Students Honor Hank Kirchner as He Retires
By Jennifer Juste
University at Albany students gathered November 29 to honor Henry (Hank) Kirchner, associate vice president for Student Affairs, on his retirement after 31 years of service to the University. The banquet, sponsored by the Student Association, attracted more than 60 students, several student leaders, and members of the University administration. The previous day, Kirchner was honored by Student Affairs at a celebration given in the Fireside Lounge of the Campus Center.

Vice President for Student Affairs James P. Doellefeld said, “Henry Kirchner is a wise and good man who sets the standard over more than 31 years for commitment to UAlbany students.”

Having served in several administrative capacities, Kirchner was instrumental in the coordination of the UAlbany-hosted Special Olympics and the New York Giants summer training camp.

“The reason we held a ceremony for Hank,” said Student Association Vice President Jessica Juste, “was specifically to show appreciation for his dedication to the student body.” Kirchner was an advocate for higher education, financial aid, campus safety and security, and the quality of student life. He also played an integral role in the implementation of significant, long-standing student initiatives, including the Don’t Walk Alone program and the Five-Quad Volunteer Ambulance service. “He’s had a tremendous impact on the students,” said senior Benjamin Kallos.

Nick LoVuolo, chair of the Student Association Central Council, emceed the students’ banquet, which was held in the atrium of the new library. He kept the spirit of the event lighthearted, though many speakers gave thanks with humble and tear-filled anecdotes. The long list of accolades included those from Five Quad Ambulance, Don’t Walk Alone, the Inter-Fraternity Council, ROTC, and the Earthtones. Kirchner was presented with a unanimously approved resolution recognizing his accomplishments, as well as a mayoral proclamation which declared November 29 as “Hank Kirchner Day.”

“It’s a real statement when students rally to support an administrator,” LoVuolo said. “The event definitely meant something to him.”

Faculty & Staff

UPD Deputy Chief Speaks at National Conference
Doug Kern, deputy chief of the University Police Department, accepted an invitation from the Department of Justice in November to speak at a Northeastern University conference on “Race Relations on New England Campuses.”

Kern, a nationally recognized instructor on this topic, has presented at police academies and universities, including the University of Southern California, Weber State, the State University of New York College at Oneonta, and Williams College. His article, “Managing Racial Incidents with a Team Approach,” is considered a standard resource in the field of campus policing (IACLEA Monograph, 1993).

Kern told the group, “In the late 1980s and early ’90s, several campuses in the State University system experienced unfortunate incidents between their campus police departments and students of color. At the time, I was the director of in-service training for all 526 police officers in the system. The assistant vice chancellor responsible for police services asked me to review these incidents and figure out what the officers were doing right and what they were missing. As a graduate of the School of Criminal Justice at Albany, I went back to my academic roots for an approach. I analyzed the incidents, looking for common elements of both success and failure on the part of campus police. Those common elements became the nucleus of a training program for campus police that I still present today. But, sadly, many universities and colleges send their officers through this training only after the campus has been traumatized by an incident.”

Kern said the greatest reward is having a police officer call him months or even years after the training to say that it worked and helped him or her successfully intervene in such a situation.

Rota and McCarthy Offer Presentations at National Conference
Tiziana Rota, Ph.D., associate executive director of University Auxiliary Services (UAS), and Brian McCarthy, system administrator for SUNYCard, jointly presented a paper, “Road to Gold: From an Old System to a Gold One,” at the annual conference of Card Systems Users’ Group held on November 7-11 in Fort Worth, Texas, and sponsored by the University of Texas at Arlington. McCarthy also gave a presentation on “On-line Door Access.”

Both papers dealt with a major upgrade of the SUNYCard system that was completed in April. The new software, named “CS Gold,” has allowed the SUNYCard system to expand its capacity. The paper that was jointly delivered focused on the role and need for administrative support, training and planning for the changeover, as well as the necessary conceptual changes in how things will get done under the new system. The second paper dealt with the paradigm shift and technical aspects of providing door access to a diverse population.

Honoring the Victims of Flight 587 President
Karen R. Hitchcock’s Remarks at December 6 Memorial Service in the Campus Center Ballroom
Good morning. Thank you all so very much for joining us here today to remember and honor the victims of the November 12 crash of American Airlines Flight 587.

Nearly three months ago, our nation was horrified by the senseless and tragic loss of life in the terrorist attacks in New York City, at the Pentagon, and in Pennsylvania. Then, last month, we were immersed yet again in grief and shock when American Airlines Flight 587, bound for the Dominican Republic, crashed in Queens, killing all 260 aboard and five residents of the Belle Harbor section of the Rockaways. That neighborhood, and Washington Heights, where many of the passengers had lived, had already lost many loved ones in the World Trade Center attack.

And again, the University at Albany mourned. In the days since the crash, we have learned that several people with UAlbany connections were lost in this latest tragedy. Five of our students and alumni lost one of their parents; and students, staff, alumni and other members of our extended University family lost relatives and loved ones.

Today we honor each and every one of these victims, and our thoughts and prayers are with the loving family members they left behind.

The passengers aboard Flight 587 were returning home, or going on vacation; anticipating family reunions and retirement and other joyous times. For many of those on the ground, November 12 was a holiday - the observance of Veterans Day - a time to relax at home and enjoy family and friends. However, the holiday had a much different outcome than anyone could have anticipated.

So today, we gather again to grieve. To derive comfort from one another. To offer consolation to those who lost their loved ones. And to share with one another the strength that will enable us to endure these losses, and go on with our lives.

The University at Albany family has always been strong, compassionate, and united in its response to suffering and grief. It is in that spirit of unity that I ask you now to join hands and observe a moment of silence for the family members and loved ones of our University at Albany family lost to us on November 12.

May these, and all the victims of Flight 587, be at peace, and remain in our thoughts and prayers. And may those of us left behind find in one another the compassion, the support, and the love that will sustain us through our sorrow.

Cyprus Delegation

H.E. Nicos A. Rolandis, minister of Commerce, Industry, and Tourism for the Republic of Cyprus, brought a high-level delegation to UAlbany in early December for talks on building an effective international partnership. Shown with President Karen R. Hitchcock. /Photo by Mark Schmidt

UAlbany In The News
By Lisa James Goldsberry

The December 2 issue of Newsday quoted Alan Chartock, a professor in the Department of Communication, in an article titled “Dems’ New Chair Just What the Party Ordered.” Chartock stated his opinion about the leadership qualities of Assemblyman Herman Farrell, the new chairman of the New York State Democratic party, the first African-American lawmaker to hold that position.

The December 3 issue of The New York Times featured information about the UAlbany vs. Syracuse University basketball game, played at the Pepsi Arena. In addition, the paper mentioned the UAlbany vs. Siena College game, also played at the Pepsi Arena, in the November 28 issue. The two teams played each other for the first time in 24 years.

The December 2001 issue of American Demographics magazine quoted Richard Alba, a professor of sociology, in an article titled, “Shifting Identities.” The article noted that as U.S. residents become removed from their immigrant roots, a growing number identify with America; Alba discussed the decline in people claiming English and German roots.

The December 9 issue of The Washington Post’s magazine section featured Taimour Khan (B.A.’94), one of the many thousands who perished during the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center on September 11. The article, titled “The Geography of Grief,” discussed how Khan’s family started in Afghanistan, barely survived India, and later moved to New York. It also stated that he was president of the economics society at UAlbany and while here, drove around in a sports car with an oversized fin on the back.