Campus Champion

Sue Pettitt estimates that she’s stitched more than 500 cloth face coverings since March, many of them for the daycare-age children at Whitney Point Head Start. An office assistant in the Clark Center for Global Engagement and a quilter by trade, Sue learned that local families sought smaller face coverings to fit their younger children. So she perfected her work featuring Disney characters and superheroes, sometimes sewing until 2 or 3 a.m. Sue donates her hand-made pieces to anyone in need, including Cortland students. She believes it’s a simple way to practice her craft while helping others.

Students cutting through  SUNY Cortland’s Student Life Center on their way across lower campus often see familiar faces. But how well do they actually see the people behind the smiles?

A project on display at the SLC gives passersby an emotional glimpse into the heart and soul of members of the SUNY Cortland community. Some of the highlighted people might normally blend in with the crowd. Others are sometimes misjudged base on their appearance. All have deeply human stories to tell.

Ten big, bold posters are featured in the doors and windows of the SLC, highlighting a wide diversity of images coupled with the essential life stories of students’ classmates and SUNY Cortland faculty, staff and alumni.

Viewers are seeing the first results of the university’s Beloved Community Diversity Narratives Project.

Online, campus members can peruse many more posters by visiting the university’s website Cortland.edu/beloved. All 25 soon will be prominently displayed in Moffett Center.

“As a person of color who went to college and felt immediately out of place, I can empathize with folks who feel unseen or that no one cares about their story,” said one participant, Cyrenius Weagba Nelson ’19, an alumnus who also currently is a residence hall director at SUNY Cortland. “I think this project will help our students of color see that there are members of the community they can relate to and feel less invisible on our campus.”

The project began quietly in February, when 25 members of the SUNY Cortland campus community agreed to participate in a series of artistic visuals designed to bring the university closer together in celebration of their many differences as well as their common humanity.

Six months later, visiting artist Adam Mastoon of Adam Mastoon Transmedia completed the posters.

Mastoon describes himself as a socially engaged artist, author and educator driven by a desire to create work that addresses equity, inclusion and social justice. He collaborates with communities nationwide to develop distinctive storytelling projects that engender empathy and connection.

Since 2010 Mastoon, of Barrington, Rhode Island, has captured the essence of more than 300 individuals to date in versions of the project at Georgia Institute of Technology, Swarthmore College, Rhode Island School of Design, Babson College and Washington State University. He also is the recipient of the American Library Association’s Gay and Lesbian, Non-Fiction Book Award.

The SUNY Cortland posters were created from individual photography sessions with Mastoon and his two partners; a private heart-to-heart meeting by the artist with each camera subject; and a group writing workshop to help the participants learn to tell others what makes them the people they are. Mastoon turns the resulting materials over to his graphic design team.

“To build a community grounded in diversity, equity and inclusion, kindness is a central key, and I found an immense amount of kindness at Cortland,” Mastoon said of his experience.

During the project, the campus’ chief diversity and inclusion officer transitioned smoothly from James Felton to AnnaMaria Cirrincione on an interim basis and currently to Lorraine Lopez-Janove, with each executive in turn embracing the ambitious initiative.

“I’ve found the leadership at Cortland and the students, faculty and staff that I’ve worked with to be committed to guiding DE&I (diversity, equity and inclusion) and building a better Cortland,” Mastoon said.

“Interacting with others who were also chosen for this project were miracle moments, bonding moments for me,” observed Regina B. Grantham, associate professor of communication disorders and sciences, about her portraiture experience. “We were traveling similar roads, similar journeys, similar destinations just in different vehicles. I am hoping that our stories will resonate with others and expand their boundaries of acceptance and they can see deeply into our souls.”

Lopez-Janove said of the project that began last year, “James Baldwin said, ‘It is the role of the artist to make the world a more human dwelling place. Adam follows this idea with a focused sense of purpose in the work he creates.”

Other volunteer portrait participants shared their impressions of the Institutional Equity and Inclusion Office project.

“Your ancestors worked hard to be where we are right now,” observed senior Kathleen Altamirano, an early childhood childhood/childhood education major who currently is a student teacher in Manhattan at the New York City Public School 51.

“I believe my story is important for others who are like me to never stick to the stereotypes of society. Instead, prove you are more than that and that you can do something great just like everyone else.”

“I was always self-conscious of how I looked, especially with my disability,” said alumna Christina Papaleo ’14, now disability access counselor at Syracuse University’s Center for Disability Resources.

“But since I have been advocating this idea of ‘braving my blind side,’ I knew that participating in this project was needed. We aren’t created to do life alone; we are given the chance to create meaningful connections with others.”

“It was humbling to sit in a room full of amazing students, alumni, faculty, and staff who live and breathe what it means to lead with love and courage,” said alumna Jamie Piperato ’12, founder and CEO of the consulting company JPHigherEd.

“This project will serve in many ways as a beacon for individuals who do not see themselves represented at SUNY Cortland and within our larger community due to the inequities that uphold barriers and perpetuate harm,” Piperato said.

“Because I think it’s important understanding other people and the culture that they have, it’s important to be mindful of your own,” said Greg Sharer, vice president for student affairs. “Each of us has some life and identity that makes us who we are.”

Mastoon’s project is part of the university’s ongoing effort to make SUNY Cortland as inclusive and welcoming a community as possible to people from increasingly diverse backgrounds and identities. Approximately 26% of the student body identifies itself as ethnically or racially diverse.

The Beloved Community Narratives project’s name comes from a quote by the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. that reflects the spirit of the initiative: “Our goal is to create a beloved community, and this will require a qualitative change in our souls as well as a quantitative change in our lives.”

“It’s important to say this is a ‘we’ project,” Mastoon said, crediting a 12-member ad hoc committee as well as the vision of SUNY Cortland President Erik J. Bitterbaum. “He could see how this could make a difference on the campus,” Mastoon said.

Lopez-Janove credited the Diversity Narratives Project Committee, which spearheaded the project. The committee includes Alexis Blavos, Erin Boylan, Cirrincione, Evan Faulkenbury, Kaitlin Flannery, Yamelli Hernandez (student), Taylor Hunter (student), Szilvia Kadas, Michelle LoGerfo, Zachariah Newswanger, Lauren Scagnelli and Joseph Westbrook.

“Just as important, let’s acknowledge the courageous participants who shared their personal stories with all of us,” Lopez-Janove said.

As SUNY Cortland’s study-in-place period continues due to the recent spike in COVID-19 cases, it is imperative for students to recognize the importance of positive mental health by taking part in self-care activities.

The university’s Conley Counseling and Wellness Services offers students a variety of resources.

“The Counseling Center is providing a variety of services remotely this semester,” said Carolyn Bershad, director of Counseling and Student Development. The services are free and confidential for enrolled SUNY Cortland students.

“We are seeing students for individual sessions as well as for consultations and are providing a number of workshops and structured groups that give students a chance to learn and practice new skills and knowledge that will help them cope better as they connect with others,” Bershad said.

During times of heightened stress, anxiety, grief and loss, it is essential for students to recognize the signs associated with these mental health concerns. Though symptoms vary from person to person as everyone experiences these differently, these may include:

• Disrupted sleep
• Sleeping more than usual
• Over- or under-eating
• Feeling on edge
• Increased sadness
• Increased tension
• Fatigue
• Loss of interest in daily activities
• Lowered mood
• Increased irritability or anger

Participating in self-care activities can help relieve stress and anxiety associated with remote learning and the impact of uncertainty during this time.

The key to self-care is for each individual to discover what is most effective. How a person best engages in self-care will be different. It can be as simple as listening to music, going for a run or chatting with friends and family over the phone.

Others may want to speak with a health professional. Appointments for tele-counseling are available through the Counseling Center website.

“You can do self-care in small increments of time, but sometimes it can be hard to motivate ourselves to do that,” said Bershad. “You are the expert about your life. You know what makes you happy, what you enjoy and what has gotten you though hard times in the past.”

Additional self-care resources include:

• Tips for Managing the Stress of Living with COVID-19 includes advice for more successfully managing the stress you or others around you may be experiencing due to COVID-19.  
• When stress strikes, self-care often goes by the wayside. Information on the benefits of self-care and ideas for developing your own self-care practices is available online.
• Psychology Today addresses how to think about and approach life to promote flexibility and resilience in order to find the opportunities, not just the stressors, associated with physical distancing.
• com offers a review of various areas of wellness and self-care, along with worksheets students can use to enhance their own personal self-care.

To maintain the health and safety of those on campus, most CCWS activities that were once held in person have moved online due to the ongoing global pandemic.

The Health Promotion Office’s “Wellness Wednesday” series now takes the form of a weekly podcast called “Take 10 for You,” which can be found on SoundCloud and Twitter. These podcasts are 10 minutes long and provide additional ideas on how to cope more effectively and assure students that what they are experiencing are normal reactions.

A complete list of other services as well as resources can be found on the Counseling Center website.

Additionally, SUNY has launched a comprehensive plan to expand access to mental health services for all SUNY students. SUNY Chancellor Jim Malatras announced a partnership with Thriving Campus in early October. It will help connect students from all 64 campuses to a network of more than 6,000 licensed mental health professionals.

As the effects of COVID-19 are being felt by everyone in the Cortland community, Counseling Services staff want to reassure all students that it is normal to experience worry in the face of uncertainty and students are not alone in this struggle.

“I would encourage everyone on campus to attend to their emotional and psychological needs, to look inwards and to honor their experiences of this difficult time with a lot of care and with kindness,” said Bershad. “Think about the relationship you have with yourself and try to be as good of a friend to yourself as you are to others.”

Prepared by Communications Office writing intern Shannon Imbornoni

The following message was sent on behalf of President Erik J. Bitterbaum:

Dear Cortland students:

First, I would like to thank many of you who completed the Fall 2020 Student Survey. Your feedback makes the university aware of your needs and allows us to better respond during this challenging semester.

One topic that was mentioned frequently was your lack of access to recreation activities.

As you know, we are so fortunate to have the Student Life Center here on campus. Sadly, it must remain closed at the moment to prevent further spread of COVID-19 in our community.

However, you do still have options when it comes to staying active during study-in-place. Please use any opportunities you have to get outside and enjoy our campus.

• A campus walking trail map is available online to suggest new routes. If you decide to go out for a walk or a run, please remember to wear a face covering and practice physical distancing.

• The City of Cortland's Municipal Water Works, located on Broadway Avenue, is another extraordinary spot close to campus where you can enjoy some time outdoors. I guarantee you that the deer and the ducks would love to see you.

• We also are leading many activities online. YouTuber Tyler Oakley is joining us for a virtual pumpkin painting event on Wednesday at 8 p.m. You can register and learn more about this event - and many others like it - through the campus calendar.

More information about events open to SUNY Cortland students will be shared through Instagram.

I am proud of SUNY Cortland's reputation as one of New York's healthiest and most athletic campuses. I urge you to continue to find creative ways to continue that tradition as we study in place for the safety of our community.

Thank you all for being Red Dragon Strong.

All the best,

Erik J. Bitterbaum

President

Kelly S. Bricker, an international leader in sustainable tourism, will deliver the prestigious Metcalf Endowment Lecture at the 70th annual SUNY Cortland Recreation Conference, a virtual conference set to take place Thursday, Nov. 5, and Friday, Nov. 6.

Bricker, a professor and director of parks, recreation and tourism in the University of Utah’s College of Health, will discuss “Advancing Sustainability through Equity, Diversity and Inclusion” at 12:30 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 6.

“The sustainable development goals outlined by the international community are an urgent call for action by all countries — developed and developing — in a global partnership,” Bricker said of her keynote lecture.

“(All countries) recognize that ending poverty and other deprivations must go hand-in-hand with strategies that improve health and education, reduce inequality and spur economic growth — all while tackling climate change and working to preserve our oceans and forests,” she said.

Bricker’s presentation will walk through examples from nature tourism and recreation that are effecting positive change towards those stated goals and the health of planet Earth.

This year both the keynote address and all conference programming are free and open to the public. In order to keep everyone safe, organizers are moving the conference to an entirely online platform on Cisco Webex.

Registration is open to the general public. For additional information and to register for the conference, visit cortland.edu/recconf or call 607-753-4939 or email recconf@cortland.edu. Sessions will be available following the conference for individuals unable to attend synchronously. For a $10 fee, Continuing Education Units (CEUs) will be available for qualifying sessions.

“Sustainability: the Role We Play” is the theme of the two-day event, the nation’s oldest continuous collegiate-sponsored recreation education conference.

“Now more than ever, it is our responsibility to create a culture of sustainable practice and environmental stewardship,” said conference coordinator and marketing chair Jarrett Dulemba, a junior outdoor recreation major from Woodbridge, N.J. “Join us as we come together in a virtual setting, reducing our ecological footprint while promoting positive action and helping create a viable future for all.”

The conference will feature numerous presentations in the field of recreation, parks and leisure studies. Check the conference website for updates on the sessions and schedule. Due to the remote, online nature of the event, this year there will be no professional networking social or raffle of local goods and services.

The Recreation Conference annually hosts 300 to 400 students and professionals in the fields of recreation, parks, and leisure studies from all over New York state, the greater New England area and beyond.

Presented by the university’s Recreation, Parks and Leisure Studies Department and students in Lecturer Esther VanGorder’s Special Events Planning class, the conference receives additional support for the Metcalf Keynote Address from the Metcalf Endowment Fund. Sponsors also include the Recreation Association of SUNY Cortland, Campus Artist and Lecture Series and Alumni Engagement.

“We are looking forward to providing flexible and accessible opportunities for professional development for recreational professionals everywhere,” Dulemba said.

Besides Dulemba, the conference’s student planners also include: William Bellingham ’17 of Ontario, N.Y., programming director; Steve Zelows of Whitesboro, N.Y., technology director; Hannah Furey of Orchard Park, N.Y., special programs director; Maxavier Steimel of Hillsborough, N.J., accessibility director; Natalie Gray of Rochester, N.Y., CEU director; Marli Hammond of Cortland, N.Y., website director; and Sarah White of Whitney Point, N.Y., registration/office director.

Alumni have always played an important role in the conference. Presenters this year will include: John Silsby ’69, M ’70, Maj. James Longi '89, USMC, Andrea Velazquez ’93, Beth Bentz ’02, Daniel Schiavo ’07, M '12, Amanda Hudson '08, Robyn Perez DePan ’13, Mary Pearson ’14, and Andrea Canale ’17.

Kelly S. Bricker

Bricker has research and teaching interests in ecotourism, sense of place, community development, natural resource management, value of nature-based experiences and the impacts of tourism. She specialized in sustainable tourism and protected area management at the Pennsylvania State University, where she earned her Ph.D.

The vice chair of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council since 2014, she also served with the Multi-Stakeholder Advisory Committee of the United Nations World Tourism Organization 10YFP for sustainable development and the Tourism and Protected Area Specialist Group of the IUCN.

Bricker is the author and editor of books on sustainability, many of which highlight case studies in tourism meeting environmental and societal issues. She co-authored the 2013 text, Sustainable Tourism and the Millennium Development Goals: Effecting Positive Change. Bricker developed educational texts focused on adventure education, including Adventure Programing and Travel for the 21st Century; and graduate education in De-Mystifying Theories in Tourism Research; and most recently co-edited This Land is Your Land: Toward a Better Understanding of Nature’s Resiliency — Building and Restorative Power for Armed Forces Personnel, Veterans and Their Families (Sagamore Publishing, LLC).

With partners in OARS, one of the most respected outfitting companies in the world, Bricker and her husband developed an ecotourism operation called Rivers Fiji.

Members of the Cortland Black Student Union (BSU) and Cortland Black Lives Matter couldn’t meet in person to hold their planned  Blackout March for Justice on Monday, Oct. 26.

They met online for COVID-19 safety reasons. During their virtual conference from 6 to 8 p.m., their unified stand against racial injustice began with a singing of the Black National Anthem by Rebekah Barrett of Ithaca, N.Y, a senior dual majoring in Africana studies and sociology whose vocals have marked other formal ceremonies on campus.

SUNY Cortland President Erik J. Bitterbaum then delivered an address that touched on the death of George Floyd, which has sparked an ongoing national dialog on racial injustice in America, and how the university can face the problem at hand.

“While this is a difficult time in our country, we need to be proactive and address these issues head-on, especially for the sake of our students,” Bitterbaum said.

He shed light on some upcoming projects on campus relating to equity and inclusion.

Bitterbaum noted that the Beloved Community Narratives project led by Adam Mastoon, involving 25 campus participants, is already being put on display. The contributors shared their stories with members of Mastoon’s team. The group then translated each individual’s story into a large poster. Ten student stories already are on display at the Student Life Center. Eventually, all 25 portraits will be installed in Moffett Center.

A website has been launched, publishing all 25 stories. Campus members can see them at Cortland.edu/beloved.

An opportunity will soon be presented to participate in a virtual panel discussion with the poster participants.

Also, a Black Lives Matter-themed mural will be coming to campus. The NAACP, BSU and Cortland art students will collaborate to create the portrait.

Furthermore, each Cortland academic department will create a plan to fight against racial injustice and inequality within the department.

“We are working to diversify the voices of our campus,” Bitterbaum said. “We recognize the strength we gain from the different views and world experiences that come from a campus rich in the diversity of our people.”

Next, Cortland BSU president, Shaneya Simmelkjaer of Bronx, N.Y., a senior triple major in criminology, political science and Africana studies, took the stage.

“I’ve had a hard time attempting to condense all the pain, suffering, heartache, and death that black people in America have experienced in 2020 alone, into one single speech,” Simmelkjaer said.

The Cortland senior titled her speech, “Tired of Being Tired, but the Fight is Far from Finished.” The discourse emphasized that the current racial tensions of the United States are not new.

“We’ve seen many George Floyds in our lifetime,” Simmelkjaer said. After a heartfelt and insightful speech, the BSU president passed the reins onto her vice-president, C’Ality Hackett, a junior biology major from Albany, N.Y.

Hackett displayed footage of Black Lives Matter protests in New York, fights between Black Lives Matter and “Blue Lives Matter” protestors, and Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), a unit of the Nigerian Police Department, being abusive to Nigerian citizens.

Following the visuals of racial prejudice and tensions across the globe, Hackett opened the assembly for a group analysis of the videos. The collection of students, faculty and community members answered a few inquiries to facilitate a conversation.

Melissa Kiser of Cortland Black Lives Matter added to the dialogue, using her knowledge to examine how the racial climate of America correlates to the Cortland community.

The event concluded with a spoken word poem by Keona Gray-Outlaw, a senior professional writing major from Brooklyn, N.Y.

“I wanted to dedicate this piece to the disruptive peace that these murders have caused,” said Gray-Outlaw. “There’s no need for filtering my language in a society that has only one lens it looks through. This is just as raw, descriptive and painful as this feeling I’ve felt every day is.”

This is event is the latest for BSU, which has been active throughout the semester. Currently the 50-member organization hosts programs every Monday. Together, they hope to start a conversation among students, faculty and Cortland community members.

Thanks to the BSU, meeting participants were able to take a deep-rooted look at themselves, the campus community, and the country they share.

“We need to ask ourselves, ‘Is this who we are? How has our past led us to this place? And most importantly, where do we want to go this semester, and beyond?’” questioned Bitterbaum. “The answers to these questions will require the honesty and fortitude to reflect on the past, and the wisdom to the find a path forward.”

Prepared by Communications Office writing intern Nicholas Boyer

This year, Halloween will come and go under the unprecedented circumstances of a pandemic. Still, SUNY Cortland students can have fun while following COVID-19 guidelines.

Remember, unless you are under quarantine or isolation, you are not confined to your house or residence hall as long as you follow all COVID safety guidelines.

Of course, the safest way to participate in the holiday on Saturday, Oct. 31, is within one’s own residence hall room, apartment or house, according to the New York State Department of Health. Here are some ideas:

• Roommates can decorate their living space, or doors. Maybe have a physically-distant competition with neighbors.
• Carve pumpkins.
• Binge watch scary movies.
• Splurge on Halloween candy.
• Organize a virtual Halloween party with costumes and games.
• Dress up for the holiday and share your new persona through social media.
• Leave a Halloween treat bag on the door step of a friend In quarantine and Isolation.

Here’s a list of some DOs and DON'Ts when celebrating a pandemic Halloween:

DO  participate in virtual and small, physically distanced activities.

DO engage In outdoor activities as much as possible.

DO practice physical distancing AND wear a face covering whenever you are around anyone outside of your Immediate household.

DO participate In SUNY Cortland-organized activities.

DO NOT attend any large gatherings, inside or outside.

DO NOT give Halloween candy to Trick-or-Treaters if they are sick, live with someone who is sick, have been exposed to someone known to have COVID-19 in the last 14 days, are under isolation or quarantine, or have traveled internationally or to a state affected by the NYS Travel Advisory in the last 14 days.

A Red Dragon Halloween

SUNY Cortland’s Student Activities Board (SAB) and Campus Activities and Corey Union are offering lots of safety-conscious events all week long to celebrate the occasion.

Monday, Oct. 26 Scavenger Hunt Follow @CortlandNites on Instagram for clues to find dragons hidden around campus. Dragons can be redeemed at the Corey Union Information Desk for Cortland apparel on Friday, Oct 30 from 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. and Sunday, Nov. 1 from 3 to 5 p.m. Get ready! First clue drops at 3 p.m. Turn your notifications on.

Tuesday, Oct. 27 Halloween Trivia 9 p.m. Webex First place prize is a Cortland sweatshirt. 2nd and 3rd place prizes are long-sleeve t-shirts.

Wednesday, Oct. 28 Pumpkin Painting with Tyler Oakley 8 p.m. Webex All SUNY Cortland students are welcome to join the call with YouTube star Tyler Oakley. Only students permitted on-campus during the study in place may pick up painting supplies. Limited supplies available at the Corey Union Information Desk from Tuesday 1 to 3 p.m. and 5 to 7 p.m. and Wednesday 12 to 2 p.m. and 4 to 6 p.m. or while supplies last. Hosted by SAB.

Thursday, Oct. 29 Costume Contest 9 p.m. Webex Show off your Halloween costume! Prizes for most creative, best duo/team, scariest and funniest.

Friday, Oct. 30 Pumpkin Carving 1 to 3 p.m. On-campus students: Pick up a free pumpkin at the Corey Union Information Desk. Off-campus students: Drive by the Stadium Complex to pick up a free pumpkin. Tag @CortlandNites or DM us a picture of your jack-o-lanterns!

Saturday, Oct. 31: Halloween Treats 1 to 3 p.m. Be on the lookout for university staff walking around with Halloween treats. Psychic Fair 7 to 10 p.m. Signups start Wednesday. 

The spirit of Halloween remains alive this year. So, take the proper precautions to keep yourself and others safe this Oct. 31.

Prepared by Communications Office writing intern Nicholas Boyer

SUNY Cortland has teamed up with SUNY Oswego, SUNY Oneonta and Elmira College to create the Central New York Graduate School Fair for students and alumni on Wednesday, Oct. 28.

This year this major event will be held virtually from 1 to 4 p.m.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the event will be held virtually through Handshake, a social networking website for college students. Employers and schools partner up to give students the best opportunity to find a job or an internship through this site.

To sign up, visit Handshake. A total of 134 colleges and universities will have representatives available to speak about their programs. A full list of participating graduate schools is included in the Handshake Graduate School Fair Listing.

“Students may set up private appointments if they are ambitious enough to ask recruiters,” said Michelina Gibbons, employer relations and recruiting coordinator in Career Services at SUNY Cortland. “If they see a school they’re really interested in and want to connect with them at another time, all the contact information is right in the Handshake event so they’ll have access to that.”

Universities will give sessions at a certain time, so students must ask to be a part of their presentation. Students have the opportunity to participate in one-on-one and group sessions with the schools in which they are most interested. 

Students from other campuses will be signing up as well. All appointment requests are on a first-come, first-served basis.

Gibbons urges students to think about what information they need to know before choosing a graduate school program. Example questions include:

• What is the faculty-to-student ratio in the department?
• How much is tuition? Are there other costs?
• What are the options for financial aid?
• Does the school require the Graduate Records Examination?
• What is the admissions process like?
• Can you take classes remotely?
• Have admission requirements changed due to COVID-19?

The Central New York Fall 2020 Graduate Fair is one of many events Career Services is hosting this semester. Others include drop-in resume and cover letter critiques, Handshake and LinkedIn workshops and resources for interviewing and job searching. A full list of virtual events is available online.

For questions about the Central New York Graduate School Fair, contact Gibbons at 607-753-2224.

Prepared by Communications Office writing intern Christina Cargulia

Dear Cortland students:

I have heard from many of you this week. Extending our study-in-place policy is frustrating and difficult, but we must do so for the safety of the campus and outside communities.

That’s why I am asking you to do the right thing and stay here on campus or in Cortland. Guidance from SUNY requires this. We are obligated to prevent the spread of COVID-19 to other communities and, in particular, to vulnerable individuals. Cortland currently is a COVID-19 micro-cluster and we need to do our part to reduce the spread.

I also want you to know that we are listening. Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to complete the Fall 2020 Student Survey, which will provide crucial feedback for the spring semester. Please know that your concerns are heard and we are working to address them.

• Continued communication: You can expect regular email communication every Tuesday and Friday. We will work to keep these messages clear and concise while sharing important updates and answering common questions.

• Stay engaged: Use the campus calendar to browse daily events, including a professional mind reader hosted by Cortland Nites this Saturday night, and the study-in-place page for more information on mental and emotional health resources.

• Connect on Instagram: Follow @sunycortland on Instagram to learn more about what’s happening on campus.

We must continue thinking about our SUNY Cortland community and how we can heal collectively to make it whole again. Recent testing has shown encouraging results, with new and active cases continuing to drop, and this is all due to your diligence and sacrifice.

I believe that we can continue this process by working together and doing the right thing. In the coming weeks, doing the right thing means staying diligent to all health and safety guidance.

My admiration for your efforts grows each day. I extend my deepest thanks for all that you’ve done and all that you continue to do.

All the best,

Erik J. Bitterbaum

President

Several members of the SUNY Cortland community are playing big roles in Cortland Repertory Theatre’s upcoming “Ghosts in the Park” event.

A family-focused theatrical experience for Halloween, “Ghosts in the Park” is a drive-thru spooky but not gory performance that will be held at Dwyer Memorial Park at 6799 Little York Lake Road in Preble on Friday, Oct. 30 and Saturday, Oct. 31. Friday’s performance runs from 4 to 5:30 p.m. and there will be two performances on Saturday from noon to 1:30 p.m. and also from 2:30 to 4 p.m. A suggested $5 donation will be taken at the gate.

Mark Reynolds, costumer designer in the Performing Arts Department and a CRT board member, is serving as lead creative director. The concept for “Ghosts in the Park” is a reverse parade in which visitors drive through a cemetery that magically appears once a year and draws inspiration from tales such as “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” and “Dracula” and will feature witches, aliens, ghosts and other hair-raising characters.

SUNY Cortland Scenic Designer Scott Holdredge, left, and Technical Director Simone Scalici inspect “Jolene,” a giant skeleton puppet created for Cortland Repertory Theatre’s “Ghosts in the Park.”

"Ghosts in the Park is a great opportunity for local performing arts organizations, our talented theatre faculty and alumni to collaborate and produce something safe, creative and exciting for the Cortland community," Reynolds said.

SUNY Cortland’s musical theatre scenic designer Scott Holdredge and technical director Simone Scalici are collaborating to fill a section of the park with gravestones, “Nessie” the Loch Ness monster, giant skeleton puppets and more surprises.

Cynthia Halpin, lecturer in the Performing Arts Department, will direct dancers from the Cortland Performing Arts Institute with her daughter, Cassidy Halpin.    

Crystal Lyon ’09, a Cortland-based artist, is assisting Reynolds with creative design along with CRT’s producing artistic director Kerby Thompson.

Cast members include Lydia Allen, SUNY Cortland’s men’s and women’s diving coach; Jack Carr, lecturer in the Communication and Media Studies Department and former SUNY Cortland College Council member Dorothea “Dottie” Kreig Allen Fowler ’52, M ’74.

Eerie music to enhance the journey will be provided via a short-range transmitter to car radios. Treat bags will be available for children at the end of the ride.

Local scenic designers and craftsmen Eric Behnke, CRT’s production manager and Sam Sheehan, CRT’s props and set designer, are also involved in building sets for the event.

“Ghosts in the Park” is sponsored by the Donald Guthrie Foundation, which will allow for healthy alternative treats to be distributed. Other local sponsors include Anderson’s Farm Market, CP Cash and Carry, Dentes Dental and the Overhead Door Company of Cortland, among others. CRT Board and Guild members have also donated candy to this event and will be on hand to enjoy the festivities.

For more information, visit the CRT website or contact the theatre by email. Please note that CRT’s offices are working on limited hours and are not always readily available to answer calls.

SUNY Cortland professors are teaching during an unprecedented semester created by the COVID-19 pandemic. Through all of the challenges, faculty members have stayed dedicated to their craft in attempt to create meaningful experiences for their students. This profile continues a five-part series.

Lin Lin approaches her teaching with the foundational belief that social studies lessons at the elementary school level should be hands-on and interactive.

When she’s discussing ways to teach the American Revolution, she stages a tug of war game with her students outside of Memorial Library, where two sides act as the Continental Army and the British Army. It is one of many ways that Lin seeks to engage kinesthetic learners who acquire knowledge effectively through physical activities.

“I totally believe that elementary school social studies needs to be hands-on, hearts-on and minds-on,” said Lin, an associate professor of childhood/early childhood education who is teaching three classes that are fully online.

Associate Professor Lin Lin

Limitations due to COVID-19 may have stymied Lin’s preferred teaching style, but she has persisted through effort and creativity. In mid-March, just before spring semester classes went remote and daily habits shifted dramatically, Lin attended the New York State Council for the Social Studies Conference in Albany. After she presented, she purposefully attended a workshop to learn a software for K-12 education known as Nearpod, which aids online learning with embedded interactive features such as videos, games, polls, drawing boards and collaborative activities.

Lin credits the Nearpod technology with helping her work through the pandemic. She takes photos and videos to weave into her online classes. In one lesson she learned from Rethinking Schools, she divided roughly 9,000 macaroni pieces in small sandwich bags to represent unequal wealth distribution across five groups in the U.S. — showing that the poorest one-fifth of Americans claims the equivalent of nine macaroni pieces while the wealthiest one-fifth holds 76 bags with 100 macaroni pieces in each. She models for her students the possibility to integrate math and social studies to teach about social justice.

“Students saw the visual representation,” said Lin, who collected student feedback last spring through a survey she created. “The lesson was still there.” 

In this photo from 2014, teacher candidates participate in a tug-of-war activity that Associate Professor Lin Lin uses to teach about the American Revolution.

She also has used Flipgrid, a video discussion tool, to facilitate important conversations. In a lesson about cultural identity in the social studies classroom, she asks students to share two children’s books with their college classmates; one should be a “mirror” book that reflects aspects of the individual student’s identity while the other should be a “window” book that introduces a different cultural group and opens a wider world for teacher candidates and their future students to learn about diverse people in the world. 

When all of her class sections are added together, students gain a collection of more than 100 possible titles to add to their future classroom libraries. 

“They learn from each other,” Lin said. “The goal is to bring children’s books with diverse characters to represent the real America.” 

Lin admits that the switch from standing in front of a classroom to a computer screen has been difficult, but she continues to rely on her own enthusiasm to keep students engaged.

“Students notice the passion,” she said. “If you love what you teach, it’s more likely that students will too.”

--

Do you know a SUNY Cortland professor or student who has done something interesting in their classes during the pandemic? Email communications.office@cortland.edu

SUNY Cortland’s commitment to sustainability has once again been recognized by a major national publication.

The Princeton Review named Cortland to its 2021 Guide to Green Colleges, which highlights the best universities in the country on issues such as use of renewable energy, recycling and conservation, availability of environmental studies in academics and career guidance for green jobs.

Cortland scores a 96 out of a possible 99 on The Princeton Review’s green rating scale. The rating takes 15 factors into account, including whether a college has a formal sustainability committee, offers sustainability-focused degrees, has a public greenhouse gas emission inventory plan and provides transportation alternatives.

The Princeton Review notes that college commitment to environmental issues plays a significant role in admissions. A 2020 survey of nearly 13,000 college-bound teens and their parents found that 66% factor sustainability into their decisions to apply or attend certain schools.

On a similar survey released in September, Cortland placed at No. 76 in the nation on Sierra magazine’s annual “Cool Schools” list, the highest-ranked SUNY comprehensive college. SUNY Cortland has been ranked among the top 100 colleges and universities on Sierra’s list each year since 2016.

SUNY Cortland has earned a reputation as being a national leader in sustainability through a variety of energy-saving measures implemented across campus.

The university meets its electricity needs by using 100% renewable sources. Cortland did so in 2013, becoming the first institution in the 64-campus SUNY system to go entirely renewable.

Four electric vehicle charging stations were installed on campus during the summer of 2020 to promote sustainable transportation for members of the university community.

Energy efficient lighting, heating and cooling systems have been installed in many of SUNY Cortland’s buildings. New buildings are constructed to meet prestigious Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards and recent examples include residence halls Glass Tower Hall and Dragon Hall and the recreational and dining facility the Student Life Center. When Dragon Hall opened in 2014, it was the first residence hall in the SUNY system to earn a platinum LEED rating.

SUNY Cortland earned an elite gold designation from the Sustainability, Tracking and Assessment Rating System (STARS) in 2019.

Learn more about the university’s sustainability efforts on the Sustainability Office’s website.

A total of 416 colleges and universities were profiled by The Princeton Review in the 2021 Guide to Green Colleges. More than 25 survey data points were analyzed by editors to create the green rating scale. Colleges that scored 80 or higher were included in the guide.

Teaching a child who struggles how to read can be challenging under the best of circumstances.

But the COVID-19 pandemic really put global literacy efforts to the test, and educators find themselves evaluating the useful qualities of various online platforms, apps, hardware and software for the purpose of teaching literacy with technology purposefully.

SUNY Cortland’s Literacy Department recently partnered with the Graduate School of Education at American University in Cairo (AUC) to develop a virtual conference designed to better equip reading teachers everywhere how to reach out to middle grades students remotely to inspire a love of learning.

The conference, “Beyond the App,” which is geared to connect U.S. and Egyptian teachers of children particularly in grades 3 through 9, will take place Thursday, Nov. 5, through Saturday, Nov. 7.

Sessions touch topics including motivating middle grades students and the gradual release of responsibility online, building comprehension through guided activity online, word work and fluency teaching in the virtual classroom, anti-racist online literacy teaching, and teaching the middle-grade student to write online.

Notably, Egypt's minister of education and technology, Tarek Shawki, will welcome attendees with a speech on Friday, Nov. 6.

“We wanted to take some time to give teachers the tools to be successful,” said organizer Nance Wilson, SUNY Cortland professor of literacy and Literacy Department chair on sabbatical. “They’ve tried what they learned this summer. They’ve found out what’s working and what’s not working and are reaching out to try something new.”

The unprecedented event will unfold virtually connecting literacy leaders around the globe with Egyptian and American teachers as well as teachers from many other countries, according to co-organizer Thomas DeVere Wolsey, who teaches graduate courses in research and literacy in the Graduate School of Education at AUC.

“What makes the ‘Beyond the App’ unique is that teachers will share their knowledge building on the best literacy practices for middle grades,” Wolsey said. That’s students in grades 3 to 9.

“There are more than 50 sessions for participants to choose from where they will hear from international experts from Egypt, the United States and Mauritius and engage them in discussion sharing their challenges and effective strategies,” he said.

The organizers recruited a stellar slate of volunteer presenters, which kept the conference cost manageable, according to Wilson.

The savings is passed along to SUNY Cortland faculty and students and teachers in Egypt, who can register without charge. The cost to all other American participants is $10. The conference fee was set low in order to make the sessions affordable to future educators as well as raise money on behalf of under-resourced Egyptian and Guatemalan libraries.

Wolsey compared teachers’ early and unsatisfying efforts to enact effective literacy learning in digital environments during the early pandemic wave to the idea that “If the only tool you have is a hammer, all the world looks like a nail.”

“So often, we find ourselves gravitating toward a cool app or site when we really should be thinking about what the best tool is for instructional and learning purposes,” he said. “The fully digital conference is intended to expand the digital tools teachers might use to make the most effective use of online literacy instruction and go additional steps ‘Beyond the App’.”

Conference activities will be interactive and immersive, allowing ample time for presenters and participants to freely exchange ideas.

“Participants will learn with hands on keyboards, taps on screens and with a full range of digital environments that promote interaction and immersive learning for their students, as well,” Wolsey said. “As more teachers and their students are going to school online, the benefits accrue to all.” 

The organizers will offer several sessions of the conference experience in Arabic as a service to the teachers in the national system in Egypt.

SUNY Cortland President Erik J. Bitterbaum will open the conference on Nov. 5.  

In addition to Wilson and Wolsey, the more than dozen featured presenters include Amy Tondreau of Austin Peay State University, Armen Kassabian of Greenwich High School, Danny Brassel of CalStateTEACH and the American University in Cairo, Doug Fisher of San Diego State University, Emily Howell of Clemson University, Jill Castek of University of Arizona, Maha Bali of American University in Cairo and Yousra Abourehab of University of Arizona. Details about the speakers are available online.

Sessions will not be recorded.

“We’ve decided to set it up with experts talking for no more than 30 minutes and the rest of the time will be devoted to talking about practice,” Wilson said.

Attendees afterward can continue to share ideas and continue the conversation on the webpage.

An additional feature of the conference is that participants can donate to help buy books and build libraries for students in Egypt and in Guatemala who otherwise do not have access or have limited access to books.

Wilson said she and Wolsey are longtime literacy project collaborators who have been working on improving Guatemalan schools for years and Wolsey is a former SUNY Cortland adjunct faculty member.

“We both reached out to friends and experts in the field,” Wilson said. “If you look up people who are volunteering their time for this conference, you’ll find that some typically charge thousands to speak on this topic. But they’ve volunteered their expertise for free, because they can see that teachers everywhere are really struggling with teaching literacy online.”

As well as working teachers, the conference will have something to offer the more than 100 students that Cortland enroll in its master’s degree level literacy program as well as all undergraduates in the School of Education, Wilson said.

“Some of our skills shared at the conference will make us all better teachers, even when things return to normal again,” Wilson said.

The conference is supported by SUNY Cortland through its President’s Fund, the Research and Sponsored Programs Office and International Programs; and by AUC through its Provost’s Fund.

Members of the press that wish to interview any of the presenters are encouraged to contact Wilson at beyondtheapp@cortland.edu and 607-319-2612 or Wolsey at +20-120-680-1070.

SUNY Cortland professors are teaching during an unprecedented semester created by the COVID-19 pandemic. Through all of the challenges, faculty members have stayed dedicated to their craft in attempt to create meaningful experiences for their students. This profile continues a five-part series.

At every grade level from kindergarten to college, teachers have emerged among the many unsung heroes of 2020. Shena Salvato is one shining example for SUNY Cortland students learning how to teach English as a new language (ENL) in their future classrooms.

A full-time lecturer, this semester Salvato juggles five classes across both the undergraduate and graduate levels. Two were fully online while the others offered in-person instruction before the university’s pause. But the switch to shorter classes early in the semester created new hurdles; losing 20 minutes inside of the classroom meant more planning and follow-up outside of it. 

“I feel like one role I can play is teaching students how to make this work,” Salvato said, suggesting that the pandemic has forced teachers at all levels to consider new tools and practices.

In her TESOL classes, aspiring teachers learn about approaches to take with students who are not proficient in English. TESOL majors take 12 credits of a foreign language. While ENL teachers do not have to be able to communicate in all of the languages of their students, having a solid foundation in an additional language helps teachers better understand the language learning process, and enables them to relate to their students’ challenges with learning English, Salvato said. She focuses on the methods of teaching ENL and starts by building rapport with them.

“I really try to walk the talk working with pre-service teachers,” she said. “I try to give them exposure from a teacher’s perspective and a student’s.”

In all of her courses, she moved an important introductory activity online this semester. Previously, students wrote down on paper answers to big-picture questions about themselves and their ambitions; this semester, it turned into an online journal that allows for back-and-forth, one-on-one discussion with their professor. The exercise allows students to witness their own personal development throughout the semester.

“This has nothing to do with content,” she said. “It’s about developing a connection.”

During the pandemic, she has noticed far more depth in student responses on Blackboard, the university’s main online learning platform. Students seem more willing to share their own experiences, ask questions or point out their confusion with a topic, Salvato said. A major reward so far has been rich discussion among students outside of the classroom.

Salvato has been encouraged by small but meaningful moments. One student saw inspiration in a course topic and asked Salvato to be the advisor for an Honors Program thesis, even though the student pursues a major outside of the Modern Language Department. Another student expressed strong interest in teaching abroad after graduation and sought advice from Salvato, who taught in Costa Rica for three years.

“It’s exciting that students are thinking beyond current limitations,” Salvato said. “That’s encouraging.”

--

Do you know a SUNY Cortland professor or student who has done something interesting in their classes during the pandemic? Email communications.office@cortland.edu

SUNY Cortland launched the 2020-21 State Employees Federated Appeal (SEFA) campaign on Oct. 23. The email announcement to employees included a SEFA pledge form, instructions for making an online SEFA pledge, a brochure and a page about prize drawings.

The campaign, which normally relies on state employee volunteers to canvas co-workers for donations, will continue via email through Friday, Nov. 6. Contributors can choose one of three ways to pledge this year using the attachments emailed to all employees on Oct. 22. They can pledge online via the SEFA online pledge form, fill out the pledge form and return via email to sefa@cortland.edu or print the pledge form, fill it out and mail along with the pledge to Pam Schroeder, Miller Building, Room 404.

The only authorized fundraising campaign among state workers, SEFA is directed by the United Way for Cortland County and unites fundraising efforts for a group of agencies under a common umbrella.

Contributions to last year’s Cortland County SEFA campaign totaled over $50,000. The help and support provided through the campaign to those in need is immeasurable.

“No contribution is too small, and every little bit helps to support agencies in need,” said SEFA co-chair Wendy Sirvent, Residence Life and Housing Office. “For example, $5 per pay period can supply one month’s worth of diapers for a baby in the Cortland area.”

The university will offer incentives for employees who donate to the campaign. At the campaign’s end, a drawing for prizes will be conducted. First prize is a reserved campus parking space located in the lot closest to the winner’s building. To be eligible, an employee must pledge at least $130. Everyone who donates a minimum of $25 will be eligible to win one of three $25 Auxiliary Services Corporation (ASC) gift certificates. Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA) members who donate at least $25 will be eligible for a $50 gift certificate to a local restaurant.

SEFA campaigns also are conducted at the State Department of Labor, the Department of Environmental Conservation, the Department of Transportation, the Office of Court Administration and the State Police. Decisions are made locally about which agencies are included and how funds are distributed. The community-based SEFA committee is composed of representatives from state agencies and managers of human service agencies. Pledging takes place once a year.

Participants can choose to have their gifts shared among different organizations within Cortland County, used in another county of their choice or designated for individual local, state, independent or international organizations. Examples of local agencies include the United Way for Cortland County, Madison-Cortland New York State Arc, American Red Cross, Catholic Charities, Cortland County Child Development Center, Family and Children’s Counseling Services, Lime Hollow Center for Environment and Culture, Salvation Army, Seven Valleys Health Coalition, YMCA, YWCA among others.

Sirvent co-chairs the SEFA Committee with Maere Vunk, who works at The Learning Center.

For more information about SEFA in New York state, visit the website www.sefanys.org.

The presidents of the State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC), taking caution to protect the health and safety of students and staff and after consulting with conference leadership, have made the difficult decision to cancel winter sports for the 2020-21 season.

The SUNYAC consists of 10 institutions — Brockport, Buffalo State, Cortland, Fredonia, Geneseo, New Paltz, Oneonta, Oswego, Plattsburgh and Potsdam. In addition, Morrisville State is an affiliate member of the league for men's ice hockey.

As a result of this announcement, Cortland's entire winter sports competition season has been canceled. Cortland's winter sports include: men's and women's basketball; men's and women's ice hockey; men's and women's swimming and diving; men's and women's indoor track and field; women's gymnastics; and wrestling. Three of those teams do not compete in the SUNYAC — women's ice hockey (Northeast Women's Hockey League), wrestling (Empire Collegiate Wrestling Conference) and women's gymnastics (National Collegiate Gymnastics Association) ­— but will still have their seasons canceled. (UPDATE: The NEWHL officially canceled its 2020-21 season on Oct. 23)

While no competition will be held, there is still hope that other team activities and practice sessions will be able to be conducted. Those decisions will be made as the fall semester winds down and the spring semester begins. No decision has been made yet regarding Cortland's spring athletic seasons.

"This was not an easy decision and I empathize with all of our student-athletes across the SUNYAC," said SUNY Cortland President Dr. Erik Bitterbaum, the chair of the SUNYAC Presidents. "However, despite our best efforts to plan for a winter season, our priority must be the health and safety of everyone involved with intercollegiate athletics, and our campuses as a whole."

SUNY Cortland professors are teaching during an unprecedented semester created by the COVID-19 pandemic. Through all of the challenges, faculty members have stayed dedicated to their craft in attempt to create meaningful experiences for their students. This profile continues a five-part series. 

Jeremy Jimenez has relied on small group discussions and activities to supplement lectures throughout his teaching career. But social distancing guidelines forced him to replace those activities with a new approach to delivering important course content.

“It’s forced me to up my storytelling game,” said Jimenez, an assistant professor in the Foundations and Social Advocacy Department. Imagination and energy are crucial to keeping his students engaged. 

His department prepares future teachers to work with learners of all abilities, and all of his current classes explore race, class and gender issues. Jimenez has been quick to discuss an important lesson of the pandemic: online learning can lead to greater inequity for school-aged children without technology resources, high-speed internet access or quiet study space.

But video platforms such as Zoom don’t have to be the only alternative to in-person instruction, he suggested. For example, this semester Jimenez asked students to walk through the Cortland Rural Cemetery near the university’s campus to observe ways that the historic site might reveal subtle differences in class and gender decades ago. He also assigned students to interview people who hold jobs that do not require college degrees, taking note of their struggles, triumphs, attitudes and beliefs.

Jeremy Jimenez, an assistant professor in the Foundations and Social Advocacy Department, leads a lesson from his office.

“A lot of people think that if you’re not in person, you need to be online,” said Jimenez, suggesting that lived experiences and shared conversations can be more illuminating that sitting at a computer screen.

Admittedly, Jimenez often needs technology to connect with his SUNY Cortland students. When the pandemic halted in-person instruction in March, he turned to the text messaging platform GroupMe to keep class discussions going. Jimenez found it more inclusive, as students who were hesitant to speak in class joined the conversation. Plus students gained a thread where they could refer back later in the semester, using a popular smartphone app that doesn’t require strong bandwidth.

For several semesters, Jimenez also has used Twitter as a discussion platform to meet students through social media interaction. He points out the potential dangers of social media as they relate to disinformation, bullying, mental health and data privacy concerns. But he asks students to occasionally use Twitter as a way to share articles and discuss current class topics. 

“As a teacher, you want to be in tune,” Jimenez said. “You want to dip your toe in the water that people immerse in … You want to be equipped with more direct understanding and awareness, while simultaneously being cognizant of the dangers of spending too much time using social media.”

Do you know a SUNY Cortland professor or student who has done something interesting in their classes during the pandemic? Email communications.office@cortland.edu