Campus briefs

Homophobic graffiti found in Swig stairwells, hallway

Four instances of homophobic graffiti were discovered in common areas of Swig Residence Hall by community facilitators May 20.

The graffiti was written in black permanent marker and consisted of homophobic terms and several explicit drawings, according to Phil Beltran, assistant director of campus safety.

The graffiti was reported to Campus Safety around 11 p.m.

Beltran said the graffiti was found in the dorm's east hallway of the third floor, on the stairwell between the second and third floor, the first floor stairwell and a first floor exit door.

Campus Safety urges anyone with information about this incident to come forward.

Provost candidate speaks to campus audience

Ramon Gutierrez, a candidate to replace outgoing provost Denise Carmody, spoke to a small audience on campus May 19.

Gutierrez is currently a chancellor at University of California, San Diego. As provost, Gutierrez said he would focus on changing aspects of Santa Clara's personality.

"There is an inferiority complex here," he said. "Aspirations aren't high enough."

Gutierrez also said that he would like to focus on more extensive alumni programs and not have the university focus so narrowly on the 17 to 24 year-old age range.

The provost search committee has received more than 80 applications from throughout the United States. Assistant Provost for Faculty Development Diane Jonte-Pace said she hopes to invite more candidates to Santa Clara for campus visits. Jonte-Pace said two more visits will happen before the end of the academic year.

The new provost is expected to be announced at the end of the academic year.

Writers to read selected fiction works in Orradre

Novelist Katherine Noel and short story writer Eric Puchner will read selections from their works in the Boland Reading Room of Orradre Library at 6 p.m. May 25.

Noel is the author of the novel "Halfway House," published Feb. 2006, and a former Truman Capote fellow.

Puchner has had his short stories published in the Chicago Tribune and assorted anthologies and journals. Puchner is a former John L'Heureux Fellow.

Both writers currently teach at Stanford University and have held the Wallace Stegner fellowship.

From staff reports. Contact news@thesantaclara.com