Fink Scholarship Honors Memory of Caring Public Servant
University Grows Safer, Yet Strives to Improve
SUNY Seeks SMART-NY Way to Boost Research
Women's Forum to Address Breast CancerMission Review Forum Set
Speaker Endorses Clean Room
Exterior Stairway Revamp, Part II
Gender Viewed Globally
The Senate's Grad Fellowships
GSPA Has an Open House
Social Welfare Honors FoundersTrustees Approve New Guidelines for Review of Campus Presidents
Block Spreads His High Regard for Onion
A National Community Hero
Falk Advises on Decade of Behavior
Students Visiting from Denmark (photo)Renee Sieber
Gilbert A. ValverdeDaniels - The Battlefield Where Urban Meets Rural
Hannan Leads Two Studies Linking Care Level to Stroke SurvivalJagdish Gangolly
Flavoring History Through Different Disciplines
Scholarships Give Students A Second Chance at Knowledge and a DegreeAlumni Stars Return to Campus for "Roadmap to Your Future Career"
1999 Alumni Association Winners Are NamedWomen Nab ECAC Track Title
Merrimack Lends Dreary End to 14-14 Danes
Women's Hoops End 13-14; Two Make All-NECC
Fink Scholarship Honors Memory of Caring Public Servant
By Greta Petry
Supported by a $100,000 grant from the Bell Atlantic Foundation, the University has announced the establishment of a legislative internship in memory of the late Stanley Fink, former Speaker of the New York State Assembly.
"What better way to honor the memory of Stanley Fink�s extensive leadership abilities in both public office and private business than to set up a unique legislative internship � which is the result of a cooperative effort between public higher education and private enterprise," said President Hitchcock. "How appropriate that this scholarship will be reserved for our very best students, those with the potential to give so much back to government, the business world, and to the community after graduation."
The new internship will be known as the Stanley Fink Legislative Internship. To be eligible for it, students must meet the academic requirements for the Dean�s List and have earned at least 56 academic credits at the University. In addition, the selection process will include consideration of the student�s financial need. The full-semester internship will carry a $5,000 scholarship, which is expected to cover most of the costs of the semester. Funds for the scholarship will be generated from the income from an endowment to be set up in memory of Fink, who was also a former senior executive with the Bell Atlantic (NYNEX) Corp.
"This internship perpetuates Stanley Fink�s commitment to New York State, whether he was leading the state legislature or guiding public policy of the state�s largest private employer," said Paul A. Crotty, group president for Bell Atlantic New York/Connecticut. "Stanley left a lasting impression with everyone who knew him and, through this scholarship, his influence is guaranteed to continue for years to come."
The University has offered internship programs for undergraduate students in both the public and private sectors for many years. Each year, between 60 and 70 undergraduates participate in such programs with the New York�s Assembly and Senate. The University also has a Washington D.C. semester program.
"Assembly Speaker Stanley Fink was indeed a brilliant and much beloved leader who led us through a very important period in the Assembly�s history," said Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, who as a freshman member of the Assembly was mentored by Speaker Fink. "This scholarship will encourage people to follow in his path and keep his legacy alive through their public service contributions to the people of New York State."
"Stanley�s greatest strength was his love for the people of New York," said Silver. "If there were two words to describe him, they are �He cared.� This scholarship will be a testament to his good name."
The internship will be administered by Ivan Edelson, director of University-wide Internship Programs, who has also been involved with the establishment of this internship from the beginning.
University Grows Safer, Yet Strives to Improve
By Lisa James
The University�s efforts to steadily decrease crime both on and off campus are having their effect. As reported in a recent article in the Albany Times Union, Albany has become one of the safest campuses in the state.
According to SUNY statistics, the crime rate at Albany has dropped approximately 30 percent in the last four years. Overall crime dropped from 894 reports in 1997 to 874 in 1998, continuing a marked decrease from 1,234 reports in 1994 and 1,121 in 1995.
This change is due, in part, to the University�s civilian security program and other community policing efforts, according to University Police Department (UPD) Chief Frank Wiley. He cited posters promoting safety, police officers on round-the-clock patrols, and programs such as "Don�t Walk Alone."
Nevertheless, incidence of students who report crimes that did not occur has recently been the focus of attention on this campus, as it has been across the nation. Reports on campus alleging assault crimes on Feb. 16 and Feb. 20 were both withdrawn on Feb. 25, but only after UPD had conducted extensive investigations and used the forensics laboratory of the New York State Police. Both female students making the false reports were offered counseling and referred to the University�s judicial system.
In the past 18 months, police on campuses such as Duke University and the University of Georgia have investigated crimes that turned out to be hoaxes. But this situation is not limited to college campuses. In an article in the Jan. 8, 1999, edition of the Chronicle of Higher Education, Dennis M. O�Keefe, chief of police for the city of St. Cloud, Minn., said, "About two percent of the crime reports in the U.S. are false," and that the situation extends to college campuses.
Yet Wiley noted that more students are now comfortable and cooperative with police officers at Albany. "We�ve established a community policing model which emphasizes high visibility and high impact," said UPD Chief Frank Wiley. "We�re extremely proud of the success we�ve had." In a letter to the University community, Wiley wrote, "The safety of the campus can only be maintained by an effective partnership between the University Police and all member of our community."
Among new UPD initiatives are "Rape Aggression Defense" instructor training; Operation Nightlight, which offers enhanced visibility of vehicle patrols; a satellite office at Alumni Quad; enhanced "blue lights" for emergency phones; and a liaison with Student Safety Patrol.
SUNY Seeks SMART-NY Way to Boost Research
By Vinny Reda
The time to push again for investment in State University of New York research has arrived, said more than 200 research scientists, college presidents, high-tech industry leaders and state officials gathered at the State Museum on Feb. 24. They met to kick-off a proposal for SMART-NY, a focused research investment program launched by SUNY and Cornell University.
Even as Gov. George Pataki called for more research funding � including new funding for the Center for Advanced Technology at Albany � SMART-NY proponents said even greater resources are needed to recruit top-notch faculty and graduate students and to create the research facilities needed to keep pace with increasing allotments in federal research funding.
"The SMART-NY Conference was the first time the University Centers, Cornell, the Health Science Centers, and the SUNY Provost�s office have worked together to point out the value of investing in university research to strengthen New York�s economic development," said University Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Judy Genshaft.
"University researchers and New York business leaders presented clear examples of how basic and applied research have resulted in business growth and development. It was exciting to see these university/business partnerships."
State funds to attract researchers and create new labs at SUNY and Cornell have stagnated at just over $50 million annually, said SUNY Provost Peter Salins and Cornell Provost Don Randel. "New York has not reaped the benefits that come from sustained growth in research spending," said Salins.
"When given the proper financial resources, our scientists have produced not only significant research discoveries, but also research that has led to new products, new industries and hundreds of thousands of jobs for New York State," he added.
Randel cited Albany�s CESTM as a prime example of such achievement and added that states are now joining with their higher education institutions to pursue federal research funds as never before, and that SMART-NY will provide support to increase essential collaboration between private institutions like Cornell and public universities.
From 1987-89, the Legislature passed the Graduate Education and Research Initiative (GRI), which called for an annual investment of $16.9 million in appropriations to SUNY over five years to achieve similar aims as SMART-NY�s. Due to the state�s growing budget crisis, however, GRI allotments were reduced to $11 million, $7.2 million and $5 million over the first three years, and funding ceased thereafter.
Under SMART-NY, the state would double its research allocation within five years. By helping draw more federal research dollars, more economic activity would result, said Salins, opining that a 15 percent share of NIH funding would bring the state $2 billion more by 2006.
Women�s Forum to Address Breast Cancer
The issue of breast cancer and how to help those we care about regarding the disease will be addressed when the University�s Initiatives For Women presents its 6th Annual Winter Forum, this year in partnership with Siena College, on Wednesday, March 24, at 5:30 p.m. in the Alumni House.
This year�s topic is "Frightened About Breast Cancer?: Listen, Ask, and Learn about What You Haven�t Been Told." The panelists for the discussion will be Bonnie Spanier of the University�s Department of Women�s Studies, Patricia Brown, a professor in the biology department at Siena College, Joan Sheehan, a survivor and advocate, and Rabi Musa of Albany�s Department of Chemistry.
President Hitchcock will give a welcoming statement. A light supper will be provided at the event, which is free and open to the public. To reserve a place, call 442-5415.
Earlier this year, the SUNY provost initiated
a formal process for reviewing and affirming the mission of each campus,
requiring all campuses to negotiate their particular mission with System
Administration.
The process begins with text submitted
by each campus to a series of questions from the Provost. Albany�s draft
text for mission review can be seen at https://www.albany.edu/feature99/special/mission_review.html, with a final version submitted
later this month.
A public forum will be held in Milne 200
on Thursday, March 11, at noon to discuss the draft document. Comments,
suggested additions or revisions to the Mission Review draft may be directed
to William B. Hedberg in the Provost�s Office, AD 203, 442-4000, email
[email protected].
State Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver
has come out in support of a "clean room" for the proposed $275
million addition to the University�s CESTM.
Silver, speaking to an Albany-Colonie
Regional Chamber of Commerce breakfast on Feb. 23, said the Assembly will
include funds in its budget for the addition of the clean room, used to
remove microscopic impurities in the manufacture of computer chips. Total
cost of the facility has been estimated at $35 million. Silver, while not
specifying a dollar-amount of support, said, "I pledge to support
the development of this second-generation technology."
Elena McCormick, project manager, has
announced reconstruction of the exterior stairs on the south side of the
podium will take place during the summer of 1999. Demolition will begin
on May 31, and the project is expected to be finished by Sept. 30. Signs
will be posted approximately 20 days prior to reconstruction for alternate
pedestrian access and routing around construction. Comments and concerns
should be addressed to McCormick at [email protected].
The Center for Latino, Latin American
and Caribbean Studies (CELAC) has an-nounced "Gender in Global Perspective:
A Graduate Training Program," aimed at providing and institutionalizing
support a global view of gender studies.
Fellowships are available for M.A. degree
students who specialize in women�s studies and other fields that offer
the opportunity for gender-focused specialties. Students who have been
admitted to the University�s M.A. program for Fall �99 semester are not
eligible to apply. Fellowships include academic year tuition and a stipend
of $8,000. A faculty mentor will be assigned to each student and awardees
will be required to participate in a Gender in Global Perspective faculty-student
discussion group and project-sponsored lectures.
The project is administered by CELAC in
conjunction with the Institute for Research on Women (IROW). For additional
information and an application form, write: Dr. Edna Acosta-Belen, Director,
CELAC, SS250. Students may obtain an application directly from CELAC�s
Website: www.albany.edu/celac.
The New York State Senate is offering
Graduate/Post-Graduate Fellowships for 1999-2000 intended to equip talented
individuals with an intimate knowledge of New York State Government, and
to attract these individuals to public service careers. The program starts
on Sept. 16, 1999, and ends on July 19, 2000. The application deadline
is May 7, 1999.
Each Fellow receives a fully taxable stipend
of $25,000 and is eligible for certain benefits. Fellows do not earn vacation
or personal leave. Applicants must be U.S. citizens and enrolled full-time
(12 credits, minimum).
In addition to Legislative Fellows, the
Senate sponsors the Richard J. Roth Journalism Fellowship for applicants
in pursuit of careers in Journalism/Public Relations. A third Fellowship
� the Richard A. Wiebe Public Service fellowship � is for individuals with
exceptional leadership skills for placement in a high-level leadership
office.
For applications, requirements, and additional
information, contact Joseph F. Zimmerman, the campus liaison officer, at
442-5298 or 429-9440, email [email protected],
and by mail at 288 Richardson Hall.
The University�s Graduate School of Public
Affairs at Rockefeller College will hold an Open House on Thursday, March
11, from 3 to 6:30 p.m. in Milne Hall, Room 200, on the Downtown Campus.
It is free and open to those interested in public service.
Faculty and administrators of the School
will be on hand to answer questions about graduate certificate programs,
masters in public policy and public administration programs, and doctorate
in public administration degrees. The Graduate School of Public Affairs
is the only accredited program in the Capital District offering degrees
in this field.
By Carol Olechowski
When its first classes were held in late
1963, the University's School of Social Welfare had just one faculty member.
In late March, faculty, administrators, students, and alumni will gather
to honor the memory of that faculty member, Jane Keigher Ives, and of Elizabeth
Wolff Heinmiller, a social worker who played an influential role in founding
the School.
The Founders Program, "Vision, Persistence,
Timing . . . and Luck," will be held from 3 to 5 p.m. on March 26
at the Alumni House. It takes place during National Social Work Month.
Professor Emerita Maureen C. Didier will be the featured speaker for the
event, which will be followed by a reception. Among the guests slated to
attend are the School's first dean, Charles O'Reilly, and Heinmiller's
daughter, Katherine Shooks, who works in the University's computer operations
unit. About 100 alumni and community members are expected to join them
in paying tribute to Heinmiller and Ives. The event is free and open to
the public.
Ives, who died in 1997 at the age of 80,
was a graduate of the College of Saint Rose, Fordham University, and the
University of Chicago. She came to the University after a varied career
with such agencies as New York's departments of corrections and civil service,
Catholic Charities, and the Schenectady County Board of Child Welfare.
During World War II, she served with the Red Cross in France, the Philippines,
and Japan, and was posted to Hiroshima shortly after the dropping of the
atomic bomb on that city in 1945.
In 1963, Ives accepted the position of
first faculty member at the School. She continued to teach there until
1976, when she retired as assistant dean.
Heinmiller, an alumna of the College of
Saint Rose and Columbia University, was a social worker at the Veterans
Administration Hospital in Albany who also was instrumental in founding
the social welfare school. She also served as head of social work at St.
Anne's Institute and as director of public health social work for the State
Health Department, retiring from the latter position in 1975. A feasibility
study and the involvement of the Northeast Region National Association
of Social Workers were just two of the efforts Heinmiller undertook in
helping to found the School. She died in 1998.
Established in 1963, the School of Social
Welfare offers high-quality accredited bachelor's and master's offerings
in social work. Those programs and its innovative Ph.D. in social welfare
are recognized nationally for excellence.
For more information about the Founders
Day program, contact Mary McCarthy at 442-5338.
The State University of New York is updating
its review process of campus presidents. The new process, approved on Feb.
23 by SUNY�s Board of Trustees, will for the first time use independent
teams appointed by the Chancellor to assess the performance of a president
and his or her campus.
Under the direction of the Chancellor,
these formal reviews will be primarily carried out by teams comprised of
a peer evaluator (for example, a current or former president from a college
or university similar in size and mission) and may also include a senior
administrator or faculty member from the campus under review and a member
of the System Administration. In the past, the Chancellor alone would undertake
these formal reviews.
Several other improvements have been made
to the existing review process to ensure that campus Presidents are reviewed
individually and in the most-objective and impartial manner possible:
"With input from an evaluation team,
as well as from campus groups, we will have a basis for reviewing the goals
and performance of each president and each campus individually," said
Chancellor John W. Ryan.
The formal evaluation process will occur
during the third year of service for newly-appointed presidents. Current
presidents of the 29 state-operated campuses will be reviewed every five
years.
As part of the ongoing management of SUNY,
presidents also will have an informal meeting with the Chancellor each
year to discuss their goals for the coming year. Like the formal reviews,
the president will send a report to the Chancellor assessing the institution�s
academic quality, financial health and progress in achieving goals; the
president�s goals for the coming year; and any institutional or personal
problems encountered by the president and the president�s goals for the
coming year.
Formal reviews have been sporadic in recent
years, said Board of Trustees Chairman Thomas F. Egan. But he expressed
confidence that the new review process, with its improvements, will help
SUNY and its presidents continue to improve the quality of education and
university life for the students.
"Presidential evaluations have always
been important in ensuring that campuses and their presidents are doing
their best to provide quality higher education for all New Yorkers,"
said Egan. "Every system of higher education � indeed, every leading
organization of any sort � must evaluate its top administrators to ensure
that performance goals are being established and met."
"With these independent review teams,
we will vastly improve the formal evaluation system that has been in place
for decades," Egan said. "A different team for every president
will ensure the integrity and quality of these reviews."
Guidelines for the new review process
are available upon request.
By Greta Petry
Now they are hot again, gaining international
fame as the subject of a documentary television series, "Foodessence,"
that aired in January on the Canadian cable station Life Network and featured
University professor of chemistry and onion expert Eric Block.
While the segment included interviews
with chefs, owners of food markets, and general onion aficionados extolling
the virtues of leeks and scallions, it allowed Block and other scientists
to ground this praise in science and history.
At one point Block noted that the chemical
compound sulfur gives the onion its pungent odor and "triggers a profusion
of tears" in those who are chopping it. He likens the potency of an
onion to that of a skunk, noting that all it takes to smell an onion is
"one molecule of sulfur in a billion molecules of air."
The show took a light-hearted look at
the various remedies people use to avoid crying while chopping onions.
These include holding a piece of bread in one�s mouth while chopping, putting
a clothespin on one�s nose, holding one�s breath, frequently rinsing the
onion under cold water, or, cutting the root last.
Once again adding the scholarly touch,
Block was shown discussing books dating to the 17th Century that note onions
were used to treat gunshot wounds, dog bites and insect stings. And he
enhances our aesthetic regard for this bulbous herb by noting how its symmetrical
shape and the iridescent quality of its skin lent to use in still life
paintings by Renoir and Cezanne. Block also explained the architectural
significance of the onion, noting how onion-shaped domes were first used
in Persia, then in the Russian Orthodox churches and the Taj Mahal in India,
and are a fixture on the classical architectural scene.
Block did a Life Network documentary a
year ago on on garlic.
The Association for Community Organization
and Social Administration, which functions internationally as a special
interest group supporting the social work profession and social work education,
has awarded Julian Chow of the School of Welfare its prestigious Emerging
Scholar Award for 1999.
Since beginning his doctoral work at Case
Western Reserve University in the mid 1980s, Chow has been actively involved
in the community as well as in his research. Among his many accomplishments
is the Cleveland CAN DO system, a community database in which people can
access a myriad of community services. It became the prototype that has
been disseminated nationally for numerous urban areas.
In addition, Chow�s current research seeks
to help some of society�s more unfortunate members by strengthening the
effectiveness of mental health services through the use of "Geographic
Information Systems" technology.
An initiative that aims to advance the
understanding and awareness of the contributions of behavioral and social
science research to health, safety and education will include in its front
ranks Dean Falk of the Department of Anthropology.
Falk has been chosen to serve on the 12-member
National Advisory Committee of the "Decade of Behavior," a 10-year
initiative of the American Psychological Association (APA).
Falk will join a renowned group of scholars
and researchers chosen from universities and research institutions across
the nation in an effort by the APA to inform the nation, and in particular
federal funding agencies and Congress, of the critical value of behavioral
science research in addressing national problems.
By Theresa Poon
"Dr. Sieber brings to our department
diversity, her own skills and uniqueness," said Christopher J. Smith,
department chair. "She makes up the fourth member of our department�s
planning program, which creates a major support to the graduate planning
program�s ongoing accreditation process with the Planning Accreditation
Board. The Board�s site visit here was just last month."
Sieber earned her Ph.D. in urban planning
from Rutgers University in New Jersey, where she was the winner of Rutgers
Graduate Scholars Award (1991-93), as well as recipient of its 1991 Russell
Fellowship. She co-instructed two courses at Rutgers� department of urban
studies and planning on community development research and policy, and
computer applications in urban planning, and also was a staff member of
the Center for Urban Policy Research in 1995-96. She was a visiting assistant
professor at Albany in the 1997-98 school year.
Sieber received her M.P.A. from Western
Michigan University in Kalamazoo, Mich., and while a resident was an active
community member. Her memberships included ones on the Kalamazoo City Environmental
Planning Committee (1987), the Vine Neighbor-hood Public Safety Committee
(1987), and the Vine Neighborhood Association (1988). Her efforts earned
her both a distinguished citizen award from the City of Kalamazoo in 1987
and the Kalamazoo Star newspaper�s "volunteer of the year" award.
In addition, she received a $200,000 grant from the Michigan Neighborhood
Builders Alliance.
"Planning is a field which is very
much involved with working with the community," said Smith. "Dr.
Sieber will be a very important link into building and extending connections
within the University as well as the local community of Albany," said
Smith.
Besides having credentials in planning,
Sieber possesses a strong interest in and aptitude with computer technology,
namely, Geographic Information Systems (GIS). Most of Sieber�s career efforts,
including numerous published articles, have focused on the "fusion"
of community/environmental planning with the computer technology that exists
today. "Appointing someone in planning and with a concentration in
GIS is particularly important for the school�s reputation and ability to
recruit and retain students," said the department�s Ray Bromley. Sieber
has also reviewed books on planning for the Journal of the American
Planning Association.
From 1986-91, prior to her studies at
Rutgers, she founded SieberNetics Computer Consulting, a company that dealt
with hardware and software training and consultation, computer modeling,
software programming, hardware construction and installation.
"Dr. Sieber is a role model for women
here and in other institutions, where faculty members in fields like mathematics
and computers are predominantly men," said Smith. "We feel her
expertise in computers and in her field brings both greater diversity to
our department and great benefits to our students."
Sieber is currently teaching three courses
in the University: "Introduction to GIS," "Urban Community
Development," and "CADD," a course in animated architecture,
which has doubled its student enrollment since Sieber joined the department.
She is also actively applying for grant money for research in GIS and its
applications.
By Suzanne Grudzinski
Frederick Dembowski, chair of the department,
says that Valverde, "has great potential for providing leadership
in program evaluation, assessment, and standards. Right now he is teaching
courses in all these areas."
Valverde earned his B.A. from the Universidad
de Costa Rica in 1986 and his doctoral degree from the University of Chicago
in 1994. He was the recipient of an honors scholarship at Costa Rica and
a recipient of the "Century Scholarship" while attending the
University of Chicago. There, he was also a member of the Board of Student
Editors for the American Journal of Education.
Valverde is affiliated with the American
Educational Research Association and with the Comparative and International
Education Society. His past experiences include serving as the associate
director and senior researcher of the U.S. Research Center for the Third
International Mathematics and Science Study, a 50-nation study of mathematics
and science education, conducted at Michigan State University. Valverde
also contributed to the first published report of U.S. participation in
the study.
Also, while at Michigan State, Valverde
served as associate director for the Survey of Mathematics and Science
Opportunities, a multidisciplinary, multinational research project blending
quantitative and qualitative methodologies. It focused on investigating
math and science curriculum policy, teaching, and classroom practices in
France, Japan, Norway, Spain, the U.S. and Switzerland. He also co-authored
the first published report of this study.
With a strong background in international
and comparative education, Valverde has done extensive consulting in South
America, serving as adviser to the ministries of education in Chile and
Ecuador. Fluent in English and Spanish and widely published in both languages,
he has been the keynote speaker at numerous educational conferences in
the U.S. and in South America.
NASA has also sought out Valverde�s services
as a consultant for the "classroom of the future." He advised
on evaluation and standards for NASA�s Challenges in Applied Mathematics
and Physics curriculum project.
Dembowski noted that Valverde is, "very
active and student-oriented. He serves as an excellent role model for students.
He has jumped right in taking large student advisement and dissertation
advisement loads." Valverde is also involved with SUNY Central in
working on program-quality assessment for various SUNY campuses � of potential
importance for both the University and all of SUNY, said Dembowski.
Students from Torring Amtsgymnasium
in Denmark visited the campus and the Department of Languages, Literatures
and Cultures on March 2. The group was invited by department faculty member
Anne Marfey (second from right), who teaches an independent study course
in Danish at the University. All Danish students go abroad with their teachers
once during their three years at gymnasium (secondary school) "to
get a broader spectrum of the world," says Marfey.
by Lisa James
As traditional rural industries give way
to residential and commercial development, the land at the edges of developed
areas � the rural-urban fringe � is becoming the middle landscape between
city and countryside that the suburbs once were.
The book addresses problems caused by
unplanned growth in the battlefield where urban meets rural � 10-40 miles
outside of major urban areas where traditional rural industries of farming,
forestry, and mining are rapidly giving way to residential and service-oriented
development. The implications for accommodating economic and population
growth pressures, as well as issues of environmental quality and competitiveness
in the global economy, are extreme. As the country�s population and economy
expand, the challenges of managing growth in the fringe will become more
heated and complex.
"I wanted to bring attention to the
spread and impact of sprawl throughout the United States and show what
some places are doing to control sprawl," said Daniels, a new member
of the University faculty this past fall. He said he dedicated the book
"to those who work to keep America a good place to live, now and for
future generations."
Published by Island Press, the book is
already being judged an important work for planners and students of planning,
policymakers, elected officials, and citizens working to minimize sprawl.
Thomas Hylton, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Save Our Land, Save
Our Towns says, "America�s 50-year drift into ugly, sprawling
development patterns has been tragic but not inevitable. Tom Daniels� new
book � concise, comprehensive, and well-organized � offers proven methods
to bring order to the urban fringe and protect our countryside."
Daniels, who received his Ph.D. in agricultural
and resource economics from Oregon State University, is director of the
University�s masters program in planning. He is also the co-author of The
Small Town Planning Handbook, and Holding Our Ground: Protecting
America�s Farms and Farmland. Before joining the University, he was
director of the Agricultural Preserve Board of Lancaster County, Penn.,
for nine years, and an associate professor at Kansas State University.
By Vinny Reda
There have been many studies in medical
and health service research journals about the relationship between the
outcomes of the care patients with a specific procedure and the number
of patients with the type treated per physician or surgeon or per hospital.
The purpose of the "Relationship between Provider Volume and Mortality
for Carotid Endarterectomies in New York State,"published in American
Heart Association journal Stroke, was to determine the relationship
between each of two provider-volume measures for carotid endarterectomies
� annual hospital volume and annual surgeon volume � and in-hospital mortality.
Hannan and his colleagues used New York�s
Statewide Planning and Research administrative database to identify patients
for whom carotid endarterectomy was the main procedure performed in the
state�s hospitals between Jan. 1, 1990, and Dec. 31, 1995. Using age, admissions
status, and several conditions found to be associated with high in-hospital
mortality among these patients, a statistical model was developed. This
was then used to determine risk-adjusted mortality rates for different
hospital and surgeon volume ranges.
The study found that the in-hospital mortality
rates for carotid endarterectomies were higher in hospitals with low volumes
and when performed by surgeons with extremely low annual volumes compared
to the in-hospital rates of higher-volume hospitals and surgeons. This
did not change even when the hospital and surgeon took pre-procedural patient
severity of illness into account.
Clinical trials have demonstrated the
effectiveness of carotid endarterectomy in the prevention of stroke when
the procedure is performed in regional centers of surgical excellence.
But whether or not these studies drew patients to these preferred centers
for the procedure was unclear. Hannan and his colleagues therefore conducted
the study, "The Fall and Rise of Carotid Endarterectomy in the United
States and Canada," published in the New England Journal of Medicine.
They looked at annual rates of carotid
endarter-ectomy in New York, California, and the Canadian province of Ontario
from 1983 to 1995. They then studied and whether or not patients in the
early 1990s were referred to hospitals with high volumes of procedures
and low in-hospital mortality rates.
The study found that after published studies
from 1984 to 1989 showed that the rates of complications for the procedure
were unacceptably high, the rates of carotid endarterectomy fell in all
three of the regions.
Then, during the 1990s, after clinical
trials showed benefits from carotid endarterectomy, rates of the procedure
rose � but not because of a greater number of referrals of patients to
hospitals with low mortality rates.
The rise and fall of the procedure in
the U.S. and Canada corresponds with publication of favorable and non-favorable
studies, Hannan�s study concluded. But the lack of selective referrals
of patients to low mortality rated hospitals raises the question about
whether the advantages of carotid endarterectomy are similar to those proven
in clinical trials.
By Suzanne Grudzinski
University undergraduates now have the
opportunity to participate in a new course where world issues are brought
to life. Julian Zelizer of the Department of History conceptualized the
core for "Public Policy in Modern America Since 1935" while still
in graduate school and he put his plan into action this past year.
Current political debate over heated issues
such as social welfare, civil rights, economics, and health care take on
new light when looked at in terms of past political knowledge, according
to Zelizer. He said he wants students to realize how the federal government
has come to assert so much power over the people and how this assertion
affects institutions, culture, and policymaking.
Zelizer adds that the course, "brings
history together and flavors it for students by contrasting different disciplines."
Interdisciplinary guest lecturers such as Nancy Denton of the Department
of Sociology offer a sociologist�s view. Others, such as Jim Wyckoff, Irene
Lurie, and Jim Fossett of the Department of Public Administration and Policy,
each offer a policy analyst�s perspective. Each contribution is of value
because contrasting perspectives provide a new point from which to build
on old ideas.
Guest lecturers are also important because
they talk about their research. "I am trying to bring more research
into the classroom so that students can learn from it," said Zelizer.
"Learning and research are not only compatible, but are integral to
each other." He cited computer technology as another component of
this and said it is used in the class to improve historical knowledge of
the development of public policy.
Current events are focal points for class
discussion and each class starts with three or four short student presentations
on a current news issue. Zelizer notes that this is good practice in public
speaking and builds confidence, which is crucial to functioning within
political circles.
"Many students choose to come to
Albany for the political opportunities that are available and this course
is a good foundation for that," he said. "Students are incredibly
engaged in the class and the materials. They show enthusiasm and have not
shied away from difficult issues such as taxation." This enthusiasm
is so contagious that Zelizer�s colleagues have shown significant support
by generously volunteering their time to speak at his classes.
By Suzanne M. Grudzinski
Four years ago, at age 41, Fred Plant
decided to leave his job as a self-employed painting and wallpaper contractor
and return to school to pursue a 20-year interest in policymaking at the
University. Finances, however, were a problem as Plant laid plans to earn
a degree in public policy and political science. Besides tuition, there
were the added costs of a daily commute from Saugerties, 50 miles one way,
and the cost of numerous books.
"There have been points along the
way where I questioned if it was financially possible to continue with
my education. Gas, tolls, and books were issues that I could not have met
at the time," said Plant, who transferred to the University after
receiving his two-year degree from Ulster Community College in 1997.
Then, through his Educational Opportunities
Program advisor, Latonia Spencer, Plant learned about the University�s
Second Chance Scholarships, designed to provide financial support for those
students who demonstrate a need. Plant, who will graduate in May, applied
for and received one of ten Second Chance Scholarships offered each semester.
Plant says that the staff�s involvement
and commitment to help has also made him aware of many different opportunities.
Last spring, Plant had the opportunity to work as a legislative intern
for Assemblyman John Guerin of the 101st district in Ulster County. His
experience was so successful that he continued to work for Guerin even
after his internship. Plant now has a job working three days a week for
Harold Brown of the 121st Assembly District representing Onondaga County,
which he balances with the 13 credits that he needs to graduate.
"The scholarship really made the
difference in meeting those issues that I was not able to at the time.
I reached a point where I was asking myself financially if I could do it.
This has enabled me to," added Plant.
The Second Chance Scholarship has also
helped Ana Almonte to continue with her education. Almonte, a Spanish major
who completed her undergraduate work this December and is continuing on
with her master�s degree at the University, faced similar financial concerns
as a returning adult student. "Educational needs add up," she
said. "Only when you take everything into account, the books, the
photocopying, the travel expenses, do you realize the considerable financial
strain that you are dealing with."
Being chosen as a scholarship recipient
has also given Almonte, who plans to teach Spanish, the encouragement to
build and strengthen relationships with faculty. She adds that this involvement
will help her tremendously as she continues with her education by providing
her with an academic and emotional support system and a system through
which to network.
Carr said most recipients are older students
juggling many different demands while trying to earn their degree at the
same time. "This program is valuable," he added, "because
we see more and more students having to drop out of school because they
don�t have the financial means to continue." Carr added that each
student�s economic need stems from a situation particular to that individual.
"We have one student who is a single parent to four children, yet
manages to commute 70 miles each way to the University every day. He maintains
good grades and keeps up with all of his youngsters. I am deeply humble
to be able to acknowledge this student and provide him with some resources
in his quest to get a degree," said Carr.
The University is the latest addition
to the program, which was started at Hudson Valley Community College in
1995 and soon branched out to include St. Rose, Maria College, Schenectady
Community College, and Empire State College. Soon after St. Rose started
receiving funding, the Foundation stipulated that all funds provided by
it must be matched by the institution. The monetary award, which ranges
from $500 to $1,500, is based on grade-point average and the number of
courses in which a student is enrolled. Matching funds now come from private
donations made each year by about 90 members of the University�s faculty
and staff. In the two years that the program has been active, students
have received in excess of $30,000, half of which was raised by the University
community.
Plant says he himself soon hopes to be
able to help support the Second Chance Scholarship. "I don�t expect
to be in the situation I am in long-term. This scholarship is something
I will contribute to in the future, hoping I can help someone in a similar
situation the way I have been helped."
By Carol Olechowski
Gangolly, who earned a bachelor�s degree
in mathematical statistics from the University of Bombay and a master�s
degree in operations research from Calcutta�s Indian Institute of Manage-ment,
knew that, "even as a young kid, I wanted to be a teacher. Perhaps
it was the influence of my father, who was primarily a researcher but did
supervise graduate students." Gangolly also holds a Ph.D. in business
administration from the University of Pittsburgh�s Katz Graduate School
of Business.
Prior to his arrival at Albany, Gangolly
taught at the University of Pittsburgh, the University of Kansas, Claremont
McKenna College and the Claremont Graduate School in California, and California
State University at Fullerton. With the exception of three years spent
teaching on the West Coast in the mid 1980s, he has been an Albany faculty
member since 1979. Now an associate professor of accounting and management
science and information systems in the School of Business, Gangolly is
also a senior program faculty member in the information science Ph.D. program.
Over the years, Gangolly�s papers have
appeared in such publications as the Journal of Accounting Research;
Auditing: Journal of Practice & Theory; the Journal of the Operational
Research Society; Critical Perspectives on Accounting; Expert Systems with
Applications: An International Journal; and Artificial Intelligence in
Accounting and Auditing. He currently serves on the editorial board
of the journal Issues in Accounting Education, which is published
by the American Accounting Association.
His current research efforts focus primarily
on the areas of "conceptual information retrieval and knowledge organization
in accounting. In addition, "I have collateral research interests
in the relationships between accounting and legal philosophy."
He is also very active in University service.
Says Gangolly: "I have served on all sorts of committees both here
at Albany and at professional organizations such as the American Accounting
Association and the Institute of Internal Auditors. I also have organized
research conferences." A past member of Albany�s President�s Budget
Panel and the Libraries and Information Systems Council (LISC), Gangolly
has served on "practically every School of Business committee at some
time." His past community involvements have included service as the
regional coordinator for the Artificial Intelligence/Emerging Technologies
section of the American Accounting Association, and as a member of the
board of governors of the Albany chapter of the Institute of Internal Auditors.
Although Gangolly is committed to his
University and community service, research, and publishing, his greatest
joy comes from "learning new things every day, interacting with students,
and deciding myself what problems I want to work on." He is pleased
that "many of my past students are partners or senior partners in
reputable firms. Seeing my students blossom into business leaders makes
it all worthwhile."
Gangolly has enjoyed his University at
Albany years, "even though it has meant a bi-coastal marriage for
me. Albany has given me freedom to work across disciplines that most accounting
departments in the country frown upon. We have a unique opportunity in
my department to set the standard for excellence in graduate education
in accounting information systems, and I fully intend to participate in
it."
Among his greatest achievements, Gangolly
feels, are "the establishment of the new Arthur Andersen Laboratory
for Accounting Systems and the newly started concentration in accounting
information systems in our master�s program. Today, the laboratory is the
most advanced of any accounting systems lab in the country. And our curriculum
in accounting information systems is the envy of most universities. I routinely
get inquiries about the curriculum from those who would like to replicate
it."
In order to enhance his effectiveness
as a teacher, Gangolly has made his courses "state of the art and
interdisciplinary," so that they "provide a broad perspective
without being superficial." He notes: "I started teaching via
the web back in 1994 and introduced newsgroups in 1995. I intend to introduce
streaming video soon and would like to get into distance education one
of these days.
"I believe things are best learnt
by doing," observes Gangolly. "I look at our systems lab as a
sort of sandbox for our graduate students to play in. Let the eager students
loose in the sandbox, and what they do will surprise you. I have been fascinated
by the kind of work they have turned in."
More than 20 notable alumni will be returning
to campus on Saturday, March 20, for the 2nd Annual Alumni Student Leadership
conference, "Roadmap to Your Future Career." The impressive slate
of alumni includes keynote speaker Nick Henny �73, executive vice president
and CFO of SONY Corporation of America and president of SONY Capital Corporation.
For the past three years, Henny has served as national chair of the University�s
Annual Fund.
The conference celebrates the successful
outcomes of a University at Albany education. It provides a forum for students
to benefit from the expertise of alumni who share their personal experiences
and career advice with them throughout the day. It also creates an opportunity
for current students to establish a connection with individuals working
in their chosen fields of interest.
In addition to the keynote by Henny, the
conference will feature a panel of distinguished alumni representing several
professional fields:
Following the panel, students will have
the opportunity to join career-specific breakout groups to discuss their
questions in more in-depth fashion with several alumni in each field. A
networking lunch and afternoon reception round out the program and will
provide ample opportunity for alumni and students to interact with one
another.
Students may still register for the conference
by contacting the Alumni Affairs office at 442-3080. The conference is
being sponsored by the Alumni Association, Purple & Gold, the Student
Association and University Auxiliary Services. For more information regarding
the conference, contact Megan Downing Hyland �92, �96, at 442-3087.
The Alumni Association has announced its
1999 Award Winners, recommended by a committee of alumni, faculty and staff
and approved by the Association�s board of directors. The awardees will
be honored on Friday, June 4, as part of Alumni Weekend.
Distinguished Alumni Award: "To
honor alumni who have displayed distinctive achievements in their profession
or field of endeavor and/or outstanding service to society or their community."
Bonnie Adkins �49. Devoting her life to
volunteer work, she has, through local church activities, refugee resettlement,
Native American Outreach ministries, peace ministries, youth education
and women�s causes, labored to build schools, clinics and other facilities
in Africa, the Middle East and the Caribbean.
Dr. Benjamin Button �54. A general practitioner
and orthopedic surgeon at St. Mary�s Hospital in Amsterdam from 1963 to
1990, since retirement he has traveled for months at a time, at his own
expense, to remote areas of the world, such as Rwanda, Sudan and Zambia,
to provide medical assistance in mission hospitals, clinics and relief
areas.
Susanne Murphy Dumbleton �64, �66, �73.
Her teaching career has spanned more than two decades, from Albany College
of Pharmacy to Chicago�s DePaul University, where she currently is dean
of the School for New Learning. In 1980, she co-founded Washington Park
Press Ltd, which has published 10 books and co-published two others, including
O, Albany by William Kennedy. She has still found time to mentor
inner city youth.
Jeffrey Mishkin Esq. �69. Executive vice
president and chief legal officer of the National Basketball Association,
he has been involved in every important legal action concerning the NBA
since joining the law firm of Proskauer Rose in 1973. An adjunct professor
at Cardoza Law School, he has written and lectured extensively on sports
law.
The Honorable Richard Wesley �71. In 1997,
he was sworn in as an associate judge of New York�s Court of Appeals, the
state�s top court. Since 1982, when elected to the State Assembly, he has
exemplified the selfless and hard working individual committed to enhancing
the lives of New York�s citizens.
Brian Wing �73. Since 1974, he has served
with distinction in the executive and legislative branches of state government,
and demonstrated leadership as executive director of the State Office of
Temporary and Disability Assistance, guiding the implementation of several
key initiatives that have supported the state�s successful welfare reform
efforts.
Excellence in Alumni Service: "To
recognize sustained leadership and service to the Alumni Association and/or
the University."
Theodore Anderson �82, Esq. A civil trial
attorney and shareholder at the Dallas, Texas, law firm Kilgore Kilgore,
he was awarded the President�s Outstanding Young Alumni Service Award in
1992. He is a founder (1997) and current president of the first professional-based
constituent group, the University at Albany Lawyers Associ-ation, which
boasts a student-mentoring program, an alumni directory, and a credit-bearing
conference for lawyer alumni.
Jeffrey Black �77. A partner with the
worldwide accounting and auditing firm Arthur Andersen and Co, in 1990
he initiated the first-ever endowed professorship in the School of Business.
He also was integral to the pledge by Arthur Andersen Alumni of $75,000
for the construction and equipping of the Arthur Andersen Alumni Computer
Lab and he single-handedly created the Anderson Junior internship.
Barry Z. Davis �74, �97. The class councilor
for the Class of 1974, a past council chair, and a member of the University
at Albany Alumni Association board since 1989, he currently serves as chair
of one Association committee, co-chairs another, and is a member of two
more. Co-founder of the Central New York Chapter of the association and
the Social Work Consti-tuent Group, he is also the latter�s president.
George Philip �69, �73. He has served
on The University at Albany Foundation board since 1994, the Alumni Association
board since 1995, and the University Council, which he currently chairs,
since 1997. A substantive advocate for the University, he also now co-chairs
the fundraising effort for the new University Library.
Citizen of the University: "To
salute non-alumni for exceptional leadership or service to the University
community."
Alain Kaloyeros. Professor of physics
and director since 1993 of the Center for Advanced Thin Film Technology,
he has been directly responsible for bringing approximately $50 million
in external investment to the University. He maintains a strong commitment
to students.
Excellence in Teaching Award: "To
pay tribute to alumni for extraordinary distinction in the teaching profession."
Donald Dickinson, �49. The founding director
of the School of Information Resources and Library Science at the University
of Arizona, many of his published works, including Henry E. Huntington�s
Library of Libraries (1995), are regarded as indispensable in the field
of library and information science.
Gordon Muck �64, �66. Professor of biology
at Corning Community College, he is known for creative teaching techniques
and innovative labs. Applauded for his willingness to tutor, Muck is the
founder of ESATYCB, the New York association of community college biologists.
Bertha E. Brimmer Medal: "To honor
alumni who demonstrate outstanding teaching ability at the secondary school
level in New York State."
Michelle Bloom �67, �82. The foreign language
and art supervisor for the Guilderland School District, she is ardently
committed to the improvement of foreign language education. Bloom has worked
as a consultant for the NYS Department of Education and was past president
of the NYS Association of Foreign Language Teachers.
Harold Thornhill �63. He has taught global
studies at Koda Junior High in Clifton Park for 30 years, concentrating
on Africa. He spent a two-year Peace Corps assignment in West Africa, and
a sabbatical in Sierre Leone teaching in tribal schools, and has earned
two Fulbright scholarships.
Janna Johnston set a school record in
the pentathlon and Andrea Viger won the 5,000-meter run to lead Albany
to the ECAC Div. II women�s indoor track and field championship on Feb.
28 at S. Connecticut St. University�s Moore Field House.
"We received outstanding performances
from nearly everyone on our team," said Albany�s Roberto Vives, who
was named the ECAC Coach of the Year.
Xiomara Davila Diaz captured an ECAC title
in the 55-meter high hurdles with a time of 8.02 seconds, and placed second
in the 400-dash. Tara Bialy was a winner in the 55-dash (7.21).
In the men�s competition, Albany was fourth
overall behind champion Kutztown. Andy Rickert took second in the 5,000
(15:32.43), while Rob Naughter went 2:31.59 in the 1,000 to finish third.
Tony Davidson was second in the 400, and a member of the winning 800-meter
relay (1:33.27).
TRACK NOTES: Ben Wright competed in the
mile run at the 78th annual IC4A Division I indoor championships at the
Reggie Lewis Center in Boston on March 6 . . . Wright was 27th in 4:15.33
. . . Albany�s 4x800-meter relay finished 19th in 7:44.62, and was four-tenths
of a second off the school record.
Matt Gibson scored 23 points and Reginald
Carter added 20 points and 13 rebounds to lead Merrimack past Albany, 76-62,
in the semifinal round of the ECAC men�s basketball tournament on March
6. The Great Danes completed their final NCAA Div. II campaign with a 14-14
record.
The Warriors raced to a 14-2 lead in the
opening four minutes and led by as much as 18 points in the first period,
settling for a 37-26 halftime advantage. Albany closed the gap to 45-40
early in the second half, but the Warriors slowly pulled away. Gibson,
who grabbed 11 rebounds, had 15 points after halftime to keep his club
in front.
DANE NOTES: Todd Cetnar and Will Brand
were named to the All-NECC second team . . . Brand, NECC Rookie of the
Year, was also picked 3rd-team All-ECAC-North . . . the 6-foot-4 forward
posted the highest single-season point total (412) by an Albany freshman
since 1955-56.
Center Rita Breivaite had 12 points in
the final period as LIU-Southampton held off Albany, 70-64, in the ECAC
women�s basketball tournament�s semifinal round on March 6 in Philadelphia.
Albany finished its last season in the NCAA Div. II era with a 13-14 record.
The Colonials, the tourney�s No. 2 seed,
moved out to a 36-22 halftime lead by holding the Great Danes to 29-percent
shooting. Albany reeled off nine unanswered points to draw even at 56-all
with 7:02 remaining on Alison Bowe�s fastbreak layup. However, Breivate
and Larsen used their baseline muscle to push Southampton away in the stretch.
Megan Buchanan had 21 points and 11 rebounds
for the Great Danes, while senior guard Kelly Paolino, making her last
appearance in an Albany uniform, scored 18.
DANE NOTES: Megan Buchanan was voted second-team
All-New England Collegiate Conference by the coaches, while Kelly Paolino
was an honorable mention selection . . . Paolino finished fourth on the
school�s all-time scoring list with 1,020 points . . . Buchanan�s 381 points
this season is the fifth-highest total in UA annals.
Mission Review Forum Set
Speaker Endorses Clean Room
Exterior Stairway Revamp, Part II
Gender Viewed Globally
The Senate�s Grad Fellowships
GSPA Has an Open House
Social Welfare Honors Founders
Trustees Approve New Guidelines for
Review of Campus Presidents
Block Spreads His High Regard for
Onion
Onions.
We cook with them, peel away their layers, and enjoy the little dome-shaped
vegetables that have been around ever since the Egyptians used them to
treat patients with heart disease.
A National Community Hero
Falk Advises on Decade of Behavior
Renée Sieber
A
distinguished scholar, honored citizen and former entrepreneur in computer
consulting, Renée Sieber joined the Department of Geography and
Planning last semester with credentials both in academia and public life.
Gilbert A. Valverde
This
past September, the University�s Department of Educational Administration
and Policy Studies welcomed distinguished scholar Gilbert Valverde to the
faculty.
The Battlefield Where Urban Meets Rural
In
When City and Country Collide: Managing Growth in the Metropolitan Fringe,
Tom Daniels of the Department of Geography and Planning examines the fringe
phenomenon and presents a practical approach to assisting more compact
development. It provides a viable alternative to traditional land use and
development practices and offers a solid framework and rational perspective
for wider adoption of growth management techniques. Daniels uses case studies
from cities such as Albuquerque N.M., and the Twin Cities area in Minnesota
to illustrate this significant issue.
Hanan Leads Two Studies Linking Care
Level to Stroke Survival
Edward
L. Hannan, chair of the Department of Health Policy, Management and Behavior
in the School of Public Health, is the lead participant in one recent study
and second researcher in a second that deal with in-hospital mortality
rates from carotid endarterectomy, a preventive procedure for stroke.
Flavoring History through Different
Disciplines
The
course, part of the University�s General Education Program, explores the
historical development of U.S. domestic policies. The intention of this
exploration, explains Zelizer, is, "to make public policy accessible
and exciting to undergraduate students so that they realize the impact
that it has on their own lives."
Scholarships Give Students a Second
Chance at Knowledge and a Degree
The
University has a two-year involvement in the Second Chance program, which
was established four years ago by the Joseph J. Mastrangelo & Ralph
Arnold Foundation. Over this time, the University has awarded $30,000 in
Second Chance Scholarships. In all, 30 students have been named recipients
and ten more scholarships will be offered for the Spring Semester, according
to Carson Carr, Associate Dean of Academic Support, who oversees the program.
Jagdish Gangolly
As
a young man in his native India, Jagdish Gangolly of the University�s Department
of Accounting and Law embarked upon a business career. Four years in the
pulp and paper and soft-drink franchising industries "dispelled any
doubts that I may have had about my aspirations to be a teacher,"
he said. "I have never since regretted what would seem to a business
executive to be a vow of poverty, of sorts."
Alumni Stars Return to Campus for
"Roadmap to Your Future Career"
1999 Alumni Association Winners Are
Named
Women Nab ECAC Track Title
Johnston
scored 3,452 points in the five-event competition, and also placed third
in the high jump. Viger, a junior, went 18:04.53 in the 5,000 to finish
nearly two seconds ahead of runner-up Megan Seefeldt, of Kutztown University.
The Great Danes outpointed Kutztown, 128 to 95.5, in the team standings.
Merrimack Lends Dreary End to 14-14
Danes
Todd
Cetnar had 20 points to lead the Great Danes, who also lost to Merrimack
in last year�s ECAC semifinals. Matthew Haggarty added 17 points, including
five 3-pointers.
Women�s Hoops End 13-14; Two Make All-NECC
