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November 17, 2009 This newsletter is produced by the Office of Public Relations for the faculty and staff of Bergen Community College and replaces The Monday Report. Please send items to insidebergen@bergen.edu by noon on the Thursday before Monday publication.
The main campus in Paramus could undergo up to $86 million worth of improvements, including the construction of an academic building, a parking garage and new entrance to the Pitkin Education Center, according to a presentation on the facilities master plan at an open forum by NK Architects on November 12. The master plan must be approved by the College’s Board of Trustees, which might vote on the proposal in December, and is dependent on government funding. The 10-year plan, which serves as a "wish list" or "guiding document for the physical development on campus," according to Vice President of Administrative Services Timothy Dacey, could also include a new traffic pattern through the center of campus. The academic building, the linchpin of the project, will rise two or three stories, depending on upcoming enrollment projections. The building – slated for the parcel of land south of the Pitkin Education Center’s "quad" and north of the campus’ main road – would accommodate up to 50 classrooms. Additionally, the existing lobby near the Office of Public Safety would become the main entrance to the College. At this main entrance, a "one-stop shop" of student services would be created. If the board approves the plan, President Dr. G. Jeremiah Ryan, Mr. Dacey and other administrators will begin trying to secure funding for the projects from governing bodies such as the Bergen County Board of Chosen Freeholders. Total cost estimate for the projects range from $71 million to $86 million. A Day To Remember
The College community joined millions of Americans on Wednesday, November 11 in recognizing the service of the country’s military veterans. Bergen counselor John Giaimo led the College’s Veterans Day ceremony, which began in the student center with remarks from staff and students who are also veterans. "I clearly understand the aspects of war," said Vice President of Student Services Raymond Smith, who served in Vietnam. "War brings about anguish, but war also brings about glory – the ability of this country to continue to be free. War is ubiquitous – it can be in Iraq, the jungles of Vietnam, the buildings of New York or the facilities of Fort Hood. Wherever it has reared its head, the women and men of the U.S. military have responded." Vice President of Administration Timothy Dacey, a Persian Gulf War veteran, added, "We should not only honor our veterans on Veterans Day; they need our support and they need our love every day." As high as unemployment is for the general population, he noted it is even higher among veterans. Andrew Steiner, a Marine Corps veteran who served two tours of duty in Iraq, said he enrolled in Bergen this year to gain an education that will help him land a job. He is a liaison between veterans and the College administration. Albert Brooks, also a Bergen student and commander of the Paramus Post of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, also spoke. "We are all here today to honor veterans and thank veterans for their service," he said. After the remarks, Bergen public safety officer and military veteran Bo Drakeford (above) led a procession of more than 100 to the College's flagpole located near the Paramus Road entrance for a moment of silence and the Pledge of Allegiance. More than 1,000 Bergen students, faculty and staff are military veterans. For more photos visit the photo gallery at www.bergen.edu. U Thant's Daughter Preserves his Memory
Daw Aye Aye Thant, daughter of U Thant, secretary-general of the United Nations from 1961 to 1971, spoke about her father's quest for world peace and the institute she founded to honor his memory with President Dr. G. Jeremiah Ryan on Monday, November 9 in the West Hall Recital Hall. Ms. Thant (above, with President Ryan) described U Thant as an "ideal father" who believed in reconciliation and compromise. She gave credit to his Buddhist teachings and meditation for helping him stay centered. "He was a spiritual man and was always willing to listen to the opinions and beliefs of others," she said. Ms. Thant shared some of her favorite memories of her father, including his sense of humor and love of storytelling. She also revealed that he was considered for a Nobel Peace Prize in 1965. Ms. Thant established the U Thant Institute in 2003 as a way of recognizing and honoring her father's contributions to education, environmental protection and health. The institute's diverse offerings include the "Friendships across Cultures" program that partners a school in the United States with a school in another country to help children learn about different cultures. Following the interview, a photo exhibition depicting U Thant's life was held in West Hall's Gallery Bergen. For more photos, visit the photo gallery at www.bergen.edu. Former Yankees Strength Coach Offer Tips
Former New York Yankees strength and conditioning coach Jeff Mangold (third from right) can relate to the Yankees recent World Series win. When he was with the Bronx Bombers, they won three world titles. In a visit to Bergen Community College on November 10, Mangold, the first strength and conditioning coach to work full time for a Major League Baseball team, discussed careers in physical therapy and strength and conditioning training, and offered advice on education and ways to break into the business. He also fielded questions from the 100 students and staff that turned out for the presentation in the Anna Maria Ciccone Theatre. Mangold talked about his experiences with the Yankees just days after they won their 27th World Series by defeating the Philadelphia Phillies. He first joined the Yankees in 1984 and during two stints that totaled more than 10 years, he directed physical fitness and conditioning efforts for the club's top players. Mangold on Dave Winfield: "The best athlete I have ever seen;" Alex Rodriguez: "No one prepares better than him;" and Mariano Rivera: "He really puts the time in." He called his experience in New York "more exciting than stressful. Anyone in New York, especially with the New York Yankees, feels pressure but you either like it or you don't. I did (like it)." The event was co-sponsored by the Wellness Center, the Wellness, Exercise and Science Department, the Athletic Department and the Fitness Club. For more photos, visit the photo gallery at www.bergen.edu. Actor Tells his Story
Hollywood veteran and Tony Award-winning actor B.D. Wong (above, with students) spoke at the Anna Maria Ciccone Theatre on Wednesday, November 11 about his views on diversity and his personal struggles as an Asian American and gay man in the United States. Mr. Wong was born in San Francisco to a conservative Chinese family. As a child he was conflicted with feelings of being different than other children. "I was a creative and gay child who liked to knit, play with dolls and read. Basically, I was nerdy fabulous." Mr. Wong became interested in performing at an early age but suffered from low self-esteem. He couldn't understand why there weren't more Asian actors appearing on television. Mr. Wong credits a high school teacher with allowing him to perform diverse roles, regardless of his skin color. After dropping out of college, Mr. Wong moved to New York City to jump start his acting career. He was embarrassed by his ethnicity and felt that he was only suited for small roles like "the troubled Chinatown gang member and the whacky foreign exchange student." He received his big break when he won one of the leading roles in "M. Butterfly," a Broadway play that was written by an Asian-American, depicting a love affair between a French diplomat and a Chinese opera singer. Mr. Wong played the role of the female opera singer who is actually a man. In addition to his career on Broadway, Mr. Wong has appeared in television series including "Law and Order-Special Victims Unit" and "Oz." Mr. Wong also revealed how he and his partner became parents through surrogacy and the tragedy of losing one of their twins prematurely. Mr. Wong's journey has come full circle as he is now able to embrace his heritage and sexuality. He encouraged students not to listen to stereotypes as "they may be based on fact but aren't the universal truth." For more photos, visit the photo gallery at www.bergen.edu. Faculty and Staff Highlights Enrollment specialist Joseph Todd presented his paper, "Final Destination: Imagination's Role in Envisioning Democracy as a Compass Not an End," at a meeting of the New Jersey Regional Philosophical Association on Saturday, November 14 at Montclair State University. Mr. Todd participated in a panel called "Transformative Education and the Struggle for Democratic Life." Classes for Office 2007 The Office of Information Technology is in the process of upgrading all computers on campus from Office 2003 to Office 2007. If you currently use Office 2003 and are unfamiliar with Office 2007, it is recommended that you take an upgrade class as soon as possible. The Center for Instructional Technology is offering four additional Word upgrade workshops in the next few weeks. Seats are limited to 12, and reserved on a first-come first serve basis. Additional classes will be offered if necessary. Remaining Word 2007 Upgrade Classes: Friday, November 20, 3-5 PM Monday, November 23, 3-5 PM Tuesday, December 1, 10-12 PM Wednesday, December 9, 1:45-3:40 5 PM To register for one of these classes go to www.bergen.edu/cit, click Workshops & Training, and scroll down to Word 2007 Upgrade classes. If you are unable to attend any of the workshops above, you can take an online tutorial called Atomic Learning (AL) that can be accessed from the College or at home. It contains over 30,000 tutorials in many different software applications. Some are closed captioned and others are in Spanish. The Office 2007 applications are supported very nicely by the AL tutorials. To access AL from Bergen: open Internet Explorer, click on Favorites, click on BCC links, click on Atomic Learning.To access AL from home go to: http://atomiclearning.com/highed Faculty log in is bccfaculty, password is teach. Staff log in is bccstaff, password is learn. Best Practices Conference The deadline for proposals for the New Jersey Council of County Colleges' 2010 Best Practices Conference is fast approaching - November 27. The conference will be held on April 23 at Brookdale Community College in Middletown, N.J. The theme will be "New Directions for Turbulent Times." Proposals directly related to the theme will be given priority. A copy of the Request for Proposals and instructions can be downloaded from the council's Web site, www.njccc.org. Test Your Lungs For the 14th consecutive year, respiratory therapy students will be providing computerized lung testing, peak flow measurements, pulse oximetry and information regarding lung health at the Great American Smokeout on Thursday, November 19 from 8:15 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Gymnasium. Leadership Conference The Chair Academy has issued a call for proposals for the 19th Annual International Leadership Conference to be held March 15 - 18 in Minneapolis, Minn. Topics that complement the conference theme, "Leading in a Time of Change," will be given special consideration. For more information, visit the Web site, www.chairacademy.com/conference/2010. |
Produced by the Office of Public Relations |
