Letter from the Editor

Letter From the Editor-in-Chief

Freshmen, transfer and returning students,

Welcome to another exciting school year at the University of St. Francis! Thank you for picking up the August issue, “Bernie’s Book.” The USF Encounter teamed up with Student Life to create this edition for both new and returning students as they begin navigating their year on campus.

The USF Encounter is a student-led and student-written magazine, meaning this issue includes information, tips, and advice from a student’s point of view. If you are a new freshman, there are hints to guide you and help you thrive at St. Francis. Inside, you will find a full list of events happening in the first eight weeks of the semester (Engagement 8), information on USF clubs, interviews from other students and articles written by our staff to ensure you’re in the loop for the first few weeks of school.

Along with this issue, be sure to keep an eye out as we will be releasing 3 more Encounters throughout the fall semester. To see what the Encounter staff is up to, follow us on Instagram (@usf_encounter) and TikTok (@usfencounter).

If you are interested in designing or writing about sports, entertainment, news or student life, we would love for you to join us! Feel free to contact me at valeriereyes@stfrancis.edu for more information.

I am honored to say that this upcoming semester is my first serving as Editor-in-Chief. I cannot wait to see what this semester holds and look forward to working with the Encounter staff to bring students some great reads in these upcoming months.

From all of us here at the Encounter, thank you for picking up this edition, and we hope you enjoy the fifth annual Encounter and Student Life collaboration: “Bernie’s Book.”

All the love,

Val Reyes

Letters From Student Life

Dear Students,

Welcome back to USF. We are excited to have you as a part of the USF family! There are many great activities and learning opportunities planned for you. I just have one request, JUMP IN!

This is an easy-to-follow guide for getting involved on campus up until fall break. It is unlikely that there will be another time in your life where opportunities will be planned for you, that new experiences will be right around the corner or that services and professional staff members will be excited for you to be a part of what they have to offer. Whether it be joining a club, starting a new club, volunteering in the community or getting a part-time job in a campus office, DO IT! Do not wait, and do not hesitate.

Various departments and clubs have been working all summer to plan activities and events during the allimportant first half of the fall semester. We know if you get engaged on campus early through joining clubs and attending events (especially if you are a new student), you are more likely to succeed here (higher GPAs and higher graduation rates).

I know I can speak for the campus community when I say that we want you to be a part of these offerings and the best way to do that is to open this magazine, pick a few things you are interested in and put them on your calendar now.

The way to make this a great year is by taking part, not looking back and wishing you had branched out and tried new things. If you have any questions, ideas or things you want to see, come visit us in Student Life, Motherhouse 150. We cannot wait to meet you!

Sincerely,

Mollie Rockafellow Dean of Student Life

Students,

It is our pleasure to welcome you to the University of St. Francis! As a member of our vibrant campus community, you can expect many exciting experiences in the years ahead.

At USF, you will be able to broaden your horizons, develop leadership skills, make lifelong friends, learn real-world skills and have fun. You can participate in a wide array of activities and events planned by our clubs and organizations.

Take a look through this magazine and pick out a few activities and events that interest you and GO! Getting involved can sometimes seem overwhelming, but what harm can come from trying? Take the chance if it seems interesting or if your curiosity is piqued! College is an amazing and unforgettable time where you will grow in ways you never expected.

For whatever reason, if you don't see something you're interested in from the list of activities (which we highly doubt), make sure to visit us in Student Life-Motherhouse 150 so that we can hear your ideas. Once again, welcome and we can't wait to meet you!

Sincerely, Nechawn Johnson Student Life Coordinator

Sunday, August 21, 2022