Aromatherapy
1:00–2:00 p.m.
Houston Gym 223
Joanne Tomasulo returns with a wonderful, stress-reducing session on the positive health value of certain herbal scents. Smell is a powerful recognition tool, and aromatherapy has been used for hundreds of years to help relieve many symptoms of illness and stress.

Thursday, April 20
Joy of Soy
12:15–1:30 p.m.
Houston Gym 223
Nan Simpson, R.N., is a long-time vegetarian who works with people who want to change to a plant-based diet. Soy is one of the best meat-protein substitutes; however, people are often unfamiliar with the many ways soy can be incorporated into meals. This session will cover different vegetarian diets and the use of soy products.

Take Back the Night
Take Back the Night, a march against violence, will begin at 6:00 p.m. Thursday, April 13 on the Sports Arena steps. This high-profile, community-building event gives participants a chance to show their dedication to nonviolence and lends support to victims of rape and other forms of violence. Assemblyman Sam Hoyt will deliver opening remarks, and a candlelight procession will proceed around the east side of the building and into Houston Gym.

The evening's events will include a pledge to nonviolence, survivor testimony, poetry readings, and a performance from the S.P.I.R.I.T. Gospel Choir. Professional counselors will offer support throughout the evening. Food and refreshments will be provided. Many who have experienced violence find that the event empowers them to take the first, important step in the healing transition from "victim" to "survivor."

One in four women will become the victim of a sexual assault or attempted sexual assault by the time she leaves college, according to 1999 Planned Parenthood statistics. Nine out of 10 rapes are never reported. One in 10 reported rape victims is male. Seventy-eight percent of rape victims know their attackers. Ninety percent of all acquaintance rape involves alcohol. Less than 1 percent of all reported rapes are falsely reported.

Last year, Take Back the Night drew almost 500 participants from the community. We hope students, staff, and administration will, again, show their support and solidarity for victims of violence.

Child Care Center Receives NAEYC Accreditation
The Buffalo State College Child Care Center was granted reaccreditation by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). This prestigious recognition has been achieved by approximately 7 percent of early childhood programs nationwide—some 6,943 programs as of December 1999—serving 635,190 children.

Currently, 60 children of Buffalo State students and 18 children of faculty and staff are enrolled at the child care center, which has long been regarded as a leader in Western New York for providing quality care for children and their families. The center follows a developmentally appropriate curriculum and provides a safe, predictable environment for children to develop their social, emotional, cognitive, and physical abilities.

NAEYC accreditation is a rigorous, voluntary process by which early childhood programs demonstrate the criteria to meet national standards of excellence. Child care centers, preschool programs, kindergartens, and before- and after-school programs are eligible for NAEYC accreditation.

Programs undergo an intensive self-study, collecting information from parents, teachers, administrators, and classroom observations. Early childhood professionals, specially trained by NAEYC, conduct on-site visits to validate study results. Information is independently reviewed by a team of national experts who grants or defers accreditation, valid for four years.

The heart of NAEYC accreditation focuses on the child's experience. The process carefully considers all aspects of a program, including health and safety, staffing, staff qualifications, and physical environment. The greatest emphasis is on the children's relationships with staff and how the program helps each child grow and learn intellectually, physically, socially, and emotionally.

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Sexual Harassment Policy
It is the policy of Buffalo State College to provide an employment and educational environment free from unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct or communication that constitutes sexual harassment as defined, and otherwise prohibited, by state and federal statutes. It shall be considered a violation of this policy for any member of the college community to abuse another through conduct or communication of a sexual nature and shall constitute sexual harassment as defined in Section II of the full policy.

Any student, faculty, or staff member who has questions or concerns about possible violations of this policy should contact the Equity and Campus Diversity Office at ext. 6210.

The full text of the policy is available at www.buffalostate.edu/offices/equity.

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Religious Observances in April
The campus is reminded of the college and SUNY policies regarding student attendance during religious observances. SUNY policy states that any student in an institution of higher education who is unable, because of his or her religious beliefs, to attend classes on a particular day or days, shall, because of such absence, be excused from any examination or any study or work requirements. It shall be the responsibility of the faculty...of each institution of higher education to make available to each student who is absent from school because of his or her religious beliefs an equivalent opportunity to make up examinations or assignments missed because of such absence(s).

At Buffalo State, we sharpen the mandate of the state and endorse the policy that the administering of evaluative examinations on Good Friday (April 21) will not be permitted.

Faculty also are reminded that Passover, the eight-day celebration marking the deliverance of the Jews from slavery in Egypt, begins at sunset Wednesday, April 19 and continues until sunset Friday, April 21. Students may wish to be excused from classes to participate in Seder ceremonies with their families during this period. Seder ceremonies emphasize the concept of freedom.

April 21 also is the first day of Ridvan, observed by the Baha'i faith. This day celebrates the declaration of Baha'u'llah to his followers in 1863. Work is suspended for the first, ninth, and 12th days of Ridvan.

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College Senate Meeting
The next College Senate meeting will be 3:00 p.m. Friday, April 14 in E. H. Butler Library 210.

Call for Nominations
From the Chair of the Bylaws and Elections Committee
The College Senate will hold elections for four at-large senate positions from Monday, April 17 to Friday, April 28. The college is experimenting with an electronic option for this election.

Qualified voters can access the electronic election booth at www.buffalostate.edu/orgs/senate from 8:00 a.m. Monday, April 17 until noon Friday, April 21. The Senate Election Site link is located at the bottom of the page. Voters recently received passwords (through campus mail) from the College Senate Bylaws and Elections Committee.

From Monday, April 24 to Friday, April 28, those who did not vote electronically will receive paper ballots.

Contact John Favata, ext. 5112 or favatajt@buffalostate.edu, or Sharon Cramer, ext. 4334 or cramersf@buffalostate.edu, with questions.

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