Site-Wide Activity

'Ville Celebrates Public Weather Awareness Day Millersville meteorology students are working to spread the word about the weather and prepare the community for its adverse effects.   Public Weather Awareness Day is an event hosted by Millersville’s student chapter of the American Meteorological Society. It will be held on April 14 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Ville Courts in the Student Memorial Center. The day is free and open to the public.   The purpose of Public Weather Awareness Day is to educate attendees about weather, particularly local weather patterns and their effects. “We’re in Pennsylvania where we get a lot of weather that can impact a lot of people,” says Peyton Simmers, vice president of Millersville’s student chapter of the American Meteorological Society. “We try to educate people like, ‘Okay, if you get into this situation, what do you do?’” Pennsylvania residents can expect to see a variety of weather-related events, such as snow and hail, tornadoes and flooding.   This year’s theme is “Polar Opposites,” which aims to comment on the different possibilities of weather. “We’re going for a split tropical and winter theme,” says Simmers.  The event will feature tables run by students and outside organizations, with informational games and activities that attendees can participate in. “We have our own students in the meteorology department who have tables for things like weather jeopardy and an instrumentation table,” says Simmers. Outside organizations, including the National Weather Service, will also be present.   In the past, the day has closed with a weather balloon launch. “We’ve done it the past two years that I’ve been here, and I’m hoping to do it again this year,” says Simmers. Unlike traditional weather balloons, those launched at this event do not use a radio sound. “We send it up to give people the idea of how we actually do a launch,” says Simmers.   For more information about this year’s Public […] “‘Ville Celebrates Public Weather Awareness Day”

10 Years of Made in Millersville 2024 marks 10 years of celebrating student scholarship and creativity at the annual Made in Millersville Conference. The conference, which highlights student research at Millersville University, will be held on Tuesday, April 9 in the Student Memorial Center from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. with a record number of 265 presentations by 383 presenters. Alumni and the community can attend the conference as guests or can volunteer as reviewers. This year’s conference will be held in conjunction with the Frederick Douglass Institute’s Research and Creative Arts Conference.  Made in Millersville is open to all Millersville students and includes the work of recent graduates who completed their projects after the conclusion of the last conference. The conference accepts presentations that are either a product of a mentored experience outside the classroom or a requirement for a course. Nearly 100 faculty members served as mentors for the 2024 conference presenters. Students were encouraged to showcase their scholarly work by submitting posters, talks, performances, demonstrations and exhibits for consideration.   Students can also present the outcomes of their work in the Made in Millersville Journal. The journal, overseen by Dr. Tatiana Pashkova-Balkenhol and Dr. Kerry Farkas, will be published online and available for the public to view on April 23.   “When students apply to participate in Made in Millersville, they can choose to present at the conference and author a paper in the journal,” explains Jeffry Porter, Associate Vice President for the Office of Grants, Sponsored Programs and Research. “Students who publish in the journal work with the student editor team, and the writing process becomes an instructive experience. While the conference and journal showcase our students’ excellent and innovative work, their success is an indicator of our faculty’s excellence in the classroom and dedication as mentors outside the classroom.”  Nate C. Wilson, a biology major with a concentration in animal behavior, took part in last year’s conference and said the process gave them a greater insight into their project and helped them prepare for their defense. “My first presentation helped me develop an idea of what presenting your research should look like at a professional level, aided my understanding of my research and taught me how to create a professional poster,” says Wilson.     This year, Wilson is presenting two projects: the first is a continuation of their project from last year titled, “Neuroendocrine Gene Expression and Aggression in the Polymorphic White-Throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis).” The second is a poster on Wilson’s summer internship research titled, “3D Analysis of Morphological Diversity in Hawaiian Hawks Across Time and Space, from Pleistocene to the Present.” Wilson, who also serves as an intern for the conference, says that their experience gave them important practice for their future career. “My experience presenting at Made in Millersville allowed me to feel more confident in my presentation skills, allowing me to perform better in future conferences.”     To learn more about the conference visit, millersville.edu/madeinmu and send any questions to madeinmillersville@millersv […] “10 Years of Made in Millersville”

Entomology Club: Bringing the Excitement of Bugs to Life The Entomology Club at Millersville University experienced leadership transitions over the past year. Upon assuming the role of president last fall, senior Kennedy Ressler faced the task of reinvigorating the club.  “When I took over the club last fall the beehives were in pretty bad shape,” says Ressler. “We were under the impression that the bees inside were dead. Much to our surprise, when we opened the hives, they were full of live bees!”  Unfortunately, the bee colonies lacked sufficient frames for honey collection, necessitating the addition of more frames. This year, the club prioritized the rehabilitation of the hives. If everything progresses as intended, the hives may become productive enough for the club to host a honey sale in the fall.  “The beehives are solely maintained by our club,” says Ressler. “In addition to that, Millersville University is a monarch butterfly waystation, and we make part of our job to keep a pollinator garden on campus to maintain the University as a haven for the monarch butterfly.”  Additionally, the club curates a significant pinned insect collection, comprising approximately 1000 preserved specimens displayed in cases. They are currently engaged in cataloging these insects to discern the composition of the collection.   The club frequently organizes night hikes in collaboration with the Conestoga Outdoors Club, using flashlights to attract diverse insects. Additionally, they hold bi-weekly meetings where members share research findings, local community beekeepers discuss their experiences and participants engage in entomology and beekeeping activities, including video screenings. Furthermore, they have plans for an upcoming trip to the Smithsonian with the Biology Club later this semester.  “I would like people to know that this club is open to all, not just biology or science majors,” says Ressler. “We are just people who like to talk about bugs and do beekeeping.”  For more information about the Entomology Club, visit MU Clubs.  You can als […] “Entomology Club: Bringing the Excitement of Bugs to Life”

April is Music Industry Month at the Tell School of Music April is Music Industry Month at the Tell School of Music Join us this April as we celebrate Music Industry Month at the Tell […]

How to Maintain a Comfortable Temperature in Millersville University's Residence Halls Living in the residence halls at Millersville University offers a unique community experience, but it also comes with the […]

MU joins Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities Millersville University recently joined the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities – a distinction representing only 17% of all higher education institutions nationwide. “This association will contribute to the overall success and sense of belonging for our Hispanic students,” explains Dr. Gail Gasparich, Provost and Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs at Millersville University. To become an associate member, you must show that you have at least 10% Hispanic students. Using Fall 2023 data, Millersville’s undergraduate Hispanic enrollment was 10.71%. Gasparich says joining the association will help promote a sense of community for Millersville University students. “We will be in a community of members focused on Hispanic student success, which benefits all.” Part of the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities’ mission is to help improve Hispanic students’ access to post-secondary educational opportunities and share resources, information and expertise. “As the demographics shift in the region, the Hispanic population in the Lancaster region is growing (especially K-12), and these students will be Millersville University students in the near future,” says Gasparich. “We want to belong to an institution that provides support and allows us to better learn about best practices to support the success of these students.” Gasparich also notes that the association is the only organization that, in their words, “champions Hispanic student success in higher education.” “They provide professional and institution development, conferences, government relations (lobbying on behalf of HACU institutions), student internships through their National Internship Program and student scholarships,” she explains. One of these student resources includes STEM Summits, which regionally brings STEM majors and employers together to help students prepare for their future careers and connect them to internships. The association also organizes several career readiness programs. The Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities also provides professional opportunities for faculty and staff in higher education, including La Academia de Liderazgo (Leadership Academy), a program designed to help culturally diverse educators prepare for executive and senior-level positions. Being a member opens up some external funding opportunities that Millersville University plans to pursue to enhance best practices on campus. For more info […] “MU joins Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities”

ENWL RED and 1989 Era The Department of ENWL is continuing our Taylor Swift era this week with Taylor’s fourth album RED and fifth album 1989. RED ( […]

Out with Outline, In with WastebinIn English classes across the board, the outline is considered a vital part of the writing process. Teachers preach that without an […]

Highlighting Influential Women & Their Stories In celebration of Women’s History Month, we initiated a conversation with some notable female leaders at Millersville University, […]

Mark Your Calendars: April 8 Will Bring Darkness to the Skies On April 8, prepare for a breathtaking phenomenon as the sky suddenly darkens in broad daylight. This marks the occurrence of one of nature’s most spectacular events: a total solar eclipse. Anticipated to be the longest on land in over a decade, the totality of this eclipse promises an awe-inspiring spectacle. Just don’t forget to wear your eclipse glasses or use a solar viewer. Please note that the sky has to be clear in order to see the eclipse.  Millersville University’s Society of Physics Students and the Physics Department invite the campus to observe the Solar Eclipse with them. They will set up telescopes, with solar filters, to observe the event. Location: In the quad near Gordinier Hall. Time: Eclipse begins at 2:06 pm Maximum coverage at 3:22 pm Eclipse ends at 4:34 pm NOTE: Rain, or thick clouds, that day will cancel the event.” Click here for more information: “Eclipse glasses are not regular sunglasses; regular sunglasses, no matter how dark, are not safe for viewing the sun,” says Paul Hill, director of environmental health and safety at Millersville University. “Safe solar viewers are thousands of times darker and must comply with the ISO 12312-2 international standard.”  As the moon aligns perfectly between the Earth and the sun on the day of the eclipse, it will create a remarkable sight: the sunlight will be completely obscured. This celestial event will carve a diagonal path from the southwest to the northeast across North America, casting temporary darkness over the communities along its trajectory. Unlike a total solar eclipse, an annular eclipse occurs when the moon is at its farthest point from Earth in its orbit, resulting in a smaller visual appearance compared to the sun. As a result, its shadow may not reach Earth during this phase.  “The eclipse will commence its journey into the U.S. from Texas, proceeding through Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine,” says Kyle Elliott, director of the Weather Center at Millersville University. In south-central Pennsylvania, residents will see a partial eclipse, with approximately 90% to 95% of the sun obscured. The eclipse will begin around 2:05 p.m., reach its maximum coverage at approximately 3:21 p.m. and conclude around 4:33 p.m.”   Here are some important safety guidelines to follow during a total solar eclipse:  View the sun through eclipse glasses or a handheld solar viewer during the partial eclipse phases before and after totality. Eclipse glasses are for sale in the University Bookstore.  You can view the eclipse directly without proper eye protection only when the moon completely obscures the sun’s bright face, during the brief period known as totality. (You’ll know it’s safe when you can no longer see any part of the sun through eclipse glasses or a solar viewer.)  As soon as you see even a little bit of the bright sun reappear after totality, immediately put your eclipse glasses back on or use a handheld solar viewer to look at the sun.  “Except during the brief totality period of the eclipse when the moon completely blocks the sun’s bright face, it is not safe to look directly at the sun without specialized eye protection for solar viewing,” says Hill. “Viewing any part of the bright sun through a camera lens, binoculars, or a telescope without a special-purpose solar filter secured over the front of the optics will instantly cause severe eye injury.”  The North Museum of Nature and Science will offer a day trip by bus for eclipse enthusiasts to the SUNY Brockport campus in Brockport, N.Y., on Monday, April 8. The trip will offer the opportunity to view the total solar eclipse within the path of totality.  The single-day, round-trip event will depart the Lancaster Shopping Center, 1515 Lititz Pike, Lancaster, at 5 a.m., returning around midnight. A box lunch, a beverage, and eclipse viewing glasses are included in the fee. Along the way, Richard D. Clark, professor emeritus of meteorology at Millersville University, will present short lectures regarding past eclipses.  Advance reservations are required at http://www.northmuseum.org/eclipse/the-great-American-eclipse.  With clear skies, Lancaster County residents will see a partial version of the eclipse from about 2:06 to 4:34 p.m., peaking at 3:22 p.m., when the sun will be 91% covered by the moon. The last total solar eclipse in the U.S. occurred in 2017, and the next sig […] “Mark Your Calendars: April 8 Will Bring Darkness to the Skies”

MU to host Frederick Douglass Institute for PASSHE Millersville University is hosting two Frederick Douglass Institute events on campus this spring. Students can participate in the Research and Creative Arts Conference on April 9 and in the Douglass Debates on April 10.  The Frederick Douglass Institute creates inclusive university communities by holding programs that support underrepresented minority students at each level of higher education including undergraduate, graduate and postdoctoral levels.  The Research and Creative Arts Conference showcases student’s research and creative works including art pieces, dance videos and research on various topics. The conference’s theme this year is “The Power of Community: Uniting to Amplify Voices and Foster Well-Being.” Additionally, the conference is combining with the Made in Millersville Conference this year. The event will be held in the Student Memorial Center on April 9 from 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.  Students whose work is accepted for the conference will present it as an oral paper presentation, poster exhibition, creative art or spoken word presentation.  The Douglass Debate tournament is an annual event, reaching its 10th anniversary this year. The tournament will be held in the Bolger Conference Center from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. with teams competing in four preliminary rounds and a semi-final and final round. The tournament is led by Dr. Robert J. Green from Commonwealth University at Bloomsburg.  Dr. Joseph Croskey, an associate professor at Pennsylvania Western University at Clarion and one of the coordinators of the events, explains the goal of the debate tournament. “The purpose of the Frederick Douglass Debates is to provide students training in argumentation, advocacy and leadership with a focus on contemporary issues of social justice. It continues to provide a rich learning experience for student participants, enabling them to learn and apply critical thinking skills to contemporary issues, to craft compelling arguments and to consider topics in their full complexity.”  Students will debate on the topic of “Resolved: The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania should implement school choice in K-12 education.” According to Croskey, school choice is the idea that families can choose the type of school their child attends outside of the public school system and receive their tax dollars back from the government to pay for any educational costs.   Croskey also notes that the students participating in the events will gain essential skills for their future career. “Students gain presentation experience which is very useful for graduate school. In addition, sharing their research and responding to questions enhances their ability to think on their feet and respond effectively which can help in interview settings and beyond.”  All students participating in either event will receive a certificate for their work. The Douglass Debate champions will be given a trophy for their university along with a book about Frederick Douglass.   The debate tournament is free and open to all students. Additionally, the public can attend the semi-final and final rounds.  Any student who wants to be involved in the conference can submit their work here.   The Conference is coordinated by Millersville faculty, Dr. Caleb Corkery, English professor Dr. Onek Adyanga, associate history professor, and Dr. Clarence Maxwell, associate history professor and graduate coordinator.   Looking for more information? Contact Joseph Croskey at jcroskey@pennwest.edu or Dr. O […] “MU to host Frederick Douglass Institute for PASSHE”

Nick Merrigan: Inspired to Serve Serving in the United States military is a path many young adults take even when attending college, and the experiences gained can open up many doors for future opportunities. For Nick Merrigan, a junior construction management major and student veteran, the military has allowed him to give back to his community by working in the Veterans Resource Center at Millersville University.     The Veterans Resource Center, also known as the VRC, is an on-campus center for student veterans to find support, a quiet study place or to feel an overall sense of community. Their mission is to support, engage and retain veteran and military students at MU.  Merrigan, an Army active-duty veteran and currently serving in the Army Reserves, explains why he decided to work for the VRC. “I took on this role to help in any way I can. One main problem I come across are benefits. Veterans are eligible for benefits due to their service, but sometimes getting those benefits can be a pain. As a recipient of the GI Bill, helping others get set up is pertinent to their educational careers.”   Not only is Merrigan a veteran, but so is his father, Dennis Merrigan, who is also an MU alumnus. His father’s service inspired him to also enlist in the Army. “My dad was a huge inspiration for my role as a soldier and as a veteran. He served his time as a tank crewmember; I also enlisted as a tank operator in 2018.”   As a new worker for the VRC, Merrigan is helping to update the center to better support student veterans. “We are currently re-structuring the VRC to best accommodate student vets with any resources they may need, or just a relaxing spot for them to stop by.”  Overall, Merrigan hopes to continue supporting any veteran who walks into the VRC. “I hope to help every veteran with any issue they might come across. Seeing veterans’ tasks fulfilled is easily my favorite part of the job.”    For more info on Dennis Merrigan: https://blogs.millersville.e […] “Nick Merrigan: Inspired to Serve”

Vote for SGA Leaders This March Do you want your voice to be heard by faculty and administration? Students can vote for their peers running for office to represent the student body for the 2024-25 school year. Millersville’s Student Government Association is holding elections for their officers this March. Voting opened on Monday, March 25, and will remain open through Sunday, March 31. Students can vote by stopping by the SGA table in the SMC on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday in the SMC Atrium or the SMC promenade on Tuesday, all from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. In addition, students can vote using the QR code/link on SGA social media accounts. Students will need to use their MU credentials to access the Microsoft form.  SGA’s current student president, Camree Patterson, encourages Millersville students to participate in this March’s elections. “Students should know that it is important to vote in the SGA elections, because we are the recognized group that speaks with the administration on their behalf. Also, we oversee the Student Activity Fee, which gets distributed to clubs and organizations on campus.”   Four candidates are running in this election, including Tevon Kerr-Hornbaker, who is running unopposed for SGA president, Deanna Cruz and Jessica Cabibbo for vice president and Brayden Button, who plans to continue his role as the director of finance.   Patterson shares her thoughts on the candidates and their dedication to the organization, “I believe all our candidates running for the president, vice-president and director of finance position will do a wonderful job in their respective roles. I believe that Tevon will be a great president as he has already demonstrated his commitment by assisting students through his role as a representative.”    “It is important that students vote in this election because SGA members are the means that the students’ voice can be heard by administration and staff,” Patterson concludes.   To find out more and vote in the SGA 2024-25 election, visit: https://www.instagram.com/millersvillesga/  Results will be announced o […] “Vote for SGA Leaders This March”

Millersville Continues to be StormReady When Millersville University initially attained StormReady certification in 2020, it joined an exclusive group as only the seventh university in Pennsylvania to achieve this designation. Fast forward four years, and that distinction still holds true today. Recently, MU successfully renewed its designation, solidifying its commitment to storm preparedness. Moreover, the installation of Climavision weather radar on campus last August further enhances the university’s readiness to provide an accurate and timely prediction of severe weather events. “The StormReady recertification affirms MU’s commitment to keeping our students, staff, visitors and the larger Millersville community safe from weather emergencies,” says Pete Anders, chief of police at Millersville University. “We are unique and safer by having the Center for Disaster Research and Education and our Weather Center on campus to assist through trainings and assisting our response and recovery from severe weather events. StormReady formalizes MU’s preparedness, particularly our ability to monitor severe weather and provide timely communications to the community.” StormReady is a program designed by the National Weather Service, and there are currently more than 2,600 communities, counties, Indian nations, higher education institutions, military bases, government sites, commercial enterprises and other groups around the nation with a StormReady designation. This allows these entities to be better prepared and save lives from severe weather through advanced planning, education and awareness. The program encourages communities to take a new, proactive approach to local hazardous weather conditions by providing emergency managers and the community with appropriate and detailed information on how to improve their operations, according to the NWS guidelines. “Millersville University through the Center for Disaster Research and Education, has received notification from the National Weather Service that our StormReady designation has been renewed for another four years through 2028,” says Dr. Sepi Yalda, professor and director of the CDRE at Millersville University. “This designation is important to show our commitment to our ongoing collaboration with the National Weather Service StormReady program to help keep our university and the surrounding communities well-informed and safe during high-impact weather events. Millersville University is one of only seven universities in PA and 320 nationwide with this designation.” StormReady criteria includes: Establish a 24-hour warning point and emergency operations center. Have more than one way to receive severe weather warnings and forecasts and to alert the public. Create a system that monitors weather conditions locally. Promote the importance of public readiness through community seminars. Develop a formal hazardous weather plan, which includes training severe weather spotters and holding emergency exercises. Obtaining a StormReady designation means not only understanding severe weather, but how to plan and respond to it. For more information on the Center for Disaster Research & Education, visit CDRE Millersv […] “Millersville Continues to be StormReady”

Book Talk Recap with author Aidan Levy On Wednesday, the department of ENWL welcomed author Aidan Levy to discuss his new book Saxophone Colossus: The Life and Music of Sonny […]