News From Fort Schuyler
February 12, 1998 - Volume 2, No. 9A
FOX TELEVISION NETWORK BROADCASTS LIVE AT 10 PM FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13th - According to RICHARD MIRANDA, Director of College Relations, there will be a "Fox Five Media Event" originating from the Maritime Industry Museum right here at Fort Schuyler. The subject will be the GENERAL SLOCUM disaster, the excursion boat that burned in the East River on June 15, 1904, with the loss of 1030. The cameras and lights arrive at 8 PM. Mr. Miranda notes: "Visitors are welcome, but limited space will confine them to specific areas of observation." So, if you are in the neighborhood, stop by and make this Friday the 13th a really memorable one.
PARENTS ASSOCIATION DONATION - The library has just received a generous donation from the Parent's Association, insuring that there will be a fresh selection of feature films on videocassette for SST98. For those of you who predate television era on the training cruise, the Ship's Library (which is large AND air-conditioned) distributes two feature films per evening on the ship's TV network when the ship is at sea. To the parents reading NFFS we say "Thank you!!"
CAMPAIGN TO SAVE THE BIG U - The on-going campaign to put that famous passenger ship, S.S. UNITED STATES, back into service was brought to my attention in a recent e-mail from NEIL BREEN, Class of 1989. The UNITED STATES, a candidate for the White House Millennium Program and short-listed for the National Trust for Historical Preservation, is apparently in better shape than most of us think. Check their website at http://www.ss-united-states.com If you want to receive e-mailed news about the campaign to save the ship send a note to info@ss-united-states.com" and put UPDATE in subject line.
THE MARITIME COLLEGE CONNECTION TO THE S.S. UNITED STATES - Just before this edition "went to press," Admiral DAVID C. BROWN, the President of SUNY Maritime, reminded the editor that ALL the permanent masters of the BIG U have been graduates of this school: HARRY MANNING, Class of 1914, JOHN ANDERSON, Class of 1915, and LEROY J. ALEXANDERSON, Class of 1930. Their names are listed on the plaque attached to one of the Maritime Industry Museum's most impressive outdoor displays: the enormous starboard inboard propeller of the S.S. UNITED STATES. Perhaps somewhere out in cyberspace there is now another Fort Schuyler graduate honing his or her skills at sea who will someday be selected as the fourth permanent Master (Mistress) of this national floating treasure.
A QUESTION FOR READERS OF NFFS TO PONDER - "I wonder if the requirement that ships' radio shacks include a Morse key will now be dropped? Is there any communication left in the world that still uses it?" (CRAIG SMITH, Class of 1954)
A STATEMENT WHICH BEGETS SOME QUESTIONS (AND ANSWERS) - "There are a number of names that have been given to the College and its grads over the years and it might be interesting to do something of a survey of when the names came into existence/usage, when they passed out of usage and were replaced, and the local circumstances that gave rise to this name or that." (BILL McMULLEN 1964)
WORLD MARITIME NEWS IS FREE FOR THE ASKING - One of the wonders of the Internet is some of the great "stuff" that is still free! World Maritime News is one of those wonders. ROD McFADDEN, Class of 1975, was recently in touch with its dedicated editor, Steve Schultz and has provided me with a complete rundown of how to receive this weekly 2-part compilation of salty news from a variety of sources. E-mail me if you would like to have a copy of the instructions forwarded.
DOMER SURVEY FEEDBACK ISSUE #2 COMING SOON - Responses to the survey and to the feedback on the survey continue to come in. Check your mailboxes this weekend for the latest installment on this topic that has a life of its own.
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