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| Nausheen Ali and Bhavna Changrani celebrate at the 'BOB' party. |
Fifty years before, Alvin C. Eurich, then SUNY
president, had announced that SUNY trustees had selected the name
"Harpur College" for the most recent addition to the newly formed
state university system. Just months earlier, on February 7, 1950,
the college, then known as Triple Cities College (TCC), had been
adopted into the state university system. This done, the next issue
facing the dean of TCC, Glenn G. Bartle, was seemingly simple --
change the college's name. After months of debate, on September
11, almost six months after the campus joined the state university
system, the trustees finally settled on naming the college after
Robert Harpur, an 18th-century educator, colonial leader and Broome
County landowner.
In celebration of Harpur's namesake, the "WHAT ABOUT BOB?" party featured a DJ, food and plenty of prizes donated by local businesses and alumni. There was even a trivia challenge to test students' knowledge of Harpur history. Would you have been able to answer some of these questions? • Who was the first dean of Harpur College? •What was the name of Harpur College's original home, located in Endicott? • When did Harpur break ground at the Vestal campus? • What was the first building completed at the Vestal site? Check your answers at the bottom of this issue of Hotline.
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Recent Harpur Grad Wins Fulbright Scholarship
Plans to Study Italian Immigration
Angelo
Totino '00 has more than just a passing interest in immigration
issues. Daughter of Marinella and Joseph Totino, who emigrated to
the U.S. from Italy in the 1950s, she has seen firsthand some of
the challenges and hard-fought victories her parents have achieved.
She also knows there is more to immigration than merely gaining
legal residence. There is an emotional and financial price to pay,
facing immigrants all over the world -- not just those heading to
the U.S.
Totino wants to help, and she's getting her chance with the aid of a Fulbright scholarship. She will spend about nine months studying immigration in Italy and, by doing so, takes another step in achieving a personal goal -- promoting awareness of immigration issues -- and to some extent, bringing the Totino family story full circle.
With the news of her Fulbright win still ringing in her ears, Totino finds it hard to believe her good fortune. "I'm shocked, proud, nervous and excited -- all rolled into one," she said. "My parents are equally thrilled for me. This is going to be a great experience for me and, indirectly, for them. And it's an opportunity I just can't turn down."
Sponsored by the United States government, the Fulbright Program is designed to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries. When she arrives in Italy in October to begin her project, Totino will become one of the approximately 230,000 "Fulbrighters," 86,000 from the United States and 144,000 from other countries, to have participated in the program since its inception more than 50 years ago.
For Totino, however, the Fulbright scholarship is not her first shot at delving into immigration challenges in Italy. In 1999, as a winner of the Rosefsky Scholarship, she spent six months at Lorenzo de'Medici, The Art Institute of Florence, taking courses in Italian language, literature and cultures. She also had the opportunity to volunteer at an immigration center in Venice facilitating an after-school program. Totino helped immigrant children with their homework and acted as activities coordinator.
"I was invited to share in a Moroccan feast with one of the families, which was an amazing opportunity," said Totino. "I loved seeing the children interact with their parents, who were so loving. It made me realize the similarities shared by cultures when family is involved. It was also kind of ironic that the first time I had couscous was in Northern Italy, instead of my native New York."
As an Italian major at Binghamton, Totino found her grasp of the language allowed her to communicate freely throughout her travels, while also gaining valuable experience in using the Italian library system. This time around, under the Fulbright scholarship program, Totino will base her studies in Bologna and begin gathering data on migration patterns, ethnic borders and other issues facing immigrants in Italy. She also plans to pursue academic studies at the University of Bologna.
"I have also received confirmation from a non-profit immigration organization called Caritas Tarvisina, who have agreed to allow me to conduct the 'hands-on' portion of my study with them," said Totino. "Through this group, I will be able to speak to immigrants and members of the communities into which the newcomers have moved. The insight gained will allow me to pinpoint some of the issues, problems and possibly some potential solutions to the challenges facing everyone concerned."
Totino also plans to review the immigrant support mechanisms already in place -- language classes, after-school centers for children, and support groups -- to review their effectiveness. Another aspect of Totino's study will cover Italian legal policies surrounding the issue of immigration.
"The civil rights and social and labor laws under the Italian constitution are pertinent to both the immigrants themselves and to Italian citizens," said Totino. "By familiarizing myself with these policies, I hope to gain a more in-depth view of the role legal advocates have in the immigration process and how these laws ultimately affect the individual on a social level."
With plans to enter the legal profession in the future, Totino is sure that her knowledge of Italian policy and culture will serve her well. "I am hoping that the research and experience I gain will serve as a database of information for my law school studies," she said. "Even when I start practicing law, I'll be drawing from the experience. A powerful argument is always strengthened by personal experience."
Totino is also looking forward to the experience as a way to rediscover her roots. "We should never forget where we come from," says Totino "And here in the U.S., a country of immigrants, that is especially important. By making ourselves more aware and knowledgeable about international issues and other cultures, we are able to communicate more effectively. It's this shared knowledge and understanding that will guarantee our collective futures." TOP
Academic Tradition Reflected in Harpur's 50th Anniversary
Workshop Series
A workshop system can be one of the most exciting aspects
of intellectual life, says Nancy Henry, assistant professor in the
English Department. So it's no surprise that she signed up to participate
in Harpur College's annual Workshop Series.
About to launch its fourth season, the series will not only host Henry's popular Victorian Studies workshop, but, with a lineup that features more than 20 unique and varied topics, is guaranteed to have something of interest for just about everyone.
Using combinations of guest speakers, panel discussions, conferences and lectures, the Harpur Workshop Series brings together people with shared areas of intellectual interest in a friendly and informal atmosphere.
"The resulting intellectual excitement that builds through these interactions is contagious," said Donald Blake, associate dean for academic affairs. "Publications, new courses, professional affiliations and increased faculty and student retention are just a few of the by-products that have resulted from the workshops."
This year, the series promises to be unique in that it will strongly reflect Harpur's 50 years of academic tradition, with many of the workshops featuring a nod to the anniversary celebrations via guest appearances by alumni. For instance, the Africana Studies Globalization Workshop will host Harpur alumnus Hakeem Cosby '75 during an upcoming session, while Barry Zirkin '63 will be the featured speaker at a biological sciences colloquium.
"I think bringing in some Harpur College alumni who have distinguished themselves in their respective fields will be not only interesting, but encouraging to our students who plan to go on [to graduate education] themselves, " said Henry.
Also participating in the workshop series this year is Burrell Montz, professor of geography and environmental studies, who will coordinate a Rivers and Watersheds Workshop. Featuring the Susquehanna River as a study site, the workshop aims to learn what others in river and watershed research and practice are doing and to build upon the experience.
"For us, the workshop will bring together scientists and social scientists, faculty and students, to focus on research opportunities in a collaborative environment," said Montz. "By cutting across the disciplines and even divisions within the college, we plan to foster a collaborative multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary discussion, hopefully resulting in research proposals and other similar opportunities."
Check the Harpur College Workshop Calendar at http://harpur.binghamton.edu/workshop.htm for the most up-to-date list of scheduled workshop dates and times. TOP
Memorial
Service For Jack Kaminsky,
September 14
A
memorial service for Jack Kaminsky, professor emeritus of philosophy,
will be held on Thursday, September 14 at noon in Casadesus Recital
Hall, to be followed by a reception in the Green Room. Kaminsky
died of a heart attack on July 3, 2000. He was 73 years old.
Kaminsky was a graduate of City College of New York and went on
to New York University from which he earned an MA in 1947 and a
PhD in 1950. He joined the faculty at Harpur College in 1953. A
noted scholar, Kaminsky was awarded several academic honors, including
a fellowship from the American Council of Learned Societies and
a distinguished research fellowship from the State University of
New York at Binghamton in 1967. He was the author of six books including
Language and Ontology, University of Southern Illinois Press in
1969 and Essays in Linguistic Ontology, Southern Illinois Press
in 1982. Kaminsky also wrote over 150 articles and reviews related
to his career. During his years at Harpur College, Kaminsky served
BU in a variety of capacities including Chairman of the Department
of Philosophy from 1953 to 1965 and the Faculty Senate. Kaminsky
retired in 1992.
TOP
Alumni Association Plans September 24 Golfing Event
The
call is out for all you hackers out there!
Sign up for the first-ever Binghamton University Alumni Association
Hall of Fame Golf Classic to be held Sunday, September 24, at the
En-Joie Golf Course, 726 W. Main St., Endicott. Registration for
the captain-and-crew event will begin at 8 a.m., with a shotgun
start at 8:30 a.m. Ticket price is $50 per person and includes greens
fees, shared cart, prizes and a barbecue lunch. Entry forms are
available from the Alumni Office at 777-2431 and should be returned
by Friday, September 15. Special note to students: Several sponsors
have paid for students to play on their team. The spots are available
on a first-come, first-served basis, and interested students are
encouraged to call 777-2431 to sign up.
Be sure to visit the new feature on Harpur's 50th Anniversary page - the Harpur College Memory Book - and leave your mark. Share a favorite memory of your Harpur experience, whether as a student or as a faculty or staff member. Or, maybe you just want to wish Harpur a happy Anniversary. Memories will be listed and updated on a regular basis so put those thinking caps on and tell us about your favorite Harpur moment.
Harpur Trivia Answers
• Who was the first dean of Harpur College?
S. Stewart Gordon
• What was the name of Harpur College's original home, located
in Endicott? Colonial Hall
• When did Harpur break ground at the Vestal campus? 1954
• What was the first building completed at the Vestal site?
The East Gym
Comments or questions? Send e-mail to: harpur@binghamton.edu. Updated 8/14/00.
For other Campus News, visit: http://www.binghamton.edu/home/about/default.html
Back Issues: August
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