Thiel Happenings

New professor Carlson added as chair of Department of Languages

Thiel College announces the addition of Kristin M. Carlson, Ph.D., as assistant professor of languages and chair of the Department of Languages.

+ Read the full story in the newsroom

Highlight video gets #TomcatNation excited for Saturday's season opener 

The Thiel College football team opens the season at 7 p.m. Saturday against regional rival Allegheny College.

Prior to the game, President Troy D. VanAken, Ph.D., and Dr. Annette VanAken are hosting a Tomcat Tailgate at the President's residence, 40 Eagle St. from 5-6:30 p.m.

Saturday's game is one of two night games Thiel College will host this season. The other is Oct. 31 against Carnegie Mellon University.

• View the Tomcats full schedule

Disability Resource Center Minute

Director of the Disability Resource Center Tami Micsky, M.S.S.A., L.S.W., C.T., will discuss important issues regarding her office in the “Disability Resource Center Minute” in this space each month during the academic year. If you have any questions, contact Micsky at ext. 2063.

This week, she breaks down The Americans with Disabilities Act.

Federal law (Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990) was written with the intent of protecting people with disabilities from discrimination and states that students with disabilities must be provided with reasonable modifications/accommodations required to afford equal access in programs and activities.  Section 504 does not contain a specified list of disabilities, but provides a functional definition of disability.

“Under this approach, a person has a disability if he or she:

1. has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or major life activities of that person;
2. has a record of such impairment; or
3. is regarded as having such an impairment.”

In 2008, Congress passed ADA amendments expanding the definition of “major life activities” to include learning, reading, concentrating and thinking. In addition, a new type of major life activity pertaining to “the operation of major bodily functions” was added and includes functions of the immune, neurological, endocrine, lymphatic and reproductive systems. Some examples of disabilities are hearing and vision impairments, autism, learning disabilities, Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD), diabetes, food allergies, HIV, depression and anxiety.

Host families needed for Nicaraguan dance ensemble performing here

Thiel College is hosting The Daughters of Corn Nicaragua Dance Ensemble this month as part of the group's fifth U.S. dance tour. The group is associated with the U.S.-based organization Compas de Nicaragua and the Nicaragua-based Women in Action. David Buck, Ph.D., professor of history, core curriculum coordinator and Department of History chair, has worked with both those groups as part of Thiel College's service trip to Nicaragua.

The group arrives around 9 p.m. Sept. 13 and leaves at 4 p.m. Sept. 15. There are six women and two men in the group. Three or four host families are needed for the two nights the group is in Greenville.

The six-member dance troupe will perform at 7 p.m. Sept. 14 in the Lutheran Heritage Room. The multi-media performance includes cultural dances and short videos that take the audience into the lives of Women in Action. The women’s group carries out community projects in one of the poorest settlements of Managua, Nicaragua.

If you are interested in serving as a host family or want more information on the performance, contact Buck at 724-992-2182.

Student News

Sigma Kappa sisters walk to raise money for Alzheimer's cure

The sisters of Sigma Kappa of the Gamma Delta chapter at Thiel College are participating in the 2015 Walk to End Alzheimer's on Sept. 12 at Buhl Park.

Alzheimer's awareness is one of the organization's philanthropy efforts.

Sigma Kappa led the walk in 2014, an honor they earned as the top fundraising team.

View more information on Sigma Kappa's team and the Walk to End Alzheimer's.