Senators Hillary Clinton, D-NY and Charles Schumer, D-NY headlined a group of politicians and Syracuse University faculty members who spoke at SU on March 14, generating a buzz of activity on a campus that had been sapped of much of its energy, with most students away for Spring Break.

Congressman James Walsh, R-NY, SU Chancellor Nancy Cantor and Mitchell Wallerstein, dean of the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, also spoke at the dedication ceremony of The Daniel Patrick Moynihan Institute of Global Affairs.

The ceremony was held to celebrate the renaming of the Maxwell School’s Global Affairs Institute to the Moynihan Institute, in honor of the former U.S. senator who passed away in 2003. The ceremony also celebrated the $10 million endowment that Schumer had secured for the institute.

‘It is a great day for Senator Moynihan’s legacy,’ Schumer said. ‘It is a great day for Syracuse University, and it is a great day for Central New York. … The Moynihan Institute will make sure that Central New York will loom large on the world’s radar screen.’

Peg Hermann, director of the Moynihan Institute, said it is appropriate for the institute to be named after Moynihan, because of his close ties to the Maxwell School.

‘Senator Moynihan both began and ended his career here,’ Hermann said. ‘He enjoyed teaching and interacting with the students here.’

Hermann said the institute will benefit greatly from the endowment. It will receive about $450,000 a year from it. The money will be directed toward a range of programs, from inviting more scholars to speak at SU to funding fellowship and internship programs for students, she said.

During the ceremony, Clinton praised Moynihan for his practical understanding of the world of politics and his innovative ideas. She also greeted his family warmly in her speech.

‘We thank you for sharing this extraordinary human being with the world for so many years,’ Clinton said to Moynihan’s wife, daughter and grandson, who were present at the ceremony.

Schumer spoke about how influential Moynihan had been in shaping public policy, both in the United States and across the world.

‘He was one of the greatest minds of our times,’ he said. ‘I hope God gives us more Pat Moynihans because, lord knows, we need them.’

Schumer received a hearty ovation when he ended his speech by putting on a worn tan hat that had belonged to Moynihan.

‘I’ll never be able to fill his large shoes. At least today I’ll be able to wear his hat,’ Schumer said, as the room exploded in resounding applause.

Not everybody harbors positive sentiments about SU receiving the endowment, however. Baldwinsville resident Jon Alvarez stood outside Eggers Hall, where the ceremony was conducted, and held up a sign protesting the channeling of taxpayers’ money to SU. Alvarez called out to Walsh as he was entering the building, but the congressman continued walking and only gave him a brief glance.

‘Why is the government giving $10 million of public funds to an incredibly wealthy private university?’ Alvarez said. ‘I don’t understand, in these trying times, with us being taxed to death, why money is being spent in this way.’

Hermann said the benefits of the endowment will not be limited to SU faculty and students.

‘The bigger issue is how the funds are expended,’ she said. ‘We are working on projects that will hopefully benefit the entire Syracuse community.’

The dedication ceremony was followed by an open house of the Moynihan Institute and a series of symposiums on various global issues, held in Maxwell Auditorium.

The open house was divided into three sections, which showcased the cultures of Europe, Latin America and South Asia. Flags and art pieces adorned the walls of each section.

Several SU faculty members and students found the exhibits impressive.

‘Anything that promotes a global perspective is positive and enriching to the campus,’ said Pat Burak, director of the Lillian and Emanuel Slutzker Center for International Services at SU.

Several students chose to forego the food and music for the opportunity to mingle with the politicians present. Clinton was especially popular, as many students rushed toward her as soon as the dedication ceremony was over.

Madhan Nath, an information management graduate student, professed his support for Clinton.

‘She’s a dynamic politician, somebody who has a big role to play in American politics,’ he said, adding that he hopes she will run for president of the United States at the next election.

Published on March 20, 2005 at 12:00 pm