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October 6, 2025
Send announcements for the Coffee Break (employee) or Solutions (student) newsletters to newsletter@sage.edu by the end of the day Wednesday to appear in next week’s issues.
| | Lead a Session at Sage Engage on Wednesday, October 29: Share your projects and research with high school students and inspire them to turn their ideas into action. Sign up with your idea or email Professor Kelly Smith at smithk33@sage.edu. | | New Wellness Vending Machine in Troy Wellness Center: Find essential health products, including contraceptives, pain relief items, menstrual care products, and basic first aid supplies. | | Women’s Soccer Collecting Sports Gear for Local Non-Profits: Donate new or gently used sports equipment for local non-profits at Women’s Soccer's annual Gators' Aid Game on Saturday, October 11 or in bins at McKinstry in Troy and the Armory, and KCC in Albany. | |
Please Encourage Students to Attend These Career Events;
Employees Welcome, Too!
The Career and Self-Discovery Center is excited to host networking events for students to meet alumni and employers and learn of experiential opportunities.
Students who register for and attend both events will be entered for a chance to win a $100 gift card. Please share this information with your classes or attend an event as a class; faculty and staff are also welcome. Questions? Please email careercenter@sage.edu.
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October is DVAM: Stand With Survivors, Always
October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month and this year's theme is "With Survivors, Always." Join Russell Sage's Title IX Office for awareness events that will include resources and giveaways:
💜 Monday, October 20, 12:30-2:30 p.m., KCC dining area, Albany, with Albany County Crime Victim & Sexual Violence Center and Equinox
💜 Thursday, October 23, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., Buchman, Troy, with
St. Peter's Crime Victim Services and Upper Hudson Planned Parenthood
💜 Thursday, October 23, is National Wear Purple Day for #DVAM2025
Other ways to raise awareness:
💜 Wear purple on Thursdays in October and post a photo on social media with #PurpleThursday #DVAM2025 #rsc_titleix #RussellSageCollege #BeKnowDo #ItsOnUsGators
💜 Bush Memorial in Troy and the Administration building in Albany will be lit up in purple during the week of October 20. Post a photo with the tags mentioned above, plus #ShinetheLight and #NYGoesPurple4DV
💜 Attend a fundraising event, volunteer, or donate to a local domestic violence organization using their specific wish lists.
💜 Educate yourself so that you are prepared to offer nonjudgmental support to someone in need (and Sage's Title IX Office is here to help; see contact info below!)
💜 Also explore: The One Love Foundation, Loveisrespect.org, and the National Domestic Violence Hotline.
Please email Title IX Coordinator and EEO Specialist Amanda Bastiani at bastia@sage.edu with questions and concerns.
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Theatre Institute Kicks Off Season
with Nunsense
The Theatre Institute opens its season with Nunsense, a musical comedy about the Little Sisters of Hoboken raising money for a proper burial for their fallen sisters. The show visits three Capital Region locations in October: Calvary United Methodist Church in Latham, St. Mary’s of the Assumption in Waterford, and St. Thomas the Apostle in Delmar. Purchase tickets.
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Final Week for Compass Roses at Opalka
Read the Times Union review of Compass Roses, then stop by Opalka Gallery before the exhibit closes on October 11. This week:
🪷 Register for All-Levels Yoga in the Gallery, Thursday, October 9, 6 p.m., pay what you can. (Walk-ins welcome but registering reserves your spot.)
🪑 Saturday, October 11, 1-5 p.m., artist Maura Jasper documents how chairs from the exhibit are finding new homes via Facebook Marketplace. Interested in a chair? Call the gallery at 518-292-7742.
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New Exhibit: Beyond Grief’s Door
Opens October 17
Beyond Grief’s Door opens with a reception on Friday, October 17, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. in the Little Gallery, Rathbone Hall, Albany.
The exhibit is presented by EMH 430: Expressive Arts in Grief and Healing.
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Coming Up, From Rec and Fitness
🪷 Sign up for Yoga Fitness in Albany, Mondays, 8-9 a.m., Kahl Campus Center 224. October 20 through November 17.
🏆 Group Training is coming to Troy. Tell Rec and Fitness what time slots work best.
🎮 Nintendo Switch 2 Game Night, Friday, October 31, 6-8 p.m., McKinstry Student Center, Troy. Play Mario Kart World, Switch Sports, Super Smash Bros. Candy included, no sign-up needed.
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Support English Language Learners as they Practice Conversation Skills
The Intercultural Cafe is a welcoming environment where English language learners practice conversation skills with volunteers from the campus community. No special experience is required and light refreshments are provided. Join the cafe Thursdays, 4-5:30 p.m., West Hall, Albany. Interested? Email grad student Noora Ahmed at ahmedn2@sage.edu.
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Serve Albany Brunch Series
Hosted by local nonprofits (not a Russell Sage event), this monthly series highlights community issues — upcoming topics include Women’s Empowerment (October 16) and Affordable Housing (November 20). Events are open to all and feature food from Honest Weight Food Co-op. Find information and sign up for Serve Albany events.
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Wall of Wins, Now with Photos!
"Shout out to the Specialized Maintenance/Grounds team Martin McCormack and David Parker for the absolutely stunning landscaping around the Troy campus — and during a year with little rain, no less. This picture is worth 1,000 words." –VP for Marketing and Communication Jenn Gish
"Huge shoutout to Director of Student Activities Theresa Belfance and the Student Activities/Student Life team for planning and executing an absolutely incredible family weekend across both campuses! –Director of Residence Life Grace Giancola
Fresh, blank squares are always available at the Wall/Google Doc of Wins. Please share your wins or celebrate a colleague!
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Exploring Refugee Support at
ECAR Gathering
Graduate student Noora Ahmed, undergraduates Batul Alshabout, Garrison Decker, and Rzonathan Morris, and Professor Ali Schaeffing represented Russell Sage’s Every Campus A Refuge chapter at the national ECAR Gathering at Lafayette College in September: Read about their reasons for attending and Sage’s role in ECAR.
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Gator an E8 Player of the Week
Congratulations to field hockey midfielder Catherine Newkirk, who was the Empire 8 Conference Offensive Player of the Week for the week ending Sunday, September 28.
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FROM HR: New Hire Gathering, Open Enrollment Coming Up,
New Performance Evaluation Platform
📍 New Hire Gathering: If you joined Russell Sage within the past year, please join HR for lunch and an opportunity to connect with colleagues, ask questions, and learn more about the mission and vision of the college. The lunch is on Wednesday, October 15, at 11:30 a.m., in Bush Memorial, Troy.
📍 Benefits Open Enrollment begins the week of November 3. More details will be shared soon.
📍 New Performance Evaluation Platform: Hindsight360 will now be used for annual performance reviews. The platform will also help document one-on-one meetings, 90-day evaluations, and more. Training will be on Thursday, October 16, and Friday, October 17, at noon. Watch your email for your invitation.
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Monday, October 6
🪩 Sign up for Dance Fitness, 5 p.m., Robison Gym, Troy
Tuesday, October 7
💬 Open Discussion with College Chaplain, noon, Buchman, Troy. Bring thoughts, interests, concerns, or listen and enjoy the company.
🪷 Sign up for Yoga Fitness, 5:15 p.m., McKinstry 206, Troy
Wednesday, October 8
🔥 Sign up for Zumba Fitness, 5:15 p.m., Robison Gym, Troy
Thursday, October 9
🎞️ Film Talk and Writing Workshop with Filmmaker Uchenna Ugwu, 9 a.m., Zoom. Learn more and register for the film talk and writing workshop.
🪷 Register for Yoga in the Gallery, Thursday, October 9, 6 p.m.
Saturday, October 11
👣 Join Russell Sage's NAMIWalks team for the National Alliance on Mental Illness community walk, 10 a.m., in Albany's Washington Park. One Sage team member will win a Fitbit Versa 2.
🪑 Artist Maura Jasper documents how chairs from the Compass Roses exhibit are finding new homes via Facebook Marketplace, 1-5 p.m., Opalka Gallery, Albany
Tuesday, October 21
☕ Coffee and Community with President Shaftel, 9 a.m., Albany. Register for Coffee and Community. (One more Coffee and Community on November 19, Troy)
Tuesday, October 21- Wednesday, October 22
💚Grief-Informed Practice Workshop, Albany campus. Learn more and register for Building Confidence Across Disciplines: Practical Tools for Supporting Grieving Individuals (Students can sign up for the grief workshop free.)
Thursday, October 23
🟢🔷 TIAA Representative One-on-One Meetings, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., West Hall, Albany. RSVP for an on campus meeting with TIAA.
Additional TIAA Dates:
- November 19, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Cowee 3rd Floor, Troy
- December 11, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Cowee 3rd Floor, Troy
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Unwind in the Wellness Center: Book a 25-minute massage chair session and recharge in a calm, quiet space. Book the relaxation space in Albany or book the relaxation space in Troy.
Employees Invited to Publish Creative Work: The Rev literary and creative arts magazine is accepting submissions for its 2026 edition. Photography, drawing, painting, poetry, fiction, and nonfiction accepted through November 21. Email Laurel Petersen at peterl4@sage.edu for information.
Free Online Fitness Classes: Log in at BODi/Beachbody on Demand with
Username: Recreation@sage.edu and Password: Thrive2020
Free CDPHP Cycle! membership: Free daily bike rides with the CDPHP Cycle! app and promo code RussellSage: www.cdphpcycle.org.
Pizza Deals from Papa John's: Use these online-only coupon codes for deals from Papa John's at 571 New Scotland Avenue (Papa John's is an athletics sponsor.)
- Use code GATOR1: 1 large pizza, 1 topping, $7.99
- Use code GATOR2: 3 medium pizzas, 1 topping, $18
- Use code GATOR3: 2 medium pizzas, 1 topping, $5.99 each (must buy 2)
- Use code GATOR4: 1 medium pizza, 1 topping+ breadsticks OR 6 garlic parmesan breadsticks, $12.98
Links from IT:
Volunteer with Every Campus a Refuge: Fill out the ECAR volunteer interest form if you are available to help individuals and families get settled and find community in the Albany area.
Find past issues of Coffee Break in the newsletter archive.
Moodle help: Find updated Moodle links and important information for 2025-2026 in this PDF. You can also schedule a training session with Sage Online via the Training Request Form.
For reference:
| | Send announcements for the Coffee Break (employees) or Solutions (students) newsletters to newsletter@sage.edu by the end of the day on Wednesday to appear in next week’s issues. | | | | |
