September 12, 1997: Volume 41, Number 1

A New Coat of Paint for City Bridges, Freshmen Sneakers

Judging from the shoes freshmen are wearing this week, not every drop of "post-Victorian green" paint hit its mark on Saturday.

A number of freshmen are boasting footwear that commemorates their involvement with community service day, an effort that saw nearly 500 members of the Class of 2001 fan out to various work sites around the city as part of their orientation. The day, organized on campus by Assistant Dean of Students Kate Schurick, was coordinated for the second year with Schenectady 2000, the city's revitalization effort.

Perhaps the most visible symbols of the work day are four freshly-painted railroad bridges at Green Street, Front Street, North Jay Street and Nott Street. Among the 18 projects, freshmen also painted guardrails, removed debris from three parks and a section of bike path, and landscaped the Schenectady Museum.

"This is a great way to get to know the city where we'll be living for the next four years," said Corey Mathis '01 of Dalton, Mass. "It's also a great way to get to meet people, especially those in our class that we may not meet otherwise."

President Roger Hull, a founder of Schenectady 2000, joined the painters at the Nott Street Bridge. "Part of being a liberally educated person is recognizing that there is a civic responsibility to contribute something back to society," he said. Dean of Students Fred Alford joined the group at the North Jay Street Bridge.

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