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he experiment is to be tried… whether the children of the people, ‘Tthe children of the whole people, can be educated; whether an institution of learning, of the highest grade, can be successfully controlled by the popular will, not by the privileged few, but by the privileged many.” — Horace Webster Founding Principal, The Free Academy CUNYcuny.edu/news • THE CITY UNIVERSITY OFMatters NEW YORK • FOUNDED 1847 AS THE FREE ACADEMY MAY 2011 Superstar GRANTS&HONORS Recognizing Faculty Scholars Achievement City University students are winning more Holford HE UNIVERSITY’S renowned competitive and prestigious awards than faculty members continual- Tly win professional- ever — from national math and science achievement awards from pres- tigious organizations as well as fellowships to Truman and Rhodes Scholarships. research grants from govern- ment agencies, farsighted foun- wo CUNY seniors have won $100,000 Math for America receive a B.A. in pure mathe- Bihn dations and leading corpora- Fellowships to pursue careers teaching math in New York matics with minors in tions. Pictured at left are just a City’s public schools, while one graduating senior and two secondary math education and few of the most recent honorees. CUNY graduates won coveted National Science physics this spring. “This is an Brief summaries of many ongo- TFoundation Graduate Research Fellowships and outstanding incredible honor,” he said. “It’s an ing research projects start here students secured other leading academic awards, making this a ban- extremely competitive program and a and continue inside. ner spring for award winners. major boost to my plans to become a math teacher.” Hostos Community The other top awards include two $30,000 Harry S. Truman A Chinese immigrant who arrived in New York six years ago Knikou College President Félix V. Scholarships for graduate study leading to careers in government or speaking only basic English, he will attend either Bard College or Matos Rodríguez has announced public service and four $7,500 undergraduate Barry M. Goldwater New York University — MfA’s two collaborating math education an award projected to total $7.4 Scholarships to encourage careers in the natural sciences, mathemat- master’s programs — starting this summer. He has been a teaching million over five years from the ics and engineering. Ten undergraduates have won Jeannette K. assistant at Thurgood Marshall Academy for Learning and Social Administration for Children and Watson Fellowships. And earlier this school year, a CUNY student Change, The City College Academy of the Arts, the Mott Hall School Families division of the U.S. won the top academic honor: a Rhodes Scholarship. and A. Philip Randolph Campus High School. Matos Department of Health and “CUNY students are winning more highly competitive awards and Four CUNY students won National Science Foundation Graduate Rodríguez Human Services to initiate a pro- scholarships than at any time in our history,” said Chancellor Research Fellowships, which are geared to assuring the vitality and gram to prepare low-income Matthew Goldstein. “The University is attracting an ever-growing diversity of America’s scientific and engineering workforce: Lina individuals for employment in number of outstanding students systemwide, and that’s particularly Mercedes Gonzalez (Hunter College, 2009) is earning a Ph.D. in health-care professions. due to our Macaulay Honors College, which is home to many of this mechanical engineering at Carnegie Mellon University; mathemati- year’s winners. These successes demonstrate the quality of CUNY cian Arthur Jacob Parzygnat (Macaulay Honors College at Queens The U.S. Department students, assisted by a world-class faculty.” College, 2010), now at the CUNY Graduate Center, explores topolog- of Education has awarded Math for America (MfA) is a privately funded nonprofit organiza- ical quantum field theory; Evangeleen Pattison (City College 2010), Roggow $3,669,272 to Michael Roggow tion whose generous stipends and continuing support separate it now in a sociology Ph.D. program at the University of Texas at of The Criminal Justice Academy from other organizations that encourage people to go into public Austin, examines student success in the sciences; and Anthony Pang at Bronx Community College for school teaching. In New York City, MfA teachers receive a $30,000 (City College 2011), will study spacecraft propulsion at an “Education Collaborative.” stipend plus full-tuition scholarship for a master’s degree in mathe- Massachusetts Institute of Technology. City College has received matics education in the first year; the remaining $70,000 is paid over The Truman scholars are Ayodele Oti of Macaulay Honors College $635,297 in grant funding from the next four years, when fellows also earn a regular teacher’s salary. at The City College of New York, and Gareth Rhodes of City College the U.S. Department of “I’m ecstatic,” said winner Ann Marie Alcocer, a Lehman College and the CUNY Baccalaureate degree. Both graduate this spring. Schrader Education for a project aimed at senior. ”I was encouraged by the fact that other Lehman students CUNY freshmen and sophomores also won 10 of the 15 Jeannette “Increasing Retention and have won it.” Indeed, she is the fourth Lehman student to earn an K. Watson Fellowships, which provide freshmen and sophomores Graduation Rates through MfA Fellowship. “Maybe by teaching students in middle school, I can with three years of paid summer internships for Enhanced Pedagogy and give them the skills they need to succeed in high school,” she said. professional and personal leadership. Improved Technology,” directed Said Lehman mathematics and computer science professor by Daniel Lemons, Senior Katherine St. John: “Ann Marie really wants to teach, and she has search.cuny.edu “scholarship recipients” Advisor to the President on earned the best scholarship in her field.” or snap the square with your smartphone. Neita Student Success, and Craig E. CUNY’s other MfA winner, Jian Liu of The City College, will Levinsky of the Division of Humanities & the Arts. Brooklyn College has received a $509,394 CUNYMatters Non-Profit Org grant from the National U.S. Postage INSIDE Office of University Relations PAID Institutes of Health for research 535 East 80th St. Permit # 153 PAGE directed by chemistry professor New Haven, CT Boosting Student Kijne Richard Magliozzo. New York, NY 10075 2 Success Rates Award-winning competitive PAGE Bringing Home swimmer, aquatics innovator, 4 Black History educator and author Jane Katz has been inducted into the

PAGE National Jewish Sports Hall of Out of Egypt: Katz Fame and Museum. Professor 6 Firsthand Katz has been affiliated with Accounts CUNY more than 50 years and in 1989 began teaching at John Jay PAGE Big Fix On College. She also teaches fitness Campus: and swimming to New York City 10 police and firefighters. Critical Payamps- Repairs Rodriguez Continued on page 3 ‰ CM 2011-05 revised_CM Spring 09 4/15/11 1:00 PM Page 2

THECHANCELLOR’SDESK Marking Milestones, Leading Onward Helping Freshmen HIS YEAR marks a significant number of degree-seeking milestone in CUNY’s history. Fifty students — 260,000 in fall years ago, New York City’s higher- 2010. NSELM LALLA was discouraged ready, despite a 64 percent graduation rate, education landscape experienced a More than a decade of internal reforms when he tried to go to college some according to a Feb. 7 New York Times Tseries of significant shifts that led to the has fueled an academic and reputational 20 years after finishing high account. birth of the modern-day City University of renaissance at the University. Last year, for school in Trinidad. “When I Statewide, just 41 percent of high school New York. On April 11, 1961, state legislation the first time, it was necessary to institute a Afailed the CUNY competence tests, they told graduates notched at least a 75 on the transforming the city’s seven-college munic- wait list for admission in order to maintain me it would take at least three semesters to English Regents or an 80 on a math Regents ipal system into an interconnected universi- the academic quality of our programs. go through remedial class- in 2009 — scores that pre- ty system with new Ph.D.-granting authority Students and families know that CUNY es,” said Lalla, 36. University math staff dict at least a college-level was signed by Gov. Nelson A. Rockefeller. offers great value in today’s higher-education Everything changed C in the same subject. Of course, the University traces its roots marketplace. Affordable tuition, financial aid with the University’s new, developer Steve Hinds Students scoring below to 1847, with the founding of The Free for lower-income students and a rational effective and low-cost these values may need Academy, and a number of our colleges funding strategy — the CUNY Compact — immersion program, which traced the pilot’s success remediation. Two-thirds of have long and rich histories pre-dating help keep CUNY a very economical choice. prepares first-time fresh- New York City students 1961. But this year, we are proud to recog- The financial benefits to our students men for college-level work to far more time attending SUNY communi- nize the critical milestones of 1961: the cod- exceed affordable tuition. CUNY students before they matriculate. ty colleges need remedial ification of the CUNY system, by then the borrow less on average for their education “It’s the best thing that per semester than the help. nation’s largest public university, and the than do students at other colleges, private ever happened. The The pilot for CUNY Start birth of the Graduate Center. and public, and graduate with less debt. instructors were amazing,” typical 45 to 60 hours, yielded promising results. The authorization to create doctoral pro- What’s more, they graduate well prepared he said, adding that staff Of 113 LaGuardia and grams elevated public higher education in for the future. CUNY is intertwined with the assisted “with any prob- more in-depth coverage Kingsborough Community the city to new heights while fulfilling the New York City labor market, educating lem, not only schoolwork.” College students who com- University’s historic imperatives: to edu- graduates ready to work in high-demand Coming to colleges in of fewer topics, and pleted it, 71 percent were cate “the children of the whole people” and professions such as nursing, business fields, fall 2011 in all five exempted from all further to provide New York with a well-trained and health, science, engineering and com- boroughs, the program, avoidance of teacher- remediation. More specifi- work force. At the time, a looming shortage puter technologies. In addition, the now called CUNY Start, is cally, 92 percent passed of teachers was cited by CUNY’s first dean University engages the city’s communities one of three novel centered presentations. math 2 (algebra), 82 per- of graduate studies, Mina Rees. She asked with targeted work-force development pro- approaches to address the cent passed math 1 (arith- the state for $6.3 million to develop CUNY’s grams that help New Yorkers learn and hone flood of underprepared metic), 80 percent passed doctoral offerings in nine disciplines. skills and connect with real jobs. freshmen; all are rooted in reading and 79 percent Today, the Graduate Center is home to The University’s capital construction pro- a curriculum piloted in 2009-2010 after passed writing. Statewide and national pass more than 30 doctoral programs, including gram generates billions of dollars in econom- several years of experimentation by the rates are significantly lower. nationally ranked courses of study. ic activity for New York through new Office of Academic Affairs. In fall 2000, 85 percent of CUNY first- To acknowledge these historic develop- construction, facilities renovation and criti- The other two are innovative hybrid time community college freshmen — some ments, Senior Vice Chancellor for University cal maintenance. In the past decade, the pro- courses at the forthcoming new community 9,400 students — needed at least one reme- Relations and Board Secretary Jay Hershen- gram has completed more than $2 billion in college and intervention in high school dial class. In fall 2010, following several son is overseeing publication of a commem- projects at individual campuses. Projects in classrooms. years of significant orative issue of our Salute to Scholars the pipeline will generate some 14,000 jobs. “Students trust that enrollment growth at magazine, which will be distributed in time The University — its people, resources we’ll get them ready CUNY, 79 percent, or for the fall 2011 semester, with assistance and activities — are integral to our city and for college-level work, Promising Results 13,585 students, needed from the staff of the LaGuardia and Wagner state. Most graduates, having bolstered their but traditional reme- at least one remedial Archives at LaGuardia Community College. earning power with CUNY degrees, remain dial classes don’t work Of 113 LaGuardia and class. One-quarter In addition, under the leadership of in New York, contributing to its vitality. The for everyone,” said Kingsborough Community needed remediation in President William Kelly, the Graduate CUNY that opened the doors for them con- Alexandra W. Logue, College students who all three areas (reading, Center will commemorate its 50th anniver- tinues to do so for new generations. executive vice chan- writing and math) last sary with a series of special events — includ- As we mark the milestones reached in cellor and University completed CUNY Start, fall. And since 2005, the ing two convocations, in October 2011 and 1961, we celebrate our history and the provost. “Students number receiving low April 2012 — focusing on prominent schol- visionary work that enabled the develop- become frustrated if 71% scores on all three skills arship, past and present, as well as the pub- ment of CUNY as the leading public urban they have to repeat • tests more than dou- lication of the Graduate Center history. The university in the nation. I hope you will join remedial classes, or were exempted from all bled, from 447 to 959. anniversary theme will highlight 2011-2012 me in that celebration. take remedial classes further remediation. Such students account- fundraising efforts and many other events. over several More specifically, ed for 5.5 percent of The reconstitution of the city’s municipal semesters, and they community college college system and the creation of New York’s may then drop out. freshmen last fall. public graduate school 50 years ago led to a They also waste finan- •92% Students who need period of great expansion for the University. cial aid on classes that passed math 2 (algebra), remediation generally Today, CUNY is organized in accordance with don’t move them enroll in an associate The City University of New York Financing search.cuny.edu toward a degree. So degree program, taking and Governance Act, enacted in 1979 by the “preserving the past,” or we’ve been working on •82% and paying for noncred- State of New York. The University comprises snap the square with your alternatives.” passed math 1 (arithmetic), it remedial classes along 23 colleges and professional schools through- smartphone to see $2 billion in 21st These innovations with credit-bearing out the five boroughs and serves a record century facilities for the University. come amid national ones. But some lack the concern about •80% classroom skills needed mediocre preparation passed reading to flourish in academic BOARDOFTRUSTEES CUNYMatters for college, even as courses. CUNY Start is The City University of New York international competi- designed to solve those Matthew Goldstein tion demands ever- •79% problems. It charges a Benno Schmidt Philip Alfonso Berry Chancellor nominal $75 for a Chairperson Vice Chairperson Jay Hershenson more capable college passed writing. Valerie L. Beal Secretary of the Board of Trustees and graduates. President comprehensive full- Peter Pantaleo Senior Vice Chancellor for University Relations time or part-time Wellington Z. Chen Obama has spotlighted Kathleen M. Pesile Michael Arena the critical role that Statewide and national immersion program. Rita DiMartino University Director for Communications and Marketing Carol Robles-Román community colleges pass rates are Before students put Freida Foster-Tolbert Barbara Shea Managing Editor Charles A. Shorter need to play in assur- their dollars on the line Rich Sheinaus Director of Graphic Design significantly lower. Judah Gribetz Solomon A. Sutton ing America’s econom- with an academic Charles DeCicco, Ruth Landa and Neill S. Rosenfeld Joseph J. Lhota course, CUNY Start Jeffrey Wiesenfeld Writers ic future. Hugo M. Morales aims to bring them up Miriam Smith Issue Designer In New York, the to speed in reading, André Beckles Photographer state Education writing and math, along with the skills and Articles in this and previous issues are available at cuny.edu/news. Department says that less than half of high Cory Provost Sandi E. Cooper Letters or suggestions for future stories may be sent to the Editor by school graduates are ready for college or attitudes needed to succeed. Chairperson, Chairperson, e-mail to [email protected]. Changes of address high-paying careers; in New York City, only Lalla dispatched his remedial work dur- University Student Senate University Faculty Senate should be made through your campus personnel office. 23 percent of high school graduates are ing Kingsborough’s initial 12-week segment.

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Off to a Better ‘CUNY Start’ Continued from page 1 Gary Mallon of Hunter College’s School of Social Work has received grant funding totaling Another highly $1,150,000 from HHS/Administration for promising innovation Children and Families (ACF) for a “National to prepare students for Resource Center for Permanency & Family college work is playing Connections” project. Research on “Advanced out in the high Lightweight Multi-Threat Composite Armor schools. Called “At Technology,” directed by professor Feridun Home in College,” this Delale, chair of mechanical engineering at City initiative aims at mak- College, has received $2,220,840 in grant sup- ing high school stu- port from the U.S. Army. dents feel comfortable “Project Rise: Re-Invigorating with higher education. Second-Year Education,” under Now in its third year, the direction of Interim Vice the program is sup- President Paul Arcario of ported by a $1.3 mil- LaGuardia Community College, Wolfe lion Robin Hood has received $574,623 in grant Foundation grant. funding from the U.S. Department of Education. Among the results: Marcie Wolfe, executive director of the Institute Seventy-three percent for Literacy Studies at Lehman College, has been of participants in 2009 awarded $381,893 from the New York State and 2010 enrolled in Education Department for the “Workforce higher education, ver- Investment Act.” sus 58 percent of all the city’s Department The U.S. Department of Education of Education gradu- has awarded grant support totaling $442,071 to ates; enrollment rates Queens College for the “Upward Bound for African-Americans Program,” under the direction of Michael Neita. (74 percent) and Funding totaling $381,815 has been received by Latinos (71 percent) Richard Brown of the College of Staten Island exceeded national from the New York State Department of averages (56 percent Education for “Liberty Partnerships.” York and 64 percent, College has received $124,218 from the Sloan respectively); partici- Foundation for a project directed by assistant pants scored 11 to 20 professor of chemistry Mande Holford. percentage points Senior Vice President and Provost higher on CUNY Simone Rodriguez-Dorestant of Medgar Evers placement tests than College has received five grants totaling their peers in associ- $1,838,308 from the New York ate degree programs in City Department of Youth and 2009, and 70.9 percent Community Development for of the 2009 students five youth programs as well as were still enrolled full a $325,573 grant from the U.S. time in associate Department of Education for a Rodriguez- degree programs into “Talent Search Program” co- Dorestant a third semester — 7.1 directed by Abraham Nyameh, percentage points director of Educational Talent Search. The New higher than the com- York City Human Resources Administration, the parable CUNY-wide New York State Department of Labor, and the retention rate. New York State Education Department have Currently serving awarded three grants, totaling $1,135,219, to 1,000 students in city Blanche Kellawon, director of adult education at high schools, At Home Bronx Community College, for a training project. in College is to expand Anselm Lalla, left, now a full time student at Kingsborough Community College, chats with Nicole Taveres to more than 2,000 in The Robin Hood Foundation has and Kevin Winkler, continuing education instructors in reading/writing and math, respectively. 75 high schools next awarded $320,000 to Elizabeth Payamps- year and to 5,000 the Rodriguez of Bronx Community College for an year after. The need is “Education Collaborative.” “Bridges to In the subsequent six-week segment, he and class, it’s you, not her.” With an A-minus in great, according to Eric Hofmann, Baccalaureate,” a project directed by John P. 18 other pilot participants took a credit- Paler’s class, this husband and father of a University director for collaborative pro- Bihn, chair of natural sciences, and Hendrick bearing introductory psychology class. 22-month-old son is now a full-time student grams. “Each year, there are between Delcham of the mathematics, engineering and Others in the pilot at Kingsborough. Hoping 20,000 and 30,000 seniors who are on track computer science department at LaGuardia continued immersion for a career in nursing, to graduate, but need help and academic Community College, has received $246,187 from in remedial courses. When one test did not go well … he also works more than support … to become college-ready.” the National Institutes of Health. Umesh “I loved the stu- 40 hours a week as a CUNY’s New Community College, to Nagarkatte, chair of mathematics at Medgar dents,” said psycholo- I asked how could I present home health aide. open in fall 2012, will infuse remedial work Evers College, has been awarded a “Minority gy assistant professor University math staff in required credit-bearing, first-year cours- Science Improvement Program Institutional Lisa K. Paler. “They material in a way that would be developer Steve Hinds es that, if not quite immersion, give the stu- Grant” totaling $200,000 from the U.S. were motivated and traced the pilot’s success dents more time on task than the usual Department of Education. easier to comprehend. engaged. When one to far more time per classes. Associate professor of biology test did not go well, semester than the typical “There will be a common curriculum, but Juergen Polle and professor of chemistry we went over multi- They said, ‘You didn’t do anything 45 to 60 hours, more in- differentiated instruction, since students Roberto Sanchez-Delgado of Brooklyn College ple-choice and short- depth coverage of fewer come with different degrees of prepared- have received $559,081 from the U.S. answer questions, wrong. We didn’t study well.’ topics and avoidance of ness,” said associate math professor Bill Department of Energy for a “Development of and I asked how teacher-centered pre- Rosenthal. Every student will take statistics, Pollution Prevention Technologies” project. The could I present mate- I was blown away. sentations. “Our instruc- which will dovetail with a City Seminar run- College of Staten Island has been awarded rial in a way that — Lisa K. Paler tors use an enormous ning 72 hours of classroom time over two $354,798 from the New York State Department of would be easier to psychology assistant professor number of questions, not semesters. The seminar will integrate read- Education for the “New York State Spinal Cord comprehend. They statements, to provoke ing, writing, critical thinking and quantita- Injury Research Program,” directed by Maria said, ‘You didn’t do anything wrong. We did- conversations among students.” The stu- tive analysis as it explores immigration; Knikou. The New York City Department of Health n’t study well.’ I was blown away.” dents, he said, “make connections, general- homelessness and housing; and consump- Continued on next page ‰ Said Lalla: “If you do not succeed in her ize and figure out the rules.” tion, waste and recycling.

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GRANTS&HONORS ACUNY LIFE

Continued from page 3 and Mental Hygiene has awarded $183,282 in grant funding to Steven Markowitz and Holger Eisl of Queens College for a “New York City Community Air Survey Program.” Hunter College has received $108,560 from Children's Hospital & Research Center at Oakland/NIH for ferritin research directed by Gertrude B. Elion Endowed Scholar and Professor Dixie Goss. Yvonne DeGaetano of Hunter College has received a $601,940 grant from the New York State Education Department in support of the “New York City Bilingual Education Technical Assistance Center.” Scott Atran of John Jay College has received $289,713 from the National Science Foundation for research on influences on “Moral Cognition and Atran Judgments Relevant to that Blau’s great-great-great grandfa- The name James McCune Smith Realworld Political and ther Smith was the doctor she had in her family Bible, above, led Environmental Conflicts.” Louise Hainline, Dean written about, who when he Greta Blau to find he was the of Graduate Studies and Research at Brooklyn returned to New York City from eminent 19th Century black Bringing leader at left — and more. College, has been awarded a $153,894 grant Scotland had opened what was said from the New York State Education Department to be the nation’s first black phar- for "CSTEP," the Collegiate Science and macy. Orphan Asylum … I just Technology Entry Program. The New York State Black To confirm the relationship, wanted you to know how Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance Blau, who lives in New Haven, did taking your class literally has awarded $112,500 to Natalie Bredikhina, further research, including at changed my life … I just Assistant Director of ESL Immersion and ESL Cypress Hills Cemetery in Brooklyn, wanted to give you my Programs at Kingsborough Community College, History where Smith was buried in 1865. She heartfelt thanks for teaching for “Educational Resources.” learned that Smith, who died at that class, introducing 52, had 11 children. Six died in me to this great man, The U.S. Department of Education childhood. A daughter and four and for being so has awarded a $671,845 grant to professor sons survived to adulthood, and The name was in there enthusiastic about the Herminio Martinez of Lehman College for Bronx Home Blau was descended from one of subject.” GEAR-UP. Hugo J. Kijne of The College of Staten HE NAME James McCune Smith the sons. After Smith’s death, his as the father of my “I read it and burst Island has received two grants from the New York ‘ meant little to Greta Blau in 1996, children and wife passed for into tears,” Edey- State Department of Education: $243,417 under when she briefly mentioned him in a white. great-grandmother’s Rhodes said. “Her the Workforce Investment Act and $165,611 in T research paper she wrote for a History of “He was pretty light- paper was so support of an “English Language/Civics" project. Blacks in New York City course designed skinned,” Blau thinks. “His second husband . . . outstanding I kept it. Queens College has received a $137,093 grant and taught by Joanne Edey-Rhodes. mother was probably mixed, too. I cried because it was from the National Science Foundation/Iowa State Blau’s paper for the Hunter College class She was born a slave in South I said, “That can’t be uncovered history, University for “Teachers Empowered to Advance focused on the Colored Carolina. Somehow she made it which is so important Change in Mathematics (TEACH MATH),” under Orphan Asylum, up to New the right person, to me. I felt it was the direction of Mary Foote. founded on Fifth York with very spiritual. I’ve had Josefina Couture of John Jay College has Avenue to assist home- her slave- because I’m white.” situations where stu- been awarded $380,111 by the U.S. Department less and destitute master, a dents will tell me that of Education for “The Educational Talent Search African-American chil- merchant. ’ the learning that Program.” Assistant Provost Claudia Schrader dren. She noted that This is what I believe. came from a class had an effect on their life, of Medgar Evers College has Smith, the asylum’s He never wrote about but to be in a situation where a course received two grants: doctor, was the his father, but he did became a conduit for someone to find out $566,296 from the U.S. nation’s first profes- write things that give about their past, it was overwhelming.” Department of Education sionally trained you clues.” From her own research, Edey-Rhodes under the “Predominantly African-American After establishing believes Smith’s mother was a former slave, Black Institution Program” physician — as well as her link to Smith, Blau but “his father’s race is in question. Some an eminent 19th cen- and her husband visited writings say that he was black while others and $221,827 from the New Blau, left, at Smith’s grave with Hunter tury abolitionist and the Smith family plot at say white. As for his mother, that, too, isn’t York State Education Hernandez professor Joanne Edey-Rhodes, whose Department for the “Carl D. author whose friends assignment led to surprising discoveries. Cypress Hills, near the absolute. African-Americans were often Perkins Career and Technical Education Act- included antislavery graves of baseball icon listed as mulatto on census records simply CTEA.” The U.S. Department of Defense has movement leader Jackie Robinson and based on a lighter complexion. Smith did say awarded Edgard A. Hernandez, Director of Frederick Douglass. actress Mae West. A book she encountered that she was self-emancipated.” LaGuardia Community College's Procurement Little did Blau know that the assignment about famous people buried at the cemetery James McCune Smith was part of the Technical Assistance Center, a $165,841 grant would years later lead her on an engrossing includes Smith but doesn’t indicate that he black community, Edey-Rhodes said. “The in support of the center. journey into her own family’s roots. was black. She assumes it’s because in the thing that was so extraordinary is that It began one day in 2003, at her grand- mid-19th Century, “If he was a doctor, he before the 1870 census he and his family City College has received $470,000 in fund- mother’s house in Connecticut, when she couldn’t be black.” A marker at the gravesite were mulatto, but after 1870 they were no ing from the New York City Council in support of was looking through the family Bible that an had badly deteriorated so Blau and some longer listed as mulatto or colored; all were the research, libraries and archives of its CUNY Irish relative had. “The name was in there as family members decided to replace it with a listed as white. This man was so distin- Dominican Studies Institute, directed by Ramona the father of my great-grandmother’s sec- granite tombstone that would be inscribed guished he’s somebody that anybody would Hernandez. Hunter College has received a ond husband,” she said. “I knew I had heard with a segment of Smith’s introduction to a want to claim.” “Howard Hughes Medical Institute Undergraduate that name before. I went home and Googled Frederick Douglass autobiography: “… the Blau plans to further research her ances- Science Education Grant” totaling $330,400, the name, and he came up. I said, ‘That can’t worst of our institutions, in its worst aspect, tor’s life and keeps finding fascinating tid- under the direction of Shirley Raps. Healthpro be the right person, because I’m white.’ ” cannot keep down energy, truthfulness and bits. “He was amazing!” she said. “He ran for Staffing Solutions has awarded $130,387 to The family had thought James McCune earnest struggle for the right.” the state Senate and got about five votes. He Marzie A. Jafari, Dean of Adult and Continuing Smith was a white doctor from Scotland, Though she’d lost touch with the teacher was involved in the Underground Railroad.” Education at Lehman College, for an “RN perhaps because Smith — who was denied of her serendipitous black history class, Blau And now that she has renewed her Completion Program — Korea.” The Institute for admission to several American colleges — wanted to invite her to the dedication cere- acquaintance with Edey-Rhodes, Blau said: New Economic Thinking has awarded $120,351 in with the help of abolitionists had earned his mony. She emailed Edey-Rhodes via “I would love to take another one of her grant funding to Leanne Ussher of Queens bachelor’s, master’s and medical degree Hunter’s Africana and Puerto Rican/Latino classes. . . . She so clearly loved her subject. College’s economics department for “A Large from the University of Glasgow, graduating Studies Department, saying in part: “I was She was passionate about it. She wanted us Scale Network Analysis of Firm Trade Credit.” at the top of his class. the white girl droning on nervously at the to know about obscure people. I think she’s But now there was no mistaking the fact front of the classroom about the Colored a really special person.”

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NOTED"ED Pilot e-Text Program Launched at Stuyvesant Law School Awards Honorary Doctorate UNY has joined forces with IBM and Cthe New York City Department of Education (DOE) in a pilot e-textbook ini- To South African Activist Musician tiative at Stuyvesant High School aimed at better equipping students to succeed in HE CUNY SCHOOL OF LAW CUNY Board Vice Chairperson Philip identity and justice, Clegg embodied val- higher education and then in a global work- Tbestowed an honorary Doctor of Alfonso Berry praised Clegg and his ues similar to bedrock CUNY principles, force. Laws degree on Jonathan “Johnny” melding of music, activism and philan- such as the celebration of diversity and In the trial program — which runs Clegg, the renowned South African musi- thropy as the essence of ubuntu, the the equality of opportunity. through the cian, human rights activist and anthro- African humanist concept of the individu- Michelle Anderson, dean of the CUNY spring semester pologist, in a ceremo- al’s interconnectedness to the community School of Law, poignantly highlighted the — a group of 102 ny at University school’s longstanding ninth graders offices April 5. relationship to South will test Kindle Best known for Africa. She noted that DX e-book read- songs such as the investiture cere- ers to download “Asimbonanga” (“We mony for Clegg fell 15 text and supple- have not seen him”) — years and a week mental materi- a tribute to Nelson after the school’s sec- als for geometry, Mandela, Steve Biko, ond dean, Haywood biology and Victoria Mxenge, Neill Burns, and faculty social studies Aggett and other anti- member Shanara classes. apartheid heroes and Gilbert died in a car “This part- martyrs — Clegg and accident while work- nership with his bands Juluka (the ing for post- CUNY, IBM and first mixed-race band apartheid judicial the DOE takes in South Africa, reform in South aim at holding down costs and will offer formed with the Zulu Africa. students tools to better prepare them for musician Sipho Clegg said it was college-level work,” said Allan H. Dobrin, Mchunu), and Savuka appropriate that his executive vice chancellor and chief operat- defied apartheid laws honorary degree was ing officer of CUNY. “We want to work by performing for a doctor of laws, for wisely with existing technology and lever- racially mixed audi- he has spent a life- age its use so that our students will benefit ences, resulting in CUNY School of Law Dean Michelle Anderson, center, and Executive Vice Chancellor and time questioning in the future.” numerous arrests for University Provost Alexandra Logue congratulate Johnny Clegg at his award ceremony. “why the fence exists,” The cost of e-texts generally is about Clegg and his band alluding to the pletho- one-third that of traditional texts. The members. Earlier in his career, Clegg and the world. ra of laws and institu- University also intends to generate revenue studied Zulu dance — which he would Executive Vice Chancellor for tions (a “legal Lego set”) that legislated by developing K-12 e-texts plus supplemen- later incorporate exuberantly in his live Academic Affairs and Provost Alexandra the separation of races and social spaces tary materials that can be marketed to performances — and lectured on anthro- Logue said that in combining Western in South Africa. He said he found it fitting schools nationwide. pology at the University of and Zulu rhythms and stimulating audi- that his journey to help dismantle the Students will be regularly surveyed to Witwatersrand in Johannesburg. ences to think more deeply about racial fence had led him to this honor at CUNY. evaluate the initiative, which could be expanded to other schools. New Focus on Documentaries We’re a Hit! nternational filmmakers brought “The about films,” said film board founder and well as college students, said Isabel, who is ELEBRATING the IWorld Through Women’s Eyes” into focus chairman Lonnie Isabel. also a reporter, editor and director of the Cfirst anniversary of at the Graduate School of Journalism in Isabel said the University's journalism International Reporting Program at the a new “5.0” redesign, April with a global documentary festival school recently has also started a documen- J-school. the CUNY website — launched to recognize the importance of tary film class and he expects that student The focus of the documentary festival www.cuny.edu — has such films in covering world events in a time film projects and discussions will be part of may or may not change from women’s rights increased traffic by of decline in international news coverage. the next documentary festival. He also hopes next year, he said, because “women’s issues more than fifty percent “It was all that we envisioned at the start to keep attracting a wider group of diverse are so pressing” and this year’s festival films to a record 1.64 million and more … not just filmmakers talking contributors and audiences of high school as just scratched the surface. He also hopes to unique visitors per generate deeper dis- month. The CUNY cussions in New York website has now City that relate to glob- become the second al concerns affecting most searched site on Google in the New women, such as child York metropolitan area, according to Google marriage and rape as a Zeitgeist's annual survey of web search weapon of war. trends. In March 2011, the site also pro- This year’s festival duced a record 6.6 million page “hits” or lineup included films pageviews. Among the most visited pages demonstrating global were the homepage, the portal log, admis- struggles focused on sions related pages and employment and job women’s subjugation, search pages. Along with providing vital ser- worker exploitation, vices to faculty and students, the site, which poverty and resistance is managed by the Office of University in Haiti; six women’s Relations, is also becoming a favorite for courageous efforts to lifelong learners. Lectures and public dis- shape Nepal’s future in cussions on the campuses, collected and the midst of an esca- edited via CUNY Radio, account for approxi- lating civil war against mately 30,000 downloads a month from vis- insurgents and the itors. Recent fare have included “The king’s crackdown on Internet Road to Revolution,” first-hand civil liberties; and a accounts by CUNY Study Abroad students group of brave and of the central role social media is playing in visionary women who the Arab Spring; “An Evening With…” New demanded peace for York Times Executive Editor Bill Keller; and Liberia, a nation torn CUNY Lectures by CCNY physicist Michio to shreds by a decades Kaku and Louisa May Alcott biographer old civil war. Susan Cheever.

CUNY MATTERS — May 2011 5 CM 2011-05 revised_CM Spring 09 4/15/11 1:00 PM Page 6

Two CUNY students in Cairo suddenly find themselves part of a historic outcry Out for democracy. of Egypt

ORHAN BASUNI had finished her monthlong study-abroad program in NCairo and was set to fly home to New York. It was Jan. 25, the first day of nation- wide demonstrations against a formidable dictator. To Basuni, boarding her flight that day seemed like the last thing she should do. Basuni, a senior at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, was born in the United States to Egyptian parents and visits rela- CUNY students Norhan Basuni and Alex Schindler tives in Cairo every year. In December, she flew to the Egyptian capital for a month of experiences at a CUNY Study Abroad Re- research of the country’s politics, govern- Entry seminar on March 4 and elaborated in ment and international relations. So when interviews. the first stirrings of protest against At John Jay, Basuni is completing a dou- President Hosni Mubarak erupted in Cairo ble major in conflict resolution and interna- on the very day she was to leave — and with- tional crime, justice and development. At in a stone’s throw of her family’s home near Tahrir Square, conflict grew before her eyes. Tahrir Square — Basuni had a decision to It started peacefully enough, she said. “It make. To her, there was no choice. was just about marching in great numbers “We knew it was going to happen,” she and shouting out slogans,” she said of that said. “I saw it on Facebook, and my friends first day. “I thought it was going to end at knew about it.” Basuni, 21, called her par- that, but it started to escalate. I was there for ents. “My mom about four days, coming and going. Each said, ‘Don’t go.’ For the first time, time I went I participated. I felt part of the My father said, Egyptians who had been there all their life. I ‘I know you are it occurred to felt empowered and inspired by what people going to go. Be my age were doing; how people my age were careful.’ It was Schindler that he making a difference. I was energized. I want- one of those ed to be part of this. I felt if I’m here, there’s things you felt might be witnessing a reason I’m here.” you must do. When the The object was history. “I wanted tear gassing liberation, and began, she that’s what we said, “My were fighting to be part of the family for. I joined the advised me to march.” protest. I wanted to stay home; Basuni was- they weren’t n’t the only be part of history.” sure just how CUNY under- dangerous graduate who went abroad this winter and this was.” But wound up in the middle of what turned out Basuni ven- to be the overthrow of Egypt’s long-time dic- tured out tator. Alex Schindler, a junior at Macaulay again. “Tanks Honors College at Hunter College who is were every- also pursuing a CUNY Baccalaureate degree, where,” she enrolled at the American University in Cairo said, “but for the spring semester. “I wanted to there wasn’t a improve my Arabic, to immerse myself in time I felt Arab culture, and Egypt was a safe place,” he fear for my

said. He arrived in Cairo on Jan. 17, two life or endan- PHOTO BY CUNY ALUMNUS SAM AHMAD weeks before classes were to begin. Events gered.” She eight days later gave him a real immersion in photographed What worried Basuni more than the threat she said. “This was my only way of connecting Arabic culture — and for a while, Egypt was- protesters carrying banners, children stand- of violence was the government’s shutdown of with the outside world. I lost contact with [my n’t such a safe place. ing on tanks and families camping on the the Internet: Her family would have no way of family] for about four days. One day I was able Basuni and Schindler described their ground beside the tanks. knowing if she was safe. “I was devastated,” to contact my older sister.”

6 CUNY MATTERS — May 2011 CM 2011-05 revised_CM Spring 09 4/15/11 1:01 PM Page 7

Children stand on tank at right and families camp beside it, ignored by sol- diers; protester PHOTOS BY NORHAN BASUNI at far right displays a time- ly newspaper front page.

got big they would start shoot- ing protesters and that would be the end of it, like Tiananmen Square.” He returned to the square with a roommate the next day. “I decided to check out the protest. Now there was actual police action. I could hear the firing of rubber bullets. We saw people wearing gas masks and policemen charging into protesters. I thought, ‘… This went from inconsequential to very significant.’ ” The next day, his roommate, the son of an Egyptian military official, told him there would be a revolution. For the first time, it occurred to Schindler that he might be witnessing history. “I wanted to be part of the protest. I wanted to be part of history.” The protests became increas- ingly heated, but it wasn’t until the fifth day that Schindler became afraid. He heard there were looters near the building where he was staying. He said he patrolled the balcony all night with a steak knife. Meanwhile, the Internet went black. “I couldn’t get through. I tried to make a phone call, nothing. I said, ‘Oh Peaceful God, my parents!’ ” Finally, a protesters fill call came through from them. Cairo streets, They had been in touch with above and far the American University’s New left, catching York office and arranged for up on news Schindler to move to its campus whenever they in the suburbs ahead of sched- can, left. ule. But his semester abroad never happened. Classes were delayed a week, and then the PHOTO BY CUNY SCHOOL OF ALUMNUS LAW SAM AHMAD U.S. Embassy ordered the evac- A Macaulay honors student, Schindler visiting him from Israel toured the uation of Americans. Schindler flew home. is pursuing a double major in Middle pyramids. Then they took a taxi to Tahrir Norhan Basuni flew home the same day, East Studies and International Square. “We see these serious-looking stu- Feb. 2 — reluctantly. “I feel blessed to have Relations. dents, about our age,” he said, “and we were been a part of this and to witness it first- Landing in the capital, Schindler, 21, shocked to see lines and lines of police in hand,” she said. “It made me feel hopeful for was picked up at the airport by an riot gear.” the future.” Her heart, she said, was still in American friend of Egyptian heritage Schindler couldn’t envision the young Tahrir Square. “My soul was there.” PHOTO BY NORHAN BASUNI who was studying in Cairo. “As he drove protesters amassing the power to actually around, pointing out interesting sights, topple Mubarak. “For the most part, the search.cuny.edu While Basuni had deep roots in Egypt and he told me, ‘On January 25, you should prob- protesters were just protesting,” he said. “I “social media” or snap the even a home near the rebellion, Alex ably lie low. Don’t come downtown.’ I didn’t didn’t expect anything to come of it. The square with your smart- Schindler was making his first visit to the heed it.” same military dictatorship had been in power phone and hear the two students country. It was a trip he’d long anticipated: That day, Schindler and another friend 30 years. I figured it would be small, and if it describe their Egypt experiences.

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STUDENTHONORS Baruch Scores High Baruch College team ranked third out of 50 Ateams representing 46 academic institutions from four continents in the recent eighth annual Rotman International Trading Competition at the University of Toronto. The Baruch team won the Click,Click High Frequency Algorithmic Trading section. Baruch’s team members, all Master’s in Financial Engineering (MFE) students, were —You’re Done! Amanda Kotler, Yike Lu, David Rappaport and Alexei Smirnov. The 2011 team was trained by Eugene Krel, a Baruch MFE graduate in 2009, The new CUNYfirst online system when he was a member of the first Baruch team at the Rotman competition. Help also was pro- is speeding up services from registration vided by associate professor Dan Stefanica, director of the MFE program, and by associate to record-keeping University-wide. professor Richard Holowczak, director of the Zicklin School of Business’ Bert W. and Sandra Wasserman Trading Floor - Subotnick Financial RADHNA PERSAUD and Ashley In personnel, for example, the “talent Services Center. Grant, two Queensborough acquisition management” system has Community College students, accepted job applications, routed them to A Rising Star Amade registering for classes with the new the proper hiring person and, after decisions iliete Lopez, a Hostos Community College CUNYfirst online system appear downright are made, transferred essential data to pay- Lgraduate who is now attending Queens easy. In fact, they told finance, human roll and human resources since September about attracting a cadre of students whom College, was honored as a “rising star” who not resources and enrollment officials at a con- 2009. No longer must someone repeatedly we can make a part of our planning team.” only excels in her field, but also gives back to ference at City College, it was just as easy as fill out the same information. And if an Meanwhile, “We’re learning from the expe- her community. She lived in it appeared. adjunct teaches at three campuses, the sys- rience of those now moving into CUNYfirst” Nicaragua until she was 13, but Standing before a projection of a laptop’s tem knows it’s the same person. in order to make the forthcoming rollout as was not allowed to attend screen, Persaud described each step as Faculty will gain access not only to their uneventful as possible, she said. school because she was blind. Grant clicked tabs and prompts. They personal information, like leave time, but There’s little doubt that each campus will But she flourished in this coun- logged into the private “Aradhna’s Student also get lists of advisees, class rosters with e- encounter difficulties, said James Russell, try, graduating from Hostos with Center,” checked her adviser-approved mail addresses and phone numbers, course CUNYfirst’s academic integration lead. For a 3.782 GPA and now majoring course plan, searched for classes and put offerings and schedules, and the ability to example, as Aradhna Persaud andAshley Lopez in political science and urban two in her shopping cart. She signed up for mark attendance and post grades online. Grant helped fellow Queensborough studies at Queens. Since 2009 one by clicking “enroll,” but hit a roadblock Since the summer of 2008, the University students register for the first time with the she has been treasurer of the CUNY Coalition for at Business 201, which had closed when it has rolled out parts of the software suite to new system, they encountered glitches with Students with Disabilities, a University-wide reached the maximum number of students. some 135 business units. Currently running user names and passwords. Russell recalled student organization representing the interests CUNYfirst asked if she wanted to join a University-wide are modules for general that many Queensborough students initially of more than 9,000 students. Last October, she waiting list. Instead, going to the “swap” tab, ledger, line-item budgeting, base human had erroneous “service stops” in their won a campuswide election at Queens for to the Persaud opted for an English course. Grant resources processes, recruiting, course cata- records, meaning they needed to get faculty University Student Senate, where she was elect- clicked “enroll” and a green check mark logs and faculty workload. Future modules approval to take a course, as if they lacked a ed vice chair of disabled student affairs. Liliete appeared. She was in. She looked at her bill include a new admissions system (in 2012 or prerequisite. is also an alumna of the Malave Leadership and its due date. 2013), a new procurement system in sum- Providing students with early access to Academy, winner of the CUNY Leadership Award The “view weekly calendar” link showed mer 2012 and a financial aid system that will the system can do wonders in implementing of 2009 and leader of the Queens College her summer schedule — or what it would be if be introduced in waves. it smoothly, Russell said. “As our next Legislative project. Her most recent award was this hadn’t been a demonstration. “I better Since November 2010, Queensborough schools go live, they will have a population presented by the Queens Courier, which serves remember to delete all that,” Persaud said, Community College and Queens College that has used the system elsewhere at CUNY communities throughout the borough. “because I’m graduating this spring” with an have been the Wave One guinea pigs for and they give advice in the cafeteria infor- associate degree in business administration. implementing CUNYfirst’s academic com- mally,” he said. Criminology Award Like Grant, she has applied to Baruch College. ponents, which include basic academic As comprehensive as is the software anet Garcia, a senior in the Macaulay Honors Queensborough and Queens College functions, bursaring and student records. suite, from Oracle’s PeopleSoft Enterprise JCollege at Hunter, has won the 2010 were the first campuses to adopt the student Wave Two schools, slated to go live this Campus Solutions, there will be campus-by- Undergraduate Student Paper Award from the and faculty features campus tweaks. Division on Critical Criminology of the American of CUNYfirst, which Responding to a ques- Society of Criminology, the nation’s leading crim- stands for “fully tion, Russell said inology organization. Her paper addresses a integrated there is flexibility in controversial question: Is maintaining a large, resources and ser- handling campus- costly prison system the best way to deal with vices tool.” The sys- specific business prac- crime, or are there less expensive, more effective tem revolutionizes tices like withdrawing alternatives? all of the from a class or signing University’s com- up for independent ‘Empire’ Builder puter systems that study courses. rooklyn College student Justiin Davis was serve students, fac- Jim Davis, City recently cast as Lester White, son of Michael ulty and staff. It College’s acting direc- B November, are the other six community col- K. Williams’ Chalky, on the hit HBO series streamlines operations from hiring to bill tor of human resources, said he’s pleased leges (including the new community college), “Boardwalk Empire,” winner of the 2011 Golden paying to transcripts. with the new software, which handles data Lehman College and the CUNY Law School. Globe Award for Best Television Series – Drama. Planning began in 2000 to replace a jum- for 3,000 current and 10,000 former City Wave Three schools, scheduled for 2012, Davis, who will ble of kludgy, campus-based computer sys- College employees. Salary updates are auto- are Brooklyn, City Tech, Medgar Evers and receive a B.F.A. in tems, some of them dating to the 1970s. matic and the new hiring process has elimi- York Colleges and the College of Staten acting in June, They didn’t communicate well, couldn’t nated most paperwork while improving Island. said: “Someone handle users’ needs and lacked functions security. Wave Four schools, set for 2012 or 2013, once said to me: that had become familiar with the spread of Purchasing director Mario Crescenzo wel- are Baruch, City, Hunter and John Jay ‘You think a little the Internet. When CUNYfirst is fully comed CUNYfirst’s assurance that money Colleges, along with the Graduate Center, boy from the deployed, the days of paper will finally be was actually in the college’s checkbook and including the Graduate Schools of projects is gone and every University information sys- the ease of generating reports and answering Journalism, Public Health and Social Work going to be on tem will seamlessly mesh with every other. queries, among other pluses. “Information is and the School of Professional Studies. TV?’ Since “We needed an updated, integrated sys- at your fingertips” and the learning curve Celia Lloyd, City College’s assistant vice then, I’ve tem that gives students, faculty and staff isn’t steep, he said. president for enrollment management, said fought and access to their information through one For an animated tour of CUNYfirst, see she hosted the hourlong CUNYfirst “town pushed to portal in real time,” explained Brian Cohen, first.cuny.edu. hall” meeting as part of a continuing infor- get where I Associate Vice Chancellor and Chief mation campaign. “Part of our strategy is to wanted to Information Officer. “Reducing administra- keep this on the radar screen,” Lloyd said. go.” tive time and overhead will allow CUNY to Snap the square with your smart- Davis With the rollout just a year away, “I’ve start- focus more on its mission — the academic phone and learn more about ed talking with our student affairs team success of our students.” CUNYfirst.

8 CUNY MATTERS — May 2011 CM 2011-05 revised_CM Spring 09 4/15/11 1:01 PM Page 9

BOOKTALK

How To Be Your Best Being Better Than You Believe: 8 Steps to Ultimate Success (Outskirts Press) by Philip A. Berry, presi- dent of Philip Berry Black White Associates and vice & chairperson of the CUNY Board of — Behind the Eight Ball Trustees, identifies ways that individuals and organizations can move By Gary Schmidgall this “über-thug” intriguing, and his narra- the site of one of the Civil War’s most noto- from present performance to higher tive instincts kicked in. Perhaps in the rious northern prison camps, nicknamed levels of capability and effectiveness. Zebratown: The True Story of a Black Ex-Con and a beginning he imagined an inspirational tale Hellmira. Davis visits a black fraternity par- The book has been praised as “loaded White Single Mother in Small-Town America of adversity overcome and a heart-warming ty in Binghamton (his closest brush with with pearls of wisdom readily available By Greg Donaldson re-entry into society. higher learning), and Donaldson tells us he for immediate use.” Scribner That KK’s story will not have a Hollywood is amazed by the “step dancing, pure folk ending is indicated by the fact that Davis’ is art, passed down from generations of black Brooklyn Nanny Power HE 2010 U.S. CENSUS recently the only real name in Zebratown. All others college men and based on rhythmic tradi- In Raising Brooklyn: Nannies, reported a steep rise in multiracial need their pri- tions of Africa.” Davis Childcare, and Caribbeans Creating households across the nation, which vacy protect- remarks, "Those Community (NYU Press), Tmakes particularly timely Greg Donaldson’s ed. Indeed, [expletive] have too Tamara Mose Brown, Zebratown: The True Story of a Black Ex-Con Donaldson much time on their assistant professor of soci- and a White Single Mother in Small-Town acknowledges hands." (No expletives ology at Brooklyn College, America (Scribner). The title refers to a he has “recre- are deleted in provides a look at how neighborhood in Elmira, one of New York’s ated” some Zebratown.) women working in this many upstate cities noted for rusting facto- conversations In the end, Davis vast, isolating and largely ries and a big prison, where “mixed-race recalled by his plays the role of anti- unregulated profession couples and their children abound.” informants hero all too well. He create their own support system. Every year about 325,000 black convicts and often “believes that if a wom- Brown, herself a Brooklyn mother of are released from prison. Donaldson, a pro- insinuates an begins to feel too West Indian descent, offers insights fessor of communications and theater arts splendid good about herself, she into both sides. at John Jay College, has chosen to follow creative- will be trouble.” For a one of them, Kevin Davis, a product of writing flour- guy with a short fuse, American Renaissance Brownsville in Brooklyn, who was released ishes like this his life-long rule of David S. Reynolds’ prize-winning from Elmira’s prison, “The Hill,” in 2000 one in the final abstaining “from both 1988 book Beneath the American after seven years behind bars. His long rap darkening complaint and negotia- Renaissance — hailed for sheet made him a celebrity on the inside and pages: “Broad- tion” proves serially its critical insight, engag- earned him the nickname KK, for Killa Kev backed gulls disastrous. He is denied ing observation and nar- (he was involved in a murder but evaded are skimming a visit with Karen and rative drive — is prosecution). over the his baby at Bedford scheduled for reissue this Donaldson spent eight years (and dozens swollen Hills when an ion scan spring by Oxford of trips to Elmira) soaking up KK’s life story Chemung [River], tilting their white wings, reveals drug residue; he blows up, commit- University Press as the and that of his white single-mother searching the shadows.” Zebratown is a novel ting three misdemeanors. Then he begins to first in its series of girlfriend, interviewing many of the crimi- of real, if persistently unfortunate, life. absent himself from his family to hang in Classic American nal justice officers who crossed his path, not Being a road manager for a white rapper Elmira’s projects, scant improvement from Criticism. Reynolds is Distinguished to mention many relatives and bad dudes named Johnny Blanco looks good for a those he left in Brownsville. Professor of English and American from his past and present. while, but in a rage Davis decks a superior. We leave these hapless pilgrims in a Studies at Baruch College and the To call the tale of Zebratown gritty and Then he’s pushing a “bitch-ass cart” down slough of despond. Near the end Davis Graduate Center. forlorn is to put it mildly. Down and Out in the halls of a care facility, then pouring ignores an order of protection and assaults Elmira would have been an apt alternate material for large vanity tops. Mostly he’s Karen while she is in the company of anoth- title, but Donaldson’s hope is that KK’s story out of work, yet somehow driving a Lexus er man. He’s bailed out only when the Stories of Survival will wake up “an American society at best (confiscated by the police) or a 13-year-old grandmother of a local woman who has Erika Dreifus’ Quiet Americans (Last uninterested” in the rehabilitation of black Mercedes-Benz. borne him a son and is pregnant by him Light Studio) and Felice Cohen’s What ex-cons and “at worst hostile to that possi- Home life with Karen, his girlfriend, again steps in. Papa Told Me (Dividends Press) bility.” He also set out to offer “an authentic involves her live-in mother, whose Social In the last paragraph of a final postscript, recount stories of Holocaust survivors account of one recent Security helps pay we learn, “On October 26, 2009 ... Kevin that are drawn to varying degrees from trend of the African- To call the tale of Zebratown the rent, and her Davis was convicted of criminal contempt in family experiences. Cohen’s "Papa" is American experience, young daughter by the second degree for violating an order of her grandfather Murray Schwartz- the interplay of the big- gritty and forlorn is to put it an absent jerk of a protection and assault in the third degree.” baum, whose courage as a young city former gangster father. Then Davis is Several years earlier, Davis was attacked in a Jewish boy from Poland helped him with small-town arrested for being roadside bar hanging out with the wrong endure labor and concentration camps America.” mildly. Down and Out in Elmira (he says) “in the crowd. Suddenly he was attacked with a in Europe as well as a family tragedy Why Kevin Davis? A wrong place at the knife and a hammer. Most of his front teeth after starting a new life bizarre story in itself. In would have been an apt wrong time” during were shattered. Now, heading to prison one in America. 1993 Donaldson was fin- a drug deal. It takes a more time, those teeth are still missing. ishing up his study “The alternate title … year for the case One of the few moments in Zebratown Ville: Cops and Kids in prosecutor to fold when “sweet” and “bitter” almost balance Urban America” and his cards. out is near the end, when “screams fly from a trekked (with an armed escort) to Brownsville Karen, unemployed most of the time, is house across the street and distant car horns hoping to get a vivid jacket photo. then arrested for possession of crack, which sound from both sides of the Chemung.” It is A rough pack truculently denied permis- she was not very smartly holding for a third the night of the 2008 election, and Kevin sion to snap a photo, then a car backfired, party. After months of ominous courtroom hoists up his baby daughter, whose life began they scrambled, and the photographer got drama the judge sends her to prison. behind the eight ball, and points to the tele- Dreifus’ fiction collection was inspired his shot of them. When detectives saw the Unfortunately, by then she is pregnant by vision set. “That’s the first black president. in large part by her paternal grandpar- book’s cover, they spotted a “person of inter- Kevin, and sent to the only New York prison This is history in the making, baby. Don’t ents, German Jews who immigrated to est,” used it like a wanted poster, and arrest- with a nursery, the maximum-security facil- forget — Obama is magnificent.” the United States in the late 1930s. ed Davis. ity at Bedford Hills. The baby girl is 11 Dreifus is director of communications “The Ville” helped put him in prison, but months old when Karen is released. for the University Office of Academic when his release neared, he reached out to Attention to the landscape and sociology Affairs. Cohen is admissions and stu- Donaldson, saying he had no hard feelings. surrounding all this going-nowhere enlivens CUNY Matters welcomes information about new dent affairs operations assistant at the When he first met the short, massively-mus- Zebratown. We learn that Elmira’s name was books that have been written or edited by facul- Graduate School of Journalism. cled former boxer at a restaurant near changed from Newtown by a judge smitten ty and members of the University community. Columbus Circle in 2002, Donaldson found by an innkeeper’s daughter, and that it was Contact: [email protected]

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on BCriticalig Maintenance Fix a Top

NE DAY in 2007, soon after million square feet of buildings and infras- million replacement of Bronx Community Window replacement is taking responsibility for the tructure. The average age of the University’s College’s antiquated heating, cooling and under way at Hunter facilities on all 23 of CUNY’s buildings is about 50 years, Weinshall says, electrical systems. College's historic campuses, Iris Weinshall was and most have long suffered from neglect of CUNY through the years had periodically Thomas Hunter Hall. heading to Queens with “critical maintenance” — the kind of mun- evaluated the declining state of its facilities, Allan Dobrin, the University’s executive vice dane upkeep that’s vital to a building’s func- but there had never been anything like a Ochancellor and chief operating officer. The tional life but has a way of getting squeezed master plan to address the perpetually Hunter College named day’s agenda: Have a look around York out of tight operating budgets. For years, growing list of deferred maintenance on for its founder. College and hear from college officials what critical maintenance meant deferred and each campus — to say nothing of finding a “These projects are shape their campus was in. ignored maintenance — a Band-Aid dedicated funding stream to pay for it. “We not sexy, but they are For Weinshall, the newly appointed vice approach that put off virtually all but the knew we had roof problems, heating system essential,” said Robert chancellor for facilities planning, construc- most urgent repairs. problems, building facades in bad shape,” Lemieux, who oversees tion and management, it was just one stop in But that has been changing fundamental- Weinshall said. “But it was all anecdotal, all construction at a months-long, five-borough tour of CUNY’s ly over the last four years. The sinkhole at individual campuses coming to us and say- CUNY as executive vast and well-worn infrastructure. But BCC was a symbol of everyday neglect that ing ‘We have this boiler breaking down’ or director of the before she and Dobrin reached Queens that helped pave the way for renewal on a grand ‘We plugged in one too many computers and Department of Design, day, Weinshall got a frantic phone call from scale. It’s a program officially known as the the electricity went out.’ ” Construction and the Bronx. It was Mary Coleman, senior vice State of Good Repair initiative, or SOGR. Weinshall’s campus visits, meetings with Management. “The president of Bronx Community College. But it might be called CUNY’s Big Fix: college presidents and a report by her staff buildings on our cam- “You need to get up here right away!” Nearly $1.5 billion worth of repairs, made clear that something large-scale had puses are not dispos- Coleman told Weinshall. “We’ve got a huge upgrades, renovation and rehab — projects to be done. As it happened, the state univer- able objects. They need sinkhole! Right on the main road! It’s like an small, medium and large that began on sity system had just begun a systematic a conscious effort and earthquake — there’s a geyser coming out of every CUNY campus three years ago and assessment of conditions on its own cam- regular investment to the ground!” will likely continue for the better part of a puses — all 63 of them — and invited CUNY extend their useful life Weinshall and Dobrin made a U-turn for decade. Indeed, to join the process. The University used a and make them viable BCC, a campus of aged buildings designed Nurse-training facility being one of the survey assessment tool developed by in today’s world. As any by Stanford White more than a century ago created at York College is biggest, soon to SUNY’s construction agency that allowed homeowner knows, for what was then New York University. funded in part by critical- begin, is a each college to compile a detailed and up-to- you need to keep up, When they arrived, they found Coleman and maintenance money. planned $120 date account of the state of all its facilities. and you have to peri- a crowd of people standing around a muddy The result was an odically replace equip- pit the size of a small car where an under- exhaustive catalog of disre- ment or upgrade your ground steam-heat pipe had burst. The pair stretching from Hostos systems.” earth caved, steam flew into the air and the Community College to the In the fall of 2007, campus was heated by portable boilers until College of Staten Island. Weinshall’s office hired spring. “The pipes dated to when it was The consequences have Pacific Partners NYU’s campus, before CUNY acquired it in been occasionally dramatic. Consulting Group, a 1973, so they were probably forty or fifty There was the sinkhole at firm specializing in years old,” Weinshall said. “And they just BCC, of course. And last facilities planning and ruptured, taking the earth down with them.” year, a section of badly dete- capital financing, to That sinkhole and its geyser of steam riorated façade fell off a make a hard assess- now stand as a kind of building at Hostos. “We ment of CUNY’s needs Waterloo for the state were lucky it was Good — to put a dollar figure of repair of Friday and students were on the hundreds of CUNY’s 26 off,” Weinshall said. projects and propose a plan for getting them Queensborough done. The firm used forecasting models of Community College, meanwhile, has building lifecycles and replacement costs to had major power outages each of the come up with a strategy for an extraordinar- past two summers because its elec- ily ambitious objective: Bringing every trical capacity has never been building on every CUNY campus to a state upgraded through decades of of good repair. Between the backlogs of expansion. neglected maintenance and aging building But like those buried steam systems that would soon join the list, CUNY pipes in the Bronx, much of the was confronting $1.7 billion worth of repair deterioration is unseen or and rejuvenation. barely noticed, at least until it More than three-quarters of the disrepair becomes an emergency: was in building systems — nearly half, some Water seepage in a basement $800 million, for heating, ventilating and air at the College of Staten conditioning. Another $187 million was Island, an aged roof at John needed for electrical work and an equal Jay College of Criminal amount for plumbing, fire systems and ele- Justice, a tired escalator at vators. Exterior work — labor-intensive Baruch College, creaky win- refacings and masonry repair, along with dows in the building at window and roof replacements — amounted

10 CUNY MATTERS — May 2011 CM 2011-05 revised_CM Spring 09 4/15/11 1:01 PM Page 11

On the Web at cuny.edu

WE REMEMBER — GABRIEL LADERMAN

N “UNCONVENTIONAL REALIST” credited with play- Aing a major role in the revival of figurative art in the m 1960s and 1970s, Brooklyn-born Gabriel Laderman studied with leading American painters including Ca pus abstract expressionists Hans Hofmann, Willem de Kooning and Mark Rothko before graduating from Brooklyn College in 1952. Laderman, who died March 10 in Manhattan, did graduate work at New York Priority University and earned a master of fine arts from Cornell University. He studied in Italy on a Fulbright tion process — design, bidding, review and and taught for many years at Queens College. In approvals — can typically last 18 months or Unconventional Realists, published more. And Spitzer’s departure as governor in 1971, he spotlighted a group of New Realists who, like him, were looking for slowed the flow of money for a time. The new ways to make figurative art speak in a contemporary voice, despite the domi- succeeding administration of David nance of minimalist and pop art. He explored landscape, including city stre et Paterson inserted an extra step in the pro- scenes, then moved to still life. In ambiguous 1980s tableaus in oranges and cess, requiring each project to receive final yellows, he embarked on a new body of work that approval from the governor’s budget office plumbed the mysterious territory of death and search.cuny.edu “remembrances” before funds could be released and the work the psychodrama of the family. or snap the square with your smartphone begun. “We had to educate them that this is critical maintenance,” Weinshall said. “And there are a lot of small construction firms involved so it’s keeping people working.” LETTERS TO THE EDITOR — FEEDBACK FROM READERS From the program’s inception, 338 State of Good Repair projects have been initiated, UNY MATTERS WELCOMES LETTERS from readers, whether supporting or dis- totaling $220 million — ranging from a Cputing material that has appeared in the publication. Two letters addressing $350,000 retaining wall at Queens College to the story on pages 2 and 3 of the Spring 2011 issue currently are available online, a multi-year $20 million rehabilitation of along with pertinent sections of the CM article. The letters are from Sandi E. the exterior of City College’s Shepard Hall, Cooper, chair of the University Faculty Senate, and one of the first projects funded and now from Jon-Christian Suggs, emeritus professor at the nearing completion. CUNY Graduate Center and John Jay College. Cooper CUNY’s six community colleges certainly contends that faculty “critical analysis was presented last had their share of critical maintenance December and is totally ignored in this story.” Suggs takes “a bit needs — but they hit a major funding snag of ‘issue’ with both the content and the ‘tone’” of Cooper’s letter. An editor’s that has only recently loosened. While capi- note following their letters cites references to tal funding for the senior colleges comes faculty involvement that were included in the search.cuny.edu “CUNY Matters” entirely from the state, by law the communi- CUNY Matters story. or snap the square with your smartphone ty colleges must be supported equally by the state and the city. To date, the state has approved $125 million, but it has held most HELP WITH PERSONAL ISSUES of it back because the city has been slow to FOR YOUR BENEFIT — contribute its half. It wasn’t until last year — the third year of the capital program — that RE PERSONAL CHALLENGES — or life-balancing issues — affecting your peace of mind or your the city began to appropriate money for the Awork? It happens to many of us, and CUNY offers a way for its employees and their families to find community colleges, finally putting critical help. All University staffers — and their relatives, no matter where they live — have free access to a projects in the pipeline. This year, after 24-7 hotline: 800-833-8707. This connects to the CUNY Work-Life Program and to counselors, includ- many meetings between CUNY officials and ing social workers and other professionals employed by the privately run Corporate Counseling City Council members and the borough Association (CCA). The Work-Life program’s mission is to research and presidents, the city included $31 million for suggest solutions regarding a wide range of matters. Anonymity is abso- the local colleges in its budget for the next lutely guaranteed — supervisors, for example, are never fiscal year. informed when calls are placed to the hotline. An employ- “We’re making headway,” Weinshall said. ee can call for help with problems as serious as drug “We’re getting recognition by city officials addiction and domestic abuse — or as seemingly simple to $325 million. Reconstruction of science that we desperately need those funds.” as looking for a good kennel or a better gym. The labs required $120 million. No one is happier than Bronx Commu- counselors all hold The great majority of pressing projects nity College’s Mary Coleman, whose task it master’s degrees, at the search.cuny.edu “faculty benefits” was slated for CUNY’s 11 senior colleges, is to keep CUNY’s neediest buildings run- minimum. or snap the square with your smartphone whose capital funding comes from New York ning. She remembers all too well the State. That fact, and the timing, was fortu- portable boilers that heated the campus nate: Two focal points of then-Gov. Eliot after the great steam pipe collapse of 2007. CUNY CROSSWORD — THE UNIVERSITY ROOTS Spitzer’s new administration had been She has never relished summer, for that improving the state’s public higher educa- matter: Only two of the college’s 26 build- tion system and developing capital reinvest- ings have central air conditioning, for now. O YOU KNOW THE NAME of the man who founded the school that became the college which was the ment strategies. His administration pledged “I would dare say that ours has been a Dcornerstone of what today is The City University of New York — largest urban public university in to budget $284 million a year for five years – trial by fire,” Coleman said. America? His name and an excerpt of his phi- $1.42 billion total — for State of Good Repair “But it has put us, and losophy of education are among answers that projects at CUNY’s senior colleges. CUNY, on a forward path of puzzle fans will have to work out in an The first installment came in the 2008- progress the likes of which engrossing crossword created by CUNY 2009 budget. CUNY is now approaching the the college has never seen.” Matters designer Miriam Smith. end of the third of the five years of appropri- ations, though it is less than 20 percent Search.cuny.edu “crossword” through all the anticipated work. There are search.cuny.edu “campus maintenance” or snap the square with your smartphone two reasons for the lag. The pre-construc- or snap the square with your smartphone.

CUNY MATTERS — May 2011 11 LECTURES/PANELS THEATER/FILM ART/EXHIBITS SERVICES

April 27 April 22 Though May 8 CUNY Job Search Evening Readings: Peter Earth Day performance by Exhibition of New York- ROWSE the latest Carey with Leonard Lopate The Civilians, excerpts based Asian artists University job listings Queens College from “The Great Immensity” Queens College B 7 p.m. Graduate Center Hours Vary and even apply online at Free 6:30 p.m. Free search.cuny.edu Racism: “job search” The Struggle Continues Free >>Go to search.cuny.edu In the World & on the Web LTHOUGH SLAVERY was MUSIC/DANCE Aabolished nearly 150 years ago, achieving true racial justice is an Obesity’s Sick Days ongoing struggle and “racism is HE NUMBER of work days April 23 alive and well,” social activist and Remarkable TAmericans lose each year Russian National Ballet, former NAACP chair Julian Bond ‘Silent Cal’ due to obesity has more “Sleeping Beauty” told a Queens College audience. Through April 29 Queensborough CC UIET AND LACONIC by nature, Photography Exhibit: than doubled in the past search.cuny.edu: the 30th president of the two decades, says Erica 8 p.m. April 28 Q African Transitions, $39, $42; $10 CUNY Hijabi Monologues: “racial justice” April 30 United States was dubbed “Silent Mark Nizer in 3D 1980-2010 Lubetkin of CCNY’s Sophie students “Mosques, Veils and Cal,” but, according to Amity CSI BCC Assistive Technology Davis School of Biomedical Madrassas” Lecture Series Fighting 8 p.m. Shlaes, author of the new biogra- 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Education. Creative April 29 John Jay College Modern-Day Slavery phy “The Forgotten Man: A New Free UNY ASSISTIVE Technology Soledad Barrio’s Noche $10-$15 interventions “must be 6:30 p.m. ENNETH B. MORRIS JR., great- History of the Great Depression,” CServices (CATS) provides implemented through an individu- Flamenca Free great-great-grandson of funding and support for Kingsborough CC K May 5 his place in history deserves al’s lifespan — particularly during Frederick Douglass and co-founder Women's Global Film 8 p.m. much more.” assistive technologies such as April 28 Bronx CC early childhood,” she says. $30 PEN World Voices Festival of the Frederick Douglass Family search.cuny.edu: screen enlargement/screen- Noon search.cuny.edu: “public of International Literature: Foundation, told a Kingsborough reading software for students Free “Calvin Coolidge” health” May 1 South African playwright audience the work of the founda- with visual impairments; Joel Fan And Friends Mike Van Graan tion is to end modern-day sex enhanced keyboards and Queens College May 5 Civil Rights in the ’60s Graduate Center slavery with “abolition through “True Friendship” alternate input devices for 2 p.m. KEY FIGURE in the civil rights 6:30 p.m. education.” One-Act Play from Sierra Free movement, Robert Moses was students with physical dis- Free : “sex slavery” Leone Theater A search.cuny.edu a post-graduate student at abilities, as well as various May 6-7 Productions software for students with April 29 Lehman Harvard when he left academia to Beijing Dance Academy Money Management 101 Warm & Fuzzy Science learning disabilities. College become field secretary for the Ballet: “A Scent Of Time” John Jay College NTELLIGENT DESIGN, global search.cuny.edu“CATS” Queens College 12:30 p.m. Student Nonviolent Coordinating Through June 2 1 p.m. warming, and UFOs – what dis- Graduating Art Majors, 7:30 p.m. I Free Committee. He recalls the early Free tinguishes science from pseudo- Art/Photography Rivers at Risk $15 students with ID, days in the fight for freedom. science? Massimo Pigliucci, chair Concentration Majors E’VE REPAIRED problems seniors; alumni $20 May 9 search.cuny.edu: Exhibition after they arise,” says A Reading: Ernesto Quinonez of the philosophy department at ‘W “Robert Moses” CSI Charles Vörösmarty, director of May 7 City College Lehman College, tackles that May 6,10 “Into the Woods” Hours vary CUNY’s Environmental Classical Music for a 6 p.m. question and raises more in his LaGuardia CC Writer’s Revenge Free Crossroads Initiative. He says we Changing World Free recently published book. Kingsborough CC 7:30 p.m. HE DESIRE to show people Think Ahead should be “protecting ecosys- search. 8 p.m. May 9 $5 that they’re wrong is a more HE CUNY SCHOOL of tems” and allowing them “to do Little Bubble, cuny.edu: ‘T $25 Big Bang Best-Selling Author Series: powerful engine than ambition,” Professional Studies is the very good job that they natu- Jane Smiley “soft science” May 6-7, 11-14 T “In Arabia We'd All Be said author Susan Cheever at accepting applications rally do in providing stable and May 21 HINK BUBBLES that form new Hunter College Kings” Hunter College’s Best-Selling through the summer for all its clean water supplies.” Johnny Mathis Concert Tbubbles, inflating, creating a 7 p.m. Queensborough CC Author Series. When Louisa May programs that will be offered search.cuny.edu: Lehman College flat, uniform multiverse — an Free 8 p.m. infinite bubble bath. In Allan 7:30 p.m. Alcott was told, “You can’t write,” during the fall semester. The “environmental $10; $3 students, faculty; $55-$85 Guth’s theory of the universe, it was the moment Alcott became school offers degree and cer- safety” $5 seniors multi-universes exist, each creat- a writer, Cheever said. tificate programs, including ed in a quantum event — the May 7 search.cuny.edu: the University’s only online Night of Comedy “Susan Cheever” April 26 bang of the Big Bang theory. Chinese Brush Painting baccalaureate programs for CSI What triggered it? Workshop and transfer students and the 8 p.m. search.cuny.edu: Demonstration University’s only online mas- $20 “theoretical physics” CSI ter’s degree program. May 15 12:15 p.m. search.cuny.edu.“sps” Gifted and Overlooked Back by Popular Demand: Free VERY TIME we talk about Ben Vereen Shop CUNY’s eMall black males, we talk about Queensborough CC IND DISCOUNTS on a range ‘E May 16 3 p.m. how they’re not doing well in Distinguished of necessities including $45; $10 students F school, or not achieving,” says Writers Series: clothing and electronics as with CUNY ID author/professor Fred Bonner. He Nicole Krauss well as restaurants, movies, stresses the need to highlight the Hunter College May 21 theaters and travel. 7:30 p.m. high-achieving minorities in London's Tall Stories: search.cuny.edu “eMall” academia, and the factors that Free Room on the Broom have led to their successes. April 23 KBCC 2 p.m. search.cuny.edu: Russian National Ballet $12 “race and education” Queensborough CC Johnny Mathis Susan Cheever cuny.edu • cuny.tv • cuny.edu/radio• iTunes U • youtube.com/cuny • cuny.edu/events CM 2011-05 revised_CM Spring 09 4/15/11 1:01 PM Page 12 Page PM 1:01 4/15/11 09 Spring revised_CM 2011-05 CM