Posted on Sep 14, 2006

The official inauguration Saturday, Sept. 16, of Stephen C. Ainlay as the 18^th president of Union College takes place 10:30 a.m. in Memorial Chapel. William R. Brody, president of Johns Hopkins University, will give an address, followed by the official installation of Ainlay. James Davison Hunter, the LaBrosse-Levinson Distinguished Professor of Religion, Culture and Social Theory at the University of Virginia, will introduce Ainlay.

Ainlay was the vice president for academic affairs and professor of sociology and anthropology at College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Mass. He assumed the presidency at Union College in June, succeeding Roger Hull, who stepped down last year after 15 years. James Underwood, professor emeritus of political science, served as interim president.

For a complete schedule of Inauguration events, please see www.union.edu/inauguration.

Posted on Sep 14, 2006

Posted on Sep 13, 2006

Those attending this weekend's Inaugural Gala Feast will be dining in style; historical style, that is. Saturday evening's event represents a span of culinary and fashion tastes over three centuries of Union's history.

The menu and costumes worn by servers and performers were created to reflect the College's history and to celebrate the promise of the future. In addition to contemporary fare, the cuisine features offerings that would have been served at the inaugurations of President Eliphalet Nott in 1804 and President Charles Alexander Richmond in 1909.              

Menu highlights include:

From the 1800s: Steamship round, roast pig, roast turkey, poached salmon, venison stew, roast duck.

From the 1900s: Celery, olives, radishes, almonds; hearts of romaine salad; fried oysters; green beans; creamed peas; pasta.

Present: Imported cheeses, sushi, seafood martini, mashed potato bar.

Posted on Sep 13, 2006

Faculty members are encouraged to honor students' observations of religious holidays this fall by refraining from scheduling exams or quizzes on these days and/or to make appropriate arrangements for students to make up missed course work.  The first holy day of the fall term is Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, which begins at sundown on Friday, Sept. 22. Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, begins at sundown on Sunday, Oct. 1, and continues on Monday, Oct. 2. Some students will go home to be with their families on the 22nd and some will not be in class Oct. 2-3. Ramadan begins the weekend of Sept. 23. Muslim students may be fasting during daylight hours until Oct. 23. On Tuesday, Oct. 24, Muslim students celebrating Eid-al-Fitr may leave campus to be with their families. During the Hindu Festival of Lights, Diwali, is Saturday, Oct. 21, students may also observe with their families.

Posted on Sep 13, 2006

Lori Marso, director of Women's and Gender Studies and professor of Political Science, will be interviewed this week about her new book, Feminist Thinkers and the Demands of Femininity: The Lives and Work of Intellectual Women, on National Public Radio's “51%.” 

The interview airs on WAMC, 90.3 FM, this evening at 8 p.m., and again on Wednesday, Sept. 20, at 3 p.m. Marso will have a book signing on Saturday at 2 p.m. at the Book House at Stuyvesant Plaza, Guilderland. Marso's book examines the lives and works of historical and contemporary feminists, including Simone de Beauvoir and Ana Castillo.