Fuse fall 2008 | vol. 2 no. 3

Real the

Dealtyle Parent S › SEE INSIDE

FUSE STAFF

‹ ›

‹ ›

DENTS

contributors to this issue

BY STU

BY STU

ENTS UD

Jessica Dacchille ’07

TSan IC alumna from Elmhurst, New York, who DENI’m majored in English and minored in Integrated FOR ST

Marketing Communications. After graduation, I lived in London, and now I'm working in public relations in New York City.

ENTS UD

BY STU

ENTS UD

›

FOR ST

—Fuse staff

FOR ST

‹ ›‹ ›

DENTS

ENTS UD

DENTS

FOR ST

Having done our own college searches, we know how hard it is to make the right choice, especially when all the information you get sounds so similar. That’s why we’ve created Fuse magazine, a publication that gives you a firsthand glimpse of the Ithaca College experience through stories and photography by current IC students. Is Ithaca right for you?

It’s your choice—and we hope this makes it easier.

BY STU

The Ithaca College Experience | fall 2008

Writer/Editors Courtney M. Clemente ’09 Candace Edwards ’09 Meredith Farley ’09 Shanan Glandz ’09 Maggie Hibma ’09 Heather Karschner ’10 Alyssa Letsch ’10 Allison Musante ’10 Katherine R. Slifer ’09 Meghan Swope ’11 Photo Editors Samantha Constant ’09 Jeff Goodwin ’10

Jeff Penoyer ’08 I’m a recent graduate from Homer, New York.

I received my B.A. in health policy studies and a minor in health services administration. I am currently attending Pennsylvania State University, where I am pursuing a master’s in health administration.

Photographers Caylena Cahill ’10 Nick Deel ’09 Steven Gorgos ’09 Kyle Kelley ’10 Nicole McAdoo ’11 Heather Newberger ’10 Videographer Laura Caccavo ’10 • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Dean of Enrollment Planning Larry Metzger, M.S. ’87 Director of Admission Gerard Turbide Executive Director of Marketing Communications Tom Torello ’87

Sarah Dull ’08 I’m a recent sport media graduate from York, Pennsylvania, and I'm pursuing a career in media relations within the sports industry. Currently I’m interning with Michigan State University’s athletic communications department.

Angelique Powell ’09 I’m a senior psychology major and women’s studies minor from Latham, New York. After graduation, I intend to go to law school and would like to practice human rights law someday. I spent my summer working at a day camp for at-risk youth.

Executive Editor Bonny Georgia Griffith ’92 Managing Editor Lisa N. Maresca Web Editor Elise Nicol ’83 Copy Editor Nancy J. Jacoby Print Manager Peter M. Kilcoyne ’05

Rachel Hastings ’11

‹

I’m a sophomore television-radio major from Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. I’m interested in script writing, directing, producing, editing, and acting, specifically for television comedy.

I’m graduating a year early and will most likely pursue a career in television or film.

The Dorothy D. and Roy H. Park Center for Business and Sustainable Enterprise

contents

› 2 CAMPUS SCOOP • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

4

Secluded Spots to Hit the Books

13

ON THE COVER:

22 London Calling

Getting Fit, Staying Fit

Staying in shape in college doesn’t have to be hard. We’ll show you how.

After an exciting semester abroad, all roads lead back to London.

By Meredith Farley ’09

By Jessica Dacchille ’07

›

PLUS:

Our staff shares their favorite little-known study spots.

By Nikki Meseguer ’08

Five Ways to Beat the Freshman 15

24

Tip the scales in your favor with these simple tricks.

My Time on Capitol Hill

By Shanan Glandz ’09

An inside look at interning for Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton.

By Jeff Penoyer ’08

19 Part-Time Passions 6 Keeping Score A love of sports led one student to internships at Harvard and beyond.

By Sarah Dull ’08

16 The Rewards of Research A future attorney’s most inspiring class turns out to be psychology.

College is the perfect place to pursue your passions, whether you major in them or not!

By Kat Slifer ’09

By Angelique Powell ’09

26 King of the Court

8 Lights, Camera, and Much, Much More

Dane Fischer ’02 transitions from star basketball player to coach.

By Meredith Farley ’09

Find out what it takes to produce an ICTV program from the ground up.

• • • • • • • • • •

By Rachel Hastings ’11

28 THE REAL DEAL

11 Poetry in Motion Writing professor Katharyn Howd Machan expresses herself through poetry and belly dance.

By Shanan Glandz ’09

Got questions about IC? Our students have the answers.

››

Fuse Online Extras Did you know the Fuse website has fresh news, features, photo galleries, videos, and more?

Don’t miss out on these hot web exclusives.

Visit fuse.ithaca.edu today!

Volume 2, Issue 3. Fall 2008 Copyright 2008 by Fuse, Ithaca College. All rights reserved. Ithaca College Fuse (USPS 24143) is published four times a year, quarterly (winter, spring, summer, and fall)

by Office of Admission, Ithaca College, 953 Danby Road, Ithaca, NY 14850-7000. Periodicals postage paid at Ithaca, New York, and additional entry offices.

Postmaster: Send address changes to Fuse, Office of Admission, Ithaca College, 953 Danby Road, Ithaca, NY 14850-7000.

›

CAMPUS C O O P BUSINESS SCHOOL GOES PLATINUM Ithaca College’s new Park Center for Business and Sustainable Enterprise was recently awarded LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) platinum certification, making it one of fewer than a dozen buildings on college campuses to have received this honor— the highest awarded by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). The building, opened this past spring, is the first business school in higher education to earn platinum level certification.

Globally, the building joins a small list of other facilities to have gained platinum certification from the USGBC, including the William J. Clinton Presidential Center, Discovery Corp. headquarters, the Kresge Foundation headquarters, and the USGBC headquarters (the LEED folks themselves).

Construction on the College’s newest building, which will house many administrative offices including

the Office of Admission, is well under way. The facility was designed by HOLT Architects to achieve LEED platinum certification and is scheduled to open in spring 2009.

To learn more about the Park Center for Business and Sustainable Enterprise visit http://www.ithaca.edu/business/ index.php.

IC HOSTS RENOWNED WRITERS

Hunting Treasure in Cyprus Who says archaeologists have all the treasure-hunting fun? Physics professor Michael “Bodhi” Rogers and three of his students recently traveled to Cyprus where the group used cutting-edge, groundpenetrating radar to search for long-buried buildings and identify ancient city boundaries, roads, and defensive walls dating from the late Bronze Age. The team was searching for a large palace that would indicate a king or a centralized power during that period. Although their equipment allowed them to search underground without excavating, they also worked on two partially excavated sites as a way to test their new research technique.

The radar worked the best under very dry conditions, and scans suggested a large late Bronze Age road and other reflections suggestive of buildings. Professor Rogers recently submitted a proposal to the National Science Foundation to fund further studies in Cyprus and at Native American village sites in upstate New York.

Three accomplished writers are visiting Ithaca College this fall, continuing the traditions of two guest lecturer programs run by the Park School of Communications and the School of Humanities and Sciences.

This year’s Park Distinguished Visitor is award-winning journalist and author Tom Wolfe. Wolfe has written for the New York Herald-Tribune and New York magazine and penned several novels, including The Bonfire of the Vanities.

He will give a public lecture on October 30 following an informal dinner with several students and faculty.

Poet Stephen Dunn and essayist Barbara Hurd will also visit in early October as part of the Distinguished Visiting Writers Series. They will each perform a public reading and collaborate in teaching a master class for select students. Dunn’s book of poetry, Different Hours, won the 2001 Pulitzer Prize for poetry.

Hurd has won the Sierra Club’s National Nature Writing Award and was a finalist for the Annie Dillard Award for Creative Nonfiction. For more information about these guests visit www.ithaca.edu/rhp/events/ park and www.ithaca.edu/hs/ depts/writing/dvw.

Ithaca Gets Women’s Golf Ladies, grab your golf clubs. Ithaca College has added a women’s golf team to its intercollegiate sports lineup, making it one of 155 schools in the country to offer the sport. The team will compete year round, including a yearly invitational at the Ithaca Country Club and the NCAA women’s golf championships in the spring.

Former Senior PGA Tour champion Dan Wood has been hired to coach the team, and he has already begun to recruit and set goals for the coming season. “My goal is to make Ithaca a force in the Empire 8, in Division III tournaments in the Northeast, and eventually in the NCAA Division III national championship,” he says.

‹

Kevin Hurley '11 (inset) and Charlie Simkin '10 conduct experiments in Kalavasos-Ayios Dhimitrios, Cyprus.

fuse | fuse.ithaca.edu | fall 2008 • 3

Photos by J.J. Ignotz '08, Nick Deel '09, and Steven Gorgos '09

feature | SECLUDED SPOTS TO HIT THE BOOKS

“I like studying in empty classrooms at night because no one

Secluded Spots

to Hit the Books

by NIKKI MESEGUER ’08

S

o your roommate is having a Grey’s Anatomy party, and your floormates are in the lounge working on a group project. Need some space to study or somewhere to write that paper? Fuse has the perfect spot for you.

INDOOR HIDEOUTS The Classic Library Open weekdays from 7:30 a.m. to 2:00 a.m., the College library is the perfect retreat. Some of the best study sessions take place on the main floor, but there are a few prime spots that offer the silence required for cramming. Health policy studies alumnus Jeffrey Penoyer ’08 says, “The fifth floor of the library was my favorite place to focus because no one’s there and it’s dead quiet.” The walls are lined with individual work spaces featuring cubby-like desks, perfect for those seeking a little peace and quiet. And if you want to meet with a group more privately,

› GANNETT LIBRARY a few closed rooms are available on the same floor.

Campus Center Convenience A happening hub in the Campus Center, IC Square is a popular place for students to grab a coffee in the morning, meet a friend for lunch, and sneak in a few hours of homework. A little louder and a bit more

crowded than other spots, it’s an excellent space for Ithacans who like some background noise. "I loved to do homework there,” says psychology alumna Jenna McElroy ’08, “because I liked the social stimulation, and I'd get more distracted when it was dead silent.” You’ll find plenty of tables and outlets for plugging in your computer (wireless Internet access is available for students). A lesser known spot in IC Square called the fishbowl is a good place to be in the action and still get a little privacy.

Lobby with a View A haven of comfort and space, the outer lobby of Emerson Suites is underrated for studying. Outside the large room used for campus events

you’ll find a row of couches lining the windows. Curling up with a coffee, art history major Kristina O’Connor ’10 says, “The couches along the windows in Emerson Suites are the best place to study. It’s quiet here

› EMERSON SUITES

and not a lot of people are going through.” It also boasts a great view of the Park School with Cayuga Lake in the distance.

›

OUTSIDE MULLER CHAPEL

is around. No noise, no distractions.”

Class at Night If you’re looking for a place to turn off your cell phone and remain unreachable, try meandering into Williams Hall or the Center for Health Sciences (CHS) and finding an empty classroom at night. No one will ever find you, and chances are you won’t be interrupted. “I liked studying in empty classrooms at night because no one was around. No noise, no distractions,” says exercise science alumna Molly Friel ’08. “You could also get a dry erase marker and write on the white boards to go over notes and class material. Everything you needed was in one place.”

Other Indoor Nooks and Crannies There are plenty of other quiet corners on campus that can be great for getting work done. Physical therapy major Mark McAuliffe ’09 likes the physical therapy learning lab in CHS. “It has access to the resources I need, and I always see people from

my classes,” he explains. Computer labs are located in several buildings, as well as on the first floor of the West Tower (which also has a laundry room

› MCHENRY LOBBY

that makes for a good study area).

Clark, Klingenstein, and McDonald Lounges in the Campus Center are comfy spaces to study when they’re not in use. And one last secret space is McHenry Lobby on the fourth floor of the music building. Non-music majors are always welcome to sit and study awhile.

OUTDOOR HOT SPOTS Spiritual Retreat Behind Muller Chapel is an outdoor sanctuary with a few open picnic tables. A seat by the pond amid the scenery is a great place to write or collect your thoughts. Or bring a blanket and a book and sit on the grass with a friend to get some peace of mind and catch up on those chapters you’ve been putting off.

For some of the best places to crack your books off campus, visit fuse.ithaca.edu.

› CAYUGA LAKE

Enjoy The Scenery On top of Textor Hall, by the huge Textor ball, is another great place to crack your books. Grab your lunch and settle in to read and to take in an amazing view of Cayuga Lake.

fuse | fuse.ithaca.edu | fall 2008 • 5

Photos courtesy of Sarah Dull '08

feature | KEEPING SCORE

I

ion t a m r o f n I s port S t a k o o L My Inside

ULL ’08

by SARAH D

arrived at Ithaca College as a sport media major hoping to land an internship with a professional sport organization or team, preferably within the world of hockey. Working with college athletics had never crossed my mind until an opportunity with the sports information office presented itself shortly after my arrival in Ithaca. I was excited to have the opportunity to work in Ithaca’s sports information office, which runs the College’s athletic website, compiles team scores, and writes the press releases related to intercollegiate team play. I dived right into my new job with passion and enthusiasm.

During the final week of classes in the fall of my sophomore year, one of my professors, Ellen Staurowsky, informed me that Harvard University was looking for an intern for the spring semester. I was qualified for the position, as I had the necessary sports information knowledge from working in the Ithaca office. She encouraged me to apply, telling me it was worth taking the chance. I applied but didn’t get a response for weeks. Despondent, I had given up hope that I would even get an interview.

But while I was home for winter break I received a telephone call from Harvard’s athletic communications office. After a brief phone interview I was asked to fly out for a face-to-face meeting. Without hesitation, I agreed and booked my flight.

›

During my one-day whirlwind trip I met several staff members and attended the women’s basketball game against Binghamton that evening. After a late dinner with the staff, the athletic communications director offered me the position. Without a second

Above: The author at Big Ten Media Days for football in Chicago. Opposite page: At the Final Four and working at a Harvard women’s hockey game.

thought, I accepted. I arranged with IC’s sport management and media department to take the semester off and complete my full-time internship.

On my first day in mid-January, I became acquainted with the office and my coworkers and learned that I’d be providing coverage for softball and men’s and women’s tennis. My responsibilities included scoring all home games, writing and distributing press releases for each sport, and completing the game program for all home contests. A huge ice hockey fan, I volunteered to help with hockey games whenever needed. It wasn’t long before I became a fixture at both men’s and women’s ice hockey games, completing the NCAA score sheet.

As time went on, more opportunities became available. In early February I attended the men’s Beanpot, an annual hockey tournament in which four Boston area college teams (Harvard, Northeastern University, Boston College, and Boston University) compete for the Beanpot trophy. Later

HISTORY OF THE BEANPOT

in February, Harvard and Northeastern hosted the NCAA Women’s Basketball Final Four, and my coworkers and I were media relations representatives for the NCAA. I was responsible for obtaining quotes from student-athletes and coaches, transcribing the dialogues, and releasing them to the media. A lifelong basketball fan, I never imagined I would attend a Final Four tournament, let alone work the event and sit courtside for the championship game. The day after the championship a few of us attended the WNBA draft, and in April I traveled with the Harvard women’s tennis team to Evanston, Illinois, for the NCAA tournament.

Later that month I was hired by ESPN’s SportsTicker to cover a Major League Soccer match at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts. I was on top of the world, accomplishing tasks I never thought possible, and I was just 19 years old. And when the internship ended, I stayed on as a student assistant to help with an archiving project for another month. It was an unbelievable experience that I will never forget.

I never imagined I would attend a Final Four tournament, let alone work the event and sit courtside for the championship game.

The Beanpot debuted in December 1952 as a contest between four of Boston’s most celebrated colleges: Harvard University, Northeastern University, Boston College, and Boston University. The winning team gets a trophy and bragging rights as Boston’s best.

Now in its 57th year, the Beanpot shows no sign of waning in popularity. The whole community gathers from near and far for this annual event. And it’s not just men’s hockey either; the Beanpot is one of the longest-running women’s tournaments in all of college sports.

My four years at Ithaca, my IC sports information job, and my internship furthered my development in the sports information industry. I recently returned to the Division I level as one of three sports information interns with Michigan State University, where I’m covering men’s soccer and softball and helping during home football games and women’s basketball contests. I’m well on my way to talking about sports for a living, and it is all due to IC and these great internship experiences. How cool is that?

Interested in a career in sports information?

Learn more at www.ithaca.edu/ hshp/depts/smm.

After returning to Ithaca, I was given more responsibilities in the sports information office because of my Division I experience. I became the contact for the student assistants on football weekends and managed coverage of all participating teams, making sure the scores were put on the website in a timely manner along with other information on each contest.

Last May I was invited to return to Boston, where I helped my Harvard coworkers as they hosted the 2008 NCAA Men’s Lacrosse Championships. The volunteer staff was composed of sports information professionals from around the area. My duties included distributing materials to the media, taping and transcribing press conference quotes, and helping in the statistics booth. fuse | fuse.ithaca.edu | fall 2008 • 7

feature | LIGHTS, CAMERA, AND MUCH, MUCH MORE

LIGHTS, Photos by Bill Truslow

CAMERA, AND MUCH, MUCH MORE Go behind the scenes with an ICTV producer.

by RACHEL HASTINGS ’11

The Park School is also where I heard that the student-operated TV station, ICTV, was having rush night, where student producers would recruit cast, crew, and writers for the semester. I decided to check it out.

Being a big fan of The Daily Show and The Office, I was thrilled to find an ICTV show—This Week Tonight— that combined similar studio and on-location production. I ended up writing for the show, attending studio shoots, and learning the editing process from students who had worked on the show before. Later in the semester, Jeff Goodwin ’10, one of the show’s producers, approached me about becoming a producer for This Week Tonight. I knew the position would be challenging, but I was definitely up for it.

W

hen I first visited Ithaca’s Park School of Communications, I was told that hands-on experience was a big part of the televisionradio major. But I didn’t know how true that was until I went to my first class, Introduction to Media Production, which was held in one of the school’s two television studios. That’s when I knew I was at the right college.

It was great to see the end result, watch others be entertained by what I created, and know that I had an impact on something that would be enjoyed by friends, family, and all those who tune in to ICTV. Jeff and I completed a show proposal that outlined our production plans for the semester; these plans needed approval before we could begin. I hadn’t realized how formal the proposal process was, and it gave me the feeling that I was working in a professional studio in the entertainment industry—exactly the type of experience I would need to work at a television studio after I graduate.

The show was picked up for another season, and we immediately got to work. Spring semester rush night was held after winter break and we had cast auditions a few days later. At the first writers’ meeting, the staff brainstormed plot ideas. Soon enough the first episode, including studio segments and scripted character scenes, was written. But having a script for an episode is one thing— transforming it into a television show is quite another. That’s when I really felt my job as producer truly begin.

For This Week Tonight, the producers have to work with the many members of the cast and crew, in and out of the studio, to finetune performances and technical aspects of the show, including lighting, sound, and camera work.

Because the shows are all student run, fellow classmates and friends are working with (and learning from) one another. Shooting an episode takes a

fuse | fuse.ithaca.edu | fall 2008 • 9

feature | LIGHTS, CAMERA, AND MUCH, MUCH MORE

Watching This Week Tonight as a producer was such a rewarding experience. It was great to see the end result, watch others be entertained by what I created, and know that I had an impact on something that would be enjoyed by friends, family, and all those who tune in to ICTV. Taking on the challenge of becoming a producer for ICTV was the best decision I made that semester. I got to know people who shared a common interest in television, and even though I knew nothing about the production process before I started, other students were ready and willing to answer any questions I had.

It’s amazing to work in such a collaborative environment and know that my experiences here will be directly applied to my post-college career in comedy.

This Week Tonight broadcasts feature student news anchors, field and weather reporters, and production staff.

lot of time and effort, but when it starts to come together, it’s exciting to see the finished product taking shape.

Once an episode has been filmed, the producers must put it all together. I watched the footage, deciding which shots were best and putting all of the scenes in order. It gets tedious at times, but when you’re done, you get to experience something that, in my opinion, is the very best part of working on any television show: watching it.

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

It gets tedious at times, but when you’re done, you get to experience something that is the very best part of working on any television show: watching it.

‹

2 weeks in the life of a producer MON

TUES

WED

18 Three shoots for episode one: two off campus and one in the studio

19 Writers’ meeting to brainstorm ideas for o episode tw

25 Writers’ meeting to finalize plot for episode two

20

›

21

27

Editing for episode one

FRI

Morning shoot off campus for episode one

Transfer tape footage to digital

26 Field shoot and editing for episode one

THURS

28 Final field shoot for episode one

Check out the College’s original programming at www.ictv.org, and watch clips of past broadcasts on fuse.ithaca.edu.

22 Studio shoot for episode two; field shoot for episode one

29 Final editing for episode one; episode one viewing with cast and crew

feat ur e | POETRY IN MOTION

Poetry in

by SHANAN GLANDZ ’09

T

here is nothing ordinary about Ithaca College writing professor Katharyn Howd Machan. A published author of numerous books of poetry, the first poet laureate of Tompkins County, and an energetic teacher most often seen around campus dressed in flowing skirts, bright colors, and tons of tinkling jewelry, Machan is a true creative presence at IC. Oh, and she’s also a belly dancer.

Photos by J.J. Ignotz ’08

“I didn’t start dancing with any degree of real commitment at all until I was 27,” Machan remembers. “I started because a writer friend said, ‘I want to take a class downtown and I don’t want to go alone. Will you come with me?’ I fell in love with belly dancing that night!”

And Machan incorporates her love of belly dancing and welcomes its inspiration into her poetry. “Belly dance has strongly informed my poems for a quarter of a century,” Machan writes in the introduction to her poetry collection, Greatest Hits. “It’s a challenge and a joy for me to offer words about a community of artists whose expression celebrates the nonverbal.”

The complicated link between visual performance and poetry is the driving force behind Machan’s work. “Pretty early on I started writing about dancing, and I have a couple of books of belly dance poems,” she says, going on to observe that, within the body, “. . . the core, bloodbeat, is as essential to poetry as it is to dance.” fuse | fuse.ithaca.edu | fall 2008 • 11

feature | POETRY IN MOTION

At the Veterans Hospital

by Katharyn Howd Machan In Aphrodite’s deep and fullest hue I dance again the halls of Ares’ breath and touch the shadows, celebrating who instead of what within these walls of death.

My ankles offer golden bells that sing of light and wonder, as my hands reach out rich rhythm-echo of bright zills that ring the names of Love, close whisper to far shout.

How is it War can use a man like stone

›

to crush another, smiling proud and bold, Professor Machan teaches several belly dance classes, including one at Longview, a residential senior community.

then drop him cracked and breaking, left alone to crumble into dust as he grows old?

Again I whirl, my hot pink veil held high to every trembling smile, each waking eye.

Katharyn Machan has over 28 published books of poetry. Here are some of her most recent:

“Belly dance has strongly informed my poems for a quarter of a century. It’s a challenge and a joy for me to offer words about a community of artists whose expression celebrates the nonverbal.”

Poetry, and the visual performance of that poetry, have been Professor Machan’s passions since the age of 15. Writing major Natalie Ferrigno ’09, who has taken several writing classes with Machan, observes, “She had us practice doing poetry readings, which I think leads poets to push themselves a bit more.”

This belief in poetry as a performance art is still a bit revolutionary for some. Even Machan’s close friend Delilah, herself a belly dancer, doesn’t fully understand it.

“I have written a book about her called Delilah’s Veils,” she says, “and Delilah said, ‘Poetry’s great, but you know, why say it if you can move it?’” Indeed.

Machan has been bridging this divide between words and dance for almost 40 years.

Machan’s creativity often crosses the age gap as well. She teaches weekly belly dancing classes at Longview, a local residential senior community. Some of her best dance students at Longview are 90 years old, she says. But younger dancers are welcome to join, and Machan encourages her writing students to come to these classes.

Ferrigno, who has also taken Machan’s belly dance classes, says, “They were a fun experiment for me! I’m not really that much of a dancer, but she takes a very casual approach, trying to welcome people who would not normally take belly dancing. She focuses on building confidence, encouraging girls to dance.”

›The Professor Poems ›Flags ›Redwing: Voices from 1888 ›Sleeping With the Dead ›Greatest Hits

Publishing is the lifeblood of a writer, and Machan is no different. To date she has published 28 books and collections of poetry.

Sharona Ginsberg ’08, a former student of Machan’s, says that Machan also encourages her students to try to get their work published. “She continually pushed me to publish and would jot down names of magazines or publishing houses on my work to give me a direction to start. I really appreciated this. It got me thinking about my work on a real and professional basis, rather than as something I was completing for a grade in class,” she says.

Machan remains active in the publishing community herself. She is currently collaborating on a project with former Ithaca College student Andre Cuda ’02 called One for the Road, a collection of works about the experiences of writers who have dealt with the impact drugs and alcohol have had on their families.

Thanks to writing professors like Professor Machan, the idea of poetry as its own form of performance will play for a long time. “My favorite thing about Katharyn,” remarks fellow writing professor Elizabeth Lawson, “is that I’ll walk past her office and she can still be found sitting in a chair, writing a poem.”

See Professor Machan in action at fuse.ithaca.edu.

fe a tur e | GETTING FIT, STAYING FIT

by MEREDITH FARLEY ’09

FIT

Getting Staying

Photos by Shai Eynav, Bill Truslow, Sheryl Sinkow, and Ron Sherman

Y

ou’ve probably heard the horror stories about friends or siblings who came home for Thanksgiving break with the dreaded “freshman 15” filling out their college hoodies.

Much of that can be chalked up to being in a new place and getting used to a new routine that includes a buffet-style free-for-all at every meal. But don’t panic—the freshman 15 is not inevitable.

The good news is that campuses all around the country are now catering to the health-conscious student, and Ithaca College is no exception. In fact, IC was ranked as one of the 25 most physically fit colleges in the nation by Men’s Fitness magazine in 2006. Whether you want to maintain good fitness habits or find opportunities to cultivate new ones, there are so many fun and different ways to be active at IC that getting and staying fit should be a breeze.

Ithaca’s centrally located Fitness Center is free to all IC students.

It boasts floor-to-ceiling windows, an awesome sound system, and huge locker rooms. Inside you’ll find rows of treadmills, elliptical machines, arc-trainers, stair steppers, ergometers, weight machines, and tons of free weights—even an indoor climbing wall. The variety of equipment makes it a snap to vary your routine to keep things interesting and challenge yourself. fuse | fuse.ithaca.edu | fall 2008 • 13

feature | GETTING FIT, STAYING FIT

The Fitness Center also offers free aerobics classes like kickboxing, stepfunk, and spinning. If you want some customized tips, sign up for a (very reasonably priced) session with one of the personal trainers, all of whom are health sciences students. If you prefer to chill out while you burn some calories, yoga and Pilates classes are also available.

But if the gym isn’t your thing, there are plenty of other options to keep you moving. Hiking one of Ithaca’s famous gorges is a great way to get some exercise when the weather’s nice. There are many trails and paths you can explore while getting a great uphill workout. And don’t beat yourself up if you miss a day at the gym; even just walking around campus and hilly Ithaca counts as exercise.

If you love exercising outdoors but don’t want to drive to a gorge or state park, cross-country trails behind the Terraces residence halls and the South Hill Recreation Way, located just off campus, are great places to walk, jog, or ride your bike. The latter is a shady path that snakes through South Hill for over three miles.

Playing club sports is another great way to get some exercise (and meet new people!) without having to drag yourself to the gym. You don’t have to be a star athlete to participate— club sports and intramurals are all about camaraderie and enjoying yourself. Ithaca College’s sport club program offers 32 competitive, performance, and recreational sports, so you can chose the level that’s right for you. There are a lot of options, from Frisbee to badminton to cross-country

skiing. It’s a perfect chance to take up an old hobby or try something new.

Exercise is only half the battle.

Eating well is also important. If you find it hard to control yourself around all-you-can-eat ice cream stations, you can schedule an appointment with a nutritionist at the Fitness Center or take advantage of the Balanced Way meal plan. It’s available in all dining halls and features a plate containing balanced portions of starches, vegetables, and meats. It’s a great way to take the guesswork out of your meals and make sure you get the nutrition your body needs.

Don’t beat yourself up if you miss a day at the gym; even just walking around campus and hilly Ithaca counts as exercise.

One thing that can really pack on the pounds is alcohol. Not only is alcohol illegal if you’re under 21 but it provides empty calories and can lead to more bad food choices. Sober people generally don’t order an extra-cheese pizza at 3:30 in the morning. Keep those party nights to a minimum; it’ll be good for your health and your GPA. Above all, trust your common sense.

As long as you strike a healthy balance between moderation and indulgence, you’ll be fine and in great shape come Thanksgiving.

Climbing, weight training, and spin class are just some of the ways students keep fit at IC.

‹ Get more tips for staying healthy at fuse.ithaca.edu.

fe a ture | FIVE WAYS TO BEAT THE FRESHMAN 15

Tip #1

Five Ways to Beat

15

by SHANAN GLANDZ ’09

the Freshman

Listen up, students.

The “freshman 15” is real.

For me, it was more like the freshman 20, so dazzled was I by the constant, never-ending buffet of sugary cereals, grilled cheese sandwiches, and other delights at the dining halls. I went there for every meal, and by November of my freshman year, I had gained a full 20 pounds. I was horrified.

I’m now at a healthy weight, and I still have a meal plan. By following a few simple tips and using a little willpower, you can avoid the freshman 15 altogether.

THE MEDITERRANEAN DIET IS A MYTH—AT LEAST IN COLLEGE.

In the dining hall, pizza, pasta, marinara sauce, and carbonara aren’t cooked the same way they are in Italy. In fact, they’re filled with fat, and because whole wheat pasta isn’t always available, the carb options aren’t very healthy.

The Italian section is the hardest to ignore when you’re starving, too. “Don’t let yourself get too hungry before finally eating,” says Julia Lapp, assistant professor of health promotion and physical education. “That’s when most people crave carbs,”—and head straight for the lasagna.

Tip #2

KNOW AND LOVE YOUR STEAMED VEGETABLES.

Even though the classic entrées in all three dining halls are packing hidden fat and cholesterol, steamed beans, vegetables, or squash are always available to grab. Fill at least half your plate with steamed vegetables. That way you can’t possibly squeeze a grilled cheese sandwich or an extra scoop of mashed potatoes on your plate. And avoid the temptation to cheat on your veggies.

“Taking something healthy and dousing it with cheese sauce is always a shame,” Lapp says. #

Tip 3

MAKE YOURSELF VISIT THE SALAD BAR.

“Build your meal around a salad,” says Cole Lechleiter ’10, treasurer of the IC Nutrition Club.

Forget the lettuce if you want; pile on carrots and cucumbers if that’s more your style, drizzle your concoction with olive oil and vinegar (not honey mustard, ranch, or bleu cheese dressing), and eat it before you start checking out the other areas.

Once you finish the salad, you’ll be less eager to go scavenging for more food.

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Tip #4

WRAPS AREN’T ALWAYS HEALTHIER.

The food industry has succeeded in its campaign to portray wraps as a healthier option than sandwiches. The pool cover–sized dining hall wraps can be enormous calorie bombs. “If you ask for meat, you’d get twice or three times as much as you’d get in a sandwich,” warns dining hall student manager Eva Wermer ’09.

“Wraps are a good option to really fill up on vegetables,” says Elissa Goldman ’10, president of the IC Nutrition Club. She advises students to ask for lots of vegetables and be specific about limiting meat and cheese.

Tip #5

PORTION CONTROL IS KEY.

All-you-can-eat situations are particularly challenging, since they encourage random sampling—an easy way to mindlessly pile on calories. And knowing how much food to eat is a more exact science than you may realize, since most Americans are accustomed to wildly outsized servings at restaurants. “For example, a lot of people don’t know a serving of mashed potatoes is one-half cup,” Lapp says.

While college students can battle their affinity for grilled cheese sandwiches or the dessert bar, fighting an oversized culture is a war many students must win to stay healthy. Eating smart in the dining hall is just one way to practice healthier habits that will last through college and beyond. Even though the dining halls are guilty of serving up the stir-fry and the sloppy joes, all hope is not lost—you can fight (and lose!) the freshman 15!

••••

Meet the IC Nutrition Club!

The IC Nutrition Club, a campus organization dedicated to healthy eating awareness and improving dining hall options, is new for 2008.

Founded by Elissa Goldman ’10 and Cole Lechleiter ’10, the club is open to all students who have an interest in nutrition and health sciences. Right now the club is working on a series of healthy food guides for students who eat mainly in IC’s dining halls. So when you’re on campus this fall, check out the IC Nutrition Club, and be a part of changing the way Ithaca College eats—for the better!

fuse | fuse.ithaca.edu | fall 2008 • 15

feature | THE REWARDS OF RESEARCH

W

hen I was applying to colleges, the only thing I knew for certain was that I wanted to be an attorney. But one thing I didn’t know was what my major would be. As the oldest of six kids, two of whom have autism, I had dabbled in psychology in high school. I started thinking that having a background in the human mind would be useful for a future law career. I looked through all of the college information I had been receiving and eventually decided on Ithaca College.

The

›

Members of the research team prepare an infant for the study. Above right: Students monitor the infant's eye movements.

It was so rewarding to present our findings to our academic colleagues at Ithaca's Whalen Symposium and at other conferences and explain what we had spent so much time and effort studying.

these toys that the infants had never heard.

The videos featured separate trials for the infants to view; in some videos they would learn the word, and in others the infant’s comprehension of the word was tested.

The next step involved using a gaze tracker to track infant eye movement. When the presenter in the video asked the infant to look at a certain object, we were able to follow the infant’s eye movement and see if he or she had come to associate the correct word and object pair. We also tested various hypotheses, including whether gestures would aid in word learning and what types of gestures led to more effective word learning.

of Research Photos by Bill Truslow

by ANGELIQUE POWELL ’09

One thing that appealed to me about IC’s psychology curriculum was that all majors are required to participate on a research team for three semesters. Students are paired with a faculty adviser to conduct research of importance in various fields of psychology.

Students may choose from several research projects: analyzing media data, evaluating educational programs, and studying infant language learning. I chose to study infant word learning under Professor Nancy Rader.

I was extremely excited to take part in this hands-on research, which began in my junior year. The lab was the perfect, intimate setting for our team to discuss, analyze, calculate, and study. On our first day, Professor Rader made it clear to us that we were being entrusted with huge responsibilities, from

keeping our infant participants safe to making sure we were present during reception hours, when we would serve as a liaison between our team and those interested in our research.

That first semester was definitely a training semester. The team learned the research protocol and how to record and analyze data. We recruited infants for our study through word of mouth and by watching birth announcements and putting a call out on IC’s announcement website, Intercom.

To study infant language learning we used digitally edited videos to introduce infants to objects that they would not have seen before entering our lab. This included toys— Legos and a plush toy—that were created for the purpose of the study. We created words for

In our second semester, we had all of the same research responsibilities as before, plus we had to prepare to present our research at conferences. While this preparation took a lot of time, we continued to test infants in hopes that our results would support our hypothesis—that a synchronous gesture (one in which the emphasis of the movement matches the emphasis of the gesture) aids infant word learning more than an asynchronous gesture (one in which the emphasis of the movement is different from that of the gesture) does. We worked around the clock putting together abstracts and posters to proudly summarize our research. It was so rewarding to present our findings to our academic colleagues at Ithaca’s Whalen Symposium and at the Eastern Colleges Science Conference and the University of Scranton and explain what we had spent so much time and effort studying. Eventually most of us will have to make a major presentation in our professional lives, so this experience was practical, too. fuse | fuse.ithaca.edu | fall 2008 • 17

feature | THE REWARDS OF RESEARCH I’m currently in my final semester with the research team when I’ll be focusing my efforts on creating another poster for a conference in Maryland and training new team members. Looking back at the last year, I can say that this program is one of the most valuable assets that the psychology department has to offer. My team is graduating with practical knowledge you won’t necessarily find in undergraduate psychology programs at other colleges. The experience we gained will not only help us in our careers but will also make us attractive candidates to employers or when applying to graduate programs. We have a strong background in our field thanks to our department and this class.

Looking back, I couldn’t be happier with my choice of a major. I have real work experience under my belt. I have worked with research subjects, analyzed data, and presented results. Before college and this experience, I never thought I wanted to practice anything but law and now I know that while I still intend to pursue my goal of being a human rights attorney, I could easily be passionate about a career in psychology.

The Conclusion

To see video and to read more about psychology research teams at IC visit fuse.ithaca.edu.

Are you in?

Infants looked more at the object as it was being named in the synchronous condition and showed better comprehension for words learned in this condition. These findings suggest that by using synchronous gestures, caregivers can direct infant attention in a way that encourages joint processing of the object and the word. We found that this joint processing contributes to early word learning.

my.ithaca.edu

feat ur e | PART-TIME PASSIONS

› Environmental Society

› IC Republicans and IC Democrats

› Fife and Drums

PART-

› Ballroom Dance Club

TIME

› Laughter Yoga

PASSIONS

› PhotoFist › VoiceStream

› Men’s Ice Hockey

by KAT SLIFER ’09

High school was jam packed for me. In addition to staying on top of my schoolwork, I participated in theater, played basketball, and helped plan a few senior events. I was also a member of several clubs. Before I left for college I started to wonder what life would be like without all of those clubs and activities that I had grown to love. I didn’t want those things to end. Luckily, when I got to Ithaca, I saw that they didn’t have to.

Photos by Julie Chung ’08, Steven Gorgos ’09, and Bill Truslow

I loved being part of musicals in high school.

At IC, you don’t have to be a music or theater major to take the stage. Students can audition for musicals and plays put on by the theater department or by student-run organizations like Triple Threat Theater and IC Players. Other options for spotlight lovers include the Comedy Club, the slam poetry club Spit That, and the Dance Team.

› Ultimate Frisbee

› VoiceStream

If you love to sing—and not just in the shower— you’ll find many opportunities to show off your voice. Singing clubs include Ithacappella, Premium Blend, VoiceStream, and Amani Gospel Singers.

These a cappella groups perform throughout the year at different events both on and off campus.

“We really get to know one another on our tour, which we typically go on during the first half of Thanksgiving break,” says Premium Blend member Daniella Goodman ’09. Tours allow the groups to travel beyond the Ithaca community, so everyone, not just fellow IC students, gets a chance to hear their music.

Do you love to play an instrument or would you like to learn how? It’s easy to take lessons with graduate students or with local alumni off campus (I’m currently doing the latter). If you already play an instrument but don’t want to make it your major, consider joining an extracurricular performance group like Ithaca’s Cello Choir. It’s open to anyone and consists of majors, nonmajors, and alumni. “The main goal is to provide a fun

and musical experience for the players and to share our music with the college community and the surrounding Ithaca community,” says Laura Messina ’08, former president of the club.

Other instrumental clubs include Bell People (a bell-only musical group), Fife and Drums, and the Trombone Troupe.

Okay, you may be thinking, ‘I don’t have a musical bone in my body, but I play a mad game of table tennis!’ For those who like playing sports but don’t want the stress of varsity play, there are tons of sports clubs you can join. Sports clubs come in three types—competitive, performance, or recreation based—and include everything from the equestrian team to ice hockey to the

Ithaca has over 150 clubs and organizations... › Equestrian Team

fuse | fuse.ithaca.edu | fall 2008 • 19

feature | PART-TIME PASSIONS

› Tae Kwon Do Club › Ping Pong Club

so there’s sure to be something that appeals to you.

› Amani Gospel Singers

› IC Players aforementioned table tennis. Journalism major Jessica Bachiochi ’09 plays club soccer. “People still want to win but it’s more fun than anything,” she says.

College is the perfect place to learn more about what you love and discover new talents and activities that you can be passionate about.

› Bowling Club › Habitat for Humanity

and Women’s › Men’s Club Soccer

What if you don’t want anything to do with sports or performing? Ithaca has over 150 clubs and organizations, so there’s sure to be something that appeals to you. Clubs range from the cultural (French Connection) to the political (IC Republicans and IC Democrats) to the quirky (Do Anything Nice), and if you don’t see one you like, you can even start your own.

College is the perfect place to learn more about what you love and discover new talents and activities that you can be passionate about. Ithaca provides many avenues for you to explore. Take me for example. I’ve always wanted to play the violin. Recently I began to take lessons with an IC graduate. I practice every day for an hour or so. Even though I’m a senior writing major, I’ve finally been able to pursue my passion for music. So if you have a strong interest to pursue something—anything—outside of your major, go ahead and give it a shot. After all, learning and growing are what college is all about.

Have an interest you’d like to pursue?

› Accounting Club

Check out the following links to learn more.

› › › ›

Music ensembles www.ithaca.edu/music/ensembles/ index.php Theater www.ithaca.edu/orgs/icttt Center for Student Leadership and Involvement www.ithaca.edu/csli Recreational Sports www.ithaca.edu/sacl/recsports

› Breakdance Club

› Chess Club

On the docks at Cayuga Lake

By Jeff Goodwin ’10

For more cool images of Ithaca visit fuse.ithaca.edu/gallery.

fuse | fuse.ithaca.edu | fall 2008 • 21

feature | LONDON CALLING

I

recently got to “live the dream,” which is the way I refer to my post-Ithaca life. After graduating from Ithaca College, I decided to participate in the British Universities North America Club (BUNAC) Work in Britain program and resided in the charming area of Dulwich, southeast London, for six months. I always knew I wanted to do something different after graduating college and feared I would be full of regret if I didn’t challenge myself with a new experience. But I never would have had the courage or the confidence to make this bold move if it weren’t for the semester abroad that I spent at the Ithaca College London Center (ICLC) during my junior year.

by JESSICA DACCHILLE ’07

Like many young Americans, I didn’t have an opportunity to travel abroad until I arrived at college. I discovered that for roughly the same cost of a semester at IC, I could study almost anywhere in the world. Through the ICLC, I could take courses taught by British faculty and not incur problems transferring my credits. London’s diverse, metropolitan feel and cutting-edge fashion, music, art, and club scenes also make it a popular studyabroad destination.

›

The author and her flatmates (from left) Chelsea Theis ‘08, Annie Jacobs ‘08, and Mike Berlin ‘08 at their flat in West Kensington.

Because the UK is an English-speaking nation and many American expatriates live and work in London, it’s easy for American students who study here to fall into the trap of not venturing outside their comfort zones. The staff is aware of this and makes sure that each student becomes a proper Londoner. Unlike other programs where students are housed in dorms or a school-owned building, IC students must rent a flat. For many of us, this was our first experience with landlords, paying rent, and living on our own in a city.

Bill Sheasgreen, director of the ICLC, was extremely

helpful in this process. He and his staff were always there to offer assistance and advice to help us make the most of our experience.

Students also have the chance to take an internship for credit in a field they wish to pursue. This is a great opportunity to meet Brits and experience a work ethic and dynamic much different from those in America. I gained invaluable experience scouting new and emerging talent as an intern for a record label.

I helped find new artists for the label to sign by attending concerts and listening to demos and then giving feedback to a great manager who truly respected my opinion. Other Ithaca students also had positive internship experiences at places ranging from Parliament to publishing houses.

Photos by Jessica Dacchille ’07 and Bill Truslow

My time in London wasn’t all work and no play. We did have classes, but they weren’t scheduled on Fridays, which left three-day weekends open for travel. Air, rail, and bus travel are cheap and convenient from London. I was lucky enough to travel on ICLC-subsidized excursions and independently planned trips with friends, visiting places like Italy, Paris, Edinburgh, and Liverpool. The ICLC also offers walking tours of different London neighborhoods on a regular basis. All the tours are led by Bill, who has an incredible wealth of knowledge and makes the history and culture of London come alive at every turn.

Left: The changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace. Right: The Thames and Westminster, with Parliament, Big Ben, and the London Eye (ferris wheel).

›

London’s diverse, metropolitan feel and cutting-edge fashion, music, art, and club scenes make it a popular study-abroad destination.

When my London semester ended, I was sad to leave but was beyond satisfied with my experience. After living independently in another country, I had a heightened confidence about what I could achieve.

Members of the ICLC staff, who themselves had participated in BUNAC, encouraged me to try the program after graduation because they knew I was considering an alternative postgraduate experience. The Work in Britain program was exactly the exciting and challenging experience I had hoped for.

I lived with British friends and worked in public relations while gaining a more global perspective of life every day. Being in London for the second time was nothing short of amazing.

As my visa was winding down, the prospect of once again leaving London was bittersweet. Now that I’ve been back in the States for a few months, I can see what a positive impact the experience had on me. Potential employers are consistently impressed by people who have studied abroad and participated in programs like BUNAC. I know that my work experience in London has helped me further my career in public relations and the music industry.

I hope to return to London in the not too distant future either for graduate school or for work, but for now I’m content to look back fondly on all of my amazing memories.

Learn more about the ICLC,

›

Left: Ithaca students at Trafalgar Square. Right: Enjoying HobNobs at the Ithaca College London Center.

Cool courses to take at the

ICLC

Victorian Art and Society Study painting, costume, furniture, and monuments in terms of artistic and social value, and take field trips to museums and galleries.

and read about another student’s London experience at fuse.ithaca.edu.

Shakespeare Study Shakespeare where these famous plays were debuted.

British Comedy: Film, Television, and Radio Trace the evolution of comedic forms, and analyze the various contemporary genres.

Issues in Contemporary Urban Living: A Sociology of London Visit sites around the city, and plan and execute a small sociological study of London.

fuse | fuse.ithaca.edu | fall 2008 • 23

feature | MY TIME ON CAPITOL HILL

summer in ›My Washington, D.C., sparked a political flame within me that I never knew existed.

›

My Time On

Senator Clinton poses with her interns.

CAPITOL The train car screeched to a stop, the brakes let out a slow hiss, and the doors slid open. I stepped off the train and into the dark, haze-filled tunnel, people swarming around me. I was dressed in my new suit and tie, and my briefcase contained a couple of folders along with maps of the city. I was hesitant, but I felt like a million dollars. It was my first day as a United States Senate intern in the office of Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton.

The humid Washington, D.C., air hit me as I left Union Station and made my way to Capitol Hill. I walked through the park, through the main security entrance, and up to 476 Russell Senate Building, the oldest of three Senate office buildings, to meet my fellow interns. That morning would be the beginning of a summer that would change my perspective on government, policy, and politics forever.

My time as a Senate intern began doing the tasks that many interns do—answering mail and phones and giving tours. I enjoyed hearing from New York State constituents and other concerned Americans on a variety of issues ranging from the war in Iraq to health care. I quickly learned and adjusted

to the pressures of meeting deadlines and preparing for legislation to hit the Senate floor. I also adapted to the help-out-or-getout-of-the-way mentality and the competitive intern environment that comes with Senate culture.

After putting in time answering mail and running errands, my background in agriculture and 4-H led me to spend the rest of my summer working for Senator Clinton’s agriculture policy adviser. In my new role I helped research the 2007 Farm Bill, attended food stamp hearings, and sat in on briefings and meetings related to agriculture, while learning about other areas of concern in rural America. I also helped draft legislation that made provisions for people who

›

Photos courtesy of Jeff Penoyer ’08 and the press office of Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton

Hill

by JEFF PENOYER ’08

become farmers. I had the chance to talk with constituents concerned about horse slaughter, learn about carbon bonds, and investigate the bee crisis. I even had the opportunity to talk with New York State 4-H participants about my time in the Senate and agriculture in New York State.

Every day was new and more exciting than the one before.

The internship program gave my fellow interns and me a chance to meet and observe staff members involved at all levels and areas of the Senate. We had lunch with advisers during which we discussed health care, defense, appropriations, foreign affairs, and other topics. At the end of the summer, after observing Senator Clinton

Left: The author and Senator Clinton.

Right: Showing off team pride.

talking with constituents, speaking at hearings, and passing in the hallways, we finally had the opportunity to sit down as a group and personally talk with her. The experience was unforgettable.

On my last day, I walked through the Capitol building, observed proceedings on the Senate floor, visited the Capitol Rotunda, and soaked in the history and greatness of what happens on Capitol Hill. As I walked through the park toward Union Station for the last time, I took one look back at the buildings that had educated me about our government and cemented lifelong friendships with my fellow interns. I looked over toward the National Mall where I spent Thursday evenings playing on the Hill’s Angels Senate softball team and then descended on the escalator into darkness, where I met the train for my last ride up Connecticut Avenue.

My summer in Washington, D.C., sparked a political flame within me that I never knew existed. I left my experience in Senator Clinton’s office with a new appreciation for what every good government official sets out to do when he or she wakes up in the morning. The internship helped me to better understand legislation and how it relates to my major in health policy studies.

I left with a new understanding of the complicated legislative system, the importance of reaching compromise among many diverse interests, and a passion for participating in the political system.

I left with a new understanding of the complicated legislative system, the importance of reaching compromise among many diverse interests, and a passion for participating in the political system.

My summer in Senator Clinton’s office lead me to be involved in her presidential campaign as an official campaign representative for Ithaca College, sparking trips to New Hampshire and Pennsylvania to spread the word about her service in New York and generating many phone conversations with Americans across the nation. And even though she failed to win the Democratic nomination, she made those 10 weeks in Washington, D.C., and time working on her presidential campaign, fulfilling and memorable. I wouldn’t trade that for anything.

Learn about Ithaca’s Washington Semester Program at www.ithaca.edu/washington.

YES NO Political Jargon for Washington Insiders Caucus: A closed meeting of a group of persons belonging to the same political party or faction, usually to select candidates or to decide on policy.

Filibuster: The use of extreme dilatory tactics in an attempt to delay or prevent action, especially in a legislative assembly.

Fourth Estate: The public press.

Gerrymandering: To divide a territorial unit into election districts to give one political party an electoral majority in a large number of districts while concentrating the voting strength of the opposition in as few districts as possible.

Lobby: A group that works to influence the passage or defeat of legislation.

GOP: Grand Old Party, the acronym for the Republican Party.

Spin Doctor: A person responsible for ensuring that others interpret an event from a particular point of view.

Incumbent: The holder of an office.

Mugwump: An independent in politics.

Pundit: A learned person or authority.

fuse | fuse.ithaca.edu | fall 2008 • 25

feature | KING OF THE COURT

of the Court ‘

Dane Fischer 02 goes from basketball player to coach.

by MEREDITH FARLEY ’09

O Photos courtesy of the Rider University and Ithaca College sports information departments

ne of Ithaca’s former basketball captains is still courtside these days. Dane Fischer ’02, a former point guard and team co-captain for the Bombers, has been successfully pursuing a career in men’s college basketball since 2003. Fischer was recently named assistant coach at Bucknell University in Pennsylvania.

Fischer came to Ithaca College from Rochester, Minnesota.

He was originally drawn to IC by the sports management program and his desire to experience new people and places.

When he visited the school, he immediately felt comfortable on campus and in the area. “The place felt like it fit for me,” says Fischer.

That fall he joined the junior varsity squad. A year later he earned a spot as a starting point guard on the varsity team.

Fischer’s natural leadership abilities shined through on the court. While at Ithaca, he served as co-captain, was named the team’s most valuable player, earned an all-conference honorable mention, and received the Robert Congdon Basketball Award, an Ithaca honor given to the player that best exemplifies what IC basketball is all about.

IC head coach Jim Mullins trusted Fischer’s instincts and abilities enough to allow him to call offensive plays during the game and switch defenses at key times.

›

King

Dane Fischer played as a point guard for the Bombers.

“He was my best captain. He was probably the best leader I’ve ever been around,” says Mullins.

“He knew how to communicate with the teammates, coaches, and staff. The guys had so much respect for him they would listen to what he had to say with no resistance.”

Mullins also touts Fischer for leading by example.

“He was one of the hardest working kids I ever had.

He really was the coach on the floor. I could coach for another 20 years and not meet another one like him.”

Those leadership qualities have come in handy as an assistant coach at Bucknell, where Fischer splits his time between recruiting new players and working with the current team. He’ll sit down with the team and deconstruct film of their opponents or work with the players one on one.

Being such a dedicated player, Fischer felt a bit strange on the other side of the game at first. “When you start, it’s a little bit different; you think more as a player than as a coach,” explains Fischer. But he eventually got used to the role. “It does help

when it comes to relating to the players. Anytime you’re a former player, you get a little more instant credibility from the team.”

Fischer graduated with a degree in business administration and a minor in economics. Though his experience as a Bomber allowed him to amass knowledge of the game, his degree in business isn’t exactly collecting dust. In fact, it has been a real asset. “Business applies a lot to a basketball team,” says Fischer. “Especially when it comes to recruiting, which is a lot like sales.”

It seems that Fischer was able to marry his education and his passion for the game. “At first, I was going back and forth between the business world and coaching,” explains Fischer. “After graduation, I got a job as a financial consultant that lasted about 10 months, but I felt it wasn’t for me.

I missed the team setting and the games.”

Since he launched his coaching career at Williams College in Massachusetts in 2003, Fischer has steadily taken on new coaching responsibilities and challenges. In 2005, he

made the move to Rider University in New Jersey.

“My experience at Rider was great. The players and coaches I worked with were unbelievable. Rider was a great place to coach and a place where I was able to do a ton of hands-on learning.”

This past June, Fischer moved once again, this time to Bucknell University. “I made the move to Bucknell because of the great tradition they’ve established both academically and as a basketball program,” says Fischer. “The challenge of continuing that success and building on it was very appealing to me. And the national name recognition of Bucknell allows us to recruit players from the entire country.”

So what does the future hold for this player turned coach? “More coaching,” says Fischer. “I definitely want to be a head coach, but I need to focus on what I’m doing now. One of the things I’ve been taught is to focus on doing a great job where you are.”

“The guys had so much respect for Dane they would listen to what he had to say with no resistance.”

›

Dane Fischer as an IC player and as a Rider University coach.

For more information about the Bombers, visit bombers.ithaca.edu. To learn more about Dane Fischer’s new coaching job at Bucknell University, visit fuse.ithaca.edu. fuse | fuse.ithaca.edu | fall 2008 • 27

› Real the

Q&As with the Fuse staff

Q: May I cook in my dorm room?

A:

In every residence hall there is a common kitchen for students to use. Cooking appliances like hot plates, hot pots, and toasters are prohibited in dorm rooms, but microfridges are allowed. Students who live in the Garden or Circle Apartments have fully furnished kitchens that include a fridge, an oven, a stove, and a microwave. Some Circle apartments even have dishwashers!

Deal

SHANAN GLANDZ ’09

Q: What classes are open to Q: What are the benefits of

exploratory students?

A:

freshman housing?

A:

First-year (freshman) housing gives you the opportunity to live with students who share your status as a new student on campus and who will also be looking to make new friends. Your resident assistant (RA) will also organize special activities to make you feel at home. An extra perk: Ithaca’s firstyear housing is in a great location—right at the center of campus!

LAURA CACCAVO ’10

Q: Will I be able to choose who my roommate is?

A:

Absolutely! To choose your roommate you need your housing ID and your roommate’s housing ID number. Students receive a room lottery number that determines which day they register for their housing preference. Whichever roommate has the lowest housing number will register for both of you on HomerConnect, IC’s online registration system.

If you don’t already have a roommate in mind, you can use HomerConnect to view housing profiles that match yours and choose a roommate!

MEGHAN SWOPE ’11

Q: I’d love to take a road trip on the weekends. What’s within driving distance for a weekend escape?

CANDACE EDWARDS ’09

A:

› GOT QUESTIONS

YOU’D LIKE TO SEE ANSWERED IN A FUTURE ISSUE OF FUSE ?

LET US KNOW AT FUSE.ITHACA.EDU/TALKBACK!

Exploratory students can take courses in the liberal arts as well as in all of the professional schools. Working with a faculty adviser, students choose classes that fulfill general education requirements, selecting from a broad group of courses designed to pique interest and provide a foundation for their eventual major. Exploratory students are also among the first to register for courses each semester.

If you have a car, there are plenty of options for a weekend of fun on a budget. Nearby amusement parks include Darien Lake, just outside of Buffalo, and the Great Escape and Splashwater Kingdom, in Lake George. The nearby cities of Syracuse and Rochester—also college towns—always have something going on. Love baseball? The Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York, is a perfect place to spend a Saturday. Niagara Falls is also roughly three hours away, while New York City, Toronto, and Philadelphia are all approximately four hours from Ithaca.

MAGGIE HIBMA ’09

Ithaca at a Glance Ithaca offers a first-rate education on a first-name basis. Learn what you love from stellar faculty; start a club, intern at your dream job, or spend a semester halfway around the world—whatever course you set, you’ll love what you do. At Ithaca you’ll have lots of choices and plenty of opportunities to find your passion in life.

LOCATION In the center of the Finger Lakes region of New York State, our modern campus is 60 miles north of Binghamton and 60 miles south of Syracuse. The city of Ithaca is home to about 47,000 residents and neighboring Cornell University.

STUDENT BODY 6,250 undergraduates and 400 graduate students from 47 states, 3 U.S. territories, and 36 countries. Over 70 percent of students live on Ithaca’s hilltop campus, which overlooks Cayuga Lake.

›

FACULTY 461 full-time faculty and 212 part-time faculty STUDENT-FACULTY RATIO 12 to 1 ACADEMIC PROFILE 44 percent of current freshmen rank in the top 15 percent of their high school class. The high school average of most admitted students ranges from B+ to A.

PROGRAMS OF STUDY With more than 100 degree programs to choose from, Ithaca has something for everyone. To learn more about each school and the majors it offers, visit the websites below. A complete list of majors can be found on the admission website at www.ithaca.edu/admission/programs/index.php.

SCHOOL

School of Business

STUDENT ENROLLMENT

700

SCHOOL HOMEPAGE

www.ithaca.edu/business

Roy H. Park School of Communications

1,350

www.ithaca.edu/rhp

School of Health Sciences and Human Performance

1,300

www.ithaca.edu/hshp

School of Humanities and Sciences

2,300

www.ithaca.edu/hs

School of Music

500

www.ithaca.edu/music

Division of Interdisciplinary and International Studies

100

www.ithaca.edu/diis

For details about Ithaca’s application process, financial aid, tuition, and more, please visit www.ithaca.edu/admission.

›

DID YOU KNOW? ORIGINALLY ESTABLISHED AS THE ITHACA CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC IN 1892, ITHACA COLLEGE MOVED TO ITS PRESENT LOCATION ON SOUTH HILL IN THE 1960s.

OFFICE OF ADMISSION Ithaca College 953 Danby Road Ithaca, NY 14850-7000 P: (800) 429-4274 or (607) 274-3124 www.ithaca.edu

Office of Admission Ithaca College 953 Danby Road Ithaca, NY 14850-7000 (800) 429-4274 (607) 274-3124 www.ithaca.edu

Ready to kick your college search into gear?

We think Ithaca is pretty awesome—but don’t take our word for it. Join us for a campus visit program this fall and see for yourself. It’s a great way to learn about our academic programs, explore our beautiful campus, and meet faculty, staff, and current students.

OPEN HOUSE

ITHACA AND YOU

› Saturday, October 4, 2008 › Saturday, October 25, 2008

› Monday, October 13, 2008 › Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Register today at my.ithaca.edu.

Fuse is a green publication. Read it and recycle it. Or better yet—share it with a friend!

Fuse uses 23,169 lbs of paper which has a postconsumer recycled percentage of 25 percent: 48.65 trees preserved for the future • 140.5 lbs waterborne waste not created • 20,667 gallons wastewater flow saved • 2,287 lbs solid waste not generated • 4,503 lbs net greenhouse gases prevented • 34,463,888 BTU’s energy not consumed. The use of 100 percent wind power equates to these environmental savings: • 3,991 lbs lbs of CO2 emissions not generated • 2,714 miles of automobile travel saved • The equivalent of 213 trees planted.