#49 March 2006

Archives Publishes Rare Public Housing Photos

By Staff

A vast collection of New York City Housing Authority photographs documenting the pre- and post-World War II housing projects and tenements that were eventually demol - ished to make way for the city’s ambitious urban renewal plan can now be viewed on the LaGuardia and Wagner Archives’ website. The gallery comprises 2,500 vintage black and white photographs that were selected among an estimated 35,000 4x5 negatives taken by NYCHA photographers between 1939 and 1967. The Housing Authority placed the collection in the archives two years ago and during that time the repository has been involved in the process of preserving and indexing the photos. Describing the collection as a “treasure The 1940 photograph shows the Nerola family in their Corona apartment on 52nd trove,” Dr. Richard K. Lieberman, director Avenue. The family planned to be re-housed in a newly built project. of the archives, explained its historical sig - nificance. “What makes this collection so valuable is that you have images of these LaGuardia Prepares for the neighborhoods before they changed. The photos capture 19th century New York before the bulldozers came in to create the EPA Audit modern New York.” The collection takes the viewer back in time to a New York City that has been By Tony N. Lugo, Assistant to the Vice In an agreement brokered with the EPA, long forgotten. One goes to a South President, Administration all CUNY campuses, including its gradu - Jamaica neighborhood where blocks of ate, medical and law schools, have sub - It has come to the attention of the rickety old wood frame houses would be mitted themselves to self-audits, providing Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that the site of the South Jamaica Houses. To campuses with the opportunity to inde - a number of colleges and universities the bustling streets of the Lower East Side pendently measure where they stand across the country have been failing to that would give way to the more tranquil when it comes to environmental standards comply with federal environmental regula - life in the Governor Alfred E. Smith Houses. without facing immediate fines or public tions. The EPA has vowed to remedy the And to the countless dilapidated and over - domain write-ups for noncompliance. problem by initiating a robust auditing crowded slums that were razed to make Once the self-audit is completed, the find - campaign subject to severe penalties. way for the construction of such public ings will then be presented to the EPA for LaGuardia is presently taking steps to housing projects as Kingsborough, Thomas final review. comply with an EPA audit scheduled for Jefferson, and Frederick Douglass. “The good thing about doing a self- the latter part of this year. Continued on page 12 Continued on page 6 www.laguardia.edu Archives Show Students How To Do Primary Source Research

By Steven Levine, Coordinator for Education Programs, LaGuardia and Wagner Archives

A central goal of the LaGuardia and Wagner Archives since its founding over twenty years ago has been to introduce students to working with primary sources (original documents) from the archives' collection. More then a thousand stu - dents each semester visit the archives to learn about the difference between pri - mary and secondary sources and, most importantly, to comment and write about documents from the archives’ collection. To further this goal, Director Richard K. Lieberman and Professor John Chaffee began a program nearly two decades Steven Levine, left, the archives' educational coordinator, shows an artifact from the ago teaching critical thinking through pri - Mayor Abraham Beame collection–an oversize boxing glove inscribed by Muhammad mary sources. These efforts led to well Ali-–to members of the English faculty: C. Jason Smith, Ximena Gallardo, Stafford developed projects used by critical think - Gregoire, Raven Blackstone, Lee Nelson, Linda Chandler, and Gordon Tapper. ing faculty, including the Riots of 1935, French Children of the Holocaust, sor and archives staff for a research The concept of developing themed and events surrounding 9/11. Students paper assigned by their professor. classes using the archives’ resources received guided tours of the archives, Two EARP groups have successfully includes other departments as well. class visits by archives staff, and multiple developed classes using this format, and Faculty in the social sciences, guided by visits to the Archives by students who used a third group, led by Professor Gordon Professor Janet Michello and a continua - document packages developed by Tapper, is currently developing classes. tion of the program with critical thinking Archives staff to write research papers Some of the topics students have faculty, guided by Professor Chaffee are that became part of the Archives’ collec - researched include: Open Admissions at currently developing classes in their disci - tion. CUNY, the 1939 World's Fair, plines. Their students will receive a simi - These projects were so successful that Organized Crime in New York, and Life lar introduction to using primary sources the archives launched a program in the in New York City Public Housing. Continued on page 9 spring of 2004 to develop thematic class - es with professors in the English Department, based on the work devel - Book Review: A Year in the oped by Professor Chaffee. The English Archives Research Project (EARP), initially Life of William Shakespeare developed by Dr. Lieberman and Professor Brian Gallagher, is composed of two parts: a) a visit to the archives, where Book review by John Henry Davis, ments. Mostly, however, they fall back on archives staff members Tara Hickman and Professor, Humanities sheer speculation, fueled by an imagina - myself, work with students in small groups tive reading of the plays to feed their own The mystery that was William teaching them how to interpret a docu - particular bias in creating their own ver - Shakespeare’s life may never be truly pen - ment, such as a letter, cartoon, govern - sion of the man. etrated. He may have deliberately kept his ment report, or newspaper article, and James Shapiro takes a different tact, and intimate relationships, political leanings, teach them the difference between a pri - it is a rewarding one. Following the lead religious beliefs, working process, and true mary and secondary source. b) Students of some other notable biographers, espe - inspirations cloudy for a host of reasons. later return individually to the archives to cially Stephen Greenblatt’s “ Will in the do primary source research from a docu - Biographers must rely on a few fragments ment package developed by their profes - of doubtful theatrical and literary docu - Continued on page 7 2 www.laguardia.edu Evans advised, “Start small. Try to win ACE Shows some of these city contracts and get your name known.” He added, however, that Businesses How to large state or federal government con - tracts can be hard to come by, and one Vie for Government should seek other opportunities as well. “You have to look globally,” he said, noting that often out of state and interna - Contracts tional companies are looking to do busi - ness with companies already established in the New York area. This, he pointed out, has helped his company expand. Skyline Connections, a company of now 30 employees, has provided com - puter products and services to organiza - tions including the New York Police Department, the FBI, Red Cross, Bank of America and Lockheed Martin. It received the 2003 Metropolitan Transit Competitive Edge Award and was hon - ored as Regional Minority Firm of the Year in 2001 by the U.S. Department of Commerce. It is also a member of PTAC’s Million Dollar Club, designating it as a company that has secured more than $1 million in government contracts. “To stay in business and grow your Attending the Procurement Technical Assistance Center’s conference, were, left, business, you have to be selling every Benjamin Hunt, Gail O. Mellow, and Rodney Evans. day,” Mr. Evans commented. Speaker Mary Vavruska, also a PTAC participant and graduate of LaGuardia’s By Liesl Fores, Executive Assistant, Division telecommunications certificate program, of Adult and Continuing Education ating in its eleventh year, recalled that he started out in PREP Preparing for Profit, a stressed the importance of finding a niche Over 100 businesses gathered at government contracting training program and researching that market. “I learned so LaGuardia on February 17 to learn how at LaGuardia’s Division of Adult and much,” she said of her studies at to win government business contracts. Continuing Education that helps partici - LaGuardia, explaining that she had come “How to Sell Your Products and pants navigate the procurement process. from an auditing background. Today, she Services to New York State,” sponsored Mr. Evans admitted humble beginnings, is the owner of TCE Systems, Inc., which by LaGuardia, Empire State Development having been fired from numerous jobs in provides transmission systems for wireless Corporation, and New York State Office the past. After attending the Million Man communications and voice data systems of General Services, offered attendees March in Washington, D.C., in 1995 for offices and constructions trailers. TCE advice on the business certification and becoming inspired to open his own Systems does business with numerous process and how to bid on local, state, business, he registered for the PREP pro - organizations, large and small, including and federal government contracts, as well gram within ACE’s Procurement Technical the New York Police Department and as practical information from experienced Assistance Center (PTAC), which assists Department of Health, and has some business owners who have been success - Queens and other New York City firms— long-standing “confidential” contracts. ful in acquiring such contracts. in particular, small, minority, and women Ms. Vavruska remarked that one should After welcomes from President Gail O. business owners—market their goods and not be intimidated by lengthy contract bid Mellow and Joe Ithier, executive director services to federal, state and local gov - applications, but should take the time to of Empire State Development Corporation, ernment. He learned about topics such as read them carefully and understand them and a greeting sent from Queens Borough contracting, certification, account - well. She added that “truthfulness” in fill - President Helen Marshall, Joyce Moy, ing/finance, marketing, proposal devel - ing out the application is “number one.” executive director of the Office of opment, communications, business plans She also emphasized that networking, Economic Development at LaGuardia, and computer applications. “Take these and being proactive and flexible are cru - began the morning’s program. classes. Learn your finances,” he asserted. cial to acquiring government contracts, no Speaker Rodney Evans, president of Referring to government contracts, Mr. matter the size. “Build a relationship with Skyline Connections, an IT company oper - Continued on page 4 3 Spotlight on Co-op grades in science over other classes. So, I pared me for that program.” decided to do something in science Professional Goal: “I am interested in whether it was math, physics or chemistry. working for a petroleum company as a Compiled by Lisa Orbe, Assistant Professor, So, I chose to pursue chemical engineering. chemical engineer back in the Ivory Coast. Cooperative Education I came from a family My country hasn’t had the chance to make where both my father the most of the resources in the Student Intern: Massamaghan Kone and mother never made Ivory Coast.” Major: Liberal Arts: Math and Science it to university and they Internship Experience: Internship: The School Construction encouraged me to go to “The people that I work with Authority (SCA) school. In my country, are really helpful and nice. I Website: http://www.nycenet. they don’t have chemical am working with software edu/Offices/SCA/default.htm engineering programs. there that I never thought I Description of the Internship: The So, I thought it would be would be working with like School Construction Authority was estab - better if I came to the AutoCad. Currently, I am lished in 1988 by the New York State legis - U.S. to study. I made the working with mechanical engi - lature to design, renovate and construct trip here four years ago neers that are helping me to New York City’s public schools. and I started with ESL understand blueprints and how Massamaghan has been working with an classes to get my English to reproduce them. I am look - engineer during his internship, in an appren - at a level where I could follow classes bet - ing forward to taking a trip to the field to ticeship model, learning from both his super - ter and I began my studies at LaGuardia in see problems with public school structures visor as well as more advanced students 2003. I majored in math and science and trying to find solutions to the problems who have graduated with bachelor’s because of the pre-engineering program with construction issues.” degrees in engineering. and I have almost completed my degree. I Proud Of: “I am most proud of coming Biography: “I was born in the Ivory began my classes at City College in to America and managing the difficulties Coast. I became interested in math and sci - January 2006 and have been accepted to that I have encountered so far.” ence through my father because he loved to the chemical engineering program. I feel “My hope is for the “American Dream,” watch science programs on TV. I got good that my experience at LaGuardia really pre - to get a job in the field that I am interested

ACE ... assistant district director at U.S. Small Jack Fruchtman, a salesman with Continued from page 3 Business Administration, discussed with Montana Datacom in Long Island City and them the three types of certifications that something small,” she said. “If you deliv - conference attendee, commented that as a minority, women, small and/or disadvan - er, they will come back to you.” newcomer in his company, “coming here taged businesses can apply for and the Ms. Vavruska expressed her gratitude was the best thing I could have done.” benefits that these certifications offer. for programs like PTAC and events like Referring to the knowledge and experi - The afternoon session included a panel this one. “I’ve gotten so much help from ence of the speakers, he said, “They’re discussion on “De-Mystifying the different people. I’m where I am today helping me with the ropes. … These guys Procurement Process,” with Roger because of it.” Mentioning PTAC director, know.” Cruttenden, procurement administrator, Benjamin Hunt, by name, she said, “If “The conference was very successful,” and Carter Lard, director of Materials you get in touch with him, he will surely said Mr. Hunt. “It is always gratifying Management, both from SUNY Downstate send you opportunities.” when small business owners come to the Medical Center; Bruce Wagner, manager Throughout the rest of the conference, college and leave with information and of Solicitation Management at MTA NYC attendees got tips for using the N.Y.S. contacts that will help them participate bet - Transit; Rose Davis, operation specialist at Contractor Reporter website from Eileen ter in the government contracting arena.” MTA NYC Transit; Victoria Lewis, bid Germain, manager of the Procurement “LaGuardia's economic development administration manager at MTA Bridges & Assistance Program at Empire State programs are dedicated to helping busi - Tunnels; Ida Perich, manager of Business Development. They learned about possi - nesses start up and grow successfully,” Services and Labor Force Development at bilities for minority or women-owned and added Ms. Moy. “Events like today's con - Port Authority of NY and NJ, and Charles small business in New York State from ference link entrepreneurs with invaluable Rauscher, purchasing agent II, from Virginia Lazzaro, manager at NYS Office education on opportunities to grow their LaGuardia. The panel discussion was of General Services. They listened to businesses, resources, and other business moderated by Shirley Leung, director of Theresa Lewis, Senior Minority and owners.” Empire State Development, and covered Women-Owned Business Enterprises For more information on LaGuardia’s topics such as pitfalls in the bid applica - (MWBE) certification analyst at New York PTAC, call ext. 5306 or visit tion process and the importance of clear State Economic Development, talk about www.laguardia-ptac.org. communication between an organization the process for the mandatory New York and a bidding company, among other business certification. And Georgia Ellis, issues. 4 www.laguardia.edu be to select, evaluate and recommend CIET Student Has Essay licensing of online database resources by establishing trials and coordinating cam - Published in Literacy Review pus training. Further, he will make certain resources are readily accessible and iden - tified to facilitate use on the library’s homepage. Essentially, he will function as By Hillary Gardner the library’s point-person to publicize and interpret their application to curriculum For the fourth year in a row, a student and research. from the Center for Immigrant Education Professor Keane most recently was affili - and Training (CIET) will publish in The ated with Long Island University’s Literacy Review , a city-wide magazine for campus, where since 2002 he served as adult education students sponsored by periodicals librarian and database coordi - New York University. nator. Previously he worked at Queens The Literacy Review began four years Borough Public Library’s Central Branch in ago as the idea of June Foley, Writing their Cybercenter and Languages and Program director of the Gallatin School for Literature division for four years. Individualized Study at NYU. This year a A Queens native and current resident, panel of NYU student editors selected Ed received his higher education in New Segundo Yaipen’s essay, “This World Is York State, earning his BA in Journalism Very Special,” from a pool of 250 submis - from Syracuse University and a Master’s in sions representing 25 literacy sites. Mr. English at Stony Brook. His MLS is from Yaipen will be honored at a gala dinner Queens College’s Graduate School of on the NYU campus on Tuesday, May 2. Seguna Yaipen had his essay published Library and Information Studies. Professor After twenty years living in Jackson in The Literary Review. Keane’s research interests include open Heights, where he is raising his family access publishing, interface usability, and and owns a jewelry business, Mr. Yaipen For myself, one of Segundo’s teachers standardizing electronic user statistics. enrolled in the English and Civics pro - while at CIET, the efforts of The Literacy His hobbies encompass film, politics, jog - gram at CIET for one year, completing the Review to bring adult student writing into ging, and watching baseball. program last December. This past print are truly worth celebrating. When I Already plunged into library services, February he passed his U.S. citizenship have been able to use The Literacy Ed observes that LaGuardia is a “hive of exam and was accepted into LaGuardia’s Review as class reading, I have seen stu - activity,” and is impressed by his library credit programs. dents get inspired to write by reading sto - colleagues’ knowledge and camaraderie. In his description of himself, Mr. Yaipen ries written by their peers who share He actively solicits faculty input and rec - writes: “Sometimes I say to myself, ‘Oh many of their same struggles and situa - ommendations for new electronic data - God, I’ve been living in the U.S. for twen - tions. base resources, and can be reached at ty years, and I still don’t speak English. Other Gallatin School efforts to foster x6019 or [email protected]. Why not? I can’t believe it. How many adult literacy include a service-learning things would I have done better if I had course called “Literacy in Action” in which learned English earlier?’ Here in the civics NYU students tutor adult students on site. program, I feel that education is the most In September of 2005, NYU also hosted important thing in my life. I have always a free day-long conference on teaching thought this, but I have never felt so much writing where many CIET teachers and that it is true.” others shared best practices. For more The English and Civics program at CIET information on The Literacy Review , con - began in April of 2002. Funded by the tact June Foley at [email protected]. Workforce Investment Act and part of the Division of Adult and Continuing Education, the program has four main Edward Keane Joins objectives: to help students improve their Library Faculty listening and speaking skills, obtain citi - zenship skills, get involved in community By Kenneth Schlesinger, Director, activities, and identify and achieve their Media Services personal goals. Classes are free for low- income immigrant adults with limited On February 1, Edward Keane joined the English proficiency. library faculty as electronic resources Edward Keane librarian. His primary responsibilities will 5 and of its leaders would be told from the Book Review: In Command of Churchillian perspective. Employing a number of writers, researchers and edi - History by David Reynolds tors, known familiarly as “The Syndicate,” Churchill was able to transform his person - al recollections and official correspon - dence into an epic and compelling history of the war. However, his manuscripts By Peter Katopes, sive six-volume history The Second World were often carefully edited both by the Vice President, Academic Affairs War, published between 1948 and British government as well as by himself in 1954. David Reynolds, a professor of order to conceal secrets such as the Whenever he found himself mired in history at Cambridge, has written a stun - breaking of the German Enigma code some wartime controversy, Winston ning account of the manner by which and to avoid offending post-war leaders Churchill would invariably remark: “I shall Churchill, through the force of his will such as Tito, DeGaulle, Eisenhower, and leave it to history, but remember that I and intellect, as well as through his politi - others. Further, his publishers on both shall be one of the historians.” cal acumen, directed and controlled the sides of the Atlantic, including both the Long before the post-structuralists chal - way that the conduct of the war and his New York Times and Life magazine, each lenged the validity of historical authority, role in it was to be perceived by posteri - of which serialized the work, also chimed political and personal skirmishes were ty. in with directives about what ought and being waged to determine which—or Drawing on memoirs and official state ought not be included or emphasized in a whose—view of the participants, events documents, Reynolds offers the reader a particular volume in order to insure that and actions of the Second World War fascinating narrative of the in-fighting and sales were not adversely affected. would prevail. Suffice to say that much of decision-making process that went on as Reynolds allows us to see how what is understood about the War and the war time prime minister, now a mere Churchill, through his writing, was able to events leading up to it—especially as citizen once again, did everything he keep himself at the center of the larger these concern Great Britain and Winston could to insure that his view of the war drama of a world at war. Churchill—is a result of the latter’s mas -

ing in unison with O’Brien & Gere and Audit ... As the deadline draws closer, some CUNY’s EHS director and staff, aggres - Continued from page 1 departments within the college, like Public sively preparing the college by surveying Safety, Housekeeping and Natural and audit is that if a problem does arise, areas for potential violations; evaluating Applied Science, have been asked to LaGuardia is given a window to address and updating plant equipment to meet take a more active role. Individuals with - the violation,” said Peter Jayasekara who compliance standards in our various in these departments will be trained - is in charge of the campus EPA compli - mechanical spaces; removing stored haz - equipped with all the technical support ance program, and is the college’s ardous substances and materials, while they need - and in some cases, called on Environmental Health and Safety coordi - verifying the chemical contents and safety to report any potential violations that they nator. “That window may not be there if standards of science labs. may encounter. And in the coming the EPA came in and discovered a viola - “The Building Operations Department, months, the Environmental Health and tion.” in the course of providing services, uses Safety Office will spearhead an aware - For its part, LaGuardia, by way of numerous products that are environmental - ness campaign, placing posters through - CUNY, initially hired O’Brien and Gere ly friendly and/or work to reduce energy out the campus and holding two sympo - Engineers, Inc., an environmental consult - consumption,” added Shahir Erfan, direc - siums (one in the spring and another in ing firm, to assist the college in conduct - tor of Building Operations. “By working the early fall), open to the college commu - ing the self-audit. The college is now with Environmental Health and Safety and nity, all in an effort to educate the commu - working with a new firm, Woodard & the consultant, we are covering all the nity. Curren. The audit is extensive and rather bases and making sure that our campus is All in all, this self-audit will allow substantive, requiring compliance in a in compliance.” LaGuardia to identify any problem areas number of federal regulatory programs Thus far, the process has been tedious, and resolve them in a timely fashion. At that include: air, water, pesticide, solid but relatively smooth, with many of the the end of the day, it will help LaGuardia and hazardous wastes, hazardous sub - federal regulatory programs close to com - strengthen its safety procedures and, quite stances and chemicals, Right-to-Know and pletion. Recently, representatives of possibly, introduce new strategies along toxic substances. Over the past year, the DC37 and the PSC met with the the way, giving LaGuardia an even Environmental Health and Safety Office Environmental Health and Safety coordi - stronger approach to environmental safe - and Building Operations have been work - nator and have pledged their support. ty.

6 www.laguardia.edu Book Review ... Chinese Club The Paper Bag Continued from page 2 Celebrates New Year Players Perform World: How Shakespeare became March 25 Shakespeare ,” Mr. Shapiro relies on the specific environment of Elizabethan By Kenneth Yin, Lecturer, Department of Education and Language Acquisition England itself and the current events of the By Staff day as a source of information and insight On February 1, the college’s Chinese Club Dancing and singing dinosaurs, runaway into Shakespeare’s character and artistic held a celebration in the Poolside Cafeteria laundry, and a painting so life-like its sub - process. Instead of attempting an to mark the Lunar New Year 4704, the Year ject becomes real take over the stage at overview of his whole life, he focuses of the Dog. the LaGuardia Performing Arts Center on specifically on one of his most creative The Lunar New Year began on January March 25 when the internationally and productive years, the year the Globe 29 this year, and it represents the most acclaimed Paper Bag Players present was reconstructed on the bank of the important holiday for Chinese families as a Pineapple Soup. Thames: 1599, the year William time of reunion and thanksgiving. The partic - The troupe’s newest production is a col - Shakespeare creates Julius Caesar, Henry ipants in the club’s festivities enjoyed some lection of ten zany short plays that are the Fifth, As you Like it , and of course traditional Chinese dishes, music and enter - colorful, musical, funny, and interactive. Hamlet . tainment, and a raffle. The varied entertain - And, of course, there are the fantastic To anyone who knows the plays at all, ment included a tai chi demonstration by costumes and scenery made from paper this practical approach is rewarding. For martial arts master Victor Ying, a dance-off bags and cardboard boxes. example, to understand the uneasy politi - and potato-chip-eating contest, and an The performance for theatergoers who cal climate of Hamlet and Julius Caesar, informative slideshow presentation about the are young at heart will be held in the Shapiro has carefully delineated the politi - Chinese zodiac. Among the Chinese Club center’s Mainstage Theatre. The show cal context of the time, colored by Essex’s officers who hosted the event are Renshen begins at 2 p.m. unsuccessful Irish campaign, the fears and Jiang, club president, and Huan Sherman, Tickets are $ 12. Those who wish to rumors suggesting an imminent invasion club vice-president. As the faculty mentor for purchase tickets may call the box office from Spain, and the various political plots the Chinese Club, I invite all students interest - at extension 5151. For information on surrounding the court, some of them direct - ed in learning more about the club to attend the center’s other scheduled events, ly against the queen herself. This investiga - one of the club’s weekly meetings held dur - please visit www.lagcc.cuny.edu/lpac. tion surely enriches our understanding of ing the club hour on Wednesdays in spring For 47 years, the leading American both plays. 2006. But this book proves to be even more children’s theater company has been set - insightful because of Shapiro’s understand - ting the standards for young people’s the - ing of Shakespeare as a theatre practition - makes fascinating reading. He makes a ater. Their original shows combine short er. Just one case in point serves to give a convincing argument, for example, that plays, dances, audience participation, sense of this biographer’s approach. Shakespeare’s treatment of Fortinbras mime, painting and drawing on stage, Shapiro asserts, for example, that because was very different in performance than and ragtime music. of a falling out with the great clown Will in the accepted Second Quarto version They have performed in 37 states and Kemp, Shakespeare then began to write of the play, and this treatment changes toured internationally to Canada, the roles for his comedians very differently. the overall meaning of the play signifi - England, Scotland, Wales, , Iran, Robert Armin, who took over the main cantly. As we read Shapiro, we feel we Egypt, the Philippines, Hong Kong, comedian’s role that Kemp occupied, was are in Shakespeare’s head, as he Taiwan, and Japan, and have enter - a more verbal and “riddling” actor, and rewrites and produces the play for his tained over five million children. thus many of the comic roles written there - specific audience in a specific time and The Paper Bag Players have garnered after, including the Gravedigger Scene in place. numerous awards including an OBIE, Hamlet , were tailored for his gifts. Shapiro At its best, frankly, this is thrilling stuff. three awards from the American convincingly proves in this case and oth - It is easy to read, a book not written Association for Theater and Education, ers that the plays would have been written expressly for scholars (although they will two American Theater Wing Awards, a quite differently had Kemp still been in the enjoy it), but for anyone interested in New York State Artists Award, and The company. Shakespeare and his theatre. It’s speci - Children’s Theater Foundation Medallion. A similar sort of analysis leads Shapiro ficity of approach creates a moving and In addition, they were the first children’s to the best conception of the way that intimate portrait of the author, while still theater to perform at Lincoln Center and Shakespeare revised Hamlet that this read - allowing the reader his or her own inter - to receive a grant from the National er has ever seen. Shapiro’s detailing of pretation of Shakespeare’s working Endowment for the Arts. how Shakespeare must have specifically processes and intentions. It is a valuable People magazine declared them, cut and shaped the unwieldy first draft of contribution to the field as well as a “unquestionably the leading U.S. theater the play to be produced for the stage great read, and I recommend it highly. company for kids.” 7 closely as faculty found seats. As a mem - Faculty Council Auction Raises ber of the Auction Committee, I was overwhelmed by the generosity of faculty $4K for 2005 Scholarship Fund and staff. In the five to six weeks leading up to this event, donations of all sizes, colors and values were submitted. Art work, including original watercolor paint - By Unn Hidle, Assistant Professor, ings and lithography, made by faculty and the Joann Lanaro Award. Other Nursing Program decorated the auction table. Hand-knitted scholarship awards include the James and crocheted scarfs and socks would Lydon Award (with ESL faculty) and the Going once! Going twice! And SOLD make anybody warm for the upcoming Library Research Review Award. to…! winter-days. The Faculty Council Scholarship These words were a familiar sound dur - Ideas for donations were also more Committee selects eligible students for the ing the Faculty Council Auction held dur - unique than ever. There was something awards. Depending on the proceeds of ing the annual LaGuardia Holiday Party for everyone. Organic cultured butter the auction, there are approximately 10- on December 7. The aroma of buffet was made-to-order and would be 15 awards given out each year. Some of foods mixed with delicious newly baked shipped to the lucky highest bidder from the scholarship award winners are first goods ready to be auctioned off filled the an Animal Farm in Orwell, Vermont. An generation college students. For atrium. Again, the holiday spirit was evi - acupuncture consultation and treatment LaGuardia, the auction symbolizes the dent in all the decorations as well as the session was tempting for any faculty feel - commitment and dedication of the faculty blooming Christmas cacti and poinsettias. ing the “end-of-semester” aches and in assisting students to attend college. On For new faculty unfamiliar to this event, pain. For the exercise conscious, a personal level, the cause is very close the Faculty Council Auction is almost as LaGuardia’s Sport and Fitness Center to my heart. As a first generation immi - old as the college. The proceeds from the donated memberships. As usual, gift cer - grant to the United States and an interna - sale of items are used to award scholar - tificates and beautiful vintage jewelry tional student myself, I would not have ships to students. The auction is the were sought after items. been able to attend college without the Council’s only source of revenue for the The theme was definitely international. aide of scholarship funds. Scholarship Fund in which a growing Items reaching across the globe from On the day of the auction, the atrium in number of students benefit every year. The Nepal, Japan, Scandinavia, and African the E-Building filled up with faculty from types of scholarships continue to increase, countries were set to be auctioned. If you various departments. It was a difficult usually in the memory of department col - wanted to learn more about Italian cul - choice deciding whether to get food or leagues. Some of the awards include the ture, an “Italian Evening for Two” includ - to check out the items to be auctioned Alan J. Berman Award, the Celeste ing sight-seeing and dinner in off. The auction catalogues were studied Ridgway Award (with Social Science), ’s Italian neighborhood would be an idea. However, for Latin lovers, the sounds and rhythms of “Private Salsa Lessons” were possible choices. For the more domestic person, a walk or bike ride in Bay Ridge to experience Brooklyn or a “Walk in the Woods” in Morris County would provide a beautiful learn - ing experience. As usual, the home-made treats were plentiful, including baked goods and candy. Home made wines, liquor, rum, champagne, and scotch went way over bidding prices. The auctioneers led by Professor Daniel Lynch opened the auction followed by President Gail O. Mellow and Professor Pat Dillon. The bidding war began fast and furious. Members of the Auction Committee paraded the items in Vanna White style, while the Business Office was busy keeping track of the items sold. The greatest price jump was probably Yvonne Flores and Caridad Zegarra of the Grants office look over auction items before two books with a starting bid of $10, the first bid begins. Continued on page 12 8 www.laguardia.edu Archives ... Continued from page 2 and to working at the archives. Faculty and their students have worked or are working on a variety of topics: English faculty: Nancy Berke (Origins of Public Housing), Raven Blackstone (Parking Violations Bureau Scandal), Victoria Brown (Crown Heights Riot), Linda Chandler (Amusement Parks), Ximena Gallardo (Prostitution), Stafford Gregoire (Life in Public Housing), Heidi Johnsen (Memorials and Monuments), Vanessa Katz (Graffiti: Art or Vandalism?), Marisa Klages (Urban Space in N.Y.C.) , Karlyn Koh (Water Flouridation), Kevin Vice President Peter Jordan presented i-pods to eight students who qualified for prizes Lerner (1939 World’s Fair), Lee Nelson for registering early during the Fall II campaign. The winners are, left, Alejandra (Neighborhood Development), Victor Fernandez, Liana Yoshevayev, Shawnette Bennett, Catiana Trellis, Marsil Mendoza, Rosa (Harlem Riots of 1935), Sigmund Shawntee Davis, and Farhana Akther. Shen (N.Y.C. Correctional Facilities), C. Jason Smith (Hate Crimes in NYC), Renee Somers (Organized Crime), David Styler LaGuardians Attend Flushing Chinese (Problems of Garbage), Gordon Tapper (Sexuality and Censorship) and Ting Man Business Fund-raiser Tsao (Open Admissions at CUNY) Social science faculty: Steven Lang By Kenneth Yin, Lecturer, Department of Education and Language Acquisition (Zoning and Land Use), Janet Michello Last January, President Gail O. Mellow and several other members of the college com - (Discrimination in Public Housing), Karen munity were in attendance at the Twenty-Fourth Annual Fund-raising Dinner Dance of the Miller (N.Y.C. Public Health Issues) and Flushing Chinese Business Association (FCBA). John H This year’s gala, held at Terrace on the Park, celebrated the Lunar New Year 4704, ean (Separation of Church and State in the Year of the Dog. The evening’s keynote address was delivered by the Christine C. N.Y.C.) Quinn, speaker of the New York City Council. From critical thinking: Annie Hewitt Ms. Tai Nin Wang, co-founder and vice president of Finance of WAC Lighting (Mayor Wagner and Juvenile Company as well as a LaGuardia Foundation trustee, was the proud recipient of an Delinquency), Judit Torok (Sweatshops in FCBA Community Service Award. N.Y.C.) and Maria Toy (Monuments and The student leaders in attendance were Mr. Renshen Jiang and Ms. Huan Sherman, Memorials). president and vice president, respectively, of the LaGuardia Chinese Club, for which I serve as the faculty mentor. Mr. Peter Koo, president of the FCBA, is LaGuardia Foundation director and trustee.

LaGuardia Live Wire is produced by the Office of Marketing and Communications. Submissions are welcomed by phone at extension 5060 or in person in room E-508.

Attending the Flushing Chinese Business Association fund-raiser, were left to right, Renshen Jiang, Gail O. Mellow, Christine Quinn, Peter Koo, Huan Sherman, and Kenneth Yin. 9 At the CUNY Women’s Leadership Conference on February 17, the Citigroup Foundation presented a $10,000 check to the college for financial education program for students. Posing with the over-sized check, were left, Chandra Howard, LaGuardia Community College student, Gail O. Mellow, Eileen Auld, director of Queens Community Relations at Citigroup, Joyce Moy, director of LaGuardia’s Small Business Development Center; Cathy Nolan, assemblywoman; and Anna Acevedo, NYC Tech student.

first-generation college-goers and coming Center for Teaching and from around the world, cross many politi - cal, social, cultural, economic, and intel - Learning: Call for Papers lectual borders as they enter and pass through our classrooms. LaGuardia’s Internationalization Task Force spotlighted the college goal of serving as a bridge linking New York City and the world. Call for Papers for In Transit Issue #3, graphs on the theme “Crossing Borders” We strongly welcome articles that Spring 2007 Theme: Crossing Borders for a paper of approximately 2,000 address national and international migra - By Gail Green-Anderson, editor and Bret words. Proposals are due by March 13, tions and the impact of globalization on Eynon, executive editor, In Transit 2006 and should be sent to Professor LaGuardia. But many other kinds of lines Gail Green-Anderson at greenga@ and boundaries also shape our class - In Transit: The LaGuardia Journal on lagcc.cuny.edu. The deadline for a com - rooms—borders of race, age, religion, Teaching and Learning has drawn an pleted first draft will be May 8, 2006. gender, sexual orientation, as well as the enthusiastic response from LaGuardia fac - Writing workshops will take place during boundaries of academic disciplines and ulty. The large number of articles submitted spring 2006 to help authors develop arti - pedagogical inclinations. Faculty and stu - for publication in the first issue will result in cles based on their proposals. Feedback dents encounter these borders every day, two issues in the 2006-2007 academic and suggestions for revision will be pro - sometimes pulling back in response, some - year. We are now editing Issue #2, with vided before the end of the spring semes - times crossing, often with complex and the goal of distributing it in late spring ter. Revisions will be due at the end of the fascinating results. 2006. summer. With this in mind, we invite you to iden - Starting in 2006-7, we expect In Transit We invite faculty interested in writing for tify and reflect upon the border crossings to appear annually. We are now calling this issue of In Transit to respond to the taking place at LaGuardia that interest for proposals for Issue #3, scheduled to theme of “Crossing Borders,” a concept you, and to develop an article that helps appear in spring 2007. We invite faculty with immediate resonance here at to submit a proposal of two or three para - LaGuardia. Our students, many of them Continued on page 11 10 www.laguardia.edu CTL ... Continued from page 10 you and others learn from that issue or experience: Here are some questions that might prompt your initial thinking: What particularly interesting border crossing(s) have you experienced or observed here at LaGuardia? How did that border or boundary become appar - ent and charge the classroom? How did you, colleagues, or students name that border or boundary? What did it mean to cross it? Was it an obstacle to or an opportunity for learning? How did this reshape or transform teaching and learn - ing in your classroom? We recognize that education takes place within and outside the classroom; we will consider articles that effectively Legendary Jazz Singer Sheila connect this theme to learning taking place beyond the classroom. Jordan Performs March 10 In Transit promotes exchange about key educational issues among new faculty and more seasoned colleagues and By Staff clubs and at jam sessions with such jazz encourages faculty across the college to greats as Charles Mingus and Herbie advance the scholarship of teaching and As part of its popular Jazz Jam series, the Nichols. In 1962 she made her learning in higher education. Dr. Bret LaGuardia Performing Arts Center on acclaimed first recordings: Portrait of Eynon, assistant dean for Academic March 10 presents acclaimed jazz singer Shiela and "You Are My Sunshine" on Affairs and director of the Center for Sheila Jordan. George Russell's The Outer View. Teaching and Learning, is the executive Considered one of the most consistently After touring with trombonist Roswell editor of In Transit . Professor Gail Green- creative of all jazz singers, Ms. Jordan Rudd in the late 70's, she became a Anderson of the English Department is the will perform a selection of soulful jazz founding member of the Steve Kuhn editor. Dr. Michele Piso and Mr. Bill Seto numbers with the center's house band. Quartet. of the Center for Teaching and Learning has described her Throughout Ms. Jordan's career, the staff are associate editors. ballad performances as “simply beyond music community has recognized her tal - the emotional and expressive capabilities ents. Down Beat's International Critics *** of most other vocalists.” Poll has named her winner of "Talent Coming Soon! LaGuardia’s The series promotes the unique tradition Deserving Wider Recognition" honors Faculty Seminars: Opportunities of the open jam session. Combining ele - nine times and has placed her among the to Explore Teaching and ments of “live” showcase and workshop, top five singers in the "Established Talent" Learning Jazz Jam affords aspiring musicians the category every year since 1980. Her LaGuardia’s professional development unique opportunity to play with jazz pros, recording, Lost and Found won "Best CD seminars for academic year ‘06-‘07 offer even legends, in an evening of improvisa - of the Year" honors in Wire magazine's faculty a broad range of opportunities for tional jazz. Our special guest also discuss - "1991 Critics Choice" poll. in-depth exploration of issues related to es various topics of jazz, which enhances The singer has appeared in festivals teaching and learning. This year’s pro - the experience and provides greater and clubs both nationally and internation - grams include Designed for Learning, understanding and appreciation of the ally, performing as a soloist, with her Writing in the Disciplines, ePortfolio music. The session also invites local musi - quartet, and as co-leader of the Sheila Colloquium, Critical Thinking Across the cians and singers to come and jam with Jordan/Cameron Brown Duo. Curriculum, and more! Applications will the band and guest artist. The Jazz Jam series is made possible be available soon. Check the next issue The performance begins at 8 p.m. in with funds from the Decentralization of Live Wire and the Center’s website at the Little Theatre. Tickets are $10. Those Program, a re-grant program of the New www.lagcc.cuny.edu/ctl for the latest who are interested in purchasing tickets York State Council on the Arts, adminis - information. may call ext. 5151. tered by the Queens Council on the Arts. Ms. Jordan's singing career, which The season's line-up: spans five decades, began in the early April 7: David Fathead Newman 50's when she sang in Greenwich Village 11 Below: The downtown Manhattan financial district seen from the perspective of the Governor Alfred E. Smith Houses, situated between the Brooklyn and Manhattan Bridges, November 5, 1956.

Above: This neighborhood on Astoria Boulevard in the Hallet’s Cove area was part of the future site of the Astoria Houses, a 22- building complex that is the home of some 3,135 people.

Housing ... shows a pushcart vendor selling his wares began in the 1930’s and continued until Continued from page 1 while another captures a group of boys in 1967 when the project was completed. The photos also give one a rare glimpse taking turns jumping on a The agency assigned photographers, many into the living quarters of the tenements and pogo stick. of whom were hired through the WPA, to of the people who lived there. In one Complementing the photos is an introduc - record the neighborhoods and its people. photo, Ms. Messina is found in the kitchen tion written by the late Dr. Joel Schwartz, a The arduous job of indexing the photos of her cluttered Lower East Side apartment. New York City historian who wrote a and deciding which ones would appear Another photo shows Mrs. Wurthmann in groundbreaking overview of New York on the website went to Joe Margolis, the her tenement apartment in Bedford- City’s housing policy and its implementation archives editor/researcher. For the past Stuyvesant. She soon would be moving to in the 20th century. two years, Mr. Margolis selected the pho - the newly opened Kingsborough Houses in In his commentary, “How Public Housing tos and had them digitized and indexed on the same section of Brooklyn. Transformed New York,” the historian notes the archives’ data base and website. “Other than the 19th century photo - that these photos show “public housing Historians and the public can conduct graphs by Jacob Riis, who went into the became a new icon of modernism.” The searches by subject, name, site, and date. homes of tenement dwellers,” said Dr. historian also shares his thoughts about To visit the website, go to: Lieberman, “I cannot think of other photog - some of the collection’s photos; his quotes http://www.laguardiawagnerarchive.lagc raphers who were allowed to go into pub - appear in the caption below the particular c.cuny.edu/defaultc.htm and click on lic housing.” photo. “How Public Housing Transformed New There are also images that capture daily NYCHA’s monumental task of document - York” at the right. life. A photo taken in Bushwick, Brooklyn, ing the proposed sites for slum clearance

Auction ... proceeds. I was fortunate to work with auction. A special thank you to Faculty Continued from page 8 a dedicated group of faculty members in Council Chairperson Sally Mettler for all purchased by our new Vice President organizing this event. The committee mem - her support. Because of their commitment Peter Katopes for $75. Another hot item bers include Josephine Corso, Gordan and hard work, this year’s auction was was an autographed Rolling Stone cover Crandall, Pat Dillon, Francine Egger-Sider, again a great success. However, the auc - of Madonna with a starting bid of $15 Wen Juan Fan, Carol E. Garel, Luis tion would not even exist if it were not for that was purchased for $80. Gonzalez, Marie Sacino and Arlene the faculty and staff of LaGuardia who After three busy hours, many students Spinner. In addition, Vanda Fields and participated in this extraordinary event. I would be grateful to know that another Vivian Melendez in the Business Office want to thank each and everyone of you $4,038 were added to the Faculty and Bobby Lowmark of Building for giving students the opportunity to Council Scholarship fund. That is approxi - Operations as well as Vincent Cousins broaden their minds by attending mately 10 percent more than last year’s did an outstanding job in helping us in LaGuardia Community College. the planning phase and during the actual 12 www.laguardia.edu