Mercy College Annual Report 2009

CommunitySAAC students takingdonations for the Side-OutFoundation during‘09 Dig PinkAuthor Clarence B. Jones Gives TalkIn recognition of Black History Month, guest speaker, Clarence B. Jones, author ofWhat Would Martin Say?, discussed his perspective of the Civil Rights Movement andits impact on current events at the Dobbs Ferrycampus. As a former attorney of Dr. MartinLuther King, Jones spent eight years as oneof Dr. King’s closest advisers, was a memberof his legendary “Kitchen Cabinet,” and wasinstrumental in drafting King’s “I Have aDream” speech. This event was created inpartnership with RiverArts, whose mission isto bring people together to create and enjoyhigh quality arts programming in the villagesof Ardsley, Dobbs Ferry, Hastings-on-Hudsonand Irvington.L. to R., Clarence B. Jones, Provost SperlingErnest Gains Reads ExcerptsFrom His Best-Seller, A Lesson Before DyingIn February, Mercy College and ArtsWestchester, in conjunction with The Big Readinitiative, partnered to host a live, interactive conversation with Ernest Gaines,best-selling author of A Lesson Before Dying. Participants, who read the book, whichexplores social justice, institutional injustice, racism and death, gathered in the LectureHall at the Dobbs Ferry campus. Gaines was video-conferenced in from the PointeCoupee Parish library in New Roads, Louisiana, where it was also available as a livewebcast. An initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), The Big Readwas designed to revitalize the role of literary reading in American popular culture.ArtsWestchester was awarded an NEA grant to bring The Big Read to Westchester.International Film Festival:Humor Through a Cross-Cultural LensThe 10th Annual International Film Festival, held March 16-20, featured films fromChina, the Dominican Republic, Ireland, Romania, and India. The festival’s themewas humor, viewed from a cross-cultural lens. Each film was introduced by a presenterfamiliar with the country’s cultural heritage who led a discussion of the film’sperspective of that culture’s humor.SAAC Continues To Strive Toward Division ii CommunityEngagement GoalsThe Mercy College Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) continues go aboveand beyond the NCAA Division II efforts of community engagement by participatingin numerous fundraising and community events. In fall 2009,the Mavericks Volleyball team raised more than $1,000 forthe Side-Out Foundation in support of breast cancer research.SAAC students participated in Sleepy Hollow’s annual HauntedHayride as actors, security and other volunteers to help raisemoney for the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Not only did theMavericks raise more than $1,000 for the Kay Yow/WBCA CancerFund in their annual Pink Zone game, Mercy College also held aCharity Volleyball match. SAAC also volunteered at the annualFerry Festa in Dobbs Ferry.Photo credit: Ellen Crane18 • Mercy College Annual Report 2009