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| HCConnectiion Online |
HCC marked Veterans Day a little early, with two moving events. Themes of national pride, respect, and the need for truly civil discourse dominated the brief ceremony that HCC held to commemorate Veterans Day on November 7.
The next day, November 8, adjunct History Professor Elise Forbes Tripp headlined an afternoon discussion of her recently published book “Surviving Iraq: Soldiers’ Stories” (Olive Branch Press). Joining Tripp were two Iraq war veterans, HCC student André Quieroga and Andrew Simkewicz as well as Kevin and Joyce Lucey, the parents of deceased Iraq War veteran Jeffrey Lucey. Quieroga, Simkewicz, and the Luceys contributed passages to Tripp’s book, which is, the author said “90 percent narrative, 10 percent my writing.” After the posting of the colors by the 104th Fighter Wing of the Barnes Airforce Base, the November 7 Veterans Day ceremony included personal reflections from several members of the HCC community. “When Karen (Reidl) asked me to speak, I didn’t know if I could,” said Staff Assistant Carol Patterson, who served in the Air Force from 1969-73 in Korea, Vietnam, and the United States. “It’s a deeply private matter, one that I didn’t think I could share in a two-minute sound byte. However enough time has passed where I feel maybe it’s time I did say something.” “I feel sadness on Veterans Day … because it’s pretty much turned into a day off from school when the malls have big sales…I don’t mind the day off and I certainly don’t mind the sales, but I think we’ve lost respect for those who have served... And when we have a presidential candidate who won’t hold his hand over his heart when reciting the Pledge of Allegiance, I have to wonder whether he’s actually respecting the men and women who are serving…” Event organizer Karen Reidl recalled a conversation she had two years ago with a student who had just returned from his second tour of Iraq. The veteran was asking her to explain the Safe Zone sticker that was on Reidl’s office wall. When she explained that it was to show support for the safety of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people, the student voiced an observation that haunted Reidl. | “He said ‘But shouldn’t HCC be a safe place for everyone? It’s not a safe place for me.’ If we truly value civil discourse,” Reidl added, “then we should make HCC truly safe for everyone.”
Also sharing their thoughts were Help Desk Coordinator Brian Redfern, Veterans Assistant Nicole Darden, and Chief Information Officer Joe Tolisano. “Having witnessed the brutality of war, I can assure you that no one prays as much for peace as those who are in combat,” said Tolisano, a 25-year veteran of the U.S. Navy. Observations by Darden and Redfern were published in the October 25 edition of the HCC Connection
Releasing energy from a hydrogen fuel cell was the job that faced HCC electrical engineering student Mark McDonough this past summer when he joined a NASA-sponsored internship project at the University of Massachusetts’ polymer lab. McDonough is one of three HCC engineering students who have been chosen to work at the renowned lab under the auspices of the NASA Massachusetts Space Grant Consortium over the past year. The other two, Malissa Vyce and Chak Chan graduated from HCC in 2007 and went on to UMass to finish their engineering studies. McDonough hopes to follow them this December when he graduates from HCC. On November 5, McDonough spoke about the experience. “It was great to have the opportunity to apply knowledge I learned here (at HCC) someplace else,” he said. “I worked with people from all over the world - South Korea, China, France, Mexico, even India.” Calmly and methodically, McDonough explained how energy is released when an H-2 atom is forced through a membrane and touches an anode that releases electrons. There was an almost audible sigh from the non-science types who were listening. McDonough’s explanation made it sound entirely grapable. “The challenge is the price of platinum, which is 80 percent of the cost of this process,” he continued. “If we increase the temperature, it will decrease the amount of platinum we need. So we need to find a new membrane that can work at high temperatures and low humidity.” HCC is the only community college in western Massachusetts to join the NASA consortium, which includes 15 educational institutions statewide. The consortium is one of 52 nationally that funds the development and use of space-related educational outreach activities. HCC Dean of Science, Engineering, and Mathematics X. Ran Duan serves as the campus liaison for the program
HCC struts its stuff
HCC’s annual costume competition, October 31, brought out the inner-ghoul (and other things) in many students, faculty, and staff. Though many came dressed for the sartorial challenge, only students were asked to actually compete in the annual Halloween Costume Contest. And, though the sartorial plumage really made you wonder what was going on behind those masks, the contest judges didn’t ask anyone to justify (or explain) their attire. Just strut your stuff in front of an audience of your peers and hope they clap.
A little bit country, a little bit matzo ball
It’s almost impossible to describe the parable-crammed message extolled by musician and entertainment lawyer-turned-organic-farmer and orthodox Rabbi Shmuel Simenowitz. And perhaps he likes it that way: “I’m a bit of a contrarian,” he told his HCC audience on November 6. “If everyone else is going one way, I want to go the other.” The transplanted Long Island native came to the Kittredge Center to talk about the link between Judaism and environmentalism, but there were a lot of humorous asides on life, business, and parental advice. “What is the difference between a clever person and a wise person?” he asked at one point. “A clever bperson knows how to get out of a situation that a wise person would never have gotten into to begin with.” Which is not to say Simenowitz lacks for cleverness. Before embarking on his rabbinical studies, Simenowitz was a successful entertainment lawyer, with a huge house and lots of material wealth. His wife was an equally successful executive who had 125 people working for her. A guitarist and lover of music, Simenowitz’s connections had given him access to some of the icons of the music industry – people like Eric Clapton and three out of the four members of the Beatles. “We came home one day, and neither of us could get in our own driveway,” he said of his turning point. “There was the gardener’s car, the cook’s car, the maid’s car…We realized our business owned us.”
Six months later, Simenowitz and his wife were living in a 220-year-old farmhouse in rural Vermont. They’d originally envisioned tilling the land to plant crops, but, using wisdom from the Torah, they chose maple sugaring. Simeonowitz shared the parable that enlightened his business perspective: There was a king who was traveling through the countryside when he noticed a number of bulls-eye targets on the side of a barn, each of which was riddled with arrows in their dead-center. The king immediately sought to recruit the farmer as a trainer for his troops, but stopped when he learned the farmer’s secret: “I shoot the hole and then I paint the target around it,” the farmer explained. After the laughter subsided, Simenowitz revealed the agricultural wisdom imparted by the tale: “We let the farm impose its vision on us, not the other way around,” he said. “There were a lot of maple trees. What were we going to do? Cut them down?” These days, Simenowitz is the executive director of Project Y’aleh V’Yavo, Inc., a project that combines an environmental perspective with personal empowerment. He is a widely requested speaker on Judaism and the environment, a published author, and the rabbi for Congregation Knesseth Israel, an orthodox synagogue servicing Jewish farmers in rural Connecticut. An affable and quick-witted orator, he charms audiences of all political stripes, but he is quick to point out that he is, personally, quite conservative. A conservative environmentalist? Simenowitz seems to relish the dissonance this breeds in some people. Lest it cause them to shut their minds, he leavens his oratory with generous amounts of solid research and good old-fashioned laughs. Turns out, when people are laughing, they don’t have time to peg him. That’s when he can sneak in some information. Case in point: a phone conversation Simenowitz had with his mother, shortly after he began painting yarmulkes on his “Shelly Bloom” brand eggs: “’We sent you to law school so you could paint yarmulkes on eggs?’” she asked. The audience roars at this familiar lament while Simenowitz gives a Shecky Green-esque shrug. Then he holds up a New York Times and adds: “But when we (Shelly Bloom Eggs) ended up on the front page of the New York Times, she wasn’t complaining…” Though he no longer works as a lawyer, Simenowitz hasn’t completely shed the knowledge he gained in the legal profession – most notably from his late father, a divorce attorney. “Never take a long-term loss for a short-term gain,” he said, quoting his father’s divorce negotiation strategy. “But that’s what we are doing with the environment today.” Simenowitz said the Torah provides an alternative to this environmental myopia. “So often, we see solutions as a zero-sum game, but in the Torah, you can see instances where both sides win,” he said. As a working farmer, he said, he began turning a decent profit when he offered his organic farm as a tourist attraction for nature-starved urbanites. This agri-tourist approach benefited him as a businessman, as well as a farmer. And the city slickers? “They would have spent the money at Disneyland,” he said.
Region I of the National Council for Marketing and Public Relations announced on November 5 that HCC was chosen to receive five first place (or “Gold”) and two third place (or “Bronze”) Medallion Awards for its public relations efforts. All told, this is the highest number of first place awards received by any college in Region I and it is also the highest number of Gold Medallions ever taken home by HCC in a single year. Announcement of the 2007 Medallion Awards came during the organization’s annual conference, which was held in Annapolis, Maryland November 4-6. Director of Marketing and Public Relations Anne Sroka was on hand to pick up the awards, which were given out in the following areas:
HCC received a Gold Medallion Award for its marketing and promotion of the 60th Anniversary Gala.
HCC received a Gold Medallion for the story we wrote and distributed on Elton Braithwaite, an HCC maintainer whose riveting artwork was exhibited in the Taber Gallery this past spring. Need we mention that it’s Braithwaite’s talent that made our tepid prose look good? Thanks Elton!
HCC received two Gold Medallion awards in this category. The first was for our “Profiles of Excellence” series, which profiles the successes and the future ambitions of three or four HCC graduates. The second award recognized our publicity efforts in promoting the 2007 HC Visual Arts Calendar, which was produced by HCC graphic design students. Note: When we write about interesting subjects like these, it’s hard to miss.
HCC received a Gold Medallion for its colorfully designed La Guagua Pa’l College 20-seat bus, which provides nightly transportation between the center of Holyoke and HCC.
HCC received a Bronze Medallion for the beautifully designed invitations and save-the-date cards that announced our 60th Anniversary Gala. Many chimed in with ideas, but the lion’s share of the credit for this one falls squarely on the back of our talented Graphic Designer Jack Scanlon.
HCC received a Bronze Medallion for developing a series of eight academic program “cluster” brochures, all of which complement HCC’s viewbook and align with the college’s visual identity program. The Marketing and Public Relations Department gratefully acknowledges the privilege of representing HCC in our work. We wish to thank all members of the HCC community for contributing to the college’s continued success. Special thanks go to the staff of the Institutional Development Office, including Erica Broman, Jack Scanlon, Gail Siepierski, Suzanne Doyle, Joanna Brown and Kimberly Wilson.
It's your turn to get into space Since the opening of the Kittredge Center the college has been looking at options for moving various programs and functions. Fortunately, the state is now funding a study to help us improve how effectively we use space. The study will address both academic and non-academic space. Consultants will be on campus to interview divisional vice presidents on November 13 and 14. The consultants will also hold two open forums to gather input from the college community. Faculty and staff are invited to Frost 265 on Tuesday, November 13, from 3:00 to 4:00 p.m. Students are invited to Kittredge 303 on Wednesday, November 14, from 11:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. This is your opportunity to talk about your space. Is it: "Too small" Open dialogues with your VP's The next open session will be held Thursday November 15 at 12:30 p.m in Frost 309. HCC Red Sox Nation celebrates victory
HCC Connection is published every other Wednesday (or
thereabouts) and is distributed to the campus community, and friends
of the college, and local media. Natalia Munoz |
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