Study local; think global

As in tune to his Hudson Valley constituents as he was to his country”™s global policies, former U.S. Rep. Benjamin Gilman was joined by more than 200 well-wishers on the grounds of SUNY Orange in Middletown August 2. The occasion?  Groundbreaking for the Gilman Center for International Education.

Gilman, who served the 20th district in the House from 1972 to 2002, basked in the glow of warm wishes and shared his own memories during the three-hour ceremony attended  by more than 200 people, from former congressional colleagues to neighbors from his Middletown neighborhood.

The new 5,000 square foot addition to the current library on the SUNY Orange campus will integrate a new study hall and lecture center. The center will house Gilman”™s treaties, papers, which will be digitized and preserved, as well as a display of the his memorabilia.

Construction is expected to last about six months.

Its 900-quare-foot entryway will feature a circular glass foyer, surrounded by a ring of flagpoles signifying countries in which Gilman served or fostered international relations during his time in Congress. Interior renovations will include an 1,800-square-foot lecture hall that will accommodate 250 people.

Liscum, McCormack, Van Voorhis L.L.P. of Poughkeepsie is architect for the addition; Piazza Brothers of White Plains will serve as general contractor.

Poughkeepsie-born, Middletown-raised Gilman served in the New York State Assembly from 1966 to 1972 before his election to Congress in 1972. Gilman, now 85, served the 20th district, comprised of Rockland County, western Orange County, southern Sullivan County, town of Greenburgh and city of Yonkers until re-districting found him deciding whether to run against colleagues or bow out gracefully. He chose the latter, staying active in local events while keeping tabs on American policy abroad.

Gilman traveled the world extensively during his congressional tenure, promoting international causes ranging from world hunger awareness, the war on drugs and advocacy for human rights.  Among his many accomplishments were accolades he received in the late 1970”™s for his work in obtaining prisoner exchanges in often delicate negotiations.

 

“From the moment the concept of the Gilman Center was initiated, I have anxiously awaited the day when construction would begin,” said Dr. William Richards, SUNY Orange president. “The center will give our global studies program a tremendous boost and benefit students for generations to come.”

SUNY Orange offers an Associate in Arts degree in international studies under the auspices of a newly created global studies department. The program includes a broad range of courses with international themes in the humanities and social sciences. It requires students to take classes in foreign languages, international relations, world history and international literature.  This year”™s focus will be on Latin America.

Encouraging students to acquire an international perspective is a benchmark Gilman hopes the new center will help achieve, saying the ratio of Americans studying in foreign countries pales in comparison to the thousands of international students who study at U.S. universities each year.