Posted on Apr 14, 2000

Lori Marso, assistant
professor of political science, has been awarded a National Endowment for
the Humanities grant for 2000-01. She will be working on a book titled Dilemmas
of Feminine Desire, examining the feminist challenge to political
philosophy exemplified by four women activists. Marso is also the author
of (Un)Manly Citizens: J.J. Rousseau's and Germaine de Stael's
Subversive Women (Baltimore, Johns Hopkins University Press, 1999).
She will be on leave from Union next year, living in Spain.

Kenneth G. DeBono, Livingston
Professor of the Behavioral Sciences (psychology), recently presented two
papers at the annual meeting of the Eastern Psychological Association
meeting. This first, co-authored with Kerry Librandi '00 was titled
“Attributions for success and failure in gender-consistent and
gender-inconsistent sports.” The second, co-authored with Ryan
Campbell '00, Taryn Samol '99 and Sarah Wilbur '98, was titled
“You are what you play: Perceptions of masculinity and femininity as
a function of sport played.”

Posted on Apr 14, 2000

Those panel discussions that admissions holds in the
Nott every few days this time of year are intended to spark the interest
of accepted candidates.

But it was the little sister of one prospect who seemed
to be the most captivated after one panel last Saturday.

“I visited Union College with my brother … and
there was a student who described a project that he was doing with the
frog that could freeze in the winter and then basically come back to life
in the spring,” wrote Emily Dibbell, an eighth grader from
Bainbridge, N.Y.” I am interested in that topic and we have a science
fair in May and I was hoping that he would help me out a little and start
me on my research.”

“I'm impressed with your initiative!” wrote
back Kelly Herrington of admissions, who set up the event. “I've
never received an e-mail from an eighth grader before. If you ever apply
to Union, you will be given extra brownie points.”

Herrington put the budding biologist in touch with Mani
Daneshman, a biology major in the Leadership in Medicine program who had
described the research project he is doing with Prof. Barbara Pytel.

Posted on Apr 14, 2000

The College has received a $2 million gift from William
R. Grant '49 of New York City for the renovation of the house at 3
Library Lane to become the home of admissions and financial aid.

The building formerly housed the Alpha Delta Phi
fraternity.

The gift adds to Mr. Grant's just-completed pledge of
$1 million to the College.

“This gift will enable Union to develop an
admissions and financial aid office that is truly first-rate and
representative of the institution's reputation as a leader in higher
education,” Grant said. “Equally important, however, is the
message this gift sends to my fellow alumni to remember an important part
of their life that helped them achieve success.”

Grant is chairman and co-founder of Galen Associates, a
$1 billion venture capital firm. At his request, he will manage the funds
earmarked for the project “with the intent of contributing in excess
of my commitment.” The gift will be paid by Jan. 1, 2005.

“Bill has an unwavering commitment to this College,
and his generous gift ensures that Union meets a critical need for an
admissions office that is second to none,” President Roger Hull said.
“He serves as a model for alumni looking for innovative approaches to
supporting the College.”

Grant's contributions to Union College are numerous.
As an alumnus, he served as an alumni trustee from 1962-70, a term trustee
from 1970-73 and from 1984-92, and was named Trustee Emeritus in 1992. He
established the W. Grant Endowment Fund for Athletics in 1983, and the
William V. and Adelaide M. Grant Memorial Scholarship in 1987. In 1999, he
received the College's Alumni Gold Medal.

Posted on Apr 14, 2000

Christina
E. Sorum has been named vice president for academic affairs and dean of
the faculty, it was announced by President Roger H. Hull.

“Dean Sorum received the unanimous and strong
support of the search committee which reviewed more than 80 applicants
from across the country,” Hull said. “The committee – and in
particular, Bob Wells, who served as chair of the committee – is to be
commended for its diligent and hard work.

“Based on her broad professional achievements, her
service as a professor in the classics department and as dean of arts and
sciences, and her contributions to the life of the campus as a whole, I
have no doubt that Christie will provide very strong leadership as we
strive to attain an even higher level of academic excellence. The years
ahead hold great promise for Union, and I eagerly look forward to working
with Christie to fulfill that promise.”

Sorum joined the College's Department of Classics in
1973. She was named an assistant professor in 1975, associate professor in
1982, and named to an endowed chair – the Frank Bailey Professor of
Classics – in 1992. In 1994, she was named dean of arts and sciences, a
position she held until she became acting dean of faculty last fall.

She has served the College in a variety of
administrative capacities including department chair, and a member of the
General Education Board, Faculty Review Board, Academic Affairs Council
and numerous tenure and review committees.

She holds a bachelor's degree from Wellesley College,
and a Ph.D. from Brown University.

Posted on Apr 14, 2000

President Roger Hull will serve as moderator in a
“Forum for Change” on Tuesday, April 25, at 7 p.m. in the Nott
Memorial.

Panelists will include a number of economic development
leaders from the state and county who will discuss their plans and
perspectives.

The forum also will include a time for questions from
the audience.