Catawba College professor of politics and political expert Dr. J. Michael Bitzer was featured in several articles this week regarding a number of popular political topics.

By Raven Canty '13 of Seagrove, N.C. - Now that the renovations for the cafeteria are done and students have had time to eat and explore it, I took the time recently to ask some students a few questions. Students were asked how they felt about the new renovations, if there was anything that they disliked or they thought that needed to change. Juniors and Seniors were asked to compare the cafeteria to what they experienced during their Freshman and Sophomore years.

Washington Monthly magazine released its 2012 College Guide and Rankings on August 27 and Catawba College is included in that publication's baccalaureate college rankings. Catawba ranks 89th out of 352 baccalaureate colleges in the country.

At the first Catawba College Community Forum of the 2012-2013 academic year, Dr. Benjamin Farley will introduce his most recent novel and present his views on the French and Indian War and the lessons that struggle can still teach us today. The Forum, free and open to the public, is slated at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, September 18, in Tom Smith Auditorium of Ralph W. Ketner Hall on campus.

Dr. Janice Moore Fuller, Catawba College's Writer-in-Residence and Professor of English, has been awarded a two-week fellowship in December by the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts (VCCA). The VCCA is located near Sweet Briar College in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains in rural Virginia. Fuller will be among approximately 25 Fellows focusing on their own creative projects at this working retreat for visual artists, writers, and composers.

The Democratic National Convention Committee announced that Inspire the Fire (ITF), the music and dance ensemble created by 2006 graduate and current Catawba Young Artist in Residence Dennis Reed, will appear on the final night (Sept. 6th) of their convention in Charlotte.

Catawba College President Brien Lewis talked of dreams to those gathered in Omwake-Dearborn Chapel on August 23 at the Opening Convocation for the 2012-2013 academic year. The occasion marked the beginning of Catawba's 161st year since its founding in 1851 and the start of a new school year with Lewis as president.

Catawba College President Brien Lewis commissioned sixteen junior marshals from the day program and a new senior marshal from the faculty for service in the 2012-2013 academic year during a ceremony held August 22 in the Hurley Room on campus.

Catawba College students are enjoying meals this academic year in a renovated dining hall. Over the summer, Chartwells, the college's food service provider, renovated the space used for serving and dining in the Cannon Student Center, and the changes and upgrades are being well-received.

Catawba College professor of politics and political expert Dr. J. Michael Bitzer was featured in a recent article from The Post & Courier regarding South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley's selection for a prime-time speaking spot at next week's Republican National Convention.

This fall, the Catawba College Chiefs Club hopes to fill Shuford Stadium during home football games by promoting themed game days.

Again this year, Catawba College is ranked among "The Best 377 Colleges" by The Princeton Review in its 2013 annual college guide. Catawba was also named to The Princeton Review's 2013 Green Honor Roll, one of only 21 colleges in the nation and one of only two in North Carolina to receive the highest possible score – a 99 – in the publication's tallies.

Dr. J. Michael Bitzer, chair of and an associate professor of history and politics at Catawba was interviewed by WSOC-TV recently to discuss the Republican National Convention co-chairwoman's visit to Charlotte.

Catawba College's newest students learned about the campus' many green initiatives and opportunities August 14 when the Center for the Environment and Sustainable Catawba hosted a special event at Peeler Crystal Lounge on the Catawba campus.

Catawba College's chapter of Psi Chi, the international honor society in psychology, has been designated as a Psi Chi Model Chapter for the year ending June 30, 2012. That honor was announced August 15 by the Psi Chi Board of Directors.

Catawba College professor of politics and political expert Dr. J. Michael Bitzer was featured in a recent News & Observer article regarding Mitt Romney's visit to Charlotte to raise money for his GOP presidential campaign which needs North Carolina to retain the possibility of a victory in the November election.

By Sarah Campbell, salisburypost.com A Catawba College football player who broke two vertebrae in his neck Saturday during practice is walking again thanks to a quick response by medical personnel. Head athletic trainer Bob Casmus was on the field when the collision occurred between Tyrone Johnson, a defensive back, and his teammates as they leapt for the ball. "It was very intense and somewhat violent," Casmus said.

Catawba College professor of politics and political expert Dr. J. Michael Bitzer was featured in a recent Charlotte Observer article regarding where the donations to the two men running for governor geographically fall in North Carolina. "With a candidate from the western part of the state (Dalton), it's going to be interesting to see how he makes inroads in the I-95 corridor where McCrory has been living for the last four years," said Bitzer.

Catawba College professor of politics and political expert Dr. J. Michael Bitzer was recently featured by News14 Carolina commenting on concern for the current economic climate."Gridlock is going to be with us because they're not going to have 60 votes in the Senate," said Bitzer. "Things are going to continue to come to a standstill and that's only going to create more uncertainty for the business community."

With the beginning of the new semester at Catawba College, the Class of 2016 will have a new major to welcome them to campus. Recently, the Catawba faculty approved a bachelor's degree in the "administration of justice" for Catawba students interested in professional opportunities in local, state, and federal governments, along with within private businesses and organizations.

Catawba College professor of politics and political expert Dr. J. Michael Bitzer provides perspectives on the selection of US Rep. Paul Ryan as Mitt Romney's running mate for the presidential election. View Bitzer's video below...

Dr. Forrest Anderson, assistant professor of English at Catawba College, led a recent discussion on how author Wiley Cash came to write his bestselling book and learned from repeated rejections. The talk was held at Trinity Oaks Retirement Community, where the author spoke with attendees via Skype.

Members of the Catawba Pride Marching Band participated in band camp on Friday, August 10. The band is under the leadership of drum major D.J. Colson. Read more about Catawba Pride at www.catawba.edu/pride.

Looking from the doorway into the residence hall room of Catawba College first-year students, Michelle Eisenman of Brunswick, Ohio, and Kristen Kaiser of Blacksburg, Va., one might wonder how the two girls will be able to fit in the space with all of their belongings.

Suited out in new and reconditioned concussion-resistant helmets, the Catawba College Football Team has participated in pre-season practices this week before the start of classes on August 15.

Catawba College professor of politics and political expert Dr. J. Michael Bitzer was featured in a recent segment on WFAE 90.7 discussing next month's Democratic National Convention and the November election.

The Friends of the Corriher-Linn-Black Library have introduced a new "wish list" project to strengthen the library's current holdings with the goal of giving Catawba students a library collection to support their research, deepen their understanding of the world, and enable them to excel...

Five swimmers from Catawba's Men's and Women's teams achieved Academic Honorable Mention All-American status at the conclusion of the 2011-2012 academic year. They were recognized for achieving a 3.6 or better GPA and achieving an NCAA B qualification time.

Catawba College President Brien Lewis sought to inspire and motivate faculty and staff at the start the new academic year. During the annual fall conference held Monday, August 6, Lewis referenced the late Bart Giamatti, president of Yale University and the former commissioner of Major League Baseball, and Giamatti's thoughts on "the constant conversation" in higher education; Ben Franklin and his quote, "When you're finished changing, you're finished;" excerpts from a poem...

Catawba College alumnus Sheldon Rogers had an impromptu performance with music star Ingrid Michaelson in Lancaster, PA. A graduate of Catawba's Musical Theatre program, Rogers was in the front row at Michaelson's show and sang an unplanned duet with the New York-based indie-pop singer-songwriter. He made quite an impression on both the audience and Michaelson herself.

"Dirty Barbie and Other Girlhood Tales," a one-woman show which made its world premiere in Salisbury in March 2012, was created by Catawba alumna Denise Laughlin Stewart. The show was recent listed as one of the top five must-see shows in Edinburgh by the Daily Record.

Catawba College professor of politics and political expert Dr. J. Michael Bitzer was featured in a recent article from The Post and Courier discussing South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley's increased use of social media as her go-to political tool. Bitzer says Haley's posts are a way to bypass the traditional media and "speak directly to her people."

Catawba College's Student Government Association has set aside a portion of its annual budget to help students fund travel to academic conferences. All students will have the opportunity to complete the online application (at www.catawba.edu/SGAapp) for up to $250 annually to help cover transportation, conference registration and hotel expenses.

Again this year, Catawba College is included in Forbes' "America's 650 Top Colleges" list. It is one of only 19 North Carolina public and private institutions included in this annual listing and is ranked 542 among the 650 best undergraduate colleges. The Forbes' rankings were prepared by the Center for College Affordability and Productivity, a Washington, D.C. think tank, and focus on the things that are most important to students, including quality of teaching, great career prospects...

Catawba College professor of politics and political expert Dr. J. Michael Bitzer was featured in a recent AP article discussing the readiness of the City of Charlotte's police department in the case that crowd control is needed at the upcoming DNC convention. "The city's landscape and the close proximity of the major convention venues will help security," Bitzer said.

Dr. Sanford Silverburg, professor emeritus of political science at Catawba College, recently had an article published in the "Indian Yearbook of International Law & Policy 2010-2011, Volume II." Silverburg’s article was titled "The Contravention of Consistency: Indian Foreign Policy Toward Israel."

Dr. Pam Thompson, a Catawba College associate professor in the Ralph W. Ketner School of Business, has had a paper accepted for an upcoming conference. Her paper "From Music to Emotions and Tinnitus Treatment, Initial Study" (with Deepali Kohli, Zbigniew Ras, Pawel Jastreboff, and Alicja Wieczorkowska) has been accepted as a regular paper with oral presentation to a top level conference in the field of Information Systems and Artificial Intelligence...

Catawba College faculty and staff enjoyed ice cream treats and fellowship at Corner Coffee on campus between 2 and 4 p.m. on Tuesday, July 31, 2012. Those who attended filled an oversized, handmade card with personal messages and birthday wishes for President Brien Lewis, whose birthday coincided with the event. The social was sponsored by the Catawba College Staff Council.