News From Fort Schuyler

January 11, 2002 - Volume 6, No. 1

LINK SCHOLAR - Cadet ABAYOMI ADEMUWAGUN, Class of 2003, is one of three state-wide recipients of a Eugene P. Link scholarship funded by SUNY's faculty/professional union, United University Professions. Cadet Ademuwagun is a marine engineering major. According to an article in the November issue of the UUP publication, The Voice, (http://www.uupinfo.org/voice/nov/nov01h.html) "Ademuwagun was born in southern Nigeria into what he describes as an economically humble, but religious family. The philosophy of this 28-year old son of school teachers is simple, yet profound. 'I believe that until a man realizes that he lives for others, he has not started to live his life.'" Back on campus, one of his teachers, Professor GIL TRAUB of the Science Department, extolls Ademuwagun as an 'excellent student who works doggedly on problems.'"

PIPEDREAMS - Local cable news station, NewYork1 (http://www.ny1.com/Boroughs/bronx.html) reports that the controversial Iroquois natural gas pipeline initially routed to go under Fort Schuyler's Throgs Neck neighborhood instead will go underwater. Readers of the Feb. 18 2001 NFFS will remember that underwater alternative routing was initially suggested by then Engineering Department chairman, CHARLES MUNSCH, Class of 1973. For more about Prof. Munsch, click here.

ACDUTRA (IT'S NOT A CAR) - Many SUNY Maritime graduates participate in the Merchant Marine Reserve program. Did you know that as Merchant Marine Reserve Officers you CAN come back home to Schuyler for your two week ACDUTRA training course ? In fact, you will be welcomed back with opened arms. For details, contact CAPT. JOSEPH AHLSTROM, Class of 1982, at 718-409-7279 or Captainahlstrom@juno.com

REGIONAL RECRUITING - According to a notice from the Washington, DC, Alumni Association chapter, the new DC-area recruiting contact is the aptly named, DONALD SEAMAN, Class of 1971. If you know bright, motivated young male or female prospects for the college who should take advantage of the in-state tuition rate offered to residents of the DC region, contact Don at dseaman4@csc.com

BOOK NOTES - One of the most prolific authors in the Humanities Department, Dr. JULIE WOSK, has a new book, published by Johns Hopkins University Press. Dr. Wosk writes that Women and the Machine: Representations From the Spinning Wheel to the Electronic Age" is filled with images of women and automobiles, bicycles, airplanes, and a whole range of other machines, including women working at Rosie the Riveter jobs during wartime." The book got good reviews and you can check out the cover art at the www.Amazon.com or Johns Hopkins University Press websites.

DISTINGUISHED GATHERING - The Alumni Association's annual Awards Night banquet at the New York Athletic Club recognized the achievements of two graduates and one long-time staff member. The 2001 Distinguished Alumnus of the Year was RONALD C.RASMUS, Class of 1960. Ron, President of Great Lakes Towing, Chairman of the Maritime College at Fort Schuyler Foundation, and former cadet librarian, gave a stem-winding acceptance speech ( posted here.) JOE TARTAGLIA, Class of 1976, received an Outstanding Recognition Award for his work in developing the Alumni Association website and implementing "DomeNet" the online discussion list for alumni. Joe is president of High Caliber Systems, a Manhattan-based computer service/Internet provider. NFFS Editor and former College Librarian, RICHARD CORSON, was awarded an Outstanding Service Award, "In recognition of his many years of dedicated library service to the Maritime College community and its cadets." Needless to say, the warm words, the plaque, the medallion, and all the good wishes from this sold-out alumni event was greatly appreciated by this recipient.

SALTY TALK - "'Bung Up and Bilge Free' was a phrase used in the stowage of casks. It means that the bungs (bungs are sort of like a wooden cork) should be up and that the cask should rest on skids so as to raise the bilge or middle of the cask clear of the deck. (Bungs was also a shipboard slang for the cooper who constructed the casks.)" This nautical tidbit was forwarded to NFFS by JANE FITZPATRICK, Associate Librarian at the Luce Library. She found it at the Wordsmith website, www.wordsmith.org/awad, which mails subscribers a new word a day.

LICENSE ? SURE - Now anyone can get a Maritime license - for their vehicles. New York State sells "New York Maritime College" custom license plates - you can even get them personalized. For more information go to the Maritime College Parents' Association website at www.sunymaritime.org