O S W E G O A Publication of the Office of Alumni and Parent Relations
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he first new building on the SUNY Oswego campus in more than 35 years will officially open Oct. 12. The Campus Center will be a home for student organizations, a place for students to access advisement and other services and a hub for the social, athletic and intellectual life of campus. “The faculty, students and staff who planned this building were trying to change the learning culture at Oswego and make the social and academic worlds come together,” said Tom Simmonds ’84, M ’88, director of facilities design and construction. “It is a destination, but also a crossroads for social interaction,” Simmonds said. The building will link the Hewitt Quad at the west end of campus, with the Sheldon Quad at the eastern end. Students will be able to walk from one to the other through a glassed-in walkway, the Charles E. Wiley ’22 Alumni Concourse, protected from Oswego’s weather. The westernmost portion of the Campus Center features a convocation center and arena, a food and activities court, College Store and spaces for students, faculty and staff to get together informally. The center section will include space for
Welcome from the President
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The Campus Center is the first new building at Oswego State in more than 35 years.
student organizations and a media center, with the student-run radio station opening right onto the main concourse. The Interdisciplinary Activities Center will bring together the Honors Program and other interdisciplinary departments. The Compass will house Student Advisement, Career Services, Experience-Based Education, First-Year Programs, Transfer Services, and Community Service and Service Learning. “The Compass is really a student success center and our mission is to help students plan for and achieve success in college and beyond,” said Kathy Smits Evans ’84, associate dean of students. “It is a place where they’ll come back to time and time again over their college experience.” The Atrium will be a bright, open space, welcoming college community members inside, and the Academic Commons will have informal spaces for gathering. “It is open and inviting — truly the hub we envisioned it being,” said Simmonds. The humanities are housed in the new Campus Center and classroom space in the Poucher Wing will be used by many departments. — Michele Reed
This year, Family and Friends Weekend will be a part of SUNY Oswego history. We are celebrating the grand opening of our new Campus Center on Oct. 12, during Family and Friends Weekend. The Campus Center encompasses the entire Oswego student experience. You can read all about the exciting features of this landmark building in the story on this page. This building is the culmination of a decade of planning by members of our campus community at all levels — faculty, students and staff. We have been watching this fantastic structure rise for more than two years now. If your student is a sophomore, junior or senior, no doubt he or she watched it grow while detouring around the huge construction site on the way to class or the library. But all the waiting and minor inconveniences have been worth it. This structure puts into tangible reality our learnercentered philosophy of education. It gives students the opportunity to “stumble upon learning,” as one of our professors likes to put it. That is undoubtedly the most important role this building will play — to bring together, in one space, students, faculty and staff to interact informally. They’ll have lunch in the food court, relax by the cozy hearth, and through it all, ideas will flow. And isn’t that the true role of any institution of higher learning? I can’t wait to welcome you to campus and have you experience it for yourself. Sincerely, President Deborah F. Stanley
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Work continues to ready the Campus Center for its grand opening Oct. 12.
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IN THIS EDITION: • Campus Center to Open • Family and Friends Weekend • Study Abroad Offerings Increase • Dates to Remember Office of Alumni and Parent Relations King Alumni Hall SUNY Oswego Oswego, NY 13126
O S W E G O Parents
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Instilling Values Important to Fiscoes om and Leanne Fiscoe have always been very involved in their children’s schoolwork and life. They would often quiz their son, Thomas Michael Fiscoe ’08, on computers and technology, his favorite interests. So they were pleased when he chose to attend Oswego because of its excellent communicaThe Fiscoes: from left, Tom, Paul, Amanda, Leanne and Thomas Michael tions program. “We are very pleased with As members of the President’s how flexible his curriculum has been at Circle giving society, Tom and Leanne Oswego,” Tom said. “He wanted to be in understand and recognize what other journalism, but for the past year and a parents’ perceptions of Oswego may half he has been interested in the more be. Many parents feel that Oswego is technical aspect of broadcasting, and a state school and that their tuition Oswego afforded him that flexibility and has allowed him to get where he is today.” dollars should be enough. Leanne, Thomas was also given the opportunity to Thomas’ stepmother, feels otherwise. “Oswego is a public institution, take pictures of sporting events and they unlike our alma mater; however, we have appeared in the school newspaper, understand and recognize that The Oswegonian. Oswego does not receive 100 percent Tom and Leanne say it was “just a of its funding from the state of New natural thing” for them to support York,” she said. Oswego. They have always given to The Fiscoes serve on several not-fortheir own alma mater, LeMoyne College. Now as parents, they see it as a profit organizations. “We know how natural progression to begin supporting difficult it is to raise money for operaOswego. “Having the ability and desire tional costs, but the reality is that every organization needs money to to give back to LeMoyne, we hope to operate,” she said. “Therefore, we instill that in our children,” they said. “We hope that Thomas will be thankful chose to give unrestricted to Oswego for the education and experience he has so that the college can choose where to received at Oswego, and give back once distribute the funds.” According to the Fiscoes, if there is he graduates. “We give, too, because we recognize one thing that they hope to instill in their children as they grow up, it would the good education that Thomas is receiving. The college deserves respect be philanthropy. “We hope to lead by example, so our kids will learn the for that,” Tom said. “Parents should importance of philanthropy,” they said. stand back and think of the other “We make it a point to tell them that ways that Oswego has given back to we give back and that hopefully it them as parents.” Tom said his firm, Dannible & McKee LLP, recruits many instills in their minds that once they Oswego State accounting majors every are out on their own, they should do year, benefiting both the students and the same.” — Jamie Stack Leszczynski ’04 his company.
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KUDOS
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To seven SUNY Oswego students who received the Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence: Shelly Dann ’07, Sara Haig ’05, M ’07, Samantha Mason ’06, Sarah Scherer ’07, LeAnne St. Gelais ’07, Dan Tascarella ’07 and Zachary Winnie ’07.
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To Nadia Dropkin ’07 named an honorable mention to the USA Today All-USA College Academic Team. To Dr. Bruce Altschuler of the political science department, for his SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Scholarly and Creative Activities.
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To the men’s ice hockey team for their NCAA Division III National Championship win.
To Kevin Morgan ’07, Greg Doyle ’07 and Chris Dotson ’07, who received All-American honors at the NCAA Division III Men’s Swimming and Diving Championships.
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To Ryan Woodward ’07 of the men’s ice hockey team and Kelly Mraz ’07 of the women’s basketball team named Outstanding Senior Athletes.
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To Thomas R. Simmonds ’84, M ’88, director of facilities design and construction at SUNY Oswego, for his SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Professional Service.
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To Dr. Florence Kirk, associate professor of accounting, and Dr. Julie Pretzat-Merchant, professor and chair of music, for their SUNY Chancellor’s Awards for Excellence in Teaching.
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To David Vampola, director of SUNY Oswego’s information science program, for his President’s Award for Excellence in Academic Advisement.
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To Victor Licatese ’87 of the psychology department and Andrew T. Wolfe of the accounting, finance and law department, recipients of the Provost’s Awards for Teaching Excellence by Part-time Faculty.
OSWEGO PARENTS Published each semester by the SUNY Oswego Office of Alumni and Parent Relations
Family and Friends Welcome! isit Oswego on a weekend especially for you! Family and Friends Weekend is set this year for Oct. 12 to 14. Many activities are scheduled to showcase the academic, athletic and creative talents of Oswego students. Join us for the Grand Opening of the new Campus Center, attend the Family and Friends Dinner or take in Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night,” presented by the theatre department. Meet faculty and staff at a coffee hour sponsored by the Oswego Alumni Association at 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 13, at the Campus Center Food Court. Look for your Family and Friends Weekend registration form in the mail. Be sure and make your hotel reservations early as accommodations fill up quickly. For more information, call the Hewitt Union main office at 315-312-2301 or go online to http://www.oswego.edu/student/services/campus_life/mainoffice/ familyandfriends.html. —Kristin Quinn ’08
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Michele Reed, Editor Jim Russell ’83, Photographer Jamie Stack Leszczynski ’04, Tim Nekritz M ’05, Kristin Quinn ’08, Contributing Writers Midstate Litho, Production and Printing Office of Alumni and Parent Relations King Alumni Hall SUNY Oswego Oswego, NY 13126 Betsy Oberst, Executive Director Phone: 315-312-2258 FAX: 315-312-5570 E-mail: alumni@oswego.edu www.oswego.edu/alumni/
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Quarter Courses Expand Horizons the impact that the city has had upon the broadcasting industry s your student interested in traveling abroad, but not sure if going for an entire semester is the right choice? Quarter courses, and have the opportunity to visit London broadcasting studios. “In addition to visits to the broadcast facilities, students will visit with opportunity for travel abroad offered by the Office of many of the most famous areas and attractions in London,” said International Education and Programs, may be the solution. instructor Professor Cristina Pieraccini. Quarter courses meet during a quarter of the academic year and “Fermentation Science,” a recent addition as a chemistry quarter students travel during winter session, spring recess or at the end of course, has been a hit among Oswego the spring semester. students. The class traveled to Belgium “Regardless of your major or where in 2006 and Scotland in 2007. you are in your Oswego career, we “Students were immersed in the want to have a study abroad program culture of the countries, visiting for you,” said Josh McKeown, direcmuseums, castles, breweries and distor of study abroad and exchange tilleries. Every student that has gone programs, who noted that fostering with us has told us that they have global awareness among students is a come away with an experience they priority for SUNY Oswego. will never forget,” said Dr. Jeffery Last year, the fifth year for quarter Schneider of the course he team course opportunities, more than 100 teaches with Professor Casey students from Oswego traveled to destiRaymond. nations like London, China and Japan. In “Tropical and Marine Studies,” “Because they are shorter but still students travel to the U.S. Virgin academically rigorous, these courses Islands at the end of spring semester provide opportunities for students to learn about marine ecology. This is who have not been able to study a course that is ideal for biology and abroad for financial reasons or the zoology students. Students work and timing of their academic lives,” Visiting Japan as part of a quarter course, "Global Cities: Tokyo," live aboard catamaran for a portion of McKeown said. were from left: Adriana Hernandez ’07, faculty member Yoshiku Fujita-Butler, Stacey Baker ’09 and Ross Perry ’09. the trip and, when not at sea, at the The newest quarter course, University of the Virgin Islands cam“Schooling, Pedagogy and Social pus. Students also work at the Justice in Paris and Benin,” this fall Brewers Bay marine sanctuary and take a voyage aboard an will study education in America, Paris and the West African country of Benin to examine the role of immigration on national policy. Atlantis submarine. Other courses are offered for Paris, Madrid, Rome, Tokyo, Dublin The trip to Paris and Benin is ideal for education majors; however it is open to all students, both undergraduate and graduate. The and London. For more information call the Office of International Education course fulfills a General Education intellectual issues requirement, as well as some requirements for curriculum and instruction edu- and programs at 315-312-2118, e-mail them at intled@oswego.edu cation majors. or visit http://www.oswego.edu/academics/international/. Another specialized quarter course, offered in the spring, is Applications are due Sept. 14 for the Paris-Benin course and “Broadcasting in London,” through which students learn about Dec. 1 for spring semester courses. — Kristin Quinn ’08
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Students Perform Genetic Research
Bringing the Arts to Campus From African jazz master Hugh Masekela to the sounds of Sweet Honey in the Rock, Artswego brings a world of diverse entertainment to SUNY Oswego students. New this year: Lower prices make the arts even more affordable for students. “Check the calendar and plan your visits to campus at a time when you can take in one of our wonderful Artswego productions with your student,” advises Mary Avrokotos, Artwego coordinator. SUNY Oswego student tickets for all events are only $7 each, thanks to the Student Arts Fee. When parents order tickets to four performances, they save 10 percent; six events, 15 percent; and eight events, 20 percent. For tickets or more information, call the box office at 315-312-2141 or go online to www.oswego.edu/arts
Two students and two professors at SUNY Oswego will conduct meaningful research on the genetics of local species under a Student/Faculty Collaborative Challenge Grant. Students Kyle Pursel ’08 and Matthew Volny ’08 will work with biological sciences faculty members Peter Rosenbaum and Amy Welsh to detail the genetics of wood turtles and eastern chipmunks under the grant. The grant will purchase materials that Pursel and Volny will use for genetic analysis under Welsh’s supervision, as the undergraduates conduct studies and use techniques usually used by professionals. Pursel is continuing a study with Rosenbaum on wood turtle populations in Oswego County. He will analyze collected blood samples for genetic diversity in the threatened turtles, which would show the strength of the species. “If there’s still a lot of genetic diversity, there’s a lot less likely to be problems” for the species in terms of viable breeding partHugh Masekela ners, Pursel said. “I’m hoping to use the combination of field and genetic work to create a conservation plan.” In a project begun under Diane Chepko-Sade, Volny studies Rice Creek’s eastern chipmunk population. He has already used a tracking technique where captured chipmunks are dusted with fluorescent powder to trace their trails at night to learn about their family structure, behavior and migration patterns, Volny said. The students will gain experience using the college’s new Beckman Coulter CEQ 8000, a high-resolution genetic analyzer. The College of Arts and Sciences paid for half the $100,000 piece of equipment, with the manufacturer supporting the other half. The College of Arts and Sciences contribution was made possible by funds donated by Jim ’78 and Debbie Adams Kaden ’78, who created the Dean of Arts and From left, biology major Matthew Volny ’08, biologSciences Kaden Fund. ical science faculty members Amy Welsh and Peter Initiated at Oswego in 2004, Challenge Grants award up to $2,500 each to projects Rosenbaum, and zoology major Kyle Pursel ’08 work with the college’s new Beckman Coulter CEQ 8000 involving undergraduate scholarly or creative activity in collaboration with faculty. The grants high-resolution genetic analyzer. are supported in part by a donation from Timothy Murphy ’74. — Tim Nekritz M ’05
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Campus Clips FILE TO GRADUATE! The Registrar’s Office has sent letters to prospective graduates with instructions and information on how to file online for graduation. Once the student has signed in, the graduation application form is linked to the student’s registration link from the URL http://myoswego.oswego.edu/ Deadline dates for filing are Sept. 30 for December 2007 graduation and Feb. 15 for May and August 2008 graduation. Students are not automatically placed on a graduation list; it is the student’s responsibility to make sure he or she files online by the appropriate deadline or contacts the Registrar’s Graduation Area for help in doing so. Please note: Students must file by the deadline dates in order to be sure that their names will be printed in the commencement program.
POWERFUL NETWORK Students looking to pursue careers in the New York metropolitan area have a great networking opportunity, thanks to the Oswego Alumni Association. The award-winning New York City Career Connections 2008 is set for Thursday, Jan. 3, at 6:30 in Manhattan. This is an excellent networking opportunity for students to meet with Oswego alumni working in a variety of fields in the metropolitan NYC area. Alumni will answer questions, review resumes, give advice and connect the students with hiring and internship personnel. Free for students to attend! Look for information in the mail this fall.
DINING DELIGHTS To send your student a sweet surprise, get a Plus Plan for snacks and other dining, check out menus in the dining halls or a host of other services, go online to www.oswego.edu/auxserv/
Scholarships Available It’s not too early to begin thinking about scholarships for next year! Over 140 scholarships are available through the Oswego College Foundation. The 2008-2009 academic year scholarship newspaper will be available in mid-November. Many of the deadlines are in February and April 2008. Listings are available to all students in most academic departments, Penfield Library and the Office of University Development. To request that a scholarship newspaper be mailed to your home, please e-mail your full name and address to Joy Knopp at knopp@oswego.edu. An online version of the newspaper will be available in mid-November at www.oswego.edu/giving/scholarships.html
Calendar FALL 2007 Aug. 27
Ceremony Aug. 30
Classes begin
Sept. 3
Labor Day, no classes
Sept. 13
The Oswego Alumni Association is hosting a Commencement Eve Dessert Reception and Senior Toast for all December graduates and their families at 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 14. Join us and celebrate the Class of 2007’s passage from students to alumni, complete with an elegant dessert buffet, coffee, tea and a champagne toast. Call 315-312-2258 for information and look for your invitation in the mail this fall.
Sept. 18
SUNY Oswego has an award-winning Web site. Explore the campus at www.oswego.edu/ and be sure to click on Parents for news and features especially for you.
Waterman Theatre, Tyler Hall Sept. 20
Esmeralda Santiago, Hewitt Union Ballroom
Oct. 2
Anthony Grooms, author of Bombingham, an ORI event
Oct. 9-14
“Twelfth Night,” Waterman Theatre, Tyler Hall
Oct. 12-14
Family and Friends Weekend
Oct. 17
Louis A. Borrelli Jr. ’77 Media Summit Fall Break Day, no classes
Oct. 26-28
“Carousel,” Waterman Theatre, Tyler Hall
Nov. 11-13 School of Business Alumni Symposium Nov. 13
“Songs of the Spirit,” ARTSwego
Nov. 13-18 “The Trestle at Pope Lick Creek,” Lab Theatre, Tyler Hall Nov. 21-25 Thanksgiving recess “Sweet Honey in the Rock,” ARTSwego Dec. 2
“The Glass Coffin: A Ghost Story,” Waterman Theatre, Tyler Hall
Dec. 7
Last day of classes
Dec. 10-14
Final exams
Dec. 14
Commencement Eve Dessert Reception
Dec. 15 Technology education major Dan Braun ’08, in foreground, and public justice major Jim Corcoran ’08 get lunch at one of the hot food stations of newly renovated Lakeside Dining Hall. Serving is Brenda Cudmore, assistant manager. The dining hall, with stations serving Asian cuisine, salad, deli food, pizza and pasta, and desserts, is open to all.
Jane Comfort and Company,
Dec. 1
HOW ABOUT A VIRTUAL VISIT?
Rosh Hashanah, no classes
Oct. 19
DECEMBER GRADS FETED
Welcoming Torchlight
December Graduation
Spring 2008 Jan. 24
Classes Begin
March 24-28 Spring Recess May 16
Torchlight Ceremony
May 17
Commencement