Campus Report
News, Calendar & Events

Roughly 1,500 students, including the largest senior class in SUNY Fredonia’s history, crossed the Steele Hall Arena stage this month, receiving congratulations from faculty and family members as they were conferred with degrees during the 186th annual Commencement ceremony.

Dr. Dale Tuggy, professor of Philosophy and coordinator of the Interdisciplinary Minor in Religious Studies, created and leads the course that visits India during J-Term. “I’ve learned and taught about Indian philosophies and religions for years, and I think India is historically, politically, and economically important. It’s a huge country, bursting with peoples and cultures."

The Distinguished Service Award, the most prestigious honor given by the Fredonia College Foundation, was presented to three deserving honorees at a special dinner/dance held on Saturday, May 11. Honorees were the Northern Chautauqua Community Foundation, Education Professor Emeritus Dr. J. Brien Murphy, and Michael Schiavone, '78.

Several hundred area high school juniors and seniors will explore “The Magical Math and Science World of Disney” at the 13th annual Math/Science Challenge on Thursday, May 23, hosted by the mathematics department.  Seven activities or challenges will give high school students a greater appreciation for the power of mathematics, science and engineering. Students will work in teams to creatively apply numerous aspects of mathematics and science to solve problems and awards will be presented to top student performers.

The Youngerman Center for Communication Disorders will be offering support group meetings for stroke and head injury survivors and family members in June and July, Coordinator Julie Williams announced.

Dr. Bond Benton continues to find ways to mix work and fun, as shown in three recent successes which range from comic book heroes to “professional” wrestling, and even Godzilla — an article co-published with Communication Dept. colleague Tracy Marafiote.

Dr. Markus Vink from the Dept. of History has been invited and has accepted to serve as an Advisory Board Member of the Indian Ocean Studies Series published by the Ohio University Press.

Shannon McRae, associate professor of English and American Studies coordinator, has been funded by the NEH to attend a workshop at the  Newberry Library in Chicago, where she will gather research material for her current book project on 20th century American spiritual tourism.

The SUNY Fredonia Technology Incubator has welcomed its newest business, AVtick, an audio- and voice-based social media and networking company.  AVtick brings the sound of audio to mobile-based social interactions and, more importantly, makes personal interactions easier to share, more engaging and more personable. To see a video from its founder, Michael Manthey, visit www.tinyurl.com/avtick.

SUNY Fredonia will again implement summer hours of operation on Monday, May 20. During the summer,  business hours for SUNY Fredonia start at 8 a.m. and end at 4 p.m., with the lunch period reduced to one-half hour. On Monday, August 26,  regular business hours of 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. resume.

The 2013 Senior Class at SUNY Fredonia has presented its lasting contribution to the Fredonia campus before graduation in May. The Senior Class of 2013 has raised over $17,000 this year to gift a gazebo to campus. This white outdoor gazebo has been built near the Williams Center in the center of campus. “We wanted it to be completed by Commencement and be something tangible,” said Senior Class President Meagan Allers. “After seeking input from the entire Senior Class, the gazebo was a clear winner.”

Steinberg recommends including medieval Jewish and Arabic poetry in courses on medieval literature, in part to illustrate moments of intercultural and interfaith exchange during the Middle Ages. These serve as models for forging cultural connections today.

The 2013 Marion Fellowship for the Visual and Performing Arts has been awarded to SUNY Fredonia Photography professor Liz Lee, who will create “Cosmological Process,” a body of photographic work inspired by “Our Elegant Universe,” the opening week theme of the 2013 Chautauqua Institution season. Cathy (’79) and Jesse Marion created the fellowship to bring together the arts from both public and private sectors and facilitate community outreach.

Gary Lash, chair of the Kasling Memorial Lecture Committee, announced that Dr. William Brown of the Department of Biology has been selected to present the 2013 Kasling Memorial Lecture, and Associate Professor Tim Frerichs of the Department of Visual Arts and New Media has been selected as the recipient of the 2013 William T. Hagan Young Scholar/Artist Award.

The focus of the workshop series, which is going on now and continues this fall, is to improve American English language proficiency. The curriculum includes use of American currency, social customs and ideas about etiquette, major American holidays, common forms of paperwork – such as school enrollment and medical history – and other topics based on the needs and interests of the participants.

New York State Senator Catharine M. Young has announced she has secured $100,000 in the 2013-2014 state budget towards operating the SUNY Fredonia Technology Incubator so it can continue to grow fledgling businesses and jobs. Senator Young noted that the incubator has been recognized as being highly successful in promoting regional economic growth and has the potential to play a large role in helping Chautauqua County and the region.