At a glance
Alfred State College alumni, students, faculty, staff, and retirees
connected recently at a special "Centennial Poetry Reading" where the
alumni centennial issue of Ergo, the campus literary magazine, was
officially "unveiled."
Alfred State College alumni, students, faculty, staff, and retirees connected recently at a special “Centennial Poetry Reading” where the alumni centennial issue of Ergo, the campus literary magazine, was officially “unveiled.” In addition to the Ergo contributors, special guests included Joe Flynn, SUNY distinguished service professor emeritus; Bruce Clarke, professor of English emeritus; and Dr. John O. Hunter, ASC president emeritus, who read or recited poetry.
Flynn recited his original tribute to Alfred State College, its Centennial, and its educational mission, “Crossing the Kanakadea;” Clarke read an audience favorite, "Flat Cats," with his unique style and wit; and Hunter gave a dramatic performance of "Ulysses" that would have made Alfred, Lord Tennyson proud.
Tom Stolberg, ASC associate professor, Business Technology Department and 1978 ASC graduate, began the evening with guitar music and the song “Atlantis” by 1960s Scottish singer Donovan (Leitch—who used only his first name when performing), which inspired his own poem, “Blues on the Water,” which he wrote in the stairwell of Shults Hall and first performed in a coffee house in the Allegany Room when he was a student at Alfred State College.
CarolAnn Geffers Garrison, an alumna of Alfred, performed a poem about Native American history and ended with a humorous reading. Guest of honor was Helen McCarty, professor of speech emeritus, faculty editor of the first Ergo in 1966 and organizer of the first Alfred State poetry readings. Art work by students from the Computer Art and Design program enhanced the Allegany Room.