infospot - Daystar US

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INFOSPOT
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Thursday, 21st July 2005 Weekly Campus News Issue 19/05
Daystar University’s 103.1 Shine FM Launched.
Daystar University has taken their
communication training a notch higher
by launching an FM Radio Station, 103.1
Shine FM. The station, which has been
broadcasting for the last two years, was
launched this Tuesday at Athi River
Campus by Dr. Alan Cureton, the
President of Northwestern College, USA.
This makes Daystar, the first one in the
country to operate a student training
radio station.
Speaking during the launch, Dr. Alan
Cureton challenged those working with
103.1 Shine FM to come up with a
mission statement that was in line with
the great commission in Matthew 28:19.
He urged Shine FM to realize that it was
a symbol of God’s love to the listeners
and encouraged the presenters to strive
to bring a message of hope and
encouragement to the struggling world.
“Shine FM should be called the Rod of
God. Let Shine FM be God’s victory in
the world in proclaiming God’s word,” he
said.
Daystar University’s Vice-Chancellor,
Rev. Prof. Godfrey Nguru based his
speech on James 3 and told the
presenters that the words they speak on
the microphone were important as people
were listening. The Vice-Chancellor also
challenged the presenters to seek
knowledge and read widely so that they
can give informed messages on the radio.
Communication Head of Department,
Ms. Mary Kizito said that the 103.1 Shine
FM dream has been a desire of the
university ever since its formation. She
noted that the dream was made a reality
through funding and donation of
equipment by Northwestern College and
Heralding Christ Jesus Blessing (HCJB)
both from the US to whom she expressed
her heartfelt thanks.
Communications Department Hosts Visiting Faculty.
Communication Head of Department,
Ms. Mary Kizito recently met with Prof.
Robert and Marsha Fortner to discuss
prospects of improving the studio
facilities at Daystar. Accompanied by
Prof. Mark Fackler of Calvin College and
his wife Ann Fackler, the group looked
at possibilities of cooperating with the
department in the area of research,
faculty exchange and updating of
resources.
The guests were given a tour of the
communications studios, computer labs
and the library before being hosted for
lunch.
Prof. Fortner, a communications lecturer
at Calvin College in the US, was passing
through Daystar from Uganda where he
had been shooting a documentary on the
impact of the war in Uganda on young
people and challenges that mothers are
facing raising children in the Internally
Displaced People (IDP) camps.
Both Mark and Ann Fackler are not new
to Daystar. Prof. Mark Fackler has been
a visiting Communications lecturer at
Daystar on numerous occasions while his
wife Ann has previously worked in the food
service department at Daystar.
Christian Ministries Training (CMT)
Short Courses in Session.
CMT courses have begun at the Nairobi
Campus. Courses being offered include
the just ended Leadership Education,
which was facilitated by Prof. William
C. Johnson, a professor of Political
Science at Bethel University in
Minneapolis USA.
The course, which ended on Friday last
week, attracted 14 participants including
church leaders, NGO’s staff, Daystar
M.A. students, Daystar staff and faculty
members.
Courses currently in session include
Public Relations Management course,
which began last week. The two- week
course is being facilitated by Daystar
graduates, Mrs. Julia Kagunda and Mrs.
Stella Mwihaki and is coordinated by
Mrs. Hellen Maleche.
Other courses slated for this month
include Public Relations Writing, a oneweek
course commencing on 25th July.
Writing Skills for Life and Finance for
Non-Finance Christian Workers both of
which are two-week courses are
scheduled to begin on 18th July.
Nairobi Campus Reception Under
Renovation.
The reception at the Nairobi Campus is
under renovation. As a result, the
reception has now been moved to the
main entrance corridor just outside
lecture room 15. The switchboard office
has been moved to the former Human
Resource Office.

Daystar Academic Journal to be Relaunched.
Daystar University’s Department of
Research, Publication and Consultancy
will soon be re-launching the Daystar
academic journal, Perspectives.
The journal which was first launched in
1997 will be re-launched at a ceremony
that is scheduled to be held at the Nairobi
campus at a date that is yet to be
confirmed. Currently enrolled and Alumni
postgraduate students will be invited.
The department will also be launching
the first issue of Daystar University
Masters Theses Abstracts, a
compilation of Theses written by
Masters students between 1978 and
2004. Speaking during an interview, Prof.
Faith Nguru said that the main purpose
of the publication was to create
awareness of the research done by
students.
Both publications will be available at the
Daystar University libraries at Athi River
and Nairobi campuses and the Research
Center at Nairobi campus towards the
end of this year.
Daystar Lecturer Receives Canadian
Writing Award
Dr. Diane Stinton, Senior Lecturer in the
Postgraduate Studies Faculty, has been
honoured by The Word Guild Canadian
Christian Writing Awards for her book,
Jesus in Africa: Voices of Contemporary
African Christology. In a contest that
recognizes the most outstanding books
and articles published during 2004,
Diane received the award for the category
of culture. Winners were announced at
a gala awards event on June 17, 2005.
Mrs. Juliana Muema, former Deputy
Head Librarian at Daystar University who
recently emigrated to Toronto, represented
Dr. Stinton at the event and,
dressed in colourful African attire, received
the award on her behalf. The
award comes with a certificate, a cash
prize, a gold lapel pin, and access to
publicity stickers for the book.
Daystar University Senate Meets.
The University Senate met recently to
discuss the impending Commission for
Higher Education inspection. Among
those attending included the Vice
Chancellor, Academic Staff and senior
administration staff members.
Prof. Katia and Mrs. Florence Karimi
Return From Arusha IUCEA Meeting.
The DVC (Academic) Prof. Samuel Katie
and Deputy Registrar Mrs. F. Karimi
recently represented Daystar University
in the Fifth Inter-University Council for
East Africa (IUCEA) committee meeting
on exchange of students held in Arusha,
Tanzania.
The meeting was also attended by
representatives from the IUCEA
secretariat and the Ministry of Education
in Uganda and Tanzania. Academic
institutions represented included Dar es
Salaam University, Sokoine University of
Agriculture and Tumaini University, all from
Tanzania. Ugandan institutions included
Makerere University, Mbarara University
of Science and Technology and Bugema
University.
Interactions with participants revealed
that Daystar’s reputation at the IUCEA
was good with many council members
having high expectations of Daystar.
Prof. Nguru speaks at the CNN/
Multichoice Media Debate.
Prof. Faith Nguru attended a media
debate function organized by CNN and
Multichoice where she gave a
presentation on the differences and
similarities between African and western
journalism.
The event which was a buildup to the CNN
journalist of the year award was attended
by close to 60 journalists from all over
Africa.
Resource Mobilisation Workshop
Held.
The Resource Mobilization committee
this week held a fundraising workshop at
the Fairview Hotel.
Northwestern College President, Dr. Alan
Cureton gave the keynote address where
he shared his experience in resource
mobilization for a Christian university.
The one day workshop, whose purpose
was to explore strategies for developing
resources for Daystar University, was attended
by Daystar University’s Chancellor
Dr. Florence Muli-Musiime, Vice-
Chancellor, Rev. Prof. Godfrey Nguru and
top management.
Staff on Leave
Communication Department
Head of Communication Department,
Ms. Mary Kizito is on leave. While she
is away, Mr. Sylvester Mutua will be
the acting head of department. Ms Kizito
will be back in the office on August 8th.
Department of Research, Publication
and Consultancy
Prof. Faith Nguru will be taking her
annual leave starting this Monday. She
will then proceed for a one year
sabbatical leave starting this September.
During her leave, Prof. Nguru will be
involved in academic research and
writing.
Dr. Mike Kuria will be the acting head of
the research department during her
absence.
Corporate Affairs Department
Corporate Affairs Manager will be on
leave beginning Thursday, 21st July till
25th August 2005. During her absence,
Business Development Manager, Jacob
Otinga will act on her behalf.
Farewell.
The Research, Publications and
Consultancy department bids farewell to
the outgoing Assistant Researcher, Mr.
Howard Makingu who is leaving for
Malaysia to pursue his PhD in Curricular
Development and e-learning at the
Multimedia University.
The Research department and Infospot
wishes Mr. Makingu God’s blessings in
his studies.
Therefore, go and make
disciples of all the nations,
baptizing them in the name
of the Father and the Son
and the Holy Spirit.
(Matthew 28:19)
INFOSPOT
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