News From Fort Schuyler

December 17, 1998 - Volume 2, No. 58

BIRTHDAY’S PASSED - 12/10/1874 to 12/10/1998 = 124 years and counting for NY Maritime.

THERE IS A LITTLE LIST - The big December 6th holiday books issue of the New York Times Book Review lists the ‘Notable Books of 1998.’ It includes, on page 84, this recommendation for ‘Lawrence Durrell: A Biography,’ by Dr. IAN MacNIVEN, a member of Humanities Department: "A thoughtful, prudently detached biography of the author of the Alexandria Quartet." You can check further at http://www.amazon.com

WHAT’S IN A NAME (I)? - Nowadays, while all cadets are MUGS at one time or another, they soon sort themselves into ‘Deckies’ or ‘Engineers’ according to their license program. But it hasn’t always been that way. In response to the posting in the December 7 issue (# 56) about graduates with both deck and engine degrees from Fort Schuyler (as opposed to dual licenses), KENNETH PETERS, Class of 1954, wrote: "I think that SETH HAWKINS, Ape from 1954, may have come back for a real education as an engineer." Having set up the Editor to insure that he’d be asked for an explanation, Ken promptly responded: "Ape stands for those who can't cut engineering and take the other path of training climbing rigging, standing in the rain and cold, watching the stars, cleaning decks, steering the boat, and other simple stuff. You got this old guy with ‘Domer,’ but I figured the term Ape still was used." In a later message, however, Ken concedes: "Funny thing, but while in the Navy ... serving as Engineering Officer, I learned the deck trade. Picked up celestial navigation to the degree that I taught it."

WHAT’S IN A NAME (II)? - More responses to the "Domer" sobriquet. JACK ROCHE, Class of 1963, writes: "I guess I’m one of those ancient grads who has trouble with the term "Domer." It WOULD be a perfectly fine nickname if it wasn’t already taken. Unfortunately, Notre Dame got there first. To illustrate this I refer you to the book ‘Domers, A Year at Notre Dame’ by Kevin Coyne." DENNIS COMPTON, Class of 1976, writes: "I was intrigued by DICK ROTHAMEL’s comments, being in the same class of ‘71 with him until resigning in 1970. I was always under the impression that the name had to do with living in some sort of alternative universe under the Throgs Neck Bridge, in a bubble or a dome. It is enlightening to hear the actual details behind the name, if he’s right." Meanwhile, the evolving Alumni Association website now contains the first section of the NFFS "What is a Domer" survey of alumni that was published on January 14 1998. No calls from Hollywood yet, but one can hope. (Go to - http://www.fsmaa.org)

FIRST-CLASS SLEEPING ACCOMMODATIONS - "The article in the Alumni Bulletin about the library brought back a particular memory for me," writes TOM CONNOR, Class of 1967. "One of the problems in having a "free" period between classes in the Fort was finding a place to study (read as "sack out"). Now, the location mugs, third or second classmen could look forward to in their final year at Fort Schuyler was the holy ground of the First Class Lounge, but the arbitrary and capricious decisions of certain officers to enforce the offense of "Sleeping in Public" did not make for restful sleep. A new location was needed. As fate had it, when the (new) library was built, it included a room known as the Master Mariner's Room, containing (as I remember it), a globe, maritime memorabilia, leather couches and books about the sea. It also had a door that could be closed and lights that could be turned off. A mug stationed nearby as the alarm clock and a first class (literally) sleeping compartment was established! Unfortunately, during one of these restful sojourns in the winter of '66-'67, VADM Moore [the President of the college at that time] was taking some visitors on a tour of the library and I awakened to the words "...the lights are off, I guess no one is using the room." The scene greeting VADM Moore and the distinguished visitors as the door was opened and the lights flipped on, was 6 to 8 First Classmen, either sprawled out on the couches or on the floor, all in a semi-catatonic state. The room was locked thereafter."

TRAVEL PLANS - The itinerary cards for the 1999 Summer Sea Terms were distributed this week, certainly the earliest in recent memory. Depart Fort Schuyler 15 May; Charleston, SC 21 -23 May; Bridgetown, Barbados 27-31 May; Naples, Italy 14-19 June; Cardiff, Wales 26 June - 1 July; Arrive Fort Schuyler 13 July.

REMINDER - The college will continue the practice of shutting down most offices during the winter break in order to save money on heat and salaries. The Luce Library Reading Room, therefore, will be closed from Sunday, December 20 through Sunday, January 3.