September 17, 2019

Oh, 'Mamma Mia!' Ambitious regional production features tons of talent with SVSU ties

“Unprecedented” because of the scale of collaboration, a multi-community theatre production of the hit musical comedy “Mamma Mia!” debuting Friday will feature a cast and crew heavy with Saginaw Valley State University connections.

The director (a faculty member), lead actor (an alumna) and stage manager (a current student) are among 17 people with SVSU ties participating in the weeks-long run of the Great Lakes Bay Regional Alliance-produced show.

Combining talent and resources from three regional theatres including Bay City Players, public performances are scheduled at The Midland Center for the Arts on Fridays through Sundays, Sept. 20-22 and Sept. 27-29. Free shows exclusively for area school students are planned at Pit & Balcony Theatre in Saginaw during the first week of October.

“It’s an ambitious project — a unique project — and one that this region is uniquely equipped to take on,” said "Mamma Mia!" director Tommy Wedge, an assistant professor of theatre at the university. “It really shows how SVSU is part of that theatre community too. I don’t think it’s overstating it that this is unprecedented.”

Nine alumni, five students and three educators from SVSU are involved as cast or crew members. Nine will act on stage while eight will perform behind-the-scenes work including directing, stage management as well as lighting design and engineering.

Among the participating alumni is Holly Booth, who portrays Donna, the lead role made popular by Meryl Streep in the 2008 film adaptation and its 2018 sequel. Off stage, Booth is a Midland County Educational Service Agency teacher who received a bachelor’s degree in elementary and special education at SVSU in 1997 as well as learning disabilities and emotional impairment education endorsements from the university.

SVSU students also are critical to the success of “Mamma Mia!” For instance, Melanie Frasca, a theatre major from Waterford, will serve as stage manager. That’s no small task for a dynamic, fast-moving musical that features 38 actors as well as two different stages with two different stage designs for its Midland and Saginaw settings, Wedge said.

“In classes, we talk about how the university is part of the community,” he said. “It’s thrilling to see students experience that in real time. They see the class work we do on campus and then can turn around and be that stage manager in our show while working with alumni who graduated from our program.”

Seating remains available for the public performances at The Midland Center for the Arts. Friday and Saturday shows are at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday matinees begin at 3 p.m.

Tickets — which start at $25 — can be purchased at either of the three participating theatres’ box offices, or by calling (989) 631-5930.

"Mamma Mia!" debuted on a London stage in 1999 and moved to Broadway for a 14-year run beginning in 2001. The story starts on the eve of a young woman's wedding. Her desire to find her biological father leads to events that reunite her mother (Donna, played by Booth) with three ex-lovers from decades earlier. The plot unfolds to the upbeat sounds of ABBA music.

Watch Wedge discuss "Mamma Mia!" and its elaborate production in the following promotional video:

September 17, 2019

Art, history, technology among topics planned for SVSU’s fall speaker series

Saginaw Valley State University will host seven guest speakers as part of its annual fall Visiting Scholars and Artists series. The series will bring to campus a renowned Bollywood actress, the daughter of two prominent American literary figures, a CEO and a former president of MIT.

Speakers will discuss the transcendent nature of art, the breaking of historical barriers, the revolution of technological-biological science and new concepts in the learning process.

All events are free of charge and open to the public.

The following includes the complete lineup of fall Visiting Scholars and Artists speakers:

“The Beat Generation On and Off the Road”

Cathy Cassady Sylvia

Dow Visiting Scholar

Monday, Sept. 23, 4 p.m., in Founders Hall

Cathy Cassady Sylvia is a guest lecturer in California focusing on Beat literature and the former editor for the Stanford Medical School Cardiology Division newsletter. The daughter of famous Beat writers Carolyn and Neal Cassady, her lecture will focus on how female voices — including her mother's — shaped Beat Generation literature while also being silenced by it.

“From SVSU to Bollywood: A Personal Journey”

Meera Chopra

Dow Visiting Artist

Thursday, Sept. 26, 7 p.m., in Malcolm Field Theatre for Performing Arts

SVSU alumna Meera Chopra, an Indian actress and model, has appeared in more than 20 films in various languages produced in her home country. Her most recent role was in "Section 375," a courtroom drama about India's anti-rape laws. Chopra's lecture will tackle the importance of addressing difficult topics through art.

“High-Tech, High-Touch Solutions to the Opioid Crisis in Rural Michigan”

Kathleen Schachman

Thomas and Hilda Rush Distinguished Lecture

Thursday, Oct. 3, 4 p.m., in Founders Hall

Kathleen Schachman is the H.R. Wickes Endowed Chair of Nursing at SVSU, serving in this role since 2014. She helped implement the university's psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner program, which is serving its first cohort of 16 nurse practitioners. Her practice focuses on addictions and recovery support services. She will discuss how her work has intersected with the nation's opioid crisis.

“A Night with Olga Custodio”

Lieutenant Colonel Olga Custodio

Dow Visiting Scholar

Wednesday, Oct. 9, 6 p.m., in Founders Hall

Lieutenant Colonel Olga Custodio broke social and sound barriers as the first Latina to become a United States Air Force (USAF) military pilot and a commercial pilot for American Airlines. Now retired from both American Airlines and the USAF Reserves, Custodio is an active member of the Women Military Aviators Association, the Women in Aviation International and the Order of Daedalians.

"Welcome to the Age of Living Machines”

Susan Hockfield

James E. O’Neill Memorial Lecture

Thursday, Oct. 17, 7 p.m., in Malcolm Field Theatre for Performing Arts

Susan Hockfield is a professor of neuroscience and served as the first female president of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology from 2004-12. Her book, “The Age of Living Machines,” examines the technological-biological revolution known as “convergence.” In her presentation, Hockfield will provide a glimpse of the world to come.

"Engaging Learners in Liminal Spaces”

Elizabeth Wardle

Dow Visiting Scholar

Thursday, Oct. 24, 7 p.m., in Gilbertson Hall's room GS 202

Elizabeth Wardle is a distinguished professor of written communication and director of the Howe Center for Writing Excellence at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. She has published an award-winning collection of insights, “Naming What We Know,” and four editions of the co-authored textbook, “Writing about Writing.” In her talk, Wardle will discuss threshold concepts, student learning blocks and liminality in the learning process.

“The Perfect Storm”

Horacio Sanchez

Foundation Visiting Scholar

Monday, Nov. 4, 7 p.m., in Gilbertson Hall's Ott Auditorium

Horacio Sanchez is the president and CEO of Resiliency Inc., an agency leader in helping schools improve school climate, instruction and discipline. He addresses these topics in his book, "The Education Revolution." His research focuses on promoting student resiliency and applying brain science to improve school outcomes.

For more information about the Visiting Scholars and Artists speaker series, visit svsu.edu/publiclectures.

September 12, 2019

SVSU fall speaker series kicks off with examination of Beat Generation and its female influences

At Saginaw Valley State University later this month, the daughter of a famous writer will engage audiences in a presentation exploring the influence of female writers on the Beat Generation of the mid-20th century.

Cathy Cassady Sylvia, daughter of the late Beat writers Carolyn and Neal Cassady, will serve as the academic year’s first Dow Visiting Scholar appearance Monday, Sept. 23, at 4 p.m., in SVSU's Founders Hall.

The event is free and open to the public.

During her lecture, “The Beat Generation On and Off the Road,” Sylvia will share a collection of her mother’s unpublished stories, poems and paintings. She also will examine how female voices — including her mother’s — shaped Beat generation literature while simultaneously being silenced by it.

Sylvia’s mother was a confidant to beat writers Allen Ginsberg and Jack Kerouac, who explored the effects of war on American culture. Kerouac referenced Sylvia’s birth in a 1951 draft of “On the Road,” a famous Beat novel considered by many as an American literary masterpiece.

Her parents were friends and sources of inspiration for Kerouac. Sylvia grew up immersed in the Beat literature tradition Kerouac and her parents helped shape. She will discuss these experiences in her lecture.

Sylvia previously served as Stanford Medical School Cardiology Division’s publications coordinator and as editor-in-chief of “The Cardiogram,” the school’s newsletter. Currently, she resides in California and provides local lectures at the San Fransisco Beat Museum and other locations.

Her appearance at SVSU is part of the university's annual Visiting Scholars and Artists speakers series program, which was established in part through an endowment from The Herbert H. and Grace A. Dow Foundation to enrich our regional cultural and intellectual opportunities. Admission is free and open to the public for all events.

September 12, 2019

Bollywood star Meera Chopra to return to alma mater SVSU as Dow Visiting Artist

Fresh from the debut of one of her most anticipated films, a leading Bollywood actor this month will return to the campus she considered transformative in her development: Saginaw Valley State University.

Meera Chopra, an SVSU alumna who went on to star in more than 20 films produced in her native India, will serve as a Dow Visiting Artist at her alma mater Thursday, Sept. 26, at 7 p.m. in SVSU's Malcolm Field Theatre for Performing Arts. The event is free and open to the public.

“I’m coming to Saginaw to talk to you, share some stories, talk about life and just have lots of fun,” Chopra said. “I’m really looking forward to it. Saginaw is something which made me what I am today.”

Chopra received a master’s degree in communication and multimedia from SVSU in 2003, just two years before she starred in the Tamil-language romantic drama, “Anbe Aaruyire.” Her breakout hit found success with fans of the southern India film industry. She went by the stage name Nila at the time.

She followed "Anbe Aaruyire" with appearances in a number of Indian films in other languages — Telugu and Kannada — such as her critically-acclaimed performance in the 2008 romantic drama, “Vaana.”

After moving to India’s film capital, Mumbai, Chopra’s rise as an artist continued with internationally-successful thrillers including “Gangs of Ghosts” and “1920: London”.

Chopra’s acting career has included dramatic portrayals. In “Section 375” — a Hindi-language movie set to debut this Friday, Sept. 13 — Chopra plays a woman whose sexual assault becomes the focus of a court case that examines the misuse of the nation’s anti-rape laws.

Chopra, a proponent of female empowerment and women’s rights, said she accepted the challenge of portraying a sexual assault survivor to raise awareness of the number of unreported rape cases in India and to highlight victims’ rights.

“Playing the character was very traumatic for me in the beginning, and once the filming was over, it took me some time to get out of it,” Chopra told The Times of India in August. “Shooting for this role really broke my heart to even imagine what real rape victims go through. I hope this movie gives strength to women to fight for justice.”

Chopra’s appearance at SVSU is part of the university's fall 2019 Visiting Scholars and Artists speaker series.

For more information on Chopra’s appearance and the speaker series, visit svsu.edu/publiclectures.

Watch the official trailer for "Section 375" here:

September 11, 2019

SVSU kicks off Hispanic Heritage Month with celebration of lowrider culture

Committed to honoring Hispanic heritage, Saginaw Valley State University will host an event Sunday, Sept. 15, celebrating lowrider vehicles and the culture surrounding them.

SVSU’s kickoff to Hispanic Heritage Month — which spans Sept. 15 to Oct. 15 — will involve an outdoor event featuring lowrider vehicles on display, guest speakers including a state representative and a lowriding icon, as well as food and music. The event is free and open to the public.

Lowrider vehicles will be on display in the G3 parking lot at SVSU, outside of Gilbertson Hall in the northwest corner of campus, from noon to 3 p.m. Sunday.

A 1 p.m. public presentation will kick off near the outdoor display with remarks from Vanessa Guerra, the 95^th District state House representative. Then both Roberto Garcia, SVSU’s director of Multicultural Student Affairs, and Debbie Sanchez, who appears as the subject of the documentary "Queen of the Lowriders," will talk about lowrider vehicles and their significance historically.

"Unfortunately, the lowriding community is plagued with negative stereotypes," Garcia said. "The general population is not aware of the history of lowriding and how it developed during the Chicano Civil Rights movement."

The goal of the Hispanic Heritage Month kickoff is to honor the contributions Hispanic-Americans have made to society while celebrating it through food, music, dance and education, he said.

The event will include singing and a DJ. A food truck will be parked on site, selling tacos, elephant ears and other goods.

In the event of poor weather, the presentation instead will be indoors in the Thompson Student Activities Room, located in SVSU's Student Center.

September 9, 2019

SVSU Voices In The Valley event features pair of seasoned poets

Two critically-acclaimed poets will share selections of their works during a reading at Saginaw Valley State University next month.

Tess Gallagher and Alice Derry will read from their respective works as part of SVSU's Voices In The Valley series on Thursday, Oct. 10, at 7 p.m. in Founders Hall. Admission is free and open to the public.

Gallagher is the author of 11 books of poetry, including “Is, Is Not,” “Midnight Lantern: New and Selected Poems,” “Dear Ghosts,” and “Moon Crossing Bridge.” The New York Times Book Review wrote that Gallagher "is an excellent writer who savors the elegance of simplicity and whose work resonates and lingers."

Gallagher studied under Theodore Roethke, acclaimed poet and Saginaw native. SVSU hosts the Roethke Memorial Poetry Prize, which is awarded every three years. Gallagher was also married to the famous short-story writer Raymond Carver. She spends time in County Sligo, Ireland, and in her hometown of Port Angeles, Washington.

Derry is the author of seven books of poetry, including “Hunger,” and “Translations of Rainer Rilke's New Poems.” Li-Young Lee, a fellow American poet, writes Derry’s "poems achieve a transpersonal significance and beauty. They ask us to surrender our simplistic ideas about race and prejudice, memory and forgetfulness, and begin to uncover a new paradigm for 'human.'"

Derry taught at Peninsula College in Port Angeles, Washington, and coordinated the Foothills Writers Series.

The Voices in the Valley Reading Series brings in a wide variety of national poetry and fiction writers to SVSU each year to give public readings as well as visit English and creative writing classrooms.

September 9, 2019

Michigan author wins SVSU literature award

Saginaw Valley State University has awarded the 2019-20 Stuart D. and Vernice M. Gross Award for Literature to author Anna Clark for her book, "The Poisoned City: Flint's Water Crisis and the American Urban Tragedy." The award is part of SVSU’s community-minded commitment to recognize exceptional writing within Michigan.

Clark will visit SVSU in the early months of 2020, when she will accept the award as well as visit classes on campus. She will also receive a $1,000 prize.

Clark graduated from the University of Michigan with a degree in art history and creative writing and literature. She also graduated from Warren Wilson College's MFA Program for Writers and has published articles in The New York Times, Elle, and the Columbia Journalism Review.

Her book on the Flint water crisis has been described as "an exceptional work of journalism" by The San Francisco Chronicle and "a thorough, nuanced account . . . [that] weaves together history, science and rigorous reporting to tell Flint's story" by Science News magazine.

A website for "The Poisoned City" — including links for purchasing the book — is available at http://annaclark.net/the-poisoned-city.

Established by the late Stuart D. Gross and his wife, Vernice, the Gross Award for Literature is administered by SVSU. It is granted to published works in regional history or historical fiction/drama. Preference is given to Michigan subject matter or strong Michigan connections on the part of the author.

Winners are selected by a panel of judges from SVSU's faculty and staff. Judges this year were Matthew Buckley, research and collection development librarian; M. Patricia Cavanaugh, professor of English; Jules Gehrke, associate professor of history; Carlos Ramet, associate dean of the College of Arts & Behavioral Sciences; and Michelle Strasz, research & online course support librarian.

Employed for many years as a journalist with The Saginaw News, Gross joined the SVSU staff in the school's early years and served in a variety of public affairs roles. He was recognized as a regional historian and published several books. Among his writings are, "Saginaw: A History of the Land and City," "When Timber was King," and "Where There is a Will." Following his retirement from SVSU, Gross wrote and produced a play, "Let's Have Lunch Sometime." He died in 1996; Mrs. Gross, in 2001.

September 9, 2019

SVSU greenhouse recertified for environmental safety standards

Saginaw Valley State University's commitment to environmental sustainability has been recognized, as SVSU’s Boutell Memorial Greenhouse has been recertified for cropping system through the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development's Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program (MAEAP).

The recertification means SVSU's greenhouse ranks within the top 5 percent of certifiable entities for cropping systems. The category focuses on field-based activities, such as water use, soil conservation and nutrient management. Greenhouses, crops, orchards and more are included in this category.

Ed Meisel, SVSU lecturer of chemistry and greenhouse manager, said the MAEAP reviews risks associated with pesticide and nutrient application, erosion control and record keeping. He developed a process to help SVSU's greenhouse control these risks.

"We utilize a special process that I came up with in 2010 called vermiponics — an integration of vermiculture, hydroponics and aquaponics — which helps us to be one of the most efficient, effective and successful greenhouse systems known today," he said.

Meisel's vermiponics system has made recertification easier for SVSU.

"(MAEAP) was thoroughly impressed with our methods and systems, and noted that they would love to invite other greenhouse and cropping systems to visit ours as an exemplary model," he said.

The 2,000 square-foot greenhouse resides in SVSU’s Dow Doan Science Building West. It was last certified in 2014, as certifications last five years. The greenhouse does not use traditional herbicides or pesticides.To become cropping system certified, applicants attend educational seminars, go through an on-site risk assessment and develop and implement an action plan to address any risks noted by the inspector.

"We utilize getting biodegradable wastes by taking the waste from Starbucks, Subway, Green Works and other dining facilities campus," he said. "We also take shredded paper from different departments as well."

Meisel said the recertification went smoothly largely because of the hard work of student employees in the greenhouse.

"They are directly involved with the greenhouse, which requires a large amount of learning new and different systems, as well as the skills, and gaining knowledge in the latest areas of agriculture and greenhouse systems," he said. "I appreciate having a great team to work with in order to be successful."

Meisel said the voluntary certification is difficult to attain, but it ensures the greenhouse meets state and federal regulation standards.

"The MAEAP agents are very systematic in analyzing and looking through records and data to make sure one is abiding by environmental laws," he said.

Meisel said the SVSU greenhouse continues to seek recertification because of the benefits associated with it.

"We receive recognition as a top steward in the community," he said.

September 9, 2019

SVSU kicks off Rhea Miller Concert Series with jazz saxophonist Clark Gibson

Saginaw Valley State University will host jazz saxophonist Clark Gibson for a concert Saturday, Sept. 28, at 7 p.m. in the Rhea Miller Recital Hall as part of SVSU’s Rhea Miller Concert Series.

The concert, “Bird with Strings: Music of Charlie Parker,” will feature arrangements composed for Charlie Parker, a famous American jazz saxophonist. Local musicians will accompany Gibson for the performance.

Gibson is a composer and director of jazz studies as well as an assistant professor of saxophone at Northeastern State University in Oklahoma.

While being an in-demand adjudicator and clinician, Gibson has also taught students privately and performed with The Temptations, The Four Tops, The Jim Knapp Orchestra, and more.

Gibson recorded original compositions for his albums "lapetus" in 2010, "Old Style Sextet" in 2014 and "Bird with String: The Lost Arrangements" in 2016. Gibson's latest album, "Tri-Colored Eyes," was released Sept. 3.

"Old Style Sextet" came in second place at the International Cotai Jazz and Blues Festival Competition in Macau, China. "The Lost Arrangements" received positive reviews from radio and print publications, including DownBeat magazine. 

In his SVSU concert, Gibson will perform various selections including arrangements from “Bird with Strings.”

The Rhea Miller Concert Series is made possible by a generous gift from Rhea E. Miller, a longtime friend of SVSU. Her gift, administered by the Miller Trust for Music Education, has provided the university with the opportunity to offer outstanding performances by nationally and internationally acclaimed musical artists at no cost to the audience since 1993.

For more information, call SVSU's Department of Music at (989) 964-4159 or email music@svsu.edu.

September 9, 2019

SVSU to host 9/11 Heroes Run to benefit national foundation

UPDATE: Due to the threat of severe weather, the Heroes Run will be postponed this evening, including the remembrance ceremony. The event is reschedule for this Saturday at 10 a.m.  Follow updates at https://www.facebook.com/911HeroesRunSaginaw.

Saginaw Valley State University is hosting its annual 9/11 Heroes Run on Wednesday, Sept. 11, to benefit The Travis Manion Foundation.

The event will consist of a 5K run/walk and a 400-meter "fun run" for children. The 5K run/walk will begin at 6:30 p.m. in the parking lot of SVSU's Gilbertson Hall. The course will continue along the paved campus running trail.

Registration for the 5K is $30 if registering before Monday, Sept. 9, or $35 between then and the day of the event. Participants who are active in the military or members of a first responder agency can register for $27 before Monday's deadline or $30 between then and the day of the event. Family package deals also are available.

Participants can also register for the GORUCK division of the race. Rucking is when the participants wear a weighted bag on their back during the 5K.

The Travis Manion Foundation works to empower veterans and families of fallen heroes to develop character in future generations. The national nonprofit has organized the annual fundraiser at locations across the world since 2007. Wednesday's event will mark the sixth year SVSU has hosted a 9/11 Heroes Run.

Several SVSU offices were involved in organizing this year's annual run including Military Student Affairs, Campus Recreation, Advanced Studies & International Student Services, and University Communications.

The Kochville and Saginaw Township fire departments are both supporting the run this year.

Those interested in participating in the SVSU-hosted 9/11 Heroes Run can register online at www.travismanion.org/community-engagement/911-heroes-run/2019-saginaw-mi/, or sign up at the site of the race beginning at 5 p.m. on Wednesday.