30 Wilson Road Williamsville, NY 14221 716.631.1061
Non Profit Org. US Postage Paid Buffalo, NY Permit #948
From the
December 2009 A Medaille College/Accelerated Learning Program publication dedicated to showcasing valued Western New York leadership practices that translate into self-sustaining, profitable business.
Leadership, Education and Integration As I sat with Judge Curtin in his chambers, I was in awe of his ability to recollect so many memories, images and personalities. As far back as his childhood in South Buffalo, to his days at Canisius High School, and then onward to his service in World War II, Judge Curtin has an ability to retell stories with a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction.
By Jerry Inglet Assistant Director of Admissions Corporate & Business Community Liaison
Buffalo has had its share of angry moments and discussions. The riots of the 1960s near the UB campus, the push, pull and resistance of the prohibition era in the 1920s and Mayor Jim Griffin’s removal of Larry Griffis’ Green Lightning sculpture in the 1980s mark just a few of the more pivotal events that launched many agitated conversations and charged legal decisions, setting a framework and corresponding impact that our city has felt for years and generations.
ALP
From the
The Accelerated Learning Program at Medaille College
Designed for adult students to complete their degree while maintaining their careers and personal lives. Features of the ALP program are:
• Small class size and cohort structure increases productivity and provides networking opportunities
• Work full-time during the day and attend our classes one night a week • Students are full-time for financial aid purposes • Free, convenient parking • Books are delivered to your classroom • Competitive tuition • Highly experienced faculty members bring their knowledge to the classroom • Relevant, practical approach to education; “Learn it today, use it tomorrow” • Study groups teach students to be effective team members
There is still time to apply for January classes
Medaille College's ALP one evening class per week, at Medaille College’s Amherst Campus. www.medaille.edu/alp
One story Judge Curtin discussed at length was the complicated rulings involving the desegregation of the Buffalo Public Schools, a case that was assigned to him in 1972. At that time, the nation was experiencing an uneasy and growing sentiment in many of its urban settings after the Supreme Court’s Brown vs. Board of Education ruling and a growing body of evidence that indicated a disparity in the public education system where schools were overtly segregated along racial lines.
For many of its citizens, the mid-1970s were angry years in Buffalo. Whether or not you agree with the ultimate outcome of the 1976 school desegregation case in Buffalo, the efforts and impact of United States District Judge John Curtin during this volatile era are worth revisiting. A look back reveals lessons in leadership, damage control, politics and compromise. It can be argued that Judge Curtin should be seen historically as one of Western New York’s most influential legal figures. Now in advance of 90 years of age, Judge Curtin is still an active Senior Judge and is present many days at Buffalo’s downtown United States Courthouse. Some of his past critical rulings were related to the Attica Prison riots, the employment practices of Bethlehem Steel, the cleanup of Love Canal and other hazardous waste sites, and of course, the Buffalo Public Schools. The decisions in these cases were very difficult ones to make because so much was at stake, and Judge Curtin was well aware of the impending impact of his decisions.
www.medaille.edu/alp/
Continued on page 3