Celebrating Juneteenth
The university will be hosting its annual Juneteenth Recognition event. Please mark your calendars, more details to follow!
Submitted by: Fatima Rodriguez Johnson, Assoicate Dean for Diversity & Inclusion, Academic Affairs
Mileage Rate Increase
As of May 1, 2025, the mileage rate increased to $.70 cents per mile. The travel expense form will be updated by next week. If you have any questions, call the Controller’s office at 716-888-8525.
Submitted by: Controllers Office
A Call for Constructive Engagement
Canisius University President Steve Stoute has signed a statement, recently released by the American Association of Colleges and Universities (AAC&U), from numerous college and university presidents and leaders of scholarly societies in response to ongoing actions by the federal government affecting higher education. The educational and nonprofit leaders were convened by AAC&U and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. The statement, titled “A Call for Constructive Engagement,” marks the first time current presidents have spoken out collectively in large numbers about these issues.
“We speak with one voice against the unprecedented government overreach and political interference now endangering American higher education,” the statement says.
The statement makes clear what’s at stake—for higher education and for America’s shared prosperity—in any unraveling of the longstanding, productive partnership between government and institutions of higher learning. While the presidents “are open to constructive reform and do not oppose legitimate government oversight,” they also make clear that they will stand against attempts to restrict or undermine the freedoms fundamental to higher education. The statement calls for “constructive engagement that improves our institutions and serves our republic.”
Submitted by: University Communications
Bravissima to Sofia dePietro and her Honors Thesis
Sofia dePietro, Class of 2025, completed a most unique Honors Thesis entitled “Florida Island: An Alternate Route of Evolution”, and her artistic illustrations and animations of animal life on Florida Island are on view in the Andrew L. Bouwhuis, JS Library near the Circulation Desk until May 20. Please stop by and marvel at the drawings and sculpture of the various animals Sofia “created” based on her research into the Pliocene Epoch and speculative evolution. According to di Pietro, “Speculative evolution, also called speculative biology, is a creative genre where hypothetical evolutionary scenarios are proposed to explain the existence of fictional creatures.” Her thesis advisor was Dr. Sue Margulis from ABEC, and her second reader was Professor Jacqueline Welch, Fine Arts. We are all incredibly proud of Sofia’s research and artworks and hope that you are able to enjoy them too. Professor Yvonne Widenor, Director of the Studio Arts Galleries, is also pictured as she assisted Sofia in the installation of the artworks.
Pictured: L-R: Professor Yvonne Widenor, Professor Jacqueline Welch, Sofia dePietro, and Dr. Sue Margulis.
Submitted by: Yvonne K. Widenor, Assistant Professor, Art History, MLLC, AVPAA, Director, ArtsCanisius
Blessing of the Brains
Do you know a student who is stressed over finals? If so, encourage them to join Campus Ministry for 9:30 a.m. or 7:00 p.m. Mass at Christ the King Chapel this Sunday, May 4 when Rev. Fred Betti, SJ, will offer a Blessing of the Brains. During this time-honored Canisius tradition, Father Betti asks God to bless students with wisdom and understanding as they enter finals week.
Submitted by: Rev. Fred Betti, SJ, chaplain, Mission & Ministry
