Posted on Jun 15, 2003

The widow of Mister Rogers changed the lyrics of one of her husband's signature songs to remind Union College graduates — as her husband would have — that what makes them special is what's inside.

Quoting from “It's You I Like,” Joanne Rogers added, “It's not your diplomas, they're just beside you.”

Speaking to 600 graduates at Union College today (June 15, 2003), Joanne Rogers also quoted from one of her husband's favorite phrases, a line from The Little Prince: “What is essential is invisible to the eyes.”

“What is invisible about you?” she asked the graduates. “There is at least one person … who believed in you. We don't get to be confident human beings without someone investing in us.”

Mrs. Rogers closed her remarks with a story her husband liked to tell about himself and a case of mistaken identity: Once, while boarding a plane, Mr. Rogers saw a flight attendant carefully watching him. When he approached, she excitedly remarked, “Oh, I just love your popcorn.”

“We called him 'Orville' for quite some time,” Mrs. Rogers said, referring to popcorn magnate Orville Reddenbacher. “Now they're both in heaven having a good laugh over it.”

The host of Mister Rogers' Neighborhood,
the longest-running show on PBS, had agreed to be the speaker and accept an
honorary degree from Union. He died on Feb.
27 at the age of 74 after a brief battle with stomach cancer.

Instead of the
usual commencement address, Dean of Students Fred Alford and seniors Pooja Kothari and Katrina Tentor read a tribute that included some of Rogers' words. Mrs. Rogers accepted his degree, an honorary doctor
of letters.

“To honor the life
and work of a man who has meant so much to so many is the right thing to do,”
said Union College President Roger H. Hull. “I felt strongly – and our students
agreed – that while we could not enjoy the company of Fred Rogers at
Commencement, we could use his words to convey his meaningful messages about
kindness, compassion and learning. All the things that Fred Rogers stood for –
especially his strong advocacy for children and his passionate belief that
television can be an instrument of nurture – will long be remembered.”

In
2002, Rogers came
out of broadcasting retirement to record public service announcements telling
parents how to help children deal with the anniversary of the September 11
attacks. The same year, he received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from
President George W. Bush.

Christopher Roblee of Waltham, Mass., was valedictorian. Dmitry Abramov of Guilderland and Richard Misiaszek
of Marcy, N.Y., were co-salutatorians.
Jeffrey Silver of Oyster Bay, N.Y., delivered the student
address.

Union College
awarded 494 bachelor's degrees, and 125 master's degrees under sunny skies in the Library Plaza ceremony.

Posted on Jun 13, 2003

Union College
COMMENCEMENT WEEKEND 2003
Schedule of events

Saturday, June 14, 4:30 p.m.
Memorial Chapel
Baccalaureate commemoration

Sunday, June 15, 9:15 a.m.
Alumni Gym (rain site: Humanities, Achilles Rink if torrential rain)
Assemble for Academic Procession

Sunday, June 15, 10 a.m.
Library Plaza (Achilles Rink if torrential rain)
Commencement Exercises

Immediately following ceremony
Library Field (rain site: Memorial Field House)
Division receptions

Posted on Jun 11, 2003

Schenectady, N.Y.  – College students who move out and leave their trash behind have caused problems in some areas of the Capital Region. However, one local college is taking its leftovers and giving them to charity.

It's finals week at Union College. That means students moving out and leaving their stuff behind.

“Different pairs of shoes, jeans with a tag on it yet, a beanbag chair, a photo album, corkboards, carpets, a portable fooz-ball table,” were some of the things left behind, according to Director of Resident Life Doug Bazuin.

Many of those items, instead of ending up in the dumpster, are now going to charity. It is part of a new program at Union called “Dump and Run.”

“What we're asking is for students to donate those goods they don't want to take home. Bring them to the lounges. Those things will be donated to Bethesda House and Home Furnishings,” explained Viki Brooks-McDonald of the Protestant Campus Ministry.

Those are two Schenectady-area charities that will get the old clothing and furniture the students leave behind.

Sophomore Lesley Klein says it made more sense to donate her old blender and books to someone who would need them more.

“I have to fly home and I don't have room for it and I don't use that stuff anyway and it's better just to give it away,” Klein said.

The trash left behind by college kids has been a problem in some areas of the Capital Region. Just last week, the city of Albany handed out 122 fines. They went to property owners where college kids left junk on the curbs and created extra pickups for the city.

Union says “Dump and Run” makes sure that doesn't happen while also teaching students an important lesson about giving back.

“I think the main thing that's important to me is that the students are enthusiastic about the idea of using the goods that they no longer need that go to people who need them,” Brooks-McDonald said.

Posted on Jun 6, 2003

When one alumnus jokingly complained that there was too much to do at ReUnion
weekend, another quipped, “You sound like me at Disneyland.
That's a good problem to have, isn't it?”

“This was a complete campus effort with faculty, students,
administrators, and over a dozen different departments involved,” said Nick Famulare '92, director of alumni
relations. “From dedications, to academic lectures, footraces, student
presentations, campus tours, ReUnion Class gifts over $24 million…it was
amazing. The Union spirit is alive and well.”

Here are some highlights of what many have called “the best ReUnion
ever”:

Alumni returned from all over the world – including one who traveled
11,000 miles from Singapore
– representing classes from 1932 to 2002.

Friday featured the dedication of Abbe Hall as the new Alumni
Center and offices for College Relations.
The restoration of the former Parker-Rice estate at 1148
Lenox Rd. was supported by gift from Robert '49 and
Virginia Abbe. Two rooms in Abbe Hall were dedicated to the classes that supported
their restoration: the Library to the Class of 1973 and the Conference Room to
the Class of 1953.

Also on Friday, the Garnet Guard luncheon in Jackson's
Garden was well received as Dean Tom McEvoy and students shared their thoughts
about the House System.

Saturday's alumni parade, which first took place in 1911,
featured all anniversary classes (1938 through 1998). The class of 1963 took
the Van Voast/Class of 1941 Cup for the class having the best costume in the
parade. The Class of 1953 took the Anable Cup for the largest number of
classmates in the alumni parade, the McClellan Cup for the greatest percentage
of classmates at ReUnion, and the Class of 1943 award
for the most outstanding ReUnion effort.

Sy Gluck '49, El Harp '53, and Frank Messa '73 received the
Alumni Gold Medals at the Alumni Convocation. Dan Lundquist,
vice president for admissions and financial aid, received the Alumni Council's
Meritorious Service Award.

ReUnion Classes presented President Roger Hull with gifts totaling
$24,318,328, which included a recent
gift of $20 million from John '38 and Jane Wold.

A number of alumni and students said they found the
traditional senior handshake very moving. A member of the class of 1953 wrote
in the 50th class directory that he had a fond memory of shaking the
hands of alumni from the class of 1903 during his senior handshake 50 years
earlier.

More than 60 alumni listened to Larry Lieberman '83, president,
4Ever Wild; Sara Friedman '98, stage manager; and Bob Bernhardt '73, music
director and conductor, Chattanooga Symphony and Opera talk about their
experiences in the entertainment industry. A presentation by Dick Steinbrenner
'58 on Schenectady's American
Locomotive Co. had standing room only.

Posted on Jun 6, 2003

This is the last Chronicle
of the academic year. Publication will resume with the start of fall classes.
News items will be posted throughout the summer on the College news site: http://www.union.edu/News.