Posted on May 16, 2002

Generous gifts from four members of the Union community will result in the creation of four new named professorships at the College.

The gifts are from Mary and Dwane '33 Crichton, Dr. Joseph C. Driscoll '32, Dr. David Falk '39, and Nathan and Romana Obenzinger.

“Endowed professorships honor faculty members' outstanding teaching, scholarship, and service to the College,” President Roger Hull said. “We are delighted that these friends of the College have chosen this way to recognize the significant effect our professors have on the vitality of the College.”

The College has twenty-four endowed professorships.

Dwane Crichton, a native of Canastota, N.Y., earned a B.A. in English. While at Union, he was manager of the swimming team and a member of Beta Theta Pi. After serving in Italy, North Africa, and France as a corporal in the Army during World War II, he joined American Can Co. He was industrial relations manager in Fairport, N.Y., at his retirement in 1969. He and Mary Sill Crichton were married in 1951 and lived in New Smyrna Beach, Fla. An avid golfer, he once reported that he had had five holes-in-one. Mr. Crichton died March 1, 1996, and Mrs. Crichton died Feb. 13, 2000.
Mr. and Mrs. Crichton
gave a total of $4 million to the College, with $1.5 million being used to create this
professorship.

Joseph C. Driscoll, a native of Wilmington, Del., moved to Schenectady with his family and graduated from Nott Terrace High School. He earned his M.D. at Albany Medical College in 1935 after graduating from Union with a B.A. After serving his residency at Bellevue Hospital in New York City, he entered private practice in Schenectady in 1938. He was in the Army during World War II, serving from 1942 to 1945, and was awarded the Bronze Star for heroism and five battle stars during the Battle of the Bulge. After the war, he returned to private practice in Schenectady until his retirement in 1978. He then served as the examining physician for the Workers Compensation Board in Albany. His wife,
Dr. Mary Blackmer Driscoll, whom he married in 1941, died in August, 2001.
Dr. Driscoll left a bequest to the College of $1.5 million to establish the professorship.

David Falk, a native of East Nassau, N.Y., earned his M.D. from Albany Medical School in 1943. After serving in the Army Medical Corps during World War II, he moved to California, where he finished his urology residency and then went into private practice. He was chief of section, Department of Urology, at Kern County General Hospital in Bakersfield for many years before retiring from private practice to become a field representative for the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations. He married Elynor Rudnick, a commercial helicopter service owner and pilot, in 1962; she died in 1996.
The Falks established the David and Elynor Falk Endowed Scholarship in 1976, and his other gifts include a two manual harpsichord in memory of former Professor of Music Elmer Tidmarsh. In Dr. Falk's estate plans, the College will receive $2.5 million-$1 million to be added to the family scholarship (with half to provide support to students engaged in premedical or biology study, the other half to provide assistance to students in any major) and $1.5 million to establish the David Falk and Elynor Rudnick-Falk Professorship in either engineering or the physical sciences.
“Those who preceded me at Union, through their understanding and generosity, provided the opportunity for my education,” Dr. Falk says. “I am deeply grateful. It is my duty, in like manner, to provide for our future. It is payback time.”

The late Nathan and Romana Obenzinger were the parents of Mark M. Obenzinger '65 and the late Ronald M. Obenzinger '61. During their lifetimes, Nathan and Romana established a $1 million charitable lead trust that currently makes yearly gifts to Union for the Ronald M. Obenzinger Memorial Endowment to provide awards to premedical students. (Ronald died in March 1962 of Hodgkin's disease, a few months after entering the Albert Einstein College of Medicine.)

Shortly before Nathan and Romana passed away late last year, they completed an additional estate plan that will benefit Union. A ten-year charitable remainder trust will be created and funded with $1 million from their estate. Upon the termination of that trust, the Ronald M. Obenzinger Professorship will be established in an area of instruction in health sciences.

The College's endowed chairs

The College has twenty-four named professorships. Established by gifts to the College, endowed professorships recognize a faculty member's outstanding teaching, scholarship, and service to the College.

The professorship is generally named for the individual making the gift or the person whom the gift honors. The Frank Bailey Professorship of Greek, Latin and Ancient Language, for example, is named for its donor, Frank Bailey, of the Class of 1885, long-time treasurer of the College whose total gifts to Union exceeded $3 million. The Robert Porter Patterson Professorship of
Government was established by friends of the College and classmates of the alumnus who was President Truman's
Secretary of War.

The College's endowed chairs, the date they were
established, and the current holder are:

• Frank Bailey Professor of Classics (1945) Christina Sorum 

• Frank and Marie Louise Bailey Professor of Physics (1949) Appointment pending 

• Marie Louise Bailey Professor
  of Mathematics (1952)
  Alan D. Taylor 

• May I. Baker Professor of Visual Arts (1979) Walter J. Hatke 

• John Bigelow Professor of
  History (1916) Appointment pending 

• Horace E. Dodge III Professor of Electrical Engineering (1997) Appointment pending 

• Gordon Gould '41 Professor of Physics (1995) Jay Newman 

• Edward E. Hale, Jr., Professor of English (1980) Harry P. Marten 

• Doris Zemurray Stone
  Professor in Modern Literary
  and Historical Studies (1976) Brenda Wineapple 

• Carl B. Jansen Professor of
  Civil Engineering (1992)
  Thomas K. Jewell 

• Thomas B. Lamont Professor of Ancient and Modern Literature (1948) Sigrid Kellenter 

• Gilbert R. Livingston Professor
  of Psychology (1970)
  Seth N. Greenberg 

• Gilbert R. Livingston Professor
  of Behavioral Sciences (1994) Kenneth G. DeBono 

• John D. MacArthur Assistant
  Professor (1982) Appointment pending 

• Robert Porter Patterson
  Professor of Government (1956) Joseph B. Board, Jr. 

• Kenneth B. Sharpe Professor
  of Management (1992) Josef Schmee 

• Florence B. Sherwood Professor of History and Culture (1993) Stephen M. Berk 

• Florence B. Sherwood Professor of Life Sciences (1994) George M. Butterstein 

• Florence B. Sherwood Professor of Physical Sciences (1994) Thomas C. Werner 

• Roger Thayer Stone Professor of Sociology (1989) Martha Huggins 

• Thomas J. Watson, Sr., and
  Emma Watson Day Professor of Mechanical Engineering (1989) Ann Anderson 

• Chauncey H. Winters Professor
  of History and Social Sciences (1993) Robert V. Wells 

• Chauncey H. Winters Professor
  of Political Science (1996) Robert S. Sharlet 

• John and Jane Wold Professor of Geology (1988) George H. Shaw

 

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Posted on May 16, 2002

Steve Ciesinski '70 wants everyone to share that enthusiasm

If Union wanted the perfect spokesman for its combination of the liberal arts and engineering, it has to look no further than Steve Ciesinski '70, the College's new chairman of the Board of Trustees.

A Schenectady native, Ciesinski came to Union determined to take advantage of its strengths in the liberal arts and engineering. He did just that, earning Dean's List honors and graduating with a B.S. in electrical engineering and an A.B. in modern languages. After a brief stint at Procter & Gamble, he went to Stanford, where
he earned his M.B.A. and, as he puts it, got the entrepreneurial bug.

“P&G is a wonderful company, and its structured environment and methodical approach to business were a terrific learning experience,” he says. “Stanford was in the middle of Silicon Valley,
and Silicon Valley was at the time completely unstructured.
I learned that if you could manage through the chaos of immediate start-up situations while also planning carefully for the long term, you could build large, market-leading businesses.”

And that's what he did. First, he helped Applied Materials become the leading producer of the equipment that makes computer chips. Then he moved to Octel Communications, where he played a key role in developing the then-new concept of voice mail. Next was Resumix, Inc., which quickly became the country's leader in computer-generated resume evaluation software systems. And now he is a managing director in an international venture capital firm that is focused on emerging technology, communications, and health care investments.

“We fund early-stage
companies with great promise, good core management teams, strong defendable technology, in fast-growing marketplaces,” he says. “With offices in Europe and California, we're well positioned to take advantage of transnational opportunities.”

His career world, Ciesinski says, is one that Union prepared him well for, and it is one that offers some lessons to a historic college.

“Clearly, a college like Union has a long tradition of excellence, and the Board of Trustees wants to make sure that maintaining the quality of teaching and learning that goes on here remains our highest priority,” he says. “At the same time, we have to understand that to be here and be as successful 200 years from now, we have to plan in ten- and twenty-year increments as well as manage our basic-
survival issues right now.”

He does not toss out the word “survival” casually.

“I don't use the word in terms of being out of business tomorrow,” he says. “Obviously, that's not going to happen. Rather, I mean it in the sense that the threats to colleges like Union are increasing, not decreasing.

“Those threats are not just from other private institutions,” he continues, “but they also come from public institutions that act more and more like private institutions while getting funding from government sources. They come from new technologies that give people the chance to take courses in their own homes, something not available twenty years go, and they come from the turbulence of today's economy.

“To counter those threats, we have to continue to sharpen what makes us distinctive,” he continues. “We do a lot of things really well, and some we do even better than well. Those are the things we need to make sure high school juniors and seniors throughout the country know about.”

He sees the College's new effort in converging technologies as a prime example of that distinctive nature. He notes that in bioengineering, for example, the College already has courses in physics (molecular biophysics), mechanical engineering (biomechanics), and psychology (cognitive neuroscience). In pervasive computing, courses in electrical engineering (the digital evolution), computer science (computers and computing), and anthropology (culture and technology) address the impact of information technology. Similar efforts to connect various academic disciplines are underway in mechatronics and nanotechnology.

“This is the kind of innovative thinking that is going to excite high school seniors,” he says. “These are leading edge initiatives, not just in the high tech centers of the world, but throughout society.”

Other strengths Ciesinski cites include international study, where the College has consistently ranked at the top among peer colleges in terms of the percentage of students who study abroad; the depth and comprehensiveness of undergraduate research, which he says is unusual among colleges that do not have Ph.D. programs; and faculty members with national reputations who regularly meet one-on-one with students.

He also notes that Union is perceived as a leader in town-gown relations, and that the relationship that the College has with the city of Schenectady has been flourishing. He is proud that Union hosted a statewide conference in April with the governor, mayors from Albany to Buffalo, and state and private college presidents [coverage of the conference will appear in our summer issue].

A real challenge, he says, is to continue to move in these directions, given the College's limited financial resources.

“Union's endowment is of good size [approximately $270 million], but not large when compared to our peer group,” he says. “Two years ago, the College hired a leading endowment management consulting firm to review the investment policy of the endowment and recommend some improvements. This effort encompassed reviewing current investment managers' performances and asset allocations. The result was that the board voted to implement the revised policy. And we brought on some new managers in some areas. In this tough investment climate, we are starting to show some positive results. Clearly, though, we also need to work on building the endowment.”

The Plan for Union, the comprehensive plan approved by the board last year, will help that effort, he says. “This plan has been scrutinized, analyzed, and endorsed by the board, faculty, students, and the administration, so now everyone knows what we're trying to accomplish. And I'm expecting-I'm going to challenge –our great alumni body to help us achieve the goals of the plan.”

Ciesinski acknowledges that recent decisions to establish a House System and restructure engineering have generated some controversy, but he says that both changes were needed.

“I was a fraternity member, and I was on the committee that looked at the social and residential system here,” he says. “In fact, many of my
co-trustees were also fraternity members or engineering alumni. We recognize that fraternities do some wonderful things, on and off campus, and that's one of the many reasons that we wanted them to stay part of Union. We also felt that we needed to change the social atmosphere here if we were to prosper into the future. I think we've done it about right, and I think that we resolved, through a lot of creative ideas, how to keep the good things fraternities stand for and, at the same time, provide some balance to the social atmosphere.

“I'm delighted that we were able to attract a seasoned professional as our new dean of campus and residential life; he has such great experience in this area. I think that's a good indication of how big a commitment we are making to integrating residential and academic life with social environment.” [An interview with the new dean, Tom McEvoy, appears in this issue.]

“We can't claim victory yet, and as I speak with undergraduates I realize that these types of changes always take time to jell and become part of the fabric of Union,” he says. “But I am proud of how the trustees dealt with the issues. I am pleased with how we worked with President Hull and lots of different
constituencies to reach some common ground, and I am most proud of how we have kept the fraternity system alive and well while incorporating it into a larger fabric
of campus social life.”

As the College continues
to make changes, he thinks it is important that it strengthen and integrate its forms of communication.

“I think we can be fairly criticized at times for not communicating enough in a variety of ways so our alumni and friends fully understand what's happening on campus,” he says. “We use a number of mechanisms-the College's website, Union College magazine, the Chronicle (the weekly newsletter), Roger Hull's on-the-road appearances before alumni-but I think we need to continually make sure we have the right balance of paper, electronic, and verbal communication efforts so everyone has the opportunity to appreciate the great things going on here.

“I have challenged my
colleagues on the Board of Trustees to work closely with the administration, the public relations groups, the alumni clubs throughout the nation and world, and the students to make sure that our message remains clear, accessible, and pertinent,” he continues. “One of the ways I hope we are judged during my tenure as chairman is by how alumni and interested outsiders perceive the unique strengths of Union. It is time to strut our stuff a little bit!

“We have a great body of alumni, students, faculty, and administrators, and I'd love to see more Union faces out there telling our story,” he says. “I think we all need to have the attitude that 'the better the College is thought of, the better it reflects on me.'

“And it's going to take every one of us to work on that. That means that all of us-alumni, faculty, students-need to take some leadership and accountability for our College.”

Ciesinski says that as incoming chairman, he considers it an honor to lead the College as it grows in its third century.

“I take this job after a great run as chairman by my predecessor, David Chapnick '59, who worked tirelessly to move the College ahead,” Ciesinski says. “He has given me big shoes to fill as he crystallized the campus around The Plan for Union.

“I want everyone reading this to remember that the board I chair is populated with men and women who care about Union deeply; who think, discuss, and sometimes agonize over the challenging decisions we must make, but who always
-I repeat, always-are proud of the heritage they represent, the future they hope to help shape, and the responsibility they have been entrusted with. I can't wait to get started.”

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Posted on May 16, 2002

SCHENECTADY, NY (May 16, 2002) – After a year hiatus, the Fashion Show of Support has been re-established as one of the most popular Union College traditions. The Show will be held Thursday, May 16, at 8pm in Memorial Chapel.

Seniors Katie Butterfield and Thayer Whipple are the co-chairs of this event and there are approximately sixty members of the various subcommittees. All proceeds from ticket sales and donations benefit Camp Miracles and Magic, a foundation established by a Union College family. Camp Miracles and Magic is a safe, fun, traditional camp experience for children infected and affected by AIDS.

Tonight's event will be hosted by two sets of seniors: Sarah Ellman and Neil Routman, and Bobby Ndu and Emily Wood. Sarah, Neil, Bobby, Emily, and all of the “runway representatives” were cho-sen because of their superior leadership and dedication to campus life. These exemplary students, leaders, athletes, and role models were recognized through a campus-wide nomination process, ensuring that every aspect of campus life is represented. Biographies of the participants are below.

“Through the years” is the theme; from flapper dresses to poodle skirts, to leisure suits and much more, styles from each decade will be modeled in the first half of the show. The second half features today's hottest styles from Todd Oldham, Marc Jacobs, Cool Change, Mark Shale, Calvin Klein, The Monogram Shops (Shoshanna, Millie, Breuer, and Vineyard Vines), Aggie's, Fantasy Bridal, TSX, New York Gear, and Structure.

Tickets are on sale in the Campus Center for $5, or can be purchased at the door for $7.

Runway Representatives / Masters of Ceremonies Biographies

AJ Bernardi '03 was named this spring to the UCAA All-Academic team for lacrosse. He was the rush chairman for Theta Delta Chi fraternity last fall. AJ is a history major, and was accepted into the 5 year accelerated MBA program at Union for Health Systems Administration.

AJ Bodden '03 is the Student Director of Community Outreach Programs for Union College and a member of Theta Delta Chi Fraternity. AJ has played football for the past three years. He is a member of the Student Conduct Committee, a Gatekeeper, and works at Chet's.

Seth Burrows '02 has been a representative to the Inter-Fraternity Council, the Student Forum, and the Academic Affairs Committee. Seth played varsity baseball for 2 years.

Ioana Calin '02 is a member of Campus Action. She is also a tutor in local schools and works at the local Boys and Girls Club. Ioana spent a term abroad in Cuernavaca, Mexico in the Winter of her Junior year.

Adam Cappel '02 is the Senior Trustee, which is a two-year position. He is a member of Chi Psi fraternity and the Co-Editor Emeritus of the Garnet Yearbook.

Doug Christiansen '02 has played Varsity Ice Hockey for four years. He is an active participant in Big Brothers/Big Sisters and a brother of Chi Psi fraternity.

Allison Cohen '02 has been an orientation advisor for three years. In her freshman year, she was the coxswain for the crew team. Allison has been a gatekeeper all four years and was the coordinator in her junior year. She has been the Secretary, Activities Chairwoman, and Sister to Sister Representative for Sigma Delta Tau sorority. Allison is the Treasurer for the 2002 Fashion Show of Support.

Melinda Colon '02 is a four-year letter winner for Varsity Volleyball and Varsity Softball and has won many athletic and academic honors for those teams. She recently presented her senior thesis, at the Steinmetz Symposium “The Political Impact of NAFTA: The El Paso-Ciudad Juarez Case,” for which she was awarded a grant to travel to that region to conduct her research. Melinda has spent several terms as a class representative on the Student Forum, works in Student Activities, and is a member of Sigma Delta Tau sorority.

Brian Colantropo '02, in the year 2001-2002, has been the Student Forum President, Interfraternity Council President, and the President of Chet's. He has been the corresponding secretary and social chairman for Theta Delta Chi fraternity, and is currently the co-director of the annual Big Broth-ers/Big Sisters Youth Olympics.

Tim Crowell '02 is very involved with the music scene on campus, and has been a crucial leader of both Concert Committee and Springfest Committee. He spent the fall of his junior year in Kenya, was the President of the Freshman class, and played two years of varsity lacrosse.

Amie Csiszer '02 is the captain of the varsity women's crew team. She was voted Oarswoman of the year in 1999, received the Coaches Award in 2001. She was a founding member of the Symposium. Amie is a biology and anthropology double major, and is graduating Phi Beta Kappa. She will begin Tufts Veterinary School in the Fall.

Blair Debes '02 is a sociology major, and recently presented her research at the Steinmetz Symposium. She volunteered and held an internship at a few nursing homes while studying group music therapy and Alzheimer's disease. Blair is a member of the event planning and model selection committees for this year's Fashion Show.

Katharine DelSavio '03 is a member of the Newman Club, and devotes significant time to Big Brothers/Big Sisters. She sings in the Union College Choir and works in the bookstore.

Sarah Ellman '02 was this year's captain of the Union Swimming and Diving team. She was the NYSWCAA 1-m champion in 2002, the NYSWCAA 3-m champion in 2001, and the UCAA diver of the meet in 2000. Sarah has made the UCAA all-academic team and the NYSWCAA all-academic team for the past three years. She has been a representative to the Student-Athlete Committee since 2000. Sarah is a member of Psi Chi, the National Honors Society for Psychology, an orientation advisor, and the risk manager for Sigma Delta Tau sorority.

Rebecca Falzano '03 is the co-President of Safe Space, the First Vice-President of G.E.T. Aware, and the News Editor of the Concordiensis. She is a member of Psi Chi, the Psychology Honor Society, a Union Scholar, and an Ambassador. Rebecca is the Membership Education Vice President of Gamma Phi Beta sorority.

Sarre Gellar '04 was recently the recipient of the Wendy Bernstein Memorial Award, which is given to the sophomore who demonstrates exemplary service to the school. She was the President of the Freshman class, of the Sophomore Class, and is now the Vice President of Administration on the Stu-dent Forum. She is a mentor in the SHINE program at Hamilton High School, a gatekeeper, and a bartender at Chet's.

Matt Gerien '04 is the Vice President of Finance for the Student Forum and the Secretary of the InterFraternity Council. He is a member of the Student Alumni Association, a Gatekeeper, and a brother of Sigma Phi.

Lindsay Goodman '02 was the Panhellenic President for 2001-2002. She is a member of Sigma Delta Tau sorority, a member of the Student Activities Committee, and a Big Sister.

Liz Hutchison '04 is an EMT and is the secretary of UCEMS. She plays on Union's rugby team and is the junior class representative of Sigma Delta Tau sorority.

Victoria Keefe '03 is the Junior Trustee, and the PanHellenic President. She is a member of the Student Alumni Association and the Re-allocation Committee. Victoria volunteers for ROAR (reach out and read, and elementary school reading program) and is a member of Tri Delta sorority.

Leah MacLeod '02 is an Art major, and recently presented her senior project; the exhibit of her paintings was entitled “Ocean's Eleven”. She is a member of the ceramics club and designed the advertisements and the cover of the program for this year's Fashion Show. Leah spent the spring term of her junior year in Florence, Italy.

Genevieve Mbamalu '02 was the recipient from 2000-2002 of the Franklin L. Fero Memorial Scholarship Fund. This spring she earned the Meritorious College Service Award. Genevieve is a senior intern in the admissions office, a member of USTAR, a computer consultant, an orientation advisior, and a member of the senior gift committee. In her senior year, she has been a program assistant with student activities and was in the winter play, Romeo and Juliet.

Jeb Moore '03 hosts a weekly show on WRUC and has held the positions of Social Chaiman, Scholarship Chairman, and Intramural Chairman for Chi Psi fraternity. He has volunteered for NHDA, at the MacGregor state prison, and is a substitute teacher.

Leah Nero '02 is the Vice-President of Pi Sigma Alpha, the Political Science Honor Society and is a member of Phi Beta Kappa and Sigma Delta Pi, the National Collegiate Hispanic Honor Society. She was a delegate at The National Conference on Undergraduate Research (NCUR). Leah is a steering committee representative for the Union Scholars Program and a community service coordinator for the Newman Club. She has spent this past year as a senior intern in the Union admissions office. Leah has contributed to publications such as The Idol Literary Magazine, The Aleph International Programs Journal, & the Minerva Review Intercollegiate Literary Journal. Leah is a tutor for the Academic Opportunity Program, a member of the Spanish Club, College Democrats, and was an Orientation Advisor.

Bobby Ndu '02 is an Obenzinger Scholar. He is the Vice President of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity and previously spent two years as President. Bobby was the Parliamentarian of ALAS (African and Latino Alliance of Students) for two years.

Kristina Osborne '02 is a member of Psi Chi, the Psychology Honors society. She recently pre-sented her research, “Prosocial Behavior in Preschool Children: The Influence of Temperament and Parenting Styles” at the Steinmetz Symposium. Kristina has volunteered in a variety of community service activities on and off campus, and was the philanthropist for Sigma Delta Tau sorority.

Andy Palumbo '05 is the freshman class vice president. He is a Union Scholar, the promotions manager for WRUC, and plays intramural soccer, volleyball, and softball. Andy was recently asked to join the Capital District human rights commission.

Mike Ranfone '02 has played four years of Varsity Football. He has made the UCAA All-League and All-Academic teams. He is a member of Omicron Delta Epsilon, the National Honor Society for Economics.

Neil Routman '02 is a Managerial Economics major and a Chinese minor. He was a representative on the Student Conduct Committee, has been the world news editor for the Concordiensis, and the President of Union College Democrats.

Jim Schremser '02 has served as the Secretary, Treasurer, and President of the Golf Club during his years at Union. He has held the positions of Rush Chairman, Steward, and Vice President of Psi Upsilon Fraternity. Jim is a member of Sigma Delta Pi, the Spanish Honor Society, and has played on the Club Hockey team and many intramural teams.

Adam Schwaber '03 is the Junior Class Vice President. He is a member of the SAC and the Student Conduct Committee. Adam has been an orientation advisor in past years and is currently on the ori-entation committee. He also is a pole vaulter on the Union College track team.

Katrina Tentor '03 is a member of the Orientation Committee for the Class of 2006. She has ex-celled in the dance program offered at Union. Katrina is the Treasurer of G.E.T. Aware, Membership Vice-President and former President of Gamma Phi Beta sorority, and spent three years as the Editor in chief of the Concordiensis. She also is a Gatekeeper, an Ambassador, and sings in the Choir.

Sanskriti Thakur '02 is the President of G.E.T. Aware and one of the founders, too. She has been a member of the Committee on Sexual Misconduct and the 2002 recipient of both the President's Commision on the Status of Women Award and the Meritorious Service Award. Sanskriti won the Julian Hoffman Visual Arts and Science Honors Award in 2001. She was a Watson Finalist this past winter and has been a member of the Dance Team and a participant in the Junior Achievements Program.

Michelle Torres '02 has been a member of Pi Sigma Alpha, the national Political Science honor society for three years. Michelle is a Head Resident Advisor, a STEP Program Mentor, and the President of the Speaker's Forum. Next year she will complete her MBA degree at Union.

Emily Wood '02 was inducted to Psi Chi, the national honor society for Psychology, in April 2001. She has been the author of the women's studies newsletter since September of 1998 and the editor of The Idol from Sept '99-June '01. Emily spent a year as a volunteer at The Bridge Center, a residental drug rehabilitation center. She represented Delta Delta Delta sorority on the Panhellenic council from January through June of 2001. She was an actor in Romeo and Juliet this past winter.

Allison Brant '02 has been in charge of clothing for the Fashion Show
both this year, and in 2000. She has been the President, First Vice
President, and Philanthropy Chair of Sigma Delta Tau sorority.

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Posted on May 15, 2002

Schenectady, N.Y. (May 15, 2002) – Leroy Fogle knows all too well the pressures of gang life in America's cities. Once a prominent gang
leader in Harlem, Fogle now spends his time trying to prevent Schenectady youth
from joining gangs (as director of you services at the Carver Community Center
on Hamilton Hill). Fogle will speak on his work with gang prevention on Tuesday, May 21, at 7 p.m. at Union
College's Old Chapel.

Fogle's discussion kicks off a
weeklong event at the College, sponsored by students and faculty, on gang prevention in Schenectady, a city that has experienced an elevated number of gang-related incidents over the last few years.

In addition to Tuesday's talk, on Thursday, May 23, at 7 p.m. in the Reamer Campus Center Auditorium, a panel of speakers from local organizations will speak on gang-related issues facing the Hamilton Hill community, as well as efforts being made to change things and what Union can do to help.

Panelists will include Chauncy
Williams, president of the Hamilton Hill Neighborhood Association; Andreas
Kriefall, former Union College professor and ARISE (A Regional Initiative Supporting Empowerment) representative; and Rachel Graham, Union Class of 1998, founder and director of COCOA House, and youth director of SICM (Schenectady
Inner City Ministry).

In conjunction with Fogle's talk and
the community panel discussion, on Saturday May 25 Union students will
volunteer their time on various community service projects in Hamilton Hill. For more information, contact Anna Hurst, president of COCOA House, at
388-8215.

All events are free and open to the
public.

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Posted on May 14, 2002

SCHENECTADY, NY (MAY 14, 2002) – In an effort to create a stronger bond between the campus and community, a group of Union students and some local businesses are hosting the Jay Street Music Festival on Wednesday, May 15, from 4 to 8 pm. The event is free and open to the public.

Help Union-Schenectady, a student-run organization committed to strengthening ties between Union College students and the Schenectady community, and Greg Solomon, owner of Schenectady-based Ambition Café and Parcel Post Plus and president of the Jay Street Business Association, have secured a variety of local music acts for the event, including The Flying Bobbz, an alternative/ rock group, the Garnet Minstrelles, Union's a cappella group, the Glass Machine Jam Band, Matt Rapoport and Matt Ellithorpe an acoustic duo, and Billy Spillane, an
acoustic rock performer. Musicians/bands will perform throughout the day and evening in front of Ambition Café.

“There's a lot more to College than staying on campus, and our group is working to help Schenectady showcase what it has to offer,” said Chelsi Stevens, founder of Help Union-Schenectady. “The business community has been very supportive of our
efforts to get students involved, and we're confident this event will be a
success.”

CALENDAR LISTING

Event: Jay Street Music Festival

When: May 15,2002

Where: Pedestrian section of Jay Street

Time: 4 – 8pm

Band Location: In front of Ambition Coffeehouse and Eatery

Organized By: Help Union-Schenectady, local businesses

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