From the Alumni President...

I can hardly believe that we're on the verge of welcoming 2011 when it feels like just last week that I was tailgating with College of Liberal Arts alumni at Homecoming. If you were there, then you know that our alumni joined more than 500 other Temple University fans for food, winning football and plenty of family entertainment at Lincoln Financial Field. I got my picture taken with Hooter the Owl -- did you?

If you couldn't make it out to Homecoming this year, perhaps we will see you later this winter or in the spring. As you will note in this issue of The Bridge, the board is busy planning a basketball brunch on Feb. 5 and a tour of the Masonic Temple in Center City on March 26. I hope you will save the dates and join your fellow alumni for two events that promise to be a lot of fun.

With Thanksgiving behind us and the holiday season in full swing, it's a good time to take stock of all the things we're grateful to have in our lives. On behalf of the College of Liberal Arts Alumni Association, I would like to extend my most sincere wishes that you enjoy a happy holiday season. Your generosity and participation in a host of alumni efforts -- from mentoring students to attending events -- make CLA a better place with each passing year. Our students thank you, and I thank you.

Happy holidays, and go Owls!

Jerry Vigna, CLA '73

P.S. Have ideas for future CLA Alumni Association outings? Want to get involved? I am always happy to hear from fellow alumni at jerry.vigna@alvernia.edu.

A First-Person Take on Defining "Museum"

Seth Bruggeman's "Studies in Material Culture" class was recently asked by the First Person Arts Festival to help assemble its First Person Museum. The museum is an experimental exhibit meant to force visitors to rethink what a museum can be. Bruggeman's students wrote captions for objects collected by local artists and writers and situated them within the museum. Click here to see students discuss their experiences and to learn more.

Shopping Smart for Children's Toys this Holiday Season
Are you doing any toy shopping this December? CLA's Kathy Hirsh-Pasek, professor of psychology and co-director of the Temple University Infant Lab, says you want to buy children's toys that allow for plenty of imagination. Hirsh-Pasek says the types of toys she favors for young children are construction-type, arts and crafts, musical instruments and games that require the involvement of others. Click here to read more of her recommendations.

Game Day Brunch
Saturday, Feb. 5, 2011
The CLA Alumni Association invites you and your family to join fellow alumni for brunch and a basketball game as the Temple Owls take on the Northern Illinois Huskies.

Experience Philadelphia's Masonic Temple
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Join CLA alumni for this unique opportunity to tour one of Philadelphia's historic treasures. Enjoy a reception and brief lecture by Dr. Seth Bruggeman, assistant professor of history and American studies at CLA, followed by a guided tour of the temple.

Alumni Weekend 2011
Friday, April 15 - Sunday, April 17, 2011
Look for details via e-mail and at myowlspace.com/alumniweekend in early 2011.

Help Plan Alumni Weekend 2011

The Temple University Alumni Association (TUAA) is planning something entirely new for the 2011 Alumni Weekend, held April 15 through 17. TUAA is looking for CLA alumni to volunteer to serve on a universitywide Host Committee to help plan an exciting weekend of activities for Temple alumni and their families.

This is an exciting chance to be a part of something new. We are looking for 10 alumni volunteers to represent CLA on this important committee. If you are interested, please e-mail Jerry Vigna at jerry.vigna@alvernia.edu.

Time commitment will not be excessive and much of the work will be done via e-mail and conference call. This group will hold its first meeting in January.

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