Campus Champion

The future leaders of America are developing now. One of them is Justin Wade. The junior political science major from Caledonia, N.Y., is busy educating his classmates about politics. “We are the future,” said Justin, the current Political Science Association president. He leads weekly student debates and encourages the campus to express their opinions on issues both foreign and domestic. Justin’s newest endeavor is spearheading recruitment on campus for the national campaign “Students for RAND,” an initiative for 2016 GOP U.S. presidential candidate Rand Paul.

The prestigious math teaching scholarship Gauri Kolhatkar M.A.T. ’12 received to pursue her master’s degree from SUNY Cortland offered more than financial assistance. For Kolhatkar, a native of India whose first career was in mechanical engineering, the College’s Noyce Scholarship Program provided a major vote of reassurance that she could succeed in a new field.

“It gave me confidence,” said Kolhatkar, who lives in Ithaca, N.Y., and teaches math at Newfield High School. “This was my second career and English was my second language, so I was nervous. The scholarship not only gave me the funds, but the belief that I could teach.”

SUNY Cortland recently learned that it will receive nearly $800,000 to assist promising science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) majors and professionals like Kolhatkar to become K-12 educators in high-need school districts. It’s the second phase of funding the College has earned through the National Science Foundation’s Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program.

“This is truly wonderful news, both for our deserving future teachers and for the districts that will one day benefit from their teaching,” College President Erik J. Bitterbaum said. “We need great teachers in STEM disciplines at all grade levels: teachers who enter the classroom with both a depth of knowledge in their content areas and the ability to pass that knowledge on to students.

“This award further supports SUNY Cortland’s reputation as one of the region’s most respected teaching colleges, especially in the STEM fields.”

Over a five-year period, the College will award 38 scholarships — 28 to junior or senior undergraduates worth $11,500 each and 10 at the graduate level for $14,000 — to students pursuing biology, chemistry, geology, physics and mathematics. The funding, which totals $799,855, also will be used to establish a first-year learning community for future STEM educators and to research teaching outcomes after program participants graduate.

Noyce Scholars make a post-graduation commitment to teach in districts with high-need schools across New York state. College partners include: Binghamton, Cincinnatus, Cortland, Dryden, Homer, Marathon, McGraw, South Seneca and Tully. The overall goal is to create a continuous pipeline of highly trained STEM educators to teach in the districts that need them the most. 

“This program involves the hard work of a lot of different people from across campus,” said Gregory Phelan, professor and chair of the College’s Chemistry Department as well as the principal investigator for the grant, named after the co-inventor of the microchip.

SUNY Cortland’s Noyce Scholarship application committee also included Noelle Chaddock, chief diversity officer; Kerri Freese, the Noyce Scholarship Program coordinator; Mary Gfeller, associate professor of mathematics; Rena Janke, associate professor of biological sciences; and Angela Pagano, assistant dean for accreditation in the School of Education, in addition to support from the SUNY Urban Teacher Education Center.

“There are many students in our classes who aren’t going to be scientists but who need to be just as scientifically literate,” Phelan said. “We try to put an emphasis on using innovative teaching strategies — getting away from the traditional lecture in the sense that professors stand in front of a classroom and profess knowledge to students. We spend more time doing inquiry-based activities, both in laboratories and lectures.”

Kolhatkar said she likely would not have considered SUNY Cortland if not for the Noyce Scholarship Program. In 2010, when the College received its first phase of Noyce funding, she already held a master’s degree in mechanical engineering from Cornell. A former classroom volunteer in India and substitute teacher in Ithaca, she was looking for a rewarding way to navigate a career change in her early 40s.

“I liked the idea of doing something worthwhile with my time,” said Kolhatkar, who travels overseas to India each summer to work with children who are hearing impaired or blind. “I couldn’t believe someone was willing to pay me to talk about math and science.”

She also benefitted from networking with other Noyce Scholars at the program’s national conference in Washington, D.C., she said. The Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program supports roughly 300 programs across the country.

“Noyce Scholars want to learn more about their content areas,” said Phelan, who now has been awarded more than $3 million in grant funding for various projects since arriving at SUNY Cortland in 2009. “They have that spark and that desire to help others understand difficult concepts.”

In addition to making a teaching commitment to a school in a high-need area, future recipients will participate in small-group activities such as campus workshops, seminars and book talks with highly effective New York State Master Teachers. These aim to provide a casual, out-of-classroom environment to discuss best teaching practices in high-need schools.

The acceptance rate of scholarship applicants was roughly 40 percent during the College’s initial round of Noyce funding, which awarded 54 scholarships during a five-year span from 2009 to 2014. The number of scholarships will be slightly less during the second phase to devote proper funding to study the impact of immersion practices such as specialized classes, field experience and professional development. Pagano and Gfeller, who created an innovative Clinically Rich Teacher Preparation Pilot Program in 2013-14, will lead the longitudinal study.

For more information about SUNY Cortland’s Noyce Scholarship, including its application process, visit cortland.edu/noyce or contact Freese at noyce@cortland.edu or 607-753-2913.

Would you know what to do if there was an armed attacker at SUNY Cortland?

The University Police Department and the College’s Public Relations Office are hosting a live webinar Thursday, Nov. 5, to explain how to stay safe should the unthinkable happen at SUNY Cortland.

This session will differ from the active shooter training sessions conducted by University Police over the last couple weeks in that it will be built around questions asked by students, faculty, staff and other members of the campus community.

To participate in the 2 p.m. webinar, simply use the link: www.cortland.edu/safety. It will give you access to streaming audio and video of the presentation.

You can submit questions before the event or ask them during the webinar using either email or Twitter. No questioner’s name will be shared publically, meaning you can essentially ask whatever you want anonymously.

We recommend faculty, staff and students send questions in advance to allow the College to prepare the best answers possible. Questions should be sent to public.relations@cortland.edu

Public relations staff will monitor email and pull questions through the end of the presentation. Faculty, staff and students may also use Twitter during the event. Simply send questions using #cortlandsafety.

The webinar will feature UPD Chief Steven Dangler and Public Relations Director Frederic Pierce. Members of the College Crisis Communications Team will be on hand to help answer questions.

UPDATE: The College’s 24-hour Champions Challenge saw 687 donors give a collective $114,226 after two different fundraising challenges were laid out Thursday, Nov. 12.

EARLIER STORY:

There’s no shortage of reminders that SUNY Cortland produces champions.

In the classroom, students’ scholarly interests are showcased annually at Transformations: A Student Research and Creativity Conference. In athletic competition, Red Dragon sports teams have earned 25 national championships to go along with 100 individual titles. In the community, more than 200,000 hours of volunteer work each year have led to regular recognition by the U.S. President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll.

Beyond campus, the successful lives and careers of 73,000 inspiring alumni demonstrate that the word “champion” is synonymous with SUNY Cortland.

On Thursday, Nov. 12, an ambitious 24-hour fundraising effort strengthened that winning tradition.

The College sought 273 gifts at the outset — a nod to 73,000 SUNY Cortland alumni — regardless of the amount or campus designation. Once met, challenge donors Gerald “Jerry” Theisen ’53, M.S.Ed. ’58 and Monica Bedford Voldstad ’72, M.S.Ed. ’77 would give $11,000 to the College.

The initial goal was surpassed before 2 p.m., so Cortland College Foundation Board members and former classmates Fritz Favorule ’76 and George Weissman ’76 doubled the challenge goal to 546 for an additional $10,500.

Again, SUNY Cortland alumni, faculty, staff, students, parents and friends rose to the challenge, proving that a day's collective work could produce a lasting impact.

SUNY Cortland’s oldest students often produce some of the finest examples of achievement in the face of adversity, which is why the College is celebrating Non-Traditional Students Week from Monday, Nov. 9, to Friday, Nov. 13.

Special activities will take place throughout the week for a group that is defined by its unique path to SUNY Cortland. The College considers non-traditional undergraduates to be those who are at least 24 years old or who have experienced a break in their education since high school. Regardless of their age, non-traditional students might have dependent children and families. Many also work full-time jobs while others have served in the military. Nearly all of them juggle major commitments with their classes.

Campus community members can contribute to the week’s success by providing nominations for the “Celebrate a Non-Trad” campaign organized by Advisement and Transition. A form is available online or nominations can be sent to Cheryl Hines, the coordinator of non-traditional student support, in Memorial Library, Room A-111. Nominations should include the student’s name, contact information, the nominator’s relationship to the student and comments about the nominee. Students also can recognize supportive faculty and staff members. Submissions will be accepted through Monday, Nov. 16, with deserving awardees receiving a certificate as well as campus-wide recognition.

For more on the weeklong celebration, visit the Non-Traditional Student Support page or contact Hines at 607-753-4726.

Approximately 300 non-traditional undergraduates attend SUNY Cortland. Here are just a few of them:

Friday, Nov. 13
Jason Blayda

Jason Blayda found the silver lining in the unexpected lay-off from his most recent full-time job. The U.S. Navy veteran saw it as an opportunity to further his education and change careers at the same time.

“The lay-off was a blessing in disguise,” says Jason, 44, who served nine years in the military before establishing a career in the electronics manufacturing industry. “It led me somewhere where I know I can succeed.”

Jason Blayda

Today, he’s a sport management major with aspirations of working in college athletics — hopefully one day as an athletics director. He’s made significant strides since he first took college-level courses at Tompkins Cortland Community College (TC3) in the early 1990s. Back then, he feared social activities like public speaking. Now, he’s confident in his skills and abilities.

“I discovered a lot about myself and my personality when I was in the Navy — who I was and who I wanted to be,” says Jason, a proud husband and father of two. “One thing that I’ve learned is that I’m a jack of all trades, master of none, and that it serves me well.”

He’s gathered a wealth of experience in the college athletics field by taking advantage of SUNY Cortland’s sport management event practicum, which stresses the ins and outs of events and facilities management. He’s tackled videography, game ticketing and sports information tasks among other responsibilities. Add to those his experience as a coach and referee, and he’ll be well prepared for a career change when he graduates in December 2016.

Thursday, Nov. 12
Tammy Anderson

Changing healthcare regulations prompted Tammy Anderson to return to school after working more than 20 rewarding years as a licensed practical nurse (LPN). It became clear that her career growth options would be limited as an LPN, and that she no longer would be able to provide critical care as a nurse.

“My focus has always been underserved populations,” Tammy says. “I want to help more people, especially those who need it the most.”

Tammy Anderson and daughter Emma

That led her to Tompkins Cortland Community College (TC3), where she experienced what she calls an “epiphanic moment.” After a guest speaker presentation in one of her classes, Tammy knew she wanted to continue to change lives in the medical field as a physician assistant (PA). Fast-forward to today and she’s on track to graduate this spring with a bachelor’s degree in community health from SUNY Cortland.

“Every building I walk in on campus, I see someone who I’ve helped,” jokes Tammy, who spent 18 years at Cortland Regional Medical Center as a “jack of all trades” nurse. She worked in nearly every setting imaginable, from the emergency room to the cardiology unit to the telemetry team.

She’s done it all with three daughters of her own and now a stepson. It means a lot of running around, but Tammy’s well prepared for it. She’s an avid explorer of the outdoors and an endurance athlete, having completed countless races and triathlons up to the Ironman 70.3 distance (which includes a 1.2-mile swim, 56-mile bike ride and 13.1-mile run).

“I like being busy,” she says with a smile. “I like being active.”

Wednesday, Nov. 11
Sheryl Holbrook

Sheryl Holbrook has a simple way of explaining how she’s able to juggle so many personal commitments with an optimistic outlook and a smile on her face.

“Life happens,” the Cortland native says. “You can’t control what life hands to you, but you can try your best to look at things differently. In my mind, I’m blessed.”

Sheryl Holbrook

Sheryl took her first classes at SUNY Cortland in 1979 but began working in the legal field before completing her degree — first as a paralegal and for the past 22 years in the unified court system. A mother of three adult children, she returned to the College in 2006. She’s excelled as a sociology/anthropology major despite encountering some of the unique challenges that many non-traditional students face.

Sheryl’s oldest son was seriously injured after being hit by a car in March. Her elderly father passed away in May. And still, Sheryl balanced being a full-time worker, a part-time student and an attentive mother through all of it. 

“When you preach to your children the importance of an education, it becomes personally important to complete that step yourself,” says Sheryl, who has two children currently enrolled in college.

She credits Hon. Robert C. Mulvey ’77 for allowing a flexible alternative work schedule as well as her family for providing emotional support. In truth, that’s exactly what Sheryl does for those around her, including fellow non-traditional classmates. 

“I like to give back any way I can,” she says. “Even if it’s as simple as listening or encouraging other non-trads.”

Tuesday, Nov. 10
Kodey WhiteWolf

Kodey WhiteWolf

Kodey WhiteWolf knows she’s one of the older non-traditional students at SUNY Cortland, but that doesn’t slow her down in any way.

“Who would have thought I'd be fulfilling a life’s dream of acquiring a college degree at this time of my life,” Kodey says. To me, age is just a number marking time.”

She’s traveled extensively and picked up a variety of skills along the way, including woodworking, pottery and leather work. But well into adulthood, when she could have retired, Kodey set her sights on a longtime goal to earn a college degree. Today, she’s an anthropology major with minors in Native American studies, studio art and women’s studies who’s on track to graduate in 2017.

“I’ll be ecstatic just to frame that degree and say ‘I did it,’” Kodey says.

She credits her academic advisor with helping to determine the coursework she would enjoy the most. Classmates are sometimes surprised by her age but they’re always supportive, she says.

“At times, I take my time interacting with other students until they are comfortable with me,” Kodey says. “To me I’m just like one of them — doing the best I can as a college student and looking to them for assistance because they know more than I do on this level of my journey here at the College. Just being ‘one of the guys’ is actually fun.”

She plans to move to Asheville, N.C., after graduation and settle near the Smoky Mountains, a place with personal and spiritual importance.

“I’ve always said life is one big adventure … that it’s important to explore as much as possible,” she says. “And I’m happy knowing I have lived life like no other.

“If you believe in yourself, you can accomplish anything any time in your life.”

Monday, Nov. 9
Sara Sampson

Sara’s example offers proof that the most rewarding path to a college degree doesn’t always immediately follow high school.

She began her undergraduate studies as a psychology major at a different four-year school a decade ago and excelled at the outset — achieving close to a 4.0 grade point average in her first semester. But she also recognized that something was off.

Sara Sampson

“I knew deep down that I wasn’t in the mode to learn,” Sara says. “I wasn’t enjoying it. I just wasn’t ready to go from high school to a four-year college.”

She worked clerical jobs in business offices of New York state’s prison system instead. In 2013, Sara settled into her current position as a calculations clerk in SUNY Cortland’s Memorial Library, where she handles finance work. She also discovered writing as an outlet for her talents. This “epiphany,” as she refers to it, encouraged her to begin pursuing a professional writing major at the College last fall.

Today, Sara is 29 years old and excelling in her studies just as she did a decade ago. Now, however, she’s enjoying her college experience more than the first time around because it reflects her passion and values. 

“I tell people that I’m not just here for the degree,” Sara says. “I’m here for the education.”

Non-Traditional Students Week schedule

• Monday, Nov. 9: A “Non-Trad Gab” talk takes place at 2 p.m. in the Non-Traditional Students’ Lounge, located in Cornish Hall, Room 1221. This informal event offers an opportunity to chat with adult learners.
• Tuesday, Nov. 10: Campus nutritionist Andrea Hart will present “Healthy Eating on the Go” at 1 p.m. in the Non-Traditional Students’ Lounge. Healthy snacks will be served.
• Wednesday, Nov. 11: The Non-Traditional Student Organization (NTSO) hosts a Veterans Day brunch for all non-traditional students and veterans from 10 a.m. to noon in the Non-Traditional Students’ Lounge. This group also is invited to the College’s Veterans Day ceremony at 3 p.m. in Brockway Hall Jacobus Lounge.
• Thursday, Nov. 12: A group of four non-traditional students — Steven Hernandez, Sheryl Holbrook, Karyn Scott and Brittany Smith — offers a Sandwich Seminar at noon titled “This is My Story,” in Brockway Hall Jacobus Lounge.
• Friday, Nov. 13: All non-traditional students and their family members will receive free tickets to the College’s men’s hockey game against Potsdam, which starts at 7 p.m. in Park Center Alumni Arena. Tickets can be picked up in the Non-Traditional Students’ Lounge or from Advisement and Transition, located in Memorial Library.

The SUNY Cortland and Ithaca College football teams won’t meet for the 57th annual Cortaca Jug rivalry game until Saturday, Nov. 14, but students can begin celebrating the legendary tradition Monday, Nov. 9, as a week of Cortaca-related activities and events kicks off.

The activities range from awareness-raising events aimed at behavioral problems linked to previous Cortaca Jug celebrations to a viewing party and carnival in Corey Student Union and a post-game concert by popular indie pop band Echosmith.

They’re all in addition to the football contest itself, which could deliver SUNY Cortland a conference championship with a Red Dragons win. SUNY Cortland and Ithaca College square off for the first time as Empire 8 Conference opponents at noon Saturday, Nov. 14, at Ithaca’s Butterfield Stadium.

In addition to the alternative events, the College’s Student Life Center will remain open with its normal hours (6 a.m. to midnight Monday through Friday; 7 a.m. to midnight Saturday and Sunday) during the week.

The Cortaca Week schedule is:

Monday, Nov. 9

Students are encouraged to “Lose the Blues” and rid themselves of rival Ithaca College’s primary color by donating an article of blue clothing to the Cortland Thrifty Shopper Rescue Mission. In exchange, the first 1,000 students will receive a commemorative red Cortaca t-shirt on a first come, first served basis. Clothing can be donated noon to 2 p.m. in the Student Life Center.

Tuesday, Nov. 10

“It’s On Us” pledge drive will collect signatures and snap selfies from 4 to 7 p.m. in the lobby of Neubig Hall. Make a commitment against sexual assault.

Cortaca Jug Open Mic Night takes place at 7 p.m. in the Corey Union Exhibition Lounge. Sponsored by Student Activities Board (SAB), Auxiliary Services Corporation (ASC) and the Health Promotion Office, the event offers free refreshments. 

Wednesday, Nov. 11

“It’s On Us” pledge drive will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. in the lobby of Corey Union.

The “Lose the Blues” clothing donation drive continues from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the Lynne Parks ’68 SUNY Cortland Alumni House.

“Like a Tattoo: Digital Dirt, Social Media and Your Brand,” a Wellness Wednesday event sponsored by the Health Promotion Office, is slated for 7 p.m. in the Corey Union Exhibition Lounge. Don’t let Internet photos and comments derail your future.

Thursday, Nov. 12

A Cortaca car smash fundraiser organized by the Theta Chi Fraternity begins at 4 p.m. outside Memorial Library. The event benefits the United Service Organization, which offers support for U.S. military members.

The NFL’s Thursday Night Football match-up between the Buffalo Bills and New York Jets will be shown on a big screen in the Corey Union Function Room at 8:30 p.m. Free refreshments include pizza, chicken wings and beverages.

“It’s On Us” pledge drive will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. in the lobby of the Student Life Center.

Friday, Nov. 13

Who will win the big game? “Friday the 13th” psychic readings will be offered from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. in the Student Life Center.

A “Pitch Perfect 2” pre-game pool party and film screening will start at 6 p.m. at the pool in the Student Life Center.

The College’s annual Cortaca Mug event will run from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. at the Interfaith Center, located at the corner of Calvert Street and Prospect Terrace. Cortland Nites, the Interfaith Center and the Cortland County Council of Churches are event sponsors.

Saturday, Nov. 14

A Cortaca Jug carnival viewing party will go from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Corey Union Function Room. Guests are invited to test their skills on inflatable obstacle challenges. Tailgate refreshments will be provided.

The Cortaca Jug football game kicks off at noon at Ithaca College’s Butterfield Stadium. Pre-paid buses leave at 10 a.m. from Corey Union. Game tickets and Cortland student IDs are required for admittance.

A “Pitch Perfect 2” post-game pool party and film screening is set for 5 p.m. at the pool in the Student Life Center.

Up-and-coming indie pop band Echosmith headlines the Cortaca Jug concert at 8 p.m. in Park Center Corey Gymnasium. Doors open at 7 p.m., with local band Free House providing the opening act.

Sunday, Nov. 15

A Cortaca clean-up led by the Omega Phi Beta Sorority takes place from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Volunteers are asked to show up to the corner of Main Street and Court Street in downtown Cortland.

	Khuram Hussain

Khuram Hussain, an assistant professor of education at Hobart and William Smith Colleges, thinks educators need to take a more expansive approach to how students carry out civic service in city neighborhoods, on Thursday, Nov. 19.

His talk, “From Charity to Solidarity: Rethinking Student Service in Urban Communities,” will begin at 7 p.m. in Corey Union Fireplace Lounge.

The event continues the yearlong series exploring the role that local communities play in the greater society’s achievement of economic health, environmental resilience and overcoming inequalities of all types.

The lectures, film screenings and artistic programs and other events themed on “Where are We?” are presented by the College’s Cultural and Intellectual Climate Committee (CICC). The programs are free and open to the public.

From tutoring kids to stocking pantries, “service to the community” is now a cornerstone of the college experience.

“Yet it is criticized for being little more than community charity,” said Hussain, who teaches a variety of courses on the history of education with a particular focus on civil rights education, equity and access.

“Moreover, in an era of economic dispossession, mass school closings and rising urban protest, college campuses and their surrounding communities need more from each other than charity,” he said.

Hussain will explore the radical possibilities of service learning as place-based, democratic and mutually empowering for students and community members.

Specifically, a yearlong urban education project titled Tools for Social Changes examined as a model of service that focuses on intergroup dialogue, collaborative learning and community organizing in order to build life-changing student-community alliances.

Ultimately, the talk outlines practical and ethical considerations for pre-professional students to use urban institutions to work in solidarity with urban communities.

Hussain’s scholarly interests include the history of the Black press, religion and education, and culturally relevant teaching.

By holding an annual series on a different intellectual theme, the CICC committee aims to generate common topics of discussion and to establish traditions of intellectual discourse on campus. The committee encourages faculty and staff to infuse the theme into their course curricula, engage in classroom discussions, foster debate around the theme, and propose campus events or speakers on topics connected to the theme.

The series also features four “common read” texts selected for departments and programs across the campus to read in advance. The suggested reading materials include sociologist Gerald Grant’s book, Hope and Despair in the American City, Will Allen’s The Good Food Revolution, Naomi Klein’s This Changes Everything, and Aldo Leopold’s Sand County Almanac.

The “Where Are We?” series, which continues next spring, is sponsored by the Campus Artist and Lecture Series, the Division of Academic Affairs, the President’s Office and the Cortland College Foundation.

For more information, contact CICC co-chair and Associate Professor of History Scott Moranda at 607-753-2052.

Before SUNY Cortland and Ithaca College play for the Cortaca jug on the football field, the two schools will compete for donations in the Cortaca Battle Blood Drive leading up to the big game.

The College’s campus blood drive event takes place Tuesday, Nov. 3, and Wednesday, Nov. 4, from noon to 6 p.m. in the Corey Union Function Room. Campus community members are asked to schedule an appointment to reduce potential waiting time, but walk-in donations are welcome. Visit redcrossblood.org, call 1-800-RED-CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or download the Red Cross donor application to schedule an appointment.

The blood donation competition between the two schools has existed for three years and it’s based on the percentage of each institution’s goal, rather than the total number of units collected. SUNY Cortland’s Code Red Club, a student group committed to community service through disaster relief, is leading the Cortaca Battle Blood Drive effort on campus in addition to all other American Red Cross blood drives during the academic year.

Last year, 105 units were collected over two days. The College’s 2015 goal is 120 units.

“One donation — just one pint — can save a life,” said Laura Connolly, a community health major from Hicksville, N.Y., and the president of Code Red. She noted the club also works to provide fundraising assistance after natural disasters and support for military members during the holiday season.

Ithaca won the inaugural Cortaca Battle Blood Drive in 2012 when it was based on the total number of blood donations. SUNY Cortland has won the past two years by reaching a higher percentage of its goal. In addition to bragging rights, a trophy from the American Red Cross is on the line.

“The competition makes it more of a fun, community-wide event,” Connolly said. “The interest to give is higher than normal because both schools want to win. But really, there aren’t any losers when you consider the need for blood donations.”

Prepared by public relations intern Brandon Romagnoli

More than 700 prospective college students are expected to spend a day visiting academic departments, touring the campus and talking to faculty and students during SUNY Cortland’s second Fall Open House on Veterans Day, Wednesday, Nov. 11.

The College will show off its campus during a regular day of classes to potential students who missed the first open house on Monday, Oct. 12. That event was attended by approximately 700 students and their family members.

The fall format is much different from the Spring Open House, where most visitors already have been admitted and are in the process of deciding whether to attend SUNY Cortland.

Faculty, staff and students from academic departments and student service offices will be available to meet with visitors who have made prior reservations throughout the program. Additionally, guests may tour the campus and eat in the dining facilities. Individuals who have not pre-registered also are welcome to attend.

The program opens with an Academic and Student Affairs Fair from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. in the Student Life Center gymnasium. Academic department faculty and student services representatives will be available to meet visitors and answer questions. At 12:30 p.m., prospective students are encouraged to go to their chosen academic department offices for more information and a tour.

Guided tours of the campus and residence halls will run from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Participants will meet in the Student Life Center.

At 11:30 a.m. Frank Rossi, associate professor of chemistry, will give a presentation on the Honors Program in Corey Union, Room 209. Pre-law advisor Timothy Delaune, an assistant professor of political science, will address visitors at 11:15 a.m. in the Corey Union Fireplace Lounge. Pre-med and pre-dental advisor Theresa Curtis, associate professor of biological sciences, will discuss academic options at 1 p.m. in Bowers Hall, Room 1214. Deborah Van Langen, assistant professor of kinesiology, will present on pre-physical therapy/occupational therapy at 1:30 p.m. in Corey Union Exhibition Lounge.

Special sessions on admissions, financial aid, athletics, dining services, residence life and housing also will be offered that day. For details, visit cortland.edu/admissions.

Open House visitors also are welcome to attend the Veterans Day Ceremony at 3 p.m. in Brockway Hall Jacobus Lounge. The 30-minute ceremony features remarks by David Duryea, a retired rear admiral in the U.S. Navy. Duryea currently is SUNY Cortland’s vice president for finance and management. A reception in the Margaret A. “Peggy” Curry ’52 Main Lobby outside the lounge will follow.

Parking for Open House visitors will be provided in the Route 281 parking lot, which features shuttle bus service to the Student Life Center.

The College recently organized two more specialized open houses.

A Natural Sciences Open House is set for Friday, Nov. 20.

A Performing Arts Open House was held on Oct. 30.

The student-run television program 20CSTV News is getting more in touch with the campus this semester, starting with its new segment “Real Talk.”

The new feature, hosted by senior communication studies major Ethan Costigan of Pawling, N.Y., made its debut Oct. 27 during 20CSTV’s normal 6 p.m. time slot. The segment — dedicated to popular cultural happenings around the world — follows the regular three- to six-minute 20CSTV News program, formally known as “Blazing News.”

During the first edition of the feature, Costigan discussed Hurricane Patricia and its effect on Mexico’s Northwest Coast for the world news portion. The highly anticipated new “Star Wars” movie and its new trailer was his choice of topic for the segment’s pop culture section.

“Real Talk” is broken down into three parts:

• What’s going on in the world, with some background.
• What’s happening in popular culture.
• “The Good Word”: a positive message or a reflection quote for viewers to think about that hopefully will bring a good vibe to their day.

Before the broadcast, the 12-person crew for 20CSTV News rotated positions, taking turns as field reporters and anchors as they covered events on the SUNY Cortland campus and in the Cortland community.

Sophomore undeclared major Alyssa Marley of Newburgh, N.Y., anchored the latest episode to air while senior education major Andrea Carruth of East Northport, N.Y., took to the field and covered another event.

“It was my first time going out into the field by myself so it was very exciting,” Carruth said.

“The Good Word” for the inaugural “Real Talk” was an inspirational quote by Bruce Lee: “Empty your mind, be formless. Shapeless, like water. If you put water into a cup, it becomes the cup. You put water into a bottle and it becomes the bottle. You put it in a teapot, it becomes the teapot. Now, water can flow… or it can crash.”

Costigan ended the show by reminding his viewers to “Be water, my friends.”

“I wanted to bring about the news in a new light,” he said. “This segment is a little bit more in touch with the “real world” and brings about conversation and a positive message.”

Over the past few years, the program’s treatment of the news has outgrown the formula of talking heads in the studio, noted 20CSTV President Justine Marschner, a senior communication studies major from Nassau, N.Y.

“It has evolved to more than just the news room,” she said. “It’s a more mature and developed program, simulating real-life news.”

Campus community members are encouraged to tune in to “Real Talk” and 20CSTV News every Tuesday afternoon or to stay current through the group’s YouTube channel. Students can join 20CSTV by attending a meeting at 6 p.m. on Tuesday nights in Corey Union, Room 207.

Prepared by public relations intern Jenel Colon

SUNY Cortland’s Clark Center for International Education will host two high profile visitors for International Celebration 2015, a series of College events during November.

Sally Crimmins Villela, SUNY assistant vice chancellor for global affairs, will discuss “SUNY and the World: Toward Comprehensive Internationalization of the SUNY System” Tuesday, Nov. 10.

Villela’s lecture will begin at 11:30 a.m. in Brockway Hall Jacobus Lounge.

	Sally Crimmins Villela

The presentation by Political scientist Paul Diehl, the president of the International Studies Association, on “The UN at 70: Constructing a Balance Sheet,” scheduled for Thursday, Nov. 12, was cancelled and will be rescheduled for the spring semester.

Villela's talk is free and open to the public. The presentation highlights seven activities of the International Celebration 2015 series of events. For more information on the series, visit the Clark Center for International Education website. 

The SUNY system is committed to nurturing a culturally fluent, cross-national mindset and putting it to work to improve New York’s global competitiveness. Villela’s presentation will showcase some of the comprehensive internationalization initiatives across the SUNY system and at specific SUNY universities and colleges.

During her visit, Villela also will be inducted as an honorary member of the College’s Phi Beta Delta International Honors Society at 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 11, in Brockway Hall Jacobus Lounge.

She will attend the Council meeting of the Clark Center for International Education and meet with administrators and faculty members who work to internationalize SUNY Cortland.

Villela oversees SUNY’s collaborative international academic programs and research, education abroad, exchange, international student and scholar services, and curricular internationalization. She supervises externally funded grant and scholarship programs that support joint research, professional development in international education and education abroad and is responsible for overseas offices in Mexico, Russia and Turkey.

Villela has studied, worked and resided in Brazil, Mexico, Spain and Portugal. She has taught Portuguese language in U.S. and English as a foreign language in Brazil. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Spanish Linguistics from the University at Albany, and conducted Master of Science studies in teaching English to speakers of other languages and advanced graduate studies in language acquisition and education.

“She is the highest ranking official in the SUNY System dealing with internationalization,” said organizer Alexandru Balas, SUNY Cortland assistant professor of international studies, coordinator of the International Studies Program and director of the Clark Center for International Education.

Villela’s presentation is sponsored by the Clark Center for International Education, the International Studies Program, the President’s Office, and International Programs. 

SUNY Cortland will celebrate Veterans Day with a short ceremony Wednesday, Nov. 11, featuring remarks from David M. Duryea, a retired rear admiral in the U.S. Navy who is a vice president at the College.

Sponsored by the College President’s Office, the event takes place at 3 p.m. in Brockway Hall Jacobus Lounge. It is free and open to the public.

	David Duryea

The half-hour ceremony and reception immediately following in the Margaret A. “Peggy” Curry ’52 Main Lobby will provide an opportunity for SUNY Cortland students, employees and community members to thank veterans for their service.

Duryea, currently SUNY Cortland’s vice president for finance and management, joined the College in March.

A career submarine officer, Duryea possesses more than 30 years of executive leadership and management expertise.

He commanded the nuclear powered submarine USS Florida. As commander of the Naval Undersea Warfare Center, he led 6,500 civilian personnel in 15 locations across the U.S. and overseas while overseeing a $1.6 billion budget.

Duryea is a certified Department of Defense program manager and has extensive experience working with Congress, local government, unions, law enforcement, industry, international partners, university research laboratories and federally funded research and development centers. He is a member of the Naval Submarine League and the Military Officers of America Association.

A native of Orchard Park, N.Y., Duryea earned a B.S. in geomechanics from the University of Rochester’s School of Engineering and Applied Science and an M.A. in administrative sciences from George Washington University.

He attended executive education courses at the Naval Post Graduate School, University of Virginia Darden School of Business and University of North Carolina Kenan-Flagler Business School.

For more information, contact the President’s Office at 607-753-2377.

Days before the leaders of China and Taiwan will meet for the first time since Communist China forced the country's nationalist government out in 1949, SUNY Cortland is hosting one of the nation's top experts on the long, troubled relationship between the two countries.

Dennis V. Hickey, a top China scholar who directs the Graduate Program in Global Studies at Missouri State University, will give a talk ripped from today’s headlines on political tension over escalating territorial disputes in the South China Sea on Thursday, Nov. 5, at SUNY Cortland.

Hickey, a distinguished professor who is the university’s James F. Morris Endowed Professor of Political Science, will discuss “In the Eye of the Typhoon: Taiwan and the Growing Dispute in the South China Sea,” at 4:30 p.m. in Brockway Hall Jacobus Lounge.

China has recently pushed its claims in the strategic waterway by building artificial islands that China believes will strengthen its territorial claim in the South China Sea, alarming Taiwan, an island nation that China views as a breakaway republic. The U.S. Navy recently challenged China's effort by intentionally sailing within 12 miles of the human-made land masses. The United States is Taiwan's primary military supporter.

Wednesday, China and Taiwan surprised the world by announcing that their respective leaders, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou, will hold an historic meeting Sunday in Singapore.

	Dennis V. Hickey

"The timing of this is really intense," said event organizer Lu-Chung “Dennis” Weng, SUNY Cortland assistant professor of political science. "This is the most important issue in East Asia, and we happen to have an expert scheduled here."

Hickey told Weng he will include the rapidly unfolding developments in China-Taiwan relations in his presentation. Following his hour-long lecture, an open meeting with students and faculty will take place.

Sponsored by SUNY Cortland’s Political Science Department, the Clark Center for International Education and The Taiwan and Asia Program of University of Texas at Austin, the lecture is free and open to the public.

“The quarrel involves numerous states,” noted Weng., “But there is one player in this contentious game that is often ignored — namely, the Republic of China in Taiwan.”

Hickey will provide an overview of the ongoing South China Sea dispute and outline Taiwan’s policy toward it. Also, he will discuss the triangle relationships between Taiwan, China and the U.S. in today’s world.

“While Taiwan has long been the most sensitive of issues in U.S.-China relations and likely remains so for many years to come, this talk will help you understand the role of Taiwan and why this island is critical in American foreign policy,” Weng said.

For more information, contact Weng.

International education at SUNY Cortland will dive deeper into European Union (EU) studies starting next semester, as the College’s Clark Center for International Education recently was awarded competitive funding for a far-reaching, three-year program.

Only two other higher education institutions in the U.S. — the University of Wisconsin at Madison and the University of New Mexico — received the same EU Erasmus+ Jean Monnet Module grant that SUNY Cortland earned in 2015. The funding provides 30,000 euros, or the equivalent of approximately $34,000, to develop a robust program at the College that focuses on European studies.

The major piece will be an introductory course open to all majors on the political-economic union of 28 member states that is the EU. Six SUNY Cortland professors from six different academic departments will team teach the course in addition to a faculty member from Babes-Bolyai University in Romania, who will connect to the classroom through SUNY’s Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) network.

“Our discussion will be wider rather than deeper,” said Alexandru Balas, the director of the Clark Center for International Education and an assistant professor of international studies. “The course is meant to give our students a taste of the European Union, especially at a time when so many of them are going to study abroad in places such as Spain, Germany, France, Ireland and the United Kingdom. 

“It’s meant to educate them on the complex construction of the EU, which is not an international organization nor is it a state. It’s something in between.”

SUNY Cortland’s new program offering comes at a time when there’s plenty of buzz surrounding the EU, especially as it relates to immigration and negotiations with the U.S. on the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP). 

“This means basically a free trade area between the U.S. and the EU — no more trade barriers, no more taxes, no more tariffs, which is going to impact us on a major level,” Balas said, describing the proposed agreement that aims to spur economic growth. “It’s being negotiated right now very much behind closed doors by U.S. Congress representatives and EU parliamentarians.

“It’s major — not only in the field of European studies, but for all citizens. I’m trying to teach students in all of my classes: if this gets passed, there are going to be a lot of issues both good and bad.”

The College’s new interdisciplinary course, which will be offered once a year for the next three years beginning in the spring, will rely on teaching from academic departments in all three of SUNY Cortland’s schools: art and art history, foundations and social advocacy, history, international studies, political science and sport management. Key issues that students will tackle include conflict resolution; terrorism and immigration on EU soil; the roles of art and sport management in EU construction; and many more topics that carry political and economic weight. 

“The course is meant to be attractive to students from all majors across campus because the EU touches on everything,” Balas said.

Besides the new academic offering, the grant will fund activities for a new, College-wide EU Day; a separate course that involves Model European Union participation; and academic film screenings for campus community members.

“The EU Day will look to infuse European studies on our campus,” Balas said. “People will understand things like why Greece is falling apart and what’s going on with all of the immigrants that the EU doesn’t know what to do with.”

The one-day event will take place for the first time this spring and likely will include a keynote speaker as well as undergraduate research to be presented at Transformations, the College’s annual celebration of scholarly student work. The Model EU course will be taught during the opposite semester as the introductory EU offering and it will take students to Brussels, the capital of the EU, or New York City, depending on the location of the year’s international conference.

“Receiving this grant is meaningful on so many levels,” said Balas, noting the major contributions of the College’s Research and Sponsored Programs Office. “It means that SUNY Cortland is part of a distinguished network of U.S. colleges and universities that are committed to developing a European Union studies angle on their campuses.”

An increasing number of children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder means a greater need to understand a child’s learning ability on a sensory level. It’s why SUNY Cortland Associate Professor of Physical Education Timothy Davis on Thursday, Nov. 5, will discuss the developmental disability that affects roughly one in 68 children in the U.S. 

Davis, who has taught adapted physical education for over 25 years, will lead a Community Roundtable discussion on “Sensory Processing, Disorders and Autism” from 8 to 9 a.m. in the Park Center C-Club Hall of Fame Room. During the talk, he will explain evidence-based practices that may improve behavior as well as the many uses of the Sensory Integration Motor Sensory (SIMS) Laboratory housed in Park Center on the College’s campus.

Sponsored by the SUNY Cortland President’s Office, the roundtable is free and open to the public. Refreshments will precede the lecture at 7:45 a.m. Participants also will be able to view the SIMS Lab and the equipment it has to offer.

“There’s a tremendous need in communities and in schools for kids who need help processing sensory stimuli,” Davis said. “There’s been a significant increase in children diagnosed with autism as well as children who have sensory processing disorder, so it’s important for not only the kids but also educating teachers who will see this every day.”

Sensory processing disorder is a condition that exists when sight, sound, touch and smell signals do not respond appropriately — essentially a neurological traffic jam. The disorder prevents certain parts of the brain from receiving the information needed to interpret sensory information correctly. Someone with it may over-respond to triggers such as clothing, physical contact or even food.

The College’s SIMS Lab allows children to receive sensory integration experiences through a variety of fun activities, many of them led by SUNY Cortland physical education majors. This type of movement experience focuses on balance, tactile exercises and other stimulii issues that can complement a child’s existing occupational or physical therapy goals. Housed in Park Center, Room 1104, the lab is open to children and families from surrounding areas.

“The main focus of all this is to raise awareness about children with sensory issues and that there is a resource available to the community that isn’t pricy compared to private therapy,” said Davis.

Davis’ many awards include the College’s Rozanne M. Brooks Dedicated Teacher Award and the William A. Hillman Distinguished Service Award from the National Consortium on Physical Education for Individuals with Disabilities. He holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in physical education from California State University at Chico and a Ph.D. in adapted physical education from the University of Virginia. Davis also directs the Adapted Physical Education National Standards (APENS).

For more information, contact Samantha Howell, special events coordinator for the President’s Office, at 607-753-5453.

Prepared by public relations intern Brandon Romagnoli

Cornell sociology professor Mabel Berezin will discuss the resurgence of extreme nationalism in contemporary Europe on Wednesday, Nov. 11, at SUNY Cortland.

Berezin, who has a Ph.D. from Harvard University, will present “Have the 1930s Returned? The Resurgence of Extreme Nationalism in Contemporary Europe” at 4:30 P.M. in Moffett Center, Room 2125.

A reception to welcome her precedes the talk at 4 p.m. in the Rozanne M. Brooks Museum, Moffett Center, Room 2126.

The presentation is free and open to the public. The lecture continues the 2015-16 Rozanne M. Brooks Lecture Series themed on “The Culture of Thought,” which allows participants to explore what has shaped, and is changing, the way humans think about the world around them.

Commentators and academics have debated that this right nationalist resurgence indicates a return of the politics of the 1930s.

The lecture will look at how extremist thinking is on the rise in Europe due to current problems such as the debt crisis and the arrival of desperate refugees.

Berezin will explore the period since the sovereign debt crisis hit Europe in 2010.

“There has been a resurgence of right or extreme nationalist parties in virtually every former Western European country and in some Eastern European countries,” Berezin said.

The lecture will not only explore the momentum that the rightward shift has been building but how analysts first viewed the “minor” departures as a temporary sign of fringe voter discontent.

Berezin also will focus on the disastrous combination of the continued financial crisis and the migration crisis.

According to Berezin, without a plan the shift will continue and Europe will be set back nearly a century in its politics and nationalistic stand.

The lecture will stress the importance of the EU to create policies to address both crises.

Berezin hopes to spark a debate on why the changes are happening and what steps can be taken to revert away from the shift.

Berezin is the author of three widely reviewed books, including the 2009 text, Illiberal Politics in Neoliberal Times: Culture, Security, and Populism in the New Europe (Cambridge University Press). The publication received a 2010 honorable mention from the American Sociological Association. She has conducted much published research in her field.

The 2015-16 Brooks Lecture Series is sponsored by a grant from Auxiliary Services Corporation (ASC) and the Cortland College Foundation.

For more information, contact Sharon R. Steadman, professor of sociology/anthropology, lecture series organizer and Brooks Museum director, at 607-753-2308.

When avid rock climber Nate Farrington saved Remy the Doberman — trapped far down a deep, foot-wide rock crevice at Clark Reservation near Syracuse, N.Y. — he never imagined the positive impact that his actions would have.

“I was really surprised over the amount of attention it all received,” the SUNY Cortland outdoor recreation major said of the rescue that took place in mid-March. “Grateful, but definitely surprised. It was a situation that I was able to help with one night, unexpectedly, and I thought that was that.”

Farrington and Remy’s other rescuers will be honored with the prestigious Kizey Award by the Central New York Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (CNYSPCA). The prize is named after the iconic, 100-year-old protective cast iron statue of a Newfoundland breed of canine currently standing watch outside of the CNYSPCA’s building on East Molloy Road.

Farrington and members of the Jamesville and Pompey fire departments will accept the honor at the organization’s main fundraiser on Friday, Nov. 6.

The dining event, “An Evening with Kizey,” will take place from 6 to 9 p.m. at Justin’s Grill, Carrier Circle, Syracuse, N.Y.

“We choose someone that has gone above and beyond their everyday lives for the sake of an animal,” said Terri Para, the association’s developmental director. “Nate went way out of the way to help rescue Remy the dog, so we felt that Nate and both fire departments deserved the awards.”

Farrington has been featured in news articles and recognized on the SUNY Cortland campus for his selfless action. This award will be his highest honor yet.

 After five frustrating hours of helplessly trying to save the dog lodged about 20 feet down on a frigid March night, rescue crews in desperation called a SUNY Cortland student who in turn called on Farrington, knowing his fondness for vertical caving.

Farrington, who is the student manager of the 42-foot-tall climbing wall in SUNY Cortland’s new Student Life Center, succeeded in securing Remy for her rescue. Today, the canine is doing well.

 Para said the association’s upcoming fundraiser serves two main purposes: to bring recognition to individuals who do wonderful things for animals and to raise funds to support the shelter in its care for more than 500 animals.

“This is one of my favorite fundraisers,” Para said. “Being the largest cruelty facility in Central New York, we see a lot of very sad situations. This event highlights a positive situation for an animal.”

Ashlee Prewitt ’14 lived in Cortland for only a short amount of time, but the reminders of her meaningful work in the community continue.

The former political science major, who now resides in Endicott, N.Y., to pursue a master’s of public administration degree from Binghamton University, recently was awarded a prestigious scholarship from the SUNY Association of Council Members and College Trustees (ACT).

The honor recognizes a combination of academic excellence and community initiative in students who are nominated by their campus presidents. Only five students in the 64-campus SUNY system receive the $1,000 award, which also comes with an additional $250 donation for a charity of the recipient’s choice.

Prewitt chose Cortland Area Communities That Care (CACTC), a local not-for-profit that seeks to identify and address at-risk youth. She received her award Oct. 17 at the Gideon Putnam in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.

Ashlee Prewitt ’14

“I really felt like a lot of community members became my extended family,” said Prewitt, who moved to upstate New York from Oklahoma in 2012 and attended Tompkins Cortland Community College before graduating from SUNY Cortland. “Cortland is the type of place where people get to know you if you work hard to get involved and make a difference.

“It just felt like the community welcomed me with open arms. That made a huge impact on my education.”

Although she officially spent only a year and a half at the College, Prewitt made the most of her time on campus. She secured hundreds of volunteers and $10,000 in funding to put on the Big Event, a one-day project that cleaned up parts of the community last May. She also served as president of the College’s Non-Traditional Student Organization (NTSO) and gained valuable work experience in SUNY Cortland’s Research and Sponsored Programs Office.

Her plans for the future were shaped by those leadership roles. She credited mentors that included Amy Henderson-Harr, the College’s assistant vice president for research and sponsored programs, and Cheryl Hines, an academic advisor and coordinator of non-traditional student support.

“The way I understand it, it’s really difficult to choose the small group of students to receive (the SUNY ACT scholarship) because there are so many amazing students to pick from,” Prewitt said. “I was humbled just to be nominated by President Bitterbaum.

“It was a huge honor — both for me and for SUNY Cortland.”

Students interested in careers involving business or economics should attend SUNY Cortland’s Alumni Speaker Series talk on Monday, Nov. 9

The panel discussion begins at 7 p.m. in Brockway Hall Jacobus Lounge. It is free and open to the public. Light refreshments will be served.

Panelists include: Christine Armstrong ’06, the owner of East Side Bakery; Timothy Bennett ‘’07, owner of FunFlicks Indoor and Outdoor Movies in Central, Western and Northern New York; Cherry Randall ’04, a retired business officer at Greater Binghamton Health Center; Victor G. Siegle, president of Management Software Inc., and; Todd Wilcox ’13, an internal financial consultant at NBT Bank.

The event is free and open to the campus community. Students are welcome to speak one-on-one with the alumni following the presentation.

For more information, contact Alumni Engagement at 607-753-2156.

Orientation programs have been planned for 2016. Below are the program dates for January, June/July and August. All first-year orientation programs are two days with advisement and registration occurring on the second day of the program and all Transfer Orientation and Advisement programs are one day.

January 2016

Transfer Orientation and Advisement 1: Friday, Jan. 8

Transfer Orientation and Advisement 2: Thursday, Jan. 21-Friday, Jan. 22

Open Registration: Friday, Jan. 22

June/July 2016

Transfer Session 1: Monday, June 20

Transfer Session 2: Friday, June 24

First-Year Session 1: Monday, June 27-Tuesday, June 28

Transfer Session 3: Wednesday, June 29

First-Year Session 2: Thursday, June 30-Friday, July 1

First-Year Session 3: Tuesday, July 5-Wednesday, July 6

Transfer Session 4: Thursday, July 7

First-Year Session 4: Monday, July 11-Tuesday, July 12

Transfer Session 5: Wednesday, July 13

First-Year Session 5: Thursday, July 14-Friday, July 15

August

Orientation: Thursday, Aug. 25-Friday, Aug. 26

Open Registration: Friday, Aug. 26

This program is for students who cannot attend a June/July Orientation.

Various offices and departments work together to make these events a success and to aid our new students in their transition to SUNY Cortland. The campus community is invited to participate in these programs.

For additional program information, refer to the orientation website at cortland.edu/orientation. Any questions regarding the Orientation program should be directed to Marinda Souva in Advisement and Transition.