I Volume XL, Number 54 Thursday, May 1, 1997 First Copy ]Free India Studies Center Officially Opens BY S. N. SRIDHAR University President Shirley Strum Kenny, Special to the Statesman to transform a pipe dream into a reality. On Saturday, approximately 600 Long The Center, located in the library on the Islanders cheered as India's Consul General fifth floor, has a library, reading room, in New York, Harsh Bhasin, lighted an ornate multimedia lab, research and publications brass lamp, symbolically dedicating Stony unit, and a development office. It aims to Brook's new Center for India Studies. "From promote a better understanding of India by now on, there will be two Indian flags in my creating opportunities and resources for- consular area," he said. "One at the studying India. The Center's current projects Consulate in Manhattan, the other, the flag include editing a survey of Indian civilization of intellect, will fly at Stony Brook." He for the general reader, and a brochure will donate a 100-volume set of the collected documenting highlights of India's Freedom works ofMahatmaGandhi and will help in Revolution, both sponsored by the the offering of courses on current affairs in Association of Indians of America. India. Introducing the Center, Professor S.N. "It has given the 600+ Indian Sridhar observed that India's fight for undergraduate students a focus, pride, and freedom is usually referred to as a an identity. It will benefit students years from 'movement," or a "struggle," but never as a now. T feel oroud. knowing that I helped lav "revolution.?' The Center will work to correct distortions in the representation of the foundations for it," said Seema Pradhan, Last weekend, hundreds were on hand for the inauguration of the India a junior studying medicine. India, without becoming parochial. Values, Studies Center. The establishment of Stony Brook's such as academic freedom, were often talked India Center has been hailed-as an about as if they were uniquely Western, but Center will strive to broaden scholars' world- a strong Asian Studies Program. "The Stony extraordinary accomplishment considering India had a distinguished tradition of view to include Indian thought and Brook India Center's pragmatic and the climate of severe cutbacks. It is the fruit intellectual debate, right from the Upanishad experience. integrated vision, encompassing the arts, of a two year campaign by student activists, times, which date back as far back as 1000 "These are exciting times for Asian humanities, sciences, medicine, commerce professors, and leaders of the Indian BC. The opening of the Center signified the Studies," said Kenny at the ceremony. She See STUDIES, Page 2 community, who worked in concert with opening of minds toward India and the said Stony Brook was committed to building Pataki Chooses New Chair for SB Council BY ROB ANDERSON in political science and in economics, Nasti and fundraising. This gives me a chance Pataki. Statesman Staff -, graduated summa cum laude with a 4.0 to do something specifically for the When asked about the restraints the This past January, Stony Brook Alum cumulative grade point average. He University at Stony Brook. There are many University has on spending without SUNY Richard Nasti was appointed chairman of received a law degree from the University important issues that go further than tuition, Central's approval, Chairman Nasti said, the Stony Brook University Local Council of Pennsylvania School of Law. for instance... "the future of the Hospital." "we have to help sort out what the by Governor George Pataki. A 1978 In his appointment to the Chair, Nasti Nasti continued, "in order to make this University can do without SUNY Central. graduate, Nasti is unparalleled in a myriad explained "some of the main goals are to council work we have to be pro-active. I The University should keep more of the of accomplishments. As a double major advocate for Stony Brook's advancement think I can help be effective in both the budgetary percentages if we can handle the State and Federal Government and with the task at hand. I know Governor Pataki Administration." understands the critical importance of the In the early 1980's, Nasti served as University at Stony Brook. He has been Golden Key Receives Honors chief council to United States Senator very supportive of Stony Brook with many Alfonse D'Amato where he was visits including a visit with a forty million responsible for the drafting of federal dollar check which made construction for The Award for "Best First Impression as a BY BIANCA LOBO legislation introduced and passed by the new BiO-Tech. Center possible." Doug Special Chapter," was presented in lieu of the excellent to the Statesman -__ Senator D'Amato. Nasti was appointed Little, Assistant Director University Police Earlier this month, Golden Key members service and hard work that went into planning Regional Administrator of the Urban Mass in charge of Community Affairs, said, the Eastern Region gathered the 1996 Induction Ceremony. from across Transportation Administration (UMTA), "Rick Nasti is actively involved in the University Camipus in The threeday conference, at which at least together at the Rutgers .by President Reagan, in 1984. He served community. He goes beyond the board annual 200 delegates attended fiom all overthe Eastern New Jersey, to celebrate their as the chief federal transit official for New room taking special interest in students. It region, consisted of seminars, workshops, and conference. Colleges and Universities asdistant York, New Jersey, Connecticut and the is wonderful to see an alum return to the social events. It was an exciting opportunity as West Virginia, Massachusetts, Georgia and Virgin Islands with an annual budget University with the degree of dedication for Golden Key members to learn a lot while Pennsylvania were represented at this event exceeding one billion dollars. Nasti served Rick extends toward our students and which turned out to be a success. interacting with students from all overthe region as Vice President in the Municipal Finance campus. He has conveyed a real concern especially momentous and participating in a wide range of fun This was ..an Department ofPaineWebber, served as the Stony activities. occasion for the Golden Key Society at Vice President and General Manager of the See Chair, Page 2 The Golden Key Society, is a nationally Brook, because it was theretat Be Stony Brook New York Post and now serves as the- recognized Honor Society which strives to Chapter received two outstanding awards. Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Impression promote academic excellence and a strong sense Stony Brook was voted "Best First Officer of H.J. Kalikow and Co., LLC, a Paul Chase of community. Although selective in its as a Chapter" and ChapterAdvisor major real estate development, was selected for the title of "Academic membership, its wide range of progrnams and construction and management firm in New events are open to anyone who is interested. It Coordinator for the Eastern Region." York City. who has sponsored events such as the March of NE.WS.. ...................... 1-7 Club President Hannah Morel -Nasti served on the Board of the on behalf of Golden Key, Dimes, Foreign Student Services Orientation, EDITORIAL...................... 8-9 accepted the award Metropolitan-Transportation Authority. He said, '"This is truly an honor for which the food dhives, etc. Foormo information, students FEATURES ............... 10-14 also served -on the Transportation SPORTS. .. .... ...... 15-16 Golden Key Society at Stony Brook as well as ar encouraged to contact the Office of. Transition Committee of Governor George ·i- the entire campus community should be proud" Academic Advising at 632-7084. E 2; India Studies Center Opens Unconditional From STUDIES, Front Page activities was perhaps a more feasible model of partnership between the world-view to include Indian thought community and public universities and experience. than instituting a Chair. love. "These are exciting times for Dr. V.S. Arunachalam, Asian Studies," said Kenny at the Distinguished Professor of ceremony. She said Stony Brook was Engineering and Public policy at committed to building a strong Asian Carnegie-Mellon University, Studies Program. "The Stony Brook delivered the inaugural address. He India Center's pragmatic and said that India missed- out on the integrated vision, encompassing the Industrial Revolution and inherited arts, humanities, sciences, medicine, impossible odds, such as its commerce and technology, will make population and illiteracy. It has not it a leader in the next generation of had as much time with democracy as India Studies programs," Kenny said, the United States, nor did it adopt vowing to make it the best in the totalitarian policies like China or the nation. She proposed the Charles former Soviet Union. "The real Wang Asian American Center - which winners are the people of India, who is distinct from, but complements the have preserved democratic India Studies Center will feature institutions." "I state of the. art facilities. ._ - - The audience was:thrilled by an A_ __ Dr. Azad K. Anand, Chair of the inspiring video made at the Center by India Studies Foundation, who helped Ashu Patel, an undergraduate student, Right now, fall inlove with the delicious raise $100,000 at a recent Shanti Fund chronicling the evolution of student event, said.that the Stony Brook India activism and its successful outcome. flamebroiled WHOPPER' for just 99¢. Studies was a top priority for the The program concluded with a Indian American community on Long three part concert, featuring Daisy No fres, drinks or other commitments required. Island.' He complimented Kenny on Paradis on the sitar and Tapak Modak Available now though May 18th No-coupon needed her.vision and leadership. He felt that playing the tabla.; There was also the Stony Brook model' of creating an vocal music by Dr.