Alvernian December 2014

November/December 2014

Volume 53 Issue 3

what’s in

Santo Domingo Needs “Sustainable Communities”

THIS ISSUE Campus News

Photo Courtsey of Dr. Caroline Fitzpatrick

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By Alexis Bendyna Contributing Writer

More than Just a Bump on the Head

07

Sports Dr. Caroline Fitzpatrick (center) helps Santo Domingo residents learn English as a Second Language (ESL).

English and Communication Dr. Caroline Fitzpatrick.

Throughout the course students acquire skills on water analysis and filtration, English as a Second Language (ESL) training and grant writing. For the grant writing portion of the course students will be collaborating with the grant writing office of the Bernardine Sisters on existing grant applications.

The class culminates with a 10-day service trip to the Bernardine Sisters’ mission in the Dominican Republic’s capital of Santo

Are you interested in learning about a foreign culture? Does having an opportunity to study abroad for a short period of time at a low cost appeal to you? If the answer is yes, you may want to consider taking Alvernia University’s spring course, “Sustainable Communities: Santo Domingo.”

This course is teamtaught by Alvernia University’s assistant professor of Biology Dr. Adam Heinze and assistant professor of

Continued on page 3

Major Choices

Six Seconds to Fame

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Student Life

First Year Seminar Makes An Impression

11

Veteran Spotlight

Serving Those Who Served

By Kyle Grim Contributing Writer Six seconds is a short time to do anything. Bryan Raymond use that time to make people to laugh on Vine.

Vine is a social media site launched in 2013 that hosts short video clips. Each video can last up to six seconds.

Users make a variety of videos whether they are comical or informational. The site quickly grew in popularity, branching out from iPhones to Androids.

Raymond discovered Vine after his friends introduced him to the app.

“I used to make Vines in school to entertain my friends by doing and saying dumb stuff,” he said. “Until I realized you can do so much more with it.”

Raymond has done a lot on Vine. His account, LifeWithBryan, has over 130,000 followers. Raymond began obtaining followers by using another form of social media.

He used Twitter to promote his videos and this helped people to find him on Vine.

“I try to keep it pretty consistent by posting a couple videos throughout

the week so that my follower count will keep growing and growing because they can expect a vine on my page at least once,” Raymond said.

Raymond is still developing a strategy for his personal brand. “As of right now, I don’t really have a goal with Vine,” he said. “I’m just kind of making them as I go along and trying get more followers as well as accumulate more money from companies who want me to advertise on my page.”

As of right now, Raymond has received several small sponsor who ask him to collaborate and promote their products. These sponsors consist of several apps such as Badoo or Hot or Not, as well as apparel companies like Jord Watches and Recognize.

Raymond has been asked to promote K-Mart and is looking to create a promotional Vine soon.

The possibility of a bigger future is never far from Raymond’s mind. He tries not to dwell on it.

“It would be nice to be able to get an acting career or

be placed on TV shows like some Viners and maybe move out to LA,” he said. “But I’m not dreaming that big.”

Raymond has a variety of famous followers. “I know that Michael Jackson’s son follows me on Vine,” he said.

“Kyrie Irving the basketball player and Khleo Thomas (Zero from the movie ‘Holes’) have both revined one of my Vines, and both Drake Bell and Tyga have tweeted my vines.”

Vines seem to run in the family. Bryan’s younger brother Brandon, better known by his Vine alias

By Madelyn Johnston Contributing Writer

Continued on page 5

Photo Courtsey of Kyle Grim

The Man Behind The Microphone

Bryan Raymond ponders new material.

As the fall semester ends, winter and spring semesters are right around the corner, and by now students have finalized their schedules.

Winter and spring semesters give first year students an opportunity to continue their educational career with the same major or change it.

Students at Alvernia know it has a diverse array of majors, from Sports Management to Biology to Theater Studies. However, certain majors are much more popular than others.

For example, out of Alvernia’s 28 undergraduate majors, much of the 2014 First Year Class chose Nursing, Occupational Therapy, Criminal Justice, Business and Education. In fact, students in those five majors make up 52% of the 2014 First Year Class.

Almost 30% of the First Year Class comes from PreNursing, Psychology, Athletic Training, Undecided, and Continued on page 3

campus news

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November/December 2014

STAFF Managing Editor Billy Tharp Layout Amber Nikolaus Billy Tharp Advertising Jarred Merriweather Copy Editors Junior Bernard Genesis Ciriaco Deandre Clark Katelyn Evans Marisa Then Gabriella Valenti Contributing Writers Mikaileigh Baker Alexis Bendyna Sabrina Case Kyle Grim Madelyn Johnston Samantha Marino Maeve McGhee Preston Moser Brian O’Shaughnessy Faculty Advisor Dr. Ryan Lange

The Alvernian is the official student newspaper of Alvernia University.

To contact newspaper staff, the office telephone number is 610-796-8358.

Articles submitted for consideration into The Alvernian should be written in some semblance of AP style. Letters to the editor, requests for advertisements, and general comments and questions may be submitted to ryan.lange@alvernia.edu.

The editors reserve the right to edit submissions for clarity, accuracy, and length.

The views expressed in The Alvernian are those of the individual writers and do not necessarily reflect the student body, faculty, staff, administration, or sponsors.

© 2014 The Alvernian

Flynn Files: Get Engaged In my last column, I reported the results of the Gallop national study of 30,000 college graduates.

They confirmed what many have long suspected: It’s not where you go to college that matters for your future success and long-term wellbeing; it’s what you do while you’re there.

According to Gallup, active engagement by students is THE key. It is not enough simply to study hard and complete assigned tasks.

Students should pursue opportunities for engagement best suited to their learning and personal growth: Internships, field placements, or academic research, especially with a professor; academic and social clubs; chorus or theater, athletics, or other activities; or, at Alvernia, community service projects or a role as a tutor, OWL, RA, first-year mentor, tour guide, student ambassador.

Over time, many students do not simply join these efforts. They lead them.

On our campus, beyond the minimum community service expected of all undergraduates, 86% of students are involved in a co/extracurricular organization, club, team, or project; 70% are active in two or more.

Best of all, many range widely and join a varsity team and SGA or serve as a tour guide, a peer mentor, and as an officer in their academic club or work in the South Reading Youth Initiative and as a student ambassador and student campus minister.

Here’s a sampling of active and engaged Alvernia All-Stars! See http://alvernia. meritpages.com for many others!

Jenna Harper, an OT major, is an SGA officer, OWL, varsity lacrosse athlete, and student ambassador and can

also be found—camera in hand—shooting pictures for the Sports Information Office.

Andy Kaucher is dedicated to his English major, to Sigma Tau Delta (one of our nationally visible academic societies) and to community service in Reading and can also be found—brush in hand—in his Goggleworks art studio. He also found time to call me out for the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge!

Rob Waller, an Iraq veteran, accounting major, and Holleran Fellow is one of the students who led the development of our Bog Turtle Creek Farm and is active in other environmental projects and in our Alternative Break program.

Ashley Winters, an elementary and special education major involved in the Education Association and as a tutor in the Learning Center, is another Holleran Fellow who has been a leader in the South Reading Youth Initiative and a key person in the launch of the Reading Collegiate Scholars Program.

Kelli Fitzgerald, an OT major active in her academic association (SOTA) and another third-year RA, oversees all freshman livinglearning communities and serves as a head tutor for the Learning Center in addition to helping out as a tour guide and ambassador.

Janessa Rasmus, a nursing major, combines leadership roles as an RA, student campus minister, and member of Alvernia Sexual Assault Prevention Peers (ASAPP).

Brianna Whitton, a behavioral health major with minors in psychology and music, leads our flute ensemble, plays French Horn in the band and is the work study staffer in the Fine and Performing Arts Department as well as president of Hooked

Photo courtesy of Snavely

t he alverni a n

Vol. 53 Issue 3

Alvernia President, Dr. Thomas Flynn

on Helping and secretary for the Veteran’s Club.

Mylen Ruppert, an early childhood education major and two-sport athlete (track and cross country) recently chosen for the highly selective Marine Corps Officers Program, is an officer of the Ethnic Awareness Society and Active Minds and serves as a peer mentor and Diversity Committee member.

Amanda Galanti, a sport management major and another two-sport athlete (field hockey and softball), has been a team captain and a member of the Student Athlete and Intramural Advisory Boards (SAAC and IAB) as well as being active in the Sports Management Association.

Brielle Gincley, a transfer student marketing major working to launch a campus chapter of the American Marketing Association, is a Holleran Fellow active both in environmental (Bog Creek Turtle farm) and inner city education (South Reading

What does PERFECT JOY mean to you?

Youth Initiative) issues and has helped found Alpha Phi Omega.

Terry Harrington (aka Spiderman), a Health Care Science major and vice president of the Science Association, is a third-year RA who works in Student Financial Planning and also serves as a peer mentor, volunteers at St. Joe’s Hospital and the Highlands, and participates in the CureSader and Veterans clubs.

Actively engaged students are happy and satisfied students too. A recent extensive survey of our students found 9 of 10 seniors and an astonishing 98% of last year’s freshman satisfied or very satisfied with their Alvernia experience. To say the obvious, those profiled above are a few of the countless examples of Alvernia students (soon to be proud alumni) who are “Doing Well and Doing Good.”

Peace and All Good, Tom Flynn

St. Francis liked to add adjectives to emphasize the meaning of words so he could convey their significance to those he preached to and with. Perfect Joy is a Franciscan term often used when things aren’t even close to being perfect as a reminder to carry on in a joyful, humble and patient way. To persevere, to be joyful and find joy despite any challenging circumstance. In what ways are you living perfect joy?

Many display a nativity, manger scene, also called a crèche, around Christmas to visually depict the birth of Jesus. Did you know this is attributed to St. Francis of Assisi?! In 1223 in a the town of Greccio, St. Francis wanted to reenact the events in Bethlehem to rouse the hearts of those weak in the faith. This incarnational approach of using very concrete means to awaken peoples faith is central to Franciscan heritage. The Incarnation is the embodiment of Jesus human and divine nature. At Christmas we are reminded of the humanity of Christ, of Emmanuel or God With Us. How might you be more aware of God’s presence in your life?

campus news

November/December 2014

03 Vol. 53 Issue 3

Domingo. Students work alongside members of the Sisters’ school and mission and apply what they have learned in the classroom.

One of the most important tasks students help with is water infrastructure.

The water in the Dominican Republic does not go through the same filtration process as water from outside the country, therefore is a health hazard.

Dr. Heinze uses the service trip to teach students and the residents of Santo Domingo practical ways of cleaning the water.

“In simplest terms, you take out the stuff that makes you sick,” Dr. Heinze said.

“Find a good water source such as rain. Strain out the big stuff, sticks, leaves, poop. Then, mix in a chemical to make the small stuff larger, a process called flocculation. Then, run water through a bed of rocks and sand so that the particles stick to the rocks and sand.

Then, you add something to kill the remaining bacteria, like bleach or UV light. Now you have clean drinking water.”

Students also help people in the Los Tres Brazos neighborhood learn English. Many of the best- paying jobs in the area require English as a second language. Alvernia students help these people help themselves by teaching them basic English.

This unusual course has a transformative effect on the students who participate.

“No individuals involved in the short term study abroad experience are ever the same when they return,” Dr. Fitzpatrick said.

Dr. Heinze agreed. “It changed my life and I think it will change yours,” he said.

“People who are poor cannot afford to pay experts to think about their problems so this small amount of focus will have a dramatic impact on the well-being of these individuals literally for gen-

erations for a small amount of money. Also, it is fun and exotic.”

Ashley Wilson, a junior Biology major and former course participant describes the impact of her involvement in the course, “My experience during the Sustainable Communities course has been my most important experience at Alvernia,” Wilson said.

“The time I spent in the Dominican Republic changed my life and gave me a new appreciation for everything that I have. I am so grateful I was given the chance to help the students at the school and make the friendships that I have with the other students on the trip. In all honesty, I had an amazing time.”

Seats are limited, and enrollment in the course is competitive. For information about the course and course applications, email Dr. Adam Heinze at Adam.Heinze@ alvernia.edu or Dr. Caroline Fitzpatrick at Carrie.Fitzpatrick@alvernia.edu.

Healthcare Science majors.

The remaining 18% comes from all other declared majors.

But why are some majors more popular than others?

Director of Undergraduate Admissions Dan Hartzman thinks that a lot of that decision takes place well before students end up in college. “[Students] know what they want to do and what they want to be,” Hartzman said. “[Their major of choice] is probably a combination of something they enjoy and that has good career prospects coming out of it.”

Incoming students generally agree with Hartzman about their choices of major.

Sandra Smith is a first year student in forensic science.

“I was always good at science in high school and it interested me.”

Smith changed her mind about her major after realizing that the amount of science she had to learn was too much for her to handle. Smith instead moved to Criminal Justice, where she can pursue her dreams in a way that fits her aptitudes.

“I wanted to be the one who found out how [a crime] was done,” she said. “I can do that in C.J. without getting overwhelmed with science. I could

catch the person who did it and I’m told I’m good with people.”

First year student Blaise Kabbeko says that his desire to advance the minds of others was what drove him to Secondary Education.

“I wanted to go into a profession that I could present information, be able to teach it, and help people intellectually as opposed to helping people in a health care or law enforcement related area.”

Students later in their academic careers can also find themselves wanting a new direction. Caitlin Miller, a junior, switched from Communications to Psychology based on her interests.

“I wasn’t enjoying what I was learning,” she said. “[At the same time,] I was becoming fascinated by the human mind, and I knew that [Psychology] was what I wanted to learn.”

Junior Healthcare Science major Joshua Stevens found that he wanted a major that was rewarding and could lead him on a good career path.

“There are a lot of possibilities with this major as far as career choices go,” Stevens said. “The course load prepares us for getting a head start in the healthcare field.”

However, some students

may still have their doubts as to whether or not they are fully satisfied with their major.

What they may be overlooking is the opportunity to take a minor.

“I think minoring in either Communications or Psychology is often overlooked,” Hartzman said.

“To minor in Communications for any major, to learn to communicate [in the workplace], is gonna help you get a job and help you do better

Photo courtsey of Caroline Fitzpatrick

Sustainable Communities (Continued from Pg. 1)

Alvernia came together to help give the mission clean water.

Major Choices (Continued from Pg. 1) in that job. The same with psychology. Students in the healthcare majors [i.e. Nursing, O.T., etc.] would benefit from a Psychology minor, because having that background is an important part of being a good nurse or occupational therapist.”

What all of these students have in common is that they love their majors, whether it be for their job markets or what the students enjoy learning. Also, they refused to

feel obligated to stay with or choose a major that did not satisfy them.

It is best that students major in what they enjoy and know where their major is taking them. As the late George Burns said, “I’d rather be a failure at something I enjoy than a success at something I hate.”

Graph courtsey of Dan Hartzman

Below is a chart of the number of incoming first year students in each major.

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campus news

November/December 2014

Vol. 53 Issue 3

By Gabrielle Valenti Editor

While Dr. Radosh had hoped would be a short-lived bruise became a life-changing affliction. She couldn’t function for months because she was extremely dizzy, sensitive to light and noise, fatigued, and suffered debilitating migraines as well as horrible bouts of vertigo that made it difficult for her to do anything. Even walking down the steps was a struggle.

“I couldn’t leave my house, I was so sensitive to motion I couldn’t really talk

very bad concussion and it could take a long while before I was myself again.”

It’s more than 15 months since the injury and she is finally getting her life back on track. She is not where she was prior to the accident but she is on her way.

Dr. Radosh is very happy to be back on campus this semester; her neurologist has her easing back into work.

She is allowed to teach one class this semester, a special topics-service learning

I realize the importance of being heard and understood especially since people with concussions look “normal” on the outside. Often, others may not recognize the seriousness of those affected by concussions; therefore, validation is critical.”

Dr. Radosh wants to continue raising as much awareness about this as possible.

“If anyone is suffering from a concussion please contact me. I would be happy to help in any way I can. It’s much more than just a bump on the head.”

Dr. Radosh giving a lecture to students about an interesting topic in the Social Media Marketing class.

course, Social Media Marketing.

“I feel very fortunate that Alvernia has been so supportive and understanding.”

“My colleagues and all of administration have been wonderful. It is great to be

ing and treating concussions, it’s important to realize the potentially long lasting physical, mental, social, and academic impacts that concussions can have for some and providing the support they need. I wholeheartedly

back in the classroom. I have to dim the lights and always carry sunglasses as well as earplugs. I still get headaches and fatigue. However, I’m doing so much better than last year.”

Dr. Claire Murphy, Director of Health Services feels that a concussion support group would be beneficial on campus.

“The field of concussion management has changed a lot over the past few years.

As we get better at recogniz-

support Dr. Radosh in her efforts to start a support group for those affected by concussions,” she said.

Based on her experience, Dr. Radosh intends to start a Traumatic Brain Injury for concussions support group at Alvernia University.

“I want to help other students, staff, or faculty that suffer from concussions. I know how difficult it is and how isolated you feel. I hope we can all help each other.”

She has had students approach her that are suffering from post-concussive syndrome.

Last April, Dr. Radosh started an informal Berks County concussion support group.

There are about seven people in the group that have formed close bonds. Many of them hit their heads doing routine activities in their homes or at work.

Some people in the group are still suffering from severe concussions even years later, while others are improving.

The kindness she felt at Bryn Mawr Hospital during her rehab sparked Dr. Radosh’s interest in starting the support groups.

“The doctors at Bryn Mawr are good listeners and they have been a wonderful support system. I couldn’t get through this without them.

Photo courtsey of Gabrielle Valenti

A concussion can have life-altering consequences.

While most of us think that concussions are mostly problems for athletes, anyone can suffer from them.

Dr. Jodi Radosh, associate professor of Communication and Associate Director of the Holleran Center, suffered a serious concussion in July 2013.

Dr. Radosh was at home cleaning her refrigerator in preparation for a replacement. She stood up suddenly while cleaning it and slammed the back of her head against the freezer section of the refrigerator.

“I felt like I was dying,” she said.

“It felt like someone was smashing my head with a hammer and I was so nauseous and dizzy. I couldn’t take light and even the tiniest little noise drove me insane. I could barely get out of bed.”

to people face to face – especially more than one person at a time.

For nearly 6 months, I couldn’t look at my phone, read, watch TV or go on the computer. My whole life was put on hold.”

Dr. Radosh began therapy at Bryn Mawr Rehabilitation Hospital in Malvern in September 2013.

She visited the hospital weekly for ocular, physical, and vestibular therapy to help her motion sensitivity, neck pain and eye problems.

The doctors and therapists at Bryn Mawr helped Dr. Radosh understand what happened to her and that she had knocked out her vestibular system, which was affecting the gaze stabilization of her eyes.

“I didn’t understand what was happening to me before going to rehab,” she said.

“My therapists helped explain everything to me. I finally understood I had a

Photo courtsey of Gabrielle Valenti

More Than a Bump on the Head

Dr. Radosh engaging her class in an interesting topic in the Social Media Marketing class.

RETRACTION The SelfDiscovery Club, profiled in the October/ November 2014 issue of The Alvernian, is not a registered student organization at Alvernia University, and so does not have approval to function at the university.

The staff of The Alvernian sincerely regrets any misconceptions that may have resulted from our article.

campus news

November/December 2014

05 Vol. 53 Issue 3

Dr. Rachael Zeleny is a professor on a mission to help Crusaders write better.

“I want to establish the visibility of writing initiatives on campus,” Dr. Zeleny said.

Alvernia hired Dr. Zeleny this year to serve as both the Writing Program Director and an Assistant Professor of English.

Dr. Zeleny went to University of Delaware and James Madison. She became involved with teaching first as a graduate student, later as a high school teacher and then again while pursuing her PhD. As a doctoral student, Dr. Zeleny worked in the writing center, co-taught their pedagogy course for writing instructors and worked as an assistant to the athletic program so as to provide extra support for students who needed one-on-one guidance.

Dr. Zeleny is running a “Teaching Tutoring” class next semester. The goal of developing the course is to help students be better tutors to their peers.

This will also improve the level of feedback from the learning center, instead of just having students go there for

Photo courtsey of Kyle Grim

ABOVE: Bryan Raymond (left) and Connor Mustakas (right) act out a new Vine.

BELOW: QR Code to “LifeWithBryan.”

Bryan Raymond (back) acting out his Vine.

The Pen is Mightier than the Sword

By Maeve McGhee Contributing Writer

Bryan Raymond (center) being filmed for a Vine.

Photo courtsey of Kyle Grim

Childish Brandino, has over 450,000 followers from his own Vines.

Bryan relishes time spent vining with his little brother because of the chemistry they have as siblings. Bryan and Brandon have enjoyed a lot of success when vining together.

“I love vining with my brother a lot,” Raymond said.

“It’s so easy to get it done since we both envision it the same way. Since he’s my brother and all, we kind of have that chemistry going for us. Also, usually one out every three vines we make together ends up doing really well and that’s always nice too.”

Raymond loves Vine and everything that it comes with it, but has prioritized school over pushing his Vine career.

“I still have to focus on school right now.”

You can find and following Raymond on Vine by searching for him at LifeWithBryan.

Photo courtsey of Kyle Grim

Six Seconds to Fame (Continued from Pg. 1)

grammar issues they might be having.

The student tutors will be able to meet with faculty and learn their lesson plan. When students ask those tutors for help, they will have knowledge of what the professor is asking for, and be able to provide the best assistance.

Dr. Zeleny also plans to start a satellite class to help students reach out to tutors more easily. One of the goals of the classes is to have students feel more comfortable getting help with their papers. The other goal is to have convenient tutoring for students wherever they may be on campus.

Aside from helping students write better, Dr. Zeleny also wants to reach out to faculty. She intends to run workshops for faculty to help them develop ways of better teaching the kind of writing that their majors need.

“As I grew older, I have learned that teaching writing isn’t just about essays; it is a means of empowering students to express themselves, advocate for themselves, pursue careers, declare love, and assert their place in a world that is changing by the minute.” Dr. Zeleny said.

06 November/December 2014

lifestyle

Vol. 53 Issue 3

Cheese-Takes And Mistakes: A Culinary Journey South Philadelphia revolves around two essential things: Sports and food. South Philly is defined by the Eagles, Flyers and 76ers just as much as Pat’s, Geno’s, and Jim’s.

Philadelphia fans are united when inside the stadium or arena, but when it comes to cheesesteaks, it’s a house divided.

Going to get a cheesesteak is one of the essentials when visiting Philadelphia, as is going to see the LOVE statue and running up the “Rocky steps” of the Philadelphia Art Museum.

As getting a cheesesteak is key to getting the full Philadelphia experience, so is picking a favorite cheesesteak joint.

From the infamous corner of South 9th Street and Passyunk avenue, to the shops of South Street, the cheesesteaks have their similarities, but also their unique differ-

ences. Whether its customer service, to simply the infamous taste of Cheez Whiz and meat on a hoagie roll.

Options are critical, for new comers or first timers, knowing how to order your cheesesteak is a valuable skill. A cheesesteak novice must know what kind of cheese (Cheez Whiz, American, or provolone) they want.

Newbies also need to know whether they want onions or no onions, properly pronounced “wid or widdout” in the streets of Philadelphia.

Some might wonder who has the best cheesesteaks in Philadelphia, so myself and my first year friends Kevin Walsh, Stephanie McLaughlin, and Deyon Taylor went downtown to see for ourselves. We ranked the cheesesteaks using three categories, taste, presentation, and customer service.

The first place we went to on this cold Philadelphia

afternoon, was Geno’s.

Geno’s has a special place in my heart because it was my first experience of the famous Philadelphia cheesesteak.

My friends and I all agreed that Geno’s is indeed delicious. Its legendary taste and sloppiness screams Philadelphia, and that was something special.

“Something about the way it was made, how the people working there were oddly rude to you, made me like Geno’s the best, not to mention the taste,” Walsh said.

For those who may of not known, Geno’s is right next door to Pat’s ,thriving the Philadelphia cheesesteak phenomenon.

Right after I polished off my Geno’s, my friends and I stumbled our way across the street into what seemed like a new neighborhood.

We all sat down and began eating our Pat’s and as soon as we could get the sandwiches out of the wrap-

“It takes a lot of dedication to achieve something you’ve never done before,” Benton said.

“My belief was that if I really do what it takes, I’d eventually see myself on the other side of the wall.”

Nutrition played a major role in Alexis’s preparation for the bikini contest.

“One of the hardest things for me was food. I’d see my friends eating ice cream and donuts; I’d have no choice but to say no.”

“Besides developing a better body shape and definitions, maintaining a carefully calculated diet is necessary [for fitness].

Things I’d consume were mainly protein shakes, vegetables and lots of meat multiple times a day.”

Benton goes further to explain that the average person eats between 1800 to 2200 calories a day.

“During the beginning of training I ate around 1700 to 1800 a day,” Benton said. “When I started to cut weight, I reduced it to about 1500 calories.”

Benton has since risen up the ranks. She competed for the first time as a bikini contester on June 28 at the NPC South Jersey Championships.

Samantha Smith, friend of Benton’s and a forensic science major, attended the contest.

“During Alexis’s entire competition I was extremely nervous for her, especially with it being her first show to ever compete in,” Smith said.

“I most certainly knew she was going to do well because of all her hard work and dedication leading up to her competition.”

Despite being new to the competition, Benton came in third of 19 other competitors, novice Class A and 4th place in bikini open, Class B (Classes range from A, being the shortest and D, the tallest).

Benton’s success qualified her for nationals. As of now, the dates for the upcoming championships haven’t been released yet. However, Benton is determined to win her next competition with even greater honors.

“This time I will train harder and stay more focused because this is just the beginning of an amazing journey,” she said.

pers, a man asked us how we were doing. The man was working for his family, It gave me humility and I truly believe my friends all felt the same way.

“It made me feel at home, and really made my experience more enjoyable, the environment really embodied the cities culture,” Taylor said.

Without thought of proper health, after we devoured our Pat’s, leaving the working man a tip, we stumbled over to Jim’s for our final cheesesteak of the day.

The food was worth the wait of about twenty minutes as the line crawled out of the door for about two blocks. Once the anticipation of getting the food was over, the real thing did not disappoint.

Overall, I cant say which one is the best, as it is surely personal preference, but what I will tell you is, three cheesesteaks in a span of 3

hours probably isn’t the best idea if you are looking to avoid stomach aches.

After doing this, I feel like I have lived in the Philadelphia area for my whole life. It isn’t just cheesesteaks, but an experience I will never forget.

Photo courtsey ofPreston Moser

By Preston Moser Contributing Writer

An example of a Pat’s Cheesesteak.

This one is “wid,” meaning that it also has onions.

By Junior Bernard Editor What does it take to be a nationally competitive bikini contender?

“It takes a lot of dedication and self motivation, as well as self-control.” Alexis Benton said. “You have to be able to say no parties and time out with friends during prep.”

Alexis Benton, junior, wasn’t always interested in fitness competitions, let alone working her way to competing at a national level.

Benton became inspired to be a part of fitness competitions from her former roommate, Alyssa Victoria. Benton met Victoria while at Newbury College who was a bikini competitor who became nationally qualified in both her competitions.

Victoria inspired Benton to start pushing her workouts harder.

“I knew I had nothing to lose,” she said. “In fact, this looked like an opportunity for me to redefine my health and obtain the best physical shape possible.”

Benton formally began training in February 2014, and the shift in routine was grueling. She spent almost all her free time at the gym or studying diet and exercise.

Photo courtsey of Alexis Benton

Alexis Benton’s Total Transformation

Alexis Benton with some of her awards. “This is just the beginning of an amazing journey,” Benton said.

November/December 2014

sports

07 Vol. 53 Issue 3

The Man Behind the Microphone “FOR THREEEEEE” is one of the signature calls that defines Crusader basketball’s play by play announcer. Many students love how much excitement that rumbling call brings to the game, but few know his name.

Mark Piekarski is the Director of Annual Giving at Alvernia and he is the voice of your Alvernia Crusaders.

Piekarski began calling games at Marian High School in Indiana, after a seasonending knee injury ended his sophomore basketball season. “[My High School] didn’t have a public address announcer for a game,” Piekarski said. “and since I was done for the year and knew I wasn’t gonna be able to play, they asked me if I could fill in and I filled in for the rest of the year.”

After working for and calling games at SUNY Oneonta in New York for seven years,

Piekarski moved to Alvernia in May of 2012 and accepted the Director of Annual Giving Position.

After hearing that Piekarski was coming to Alvernia, The Sports Information Director at SUNY Oneonta called Jon King, Alvernia’s Sports Information Director, and highly recommended him.

After talking with King, Piekarski agreed to call the games for Alvernia’s basketball teams.

His reward: All the Diet Coke he can drink during the games.

Editor’s Note: While Mark Piekarski gets all the Diet Coke he can drink for his stellar play-by-play work, students will still need to purchase their own refreshments when attending Crusader home games.

“We’re lucky to have a professional like Mark to handle public address at our home basketball games,” King said.

“He’s reliable, he entertains the crowd, and he’s genuinely invested in not only what he’s doing behind the mic, but also how our teams are doing on the floor.”

“It’s a blast,” Piekarski said. “You get the best seat in the house.”

Piekarski is not only appreciated by the home crowd but by the visitors as well.

“I’ve had parents of the players on opposing teams come down after games and tell me that they liked the way I call a game,” Piekarski said.

Piekarski believes that the reason he’s good at calling games is because of his experience playing basketball in high school.

“It’s easier for me to call the games because I can anticipate what’s gonna go on by what I see on the court,” Piekarski said.

“I’ve been told that I’m faster at calling a game than

the game.

Over the past three years the webcasts have gotten a lot better. Everything from picture quality to the announcing has upgraded each year.

Webcasts used to cost money to watch and listen.

King said, “This year we are with a company called Volar Video for webcasts. Volar has a partnership with SIDEARM Sports, the company that hosts our website. Volar and SIDEARM announced a deal last spring where they would provide free web streaming to Division III schools. The basics of the deal are that they provide free SD-plus quality streaming if the school agrees to play a certain number of ads per broadcast.”

This is the first year that webcasts are free so there should be a major increase in viewers.

“When we started, we didn’t have the budget to provide the stream free, so we had to share the cost and pay per view was the most reasonable way to do that,” King said.

“We used extra money earned from the pay per view to upgrade our equipment. A few years ago when we moved to Stretch Inter-

net as our streaming host we decided to upgrade to HD streaming, which also came at a cost.”

There have been a few new additions. One is the new feature of instant replay for the online webcasts. This feature allows fans to see an exciting play more than once and also in slow motion to capture the moment and enjoy it. King said, “We have used the instant replay feature. It is working pretty well. It’s a next level feature for us. I know from watching the streams myself in years gone by I used to see a play and say, ‘Man, I’d like to see that again.’ Now we have the ability to do that. ” Another addition is the new press box down at the turf field. The press box is equipped with Wi-Fi so the announcers are able to use their lap tops to look up player stats and names.

“The press box is great.

We’ve only had it in place for a little more than a week. The new pressbox on the turf field stands vigil over the Crusader field.

We decided not to have the “The press box is great,” Jon King said. company that built it do any finish work on the inside so we can customize it a little more once we see exactly how we’ll use it.”

Photo courtsey of Mark Piekarski

By Brian O’Shaughnessy Contributing Writer

Mark Piekarski is Alvernia’s Director of Annual Giving. He is compensated for calling Crusader basketball games with “all the Diet Coke he can drink.”

most people.”

During his two and a half years at Alvernia, Piekarski has attended over 500 local sporting events, including Alvernia’s basketball games.

As Alvernia prepares for another season, Piekarski

encourages all Alvernia fans to come out for the games and cheer on their Crusaders.

“There’s nothing more fun than being a public address announcer when the building is full.”

By Lamont Clark Editor A lot of people come to the sporting events here at Alvernia University. The majority of those people do not know what goes on behind the scenes of those sporting events.

The Sports Information Director is the one doing most of the work behind the scenes.

The man with that responsibility at Alvernia is Jon King. King and his crew do a great job broadcasting each sport. They keep the record books and take stats of all the games. They also take pictures for each athletes’ profile. Most of the work for sports information is done behind the scenes but they can be heard and seen during sporting events.

King is the head of the whole operation but he gives his student employees some freedom in order to make sure the work is high quality and also enjoyable.

Ryan Shannon, Craig Mellinger, and Scott Dressler are three of the broadcasters for the sporting events. They announce for the online webcast. They all enjoy it because they are able to express their thoughts to the fans during

Photo courtsey of Lamont Clark

The King of Sports Information Reigns Over Alvernia

08 November/December 2014

student life

Vol. 53 Issue 3

First Year Seminar Makes an Impression on Students in mentoring new students into successful Alvernia graduates and build a strong bond with them.

students to use credit cards wisely or stay away from them all together. He gives tips on budgeting and saving one’s money.

The purpose of Deitz’s presentation is to help the students decrease their anxiety of college debt and making sure that their financial worries are taken care of.

Another lecture all the first year students were required to attend was the Coach Smallwood lecture on October 30. Mike “Coach” Smallwood from the Rodale Institute discussed how organic food can both feed and save the world at the same time.

Besides organic food, he encouraged everyone in the room to make a change and be a leader. The first year students learned that change starts with them.

FYS also integrates peer mentors. A peer mentor serves as a big brother/ sister to the first year stu-

like faculty is willing to help, which is always a good thing.”

“And my peers are really supportive. FYS broke down

Alvernia students mingle and have fun at a summer Connection Day.

A recent survey by the peer mentors were given to the first year students. So far, the feedback has been

college for me, I was nervous at first but now that I’ve taken the course I have a better understanding of how college

positive. Aside from the early timing of the course, the first year students enjoy FYS and find it to be very helpful. They are gaining writing skills, building bonds and are on the road to successful paths.

“I feel really comfortable here,” Dayshaun Dennis, a biology major, said. “I feel

works.”

For more information about First Year Seminar, or how you can get involved as a peer mentor, contact Dr. Kathleen Muzevich at kathleen. muzevich@alvernia.edu.

First year students Amanda Benny and Kathryn Jones helped out with Halloween On Campus.

Photo courtsey of Carey Manzolillo

Transitioning from high school to college can be a challenging obstacle. Alvernia’s First Year Seminar program helps first year students successfully undergo this transition.

College is much different from high school. A new college student has to take responsibility for their education, including going to class and keeping up with a heavy workload.

They are no longer on an “all day” schedule and they don’t have teachers reminding them when assignments are due. Tests and projects are weighted more than attendance and participation.

Some courses do not have an attendance policy, meaning some students can interpret this as a class they do not have to attend.

FYS encourages students to attend every class, rewrite notes and stay organized.

syllabus, how to take notes, think critically and how to manage their time.”

With Alvernia’s FYS program, first year students are welcomed into the university life with open arms.

FYS teaches students the “ins and outs” of college and the values of a liberal arts school.

“We try to give the students more than just a four year college career,” Dr. Muzevich said.

“We teach them Franciscan values with our liberal arts school in order to help them become a wellrounded person.”

“We strive to give the students more than just a major, we offer diverse courses and promote various activities in order to get them involved with the school. This gives them networking skills and an idea as to what they are ‘called to do’ once they graduate.”

Beyond classroom time, FYS instructors send stu-

Photo courtsey of Carey Manzolillo

By Genesis Ciriaco Contributing Writer

Being a full time student with courses that consume heavy workload can become overwhelming and one can easily fall behind.

“Expectations are much higher in college compared to high school,” Dr. Kathleen Muzevich said. Dr. Muzevich is the First Year Seminar Director.

“We try to help the freshmen become self-determined learners. This includes showing them how to understand a

dents to various events in which they write reflection papers about afterward.

These events include how to use MyAlvernia to talks about financial literacy, a “majors meeting,” and a structured visit to the library.

For instance, Jason Deitz, a financial consular gives a lecture on how to stay out of debt in college. He shares his college experience with credit card debt and warns

dents. The peer mentors must attend each class, take attendance, read all materials assigned, and attend the day of service with the students and much more.

The first year students should be able to depend on the peer mentor for assistance, advice or just someone to talk to about classes, roommate problems or any other concerns.

The peer mentor is there to assist the FYS instructor

Photo courtsey of Geniscis Ciriaco

First year students at Alvernia participate in an ice-breaker during a summer Connection Day.

getting crafty

November/December 2014

09 Vol. 53 Issue 3

Are you sick of spending so much money on the holidays?

There are many ways you can create gifts without spending a fortune. Homemade gifts come from the heart and will be most treasured by your loved ones.

“I personally prefer to make homemade gifts over buying gifts because I feel like they have more thought put into them,” Rosemarie Thress, senior, said. “Store bought items are too impersonal.”

Since winter is on its way, one great gift idea is crocheting a hat, scarf or gloves. You can go to any arts and crafts store and buy yarn and a stitch for about $5 to $10.

“I knitted my boyfriend’s grandmother a blanket a few years ago and she absolutely loved it,” Thress said. “Every year at Christmas she puts it out on her recliner chair.”

One valuable gift could be centered on music. If you’re

familiar with someone’s favorite songs and artists, you could make them a mixed tape or CD. These days, people mostly rely on electronic, such as Ipods and Pandora fror music, but CDs and tapes are still used at home and in cars. Give your friends and family something good to listen to while they’re driving instead of the same songs that are played over and over again on the radio.

Danielle Avington, a senior, received a CD from a friend in the past.

“These are the songs we use to hear on the radio and sing at the top of our lungs while we were in the car,” Avington said.

“It was a wonderful gift because every time I hear these songs it brings me back to the times we drove to play practice when we were in stage crew together.”

Meaningful photographs are also great assets to consider for the holidays.

Why not create a collage?

Pictures are always fun to look back and smile at and even better as decorations on walls.

Instead of buying an expensive bracelet or necklace, make one yourself.

This is especially good for younger kids. Most of them enjoy making beaded jewelry for others. So receiving some is bound to put a smile on their face.

“My best friend made a friendship bracelet for me when she moved far away,” Melissa Baker, 5th year Occupational Therapy student, said.

Most individuals love sweets, and the holidays are the best time to bake cookies and other desserts. A can of goodies is always an exciting gift. You could also put the mix in a jar and share the recipe with friends and families so they can make their own any time they want.

“One year I baked gingerbread men for my boy-

Carving the Way to Halloween

By Sabrina Case Contributing Writer Alvernia students carved, shaved, stabbed, and scraped their way to Halloween as part of the Annual Pumpkin Carving Competition.

The Annual Pumpkin Carving Competition has become a staple of Halloween on campus in the past, and this year was no different.

Students from the 3D art class each came up with their own unique designs. They ranged from traditional Jacko-Lanterns to sea turtles.

Some students chose to carve their pumpkins while a few people also used a shaving technique to take away layers of the pumpkin and create a 3D design with different colors.

The student’s pumpkins could win in four different categories: Cutest, Scariest, Funniest, and Best Overall.

Sydni Gajewski’s pumpkin won the category of cutest, Fordiane S Jean-Philippe won Funniest, Shaneece Tolentino won Scariest, and Cassandra Noray’s pumpkin won Best Overall.

Although pumpkin carving seems like a long running tradition at Alvernia, the idea actually originated hundreds of years ago in Ireland. It started out as the carving of

other foods like turnips and potatoes. Irish immigrants brought the tradition to America, where there was an abundance of pumpkins, and the pumpkin soon became their new canvas.

The term Jack O’ Lantern comes from the Irish folktale about a clever man named Stingy Jack who, through a serious of tricks involving the Devil, ends up banned from both heaven and hell.

The folktale ends with Stingy Jack being left to roam around forever with only a burning coal inside of a carved turnip to light the way. He was referred to as Jack of the Lantern or Jack O’Lantern. People would carve out scary faces into foods to keep him and other evil spirits away.

Next Halloween when you sit down to carve a pumpkin, just remember that you have the Irish and a clever man by the name of Stingy Jack to thank for the fun and unique tradition.

A mixed CD Danielle Avington recieved as a gift. Making mixtapes for people requires thoughtful consideration of their tastes, as well as reflection on what songs are meaningful to both of you.

friend’s side of the family.

They thought they were delicious,” Thress said.

Your significant other may appreciate thoughtful gifts more than anyone else.

One thing you can do is create coupons. For example, one could offer a free back rub or a movie night with their choice of movie.

The holidays can be tough

challenging when it comes to spending money. However, these ideas are bound to make anyone happy.

“I’d rather someone make me something nice than spend $50,” Thress said.

For more information about inexpensive gift ideas, contact Marisa Then at marisa.then@ alvernia.edu. She would love to hear from you.

Do these purple boxes haunt your dreams?

(right) This pumpkin depicts one of the quirky Minions from the animated movie Despicable Me. (bottom) This design uses carving, shaving, and painting and won the category of funniest.

Photos courtsey of Courtney Wilson

By Marisa Then Contributing Writer

Photo courtsey of Marisa Then

Be Creative and Spend Less This Holiday Season

10 November/December 2014

opinion

Vol. 53 Issue 3

Finals Week: Laughing or Crying?

By Mikaileigh Baker Contributing Writer

Have zombies eaten all the students? No, it’s probably just before 11 a.m. on a Saturday morning.

Alexis Bendyna (right) and Heather MacNamara (left), senior communication majors watching television and painting their nails. are not letting finals stress them out!

Photo courtsey of Bonnie Baker

Alvernia University is a great place for someone to learn what they came to this campus to learn, but when it comes to weekends, it gets bland with not much to do.

Yes, Student Activities, Campus Ministry, CAB, etc. plans events but they are usually at night. There are sports, as well, but not everyone goes to them or is into sports.

Because of these various factors I have heard several students on campus complain about the absence of activity.

I know, if students are old enough to go out they do but otherwise the campus is vacant. If it is in the mornings, before 11 a.m. or noon on Saturday or Sunday, it is the same way. No one is out around campus, except for the occasional lone soul just kind of wandering around.

As stated before, there are events held, and there are e-mails sent out, but I know I get so many e-mails in one day that they all get deleted at one time. Because of this, I do not necessarily see the events’ e-mail. The people who do look at those e-mails are those who attend everything and have so much school spirit.

Those who have extraordinary school spirit go to most of the events, especially the themed ones like Maroon and Gold Night. But why don’t many people have this spirit, as well?

At other schools, people are crazy to show that they go there but here not so much so they do not attend events, as a result. Why? The student body wants more events on the weekend but do not attend them. Contradictory, right? Yes. Events

are not always what I expect them to be, so I suspect it is the same way for others, as well.

Weekends like Spring Fling or Homecoming seem to draw quite a large crowd, AND there are more events than usual for those on campus to do. But there are pros and cons to having more events on campus.

Pros: 1. There would be less complaining about nothing to do

styles, which a study group can bring to the fore more easily than working alone.

2. Be a more active campus 3. More opportunities 4. More school spirit will be formed Cons: 1. Very busy 2. Complaints that it isn’t anything they want to do 3. Complaints, in general 4. A lot of work to always have something for a small campus Will students actually attend events, if there are more? I do not know. One never knows until it is tried and so I think there should be something more than the occasional event on the weekend, events at night or just sports. There should be something more because the weekends can be boring.

Fire and Ice Some say the world will end in fire, Some say in ice.

From what I’ve tasted of desire I hold with those who favor fire.

But if it had to perish twice, I think I know enough of hate To say that for destruction ice Is also great And would suffice.

-- Robert Frost Is this eerily peaceful campus due to the influence of phantoms, or is the relative absence of people caused by an overwhelming student apathy? More importantly, do you even care enough to read this caption? Is anyone out there? Hello?

Photo courtsey of Bonnie Baker

Get ready: Finals are upon us.

While some students see little to fear, other students find finals to be the scariest things possible.

As a first year student, you have no idea what to expect.

Many first years have to confront both being in a new place for the first time and facing college-level assessments. Fortunately, seniors have techniques and tips to get through finals in one piece.

One challenge for first year students is the intimidation factor. The possibility of reviewing all the material they learned over the semester can be overwhelming.

“Now that I am in my senior year of college finals don’t seem to intimidate me the way they used to when I was a freshman,” Alexis Bendyna, senior communications major, said.

Is Alvernia Boring?

Study groups help break up the information by assigning different members tasks. Different students may have different learning

with friends and relax a little bit.

Seniors clearly have the advantage because they have experienced all of this before, they know what to expect especially if they have had the professor before.

During your years in the college students learn to handle each final differently, they can prepare differently if needed.

“Over my four years here I have learned that sitting and reading through a textbook is not my way of studying,” Heather MacNamara, senior communication major, said.

“I succeed when I use note cards and have a study group to help me grasp concepts that I didn’t fully understand when they were being taught.”

Having the ability to form a study group can give students various ways of reviewing the information from the course. It can help a student relax when preparing for finals week as well.

“I have sat through so many finals throughout my college career to know what I need to do to obtain a good grade.”

Another issue first year students have is figuring out which way of studying works best for them. Even thinking about preparing can be scary.

“Beginning to study weeks in advance, forming a study group, getting a good night sleep before the final and eating a healthy fulfilling breakfast the morning of the final are all ways to boost your score,” Bendyna said.

Nutrition and getting enough sleep is critical to student success. Having the right amount of sleep and a healthy breakfast will help you retain your studied information.

A fun event to attend for anybody would be the late night breakfast the cafeteria offers during finals week, it is a good time to hang out

Photo courtsey of Samantha Marino

By Samantha Marino Contributing Writer

veteran spotlight November/December 2014

11 Vol. 53 Issue 3

By Katelyn Evans Editor Americans acknowledge the sacrifices of its soldiers each year on November 11 with a variety of solemn ceremonies This year Mary Ann Durant, Instructor of Nursing, wanted to say thank you in a special way that required the help of her students in her Health Care Science writing class.

Inspired by a Boscov’s ad that asked for the community’s help in creating or buying Christmas cards for veterans overseas, Durant decided that it was the perfect opportunity to thank veterans for their service.

“The students were ecstatic when the card idea was proposed, and several individuals even created more than one card,” Durant said.

“The student’s ultimate reward is in the heart, knowing that he or she is giving a glimmer of light and hope to

a veteran by making a difference in that person’s life through remembrance.”

On November 11, HM3 (FMF/SW) Maurice Stover, one of Durant’s students, presented the decorated Christmas greeting cards to (Ret.) Brian T. Johnson, Alvernia University Veteran’s Club Acting President and Project Manager of the Veteran’s Center.

Typically Health Care Science 300 is a core writing course that focuses on introducing students to various writing styles and techniques.

The course covers how to build resumes, the basics of creating health care proposals, principles of reviewing literature, and a brief overlook of medical terminology.

However, Professor Durant wanted to incorporate the Boscov’s campaign into her HCS 300 class because it gave her students a creative way to encourage and thank the veterans while

giving them a practical way to practice writing.

Participating in Boscov’s Christmas Greetings for Veterans Overseas was a great way for Alvernia students to demonstrate the university’s core values.

The project also helped the Health Care Science department raise awareness for Alvernia’s new Veterans Center.

If you missed the chance to participate in Boscov’s Christmas Greetings for Veterans Overseas, there is still the opportunity to send a veteran a holiday greeting.

Organizations like the American Red Cross annually collect Christmas cards for veterans; more information for their Holiday Mail for Heroes drive can be found at http://www.redcross. org/support/get-involved/ holiday-mail-for-heroes.

Student officers include: Brian Johnson, Interim President; Heather Foreman, Vice President; Brianna Whitton, Secretary, and Casey Green, Treasurer. Mr. Curtis Stevens, Captain, U.S. Navy (Retired), a student in the Ph.D. in Leadership Program serves as the Veterans Advocate in the Veterans Center.

Contributing greatly to the success of the Veterans Club are the following individuals: Dr. Thomas Flynn, President of Alvernia University; Dr. Joseph Cicala, Vice President of University Life and Dean of Students; John McCloskey, Admissions/Vice President of Enrollment; Dr. Claire Murphy, Director of Health and Wellness, and Shanna Bossler, Undergraduate Admissions.

Our newly dedicated Veterans Center is located on the second floor of Bernardine Hall, across from the Career Development Center.

The funding for construction of the Center was donated by Board of Trustee member and veteran, Carl Anderson and his wife Debbie.

A debt of gratitude is owed to the Andersons and Dr. Flynn who facilitated their contribution.

The purpose of the Veterans Center is to provide support in a centralized manner to Alvernia University’s active military and veteran students in alignment with the Franciscan ideals of the institution.

Goals of the Center include increased recruitment and retention of this underserved population, by following the 8 Keys to Success set forth by the U.S. Department of Education, Veterans Affairs, Defense, and Labor Departments.

The plan for the center was endorsed by the Board of Trustees in December, 2013, and led to the dedication and blessing of the Veterans Center on September 3, 2014.

As a Vietnam War combat veteran, I have a tremendous respect for military veterans. The citizens of the United States owe a debt of gratitude to these men and women.

Unless you have walked in their shoes, you may not fully understand the sacrifices they have made to ensure the freedoms we enjoy in our country.

Providing a venue for veterans to receive a college education is the least we can do for these patriotic

Photo courtsey of Katelyn Evans

Christmas Greetings For Our Veterans

ABOVE: HM3 (FMF/SW) Maurice Stover (left), one of Durant’s students, presented the decorated Christmas greeting cards to (Ret.) Brian T. Johnson (right), Alvernia University Veterans Club Acting President.

RIGHT: A QR Code for the Red Cross’ “Holiday Mail for Heroes” program.

Alvernia Veterans Club: Serving Those Who Served

The Alvernia University Veterans Club was re-organized on August 8, 2013.

Alvernia University has been recognized as a Veteran Friendly institution by Military Friendly Schools for the years 2013 to 2015.

The club has been an active member of the Student Veterans of America since October 2013. Although our club is relatively young, though our car shows, we have donated more than $2,500 to the Keystone Wounded Warriors.

All students, faculty and staff are welcome to become members of the Veterans Club, including those who have never served in the military.

You may contact any of the club officers or advisors for information on joining and becoming an active member of the club.

The advisors for the Veterans Club are Jason Deitz, Assistant Director, Student Financial Planning; Edgar J. Hartung, Criminal Justice Department Chair and Barry Harvey, Criminal Justice Professor.

Americans.

Veterans, as a whole, are a more mature group of students and as such, are dedicated to receiving an education. They are excellent students.

However, we must be mindful that combat veterans bring with them memories of terrible events, including, the loss of comrades in battle, the sacrifices of their families and issues of readjusting to civilian life.

We need to be mindful of their experiences when we have them in our classes.

“Active duty, Reserve, and Veteran students are a great resource at Alvernia University because these students fully understand the values

of selfless service, moral courage, leadership, and trust,” Deborah Geiger, Criminal Justice adjunct professor, and retired Colonel, United States Army, said.

“The care and services that the Alvernia community provides to those that served our Nation is visible throughout the campus and is embodied in the Franciscan idea of compassionate love and servant to all.”

“I believe the veteran population on campus will continue to grow as our Nation’s most treasured resource-the military members-discover the commitment and traditions at Alvernia and embrace the core mission of knowledge joined with love.”

Photo courtsey of Carey Manzolillo

By Edgar J. Hartung, M.A., J.D. Criminal Justice Department Chair; Former Captain, U.S. Air Force

Graduate and Adult Education

Winter Sessıon

Starts December 15th & January 5th Winter One (Dec. 15th–Jan. 16th) Undergraduate and Adult Education: ART 190-W1: Introduction to Digital Photography BIO 109-W1: Human Biology BIO 203-W1: Biosphere COM 290 or ENG 290-W1/W2: North American Folklore & Culture ENG 103-W1: Introduction to Poetry HIS 112-W1: The Study of American History PED 304-W1: Wellness for Life PHI 105-W1/W2: Introduction to Philosophy PHI 210-W1: Professional Ethics PSY 101-W1: Introductory Psychology PSY 208-W1: Human Development Across the Life Span SOC 111-W1: Principles of Sociology THE 105-W1/W2: Foundations of Theology THE 210-W1: Medical Moral Theology THE 225-W1: Global Issues: Gospel Perspective

Graduate:

r e t s i ! g e R day To

COR 520-W1: Ethics and Moral Leadership MBA 502-W1: Accounting for the Workplace MBA 506-W1: Economics & Finance MBA 520-W1: Marketing Services

Winter Two (Jan. 5th–Jan. 16th) Undergraduate and Adult Education: MAT 208-W2: Introductory Statistics

Interested in getting ahead this winter break? Then stay on course by taking advantage of Alvernia’s Winter Session.

Courses are offered in accelerated formats: Online and Blended.

Register today online at www.alvernia.edu/winter All courses are accredited, and the credits are readily transferable.

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