Posted on Mar 4, 2009

For the last six weeks, eight students in Mary O’Keeffe’s economics class have spent their evenings helping local residents file tax returns free of charge through the state Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program.

This is the fifth year the College has been involved in the program, and it’s the first year former VITA volunteers have returned to lend a helping hand.

“Two alumni are back this year, one volunteering at our site at Kenney Community Center and the other at the Schenectady YWCA’s site,” said O’Keeffe.

“Not many classes provide something like this where you actually get work experience, gain skills you’ll use your entire life and help others at the same time," said Vincent Chau ’09, an interdepartmental history and economics major.

In addition to Chau, Yu Chen ’10, Jacob Deveney ’09, Moosa Haider ’10, Chelsea Hargis ’09, Karin Santiago ’09, Jeremy Taglieri ’09 and Sarah Scott ’09 also prepared tax documents since the VITA site opened its doors Jan. 21.

As of Tuesday afternoon, the group had filed more than 150 returns for working families and senior citizens. O’Keeffe projected that by the close of the VITA season on Thursday evening, Union students will have aided Schenectady residents in obtaining some $400,000 in federal and state refunds.

The Union VITA site partners with the IRS, Schenectady County Department of Social Services, United Way of the Greater Capital Region, and the state Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance.

Since its launch in 2005, the VITA program at Union has secured some $1.4 million in cumulative tax refunds for local residents and should top the $2 million mark next year, O’Keeffe predicted.

“Some people have been coming in every year and referring friends and neighbors to us,” she said. “One client said to me, ‘Do you realize you’ve saved me over $1,000 in preparation fees during the last five years?’

“It’s wonderful we’re able to help the community like this.”

Posted on Mar 4, 2009

Thursday, March 5, 4:30-6 p.m. / Burns Arts Atrium / Artists' reception for "Works by James McGarrell,"  a suite of monotype drawings by the internationally prominent artist  with related poems by noted poet Rosanna Warren. Co-sponsored by departments of Visual Arts and English. 

Thursday, March 5, 4:30 p.m. / Schaffer Library, Phi Beta Kappa Room / Philosophy Speaker Series presents: Alvin Goldman of Rutgers University on “Can Reliabilism and Evidentialism be Friends?”

Thursday, March 5, 6:30-7:30 p.m. / Visual Arts Room 215 / Poetry reading by noted poet Rosanna Warren. Co-sponsored by departments of Visual Arts and English.

Thursday, March 5, 8 p.m. / The Yulman Theater / Winter Dance Concert, “The Theatre of Worlds: The Voyage”; call 388-6545

Friday, March 6, 7 p.m. / Messa Rink at Achilles Center / 2009 ECAC Hockey Championship vs. Clarkson

Friday, March 6, 8 p.m. / The Yulman Theater / Winter Dance Concert, “The Theatre of Worlds: The Voyage”; call 388-6545

Friday, March 6, 8 p.m. / Memorial Chapel / Chamber Concert Series presents: Belcea Sting Quartet

Friday, March 6-Monday, March 9, 7 and 10 p.m. / Reamer Campus Center Auditorium / Film: “Milk”

Saturday, March 7, 7 p.m. / Messa Rink at Achilles Center / 2009 ECAC Hockey Championship vs. Clarkson

Saturday, March 7, 2 and 8 p.m. and Sunday, March 8, 2 and 8 p.m. / The Yulman Theater / Winter Dance Concert, “The Theatre of Worlds: The Voyage”; call 388-6545

Sunday, March 8, 7 p.m. (IF NEEDED) / Messa Rink at Achilles Center / 2009 ECAC Hockey Championship vs. Clarkson

Monday, March 9, 5 p.m. / Taylor Music Center, Emerson Auditorium / Student recital featuring Alex Schlosberg '09, Christina Chin '10, Gina Cesar '11, Yubin Choi '11, Yiran Vhang '12, Alexander Infante '12, Peter Bonventre '11, Adrienne Hart '09 and Heidi Ching '10

Wednesday, March 11, 8 p.m. / Taylor Music Center, Emerson Auditorium / Free concert by Union College Jazz Ensemble, under the direction of Prof. Tim Olsen. Call ext. 6785 for more information. 

Thursday, March 12 / Mandeville Gallery / “Dynamic Equilibrium” exhibit opens; explores the intersection of art and science, commenting on scientific practices and striving to expand its creative possibilities, with work by Professors Palma Catravas and Kathleen LoGiudice; Stefano Coluccini; the League of Imaginary Scientists; Daro Montag; Laura Splan; Amy Youngs; and Ken Rinaldo; and early scientific apparatus from the Union College Permanent Collection.  

Friday, March 13-Monday, March 16, 7 and 10 p.m. / Reamer Campus Center Auditorium / Film: “Frost/Nixon”

Posted on Mar 4, 2009

For spring term, the Sorum Book Club has chosen books that are paired with a film and a Proctor's show. Club participants will read the books over spring break and then discuss them over dinner before the accompanying event.

“Watchman,” by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons, is a graphic novel that has been called "the best work of popular fiction ever written" (The New York Times). The book discussion will be followed by a night at the movie.   

Paula Poundstone's autobiography, “There’s Nothing in This Book That I Meant to Say,” has been called a “hilarious and sometimes exhausting stream-of-consciousness confessional." (Amazon). It features biographies of legendary historical figures, including Abraham Lincoln, Helen Keller and Joan of Arc, that Poundstone uses as a springboard to tell her own story. Poundstone will give a one-woman show at Proctors Friday, May 1.

Tickets for the movie are free; the show is $10. Books are each $5. To participate, contact Professor Suzanne Benack at benacks@union.edu.

Posted on Mar 4, 2009

Do you know students who are excellent writers and have strong interpersonal skills? He or she may be a good candidate to become a tutor at the Writing Center.

"Writing is such an important skill in every discipline, and all students can benefit throughout their four years from the feedback and support in developing writing and thinking that the Writing Center provides," says Mary Mar, the center’s director. 

Mar is seeking sophomores and juniors in a variety of disciplines who have strong interpersonal skills and would be good at helping others improve their writing. Each student nominated will be invited to apply to the paid position as a tutor next year and will receive training in how to work with others to improve their ability.

“Tutoring is a wonderful learning experience, and most tutors really enjoy the intellectual challenge,” she said. 

To nominate a student, contact Mar atmarm@union.edu.

Posted on Mar 4, 2009

The Belcea Quartet, a young, British group considered one of the best quartets of its generation, will take the stage in Memorial Chapel Friday, March 6 at 8 p.m. Violinists Corina Belcea-Fisher and Laura Samuel, cellist Antoine Lederlin and violist Krzysztof Chorzelski will perform pieces by Haydn, Schubert and Britten.

The group, established at the Royal College of Music in 1994, has won numerous prizes, including first prize at both the Osaka and Bordeaux International string quartet competitions, Chamber Music Award of the Royal Philharmonic Society and Gramophone Award for best debut recording. Most recently, the group recorded the Bartok quartets, for which it was named Chamber Music Ensemble of the Year by Germany’s prestigious Echo Klassik Awards.

The concert is free to members of the Union community. General admission tickets are $20, and area students may attend for $8. For more information, call 388-6080 or click here.