FMSAA
News From Fort Schuyler
November 20, 1998 - Volume 2, No. 54
RETIREMENT PLANS FOR DR. ENGLISH - The Vice President for Academic Affairs, Howard L. English, Jr., has announced that he plans to retire at the end of the academic year. Howard, who first came to the Maritime College as Assistant Registrar, has been a member of the administration for twenty-six years. In addition to his administrative duties, Dr. English has also maintained his teaching credentials by teaching history courses in the Humanities Department. More later.
INVITING ALUMNI AUTHORS - There are many reminisces and good sea-stories relating to the college and its graduates residing in the NFFS readership. Past issues of NFFS have contained some short alumni pieces. I have put aside other alumni accounts which were too long for inclusion in NFFS. Recently, several alumni expressed interest in sharing and reading longer accounts relating to their experiences as cadets and as maritime professionals. These could be individual accounts or compilations. For example, KARL E. HUBNER, Class of 1954 has offered to compile and edit accounts about the night the training ship broke loose from the pier in the 1950's -- certainly an incident of high drama which could have ended in disaster. Not only could this story then be enjoyed by the readership, but such documentation about the college, its history, and its graduates would also benefit the Luce Library Archives Collection. If anyone has experiences to relate or suggestions for compilations like Karl suggests, let me know - <mailto:rcorson@sunymaritime.edu>
CONVOY TO MURMANSK PQ15 - A prime example of an alumni account of a maritime-related experience after graduation can be seen in this 12-page piece, written by WALTER HESSE, Class of 1940. The Luce Library added a title page, some light editing and footnotes, printed it on acid-free paper, and put it in a binder. We plan to catalog it for our collection. A copy has also been placed in the Archives Collection with other alumni writings. The question is how to make a relatively brief account such as Walter's available to interested readers OUTSIDE the Luce Library ? NFFS is certainly NOT the vehicle! Perhaps the Alumni Bulletin and/or the Alumni Association Website could accommodate works like this on a regular basis as a series. For the time being, however, I will attempt to post Walter's piece as e-mail to those requesting it.
TUNNEL VISION - Several alumni have expressed an interest in a grand underground tour of the unseen portions of Fort Schuyler. BRENDAN THOMPSON, Class of 1991, writes: "When I was a cadet, I was stymied from further exploration due to a lack of time (I actually did study) and keeping my demerits down ! If we can get the Fort Historian to get the fort plans out...A flashlight tour would definitely entice me up to The Bronx, if nothing else to confirm these various tunnel locations. Homecoming 99 sounds so far off !"
COMPETITION HEATS UP - Another marathoner from Fort Schuyler crossed the finish line this year. BOB LANG, Class of 1958, writes "I ran in the Marine Corps Marathon on 11/23/98 (No. 7003) and came in 5,913 in a time of 4 hours, 27 minutes and 45 seconds. It was my 9th marathon and 6th Marine Corps Marathon. My best time was 3 hours and 12 minutes, but that was a few years ago." Not bad for a young man.
A TROT NOT A MARATHON - The college Office of Athletics has organized an Intermural X-Country Turkey Trot which is set for Monday, November 23. The race, open to cadets, will provide turkeys to the winning male and female runners and to four other race finishers picked by lottery. The starting gun goes off at 1600 sharp. The campus Turkey Trot course measures 3.1 miles.
HOW DO YOU TELL IT IS ALMOST DECEMBER? At the Maritime College the best harbinger of the season is the arrival of the Parents' Association Holiday Raffle ticket books. Sure as a sea-going chronometer, the envelope showed up this week. The raffle supports such worthy programs as the Ship's Library video program, so we think its a great thing - and the prizes are very nice. This year the winners will be posted on the Parents' Association web site: http://www.sunymaritime.org You can still call for tickets at 718-339-8448.
DON'T BELIEVE EVERYTHING YOU READ, EVEN IF YOU WROTE THEM - In 1973 these hopeful words appeared in the "For your Information" section of the library publication, MARITIMA: " We have learned that the 1974/75 capital budget contains funds for the long awaited project to air-condition the library. Design work starts in May, installation is scheduled to begin in December." Guess what ?