R. Thomas Williamson, vice president for external affairs, was named as acting
president.
Commencement.
Clarkson celebrated its 94th Commencement with the awarding of over
1,100 degrees, including just under 1,000 baccalaureate, over 100 master's, 26 PhD, and five
honorary degrees. These graduates represented 22 states, 22 foreign countries, and all 62
counties of New York State. Professor Gordon Batson, civil and environmental engineering
department, received the Distinguished Teaching Award. Professor Joseph Scaturro, director of
the Industrial Distribution Program, retired.
One highlight of this graduating class was the awarding of degrees to this first class
issued a Zenith personal computer four years earlier, a fact noted in the national news media;
this also made them the first "computerized alumni." That fact drew the attention of the
Associated Press which provided stories to newspapers, radio, and TV across the nation.
Interestingly enough, 70 percent of the nontechnical and 90 percent of the technical courses
integrated these computers in varying degrees. (See p. 531)
Another highlight of the occasion was a special flyover by Air National Guard pilots in
the "Missing Wingman" formation in acknowledgment of the tragic death of Lt. Col. Michael
Boyd, commander of Air Force ROTC Detachment 536 at Clarkson, in a plane crash just weeks
before Commencement. (See p. 576)
"Tug-of-War."
The Interfraternity Council announced that the fall semester pledge classes
would be "tugging" to benefit the Salvation Army. This "A Tug-of-War To End All Wars" was
a fund raiser which was scheduled during Clarkson's Alumni-Parent Fall Weekend on Saturday,
October 24. Craig Peterson, director of Greek Affairs, explained that approximately 160
pledges from Clarkson's 15 fraternities would be "pulling" for the Salvation Army. Each pledge
was to contact friends, family, and local businesses for contributions so that he could join his
team in this Tug-of-War. Funds raised supported the Potsdam Service Unit and the Empire
State Division of The Salvation Army.
Who's Who.
The thirty-two students who were named in
Who's Who Among Students in
American Universities and Colleges
included:
Susan Berardi, Jennifer Bowers, Kenneth Bruce, Carole Buhrer, Amy Cole, Elizabeth Demo, Robert
Denton, Jr., Mary Jude Eck, Richard Ellison, Stephen Fifield, Elizabeth Fouracre, Joyce Gerry, Paul Giaconia,
Ross Goodman, Kirstin Jensen, John Jolicoeur, Steven Kasok, Scott Lewandowski, Kenneth Lippert, Catherine
Mattison, Kimberly McKay, Scott McKay, Christopher Montferret, Christopher Parsons, Peter Radosta, John
Robson, Kelly Ryan, Brian Sischo, Janine Sunderlin, Sue Venerus, Christine Wechter, Nancy Weigel.
Advanced Technology Center.
Clarkson was named as a Center for Advanced Technology by
the New York State Science and Technology Foundation, one of only eight universities in the
state then so designated. This honor meant that Clarkson would receive $1 million per year for
the next four years to fund leading-edge research in the development and processing of
advanced materials.
AISES Recognition.
Clarkson's chapter of the American Indian Science and Engineering
Society (AISES) was awarded the Sequoyah Medallion from the Sequoyah Foundation for
being the first educational institution to contribute to the foundation.
