The College is working
with Schenectady County health officials in the wake of a College employee being diagnosed with tuberculosis. County health officials have emphasized that the risk to the College community is not high, based on the clinical information of the case. The following memo was sent April 17 to all members of the
campus community from Sandy Mosher, director of health services:
A Union College employee has been diagnosed as having active tuberculosis (TB). The College is working closely with Schenectady County Public Health Services (SCPHS) on a thorough investigation to identify individuals who have had significant contact
with the employee.
The individual has mild symptoms and is being treated at
home, according to county health officials. The individual is not believed to have had significant contact with a large number of people at Union
and current available clinical information suggests that the employee with TB is not likely to be highly contagious.
Individuals who are at risk will be notified and offered
free skin testing for TB infection. Anyone found to have a positive skin test would be provided antibiotic therapy to prevent active disease.
TB is a bacterial disease that frequently affects the lungs.
It is usually spread through the air in close and prolonged contact, and not in
large group situations.
Union College
will work closely with Schenectady County Public Health Services to ensure that
all appropriate action is taken to protect the health of all members of the
College community.
An informational meeting, with county health officials, will
be held Tuesday, April 22, from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. in Reamer Campus Center Auditorium.
Fact sheets on TB are available at the following web sites:
Anyone with questions is invited to contact Union College
Health Services at 388-6120, or Schenectady County Public Health Services at
386-2824. Media inquiries should be addressed to the Union College Office of
Communications at 388-6131.
We will update the Union
College community as more
information is available.
The 2003 football schedule will feature just the second night game since artificial turf was installed at Union in the summer of 1981. The September 20 contest against WPI will be played at 7 p.m. The “Fighting Dutchmen Gridiron Club” will sponsor a Community Day with festivities beginning at noon (details to be announced). The only other night game in the history of Frank Bailey Field was played in the rain against Albany State on October 1, 1983. Union won that game, 24-7, enroute to their first-ever NCAA invitation, which resulted in a trip to the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl.
Homecoming Weekend, which will be held October 17, 18 and 19, will feature an Upstate Collegiate Athletic Association showdown between Union and the University of Rochester. The Dutchmen will end the 2003 regular season with three consecutive home games against Hartwick, Muhlenberg and Springfield.
The Third Annual Gridiron Club Golf Outing will be held on Friday, September 19 (details to be announced).
To reserve your seat for the 2003 football season, please contact the Athletic Department at 518-388-6284.
Sept. 7 – Scrimmage vs. W. Connecticut TBA
Sept. 13 – at St. Lawrence 1:00*
Sept. 20 – WPI 7:00 (Community Day Festivities begin at noon)
Sept. 27 – at Hobart 1:00*
Oct. 4 – at Alfred 1:00 (Gridiron Club is sponsoring at bus)
Oct. 11 – at RPI 1:00* (101st meeting of New York State's oldest college rivalry)
Sometimes, when an older brother experiences a great deal of academic and athletic success at the college level, the younger brother looks to step out of that shadow by attending a different institution. That shadow becomes even larger when the brothers are from one of the local high schools.
Such is not the case with junior football and baseball standout Dan Mehleisen, a native of nearby Latham, New York ,and a graduate of Christian Brothers Academy in Albany.
Dan's brother Bill is a 1997 Union graduate who was a three-year standout for the football team. Bill, a defensive back who was elected captain for his senior season, was in on 151 tackles with five interceptions, two fumble recoveries and five pass deflections during his career. He was voted to the CoSIDA District 1 Academic All-American team twice and was a Football Gazette All-East All-American honorable mention selection after his senior season.
The Dutchmen's starting safety, junior Dan Mehleisen (22) is also a valuable member of the special teams. A starter for both the football and baseball teams throughout his career, Dan hasn't let the solid career of his older brother Bill, Union Class of
Dan, who will serve as the football team's defensive captain in the fall, has cast a shadow of his own since coming to Union. Entering his fourth year as a starter, Dan, who is also a defensive back, comes into his senior year already having been in on 145 tackles with four interceptions, 13 pass deflections, four forced fumbles, and six fumble recoveries. An economics major, like his brother, Dan has been a member of the Upstate Collegiate Athletic
Association's All-Academic team each of the last two years (a player must have a 3.2 cumulative grade point averaged and be at least a sophomore in order to qualify).
“Danny is a very intellectual player who combines ability with mind power,” explains head football coach John Audino. “As our safety, he is the quarterback of the defense and has all of the calls. He is a tireless worker and very dedicated.
“Nothing about his brother's playing days affected his college decision either way,” Audino recalls. “Dan is his own person and has confidence in himself.”
Dan, who also looked at St. Lawrence, Lafayette, Hamilton, and Holy Cross, knew more about Union than the other colleges because of Bill's playing days, but says his brother's career was not the deciding factor.
“The fact that my brother went here obviously had some affect on my decision,” explained Dan, “but I don't think that it was the deciding factor. It helped that I knew about the program and knew most of the coaches
already.”
Dan is equally as talented on the baseball diamond. Among the Dutchmen's leading hitters, Dan batted .386 as a freshman and .364 as a sophomore. He came into his junior campaign with 17 extra base hits among his 57 safties with 27 rbis and 45 runs scored in 52 career games. He was also successful in 14 of his 15 stolen base attempts.
“He is one of the very hardest working athletes I have ever had the opportunity to be associated with,” said Gary Reynolds, Union's head baseball coach. “He puts his time in with both sports and is an outstanding student-athlete, having just completed a 3.8 winter term.
“He leads by example,” Reynolds continued. “Not only is he a positive role model for the younger players, he is willing to share his knowledge of the game, both in situations and in skills.
Dan is an extremely athletic catcher who puts up very strong offensive numbers. He led our team in both his freshman and sophomore seasons in stolen bases.
Reynolds says that there was no problem recruiting him after the career that his brother enjoyed.
“Dan feels he is a different person than Bill and there was, and is, no conflict.”
While the football and baseball teams take up a lot of Dan's time, he has made a point to experience the entire college experience that Union has to offer. He is a member of SAAC, involved with Media Services workstudy, participated in the intramural basketball program during the winter, and is currently doing an internship at Merril Lynch.
With more than a year to go, Dan has many memories to take with him when he graduates from Union in June of 2004. Beating RPI last fall in the 100th meeting between the two football rivals and winning the Eastern College Athletic Conference's Upstate New York baseball championship last spring are but two of them. Beyond that, he has a while to decide what career goals to pursue.
“I haven't decided what to do after I graduate next June,” he says. “”I currently have an internship with Merrill Lynch, and Billy is working for an international bond trading firm in London. I would like to pursue something in the business field with that type of intense environment, but I've got time to think about it. For now I'm going to enjoy the rest of my time here at Union. I've met some of my best friends here and played sports with some of the best athletes ever. The memories that I have from both football and
baseball have made Union great. The education that I've gotten and the fun that I have had outside of sports has made my experience at Union even better.”
Four years ago Jill Ring's freshman season ended with her being voted to the Terri Lynch-Jackie Havercamp Memorial Award as Union's “Outstanding Freshman Female Athlete of the Year.” The award is presented annually to “the freshman female student-athlete who has shown desire, dedication, sportsmanship, and inspirational leadership on the field of competition as well as in her daily life.” The award, by its description and by the fact that it is given to an individual who displays unrealized potential, is one where you have to “wait and see” if the right person was selected.
As it turns out, Jill Ring epitomizes the meaning of the award and brings honor to the spirits of the two women who are being remembered each year.
A four-year player for both the basketball and softball teams, Ring has seen both sides of the bench. As a four-year starter for the Dutchwomen's diamond squad, Ring has been among the team's leading hitters each year. Co-captain of this season's 8-4 team, she is the Dutchwomen's leading hitter with her .444 average and is once again the Garnet's slugging percentage leader at .778. Among her 15 hits are five doubles, two triples and a home run.
Being in the center of the limelight during the spring is nothing new for the Brewster, Massachusetts, native. As a freshman she hit a team-high .362 while cracking six
doubles, six triples, and two home runs. Her 34 base hits, 22 rbis and .617 slugging percentage wereall among the teams leaders. Her success continued as a sophomore as she led the Dutchwomen with 29 rbis while collecting seven doubles, four triples, and four home runs among her 32 hits. Last year Ring hit .330 and again led the squad in rbis, (19) while collecting five doubles, two triples, and four home runs among her 35 hits. Also a dependable base stealer (she is 13 of 17 for her career), Ring, who has a cannon for an arm, can play second, short, or third as well as any of the three outfield positions.
Ring, who has a cannon for an arm, can play second, short, third, and all three outfield positions.
Her prowess on the softball field has earned her a position on the New York State Women's Collegiate Athletic Association's All-Tournament teams following the 2001 and 2002 campaigns.
“Jill's affect on the team is her performance at the plate, says head coach Peter Brown. “The team knows she always comes thru in the pressure spots.
“I don't think her attitude changes in basketball or in softball,” Brown continued. “You would never know she was the star of our team. She is a great person, always upbeat and happy, and willing to do anything for a
teammate.”
Her success on the basketball court, however, is a different story.
A four-year member of the squad and tri-captain of this year's record-setting 22-5 team, Ring has averaged less than 12 minutes a game throughout her career. Her career scoring average is 2.8 points from her guard position. In basketball, Ring's contribution is not what takes place on the court, rather it is her presence in the locker room, on the bus, and among her teammates.
“Jill has been a leader for the basketball team by her personality and outgoing style,” said head coach Mary Ellen Burt. “She has seen this program change over the years and in doing so her role on the team has also changed. Throughout it all, Jill's positive attitude and enjoyment of Union and her teammates have kept her spirits high. She is a true leader by example.”
A fierce competitor by nature, Ring admits that her role on the basketball team was tough to handle at times, especially since she had been successful at the sport since she began playing in the second grade.
“It was extremely difficult and frustrating to work as hard as I did and not get much of a chance to play,” she explained. There were several instances throughout my career where I thought it was almost too much to handle because I had enjoyed a successful high school career. I guess it all came down to the love I had for the game and the tight bond I had with my teammates that gave me
strength.
“I loved the feeling of comradely; the group involvement, dedication and effort put forth by my team,” she continued. “As the sole senior on the this year's team and coming back from a term abroad in Australia/New Zealand in the fall, I focused more on the role of being a successful captain and providing enthusiasm and support for my teammates. As hard as it became, the satisfaction gained by watching my teammates succeed was fulfilling enough to make it a positive experience.”
Ring's favorite memory of her hoop career came from her freshman year when the Dutchwomen surprised St. Lawrence, 67-61 in Memorial Field House. “I will have to say beating St. Lawrence at home my freshman year was one of the best experiences in my basketball career. The next year, St. Lawrence went on to participate in the Division III NCAA championship game. I will never forget the energy and excitement our team had at the end of that game; the feeling was indescribable. Although I didn't actually participate in that game, I felt as though I had contributed by preparing my teammates throughout the week by playing my heart out defensively in practice.”
Ring has some advice for players who find themselves in the situation she experienced with basketball.
While she was a star on the softball diamond, Ring's playing time on the court averaged less than 10 minutes a game. Still, she looks back at her basketball career as an experience that has taught her to handle life's difficult situations.
“Everyone playing college sports are athletes that have experienced a certain level of success during their high school years,” she began. “This means that at college you are now competing with athletes with similar or better skills than yourself. Although you may not play as much as you would like, or even be the star of the team, you have to follow your passion and not let anything stand in the way of that. I know that when my basketball career ended, I felt a sense of self-fulfillment. I knew I had accomplished trust and devotion with my teammates and myself; I felt stronger than ever before. I feel as though I have the confidence to get through any tough situation in real-life if it were to arise.”
Ring's accomplishments as a leader for both the basketball and softball teams have been noticed beyond her coaches and teammates on the diamond and court. Besides winning the award as the best freshman female, she has been awarded the Women's Commission Athletic Promise Award, the Sophomore Athletic Prize, and the ECAC Medal as Union's “Outstanding Junior Female” student-athlete.
Despite being a two-sport athlete, Ring, who is majoring in biology and psychology, has been involved in several activities outside to world of athletics. As a sophomore she was an intern at the Hilltop Rehabilitation Center in Niskayuna and this past fall she studied abroad in Australia and New Zealand. She is currently an intern in the emergency room at the Albany Medical Center.
One of the highlights of Ring's Union career was her term abroad.
“I was tentative about leaving the country for four months of my senior year, but knew that it would help me figure out what direction to take after graduation,” she said. “I am a biology/psychology major with the intention of becoming a physician's assistant, but I knew I was also interested in marine biology, since I spent a majority of my life near the ocean. In Australia and New Zealand, we took an extensive marine biology course, terrestrial ecology and geology. Turns out I had the time of my life over there! I had so much fun!!
Jill Ring's stellar softball career includes 23 doubles, 14 triples, 12 home runs, 79 rbis and 75 runs scored in 108 career games. With 18 games remaining on this year's regular-season schedule, Ring is already Union's all-time leader in extra base hits,
“I was able to do things that I have always dreamed of,” she continued. “I met 30 new people, went scuba diving, swam with sharks in the dark, went horseback riding in the outback, walked through a rainforest, hiked up an active volcano in the snow, lived with 16 people for a week in a room the size of out locker room, sailed for for days straight with 10 people around tropical islands, and so much more!! During this trip I learned to be extremely independent. We would travel every weekend by bus, train, boat, car, plane, taxi, you name it! We learned how to deal with and solve the most
difficult situations on our own. It's definitely something I suggest doing and Union has such an amazing term abroad program it would be a waste not to take advantage of it! If you are an athlete, try and do it in the off-season, but if you can't, definitely do not hold back. Being a part of the softball team as well, I had no other choice but to go away in the fall. I have no regrets; it was the time of my life!”
Ring's term abroad experiences were shared by her basketball teammates through constant emails.
“She kept in constant contact with the team while she was in Australia and New Zealand,” said Burt. “The freshmen felt they knew her before they finally met her in late December.
“Jill would do anything for any of her teammates,” continued Burt. “She is always ready to do something and partake in any activity. Her zest for new and interesting adventures is what I will cherish most about her. It was really neat to her about her travels while she was the semester abroad. Though we new she was scared about some things she was about to attempt, she went ahead anyway and did it and then told us all how awesome it was afterwards.”
Ring has no regrets about Union, the place she has called “home” for the last four years.
“Overall, I feel like I have made the right choice in coming to Union,” she says. “The friendships and experiences throughout my four years here are priceless and could never be replaced. “The people I have met and the plethora of memories that we have made have been satisfying, to say the least.”
Jill Ring has had an incredible four-year stay at Union, both in the classroom and on the playing fields. Her accomplishments have left a legacy for current and future players. She will be missed, not only for her accomplishments, but also for the friendship she has bestowed on all of us who have had the privilege to know her.
The awards just keep coming for senior standout Justin Sievert (Wyoming, MI/ New Paltz (NY). Sievert earned the Upstate Collegiate Athletic Association's “Field Performer of the Meet” by winning both the discus and shot put at last weekend's championship meet, which was held at Rensselaer. Sievert, who also won the award during the UCAA's Indoor Championship Meet (for the second year in a row) the weekend of February 15, captured the discus with a throw of 45.10 meters and captured the shot put with a throw of 16.65.
It marks the second consecutive season that Sievert has captured the outdoor field events' “Most Valuable” honor. Last spring he won the award after winning both the shot (15.40 meters) and the discus (39.04).
