Posted on Jan 12, 2006

We know little about J. Lawrence Hennessey.He came to Union during the Great Depression. A native of Saratoga Springs, he majored in Social Studies, served as an associate editor of the Garnet, and wrote for The Idol. | He served in the Army between 1943 and 1946 and then spent many years working for the Federal government, first with the Veterans Administration in New York State and then with the Civil Service Commission in Virginia until he retired in 1969. | As an alumnus, he often submitted information for class notes but there is no record of him returning to campus. | In 1973, Larry Hennessey executed his will, naming Union College as the beneficiary of his estate following the death of his wife, Anne. He died young in 1979. Anne, a great steward of their family resources, passed away in 2002, leaving well over $1 million to Larry's alma mater. | The generous gift was unrestricted, allowing the College to address a number of critical campaign priorities. The Hennessey gift will be invested in endowments to support faculty and the Minerva Houses as part of student academic and social life at Union. | Because Mr. Hennessey did not inform Union of his plans, we never had the opportunity to say “Thank You.” | Of the legacy now left to Union in perpetuity, we can certainly say, “Larry and Anne Hennessey, You Are Union.”

Posted on Jan 12, 2006

Orel Friedman '35
A Doctor Retires-Is There Life After Medicine?
Xlibris Paperback

The life story of a successful ear, nose and throat specialist, Orel Friedman, M.D. He writes that his medical career came to a very abrupt and unplanned end at the age of 66 because of the sudden onset of a visual disability. He describes his forced retirement as the low point in his life. Now, 25 years later, he tells how he left this low point in his life to find happiness, personal growth and fulfillment. The story is about aging with optimism.

Friedman, aged 91, is a native of Glens Falls, New York and spent most of his career as a physician there. He is coauthor of a murder mystery novel, Eighteen by Thirteen, published in 1998.

Frank W. Swacker '47
Boardroom Conspiracies
James A. Rock & Company

Boardroom Conspiracies is a Wall Street murder mystery and an exciting courtroom drama. The author guides you through the trial from a front row seat in a New York City courtroom.

Frank W. Swacker is a second-generation Wall Street lawyer. He received his B.A. (Economics) degree from Union College, a J.D. from The University of Virginia School of Law, and an LL.M. (International Law) from New York University Graduate School of Law. The author served for a decade as the International Counsel of a multibillion-dollar conglomerate and as a director of both private and public corporations. He has acted as an advisor to major corporations, law firms and governments on trade and investment matters both here and abroad. As a former member of the Stetson University College of Law faculty he taught international commercial arbitration. He has appeared on TV roundtables and has lectured extensively on the W.T.O. and on doing business in various parts of the world.

Charles Stuart '59
Never Trust a Local: Inside The Nixon White House
Algora Publishing

The agony and excitement of the 2004 Presidential campaign echoed the mad frenzy of earlier, “low-tech” campaigns. In important ways, little has really changed in the fundamental nature of presidential campaigns, presidential politics, and presidential lives. In these pages, a Nixon man shares incidents and anecdotes that illuminate the inner workings of a presidential campaign and life in the White House, revealing touching, telling moments and flashes of personality from the controversial Nixon years. This is a collection of the stories that contribute to the drama of a campaign, of views from Pennsylvania Avenue, and of opinions on several White House personalities.

Charles Stuart joined Richard Nixon's campaign staff in 1967 and toured the U.S., hunting up voters to win his candidate the election. He was invited in 1968 to join the White House staff, where he served as assistant to President Nixon's adviser John Ehrlichman and later to his chief of staff, H.R. “Bob” Haldeman; his wife, Connie, was Mrs. Nixon's Staff Director and Press Secretary.

Antonio Vianna '66
Midnight Blue
Authorhouse

After the bodies of Sue Murphy and Steve McElroy are exhumed, a tiny needle puncture wound is found on McElroy's left arm, while signs of strangulation are evident on Murphy's neck. What previously had been reported as two independent deaths from natural causes are now being considered second-degree murders. When you think you've figured out what is going on, you realize there are other clues that still dangle. The final riddle's answer is up to you.

Antonio F. Vianna holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology from Union College, a Master's of Management from Northwestern University, and an Officer Commission in the United States Air Force. He is frequently seen on television offering practical tips for taking charge of your career. He is a faculty member and Head Area Chair with the University of Phoenix, teaching business and management courses. He lives in Carlsbad, California.

Posted on Jan 12, 2006

On Homecoming weekend, I had lunch with Mike Silvestro '05. Mike and I got to know one another very well through his position as president of the Inter Fraternity Council. He is in his first year of law school at Boston College. His predecessor on IFC was Alex Klein '04, in his second year of law school at Rutgers. His successor, Drew Moyer '06, is headed for a career in engineering. Besides being among the best and brightest at Union, what do these men have in common?

They all have an open-mindedness to a changing college, believe in Greek life, and are working hard with the administration to invigorate fraternity life during a time of significant transition.

As most readers know, Union is forging new ground with its Minerva Houses. While many liberal arts colleges have eliminated fraternities and sororities as they begin such programs, we are working hard with the Greeks to continue their traditions and support their efforts to contribute to Union.

At the same time, the college is committed to its high standards for social and residence life. (You may have read earlier in this magazine about a disciplinary action involving Chi Psi fraternity.) These standards apply to all groups -Theme Houses, Minervas and the Greeks. It is important to note that our policies and expectations for Greek life are very much consistent with those of Greek national associations. To ensure broad participation, policies are reviewed periodically by the Student Affairs Committee. This process provides for an in depth written self-analysis of what the Greek system is offering to its members, to Union, and to the broader community.

We recognize that Union has an important responsibility to support the Greek system. Union has committed staff resources to support the effort. Lisa Bovino, assistant director of residential life, spends countless hours advising fraternities. Kerrie Wolf, assistant director of student activities, does the same for sororities. Both women attend regional and national conferences on enhancing Greek life. Last year, Lisa brought three IFC board members to a conference in Baltimore.

This year, we expanded our campus judicial program so that fraternities or sororities charged with violations of the Student Conduct Code can have their cases heard by the IFC. With the formation of the judiciary committee, Greek leaders have an important ownership in setting standards for the community.

Additionally, College staff has lunch discussions with Greek leaders three times per term. Topics have included including changing the Rush process, community service initiatives and philanthropy projects. The Greeks are clearly interested in alumni involvement, and we are working closely with Alumni Relations to connect alumni with their houses.

On campus, pledge numbers are strong, and the chapters relocated for the Minervas have adjusted well in Fox and Davidson. It is striking to see the restored Sigma Phi mural, a prominent part of the old house, hanging in the new dining room in Davidson. Pledges have painted other art work to distinguish the space from other residential space in the building.

Fraternities and sororities continue as major contributors to campus life. Just a slice of what is happening is quite impressive:

-The IFC sponsored an anti-hazing workshop and alcohol awareness program;

-Sigma Phi and Iota Phi Theta co-sponsored an event on Multi-cultural Weekend with approximately 300 guests;

-Delta Kappa Epsilon and Sig Phi are promoting a Monopoly Tournament to benefit Schenectady Family and Child Services;

-Sigma Chi sponsored a blood drive for victims of Hurricane Katrina;

-Alpha Delta Phi hosts weekly Thursday dinners for brothers and guests;

-Psi U is helping clean up Vale Cemetery;

-Phi Iota Alpha hosted a Halloween extravaganza for local families;

-TD Chi adopted a stretch of I-890 that they are cleaning;

-Phi Delta Theta showed off their newly-renovated house in a barbecue attended students, faculty, staff and President Underwood;

-Panhellenic Council is bringing to campus James Frey, author of the bestseller A Million Little Pieces, about drug and alcohol addiction as part of an awareness week they are sponsoring;

-Several sorority women are planning a dance marathon for charity and a letter-writing campaign for donations to St. Jude's Children's Hospital.

I'm proud to report that Greek life is alive and well at Union, and members are working with the College to enhance their important contributions to campus life. Those of us who work with students are, in turn, looking for even better ways to provide direction, support-even challenge-and we welcome alumni involvement in this important effort. We believe we have an opportunity for a model student life program, which has a place at the table for all programs that enliven and enrich our campus.

Tom McEvoy
Dean of Resident
and Campus Life

Posted on Jan 12, 2006

As part of our continuing effort to update Union parents, we take this opportunity to fill you in on much that has happened since the beginning of the year. (If you would like to receive our email newsletter, please contact the Parents Program Office at Parents_Program@union.edu.)

First, the Class of 2009 began its year with Freshman Orientation. This is an intense four-day program of meetings with advisors and administrators, a chance to meet roommates and set up rooms, attend social gatherings and learn about the campus and academic life. At an orientation session for parents, Dean of Students Steve Leavitt gave some good advice: Be sure to let your student deal with issues that arise so that they have experience in resolving conflicts. Dealing with professors on grading and figuring out what to do about a messy roommate is a critical part of a college experience.

Interim President Jim Underwood hit the ground running this fall, connecting with students and meeting first years and their families at freshman sendoffs before they arrived on campus. We were pleased that more than 20 percent of the freshmen attended a sendoff and many had a chance to meet Jim.

We are also pleased that so many parents are involved in so many ways: finding internships and job opportunities for students, supporting the Union Parents Fund, volunteering at college fairs, being panelists and hosting events.

We hope you were able to join us at Homecoming and Family Weekend in late October, a time full of activities for parents and alumni alike. The Parents Association meeting was a terrific opportunity for parents to meet many of the people involved in their students' lives including administrators from the Dean of Students Office, Undergraduate Education, Residential Life, Student Activities, and the Becker Career Center.

Finally, we have kicked off this year's Parents Fund, part of the Union Fund (Annual Fund) that supports the day-to-day needs of the College. Most gifts are unrestricted and cover areas such as student life, faculty and facilities. But many parents choose to designate their gifts to things like athletics or an academic department. Whatever you choose, your participation gives an important vote of confidence for Union. Thank you.

If you have any questions, please contact Lis Bischoff-Ormsbee, director of the parents program, at Parents_Program@union.edu. She is always glad to help.

Warm Regards,
Lori and Peter Nicholson
Co-chairs,
Parents Association

Posted on Jan 12, 2006

Chi Psi fraternity has been suspended until fall term of 2007 after a peer judicial board found that the fraternity was responsible for “behavior which threatens or endangers oneself or the well-being or safety of others,” it was announced by Dean of Students Steve Leavitt.

The Interfraternity Council Judicial Board determined that a case involving hospitalization from excessive drinking by a Chi Psi pledge, though not hazing, was endangering.

The College is committed to preserving the tradition of the Greek societies, Leavitt said, noting that two staff members -Dean Tom McEvoy and Assistant Director Lisa Bovino -have been assigned to work directly with the organizations to improve their position at the College.

Leavitt and McEvoy established the IFC Judicial Board to allow Greek students to adjudicate cases involving Greek organizations, Leavitt said.

“To be a leader in defining Greek life for liberal arts colleges, Union must take a strong stand on situations involving student safety,” Leavitt said. “It is my sincere hope that the steps outlined above will work to preserve the Greek system at Union and that the sanctions imposed will discourage students from engaging in dangerous, drinking-related actions.”