conte
Director, Communications & Information Systems
Beacon Hill Institute at Suffolk University
617-573-8050

BOSTON – After examining current economic conditions and future prospects for economic growth, the Beacon Hill Institute today released its forecasts of Massachusetts state tax revenues for fiscal years 2008 and 2009. The Massachusetts economy is expected to continue to expand, but less quickly than over the past two years. As a result, revenue growth will grow by 2.4 percent in FY 2008 -- down from the 6.8 percent increase seen in FY 2007 -- before rebounding to a 4.1 percent growth rate in FY 2009.

The Institute's forecasts for state tax revenues for FY 2008 and 2009 are:

For FY 2008 (ending June 30, 2008): $20.201 billion, for growth of 2.4 percent over FY 2007.
For FY 2009 (ending June 30, 2009): $21.038 billion, for growth of 4.1 percent over the predicted level for FY 2008.

Jonathan Haughton, Senior Economist at the Beacon Hill Institute, and Professor of Economics at Suffolk University, presented the forecast in testimony before the revenue hearing conducted under the auspices of the Joint Ways and Means Committee and the Executive Office of Administration and Finance.

“Although the growth of state GDP will ease in the months ahead, we do not expect a recession,” said Haughton in his testimony at the Gardner Auditorium at the State House. “Tax revenues will mirror this trend, growing relatively slowly in the current fiscal year but rising more rapidly by 2009, at which point they will increase in line with the long-term historical trend.”

The Institute predicts that state personal income growth will slow to 4.9 percent in calendar year 2008, after rising by an estimated 6.2 percent in 2007. The main drag on the economy continues to be the effects of the sub-prime lending disaster, which has reduced residential investment and made consumers and investors jittery. But continued strength in health services and education, as well as exports (boosted by a weak dollar) will ensure that the state will not slide into recession in 2008 or 2009.

The Beacon Hill Institute provides policy analysis through its State Tax Analysis Modeling Program (STAMP). Information about STAMP and a copy of the Institute's Massachusetts Tax Revenue Forecasts for FY 2008 and FY 2009 may be obtained at http://www.beaconhill.org/ or by calling BHI at 617-573-8750.