News From Fort Schuyler

May 2, 1999 - Volume 3, No. 22

MOVING IN - A familiar face has reappeared here at Fort Schuyler. The new Director of Student Support Services is LEO THIBAULT, who worked here from 1989-1991. Welcome aboard.

MOVING UP - The Maritime College Sailing Team is now ranked 18th in the nation, according to Waterfront Director, DAVE COUGHLIN, Class of 1988. A total of 337 college teams are ranked. The rankings are updated bi-weekly at http://www.icyra.org

RISER REMEMBERED - Several NFFS subscribers who requested the piece about GEORGE RISER written by LEN SUTTER, Class of 1953, added additional memories: "He was at the Fort in July 1942 when I entered." writes IAN McCUNN, Class of 1944. "Quite a character as I recall. He kept us on the straight and narrow at all times. Discipline is just what most of us needed to get a good start in a new life style. He was always strict but fair. Behind his back we would all mimic the way he would walk, always with his thumbs sticking out straight ahead with the remaining fingers of both hands curled up tightly, fist style."

A contemporary of Len Sutter, CRAIG SMITH, Class of 1954, writes: "Congratulations to Len for the well written tribute to everyone's favorite. No wonder the academic profs at the Fort's Officer's Mess sat in thrall of him. -- They'd never seen anything quite like George R., as I've heard it. One of the verses of the Schuyler ditty I pick with the guitar goes:

You work for the first class
You do your job and then
George Riser comes around
And you do it all again.

DATE SET FOR TRADITION - A message from ANDREW SULLIVAN, Class of 1974, may provide the starting date for Rip-Off Day: "I see that a member of the Class of 1975 writes of his experience concerning First Class Rip-Off Day. However, I do not recall any such custom when I graduated one year earlier, so it may well be that 1975 was the first year for this tradition to have started.

SPEAKING FOR THE DEFENSE - "If it ain't broken, don't fix it," is the subject heading of a note about Rip-Off Day from MICHAEL McVANEY, Class of 1992: " People in general are products of their particular mix of life experiences... some positive, some negative and some of no consequence at all. For those of us who graduated from Ft. Schuyler, the results of our experiences there are invariably positive... regardless of how we perceived them at the time or now for that matter. Even those who harbor only negative memories of their time at the Dome eventually admit that they too have benefited from their time there." "

Once outside the hallowed halls of the "Dome" the difference between graduates from our school and so called "normal" colleges becomes readily apparent. The ability to remain flexible and more realistically focused on a task (or many tasks) is something which cannot normally be taught in the classroom, yet most Schuyler grads possess this skill without realizing where it came from." "I find it amusing how often the administration of the school took a stance against activities such as the annual "rip off" in an effort to thwart activities deemed as wasteful and unprofessional. Yet it never stopped these same people from conducting a number of unannounced "contraband" searches on the Training Ship in the hopes of finding who was hiding all of the "missing" toilet paper..."

"For reasons unknown to many, the SUNY Maritime graduate is a powerful and welcome commodity in practically all industries, afloat and ashore. By the time most of us were ready to graduate, we had learned through experience how to deal with the inconsistencies of the "real world" through the occasionally enforced policies of the school. How hard can a 9 to 5 job be, after almost getting thrown out of school for not making your bed?" "Maturity is not necessarily a direct reflection of childish behavior (such as the annual rip-off) but knowing when the participation in such behavior is OK or not. The sense of camaraderie we all felt on that day is one that cannot be generated through any academic pursuits no matter how well planned or executed."

"In my opinion, it is very important that the administration continue to discourage the annual rip off, and equally important that the tradition continue. Should the administration feel it necessary to extract their pound of flesh, such punishment should be no more severe than having to clean up the mess when it is all over. If there was nothing to rise up against (namely the administration's official negative view) the event would have little significance." "Traditions of this type do little harm to all concerned and benefit just about everyone involved. Foolhardy exercises like painting the tower of the T-neck bridge, on the other hand, is an accident waiting to happen and will hopefully not continue." "In short... LET THE FIRST CLASS HAVE THEIR DAY, BUT DON'T GIVE IT TO THEM. As a simple, enjoyable and memorable rite of passage, each class should take the steps necessary to buck the system and enjoy the annual "rip off" to its fullest."

CAREER NEWS FROM SAN DIEGO - This career update from MIKE McVANEY. "Presently I'm working for MSC at the Fire Fighting School in San Diego. Following graduation in 1992, I sailed with MSCPAP from 1992 to 1997, advanced to Cargo Officer and obtained my Chief Mate's license and 1600 ton Master's license along the way."