B Brooklyn College Magazine Volume 1 | Number 1 | Spring 2012 7 10 Fighting for Life 5.6 million South Africans The Audacity of Shirley Chisholm live with HIV/AIDS. Forty years ago, Shirley Chisholm ’46 One student traveled launched a groundbreaking campaign for to Africa in search of the presidency — the first of many steps answers and discovered along the political path that led Barack new indications that the Obama to the White House. disease may impact brain development in children. Elizabeth Cusick ’12 16 The Race for Alternative Energy Did you know that microalgae might soon power your car? Or that cleaner fuel might be locked in ice? Our scientists are on the trail of alternative energy sources to feed growing demand. Brooklyn College Editor-in-Chief Art Director Advisory Committee 2900 Bedford Avenue Jeremy A. Thompson Lisa Panazzolo Nicole Hosten-Haas, Acting Chief of Staff to the President 2 From the President’s Desk Brooklyn, NY 11210-2889 Simeon Iheagwam ’06, Staff Writers Production Assistant Brooklyn College Foundation Trustee 3 Snapshots [email protected] Steven Schechter, Executive Director of Government and External Affairs Izabela Rutkowski ‘11 Mammen P. Thomas 5 Notables © 2012 Brooklyn College Richard Sheridan Ron Schweiger ’70, President of the Brooklyn College Alumni Association Staff Photographers Andrew Sillen ’74, Vice President for Institutional Advancement 7 Features Jamilah Simmons David Rozenblyum President Jeremy A. Thompson, Executive Director of Marketing, Communications 22 College News Mark Zhuravsky ‘10 Craig Stokle Karen L. Gould and Public Relations 26 Career Corner Cover Illustration Contributing Writers Colette Wagner, Assistant Provost for Planning and Special Projects Provost Robert Jones Jr. ‘06, MFA ‘08 27 Alumni Profile Joe Loguirato William A. Tramontano Ernesto Mora 28 Athletics Alex Lang Anthony Ramos 30 Class Notes Naima Ramos-Chapman ‘11 37 Out and About Ron Schweiger ‘70 38 In Memoriam Pat Willard 40 Photo Album Editorial Assistants Izabela Rutkowski ’11 Mark Zhuravsky ‘10 Karen L. Gould, President From the Stage to the SNAPSHOTS CORNER OFFICE orty years ago, the Chisholm’s footsteps and seek Dancer Leah Keith and a dance company called things, which you can’t do people of the United States public office. Others become musician Courtney Ozaki are FLAMENCO:inside/out. “I as a struggling artist,” Ozaki captains of industry, dedicated from Fwitnessed a historic presidential accomplished performers who choreographed my own said. She started to Google campaign emerge in Brooklyn physicians, nonprofit leaders, the have put their careers on hold performances, designed my performing arts management and subsequently surge across community activists, research to pursue a master of fine costumes and helped market programs online, finding the the country. Many of the critical scientists, outstanding teachers arts from Brooklyn College’s the group through our website.” Brooklyn College program and and creative artists. Whatever their issues that our nation debated internationally recognized Between performances, Professor Stein. “It seemed like in 1972 are again the source professional paths, our 100,000 PRESIDENT’S DESK performing arts management Leah also acted on the stage and the ideal experience, being in of political debate in 2012: alumni in New York City, across the program. screen, including a small part New York City, with plenty of concerns over unemployment and nation and around the world are economic insecurity, decreasing making a difference every day. Like their families to plan ahead rather In order to maintain our Though both women in the movie The Pink Panther internships and diversity. I went access to opportunity among the Shirley Chisholm, their journeys than face large, unexpected spikes commitment to provide access were born and grew up in 2. Through her professional for it.” nation’s poor, the influence of began at Brooklyn College. when they can least afford them. to excellence, we must pursue Denver, they never met until contacts, she learned of Career According to Stein, the big business in the public sector For women, for minorities Our state’s new commitment creative and entrepreneurial they arrived on campus last Transition for Dancers, a Times program is ideal “for students and the cost — both human and for the economically is a welcome step that will approaches to advance our September. Their decisions Square nonprofit that helps like Leah and Courtney, who and financial — of military disadvantaged, American public provide much needed stability to mission. We are raising funds to further their studies were dancers transition into other are well prepared to work in intervention overseas. higher education is an essential Brooklyn College and help us to from alumni and other private reached independently after careers. the field of performing arts During the 1972 campaign, element of our democracy, secure our institution’s long-term sources to support students each recognized a singularly The group informed her of management.” She seeks out Shirley Chisholm ’46, the first providing equal access to fiscal health. As you may recall, who may otherwise be unable indisputable fact: There is a lot Brooklyn College’s performing students who are motivated “to African-American woman elected opportunity for people from until 1976 public funding covered to afford a Brooklyn College more to learn about their art arts management program and work as marketing, development to the U.S. Congress and the first all backgrounds. Yet higher 100% of the college’s operating education. In the past 18 months than merely performing. set up an interview with Tobie and managing directors of to make a credible bid for the education — both private and budget. Today, it covers only alone, we have raised more than With the encouragement of Stein, the program’s director. performing arts organizations.” public — is becoming increasingly 21%. While tuition and fees at $3 million in funds for students presidency, called for change: “We her Mexican mother, Leah began They also provided her with a Describing Leah and are entering a new era in which unaffordable. Across the United Brooklyn College remain lower in need of financial assistance. studying flamenco at the age grant and help completing the Courtney as highly motivated, we must, as Americans, demand States, public support for higher than 80% of all four-year colleges During the 2010-11 academic year, of 10. This highly sensual dance application process. Leah was on exceptional students, she said, leadership — leadership, which is education has been steadily we distributed $1.2 million to “They are thriving in their fresh, leadership, which is open, declining over the past two 1,229 students, and we anticipate form goes back more than a her way. and leadership, which is receptive decades, and the burden of cost At Brooklyn that these figures will rise in the thousand years and has its roots Meanwhile, Courtney, the fundraising and accounting to the problems of all Americans.” is being transferred to students current year. Please consider in Spain’s historic Moorish and daughter of Japanese-American courses as well as their Regardless of one’s political and their families. Student loan College, we making a gift to support this Gypsy cultures. Leah performs parents, had learned the art professional internships at point of view, Shirley Chisholm’s debt is at a record high nationally educate our ongoing effort to maintain our under the name Lia Ochoa, which of playing ceremonial Taiko the Brooklyn Center for the Dancer Leah Keith and legacy is powerful, and her and now represents a larger decades-long commitment to she borrowed from her mother. drums from her aunt and uncle, Performing Arts.” She predicts musician Courtney Ozaki insights remain timely. She sought proportion of household debt students provide access to excellence and “I didn’t think audiences then gone on to study piano they will both be employed in change where she saw injustice. than credit cards. promote graduation success for would accept someone named at the University of Colorado the industry by the time they She held true to her core values. Although New York State is to become all students of promise. With Keith as a real flamenco dancer,” at Denver, earning a bachelor’s write their theses. She ignored those who said an not immune to this national crisis, the next your support, we may ensure that she noted. degree in music, magna cum The two have now African-American woman could and although years of budget our neediest students are still After earning a bachelor’s laude, in 2006. completed their first full not, and should not, serve in the reductions have trimmed state generation of able to afford a Brooklyn College degree in theater at the That same year she and semester of coursework education. highest levels of government. support for the City University University of Northern Colorado three female cousins formed a and internships. They plan Across the political spectrum, of New York (CUNY) and the Like so many talented leaders. in Denver, Leah spent four years Kumidaiko — or Japanese drum to graduate in spring 2013, many now agree that Shirley State University of New York alumni who have preceded them, in Seville, Spain, working to — band of their own called One when they will join the many Chisholm exemplified a boldness (SUNY), Governor Cuomo and the the students of today and of successful alumni of the of vision that is the hallmark of legislature have recently pledged and universities in the United tomorrow deserve an education perfect her art. Upon returning World Taiko. Ozaki made her true leadership. to maintain state funding for States, and while nearly 60% of the highest quality, regardless to the United States, she professional debut at Disney program, such as Paul Tetreault, At Brooklyn College, we public higher education in New of our undergraduate students of their economic means.