Today is the first day of April, which in the Northeast means just six more weeks of winter. All kidding aside (more or less), let's hope today marks an end to the dismal stretch that preceded it. And, no, we're not referring to past issues of the e-Pulse.

The Albany Campus' fourth annual Multicultural Club Festival took place Friday in the gym. The event is a celebration of the diverse cultures and ethnicities that make up the College. Eight student organizations participated in this year's festival which included samplings of food from around the world, a fashion show featuring students modeling traditional clothing, and dance performances from on-campus groups as well as those from UAlbany and Siena College. 

Following a lengthy review process, the College has decided to change its nickname from Panthers to Walloons. For those unfamiliar with the city's history, the Walloons were the first settlers of Albany in 1624. Katie Bishop, ACPHS Director of Athletics and Recreation, was one of the members of the name change committee. She said, "Panthers is a nickname that has served us well, but let's be honest, the last time a panther was seen in Albany was the Paleozoic Era. We wanted a nickname that accurately reflects the region and its history, and now we have one." As part of the name change, the College will soon debut a new athletics logo, a red rooster posed majestically against a gold background. The image is identical to the one that once graced the Walloon flag and struck fear in the hearts of anyone who dared cross its path before the break of dawn. 

For the past four years, Assistant Professor Patty Baia and Assistant Dean Aimee Strang have offered a program for pharmacy educators called H.E.L.P. (Helping Educators Learn Pedagogy). The eight week online program provides concrete strategies and tactics to increase a faculty member's effectiveness in the classroom or lab. The program has grown steadily through the years, attracting faculty members from schools across the country, and just recently, the program received its first international registrant. This year's program begins June 2 and runs through July 28. For more information, visit the H.E.L.P. web site.

What do you think of the College's new nickname? Do you swoon for Walloons? Or do you believe Panther is still the answer? Tell us your thoughts at epulse@acphs.edu, and we'll share the results in next week's newsletter.