VOL. 23, NO. 1 FALL 2009 th Celebrating 30 Anniversary of the International Special Olympic Games at Brockport PresidentHalstead One of the key expectations at are depicted on posters across campus Education for the past 25 years and The College at Brockport is that we and throughout all of SUNY. Joe enjoys a well-earned international “open the world to our students.” It’s The Games were first held in reputation in the field. a worthy goal that works effectively Chicago in 1968 before coming to Dr. Lauren Lieberman has picked on many levels: from helping students Brockport for their fifth incarnation. up that proverbial ball and not just learn more about themselves (an They have since traveled to such run with it; she sprinted! Lauren is example being the recently instituted places as Los Angeles; Dublin, Ireland; founding director of Brockport’s Camp Summer Reading Program) to creating Shanghai, China; and, coming in Abilities, a one-week developmental the opportunity to cultivate the broad 2011, Athens, Greece. That’s pretty sports camp for children who are perspective and understanding essential good company for a college that’s been visually impaired, blind, or deafblind. for responsible global citizenship. located in a small town on the Erie Now in its 14th year, Camp Abilities Global citizenship is on the top Canal since 1835. provides a 1:1 instructional situation of my mind these days as well, The ramifications of the Games for each child and has since developed particularly as we recognize that 2009 continue to be felt in significant ways camps in other locations across the US is the 30th anniversary of the College on our campus. The physical landscape and around the world. hosting the International Special has forever changed with the additions And just as I can look at photos from Olympics. While I was not here in of the Special Olympic Stadium — the 1979 and see the delight on the faces 1979 (I was embarking on my final largest on-campus Division III stadium of the children who participated, every years of doctoral research), a treasure- in the country — Special Olympics summer we can witness with delight trove of photos, news clippings, and fountain next to Drake Memorial and pride the exultation of those who other memorabilia demonstrate to me Library, and the Prometheus statue attend Camp Abilities and succeed in a powerful way that Brockport was in front of the Allen Administration in ways they perhaps never thought at the epicenter of the sports universe Building. Prometheus’ torch has even possible. for a few special days. Not to name been incorporated as a central and Special Olympics founder Eunice drop, but allow me to list just a few enduring figure within the College’s Kennedy Shriver once said, “Every of the celebrities and dignitaries who new logo. person, regardless of whatever different spent time on our campus: Senator While the Special Olympics have an abilities they may have, can contribute, Edward Kennedy, future California international flavor, we can be proud can be a source of joy, can beam with Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger of our own international contributions. pride and love.” That’s something that and his future wife, Maria Shriver, Dr. Joseph Winnick created the all of us should remember and cherish hockey greats Bobby Orr and Phil Adaptive Physical Education program each and every day of our lives. Esposito, Olympic hero Rafer at Brockport more than 40 years ago, Johnson, actresses Susan St. James, and at the time Brockport was the first Sally Struthers, and Maureen college or university in the country McCormick, and last—but definitely to offer a master’s program in that not least—Muhammad Ali. To this discipline. The program has received John R. Halstead, PhD day, three decades later, their pictures support from the US Department of President CONTENTS Campus News 2 Eunice Kennedy Shriver q1921-2009 Academic News The College at Brockport dedicates this 30th Anniversary 4 Celebration of the International Special Olympics issue of Kaleidoscope to Eunice Kennedy Shriver. Founder of the International Special Olympics, Mrs. Arts Shriver will long be remembered for championing the rights of, and her devotion to, the developmentally disabled. Mrs. Shriver and the Special Olympics Games have left 6 an indelible imprint on The College at Brockport that will inspire generations to come. Athletics Kaleidoscope 8 Vol. 23, No. 1 Fall 2009 S pecial Olympics Circulation — 75,000 Publisher Roxanne Johnston 10 Executive Editorial Team Mike Andriatch ’85, Darby Knox, David Mihalyov ’87/’03 Managing Editor Class Notes Virginia Campbell ’89/‘96 Photography 19 James Dusen Drake Memorial Archives Graphic Design Sam Nicolosi Questions and Contributors Answers Nicholas Mascari Send corrections or changes of address to: 22 Division of Advancement 350 New Campus Drive Alumni News Brockport, NY 14420 (585) 395-2451 [email protected] 24 If you have suggestions or story ideas for future editions of Kaleidoscope, please submit them to: [email protected] On the cover: Lighting the Torch Ceremony opens Special Olympics 1979 1 M CAnewsPUS Ian Frazier Receives Art of Fact Award from The College at Brockport Non-fiction author and humoristIan Frazier shared both his witty and serious sides as he regaled an enthusiastic audience prior to receiving the 2009 Art of Fact Award from The College at Brockport’s Writers Forum on April 28. The Award was presented before a crowd of nearly 200 by The Writers Forum and M&T Bank at the Memorial Art Gallery in Rochester. SUNY Chancellor Zimpher Frazier, well-known for his humorous essays on contemporary life and travel narratives that explore American history and geography, Tours Brockport interspersed commentary on the history and future of non-fiction writing with reading selections from several of his books, including State University of New York Chancellor Lamentations of the Father, Great Plains, and The Fish’s Eye. Before Nancy L. Zimpher visited The College at entertaining his audience, Frazier spent a busy day by conducting an Brockport the afternoon of July 22 as part of her hour-long interview for WXXI radio, having lunch with College at three-month, 64-campus tour of SUNY. During Brockport hosts at Dinosaur BBQ, and fly-fishing on Oatka Creek. He her afternoon campus visit she met with College also spent time with students taking the Writers Craft class. President John R. Halstead, students, campus Frazier received his BA from Harvard in 1973. He became a staff leaders, administrators and staff. writer at The New Yorker just one year later, and he still contributes to These visits are the first step toward the creation the weekly magazine. In 1997, he was the inaugural recipient of the of a new SUNY-wide strategic plan that will “make Thurber Prize for American Humor for his book, Coyote v. Acme. SUNY a model for the nation and the world.” The Art of Fact award is given each spring by The Writers Forum, Following a brief campus tour, Zimpher held which chooses works that contribute significantly to American culture. meetings with Brockport Student Government Anne Panning, associate professor of English, said, “The Writers leaders as well as participants in the College’s Forum, founded in 1967, allows Brockport to bring prominent, award- Undergraduate Summer Research program. winning writers to not only our students but to the Greater Rochester During this meeting she described her job as community and beyond.” Panning and Ralph Black, associate being an advocate for them and the SUNY system, professor of English, are co-directors of the Forum, which is “working with the legislature and the governor so recognized as one of the country’s outstanding reading series. that they see SUNY as the asset to the economy and culture that it is... to convince them that the investment in SUNY is worth it,” she said. Zimpher then met with several hundred faculty and staff before leaving campus for a late-afternoon news conference at the College’s downtown MetroCenter, co-hosted with new Monroe Community College President Anne M. Kress. Zimpher stressed to the media the goal of job creation and the importance of partnerships and collaboration, both between MCC and The College at Brockport, and between SUNY and New York State. “We can’t do it alone and they can’t do it without us,” she said. Zimpher ended her visit at a reception attended by more than 50 local political, civic, and business Ian Frazier, second from left, accepted the Art of Fact Award from John R. Halsted, far left, Anne leaders, as well as College Board members. Panning, and M&T Bank President Dan Burns. 2 Undergraduate, Graduate Students Celebrate Commencement The weather held and more than 1957 graduate, Margaret Robinson up and look for another door, another 1,400 undergraduate students and Preska, PhD. Preska entered The opportunity dressed up as a problem. approximately 200 graduate students College at Brockport at age 15 and Challenges are everywhere and they participated in commencement graduated summa cum laude. It was make us focus our attention and energy ceremonies on Saturday, May 16. at Brockport that she first envisioned on the goals that are most important. The students, with families and her career goal to become a college People who have hope and use their friends, were welcomed by President president — a goal she realized in 1979 gifts wisely can lead through open John R. Halstead. “We’ve given you when she became the first woman doors to a better world.” the foundation of being an educated president of the Minnesota State Theresa Lou Bowick ’09, person. Build upon it to, aspire, engage, University, Mankato. She held the President’s Citation Award recipient, and achieve.