Towson University

Towson University's football squad came out of Baton Rouge, La., on Saturday with a loss to No. 3 LSU, but gave their counterpart Tigers a game effort in a 38-22 contest. In a game televised on ESPNU, Towson actually held a 9-7 lead in the second quarter after the two teams traded touchdowns (Towson's extra point kick failed) and Towson also had a field goal. But LSU added 10 points before halftime, then another 7 in the third quarter to stave off the pesky visiting Tigers. In the fourth quarter, both teams scored two touchdowns.

The Towson University community is expressing condolences this week to colleague, Deb Moriarty, for the death of her husband, Gregory Giovanazzi. Moriarty is vice president for student affairs at Towson University, and also serves as president for the Towson Chamber of Commerce. Giovanazzi, 54, of Catonsville, died in his sleep Monday, March 19, at home. A "Life is Good" celebration in his honor is scheduled to be held Saturday at Towson University at noon in the West Village Commons Ballroom.

Towson University will be allowed to construct and operate a new branch on the campus of Harford Community College, under a decision released Friday afternoon by the state's interim secretary of higher education. The $25 million project will proceed despite previously expressed reservations from Morgan State University leaders, who questioned the fairness of allowing Towson to stake a foothold in Harford County, a growing suburb with a rich base of military jobs and no four-year universities.

The Great Synagogue Choir of Jerusalem, the premier synagogue choir in Israel, will present a concert of Jewish liturgical music Sunday at Towson University to commemorate Israel's 50th anniversary and the 125th anniversary of East Baltimore's B'nai Israel Congregation.The concert also will feature Cantor Moshe Haschel of the St. John's Woods Synagogue in London, who is one of Europe's most celebrated cantors, said Elli Jaffe, music director of the Great Synagogue Choir.The choir is traveling with 12 voices, but normally would perform with about 20, said Jaffe.

The residents of Rodgers Forge have a simple message for Towson University: A promise made should be a promise kept. Towson University plans to build a 5,000-plus-seat arena on its southernmost boundary - which abuts my house. In 2003, the university drew up its master plan for the development on its campus and received input from the Rodgers Forge Community Association. The university agreed to build the arena on a site to the north, and not on the site that abuts the residences in Rodgers Forge.

James D. Fielder Jr., former acting secretary of Maryland's economic development department, has been named vice president for administration and finance at Towson University, the university said yesterday.Fielder, who has a doctorate in higher-education administration, spent several years at Maryland's Department of Business and Economic Development, most of it as deputy to Secretary James T. Brady. He took over as acting chief when Brady resigned last year.Fielder left the department when Gov. Parris N. Glendening declined to name him permanent secretary and instead chose BT Alex.

WTMD-FM, the public radio station based at Towson University, began airing newscasts from National Public Radio yesterday, when it became an NPR member station. The station, heard at 89.7 FM, is not changing format and will continue to air a mix of rock, country and blues. But its hourly newscasts now will come from NPR rather than Associated Press Network News. "WTMD is trying to grow as quickly as we can, and to be a part of the community in a valuable way, and we see NPR membership as another way to provide programming services and opportunities for our listeners," said WTMD general manager Stephen Yasko.

Mission: To serve as a bridge between the cultures of East and West, encourage an understanding between these cultures, and provide programs for the state's growing Asian-American community to help preserve its cultural heritage and pride in tradition. The center highlights Asian arts and culture through its permanent collection, exhibitions, performances and educational programs. Started in 1971 when Frank Roberts donated a collection of Chinese and Japanese ivory carvings to the university, the center is the only campus-based organization for the presentation and preservation of Asian arts in Maryland.

Towson University junior Hailey Cohen may have found a good fit majoring in advertising and public relations. She obviously knows how to promote her "preppy, sophisticated and a little bit of funky" style. When we "glimpsed" the 21-year-old Easton resident in TU's Student Union, she was demonstrating how she frames one or two eye-catching pieces with some of her wardrobe staples. The look: : White cotton deep V-neck T-shirt. Gray and white seersucker vest. Skinny jeans. Yellow slip-on Roxie sneakers.

A Baltimore County couple has donated $100,000 to Towson University, school officials announced. The gift from John G. and Barbara J. Dreyer of White Hall includes $50,000 toward the university's Campaign for the Center for the Arts. The Center for the Arts is a $53 million project that includes a new theater, a new recital hall and new art galleries, along with performance labs, classrooms and offices. Two studios in the Center for the Arts will be named in the Dreyers' honor. John Dreyer is a senior executive with Citigroup.