Monetary Policy Seminar Friday

CSULB's economics department will hold a monetary policy simulation seminar on campus Friday.

Top economists from the research department of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco will be presenting and moderating about eight student group sessions on the Federal Open Market Committee's monetary policy.

These groups will discuss the current state of the U.S. economy and monetary policy and how the actions of the Federal Reserve affects the world economy.

The seminar will be held at the Engineering Building ECS-105 from 2 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Lecture: "Planet India: America's Stake in India's Future"

Photo Courtesy Springfield Public Forum

Award-winning author Mira Kamdar spoke on United States-India relations Thursday to a crowd of about 100 people at the Karl Anatol Center.

She said that the world as a whole can learn a lot from India and its actions because India itself "is a microcosm of our planet."

India' s diversity and progress as a world power reflects the changes happening in the whole world, she explained.

The Beach Bollywood dance team preceded the lecture with a surprise performance to several songs from Bollywood films.

Also, Bipasha Baruah, the interim director of CSULB's Yadunandan Center for India Studies, announced the winner of the D.R. SarDesai essay competition, Zackary Talbert.

Kamdar's lecture was the eight in the annual Uka and Nalini Solanki Foundation Lecture Series.

While only a handful of students were in attendance, the few attending found the lecture was in accordance with their beliefs.

"India's always been a big area of curiosity for me," said Ojaala Ahmad, a second-year international studies major. "I always felt that India itself is like a whole world."

The Daily 49er article is available here.

East Asian Culture Night

CSULB's Japan Club, Taiwanese Student Association and International Student Association are putting together an event to appreciate East Asian culture Thursday night.

There will be cultural festivities, including food and activities.

It will be on campus at the Southwest Terrace from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Speaker on India-U.S. Relations

Courtesy Photo: Yadunandan Center for India Studies

Foreign affairs expert and award-winning author Mira Kamdar will speak on "Planet India: America's Stake in India's Future" Thursday on campus.

Her latest book is titled "Planet India: The Turbulent Rise of the World’s Largest Democracy and the Future of our World."

Her lecture marks the eighth in the Uka and Nalini Solanki Lecture Series. It was set up by series organizer Bipasha Baruah, interim director of CSULB’s Yadunandan Center for India Studies.

The lecture will start with a reception at 6 p.m., followed by a lecture and book signing from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. It will take place in the Karl Anatol Center. Admission is free, but space is limited.

The Daily 49er article can be found here.

For those interested in working internationally...

Vice President of Mattel, Inc. Rosa Zeegers will be speaking on "Negotiating Across Cultures" this Tuesday on campus.

Zeegers is the Senior Vice President of International Marketing and Consumer Products at Mattel. According to the Notable Speaker Series Web site, she "oversees marketing activities on Barbie outside the United States as well as all licensing initiatives for Mattel’s portfolio of brands including Barbie, Hot Wheels, Fisher Price and Polly Pocket among others."

As Zeegers has had her position, Mattel's business in Europe, Latin America and Asia "has maintained steady growth."

Her presentation is part of the College of Business Administration's Notable Speaker Series, Tuesdays at The Beach.

The lecture will take place at the College of Business Administration building in room 140-A at 7 p.m. The event is free, but reservations are required.

To learn more about the event and to RSVP, access the CBA's Notable Speaker Series Web site.

After the Night

The International Studies Students Association's event "A Night for Haiti" was a smash hit.

Gina Vela, of the Association Coeur d'Amour spoke.

Also, a team of Bollywood dancers performed.

They had a place set up in the back of the yard where a young girl was painting. Also in the back student-made paintings were set up for a silent auction.

Here is a video of the event (courtesy of the Daily 49er):

The Daily 49er article can be found here.

A Night For Haiti

Courtesy Photo: International Studies Students Association

The International Studies Student Association, the International Student Association, RGRLL, and the French and Geography departments at CSULB are holding a night of festivities for Haiti this Friday, April 9, at the Soroptomist House on campus.

The event costs $10 for students and $20 for faculty and non-students. It includes dinner, live music and a silent auction.

All proceeds from this event will benefit Le Petit Train, a primary school in Port-Au-Prince, Haiti.

Updates on this event to come...after it happens.

After much anticipation...photos from the seasonal kimono lecture

Two kimono displayed on the stage where the lecture was held. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

The Earl Burns Miller Japanese Garden held a lecture Feb. 26 at the Daniel Recital Hall on campus.

Alison Redfoot-Deliddo addressed the influence seasons and weather have on the designs of kimono.

Redfoot-Deliddo had attended a kimono-sewing classes in Japan, and obtained a master's degree in Japanese art history.

She shared some of the knowledge she obtained while studying the kimono and Japanese culture.

She explained the difference colors, patterns and fabrics make when making and wearing kimono in different seasons of the year and of one's life.

For example, while a lighter fabric with red, white or blue patterns would be more appropriate for summer, a heavier fabric with pictures of snow or pine would work better in winter, she said.

Also, she explained that a girl wears the sleeves of her kimono long until she gets married. Then she cuts the sleeves short.

While she had much information to share, she stressed that studying the kimono is a life-long journey.

These kimono might be better for one particular season (of the year and of a kimono wearer's life) than for another, based on their colors, patterns, types of fabric and cuts.

CSU students in Chile unharmed after quake

Wired.com's article: Concepcion moved 10 feet to the west after earthquake.

Students participating in the International Program in Chile are unharmed by the 8.8 magnitude earthquake that hit Concepcion Feb. 27, according to the Daily 49er.

Twenty-nine CSU students were studying at the Pontifica Universidad Católica de Chile in Santiago, according to Leo Van Cleve, CSU director of International Programs.

The earthquake's epicenter was 70 miles from Concepcion, but 200 miles from Santiago.

"Everyone is accounted for and everybody is OK," Van Cleve said, "There was damage in Santiago, but not nearly as extensive as Concepcion."

The year-long program in Chile was on semester break during the earthquake, but started the next semester only five days after the originally planned date (March 8 instead of March 3).

The Daily 49er's article can be found here.

Funding for CSULB Mandarin Chinese Program

CSULB is to receive $2.88 million appropriation as a result of a recently approved defense spending bill and as part of the Strategic Language Initiative.

"The defense funding will further the development of critical foreign language programs that will help meet America’s national security needs." a release from Sen. Barbara Boxer's office said, "The initiative will help graduate more professionals with language skills and cultural knowledge in Arabic, Mandarin, Korean, Persian and Russian.”

Each CSU campus will focus on one of those languages, and CSULB is to focus on Mandarin Chinese.

Other CSU campuses participating are Cal State Fullerton (Persian), Cal State L.A. (Korean), Cal State Northridge (Russian), Cal State San Bernadino (Arabic), San Francisco State (Mandarin Chinese) and San Jose State (Arabic).

The Daily 49er's article can be found here.

Missing CSULB International Student

Nineteen year-old Majid Khalid Shuhail, an international student from CSULB's American Language Institute, went missing Feb. 15, the Daily 49er said.

CSULB did not find out until Feb. 19.

Lynne Richmond, director of the American Language Institute, said that Shuhail, who is from the United Arab Emirates, went missing after going to airport but not boarding his flight.

Shuhail's father has flown to the United States to search for his son.

In the Daily 49er article, Richmond said that "Nobody knows much."

The article from CSULB's Daily 49er can be found here.

***UPDATE***

Shuhail was found in Los Angeles, the Daily 49er said March 6.

Shuhail and his father will go by the United Arab Emirates Embassy in Washington D.C. before returning to UAE, an article published by the Emirates News Agency March 1 said.

A news Web site from UAE said that Shuhail had previously informed the UAE Embassy that he did not wish to study in the U.S.

Shuhail is no longer enrolled in the American Language Institute at CSULB.

The Daily 49er's article can be found here.

Project to Assist Small Businesses in Afghanistan

Global Concepts Shipping is working with Marco Polo Export in Long Beach to supply affordable shipping services for small businesses in Afghanistan.

"Our goal is to help Afghani households at the micro level," Ali Timaji, co-founder of Global Concepts Shipping, said, "to provide a very cheap price which is affordable for Afghans to ship products from the U.S. to Afghanistan."

Global Concepts Shipping is a social business model, whose purpose is to serve people in undeveloped and developing countries.

"[A] social business is a non-loss, non-dividend company designed to address a social objective," Timaji said.

Marco Polo Export is a full service ocean freight transportation company. It is offering the use of its Long Beach port for Global Concepts Shipping to send needed goods to Afghanistan.

The first shipment will be ready in the middle of March, Timaji said.

They are looking for a nongovernmental organization or non-profit organization that can provide micro credit loans to potential clients for purchasing costs of goods.

Timaji is studying social business, economics and Middle Eastern studies at Cal State Long Beach. He founded Global Concepts Shipping with his wife in September 2009.

"Having a more accessible way for Afghans to ship resources on a micro-level," Timaji said, "will hopefully aid in sustainable development over there."

Lecture on Seasonal Kimono Friday

This Friday the Earl Burns Miller Japanese Garden is hosting a lecture on the reflection of seasons on the styles of kimono at the Daniel Recital Hall at CSULB.

Alison Redfoot–DiLiddo, Garden Assistant Director for Education, "will draw upon examples of color use in kimono, the imagery of the four seasons based on the Garden’s kimono collection and the garden itself as well as her research into this fascinating topic," the garden's Web site says.

The event starts at 7 p.m. and the lecture starts at 7:30.

Friends of the Japanese Garden members and their guests attend the event for free. For non-members, the entrance fee is $10. Reservations are required to the number listed on the Web site below.

More information to come after the event for those unable to attend.

Taken at the Earl Burns Miller Japanese Garden Feb. 18, 2010.