Summer/Fall 2005 Lehman Lightning Newsletter

LEHMAN
L I G H T N I N G
summer/fall 2005
inside…
▼
WHAT DOES RETIREMENT MEAN TO
DISTINGUISHED PROFESSOR MARTIN
DUBERMAN? WRITING HIS LONGEST
BOOK SO FAR ......................................2
LIK CHEE SIM JOINS A GROWING LIST OF
WATSON FELLOWS................................3
‘MOTIVE. MONEY. MENTORS.’ THAT’S
JEANNETTE BROWN’S MOTTO FOR
ENCOURAGING MORE AFRICANAMERICAN SCIENTISTS ..........................4
RECEPTION ESTABLISHES ‘CORIGLIANO
MUSIC SCHOLARSHIPS’ AT LEHMAN .......5
‘05 GRADUATES SAVOR SUCCESS, LOOK
FORWARD TO THE FUTURE ................ 8-9
SOME BUSINESS ETIQUETTE DO’S
AND DON’TS ......................................11
PROFESSOR FINDS ‘GRIEF IS A LUXURY’ FOR
AIDS VICTIMS IN SOUTH AFRICA ........ 12
ALUMNI NEWS ............................. 13-15
Reaching for the Stars
Martinia Heath qualifies for the
NCAA long-jump competition.
Read more about Lehman sports
on page 10.
LEHMAN COLLEGE
The City University of New York
250 Bedford Park Boulevard West
Bronx, New York 10468
www.lehman.edu
Gala Benefit October 27
To Celebrate
Presidential Leadership
And College Achievements
F
riends, alumni and other leading figures
in New York City’s educational, corporate, cultural and community worlds will
gather at the New York Botanical Garden October 27 to celebrate the achievements of Lehman
College and 15 years of leadership by
President Ricardo R. Fernández.
Proceeds will benefit the College’s
priority need: student scholarships.
Among chairs and benefit
committee members for the
event are: Brooke Duchin,
Michael Gill, George Jacobs,
ez
d
n
Elias Karmon, Serafin Mariel,
ná
t Fer
iden
s
Sarah
Morgenthau, Sorosh Roshan,
e
r
P
Ruth Westheimer and Rosanne Wille.
Honorary chairs include Borough President
Adolfo Carrión, performance artist Willie
Colon, Representative Elliot Engel, and CUNY
Chancellor Matthew Goldstein.
“We have succeeded admirably in our
mission of preparing men and women from
the Bronx and surrounding communities for
worthwhile careers,” says President Fernández.
“In many fields Lehman alumni have made an
extraordinary difference.
“State-assisted institutions like Lehman
must look beyond Albany and Washington to
Lehman has grown significantly since 1990.
See how on page 16.
underwrite education. Tuition today is three
times what it was when I became president in
1990, and most of our students need financial
assistance to complete their education.”
Peter Duchin and his band will entertain and
play for dancing. The program will include a
video presentation on Lehman College and an
auction. Among guests will be current Lehman
students. More information on the event can be
found at www.lehmancollegefoundation.org. ◆
Major Code 201 Is Alive and Well,
Thanks to Loranth Otvos
Loranth Otvos has joined an exclusive club.
The senior Honors College student is Lehman’s
only Latin major, and its first one since 1990.
Alumni records reveal that, altogether, only
eleven other graduates are classics majors.
“When I went into the Registrar’s Office to
declare my major,” Otvos relates, “they said,
‘Wow, we haven’t seen that code (201) in 15
years’. ”
Otvos began studying the language at
LaGuardia High School and has his sights set
on becoming a Latin teacher—he has it on
good authority there’s a dearth of them. He
spends time reading the language aloud and
looks forward to reading poems by Catullus
and other ancient texts as originally written.
This fall, he and five other
students will start learning
ancient Greek, with Professor Gary Schwartz (Languages and Literatures) teaching
Loranth Otvos
the course. Lehman’s past
classics majors include some distinguished
alumni, like James Wiley (‘89), who majored in
philosophy and classics, was a Marshall Scholar
and studied at King’s College, Cambridge.
Otvos doesn’t spend all his time in the past.
This summer, he travelled to Kenya to study the
impact of tourism in Amboseli National Park
on marketing, animal life and human-animal
conflict. A creative writing minor, he’s decided
to tackle a second minor in anthropology. ◆
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Dr. Lewis Gordon (‘84)
‘Comes Home’ to Observe
Sartre’s Birthday
Dr. Lewis Gordon (center) gets a warm
welcome from the Lehman Philosophy Club
and faculty members Julie Maybee (left) and
Gary Schwartz (right).
Dr. Lewis Gordon (‘84), who is the Laura
H. Carnell Professor of Philosophy at
Temple University, returned to Lehman to
help celebrate a birthday: the 100th anniversary of the birth of French existential
philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre.
Dr. Gordon earned two master’s degrees
and his Ph.D. from Yale University and
is internationally known for his work in
Africana philosophy, theories on race and
racism, social and political philosophy
and philosophy of religion.
“Lehman is my intellectual home,” he
told the crowd in Carman Hall, “and it is
always good to come home.” He recalled
that he had not initially planned to attend
Lehman, but his girl friend was enrolled
in the College and he began visiting the
campus and talking with faculty. Those
conversations, he explained, “all said to
me that Lehman was a special place.”
He noted that Sartre’s outlook on life continues to resonate in developing countries
and in music like the blues. “The blues
brings out dissonance,” he said. “It does
not sugarcoat life. It gives you life in its
stark reality.” ◆
Lehman College of The City University of New
York is located at 250 Bedford Park Boulevard West,
Bronx, NY 10468. Anne Johnson,Vice President for
Institutional Advancement; Barbara Smith, Director
of Alumni Relations.
Lehman Lightning is produced in the Office of Media
Relations and Publications. Editor: Marge Rice. Staff:
Keisha-Gaye Anderson, Barbara Cardillo, Joseph
McElligott, Lisandra Merentis, Yeara Milton, Florian
Penev and Phyllis Yip.
2
‘LaMer’ Team Hard at Work, Documenting Species
That Are Thriving in the Bronx River
P
rofessor of Biology Joseph W.
Rachlin (right) holds an American
eel (Anguilla rostrata), one of
almost 40 species of fish that have been
identified so far from the freshwater and
estuarine reaches of the Bronx River.
Working on the project are Professor
Rachlin and his research team, funded
under a five-year combined grant from
the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration and the Wildlife Conservation Society. The eels live in the river
between eight to twelve years, until they
reach adulthood, and then swim out to
sea to spawn.
The study is being conducted in
LaMer, the Laboratory for Marine and
Estuarine Research, which opened in Davis Hall in 2002 and derives its name from the French word
for “the sea.” Lehman undergraduate and graduate students are working with Professor Rachlin and
his colleague, Lehman alumna and SUNY-Maritime faculty member Barbara Warkentine. They’re
documenting the species found in both the river’s freshwater portions and the estuary section where
it meets the East River at the western end of Long Island Sound.
If approved, the next phase would examine the correlation between the diversity of the river’s
aquatic life and the diversity and structure of trees and vegetation along its banks. Then, once
agreement is reached on the construction of fish passages around the river’s current dams, river
herring would be released into the waterway to see if an “anadromous” run could be established. The
hope is that the herring would swim up river to spawn (like salmon) and then move out to sea to
grow up—the opposite of the pattern followed by the eel. ◆
Retirement for Distinguished Professor Martin Duberman
Means Writing His Longest Book So Far
P
rofessor Martin Duberman
(right) retired at the end
of the spring term from
his long career as a distinguished
professor of history at Lehman
College. The prolific author has
no plans to retire from writing,
however.
With more than 20 books to his
credit, including Charles Francis
Adams (winner of the Bancroft Prize) and the
critically acclaimed biography Paul Robeson
(winner of the New York Public Library’s
George Freedley Memorial Award for “best
book of the year”), Professor Duberman has
brought attention to some of the critical issues
of our age. His most recent book, Haymarket,
recounts the police-instigated Haymarket riot
in 1886 in Chicago that resulted in widespread
protests and the execution of some of Chicago’s
best-known labor leaders. Among other scholarly accomplishments, Professor Duberman
also founded CUNY’s Center for
Lesbian and Gay Studies.
Before coming to Lehman in
1971, Professor Duberman taught
at Yale, Harvard and Princeton, but
says he enjoyed Lehman the most.
“The students are much more
diverse and have much more life
experience,” he explains, “in part
because their average age is older
but also in part because they’ve struggled a great
deal more than my Ivy Leaguers ever had to. ”
Currently, he’s working on his largest book
to date. The Worlds of Lincoln Kirstein will explore the life of the man Professor Duberman
calls the “cultural czar” who brought ballet to
the United States. He has gotten exclusive rights
to work from Kirstein’s diaries and letters.
“I don’t feel like I’ve retired at all,” he says.
“I don’t want to retire.” The Worlds of Lincoln
Kirstein is scheduled to be published by Knopf
in 2007. ◆
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Lectures, Concerts, Theatre:
Cultural Events Abound at Lehman This Fall
♦ Through Dec. 16 in the Lehman Art Gallery. Monika Weiss: Five Rivers. Installation, drawing,
performance, video and sound. Performances by the artist: Sept. 15, 6 p.m., with Anthony Roth
Costanzo, vocalist; Sept. 28-29, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Reception for the artist: Mon., Oct. 17, 5:30
– 7:30 p.m. A catalogue with essays by Guy Brett, James D. Campbell and Aneta Szylak will be
published in conjunction with the exhibition. The exhibition has been made possible with the
support of the Remy-Toledo Gallery, New York and the Galerie Samuel Lallouz, Montreal.
http://ca80.lehman.cuny.edu/gallery. 718-960-8731.
♦ Sept. 15 – Oct. 2: The Bronx Repertory Company presents a festival of one-act plays.
Thursdays through Saturdays at 8 p.m., Sundays at 3 p.m. www.lehmanstages.org. 718-9607830.
♦ Oct. 26 – Oct. 30: The Lehman Theatre
Program presents A Lesson Before Dying
by Romulus Linney. Directed by Susan
Soetaert. Wednesday at 3:30 p.m.,
Thursday through Saturday at 8 p.m.,
Sunday at 3 p.m. www.lehmanstages.org.
718-960-7830.
♦ Nov. 17, 12:30 p.m.: World-renowned
artists Christo and Jeanne-Claude present
a slide lecture that will include an extensive
question-and-answer session. The pair
created a spectacular environmental
work of art, “The Gates, Central Park, New From Monika Weiss: Five Rivers. At left, “White
Chalice (Ennoia),” 2004-2005. Sculptural installaYork City, 1979-2005,” that was enjoyed by
tion: polypropylene, rubber latex, water, projected
millions of New Yorkers, as well as visitors
video, sound. At right, “Phlegethon-Miczenie,” 2005.
from all over the world, during its 16-day
Still from video. Limited edition DVD, 14 minutes,
run last winter. During the spring of 2004,
color, sound. Installation and performance: books,
the Lehman Art Gallery presented an
drawings, crayons, pencils, artist’s body, projected
exhibition of the work of 40 artists, “Images video, sound.
of Time and Place: Contemporary Views of
Landscape,” that included Christo’s preparatory drawing for the project and provided a preview
of the Central Park work of art. 718-960-8715.
♦ Dec. 1, 12:30 p.m. Lecture by Lehman alumnus and Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Mitch
Weiss ('81), author of the forthcoming Tiger Force (Little, Brown and Co.), which details a
cover-up by the U.S. government of war crimes committed in Vietnam by the U.S. military
group Tiger Force. 718-960-8715.
♦ Dec. 7 – Dec. 10: Moliere’s Tartuffe, directed by Brian Leahy Doyle. Wed. at 3:30 p.m.,
Thursday through Saturday at 8 p.m., Sunday at 3 p.m. www.lehmanstages.org. 718-960-7830.
♦ Dec. 17: Lehman Stages and the Bronx Opera present a Holiday Concert for the whole family.
The Lovinger Theatre. www.lehmanstages.org. 718-960-7830.
BALI HA’I IS CALLING.
The memorable songs of one of the nation’s
most famous musicals will fill the Lovinger
Theatre March 15–19, when students in the
Lehman Theatre Program join with the performers of the Bronx Opera to present Rodgers
and Hammerstein’s South Pacific.
Call 718-960-7830 or visit the Lehman Stages
website (www.lehmanstages.org) for showtimes
and ticket prices.
ALUMNI EVENTS (TENTATIVE SCHEDULE)
Family Day: October 1
Finals Week Goodies: December 20
Reception for Lehman Alumni Employed by the
College: January 2006
Lehman Lecture & Retirees’ Luncheon: TBA
Graduating Seniors’ Brunch: May 6
Reunion: May 20
Finals Week Goodies: May 23
Commencement: June 1
CONVOCATION
OFFICIALLY OPENING THE ACADEMIC YEAR
U.S. CONSTITUTION DAY
COMMEMORATING SEPTEMBER 1787
SIGNING OF THE U.S. CONSTITUTION
United Nations Under Secretary General
Olara Otunnu
Recipient of Doctor of Humane Letters
Sept. 14, 2005 • Lovinger Theatre, 11:30 a.m.
Political Science Professor Ira Bloom
A Lecture on the U.S. Constitution
Sept. 21, 2005 • Lovinger Theatre, 11 a.m.
Lik Chee Sim
Joins a Growing List
Of Watson Fellows
Lik Chee Sim, a sophomore in the
CUNY Honors College at Lehman,
is the latest Lehman student to win
a prestigious Jeannette K. Watson
Fellowship, which provides recipients
with both a laptop computer and
three paid summer internships in
a variety of working environments.
Sim chose to work this summer at
the Central Park Conservancy, where
he was involved in a fund-raising
campaign, conducting research and
designing flyers for improving and
maintaining Central Park.
Active in the Asian Multicultural
Club at Lehman, Sim moved to the
U.S. from Malaysia only five years
ago and in 2004 took second place
in a highly competitive city-wide
computer contest. He plans to major
in marketing and mass communications to prepare for a possible career
in marketing, advertising or law.
Two other current students are
also Watson Fellows. Emily Alicea,
majoring in dietetics, food and
nutrition, has interned at the Studio
Museum in Harlem and at the New
York State Education Department’s
Summer Food Service Program.
Alice Michelle Augustine, a double
major in English and political science, spent this summer working on
human rights issues in Ghana. She
previously interned for the New York
State Supreme Court and for the
New York City Council’s Committee
on Mental Health, Mental Retardation, Alcoholism, Drug Abuse and
Disability Services. ◆
3
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Aspiring Teacher Wins
Lehman’s First Shirin Ebadi
Peace Scholarship
Monique McPherson
Sociology major Monique McPherson was selected this spring to
receive Lehman’s first Shirin Ebadi
Peace Scholarship, which includes
$4000 for tuition and a $500
stipend.
The College announced the new
scholarship last year at a U.N.
reception that honored the 2003
Nobel Peace Laureate and Iranian
human rights activist. Ms. Ebadi
campaigns for peaceful solutions to
social problems and argues for an
interpretation of Islamic law that
is in harmony with equality before
the law, religious freedom and
freedom of speech.
As part of her scholarship,
McPherson will research the extent
to which domestic abuse in immigrant families is rooted in cultural
practices or the result of male insecurities that surface as the men try
to adapt to a new society. Planning
on becoming a teacher, she hopes
that her research will help her better serve immigrant communities.
“Besides being an intelligent,
studious and goal-oriented person, Monique has a strong sense
of compassion for others,” says
Professor Elhum Haghighat, who
will serve as McPherson’s mentor
on the project. “She’ll make a fine
teacher someday.” ◆
4
‘Motive. Money. Mentors.’
Jeannette Brown Contributes All Three
To Encourage African-American Scientists
E
ven though she’s
not “officially” a
Lehman alumna—
the first time she visited
Hunter-in-the-Bronx was
in 1956 for her graduation—Jeannette Brown
has always thought of
Lehman as home. Brown
was one of two African
Americans in Hunter’s
first class in what was
then a new chemistry major, and her mentor was
Professor Arthur Sweeny,
Jr., who inspired a generation of women to break
the gender barriers and enter the fields of science
and medicine. Professor Sweeny became one of
the founding members of the Lehman faculty
and chemistry chair, and Lehman “adopted”
Brown as one of its own.
This spring, Brown returned to the Lehman
campus to deliver the 25th annual Sweeny Memorial Lecture and talk about her involvement
with the African-American Women Chemists
Project that is documenting the history and
contributions of these pioneering scientists. Her
goal is to “celebrate their lives and encourage
students to become teachers.”
Brown herself became the first AfricanAmerican woman to earn a master’s degree in
chemistry from the University of Minnesota. She
became a research chemist at Ciba Pharmaceutical (now Novartis) and then moved on to Merck
& Co., where she worked for 26 years synthesizing compounds for testing as potential new
drugs. She also served as an adviser at Grambling
State University, an historically black university
in Louisiana, and as a role model for students in
Philadelphia’s high schools, when she was chosen
for the National Science Foundation’s Visiting
Women in Science program.
After retirement, she joined the New Jersey
Institute of Technology in Newark and helped to
direct a statewide initiative aimed at precollege
minority students and their science and math
teachers. She has won numerous awards, including the American Chemical Society’s 2005 Award
for Encouraging Disadvantaged Students into
Careers in the Chemical Sciences.
Jeannette Brown at Lehman this spring (above, center)
and at graduation from Hunter-in-the Bronx in 1956 with
her friend and fellow graduate Carol Burnett (below).
Burnett (left) went on to graduate from the Albert Einstein
College of Medicine.
Brown sums up the future of African-American
women scientists in three words: “Motive. Money.
Mentors.” Having already helped to develop
“motive” and to support students as a “mentor,”
Brown is also contributing the second ingredient. She recently established the Freddie and Ada
Brown Encouragement Award for Future Careers
in Chemistry, which honors her parents. Starting
next year, it will be given to students graduating from the eighth grade as well as those in high
school. ◆
Did you know that Lehman College offers online
courses for undergraduate and graduate credit?
Visit www.lehman.edu and click on
“Lehman Online” to learn more.
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Memorable Reception at Lincoln Center
Establishes ‘The Corigliano Music Scholarships
At Lehman College’
F
or over thirty years, Distinguished Profesaged his talent and gave him the confidence to
sor John Corigliano has brought more than
venture into the music world.
fame to Lehman College. He’s brought
On May 10, Professor Corigliano’s worlds
himself.
came together to honor him and to establish the
Some artists lend their name to institutions
Corigliano Music Scholarships at Lehman Colmore than their presence.
lege. The event, held in the
For Professor Corigliano,
Kaplan Penthouse at Lincoln
however, his allegiance and
Center, featured memorable
commitment to Lehman
performances of some of the
College have never faltered.
composer’s works, presented
Even as his place in the
by Jeffrey Multer, The Eleinternational music world
ments Quartet, Judy Kaye
grew, accolades started
and Mitchell Cirker, Jeffrey
to build and his schedule
Ziegler, and the Juilliard Piabecame more complex, he
nists and Singers. Michael
Professor Corigliano with students and faculty. Bacon ’95 and his brother,
regularly travelled to the
Kevin—better known as the
campus, teaching students
Bacon Brothers—performed an original song
orchestration one year and composition the next.
they had recently recorded.
On a Thursday he might travel across the country or across the ocean to rehearse with a major
Speaking about Professor Corigliano’s impact
orchestra about to perform one of his works. The
were President Ricardo R. Fernández, famed
following Monday, though, he would be back in
conductor Leonard Slatkin, fellow composer
New York, traveling uptown to the Bronx.
Mark Adamo, student Eslie Bagnol and other
The impact of Professor Corigliano on the
friends, alumni and faculty. Professor Corimusic world can be gauged, in part, by the recoggliano, in a moving address about Lehman and
nition he has received, including major awards like his experiences at the College, described “the
the Grammy, the Oscar and the Pulitzer Prize. The mixtures of musical minds, enthusiasm and talimpact on his students is less easily measured.
ent” in his classes as “phenomenal.” (Visit www.
Some, like Michael Bacon, are busy, accomlehman.edu to hear his remarks in full.)
plished composers. Many, though, are musicians
Among those attending and supporting the
and teachers, working away from the limelight,
event were Susan and Elihu Rose, Beverly and
quietly impacting their audiences and influencing
Robert Bartner, Mary Rodgers and Henry Guetyounger generations. Professor Corigliano undertel, Stephanie and Jerry Junkin, Dr. Rosanne
stands the importance of those roles. When he was Wille and Dr. George Jacobs, and representatives
a teenager in a New York City public high school,
of Bronx-Lebanon Hospital, G. Shirmer, ASCAP
it was his music teacher, Bella Tillis, who encourand William Rondina. ◆
Photos (from left): (1) President Fernández with Professor Corigliano and his
cousin, Mikaela Chase, who is entering the CUNY Honors College at Lehman.
(2) Jerry Barnard of the Lehman ITR staff as Master of Ceremonies, Dr. Sorosh
Roshan (center) of the Lehman College Foundation Board and theatrical
producer Beverly Bartner. (3) Conductor Leonard Slatkin. (4) Philanthropist
Susan Rose presents a proclamation from Mayor Bloomberg designating May
10, 2005 as “Corigliano Music Scholarships at Lehman College” Day. The Susan
and Elihu Rose Foundation is a major sponsor of the Scholarships. (5) Professor
Corigliano introduces his high school music teacher, Bella Tillis. (6) Noted
alumnus Michael Bacon and his brother Kevin perform for the audience.
Rose Lovinger: A Staunch
Friend of Lehman College
And Its Students
Rose and Monroe Lovinger in 1992.
Lehman College lost a close and
caring friend this spring, with the
death of Rose Lovinger on May
26. She and her husband, Monroe, who is a native of the Bronx
and a graduate of City College,
had worked together on philanthropic causes ever since they were
married in 1951. Among those
causes were Lehman College and
its continuing need for scholarship funds to help students pay for
their education.
At Lehman, the Lovingers established a fund to assist those studying education, nursing and health
services. Over the years, dozens of
students benefitted from their generosity and also came to know the
couple personally through annual
scholarship luncheons. In 1992,
in recognition of their exceptional
support, the College named its
500-seat theatre in honor of Rose
and Monroe Lovinger.
Rose Lovinger’s commitment to
Lehman College was equalled
only by that of her husband. Her
legacy lives on in the contributions being made every day by
Lehman graduates who were
able to complete their education
because the Lovingers were there
to gladly lend a hand. ◆
5
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One Lehman Professor Makes a Difference in the Lives of Sing Sing Inmates
O
concerns. All attend the
class voluntarily.
As Professor Mazza
engages his students, it
is easy to forget that this
is a maximum-security
prison, but armed guards
patrolling the hallways are
a clear reminder. Still, students find a way to relax
A GREAT TEACHER, REGARDLESS OF THE SETTING. Professor Carl
and open up.
Mazza outside Sing Sing Prison (left) and accepting this year’s Teacher of
Professor Mazza writes
the Year Award for his success in teaching social work students at Lehman.
a question on the board:
Presenting the award is Provost and Senior Vice President Anthony Garro.
“Should a parent be a friend
to his/her child?” Hands shoot up as the men
wait to express their thoughts. One man remembers his disappointment when
his own father approached him to
“Many were often classified as ‘problem’
buy drugs. Another, 27, recalls bestudents. They’ve internalized these labels as ing locked in the house for days on
end without food at age 7, while his
‘proof ’ that they are ‘lesser’ than others. It is mother was out scoring drugs, and
talks about how that affected his abilvitally important that they begin to believe
ity to be a good parent, as well as a
good son.
Sing Sing Prison, 1974. Photo courtesy of the Ossining
in themselves.”
“Many were often classified as
Historical Society.
‘problem’ students,” says Professor
Many keep in touch with Professor Mazza
Mazza, who offers the class three times a year.
committed violent crimes and are serving
after being released, and some even pursue their
“They’ve internalized these labels as ‘proof ’ that
lengthy sentences. Hopelessness and dedegrees at Lehman. “They say their relationships
pression are common problems, but having they are ‘lesser’ than others. It is vitally imporwith their children and their children’s mothers
tant that they begin to believe in themselves. It is
a positive outlet makes a huge difference.
have improved,” Professor Mazza reports, “beonly when they have the capacity to change that
Professor Mazza helps to provide that
cause they’ve learned that the focus of their conchange occurs.”
outlet. For over ten years, he has taught a
tacts should be the children.” He adds that their
He adds that no matter what prompted the
16-week parenting class at Sing Sing. “The
confidence and self-esteem have also improved.
men to sign up for the class—becoming a better
program hopes to make the fathers more
One former student—only 25 when he enparent or role model for their child or atoning
sensitive to the needs, feelings and fears of
tered Sing Sing—credits the class with steering
for the pain they have caused—all walk away
their children,” he explains. “These fathers
with a better understanding of themselves, which him clear of trouble during his eight years there.
need to understand the jeopardy that they
“I saw the course as the only way to turn my life
helps to improve their family relations.
have placed their children in and assume
around,” he says. “I realized I’d have to do things
A student who entered Sing Sing when his
responsibility as parents to help. Children
differently.”
daughter was only two is about to become a
of incarcerated parents are four to five
Since being released, he has graduated from
grandfather
after
16
years
of
incarceration.
He
times more likely to go to prison than other
Lehman,
found work as a substance abuse mental
shares his fears about that role and what he has
children,” he notes.
health counselor, and set his sights on earning
learned about fatherhood from Professor Mazza.
Each year, close to 120 men complete
a master’s degree in social work. Although not
“I didn’t have a full understanding of what
the course, which is offered through the
a parent, he has taken several opportunities to
being
a
parent
was,”
he
says.
“It
was
more
than
Osborne Association, an organization that
mentor children in his personal life. He says
sending teddy bears. That was one of the reasons
provides opportunities for reform and
Professor Mazza has had a profoundly positive
I wanted to come to the class. Since I’ve been
rehabilitation in prisons.
impact on his life and that of other inmates.
here, I know that I’ve been selfish. I’m ready for
In a chilly classroom sorely in need of
“He saw that we had some redeemable qualianother
shot
now.”
a coat of paint, Professor Mazza addresses
ties
and didn’t treat us like the cancer of soci“This class has taught me about being mindabout 30 attentive, respectful men. They
ety—that goes a long way.” ◆
ful of what I do and say,” replies another man,
look forward to his weekly visits and the
opportunity to talk about fatherhood, their “because when you think your children are not
This article was written by Keisha-Gaye Anderson,
children, marriage and other family-related listening, they are.”
Lehman’s associate director of media relations.
SSINING, NY — Sing Sing Prison
has perched on the banks of the
Hudson for almost 200 years. The
old marble quarry where the first prisoners collected material to build what would
eventually become their home is still visible
on the other side of the river. “It was a
very notorious prison,” says Professor Carl
Mazza (Sociology and Social Work). “For
many years, it was one of the few maximum
security prisons in New York.”
This prison, which was the site of the
Rosenberg executions in the 1950s and gave
birth to phrases like, “the big house,” “up
the river” and ‘‘the last mile,” today holds
approximately 2,100 inmates. Most have
6
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •C
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• •EWS
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From the Fields of Japan to the Labs at Lehman,
A Love of Plants Inspired Yasko Karaki (M.A., ’05)
To Study and Discover
New Executive Director
Named at Lehman Center
O
ne of the things Professor Dwight
these methods to determine the structure of over
Kincaid tries to teach graduate stu180 natural products.
dents is to be independent thinkers.
Accepting the degree on behalf of his mother,
In the case of Yasko Karaki, he explains, that
Atsuhiro Karaki talked about his mother’s life
wasn’t necessary. She already was one.
and her love of plants. Born on a farm in Japan in
A few weeks before
1936, she used to wake before
Commencement, the
dawn to hear English on the
Department of Biologiradio, while hard at work
cal Sciences held its own
pulling up weeds in the field.
graduation ceremony for
She came to the U.S. in 1959,
Karaki, who completed all
studied international business
the requirements for her
at Baruch College and then
master’s degree but died
worked in the legal profession,
before Commencement
translating documents from
ceremonies. Her mentor,
Japanese into English. As a
Professor Kincaid, spoke
single mother, she put in many
about the extent of her
long hours to support herself
research into Japanese
and her young son. “I would
Dr. Koji Nakanishi (left) and Atsuhiro
medicinal plants, includfall asleep to the sound of her
Karaki,
with
his
mother’s
diploma.
ing her own translations of
typing,” he said, “and wake up
herbal remedies, interviews
to the same sound.”
with prominent scientists in
One day, he remembered,
the field and an 18-page questionnaire she had
she told him she had decided to enroll in CUNY
crafted and distributed to 316 people.
and earn her doctorate in botany. That came as
“Yasko touched the lives of many,” said Prono surprise to him, he said, because as a child
fessor Edward Kennelly, department chair. “Her growing up on the West Side of Manhattan, he
passing represents a great loss not only to her
remembers many walks with his mother through
family and friends but also to her local commu- Central Park, as she pointed out various trees and
nity and the botanical scientific community.”
flowers. In the early 1980s, she helped to create
Before the ceremony, world-renowned
a community garden, complete with Japanese
natural products chemist Dr. Koji Nakanishi
ginger and plum trees, and over the years she
gave a seminar on recent developments in
traveled to distant places to study and gather
herbal medicine. Born in Japan, Dr. Nakanishi
plants—to places like Costa Rica, the Amazon
is a nationally prominent biologist who is the
and the Galapagos Islands.
author of nine books and over 800 scientific
“She loved to see things grow. She loved
publications. He is recognized throughout the
plants,” he explained. “They were like children
scientific world for pioneering the use of specto her.” Today, he told the audience, “I know she
troscopic and chemical methods to determine
is somewhere surrounded by plants, waiting to
the structure of natural products—and using
teach me all about them.” ◆
ART GALLERY TO DEVELOP
‘BRONX ARCHITECTURE’ WEBSITE
The Lehman Art Gallery has won a grant from the National
Endowment for the Humanities to research the architectural
heritage of the Bronx and capture this history in an online
guide. The guide will form a companion site to the “Public Art
in the Bronx” website, which the Gallery created in 2002
(http://bronxart.lehman.cuny.edu/pa). The borough’s architectural heritage includes projects by Stanford White, Marcel
Breuer and many others. White designed the Gould Library at
Bronx Community College. A portion of its roof is shown on
the right.
Eva Bornstein
Lehman Center for the Performing
Arts has a new executive director—Eva
Bornstein—who brings with her a
strong record in arts management.
Bornstein was the first executive director of the recently reopened Bergen
Performing Arts Center in Englewood,
N.J., and also directed the Zoellner Arts
Center at Lehigh University and the
Kirkland Fine Arts Center at Millikin
University. A graduate of York University in Toronto, she founded the first
Canadian Mozart Festival in London,
Ontario and the Woodstock Mozart
Festival in Illinois. She also directed the
nationally renowned Woodstock Opera
House, near Chicago, and was program
director of the performing arts series, as
well as cultural events coordinator, at
the University of Western Ontario.
In 2002, Bornstein traveled to Poland
to produce an international tribute
in memory of those who perished on
9/11. The event, televised throughout
Europe, featured the Dresden Philharmonic and the Munich Bach Choir and
was recently adopted by the Vatican as
its official tribute to the late John Paul
II. PBS will air the event in the United
States this fall, and Bornstein hopes to
present a preview at Lehman Center.
She succeeds Jack Globenfelt, who
directed the Center for almost 20 years
and returned to his native California
to direct the performing arts center in
Carmel. ◆
7
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •C•OMMENCEMENT
••••••••••••••••••••••••
‘05 Graduates Savor Success, Look to the Future ...
Commencement Ceremony
Brings Day to Remember
For Largest Class Since ‘76
Graduation is always a special time for
students and their families. This year, with
2,156 candidates for graduation—the
largest number since 1976—the ceremonies
marked a significant plateau for both the
College and the graduates themselves.
Fittingly, a member of the graduating class
took the podium as the student speaker
and also as the principal Commencement
speaker. Speaking for the
Class of 2005 was Syka
Mancliere (pictured on
right), a music major
who came from Martinique to study in the
United States. Delivering the Commencement
address was four-term
Bronx Assemblyman Rubén Díaz, Jr., who
spoke about his experiences as a student—experiences that were shared by his
classmates. A political science major, Díaz
is the son of Rev. Rubén Díaz, Sr., a State
Senator from the Bronx and a member of
the Lehman Class of 1976.
President Fernández (above) with
Assemblyman Díaz (center, ‘05) and State
Sen. Díaz (‘76). Graduates (below) march in
the processional according to their major.
8
Four Is Lucky Number for Accounting Major—and Mom
When ANTONETTE BANKS became a mother
at 16, she knew her life would change. Leaving
school to provide for her daughter, she promised herself she would further her education,
no matter what the cost. Now the mother of
four, Banks has kept that promise, graduating from Lehman with a 4.0 and a bachelor’s
degree in accounting.
“I knew it was going to be a challenge,” says
Banks, who attended class full-time during the
day and worked full-time at nights throughout her college career—even while struggling
through a failing marriage. “I knew college was
a goal I wanted to achieve, and nothing was
going to deter me.” She studied on holidays,
weekends and whenever she could. Part of her
motivation was to show her children that you
can’t give up just because something is difficult.
Banks first earned an associate’s degree in
liberal arts and sciences at LaGuardia Commu-
nity College. Then
she entered Lehman
and fell in love with
accounting—as well
as with the supportive environment she
found, especially
among her professors. “They were
willing to make the
additional sacrifice
Antonette Banks
to help me out.”
For seven years, Banks worked at Ambassador Fuel, rising to the position of assistant to
the controller. After graduation, she received
a lucrative job offer from Price Waterhouse
Coopers, where she will work as an auditor.
“With everything that I’ve been through, my
children kept me going,” she says. “When I felt
like giving up, I had to push for them.”
Professional Jazz Musicians Add Lehman Degree to Their Credentials
HAROLD HARRIS, a professional jazz musician since the 1970s, chose Lehman to refine
his skills, learn more about the music field and
work with some of the country’s top musicians.
Born in San Francisco, he dropped out of
high school to go on the road with John Handy
and his jazz band. A few years later, he began
working with Joe Henderson and played jazz
in Europe and New York. Settling in New York,
he has worked as a professional musician ever
since, playing with noted
artists like J.D. Walter
and Mose Allison and
even performing at the
jazz and classical music
festival in Alaska.
Aware of the everchanging music business,
Harris wanted to crystallize his many years of
experience into a formal
Harold Harris
music education and
earn a bachelor’s degree in music. “When I was
coming up,” he says, “most jazz artists didn’t
have degrees and a lot couldn’t read music.”
Currently teaching music at Rutgers
University, he plans to continue teaching and
playing music and hopes to eventually pursue
a master’s in ethnomusicology (the study of
non-western music and their cultures).
Charles Eubanks with his wife and dad.
When Detroit native CHARLES EUBANKS was
asked to play piano with the famed Art Blakey
right out of high school, he hopped on a plane
to New York and has been here ever since. Now
Eubanks has one more accomplishment to
add to his 30-year career as a jazz pianist—a
bachelor’s degree in music.
Although he has played with famous artists
like Dizzy Gillespie, Archie Shepp, Tony Bennett and David “Fathead” Newman, and has
released his own jazz CD, Eubanks wanted to
further expand his role as a musician.
“I realized that it was important to give back
to the next generation,” he says and has plans
to teach jazz, write and compose for film, and
continue to perform. He also intends to pursue
his master’s in music education.
“I’m proud of what he has accomplished,”
says Eubanks’ father, visiting from Detroit for
graduation. “I don’t think I could have done it.”
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • C• OMMENCEMENT
••••••••••••••••••••••••••
... And Take Pride in Hard-Earned Lehman Degrees
NSF Grant Helps Computer Science Grad Forge Path to Doctorate
TERRY COOK has dedicated his academic
career to information retrieval—the process
of acquiring information in a more efficient
and effective manner. This fall, thanks to the
National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate
Fellowship program, he’ll have the opportunity
to continue his research at the CUNY Graduate
Center. Faculty believe he is the first computer
science student at Lehman to win this prestigious recognition.
For Cook, who graduated with a master’s
degree in mathematics and computer science, the fellowship marks the fourth major
academic award he has received. Previous
awards include the Western Golf Scholarship,
Lehman’s Mathematics and Computer Science
Department Scholarship and the Louis Stokes
Alliance for Minority Participation Scholarship.
The NSF program will give him three years of
support to pursue his doctoral degree.
Students, Faculty
And Community Leaders
Are Recognized for Excellence
Terry Cook
All graduating students at the ceremony
were recognized according to their major
field, which brought cheers not only from
the students
but also from
their friends
and families.
Studying at Lehman as both an undergraduate and graduate student, Cook assisted Professor Guang Jung in building novel information
storage and retrieval architecture.
“I became interested in the field of information retrieval through his advisement and
mentorship,” says Cook. “He is an expert in this
field and guided me through three semesters of
valuable research.”
Strong applause also followed awarding of honorary
doctorates to two community leaders: Elias
Karmon, who is known as “Mr. Bronx,”
and Deborah C. Wright, chairman and
CEO of Carver Bancorp, Inc., the holding
company for Carver Federal Savings Bank,
which is the nation’s largest African- and
Caribbean-American operated bank.
Staying Focused on Studies Brings Cameroon Student Closer to His Dream
When ELVIS BILLE left Cameroon in 2000 to
come to the United States, he had one goal in
mind: becoming a pediatrician. After graduating this spring with a B.S. in the interdisciplinary concentration of anthropology, biology
and chemistry, he has moved much closer to
that goal.
The youngest of ten children, Bille knew he
had to work hard and remain focused on his
studies in order to enter medical school and
Elvis Bille and some of his family.
make his family proud. “In Africa, education is
very important,” he says. “You don’t want to let
your family down. Everyone is depending on
you.” He studied at Hostos Community College
for a year before transferring to Lehman in 2001.
Bille attended school full time while work-
ing part time as a security guard to help pay
for his education. He decided to pursue his
particular major to help prepare for medical
school. “Some of my friends have cars, they
want to party,” he recalls. “Sometimes keeping
your head in the books was very difficult.”
But Bille
remained
‘In Africa, education
focused on his
is very important. You
dream. His decision to enter
don’t want to let your
the medical
profession was
family down.’
fueled partly by
his own bout
with malaria as a child and the care he received
from doctors in Cameroon. “When I was little,
and my mother took me to the hospital, I was
amazed at how the medication worked,” says
Bille, whose seven sisters all work in the nursing field. Now he wants to give something back.
“I feel as though people need help.”
“He has overcome so much and has shown
considerable promise with his studies toward
his objective of going to medical school,” says
Dr. Clarence Branch, advisor in Lehman’s preprofessional program.
Bille plans to take the MCAT exam and
hopes to go straight into medical school.
Elias Karmon (left) and
Deborah C. Wright with
President Fernández (above).
Also honored during the ceremony were Dr.
Carl Mazza of the Department of Sociology
and Social Work (below, left), who received
the “Teacher of the Year” Award, and
Professor Susan
Hoeltzel (right),
director of the
Lehman Art Gallery, who is the
“Adjunct Teacher
of the Year.”
This year,
for the first
time, new
faculty
awards for
Excellence
in Research,
Scholarship and Creative Works were
presented. Recognized (above) were Professors Eric Delson (Anthropology), Sondra
Perl (center, English) and Heather Sloan
(Middle and High School Education).
9
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • C• •AMPUS
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More than 40 retired faculty and staff
members returned to Lehman for the
College’s annual Retirees’ Luncheon on
April 13. The event provides the opportunity for retirees not only to meet
with former colleagues but also to learn
about new developments on campus.
Professor Emeritus of History Jacob
Judd was the Master of Ceremonies
and introduced Provost and Senior
Vice President Dr. Anthony Garro,
who talked about new programs at
the College and plans for the future.
Elaborating on that theme, the deans
discussed the strides being made by
each of their respective divisions.
Frieda Bernstein, former Vice
President of the Lehman College
Retirees’ Association, received special
recognition for her tireless work with
the retirees.
Director of Alumni Relations Barbara
Smith (standing) visits with, from left,
Lucie Saunders (Anthropology), Robert
Lundberg (Secondary, Adult & Business
Education), Margaret Kane (Business
Education) and Margaret Geehern
(Physics & Astronomy).
From left, Blanche Teitelbaum (Physical
Education) with Emita Hill (Institutional
Advancement), Claire Schwartz (Physical
Education) and Alice Saberski.
Clockwise from center front are Edgar
Roberts (English), John Lally (Sociology),
Murray Hausknecht (Sociology), Irwin
Polishook (History), Sal Romano (Art)
and Glen Nygreen (Student Affairs).
10
Spring ‘05 Athletic Season Continues Winning Pace
To Culminate Successful Year in Sports
T
he 2005 spring athletic season crowned a
successful year for Lehman College athletics, as the men’s basketball team won a
buzzer beater in post-season play over New York
University, advancing to
the ECAC semi-finals.
Here are some season
highlights:
MEN’S BASKETBALL:
Fifth-year head coach
Steve Schulman was
selected as the CUNY
Athletic Conference
Coach of the Year, while
Sekani Francis
junior center Sekani
Francis was honored as the Most Valuable Player
in the conference, as well as a Metropolitan
Sports Writer first-team All-Star. Senior Miguel
Jorge scored his 1,000-career point, and was
selected as a first-team CUNY All-Star, while
junior guard Willy Vargas was selected as a second-team CUNY All-Star.
TRACK AND FIELD:
Martinia Heath set
CUNY records, posting a distance of 5’ 7
1/4” in the High Jump,
while sophomore Amy
Ruston set Lehman
records in the 1500,
3000, 5000, and 10,000
meter relays. Heath
qualified for the NCAA
Martinia Heath
championships in the
high-jump and the long-jump events. In the
CUNY Outdoor Championships, the women’s
squad finished second, after placing fifth in the
indoor championships. The men’s track and field
team finished third in the CUNY Indoor Track
Championships, while placing fourth in the outdoor championships. Freshman Michael Francis
led the Sprint Relay team, while sophomore Raúl
Sánchez anchored the Long Distance Runners.
ALUMNI RATES AT THE APEX. Lehman
alumni are invited to join the APEX and enjoy its
world-class facilities, including its swimming pool,
racquetball courts and fitness center. Meet fellow
alumni while keeping fit. Visit www.lehman.edu
and click on The APEX/Athletics to find out the
special membership rates for Lehman alumni.
CHEERLEADING:
Entertaining fans
at every men’s and
women’s basketball home game,
the cheer squad
finished third in the
CUNY cheerleading championships, held at Lehman. Senior Venus
Hernandez was selected as an honorable mention
CUNY Scholar Athlete.
MEN’S VOLLEYBALL:
Senior Jacsier Lantigua gave a
brilliant performance on the
team and was honored as a
second-team CUNY Conference All-Star.
TENNIS: The women’s ten-
Jacsier Lantigua nis team finished the season
in seventh place in the CUNY Athletic Conference. The men’s tennis team struggled during the
season, but posted an impressive victory over the
College of Staten Island, a CUNY power.
MEN’S CROSS
COUNTRY: The
men’s cross country
team finished second in the CUNY
Championships.
Sophomore Freeman Blalok, junior
Christian Yepez and Cliff Turner finished 12th14th, respectively, in the championships.
WOMEN’S SWIMMING:
The women’s swim team finished fifth in the CUNY Conference Swim Championships.
Freshman star Liliana Luburic
was named CUNY’s Rookie of
the Year.
Liliana Luburic
MEN’S
BASEBALL:
Junior outfielder David
Malave was selected as a
CUNY All-Star and led the
Lightning with a .378 average. The team had impresDavid Malave
sive wins over the College
of Staten Island and New Jersey City University. ◆
Photos by Tony Correa
They May Be Retired,
But They’re Always
Remembered
••••••••••••••••C
• •AMPUS
• • • •N
• •EWS
•••••••••••••••••
Mind Your Manners: Annual Etiquette Banquet
Prepares Lehman Students for Success
D
id you know that a watch is a business
tool or that your tie should always
match your belt? How about the message that scuffed shoes and not shaving sends to
employers? Etiquette guru Anne Marie Sabath
explained these and other business etiquette
practices at the College’s annual Etiquette Banquet this spring, sponsored by CASA with the
support of the Office of Campus Life. She has
conducted the seminar for Lehman students for
the past four years.
“People don’t care how much you know until
they know how much you care,” said Sabath,
whose concepts have been featured in The Wall
Street Journal and USA Today. She demonstrated
etiquette essentials like how to read a table
setting, when to start talking business during
a meal, and common slangs to eliminate when
speaking with prospective employers. The event
drew close to 60 students.
Two new graduate programs were
approved this spring at Lehman.
Both are the only ones of their kind
in the Bronx.
Ready, set, ‘eat.’ Anne Marie Sabath helps Lehman
students pay less attention to the food on business
occasions and focus more on their manners.
Some Business Etiquette Do’s and Don’ts
Here are some etiquette tips to keep in mind:
◆ Always include a form of thanks in the first
12 words of business correspondence. For example: “Thank you for accepting my telephone
call” or “It was a pleasure meeting you.” This
establishes a rapport with the receiver before
you explain the reason for your letter.
◆ The only legitimate form of touch in business is a handshake; a pat, nudge or touch of
the arm can be perceived as being too friendly.
◆ When introducing yourself in a business
setting, always stand up, smile, give a confident
handshake, make eye contact and repeat the
other person’s name.
◆ Send a thank-you note 24–48 hours from
the time you communicate with the person.
The closer to the meeting/telephone call the
letter is sent, the more impact it will have.
◆ When networking, treat everyone you
meet as though s/he were the most important
person at the gathering. By being sincerely
interested in others, you will be perceived as
more interesting yourself.
Here are some business faux pas to avoid:
◆ Considering jeans to be business-casual
attire when you’ve never seen your boss wear
them to work.
◆ Giggling to fill silent moments rather than
merely pausing. This is a distracting and unprofessional habit.
◆ Remaining seated rather than standing
when someone approaches you.
◆ Sending correspondence later than you
promised.
◆ Not keeping your cover letter to one page.
The Bronx Is Growing...
A new study shows that the Bronx has had the
greatest population increase in New York City. In
fact, its rate of growth surpasses every county in
the state, except for Suffolk on Long Island.
According to Professor William Bosworth
(Emeritus, Political Science), who directs the
Bronx Data Center at Lehman College, new
data from the U.S. Census Bureau for the years
2000 to 2004 show that the borough had a net
population gain of 32,000. More detailed census
updates for 2003 also show that:
◆ The Bronx remains a very “young” borough with the highest birth rate in the entire
northeastern quarter of the United States.
◆ Non-Hispanic whites are more likely to
M.S.W. and M.P.H.
Added to Lehman’s
Roster of Grad Programs
move to the suburbs, Florida, or other American
destinations than members of minority groups.
◆ City residents are moving out at much
higher rates in Brooklyn and Queens.
“One question this data poses is what happens when 52 percent of the people in the Bronx
don’t speak English as their native language?” says
Professor Bosworth. “What you’re seeing is this
tremendous dynamism of change and countless
differences that need to be addressed by social
services, churches and private agencies.”
For more findings, visit the Bronx Data Center’s website at http://www.lehman.edu/deannss/
bronxdatactr/discover/bxtext.htm.
The Master of Social Work degree
will be launched this fall with a
two-year, full-time program. An
advanced standing program will
begin in Fall 2006, and a three-year,
part-time one in Fall 2007.
The program builds on the highly
successful undergraduate major in
social work, which is accredited by
the Council on Social Work. For
more information, contact Professor Sharon Freedberg at 718960-8840 or by email at sharon.
[email protected].
The Master of Public Health program aims at increasing the number
of health professionals from underrepresented minorities and also contribute to the improvement of public
health, especially in the Bronx and
Westchester. High rates of obesity,
diabetes, asthma, tobacco use, HIV/
AIDS, cancer and teen pregnancy
persist in the region, particularly in
the Bronx, which is the city’s poorest
borough in terms of income.
“The need for public health practice,” notes Professor Jane Levitt, director of the new program, “is most
urgent in communities where poor
socioeconomic conditions exacerbate
health problems.”
For more information, contact
Professor Levitt at 718-960-8671
or by email at jane.levitt@lehman.
cuny.edu. ◆
11
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• • • • • N• •EWS
•••••••••••••••••
Budding Anthropologist
Heads to South Africa
To Study Apartheid Effects
June Carrington
June Carrington, a junior in the
Lehman Scholars Program, is traveling to Cape Town, South Africa,
this fall on a scholarship to study
at Western Washington University.
She plans to compare the effects of
apartheid on those South Africans
who lived through the system versus those who were born after the
country’s racial segregation laws
were abolished.
Originally from Guyana, Carrington came to the United States
with her family at age 9. She says
her experiences assimilating into a
new society inspired her interest in
different cultures. “I hope to use my
knowledge to help my countrymen,
as well as my government, build
appreciation and understanding of
other cultures,” she explains.
Carrington won the Leopold
Schepp Foundation Scholarship
to support her studies, which are
being arranged by Lexia International, a study-abroad program.
She will also take classes at the
University of the Western Cape.
Learn more about June
Carrington’s trip this fall to
South Africa. Visit Lehman
E-news at www.lehman.edu
for updates on her studies
and experiences.
12
Lehman Professor Finds
‘Grief Is a Luxury’ for AIDS Victims in South Africa
L
ife is good in
homes for contracting the virus
certain parts of
(from their husbands), they
Kwazulu-Natal
are forced into prostitution
Province in South Africa,
to make ends meet.” He
where wealthy tourists
found that 75 percent of the
flock to the resorts, spas,
participants in his study were
game parks and beaches
HIV-positive and yet still
of Durban. In outlying
practicing unsafe sex.
villages that are hardest
He believes that prevention
hit by the nation’s AIDS
efforts have failed so far, despite
epidemic, however, life has
an influx of funds, because
been reduced to a struggle
of the nation’s economic
for survival, where
inequities and also because of
11-year-old children
its great cultural diversity—13
Professor Demmer (rear) with a family he languages are spoken in South
are sometimes the only
visited in a township outside Durban.
ones left to run their
Africa. An added complication
households.
is the high incidence of rape,
“The focus every day is on getting food,”
he notes, pointing to estimates that one million
says Professor Craig Demmer (Health
women are raped every year and that one out
Sciences). “Grief is a luxury.”
of every three women will be sexually assaulted
Professor Demmer, who grew up in Durban, in their lifetime.
returned to his native land to prepare the first
“There is no doubt in my mind that AIDS
study of how South Africans are dealing with
is like a ‘silent plague’,” he says. “No one
the mounting number of deaths from AIDS,
talks about it, no one admits that they know
which is impacting all groups but striking
someone who has died of it, and yet everybody
in particular those who are black, poor and
knows that it exists and what it does.”
heterosexual. He discovered in his visit many
Denial of the problem starts at the top, he
examples of both fear and courage.
contends, and spreads from there through
One Natal teenager committed suicide, he
the population. The government denies the
recalls, because his girl friend wanted to end
existence of the disease, he says, and the
their relationship and lied that she had AIDS;
people understand that, as a result, they will
his autopsy confirmed he was not HIV-positive. not get any help if they become afflicted with
When another young woman—the first in
it. Victims must be under 12 to qualify for
her family to graduate from college—learned
government assistance.
that she had AIDS, she clung to her goal
According to published reports, five million
of obtaining a job. It became, for her, a
South Africans are infected with HIV—or
meaningful way to end her life. “Look, we have
approximately 11 percent of the population.
to do something for her,” Professor Demmer
Unless effective prevention and treatment
said to staff members at the Open Door Center, methods are implemented, AIDS will orphan a
which offers care to those stricken with AIDS.
projected 1.6 million children by 2008 and kill
“She was so sick, but so poised and wellanother five to seven million people by 2010.
groomed,” he remembers. “She just wanted
Professor Demmer saw first-hand the
to do something with her degree.” Staff at the
extent to which the nation’s healthcare system
center found a position for the woman, which
and its non-governmental organizations have
she filled for a few weeks before she died.
been overwhelmed as a result of the epidemic.
The nation, he adds, is still suffering from the
Professor Demmer has worked in the field
effect of apartheid policies, which created six
of AIDS research since 1994, and he ran an
different healthcare systems based on race.
AIDS organization for the homeless before
If he succeeds in winning approval for a
joining the Lehman faculty. For his study in
grant from the National Institutes of Health, he
South Africa, he interviewed 18 people, 14 of
them women, about their grieving process. This plans to develop a support group specifically
was the first time they were “sitting and sharing for South African children affected by HIV and
AIDS. “The grant would provide funds for their
their pain with anyone, and it became a very
bus fare and for snacks,” he says. “The result, if
cathartic experience.”
they’re lucky, is that they’ll have one good meal
Because the women have no jobs, he
explains, “and have been kicked out of their
a week.” ◆
••••••••••••••••A
• •LUMNI
• • • •N
• •EWS
•••••••••••••••••
Four Winning Alumni Inducted
Into Lehman’s Athletic Hall of Fame
Alumni Get in ‘the Spirit’
With a Harbor Cruise
Around Lower Manhattan
More than 60 alumni and friends
gathered for a “sea cruise” June 5
aboard the Spirit of New York, which
left from Chelsea Piers on the West Side
of Manhattan and cruised around the
lower harbor. They enjoyed the skyline
and sights along the Hudson, as well
as views of Battery Park, the Statue of
Liberty and Ellis Island, but most of all
they enjoyed each other’s company.
President Fernández (left) and Lehman Athletic Director Dr. Martin L. Zwiren (right) show the
new inductees where their plaques will be placed in recognition of their contributions to Lehman
sports. The alumni athletes are, from left, Hillary Peart, Samuel Márquez, Christian Viggiano
and Paulette Baldwin.
F
our outstanding athletes were inducted
into the Lehman Hall of Fame this spring
in a luncheon ceremony that drew scores
of alumni, coaches and fans back to the College.
Honored were Paulette Baldwin (Track & Field,
‘03), Hillary Peart (Softball, ‘98), Chris Viggiano
(Baseball, ‘96) and Samuel Márquez (Soccer, ‘87).
Their election brings to 36 the number of athletes whose plaques and histories grace the main
entrance of the APEX.
A freshman qualifier in the NCAA 55m and
100m hurdles, PAULETTE BALDWIN became
an All-American in her sophomore year, finishing sixth in the 55m and eighth in the 100m hurdles. As a junior, she was an NCAA champion in
both those events. In her senior year, she became
the national champion in the 100m, as well as
the runner-up in the indoor long jump and 55m
hurdles, and was named the NCAA Regional and
National Female Athlete of the Year. She won the
CUNY Athletic Conference long-jump championship twice and the hurdle championship eight
times.
SAMUEL MARQUEZ starred for Lehman in
soccer, tennis and academics. In soccer, he was
team captain and a CUNY Athletic Conference
All Star. Márquez also excelled in single’s tennis, capping a four-year career with a winning
performance in the CUNY Athletic Conference
Tournament that clinched the championship for
his team. After graduating summa cum laude,
he began a five-year soccer coaching career at
Lehman and was honored as Coach of the Year
in 1989. In 2002, he earned his Ph.D. in physical
anthropology from the CUNY Graduate Center.
As a transfer student, HILLARY PEART
had just two short years to prove herself on the
softball diamond. In her first year at Lehman,
she earned “Rookie of the Year” and captured the
CUNY Athletic Conference batting title. She also
led the NCAA Division III in doubles and RBI’s.
Her performance won her a place in the CUNY
Athletic Conference and on the Hudson Valley All-Star teams. As a testament to her impact
on the softball team, her teammates elected her
captain after just one year on the team. Peart also
excelled in the classroom, receiving both her undergraduate and master’s degrees from Lehman.
When he was a second baseman at Lehman,
CHRISTIAN “VIGG” VIGGIANO was a threetime All-CUNY Athletic Conference selection
and was voted to the NCAA All-American
Second Team in 1995, the year he batted 463.
He was also selected as a Knickerbocker Baseball
Conference All Star for two consecutive years
and honored as a New York State Region All Star.
His competitive drive and commitment to both
his team and sport helped Lehman win the 1996
CUNY Athletic Conference Championship and
the Eastern College Athletic Conference/New
York-New Jersey Metropolitan Baseball Championship. ◆
Professional entertainment—complete
with show tunes, conga lines and a patriotic revue—added to the event, along
with an extensive buffet that kept guests
busy refilling their dishes.
Cheryl Smith (‘05) (right) is joined by her
dad, George, and fellow alumni Andrea
(‘73) and Stephanie Rockower (‘73).
Juliet Annan (‘02), her friend George, and
Tom Gallagher of the Alumni Board.
Mother and daughter alums (left) Lyone
(‘83) and Sandra Hall (‘04). Monica Lewis
(‘95) (right) and a friend.
Sheila Dinkins
(‘04) (left) and a
friend.
13
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • A• •LUMNI
• • • • N• EWS
••••••••••••••••••
Mom—and Now Daughter—Thrive as Psychology Majors
‘05 Class Becomes First
To Make Graduation Gift
To Lehman
Josephine Pirrone-Law (left),
Lehman’s director of annual giving,
shows lucky donor Elizabeth Luna
what she’s won, courtesy of Dell
Corporation.
When 2005 graduate Elizabeth
Luna joined with 52 fellow students
to make a gift to Lehman, she
considered it an obligation. Luna
is the sixth person in her family to
graduate from Lehman. On top of
that, student donors—who made
their class the first to begin this
tradition of giving at Lehman—
were entered in a raffle for a laptop
computer. And, wouldn’t you
know, a few weeks later Luna won
the raffle and became the proud
owner of a new laptop computer,
contributed by the Dell Corporation.
Luna studied at Lehman full-time
while taking care of her young
daughter and working full-time
at the New York City Department
of Probation, where she assists exoffenders with their assimilation
back into society. Her passionate
interest in the labor movement has
been influenced by Professors Donna
Kirchheimer (Political Science)
and Theresa Murphy-Higgs (Black
Studies). She serves on the Executive
Board of DC 37-Local 1020, which
covers 100,000 public employees, is
an active member of Community
Board 6 in West Farms, and hopes
to become a prominent voice in the
Black/Latino caucus in Albany. ◆
14
K
D
aren DesSoye (‘97) watched her daughanielle DesSoye (‘05) entered Lehman
ter Danielle graduate from Lehman
intending to major in speech pathology
with a bachelor’s degree in psychology
but became hooked on psychology after
this spring and was filled with pride and fond
taking classes. Her mother’s example inspired her
memories of her own experience at Lehman.
to major in the field. She also minored in early
After high school, Karen
childhood education.
spent a year in college but
“When I saw her go back to
then left to work and start
school, she really seemed to love it,”
a family. It was 13 years
says Danielle, who was in elementabefore she could continue
ry school while her mother was ather undergraduate studies.
tending Lehman. “She became a lot
The Adult Degree Program
more confident in herself and what
at Lehman appealed to her
she believed in.” Danielle hopes to
because she could apply lifebecome an early childhood educaexperience credits toward
tor and open her own school. Like
her degree.
her mother, she was inducted into
“I came because of the
Psi Chi and Golden Key—and also
Danielle (‘05) and Karen (‘97)
Adult Degree Program,”
graduated with honors.
DesSoye.
says Karen. “The Psychology
Prior to coming to Lehman,
Department is what kept me there.” She became
Danielle attended the Swedish Institute for massage therapy, where she earned her associate’s
president of the Psi Chi Honor Society and was
degree, and worked as a certified massage therainducted into Golden Key.
pist while studying for her bachelor’s degree. She
Karen, who has always aspired to become a
hopes to continue her studies in education on the
clinical psychologist, praised the department’s
graduate level.
faculty, especially Professor Vincent Prohaska,
“I enjoyed Lehman because the campus is very
who was the chair during her years at Lehman.
open and diverse. Everyone always had different
“Once I took my first psychology class, I was
successful because of Dr. Prohaska and his help,”
points of view and that was good, especially in
she says. “The whole department was wonderful.” psychology.”
Karen was also on the Dean’s List, was a
Karen, who has a master’s in education from
Presidential scholar, and graduated both summa
Fordham University, is working in an administracum laude and with departmental honors. She
tive internship with the Yonkers school system
had such a good experience that she encouraged
that will count toward a professional diploma in
her daughter to attend Lehman as well.
school administration from Manhattanville. ◆
David Lebenstein (‘72) of Time Equities:
A Distinguished Career that Began with a Lehman Degree
D
avid N. Lebenstein (’72), director of
sales and leasing at Time Equities, has
many fond memories of Lehman College. He took early-morning classes, he recalls,
because that gave him the freedom to work from
noon until seven in the office of then-Mayor John
Lindsay. A political science major, he treasured
the architecture of the campus and the faculty
who gave him the foundation for his career.
Lebenstein was also involved in a studyabroad program in 1969, living for a semester
at the Lagos Refinery in Aruba with thirty-five
other students. They used to listen to the Beatles’
“White Album,” he says, attend classes that
sometimes started at ten in the evening and
do their studying in a hammock on the beach.
Lebenstein also attended a semester at American
University in Washington, D.C.
From Lehman, he went on to Brooklyn Law
School and a distinguished
career that has included positions as board chairman and
founding executive of Interface, a non-profit public policy
organization for New York
City. He served as chairman
Ellen and David
of Community Board No. 7 in Lebenstein.
Flushing, founded the Downtown Flushing Development Corporation and
City-Wide Coalition of Community Boards, and
was president of the Downstate New York Chapter
of the Society of Industrial and Office Realtors.
Earlier this year, he married Ellen Baer, who attended Baruch College and is a partner in the real
estate firm of Hamilton, Rabinovitz & Alschuler.
An affection for the New York Jets brought the
couple together, courtesy of a mutual friend who
knew they were both season ticket-holders. ◆
••••••••••••••••A
• •LUMNI
• • • •N
• •EWS
•••••••••••••••••
For the Santa Teresa Family, Lehman is a Family Affair
Alumni Association
Formally Welcomes
Newest Members
T
his June, Jonathan Santa Teresa, a senior
airman in the New York Air National
Guard, became the fifth member of his
family to earn a bachelor’s degree from Lehman
College. His older brother, Emmanuel, was the
first to graduate in 1987, with a degree in political science. In 1988, his mother followed, with
a degree in accounting. His sister and sisterin-law both graduated in 1990 with degrees in
chemistry and nursing respectively.
For Jonathan, who majored in computer
information systems, this marks his second
degree. He earned his first bachelor’s degree in
business administration and marketing from
Manhattan College. Then he joined the service
and was a radio operator while stationed
in Florida. He is now a reserve guardsman
stationed in New York and works in human
resources.
When Jonathan decided to pursue a second
degree, deciding which college to attend was a
no-brainer. “I chose Lehman because my family had nothing but good things to say about
it, and also because I wanted to continue the
tradition.” ◆
Alumni Notes
1988
Michael Santana has created an online course
to help entering law school students develop
their skills in legal writing. A 1992 graduate of
the CUNY School of Law, Santana has taught at
both the Vermont Law School and the University of Montana School of Law, as well as at
Lehman and Bronx Community College. He
clerked for Justice Charles Z. Smith on the State
of Washington’s Supreme Court and was a staff
attorney for the Society for the Prevention of
Cruelty to Children, as well as for Nassau/Suffolk Law Services, and was Special Assistant
Corporation Counsel for New York City’s Administration for Children’s Services. He began
his legal career in 1993 as an associate at the
firm of Ginsberg, Katshorhis & Fedrizzi.
1976
Peter Crabtree, journalist and former bureau
reporter for the past 15 years with The Rutland
Herald, is now managing editor of The Berkshire
Eagle in Pittsfield, Mass. Crabtree’s career began
in New York City as a freelance photojournalist.
When he moved to Bennington, Vt., he worked
as a journalist at The Bennington Banner, covering the police, courts, crime and education in
all of New York State. With his move to The
The Class of 2005 was officially
welcomed into the Lehman College
Alumni Association at the Graduating
Seniors’ Brunch in May, complete with
a toast of sparkling apple cider and the
presence of more than 150 soon-to-begraduates.
Jonathan Santa
Teresa (‘05) is a
senior airman in
the New York Air
National Guard.
Emmanuel
Santa Teresa
(‘87) is a major
in the U.S.
Air Force. He
served in Iraq
and is now
stationed in
Hawaii.
Berkshire Eagle (sister paper to the Banner), he
is returning to his roots. “A newspaper is only as
good as its reporters. They’re the key to everything,” he said in an interview at the time of his
appointment. Crabtree hopes to be a proactive
role model for young staff writers and does not
view his work as only a job. “I don’t think of the
stories I broke as much as the places I’ve been
and the people I’ve met.”
2000
Gregory Zenion (M.S.) has been named assistant principal of the middle school in the Chariho, R.I., school district. District Superintendent
Barry Ricci said the appointment meant that
the former Chariho teacher “would be coming
home.” Zenion received his bachelor’s degree
from the University of Rhode Island.
Addressing the students was Nancy
Cintron, director of the Career Services
Office at Lehman, who spoke about
career choices, the job search and how
her office can help both students and
alumni. Thomas Gallagher of the
Alumni Association Board of Directors
urged the students to give back to the
College, not just in money, but in time.
And Ode Hoppie, president of Student
Council, encouraged students to start
their personal tradition of giving by
contributing to the Senior Gift Drive.
Above: Nursing grads Audrey SinclairMcTaggart (left) and Luceine Fergusson.
Below: Aravind Mallipudi (‘98, M.S.)
(left) and Thomas Gallagher (‘74, B.A.)
(right) of the Alumni Board with Milagros
Vasquez (economics).
Alumni Help New Grads
‘Network for Success’
Lehman alumni were on hand at this spring’s
Network for Success reception to give advice
to students and graduating seniors. Among
them were Vito Maggiolo (assignment editor
and producer for CNN), Scott McDonald
(associate equity research analyst, Smith
Barney), Aravind Mallipudi (associate/market
data system administrator, Societé General
Corporate Investment Bank), and Waimum
Yeow (systems developer, Lehman College).
Robert Molina (economics) and Xochil
Waddell (speech pathology and audiology).
15
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • C• AMPUS
• • • • • N• •EWS
•••••••••••••••••
1990–2005: Fifteen Years
Of Leadership and Achievement
Lehman has grown significantly since
1990 in several key areas, including:
◆ External funding. In 1990, Lehman
attracted $5.3 million in external funding,
including contracts, educational awards
and research grants. In Fiscal Year 2005,
that number had grown to $17 million.
◆ New programs. Since 1990, Lehman
has added new undergraduate programs
in business and multilingual journalism,
new graduate programs in several fields
of teaching, social work and public health,
and partnered with the Department of
Education, community organizations and
“New Visions for Public Schools” to open
nine small schools in the Bronx.
◆ National Awards. Since 1990, Lehman
faculty have won notable national awards
and grants and been elected to prestigious
academic societies. Students have taken top
prizes in honor societies like Golden Key
and Psi Chi and won competitive achievement and research awards. Lehman itself
was the first CUNY college to earn accreditation from NCATE (National Council for
the Accreditation of Teacher Education)
and one of eight senior colleges across
the country selected as an “Institution of
Excellence” for the quality of its freshman
program.
◆ New facilities. Since 1990, Lehman has
opened state-of-the-art facilities in biology, foreign language learning, geographic
information science, information technology, radio broadcasting, speech pathology,
and sports and recreation, in addition to a
new walkway and plaza.
LEHMAN CO L L E G E
The City University of New York
250 Bedford Park Boulevard West
Bronx, New York 10468-1589
A Taste of the New Season at Lehman Center
Saturday, Oct. 1, 8 p.m.
Puerto Rico Sings/New York Swings
Thrill to the hip-swinging
salsa rhythms of José “Cheo”
Feliciano, with hits like Anacaona, Juguete, Salomé, and Juan
Albañil and the Fania All-Stars
legend Ismael Miranda, who’ll
Cheo Feliciano
sing hits like Así se compone un
son, Borinquen tiene montuno, Señor sereno, and
Maria Luisa; plus the Grammy Award-winning
Spanish Harlem Orchestra, with invited guest
Nelson González. Tickets: $45, $40, $35, $30.
Sunday, Oct. 2, 3 p.m.
Community Celebration Series:
Italian Celebration with Al Martino
The great singer Al Martino, known for his hits
Spanish Eyes and Can’t Help Falling in Love, will
be joined by Natalie Pinto,
Louis Vanaria, Viviana and
the Joe Cabot Orchestra in an
afternoon of Italian favorites. Presented in association
with The Sicilian American
Charitable Organization, Inc.
Al Martino
Tickets: $25, $15.
Sunday, Oct. 30, 2 p.m.
Csardas: Fiery Gypsy Music and Dance by the
Budapest Ensemble from Hungary
This dance company, performing to
fiery gypsy music,
is majestic and
graceful, yet robust
and dynamic, and
allows a glimpse into the soul of the Hungarian
nation. Tickets: $30, $25, $20.
Saturday, Nov. 5, 8 p.m.
Bank of America
Community Celebration
Series: A Merengue Party
with Grupo Aguakate /
Joseito Mateo / Luis
Kalaff
/ Coco Merenson
Grupo Aguakate
Iconic Dominican merengueros Luis Kalaff and Joseito “El Rey del Merengue” Mateo, backed by the dynamic band of
Coco Merenson, share the evening with Grupo
Aguakate, whose mix of reggaetón, merengue,
and hip-hop makes for an irresistible party
vibe. Tickets: $25, $15.
Saturday, Dec. 3, 8 p.m.
Bank of America Community Celebration
Series: Caribbean Music
Legend Maxi Priest
Maxi Priest has performed all
over the world and recorded
over 10 albums and duets with
Beres Hammond and Set the
Maxi Priest
Night to Music with Roberta
Flack, among others. Tickets: $25, $15.
Coming in the Spring:
The Temptations and the Marvelettes:
Feb. 11, 8 p.m. $45, $40, $35, $25.
DanceBrazil: Mar. 19, 2 p.m. $25, $15.
In Our Blood...A Legacy of Dance in the
Bronx: May 21, 3 p.m. Tickets: $25, $15.
The Unstoppable Debbie Reynolds in
Concert: June 4, 2 p.m. $50, $45, $40, $35.
Order tickets over the phone
(718-960-8833) or on the web
(www.lehmancenter.org)
Nonprofit
Organization
U.S. Postage
PAID
Bronx, NY
Permit No. 632