Campus Champion

“I do my best work when I’m under pressure," says Ricardo Nelson ’12, SUNY Cortland’s go-to guy for all things video. Since April, the media services technician has produced too many videos to mention, each dedicated to engaging the campus community during distance learning and quarantine restrictions. Some projects keep him up all night, one was a social media hit. He works with all corners of campus, from athletics to fundraising to academics and helps people — some with wild ideas — meet their online objectives. Then he rallies his students taking introduction to media production and teaches them things like how to get the audience more involved and how to strive for the best.

Dear Cortland students,

As you prepare to finish this semester, I want to help you plan ahead for coursework purposes. Today’s email highlights the revised academic calendar for Spring 2021, which follows recent guidance from SUNY System Administration.

You can view the revised academic calendar online. Important dates and deadlines have changed, especially early in the semester.

Some key takeaways: 

• Semester start date is Feb. 1: Both in-person and online classes will now begin on Monday, Feb. 1, one week later than originally scheduled.

• Spring break will not take place: The planned break in classes from March 15 to 19 has been canceled in an effort to reduce travel outside of Cortland and the potential spread of COVID-19. All SUNY institutions have adopted this change. 

• End-of-semester schedule stays the same: Starting in late March, most of the original dates and deadlines associated with the Spring 2021 semester will remain in place. Classes will end on Friday, May 7 and the final exam period will span Monday, May 10, to Friday, May 14.

Although these early semester changes will require some adjustment, they are necessary for health and safety reasons. Please know that the university is working hard to finalize plans for the spring, including move-in and required testing upon arrival. I will keep you informed on important updates and resume my regular weekly emails on Thursdays starting Dec. 3.

Thanksgiving celebrations may be different this year, but I hope that you are able to relax and recharge over the next week. I remain eternally grateful for your perseverance during these challenging times, and I hope this Thanksgiving brings health and happiness to you and your loved ones.

All the best, 

Erik J. Bitterbaum 

President

President Erik J. Bitterbaum loves SUNY Cortland.

And he wants to make that clear.

The university’s 10th president who joined Cortland in 2003 was featured in a virtual event hosted by the Student Activities Board on Saturday, Nov. 14. The purpose of the event was to allow students, new and returning, to get to know their president better.

In the hour-long virtual meeting held over Webex, the president shared stories about himself, his family, gave advice, answered student questions and got to know the students on the call.

“There is nothing you can’t ask about me or about the college,” Bitterbaum said.

The president began the meeting sharing anecdotes of his personal life and how he had lived all around the world before turning 18.

“I was born in New York City but at the age of 2, my dad took a very unusual position,” Bitterbaum said. “He was just an accountant, but he decided that he had fought in World War II and found Europe fascinating and he wanted to get back there. The first place the U.S. government sent us was North Africa.”

From Tripoli, Libya, he and his family would go on to live in Germany, New York, New Jersey, Dallas, back to Germany in Munich and then back to the States to Louisville, Kentucky, Dallas again and finally ending up in Hawaii for his senior year of high school.

“The one thing that surprises people is that I learned to surf,” Bitterbaum said.

He was quick to share his experiences traveling the world with his family along with studying abroad his junior year while attending Occidental College, a private liberal arts college in Los Angeles, Calif., which is also where former President Barack Obama attended before transferring to Columbia University.

“I had the opportunity to spend my junior year abroad at the University of Sussex,” Bitterbaum said. “I would highly recommend if you could go abroad for a semester or a year, to do it.”

Though a world traveler, when asked where his favorite place to live has been, without hesitation Bitterbaum answered “Cortland.”

“We’ve lived in Cortland for the longest period in my life, going on almost 18 years,” Bitterbaum said. “Because the work is so interesting, I have to say Cortland, N.Y. The responsibility of being president has used every talent I have.”

For Bitterbaum and his wife, Ellen Howard Burton, their love for Cortland is deeper then attending Red Dragon athletic games, theater productions, lectures and hosting commencement.

“The reason I love Cortland so much is because I’ve been able to accomplish a lot here,” Bitterbaum said. “It’s not just me. It’s a whole group of people. If you take the time and show loyalty to a place, you can really change an institution.”

In the past 18 years, Bitterbaum has guided nearly $300 million in new construction and renovation on campus, including a state-of-the-art science complex, the creation of New York’s “greenest” residence hall and the most unique and comprehensive student recreational facility in the 64-campus SUNY system.

Additionally, he has been committed to the diversification of the campus community. When he began in 2003, only about four percent of the student population were students of color. Now, that number ranges anywhere from 24 to 27 percent.

In wrapping up the evening, Bitterbaum and Burton shared with students a message of hope for a better spring semester and the importance of finishing strong.

“You are all very special to us. We want you all to do well and flourish,” Bitterbaum said. “When the chance comes, stop me and say ‘hi’ and visit the office before you graduate. We can be socially distant and wear our masks. I have an open office.”

Prepared by Communications Office writing intern Shannon Imbornoni

One of SUNY Cortland’s beloved end-of-semester traditions is going virtual in 2020.

PAWS for Stress Relief is moving to Instagram. All members of the campus community are invited to participate.

To enter, send a direct message to @CortlandPaws on Instagram with a photo of your pet. Please remember:

• Include the name of your pet.
• Write a short bio of your pet. How old is it? What are their favorite activities? Can you describe your pet’s personality?
• All pets are welcome.
• Submit your entry by Friday, Dec. 4.

@CortlandPaws will post photos of pets during finals week, Dec. 14 to Dec. 18.

One random entry will be selected to win a 30-minute massage with Recreational Sports certified massage therapist Hannah Polanko-Baker.

Participants may also enter by sending an email with the required information to the Health Promotion Office.

Example posts and more information about stress release activities is available online through Memorial Library.

PAWS for Stress Relief is sponsored by Memorial Library, the Institute for Civic Engagement and the PAWS for Stress Relief Committee.

SUNY Cortland students, faculty and staff from Japan, India, Nigeria and other nationalities will give viewers a look at how they make their favorite foods during the Virtual Cultural Cooking Series of monthly demonstration videos.

Sponsored by SUNY Cortland’s International Programs, the series aims to run throughout the spring semester and is free and open to the public.

The first video in the series, of Kanon Ashizawa ’20 from Japan teaching her audience how to make the traditional Japanese sweet Shiratama-Dango, wrapped up this year’s International Education Week celebration at SUNY Cortland, from Nov. 16 to 20.

“We’re very excited about this new virtual cooking series,” said Kayla DeCoste, senior international program coordinator with International Programs. “We hope to post at least one more demonstration before the end of the Fall semester and then release videos monthly during the spring semester.”

So far, current or recently graduated international students have volunteered to present additional demonstrations of Indian, Nigerian and Japanese culinary delights.

“We’re still looking for volunteers for further upcoming demonstrations,” DeCoste said.

“We’re also hoping that some of our international faculty or staff members, or our returned study abroad students may be interested in participating as well,” she said.

The cost of supplies or ingredients will be covered. Any international student, faculty or staff member, or returned study abroad student who would be interested in participating in the series should contact DeCoste to sign up. 

This is the first time that International Programs has had students create videos of cooking demonstrations, DeCoste noted. However, International Programs has hosted live cultural cooking demonstrations in the past. The most recent was a sushi-making demonstration in Fall 2019, conducted in conjunction with the International Club and Cortland Auxiliary.

“We anticipate that the Virtual Cultural Cooking Series will continue once we’re able to return to more in-person programming,” DeCoste said. Either it would merge with the existing Cultural Presentation series or become its own ongoing in-person series.

“In addition, we’re hoping to combine the recipes for which demonstrations are done, with recipes gathered from other members of the SUNY Cortland international community — and maybe some American ones too — into a community cookbook,” she said. “I’m hoping to start working on that project in the spring semester.”

For those who missed out on any of the past week’s events, the contents of International Education Week were compiled into one easy location on the Programs and Activities page under the “International Education Week” heading.

Through untraditional methods, the Career Services staff has remained connected to students through this semester.

The office continues with regular sessions to coach students who are thinking about life after college. Programming features virtual seminars on creating and revising their resume, landing a job interview, honing their interviewing skills, attending real-time networking meetings with alumni in their chosen field or getting familiar with Handshake, a tool that links students with employers.

For example, an event titled “STEM: We Can Build It: Virtual Information Session” took place Dec. 3.

“We are offering everything we always have,” said Nan Pasquarello, director of Career Services. “We’ve also tried to expand our offerings and tailor them to how things have changed with COVID-19.”

With many aspects of university life going virtual, Career Services strengthened its online presence by improving its webpage. With several specific tabs added, the site is more user-friendly and in depth than ever.

Career Services also continues to hold weekly events on everything from creating a resume to preparing for an interview. To attend an upcoming Webex meeting, register via Handshake. This application is accessible to all Cortland students.

Additionally, Career Services staff offer extended online office hours from 1 to 3 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and 4 to 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday. No appointment is needed for these career counseling appointments.

Despite the remote nature of the office’s programs, student interns continue to play a key role in facilitating the work of Career Services.

This semester, Career Services peer mentors Matthew Montelibano, a senior majoring in business economics and dual minoring in computer applications and psychology, and Cassidy Fitchett, a senior health care management major with a minor in psychology, have assisted their classmates with the most basic aspects of job readiness, such as showing them how to write their own resume.

“Working with students virtually has definitely been different, but I’m happy I’m able to still have the opportunity to meet and help students,” said Fitchett. “Everyone has been very understanding of the issues that come with the new platform. I feel that I have learned so much about working remotely and using this technology through this experience.”

Fitchett and Montelibano also provide presentations for COR 101 classes informing first-year students on Career Services programs. Additionally, the interns participate in any events and projects created by the office.

Career Services staff have worked to continuously provide for students. Pasquarello encourages students to get involved with the team soon.

“Don’t put off a first appointment or drop into office hours,” she said. “The earlier you start tracking what your experiences and skills are, and you figure out where you need to grow, the easier it’s going to be to job search or apply to graduate school.”

Prepared by Communications Office writing intern Nicholas Boyer 

Dear Cortland students,

I want you to know that I continue to hear your feedback throughout this trying semester, especially as it relates to the overall campus experience.

I know firsthand that all of our student service areas have worked hard to adapt to the changing situation created by the pandemic. They have strived to offer services you have come to expect as a SUNY Cortland student. Despite heroic efforts on the part of many people across campus, the university and I understand that it was extremely difficult to meet those expectations and, in some ways, we fell short. 

To that end, the university has reduced room and meal plan charges for qualified students. On-campus students who purchased a meal plan and remained on c​ampus as of Sept. 20 or later will receive up to $1,000 in reduced charges or a check or direct deposit by the end of December.

Off-campus students with Olympic, Collegiate or Recreational meal plans will receive $100. Off-campus students with Dragon Plans will be reimbursed at 10% of the amount paid, unless their remaining balance is below that amount at the end of the semester.

More details of the reduction in charges plan are available online through the Student Accounts Office and Cortland Auxiliary.

You should expect a high level of service at SUNY Cortland. This is a small way to recognize the hardships you have experienced this fall. Please continue to be diligent about your academics, your well-being and the safety of those around you. If we do this, together we can move forward into next semester and beyond.

All the best,

Erik J. Bitterbaum 

President

Angie Codella Faraci ’95 has never been one to back down from a challenge.

That tenacious attitude made her one of SUNY Cortland’s top defenders on the soccer field from 1991 to 1994, including the team’s NCAA Div. III national championship team in 1992.

“I have great memories,” Faraci said. “I loved attending Cortland. My best friends still are from Cortland. My husband is from Cortland. It all just kind of aligned for me.”

Faraci was ready for a new challenge in 2016 when Peoples Academy high school in Morrisville, Vt. needed a new varsity soccer coach.

A new boys’ varsity soccer coach.

Faraci had been coaching and teaching physical education since she graduated from SUNY Cortland. She led the women’s soccer team at Johnson State College, now Northern Vermont University, for three years. Faraci had 13 years of experience with the Nordic Premier Soccer Club in the Burlington, Vt. area, had spent a decade coaching middle school girls’ soccer teams in Vermont on top of six years leading the girls’ varsity program at Johnstown (N.Y.) Junior-Senior High School shortly after leaving Cortland.

Coaching the boys, however, was going to be something new.

She faced some sexist comments, which grew tiring. Officials would see a woman get off the bus with a boys’ soccer team and ask, “Where’s the coach?”

Faraci also had to learn the psychology of teenage boys and how to motivate them. Part of her strategy was leaning into their competitive nature and making every drill in practice a contest. She also started a goal-setting ritual in which players would write on a card about a specific thing they wanted to achieve in that day’s game. Faraci would hand the card back with comments and guide their growth in the cerebral part of soccer.

It all came together for the Peoples Academy boys and Faraci on Nov. 7 when the team beat Green Mountain, 1-0, in Vermont’s Division III state championship game. She is the first woman to coach a boys’ team to a state title in Vermont history. 

It was a Red Dragon team effort, too. Her husband, Vinny Faraci ’95, also a former SUNY Cortland soccer player, is Peoples Academy’s athletic trainer and the boys’ soccer team’s assistant coach.

While it was a relatively muted celebration for the team immediately after the game — COVID-19 restrictions meant only 75 fans could attend in person — Faraci knew something was up when the bus pulled over at the Morrisville-Stowe State Airport just south of town on the trip home.

A convoy of emergency vehicles escorted the bus to Upper Main St. before the team disembarked for a parade back to the school.

“There’s the firetrucks and police cars and in the middle of town there is an intersection where we got out and walked 250 yards or so to the school,” Faraci said. “The town was lined with people. It was very cool. It was such a great experience for the boys.”

A distinguished educator

Faraci spent 17 years teaching middle school physical education at Browns River Middle School but she moved to a similar role at Peoples Academy Middle Level school one year after taking over as boys soccer coach in the same district.

It was an opportunity for her to bring new methods of physical education to a school that had been mired in outdated programming.

“I did introduce a pedometer program with syncable pedometers,” she said. “All of the students would rush into the gym, pick up a pedometer and put it on their waist. All the organized five minutes of quick introduction activities, they were doing. And I don’t have the behavior problems. It all turned around. These kids are busting to get 3,000 steps per class and they’re so excited.”

Her peers have taken notice. Faraci received the Society of Health and Physical Educators (SHAPE) of Vermont’s Distinguished Service Award in 2018. The award goes to a teacher who has excelled over time in contributing to the health and physical education profession.

Faraci’s passion for the job started during her time in the classroom at Cortland.

“The professors that I had at Cortland and the experience I had there in all of my PE-related coursework was excellent,” she said. “I was so prepared to start teaching. The foundations that they provided were exactly what I needed to be a professional in this area. And the ties to belonging in professional organizations and standing up for your career are really deep-rooted in the Cortland society.”

She also enjoys working with student teachers and paying forward those lessons to the next generation of physical educators.

Creating a winning program

Faraci leaned on her experience of motivating students when it came to rebuilding the boys’ soccer program. She found that some of the things that had worked coaching girls clicked with the boys as well.

“I’ve always made stickers with a motivational quote,” she said. “I’ve done that for every team I’ve ever coached, girls and boys included. I wasn’t sure how the boys would like it, but they’ve begged me for those silly stickers. There are some things you wouldn’t think would translate but they have just as well with the boys.”

Talking about her playing career at SUNY Cortland also resonated with this fall’s team at Peoples Academy. Faraci was a freshman in 1991 on a Red Dragons team that saw its season end in the NCAA Div. III quarterfinals. That loss drove her and her teammates to a 17-2-3 record and a national title a year later.

It was a similar story for the Peoples Academy boys. The team made it to the state championship game in 2017. This fall’s seniors were freshmen on that team and knew the feeling of coming up just short.

Coach Faraci’s message about perseverance stuck with those players. They learned how to improve their performances from their goal-setting cards.

After all the practices and games and wins and losses over the past five seasons, having a female coach didn’t seem so weird for those players. The insensitive comments from referees and other coaches stopped, too.

Those players had a great coach. And that was all that mattered.

“After the game, I hugged one of my goalkeepers, Dylan Haskins, and he said, ‘Angie, you promised us we could do this,'" Faraci said.

“I was like, ‘Dylan, you’re going to make me cry, don’t do it.’”