Ramapo Magazine Fall 2004

Ramapo College Celebrates an Anniversary

35 Years

On the Cover: Thomas Dunn

Alumni Employees: A Look at

Ramapo’s Own

MAGAZIN

FALL 2004

RAMAPO

FRESHMAN FACTS T H E C L A S S O F 2 0 0 8 A Profile – Facts, Figures, and Fun In what activities were

How many applications

they involved during

were received by the

high school?

Admissions Office for the

Captains of every sport imaginable Peer Leadership Political campaign volunteers Chorus/Choir Work with the homeless Chess Club Soup kitchen volunteers Debate Team

Most common first

What percentage of

names among the 767

the class live in Ramapo

new freshmen?

College residence halls?

Amanda Christina Jessica 13 Lauren 13 Jennifer Megan 10 Danielle

14 13

Michael Matthew Daniel 12 Christopher David Andrew

22 13

89.2 percent

9

represents how many states, NJ counties, and countries?

9 9 8

What percentage of the class rated Ramapo College as their first or second choice?

96.7 percent

4,663 applications were received.

How many of those were accepted?

1,882, or 40.4 percent, were accepted.

How many of those who enrolled were accepted through the Immediate Decision Day process?

341

What are some of their The Class of 2008

11

Community volunteers Science Club Cheerleading Odyssey of the Mind Dance Team Key Club Marching Band

Class of 2008?

Members of the class represent eight states: Connecticut, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Maryland, North Carolina, New York, Illinois, and Virginia. Students are from twenty of the state’s twentyone counties; Salem County is the only one not represented.

Students in the class of 2008 come from eleven foreign countries: Bahamas, Bulgaria, China, Ghana, Mauritius, Poland, Romania, South Korea, Tanzania, Trinidad and Tobago, and Yugoslavia.

accomplishments?

Bergen County Caring Award Published Poets Girl Scout Gold Award Boy Scout Eagle Scout Who’s Who National Honor Society French, Latin, and Spanish Honor Societies

How many students in the entering class are Edward J. Bloustein Distinguished Scholars?

49 Bloustein Scholars (top 10 percent of their class with a combined SAT of at least 1260, or are number 1, 2 or 3 in their high school class)

Most common birthdays?

February 14 April 14 May 30 August 29 November 21

8 students 8 students 7 students 6 students 6 students

How many incoming freshman received partial or full scholarships to attend Ramapo College of New Jersey?

101 out of 775 or 13 percent

RAMAPO MAGAZINE SEPTEMBER 2004 VOLUME 5, ISSUE 1 COLLEGE EXECUTIVE OFFICERS William Sanborn Pfeiffer, Ph.D. Interim President Pamela M. Bischoff, Ed.D. Vice President for Student Affairs Cathleen Davey Vice President for Institutional Advancement Martha Ecker, Ph.D. Interim Provost/Vice President for Academic Affairs Victoria H. Bruni, Esq. Vice President for Administration and Finance

C O V E R

6

S T O R Y

BOARD CHAIRS Gail Brady Board of Trustees Bernard Milano Board of Governors Lisa A. Ryan Alumni Association Helen Thayer Friends of Ramapo

RAMAPO MAGAZINE STAFF Cathleen Davey Editor-in-Chief Bonnie D. Franklin Executive Editor Christine Baker Managing Editor Cynthia Burns News Editor Kathleen Mainardi Alumni Editor Kathleen Austin Foundation Editor Rachel McCann Sports Editor Sara Levenstein Intern Design: Byne Graphics/bynegraphics.com Cover Photographer: Gouss Photography ©2004 Other photos: Joe Salmon, unless otherwise noted.

Information contained in this magazine can be made available upon request in alternate media.

Requests should be directed to: 201.684.7611.

Alumni Contact and Change of Address: Kathleen Mainardi at 201.684.7179 or kmainard@ramapo.edu Student Affairs Contact: Pam Bischoff at 201.684.7457 or pbischof@ramapo.edu

THIRTY-FIVE YEARS AT RAMAPO COLLEGE: In the thirty-five years since the signing of the Charter that created the four-year, liberal arts institution named Ramapo College of New Jersey, the journey that began with an inspired approach to education has changed in form but not spirit, as new faculty, administrators, and growing numbers of high-achieving students join the continuing experiment that defines Ramapo College today.

2 10

COLLEGE NEWS

FEATURE: Ramapo’s Own

14

FOUNDATION

18

ALUMNI NEWS

NEWS: Highlights

18 22

CLASS NOTES

COURTS AND FIELDS: New Logo Launch; The Taylor Trio

24

IN THE SPOTLIGHT:

25

DATEBOOK

Riverfest 2004

Ramapo Magazine is produced by the Office of Marketing and Communications Commerce Bank Summer Concert Series L to R: Katie, Marc, Kim, Jane, and Jennefer Simone live in Mahwah and have been coming to the Commerce Bank Summer Concert Series for years. “We love the fireworks!”

505 Ramapo Valley Road Mahwah, NJ 07430-1680 Visit our Web site at www.ramapo.edu

COLLEGE NEWS

PRESIDENTIAL SEARCH COMMITTEE UPDATE Chandler Associates, headed by former Interim President Alice Chandler, has been retained to assist the Board of Trustees with the search process. Nominations were solicited in July; the expectation is that off-campus interviews will be scheduled the first week in November and on-campus interviews will take place in December.

COMMENCEMENT Ambassador Carol Moseley Braun (photo bottom right), who waged a campaign for the Democratic nomination in the 2004 Presidential race, credited the “Greatest Generation” for the higher education opportunities that today’s students enjoy, in her commencement address at Ramapo College. “They saw the connection between an educated population and a strong America,” she noted, before challenging the class of 2004 to see to it that education is available and affordable for the next generation. Moseley Braun spoke before a crowd of approximately 7,000 graduates, friends, family members, faculty, and staff.

Dr. Carolyn M. Merkel, class of 1978, received the President’s Award of Merit. Graduating senior Karen Georgiadis, a history major who is completing requirements for certification in secondary education, gave remarks on behalf of the class of 2004.

2 F a l l 2 0 0 4 • RAMAPO MAGAZINE

L to R: Thomas A. Zelante, Vernon C. Walton, and Edward Zarnock - the three new members of the Board of Trustees

NEW BOARD MEMBERS Three new members of the Ramapo College of New Jersey Board of Trustees were sworn in at the July board meeting: Thomas A. Zelante, Esq. of Morris Township, a partner in the Dover law firm Seeber, Bowkley & Zelante; Edward Zarnock of Roselle, who represents the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 825; and Reverend Vernon C. Walton, senior pastor of Mount Calvary Baptist Church of Englewood.

CONVOCATION SPEAKER: LANI GUINIER Harvard Law School Professor Lani Guinier (photo bottom left) was the speaker at Ramapo College’s September 22 Opening Convocation. In 1998, Lani Guinier became the first black woman to be appointed to a tenured professorship at Harvard Law School. During the 1980s she was head of the voting rights project at the NAACP Legal Defense Fund and served in the Civil Rights Division during the Carter Administration as special assistant to then Assistant Attorney

General Drew S. Days. Guinier came to public attention when she was nominated by President Bill Clinton in 1993 to head the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice, only to have her name withdrawn without a confirmation hearing. Guinier turned that incident into a personal and political memoir, Lift Every Voice: Turning a Civil Rights Setback into a New Vision of Social Justice. In addition, she is the author of Becoming Gentlemen: Women, Law School and Institutional Change, The Tyranny of the Majority, Who’s Qualified? and the co-author of The Miner’s Canary.

COLLEGE NEWS

The 26th Record Debate Classic Every year for twenty-six years, the College has hosted the Record Debate Classic, a spring ritual that brings the best northern New Jersey high school debating teams together to compete for scholarships provided by the North Jersey Media Group.

For its entire history, the Record Debate Classic was planned and guided by Dr. Helen Burchell, a member of the Ramapo

HONORS PROGRAM

College faculty and administration since

Biology Professor Edward Saiff (right), who assumed leadership of the Ramapo College Honors Program on September 1, envisions an invigorated Honors Program with high-level, academically-oriented activities and coursework.

“I’m excited about it. I’ve had many roles at the College: professor, dean of the School of Theoretical and Applied Science, and president of the Faculty Assembly.

This is another challenge; it gives me an opportunity to work directly with the students, which is why I get up in the morning.”

The Honors Program is growing, with thirty-one first-year students joining the forty-eight continuing Honors students. Those selected for the program work directly with faculty on honors projects that provide an added layer of challenge to their coursework, and participate in specialized trips and lectures. On the curricular side, Saiff foresees linkages with the programs Ramapo College

the earliest days of the College. Dr. Burchell retired in January of this year after planning the twenty-sixth Debate Classic, which was held in May. Unfortunately, Dr. Burchell passed away soon after her retirement. This year’s event was dedicated to her memory.

Dr. Edward Saiff, Professor of Biology

About seventy high school debaters along with their coaches and timers come to directs at the New Jersey Meadowlands Environment Center. In addition, he says, “I’m hoping to create a faculty lecture series centering around timely events like the election and the history of religion.” Extracurricular activities have a New Jersey focus and might include trips to minor-league baseball games at one of the three regional ballparks and attending programs at New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark. Students admitted to the program are accepted based on an application that includes a short essay, their high school record, and SAT scores.

the Ramapo College campus to debate a topic of national significance. The debates go on for a full day, with teams eliminated after each round. Traditionally, the judges are lawyers from Bergen and surrounding counties who volunteer their time for this important event in the lives of high school debaters. Ramapo College faculty also volunteer to serve as judges. Two in particular have judged the final round of every Debate Classic-Professor James Hollenbach and Professor Bernard Langer have been loyal supporters of the event since its inception in 1978.

Plans are already underway to hold next year’s debate on May 26, 2005.

The steering committee includes teachers from high schools in the region, Diane Haines, director of community affairs for the North Jersey Media Group, and Dr. Ronald Kase, representing the Ramapo College Foundation, the co-sponsor of the Debate Classic. Attorneys and others interested in volunteering for debate judging can contact the Ramapo College Foundation.

F a l l 2 0 0 4 • RAMAPO MAGAZINE 3

FACULTY N E W FA C U LT Y Ramapo College has appointed a significant number of new full-time faculty beginning fall 2004. “I am happy to report that we are making great progress in increasing much needed new faculty lines,” says Martha Ecker, acting provost. The appointees:

Martha Ecker, Ph.D., Acting Provost

SCHOOL OF ADMINISTRATION AND BUSINESS Timothy Burns, M.B.A. – (photo above) assistant professor of information systems. He is currently working toward a Ph.D. in information systems at the New Jersey Institute of Technology.

SCHOOL OF AMERICAN AND INTERNATIONAL STUDIES Yvette Kisor, Ph.D. – assistant professor of literature. One of her specialties is medieval literature; she is regarded as an expert on Chaucer.

Karen O’Brien, Ph.D. – assistant professor of history. Her core areas of interest are the American Revolution, early American political and religious culture, and early American gender issues.

4 F a l l 2 0 0 4 • RAMAPO MAGAZINE

SCHOOL OF

SCHOOL OF SOCIAL

SCHOOL OF THEORETICAL

CONTEMPORARY ARTS

SCIENCE AND HUMAN

AND APPLIED SCIENCE

Bonnie Blake, M.F.A. – assistant professor of graphic/multimedia design. She has authored books on digital media and currently is writing Master Visually iPod, to be published by John Wiley and Sons. Blake has exhibited her multimedia work in many venues including the Athens Institute for Contemporary Art in Georgia and the Chaingmai Art Museum in Thailand. An advocate for the homeless, she is developing a narrative interactive multimedia profile of a homeless man and his dependence discards.

on

consumer

Regina Clark, M.F.A. – assistant professor of journalism. She has recently worked as the senior copywriter for Black Expressions Book Club, Bookspan, in Garden City, New York and is a freelance editor/writer/researcher in Passaic Park.

Frederick Strype, M.F.A. – assistant professor of media writing.

He is the executive producer of All or Nothing, A Moscow Detour, a feature film entering the film festival circuit, and the author of Short Film Confidential, ten case studies of award winning short films being shopped to publishers.

SERVICES Lysandra Perez-Strumolo, Ph.D. – assistant professor of developmental psychology. She is implementing a longitudinal research project designed to evaluate the impact of trauma exposure on the psychological well-being of law enforcement personnel.

Jillian Todd Weiss, Ph.D. – assistant professor of law and society.

Her research interests are in the area of the intersection of law, gender, and sexuality. The title of her doctoral dissertation was “The Cutting Edge of Employment Diversity: Adoption of Transgender Human Resources Policies in U.S. Employers.”

Marta Vides de Gonzalez, J.D., Ph.D., M.Div. – assistant professor of law and society. Most recently she served as coordinator of the legal education program at Stanford Law School. Her current research compares how California, Minnesota, New Mexico, and Wisconsin apply the criteria set forth in Kent vs. United States when deciding whether to adjudicate and/or sentence particular juvenile offenders as adults.

Ashley Stuart, Ph.D. – assistant professor of bioinformatics. Stuart completed postdoctoral studies at The Rockefeller University in New York. In addition to a teaching assistant position at Columbia University Medical School, she has professional experience with Naiad Laboratories in Mahwah, Genetics Institute in Cambridge, MA, and Unilever Research in Edgewater.

Stephen Anderson – assistant professor of chemistry. His research interests include Synthetic Organometallic Chemistry, transition metal catalysis for organic synthesis, and the investigation of novel routes to inorganic materials via MOCVD.

Katarzyna Potocka , Ph.D. – (above photo) assistant professor of mathematics. Potocka most recently held a teaching position at Lehigh University in Pennsylvania. Her research interest is in algebraic topology with a specialization in homotopy theory.

FACULTY

FA C U LT Y

N E W S

A N D

G R A N T S

mament, human rights, and education, “ says Padovano, who also attended the third Parliament, held in Cape Town, South Africa in 1999. The Parliament of World Religions has met only four times in the past 110 years.

Bottom two photos: Stills from Shalom Gorewitz’s “Levinas in Yorkville”

Shalom Gorewitz, professor

Dr. Anthony T. Padovano,

of visual arts, is featured in Urban Eden: Three Videos by New York Artists at The Jewish Museum through October 31. Gorewitz’s video, “Levinas in Yorkville,” is part of a work entitled “Before, During, After,” a series of three videos inspired by events and themes related to September 11, 2001. The video, shot in Yorkville, a former German neighborhood on Manhattan’s Upper East Side, incorporates texts based on the writing of philosopher Emmanuel Levinas (1906-1995). Embracing the Jewish concept of tikkun olam (the repair of the world), Levinas made ethical responsibility and respect for people’s differences the starting point of any reflection on the nature of existence and the validity of knowledge.

distinguished professor of literature and philosophy, represented the College at the fourth Parliament of World Religions held in Barcelona, Spain July 7 through 13. The theme was “Pathways to Peace: the Wisdom of Listening, the Power of Commitment.”

“When religions meet, they not only discuss God and meaning, but also world debt, ecology, population issues, nuclear disar-

Dr. Anthony Padavano, Distinguished Professor of Literature and Philosophy

Professor Padovano believes the knowledge gained at the Parliament will augment Ramapo College courses by addressing the academic study of religions, their history, politics, and influence.

The perspective gained also will help to shape a philosophy and religious studies major the College is planning to offer. Furthermore, the Parliament is an influence in Padovano’s efforts to create an international and interreligious Chapel of Peace on the Ramapo College campus.

Dr. Angela Cristini, professor of biology, is the recipient of a National Science Foundation grant for $205,134 that will fund the production of a series of interactive science experiences using Internet videoconferencing to connect seniors at community centers and extended care facilities with environmental experts at the Meadowlands Environment Center. The goal of the program, known as SEE (Senior Environment Experiences), is to increase the interest of seniors by linking science to history and politics. SEE will create experiential modules related to the natural history, ecosystem structure and future of the Meadowlands.

Discussions from the field using live images and feedback from the seniors will support exploration of details relevant to the specific topic at hand. The videoconferences will be recorded and made available to seniors in other locations throughout New Jersey and the U.S. SEE will reach approximately 4,500 seniors in thirty-two centers during the three-year project.

Dr. Angela Cristini, Professor of Biology

F a l l 2 0 0 4 • RAMAPO MAGAZINE 5

FEATURE

Inspiration?

Innovation?

Chargedbythestatetoprovidegreateropportunitiesforthestudyofliberalarts,founding President GeorgeT. Potter set out to find the finest educational mentors in their fields.This selectfacultywouldleadstudents—richandpoor,oldandyoung,blackandwhite,ableand disabled — through an innovative and individualized learning program.

Ramapo College

By Elisabeth Sydor

Thirty-Five Years Later

Left: Founding President George T. Potter 6Fall 2004

•

RAMAPO MAGAZINE

FEATURE

I

n the thirty-five years since the signing of the Charter that created the four-year liberal arts institution named Ramapo College of New Jersey, the journey that began with an inspired approach to education has changed in form but not spirit, as new faculty, administrators, and growing numbers of highachieving students join the continuing experience that defines Ramapo College today.

“It was a leap of faith,” says Nancy Jaeger, director of admissions, who, in October 1970 as a young admissions counselor, made the rounds of neighboring libraries and schools to persuade prospective students to attend a college that existed only in the imagination of the people dedicated to its conception.

An unassuming gray, spiral-bound notebook

organizations and would later serve twelve years as a Ramapo College trustee, recalls that the board was considering sites in Hackensack, Saddle River, and Leonia. In November 1969, Bill Dator, whose family represented the Birch family’s real estate interests, suggested the Board consider the Birch estate.

A hearing in the Mahwah High School auditorium drew a good crowd. “My view,” says Dunn, “was that Mahwah was on the cusp of growth; I wanted to see Mahwah become a college town. I urged the community to approve it.” Residents were generally favorable despite their expressed concerns about traffic, the loss of ratables and drugs. “A lot of people thought it was a great use of the property,” adds Dunn.

“We were too naïve, probably,” Mackin says now, “to know what a big responsibility we had taken on and what a big chance we had to fail.” At George T. Potter’s inauguration as president in the fall 1971, he spoke against the din of bulldozers — perfectly embodying the spirit of humility and idealism, and grace under pressure that prevailed in the founding community.

Phil McLewin, professor of economics, was one of many attracted to Ramapo College (in 1974) for its experimentation and because it

“My view was that Mahwah was on the cusp of growth.”

Nancy Jaeger

Thomas Dunn with a college plan inside, Jaeger remembers, was the only tangible evidence that a college would soon be standing in Bergen County.

Nancy Mackin’s initial recruiting resources were equally skeletal. Now dean of students, Mackin joined Ramapo College as assistant registrar in July 1971. A couple of months shy of opening day she worked intensively with faculty to name courses for the catalog. Simple program requirements were all they had to work with; the particulars of a major were set in discussion between professor and student.

“From defining the academic programs to what our community values were going to be to picking the school colors and the mascot— every single decision had to be made.”

A Campus Grows in Mahwah Thomas Dunn, a resident of Mahwah who was involved in a number of community

He remembers that the design of new campus facilities, with broad expanses of glass and natural slate, was an attempt to preserve the beauty of the estate, with buildings that complemented the landscape and reflected the natural surroundings. Original structures on the property, the Mansion, Gatehouse (now called the McBride House) and a stone garage, were preserved and retrofitted for College use.

Youthful Enthusiasm Most of the founding faculty and administrators who signed on were in their twenties. The $15 million bond that initially funded the venture — without provision for student housing and generally agreed to be inadequate over the long-term — was less key to the unflagging forward motion of all involved than the hope and enthusiasm that abounded. Dunn remembers that the founders talked of creating “a public Williams College.”

was a public institution. Innovation in education was encountered more typically at private colleges where enrollment could be deliberately limited, so the interdisciplinary model implemented at Ramapo College by the founders was to some extent the foundation for all other innovation that followed. Although the interdisciplinary structure is still alive at Ramapo College to some degree, the notion of what “interdisciplinary” means continues to be debated.

Marketable Degrees vs.

Intellectual Inquiry?

“Angst” surrounded the discussion of the founding of a business school, remembers Nancy Mackin. George Potter’s grant of tenure to most of the original faculty became an issue when students began asking for new programs.

More part-time instructors would have to be hired.

F a l l 2 0 0 4 • RAMAPO MAGAZINE 7

Nancy Mackin

Speaking from semi-retirement in California, Potter says, “My feeling was that these people had gone out on a limb to start the College and I didn’t want to show them the door because things had changed.” His words underscore the intense loyalty and commitment that early on characterized the relationships among the small community of founders.

“In those days people were cycling through colleges,” Mackin says. “But Ramapo College was different. To build a community you had to have some homesteaders—people needed to make this a home. They needed to make sure the principles were passed on and taught to those who would come later.”

Responsibility to a wider community was also emphasized in the Charter vision. One organizational mechanism for this was field placements, which could link students and classroom theory to the needs of the community.

Mitchell Kahn pioneered the field placement program in what was originally called the School of Human Environment, helping feed the cause of advocacy while also persuading students of the practical value of related academic study. The three schools that had been culled from the originally named School of Human Environment — Metropolitan and Community Studies, Social Relations, and Environmental Studies — were revamped into what is now the School of Social Science and Human Services.

8 F a l l 2 0 0 4 • RAMAPO MAGAZINE

Hired as an instructor in sociology while in his mid-twenties, Kahn is still youthfully optimistic about the ability (and responsibility) of a liberal arts education to effect social change. “And students are still eager to do social work,” he says proudly.

Dunn points out that Ramapo College has reinforced the original vision of a low faculty to student ratio typical of a liberal arts college.

“We’ve maintained that, while a number of other colleges have not,” he states.

Change, Change, Change “When the trustees selected the Mahwah site over the more urban alternatives,” says Dunn, “they knew they would have to provide some on-campus housing.” However, with only a few hundred beds, Ramapo College was primarily a commuter school. In contrast, 90 percent of freshmen and 60 percent of all full-time students now reside on campus.

FEATURE

“In 2004, only approximately 40 percent of freshmen applicants were accepted,” Jaeger says. Recruiting has changed greatly from the days she poked around local libraries for possible applicants. There are significantly more high-achieving students than in the early days, with a continual increase in the transfer population. The spirit of innovation has remained constant, but manifest in different ways, upgrading new technology throughout the College, for example. “We are always doing something new, forging another new initiative,” she says.

Dunn says that when he became a trustee in 1993, average SAT scores of incoming students were about 975; today they are 1160.

The College’s increasing selectivity has had many positive impacts, such as better-prepared students and improved graduation rates. On the other hand, Dunn expresses confidence that the admission criteria will continue to be multi-dimensional so that students who might not score as well on the SATs but could benefit from a Ramapo College education will be given the opportunity for admission.

Another symbol of change is the Berrie Center, which has had a tremendous impact on the campus and community. Dunn remembers the early days when public performances and lectures were held in the gym and H-wing auditorium and had to compete for space with athletic events and other College activities.

“Today,” he says, “Berrie Center theaters are packed and the Bradley Center will bring even more opportunities.”

The biggest initiative of late: revisiting how the College is organized; questioning whether deans should be appointed or selected by faculty; and reworking the credit system by reducing the faculty workload and moving toward a four-credit system, the unit plan.

“Any organization that serves the public,” says Dunn, “has to respond to the needs and demands. A successful institution has to continually adapt.”

Full Circle With 80 percent of tenured faculty age 55 or older, an enormous number will retire in the next decade. Whatever new direction may result, the thirty-five year history of the school suggests that the plan will be discussed with passion and commitment by the College community.

“We have been true to our Charter,” says Nancy Mackin, pointing to the recent restructuring initiative and the fact that faculty brought up the issue, a legacy of the early founders’ activism.

Speaking for the founding group of educators, administrators, and trustees, George Potter says, “We wanted to do things new, different and better.” He adds, “I would say what we started out to do continues to be the objective.”

F a l l 2 0 0 4 • RAMAPO MAGAZINE 9

Ramapo’s Own Walking Advertisements: Alumni Are On Staff and Faculty

R

amapo College has a significant number of alumni who launched or are continuing their careers as faculty and staff members. Some accepted positions upon graduation while others earned their degrees as employees of the College. They bring an in-depth knowledge of the workings of the College and share a common experience with current students. The roles they have embraced reflect the broad range of educational interests students continue to pursue at Ramapo College.

Edward Shannon ’85 graduated with a B.A. in communications and received teacher certification for grades K-12. He returned to Ramapo College after teaching high school and earning a master’s degree and a Ph.D., and is an associate professor of literature. “Attending Ramapo College had been such a wonderful experience. Since my sense of what college was all about was formed during my days studying at Ramapo College, returning as a professor has been very rewarding. As a student in the early ‘80s, I always had a feeling that I could shape my own curriculum and ultimately, my own career.”

10 F a l l 2 0 0 4 • RAMAPO MAGAZINE

Peter Goetz ’89, vice provost for enrollment management, is on the frontline of student recruitment. He began his career at Ramapo College right after graduating and benefited from the personal contact with faculty and administration the College offers. “As Student Government Association president, I had a lot of contact with senior level administration,” he says. “The then-dean of enrollment

management, Steve Arianas, offered me a oneyear position for new graduates. I had such a tremendous experience, that I wanted to give back. Recruiting students seemed like the perfect job for me, since my experience was such a positive one.” An added bonus? Goetz met his wife Nicole, a former coordinator of health services, on campus.

Dr.JamesMorley,associateprofessorofclinicalpsychology,graduatedfromRamapo Collegein1979.HissisterandbrotherarealsograduatesofRamapoCollege,andhis motherworkedinthelibraryandthenwasasecretaryinAISforovertenyears.

“

Thereareveryfewopportunitiesinyourlifeto workforaninstitutionthatcanmeansomuch.

Nootherinstitutionmeansasmuchtomeas Ramapo College does.

”

O T H E R • Robert Anderson ’02,

coordinator of strength and conditioning, athletics

• Philip Bartolotto ’98,

athletic supervisor

• Jonathan Belle ’97,

assistant director of financial aid

• Janell M. Bevian ’04,

post baccalaureate fellowship, assistant program specialist of the Meadowlands Environmental Center

• Witono Hartanto ’01,

technical specialist

• Jose Hernandez ’98,

graphic artist

• Rachel Jaffe ’02,

support services representative

• Daniel Jean ’97,

assistant director, student activities

• Purvi Parekh ’01& ‘04,

assistant director of alumni relations

• Amy Bravo ’96 & ‘03,

• Stephanie Jones ’01,

• Cynthia Brennan ’73,

• John Kalbacher ’84,

• Susan Carozza ’94,

• Durga Kamineni ’01,

• Bonnie Caruso ’94,

• Donna Kauder ’02,

• Patricia Chapman ’00,

• Robin Keller ’98,

• Arthur Chill ’74,

• Helen Kelly ’99,

cooperative education/career coordinator registrar

residence life program specialist unit secretary, student development adjunct professor, teacher education associate director of business services and bursar

• Sandra Cohen ’76,

data processing programmer

• Michele Daly ’01,

professional service specialist

• Lee DeGross ’94,

principal library assistant

• Michael R. DiBartolomeo ’03,

admissions counselor in enrollment management

• Seamus Doran ’96,

manager, telecommunication services

• Thomas Doyle ’82,

desktop support

• Lisa Eisenhauer ’87,

help desk/microcomputer coordinator

• Edouard Eloi ’91,

Berrie Center operations manager

• Kathleen Finnegan ’80,

assistant director, athletics

• Beth Foster ’88,

associate registrar

• Susan Geltman ’92,

counselor, psychological services

• Peter Goetz ’89,

vice provost for enrollment management

• Ronald Giezendanner ’84,

operating engineer

• Dorothy Gillman ’85,

assistant director, financial aid

• Vincent Gimmelli ’90,

microcomputer applications development

• Pinese Harris ’80,

coordinator/events and conferences

senior library assistant director, purchasing local area network administrator assistant director, cooperative education administrative Web support unit secretary, athletics

• Scott Kephart ’90,

security officer

• James Kulhawy ’92,

financial aid assistant

• Susan Lewicki ’99,

environmental educator

• Francine Livreri ’89,

data processing programmer

• Louis Lokuta ’98,

manager, LAN/microcomputer lab

• Mary Ann Long ’93,

independent living counselor

• Judith May ’03,

assistant registrar

• Rachel McCann ’01,

sports information and marketing coordinator

• Kim McDonough ’00,

technical support analyst

• Geraldine Meyer ’92,

financial aid specialist

• Robert Modafferi ’01,

chief art handler/registrar

• James Morley ’79,

assistant professor of clinical psychology

• Bernice Mulch ’83,

assistant director, financial aid

• Christine Vandersnow O’Neill ’01,

secretarial assistant, residence life

• Linda Padley ’78,

director, academic services

A L U M N I : • Sean Powers ’99,

assistant director of admissions

• Craig Print ’00,

financial analyst

• Mandolin Restivo ’99,

director, Women’s Center

• Michael Ricciardi ’79,

assistant director, athletics

• Joseph Salmon ’76,

campus photographer

• Jefferson Sampson ’98,

manager of academic media services

• Merle Scordo ’86,

assistant director, admissions

• Ed Shannon ’85,

associate professor of literature

• Michael Silva ’01,

senior security officer

• Donna Singer ’78,

director, administrative computing and critical systems

• Michael Skafidas ’97,

manager, infrastructure/Unix administrator

• Debra Stark ’94,

assistant director, career development and placement

• Julie S. Thomas ’02,

assistant to the acting director of student affairs/greek affairs

• Joyce VanDyke ’86,

academic advisor

• Timothy VanDuyne ’89,

printing machine operator

• Babette Varano ’83,

director of institutional research and planning

• Tanya Washington ’02,

admissions counselor

• Bruce Werman ’91,

administrative assistant, computer aided design

• Bryan Wiecenski ’00,

equipment/facilities coordinator

• Diana Williams ’75,

assistant director, student assistant program

• Patricia Williams ’84,

assistant Web administrator

• Rikki Woodring ’01,

teacher education center trainer

• Lori Yanowitz ’94,

biology lab coordinator

• John Yao ’00,

service learning coordinator

• Damian J. Pinton ’99,

assistant coordinator of athletic facilities/ assistant resource manager F a l l 2 0 0 4 • RAMAPO MAGAZINE 11

Scholarships Help Nursing Students Achieve Their Goals Nursing major Martina Oleforo (left photo) enrolled at Ramapo College after graduating from Plainfield High School. In the 2003-2004 academic year, she received a Toys ‘R Us Scholarship and worked in the College Bursar’s Office and at Peer Health Educators of Plainfield. She is a member of the Nursing Student Organization and tutors nursing students. “I am proud of maintaining my 3.02 grade point average,” the sophomore says. Martina plans to become an accredited clinical pediatric nurse and further her education by attending medical school.

Fellow nursing student Linda Oppong (right photo) graduated from Malcolm X Shabazz High School in Newark. She earned a 3.41 grade point average during the 2003-2004 academic year and also received a Toys ‘R Us Scholarship. Linda was a resident assistant in Linden Hall last year, served as treasurer of the student club Organization for African Unity, and is a member of the Chi Alpha Epsilon honor society. Linda volunteers as a tutor and mentor of innercity elementary school students, in a soup kitchen, and as a Sunday school teacher for elementary school children. “Education is the passport to the future,” says the sophomore, whose career goal is to become an obstetrician/gynecologist.

12 F a l l 2 0 0 4 • RAMAPO MAGAZINE

“Nursing is a hot job prospect and we are seeing an increase in the number of applications to the program,” says Dr. Kathleen Burke, assistant dean of the Joint Nursing Program and director of the Master of Science in Nursing program.

With a nursing shortage that is expected to stretch through the year 2020, Ramapo College is responding to the need for qualified nurses by expanding its Bachelor of Science in Nursing program, a partnership with the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey and a clinical partner with Englewood Hospital and Medical Center. Beginning with the fall 2004 semester, the College is adding The Valley Hospital in Ridgewood as an additional clinical partner, an agreement that allows for twenty-five more students to be enrolled in the program. “There are fifty students who are completing their nursing courses and clinical training at Englewood. We anticipate

the number affiliated with Valley Hospital to increase to forty by the fall of 2005,” Burke says.

The B.S.N. program has two tracks, a generic one for students new to nursing and an R.N./ B.S.N. track for those holding an associate’s degree, or a diploma in nursing, or who are licensed as an R.N. but must complete the requirements for a Bachelor of Science degree.

Burke says that while courses for each track are generally taught separately, there has been an effort to integrate them for content consistency and to make more efficient use of the nursing faculty at Ramapo College.

Due to space constraints, students assigned to The Valley Hospital will complete their nursing education courses at Ramapo College. A laboratory at the College has been renovated to create a full-skills lab and Valley Hospital donated equipment for it. Students

is a hot job prospect and we “Nursing are seeing an increase in the number of applications to the program. ”

designation, the highest in the country.

The nursing program also will get a boost with the addition of Dr. Kathleen Burke, assistant dean of the Joint Nursing Program, computer technoldirector of the Master of Science in Nursing program. ogy. Students in the R.N./B.S.N. track can take advantage of online will complete their clinical requirements at courses. Burke says electronic portfolios will be integrated into the B.S.N. program so that the hospital. The curriculum for the generic program is designed as a “2 + 2” program; students can electronically demonstrate what they’ve accomplished as an undergraduate. general education courses are completed at This dovetails into the increasing use of comthe College the first two years of enrollment puter technology at hospitals, including elecand the nursing education courses and clinical tronic profiles with a patient’s medical history requirements are done in the last two years. stored on a laptop.

To ensure course content consistency, the partners hold joint curricular meetings. The syllabi used at each hospital are the same as are the learning outcomes. In addition, the nursing program contracts with an outside testing agency to administer course tests and national tests to determine benchmarks of achievement.

Burke notes with pride that both Englewood and Valley are designated Magnet hospitals for nursing excellence. Magnet designation, conferred by the American Nurses Credentialing Center, recognizes excellence in all aspects of nursing services, from leadership and management philosophy to the quality of patient care.

Hospitals with Magnet status generally have a greater number of highly trained nurses. New Jersey has fifteen hospitals with the Magnet

The continued partnership with Englewood Hospital and Medical Center and the addition of The Valley Hospital “allows us to meet the increasing number of applications that Ramapo College receives,” says Burke. “Nursing is achieving popularity at a time that the College is emerging as a first choice for students.”

Class of 2004. Burke adds, “The nursing program has a 92.7 percent New Jersey state board examination passage rate. Nationwide, the benchmark for passage is from the mid- to high-80s.”

Burke also has seen an increase in applicants who are graduates of Ramapo College with degrees in other majors such as biology, business information systems, and environmental science. They can often complete the requirements for a nursing degree in two years.

Ramapo College also offers a Master of Science in Nursing program and a post-master’s certificate program designed for nurses with a master’s degree who are interested in pursuing nursing education.

L to R: Kathleen Burke with Linda Cuoco R.N., vice president of Patient Care Services and chief nursing officer

Ramapo College’s nursing program started in 1993; the first generic class entered in 1996, graduating just thirteen students in 2000. There were thirty-two graduates in the

is achieving popularity at “Nursing a time that the College is emerging as a first choice for students. ” Dr. Kathleen Burke

F a l l 2 0 0 4 • RAMAPO MAGAZINE 13

FOUNDATION NEWS The Ramapo College Foundation Board of Governors and the Ramapo College Foundation staff achieved a high level of success during the 2003-04 academic year. The Foundation is credited with launching, in cooperation with the School of Theoretical and Applied Science, a $3.4 million partnership with the New Jersey Meadowlands Commission for the operation of the Meadowlands Environment Center. In addition, a grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development in the amount of $225,000 was secured for the Bill Bradley Sports and Recreation Center. A grant total of $462,000 was awarded by the National Science Foundation for informal science, and twenty new endowed scholarships were created, led by the Ross Family Survivor to Survivor Scholarship that was endowed by a gift of $250,000.

The Foundation’s fundraising efforts produced revenues that were 23.35 percent over goal.

This included a new record for alumni participation that reached 10.35 percent, which is

a strong percentage for alumni giving to a public college and places Ramapo College above other New Jersey State colleges. The Annual Fund continues to grow each year. New donations from parents of current students and the Senior Class Challenge brought this year’s appeal to 23.27 percent over last year’s campaign.

The Scholarship Reception brought together benefactors and scholarship recipients for a dinner reception that everyone enjoyed. Donors have an opportunity to meet students who are directly benefiting from the scholarships they have provided. In the 2003-04 academic year, 188 students received Foundation scholarships.

Large areas will be named for long-time friends of Ramapo College that include the Sharp Electronics Corporation, Sony Electronics, Konica Minolta Photo Imaging, Playtex Products, Kurt Verson Lighting, Sodexo, and Prestige Family of Dealerships. Other spaces will be designated for the individuals and families who have generously contributed to this important new center of campus life. The campaign for the Bradley Center continues to attract new supporters, and everyone will have an opportunity to “buy” a chair in the new arena. The permanent stadium chairs will sport brass name plates that will be personalized with contributors names.

The Bill Bradley Sports and Recreation Center is nearing completion.

Many corporations have supported the Center’s building campaign.

MISSION AWARD The Foundation’s Mission Award was recently awarded to Joseph A. Haynes (left), first vice president of Investments at UBS Payne Webber, Inc., and Thomas O. McGurn (right), general manager of Retail and Industry Relations at BMW of North America, LLC. Instituted in 1998, the Mission Award is presented annually to recognize distinguished service by a member of the Foundation’s Board of Governors in fulfilling the Foundation’s mission to “provide the resources that make the difference in Ramapo College’s quest for educational excellence.”

For more than ten years, Joseph A.

14 F a l l 2 0 0 4 • RAMAPO MAGAZINE

Haynes has served on the Foundation’s Board of Governors. During his tenure, he led the Investment Committee, where he developed and produced various performance reports and bench-marking charts for the Foundation’s investments. He also served on the Finance Committee. Haynes currently serves on the Foundation’s Planned Giving Task Force and Executive Committee.

Thomas O. McGurn has more than six years of service on the Foundation Board of Governors, including leadership roles with the Foundation’s special events.

McGurn currently serves as chairman of the Distinguished Citizen’s Dinner Committee and serves on the Golf Committee, as well as the Executive Commitee.

FOUNDATION NEWS

L to R: Teena Grant and Joy Edelman enjoy dinner.

FOUNDATION GOLF OUTING The 17th Annual Foundation Golf Outing was held on July 26, 2004 at the beautiful Tuxedo Club.

Under the leadership of chairman Donald Mahoney and the entire Golf Committee, the event secured more than $70,000 in support of the Foundation’s efforts to provide student scholarships, faculty research opportunities, and College projects. Over 100 golfers enjoyed a fabulous summer day on the links, highlighted by Robert Tillsey’s exciting hole-in-one shot on a par three on hole seventeen.

SEIKO Corporation of America sponsored the event. Century 21 Construction, PSE&G, Prestige Family of Dealerships, O’Connor Davies Munns & Dobbins, LLP, Sodexho Campus Dining Services, BMW Group, Damon G. Douglas, Konica Minolta USA Photo Imaging, Inc., and SNS Architects & Engineers also sponsored parts of the outing.

L to R: Elizabeth and Ralph Mastrangelo, Anne Alford, Millicent and Richard Anisfield meet Kevin Spencer.

PERFORMING ARTS DINNER SERIES The Spencers Theater of Illusion, the final event in last year’s CIT Performing Arts Dinner Series, was enthusiastically received by a full house at the Sharp Theater. At the dinner reception prior to the performance, Kevin Spencer (photo above) thrilled patrons as he moved from table to table greeting guests and challenging them with some of his magical illusions.

Under the leadership of committee co-chairmen Joseph Leone and Robert Tillsley, the CIT Performing Art and Dinner Series begins its fifth season offering seven specially packaged performances and dinner receptions. To subscribe to the Series, patrons can select four or more events. Performances and dinners are held in the Angelica and Russ Berrie Center for Performing and Visual Arts.

Proceeds from the Series help the Foundation support student scholarships, faculty research opportunities, and College projects.

Chris Turner (left) of Prestige Family of Dealerships and Interim President W. Sanborn Pfeiffer (right) congratulate Paul Miller, Prestige Challenge “Winner.”

The 2004-05 Series features a variety of unforgettable programs including: • Cabaret singer/songwriter Anne Hampton Callaway • Jazz musicians Fred Hersch and Kurt Elling • Comedian Mort Sahl • Tomaseen Foley’s Celtic Christmas • The magic of Jonathan and Charlotte Pendragon • Slide “Mr. Trombone” Hampton in a salute to Antonio Carlos Jobim • Donna McKechnie, the lead in the original Tony Award winning A Chorus Line The Series is hosted by the Ramapo College Foundation and sponsored by CIT Group and the Prestige Family of Dealerships. Contact the Foundation Office at 201.684.6834 or e-mail kaustin@ramapo.edu for additional information.

Golf Outing Sponsors

F a l l 2 0 0 4 • RAMAPO MAGAZINE 15

PLANNED GIVING S

ophisticated methods of charitable g i v i n g t h a t p r o v i de significant benefits to the donor are often referred to as Planned Giving. These methods include special types of entities and programs designed both to support a charity like the Ramapo College Foundation and provide tax and economic incentives for donors.

Through the use of a special trust called a charitable remainder trust, an individual can make significant charitable contributions to a charity while receiving both an impressive income stream and current income tax deduction for the remainder of the trust property that goes to charity at the end of the trust term chosen by the donor. The property donated to a charitable remainder trust is excluded from the donor’s estate for tax purposes.

AN INTRODUCTION TO

PLANNED GIVING

By Ira J. Kaltman, Esq.

16 F a l l 2 0 0 4 • RAMAPO MAGAZINE

A charitable remainder trust may also be established in a will. In that case, the individual’s estate will receive a significant estate tax charitable deduction for the remainder portion of the trust which will go to the charity and the deceased’s designated beneficiary will receive a significant income stream. In either case, the income earned by the trust would be distributed either over the life of the designated recipient or for a fixed term period not to exceed twenty years. A charitable remainder trust may take the form of either an annuity trust or a unitrust. An annuity trust provides for annual payments to the individual establishing the trust (or another person designated by such individual) of a fixed dollar amount, or a fixed percentage of the initial value of the trust principal, with the remainder payable to a charity. No additional contributions are permitted to an annuity trust. The annual payments to a creator or designated beneficiary of a charitable annuity trust cannot be less than five percent of the initial value of the trust principal. In a unitrust, the required annual payments are a specified percentage (not less than five percent) of the value of the principal of the trust as determined each year, rather than a percentage of the trust’s initial principal value. Therefore, the amount of each annual payment to the trust’s beneficiary may vary based upon annual fluctuations in the value of the trust and the investment performance of the trustee. Moreover, unlike an annuity

PLANNED GIVING

trust, you can make additional contributions to a unitrust each year and receive a charitable deduction for income tax purposes. Both types of trust must permit the charity to receive at least ten percent of the value of the property contributed.

In general, the income tax consequences for the individual establishing either a charitable remainder annuity trust or charitable unitrust are quite favorable. The individual is entitled to an income tax charitable deduction in the year the trust is created equal to the full value of the remainder interest (subject to certain internal revenue code limitations) even though the charity will not take possession of the trust property until all income interests have ended.

If the tax deduction cannot be fully used in the year the trust is established due to the donor’s specific tax situation, it may be carried over for a period of up to five years, subject to certain restrictions.

the charity and managed by trustees appointed by the charity. Unlike a charitable remainder unitrust or charitable remainder annuity trust, a pooled income fund generates an income interest that the donor receives upon his or her contribution of money or property to the trust. Specifically, in return for the contribution, the donor receives units of interest in the trust which entitle him or her or a named beneficiary to a ratable share of the fund’s actual income each year, for life or for a series of joint lives. At that person’s death, the donor’s share of the fund’s assets would pass outright to the charity.

In establishing a charitable gift annuity, an individual transfers the property (cash, stock, securities or real estate) in exchange for the charity’s promise to pay the transferor or his or her designated beneficiary a lifetime annuity.

The charitable gift annuity has several advantages. The annuity payment is generally greater than one would obtain from a pooled income fund. The annuity amount is a fixed percentage of the initial contribution to the annuity contribution. It is generally determined by applying the person’s age on the date of contribution to a table published by the American Counsel on Gift Annuities. The individual transferring the property also gets an income

There are several advantages to a pooled income fund. The fund would be established and administered by the charity, thus reducing costs. The donor’s assets would be diversified in the fund assets, thereby lowering the risk of loss. The donor would receive an income tax deduction for the value of the remainder

tax deduction for the difference between the present value of the annuity obligation and the fair market value of the property. Finally, the value of the annuity is not included in the transferror’s gross estate. The actual tax consequences of a charitable gift annuity will depend on the value of the property

methods of charitable “ Sophisticated giving...provide significant benefits to the donor. ” Another advantage of both types of charitable remainder trusts is that the trust itself is not subject to income tax. Therefore, appreciated property can be transferred to the trust and then sold without immediate recognition of a capital gain. This attribute enhances the trust’s ability to diversify assets and generate income.

Establishing a charitable remainder trust can be an expensive and time consuming process.

Other types of entities may be preferred due to their low cost and relative simplicity.

Pooled income funds afford benefits similar to charitable remainder trusts and can be utilized by virtually anyone. These funds are created by

interest in the pooled income fund that goes to charity.

Finally, the assets contributed would not be included in the donor’s estate. The size of deduction depends on the fund’s highest rate of return during the three years immediately proceeding the gift.

Another planned giving alternative is a charitable gift annuity. Like a pooled income fund, this planning method would be available to most individuals and the administrative costs or other issues involved with the establishment of a charitable remainder or charitable lead trust would be eliminated.

transferred, the present value of any annuity received and the basis (cost with certain adjustments) of the property.

Ramapo College is in the process of establishing both a pooled income fund and a charitable gift annuity program. Look for future announcements in this alumni magazine.

This article has summarized some of the benefits that can be obtained through the use of sophisticated methods for charitable planning. Consult your professional advisor before deciding upon the charitable gifting method that is appropriate for your situation. For more information, please call The Foundation Office at 201.684.7615.

F a l l 2 0 0 4 • RAMAPO MAGAZINE 17

ALUMNI N E W S CHAMPAGNE AT SUNSET (second photo) More than 450 graduating seniors and their families attended the annual Champagne at Sunset reception held the evening before graduation. A.J. Sabath ’93, on behalf of all alumni, welcomed the graduates to the ranks of alumni.

The

Alumni

Association

congratulates the graduating class and invites them to become active members in the Association. Champagne at Sunset was sponsored by Prestige Family of Dealerships and Chappell Studios.

ALUMNI TENT The kick-off concert to the Commerce Bank Summer Concert Series featured The Spirit of America and a spectacular fireworks display. Over 120 alumni and their families enjoyed a delicious barbeque under the alumni tent (top photo).

NEW ALUMNI SUMMER REUNION In July, nearly 120 new Ramapo College alumni joined with others at Bar Anticipation in Belmar for the annual New Alumni Summer Reunion (bottom photo). Activities included volleyball and basketball games against alumni from other participating colleges.

18 F a l l 2 0 0 4 • RAMAPO MAGAZINE

RAMAPO FAMILY WEEKEND Ramapo Family Weekend was held October 15-16, 2004. The weekend began with an Alumni Happy Hour at the Mason Jar, followed by Midnight Madness (kick-off activities for the basketball season) in the Bradley Center. The evening also featured a live performance by BREAK! The Urban Funk Spectacular, whose unorthodox creative movements demonstrate a distinctive American art form discovered in the streets of the inner city.

Saturday’s events and activities included hayrides, pumpkin painting, a moon walk, spin art, henna tattoos, distinguished faculty lectures, music, and more.

The men’s soccer team played Richard Stockton College. On Saturday evening, a performance

by Fusion Tango was held at the Berrie Center. Fusion Tango combines passion and the intricate footwork of traditional tango with the live music of Oscar Feldman and Fernando Otero.

ALUMNI

F O C U S

by Kathleen Mainardi

The polio vaccine is heralded as one of the greatest discoveries in modern medicine. Ramapo College alumna Debbie Bookchin, ’77 (left) reveals that the vaccine carries with it a dangerous link to cancer. She is the coauthor with husband Jim Schumacher (right) of The Virus and the Vaccine, the untold story about the research that went into the polio vaccine’s development. The book examines how the vaccine, developed in the 1950s and ‘60s carried within it a simian (monkey) virus, SV40, a known carcinogen. Bookchin and Schumacher reveal that SV40 has been linked to such cancers as mesothelioma, bone tumors, and a variety of brain tumors. The book is a well-documented investigation detailing government efforts to keep the link between SV40, cancer, and the polio vaccine quiet. The Virus and the Vaccine evolved from an article Bookchin wrote for the Boston Globe.

Bookchin, the daughter of Ramapo College Professor Emeritus Murray Bookchin, was a philosophy major. She became interested in philosophy when she transferred to Ramapo College and took several courses with Professor John Cassidy.

Under Cassidy’s tutelage, she studied the classic scholars with an emphasis on Aristotle. She was drawn to philosophy partly out of an interest in social theory, but

was also influenced by her father, a leader in the environmental movement. Bookchin credits Ramapo College with providing an opportunity to study ethics, social and political issues in a seminar format, and with helping her develop critical thinking skills. She remembers her college years fondly with professors who were accessible, willing to tailor a program to a student’s needs, and to work one-on-one with a student.

The author also had an interest in writing and considered journalism, a career that would enable her to combine social issues with her belief that more information makes people better able to exercise their democratic rights.

She views investigative reporting as “comforting the afflicted and making better citizens in a democracy.”

Bookchin is a prize-winning journalist who has written for numerous newspapers and magazines including The Atlantic Monthly, Boston Magazine, The Nation, The New York Times, Boston Globe, and Newsday.

F a l l 2 0 0 4 • RAMAPO MAGAZINE 19

CLASS NOTES M A R R I A G E S

A N D

U N I O N S

I N

M E M O R I A M

Joseph C. Iozia ‘75 Thomas M. Stephenson ‘92 Eithne Mary Larkin-Pisano ‘95

Catherine Anne Miller ‘91 to Christopher Inskeep Jennifer Madden ‘96 to Glenn Schuck Rebecca Maynard ‘98 to Marc Cortese Timothy George Petonak ‘01 to Danielle Rose Bellott Christina Hunter ’01 to Jeffrey Tysh

‘74

‘87

‘89

‘93

Steven Fonder was recently honored by the River Edge Chamber for winning the River Edge Run in his age group two years in a row. He is a manager for the U.S. Treasury Department and volunteers in various groups such as the River Edge ambulance squad, the Bergen County Lions Club, the Boy Scouts, the town senior board, and is also a board member at the Ramapo College Alumni Association.

Sherrie K. Battaglia has been named the vice president of sales at Advanced Health Media, a pharmaceutical communications and medical education company located in Union. She is also a member of the Healthcare Businesswomen’s Association.

Richard Alnor made the transition from Wyckoff Volunteer Fire Department chief to township committee member in April 2004.

He is a territory manager for Quest Diagnostics and resides in Wyckoff with his wife Heather and son Clayton.

Faith Armonaitis has joined the management team of Gypsy Jeans, an innovative jeans designer, as their public relations director. She resides in Hasbrouck Heights with her husband and two children.

‘88

‘91

Sharon Glover (Kachele) and her husband Gene Kachele celebrated their sixteenth wedding anniversary in June 2004, with their recently adopted fraternal twin boys William Sergey and Eugene Ivan Kachele, who turned a year old on July 1, 2004 (photo below).

Andre F. Herrmann received his M.A. in communications from Saint Louis University on May 15, 2004. In August, Mr. Herrmann will begin the University of South Florida communications program in pursuit of his Ph.D.

‘78 Cynthia Davis received her M.A. in Education from William Paterson University in May 2003.

Michael Shumer is the supervisor of Natural Gas and Electricity Billing department at Amerada Hess. He is married to Beth and has twin boys, Joshua and Bradley.

20 F a l l 2 0 0 4 • RAMAPO MAGAZINE

Jacqueline Rigante married Domenic Rigantein in August 2003.

T h e c o u p l e h as a beautiful daughter, Samantha Rose, who turned a year old on July 8th, 2004 (bottom photo).

‘95 Eric Endress was appointed to the Ramsey Board of Education in February 2004. He is currently the chair of the Curriculum Committee and is a member of the Cafeteria, Policy, and Student Activity Committees. He is also the regional sales manager for Airnet Systems. He has two children – a son in second grade and a fifteen-month-old daughter.

CLASS NOTES

SUBMIT CLASS NOTES: Do you have an interesting item to share with your classmates? E-mail pjoisher@ramapo.edu. Fifty word limit.

All photos must be 300 dpi.

‘97

‘01

‘02

‘04

Brooke S. Kaska is pursuing her master’s at Columbia University’s Teacher’s College and also is teaching English and Web design at Belvidere High School.

David Vega is the first Hispanic officer to join the force of the Mahwah Police Department (photo second from right).

Natasha Reznikoff began work on her first service project of the year with the National Civilian Community Corps, an AmeriCorps program.

Parween Quraishi went on a Hajj in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. The Hajj, or pilgrimage to Makkah, Mecca brings together Muslims of all races and tongues for one of life’s most moving spiritual experiences. She talked about her unique experience during her presentation, “A Muslim’s Spiritual Journey” at the Muslim Students Association (MSA) on the Ramapo College campus in April (photo below).

Michael Roche is an actor in New York City. He recently finished playing the lead role of Freddy the Bartender in an OffBroadway show, Picasso at the Lapin Agile. In attendance one evening were former President Bill Clinton, Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, Emmy winner Ted Danson and Oscar winner Mary Steenburgen (photo below).

Joseph Peluso was awarded a J.D. degree in May 2004 at the Roger Williams University Ralph R. Papitto School of Law, Bristol, R.I. Kristen Maher is engaged to Michael James. She currently works as a staffing coordinator at Campbell Soup Company in Camden.

Kevin Bianco has been appointed as the new head boys’ basketball coach at North Bergen High School. At twenty-six years old, Bianco is not only the youngest coach in the school’s history, but he becomes the youngest head basketball coach in Hudson County.

‘03 Christina Tullo recently wrote an article titled “Rest in peace?” published in The Observer. She is a writer, graphic designer, and photographer for The Observer.

Christine R. Tippy was the production assistant director for an adaptation of Molliere’s comedy, Tartuffe, held at Ramapo College of New Jersey.

F a l l 2 0 0 4 • RAMAPO MAGAZINE 21

COURTS AND FIELDS N E W R O A D R U N N E R L O G O I S

U N V E I L E D

Athletics Hall of Fame 2005 Inductees The Ramapo College Athletic Hall of Fame committee is proud to announce the following inductees for the 2005 ceremony:

Patrick Morris ‘79 – basketball Ivan McDuffie ‘93 – basketball John Boback ‘83 – football Chris Dahmke – football Shonda Nicholas ‘86 – basketball Dawn Martin – softball Juan Arroyo ‘77 – men’s tennis coach

The induction ceremony will be held on Saturday, April 30, 2005 in the Bill Bradley Sports and Recreation Center.

T

he Roadrunners, the nickname of all Ramapo College athletic teams, came about in the early ‘70s when the College’s first club teams became varsity teams.

With no fields or facilities on campus, there was no such thing as a home game. Teams were always on the road – Roadrunners.

To keep pace with the growing success and competitiveness of Ramapo College athletic teams, it was decided to give the Roadrunners a new look. The athletes wanted something with style that considered and honored Ramapo College’s past, a look that would shape where the department and teams are headed, and hold on to the established Roadrunner name.

After months of viewing, refining, and “playing” with sketches, the Roadrunners’ new logo was selected from hundreds of designs submitted by Phoenix Design Works of New York, NY. It is a symbol of the College’s determination to continue to move forward and grow and of the everlasting desire to win.

Please welcome the new Ramapo College Roadrunner!

22 F a l l 2 0 0 4 • RAMAPO MAGAZINE

COURTS AND FIELDS

T H E

TAY L O R

T R I O

by Rachel McCann

T

hey are known as the “Taylor Trio.”

Jeremy, Josh, and David Taylor are playing together once again on a competitive level. The last time they set foot on a field together was in 2000 when the Trio attended Hawthorne Christian Academy. Now at Ramapo College, they’ve joined forces once again, hoping to propel the Roadrunners to a conference championship and a NCAA tournament appearance.

Growing up, the three brothers practiced almost every day together. They pushed, challenged, and fought each other in soccer, never leaving home without a soccer ball, and always looking for a pickup game or a practice to join.

“Growing up in a family of eight, soccer is a major part of our lives,” explains Jeremy.

“Everything revolves around practices, games, soccer camp, select teams, and tournaments.

The whole family lives and breathes soccer.”

All three brothers began their soccer careers playing for the Bergen Raiders in Mahwah.

Jeremy graduated to play soccer for PASCO, trained by Erol Tambi. David moved on to play for World Class, also trained by Erol Tambi, while Josh honed his skills on various club teams.

All three continued to have successful careers at Hawthorne Christian Academy. Jeremy received numerous honors including AllCounty, All-State, and captain his senior year.

Upon graduation, he passed the torch to Josh.

As captain, Josh received honors including All-County, Most Valuable Player. When he graduated, David assumed the role of captain, also making All-County and All-State honors in addition to scoring twenty-three goals, and being named one of the top fifty players in New Jersey.

Preparing for the fall 2004 season at Ramapo College, the Trio trained hard over the summer. “We’ve got really high expectations and we’re excited about playing together again. Just to look around and see my brothers on the same field is something special,” says David.

F a l l 2 0 0 4 • RAMAPO MAGAZINE 23

SPOTLIGHT R I V E R F E S T 2 0 0 4

A celebration of the environment

A

celebration of the environment at Laurel Hill Park in Secaucus attracted more than 10,000 people on June 6.

Sponsored by the New Jersey Meadowlands Commission and Ramapo College, visitors participated in activities related to good environmental practices that promote awareness and concern for the local environment.

Attendees took eco-tours through the marshes of the Hackensack River on pontoon boats. They learned about wildlife through shows featuring talons, a bird of prey, and reptiles. There were also pony rides, shows, games such as “Soak the Polluter,” exhibits, music, entertainment, and a science tent staffed by Meadowlands Environment Center’s educators, including Ramapo College environmental graduates serving in one year post-baccalaureate fellow positions as education staff members.

Ramapo College sponsored several exhibits and 1,000 College Frisbees were given to youngsters who visited five different exhibits related to the environment, where they had their “passports” stamped.

All activities were offered free of charge and there was no admission fee. The continued success of the annual Riverfest is due to the hundreds of hours of planning by Meadowlands Commission and the Environment Center’s staff, Secaucus town officials, members of the town’s public works and public safety departments, and the interest demonstrated by concerned citizens.

24 F a l l 2 0 0 4 • RAMAPO MAGAZINE

“

THE CONTINUED

SUCCESS OF THE ANNUAL RIVERFEST...

IS DUE TO THE

HUNDREDS OF HOURS

”

OF PLANNING

DATEBOOK OCTOBER 26

The Author Series 6-8 p.m. Friends Hall, Robert A. Scott Student Center The Author Series features Dr. Thomas DiLorenzo, economist and historian, and author of The Real Lincoln, who will discuss “Lincoln, War and Public Policy: Lessons for the 21st Century.”

Reception followed by lecture. For registration information log on to www.rapapo.edu/cbpp

28

Graduate School Day Noon-2:30 p.m. Friends Hall

NOVEMBER NOVEMBER 10 through DECEMBER 17

Every Stone Tells a Story Kresge Gallery Opening Reception and curator’s talk Wed. Nov. 10, 5-7 p.m.

NOVEMBER 10 through DECEMBER 17

Photography Reborn Pascal Gallery

Sponsored by the Cahill Center

29 and 31

Field Hockey vs. KEAN 1 p.m.

Founders’ Day and Quarter Century Club Recognition

State of the African American Professoriate Conference

17

April 30, 2005

Sponsored by the Cahill Center

May 4, 2005

Faces of Homelessness Panel Noon-2:30 p.m. Friends Hall

20

Women’s Basketball vs. Arcadia 1 p.m.

25-28

Opening Reception and curator’s talk Wed. Nov. 10, 5-7 p.m.

Athletic Hall of Fame Dinner

Annual Dinner for Student Leaders

May 10, 2005 EOF Recognition Awards Luncheon

Thanksgiving Holiday Break

29

6th Annual Haunted Mansion

30

16

SAVE THE DATE April 21-23, 2005

NOVEMBER

Men’s Basketball vs. York 7:30 p.m.

March 5, 2005 23rd Annual Distinguished Citizen’s Dinner

First home game of the season!

November is LATINO HERITAGE MONTH 11

“Culture and Contamination: An Indigenous Perspective” 1-2 p.m. Friends Hall Dr. Michael Edelstein, professor of psychology, will present.

Ethnic food and refreshments are free! Sponsored by The Culture Club. (Student Event)

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Commencement Speaker for the 47th Commencement Ceremonies will be Professor Toni Morrison of Princeton University.

Among her many honors, Professor Morrison received the Pulitzer Prize in 1988 and the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1993.

SCHOOL CLOSINGS ACADEMIC DATES OCTOBER 21 Last day to resolve spring ‘04 and summer ‘04 “I” grades

29 Last day to withdraw from courses with “W” grade

NOVEMBER 2 Election Day (offices closed, classes held)

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Web registration for winter 2005 session

11 Veteran’s Day Observed (offices closed, classes held)

29 Classes Held

F a l l 2 0 0 4 • RAMAPO MAGAZINE 25

Non Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Hackensack, NJ Permit No. 1037

505 Ramapo Valley Road Mahwah, NJ 07430-1680 Address Correction Requested

New Jersey’s Public Liberal Arts College www.ramapo.edu

T H E S U R V I V O R T O S U R V I V O R S C H O L A R S H I P

M

r. Josef Ross is a New Jersey businessman who was born in Europe and survived the Holocaust. He is also a husband, father, and grandfather. The Fort Lee resident has been a supporter of the Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies at Ramapo College.

“I had been thinking about doing something to recognize current servicemen and women,” Mr. Ross recalls. After talking with Michael Riff, director of the Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies, about what he had in mind, “the best solution was to set up a scholarship, and the idea appealed to me.”

“First, I wanted to pay back the American forces that liberated the concentration camps,” he continues. “Second, I was forbidden to attend any schools during the war in Europe, so I know how it feels not to have an education. Through this scholarship I am trying to compensate; pay my dues.”

Mr. Ross and his wife, Roz, met with the Ramapo College Foundation staff to refine the idea. They formulated criteria for the program, and the Survivor to Survivor Scholarship was born.

Over 160 guests attended the luncheon held to launch the scholarship. They heard words of appreciation from Major General Glenn K. Rieth, the Adjutant General of New Jersey, and Brigadier General Curtis M. Scaparrotti, Commandant of Cadets at the US Military Academy. The Ross’es granddaughter, Melissa Ross, also spoke and surprised them with a major gift to the scholarship fund.

The Survivor to Survivor Scholarship will be available to the children of any U.S. service personnel who have lost their lives in a recent conflict. The award will cover tuition and expenses at Ramapo. Candidates can be from any state in the country.

For more information or to make a donation, please call the Foundation at 201.684.7615.