FroM the eDitORs

LATELY WE’RE SEEING NEWS ABOUT RISING COSTS OF RICE, WHEAT AND CORN— basic food staples we Americans have taken for granted as cheap and plentiful all of our lives. EDITORS What’s going on? james l. JOHNSON Globalization. Exploding prosperity in China and India empowers millions more people to buy paul JOLY food, just when new biofuel production here and abroad makes less grain available for food. At this PULSE EDITOR/WRITER moment, farmers in America and around the world are rushing to plant more food grain, motivated heidi BRIGHT BUTLER by rising market prices. Over the past few generations, globalization has brought about phenomenal rises in standards CONTRIBUTING WRITERS of living around the world. And it has caused American jobs to be lost to overseas competition. It mustafah ABDULAZIZ paul ACAMPORA heidi BRIGHT BUTLER meghan DECKER kevin GRAY carol GUZY ’77 mary ann LEONE ’00 In this issue, we look at NCC as katherine NOLL a community college for the beth ORENSTEIN myra SATUREN world community. lisbeth SAVERI cynthia TINTORRI sharon JONES ZONDAG

CLASS NOTES COORDINATOR nancy HUTT has flooded our stores with abundant, cheap goods from clothing to electronics, and it next will be treating us to such bizarre experiences as pulling up to the fast food drive-thru speaker and placing PROOFREADER our order with someone halfway around the world. “Your total will be $3.94. Have a nice day. Please kate SCHAFFNER proceed to the first window.” Greetings from Karachi. So is globalization good or bad? People often react negatively to the term, but the resourceful ART DIRECTOR approach is to find productive ways to adapt to the realities of globalization. Which is what this traci ANFUSO-YOUNG issue of Northampton magazine is all about — NCC’s engagement with international opportunities. PRODUCTION COORDINATOR Because it no longer makes any sense to think of our lives as livable in isolation. marianne ATHERTON In this issue, we look at NCC as a community college for the “world community.” We focus on the ways NCC prepares students for the global economy they will be entering as working adults. We CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS explore international influences on campus, and we look at NCC’s forays into overseas ventures. mustafah ABDULAZIZ carol GUZY ’77 NCC being a rare Eastern U.S. community college with dorms, international students from randy MONCEAUX around the world enroll here, adding a whole extra level of diversity to the campus culture. And the philip STEIN international exchange works in both directions. The College runs foreign exposure group trips for hub WILLSON students each semester, and routinely contracts with overseas companies to provide training and consulting assistance through the Center for Business and Industry. PRESIDENT We guarantee you’ll be impressed and surprised by the variety and depth of Northampton’s dr. arthur SCOTT international ties. At first glance, it may seem contradictory for a community college to take VICE PRESIDENT such a global perspective. Maybe you could say we’re out there redefining community. Or more INSTITUTIONAL ADVANCEMENT accurately, that community has already been redefined by rushing, undeniable developments, and susan k. KUBIK that Northampton’s simply doing what we’ve always done best—engaging with the community. u

NORTHAMPTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOUNDATION BOARD CHAIRMAN john EUREYECKO

PUBLISHER northampton community college foundation 3835 green pond road bethlehem, pa 18020

NCC ● SUMMER 2008 CoNTents 10 LAND OF MYTH A Terrifying, Wondrous Adventure. By Mustafah Abdulaziz

16 REDEFINING COMMUNITY 02 PULSE: Campus News and Scuttlebutt A Global College Experience. By Beth Orenstein 02 NCC Celebrates 10 Years Of Online Learning 03 Off The Beaten Path: Jessica Allen ’08 20 INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS 04 Earth Day 22 AKA: ESL 05 Getting Out The Vote 23 HUAXIA SCHOOL 06 Cartography 101: Campus Additions 08 Accolades: NCC Newsmakers 24 NCC NONCREDIT CLASSES 24 SAY HOLA 34 25 LANGUAGE AS COMMUNITY MIRROR ALUMNI NOTES 34 Share Your Story 35 Did You Know 36 26 A GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE Donor Profile: Kostas Kalogeropoulos 38 Alumni Profile: Hatice Adar ’95 NCC’s Role In The New Economy. By Beth Orenstein 40 Alumni Profile: Robert Reddy ’71 29 OUR MAN IN: UKRAINE, ISTANBUL, 42 Alumni Profi le: Anthony Tedeschi ’97 MEXICO, HONG KONG … 43 Memoriam 44 Alumni Profile: Billy Kounoupis ’83 45 Reflections, Silent Souls 30 THE SLOW CLIMB TOWARD HOPE Defi ning Genocide. By James L. Johnson ’89 33 THE 8 STAGES OF GENOCIDE

COVER-ISTOCKPHOTO/ABOVE-MUSTAFAH ABDULAZIZ SUMMER 2008 ● NCC 1 PuLSe Campus NEWS and Scuttlebutt

3.2 Million Learning Online In The United States!

What a Difference a Decade Makes NCC Celebrates 10 Years of Online Learning

FOR 10 YEARS NOW, IT’S from other colleges who at- “The growth you’re see- online learning for NCC, more been possible to take a class tended “virtually” via a live ing in online learning at NCC is than 4,500 NCC students took in your jammies – or, for that Web conference. happening around the country at least one course for credit matter, in another country! Miller began his presen- – the number of online learners online during the 2006-07 – through Northampton Com- tation with a brief history of is over 3.2 million in the United academic year. This repre- munity College’s online learn- distance learning, from the States,” Miller told the audi- sents 35 percent of the student ing program. That milestone open university movement ence. “Two-year institutions body. The College now has was celebrated this semester of the 1970s (when NCC of- have the highest growth rates, over 150 unique online courses with a talk by Dr. Gary Miller, fered a correspondence-based accounting for more than half available to students. There are founder of the Penn State “College-at-Home” program) of all online enrollments for the also several degree programs World Campus. The audience through the advent of satellite last fi ve years.” and certifi cates that can be included those physically video and cable TV, to the NCC’s online learning completed entirely online. The present in Lipkin Theatre, as current and ever-increasing program is defi nitely see- course requirements and topics well as faculty members and popularity of online courses ing growth. According to Dr. covered are the same as for online learning coordinators via the Internet. Kelvin Bentley, director of courses offered on campus. “It

2 NCC ● SUMMER 2008 is more tech-savvy now. Academic Milestones 1 ExCEllenCe Learning has to be integrated into life for adult learners – they need fl exibility,” which online learning provides. PuLSe What does the future “Off the Beaten Path” hold for online learning? Miller said one challenge SOMETIMES YOU LEARN ON THE STRAIGHT AND NARROW. will be how to create Other times, learning takes you off the beaten path. That was the case for learning communities for Jessica Allen, the fi rst graduate of Northampton Community College’s honors students and instructors in program. A graduate of Easton Area High School, Jessica says she was at­ cyberspace, perhaps with tracted to the honors program because it was new at NCC “and I thought it a global scope. Teacher would be cool to be in the fi rst group.” Not only was she the fi rst student to education will change, since complete the program, she also got to participate in NCC’s fi rst winter com­ more instructors will need to mencement this past January. know how to teach online, in The honors program’s overall goal is to provide an academic atmosphere addition to the face-to-face in which students learn to think critically, creatively, and independently, and classroom. to take responsibility for their own learning. Allen found that to be the case. Institutions will change “The professors offered open-ended syllabi, so, in a way, we got to design our as more “blended” programs own program. I got to explore things I was interested in, in addition to what and degrees are offered the professors wanted to teach me.” – those that combine online The small class size in the honors program also made an impression on learning with a classroom Allen. “There were not more than 15 students in my classes, so I really got a component. Miller also fore- lot of one-on-one with professors. I got to know my classmates really well, and sees an “aggregating of aca- that allowed for a lot of great demic resources” by sharing discussion,” she says. faculty across institutional Allen’s favorite class was boundaries. “Take foreign Irish Literature, the highlights of languages as an example. A which included “picking apart” professor at one college may the symbolism of W. B. Yeats’ EXpaNdiNG aCCeSS teach Mandarin Chinese to poem “The Second Coming,” students at several differ- and a fi eld trip to Princeton Uni­ ent colleges.” Miller also versity to see a production by believes there will be more an Irish playwright. Allen’s pro­ is the mode of delivery” that is online collaboration between fessor for the course, Cara Mc­ different, Bentley says. educational institutions and Clintock-Walsh, says Allen was During his presentation, industry in order to train a “the kind of student a professor Miller said the boom in online specialized work force. dreams of having: dedicated learning is due in part to the In conclusion, Miller Jessica Allen, fi rst Honors Program and creative, hard working and availability of Internet tech- warned, “Don’t defi ne your- graduate. inspired.” nology, but also because of self by technology. Online Asked if she would rec­ what he calls the “net genera- learning will transform – be ommend the program to others, tion,” many of whom prefer prepared for it. Don’t hold Allen’s response is quick and online learning to traditional on too tightly to what you enthusiastic. “Absolutely! It’s classroom courses. “They’re have now – keep one hand a good program for anyone. I don’t think people should be discouraged by visual and kinesthetic learn- free to grab what’s coming the ‘honors’ designation – it’s just a different style of learning. It helped me ers, and they see the Web as a in the future.” reorganize my thinking so it’s not so ‘one-track.’ I look at things now in ways reference library.” To learn more about I wouldn’t have looked at them before the program. I call it ‘off the beaten However, according to the courses and degrees path’ learning.” Miller, the net generation is available through NCC’s Allen currently attends Moravian College, where she’s majoring in not solely responsible for the online learning program, English language and literature. She hopes to enter the fi eld of publishing or popularity of online learning. go to http://northampton. editing, “something where I can do what I love, which is reading.” Professor Many older adults are also edu/onlinelearning u McClintock-Walsh has no doubt Allen will succeed. “She’s a talented student taking advantage of online by Cynthia Tintorri who I am sure will do very well wherever she goes.” u courses. “The adult consumer by Cynthia Tintorri

LEFT PHOTO AND ILLUSTRATION BY ISTOCKPHOTO/RIGHT-SUPPLIED SUMMER 2008 ● NCC 3 eNVirONmeNT Color Us Green EARTH DAY A Planet is a Terrible Thing To Waste By Cynthia Tintorri and Heidi Butler

IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL DAY service announcement on sustain­ At the Monroe Campus, you acre preserve will feature native to celebrate the earth on April 22, able living, produced by Radio/TV could learn about ancient life hidden trees and plants, a memorial walk­ and students and staff alike took to major Henry Yeska IV. You could in rocks from geology professor Dr. way, a fountain plaza, an art garden the quad to experience NCC’s fi rst­ view sculptures made of recycled Susana Palamarcuzk, watch the fi lm and plenty of comfortable seating. ever Earth Day Sustainable Living materials, courtesy of art professor “The Story of Stuff” or see posters At the groundbreaking, Karl Expo. Organized by the Environmen­ Jason Zulli’s talented students. You prepared by Biology I students. Stackhouse, the chair of NCC’s tal Task Force, the event featured could learn how to refashion plastic In the area of the Main Cam­ board of trustees, noted that the over 20 exhibitors with information shopping bags into colorful hand­ pus near Penn and Commonwealth garden symbolizes NCC’s com­ or products related to green living. crafted wallets, and you could get a Hall, you could look to the future, mitment to “serve as a model of You could measure the size of peek at the tiny “smart fortwo” car as ground was broken for a “Tribute environmental sustainability and of your “carbon footprint.” You could that recently became available in Garden” that will provide a natural putting knowledge into action,” a also watch a video of the Environ­ the United States after a successful oasis for study, reflection and special worthy goal not just for Earth Day, mental Task Force’s winning public debut in Europe. events in years to come. The two- but for every day. u

4 NCC ● SUMMER 2008 LEFT-PHOTOS BY HUB WILLSON/RIGHT-PHOTOS BY RANDY MONCEAUX The Political Pulse enGaGEment

getting out the VOTE Pennsylvania primary. ence Club. The club’s advisor, Dr. It would have been hard for Vasiliki Anastasakos, says “The club THE FACT OF THE MATTER that message to go unheard at NCC worked hard not to advance a politi­ is that in a democracy, civic this spring. The calendar was full cal agenda, but to generate interest engagement always matters. This of political forums, debates, straw in the primary and the general spring it seemed to matter more polls, displays and even a surprise election and to motivate students than ever with a presidential visit from Chelsea Clinton, stumping to educate themselves about the election coming up in the fall and on behalf of her mother, aka Hillary. issues and the candidates.” the Democratic Party’s candidate Many of the programs were The conversation will con­ undetermined going into the sponsored by NCC’s Political Sci­ tinue in the fall. u

SUMMER 2008 ● NCC 5 aCCeSS & gROwtH Redrawing The Campus Map

A B Cartography 101:If you haven’t COATING AND INK taken a campus tour lately, you’re in for a treat. And a few RESEARCH INSTITUTE surprises! For this walkabout, you won’t need a compass, a GPS, a car or a new The Coating and Ink Research pair of sneakers. Let your eyes travel across the pages for a peek at some recent ad- Institute (CIRI) is NCC’s newest answer to fi nding low-cost, envi­ ditions and enhancements to NCC’s Main Campus and to the College’s educational ronmentally friendly methods of centers in South Bethlehem and Monroe County. ink plate manufacturing. For over 15 years, the Electrotechnology SOUTHSIDE CENTER FOR for Sands BethWorks employees. Application Center in Hartzell Hall FAB LAB A WORKFORCE With nearly every employee has been home to many exciting What’s smaller than a copier DEVELOPMENT receiving some training through projects. Scientists there recently machine and produces everything Occupying the top floor of the NCC, the number of hospitality created CIRI to further advance this from arts and crafts to engineering Fowler Family Southside Center, and tourism majors is expected to important work. Located at NCC’s and architectural models? It’s the NCC’s Center for Workforce De­ triple in the coming years. David Fowler Family Southside Center, laser cutter-etcher in the Fab Lab, velopment will be an important Schweiger was recently hired to CIRI will soon expand thanks to an amazing small-scale version of staging area for the redevelop­ direct the program. In the future, state-of-the-art testing equipment a mass production factory located ment of Southside Bethlehem as Sands employees may serve as on loan from Testprint, a Dutch at NCC’s Fowler Family Southside Sands BethWorks proceeds with instructors and guest speakers, instrument company. In the coming Center. This “fabrication labora­ construction of an expansive shop­ as well as overseeing internship months, researchers at CIRI will tory” can produce 3-D models ping, dining and entertainment programs for students. “Students assist in testing new resin develop­ and creations made out of wood, complex on the grounds of the can really benefi t from this rela­ ments, and help the efforts of a pressed metals, glass, cardboard, former Bethlehem Steel plant. The tionship,” Dr. Pierpoint says. start-up company, Adept. According acrylic and other materials. “If you Center, which focuses on hospital­ Funding for the creation of the to Al Fuchs, NCC’s director of CIRI, can dream it, we can create it right ity and tourism programs, as well Center for Workforce Development the lab is also working with the here in this lab,” touts Dr. Paul as healthcare, will provide training was provided by Northampton United Soybean Board to develop Pierpoint, dean of NCC’s Fowler for many employers throughout County and the U.S. Department new ink formulations using chemi­ Family Southside Center. the Lehigh Valley. It also will serve of Commerce. cally modifi ed soybean oil, a renew­ as the official training department able material. Local businesses

6 NCC ● SUMMER 2008 C

including Martin Guitar, Pennwood donated to NCC are ones they sterile environment will be used dreams for the new campus that (a wood fl oor manufacturer) and hope will benefit and inspire NCC to prepare students to work in will be built on a 71-acre tract Sartomer (a raw material manufac­ students. The impressive collec­ state-of-the-art facilities found of land the College has acquired turer) are set to benefi t from the tion contains books that have in manufacturing and biomedical along Route 715. In March, the lab’s more effi cient and “green” been autographed by authors and research. board of trustees approved a site ideas for their manufacturing illustrators, as well as many first- “footprint” that will include three processes. These partnerships are edition copies. Unsigned copies of ART buildings, each one- to three-sto­ supported by a grant from the Ben books are available to check out of C GALLERY ries high, according to Mark Culp, Franklin Technology Partners. the library’s general collection. Do enter the lounge in Communica­ NCC’s director of buildings and tions Hall that has been converted grounds. The board will review MAIN CAMPUS BRIGHTER LIGHTS & to a professional art gallery. The more detailed plans in June. If CHILDREN’S MORE PARKING gallery, completed last fall, is all goes according to schedule, B LITERATURE Cruising around NCC’s Main equipped with 12-foot-high ceilings, fi nal designs will be approved by ROOM Campus, you will notice some new sheetrock-covered walls, track the winter, and construction will Imagine your favorite childhood upgrades that are sure to be a hit lighting and signage. The space begin in the summer of 2009. The stories all housed in one room for with students and visitors alike, increases NCC’s ability to display a estimated completion date for the your reading pleasure. A dream including brighter lights in parking variety of art work, especially large campus is 2010. u collection of 700 children’s and lots and walkways and additional pieces, sculptures and installations. young adult books were donated parking. By the end of the summer, Much of the work on the gallery By Meghan Decker to NCC’s Paul and Harriett Mack the lots to the east of Kopecek Hall was done by Associate Professor of Library by Dr. Robert Dornish and (just beyond Lot D) will be able to Art Bruce Wall. As an intern in Institutional his wife Alice. Robert, a former accommodate approximately 190 Advancement at NCC, Meghan children’s literature professor at more cars. MONROE CAMPUS Decker learned her way around the Kutztown University, and Alice, UPDATE College quickly! who taught in NCC’s offi ce ad­ A “CLEANROOM” Architects from MKSD met with ministration program for 30 years, Look, but don’t enter, and cer­ hundreds of NCC students, faculty, share a passion for children’s tainly don’t sneeze, in the new staff and community members literature. The volumes they have “cleanroom” in Hartzell Hall. This this spring to hear their hopes and

LEFT-PHOTO BY PHILIP STEIN/RIGHT-PHOTOS BY RANDY MMONCEAUX SUMMER 2008 ● NCC 7 NCC nEWsMAkers Best In Class ACCOLADES The accomplishments and expertise of NCC students, faculty and staff continue to attract attention well beyond the campus:

how about these students?

recognized twice as an outstanding presenter at describing how community colleges are helping the Beacon Competition for student scholars from baby-boomers employed in physically demand­ two-year colleges. ing jobs retrain for careers that require more brains and less brawn. Dannie, who previously HAZARDS ON THE MATS: Three Northamp­ worked in construction, said that in starting ton Community College wrestlers earned All- college at age 46, he was thrilled to discover American status at the National Collegiate Wres­ that his brain had not stopped working. He also tling Association Championships held in March. noted, “I don’t have time to fail … I have to get Adam Atiyeh, Russ Krobul and Cody Struening all it right the first time.” finished among the top six wrestlers in the country REMARKABLE STORIES: Four recent in their weight categories. Cody is now a two- WISE WOMAN: Brandy graduates of NCC have been named to the All- time All-American. Barbera ‘07 was quoted Pennsylvania Academic Team, an honor that in the 2008 edition of recognizes academic excellence among students ARTISTS ON A WINNING STREAK: For “Movin’ On,” a national attending community colleges. The honorees are, the sixth consecutive year, a student from NCC won full-color magazine dis­ left to right: Evette Olszyk, Lorna O’Farrell, Diana an ADDY in a contest described as “the world’s tributed to high school Hernandez and Ray Herron. English is largest and arguably toughest ad­ students to promote the a second language for Hernandez who vertising competition.” At a dinner advantages of two-year moved here from Puerto Rico while in sponsored by the Greater Lehigh colleges. Brandy tells high school. She earned a 3.6 grade Valley Ad Club, Russell Maura was students, “Planning for a two-year college is dif­ point average as a biology major while presented with a silver ADDY for ferent than planning for other types of schools. helping her aunt with child care and a poster he designed to promote Decisions are a little easier because it’s just two other responsibilities. She hopes to the College’s annual tribute to Dr. years, so you don’t feel like you are planning for become a pediatrician. Herron is a Martin Luther King, Jr. the rest of your life.” single father who maintained almost a perfect grade point average while raising six MAKING US PROUD: Victoria Montero ’06 REACHING OUT TO OTHERS: Students children and helping his father in his automotive was honored as an outstanding Latino college from Christine Armstrong’s small group commu­ repair shop. He majored in computer information student during this year’s Pennsylvania Summit nications class were presented with the “Youth technology, specializing both in networking and in on Educational Excellence for Latino Students. Community Leadership Award” by the United Way computer security. O’Farrell returned to college 30 Since graduating from NCC, Victoria has gone of Monroe County. Given the challenge of creating years after graduating from high school to change on to study health service administration at East and publicizing a campus event, the students came careers after being injured on the job as a para­ Stroudsburg University. up with the idea of sponsoring a fun night and an medic in New York City. Olszyk was a widow with American Idol-type competition to benefit United two young children when she enrolled at NCC. She BUILDING A NEW CAREER: Dannie Hill, Way. They raised over $800 for the cause. is a past president of the Monroe chapter of the in­ an Act 101 student from NCC, was featured in ternational honor society Phi Theta Kappa and was The Chronicle of Higher Education in an article

8 NCC ● SUMMER 2008 PHOTOS NCC STOCK leaders in their fields

IN DEMAND: Faculty and staff Don Robertson (Leadership Devel­ AUTHOR, AUTHOR: The art programs, were featured in a members are frequently invited to opment Institute), who discussed biographies of Maya Angelou; one-man show at Reading Area present at regional and national “Talent Management, Leadership Tiger Woods; Sammy Davis, Jr.; Community College. conferences. Among those asked Development and Business Results” B.B. King; author Jean Toomer and to share their expertise during at the 2008 Enterprise Learning 40 other individuals that appear IN GOOD COMPANY: Susan the spring semester were: Wendi Strategies Conference; Hope in the most recent edition of Kubik, NCC’s vice president for Achey (Business/Marketing), Amy Horowitz (Sociology/Social Work), The African American National institutional advancement, continues Roche and Joe Scocozza (Instruc­ who shared information on grass- Biography, released by Oxford to garner national accolades for tional Technology), who were roots social action at the Social University Press were written her leadership in educational among the speakers at the Pennsyl­ Welfare Action Alliance Confer­ by NCC’s own Sholomo Levy, fundraising. vania Educational Technology Expo ence; President Arthur Scott, who assistant professor of history. Levy This spring, she received the and Conference; Dr. James Benner spoke on increasing accessibility served as both a research editor Commonfund Award, presented (Center for Teaching and Learn­ to community colleges for non-tra­ and contributor for the eight- to individuals who have excelled ing), Carolyn Bortz (Allied Health ditional students at a colloquium volume work. in the development of their own and Sciences) and Pamela Bradley for college presidents sponsored organizations and provided signifi ­ (Humanities and Social Sciences), by the U.S. Department of Educa­ ARTIST, ARTIST: A set of fi ve cant service to the community of who spoke at the North Carolina tion and Dr. James Von Schilling paintings created by Associate institutionally-related foundations. State Undergraduate Assessment (English), who presented a paper Professor of Art Bruce Wall has Past recipients include CEOs of Symposium; Faye Freer (early child­ titled “Meet the Grandboomers been selected for the permanent the Minnesota Medical Founda­ hood education), who presented at – Grayin’ and Groovin’” at a gath­ art collection at Lehigh Valley tion, the University of Maryland the National Coalition for Campus ering of the American Culture and Hospital’s Kaysch Pavilion. Works Foundation, Inc., and the Indiana Children’s Centers; Donna Goss and Popular Culture Association. by Tom Shillea, NCC’s director of University Foundation. what an impact!

SWEET 16: According to a recent Morning Call survey, NCC is the 16th AND, OH, BY THE WAY: For the second year in a row, NCC has been largest employer in the Lehigh Valley with 1,308 full- and part-time employ­ named the President Bush’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll, ees. Health care organizations lead the list with Lehigh Valley Hospital and a distinction that recognizes the College’s leadership in building a culture of Health Network in the #1 spot and St. Luke’s Hospital & Health Network at #2. service and civic engagement. NCC also has become one of only 29 organiza­ tions in the country chosen by the State Farm Youth Advisory Board to receive LEADING THE WAY: Early in the Spring semester NCC was one of a grant for a second consecutive year to support student projects related to three organizations honored by the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Com­ disaster preparedness. merce for leadership in economic development. John Callahan, mayor of Bethlehem, presented the College with the Chamber’s “Community Invest­ YOU’RE HOLDING GOLD IN YOUR HANDS! The NCC magazine ment Award” for providing local employers with a well prepared work force took fi rst place among community college magazines in the Middle Atlantic and for the creation of the Fowler Family Southside Center. states, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and Ontario in a competition sponsored by the Council for Advancement and Support of Education. The College’s an­ INDUSTRIAL SUPERHEROES: The scientists at NCC’s Electrotechnol­ nual report also won a bronze award in this competition and bronze awards in ogy Applications Center were praised in the Pennsylvania Department of En­ two national communications contests. As if that weren’t enough excitement, vironmental Protection’s “Daily Update” for helping a manufacturing company NCC’s online news site and school district newsletter both were rated “best in in Lycoming County save $50,000 a year through a heat-containment system class” by the Pennsylvania Press Club, so do read on! u and for identifying other changes that could reduce costs and environmental impact. This is one of many projects the ETAC team has undertaken for manu­ facturers across the state.

SUMMER 2008 ● NCC 9 my terrifying, wondrous adventure

ÓI traveled to South America in the beginning of January to pursue a series of photographic projects that would end up taking me from the slums of Buenos Aires to the southernmost tip of the continent. I was going to Patagonia. A geographic region one and a quarter times the size of Texas, Patagonia is shared by both Chile and Argentina as an epic, borderless territory of cowboys, expatriates and wanderers. Romanticized in literature, revered among travelers, Patagonia is a land of myth. For Americans, Patagonia is a brand of clothing, not a culture. The label brand draws its inspiration from the brutal extremes of its namesake. Method of my travel? Buses, trains and an old-fashioned roadside thumb pointed to the sky. The reason? To photograph everything from an international expedition race at the bottom of the world to an annual rodeo in Cerro Castillo to the scenes of the energy crisis in Chile. And before it was over, I would ride with cowboys, I would share mate, a brewed herbal drink, with displaced indigenous natives along the Rio Bio Bio, a lifeline river dammed by an energy conglomerate in an ongoing struggle to sate Chile’s ever-growing energy demands. I would sail on a schooner through the Beagle Channel; I would freeze in the pouring rain in Tierra del Fuego, the mythical land of fi re. But more important than the places I visited, it was the people I met that changed me more than wonderful vistas ever could. I was a journalism major at Northampton Community College when I started thinking about this trip. The seeds for my career in photojournalism were planted early, in winter morning classes with Professor Rob Hays. From there, freelancing and a summer internship with The Morning Call helped solidify the skills and awareness I needed to strike out on my own. While I packed my bags for a South American summer, snow fl urries howled outside my apartment in Philadelphia. It was the very start of January. Two cameras, two lenses, 50 odd rolls of 36-shot film, handfuls of 4GB digital flash cards: it seemed I was packing more things to work than to survive. The place I was going was harsh. It was sweltering in the day, freezing at night, and windy all the time. I packed like any professional photographer going on assign- ment: ready for the worst, hoping for the best. When I left the states, I didn’t know what I’d see. My impressions of Patagonia — the cross-border region where I’d spend close to three months working — were

SUMMER 2008 ● NCC 11 Gauchos work in the fading twilight to set salmon nets in the waters off Peninsula Varas. severely limited. Of course, I had Wiki-ed it and downloaded Google Earth; partially to see what all the hype was, and partially to scope out just how big of a mess I had gotten myself into. What I read was like a slap in the face: vast swathes of empty, unmarked territory ac­ cessible via unpaved roads used only by those living on them. Like a wall built too fast, my hopes for the trip began to show fault lines. I started doubting my decision. Was I being too naïve? No one I knew had ever embarked on a trip like this at my age. On top of that, how would I communicate? I understood more Spanish than I spoke. I should’ve paid more attention in Spanish class. How would I get around? The places I needed to go were far flung, off the beaten track. Would it be safe? Some parts of South America are often regarded as dangerous for travelers. I was going by myself, with camera gear worth thousands of dollars, for three months, and I was just 21 years old. I’d been planning this project for nearly a year. From the start, I’d been jumping over hurdles. An eBay seller had swindled me when I had tried to sell off my old Nikon gear to switch to Canon. I just barely missed out on winning a large grant that would have covered my travel expenses. I’d been living and breathing Patagonia before I ever stepped foot on its soil. Maps hung duct taped on my walls, black lines crisscrossing from coast to coast, a spider web of my future passage. The pre-game jitters I was feeling were nothing new. I headed to the airport. My stories would focus on the progression of Patagonia’s cultural and socio-econom­ ic issues into the 21st century. Plain and simple: my focus was the people, not the scenery. I wasn’t interested in the cliché pictures of Patagonia, of postcard rivers and screensaver mountains. Riding on a red-eye flight to Buenos Aires, I stared out a rain-speckled window and thought about this. I’d said goodbye to my fiancé, to my family, to everything familiar. I was on my own. Patagonia was my baptism by fire, my way of throwing myself into the pool to see if I sank or swam. If I swam, I would gain the experience and confidence as pho­ tojournalist to cover international issues. If I sank, well, I didn’t want to think about that. Buenos Aires was like a punch in the face. I found my way to a hostel near a barrio. At night, thumping Latin music seeped through the tan cracked walls. I inhaled my first Gauchos gather in the breath of South America: the thick humid air that you could cut with a knife; the blistering evening to sing songs of noonday sun that washed out the brightly colored walls into aged echoes of themselves and turned the human form into deep black shadows. love won and lost. I spent two weeks in Buenos Aires, seeking out the grit underneath the flash of the international travel hotspot once rated behind Florence, Italy, as the second most desirable city by travelers. I didn’t have to search very far. I ventured into the slums around the La Boca neighborhood, famous for its passionate football clubs and tourism. In a matter of a hundred feet, there were sections for tourists patrolled by the police and then there was the town for the locals. Two separate worlds, one of wealth, one of squalor, the latter I was warned more than once to avoid. On the old subway, you can’t sit for more than one stop before someone comes by to put a pamphlet or trinket on your lap. If you’re interested in buying it, then you fork over some pesos when they come back around. If not, you let them take it off your lap. Kids no older than my 11-year-old brother with faces smeared with grime press themselves against windows of posh restaurants to beg for food. Tourists and locals alike avert their eyes. Se­ curity guards shoo them off, sometimes swatting a few with their batons. Leaving Buenos Aires, I met a girl selling used newspapers. She asked for the last of my water, which I gave. Without thanks or looking up, she continued to yell her sales pitch, downed the water, and threw the bottle into the nearby traffic. I’d never witnessed such clashes of privilege and poverty up close. Everywhere I went the contrast was there. It was on Avenue Florida, where tourists bought cups of mate while

SUMMER 2008 ● NCC 13 Neheun, of Patagonia: his face splattered with construction cement, creased by hard life. bands of street children slept in the shade. It was in La Boca, where scowling police would whistle loudly if a visitor wandered too far from the colorful, busy shops. And everywhere, everywhere, I was being sold something. This view would prove to be something I would see over and over again in Patagonia: the influence of modernity, of consumerism and travel in a land still hailed as the last out- post of mythic wilderness in the world. It was no different in Montevideo or Santiago, the later of which has begun to sprout Starbucks coffee shops. In Patagonia, I met as peculiar and kind people as I’ve never met anywhere else. On a chance trip to the Milodon Cave near the outpost town of Puerto Natales, I met an old construction worker named Neheun. His family was Mapuche, one of the indigenous tribes in Patagonia. He had a face etched by toil, eyes watered by the high winds and hands the texture of dusty, broken leather. In the sweltering heat, as his fellow workers mixed cement, we shared river water from my bottle. He asked me about New York City. I asked him about Patagonia. “Are there many people there, in Nueve York?” he asked. “Millones,” I replied. Millions. He had shaken his head. “Too many for me, my friend.” I asked him how many people lived in the town he came from. “Cuarenta y cinco.” Forty-five. We were complete strangers, each fascinated by the unknown of each other’s home. I knew no more than his first name, he no more than mine, and in 10 minutes he had invited me to stay at his family’s new home in Cerro Castillo, a shantytown I later visited. I would have dinner with Neheun and his granddaughter and share mate with his grandsons. In Viedma, I met street kids who woke up early to swim and fish in the Rio Negro River. With sticks and string foraged from dumpsters, they caught their lunch; small fish Self-taught, Mustafah Abdulaziz they would grill inside the city limits, where a fire-pit would not attract attention. I be- began photography in the opening friended them and ended up shucking my cameras and swimming in the cool morning years of the 21st century, in a time of water, the sound of feet pattering on mud mixing with the rumbling of a coming storm. great change and confl ict. After three During a rodeo, I jumped into the arena to get closer to the cowboys. I want to make years of freelancing as a photographer, my pictures feel like you’re there, and often times, that requires me to get very close. Im- internships and studying journalism pressed by either my audacity or stupidity, the cowboys accepted me as their own. Later at Northampton Community College, that night, we roasted lamb and sang songs around a fire. One gaucho played drums, the he moved to Philadelphia, where he is other guitar. Cigarettes dangled from their lips while lyrics of love won and lost rose from currently based. their hearts. I did not know the words, but in the flickering firelight on the open plains of Abdulaziz has photographed Patagonia, I almost felt I did. work for various companies, such In the deep bottom of the southern hemisphere, the wind howls into your face, cutting as BlueCross/BlueShield and off sound from your ears. Along the Andes, the steep mountains block your advance. In Walt Disney World. His work has the southern plains, the endless expanse promises nothing but madness as your progress is appeared in newspapers, including measured only in the tilt of the next thorny bush you pass. The Morning Call and Newsday. He But all of Patagonia is not only loneliness and melancholy. It is the people, both Chilean is represented by the MJR (http:// and Argentinean that breath life into this remote corner of the world. I have been fed by wearemjr.com) photo collective. people who have just enough to feed themselves. I have been given shelter in homes, in www.mustafahabdulaziz.com hostels and in barns. I have asked for little and been given an incredible amount of kind- ness in return. And when, after two months I left for Santiago, it was with a deep sense of conviction in my heart: even at the end of the world, there is kindness and compassion in the unlikeliest places. Out there, in lands you’ve yet to see, among the waves and mountains, lay discov- ery. The world is large and oftentimes, new countries can seem daunting for students or young travelers. It took three months, but in the end Patagonia taught me to let go, to fall into the cur- rent: let life’s river take me around the next, unknown bend. So my advice to my fellow students: pick a new path, read about somewhere far off, and take a chance. After all, the journey is the destination. u

SUMMER 2008 ● NCC 15 a global college experience

ÓIn high school, Thomas Janis of Nazareth thought he wanted to pursue a career in music. But while a student at Northampton, where he majored in individualized transfer stud­ ies, he participated in two study abroad opportunities – one to Turkey in summer ’06 and one to France in spring ‘07. After an exchange program with the Lycée Jean Lurçat in Paris, Janis arranged to stay in France for two months and work on an organic farm in the southern region. Now, Janis, who works about 20 hours a week at the College’s English as a Second Language (ESL) lab, is passionate about international relations, and plans to study at a four-year univer­ sity so he can pursue a career in that field. “My experiences in Turkey and France have really gotten me excited about international work,” Janis says. That Janis would have not one but two opportunities to study abroad while attending a com­ munity college is not as unusual as it may seem. Community colleges such as Northampton have recognized that in this time of deepen­ ing globalization, an important part of their mission is to expose their students to people and places outside their comfort zone. “It is so obvious that we need to expose our students to other societies, other cultures, other ways of doing business,” says President Dr. Art Scott. “It is very important for an educated person today to have a global perspective. Very few companies are not dealing in some way in the global marketplace. That’s just a given.” However, the challenge to provide international experiences may be greater for commu­ nity colleges than for four-year colleges and universities, where more students can afford to study abroad for a semester or perhaps even two. Many students at community colleges are non-traditional and, with their work and fam­ ily commitments, it is hard for them to study abroad and still graduate within a reasonable timeframe, says Manuel Gonzalez, director of international programs at NCC. Also, Dr. Scott says, “many of our students don’t have the means to travel abroad or to pursue international experiences independently.” Northampton has risen to the globalization challenge in many ways, not only providing shorter, lower-cost study abroad opportunities for faculty and for students such as providing the spring break trips to Paris and Turkey in which students like Janis participated, but also by infusing global perspectives into the classroom and encouraging its faculty to bring international experiences to life. Northampton also is encouraging international students to come to campus, so students from a wide range of nations can meet in the classroom or cafeteria or gym or in other activities and forge friendships. A large part of Patrice Boulous’ job as assistant director of admissions/international students is to recruit students from around the globe to Northampton. “Over the last 10, 15 years, we’ve done a lot of armchair and a lot of active recruitment internationally,” she says. “This year, we didn’t travel. We chose to update our Web site instead, but I have been to at least 10 to 15 countries in the Middle East, Eastern Europe and Far East to participate in recruitment fairs and visit high schools.” When foreign students come, NCC rolls out the welcome mat. “On campus, we celebrate the international students,” Dr. Scott says. “Throughout our hallways, you will see tributes to their countries. The flags of their countries are in our cafeteria, and whenever an international student graduates, the flag from his or her country is on the stage at graduation. It’s really quite nice.”

SUMMER 2008 ● NCC 17 Northampton has an advantage when it comes to recruiting in­ gram is open to students from Northampton, Delaware Technical & ternational students because, although it is a community college, it Community College, and Howard Community College in Columbia, has dormitories where students can live while they are in school, says Md. “By working with the consortium, we are able to get the numbers Boulous ’82. “Housing is not a requirement for foreign students, but we need every year,” she says. it’s a huge plus for Northampton because it’s hard to find host families. The students stay in college dorms and hotels, if necessary. They It’s so much easier when they have a place to stay on your campus.” attend lectures and visit cultural sites and museums. “We visit a num­ Northampton also has an excellent ESL program, and foreign ber of towns and cities including Cappadocia, world famous for its students often need to improve their English skills before they can take underground cities,” Anastasakos says. The students are required to courses. The College also offers an ESL culture class that is hands-on, keep a reflective journal during their trip, and it is interesting to see says Carole Collins, assistant professor of ESL. The curriculum varies how the trip challenges their preconceived ideas about Turkey and its depending on who is enrolled, who is teaching it and what is happen­ people, she says. The Turkish students have an opportunity to come to ing locally at the time, she says, “but we plan group activities and take Northampton, and many in both groups make new friendships, which small trips and tours of the area to help students get acclimated to life they are able to maintain long distance thanks to the Internet, Anasta­ in America and in the Lehigh Valley.” sakos says. This school year, Northampton is host to more than 100 interna­ In addition to Moscow and Turkey, NCC offers study abroad tional students from 36 countries from Australia to Yemen. The num­ opportunities and faculty exchanges with community colleges and ber of international students has grown over the last six or seven years, technical schools in France, the Ukraine and Azerbaijan, one of the Boulous says. A number of schools were affected by 9/11 because former Soviet Union Republics. “Our relationships with these colleges

Homeland-Security reforms made it more difficult for foreign students usually starts small and grows over the years,” Gonzalez says. Gonza­ to come to this country. “While 9/11 was an issue for a lot of schools, lez also is close to establishing exchange programs with community we weren’t affected as greatly as others,” Boulous says. colleges in Denmark and Argentina as well as other countries in Latin Foreign students, who have long prized American education, America. “South America is crucial,” Gonzalez says. “We’re going to have been discovering community colleges in recent years for the have to deal with and have so many Spanish-speaking folks in the Le­ same reasons that many Americans have – tuition is low and qual­ high Valley, and to have our students visit countries in Latin America ity is high. Even though foreign students pay more per credit to and be exposed to their language and culture will only better prepare attend Northampton than county residents, tuition still is much less them for the world of work.” than they would pay if they came to study at a state or private col­ The study abroad programs are open to all majors. Gonzalez lege or university. once took a group of automotive students to Moscow. The program Northampton has been a member of Community Colleges for with Kharkiv National University in the Ukraine involves microelec­ International Development (CCID), a nonprofit consortium of U.S. tronics, nanofabrication and optoelectronics students. Anastasakos and international colleges founded in 1976, for a number of years. Its finds that many who participate in the Turkey trip are from the political active participation in CCID has led to some unique study abroad op­ science or international relations classes that she teaches. Their inter­ portunities for its students. est is probably piqued because she talks about the trip in her classes, The study abroad program in Turkey that Janis participated in she says. But she also has had students from nursing, general studies, and that the college has offered for the past three years is a good journalism and business. “It’s a wide range,” she says. Very often, she example. Vasiliki Anastasakos, assistant professor of political sci­ adds, returning students talk so excitedly about their experiences that ence, takes students to Turkey where they study the politics, geog­ their friends and classmates are eager to be the next to go. raphy and culture of the country. The trip, a three-credit course, is Some students like Janis, who graduated in December ’06, even typically from 12 to 21 days and is offered in June during the first go on more than one trip. The College has been running the Paris trip summer session. he participated in with the Lycée Jean Lurçat for more than 15 years. It The college needs 18 to 20 people to keep the cost of the trip is one of its oldest international exchange programs. around $2,300 per student. “Every year, we could not get 20 students Although Northampton tries to keep its study abroad trips short from the same school,” Anastasakos says. Through CCID, the pro- and costs down to make them more accessible, it recognizes that still

18 NCC ● SUMMER 2008 not all students can travel. So it encourages faculty in all disciplines to Because the program attracts so many international families, bring the world to their classrooms any way they can, Dr. Scott says. Leary says, it’s often like the United Nations. “We have so many dif­ Professor Doug Heath says that with his course, world geography, ferent countries represented in the same class, and everyone has had to globalizing his subject matter is obviously very easy. “It’s impossible to learn how to get along with each other. We’ve never had any problems, teach geography of the world in a general course like I do in 15 weeks which is wonderful.” without having a lot of politics, a lot of economics, a lot of culture, a lot Gonzalez believes the exposure to other cultures will help of environment, and, indeed, a lot of history.” Still, Heath makes it a Northampton graduates no matter what career path they pursue. In point to tell his students whether in geography or geology, which he also today’s world, he says, it is not uncommon to be working for a com­ teaches, to “wake up and find out what’s going on here. Take part in this pany in the Lehigh Valley that is owned by another in Europe or Asia. new world because it’s a world that is very different from the world that “You could work for a company where you’re a manager, but your call I grew up in and even than these students were born into.” center is in India and your factory is China and you have to interface Heath also uses his travels to complement his lectures and bring with all those folks,” he says. “If we don’t continue to develop our the world into his classroom. In summer 2006, Heath accompanied global initiatives here, our students are going to be at a disadvantage. I Gonzalez on a CCID-sponsored two-week tour of the post second­ do know that employers have liked the fact that students have studied ary educational institutions in Argentina. During the week, they met or traveled abroad. They look for that on their resumes.” with government officials and representatives of vocational schools Students who have participated in the global exchanges say even and universities. On the weekends, they traveled. Throughout the trip, more than the impact it may have on their jobs, the value is the lasting Heath took a lot of photographs, which he assembled in a slideshow friendships they forge with people who live around the globe.

The intricately decorated interior and courtyard of the Blue Mosque, Istanbul, Turkey.

that he now uses in his world geography classes. Geographers often Over the summer, Josh Phillips ’08 of Slatington took four cours­ divide South America into four different regions depending on the cul­ es at Northampton and lived in the dorms where he quickly became ture and the economy of the people. The regions cut across the bound­ friends with several of the international students. He remembers how aries of the different countries, Heath explains. Heath’s Argentina trip three of them – two from Turkey and one from Brazil – talked non­ took him to three of the four regions. Earlier, Heath had traveled to stop about wanting to go to Philadelphia to see Slayer and Marilyn Jamaica, which is representative of the fourth. “So I was able, through Manson, heavy metal bands, perform. “Heavy metal is not something my own previous travels plus this, to put together a comprehensive I really enjoy,” Phillips says. “I never would have gone and spent the picture of Latin America for my students. It was really, really a won­ money.” But Phillips wasn’t about to let his friends, whose English derful opportunity for me and my students to benefit a lot from it.” was good but not great, make the trip to the big city and go to the Yet another aspect of Northampton’s globalization efforts is to concert themselves. So he agreed to go with them, and he’s glad that encourage international students to come to campus to learn and to he did because it turned out he had a great time, too. share. The idea, says Gonzalez, is that “the more folks we bring on Paola Mero of Bethlehem Township, a general studies major campus and expose them to our staff, to our faculty and to our stu­ who will graduate in the fall, remembers meeting Murat Dede during dents, the more comfortable our folks will be with them.” a tour of his school, Çankiri College of Arts and Technology in Turkey. The College works to attract not only international students who After the tour, the Northampton students had lunch with their Turkish enroll in its degree programs, but those who also will participate in host families. “Murat’s mother, aunt and his cousin awaited us in the its ESL and family literacy programs. Often spouses of international dining room of their home where a table was filled to the brim with students studying at Lehigh University will come to Northampton so Turkish delicacies,” Mero recalls. “Although we were with them for that they can improve their English skills and learn about life in the a short time, they instinctively treated us as one of their own family Lehigh Valley, says Nancy Leary, assistant director of family literacy. members.” When they said their goodbyes, Dede’s last words to Mero “The spouses themselves may be physicians or teachers and well edu­ were: “I hope you don’t forget about me.” Mero answered by promis­ cated in their own countries, but while their husbands are students at ing Dede that when he came to Northampton on his reciprocal visit, he Lehigh, they are stuck here with no way of learning English,” she says. would be her “erkek kardeþ” (which means brother) because, she says, Northampton offers both ESL and GED classes at the Bethlehem and “that is precisely how he felt to me that afternoon.” u Monroe campuses. Beth W. Orenstein of Northampton, Pa., is a freelance writer.

PHOTOS-ISTOCKPHOTO SUMMER 2008 ● NCC 19 Douglas Bartz Moeketsi Sello COUNTRY: Brazil COUNTRY: South Africa Renan Bertolazzi MAJOR: Electromechanical MAJOR: Electrical COUNTRY: Brazil Engineering Construction Mgmt MAJOR: Engineering

Motale Moropa Isaac Mhlongo COUNTRY: South Africa Josie Ferrao COUNTRY: South Africa MAJOR: Electrical COUNTRY: Brazil MAJOR: Electrical Construction Mgmt MAJOR: Chemical Construction Mgmt Technology

bring a world of diverse cultural experience to NCC campus

ÓIf your travels have taken you beyond the borders of the United States, you know what it’s like to step out of your comfort zone into a totally new environment. Such is the case for 12 international students who are completing their first year at NCC, pursuing technical knowledge and cultural understanding they will be able to take back to their homelands. NCC is one of only seven colleges nationwide chosen to host such students in a pilot program funded by the U.S. State Department and administered through Community Colleges for International Development, Inc. (CCID). What insights and observations do the were mixed. Lazarus Morudi said Ameri- count for another cultural difference. Doug- students have to share based on their expe- can students “don’t value education as las Bartz had been warned by his tutors in riences thus far? As most were accustomed much as we do in South Africa.” Moropa Brazil not to invade personal space. “When to public transportation in their urban home said, “I was surprised when I came to math I got here, I was a little bit scared to talk areas, in an interview earlier this year, they class. In South Africa we learn to draw the to people.” But he soon realized, “people spoke frequently of that most-cherished graphs without using the calculator, but like to talk, and they’re interested in who American possession — the car. “In my here they allow us to use it.” you are. When I say I’m from Brazil, they home country, we don’t have 90 percent of Josie Ferrao focused on the welcome say, ‘Ho, from Brazil — I want to go there students driving,” Motale Moropa of South availability of technology at NCC. “In my — Rio de Janiero, Carnivale.” Africa said. Gilbert Maloma noted, “Ameri- college in Brazil, we don’t have access Just as Americans think of Carnivale ca is huge compared to my country of South to computers,” she said. “We just have a when they think of Rio, the international Africa … and it’s kind of difficult if you room with 10 computers for more than students associated certain images with the don’t have a car.” 2,000 students.” United States prior to their arrival. Bartz said On the topic of academia, reviews This forced fraternization might ac- for him, it was Miami Beach. Fellow Brazil-

20 NCC ● SUMMER 2008 Gilbert Maloma Caner Guler Lazarus Morudi COUNTRY: South Africa COUNTRY: Turkey COUNTRY: South Africa MAJOR: Electrical MAJOR: Electronics MAJOR: Electrical Construction Mgmt Construction Mgmt

Murat Dede Nokuthula Khumalo Ilyas Gunesebakan COUNTRY: Turkey COUNTRY: South Africa COUNTRY: Turkey MAJOR: Electrical MAJOR: Electrical MAJOR: Engineering Construction Mgmt Construction Mgmt

ian Renan Bertolazzi echoed these remarks, groups in the U.S. stereotype each other, … America is a country like every other although he said his interest shifted to the which he said leads to dissension. one. It has rich people and poor people. northeast once he learned of his chance to Since these comments preceded the The great difference is that the poor people come to the U.S. “It is the most developed international students’ experience with their here are not as poor as Brazilians.” part for education,” he said. host families that began in the spring ’08 se- Bartz affirmed that observation and Maloma mentioned New York “be- mester, a follow-up question was asked to see noted that in the U.S. there is a better quality cause it’s the city that is most talked about. how their perceptions might have changed. of life and heightened “access to so many We see it on television — the Statue of “At first the thought of living with the things, which in Brazil you don’t have,” Liberty, the Twin Towers, before the inci- host family was scaring me a bit … however, adding that in his country, “you have to dent — and also Philadelphia.” we got to know each other, and now every- work a lot more to have success.” And on the topic of the tube, Bartz thing is fine,” Maloma said. “Living with Despite their differences, these bright, said, “In Brazil, we have shows similar to a host family has changed my perceptions articulate students are united by a com- Big Brother and American Idol,” although about the U.S. because … they showed me mon desire to share their experiences and he mentioned that far fewer Brazilians that both their friends and the family itself are knowledge to help improve conditions in watch TV than Americans. willing to learn about where I come from. their countries. Maloma said, “the biggest Nokulthula Khumalo spoke about “Even though I still think that the U.S. achievement a person can have is to give her take on U.S. television news coverage. is not much exposed to the outside world back to the community.” He added, “When “Americans … do not know much about like where I come from, I do believe they I compare the U.S. and my country, there’s our countries and our cultures. They only are willing to invite people like me into a huge difference because in South Africa know stuff about themselves.” She said in their hearts and share our cultural differ- they think, What I have is what I have. Here, South Africa, “our news will report things ences with each other,” he added. people are more giving.” u happening all over the world,” adding that Bertolazzi said that prior to his ar- Mary Ann Leone ‘00 is an Allentown- she felt “out of touch with what’s going on rival, he had heard “that Americans are based freelance writer and editor and a self- in the world” since coming here. Her com- difficult to relate to, close-minded.” Now fashioned goodwill ambassador. patriot Isaac Mhlongo said that various he realizes, “They are people, just like us

PHOTO BY PHILIP STEIN SUMMER 2008 ● NCC 21 a bridge to a new life

ÓLearning English as children came naturally to many of us. If you’d moved here from China, Japan, Switzerland, France or Argentina as an adult, you might have found the process a little more diffi cult. Hala is typical of many newcomers. She came to America for a better life for her and her family, including freedom of speech and job opportunities. Since mov- ing here from Syria, she has found it diffi cult to work, continue with her studies, or become involved in the community due in part to the age of her children, and in part due to her limited English. To help her and others, NCC sponsors English-as-a-Second Language (ESL) classes and family literacy classes in four counties: Northampton, Monroe, Pike and Wayne. These classes provide a bridge to a new life for children and adults from all over the world who now call northeastern Pennsylvania home. Each year, more than 1,000 students enroll in the ESL classes that NCC offers in community centers and schools. Some barely speak English. Others can communicate reasonably well in conversation, but struggle with reading and/or writing. There are classes to meet all needs. In the past, some parents of young children were unable to attend because of child care responsibilities, but in 1998 two NCC staff members, Beth Kuehn and Nancy Leary, started a family literacy program. Now, thanks to grant funding, the College can Each year, more than 1,000 students enroll in the ESL classes that NCC offers in community centers and schools.

help parents master English, learn about American culture and child development, and prepare to become citizens while their children interact with other children in NCC’s child care centers. The program includes activities in which parents and children learn together. “Parents are their child’s fi rst teacher,” Nancy points out. “Students learn about their child’s development during interactive learning activities,”says William Schaffer, di- rector of adult literacy. Beth, better known as Mrs. Beth to her students, notes that family literacy classes also help parents with older children: “Our school systems require parents to par- ticipate in their child’s learning process. Many of these students come from a country where that is not necessary, sometimes forbidden.” Beth is in the process of helping Hala return to the medical fi eld. Hala was a pediatrician in Syria. She is not licensed to practice in the United States, but when her youngest child gets a little bit older and when her English improves, Hala may begin a physician’s assistant program. “Often families come with very little English, and it is wonderful to see them progress and conquer the challenges in their lives,” Beth says of her students. “I’ve had students from all over the globe. I teach English in my classroom, so that is what I insist the students speak. I am the interpreter between the background they come from and American customs.” u

22 NCC ● SUMMER 2008 a passage to china in the lehigh valley

children born in the United States to read, Parents took the lead in starting write and comprehend Chinese,” Prin­ the Lehigh Valley HuaXia School in 1998. ÓOn a chilly Saturday morning in cipal Jin Cao says. Classes begin with Jimmy Li, one of the founders, remembers late January, teens checking cell phones basic words and rhymes and build upon searching for a place where his 4-year­ and preschoolers toting pint-sized back­ each other as a springboard to modern old son could study Chinese. Since there packs cross paths at NCC’s Laub Lounge Chinese literature and advanced com­ were none, he and his friends decided to before splitting off in different directions position. At the same time, the young­ establish one themselves. After scouting to classrooms on the College Center’s sters, ages 3 through 17, delve into their churches and other organizations, they second fl oor. Their parents, both mothers Chinese heritage, learning dance, geog­ were thrilled when NCC agreed to col­ and fathers, settle down at tables, greet­ raphy, history and martial arts. Holidays laborate with them. The school began ing each other in Chinese. Several women such as Chinese New Year and an au­ with 68 students, surpassing its founders’ pull out their knitting. tumn festival are celebrated every year. expectations and indicating the Chinese The Lehigh Valley HuaXia (pro­ The school even offers a course in math. community’s enthusiasm. nounced Hwa Sha) School, which meets The program is further enriched through As part of the collaboration, NCC on Saturdays in the fall and spring, is a arts festivals, track-and-fi eld events and provides facilities and handles fi nances. beloved institution for fi rst-generation basketball games held with other schools Parents fi nd the teachers or serve as Chinese Americans and their American- in the greater HuaXia system. teachers themselves. Curricula are sup­ This comprehensive approach to plied by the larger, regional HuaXia school Chinese culture appeals to the students’ system. “It is great working with Horizons parents, relatively new immigrants who for Youth,” says Cao. “We treasure our want to ensure that their children do not long relationship.”

This comprehensive approach to Chinese culture appeals to the students’ parents, relatively new immigrants who want to ensure that their children do not forget their Chinese language and traditions.

forget their Chinese language and tradi­ Another benefi ciary of the school is tions. “About 80 percent of our students’ the Lehigh Valley economy. The existence parents came to the United States from of a Chinese school in the area helps at­ Mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan and tract candidates to local industry, Cao Singapore within the last decade or so,” points out. The Chinese community con­ says Cao. And, although Chinese is the tributes to the work force at Air Products, born children. In the fall of 2007, the Le­ primary language at home, there is noth­ PPL, area hospitals and other companies. high Valley branch enrolled 197 children ing as inspiring, Cao says, as studying On a global economic scale, growing in 20 classes. with peers from similar backgrounds. business with China increasingly requires The school is a part of the larg­ Families come from areas as distant profi ciency in the Chinese language. With­ est Chinese school system in the United as Reading, Lansdale and Lancaster to in a decade, knowledge of Chinese will be States, with headquarters in New Jersey benefi t from this experience. essential in many industries, Cao predicts. and 18 branches in Pennsylvania, New Students also come from beyond Now, however, on this midwinter Jersey, Connecticut and New York. The the Chinese community. Classes include day, 6-year-old Daisy Zheng gets in a few phonetic system used by the school, Pin- youth of Vietnamese, Thai and other eth­ notes on the piano before heading to class. Yin, transcribes Mandarin sounds into nic derivations. Children born in China Her mother, Kelly Zhu, spares a moment Roman characters – a schema also em­ and their American-born, non-Chinese to comment on the Lehigh Valley HuaXia ployed by the United Nations and around adoptive parents attend the school to School. “The teachers here are wonderful. the world. learn the language and legacy of the Everything is just great,” she says. u “The goals of our school are to teach SUMMER 2008 ● NCC 23 children’s native land. By Myra Saturen LOOKING TO UP YOUR CULTURE QUOTIENT? Below is just a sampling of upcoming noncredit courses running soon. Check out the course search tool at www.northampton. edu for the full listing of open classes and more details.

Japanese Polish Sign Language Spanish NCC’s Main Campus cafeteria is always bustling at lunchtime. Students talking, Arabic Ó laughing, singing and even dancing; faculty and staff seated together, chatting and eat­ Italian ing. Amidst all the noise, one table is encouraging conversation as a way of learning. Welcome to the Spanish Conversation Group! Sandra Del Cueto, professor of Spanish and founder of the group, greets all those who sit down with a pin that says in both English and Spanish, “Speak Spanish to me. I Any Day Indian Food want to practice.” Thai Made Easy Students, faculty, staff and community members have been practicing with the group It's All Greek to Me! for years now. Del Cueto first held get-togethers in the library. Anyone interested in practic­ Tartine - Easy Appetizers for ing Spanish was welcome to participate and learn in a non-formal, friendly environment. a Summer Evening Fluent Spanish-speakers were encouraged to attend to help new learners. The group even­ tually met at Fuddruckers restaurant, then Wegmans before moving back to NCC. “It’s opened a lot of doors for students to ask questions about Spanish as well as those planning to take the course,” Del Cueto, who keeps a copy of the textbook on the Wine Appreciation: The Best of Italy table for students to peruse, said. “It makes it easy to practice when you have native Wine Appreciation: White Wines of France speakers helping you. I want them to make connections with each other on campus. Wine Appreciation: Will the Real These types of connections are what kept me in school and helped develop friendships Pinot Noir Please Stand Up? that have lasted a lifetime.” Wine Appreciation: Wines of Portugal Lasting community connections were made at Wegmans. Although the Spanish Con­ versation Group officially moved back to NCC this semester, some community members decided to keep it going at the popular supermarket. They still meet and Del Cueto re­ cently visited to see how they were doing. Salsa Dance “They told me you don’t have to come – we don’t need you!” she said with a smile. African Dance “It’s every teacher’s dream, when the student surpasses the teacher.” Flamenco Professor Del Cueto’s Spanish Conversation Group meets every Wednesday from Gypsy Middle Eastern Fusion Dance 1:00 p.m. to 1:50 p.m. in the cafeteria at the Main Campus. All are welcome to attend. For Latin Basics more information, please phone Professor Del Cueto at 610-861-5538. u Belly Dancing By Katherine Noll Danse Orientale

24 NCC ● SUMMER 2008 multi-language media reflects our shifting populations

from about 16,000 to over 50,000 people. dren’s program “Dragon Tales” speaking in By 1990, 11% of Allentown residents, Spanish and learn the Spanish word of the 13% of Bethlehem’s and 5% of Easton’s day on “Sesame Street.” was Latino. In 2000, Hispanics accounted Spanish language media play important for 24% of Allentown’s, 18% of Bethle- roles in the Latino community, according to hem’s and 10% of Easton’s residents. The Maria Teresa Donate, NCC associate profes- Lehigh Valley Economic Development sor of counseling. “They showcase the posi- Corporation (LVEDC) conservatively es- tive contributions Latinos are making in the timates that 1/3 of Allentown’s population Lehigh Valley. They also promote a sense ÓWhether penned with a quill in and 1/4 of Bethlehem’s is now Latino. of identity among Latinos, keep the language 1808 or launched over the airwaves in 2008, While 2/3 of Hispanics in the Lehigh fresh for earlier immigrants, and teach the media in the Lehigh Valley have always been Valley are Puerto Rican, the population is, in language to non-Spanish speakers.” multilingual. As immigrants from across the fact, of multiple derivations, with Mexicans, Although most international language world embarked for America and our area, Dominicans, and South and Central Ameri- media produced in the Lehigh Valley is in their languages sailed in tandem. cans well represented. According to the Spanish, listeners from other language back- German, rather than English, was the LVEDC, “Latinos in the Lehigh Valley in the grounds can also enjoy their native tongues predominant written language – for church, new millennium are an ethnically, socially, on local music programs. National Public business and communal records – for a politically, educationally and economically Radio Station WDIY (88.1 FM) features mu- large portion of our region’s history. Diaries, diverse group.” sic from all over the world including “The memoirs and church registers were recorded To serve the needs of this expanding Music of India,” “The Jewish Music Hour,” in German for more than a century, from population, new Spanish-language newspa- “The Arabic Program,” and “World Bob,” the 1740s to the 1860s. A German language pers, radio and television stations have arisen from 1 – 5:30 p.m. on Sundays. That the newspaper existed in Allentown as recently in the Lehigh Valley: Arabic and Jewish programs are adjacent on as the 20th century. ■ La Cronica, a three-year-old bi- the schedule is not accidental, according to Later newcomers, from Eastern and weekly newspaper, entirely in Spanish, program manager, Neil Hever. “The neigh- Southern Europe, added Polish, Italian, informs readers of local as well as national boring time slots make a statement,” he says, Portuguese and other tongues to the Le- and world news, especially that of Latin “that in this community and country, Arabs high Valley. America. Advice and entertainment col- and Jews get along well.” Today’s Spanish newspapers and umns, comic strips and puzzles round out WMUH (91.7 FM) also programs in- broadcast media reflect the origins of the the newspaper’s offerings. ternational music via “Mideastern Music,” vast majority of our area’s newest arriv- ■ Begun in 1997, the newspaper El “The Music of India,” “Kol Ha Emek” als. Hispanics have maintained vibrant Torrero is also in Spanish and covers local, (Jewish music), and “Latin Sunday.” communities in Allentown and Bethlehem national and international stories. WGPA (1100 AM) airs Polish and German since 1923, when Bethlehem Steel recruit- ■ WFMZ television station 69 broad- dance tunes. ed Mexicans to work at its plant, and the casts a Spanish-language news edition every As for the written word, the bulletin 1950s and 1960s, when Operation Boot- evening at 11 p.m. for Holy Infancy Church, in multiethnic strap, a federal program for economic de- ■ Radio stations WHOL (1600 FM) southside Bethlehem, is published in Eng- velopment, attracted many Puerto Ricans and WXLV (90.3 FM) play merengue, sal- lish, Spanish and Portuguese. to urban areas of New York, New Jersey sa, regga, and other Latin American music. Be it through 18th century German and Pennsylvania, including Bethlehem. WHOL’s programming is 100% bilingual script or modern Spanish words transmit- It is in the last 25 years, however, that while WXLV features the “Enfuego” mu- ted through the air, the Lehigh Valley’s the Lehigh Valley’s Latino population has sic and interview show, from 9 – 11 every diverse population has enriched and con- burgeoned. According to the United States Sunday. tinues to enrich our region’s media and census figures, the Latino population ■ On PBS station WLVT 39, young culture. u tripled between 1980 and 2000, jumping listeners can hear a character from the chil- By Myra Saturen

LEFT-PHOTO BY PHILIP STEIN/RIGHT-ISTOCKPHOTO SUMMER 2008 ● NCC 25

NCC’s role in the NEW ECONOMY

ÓMany of Doug Heath’s geography students do a double take when he pulls down the world map that hangs above the whiteboard in his Penn Hall classroom. The map, which Heath uses to begin his lecture on the new global economy, is different from what most have known. It splits the Atlantic Ocean and puts the Pacific Ocean in the center. Heath uses the large Pacific-centered colored map to demonstrate what has been an economic reality for the last 20 years – the dollar value of everything traded across the Pacific Ocean has been greater than the dollar value of everything traded across the Atlantic. Most of the students seeing the map for the first time “believe it’s not natural or normal,” Heath says. “They’re used to seeing a world where the Atlantic Ocean is the center.” While the map may surprise his students, many recognize that the economics they know is very different from that of their parents and grandparents. All his students have to do is look at where their mobile phones, MP3 players and computer games were manufactured, and they will realize they live in a world with a very global economy. Paul Pierpoint, vice president of community education and dean of the College’s Fowler Fam- ily Southside Center, says the reality of the changing world economy can be seen out the window of his office on the sixth floor of the former structural products headquarters for Bethlehem Steel, once one of the largest employers in the Lehigh Valley. “Steel disappeared from Bethlehem because the global market just became too competitive,” Pierpoint says. Today, Bethlehem Steel and its nearby mills are silent. Newly milled steel trucked in from North Carolina is rising to form a new casino complex. Heath says that when he came to teach at Northampton in the late 1970s, no one could have ever imagined the Valley without Bethlehem Steel. “In 1977, the idea that the Valley economy could be good and there would be no Bethlehem Steel was inconceivable. But more than 30 years later, we do have a pretty well functioning economy around here, and it’s largely because of globalization,” Heath says. The Lehigh Valley has survived because it has diversified, and its companies – large, medium and small – have headquarters and plants and call centers and partners overseas, the faculty agree. No job seems immune from the changes the expansion of international trade has brought. Kathryn Clark ’80 is a senior analyst in the preschool department for Toys R Us, headquartered in Wayne, N.J. A buyer selects the toys that will stock the retailer’s shelves and then Clark must supply forecasts for those items.

PHOTOS-ISTOCKPHOTO SUMMER 2008 ● NCC 27 “Because most of our product in the preschool department is tions in 40 countries. The co-directors of the Institute worked in imported,” she says, “I have to work around long lead times. I have partnership with Air Products to develop a weeklong manage- to allow them enough time that they can produce the items and ship ment training program that the supplier of atmospheric, process them so they will be received here in time to sell in the appropriate and specialty gases, performance materials, and equipment and season.” services has since employed throughout its entire organization. Because the marketplace has become so global, it is critical, Professor Heath says many people might assume that tech- Pierpoint says, for Northampton, as a community college, to train its nology and the Internet are responsible for the incredible growth students not for a specific industry or job, “but to be flexible and adapt- in international trade the world has seen in the last few decades. able so that when changes occur, they can find other opportunities.” Certainly, technology has played a role, Heath says. Techno- The College also has taken an active role in helping companies logical advances have made it possible to transfer billions of dol- compete in the new world order and global marketplace. lars instantaneously and for companies to communicate with their “As a community college,” Pierpoint says, “we try to identify employees in different locations worldwide simultaneously. and to tap into opportunities that allow us to help support our own Yet most scholars agree the current global marketplace has businesses here compete over there. It’s a philosophical as well as a its origins in the end of World War II. That is when the world’s business commitment that we have.” major powers realized that they had to do something to prevent The College’s strong commitment to playing a role in a global World War III and saw increased international trade as a solu- economy can be traced to President Rob- tion. “Accelerating globalization and ert Kopecek who saw the world shrinking international trade would stimulate and economic changes on the way. Its con- economic growth and make it hard for tinuation says Pierpoint can be credited to major powers to go to war against each Arthur Scott, president since 2003, who other,” Heath explains. fully supports the international business- “one day you’re The increase in international trade assistance efforts that were begun over the working for a small obviously has not stopped all wars. last 30 years. “The U.S. still went to war with Viet- The College routinely helps compa- company in the nam and to war with Iraq. The Soviets nies compete in the global marketplace. went to war with Afghanistan, but you In 2003, NCC was one of a small group Lehigh Valley … and don’t see Germany attacking France or of community colleges to receive a grant the next day you’re the U.S. attacking China. I do think it from the U.S. State Department to provide has had considerable success helping training for microelectronics manufactur- working for a global us achieve the kind of world that the ers in the Ukraine, a former Soviet state. organization.” survivors of World War II wanted,” Instructors from the College’s Na- Heath says. tional Training Center for Microelectronics While international trade raises (NTCμ), which was established in 1985, many issues, including the loss of do- assisted faculty at Kharkiv University in mestic jobs as manufacturers and oth- the Ukraine in modernizing their curricu- er employers are able to more easily lum and developing new methods of teaching microelectronics, nano- chase cheap labor, it appears to be accelerating more all the time fabrication and optoelectronics. NCC faculty flew to the Ukraine, and and is long past the point of return, Heath says. Kharkiv faculty came here in an exchange of ideas and information. “We’re certainly seeing more of the larger companies we’re Another example of the College’s international business outreach working with having a global presence,” Robertson says. “But is its Leadership Development Institute, headed by Don Robert- we’re starting to see it now in mid-size companies because of the son and Donna Goss. Robertson and Goss have helped global whole mergers and acquisition piece.” Fortune 500 companies headquartered in and outside the Lehigh A year ago, Robertson says, he and Goss were working Valley develop leadership training programs for their employees, with a company that had two locations on the East Coast. “Now no matter where in the world they are located. they’re part of a global organization that has operations outside In recent years, the Institute has helped a pharmaceutical the U.S.” firm enhance its safety training program by adding a leadership In 2008, he says, “you don’t know from one day to the next element that it could deliver to its employees worldwide. what organization you’re going to be part of. It doesn’t matter if “They had treated safety like a technical program,” Robertson one day you’re working for a small company in the Lehigh Val- says. “Their program was very direct and lecture based. Our goal ley. You may be part of an entrepreneurial group that has discov- was to make it much more interactive and much more engaging ered something a bigger company wants, and the next day you’re and to do that in a way that their facilitators could deliver it.” working for a global organization.” The program the Institute developed has since been trans- And thanks to Northampton’s three-decade commitment to lated into nine different languages so that it could be used at all helping the region adapt to the global economy, when such things of its company locations, Goss says. happen, Pierpoint says, more people will be prepared. u Robertson and Goss also have worked with Air Products in Trexlertown, which has more than 22,000 employees and opera-

28 NCC ● SUMMER 2008 Ukraine, Istanbul, Mexico, Hong Kong …

ics manufacturers in America. “In the late Kratz’s customers manufacture high- ÓIt was a Friday. John Kratz was 1980s, electronics manufacturing in the reliability electronic parts for the aerospace in an airport in Europe, returning from vis- United States was very prolific,” he says. and automotive industries. He also works iting a client in the Ukraine when his cell “You could go down any interstate high- with those who manufacture assemblies for phone rang. The caller was from an elec- way and pull off into any industrial park drilling equipment. tronics company in Austria with a problem and find at least one manufacturer in that Kratz had sold an engineering business similar to the one Kratz had just solved for park that made electronics equipment. he had started near Philadelphia when the the electronics company in the Ukraine. That’s not the case now.” College landed a grant to establish the Mi- Kratz flew home but stayed only long In the early to mid-‘90s, chasing croelectronics Center and help electronics enough to catch up with his wife and do cheaper labor, electronics manufacturing companies improve their processes, yields his laundry, he says with a laugh. Monday moved to Mexico, and Kratz found him- and reliability. He had “opportunity and morning he boarded a plane back to Europe to work his magic. Kratz is a troubleshooter for Northamp- ton’s National Center for Microelectronics “With the activity I do, I am probably and these days, as electronics manufacturing headed overseas every 45 to 50 days.” has moved overseas, such a crazy schedule is not that unusual. “With the activity I do, I am prob- self heading south of the border more and time” on his hands when President Robert ably headed overseas every 45 to 50 days,” more. “Now,” he says, “you defi nitely see Kopecek asked him to help build the Center he says. Indeed, Kratz travels overseas so the trend having gone to Asia because that’s and its manufacturing expertise. Ever since, much that he had to apply for a new pass- where the cheaper labor is. I have one cus- Kratz says, “instead of making product for port after only five years. “I had so many tomer that I used to service in New York. people, I am selling the technology and the stamps on it that no one would stamp it I represented them in Mexico, and now understanding of how to do it.” anymore, so I had to apply for a replace- they’re over in Asia. They’re a model of Everyone who calls Kratz seems to ment in five instead of 10 years,” he says. what’s happened [to manufacturing.]” have a situation that needs to be rectified In his 20 years at the Center, he figures he When Kratz visits a client, it is usually yesterday. So Kratz has learned to keep his has visited nearly 35 countries, many of because they’ve got a problem no one else suitcase handy. “My motto,” he says, “has them multiple times. can solve. Kratz starts on the manufacturing become ‘have suitcase, will travel.’” u When Kratz started at the Center in floor, auditing every step to see if he can de- By Beth W. Orenstein 1988, he worked largely with electron- termine the root cause of the trouble.

PHOTOS-NCC STOCK SUMMER 2008 ● NCC 29

In Germany, they came first for the Communists, And I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a Communist;

And then they came for the trade unionists, And I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a trade unionist;

And then they came for the Jews, And I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a Jew;

And then . . . they came for me . . . And by that time there was no one left to speak up.

Pastor Martin Niemӧller (1892 – 1984)

ÓThe morning headline takes your breath away: 800,000 DEAD; and just below that, the subhead: Hacked to In 1948 the United Nations convened the Convention on the Death by Machete. Disgust rises in you like stale cold coffee. Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide. From that You skim the type and learn that the bloodbath lasted for 100 gathering, genocide was defined: “as any of a number of acts days. A country called Rwanda, somewhere in Africa. “How ter- committed with the intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, rible,” you say aloud. You shake cereal into your bowl, pour on ethnic, racial or religious group.” That convention officially milk, sip your juice. After filling your mug for a second coffee, condemned it “whether committed in time of peace or in time of you sit down again. Turn the page. war … [as] a crime under international law.” Unless horror shows like this happen inside one’s country, But if it is the law, and we – at least the great majority of or directly affect us in some other way, this scene or a variation us – agree to live under the rule of law, why does it go on? “The of it is how most of us react to such atrocities. It’s part of human ’48 Convention established some clear characteristics that, when nature, we may reason; this is how it’s always been. And after they exist, it is considered genocide,” says Northampton’s Assis- all, what can we as individuals do about it? tant Professor of Political Science, Dr. Vasiliki Anastasakos. “The The truth is it has always been this way. Ever since Cato genocide convention is a very significant piece of international the Elder, scholar and statesman of ancient Rome, harangued his law; but one of its primary weaknesses is that the prosecutor has to fellow senators into making a third, and final, war on Carthage. prove that the authorities intentionally tried to exterminate a group At the end of it (the Third Punic War) that city and its way of life, based on ethnicity or religion or race.” along with hundreds of thousands of Carthiginians, was utterly And there is the rub; or at least one of them. The UN docu- destroyed. That was in 149 B.C., long before we had a name for ment is more complex than a simple wording of crime and its such terror; yet it was one of the first of its kind. punishment. “What happens when you have a civil war for the We have a name for it now. We call it genocide. Rwanda last 20 years or so, in Sudan?” Anastasakos asks. “And their in 1994, like most genocides, was a planned massacre. It was a government argues the killing is not intentional? It is very easy slaughter of the Tutsi people by radical members of rival Hutu to claim they are only going after the rebels and in the process tribes. An average of 8,000 victims every day for over three civilians get hurt.” months. Men, women, children, the young, the old, the healthy, Anastasakos also notes that the UN does not use language the infirm – indiscriminate murder. If you were Tutsi, you died. specifying numbers killed; there is no stated line to cross. Which

PHOTOS-ISTOCKPHOTO SUMMER 2008 ● NCC 31 makes it convenient for a government defending its actions to say don’t speak out against madness such as this, don’t we, in a very “Well, there were only seven thousand killed, so how does that real sense, allow the madman an unobstructed target? compare with say, the Holocaust, the largest genocide in recent his- As the 20th Century philosopher Karl Jaspers said on turning tory, where six to eight million were killed?” How many must die a blind eye, “… passivity knows itself morally guilty of every to meet the criteria? Ten thousand? A half million? That part of the failure, every neglect to act whenever possible …” Or, more poet- document is rather vague. Just one reason why it is so diffi cult for ically put by the writer Bodie Thoene: “Apathy is the glove into the international community to bring governments and their lead- which evil slips its hand.” ers to justice for their actions. Darfur, for example, has yet to even be declared a genocide by the United Nations. And in the case of Rwanda, justice has been very slow, with only 27 people out of the When it comes to committing bloodbaths, not much has changed hundreds who took part in the genocide having been convicted by in two thousand-plus years. Counting forward from ancient times, the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR). all subsequent genocides could have been scripted by Cato and his “I am fascinated by how genocide is defi ned,” Anastasakos “performance” before the Roman senate. Historians and social crit- says, countering the narrow guidelines of the UN. “ I define it in ics have long noted near formulaic similarities. much broader terms. We pay more attention when large numbers For nearly four years prior to the Third Punic War, Cato of people are killed, especially in a short time, like in Rwanda ended every speech before his fellow senators, on any subject, or Darfur. But what about a system that commits acts that have with the words, “Delenda est Carthago,” Carthage must be de- genocidal consequences such as ethnic cleansing – the forced re- stroyed. According to the Greek historian, Plutarch, Cato knew moval of an ethnic group from their homes to refugee camps, de- well that “his countrymen were growing wanton and insolent, ob- nying them for 50 or more years goods essential to their survival, stinate and disobedient.” And though Carthage posed no immedi- such as food, shelter, water, clothing and medical supplies? They ate threat, they were an old enemy, a twice-defeated foe. Who are talked about as human rights issues, of course. But, in my better to pick on, and what better way to unite Romans than in a book, they should also be treated as genocidal acts.” patriotic call to arms? It is difficult for even a world body to demand of a sovereign In “The First Genocide: Carthage, 146 BC”, Ben Kiernan state compliance to the expectations of others. Yet another rub. notes that “Some features of the ideology motivating the Roman That’s where sanctions, especially trade and the work of diplo- destruction of Carthage . . . have surprisingly modern echoes in mats, come into play. It’s an exhausting back and forth that often 20th-century genocides. Racial, religious or cultural prejudices, sounds to the rest of us like so much talk, without true resolution. gender and other social hierarchies . . . all characterize the think- And those best positioned to make the most difference are often ing of Cato the Censor, like that of more recent perpetrators.” those with special interests that gum up the works with nonpar- Like genocides since, Cato used exaggerated propaganda to ticipation, or worse. dehumanize the enemy, reducing them to subhuman status. He created a larger-than-life evil and “proved” it had to be destroyed to safeguard the homeland. In the meantime, guilty governments and their leaders get away with Hitler, Stalin, Mao, Pol Pot in Cambodia – the perpetrators murder. They walk, and the world, much of it, forgets. Adolf Hitler of genocide understand the need for a scapegoat at the end of the understood the failings of the world’s collective memory as he and pointed finger. In Rwanda, they pointed at Tutsis. Rwandan Prime his henchmen plotted the “final solution” of the Jews. The Nazi lead- Minister Jean Kambanda, in his testimony before the Internation- er laughed, and referring to the Armenian genocide mere decades al Criminal Tribunal, testified that genocide was openly discussed before, sneered: “Who, after all, remembers the Armenians?” Unfor- in cabinet meetings. “One cabinet minister,” Kambanda revealed, tunately, he was right. “said she was personally in favor of getting rid of all Tutsi; with- Even in the throes of the act itself, the world ignores or denies out the Tutsi, she told ministers, all of Rwanda’s problems would what is happening. Jonathan Glover, in his book, “Humanity,” in a be over.” section on the Nazi Holocaust, reminds us that the ordinary German This past March, a survivor of the Rwandan genocide, Jac- or Austrian citizen was aware of the ethnic cleansing going on around queline Murekatete, spoke to a packed Lipkin Theatre as part of him. Homes became suddenly empty, the occupants no more to be the Cohen Lecture Series in the Humanities. Growing up Tutsi seen; co-workers and acquaintances one day were not only gone, in a predominantly Hutu country, Murekatete knew that her eth- they were never mentioned in public again. And once the nightmare nic group was reviled. In schools, curricula designated Tutsis as of the crematoriums began, those living nearby brushed ashes from enemies and undesirables. They were called “cockroaches” and their shoulders that were human remains. “snakes.” People were taught to believe that being a Tutsi was a The responses to the Nazi’s mass homicide ranged from pas- crime deserving of death. Tutsis were denied educational and oc- sivity and feigned ignorance to the zealotry of active participa- cupational opportunities. Hutus could kill Tutsis with impunity. tion. More often though, it was the silence of the German every- man that helped condemn those people who only a short while before were their neighbors – and often, their friends. With such a well-laid, seemingly successful “script” for murder on the Granted, it is easy to play armchair moralist, ignoring the grand scale, and those with a gift for dark oratory to appeal to the bas- fear and intimidation that surely comes down on the general pop- est part of humankind, can we ever find a way to stop the insanity? ulace. Nor is silence exactly our finger on the trigger; but if we Murekatete believes we can. “People can resist genocide,” she

32 NCC ● SUMMER 2008 tells her audiences. “People always have the option to do the right thing.” Murekatete lost her parents, six siblings, a grandmother, and numerous aunts and uncles. But in the midst of hatred, she has known kindness as well. Her life was saved from the Hutu ma- chetes by a caring Hutu family who hid her and her grandmother for as long as they could.

Perhaps we can have equal hope. It is an enormous mountain to climb, but step after slow step, there are those who are climbing it along with Murekatete. Much of the cause must be fought at international levels, through such organizations as the International Criminal Court, an independent court supported by 105 countries that tries persons accused of crimes against humanity. And the World Court, which tries only nations themselves, not individuals. And the United Na- tions, that even supporters like Anastasakos believes “we need to strengthen, because it is obvious they totally failed in the case of Rwanda – and with Darfur, they are sitting on their hands and have never responded adequately.”

The students of Northampton Community College have heard the message and have taken up the cause, especially with fundraisers like charity rock shows and world music concerts. The money was donated to international humanitarian organizations such as the

International Rescue Committee committed to helping the people of Darfur, and Miracle Corners of the World /Jacqueline’s Human Rights Corner, a genocide education and prevention organization founded by one of their inspirations, Jacqueline Murekatete.

But they know that raising funds is not enough. To end genocide, you need to bring people face to face with its horror; up front and personal. Who better to represent terror than the terrorized themselves. Ms. Murekatete’s words brought the mes- sage home in a powerful way. And last year, Benjamin Ajak, one of the so-called “lost boys of Sudan” spoke about how he and his cousins lost their parents and their homes at the age of 6 and were forced to live in refugee camps for several years before be- ing able to come to the United States. Students on both campuses built on his presentation with an exhibit of wall art, depicting genocide throughout the 20th century, and a series, “Genocide in Film,” which also benefited the Genocide Refugee Fund, and student-produced plays and speakers like Tom Breslauer, a Ho- locaust survivor.

“It is especially our students,” Anastasakos says proudly,

“with help from members of the College's peace forum, and fac- ulty and administrators across campus, who are making these things happen. As for the students, I can give them knowledge, but what they do with it – that’s the part I like – they decide. They have decided.”

Anastasakos is hopeful for the future. “ I am often a pessi- mist,” she says. “History makes you that. But I don’t want to be a pessimist. And really, I think education is key. What we try to do here [at NCC] when we teach diversity – not just tolerance of diversity, but respect and acceptance of diversity – is what we need more of. To recognize biases, get rid of them, and learn to respect and work and live together. But we must speak up. All it takes for evil to take over is for the good people to stay silent. We all have a big role to play. And have a long way to go.” u

SUMMER 2008 ● NCC 33 aLUmNi nOTes

Accounting Business macy delegation to the City 1987 Cara Reitbauer is Administration of Bethlehem in the West an inventory clerk at Interna- 1982 Matthew DiVietro Bank, Palestine. tional Polymers Corporation in and Karen Marie Nodoline Allentown. She and her hus- of Forks Township were 2002 Rachel Thomas of band, Louis, live in Allentown married on October 6th at Phillipsburg, N.J. is continu- and have a son, Michael. St. Jane Frances de Chantal ing her studies in accounting Catholic Church in Palmer at Kutztown University. Her 1994 Jennifer Flory is a Township. Matthew is em- internships include Herbein & stay-at-home mom with her ployed with Supervalu. Co. and WTAS, LLC both three children: Sabrina, Jase working in tax accounting. and Paige. She and her hus- 1985 Janice Ruland band, Mark, live in Fort of Nazareth received a 2003 Tiffany Culp of Wayne, Ind. bachelor’s degree from Easton is the store manager Kutztown University. She for Walgreens in Lansdale. SHARE Advertising Design is a senior reimbursement YOUR STORY 1998 Celia Strouse of analyst at St. Luke’s Hospi- Business Bethlehem is a senior creative tal & Health Network in Management Birth Announcement, specialist at Motorola in Hor- Bethlehem. Janice has one 2000 John Rich and Sarah sham. She also received a child, Christina. Cannon were married on Oc- New Home, New Job, computer graphics diploma in tober 6th at the First United Engagement, 1999 at NCC. 1993 Roger DeBlois of Methodist Church in Somer- Salem, Va. is the lead engi- ville, N.J. John is employed Wedding, Architectural neer of nuclear controls at by Sotheby’s in New York, See your photo or Technology General Electric in Salem. He N.Y. The couple lives in New name in print. 1989 Mark Stettler of received a bachelor’s degree Providence, N.J. Mount Sinai, N.Y., is a princi- from Rensselaer Polytechnic pal architect/CEO of Vector in 2003. CIT – Networking Architecture and Design Ser- 2005 Daniel Hart recently vices, P.C. in Mount Sinai. He 2000 Omar Bandar of returned to the Lehigh Valley SUBMIT YOUR NEWS received a bachelor’s degree Cambridge, Mass. has from Las Vegas. Following for Alumni Notes at AlumniNet in architecture from Went- worked for the Mayor of his graduation, Daniel moved www.northampton.edu/alumni worth Institute of Technology Cambridge, where he was a to Vegas and was employed in 2002. project manager for city by the Clark County School E-mail updates to: initiatives, including social District installing computers. [email protected] Automotive justice efforts, an interna- He now lives in Walnutport Technology Mail to: Alumni Office tional biotechnology project and in 2007 reenrolled in Northampton Community 1998 Paul Pysher, II and management over a Northampton’s Paralegal and College of Nazareth is an automotive crime and public safety task Communications programs. 3835 Green Pond Road technician at Brown-Daub- force. Most recently, he rep- Bethlehem, PA 18020 Ford-Lincoln-Mercury in resented the mayor’s office CIT – Software Nazareth. as part of a public diplo- 2002 Tracy Taylor of continued on page 37

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34 NCC ● SUMMER 2008 DiD YOu KNOW...

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www.northampton.edu/alumni DoNOr prOFiLe From Athens To Allentown service wins THE DAY In love with the Lehigh Valley By Paul Acampora & Meghan Decker

the area, Kalogeropoulos now Lehigh Valley Convention serves the firm as senior exec- and Visitors Bureau and the utive vice president. “We only Lehigh Valley Economic had two hotels back then,” Development Corporation. he says. “Today, we are in He’s been a U.S. congres- 14 states with more than two sional advisor for tourism dozen hotels and over 4,000 and now serves on the employees. We grew like the board of governors for the Lehigh Valley.” Lehigh-Northampton Airport Kalogeropoulos is no Authority, which oversees longer involved with day-to- the same Lehigh Valley In- day hospitality services, but ternational Airport that drew his office remains located Kalogeropoulos’s fi rst hotel inside one of the company’s venture to the Lehigh Valley Lehigh Valley properties. so many years ago. “I could work from any- Additionally, the list where,” he admits, “but I like of community boards, orga- the atmosphere of a living, nizations and charities that Kostas with Alexis Dectis, a Dream Come True program recipient. breathing hotel.” His work Kalogeropoulos supports is focused primarily on the with time, generosity and company’s growth. “Not hands-on work would stretch “THE RESTAURANT OF Amsterdam, Nairobi, Athens the operation of today,” he the length of a hotel lobby. choice was Walps,” Kostas and Paris. As work on the explains, “but the operation They include Northampton Kalogeropoulos says of his Jetport neared completion, for tomorrow.” At the same Community College, where first days in the Lehigh Valley, the native of Athens, Greece, time, Kalogeropoulos remains Kostas served on the hospital- “and there were cornfields looked around and realized focused on a bigger picture. ity industry advisory board. everywhere.” something important. “I had “It’s all about service,” During NCC’s “Promises to It was 1981, and the fallen in love with the Lehigh he says. “Service is a desire. Keep” campaign, he estab- hotelier, entrepreneur and Valley,” he recalls. “I knew Not just a skill” And clearly, lished an endowed scholarship businessman had come to the this would be my home.” it is in the makeup of this man fund for students enrolled in area to build the Sheraton Nearly 30 years later, the to serve. Northampton’s culinary arts Jetport near then-named “Al- world-traveling Kalogeropou- Within the tourism in- and hospitality programs. lentown-Bethlehem-Easton los is among the region’s most dustry, Kostas is known as “It is very easy to get Airport.” Kalogeropoulos was well-known and respected a leader both in the Lehigh started in the hospitality busi- commuting from an apart- citizens. Still a leader with Valley and beyond. He’s ness,” says Kalogeropoulos. ment in New York City and Meyer Jabara Hotels, the served as chairman for the “That’s why 90 percent of your before that had been oversee- same company he joined in ITT Sheraton Mid-Atlantic Hollywood actors and actress- ing world-class properties in 1981 so that he could stay in Region, as director for the es have worked in restaurants.

36 NCC ● SUMMER 2008 PHOTO SUPPLIED continued from page 34 Bethlehem graduated summa 1988 Mary Grace Rugh of nator at Avita Community cum laude with a bachelor’s Shillington is the proud grand- Partners in Demorest, Ga. She degree in Management of In- mother of seven grandchildren: and her husband, Derek, live in formation Technology from Emily, Meredith, Calvin, Kay- Mount Airy, Ga. and have one But they do not succeed at DeSales University in May la, Olivia, Abigail and Zeno. son, Gavin. it. You have to be willing 2007. She is employed at PPL She has three children, David, to serve. When it is in your Corporation as a technologist Kelli and Kevin. 2005 Diana Belau of Cary, makeup to serve, you can go in the workstation design N.C. received a bachelor’s as far in this business as you group. 2007 Mae Sullivan of Shil- want to go.” lington is a registered dental Kostas’s service goes Computer Info hygienist at Dr. Miller Family well beyond the tourism Technology Practice in West Reading. industry. Touched by a 2006 Marc Burritt story he overheard in a of Bethlehem is an account Design hotel restaurant, he started manager at Cooper Electric Technology/CAD the wish-granting organiza- Supply Company in Phillips- 1987 Shelly Christman of tion “Dream Come True” burg, N.J. Kempton is an assistant project in 1984 and then “Camelot manager at The Whiting Turn- for Children” in 1987. Both 2007 Doreen Thorsen of er Contracting Company in of these local charities help East Stroudsburg is a computer Allentown. children facing chronic and programmer at Picatinny Arse- terminal illnesses. In 1993, nal in Picatinny, N.J. Early Childhood he started the “Spirit of Education Lehigh Valley” Christmas Computer Science 1990 Jennifer Bower Eve dinner, which provides 2007 Jason Robertson of Wilmington, Del. is a a great holiday meal every and Heather Conger of Bangor speech and language patholo- year for more than 3,000 were married in October at gist at Pediatric Therapeutic of the area’s less fortunate Cherry Valley United Method- Services. She received a mas- residents. ist Church. Jason is employed ter’s degree from Wilmington In 2006, Kostas pulled by Sears in Whitehall. College and a bachelor’s de- degree at the University of local community leaders gree from Kutztown. North Carolina at Chapel Hill together to build a “Miracle Criminal Justice in 2008 and an associate’s de- League Baseball Field” 2006 Marirose Statler 2000 Michelle Sabatino gree at Durham Tech Commu- near Schnecksville so that of Easton is a retail sales repre- and Jayson Miller of Pen nity College in 2006. children with disabilities sentative for Mobile Pros in Argyl were married in July at could play ball. “Once Easton. Our Lady of Mount Carmel Engineering you get into this charity Catholic Church in Roseto. 1979 Thomas Adams business,” explains Kalog- Data Processing Michelle is attending East and his wife, Mary Kathryn, eropoulos, who was named 1981 Alan Paul is a capac- Stroudsburg University and is live in Nazareth and have one Lehigh Valley Philanthrop- ity and planning analyst at employed with Colonial Inter- child. He received a bachelor’s ic Person of the Century in Flserv, Inc. in Philadelphia. He mediate Unit 20. degree from Penn State Uni- 2000, “it never stops.” and his wife, Ruthy, live in versity. Besides, he adds, of- Atco, N.J. Education fering a final, quick insight 1987 Jill Purdy of Heller- Funeral Service that is supposed to be about Dental Hygiene town is an assistant professor/ 1989 Edward Chaklos is the community that Kalo- 1980 Roberta Domlesky director at Cedar Crest College manager of the Howard-Price geropoulos calls home but of Minersville is a staff attor- in Allentown. She received a Funeral Home in North Palm might just as well be about ney for the Pennsylvania bachelor’s degree from East Beach, Fla. He and his wife, himself. “This Lehigh Commonwealth Court in Stroudsburg University in Jennifer, live in Port Saint Lu- Valley, it is filled with very Pottsville. She received a J. 1989 and a ED.D from Wid- cie, Fla. Edward has two step- kind, very generous people. D. from Widener School of ener University in 2005. sons, Zachary and Jacob, and a Everybody is helping ev- Law in 2001 and a bachelor’s daughter, Ava. erybody else. That’s how degree from Penn State Uni- 1998 Catherine Burton is things get done.” u versity in 1998. a community resource coordi- continued on page 39

SUMMER 2008 ● NCC 37 ALumNi prOFiLe Ancient Lands To New always HOME The payoff of perseverance By James L Johnson ’89

Eskisehir is a hub of industry busy with emotion.” And then, where technology skills and on the first anniversary of her advanced degrees are as much marriage, Adar was handed in demand as in the rest of yet another exciting change the world. “In 1989, I came that, while happy, posed to the U.S., to Bethlehem, for another possible obstacle to the first time,” Adar ’95 says her education: “I had my first about her new, second home. baby on August 5, 1990; 365 “I was 23 years old, and I was days after I got married.” newly married.” Her husband, But Adar was deter- Nihat, had come to study for mined. She had already begun his doctorate in education at at NCC with an ESL course Lehigh University. Adar, a and an English writing II fourth-year student of electri- course, while at the same time cal engineering at Turkey’s pushing ahead with another Anadolu University, quit English course at Liberty school to come with him. High School and attending Although Adar never classes with the Bethlehem planned to give up on her edu- South Side Library Tutoring cation, starting life in a new Service. “I still wanted to Hatice at Ester, the software company where she works – land brought more changes go to college,” she says. “I in her first home of Turkey. than she had anticipated. wanted my degree. But it was “I was learning American hard. Everybody was saying, HOMER’S HEROES SAILED here. She spent her childhood culture,” says Adar, “and a ‘You should stop your educa- the Aegean Sea that bounds here under the same unblink- new language, while adjusting tion’, but I closed my ears it on the west. The Black Sea ing sun, looking out on the to the north, some argue, was same roads those caravans born in the deluge that threat- snaked along on their way ened Noah and his Ark. This through Istanbul, Konya, is Eskisehir, on the Anatolian Ankara. Eskisehir is her land, “Everybody was saying, Plateau of Turkey, founded her people and her culture. ‘You should stop your in 3,500 BC, and one of the How easy it would be education’, but I closed oldest settlements of the to stay here, the land of her region. family and her ancestors; my ears to all of that.” Close by runs the Silk where the language fi ts like Road, the famous trade route the air she breathes, and that first spanned continents, the air itself shimmers with to married life and making to all of that. Stopping my over 5,000 years ago, connect- history, with tradition; here, new friends. It was all very education would have been an ing China with ancient Egypt where she is always home. exciting, but all of it was inexcusable mistake.” and imperial Rome. Yet, even the oldest lands hard for me. My first year in Because, in 1990, Hatice Adar was raised must face change. Today, Bethlehem, my brain was very Anadolu University would

38 NCC ● SUMMER 2008 PHOTO SUPPLIED continued from page 37 Bloomsburg University. Wrestler” starring Mickey 2002 James Connell, Rourke. She will also be Jr. and Angela Piazza of General Studies moving to Florida in June. Bethlehem were married in 1994 Wanda Fontanez not accept credits she might September at St. Anne’s Cath- of Bethlehem is a care coordi- 2007 Benita Schafer earn in the United States, Adar olic Church in Bethlehem. nator at 1199 National Benefit of Matamoras is a certified decided on an associate degree James received a bachelor’s Funds in New York, N.Y. surgical technician at the at NCC in Computer Informa- degree in political science Community Medical Center tion Systems, the closest she from Wilkes University. He Interior Design in Scranton. could come to the engineering is employed with the Connell 1986 Tammy Ferguson studies she had pursued in Funeral Home. of Bethlehem received a OfFice Turkey. Her husband worked bachelor’s degree from De- Administration a part-time job to pay her 2003 Laura Dixon of Sales University in 2001. 2002 Susan Vierheilig college tuition and arranged Parkesburg is proud to an- of Bangor is employed at his schedules to be home with nounce the birth of her daugh- 1992 Shannon Will Lehigh Valley Performing the baby while she attended ter, Akayla Mariah Towles on is a furniture sales representa- Arts in Bethlehem. school in the evenings. January 4, weighing 6 lbs., tive at Facility & Design Re- It took her five years, but 7 oz. source in Spring City. OfFice in 1995, Adar graduated from Shannon and her husband, Administration Northampton with her degree 2005 Jeffrey Hoelzel Ted, live in Lancaster and Legal in CIS. With Nihat’s Ph.D. have three children, Madison, 1992 Suzanne Sage of in hand, the couple returned Theodore and Adam. Northampton is a legal secre- to Eskisehir. Today, with her tary at Marshall, Dennehey, bachelor’s degree in Busi- Liberal Arts Warner, Coleman & Goggin ness Administration/Business 1994 Zanetta Worthy in Bethlehem. Management from Anadolu is a social worker for the State University, Adar is a corpo- of New Jersey since 1996 in Photography rate solutions manager at the the Department of Law and 1985 Scott Stralo of Ester Company, a software Public Safety. She and her Santa Monica, Calif. is em- company in mobile commu- husband, Robert Groff, live ployed by Computer Sciences nications; her husband works is a funeral director at the in Easton. Corporation in El Segundo, at Eskisehir Osmangazi Uni- Schisler Funeral Home in Calif. He also received a di- versity. Northampton. He and his 1995 Joel Cortes of Me- ploma in fi lmless imaging at They have one daughter wife, Michelle, live in Trex- chanicsburg is a human re- NCC in 1997. and one son. “I have a good lertown and have three chil- sources analyst for the PA story to tell my children about dren, Timothy, Ryan and Department of Insurance in 1988 Lisa Hunter success in life,” she says, “in Madison. Harrisburg. He received a of Los Angeles, Calif. is a spite of all the barriers.” But bachelor’s degree from Penn visitor services lead at the J. in her success, Adar has also General Education State University in 1998. Paul Getty Museum in Los learned that not everything 1980 Gladys Nigrone of Angeles. does change. She thinks of the Catasauqua is a licensed sales- 1996 Pauline (Rice) friends she made along that person at Weichert Realtors in Ribau and her husband, Practical Nursing new, personal route she forged Allentown. For 18 years prior, Manny, have recently opened 1978 Vickie Schwartz for herself – this one linking Gladys was a legal assistant/ their own business, Pretzel is an emergency department the West – and she reflects tort liability specialist for the Twister, in the Coventry Mall. nurse at the Community Medi- on how “some memories are Pennsylvania Department They live in Bethlehem. cal Center in Scranton. She unforgettable, even if you live of Transportation. received a bachelor’s degree in over the ocean.”u Medical nursing from Penn State Uni- 1981 Richard Farris Administrative versity in 2007 and an ADN is a director at SKF USA, Assistant from Penn State University in Inc. in Kulpsville. Richard 2005 Lynn Anoai of 2005. Vickie and her husband, and his wife, Mary, live in Whitehall is very excited to Charles Keeler, live in Clarks Coopersburg with their son, announce that she has a sup- Summit and have two chil- Gregory. He received a porting role in Darren Aronof- dren, Tara and Joshua. bachelor’s degree from sky’s upcoming fi lm “The continued on page 41

SUMMER 2008 ● NCC 39 ALumNi prOFiLe A Band Of Brothers an honorable LIFE A soldier wherever soldiers are By Kevin Gray

Reddy progressed the future. As Reddy says, the through the Army and became dynamics of war on one level commander of the Second – the strategies and operations Battalion in the 26th Infantry. – have changed fundamentally He served time in Somalia, over the past 15 years. “We Grenada, and during Desert aren’t fighting nations any Storm, before commanding more; we are fighting what we the Army Training Support call non-state actors.” Center as a colonel. Addressing these new “And then immedi- threats is becoming extraor- ately after 9/11, I went away dinarily more diffi cult, Reddy again,” Reddy notes. “I was explains, so the Army has retired from the Army three shifted from the threat-based times and recalled back Army of old to a capability- to active duty twice. I had based organization. reached my mandatory retire- “We define those ca- Troops enroute to another hot spot of the globe. ment date, so they would pabilities by looking into a retire me, and then the next crystal ball and trying to iden- day they would call me back tify what kinds of threats there IT WAS 1969. BARELY 21 He also was challenged by to active duty. We did that will be to our safety and secu- years old and returning to the students and professors to twice, and then we sat down rity. Based on that stargazing, United States from South- do something he hadn’t done and said this is getting rather we come up with plans and east Asia as a veteran of the yet—confront his true feelings silly. They retired me a third programs to reorganize and Vietnam War, Robert Reddy about Vietnam. time, so I took two days off, restructure the Army. It’s very ’71 was unsure of his place “I was forced to think in and I came back as a govern- hard work and it’s almost im- in the world and the path his a way that I hadn’t before,” ment civilian.” possible to get right.” future would take. Reddy says. “During my two Now 60 years old and At the same time, “I needed to fi gure out years there, I got a chance to no longer a colonel on active Reddy’s team also provides whether or not I wanted to be sort out my life.” duty, Reddy remains with the support to the Army that is a soldier for the rest of my Immediately after gradu- Army as a deputy division fighting the global war on ter- life.” recalls Reddy, a former ating high school in 1966, chief for strategic planning at rorism. Although retired from Palmer Township resident. Reddy joined the Army to Fort Monroe in Virginia. In active duty, his job still takes So Reddy left the Army become an airborne infan- his current position, he is part him to the front lines. In Feb- and enrolled at Northampton tryman. After his time in of a team that is charged with ruary, Reddy was in Tikrit and Community College. He Vietnam and at Northampton, developing the concepts and Mosul in Iraq, working with joined the student council he went back into the Army as vision of the Army 25 years two battalions that were in- and was president of the a light weapons infantryman from now. volved in convoy operations. student senate. Reddy says he and received his bachelor’s Much of the job is en- He was trying to help the majored in business adminis- degree in psychology from visioning what war will look forces develop a better system tration and “making trouble.” Georgia State University. like a quarter of a century into of identifying improvised

40 NCC ● SUMMER 2008 PHOTO SUPPLIED continued from page 39 Phoenix, Ariz. She is also She and her husband, Tim, 1998 Barbara Schia­ a substitute school nurse in live in Nazareth. vone of Stroudsburg is a the Paradise Valley School pediatric nurse in the District. Diane is currently Sport Management explosive devices, and, for Stroudsburg Area School attending Grand Canyon 1999 Heather Kreiger Reddy, it was fulfi lling work. District. University, pursing a bache- of Catasauqua is an account Asked if he is more lor’s degree in nursing. manager at Infonxx in Beth- comfortable on the frontlines Radiography lehem. or at Fort Monroe, Reddy 1993 Joan Wilson 1988 Katharine Clark doesn’t hesitate. of Richmond, Va. is a is a staff nurse at St. Luke’s 2001 Stevi Tomaszewski “I am comfortable being mammographer at Hen- Hospital in Allentown. She Doran of Douglassville re- a soldier, where ever soldiers rico Doctors’ Hospital in received a bachelor’s degree ceived a bachelor’s degree in are,” he states proudly. ”It’s a Richmond. in nursing from Villanova sport management from York profession that is the ugliest University. Katharine and her College in 2003. After gradu- and the dirtiest and the nasti- 2003 Angela DiGirolamo husband, Richard, live in est profession that man could of East Stroudsburg is an Easton. think about, on one hand, but xray/MRI/dexa technician because you are a part of a at Advanced Radiology 1994 Lois Lawrence Band of Brothers, it’s prob- Services. of Palm Bay, Fla. is a regis- ably one of the fi nest, most tered nurse at Fresenius honorable, most rewarding 2007 Patricia Roblin Medical Care North America professions.” of Emmaus is an MRI tech- in Melbourne, Fla. To this day, he sees a lot nologist at Grandview Hos- in common between the people pital in Sellersville. 1994 Donna ating from NCC, Stevi drove he met at Northampton Com- Schaarschmidt of cross country. She also back- munity College and those with Registered Nursing Bangor is working fulltime packed across England, Ire- whom he serves in the Army. 1972 Karen Werkheiser in labor and delivery at St. land, Benelux, France, Spain “Northampton Com- Miskinis of Pocono Sum- Barnabas Medical Center in and Italy. She married in munity College is for real mit has been employed at Livingston, N.J. She received 2005. people who didn’t grow up sanofi pasteur for the past a bachelor’s degree from the with silver spoons in their 19 years. She is the Deputy University of Wyoming in 2007 Brandy Barbera mouths,” Reddy says. “It is Director of Medical Informa- 2005. Donna also received of Bethlehem is currently a for people who are grounded tion Services. an LPN certifi cate from student at DeSales University in reality of what it takes to NCC in 1987. in Center Valley. live in a complicated world 1976 Michele Lerch is and have a commitment to working as a transfer center 2003 Nicole Pedrick Website Design bettering themselves.” coordinator at Lehigh Valley of Alburtis has been em- 2006 Jim Rommens of “Harvard is a special Hospital in Allentown for the ployed as an operating Bethlehem is a manager of place, and Yale is a special critical care triage’s three room nurse at Lehigh Valley applications development at place, but the truly special hospital sites. She received a Hospital Cedar Crest since Cadient Group in West Con- places that are the heart and master’s degree from the graduating in 2003. shohocken. soul, if you will, are places University of St. Francis in like Northampton Community 2007 and a bachelor’s degree 2005 Nicole Wernett Registered user of College because the people from the University of St. AlumniNet. Log on to www. who go there are the ones that Francis in 2005. Michele northampton.edu/alumni to will contribute more rela- lives in Northampton and has share your story. tive to their ability than the two children, Jason and Ali- average person who goes to son and two grandchildren, some of these other schools.” Emily and Jared. Want proof of what someone can contribute? Just 1981 Diane Franken- look at the illustrious military Field of Scottsdale, Ariz. career of Robert Reddy. u is employed as a med/surg nurse at John C. Lincoln, is a nurse supervisor at HCR Deer Valley Hospital in Manor Care in Bethlehem.

SUMMER 2008 ● NCC 41 ALumNi prOFiLe A Lifetime Loving Books the librarian of DUNEDIN Magic in the medieval manuscripts By Paul Acampora & Meghan Decker

Jim Benner and Len Roberts by spending a lot of time at exposed me to great books. the local public library in They taught me how to find Butler. I had chronic asthma the meaning behind those as a child. I was unable to stories and critically review do much during the summer them. Geography Professor months, so I spent a lot of Doug Heath opened my eyes time at the library devouring to a wider world. He showed all the books I could.” me how the U.S. intercon- After Rutgers, Anthony nects with other countries. traveled to Indiana Uni- He also taught me to be wary versity where he earned a of accepting blind faith in master’s degree in library maps!” science, with a specialization Tedeschi knows about in rare books and manu- maps. From Northampton, scripts. Following stints in he transferred to Rutgers I.U.’s rare books and special University where he earned collections library, Tedeschi his B.A. in geography. saw his current position “Ninety-eight percent of the while browsing the Library courses I took at NCC quali- and Information Association fied for the general education of New Zealand Web site. requirements at Rutgers,” “I thought, ‘Why not apply? Tedeschi, perusing a book of his new home country. Tedeschi says. “This meant You have nothing to lose.’” that the majority of my As a result, Tedeschi courses [at Rutgers] were in now manages a collec- HOW DOES A NORTHAMPTON he adds. “Perhaps that has my major, allowing me to tion of nearly 20,000 items Community College graduate something to do with it.” truly focus.” on behalf of the commu- end up as a librarian manag- Tedeschi grew up in During his senior year nity served by the Dunedin ing one of New Zealand’s Butler, N.J., and graduated at Rutgers, Tedeschi decided Public Library. It is clear largest collections of rare from NCC in 1997 with an upon librarianship as a that he takes great pleasure books, medieval manuscripts, associate degree in liberal career. “I was very orga- in the work. “There is some- antiquarian bibles and his- arts. “I highly doubt I would nized as a child,” Tedeschi thing magical about being torical ephemera? be where I am today had I admits. “As far back as I can able to examine and touch a “I wanted the challenge not taken those first steps at remember, my books or CDs book that is over 500 years and experience of working Northampton,” he says. were always alphabetized.” old,” Tedeschi says, “one overseas,” says Anthony “I had professors like It is likely, however, that that is completely crafted Tedeschi, Rare Books Earl Page who brought Anthony’s love of books was by hand. The text and the Librarian at the Dunedin history to life. He turned it the true deciding factor in parchment it was written Public Library in Dunedin, into a living, breathing topic his career choice. upon, the decoration and New Zealand. “And I always full of stories stranger than “My future as a librar- illumination, and the binding admired tweed jackets,” fiction. English professors ian was defi nitely influenced were all prepared by hand.”

42 NCC ● SUMMER 2008 PHOTO SUPPLIED MemORiam

And sharing the work is Jeffrey Allen Bartges, Inc. in 1968. An activist and Operation Desert Storm. James equally rewarding. “Patrons husband of NCC nursing faculty humanitarian, Mrs. Cohen’s and his wife, Denise, celebrated love to see the medieval member, Mali Bartges, passed philanthropy impelled her to co­ their sixth anniversary in August. manuscripts up close,” ac­ away in May. Jeff earned a sponsor with her husband the cording to Tedeschi. “They bachelor of arts degree in English Cohen Arts and Lecture Series at Carol Parent, who worked react greatest to the gold literature and literary criticism Northampton. She will be missed, for the past seven years in the illumination on some of the from Temple University, and also a not only by her family, but by the College’s records offi ce, passed manuscripts and the vibran­ juris doctor from Temple’s School many friends she made across the away in February. Her husband, cy of the colors, which have of Law. world, in our community, and cer­ the late Wayne Parent Sr., died held up over the centuries.” He practiced law for 25 tainly here at Northampton. in 2004. Anthony’s is clearly a years and believed that law is a Before coming to Northamp­ life that has been marked by ministry when justice prevails. A Lynn Albert Correll, who ton, Carol worked for Surefi t a love for books. In fact, it loving husband and father of four, received his electricians’ certifi ca- Products, in Bethlehem.Her many was a book that led him to Jeff will be missed by all who tion at Northampton, passed away friends and co-workers will miss Northampton. “I was working knew him. in March. Lynn was employed her “warmth and friendly encour­ in a bookstore,” he recalls, by Industrial Engraving and Dixie agement.” “and two nuns from a local Kevin F. Bendzlowicz, Cup. Lynn will be missed by his Catholic prep school came in a 1979 graduate of Northampton wife, Patricia, his sons and family. Andrew C. Roos passed to order guides to two-year in practical nursing, passed away away in March. An avid reader, and four-year colleges for in April. Kevin was a fi refi ghter Janice L. Kibler passed Andrew was a volunteer for their school library. When and an E.M.T. with the Hanover away in February. Janice earned Radprin at Northampton Commu- the order arrived, I picked up Township Volunteer Fire Company; an associates degree in library nity College. He will be missed by the guide to two-year schools and a retired nurse. Kevin will be science from Northampton in his family and his wife, Erika, with and began to look at what missed by his family and many 1973. She worked for the Penn­ whom he celebrated their 56th was available in New Jersey, friends. sylvania Unemployment Offi ce in wedding anniversary last June. New York and Pennsylvania. Bethlehem. Janice will be missed Northampton had a good Franka Bray-Neith, the by her husband, William, and her Thomas R. Santanasto review, and the fact that it daughter of Bonnie and Don Bray, daughters, son and family. passed away in March. Tom grad- had the unusual feature of head of Northampton’s automotive uated Phi Theta Kappa from NCC offering housing appealed to program, passed away in April. Gwendolynn “Gwen” in 1998, and was later a writer in me. The college experience is She received an associate degree Joy Michael passed away in its public information offi ce. Tom best spent away from home.” in education from NCC in 1992. In March. In addition to an associate loved music and was considered Or perhaps the college expe­ her battle with cancer, Franka was degree from Northampton in 1979, to be one of the best trumpet rience is a home away from an inspiration, never dwelling on Gwen held a BFA from the New players in the Lehigh Valley. Tom’s home. her diffi culties, but embracing her York School of Interior Design. many friends will miss his laugh- Today, Tedeschi is life. Franka will be missed by her Gwen was the husband of John ter and his warm smile. learning about making a loving family, by her many friends, Michael, a long-time professor home in New Zealand. “I and by her two faithful dogs, of architecture at Northampton, Edward Eddie Paul have been trying to get into Hemingway and Winslow. and served as adjunct professor Williams passed away in rugby and cricket,” he says. at the College as well. The couple March. In addition to classes at “I was having coffee at a Bertha F. Cohen, a long- celebrated their 59th wedding an- Northampton, Ed also attended café one morning and watch­ time supporter and friend of niversary last December. She will Mansfi eld University. He was the ing a cricket match on the Northampton Community College, be missed by her husband, her only pitcher in Bangor High School tellie. The waiter was kind passed away in April. She was daughter and her many friends. history to throw a no-hitter. Ed is enough to try and explain the devoted to her family, and was remembered as a friend to every basics. When he mentioned a businesswoman, community James Edward Mory dog he met. He will be missed the point in the match when leader and philanthropist. After passed away in March. James by his wife, Joanne, and by his the players break for lunch, I operating family jewelry stores attended NCC (1999), and was family. u could only respond ‘there’s a in the Lehigh Valley for over 20 employed as a computer program- lunch!’” u years, she and her late husband, mer at Berkheimer Outsourcing. Bernie, founded Piercing Pagoda, He served in the Air Force during

SUMMER 2008 ● NCC 43 ALumNi prOFiLe The Fast Pace Of Serving Food the playground of GOOD EATING With “players” well fed, and loyal By Sharon Jones Zondag

plished chefs, and by saving 2007 at The Fowler Family his money; he went on to own Center on NCC’s Southside and successfully operate The K campus was a showcase for Diner, still open today as The classic Greek dishes Billy City Diner, in Easton. With a learned both at home from unique blend of the Greek and mother Georgia and during Mediterranean cuisine he knew his 25-plus trips to Greece. and loved and the Pennsylva- From a modern spanikopita nia Dutch menu he anticipated to saghanaki, the audience his clientele would expect, the was enthralled. The fl urry of restaurant thrived. e-mails and letters he received It was not until the loss after the class spoke volumes of his dad that Billy, working about the audience’s reaction with his uncles to run the and their desire to take away family restaurant, came to love a cooking tip or two, to “steal the pace and the excitement with their eyes,” the magic of of the business. Yet, college Billy’s Downtown Diner. remained an ambition. In a Billy credits his success world where love, loyalty and to the good advice he’s had family mean all, Northampton throughout his life and to the Billy, hard at work on the “playground.” Community College offered hard work he and his wife Billy an opportunity to work and family have invested in “THE SUN SHINES ON their omelets. toward his degree and still live the business. The Billy-Cristo everyone” is just one of In a world where we look at home. NCC was fl exible, af- and the Venetian Sandwich the many wisdoms Billy for heroes, Billy Kounoupis fordable and, in Billy’s words, share the contents page of Kounoupis ’83 of Billy’s grew up with a hero at home: “a blessing.” Billy’s first cookbook, Not Downtown Diner has gained his father. From the earliest Today he calls Billy’s Your Ordinary Cookbook, with over the years. From his age, he remembers aspiring Downtown Diner “his play- the Downtown wrap and the window on the world of down- to be like his dad. A Greek ground,” and the innovative Opa Omelet (that’s Opa, as in town Bethlehem, Billy and family, his father Pete came to menu changes he and his the Greek word for “cheers,” his wife, Yanna, have run a America from Sparta, working wife make several times often said before a meal of restaurant that gathers patrons in the Key City Diner in Phil- throughout the year reflect celebration). It’s an eclectic from all corners of our com- lipsburg, N.J., as a dishwasher. both their creativity and the offering that keeps the res- munity. Their customers come He could not speak or write ideas and inspirations of their taurant filled from 7 a.m. to 4 for breakfast and camaraderie, English, but knew that he loyal customers. A restaura- p.m., seven days a week with lunch and a meeting, coffee “could steal with his eyes,” teur with imagination, Billy a local and loyal following and negotiations. But more and learn the skills of the chef calls his cuisine “comfort of patrons, who don’t need a than this, they come to a place he so desired to be. food with fl air.” street address when someone where Billy and his staff know Pete achieved his dream The sold out cooking suggests: “Let’s have breakfast their names and how they like by watching other, accom- demonstration Billy gave in at Billys.” u

44 NCC ● SUMMER 2008 PHOTO BY RANDY MONCEAUX Before We Go reFLEctiON

Animals hold a special place in the hearts of people around the world. the country. Average folks became made volunteers weep. Early in the spring semester, Pulitzer-prize winning photographer Carol Guzy ’77, heroes – a fi refi ghter from New York From the silence emerged who took her first photography class at NCC, returned to campus to talk about her who lived through the terrorist attacks shadows in the night. Pets hid under experiences photographing animals caught in the fury of Hurricane Katrina. No on September 11, a housewife from porches covered in toxic sludge and one who heard her speak or saw her photographs left unmoved. Here is part of Minnesota, an antique dealer from reverted to survival instincts. Rescue what she had to say. You can read more and see additional images on NCC’s news Nebraska, a nurse from Baton Rouge. workers found the resiliency of the site: http://northampton.edu/news/topstories/carolguzy.htm. Power struggles and contro­ animals a poignant reminder of the versies plagued the groups, but the profound strength of spirit that tran­ Katrina’s rampage left in its buses and boats refused to take common thread was the welfare of scends adversity. wake lives shattered, thriving com­ companion animals. Others were munities reduced to ghost towns and tied to posts or locked in bathrooms precious mementos scattered amid with no hope of survival. Some the debris. Family photographs spoke were shot to death. Many perished “The greatness of a nation poignantly of the touchstones of life in the floodwaters or died of thirst, and its moral progress can – graduations, weddings and birthday hunger or disease. The ones who be judged by the way its celebrations. In many homes, the made it through the storm swam display included a tenderly framed in endless circles in the surreal animals are treated. Mahatma Ghandi image of the beloved family pet. landscape that was once New The tragedy’s most silent of Orleans or waited patiently on their victims were the animals. Thousands own destroyed porches for family the helpless, voiceless creatures that Tears fl owed every day: Tears of them were abandoned when that never returned. touched their hearts. of sorrow at the pitiful sight of an archaic policy forbade residents to The largest rescue effort in U.S. First there was the barking. injured dog’s eyes still fi lled with evacuate with their pets. People left history ensued. A realization emerged Rescuers broke down doors and trust. Tears of joy streaming down the food and water believing they would from the chaos acknowledging the smashed windows to save the face of a young boy tenderly reunited return in a few days. Some pets were primal depth of the human/animal trapped creatures. As time passed, with his pooch. And tears of loss: left behind when helicopters plucked bond. Sacrifi cing pets did not save the barks became weaker. Then there enough to fi ll a broken levee. u their owners from rooftops or when people. Volunteers came from across was nothing. It’s the “nothing” that Heidi Bright Butler

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