Stony Brook University SUNY Korea

  Coming home … wherever in the world home may be. Feeling included and accepted … for whoever you are or wish to become. Diverse voices coming together in song and forming a community of support. These are the values Stony Brook University Chorale Director Shoshana Hershkowitz lives, breathes, creates and shares with her students every way she can and every chance she gets, whether it’s a student conveying his personal reflections on Transgender Day of Remembrance, an Iranian student raising awareness of the violence happening in her home country, or first-generation students sharing their unique circumstances, challenges and joys. Click here to read the original article. Click here to read the original article.  

  Academic Freedom in American Universitas In the United States, academic freedom is a recognized principle in the higher education. It is generally defined by the "1940 Statement of Principles on Academic Freedom and Tenure," jointly authored by the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) and the Association of American Colleges and Universities. These principles broadly state that "Teachers are entitled to freedom in the classroom in discussing their subject." Academic freedom is based on the idea that to have a dynamic and safe environment for research, inquiry and education, faculty must have the right to engage in discipline-related teaching, learning, and research without outside interference. More specifically faculty must have the right to determine the universities’ curricula, teaching, students’ admission and evaluation criteria, research topics, publications, etc. The goal is to ensure that universities students and scholars can freely challenge the popular or conventional wisdom. The concept is closely related to principles of shared governance and tenure. Many other countries including South Korea have adopted similar principles in their higher education system, albeit with different degrees of strength. In 2021 Freedom House placed Japan and Taiwan in its top 10% ranking, scoring 4 out of 4 for academic freedom. South Korea’s ranking tied with that of the US at 3 out of 4. China and North Korea, were in the bottom 10%, with academic freedom for both assessed at 0 out of 4. Academic freedom however is not without limitations. The laws of society, including those concerning obscenity, pornography, and libel, apply to academic discourse and publication. Faculty also may not claim the privilege of discussing in their classroom controversial matter which has no relation to their subject. The above-mentioned 1940 statement also permits institutions to impose "limitations of academic freedom because of religious or other aims" In the US, discussions of race, gender and sexual orientation are among the most controversial related issues. Can a professor use racial epithets in teaching a course? Should a white supremacist professor argue for his belief? Should academic freedom protect those who make false and morally repugnant claims? In response to these questions , many universities have adopted policies aimed at limiting speech and writing that is deemed discriminatory , or offensive on the basis of race, ethnicity, gender, religion, sexual orientation, or physical disability. Whereas supporters of the measures, known as “speech codes,” defended them as necessary to protect vulnerable groups against discrimination and harassment, opponents contend that they amounted to the legal enforcement of “politically correct” ideas and expressions. In Korea, the atrocities committed by Japan during its occupation of Korea, and North Korea related topics are among the most controversial academic freedom issues. For example, academics  have to tread carefully in accessing officially blocked North Korea state and media websites for their research in order to not violate the National Security  Law passed in 1948. As another example, In 2018 a Sunchon University professor was dismissed, prosecuted, and imprisoned for six months for insulting former Korean comfort women during a lecture . Sejong University scholar Park Yu-ha was fined in 2017 for false defamation of comfort women in her book Comfort Women of the Empire. Retired Yonsei University scholar Lew Seok-choon was tried after complaints from civic groups that he had insulted comfort women during a class. Academic freedom is an active subject of controversy   and debate. the universities are well advised to have an open dialog with their faculty and students on this topic with consideration of their university’s culture. While in the exercise of this freedom faculty members may, without limitation, discuss their own subject in the classroom, the principle of academic freedom shall be accompanied by a corresponding principle of social responsibility Click here to read the article

  On Tuesday, February 7, The Museum at FIT (MFIT) held the opening reception for Fresh, Fly, and Fabulous: Fifty Years of Hip Hop Style. Co-curated by Elizabeth Way, associate curator of costume at MFIT, and Elena Romero, journalist and assistant chair of Marketing Communications, the exhibition celebrates the birth of hip hop and its influence on fashion over the past five decades. This is the largest and most comprehensive exhibition to explore this revolutionary and influential style, and features over 100 garments and accessories that capture the pivotal moments in hip hop fashion’s evolution. Click here to read the original article.

  In a milestone for the School of Communication and Journalism (SoCJ), student Viola Flowers won a 2023 Scholar Award by the Overseas Press Club Foundation. Flowers is the first SoCJ student to win the award, which consists of a foreign reporting fellowship with a leading media company or a $3,000 scholarship. “I was shocked by how competitive it was and that I was chosen out of a national applicant pool, but also immensely proud of myself,” said Flowers, a sophomore journalism major from Waterbury, CT. “I pour so much time and energy into my passion because it’s what I love to do and what I feel so strongly about. To have that recognized, and to know that it stands out among such a wide range of applicants, is beyond rewarding.” Click here to read the original article.

    Stony Brook University has been named a Fulbright U.S. Student Program Top Producing Institution for the 2022-2023 academic year, the second time in three years that Stony Brook has been so honored. The Fulbright Top Producing Institutions for 2022-2023 were announced in the online edition of The Chronicle of Higher Education on February 10, and on the Fulbright program website. Click here to read the original article.

SUNY Korea Freshmen, Gather Around! Hosting The Spring 2023 New Student Welcome Week Various programs prepared for freshmen from February 20th to 24th.      The State University of New York, Korea (President Arthur H. Lee) announced that they will hold a welcome week event for the 2023 Spring semester freshmen. The five-day welcome week event at SUNY Korea in Songdo Global Campus, Incheon, will be attended by newcomers from six different Stony Brook University departments: Computer Science, Technology and Society, Mechanical Engineering, Applied Mathematics and Statistics, Business Management, and Electrical and Computer Engineering. The main events include △ A Campus Tour △ Department of Education and dormitory guidance △ Orientation led by the Student Services Team △ Lunch in each department, and other various activities. New students will have time to get to know each other and be informed about university life during the welcome week event. In particular, on the 24th, the last day of the welcome week, the Spring 2023 Convocation will be held at the Incheon Global Campus Auditorium to celebrate the first big step up of college life for freshmen. President Arthur H. Lee said, "We have prepared various programs to help students adapt well to university life and maintain their studies. Students are the key reason why SUNY Korea exists, and we will provide excellent educational opportunities to help develop students into talented people to become the next generation of the world". He also said, "As it is the first face-to-face event since the end of indoor face masks, we will make every effort to ensure the health and safety of students."  

Opening Ceremony of "Crafts in Fashion" 4 FIT Graduates Participated in this Special Exhibition On Monday February 6th, the opening ceremony of the "Crafts in Fashion" held in The Seoul Craft Museum (SeMoCA) Exhibition Building 1. The theme of the "Crafts in Fashion" exhibition introduces the craft elements used in the works of the first-generation fashion in Korea. Four FIT graduate students collaborated with The Seoul Craft Museum (SeMoCA) on the special exhibition. Hannah Kim, Yoojin Lee, Percy Batdorj, and Nicole Martinez’s designs were inspired by the main historical designers Kyungja Choi, Nora Noh, and Andre Kim, designing their clothing elements from a historical to a modern look. The students’ works were selected during the 2022 June AAS Exhibition, when the director of the SeMoCA museum visited SUNY Korea. The director of SeMoCA stated, “[The students’ works] is way higher and better than what I expected, and it will be very difficult to make a garments selection.” SUNY Korea’s FIT Professor Bonkuk Koo commented on why this exhibition was significant, saying, “Even if we are in the generation of digital or virtual, we always learn from history and it is the same for Fashion. To my memory, this is the first and biggest fashion exhibition that praises three masters in Korean fashion history. This exhibition will give priceless voices to the current generation that is working or studying in Fashion.” Linda Kim, an FIT professor of SUNY Korea, praised the four student’s participation in this exhibition: “In general, notable museums like SeMoCA are hesitant to exhibit student works due to the quality of works produced and the many external criticisms they could face. However, our students' meticulously sewn and beautifully constructed pieces satisfied the museum's standards. I am very proud of our fashion design students and the exquisite and fascinating works they produced. And thanks to Director Heisoon Shin of the SUNY Korea Museum of Modern Costume, who served as a bridge for these students, offering the excellent opportunity to exhibit their beautiful pieces at SeMoCA.” SeMoCa is the first public museum of craft art in Korea and recently opened in 2021. It is a prestigious museum that only exhibits works with technical, artistic, and cultural values of craft. This special exhibition is located on the 3rd floor of The Seoul Craft Museum Exhibition Building 1 and the duration of this exhibition will be from February 7, 2023 to April 2, 2023.         Shapes of Grace, Colors of Innocence Hannah Kim   Blooming; New Hope and Youth Yoojin Lee   Rebirth Percy Batdorj   Diamond of the Night Nicole Martinez    

  For Black History Month, Black FIT students created an exhibition that expressed their perspective in Out of Body or Out of Place? The exhibition includes visual depictions of intense racial dysmorphia, impostor syndrome, and ostracism. The curators were Rukaiah (Ruki) El, Fine Arts ’24 (with a double minor in Art History and African American & Africana Studies) and Kira Cunningham, Fashion Design ’25, both members of the Black Student Union. El is the Director of Digital Media/PR for the BSU and Cunningham is the Treasurer. Click here to read the original article.

  Vincent Quan, professor and department chair of FIT SUNY Korea, was mentioned in FASHIONISTA, a well-known fashion news website published by Breaking Media. In this article Professor Quan quoted, “FIT SUNY Korea offers an unparalleled win-win for the students and the creative/fashion sector in which we serve." To read the full article click here --> https://fashionista.com/2023/01/fashion-schools-teaching-metaverse-classes 

  Three students who recently graduated from SUNY Korea shared their thoughts about SUNY Korea. Two out the three students started their own business after graduating from SUNY Korea, and one student has been accepted by one of the largest accounting and consulting firm. Here is a short interview with the students about what SUNY Korea means to them.        Youngho Kim Youngho Kim graduated in 2022 with a degree in Computer Science. He started his own business named TMR Founders.  1.  Why did you choose SUNY Korea? The biggest reason was that I could experience the curriculum of an American university in Korea. When I first decided to enroll, I worried a lot, but SUNY Korea provides the same professional courses that I have experienced in the United States, and the environment gave a familiar international feeling as I was in Korea. Even though I had the chance to go to a university in the States, I felt that I could experience various cultures with the same education here, so I decided to join SUNY Korea. 2. What experiences from SUNY Korea helped you start a business? Students can apply to lab courses starting from their second to third year. In my junior year, I joined the Computer Science professor's research lab and finally got the chance to turn my thoughts into reality. I was able to experience certain technologies for the first time, such as autonomous driving and the recognition of objects through cameras. The professor participated in our research as closely as my tutor, and I was able to write 3 to 4 thesis papers. This experience helped me develop the confidence to create anything, and that's how I decided to start a business. 3. What do you think is the unique strength of SUNY Korea? The phrase ‘minority elite member’ comes to mind. There are many talented professors compared to the number of students. One professor will work on a new project every semester with 5 to 15 researchers. I think it's a big advantage that I can experience new technologies and companies outside of class with the professors.        Soomin Seo Soomin Seo is the founder of Livable and graduated from SUNY Korea Department of Technology and Society in 2020 1. Why did you choose SUNY Korea? I went to a high school abroad, and when I was thinking about going to college, I wanted to continue my foreign academic classes, but at the same time, I wanted to go to Korea because I was abroad for a long time. While I was searching for a university, I chose SUNY Korea after seeing a promotional article that said I could study foreign academic studies in Korea. 2. What experiences from SUNY Korea helped you start a business? I think my study in Technology and Society helped me start my own business. I am currently operating an IT service, and a lot of the knowledge comes from what I learned in this major. One example is cases where I develop services by converging technologies and maintaining communication with developers. In addition, the school provided a lot of support for the start-up after graduation, to the extent that I received help from the president when preparing for my start-up. 3. What do you think is the unique strength of SUNY Korea? All faculty, staff, and team leaders provided various support in different fields. The high faculty-to-student ratio gave more detailed and practical support. Also, I think it could become a strength if students actively participate well in school events as they can achieve more opportunities.        Jihun Gwak Ji Hun Gwak majored in Technology and Society and graduated in the year 2022. He has been hired at Deloitte Anjin LLC.  1. Why did you choose SUNY Korea? In addition to communicating in English like any American university, SUNY Korea has linguistic and cultural strengths that cannot be experienced in ordinary high schools or universities in Korea, such as writing essays or having a presentation daily. Of course, these days, native English instructors and English-speaking classes are common, but I think the biggest appeal of SUNY Korea is communicating with professors and colleagues in foreign languages in everyday life. 2. What do you think is the unique strength of SUNY Korea? I think it is to find the meaning of learning rather than getting good grades or achieving a graduation certificate. I remember participating in Professor Neil Dreamson's graduation project and thinking deeply about what I wanted to learn and what I learned from this class. Through that process, I still remember the professor's words: 'Design your own life beyond class with a sense of ownership'. Having a good job and grades are important, but I think it is more important to have the purpose mentioned above.      

  Entering college can be a difficult period of transition for many students as adjusting to new routines, responsibilities and surroundings can be an overwhelming experience. Additionally, recent studies have shown that the mental health impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has been particularly significant for the current class of students. To help address these challenges, Stony Brook University has contracted with TimelyCare, a comprehensive student-centered platform that offers on-demand access to mental health, medical care and health coaching through a culturally diverse provider network. Click here to read the original article.    

A MoMent of Xen Interview: Metaverse and Fashion with Professor Vincent Quan   (Photo Captured from Youtube_'Bridging The Gap Between The Fashion Industry & Metaverse? ft. Joseph DeAcetis & Vincent Quan Ep94) Last week, Professor Vincent Quan went on a live interview on A MoMent of Xen that was broadcasted over iHeart Radio, YouTube, and Traverse TV. A MoMent of Xen is a weekly broadcast that talks about film, fashion, pop-culture, entertainment, and politics hosted by Xen Sams. Xen Sams is an actress, model mentor, and a media contributor who discusses such topics from the millennial mom’s perspective. In this interview, Professor Vincent Quan talked about where fashion is heading, how far it has come, and how it fits into web 3.0. He mentioned how Ralph Lauren, a fashion company, partnered with ZEPETO, a South Korean social network AR avatar app, to create a metaverse for users to dress their own avatars with products and appearances and how this novel platform both generates a huge advantage for marketing brands and creates an entirely new revenue stream through NFT into the web 3.0. The Metaverse is changing the view of fashion. Artificial Intelligence and Augmented Reality opens up opportunities for new business models in the fashion world that leverage virtual fashion targeting the wave of the future, Gen Z. Click here to watch the interview --> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pvmQNoBClqc

The College of Engineering and Applied Sciences is proud to announce that Mónica Bugallo, professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering, has been elected Member at Large on the IEEE Signal Processing Society Board Of Governors. Her term began January 1, 2023 and will serve until December 2025. Bugallo currently serves as vice provost for Faculty Affairs and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at Stony Brook University, in addition to the inaugural faculty director of the Women in Science and Engineering (WISE) Honors Program. She previously served as associate dean for Diversity and Outreach in the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences. Click here to read the original article.

  John P. Dessereau, Illustration MFA ’19, drew a full-page illustration for the cover of The New York Times Real Estate section. The section, which came out Sunday, Jan. 15, the day before Martin Luther King Jr. Day, was devoted to the problem of discrimination toward Black Americans in the housing industry. The topic was approached from myriad perspectives: real-estate brokers, home appraisals, historic preservation, and more. Click here to read the original article

  YourLocalSecurity.com named FIT the safest college in America for 2021 (the most recent year available), based on statistics for violent crime, property crime, hate crime, and violence against women. That same year, FIT was the third-safest college in New York State, according to Safe at Last. These stellar stats are due in part to the efforts of FIT’s Department of Public Safety, under the leadership of director Mario Cabrera. Though most are employed by Arrow Security, and contracted by FIT, Public Safety officers are familiar figures on campus, interacting daily with community members and visitors on matters large and small. Many officers have logged years of service to FIT. Their contributions to campus life have sometimes been taken for granted—but no longer. Click here to read the original article