October 24, 2005

ENCompass Weekly is published by the Office of Communications and Publications, Division of College Advancement, State University of New York at Geneseo.

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ENCompass Weekly is designed to keep faculty, staff, students and friends in touch with what’s happening at the College. As always, your comments are welcomed, and suggestions for news briefs are encouraged. Please submit ideas and feedback to Sarah Grace Pretzer at Sarah.Pretzer@geneseo.edu or Mary E. McCrank at mccrank@geneseo.edu.

Geneseo to host mathematics meeting this Friday and Saturday

SUNY Geneseo will host the fall meeting of the Seaway Section of the Mathematics Association of America this Friday and Saturday, Oct. 28-29, according to Caroline N. Haddad, associate professor of mathematics. Events will include a banquet Friday evening in the MacVittie College Union Ballroom, followed by the presentation Eine Kleine Nachtmagie, given by Colm Mulcahy of Spelman College.

The conference is open to the public, and the registration fee is $15. Registration will take place at the MacVittie College Union from 6-7 p.m. Friday during the social hour, and will continue on Saturday morning from 8-11 a.m. in the lecture rooms in Newton Hall. More than 30 talks will be given, with topics ranging from “Wavelets Made Easy” to  “Mathematical Methods in Modeling Landslides.” Among the presentations: David Poole of Trent University will deliver the John F. Randolph Lecture, titled “Why Mathematics Courses for Elementary School Teachers Matter and How They Can Benefit All Students of Mathematics.” Included in the Saturday afternoon program will be a session for student talks.

The Seaway Section of the MAA was founded at Colgate University in 1940 and currently has more than 1,100 members. More information is available at http://www.geneseo.edu/~johannes/seameet.html.

Hurricane Katrina teach-in Sunday

SUNY Geneseo faculty, students and staff will hold a multi-perspective “teach-in” on Hurricane Katrina and its impact at 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 30, in the MacVittie College Union Ballroom. Beth McCoy and members of the Commission on Diversity and Community are working on the project. For more information, contact McCoy at mccoy@geneseo.edu or Emilye Crosby at crosby@geneseo.edu.

Summer Reading Program Writing Contest winners announced

The student winners of the Summer Reading Program Writing Contest were recently announced. The winners were lauded during a brief ceremony last week in the Fireside Lounge in the MacVittie College Union, said Celia A. Easton, associate dean of students/director of orientation and first year programs. The winners are: first place: James Bryant, “A Day Late and Dollar Short: The Plight of an American Factory Worker”; second place, Casey Rampe, “Get Yourself a Job!”; and third place, Jerry Emanuel, “Proposals to Improve Working Conditions of Low Wage Workers.”

Welcoming reception to be held for Zheng Liu Oct. 24

Members of the college community are invited to a welcoming reception for Zheng Liu, visiting scholar in the department of anthropology. The event will be held today from 4-5 p.m. in the Lederer Gallery Lounge, Brodie 277. Zheng Liu holds both bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Shanghai Normal University, and has teaching experience as a lecturer at Shanghai Normal University and a teacher at the Shanghai Institute of Education.

Geneseo alumnus to talk about his work prosecuting war crimes in Sierra Leone Tuesday

David Cohen, chief of legal operations for the Special Court for Sierra Leone, will talk about his work prosecuting war crimes during a lecture at 12:45 p.m. this Tuesday, Oct. 25, in 201 Newton Hall. The talk is free and open to the public. Cohen received his bachelor’s degree in political science from Geneseo in 1977. The Special Court, in Freetown, Sierra Leone, Africa, was established jointly by the U.N. and Sierra Leone government as an independent tribunal charged with bringing to justice those responsible for the worst atrocities committed during the civil war that took place in the late1990s and early 2000s. Cohen took the position of chief of legal operations, overseeing the office of the prosecutor, in 2004. To date, the prosecutor has indicted 11 people on various charges of war crimes, crimes against humanity, and other serious violations of international humanitarian law. Nine inductees are currently in the custody of the court.

New exhibit at Lederer Gallery showcases work of two artists

A new exhibit showcasing the work of two artists is now on display at the Bertha V.B. Lederer Gallery, located in William A. Brodie Hall. The exhibit runs through Nov. 22. James Bailey of the University of Montana showcases “Avatars & Axioms,” which includes prints and artist’s books. Bailey will be on campus Nov. 2-4 to give a slide lecture, demonstration in printmaking and workshop in artist’s books. The workshop is limited to 20 people. Anyone interested in attending should contact Douglas Anderson, gallery director. The lecture will be delivered from 4-5 p.m. Nov. 2 in 109B Brodie Hall (Fink Room). The print demonstration will be given from 10:15 a.m.-12:15 p.m. Nov. 3 in the print studio in Brodie Hall. The workshop will be given from 1-3 p.m. Nov. 4 in 184 Brodie Hall. Judi Strahota of Alfred University showcases “Framing Posture,” an exhibit of mixed media, sculpture and installation. Strahota also will deliver a lecture, with the time and date to be announced at a later date. The exhibit is free and open to the public. The gallery is open daily from 2-4:30 p.m. and Thursdays 12-8 p.m. For more information, call (585) 245-5814.

“Honoring Geneseo’s Teachers” exhibit opens Thursday

The Teaching and Learning Center will hold a reception from 12:45-1:50 p.m. this Thursday, Oct. 27, outside Milne 208 to celebrate its new “Honoring Geneseo’s Teachers” exhibit. The exhibit now features a new round of four faculty members. President Christopher C. Dahl and each of the honorees will say a few words at the reception.

According to Becky Glass, associate professor of sociology and director of the College's Teaching and Learning Center, “each of the honorees works uniquely with students outside the classroom supplemental to their regular in-classroom teaching.”

“We are pleased to honor Profs. Edward Drachman (political science), Mary Mohan (Communication), Paul Pacheco (anthropology), and Sherry Schwartz (School of Education) with our updated exhibit,” said Glass.

Geneseo alumnus Douglas Brode to talk about the cinema Thursday

Author, film scholar and cultural critic Douglas Brode will deliver a talk at 7:30 p.m. this Thursday, Oct. 27, in 203 Newton Hall. The talk is free and open to the public. Brode, who received his bachelor’s degree from SUNY Geneseo in 1965, has written 25 books on the visual and performing arts, with topics ranging from Disney to Shakespeare to Denzel Washington. He is one of the most internationally read film historians, ranking alongside Leonard Maltin and Roger Ebert, with his work translated into many languages. Brode also is an adjunct professor of cinema studies and film history at Syracuse University’s S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications and coordinator of the Cinema Studies Program at Onondaga Community College. In addition, he is a theater critic, actor and television and radio broadcaster.

James Rutherford Study Room officially dedicated in Milne

Director of Libraries Ed Rivenburgh assists while Jane Bandy Rutherford ’77 performs the ribbon cutting for the James Rutherford Study Room in Milne Library.

Photo: Ron Pretzer

Milne Library’s newly remodeled James Rutherford Study Room was officially dedicated on Oct. 7, and Jane Bandy Rutherford ’77 traveled from Reston, Virginia, to participate in the ceremony. Rutherford made a $5,000 gift to the college to name the room in memory of her husband, James, a 1979 alumnus of the college. Family, friends, faculty and staff were all on hand for the unveiling of the room, and Rutherford spoke of the memories she has of her and James’ time at Geneseo. A reception followed the dedication.

Cultural Harmony Week runs Monday through Saturday

The College’s seventh annual Cultural Harmony Week will begin today, Monday, Oct. 24, and run through this Saturday, Oct. 29. This year’s theme is “InterFace: The Intersection of East & West Cultures.” One of the highlights of the week will be a lecture by Dith Pran, who survived one of the bloodiest genocides in human history, the Cambodian tragedy set forth by the Communist Khmer Rouge in the 1970s. His story was portrayed in the Academy Award-winning movie “The Killing Fields.” Another highlight will be a visit by Cathy Bao Bean, author of “The Chopsticks-Fork Principle: A Memoir and Manual.” For more, go to http://www.geneseo.edu/~multcult/CHW.htm. A full press release can be found at http://www.geneseo.edu/news/nrap.php?pg=CulturalHarmony2005.html.

International film series to screen film about Cambodian conflict Thursday

The Alan Lutkus International Film Series presents the film “The Killing Fields” at 7 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 27, in Bailey Auditorium (Bailey 135). Based on the true story of Dith Pran, the film depicts Cambodia’s civil war, in all its madness and tragedy. When the American forces leave, Pran sends his family with them, but stays behind to help “New York Times” journalist Sydney Schanberg cover the event, risking the wrath of the Khmer Rouge. Winner of three Academy Awards. In English, French and Khmer, with subtitles. The film, produced in the United Kingdom, was released in 1984 and runs 142 minutes. The film is free and open to students. Discussant: Tony Macula (mathematics).

Geneseo 360: Round Three on Wednesday includes free coffee

A Geneseo 360: Round Three seminar will be held from 2:30 to 4 p.m. this Wednesday, Oct. 26. Participants will meet at the College Union LATS Bus Stop. The presentation is open to members of the campus community. The topic will be the LATS bus, presented by Kathy Trainor, a staff associate in the Division of Student and Campus Life. Hop on the Livingston Area Transportation Service Bus for a tour of the highlights of the Geneseo Route, and stops at Wegmans and Starbucks, where participants will be treated to complimentary java. Back for third year, human resources’ Geneseo 360 series offers the campus community a number of interactive briefings that provide an in-depth look at programs unique to SUNY Geneseo. Interested participants are encouraged to e-mail Sherri Bush at bushs@geneseo.edu to reserve a space.

Save the Dates

William R. Cook to deliver Cherry Lecture Nov. 10

Distinguished Teaching Professor of History William R. Cook, one of three finalists for Baylor University’s 2006 Robert Foster Cherry Award for Great Teaching, will repeat the speech he gives at Baylor University in October for the Geneseo community. The talk, titled “The Head of St. Catherine of Siena,” will be delivered from 12:45-1:50 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 10, in the MacVittie College Union Ballroom. A reception will immediately follow in the Hunt Room in the union.

Annual Roemer Lecture on World Affairs: Nov. 15

Rob Gifford—who served as the China correspondent for National Public Radio for six years, recently returning to the U.K.—will deliver the annual Kenneth Roemer Lecture on World Affairs from 12:45-1:45 p.m. Nov. 15 in 204 Newton Hall. He will speak on “China’s Unfinished Revolution.”

Gifford served as the China correspondent out of his base in Beijing. Gifford speaks fluent Mandarin Chinese and has traveled from Tibet to the Muslim Northwest, to the border with North Korea filing news and feature stories for NPR News. Gifford also travels widely in East Asia for NPR. He has covered elections in Taiwan and East Timor, diplomatic visits to North Korea, and produced a range of features on everything from Christian missionaries in Mongolia to Internet start-ups in Hong Kong.

SOTA performances:

• “Cabaret”: Nov. 9-13.
• GENseng presents “The Tibetan Project: The Sound of a Hammer Hitting The Head”: Dec. 1-3.
• “An Evening’s Dances”: Dec. 9-11.
  

Kudos

Cynthia Klima, associate professor of foreign languages, was recently elected to the board of directors of the Western Social Sciences Association. She also is a jurist for Central and Eastern European submissions to the “Social Sciences Journal” and has been selected as a reviewer for the new intermediate German text entitled “Stationen.” Klima recently completed reviews of the Wiener Slawistischer Almanach and Quellen zu den deutsch-tschechischen Beziehungen 1848 bis heute. In addition to this, she has completed a course in business German via the Goethe Institute in Mannheim, Germany, and is currently reviewing other works for the Twisted Spoon Press of Prague, Czech Republic. Klima has been invited to the American Literary Translators’ conference Nov. 3-6, 2006, in Montréal, Québec, Canada, to deliver her paper titled “Gender Difficulties in Translating the Works of Paul Leppin and Vladimir Paral.”

Musical tribute to great American composer Harold Arlen Nov. 8 at SUNY Geneseo

Eastman School of Music piano professor Tony Caramia and retired Eastman voice professor Thomas Paul will pay tribute to American composer and Buffalo native Harold Arlen at 8 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 8, in Wadsworth Auditorium. The concert is free and open to the public.

The multi-media event, “Celebrating the 100th Birthday of Harold Arlen (1905-1986),” is one of numerous events taking place this year throughout the world as part of the Harold Arlen 2005 Centennial. In fact, Caramia performed the tribute this summer at the 2005 Australian Piano Pedagogy Conference.

Earlier this year, in February, when Caramia and Paul performed this tribute concert at Kilbourn Hall, about 250 people were turned away at the door, said Paul. The Geneseo concert is a chance for those folks and scores more to catch the show.

“It is a chance not to miss it,” said Paul, adding the centennial is the perfect chance to educate audiences about Arlen. “We've got to keep it (Arlen's legacy) alive as long as they'll have us.”

One of the most significant songwriters of the modern era, Arlen composed more than 400 songs, including the songs for the film “The Wizard of Oz,” (including “Over The Rainbow”), “Stormy Weather,” “Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate The Positive” and “Come Rain Or Come Shine.” He collaborated with major lyricists, including Ira Gershwin, Johnny Mercer, E.Y. “Yip” Harburg, Ted Koehler and Dorothy Fields. His songs have been recorded by every great artist of the 20th century and have become among the best-known songs in the world. However, many folks still don't recognize Arlen's name as the composer of these songs.

NEWS FROM SUNY

SUNY Acting Chancellor Ryan offers testimony to the Higher Education Committee of the NYS Legislature

To read Acting Chancellor Ryans’s testimony, see http://www.suny.edu/sunynews/News.cfm?filname=2005-10-17RyanTestimonyNYSLegislaturePg1.htm

SUNY Acting Chancellor Ryan issues statement on College Board Annual Report

SUNY Acting Chancellor John R. Ryan made the following statement on Oct. 18 regarding the College Board’s annual report, Trends in College Pricing.

“I am pleased to see that based on the College Board’s reporting of tuition and fees at four-year public institutions, SUNY's tuition and fees are below the national average,” said Ryan. “SUNY also has the lowest average resident tuition and required fees for four-year public colleges and universities of all the New England and Mid-Atlantic states. New Yorkers can take pride in knowing that a superb SUNY education remains accessible and affordable.”

According to the College Board, 2005-06 in-state tuition and fees at four-year public institutions of higher education averages $5,491 – $136 dollars more than the average tuition and fees at SUNY four-year institutions. Ryan indicated that while the College Board report demonstrates SUNY’s current competitive position in the higher education market place, SUNY needs a tuition policy.

To read the news release in its entirety, go to http://www.suny.edu/sunynews/News.cfm?filname=2005-10-18CollegeBoardAnnualReport.htm

For more information about the College Board annual report, visit http://www.collegeboard.com.

For up-to-the-minute information on SUNY Geneseo Blue Knights Intercollegiate Athletics & Recreation, see http://knights.geneseo.edu

For news from SUNY, visit http://www.suny.edu/SUNYNews/index.cfm