The 2006/2007 academic year had many events for our college community. We were able to enjoy guest speakers, learn from educational functions, and just have fun during entertaining events.
The first important event for our college community was the 9/11 ceremony with guest speaker Mr. Rudy Washington, former Deputy Mayor. After Mr. Washington's speech, Dean Wayne Edwards presented him with a gift of appreciation on behalf of the school. The National Anthem was sung by a member of the Shekinah Chorale. Ms. April Davis, President of the Student Government Association, read the names of the seven alumni that had perished in the attacks. At the close of the ceremony, a rendition of “Taps” was performed by Professor Caroline Sawyer.
Guest speaker, Mr. James McBride, author of The Color of Water visited our campus as well. The evening started with James McBride attending a dinner with all the winners of the First-Year student essay contest. At the dinner, students and faculty were able to meet the author, share their views on the book and ask him questions. After the dinner, the student union multipurpose room was filled to capacity to hear James McBride expressed his feelings about education celebrities.
Nassau County Executive Thomas R. Suozzi came to Old Westbury at the invitation of the School of Business. He was welcomed to the campus by the Dean of the School of Business Dr. N.J. Delener. Mr. Suozzi spoke before a crowd of students, faculty and staff in the recital hall of Campus Center. He discussed property taxes, affordable housing, economic development, mass transit, and the difficulties posed by the complicated patchwork of local governments in Nassau County.
NYPIRG started its academic year with rock the vote. Students from Old Westbury and Nassau Community College gathered in the student union lounge to watch the election results as they rolled in. Next, NYPIRG traveled to Albany with our students to lobby for the Bigger Better Bottle Bill to be put into the state budget. Other NYPIRG events included a clothing drive, Earth day, and the homeless sleep out.
The Women’s Center sponsored a two day conference on "Confronting Sexual Violence in/through Hip Hop" during Women History month. President Calvin O. Butts III offered his views as a both a critic and a supporter of the traditional power of spoken word.
Through out the year, of our college community was kept busy.
Donato Palumbo II
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