February 2009 Quinn’s Ghana Homecoming 2...Peress Performs Lincoln Tribute 3 ...QC at the Grammys 8...News Civil Rights Archive 9 Cirque USA Odyssey click here Queens College Faculty & fyfyStaff News ii Queens Named One Taking a Closer Look at the Air that We Breathe of America’s 100 The Center for the Biology of Natural exhaust; and using cleaner fuel “Best Value” Colleges Systems, led by Dr. Steven Markowitz, for heating homes and apart- recently received a four-year, $4.6 million ments. It didn’t succeed, but I Queens College ranks among the grant to work with the New York City think some variation of it will nation’s 100 “Best Value” colleges and Department of Health and Mental Hygiene eventually take effect. 50 “Best Value” public colleges and to monitor air quality at street level in the universities according to The Princeton city’s five boroughs. The following is an Q: TELL ME ABOUT THE NEW Review, one of America’s edited excerpt taken from an interview YORK CITY COMMUNITY AIR most widely known Markowitz recently did for a new CUNY SURVEY THAT RECENTLY WAS education services com- panies. The Princeton video project featuring scientists. LAUNCHED. Review teamed with Q: DOES NEW YORK CITY HAVE A: We are trying to understand USA Today to present its AN AIR POLLUTION PROBLEM? better how much air pollution “Best Value” colleges there is in New York City and A: New York City does have an air pollu- lists for 2009. Schools tion problem, as do most major cities in the how it varies by neighbor- were chosen based on United States and all the megacities through- hood. Right now air-pollution criteria examined in monitoring in New York is done three areas: academ- out the world. Our problem revolves around particulates, also known as soot, which are in compliance with federal stan- ics, costs of atten- dards, which means it’s done on dance, and financial aid. most easily respired into the lungs. We are rooftops and spread throughout The “Best Value” colleges list out of compliance with federal regulations Steven Markowitz (center rear, with glasses) and colleagues reported in the paper on January 8 and concerning soot and ozone, particularly in some 15 or 20 different loca- in the NYC air pollution study gather beneath an air quality on PrincetonReview.com/bestvaluecol- Manhattan. Both ozone and particulate mat- tions. Of course, we don’t live monitor on a utility pole outside the CBNS offices. leges and BestValueColleges.usatoday. ter affect the lungs and the heart, and heart on rooftops. We spend most of com features 100 schools, half of them disease and lung disease are major killers in our time either in buildings or York City for 12 months. We will be in high- public institutions and half of them pri- New York City. at street level. So what is in the air that we traffic areas with a lot of buses and trucks and vate. “Best Value” schools in New York actually breathe most of the time? in the quieter neighborhoods to understand besides QC and three other CUNY col- Q: WHAT IS THE CITY DOING ABOUT The New York City Community Air leges include Barnard, Vassar, Cooper what their pollution levels are. We will use THIS PROBLEM? Survey will for the first time characterize the Union, and SUNY-Binghamton. the data to develop a map so we can say what A: The city has to its great credit, focused on major air pollutants at street level at a large “It is always gratifying to receive is the level of pollution at any given location external confirmation of what we in the the problem of improving the environment. number of sites. We began in the fall. Queens in New York. Queens College community have long Mayor Bloomberg put out his sustainability College is the major partner with the New known: there is no better education plan two or three years ago, called Plan NYC, York City Department of Health and Mental Q: HOW WILL THIS BENEFIT THE available than what we offer right which developed a number of ideas to lower Hygiene on this project. We developed the PEOPLE OF NEW YORK CITY? continued on page 3 air pollution: high occupancy vehicle lanes; portable monitors at CUNY and are putting A: It will provide information we haven’t congestion pricing; hybrid cars; retrofitting them on street poles about 10 feet off the had in the past. There’s been a lot of concern school bus engines so they put out less diesel ground. They will be at 150 locations in New continued on page 4 QC STUDENTS Spanish Fulbright At the age of six and without any formal piano training, Capdevila started Scholar Chooses QC creating his own melodies as well as Music School playing from memory pop standards like the Beatles’ “Yesterday.” “It was fun and Tenor Placido Domingo, cellist Pablo effortless,” he recalls. “I always knew Casals, and composer Joaquin Rodrigo that music would be my life.” His talent are three musical legends that Spain has and goal aren’t surprising; Capdevila’s given the world. And LLUIS CAPDEVILA, grandmother was a professional pianist a Fulbright music scholar from Catalonia, and conservatory teacher, and his mother hopes one day to be counted among them. a guitarist. When the Fulbright Commission in What is surprising is that this young Madrid awarded Capdevila a scholar- musician received his undergraduate degree in law. “I was convinced that it would help me better understand our society and develop certain skills that would be valuable in the arts field,” he explains. In the end, though, he felt that Members of the Habitat team in Ghana stand amidst a latrine foundation still under con- music ultimately provided the best instru- struction. In the background are typical Habitat for Humanity houses. ment to be “creative and communicate.” A full-time student who now lives in Flushing, Capdevila enjoys going to Building Homes and Hope in Ghana concerts every week in Manhattan and listening to all types of music—“anything Terrence Quinn (Educational and young social studies teacher. I was hitchhik- that is innovative and emotional”—which Community Programs) recently visited ing and wound up in the village of Mam- he says improves his musicianship. Ghana to take part in a Habitat for pong-Akwapim. I met the village chief, who Humanity project. gave me a tour of the area. When it was time Survivor of Rwandan for me to leave, he discouraged me because Q: WHAT MADE YOU BECOME INVOLVED the roads were too dark and dangerous. I Genocide Devotes WITH HABITAT FOR HUMANITY? stayed overnight and woke up to the smell Capdevila Himself to Service A: Earlier in my career I of steak and eggs. That act of kindness and was a school principal with ship to pursue his music studies in 2007, For DONAT KUBWIMANA, 43, a Catholic so many others gave me a long-time interest large numbers of home- he chose Queens College because “of religious brother in the Congregation of in Ghana. less children. Their parents the worldwide reputation of its Aaron Holy Cross, surmounting daunting odds did not come to school, Q: WHAT IS THE COUNTRY LIKE? Copland School of Music jazz program, is part of the natural circle of life. After so I held PTA meetings at A: Ghana is a pro-Western, English-speak- and the high quality, affordable educa- learning that his friends and a fam- shelters for the homeless. ing nation known as the Land of Smiles tion it offers,” he says. Capdevila, 27, ily member had been murdered in the I remember one parent because the people are so pleasant and who is now pursuing his MA degree in Rwandan genocide, he began an eight- Quinn who registered his child cheerful. It remains a model for democratic jazz performance, says his goal is to year odyssey that eventually brought him for school and when asked to provide an ad- governments and has been largely free of become a composer and musician. to America. dress, he gave his car license plate number. corruption. There have been numerous “The campus is relaxed and comfort- According to Brother Donat, his stead- His car was his home. I learned from all my advances in health, transportation, and edu- able, which is ideal for focusing and creat- fast faith in God, the support of his order, students the importance of stable housing cation, but there are still numerous pockets ing music,” Capdevila continues. “It is also and dedication to a life of service gave for school success. of poverty. People have little so they waste close to Manhattan, which is probably the him consolation and the strength to per- little. They wear sandals made from car best place in the world for jazz music.” continued on page 4 Q: WHY DID YOU GO TO GHANA? tires. They use rocks to make music. They A: I first visited the country in 1969 as a continued on page 9 2 QC’s Maurice Peress Joins Ruby Dee and Sam Waterston at Performance of Best Value College from page 1 Rarely Heard Music Celebrating Lincoln here in Flushing,” says President James Muyskens. “In this economic On February 12, the 200th anniversary of the narrator, Sam Waterston as the voice downturn, more families are discover- the birth of Abraham Lincoln, the Queens of Lincoln, a barn-dance caller played by ing us as the smart choice—a college College Orchestra, Choir, and Chorus took composer and musician David Amram, and that combines excellent academics part in a concert held at Riverside Church banjo soloist Eric Weissberg (known for his with superb value.