Posted on Sep 10, 2004

The walk from College Park Hall to
Reamer Campus
Center is seven minutes. Exactly.

Just ask Gordy Single '07 or any
of the other 229 students who moved into the College's newest residence hall at
the former Ramada Inn.

During move-in over the weekend,
the showcase  – complete with game rooms,
café, fitness center and bathrooms galore – had more than a few envious parents
recalling their own college accommodations. Words like “wow” were common over
the weekend.

The seven-floor building, with stylish furnishings and matching paint and carpet schemes, was fully renovated
after the College purchased the building and adjoining property for $15 million
last fall. On Wednesday morning, workers were putting the final touches on
building details. Meanwhile, installation of an artificial soccer field south
of the building was nearly complete.

Some of the views from the
building are stunning, to the northwest a sweeping vista down the Mohawk
Valley, to the southeast a look at
campus and the Nott Memorial. But most of the raves from students are about two
things: climate control in each room and a bathroom in every room, 110 singles
and 60 doubles.

Among the renovations were the
replacement and reconstruction of the roof, repairing and repainting the
building's exterior, new heating and air conditioning, increased fire
protection, a security camera system, and a new entry. The College's Campus
Safety Office is to move its office into the building shortly.

The project brings Union's
investment in the College Park
neighborhood west of campus to $26 million. In 1998, Union launched the
Union-Schenectady Initiative, a redevelopment project that featured renovated
student apartments and incentives to promote home ownership.

The renovation of the former
American Locomotive property south of College Park Hall was made possible by a
federal grant to support environmental remediation of the site, removing some
petroleum residue and replacing it with 18 inches of new soil on which the field
was built.

An open house of the new building
and fields is planned for this fall.

Posted on Sep 10, 2004

The College launched the Minerva
Houses on Tuesday, Sept. 7, with an outdoor celebration that included color, food,
chocolates, music, a spectacular sunset and a surprise visit from two ice cream
trucks.

The College community assembled in
seven tents – one for each Minerva House – for what may have been the largest
single dinner in recent College history, serving nearly 1,600, according to
Dining Services. Afterward, students and faculty followed the Schenectady Pipe Band to an
outdoor convocation (also a first) in Library
Plaza.

“Before I begin, turn around and
take a look at the sunset coming through the Nott Memorial,” President Roger
Hull said before his remarks.

Quoting education innovator
Eliphalet Nott, inaugurated 200 years ago as Union's
president, Hull said, “a college
must never be stationary, but always progressive.

“The Minervas,” Hull
said, “will provide both additional residential and social opportunities and
exciting ways to enrich the intellectual life on campus.

“The Minervas are your houses.
Although many millions of dollars went into the houses, the administration will
not manage them. You – students and faculty – will. Make them yours.”

To read the full text of President Hull's address, please visit: http://www.union.edu/About/President/09_2004.php

Posted on Sep 9, 2004

Hundreds of
students are expected to wield brooms, paintbrushes, and shovels as they take
to the streets of Schenectady on Saturday, Sept. 11,
from 9:30 a.m. to noon, for the 10th annual
John Calvin Toll Day of Community Service.

Students from
the Class of 2008, upperclassmen, College staff and faculty, city leaders and
residents will participate.

This year's
event is dedicated to the memory of those who died in the September
11, 2001
terrorist attacks. Following the clean-up, a tree will be planted near the new
Viniar Sports Complex (adjacent to Memorial Fieldhouse) to honor those in the
“Union family” who died that day. They include five alumni, the husband of a
staff member, and the brother of another staff member.

A number of
parks, municipal buildings, and city-owned properties, are on the list to be
painted, weeded, raked and generally spruced up. Locations include the overpass
bridge at North Jay at Nott Streets, the outdoor areas in front of the police
station and public library on Liberty Street, and the parking lots
by the Schenectady Museum and Amtrak station.

The annual
community service day is named for one of the College's first graduates in
1799. John Calvin Toll Day is supported by Al Hill, a 1946 Union graduate and
his wife, Perrie. Toll was the great-great-grandfather of Hill, a retired
attorney from Buffalo. The Hills created the
fund to encourage Union students to undertake volunteer service.

“Toll Day is a
great collaborative effort between the College and the entire Schenectady community that benefits
everyone involved,” said Gretchel Tyson, Union's community outreach
director. “Students new to Schenectady get to know the city
better, meet new people, and have a good time while providing a valuable
service to the city.”

Posted on Sep 3, 2004

The furniture is in. The paint is dry. The Minervas – Union's seven "living rooms"— are ready.

Now comes the fun part, what may just be the most unusual opening of an academic year as the College kicks off what has been called the most important innovation in campus life since the College went co-ed in 1970.

First-year students will be among the first to see the new Minerva Houses when they arrive for orientation on Saturday, Sept. 4, to pick up their room keys and meet with fellow House members. (All students, faculty and many staff are affiliated with a Minerva House.)

On Sunday, Sept. 5, at 6 p.m., each of the seven houses will have a dinner for their members followed at 7 p.m. by "First Night," an evening in which campus members can wander between Minerva Houses to sample each one's unique entertainment.

Among the "First Night" offerings, Golub House will have Sumo wrestling and a Velcro wall; Wold House, a Jackson Pollock party; Blue House, a festival of percussion featuring "Blue House Group" (yes, they'll be painted); Beuth House, a bungee run; and Green House, a festival of films by Union students.

Dessert caps off "First Night" at 10 p.m.

Then on Tuesday, Sept. 7, at 5:30 p.m., all Minerva House members will eat together in large tents near the Nott Memorial. An outdoor opening convocation, another first, starts at 7:30 p.m. in Library Plaza (rain location: Memorial Chapel). The evening ends with dessert and dancing in a large tent near the Nott.

For details about the Minerva Houses, visit http://www.union.edu/minervas

Posted on Sep 1, 2004

Val Belmonte, director of
athletics at Union College,
has announced he will leave the College at the end of September to become
executive director of U.S. Figure Skating, the national governing body of the
sport, based in Colorado Springs.

“Val has done great things for
Union athletics in his time here and he will be sorely missed,” said Roger Hull,
president of Union College.
“It speaks well for Val and for the College that he was chosen to lead such a prestigious
organization.”

Belmonte joined the College July 1, 2000.

For the past three years, Union
has finished among the top in the standings for the United States Sports
Academy Directors' Cup, last year finishing 63rd based on finish in
the NCAA or NAIA championships. The College was 57th in 2002-03, and
59th in 2001-02. About 430 Div. III colleges and universities are
eligible for ranking.

Last year, Union
had four UCAA players of the year, two UCAA coaches of the year; 42 all
conference selections in the UCAA, 83 all-academic honors; and the 14 NCAA All
American selections.

Also during Belmonte's tenure, the
College constructed a complex with seating and press box at Frank Bailey Field,
renovated Achilles Center and dedicated Frank Messa Rink, and began
construction of the Viniar Sports Complex, a facility for men's and women's
basketball to be dedicated this year. The College is completing construction of
an artificial field complex at the Inn at College
Park, the former Ramada Inn.

Belmonte also was instrumental in
the recent restructuring of the ECAC Div. I men's hockey league, in which Union
participates.

Before joining Union,
Belmonte was director of USA Hockey's coaching program, a position he held
since 1991. Prior to that, he served as assistant athletic director and head
hockey coach at the University of Illinois-Chicago
and assistant hockey coach at Harvard
University. He received his B.S.
from the University of Illinois-Chicago and an M.Ed. from the University of
North Dakota. He is a member of the U.S. Olympic Committee's coaching
committee, working with U.S.
coaches in a variety of Olympic sports. He is the author or editor of
publications including Coaches Ethics Code and a number of hockey
coaching manuals.

“My experience at Union
has prepared me well for this next step in my career,” said Belmonte.  “I want to thank Union College President
Roger Hull and Vice President of Academic Affairs Christie Sorum for their
support, and I wish all of Union's coaches and
student-athletes great success in their quest for achieving sustained
competitive excellence.”

Dwight Wolf, associate dean for
academic services and planning, will add the job of interim director of
athletics to his portfolio, Sorum said. He will be working closely with Ramsey
Baker, associate director of athletics; Joanne Little, assistant director; and
other staff. The College will start a search for a permanent successor in the coming
year, she said.

U.S. Figure Skating is recognized
by the U.S. Olympic Committee and the International Skating Union. The
association, comprised of more than 585 member clubs and 170,000 members, is
charged with the development of athletes and officials, event organization and rules.

“We are thrilled to have Val join
the staff of U.S. Figure Skating,” said U.S. Figure Skating President Chuck
Foster. “He brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to this position, and
it is wonderful to have him in this important leadership role as we begin the
2004-2005 season. He is a welcome addition to the organization and to the
sport.”