May 7. Looking for Loss in All the Wrong Places. Presented by Bronwyn Marmo. Learn some secrets about successful weight loss.  Bring your lunch to The Mercado, ASU at the Downtown Phoenix campus, noon-1pm. Free. To RSVP and for information, call  602 496 1000 or email ASUlectures@asu.edu .

Nearly 1000 students from 3 different ASU Downtown Schools will be honored this week as they graduate from College.  The College of PUblic Programs, will hold their Convocation at 5 PM on Thursday, May 8th at the Phoenix Convention Center.  The following day, Friday, May 9th, graduating students from the College of Nursing & Health Care Innovation, will march in caps and gowns from their buildings at 3rd St & Fillmore to the Phoenix Convention Center.  On Saturday, May 10th, in Tempe, graduates from University College will gather at the Wells Fargo Arena in Tempe to get their send-off.

For more info contact Julie Newberg, Media Relations, ASU Downtown Campus at 602 496 1005 or julie.newberg@asu.edu .

In its ongoing efforts to reduce health disparities among racial and ethnic minorities, the Southwest Interdisciplinary Research Center is gearing up for its sixth-annual research conference on Friday, April 25th in downtown Phoenix.

The free conference runs from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Arizona Club atop Chase Tower. The interdisciplinary center is part of the School of Social Work in ASU’s College of Public Programs at the Downtown Phoenix campus.

For more info about the Conference, contact Corey Schubert, Media Relations, ASU College of Public Programs at (602) 496-0406 or Corey.Schubert@asu.edu

When I talk to prospective and current students, there is bound to be one question that more or less asks, "What is there to do downtown?!"

Those of us who live down here know that there is plenty to do. There are a number of high quality restaurants, taverns, art galleries, and music venues. And what about World Champion sports teams? I just got back from the Diamondbacks home opener where they gave anything but mercy to the Los Angeles Dodgers in a 9-3 victory.

My point is; there is plenty to keep a person busy downtown. And the number of things aimed at the college demographic keeps growing as well. In fact, a new clothing boutique has its Grand Opening this Saturday night. Located at the ground floor of the San Carlos Hotel, Rise Up is yet another must-see that is within walking distance from ASU's Downtown Campus.

Rise Up is a humanitarian organization with the mission of "rising up" children out of poverty. Currently, Rise Up funds and operates educational programs in the poorest parts of Nicaragua, China, and India. The boutique is already open for business, but is having its official Grand Opening this weekend at the San Carlos' rooftop pool.

For more on Rise Up, visit their website.

The local Stray Cat Theater is closing their 2007-2008 season with Pulp: A Play With Music. Katie Harroff, an MFA student at ASU, stars as Terry Logan. Pictured , from left to right are Tracy Payne as Eva, Harroff as Terry, and Kim Jeffries as Pepper. Here is a brief synopsis from the Stray Cat website:

"Pulp is a deliciously hot, sexy homage to the sultry world of 1950's hard-edged lesbian pulp fiction. When WAC pilot and WWII vet Terry Logan high-tails it out of the service after a little some-some with the general's daughter, she heads for Chicago and "The Well", a club for women where the air is filled with steamy torch songs, the spirit of Barbara Stanwyck hovers over the bar, and forbidden lust lurks behind every innuendo. Stray Cat proudly closes their season with what promises to be the panty-droppin'est good time of the season. There’s a lotta juice there... Don’t leave a mess!"

Stray Cat houses its productions at Exit Theater, on Mcdowell and 7th Avenue. Shows run Thursdays though Saturdays at 8PM, and Sundays at 2PM until April 19th. For more information, directions, and tickets, visit their website.

That's the title of a presentation to be made on Tuesday morning, April 8th at Tom's Restaurant & Tavern.  The presentation is part of the Phoenix AM, ASU Breakfast Series. 

Join Robert Booker, executive director of the Arizona Commission on the Arts, for a frank discussion about the public value of the arts, participation, and why they make a difference in our communities.

Date........Tues., April 8, 2008

Time........7am, Breakfast Seating

7:30-8:30am, Program

Location....Tom's Restaurant & Tavern, 2 N. Central Ave., Phoenix AZ 85004

Phone 602-257-1688

Parking in Patriot's Park garage (bring receipt for validation)

Cost........Free, breakfast on your own

RSVP........Seating is limited - please RSVP to asulectures@asu.edu or 602 496 1000

Next Friday is a big day for ASU's Downtown Phoenix Campus!

We are excited to host Juan Williams (of NPR fame) at the innagural Community Advocacy Symposium. Through "Vision Mapping" (solutions through art) and focused breakout sessions, students, faculty, and community members will begin a dialog concerning pertinant civil rights issues.

This event is open to the public, and I highly encourage you to attend. In fact, I will be co-leading the breakout session on Economic Justice. There are more sessions, just in case that one doesn't sound interesting. I have a full listing of those sessions, and even more information at my blog here.

After the Community Advocacy Symposium, ASU will join Downtown Phoenix in celebrating First Fridays. The entire University Center Building will be open to the public, full of live music and art created by local nonprofit organizations. Can't wait to see you all next Friday!

Just when you thought things might quiet down at the ASU Downtown Campus, the School is embarking on building a 5 story, 84,000 sq ft structure for the College of Nursing & Healthcare Innovation. 

The new facility will provide five new classrooms for nursing students. The building will also serve as a northern gateway to ASU’s  Downtown Phoenix campus. Located at Third and Fillmore streets, the modern glass and copper structure includes a 200-seat auditorium, student facilities and faculty office and research space. The building will include several sustainable elements and Silver LEED certification will be sought from the United States Green Building Council once construction is complete.

Where: College of Nursing & Healthcare Innovation lawn, 500 N. Third St., Phoenix 

When: Tuesday, April 1, 8:30 to 10 a.m. 

Speakers: ASU President Michael Crow, Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon, College of Nursing & Healthcare Innovation Dean Bernadette Melnyk; nursing graduate student Dan Weberg

For additional information, contact:Julie Newberg, Media Relations, ASU Downtown Phoenix campus

(602) 496-1005 or julie.newberg@asu.edu

that's the title of an article at yesterday's azcentral.com summarizing the status of the variety of buildings under construction at the Downtown Campus and detailing opening dates, etc.  Watch for our very own photo essay in the next few days with pics of the contruction progress.

It's very informative, check out the article