Der Hexenkreis Alumni Newsletter Fall 2015

Mortar Board Newsletter Der Hexenkreis Chapter Dear Mortar Board Alumni,

DECEMBER 2015

Happy Holidays! As the fall semester comes to a close, I am so proud to update you all on what we have accomplished over the past few months.

Thanks to our communications chair, Brian Murphy, we started off our semester with a full rebranding of the Mortar Board/Der Hexenkreis name, complete with a new website (www.mbdh.org), logo, and Mortar Board/Der Hexenkreis apparel for our current tapping class to promote our presence and mission on campus.

To strengthen community relations, service chair Skyler Erickson, spearheaded our co-sponsorship of Cornell’s Homecoming 5K, with all proceeds donated to United Way of Tompkins County. Mortar Board promoted the event and members woke up bright and early on a Saturday morning to participate!

Our Leadership Award recipient, Electric Buffalo Records, is Cornell’s first ever student-run, not-for-profit, record label who has held several artist showcases throughout Fall semester. Mortar Board promoted events and looks forwards to continue supporting their efforts, along with student talent, moving forward.

In November, we hosted our annual Leadership Reception in the historic A.D. White House to acknowledge outstanding young leaders from the Class of 2017 who exemplify our three ideals: Leadership, Scholarship, and Service. Leaders in attendance represented a wide breadth of organizations and interests of our Cornell community leading to substantive discussions on our community’s initiatives for diversity, mental health, service, and leadership. Early next semester, selections for our 125th Tapping Class will be made up of a pool of applicants reaching beyond leaders who were able to attend our reception.

We were also pleased to host Professor Bruce Monger as our Last Lecture. Professor Monger teaches Introductory Oceanography to the the largest class at Cornell, with upwards of 800 students each semester. His course was even noted in The New York Times’ article “10 Courses With a Twist.”

Even with all that we had this semester, we found time to bond as a Tapping Class with a large number of fun, social events, such as barbecues, Friday afternoons at Regent, and a three-day retreat during fall break. Not only have we strengthened connections within our Tapping Class, we have also made a more conscious effort to stay connected with our Mortar Board/Der Hexenkreis alumni – please do not hesitate to reach out to us!

I am so proud of all the effort our current members have put into this organization thus far. I know we are a powerful group of student leaders that can leave a lasting legacy on this campus with our continued efforts. We have enjoyed our senior year together so far and have already achieved so many of our goals we set for ourselves at the beginning of the school year. We’re looking forward to another productive semester together and are so excited to welcome the 125 th Tapping Class in just a few months!

Ad Der Hexenkreis, Rebecca Powers, President 124th Tapping Class

Give a gift to Mortar Board: www.gofundme.com/mbunitedway Join us on Facebook: facebook.com/groups/385257701508772/ Visit our website: mbdh.org

LAST LECTURE FALL 2015 Written by Michael Charles, Last Lecture Chair This Fall, the 124th tapping class was proud to present Dr. Bruce Monger to continue on our Last Lecture Series.

Monger, Cornell’s beloved Oceanography professor, challenged the audience to dream big in his lecture titled, “My Slightly Unusual Life - Journey And Some Important Things I Have Learned Along the Way…” Before his days as an oceanographer, Monger worked for the logging industry in Shelton, Washington. One summer, he took a solo motorcycle trip to Colorado, and while passing through Utah, checked into a motel and had an epiphany. “If I just wanted to ride my motorcycle past Colorado, I just could,” he thought, “then I can do whatever I want.” The empowering idea inspired him to think about what he might do with his life and to dream with a new perspective, one without restrictive limits or doubts.

David Navadeh/Sun Photographer

Monger decided that he loved science and wanted to travel. Studying oceanography was the perfect way of tying the two together. He proceeded to enroll in a local community college, transferred to University of Washington, where he earned his B.S. and M.S., and graduated with a Ph.D. from the University of Hawaii. Through oceanography, Monger has had the opportunity to travel all over the world studying and teaching.

At Cornell, Monger has been teaching since 2006 with about 1,000 students in each lecture. Every semester, he never fails to encourage students to use our elite education to give back. He believes students need to change the world for the better, because the communities we come from are those that have helped us reach our full potential. Monger has inspired many students to chase big dreams throughout his years at Cornell, and Mortar Board was lucky to have partnered with him for this semester’s Last Lecture.

FALL 2015 SERVICE PROJECT UNITED WAY OF TOMPKINS COUNTY After promoting the event all week, actives and alumni woke up bright and early on Homecoming, to run a collective 24.8 miles and raise funds towards the United Way of Tompkins County.

While a 5K isn’t necessarily a marathon, breaking the cycle of inequality tests individuals beyond their limits. In response, MB launched a modest, yet impactful alumni donation campaign with a goal of $15 for each 124 and we’re already over 10% there!

WWW.GOFUNDME.COM/MBUNITEDWAY A $5 donation can provide 25 pounds of food, 2 years of community newsletters to a household, or three hot, nutritious meals. Continue Mortar Board’s tradition of service to the community and donate above.

2015-16 LEADERSHIP AWARD Written by Jacob Grossfeld, Electric Buffalo Co-founder Electric Buffalo Records began as a hopeful response to the lack of a cohesive musical community at Cornell. Realizing the wealth of talent, but shortage of resources, EBR differentiates itself from other campus institutions by providing a full-service staff dedicated to achieving tangible results for student artists. By offering recording, booking, and promotional opportunities, we aid in the production and distribution of all the amazing music coming from the Hill.

But artists’ development isn’t our only priority. We also provide hands-on training for students looking to pursue an administrative relationship with the label. As a result, we partner with the Cornell Media Guild which operates WVBR 93.5 FM and CornellRadio. com, allowing us greater access to resources, a recruitment advantage, and the fulfillment of the Guild’s vision to be a comprehensive media organization that gives precedence to giving excellent training to student volunteers.

Last semester, we built the foundation of Electric Buffalo by focusing on recruitment, planning our general objectives, establishing roles, and evaluating our infrastructure. Our momentum inspired quick development which culminated in our first, semi-annual artist showcase and our first album release— a compilation record consisting of ten songs from nine different Cornell artists. This semester, we held our second successful artist showcase, released one single, and are currently working on recording two separate EPs and expanding radio exposure by recording interviews and scheduling live on-air performances. Additionally, we released a single slated in mid-December and anticipate an LP in February.

Through the aid of the Leadership Award, we hope to considerably expand our operations next semester. The gift will broaden our equipment inventory, expand our recording services to more students, and above all, encourage artistic spirit within the student body. For this, we are grateful.

FALL 2015 SNAPSHOT 124s enjoyed a beautiful Fall Break on Lake Ontario, complete with plenty of hiking, campfires, and bonding over the perfect few days to get away from incoming projects and prelims.

Thanks to our VP, Spencer Nord, we were all well fed with delicious salmon, chicken, and taco dinners. Even some chocolate bacon may have been involved. A few gutsy MB-ers even took a midnight polar plunge into the lake - brrrrr.

124th EXECUTIVE BOARD Rebecca Powers, President Hometown: Belmont, M.A. Major: Civil Engineering Campus Involvement: American Society of Civil Engineers, Engineering Leadership Certificate Program, Steel Bridge Project Team

Spencer Nord, Vice President Hometown: Massapequa, NY Major: Industrial and Labor Relations Campus Involvement: Student Assembly Finance Commission, Interfraternity Council, ILR Peer Advisor

Manuel Fernandez, Membership Chair Hometown: Los Angeles, CA Major: Biology Campus Involvement: Plant Biology in Scanlon Laboratory, CURB, Orientation Steering Committee, Men’s Water Polo Team

Brian Murphy, Communications Chair Hometown: West Long Branch, NJ Major: Government, Performing and Media Arts Campus Involvement: Melodramatic and Flexible Theatre Companies, Schwartz Ambassador, Office of the Assemblies Division of University Relations, Meinig Scholar

Natalie Rosseau, Leadership Award Chair Hometown: River Forest, IL Major: History Campus Involvement: Campus Information and Visitor Relations, Cornell Ambassador and Arts & Science Ambassador, CommunityEngaged Nutrition Intervention Group, Pi Beta Phi Skyler Erickson, Service Chair Hometown: Littleton, CO Major: Operations Research and Information Engineering Campus Involvement: AguaClara, Mundial Club Soccer, Sigma Chi, Pi Sigma Epsilon Business Fraternity, Meinig Scholar Kristi Krulcik, Social Chair Hometown: Saratoga Springs, NY Major: Communication Campus Involvement: Cornell Radio, Ellevate Cornell, Campus Connection, Communication Student Advisory Board, Kitsch Michael Charles, Last Lecture Chair Hometown: Longmont, CO Major: Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering Campus Involvement: American Indian Science and Engineering Society, American Indian Program, Beta Theta Pi, Butcher Lab, Car Fuel Cell Team, College Mentors for Kids, CU Jazz

Roberta Dougherty, Membership Development Chair Hometown: North Wales, PA Major: Psychology and History Campus Involvement: Orientation Steering Committee, Peer Review Board, Campus Information and Visitor Relations, Developmental Memory and Law, Alpha Xi Delta, Residential Student Congress Maria Jiang, Alumni Relations Hometown: Reading, PA Major: Applied Economics and Management Campus Involvement: CALS Peer Advisor, Green Revolving Fund, Environmental Collaborative, Ellevate Yasmin Alameddine, Alumni Relations Hometown: Toronto, Canada Major: Psychology and History Campus Involvement: Slope Media Group, Communication Teaching Assistant, Communication Research Assistant, Communications Student Advisory Board, Order of Omega, Delta Gamma

124th TAPPING CLASS Linda He Hometown: Johns Creek, GA Major: Economics Campus Involvement: CAPSU, The Asian and American Center, Public Service Center, Project Hope Maggie Davis Hometown: Belmont, MA Major: Biological Sciences Campus Involvement: EMS Crew Chief, Cornell Outdoor Education, Biology Student Advisor, Computational Physiology Lab Mark Lapointe Hometown: Ellicott City, MD Major: Electrical and Computer Engineering and Computer Science Campus Involvement: Cornell Republicans, Cornell Review, Student Assembly, Financial Aid Review Committee, Pi Kappa Alpha Kendall Grant Hometown: East Islip, NY Major: Industrial and Labor Relations Campus Involvement: Panhellenic Council, Cayuga’s Watchers, Avon Global Center for Women and Justice Juliana Batista Hometown: Southborough, MA Major: Industrial and Labor Relations Campus Involvement: Student Assembly President, AIDS Awareness Week, Delta Delta Delta, ConsentEd Matthew Harkins Hometown: Erie, PA Major: Industrial and Labor Relations Campus Involvement: WVBR Amanda Rubin Hometown: Marlboro, NJ Major: Human Development Campus Involvement: Special Olympics, EMS, Human Ecology Ambassador, Best Buddies

Zachary Cesaro Hometown: Avon, CT Major: Chemical Engineering Campus Involvement: Cornell University Sustainable Design, Sigma Phi, Swimming Team Garrison Lovely Hometown: Newton, PA Major: Industrial and Labor Relations Campus Involvement: Prison Reform and Education Project, Senior Class Campaign, Meinig Scholar, Convocation Committee, Order of Omega, Delta Tau Delta, Slope Day Saif Ali Azam Hometown: Anaheim, CA Major: Biology Sciences, Economics, Chemistry Campus Involvement: Meinig Scholar, Muslim Cultural Association, Phi Delta Epsilon, Student Assembly Appropriations Committee, Cornell Badmaash dance team Ryan Enderby Hometown: Penfield, NY Major: Applied Economics and Management Campus Involvement: Cornell Concert Commission, Student Assembly Infrastructure Fund Committee, Convocation Committee, Traditions Fellow, Reunion Clerk Rina Kang Hometown: Toronto, Canada Major: Architecture Campus Involvement: Cornell Council for the Arts, Sustainable Design NYC Tech, Centre d’ Education Inclusif design team.

Matthew Henderson Hometown: Cazenovia, NY Major: Applied Economics and Management Campus Involvement: Student Assembly, Phi Gamma Nu, CALS Tutor

124th TAPPING CLASS John Lowry Hometown: Bethesda, MD Major: Government and Neurobiology Campus Involvement: Food Recovery Network, 2016 Class President, Tata-Cornell Agriculture Initiative Jevan Hutson Hometown: Crawley, England Major: Information Science Campus Involvement: Haven President, Student Assembly LGBTQ Rep, Every1 Campaign, POPSHOP, Meinig Scholar Connor Riser Hometown: Cary, NC Major: Industrial and Labor Relations Campus Involvement: Interfraternity Council, Sigma Pi, Phi Alpha Delta, Convocation Committee Jacob Cohen Hometown: Buffalo, NY Major: Government Campus Involvement: Glee Club, Cornell Orchestras Concertmaster

Emily Dries Hometown: Tappan, NY Major: Biological Sciences Campus Involvement: Alpha Phi Omega, Biology Student Advisor, Robertson Infant Lab Brenna Mockler Hometown: Davis, CA Major: Physics - College Scholar Campus Involvement: Athlete Ally, Society of Physics Students, Varsity Women’s Soccer Brandon Yeh Hometown: San Marino, CA Major: Hotel Administration Campus Involvement: MGLC President, Cornell Undergraduate Asia Business Society, Pi Delta Psi, Inc., Ye Hosts Honorary Society, Order of Omega Benjamin Zehr Hometown: Jalna, India Major: Applied Economics and Management, International Agriculture and Rural Development Campus Involvement: AIESEC, Last Call, Business Asia Journal

Joe Spivak Hometown: Vestal, NY Major: Communications Campus Involvement: Orientation Steering Committee Chair, Big Red Bears mascot, Communications TA

Ayanna Hall Hometown: New York, NY Major: Sociology, Business Minor Campus Involvement: BSU, Les Femmes de Substance, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

Carolyn Sussman Hometown: New York, NY Major: Information Science Campus Involvement: Cornell Hillel, Sigma Delta Tau, Order of Omega, Alumni Reunion Clerk

Benjamin Rogers Hometown: Geneva, IL Major: Applied Economics and Management Campus Involvement: Varsity Football Team, Student Athlete Advisory Committee, Alpha Kappa Psi

Emma Johnston Hometown: Fremont, CA Major: Government Campus Involvement: Student Assembly VP, Anabel’s Grocery, ECO, Meinig Scholar

Antoine Saint-Victor Hometown: East Orange, NJ Major: Biological Scienees Campus Involvement: BSU, Men of Color Council, Senior Class Campaign

MORTARBOARD APPAREL

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Edited by Yasmin Alameddine and Maria Jiang Contact us at yaa6@cornell.edu or mwj38@cornell.edu