Posted on Sep 15, 2005

Scholars from the U.S., China and Japan will address nuclear weapons, nuclear power and nuclear research in Japan, China and Korea at “Nukes in East Asia” on Friday, Sept. 16, 3 to 5 p.m. in F.W. Olin Center Auditorium. The public workshop is hosted by Mark Walker, professor of history who specializes in the development of nuclear technology, with support from the East Asian Studies Program and the Freeman Foundation. Speakers represent the Tokyo Institute of Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, California State University at Pomona, and Bowling Green, Johns Hopkins and Princeton universities.

Posted on Sep 15, 2005

Melinda Lawson, visiting assistant professor of history, has been named assistant director of advising. For the past several years, she has been helping advise undeclared majors and transfer students. In her expanded role, she will assist with retention efforts, the organization of theme majors, special student support services and advising assessments.  

Christine Henseler, assistant professor of Spanish, has been appointed associate director of academic programs. She will work with Dean for Undergraduate Education Kimmo Rosenthal as the General Education Board implements the new GenEd program. She also will assist with recruitment of faculty, student pre-registration for the sophomore seminar and clusters, and advising.

Posted on Sep 15, 2005

“Alice and Kafka are Dead/Long Live the Rosenbergs,” a play that addresses the many issues surrounding capital punishment, will begin a series of performances at Capital Region colleges this weekend.

The first production is an 8 p.m. show Friday at the Janet Kinghorn Bernhard Theater on the campus of Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs.

A collaboration of Belgrade's Dah Teatar and Atlanta's 7 Stages, “Alice and Kafka are Dead/Long Live the Rosenbergs” juxtaposes the fictional trial of the Queen of Hearts' “Alice in Wonderland” to the real-life trial and execution of Julius and Ethel Rosenberg in 1953.

Along with the Skidmore performance, the play will be held at the University at Albany on Saturday night at 8, Union College in Schenectady on Sunday night at 7:30, and The College of Saint Rose in Albany next Wednesday night at 7:30.

Schenectady's David Kaczynski, brother of Unabomber Ted Kaczynski and executive director of New Yorkers Against the Death Penalty, will respond after the Friday performance at Skidmore and will also be involved in a panel discussion of the play Monday night at 7:30 at Union College's Hale House.

Also on Monday night's panel will be James Acker, associate d e a n o f t h e School of Criminal Justice and Distinguished Teaching Professor at the University at Albany, and Charles S. Lanier, project co-director of Capital Punishment Research Initiative and co-founder (with James Acker) of the National Death Penalty Archives.

The play is being directed by Dijana Milosevic of Belgrade's Dah Teater, and has a cast of five, three from Dah Teater and two from 7 Stages. The performance also includes original music composed by Nebe Ignjatovic, one of

Belgrade's contemporary composers and associate dean of the Academy of Music.

The scene design and video are by Nesa Paripovic, a visual artist whose paintings and photographs hang in art galleries around the world.

7 Stages is a 26-year-old, nonprofit theater dedicated to the creation of new work that addresses issues in contemporary culture, often through national and international collaboration. Co-founders Del Hamilton and Faye Allen created “Alice and Kafka are Dead/Long Live the Rosenbergs,” and also perform in the play.

Dah Teater was founded in 1991 in Belgrade to create artistic opposition and public protests to the nationalist policies of Slobodan Milosevic. It was the first independent theater company in the Balkans following the fall of communism.

Saturday night's performance at the University at Albany's Performing Arts Center will include a presentation and book signing by Robert Meeropol, executive director of the Rosenberg Fund for Children and author of “An Execution in the Family.”

Meeropol will also give a lecture titled “McCarthy-Era Lessons for Dissidents in the U.S. Today , ” prior to Sunday's performance at Union College at 5 p.m.

SCHEDULE

Friday: At Janet Kinghorn Bernhard Theater, Skidmore College, 8 p.m. Discussion with David Kaczynski will follow. For ticket information, call 580-5431.

Saturday: At Main Theatre, Performing Arts Center, University at Albany, 8 p.m. Robert Meeropol will address the audience and do a book signing after the performance. For ticket information, call 442-3997.

Sunday: Yulman Theater, Union College, 7:30 p.m. Robert Meeropol will address a Hale House audience at 5 p.m. For ticket information, call 388-6545.

Monday: A panel discussion will be held at Hale House, Union College, 7:30 p.m. There is no performance this night.

Wednesday: Campus Theatre, The College of Saint Rose, 7:30 p.m. A panel discussion with Saint Rose alum and death-penalty opponent Antoinette Bosco will follow. For ticket information, call 454-2860.

Posted on Sep 15, 2005

The $200-million “You are Union” campaign continues to gain momentum with gifts and pledges totaling more than $91 million since its launch in October 2004. Recent gifts include an anonymous $2 million gift to renovate Alumni Gym into a state-of-the-art fitness center and a $1.5 million commitment from James '66 and John '74 Taylor to transform North Colonnade into a new music facility that includes a lecture/recital hall, classrooms, practice rooms, offices and music library. 

Posted on Sep 15, 2005

From donation canisters to school kits, the Union reponse to Katrina continues.

Donation canisters are placed throughout campus including Reamer Campus Center, Schaffer Library and College Park Hall. Contributions will be accepted in cash or checks made payable to American Red Cross Katrina Disaster Relief Efforts. Canisters will be picked up Sept. 30. 

“Hurricane Katrina has hit us all pretty hard in our hearts,” said students Norman Nguyen '08 and Daniel Khasidy '06, who are leading an appeal to faculty and staff. To date, their effort is nearly halfway to the $15,000 goal.

For more information, see: http://ukatrina.freewebspace.com.

The Union baseball team raised nearly $500 for American Red Cross relief efforts from a 50-50 raffle at Saturday's football game. Money also came from Club Expo, the Hall of Fame dinner and a multi-cultural club event.

Varun Shetty '08 of Golub House is urging Minervas and Greeks to assemble relief kits of school supplies for some of Katrina's youngest victims. For kit requirements, contact: Gretchel Tyson, community outreach director, ext. 6609, tysong@union.edu; or Viki Brooks-McDonald, campus interfaith chaplain, ext. 6618, brooksmv@union.edu.

Todd Clark, director of residential life, is coordinating letters of thanks from Facilities staff to their counterparts at Louisiana State University for housing and caring for emergency workers.

For additional information on how to help, visit the American Red Cross of Northeastern New York at www.redcrossneny.org or Salvation Army at www.salvationarmyusa.org.