the worst day of the week?

At the end of the 2008 spring semester, Cabrini will have to say goodbye to one of its veteran teachers. History and political science professor Dr. Jolyon Girard has announced his retirement.

“It feels like the right time to move on and let newer faculty members step up,” Girard said. “I’m also tired of driving the Schuylkill Expressway from Cherry Hill, NJ to Radnor every morning.”

At his time of retirement, Girard will have completed 34 years of teaching at Cabrini, specializing in areas such as United States history, Latin America and modern Europe.

He has also researched in fields such as American diplomacy, and the U.S. military and constitution.

Girard also helped establish the men’s sports program at Cabrini.

He coached the men’s basketball team for the first seven years of its existence, from 1974 to 1980.

“I will miss class teaching, but I can’t say I’m going to miss grading blue books. I’ll miss them about as much as students love writing them.”

Among other colleagues, history chairman Dr. James Hedtke expressed feelings because of the departure of his friend.

“I definitely feel sadness, more for the students than myself,” Hedtke said. “This is a great loss for the students.”

Junior history major Bryan Shinehouse recalled some of his fond memories of Girard.

“Part of the reason I came to Cabrini was because I had heard a lot about Dr. Girard,” Shinehouse said. “When I finally got to meet him, I asked if he were Jolyon Girard and he responded, ‘only if I don’t owe you money.’”

Anna Scholl, a junior English and communication major, will also remember Gi-

“Girard had a very non-conventional way of teaching, but that is what many students liked about him.”

Girard will be interviewing for his replacement this week along with several other history professors at Cabrini. Four candidates have been chosen, one of whom was actually a student of Girard’s at one point in time.

“Someone will come to teach in his place, but Girard was an institution,” Hedtke said. “Girard seems irreplaceable.”

Of the many other duties the new professor will have to fulfill, such as teaching U.S. Survey classes 107 and 108, 7:30 a.m. breakfasts with Hedtke may be included.

“I’ve had more breakfasts with him than my wife in the past 30 years.”

Girard will also miss breakfast with Hedtke and other colleagues three mornings a week.

He did, however, announce that he will still teach a class next fall, for no form of payment.

Girard can no longer officially work for pay at Cabrini because of his retirement decision, but he still wishes to teach a 400level seminar class once a week.

“This way, my colleagues and I will still be able to enjoy breakfast on Wednesday mornings,” Girard said.

Upon retirement, Girard shows no signs of slowing down. He plans on volunteering at the Veterans Administration, as well as spending time on the golf course near his New Jersey home. He also looks to continue his writing, with his second book dated to be published in October entitled “Daily Life in the United States: 1940-2005,” as well as another book in the works.

Finally, Girard hopes to travel with his wife and has a vacation already in the works.

When asked where he was planning to vacation, Girard said simply, “I’ll go wherever there is a good golf course.”

Whether it is a test that you are dreading, a meeting you are not prepared for, or the simple fact that the weekend is over, Monday has a reputation to be the most dreaded day of the week.

There could be hundreds of reasons why someone would hate Mondays.

These reasons could include having to go to the office, waking up early or having to do homework.

Regardless what the actual reason dreading Monday is, it seems to be that day which everyone simply does not look forward to.

The question to ask yourself is whether or not Monday is your dreaded day or whether you are influenced to believe that fact.

There are two sides of the “Monday is the worst day of the week” belief. The first argument is that Monday is the worst day of the week and it is not

The second argument is that dreading Mondays are in people’s heads unless there is a legitimate reason for the hatred.

Everyone’s day should not be the same because everybody leads different lives and has different agendas to dread or look forward to.

Psychotherapist of Counseling Services in Bryn Mawr Pa., Ashley Blair (M.E.d.), has an unambiguous point of view on this subject.

Blair has not only studied the human psyche and behavior at Temple University’s graduate school, but she also takes her knowledge from text books and puts them to use in real life situations everyday at work.

Blair believes the reason for this anxiety of Mondays is due to the reputation it has.

“Mondays being the worst day of the week has no meaning whatsoever in my opinion,” Blair said.

Got A CaseOf ihe MONDAYS

“Based on my knowledge psychiatrically, hating Mondays is mostly by influence and the fact that is ‘Monday’ and the end of the weekend.”

Many believe people are able to mentally psych themselves out of things or oppositely, mentally psych themselves up. For example in sports if the athlete says to him or herself, “I can’t do this, can’t do this…” then of course they won’t be able to get the task at hand completed successfully. Having the right mind set in a sport is the same in life.

Blair believes that “anyone who enjoys their life and their job may not hate Mondays so much.

“Having the right attitude is everything when it comes to Sunday afternoons,” Blair said.

The work-week can be tough regardless if you like your job. Blair gives some tips on how to get ready for the work week.

“It is all about how you approach the work-week and the mindset you are in on Sunday afternoons. Do aerobic exercise, relax, meditate, do something you love to do and plan your week on paper. Then, Mondays will seem like just another day and not a huge obstacle you have to get through,” Blair said.

Senior English and communications major Alyssa

Moore has an “internship on Wednesdays which she absolutely adores,” which is one of the reasons she looks forward to the week ahead.

“My least favorite day is Sunday just because I usually wait to do all my homework on a Sunday and there is really nothing to do except go to church,” Moore said.

“Looking forward to the Wednesday ahead makes anticipating the work week a bit less brutal,” Moore said. Although there are some who do not hate Mondays, there are still valid reasons for the extreme dislike.

Freshman business administration major Yarcelly Jimenez is one who dreads Mondays. “I hate Mondays because it is the hardest day to wake up to,” Jimenez said. “Once Monday is there, you know your weekend is over.”

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