Posted on Mar 5, 2009

Stephen J. Schmidt, professor of economics and chair of the Economics Department, has been awarded the inaugural Byron A. Nichols Endowed Fellowship for Faculty Development.

The fellowship, which covers a two-year period beginning in September, is designed to support College faculty in developing programs and skills that enhance intellectual, social and personal interactions with students.

Schmidt has proposed a new course on normative economics, which is the study or presentation of “what ought to be” rather than what actually is. With its primary focus on value judgments, normative economics complements more commonly discussed positive economics, which delves into questions that can be answered through empirical investigation.

“The course would give students the tools to question conventional arguments about the way the economy should operate and require them to use those tools to decide whether to accept those arguments or not,” Schmidt wrote. “They would see the connections between different moral and ethical values, and different social choices, and be required which choices to support based on what values they find compelling.”

In addition to supporting the development of this new course, the fellowship will support related library acquisitions.

Schmidt joined the College in 1994. He received his Ph.D. from Stanford University.

The fellowship was created in honor of Nichols, a popular political science professor at the College from 1968 to 2008. More than 100 of his friends, colleagues and former students, led by Susan Mullaney Maycock ’72 and former Union Professor Alan Maycock, have contributed to the fellowship.

Posted on Mar 5, 2009

Here’s a reminder that the Campus Diversity and Multicultural Affairs Office is still seeking pieces to be included in the Union Unity Quilt, a project that will help usher in the College’s 215^th anniversary next year. The theme is “Celebrating 215 years of our family history at Union College.”

“We are asking all members of the campus community to donate a piece of fabric that measures 18-by-18 inches or to create a 12-inch square patch,” said Karen Ferrer-Muñiz, director of Multicultural Affairs. “It can represent your culture, beliefs, family history or values. Or as a group, please design something that is representative of your academic department.”

Need ideas or help in creating a patch? Or would you like to help assemble the quilt? Contact Judi Gordon at gordonj@union.edu or Ferrer-Muñiz at ferrermk@union.edu.

And don’t delay – patches are due by April 1.   

Posted on Mar 5, 2009

Want to help Union cut its carbon dioxide emissions? Don’t eat beef on Mondays, drive less, plant trees on campus or turn down the thermostat.

That’s what students in Jeffrey D. Corbin’s Environmental Studies class recommend as a result of being challenged to figure out how the College can shrink its carbon footprint.

According to student research, Union emitted between 19,500 and 28,000 metric tons of the greenhouse gas last year – the equivalent of the carbon dioxide released by 7,100 tailpipes during a typical year of driving.

“Last year’s students cataloged the emissions,” said Corbin, assistant professor of biology. “This year’s students looked at six different areas of Union’s operations – dining, purchasing, student travel, faculty travel, waste and recycling, and energy consumption – and set goals to reduce emissions in those areas.”

Their suggestions, across all areas, amount to a 13 percent cut. As a result, Corbin said, “We hope to reduce Union’s emissions 13 percent by 2010.”

Seventy-four percent of the target reduction would come from paring campus energy consumption. Jyoti Bankapur ’09 and Kate Murphy ’10 believe this can be accomplished easily by using hand dryers instead of paper towels, turning down thermostats in dorms and installing more efficient vending machines.

“There are 27 vending machines on campus now, and if we replace them with Energy Star machines, they’ll use 50 percent less energy,” said Bankapur, who joined her classmates at a poster presentation at the F.W. Olin Center Wednesday. “These machines would, over their lifetimes, save a total of $9,000.”

Cooling the dorms, the students say, is an even easier way to make a difference.

“We’re talking about turning thermostats down three degrees, so it’s not much,” Murphy said. “And besides, 90 percent of the students want the temperature lowered. It’s hot in the dorms.”

Another significant and relatively hassle-free way to meet the “13-by-2010” goal is no-beef Mondays.

“If we replace beef with chicken one day of the week, we decrease the total carbon emissions from dining from 590.9 tons to 521.8 tons,” Erin Delman ’12 said.

“Cows are big methane producers, and then there’s all the energy and fuel that’s used in slaughtering, processing and shipping,” Rachel Guralnick ’11 added, explaining why cows are so costly in terms of carbon. “Also, grazing land forces deforestation.”

Gurlanick and her classmates are excited about their suggestions because they’ll be taken seriously. In 2007, President Stephen C. Ainlay signed the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment, which formally commits Union to reducing and eventually eliminating its global warming emissions.

“The students know this is real,” Corbin said. “They’re used to helping make Union greener.”

To learn more about the College’s green initiatives, visit U Sustain here.

Posted on Mar 5, 2009

For the fifth straight year, 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.

“Two VITA 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.

Chau and Yu Chen ’10, Jacob Deveney ’09, Moosa Haider ’10, Chelsea Hargis ’09, Karin Santiago ’09, Jeremy Taglieri ’09 and Sarah Scott ’09 have been preparing tax documents since late January. 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 this 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, Union’s program 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.

"It’s wonderful we’re able to help the community like this,” she said. “Some people have been coming in every year and referring friends and neighbors to us. One client said to me, ‘Do you realize you’ve saved me over $1,000 in preparation fees during the last five years?’” 

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”