The deadline is nearing for the UNITAS Diversity Leadership awards, given each year to a senior who demonstrates an active dedication to activities on campus that support multicultural enrichment and fellowship.
The individual must also reflect a commitment to working toward social justice, improving racial harmony and creating a greater understanding of difference in the classroom and community.
Eligible students must be nominated by current faculty, staff or student. Nominations and supporting documents are due March 1. For more information, contact Stacey Barnum, UNITAS secretary, AOP Office, 101A Bailey Hall; barnums@union.edu.
Lowell Bailey, a former Union student, is a member of the U.S. Biathlon team and will compete in the Winter Olympics, which opens this week in Torino, Italy. Bailey attended Union for three spring terms, from 2000 to 2002, in between training.
While at Union, he competed on the Junior National team and in 2001, he earned bronze at the European Biathlon Championships in the sprint and pursuit and won the 2001 Europa Cup in Switzerland.
The first Union Olympian was Nikki Stone '97, a freestyle aerial skier who won gold in 1998 and won 35 World Cup events before retiring in 1999.
On another Olympic note, Rita Kalmikova, who competed in the 1996 and 2000 Summer Olympics, is an assistant swim coach who also coaches the College's masters swimming program. The program, open to any person over age 19, welcomes both the average swimmer and the world class athlete.
Colleagues, friends and family gathered Friday to dedicate Sorum House in memory of the energetic dean of faculty who used a combination of support and admonishment to bring about the Minerva Houses.
Christina Sorum died last spring after suffering a heart attack.
“Christie was convinced that the Minervas were the way to bridge undergraduates' intellectual and social lives,” said Jim Underwood, interim president. “This is a lasting monument to her career.”
Suzie Benack, professor of psychology and Sorum House faculty representative to the Minerva Council, described her late colleague's ability to cajole pressured students who worked hard to create the Minervas. “The students on the committee were so scared, and Christie would always offer comfort and support,” Benack said. “But she said, ‘You have to have the courage to do this.'”
Sorum joined the College in 1974, spending her teaching career in classics. She was named dean of faculty and vice president of academic affairs in 2000. With the Minervas, Benack said, “Union is doing something unique in a way that Christie was unique.”
Matt Roginsky '07, Sorum House student representative to the Minerva Council, announced that the house's popular coffeehouse would be renamed Christie's Coffeehouse.
A number of events celebrating Black History Month are planned at the College, including a lecture at the Nott Memorial by hip-hop artist and activist Chuck D. from Public Enemy on Thursday, Feb. 23 (see story, above).
Members of the The Black Students Union (BSU), will visit the Schenectady Boys and Girls Club on Friday afternoon to engage in activities with the children there, notes Niya Brooks, BSU co-chair. Members of the BSU Community Service Project also will help students at Mont Pleasant Middle School with their celebration Friday evening.
Other events on tap:
Black History Month Jeopardy: Saturday, Feb. 11, 5 p.m., at Old Chapel, with $200 in cash prizes
Soul food dinner: Sunday, Feb. 12, 5 p.m., Beuth House
Movie: “Sarafina,” Wednesday, Feb. 15, 7 p.m., Blue House
Lecture: Deborah Willis on “The Black Female Body,” Saturday, Feb. 18, 10 p.m., Old Chapel
Movie: “Power of One,” Wednesday, Feb. 22, 7 p.m., Bronner House B
Black History Month celebration: Thursday, Feb. 23, 5:30 p.m., Old Chapel; co-sponsored by BSU and other campus groups
The Indiana Review has nominated a poem by Ed Pavlic, associate professor of English, for a 2006 Pushcart Prize for the best poems published in American magazines during the year. Pavlic's poem is titled:
“New Precedent from the Fifth Circuit”: Tried
as an Adult A Five Year-Old Quotes Rilke
on Cézanne ‘It's as if Every Place Were Aware
of all Other Places' or Similar Words
of Willful and Malicious Contempt for Cause & Effect.”
The poem is part of a book in progress called “Live at the Bitter End,” a book-length murder trial in poems.
