Fredonia State professor and researcher Dr. Sherri Mason speaking to the Chautauqua County Legislature in 2015, prior to its vote on a local law banning the sale of products containing microbeads.

FREDONIA – A Fredonia State science professor is once again receiving national and international attention for research she’s done on the impact plastic has on the environment.

Dr. Sherri Mason, a professor of chemistry and chair of the Department of Geology and Environmental Sciences at the State University of New York at Fredonia, has led research that has found microscopic particles of plastic (microplastics) in nearly all major brands of bottled water.

The global study of 250 bottles from nine countries found that there were typically 10 plastic particles per liter of bottled water. Each particle is larger than the width of a human hair.

Mason was recently interviewed by a production crew from the BBC, where the study was first reported.

Mason’s past microplastics research also gained attention both locally and nationally, leading to banning the sale of microbead healthcare products in Chautauqua County.

Area residents interested in learning more about Dr. Mason and her research can attend a presentation next week on March 28 in Jamestown entitled “Water Politics: Saving the Great Lakes, the Largest Fresh Water Ecosystem on the Planet.” The free event is part of the GreenUp Jamestown initiative and will take place at 7 p.m. at St. Luke’s Church.

Dr. Mason will also be a guest on this week’s episode of Community Matters, airing on Thursday, March 22 at 5pm on WRFA.

The Post-Journal reports various law enforcement agencies responded to Thompson Hall around 1 p.m. as students and staff were instructed to evacuate the building.

A subsequent search revealed the threat to be unfounded, according to school officials.

Classes were canceled for the afternoon, and later resumed at 5 p.m.

That’s according to an article in today’s Post-Journal, which says the move is in response to the Erie County legislature passing a ban last month.

Microbeads are tiny pieces of plastic that don’t not break down and can eventually make their way from the drain in your sink or bathtub, through waste water treatment plants and absorb contamination along the way. They will eventually enter natural waterways, where fish and other wildlife will be exposed to them, creating a major health risk for all animals in the food chain.

Before lawmaker act on a local ban, they will first hear from Dr. Sherri Mason, chemistry professor and environmental science program coordinator at Fredonia State.

Mason will present her research during a Wednesday meeting of the County Legislature’s Planning and Economic Development Committee. Committee Chairman George Borello hopes her presentation will give county legislators enough information to convince them to pass a local ban.

Fredonia President Virginia Horvath joined other college officials and students in opening the schools new 92,000-square-foot, four-story Fredonia Science Center.

The new facility serves about 500 students majoring in Biology, Chemistry, Biochemistry, Molecular Genetics, Environmental Science, Medical Technology, Exercise Science and Science Education

It will encourage interdisciplinary research and teaching, and includes plenty of social learning spaces, such as a café and study alcoves, to spark creative collaboration.

The new complex features a variety of one-, two- and three-story units that offer juniors, seniors and graduate students the option of apartment-style living with all of the comforts of a fully-furnished residence coupled with the safety and convenience features of on-campus living.

Each of the 49 units features single-occupancy bedrooms for four, a kitchen/dining area (including a brand new stove, refrigerator, microwave and dishwasher), a living area, and two bathrooms. Each also offers wireless Internet, heating/air conditioning and a washer and dryer.

In total, University Village offers up to 196 individual bedrooms.

According to school officials at Fredonia, the discrepancies were the result of a clerical error which occurred during the early part of 2014 as data was transferred during the re-formatting of Fredonia’s website. In a subsequent media release sent out Friday afternoon, school officials stated that the university was consolidating data which had previously been held in multiple reports into a single report, to create an all-inclusive more transparent report. In the process, all of the data from the single reporting category, “Liquor, Drug, and Weapon Arrests” (86 incidents in all) in 2012, were mistakenly left blank.

This was the data used to create the campus’ Annual Security Report (ASR) cited in the Comptroller’s release. It is important to note, however, that the data filed with the U.S. Department of Education was never inaccurate at any time in 2013 or 2014, and the 2012 ASR data was also correctly reported initially in 2013.

The ASR data error was identified by campus personnel on May 6, 2014 and corrected immediately. On the same day, Fredonia’s University Police verbally notified the SUNY Commissioner of Police of the error and correction, and official confirmation was received from SUNY shortly thereafter.

“The press release issued by the Comptroller’s office today following the findings of its auditors states that there were an inordinate proportion of reporting discrepancies committed by the campus in 2012,” said Fredonia’s Marketing and Communications Director Michael Barone. “However, the literal interpretation of that data suggests that our campus reported that it had no liquor, drug or weapon arrests whatsoever in all of 2012. While we would be thrilled if that were the case, it’s a highly unlikely scenario for any college campus.”

“Nonetheless, the initial error occurred on our part, and we take responsibility for that and apologize for the confusion which it has caused,” Barone continued.  “We take the reporting of crime statistics and the spirit of the Clery Act very seriously. We would never knowingly or intentionally under-report such data in any manner.”

Rep. Tom Reed (R-Corning)

WASHINGTON – Congressman Tom Reed (R-Corning, NY 23) is continuing his efforts to reduce sexual assaults across the country with a new bill focused on curbing sexual assaults on college campuses. The Campus Accountability and Safety Act sets a number of new provisions in motion to make sure colleges and universities are responsive to the needs of students. A bipartisan group of 18 House Members joined to introduce the bill.

According to Reed, the new bill will empower every student with adequate and fair resources so they feel safe on campus and are protected against victimization.

The bill focuses on strengthening accountability and transparency for colleges and universities, sets stiff penalties for a school’s non-compliance, requires training for on-campus personnel and gives students access to confidential advisors to use as a resource. The bill also creates an annual, anonymous survey for students country-wide on their experience with sexual violence on campus. The anonymous results will be published online so that parents and students have the information available when they make decisions on school choice.

The bill already has strong support in the Senate and has been introduced by a bipartisan group of Senators including Senator Gillibrand of New York.

Reed was at The State University of New York at Fredonia last week for a sexual assault awareness and prevention roundtable. He also continues to be involved in the NO MORE organization’s efforts to end sexual assault and domestic violence. Earlier this year he led his House colleagues in recognizing national NO MORE week and national Sexual Assault Awareness month.

STARTUP NY is a recently-created program initiated by Governor Andrew Cuomo that provides major incentives for businesses to start, relocate, or significantly expand in New York State through affiliations with and sponsorships by educational institutions within the SUNY system. In Chautauqua County, Jamestown Community College is the sponsor in the southern part of the County and the State University of New York at Fredonia is the sponsor in the northern part of the County.

The goal of the STARTUP NY Program is to attract businesses that would not otherwise locate in the State, and to retain and expand jobs by providing various tax-related incentives.

The CCIDA and the Chautauqua County Department of Planning and Economic Development are working in conjunction with SUNY at Fredonia and JCC to market the STARTUP NY Program primarily by being a repository for the most current information and by actively getting the word out regarding the program.

To that end, the CCIDA has created a local STARTUP NY link on the CCIDA webpage both as a flash screen at the top of the home page and as a static link near the top of the homepage.  The webpage can be found at ccida.com.

Contact the CCIDA at 716-661-8900 if you have any comments or questions regarding the STARTUP NY program.