By Samantha Thomson ’09 (Communications and Media)

Public Affairs Intern

On the Esopus, Meadow Groves, ca. 1857-58, oil on canvas by William Hart (1823-1894). Image submitted

The college is hosting “Revisiting the Hudson: 19th Century Landscape Painting in Context,” a daylong symposium on Saturday, Nov. 7, focusing on the art featured in the Samuel Dorsky Museum of Art’s “The Hudson River to Niagara Falls: 19th Century American Landscape Painting from the New-York Historical Society” exhibition.

Kerry Dean Carso (Art History) organized the symposium, which will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Lecture Center, room 102.

The lectures will cover a wide range of topics relating to the Hudson River School of Art, including discussions of notable artists Thomas Cole and Frederic Church; landscape painting in the Shawangunks; and architecture found along the Hudson River. Lecturers include art history scholars and professionals from colleges, historical sites and museums from the East Coast.

In addition to the lectures, guided tours of the museum’s successful exhibition, which is on display through Dec. 13, will be available between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.

The event, like the “Hudson River to Niagara Falls” show, is part of the Samuel Dorsky Museum’s “Art &The River” project – a six-month series of exhibitions, lectures and events celebrating the Hudson River’s Quadricentennial.

The symposium is free and open to the public and was made possible through the generous support of The Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area.

LISTENING TO LOCAL NEEDS: Adrienne Halloran ’11g (Communication Disorders), front, and Samantha Link ’11g (Communication Disorders) transcribe a narrative sample using the Systematic Analysis of Language Transcripts (SALT) software program.

Listening to the needs of the local community, Leah Fabiano-Smith (Communication Disorders) and her students have created a speech-development testing program for bilingual children that will also help advance research in their field.

Fabiano-Smith said there is no speech-language testing facility in the area for bilingual children, so she created a program that would fill the gap. Since August, Fabiano-Smith visits the Agri-Business Child Development Center in New Paltz once a week to perform free speech evaluations.

“It’s a win-win program,” said Fabiano-Smith. “They get the free service and we get the data.”

She has also turned the program into a learning experience for her students. Two New Paltz students – an undergraduate and a graduate – accompany Fabiano-Smith to the school, which serves children, from birth to 5 years old, of migrant workers. The team tests two children each week in both English and Spanish using such programs as Microsoft Access, laptops and digital recorders. The college students participating this semester are bilingual, but it is not a requirement.

Fabiano-Smith said having her students experience this type of setting is ideal because it provides them with the real-life research clinic experience. She said students will learn what it is like to work in a setting where there can be distractions or situations they have to address while gathering data.

If a child exhibits signs that there is an audiological or speech development issue, he/she is brought to the college for a full audiological exam or recommended to a speech language pathologist.

“We’re helping families make connections with professionals in the area,” Fabiano-Smith said.

The data and digital recordings collected during the visits are also helping to advance research in the area of speech-language development in bilingual children. The project is one of four projects Fabiano-Smith is working on to study what normal speech development looks like in bilingual children, specifically those whose first language is Spanish.

While the clinical positions are primarily for Communication Disorders students, there are other research experiences open to students of all majors. In total, Fabiano-Smith has 10 students working for her in paid positions or as volunteers on transcribing, translating and data entry.

Fabiano-Smith said that all information about the subjects is confidential. While trust-building is very important, so, too, is the well-being of the child’s language development.

In that vein, Fabiano-Smith tells the parents that their child’s participation in the project will not only benefit them, but also help many bilingual children.

By Samantha Thomson ’09 (Communications and Media)

Public Affairs Intern

The college’s participation in an energy savings program over the summer paid off financially and environmentally.

The Special Case Resource (SCR) Emergency Load Reduction Program called for the college to commit to a 300-kilowatt reduction, with a larger target of 333 kilowatts by performing such energy-saving measures as turning off lights where possible; closing blinds in unoccupied areas or where possible; turning off any individual air conditioning units; powering down any unoccupied equipment; and unplugging small appliances in break areas and lunch rooms.

During a test of the college’s energy use on July 28, the total amount of energy being used on campus was 2,740 kilowatts, which met the 300-kilowatt reduction target. For its efforts, the college received a payment from the New York Independent System Operator (NYISO) of more than $2,000.

“Reducing energy consumption at the college not only benefits the college, but also the New York state electricity grid,” said Brian Pine, director of facilities, operations and maintenance. “The process is about creating more energy readily available, and this is done by reducing energy use.”

A ROCK N’ ROLL EDUCATION: The college’s only all-professor band, Questionable Authorities, will perform for first-year students on Saturday, Nov. 14. The band is (l-r) Maureen Morrow (Biology), Peter Kaufman (Sociology), Annee Roschelle (Sociology), Glenn Geher (Psychology) and Brian Obach (Sociology). Photo submitted

Q&A with Questionable Authorities

Glenn Geher (Psychology), Peter Kaufman (Sociology), Maureen Morrow (Biology), Brian Obach (Sociology) and Anne Roschelle (Sociology) are best known by academic personas, but add a few guitars, drums and a flute and they become Questionable Authorities – the only all-professor band on campus.

On Saturday, Nov. 14, the band will take the stage as part of the Office of Student Development’s Saturdays @ the Terrace programming series, which provides students with free weekend entertainment. The show runs from 9 p.m. to midnight.

Tara Sestanovich, coordinator of first-year programming, said the event will provide an opportunity to bring the faculty and student communities closer together in an atmosphere outside of the classroom. “Glenn and his band mates have shown a lot of enthusiasm for their upcoming campus show and I’m very eager to see Questionable Authorities perform for their students,” she said.

As the band members prepare for their upcoming campus show (and maintain their teaching schedules), the members took some time to share their thoughts about the band’s creation, rehearsal schedule and more.

News Pulse: How did band come together?

Questionable Authorities: Brian and Maureen started learning how to play guitar. They found out that Peter used to play drums as a kid and they cajoled him into getting a drum set. Around the same time, Annee picked up the flute after a 20-year hiatus. We played like this for a few years and then Glenn joined in to add some musicality to our cacophonous din.

NP: How did you come up with the band name?

QA: Three of us were on our way to lobby State Assemblyman (and New Paltz alumnus) Kevin Cahill ’77 when we came up with the name. Since we always encourage our students to question authority, since we have a self-deprecating sense of our own importance, and since we are unquestionably questionable musicians, the name seemed more than appropriate.

NP: What are rehearsals like?

QA: We perform in Magnolia Studios—the name given to the drummer’s basement because his dog, Maggie, often runs down and dances to the music. The fact that we even have rehearsals is somewhat of a miracle, given that we try to juggle five different teaching schedules, office hours, campus meetings and family obligations.

NP: Who are some of your influences?

QA: Given that we are composed of three sociologists, an evolutionary psychologist and a micro-biologist, we believe that we are influenced by our evolutionary history as a species, our upbringing, various microbes and our social environment. And Elvis.

NP: What was the best venue you performed in?

QA: We once opened for Dar Williams in Studley Theatre. Although we only played five songs, our last song, an anti-Bush punk version of “We Shall Overcome” has become one of our many signatures and elicited a spontaneous standing ovation.

NP: What is your dream performance venue?

QA: The roof of the Jacobson Faculty Tower with the whole student body as a mosh pit down below. At the end of the performance, we would stage-dive into the pit and body-surf. (EDITOR’S NOTE: News Pulse readers should not try this stunt on their own!)

NP: Describe the band in 10 words or less.

QA: SUNY New Paltz’s best all-faculty, punk-rock cover band.

NP: If you went on tour, what would the show’s name be?

QA: Yes, This Will Be on the Exam.

Make a Difference Day on Oct. 24 provides the campus community with a great opportunity to help its neighbors. Mike Patterson, director of student activities and union services, said the day of national service is about neighbors helping neighbors.

“We have a unique ability to make a large impact on the community that we are part of,” said Patterson. “By making a commitment to Make a Difference Day, we as a college can continue to make a difference in the local region.”

Having faculty, staff and students engaged in the program is vital in this effort, he added. All members of the campus community are encouraged to participate by donating goods or their time, or both.

The college’s involvement in the program begins on Friday, Oct. 23. Donations will be accepted in the Student Union, room 100. College employees received a shopping list of needed goods with their paychecks on Oct. 14. The donations will benefit such local non-profit organizations as Family of New Paltz and The Queen’s Galley.

On Saturday, representatives from the college will volunteer from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. at more than 11 off-campus service sites, including Village View for Seniors and the New Paltz Fire Department.

The entire event will conclude with a reflection dinner on Saturday beginning at 7:30 p.m. in the Student Union, room 100. The dinner is an addition to the program that Patterson hopes will help spread the spirit of service across campus.

“Through the experience of sharing and processing the day’s events, we hope that students, faculty and staff will be inspired to continue giving back to their communities,” he said.

For more details on the full program, visit www.newpaltz.edu/sub/madd.html.

The college is participating in its annual New York State Fire Inspection, which began on Oct. 19 and will last for approximately three weeks.

The mandatory program involves extensive inspections of all rooms and spaces in every building on campus.

This is a preliminary inspection conducted by the New York State Office of Fire Prevention and Control. Re-inspections will occur in December and January and will focus on all of the issues identified in the preliminary inspection. A final inspection will occur in January and February to address any issues that have not been corrected.

Scott Schulte, assistant director of environmental health and safety – fire safety division, asks the campus community to be on the lookout for any potential fire hazards and to contact his department.

Potential fire hazards include:

• Prohibited items: extension cords, multi-prong adapters, incense, candles, space heaters, surge protectors, tapestries and wall hangings;

• Propped doors;

• Blocked fire extinguishers, fire alarm pull stations, exits, fire alarm panels and electrical panels;

• Fire Doors not properly closed;

• Vehicles parked in fire lanes or in front of fire hydrants;

• Desks, chairs, tables and other furniture in hallways;

• Exit signs not in working order and illuminated;

• Smoking within 50 feet of any building entrance on campus;

• Properly inspected fire extinguishers;

• Items stored within 18 inches of a sprinkler head or within 24 inches of any ceiling;

• Waste accumulation;

• Obstructed room doorways.

If any of the above listed situations or hazards exist, contact Schulte at schultes@newpaltz.edu or x3310.

“This is our community,” said Schulte. “The responsibility lies with all of us to identify and report any fire code violations, so that we can live, work and interact in the safest environment possible.”

Front cover of WaterWrites. Image submitted

Laurence Carr (English) has set sail with an anthology that tells the story of the Hudson River through the creative works of Hudson Valley writers.

Sixty writers are featured in “WaterWrites,” which was published by Codhill Press of New Paltz on Oct. 21. There are well over 12 writers from the college who contributed to the 136-page book.

Carr added that “WaterWrites” is a SUNY New Paltz book. In addition to the more than 12 writers from the college, the 136-page book was designed by Laura Kniffen (Design Services) and the cover photograph was taken by Morgan Gwenwald (Library). Joann Deiudicibus (English), Penny Freel (English) and Rachel Rigolino (English) assisted Carr with the editing of the manuscript.

Inside, the works of professional and amateur writers from the area span the literary and environmental plain. There are essays, short stories, poetry and more. All works share a common theme: the Hudson River. Carr said there was an amazing amount of submissions from high school students, college students, graduates, professional and amateur writers. “The submissions cover the spectrum of every Hudson Valley person,” he said.

“I am so happy to have a very active profile of Hudson Valley writers to celebrate the region and prose and poetry,” said Carr.

The idea came to Carr at a meeting discussing events for the Hudson River Quadricentennial. Carr thought it would be a good idea to have a literary component to the historic celebration. Carr, who had previously edited Riverine, an anthology of works from Hudson Valley writers, decided to get to work.

“This is a people’s book, not an academic publication,” he said. “It also combines the community and university and makes us one entity.”

There will be readings held up and down the river. A launch party is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 24, at Inquiring Minds Bookstore in New Paltz.

By Samantha Thomson ’09 (Communication and Media)

Public Affairs Intern

Images from the extended "Panorama of the Hudson River" show. Top image is a section of Greg Miller's 2009 photo; bottom image is from a 1910 photo commissioned by the Hudson River Day Line Steamer Company.

Greg Miller’s “Panorama of the Hudson River” has had a lasting impact on the Samuel Dorsky Museum of Art.

The photographic panorama’s run at the Sara Bedrick Gallery has been extended into next year. The show, which opened in July, will continue through Dec. 13 and will reopen on Feb. 6 for seven weeks.

Sara Pasti, the Neil C. Trager director of the museum, said the show was extended because of its popularity and to allow students who arrive in the spring semester to view the exhibition.

The museum commissioned Miller, a photographer from Monroe, to create a photographic panorama of the Hudson River that was modeled on earlier painted, engraved and photographic views of the river.

Miller’s photograph of the Hudson River includes both banks and stretches from Manhattan to Albany. The image is paired with a 1910 photographic panorama developed for the Hudson River Day Line Steamer Company; both photographs are 80 feet long.

The show is part of the college’s Art and the River project, a six-month series of exhibitions, lectures and events celebrating the Hudson River’s Quadricentennial.

State University of New York Chancellor Nancy Zimpher is applying an all-inclusive approach to planning for the public higher education system.

Divided into four phases, the goal of the SUNY Strategic Plan is to guide the public higher education system for the next five years and advise in the system’s development over the next 10 years.

Phase I was Zimpher’s 64-campus tour, which took place from June to September of this year. Zimpher visited New Paltz on June 15.

The second phase of the strategic planning process includes seven Conversations designed to engage all audiences, solicit ideas and create a statewide dialogue. The first Conversation takes place on Oct. 21 at Hudson Valley Community College in Troy. College President Steven Poskanzer, Associate Vice President for Regional Engagement and Director of the Center for Research, Regional Education and Outreach Gerald Benjamin, SUNY New Paltz Foundation Chair Noah Dorsky and New Paltz College Council Chair Ken Abt have been selected to represent New Paltz as part of the group of 200 at these conversations.

System administration has also implemented a social media component to the information-gathering phase. Twitter, Facebook and YouTube allow for participation in what progress is being made on the strategic plan by any interested party.

Individuals can also communicate via e-mail by sending their thoughts to StrategicPlanning@suny.edu. Additionally, visitors to SUNY.edu can use the existing Share Your Ideas feature that has been available since the chancellor took office.

Phase II is scheduled to be completed in February 2010.

Phases III and IV include the launch of the Strategic Plan, Feb. 16, 2010, through June 30, 2010, and implementation and assessment, July 1, 2010, to Dec. 31, 2020.

Tobias Wolff. Photo submitted

First-year students in the English Department’s Composition Program will have a chance to speak with the author of this year’s required book reading when Tobias Wolff visits campus in April 2010.

As the fourth guest in the Distinguished Speaker Series, Wolff will discuss his 2003 novel, “Old School,” at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 1, 2010, in McKenna Theatre.

Pauline Uchmanowicz (English), director of the Composition Program, said the composition faculty is delighted that Wolff has been chosen as Distinguished Speaker for spring 2010.

“Tobias Wolff’s visit to our campus will offer students in the Composition Program a rare opportunity to make a connection between literary page and living author. It may even encourage some to undertake a writer’s life,” said Uchmanowicz.

Wolff is best known for his memoirs and short stories. Notable works include “This Boy’s Life” and “In Pharaoh’s Army: Memories of the Lost War;” the short novel “The Barracks Thief;” and four collections of short stories – “In the Garden of the North American Martyrs,” “Back in the World,” “The Night in Question” and, most recently, “Our Story Begins: New and Selected Stories.”

Tickets for the event will go on sale in early 2010.