Family Connection

Family Connection Hofstra University Parent and Family Newsletter A LETTER FROM Fall 2010 PRESIDENT RaBINOWITZ INSIDE THIS ISSUE This year, beginning on September 23, 2010, we celebrate 75 years of Hofstra University: 75 years of academic excellence, Hofstra Celebrates growth, community, service, scholarship, 75 Years!.................... 2 success, and most especially, Hofstra Pride and Purpose. Hofstra’s history encompasses 75 Stories for 75 Years ..... 2 the story of our great University as well as thousands of stories of individual Oral History: achievement – of our students, friends, Hofstra Stories.............. 2 families, faculty and alumni. Parent Voice ................ 3 As president, I am privileged to meet many 2009-2010 Teachers Dear Friends: of the extraordinary people who are members of the Hofstra community and of the Year .................. 4 On September 23, hear their individual stories. Time and time Summer 2010 1935, in the middle again, I learn about how a student-faculty of the Great relationship influenced a career, how a Parent Orientation ......... 6 Depression and at a friendship lasted a lifetime, and how ideals, School of Medicine time of great skills and concepts learned both inside and turmoil, Hofstra outside the classroom changed the direction to Enroll First Class ......... 6 College first opened of someone’s life. And I witness the Parent Voice ................ 7 its doors to 19 contributions made by faculty, students and faculty members and about 800 students alumni, and see firsthand how each of these Family Weekend/ (many of whom were part-time students contributions changes and shapes the Diamond Celebration ...... 8 attending evening classes). Truesdel Peck University, helps us grow and adjust to Calkins, Howard Brower and the trustees of changing times, and brings new ideas, the Hofstra estate bravely began a new and research, programs and innovation to our hopeful journey in higher education by University. commemoration, for some of the academic starting a small, commuter college in what programs, or to tour and engage in our had been until only a few years earlier Kate The Hofstra community is a special historical exhibits and projects. If you and William Hofstra’s Hempstead Plains community, one dedicated to achievement, cannot return to campus, we invite you to home. service and success; however, each of us spend some time on our 75th Anniversary defines those ideals. Together, we have website, where you’ll find a treasure trove of Seventy-five years later, Hofstra University made Hofstra University into the great archival photos and videos, and contests. – much like Long Island – has changed and institution it is today. grown, perhaps even more than Truesdel Peck Calkins and his colleagues would have Our 75th Anniversary Committee has Sincerely, ever dreamed. As you know, Hofstra is now worked long and hard to ensure that this an internationally renowned university that celebration is worthy of our great history. welcomes thousands of students from Our goal is to encourage all alumni and around the world and across the country, families to come home to Hofstra on with hundreds of faculty scholars, on a September 23-26 for the Diamond Stuart Rabinowitz beautiful residential campus. Celebration that launches the yearlong President, Hofstra University Office of Parent and Family Programs, Division of Student Affairs HOFSTRA CELEBRATES 75 YEARS! The Office of Parent and Family Programs Hofstra students and their families; the is thrilled to announce that our annual Diamond Reception with President Family Weekend will coincide with Rabinowitz; student performances Hofstra’s 75th Anniversary Celebration (including Hofstra’s Got Talent); a parade and Alumni Weekend. This weekend, also of student-made floats; an amazing known as the Diamond Celebration, will carnival and outdoor concert (Live at 75) take place Thursday-Sunday, September that is sure to delight your ears with music 23-26, 2010. We have planned a long spanning the decades; fireworks by the weekend jam-packed with spectacular world-famous Grucci family; and events, including a birthday cake-cutting comedian Jimmy Fallon’s live comedy ceremony (the cake will be made by show. Charm City Cakes, featured on Food Network’s Ace of Cakes); tours of our Please visit hofstra.edu/diamondweekend arboretum, museum, and galleries; stories to sign up for the Diamond Celebration to of Hofstra’s history and other faculty make sure you are part of Hofstra lectures; scrumptious meals with other University’s history. HOFSTRA FUN FacTS 75 STORIES FOR 75 YEARS Did you know … The Hofstras trace their heritage to the province of Friesland in the Netherlands. The Geri Solomon, assistant dean of special collections and University archivist, is the name Hofstra is from a district near the village creator of a very special Hofstra exhibit titled 75 Stories for 75 Years, which will of Grouw, which was called the Hofland. feature 75 individuals and their Hofstra stories. These individuals include Robert An estate in this area called Hoflandstra- Moses, Wayne Chrebet, Frank Gulden, Marilyn Fench, Nelson DeMille, and estate was where an early ancestor of William Shea, as well as faculty, alumni and administrators with interesting stories. William Hofstra was born. The prefix “hof” In addition to these unique stories, Ms. Solomon has created a visual and written in the Frisian language means “courtyard” timeline that includes dates and significant events in the University’s history; the or “farm,” and the suffix “stra” means “from.” timeline will stretch across the Unispan. A walking tour of campus buildings and Before the 18th century, the people of this other physical features (with interesting facts) will be available both in a self-guided area were called Hoflandstra, which was then pamphlet format and on the 75th Anniversary website (hofstra.edu/75); the website shortened to the present, Hofstra. features a multimedia history section, complete with photos, videos, and slideshows. ORal HISTORY: HOFSTRA STORIES In fall 2009, 11 students began collecting stories of alumni, faculty, administrators and other individuals who are part of Hofstra’s history. The students, trained and supervised by Special Assistant Professor of History James A. Levy, recorded and transcribed interviews and created a project methodology, while Assistant Dean Geri Solomon guided them as they gathered primary documents found in Special Collections. Portions of these interviews are accessible on the 75th Anniversary website, while the full- length interviews will be deposited in the University Archives for future research. Please visit hofstra.edu/75 for more Hofstra stories. HOFSTRA FUN FacTS Did you know … The Hofstra University motto “Je maintiendray,” meaning “I stand steadfast” or “I shall stand fast,” also appears on the 1,000-year-old coat of arms of the Netherlands House of Orange-Nassau, from which Hofstra’s seal is also borrowed. 2 PARENT VOICE BluE AND GOLD MAKES GREEN By Teresa Greis, Parent of Peter (Class of 2010) and Kimberly (Class of 2012) As parents, we wonder about what our sustainability officer; I am responsible for children will encounter as they grow up developing and leading Hofstra’s and go out into the world. Among these sustainability efforts. concerns is the environment and what are The most popular definition of we going to leave to our children. sustainability can be traced to a 1987 U.N. University has been producing a minimum As Hofstra University celebrates its 75th conference. It defined sustainable of 25 percent of its electricity needs since anniversary, one has to consider what our developments as those that “meet present 1990. Energy-efficient lighting, including environment will become in the next 75 needs without compromising the ability of occupancy sensors, have been in use since years. Hofstra University understands the future generations to meet their needs” 1993. The Hofstra Blue Beetle transports critical role we play in preparing students (WCED, 1987). While we all know that members of the Hofstra community for the future and instilling a respect for our basic needs include air, food, water, around campus, to the train station, or to the environment. Hofstra is committed to and energy, we cannot ignore that there local shopping areas. If they do need a leading the way in environmental are also economic and social components car, students can rent a Zipcar by the hour awareness. For the last 25 years, I have to sustainability. The interconnectedness at a minimal cost. Students were very been the energy manager at Hofstra, and of the environmental, social and economic active in implementing a “plate first most recently, I was appointed campus components is what Hofstra University is policy” in the dining facilities, as well as stressing through its a campuswide ban on Styrofoam. programs and operations. Recent campus sustainability initiatives HOFSTRA FUN FacTS The Office of Student also include the implementation of an Leadership and Activities, active recycling program at the Did you know … Division of Student Affairs, Netherlands Café and the Sondra and Kate Mason married William offers an optional program David S. Mack Student Center dining Hofstra late in life, and they did for incoming first-year facility, as well as the installation of not have any children. They students called the Hofstra filtered water stations, or hydration lived a comfortable lifestyle, Discovery Program. The stations, to minimize the need to purchase and both enjoyed a variety program offers participants bottled water. A new mixed-paper of activities. Mrs. Hofstra an opportunity to be actively recycling program has been put into place. was a noted equestrian and engaged through service- Hofstra students, faculty and staff are now loved animals. She was vice learning, adventure and recycling items such as newspapers, president of the Bide-A-Wee discovery in one of two magazines, and colored paper. During Home for Animals in New York paths: compassion (serving May, students were encouraged to bring City from 1903 until her death in 1933.

Load more