Comprehensive fee increases, part 2

By Benjamin Engle

Union College has three sources of revenue that support the budget: the comprehensive fee, endowment income, and gifts to the Annual Fund. The comprehensive fee is 74% of the budget while the endowment income is 14% and the Annual Fund, which is made up of gifts from alumni, contributes 3%. Bookstore, Dining Services, and other miscellaneous sources make up the remaining 9% of the budget.

At its peak, the endowment contributed 15% to the budget. However, the economic recession has played a major role in the increase in the comprehensive fee because the endowment and Annual Fund cannot contribute as much to the budget as it once did. The endowment dropped approximately $100 million from its high of $400 million in 2008 and the number of gifts to the Annual Fund has also decreased.

Like many other liberal arts schools, Union is currently attempting to determine if there is a fourth source of revenue available to the institution. Recently, Middlebury College in Vermont announced that it is investing $4 million for a 40% share in "Middlebury Interactive Languages," an online language program for students Kindergarten through 12th grade. Middlebury is hoping that the computer software will provide a fourth revenue stream to support the College's liberal arts-style of teaching.

"We wanted to do something about the fact that not enough American students are learning other languages, and it's harder for students if they don't learn language until college," Middlebury President Ronald D. Liebowitz said in an interview with a writer from the New York Times on April 13, 2010. "It is also my belief, and I think our board's belief, that finding potential new sources of revenue is not a bad thing. By doing what we're doing with this venture, we hope to take some stress off our three traditional sources of revenue- fees, endowment and donations."

While Union's administration and Planning and Priorities Committee are planning to determine if there is another way to bring in revenue, they do not want to compromise the reputation of the college.

"We don't want to do something for the sake of money," Blake said. "It has to relate to the school. We have to do things that make sense for Union."

Even though Union is looking outside of the box for new sources of revenue, the college is continuing to keep a close eye on the budget to determine whether cuts can be made.

This process has been ongoing since the 2008-2009 academic year, when each Vice President was asked to determine where they could make a 5% cost reduction to see how the cut would affect the College. While the Vice Presidents didn't make 5% cuts across the board, some departments made more cuts than others.

Moreover, even though the college is not instituting a hiring freeze, departments are undergoing a review process to determine how each can deliver services more efficiently. However, the college would like to undergo "growth by substitution," meaning that when a position opens, the college can opt not to fill every position and use the additional money for new creative projects and initiatives.

However, as Union prepares for future budgets, the institution is mindful of its competitors.

"Union is in an academic arms race," Blake said. "We are a very elite school and have a high ranking and an impressive peer list. We are keeping an eye on what other [schools] are offering since we don't want to be at a competitive disadvantage."

While Union is navigating itself through increasing costs of goods and labor as well as an economic recession, Blake believes that the situation is improving.

"The situation is not dire since we are constantly looking ahead," Blake said. "We are taking actions so problems aren't exacerbated."

Originally published in Union's Concordy on May 13, 2010.

Comprehensive fee increases for 35th consecutive year

By Benjamin Engle

This two-part article was written in response to an email from alum Geoff Pietsch '59. He paid 900 dollars for tuition during his four years at Union and questioned the justification behind consistently rising rates of the college's tuition.

The Union College comprehensive fee will increase in the 2010-2011 fiscal year for the thirty-fifth consecutive year.

Up 3.75% from the current 2009-2010 fiscal year, the comprehensive fee, which includes the cost of tuition, room, board, student activity fee, and Minerva House fee, is scheduled to be $53,329 in 2010-2011. The 3.75% increase is the lowest increase in the comprehensive fee since the 2001-2002 fiscal year.

According to the National Center on Public Policy and Higher Education, college tuition and fees across the country from 1982 to 2007 increased 439% while the median income only rose by 147%. From 1982 to 2007, Union's comprehensive fee increased $17,219, almost a five-fold increase.

While the cost of college is increasing at a greater rate than the rate of inflation, Diane Blake, Vice President for Finance and Administration, believes that college tuition cannot be based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI) since institutions of higher education have their market baskets of goods are different. Instead, colleges are held to the Higher Education Price Index (HEPI).

According to Commonfund, the group that calculates the HEPI, "HEPI measures the average relative level in the prices of a fixed market basket of goods and services purchased by colleges and universities through current-fund educational and general expenditures." The HEPI is comprised of faculty, administrative, clerical, and service employees' salaries and benefits as well as miscellaneous services, supplies and materials, and utilities.

Meanwhile, the CPI, which is compiled by the U.S. Labor Department's Bureau of Labor Statistics, is a measure of the average change in prices over time in fixed basket of goods and services that people buy for day-to-day living. The CPI is made up of food, clothing, shelter, fuel, and transportation fees, among other services.

According to Blake, Union's comprehensive fee increases yearly despite departmental and administrative cuts since the various costs of labor make up almost half of Union's budget.

"We are a labor-intensive institution," Blake said. "We pride ourselves on our 10:1 faculty ratio. If we didn't maintain that ratio, Union wouldn't be the education you applied for."

Union takes pride in the quality of faculty that it hires. This goal, however, is an expensive one, since most of the faculty hold Ph.Ds or the highest academic certification in their field. Also, Graduate Assistants and Teaching Assistants do not teach classes at Union.

"[Students] come [to Union] because of the small class size, close interaction with professors, and classes taught solely by those with PhDs," Blake said. "We don't want to lay off faculty because we want to maintain our current ratio."

Despite the fact that faculty and staff salaries and benefits make up the greatest percentage of the annual budget, Blake admits that those emoployed by the college are underpaid.

"On average, the faculty [at Union] is not paid as well as those at our peer institutions," Blake said, "but it is part of the Strategic Plan to improve the situation."

The comprehensive fee that students pay continues to increase annually because traditional revenue sources for the college have decreased over the years.

"The full price is not the cost of a Union education," Blake added.

Benjamin Engle's coverage of rising tuition at Union will be continued next week in our 5/13 edition.

Originally published in Union's Concordy on May 6, 2010.

Student Activity fee to increase

By Benjamin Engle

The Union College Board of Trustees is scheduled to meet during ReUnion weekend to approve the College's budget for the 2010-2011 fiscal year. However, in February 2010, for the second consecutive year, the Board of Trustees approved an increase in the comprehensive fee (tuition) to attend Union.

The comprehensive fee for the 2010-11 academic year will be $52,329, up from $50,439 in 2009-10, a difference of $1890 for an overall increase of approximately 3.7%. The Student Activity fee, which is included in the comprehensive fee, will also increase in the upcoming year.

According to Karen Chan '10,Student Forum Vice President of Finance, the Student Activity fee will increase from $336 in 2009-10 to $351 in 2010-11, an increase of $15. In 2009-10, Student Forum controlled a budget of approximately $672,000 and will increase to over $700,000 in 2010-11.

The Student Activity budget is funded through the Student Activity fee and is controlled by Student Forum, the overseeing student body of clubs and organizations on campus. Unlike Minerva House budgets, which have a flat fee and have not changed, the Student Activity fee is set to rise with tuition.

The Student Forum Finance Committee is responsible for asking club finance representatives for budget proposals and allocating money from the Student Activity budget for various clubs and events on campus.

"We like to give money for great ideas and events, but we have to make sure clubs and events are not exclusive," Chan said. "Everything is student run and organized for the student body."

As Vice President of Finance, Chan's goal has been to make the Student Forum budget process more understandable.

"My role is to make the budget process more transparent and to help make sure that events and clubs are beneficial to the community," Chan said.

During her tenure as Vice President, she has established mid-year evaluations for clubs to ensure that they are spending their money effectively and efficiently throughout the academic year.

While Chan did not want to release the specific budget analysis for the current fiscal year, most of the money allocated by Student Forum is for the social clubs, not the academic or intellectual organizations.

Even with the annual increase of the Student Activity budget, Student Forum allocates almost all the money in its budget for new clubs and events as well as to increase support for existing programs.

Of its budget during the 2009-10 academic year, Student Forum allocates the most money to SpringFest Committee and to U-Program Committee.

This year, SpringFest was allocated $90,000 and requested and was approved for an additional $20,000 for a total of $110,000 or 16.37% of the total Student Activity budget. U-Program, which offers programming numerous times each term, was allocated $100,000 in 2009-10 or 14.88% of the total Student Activity budget.

While Chan and the rest of the Student Forum Finance Committee carefully analyze the pros and cons of every club and organization on campus before allocating funding, Chan believes that Student Forum needs to be responsible when allocating student funds.

"I am pushing Student Forum to re-evaluate the Student Activity fee for 2011-2012," Chan said. "We can do many things, we can freeze [the fee] or we can have it raise with tuition during certain years."

Even though the Board of Trustees sets the comprehensive fee, neither the administration nor the Board of Trustees has told Student Forum what to do concerning their budget or the Student Activity fee. Class of 2012 Secretary/Treasurer Aaron Glosser '12 believes that Student Forum should look closely at the Student Activities fee.

"Student Forum tends to have a surplus at the end of every year. To freeze or lower the Student Activities fee will have little effect on students, and reduce the strain of college tuition for families," said Glosser. "I believe freezing the Student Activities fee is a good way to decrease the amount that tuition rises each year. Given the current economic turmoil, it is important for every department at Union to think about fiscal responsibility, including student activities."

While Glosser contends that Student Forum has a surplus at the end of each year, Chan believes that Student Activities needs the increase in revenue to meet the expectations that the student body has of the organization.

"Events such as SpringFest cost more to produce and big names are demanded," Chan said.

Additionally, Student Forum has supported a lot of new clubs and organizations on campus, such as Ski Club and Outing Club, and has them expand and plan new events.

Chan also suggested that the Student Activities fee keeps campus speakers, concerts, and club activities, such as bowling, either at no or low additional cost to students, which is part of the draw for many on campus.

Even though Student Forum tries to allocate money to groups that will help students expand their horizons and meet campus needs, they often turn down events because of cost or their overall value that they will bring to campus, such as not allocating money to bring comedian Bill Hader of Saturday Night Live and Superbad to campus.

On the other hand, Student Forum has also had to fund events and clubs that were in danger of being cut due to departmental cuts, such as the club hockey team and LobsterFest.

In previous years, LobsterFest was paid for by dining services. However, this year, LobsterFest costs between $15,000 and $20,000 and is paid for by Student Forum.

"People expect free trips, free SpringFest, but at some point we have to say no because we have to make due with what we have," Chan added.

Chan encourages students to attend Student Forum meetings and voice their opinions on campus topics. Every Student Forum meeting is open to the entire campus and are held in room 410 of the Reamer Campus Center on Tuesdays at 5 p.m.

"Student Forum needs to make students aware of the economic recession," Chan said. "We really need to think about proposals to see if an event is cost effective." While Chan believes that Student Forum needs to re-evaluate the Student Activity fee, she believes that the body is moving in a positive direction.

"Student Forum must draw attention to problems, which is not an overnight change because of campus demands and wants," Chan said. "There is more work to be done."

Originally published in Union's Concordy on 4/29/10

Keynote speaker chosen

By Benjamin Engle

Alan F. Horn '64, President and Chief Operating Officer of Warner Bros. Entertainment, will address the graduates, friends, and families of the class of 2010 as the keynote speaker at the 216th Commencement Ceremony of Union College, college officials recently announced.

Scheduled for Sunday, June 13, 2010, on Hull Plaza, approximately 500 students in the Class of 2010 will receive degrees during the ceremony.

"I'm honored to be delivering the commencement address and look forward to revisiting the campus in June," said Horn, who will receive an honorary doctor of fine arts degree.

Mr. Horn, who earned an economics degree from Union, later joined the U.S. Air Force for a five-year term, and received an MBA from Harvard Business School. While the Air Force Captain hoped to fly jets in the Air Force, he never made it to the cockpit because of his poor eyesight. Instead, he was stationed in Korea where he earned a 3rd black belt in tae kwon do.

After graduating from Harvard in 1972, Horn spent two years in brand management for the Ivory Soap Brand at Procter & Gamble.

After spending time at Procter & Gamble, Horn served as Chairman & CEO of Embassy Communications, a company owned by Andrew Perenchio and legendary produced, Norman Leer.

Prior to 1999, when Horn assumed his position at Warner Bros., he founded Castle Rock Entertainment in 1987. At Castle Rock, where he served as the company's chairman and CEO, he became known for producing successful TV series and films including 'Seinfeld', A Few Good Men, The Shawshank Redemption, and The Green Mile.

Since his successes at Castle Rock, Horn has made Warner Bros. one of Hollywood's most successful movie studios in recent years. As president and COO, Horn oversees all of the Studio's theatrical and home entertainment operations, including the Warner Bros. Picture Group and New Line Cinema.

During his time at Warner Bros., some of the most popular and profitable films of the industry have been produced, including the Harry Potter series, the most successful motion picture franchise in history, The Dark Night, Batman Begins, Ocean's 11, 12, and 13, the second and third Matrix films, and Million Dollar Baby.

More recently, under Horn's guidance, his studio has produced theatrical blockbusters including Watchmen, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, and Sherlock Holmes.

Horn is also a member of numerous prestigious Hollywood institutions, including the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and the Academy of Television, Arts, and Sciences.

When Horn returned to the Union campus for the first time in over 25 years for ReUnion weekend in May 2009, he gave a presentation and spoke candidly about his years at Union and experiences in the corporate world.

He also, according to the Summer 2009 edition of the Union College magazine, discussed his transition from an "ill-suited electrical engineering student" to an economics major.

Additionally, during his 2009 ReUnion visit, Horn described his time at Union as " 'great for me,' and a place where he met many friends and professors," according to the Union College magazine.

Originally published in Union's Concordy on 2/25/10

If you give a dog a quantum physics book...

By Benjamin Engle

When Chad Orzel, an associate professor of physics, and his wife adopted Emmy from a local pound, they never knew the German Shepherd mix would become the next 'Queen of Niskayuna.'

According to Orzel's blog, Uncertain Principles, Emmy likes what most dogs enjoy: treats, walks, chasing bunnies, and the food Orzel drops, or doesn't drop, at his computer. But the Queen of Niskayuna differed from most other German Shepherd mixes in that she soon began to take an interest in quantum physics.

Started in 2002, at the end of his first year at Union, Orzel writes in his blog as a way to blow off steam by writing about things he finds interesting or amusing.

"I write about cool new developments in physics, older bits of physics that I think are interesting, life in the lab, life as a college professor, books, movies, and whatever catches my interest," said Orzel. "I'm always a little surprised at how many people are willing to read what I post, but I enjoy it."

Five years later, on May 17, 2007, Orzel decided to write in his blog a conversation he had with Emmy about which universes he dropped steak in and the universes in which she ate those 'imaginary' pieces. However, as he wrote it, he never knew 50,000 people would read it. Of those 50,000 people who came across his blog entry, which was entitled, "Many Worlds, Many Treats," one was an agent who thought that his entry could be expanded into a book. After writing a proposal with his agent, Scribner soon bought it.

"The book happened more or less by accident. I've always carried on elaborate conversations with the dog at home, because it makes my wife laugh," Orzel said. "Inevitably, these ended up including some physics references, because that's what I do."

After many conversations with Emmy and three years of writing, editing, and publishing, Orzel's How to Teach Physics to Your Dog was released in December 2009.

What makes Orzel's book unique is not that he is teaching physics to his dog, but rather that the book is understandable to both those with backgrounds in physics and those without any knowledge of the subject.

"It's aimed at people with no real background in science. I do make reference to a few ideas that people have hopefully heard about-things like momentum and energy-but I try to define everything as it comes up, so even if you've never had a physics class, it should make sense," Orzel added.

Available at major retailers, including Barnes and Noble, Borders, and amazon.com, as well as at the Union College bookstore, Orzel's book has been received positively by readers and reviewers alike.

Orzel's favorite review comment so far, however, has not come from a newspaper reviewer or science critic, but rather from a mother on Amazon who wrote that she bought it for her 11-year-old son.

"The whole ruse of explaining physics to a dog was hilarious to him and really made concrete some of the things that the author was trying to explain," the mother on Amazon wrote. "I had my son explaining to me, laughing, how a dog could walk through a tree if he went slowly enough (with all the physics behind that crazy statement) and then hilariously illustrating what would happen if the dog didn't go quite slow enough. (He'd bonk his head)."

Orzel believes people should read the book for the same reason he wrote it, because "quantum physics is just about the coolest thing ever."

"The things that quantum physics predicts is utterly bizarre-objects in two places at the same time, particles that appear out of nothing and disappear again-but they're absolutely real, and confirmed again and again by experiments," Orzel explained. "The universe that we live in is a much stranger and more amazing place than most people realize."

According to Orzel, one goal in writing the book was to challenge the idea that quantum physics can only be seen with billion-dollar accelerators. In fact, quantum rules have consequences for human's daily lives, including computer and Internet usage.

"And even the sunlight that we're finally getting today is quantum in origin-were it not for the quantum phenomenon called 'tunneling,' it would be impossible for the Sun to fuse hydrogen into helium, and generate the light that makes life on Earth possible," Orzel added.

Writing his book about physics has taught him a lot about the philosophical basis of quantum mechanics and how to become a better teacher.

"They say you never really understand a subject until you teach it to someone else, and that goes double for dogs," Orzel said. "I had a vague idea of how things like the Copenhagen Interpretation and the Many-Worlds Interpretation worked, but getting to understand them enough to be able to explain it to the dog took a lot of work."

Orzel, whose research interests are in the general field of Atomic, Molecular, and Optical (AMO) physics, specifically the laser cooling and trapping of atoms, hopes that readers of his book learn about "some of the cool things about quantum physics."

"I hope that the book helps give people some appreciation of the astonishing things that we learn from modern physics," Orzel added.

Originally published in Union's Concordy on 1/28/10.

Israeli speaker sparks campus debate

By Benjamin Engle

Today, Thursday, January 14, former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert will be giving a lecture in Memorial Chapel at Union College. Olmert is the first head of state to visit Union, according to the Schenectady Gazette, since former British Prime Minister Harold Wilson's visit in 1967.

The event, which is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m., will only be open to the campus community, plus one guest per Union College ID cardholder. The doors will open at 5:45 p.m.

According to a campus-wide email sent on January 8 by Vice President of Student Affairs and Dean of Students Stephen Leavitt, Campus Safety personnel will be checking IDs at the entrance and those without college ID will be required to show a driver's license or passport, as well as be accompanied by someone with a Union ID card.

Olmert, who is sponsored by Union's Speakers Forum club, is visiting the campus despite being a controversial figure around the world. His detractors allege that the Prime Minister and his government committed war crimes against the Palestinian people.?Meanwhile, his supporters are equally passionate in their assertion that his actions and those of his government were taken in the defense of their country.

"We thought this opportunity was too amazing to pass up," said Will Friedman, '10, President of Speakers Forum. "Unlike other world leaders, Olmert does not require to see his questions in advance. He has been a very controversial leader and I thought this could be a very good opportunity for students and faculty to ask him about some of his actions while in office.

Olmert, the twelfth Prime Minister of the State of Israel, became the acting Prime Minister on January 5, 2006, but stepped down as Prime Minister and leader of the Kadima Party in 2008 under pressure over numerous corruption investigations.

While indicted for three counts of corruption, Olmert has pled not guilty at the Jerusalem District Court to charges of illegally accepting funds from an American supporter and double-billing Jewish groups for trips abroad. He has also been blamed for inappropriately handling the 2006 war with Hezbollah in Lebanon and attacks in the Gaza Strip.

As a result of Olmert's controversial history, many students and faculty on campus are against the former Prime Minister's visit.

Presented to Speakers Forum on September 29th by Friedman, an offer to Olmert was verbally agreed to on October 8th.

According to Dean Leavitt, two faculty members, Professors Motahar and Loeb, first approached Leavitt to discuss the terms of Olmert's talk. The meeting, which took place November 23rd, resulted in the discussion of the conditions on which the former Prime Minister was coming to campus. The two professors suggested that Friedman consult with Speakers Forum to consider bringing in speakers with contrary points of view.

"Some people who oppose Prime Minister Olmert have reached out to me regarding their hope that Speakers Forum would follow this event by inviting a Palestinian speaker," Friedman said. "I have not discussed any specifics about that just yet with my club, but I plan on bringing that up at the next meeting."

However, after Leavitt's meeting with Motahar, Loeb, and Friedman, Leavitt received a letter from nine faculty members opposing Olmert's visit to Union. The group, who according to Leavitt, had issues with bringing in someone who was morally offensive to them, met with Leavitt on December, 11th.

"The group outlined their concerns and I listened to them," Leavitt stated. "I was sympathetic to the fact that they would be genuinely hurt if he came to campus."

Leavitt understood that the group had a real moral issue with Olmert's visit and that they would feel violated by the college.

Computer Science Professor Valerie Barr, a faculty member who has a moral issue with the visit, was part of the group who contacted Leavitt, as well as Union College President Stephen Ainlay to express her objections.

"I am against Ehud Olmert coming to Union. I believe in free speech and free exchange of ideas, and I am not opposed to Union inviting a speaker who would present a Zionist perspective. However, I think Olmert is a very bad choice for the college," Barr stated.

While Barr "was raised with unquestioning support for Israel and all its actions," she would rather see Union be in the news for inviting a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, such as former United States President Jimmy Carter rather than Olmert.

In addition to complaints by professors, students, such as Omar Hassib '11, have been critical of Union's administration for allowing Olmert's visit to campus.

"Olmert's visit is huge for Union College. To the layman mind, one would think that the visit would be ok, however, there is the underlying issue of the man himself and his decisions while in office," Hassib said. "By paying him, on top of inviting him, Union is now supporting him and his defense fund."

Hassib believes that the event was scheduled on January 14 because protests would be limited since other nearby campuses are not yet in session and the potential for poor weather conditions. However, according to Friedman, the date was not chosen for any particular reason other than the fact that Memorial Chapel was available and the date worked with Olmert's travel schedule.

As the Concordiensis went to press, a petition urging the Union Administration that the event be cancelled began to circulate through an email.

"We reject the argument that Mr. Olmert's visit is simply that of a 'controversial' individual. We reject the logic that validates such a position, and hold it to be irrational and inconsistent with the intellectual climate we hope to create," the petition stated. "Mr. Olmert's appearance at Union does not contribute to the free exchange of ideas."

Despite the moral controversy emerging on campus, Leavitt realized the problem of security at the event would be an issue in having Olmert give his lecture at Union.

"I learned about Olmert's history of speeches at other schools and the significant security concerns that the other schools dealt with," Leavitt said.

During the former Prime Minister's time in the United States, he has given lectures at various colleges and universities including the University of Chicago, University of Arkansas, University of Kentucky, and Tulane University. Each visit has brought numerous protesters to each respective campus.

After Leavitt's meeting with the professors opposing the former Prime Minister's visit, Leavitt discussed the security concerns with Chris Hayen, Director of Campus Safety on December 16. As a result of Hayen's conversations with the FBI and Secret Service, Leavitt made the decision to cancel Olmert's visit.

"Olmert's people wouldn't tell [Hayen] the necessary security measures until 2 days before the event, which made him uncomfortable," Leavitt said.

Although President Ainlay was traveling during Leavitt's conversations with Campus Safety, according to Leavitt, he was kept briefed on the issue.

"The President was concerned about security and wanted the campus to be safe," Leavitt said.

On December 18, Leavitt broke the news that the event was cancelled to the committee of administrators, faculty, and students who were planning the event. Because Leavitt had not signed a contract with Olmert's agent, the College's attorney told Leavitt that it was legal to cancel the invitation.

Stephen Berk, the Henry and Sally Schaffer Professor of Holocaust and Jewish Studies, a member of the organizing committee, was upset at the decision of Leavitt to cancel.

"It is always important when high ranking officials of an important country that is closely tied with the United States and involved in one of the world's greatest conflicts comes to speak, people can hear the views of himself and his country," Berk said.

Berk believes that free speech is important and if it can't be on a university campus, it can't be observed anywhere.

"Union has a long record of hosting controversial speakers, and I hope that continues in the present," Berk added.

According to the Union College Encyclopedia, many invitations have been given by the College's International Relations Club to controversial speakers, including German-American Bund leader Fritz Kuhn, a well-known Nazi agitator, in 1937; Owen Lattimore, a scholar whom Senator McCarthy called "the top Soviet espionage agent in the United States," in 1950; American communist Herbert Aptheker in 1964; and Arab League spokesman Clovis Maksoud in 1984.

However, after the decision to cancel the visit was made, President Ainlay called Leavitt to make sure that this was the correct action to take. After speaking to campus safety officials at other universities where Olmert had spoken, Hayen compiled a safety report. Based on the report, Leavitt determined that the logistics of bringing Olmert to campus were possible to handle and notified President Ainlay of this knowledge.

The final decision to not cancel the event, according to Leavitt, was decided by himself and President Ainlay.

Hayen believes the Campus Safety Department is prepared for the Prime Minister's visit. Leavitt says that the campus is prepared for demonstrators and that there will be a special area set up for that purpose across from the venue.

"I believe we have done a thorough job and will provide a safe environment on behalf of the Speakers Forum for this student-sponsored event," Hayen said. "Our goals will be to preserve the continuity of essential college functions, continue the goal of Union College in providing for a liberal education that is best attained as one learns about other cultures and one's own, and provide a secure venue for positive programming that strives toward a better understanding about the situation in Israel."

Due of the sensitive nature of the event, Hayen did not want to release specific security information. However, a campus-wide email by Leavitt stated that metal detectors will be posted at the entrance of Memorial Chapel. Speakers Forum will not be paying for security measures for the event.

In advance of the Prime Minster's visit, on Tuesday, Hillel hosted a conversation on Israel with Professor Berk and on Wednesday, Campus Action hosted "Day of Dialogue: Ehud Olmert and the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict," a panel discussion made up of Professor Berk, Professor Feffer, and Professor Tadros.

According to Campus Action President, [Campus Action President Name Redacted] '11, the organization is not anti-Israel or pro-Palestine, but exists to present education to the campus. Outside of the club, however, [Campus Action President Name Redacted] predicts demonstrations will take place.

"Campus Action does not support any disruptive actions during the speech," [Campus Action President Name Redacted] said. "I do predict there will be individuals who will do this. There will be demonstrations outside, but they have the right to present their thoughts."

[Campus Action President Name Redacted], who believed that it was not Campus Action's mission to take sides and therefore will not distribute information at the event, believes that people outside of the group will distribute pamphlets to help facilitate discussion.

"By not organizing everyone into a group such as Campus Action, they are free to act on their own beliefs and not obligated to adhere to a collective message," added [Campus Action President Name Redacted].

While the event will take place, Leavitt, who will be attending the lecture, admits that he did not handle the situation well.

"I would apologize to those hurt," Leavitt said. "Feelings will be hurt by bringing in controversial speakers."

Going forward, Leavitt plans to create a set of procedures to decide who comes to campus to talk through issues such as morals and security.

"There is a strong emphasis at Union to foster free speech, it is everything the whole academy is based on" Leavitt commented. "People are free to protest, but people also have the right to speak. It is a slippery slope when you just start canceling things."

Friedman, despite the controversial decision to invite Olmert to campus, stands by his decision 100%, "If Speakers Forum did not bring controversial speakers to campus, then I would not be doing my job."

As of going to press, the details of the Question-and-Answer portion of the lecture had not been finalized.

"I am truly sorry that people are upset with my club for deciding to invite Prime Minister Olmert to Union," Friedman added. "That being said, I encourage everyone who is upset to come listen to Olmert's speech and then submit a question challenging him on some of his actions throughout his term in Israel."

Originally published in Union College's Concordy on 1/14/10. Original article archived at Concordy.com & Union College Schaffer Library.

Note: The Campus Action President's name was redacted upon personal 2014 request. 

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High School Stories: The 2008 Blind Brook High School Graduation Speech

Dr. Valenti, Mr. Stark, Teachers, The Board of Education, Parents, friends, and fellow members of the Blind Brook High School Class of 2008; it is a great pleasure and a special honor for me to be speaking with you today.

Approximately 4,678 days or 12 years, 9 months, and 21 days ago, we began on a journey. And today, we find ourselves not ending our journey, but taking a moment to realize how far we have come since we left our parents’ arms and entered the hallowed halls of Ridge Street Elementary School.

Since we entered a world full of nap time, recess, miniature towns, lockers, bake sales, and the ever-dreaded exam, we have been taught to always do our best and to work hard. And for the most part, whether it’s been because we genuinely enjoyed a topic, were encouraged by a caring teacher, or moved by the words of an author, or, perhaps out of the simple fear of our mothers seeing poor report cards, we have tried to do our best. Well, at least most of us have.

The idea of “doing our best,” however, has evolved over time. In elementary school, doing our best meant perfecting our imperfect handwriting and learning about the hamburger style of essay writing. In middle school, it was surviving a new and unfamiliar place and exploring Outdoor Ed while preparing ourselves for the future, perhaps guided by the words of Jennings Michael Burch who wrote in “They Cage the Animals at Night,”--- “Education is the most important thing you can have . . . If you have that, it’s yours. Nobody can take that away.”

And on the first day of high school, “doing our best” took on more urgent meaning when we were told by Mr. Baxter that, “this time it counts,” meaning that from that first moment on, every test, quiz, paper, or extra-curricular activity was important for not only reaching this very day, but more importantly, developing our minds.

And while the notion of hard work and doing our best has evolved, there has been one concept that has stayed constant, change.

In the race for the White House, We heard it from Hillary. We hear it from Barack. And we hear it from John. They constantly say that they are “Fighting for Change,” “Ready for Change,” and have “Change we can believe in.”

Blind Brook isn’t “Fighting for Change.”

Why, you may ask? Because, we are change. As a group, as a grade, and as a school, we have been educated to make academic curiosity and volunteerism second nature. From Elementary School as a part of the Green Key Society, to the High School Community Service requirement, we are all prepared to not make change, but to be change.

As Mahatma Gandhi once said, “You must be the change you want to see in the world.” As we embark into life beyond Blind Brook, there is one fundamental lesson we can take away from this small town. We must never wait for others to accomplish the seemingly impossible; we must blaze the trail of happiness and success for ourselves. John Mayer sings the popular song, “Waiting for the World to Change,” which says that the young people of the world are currently powerless and, unfortunately, must wait their turn to make a difference. While extremely popular, his song is neither accurate nor the message I share with you today. We must be part of the change, not the result, but rather the cause of change.

And as we look towards the future, we can not forget the values and life lessons that the people around us have shared with all of us. Blind Brook hasn’t taught us what to think, but rather how to think. We must be our own advocates for change—using the lessons from home and the opportunities that await us.

Beno

As we try to improve our future, as the good book says, we can’t forget tradition. Like Tevya, in Fiddler on the Roof, says, [Spoken by Andrew Benowich] “Traditions, traditions. Without our traditions our lives would be as shaky as, as... as a fiddler on the roof!”

It may be somewhat of an oxymoron, but traditions needn’t be “age old.” As agents of change, we have been a part of new traditions: we were the last kindergarten class under the leadership of Mr. Bruno M. Ponterio, we were the last 6^th grade class at Bruno M. Ponterio Ridge Street School, we were the first to compete on the new fields, some of us were the first to get lost in our own high school, we were the first to experience clubs after school, and members of our class were the first to be inducted into the Journalism Honor Society as writers for a truly independent FOCUS newspaper.

Whether you loved Blind Brook or can’t wait for next year, we are rooted in our school’s unique culture and ideas.

During our four years at Blind Brook, traditions and activities have taught us valuable lessons and given us opportunities and challenges that we would otherwise never have had. Soccer championships, Mock Trial championships, FOCUS awards, High School Theater Awards, and even Spanish Club’s taco eating contests have made Blind Brook great.

Tradition is not palpable, it is not something that we can touch, but yet it is an always present force which can touch us: it touches our hearts, it touches our souls, and it has made and will continue to make Blind Brook the special place we call Home. As Dorothy said in the Wizard of Oz, “There’s no place like home!” Compare all you want, but because of “tradition,” there’s no place like Blind Brook.

404,179,200 seconds or 6,736,320 minutes or 112,272 hours later, which ever way you want to slice the past 13 years, our journey has not concluded. Instead, we write a new chapter and begin a new clock for the future. To the Class of 2008, those 13 years have amazingly been the most stressful, happy, anxious, and joyful times that we will never forget. Don’t worry about the future, but at the same time, don’t forget your roots. Remember all the good times, but don’t forget the bad ones either. You never know when they will come in handy. Enjoy being a youth. Enjoy life. You only live it once. But most importantly, don’t fight change that makes you, your community, and your world better. Instead, take chances and be the change you want to see in the world.

As Dr. Seuss once said, “Today is your day! Your mountain is waiting. So... get on your way.” Today is our day. Congratulations to the Class of 2008, it’s been a great 4,678 days.

Originally presented at the Blind Brook High School Graduation for the Class of 2008 in the Blind Brook High School Gym in June 2008.

Canning Kegs: Fraternities adjust to changing policies

By Benjamin Engle

Keeping in compliance with their insurance policies, fraternities at Union College have begun the process of eliminating registered social events where there are kegs present at the party. The fraternities, in conjunction with the Interfraterntity Council (IFC), plan to make the Union campus keg-less by the fall of 2010 by utilizing beer cans as the primary source of beer.

In order to be fully compliant with their national chapter standards, as well as with their national insurance contracts, fraternities at Union cannot continue to use kegs since they are considered a central open source of alcohol. According to Timothy Dunn, Director of Greek Life at Union, the majority of the fraternity and sorority dues go towards insurance. While the cost of insurance varies on campus, Dunn says that it ranges from $8,000 to $15,000.

"If a fraternity or sorority is not insured, then they cannot have a house on campus nor can they receive additional insurance coverage through the Fraternal Information and Programming Group (FIPG)," Dunn said.

The decision to go keg-free at Union was made by the IFC, which had been discussing the issue since June after a student accidentally fell at a fraternity party. The student had damaged their teeth as a result of the fall and, because the kegs violated the insurance policy, the insurance company did not cover the damages.

Instead of violating their insurance policies, fraternities are planning keg-less weekends to prepare for next fall.

"At IFC meetings we decided to wane the fraternities off kegs and instead of no kegs, we are trying keg-less weekends," said Alec Rosen '10, President of the IFC and a brother at Sigma Phi.

Rosen believes that the keg-less weekends should not affect students attending open parties at Union.

"The point of having keg-less weekends is to teach fraternities how to run parties without kegs in order to be prepared for next year," Rosen said. "We are nervous about the change, but it is to our own benefit to have these weekends."

On October 23, Alpha Epsilon Pi became the first fraternity at Union to run an open party with cans of beer instead of kegs.

According to David Kislik '10, President of Alpha Epsilon Pi, the event was successful, even without the use of kegs as the primary source of beer.

"It was a successful event that showed us that using the methods of running a party that we believe in will work in the coming years when kegs are no longer permitted on campus. We learned how people will react to the prospect of cans versus kegs, and we learned how to deal with the issue of storage space and organization of the cans, both empty and full," Kislik said. "I fully believe that we did everything right and had a successful event because of it. There were no issues at all from any guest, brother, or administrative or campus safety official and I expect that to continue as we transition."

The next keg-less weekend is scheduled to take place at all the fraternities on the weekend of November 13-14. While not all fraternities will be holding open parties that weekend, every organization will be registered with cans. Additionally, there will be two keg-less weekends in the winter and spring, respectively.

The IFC is also planning to have the fraternities hold "BYOB: Bring Your Own Beer" parties where students might be able to bring their own beer and the fraternity would provide the music and the dance floor.

While the source of alcohol will change, the registration process for beer and parties will be similar to the current process.

"The accountability for alcohol will be the same, though the actual process of registering beer cans still needs to be worked out," said Brad Wilhelm '10, Vice President and Chief Justice of the IFC and a brother at Theta Delta Chi.

Another concern of the IFC is the logistics of beer can storage and disposal.

"It is important for us to recycle the cans because the fraternities need the money back from the cans," Rosen said.

Currently, Sigma Phi has a system in place to use the money from the cans for building projects in the house.

When the first campus-wide keg-free weekend occurs, the money from the recycled cans will go toward a contribution by the IFC to the Union College Ancestral Plot in Vale Cemetery to mark the plot of Moses Viney, a runaway slave who escaped to Schenectady on the Underground Railroad.

While recycling is important, Kislik believes that using cans instead of kegs will hurt fraternities financially.

"The most pressing problem with going keg-less is the money. It is a losing proposition to switch over to cans as a fraternity regardless of the return you can make on recycling," Kislik said. "The costs outweigh most if not all of the benefits."

Wilhelm believes that buying cans of beer instead of kegs will cost fraternities between a third and a half more, though the IFC hopes to work with distributors to get a bulk price at wholesale.

"My brothers and I are apprehensive about the change since we have been doing the same thing for the past 30 years. We will figure out together how to handle things," Wilhelm said. "As long as it is financially viable, we will be supportive."

Kislik and the brothers of Alpha Epsilon Pi are also looking towards the future positively.

"I think the fraternities will always be the safest option for an alcoholic social event on campus and should be recognized as such," Kislik commented. "I do not agree with the removal of kegs from our campus, but with my brothers we will strive to meet the standards set by the administration and ensure that our social events are appreciated, fun, and safe for all."

"In the current policy of kegs, there is more of an ability to monitor and regulate the kegs and the amount of beer served at any given social event. This makes not only our jobs easier, but campus safety's, and therefore, the administration's job easier as well," Kislik said.

"Added to this is the possibility of less social functions hosted by fraternities which can only lead to more privatized drinking on campus. This drinking will occur in dorm rooms, Minerva houses, Seward houses, and theme houses. Any of these possibilities is ten times harder to regulate or control compared to the fraternities, and will promote worse drinking habits where there is no host to control the rate the alcohol is being served," he said.

While changing college policy is a difficult process, Dunn is proud of those involved in the transition from kegs to cans.

"The brothers understand the change is for their protection, as well as the rationale behind the change," Dunn said. "I am impressed how the IFC has taken the bull by the horns in this effort to change the policy. The students have been considering all aspects of the policy change: behavior, recycling, financial concerns, and not purchasing kegs from the local distributor."

Originally published in Union's Concordy on 11/5/09

Shaping the future for U: The administration's big plans for change in the coming years

By Benjamin Engle

In the spring of 2006, Union College was determined to develop a document to define a vision and direction for the College. The finalized document, "A Strategic Plan for Union College," was affirmed by the Board of Trustees at their February 2007 meeting.

According to President Stephen Ainlay's letter that prefaced the Plan, this program "can serve to unify us further, giver coherence to our educational mission, point to elements that differentiate us, and move us into the future."

The origins of the Strategic Plan came about in 2006 when a planning group made up of representatives of the trustees, administration, faculty, students and alumni began collecting information about Union's environment and opinions from the campus community regarding the College's strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. After identifying the issues surrounding the College, the planning group created possible strategies to address those questions.

The questions that the planning group faced are reflected in the Strategic Plan through the document's structure. The Plan is comprised of six elements, three of which are "foundational" and three of which are "differentiators."

"All of these elements are important to our future. They were when we drafted the plan and they remain so today," Ainlay said. "Each foundational and differentiating element has a number of sub-elements that give specificity to the plan."

Foundational elements are considered by the College to be important to the foundation of any effective liberal arts institution of Union's caliber. The Plan defines the foundational elements to be academic quality, an optimal learning environment and the wise stewardship of resources.

The issue of academic quality is to formulate strategies to maintain the College's academic strengths while addressing areas that need improvement. The Plan's goal in this subject is to maintain the foundation of Union's identity, "Our goal is to educate intellectually engaged, innovative, and open-minded citizens of the world, who will, as Eliphalet Nott urged, carry their humanity with them into that world."

Through an optimal learning environment, the Plan's goal is to develop a "Union of people and ideas" where members of the campus community will value inclusiveness and have concern for the well-being of others. Additionally, the Plan states that in order to achieve this "more perfect Union," the College must preserve and enhance its resources.

Elements that are differentiators are core aspects that set the College apart from other schools and give it its own identity. The differentiators are "we are small yet global and diverse," "we are committer to integrating engineering with the liberal arts," and "we are about innovation inspired by our historic past."

"The differentiators are aimed at drawing attention to things that make us distinctive among our peers," Ainlay explained. "I like it that the differentiators all involve a tension. This creative tension is part of what makes Union an exciting place to work and study."

While it has been almost three years since the Board of Trustees affirmed the Strategic Plan, the document continues to be the guiding force behind the future of Union College.

"The Plan was never intended to be 'placed on a shelf' when it was completed," said Ainlay, "Instead, it was intended to be a living document that guided the practices of the College. I'm pleased to say it does just that."

Currently, the College uses the Plan as a guide when making decisions about general college planning as well as practices determined in the various committees that meet on campus. Additionally, the Strategic Plan is a guide for setting specific goals for College fundraising and campus-wide initiatives.

In addition to students and faculty working to use the Strategic Plan as a guide for the future, the Board of Trustees understands the importance of having the Plan on campus as a living document.

"The Board continues to focus on implementation," said Board of Trustees Chair Frank L. Messa '73, "At every Board meeting some component of the Strategic Plan is highlighted for analysis and discussion at the full Board meeting."

Some goals that have been implemented as a result of the Strategic Plan include the general improvement of the Becker Career Center, establishing the Office of Minerva Programs, and obtained New York State approval for several new and existing interdisciplinary programs including Asian Studies (formerly East Asian Studies), Bioengineering, Environmental Policy, Environmental Science, and added the Computational track in Neuroscience.

As a result of the new and improved Environmental Policy and Environmental Science majors, the Plan helped improve campus sustainability and the protection of natural resources. Through this initiative, the College has created U-Sustain, a campus committee of students, staff, and faculty to identify sustainable priorities for Union. The initiative also led to the establishment of Presidential Green Grants that has supported eco-friendly projects including the expansion of the Octopus' Organic Garden (across from Golub House), support for the construction of the Straw Bale house in Octopus' Garden, an energy audit of Golub House and Fox Hall, as well as other student and faculty-driven initiatives.

Additionally, the College has used the Plan to guide itself through the economic downturn.

"The Plan has become even more important in the face of the economic crisis that has gripped the world generally and higher education specifically," Ainlay said, "We refer to the plan frequently when discussing cost-saving initiatives. We are careful not to make any decisions that would compromise the aims of the Strategic Plan."

Union has also used the Strategic Plan to create a more diverse campus atmosphere, which is evident in the fact that the Class of 2013 is the most diverse in the College's history.

"The Plan's emphasis on diversity led to the creation of a multi-faith prayer and meditation room, the appointment of the Senior Director for Campus Diversity and Affirmative Action, and the appointment of the Director of Multicultural Affairs and her office in the Reamer Campus Center," added Ainlay.

Another example of the Strategic Plan's impact on Union can be seen through work done by the College on facilities. The Plan is guiding the College on how to improve the Campus while maintaining architect Joseph Ramée's original plan.

"Under the element 'wise stewardship of resources' the plan talks about preserving our historic campus and reinvesting in facilities to ensure they support our academic objectives," Ainlay stated. "This led us to plan the new Peter Irving Wold Center for Science and Engineering. Consistent with the plan, we will renew and renovate a number of other buildings on campus over the next few years."

As the College looks towards the future, the Strategic Plan remains an important tool for improving all aspects of Union.

"We have made significant progress on every one of the foundational and differentiating elements. In fact, I ask each one of my Vice Presidents to report activities aimed at advancing the Strategic Plan and I, in turn, report these to the Board of Trustees which remains very supportive of the Plan and the direction articulated within the Plan," Ainlay said. "I, like the Board, believe the Plan has it right. These are the elements we need to pursue to make Union the place we want it to be and to make Union a destination of choice for students."

"We have accomplished much, even in the face of economic challenges, but there is much more work to be done," Ainlay added. "The Strategic Plan will continue to direct us as we move ahead."

Originally published in Union's Concordy on 10/29/09

Road to an honor code

By Benjamin Engle

During the weekend of October 16, members of Union College's Academic Affairs Committee (AAC) sub-council on Academic Integrity traveled to Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri to attend and present at the Conference for Academic Integrity.

Associate Dean of Students and Director of Minerva Programs Tom McEvoy, Ian Clemente '10, and Benjamin Engle '12 presented Union's draft of its new honor code and honor court.

Stemming from a cheating scandal in a Mechanical Engineering class in 2006, the Academic Affairs Committee established the sub-council on Academic Integrity with the goal of creating a modified academic honor code for Union.

At the conference, hosted by Clemson University's Rutland Institute for Ethics, Union representatives led a panel discussion entitled "Reintroducing an Honor Code at a Liberal Arts College." During the discussion, McEvoy, Clemente, and Engle discussed Union's history and the actions that the College has taken to bring a modified honor code back to Union's classrooms.

Union originally had an honor code and pledge in 1909, also resulting from a cheating scandal.

Unlike the code of 1909, the sub-council is currently building a modified honor code that does not have a single penalty for academic misconduct, does not mandate students to report observed observations, and gives professors the option whether or not to have un-proctored examinations.

McEvoy, Clemente, and Engle presented the sub-council's work to approximately 15 students and faculty from around the United States.

The group explained to the audience Union's history with honor codes and how it is imperative that there be mutual support between students and faculty in order for the College to go ahead with an honor pledge, code, and court.

Support for such a code has not been mutual since 1924 when faculty lost confidence in students' willingness to report cheating on unproctored exams to the honor court. Because of this disagreement, students and faculty voted to end Union's honor code in 1925.

Union's panel made it clear to those in attendance that having an honor code on campus will reduce cheating and will emphasize academic integrity throughout.

In creating the code, Union's sub-council is hoping to reverse the ethos of the campus community by defining the relationship between a student or a faculty member and the rest of the academic community as well as making academic misconduct an educational experience rather having rules for rules' sake.

The panel believes that the conference was an effective barometer of the sub-council's work thus far.

"The Conference was important to attend because it confirmed that the work we are doing is positive," Clemente said. "The weekend validated that we are on the right track as we build an honor code and court."

With the information from the Conference, the sub-council is expanding student input by adding new members to represent the various groups on campus, including Student Forum, the Greek system, the Minervas, and multiple academic departments.

Additionally student input is important as the committee moves further along in building the honor court since they will be determining the composition of the court, how hearings are held, as well as the appeals process, among other topics.

The sub-council is hoping to present its pledge and statement on academic integrity and honor court process to the Academic Affairs Council before the end of the fall term in November to be in place for the class of 2014.

Originally published in Union's Concordy on 10/22/09

Union to receive H1N1 vaccines

By Benjamin Engle

As the H1N1 strain of the flu continues to spread across the United States and, more specifically, college campuses, Union College Health Services plans to distribute the H1N1 vaccine to students. According to the Union Health Service's website, there have been approximately 29 cases of influenza-like illness at Union since the beginning of the school year in September.

While the Schenectady Department of Health reports on their website that there are cases of the H1N1 influenza in Schenectady County, there have been no confirmed reports of H1N1 on campus since Health Services does not specifically test for it.

The H1N1 vaccine, which is being manufactured by five different companies, was approved by the FDA on September 15, 2009, and was shipped out to health departments across the United States during the week of October 5. The Schenectady Health Department received 500 doses of the H1N1 vaccine on October 6 and has sent it to hospitals and qualified health centers. However, as of October 9, Union Health Services has not received any shipments of the vaccine, though they "hope to receive the vaccine within the next week or so." It is unknown how much of the vaccine Union will receive.

The H1N1 vaccine comes in two different forms, a nasal spray called FluMist and a traditional shot. Contrary to rumors and petitions on the internet to prevent people from getting the H1N1 vaccine, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) insists that it is completely safe and encourages people to get vaccinated, especially health care workers, pregnant women, children and young adults, and people aged 25 through 64 years who have chronic medical conditions and weakened immune systems.

Since Union is following CDC guidelines, Health Services encourages all students to get the vaccine when it becomes available on campus. The New York State Department of Health says that vaccination is the most effective way to prevent the flu. Not only does getting the vaccine better protect an individual from getting the flu, it also helps prevent that person from spreading the illness to surrounding people without the vaccine.

According to the CDC and the New York State Department of Health, the H1N1 vaccine was created like the seasonal flu shot was developed, which approximately 100 million Americans receive yearly. Contrary to reports that the H1N1 vaccine was not tested properly and could be harmful, Departments of Health state that the H1N1 vaccine actually received more testing this year than the seasonal vaccine. Additionally, unlike the seasonal flu vaccine, the new H1N1 vaccine underwent clinical trials for effectiveness and safety.

Because of the rapid spread of the H1N1 virus since last spring, the government is purchasing the vaccine, which will make the spray or the shot free to everybody. Health Services intends to make the vaccine accessible to students by giving it to students during the evening hours in dorms. However, the H1N1 vaccine is not a substitute for the seasonal flu vaccine. The CDC also encourages people to get this vaccination, though is not paid for by the government.

Besides the vaccine, Union Health Services is helping the campus community stay healthy during this flu season by actively educating the campus through fliers, emails, posters, and its H1N1 website. On top of this, Health Services encourages people to engage in proper sneezing and coughing etiquette which includes covering one's nose and mouth with a tissue when one coughs or sneezes, washing one's hands often with soap and water, and avoiding excessively touching one's face, nose, or mouth.

Originally published in Union's Concordy on 10/15/09

Straight from South Africa: One Minerva Fellow shares his experiences

By Benjamin Engle

At the beginning of July 2009, the second group of Minerva Fellows departed for their respective volunteer locations across the globe. The Minerva Fellowship program gives recent Union graduates the opportunity to create long-lasting programs to help the poor and solve social issues in developing countries.

The 2009-10 Minerva Fellowship program consists of eight members of the Class of 2009 who are located in six different sites around the world.

One of the Fellows, Eisenman, is working with a community organization in Hanover Park, South Africa, called the Community Action towards a Safer Environment, (CASE). The CASE program was placed in Hanover Park due to the community's disadvantaged nature. According to recent statistics, 61% of adults do not have an income, more than 80% of adults have not completed high school, and 20% of adults have not completed primary school.

According to CASE, their mission is to "break the cycle of crime and violence in which young people live by equipping community members to recognize and respond appropriately to both the causes and effects of crime and violence in their communities."

While he remains in South Africa, Eisenman is dedicating his time in more ways than through the CASE program. Additionally, he has created a co-ed soccer team of youth from the Hanover Park area, whom Eisenman has been training since August. The training will continue until April 2010, when Eisenmnan plans to bring the team to a tournament in Durban, South Africa. In Durban, the team will attend a soccer clinic run by the country's leading stars, and play in a tournament with 23 other organizations from South Africa.

Eisenman is now trying to raise money in order to provide his soccer team with jerseys, equipment, and transportation to the tournament in Durban, amenities that these South African children would not otherwise have.

In order to help him reach his goal, Green House is holding a fundraiser to contribute $500 towards the purchase of cleats, shin guards, and jerseys. If you would like to donate to Mike's cause, you can do so at http://www.backabuddy.co.za/michaeleisenman.

The following is an interview with Eisenman about his experiences thus far in South Africa.

How has your experience been so far?

I have been in Cape Town for 10 weeks, which means my time is already 25% finished. The weeks have absolutely flown by because I am still in the honeymoon stage, you could say. In the beginning, everyone I met was new and I was meeting a ton of people.

Where do you live in Cape Town?

I live with a colored family in a suburb of Cape Town called Athlone. Athlone is a colored community and the people have been living there since the forced removals during apartheid.

How would you describe your experience in Hanover Park?

Everyone shares a different story and a different experience, yet hardly anyone I meet lives with a chip on their shoulder. The area I work in is called Hanover Park. Hanover Park is one of the most crime-stricken colored areas outside of Cape Town filled with gangsterism, drugs, and prostitution. Most people get chills just when they hear the name. That is the truth.

Are you homesick? Do you like your host family?

I was homesick the first night I arrived and then last week. I was homesick because of the amazing support I have received from home.

One could not ask for a better host family. I live with Peter and Avril, who are two of the most amazing people you could ever meet. They own a volunteering company and are involved with 15-18 different organizations in the community from orphanages to schools to hospitals.

Everyone in the community knows them and loves them for what they do. I adore both of them and living with them keeps me very busy. I am also able to learn a lot about the apartheid from their personal experiences, which are extremely unbiased. That makes it much more enjoyable to talk about.

Is Cape Town what you expected? What is it like? How are you adjusting?

I tried to go into Cape Town with no expectations. There are many things that continue to surprise me on an everyday basis. Cape Town is amazing because it is easily the most beautiful city in the world. Within an hour of Cape Town you have scenic mountain ranges (in the city lies Table Mountain), you have the Indian and Atlantic Ocean, and you have over one hundred wineries.

You also have some of the most impoverished areas you will ever lay your eyes on. It is so sad because the homes are so dilapidated. You wouldn't even call them homes because they are simple shacks.

The crime rate is exceptionally high throughout Cape Town. Everyone has burglar bars covering all windows and doors, and there is not a soul living in Cape Town who doesn't know of someone who has been robbed, raped, or killed. Seriously. In my first two weeks, I was so surprised to hear of at least five or six of these occurrences. I don't want to say that I have gotten used to it, but it doesn't surprise me any longer. It still makes me sick to my stomach, though.

I adjusted to the change well enough that people think I am colored wherever I go. Sometimes I feel uncomfortable to be around white South Africans because they generally tend to be very cold people. They are even colder when I am surrounded by my colored friends and family. To adjust in the colored community, you need to be social, a good eater, and you need to learn a few words in Afrikaans. After that, you are all set, and feel like family immediately.

While in Cape Town what do you hope to accomplish? What are your goals?

I really want to make a difference in Hanover Park and have people remember not who I am, but the work I did while here. This month I put together a program in Hanover Park for pet education. We are merging with an animal rescue and nature conservation organizations to put together this event. We raised funds to offer free pet sterilization.

We will also educate the children on proper pet care techniques because dog fighting and pet neglect is extremely common in the Cape Flats. The main goal of the program is to teach people that investing in drugs only causes short term therapeutic "escape" if you will. One should rather invest their money in a dog or cat because it will provide many more benefits and there are no negative side effects.

The work I am focusing on is community development within Hanover Park and personal development for the children I work with. On my days off, I will often pop into one of the orphanages and take some of the kids out to the ocean for a day of relaxation so they can escape the repetition of a day in the home.

What would you like to tell the Union community about Cape Town?

I would like everyone to know that there are some serious problems in Cape Town that will not get sorted out for years to come. I understand that there are many countries and millions of people in the world who need help. But, I recommend people come and visit Cape Town to experience what I am experiencing and form their own opinions on the matter.

There are so many social and political problems in South Africa that it is almost sickening and has recently led to a military strike. I didn't even know this was possible to be completely honestly.

I am not expecting to change the world or even Hanover Park. But, if I can change the lives of a few people there, I will be more than satisfied with that.

Originally published in Union's Concordy on 9/24/09

Swine 2009

By Benjamin Engle

As Union College students establish their routine this fall trimester, they should be adding flu prevention their to-do lists.

The H1N1 strain of the flu, more commonly known as swine flu, has hit college campuses across the United States again this fall after first appearing last spring. According to Union College Health Services, there have been zero confirmed cases of swine flu at Union.

Swine flu is an epidemic of the influenza virus that, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), is "a respiratory disease of pigs caused by type A influenza virus that regularly causes outbreaks of influenza in pigs."

According to Barbara Lahey, the Medical Director in Health Services, the H1N1 flu is fairly mild since it only lasts about two to four weeks. Because many young people have not been exposed to the H1N1 strain of the flu, they are at a higher risk.

In order to control the outbreak of the flu virus, Health Services has been preparing for the flu season and following protocols and guidelines set forth by the CDC and the Schenectady County Department of Health.

Additionally, Union is part of the American College Health Association's "Pandemic Influenza of College Campuses" surveillance.

Lahey and the Health Services department is preparing to see swine flu cases on campus and is encouraging all members of the Union College Community to practice good hygiene and respiratory etiquette.

"We must stay focused on prevention of the flu," Lahey said. "We need to be considerate of others by taking the proper steps to prevent an outbreak."

Lahey, in conjunction with the CDC, suggests that students and faculty take advantage of the hand sanitizer stations posted at various building entrances and to cover their mouths and nose when they cough or sneeze. They are also urged to keep high-contact areas such as desks and labs clean. Additionally, Lahey suggests that the campus employ a buddy system to keep a better eye on friends, roommates, and others.

If a student or faculty member believes he or she has contracted swine flu, Health Services asks that they either leave campus and return home, or self-isolate in their dorm room. Those who believe they have the flu should not come to Health Services to avoid contaminating the buildings as well as fellow students. However, they should call in to?Health Services immediately.

According to CDC guidelines, students should not return to class or work until they have been fever free without taking medication for at least 24 hours.

"We are prepared to look outside the box to make sure students are okay," Lahey said. "We can't be afraid to help each other during this flu season."

Union College Health Services will be hosting flu clinics on November 5 and 12 to give out the seasonal flu vaccine. While the vaccine will not prevent the H1N1 virus, Health Services hopes that it will minimize symptoms.

"The community needs to pull together and look out for each other," Lahey added, "It's going to be okay as we communicate quickly and become more educated."

Originally published in Union's Concordy on 9/17/09

Swine flu concerns reach Union

By Benjamin Engle

While all suspected swine flu cases in Schenectady and Albany counties, according to the Schenectady and Albany Departments of Public Heath, have far tested negative, Union College is being proactive in ensuring the health of its students, faculty, and staff.

First detected in Mexico City in early April, swine flu, otherwise known as “H1N1,” is an epidemic of a new influenza virus that, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, is “a respiratory disease of pigs caused by type A influenza virus that regularly causes outbreaks of influenza in pigs.”

While Swine flu does not result in high death rates in pigs, the virus is currently spreading through humans across the world. According to the World Health Organization, as of May 4, 21 countries have officially reported 1085 cases of the H1N1 virus. Of the 21 countries, Mexico has 590 confirmed cases as well as 25 deaths. One death has occurred in the United States of 286 confirmed cases. Of those 286 cases, there are 73 people with the virus in New York State. According to the Associated Press, the cases in New York State have mild.

In response to the swine flu infection, the Director of Union College Health Services, Sharron McCullough, emailed a swine flu notification to the Union community on Wednesday, April 19. The email, according to McCullough, was to inform the community of how the infection outbreak worldwide is affecting Union. A similar email was sent to Union parents on May 1.

“First, it’s important not to overreact. Classes and all College business continue as normal,” McCullough wrote in the email to the campus. “We do not have any known cases of swine flu. Nevertheless, all campus community members should be taking common-sense precautions to avoid getting sick or transmitting an illness.”

According to McCullough, Health Services has been taking a proactive approach in alerting the campus relating to H1N1 and preparing for any cases on campus. Union Health Services has been in daily contact with the Schenectady Health Department and is working with the Health Department on numerous issues and are instrumental in what actions Union takes regarding the situation.

“We are asking students to call Health services (388-6120) and report any symptoms they feel are related to the flu,” McCullough said in an interview with the Concordiensis. “These are fever over 100 degrees, sore throat, runny nose and congestion, body aches, [and] any recent travel to Mexico. Occasionally vomiting and diarrhea have been reported but may not necessarily relate to the flu. It is important not to go to class if feeling ill.

However, other universities and colleges have not been spared from the infection of the H1N1 virus. UDaily, the news service of the University of Delaware, as of May 4, reports that there are 20 confirmed cases of the flu strain on its campus. Additionally, some institutions have closed for the semester, including Harvard Dental School and Texas Wesleyan University.

McCullough, however, believes that Union’s trimester schedule has lowered Union’s risk for an outbreak.

“I actually feel we are at more of an advantage since our Spring break was earlier than other colleges,” McCullough said. “We were back at school when other students were ‘vacationing.’”

While Union is at an advantage, McCullough does not believe that students, faculty, or staff should not ignore the current flu outbreak.

“I think everyone should be concerned but taking precautions such as washing your hands and using your elbow to cover your nose and mouth when sneezing or coughing is most important,” McCullough commented. “Eating a balanced diet and drinking plenty of pure water and [getting] rest are your best defenses against becoming ill.”

Additionally, Union’s Facilities Services Department has taken steps in ensure the health and safety of the campus community.

According to Rich Patierne, Manager of Building Services and Work Order Systems, Facilities is responding to the H1N1 virus in a proactive fashion.

“Our cleaning staff has been instructed to make a more concentrated effort to cleaning all bathroom fixtures, hand rails, door knobs, and common spaces,” Patierne said. “We have also started the process of installing hand sanitizers in the buildings.”

Even though Union is taking preventive actions against swine flu, McCullough reassures that the H1N1 strain of the flu is not necessarily health threatening.

“Most healthy people recover from the flu and don't have serious complications, but some people such as the older people, young children and certain people with health conditions are at a higher risk for serious flu related complications,” McCullough said. “The best defense is to vaccinate against the flu. Health Services has a flu clinic the first two Thursdays in November. We are trying to outreach to our students to protect them against contracting the flu.”

Originally published in Union's Concordy on 5/6/09

What's New With Wold

By Benjamin Engle

In the coming weeks, physical construction will commence on Union College's Peter Irving Wold Science and Engineering Center, an $18 million, 35,000 square foot state-of-the-art addition to house the College's science and interdisciplinary programs.

The Center will house Biochemistry, Environmental Science and Engineering, a high performance computer lab, state-of-the-art laboratories and classrooms, and flexible incubator labs for Electrical Engineering & Music research.

Additionally, the three-story building will house a rooftop renewable energy lab dedicated display areas to showcase student and faculty research.

The Wold Center, which will be located in the area between Science and Engineering, the F.W. Olin Center, Schaffer Library, and Social Sciences (the future Lippman Hall), will be using a portion of a gift by John Wold '38 and his wife Jane in 2002, the largest alumni gift in Union history.

Wold is a former U.S. Congressman and is a geologist and the president of Wold Minerals Company. The building will be named for his father, Peter Wold, who was a professor at Union in the physics department.

The first signs of construction will begin after ReUnion weekend during the week of June 1 with the erection of a fence around the construction site. According to Doug Klein, Dean of Interdisciplinary Studies, the fence will close the entire area between Schaffer Library and the Olin Center, including the walkway to Alumni Gymnasium.

The entrances to Science and Engineering that face the Library and Gym will be closed to the public; however, the main entrance to the Gym will continue to be accessible.

Additionally, the tunnel connecting the Olin Building to the Science and Engineering Building will continue to open and Klein believes it will become the main thru-way to Science and Engineering.

Construction trailers and the staging area for supplies will be located on the grassy area behind the Gym at the intersection of Alexander Lane and South Lane. While trucks will be using Alexander Lane for access to the construction site, the road will be open throughout the building process.

According to Dean Klein, the overall project, which is scheduled to finish in winter 2011, is approximately two weeks behind schedule. However, according to Klein being behind is nothing to worry about.

"With a project of this size, being a few weeks behind the original schedule is fine," Klein said.
During the past few months, architects (Einhorn, Yaffee, Prescott) have been finalizing plans for the building. Klein stated that the project is within budget that has been set with the architects, though that was not always the case.

"Early in the process, we weren't on budget," Klein said. "We had to make compromises, though none were programmatic and we didn't lose any square footage. Since the original plans, the architects took away some windows to lower costs."

However, the design committee and architects are still committed to designing the building to achieve LEED Gold status from the U.S. Green Building Council.

"We are continuing to expand the use of alternative energy in the building," Klein explained.
Klein expects finalization of sustainability plans in the near future, though according to the Wold Construction website, the building will include metering equipment for electric, chilled water and steam, waterless urinals and dual flush water closets, the use of materials that will reduce the quantity of indoor air contaminants that are odorous and harmful to occupants, as well as other environmentally friendly initiatives.

While the architects are still working on the final drawings for the Center, the bidding phases are underway.

"There are three bidding phases," explained Klein. "The first phase was utilities and relocation, which already happened. We are about to open the bidding for the foundation and steel contract and the building construction call for bids will take place in the middle of the summer."
Major work with utilities and relocation of utilities will begin between ReUnion weekend and Commencement. In addition, the foundation for the Wold Center is scheduled to be complete by January 1, 2010.

While construction will end daily around 3 p.m., Klein ensures that the disruption to classes will be minimized.

"We are working with contractors to make sure construction sounds will be kept to a minimum during exam weeks," Klein said.

Updates and more information about the construction process can be found at http://www.union.edu/Campus/wold/index.php

Originally published in Union's Concordy on 5/28/09