Q The Magazine of Queens College Webzine Update

Vol. 2, No. 1 Winter 2004-05

QueensQueens CollegeCollege ReceivesReceives High High MarksMarks inin CollegeCollege GuidesGuides

StudentsStudents TackleTackle WorldwideWorldwide HealthHealth ProblemProblem QC Ranked #6 in U.S. as a “Best Bargain-Public College” Q The 2005 edition of The Princeton ■ “People get ‘very active in after-school Review’s The Best 357 Colleges has activities’ to forge a sense of social con- QC in the News ranked Queens College sixth on its list nection.” of America’s “Best Bargain Ð Public Colleges.” The rating, based on a combi- AMERICA’S BEST COLLEGES Admissions Director Vinny Angrisani nation of academics and tuition, puts The 2005 U.S. News was quoted extensively in Newsday’s QC ahead of the College of William America’s Best Colleges Oct. 14 special education section. Large and Mary (#9) and the University of rankings were also photos of the campus appeared on the California-Berkeley (#11). released in mid-August. cover as well as inside . . . Alice Artzt’s Queens is consistently As always, CUNY col- (Secondary Ed) TIME 2000 program, among the top 10% of the leges are in the category “Master’s Universities Ð designed to increase the number of nation’s colleges covered Regional/ North.” The math teachers, was the subject of a June by this guide. Hunter, schools in the top half of the rankings 2 story in New York Teacher. Artzt was Baruch, and Brooklyn are the only other CUNY col- (formerly categorized as Tier 1 or Tier 2) also cited in a May 25 Daily News article leges that make the grade. are now numerically ranked from #1 about the Newton Fellowship grants The Best 357 Colleges (Villanova) to #83 (College of Mount St. for MA degrees in math at QC and bases its ratings partly on written student Vincent). QC is #50, tied with Hunter, NYU . . . A story in the Sept. 2 Queens surveys, usually distributed at each col- Springfield College (MA), and SUNY- Tribune about the Republican National lege every three years. QC students, who New Paltz. Convention and President Bush’s visit were surveyed on campus this past to a Queens Italian-American social club spring, had very positive opinions over- QC is rated among the “Top Public quoted Andrew Beveridge (Sociology) all. Some excerpts published in the guide Universities Ð Master’s,” tied with . . . Nicholas Coch appear below: (Earth & Environ Sci) Hunter and SUNY-New Paltz for ACADEMICS offered a grim sce- ■ 19% of QC freshmen graduated in the #10 position, and following nario for the Aug. 26 the top 10% of their high school class. Baruch, ranked in seventh place. Queens Chronicle of ■ “Students say their college has ‘the the effects of a hurri- best academic reputation out of all the Coch cane on the metro- CUNY schools.’” OTHER HIGHLIGHTS politan area. He dis- ■ “The faculty ‘encourages students ■ We have the highest graduation rate cussed the same topic Sept. 25 on a to excel and seek their help.’” (45%) of the CUNY colleges ranked by half-hour special on WABC-TV entitled ■ “Although professors don’t spoon- America’s Best Colleges. “Hurricane: Eyewitness to a Storm feed you, they really care about you as ■ Our students’ SAT scores are the high- 2004” . . . Josh Freeman (History) pro- an individual and make you feel like est at the beginning of the range (1010- vided his assessment of the sometimes you matter.” 1070). ■ Despite snags such as the difficulty ■ At 17%, our alumni-giving rate ties contentious relationship between labor of registering for needed classes, with that of Hunter College for the groups and the city’s billionaire mayor, “students believe that ‘you can get highest in CUNY. Michael Bloomberg, for a June 10 story an amazing education if you try.’” ■ We are also included among the 11 in the New York Times . . . colleges with the highest “campus Bonnie Gersten’s STUDENT BODY diversity” rating. Our largest minority (Chemistry) receipt of a ■ “In today’s higher education landscape, group is Asian Americans, who represent $200,000 research grant Queens College stands out as a paragon 21% of our student population. was reported Sept. 1 in of diversity.” ■ In addition to serving as a major the Queens Courier and “For the most part, different groups Gersten mix both in class and out of it.” source of information for students, Sept. 2 in the Queens America’s Best Colleges, The Best 357 Chronicle . . . In a May 10 Newsday arti- CAMPUS LIFE Colleges, and other major guides receive cle about the Investigative Science In this category, QC’s rating jumped to wide media coverage, influencing the Symposium/Fair held April 29 at three stars out of a possible four. opinions of parents, guidance counselors, (continued on page 3) ■ “ . . . clubs provide a viable substitute and others in the higher education com- for residential life at Queens.” munity, as well as the general public.

2 (continued from page 2) with religious or spiritual themes. She grant workers through the Queens Queens, Provost Evangelos Gizis noted also explained the appeal a TV evangelist Worker Health Protection Project . . . the high quality of work presented by the holds for city residents in an Oct. 16 The May 12 Queens Courier carried a high school participants. Event organizer Newsday story . . . Leo Hershkowitz report on choreographer Yin Mei’s Mark Miksic (Physics) made a similar (History) discussed his book Tweed’s New (Dance) $38,000 fellowship from the John observation in a May 4 Daily News fea- York: Another Look on May 29 on NPR’s Simon Memorial Foundation to subsidize ture. New India-Times reported on the “Weekend Edition” (aired over WNYC) research in China for the final portion of event on May 14 . . . The May 12 Daily . . . Madhulika Khandelwal (Asian/Amer her theatrical trilogy, Nomad. All the News and July 15 Queens Chronicle report- Ctr) was quoted in the major Chinese papers, including World ed Jeffrey Halperin’s April 29 Queens Tribune Journal, covered the story . . . The Journal (Psychology) receipt of a and May 5 Newsday News of Westchester, Rockland, and $2 million grant from the describing the growing Putnam Counties featured remarks Sept. National Institutes of South Asian community 20 offered by Paula Middleton-Lalande Health to conduct a clinical in Queens . . . Michael (English) at a forum on youth violence . . . study on attention deficit Khandelwal Krasner (Political Science) President James Muyskens was quoted in Halperin hyperactivity disorder . . . offered his assessment of how term limits an Oct. 6 story in the New York Times on Heather Hendershot’s (Media St) book were affecting the effectiveness of City plans to build a dormitory at City College Shaking the World for Jesus: Media and Council members from Queens for a . . . Eugenia Paulicelli’s (European Langs) Conservative Evangelical Culture was June 11 story in Newsday . . . The July 29 book Fashion Under Fascism: Beyond the reviewed April 18 in the Washington Post. Queens Chronicle reported that Steven Black Shirt was listed in the July 30 issue It was also featured in an April 2 story in Markowitz (Ctr Biology Natural Systems) of the Chronicle of Higher Education . . . the Marion Star about best-selling books provides free medical screenings to immi- (continued on page 4)

Husain Brings World of Experience to OIT

Having worked in Israel, Somalia, Croatia, Mogadishu, Husain says of his new assignment, “I see OIT as a Italy, and Iraq, Naveed Husain brings a place where we’ll have a lot of challenges in the near future.” world of experience to his new job as OIT’s He points to the successful launch prior to his arrival of wireless assistant vice president for information Internet access on campus as an indication of his staff’s ability technology and chief information officer. to tackle those challenges. Formerly with the Department of A challenge he’s particularly looking forward to is implemen- Peacekeeping at the United Nations, Husain tation of the Enterprise Research Planning system (ERP). “That sees much potential “to dynamically change process,” explains Henderson, “will allow all of our functions – OIT.” Having recently reviewed the 100- such as human resources, administration, budgeting, and the day plan and the one-year plan with Sue student information system Ð to work more effectively with one Henderson (Executive Assistant to the another and within CUNY. ERP will give us more flexibility President), he observes, “OIT is going to be and the power to provide us with better data.” Husain very busy.” Husain has been given a new title reflecting a new approach UNITED NATIONS AND CORPORATE EXPERIENCE to technology that will see OIT taking responsibility for telecom- Husain brings more than 15 years of IT experience to his new munications as well as computer technology issues. “OIT is position, including work with law firms, Fortune 500 companies, going to be re-branded,” he says. “It’s going to have a new name and seven years in different assignments at the UN as communi- and a new approach in how it deals with campus clientele. cations information systems officer. He has an MS in distributed There’s going to be a greater emphasis on customer service.” information systems engineering from New York Polytechnic University and a BBA from Hofstra University. STUDENT EMAIL AND INTERNET KIOSKS Husain, who came to the United States at age five from Whereas OIT previously focused on the technical concerns of Pakistan, believes he is well-prepared to address the needs of the faculty and staff, Husain sees student services as an integral part diverse Queens population: “I think the UN has given me addi- of the department’s future. Among the changes he expects to tional understanding of people of different backgrounds and dif- oversee are campus email for students by early next year and the ferent work ethics. Some people pray differently, some eat dif- introduction of Internet kiosks at key locations around the cam- ferently, some dance differently. These are all things I’ve learned pus, “so if students want to check their grades, their class sched- to appreciate. They all make the world a more beautiful place.” ules, or their email really quickly, they can.” When not immersed in technological challenges, Husain, who While Queens College may not offer some of the exotic lives with his wife, Lorna, in Manhattan, devotes himself to logistical challenges of such locales as Umm Qasr and being the father of Gabriel, age two, and Mikail, age five.

3 Green Light for (continued from page 3) (Political Science) offered his insights The men’s and women’s volleyball coach- on the Flushing Assembly race for Building Projects es, Karl Pierre and Aline-Pascal Lubin, “Cityscape,” a public affairs program on were both mentioned in an Aug. 12 WFUV-9 . . . Mark Rosenblum’s A commitment of funding from the Flushing Times 2004-05 Borough President/City story in the profiling their (History) innovative course Council capital budget and money from daughter, Ariel Pierre, a star volleyball on “The Middle East and Albany are spurring a number of con- America” was the subject of struction and rehabilitation projects on articles in the Oct. 21 campus. Some older projects are also Queens Chronicle and Oct. 24 expected to get off the drawing board. Daily News . . . The plans to Rosenblum With state funding, the much-needed have Copland School faculty $30 million addition to Remsen Hall offer free master classes to neighbor- will be moving ahead in the space vacat- hood children prior to some perform- ed by P.S. 499. The addition consists of ances was reported Sept. 9 in the 26,000 sq. ft., with seven teaching labs Flushing Times . . . The historical perspec- and five research labs. All of the second tive of Joseph Scelsa (Calandra Inst) was floor teaching labs will be replaced with Newsday state-of-the-art facilities. Assemblyman sought by both Barry Grodenchik announced the and the New York Times Remsen funding at a press conference Lubin and Pierre for their June 14 and June August 17 at the college. 20 stories describing the With the help of City Councilman player at St. Francis Prep . . . The deaths in New York neigh- James Gennaro, Colden Center will announcement of a $30 million addition borhoods last spring of receive $345,000 for new lighting. providing new chemistry facilities for Scelsa many fig trees originally “More up-to-date lighting will enhance Remsen Hall was covered Aug. 22 in the planted by Italian immigrants. WRTN-FM the performances we present here and Daily News and in the Aug. 26 editions of also interviewed him in May about the those of outside organizations who rent the Queens Chronicle and Times Ledger . . Vallone Scholarships . . . Phillip Schneider our facilities,” says Colden Director . In a June 23 New York Times article (Linguistics) was quoted in a June 16 New Vivian Charlop. Plans also call for about an educational technique called York Times story describing how people updating the center’s antiquated aisle lighting. “Reacting to the Past,” Fred who stutter often cease stuttering when Extensive rehabilitation of the track Purnell (Philosophy) acting in a play . . . Judith Serrin and athletic fields will take place with described incorporating it (Journalism) was quoted in a Crain’s New an additional $701,000 in City Council into courses to help create a York Business story about the vibrancy of funding. A new, colored, resilient top- greater sense of belonging weekly newspapers in Queens . . . May 6 ping will be put on the reconstructed among the school’s com- articles in the New York Times and New track, which will get two more lanes. Purnell muter student population . . . York Sun describing CUNY preparations Funding will also pay for new soccer The induction of the 1972-73 Queens to open a graduate school of journalism and softball fields, as well as seating College Women’s Basketball Team into quoted Wayne Svoboda (Journalism), a and, for the first time, lighting. The the New York City Basketball Hall of member of the new school’s planning college also hopes to move ahead on Fame was cited as “noteworthy” in the committee . . . Rick Wettan (Athletics) a long-pending project to bring the Sept. 14 Philadelphia Inquirer. The induc- described how the QC Sports Academy Center for the Biology of Natural Systems onto campus. The center, tion ceremony Sept. 21 was featured provides water for 1,000 young partici- currently in leased space on Horace extensively that evening on UPN 9’s 10 pants in a July 13 Newsday article, with Harding Expressway, would relocate pm newscast. The Staten Island Advance camp photos, on proper hydration while to the roof of the science building. carried a story Sept. 21, and it received exercising. NY1 also featured a story Other pending projects include: two pages of coverage Sept. 22 in about the Sports Academy, interviewing Newsday . . . Gregory Rabassa’s parents, including Alexandra De Luise ■ A new entrance on Kissena Boulevard ($500,000, Borough President) (Hispanic Langs) upcoming book, If (Library) and filming the children at play ■ A Jewish Studies Reading Room in This Be Treason: Translation and Its for a “Money Matters” feature on tax Jefferson Hall ($150,000, City Council) Dyscontents, in which he playfully reflects credits related to day camp. The seg- ■ Student Union improvements, includ- on his many years translating the works ment aired August 10 and 14 . . . The ing a new patio with greenery, partial of noted Hispanic writers into English, Aug. 6 Forward featured a column by refacing of the exterior, and repair and was the subject of a story in the May 25 Evan Zimroth (English) about the biblical resurfacing of side parking lot (funded New York Times. . . Alexander Reichl Moses accessing his “inner-female.” by Student Union revenue sources).

4 Newman Wins Fulbright Grant With his Fulbright Scholar grant, adolescents,” says Newman to visitors Michael Newman (Linguistics) has gone to his Web pages. “Why adolescents? to Autonomous University of Barcelona Because it is at this life stage that linguistic in Spain. He will remain there through patterns are set for life, and so passed on February doing research on his project to the next generation. Besides, fieldwork “The Language Ideologies of New with teens is just great fun!” Immigrants in Barcelona to Spanish Newman’s recent work includes a and Catalan: Perspectives on the study of the oral vernacular language of Linguistic Future.” mixed ethnic groups of inner city New “My current research is focused on York adolescents and a study of subcul- two areas, both involving linguistic conse- tures and values in an urban high school. quences of immigration, with a focus on

Students Offer Solutions to a Worldwide Health Problem When Yan Zheng (Earth & Environmental About one third of wells in Bangladesh have dangerously Sciences) makes her presentation at this high levels of naturally occurring arsenic, exposing tens of mil- month’s annual meeting of the Geological lions of people to increased risk for cancer and other diseases. Society of America, she will be demon- Remediating the problem often requires collaborations between strating how her students successfully com- geologists, engineers, and biomedical and social scientists. bined knowledge derived from their differ- Using data gleaned from a British Geological Survey report ent majors to tackle a real world problem: available online, students worked in teams of two or three, pro- dangerously high levels of arsenic in ducing oral presentations and written reports on assigned topics. groundwater. They also had to propose solutions. Those with engineering “The idea of having a capstone environ- backgrounds tended to offer more technical solutions, while Yan Zheng mental science course is that students those with backgrounds in environmental policy proposed more would utilize the skills they’ve learned in socially driven models. their different tracks—biology, geology, chemistry, environmen- tal studies,” explains Zheng. “We bring them all together in one class, where they look at a real environmental problem and come up with a solution to it.” Her presentation, “A Capstone Undergraduate Course Based on Arsenic Problem in Bangladesh Groundwater,” is based on the work performed in her spring 2003 class in Environmental Problem Solving. “Since I’ve been doing research on arsenic in Bangladesh groundwater and it’s such an interdisciplinary issue, I figured it was a good topic,” explains Zheng. “Many people are exposed to high levels of arsenic. It’s actually the largest public health issue related to groundwater consumption in the world.” To emphasize the relevance of this issue, Zheng mentions one of the Bush administra- tion’s early and embarrassing forays into Alumni from every decade attended Homecoming 2004 on Saturday, October 2, environmental policy—an unsuccessful some coming from as far away as Australia. The 50th Anniversary Class of ’54 was attempt to permit higher levels of arsenic in singled out for special attention, receiving commemorative medals from President American drinking water. “It is a problem James Muyskens. The day included slide shows, tours, displays and demonstrations, for millions of people in the United States, fascinating lectures by top faculty, photos, and a grand closing reception. All this including New England.” and time to catch up with former classmates. It’s not too early to make plans for Homecoming 2005, which will be held on Saturday, October 1. Save the date!

5 ’72-’73 Lady Knights Enter NYC’s Basketball Hall of Fame

The first women’s team from New York onship tournament, finishing second. City to play for a national championship, They posted a 22-5 overall record; a the 1972-73 Queens College women’s 19-point average margin of victory; basketball team, was inducted last month and an undefeated streak against into the New York City Basketball Hall New York State colleges that would of Fame. And so they made history again, last nearly a decade. as the first women’s team to receive this honor. Thirteen of the team’s original 15 members were present for the 15th annu- al awards ceremony, held Sept. 21 at the New York Athletic Club. The Lady Knights join only a handful of teams in the hall, including the 1969-70 NBA champi- on Knicks, the 1949-50 City College team that won both the NCAA and NIT crowns, and the 1963-64 undefeated Power Memorial H.S. team that featured Lew Alcindor (Kareem Abdul-Jabbar). Under the direction of coach Lucille Kyvallos, the Lady Knights pioneered an aggressive five-on-five style of play more common to men’s basketball. The team received an unprecedented level of media Top: Coach Lucille Kyvallos, fifth from left, poses September 21 at the New York Athletic and public attention when it hosted the Club with members of the 1972-73 Lady Knights. Bottom: The champions in their prime standing-room-only national champi- (Silhouette Yearbook).

Student Profile: From Flushing to Berlin in Pursuit of Wagner What draws a music major to “There were lots of kids from Britain, a few from Holland, Germany? a lot of kids from Korea and Japan and other parts of “I want to become an opera Western Europe. singer,” declares Eowyn Driscoll. “I could get myself around and ask for directions,” she “And my voice teacher is quite posi- explains of her limited language proficiency upon arriving in tive that I’ll be going into the Wagner Berlin. “I had taken German for a semester at Queens, and my and Strauss repertoire. So, I need to language skills weren’t really wonderful. But they’re much be able to speak German very well.” better now.” That’s why the sophomore was Initial communications difficulties aside, she enjoyed her- thrilled to receive a scholarship that self tremendously. “The teachers were very enthusiastic and all Eowyn Driscoll allowed her to spend a month this past the kids were really happy to be there. They all wanted to do summer studying the German lan- things. It was: ‘Let’s go out, let’s go to a museum’ every day. guage and German art at the Freie Universitaet Berlin. The The classes were from nine to four or five in the afternoon. scholarship provided tuition and a stipend to cover housing and The lecture classes sometimes went long because we often other expenses, Driscoll explains, “so basically all you needed went to museums and did walking tours.” Classes were four to do was buy your plane ticket.” days a week with Wednesdays and weekends off. “The Freshman Award for North America was given to 25 Her summer adventure will likely be an important factor students out of a pool of 255 applicants,” explains Monika in determining her future course of study at Queens. “I’m Fisher (European Languages), in whose class on German fairy probably going to seek a second major in German after tales Driscoll first learned of the scholarship. “Eowyn can be this trip,” she says. proud to have been chosen.” But musicÐalbeit, German musicÐis still foremost among Driscoll shared a Berlin flat with other students in the pro- her academic goals, and she declares like a true Berliner: gram. While many of them were American, she observes, “Ich bin eine Opernsängerin.” (“I am an opera singer.”) 6 College Offers by Erickson, Mauricio Font (Sociology), and Brian Schwartz of the Graduate Courses at Center, the event was co-sponsored by Senior Center the college and had several QC partici- pants, including Social Sciences Dean The description “senior class” has Q Don Scott, Amy Winter (Godwin-Tern- new meaning, thanks to an innovative bach Museum), and Georgia Dehavenon collaboration between Selfhelp PEOPLE (God-Tern Mus), who presented papers. Community Services and the College A member of the steering committee, for Older Adults at the college. Ammiel Alcalay’s (Classical Amy Chazkel (History), chaired one of Noting that it was the first program & Mid East Langs) book the sessions . . . Michael Cogswell’s of its kind, Assemblyman Barry From the Warring Factions (Armstrong House) Louis Armstrong: Grodenchik announced in May a part- was selected as an editor’s The Offstage Story of Satchmo nership whereby QC courses would be choice by Barnes & Noble took Gold honors in the made available to students ages 60 and . . . For his contributions over at the Selfhelp Benjamin Rosenthal Performing Arts category of Alcalay to the field of lipids, Robert Senior Center in Flushing. the Book of the Year Awards Bittman (Chemistry) was awarded the “We hope this is the beginning of a from ForeWord magazine . . . long partnership that will allow us to distinction of Fellow by the American Fred Purnell (Philosophy) led Association for the Advancement of meet the needs of older Queens resi- a group of 14 people on a Cogswell dents,” said Grace S. Nierenberg, vice Science . . . Virgil Blake (Library & Info week-long trip to Rome and president of housing and senior centers Studies) received the 2004 Donald G. Florence. They visited many of the sites for Selfhelp Community Services, a Davis Article Award for his article rein- associated with the trials of Galileo. A nonsectarian, not-for-profit homecare forcing the concept of personal network- specialist in Italian Renaissance thought, and social service organization. “And ing as a stimulus to systematic thinking Purnell had received a $2,000 grant to we salute Queens College for its will- . . . Allen Brings, Michael Lipsey, Maurice ingness to embrace a new concept in research and write a new game on the Peress, Bruce Saylor, and Edward trials of Galileo as part of the Reacting lifelong learning by bringing its classes Smaldone (Music) received 2004-05 directly into the community.” to the Past curriculum. In this innovative ASCAP Awards. The awards, made by Two courses were initially offered curriculum, students role-play important the American Society of for the spring semester: History of the historical characters . . . John Tytell Jewish People 1 and Humor and Composers, Authors and (English) has been recognized as this Optimism as Tools for Good Health. By Publishers to assist year’s Distinguished Alumnus by NYU’s popular demand, the latter is again being ASCAP composers, rec- English Department, where he received made available at the center this fall ognize the prestige value his PhD in 1968 . . . Citing his “over 20 along with Staying Young. They join a of each writer’s catalog years of preserving and promoting New dozen on-campus courses to become Smaldone of compositions, as well York’s Marine Conservation,” the New part of a catalog of 14 low-cost, require- as recent performances . . . Anna Chave York State Coastal Association present- ment- and test-free courses for seniors (Art) participated in a discussion last ed John Waldman (Biology) with the over 60 offered by the College for Older month at the recently reopened Noguchi Adults (formerly the Center for 2004 Norcross Award for “Outstanding Museum in Queens in connection with contribution in Marine Conservation.” Unlimited Enrichment), according to Expanding the Universe: Isamu Noguchi Diane Gahagan, the program’s educa- Waldman was a keynote speaker at 1920 – 1940. She also contributed to the tional coordinator. the New York State Marine Educators “I am especially proud of our part- exhibition’s catalogue . . . Nicholas Coch Association conference June 5 at nership with Selfhelp Community (Earth & Environ Sci) appeared Oct. 5 Southampton College . . . Zahra Zakeri Services,” said President Jim Muyskens. as a guest lecturer for the East Carolina (Biology) presided in June over the fifth “These courses are taught by our finest University branch of the science research meeting of the International Cell Death instructors at the college. Thanks to the society Sigma Xi. He discussed the Society, of which she is president. The leadership of Assemblyman Grodenchik effects of hurricanes on coastal regions symposium, The Mechanisms of Cell and the hard work of people in both . . . Thanks to the efforts of Raymond Death, took place on the campus of organizations, we are off to a very good Erickson (Music), a three-day conference start.” Maynooth University in Maynooth, took place last month at the CUNY Ireland, and was supported by grants Said Grodenchik in remarks to the Graduate Center to mark the 200th Daily News, “I have dealt with the from the National Institutes of Health anniversary of German scholar, explorer, Queens College president for some time and Science Foundation, Ireland. and geographer Alexander von and he has always been tremendously responsive to our needs.” Humboldt’s visit to the U.S. Co-chaired 7 IN MEMORIAM

RALPH G. ALLEN DEBORAH WOLFE the Atlantic was based on meticulous “Ralph Allen was that rare person who Deborah Cannon Partridge Wolfe research of 49,000 decrypted radio mes- bridged many worlds, extending from (Emerita, Elementary sages from German U-boats. And he the professional commercial theatre to & Early Childhood was a prodigious author. The author of academia, and from the world of classi- Education) died nine books with four more in press and cal theatre to popu- September 3 at the over 80 articles, Professor Syrett lar culture and Princeton Medical attained an international reputation for ‘low’ art, all of Center in her home both his writings on the British Navy which he relished state of New Jersey during the Battle of the Atlantic and for with the bottomless after a battle with his works on the naval warfare of World appetite of a gour- cancer. War II. mand.” “She was a His teaching style was bluff, which So recalls Harry prominent African American female Webster defines as “roughly but good- Feiner (Drama, educator at a time when that was a very, naturedly frank, unceremonious, outspo- Theatre & Dance) very difficult thing to be,” observes ken,” and his students loved him for of his longtime colleague who died sud- EECE Chair Helen Johnson. “She was these qualities Ð and for the depth of his denly on September 9 at the age of 70. an incredibly joyful and passionate per- knowledge. And his colleagues in the According to his wife, Harriet Nichols, son. She cared deeply about children History Department loved him also for Allen had long suffered from diabetes and about learning. And she didn’t hesi- these qualities Ð and for the essential and heart trouble. tate to tell anyone what she thought was generosity of his spirit. Born Jan. 7, 1934 in Philadelphia, important for them to hear.” A memorial service will be held Allen saw his first burlesque show as a A former chair of the Elementary December 1 at 3:30 in LeFrak Concert teenager. Though he would earn a bach- Education Department, Wolfe was the Hall. Please call 718-997-5350 for more elor’s degree from Amherst and a doc- first African American professor at the information. torate from Yale as a scholar of tradi- college, where she was instrumental in tional theater, his youthful interest in the creating the Kappa Delta Pi educational Frank Warren bawdy routines of old burlesque show honor society. She left Queens in1986 Chair, History Department comics brought him his greatest public after 35 years, returning in 2001 to renown. receive an honorary doctorate. MURRAY NESBITT “His passion for humor led him to An adviser to Congress and other Murray Nesbitt, a longtime member of create the musical revue Sugar Babies, government and educational bodies, the Political Science Department who which was a Broadway hit and earned Wolfe stressed the necessity of educa- retired in 1995, passed away on June 16. him a Tony nomination,” recounts tion, particularly for those in the under- An expert in consti- Feiner. “Ralph was a larger-than-life class. (Her accomplishments as listed in tutional and labor polymath with successful careers as a Who’s Who in American Education fill a law, Professor scholar, playwright, director, and pro- full six column inches.) The first African Nesbitt was the ducer. He was passionate about classical American woman to be ordained a author of Labor theater and founded two professional Baptist minister, she preached for a Relations in the theater companies. As the producer at quarter of a century at the First Baptist Federal Government the Kennedy Center he worked with Church of Cranford, NJ. She also taught Service and other many of the leading actors and directors at the Tuskegee Institute, Grambling works. He became of our time.” Allen retired in 1999 after State University, NYU, Fordham, and involved early on 15 years teaching at Queens. He also Columbia. with the changes in federal public taught at the CUNY Graduate Center. employee policy when he testified on “He was an esteemed and cherished DAVID SYRETT behalf of the National Civil Service colleague,” says Feiner, “who delighted Distinguished Professor of History League before President Kennedy’s his students and peers alike with his David Syrett died on October 18. Task Force on Employee-Management combination of jokes, stories, and his Professor Syrett Relations in the Federal Service. Nesbitt uniquely accessible and down-to-earth joined the Queens was a member of the National Labor erudition.” faculty in 1966 Panel of the American Arbitration A memorial service will be held on and was made Association as well as an active partici- Monday, December 6, at 5:30 pm at the Distinguished pant in many studies of various facets Promenade Theater, 2162 Broadway, Professor in 2000. regarding New York City’s personnel between 76th & 77th Sts. For more He was a prodi- problems and briefly practiced as an information call 212-362-4584, 718- gious researcher; his attorney. 596-3677, or 212-829-9816. work on the Battle of

8 Zakeri Secures First MARC Grant for the College

Zahra Zakeri (Biology) believes her success in securing the first MARC (Minority Access to Research Careers) grant for Le Thuy Chi and Le Quoc Tuan Queens College stems, in large part, Zakeri from her service Vietnamese Scholars Launch the past decade reviewing grants for the Minority Biomedical Research Support New Exchange Program program at the NIH. “It allowed me to get in there and tell The arrival from Hanoi of two year for a semester abroad program them how great we are,” she says. “This visiting Vietnamese graduate students at HUFS.” is the first time that Queens College has marks the beginning of a new Klein and Michael Newman (LCD) are received a grant of this sort for minority exchange program between the col- laying the groundwork for a larger pro- education, to my knowledge—especially lege and the Hanoi University of gram that would strengthen English lan- in the sciences.” Foreign Studies (HUFS). guage teaching to Vietnamese abroad The award, which came in June, Le Quoc Tuan (“Tuan”) and Le and to immigrants in the United States. provides $2,164,817 over five years to Thuy Chi (“Chi”) graduated first and In both countries, fluency in English is a create programs here to increase num- bers of underrepresented minority stu- second in their class last June at the primary factor for success in education dents in biomedical sciences. Six stu- prestigious Vietnamese university and in the work force. dents are chosen each year to conduct where they majored in English and lin- Asked about their impressions since research with faculty mentors. They guistics. They have come to Queens arriving here, Chi remarks, “Everything receive a $10,000 stipend, paid tuition, College to audit graduate classes in is so different from what life in Vietnam and funds for lab supplies and travel. the Department of Linguistics and is, but it’s not so different from what Three juniors and three seniors are Communication Disorders (LCD). we know about the U.S. through the participating this year. They hope to matriculate eventually Internet and through books. I’m very “The main aim,” she says, “is to and obtain graduate degrees here or impressed by the culture and the diversi- get students interested in science and at other universities, then return to ty here,” she says, referring to the cam- biomedical research-oriented science. Vietnam to improve the system for pus and surrounding neighborhoods. We hope to accomplish that by encour- educating future teachers and transla- “I’d say it’s fabulous,” enthuses Tuan. aging them to interact with faculty and work in their laboratories.” tors of English. “I like the Queens College campus. The MARC program is already up “Tuan and Chi,” says Elaine Klein It’s so green and so big. . . . It’s so and running. The six students attended (LCD), a director of the program, “are quaint and so classic, it has a sense of the NIH’s Annual Biomedical Research the first of what we hope will be a an Ivy League institution. And, at least Conference for Minority Students in contingent of HUFS graduate stu- during the summer, I really like the Dallas in early November. Three pre- dents eventually attaining MA and weather here. sented their work at the meeting. PhD degrees at CUNY, depending on “I’ve also just discovered that “We are hoping to do extensive our receiving grant money to help this campus is very technology savvy,” he guidance,” Zakeri says. “The goal is to support this program. We also expect says, referring to the wireless Internet nourish students from the beginning and to send a small group of CUNY stu- network. “I’ve found hot spots every- make sure that we guide them into the dents, also preparing to be English where, and they let you borrow laptops right programs for a PhD.” language teachers, to Vietnam next at the library. It’s very impressive.”

9 cation Committee . . . 1962: Eric Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal LLP in Block is internationally known for his New York. He received his JD, with research in the fields of organosulfur honors, from Benjamin N. Cardozo and organoselenium chemistry, espe- School of Law in 1980; he was Notes cially that associated with plants of the and Comments Editor, Cardozo Law genus Allium, that is, garlic and onion. Review in 1979Ð80; and earned his MA Q After obtaining his bachelor’s degree, from New York University in 1972 . . . Eric went on to earn his PhD from 1971: Linda Prizer is a partner in ALUMNI NOTES Harvard University (1967). Prior to the law firm of Cohen and Prizer, Esqs., joining the faculty at Albany, he held a Carle Place, NY, where she specializes position at the University of Missouri in matrimonial and family law. Linda is 1944: Norman and Harriette (St. Louis campus) . . . 1964: Neil also a lay Torah reader, and finds these (Dlugas) Hewitt wrote to say they are Marmor notes that he “took advantage two endeavors to be wonderfully inter- both retired and have been travelling in of the terrific education Queens College twined . . . 1973: Michael Shevack Europe, Asia, and Africa. “After sending offered for an enrollment fee of $24 in thought he was going three children through college and 1959 ($1.50 per credit)” to pursue a to be a doctor; but viewing their curricula and those of our career that meandered from electrical gave it up after three two grandchildren, we are firmly con- engineering (degrees earned from years and entered vinced that our education at QC far Columbia University) to financial serv- advertising. “I became surpassed anything being offered at even ices marketing at Chase Manhattan, a senior vice president, the best private colleges today! Thanks Prudential, and a few other firms, to associate creative largely to Queens, our life is richer: a owning and operating his own interior director at BBDO, full schedule of Met Opera, Carnegie plant sales and service company in San then a senior creative director, executive Hall series, theater, museums, and so Diego. Neil is now a director of the vice president at DMBB. I’ve created on.” Norman and Harriette live in Old Malashock Dance Company, does vol- ‘Gillette The Best a Man Can Get’; Lyme, CT . . . 1949: Bill Millner, unteer work, and jogs. He can be ‘Stress Stinks. Arrid Works’; the Apple who retired as chair- reached at [email protected] . . . Computer campaign, and many others. man of the New Hyde 1965: Eugene R. Fidell has been Twelve years ago I was ordained a Park Memorial HS appointed lecturer on rabbi. I am the author of Stupid Ways, music department in law at Harvard Law Smart Ways to Think About God and 1983, is still active School. A 1968 gradu- Our Age, The Historic New Era of musically. He directs ate of Harvard Law, he Christian Jewish Understanding. My the 80-piece Venice will teach a course on new book, Adam & Eve: Marriage Concert Band in military justice. Gene Secrets from the Garden of Eden, just Florida, and recently received the Muses is a partner in the came out. I am now the president of In Award for Instrumental Arts from the Washington, DC, law the Image, Inc., the first advertising and Venice Arts and Culture Alliance. Bill firm of Feldesman Tucker Leifer Fidell marketing firm devoted exclusively to and his wife, Dorothy Arning Millner LLP and president of the National Insti- nonprofit and religious organizations. ’50, have three children . . . 1956: tute of Military Justice . . . 1967: I’m married with three children and live Marcia (Alper) Ascher is an emerita Darryl E. Green is on the Peninsula in Bucks County, PA” . . . 1974: professor of mathematics at Ithaca Hospital Center board of directors. Early Gail Uellendahl is a professor of educa- College in Ithaca, NY. She has written in his career he spent several years in tion at California Lutheran University in several books on the relationship public service. In 1977 he entered into Thousand Oaks. Gail earned her between culture and mathematical ideas the private practice of law. Darryl lives master’s at Hofstra and her doctorate at and on applications of mathematics to in Bayswater, NY with his wife and New York University . . . 1976: archaeology. Marcia has been a Getty three children . . . 1968: Vladimir Leonard Gomella is chair of urology at Scholar at the Getty Center for the E. Alexandrov, who the Jefferson Medical College of History of Art and the Humanities, and graduated with a degree Thomas Jefferson University. It is one of was twice named a Dana Research in geology, is the the oldest departments of urology in the Fellow at Ithaca College. She is married author of Limits to country, with the largest urology group to Robert Ascher ’54, an emeritus pro- Interpretation: The practice in Pennsylvania . . . 1977: fessor of anthropology at Cornell Uni- Meanings of Anna Steven K. Leibel is a named share- versity . . . 1961: Jack Egnatinsky Karenina (Wisconsin holder in Casery Gilson Leibel PC trial is a retired anesthesiologist who lives in University Press). He is lawyers. He concentrates in the areas of St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands. He is the B. E. Bensinger Professor of Slavic catastrophic personal injury, government president of the Federated Ambulatory Languages and Literatures at Yale Uni- negligence, and medical malpractice. Surgery Association and is also active versity, as well as the author of Andrei Steve serves as a part-time municipal on the board of the Accreditation Asso- Bely: The Major Symbolist Fiction and court judge and is on the board of direc- ciation for Ambulatory Health Care and Nabokov’s Otherworld . . . 1969: tors of the North Georgia Education chairs their Surveyor Training and Edu- Robert P. Mulvey is Of Counsel at Foundation, and the Dahlonega Arts 10 Council. He is married and has three sion head at Abbott Laboratories, the in the 473rd Infantry in World War II children. Steve can be reached at largest supplier of diagnostic testing for and received a Bronze Star, is the author [email protected] . . . 1978: hepatitis and AIDS . . . 1982: Barry of the novel Mussolini’s Millions, which John C. Morris writes that “After grad- Marek is marketing director of wines is “about my good and terrible experi- uating with a BA (Biology), I attended for the central division of Brown- ences during WWII mixed with some Upstate Medical Center College of Med- Forman Wines. Previously he worked fantasy.” It can be ordered at icine (SUNY) where I received my MD for the Miller Brewing Company in Amazon.com . . . 1996: Andrew P. in 1982. I did a residency in internal various marketing and brand manage- Jackson (MLS) has medicine and a fellowship in neoplastic ment positions . . . 1987: Lucia A. been executive director diseases (oncology) at Mount Sinai Silecchia is associate professor of law of the Queens Borough Hospital in Manhattan. I was also chief and associate dean for academic affairs Public Library’s medical resident at Mount Sinai at Catholic University’s Columbus Langston Hughes Com- (1985Ð86) and was on staff at Mount School of Law. She received a JD from munity Library and Sinai from 1988Ð1995. I subsequently Yale Law School in 1990 and has been Cultural Center for 24 did a laboratory post-doctoral fellowship on the faculty at Catholic University years. This past June he in the Clinical Gene Therapy Branch of since 1991 . . . 1992: Catalina became president of the Black Caucus the National Human Genome Research Vásquez-Kennedy (MA) received a of the American Library Association. Institute, NIH (1995Ð1999). I am cur- $30,000 award from the George T. He is also a member of the board of rently an investigator and co-director of Dorsch Endowed Scholarship Fund at directors of Queens Public Television, clinical trials in the Metabolism Branch, the Fashion Institute of Technology. She the board of trustees of the Renaissance National Cancer Institute. I live in sub- will use this to work in Poland for a Charter School, and the advisory boards urban Maryland with my wife, Laura, year with Professor Schuster-Gawloska, of the Louis Armstrong House and daughter Caroline, and son Brian” . . . a renowned conservator at the Cracow Archives and York College. Andrew, 1979: Frederick Axelrod is the Academy of Fine Arts. who was named the Queens Library’s medical director and chief executive Catalina, who also Lamplighter of the Year in 1999, officer for the Blood Bank of San holds a BA from FIT, received his BS in business administra- Bernardino and Riverside Counties in plans to become a tion from York . . . 2000: Veronika California. Rick, who earned his MD at museum paintings Krav recently received her doctor of Emory University and also holds a conservator . . . optometry degree from the Pennsylvania master’s in business administration, is a 1994: Edward V. College of Optometry. She hopes to specialist in transfusion medicine. Previ- Rieff, who served practice in New York or New Jersey. ously he was senior director and divi-

ALUMNI NEWS

in Marcialla. Day trips included Flo- Does QC Run in Your Family? rence, Pisa, Lucca, San Gimignano, and We know that there are many second- Siena. We had lectures on Italian generation QC families out there, but history and culture, Renaissance art, as we are wondering: Are there any third- well as other topics of interest. Among generation families? If you are a the more popular features was a ‘meet member of such a family, please contact the locals’ Q & A and a closing dinner in Joe Brostek and share your story. a medieval castle.” Send Us Your News! The next alumni trip will be to Nor- Tell us where you are, what you’re mandy, July 18-26, 2005. The trip doing, and send a photo to includes three meals a day, accommoda- [email protected] or via regular mail Trip to Tuscany a Success; tions at the Grand Hotel de l’Esperance Next Stop: Normandy in Lisieux, and day trips to Bayeux and Office of Alumni Affairs Dave Guskin, chair of the Washington, the Bayeux Tapestry, Monet’s home Queens College DC chapter, provided the following and studio in Giverny, Rouen, Mount-St- 65-30 Kissena Boulevard review of September’s alumni trip to Michel, and D-Day battle sites. Informa- Flushing, NY 11367 Tuscany. “Twenty alumni and their tive talks will include the history and Phone: 718-997-3930; spouses and friends traveled to the food of the region, Impressionism, and Fax: 718-997-3924 Tuscany region of Italy from September the Normandy invasion. Watch your And look for on the Web as we are 5-13. We shared the tour with the mail in January for an invitation from always adding new information: Johns Hopkins Alumni Association and AHI International. For more informa- www.qc.cuny.edu/alumni_affairs all stayed at the beautiful Villa Tavolese tion, contact Alumni Affairs.

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