Posted on May 13, 2005

A large but cautious crowd gathered in the Olin Courtyard around Nathan Stodola's “fire and ice” pipe organ on Friday.

It was, Dean Kimmo Rosenthal noted, the only Steinmetz presentation that required an outdoor venue.

When the senior mechanical engineer fired up the propane burner and turned on the liquid nitrogen, the crowd took a step back.

“I call it a barbecue grill I made from scratch,” Stodola said of the obvious comparison before going on to explain how it works. The sound of the 14-note organ is produced by a resonator that transforms to acoustic energy the oscillations between the heated and cooled ends of each tube. Thermoacoustics, as the principle is called, has applications for refrigerators and engines, he said.

Stodola, who serves as student organist, was advised by Prof. Brad Bruno.

Stodola acknowledged one drawback to the thermoacoustic organ: it can take a few minutes to reach equilibrium and get in tune. The remark prompted Prof. Dianne McMullen, college organist, to suggest that the organist arrive early.

More than 300 students presented or performed at the 15th annual Steinmetz Symposium, an exposition of student scholarly, research and creative work.

At other Steinmetz presentations:

 Nina Cutro-Kelly '06 (“Patriotism and Propaganda in Wartime”) found that during World War I, the press was tightly controlled and that officials understood that seductive stories were more powerful than logic. She said increasing press dissent today may split the public but wouldn't speculate on whether the press could ever have its former impact on public opinion.

Meg Vercillo '05 (“ETA and Politcal Violence in Spain”) was on term abroad in Spain during the March 11, 2004 terrorist attacks in Madrid. She found that even though the Basque separatist group ETA was not responsible for the attacks, they gained credibility after the attacks and their influence continues to loom over Spain.

Sarah Bills '06 studied two art songs, or Lieder, from two influential 19th-century composers: Johannes Brahms and Hugo Wolf. conducted research in both English and German on the two composers, and particularly on the settings of the poem “Agnes,” by Eduard Morike. She discussed their stylistic differences (Brahms emphasized melody, Wolf textual content). The music and German interdisciplinary major also treated the audience to an elegant mini-concert, soulfully singing both Lieder.

Ross Marvin '07, an interdisciplinary music and English major, did his sophomore honors project on “American Imagery in the Lyrics of Bob Dylan and Modern Roots Musicians.” Roots music, also known as “Americana,” is influenced by country, blues, bluegrass, rock, and especially folk music, he said. In the late '60s, Dylan and The Band were among the musicians performing in this genre – songs of struggle, religion, and outside observers of society. Their work perpetuated the folk myths that stemmed from earlier traditional songs. Ross has written music that makes use of similar imagery, paying homage to his own influences. He will perform his work during the annual Bob Dylan Birthday Bash, later in the month.

Gillian McCabe '05 studied the powerful Argentinian women's protest group, Las Madres de la Plaza de Mayo, which gave motherhood a political identity as they protested the kidnapping of dissidents during Argentina's “Dirty War” (1976-83). More recently, the group has expanded the fight to address human rights issues around the world, and they have had significant impact on political and social activism in Argentina ever since.

Posted on May 13, 2005

Prof. Harold Fried acknowledges that unethical business practices have made the headlines in recent years, but he has his reasons to be optimistic about ethics having a place in the business world.

The professor of economics, invested May 4 as the David L. and Beverly B. Yunich Professor of Business Ethics, said he sees good signs in students' personal mission statements that focus on ethics, and in faculty eagerness to incorporate ethics into courses and to take on new teaching models like the Minerva Election Course last fall.

“I am hopeful and optimistic about the future because of the kind of students we have, the kind of faculty we have and the kind of the institution we have,” he said.

The David L. and Beverly B. Yunich Professorship of Business Ethics was created by the late Mr. Yunich, Class of 1939, and Mrs. Yunich. He was former vice chairman of R.H. Macy and Company, and chairman of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. A former trustee of Union and a director at various times of 17 corporate boards, he received the honorary degree of Doctor of Laws from the College in 1964.

Mr. Yunich had “an absolute devotion and dedication to this College, the region and Roger Hull,” said Peter Yunich, Mr. Yunich's son. “That is the reason my family has provided this chair.” Of Prof. Fried, he said, “I can think of no one who better represents what my father had in mind for this gift.”

Fried received his bachelor's degree from the University of Michigan, and his Ph.D. in international trade from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He joined Union in 1983 after holding teaching posts at North Carolina State University and Tulane University.

While on the faculty at Union, he has been a visiting scholar at Australian National University, a visiting professor at the University of New South Wales, and visiting research associate at Filene Research Institute in Madison, Wis.

He has taught classes covering a range of topics including business ethics, international economic modeling, economic perspectives on public policy, U.S.-Japanese economic relations, sports economics and entrepreneurship. His research interests include efficiency measurement, productivity and benchmarking.

He has been investigator or co-investigator on a number of research grants from, among others, the Filene Research Institute, the National Science Foundation and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

He is a co-editor (with Professors Knox Lovell and Shelton Schmidt) of two books on productivity and efficiency. His many articles cover topics including the performance of credit unions, efficiencies in U.S. metropolitan areas, and the performance of professional golfers. He has been a coordinator of a number of conferences including the North American Productivity Workshops, held twice at Union (with Prof. Suthathip Yaisawarng).

He is director of Union's Center for Analysis of Productivity and Entrepreneurship, and the Michael S. Rapaport Initiative to Introduce Ethics into the Economics Curriculum. He and his wife, Betty Daniel, have two daughters, Stephanie and Clara.

Posted on May 13, 2005

Gillian McCabe considered other colleges, but it was an overnight stay and a clambake at Geisel House that sealed the deal at Union.

Despite three family members coming to Union before her, “I had zero pressure to come to Union College,” she said. “But if I'd gone somewhere else, I'd know what I was missing. This feels like home.”

McCabe, a senior political science and Spanish major from Park Ridge, N.J., has herself made Union feel like home. As president of Student Forum and as a member of the Minerva Council, among many activities, she has been involved with nearly every facet of student life. On Saturday, she received the Frank Bailey Prize to the senior who has rendered the greatest service to the College.

Her interest in campus service began partly because her older brother, Andrew '03, was involved in student government, serving as the president of Student Forum during his senior year.  Today, she looks back on student government as a good way to give students a say on issues. “The value of Forum is in giving the students a voice,” she said. “We can make changes if we speak as a body.”

She joined the House System Implementation Committee in her sophomore year and enjoyed working with faculty, administration and other students to create what would become the Minervas.

She says it has been rewarding to see the Minerva's take shape, starting with the “big picture” and then working on the details. “The Minervas are not the end of an equation,” she said, “but a way to improve life on campus.”

She said she is not surprised that students are not in the houses all the time, but adds, “We are creating something completely new, and it will take time to catch on.” Their success depends on campus culture and peer influence, and she sees promise in events like the packed houses for Beuth film nights, or their celebration of International Mustache Month, the brainchild of Jason Tucciarone '05.

She arrived as a first year student planning to major in anthropology. But it was International Politics with Prof. Byron Nichols that put her course for a double major in political science and Spanish. She wrote her thesis on “Las Madres de la Plaza de Mayo: Changing the Face of Latin American Politics.” Her thesis, presented at the Steinmetz Symposium, received the Mildred Wilder Prize for the best scholarship on women in politics. The movement gave motherhood a political identity as they protested the kidnapping of dissidents during Argentina's “Dirty War” (1976-83). More recently, she said, the group has expanded to address human rights issues around the world and had a significant impact on political and social activism in Argentina.

A dean's list student who did a term in Seville, Spain, she has received a number of other distinctions: Sigma Delta Pi, the national collegiate Hispanic honor society; Junior Class Citizen of the Year; the Calvin G. Schmidt Prize to the junior who has contributed the most to the betterment of student life; and Delphic Honor Society for service to the College.

She is a member of the Presidential Search Committee. Previously, she served as vice president of the junior class, a member of the orientation committee and an orientation advisor. She has been a member of Gatekeepers, providing tours to prospective students; and a student ambassador, hosting prospectives for overnight visits. She is a member of the Student Alumni Association, and a participant of the Harvard National Model United Nations.

She worked this year as a senior admissions interviewer. She did summer internships with Clinique and Estée Lauder in New York City.

She is the latest, but not the last, in a long family line of Union students, preceded by a great, great grandfather; a grandfather; great uncle; parents (Karen and Tim '73); and brother, Andrew '03. This fall, sister Kara joins the Class of 2009.

“We've all done our own thing,” she says of her siblings. “We're not following anybody.” Andrew was a computer science major. Kara plans to pursue music.

As for her plans, she hopes to take a break this summer. Then she may pursue marketing or continue to study Spanish and teach abroad.

Posted on May 12, 2005

Union juniors Julie Gawronski (Dunkirk, NY/Dunkirk) and Erika Eisenhut (Mohawk, NY/Mohawk) have been selected to the 2005 ESPN the Magazine Academic District 1 College Division Softball Teams. The teams are selected by CoSIDA (College Sports Information Directors of America. Both players are competing in the NCAA Division III Regionals this weekend at Ithaca College.

Gawronski, a Psychology major, was named to the First Team, and the outfielder will join 10 other players from the First Team on the National Academic All-America Ballot. She is a two-time Liberty League Performer of the Week and is hitting .468 with 13 doubles and 42 RBIs. She has a .697 slugging percentage.

Eisenhut, also a Psychology major, was selected to the All-District 1 Second Team in the infield. She received this week's Liberty League Performer of the Week, and enters the tournament with a .318 average with 21 RBIs. She is tied for the team lead with 11 stolen bases.

Union, the top seed in the NCAA's Ithaca Regionals, opens up play Friday at 2 p.m. against either Ithaca or Misericordia. The tournament is scheduled through May 16.

Posted on May 10, 2005

Both the Union softball and women's lacrosse teams will be in action in the NCAA's, and you will be able to listen to all the action. The games will be broadcast over the web, at the following link:

http://www.teamline.cc/teampages.html?teamcode=1160

If you don't have access to a computer, you can simply call the following number:

1-800-846-4700, enter team code 1160.

There is a nominal fee to listen to the game. You will need a credit card if you are using a phone.

The Union softball team will play in the 2005 NCAA Division III Championship Regionals, hosted by Ithaca College. The Dutchwomen will begin play Friday, May 13 vs. either Ithaca or Misericordia at 2 p.m. The second game of the regionals for Union will be Saturday, May 14 at either 10 a.m. or 2 p.m., and play will continue later Saturday, as well as Sunday, May 15 and Monday, May 16, however long Union advances in the double-elimination tournament.

Join Union Sports Information Director Eric McDowell, as he provides the call of all of Union's softball regional games, beginning 15 minutes prior to the first pitch.

The Union women's lacrosse team will compete in the 2005 NCAA Division III Championship Regionals, hosted by Colorado College in Colorado Springs. The Dutchwomen will play Saturday, May 14 vs. the host school, Colorado College, at 2:30 p.m. local time, 4:30 p.m. Eastern. If Union wins that contest, they will face either Cortland or Cabrini at 1 p.m. local time, 3 p.m. Eastern, on Sunday, May 15.

Join Union Assistant Sports Information Director Peter DiSanza for all the women's lacrosse action, beginning 15 minutes prior to the game.

Should the teams be playing at the same time on Saturday, there will be two web links so you can switch back and forth, and there will also be options on the phone call to switch back and forth between games.

The Union College Athletic Department appreciates your support, and enjoy the games as your Dutchwomen softball and women's lacrosse teams compete in the NCAA's!