Posted on Jan 30, 2008

Throughout the ages, art has helped encourage dialogue, interpret culture, increase community pride and educate individuals about issues of the day. The creators of a new juried exhibit being organized at Union are hoping to achieve all of this on campus and in the broader community.

“LGBT: A Union Perspective,” will run April 7 through May 18 at the Wikoff Student Gallery in the Nott Memorial.

Students, faculty, staff and alumni are invited to submit original artwork that thoughtfully interprets issues of importance to the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community, including diversity, personal identity and discrimination.

Entries in all media are being accepted March 10-14, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Works can be dropped off at Schaffer Library Room 122.

“This is a great opportunity to educate people on LGBT issues, and most importantly, to celebrate our diversity,” said Angela McMichael, periodicals assistant at Schaffer and a designated LGBT “ally.”

Union’s LGBT allies are trained volunteers working to increase acceptance and tolerance across campus by offering their support to the LGBT community. Allies have joined forces with other campus groups, including the library, ARTS House, Dean of Students Office, Music & Culture House, Seneca House, Sociology Department, Spectrum and Unitas to launch the LGBT art show.

“It is my hope that this exhibition will lead visitors to a new and/or different way of thought,” said Devin Harrison ’09, manager of ARTS House. 

“Our goal is to be inclusive, to encourage submissions in any form or medium we can showcase. We’re all excited to see what we will receive,” said Schaffer Library Head of Collection Development Courtney Seymour. “We hope the show will provoke conversation at Union beyond its installation.”

In addition to visual arts, the group will consider works of fiction, music “or other, perhaps, undefined” types of art or interdisciplinary work. “We’re interested in whatever ways people want to express their feelings on the subject,” Seymour said.

Other LBGT exhibit committee members include Student Activities Assistant Director Kerrie Wolf; Schaffer Reference Librarian Bruce Connolly and Catalog Librarian John Myers; and Mandeville Gallery Director Rachel Seligman and Exhibitions Assistant Kara Jefts.  

The exhibition will coincide with the April 25 National Day of Silence, a student-led event to bring attention to anti-LGBT bullying, harassment and discrimination in schools.

Entry forms and guidelines for “LGBT: A Union Perspective” are available at the Wikoff Student Gallery and Schaffer Library and through the Schaffer Library and LGBT Allies Web sites.

Questions may be directed to Seymour at 388-6632, seymourc@union.edu or to Jefts at 388-8358 or jeftsk@union.edu. 

Posted on Jan 29, 2008

Giving to Union is now easier than ever. We are thrilled to introduce an exciting new online feature—Recurring Gifts. By scheduling a recurring gift at www.union.edu/give, you are able to make multiple donations to the College throughout the year.

Maybe you’d like your annual gift automatically deducted so you can rest assured, it’s being taken care of each year. You can easily do that.

Perhaps you’re considering joining Terrace Council but prefer to spread out your contribution versus make a one-time gift. No problem. With five months left in the 2007-2008 fiscal year, you’d set-up a recurring gift of $400 per month (February-June). If you start your recurring gift at the beginning of the fiscal year (July 1-June 30), you could join Terrace Council for only $167 per month.

You’re in Control

With recurring gifts, you decide how often and how long you want to contribute within the fiscal year. You receive a secure online account that allows you to track or make changes to your gift at any time. With just a few clicks you can add/change your gift designation, increase your donation, adjust the frequency of your gift, and so much more.

What’s even better? It’s so secure, you don’t have to worry about a thing. Once you schedule your gift, it’s automatically charged to your credit card or deducted from a checking/savings account. So don’t delay…schedule your recurring gift today!

Questions? Contact The Union Fund at (518) 388-6175 or by email at TheUnionFund@union.edu.

Posted on Jan 28, 2008

Through Feb. 10

The Mandeville Gallery

The Nott Memorial

Hapa Project: Portraits by Kip Fulbeck

An exhibition of 30 color photographs of people whose mixed racial heritage includes Asian or Pacific Island descent. Each subject was also asked to write an answer to the question, “What are you?” 

Through March 23

Wikoff Student Gallery

The Nott Memorial

Digital Art: 7 Union Students

An exhibition of two- and three-dimensional works created by Michael Bono ’09, Sarah Jacobson ’10, Steven Leung ’10, Rob Shirley ’09, Kathrin Burschyk ’11, Justin Blau ’08 and Emily Burgess ’10 in the fall Digital Art class taught by Assistant Professor of Visual Arts Fernando Orellana.

Posted on Jan 28, 2008

Stacie Raucci, assistant professor of Classics, has published “Recreating the Ancient World on Film: A Conference” in Amphora 6 (2007), a publication of the American Philological Association. Raucci’s article describes for a wider audience the film conference she organized at Union last spring that brought together scholars with working professionals from film and television. The collected papers from this conference will appear in a future volume of “Classical and Modern Literature.”

Assistant Professor of English Anupama Jain will present a review of “The Kite Runner” at “Books Sandwiched In,” Monday, March 3 at noon as part of the Schenectady County Public Library’s One County One Book community reading initiative. It will be held at the library's central branch at 99 Clinton St., Schenectady. 

Rudy Nydegger, professor of Psychology, presented a paper on “Stress and Coping Strategies in Professional Firefighters” at the Applied Business Research Conference Annual Meeting in Orlando, Fla. Nydegger co-authored the paper with Frank Basile ’07. 

Posted on Jan 28, 2008

The “30 Days Series” returns with a showing of “Muslims and America” in all first-year residence halls Monday, Feb. 18 at 6:15 p.m. followed by a discussion at 7:45 p.m. in the West second floor south lounge.

The first of two episodes to be shown this term, “Muslims and America” depicts David Stacy, a Christian from West Virginia, who moves to Dearborn, Mich. to live for 30 days in a large Muslim community.

“Minimum Wage” will air Monday, Feb. 25 at 6:15 p.m. followed by a discussion at 7:45 p.m. in the Richmond Basement Lounge. This episode challenges Morgan Spurlock, and his fiancé Alex, to survive for 30 days earning minimum wage.

The shows will also be aired ahead of time on TVUC to enable more students to participate in the discussions, which are facilitated by faculty and Residence Hall Advisors (RAs).

Sponsored by the Office of Residential Life, the “30 Days Series” was created by the director of “Super Size Me,” Academy Award nominee Morgan Spurlock. Each episode addresses topics such as homophobia, religion and binge drinking and fosters frank discussions of cultural awareness, diversity and tolerance.

Joe Martel ’08, a Mechanical Engineering major and West College head RA, was instrumental in bringing the program to campus last year.

More than 150 students and faculty have come together to watch and discuss six different episodes during the last two terms. Additional episodes are slated for the spring term.

For more information, contact Martel at martelj@union.edu.