October 2024

Pardon the pun, but I hope that by this point in the semester, everything has fallen into place for students, faculty, and staff. As for me, I have so much to do that I’m already looking forward to that extra hour we’ll get in November when we push the clocks back.

On Thursday, September 26, Gregg Popick, campus security director for Community Security Initiative (CSI), and Seth Goodstein, CSI regional security director, visited campus for a tour and lunch. Founded in 2019 by the United Jewish Appeal and the Jewish Community Relations Council of New York, CSI works to protect and enhance the security for Jewish communities and institutions in the greater New York City metro area.

From left: Vice President for Communications and Marketing and Senior Advisor to the President Jay Hershenson, Queens College Hillel Managing Director Darone Ruskay, CSI Regional Security Director Seth Goodstein, me, CSI Campus Security Director Gregg Popick, Interim Public Safety Chief Deborah Huggins

Suzanne Vega played a sold-out show at LeFrak Concert Hall on Friday, September 27, her first time performing in Queens since her debut in 1985. Vega was born in Santa Monica, but for all intents and purposes, she’s a New Yorker—an alumna of the High School for Performing Arts and Barnard. I’m glad we were able to present her here.

We are already about halfway done with our fall sports season, and the Knights are looking good so far. Our women’s volleyball team is off to a fantastic start; and will battle for an ECC spot this month, they’ve won their last three matches and have a record of 10-5 on the season. Our men’s and women’s soccer teams are right in the mix so far, as they both will battle for an East Coast Conference playoff spot this month, and our cross country teams have had some individual runners post top-ten finishes at multiple meets. Additionally, the men’s and women’s tennis seasons have just begun, but I expect they will both compete for the ECC Championship once again.

Be sure to visit our athletics website, queensknights.com, for more information and support our athletic teams at their games on campus. Go Knights!

Yesterday—Monday, September 30—the college hosted a book launch for Corky Lee’s Asian America: 50 Years of Photographic Justice. As someone who knew alumnus Lee, I am proud to have been part of the program, which included an enlightening discussion of his life and accomplishments. I thank panelists Chee Wang Ng, a visual artist and co-editor of the book; Christopher Kwok, Asian American Federation board member and adjunct professor of Asian American Studies at Hunter College; and QC faculty Soniya Munshi (Urban Studies), former interim executive director of the Asian American Asian Research Institute, and Amy Hsin (Sociology), who served as moderator and organized the event.

From left: Sonya Munshi (Urban Studies), Corky Lee’s Asian America co-editor Chee Wang Ng, me, Sociology Chair Amy Hsin, Asian American Federation board member Chris Kwok, and advisor to Corky Lee estate Virgo Lee

I never get tired of hearing about Queens College’s high rankings in annual guides. U.S. News just weighed in, positioning QC in seventh place among northern regional universities for social mobility. As we look forward to the college’s 87th birthday on October 11, it’s wonderful to be recognized for what we do best. The ranking that is a true test of higher education as an engine of the American Dream is whether graduates show social mobility, if the time and the money spent on their degree turns out to be worthwhile. We know that for our students, they benefit, and as they flourish, their families and their communities thrive as well. 

The Tech Incubator at Queens College (TIQC) is a tremendous asset for us and the general public, hosting a wide variety of workshops and meetups. In the next two weeks alone, dates include

• a Flushing Tech Meetup – Hackathon, Saturday, October 5, 4 to 6 pm (RSVP here);
• the next 10-session cycle of the Girls Who Code club, Mondays and Wednesdays at 4 to 5 pm, starting on October 7 (RSVP here);
• a Small Business Resource Sharing Event, October 8, from 2 to 4 pm (RSVP here);
• and on every Wednesday, from 8 to 9 am, local entrepreneurs can get together over Zoom for a session of NYC 1 Million Cups.

For complete TIQC listings, click here.

Some upcoming activities highlight the diversity of Queens College, a place where I want everyone to feel safe and valued, as I expressed in my recent welcome message. These upcoming events are emblematic of a learning environment that respects and celebrates heritage. Our rich diversity is such an important strength for the college and the greater community we serve. 

October is Italian American Heritage Month; the John D. Calandra Italian American Institute is marking it by highlighting the 500th anniversary of Giovanni da Verrazzano’s voyage into what is now known as New York Harbor. On October 5, Calandra will hold a hybrid symposium exploring the historical figure and cultural relevance of Verrazzano from a multidisciplinary perspective. Presenters include faculty from Hofstra, Seton Hall, and Stony Brook University.

That night, the Kupferberg Center for the Arts will offer a concert of Afro-Arab jazz, featuring the Tarek Yamani and Yacine Boulares Quartet. Yamani, a Lebanese pianist, and Boulares, a French-Tunisian saxophonist, are among the few Arabic musicians specializing in jazz. 

Meanwhile, the college’s Hispanic Heritage Month programming will continue with On the Migrant Frontlines of NYC, on October 9 at free hour in Student Union 301. The panel, moderated by Jorge Alves (Political Science, Latin and Latino American Studies), will include Irene Lew, senior manager for research for United Neighborhood Houses—which represents more than 40 settlement houses in New York City—and Anahi Viladrich (Sociology and Anthropology); reserve your seat here.  

Rosh Hashanah starts Wednesday night, so I’ll close by wishing the Jewish members of our community a happy and healthy New Year.  

PS: As reported in QView 173, Queens restaurateur Frank Ottomanelli has been erecting a mural at his eponymous Long Island City eatery and event space Frank Ottomanelli's LIC. As he did last spring, he is issuing an open call for proposals for three-foot high panels to add to the mural. Here’s a chance for members of the QC community to exercise their creative talents! Anyone who lives or works in Queens can submit a proposal; preference will be given to Western Queens residents and students. Each winner will receive $500 and be reimbursed for their project materials. The deadline to enter this round is October 18. To request an RFP, complete this online form Request For Proposals: HPS Park Mural Project.