Campus Champion

Associate Professor of Spanish Colleen Kattau appreciates the large number of students who pass through the Modern Languages Department. Some are language majors. Others fulfill minor requirements. All of them make a connection to other cultures and the world. Using her talents as a musician and thought-provoking speaker, Colleen champions her interests. These include Latin American people and their music, and gender equality. She embraces her role guiding students to think critically and excels in her presentation. Campus community members can see firsthand when she closes the College’s Women’s History Month celebration with a Sandwich Seminar on March 31.

SUNY Cortland will showcase the College’s top academic work across all disciplines with “Transformations: A Student Research and Creativity Conference” on Friday, April 8.

Celebrating its 20th year in 2016, Transformations features nearly 70 different projects involving more than 125 undergraduate and graduate students. The event, which is free to attend and open to the public, takes place from 12:30 to 5:30 p.m. in Bowers Hall and Sperry Center. Classes will be held as scheduled during the conference.

“Transformations marks one of the biggest days of the academic year and deservedly so,” said Bruce Mattingly, dean of the School of Arts and Sciences and chair of the conference committee. “Our students, with the guidance and support of their faculty mentors, have invested countless hours in their impressive scholarly work.

“This is a hard-earned opportunity to share their research and creativity with the larger campus community. Presenting at Transformations serves as a major accomplishment in the college careers of our most promising students.”

An afternoon of student-led presentations and poster sessions follow a keynote address from John Ryder ’73, SUNY Cortland’s former dean of arts and sciences who now serves as provost and vice president for academic affairs and student success at American University of Ras Al Khaminah in the United Arab Emirates. In 1997, when he was the College’s dean of arts and sciences, Ryder was responsible for establishing Scholars’ Day, the event that preceded Transformations. 

Ryder’s talk, titled “The World of Scholarship and Scholarship in the World: Life After Cortland,” begins at 12:30 p.m. in Bowers Hall, Room 1129. Complimentary refreshments will be available from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. in the first-floor service area of Sperry Center. 

In 2011, a special planning committee renamed and reorganized Scholars’ Day to reflect the College’s strategic priorities of providing a transformational education and fostering academic excellence. The day’s activities continue to highlight student achievement and encourage scholarship in the future.

Among this year’s many topics representing a variety of different academic departments:

• “Factors Judges Consider when Determining the Admissibility of Psychological Autopsies into Criminal and Civil Proceedings”
• “Hoxie Gorge Floral Diversity and Pollination Syndrome”
• “Road Salt and its Effects on River Water Chemistry in Cortland, N.Y.”
• “Using the Alter-G Treadmill with Overweight Patients at Risk for Cardiovascular Disease”
• “SUNY Cortland Student Life Center’s Impact on Student Recruitment, Satisfaction and Success”
• “When One is Not Enough: A Qualitative Exploration of Nonmarital Childbirth Among Low-Income Single Mothers”
• “Moot Court Oral Argument Demonstration: Kedesh College and A.R.H. v. United States”
• “Action Research in Professional Development Schools: Improving Teaching and Learning in the Elementary Classroom”
• “The Regulation of FIFA as a Corporation Operating within the European Union”
• “Digital Storytelling: Using Free Web 2.0 Tools and Mobile Apps to Engage Young Learners”

A complete list of projects can be found in the Transformations program.

Ryder, who specializes in American philosophy and boasts extensive experience in international education, has worked full-time overseas for nearly six years. This summer, he will become the founding provost of the American University of Malta, a European island country located in the Mediterranean Sea. He previously worked as director of the SUNY system’s International Programs Office and was the president of a university in the Eurasian country of Azerbaijan before taking his current job.

From 1980 to 2002, Ryder put together a distinguished career at SUNY Cortland beginning as a lecturer of philosophy. He eventually chaired the College’s Philosophy Department and co-founded the Project for Eastern and Central Europe. Ryder served as dean of the School of Arts and Sciences from 1996 to 2002 before directing SUNY’s Center on Russia and the United States, which created various exchange programs between the system and Russian institutions. 

Ryder also has helped establish dual-degree programs with higher education institutions in China, Mexico, Turkey and several other countries. From 2002 to 2012, he served as president of the Alliance of Universities for Democracy (AUDEM), which united scholars representing all academic disciplines from the U.S. as well as Central and Eastern Europe.

His own research focuses on issues in systematic ontology and epistemology as well as social and political philosophy. Ryder has authored and edited many published works, most recently including The Things in Heaven and Earth: An Essay in Pragmatic Naturalism (Fordham University Press, 2013). His papers have been translated and distributed throughout Europe, where he continues to tour universities and conferences as a guest speaker.

Besides Mattingly, the Transformations Committee includes: Phil Buckenmeyer, associate professor and chair of kinesiology; Patricia Conklin, professor of biological sciences; Elena Grossman, assistant professor of art and art history; Anita Kuiken, senior assistant librarian in Memorial Library; Lisa Mostert, technology support assistant with Campus Technology Services; Charlotte Pass, associate professor of literacy; Kevin Pristash, director of campus activities and Corey Union; and Kimberly Rombach, associate professor and chair of childhood/early childhood education.

Transformations is supported by the President’s Office and the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Office. SPARK, formerly known as the Student Alumni Association, provides volunteers for Transformations.

For more information, including the complete schedule of events, visit the Transformations Web page at cortland.edu/transformations or contact the School of Arts and Sciences at 607-753-4312.

It was a match made in Cortland.

Rod Headley ’08 was recruited from a tough high school in Queens, N.Y., by Coach Tom Spanbauer ’83 to become the eventual varsity basketball team captain leading his team all the way to the NCAA tournament.

Shanelle Collins ’06 was at all the games, performing with DanceWorks courtside at halftime. Rod decided he had to meet her.

One day during Rod’s freshman year, he worked up his courage after spotting her in Neubig Hall. Noticing the word “Starz” emblazoned on Shanelle’s wide, glittery belt, he cheerfully called out “Hey, Starz! You are a Star!”

She smiled. They talked. Rod and Shanelle were close friends for the next two years. Rod was a junior and Shanelle a senior when they finally started to date.

“He would buy me lunch when I worked at the student information desk in Corey Union,” Shanelle said. “I lived off campus without a meal plan so him offering lunch often was like having gold for a struggling student.”

“After DanceWorks, I would stay and see him play,” Shanelle said.

Shanelle earned her bachelor’s degree in communication studies and Rod helped her U-Haul her belongings to New York for her first job. Two years later, Rod earned a bachelor of science in education and joined her.

They now live together on Broadway in Manhattan.

And they have a son named Cortland.

Naming their first child after their upstate alma mater seemed like an obvious choice to the couple.

“Cortland basketball was probably the best four years of my life,” said Rod, explaining the decision.

“We loved going to Cortland,” Shanelle agreed.

	Cortland boosting his 2034 alma mater.

“There are a couple of athletes named Cortland, but nobody would understand why we named our son that if they didn’t know we went to Cortland,” Rod said.

Shanelle notes their son’s name turns out to be a great fit because he’s brave like a Red Dragon and smart like a … well, like a SUNY Cortland student. Now 3-and-a-half, Cortland will be the ring bearer at the couple’s May 29 wedding in Hillburn, Rockland County, N.Y.

Roughly nine years into their relationship, Rod used their son’s second birthday party to pop the surprise marriage proposal.

“I wondered why we needed to have 60 people at a child’s second birthday party,” Shanelle said of the backyard barbecue hosted in Queens, N.Y., by Shanelle’s grandmother.

“Everyone was around and already taking pictures because of the cake,” Rod said. “When all the attention was on us, I dropped to one knee.”

The couple decided to give their wedding day a Cortland theme.

Shanelle is busy planning the nuptials with her bridesmaids, including a Red Dragon matron-of-honor, Mia O’Connor ’05.

Approximately 20 guests, one-quarter of the wedding invitees, are SUNY Cortland graduates. Guests will find their name on what looks like a college “I.D.” with a picture of the wedding couple and instructions to find the table named after the actual residence hall where the guest lived. The photo booth will give them college-themed options to dress up like a “nerdy student,” or “best-dressed” or “most likely to succeed.”

Invitations on black paper will look a bit like an elegant blackboard.

The location — Views at Mt. Fuji, a mountaintop Japanese style banquet complex — features the school’s colors and fierce dragons in its traditional décor.

Shanelle is a production manager of On-Air Promos for Nickelodeon in New York. Rod coaches different sports and is a freelance photographer and videographer, taking tips from Shanelle as he hones his skills following a career change from teaching and coaching a year and a half ago.

As for Cortland, he’s enrolled in daycare and speaks a second language, Spanish. If all goes as planned, he will be part of SUNY Cortland’s graduating class of 2034.

A packed schedule with nearly 20 different events marks SUNY Cortland’s celebration of Women’s History Month throughout March.

This year’s events follow the theme “Working to Form a More Perfect Union: Honoring Women in Public Service and Government.” Lectures, film screenings and a play production will address a wide range of critical political and social issues dealing with gender, civil rights, domestic violence, the environment and health-related concerns. All are free and open to the public. 

Overall, there are 18 different “caucuses” planned. A caucus involves a group of people with shared concerns within a political party or larger organization.

“The goal with all of these events is to recognize and celebrate the diverse and historic accomplishments of women in politics, public service and social activism throughout the month and beyond,” said Sally Dear-Healey, a visiting assistant professor of sociology/anthropology at SUNY Cortland and coordinator of women’s studies at the College.

SUNY Cortland’s Women’s History Month schedule continues with the following: 

• Tuesday, March 8: “Conversation on Democracy,” at 6 p.m. in the Beard Gallery of Main Street SUNY Cortland, located at 9 Main St.
• Wednesday, March 9: “Women Workers in the Upstate New York Suffrage Campaign,” a Sandwich Seminar with Karen Pastorello at 12:30 p.m. in Jacobus Lounge.
• Thursday, March 10: “Women’s Civil Rights in Education: How Title IX Finally Won its Rightful Seat at the Table, and Why the Legs Are Still So Wobbly,” a Sandwich Seminar with Wendy Murphy, from the Women’s and Children’s Advocacy Project at New England Law in Boston, at noon in Jacobus Lounge.
• Thursday, March 10: “From Explicit Equity to Sports to Rape to Explicit Subjugation: Violence Against Women,” the day’s second talk by Murphy, at 6 p.m. in Sperry Center, Room 305.
• Tuesday, March 22: “Legal Advocacy and Grassroots Action: Saving Women, Babies, and Families One Case at a Time,” a talk by Lisa Sangoi, of the National Advocates for Pregnant Women, at 7 p.m. in Sperry Center, Room 104.
• Wednesday, March 23: “Compounding Harms, Women and Girls in the Criminal Justice System,” a Sandwich Seminar with Sangoi at 12:30 p.m. in Jacobus Lounge.
• Wednesday, March 23: “National Advocates for Pregnant Women: Legal and Ethical Issues in Case Studies,” Sangoi’s third talk on campus, at 3 p.m. in Moffett Center, Room 2125.
• Thursday, March 24: “Speaking the Truth: U.S. Militarism and the Making of War Resisters,” a Sandwich Seminar with Jack Gilroy and Ann Tiffany, two peace activists, at noon in Jacobus Lounge.
• Thursday, March 24: A production of the play “The Predator” at 7 p.m. in Old Main Brown Auditorium.
• Tuesday, March 29: “Violence Against Women,” a lecture led by Cathy Marston, from Free Texas Battered Women, at 4:25 p.m. in Old Main, Room G-10.
• Wednesday, March 30: “Standing Our Ground Against Battering and Freeing Survivors,” a Sandwich Seminar with Marston, at 12:30 p.m. in Jacobus Lounge.
• Wednesday, March 30: “Texas Battered Women’s Project,” a lecture led by Marston, at 1:50 p.m. in Moffett Center, Room 2127.
• Thursday, March 31: “Wildcraft Versus State Craft: a Look at DIY Herbal Care,” a Sandwich Seminar with Colleen Kattau, associate professor of modern languages, at noon in the Old Main Colloquium.

Women’s History Month events are sponsored by the President’s Office, the Women’s Studies Committee, the Center for Gender and Intercultural Studies (CGIS), Women of Color, SUNY Cortland’s Title IX Office, Campus Artist and Lecture Series, and the College’s “Thinking About War and Peace Series,” which includes CGIS, the Center for Ethics, Peace and Social Justice, and the Africana Studies and Philosophy departments.

For more information on Women’s History Month efforts across the nation, visit the National Women’s History Project website. For more on SUNY Cortland’s events, contact Dear-Healey at 607-753-4762.

SUNY Cortland students continue to make tax season easier by preparing free returns for qualifying community members. Their volunteer work is approaching record levels in 2016 while saving local residents tens of thousands of dollars in tax preparation fees.

This year, 23 business economics majors are doubling as IRS-certified tax preparers with Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Cortland County. Joined by two other community volunteers, they offer free services four times each week for individuals who fall into two categories: those who made $54,000 or less in taxable income last year or those who qualify for earned income credit.

“This is a win-win,” said Raimona Rowe, the local site coordinator for the VITA program. “It’s a good way for students to interact with community members who they might never interact with otherwise.”

To date, volunteers have prepared approximately 550 tax returns — roughly 200 more than at the same time last year. Similar services through a private company could cost between $200 to $300, Rowe estimated. That means collective savings of at least $100,000 for local residents.

Rowe credited the jump in tax returns to a successful grassroots effort that posted flyers at 85 locations across Cortland County. That marketing push was led by community member Jim Kruser and SUNY Cortland business economics major Michael Juresich.

“It’s a great example of what can be done when the community and students work together,” said Rowe, noting that volunteers hope to prepare 700 to 800 tax returns by season’s end. 

Throughout the rest of tax season — which concludes Monday, April 18 — VITA preparers will be at the following locations: 

• Cortland Free Library: Every Tuesday from 3 to 8 p.m.
• United Presbyterian Church of Cortland: Every Friday from 3 to 8 p.m.
• Access to Independence: Every Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Chenango Rural Services: Every other Wednesday — March 9, March 23, April 6 — from 1 to 5 p.m.
• Truxton Town Hall: Every other Thursday — March 17, March 31, April 14 — from 4 to 6 p.m.

To schedule an appointment, people can call 1-877-211-8667 or simply dial 211. Visit cortlandfreetaxes.org for a full calendar and more information.

Mascot Madness is back, and Cortland’s Red Dragon faces a three-way challenge in the opening round of the annual battle to prove which school has the most popular sports sidekick in the 64-campus SUNY system.

All SUNY Cortland students, alumni, faculty, staff, parents and friends can help Blaze reach his goal by casting votes on his behalf during the competition, which starts today, March 8. The contest, patterned after the NCAA tournament, will narrow the field during five rounds of voting. A winner will be selected March 30.

In the first round, Blaze faces the mascots from Columbia-Greene Community College and from Jamestown Community College. CGCC’s mascot is Rip, a caricature of the fictional character Rip Van Winkle. JCC has two mascots, J.J. the Jayhawk and Jax, a cat-like critter of some kind.

Cortland Red Dragon supporters can – and should – cast their votes at www.cortland.edu/blaze.  Blaze fans can vote once every 12 hours. They can also enlist help from friends, family and strangers on the street.

“This is a great opportunity for all people who have a connection with SUNY Cortland to show their school spirit in a lighthearted way,” President Erik J. Bitterbaum said. “Blaze has come close to winning in the past. Let’s make this the year he brings the honors back to Cortland.”

If Blaze makes it past the first round and continues through the end, this is the voting schedule:

• Round 2: March 14 – March 17
• Round 3: March 18 – March 22
• Round 4/Final Four: March 23 – March 25
• Finals: March 28 – March 30

Recently, SUNY Administration sent a series of questions to mascots at all SUNY campuses. Below are the questions, as well as Blaze’s answers:

• Who are you and what do you do?

Blaze the Red Dragon, the fierce, fire-breathing mascot of SUNY Cortland’s powerhouse athletic teams. What do I do? Whatever I want. Did you miss the part about fire-breathing dragon?

• Where did you work before you were hired as a mascot?

Westeros. I was chief of security enforcement for Daenerys Targaryen during her hostile takeover attempt of the Seven Kingdoms. I left because I wanted something that would challenge me intellectually.

• What is your most embarrassing mascot moment?

An allergy attack during our Cortaca Jug rivalry game. Big sneeze. Took out half the Ithaca College bench and scorched the scoreboard.

• Which mascot would be your SUNY sidekick?

Let’s put it this way: 17 out of 19 SUNYAC Commissioner’s Cups and four national championships just last year. ALL of the SUNY mascots are our sidekicks.

• What is your favorite part of New York State?

Cortland and Central New York in general. It’s beautiful, there’s a ton of active things to do, and you can get anywhere in New York from here pretty easily. Plus, it’s a great place for barbecue!

• Have you ever studied abroad?

Does New Jersey count? But seriously, I studied history in Europe, art in Asia, biology in South America and education in Australia — all through SUNY Cortland’s amazing study abroad program, which was the first in the SUNY system.

• What TV show could you watch all day?

“Barney & Friends.” It’s very popular sitcom among us anthropomorphic reptile types.

• What is your favorite fast food spot?

The mall. During the holiday shopping season. I just wish I could get everyone to take their coats off: zippers get stuck between my teeth.

• What song/music do you listen to in order to get hyped for an event?

I’ve got a bootleg mashup of DJ Khaled’s “All I Do Is Win,” and “Puff the Magic Dragon.” It. Is. Awesome.

• What is the best class you ever took?

Geology. SUNY Cortland has its own field station where you get real-world experience. I found a pen I lost back in the Mesozoic Era!

Don’t be alarmed if you see a University Police Department (UPD) officer hanging out in your classroom hallway. It doesn’t mean that a dangerous situation is brewing.

In fact, it’s probably quite the opposite.

UPD officers have been walking foot patrols in the College's academic buildings since the start of the Spring semester as part of an enhancement to its community policing model. Community policing, which integrates officers into day-to-day campus life, has been the hallmark of the University Police Department for many years.

“We want the community to get to know our officers and understand that they are there to help solve problems,” University Police Chief Steve Dangler said. “When something happens, we want people to feel comfortable coming to them.”

On a campus, officers play a role in student safety, education, and problem solving as well as respond to criminal activity. The focus is on building relationships.

By redirecting the number of officers stationed in patrol cars in favor of walking patrols, the “community” element of UPD’s responsibility is enhanced, Dangler said. It also creates more of a visual deterrent to illegal activity and positions officers to respond quickly to situations as they arise.

Michael J. Bond, M.D., a 1975 SUNY Cortland graduate and pediatric dermatologist who has greatly influenced the practice of his medical specialty, will become the 15th inductee into the SUNY Cortland Academic Hall of Fame.

Bond, who is a board-certified physician in pediatrics and dermatology and was the only pediatric dermatology consultant to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital for 20 years, will be honored on Monday, March 21, during the President’s List reception. The event honors the College’s students who achieve grades of A-minus or better in each of their courses for a given semester, in this case Fall 2015.

	Michael J. Bond '75, M.D.

SUNY Cortland President Erik J. Bitterbaum will open the reception, which will recognize 474 students this year. The President’s List reception, which includes the honorees’ parents and other guests, begins at 4 p.m. in the Corey Union Function Room.

Created in 2006, the Academic Hall of Fame recognizes SUNY Cortland alumni who graduated 10 or more years ago with magna cum laude or higher honors, and who have made significant contributions to society through their chosen professions. The Hall of Fame wall is located in the Dorothea “Dottie” Kreig Allen Fowler ’52, M ’74 Old Main Grand Entrance Hall.

Last year, the College honored the late SUNY Distinguished Teaching Professor of Psychology Peter A. DiNardo ’68. During a remarkable teaching career at SUNY Oneonta, DiNardo strongly influenced the modern, international clinical practice of psychology in the areas of fear, panic and anxiety.

This year, Bond will be inducted into the Hall of Fame based on his career of treating, researching, consulting and training other medical professionals who serve children with genetic skin abnormalities and other skin conditions unique to children.

"Michael Bond is a great example of a SUNY Cortland alum who has truly made a difference throughout his career,” stated R. Bruce Mattingly, dean of the School of Arts and Sciences. “We are very proud to see him included in the Academic Hall of Fame."

Since 2003, Bond has served as the medical director of Advanced Dermatology and Cosmetic Surgery, a practice with 100 offices based in Orlando, Fla. It is considered to be the largest dermatology specialty practice in the country. There, he established the largest mid-level dermatology internship in the U.S.

Bond has trained extensively in laser surgery to treat young children with vascular birthmarks. He developed a procedure to surgically remove congenital giant birth moles in infants and young children.

In 2003, Bond established the largest recognized dermatology training program for physician assistants and nurse practitioners in the country. He also served for 21 years as the director of education for the mid-south chapter of the national organization addressing Epidermolysis Bullosa.

Trained by the Association of Clinical Research Professionals, he has conducted extensive clinical research, collecting biological samples on a massive scale for the sake of genetic study and investigating topical treatments for different childhood skin conditions.

Bond became a member of the Society of Pediatric Dermatology in 1981, shortly after this subspecialty of dermatology was formed, and has presented numerous papers at the society’s national and international meetings. His topics have included the diagnosis and treatment of rare dermatological disorders, the malignant potential of giant congenital moles and their surgical removal; a revolution in the surgical management of giant congenital moles, painless injections and living with and caring for children with catastrophic skin diseases. Bond also presents at other national dermatology gatherings.

His scholarly findings have been published in Dermatology, Pediatrics and Psychology.

Bond established a student-managed medical talk show through Germantown High School in Wisconsin that ran for 16 years on public television. On the show, he and a designated student interviewed medical guests. He has mentored students and lectured at high schools on the importance of maintaining ethics.

Bond became a passionate scuba diver after taking the first scuba diving course ever offered at SUNY Cortland. Since then, he has taken dive trips around the world and conducted field research in marine geology in the Caribbean with Lamont-Doherty Geological Observatory of Columbia University. He also took part in developing the first and most detailed map of the ocean floors.

An accomplished underwater wildlife photographer, Bond’s writing has been published in Marine Geology and National Geographic.

When he graduated magna cum laude from SUNY Cortland in 1975 with his Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences degree, Bond was only the second alumnus to be directly accepted into an American medical school, in his case the SUNY Upstate Medical University in Syracuse, N.Y. Bond, who grew up in Spring Valley, N.Y., completed his residency in pediatrics at the University of South Florida and his dermatology residency at the University of Tennessee Medical Center.

Before his current appointment in 2003, Bond was in private practice for 19 years in Memphis, Tenn. During this time, he was the dermatologist for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Bond is a diplomate of the American Board of Pediatrics and the American Board of Dermatology. His memberships also include the American Academy of Dermatology.

Last year Bond, together with his former classmate Wayne Marley, M.D., class of 1975, made a major gift to SUNY Cortland that established the David F. Berger Summer Research Fellowship, an award for the College’s top undergraduate student pursuing independent research in biology, chemistry or psychology. The scholarship honors Berger, professor emeritus of psychology, for giving them both the opportunity to conduct undergraduate research alongside him for three-and-a-half years. The award aims to provide the kind of career catalyst that led the pair to success in the field of dermatology: Bond in pediatric dermatology and Marley as a skin cancer surgeon. Marley is a 2006 Academic Hall of Fame inductee.

“Dr. Bond is a very warm and caring person,” wrote David Berger, SUNY Cortland professor emeritus of psychology, in his letter nominating the alumnus for the Hall of Fame induction. “He is pleasant to talk with and a good listener. Therefore, he easily develops excellent rapport with patients, colleagues and friends. He is very deserving of this recognition from our College.”

Last year, thanks to thousands of generous College supporters, more than $736,000 in scholarships was provided to deserving SUNY Cortland students.

Hundreds of thousands of dollars more in gifts helped support important academic programs, student research, athletic teams and other critical elements of the SUNY Cortland experience.

And now, it is easier than ever to learn how supporters of the Cortland College Foundation change lives at SUNY Cortland through improved online versions of the Foundation’s 2014-15 annual report.

The online report includes meaningful stories of how donor gifts have impacted students, often opening a door that would have been otherwise closed to deserving students. It highlights the financial health of the foundation as well as some of the College’s notable recent achievements.

It also includes a full list – searchable by name or class year – of the more than 5,000 alumni, students and friends of the College who gave to SUNY Cortland last year.

Smartphone and tablet users can now download a new Cortland College Foundation app to get full access to the report in a mobile-friendly format. Search for SUNY Cortland Foundation to find it in the App Store.

Concert-goers can expect triple the entertainment when SUNY Cortland’s annual Spring Fling concert takes place Saturday, April 30, as three acts will headline the event: electronic dance duo The White Panda along with hip hop artists Jeremih and Ty Dolla $ign.

Organized by the College’s Student Activities Board (SAB), the show is slated to begin at 7 p.m., with doors opening at 6 p.m. Only a limited number of tickets will be sold.

	Jeremih

SUNY Cortland students can purchase one ticket for $20, cash only, at the Corey Union information desk from Monday, March 21, through Friday, March 25. Any remaining tickets will be available for purchase by the general public for $30, cash only, starting Monday, March 28, at the same location. 

Ticket sale times will be released closer to these dates.

The White Panda, an electronic pop duo that experiments with mash-ups of popular songs, previously performed at SUNY Cortland for the College’s Cortaca Jug concert in 2014, entertaining a capacity crowd in the Moffett Center Gymnasium. Tom Evans and Dan Griffith, the Chicago pair behind The White Panda, reached Soundcloud’s top five most-played artists in 2011. They also have produced 27 singles to reach No. 1 on Hype Machine.

The band has toured alongside Mac Miller, Mike Posner, Wale and Ghostland while also sharing the stage with MGMT, Steve Akoi, Gym Class Heroes and Dispatch. The White Panda has released six albums to date, including their most recent, “The Pawprint,” which came out in early December.

Jeremih, a 2016 Grammy nominee and Chicago native born Jeremy Felton, has topped the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip Hop chart and has produced three Billboard top-ten hits since 2009. Performing on the Def Jam Recording label, he earned an iHeartRadio Music Award for Hip Hop/R&B Song of the Year in 2015 for the single, “Don’t Tell ’Em,” featuring YG. He also has received nominations at the American Music Awards, the NAACP Awards and the Billboard Music Awards. 

His Grammy nomination for best R&B performance came earlier this year for “Planes,” featuring past Spring Fling headliner J. Cole. 

Jeremih’s third and most recent studio album, “Late Nights,” was released in December and features collaborations with J. Cole, Big Sean, Future and Ty Dolla $ign. His next album is expected out later this year.

Ty Dolla $ign, a Los Angeles-based artist born Tyrone Griffin, has performed alongside past SUNY Cortland Spring Fling headliners Wiz Khalifa and Big Sean as well as Chris Brown, Tyga and others. He released his first mixtape, “Beach House,” in 2012 followed by a second recording, “Beach House 2,” which featured guest appearances from Wiz Khalifa, Too $hort and Juicy J.

Among his first singles, “Paranoid,” featuring B.o.B, cracked the Billboard Hot 100 List in 2014. Performing on the Taylor Gang Records and Atlantic Records labels, Ty Dolla $ign released his debut solo album, “Free TC,” in November.

The College’s annual Spring Fling carnival will take place from noon to 3 p.m. the same day of the concert on the lawn in front of Moffett Center.

To stay current with Spring Fling-related news, follow SAB on Twitter and Instagram at @CortlandSAB. For more information on the event, contact the Campus Activities Office at 607-753-5574.

Prepared by Public Relations Office intern Bethany Lunden

Netflix users won’t need their TVs or laptops to gain an insider’s look at the streaming service’s most popular series.

Jackie Cruz, who plays Flaca on the critically acclaimed show “Orange is the New Black,” visits SUNY Cortland for a talk Friday, April 1.

Presented by the College’s Student Activities Board (SAB), the speaking engagement begins at 7 p.m. in the Corey Union Function Room. Cruz’s talk, which is free and open to the public, will focus on overcoming adversity. A meet-and-greet photo opportunity will follow. 

The New York City-born actress will star as a main character on “Orange is the New Black” when the fourth season of the series is released in June. The comedy-drama, which is the most watched series on Netflix, examines the relationships of inmates in a minimum-security federal prison for women. It has won many awards and accolades, including four Primetime Emmys.

Cruz has performed in a recurring role as inmate Marisol “Flaca” Gonzales since the show premiered in 2013. That year, she was tabbed as one of the “Top Latino Powerhouses Under 40” by The Hollywood Reporter along with names that included Eva Longoria, Selena Gomez and Demi Lovato. Cruz also has served as a fashion correspondent during New York Fashion Week for OK! Magazine.

In addition to acting, Cruz also sings and writes her own music both in English and Spanish. She split time between New York City, Los Angeles, Miami and the Dominican Republic during her childhood — surviving a near fatal car accident that resulted in brain surgery, a coma and a collapsed lung. 

She is slated to participate in a question-and-answer session with audience members following her talk at SUNY Cortland.

For more information, contact the College’s Campus Activities Office at 607-753-5574.

Don’t be surprised to see many SUNY Cortland students as well as community members rolling outdoor paintbrushes, carrying trash bags and plying rakes and garden tools to improve the Cortland community on Sunday, April 24.

Organizers of the second annual Big Event are calling for students, faculty and community members to donate their time and energy for service on Sunday, April 24, at SUNY Cortland.

Organizers of the second annual Big Event called for students, employees and community members to donate their time and energy for service. More than 500 volunteers answered the call. 

Sponsored by the Student Government Association (SGA) and its club Actively Involved in the Community (AIC), the Big Event seeks to give back to the community and help local organizations on the one-day volunteer project. Volunteers are asked to give four hours of their time that day.

Allison Garver, a senior exercise science major from Shortsville, N.Y., is directing this year’s Big Event. Last year, she worked alongside previous director Ashlee Prewitt ’14 as engagement executive for the event.

Garver is excited to build on last year’s success.

“It’s really about giving back to the community, and having the community see the college students in a more positive light,” Garver said.

The day of service is built on the concept of strength in numbers, to be held on the same day as the Cortland Downtown Partnership’s annual community clean-up. Last year, approximately 400 volunteers took part in the event. This year, volunteers will offer their services to more than 50 job sites.

Any individual person or local organization was able make a request for service. Organizers did not consider the socioeconomic need of individuals or groups who requested the service. Examples include local non-profit agencies, a group home for people with disabilities and an elderly couple in need of extra hands for a few hours.

The SGA funding that supports the Big Event will be used to purchase supplies and equipment. In the days leading up to the event, Garver encourages donations of tools such as shovels from outside sources to this year’s project.

Breakfast and t-shirts will be provided to volunteers, who are asked to provide their own transportation this year. Helpers without transportation access will be assigned projects within walking distance.

On the big day, check-in will begin and volunteers will be given their job service assignments at 8 a.m. in the Corey Union Function Room. A short kick-off ceremony will follow at 9 a.m.

Texas A&M University cultivated the concept of the Big Event more than 30 years ago. Although there’s no national organization or governing body for the Big Event, dozens of colleges and universities across the nation have followed through with similar days of service. 

“Hopefully this event will be bigger and better than last year,” Garver said. “I’m looking forward to the outcome.”

Stay current with the Big Event on Facebook and on Twitter @TBE_Cortland.

Prepared by public relations intern Bethany Lunden

The Antlers facility at the William H. Parks Family Center for Environmental and Outdoor Education at Raquette Lake will be available for use by Auxiliary Services Corporation employees, faculty, staff and their guests including spouses, children and significant others, from Thursday, June 23 through Sunday, June 26 and Monday, June 27 through Saturday, July 2.

Reservation information is available at cortland.edu/rl-events or at the Parks Family Outdoor Center Office, Miller Building, Room 230. A $50 deposit is required with registration.

The all-inclusive rate for the four-day session is $161 per adult and $128 for children age 12 and under. Room and board for six-day session is $247 per person for adults and $196 per person for children age 12 and under. There is no charge for children under one year of age.

Visitors arrive between 2-4 p.m. on the scheduled day of arrival and depart following breakfast on the last day.

Botanical Shades Workshop

Tuesday, Sept. 13-Friday, Sept. 16

Join master shade artist Theresa Breuer of Northeast Living Lights to make two of your own lampshades and two night lights. The class portion of your stay is two half days allowing time to relax and enjoy the beautiful colors of fall that Raquette Lake and the surrounding areas have to offer. Spouses or friends may attend the week with you, without taking the course. Rates for workshop attendees will be $290 and non-workshop attendees will be $165. Rates include room, board, workshop and use of other Center equipment. 

Kirby Camp Opportunities

Kirby Camp is open to alumni, faculty, and staff of the College on a weekly basis beginning in June. The sessions run from Monday-Sunday and rent for $675 per week. A small outboard motorboat may be rented for an additional $125.

Kirby Camp is a four-room secluded cabin along the southern shores of Long Point. The rustic cabin sleeps eight people. It has two bedrooms, one with a queen-sized bed and one with two sets of bunk beds. Two roll-away beds are also on site if needed. The building also has a living room and kitchen. All cookware, plates and utensils are supplied. Renters are responsible for their own food.

Weeks Available

June 20-26

Aug. 22-28

Participants for all sessions will be acknowledged on a first-come, first-served basis following the receipt of reservation and deposit. Registration forms can be found on the College’s website at cortland.edu/rl-events. For more information, call the center at 607-753-5488.

Camp Marion       

Two lean-tos or open camps are available for use by reservation. The lean-tos are accessible by water only, in the warmer months, and are approximately a two-mile paddle from Antlers. Canoes may be rented from Antlers with prior notice. There are no provisions at Camp Marion for motorized boats.

Reservations must be made a minimum of one week prior to intended stay. Requests may be obtained by completing the online reservation form, email outdoor.edinfo@cortland.edu, or phone, 607-753-5488. Those camping without a reservation will be asked to leave.

You must be affiliated with SUNY Cortland to reserve a lean-to. No person under 18 years of age can reserve a lean-to. The person who made the reservation is responsible for the conduct of all persons in the party and is liable for any violations of rules or regulations committed.