AROUND CAMPUS

COLLEGE DORM OR LUXURY APARTMENT? UTICA COLLEGE’S NEWEST RESIDENCE HALL, PIONEER VILLAGE, IS BOTH.

Opened in fall 2019, the apartment-style living complex is comprised of three buildings with 144 beds total. Each unit includes four single bedrooms, two bathrooms, living room, full kitchen with dishwasher, and a washer and dryer. A smaller one-story building adjacent to the complex serves as a community center for residents.

The $14 million-dollar project, a partnership between the Municipal Housing Authority, BBL Construction Services LLC, and Utica College, was built by Albany-based BBL, with several UC construction management grads and students assuming leadership roles in the project.

“This partnership has allowed UC to offer an affordable, premium-level housing option that keeps more students on campus, where they can live and learn alongside their peers as part of the growing Utica College community,” President Laura Casamento said at the ribbon-cutting ceremony on September 13.

Others speaking at the celebration included Senior Vice President for Student Life and Enrollment Management Jeffery Gates, Utica Mayor Robert Palmieri, Utica Municipal Housing Authority Executive Director Robert Calli, BBL CFO Steve Obermayer, and UC Student Government Association president Michael Delia ’20.

When racial equality expert and scholar Shaun Harper visited campus on September 12, he hoped to inspire an open dialogue about race relations at UC. He didn’t expect to leave inspired himself. “I was touched and motivated by the honesty of the students, faculty, and staff at Utica College,” he said. “Conversations about race are always difficult, but when people are willing to be open with one another, that’s when change happens.”

In various sessions with faculty, staff, students and administration, Harper, the founder and executive director of the University of Southern California’s Race and Equity Center, helped formulate ideas to improve the campus climate. “I am rooting for UC,” said Harper.

The sun was out—and so were hundreds of students, faculty, and staff members on September 4 for the third annual Unity Walk, celebrating inclusion and diversity at Utica College. Said Provost Todd Pfannestiel in his opening remarks: “This walk is a simple but very powerful way of saying we stand together as one community.”

The best way to spend fall break? Helping others. On October 15, more than 100 members of the UC community participated in Alternative Fall Break, organized by the Office of Student Life and College Engagement, and lent a hand to local organizations like The Root Farm, Utica Zoo, The Rescue Mission of Utica, Mohawk Valley Resource Center For Refugees, Upstate Cerebral Palsy, and more.

Utica College returned to its roots this Veterans Day, thanks to two student groups who came together to honor U.S. veterans, including students and alumni who have served in the Armed Forces, with a new monument on campus.

Funded by donations, the Student Veterans Association (SVA) and Student Contractors Association (SCA) purchased a 35-foot flagpole set in concrete in front of Strebel Student Center, alongside a sidewalk and a granite and bronze monument. Members of the UC community celebrated the addition to campus in a dedication ceremony on November 8.

Clayton Hawes ’19, president of the SVA who currently serves in the U.S. Army Reserves, helped organize the project. “This monument pays tribute to our fallen veterans and to the men and women currently serving under our flag,” he said. “It speaks to the very reason that Utica College was founded, to educate those who served in defense of our nation.”

Utica College was founded by Syracuse University in 1946 when area leaders saw a need to provide education for veterans returning from World War II. The college, currently home to nearly 150 veteran students, has long been designated a Military Friendly College, and more recently, a Purple Heart campus in recognition of UC’s support of military members, veterans, and their families. (3)

When Be The Match, the global leader in bone mar row transplantation, came to the Utica College campus in search of possible bone marrow donors, 120 Pioneers stepped up to be tested, including Gagan, a former left tackle for the Pioneers, now serving as assistant offensive line coach.

Months later, Gagan got a phone call. Three physicals and four rounds of bloodwork determined that he was indeed a match for a 22-year-old male with leukemia. The patient had exhausted chemotherapy and radiation treatments, and Gagan—and his bone marrow— were his last hope.

In August, Gagan flew to Washington, D.C., for the donation surgery funded by The Andy Talley Bone Marrow Foundation at Georgetown Medical Center. It’s a serious surgery, as surgeons drill into the donor’s pelvis and remove 1.5 liters of bone marrow; recovery often takes several weeks.

Uncomfortable with any personal notoriety, Gagan shares his story only so others will be tested and will consider donating, as well. The initial test is a simple cheek swab; if someone matches a patient at 70 percent or more, the medical team will ask for bloodwork. “I can’t say enough about the doctors at Georgetown, The Andy Talley Bone Marrow Foundation, and Be The Match,” he says.

The feeling is mutual.

“The Andy Talley Bone Marrow Foundation is so honored and proud of your selfless commitment to give someone a second chance at life,” the foundation’s representatives posted to social media. “Thank you, Pat! And thank you to UC Football for your continued support!”

For Gagan, though, the donation was just second nature. “I didn’t think twice,” he says. “I couldn’t go to sleep at night if I said ‘no’ to someone’s last shot.”

Patrice Hallock, dean of health professions and education, Laurence Zoeckler, professor of education and Thomas Crist, Harold T. Clark Jr. Professor of Anthropology and Anatomy and professor of physical therapy, traveled to Butrint National Park in southern Albania in May as part of Utica College’s 16th Annual Forensic Anthropology/Bioarchaeology Field School.

Jason Francey, assistant director of college engagement, Nicholas Abounador, adjunct lecturer of theatre, Michael Diederich, adjunct lecturer of theatre, Laura Salvaggio, faculty theatre director, and Hannah DeStefano ’23 founded The Wilde Rep Theatre, located in New Hartford. Their first show, set in an insane asylum, opened in September.

Gary Leising, assistant professor of English, wrote an essay titled “View of ‘Mary Ventura and the Rebirth Kingdom.’” The piece examines the short story by Sylvia Plath. Leising’s essay, his third on Plath, was recently published in Indiana University’s journal Plath Profiles.

Annmarie Kinsella, assistant professor of occupational therapy, Dawn Evans, assistant professor of physical therapy, and Cynthia Love-Williams, associate professor of nursing, hosted a best practice presentation, “Preparing a Workforce for Interprofessional Practice,” at World Future Forum 2019 in April.

Juan Thomas, associate professor of Spanish, presented “Contact induced pluricentricity? The role of Anglicisms in forging a new variety of Spanish” at the Languages, Nations and Cultures conference in Stockholm, Sweden in May.

Thomas Rossi, professor of management, was awarded the Virgil Crisafulli Distinguished Teaching Award at the College’s undergraduate Commencement ceremony in May. Rossi was chosen through nominations made by colleagues and students, who described his teaching style as “passionate and effective,” and praised his ability to “share stories in the classroom that directly relate to personal, real-world experiences.”