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Monday, September 9, 2013
Volume 90, Number 8
Students link at Mainstreet
NADIA KAMIL / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
This year 174 student organizations joined in on Mainstreet, including 36 campus services, 34 community partners and 16 corporate sponsors. Vicki Ikeogu NEWS EDITOR
As part of a long-standing and highly anticipated tradition, the start of the school year kicked off with Mainstreet on the Atwood Mall Wednesday. This huge campus event is put on by the Department of Campus Involvement. Open to all sorts of organizations this year, 174 student organizations, 36 campus services, 34 community partners, and 16 corporate sponsors
descended upon Atwood to partake in the annual event, which lasted from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. “It’s about being able to interact and share their stories and purpose. It’s an outreach to show students their value on campus,” said program adviser graduate assistant of student organizations, Jeremy Sippel. Highlighting all the organizations and services provided on campus Mainstreet is one of the main recruitment opportunities for many of these organiza-
tions. “I think it’s a good way to get out there and be noticed, especially for new students,” said senior volunteer for the Greek Life table, Paige Goetz. “It’s about getting our name out there and letting people know we are a part of SCSU,” said senior volunteer for SCSU’s Rowing Team, Jordan Ehlers. With numerous campus organizations, from athletics to media, from art clubs to religious organizations, Mainstreet allows for students to become acquainted
with the different opportunities they can participate in on campus. And while Mainstreet is open for all students, the main goal an outlet for all students, particularly new students and freshmen, so they can become active members on campus. “What’s really cool about Mainstreet is seeing what their interests are. Finding a sense of belongSippel. With nearly 250 differ-
ent student organizations, and growing, on campus, Mainstreet provides a way for those organizations to attract members and get their name out there. And while student organizations do make up a majority of the event, campus services are also there trying to spread the word about what they do and offer help for students who need it. “We want students to know we are here. And Mainstreet helps get our name out there,” said graduate student volunteer for Health Services table,
Jess Onken. By attending Mainstreet, many of these services and organizations not widely known on campus are allowed the opportunity to inform students of their presence on campus. For students who did not make it out to the event, or are interested in the hundreds of student organizations on campus, they can visit the Department of Campus Involvement for contact information.
Mainstreet photo story/ Page 4
Baara Shehadeh will never forget his home Vicki Ikeogu NEWS EDITOR
While the events unfolding in Syria may seem incredibly far away to most of us, for freshman Baara Shehadeh, 17, these events are much more personal. Shehadeh, having left Syria only three weeks ago to come to SCSU to start his education, still has family and friends in Syria, in an increasingly violent situation. “A lot of people told me I’m lucky,” he said. Lucky to escape the violence, and lucky to be reunited with his brother, a former SCSU student currently living in the Twin Cities. Living in the capital city of Damascus, Shehadeh described how the events following the Arab Spring in 2011 unfolded into an all-out civil war. “Three years ago, we thought [President Bashar al-Assad] was just like any other president. He was okay. But then he became a monster and started killing all our people,” he said. “When I get to thinking about it, I get sad and upset.” Thinking this would be a quick revolution against a dictatorial regime, Shehadeh and his family watched as the violence escalated into the reality they now live in. A constant bombardment of shootings and explosions. Stating that his former government believed in justice for the people, however, Shehadeh said the situation never amounted
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to much. “He didn’t listen to us, he started killing everybody that opened their mouth.” Saying that his people were wanting to improve their lives and demanding justice and equality, Shehadeh said the government said, the Syrian people needed to stand up, they needed to protect themselves. “You can’t follow others blindly,” he said. “You couldn’t speak about any position in government. You couldn’t speak about justice,” Shehadeh said. Forced to take up arms against their government out of fear, Shehadeh said that movie. But living amongst the violence, Shehadeh said he and his people have become almost numb to it. “Yes, I was afraid in the beginning. But now, I don’t feel anything anymore.” As a teenager growing up in the midst of all of this, Shehadeh said his parents were worried about him. Like a typical teen, Shehadeh said he never really liked to stay at home. However, he said there was always that risk of leaving the house and not returning. And after seeing an explosion in person, could understand his parents’ fears. But Shehadeh said he just culdn’t live in fear and had to get used to the events that were unfolding in his country. “I can’t be safe if I stayed there,” he said.
Talking to his parents everyday, Shehadeh says the situation in Syria is horrible. ing everyday,” he said, “Everyday there are explosions.” Shehadeh said his friends feel the same way. “They have no feelings, every day is the same,” he said. After it was released about the use of chemical weapons killing civilians, Shehadeh said he is increasingly worried about his family, especially since he knows they will not leave their homeland. They could be tourists in other nations for a while, but they never could leave their homeland, he said. And while he is currently thousands of miles away from his people, Shehadeh said his heart is still with them. He is people, and his family will see this through. That the dictator will be overthrown and peace will rule again. “I want my family to be in peace,” he said. “After all of RAVIN DANGOL / ASST. VISUALS EDITOR the killing, the sun will rise, I’m sure. No matter how long it will Baarah Shehadeh, 17, once lived in Damascus, one take, the sun will rise again on of the largest cities in Syria and also one of the most hottly contested between opposing forces. Syria.”
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Bursting with hypnotic humor
Page 7 Students literally laughter during Jim Wand hypnotism show.