Thirty-nine faculty and staff volunteers from Buffalo State participated in this year’s United Way Day of Caring on August 15. Administrators, faculty, and staff donned orange-and-white T-shirts while helping the Economic Self-Sufficiency Coalition (ESSC) and the Community Action Information Center (CAIC).

Lily Bink, interim associate director of the Educational Opportunity Program, and Kelly Boos, assistant to the dean of the School of Natural and Social Sciences, led a team of 24 volunteers for the ESSC. The team delivered fliers to houses in the 14215 zip code (Kensington-Bailey) neighborhood in order to generate awareness about afree tax-preparation network.

Camille Spyra, senior staff assistant in E. H. Butler Library, led a team of 15 volunteers at the CAIC’s site at 103 Wohlers Avenue, located in the northeast corner of the Ellicott District, just west of Martin Luther King Jr. Park. The team removed weeds from flower and vegetable beds, painted flower boxes and trees, and provided food deliveries to nearby sick and shut-in residents.

Throughout Erie County, more than 3,000 volunteers helped at 160 sites during the Day of Caring. The day marks the official kickoff of the United Way of Buffalo and Erie County’s annual campaign. The United Way Day of Caring is Western New York’s largest volunteer event, mobilizing thousands to assist local community providers with hands-on service projects. Buffalo State faculty and staff have always been an important part of this community-wide event.

A bevy of freshmen wearing orange T-shirts identifying them as members of the Class of 2011 filled the center of Rockwell Hall Auditorium on Friday afternoon, during Buffalo State’s third annual First-Year Convocation.

Provost Dennis Ponton introduced students to their first college emblem, the mace, a symbol of higher learning since the fourteenth century. “I have not been carrying it quite that long,” he assured the packed house.

Listen to the podcast of the ceremony, including inspirational remarks from President Muriel Howard and deans Ben Christy, Ron Rochon, Larry Flood, Gary Jones, and Jan Ramsey.

The Buffalo State College Foundation presents the 10th annual Golf and Tennis Scholarship Classic on Monday, September 10, at the Brookfield Country Club in Clarence. Proceeds will support Buffalo State’s All College Honors Program. The program is sponsored entirely by private support and provides deserving students with opportunities for internships, seminars, research, special on-campus housing, and scholarships.

Presented by BlueCross BlueShield of Western New York, the event includes a lunch buffet, cocktails and hors d’oeuvres, and an awards dinner. Alumna Linda Ann Dobmeier, ’71, chair of the Buffalo State College Foundation, will chair the event. Dobmeier is vice president of Dobmeier Janitor Supply Inc. and a member of numerous philanthropic and community organizations, including Roswell Park Cancer Institute Corporation, the Amherst Police Foundation, the Brothers of Mercy Campus Foundation, the FBI Foundation, and the Niagara Lutheran Home Foundation.

Sponsorship opportunities, as well as a limited number of golf and tennis spots, are still available. Buffalo State employees wishing to participate may pay via payroll deduction for added convenience. For more information and to register, please contact Pamela Voyer, ext. 3725. The registration form is also available online.

Joe Ball, associate director of Campus Services and Facilities, received the 2007 Outstanding Service Award from the New York State Disability Services Council for his support of students, faculty, and staff with disabilities. The award was presented at the council’s annual meeting in Canandaigua, New York, on June 21.

Campus Access Award nominees must be non-disability-services employees, departments, or alumni on a SUNY campus who promote or provide outstanding access to the campus’s disabled community.

Ball, who has worked at Buffalo State for more than 30 years, has developed a reputation for going above and beyond his duties to accommodate the special needs of disabled Buffalo State students, faculty and staff.

“If a student has a problem, such as an automatic door not opening or a walkway not being cleared sufficiently in the winter, Joe has been known to give students his personal cell phone number so he may be reached quickly when needed,” said director of Disability Services Marianne Savino, who nominated Ball for the award. “Some students even give Joe their schedules so he can prioritize plowing on heavier snow days.”

Ball, who noted that the honor would not be possible without the help of his staff, started his career at Buffalo State in 1976 as a university police officer, a position he held until 1981. Starting in 1981, he served as assistant to the director of the Physical Plant before assuming his current position in 1998. Ball also sits on Buffalo State’s ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) Committee.

Students, faculty, and staff are invited to an informal Q&A with Emmy Award–winning producer Tom Fontana on Tuesday, September 4, during Bengal Pause (12:30–1:30 p.m.) in the Flexible Theatre in the Savage Building.

Fontana, a 1973 graduate, has written and produced such groundbreaking television series as St. Elsewhere, Homicide: Life on the Street,and Oz.

“This is a great opportunity to meet a huge success in the entertainment industry, someone who began his process right here," said Drew Kahn, associate professor of theater.

During his visit to campus, Fontana will also teach Jeff Hirschberg’s TVA 201 class and meet with the TVA Advisory Committee to discuss the new major and celebrate its recent approval.

Buffalo State College is committed to the need for proper treatment of all members of the college community. The college can achieve its educational mission only in an atmosphere of mutual respect that is free from intolerance and that offers equal opportunity to all. Every member of the college community shares the responsibility for addressing incidents of disrespect for dignity of others, acts of discrimination, racism, bigotry, harassment, exclusion, abusive language, or mistreatment of individuals or groups.

Among the goals of the college is the empowerment of a diverse population of students to succeed as citizens of a challenging world. The college is dedicated to maintaining an atmosphere of intellectual vitality, collegiality, and collaboration. It will not have attained its goal until and unless all in its midst obtain fair and equitable treatment in employment and education. For this reason, Buffalo State College condemns and pledges itself to fight against all acts of invidious discrimination, bias, intolerance, or harassment.

Racial discrimination is a particularly serious problem. The goals of the college are undermined and human dignity is offended where employment or educational benefits, opportunities, or privileges are denied or restricted on the basis of race, religion, color, or national origin, or where a racially hostile environment exists. Racial discrimination and illegal discrimination of any sort limit the opportunity for individuals to realize their potential and deny them the rigors, joys, and fulfillment of intellectual curiosity.

Therefore:

It is the policy of Buffalo State College to provide an employment and educational environment free from invidious discrimination on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, disability, or marital or veteran status. It shall be a violation of this policy for any agent, student, or employee of Buffalo State College to discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, disability, or marital or veteran status against any individual with respect to the terms of employment, education, or benefits of any program or activity at Buffalo State College.

To implement this policy:

>> All college faculty, staff, and students are expected to comport themselves in a manner that does not convey to others in the college community any disrespect, intolerance, or rude behavior based on age; race; religion; color; national origin; gender; sexual orientation; disability; or marital, veteran, or socioeconomic status.

>> All members of the college community are expected to contribute to the college environment to move the college community in the direction of respect for all.

>> All persons within the college community who perceive that they have been subjected to discrimination or harassment based on age, race, religion, color, national origin, gender, disability, marital or veteran status, or sexual orientation are urged to present their concerns to the Equity and Campus Diversity Office.

>> All faculty, staff, and students who know of a member of the community who believes that he or she has been subjected to discrimination or harassment are expected to encourage that person to go to the Equity and Campus Diversity Office and, if need be, to offer personal assistance to that person in making the visit to the Equity and Campus Diversity Office.

>> All supervisory and management staff have a responsibility to educate faculty, staff, and students about the value of diversity to the institution. To meet this responsibility supervisors, department heads, and management staff are expected to:

• Regularly communicate with employees and students under their supervision about the college's policy against discrimination, its commitment to diversity, and the need for civility in the community.
   

   

• Monitor their behavior to ensure that their behavior offers an appropriate model regarding the policy for employees and students under their supervision.
   

   

• Promptly and thoroughly respond to all reports or incidents of invidious discrimination or harassment in their area of responsibility.
   

   

• Identify and respect the needs of the victims of discrimination and attempt to restore collegiality and equity following reported incidents of discrimination.
   

   

• Confer directly with the Equity and Campus Diversity Office whenever reports or complaints of discrimination or harassment are brought to their attention in their area of responsibility or if they have concerns about an appropriate response to a concern or complaint.

The Auxiliary Services Grant Allocation Committee (GAC) is requesting proposals from individuals, departments, student clubs, and organizations for funding of programs, speakers, and events to take place during the 2007–2008 academic year.

Application guidelines and materials are available online. The deadline to submit applications under this funding cycle is Monday, September 17. Additional opportunities to apply for GAC funds will be provided in November. Questions about the GAC may be addressed to Daniel Vélez, assistant to the vice president for student affairs, Cleveland Hall 519, ext. 5550.

The Equity and Campus Diversity Office will receive applications for Equity and Campus Diversity Minigrants to provide financial assistance for projects, workshops, and activities to strengthen excellence in diversity as described in the college mission, strategic directions, and core values.

Awards of approximately $800 to $2,000 will be awarded to student organizations, academic clubs, departments, programs, and individual faculty or staff members. The average minigrant is expected to be $850; however, projects of superior merit that are directly related to diversity in the curriculum may be funded for up to $2,000. Awards are contingent on available funds and approval by the president. Award funds must comply with SUNY accounting policies and thus cannot be used to purchase food or beverages.

Applications will be reviewed on the following criteria:

1. The project has a sound conceptual framework that can be identified as strengthening the campus commitment to equity and diversity. The project reflects the mission and core values of the college as expressed in the 2003–2008 Strategic Plan, i.e., respect for diversity and individual differences.

2. The project is clearly defined with an easily identified starting and ending point, specific activities, specific goals, and measurable and/or observable outcomes.

3. The project has direct impact upon a significant portion of the campus community and broad visibility. Project activities must be open to all students, faculty, and staff at Buffalo State College and cannot be limited to in-class presentations.

Applications for 2007–2008 programs should be submitted to the Equity and Campus Diversity Office, Cleveland Hall 415. Review of applications will begin upon receipt and will continue contingent on available funds.

Projects must be completed before May 1, 2008. Final reports and requests for reimbursement must be received no later than May 30, 2008.

Minigrants can be used to support activities such as the following:

* Guest speakers on a diversity topic related to a discipline or curriculum.

* Special program(s) intended to increase respect for diversity and individual differences.

* Projects to enhance and support recruitment, retention, and development of a diverse full-time faculty and staff.

* Projects that expand the inclusion of issues related to race, ethnicity, gender, persons with disabilities, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, or other areas related to diversity, in curricular and extracurricular offerings, programs, and activities.

For more information, contact Dolores E. Battle, senior adviser to the president for equity and campus diversity, ext. 6210. Additional information and application forms are available online.

In order to standardize the building codes in all campus systems such as Banner, the college has converted from two-character to four-character building codes. Effective immediately, please use the four-character building codes:

BACO — Bacon Hall

BISH — Bishop Hall

BUCK — Buckham Campus School

BULG — Bulger Communication Center

BUTL — Butler Library

CAMB — Campbell Student Union

CHOU — Campus House

CASS — Cassety Hall

CAUD — Caudell Hall

CHAN — Caudell Annex

CENT — Central Receiving

CHAS — Chase Hall

CLAS* — Classroom Building

CLEV — Cleveland Hall

CCTR — Clinton Center

THEA — Donald Savage Building

HOUS — Houston Gym

KETC — Ketchum Hall

LETC — Letchworth Annex

MORC — Moore Complex

MOOT — Moot Hall

NEUM — Neumann Hall

PERR — Perry Hall

PORT — Porter Hall

POWR — Power Plant

ROCK — Rockwell Hall

SLRE — Scajaquada East

TOW1 — Scajaquada Tower 1

TOW2 — Scajaquada Tower 2

TOW3 — Scajaquada Tower 3

TOW4 — Scajaquada Tower 4

SLRW — Scajaquada West

SCIE — Science Building

SERV — Service Center

SPAR — Sports Arena

TWIN — Twin Rise Center

NORT — Twin Rise North

SOUT — Twin Rise South Wing

UPTO — Upton Hall

WEIG — Weigel Health Center

*Classroom Building locations for A, B, and C need to be appended to the room number, e.g., HA 108 will become CLAS A108.

John A. Lombardo has been appointed deputy chief of university police. Lombardo, who has served as interim deputy chief since November 2006, has been on the University Police force since 1985, serving as an investigator since 1991. A  Vietnam-era veteran, Lombardo served as a medic in the U.S. Air Force from 1971 to 1975. He has worked as a New York State corrections officer at Sing Sing, Bedford Hills, and Attica state prisons. Lombardo received the SUNY Police Chiefs Association's award for professionalism in 2003. He holds a bachelor’s degree in sociology from the University at Buffalo.

Peter M. Carey has been appointed assistant chief of university police. Carey has served Buffalo State for 27 years, as an officer from 1980 to 1997, and as a lieutenant from 1997 to 2007. He also serves as an adjunct faculty member with the Criminal Justice Department. Carey is a practicing attorney with an office in Buffalo who holds a juris doctor from the University at Buffalo Law School and a bachelor of science in criminal justice from Buffalo State College. He has received numerous awards and honors, including SUNY Police Chiefs Association's awards for heroism and for professionalism, the Buffalo State College University Police Chief’s Award for Outstanding Service, the Buffalo State College Outstanding Criminal Justice Alumni Award, and the Buffalo State College United Students Government Hall of Fame Award, as well as many letters of commendation. Carey directed the Philips Medical Systems’ Community Contribution Program in 2004, securing $5,000 for automated external defibrillator equipment. He also acquired four grants totaling $600,000 from 1996 to 2003 from the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) program, part of the U.S. Department of Justice, for the hiring of five additional officers and the purchase of computer and radio equipment for the University Police Department.