Focus of the week: Cafe Q

The topic

This year, I have not been satisfied with Cafe Q. Although the renovations to it two years ago made it a much nicer place and increased the seating, the cafeteria itself is not built to sustain 5,900 students, grad students, law students, faculty, staff and visitors.

The food distribution area is essentially a big zoo; just a large open space with no order. It's nice that we have eight different areas to get food from, but it's just one long counter with lines essentially wrapping around each other.

The hours are another killer. I just went in to get some food, and the only place that was open was BYOB (where Coyote Jacks used to be). The line for that was at least 25 people deep. When you have 15 minutes between class and work, you can't wait on that type of line. They didn't even have bagels, pastries, or premade sandwiches available. So due to the time constraint I had, I couldn't get any food.

And it doesn't help that the Bobcat Den is closed as it works to be compliant with new state building codes. According to the school newspaper, it is scheduled to be reopened later this month. Quinnipiac does have a dining hall on the York Hill campus, but people usually eat there if they are up at York Hill; they don't go back up for the food, thus, are in the same boat as commuters.

The Solution

Several things can be done to alleviate some of these issues. First, stagger the hours that things are open and closed. The salad bar can be open before the crowd comes in...it doesn't require any labor once it is set up. Open the deli at 10:30...there is nothing there beforehand preventing it from opening. The Kitchen needs to transition from breakfast to lunch, so it needs more time. Open it at 11:15.

Second, bring back the pre-made sandwiches. Many people go in there on the run between classes or class and work and cannot afford to wait on the lines on the risk of being late. Do more than just bringing back the premade sandwiches...have a select group of dishes readily available...maybe a plain pizza, chicken tenders and french fries, a different sandwich of the day, etc. This will allow people who just want something to get food; everyone who wants something different can wait in line.

Third, keep the students in the communication loop with the Bobcat Den renovations. Once it opens up and students know about it, the lines will start to balance out between the two locations.

Sound-off

Do you feel that this is a big area of focus? What would you do to alleviate it?

QU301 Overseas

It's been a little over a week since I've returned to the states from a 12-day trip to Eastern Europe with my QU301 trip, and I'm still blown away by how the entire experience completely exceeded my expectations.

I knew I wanted to go abroad at some point during my Quinnipiac experience, but I changed majors enough freshman and sophomore year to use up all my electives.  Also, I love QU too much to leave for a full semester - so the QU301 classes with the travel component seemed like my best option.  I ended up picking the course taught by Professor Callahan: Meanings of Freedom.  I didn't know much, or really anything for that matter, about Poland or Prague (the travel part of the class).  But I picked the course anyway for the material.  I figured it'd be a great fit - me, a Chronicle staffer interested in how freedom of the press operates in different countries, learning about how freedoms are applied/withheld around the world.  I was did not expect learning nearly as much as I did.  

First, we spent a week in Krakow, Poland.  I quickly fell in love with the beautiful city - partly because it was so authentic.  It wasn't dedicated to tourists.  People spoke English, but almost nothing (street sign wise, etc.) was translated into English.  We often needed our professor's help with the menus (although we almost always chose pierogies anyway - BEST Polish food ever.)   There, we were completely immersed in a European culture.  I came away from everything fascinated with the consonant-heavy language - even though I can only remember "Good morning" - Dzien dobry!

On our first night, we sat with a class of history students at the University of Krakow (my professor's alma mater) and discussed communism and how they viewed America and its freedoms.  I remember someone from our class asked why they hadn't seen a Polish flag flying anywhere in the city yet.  A Polish student responded, "I knew someone would ask that! Americans are crazy about their flag!"  Moments like these, getting these perspectives of each others' countries and cultures, were just... truly invaluable.   Plus, the students were generous enough to spend time that night and for the rest of the week showing us different parts of the city.  

Besides that, we toured... seriously toured.  We saw the Old Jewish Quarter of Krakow, several churches and synagogues, Nowa Huta - the old Communist part of Krakow, the Wieliczka Salt Mine, a castle (which we took horse-drawn carriages to no less), many, many museums and most unforgettably - the Auschwitz and Birkenau concentration camps.  Everything tied into our course - determining the meaning of freedoms and what happened when they were taken away from so many of these people in history.  I don't mean to sound cliche, but it meant so much more than skimming over the details with a highlighter or annotating for class discussion.  We stood in Block 11, which the prisoners called "the death block" for many disturbing reasons, and we stood by the roll call stand where Nazi officials once made prisoners stand for 19 hours straight.  It was depressing, mind-blowing, life-changing.

From Poland, we took a night train to Prague.  I woke up Wednesday, May 25, and watched as we pulled into the city from my bunk - pretty sweet.  At this point, I thought I was more prepared for Prague than Poland.  Whenever I said I was going to Prague, everyone would say: "OH - it's just gorgeous.  You'll love all the old architecture."  But what I didn't expect was for this old city to have such a vibrant feel - if I closed my eyes and blocked out the cobblestone streets and old architecture, Prague felt like Manhattan.  We toured the heck out of this city too - on bikes, by boat and with our feet (which ached at the end of every day by the way), we saw Prague's Old Jewish Quarter, John Lennon's wall, the Charles Bridge, the beautiful Prague castle, an underground museum and much more.        

I understood as I was experiencing these things how emotionally blown away I was.  It wasn't until we had our "final" -- a brainstorming session at a cafe on the river in Prague (hands down, the best setting for a final I've ever experienced) - with small groups connecting our travel experiences with what we had learned in a classroom at QU that I realized how much I was blown away educationally also.  It was so easy, connecting the stories from the tours and places we have visited to the course materials and the best part - almost everyone connected/remembered something different.  

So I came home last week - with more than a few souvenirs, a few pounds heavier (thanks to all the pierogies and Nutella), way too many pictures of buildings I thought were "pretty" at the time but now have no memory what they are, a determination to someday learn Polish and a class full of friends to share my unforgettable memories of two cultures we barely knew before.  Beaming, I came off the airplane and told my parents that it was one of the best decisions of my life to go on this trip... And I honestly don't think I've stopped talking about it since.                              

The entire class on our last night abroad.  Old Town Square, Prague.

Day One of the Future

Today is day one of the future. The Class of 2011 is now in grad school, working or unemployed, but no longer at Quinnipiac. The Class of 2012 is now the senior class, 2013 is now the junior class, so on and so on.

As the former Class of 2012 President, I do have one piece of advice to give all of you. Live, laugh and love. This is our last of everything as we prepare for the future. Our last summer vacation, our last first day of school, our last Midnight Madness and everything else that will go on.

Make the most of everything. Spend time with your friends. Go on that random road trip that you're not sure if you want to or not. Do something each day that scares you. Thank your family for helping you get to where you have gotten today.

Take care of yourself. One day, your family will pass away, you may or may not be married, and when it comes down to it, you are the one here for yourself. You can't go much further than your body will let you.

On May 20, 2012, I hope all of you can look back on this and remember to live, laugh and love. Quinnipiac, we have one year left on campus and I am looking to make the most of it...I hope you are too!

Congratulations Quinnpiac Class of 2011!

In a ceremony that lasted about 2 1/2 hours from the beginning of the walk-in to the end of the walk-out, Quinnipiac University graduated 1,333 students. It was 60 and cloudy during the ceremony, but it was perfect because it wasn't hot or too chilly and I didn't have to worry about getting sunburned.

Mitch Albom was the commencement speaker, and he was absolutely great. I wish that the Class of 2012 could have gotten him. I think everyone enjoyed his 18 minutes on the podium.

To the Class of 2011, we have some big shoes to fill if we want to be able to live up to the standard you set. Thank you for everything you have done, and I wish you godspeed and good luck!

P.S. You can view the commencement exercises from yesterday here: http://www.quinnipiac.edu/x2677.xml

P.S.S Albom speaks from 24:30 to 42:30 in the video in the link above.

Coming attraction

If you don't know me or missed out on my introduction, you're really missing out. I'm one of the, if not the, biggest Bobcats sports fans. I'm at all of the basketball and hockey games in my jersey and wig [seen below].

In the next month or two, the winter sports schedules will be coming out. I'm looking to write my preview and prediction for M & W basketball and hockey. In addition to that, I look to be highlighting the major games, and in-season, possibly write my reaction to all of the games. Let me know what you think about this.

Can't wait until the schedules are released. Let's go Bobcats!

Home Sweet(?) Home

I've made my triumphant return to Northeast Pennsylvania, or "The Valley" as we like to call little corner of the world sometimes. I return to Hamden to start work on my fellowship on June 1. I'm really stoked to go back.

There are things about home that I like, that every college kid likes I imagine. It's good to see your family and your friends. It's good to have a fully stocked food pantry. Its good to have the solitude of your own room. Of your own bathroom. and not have to pay $3 per load of laundry that you lug however many flights of stairs. We all share that.

This summer what is different for me is that I'll really only be home these two weeks. I love my life at Quinnipiac, but I always enjoyed being home too. I now have these two weeks to cram everything in. Spending time with my girlfriend who home but will living in Pittsburgh for the summer (which is over 5 hours from the Valley), spending time with my friends, and getting to play some golf with my Dad. And there's the around the house chores, but those are often kind of light. Oh yeah and my biggest project, car shopping. I have a 1997 Jeep Wrangler that I'm selling ($6300, if you're interested). It's a really fun car, but terrible on the highway and not a practical traveling vehicle.

My point being, my summers aren't ultra relaxing anymore. Last summer I worked near 60 hours/week, the summer before I did 40hours/week of laying tile. I love being in college, I love doing new and exciting things, but I really miss the days of being 14 and not having a care in the world for months. When all I was responsible for was soccer practice, paintball, sleeping in, and going for bike rides.

What's the point of a final exam?

I'm sure that this is something asked by many students, but what is the point of a final exam?

I understand that it is the capstone idea; you have learned the subject for the past 15 or so weeks, so we are now going to see what you know. However, it is one of the worst ideas out there. A final exam shows how much you can remember of a specific subject matter at a certain point in time, being affected by whatever else is going on in your life. It's a way for your professor to judge you, to give you a letter that is supposed to show how well, in their mind, you understand the subject matter. The funny thing about this is when you ask someone who took a big exam earlier in the day to explain the subject matter, they have usually forgotten many of the details already.

A final exam isn't just an exam. It's also a big portion of your final grade. One of the classes I took this semester gave 45% of it's final grade to the final exam. 45 percent! I don't get how you can put so much weight of this grade on this one examination. It really doesn't make sense to me.

As opposed to exams, projects and papers show the professor what you know and what you know about the topic. In fact, most the time, I feel that I learn more about the course when doing a paper or project than when taking the exam. I think all professors should consider going down the paper/project route rather than the exam route because then they can evaluate their teaching style based on what the students understand rather than if they incorrectly bubbled in "A" instead of "C' on the Scantron sheet.

In a perfect world, I would like to get rid of examinations all together. However, that isn't something that is feasible...at least in my one year remaining in college. What I would like to do is bring a motion to the Student Government Association in the fall on this matter. I would like to have SGA pass this motion, which would be a recommendation to the Faculty Senate that no one examination can count as more than 25% of the final grade. By making it no more than 25% of the final grade, you're still giving the students a fighting chance of doing OK in the course AND you're giving the professor more of a chance to understand what you have learned so that they can judge you properly when giving you your grade. A paper or project would not be affected by this recommendation.

Exams are the easy way out for the professors, but don't truly reflect one's understanding of the subject matter. Let's work together and limit their effect on our academic experience.

May Weekend, Treated As Any Other Weekend?

May Weekend is upon us here at QU, and even though it was officially disbanded in 2007, the student body continues on the spirit. For those who do not know, May Weekend started at Quinnipiac as a celebration of the year's end and the beginning of the warm weather. The campus was filled with carnival rides, inflatables, games, cookouts, and alcohol. However it was tragically ended in 2007 when an intoxicated QU student crossed Whitney Avenue and was killed.

To this day many student organizations here at QU try to continue the fun tradition of May Weekend. SPB brings back the carnival feel with Bobcat Bounce, a day filled with fun inflatables and games. Along with that they have also created a "Drive-In" Movie on the Quad, featuring an outdoor screen and a recent blockbuster movie (TRON 2 is being shown this year). Many other student organizations try and contibute and create many other fun events.

With the carnival feeling of May Weekend being brought to life year after year, another tradition is brought to life by the students: drinking. Yes, we here at Quinnipiac do drink and so do most other college students. Our campus is not a dry campus and typically the school is not too harsh on alcohol policies. Except on May Weekend. In spite of May Weekend's official cancelation, security bumps up their efforts, and it is understandable that they are merely looking out for the safety of the student body.

However I do have an issue with this year's May Weekend. In a recent article in QuadNews (quadnews.net), Chief of Security and Safety David Barger stated, "This is going to be a weekend like any other weekend here, the same rules are in place, from visitors to possession of alcohol or any other substances."

As a student, I interpret that as saying that it will be just like any other weekend here at QU. But this is false.

Driving my car up to the 20 minute parking in Crescent, I noticed that the booth at the bottom of the hill, usually empty, was manned by two security guards. I was told to stop and show my ID. I obliged as a flashlight was shined into my eyes and then shined into my back seat as if I was stealing some sort of contraband across a country's border.

Later in the day, I drove down to Amity Wine and Spirit to pick up my 30 of beer (I am 21 years old, so it is legal). I placed it in my trunk and then drove up to the York Hill parking garage. I drove my car in, parked it and proceeded to walk up the stairs without any problems. However when I reached the Fifth floor, I noticed that there was a security guard sitting in one of the club carts. This was out of the ordinary.

I proceeded to exit the building, and as I was making my way up the stairs to pass through the windmills, he stops me. I particularly do not appreciate being spied on.

"Hey guy!"
"Yes?" I respond.
"I need to see your ID, to make sure you're 21."

This was the first time in my entire year here at QU that I have been carrying beer across York Hill and been told to show my ID.

"Can I ask you a question," I replied as I handed him my ID "What's with the heightened security?"
"Oh you know, its the weekend" He said with a heightened inflection on the word "weekend," signifying that he meant "May Weekend."
"Really? Because I was told that this weekend was going to be treated like any other weekend."
"Yeah, I'm sure they told you that" He said with a hinted note of sarcasm.
"I mean I know you're just doing your job, but I wish they would just tell us that they're heightening security because it's May Weekend instead of just saying otherwise. We're not dumb."
After closely looking over my ID, he handed it back replying "Have a good one."

This is where I am troubled. Why release a statement saying that this weekend will be treated like any other one, when clearly it is not? Students want to be told things clearly and truthfully by administration and faculty members. As a Public Relations major, I have always been taught that its not good PR to say something when it clearly is not the truth.

Another point that I want to bring up, is the "Of Age Rule Concerning Alcohol." Students on campus who are 21 years or older are allowed to posess no more than a 30 rack of beer. A lot of alcohol for one person? Yes. But more than likely that 30 is shared between multiple people. So sometimes people purchase more than one 30 rack. However if caught with more than one 30, it gets taken away by security. As someone who is 21 years old, it is my legal right to consume alcohol. I understand that Quinnipiac is private property and as such we forego our own rights to those in the Student Handbook, but there still can be room for more equal and fair rights. For example instead of taking a student's second 30 rack away, why not make them pay a fine for it?

In closing I guess I'll say this: Why make such a big deal about alcohol consumption on May Weekend? I guess its the fact that we as students try to keep alive the spirits and traditions of the May Weekend that once was. It was a sad and unfortunate thing that a student lost his life back in 2007, but I suppose in one way or another we also keep alive May Weekend to remember him.

Be safe and have fun. May Weekend 2011.

- John

Gooooood morning Bobcats!

Hi there!

My name is Andrew McDermott, and I am a soon-to-be-senior computer information systems major at Quinnipiac University.

I'm an involved leader on the QU campus, serving in leadership roles in multiple organizations. I'm a Senior Class Representative on the Student Government Association, the Director of Risk Management on the Iota Mu chapter of Delta Tau Delta, President of the Pi Upsilon chapter of Order of Omega, Vice President of the CIS club and a Student Ambassador at the Office of Undergraduate Admissions. Long story short, I like to keep my hands tied up with things.

Some times I get referred to as Derm, or El Presidente. I like to refer to myself as the most interesting man in the world because I don't drink often, but when I do, I prefer Dos Equis.

I am originally from the great state of New Jersey. Now that's a little broad. When you hone in on where I am really from, you have to notice three things. First, North Jersey>South Jersey. Secondly, 201--too much green, too much fun. Finally, Ramsey is the best town in New Jersey. From those statements, I would like to draw the conclusion that Ramsey, NJ is the best place to be. :-)

I like my sports teams. They may not always be the best, but they will always have a place in my heart. Here's a shoutout for them: New York Giants, New York Rangers, New York Knicks, New York Yankees and Red Bull New York. Please note, half of the Yankees fans are fans...you know, those who ride the wave of success; I'm not one of them. I have and always will be a NYY fan.

So, if I am really that involved, why am I making time to write for Spontaneous QU? As an involved student, I see many things that provoke emotion in me...whether it be happiness, anger, confusion, or any other emotion that you can think of. Many times, I feel that other students don't see what it is that provoked that emotion. I'm looking to be able to share my "insider" insight to all of you with the intention of bringing issues and ideas relating to Quinnipiac to light.

If you ever have any topic you want to see me talk about, please feel free to let me know!

Thanks for reading,

Andrew McDermott

My Friday Night

I had a wonderful Friday night. Some friends and I went to see the Theater for Community production of “The Caucasian Chalk Circle" at Long Wharf Theatre in New Haven. We really had a great time. The play had dumb humor, some really intelligent humor, and various societal comments that can really only be taken in if you saw the play.

On our way back we ran into some friends of friends that were heading out for the night. Their explanation of their plan was “We’re going to Whit Bag. We’ve got nothing better to do.” They asked our plans and we said we were heading back from a play and we had a really good time. To which this group of hair jelled, ironic tshirt clad, fake tan sporting dudes snickered. Yes, we were returning from a play, and we had a great time. You just told us you were going out to pay for overpriced beers because you had nothing better to do. Well guess what, we had something better to do. We went and did it and we were all glad we did. We supported a local theatre, we saw some friends put on a great show, and we enjoyed ourselves.

Assholes like this are what it seems Quinnipiac is largely comprised of, which is more than unfortunate. We had a great night staying sober and involving ourselves in some intellectual stimulation. When I went to a concert sober the next night they probably would have thought I was lame too. I had a great weekend, the hell with all of them.

Jeremy

For the Love of the Game(s)

I'm hoping most of you got to see at least one of the games this weekend, because even though this afternoon's loss to Robert Morris University was the worst disappointment since the crushing loss to the same team last year, the Quinnipiac spirit was incredible.

This afternoon, I loved seeing the different t-shirts and signs representing QU and members of the team.  I really loved the WWRD - What Would Rutty Do - t-shirts and "I believe that we will win" chants.  And right before we lost, the "Not this year" chant was great, too.  It was awesome seeing so many people out supporting Quinnipiac.  It made me so proud that I go to Quinnipiac and was a part of the crowd coming out to support the advancement of fellow students.  Saturday night, during the hockey game with Brown University, was a very different story.

There were considerably less fans in the student sections Saturday than today.  Still, those there seemed determined to amp up Quinnipiac spirit.  I wasn't surprised by some fans yelling "sucks" after each Brown athlete was introduced, I had seen that at previous games.  I was surprised however, at those who stood and turned their back to the ice to not even acknowledge the players.  Also, as I sat by the exit the Brown athletes and coaches used to walk off the ice, I heard terrible things yelled to the players.  In particular, I remember "your mother is a fat slob" coming up once or twice.

Now, I am not saying this was every Quinnipiac student at the game, because it was only a couple individuals.  But they continued with their insults during the game and I am simply wondering how this type of chanting translates to school spirit. 

Here is an example of a Quinnipiac hockey game, an away game at Union College in NY, during which such insults were not tolerated.  Union officials have been removing students from games if their speech doesn't stay within a positive realm.  The students there, however, are complaining that the officials are now going too far in what they determine to be unsportsmanlike conduct.  The students quoted in the article feel the threat of expulsion from the stands keep them from supporting their school.  I am in no way advocating a similar standard to be set at Quinnipiac either.  I believe the police officers posted around the arena are enough to enforce acceptable behavior. 

I am also not naively suggesting an atmosphere where both teams' fans hold hands and get along.  Ultimately, I understand the point of going to a game is to be competitive and to support your team coming out on top.  I understand "boo-ing" and jabs against the other team/school is part of that spirit.  Here, the QU Chronicle suggests chants for an earlier hockey game.  I understand these insults come with the territory and think these listed are clever and fine.  However, "your mother is a fat slob" is noticeably absent from the Chronicle's list.  I guess I am just wondering how such a personal taunt can be considered productive for your team.  To me, I would think it could only cause a negative impression of Quinnipiac's students on Brown's athletes and coaches.  It just seems so counter-productive when we have other positive aspects to our student section: the band, Boomer's dancing and antics, other teams supporting the playing team, etc.  I want to continue being proud of being from QU, but what if the attending Hamden residents look at us differently, hearing these same chants?  Maybe someone else who attends more games than I do can explain where the line of sportsmanship is/should be drawn.  It's just something I've been thinking about.                  

Happy Hump Day

So it's Wednesday evening... We're officially over the week's halfway point and can breathe that deserved sigh of relief because we're well on our way to the weekend.  Appropriately, Wednesday happens to be my most exhausting day schedule-wise, and things always calm down considerably once I complete the day's tasks.  Even better, starting tomorrow night, QU has a packed weekend - with all the home playoff games and WQAQ's Battle of the Bands, etc.  There's so much to look forward to, right?   

Right. EXCEPT - tonight, when I was walking back from the parking garage with a roommate, she looked up and commented on how beautiful the stars looked.  It struck me then, that I had never done that.  Despite living up here since August, despite the countless meetings I have walked back from late at night and despite the walks to and from the parking garage for late night Dairy Queen runs.  And it got me seriously thinking.

Every week this semester, I have spent getting through the day by crossing things off my to-do list in my planner and when it's done, I go to bed.  Each day, I spend waiting for this relaxing hump day night, and then waiting for the weekend.  And there's nothing wrong with that.  We're in college, have a lot going on, and the weekend is the time to have a life.  But, it's almost Spring Break... which means the semester is halfway over... which means I'm almost a senior.  And that's just plain scary.

I love Quinnipiac and the thought of leaving already saddens me.  What's worse, is knowing that the supposed "best four years of my life" will have been spent crossing things off my to-do list and living for the weekend.  I like being busy and involved, like Jeremy recently posted, I've always looked at it as a fulfilling way to spend my years here.  But my roommate, unknowingly, made me realize I was missing more.  So now I will make a serious effort to not just look to the next moment and count down every moment to some assignment or event, to take my nose out of my planner and cell phone to take in just how beautiful it is living up on York Hill and instill that I can enjoy my time here besides on Saturdays and Sundays. 

Still, I can't lie... I'm pretty excited for tomorrow night.  See you at the game!  --Meg

Cultural Experience (2)

To comment a little further on Mr. Horn's statement (hence the title having the number 2 in it), "one of the reasons I suggest to everyone I meet that studying abroad (twice) is not only one of the best decisions I have ever made, by one of the best one could ever make.", I could not agree more. Although no one has asked me to talk about my own, personal cultural experiences, I thought I'd do it anyways.

Lets go way back in time - say September 2009 - fall semester here at QU. I had just started sophomore year, and as any typical college student, I loved the typical college life. As much as I seemed to love college, I knew that i was CLUELESS in what I wanted to do in life. I switched from History major, to Business, then tried out Political Science before I got really scared with my future and decided to make the final switch to Economics. Although, I regret making all those switches, and wasting time filling out paperwork, I am very happy being an Economics major.

During the beginning of that semester, I went out to the Alternative Spring Break Trip to Nicaragua information session with two of my room mates, and the moment I saw the video of the past trip's I felt a connection - as I'm sure 97.549% of the people in that room did too (thought that % was a fair guesstimate). I applied, and almost two months later was notified that I got accepted. Tremendously happy and proud of that, I still had no idea how this experience was gonna throw a nice curve ball at me.

Before the trip, I figured I'd follow the steps of my father, brother, aunts, uncles, everyone i knew, going into the business world - aka Corporate America. I also knew that I was going to travel to an underdeveloped country, where poverty was high, and living conditions meant cardboard homes. Still I couldn't have guessed what was in store for me.

Now let's fast forward a few months to spring break, March 2010. The moment we stepped outside of the airport in Managua, Nicaragua, you can see how poor this country is and how undeveloped it truly is. Through all the struggles the people in that country have gone though in the past 40 years - earthquake, civil war, poverty, government corruption, etc - they still go out everyday to do their best and give 100% in their work.

This ten day trip, gave me the opportunity to see the world, and life, from a different lens. It opened the door to other opportunities in life. It made me experience a culture that I was unfamiliar with. It allowed myself to see what and how America is looked at from outsiders. It made me realize and understand what was important in MY life. It helped me become a better person than I was before. It ultimately changed the path I want to take in life.

I know I could literally write for hours, and get every detail down, but I will possibly save that for another day - that is if people even want to read it, ha-ha.

Now, in approximately 9 days, I will be back in Nicaragua. This time though, I will have the opportunity to see the transformation happen to other members of the delegation.

To sum it all up, I, again, could not agree more with Horn, that going abroad - in any type of trip - is a great experience, and one of the best life decisions one can take.

That's all for now...if you liked it, show some love, if not - I'm sorry

Stay Classy,

MP

Things I think about in class...

Today I write to present an issue that has been more apparent to me during my abroad studies that it had previously been in my American endeavors. Because I am a business major, many of my classes abroad have an international business focus (big surprise, I know). I am accustomed to this, never less, it is entirely new to me to be educated by a non-American, Italian-raised professor. Obviously the same national pride that I experience is present in her as well; it is simply not for the United States of America. This often seemingly trivial matter has taken me by surprise in the most unlikely of places; one of the reasons I suggest to everyone I meet that studying abroad (twice) is not only one of the best decisions I have ever made, by one of the best one could ever make. (There are other avenues to new cultural experiences, ask Mr. Pankey this and I am sure he would be glad to talk about how they have changed his life.)
However, this is not what I prepared to write about. An issue that has struck me here is that the Italian business front is much different than that of America in many ways. Foremost, though there are malls, supermarkets, etc. in Italy, ther are typically much smaller that those found on American soil. In the U.S. there is a massive corporate focus on creating and sustaining maximum profits in spite of whoever or whatever is being affected in the process. Not to say this sense of capitalism has not found its place in Italy, but the idea does not seem as pervasive here. The majority of businesses I have experience in my home away from home are family owned and operated because Italians believe much more in establishing a relationship with whom they do business.
Admittedly, because Italy does not seemed as focused on capitalism, the rest of the world has begun to leave it behind in a sense. The infamous American sense of capitalism, which has so long been legally obligated to pursue that which is most beneficial to the shareholders before all else, has only been recently been placed behind humanitarian concepts such as Corporate Social Responsibility or ecological concerns. These issues have become necessary hurdles in the business world, and for good reason: where there used to be standards governing these practices, the desire for profit has eliminated any consideration for them. In a world where an incorporated group of people can be considered a legal person, there are many who might wonder where these "individuals'" sense of right and wrong have gone.
The part that irks me is that the only reason these issues are now governed is that someone laid claim to something these practices were damaging, e.g. nations addressing that dumping was damaging THEIR ecosystems or that unfair business practices were limiting THEIR market share. This enforces the belief that one day, someone is going to own everything. Water, land, air, pensions, etc. are all going to be privately owned commodities. This transition has been happening for many years; there was a time when the concept of airspace and the extension of ocean off the coast of a country were not even recognized as legitimate. In the eyes of some, this can be beneficial because who better to protect these assets than those with a vested interest in them? However, I am of the opinion that like communism, this an idea that looks great on paper, but in reality opens doors for corruption, bribery, and malintent.
While America in her own eyes is a much more advanced and stable economy, why is it then that capitalism has made us less civilized? Which is the "right" way to operate? I know this has all been one sided and mostly without solid direction, but hey, its just an opinion. I'll stop writing and let people formulate their own ideas.

Getting Involved

I took a cue from John Scholl and got involved...albeit a bit late. I wrote my first piece for the Chronicle and am into the full swing of Student Government..having meetings with the General Assembly, the Junior Cabinet, and the Student Awareness Committee each week. And the history club has its first meeting this Friday, kudos to Emily Zwart. My position with SGA came at the expense of John Scholl becoming more involved than he already is. I don't think he minds sharing the experience. Plus, elections for the fall are coming up just two weeks after spring break. I hope to see him running then.

My taekwondo class routinely kicks my ass. Intramural basketball is starting to heat up. We play Co-ed Division 2. Pretty much the bottom of the competitive ladder, but that hardly slows our intensity. Our team, The Frosted Mini Wheats, is 2-4 after starting 0-4. We;re starting to turn this thing around. If we make the final it's played at the TD Bank center. Believe me, I will be flooding your social media with pleas to come support us if we make it.

My point being, like my friend John it took me a while to "get involved". Actually, it took me even longer than it did him. It is well worth it. I didn't think I'd like staying busy, but it's been a nice change. I'm really having a good time with everything. Now if i could just motivate myself to give a damn about my Nutrition class...

Cheers

Jeremy

Spike Lee vs Daniel Taub

Type those names into Google (or Bing, but who the hell uses that unless you still use Microsoft IE and haven't changed the default?). Anyway, I doubt there are any results with both of those names in it. My point is, I went to see both speak this week knowing they were very different. I knew their respective presentations would be much different. I could not have imagined what I got though.

Spike Lee at Burt Kahn Court was pretty much full. The Black Student Union promoted like crazy, and it was a requirement for a lot of classes, mine included. If it wasn't, I would have been at Taylor Mali..that's for a different post though. Spike was so boring. So uninspiring. So cliche. So dumb. I was expecting something really off the wall. Something to provoke like Spike does. Instead his lecture sounded like a bunch of stuff you could read off of inspirational posters in your high school guidance councilor's office. His Q&A was a bit better, and everybody's mood seemed to be saved by his impersonation of Michael Jackson's voice and by the hilarious back and forth with the kid who asked to sit with him at the Knicks game the next day. Still, it was a waste of an evening.

Daniel Taub, the Principal Deputy Legal Adviser of Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, talked to a room of about 40 people. About 15 of them were students. About 5 of them were undergraduate students. Not only was the talk less abstract, but had a clear direction, less cockiness in its delivery, and more weight in its message. It was a shame less of the Quinnipiac community was in attendance for it. Mr. Taub often represents the Israeli government on United States national media outlets as well as representing Israel in various negotiations with Palestine. As an interested party in international human rights law, United State and Israeli policy, and government at large, I got way more out of the Daniel Taub talk.

I'm still not sure how I feel about a certain point of Spike's talk. He said by 2035 the US census bureau predicts while Americans will no longer a majority race compared to all other races in the US. Okay, all well and good. Just a fact that shouldnt really cause a reaction of any sort from a person unless they saw life through a racial lens before all else. The BSU cheered.

Intro

Hi all, I apologize for being a little late with the intro. Here it goes: My name is Meghan. I'm from Hudson, New York (it's by Albany.) I am a junior at QU, dual majoring in English and Public Relations. I've been involved with The Chronicle since freshman year, and Quixotic, Quinnipiac's fairly new literary club, since last year. By the way, both are GREAT orgs made up of great people... for those of you disappointed in the cancellation of this semester's involvement fair and still looking for new experiences.

I'm not exactly sure the direction I'll take these posts but I jumped at the chance to contribute because blogging actually helped me get into QU. I had applied late and received notice I was put on the waiting list, but I had fallen in love with the campus and was crushed. So I posted on a blog I had with other students in my journalism classes about my "Quinnipiac Quandry" (I'm into alliteration) and the dean of admissions ended up seeing my blog, commenting on it, and very soon after that I was in! Other than that, I don't have much experience with blogging so I'll ask you to bear with me for a little.

Thanks! More soon.. --Meg

My First P0$T

I was in a similar place as John freshman year. Maybe not hate, but constantly wondering if there was somewhere I would better fit, if I could have achieved admittance to a university with a more established pedigree. It probably took me until the end of sophomore year that I would never be able to give up the friends I have made, and would not change my choice of Quinnipiac for the world.

Freshman year is stressful for a variety of reasons. On the other hand it is important to remember that every year of your life you think you know stress until the next year comes and you wonder how you were so naive to think you didn't have it easy.

There are a couple of important dates that most students become aware of when they arrive at college:
The first week: Honeymoon, everyone is awesome, everything is cool, meeting tons of new people everyday but ipso facto forgetting about tons of people just having met them.
3-5 weeks in: Hell week. Remember those nice people? Did they ever really exist?
Right before thanksgiving: Sorry ladies, Turkey Drop.
Right before winter break: Good riddance college! Finals are really hard when you're grown up, and by now you and your room/suite mates have inevitably had your first real fight.
Winter break: Wondering why you ever wanted to leave college in the first place? Home is just the same old people and everyone is telling stories about people that no one else knows. LAME.
After Winter Break: Relief to see your new, cooler friends, but there is more nagging in your minds with doubts. (On a personal note, I routinely suffer from what I refer to as Post-Christmas depression).
the whole effin' semester: (at a school in New England) Holy Shit winter is long. And the semester is dragging its feet right in turn.
At last! Spring! Wow, this completely redeems the whole year. Its hot, there are plenty of girls and boys showing plenty of skin, hanging out on the quad, the whole school it seems!
Right before the end of the year: Finals are the tough. Their stress adds to the pre-traumatic anticipation stress of knowing you have to leave everyone, including that person you've been hooking up with for awhile. (w/ a bf/gf is different, most of the time, and I honestly cannot say I know how it feels to return to someone after months, but I would imagine it creates a dichotomy between school and home life that must be just as stressful)

And there you go folks, a very general freshman year. Generally, this cycle is repeated to a lesser degree every year of college, because you meet new people in new housing situations, classes, etc.

What can you do to mitigate some of these stressors? Get Involved. Everyone has their own avenues, I too am in a fraternity; Sigma Phi Epsilon. (not sure that was an appropriate usage of a semi-colon) While some people choose to hate on other greek organizations, I have nothing but the utmost respect for ∆T∆ and their members, chapter, and philanthropic efforts. Some of the best people I know are delts. As long as you avoid TK∑ you should be fine! Just kidding, seriously just go with what makes you happy.
Making friends is the most important part of college. I routinely make choices that limit the time I have available for my studies in order to maintain a well balanced approach to my college experience. This is an important thing to realize, and a great answer to why my GPA isn't higher in interviews.
By the way, I'm in Italy, and it is one in the afternoon and I haven't eaten. So I am going to go make some delicious prosciutto di parma e uove fritte.

Hey there QU Sports Fans

This is a blog post, not a New York Times article. So take solace in its conciseness.

I've posted this once before on the facebook page directed at QU sports fans, and incited no response. Maybe this will garner one...

The chants coming from our student section at basketball games of "USA! USA!" directed at opposition not from our country have to stop. Besides the inherent ignorance of such comments, the recent history of bigoted actions at Quinnipiac is very real. Or did we all forget the comments left on various dormitory white boards?

The near xenophobia shown by these students while they slander the opposition paints the community negatively. I love a good trash talker. As an athlete and licensed official I would get in the ear of competitors and officials at near every opportunity. The country they were born in was never a topic of my jawing. Nor should it be of our student section. We like to paint our university as an upstanding institution, yet continued actions of this minority of students goes a long way in destroying our reputation to both other institutions and to the Hamden community. I have a professor, whom I will refrain from naming, that works at Hamden High and teaches night classes here at QU. He told me that Hamden thinks of QU students as, and this is a near direct quote, spoiled drunkards who bring down our property value. That may be one man's attempt at a bad joke, but the most interaction a lot of people have with QU students is at our lovely TD Bank center. Oh, and many of them have their children with them.

Jeremy

Introduction

How's it going everyone out there. Just a small introduction for the readers who don't know me: My name is Matthew Pankey, and I am a Junior, majoring in Economics here at Quinnipiac University. I am involved with two organizations here at QU: the first being head of the Public Relations committee in my fraternity, Delta Tau Delta, while the second is a student leader for the non-profit organization, The Albert Schweitzer Institute (ASI). Both organizations have helped me develop into a better student, and person while at QU.

Ok, so enough about that. When Jeremy first asked me to be a part of this blog - say 4-5 weeks ago - I knew I was interested, but I didn't know what or how I could contribute to it. Over winter break, I'll admit, I pretty much forgot about this. The holidays came, work 9-5, trying to catch up and spend time with friends, family, etc., all got to me, and I never had a chance to think about this.

Earlier in the week, I checked out the blog and read the posts, and still couldn't decide the path I wanted to take. In less than 24 hours though, literally, I came up with a few ideas that I could throw some two sense around. (I had a lot of free time thanks to "syllabus week" - the first and easiest week of classes where no work is assigned, because it takes a full class to go over the syllabus.)

During this semester, and hopefully longer, I'll be coming up with and discussing a wide variety of topics that include: the amazing, yet dangerous and possibly addicting rush of gambling; my past and upcoming trips to Nicaragua in affiliation with ASI; my self made up debate of the two more popular QU bars, Andales (aka Dicks) vs. Whitney Bar and Grill (aka Whit Bag); and finally, random daily thoughts and events that deal with politics, government actions, and current events in the US and the World.

Stay Classy,

- Matt

Obligatory Intro and Involvement

Hey there, I'm John. I'm a Junior Public Relations major with a minor in English. I'm on the Student Programming Board as the Tech and Media Chair as well as in a fraternity, Delta Tau Delta, as the Sargeant At Arms.

Alright, so from that little "About Me" intro to this post you can no doubt tell that I'm in some sense involved on this campus, and that's true. When I was a freshman at QU, I honestly despised it. I had talked with my friends about transferring to Emerson and studying acting. Thank God I didn't do that for two reasons: The first being that I would have thrown my life away and more than likely would have come out of college thinking that I was a know-it-all actor, acting in community theater shows. The second being that I would have lost so much of what I have gained at this university.

I started to get involved with a few things my sophomore year. I was a member of the Student Programming Board and went to a few meetings and I rushed a fraternity, which was something I never figured that I would do. Then this year I look back at what I've done and seen how far I've come with all of my involvement. And to think... I could have thrown all these opportunities away by transferring my freshman year to Emerson.

I guess if there is one thing to take away from my little story is that if you find yourself hating your school and sitting in your room with your headphones on, watching Netflix and listening to music (which is what I did my freshman year), get up and try to get involved in something. Granted, getting involved in a bunch of organizations is not for anybody. Hell, some people find enjoyment in sitting around all day and watching TV shows non stop (which is what one of my roommates does for example), but still. Give something a try because that is what college is all about. And who wants to look back on their college experience when they graduate and say, "Man, I had some awesome times doing... absolutely nothing."

...and for the record, there are plenty of people on this campus who are twice as involved as I am.

Later!
- John

Hello all.

This is the first post of what I'm hoping to be many on this site, by myself and a collection of others. I hope that the collection of authors on here continues to slowly grow. The idea is that we will have a group of core authors with a rotating batch of guest contributors...we'll see how that goes. My first few post are going to be about my reactions coming back from abroad. Horn will do the opposite I hope...I'm not going to speculate on the other contributors, just let them do their own thing.

So, Quinnipiac looks way different. I Live at York Hill, and it looks beautiful...from the outside. The inside kind of looks like my elementary school hallways. It really is pretty ugly. But I still have my own room, decorated with some souvenirs from abroad. Like I said when I was abroad, I did not want to completely assimilate to the culture I was in. I wanted to immerse myself in it for sure, and I think I did that well in terms of learning about the town, politics, and sport. I took advantage of all sorts of things that made Wales special and I think I'm a better and broad person from it. But the same thinking applies when I come back to Quinnipiac. I dont want to be the kid who constantly says "Well, this one time in Wales..." But at the same time, it was the single largest and most consequential endeavor that Ive ever embarked upon. I dont want my room to look like my room in Wales. I dont want it to look like it did before I left for Wales. I dont want it to look like my room at home. I want it to reflect who I was and now am. I think I'm striking a good balance.

Back to Quinnipiac looking different. The Rocky Top Student Center is really an awesome building. Getting to walk from my room to the garage to my car is one of my favorite things. Id like it to be substantially warmer, but it really is beautiful up here. I am now getting into the habit of bringing my camera everywhere with me. I could take 30pictures a day looking out from where the windmills are up here.

The new student center on Mount Carmel campus is also really nice inside. Ive always loved QU and have been proud to tell people I go here, and eager to show the pictures and brag how lovely it really is here. These constant additions make that even sweeter.

Past face value though, Im still really excited to be here. Getting back into the swing of classes is going to be difficult. I took 3 classes in Wales and had a 100hour internship, and my total load of assignments all semester was a 2,500 word essay, a 3,500 word one, a 4,000 word one, and a 5,000 word one. No tests. No quizzes. No homework. The only class Ive had so far will have 3 quizzes, 3 tests, a paper, and an attendance policy. It feels like junior high again.

Until next time,

-Jeremy