     
Upcoming Events . . .
 A Lecture by Brown Biology Professor Kenneth R. Miller!
The Evolution Wars - Why they Continue, Why they Matter
Date: Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Time: 6:00 - 7:00 p.m. Reception
7:00 - 8:30 p.m. Lecture and Discussion
Place: Frick Fine Arts Building Auditorium, Schenley Drive, University of Pittsburgh campus. For directions, see http://www.library.pitt.edu/libraries/frick/fine_arts.html
Cost: $10 per person or
$20 to attend the event and become a member of the
Brown Club of Pittsburgh
Students - Free
You may pay at the door
RSVP: By September 8 by e-mailing Jenny Mitnick at brownclubofpittsburgh@gmail.com
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The Evolution Wars - Why they Continue, Why they Matter
Darwin's theory of evolution by natural selection underlies all modern biology. It enables us to decipher our genes, fight viruses and to understand Earth's fossil record and rich biodiversity. Simple yet at times controversial, misunderstood and misused for social goals, the theory remains unchallenged as the central concept of biology. Charles Darwin, reluctant revolutionary, profoundly altered our view of the natural world and our place in it. This special Brown Club program featuring Kenneth R. Miller will enhance our understanding of Darwin and the significance of his effect on modern science. |
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Kenneth R. Miller, PhD is a cell biologist and the author of the most widely used high school biology textbooks in America. He is the author of the acclaimed book; Finding Darwin’s God: A Scientist’s Search for Common Ground Between God and Evolution, a lively and cutting-edge analysis of the key issues that seem to divide science and religion. Professor Miller is also the author of Only A Theory: Evolution and the Battle for America’s Soul. Dr. Miller did his undergraduate work at Brown, and earned a Ph.D. in 1974 at the University of Colorado. He spent six years as Assistant Professor at Harvard University before returning to Brown University in 1980. He has received 5 major teaching awards. In 2005, he received the Presidential Citation of the American Institute for Biological Sciences for Distinguished service to the field of Biology and in 2006 he received the Public Service Award from the American Society for Cell Biology based on his work defending the integrity of science and science education. In 2010, the AAAS (American Association for the Advancement of Science) recognized Professor Miller with its annual award for Advancing the Public Understanding of Science. In April 2011, Professor Miller was awarded the Stephen Jay Gould Prize from the Society for the Study of Evolution. |
For additional information on Professor Miller, please go to:
http://www.millerandlevine.com/km/ or view his appearances on
The Colbert Report http://www.millerandlevine.com/talks/colbert.html
and on PBS http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/id/
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Past Events
2011 Brown Send-Off Party!
The Brown Club of Pittsburgh will hold its annual "Send Off" Party for incoming Brown freshmen on Sunday, August 14, 2011 from 1-4 p.m. at the Allegheny HYP Club in downtown Pittsburgh. We hope that you can attend and talk with these students and their families!
What: A party for us to congratulate incoming Brown students from Pittsburgh and to give them the opportunity to speak with current Brown students and Brown alumni from Pittsburgh.
When: Sunday, August 14, 2011 from 1 - 4 p.m.
Where: Library, Third Floor
The Allegheny HYP Club
619 William Penn Place
Pittsburgh, PA 15219
http://www.alleghenyhypclub.com
Parking: On-street parking is free on Sundays and garage parking in nearby Mellon Square or the Liberty Garage is only $5.
Will there be food? Yes! We will have appetizers and non-alcoholic drinks so come hungry and ready to talk about Brown!
Cost: Free! However, if you would like to join the Brown Club of Pittsburgh and pay yearly dues to help fund events such as this one, you may bring a check for $20 payable to the Brown Club of Pittsburgh.
Please RSVP by AUGUST 11th to Jenny Mitnick by e-mailing brownclubofpittsburgh@gmail.com or by calling 412-951-1436.
We hope to see you there!
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Happy Hour!
In honor of the happy approach of Spring, the Brown Club of Pittsburgh will be holding a Happy Hour after work at the Sharp Edge Bistro on Penn Avenue downtown.
When:
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Where:
Sharp Edge Bistro on Penn Avenue
(Between 9th and 10 Streets, next to Seviche)
922 Penn Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15222
http://www.sharpedgebeer.com/ |
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For Directions:
Click here to view the map.
Also:
Cash Bar, Happy Hour Special - 1/2 off beer until 6:30 p.m.
Appetizers will be provided.
An RSVP is not required, but if you think you may be coming, please email Jenny Mitnick '02 at jennymitnick@hotmail.com so we can get a rough count.
We hope to see you there!
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Serenity Farms Community Service Event!
What: A community service event at Serenity Farms to harvest produce to help the Squirrel Hill Food Pantry
When: Sunday, August 29, 2010 from 10 a.m. to noon.
Where: Serenity Farms
2510 Butler Logan Road
Tarentum, PA 15084
Directions to Serenity Farms:
Take Route 28N to the Pittsburgh Mills exit.
Turn right at the end of the ramp.
Make immediate left.
Go up hill to next stop sign (Butler Logan Road) and turn left.
Proceed 2.3 miles and turn left into driveway of Serenity Farms, 2510 Butler Logan Road, Tarentum, PA 15084. |
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Cost: Free! However, if you would like to join the Brown Club of Pittsburgh and pay yearly dues to help fund future Brown Club events, you may bring a check for $20 payable to the Brown Club of Pittsburgh.
Please RSVP to Jenny Mitnick by e-mailing jennymitnick@hotmail.com or by calling 412-951-1436. For the Serenity Farms event, WE CAN ONLY TAKE THE FIRST 10 WHO RESPOND SO PLEASE REPLY QUICKLY! If more than 10 people respond, I will look into signing up for an additional day.
2010 Brown Send-Off Party!
The Brown Club of Pittsburgh will hold its annual "Send Off" Party for incoming Brown freshmen on Sunday, August 15, 2010 from 1-4 p.m. at the Allegheny HYP Club in downtown Pittsburgh. We hope that you can attend and talk with these students and their families!
What: A party for us to congratulate incoming Brown students from Pittsburgh and to give them the opportunity to speak with current Brown students and Brown alumni from Pittsburgh. When: Sunday, August 15, 2010 from 1 - 4 p.m.
Where: Library, Third Floor
The Allegheny HYP Club
619 William Penn Place
Pittsburgh, PA 15219
http://www.alleghenyhypclub.com
Parking: On-street parking is free on Sundays and garage parking in nearby Mellon Square or the Liberty Garage is only $5.
Will there be food? Yes! We will have appetizers and non-alcoholic drinks so come hungry and ready to talk about Brown!
Cost: Free! However, if you would like to join the Brown Club of Pittsburgh and pay yearly dues to help fund events such as this one, you may bring a check for $20 payable to the Brown Club of Pittsburgh.
Please RSVP by AUGUST 12th to Jenny Mitnick by e-mailing jennymitnick@hotmail.com or by calling 412-951-1436.
We hope to see you there!
Current Brown Club of Pittsburgh News . . .
The Brown Club of Pittsburgh would like to thank Stacey Ackerman-Alexeeff '06 for serving on the Board as Secretary. Her enthusiasm and organizational skills were invaluable to the Brown Club. We wish her luck as she moves to Boston to pursue a PhD in Statistics related to issues in public health and the environment. She will be greatly missed!
2009 Brown Send-Off Party!
The Brown Club of Pittsburgh will hold its annual "Send Off" Party for incoming Brown freshmen on Sunday, August 16 from 1-4pm. Joe ('75) and Regina Fieschko have generously offered to host the party again at their house in Mt. Lebanon. A luncheon will be provided, so come hungry and ready to talk about Brown! Look for the large Brown banner and balloons.
What: A party for us to congratulate incoming Brown students from Pittsburgh and to give them the opportunity to speak with current Brown students and Brown alumni from Pittsburgh. When: Sunday, August 16, 2009 from 1 - 4 p.m.
Where: The home of Joe ('75) and Regina Fieschko in Mt. Lebanon:
697 Valleyview Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15243.
Will there be food? Yes! It will be a luncheon so come hungry and ready to talk about Brown!
Cost: Free! However, if you would like to join the Brown Club of Pittsburgh and pay yearly dues to help fund events such as this one, you may bring a check for $20 payable to the Brown Club of Pittsburgh.
Please RSVP to Joe and Regina Fieschko by e-mailing Joe@Fieschko.com or by calling 412-531-0372.
We hope to see you there!
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The Brown Club of Pittsburgh announces
a community service event
Produce to People
with the Greater Pittsburgh
Community Food Bank
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Produce to People is a distribution program that provides food and household items directly to individuals in need. Typically at least 400 people come to receive this food! We will be volunteering at the distribution center in Braddock on Saturday, March 14th from 8:30am-11:30am. We will help unload the food, set up the distribution lines, and hand out the food to those in need. You are more than welcome to bring family or friends with you to volunteer, and children ages 12 and older are welcome with adult supervision. If you would like to volunteer with us, please email Jenny. We hope to see you there!
Brown Club of Pittsburgh Board
Jenny Mitnick '02, President
Reshma Paranjpe '95, MD '99, Vice President
Stacey Ackerman-Alexeeff '06, Secretary
Ben Mantell '06, Treasurer
Howard Zwillinger '77, Past President
Please RSVP by e-mailing Jenny Mitnick '02 at jennymitnick@hotmail.com with the subject heading "Brown Club of Pittsburgh"
When:
8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Saturday, March 14, 2009
Where:
845 Talbot Ave Social Hall building
Braddock, PA 15213
(We will send detailed directions to those who decide to volunteer)
| On Saturday, March 14, 2009, volunteers from the Brown Club of Pittsburgh traveled to Braddock, PA to help distribute food to those in need as part of the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank's "Produce to People" program. It was a cold Saturday morning, but our volunteers enjoyed meeting the staff and those receiving the food, who were clearly grateful for our help. Because we volunteered, 392 families will not go hungry.
Students who go to Brown have a clear sense of social responsibility and a strong commitment to community service. It is a tribute to our school that Brown alumni continue to volunteer long after they have exited the Van Wickle Gates. The Brown Club of Pittsburgh Board would like to thank those of you who attended this event for donating your valuable time to help others in need. |
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Readings by CMU Professor Hilary Masters '52
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The Brown Club of Pittsburgh invites you to
a reading by our local Brown alum
Hilary Masters
When: Saturday, October 11, 2008 from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
What: Reading and discussion followed by reception
Where: The University of Pittsburgh Book Center at 4000 Fifth Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15213
Cost: FREE!
Please RSVP by 10/8/08 by e-mailing Jenny Mitnick (President, Brown Club of Pittsburgh) at jennymitnick@hotmail.com with the subject heading “Brown Club of Pittsburgh”
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Hilary Masters '52 is currently a professor of English and Creative Writing at Carnegie Mellon. His published works include nine novels, two collections of short fiction, a collection of personal essays, and a memoir. He has received numerous awards, including the 2003 Award for Literature from the American Academy of Arts and Letters, and in June 2005 the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette ranked Professor Hilary Masters 15th in a list of the region's top 50 creative forces. Some of his recent work involves people and places in Pittsburgh, such as his ninth novel, Elegy for Sam Emerson, set in modern day Pittsburgh on Mount Washington, and his essay "Shadows on a Wall" about Edgar Kaufmann who built Falling Water. In this special reading with Hilary Masters, we will hear an essay and a short story, each to be published in new collections of his work next year. We hope to see you there!
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| For our Fall Event on Saturday, October 11, 2008, the Brown Club of Pittsburgh invited local CMU Professor and Brown alum Hilary Masters '52 to present two readings that will be published in new collections of his work next year. Professor Masters read selections from a short story and an essay, each of which captured the vagaries of residents of a small town. Full of subtle humor and observations about death and the daily events that shape life's journey, Professor Masters's readings revealed his talent at using imagery to create a vivid picture of small town life. In a clever and whimsical way, his writings showed how each of us is affected by those who live around us. |
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2008 Brown Send-Off Party!
What: A party for us to congratulate incoming Brown students from Pittsbugh and to give them the opportunity to speak with current Brown students and Brown alumni from Pittsburgh.
When: Sunday, August 10, 2008 from 1 - 4 p.m.
Where: The home of Joe ('75) and Regina Fieschko in Mt. Lebanon:
697 Valleyview Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15243.
Will there be food?: Yes! It will be a luncheon so come hungry and ready to talk about Brown!
Cost: Free! However, if you would like to join the Brown Club of Pittsburgh and pay yearly dues to help fund events such as this one, you may bring a check for $20 payable to the Brown University Alumni Association of Western Pennsylvania.
Please RSVP to Joe and Regina Fieschko by e-mailing Joe@Fieschko.com or by calling 412-531-0372
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From the Brown website: Van Wickle Gates (1901) and University Hall (1770). By tradition, students pass through these gates only twice: in when they enter as freshmen and out when they leave as graduating seniors. |
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The Brown Send-Off Party held on Sunday, August 10, 2008 from 1 - 4 p.m. was a great success! We had five out of ten incoming freshmen from western Pennsylvania attend. One student even drove two-and-a-half hours all the way from Erie! Thank you to everyone who attended, answered their questions, and made them feel welcome. A special thank you to Joe and Regina Fieschko who generously provided their beautiful home and prepared the food for the event.
Congratulations to the newest Brown students from western Pennsylvania!
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Brown Club of Pittsburgh will honor Randy Pausch '82
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Dear Brown Alumni,
I'm sure that many of you have heard about the recent passing of a very inspirational Carnegie Mellon professor and Brown alum, Randy Pausch, class of 1982. Randy Pausch attended Brown as an undergraduate and concentrated in computer science. It was at Brown that he met one of his mentors, Professor Andy van Dam, who urged him to apply to graduate school at Carnegie Mellon, where he earned his Ph.D. in 1988. From 1988 to 1997 he served on the computer science faculty at the University of Virginia and took a sabbatical in 1995 to work at Walt Disney Imagineering's Virtual Reality Studio. After joining the Carnegie Mellon faculty in 1997, he co-founded the Entertainment Technology Center and created Alice, a way to teach computer programming through storytelling. |
On September 18, 2007, only one month after doctors told him he had three-to-six months to live following a recurrence of pancreatic cancer, Randy Pausch delivered what came to be known as "The Last Lecture." His lecture, entitled "Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams," recounted his own efforts to achieve his childhood dreams and shared his insights on finding the good in other people, working hard to overcome obstacles and living generously. His talk also inspired a book version called "The Last Lecture." If you've not already seen his lecture on YouTube, I would encourage you to watch part, if not all of it. It's fantastic. You can find it at the following link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ji5_MqicxSo
In his lecture, Randy Pausch presented the metaphor of a brick wall as a challenge to be overcome rather than as an obstacle to achieving your dreams. He explained, "The brick walls are there to show how badly we want something," and "Brick walls let us show our dedication."
Taking a cue from his lecture, the Brown Club of Pittsburgh has decided to honor Randy Pausch's dedication to teaching and his contributions to the field of computer science by donating a brick in the Alumni Walkway in the Maddock Alumni Center garden. The brick will say "Randy Pausch, Class of 1982," and will serve as a reminder not only of his philosophy of overcoming challenges but also of his role throughout his career of being a "pathway" to helping others achieve their dreams.
If you would like to make a personal donation in his memory, the family requests that donations be directed to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, 2141 Rosecrans Ave., Suite 7000, El Segundo, CA 90245, or to Carnegie Mellon's Randy Pausch Memorial Fund, which the university will use primarily to support continued work on the Alice project.
For more information about his life and legacy, see the article at
http://www.cmu.edu/homepage/beyond/2008/summer/an-enduring-legacy.shtml
or read In Memoriam: Randy Pausch, Innovative Computer Scientist at Carnegie Mellon, Launched Education Initiatives, Gained Worldwide Acclaim for Last Lecture.
Randy Pausch's ties to the Pittsburgh area and his service to students and faculty at Carnegie Mellon in Oakland make it all the more fitting and important that the Brown Club of Pittsburgh honor his memory. Randy Pausch got his start in computer science at Brown. His contributions to that field and his service to others should make us proud to be part of the alumni of Brown University. I hope that the brick in the Alumni Walkway will allow him, in a small but substantial way, to continue to be an inspiration to Brown students in the future.
Sincerely,
Jenny Mitnick
President
Brown Club of Pittsburgh |
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Our visit on April 16th by Brown History Professor Howard Chudacoff was a great success!
We heard a very interesting lecture about his new book, "Children at Play: An American History," and Professor Chudacoff said he really enjoyed the thoughtful questions and discussion with the audience. Thanks to all who attended!
Happy Hour!
Our next event will be a Happy Hour after work at Six Penn Kitchen downtown.
Appetizers will be provided.
When:
Thursday, May 15, 2008
5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Where:
Six Penn Kitchen - rooftop deck! (rain location - second floor bar)
146 Sixth Street, Pittsburgh, PA
www.sixpennkitchen.com
Cost:
FREE!
An RSVP is not required, but if you think you may be coming, please email our secretary Stacey at stacey.aa@gmail.com so we can get a rough count.
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Lecture by Professor Howard Chudacoff:
Children At Play: An American History
Date: Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Time: 7:00 - 8:00 p.m. Lecture and Discussion
8:00 - 9:00 p.m. Reception
Place: Frick Fine Arts Building Auditorium, Schenley Drive, University of Pittsburgh campus.
For directions, see http://www.library.pitt.edu/libraries/frick/fine_arts.html
Cost: $10 for Brown Club of Pittsburgh members
$15 for Non-Members
$20 to attend the event and become a member of the Brown Club of Pittsburgh
You may pay at the door
RSVP: By April 12 by e-mailing Jenny Mitnick at jennymitnick@hotmail.com with the
subject heading "Brown Club of Pittsburgh"
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Professor Howard Chudacoff’s new book, Children At Play: An American History, has been featured twice in The New York Times and has generated considerable debate on radio talk shows across the country. Focusing on the tensions between what adults wanted children to do and what children wanted to do for themselves, Chudacoff traces the history of how children have played, and raises questions about how much freedom children have had, and should have, in their play. In the colonial era, children typically played with improvised toys, and parents tried to prevent play from degenerating into idleness, insisting that games must serve God or family. In the 19th century, consumer culture intersected with a new conception of childhood as a life stage to be cherished, while children increasingly played with toys that brought them into contact with the market. By the 20th century, adults, influenced in part by new concerns over child safety, directed kids off the streets and into playgrounds, where they could be carefully supervised. The tension between parental prerogatives and children's autonomy manifests itself still: parents try to keep children indoors for fear of dangers lurking outside, but children take new kinds of risks playing in cyberspace. In this special program with Professor Chudacoff, he will talk about his research and give historical depth to debates that continue to rage over what constitutes appropriate child's play.
Born in Omaha, Nebraska, and educated – both undergraduate and graduate – at the University of Chicago, Howard Chudacoff has been a member of the Brown history faculty since 1970. He is now George L. Littlefield Professor of American History and Professor of Urban Studies. His books include How Old Are You? Age Consciousness in American Culture; The Age of the Bachelor: Creating an American Subculture; The Evolution of American Urban Society (now in its 6th edition); and, most recently, Children at Play: An American History. He also is co-author of the U.S. history text, A People and a Nation, now in its 8th edition. In addition to his teaching in courses on urban history and the U.S. history survey, Professor Chudacoff is Brown’s Faculty Athletic Representative to the NCAA and has served as faculty advisor to the softball and women’s basketball teams. He is currently working on a new book on major turning points in the history of intercollegiate athletics.
For more information about Professor Chudacoff's topic, see the following recent articles:
From the New York Times, Book Review, August 14, 2007:
Child's Play Has Become Anything But Simple
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/14/books/14play.html?_r=1&oref=slogin
From NPR, Morning Edition, February 21, 2008:
Old-Fashioned Play Builds Serious Skills
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=19212514
From NPR, Morning Edition, February 28, 2008:
Creative Play Makes for Kids in Control
(This is the follow-up to the February 21 story).
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=76838288
From the recent January/February edition of Brown Alumni Magazine:
Just Let Them Play!
http://www.brownalumnimagazine.com/the_arts/just_let_them_play.html
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Professor Dietrich Neumann, "Architecture of the Night"
Date: Saturday, September 15, 2007
Time: 3:00 - 4:00 p.m. Lecture and Discussion
4:00 - 5:00 p.m. Reception in the Cloister
Place: Frick Fine Arts Building Auditorium, Schenley Drive, University of Pittsburgh campus. For directions, see http://www.library.pitt.edu/libraries/frick/fine_arts.html
Cost: $10 for Brown Club of Pittsburgh Members and $20 for Non-Members
$25 to attend and to become a member of the Brown Club of Pittsburgh
RSVP: By September 13 by calling Howard Zwillinger '77 at 412-421-7222
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The Fall Brown Club of Pittsburgh event was a great success!
 Brown's Professor Dietrich Neumann came to Pittsburgh and spoke to an appreciative audience in the University of Pittsburgh's Frick Fine Arts Building Auditorium. Professor Neumann's lecture covered the history of architectural illumination since the introduction of electric light as a "new building material." He showed both historic and comtemporary examples and spoke about the interesting theoretical debates that accompanied this development. We would like to thank the University of Pittsburgh's History of Art and Architecture Department and Professor Christopher Drew Armstrong for welcoming us and hosting the event.
Click here to see pictures from this event. |
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