April 12, 1999
1. The minutes of April 9, 1999 were approved.
2. Sue Lehrman, acting director of GMI, came to discuss the appropriateness of GMI 200,
Foundations of Leadership and Communication, for undergraduates. After a considerable
discussion, the motion to approve the course was tabled until the next meeting.
3. Brad Lewis, associate dean for undergraduate education, presented the admissions
agreement with Schenectady County Community College. The agreement was approved.
Schenectady, N.Y. (April 23, 1999) – Pianist Andrew Russo will perform “Piano Music of the 20th Century” Thursday, April 29 at 4:30 p.m. at Union College's Memorial Chapel. The concert is free and open to the public.
Based on short pieces from each decade, 1900-1999, the performance features no pauses between pieces; the sequence forms a prism of styles. Russo made his debut with the Syracuse Symphony Orchestra and has since appeared in major halls in Germany and the United States.
Leipzig raved, “From the first note, the virtuoso Andrew Russo played with such fire…in the outer movements, the pianist's vitality was barely containable.”
Memorial Chapel is located near the center of the Union campus. Parking is available on campus and on nearby sidestreets. For more information, call 388-6749.
Read MoreSchenectady, N.Y. (April 21, 1999) – Perennial Capital Region favorites David Finckel and Wu Han return to the Schenectady Museum – Union College Concert Series for a performance on Wednesday, May 5, at 8 p.m. in Union College's Memorial Chapel.
This concert was earlier postponed due to inclement weather.
The program is to include Beethoven's Sonata in F, Op. 5, No.1; Alfred Schnittke's – Sonata (1978); and Franck's – Sonata in A. Husband and wife duo cellist David Finckel and pianist Wu Han have attracted international attention with their profound artistry and their unique musical synergy. As the Washington Post writes, “… what makes their performance particularly memorable is the degree of exquisitely intimate ensemble achieved by Finckel and pianist Wu Han.”
Born into a family of cellists, David Finckel began his musical studies with his father, composer Edwin Finckel, and made his debut with the Philadelphia Orchestra at the age of 15. A member of the Emerson String Quartet since 1979, Finckel has performed in virtually every music capital in the world.
Wu Han began her musical studies in Taiwan at the age of nine. A regular participant at the Marlboro Music Festival and other summer festivals, she made her debut with the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center.
Together, David Finckel and Wu Han launched the ArtistLed record label a few years ago, the first musician-directed and Internet-based recording company. Their debut recording included sonatas of Chopin, Grieg, and Shumann's Adagio and Allegro. Additional releases include sonatas of Strauss and Franck and cello music by Edwin Finckel.
Memorial Chapel is located near the center of the Union campus. Parking is available on campus and on nearby sidestreets. Tickets, at $15 ($8 for students), are available in advance at the Schenectady Museum (518)382-7890 and at the door at 7 p.m. For more information, call 372-3651.
Read MoreThe Canadian-Indian film Fire by Deepa Mehta kicks off a six-event
International Film Festival on Wednesday, April 21, at 8 p.m. in Social Sciences 016.
Other films are Wedding in Galilee (April 26), Underground (May 3), In
the Realm of the Senses (May 10), Faust (May 17) and Men with Guns (May
24). All films (except Fire at 8 p.m.) are at 7:30 p.m. in Social Sciences 016.
For information, contact Prof. Daniel Mosquera, modern languages, ext. 6415 or mosquerd@union.edu.
Complete descriptions follow:
FIRE
Wednesday, April 21, at 8 p.m. in Social Sciences 016.
Canada/India 1997
in English
Written and Directed by Deepa Mehta
“A tender and Passionate love story that develops between two Indian women torn
between their devotion to duty and their own desires for love and companionship…Fire
is an incendiary exploration of the conflicting desires for tradition and freedom within a
modern Indian family”
WEDDING IN GALILEE
Mon. April 26, 7:30 PM
Israel 1987
In Hebrew and Arabic with English subtitles
Directed by Michel Khleifi
“Winner of the International Critics' Award of 1987 Cannes Film Festival.,
Wedding in Galilee may be the most important and heartfelt exploration of the Israeli-Arab
conflict to date…”
UNDERGROUND (Il etait une fois un pays)
Mon. May 3, 7:30 PMFrance/Serbia 1997
In Serbian with English subtitles
Directed by Emir Kusturica
“The 800-pound gorilla of recent cinema, this unruly behemoth has battled
preposterous political charges, encountered distribution difficulties, won the Cannes
Grand Prize, and built up a reputation as a visionary masterpiece. Underground is the
national epic of a non-existent nation, tracing the inglorious history of Yugoslavia
through three wars…”
IN THE REALM OF THE SENSES
Mon. May 10, 7:30 PM
Japan 1977
In Japanese with English subtitles
Directed by Nagisa Oshima
“In the Realm of the Senses is one of the most controversial Japanese films ever
made. In 1936, a geisha was found wondering through the streets of Tokyo clutching the
severed penis of her lover as an assertion of their underlying passion for each other.
Almost all the film's action takes place within closed world of erotic intensity as
they deliberately isolate themselves from society.”
FAUST
Mon. May 17, 7:30 PM
Czech Republic/UK 1994
In English
Directed by Jan Svankmajer
“Svankmajer's Faust is an ordinary, inquisitive Everyman who upon exiting
Prague subway station, is handed a map that draws him to his doom… Svankmajer's
tour-de-force is hilarious and shocking, and utterly unforgettable.”
MEN WITH GUNS
Mon. May 24, 7:30 PM
United States 1998
In Spanish, English, Nahautl, Tzotzil, Maya, and Kuna with English
subtitles
Directed by John Sayles
“…a powerful political/spiritual odyssey in the tradition of The Grapes of
Wrath and Lamerica…The film's fusion of social criticism and religious allegory
is also its message: political and spiritual awakening are seen as inseparable, the one is
incomplete and ineffective without the other.”
Read MoreSchenectady, N.Y. (April 20, 1999) – What role should a college play in the life of a local community? Do students have a responsibility to contribute beyond the classroom? How do perceptions on both sides of the campus walls affect the relationship between a college and a community? What does the future hold for Schenectady and Union College, and how will current projects – US Initiative, Metroplex –impact the community? These issues and others will be explored during the lecture series, “The Union-Schenectady Relationship: Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow,” from 7-9 p.m., April 21, 28, and May 3 in Union College's Nott Memorial.
“Union College and the city of Schenectady have coexisted for more than 200 years, and it's interesting and important to hear from all sides about how things were, are and will be,” Union student and lecture series coordinator Ed Lallier said. “We need to talk about the successes and failures of this relationship to understand what's possible in the future.”
The three-part series begins Wednesday, April 21 with a look at the past; “The Union-Schenectady Relationship: Yesterday,” features Union Professor of History Robert Wells, who will discuss the people and events that have shaped the relationship.
On Wednesday, April 28, a panel featuring local media, human service organizations, Union students, faculty and administrators, and elected officials will discuss “The Union-Schenectady Relationship: Today.” The panel will engage in dialogue and debate on such issues as the role of students in the community and the impact of Schenectady's tarnished image.
Finally, on Monday, May 3, Union President Roger H. Hull and Schenectady Mayor Albert Jurczynski will examine “The Union-Schenectady Relationship: Tomorrow.” The leaders will discuss current and future initiatives aimed at improving the college and the city.
A reception for panelists and audience members will follow each discussion at 9 p.m. at Wells House on Union's campus. All events are free and open to the public.
Read More
The College
on Tuesday announced its commitment of $10 million to the Union-Schenectady (US)
Initiative, unveiled architectural plans for the neighborhood, and introduced
organizations that have joined the effort.
“Rather than simply an architectural plan for what this neighborhood will look
like in the future, the US Initiative is a statement about the importance of contributing
to our communities,” said President Roger Hull. “We are committing $10 million
to this project that, when complete, will benefit all of us.”
The $10 million is to be financed through the Schenectady Industrial Development
Agency, Hull said.
Architectural plans call for extensive renovations of Union's 35 acquired
properties; development of a uniform and attractive streetscape along Seward Place; and
expansion of parking.
New partners
Union and Schenectady County Community College have established an admissions
agreement, which includes a tuition scholarship benefit, for eligible residents of the US
Initiative area. The program, which builds on Union's commitment of $1 million a year
in scholarship funds to children of qualified homeowners, will enable students to begin
their studies tuition-free at SCCC.
Trustco Bank has joined Union in providing special mortgage programs for homebuyers in
the US Initiative area. The Trustco program provides a 50 percent discount on bank fees on
all residential mortgage applications, grants of five percent of the purchase price
($2,500 maximum) for properties purchased that involve transfer from landlord status to
owner-occupied, and annual amounts of up to $100,000 in grants and fee discounts for five
years ($500,000 total) in support of the Initiative. Trustco also will donate a bank-owned
property on Park Place for use by the College.
Community Center
The College Park Community Center will enable Union, Van Corlaer Elementary School and
the GE Elfuns to develop a specialized mentoring program including a “homework
center” for Van Corlaer students. The College has received a grant of $8,250 from
Campus Compact, an organization funding higher education community service initiatives, in
support of the program. Other local organizations joining Union to sponsor programs at the
Center include St. Clare's Hospital, which will conduct health and wellness programs,
and Girls Inc. of Schenectady, which will present education and recreation programs for
girls.