B INNEKILL Vol. XXIX No. 15
a monthly publication for students, faculty, staff and friends
Oct. 12, 2012
20 years of the EJO The BINNEKILL sat down with Empire Jazz Orchestra Director Dr. Bill Meckley, Dean of the School of Music. The EJO celebrates its 20th anniversary with a special concert on Oct. 16, at 8 p.m. in the Taylor Auditorium. The performance will feature some of the EJO’s “greatest hits,” including the music of Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Charles Mingus, Gil Evans, Jelly Roll Morton, Frank Zappa and many more. Tickets: $20-general admission; $6 nonSCCC students; free for SCCC students. How did the EJO first start? SCCC was recently named a “military friendly campus” by Victory Media. L. to R.: Jason Bunn, Culinary Arts major, who works in the College’s Veterans Affairs Office; Susan Donahue, Veterans Certifying Official and Information Processing Specialist II in the Registrar’s Office; Benaya Rogers, Chemical Dependency Counseling major, who also works in the Veterans Affairs Office; and Bill Van Hoesen, Advisor to the Student Veterans of America Club chapter at SCCC.
Veterans connect through office If Jason Bunn, a Culinary Arts major at SCCC and Navy veteran, walks into a classroom and spots another veteran, he always sits next to him or her. “Veterans always have a need for camaraderie,” Jason said. “I like having a friend I know I can count on in class.” Jason and Benaya Rogers, a Chemical Dependency Counseling major and Navy veteran, would like student veterans to know that they can count on the College’s Veterans Affairs Office for services and referrals. The office provides information about benefits, counseling, vocational rehabilitation, work-study programs, applications processing, assistance in claims handling, referrals and the Student Veterans of America chapter on campus.
The late Butch Conn from A Place For Jazz asked me to put together a group to do a children’s jazz concert. That was the first performance of a group called the Empire Jazz Orchestra 20 years ago. I’d been thinking about putting a band together so that gave me a reason. At that time it was an eight-piece group. Now we have 21 core members. When did the band move to SCCC? I approached College President Gabe Basil about the idea of having a professional group in residence here. He and the board of trustees agreed. I expanded it to a big band and started out with a series of two concerts a year. Are there any other big bands around here? Just dance bands, but not concert jazz orchestras. We’re patterned after the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra. You have some serious fans.
This year SCCC was included on the list of Military Friendly Schools ® list by Victory Media, the premier media entity for military personnel transitioning into civilian life. The 2013 Military Friendly Schools ® list honors the top 15 percent of colleges, universities and trade schools that are doing the most to embrace America’s military service members, veterans, and spouses as students and ensure their success on campus.
Yes, we’ve had people who have come from the very beginning who still come to every concert. I think they really appreciate hearing the various styles of music. We’ve been able to expose them to music that they may not have heard before. For example, a lot of them didn’t know the music of Gil Evans and Oliver Nelson who are really great composers who needed people to hear their music.
The Veterans Affairs Office is located in Elston Hall 222P, 381-1284, veteransaffairs@sunysccc.edu.
Who are some of your favorites? Gil Evans, Duke Ellington, Billy Strayhorn and Oliver Nelson. (continued on page 6)
Remember: Advance ONLINE registration for continuing students begins Friday, November 2
SCCC welcomes new staff member Lucas Prime joined the Health Profession Opportunity Grant as the Schenectady Program Coordinator on Oct. 1. He was previously employed by Fulton Montgomery Community College as a Project Coordinator, Grant Writer, Tutor and Instructor. Prior to that, Lucas was the Principal of Buckler Christian Academy in Fonda, N.Y. He holds an M.P.H. from Dartmouth College and a B.S. in Biology from Houghton College.
Faculty, staff Development Kathleen Dowd Freese, Associate Director of Admissions, and Rachel Jones ’12, Admissions Assistant, chat with Congressman Paul Tonko at the Hispanic Heritage Celebration, at the Empire State Plaza, on Sept. 22, 2012. The Admissions Office represented the College during this event. Robyn Posson, Counselor II, Student Affairs, was invited to speak at Mohawk Valley Community College’s Utica and Rome campuses as part of their Diversity and Global View Programs. Her topic, “More Than Skin Deep: The Psychosocial Impact of Bullying on Obese Persons” was well-attended and well-received.
War of the Worlds rages in Schuylerville An invasion from Mars in Schuylerville? Hear how it all unfolds during a staged reading of The War of the Worlds, Darren Johnson’s adaptation of the HG Wells book. Johnson is an Assistant Dean at the College. This updated The War of the Worlds takes place in the Schuylerville and Saratoga areas after a strange meteorite crashes near a mall. Astronomy buff Doug Ogilvy is dispatched to the scene on cell-phone remote as on-air personality Psychic Simone tries to manage harried and off-point calls at a small-town radio station. The War of the Worlds will be staged at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 27, and again at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 28, in the Schuyler Room at the Town of Saratoga Building on the corner of Routes 4 and 29 in Schuylerville. Call 695-5480 for ticket information.
Faculty and staff Share your news. Please e-mail story ideas and professional development news to the editor at meaneyhl@sunysccc.edu. 2
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College community can nominate others for awards SCCC is pleased to announce that nominations are now being accepted for the SUNY Chancellor’s Awards for: •Excellence in Teaching •Excellence in Librarianship •Excellence in Faculty Service •Excellence in Professional Service •Excellence in Scholarship and Creative Activities SCCC students may nominate an eligible faculty member for the Excellence in Teaching Award. Ballots for this award are available in Begley Library, at the Security Desk in Elston Hall and on the SCCC Portal via a quick link: www.sunysccc.edu/about/awards.html. A list of eligible faculty members is available at each location. Members of the Academic Senate are eligible to nominate a deserving SCCC employee for all awards. Ballots are available on the SCCC Portal via a quick link: www.sunysccc.edu/about/awards.html. The nomination process is an opportunity to acknowledge, highlight and honor service and practice that contributes significantly to advancing the education of SCCC students and the mission of the College. Simply fill out a ballot nomination and place it in one of the ballot boxes by Friday, Nov. 2 at 4 p.m. There will be no Internet or e-mail submission of ballots. Ballot boxes are in the following locations: Security Desks in Elston Hall, Center City and the School of Music Building Begley Library Office of the President College Bookstore Mail/Copy Room
School of Music hosts New York Music School Meeting The annual fall meeting of the New York State Association of Schools of Music (NYSACMP) was held at SCCC last month. Music executives from throughout the state attended, including Deans from the Eastman School of Music, Syracuse University, Ithaca College, The Crane School of Music and SUNY Fredonia. The meeting was hosted by Dr. William Meckley, Dean of the SCCC School of Music and NYSACMP Past-President and Board member. The focus of this year’s meeting was music program assessment. Professor Brett Wery was a panel member/presenter for a session, “Music Program Assessment, Nuts and Bolts,” along with faculty members from the Eastman School and Buffalo State College. The SCCC School of Music also presented a faculty recital featuring Dr. Karen Hosmer, Professor Wery, and instructors Matthew Billie, Mark Evans, Lucille Beer, Michael Meidenbauer, Nachiko Maekane, and the Empire Jazz Orchestra.
Veggies bring SCCC students, community together
Seed to Feed - Donald Simon, Business Administration major and President of the Rotaract Club, in the city’s Vale Cemetery Garden. He and other Rotaract Club members tended to the garden every week from spring to fall and then served the “fruits” of their labor at a dinner at the City Mission of Schenectady last month.
Every Tuesday over the summer, members of the College’s Rotaract Club tended to a large garden in Vale Cemetery, part of the club’s Seed to Feed project. They grew mostly collard greens, potatoes and onions. They also cultivated friendships with younger students in Roots and Wisdom, a youth agricultural and community service program of Cornell Cooperative Extension of Schenectady County. While they cleared weeds and watered the vegetables and herbs, the SCCC students got to know youth involved in the program, working alongside them in the summer sun. According to Debbie Forester, Program Director for Roots and Wisdom, team leader Donald Simon, a Business Administration major, became a mentor to young men in the program. “One of the unintended consequences was the amount of time Donald spent with the youth,” Forester said. “He was a real role model and mentor to them.” Donald recalls one young man having a problem at home and listening to him as they worked in the garden. “I just told him that it could be worse and gave him the best information I had that I thought would help him,” Donald said. Sarah Johnston, Vice President of Rotaract and a Human Services/Paralegal major, also spent time in the garden. “It was fun working with the high school kids,” she said. “We joined in with them and wanted to know what they were all about.” In September, Donald, Sarah and others took collard greens, kale, herbs and tomatoes to the City Mission of Schenectady, for a meal they prepared and served to guests at the mission.
One of the goals of Rotaract is to provide students with professional development, leadership and community service experience. This project definitely fit the bill. “My respect level for how events are planned went way up,” Donald said. “We learned how you need to get volunteers, get the goods there, cook, the whole thing.” The Rotaract Club, the College component of Rotary International professional service organization, invites students from all majors to join. Anyone interested should attend their meeting on Monday, Oct. 15, from 11:30 a.m.-12:20 p.m. in the Library Conference Room. Meetings are held every two weeks at the same time, same place.
Get ready for Spring 2013 Be sure to get the classes you want for Spring 2013. Web registration for continuing students begins on Friday, Nov. 2, www.sunysccc.edu. In-person registration for continuing students begins on Tuesday, Nov. 13.
Find out who your advisor is today •Start at the College’s home page: www.sunysccc.edu and scroll to bottom •Click “STUDENT RECORDS & REGISTRATION” •Click “USE CURRENT INFORMATION (NYAlert)” •For login, USERID = your 9-digit Student ID •Enter your PIN •Click “My Advisor” from the Student Registration and Records menu •Print your Degree Audit and see your Advisor for advisement and to obtain your advisor PIN.
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October is Domestic Violence and Breast Cancer Awareness Month
Calendar of Events Monday, October 15, 2012 American Red Cross Blood Drive, Elston Hall, all day. Wednesday, October 17, 2012 Faculty-Student Association Annual Meeting 11:30 a.m., Activity Forum, Elston Hall. Open to SCCC community. Saturday, October 27, 2012 Women’s Crew team, Head of the Schuykill, Philadelphia Friday, November 2, 2012 Online registration begins for continuing students, www.sunysccc.edu
The YWCA of Schenectady urges the community to wear purple and pink on Wednesday, Oct. 17, to school and work in honor of Domestic Violence and Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Also, the YWCA (44 Washington Ave.) will hold Take Back the Night on Thursday, Oct. 18 at 6 p.m. Those gathered will march to demand that domestic violence and sexual assault be stopped. The SCCC Student Volunteer Organization and Pride Alliance will be marching and they invite other members of the SCCC community to join them.
Men’s basketball vs. Herkimer County CC, 7 p.m., away Tuesday, November 6, 2012 Men’s basketball vs. Columbia Greene CC, 5 p.m., home Thursday, November 8, 2012 Women’s basketball vs. Davis College, 5 p.m., home Men’s basketball vs. Davis College, 7 p.m., home
Before the march, the YWCA will show Melissa, a Power Point presentation created by the children of Melissa Fennicks, who was murdered 20 years ago in Schenectady. The presentation will be followed by the Take Back the Night program and march. Speakers for the evening will include Claudia Fennicks, Melissa’s mother, and members of the Investigation and Prosecution Team who worked on Melissa’s case.
October Special Events Empire Jazz Orchestra Concert, The Big 2-0, Twenty Years of the EJO, Tuesday, Oct. 16, 8 p.m., Taylor Auditorium. (See story on front page.) Dr. Andres Melendez presents Radical Nanoparticle Design for Degenerative Disease Treatment Thursday, Oct. 18, 11:30 a.m., Stockade 101. Free. Dr. Melendez, Associate Head of the Nanobioscience Constellation, Professor of Nanobioscience, Empire Innovation Professor at the College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering, will discuss the use of targeted antioxidant-based nanoparticles to limit age-associated disease. Euphonium Recital featuring SCCC Alumnus William Sutton Monday, Oct. 22, 11:30 a.m., Taylor Auditorium. Free. Dr. Gül Ünal presents Economics and the Empowerment of Women Monday, Oct. 22, 3:15 p.m., Stockade 101. Free. Dr. Ünal, an Dr. Gül Ünal economist for the Policy Division at UN Women (United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women), discusses the importance of women’s work to the world economy and provides a snapshot of the discrimination and adverse working conditions they still endure in many parts of the world. Dr. Ünal will further discuss her work at the United Nations for the advancement of the living and working conditions of women (and men) in the world. Capital Region Wind Ensemble presents Angels in the Architecture Sunday, Oct. 28, 3 p.m., Taylor Auditorium. CRWE will perform Gordon Jacob’s Music for a Festival and
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Frank Ticheli's Angels in the Architecture along with works by Jack Stamp and John Mackey. Tickets: $8-general admission; $6-non-SCCC students; free for SCCC students. Please call 381-1231 for tickets. Chamber Series Concert featuring the debut of the Binnekill Chamber Orchestra directed by Brett Wery Tuesday, Oct. 30, 7:30 p.m., Taylor Auditorium. Free. Highlights of this first performance by the Binnekill Chamber Orchestra will include the premiere of a new work by composer/conductor Brett L. Wery, Three Conversations with Coffee, a sinfonietta for solo trumpet, solo oboe and strings, featuring Music Faculty Karen Hosmer, Brett Wery oboe, and Peter Bellino, trumpet. Other selections include Finzi’s Prelude, Copland’s Quiet City and Dvorak’s Serenade in E, Op. 22. Zoe Oxley presents Why No Madame President? Gender and Presidential Politics in the United States Monday, Oct. 29, 3:15 p.m., Stockade 101. Free. The United States ranks quite highly worldwide in terms of women’s status, yet a woman has never served as president of the nation. In this talk, Zoe Oxley, Professor of Political Science at Union College, explores the primary challenges to women’s ascension to the White House, and illustrates them with examples from Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign.
Pizza, wings and ways to be successful College Suites and the SCCC Opportunity Zone are sponsoring a Professional Development Series for Students. Workshops will take place at College Suites, 117 Washington Ave. (across from Elston Hall). Please call 579-5115 to attend and for more information. All students are welcome.
Designing Powerful Résumés and Letters Tuesday, Nov. 6, 6-8 p.m., Main Lobby of College Suites Career and business professionals will provide insight on the importance of résumés and cover letters and offer effective writing and formatting techniques that will generate improved results. Pizza, wings, and salad will be served.
Identity Management Thursday, Dec. 6, 6-8 p.m., Main Lobby of College Suites Professionals will outline the importance of reputation management and the tools used to attract opportunities related to your personal and career goals. Chinese food will be served.
Professional Networking Tuesday, February 5, 6-8 p.m., Main Lobby of College Suites Learn how people effectively transition between their personal world of family, friends, and neighborhood behaviors to the professional and public world of social interactions and proper etiquette. Appetizers and mocktails will be served.
Interviewing With Confidence Tuesday, March 5, 6-8 p.m., Main Lobby of College Suites Recruiting experts will give you the secrets that are used by small and large companies to success fully manage the interview process. Food from Villa Italia will be served.
Effective Job Search Strategies Tuesday, April 2, 6-8 p.m., Main Lobby of College Suites Job search professionals will outline new strategies for those seeking opportunities related to their studies and long-term career goals. Pizza, wings, and salad will be served.
Need a résumé? October is Résumé Month in the Opportunity Zone (Elston Hall, Room 221-I).
Hola - Dr. Lorena Harris, Coordinator of the Language Lab (front, center) speaks with students Lacy Regels, Health Studies major, and Patrick Lefevers, Science major, in the lab, Elston Hall 520. Judith Prinzo, Assistant Professor, and Shelby Olds, Criminal Justice major, work on a project in the background. Dr. Harris is new to the College this fall and holds a Ph.D. in Biological Science from Bowling Green State University. She speaks Spanish, French and Italian. “I am very happy to join SCCC and to have the opportunity to contribute to the community and the Language Lab.” The Language Lab is equipped with 25 computer stations with software to support the study of Italian, French and Spanish, reference books and literary texts, a projector for instructors and/or presentations, and work tables. Dr. Harris and Lab Assistant Darcey Anne Farrow, assist students with coursework. The Spanish Club meets in the lab on Wednesdays at 11:20 a.m. The lab is open Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 4 to 7 p.m.; Fridays from 9 to 11:30 a.m. and on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Workforce Recruitment Program for students with disabilities Are you a student with a disability? The Workforce Recruitment Program (WRP) connects public and private sector employers nationwide with individuals with disabilities who are eager to prove their abilities in the workplace through paid summer internships or permanent jobs. In the past, WRP participants from SCCC have completed internships and gained permanent employment with local employers including the National Guard Yellow Ribbon Program, Albany Stratton VA Medical Center, Fort Drum and the Federal Credit Union Association. To be eligible for this program the applicant must: have a disability; be a U.S. citizen; be enrolled in an accredited institution of higher education on a substantially full-time basis (unless the severity of the disability precludes the student from taking a substantially full-time load) to seek a degree or be enrolled in such an institution as a degree-seeking student taking less than a substantially fulltime load in the enrollment period immediately prior to graduation or have graduated from such an institution within the past year. WRP Interviews will take place on Tuesday, Nov. 6 at SCCC. To register or to learn more about this and other experiential opportunities, please contact Dawn Jones, Career and Employment Services, Elston Hall, Room 222, jonesda@sunysccc.edu, 381-1334.
Stop in (Elston Hall, Room 221 or 222), attend a workshop or make an appointment (381-1365) to create or update your résumé. Ozone Résumé Workshops: Wednesday, Oct. 17, 9-10 a.m. and Thursday, Oct 25, 3-4 p.m.
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(continued from front page)
EJO celebrates 20 years Where do the EJO players come from? They’re all performers in the area. Many of them are music teachers; some are near or full-time performers and all are very well-known in music circles in the area. Jon Bronk, lead trumpet player, Keith Pray, lead alto saxophone, Bob Halek, drums, are all alumni. A good number of players are on the faculty here: Brett Wery, woodwinds, Brian Patneaude, saxophone/woodwinds, and Cliff Brucker, piano. Your favorite EJO moments? Our first concert of the music of Gil Evans we had Lew Soloff here from Blood, Sweat and Tears. We played music that Gil had written for Miles Davis. It was the first time we played music of extreme difficulty and we found that if we really worked, we could do it at a credible level. And then there are all of the guest stars that we’ve been lucky enough to have here - Benny Golson, Jimmy Heath, Randy Brecker, Slide Hampton and David “Fathead” Newman.
BINNEKILL Publication Schedule Fall 2012 Deadline (9 a.m.) Monday, November 5
Publication Date Wednesday, November 14
Monday, December 3
Wednesday, December 12
Please e-mail submissions to meaneyhl@sunysccc.edu.
Writers, artists, poets: there is a place for you
What’s on tap for the next 20 years? We’re lucky to continue to have support from the College president and the board of trustees. What is most important is that the band continues to improve and to play a wider variety of important music at the highest level that we can. The EJO performance is funded in part through a Schenectady County Initiative Program grant.
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Leadership Awards Janice DeLuke, Financial Aid Specialist, Terrell Leigh, Campus Cleaner, and Robyn Posson, Counselor II, were selected this month as the recipients of the Recognize Everyday Leadership Awards, presented by the SCCC Student Activities Office in the Student Affairs Division. Janice was recognized for “always going the extra mile for students in Financial Aid to make sure they understand all of the options that are available to them.” Terrell was chosen for “always being willing to help faculty, staff and students no matter what the situation or work involved” and Robyn was chosen for “creating a welcome environment for new students as well as current students.”
Terrell Leigh
Anyone on campus can nominate members of the College community for this recognition by contacting Christopher Del Vecchio, Student Activities Advisor, delveccm@sunysccc.edu, 381-1313. Robyn Posson
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Artwork in the 2012 edition of Rhythms, the SCCC literary magazine. 1 and 2. Todd D. Schworm; 3. Michelle Washock; 4. Barbara Farina Are you a poet, short story writer, artist or photographer? Share you work in RHYTHMS, SCCC’s literary magazine. The RHYTHMS club also hosts coffee-houses, readings, and other literary events. Students of all majors are invited to club meetings on Wednesdays at 11:25 a.m in Elston Hall 234.
Do you like to talk to strangers, write, take pictures, be creative?
Student writers and photographers wanted for the Binnekill, SCCC’s monthly newsletter Please see the editor, Heather Meaney, in the Admissions Office, Stockade 122 or e-mail meaneyhl@sunysccc.edu.
Campus Resources (hours for October) Academic Advisement
The Commons Elston/ext. 1330
Elston 222/ext. 1277 Monday-Wed. 8:30 am-4:30 pm Thursday 8:30 am-7 pm Friday 8:30 am-4:30 pm
Monday-Thursday 7:30 am-8 pm Friday 7:30 am-2 pm
Academic Computing Lab Elston 529, 530/ext. 1213 Monday-Thursday 8:30 am-10 pm Friday 8:30 am-4 pm Saturday 9 am-3:30 pm
Accounting/CIS Tutor Lab Elston 330/ext. 1041 Check lab for hours.
Counseling
Elston 212/215 381-1348, 381-1349/ext. 1148 Monday-Wed. 8:30 am-4:30 pm Thursday 8:30 am-7 pm Friday 8:30 am-4:30 pm
(Career, Transfer and Personal) Elston 222/ext. 1365 Monday-Friday 8:30 am-4:30 pm
Student Affairs, Vice President
College Central Network SCCC’s career management system
Student Government
www.sunysccc.edu/ces
Financial Aid
Elston 222/ext. 1345 Monday-Friday 8:30 am-4:30 pm
Elston 221/ext. 1352 Monday-Wed. 8:30 am-4:30 pm Thursday 8:30 am-7 pm Friday 8:30 am-4:30 pm
Admissions
Gateway Montessori
ADA Transition Services
Registrar’s Office
Elston 222/ext. 1344 Monday-Friday 8:30 am-4:30 pm Elston 220/ext. 1388 By appointment or walk-in
Testing Center
Elston 427/ext.1293 TestingCenter@sunysccc.edu Monday-Thursday 8:30 am to 8 pm Friday 8:30 am-3 pm Saturday 10 am-2 pm
Gateway 124/ext. 1455/1295 Monday-Friday 9 am-11:30 am (Call for program information.)
TRIO Student Support Services Elston 328/ext. 1465
Elston 222/ext. 1356 Monday-Friday 8:30 am-4:30 pm
Language Lab
Tutor Services
Elston 520/ext. 1373 See lab for hours.
Elston 328-C/ext. 1461 Monday-Friday 8:30 am-4:30 pm
Begley Library/ext. 1239
Learning Center Writing Lab
Veterans Affairs
Stockade 120/ext. 1166 Monday-Friday 8:30 am-4:30 pm
Athletics
Monday-Thursday 8 am – 9: pm Friday 8 am – 4:30 pm Saturday 10 am – 2 pm Closed Sundays
Business Office, Student Elston 219/ext. 1346, 1347 Monday-Wed. 8:30 am-4:15 pm Thursday 8:30 am-7 pm Friday 8:30 am-4:15 pm
Career and Employment Services Elston 222/ext. 1365 Monday-Friday 8:30 am-4:30 pm
Elston 523/ext. 1246 Monday-Thursday 8 am-7 pm Friday 8 am-4 pm Saturday 10 am-3 pm
Math Lab Elston 518/ext. 1435 Monday-Thursday 8 am-7 pm Friday 8 am-4 pm Saturday 10 am-3 pm
Multicultural/Educational Opportunity Programs
Monday-Friday
8:30 am-4:30 pm
Elston 223/ext. 1284 Open daily. See office for hours.
Workforce Development Stockade 120/ext. 1315 Monday-Friday 8:30 am-4:30 pm
YWCA Children’s Center
Gateway Bldg./ext. 1375 or 1389 Monday-Friday 7:30 am-5:30 pm (Evening hours available depending on enrollment.)
Elston 222/ext. 1279 Monday-Friday 8:30 am-4:30 pm
The College Store Elston 109/ext. 1332 Monday-Wednesday Thursday Friday
8 am-6 pm 8 am-4 pm 8 am-2 pm
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