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The Voice of the College at Florham

"News is the first rough draft of history." - The Voice of the College at Florham

Tag Archives: l. kannenberg

Reflections on alternative winter break: College at Florham students travel to Manzanillo, Costa Rica

LAUREN KANNENBERG
Staff Writer

During this past winter break, 12 FDU students, along with chaperones Dean of Students Brian Mauro and FDU Women’s Lacrosse Coach Adrienne Carr, traveled to Manzanillo, Costa Rica, for a volunteer trip that they would never forget. I am one of the lucky ones to have been chosen to embark on this service trip, and I must say, this experience truly changed me.

When we set off on this journey, none of us expected that this new place we were staying for eight days would become a place that we would consider home.
Our main task for the duration of our stay was to rebuild and paint two of the local bus stops. Due to the harsh rainy season and the fact that this community is directly by the beach, local homes and businesses truly take a weathered beating.

First, we had to scrub all of the dirt and sand off of the bus stop, and we replaced much of the wood that keeps it together. We also attached a new tin roof, and painted the entire structure.

Two of our team members, Victoria Francavilla and Katie Rolwood, cut out fun stencils and had the local kids help them paint turtles, hand prints and sunsets along the length of benches within the bus stop.

Joseph Getts, one of our team co-leaders, said, “Getting to know the local townspeople and children gave us the motivation to truly want to help and work hard for them.”

We also re-painted the fence around the local school, and another big project was to re-position, clean and paint cement cylinders along the beach. These cylinders are just a couple of feet apart, so that cars cannot drive up onto the beach. Many of the cylinders had sunk into the sand since the previous year, and were coated with dust and mud.

When we were finished, they looked pretty remarkable. We painted them green, red and yellow with white stripes, and not only did they do their job of keeping vehicles off the sand, but they were also a bright and cheerful way to add color to the town.

Not that the town lacked color; the people here are quite colorful themselves. Aubrie Rahman, one of our team members and a senior at FDU, recalled one of her favorite moments during the trip.

“Without a doubt, my favorite memory is when the guy on a bicycle stopped, while we were cleaning the second bus stop, and said … ‘We may not be millionaires, but we are still rich.’ That expression was the best way to describe the Costa Rican people. Their hearts are so rich and pure, although they are not considered financially fit. Their values in life are not material values; they are the family and friends that surround them.”

Although our service work was our main priority, we still had some wonderful opportunities to experience this amazing culture. We took turns for little side trips, so that there was always at least half of the group working on the bus stop.

Leslie Martinez, team member and sophomore at FDU, and also our translator by default, since she speaks fluent Spanish, recalls a moment during one of our extra excursions that became a learning experience.

“During the jungle hike we went on, I remember falling 75 percent of the time but I never gave up, thanks to everyone’s encouraging words. On that same day walking back to the Cabina’s Something Different, where we were staying, we found two locals who got their car stuck in the sand. With teamwork we were able to lift the car and get it unstuck.”

She added, “I think the whole motto of the trip was teamwork, because without it, we could not have accomplished as much as we did in a few amount of days.”
It is true, teamwork seemed to be what made this group of students so strong and empowered.

Getts said, “As a team leader, I thought that our group of students did an exceptional job of coming together as a bunch of strangers, and forming a team in the truest sense of the word. Everyone had his or her own set of strengths, and was able to complement the group in areas that may have been lacking otherwise.”

He added, “Because our team was so diligent and worked seamlessly with one another, we were able to accomplish the work we had set out to do in only three days. This allowed us to go above and beyond for a community that we fell in love with. No one minded the extra work; in fact, everyone insisted we do more. That attitude created a positive tone for the rest of the trip.”

It seems that with this uplifting energy, all of us were open to this new way of life. Many of us really surprised ourselves in the situations we were put in. Rahman felt that she really, really surprised herself. She said, “I came into this trip with an open mind, and tried many new things I never thought I would have the chance to try. I honestly never thought I would have the opportunity to be in a cage with monkeys, taste a fresh, authentic coconut, or just take a stroll in the neighborhood and see a toucan along the way!”

Nick Maccarrone, team member and junior at FDU, said that this trip changed his attitude about life immensely.

“I realized how fortunate I am to have what I have, and I plan to look into visiting and helping out more communities like this in the future. I enjoyed helping out very much, not only because of how beautiful the scenery was, but because of how friendly the locals were too,” he said.

Other highlights of the trip involved visiting an animal sanctuary, going on a dolphin watch and visiting Dan and Rose Twomey.

The Twomeys are former FDU professors who now have a home in Manzanillo, Costa Rica. They spent much of their time at FDU bringing students just like us down to this community. They were both very welcoming, and were just as excited to share their experiences with us as we were with them.

Along with the efficient service work we did in Manzanillo, what surprised me most about the trip was how much we bonded with the community. It did not feel like we were visitors at all.

We were welcomed by the members of the community, and instead of making us feel like outsiders, they helped us immerse ourselves into the culture.

I think I can speak for all of us who went on the trip when I say that leaving Manzanillo, Costa Rica, was hard for us, not only because we were leaving extraordinary beaches and the rainforest, but because we were leaving a place that had come to feel like home.

The friendships and memories we made here with the locals, and with each other, are now a part of our lives that we will always hang onto.

Pura Vida!

New Social Engine set to bring a piece of Hogwarts to campus

LAUREN KANNENBERG
Staff Writer

Quidditch is no longer just a popular fantasy sport in the wizarding world of Harry Potter. It is now a popular sport all across the “muggle” world, too.

The sport has become increasingly popular among American colleges and universities, and an interest has even sparked here at the College at Florham.

FDU is not yet part of the 100 official members of the International Quidditch Association, but the New Social Engine (NSE) plans to begin a Quidditch tournament here this month.

NSE promotes living a healthy lifestyle and making responsible choices through avoiding substance abuse.

Quidditch is just one of the club members’ many ideas for ways to get students to have both a sober mind and body.

Danielle McCarthy, NSE’s secretary, came up with the idea to bring Quidditch to the College at Florham.

“Every other school I know of has it, or at least has a club about it,” she said. “I have just been a Harry Potter fan forever, and I wanted this on campus and thought, ‘let’s try this out!’ I knew NSE would be the right club to get this going.”

McCarthy decided to take her thoughts to the next step, and she attended a Harry Potter convention in Orlando, Fla. to find out all of the details.

“I filmed the Quidditch match while I was there, and I have worked really hard to modify the rules so that it can work here at FDU.”

Prior to the tournament, anyone on campus can create a team and sign up.

Each team must have seven members, for each of the seven positions: Keeper (goalie), three chasers (players that put the ball through the hoops), two beaters (players that use the dodgeball to tag the chasers), and the seeker (finds the snitch).

“The snitch will be a runner dressed in all gold, and the seekers have to chase them and catch them,” said McCarthy.

The object of the game is to get the quaffle (dodgeball) through one of the three hoops of the opposing teams.

However, there are other ways to gain points. When the snitch is caught, it grants that team a large amount of points, ending the game.

The official game rules can be found on NSE’s Quidditch at FDU page, on Facebook.

Kristen Smith, vice president of NSE, said that all supplies will be provided for each team and the teams are encouraged to make their own uniforms.
There will also be a prize for the winning team, along with bragging rights.

“Unfortunately I can’t play, and can only be a referee,” said McCarthy. “I actually have a Nimbus 2000 at home. It even glows in the dark!”
A Nimbus 2000, for all those that aren’t Harry Potter savvy, is the broom that Harry Potter is known for using.

Although Quidditch at FDU is just starting, McCarthy and Smith both hope that this is the beginning to something that will go down in our history books.
“I am hoping to get a decent amount of people to participate, so we can continue this every semester,” said Smith.

McCarthy added, “I can see it eventually becoming an intramural here. Maybe in a few years, if it takes off, we can compete against other schools.”
For more information, or to sign up, email McCarthy at dmac@student.fdu.edu or Smith at Smithke@student.fdu.edu.

Library exhibit: Bag design; Shopping around the world

LAUREN KANNENBERG
Staff Writer

The College at Florham library has a new exhibit on display, “Shopping Around The World: Three Decades of Shopping Bag Design.”

The exhibit is free, open to the public and will be up through Oct. 28.

The exhibition displays an assortment of designed shopping bags from many cities in Europe, Asia and the Middle East. It was put together by Eleanor Friedl, curator of special collections and exhibitions.

Friedl is also a reference librarian and selector of print resources in the humanities and social sciences.

“The variety in the designs of these bags make for a visually interesting show and also reflects on many distinct cultural phenomena attributable to their places of origin,” said Friedl.

She continued that the numerous bags were given by colleagues and fellow librarians.

“After shopping at bookshops, museum shops, fashion shops for adults and children, shops for tableware, and for delicacies, some travelers also collect the designed bags in which their purchases were carried. We are pleased to be able to show a selection of them, thanks to the collectors who loaned us their bags,” said Friedl.

An interesting bag from Tokyo is presented from a store called Ginza Familiar, a children’s clothing store.

They used the English word not because of its meaning, but because of its pleasant sound to the Japanese ear, said Friedl.

Another featured bag is from a bookshop in Zurich, Switzerland, called Pinkus Genossenohaft Buchhandlung and Antiquariat.

This store was founded by Theo Pinkus in 1933, when he fled Berlin because he was a Jewish Communist, according to a description next to the exhibit.

Friedl said that this shop was once a gathering place for Marxists, left-wing intellectuals and where spies used to gather during the Cold War.
Friedl pointed out a particular bag from a Japanese men’s store that is silk screen and hand printed.

“It is a real art form,” she said. “Libraries are not just about books. They are about print and design.”

This philosophy is exactly what Friedl tries to bring into the library at the College at Florham through its frequent exhibitions. Artistic value can be found in anything.

A bag from 1985 uses art from a local artist to attempt to show the world, “We’re really happy in our Soviet land.”

And a bag from the world’s oldest department store, Mitsukoshi, founded in Tokyo in 1673, tells the world that some things truly are timeless, Friedl said.
“It is important to learn about what is currently going on in the world with art,” said Friedl.

This is why Fairleigh Dickinson brings art exhibitions into the library, to incorporate other forms of learning.

Friedl brings in a new exhibition every few months, and tries to tie in parallels to what is going on in the world today.

She thought this exhibit was a perfect theme to represent International Education Week, coming up in November.

“These bags were collected by travelers, and we have many more of them. Unfortunately, we don’t have enough room to hang them all,” said Friedl.

She looks forward to the opening of the John and Joan Monninger Center for Learning and Research, the new addition to the library. There will be more room to display exhibitions, and there is even a possibility to hold a number of them at once.

According to the April/May 2011 Inside FDU Newsletter, Campus Provost Kenneth Greene believes that the Monninger Center will provide a dynamic learning environment that supports all levels of interaction between students and faculty and the many ways they engage in the world.

Friedl thinks that the art exhibits will be a great asset to the Monninger Center, and truly align with the goal of providing a global education.

“Regarding the library’s exhibitions, they are often focused on work of international art or design, and often tied to current discussions in the news- cities in the news, countries in the news, and graphic design commentary in international publications,” said Friedl. “This is just one way in which the library actively demonstrates its being attuned to a global view in our educational mission.”

Friedl plans to have another exhibition set up in November. It will be titled, “My Berlin – Two Halves of My Life,” Photographs by Lia A. Wagner.

The title refers to the artist’s native homeland which was divided, East and West, before her birth and during the first half of her life, and then changed, becoming the re-united Germany where she has lived for the second half of her life, said Friedl.

FDU NOW exceeds $50 million fundraising goal

LAUREN KANNENBERG
Staff Writer

Students may have wondered why there was a large, white tent set up outside the College at Florham’s Hennessy Hall recently, and why valet parking was being offered as they exited classes that night.

The reason was, in fact, a celebration to conclude Fairleigh Dickinson’s largest campaign in university history, FDU Now. The event took place Sept. 14, and more than 150 contributors to the campaign were in attendance.

Throughout the campaign, more than $58 million was raised from 21,009 donors. The total surpassed the original goal of $50 million. The money is being used to support many different aspects of the University.

Everyone from students to faculty to various programs will feel a positive effect from this campaign.

The specific project that will serve to benefit every student and faculty member at the College at Florham is the John and Joan Monninger Center for Learning and Research.

At the Metropolitan campus, the Naimoli Family Baseball Complex is also a product of the FDU NOW campaign.

Richard Reiss, senior vice president for University Advancement, said that the campaign also focused on student scholarships, raising about $7 million specifically for financial assistance.

Two of the College at Florham’s very own scholarship recipients, Megan Barrios and Joseph Getts, were invited to speak at the event. Each stood in front of some of the most successful and influential members of the FDU community, told their stories and gave their thanks
.
Barrios is a theater major, an RA, and participates in both the Student Government Association and sorority Phi Sigma Sigma. She spoke of how she made the choice to attend FDU, and that if it weren’t for the audience’s tremendous generosity, she would not be here today.

“I chose Fairleigh for numerous reasons, but most of those reasons would mean absolutely nothing if I hadn’t received the scholarships and grants that I needed from this college,” Barrios said. “I have been told that I owe that, in part, to you. So thank you all for the opportunity to attend this college and experience all that a small private college offers in education and community.”

Getts’s story was not so much about how he got to Fairleigh Dickinson, but instead what he has achieved since he has been here. Getts is an RA studying entrepreneurship and an active member in University community service projects.

“The fact that FDU has provided me with so many opportunities has literally changed the way I think about my life and especially the way I think about my future,” Getts said. “I feel confident in what I am doing here, but even more confident in the direction that I am headed thanks to the knowledge, mentorship, and the overwhelming support that I have received from everyone at FDU.”

The entire evening began with a cocktail hour. Tables and chairs were decorated, but most guests stood, spending their time mingling and catching up with friends.

Two long appetizer tables were set up at each end of Lenfell, where people had many choices provided by Gourmet Dining while listening to live acoustic guitar.

Guests were then asked to step out into the Italian Gardens, under the tent for dinner.

Before and after dinner, there were a number of featured speakers, along with Barrios and Getts. They included Reiss; Patrick Zenner, chairman of the FDU Board of Trustees; Gregory Olsen, FDU NOW campaign chair, and many others.

Michael Avaltroni, associate dean of FDU’s Medco School of Pharmacy, spoke about his journey as a freshman at FDU in 1995 to where he is now, 16 years later.

“I believe I can speak for everyone when I say the future of FDU is bright and boundless,” Avaltroni said.

As the event came to a close, College at Florham theater students performed for the audience. Lucy Fischer, Ashley Seldon, Louis Vetter and Patrick Brockway sang, “Listen to the Music.” FDU Professor Allen Cohen played piano.

During the performance slices of cake were handed out for dessert, in celebration of the conclusion of the FDU NOW campaign. This was no ordinary cake. In fact, it was constructed by none other than the “Cake Boss,” Buddy Valastro of Carlo’s Bake Shop in Hoboken, N.J.