French North African Literature Offered
The Department of French Studies has begun offering a new graduate course on North African literature. The course, "Culture et identite dans le roman maghrebin de langue francaise," will be taught by Tunisian scholar Hedi Abdell Jaouad.
Art Exhibits Among Top Ten
The University at Albany Art Museum has been recognized by the Sunday Gazette for presenting three of the "Year�s Top Ten" 1997 art shows in the Capital Region.
The Museum�s three exhibits listed by the Gazette � "Memory and Mourning: Shared Cultural Experience," exhibited Sept. 21 - Nov. 9; "Artists of the Mohawk-Hudson Region: Juried Exhibition," June 17 - July 27; and "Once Upon a Drawing: the Picture Book Illustrations of Marcia Brown," March 15 - April 27 � placed 2nd, 4th, and 5th, respectively.
Peg Churchill Wright, arts editor of the Gazette, called Memory and Mourning "richly researched and eloquently presented." The museum recently installed the catalog "Witness & Legacy Contemporary Art About The Holocaust," which is produced by the Minnesota Museum of Modern Art.
Delegation from Guinea-Bissau�s Judiciary Visits
A high-ranking delegation from the West African nation of Guinea-Bissau is visiting the Capital Region on a program hosted by the University�s Center for Legislative Development (CLD)
The delegation includes Chief Justice Mamadu Saliu Djalo Pires of Guinea-Bissau�s supreme court, Attorney General Juliano Fernandes, Judge Fernando Jorge Ribeiro from the regional court of Bissau, Clerk of Court Mario Coba Balde, and Lourival Zagonel, director of the Judicial Reform Project in Guinea-Bissau.
Abdo I. Baaklini, director of the Center and professor of public administration in the Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy, said the members of the delegation, whose visit in Albany began Jan. 26 and runs to Feb. 14, are spearheading a judicial reform program in Guinea-Bissau. "Their visit will enable them to acquaint themselves with the procedures and policies of judicial systems in the U.S. and Brazil," said Baaklini.
"Part of Guinea-Bissau�s effort to develop politically and economically is for their judiciary to acquire the institutional capacity to act as a full partner in its developing democracy. The delegation�s visit to the United States will assist in that effort."
Guinea-Bissau gained its independence from Portugal in 1973 and in the late 1980s began mobilizing its efforts to liberalize its economic and political institutions. Supporting that effort, CLD became a partner in the Trade and Investment Promotion Support (TIPS) Project, sponsored by the U.S. Agency for International Development, assisting in strengthening Guinea-Bissau�s judicial and parliamentary systems in order to facilitate and sustain their transition to democracy.
The delegation met with Judge Joseph Bellacosa of the State Court of Appeals, Albany County District Attorney Sol Greenburg, a representative from the State Senate�s Judiciary Committee, the Government Law Center at Albany Law School, and a tour of the Rensselaer County Jail. They will attended seminars directed by Baaklini and other members of the University faculty.
Baaklini said, "Despite the differences between New York State and Guinea-Bissau, there is a shared vision of creating and maintaining judicial systems that work to protect the individual citizen and to stay the national course of democracy."
Post Doctoral Fellowships For Underrepresented
For the second straight year, the University is sponsoring a post-doctoral fellowship program for underrepresented individuals. Students from historically underrepresented groups � such as African Americans, Latinos, and Native Americans � that have completed the doctoral degree on or before Wednesday, July 1, or in the past four years are eligible to apply.
The first recipient of the University fellowship was Robert Lartey, a Ph.D. graduate of Tulane University. Lartey�s area of specialty is plant pathology and his faculty mentor at the University is Dmitry Belostotsky of the Department of Biological Sciences.
Department Merger
By a vote of their faculties, the French Studies, Hispanic and Italian Studies, and Slavic Languages and Literature departments have been consolidated into a single new department: The Department of Languages, Literatures and Cultures.
UPD Project Receives SUNY Recognition
The University�s Security Service Assistants (SSA) Residence Hall Pilot Project was chosen by SUNY�s Faculty Senate Student Life Committee as one of four model programs for improving the safety and quality of life for students and staff on SUNY campuses. The program, which began in April 1995, involves temporary SSAs working in the Residence Halls between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m.
The SSAs function as additional eyes and ears of both University Police and Residential Life staff. SSAs are at all quadrangle entrances, checking identification and admit guests, and also patrol at night.
"This is a prestigious selection and we are very proud of the initiative," said UPD Chief Frank Wiley. Crimes affected by patrol such as burglary and criminal mischief dropped 14.7% for the period of September 1995 through March 1996. All crimes campus-wide dropped 6.4% for the same period.
Search Underway for Permanent VPs
The University is looking to fill permanently positions of Vice President for Research and Vice President for University Advancement. The executive search consulting firm of Lamalie Associates, Inc., is working with the University�s search committee for the research position; Howe-Lewis International is the consulting firm for the advancement search.
"The University�s research mission is moving forward continuously, said Judy Genshaft, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, and Research search committee chair. "It is the intent of the search committee to find candidates capable of leading and coordinating our efforts to expand, in a substantial way, the resource base for the research and scholarship of all of our faculty."
Meanwhile, Carl Carlucci, Albany�s Executive Vice President and Advancement search committee chair, said, "The new vice president will be expected to provide the leadership necessary to help us sustain and build upon our many strengths as a public research university, paying particular attention to development activities and opportunities."
Both search teams have asked for nominations from faculty for any potential candidates they believe qualified for either position.
CESTM Wins First Award
The University�s Center for Environmental Sciences and Technology Management (CESTM) has been selected for the First Award by the American Institutes of Architects/Western New York.
CESTM was designed by a team from the New York City firm Cannon. "The ability to design and construct an award winning facility is directly attributable to the quality of our clients," said Michael Winstanley, vice president of Cannon. "We hope the University at Albany will feel a part of this prestigious designation."
The award was presented at the American Institutes of Architects Annual Awards Dinner in Buffalo on Nov. 20, 1997.
Cajun & Cordon Bleu Buffet
The Patroon Room Luncheon Buffet, featuring Cajun fried catfish and chicken cordon bleu will be held on Tuesday, Feb. 24, from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
A pasta station, Anna potatoes, candied yams, seasoned collard green and baby carrots with dill accompany the main courses, and salads, assorted breads, strawberry shortcake and German chocolate cake round out the feast, all for $5.95 per person. Reservations can be made by calling 442-5985.