Mentor, Professor, Friend: Undergraduate Research and Student-Faculty Relationships

As a high school student, looking at colleges, I had only one thing truly fixed in my mind: I really like Japan. Armed with that thought, I went college hunting. By the time I got to Union College, I had been to half a dozen states, and seen more than a dozen other colleges. And yet, with Union, something felt different. There was a different vibe in the air, a new sense of interaction...it took me about half the campus tour to realize that what was different to me was that students were interacting with professors--regularly! They were chatting in the halls, in offices, outside of Dutch Hollow Restaurant, by the Starbucks kiosk. As a matter of fact, by the end of that day, I had already spoken to the Chair of the East Asian Studies Department about opportunities at Union. To say the least, I was hooked.

After I entered Union, it only got better. My professors were accessible, and down-to-earth. I have formed relationships with professors both within my chosen disciplines and in departments I rarely have a reason to enter: History, Music, Computer Science, Political Science and Physics, just to name a few. As a senior this year, it makes me happy to know that I have created relationships with members of the faculty that will stretch beyond my years at Union.

Some of the best experiences I have had with professors have been outside of the normal, run-of-the-mill classroom experience. Undergraduate research is vibrant on campus, and is available to students in every department. The summer after my sophomore year, I worked closely with Professor Bradley Lewis in the Economics department, researching banking and financial crises in the US and Japan, and how the two nations can relate to and learn from each other. I spent the entire summer on campus, reading primary source materials such as newspaper articles and interoffice memos, as well as secondary sources from scholars on economics, politics and anthropology. Together with Prof. Lewis, I wrote a critical paper on banking crises on two sides of the globe, which has been sent out to a number of journals in the hopes of having our research published.

The summer before my senior year, I also did summer research. This time, however, I completely changed gears. Professor Jennifer Milioto Matsue is a Union professor with whom I have had a close relationship since my first year. She finds her home at Union in three different departments: East Asian Studies, Music, and Anthropology. She teaches a class called Popular Music in Modern Japan, which was one of my first classes on campus, and she inspired me to think outside the box of my interest in Japanese Political Economics. She is also the leader and director of Union’s Japanese taiko drumming ensemble, called Zakurodaiko (石榴太鼓), which means “garnet drums” in Japanese (a clever play on Union’s school colors of garnet and silver). I have been fortunate enough to be a part of the taiko ensemble for two years, and have worked very closely with Prof. Matsue over that time.

During spring term of my junior year, I met with Prof. Matsue to see if she had any ideas for a summer research project. Prof. Matsue knew that I was interested in politics and economics in Japan, and that my goal after graduation was law school. But from past conversations, she also knew that I sing in Union’s all-female a cappella group, the Garnet Minstrelles, and that I had had an interest in music and performance in high school. She told me it was time for a break from the stress of politics and economics, and that maybe, just maybe, I should try something a bit different for the summer.

As a result of our conversation, I found myself researching East Asian oral narrative performance--or, as it is more commonly known, storytelling. I looked to Japan, Korea, and China for inspiration, and created a performance piece based on a Japanese legend. Prof. Matsue and I worked together almost everyday to create the piece, refine it, and add creative flair. I used traditional Japanese instruments and clothes, and told a Japanese story, but I drew on other Asian cultures for my methods of conveying emotion and personality in each character. When I had a creative block, Prof. Matsue would always come join me in the practice room, sit down with me, and work it out. The research was new territory for us both, but we worked on it together to synthesize a new piece, based on old traditions.

At the end of the summer, just before Prof. Matsue left to do her own research in Japan for a year, I performed my piece on the back patio of the Reamer Campus Center in front of an audience of my peers, my professors, my co-workers and even my mom. Prof. Matsue was right--it felt really nice to try something a little different, and combine so many of my interests into something new and exciting. After my performance, various professors and deans came up to me to talk to me about my research, and ask questions about my performance.

The professors at Union are a big part of the reason I am so happy at the school (and do not want to leave come June). They care about you as a person, not as a number or a body in the classroom. They share with you just as much as you share with them, and it makes learning that much more interactive and fun.

Casey Sheridan '10

From the Court to the Classroom: Life as a Union Athlete

My acceptance to Union was not determined by my athletic talent. I was not recruited, nor did I intend for athletics to continue influencing my life as it had done so much in high school. When ranking my reasons for choosing Union, liberal arts, academic reputation, small class size, the beautiful campus, an active student body, and vibrant social life all ranked higher on my list.


Here I stand, four years later, as a co-captain of the varsity women’s volleyball team. I have spent four seasons putting hours into practices, early morning lifts, long bus rides and innumerable games and tournaments. These seasons include more than ten first place tournament finishes, two Liberty League championships, and one trip to the second round of NCAAs. Not to mention setting the record for the most wins of any varsity team in Union history, going 36-6 in 2008.

As I look back on the success my team has had while I have been a part of it, I cannot help but think that our accomplishments on the court have translated into my achievements outside the gymnasium. Being a student athlete at Union has been so much more than the stats in the book and the wins on the record. It was clear since the first day of pre-season in 2006 that my participation in the athletic program at Union would demand much more of me than just my effort on the court.

It was very clear that I was not just trying out for team that had standards of play, but rather, I was becoming a part of a family that had standards for life. Yes, I was expected to dig the ball, serve the ace, get the kill. Those expectations made me a better athlete. But the expectations off the court have had everything to do with the person I have become now. These expectations came from two places: my coach and the upperclassmen.

The older women on my team during the first couple of years were dedicated and brilliant students, active socialites, genuine volunteers, Union enthusiasts, and yes, incredible athletes. I watched each of them juggle their studies and activities, and yet come to practice and give 110% for the full two hours. Each of them became a role model to me in one way or another. Whether they inspired me to take four classes a term, encouraged me to join Spanish Club, praised my writing for the school newspaper, or supported my decision to join Greek life, they gave me the confidence to put myself out there on campus and the motivation to stay there.

My coach has had everything to do with my ability to succeed as a student and an athlete. The support and understanding she demonstrates year after year has defined my experience completely. Never once have I felt restrained or burdened by my athletic commitments, but rather privileged and optimistic. With her understanding, I was able to travel abroad to Spain for three months, without risking my position on the team. I have had the time to double major and take on a minor, without worrying about my course load in-season. Having a coach that supports not only my athletic success, but my academic achievements and my social happiness has facilitated all of my personal accomplishments.

There is something to be said about an athletic department with so many athletes who serve as student leaders and achieve so much in the classroom. I have been able to compete in athletics at a college level; no doubt an irreplaceable experience. But it is all of the other activities that I have chosen to include in my life that truly exemplifies the Union athlete. Instead of being isolated from the campus as an athlete, I have been truly immersed in the culture and student body of Union in the past four years. Being a Union athlete allows athletics to be a part of a greater whole, developing each component gradually and simultaneously.

Now, as I approach the end of my career, I can only hope that the underclassmen on my team realize the opportunity before them. Ahead of them lies a path of discovery. The freedom to choose and explore is what truly defines the Union athlete. Taking the values of hard work and dedication from the court or the field and applying them to each aspect of your life on campus is the general expectation. And each Union athlete is rewarded with a more holistic version of the person they were before.

Cristina Liquori '10

My Experiences with ISA: Russia December 2008 - July 2009

During the winter and spring terms of the 2008-09 academic year, I was in Rostov-na-Donu in Southern Russia on an ISA study abroad program. Just to get this out of the way, the time I spent in the Russia, was the best experience of my life. My proficiency in Russian increased ten-fold, and I can safely say that I am somewhat conversational. While in Russia, I attended the Don State Technical University (or DGTU) where I took classes in the department of the Russian language. Outside the classroom, I performed a very rigorous study of the Don Cossacks, which is an ethnic group of Cossacks that live in the Rostov region. I also met a lot of amazing people, and I have many wonderful stories about the place that has, by many respects, become a second home for me.

Before discussing my ISA, or Independent Study Abroad, experience specifically, let me just take a moment to explain what the ISA is. As it is defined by the Union College website, the ISA is:

The Independent Study Abroad (ISA) program is designed primarily for students in their junior year who develop a passion for going where Union does not have an international program and/or who want an autonomous experience in a foreign culture…Placing the emphasis on independent study and the responsibility for program design on the student will likely foster much greater cultural immersion during the time abroad.

I feel this definition of the ISA, albeit a little broad, is fairly accurate. Regarding the application process, whereby students submit their proposal idea along with a request for funding, the following should be considered:

A.) If the country, for which you are applying, requires a lengthy visa process time, I recommend that you start this process early. I made the mistake of waiting until the last second, which, as I learned, should be avoided at all costs.

B.) Do research on the cost of living of the region you will be residing in. This will be important when you submit your budget to the ISA committee for review.

C.) You must find a professor who sees eye to eye with you on your project to serve as your project advisor.

Although these points do not encompass all the things that you must remember, they are perhaps the most pertinent. However, enough of that boring stuff, I want to discuss with you some of my experiences in Russia.

Perhaps the most interesting part of my trip to Rostov-na-Donu were my interviews with the Don Cossacks. Without going into too much detail of the history of the Don Cossacks, let me just say this: they were the first Cossack group to form in Russia (as a direct response to Tsarist Serfdom), were perhaps amongst the most ferocious warriors ever, and played key roles throughout Russian history. The modern Don Cossack is considerably different than what he was approximately 500 years ago; however, the Don Cossacks remain a very fascinating bunch. Typically, upon arriving at the home of a Don Cossack, who was willing to be interviewed, I would be ushered away into a central sitting area (or their kitchen) where upon I was offered tea (or vodka) prior (or sometimes following) the interview. In short, the interviews were typically quite lively and full of stories, anecdotes, phrases, and vocabulary exclusive to the Don Cossacks. I have included a photo of myself with a Don Cossack (and his friend) following one such interview.

Apart from the interviews, I also attended Russian classes at DGTU. These classes were also an excellent learning experience as well, since I was the only American in the class. In my class there were: North Korean students, Chinese students, Vietnamese students, Afghani students, as well as Lebanese students. These students, who typically didn’t speak English well, provided me with a very interesting opportunity to meet and speak with people who, (since I am American), I might not have otherwise been able to get to know. In addition, the classes were taught completely in Russian. This made for a plethora of interesting situations; however, I feel that this played a role in my greatly improved vocabulary in Russian, since it facilitated complete immersion. Overall, English was spoken rarely, causing an even greater cultural experience, which was further fueled by my various travels throughout Russia.

I would also like to speak briefly about my lengthy and in-depth excursions, both in the Rostov Oblast (Rostov Region) and throughout Russia. I took a number of trips of a semi-local nature, in that they were all within the Rostov Oblast. Some of these destinations included: Zenograd, Starocherkassk, Novocherkassk, as well as Azov. All these cities are hotspots of Don Cossack culture and I visited a number of festivals, Don Cossacks, museums, cathedrals, as well as other attractions at each of them. An event that sticks out in my mind was the Labor Day (May 1^st) celebrations in the city of Zenograd, which included a number of dance performances by old and young Don Cossacks alike. Following those dance performances, fireworks were launched into the air, which illuminated a statue of long gone “Comrade Lenin” with every burst of light. That day was certainly a day that I won’t be forgetting for a long time to come. Outside of the Rostov Oblast, I took two major excursions: one to St. Petersburg, and one to Moscow. In both cities I visited museums, including the famed Hermitage, along with a great deal of other sites, enhancing my knowledge of Russia along the way. All in all, my travels in Russia were perhaps some of the most rewarding experiences of my life.

Before I conclude I want to again clarify that what I did isn’t for the faint of heart. I planned, administrated, and executed every aspect of my term abroad. I managed my expenses, located Don Cossacks for interviews, dealt with the university, bought tickets, and lived in almost complete independence from Union College for two academic terms. In short, the structure that existed was the structure that I composed myself. However, if you are good at managing yourself, and pushing yourself to new educational extremes, I highly recommend the ISA program offered here at Union. It certainly is a once in a lifetime opportunity.

Richard J. Paikoff ‘10

From the Road: Costa Rica & International Admissions

Greetings from Costa Rica!
As my first stop abroad this year to connect with international students and Americans living abroad, I am having a great time sharing information about Union's academic and extracurricular life. This is my third visit to the capital city of San Jose and its surrounding towns and villages, which makes my travel seem a bit breezier than years past. Each year as my plane begins its decent into San Jose International Airport, I am graced with stunning views of the Costa Rican landscape that is both rugid and serene. With its persistent dedication to environmentalism, Costa Rica's 188 years of sovereignty has empowered its residents to embrace its natural resources and share that certainty with its visitors. With the breathtaking vistas that exist at almost every turn, I can easily understand why residents are apt to protect their country's delicate ecosystem.

As my brief stay unfolds, I turn my attention to the business of visiting high schools in the surrounding towns of Santa Ana, Heredia, and Escazú. With two days worth of presentations and student interviews, I am challenged--and rewarded--by the many stories of lives impacted by educational change, families uprooted by business, and unexpected delight to be settled so supremely in a country open to goodwill and equality. At its core, my discussions with students are extensive, remarkable, and unendingly unique. In a single day, I shared the distinctiveness of a Union education with students from the Philippines, Haiti, Finland, Malaysia, Canada, Brazil, Barbados, Thailand, Germany, Swaziland, France, and many more. As one might imagine, this kind of opportunity is special to me.

Nothing beats sitting down with a smiling, eager 17-year-old and hearing her or his aspirations for the future. No matter where my feet land on the globe, I am fueled by the wit and sincerity of the young people who take the time to learn about Union College and ask questions that inform their choices. In Costa Rica, scholars develop amidst the mountains, rainforests, canyons, and fields of coffee plants reaching for sunshine. Though thousands of miles from Union's campus, when I'm setted with students, hearing their stories, learning of their interests, I am reminded that education, no matter its geography, brings people together. The nature of my work and that of my colleagues is the very essence of the College's founding name that is "Union." To be unified, we are the faces of Union College.


Contributed by: Sarah Henderson Maneely, Assistant Dean of Admissions / International Admissions Coordinator

What Union means to me

Union is so much more than my alma-mater (though this alone would make it special). It has been my home for nearly a decade and the employer for my entire professional career. It is the place where I met some of the best individuals I have ever known and I proudly sat in the crowd at their weddings. I have experienced the incredible highs of last second athletic comebacks and the crushing blow of unexpected last-second losses to our arch-rivals. To say that I bleed Garnet and Gray is an understatement; and when I sing the Ode to Old Union I proudly stomp my feet and make a ‘dip’ to my alma-mater.

Union provided me with the opportunity for significant person growth. I developed more socially and intellectually than I thought would happen in four years; from a shy, reserved first-year student to a campus leader by the end of senior year. Union didn’t simply provide me with an education and a degree at the end of four years; I became a part of its history and traditions. I sat in classes with inspiring professors who challenged me to be better and do better. They took a vested interest in me as a person and cared deeply for my personal well-being and development. Whether they know it or not, the informal conversations unrelated to classroom material meant the world to me and showed me why a close community like this was where I wanted to spend my years as a student.

This campus is my home… Nearly ten years spent walking the grounds and I still find new and wonderful sights to see. The Ramee plan is perfect symmetry and a source of pride for all Dutchmen and Dutchwomen. The Nott Memorial is a unique and glorious reminder of how the vision and hard-work of one man can inspire and bring the best out of those around him: a future President of the United States, a Secretary of State, and countless leaders in their fields. Jackson’s Garden is one of our jewels and, as the oldest continually cultivated garden on a college campus in the United States, it is fittingly located in the first planned campus in the country. The respect for Ramee’s plan runs deep and it is humbling to know that the quad that William Seward strolled as a student on his way to Phi Beta Kappa and national prominence is the same plot, with the same feel that I walk across, and that students decades from now will also walk across.

Though Union may not be perfect it was the perfect fit for me. I sang in the a cappella group, became President of my fraternity (which was founded at Union), wrote a 124 page thesis on the Irish in the First World War, and studied abroad in France. I did a radio show, gave tours to prospective students, met so many great friends, and proudly wear the Garnet and Gray wherever I go. I knew nothing of Union before I applied but I can’t imagine my life if I enrolled elsewhere. Schedule an Interview or visit the campus and try to picture yourself here. Hopefully you will see yourself among the proud students and graduates of an institution in its third century. The Garnet will look good on you!

contributed by: Geoffrey Bowman '04, Associate Dean of Admissions