Posted on Feb 3, 2010

Young people from around the state are putting on their thinking caps and getting ready for the STEP (Science and Technology Entry Program) Regional Science Bowl this weekend.

Sixteen teams, made up of about 80 kids, are competing in the contest, which takes place Saturday, Feb. 6 from 7 a.m. until 3 p.m. at College Park Hall. Each squad is being mentored by one of about a dozen participating institutions, including Syracuse University, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, the University at Albany and Monroe Community College. Union has two teams of high school students, one coached by Chris Vargas ’10 and the other by Peter Cardone ’10.

Science Bowl is 20 years old, but this is only the fourth time STEP has headed a regional competition and the first to be held at Union.

“This is our first time hosting this event, which brings together so many STEP programs from across the state,” said Angela Tatem, director of the Kenney Community Center, which oversees the College’s STEP initiatives. “By hosting this competition, Union shows its commitment to diversity and its dedication to fostering a more diverse interest in science, technology, engineering and math among young people.”

STEP encourages historically underrepresented students to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and math. The Science Bowl is a “Jeopardy-style” contest in which teams compete in several rounds. The winning team of the double elimination phase will receive an all-expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C. in May to compete in the national competition sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy.

“The participants are empowered by the opportunity to see students who look like them battling for the chance to be the best in science and math,” Tatem said.

Union College President Stephen C. Ainlay will give the welcome address Saturday morning. The keynote speaker is Schenectady Mayor Brian Stratton. The final round of competition is scheduled for 1:50 p.m., with an awards presentation at 2:15 p.m.

Saturday’s event is sponsored by the College President’s Office; a kick-off dinner will be hosted by the College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering on Friday. The Schenectady Museum is supplying free passes to all Science Bowl participants, and the New York State Department of Education provides support for Union’s STEP program.

All told, 50 members of the Union community are volunteering their time to support the College’s STEP efforts and the Science Bowl. Several professors are involved, as are members of the Society of Physics Students, Chemistry Club, Biomechanical Engineering Society, Pre-Health Society, Society for Hispanic Professional Engineers, Lambda Pi Chi and SNMA-MAPS.

Posted on Feb 3, 2010

Through Feb. 28
Nott Memorial
Mandeville Gallery
Interrupted Life: Incarcerated Mothers in the United States

This exhibition of folk and outsider art documents in a variety of mediums features work created by incarcerated mothers, their children and professional artists. It explores issues of motherhood, incarceration, reproductive and welfare policy, and politics. The resulting dialogue presents the challenges and realities created by the dramatic rise of incarcerated women in the United States today. Curated by Rickie Solinger, an independent historian and director of WAKEUP/Arts in New Paltz, the exhibit has been traveling across the U.S. since 2006. 

A host of related events are scheduled, including: a lecture, “Violent Interruptions” (Thursday, Feb. 4, 4 p.m., Reamer); a discussion, “Interrupted Lives in Schenectady: Stories from G and H Blocks” (Thursday, Feb. 11, 4 p.m., Nott Memorial”); and a discussion with Solinger, “Interrupted Life” (Thursday, Feb. 25, 4 p.m., Nott) followed by a reception (5-7 p.m.).   

Through March 7
Wikoff Student Gallery
Nott Memorial
A Geometric Mind: Work by Emily Burgess and Alex Handin

This exhibits features abstract work by two seniors; oil paintings and sculpture by Emily Burgess and silver gelatin prints by Alex Handin  

Through March 14
Schaffer Library
Atrium
Union Notables

Union Notables celebrates the great men and women who have studied and worked at the College from its founding in 1795 to the present day. Every six months, a new group of three notables is featured. Currently featured are assistant professor and janitor Charles Frederick Chandler (1836-1925); actor, playwright,  journalist and producer John Howard Payne (1791-1852); and College Librarian Ruth Anne Evans (1924-2001).

Posted on Feb 3, 2010

Thursday, Feb. 4, 4 p.m. / Reamer Campus Center / Lecture: “Violent Interruptions,” by Joshua Price and Noelle Chaddock Paley in conjunction with Mandeville Gallery exhibit, “Interrupted Life: Incarcerated Mothers in the United States.” Price, director of the Philosophy, Interpretation and Culture Program at SUNY Binghamton, and Paley, interim director of Multicultural Life and adjunct professor of Africana Studies and Philosophy at SUNY Cortland, will speak about their research and experiences with the Broome County Jail Project.
Thursday, Feb. 4, 4:30 p.m. / Schaffer Library, Phi Beta Kappa Room / Philosophy Speaker Series presents L.A. Paul of the University of North Carolina on “Temporal Experience”  
Thursday, Feb. 4, 7 p.m. / Taylor Music Center, Emerson Auditorium / L. Gordon Moore, physician and founder of the Ideal Medical Practices Movement aimed at restoring caring and dignity to the health professions, will speak on “A Viable Solution to U.S. Health Care Reform by Delivering Personal Care and Better Outcomes.” Sponsors: Health Professions Office and Pre-Health Society; open top the public; seating limited
Friday, Feb. 5, 7 p.m. / Messa Rink at Achilles Center / Men’s hockey vs. Clarkson University
Saturday, Feb. 6, 7 a.m. – 3 p.m. / College Park Hall / STEP Regional Science Bowl (Science and Technology Entry Program), "Jeopardy"-style competition for high school students
Saturday, Feb. 6, 7 p.m. / Messa Rink at Achilles Center / Men’s hockey vs. St. Lawrence University
Sunday, Feb. 7, 3 p.m. / Memorial Chapel / Union College Chorale / Free and open to the public
Tuesday, Feb. 9, 7 p.m. / Nott Memorial /  Environmental Science, Policy and Engineering Winter Seminar Series presents: Stuart Gruskin, executive deputy commissioner, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, on “Drilling in the Marcellus Shale: Toward Energy Independence or Environmental Devastation?”
Wednesday, Feb. 10, 7 p.m. / Nott Memorial / Lecture by Rabbi Schmuley Boteach, “the most famous rabbi in America.” Sponsored by Hillel, Minerva Programs, Religious Studies, Multifaith Council and the Office of the President; free and open to the public
Thursday, Feb. 11, 12:50-1:50 p.m. / Hale House, Everest Lounge / Michael S. Rapaport Ethics Across the Curriculum Initiative luncheon workshop, "Kitchen Ethics," featuring Robert Baker, program director and the William D. Williams Professor of Philosophy
Thursday, Feb. 11, 4 p.m. / Nott Memorial /  Discussion: “Interrupted Lives in Schenectady: Stories from G and H Blocks”; in conjunction with Mandeville Gallery exhibit, “Interrupted Life: Incarcerated Mothers in the United States.”
Friday, Feb. 12, 6 p.m. / Viniar Athletic Center / Women’s basketball vs. Vassar College
Friday, Feb. 12, 7 p.m. / Messa Rink at Achilles Center / Women’s hockey vs. Dartmouth College
Friday, Feb. 12, 8 p.m. / Viniar Athletic Center / Men’s basketball vs. Vassar College
Friday, Feb. 12- Monday, Feb. 15, 8 and 10 p.m. / Reamer Campus Center Auditorium / Film: “The Men Who Stare at Goats”
Saturday, Feb. 13, 2 p.m. / Viniar Athletic Center / Women’s basketball vs. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Saturday, Feb. 13, 4 p.m. / Messa Rink at Achilles Center / Women’s hockey vs. Harvard University
Saturday, Feb. 13, 4 p.m. / Viniar Athletic Center / Men’s basketball vs. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Sunday, Feb. 14, 3 p.m. / Memorial Chapel / Chamber Concert Series: Pei-Yao Wang and Friends / Open to public; tickets cost $20
Monday, Feb. 15, 4:30 p.m. / Taylor Music Center, Emerson Auditorium / “A Holistic Approach to Music-Making,” featuring Matthew Jones, violist and musicians’ health consultant

Posted on Feb 3, 2010

The man who’s been called “the most famous rabbi in America” and “America’s rabbi” and who served as Oprah’s relationships maven – Shmuley Boteach – will speak at the Nott Memorial Wednesday, Feb. 10 at 7 p.m.

His talk is sponsored by Hillel, Minerva Programs, Religious Studies, Multifaith Council and the Office of the President.  

Boteach (known universally as Rabbi Shmuley) is host of the award-winning TV show, “Shalom in the Home” on TLC. He’s also the best-selling author of 22 books, including “The Michael Jackson Tapes” (2009) and “The Kosher Sutra: Eight Sacred Secrets for Reigniting Desire and Restoring Passion for Life” (2009). “Kosher Sex” (1999) was an international blockbuster, and several of his books on parenting and the American family were launched on “The Oprah Winfrey Show.”

The Washington Post once dubbed him “Dr. Ruth with a yarmulke,” while Newsweek called him “a cultural phenomenon.” In the 1980s and ’90s, as founder and rabbi of Oxford University’s L’Chaim Society (a chapter of Chabad), he played host to such world leaders and thinkers as Mikhail Gorbachev, Stephen Hawking, Shimon Peres, Deepak Chopra, Benjamin Netanyahu, Elie Wiesel and Simon Wiesenthal.

A highly sought-after television and radio guest, he has lectured and appeared in print, radio and TV all over the globe. Salon.com wrote that “Boteach has his scholarly finger on the pulse of the nation.”  

Posted on Feb 3, 2010

The man who’s been called “the most famous rabbi in America” and “America’s rabbi” and who served as Oprah’s relationships maven – Shmuley Boteach – will speak at the Nott Memorial Wednesday, Feb. 10 at 7 p.m.

His talk, free and open to the public, is sponsored by Hillel, Minerva Programs, Religious Studies, Multifaith Council and the Office of the President.  

Boteach (known universally as Rabbi Shmuley) is host of the award-winning TV show, “Shalom in the Home” on TLC (The Learning Channel). He is the best-selling author of 22 books, including “The Michael Jackson Tapes” (2009) and “The Kosher Sutra: Eight Sacred Secrets for Reigniting Desire and Restoring Passion for Life” (2009).

“Kosher Sex” (1999) was an international blockbuster, and his books on the American family, “Parenting With Fire” (2006) and “Ten Conversations You Need to Have With Your Children” (2006) were both launched on “The Oprah Winfrey Show.”

In 2008, Boteach served as Oprah’s marriage, parenting, and relationships expert on her “Oprah and Friends” national radio network, hosting the daily “Rabbi Shmuley Show.” The Washington Post dubbed him “Dr. Ruth with a yarmulke.”

In 2007, he was called “a cultural phenomenon” and “the most famous rabbi in America” by Newsweek. He also was named one of the 10 most influential rabbis in the world.

He is the founder and chair of This World: The Jewish Values Network, which aims to bring Jewish values to mainstream American culture via the media, politics and the arts.  

Boteach first came to world attention as founder, in 1988, of the Oxford University L’Chaim Society, which quickly became one of the largest student organizations in the university’s history. As its rabbi for 11 years, he played host to Mikhail Gorbachev, Stephen Hawking, Shimon Peres, Deepak Chopra, Benjamin Netanyahu, Elie Wiesel, Simon Wiesenthal and other world leaders and thinkers.

A highly sought-after television and radio guest, and winner of the London Times’ prestigious Preacher of the Year award, Boteach has lectured and appeared in print, radio and TV all over the globe. In 2005, he won the American Jewish Press Association’s highest award for excellence in commentary.

Salon.com wrote that “Boteach has his scholarly finger on the pulse of the nation.”