RLC Voice Fall 2014

A Magazine for Residential Learning Community Students

nau.edu/rlc

what we’ve been up to...

04 Visual Communication - Tour of the Communication Building 06 Engineering - Tour of the Hoover Dam 08 Psychology - Brain Dissection 10 Residential Learning Communities - Rush the Rec 12 Education Houses - Faculty Dinner 13 Visual Communication - Friday Night Artwalk

A special message from...

Sue Belatti

assistant director of residential learning communities The colder temperatures and colorful array of leaves on the trees these past weeks are signs that fall is departing and winter is just around the corner. This visible change triggers in me a time to pause and reflect upon the past months of our fall semester here on the mountain campus. Like many, I am amazed at how quickly it seems the semester is going by. In fact, it feels like only a few short weeks ago we welcomed our new class of 2017 to the Lumberjack family.

For you new students participating in our Residential Learning Community (RLC) program, I would suspect that the build-up to this fall semester seemed to move at a much slower pace than the actual semester is unfolding.

Hard to imagine that the feelings you had when

stepping onto campus in August – feelings which might have included an unfamiliarity with the campus, not knowing many/any friends, or perhaps worrying about the rigor of your college classes – have been replaced in a very short period of time with an understanding of what it is to be a first year student.

Congratulations to you for navigating the transition to your college experience these past few months!

As you prepare for your final push to the end of the fall semester, I would encourage you to reach out to each other in your residential learning community and ask for direction and help from your mentor. Many things are possible as a community with the potential to impact each of us as an individual. My wish to you at this time of the semester is continued success with your transition.

Visual Communication Tour of the Communication Building

Writer Jasmine Coro

H

ome to students who learn and develop their passions in a professional yet creative manner, The School of Communication provides the tools, educators, and the environment to succeed. Members of the new RLC got a glimpse into their future when community mentor Ashlee Outsen and Professor Christopher Johnson led a tour of the Communication Building. They guided the students through various state-of-theart classrooms, design labs, equipment checkout, broadcast and radio newsroom, studios, and offices. They were able to give vital information including some secrets that non-RLC participants would not have the chance to know or see. For instance, Visual Communication RLC members were the first to see the new 3D printer, which is a tool for them to use in the near future. While walking around, students were also given the chance to network with future professors within the Visual Communication program. Learning about the technology and type of classes they will be taking, internships, special experiences, and jobs that are available, students were ready to jump into their new educational life head first.

With Outsen’s experience of being in the Visual Communication program, she was able to share her

personal experiences in learning and creating along with the importance of taking advantage of what the school has to offer. “I thought that touring the Communication Building would be a beneficial experience for the students in the learning community. It allows the students to become accustomed to the building they will be spending most of their undergraduate career in. Also, it helps them find where their future professors’ offices are, the open labs, and the cage where they can rent equipment and print projects,” says Outsen. Excited more than ever students found a new love for their new school and hope for their future in developing their talents.

Tour of the Communication Building

Engineering Tour of the Hoover Dam

Writer Craig Cutler

I

was given the unique opportunity, as a student photographer, to accompany a group of engineering students on a trip to the Hoover Dam. Five students from the engineering RLC, their community mentor, and one engineering faculty member met early on the 18th of October

for a van ride to the dam. For many of us, it was our first trip. As one might expect, such a visit in any circumstance is an impressive and memorable experience. In my case, the experience was enriched by being in the company of engineering

students—students who could appreciate the dam not only for its monolithic grandeur, but also for the engineering marvel that it is.

Where I simply saw an enormous wall containing the water of man-made Lake Mead, my groupmates saw a “concrete, arch-gravity dam—a brilliant solution to Arizona’s demand for controlled water distribution.” Where the Hoover Dam Bypass, to me, was simply a bridge, they were quickly able to identify it as a “minimalistic arch bridge.” But when it came time for our special-access tour, all of us were speechless as we descended over 500 feet and soon found ourselves dwarfed by massive turbines and spillway tunnels. We walked through rooms and tunnels, led by our tour guide, all the while being given the history of the dam’s construction. The conclusion of our tour led us to the base of the dam where we looked up and saw this engineering masterpiece with new appreciation.

I can’t imagine a better way for engineering students to immerse themselves in their field of study and become inspired to someday create a masterpiece of their own.

Tour of the Hoover Dam

Psychology Brain Dissection

Writer Jasmine Coro

W

hat better way to learn about the human consciousness than actually digging around at the root of it? On October 3, in a laboratory classroom located in the Du Bois Center, members of the Psychology Residence Learning Community literally got to do just that with a hands on experience; dissecting a real brain. With the help of Dr. Melissa Birkett, a professor who teaches neuroscience and psychopharmacology courses, and serves as the faculty liaison for the Psychology RLC, students were able to learn about the relation between the physical parts of the brain and its neurological functions. Community Mentor, Brianna Lees, also took the time to connect with each of her mentees by giving insight.

“Right now I’m in Psychology 101 and eventually we’ll be taking Neurological Science classes, so having a background in it is really good to be able to see and relate what we’ll be learning in class” says Ricardo Orozco, a current RLC member.

With a personal session full of learning, he added, “Everything was actually really cool, but I think it was interesting to know how compact everything is.

Everything we’re learning right now is based on the brain and how it functions, so it’s really cool to see how the physical looks of it affect how one acts.”

When asked about how Ricardo Orozco likes his RLC he promptly put his hands over heart affectionately.

“My RLC is the best! My mentor is great, the students are great, and it’s really nice to have them all in the same classes as me. If there’s homework or anything like that you need help on you can just go next-door. It’s just really convenient and awesome.”

Brain Dissection

Residential Learning Communities Rush the Rec

Writer Jasmine Coro

K

nown for its vast amount of activities and features, the Health and Learning Center is one of the most popular spots on campus. On October 2, the HLC was opened up solely for a night of fun for all participants. Mentees and their mentors were able to bond at a whole new level while building their heart rates up throughout the entire event. From busting a move in Zumba, to soaring to new heights while climbing the Rock Wall, students were on the go non stop. As an advantage to being part of the RLC program, students were the first to experience the brand new Challenge Course inside the HLC. The course offers a series of suspended obstacles designed to test one’s strength and motivation. With cheers from their communities down below, each person was encouraged until they came down with smiles. As the night came to a close, many partakers were not eager to leave. An evening full of laughs, intriguing conversation, teamwork, and sore muscles became an unforgettable memory for all of the RLCs.

Rush the Rec

Education Houses Faculty Dinner

Writer Mary Lauderdale

T

he Education Houses hosted their fall faculty dinner as a picnic-style event on the North Quad in front of Old Main. Pizza, cookies and sodas were provided to the 50 or so faculty, staff and students who attended. At the weekly meeting before the event, the mentors gathered questions,

topics and different things that the residential learning community students wanted to know more about from the faculty. The mentors also created an information sheet for the students to fill out.

This allowed them to write down new information before they forgot and was a resource for follow-up questions when needed. Approximately 6 teachers, 3 advisors and 4-5 faculty members all from the College of Education spoke to the group on different topics and offered advice to the students as they started their journey to entering the COE. The event was a successful one with faculty being pleased with the information exchanged with the students, and the students having more knowledge about the College of Education and what they have to look forward to in their future college and professional career. As one mentor put it: “I am very proud with how this event happened and I hope I can be just as successful next semester.�

Visual Communication Friday Night Artwalk