News From Fort Schuyler

March 6, 1998 - Volume 2, No. 12

STANDING IN THE NEED OF PRAYER - Prof. FEN-DOW CHU, Professor of Engineering, will be undergoing multiple bypass surgery on Friday, March 6, at a New Jersey hospital. Fen-Dow teaches many courses in the naval architecture program, including Ship Design, Ship Structures, and Dynamic Systems. We wish him a speedy recuperation and a quick return to the classroom.

FORTY YEARS AND GOING STRONG - Dr. JOEL JAY BELSON, Shakespeare scholar and a long-time chairman of the Humanities Department, has just embarked upon his 41st year of teaching English and literature at Fort Schuyler. In a laudatory letter printed in The New York Mari-Times, the official college house-organ, Dr. KAREN MARKOE, who now chairs the Humanities Department, notes that Dr. Belson, a mentor to students and colleagues alike, is known for his low-key, thoughtful approach, his patience, and his intellectual drive. She also writes, "The current Humanities Department is largely his creation." Dr. Belson, thanks for dedicating your career to the students at Maritime.

ALUMNI ASSOCIATION E-EMAIL ADDRESS - According to the new issue of The Alumni Bulletin, news items for the Bulletin can now be e-mailed to the Editor at: director@fsmaa.org

SIGNS OF CHANGE (CONTINUED) - It wasn't so many years ago that the college catalog contained a federal prohibition against marriage in the Cadet Corps. Now I can report that the March issue of The New York Mari-Times includes an entire column devoted to reporting three cadet-to-cadet engagements and one marriage of a 1/c cadet to a non-cadet spouse who lives off campus. Some things do change for the better, don't they ? :)

FROM FLEA MARKET TO FREE MARKET - That's the subtitle of a presentation about "Russia and Eastern Europe Today" co-sponsored by the Naval Science Department and the Luce Library Lecture Series. The program will feature a documentary produced and directed by the featured speaker, Dr. MILDRED POLLNER, who will then lead a discussion of the social, political, legal, military and economic changes taking place. FREE Wednesday, March 18 at 4:30 at the Lecture Hall in the Science/Engineering Building FREE.

ALUMNI ASSOCIATION MEMBERSHIP ARE STILL AVAILABLE - Even though this newsletter is not associated with the Alumni Association, I urge your participation in that group. This Newsletter has clearly demonstrated that there is a lot of history, shared experiences and camaraderie out there which could be put to good use in insuring that the Maritime College of today and tomorrow continues to offer marvelous opportunities to new generations of cadets. A group with a common purpose can make things happen on a scale that individual efforts could never attain. Dare I use the favorite concept which JOSE FEMENIA, Class of 1964, used during his years as chairman of the Engineering Department? That concept is "synergy," i.e., wherein the total effect of cooperative actions is greater than the sum of individual actions. SUNY Maritime College is unique, so are its alumni and its students. For membership information please e-mail: director@fsmaa.org

CORRECTION - No, the newly re-elected Alumni Association president is NOT from the Class of 1996. My typo. TOM FOX is actually Class of 1962, but he does look much younger than his years.

MORE ON THE BIG U - On March 21, our Maritime Industry Museum will be presenting an illustrated lecture featuring the eminent maritime historian and author, WILLIAM MILLER. Mr. Miller will discuss "The SS United States and Other Great American Liners." This special event will be held in the Museum's Underwater Artifacts Exhibit area from 5:00 - 7:00 on Saturday, March 21. The cost, which includes a cocktail reception, is $25.00 per person, tax deductible. Please call 718-409-7218 for reservations.

VISITING LONDON? - The Propeller Club, Port of London Chapter, has recently elected CARL HAUSHEER, Class of 1979, as secretary/treasurer. Carl, who works on the advertising side of Fairplay Magazine, has been based in England for a number of years. You are surely welcome to drop by for a meeting, a meeting which will probably be relevant and interesting because Carl is also the events organizer and coordinator for the chapter. You can contact Carl at: Carl@fairplay.co.uk

(Source: Lloyd's List, February 26, 1998 and e-mail correspondence)

WHAT'S IN A NAME? - In response to last week's note about Frank Dunham, who survived the 1942 torpedoing and sinking of his ship, SS STEEL SCIENTIST. A Class of 1953 graduate, CHARLIE MILLER, writes: "I was Junior Third aboard Isthmian SS STEEL SCIENTIST on the Persian run back in the 50's and had no idea of the fate of its predecessor, or even that there was a predecessor. She was a C-3 and a nice ship." (Source: E-mail correspondence)