The Hudson River, Marist's great resource
 

Early on, Marist College recognized the importance of the Hudson River as a teaching resource. This early photo taken in the 1950s shows the Poughkeepsie Railroad Bridge, unused since 1970, and a Hudson River Dayliner, also a victim of progress.

One of Foy's first objectives after becoming President was to build a boathouse for both crew and sailing. Several leftover boathouses from the Poughkeepsie Regatta are visible on the far shore just above the stern of the dayliner.  The Marist Boathouse was build along that stretch, and the college took over maintenance of the other boathouses.   The local high schools provided a quick pool of experienced oarsmen, since the high schools had occupied the boathouses after the collegiate Poughkeepsie Regatta was moved to Marietta Ohio.  Today the men's and women's crew field ten crews and are an important factor in the mid-major level of institutions.  The men's senior crew rowed at Henley in the summer of 2002.

The Hudson River is an estuary, which means the tide flows both ways.  This leads to a different type of ecology than either fresh water or sea water.  Thus the Marist students of biology, chemistry and environmental science have the opportunity to study both fresh water and estuarine biology at close range.  The science departments have conducted experiments on the Hudson River for over thirty years.  One of the earlier boathouses has been fitted out as an environmental laboratory.

The College has also supported the Hudson River Institute, devoted to organizing local groups to improve the coastline and tributaries.  Directed by Doctor Thomas Wermuth, a Marist grad and head of the history department, it works on organizing government, academic and private agencies to work together.  It also sponsors conferences devoted to this topic.

The late Frances Reese was a Trustee at Marist College for many years, and most students remember her as their staunch advocate as head of the Trustee Committee on Student Life.  But three decades earlier, she became famous in leading the opposition to a proposed Consolidated Edison reservoir near Storm King Mountain.  After several years of litigation, the matter was moved to the United States Supreme Court, which rendered a landmark decision allowing environmental groups to sue on behalf of environmental matters.