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In an effort to provide support to Binghamton University students, faculty and staff affected by the September 11, 2001 national crisis, the Student Association has established the "BU Crisis Support Fund." The fund will provide grants to students, faculty and staff who have emergency needs related to the tragedy. Donations will be accepted as follows:
In addition, students are reminded that the "Wanda Bartle Emergency Loan Fund" is currently available to students in need. Non-collaterized loans of up to $200 will be granted to students with emergencies. Students may apply at the Binghamton University Foundation window. If you would like to volunteer to help fundraise or have questions about donating, please e-mail Paul Harrison, president of the Student Association, at Pres@sa.binghamton.edu or call the Student Association office at x76503, ext. 1. |
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Message Board Helps Alumni Reconnect After Tragedy "I worked in World Trade Center #1 when the first one hit.
I am fine, but went through quite an ordeal. I worked on the 85th
floor and was on the way up the elevator to work; when the elevator
opened on the 83rd floor to let someone out, the elevators across
from me exploded like a fireball. I quickly got out of the elevator
and found an open office with some people. One of the guys told
me that he had seen an American Airlines jet heading right for the
building. I put a wet towel over my face and tried to come down
the stairs, but it was too smoky and dark. I waited with the others
for directions. Miraculously, building security came a half hour
later and took us down the stairs. When we reached the 20th floor
we were told we were in the "safe zone". I heard a huge explosion
(probably WTC#2 collapsing) and ran down the stairs. The lobby was
totally destroyed. I then just ran like hell. There was so much
debris falling from the building. I called Deborah from a restaurant
to let her know that I was OK. 1 minute later the building collapsed.
It is a miracle that I am alive. It will be a while before I realize
exactly how close I was to death. Many of the firemen that helped
me are dead, as are many people who were behind me on the stairs.
It is devastating. The city is basically shut down. I walked all
the way home from downtown. It was like the "Night of the Living
Dead". All of the people were zombies. I had a very somber and quiet
walk home. It is such a miracle that I am still here." The above story is one of many from our alumni who worked in the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. Several alumni have written to Harpur College to inquire about their classmates, report that they're alive and well, or simply share their feelings regarding the events of September 11, 2001. The Office of Alumni and Parent Relations has created a message board for this purpose. We encourage you to follow this link: http://alumni.binghamton.edu/enews/sept/main.htm and reconnect with your alma mater. Many of you have also inquired whether Binghamton University will publish names of missing or deceased alumni from the September 11th tragedies. Check the message board later this week for an updated list of those who are reported missing. |
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Harpur College Dean Mileur Stresses Community, The Role of the University While we are being sensitive to the needs of all students, faculty, and staff, Harpur College is also working to further its educational mission. The mood on campus is still somber, but classes, sports, and activities have resumed their normal schedules. Since September 11, 2001, Binghamton University’s faculty, staff, and students have taken action to support one another in every way possible. Campus organizations have raised thousands of dollars to benefit the victims and their families. The Red Cross received so many blood donors they had to schedule additional sessions. Counseling and health services have been available to everyone on campus.
Fifteen hundred students, faculty, and staff joined together in the Anderson Center to observe the National Day of Prayer and Remembrance on Friday, September 14, 2001. President DeFleur and several others spoke words of support, encouragement, and reflection. On Monday, September 24, 2001 a panel discussion and open forum was held featuring perspectives on the September 11th terrorist attacks. The teach-in was organized by Susan Pollock and Reinhard Bernbeck,faculty members in the Anthropology Department. The goal of the panel was to provide a forum for discussion and an open exchange of ideas. "As a university, we have to believe that our role in this time of crisis is to provide the knowledge that leads to greater understanding," said Harpur College Dean Jean-Pierre Mileur, "Understanding sometimes deprives us of the simplicity we crave but it also makes us more effective in pursuit of our goals." Panelists included Imam Kasim Kopuz, a doctoral student and member of the Islamic Organization of the Southern Tier; and University faculty Reinhard Bernbeck, assistant professor of anthropology; Donald Quataert, professor of history and Darryl Thomas, associate professor and chair of Africana Studies. Susan Pollock, associate professor of anthropology, moderated the discussion. More than 250 students and faculty heard the view that politics and economics, not religion, were the guiding forces behind the attack. Said Dean Mileur, "Harpur has found in these terrible events
an opportunity to strengthen our community by emphasizing the unity
in diversity that makes America great and distinguishes us from
those who would destroy us." |
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Keith Hurd '88 Shares the Business of Broadway
Hurd began by announcing his plan to set up an internship for Harpur College students interested in working in all aspects of Broadway, such as theatrical management, set and costume design, and marketing and promotions. "I work with interns all the time," he said. "And it's a great way for me to use my resources to open a door and let them get hands-on experience and immerse themselves in the day-to-day business of Broadway. They truly are a part of the team. And this way, if the student intern excels, they are at an optimum vantage point to get offered a job and -- seamlessly, they have become part of the Broadway workforce." Hurd discussed how the Broadway industry saw a sharp decline in ticket sales in the wake of the September 11, 2001 tragedy. Clearly, terrorism has scared the tourists away from New York City. Most theaters were closed for 3 performances and reopened Thursday, September, 13th. Only the newest, most popular performances continued to sell tickets and have cancellation likes like "The Producers." "Several of the longer running shows such as 'Les Miserables' and 'Phantom of the Opera' had half a house," he said. To cut immediate losses, all theater employees, including actors, took 25% pay cuts and theaters waived rent for 4 weeks to weather the low turnouts of theatergoers. The audiences are slowly coming back day by day. Hurd feels business will improve slightly in a few weeks as New Yorkers in the metropolitan area feel safe enough to drive in. "I don't expect anyone to take a plane to New York for leisure, but the New Yorkers are ready to get out of their apartments and need a diversion. Our new show, the comedy 'Noises Off' starring Patti Lupone and Peter Gallagher is opening on schedule on November 1st." He went on to explain the power of critics. "New plays should open out of town to refine their production elements and to make sure the drama packs every emotional punch it is capable of. Since Broadway plays open as a commercial runs, you have to make sure they deliver. But economics and hubris make producers rush their plays to Broadway," he said. Hurd told the story of raising money and promoting "On the Waterfront," which he described as "one of the biggest straight play flops in history -- it lost $2.6 million and closed after its first week." Among the egos and politics, cast members were fired and people walked off the set. "It started becoming "Off the Waterfront," he joked. Critics caught wind of the chaos and problems behind the scenes and panned the fledgling production. Hurd feels the show would have succeeded if it had started out of town and had the time to develop properly. His favorite show that he’s promoted was "Ragtime." Hurd said, "Everything was at the top of its craft: the lighting, set, music, choreography, direction, and actors." With a cast of 59, it was also expensive to produce, upwards of $600,000 a week to run the show. The show closed after two years because waning attendance and high costs that could not be trimmed.. "Winning awards is a big part of marketing," Hurd continued. "When tourists come to New York City, they want to see whatever’s won the Tony Award for Best Play or Best Musical." Surprisingly, theatrical actors are not as well paid as we suspect because there is only one theater, not 1,800 screens across America. Film actors love to work in the theater for immediate gratification; to hone their craft, there is nothing else like it. The long running hits pay actors minimum scale to keep their operating costs as low as possible. If an actor wants a raise and doesn't get it, there is always the next actor off the bus ready to take his place. Shows make an exception for star power to help sell shows. Think of Julie Andrews and Liza Minelli. Jennifer Jason Leigh in "Proof." Valerie Harper and Michelle Lee in "Allergists Wife." Matthew Broderick and Nathan Lane in "The Producers." The list goes on. Hurd told some hilarious, insider stories about stars and their antics on the set. The audience asked many questions about his career and education. When Keith ended his presentation, students flocked around him, wanting what Broadway wants right now, for the show to go on.
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Mediaevalia Gains International Acclaim
The journal has seen its ups and downs over the years. Editors changed rapidly, subscriptions dwindled, and publication ceased briefly in the 1990’s. Sticca is confident that Mediaevalia is here to stay, though. He resumed editorship in 1995 and expanded the journal’s scope from the Middle Ages of Europe to the entire world, including Islamic, Jewish, and East Asian cultures. In 1996, Mediaevalia featured its first article about Chinese Literature, written by Bartle Professor Zu-Yan Chen. Sticca attributes the intellectual revival of both Mediaevalia and CEMERS to the vision and leadership of its director, Professor Charles Burroughs. The journal’s diversity has grown beyond geography; many writers are women, shattering a glass ceiling in a traditionally male field. Harpur College is proud that Mediaevalia has not only survived, but is thriving during this era of high technology a traditional library research is eschewed for downloaded articles found at lightening speed. Sticca feels the medieval period will always be vital in the study of humanities. He says students can better appreciate and understand art and literature when they’ve studied its history first. "If you know where you’ve come from, you’re better directed." The current issue of Mediaevalia features work from an interdisciplinary conference, "Framing the Text," held at the University of Hull, England, in April 1999. Three editors from University of Hull approached Sticca and asked if they could use Mediaevalia to disseminate their information. "They chose us," remarked Sticca, noting that this will give Binghamton University new worldwide visibility.
Sticca himself may have beaten Mediaevalia in that race. His career has taken him all over the world. He has written over 20 books and published over 100 articles in academic journals. In 1994, the Italian government honored Sticca for his scholarship. "Obviously, I take great pride in having founded Mediaevalia," said Sticca. "Now it represents scholarly standards of the whole University." Editor’s Note: Do any of our alumni remember Dr. Sticca’s
soccer coaching days? How about his course "Music and Libretto"
taught with Mrs. Mitchell? He would enjoy hearing from former students
at ssticca@binghamton.edu. |
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Philadelphia is on the upswing. Known as a historical city full of students, culture, and a diverse population, leaders are working hard to attract new businesses and create more job opportunities. Dr. Florenz Plassmann, assistant professor of Economics at Harpur College, is helping Philadelphia to continue its progress. Several economically depressed cities throughout Pennsylvania have changed their property tax structures during the 1980s to boost construction rates; Plassmann is investigating how similar legislation would affect Philadelphia. He explains his research in this interview. Q. Describe the study you are doing for the City of Philadelphia. In my dissertation, I tried to analyze whether lowering property taxes on structures while increasing taxes on land at the same time (to keep government revenue unchanged) would increase construction activity. The rationale is that if you are taxed on anything that you do, you have an incentive not to do it. For example, an income tax lowers the reward for working, so you have an incentive to work less. A tax on savings lowers the reward for savings, so you are likely to save a little less. Similarly, if there is a tax on your house, you think twice before putting in a new bathroom because you’re taxed on the extension of your house. On the other hand, land is already there, regardless of whether or not you do something with it, so a tax on land does not affect your incentive to use the land. Economists call a tax on land a non-distortive tax — a tax that doesn't change your behavior. I found in my dissertation that various cities in Pennsylvania that tax land at higher rates than structures have more construction than other cities that tax land and structures at the same rate. [In other words, if buildings are taxed lower than land, construction is more likely to occur.] Q. What do you mean by "structures"? Buildings. Any changes to the land. Property taxes are usually levied on the land as well as on anything that you build on it, not just on planting flowers. The City of Philadelphia is interested in exploring the economic effects of shifting property taxes from construction onto land for precisely the reason that I pointed out. They hope that, if they remove the disincentive to build, it will make the city more attractive. More businesses will come, more people will build houses, and the local economy will grow. Other cities that have implemented that kind of tax policy saw more construction. But all cities are different from each other. So the City of Philadelphia is asking: if we implement this tax policy, what exactly will happen to our economy? Will such a policy change be worth our effort? How much more activity will we see in manufacturing? Will some businesses be adversely affected? For example, should we expect that businesses that use a lot of land would just move into the suburbs? Who knows? So that’s where my kind of analysis comes in. I've spent the summer developing a multi-region model of the U.S. The model describes the City of Philadelphia, the PA suburbs, the NJ suburbs, and the rest of the U.S., and I've calibrated it to the 1997 state of the economy with all the tax provisions of these four regions (1997 is the most recent year for which I have reliable data). The idea is now to change the tax law, according to what Philadelphia would like to do, and see how people migrate, how much more they want to work and save, and how business changes in the metropolitan area. Q. This is still in the theoretical stage? No, it's a simulation of the same kind that you read about global warming simulations. Someone dreams up a model of how global warming will happen, feeds it into a computer, and gets some data out of it. I'm doing something similar now that is based on economic theory. I've built a model of how economists think people behave — of course, in a very abstract, crude way, but given that I have to model this behavior according to what I can observe, I think it’s as detailed as I can do it. I'm currently debugging the last errors. Hopefully this fall I'll be able to analyze alternative policies with my model, and see what could have happened to Philadelphia if they had changed their tax rates.
The City of Philadelphia was willing to give me a grant, but because I've never done this before and I was unsure whether I would actually finish it in time for it to be very useful for them, I said I'd do it free of charge. Once I have completed the model and other cities want it, and I know I'll be able to deliver useful results, I hope grants will be forthcoming. Q. What other cities have done this? Pennsylvania is currently the only state that allows this kind of legislation. The biggest cities in PA that tax land at higher rates than structures are Pittsburgh and Scranton. There are another 13 smaller cities that were in considerable economic distress, and that adopted these policies in the 1980's with the desperate hope of attracting more businesses. I spent the summer of 1997 traveling to all of these 15 cities, going through their archives, digging out their building permits, counting how many building permits these cities had issued, and how much new construction was done in other cities. I found that there is indeed a positive impact of taxing land and structures at different rates; I estimated that an increase in the difference between the tax on land and the tax on structures by one-tenth of one percent increases construction activity by 1.6 percent. It is therefore likely that Philadelphia’s economy will benefit greatly from the proposed policy. Watch your mailbox for the Harpur College Newsletter, due in November, for an article about Plassmann's research on gun control.
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Announcing
a new way for you to buy Harpur merchandise.
For hats, shirts and other apparel, see http://www.bkstore.com/binghamton/merch.html
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For other Campus News, visit: http://www.binghamton.edu/home/about/default.html Back Issues: September
13, 2001
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Keith
Hurd `88, has a job most of us only dream of. He markets and
promotes several famous Broadway productions, including the megahit
"The Producers." Hurd returned to campus on Friday,
September 21, 2001 and spoke to a crowd of 50 students, faculty,
and staff in Studio A of the Fine Arts Building. His presentation,
"The Business of Broadway" addressed the recent drop in
tourism, the power of show critics, and some highs and lows of his
career.
Sandro
Sticca, Professor of French and Comparative Literature, came to
the USA at age 17 from Sulmona, Italy, determined to study medicine
at Syracuse University. But that ambition did not last for long
when he nearly lost consciousness at the sight of blood while observing
surgery. He immediately switched to the humanities and soared, earning
a B.A. and M.A. in English from Syracuse University and a Ph.D.
in Romance Philology from Columbia University. In 1964, Harpur College
gained one of its most dedicated, brightest, and most beloved professors.
Harpur College’s founders wanted faculty to use research as
inspiration for teaching; Sticca has always gone a step further
and used teaching to inspire his research.
Check
out the Harpur mugs, the cool notecards and bumper stickers.
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