Close to Home Holiday Family Fun

A dark forest landscape with set of train tracks leading out of the forest and off the side of the photo, the tracks and the train on top of them are covered and lit completely by rainbow christmas lights

Looking for an inexpensive way to entertain the kids next weekend? Look no further than the SUNY Ulster campus screening of Polar Express! Chris Van Allsburg‘s masterpiece fantasy children’s book will come to life on the big screen. Transporting you and your family to the North Pole in all of it’s enchanting glory.

Winner of the Caldecott Medal in 1987, this book was adapted to the big screen in 2004. The tale of holiday spirit is told through the awestruck eyes of a child, complete with graphics that make you feel like part of the magic. Positivity and hope are the invaluable lessons taught to youngsters through the experience of Polar Express. 

A young blonde woman, a brown haired man in glasses and a baby all sit in front of a fire place in their pajamas while laughing at the baby who is playing with what appears to be a scarf

Not only character building, but cheap too!

Admission is only $5 for adults and if the kids, under twelve, come in holiday apparel or pajamas, they get in for absolutely free. Just click here to buy tickets. Not only will the kids have fun watching the movie but afterward they will get the chance to see Santa in person, along with Mrs. Claus and their helpers, all included in the donation received as admission. We will be the best Christmas photo-op in town!

A woman with short hair and a bald man hold their smiling and laughing child while standing togetherDon’t forget that if transportation is an issue, you can always use the affordable UCAT bus service to get to and from campus with ease.

This event is a great opportunity to spend memorable time with your little ones and capture memories to hold on to forever!

Audience members on Saturday get a special deal!Professors and staff of SUNY Ulster sit with instruments and christmas hats on at last years Tuba Christmas show

After the screening taking place on Saturday December 15th, at 12:30 p.m. there will be another holiday event on campus, Tuba Christmas. An annual holiday concert where tuba and euphonium players of all ages perform Christmas music from around the world. If you happen to come join us for the Saturday screening, not only will you get to see the movie but you also will receive free admission to our Tuba Christmas concert that begins at 3 p.m., shortly after the screening.

 

The Truth About Native American Trauma

Navajo children, June 19, 1929

Dawnland is a documentary that has recently exposed the narrative of indigenous child removal in the United States, particularly in Maine. The story depicts Native American children that were taken away from their families by authorities and placed in white households.

First there’s pain, then there’s healing.

The film follows non-Natives sent out by the first government-sanctioned truth and reconciliation commission to hear the traumatic tales of those directly affected.  Emotions run high as these people work together toward healing the pain and effects from loss of community and culture these people faced in their formative years.


This gut-wrenching film is “a history lesson that you’re ashamed to have never learned but whose truths you’ll likely never forget,” as stated by Crosscut news. This bold emotional journey is remarkable to many folks, from many walks of life. You name an interest you have and this film includes it; criminal justice, psychology, social science and more.

It’s kind of a big deal!

black background with a foreground of a microphoneThis screening is being talked about all over! Check out the NPR radio broadcast from yesterday featuring the Co-director Ben Pender-Cudlip being interviewed about his work on the project. He sheds some eye-opening information on the subject of his film. A great preview of the full feature that you’ll want to hear.

Or for a shorter read, take a look at the article about this screening in the Daily Freeman!

 

Your official golden ticket.

We invite you to behold the first-hand stories and emotions of the Natives that were displaced. This documentary is an inside view of a recent event that continues to have lasting effects in an area very close to home. Come and be a part of a historical investigation! By bearing witness to the moving accounts of adults that were devastated as children by the state’s poor child welfare decisions.

 Georginia Sappier-Richardson sharing her story at a TRC community visit The screening (that you are more than welcome to attend no matter who you are) will take place on Wednesday, November

28, from 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. We will gather in the College Lounge, in Vanderlyn Hall on campus.

For a bit more info, visit our Facebook event page!

Take advantage of this unique opportunity!

production still of co director Ben holding a cameraLucky you, not only are you invited to attend this special screening that is being shown for the last time locally here at SUNY Ulster..

We also invite you to bring your notepad and an inquisitive mind along! Filmmaker Ben Pender-Cudlip will be in the house to introduce the documentary and have a discussion after the film. This event is free of charge and open to all members of the community. Experience for yourself the healing on the path toward reconciliation, truth, and the survival of indigenous culture.

 

Proud To Have Pridesgiving at SUNY Ulster

Text composition saying Pridesgiving Potluck

First impressions are quite important, which is why  SUNY Ulster wants to kick off our Pridesgiving holiday event with a bang. On campus this November 20th we are having a potluck feast to bring together people of our community that may not be otherwise looking forward to the holiday of Thanksgiving.scrabble tiles spelling out the word PRIDE

Unfortunately, it was brought to the attention of the LGBTQA Association that a few of our students, whom we are quite proud of and want nothing more than to support, didn’t have any prospective plans for the upcoming big food & football holiday. The association advisor Brandon Burnett quickly began setting up an all-inclusive event that everyone in our community, whether LGBTQ themselves or simply an ally, could attend comfortably and happily.

 Add to our Potluck!

So now that you know, are you just dying to share your grandma’s famous stuffing recipe with us? Well, then you’re in luck because this event is Potluck! Anyone and everyone that can come is invited to bring their favorite dish or even just pick up something to share, that is what the Thanksgiving spirit was founded on after all! Bring that stuffing that will make your grandma proud and tell everyone all about her, better yet, bring her along! Everyone from the community is welcome to join in and there is a quick and easy form you can fill out to bring decorations, desserts, drinks, supplies, or whatever kind of food you want to share.

The holidays can often mean displacement from home for many due to family issues or other circumstances beyond their control. In an effort to end the discomfort this brings for some of our student colleges, we would like to invite you to join us for some good food and great company this upcoming Tuesday, November 20th in the campus life dining hall from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Those who are able to make it are happily invited to stick around afterward if they want to keep the holiday banter going with newfound friends and allies.

We want to keep Pridesgiving going!

This is the first SUNY Ulster Pridesgiving holiday event and first impressions mean more than you know so your attendance could help us make this an annual event for the community to enjoy together.

Cartoon turkey holding a steaming pie.

This occasion is a chance for you to come and show your support to the members of our college community that you may see every week. There are lots of friends to be made and a lot to learn about lifestyles you may not encounter every day, so come on down and be a part of Pridesgiving with us.