www.cuny.edu • N EWS OF THE C ITY U NIVERSITY OF N EW Y ORK • May 2002

ATAGLANCE Future CUNY Facility on Governors Island

CUNY Media Conference Jointly Announced by Governor and Mayor Addresses “Attack Mentality” he local Canarsee Indians called it as a recruiting 1at The Graduate Center Pagganck. In 1637, when the Dutch depot and prison T governor general Wouter van Twiller for Confederate Times bought it for two axe heads, a string of captives. assistant manag- beads, and some iron nails, the name was ing editor Michael changed to Nooten Eylandt. The British Looking to the Oreskes was the later called it Nutten Island, eventually future, keynote speaker reserving it for the “benefit and accommo- Bloomberg at a student dation of His Majesty’s governors.” emphasized how media confer- Consistent with an announcement on the new campus ence attended by April 1 by Governor George E. Pataki and will “give us the more than 500. Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, historic ability to move See page 9. Governors Island may also become known programs here, to as CUNY Island. The Governor and the free up space on New Chair in Social Justice Mayor informed happy New Yorkers—and City University Receives First Occupant even more enthusiastic campuses in all at Medgar Evers College students and educators—that President five boroughs.” 2 George W. Bush had embraced their pro- Noting that Chancellor Matthew Goldstein, left, with Mayor Bloomberg, Longtime Medgar Evers College posal to turn the 172-acre former military CUNY already Governor Pataki and several CUNY students at the Governors professor and international base into a major campus within the City has 12 campuses Island news conference on April 2. human rights University consortium. with public high advocate, “This is a very big idea,” Chancellor schools on them, the Mayor also system now.” Andrée- Matthew Goldstein said later at a expressed his hope that a CUNY- The Chancellor expressed hope that Nicola Governors Island press conference with the Governors Island would nurture even Governors Island might see students as McLaughlin, Governor and the Mayor on April 2. “We more extensive CUNY-Board of early as this summer. “We have a big has been will need a thoughtful, comprehensive aca- Education collaboration. “This is do-able, summer school, and if we can get some of named to the demic plan to help realize its potential.” this is something affordable, this is some- these facilities ready, I would much Betty Shabazz According to the State and City exec- thing that absolutely needs to be done. It rather our students come to an idyllic set- Distinguished utives, the Island—which is a half-mile addresses the number one problem we ting like this.” Chair in from Lower Manhattan and a mere three- have in this city, which is that not all of Pataki also expressed his pleasure Social Justice. See page 5. minute ferry ride from Brooklyn across our kids are getting the good education that “the buildings have been so well Buttermilk Channel—will be turned over everybody wants.” maintained, and they are already facili- 50 City University Students to the City and State for a nominal sum. Pataki agreed: “By moving some ties totally appropriate for a campus.” Serving as Interns in Offices CUNY operations here, we will be able These include a mess hall that could of City Council Members New York City Board of Education and to free up space on CUNY campuses become, Pataki said, “a spectacular dining 3 CUNY leaders expressed their delight at across the city, so that we can have those hall,” a “magnificent gymnasium,” and CCNY B.A. the opportunities afforded by the vast new high schools, new middle schools, military quarters that can be converted in political array of capital facilities on Governors new elementary schools.” He indicated to dorm space “at minimal cost.” The science Marie Island. Many of these officials, several that “all education benefits” from the Governor said he also expected the Adam-Ovide CUNY college presidents, and a contin- transfer of Governors Island. State’s $1 billion budget for upgrading has graduat- gent of CUNY students were present at Chancellor Goldstein made clear at CUNY capital facilities would figure in ed from a the press conference, at which the the conference that planning was already the transformation. Rogowsky Governor and Mayor offered a glimpse under way. “We have already started the Internship to of a fantasy island for teachers, and espe- process of thinking of appropriate educa- Appreciation was enthusiastically a full-time cially the teachers of future teachers. tors and staff to work with the Governor expressed. Thanking President Bush, position in Calling it “a great day for college kids, and the Mayor to develop an academic the Governor promised, “we’re going to the office of City Councilman David high school kids, the future of our city,” plan…This is on a very fast track for us, make sure we take this opportunity and I. Weprin. For her story and others Pataki told his audience that Governors because I want our students and our fac- do it right.” Applauding “the vision of on CUNY interns in the city, Albany, Island has “the potential to be one of the ulty to get here as quickly as possible.” the education president and the educa- and Washington, see page 3. great campuses anywhere in America. It Calling the Island a “bucolic place to tion governor,” Bloomberg also singled is an absolutely magnificent facility that study,” Goldstein observed, “We don’t out former New York Senator Patrick Faculty, Student Researchers has classroom buildings already intact.” have anything like this in the CUNY Moynihan for his early efforts to trans- from College of Staten Island The former military build- fer the Island to public use. on Antarctic Expedition ings, he added, “have the At the press conference, Pataki told of 4 potential to house being shown around the island by the Ship-to-shore transit for a College of thousands of students and Mayor on a stealth visit the week before: Staten Island researcher at Palmer hundreds of teachers. “Mike asked me, ‘When you see this, what Station in Antarctica. For more on Mayor Bloomberg and I are do you think of?’ We couldn’t help but this expedition, see pages 6-7. committed to making this agree that this was going to be one of the one of the flagship entities great college campuses in the country.” of the City University.” Governors Island could become that Agreeing with that opti- rarity, a campus of the “Subway University” mism, Bloomberg ventured, without a local stop. Still, there is a major “I don’t know of any Ivy subway connection with the island: begin- League school that has a ning in 1901, it was enlarged with earth nicer campus”—a boast excavated during construction of the 4th underscored by the Island’s Avenue (now Lexington Avenue) subway rich history as a line; half the island’s acres are subway and Revolution-ary War battle- Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel landfill. field, its storied Fort Jay Setting forth for a new academic world: a contingent of For more information on Governors and Castle Williams, and its Queens College students on the ferry across Buttermilk Island and plans for its future, log on to service during the Civil War Channel to Governors Island. the CUNY web site: www.cuny.edu. Turning “D”s into Degrees: A CUNY Student Tells How

ajen Persaud is the first to admit going down South babe!” The sub-head for a chapter he was not a very good student in to a family reunion. on Time Management reads, “Time Rhigh school. “Intellectual embar- Everybody was flies when you are wasting it.” On rassment—that’s like one of the worst ready to help. the very last page, to inspire even things that can happen to you in life. You Baruch really does the most laggard of potential college are sitting in class and the teacher asks a provide a homey students, Persaud’s high school tran- question, then points to you. And you environment. Even script is arrayed in full gory detail. don’t know the answer!” if you are from out The humor is no accident. Since gradu- Persaud’s cluelessness in his Bryant of town you can ating in 1992 with a B.A. in Political High School classes in Long Island City connect with some- Science, Persaud has earned some of his made him a model “D” student. “I failed one at CUNY.” keep in stand-up comedy (it also paid a ton of classes. . .that’s why I didn’t off some of his Baruch tuition). Though want to go on to college. I just didn’t Persaud’s experi- now involved in the writing, producing, want to fail again.” ence inspired him and directing of films, he is still planning He then reminisces about interest- so much that he to hit the books again—law books. ing walks he took with his cousin Eric decided to write a Author Rajen Persaud’s stylish, desktop-published through some of the city’s most blighted book that would Persaud in book makes clear his entrepreneurial neighborhoods in Brooklyn, Queens, and help other students mid-routine at knack (it has its own website: . “This is what happens when make the most of Caroline's, the www.makingitthroughcollege.com). you don’t have an education,” he told their college experi- New York com- On the back cover Persaud defines the Persaud. Then Eric suggested he try ence. “In about four edy club. word universally despised at CUNY— coming to or five months I attrition—with a shrewd acrostic that his school, had a complete, explains why he turned author: Kingsborough edited manuscript.” Absence of Community Making It Through Thorough College. College: Your Timely “So I signed Passport to the Realistic up, did the Information Age appeared earlier this them “Losing Your Ethnicity” and Information liberal arts year and has already been given out “Choosing Classes”), Cautions (on such To thing, and to freshmen at their orientation at topics as “Bigotry and Intolerance, ” Inspire took a ton Baruch. It’s also been ordered for “Sexual Harassment,” and “Counseling”), Or of remedial students at Bronx and Borough of The College Game (“Changing Majors Nurture courses.” Manhattan Community Colleges. and Transferring” and “Paying for With his Lest there be any doubt that the College,” for example), and Taking Speaking generally about Making It, cousin’s help, Persaud began to do book’s 260 pages and 42 chapters are Responsibility (which tackles such top- Persaud says he hopes readers “will get something unheard of: “I just paid written from a student perspective, ics as “Exams” and “Classroom out of it the fact that they can be and do attention. I just did what I was sup- Persaud’s preface begins: “America’s Etiquette”). Persaud ends with several anything they want. It may sound trite, posed to do in high school: paid atten- youth are adrift in an educational sea of chapters on Keeping Your Sanity. but it’s just that simple. . .CUNY is a tion, went to class, did my homework.” adult cynicism. We teach them the value Making It Through College is not lack- huge, huge collective of colleges that can Then the Guyana native, who came of academic attainment then we cut ing in humor. It comes with a “Warning” take you anywhere you want to go. By all to the U.S. at the age of eight, decided funding to basic educational programs.” to “Keep Well in Reach of Children.” The means, come to CUNY, do your thing.” to “do” Baruch College, which he Persaud has organized his book in last of his acknowledgments is “to Moms, Then the author shrewdly adds, “and get found very user-friendly. “It was like sections on Things to Know (among hey thanks for that whole birth thing, my book to help you out!”

FROM THE CHANCELLOR’S DESK The City University Attracts Talent from Near and Far

The following is adapted from an op-ed article by Chancellor Matthew Goldstein. where he was an Others expressed the view that greater best and brightest young people right award-winning expectations would enhance CUNY’s here as New York City rebuilds. As nego- writer of essays, attractiveness to prospective students. tiations begin on the city budget, Mayor ylvia Ranguelova emigrated from poetry and fiction, The available data shows that the Bloomberg and the City Council should Bulgaria with her family in 1997, a biology tutor, doors to educational opportunity contin- restore the $7 million needed to fund the S knowing no English. Two years and a volunteer for ue to be open to all New Yorkers. Vallone Scholarships. later, she scored a perfect 5 on the Family Dynamics CUNY is attracting more students than Last year, the new CUNY Honors American History Advanced Placement and the Children’s at any time in its history. Enrollment College enrolled its inaugural class of exam. Thanks to a Peter F. Vallone Defense Fund. He increased last fall by 6% in the freshmen more than 200 academically talented stu- Academic Scholarship, initiated by the is now a CUNY class and nearly 7% in transfer students. dents at five of our senior colleges. They City Council, she is now a pre-law stu- Honors College This spring, freshman enrollment at our are receiving full scholarships and an dent at Brooklyn College and a member student attending City College and plan- senior colleges surged by more than array of academic perquisites. Small of its prestigious Honors Academy. ning a career as an epidemiologist. 23%. Amid these increases, the ethnic wonder that we have received 2,500 David Fischbein grew up on Long Three different students—three composition of our student body has applications (1,000 more than last year) Island. His father is a physicist, his mother very different backgrounds. What they remained essentially the same, embrac- to become next year's Honors freshmen. holds a master’s degree, and both his have in common is that they are ing almost 200 nationalities and 160 dif- Our campuses proudly stood shoulder- brothers graduated from Queens College. among the very brightest and most ferent languages. to-shoulder with the City in the after- At Hebrew Academy of the Five Towns promising young people you will find The University’s higher academic math of 9/11. Now, as we rebuild for an and Rockaway, David took A.P. courses, anywhere in the world—and they are standards are paying extraordinary divi- even brighter future, CUNY is dedicating won the Nassau County Mathletes Award studying at CUNY. dends. We are attracting high achievers itself anew to safeguarding our single in 2000, and was admitted to the French Three years ago, we began the phase- like Sylvia, David and Mark from most precious resource: the bright, talent- National Honors Society in the same year. in of strengthened admissions standards around the world and in our own back ed students from all walks of life who He is now enrolled in the new CUNY and the elimination of remedial instruc- yard. Through programs such as our will comprise the next generation of New Honors College at Queens College. tion at our senior colleges. Some critics Honors College and the more broadly Yorkers, students like David, Mark and Mark Rodriguez, who lives with his voiced concerns that such higher stan- available Vallone Scholarships (there Sylvia. They should not have to leave family in East Harlem, was a chemistry dards would drive away potential appli- have been more than 18,000 to date), New York City to receive the benefits of major at Brooklyn Technical High School, cants, including minority students. CUNY is recruiting and keeping our a top-quality higher education.

2 CUNY MATTERS — May 2002 A Diaspora of CUNY Students into Halls of Power

fter coming to the tions and long hours. That leaves very from Haiti in 1986, at the age of little time for family life.” For 34 years, A 14, Marie Adam-Ovide attended since 1968, the CUNY Internship Tilden High School in Brooklyn and then Program has been ushering students like headed for City College with the hope Marie Adam-Ovide into the halls of pow- of studying architecture. But after spend- er throughout the five boroughs, at City ing several years out of school caring for Hall, up in Albany, and on Capitol Hill. her cancer-stricken mother, she returned The name was officially changed last to campus with interests that had shifted year to the Edward T. Rogowsky Intern- to politics. ship Program in Government and Public While working toward her CCNY Affairs, in honor of its late, greatly B.A. in Political Science, Marie heard admired director from 1995 to 2001. One about the CUNY Internship Program of Rogowsky’s former Brooklyn College and applied. Little did she realize this interns, Anthony Alexis, was so inspired by would lead her, in a few short years, to a the experience that he actually ran for full-time position in one of the most City Council himself last fall in Brooklyn’s important offices of the New York City District 41. Though he lost in the primary, Council. She now manages the calendar Alexis’ campaign proved so impressive of newly elected City Councilman David that the eventual winner, Tracy Boyland, I. Weprin, chair of the Council’s Finance hired him as her full-time chief of staff. Committee, which has become all- According to the present director, important as the Bloomberg administra- Anthony J. Maniscalco, in a typical year tion and City legislators face the chal- about 300 CUNY students, mostly juniors lenge of the 9/11 aftermath and the and seniors, become interns. They may simultaneous economic downturn. serve in district attorney offices, with City Council Finance Committee Chair David Weprin, seated, conferring with intern Damion Marie’s Fall 2000 internship was with advocacy groups like the Association of Noel, left, former intern Marie Adam-Ovide, and intern Hemraj Singh in his Queens district Weprin in his position as leader in a north- Community Organizations for Reform office. Photo, Rob Klein. east Queens district that encompassed Now (ACORN) and the New York Public parts of Hollis, Queens Village, and Fresh Interest Research Group (NYPIRG), in the Meadows. There, she says, “I learned all offices of local and state government offi- College intern, in the district office of arrived from Cincinnati at age 17 to study about its community boards and police cials, or those of Congressmen like Gary Democratic Representative Nydia jewelry design. Restless after earning her precincts, and became familiar with the Ackerman, Major Owens, and Vito Fossella. Velazquez, then tells of a current intern, Fashion Institute degree in that field, people in the constituency.” After the Every summer 12 Rogowsky interns Rasheida Smith, also from York College. Christine moved on to Baruch College, internship, Marie worked with Weprin’s head down to Washington for a two- Smith must have made a very good where she is a junior majoring in Finance predecessor in City Council District 23, month tour of duty, and this year, impression on new District 27 and Investment. She has clearly landed in Sheldon Leffler, then in subsequent Maniscalco says, “there is a banner Councilman Leroy G. Comrie, because in the right office. months as a volunteer on Weprin’s own number of 26 spring interns serving in the mid- internship he offered—and she Weprin has also just gained a campaign for the office. State Legislature in Albany.” He is also accepted—a full-time position in his second Rogowsky intern, one of the pio- On the jubilant evening of Weprin’s pleased that Rogowsky interns will soon Queens office (Smith will continue her neers from BMCC, Damion Noel. Damion, election, he popped the question: would be emanating from CUNY’s community York course work). who arrived from Trinidad just eight Marie like to join his staff full-time. As college campuses. Borough of Manhattan In 2001, three Washington interns months ago, is a Business Management stu- Weprin explains, “I was so impressed with Community College became the first to remained in their assigned offices as full- dent on the Chambers Street campus. His Marie’s energy during the internship, and come onboard in Fall 2001, and efforts time employees. Two others were offered prospective area of interest is finance: he, then, afterward, when she went above and are under way to bring the other com- full-time positions but decided to return too, has clearly landed in the right office. beyond the call of duty and volunteered munity colleges into the fold. to New York to complete their studies. Just completing an internship with to work on the campaign. She never said For the Rogowsky Internships, the Weprin is yet another Rogowsky intern, ‘no’ and was really performing so many of All interns enroll in a three-to-six-credit highest compliment is the government Hemraj Singh, a native of Guyana who is the functions of a legislative assistant.” weekly seminar course in Political Science official, legislator, or executive who comes graduating this June in Political Science Having become hooked on “knowing or Public Affairs on their home campus, back for more. Councilman Weprin has from York College. Singh, who plans to what’s going on in government from the while agreeing to work 10 to 15 hours a fallen eagerly into this category. “It’s a work after graduation and then hit the law inside,” Marie accepted the offer with week in their assigned office. More than a great program, and I’d love to see it books, earlier interned with Queens State delight, and now she is honing her diplo- third of these students exercise the option expanded,” he says. “What with limited Assemblyman Michael Cohen. matic skills as Weprin’s chief scheduler. to register for a second internship in a full-time staff capacity, my office at 250 Falbe and Noel are among the approx- Asked if she might be tempted into succeeding semester. For Rogowsky Broadway simply could not function imately 50 CUNY students working for public service herself, Marie. “Oh, yes! interns, the highest praise is the offer of without them, and my new responsibili- City Councilmen this spring. In addi- But not any time soon.” Referring to her a full-time job, and Maniscalco says with ties as Chair of the Finance Committee tion, the Internship Program placed two-year-old, Patrick, she explains, “My pleasure that examples of this happy make their presence even more valuable.” CUNY students with each of the five son wouldn’t have a mother! I have seen segue “occur all over the place.” Now helping to keep Weprin’s Borough Presidents, as well as the how much time running for and holding He notes, for example, the full-time Broadway office functioning is Christine office of Betsy Gotbaum, New York elective office demands—all the func- hire of Jennifer Hom, a former York Falbe, a confirmed lover of the city who City’s new Public Advocate.

CUNY, PSC Announce Agreement on a New Contract he City University and CUNY’s increase, compounded over 27 months, Chancellor Matthew Goldstein. through contract for the PSC. Our goal Professional Staff Congress for the period August 1, 2000 through “In recognizing the imperatives of coming into the negotiating was to use Tannounced in a joint statement October 31, 2002. It also includes salary realizing this goal—chief among them collective bargaining to rebuild CUNY on March 8 that they reached a con- increases for all titles, advances in the need to attract and sustain the as a nationally pre-eminent institution… tract settlement, pending approval by professionalism and pay for part-time finest faculty and staff—the agreement We have succeeded despite a very diffi- the CUNY Board of Trustees and rati- faculty, other enhancements of terms is testimony to the spirit of cooperation cult economic climate.” fication by the PSC membership. and conditions of employment, and in which we have worked,” Goldstein “There are great things here for Details of the settlement will be opportunities for research and profes- also said. “I want to thank Vice our members, our students, and the released after preliminary approvals are sional development for faculty and staff. Chancellor Brenda Malone and her University itself—not only were we secured and final costing of the proposed “This landmark agreement is a major negotiating team for their dedication, able to secure significant salary contract are calculated by New York City step forward in fulfilling the University’s and for the hard work that brought us increases, but we also addressed his- and New York State officials. goal, outlined in our Master Plan, of to a successful conclusion.” toric inequities in salaries and made The contract includes a total securing a place among the top public PSC President Barbara Bowen char- structural changes that will strengthen economic package equivalent to a 9% research universities in the nation,” said acterized the agreement as “a break- the University,” Bowen added.

CUNY MATTERS — May 2002 3 Chancellor Goldstein Initiates New Efficiencies, Greater Student Access to Learning Technology

here are “tremendous opportu- and exploit cost-reducing new tech- nities to operate our campuses nologies. Another major focus of T in a more efficient way,” CUNY streamlining efforts will be the Chancellor Matthew Goldstein recent- University’s procurement practices and ly advised the Board of Trustees. contract protocols, notably in such He praised the efforts in the fall of areas as advertising, travel, and infor- 2001 of the Fiscal Affairs Committee mation systems. of the CUNY Council of Presidents, chaired by College of Staten Island At the February meeting a unanimous President Marlene Springer, in can- Board of Trustees approved three reso- vassing for ways to improve in this lutions intended to generate income area: “We have received wonderful for the core academic mission on ideas from the presidents for ways of CUNY campuses. It established a $75- using Web-based technology on our per semester technology fee for full- campuses, managing energy and pro- time students ($37.50 for part-time). curement more efficiently, and manag- The funds will be retained by each ing the central administration more college to improve computer services. efficiently.”A formal set of proposals The fee can be waived in cases of was endorsed by the Board of Trustees hardship. This move is expected to Committee on Financial Affairs, raise $22.5 million yearly. chaired by Trustee Joseph Lhota. The Board also rescinded the Goldstein noted in particular, in his “last semester free” program that had report to the Board of Trustees at its been in place since 1992. (Students January 28 meeting, the importance who entered under the program and of delivering technological resources graduate by January 2004 will still as cost-effectively as possible. “It is a qualify for the benefit.) By 2004, this terrible tragedy that on some of our CUNY trustees, leaders, and college presidents visited Albany on March 11-12. Seen here, from left, are change will generate $9 million more campuses students are not getting President Edison O. Jackson of Medgar Evers College, Brooklyn Assemblywoman Annette Robinson, in income. access to the basic technology they Chancellor Matthew Goldstein, and Brooklyn State Senator (and Medgar Evers graduate) Carl Andrews. The Board also voted to increase will need to compete” in the current Photo, Colleen Brescia. enrollment in winter intersession and economy. “Unless we can give cam- summer session enrollments, with the puses dollars to support more of the approved under the rubric, “Proposals to Telecommunications costs are being additional tuition income being retained backbone of computing, more opportuni- enhance administrative efficiency, generate analyzed to recoup overpayments, devel- by the colleges and redeployed to ties to hire lab technicians for computing cost savings, and provide additional rev- op a University-wide standard for cell- improve academic programs. labs, we are not going to see these cam- enue in support of the University’s core phone use, and establish more cost-effec- puses move forward.” academic mission.” tive local and long-distance options, In a memorandum to all the college presi- Among the measures contemplated is including a Voice Over Internet Protocol dents in early March, the Chancellor With the first, brainstorming stage well the integration of college administrative (VOIP). Also planned is a CUNY-wide called these actions “critically important underway, Goldstein promised a second services, particularly where geographically mail services protocol aimed at reducing to the University,” and he cited the “full stage in the process of implementing effi- appropriate. Senior Vice Chancellor “snail mail” in favor of e-mail. and swift implementation” of these ciencies, to be generated and supervised by Dobrin, for example, has been working Web-based technology is being changes as a “top priority.” Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic with such neighboring campuses as explored to develop a new portal to allow Underlining the importance of advice Affairs Louise Mirrer and Senior Vice Bronx and Hostos Community Colleges for CUNY-wide functioning by Web in and feedback as the Technology Fee is Chancellor and Chief Operating Officer and Lehman College in the Bronx, and several major areas: application, registra- established, Goldstein asked each presi- Allan Dobrin. The proposals were present- Queens College and the CUNY Law tion, academic advising, and publication dent to constitute an advisory committee. ed to the Board of Trustees at its February School in Queens, to identify areas of of catalogs and bulletins. “This committee should include a mini- 25 meeting, following a public hearing replication. Ways to streamline opera- A new University-wide energy manage- mum of two students and two faculty well-attended by students, faculty, staff, tions of the Central Office are also ment program is being planned to allow members, nominated by the appropriate and alumni. They were unanimously being explored. decentralization of energy budgets directly governing body” on each campus. to the individual campuses and to identify

Pulitzer Prize to Louis Menand he Graduate TCenter’s recently appointed Distinguished Executive Leadership Program Inaugurated Professor of English Louis Menand has just n March 7 the first “class” of the CUNY Executive Nominations for the program—typically one from each crossed disciplines to Leadership Program commenced its 10-week-long campus—are made by the college president. Nominees stellar effect, winning Oseminar. A total of 15 outstanding administrators must be serving at least at the rank of assistant vice presi- the 2002 Pulitzer Prize from 12 of the campuses and six from the Central Office dent or its equivalent. Among the titles represented in the in history for The are participating in this initiative designed to nurture talent- first 21 ELP participants are a Dean for Finance and Metaphysical Club: ed and motivated leaders within the University’s own ranks. Administration, a Dean for Student Life, a Director of A Story of Ideas in America. This study, One impetus for the Executive Leadership Program Financial Aid, a Dean of Humanities & Social Sciences, widely acclaimed when it appeared in (ELP) is concern about the significant turnover anticipated and a Manager of LAN & Communications. 2001, examines the lives and work of four in leadership positions at CUNY in the relatively near term. Participation in the once-a-week sessions is in addi- major American thinkers, William James, The first wave of baby boomers is now in their mid-50s, and tion to current college responsibilities. A “reality-based” Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr., Charles Sanders many of them in high-level positions are eligible for retire- program requirement will be the design of a project Pierce, and a late-comer, Thomas Dewey. ment. ELP will create an expectation of continuing learning dealing with institutional assessment and emphasizing The club referred to in the title was a for executives and will foster excellence in administration the measurement of institutional outcomes. Among the conversational salon formed in 1872 by and customer service. skill/competency areas ELP covers are ethical administra- young intellectuals in Cambridge, Massa- Targeted for nomination and selection to take part in tion in the public service, communication, the manage- chusetts. Though it lasted only a brief time, the program were senior CUNY managers and key profes- ment of change, systems management, institutional Menand establishes it as being crucial to sionals who are already regarded as highly effective. assessment, professional networking, and leadership. the later development of that quintessen- tially American philosophy, pragmatism.

4 CUNY MATTERS — May 2002 MATTERS IN BRIEF First Betty Shabazz City Tech Scholarship Chair Appointed at City University Retains For All Four Seasons Medgar Evers College fter graduating from New York City New Fundraising Consultant ATechnical College in 1953, Paul resident Edison O. Jackson Kovi went on to become one of the Pannounced that the inaugural he City University has retained the city’s legendary restaurateurs, presiding holder of the Dr. Betty Shabazz Community Counselling Service over the power-lunchers and diners at Distinguished Chair in Social Justice TCompany (CCS), a professional the Four Seasons. Now Kovi, who died at Medgar Evers College will be Dr. fundraising/public relations firm based in in 1998, is being honored by a scholar- Andrée-Nicola McLaughlin. Manhattan, to assist in undertaking a ship in Hospitality Management in his Those charged with filling the chair— Development Assessment on every college name at the College. Kicking off the which commemorates the widow of campus. Chancellor Goldstein announced endowment for the scholarship with a Malcolm X (Malik the move in a March 27 letter to all college pledge of $100,000 was Kovi’s long-time Shabazz) and long- presidents, observing that “competing colleague and co-owner at the Four time Medgar Evers demands on the University’s limited Seasons, Tom Margittai. Director of Public resources make it imperative for us to secure In March the first holder of the Paul Relations—did not external monies.” Kovi Scholarship, East Flatbush resident have to look far for During early spring, colleges will com- Nerrisa Charles, a prominent occu- plete surveys prepared by CCS, and its was announced. pant. Professor staff will then conduct interviews with Vice Chairman of the CUNY Board Charles’s advisor, McLaughlin, a campus leaders and chief advancement of Trustees, Benno C. Schmidt Jr. Professor Julia scholar of world officers. The goal will be to evaluate the will spearhead fundraising efforts. Jordan, noted on studies, has been on the MEC faculty level of individual campus development the occasion the since 1974, and for two decades she has programs and explore opportunities for increased fundraising efficiency, inno- aptness of the taught, lectured, written, and traveled vation, and growth. award: “While they worldwide as an advocate for human The Chancellor reiterated the high priority of fundraising in his administra- came from very rights, indigenous rights, educational tion when he raised the subject at the January meeting of the Board of Trustees. different worlds, equity, and other social justice goals. While expressing his delight at getting “weekly calls from our presidents about Paul Kovi and As founding coordinator of the 15-year- major gifts,” he acknowledged that the concerted focus on raising funds from Nerrisa Charles shared something very old International Cross-Cultural Black alumni and extramural sources “is a relatively new phenomenon” at CUNY. fundamental: both were immigrants Women’s Studies Institute, based at the The Chancellor urged the Board to create a Standing Committee for who came here to pursue their dreams.” College, McLaughlin has organized and con- Development that “would ultimately lead to a campaign for CUNY.” He did not Charles emigrated from Grenada in vened eight world conferences on a variety have to look far for the ideal chair of such a committee. Motioning to the meet- 1996, joining her father in New York of social justice issues. For many years MEC ing’s presider, Vice Chairman of the Board Benno C. Schmidt Jr., Goldstein but leaving her mother and sister students have earned college credit for study recalled Schmidt’s “extraordinary record” as “probably the best fund-raiser in behind. The scholarship will allow the abroad and student exchanges in collabora- Yale’s history” during his presidential tenure there, and then added, “I can’t think sophomore (both of whose parents tion with the Institute. of anybody better to lead that effort than you.” worked in hospitality) to complete her This spring McLaughlin is launching a Enthusiastically accepting the challenge, Schmidt acknowledged that, from studies as a full-time student in three series of “Shabazz Conversations” on social his first days on the Board, he had thought it a “great lost opportunity at this years. “Now, I will be able to get a job justice issues at the Schomburg Center for University in the area of attracting private gifts and eleemosynary contribu- doing what I love—special events plan- Research in Black Culture. Among her tions. . . .In my previous experience, the responsibility of university trustees ning—sooner rather than much later,” first guests will be Grammy-winning writer has included a stewardship of the development effort,” Schmidt stated, “and I Charles says. and CCNY alum Walter Mosley, syndicat- think there is every reason to believe that CUNY would benefit from moving ed columnist Dr. Julianne Malveaux, and very strongly in this direction.” Cornell University scholar James Turner. Promising to move a planning effort “into high gear this spring” aimed at Student Development, A native of White Plains, New York, creating an “oversight and support mechanism” on the Board for University- McLaughlin earned her B.A. at Cornell, wide fundraising, Schmidt voiced his conviction that there is “no reason why Enrollment Conference and her M.A. and Ph.D. at the University CUNY should not be the most successful public university in the U.S. at n May 10, the Office of Student of Massachusetts. drawing private support.” ODevelopment and Enrollment Management, in conjunction with the Chief Student Affairs Officers Council, will Former Congressman Department. The speaker at the April interested in attending, contact host a conference at Baruch College on 25 event will be the Honorable Ronald Rosenberg/Humphrey at 212-650-6809 “The Educational Pyramid in Changing Dellums to Speak V. Dellums. or [email protected]. Times: Academic Success, Student on AIDS at CCNY The former Congressman from Development and Institutional Leadership.” California and chairman of President Major CCNY Grant The conference will address strategies Clinton’s Advisory Council on to assist University faculty, student services his year CCNY’s Rosenberg/ HIV/AIDS is currently president of for Remote Sensing personnel, chief student affairs, and chief Humphrey Program in Public Policy Healthcare International Management T consortium of universities led by City academic affairs officers in identifying new presents its distinguished Presidential Inc. This African American-owned con- College has just received a $7.5 mil- methods and techniques of nurturing stu- Lecture Series in collaboration with the cern provides healthcare products and A lion grant from the U.S. Department of dent success. Two highlights of the con- Colin Powell Center for Policy Studies, services to governmental and private Commerce’s National Oceanic and ference, planned to run from 8:30 A.M. to the Sophie Davis School of Biomedical sector entities in international markets, Atmospheric Administration to establish 2:30 P.M., will be a panel of CUNY college Education, as well as the Black Studies with a primary focus in Africa. a Center for Remote Sensing Science and presidents, to be moderated by Medgar Dellums’ lecture, 18th in the series, Technology. The funds will support Evers College President Edison O. Jackson, will address U.S. policy toward programs aimed at atmospheric, environ- and a keynote presentation by renowned HIV/AIDS in Africa, which has been mental, and oceanic sciences. Remote University of Michigan scholar Michael recognized by Secretary of State Powell sensing is the art of obtaining information Nettles, an expert on educational access as a crucial international health care about atmospheric or environmental and assessment. challenge. The annual Presidential phenomena from optical devices placed For additional information, contact Lecture has become a major policy on satellite or land-based platforms. the CUNY Office of Student Develop- event for the CCNY community. Past One example of potential remote sens- ment and Enrollment Management (212- speakers have included, Arthur M. ing applications offered by the consortium’s 794-5445) or Vincent Banrey, Vice Schlesinger, Jr., Mayor David Dinkins, director, CCNY engineering professor Reza President for Student Affairs at Medgar John Kenneth Galbraith, Faye Wattleton, Khanbilvardi, is the study of optical proper- Evers College (718-270-6046). The fee and William Julius Wilson. If you are ties of turbidity, algae, and other suspended for the conference is $20.00 and includes inorganic matter in coastal waters. More a continental breakfast and lunch. The The Honorable Ronald V. Dellums seen with generally, remote sensing will permit the event will be held at the new Baruch 2001 Rosenberg/Humphrey Intern Nsagha development of algorithms for satellite College vertical campus conference facili- Efiom during her summer working on Capitol sensors monitoring atmospheric gases, ties on Friday, May 10, 2002, from 8:30 Hill for Constituency for Africa. clouds, and aerosols. A.M. to 2:30 P.M.

CUNY MATTERS — May 2002 5 A View to a Krill: Antarctic Expedition by College

By Kenneth T. Bach and Terry Mares, affect the delicate and protected Antarctic College of Staten Island ecosystem? That is what the research team from CSI is hoping to predict, with the aid his last December, an intrepid band of advanced computer modeling. of College of Staten Island research- Ters headed south for the summer. he team from CSI was headed by Yes, the summer. These scientists and Tbiology professor Richard Veit, who their graduate and undergraduate CUNY was awarded an NSF CAREER Grant for students were headed far, far south—all the the project. Veit, a bird ecologist and way to Antarctica, where the summer sun biostatistician, also served as primary is a pretty steady customer. Their researcher. He knows the territory: this was mission: to study small, shrimp-like crus- his eleventh trip to the frozen continent. taceans known as krill and the birds that He was joined by mathematics and physics feast on them. professor Bala Sundaram and seven CSI Unfamiliar to most Americans, krill are students. Richard Heil, an ornithologist one of the most important planktonic (float- from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service ing or weakly swimming) crustaceans in the accompanied them as they collected data in Southern Oceans. They feed upon phyto- an attempt to predict how large-scale krill plankton (planktonic plant life) and, since harvesting might affect indigenous sea-bird krill are high in protein, are an important populations of cape petrels and albatross. Jarrod Santora food source for almost all larger organisms They spent a month near Elephant Island, Top row left to right: Cristina Rhodes, Frank Brooks, Richard Heil, Jarrod Santora, Jenny in Antarctica, such as mussels, fish, seals, off the tip of the Antarctic Peninsula, not Gramza, Carol Demartinis. Bottom row left to right: Andre Bernick, Margaret Riggi, baleen whales, penguins, and other birds. only observing large gatherings of krill, but Richard Veit, Bala Sundaram. Although Antarctic krill are small, they are also recording in detail the feeding behavior also abundant. And they just might be a of birds in the same vicinity. valuable potential source of protein for The expedition was funded through a he researchers towed an echo-sounder focused on temperature, ocean salinity, human and live-stock consumption. How grant from the National Science Foundation Tbehind the ship, which was their nutrient deposits, and the behavior of would wide-scale commercial krill harvesting Office of Polar Programs, which required window to the underwater world of ocean currents. the trip to combine research and teaching. Antarctica. This echo-sounder, which As they tracked the location of krill, the This provided the perfect opportunity for works similarly to equipment used by researchers also recorded the species and Of Cheerful Neoprene, Veit to engage CSI students in the project. deep-sea fishermen, was used to locate number of birds along the transect lines Tiny Rainbows, Deception They were required to enroll in a series of and study large gatherings of krill, called and details of their behavior. They record- courses to help them fully understand the swarms, which tend to ride along on the ed data on the birds 24 hours a day (twi- Island, & Chatty Penguins procedures, problems and protocols that easterly-flowing current through Drake light lasts only from 12:30 to 3:00 A.M. at From the journal of CSI student such a research project would demand. Passage, which separates South America this time of year). Working in 12-hour Cristina Rhodes: At Punta Arenas, Chile, the researchers and Antarctica. shifts, the students stood on the ocean- Suits are sup- boarded the NSF research vessel Laurence As the Gould navigated northward tossed deck of the ship in wind-chills that posed to save M. Gould and headed for Antarctica. along six different 25-mile, north-south often dipped below zero degrees Fahrenheit. our lives if the Summer there translates as temperatures paths called transects, details of the krill To create a valid database, each bird had ship sinks— that hover near 30º Fahrenheit, winds that swarms were recorded, including their to be continuously observed for a thick neo- can gust up to 75 mph, and 40-foot-plus location, density and depth. Southward minimum of two minutes. The observers prene of a ocean swells vaulting over the ship’s deck. bound, they recorded data on the water’s tracked the birds, which could fly at nearly pretty intense The Gould needed to deliver supplies to conductivity and temperature at varying 40 miles per hour, while team members orange that resident research scientists at Palmer depths. The ship’s location was recorded recorded their behavioral data (where they makes you cheerful. But it is a Station before sailing on to Elephant via a Global Positioning System (GPS) fly, turning patterns, water dives, sitting on sobering thought to consider being Island and commencing around-the-clock every 12 seconds. the water surface, etc.) This information in the engulfing infinity of the data collection. One swarm they encountered was was entered into laptop computers and per- ocean in a little neoprene suit. approximately 6 sonal digital assistants (PDA’s), building a miles long and 80 thorough database to more accurately gen- — December 3 meters thick. Krill erate a bird distribution and behavior map. The waves breaking against the ship swarms could involve keep forming nice little rainbows, thousand of tons of eit says that a final goal of this project hinting at a note of happiness in krill and have a den- Vis to construct mathematical models spite of the loud threatening hum sity as high as 10,000 to determine how birds may behave of the wind and waves causing organisms per cubic depending on the presence or absence of tremors in the hull of the ship. meter. Why the krill krill in a given location. Another goal is — December 17 congregate in swarms eventually to discover how the birds locate is unknown; specula- krill swarms (for example, visual or olfacto- We are heading towards Deception tion about this has ry cues or the behavior of other birds or Island. . .At first sight it looks like a circle of mountains with no access, but as you get closer you see a nar- row passage into the heart of the island (hence the name). . .There were Chinstrap and Gentoo pen- guins, quite inquisitive! The island was used in the last century for whaling. . .Large whale vertebras were here and there, as well as ribs, all bleached. — December 21 There were so many penguins [at Bonaparte Point, near Palmer Jarrod Santora Station] all around us that it didn’t seem real. Their happy chatter was The echosounder is approximately 15 feet long and was towed noisy yet pleasant. An elephant seal along the starboard side of the ship to minimize interference from was basking in the sun. prop noise. It was calibrated to the bio-mass density of krill and fed —December 23 information to an onboard laptop computer which graphically dis- Cristina Rhodes played the underwater world and swarms of krill. Net hauls were The Laurence M. Gould docked at Palmer Station. Cristina Rhodes used to confirm data collected. in foreground.

6 CUNY MATTERS — May 2002 of Staten Island Scientists

mammals) and how the birds behave when What do they hope to accomplish by they detect the prey, as well as how much running this data in a real-time model? krill needs to be present and how close to To find an algorithm, or set of rules, to the ocean surface the crustaceans need to describe how the birds behave in the pres- be for the birds to become interested. ence of large swarms of krill. “We want to Since a substantial portion of the com- build a model,” Sundaram explains, “that puter modeling involves mathematics, would have these birds flying around on a

Sundaram, who, like Veit, arrived on the computer…looking for krill.” Cristina Rhodes CSI campus in 1996, was asked to join the If krill eventually become a target of expedition. His first-hand accounting of commercial fishermen, whether to provide how the data is collected and what kind of krill as a delicacy or as chicken feed, scien- data is available helped shape the acquisi- tists will have a computer model to esti- tion models to facilitate data correlation mate the impact that mass harvests of krill and improve the accuracy of the projec- might have on the Antarctic ecosystem. tion model. At present, only a small amount of krill Sundaram also put together a computer harvesting—approximately 400,000 tons presentation of the research work in per year—is taking place because it is an Antarctica for his daughter’s grade school expensive proposition. Norwegians con- class. “Children love penguins,” Sundaram sume krill in the form of a high protein commented, “so I included some photos paste and the Japanese enjoy them cooked and facts for them. But more than just the and peeled, much like shrimp. penguins, the presentation opened up the Currently, there is no supply route or world of science and mathematics and its transportation infrastructure in place to possibilities to them, awaking their imagi- move harvested krill to destinations world-

nation. I hope they will carry with them wide. Veit recalls that the Soviets used to Jarrod Santora Jarrod the understanding of how penguins, birds, send factory trawlers, idle during the harsh krill and the entire Antarctic ecosystem are Russian winters, to harvest krill. Although so closely intertwined with mathematics.” it was a large-scale operation with 10 to Top Photo: This rusty trolley, which took 8 people to operate, was a means of island-hopping. Word of the excitement their presenta- 12 factory-sized trawlers, the Soviets never Bottom Photo: NSF Research Vessel Gould, with Adelie penguins.. tion created soon spread, and Veit and made a profit. Once the former Soviet Sundaram were invited to visit other class- Union collapsed in the early 1990s, the rooms. Their dynamic and engaging pre- new Russian government abandoned the sentations, replete with living examples of harvests for economic reasons. Mathematically Modeling Antarctic krill and inflatable penguin However, once the logistical problems images, have served to instill a sense of the have been sorted out regarding the mass the Antarctic Ecosystem long-lasting and profound effects of inter- harvesting of krill, commercial fishermen disciplinary scientific study. may turn to krill as a new protein source Professors Richard Veit and Bala Sundaram in feeding human and livestock popula- describe the science of their project. ack in his CSI office, Sundaram, assist- tions. The data collected and the models Bed by Ph.D. student Jarrod Santora, developed by the researchers at CSI may ver the past few years, we have applied recent mathematical developments to the face the monumental task of correlating aid in the formulation of international pol- Odescription of spatio-temporal dynamics to modeling the foraging habits of birds. the 20 gigabytes of data they collected at icy as we feed our world and protect the One goal of this research is to learn how seabirds respond to changes in the abundance sea. Each database—krill population, bird delicately balanced Antarctic ecosystem. and distribution of their principle prey, Antarctic krill, Euphausia superba. population and behavior, and water condi- As for Veit, he plans to head back to Krill abundance distribution is affected by physical oceanographic processes such as tions—has been compiled using dedicated Antarctica again at the end of this year to shear fronts and current boundaries. Thus, models of krill and its predators involve the software packages. conduct further research. His current NSF interplay of Eulerian and Lagrangian dynamics. One novel approach we have been These individual databases have been grant, which provides $85,000 per year for exploring is “agent-based” modeling, in which seabird and krill dynamics are considered cleaned up and are currently being com- four years, ends in 2004. College of Staten independently and “local” rules of engagement constructed for their interplay. piled and synchronized to the same 12 Island students with a taste for adventure The rules themselves can be derived from observational data, for example, by con- second intervals recorded by the GPS sys- and who don’t mind the heavily layered trasting bird behavior in the vicinity of krill swarms to that in areas lacking krill. In tem. “Jarrod is really earning his Ph.D. look will once again be able to join him. turn, the foraging models will make predictions about the dispersion of birds under with this one,” Veit says, “and once the Together, they will help to decide differing levels of krill abundance. Our long-term goal is to forecast the impact on data is synchronized we can move onto whether the future of planet earth just seabirds of changes in krill stocks. Changes in krill stocks now seem inevitable, due analyzing it.” might include krill-burgers. both to changes in climate and future commercial harvesting. For several consecutive Decembers, groups of undergraduate and graduate students will help to survey the insular shelf north of Elephant Island, recording the abundance, distribution and behavior of seabirds. Krill abundance is recorded using echo-sounders and corroborated by net hauls and visual sampling. Physical oceanographic characteris- tics are recorded at the same time. Assessing the correlation between these voluminous sets of spatio-temporal data takes considerable effort, and we expect the job will take about four months. The primary objective will be to quantify the linkage between prey abundance and bird behavior.

Our teaching goals are, first, to introduce urban college students to a spectacular and economically important ecosystem. Through their work on an oceanographic research vessel, students will be exposed to a diverse research topics and methodologies, ranging from behavioral ecology to physical oceanography. On this recent trip, for example, a number of our students assisted a research group from the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute with their experiments on plankton larvae. Second, back at their campus, students will participate in our development of the models for analyzing and describing