John Jay College Alumni Newsletter

A Time of Change
“This time of year reverberates with the energy of our entering students,” noted President Jeremy Travis. The academic year began with 2,800 new students bringing John Jay’s enrollment to 14,690 students, a slight increase over last year. The College also begins the year with an historic hiring program that added 32 faculty members whom Travis described as “high quality, dedicated professionals, who reflect the diversity of our student body and the global reach of our mission.” He noted that the year will be one of “fundamental change for the College.” “This year we inaugurate the four-year process, approved by the College Council last May, to phase out our associate degree programs and transform John Jay into a baccalaureate college,” he noted. The College hopes to create a network of educational partnerships with CUNY’s community colleges so that students admitted to the new joint degree programs will start their college education at one of the partner institutions and transfer to John Jay to complete their degree. During the upcoming year, the College will engage in a comprehensive review of its existing curriculum and design a range of new liberal arts and interdisciplinary majors. Although the College has prepared for the “transformative years that lie ahead,” Travis also emphasized that, “the John Jay of the future will remain true to the idea that animated the creation of the College four decades ago, namely, that a college education will enhance the abilities of our graduates to perform the important work of pursing justice, whether in their careers or simply in their lives as engaged citizens of the world.”

Thinking About Changing Careers?
The Office of Continuing and Professional Studies is planning a career development program designed to effectively prepare law enforcement practitioners for the transition to corporate security. The inaugural symposium is scheduled for November 8th from 10:00 AM to 12:00 Noon. For more information, and to RSVP, contact the Office of Continuing and Professional Studies at 212-484-1101.

Alumni Gather at U.S. Maritime Security Expo
More than 40 John Jay alumni and students gathered for breakfast at the U.S. Maritime Expo held at the Javits Convention Center last month. President Jeremy Travis told the audience, “Alumni seek other John Jay graduates to staff their organizations, and it is a legacy of which we are extremely proud.” He was also gratified to see that so many alumni continue to rely on the College for connections in their fields and for the many educational opportunities available at the College. Travis also described the many exciting changes occurring at the College. Professor Robert McCrie of the Law and Police Science Department and Ellen Kiernan, Director of Alumni Relations, organized the event to give alumni and students an opportunity to learn about the newest technology in security management.

Way to go, JayWalkers!
With more than 111 students, faculty, staff, alumni and their families, John Jay showed its altruistic spirit in the Race for the Cure annually sponsored by the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation on September 10 in Central Park. The College’s team won the award for the largest group in the college/university category. The driving force behind the John Jay Jaywalkers, Irene O’Donnell (BA ’87), of Campus Office Services said, “I’m so proud of our College, we came out en masse for a good cause and next year there will be more of us.” The College has participated in the Race for the Cure for the past 15 years.

Ten John Jay students, whose ambitions range from going to law school to becoming a medical examiner, are the latest beneficiaries of what President Jeremy Travis described as the “magnanimous generosity” of Princeton University in the aftermath of the September 11th attack on the World Trade Center. The University established a scholarship program at John Jay in 2002 to honor the memory of the public service heroes who received their academic training at the College. Barbara Woodbridge, the Director of Community Relations at Princeton who was on hand for the scholarship presentations said, “The University wanted to respond to the devastation of the city in a way that would truly make a difference and also to honor those who died…we knew about your college and the large number of alumni you lost.” For the last several years, these scholarships have been used to develop undergraduate researchers, practitioners, and scholars in the areas of public service and criminal justice. The 2006-2007 Justice Scholars are entering freshmen: Monica Chin (forensic science), Megan Maiello (criminology), Danielle Sanchez (forensic science), Neethu Suresh (forensic psychology), and Lauren Weidner (forensic science). The continuing student recipients are: Lisette Begue (forensic psychology), Amanda Ingle (forensic psychology), Jae Ko (criminology), Debbie Scott (government), and Joseph Simone, Jr. (forensic psychology).

Salvatore Cassano
(BS ’76)

Patrick McNally
(BS ’74)

There are few, if any, who are not awestruck by the work of fire department personnel – going into fires, putting them out and trying to prevent them in the first place. The Alumni Association honored two of its own New York’s Bravest at a reception celebrating their recent promotions and recognizing their service to the City.

Salavatore Cassano has been with the Fire Department of New York (FDNY) since 1969. He began and completed his academic work at John Jay, graduating summa cum laude in 1976, while continuing to work full-time. He was one of the College’s first fire science graduates. He was appointed Battalion Chief in 1987 and was promoted to Deputy Chief in 1993. Continuing his climb up the promotional ladder, Cassano became Citywide Tour Commander in 1999 and after the September 11th attack, which decimated the ranks of the fire department, he was appointed Chief of Operations. Last June he was made Chief of the Department, the highest ranking uniform officer in the department. Referring to the Fire Department’s recent decision to drop the college requirement for entry, Cassano said, “Despite what some people in the City think, a college education is extremely important. It shows you have a serious work ethic and the character to go above and beyond what is merely required.”

Patrick McNally is a 29 year veteran with the FDNY. He started his college career at a community college and switched to John Jay to complete his bachelor’s degree. Previously serving as the Bureau Chief of Fire Prevention, McNally was made Chief of Operations last June. In his new position, he will oversee the day-to-day operations of the FDNY’s 15,000 members, including the Emergency Medical Bureau. “When I first started at John Jay, it was a college that was growing located on Park Avenue South. It was a new member of the City University at the time. Now it is the leading figure in public safety education in the country.”

In attendance was Fire Commissioner Nicholas Scoppetta who noted that, “This is a wonderful occasion because we have both our Chief of Department and Chief of Operations coming from John Jay – a prestigious institution of learning. The FDNY has a lot to be proud of and John Jay has a lot be proud of.”

The Death Penalty in Black and White

Tuesday, October 3, 2006 3:15 PM

The Department of Psychology, The Center on Race, Crime and Justice along with the Office for the Advancement of Research are pleased to host this public forum featuring David Kaczynski, Executive Director of New Yorkers Against the Death Penalty, whose brother Theodore, “The Unabomer,” was not executed and Bill Babbitt, Board Member of Murder Victims’ Families for Human Rights, whose brother, Manny, was executed in 1999. Both are death penalty opponents. Their personal stories highlight the arbitrary nature of executions in the United States.

John Jay College
445 West 59th St., Multi-Purpose Room, 2 nd Floor

For more information, contact Professor Matthew Johnson at mjohnson@jjay.cuny.edu or 212-237-8772.

Research & Policy on Police Accountability: The Legacy of James Fyfe

Thursday, October 5, 2006 8:00 AM – 6:30 PM

Many of the country’s leading experts will present research on the use of force and its impact on policy. Presenters include: William A. Geller, David Klinger, William Terrill, Michael White, Justin Ready, Geoffrey Alpert, Lorie Fridell, Candace McCoy and Sam Walker.

The conference will be followed by the Fyfe Fellowship Dinner with Professor Jerome Skolnick of New York University School of Law as guest speaker. Dinner attendees are asked for a tax-deductible donation of $100 per person. The Fyfe Fellowship Fund supports a student who has served as a police officer and is enrolled in the doctoral studies program at John Jay College.

For conference information and dinner reservations, contact: Christina Ruiz at 212-237-8443 or cruiz@jjay.cuny.edu

Graduate Lecture Series

Monday, October 16, 2006 5:30 PM– 6:30 PM

The Graduate Public Administration Program is pleased to host the Fall 2006 Lecture Series “Performance Assessment in the Public and Not-for-Profit Sectors: How Do We Know How We Are Doing?”

Denise Fantone of the United States Government Accountability Office (GAO) will discuss “Performance-Based Budgeting: Opportunities and Challenges in the Federal Government.”

John Jay College
445 West 59th Street, NYC, Room 1311 N

For more information contact, Professor Marilyn Rubin at mrubin@jjay.cuny.edu or 212-237-8091.

Occasional Series on Reentry Research

Wednesday, October 18, 2006 8:30 AM – 10:00 AM

The Prisoner Reentry Institute is pleased to invite you to a presentation by Dr. Joan Petersilia, Professor of Criminology, Law & Society from the University of California at Irvine on California’s Prison Reform. Dr. Petersilia is widely known for her work on reentry and public policy.

John Jay College
899 Tenth Avenue, NYC, Room 630

RSVP to Debbie Mukamal at dmukamal@jjay.cuny.edu or 212-484-1327.

Graduate/Law School Information Days

Monday, October 23, 2006 9:30AM – 2:30 PM
Tuesday, October 24, 2006 9:30 AM – 2:30 PM

The Office of Career Advising is once again hosting Graduate/Law School Information Days. Over 30 graduate and law schools will be represented to provide students and alumni with advice, counseling and information for gaining admission into graduate school or law school.

John Jay College
445 West 59th Street, NYC

For more information, contact Tom Doyle at tdoyle@jay.cuny.edu or call 212-237-8441.

Scottsboro Then and Now: The Perpetual Struggle for Justice in the US

Thursday, October 26, 2006 9:00AM – 6:00 PM

The Center on Race, Crime and Justice, the African American Studies Department, and the Office for the Advancement of Research are pleased to offer this symposium that dually marks the 75th anniversary of the Scottsboro case and the 30th anniversary of the pardon of Clarence Norris, one of nine young black males falsely convicted of raping two white females in Scottsboro in 1931. Among a number of notable speakers will be Attorney Fred Gray, Sr., Civil Rights Attorney from Tuskegee, Alabama who not only represented Rosa Parks in Montgomery but also the victims of the infamous Tuskegee syphilis experiment.

John Jay College
899 Tenth Avenue, NYC

For more information, contact Professor Delores Jones-Brown at djonesbrown@jjay.cuny.edu or 212-237-8390.

Thinking and Acting in an Emergency: The Role of Human Rights after 9/11

Friday, October 27, 2006 2:00 PM – 6:30 PM
Saturday, October 28, 2006 9:00 AM – 3:45 PM

John Jay’s Center for International Human Rights in collaboration with The Center for Continuing Studies at the University of Connecticut and the Human Rights Review are pleased to present this conference, which will deal with the language of human rights; measures, responses and lessons in fighting a perpetual war; the role of international institutions; and the role of civil society in the aftermath of September 11th.

John Jay College
Gerald Lynch Theater
899 Tenth Avenue, NYC

For more information, contact the Center for International Human Rights at chrights@jjay.cuny.edu or 212-237-8314.

Graduate Lecture Series

Tuesday, November 7, 2006 5:30PM – 6:30 PM

The Graduate Public Administration Program is pleased to host the Fall 2006 Lecture Series “Performance Assessment in the Public and Not-for-Profit Sectors: How Do We Know How We Are Doing?”

Professors Thomas Kucharski and Ned Benton will discuss “Performance Assessment in Compliance Monitoring in Institutional Reform Litigation.”

John Jay College
445 West 59th Street, NYC, Room 1311 N

For more information, contact Professor Marilyn Rubin at mrubin@jjay.cuny.edu or 212-237-8091.

Graduate Open House

Tuesday, November 7, 2006 4:30 PM – 7:30 PM

Alumni who are interested in attending graduate school are invited to attend John Jay’s Graduate Open House to learn more about the College’s programs in: Criminal Justice (M.A.), Forensic Computing (M.S.), Forensic Psychology (M.A.), Forensic Science (M.S.), Public Administration (M.P.A.), Public Administration-Inspector General Program (M.P.A.I.G.), Inspector General Program (M.P.A.I.G.), and Protection Management (M.S.).

John Jay College
Gerald Lynch Theater
899 Tenth Ave, NYC

RSVP by calling 212-237-8863.

The Power of the Lens to Change Public Policy

Tuesday, Nov. 14, 2006        6:00 PM – 8:00 PM The Protectors
Thursday, Nov. 16, 2006       6:00 PM – 8:00 PM Murder Blues
Tuesday, Nov. 21, 2006        6:00 PM – 8:00 PM Police

This series of award-winning documentaries by filmmaker and criminologist Roger Graef, which aired on the BBC, will be screened over three nights at the College. The Protectors is an observational documentary about how British police and probation officers decide what to do with dangerous offenders once they are released from prison. Murder Blues follows London’s Metropolitan Police teams tackling black-on-black gun crime. Police, which first aired in 1982, brought into the open the ugly realities of modern policing including rape investigations.

John Jay College
445 West 59th Street, Room 1311

Admission is free, but reservations are suggested. To RSVP and for more information, contact The Office of Continuing and Professional Studies at 212-484-1101.

Occasional Series on Reentry Research

Friday, November 17, 2006 8:30 AM – 10:00 AM

The Prisoner Reentry Institute is pleased to invite you to a presentation on “Domestic Violence and Reentry” by Creasie Finney Hairston, Dean of the Jane Addams College of Social Work at the University of Illinois at Chicago and Mike Bobbitt, the Associate Managing Director of Training and Technical Assistance from Family Justice.

John Jay College
899 Tenth Avenue, NYC, Room 630

RSVP to Debbie Mukamal at dmukamal@jjay.cuny.edu or 212-484-1327.

Annual Harry F. Guggenheim Symposium on Crime in America

Wednesday and Thursday, November 29 & 30, 2006
8:30AM – 5:00PM

John Jay’s newly created Center on the Media, Crime, and Justice is pleased to host this two-day symposium that brings together journalists, academicians, and practitioners from around the country to share information with a view toward improving the nature of crime reporting in the United States. The event will also feature the presentation of the College’s second annual award for excellence in criminal justice reporting. Additional details will be posted.

John Jay College
899 Tenth Avenue, NYC

For more information, contact Sinead Keegan at skeegan@jjay.cuny.edu or 212-237-8604

Career Information Fair

Wednesday, December 6, 2006        9:30 AM – 2:30 PM
Wednesday, December 6, 2006        3:15 PM – CIA Orientation
Thursday, December 7, 2006            9:30 AM – 2:30 PM

The Office of Career Advising is sponsoring its annual Career Information Fair. Representatives from more than 100 federal, state, and local agencies along with private and non-profit corporations will be on-site recruiting and providing information to students, graduate students and alumni about career opportunities.

Of special note, representatives from the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) will be attending the Career Information Fair on both days. They will be conducting an orientation, and possibly initial testing, at 3:15 on December 6 in Room 1311 North Hall. CIA representatives have suggested that alumni submit their applications on line at www.cia.gov four weeks prior to December 6 and also suggest bringing a hard copy of the resume to the orientation.

John Jay College
445 West 59th Street, Lobby, Cafeteria (2 nd Floor), 1311N for CIA orientation

For more information, contact Tom Doyle at tdoyle@jjay.cuny.edu or 212-237-8441.

Occasional Series on Reentry Research

Friday, December 15, 2006 8:30AM – 10:00 AM

The Prisoner Reentry Institute is pleased to invite you to a presentation on “Women and Incarceration” by Natasha Frost (PhD ’04), Assistant Professor at Northeastern University’s College of Criminal Justice and Ann Jacobs, Executive Director of the Women’s Prison Association.

John Jay College
899 Tenth Avenue, NYC, Room 630

RSVP to Debbie Mukamal at dmukamal@jjay.cuny.edu or 212-484-1327.

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