Summer 2004

FEATURES

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Nobel Prize Recipient Eric Cornell Visits Geneseo

Professor and Chair of the Physics and Astronomy Department Kurt Fletcher, right, with Eric Cornell, a winner of the 2001 Nobel Prize in Physics.

Photo by Ron Pretzer

Dr. Eric Cornell, a winner of the 2001 Nobel Prize in Physics, spoke at the College in March as part of the American Physical Society’s Division of Laser Sciences Distinguished Traveling Lecture Program. While on campus he taught a physics class and met with students and faculty about his research. Cornell’s visit was also sponsored by the SUNY Geneseo Robert Sells Lecture Series.

During his two-day visit, he delivered his presentation "Stone Cold Science: Bose Einstein Condensation and the Weird World of Physics a Millionth of a Degree from Absolute Zero."

Cornell, of the University of Colorado, and two other physicists, received the Nobel Prize for discovering a new state of matter that exists at extremely low temperatures.

According to Kurt Fletcher, professor and chair of the department of physics and astronomy, the College was pleased to host Dr. Cornell. "A number of our recent physics graduates have gone on to study physics at the graduate level at Colorado, including Sarah Thompson ’00 and Michele Olsen ’01," he said. "Both have taken classes from Dr. Cornell, and regularly consult with him on their Ph.D. research. In addition, Brian DeMarco ’96, completed his Ph.D. degree at Colorado in 2001, and Dr. Cornell served on his thesis committee.

"Caption:
Professor and Chair of the Physics and Astronomy Department Kurt Fletcher, right, with Eric Cornell, a winner of the 2001 Nobel Prize in Physics.

Global Warming: Just Hot Air?

Should we wait for greater certainty about global warming, or should we take steps immediately to stabilize the climate change that may be occurring?

Dr. David S. Chapman of the University of Utah addressed this dilemma in his presentation "Global Warming: Just Hot Air?" during the first American Rock Salt Lecture on Geology, held in March at the College.

Chapman said that global trends suggest that allowing "business as usual" on planet earth is a risky path. He outlined research into how human activities are increasing the atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases to levels far above those that have existed for the past 200,000 years.

Chapman suggested that engineering, economic and political entrepreneurs should work to improve energy conservation and efficiency, and move toward greater use of renewable energy sources.

While in Geneseo, Chapman accompanied a number of students to the American Rock Salt mine in nearby Hampton Corners. The group traveled approximately 1400’ underground for a tour of the new operation there, in which a salt bed, estimated to be between 350-400 million years old, is being tapped.

Following the collapse of the Akzo Nobel salt mine in nearby Retsof in 1994, four investors, including Geneseo alumnus Joseph Bucci ’67, entered into an agreement to purchase the former mine and replace it with a new one. In January 2000, American Rock Salt sold its first truckload of salt produced from Hampton Corners. According to the company, it is now the most rapidly growing salt mine in the world, producing enough salt to supply an average city with an entire winter’s worth of salt about every two days. The mine can produce 2.5 million tons of rock salt per year.

Dr. David S. Chapman works with Geneseo student Peter Barry on the design of Barry’s research presentation.

From left to right: Students Jim Helms and Kristy Health, faculty member John Dembosky and student Casey Hunt prepare to descend into the mine.

Each visitor to the mine was equipped with a protective helmet and a flashlight to break the complete darkness 1,400 feet underground.

Salt chunk souvenirs were in demand.

Kristy Heath is delighted with her find.

Photos by Ron Pretzer

Stand Up Geneseo Rally

Geneseo students, faculty and staff gather April 5 in the MacVittie College Union for the Stand Up for Geneseo rally. The rally kicked off a series of weeklong events entitled "1 College, 1 Community, 1 World" focused toward promoting diversity on campus.

Seniors Evelyn Rodriguez, director of student affairs for the Student Association, and Liz Dance, vice chair of the Student Association, kick off the rally.

Freshman Waleed Mahmood and Sandra Delgado talk about Geneseo pride.

Photos by Ron Pretzer

Friends of Milne

A special "gathering of friends" was held April 21 in Milne Library to welcome back alumni of the College’s former library school program and generate new support for the library. The event was dedicated to the graduates and faculty of Geneseo’s School of Library Science.

Ed Rivenburgh welcomes supporters to the first annual "Gathering of Friends" at Milne Library.

M. Eve Elzenga ’76 also welcomes those in attendance.

Liz Argentieri, reference/instruction/special collections librarian, shares updates on the library’s recent and significant renovations and improvements.

Photos by Ron Pretzer

Anti-Hate Chalking

The Laramie Project cast member Jason Beideck and Professor Melanie Blood, director of the play, write anti-hate graffiti on a sidewalk along the College Green during the National Day of Silence April 20.

Graffiti like this was etched in chalk on campus sidewalks during the National Day of Silence.

Laramie cast member and freshman Stephanie Remick writes anti-hate graffiti on a sidewalk along the College Green during the National Day of Silence as fellow cast member Jason Beideck and Professor Melanie Blood, director of the play, look on.

Photos by Ron Pretzer

Shear School of Education Holds Open House

The Shear School of Education held an open house in the MacVittie College Union on May 3, and many of the program’s cooperating teachers, teacher candidates and college supervisors were on hand to be recognized for their efforts and successes this past year. The event also provided an opportunity to thank the elementary and secondary teachers who hosted and guided SUNY Geneseo teacher candidates this year.

President Christopher C. Dahl offered his congratulations to the "seniors who have done wonderful work, and will go out to do wonderful work" in schools around the state and the nation. "I, and the faculty, are pleased to be working with students who are engaged and intelligent and responsible," he said. Dahl also saluted the School of Education faculty, and acknowledged the hard work that "goes into the eventual induction of human beings into the teaching environment."

The event was immediately preceded by a series of student teaching wrap-up meetings for college supervisors and their teacher candidates.

Open house organizers, from left: Andrea Mickles-Tadich, assistant director, Shear School of Education; Mary Ellen Schmidt, director, Shear School of Education; Jeannine Cox, secretary, Shear School of Education; and Therese Riordan, assistant director, field experience.

Director of the Ella Cline Shear School of Education Mary Ellen Schmidt, left, with Interim Provost David Gordon and President Christopher C. Dahl.

Andrea Mickles-Tadich presents Sharon Steiner with a framed print of some of the College’s most beloved buildings. Steiner is a second-grade teacher at Perry Elementary, and mentored one of SUNY Geneseo’s early childhood education teacher candidates during the final quarter of student teaching this past spring.

Photos by Ron Pretzer

Sunset Convocation/First Alumni Event A Success

Jim Williams, associate professor and chair of the history department, helps coordinate commencement rehearsal.

Distinguished Professor Emeritus James Willey addresses students at commencement rehearsal. Willey delivered the commencement address the next day, and received an honorary degree from the State University of New York during the ceremony.

Tom Greenfield, professor of English, gives the keynote address at rehearsal.

Don Marozas, professor, Shear School of Education, pours a glass of bubbly at the Sunset Convocation/First Alumni Event following commencement rehearsal.

Executive Director for Alumni and Parent Relations Deb Hill ’75 and Ruth Hawley Gibson ’56 at the First Alumni Event.

The Southside Boys perform at the First Alumni Event in the MacVittie College Union Ballroom.

Hips ’n Harmony provide entertainment at the First Alumni Event.

Photos by Ron Pretzer

From left: Ed Pettinella ’73, Cait Porte, Nicole King, Assistant Coach Dave Richmond, Wing-Yen Leung, Mary Wilson, Tom Golisano, Julie Serce, Krissy Feikert, Co-Captain Rene Smith, Head Coach Jim Chen, Midtown Tennis Instructor Ron Dyson, Assistant Coach Fred Bright. Some members of the SUNY Geneseo women’s tennis team had the opportunity to observe a charity tennis match held in April between Paychex Chairman/CEO and Buffalo Sabres owner Thomas Golisano and Mary Wilson, tennis professional and wife of Buffalo Bills owner Ralph Wilson.