a monthly publication for students, faculty, staff and friends November 16, 2011

BI N N E K I L LVol. XXVIII No. 9

Meet “Maggie the Cat”Kim Britten, 19, a graduate of the John Sayles School of FineArts at Schenectady High School, has the coveted role ofMargaret “Maggie the Cat” in thisweek’s production of Cat on a HotTin Roof by Tennessee Williams.Did you know about this role beforethis fall?I’ve known about this role sinceSandy (Boynton) announced theshow last year. I wanted to beMaggie. I knew there was a lot ofcompetition because there are reallygreat actresses at this school. Ifound the perfect monologue and itall just went from there.What are you looking forward to about stepping out on stage inthe Taylor Auditorium as Maggie? I’m really anxious. It’s very exciting. I’ve never really had arole like this, but I always wanted one.What do you want audience members to take away with themafter seeing the show?I hope people understand that talking to each other is extremelyimportant. In the world today everyone uses technology to getin touch with each other. No one really talks to each other faceto face anymore. In this play Maggie and Big Daddy alwaystell Brick it’s important to talk to each other.What are your plans after you graduate from SCCC?I plan to transfer to a four-year school for drama, either Sage orSUNY New Paltz.

The SCCC Players, directed by Professor Sandra Boynton, willpresent “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof” beginning tonight. Left to rightare actors: (back row) Keith Dobbs, Ethan Crevatas, Mary RosePetrozola, Kevin Escudero, (front row) Jordan Bray, KelseyPoore, Kim Britten, and Steve Barkley.

Show times are: Wednesday, Nov. 16, 8 p.m., (free for all);Thursday, Nov. 17, 8 p.m.; Friday, Nov. 18, 8 p.m.; andSaturday, Nov. 19, 8 p.m., Taylor Auditorium. Tickets: $5-generaladmission; $3-seniors/non-SCCC students; free for SCCCstudents, faculty, staff and alumni.

Note: This play is not suitable for children.

Flight Team soars at regionals The SCCC Flight Team placed second overall in the Region VIINational Intercollegiate Flying Association Safecon FlightCompetition held at Dowling College in Brookhaven, LongIsland, last month.Left to right are: (front row) Richie Hendrickson, MarisaDemarest (President of the Aviation Club and Captain of theFlight Team), (back row) Jack Kenyon, Hugh Kelleigh, AaronMarshall, Barbara Jones (Associate Professor/Aviation Liaison),and Adan Sandoval (Missing: Adam Carey, Carson Deyo)The SCCC pilots competed against teams from Delaware StateUniversity, Bridgewater State University, West Point, RPI, andDowling College, which took first place.In order for the team to go to nationals in Kansas this spring, thestudent pilots need to raise about $10,000 by April 1. They’ll beholding a drive-through Brooks Bar-B-Q in February at theSchenectady County Airport in Scotia and a plane wash there in March.

2 BINNEKILL, November 16, 2011

College seeks SUNY Chancellor’saward nominationsNominations from any member of the College community arenow being accepted for the SUNY Chancellor’s Awards forExcellence in Teaching, Excellence in Professional Service,Excellence in Librarianship, Excellence in Faculty Service, andExcellence in Scholarship and Creative Activities.These awards will be presented in Spring 2012.Criteria for selection are on each ballot and will be available in:Vice President of Academic Affairs, Elston Hall, Room 302;Academic Departments; Student Services, Elston Hall, Room222; Office of the President, Elston Hall, Room 114; VicePresident of Administration, Elston Hall, Room 502; BegleyLibrary; Center City; and the Security Desk, Elston Hall.All nominations must be received in the Office of the Presidentno later than 4 p.m. on Thursday, December 8, 2011.

Louise Basa, of the SCCC-Community Archaeology Program,was recognized by the Council for Northeast HistoricalArchaeology for her “dedication to the field of HistoricalArchaeology and 25 years of membership in the Council” at theCouncil’s annual meeting last month.

Also, excavations continue this month at the SCCC-CommunityArchaeology Program excavations at 32 Front St. inSchenectady’s Stockade Historic District. The site dates to theperiod of the French and Indian War (1754-1763) whenSchenectady functioned as a depot for transporting supplies andpersonnel to campaigns on the western frontier. The artifactsbeing recovered show a definite military presence as well aspersonal items. If interested in visiting the site or additionalinformation, please contact Louise Basa, basala@sunysccc.edu.

Dr. Babette Faehmel, Associate Professor in the Division ofLiberal Arts, was a panelist during a program titled, Got Class?Status and Power in Early America, that took place at theAlbany Public Library last month. Dr. Faehmel presented herperspective on “Middle Class Conservatives and the American Dream.”

From SCCC student to Adjunct by Lorraine Grund, Adjunct, Division of Liberal Arts“Ms. G,” “Ms. G,” I hear echoedacross my busy classroom. I’mbouncing from student to student.They all need me at once, but I lovethis. Ten minutes into the class andI’m actually sweating; it’s not evenhot in this room. I had this epiphanyas I drove home from class tonight: Ilove my job. I may be “just anadjunct,” but I enjoy every minute ofthe nine class hours I teach a week.I teach composition and I enjoy when the students are doingthe actual writing in class since I can help them right then andthere. Today we’re on the computers turning their drafts thatwe have peer reviewed and I have commented on into finaldrafts. As they work I keep shouting, “Don’t forget to use youracademic vocabulary! Dazzle me with your words.”One student, an excellent writer already, is having troublekeeping his summary of the literature short enough to fit all hisideas about analyzing the story into one essay. I tell him that,as a writer myself, I just write and write until the idea I amlooking for comes to me and I experience that moment of“Yes, that’s what I wanted to say.” Then I go back and toss outthe parts I don’t need.“Don’t forget, the works cited is on a separate page at the end,”I remind them as a student comes to me with a two-paragraphintroduction, the first paragraph of which is wordy. I tell herbluntly that she needs to get rid of the wordy part and diveright in with the second paragraph, making it the first. “Ithought so; I just wasn’t sure,” she says.One young man is trying to get me to say it’s okay if he can’twrite anything today because he doesn’t have the literary workwith him. This attitude is spreading to another who is trying toget out of writing by tossing his curly hair making him looklike a little boy, probably thinking, “This always worked with(continued on Page 5)

Put on your dancing shoes and join theFoundation for the Annual Gala at

Glen Sanders Mansion. Join Honorary Chairperson David Buicko of The Galesi Groupfor the Annual Gala, a wonderful way to kick off the holidayseason and celebrate our premier community college with fellowSCCC friends and supporters.

Proceeds from the gala will be used to support our students andSCCC’s continued growth and development. Music by ColleenPratt and Friends.

Individual reservations are $100 per person. Faculty, staff,alumni, and guests under 35 may attend for $75 per person.

For reservations and more information, please call theFoundation Office at 381-1324.

Faculty, Staff Development

3BINNEKILL, November 16, 2011

Not your average pumpkin pieby Katelyn Milem, Culinary Arts Major, Member of SCCC SlowFood Student Chapter.

edited by Professor Rocco Verrigni

November is here and Thanksgivingis right around the corner. On yourway to school you might have passedstores, fields, or maybe even farmstands selling pumpkins. Here issomething you can bring to thedinner table this holiday that gives atwist to the old pumpkin pie.Here is what you will need:

3 eggs1 cup white sugar2/3 cup pumpkin, medium dice3/4 cup all-purpose flour1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon1 teaspoon baking soda1/2 cup chopped walnuts (optional)confectioner’s sugar for dustingThen…..for the frosting:8 oz. cream cheese1 stick of butter1 tablespoon vanilla1-3 cups confectioner’s sugar

And here is what you do:

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Beat the eggs for about 5minutes. Then mix the white sugar, pumpkin, flour, cinnamon andbaking soda. Grease a baking pan and MAKE SURE YOU LINEIT WITH PARCHMENT PAPER. Then evenly spread the batter in the pan. If you want to, you can sprinkle the walnuts on top ofthe batter.

This will take about 15 minutes to bake. When you touch the cakeit should spring back. Once it has finished baking, turn it out ontoa towel (about the size of the cake), take the parchment paper offand very carefully roll the cake in the towel. Let it cool.

While this is cooling you can make the frosting. In a bowl, mix thecream cheese butter and vanilla. Use a hand mixer or a standmixer. When the cream cheese and butter are mixed, add theconfectioner’s sugar, half of a cup at a time (this way you don’tmake a big mess). Be sure to taste the frosting after the sugar hasbeen incorporated. Once it is seasoned to your sweetness prefer-ence, you can very gently unroll the cooled pumpkin cake, andspread the cream cheese frosting over it. Now roll the cake withoutthe towel.

You can dust the roll with confectioner’s sugar if you wish. Cut theroll into slices and enjoy. If you are interested in more in-seasonfoods, please join our Slow Food meetings every Monday at 2 p.m. in Elston Hall 100.

Hollywood knocks on alum’skitchen doorby Lauren Halligan, Liberal Arts: Humanities and Social Sciences majorMarc Renson ’92 has accomplished quite a lot since his daysas an SCCC student. This summer he was hired as a chef tosome major Hollywood actors, and he’s also a nationallypublished author.In the past 11 years as owner and manager of Ambition CoffeeHouse and Eatery on Jay Street, Marc has successfully createdthat coffee shop atmosphere that everyone wants in their localcafé with great food, music and local artwork on the walls.Being so close to Proctors, Ambition has always been knownto attract a few stars now and then, but recently Marc had thehonor of feeding some big stars who spent the summer inSchenectady. Marc was hired as personal chef to BradleyCooper while theHollywood starwas in townfilming the movie“The PlaceBeyond thePines.” He wasresponsible forpreparing threemeals and threesnacks daily foractor BradleyCooper, during theseven weeks thatthe well-knownstar of “TheHangover” was intown. Marc recallswaking up at 4 a.m. in order to have Cooper’s entire day’sworth of food prepared and ready to go with him on set by 6 a.m. Marc described Cooper’s diet as having “no sugar, salt,dairy, or grain.” There were also times when Ryan Gosling,Eva Mendez, and the entire film crew enjoyed a bite to eat atAmbition, and even had a Hollywood film cast party in thesmall, but charming restaurant. Marc considered it a “greatopportunity” and enjoyed being a part of the exciting summerSchenectady had this year.In addition to cooking for Bradley Cooper, Ambition has alsohoused artists such as Ben Folds, k.d. lang, Taylor Hicks,Dennis DeYoung of Styx, Norah Jones, Ron White, “Kip andPedro” from Napoleon Dynamite, and Kathy Rigby. Mostrecently, Marc and his crew had the opportunity to preparefood for George Hamilton for a week as he performed in “LaCage aux Folles” at Proctors last month. In October, Marc’s book, Is the Coffee Fresh? Confessions ofDrama, Dysfunction, and Daily Life at a DowntownCoffeehouse, was picked up by a national publisher, 23 HousePublishing. With Ambition in its busy season, his book on the market, andstars knocking on his door every time they’re in town, Marc has made exceptional accomplishments since his days at SCCC.

Marc Renson ’92 with actor BradleyCooper

4 BINNEKILL, November 16, 2011

Wednesday, November 16-Saturday, November 19, 2011SCCC Players present Cat on a Hot Tin Roof by TennesseeWilliams, 8 p.m., Taylor Auditorium Tickets: $5-general admission; $3-seniors/non-SCCCstudents; free for SCCC students, faculty, staff and alumni.(Free for all on Wednesday, Nov. 16.) See front page.Friday, November 18, 2011Kathryn Swimm presents The Deterioration of DutchWomen’s Rights in Albany: 1650-1750, 6 p.m., StockadeBuilding 101. Free. Monday, November 21, 2011General Registration beginsTuesday, November 22, 2011Last day to withdraw from Fall (full-term) classesWednesday, November 23, 2011No classes after 5 p.m.Thursday, November 24-Sunday, November 27, 2011Thanksgiving RecessMonday, November 28, 2011American Red Cross Blood Drive, Give the Gift of Life,9:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., Activity ForumWednesday, November 30, 2011Chamber Series Concert featuring Esopus Musicalia, 7:30 p.m., Taylor Auditorium. Free. Esopus Musicalia is achamber ensemble, conductor, and historian based in NewYork’s Hudson Valley. Mark Evans, piano, joins the groupin a performance of the Trout Quintet by Schubert andHeart Sounds by George Tsontakis. Friday, December 2, 2011SCCC Foundation Annual Gala, All Aboard With SCCC:On Track for the Future, 6 to 11 p.m., Glen SandersMansionMonday, December 5, 2011SCCC Chorus Ensemble, 7:30 p.m., Taylor Auditorium.Free.Wednesday, December 7, 2011SCCC Jazz Ensemble and SCCC Percussion Ensemble,7:30 p.m., Taylor Auditorium. Free.Monday, December 12, 2011School of Hotel, Culinary Arts and Tourism’s Slow FoodUSA Student Chapter presents Terra Madre, Elston HallCulinary Arts Wing. Visit www.sunysccc.edu/culinary fordetails and speaker information.Friday, December 16, 2011SCCC Wind Ensemble, 7:30 p.m., Taylor Auditorium. Free.

Calendar of Events Gaming fundraiserThe Technology Club will be holding a gamingfundraiser on Tuesday, Nov. 29 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Activity Forum. Entry fee is $2.Gaming consoles will be set up for studentsallowing them free play of current games like Callof Duty, Battlefield and Halo. Some old classicswill also be thrown into the mix.There will be tournaments set up for Magic theGathering and Yu-Gi-Oh, the trading card game,with prizes for the winners.

Project Warmth seeksdonations RESTART, an online group for returning adultstudents, is conducting a special drive this monthto benefit Bethesda House of Schenectady.Last year, donations of gently used and new hats,scarves, mittens, and gloves were greatly appreciated by Bethesda House and distributed to those in need.Please drop off new or gently used hats, scarves,mittens, and gloves for men, women, or childrenin boxes near the Security Desk in Elston Hall. Ifyou have any questions please contact MargaretAnne Williams, Club Advisor, at 381-1337 or in Elston Hall 222.

About RESTARTThe Returning Adult Students Club offers anonline support network on both Facebook andYahoo Groups and is a great way to shareadvice/information and learn about SCCCresources and events. To join the Restart Clubplease contact Margaret Anne Williams,Nontraditional Student Counselor, Elston Hall223, 381-1337 or via email atwilliama@sunysccc.edu.

Thearse McCalmon, President of RESTART,arranges items already collected as part of ProjectWarmth.

5BINNEKILL, November 16, 2011

Gateway MontessoriPreschool at SCCC invitesapplicationsThe Gateway Montessori Preschool at SCCC is nowaccepting applications. The preschool features authenticMontessori materials and presentations, excellentteacher/child ratios and a sliding fee scale. It is administered by education professors with over 30 yearsof experience.Housed in the Gateway Building, the preschool isdedicated to early childhood education and care and runstwo and a half hours per day, five days a week,following the SCCC academic calendar.The preschool has a multi-age environment that includeschildren ages 2 to 6 years and maintains active parentcommunication and involvement through meetings,newsletters, e-mails and conferences. There is anindividualized kindergarten component for 5-year-oldspromoting literacy, social studies, science, math and the arts.Tuition for the preschool is $120 per child per month forSCCC students, $180 for faculty and staff and $260 perchild per month for members of the community.Montessori education was founded in 1907 by Dr. MariaMontessori in Italy. She based her educational methodson scientific observation of children’s learning processes. Guided by her discovery that children teach themselves,Dr. Montessori designed a “prepared environment” inwhich children could freely choose from a number ofdevelopmentally appropriate activities. The basis ofMontessori practice in the classroom is mixed age group,individual choice of research and work and uninterruptedconcentration. Group lessons are seldom found in aMontessori classroom, but learning abounds.For more information please contact Deb Ahola,Educational Coordinator, at (518) 381-1402 oraholada@sunysccc.edu, or Tammy Calhoun, ProgramAdministrator, at (518) 381 -1395 orcalhoutb@sunysccc.edu.

Sidewalkart outside

theGateway

MontessoriPreschool

From SCCC student to adjunct(continued from Page 2)my high school teachers.” I repeat,“No excuses.”Sometimes the students who, atthe beginning of the semester I’msaying to myself, “This one isgoing to need a lot of work,”surprise me by midterm. Forexample, one in particular hasmade a marked improvement inhis writing in just a few weeksand, as I tell him that he is trulyrising to my expectations, I getgoose bumps. But then I’mshouting to the class again, “Don’tforget to explain your quotes anduse in-text citations.”One student, a young mother andpregnant again, is one of my bestwriters. I used her essay as anexample for the rest of the class,hoping this would encourage herto continue striving for excellence.Another of my students, when Itold the class they would bewriting a story about their ownlives, laughed and said she islucky to be here in college sinceshe has been through someextremely tough times. “I’m gladyou’re here. You should be proudof yourself,” I say. They amaze meat times by their courage to obtaintheir education in spite of the

obstacles they must overcome.My first year of college was spenthere, at SCCC in the Humanitiesand Social Sciences Department,the same department I now teachin. I went on to get my Bachelor’sand Master’s degrees at universi-ties, but my fondest memories as acollege student were always atSCCC. My teachers were not arrogant andunreachable; they were there tolead me to the answer they knew I could get to on my own. I recallmany in-class discussions ofnovels, plays, short stories, and history.My favorite class was ModernDrama since the teacher let usdiscuss the plays for the entireclass. I learned so much from her,perhaps because she didn’t lectureor talk down to us. We, the class,came to our own conclusionsabout the literature we read. Sheasked the right questions, but itwas up to us to producethoughtful, insightful answers.I’ve been teaching for 18 years,six at the college level and 12 atthe junior/senior high school level,and I think the best of those 18years have been here at SCCC. Ihave a book, a collection of poetry,coming out soon, and I can’t waitto share it with my students, myaspiring young writers.

Coming in Fall 2012!College Suites at Washington SquareFor more information, visitwww.sunysccc.edu/student/housing.htm.

6 BINNEKILL, November 16, 2011

BINNEKILL Publication ScheduleFall 2011

Deadline (9 a.m.) Publication DateMonday, December 5 Wednesday, December 14

Please e-mail submissions to Heather Meaney, Editor, at meaneyhl@sunysccc.edu.

by Chris Henry, Manager

Recent EventsThe College Store was proud to host our first HalloweenCostume Contest in conjunction with the Student ActivitiesBoard. Prizes were given for the Scariest Costume, the MostCreative Costume and the Overall Crowd Favorite. The crowd inthe Commons seemed to enjoy the festivities and we weretreated to an impromptu rendition of Michael Jackson’s“Thriller.” Next came Veterans Day. Everyone who came intothe store on Nov. 11 wearing red, white or blue received a 10 percent discount.

Upcoming EventsWe at the College Store would like to wish everyone a HappyThanksgiving. Be sure to watch for December events. Drop offboxes for the Student Veterans of America’s Toys for Totsprogram will be located in the College Store. The StudentVolunteer Organization’s annual “Giving Tree” will be located infront of the store on the balcony.

Ordering online is simpleThe Spring 2012 semester is just around the corner. For the pasttwo weeks, textbook orders from faculty have been coming infast. The College Store web site is now open for you to startpurchasing your textbooks for spring. Want to avoid the line topurchase textbooks? Purchasing textbooks on our web site is

quick and painless. Remember that prices are subject to change,so be sure to order early.

Specialty gifts Looking for a special gift for the holidays? The College Storehas a special collection set up just outside our doors. Displayedin our glasscase, we havehandmadejewelry, SCCCstationery andcustom SCCCphotographs bylocal photogra-pher, ToddSchworm. Todd,Shipping andReceivingSupervisor, hasbeen with theCollege Storesince 2010 andwas recentlyfeatured in SCCC’s Rhythms magazine and Nuances of Nature.His special collection of photos, outside the College Store, hasbeen designed specifically for the College Store and SCCC.They would make a great conversation piece for any home or office.

From the Customer Service DeskThe College Store needs your help. As the semester trudges onand the end is almost here, we are trying to prepare for nextsemester. The professors are requesting their books and theCollege Store is bringing in new stock. This is where you comein. We need students to stop into the College Store and tell uswhat we can do for you. What do you want us to carry? Whatdid we run out of that you wish we had more of? What servicescould we offer to make your life easier or more fun? We want tohear from you. Stop in and tell us or send an email to ourCustomer Service Assistant Manager Sebastian Ranalli atranallsj@sunysccc.edu. If it’s possible we will do our best tomake it happen. Thank you to everyone in advance and have asafe and happy holiday.

College Store News

College Store and SCCC staff on Halloween

Happy Thanksgiving

BINNEKILL, November 16, 2011 7

Campus Resources

Academic AdvisementElston 222/ext. 1277Monday-Thursday 8:30 am-7 pmFriday 8:30 am-4:30 pm

Academic Computing LabElston 529, 530/ext. 1213Monday-Thursday 8:30 am-10 pm Friday 8:30 am-4 pmSaturday 9 am-3:30 pm

Accounting/CIS Tutor LabElston 330/ext. 1041Monday-Thursday 8 am-4:30 pm Friday 8 am-1 pm

ADA Transition ServicesElston 222/ext. 1345Monday-Friday 8:30 am-4:30 pm

AdmissionsStockade 120/ext. 1166Monday-Friday 8:30 am-4:30 pm

AthleticsElston 222/ext. 1356Monday-Friday 8:30 am-4:30 pm

Begley Library/ext. 1239Monday-Thursday 8 am-9:30 pmFriday 8 am-4:30 pmSaturday 10 am-2 pm

Business Office, StudentElston 517/ext. 1346, 1347Monday, Thursday 8:30 am-7 pmTues., Wed., Fri. 8:30 am-4:15 pm

Career and EmploymentServicesElston 222/ext. 1365Monday-Friday 8:30 am-4:30 pm

The College StoreElston 109/ext. 1332Mon.-Wed., 8 a.m.-6 p.m., Thurs.,8 a.m.-4 p.m.,Fri., 8 a.m.-2 pm

The Commons Elston/ext. 1330Monday-Thursday 7:30 am-7:30 pmFriday 7:30 am-2 pm

Counseling (Career, Transfer and Personal)Elston 222/ext. 1365Monday-Friday 8:30 am-4:30 pm

College Central NetworkSCCC’s career management systemwww.sunysccc.edu/ces

Financial AidElston 221/ext. 1352Monday, Thursday 8:30 am-7 pmTues., Wed., Fri. 8:30 am-4:30 pm

Gateway MontessoriGateway 124/ext. 1455/1295Monday-Friday 9 am-11:30 am(Call for program information.)

Language LabElston 520/ext. 1373Monday-Thursday 9:30 am-2 pm

4-7 pm(Closed Wednesday 11:30 am-12:30 pm)Friday 10 am-12 pmSaturday 10 am-1 pm

Learning CenterWriting LabElston 523/ext. 1246Monday-Thursday 8 am-7 pmFriday 8 am-4 pmSaturday 10 am-3 pm

Math Lab Elston 518/ext. 1435Monday-Thursday 8 am-7 pmFriday 8 am-4 pmSaturday 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

Multicultural/EducationalOpportunity ProgramsElston 222/ext. 1279Monday-Friday 8:30 am-4:30 pm(Evening hours available upon request.)

RegistrarElston 212/ext. 1348, 1349Monday, Thursday 8:30 am-7 pmTues., Wed., Fri. 8:30 am-4:30 pm

Student Affairs, VicePresidentElston 222/ext. 1344Monday-Friday 8:30 am-4:30 pm(Evening hours available upon request.)

Student GovernmentElston 220/ext. 1388By appointment or walk-in

Testing CenterElston 427/ext.1293TestingCenter@sunysccc.eduMonday-Thursday 8:30 am to 8 pmFriday-8:30 am-3 pmSaturday-10 am-2 pm

TRIO Student SupportServices Elston 328/ext. 1465Monday-Friday 8:30 am-4:30 pm

Tutor ServicesElston 328-C/ext. 1461Monday-Friday 8:30 am-4:30 pm

Veterans AffairsElston 223/ext. 1284By appointment or walk-in

Workforce DevelopmentStockade 120/ext. 1315Monday-Friday 8:30 am-4:30 pm

YWCA Children’s CenterGateway Bldg./ext. 1375 or 1389Monday-Friday 7:30 am-5:30 pm(Evening hours available dependingon enrollment.)