Union in the Media

An ongoing inventory of archival collections at Schaffer Library has uncovered a historic find: a rare lock of hair belonging to George Washington hidden inside a long-forgotten book.

“This is a very significant treasure,” said India Spartz, head of Special Collections and Archives. “It’s a tremendous testament to history and our connection to some of the most important historical figures.”

The discovery has been reported in hundreds of media outlets, including the New York Times, Washington Post, Fox News, CNN, USA Today, NBC News and NPR.

The Times Union in Albany, N.Y. was the first to report the discovery.

Union’s chapter of Alpha Phi Omega (APO) hosted a fundraiser in honor of Alexander Askenazy ’20 Sunday, Feb. 11, at Messa Rink.

The 19-year-old passed away in his residence hall last October from an existing medical condition.

“Skate for Alex” included skating and trivia.

Proceeds from the event will benefit Citizens United for Research in Epilepsy (CURE).

A number of media outlets covered the event:

• WTEN (ABC affiliate)
• WNYT (NBC affiliate)
• Spectrum News

Union’s chapter of Alpha Phi Omega (APO) hosted a fundraiser in honor of Alexander Askenazy ’20. The 19-year-old passed away in his residence hall last October from an existing medical condition.

“Skate for Alex” included skating and trivia.

Proceeds from the event will benefit Citizens United for Research in Epilepsy (CURE).

The Daily Gazette previewed the event.

Union hosted the fall joint meeting of New York State Section of American Physical Society and Astronomical Society of New York.

More than 242 participants attended the meeting, 119 of those being graduate and undergraduate students.

The theme of our meeting was Gravitational Waves. Jennifer Fredricks, Dean of Academic Departments and Programs, gave opening remarks and officially opened the meeting. The event included over a dozen talks and 55 student poster presentations.

Rainer Weiss, the 2017 Nobel Prize winner in Physics and professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, delivered a keynote speech on “The Remarkable Gamble the National Science Foundation took with LIGO.”

Union College has a long-standing history in supporting ASNY and NYSSAPS. Faculty have played crucial roles in establishing or maintaining them. A. G. Davis Philip, former visiting research professor at the College, was a founder of ASNY and served as secretary and treasurer for more than 30 years. Rebecca Koopman ’89, chair of the Physics and Astronomy Department, has served as secretary for ASNY over the last 16 years. Samuel Amanuel, associate professor of physics and astronomy, has served on NYSSAPS’ executive committee since 2015.

The Department of Physics and Astronomy would like to acknowledge financial support from Dean of Academic Departments and Programs and Dean of Faculty; also, non-financial support from Society of Physics students, Chemistry, Biology, ITS, College Relations, Athletics, Facilities and Dining Services.

Mary O'Keeffe, a public policy economist who teaches the College’s service-learning class, “Income Tax Policy and Practice,” shared her expertise on the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program with U.S. News and World Report.

This tax filing season marks the 13th year O’Keeffe has overseen Union’s VITA program. In that time, the program has helped secure more than $5 million in state and federal refunds for low-income working families and senior citizens.

O’Keeffe was honored in 2014 with a Jefferson Medal, the "Nobel Prize of public service. Sponsored by the Jefferson Awards Foundation, the annual honors recognize "unsung heroes" from across the country for their community service.

In conjunction with the Mandeville Gallery’s new exhibition, "Probability and Uncertainty," there was a demonstration of a select few Olivier Models from the Union College Permanent Collection. Jeff Jauregui, assistant professor of mathematics, demonstrated how the models move and explained their purpose in the study of mathematics.

The Times Union stopped by to check out the event.

Union is partnering with Schenectady schools to provide mentoring and other services as part of My Brother's Keeper, a national program started under President Barack Obama. The Daily Gazette talked with participants about the program.

If you were one of the nearly 20 million viewers who tuned in to the Grammys Sunday night, you might have noticed a familiar face from campus.

Jermaine Wells was one of the background actors in a Carpool Karaoke skit featuring host James Corden and singers Sting and Shaggy.

The Daily Gazette spoke with Wells about the experience.

If you were one of the nearly 20 million viewers who tuned in to the Grammys Sunday night, you might have noticed a familiar face from campus.

Jermaine Wells was one of the background actors in a Carpool Karaoke skit featuring host James Corden and singers Sting and Shaggy.

The Times Union spoke with Wells about the experience.

The Union College Permanent Collection has a treasure trove of more than 300 historic scientific instruments, including 19th century prisms, a sextant, a sea octant that dates to the College’s founding in 1795, a refractometer and assorted mathematical models.

More than 30 of these instruments are presented in a new light in the Mandeville Gallery exhibit Probability & Uncertainty, in which they are juxtaposed with works by six contemporary artists who focus on scientific themes.

The Times Union recently featured the exhibit, which runs Jan. 13 through June 17.