On a day that seemed to feature the word quot;transformation,” President Roger Hull on Sunday called on students to undertake some “personal transformation” by working to make a difference in the community.
“I personally believe that we must all take stands and that we must all stand for something,” he said. “Stand for children, stand for the homeless, stand for the poor, stand for the environment, stand for education, stand for the disabled — but stand.”
Hull urged the students to register and vote — and to do so in Schenectady, where “you will spend the lion's share of your time during the next four years.”
The president acknowledged the members of the Class of 2000, who already had made a
contribution to the city and Schenectady 2000 by planting shrubs and trees, painting
bridges, and cleaning parks and streets. Hull added that he hoped the experience would
encourage future involvement by Union students.
He also introduced a number of initiatives already under way: Big Brothers and Big
Sisters, tutoring, rebuilding homes on Hamilton Hill, mentoring programs and Youth
Olympics.
“No one can be said to be liberally educated unless he or she recognizes that
there is an obligation to contribute something back to the society in which one
lives,” Hull said. “Since you now live here, I hope that you will vote and
volunteer here and that you will make this community a better one — for you and for all
those who live in it.”
John I. Garver, assistant professor of geology, was awarded the Stillman prize
for excellence in teaching.
The award was created by Abbott L. Stillman '69, member of the College's Board of
Trustees, David Stillman '72, and Allan Stillman in honor of Abraham Stillman, father and
grandfather. Faculty members are nominated by students for the award, which is given to
encourage outstanding teaching.
Garver, who graduated with a bachelor's degree in geology with honors from Middlebury
College, earned his Ph.D. from the University of Washington at Seattle. Before coming to
Union, he worked for the British Columbia Department of Energy, Mines and Petroleum
Resources.
Garver has been the president of the New York Geological Association, has edited a
guidebook of field trips for the association, and has presented at several professional
conferences. Garver is also the author of many published works and has received several
research grants during his more than six years at Union.
Robert S. Sharlet, professor of political science, was named the Chauncey H.
Winters Professor of Political Science.
The professorship is supported by a bequest from Chauncey H. Winters, Class of 1912,
who was president of the Bank of Richmondville (N.Y.). Mr. Winters graduated at the age of
19 as class valedictorian and a member of Phi Beta Kappa. He joined the bank of
Richmondville in 1914 as a teller and over the years gave the village gifts valued at more
than $700,000, including fire equipment and a municipal building. He left his estate to
Union College and 10 Bank of Richmondville employees.
Sharlet received his bachelor's degree from Brandeis University and earned a Ph.D. from
Indiana University. A specialist in Russian and post-Soviet law and politics, he recently
served as coordinator for institution building in the Washington office of the Rule of Law
program, assisting former Soviet republics. He is the author of six books and more than
100 chapters, essays, and journal articles, he has testified before Congress and been a
frequent source to the national and international press. He has been a member of the Union
faculty since 1967.
Shayna C. Roberts '99 received the Phi Beta Kappa prize for outstanding
achievement in General Education. Roberts, a resident of Nassau, the Bahamas, is a 1995
graduate of Saint Augustine's School.
The convocation also honored more than 500 dean's list students whose names have been
affixed to a plaque in the Reamer Campus Center.