Union in the Media

A new collaboration between the U.S. Geological Survey, the New York State DEC's Mohawk River Basin Program, New York Power Authority, Union College and Brookfield Renewable Power has resulted in the initial installation and development of an ice jam monitoring system that helps emergency managers monitor the progress of ice jams and potential flooding on the lower Mohawk River.

John Garver, professor of geology, was instrumental in the new system.

To learn more in the Daily Gazette, click here.

Columnist Paul Bray cited President Stephen C. Ainlay in a Sunday Times Union piece for reaching out to the Schenectady community through Union’s programs, including the Mohawk River Symposium and the establishment of the Kelly Adirondack Center. Also mentioned were Eddie Summers, chief of staff, and John Garver, professor of geology. Read the column here.

Palma Catravas, associate professor of electrical and computer engineering, performed alongside her brother Nicolas Catravas, on WMHT radio. The duet played Brahms’ “Sonata for Two Pianos, Op. 34.” The performance was recorded in Memorial Chapel.

Kenneth Aslakson, associate professor of history, will take part in the Schenectady County Historical Society’s film and discussion series on the Civil Rights Movement. He will lead a conversation on the film, “Slavery by Another Name,” at 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 8 at the organization’s headquarters at 32 Washington Ave., Schenectady.

Scott Kirkton, associate professor of biology, recently gave a talk at the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology Meeting in Austin, Texas. “Effect of gravity on jump performance and muscle physiology in the American locust” was co-authored with John Carroll '13.

Jennifer Matsue, associate professor of music and director of the Asian Studies program, will present her paper, “Female Passivity or Musical Democracy?: Making Music with Hatsune Miku,” at the upcoming conference, “Voices of Asian Modernities: Women, Gender and Sexuality in Asian Popular Music of the 20th Century,” at the University of Pittsburgh.

Rudy Nydegger, professor of psychology, was recently quoted in the Ocala Star Banner in Ocala, Fla. Nydegger discussed the possible mixed messages school districts are sending students as they openly violate the state’s class-size amendment.

To submit your items to People in the news, email Christen Gowan at gowanc@union.edu.

“Lines of Fire,” a new play about war letters from every American conflict from the Revolution to Afghanistan, was recently performed at Yulman Theater.

The play was written by best-selling author Andrew Carroll and directed by John Benitz, an artist in residence at Union from Chapman University in California.

Ten Union students participated in the play.

To read more in the Daily Gazette, click here.

Dozens of colleagues gathered in Old Chapel this week to say goodbye to David Hayes, who is retiring after 37 years at Union. Hayes was hired in 1976 as a professor in the Chemistry Department, and over the course of his career, also served as interim dean of Arts and Sciences, dean of Academic Departments and acting vice president for Academic Affairs and dean of the faculty. Remarks were given by President Stephen C. Ainlay, Therese McCarty, the Stephen J. and Diane K. Ciesinski Dean of the Faculty and Vice President for Academic Affairs and Michael Hagerman, professor and chair of the Chemistry Department.

Bradley Hays, associate professor of political science, was a guest several times on WAMC’s show “Congressional Corner.” Along with WAMC’s Alan Chartock, Hays discussed Congressional spending, the upcoming presidential election and what’s on the docket for the U.S. Supreme Court.

Therese McCarty had an article published on the Hechinger Report discussing the impact of a liberal arts education. McCarty was the College’s as acting president when the story was published.

An essay by Jeffrey Corbin, associate professor of biology, appeared in a recent edition of the Times Union in Albany. The op-ed detailed the state’s forestland being in crisis due to the explosive growth of the white-tailed deer population. Read his essay here.

Judith Lewin, associate professor and chair of the English Department, led a discussion during the Schenectady Jewish Community Center’s Jewish Film Festival. She led a talk on “The Camera Obscura,” a 2008 Argentinian film in Spanish and Yiddish with English subtitles, about Jewish people immigrating to Argentina in the late 1800s.

An essay co-authored by Christopher Chabris was featured in the Wall Street Journal. The piece detailed how computer opponents have pushed the ability of human competitors to new heights. Chabris, a chess master, co-authored the piece with David Goodman, an international chess master and author based in New York City. Chabris was also mentioned in an article for Deadline Detroit about the selection of author Malcolm Gladwell to speak at the Detroit Regional Chamber’s conference. Chabris has been a vocal critic of Gladwell’s books and has published several articles on it.

National Public Radio interviewed Chad Orzel, associate professor and chair of the Physics Department, while attending a conference in San Diego, Calif., hosted by BioToasters, a public speaking organization geared toward scientists. Orzel spoke about the importance for scientists to be effective and interesting public speakers. See the story here.

When Polish pianist Rafal Blechacz performed in Memorial Chapel as part of the Union College Concert Series in October 2012, he was unaware that judges were in the audience scrutinizing his performance. That performance led to Blechacz being awarded a $300,000 Gilmore Artist Award.

To read about the honor in the New York Times, click here.

To read a review of the award-winning concert in the Times Union, click here.

Ben Bucinell '14 is attempting to hike all 46 Adirondack high peaks in four months. As part of his Hike4Heroes, Bucinell is raising funds for charities that support war veterans.

To learn more in the Sunday Gazette, click here.

A book co-edited by Claire Bracken, assistant professor of Irish literature and culture in the English Department, was recently published. Viewpoints: Theoretical Perspectives on Irish Visual Texts is available through Cork University Press. Bracken’s co-editor is Emma Radley of University College Dublin. Read a review in the Irish Examiner.

The research of Lori J. Marso, professor of political science and director of Women’s and Gender Studies, and David Cotter, professor and chair of the Sociology Department,was referenced in a Sunday New York Times Review op-ed on the 50th anniversary of the publication of Betty Friedan’s international best seller, The Feminine Mystique.

To read the essay, click here.

Deidre Hill Butler, associate professor of sociology and director of Africana Studies, is featured in a promotional video for the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Byway. To view the clip, click here.

Bruce Connolly, Schaffer Library head of public services, and Gail Golderman, digital services librarian, review a series of feminist material in the current Library Journal Review. To read the article, click here.

Chris Duncan, professor of sculpture, was profiled in the Gloversville Leader-Herald. The story was written by Features Editor Bill Ackerbauer.

Chad Orzel, associate professor of physics, provided expert opinion on a new study by an international team of scientists who tried to find out the actual size of a proton. Orzel is the author of How to Teach Physics to Your Dog and How to Teach Relativity to Your Dog.

“Concert,” a painting by Walter Hatke, the May I. and Walter C. Baker Professor of Visual Arts, is featured in an exhibit, The Annual: 2013, running through May 5 at the National Academy Museum in New York.

Destinee Laquer ’14 is the Kenney Community Center Volunteer of the Week.

Among her many service activities, Laquer participated in the winter break community service mini-term to New Orleans, where she aided in rebuilding houses for hurricane and oil spill victims.

She also volunteered at COCOA House, tutoring and mentoring local children.

A managerial economics major and math minor, Laquer recently attended the Museum of Mathematics in New York City with the Albany Area Math Circle, service learning professor Mary O’Keeffe’s math outreach program for local youth.

During spring break, Laquer will volunteer with the New York City Urban Project’s Plunge program, which works to prevent human trafficking and other social injustices.

“Volunteering has been rewarding for me and has increased my sense of community as a citizen of the planet,” Laquer said.

A resident of Springfield, Mass., Laquer is also active in Union’s Intervarsity Christian Fellowship and the Dinner and Discussion around Diversity series.