The Magazine for Fredonia Alumni and Friends FALL 2017 Making big waves in radio Fredonia Radio Systems crowned top collegiate station in U.S. Insight into Islam Commencement Maytum Convocation Lecturer to bridge Class of 2017 encouraged to information gap ‘lead an authentic life’ Fredonia means business! School of Business receives SAVE THE DATES AACSB accreditation Homecoming Weekend, Oct. 19-22 THE MAGAZINE FOR FREDONIA ALUMNI AND FRIENDS 18 Insight into Islam 5 Maytum Convocation Lecturer to bridge information gap 16 20 21 Admissions Events Open House Dates Saturday, Sept. 23 Saturday, Nov. 11 — Veterans Day Saturday Visit Dates Saturday, Oct. 14 Saturday, Oct. 21 — Homecoming COVER STORY Students and families can also visit any day during the academic year. Just contact Admissions to arrange Making big an appointment. To learn more, visit: fredonia.edu/visit or call 1-800-252-1212. wavesFredonia Radio Systems in crowned radio 14 top collegiate station in the U.S. 1225 Alumni and Campus Events Calendar Commencement 6Finance graduate switches careers, 10 Class of 2017 encouraged to ‘lead an authentic life’ 21 launches Chicago non-profit to For alumni event registration and payment, go to http://alumni.fredonia.edu/Events.aspx or contact the Alumni Affairs office at (716) 673-3553. Homecoming Preview benefit youth 12 Homecoming 2017 Schedule and Highlights ATHLETICS SEPTEMBER SUNY Alumni Night OCTOBER Scholars Breakfast Homecoming Excellence Gala 22 Winter and spring recap at Yankee Stadium (by invitation only) 14 puts the spotlight on opera President’s Award for Excellence in Wednesday, Sept. 27 #FREDlanthropy Day Saturday, Oct. 28 Wrapping up two All-America careers Teaching and Learning Lecture Tuesday, Oct. 3, campus Hillman 60th Anniversary Alumni Concert Steele Hall by Dr. Scott Ferguson Mixed media Robert W. Kasling Memorial Williams receiving Outstanding Achievement Award Thursday, Sept. 7, 3:30 p.m. (time 24 Photographic memories and social media snaps Lecture by Professor Timothy tentative) NOVEMBER YOUTH IS SERVED Frerichs Kelly Family Auditorium, Science Fredonia Alumni /Admissions 16 Writing herself a bright future Honoring 44 years of service “Sounding Lines” Center Room 105 Reception/Men’s Basketball Game 25 to Athletics Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2 p.m. COLLEGE BEATS | LIBERAL ARTS AND SCIENCES vs. Fordham University Alumni Golf Tournament Maytum Convocation Lecture/ Rosch Recital Hall Pre-game reception 17 Science grad helps to conquer Williams Visiting Professor Freedonia Marxonia Homecoming Weekend and Class Friday, Nov. 3, 4:30 p.m. a global problem Dr. Amer Ahmed Annual Marx Brothers Festival Spring Wrap-Up of 1967 50th Reunion Michael Angelo’s Little Italy Restaurant “Islam: Beyond the Myths, Breaking Thursday-Friday, Sept. 28 and 29 COLLEGE BEATS | SCHOOL OF BUSINESS 26 Thursday –Sunday, Oct. 19-22 2477 Arthur Ave. Down the Barriers” Reed Library Exhibit: Sept. 28-Oct. 22 18 Professional Accolades 2nd Fredonia Mini Maker Faire on Bronx, N.Y. 10458 Fredonia means business! Tuesday, Sept. 12, 3 p.m. Freedonia Marxonia activity School of Business receives AACSB accreditation 28 Saturday, Oct. 21 Game at Rose Hill Gymnasium, 7 p.m. King Concert Hall on Friday, Sept. 29, with Noah See full schedule on page 12. 4431 E. Fordham Road Fall Preview: Events and Class Notes Tickets are free, but required, and Diamond; noon, Reed Library 30 See page 31 for information on Bronx, N.Y. 10458 19 Performances available at the Fredonia Ticket SUNY Alumni and Congressional Career Corner Office in the Williams Center. additional activities. Reception at SUNY Day Alumni Board of Directors COLLEGE BEATS | VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS Tuesday, Oct. 24 Annual Meeting 35 Rochester, N.Y. Alumni Reunion Washington, D.C. Washington, D.C. Thursday, Nov. 9, 4 p.m. 20 In the winner’s circle in the Thursday, Sept. 21, 6 p.m. Alumni Reunion Location and time TBA Alumni House world of opera Three Heads Brewing Wednesday, Sept. 27, 6 p.m. 186 Atlantic Ave., 1789 Restaurant Family Weekend Veterans Day Ceremony Rochester, N.Y. 14607 1226 36th St. NW, Friday–Sunday, Oct. 27-29 Friday, Nov. 10, 3 p.m. Washington, DC 20007 Campus Williams Center 2 Statement | FALL 2017 alumni.fredonia.edualumni.fredonia.edualumni.fredonia.edu 33 Insight into Islam THE MAGAZINE FOR FREDONIA ALUMNI AND FRIENDS Maytum Convocation Lecturer to bridge information gap VOLUME 46, NO. 1, FALL 2017 EDITOR u Jeff Woodard ASSISTANT EDITOR Lisa Eikenburg, APR Dr. Amer Ahmed, an acclaimed Massachusetts system, with nearly 24,000 According to a Pew Research Center CONTRIBUTING EDITOR estimate, Muslims are the fastest-growing Roger Coda scholar who studies Islamic culture undergraduates and over 6,500 graduate DESIGNER and has earned praise for his ability to students. religious group in the world, with 1.6 billion Erin Ehman, Damian Dodd facilitate honest, authentic dialogue A Springfield, Ohio, native born to followers in 2010. Growth and regional PHOTOGRAPHERS that replaces fear and stereotypes with Indian Muslim immigrants, Ahmed has migration of Muslims, along with the Roger Coda, Lori Deemer, Jim Gibbons, William H. Goff III, Ryan Maloney, Cecil facts and understanding, will deliver the an eclectic personal and professional ongoing impact of the Islamic State (also Ramsey, Joseph Rivera, Marty Sohl/ Maytum Convocation Lecture, “Islam: background. He has dedicated his life to known as ISIS or ISIL) and other extremist Metropolitan Opera, Ron Szot and Samantha Zimmer. Beyond the Myths, Breaking Down the engaging and facilitating diversity across groups that represent a tiny minority of CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Barriers,” on Tuesday, Sept. 12, 3 p.m., in human difference. He has a doctoral Muslims and commit acts of violence in Roger Coda, Tracy Collingwood, Patricia King Concert Hall. degree in Education from the University the name of Islam, have placed Muslims Feraldi, Jerry Reilly and Michael Sutphin/ Virginia Tech. “Since 9-11, American questions and of South Dakota and has served as an and the Islamic faith at the forefront of CLASS NOTES fears about Islam, its teachings and its intercultural diversity consultant, college political debate in the United States and Donna Venn followers, have grown,” said Jennifer administrator, facilitator, poet and hip other countries. COLLEGE COUNCIL Frank Pagano (Chair), Cynthia A. Ahlstrom, Hildebrand, Convocation Committee chair. hop activist. He has a M.A. and B.A., in “Learning more about Islam should Richard Alexander, Michael Robert Cerrie, “As the United States ponders how best Anthropology and Black Studies. allow us to seek out connections and Esq.; Russell E. Diethrick Jr., Joseph C. Johnson, Stephen W. Keefe, JoAnn Niebel to keep our citizens safe, the Convocation Ahmed is a nationally known speaker partnerships worldwide with those and Joshua Ranney (student member). Committee believes that education who addresses his diverse areas of Muslims who also condemn terrorist FREDONIA COLLEGE FOUNDATION must play a central role. If we have expertise at colleges, conferences and acts, and it helps us to develop effective BOARD OF DIRECTORS Dennis Costello, (Chair); Phillip Belena, concerns about the teachings of Islam, an institutes. He has appeared on MSNBC’s and creative solutions that protect the Dear Alumni and Friends, Diane Burkholder, Julia Butchko, David important step is to learn more about it.” “Melissa Harris-Perry” show and in American people. A policy built on myths H. Carnahan, Nathaniel W. Clark (student This is an exciting time to be associated with Fredonia! Current students and alumni are member), Joseph Falcone, Jeffrey L. Fancher, The goal of Dr. Ahmed’s talk, framed “Cracking the Codes,” a documentary film and falsehoods is unlikely to succeed,” Ambassador James B. Foley, Dr. Greg within the 2017-2018 Convocation on racism. Hildebrand said. achieving milestones and recognition that make us so proud. Examples abound from students Gibbs (ex-officio), Carla Giambrone, Betty past and present that show Fredonia continues to develop “skilled, connected, creative, and (Catania) Gossett (ex-officio), Walter J. theme, “Transformations,” is to increase Gotowka, Karl Holz, Dr. Virginia S. Horvath knowledge of Islam and provide needed responsible global citizens and professionals,” some of whom are proudly highlighted in this (ex-officio), Richard Johnson, CPA; Louann edition of the Statement. Laurito-Bahgat, Cathy Marion, Dr. Michael context to bridge divides, Dr. Hildebrand Dr. Amer Ahmed A. Marletta, Rachel Martinez-Finn, Kurt W. explained. “As we continue to discuss The cover story showcases a student group that embodies all those attributes, Fredonia Maytum, Charles Notaro, Michael Patrick, Radio Systems, which has long been a part of the rich student experience on campus. Because Susan Rak-Uszacki, Daniel Reininga, Dr. and debate American policies, a fuller Susan O. Schall, Michael Schiavone, Debra understanding of Muslim beliefs will help it is open to all students—regardless of major—chances are you knew someone who enjoyed (Horn) Stachura, Elizabeth Star, James J. being a part of this creative team. That creativity and professionalism have finally received Stroud, Clifton Turner and Thomas H. Waring Jr. us to make informed decisions.” Honorary Members: Robert Coon, Dr. Rocco Tickets are required for the event, national recognition, for the radio station as a whole, and for several talented students indi- R. Doino, Gileen W. French, Dr. Richard A. vidually. These awards reinforce the importance of learning through involvement in clubs on Gilman, Amos Goodwine Jr., Stan Lundine, which is free and open to the public, and Jean M. Malinoski, Douglas H. Manly, Robert can be obtained at the Fredonia Ticket campus, an important component of student development and success at Fredonia. A. Maytum, James H. Mintun Jr., Dr. J. Brien We hope you’ll participate in our second annual day of giving campaign, which we have Murphy, Dr. Jeffrey J. Wallace Sr., Henry K. Office in the Williams Center. creatively called “#FREDlanthropy.” It is a chance to support Fredonia programs and help (Mike) Williams IV and Nancy L.