Gadaleto’s Seafood Market has held a presence in the Hudson Valley region since 1945 and has recently been undergoing numerous changes. General manager, Steve Kraus, and chef, Shannon Hart were willing to share what this business has gone through and where it is headed.
Gadaleto’s first opened up as a seafood market in Highland with its second location in Poughkeepsie until both locations burned down. The New Paltz location was able to continue the business and is currently the only restaurant running under the same owner Stacie Becker.
Renovation was necessary after a car drove through one of the walls of the restaurant and a dining room was included in the plans. By 1996, Gadaleto’s had become a fully functioning market and restaurant, improving on fine dining ever since.
Kraus has been involved in Gadaleto’s since ’96 when he was a SUNY student himself. He did some work in the kitchen but his primary duties involved the market, including buying the fresh seafood from New Fulton’s Fish Market.
This large market gets fish shipped from all around the world, some directly from boats and some from seafood houses after an auction.
Kraus also handles staff, customers, inventory, and pricing with the help of his partner, Stacie, and chef, Hart. Some of the work is split up but a lot of decisions are run by all three.
With over 40 varieties of fish in the market, the most popular purchases from the market include Wild King Salmon, shrimps, scallops, clams, and Tilapia. These may seem expensive but they are also expensive to the company, being some of the highest proteins one can find.
The market is open seven days a week, but the dining room is closed Monday and Tuesday to give the staff a break, some time to catch up, and, of course, a chance to create more crowd favorites.
The Jooba Doobie, a grilled jumbo shrimp sandwich topped with barbecue sauce, crispy fried onions and lettuce was named Hudson Valley magazine’s favorite sandwich from Gadaleto’s. What makes this sandwich so great is the fresh bread from the local bakery, Torino, and the fresh vegetables from Taliaferro Farms.
Gadaleto’s sustained the “Best of Hudson Valley” award for five consecutive years because of its focus on fresh products and fairly large portions. “We have a unique setting, I don’t imagine other restaurants around here have a fish market to pull from,” Hart said.
Gadaleto’s large selection of fish helps satisfy many families that come to eat. The “Any Fish Dish” lets you choose from any fish the market is currently holding for your meal.
But the most popular meals at the restaurant, according to Kraus and Hart, are the English Fish & Chips, the House Fish & Chips, Hand Cut Calamari, and the Lobster Roll.
Gadaleto’s did hold the Guinness World Record for the largest serving of fish and chips until a British company took it by serving a smaller portion of fish and a larger portion of fries, Kraus stated. His plans for the future include holding that record once again.
Other plans for Gadaleto’s include starting a brewery within the restaurant, improving upon communication within the staff, and growing within the community. “We are always working on the best experience we can bring people. We want to keep Gadaleto’s as a main stay in people’s names and where to get your fish,” Shannon said.
Gadaleto’s supports its family oriented environment with its children’s nights on Wednesdays. Children eat for free with a specialized kids menu including the basic chicken fingers and French fries dish as well as salmon with salad and even chicken, fish and vegetable skewers.
Having her own children at home, Hart promotes healthy eating even at the restaurant. “Fish is generally viewed as healthier and people are definitely trying to take care of themselves.”
Kraus admits that Gadaleto’s high point was about six years ago, facing troubles since their former chef had left. They are currently rebuilding trust within their former customers and the community. Gadaleto’s is interactive with their Facebook page, constantly updating their specials each Friday.
Stacie and Steve take advantage of the local fresh farms and fresh seafood they have. They also put the business in the hands of their chef to create healthy and fresh meals customers will enjoy.
Kraus wanted to let the public know “things are looking good here and they’re looking better and if you haven’t been here, now would be a good time to try it.” The staff is very confident about Gadaleto’s and now is time for the public to feel the same way.
NEW PALTZ, NEW YORK- Jonathon Palenscar has been a professor at SUNY New Paltz for the past ten years and during that time has made it his mission to connect with as many young people as he can. He describes himself as “a history teacher that doesn’t like dates,” because he believes the concepts and values he is teaching his students is much more valuable than the simple facts. Palenscar has had many interesting life experiences so far such as, going to Woodstock, the March on Washington, breaking his nose five times, going to Paris several times, and other adventures that he uses to keep his students interested. Among all the amazing moments he has had during his life, he says that the most exciting moment of his life is the birth of children. He combines typical classroom lectures and his personal life experiences to shape his lessons to keep his students interested and inspired. During his time teaching at New Paltz, he has gained a very popular student following. His ratings on ratemyprofessor.com are mostly positive and praising. To this, Palenscar says he’s “embarrassed because they’re all nice things,” but at the same time it allows him to know he “has reached a lot of students.” In addition to his internet praise, Palenscar was also awarded teacher of the year in 2008. In retrospect, Palenscar says that his greatest moment in teaching is when, “students call back years later and say that they remember something from class.” He says that he is glad New Paltz is the type of school that gives him enough academic freedom in order to reach his students the way he currently does, which is through, “the history of ideas,” and combining literature and history in order to teach his students the greater value of his lessons. To his students, he would like to give this piece of advice, “ ‘It’s ok to build castles in the air because that’s where they should be, now go out and build a foundation under them’ (Henry David Thoreau) meaning have dreams, but do things to make them happen.” Palenscar does not treat his classes as lessons to learn facts about the past, but instead uses his lessons to prepare his students for their future in a way that shapes their spirits as well as their minds. Palenscar does what he can to stay lively and involved in the lives of young people and believes teaching is the best way to do that. He says, “It’s hard work staying ten years old.”
A fixture today in Albany, New York, Teal, Becker & Chiaramonte, CPAs has been providing tax and accounting services to the general public in the capital region and upstate since 1971. The current shareholder and managing partner, James Drislane, has greatly influenced the company.
Drislane graduated from Sienna College in 1979 with a business degree in accounting following in the footsteps of 3 of his siblings. “Since three of my brothers were CPA’s,” Drislane recalls, “I also chose that career path.”
After graduating and deciding to work at the local level, Drislane worked at Stulmaker Roach & Co. from 1979 through July 1983, becoming a CPA in 1982. He then joined Teal, Becker & Chiaramonte (TBC) later in 1983 and held positions including senior accountant and manager before becoming a shareholder in 1992.
The shareholder’s experience includes, in his own words, “working in private industry for six years and now and having completed 33 years in public accounting working for a diversified client base including retail stores, contractors, physicians, government clients such as school districts and colleges, as well as auto dealers.”
What Drislane does on a daily basis varies from reviewing all of the open jobs assigned to him, sitting with each employee to discuss what needs to be done to complete these jobs, and reviewing administrative paperwork such as cash balances, health insurance, employee issues, etc, from his controller.
When asked how he keeps a trusting relationship with clients, Drislane noted that being honest upfront, letting them know when you do not know the answer, and getting help from others in the firm when you need it are the most useful and important tactics. Ensuring excellence in customer satisfaction, the company promises to finish all client work by the set deadlines, and assign the proper staff to each project.
The company’s website notes how it has “developed longstanding associations with attorneys, bankers, bonding agents and other professionals that play an instrumental role in developing and implementing comprehensive financial strategies.” Drislane justifies the importance of these relations stating that they are their number one referral sources and that “part of that team should be a quality CPA firm to help guide them thru both the upturns and downturns in the economy such as we are experiencing currently.”
During his time at TBC, Drislane has developed strong relationships with four local bank presidents, putting on educational seminars for their bankers to learn accounting rules as well as joint projects for their customers and TBC’s by providing “speakers and valuable handouts.” The purpose of this is that the banks will in turn provide business leads to TBC in the future.
Something else that the managing partner deems important is good relationships with his employees. He accomplishes this by being a good listener and being fair and open-minded.
During Mr.Drislane’s times with TBC, his firm has won Top Places to Work in local businesses three out of the last four years and has also been “recognized by multiple charities for [its] volunteers and financial support in the newspaper and on television.”
When asked about his proudest moment at TBC, Drislane said, “It would be my fellow shareholders voting me the new managing partner for the next five years at our firm. In addition,” he then proceeded to say, “to my wife being named partner at the firm in 2012.”
Drislane’s short-term goal for the company is to transition his client base to younger CPAs as he prepares to manage the “day-to-day” operations of the firm. As for the long-term, he hopes to improve the firm’s cash flow as well as oversee the growth of the other provided services and ensure job stability for all present and future employees.
“In five years,” Drislane quotes, “I see myself spending over 75% of my time in the office working on my administrative duties overseeing hopefully a 100 employee CPA firm.” He also mentions that in 10 years he hopes to be semi-retired and helping with the bigger issues at the firm “based on [his] extensive work experience.”
There is not much that Drislane would change about his current job except that he wishes that tax return deadlines were not mandated on them so that he and his employees could spent more time with their families around these deadlines.
James Drislane CPA is a credited businessman in the area of accounting and has steadily led his company for over 25 years. He states finally that “[TBC’s] reputation in the business community is a high integrity, outstanding CPA firm that professionals and the public trust that consistently provides high quality services.”
With forty-two years in the soft drink business and a Yoohoo presidency under his belt, Eugene Kreuscher could tell you a little something about running a business. His success didn’t come easy, however. The 70-year-old Long Island Native shared his views on how hard work can lead to great accomplishments.
Kreuscher, an All American Wrestler in high school, was offered scholarships by CW Post, Hofstra, Ithaca and NYU, but didn’t have the grades to get in. Although he could not continue his athletics after high school, he would take what he learned from wrestling with him forever.
“Sports played such a large role in my life and that’s the only reason I stayed in school. What my coaches instilled in me was that whoever I competed with I could beat– unless they worked harder than me,” Kreuscher said.
With plans to marry high school sweet heart– Arlene, who he just recently celebrated his 50th anniversary with, Kreuscher knew he would need to find a job to support a family.
And that’s exactly what he did.
Kreuscher first got a job driving a truck for No-Cal Soda, where he worked work for sixteen years. He slowly advanced in the company, through hard work and dedication, until he was promoted to manager at the age of twenty-six.
As the years went on, Kreuscher continued to be offered higher-level jobs through his stellar reputation.
“The people above me at each job knew how hard I worked and when they got new jobs, they would pass my name down. From there, someone else would do it and that’s how I continued to move up in the business.”
Earning a steady income at one of his managing jobs, Kreuscher was approached by beverage company C and C Cola who offered him the job as general sales manager of Yoohoo in 1981.
At this time, Yoohoo was headed downhill; selling only a million cases a year. Doubting a bright future for the company, Kreuscher reluctantly took the job.
“In six short years we drove the number of cases sold a year from one to fifteen million. We resurrected a brand that was around for fifty plus years that was ready to go out of business,” said Kreuscher.
This was done by constantly keeping one step ahead of the competition: bringing back the original, non-watered down formula, changing bottle size and shape, selling multipacks and creating Yoohoo flavored ice cream, candy and milk cartons.
“I was now getting kids that were two and three years old drinking Yoohoo and when they got older, they graduated to the bigger bottles. I was really growing a franchise from the cradle,” he explained.
Yoohoo became so successful that a large French corporation bought it.
As the company continued to soar, so did Kreuscher’s career; eventually he became president of the company. Throughout this time, he gained the recognition of many other large corporations and was offered jobs at Snapple and Royal Crown Cola.
Burnt out at the age of 50, Kreuscher retired.
“Physically I think I was 60. Working for the French wasn’t easy,” Kreuscher joked. “But I walked out with my health and my wife never had to work again.”
Although the job market is much tighter than when Kreuscher first started out, he offers the following advice to young adults who are just getting out into the work world:
“I think the toughest part is starting at the bottom. You’ve got to put your dues in somewhere. To me, if you work hard; the work you put in has to pay off. You just have to earn it.”
Descending the stairs off of Church Street in New Paltz the droning sound of The Velvet Underground's "Venus in Furs" gets progressively louder. A propped open door, held in place with a milk crate filled with sun-faded discount vinyl, leads to Rhino Records.
Upon entering, your eyes can't help but notice the towering figure behind the counter as he greets you with a warm hello.
Like a preacher guides his congregation, he removes the needle from the record player on a shelf behind him and replaces "The Velvet Underground and Nico" with another stiff wax disc, this time a hunter green vinyl that casts a stained-glass shade over his flock. “This is the good word,” says owner Rick Lange to nobody in particular, while the sounds of a carnival crescendo as a Leslie keyboard signals the beginning of Cursive's "The Ugly Organ."
He recognizes me from the O+ music festival held last weekend in Kingston, where he was a participant in the opening parade and host for several acts, including local boys done well “The Felice Brothers.”
After purchasing Rhino Records from previous owner of thirty years Stever Ferber in 2009, Rick saw an opportunity to spread his love of music. “Steve said if I bought out his stock, I could buy the store for a dollar.”
Getting into the used record business in 2009 was a potentially risky decision. 2008 was the 25th year in a row that had seen overall record sales fall, but Rick felt that wasn’t going to continue.
“There's a level of compression that…from vinyl to tape to CD to digital, the dynamic range has been squeezed. I like to think that people had enough of crappy sounding music.” It turns out that Rick was right. Record sales more than doubled in 2009, and in addition to quality, the experience of buying a record weighs in as an important factor. “From the liner notes to the…inserts…buying a record meant you had a piece of art.”
Rick also likes being able to fulfill some people’s deeper desires. “When people find what they've been looking for to complete their collection, I get a real thrill out of it.”
Attracting more than just audiophiles and music collection completionists is important to Rick too; “we also sell books and local art…It helps us draw in a type that may have just tagged along with a friend.”
Above all, he enjoys the interactions he has with his regulars. “I really value the time I get with customers who just come in to shoot the shit.”
His impact on the local music community doesn’t go unnoticed. One of the patron saints of cool, director Jim Jarmusch, was quoted in GreenCine Daily as saying: “there's Rhino Records…the guy there, Rick, is amazing.”
Rick Lange is a man that loves music. That much is obvious. Owning a small business, especially a used record store is a tenuous existence. As long as he directs the future of Rhino Records, New Paltz’s long-time Mecca for buying music is in good hands with a man who is “proud to bear this flag of ours.”
NEW PALTZ, NEW YORK- Aryadne Waldely is an International student from Brazil studying International Relations, whom with a scholarship came to New Paltz to experience the education system of the United States. Aryadne describes the difference between the education system in Brazil and New York.
The process of being enrolled in a college in Brazil is distinctive from how students will get accepted in college in the United States. In Brazil there is a higher chance for white people to attend college rather than colored people for various reasons. In Brazil public schools are free and have worse education until high school. Private schools are expensive and have a better education system. “It is not that colored people are not accepted in college, it is that most colored people in Brazil are poor and do not have the best knowledge due to not being able to afford going to a good school,” says Aryadne.
The President of Brazil, Dilma Rousseff, wants to give an opportunity to everyone and wants to accept 50 percent of people that went to public schools and the other 50 percent are people who come from any school in general. Students will have to do a national exam after high school and after, people will have to do a specific exam for the university they want to attend. The percentages of people accepted in college must have a good exam grade in order to be accepted. Most colored people do not have the right knowledge to pass because most cannot afford a good education.
In Brazil there is no such thing as Majors or Minors, instead they are identified as courses. In Brazil you do not need to take unnecessary courses that do not apply to your major. All the classes you take are for the course you are studying. “Instead of asking Brazilians what is your major? Instead, we ask them what is your course?” says Aryadne. One important element that is not offered in Brazil is advisors. Students must plan their own classes and graduation on their own in order to graduate on time.
Aryadne explains that there are more job opportunities in the United States rather than in Brazil. Companies in New York are more flexible with work schedules and it is easier to work and study at the same time. In Brazil you have to choose one or the other because the minimum of hours you can work in a company is about 40 hours per week. There are a lot of big companies and non-governmental organizations in New York rather than in Brazil, which is how Aryadne got the opportunity to find an internship in the city for “Earth child institute.”
Aryadne’s goal after she arrives back to Brazil is to get her Master’s degree in “International humanitarian issues,” in either Europe or New York where she can gain experience to work for a non-governmental organization called “Doctors without border.” It is an organization where you spend a couple of months with a team in a place where there are humanitarian crisis that consist of people who are starving or have diseases and with the team, you try to help them by providing food, shelter or medical assistance. Interning for, “Earth child institute,” will help her learn how to develop projects with humanitarian issues about children and crisis.
When we talk of foreigners at institutions of higher education, the spotlight is fixed on students. How are they adapting to the American lifestyle? Have they grasped the English language yet? That is if they have not already learnt it in their native country, are just some of the questions that run through the mind. But surely the same questions should apply to teachers who hail from foreign lands. They also need time to adapt to the methods inside and outside the classroom. To get a better insight into their experience I spoke to my Spanish teacher Senora Rosario Lara.
Lara was born in Juarez, Mexico a city notorious for gang shootings but her childhood as she described it was a quite one, spent playing outside with her siblings perhaps somewhat oblivious of the perils that lay in the city. It was during this sheltered existence in a catholic home that a young Lara showed the first glimpses of her future profession, “ when I was younger I would always help my younger siblings with their homework.”
As Lara grew older she decided to pursue her masters in El Paso, Texas which was right next to Juarez. One thing led to another she got married and gave birth to two children. Already settled in the U.S, she landed a job at Francis Marion University in Florence South Carolina but her first teaching post in the land of the “free” was a baptism of fire, “It was very conservative and racist and I had a lot of problems with my female colleagues, professors there were too religious and would judge your every move.”
She decided that perhaps a more liberal setting would suit her, so when New Paltz came calling it was an offer she couldn’t refuse. However when the chairwoman of the department briefed her about what they expect from her, the realization that her culture shock was not over but just beginning also dawned upon her, “the style Ideology of teaching in Mexico is different. Here the chairwoman of the department told me three things:
1.You need to treat your students like little kids
2.Client always has the right.
3.Don't complain about the students
Which is the opposite back home. Students discuss more in class but here they don't like discussing too much, sometimes they are afraid to discuss or not sure about themselves”. Unlike many other teachers she does not believe that foreign students are more motivated then American students but rather that “the social economic background” of the student, especially first generation Americans plays a big part in their performance.
Outside of the classroom Lara enjoys walking on Main street with her children and sitting outside coffee shops. She also consecrates a lot of her free time to literature and research that revolves around her interests. Life’s good. But when I asked if she would like to return home one day the answer was resounding, “For sure! Can't now because of my daughters legal situation(she is a U.S citizen) but when I sort that out I will go back.”
Bobby Kavathas has a huge responsibility on his plate as the Resident Director (RD) of Crispell Hall at the State University of New Paltz.
Bobby endures a great deal of training for this position as well as training from his own training that he does aside from being an RD. All of the training that he has was put to great use the night of the storm. The night of the storm RD Bobby and his crew of RAs weathered the storm perfectly, everyone was where they needed to be and nothing was out of control.
“I went to the RA office, met up with my RA’s who were there and had them go around the building knocking on doors and making sure everyone was okay, and then hung out in the lobby area to answer questions/concerns of passing residents” said Bobby.
Bobby is more than qualified to take on the duties of a Resident Director enduring more training than the RAs and also with his experience as a volunteer firefighter. Bobby also has other emergency preparations that he has taken advantage of online.
“There is training every semester for RD’s. People who are considered for RD positions must show some sort of previous Residence Life experience, whether RA, CDA, graduate assistant RD, etc. RD training is a lot more in depth of the training that RA’s get as well as covers more relating to managing our buildings, staffs, counseling, mediation, etc” said Bobby.
“My training as a firefighter has prepared me well for natural disasters. I constantly go through training that prepares me to handle most situations. There are also online workshops that have prepared me such as NIMS (national incident management system) and ICS (Incident command systems)” said Bobby.
It also helps in a situation where you have someone who has been through the same situation that is happening presently. Bobby went through Hurricane Irene during the fall 11’ semester so the routine for this storm was more than familiar to him.
Safety is important to the RD and the RAs that help keep the building safe and secure. During a storm RD Bobby and his RA’s make rounds of the building to make sure that they are no leaks, broken windows, smoke/fire, and people who need refrigeration for medication.
During the storm the main form of contact was the emergency phone tree in Residence Life which connects all of the directors of the residence halls to information that the Director of Residence Life sends out.
Being informed and knowing how to handle decisions is some of the qualities that make a good leader, “You just have to remain calm, relay information, check on everyone, and get food/drink/supplies to those who need them and then wait out the storm” said Bobby. Who would not want a Resident Director like that in their dorm?
Donna Flayhan, PH.D., is currently an Associate Professor of Communication & Media at the State University of New York at New Paltz. At SUNY New Paltz, Dr. Flayhan teaches a range of courses including, Introduction to Public Relations, Advanced Public Relations and Public Relations Publications. On the side of her teaching career Dr. Flayhan directs, and takes part in many different Public Health Campaigns.
Dr. Flayhan’s interest in Public Health began while she attended graduate school at the University of Iowa. Accidentally she was assigned to a National Institute of Health Grant for Tobacco use and Prevention. Through this she learned about toxins, public health campaigns and was brought together with other communication, sociologist and medical graduate students. This experience, although a mistake, taught her how to read and comprehend medical literature which would later come to her rescue. Dr. Flayhan’s interest in Public Health sky rocketed when, in 2005, she began to feel constantly ill and was later diagnosed with Lupis. She developed full blown chemical sensitivity to nearly everything around her, and at 29 years old was told her debilitating illness was irreversible. With her background in Public Health she was determined to help herself, and found numerous experts who helped her reverse all signs of Lupus by removing all toxics from her lifestyle.
Once Dr. Flayhan had helped herself she decided that with her knowledge she would from then on make it her goal to help others with a toxic exposure. In 1998Dr. Flayhan began helping those who returned from the Gulf War with ‘Gulf War Syndrome.’ In 1999 she published a peer reviewed article on Gulf War Syndrome (GWS) and Chemical Sensitivity, and in 2004 the Department of defense recognized GWS as an organic illness caused by toxic exposure in the Gulf. This progression helped those who were suffering receive proper treatments as well as benefits. In 2000, Dr. Flayhan worked on a Carbon Monoxide Awareness Campaign, which created public and medical knowledge of the different signs, symptoms and the best treatments for chronic carbon monoxide exposed patients. This campaign also worked to ensure that insurance companies covered hypobaric oxygen chamber dives, which was the cure for those exposed to carbon monoxide.
The Public Health project that Donna Flayhan is most known for at SUNY New Paltz is The Lower Manhattan Public Health Project, which she was the founder and director of. The Lower Manhattan Public Health Project began its shape the night of September 11th, 2001 the day the World Trade Centers had collapsed. An internal alarm went off for Flayhan, she worried that the aftermath of 9/11 was going to cause a ‘toxic disaster.’ The Public Health Project had many different approaches to raise awareness; they held conferences in both SUNY New Paltz (2006), and Fordham University (2007) in addition the project funded the film Toxic Clouds of 9/11: A Looming Health Disaster which was distributed by the filmmaker to all U.S. Congresspersons and Senators. The film was later put on Library Journal In March 2007 as a, ‘Must have item,’ on library shelves. Dr. Flayhan feels that the most successful part of this campaign was how it changed the way people spoke of 9/11, when the term ‘cough’ changed to, ‘cancer,’ and the word ‘dust’ changed to ‘toxic dust’ as these were seen as words of panic. In 2010 the 9/11 Health and Compensation Act passed, and the lawsuit as well has been complete so that all of the money was dispersed to sick 9/11 workers and victims.
Donna Flayhan has already had such a large impact on the lives of so many, but she is far from done with her efforts. Her next project is called ‘Recover,’ and is being designed to raise funds to help even more people, and to distribute money to educate those who are treating the sick. There is no doubt that we will be seeing more and more of Dr. Flayhan’s efforts in the near future.
Much of society puts nude modeling in art on the same wave length as prostitution and exotic dancing. In fact, ninth grade teacher Peter Panse in Middletown, NY was recently suspended and may face termination from the high school he is employed for suggesting some of his art student’s advance to live nude figure drawing classes (drawn.ca). But why may you ask is nude modeling so controversial after over a hundred years of accredited classical paintings featuring nude models like that of Olympia by French painter Édouard Manet? To further understand the paradox an interview was conducted with Kristen Scheff, a nude model for figure drawing courses at SUNY New Paltz who is also pursuing her BFA (Bachelor of Fine Arts) in Graphic Design.
Scheff’s close friend, a nude model on campus suggested nude modeling which sparked Scheff’s interest. Initially Scheff was apprehensive, but art Professor Sheryl Wheat encouraged and made Scheff comfortable to begin nude modeling as a part time job on campus. She models twice a week for three hours at SUNY New Paltz and also models at Unison Art Center, a mile up the mountain once a month. She is paid $ 15.85 through the school and, $20 an hour through Unison.
She first told me how live nude models are essential to the advancement of artists, what the societal controversy is surrounding it and then continued how her occupation has benefited her growth as an individual. Scheff begins by explaining how primal the state of being naked really is. “When I model sometimes I see myself as an animal. Animals don’t wear clothes and animals look at other animals naked. No other species are weird about looking at the other nude so why should we be?”
When asked about the importance of having live nude figures in drawing classes Scheff explained that drawing from a live nude figure is the only way to accurately interpret, understand and create the human form on paper. Three dimensional figures both slim and heavy set are imperative to learning how to draw the human form. Using different body type’s creates different perspectives of the object being drawn. If a flat figure were used as reference an immense amount of substance and depth would be lost when reflected on paper. She then further explains its importance. “You can’t really learn it any other way, from a drawing, photograph or sculpture there would still be another rendition that takes away from the depth behind it. You wouldn’t be drawing from a point of view and you can study it yourself from the source, but not from secondary sources.”
Scheff found the suspension of 9th grade art teacher, Pete Panse (drawn.ca) who suggested his art student’s advance to a live nude figure drawing class unjust. She explains, “He was just trying to help his students improve. People give it negative connotation and sexualize it, but that doesn’t make that teacher a creep by asking his students to advance their skills and try nude drawing.” She explains the effect banning nude modeling would have on art. Nude modeling has been around since the renaissance where artists like Michelangelo and Picasso began, both of which learned to draw from live nude figures. If nude modeling were banned it would hinder the advancement of artists learning how to draw realistically worldwide. It could even lead to retaliation amongst artists and models. Like prohibition, people would still sneak around to practice live nude figure drawing, for it is an essential part of learning how to draw the human form. This would stand to be controversial because nude models would be trafficked and exploited in order to do their jobs.
Scheff explains much of the societal reaction when nude modeling is addressed. “It has to do with the association, ‘oh nude person, sex.’ We see it as taboo.” Scheff states her claim by addressing what mediums are blatantly sexual for unethical reasons. “In advertising sex it is always squeezed into places. You see a nude body and you are automatically taught to assume it’s sexual not an art, but rather on the wave length of prostitution or something.” Unlike advertising nude modeling is not done for the sake of manipulating people. The drawings created from live nude figures are not done to lure people in to sell a product. Advertising is everywhere by the means of the mass media and there is no opting out of it. In contrast, it is a choice to become a nude model in a drawing class and it a choice to draw one.
Many people don’t see nude modeling as art. They fail to recognize the role of nude models as un-sexual objects. Nude models are strictly meant to serve the purpose of a reference or object to be drawn. It is not a sexual act. Scheff validates this reality by sharing from her firsthand experience as a nude model. “Once a guy asked me, ‘what do you do in this class? And I told him, ‘it’s a nude figure drawing class’ and he responded saying he wanted to be in the class to look at naked girls who were modeling. It was very sexual. I’m a form not a sex object.”
Although Scheff understands her role as a form to be drawn and not a sex object she explains where nude modeling received this false association. In Roman history church officials were outraged by a vast array of nude sculptures in the Vatican. With the birth of religion came the rejection of nudity and deeming it taboo. Today the stigma toward nudity has been reborn. This is on account of the continuation of strict articles of belief within certain sects of religion. Scheff states, “America as a puritan country came here to escape the nudity in Europe and we still have that instilled in our society in some ways.” Both religion and society have exploited nudity into being viewed as something sinful and wrong.
When asked where the current stigma toward nude modeling originated Scheff explained the history of nude modeling. A hundred of years ago artists could not walk up to any individual and prompt them to model in the nude for their art. In result artists resorted to hiring prostitutes to pose naked for their work. This piece of art history has lead people to associate nude modeling as a demeaning trade affiliated with prostitution. She continues by explaining why hundred year old classical paintings featuring nude models such as, Olympia by Manet are respected while contemporary nude paintings seem to be losing respect and recognition. “They see those paintings as being classical. They are almost viewed in society today as being high society, classically beautical; we seem to have it instilled. But if it happened today it wouldn’t have the same affect. It would be just as effective as any other bust.”
Scheff concludes with the idea that nude figure drawing classes are essential to her development as an artist and growth as an individual. “Before nude modeling I would never let anyone take nude pictures of me and now I would. I think because a drawing is a replica of what happened and a photograph is what happened. Your body image is something to be proud of. People should say ‘okay, this is me, this is who I am, take me as I am’. If you are bigger own it and be proud of it. ” Essentially the way Scheff models cannot be manipulated. She is not a nude model to offend and make people uncomfortable. She exists in the classroom only for the sake of a reference to be drawn and nothing more.
Sources: Kristen Scheff http://drawn.ca/archive/art-teacher-suspended-for-recommending-figure-drawing-classes/ http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/cultureshock/beyond/manet.html
Madeline Anthony October 12, 2012 Interview Article
The art of telling stories and getting messages out to the world is a way of artform in many ways. Documentary filmmaker Daniel Hunt has made this his goal for the past twenty five years. His passion for documentary film making began in his early twenties when his grandmother passed away. She had raised Daniel from an early age and he felt that when she died, her stories died with her. It was from that point on that he decided to dedicate himself to the preservation of oral history as well as to activism for causes he believes in. Prison reform, identity, and gender and sexuality issues are some issues Hunt has tried to gain recognition for in the form of his films. Gender and sexuality are the most important to Hunt and also the films which have gained him national recognition. When the AIDS epidemic broke out, Hunt lost many friends to the disease, and he felt people didn’t talk about the issues enough. At that time it being gay was something that was not spoken of and there were few films on the topic. Hunt strived to change that by strongly urging the company he worked for at the time, PBS, to accept a documentary on gay history. The documentary that came to be as a result called “Stonewall” became a huge success receiving national recognition in various film festivals. As a filmmaker, Hunt believes that the most important quality to have is passion. For him, making documentarys is all about the art of telling a story and for that you need to be passionate about that story, or you will not be able to go through all the work that is involved. For instance , Hunt raises anywhere from 2,000 to 500,000 for each film he creates. This takes extensive time and energy . Hunt’s financial sources include individuals, family foundations, the state, NYSCA, broadcasters, and grants. Raising money is the most difficult and time consuming part of his job, especially now that competition in the field has increased due to more accessible tools, but he sees it as part of the process that is necessary to really tell a story. Another part of the job Hunt feels is difficult is gaining access to a person, not only physically but also on an emotional level. For instance, the transgendered woman he spoke to in prison for his film “Cruel and Unusual” did not trust Hunt at the beginning, but they opened up as time went on. Hunt states of his work “you have to either be insane or passionate, you need tremendous perserverance” expressing again that need for passion. Hunt plans on continuing his work as a filmmaker into the upcoming years although he feels that teaching is also fullfilling because of his love for helping people develop work and getting that work shown.
NEW PALTZ, NEW YORK- The line of impatient students stretched around the hall as a student employee frantically searched through each of the thousands of half sheets on file to retrieve a package. According to Mail Service Coordinator, Cherie Rizza, this was the scene eight years ago for workers before the system was revamped. The computer with all of its glory has altered mailrooms throughout the world and the mailroom here at SUNY New Paltz is no exception. Rizza explained some of the benefits as well as the downsides of the technology associated. For one, that process no longer takes place when a student comes to retrieve their packages. Now, students receive emails when a package has arrived. In the email there is a package number and they are asked to show up with that number and identification. Following this, the worker matches this package number with the one assigned upon the package’s arrival. Each package is sorted as they come by time of arrival making everything much more organized. The hand-held is another tool that Rizza explains as “definitely a useful tool to the job.” It is connected to the mailing system and holds all of the packages’ tracking information. Each package has a tracking number that is unique to itself, revealing which company it was shipped through and the location it came from. The computer has also shifted the type of paper mail such as bills and letters to digital. Rizza explains that much of the mail they receive now comes mainly through packaging. Letters and bills are now more commonly sent through email saving a lot of paper. The concept of physical paper mail being replaced by a digital image may seem to make mail less personal. However, many packages have small notes from their providers that can add that small amount of TLC that we all like to see. Rizza described some of the floral and Edible arrangements that they see come in with their attached notes and loving messages. Despite the ongoing list of advantages, the new system has had glitches. When the entire tracking record goes down, employees are forced to quickly shift into manually organizing the packages. Rizza described one situation during which, every package that had arrived was marked as delivered. Rizza had to log into the system and manually unmark each package which consumed an entire day’s work. All gitches aside, the technology has proven to organize the mailing process and conserve some paper. Over the course of eight years, people can really notice the difference that technology has made just in the mail room.
NEW PALTZ, NEW YORK- Sitting between McGillicuddy’s and Anatolia Restaurant on Main Street, you will find Huguenot Creamery; an ice cream lover’s paradise.
As you walk through the shop’s door, you will notice a seasonally decorated window display and an overall inviting atmosphere. You will also be greeted with a warm smile from the owner herself, Pat Walker.
Although Pat is a new business owner on the street, she is no stranger to the community. After she graduated from Guilderland High School in Albany, Pat returned to her stomping grounds and witnessed the town grow into what it is today. She says, “Everything used to be on Main Street. The barber, the jeweler, the florist. Everything.”
Pat’s family has owned the building the creamery is located in since the 1940s. As the caretaker, she decided to remodel the space after the previous tenant passed away.
The decision to set up an ice cream shop was unexpected. Pat says “I kept getting stopped by people, asking where they could find ice cream. Finally two women at the bank asked me again. As I usually did, I sent them to Sweets on North Front Street. They said ‘They’re closed, we were just there.’ And at that point I said ‘You know what? Maybe I’ll open an ice cream shop.’”
As Main Street’s only ice cream shop, Huguenot has been satisfying the college town’s craving for the frozen dessert since July 2011. Its close proximity to campus and late hours (5pm-10pm), make it convenient for students to indulge in a late snack.
Surprisingly, Pat has fully embraced the notoriously rowdy college crowd. “Oh I love them. They’re my friends. Just great kids,” says Pat. She recalls December 20th as one of her busiest days when students celebrated the end of finals week with ice cream and milkshakes. “Everyone wished me a happy holiday. It was great.”
Her goal for the creamery was to keep prices low. She says, “Number one: for the students who have to count pennies. And number two was families with kids.” Compared to larger, better known ice cream companies, Huguenot’s prices allow entire families to enjoy the 13 all-natural flavors available for well under 20 dollars.
When asked about the future of the creamery, Pat expressed a desire to expand. However she has plans to reorganize her current space first. “I have terrible traffic flow. The freezer needs to be in the back,” she says. Ideally she plans on this happening over winter break when the crowds thin out.
With the same friendly smile she greets her costumers with; Pat explains why she sees herself staying for the long haul. “Everyone that comes in here is happy. It’s a happy business to be in.”
Gadaleto’s Seafood Market has held a presence in the Hudson Valley region since 1945 and has recently been undergoing numerous changes. General manager, Steve Kraus, and chef, Shannon Hart were willing to share what this business has gone through and where it is headed.
ReplyDeleteGadaleto’s first opened up as a seafood market in Highland with its second location in Poughkeepsie until both locations burned down. The New Paltz location was able to continue the business and is currently the only restaurant running under the same owner Stacie Becker.
Renovation was necessary after a car drove through one of the walls of the restaurant and a dining room was included in the plans. By 1996, Gadaleto’s had become a fully functioning market and restaurant, improving on fine dining ever since.
Kraus has been involved in Gadaleto’s since ’96 when he was a SUNY student himself. He did some work in the kitchen but his primary duties involved the market, including buying the fresh seafood from New Fulton’s Fish Market.
This large market gets fish shipped from all around the world, some directly from boats and some from seafood houses after an auction.
Kraus also handles staff, customers, inventory, and pricing with the help of his partner, Stacie, and chef, Hart. Some of the work is split up but a lot of decisions are run by all three.
With over 40 varieties of fish in the market, the most popular purchases from the market include Wild King Salmon, shrimps, scallops, clams, and Tilapia. These may seem expensive but they are also expensive to the company, being some of the highest proteins one can find.
The market is open seven days a week, but the dining room is closed Monday and Tuesday to give the staff a break, some time to catch up, and, of course, a chance to create more crowd favorites.
The Jooba Doobie, a grilled jumbo shrimp sandwich topped with barbecue sauce, crispy fried onions and lettuce was named Hudson Valley magazine’s favorite sandwich from Gadaleto’s. What makes this sandwich so great is the fresh bread from the local bakery, Torino, and the fresh vegetables from Taliaferro Farms.
Gadaleto’s sustained the “Best of Hudson Valley” award for five consecutive years because of its focus on fresh products and fairly large portions. “We have a unique setting, I don’t imagine other restaurants around here have a fish market to pull from,” Hart said.
Gadaleto’s large selection of fish helps satisfy many families that come to eat. The “Any Fish Dish” lets you choose from any fish the market is currently holding for your meal.
Part 2
ReplyDeleteBut the most popular meals at the restaurant, according to Kraus and Hart, are the English Fish & Chips, the House Fish & Chips, Hand Cut Calamari, and the Lobster Roll.
Gadaleto’s did hold the Guinness World Record for the largest serving of fish and chips until a British company took it by serving a smaller portion of fish and a larger portion of fries, Kraus stated. His plans for the future include holding that record once again.
Other plans for Gadaleto’s include starting a brewery within the restaurant, improving upon communication within the staff, and growing within the community. “We are always working on the best experience we can bring people. We want to keep Gadaleto’s as a main stay in people’s names and where to get your fish,” Shannon said.
Gadaleto’s supports its family oriented environment with its children’s nights on Wednesdays. Children eat for free with a specialized kids menu including the basic chicken fingers and French fries dish as well as salmon with salad and even chicken, fish and vegetable skewers.
Having her own children at home, Hart promotes healthy eating even at the restaurant. “Fish is generally viewed as healthier and people are definitely trying to take care of themselves.”
Kraus admits that Gadaleto’s high point was about six years ago, facing troubles since their former chef had left. They are currently rebuilding trust within their former customers and the community. Gadaleto’s is interactive with their Facebook page, constantly updating their specials each Friday.
Stacie and Steve take advantage of the local fresh farms and fresh seafood they have. They also put the business in the hands of their chef to create healthy and fresh meals customers will enjoy.
Kraus wanted to let the public know “things are looking good here and they’re looking better and if you haven’t been here, now would be a good time to try it.” The staff is very confident about Gadaleto’s and now is time for the public to feel the same way.
NEW PALTZ, NEW YORK- Jonathon Palenscar has been a professor at SUNY New Paltz for the past ten years and during that time has made it his mission to connect with as many young people as he can. He describes himself as “a history teacher that doesn’t like dates,” because he believes the concepts and values he is teaching his students is much more valuable than the simple facts.
ReplyDeletePalenscar has had many interesting life experiences so far such as, going to Woodstock, the March on Washington, breaking his nose five times, going to Paris several times, and other adventures that he uses to keep his students interested. Among all the amazing moments he has had during his life, he says that the most exciting moment of his life is the birth of children. He combines typical classroom lectures and his personal life experiences to shape his lessons to keep his students interested and inspired.
During his time teaching at New Paltz, he has gained a very popular student following. His ratings on ratemyprofessor.com are mostly positive and praising. To this, Palenscar says he’s “embarrassed because they’re all nice things,” but at the same time it allows him to know he “has reached a lot of students.” In addition to his internet praise, Palenscar was also awarded teacher of the year in 2008.
In retrospect, Palenscar says that his greatest moment in teaching is when, “students call back years later and say that they remember something from class.” He says that he is glad New Paltz is the type of school that gives him enough academic freedom in order to reach his students the way he currently does, which is through, “the history of ideas,” and combining literature and history in order to teach his students the greater value of his lessons.
To his students, he would like to give this piece of advice, “ ‘It’s ok to build castles in the air because that’s where they should be, now go out and build a foundation under them’ (Henry David Thoreau) meaning have dreams, but do things to make them happen.” Palenscar does not treat his classes as lessons to learn facts about the past, but instead uses his lessons to prepare his students for their future in a way that shapes their spirits as well as their minds.
Palenscar does what he can to stay lively and involved in the lives of young people and believes teaching is the best way to do that. He says, “It’s hard work staying ten years old.”
PART 1:
ReplyDeleteA fixture today in Albany, New York, Teal, Becker & Chiaramonte, CPAs has been providing tax and accounting services to the general public in the capital region and upstate since 1971. The current shareholder and managing partner, James Drislane, has greatly influenced the company.
Drislane graduated from Sienna College in 1979 with a business degree in accounting following in the footsteps of 3 of his siblings. “Since three of my brothers were CPA’s,” Drislane recalls, “I also chose that career path.”
After graduating and deciding to work at the local level, Drislane worked at Stulmaker Roach & Co. from 1979 through July 1983, becoming a CPA in 1982. He then joined Teal, Becker & Chiaramonte (TBC) later in 1983 and held positions including senior accountant and manager before becoming a shareholder in 1992.
The shareholder’s experience includes, in his own words, “working in private industry for six years and now and having completed 33 years in public accounting working for a diversified client base including retail stores, contractors, physicians, government clients such as school districts and colleges, as well as auto dealers.”
What Drislane does on a daily basis varies from reviewing all of the open jobs assigned to him, sitting with each employee to discuss what needs to be done to complete these jobs, and reviewing administrative paperwork such as cash balances, health insurance, employee issues, etc, from his controller.
When asked how he keeps a trusting relationship with clients, Drislane noted that being honest upfront, letting them know when you do not know the answer, and getting help from others in the firm when you need it are the most useful and important tactics. Ensuring excellence in customer satisfaction, the company promises to finish all client work by the set deadlines, and assign the proper staff to each project.
The company’s website notes how it has “developed longstanding associations with attorneys, bankers, bonding agents and other professionals that play an instrumental role in developing and implementing comprehensive financial strategies.” Drislane justifies the importance of these relations stating that they are their number one referral sources and that “part of that team should be a quality CPA firm to help guide them thru both the upturns and downturns in the economy such as we are experiencing currently.”
PART 2:
ReplyDeleteDuring his time at TBC, Drislane has developed strong relationships with four local bank presidents, putting on educational seminars for their bankers to learn accounting rules as well as joint projects for their customers and TBC’s by providing “speakers and valuable handouts.” The purpose of this is that the banks will in turn provide business leads to TBC in the future.
Something else that the managing partner deems important is good relationships with his employees. He accomplishes this by being a good listener and being fair and open-minded.
During Mr.Drislane’s times with TBC, his firm has won Top Places to Work in local businesses three out of the last four years and has also been “recognized by multiple charities for [its] volunteers and financial support in the newspaper and on television.”
When asked about his proudest moment at TBC, Drislane said, “It would be my fellow shareholders voting me the new managing partner for the next five years at our firm. In addition,” he then proceeded to say, “to my wife being named partner at the firm in 2012.”
Drislane’s short-term goal for the company is to transition his client base to younger CPAs as he prepares to manage the “day-to-day” operations of the firm. As for the long-term, he hopes to improve the firm’s cash flow as well as oversee the growth of the other provided services and ensure job stability for all present and future employees.
“In five years,” Drislane quotes, “I see myself spending over 75% of my time in the office working on my administrative duties overseeing hopefully a 100 employee CPA firm.” He also mentions that in 10 years he hopes to be semi-retired and helping with the bigger issues at the firm “based on [his] extensive work experience.”
There is not much that Drislane would change about his current job except that he wishes that tax return deadlines were not mandated on them so that he and his employees could spent more time with their families around these deadlines.
James Drislane CPA is a credited businessman in the area of accounting and has steadily led his company for over 25 years. He states finally that “[TBC’s] reputation in the business community is a high integrity, outstanding CPA firm that professionals and the public trust that consistently provides high quality services.”
PART 1:
ReplyDeleteWith forty-two years in the soft drink business and a Yoohoo presidency under his belt, Eugene Kreuscher could tell you a little something about running a business. His success didn’t come easy, however. The 70-year-old Long Island Native shared his views on how hard work can lead to great accomplishments.
Kreuscher, an All American Wrestler in high school, was offered scholarships by CW Post, Hofstra, Ithaca and NYU, but didn’t have the grades to get in. Although he could not continue his athletics after high school, he would take what he learned from wrestling with him forever.
“Sports played such a large role in my life and that’s the only reason I stayed in school. What my coaches instilled in me was that whoever I competed with I could beat– unless they worked harder than me,” Kreuscher said.
With plans to marry high school sweet heart– Arlene, who he just recently celebrated his 50th anniversary with, Kreuscher knew he would need to find a job to support a family.
And that’s exactly what he did.
Kreuscher first got a job driving a truck for No-Cal Soda, where he worked work for sixteen years. He slowly advanced in the company, through hard work and dedication, until he was promoted to manager at the age of twenty-six.
As the years went on, Kreuscher continued to be offered higher-level jobs through his stellar reputation.
“The people above me at each job knew how hard I worked and when they got new jobs, they would pass my name down. From there, someone else would do it and that’s how I continued to move up in the business.”
Earning a steady income at one of his managing jobs, Kreuscher was approached by beverage company C and C Cola who offered him the job as general sales manager of Yoohoo in 1981.
PART 2:
ReplyDeleteAt this time, Yoohoo was headed downhill; selling only a million cases a year. Doubting a bright future for the company, Kreuscher reluctantly took the job.
“In six short years we drove the number of cases sold a year from one to fifteen million. We resurrected a brand that was around for fifty plus years that was ready to go out of business,” said Kreuscher.
This was done by constantly keeping one step ahead of the competition: bringing back the original, non-watered down formula, changing bottle size and shape, selling multipacks and creating Yoohoo flavored ice cream, candy and milk cartons.
“I was now getting kids that were two and three years old drinking Yoohoo and when they got older, they graduated to the bigger bottles. I was really growing a franchise from the cradle,” he explained.
Yoohoo became so successful that a large French corporation bought it.
As the company continued to soar, so did Kreuscher’s career; eventually he became president of the company. Throughout this time, he gained the recognition of many other large corporations and was offered jobs at Snapple and Royal Crown Cola.
Burnt out at the age of 50, Kreuscher retired.
“Physically I think I was 60. Working for the French wasn’t easy,” Kreuscher joked. “But I walked out with my health and my wife never had to work again.”
Although the job market is much tighter than when Kreuscher first started out, he offers the following advice to young adults who are just getting out into the work world:
“I think the toughest part is starting at the bottom. You’ve got to put your dues in somewhere. To me, if you work hard; the work you put in has to pay off. You just have to earn it.”
Descending the stairs off of Church Street in New Paltz the droning sound of The Velvet Underground's "Venus in Furs" gets progressively louder. A propped open door, held in place with a milk crate filled with sun-faded discount vinyl, leads to Rhino Records.
ReplyDeleteUpon entering, your eyes can't help but notice the towering figure behind the counter as he greets you with a warm hello.
Like a preacher guides his congregation, he removes the needle from the record player on a shelf behind him and replaces "The Velvet Underground and Nico" with another stiff wax disc, this time a hunter green vinyl that casts a stained-glass shade over his flock. “This is the good word,” says owner Rick Lange to nobody in particular, while the sounds of a carnival crescendo as a Leslie keyboard signals the beginning of Cursive's "The Ugly Organ."
He recognizes me from the O+ music festival held last weekend in Kingston, where he was a participant in the opening parade and host for several acts, including local boys done well “The Felice Brothers.”
After purchasing Rhino Records from previous owner of thirty years Stever Ferber in 2009, Rick saw an opportunity to spread his love of music. “Steve said if I bought out his stock, I could buy the store for a dollar.”
Getting into the used record business in 2009 was a potentially risky decision. 2008 was the 25th year in a row that had seen overall record sales fall, but Rick felt that wasn’t going to continue.
“There's a level of compression that…from vinyl to tape to CD to digital, the dynamic range has been squeezed. I like to think that people had enough of crappy sounding music.” It turns out that Rick
was right. Record sales more than doubled in 2009, and in addition to quality, the experience of buying a record weighs in as an important factor. “From the liner notes to the…inserts…buying a record meant you had a piece of art.”
Rick also likes being able to fulfill some people’s deeper desires. “When people find what they've been looking for to complete their collection, I get a real thrill out of it.”
Attracting more than just audiophiles and music collection completionists is important to Rick too; “we also sell books and local art…It helps us draw in a type that may have just tagged along with a friend.”
Above all, he enjoys the interactions he has with his regulars. “I really value the time I get with customers who just come in to shoot the shit.”
His impact on the local music community doesn’t go unnoticed. One of the patron saints of cool, director Jim Jarmusch, was quoted in GreenCine Daily as saying: “there's Rhino Records…the guy there, Rick, is amazing.”
Rick Lange is a man that loves music. That much is obvious. Owning a small business, especially a used record store is a tenuous existence. As long as he directs the future of Rhino Records, New Paltz’s long-time Mecca for buying music is in good hands with a man who is “proud to bear this flag of ours.”
NEW PALTZ, NEW YORK- Aryadne Waldely is an International student from Brazil studying International Relations, whom with a scholarship came to New Paltz to experience the education system of the United States. Aryadne describes the difference between the education system in Brazil and New York.
ReplyDeleteThe process of being enrolled in a college in Brazil is distinctive from how students will get accepted in college in the United States. In Brazil there is a higher chance for white people to attend college rather than colored people for various reasons. In Brazil public schools are free and have worse education until high school. Private schools are expensive and have a better education system. “It is not that colored people are not accepted in college, it is that most colored people in Brazil are poor and do not have the best knowledge due to not being able to afford going to a good school,” says Aryadne.
The President of Brazil, Dilma Rousseff, wants to give an opportunity to everyone and wants to accept 50 percent of people that went to public schools and the other 50 percent are people who come from any school in general. Students will have to do a national exam after high school and after, people will have to do a specific exam for the university they want to attend. The percentages of people accepted in college must have a good exam grade in order to be accepted. Most colored people do not have the right knowledge to pass because most cannot afford a good education.
In Brazil there is no such thing as Majors or Minors, instead they are identified as courses. In Brazil you do not need to take unnecessary courses that do not apply to your major. All the classes you take are for the course you are studying. “Instead of asking Brazilians what is your major? Instead, we ask them what is your course?” says Aryadne. One important element that is not offered in Brazil is advisors. Students must plan their own classes and graduation on their own in order to graduate on time.
Aryadne explains that there are more job opportunities in the United States rather than in Brazil. Companies in New York are more flexible with work schedules and it is easier to work and study at the same time. In Brazil you have to choose one or the other because the minimum of hours you can work in a company is about 40 hours per week. There are a lot of big companies and non-governmental organizations in New York rather than in Brazil, which is how Aryadne got the opportunity to find an internship in the city for “Earth child institute.”
Aryadne’s goal after she arrives back to Brazil is to get her Master’s degree in “International humanitarian issues,” in either Europe or New York where she can gain experience to work for a non-governmental organization called “Doctors without border.” It is an organization where you spend a couple of months with a team in a place where there are humanitarian crisis that consist of people who are starving or have diseases and with the team, you try to help them by providing food, shelter or medical assistance. Interning for, “Earth child institute,” will help her learn how to develop projects with humanitarian issues about children and crisis.
When we talk of foreigners at institutions of higher education, the spotlight is fixed on students. How are they adapting to the American lifestyle? Have they grasped the English language yet? That is if they have not already learnt it in their native country, are just some of the questions that run through the mind. But surely the same questions should apply to teachers who hail from foreign lands. They also need time to adapt to the methods inside and outside the classroom. To get a better insight into their experience I spoke to my Spanish teacher Senora Rosario Lara.
ReplyDeleteLara was born in Juarez, Mexico a city notorious for gang shootings but her childhood as she described it was a quite one, spent playing outside with her siblings perhaps somewhat oblivious of the perils that lay in the city. It was during this sheltered existence in a catholic home that a young Lara showed the first glimpses of her future profession, “ when I was younger I would always help my younger siblings with their homework.”
As Lara grew older she decided to pursue her masters in El Paso, Texas which was right next to Juarez. One thing led to another she got married and gave birth to two children. Already settled in the U.S, she landed a job at Francis Marion University in Florence South Carolina but her first teaching post in the land of the “free” was a baptism of fire, “It was very conservative and racist and I had a lot of problems with my female colleagues, professors there were too religious and would judge your every move.”
She decided that perhaps a more liberal setting would suit her, so when New Paltz came calling it was an offer she couldn’t refuse. However when the chairwoman of the department briefed her about what they expect from her, the realization that her culture shock was not over but just beginning also dawned upon her, “the style Ideology of teaching in Mexico is different. Here the chairwoman of the department told me three things:
1.You need to treat your students like little kids
2.Client always has the right.
3.Don't complain about the students
Which is the opposite back home. Students discuss more in class but here they don't like discussing too much, sometimes they are afraid to discuss or not sure about themselves”. Unlike many other teachers she does not believe that foreign students are more motivated then American students but rather that “the social economic background” of the student, especially first generation Americans plays a big part in their performance.
Outside of the classroom Lara enjoys walking on Main street with her children and sitting outside coffee shops. She also consecrates a lot of her free time to literature and research that revolves around her interests. Life’s good. But when I asked if she would like to return home one day the answer was resounding, “For sure! Can't now because of my daughters legal situation(she is a U.S citizen) but when I sort that out I will go back.”
By: Kaycia Sailsman
ReplyDeleteBobby Kavathas has a huge responsibility on his plate as the Resident Director (RD) of Crispell Hall at the State University of New Paltz.
Bobby endures a great deal of training for this position as well as training from his own training that he does aside from being an RD. All of the training that he has was put to great use the night of the storm.
The night of the storm RD Bobby and his crew of RAs weathered the storm perfectly, everyone was where they needed to be and nothing was out of control.
“I went to the RA office, met up with my RA’s who were there and had them go around the building knocking on doors and making sure everyone was okay, and then hung out in the lobby area to answer questions/concerns of passing residents” said Bobby.
Bobby is more than qualified to take on the duties of a Resident Director enduring more training than the RAs and also with his experience as a volunteer firefighter. Bobby also has other emergency preparations that he has taken advantage of online.
“There is training every semester for RD’s. People who are considered for RD positions must show some sort of previous Residence Life experience, whether RA, CDA, graduate assistant RD, etc. RD training is a lot more in depth of the training that RA’s get as well as covers more relating to managing our buildings, staffs, counseling, mediation, etc” said Bobby.
“My training as a firefighter has prepared me well for natural disasters. I constantly go through training that prepares me to handle most situations. There are also online workshops that have prepared me such as NIMS (national incident management system) and ICS (Incident command systems)” said Bobby.
It also helps in a situation where you have someone who has been through the same situation that is happening presently. Bobby went through Hurricane Irene during the fall 11’ semester so the routine for this storm was more than familiar to him.
Safety is important to the RD and the RAs that help keep the building safe and secure. During a storm RD Bobby and his RA’s make rounds of the building to make sure that they are no leaks, broken windows, smoke/fire, and people who need refrigeration for medication.
During the storm the main form of contact was the emergency phone tree in Residence Life which connects all of the directors of the residence halls to information that the Director of Residence Life sends out.
Being informed and knowing how to handle decisions is some of the qualities that make a good leader, “You just have to remain calm, relay information, check on everyone, and get food/drink/supplies to those who need them and then wait out the storm” said Bobby. Who would not want a Resident Director like that in their dorm?
Donna Flayhan, PH.D., is currently an Associate Professor of Communication & Media at the State University of New York at New Paltz. At SUNY New Paltz, Dr. Flayhan teaches a range of courses including, Introduction to Public Relations, Advanced Public Relations and Public Relations Publications. On the side of her teaching career Dr. Flayhan directs, and takes part in many different Public Health Campaigns.
ReplyDeleteDr. Flayhan’s interest in Public Health began while she attended graduate school at the University of Iowa. Accidentally she was assigned to a National Institute of Health Grant for Tobacco use and Prevention. Through this she learned about toxins, public health campaigns and was brought together with other communication, sociologist and medical graduate students. This experience, although a mistake, taught her how to read and comprehend medical literature which would later come to her rescue. Dr. Flayhan’s interest in Public Health sky rocketed when, in 2005, she began to feel constantly ill and was later diagnosed with Lupis. She developed full blown chemical sensitivity to nearly everything around her, and at 29 years old was told her debilitating illness was irreversible. With her background in Public Health she was determined to help herself, and found numerous experts who helped her reverse all signs of Lupus by removing all toxics from her lifestyle.
Once Dr. Flayhan had helped herself she decided that with her knowledge she would from then on make it her goal to help others with a toxic exposure. In 1998Dr. Flayhan began helping those who returned from the Gulf War with ‘Gulf War Syndrome.’ In 1999 she published a peer reviewed article on Gulf War Syndrome (GWS) and Chemical Sensitivity, and in 2004 the Department of defense recognized GWS as an organic illness caused by toxic exposure in the Gulf. This progression helped those who were suffering receive proper treatments as well as benefits. In 2000, Dr. Flayhan worked on a Carbon Monoxide Awareness Campaign, which created public and medical knowledge of the different signs, symptoms and the best treatments for chronic carbon monoxide exposed patients. This campaign also worked to ensure that insurance companies covered hypobaric oxygen chamber dives, which was the cure for those exposed to carbon monoxide.
The Public Health project that Donna Flayhan is most known for at SUNY New Paltz is The Lower Manhattan Public Health Project, which she was the founder and director of. The Lower Manhattan Public Health Project began its shape the night of September 11th, 2001 the day the World Trade Centers had collapsed. An internal alarm went off for Flayhan, she worried that the aftermath of 9/11 was going to cause a ‘toxic disaster.’ The Public Health Project had many different approaches to raise awareness; they held conferences in both SUNY New Paltz (2006), and Fordham University (2007) in addition the project funded the film Toxic Clouds of 9/11: A Looming Health Disaster which was distributed by the filmmaker to all U.S. Congresspersons and Senators. The film was later put on Library Journal In March 2007 as a, ‘Must have item,’ on library shelves. Dr. Flayhan feels that the most successful part of this campaign was how it changed the way people spoke of 9/11, when the term ‘cough’ changed to, ‘cancer,’ and the word ‘dust’ changed to ‘toxic dust’ as these were seen as words of panic. In 2010 the 9/11 Health and Compensation Act passed, and the lawsuit as well has been complete so that all of the money was dispersed to sick 9/11 workers and victims.
Donna Flayhan has already had such a large impact on the lives of so many, but she is far from done with her efforts. Her next project is called ‘Recover,’ and is being designed to raise funds to help even more people, and to distribute money to educate those who are treating the sick. There is no doubt that we will be seeing more and more of Dr. Flayhan’s efforts in the near future.
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ReplyDeletePart 1:
ReplyDeleteGabrielle Johnson
Kimberly Ruth
Journalism 1
Interview Article
12 October, 2012
Much of society puts nude modeling in art on the same wave length as prostitution and exotic dancing. In fact, ninth grade teacher Peter Panse in Middletown, NY was recently suspended and may face termination from the high school he is employed for suggesting some of his art student’s advance to live nude figure drawing classes (drawn.ca). But why may you ask is nude modeling so controversial after over a hundred years of accredited classical paintings featuring nude models like that of Olympia by French painter Édouard Manet? To further understand the paradox an interview was conducted with Kristen Scheff, a nude model for figure drawing courses at SUNY New Paltz who is also pursuing her BFA (Bachelor of Fine Arts) in Graphic Design.
Scheff’s close friend, a nude model on campus suggested nude modeling which sparked Scheff’s interest. Initially Scheff was apprehensive, but art Professor Sheryl Wheat encouraged and made Scheff comfortable to begin nude modeling as a part time job on campus. She models twice a week for three hours at SUNY New Paltz and also models at Unison Art Center, a mile up the mountain once a month. She is paid $ 15.85 through the school and, $20 an hour through Unison.
She first told me how live nude models are essential to the advancement of artists, what the societal controversy is surrounding it and then continued how her occupation has benefited her growth as an individual. Scheff begins by explaining how primal the state of being naked really is. “When I model sometimes I see myself as an animal. Animals don’t wear clothes and animals look at other animals naked. No other species are weird about looking at the other nude so why should we be?”
When asked about the importance of having live nude figures in drawing classes Scheff explained that drawing from a live nude figure is the only way to accurately interpret, understand and create the human form on paper. Three dimensional figures both slim and heavy set are imperative to learning how to draw the human form. Using different body type’s creates different perspectives of the object being drawn. If a flat figure were used as reference an immense amount of substance and depth would be lost when reflected on paper. She then further explains its importance. “You can’t really learn it any other way, from a drawing, photograph or sculpture there would still be another rendition that takes away from the depth behind it. You wouldn’t be drawing from a point of view and you can study it yourself from the source, but not from secondary sources.”
Part 2:
ReplyDeleteScheff found the suspension of 9th grade art teacher, Pete Panse (drawn.ca) who suggested his art student’s advance to a live nude figure drawing class unjust. She explains, “He was just trying to help his students improve. People give it negative connotation and sexualize it, but that doesn’t make that teacher a creep by asking his students to advance their skills and try nude drawing.” She explains the effect banning nude modeling would have on art. Nude modeling has been around since the renaissance where artists like Michelangelo and Picasso began, both of which learned to draw from live nude figures. If nude modeling were banned it would hinder the advancement of artists learning how to draw realistically worldwide. It could even lead to retaliation amongst artists and models. Like prohibition, people would still sneak around to practice live nude figure drawing, for it is an essential part of learning how to draw the human form. This would stand to be controversial because nude models would be trafficked and exploited in order to do their jobs.
Scheff explains much of the societal reaction when nude modeling is addressed. “It has to do with the association, ‘oh nude person, sex.’ We see it as taboo.” Scheff states her claim by addressing what mediums are blatantly sexual for unethical reasons. “In advertising sex it is always squeezed into places. You see a nude body and you are automatically taught to assume it’s sexual not an art, but rather on the wave length of prostitution or something.” Unlike advertising nude modeling is not done for the sake of manipulating people. The drawings created from live nude figures are not done to lure people in to sell a product. Advertising is everywhere by the means of the mass media and there is no opting out of it. In contrast, it is a choice to become a nude model in a drawing class and it a choice to draw one.
Many people don’t see nude modeling as art. They fail to recognize the role of nude models as un-sexual objects. Nude models are strictly meant to serve the purpose of a reference or object to be drawn. It is not a sexual act. Scheff validates this reality by sharing from her firsthand experience as a nude model. “Once a guy asked me, ‘what do you do in this class? And I told him, ‘it’s a nude figure drawing class’ and he responded saying he wanted to be in the class to look at naked girls who were modeling. It was very sexual. I’m a form not a sex object.”
Part 3:
ReplyDeleteAlthough Scheff understands her role as a form to be drawn and not a sex object she explains where nude modeling received this false association. In Roman history church officials were outraged by a vast array of nude sculptures in the Vatican. With the birth of religion came the rejection of nudity and deeming it taboo. Today the stigma toward nudity has been reborn. This is on account of the continuation of strict articles of belief within certain sects of religion. Scheff states, “America as a puritan country came here to escape the nudity in Europe and we still have that instilled in our society in some ways.” Both religion and society have exploited nudity into being viewed as something sinful and wrong.
When asked where the current stigma toward nude modeling originated Scheff explained the history of nude modeling. A hundred of years ago artists could not walk up to any individual and prompt them to model in the nude for their art. In result artists resorted to hiring prostitutes to pose naked for their work. This piece of art history has lead people to associate nude modeling as a demeaning trade affiliated with prostitution. She continues by explaining why hundred year old classical paintings featuring nude models such as, Olympia by Manet are respected while contemporary nude paintings seem to be losing respect and recognition. “They see those paintings as being classical. They are almost viewed in society today as being high society, classically beautical; we seem to have it instilled. But if it happened today it wouldn’t have the same affect. It would be just as effective as any other bust.”
Scheff concludes with the idea that nude figure drawing classes are essential to her development as an artist and growth as an individual. “Before nude modeling I would never let anyone take nude pictures of me and now I would. I think because a drawing is a replica of what happened and a photograph is what happened. Your body image is something to be proud of. People should say ‘okay, this is me, this is who I am, take me as I am’. If you are bigger own it and be proud of it. ” Essentially the way Scheff models cannot be manipulated. She is not a nude model to offend and make people uncomfortable. She exists in the classroom only for the sake of a reference to be drawn and nothing more.
Sources:
Kristen Scheff
http://drawn.ca/archive/art-teacher-suspended-for-recommending-figure-drawing-classes/
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/cultureshock/beyond/manet.html
Madeline Anthony
ReplyDeleteOctober 12, 2012
Interview Article
The art of telling stories and getting messages out to the world is a way of artform in many ways. Documentary filmmaker Daniel Hunt has made this his goal for the past twenty five years. His passion for documentary film making began in his early twenties when his grandmother passed away. She had raised Daniel from an early age and he felt that when she died, her stories died with her. It was from that point on that he decided to dedicate himself to the preservation of oral history as well as to activism for causes he believes in. Prison reform, identity, and gender and sexuality issues are some issues Hunt has tried to gain recognition for in the form of his films. Gender and sexuality are the most important to Hunt and also the films which have gained him national recognition. When the AIDS epidemic broke out, Hunt lost many friends to the disease, and he felt people didn’t talk about the issues enough. At that time it being gay was something that was not spoken of and there were few films on the topic. Hunt strived to change that by strongly urging the company he worked for at the time, PBS, to accept a documentary on gay history. The documentary that came to be as a result called “Stonewall” became a huge success receiving national recognition in various film festivals.
As a filmmaker, Hunt believes that the most important quality to have is passion. For him, making documentarys is all about the art of telling a story and for that you need to be passionate about that story, or you will not be able to go through all the work that is involved. For instance , Hunt raises anywhere from 2,000 to 500,000 for each film he creates. This takes extensive time and energy . Hunt’s financial sources include individuals, family foundations, the state, NYSCA, broadcasters, and grants. Raising money is the most difficult and time consuming part of his job, especially now that competition in the field has increased due to more accessible tools, but he sees it as part of the process that is necessary to really tell a story. Another part of the job Hunt feels is difficult is gaining access to a person, not only physically but also on an emotional level. For instance, the transgendered woman he spoke to in prison for his film “Cruel and Unusual” did not trust Hunt at the beginning, but they opened up as time went on.
Hunt states of his work “you have to either be insane or passionate, you need tremendous perserverance” expressing again that need for passion. Hunt plans on continuing his work as a filmmaker into the upcoming years although he feels that teaching is also fullfilling because of his love for helping people develop work and getting that work shown.
NEW PALTZ, NEW YORK- The line of impatient students stretched around the hall as a student employee frantically searched through each of the thousands of half sheets on file to retrieve a package. According to Mail Service Coordinator, Cherie Rizza, this was the scene eight years ago for workers before the system was revamped.
ReplyDeleteThe computer with all of its glory has altered mailrooms throughout the world and the mailroom here at SUNY New Paltz is no exception. Rizza explained some of the benefits as well as the downsides of the technology associated.
For one, that process no longer takes place when a student comes to retrieve their packages. Now, students receive emails when a package has arrived. In the email there is a package number and they are asked to show up with that number and identification.
Following this, the worker matches this package number with the one assigned upon the package’s arrival. Each package is sorted as they come by time of arrival making everything much more organized.
The hand-held is another tool that Rizza explains as “definitely a useful tool to the job.” It is connected to the mailing system and holds all of the packages’ tracking information. Each package has a tracking number that is unique to itself, revealing which company it was shipped through and the location it came from.
The computer has also shifted the type of paper mail such as bills and letters to digital. Rizza explains that much of the mail they receive now comes mainly through packaging. Letters and bills are now more commonly sent through email saving a lot of paper.
The concept of physical paper mail being replaced by a digital image may seem to make mail less personal. However, many packages have small notes from their providers that can add that small amount of TLC that we all like to see.
Rizza described some of the floral and Edible arrangements that they see come in with their attached notes and loving messages.
Despite the ongoing list of advantages, the new system has had glitches. When the entire tracking record goes down, employees are forced to quickly shift into manually organizing the packages.
Rizza described one situation during which, every package that had arrived was marked as delivered. Rizza had to log into the system and manually unmark each package which consumed an entire day’s work.
All gitches aside, the technology has proven to organize the mailing process and conserve some paper. Over the course of eight years, people can really notice the difference that technology has made just in the mail room.
NEW PALTZ, NEW YORK- Sitting between McGillicuddy’s and Anatolia Restaurant on Main Street, you will find Huguenot Creamery; an ice cream lover’s paradise.
ReplyDeleteAs you walk through the shop’s door, you will notice a seasonally decorated window display and an overall inviting atmosphere. You will also be greeted with a warm smile from the owner herself, Pat Walker.
Although Pat is a new business owner on the street, she is no stranger to the community. After she graduated from Guilderland High School in Albany, Pat returned to her stomping grounds and witnessed the town grow into what it is today. She says, “Everything used to be on Main Street. The barber, the jeweler, the florist. Everything.”
Pat’s family has owned the building the creamery is located in since the 1940s. As the caretaker, she decided to remodel the space after the previous tenant passed away.
The decision to set up an ice cream shop was unexpected. Pat says “I kept getting stopped by people, asking where they could find ice cream. Finally two women at the bank asked me again. As I usually did, I sent them to Sweets on North Front Street. They said ‘They’re closed, we were just there.’ And at that point I said ‘You know what? Maybe I’ll open an ice cream shop.’”
As Main Street’s only ice cream shop, Huguenot has been satisfying the college town’s craving for the frozen dessert since July 2011. Its close proximity to campus and late hours (5pm-10pm), make it convenient for students to indulge in a late snack.
Surprisingly, Pat has fully embraced the notoriously rowdy college crowd. “Oh I love them. They’re my friends. Just great kids,” says Pat. She recalls December 20th as one of her busiest days when students celebrated the end of finals week with ice cream and milkshakes. “Everyone wished me a happy holiday. It was great.”
Her goal for the creamery was to keep prices low. She says, “Number one: for the students who have to count pennies. And number two was families with kids.” Compared to larger, better known ice cream companies, Huguenot’s prices allow entire families to enjoy the 13 all-natural flavors available for well under 20 dollars.
When asked about the future of the creamery, Pat expressed a desire to expand. However she has plans to reorganize her current space first. “I have terrible traffic flow. The freezer needs to be in the back,” she says. Ideally she plans on this happening over winter break when the crowds thin out.
With the same friendly smile she greets her costumers with; Pat explains why she sees herself staying for the long haul. “Everyone that comes in here is happy. It’s a happy business to be in.”