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Winter 2006
Lessons learned in Katrina clean-upIt's like a crazy collage of confusion, sadness, anger, sympathy and more a gumbo of feelings and thoughts, said Denise Hughes '07, a theatre major from Brooklyn, N.Y., after seeing the destruction in some of the hardest-hit neighborhoods of New Orleans.
Hughes was among a group of 19 students and four faculty/staff team leaders who spent a portion of their winter break aiding hurricane recovery efforts in the Gulf Coast. The team mucked out houses in the greater New Orleans area, sorted donated clothing for distribution to needy families, served as tutors and after-school mentors in St. Tammany Parish Schools, and worked on brush crews as far away as the Mississippi border. Through their work, they were exposed to the socioeconomic implications of the disaster, what happens when the infrastructure of a society breaks down, and how schools act as safe havens for children and their families during difficult times. If a picture can tell a thousand words, being here can tell a million, said Christopher Wiegand '06, a business and microeconomics major from Coatesville, Pa. Linda McMillin, Susquehanna's provost and dean of faculty, who served as one of the team leaders on the trip, would agree. This has been tremendous in terms of thinking about what it means to give service, said McMillin. We've had a lot of conversations about who we are helping, and the notion that we're not even able to help the poorest of the poor. But if we can help people who are then going to be the ones who respond to the neediest families teachers, pastors and so forth then we're really doing a service. A second hurricane response team worked as part of a multi-week, multi-college spring break response called What a Relief, organized by the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America's Lutheran Disaster Response. Jennifer Elick, associate professor of earth and environmental sciences who served as a team leader, said lessons regarding the disaster's environmental implications were woven into the team's work. (See Faculty Q&A inside for details.) But perhaps the teams' greatest lesson was the value they discovered in making connections, both to the people of Louisiana and each other. Giannine Della Rocca '09 summed up this closeness best when she wrote in the first group's journal: I began this trip with two friends and I left with two dozen. -- Victoria Kidd News & Editorial Manager What's your story?
This is the question senior writing majors Jenna Fredericks and Linda Allen began asking last fall as they developed an annual non-fiction literary magazine focused on diversity issues. Under the leadership of Brian Johnson, director of multicultural affairs and special assistant to the president, and with the support of the Department of English and Creative Writing, the students produced a magazine that serves as an outlet of expression for students, faculty and staff to explore their diverse selves. Variance was launched this spring as a 60-page glossy magazine filled with personal essays, memoirs, poems and creative works of non-fiction, accented with engaging photography and graphic designs. Through their work, the editors learned about the diversity of others on campus, as well as themselves. As the semester progressed, I began taking our mission to heart, resolving not just to create a literary magazine as a place for people to express their diversity but to live its purpose within my own life, Allen says. Fredericks found similar inspiration in the project. My experiences with Variance and the people who have inspired me to see beyond my personal perceptions of myself have been the most rewarding to me at SU, she says. -- Victoria Kidd News & Editorial Manager Excellence honored
Only a few months after returning from an internship in Switzerland, Anne Stankiewicz '06 was honored for her leadership skills. While attending a Student Leadership Forum in St. Louis, Mo., Stankiewicz was selected as the recipient of the Byron Nahser Leadership Award by Beta Gamma Sigma, the business honor society for colleges and universities accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. I am extremely proud of this award, and it symbolizes all of the dedication and work that I have put forth in both my academic and personal life, says Stankiewicz, a finance and economics major from Waterford, Pa. This is not the only time Stankiewicz has been recognized for her excellence. She was also awarded last year's Wayne H. Fisher 66 International Business Scholarship, which provides the chosen Susquehanna student with the means to participate in a European internship for six weeks. After graduation this year, Stankiewicz will be entering a position with Goldman Sachs on Wall Street, an opportunity which she credits to her Switzerland experience. -- Erin Markel 07 The science behind Katrina
Why do large-scale hurricanes seem to be more prevalent in recent years? KS: Because they are! Hurricane activity in the Atlantic has been on the upswing since 1995 and shows no sign of declining anytime soon. Why was Hurricane Katrina so devastating? KS: No place comes away unscathed after a direct hit by a Category 3 hurricane. What made the situation particularly dire in New Orleans was its system of levees, which failed catastrophically. What are earth and environmental sciences students learning about the Katrina disaster? KS: Students in Andrew Kozlowski's Water Resources course learn that when you engineer a river like the Mississippi to follow a particular path, all sorts of unforeseen consequences arise. In addition, students in my Weather and Climate class got a live radar view of Katrina's landfall. What does this disaster teach us about our use of the Earth? KS: Coastlines have evolved natural defenses against hurricanes. Wetlands absorb the impact of these storms. When we build on wetlands, we remove this natural protection system, and the impacts of hurricanes worsen. As a meteorologist, what are you predicting for this coming hurricane season? KS: We should definitely expect another busy season. Atlantic Ocean temperatures are still warm, and there is no El Niño on the horizon to suppress hurricane activity.
Varsity sports takes new liberties
Susquehanna University has made some major shifts in its varsity athletics programs in the past year. Last fall, Susquehanna accepted an invitation for associate membership in the Liberty League for the sport of football, effective with the 2007 season. The Crusaders will continue to compete in the Middle Atlantic Conference through the 2006 season before joining the Liberty League, whose membership for football includes Hobart College, St. Lawrence University, the University of Rochester, Union College, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, and the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy. Last winter, Susquehanna and six other institutions agreed to form a new NCAA Division III athletics conference for all sports other than football. The conference, yet to be named, will begin competition in the fall of 2007. Competing against Susquehanna in the new conference will be Catholic University, Drew University, Goucher College, Juniata College, Moravian College and the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy.
Meet a student
Jason Deihl Class of 2006 Major: Elementary Education Hometown: Lewisburg, Pennsylvania Activities and Honors: America Reads, Alpha Phi Omega, University Scholar, residence hall head resident. My favorite class: Faith and Values with Dr. Jeffrey Mann. This class was interesting and enjoyable because it gave students the opportunity to express their thoughts and beliefs in a non-threatening environment. What I do in my free time: I enjoy playing poker with the guys and going to the gym. To wind down, I go back to my room, turn on music and relax. My best learning experience: By far, my best learning experience has been my involvement with Residence Life. I served as a Resident Assistant and a Head Resident in a residence hall for upperclassmen. By holding these positions, I have gained a tremendous amount of experience. Click HERE to read more student profiles. Liberal ArtsNot only for painters and poets A liberal arts college or a professional school? This is a perennial debate for students seeking to pursue careers in health care and the law. But through its pre-law and pre-med programs, Susquehanna can offer the best of both worlds. I strongly believe that a liberal arts education should be what it means an education that teaches across all disciplines. Susquehanna has allowed me to attain such an education, says Kathryn Richter '06, a biology major from Oakland, Md. Prehealth Professions In addition to offering a broad background for many health care careers, the pre-health professions program offers a health care studies minor and encourages students to conduct research and pursue internships. The biology major and the health care studies program are second to none. They have provided the strong background necessary for my professional education, says Jason Hamberger '06, a biology major from Livingston , N.J. Pre-health advisor Jan Reichard-Brown, assistant professor of health care studies and biology, considers a liberal arts education paramount to a health professions career. You will need to relate to people from all kinds of backgrounds and all walks of life, and a liberal arts education can really be beneficial in that regard, she says. Prelaw The pre-law program helps students prepare for a legal career in two ways. First, it helps them decide if the career path is right for them. The pre-law program presents students with a variety of venues for testing the waters. Students visit law schools and meet with attorneys. They also spend time in conversation with others having an interest in law and meet with alumni who are in law school, says Michele DeMary, assistant professor of political science and pre-law advisor. In addition, the program helps students earn admission to law school. I advise students to do what law schools say they want students who take a rigorous course of study that teaches them to communicate effectively and expand their analytical thinking skills, DeMary says. In addition, Susquehanna offers an interdisciplinary legal studies minor for students with particular interested in law as a field of undergraduate study. -- Erin Markel 07
How to make the most of your campus visitBetween the ivy covered buildings and classrooms full of desks and chairs, college campuses can start looking the same. Beyond bringing a camera or a camcorder to record your visit, the best thing you can do is discover what really sets schools apart from one another. Here are some basic things you might want to look into during your campus tours. Faculty and academic facilities: Access to your professors and to specific learning and research spaces is crucial to the time and effort you'll spend learning at any college or university. What's the average class size? The faculty to student ratio? Are the facilities, equipment and research space accessible to you as a first-year student? Is there adequate study space in the library? What are the daily hours? What about interlibrary loan programs? Is there a media or music library? How many librarians are on staff and how accessible are they? Computer labs: How many labs are there and where are they located? How many workstations are available for student use? What hours are the labs open? Are they all staffed in case there is a need for troubleshooting? Are there fees to use any of the services? Residence halls: This is going to be your home away from home, so give it a thorough inspection. Is housing guaranteed all four years? Who has access to the dorms and how? Are all residence halls co-ed? Do students live in doubles or triples? Are there a variety of different living options (singles, suites, lofts, etc.)? Can you connect to the Internet and the campus computer network from your room? Dining facilities: These are very important as they will be your major source of nourishment and mealtime fun with friends for the next four years. Try to eat on campus during your visit so you can get an idea of what cuisine is typically dished up. What are the hours for each meal? Are there different meal plan options for you to choose from? Are there a variety of places to eat on campus? Athletic facilities: Is there a variety of modern, safe equipment for ALL students to use? What are the daily hours? Is there a pool you can use? What sorts of fitness classes are offered? Are club sports and intramurals available, in addition to varsity sports? Career development: Yes, even before you settle on a college, you might want to give some thought to your eventual career. What special career development services does the school offer? What is the placement rate for recent graduates? What percentage of students complete internships and how do they find these opportunities? As you walk around and get answers to your questions, look beyond the manicured lawns and white columns to ask yourself: Does this feel like a place that can offer me the college experience that I desire?
Mark your calendarSpend the day at Susquehanna exploring the academic area that is of interest to you. In addition to a workshop with SU faculty and students, enjoy a complimentary lunch and tour the campus. Web registration will be available in mid-August. Action Days 2006Business Action Day Monday, October 9 Science Action Day Friday, October 20 Writing Action Day Monday, October 23 Arts Action Day Monday, October 30 Liberal Arts Action Day Monday, November 6 For additional information contact: Wendy Mull, Action Day coordinator, at 1-800-326-9672 or e-mail her at mullw@susqu.edu. |
For more information, call 570-372-4260 or 800-326-9672
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Last reviewed
by James Varghese '03. Chris Markle, Director, Office of Admissions. ©2002 Susquehanna University, Selinsgrove, PA 17870-1164 Telephone: 570-372-4119 Fax: 570-372-4048 |