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Olsen praises Supreme Court ruling
The dean of the UB Law School has praised the Supreme Court's affirmation of the University of Michigan Law School admissions policy, saying the ruling supports the "mission of inclusion" that is central to the ideals of a public law school.
"As New York State's public law school, it's important that we are open to all qualified applicants because it is appropriate that we reflect the diversity of New York State," said Nils Olsen, who has served as dean of the Law School since 1998.
"It is our mission to provide access for all qualified applicants who might not otherwise be able to study law in New York State," he added. "We're extremely happy with the Supreme Court's decision."
Olsen said he has seen first hand the positive effects of diversity in the law school classroom.
"You want to offer students the best learning environment possible," he said. "When you enroll people with a variety of life experiences and backgrounds, you give students the opportunity to experience different perspectives and ideas and put them in context in their professional lives."
According to Olsen, the Law School admits about 250 new students each year and has a total enrollment of 750 students. The school's admission committee reviews each applicant individually, and considers a variety of factors when offering admission.
Otto named ESL program director at ELI
Keith E. Otto has been appointed program director for English as a Second Language (ESL) Programs at the English Language Institute (ELI). He is responsible for administering the university's credit-bearing ESL courses, which enroll more than 650 students annually at both the undergraduate and graduate levels.
Otto also is responsible for the testing and training of international teaching assistants who are non-native speakers of English, and oversees the curriculum and faculty for the ELI Evening Program, a part-time English language program for students, faculty and local professionals. In addition, he participates in overseas recruitment events on behalf of the ELI.
Otto has served as interim ESL program director since August 2001. Previously, he had been an instructor in the ELI Intensive English and ESL programs, and had taught ESL in local schools, as well as overseas.
A graduate of Cornell University, Otto received a master's degree in teaching English to speakers of other languages and a New York State teaching certification in ESL, both from the UB Graduate School of Education.
Philharmonic to hold free concert
The Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra will present a free concert open to the community at 7 p.m. on July 10 in the WJK Park and Gardens at Roswell Park Cancer Institute (RPCI), Elm and Carlton streets, Buffalo.
The concert will be presented as a Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus (BNMC) event by the BNMC, Hauptman-Woodward Medical Research Institute, Kaleida Health, RPCI and UB. Participants are encouraged to pack a picnic basket and participate in a pre-concert picnic from 5:30-7 p.m.
July 11 will be the concert rain date. In the event of inclement weather on July 11, the concert will be held in Hilleboe Auditorium at RPCI.