News From Fort Schuyler

November 26, 1999 - Volume 3, No. 54

FIDDLE-DE-DEE - There will be a violin-piano concert at the college on Thursday, December 2. The Serafin Duo, featuring Marsha Winokur and Jack Katz, will perform in the Carpeted Lounge of Baylis Hall (the campus high-rise dormitory) beginning at 8 PM. Co-sponsored by the Library Lecture Program and the Humanities Department, the concert is part of the "Evolution of Music" course taught by Professor KEVIN BOON. The Duo, which also played here last year, provides historical and technical commentary for each piece and entertains questions afterwards. Everyone is welcome to this free concert.

WEST COAST CONVIVIALITY - Sunday, December 5 has been designated as get-together day for maritimers at San Diego's Marine Corps Recruiting Depot Bay View Restaurant beginning at 1700. Or, in the words of ED DANGLER, Class of 1949, "Invitation to all alumni of any maritime academy, college, USCG Academy, Kings Pointless, Fort Squalor, Mess Maritime, Maniac U, Texass A and M, Cal Merrytime, whatever, and supporters of maritime industry (including maritime attorneys)" Call Ed at 619-225-8884.

THAT BRAVE BAND - 1/C Band Company Commander, CARRON GIFFORD, Class of 2000, responds to the query about the band from KIRBY STROSS, Class of 1977, posted in the 8 October NFFS: "Yes, we still have a band. Our advisor is Commander TOM JEFFREY. He was in the military band during his time of duty in the Army. He still plays the drums in different jazz bands. We rehearse once a week during the Regimental Activity period. That way there are no conflicts with sports. We represent the school at various functions such as IDO Week, Homecoming Pass-in-review, the AAPA Convention at the NY Hilton, Bronx Columbus Day Parade and Bronx Veterans' Parade....We still do the St. Patrick's Day Parade in NYC...We are still a small group of people who enjoy getting together and playing. Thank you for thinking of us and happy playing."

NOAA NEEDS ENGINEERS - This brief note from GERD GLANG, Class of 1984, was forwarded to the Placement Office on Monday: "The NOAA fleet has immediate openings for licensed engineers. Interested folks can check out http://www.easc.noaa.gov/hrd/wmjobs.htm "

FAMILY TIES, PLUS - Not only is Mug EDWARD HULICK, Class of 2003, the grandson of William H. HULICK III, Class of 1943, but also back in the 1930's, his maternal great-grandfather, Edward Spencer Wright, was the WPA artisan who installed the inlaid compass rose in the mosaic floor of the Mess Deck (now the Luce Library Reading Room.) As his grandfather, Edward H. Wright, notes: "The mosaic has worn well through these 65 years of students' footprints for it is every bit as handsome in 1999 as it was in 1934." [And a posthumous salute to LESTER A. DUTCHER, Class of 1949, who led a successful effort to uncover that splendid brass compass rose after it was covered over by carpeting in the 1960's.]

MILSPECS - REFORM - CLASSIFICATION - ASTM Committee F25 on Ships and Marine Technology holds a seminar in New Orleans on December 8 moderated by CAPT. CHARLES PIERSALL, Class of 1956. The title of the seminar is: "Government Acquisition Reform and its Impact on the Maritime Industry." For more information contact Diane Rehiel: drehiel@astm.org

BULK CARRIER UNLOADING PRACTICE - NOT was the subject line of a recent email message from BARRY PARKER, an active member of the Connecticut Maritime Association and longtime friend of the Luce Library reference staff. He provides a link to images of the Capesize bulker, LASSIA, which sagged while discharging iron ore at Taranto, Italy, suggesting that: "The site may be of interest to undergraduates, graduates in naval architecture and stowage, as well as faculty members in these areas," [to which your editor adds readers of NFFS] http://www.conconnect.com/lassia.htm (Note: Server may be down holiday weekend)

TIMESMAN - Even though he retires from the college at the end of this semester, DR. JOEL JAY BELSON, Professor of English in the Humanities Department, remains a fully-engaged scholar. In a letter to the editor piece in the November 20 NY Times, Dr. Belson addressed the free speech questions brought about by a controversial Holocaust denial advertisement in the Hofstra University student paper. He quoted Ben Franklin as he argued that newspapers do not restrict free speech when they reject dishonest or deliberately offensive advertisements. [BTW - our best wishes to Dr. Belson who began teaching English at Fort Schuyler in 1957.)

125TH ANNIVERSARY KICKOFF - December 10 marks the beginning of the school's one hundred twenty fifth year with a lunchtime "Birthday Party and Cake Cutting Ceremony" at the Mess Deck for students, faculty, cadets, and invited dignitaries. December 10 is also the last day of classes before final exams, so the event will be short (just one speech) and sweet (that cake). There will be other events marking the 125 anniversary during the school year, however, culminating in the 12th Annual Admiral's Ball on April 8, 2000.

CLIVE' S COMING - The Luce Library will be hosting an appearance by best-selling author CLIVE CUSSLER on Tuesday, December 7. For details go to: http://www.sunymaritime.edu/LIBRARY.WEB/clive_page.htm