Around the SUNY Oswego campus

Student Association President Eusebio Omar Van Reenen, torchbearer for the 29th annual Welcoming Torchlight Ceremony in Marano Campus Center arena, passes the Torch of Learning to new students Aug. 24, their first day on campus for the fall 2018 semester. Presented by the Oswego Alumni Association and the Future Alumni Network, the Welcoming Torchlight Ceremony is a tradition that serves as a bookend for the Commencement Eve Torchlight Ceremony, when the college’s alumni will pass the Torch of Learning to the graduating seniors.

College President Deborah F. Stanley (right) and selfie-taker Cliff-Simon Vital (left) reflect the spirit of the annual Welcome Picnic for new students and current members of the campus community Aug. 24 on the quad near Hewitt Hall. (Submitted by Cliff-Simon Vital)

With the help of the college’s volunteer Red Carpet Crew, students move into Johnson Hall Aug. 24 on the shore of Lake Ontario. Staff of the Office of Residence Life and Housing specialize in making residence hall check-in and move-in activities go quickly and efficiently. The college welcomed about 1,500 freshmen and 680 new transfers for the fall semester.

Circling up on a perfect day, a group on the academic quad enjoys Auxiliary Services’ Aug. 24 Welcome Picnic offerings, which included baked potato with sour cream and bacon, chicken spiedies, hot dogs, veggie burgers, salads, fresh fruit and cookies.

College President Deborah F. Stanley makes opening remarks Aug. 27 at the annual Opening Day Breakfast in Marano Campus Center arena. The president made special note of the plan to open, in stages, a rejuvenated Wilber Hall, paving the way in January for a fully centralized School of Education for the first time in nearly 50 years. The breakfast also served to welcome new faculty and professional staff (see slides 8 through 11) to SUNY Oswego, highlight a student-made video from communication studies faculty member Francisco Suarez’s Diversity in the Arts Documentary project, and to present a panel discussion on several of the college’s many study-abroad programs.

College President Deborah F. Stanley (left) and moderator Howard Gordon (right), in his last week as executive assistant to the president, pause for a photo Aug. 27 at the Opening Day Breakfast following a student panel titled “Beyond Borders to Unlimited Horizons.” The panelists responded to Gordon’s questions about the value of their experiences in global programs. From left are Arisleydis Taveras, a sophomore psychology and human development dual major, who traveled to Puerto Rico as part of the NY Stands with Puerto Rico Recovery and Rebuilding Initiative; junior zoology major George Gurgis, who performed research on bats in Costa Rica; senior marketing major Angelina Colone, who studied in Australia; senior biology major Asya Kadic, who traveled to Ecuador; and Student Association President Eusebio Omar Van Reenen, a junior biochemistry and political science dual major, who also took part in the rebuilding efforts in Puerto Rico.

Asya Kadic (center), a senior biology major, talks about the value of her study-abroad experiences in Ecuador during a panel discussion on international education at the Aug. 27 Opening Day Breakfast in Marano Campus Center arena. She is flanked by Angelina Colone, a senior in marketing who studied in Australia, and junior zoology major George Gurgis, who traveled to Costa Rica.

Kasey Fuller (right), a student working with the college’s English Conversation Partner Program, talks with Momoko Ogiso (dark blue sweatshirt) from Japan and Tianmeng Liu (purple hoodie) from China on Aug. 23 at orientation for international students in Shineman Center’s atrium. The program, directed by Linda LeFevre of mathematics, pairs international students with Oswego students or staff members who will regularly meet to practice speaking English and learn about the culture.

The ever-popular Del Sarte Dance Club attracts a crowd to its table Aug. 29 at the Student Involvement Fair in Marano Campus Center arena. Talking with visitors are club members Kaitlyn Lipari, president (near left); Katelyn Cook, treasurer (burgundy top); and Emily Nasal, secretary (next to sign). This semester’s Del Sarte shows will be Nov. 30 and Dec. 1 in Waterman Theatre.

Kelly Thompson, University Police officer and the department’s newly named community programs officer, talks with students Aug. 29 at the Student Involvement Fair. Students (from back) are Joshua Jeziorski, Nathan Couse and Emily Israel. Many of the college’s 200 student clubs and organizations and such Oswego community organizations as Oswego City Police, Greater Oswego-Fulton Chamber of Commerce and The Palladium-Times plus representatives of local businesses were on hand as students and other visitors by the thousands made their way among the tables.

New students taking part in Project Serve activities, assisting with spruce-up activities along the Lake Ontario shoreline on Aug. 25, take a break during this project partnering with the Shining Waters student organization. Project Serve provides community service opportunities that help set the tone for college careers that include paying attention to the needs of the environment and other people.

The Student Involvement Fair claims a shady spot on the academic quad as the Equestrian Club puts 17-year-old Chester at the center of attention. Maddy Kaleta (center in green T-shirt), vice president of the Oswego State Equestrian Team, provides information about the student club while inviting visitors to pet Chester, whose appearance was courtesy of JD Performance Horses in Scriba.

Students and political science faculty member Allison Rank (not pictured) work to register students Aug. 24 near Hart Hall Global Living and Learning Center during the Welcome Picnic. Their work carries on the high-energy non-partisan campaign that Vote Oswego ran during the 2016 election season.

Sitting on a bench inscribed in his honor, Howard Gordon (left) and college President Deborah F. Stanley (right) pause Aug. 30 in Marano Campus Center arena for a commemorative photo during the reception honoring Gordon on his 42 years working for SUNY Oswego. Stanley also presented Gordon, her longtime executive assistant, with the SUNY Oswego Presidential Medal for his many outstanding contributions to the college, including what the president called “bringing his unwavering commitment to equity and social justice to bear in all his spheres of influence.”

Chris (left) and Deborah West, alumni of the class of 1991, traveled back to campus to recognize and thank one of their biggest supporters and mentors, Howard Gordon. In her hearfelt announcement of Gordon’s retirement, college President Deborah F. Stanley said, in part, “Howard has the true attributes of a mentor and guide: he listens and hears; he focuses his care and concern; he doesn’t judge or dismiss anyone’s needs; he is wise.”

Magdalena Rivera (right), the college’s student involvement coordinator, pauses for a photo with Gordon in front of the collage of student photos that has graced his office for years. Rivera now works with student leaders to coordinate the weeklong, multicultural ALANA (African, Latino, Asian and Native American) Student Leadership Conference that Gordon co-founded 32 years ago to allow all members of the campus community to interact positively in an atmosphere of mutual consideration and understanding.

Sophomore wellness management major Fadi Gaye greets Howard Gordon (a 1974 graduate who later earned his master’s degree in 1978) at his retirement reception, where hundreds celebrated his profound impact on the college over nearly half a century as an integral part of SUNY Oswego, dating from his own years as a student.

Winners of 2018 President’s Awards gather Aug. 22 at the annual Academic Affairs Retreat. From left are history faculty member Frank Byrne, who received the President’s Award for Excellence in Faculty Service; Eric Schmitz, music, President’s Award for Excellence in Scholarly and Creative Activity; Ampalavanar Nanthakumar, mathematics, President’s Award for Excellence in Scholarly and Creative Activity; David Dunn, biological sciences, President’s Award for Excellence in Academic Advisement; Gonzalo Aguiar Malosetti, modern languages and literatures, President’s Award for Excellence in Academic Advisement; and Fehmi Damkaci, chemistry, President’s Award for Teaching Excellence. Missing from photo: Rebecca Burch, human development, President’s Award for Excellence in Faculty Service.

Scott Furlong (right), provost and vice president of academic affairs, meets with Provost’s Award winners Aug. 22 at the annual Academic Affairs Retreat. From left are Charles Itzin of English and creative writing, who received the Provost’s Award for Teaching Excellence for Part-Time Faculty; Vadoud Niri, chemistry, Provost’s Award for Mentoring in Scholarly & Creative Activity; and Laura Donnelly, English and creative writing, Provost’s Award for Scholarly and Creative Activity. The retreat also featured a talk by Derald Wing Sue, professor of psychology and education at Columbia University’s Teachers College, titled “Race Talk and the Conspiracy of Silence: Understanding and Facilitating Difficult Dialogues on Race.”

Recipients of Awards of Excellence in Research and Sponsored Programs gather Aug. 22 at the Academic Affairs Retreat with William Bowers (right), associate provost for research and sponsored programs. From left are modern languages and literatures faculty member Ching Hung Hsiao, who earned a bronze medal for reaching the $250,000 level in cumulative external funds; Peter Rosenbaum, biological sciences, silver medal ($500,000 level); and Jean Hallagan, curriculum and instruction, and Nicole Brown, Field Placement Office, both gold medals ($1 million level). Missing from photo: Sofia Windstam, biological sciences, gold medal; and Christopher Chandler, biological sciences, silver medal.

Oswego State seniors (from left) Samantha Bree, a zoology major; Cassidy Livingston, zoology; and Lucas Grove, a dual major in philosophy and psychology, buy some vegetables Aug. 30 from Miracle Gardens in Fulton, which says it uses no chemicals or pesticides, during College Night at the Oswego Farmers Market. At right is Ann O’Brien, at the table as the vendor’s helper. The popular market runs 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. each Thursday into October along West First Street between Bridge and Oneida streets in downtown Oswego.