The Lighting

As College is Reborn in Southampton, Everyone in Town Celebrates

By Alan Michael Braveman

Wolfie, Rep. Tim Bishop, Dean Martin Schoonen, Assemblyman Fred Thiele and President Shirley Strum Kenny Photo by Marylou Stewart, Media Services, Stony Brook University

Stony Brook Southampton College held its second annual Christmas Windmill lighting this past Friday. The 18-year-old tradition, started by Professor Tim Burke when the campus was Southampton College, is a wonderful holiday celebration. With the more than 300-year-old windmill's blades festooned with twinkling lights, it is hard not to feel a little inspired and that maybe life is okay after all.

The Stony Brook Southampton version of this affair has added a marching band from Stony Brook University and Wolfie, the University's child-friendly mascot, who made his second annual appearance along with an absolutely mouth-watering Gingerbread house and this year's newest addition a Gingerbread windmill.

The beautiful decorations and requisite Windmill cookies, brownies, hot cocoa and cider were terrific and the Christmas tree and Menorah were lovely and the children were thrilled with the crafts table.

The speeches by State Senator Ken P. LaValle, State Assemblyman Fred W. Thiele, Jr. (a graduate of Southampton College) and Congressman Tim Bishop, (the former Provost of Southampton College) were all pleasantly brief. Congressman Bishop reminded the audience that it was his father-in-law who started the tradition while teaching at the college. Congressman Bishop confessed that the sight of so many happy people gathered together on the campus for the celebration made him feel like he was "home again".

Dr. Kenny, President of the University was introduced by the Interim Dean of the campus, Dr. Martin Schoonen. Dr. Kenny announced that a gift of $100,000 had been made by an anonymous donor (later identified by this intrepid reporter as a nameless alumnus) for the restoration of the Windmill, and that rehabilitation had already begun. The restored Windmill will be named the Glanz-Marmion Windmill to honor the memory and works of two wonderful men - Dr. Edward Glanz, the first Provost of Southampton College, who fought hard and and long to make the college a reality and was an asset for the community, and Harry Marmion who was President of the College from 1972 to 1980 and later became the leader of the "Save the College" movement. Both of these dedicated men served to make Southampton College a relevant institution of higher learning in the face of great obstacles and often bitter criticism.

Dr. Kenny stated, "The renovation of this iconic and historic structure will provide a meaningful link that will connect the history of Southampton College with the future of what is now Stony Brook Southampton." She continued, "We are pleased to be able to help restore the Windmill, which is not only a treasure to our campus but the entire Southampton Community." "With the campus focus on sustainability, the Windmill, constructed in the early 1700s and later moved from Southampton Village to its present location in 1890 as part of the former Clafin estate, is an important symbol of preservation and renewable energy. It is a familiar sight for travelers along Montauk Highway in Shinnecock Hills, and one of just a handful of windmills left on Long Island.

Dr. Kenny also announced that Stony Brook Southampton was looking for an additional $150,000 to complete the renovations of the Windmill. Anyone wishing to contribute should call 631-632-1145 and ask for Eric R. Doepel in the Advancement Office.

Dr. Kenny concluded her presentation by signing The Tallories Document, a 10-point pledge signed by university presidents worldwide focused on assuring a greener future for all countries

Dr. Kenny and Southampton Interim Dean Martin Schoonen detailed plans to make new buildings on campus LEED certified for green architecture and to include students in innovative recycling, waste water and even agricultural programs on campus. For example, the new library will use geothermal energy to keep it warm in the winter and cool in the summer, students will chart energy savings from a wind turbine on campus, organic fertilizers are already being used throughout the campus, electric and biodiesel vehicles are being used on campus and the cafeteria uses no cooking oils while composting waste.

The cookies and coffee eventually gave way to a great swinging jazz group and the fun-filled evening ended on a really upbeat note.

Back to Contents