a informative look at changes in public saftey

FREE
HUDSONIAn
THE
A
INFORMATIVE
LOOK
AT
CHANGES IN PUBLIC SAFTEY
Public Safety, directed
by Fred Aliberti, is taking
measures to keep students
safe during the spring
semester.
Aliberti’s
department has updated
existing approaches and
introduced some new
safety measures. When
classes start up, Public
Safety intends to be ready
to inform, direct, and aid
students—especially first
semester freshmen who
might be uncertain in their
new surroundings.
Increased integration
of Peace Officers into the
Public Safety staff is one
such measure. This process
follows a trend across SUNY
to employ more officers with
greater legal authority. “It’s
a work in progress, we’re
looking to expand,” said
Director Aliberti. Continuing
he explained, “[Peace
Officers] have a higher level
of training and background…
they have powers of arrest,
can investigate crimes or
incidents, and are able to
detain suspects.” Combined
with Security Guards and
Safety Officers they make up
the Public Safety presence
on campus.
A collaborative effort
between Public Safety,
Environmental Health and
Safety, and the Disabilities
Office brought another such
measure—the evacuation
chairs that can now be found
on campus. These devices
provide a quick way for
those with limited mobility
to descend stairs during
emergency situations. They
attach to stairwells and can
be guided down a rail. The
winter intersession provided
time for Public Safety to
practice the use of these
devices.
Director
Aliberti
finds educating students an
effective way to both prevent
emergency situations, avoid
injury if one does occur,
and provide an all around
better school experience. In
keeping with this philosophy
he encouraged all those on
campus to follow him on
twitter at hvpublicsafety,
and to register for the NY
Alert System which informs
subscribers about any
Public saftey
pg.1
Interview with
Student senate
President
pg.2
Tom Towsley (left) Fred Alberti (right)
photo courtesy Stephen Danish
emergency school closings.
Aliberti explained, “Students
can sign up through WiReD
to receive updates at their
cell phone, home phone, or
email.” Director Aliberti
also attends forums for
incoming students to inform
them on various safety
concerns ranging from
disciplinary hearings to on
campus parking.
Peace Officer, Tom
Towsley, has been at Hudson
Valley since the fall semester. Towsely’s daughter will be
Before that he’d been graduating from St. Rose this
with the Albany Police for spring.
fifteen years. He explained
By: Pat Sullivan
the various training Public
Creative Editor
Safety officers go through.
Most recently a seminar on
emotional disturbances and
recertification for batons and
PT spray. When asked of his
expectations as Peace Office,
“My goal is to keep all of
you guys safe so that you
can walk across that stage.”
HVCC SPORTS SCHEDULE
Monday Jan. 25, 2010
Monday Jan. 25, 2010
Monday Feb. 1, 2010
Monday Feb. 1, 2010
TuesdayFeb. 2, 2010
Monday Feb. 8, 2010
Monday Feb. 8, 2010
TuesdayFeb. 9, 2010
Monday Feb. 15, 2010
Monday Feb. 15, 2010
TuesdayFeb. 16, 2010
Monday Feb. 22, 2010
Monday Feb. 22, 2010
TuesdayFeb. 23, 2010
Monday March 1, 2010
Monday March 1, 2010
Tuesday
March 2, 2010
Monday March 8, 2010
Monday March 8, 2010
TuesdayMarch 9, 2010
Monday March 15, 2010
Monday March 15, 2010
TuesdayMarch 16, 2010
TuesdayMarch 16, 2010
Vol. 57 Issue. 15
1.29.10
Semicolons use
them
pg.3
letter to the
editor
pg.3
Who is Prof.
Siew
pg.5
Who is Prof.
Brooks pg.6
AVATAR from
Two
perspectives
CONTINUED
pg.2
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Foosball Championships vs. World Champion Kevin Skaltis
PAGE 2.
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Vol. 57 Issue. 15
1.29.10
A BRIEF INTERVIEW WITH
STUDENT SENATE PRESIDENT
CLIFTON DIXON
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Looking past a
combative close to last
semester Student Senate
President Clifton Dixon
sets his sights on spring. I
recently met with Clifton
so he could explain what
drives his passion for public
service, and why minor
dramas can’t stand in the
way of necessary change.
By his own admission he’s
a blunt man and wears that
with some satisfaction—
rubbing people the wrong
way is an indication that
things are happening. Yet,
the degree to which some
take their disdain has been
a shock. Dixon implored
those critics, “Don’t judge
me until you’ve met me.”
Continuing he said, “having
any public image is hard
because from a perception
standpoint you don’t
get a three dimensional
approach.”
Ultimately
Clifton Dixon isn’t one
to fret about a popularity
contest; he’s a results
oriented politician. Rough
around the edges but fully
committed his constituents.
In the shadow of last
semester’s impeachment and
the disciplinary hearing—
the results of which are still
pending—Clifton keeps
the focus towards actions
rather than image. “No
change can come without
conflict,” he said. With this
truism he slogs on through
the process, committed
to serving the students of
Hudson Valley, “I took on
this role to be their leader,
to be their representative”
Others might be less
willing to push through
such opposition, lacking the
inclination or drive to do
so. Dixon has been able
to make it through trying
times by standing on the
shoulders of giants. “If you
look around my office I
have my inspirations,” he
said.
In this office His
office nestled in the Student
Activities wing Dixon
has built a place of peace
and power.
The walls
Clifton Dixon (center)
photo courtesy Stephen Danish
bear weighty portraits of
his inspirations: Barack
Obama, Nelson Mandela,
Malcolm X, and Martin
Luther King all look
out from their frames.
Alongside these greats are
Dixon’s personal effects:
his GED earned after
dropping out to support
his first of two sons,
snapshots of said boys
(aged 16 and 12), award
certificates, and favored
quotes memorialized in
frames or simply plain text
on white paper. Clifton
says, “My office is very
feng shui for me.” With
his desk, a spacious
low seated couch, and
various chairs there isn’t
much room to maneuver.
But rather than feeling
cluttered there’s a sense
of closeness permeating
through the room, family
bunched into the kitchen
before a holiday dinner.
As a leader Dixon
seeks change and has
accepted opponents as
a foregone conclusion.
While this approach is
certain to add friction
to the political process
it also turns his focus
to the matters at hand.
Explaining, “You have to
put your personal issues
to the side to deal with
very public ones.” For
Dixon, service comes first.
He takes steps above and
beyond, even informing
himself on constitutional
matters so that if need be
he is able to stand up for
students’ civil liberties.
Of the multitude of
programs run through the
Student Senate that Dixon
has had the pleasure to
further, he holds the food
pantry as the one most
rewarding. By working
with a representative of
the Nutrition Outreach
and Education Program
the Senate has been
able to help students
register for food stamps
on campus. This allows
them to cut past applying
at the official location—a
time consuming and
generally exhausting
process. He also hopes
to expand on the success
of HIV testing this past
December. If that comes
to pass Hudson Valley
would be able to offer
confidential monthly
screenings. This is the
payoff of public service
for him, “I’m proud to
be in a position that I’m
able to use to help other
students, to amplify their
voice.”
Clifton’s life has
been defined by service.
From Jr. High on he’s been
involved with various
student governments. In
High School he was a
founding member of the
Cultural Society. Dixon
recalls the group as their
way to “celebrate all
different cultures and
ethnicities.” Today he
carries that same ethos
into his position as
Student president as well
as his work outside of
school where he manages
political campaigns, and
runs his own not-forprofit. Dixon has been
able to turn his passion
for advocacy into a
vocation.
As someone who
has spent time in politics
this is old hat for Dixon,
criticism rolls off. “It’s
not personal. It’s really
the dynamics of how the
whole process works.”
This doesn’t dissuade
him from embracing the
system of democracy.
Quite the opposite he is a
firm believer saying, “As
Martin Luther King said,
‘an ordinary person can
do extraordinary things.’
And that anybody can
do it because anyone can
serve. And I believe that
because some people get
caught up in their own
hype. I don’t.
By: Pat Sullivan
Creative Editor
PAGE 3.
INSIGHTS
Vol. 57 Issue. 15
1.29.10
Writers’ Letter
to
the
Bloc
Jim
Labate
Writing
Specialist
THE
HUDSONIAN
80 Vandenburgh Ave.
Troy, N.Y. 12180
Phone:(518)629-7187
Fax: 629-7496
Editor: 629-7568
QUESTIONS
SUBMISSIONS
[email protected]
ADVERTISING
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yahoo.com
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
DANIEL CROFT
MANAGING EDITOR
NICOLE MONSEES
BUSINESS MANAGER
CHRIS WAGNER
LAYOUT EDITOR
GREG LINTON
PHOTO EDITOR
STEPHEN DANISH
COPY EDITOR
BENJAMIN CROFT
NEWS EDITOR
VACANT
A & E EDITOR
VACANT
SPORTS EDITOR
VACANT
-INSIGHTS EDITOR
JESSE CARROZA
-CREATIVE EDITOR
PAT SULLIVAN
STAFF WRITERS
DANIEL COBBINS
PHOTOGRAPHERS
VACANT
ADVISORS
MAT CANTORE
RACHEL BORNN
TIMES UNION
ASSOCIATE
GREG STAPLETON
The Hudsonian is the exclusive
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of Hudson Valley Community
College. If you would
like to join The Hudsonian,
please come by the the office
on the second floor of
the Siek Campus Center.
Any unauthorized use of
the newspaper’s name and/
or articles without permission
is strictly prohibited.
Violators will be prosecuted
to the fullest extent
of the law and of Hudson
Valley Community College’s
penal system. Additional
information regarding
printed material can be
obtained by contacting The
Hudsonian.
The Hudsonian does not
discriminate based on race,
gender, age or ethnicity.
S E M I C O L O N S editor
ARE
AWESOME;
YOU should use them
January 16, 2009
My three favorite
places in the world are
Amsterdam, New York,
London, and Paris.
If you were counting
as you read that sentence,
you probably noticed that I
mentioned four cities even
though I introduced my list
with the phrase “My three
favorite places.” So, either
I should change “three” to
“four,” or I should correct
my punctuation; I should
have used a semicolon.
The semicolon is
located to the right of the
letter “L” on your keyboard
and is made up of a period
above a comma. Generally,
the comma alone tells the
reader to pause, and the
period alone tells the reader
to stop. The semicolon is
the perfect combination
of the two because the
semicolon is more than a
pause but less than a stop.
Let’s call the semicolon a
temporary halt. Typically,
semicolons are used in two
situations: to break up a
series of items that includes
commas, and to indicate a
close relationship between
two complete thoughts.
To break up a series
of items that includes
commas. In the sentence
above about my three
favorite places, I should
have used a semicolon
after “New York” because
I was referring to the
Amsterdam in upstate
New York, my hometown,
rather than the Amsterdam
in Holland. Using a
semicolon in that spot
eliminates the confusion
and makes it easier for
readers to understand.
“My three favorite places
Relationship
Addition
Comparison
Contrast
Summary
Time
Emphasis
doubt
are Amsterdam, New York;
London, and Paris.”
Notice
where
the commas and the
semicolons appear in the
following example to tell
readers where to pause and
where to halt temporarily.
“My favorite baseball
teams are the 1961 Yankees
with Whitey Ford, Mickey
Mantle, and Roger Maris;
the 1969 Mets with Tom
Seaver, Cleon Jones, and
Tommie Agee; and the 1986
Mets with Doc Gooden,
Darryl Strawberry, and
Gary Carter.”
To indicate a close
relationship
between
two complete thoughts.
Generally, when you
have a close relationship
with someone, you want
a special symbol to
demonstrate that special
relationship to the world.
The engagement ring that I
gave to my wife, Barbara,
for example, lets the world
know that she and I have
a special connection to
each other. The semicolon
serves the same purpose
between two ideas. For
example, to separate the
following two thoughts,
you could use either a
period or a semicolon,
but the difference in
punctuation would also
present a subtle difference
in meaning.
“I
met
Maria
recently. I’m in love.”
The period indicates a
separation between the two
thoughts and may mean
the speaker is in love with
someone other than Maria.
“I
met
Maria
recently; I’m in love.” The
semicolon, however, lets
the reader know for sure
that the two thoughts are
closely related and that
the speaker is definitely in
love with Maria.
If you wanted to
make that connection even
more obvious, you could
also add a conjunctive
adverb or a transitional
phrase after the semicolon.
Here are two examples,
the first with a conjunctive
adverb and the second
with a transitional phrase.
“I
met
Maria
recently; consequently,
I’m in love.”
“I
met
Maria
recently; as a result, I’m
in love.”
The chart below
shows
some
other
conjunctive
adverbs
and transitional phrases
that you can use after
semicolons to indicate
certain relationships.
If you’re like most
student writers, you’ve
probably never used
semicolons before because
you weren’t sure how or
where to use them. Now,
however, you have no
excuse. You know how
to use semicolons; you
should use them in your
writing.
The Writing Center is
located on the upper level
of the Marvin Library,
and you can go there for
individual help at any
stage of the writing process
.
Copyright © 2009 by Jim
LaBate at Hudson Valley
Community College
Conjunctive Adverbs
Transitional Phrases
furthermore, besides
in addition, the next
similarly, likewise
by comparison, another similarity
however, otherwise,
on the contrary, on the other hand
therefore, accordingly
after all, in conclusion
subsequently, finally
in the beginning, after a while
certainly, indeed
as a matter of fact, without a
subvert college policy.
Matthew J. Sekellick
Mr. Dixon’s peers
26 Twilight Drive
spoke of impeachment
Clifton Park, NY 12065 proceedings, and
[email protected] decided that his grievous
offenses deem him
Mr. Daniel Croft
unworthy to serve as their
Editor-in-Chief
representative. Now, facing
The Hudsonian
removal from office – and
80 Vandenburgh
loss of his stipend and
Avenue, Troy, NY
tuition reimbursement –
he has sued in Rensselaer
Dear Mr. Croft,
County Supreme Court to
hold onto power.
President Obama has
praised Hudson Valley
I believe the purpose
Community College and of student government is
the hi-tech foundations
twofold. The first must
that HVCC and its
be to improve student
students have been
life. Mr. Dixon’s selfish
laying. Clifton Dixon,
wrangling is depriving
since assuming office as
us of the representation
President of the Student
we deserve throughout
Senate in June, has
campus regarding how
undermined our school’s nearly a million dollars
real foundation – we the
in activity fees is spent.
students.
While the second purpose
must be to provide a
Mr. Dixon’s
lesson in self government,
political maneuvering
his actions have shown
demonstrates a lack of
us a gruesome picture
respect for your office:
of the worst misconduct
not only did he attempt
we have witnessed in our
to appoint himself to
larger government: one of
the Board of Trustees
corruption, incompetence,
(who refused to seat
and selfish ambition at
him citing state law),
the expense of those he
but he has also failed
represents.
to nominate another
candidate leaving us
His efforts to hold
unrepresented. He have
onto power are not only
allegedly intimidated
making a mockery out
duly elected officers into of the institution Mr.
resignation and openly
Obama chose to praise,
violated the Student
but are also depriving
Code of Conduct in
his fellow students of
senate meetings – repeat honest representation and
offenses potentially
defrauding us in regard to
worthy of expulsion. The his stipend. Mr. Dixon, if
dubious circumstances
he has any respect for those
of the election – in
he represents, should resign
which he lied about his
immediately.
eligibility – deprived
the other candidates,
Sincerely,
including myself, of the
due process for which he
Matthew J. Sekellick
purports to care so much
Class of ‘10
about.
Matt Sekellick served
After the election
as a Freshman Student
I reached out to Mr.
Senator and ran for
Dixon, as did others. He
President of the Student
could have taken a page
Senate. He currently serves
from President Obama’s
as President of the Theatre
playbook when it comes
Club.
to being gracious and
building coalitions.
Citations: HVCC Judicial
Instead he has alienated
Code 5.5.2, 7.9
his peers and worse,
turning our bylaws
package which addressed
fairness in elections,
into an apparent effort to
ARTS
PAGE 4.
Vol. 57 Issue. 15 1.29.10
1.
Pocahontas
in Space!
Antonio Caban
Staff Writer
Exploding both in the
box office and in viewer
reviews, the new James
Cameron movie Avatar
is still going strong after
being in theaters for a
month now.
Since its release in on
December 18, 2009 the film
has raked in $505 million
according to boxofficemojo.
com and continues to bring
in more from overseas
sales which almost exceeds
James Cameron’s other
blockbuster hit Titanic back
in 1997.
Augustine
(Sigourney
Cameron, who is the
Weaver) the scientists seek
director for such films
to understand the planet
of Pandora through careful
sibling. A fairly interesting
study, and building the
concept once disbelief is
Na’vi schools so they might
suspended.
learn the King’s English.
From there the plot
Enter Jake Sully (Sam
progresses with steady
Worthington)—cardboard
predictability. Boy in giant,
cut-out extraordinaire. The
blue-catperson-suit meets
Avatar Program offers him
pretty native cat-girl played
an opportunity to escape
by Zoe Saldana. Boy in
from the doldrums of Earth,
suit and cat-girl fall in love.
and to free himself from
Boy meets cat-girl’s folks.
the confines of his wheelThere are some moments of
chair by walking as an
cultural confusion, and then
avatar (it’s very symbolic,
everyone learns a lesson.
like). It also provides the
Then the army blows up a
RDA a chance to make
giant tree.
use of the Avatar that had
The acting ranges
been grown for Sully’s
from passable to good
twin brother-- who caught
enough.
The writing
a terminal case of dead.
unapologetically pilfers
Rather than scrapping the
from history, folklore,
existing Na’vi body that
and more contemporary
had been hardwired to Tom
film in what would be
Sully’s genetic code, they
most accurately described
were able to make some
as Dances with Wolves
minor adjustments for his
meets Pocahontas meets
colonialism IN SPACE.
Passable fodder for an
action-romance,
but
nothing innovative as far as
storytelling goes. Certainly
not living up to the goal
of “mythical storytelling”
Cameron had promised
pre-release.
At least there’s is
some pretty cool stuff in
the background: a whole
bunch of shimmering trees,
and big animals with horns,
and these flying things with
wings, and horse types
with cords that plug into
your brain. They even
made an entire language
for the Na’vi. It’s sort of
like a National Geographic
special, but people you
don’t care about keep
stepping into shots and
every once in a while things
start exploding. Also, can’t
forget James Cameron made
a bunch of neat-o cameras
that will CHANGE HOW
YOU WATCH MOVIES.
So it must be a great
movie. Complaining about
hackneyed writing and
soap opera acting seems
so trivial when standing in
awe of the big shiny future
of cinema.
Sarcasm aside, this
could have been a decent
JAMES CAMERON’S
AVATAR FROM TWO
PERSPECTIVES
2.
FUTURE
of Film
or uneeded
Allegory?
Pat Sullivan
Creative Editor
James Cameron’s
Avatar carries us to the
future and far across the
galaxy to the planet of
Pandora. A beautiful scenic
location full of brilliantly
rendered wildlife, exotic
flora, deposits unobtainium
(raw material that hold
the power to solve Earth’s
energy crisis), some
more vibrantly colored
shrubs, and a pesky native
population of blue, ninefoot-tall humanoids known
as Na’vi. Unfortunately
for the Na’vi their
ancestral homes sit on top
of some massive deposits
of unobtainium. When
this comes to light, the
Resources Development
Administration (RDA), a
powerful corporate entity
with a powerful army of
private contractors, set out
for fair Pandora with shovel
and pick in hand.
In hopes of relocating
the Na’vi without wasting
too many bullets RDA
initiates the Avatar Program.
Through their advanced
technology and buckets of
money this project grows
organic replicas of the
Na’vi from human DNA–
known as avatars. These
Avatars allow human
pilots to interact with the
natives. Led by Dr. Grace
as Abyss (1989), Titanic
(1997), and The Terminator
(1991) actually conceived
the idea for Avatar 15 years
ago but because of lack of
technology it wasn’t able to
be done.
The movie is set in an
alter reality on the planet
of Pandora which is
undergoing a siege by
the human race in order
to obtain a rare rock that
sells for big money back
on earth. Working with
the US marines, the RDA
Corporation has contracted
Dr. Grace Augustine
(Sigourney Weaver) and
her Avatar Program to study
the humanoid beings called
the Na’vi. Jake Sully (Sam
Worthington), an injured
marine was nominated to
be apart of the program
because of his similar DNA
to his brother. Avatars
can only be linked with
their human counterpart
if the DNA is similar. In
learning about the people
Sully becomes involved
with a girl of the tribe (Zoe
Saldana), mirroring the
plot of the late Disney film
Pocahontas.
Stunning visual effects
would be an understatement
for this movie considering it
appeared in many theaters
in 3-D and in some IMAX
3-D. With the entire movie
being in CGI it’s hard to
keep focused on the actual
plot of the movie which
might have been James
Cameron’s real motive.
Although the idea of another
planet where when you step,
colors from a highlighter
box appear on the ground is
pretty appealing.
So, is the movie worth
$15 dollars per ticket at
the IMAX box office? It’s
really the only way it was
intended to be watched. For
the capital region, this was
the first IMAX 3-D film that
has sold out numerous days
in a row and still continues
to be frequented. Despite
its lack of plot and weak
dialogue that is masked by
its extremely expensive
Hollywood effects it is a
movie that will set records
for a long time. To start out
2010 this is a good intro.
B+
popcorn flick if Cameron
had the good sense to
leave it at that. Instead
he talked Avatar up as an
Important Film with a
social conscience. Framing
Pandora as a mirror to how
“Western technological
civilizations deal with
indigenous cultures: we
basically supplant them.”
Understand that “western
technological civilizations”
means America.
What
is shown of the RDA is
exclusively US Marines,
and people talking ‘Mercan.
Apparently this is supposed
to be the part satirizing the
Iraq War—a heads up just
in case the dispassionate,
forced one-liners were
too subtle. While one,
the writer of this review
for instance, might be in
agreement with the thrust
of Cameron’s argument
that blowing people up
isn’t cool, it doesn’t excuse
lazy writing, or insulting
the viewers intelligence.
It’s easy make an agreeable
satire with broad strokes,
but the purpose of satire
isn’t to be agreeable, it is to
target closely held wrongs.
Pointing out such societal
flaws ought to cause a very
base level of discomfort.
Avatar’s symbolism and
handling of characterization
is clumsy beyond belief. To
demonstrate that Sigourney
Weaver’s character doesn’t
care what people think
Cameron jams a cigarette
in her mouth and bottle
of booze down her throat.
Because you know, that’s
not how proper ladies
behave. That’s the sort
of cinematic club dragged
through the entire movie,
battering the viewer
over the head so not one
contrived detail slips by.
More
disturbingly
Cameron
reveals
an
extremely ethnocentric
viewpoint with his take on
the RDA/Na’vi relations,
and seems oblivious to it.
The primary representatives
of the corporate entity,
Chief Administrator Parker
Selfridge (Giovanni Ribisi)
and Colonel Quaritch
(Stephen Lang) are straw
men-- vague undefined
sketches of people whose
only purpose is to menace
the heroes. The Na’vi are
similarly characterized in the
opposite direction: Eytucen
(Wes Studi) the tribal chief,
Mo’at (C.C.H. Pounder)
the matriarch and spiritual
leader, and the warrior
Tsu’tey (Laz Alonso) are all
empty shells. They come
across as sock-puppets
Cameron uses to play-out
his narrative. Empty shells
assigned to be good or evil
with no consideration to the
human nuances that make up
complex, big decisions, no
concern for the why. So the
Na’vi are made favorable for
their closeness to the planet,
and lesser technology.
As an allegory gleaned
from the histories of the
many native populations who
came under imperialist rule
there are some heavy real
world implications. Even
with a gussied up modern
appearance the paternal
racism of the Nobel Savage
is still evident. The concept
that a colonized group is
admirable for simply being
as they are, romanticizing
low tech culture without
honesty. The idea has less to
do with the colonized than
the colonizer. It’s a way
to project their view onto
a blank slate of uncivilized
people.
Generalizations
are constructed to suit their
ends—sociopathic behavior
on a large scale.
Although this element
may not have been a
concerted
effort
on
Cameron’s part, as much
as a by-product of inept
storytelling. Perhaps this
whole project was simply
too big for him to control.
That doesn’t change the fact
that a movie poised to break
box office sales flows with
an undercurrent of casual
bigotry.
PAGE 5.
NEWS
Vol. 57 Issue. 15 1.29.10
1960. He said he been teaching over forty building and construction is
chose a career years since graduate scattered and is confusing
chemistry school in Columbia in to find where to go; this
because “physics 1960.” Professor Siew then would be a disadvantage to
in
WHO
IS PROFFESOR
SIEW?
chemistry explained his favorite part new students as well.”
Professor
Siew
were very strong of teaching, “I prefer to
and
choices have students communicate, shows a huge interest not
at the time.” teaching has no meaning if only in instructing, but in
Professor Siew you just stick to the book.” a number of other exciting
career
to An important tip that he activities and hobbies. For
say, “My past gives to his students to example, he is involved
experience was succeed in chemistry is was in the student activities on
went
on
all in school. not to use information just campus; he also is involved
BY: Andre Butler
in other activities within the
Staff Writer I didn’t have by itself, but use it in a
any experience creative way.
Albany area. Including The
The thing that he likes Chinese Community Center
but extensive best about the HVCC in Latham, the Phi Tau Phi
e x p e r i e n c e campus is its different Scholastic Society, and The
outside of school,
with traveling.” cultures. “This College American Chemical Society.
is a college professor who is about change and how and from math you can Professor Siew is a very is very good because of As for his hobbies, he likes
specializes in chemistry to deal with chemicals; not predict results that the intellectual man who the diversity and different to read novels and science
Professor Ernest Siew my experience, chemistry to express common sense
courses. He started teaching only with observation, but students will be interested shows a lot of passion for ethnic backgrounds, this books, take walks around
in 1993 and is in his sixteenth theories as well and requires in and will be able to instructing. In fact, he said is what makes the school plazas such as Crossgates
year
of
teaching.
“I like teaching very much. strong.” Professor Siew’s Mall or Stuyvesant Plaza,
Professor Siew came In fact, I chose teaching major complaint was that and collect old coins and
He chemical methodology to verify.”
teaches general chemistry, approach the chemistry
essential chemistry, and problems.” For his class from a foreign country for my career. I didn’t “Fitzgibbons, Brahan, and stamps.
organic chemistry. When structure, he said “I and attended Columbia work for the industry at Amstuz Science Hall are all
asked
about
chemistry, introduce with common University where he pursued all.” He also said “I have put into one building. The
Professor Siew said, “In sense and use simple math a major in chemistry in
My Degree.
My Way.
As a transfer student...
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your education and your schedule. As an alternative
to classroom learning, you choose how and where
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Empire State Plaza, Albany
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Thurs., Feb. 18, noon
Wed., March 3, noon
Wed., March 17, noon
For more information, call 866 372-3197.
Visit us at www.esc.edu
PAGE 6.
NEWs
Vol. 57 Issue. 15 1.29.10
On
the
HVCC
campus, she
is
involved
in
campus
departmental
committees,
and
on
November 11,
2009 attended
the open-house
to represent
BY: Andre Butler
math
Staff Writer the
and science/
engineering.
The
other
activities she
takes part of
off campus include being
a member of the New
York State Mathematics
Association of Two year
colleges (NYSMATC), she
is involved in her church,
and she has assisted the Boy
Scouts. Professor Brooks
also is involved in many
productive hobbies, such
as cross-country skiing,
canoeing, hiking, and
gardening. When it comes
to what she likes in her
activities, she said “I like to
be outside.”
“The thing I like
best about the college is
it provides students the
flexibility to explore
different career paths and
it gives everyone a second
chance in their learning,”
she said. “We have bright
students who did poorly in
high school and this gives
them a second chance to
earn a good solid GPA.”
WHO
IS PROFFESOR
Brooks?
“I’ve always done
well in mathematics, and
it came easily to me. I’ve
enjoyed helping others who
had difficulty with math,”
she said. Professor Brooks
is one inspiring individual
who loves teaching and so
has a lot of passion for it.
She said her favorite part of
teaching is when “Someone
is able to grasp a concept
they couldn’t understand
before,” and “Also seeing
someone in a low level of
math get into a higher level
of math.” For example,
she had one student that
managed to earn her
bachelor’s degree in pure
mathematics and eventually
earned her master’s degree
in education. Her former
student now teaches high
school math. Professor
Brooks’ class structure
consists
of
lecture,
discussion, and some group
work.
discover yourself
When asked what
mathematics is, Professor
Elaine Brooks responded
by saying “I don’t view
mathematics
as
just
arithmetic or number
crunching. For example,
algebra is a generalization
of arithmetic where one
uses variables. One thing
calculus allows you to do
is to find areas of regions
that don’t fit into geometric
formulas.”
Professor
Brooks is now in her twentyeighth year of instructing
in the math and science/
engineering department
and her current career status
is a math professor. She
went into teaching to help
others out. In fact, she said
“I wanted to interact with
people, and I enjoy math.”
The courses she teaches
at HVCC are college
algebra with trigonometry,
precalculus, and calculus
(with precalculus).
JOIN US AT HVCC’S HOME BASKETBALL GAMES
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For more information or to access food pantry, please contact:
STUDENT ACTIVITIES OFFICE, CAMPUS CENTER, ROOM 210
what will
you do?
Leadership and organizational
skills are important for any career
choice, and Monique has quite a
head start. After spending three
months training with Greenpeace
in San Francisco, she took her
grassroots community organizing
skills on the road traveling to New
Mexico, Washington, D.C. and
Amsterdam before coming back
home to RWU. The coordinator
of the newly formed Eco- Reps –
a student group working to make
RWU a greener, more sustainable
place to live and work – Monique
is changing the world one day at
a time. What will you do?
www.rwu.edu
One Old Ferry Road • Bristol, RI 02809
(800) 633-2727 • (401) 254-3500
[email protected]
Monique
Class of 2011
Boylestown, Mass
American Studies