5 minute read
Connections
from October 2018
by The Herald
Campus Connections
By Reed Herter ’22 Herald Contributor
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The Campus Connections Program is a newly instituted service for first-year students. It takes all first-year students and pairs them up with a mentor on campus. These mentors are staff members who volunteered, and they “are the people not interacting with students on a daily basis,” as John Young, the Dean of Admissions, put it.
The purpose of the mentors is to act as a more personal resource on campus, especially for new students, and, of course, to make connections with those students. MaryAnn Rolfe, Assistant Director for Campus Initiatives in Alumni and Alumnae Relations, described it by saying that it “doesn’t have to be about academics.” The point is to have a
resource — to “have a person to ask questions to.” The program allows a staff member on campus to provide support for students, who will be able to know another person on campus.
By creating such connections, students have another friendly face and another type of resource for a variety of situations. Mentors can help students with projects, find other resources, act as a sounding board for homesick students and simply be another person to help them. As Vice President for Campus Life Robb Flowers quoted William Smith Dean Lisa Kaenzig, “the more adults students connect with, the better they become.” He also made it clear that this program is set in place to help the students, as the Hobart and William Smith institutions “don’t rely on size to assume connections will happen.”
The staff mentors involved are all volunteers for the program who responded to the call. About 60 staff members are involved from all over campus. Each staff member is paired with about 10 first-year students. These pairings are randomly assigned based on reference numbers. As some of the staff is from outreach, any staff members who may have already had a relationship were asked to switch students, so the expansion of connections was ensured.
This relationship is also very much up to the student, as they can meet with their mentor once or twice with the result of simply having met another staff member. Other students take it a step further and use their mentor more as a tool, though the relationship is completely up to the student and how much time he or she has to meet with the mentor.
The staff involved wanted to be sure that it was understood that this is not a program to replace any existing relationships and programs, but is another one to extend the relationships on campus and to help students who are new to the school. Rolfe said that the relationship formed “doesn’t rise to the level of academic advisor.” Instead, it is made to work in conjunction with the rest of the school’s pre-existing connections.
This is similar to a program used last year that connected families of students and prospective students with a liaison. The old program worked, but it focused more on the families and not on the students, so it was replaced with the new program, which focuses on students individually instead.
Overall, the staff who worked on this program seemed excited about the new program and its implementation, since they “get to meet the first-year class.” As a new resource open to first-year students, this program was made to make the transition to life at Hobart and William Smith easier, and to give students another resource for any help they may need.
Congress
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There are things that we do individually if it’s something that only William Smith students want to talk about, like in the coming weeks we’re going to have a meeting with Title IX that’s just WSC because some students expressed they didn’t feel comfortable with Hobart students in the room, so that’s an opportunity that we have to make a safe space for women.”
Both women emphasized their willingness to speak to and help all students achieve the change they want to see on campus. “I think that’s really our main goal, being the voice of all students on campus, because that’s our mission statement, that’s what we’re about,” asserts Ritter.
Some upcoming events where students can connect with WSC include Founder’s Day in November, their tabling events in Scandling Center and upcoming meetings they will host with President McGuire, Title IX and the cultural clubs.
If William Smith students want to get involved with WSC or have a comment or concern, they are encouraged to leave a comment in the new student government suggestion box, visit the WSC table in Scandling Center or follow and reach out to @williamsmithcongress on Instagram.
Come and visit our Quaker community
What do Quakers believe?
We believe all people can have a direct experience of the Divine, individually and in shared worship. We believe everyone is equal. We look for the Divine in every person we meet. Our guiding principle is love
Vote
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the mayoral race in Geneva was decided by a mere 12 ballots.”
McGuire’s email also stressed the importance of the upcoming elections for any students who are wondering why they should vote.
A third of the Senate is up for re-election, as well as the entire House. This means that control of Congress is up for grabs, with the potential for the Senate, the House, or both to be flipped.
Also on the ballot this November are many state and local elections, which have just as much importance in students’ lives as the national elections.
Any students who want to learn more about what will be on their ballot can go to online resources such as Vote411.org or Ballotpedia. org. For those who would like to stay politically informed beyond the elections, HWS offers a free online subscription to The New York Times. Copies of the newspaper and others can also be picked up around campus.
It is too late to register to vote in many states, but students from certain states have a few days to register and request their absentee ballots. These states include California, Connecticut, Illinois, New Hampshire, and Vermont. Students from New York who still need to request an absentee ballot should mail the request by Oct. 22.
Any students who want to get involved with HWS Votes can contact Lahiff or his partner, Cassidy DiPaola ‘18. The Herald encourages all students who are able to vote to do so on (or before) Nov. 6.
What happens in a Quaker meeting?
We come together in a circle for worship and sit quietly. We listen to the small still voice of the Divine within us. We speak only if we feel led to do so. We join hands when worship ends and greet those around us.
