Campus News

From the left, Anshu Prabha, head of Albany State Indian Alliance; Rita Fernando, president of Liga Filipina; Christine Kim, president of the Korean Student Association, and Catherine Tsai, president of the Asian American Alliance, were among the student leaders who met informally with President Kermit L. Hall Feb. 4 in the Campus Center.

The Personal Approach: Hall Meets Student Leaders

By Greta Petry (February 8, 2005)

President Kermit L. Hall, who took office Feb. 1, has wasted no time in getting to know students. After meeting with student leaders in the first-floor Campus Center lounge Feb. 4, he noted, “The student leaders are a wonderfully diverse group who are united in their affection for the University at Albany. I was moved that so many of them were present to shake my hand, one of the historic ways people express unity.”

The students were talking enthusiastically about Hall even before he entered the room.

Chad Waxman, Kira Brady, and Mahaliel “J.R.” Bethea.

“I’ve only met him once but I was really impressed, especially with his skipping the inauguration” to direct money to student scholarships, said Nick Chiuchiolo, chair of the Student Senate. A sophomore from Kendall, N.Y., Chiuchiolo said he is optimistic that Hall will “bring student spirit back.”

Student Association Chief Justice Brian Fessler, a junior from Blue Point, N.Y., had also heard good things about Hall, including how he is “hitting the ground, listening.” Chiuchiolo and Fessler are political science and history majors, and both said they hope to get into a class they heard Hall will be teaching on the history of the Supreme Court. The new president is a constitutional law scholar and legal historian.

J.R. Bethea, president of the Student Association, was impressed that Hall took the time to seek him out and send him an e-mail. “He’s a good guy,” said Bethea, a junior from White Plains and political science major with a public law focus. “I see him being a great person for the students. He really goes out of his way.”

When Hall arrived a few moments later, he took up a spot next to Bethea on the elevated stairway. “I wanted J.R. to stand up here with me to underscore the hope I have that we will have a very strong bond,” Hall said.

The president said it is particularly important, in an era of rising educational costs, that UAlbany students find more “engines of opportunity.” Hall asked students to raise their hands if they were, like him, the first person in their family to go to college. Many hands went up.

SA Chief Justice Brian Fessler and Senate Chairman Nick Chiuchiolo want to take a class with President Hall.

“Without a place like the University at Albany, the opportunity to make steps toward a richer, more rewarding life would not be possible,” he added.

Hall told the students it is important to move issues forward regarding how UAlbany is perceived in the world. He said that even Logan, Utah, heard about problems at last year’s Fountain Day through the news. “I cannot believe this is the way you want your University to be,” said Hall. “This is not the President’s deal alone – this is our deal,” he said.

Hall promised to make himself as available as possible to the students. Toward that end he is moving his office from the University Administration Building on Western Avenue to the third floor of the Science Library in part of the New York State Writers Institute quarters. Vice President for Student Affairs James P. Doellefeld is also moving there. Students at Friday’s event said they are pleased the new president is establishing a presence on campus.