Holyoke Community College: Featured Professor

Bill’s Bulletin is a feature of HCC Connection Online where President William F. Messner shares news about all-college initiatives and the college’s expanding involvement in the region.

Construction Update

It looks like we will be able to safely enjoy the college's central courtyard in just a matter of weeks. The long-toiling construction crews are now putting the finishing touches on the walkway and stair improvements, and are targeting late November for their departure from that project. With the completion of that project, we look forward to the beginning of another, much-anticipated campus improvement: the creation of a media lab in the G building. That project is slated to begin sometime this winter.

I am also pleased to note that the addition of 164 new parking spaces this fall has relieved some of the pressure felt by our faculty, staff, and students. We will continue to look for longterm solutions to the parking crunch as we review the college's capital needs.

Master Plan Update
As many of you know, Governor Deval Patrick recently put forth a bond package that, if approved by the Massachusetts Legislature, will provide significant funds for capital projects at all of the state's community colleges. Over the next few months, we will be advocating for that bond's passage.

For HCC, the additional funds would mean an additional $25 million for two areas identified as priorities in our capital plan.

First, it would give the college about $20 million to add about 30,000 square feet of instructional and academic space in the G Building. Secondly, the bond would provide around $4.75 million to renovate space that was vacated when the Kittredge Center was built. The idea here, is that there may be better ways to use the now empty space in the older buildings on campus. The bond would allow us to renovate that space so that it meets the identified needs of the college.

On Thursday, November 8, at 2:30 p.m. the Authors@HCC series will host a panel discussion featuring HCC American history professor Elise Forbes Tripp, author of "Surviving Iraq: Soldiers' Stories," a compilation of narratives from 30 returning Iraq War veterans.

The panel discussion will include military personnel, an HCC student who is an Iraq war veteran, and the parents of a deceased veteran. The event will take place in room 303 in the Kittredge Center for Business and Workforce Development.

No reservations are necessary for this free event, but more information is available by calling Camille Close at (413) 552-2277.

A former international relations counselor for UN affairs at the World Bank, Tripp, of Sunderland has recently published “Surviving Iraq: Soldiers' Stories,” ($18, Olive Branch Press) a compilation of narratives from 30 returning soldiers – some of them with connections to HCC.

Released on October 11, the book may also be purchased on Amazon.com for $12.24.

The November 8 event will also feature a panel of military personnel, soldiers, and family members:

Jaime A. Perez, Captain, Army Reserve, Iraq War veteran, and a counselor at the Springfield Veterans' Center.
Andrew J. Simkewicz, Sergeant, US Army, Afghanistan and Iraq War veteran, and a counselor at the Springfield Veterans' Center.
Andre M.M. Queiroga, Corporal in the Marine Corps, Iraq veteran, and an HCC student.
Joyce and Kevin Lucey, parents of the late Jeffrey Lucey who was a Corporal in the Marine Corps and a former HCC student.

Tripp’s book has been hailed by critics for its candor and reverence. Noted filmmaker Ken Burns has called it “[A] shocking, moving, and utterly heroic portrait of young men and women in impossible situations.”

The book is available at South Hadley’s Odyssey Books and in the HCC Bookstore.

Tripp’s appearance is sponsored by the Authors@HCC series, a year-long promotion of the authors who work at Holyoke Community College. For more information about the series, contact Camille Close at (413) 552-2277.

Editor's Note: In this edition of the HCC Connection, we celebrate civil discourse by publishing following reflections on Veterans Day by two members of the HCC community. Help Desk Coordinator Brian Redfern is the son of a Vietham veteran and has, himself, served as an Air Force medic in the Air National Guard for the last 17 years. Nicole Darden '06 is a Gulf War era veteran who now serves as HCC's veterans assistant.

As I think back to when I was a boy in a small New England town, Veterans’ Day for me meant parades and picnics. I had no concept of what my father gave up by going to Vietnam. I knew he went to a far off place I had never heard of. I knew he went to war to help a people I had never met. I knew he had been changed forever by that experience. I never knew what his father gave up by going to North Africa and, then, into Italy for World War II. Neither did I know what my mother’s father gave up in World War II and later on, in Korea.

Many others left their safe warm homes and loved ones to travel thousands of miles across the face of the earth to a country they had only seen in textbooks to help defend a people they never met. Many of their fellow soldiers lost their lives. In World War II alone, 72 million people perished from this earth. What would the number have been had they not answered their nation’s call to arms?

Today I look at Veterans Day a bit differently. Gone is the childhood innocence that all is safe, nothing will change. I know all too well that there are people out there who would take our freedoms at the first chance. They wish to do harm to those who are free because of the freedoms we have. They wish to crush any variance to their view of how life should be lived. Only one thing stands between those who would do evil and those who just wish to live in peace: the soldier, the Veteran.

As an Air Force medic, I have been to many countries, met people from many different walks of life, and helped them all -- thanks to the generosity of the United States military and its commitment to helping those in need. Veterans Day for me is a time to honor those that came before me and stood at the line of moral right and said to those who would cross it in the hopes of self gain: “You may go no further!”

I honor the men and women who pick up the mantle of responsibility and make our lives better for it. I honor those who served and those who gave their lives for their loved ones, their fellow man, and their country so that others may know a world without war.

I now know it was not just the soldiers who gave up something in defense of this country—if not this world— It was their families who sacrificed as well. Today we have a new war, one not for a country but for our very way of life. In this war we have a new generation of veterans. Those veterans are fighting for our way of life so that the next generation will be free to grow as they see fit, live life where they wish. It is this freedom that we are given, and those that gave it to us, that we honor on Veterans Day.

I must have been about 6 or 7 years old when my mother explained to me why my dad behaved so differently from everyone else. She told me about a war that happened years ago. A sad story of people leaving to fight only to return to a country where people openly hated them for the job that they did. She explained that many of these soldiers came home physically or mentally "broken"- my dad was one of those "broken" soldiers.

My dad went to Vietnam to serve his country a few years before my birth. The thing that made him different is that he came back a different person, leaving behind many qualities of the man she knew. His symptoms took years to surface. I thought I understood then; what I know now is that the man that spent many hours staring into space and talking to voices that I could not hear is a Hero. He is now in a rest home with dozens of other men who gave of themselves to serve all of us.

For many years I thought of Veterans Day as time set aside to honor those old men who gave of themselves by serving in the armed forces of the United States. In 1997 I joined the Army to give my own life direction that I believed that it was lacking. The 4 years that I served forever changed the way that I think about the definition of a veteran. I still believe that the individuals who enlist are brave and selfless. The difference now is that my mental image is no longer restricted to older men.

Today the word veterans gives me a visual of men and women of all ages, nationalities, races and religions who work together for
common goals. To me these are individuals who put the needs of others first every day while they work. While there are often selfish
motivations for enlisting, the job of serving is selfless.

This Veterans Day my desire is for people to see that these Men and Women are not the enemy within our own border. We are in a time of war and people are questioning the reasons we are there, which is fair. I, too, wonder how the cost of human life can be justified in this context. But it is important that, while everyone is dialoguing about the war, we do not forget the soldier. He/she did not sign a
declaration of war. What they did sign is a legal document that requires them to dutifully serve their country for a specific number of
years. They are people who are doing what many would and could not and they each deserve our support. This Veterans Day, as I visit with my dad, I will make sure to remember to thank any veteran that I encounter. My hope is that everyone else will try to do the same.
Happy Veterans day dad!

Editor's note: The following piece was written by HCC student Turhan Branché III

“Imagine a country a country from which you hold your most cherished memories: where your friends and family lives, but which you hope to leave soon because of the of poverty, violence, and the abuse of human rights.”

“Imagine a country where the wealthy or those with some kind of economic capital treat domestic workers, maids as modern house slaves, where politicians and other so called leaders arm teenage boys and use them as a way to murder their opponents to stay in power.”

These are the challenges that Haitian-American ESL professor and doctoral student Pierre Orelus put to his audience on October 18 to discuss his book “Education under Occupation.” Born and raised in the impoverished or “restern” country of Haiti, Orelus shared his experience of growing up in a neocolonized world, and its consequent devastating effects on the country’s cultural and educational values.

Born to a struggling carpenter, his father, and a local merchant, his mother, Orelus was also the first of his family to complete high school, and attend college.

Throughout his youth Orelus often questioned the material presented him in school, claiming it was heavily influenced by the imposing views of western society. He passionately urged members in the audience to do the same.

“As students you must question what you read, you must question what your teachers tell you..”

Given the indoctrination of western beliefs on the Haitian society, Orelus felt “culturally alienated” from the true roots of his history and so he sought knowledge on Haitian heritage. He spent hours in the library researching any material containing a different historical perspective than that of the “western” view.

Adamant in his zeal for the establishment of cultural identity, he rallied several groups and organizations in an effort to protest the rigid colonization of Haiti. Saying “We need to take part and fight a neocolonial agenda.”

Now in the process of attaining his doctorate at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, Orelus continues to inform whomever shall listen of the plight of neocolonialism, and the necessity of rising above it.

“Occupation can only lead to the decivilization of those being occupied,” he said.

You are invited to see the HCC Players present Jean Genet's The Balcony in HCC's Studio Theater (C Building) November 8-11, and November 16 -17.

The setting of Genet’s celebrated play is a brothel that caters to refined sensibilities and

peculiar tastes. Here men from all walks of life don the garb of their fantasies and act

them out. These costumed diversions take place while outside a revolution rages which

has isolated the brothel from the rest of the rebel-controlled city. In a series of macabre

Performances November 8-10 and November 16 & 17 are at 8 p.m. On Sunday, November 11 the curtain rises at 2:30 p.m.

Author and activist Pat Gozemba shared some of the humorous and harrowing aspects of the struggle for equal marriage rights in Massachusetts when she visited HCC on October 17.

Gozemba is the co-author (with Karen Kahn) of "Courting Equality: The History of Gay Marriage in Massachusetts" (Insightoutbooks.com). Filled with photographs by Marilyn Humphries, the book chronicles the social, political, and emotional journey that followed the November 2003 Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court decision that gave equal marriage rights to gays and lesbians. The ensuing struggle between advocates and opponents of gay marriage delayed the actual issuance of marriage licenses for same-sex couples until May 2004. "Courting Equality" shines a light on the individuals and groups who worked tirelessly behind the scenes to see the struggle to its conclusion.

In one photograph, Humphries captures lawyer Mary Bonauto at the moment when she learned of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court decision, granting equal marriage rights to same-sex couples. Bonauto was lead counsel in Goodridge v. Dept. of Public Health, the case which prompted the court's ruling.

"It makes me think about Thurgood Marshall, and wonder what his face looked like when Brown vs. the Board of Education was decided," said Gozemba, referring to the 1954 Supreme Court Decision that struck down the separate but equal doctrine that was the cornerstone of segregation. "For the lesbian and gay community, this was a moment in our history."

Now married to her writing partner (Kahn), Gozemba admits that some of the struggle was oddly humorous.

"I remember competing with the opponents (of equal marriage rights) to get the right side of the street for our protests," she said. "If you got the right side of the street, you could have the Statehouse in the background, which came off well in the media."

The final chapter in this struggle was written in June 2007, when the Massachusetts Legislature voted to not send a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage to a ballot vote.

As many of you know, October is breast cancer awareness month. Around campus, you might have been reminded of this by the many ribbons, information tables, and fund raising efforts. On Wednesday, October 24, we were lucky to have a noted cancer specialist, Dr. Steven Schonholz speak to us about this disease. A physician at Mercy Medical Center, Schonholz separated the fact from the fiction:

Of the nearly 300,000 cases of breast cancer that are diagnosed each year, about 212,000 are invasive, while the remaining are what is commonly referred to as "in situ" or non-invasive.

1,700 men per year are diagnosed with breast cancer.

Over the course of a lifetime, one in eight women will develop breast cancer. As we get older, the incidence is increases. For instance, only 1% of the breast cancer cases are recorded in women under the age of 30, while 72% are among women who are over the age of 50.

76% of all breast cancers develop in women with no family history of the disease. The greatest "risk factor" is simply being female.

Early detection is key to surviving a diagnosis.

In an additional effort to support Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Mercy Medical Center will distribute the booklet, “Women and Breast Health” to various locations in greater Springfield. This free booklet provides information about risk factors for breast cancer, the importance of mammography and clinical breast exams, how to perform a breast self exam and other topics. The booklets are also available through the Marketing Department at Mercy Medical Center by calling (413) 748-9704.

You and the Flu

There will be a flu shot clinic in the Health Services Office (Frost 101) on Monday, October 29 from 1:30 - 3:30 pm. The shots cost $20 each, and you may pay at the clinic or at Student Accounts. We want you to get your flu shot; however, we also want to make sure we have enough time for you at this clinic. SO please call Mitch Pysznik at (413) 552-2180 to let him know you want a shot. If you cannot make this clinic, no problem. Just call Mitch and set up an appointment.

What if college were free?
On October 17, University of Pennsylvania political science professor Adolph Reed asked the students, staff, and faculty to consider a radical notion: free public higher education for all students who meet college admissions criteria.

"We are the only major industrial country that doesn't have access to free higher education," said Reed. "Some people say it's pie in the sky, but I don't think it is."

Reed is one of many policy leaders nationwide who have been prodding the political establishment to consider the benefits of cost-free higher education. His talk was briefly interrupted by a student who didn't know what the debate was about.

"If the European Union has it and Canada has it, it just makes sense that the United States would have it," she said. "We are a major world power."

The author of several books, Reed has focused on American andAfrican-American politics, urban politics, and American political development. His visit to HCC was co-sponsored by the Public Higher Education Network of Massachusetts (PHENOM), a coalition that is working for affordable, well-funded higher education opportunities and HCC's ENgaging LAtino Communities in Education (ENLACE) initiative.

PHENOM and ENLACE will continue their campaign to increase access to higher education on October 26, when they bring students, staff and faculty to Framingham State College for theHigher Education Summit, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Anyone interested in attending this day-long event should contact Ferd Wulkan at (413) 577-4121 or Gustavo Accosta at (413) 552-2022. Two vans will be leaving from HCC.

The public is invited to Holyoke Community College’s Taber Art Gallery for Everyday Extraordinary, an exhibition of mixed media paintings by Boston-based artist Joe Kitsch, from October 29 to November 21.

There will be a reception featuring the artist on Wednesday November 7 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Kitsch will speak at noon. The public is encouraged to attend.

Welcome to the new staff at HCC
At the October 23 Board of Trustees meeting, several new staff and faculty were introduced to the HCC community.

Holyoke resident Joyce Desorcy has been hired to fill a new position, that of Annual Fund coordinator. A 1988 graduate, Desorcy will work with Alumni Director Joanna Brown.

Holyoke resident Bob Griffin has joined the Center for Business and Professional Development in the newly created position of director of program operations. Bob will work with Executive Director Keith Hensley.

Expansion in the Tech Prep program has brought some other folks on board at that program: Amy Shuman, (school liaison);Fred Morris, (transitional coordinator); and Cari Carpenter, (transitional coordinator).

Also hired in the last few weeks was Thaisa Hanson, as a learning specialist in the Office of Disability Services.

The Board of Trustees also met with eight newly appointed full-time faculty: Elizabeth Butin (forensic science); Edward Clancy (English); Anne Fine (nursing); Mary Grassetti (education); Laura Hutchinson (nutrition); Tricia Kiefer (education); Julie Kizershot (English); and Jason Tandon (English).

Francis Lauren Fronahue is a completely fictitious person who donated completely fictitious money to create “Fronahue,” the new Student Activities office space that will soon be constructed between the first floor of the Frost and Donahue buildings - right next to the mini-cafeteria, not far from WCCH. Once it is finished, Fronahue will serve as the office space for Coordinator of Student Activities Vivian Ostrowski and Student Club Coordinator Liz Golen. Construction on Fronahue will begin very soon, and should be done by the end of December. The food cart, vending machines, and ATM will be accessible during most of the construction, but the computers and tables will disappear for awhile.

The most exciting aspect of Fronahue is Universal Design, which means the space was designed to be flexible enough for any member of our community to use. We paid attention to flooring, paint, lighting, flexible furnishings, and counter and desk height. Our goal is a space that all of us can use comfortably—tall people, big people, people with mobility issues, elderly people, people with environmental allergies, deaf people—everyone.

When Fronahue is finished, we will hold an opening. In the meantime, if you want to contact Vivian or Liz, you may call them at (413) 552-2418 (V) or (413) 552-2060 (L)

From November 1 through November 30, the third floor of the Frost Building will host "Nothing to Hide: Mental Illness in the Family" a photo exhibt by Gigi Kaiser, Jean J. Beard, and Peggy Gilliespie.

Sponsored by HCC Counseling Services, the Office of Affirmative Action, and the Student Activities Office, this exhibit, created by Family Diversity Projects, is bound to expand your thinking. The exhibit is also supported by the HCC Psychology & Human Services Club, the Office for Students with Disabilities and Deaf Services and the HCC chapter of Active Minds.

Southampton resident Maria Merritt has been named by the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) as the Division III women's soccer co-player of the week for the week for October 17-24. The former Hampshire Regional High School player shared the national honor with Danielle Hiza, of Tompkins Cortland Community College in New York. The NJCAA recognized Merritt after she scored four goals in a 13-0 win over Briarwood. That victory made Merritt the all-time point scorer for the college team. Her career mark is 85 points on 36 goals and 13 assists. Last season she totaled 56 points on 22 goals and 12 assists.

Student Activities and Events:
Contact Vivian Ostrowski (413) 552-2418 or Liz Golen at (413) 552-2060 for more information.

HCC Connection is published every other Wednesday (or thereabouts) and is distributed to the campus community, and friends of the college, and local media.

To be added to our email distribution list, please email Natalia Munoz at nmunoz@hcc.mass.edu

To submit campus event information for inclusion in HCC Connection, email Natalia Munoz, nmunoz@hcc.mass.eduwith details including date, time, location, cost if any, open to public or not, web links (if appropriate) and contact information (name, phone number, and email). Deadline: end of day Friday before publication.

Natalia Munoz
Assistant Director of Marketing and Public Relations
Holyoke Community College
Phone: (413) 552-2183 Fax: (413) 552-2479
nmunoz@hcc.mass.edunmunoz@hcc.mass.edu
Holyoke Community College is the Commonwealth’s oldest community college, serving almost 9,000 students annually in 82 associate degree options and 42 certificate programs, and over 4,000 in noncredit and workforce development courses. The college has the highest transfer rate of any community college statewide, holding articulation agreements with 27 colleges and universities.