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K. Keith Innes, distinguished professor emeritus
of chemistry, passed away on January 13, 2000, at age 71.
Innes was a graduate and distinguished alumnus of Central Missouri College. He received his masters from Brown University and in 1951, was awarded a PhD by the University of Washington. He joined the faculty of Harpur College in 1969 as professor of chemistry. In 1979, the SUNY Board of Trustees appointed him distinguished professor in recognition for the quality and vigor of his work. Through numerous scholarly publications and lectures, Innes received widespread attention for his research. A noted scholar, Innes was a Fellow of the National Research Council of Canada, a Guggenheim Fellow and a National Science Foundation Senior Postdoctoral Fellow.
Innes' main area of research delved into the fundamental components of matter, molecules and the connection between their structure and the theory of quantum physics. Using spectroscopy, he pioneered the use of intense laser radiation using equipment of his own design to probe the structure of matter. Innes retired in 1990.
"Professor Innes' contributions to the chemistry department and to Harpur College in his research, teaching and service activities were exceptional," said Dean Solomon Polachek. "Our students were indeed privileged to have worked with a professor of Keith Innes' caliber."
Do you know why February 7, 1950, is a significant milestone in Harpur College's history?
In preparation for its 50th Anniversary celebration during 2000-2001, Harpur College will be observing its first historical milestone on February 7. Five decades ago, the Board of Trustees of the State University adopted a resolution to incorporate the Triple Cities College (TCC), the predecessor of Harpur College, into the State University of New York.
Triple Cities College (TCC) got its start in 1932 as an extension program of Syracuse University. A small, modestly run operation, TCC was intended primarily to serve the needs of teachers in the Binghamton, Johnson City and Endicott school systems. It had no campus and no degree was offered; students transferred to the nearest college or university to complete their undergraduate program.
All that was to change after World War II when thousands of returning veterans, eager to take advantage of the 'GI Bill of Rights', signed up to pursue a college education. Colleges and universities hurriedly put together off-campus extension centers. But TCC had an advantage. Its extension program was well established and with support from community leaders, TCC was expanded to a four-year degree institution.
Glenn Bartle, serving as dean of TCC, soon realized that in order to survive financially and academically, TCC needed to break ties with Syracuse University and align itself with the newly established State University. He gathered local leaders including Thomas J. Watson Sr., Charles F. Johnson, George Hinman, Stewart Newing, Edgar Couper and William Hill to form the Southern Tier State University Committee. Together with Dean Bartle, the Committee urged the State to seriously consider TCC when selecting colleges to join its SUNY system. On February 7, 1950, after months of lobbying, the Southern Tier University Committee announced a victory -- TCC had been adopted by the State University and within a few months, would be dedicated as Harpur College of Arts and Sciences.
Florence Kelley
was the nation's leading social reformer from the 1890s through the 1920s.
At the Dean's Lecture scheduled for February 16, Kitty Sklar, distinguished
professor of history, will explore women's entry into public activism as
seen through Kelley's book, Some Ethical Gains Through Legislation.
"A new social contract emerged during the progressive era of history, 1890-1914, which continued to shape the expectations of American citizens to the present day," said Sklar. "For example, minimum wage and the right to form unions became part of public policy." Sklar's lecture focuses on how cross-coalitions of women were key players in this process. By viewing the concepts they used to analyze social problems around 1900, Sklar hopes to illuminate how we are confronting many of the same social issues today.
Sklar received her BA from Radcliffe College and Harvard University and was awarded her PhD from the University of Michigan in 1969. She joined the Harpur College faculty in 1988. She is the recipient of fellowships from the John Simon Guggenheim Foundation, the Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral and Social Sciences, the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Spencer Foundation, the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars and the American Association of University Women. She is the author of Catherine Beecher: A Study in American Domesticity and other studies in the history of American women; editor of the The Autobiography of Florence Kelley: Notes of Sixty Years; and co-editor of U.S. History as Woman's History: New Feminist Essays; The Social Survey Movement in Historical Perspective; and Women and Power in America History.
The Dean's Lecture Series was initiated in January 1998 as a way to recognize and honor the achievements of Harpur College faculty by inviting them to be guest speakers. "Our faculty are exceptionally brilliant and exceptionally dedicated," noted Dean Polachek. "The Dean's Lecture series is a way for us to acknowledge their achievements while also stimulating cross-disciplinary communication on both personal and professional levels." To date, the Dean's Lecture Series has recognized Harpur college faculty book publications and creative works, thesis and dissertation direction, extramural funding, service and teaching excellence.
The Dean's Lecture on February 16 will honor recently promoted faculty and staff. A reception in the Theatre Department Green Room will follow the lecture.
The Art History Department is proud to announce
that Hong Kal, a PhD candidate, has been selected to represent Harpur College,
Binghamton University at the 2000 Frick Symposium.
Each year, the Frick Collection and the Institute of Fine Arts of New York University jointly host a symposium at which representatives of Art History doctoral programs are given the opportunity to deliver papers of original research. In recent years, Boston University, Brown, Bryn Mawr, Columbia, Cornell, the Graduate School and University Center of CUNY, Harvard, the Institute of Fine Arts, Princeton, Rutgers, Binghamton University, the University of Pennsylvania, the University of Rochester and Yale have each sent a graduate student speaker to participate in the two-day symposium.
The selection process to choose a Harpur College representative began during the fall 1999 semester, culminating in rigorous 'Trials' held during exam week. "The selection of the speaker is very important to the Art History program since it is the only gathering of art history doctoral programs in the northeast, and gives important visibility to both the speaker and the program. The symposium also provides a showcase for the distinctive kinds of work for which we have a long and distinguished reputation," said Fran Goldman, assistant to the chair, Art History. "This year, the three candidates selected to participate in the Trials were exceptional, which made the final selection quite difficult. Hong Kal did an outstanding job and we have every confidence that she will do very well at the symposium in April."
Hong Kal will be presenting her research on the political cultures of contemporary Korea. She will be exploring the debates surrounding the demolition of the national museum building in 1995, which was used as Japanese colonial headquarters from 1926 to 1945. "I chose this topic because I am particularly interested in the ways in which colonial histories shape political cultures of the postcolonial present," said Hong Kal. "Central to my presentation are issues concerning the construction of postcolonial identity and national history through the mobilization of colonial memories."
Over the next few weeks, Hong Kal will be putting the final touches to her presentation by incorporating important points that were raised during the Trials. "I need to be well prepared because although the Symposium is basically a public forum, I will be presenting my research to top-notch representatives from some of the best schools in the region," said Hong Kal. "The stiff competition during the Trials really helped hone my presentation and I feel very honored to have been selected. Participating in the Symposium is going to be a great experience. I am a little nervous but the Art History department, which has been very supportive in promoting new theories and global perspectives, has prepared me well to take on some of the brightest minds in art history."
David Jenkins' shorthand may not be all that
great. But what he brings to the table as newly appointed Secretary to the
Mineralogical Society of America (MSA) is a commitment to the vitality of
the society and a strong interest in its future via student involvement.
Elected to a renewable 2-year position, Jenkins, professor of geology, is hoping to increase the student membership in the MSA while in office. "I joined the MSA in 1977 while I was a graduate student at the University of Chicago," he said. "It was a great opportunity for me and it remains a great opportunity for today's student. The research made available through the MSA journal, American Mineralogist, is a great benefit of membership and very relevant to the study of mineralogical concepts and procedures."
The MSA was founded in 1919 to advance the study of mineralogy, crystallography, geochemistry, and petrology. The Society focuses on the scholarly or research side of mineralogy and serves as a sounding board for cutting edge research on all aspects of minerals (chemical, physical, and, more recently, biological). For example, the American Mineralogist recently published research data on how certain bacteria are able to produce sulfur- or iron-rich minerals. These data may help scientists recognize minerals that formed from organisms under extreme environments, such as deep in the Earth or on other planets.
"As MSA secretary, my main area of concern will be to ensure that MSA continues to remain a leader in the mineralogical field." said Jenkins. "As many scientific organizations are realizing today, a scholarly society cannot survive or prosper on its past accomplishments alone. It needs to constantly encourage participation from the academic community as a whole, especially student participation."
Jenkins was taken completely by surprise by his nomination, which is generally the result of a closed-door committee decision. "There was absolutely no campaigning or 'hinting'; for the position on my part," said Jenkins. "Although I had been active on one of the committees and was an associate editor for the American Mineralogist for several years prior to this election, I had no idea that I was being considered. It is a great honor to be invited to participate at such a high level. The list of former secretaries of the society reads as a veritable list of 'Who's Who' in mineralogy."
MSA will be co-sponsoring two major conventions this year: the American Geophysical Union meeting, held in late May, and the annual meeting of the Geological Society of America in the fall. Each convention has its own planning committee and Jenkins will act as coordinator and liaison between the two committees and the MSA Council.
"My involvement as an elected official for MSA helps bring recognition to Harpur College and to the Geology department," said Jenkins. "One of the signs of the strength of the faculty at a university is the recognition that they receive from other institutions and professional societies. I hope this appointment helps to keep Binghamton 'on the map'. Students benefit by knowing that the faculty teaching their courses and advising their research projects are part of an academic discipline that goes beyond the classroom walls. University teachers should strive to be the best references and resources in their chosen fields of expertise. This includes participation in scholarly societies in order to keep up with new developments and research."
The excitement of women's professional basketball comes to the Watters Theater on February 3 at 8 p.m. Kym Hampton, the starting center for the New York Liberty of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA), will speak on her career in sports and life in the WNBA.
Hampton led her team to the 1999 WNBA Championship Series against the Houston Comets and finished the season ranked in the league's top 20 for rebounds.
In 1998, she had a banner season, posting career highs in points (22), field goals made (8), defensive rebounds (11) and minutes played (39) in a single game. In 1997, she scored a team-high 13 points and had 13 rebounds against the Houston Comets in the inaugural WNBA Championship game. Hampton was the Liberty's first-round pick and fourth overall in the 1997 WNBA Elite Draft. Prior to joining the WNBA, she played professional basketball in France, Italy, Japan and Spain.
During her college career at Arizona State, she compiled more than 2,000 points and 1,000 rebounds and she ranks ninth on the NCAA's all-time career rebounds list. She was also a state champion in the shot put three years in a row in high school. Following the 1999 WNBA season, Hampton announced her retirement from basketball in order to concentrate on a singing career.
Hampton's visit is being coordinated by Leslie Heywood, associate professor of English, and sponsored by the Athletic Department and Women's Studies.
"This is the first in a series of events to celebrate and acknowledge women in sports," said Heywood. "And we are very excited that Kym Hampton is our first guest. She has a strong work ethic and is a role model for many young athletes, especially young girls. Hampton's success calls attention to the positive influence of sports and fitness participation for girls and women."
Hampton's visit is underwritten in part by grants from the American Association of University Women and Community Action in support of women in sports. For more information, contact Leslie Heywood at heywood@binghamton.edu
Last updated 1/30/00. Written by Gail Glover, Harpur College Public Relations Specialist.