Posted on Apr 15, 2009

Anthony Rapp, star of the acclaimed musical, “Rent,” and an advocate for AIDS, LGBT and poverty issues, will speak Monday, April 20, at 7 p.m. in the Nott Memorial.

Rapp will speak on “Diversity and Being True to Yourself.” The talk, part of the Presidential Forum on Diversity series, is free and open to the public.

Rapp is best known for originating the role of Mark Cohen in the Tony Award-winning rock opera “Rent,” which tells the story of struggling young artists and musicians in New York City during the early days of the AIDS crisis. The play was inspired by Puccini’s opera, “La Bohème.”

He is also the author of the 2006 bestseller, “Without You: a Memoir of Love, Loss, and the Musical 'Rent.'" The novel details Rapp’s experiences during "Rent’s" original run and his personal struggle with losing his mother to cancer.

At Union, Rapp will explore the role that the 12-year Broadway hit has played in bringing LGBT, AIDS and poverty issues into the national spotlight. He also will describe the loss of his friend and “Rent” playwright, Jonathan Larson, and his mother’s struggles.

Rapp’s other credits include numerous Broadway, shows, major motion pictures and television series. He serves on the board of the non-profit organization “Friends In Deed,” which provides emotional support for anyone dealing with a diagnosis of AIDS, cancer or other life-threatening physical illnesses.

A reception and book signing will follow Rapp’s talk.

After his appearance at Union, Rapp is scheduled to return to Schenectady later this summer during “Rent’s” run at Proctors Theatre July 28 to Aug. 2. Tickets for those shows go on sale Friday, May 1.

For ticket information, call (518) 346-6204.

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Posted on Apr 15, 2009

Alan Lightman, the best-selling author and noted scientist, will speak on “The Novelist as Physicist” on Tuesday, April 21 at 7 p.m. in the Nott Memorial.

Lightman’s work bridges the gap between art and science. He is a theoreti­cal physicist who speaks elegantly about the cre­ative and scientific pro­cesses. The author of the award-winning book "Einstein’s Dream, The Diagnosis" and nearly 20 other books, his most recent novel, "Ghost," looks at a controversial, topical issue: the divide between science and religion. He taught at Harvard, and was one of the first faculty to hold posts in science and the humanities at MIT.

A book signing will follow his lecture.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Posted on Apr 15, 2009

The College dedicated its new baseball field in Schenectady’s Central Park last week during a ceremony between games of a doubleheader against Skidmore College.

The ceremony featured President Stephen C. Ainlay and Schenectady Mayor Brian U. Stratton.

In a partnership between the College and the city, Union donated $162,000 to renovate “Diamond C,” one of three baseball fields in Central Park. The upgrades include a new infield featuring Kentucky bluegrass sod, new bases and a sprinkler system. Improvements were also made to the dugouts, outfield, bullpen areas and fencing surrounding the field.

The city’s youth leagues will begin using the new field when the College season ends in early May.

“This is a wonderful day for our baseball team, the College and the local community,” Ainlay said. “These renovations reinforce our long-standing commitment to being a good neighbor. We’re grateful the city has been willing to share their fields with us, and we’re excited to be able to help give them a first-class complex.”

The city plans to make some improvements to the “Diamond A and B” fields. Stratton said the city will market all three of its fields to tournament organizers, bringing top-quality amateur baseball to Schenectady.

“Schenectady is grateful for Union College's continued partnership and its financial support of these substantial improvements to our baseball complex," Stratton said. “We look forward to the exciting action of Union College baseball in Central Park.”

The first game on the new field was held March 31, against William Paterson University. “We’re excited to be able to play on a field worthy of collegiate-level competition,” said Athletic Director Jim McLaughlin. “Our students, along with countless members of the Schenectady community, will benefit from this renovation for years to come.”

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Posted on Apr 14, 2009

The College will welcome 500 students and faculty on Saturday, April 18 when it hosts the 16^th annual Hudson River Undergraduate Mathematics Conference, a professional mathematics conference designed primarily for undergraduates.

HMURC is considered the largest undergraduate mathematics conference in the U.S., and serves as a model for regional conferences nationwide, according the Prof. Brenda Johnson, a member of the conference steering committee.

This year’s conference features over 160 talks given by representatives of 29 institutions.

Students have played a significant role in planning the conference, Johnson said. Sarah Britton ’09 and Ben Miles ’10 head a team of 24 students coordinating the details.

Union College presenters are Britton, Kate Colantuono '09, Patricia Linden '09', Andrew Mackenzie '09, John Robens '09, Micheal Topka '09, and professors Jue Wang and William Zwicker.

Registration starts at 8:30 a.m. in the Nott Memorial, with talks in three sessions starting at 10 a.m., 1:45 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. Sessions will be in Humanities, Social Sciences and Olin.

The plenary address, at 11:05 a.m. in Memorial Chapel, will be “When Topology Meets Chemistry” by Prof. Erica Flapan of Pomona College. President Stephen C. Ainlay will give welcoming remarks. Britton and Miles will introduce the speaker.

Support comes from the National Science Foundation, Mathematics Association of America, the President’s Office and the Dean of Studies Office.

For more information, visit www.skidmore.edu/hrumc.

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Posted on Apr 14, 2009

One of this week’s highlights is the Annual Steinmetz Student Art Exhibition, featuring 114 works by 55 studio arts students.

The exhibition is open now through Monday, May 4 in the Arts Atrium Gallery. It showcases a variety of art, from drawings and prints to photographs and digital art. Sculptures, oils, watercolors and electronic works will also be on display.

Faculty members sponsoring works from their areas of expertise are Martin Benjamin (traditional and digital photography), Chris Duncan (sculpture and 3-D design), Walter Hatke (painting), Fernando Orellana (digital and electronic art), and Sandy Wimer (2-D design, printmaking and drawing). The exhibit was installed by Frank Rapant of the Visual Arts Department.

An Artists’ Reception will be held Tuesday, April 28 in the gallery from 4-6 p.m.

 

 

 

 

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Posted on Apr 14, 2009

 

APRIL 16-26

Thursday, April 16, 4 p.m. / Tennis Courts / Men’s Tennis vs. RPI
Thursday, April 16, 4:30 p.m. / Schaffer Library, Phi Beta Kappa Room / Philosophy Speaker Series presents: Sarah Buss of University of Michigan on “Autonomous Action: Self-Expression in the Passive Mode”

Thursday, April 16, 7 p.m. / Reamer Campus Center Auditorium / Patrick Kuhse presents: “From Prison to Prominence: Why Smart People Do Dumb Things”

Thursday, April 16 – Monday, June 1 / Wikoff Student Gallery / “LGBTQ: A Union Perspective” exhibit

Friday, April 17, 5-9 p.m. / Mandeville Gallery and Downtown Schenectady Establishments / Art Night Schenectady   
Friday, April 17, 7:30 p.m. / Olin Center Auditorium / Film: East Asian Studies presents “Tokyo Story,” a film dealing with strained parent-offspring relationships 
Friday, April 17 – Monday, April 20, 8 and 10 p.m. / Reamer Campus Center Auditorium / “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”

Friday, April 17, 4-6 p.m. / Wikoff Student Gallery / Opening Reception / “LGBTQ: A Union Perspective” exhibit / Clancy Slack ’11, manager of Iris House, is reception speaker

Saturday, April 18, noon / Central Park / Baseball vs. RPI (DH)

Sunday, April 19, 9 a.m. / Union Boathouse / Women’s Crew vs. Skidmore and St. Lawrence

Sunday, April 19, 9 a.m. / Union Boathouse / Men’s Crew vs. Skidmore and St. Lawrence

Monday, April 20, 6 p.m. / F.W.Olin Center Auditorium / “Parasite to Sybiont” lecture by Ken Rinaldo and Amy Youngs, with reception, in conjunction with “Dynamic Equilibrium" exhibit at the Mandeville Gallery

Monday, April 20, 7 p.m. / The Nott Memorial / The 2009 Presidential Forum on Diversity presents guest speaker Anthony Rapp, star of “Rent” and author of “Without You.” Rapp will be presenting his lecture: “Diversity and Being True to Yourself”

Tuesday, April 21, 3:30 p.m. / Alexander Field /Softball vs. Hamilton (DH)

Tuesday, April 21, 1-1:50 p.m. / Taylor Music Center, Emerson Hall / “Composing for the Voice,” lecture-demonstration by renowned mezzo-soprano Patricia Green; free and open to the public  

Tuesday, April 21, 4 p.m. / Tennis Courts / Men’s Tennis vs. Hartwick

Tuesday, April 21, 4 p.m. / Frank Bailey Field / Women’s Lacrosse vs. Nazareth

Tuesday, April 21, 7 p.m. / Nott Memorial / Theoretical physicist and writer Alan Lightman presents “The Novelist as Physicist”

Wednesday, April 22, 4 p.m. / Central Park / Baseball vs. SUNYIT

Thursday, April 23, 4 p.m. / Tennis Courts / Women’s Tennis vs. RPI

Friday, April 24, 4 p.m. / Frank Bailey Field / Women’s Lacrosse vs. Hamilton

Friday, April 24 – Monday, April 27, 8 and 10 p.m. / Reamer Campus Center Auditorium / “Uninvited”

Saturday, April 25, 1 p.m. / Alexander Field / Softball vs. Skidmore (DH)

Saturday, April 25, 7 p.m. / Frank Bailey Field / Women’s Lacrosse vs. William Smith

Saturday, April 25, 2 p.m. / Central Park / Baseball vs. St. Lawrence (DH)

Saturday, April 25, 7 p.m. / Frank Bailey Field / Men’s Lacrosse vs. RPI

Sunday, April 26, noon / Central Park / Baseball vs. St. Lawrence (DH)

 

UPCOMING:

Thursday, April 30, 2-3 p.m. / Visual Arts Building, Room 215 / Photographer Shelby Lee Adams, guest artist, will speak and show his work before critiquing student photography.

Friday, May 1, 3:30 p.m. / Alexander Field / Softball vs. RPI (DH)

Friday, May 1 – Monday, May 4, 8 and 10 p.m. / Reamer Campus Center Auditorium / “Gran Torino”

Saturday, May 2, 1 p.m. / Central Park / Baseball vs. Vassar (DH)

Sunday, May 3, 1 p.m. / Alexander Field / Softball vs. St. Lawrence (DH)

Friday, May 8 – Monday, May 11, 8 and 10 p.m. / Reamer Campus Center Auditorium / “The International”

Friday, May 15 – Monday, May 18, 8 and 10 p.m. / Reamer Campus Center Auditorium / “He’s Just Not That Into You”

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