Congratulations, Fall and Winter Harpur College Graduates!

The weekend's harsh weather didn't stop 350 people from attending Harpur College's 2003 Winter Recognition Ceremony on Sunday, December 7 in the Anderson Center's Watters Theater. Students who completed their degree requirements in August 2003 or will complete them in January 2004 were eligible to participate; they are also welcome to join Binghamton University's Commencement in May. Follow the link below for the names of all graduates.

The Sendel Quartet, comprised of cellist Ben James `04, violist Morgan Kin `04, and violinists Julia Kim `05 and Tae-Ho Kwak `05 performed Hadyn's Quartet No. 42 and Elgar's Pomp and Circumstance while 50 students walked across the stage, were congratulated by Harpur College Dean Jean-Pierre Mileur, and received a BU Alumni Association pin from Eugene D. Flood `57. Follow the link below for photos.

Gregg Salka `04, a PPL major and theatre minor, spoke on behalf of his classmates. In "BU: Looking Back, Looking Ahead," he praised the guidance his professors have provided over the years and reminisced about the fun learning experiences he's had at BU. Salka plans to attend law school in the fall. Follow the link below to read his speech.

Dean Mileur awarded Professor Michael Conlon the Eugene D. Flood Award for Outstanding Service to Harpur College. Conlon was faculty master of College-in-the-Woods for 10 years and is currently director of the University Scholars Program. "I am pleased and surprised to receive this award," he said, "not only for the recognition, but because I know Gene Flood whose service to Harpur College was legendary." In his speech, "Surprise," Conlon spoke about people who've made surprising decisions to change the courses of their lives. Follow the link below to read his speech.

A reception in the Susquehanna Room followed the ceremony, during which families and friends congratulated students, enjoyed refreshments, and Harpur College's newest graduates said good bye to each other, perhaps for the last time.

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Harpur Professor's Research Could Lead to a Safer World

David Doetschman, professor and chair of chemistry, hopes his latest project will protect our nation from the deadly effects of chemical and biological weapons. With the aid of his research team and funding from Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC), Doetschman is trying to create a substance that will not only absorb radiation or attract the toxins of a "dirty bomb," but also neutralize the material into something harmless.

This potentially lifesaving material is known as aluminosilicate, a very porous combination of aluminum, silicon and oxygen. Cat owners know this substance well; it is a common ingredient in cat litter. Conservationists use aluminosilicates to clean up chemical spills; the catastrophic oil spill of the Exxon Valdez in 1989 is a notable example.

Doetschman is going a step further and learning what happens when aluminosilicates soak up light and other radiation. Working in the most controlled environment possible, a sterile vacuum box, Doetschman beams visible light, infrared light, or radio waves into extremely fine particles of the aluminosilicate. "Light comes from a source in the machine, strikes the sample, and the machine collects the light reflected off the sample," he said. Based on the machine's readings, Doetschman can determine how much light or radio waves have been absorbed and how their behavior changes once inside the aluminosilicate.

By charting the absorption of each wavelength and carefully controlling the test environment (the vacuum box prevents dust particles, moisture, or even oxygen from tainting the results), Doetschman is able to peer into aluminosilicate's secret internal environment: he can find out the identity of molecules inside and how they change once they're soaked up. "These patterns tell us a great deal about the identity of the molecule that the aluminosilicate is absorbing and what kind of motions the molecule is undergoing," he said. "We hope that the research will reveal something new about molecules in these very tight spaces."

Doetschman is also trying to answer some other scientific questions: how does the newly absorbed substance react to its surroundings? Are the molecules attracted to or repelled by the surface of its the aluminosilicate? Doetschman has learned the answers to these questions by merely watching how the molecule vibrates, which he said has been a more informative pursuit than studying the molecule's rotation or reorientation. Sometimes, he says, the simplest solution is the best.

Doetschman wants these aluminosilicates to be more than just a clean up crew for radiation. In fact, plans to transform them into a sensor by filling them with molecules or metal ions that can detect certain substances in the environment; the mere presence of the substances would automatically trigger a defensive response by the molecules inside the aluminosilicates.

His research team has also been trying to alter the aluminosilicates to be able to neutralize toxins. "We still need better ways to deal with chemical weapons," Doetschman said, "And there's no better substance than one that's capable of absorbing a great deal of material."

Eventually, Doetschman hopes to alter the inside of aluminosilicates so they'll be very acidic or basic and thereby have the ability to "chew up" anything they soak up. "They would not be acidic or basic to the touch; they would only react to things that get absorbed inside, so they'd be remarkably safe to handle," he said.

SAIC remains very interested in Doetschman's work. With several homeland security and military contracts, they're eager to see the results and put his findings to good and practical use. Perhaps the war on terror will end and such defensive measures won't be necessary. Until then, Doetschman's research continues.

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Many Harpur College faculty remain in close contact with alumni; David Doetschman is no exception. David Dwyer `90, works for SAIC and actually oversees his former professor's research. "We did a joint project together and share several publications," Doetschman said. "Now David's my boss!" Randy Mehlenbacher `95 also works at SAIC on the same research.

Doetschman said several of his former students are now faculty at other universities and have returned to Binghamton to spend their sabbatical leaves back in his lab. Apostolos Rizos `83, `85 is now a professor at the University of Iraklion in Greece. He spent a semester working with Doetschman, "In return, he invited me to serve as an evaluator of the undergraduate chemistry program at his university," said Doetschman. "Consequently, I was able to spend two lovely weeks in scenic and historic Greece.

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Harpur Students Compete at Federal Reserve System

On November 24, 2003, five Harpur College students represented BU at the Federal Reserve Bank's third annual College Fed Challenge, which is a competition intended to help students become more knowledgeable about the Federal Reserve System and the decision-making process of the Federal Open Market Committee, their monetary policy-setting group.

Shu Wai Wan `05, Kevin Suen `04, Edwin Batista `05, Sonya Pal `06 and Brandon Clar `04 had to give a 20 minute presentation consisting of an analysis of current economic and financial conditions, a forecast of economic, financial and international conditions of importance in developing monetary policy, and identification and recommendation of pressing economic and international concerns that deserve the special attention of policy-makers.

BU went up against Barnard/Columbia, Bloomfield University, Centenary College, SUNY Geneseo, Marist College, NYU/Stern, Pace University, Queens College, Rutgers University, Seton Hall, and St. Francis College. Each team had three to five students each and were scored on their knowledge of the subject, responses to the judge's questions, quality of their presentation, quality of their research and teamwork. Barnard/Columbia took home the top prize of $50,000 with Rutgers and SUNY-Geneseo trailing behind in second and third.

"The students worked very hard to prepare for this and did an excellent job in presenting their research," said the team's advisor, Kenneth Christianson, adjunct lecturer of economics. Christianson said this was BU's first time sending a team to the competition, and he's already looking forward to the next opportunity.

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Harpur Student Spotlight: Freddie Attobrah `06
by William Duffy `05

Sophomore Freddie Attobrah is a perfect example of a student taking advantage of an opportunity given to him. The son of a doctor in Ghana, Africa, Freddie knew he wanted to work in the science field from an early age. "My father had had huge influence on me," said Attobrah, "He made me work hard and I liked Biology a lot in high school." 

Attobrah graduated from high school in Syracuse and went on to attend Onondaga Community College (OCC). His biology professor, Maren Brown, told him about the SUNY Upstate Bridges to the Baccalaureate Program, an NIH-sponsored program which brings underrepresented minorities from community colleges to BU for 5-8 weeks during the summer to work closely with faculty on scientific research. Brown encouraged Attobrah to get involved and helped him prepare his application. He was accepted and spent last summer on campus working with Carol Miles, assistant professor of biological sciences at Harpur College.

Bridges students who apply to BU with a grade point average of 2.8 or higher are guaranteed admission to Harpur College.  Knowing this, Attobrah asked Miles if he could continue doing research with her if he were to transfer to Harpur College.  "She said sure," said Attobrah, who began his sophomore year at BU in September 2003.

Attobrah found the Bridges program challenging and rewarding. He hadn't yet taken any advanced science courses, so Miles' graduate student, Adam Gerber `02 (M.S.`04) taught him such essential skills as how to use the microscope, how to use the computer to analyze data, and how to do a Preliminary Chain Reaction (PCR), which determines if a DNA sample is usable.  "When I came here, I didn't even know what a PCR reaction was," said Attobrah, who appreciated the help immensely.

In Miles' lab, Attobrah studied the insect, Manduka sexta, commonly known in the larvae stage as the tobacco horn worm. "We did different experiments, but they were all based around learning how these bugs work," he said.  The Manduka, if not deterred by pesticides, has a voracious appetite and can spell disaster to tobacco farmers by destroying crops. 

Attobrah's research was concerned with the molting stage of the insect. "The Manduka undergoes complete metamorphosis when it molts. It goes through different stages, it pupates, and then it becomes a moth," he said. Miles discovered that when the insect was about to molt, the part of their neurological system that controls swallowing shuts down. She suspects Manduka has an undetected hormone in its blood that causes this, and her goal is to find it. "Freddie is looking at how this potential hormone works on the nervous system," said Miles. "He is carrying out some sophisticated neurological methods that undergrads often don't have a chance to do."

While Miles and her students are still at work, enough has been accomplished for Attobrah to present their findings at the prestigious Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students (nicknamed "Abercrombie") in San Diego, CA in October.

Attobrah hopes to continue studying the Manduka with Miles for the rest of his career at Harpur College. When he graduates, he plans to continue biological research, work in the pharmaceutical industry, or perhaps follow in his father's footsteps as a doctor.

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In Memoriam: Harpur Emeriti Professors Peter Wagner and Richard Burright

Peter E. Wagner, a former Binghamton University vice president of academic affairs, provost and member of the Physics Department, died November 19 at age 74 at the Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center in California.

Born July 4, 1929, in Ann Arbor, Mich., Wagner earned a bachelor's in 1950 and a PhD in physics in 1956 from the University of California at Berkeley. He worked as a research scientist at Westinghouse Research Laboratories in Pittsburgh for three years before joining the electrical engineering faculty at Johns Hopkins. In 1965, he was promoted to full professor. The following year, he became a Guggenheim Fellow at Oxford University.

In 1973, Wagner became the founding director of the University of Maryland's Center for Environmental and Estuarine Studies, which evolved into the Center for Environmental Science. In 1980, he became a professor at the University of Alabama, Huntsville, where he also conducted research at the U.S. Army Redstone Arsenal and NASA Marshall Space Flight Center. He served as vice chancellor of academic affairs at the University of Mississippi from 1981 to 1984 and provost at Utah State University from 1984 to 1989.

Wagner was appointed provost and vice president of academic affairs at Binghamton in 1989 and is credited with playing an instrumental role in the University's reaccreditation in 1990. In 1992, he returned full time to the faculty and taught physics and electrical engineering until his retirement in 1999, when he and his wife, Caryl, moved to California.

President Lois B. DeFleur said she was saddened to learn of Wagner's death. "The University greatly appreciates the many contributions he made both as provost and as a member of the faculty," DeFleur said. Thomas Kelly, vice president for external affairs, who reported to Wagner in his role as dean of the School of Management and later worked with him as fellow vice presidents, said, "Peter Wagner was a strong academic leader who was also a talented research professor, an articulate teacher and a great human being."

Wagner was the author of more than 35 scientific articles and one patent and received numerous research grants. His academic honors include Phi Beta Kappa, Phi Kappa Phi, Sigma Xi, Eta Kappa Nu, Blue Key, and Golden Key. He is also listed in Who's Who in America.

Many of Wagner's former colleagues credited him not only for his contributions to the University but also for his devotion to students.

"Our students benefited greatly from Peter's student-centered approach to teaching," said Srinivasa Venugopalan, chair of the Physics Department. "Clearly, Peter enjoyed his contact with BU students, both in and outside of the classroom, and he viewed it as the ‘capstone experience' of his career here. As a colleague in the department, Peter was unfailingly considerate and congenial."

Robert Pompi, associate professor of physics, said he met Wagner when he volunteered to teach modern physics because of a staffing shortfall in addition to his duties as provost.

"I am absolutely convinced that there are a large number of alumni in both physics and engineering who obtained their degrees because of the early intervention and help from Peter Wagner," Pompi said. "He set a wonderful example for all faculty to follow."

Richard "Dick" Burright, professor emeritus of psychology, died November 29 at Wilson Memorial Hospital in Johnson City. He was 69.

Burright is survived by his wife of 46 years, Shirley; his daughter and son-in-law, Lisa and the Rev. Roger Richards; a son, Scott; and a grandson, Zachary.

After earning his bachelor's, master's and PhD in psychology from the University of Illinois–Urbana, Burright began his career at Harpur College in 1963. He remained there until his retirement last year. For more than 25 years, Burright and his colleague, Professor Peter Donovick, researched neural, environmental, genetic, nutritive and life-span correlates of behavior related to the integration and use of sensory information in both brain-damaged and healthy organisms.

Burright and Donovick co-directed BU's Environmental Neuropsychology Laboratory and sought to understand and implement preventive and rehabilitative efforts for victims of central nervous system damage. Through their research, they established working relationships with psychiatrists, neurosurgeons, MRI and sleep specialists in the local medical community.

Among his many affiliations, Burright was a member of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the American Psychological Society, the Behavior Genetics Association, the New York Academy of Science and Sigma XI He was also a Hinman Fellow from 1989 to 1992.

Burright taught thousands of students during his tenure, in courses ranging from introductory to graduate seminars. He taught undergraduate and graduate research design and statistics, sensation and perception, history and seminars in biological rhythms. He frequently worked with students in his laboratory and collaborated with them in scholarly publications. Albrecht Inhoff, professor and chair of psychology, said Burright was very dedicated to his department, his research and students.

"He gave his time freely and he served the department in many ways, with the teaching of large classes, with committee memberships, with his steady presence at almost each and every departmental function," Inhoff said.

Norman "Skip" Spear, distinguished professor of psychology, admired Burright's intelligence and humility. "I thought he was one of the smartest guys among my colleagues and the least pretentious, which I thought was the best possible combination," he said. "Dick Burright was one of those faculty who made Harpur College special," said Richard Pastore, professor of psychology and linguistics. "He always had time for students and faculty colleagues, not only tactfully providing them with answers to their questions, but also to the questions they should have asked. He was easy to like and was appreciated by all. He had an excellent sense of humor and his laugh was contagious."

"Dick was a good friend and colleague and an influential figure on this campus for many years. We miss him already," said Harpur College Dean Jean-Pierre Mileur.

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Congratulations to the newest members of Binghamton University's Alumni Association: Eunice Kim-Gambino `96, an executive search consultant with AccountPros, Alex Huppe `69, an independent consultant and adjunct faculty member at the Maine Maritime Academy, and Tonya O. Parris `92, a vice president at Goldman Sachs & Co.

1954: Larry Silverstein (pictured left with his family) is having a wonderful retirement! After earning an MS in radiation biology from the University of Rochester in 1955, he spent his entire career with the Dow Chemical Company. In 1990, after 35 years of service in several leadership positions, Silverstein retired as manager of Industrial Hygiene of Dow Corning. He and his wife, Betsey, raised four daughters and two sons, which involved him with scouting, sports, and school activities. He is still active in the Democratic Party, having served two terms as County chairman and having run for County office twice. Silverstein has been a Big Brother since 1957 and enjoyed a succession of "Littles", some of whom he still sees occasionally. He has also volunteered as a Friendly Visitor to the elderly. Silverstein enjoys working with his computer and digital camera, making storybooks for his granddaughters, and traveling with his family throughout Europe. The Silversteins live in Midland, MI.

1969: Molly Peacock was the director of academic advising at Harpur College from 1970 to 1973. She earned an M.A. from Johns Hopkins University in 1977. She is past president of the Poetry Society of America. She has published five books of poems, And Live Apart (1980), Raw Heaven (1984), Take Heart (1989), Original Love (1995) and Cornucopia: New and Selected Poems (2002). Her non-fiction books are Paradise, Piece by Piece (1998), How to Read Poetry and Start a Poetry Circle (1999) and The Private I: Privacy in a Public World (2001). She co-edited Poetry in Motion: 100 Poems from the Subways and Buses (1996), a collection of the popular poems displayed on placards in New York City's subways and buses. During her years at Harpur College, Peacock was the president of Delaware Hall where she instituted the Delaware Hall Save the Children Program in 1967. Peacock is currently poetry-in-residence at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York City. She divides her time between Toronto and New York City.

1973: Shelley Haven will exhibit her pastels and watercolors from her residency in Costa Rica at "The Nature of Investigation" at Queens Theatre in the Park, December 9, 2003 - February 15, 2004. A reception for Haven and fellow exhibitor Melissa Chitwood will be held on Saturday, December 13 from 6:00p.m. - 8:00p.m. A shuttle from the #7 train (Shea Stadium Station) will be available that evening beginning at 5:30p.m. For more information, please call (718) 760-0686. The gallery is open Tuesday - Saturday from noon to 6:00p.m. and one hour prior to performance. Haven will also be showing intalgio prints in New York City and Minnesota: Come to the Manhattan Graphics Center Annual Members Exhibition, 481 Washington Street (between Spring and Canal), December 6 - 23. The gallery is open Mon.: 6 - 10p.m., Tue. - Fri.: 10:00a.m. - 10:00p.m., Sat. - Sun.: 10:00a.m. - 6:00p.m. Or come to The Anderson Center in Red Wing, MN anytime in December 2003. Mist Above Red Lady Basin (top) and Near Little Compton II (bottom), both oil on panel by Shelley Haven

1975: After graduating from Harpur College, Lynda K. Helmer worked for a few years in local TV and radio. She changed careers into education and has worked for the Union Endicott School District since 1989. Helmer is currently Central Treasurer, Manager of the district student database and resource manager for the district "interactive" website calendar. She sends her best regards to everyone from her Harpur days!

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Some seats are still available for the Binghamton University Alumni Association bus trip to BU vs. Syracuse Men's basketball game at 7 p.m. Saturday, December 13, at the Carrier Dome in Syracuse. Plan to arrive at the West Gym at 3:15 p.m. The bus departs at 3:30 p.m. and will arrive at the University Sheraton on the SU campus for a pre-game alumni reception from 5-6:45 p.m. in the Seasons Sports Bar. Appetizers, compliments of the Alumni Association, will be available along with a cash bar. The cost is $30 per person, including bus, reception and one game ticket. To reserve a seat, call (607) 777-2432.

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Shop Harpur Online

Shop the campus bookstore from the comfort of your PC or Mac. Want to pick up a copy of the new Harpur history book The Cornerstone? Visit The Campus Bookstore.

For more Harpur College merchandise, such as hats, shirts and window stickers, contact the bookstore at 607-777-2745.

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Back Issues of the Harpur Hotline

Miss an issue? Want to read more? Check out: http://harpur.binghamton.edu/hotline.cgi

Harpur College Development Team Mission Statement:

The Harpur College of Arts and Sciences Development Team encourages alumni, students, faculty and friends to identify with Harpur College's past, present and future by engaging them in events and programs that connect them to the college. We facilitate ways for our constituents to enrich Harpur College through their financial contributions and personal talents and resources.

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