September/October 2015
Volume 54 Issue 1
what’s in
There’s Nothing Wrong with Irish Pride
THIS ISSUE
By Veronica Cepparulo Editor
Photo courtesy of Jaionna Odom
Oh Those Crusader Crazies!
Ceili Rain during their performance at the Francis Hall Amphitheatre. (L-R) Burt Mitchell, Joe Davoli, Bill Bleistine, Bob Halligan Jr., and Kevin De Souza.
Crusader Jobs
Three Pairs Set the Match
Continued on page 3
The Power Behind Spoken Word Poetry
Scared Service-less
By Anne Heck Editor
By Madison Kaley Contributing Writer
Spoken word poet Kane Smego, visited Alvernia’s campus on August 30, 2015 to deliver an unexpected, diverse message to the youth in attendance. The Office of Multicultural Engagement at Alvernia sponsored Smego’s visit. Wanda Copeland, the Director of Multicultural Engagement explained, “I selected Kane Smego because his art form of storytelling and spoken word inspires people to explore their identities and life experiences to find their voices.” Smego’s performance echoed this sentiment, focused on the power of your own story. Many people think of poetry as stuffy literature, but spoken word poetry is vividly alive. Performance poetry calls the audience to action. The message delivered is relatable on many levels and is relevant to shared audiences. Much of spoken word poetry is deeply personal, which adds to its intensity. Kane Smego came from challenging circumstances.
Raised by a single mother, his life was often difficult, and he worked any job he could to survive. A teacher at his high school saw potential in him. The teacher asked if he would write something as part of a New York City slam poetry contest. This one event transformed his life forever. He became part of a slam poetry team as a teenager, and then as an adult. Smego currently tours internationally and is the cofounder and former artistic director of Sacrificial Poets,
based in North Carolina. Smego is interested in working with youth. He intends to make a difference in changing stereotypes, and to empower youth to understand they have the ability to make a difference. Smego remarked, “The change makers can be the student sitting in the back of the classroom.” He also reminded those in attendance, “College is a time to learn about life, living and sharing space with other people and building better relationships.”
Continued on page 5
Photo courtesy of Anne Heck
Gilmore Henne Works Hard for Children’s Play
Alvernia kicked off their Performing Arts Series on August 30 with the Irish-rock band Ceili Rain. Ceili Rain began playing shows in 1995. The band’s name reflects its hard-rocking style. “The name Ceili Rain, pronounced “KAY-lee,” comes from the Gaelic word that means party,” Bob Halligan Jr., lead vocalist for the band, told the crowd. “‘Coeli’ is a form of the Latin word for “heaven.” Rain is that stuff that falls from the sky. Thus,
Ceili Rain is a “downpour of heavenly partiness.” Ceili Rain kicked off the show with engaging with the crowd right away. Their songs consisted of highenergy popish music. One song that stood out was “God Done Good.” Lead vocalist, Bob Halligan Jr., had written this song about his wife who could not have children, though they tried. The couple eventually adopted a boy, who ultimately became a successful college graduate. Halligan looked at his family and thought, “God done good.”
Kane Smego, spoken word poet, delivers an impactful message with new material just written.
Alvernia University requires all traditional fulltime students to complete 40 hours of service before graduation. It can intimidate first year students to think about doing 40 hours of anything. New Alvernians may be especially concerned about finding an activity to complete, getting the hours in on time and working service into their schedule. Fortunately, opportunities for Alvernia students to complete their service hours are abundant. “Finding service opportunities here at Alvernia is easier than doing your homework,” Robert Waller, a senior accounting and marketing student said. Alvernia encourages service as a compliment of the school’s five core values: Service, humility, peacemaking, contemplation and collegiality. While service should be first about helping others, it can also be about helping yourself. Waller said he never planned to complete his
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campus news
September/October 2015
t he alver n i a n STAFF Managing Editor Amber Nikolaus Layout Amber Nikolaus Billy Tharp Section Editors Veronica Cepparulo Leah Green Anne Heck Samuel Mirarchi Brian O’Shaughnessy Contributing Writers Jillian Baker Olivia Cleary Courtney Daniels Siani Flores Shannon Homa Madison Kaley Keith Noonan Jaionna Odom Faculty Advisor Dr. Ryan Lange
The Alvernian is the official student newspaper of Alvernia University. To contact newspaper staff, the office telephone number is 610-796-8358.
Articles submitted for consideration into The Alvernian should be written in some semblance of AP style. Letters to the editor, requests for advertisements, and general comments and questions may be submitted to ryan.lange@alvernia.edu. The editors reserve the right to edit submissions for clarity, accuracy, and length.
The views expressed in The Alvernian are those of the individual writers and do not necessarily reflect the student body, faculty, staff, administration, or sponsors.
© 2015 The Alvernian
Vol. 54 Issue 1
Flynn Files: October 2015 Dear Students, You are always the primary audience for these columns, which appear first in the Alvernian. But I wanted to begin this year with a special welcome letter to you — new and returning students alike, undergraduate and graduate, doctoral candidates and Seniors College “life-long learners.” You share the experience of learning (and often living) in a caring community, enriched by liberal arts and Catholic higher education traditions, and inspired by our Franciscan values. And you are fortunate, as am I, to be part of Alvernia during a historic time of great progress and even more promise. (Hey, Adams Street is even finally free of potholes!) WE ARE AU! This past summer, Alvernia received unqualified affirmation of our progress during the last decade (2005-2015) through reaccreditation by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. Among the 35 commendations from the visiting team were high praise for the dedication of our faculty, the focus on students by staff and faculty alike, and the exceptional way our students embody our Franciscan mission. We also, as usual, were recognized nationally by the President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll. And we were again held up as a national model of civic engagement by the Carnegie Foundation which recognized Alvernia for excellence in several categories including interfaith initiatives. Essential as is such external validation, we can ourselves point to great strides in quality and reputation even during the last year. Here are a few highlights! SERVANT LEADERS! Alvernia students reported over 30,000 hours of community service last year. Thirty-seven students were recognized for extraordinary levels of service: 27 for providing 100 hours or more in service during the academic year; seven for providing more than 300 hours of service during their time at Alvernia, and three for completing over 500 hours. As part of New Student Orientation, approximately 500 students, faculty, and staff served at 16 sites throughout Reading. The
spirit of this year’s freshman class is contagious! St. Francis Day of Service will take place on Saturday, Oct. 10. NEW PROGRAMS, MORE OPPORTUNITIES! Faculty members were also especially busy last year, approving several exciting new programs. New doctoral programs in physical therapy (AUGUST ‘15) and Nursing (JANUARY ‘16) are attracting top students. Undergraduates can now major in finance, healthcare administration, and environmental biochemistry. The new sustainability minor is underway, and a new minor and certificate in community engagement is starting this spring. HOME SWEET HOME! This fall we have the largestever number of students living on campus. Theme housing is all the rage: 100% of our freshmen and 67% of all other residents live in theme housing. This is noteworthy because students who live in theme housing (based on common interests) tend to do better academically, become more involved in extra/co-curricular activities, and stay in college through graduation. LEAVING HOME! There are of course life and opportunities beyond the ’Vern. Occasions for international experiences have been expanded for students and faculty alike, including a formal agreement with Australian Catholic University. Fifteen global options are now available for students through our popular Study Abroad program. We also have a promising new partnership emerging in Ireland and potential service trips to Brazil in cooperation with our Bernardine Franciscan Sisters. LET’S TALK TURKEY! In September, we hosted seven Turkish and Bosnian college presidents to explore potential international exchanges for students and faculty. We already have 10 Turkish graduate students studying at Alvernia and expect that number will expand in the future. This fall we also welcomed students from the Dominican Republic, Vietnam and Saudi Arabia and hope soon to host students from China and India.
Alvernia University President, Dr. Thomas Flynn.
REAL WORLD LEARNING! Whether enjoying international study, a service trip or the Washington Center Program; completing an internship in Philadelphia; or pursuing communitybased research or a clinical placement here in Reading . . . Alvernia students are preparing well for successful futures. Senior psychology majors, for example, complete a rigorous full-year internship! And a range of students now have great experiential learning opportunities at the new Oakbrook Housing Clinic, a multiorganization partnership led by Alvernia to provide health services for low-income residents. CRUSADER PRIDE! And such experiential learning makes a difference, sometimes a life-changing one. Three recent alumnae illustrate this well. Alvernia occupational therapy alum Capt. Ashley Welsh ‘10, stationed at Landstuhl Medical Center in Germany, made headlines recently for her role in treating one of the American heroes who stopped a terrorist in France. Airman 1st Class Spencer Stone sustained his injuries while preventing an armed attack on a train. Kate Roesch ’12 continues
to make a major impact in Mbale, Uganda where she is teaching local students as a Peace Corps volunteer. And Kathleen Ellis M’04, Ph.D.’14, who stays busy during the day working as a high school special education teacher in the Twin Valley School District, is now serving on the board of directors for the John Paul II Center for Special Learning. So students, never forget that, for your faculty and staff, you are “why we do what we do.” We look to you--as to alums like Kate, Kathleen and Ashley--to do well and do good. And through you we are inspired to do even better ourselves. Peace and All Good, President Flynn
September/October 2015
campus news
3 Vol. 54 Issue 1
Right before the intermission, each member of the band performed solos to show off their musical talents. Halligan Jr. continued to provide backup vocals and guitar for each solo. Drummer, Bill Bleistine, who received his BA in Business Administration from Alvernia in 1986, fired up the crowd with a solo just before intermission. Instead of resting and cooling off like the rest of his group, Bill stayed outside and interacted with his friends and family in the crowd. Bleistine was glad to be back at AU after being away. “It felt really great,” he said. “The appearance has changed a little bit, but I think the core elements of Alvernia are still the same. I learned the things that were important to make it a life environment.” Bleistine returns to a much different Alvernia than the one he left as a graduate. During his time here, Veronica Hall was the only
The crowd enjoying the Irish music stylings of Ceili Rain.
Photo courtesy of Jaionna Odom
There’s Nothing Wrong with Irish Pride (Continued pg. 1)
drummer left. Bleistine had met Halligan Jr. at a church in Tennessee after moving there with his wife. Halligan Jr. had heard about Bleistine, and felt he would be a good choice for a replacement drummer.
residence hall. Alvernia’s other campus buildings were Francis and Bernardine Halls and a campus center. While at Alvernia, Bleistine also met his wife. Bleistine joined Ceili Rain in 2003 after the original
Halligan Jr. had been very confident in Bleistine. Shortly after he joined the band, Halligan Jr. gave him only slight preparations. “Here’s a CD with about 25 songs on there,” Bleistine recalled Halligan Jr. telling him. “I need you to learn it in two weeks. And another thing you need to know about the band is that the band never rehearses.” Bleistine was flabbergasted. “And I was like, what?” he said. Since then, Ceili Rain has played for as many as 30,000 people, but continues to play intimate shows for smaller rooms. The second half of the show was more relaxed. The band took requests, and even started a “Celtic conga line.” The latter portion of the show also saw more dancing from the crowd. The band concluded their set with “Thanks for Keeping Track of Me.” The song showed their gratitude
for their fans, family and friends who supported them throughout the years. While the band says that their music can be enjoyed by anyone, “There’s nothing wrong with Irish pride.” For more information on the band, their upcoming shows and merchandise, you can visit their website http:// www.ceilirain.com.
club also provides service hours just by crocheting and knitting. Members of Hooked on Helping spend their meetings working on projects such as, blankets for animal shelters and hats for newborn babies. These handmade items are donated to charities of the club’s choosing. Hooked on Helping club president, Sydni Gajewski, is very passionate about service. “I can’t stop. I am going to keep going long and strong,” Gajewski said. “It’s almost like once you start doing it, you don’t want to stop.” Alvernia’s campus also hosts a brand new service club, the Campus Lions Club. The Lions Club uses service to help people of the community see a better tomorrow. They support initiatives for the blind and visually impaired
and provide support for other local service projects as the need presents itself. Students can also earn their 40 hours of service by going on Alternative Break trips through Campus Ministry. Students who want to learn more about service possibilities can visit the Holleran Center, Campus Ministry, or look for opportunities on PAX. To learn more about the Campus Lions Club, visit their Facebook page or attend the next meeting on October 22 in the student seminar rooms. Meetings for Hooked on Helping occur every Thursday at 7pm in the Shander room of the Physical Education Center. If you are interested in applying for membership to Alpha Phi Omega, you can contact student, Mackenzie Bartlett.
Interested in helping out with the Alvernian? Please contact Amber Nikolaus at amber.nikolaus@ alvernia.edu
Emily Reed, a junior social work major, is working at Angora Fruit Farm helping to establish plants around the butterfly house to be used in an educational setting.
hours. Similar to most first year students, he was going to look for a way out of them. Waller, however, found a love for service. Three years later, he has logged over one hundred hours and has stopped keeping count. Among those service events, Waller has received three job offers, an internship, and an offer for a scholarship. “It’s all networking, it’s all opportunity,” Waller said. For Sydni Gajewski, a sophomore health care sciences student, service is an opportunity to understand and appreciate her good fortune in life. How can a student get
involved with service? The Holleran Center, located in Bernardine Hall room 102 is the first step in finding events. The office is home to knowledgeable faculty, staff, students, and many other resources. Students can find a list of upcoming service events, preapproved organizations to get involved with, and forms that allow students to complete hours with their own event ideas. Students can also get involved in university-wide days of service through the Holleran Center. These occur on St. Francis Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, and Earth Day. University-wide days
usually vary from 4-6 hours and offer a wide variety of service options. To get involved with any of The Holleran Center’s events, students can head to the office or email Judy Bohler, community engagement coordinator. Sometimes getting involved with other clubs and groups on campus will help students find opportunities for service. Many of the registered student organizations on campus include service projects in their club calendars. Alpha Phi Omega is a nationwide co-ed service fraternity. The club follows three cardinal principles: leadership, fellowship, and service. The club develops service trips around Reading to places such as, Animal Rescue League, Habitat Restore, and Olivet Boys and Girls Clubs. Active involvement in this club can allow you complete your 40 hours in just one year. “Just put yourself out there. It isn’t nearly as difficult as you may think, and you might find that you really enjoy doing it,” Christopher O’Neil, president of Alpha Phi Omega, said. The Hooked on Helping
Photo courtesy of Sydni Gajewski
Photo courtesy of The Holleran Center
Scared Service-less (Continued pg. 1)
These are the completed projects by Hooked on Helping from the 2014-2015 school year. Students earn service hours for working on these projects that get donated to selected causes.
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club news
September/October 2015
Vol. 54 Issue 1
By Leah Green Editor With over 300 members, the Crusader Crazies are set to leave their mark on Alvernia athletics. Alvernians of all class ranks and majors are among the “Crazies” who want to bring boisterous energy to all sporting events. With chants and school spirit, the group sets the tone with a winning attitude. Matt Pyne, the president of the club, originally came up with the idea in an event planning class. Last year, the class was brainstorming ideas for student involvement in athletics. Pyne, a Crusader enthusiast, believe he could up the ante with a group dedicated to sports support. “Athletics is something that a lot of people can come together with,” Pyne said. “Whether you like hockey or baseball or whatever, it’s something that people all have an interest in, no matter who you are on campus.”
Pyne came up with the name based on his old high school booster club called the Catholic Crazies. Pyne quickly found support for the club in the Student Activities office, earning a quick approval as a Registered Student Organization (RSO). Once Student Activities approved the Crazies, Pyne focused on recruiting members throughsocial media. “I created a Twitter account and within two days I was able to get 120 followers,” Pyne said. Pyne wants the newer students to carry the group through the next several years, and wants his legacy to be the Crazies becoming the biggest organization on campus. “[The Crusader Crazies] brings the buzz to a Division III campus that other schools don’t have.” Pyne said. The Crusader Crazies want to be louder and more energetic than rival fan sections
at other schools, but that will take getting students to away games. While traveling to other schools can be difficult for many Alvernia students, the Crusader Crazies intend to provide bus trips for students who are a part of the group for away games. To pay for these trips, the Crazies intend to undertake a variety of fundraisers during the academic year. The Crazies will support all Alvernia sports, and want to attend as many sporting events as possible. Pyne hopes to bring people together by the Crazies’ high energy and spirit. Hannah Mallets, midfielder for the Women’s Alvernia Soccer Team, is excited for the energy that the club will bring not only to the crowd but to the players as well. “[The chants] just get me pumped. I feel like I’m playing for more than just myself, I’m playing for my school.” Mallets said.
Photo courtesy of Leah Green
Oh Those Crusader Crazies!
(Left to right) Andrew Miller, Chris Campo, Justin Mains, Mikey Brutto and Matt Pyne (back) support one of the first volleyball games of the Fall 2015 season.
Mallets noted that since the club has been established there has been more turnout for student athletics. “It’s great to feel the support of the school.” Mallets said. She intends to join the group and support her fellow athletes. Students can join the Crusader Crazies through the PAX system, or by contact-
ing verncrazies@gmail.com. Membership in the group costs $10, which provides a t-shirt and donation to the club. Students are encouraged to follow the Crazies’ Twitter and Facebook pages. The Twitter account is @VernCrazies. The Facebook page is https://www.facebook.com/ verncrazies.
Gaming Club Gives Students a Break from the Books
A group of gamers play Cards Against Humanity at one of Alvernia University’s Gaming Club meetings.
Photo courtesy of Alvernia University Gaming Club
Looking for something to do on campus during the weekends? The Alvernia University Gaming Club invites all students to spend their Friday nights playing their favorite games with fellow students. Daniel Martin, a junior BioChemistry major, came up with the idea for the Gaming Club last semester. Martin is a gaming enthusiast who was looking for more gamers on campus. After a ride back from a weekend activity, Martin said, “We realized that there wasn’t anything to do after that night, so we just decided
to put together a club that was recreational for anyone that wanted to join.” The club held its first official meeting on September 4. The first meeting had 12 gamers in attendance, but Martin is confident that more people will join up. “We’re getting a slow start,” he said, “so it’s steady but good. We’re working on getting more members and just getting the word out.” Part of the reason for Martin’s confidence is the support from faculty and staff. Dr. Mark Kaufman is the club’s faculty advisor and he believes the club will grow over time. “The Alvernia Gaming Club has the potential to be much
Photo courtesy of Alvernia University Gaming Club
By Brian O’Shaughnessy Editor
Bryce Niemczyk (left) and Daniel Martin (right) play Star Wars: Battlefront II on one of the screens in Bernardine Hall Room 002.
more than a social gathering, although this is an important function,” Kaufman said. “Games and game theory offer useful models for realworld situations. Whether on a board, a card table, or a video console, even the most outlandish of adventures can become a platform for exercising peacekeeping, humility, and collegiality—not to mention creativity.” Jimmy Wyatt, a sophomore Criminal Justice major, serves as the club’s treasurer. Wyatt is confident in the club’s success. “I think it’s doing pretty well,” he said. “I have a feeling that it’s going to be one of the
most recognizable clubs on campus,” said Wyatt Martin agreed, “I see an exponential growth in the next semester or two, and us being one of the biggest clubs on campus.” The Gaming Club meets every other Friday night in Bernardine Hall 002 at 7 p.m. starting on October 16. Meetings have so far featured video games as well as board games. Any game a student can bring in for the group to play is welcome. For more information about the Alvernia University Gaming Club, please visit the clubs organization page on PAX. You can join the Alvernia
University Gaming Club Page on Facebook; follow @AUGameClub on Twitter, or AU Gaming Club on Instagram.
Check out the Crusader Crazies on Twitter @ VernCrazies!
Check out the Gaming Club on Twitter @ AUGameClub!
September/October 2015
campus news
5 Vol. 54 Issue 1
The Power Behind Spoken Word Poetry (Continued pg. 1) reflected in how stories differ and intersect in all our lives. It connects us to each other, bridging our differences and reinforcing our similarities. With that in mind, remember that the power of one individual can change the world – that individual might be you. The Office of Multicultural Engagement invites you to mark your calendar with upcoming events. On Wednesday, November 11, at 7:30 p.m. in the Bernadine Lecture Hall, Xiuhtezcatl Martinez, environmental activist and eco hip hop artist will perform. Also, on Tuesday, November 17, at 7:00 p.m. at the McGlinn Conference Center, Esther Bauer will recount her experience as a Holocaust Survivor.
Photo courtesy of Anne Heck
Smego took time to explain the motivation behind the poems he delivered. His advice to tell your own story through spoken word poetry offered insight to his topics. Many of his topics – racism, war, murder – can be understood on a personal level based on his experiences. The universality of his work has the ability to bring young people together through the power of the story. He works to try to fix the rupture in society and heal the disconnect between cultures, reminding us that we are not so different after all. Kane encouraged the audience to “step outside your comfort zone” and “let your actions reflect your values.” Coupled with that challenge, there was one very important take away message in Kane’s performance, “Tell your own story, others will get it wrong.” Kane further explained, “Everyone is carrying a complex story.” The power of that is
Kane Smego, internationally recognized spoken word poet, answered questions of the audience after his performance.
First Year Life in Francis Hall
First year criminal justice major, Harry Valverde, standing in his room in Francis Hall.
One of the challenges of Francis Hall is that its rooms do not feature central air. “If a student has a medical need for an air conditioner, one will be provided for the student,” said Karolina. “I’m lucky to have air conditioning in my room,” Harry Valverde, first year criminal justice student said. “Most of the rooms do not have air conditioning.” Despite the heat, many of the current first year students love living in Francis Hall. Some students and parents were wondering if there was
heat in the rooms for during the winter. Karolina stated, “Francis has all the same amenities as other first year area buildings with exception of air-conditioning. Students in Francis have mailboxes, laundry, all the safety systems (ID access and fire suppression systems) and heat.” Making sure that safety is their number one priority. Despite the issues student do enjoy living in Francis Hall for a variety of reasons. “I like Francis Hall because since there are not a lot of people in our hall it is the perfect
way to study” said Lauren Callueng first year Business Management Major. Some students feel a deep connection to the university by living in Francis Hall. “I feel honored,” Valverde said. “You are living in history while making history. I like living [in Francis Hall], and have a great respect [for its history].” While Francis Hall has a deep history, it is also some distance from the academic buildings near the middle of campus. First year Nursing Major student Liza Callueng stated “The only thing that we
dislike about Francis Hall is how far it is from everything and the floor has no air conditioning.” Many people were wondering if Francis Hall would stay a residence hall after this year. Karolina stated, “Possibly, if the number, of students wanting to live on campus, require us to do so. Francis is a great building with lots of history and great housing space, which allows students to create their very own and unique residential community.”
Photo courtesy of Courtney Daniels
Francis Hall is unexpectedly housing first year students this academic year. Karolina Dreher, Associate Dean of Students said, “We’ve had a record number of upper-class students wanting to live on campus. This means that we had to use Anthony Hall to accommodate upperclass students.” “Also, the class of 2019 was a large freshmen class with a large number of students wanting to reside on campus. In order to accommodate those requests we had to open Francis Hall.” Francis Hall was built in 1920, and was renovated into a residence hall in 2000. Anthony Hall was opened as a residence hall in 1999, Assisi and Siena Halls were built in 1992. Judge Hall was built in 2005 as apartment-like rooms, Clare Hall opened in fall 2001 as a co-ed residence hall. In 1965, Veronica Hall was built, and it also has the offices for Residence Life, Health and Wellness Center, Holy Savior Chapel, and Residential System’s Information desk.
Photo courtesy of Courtney Daniels
By Courtney Daniels Contributing Writer
Francis Hall lounge.
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extracurriculars
September/October 2015
Vol. 54 Issue 1
Gilmore Henne Works Hard for Children’s Play By Siani Flores Contributing Writer
where friends are made, bonds are formed, and the imagination has no limits,” Gilmore said. “Parks exemplify the culture of the particular neighborhood they are located in. Typically, the community determines what a park is going to be. The big picture is to strengthen neighborhoods by helping the people who
live in these neighborhoods reclaim their parks, while maintaining the positive activities that already exist.” The foundation both renovates parks and holds weekly park clean ups. Maintaining the parks is important to give children who live in Reading a safe play environment. The foundation also offers free summer camps to children
Slawecki spoke out about her time being an RA and how it’s like being a family, “many of my residents in my hall call me “mom” because to them I am seen as their mother figure away from home. When they need something I’m there, and when they are hurt or feeling down, I’m there.” Aside from that, being an RA also means that for the entirety of the year, your job is an around the clock
requirement because you are responsible for the safety of your hall. Being a senior RA is not always easy. Challenges of the job include not getting enough sleep and experiencing a lot of stress. While no one willingly wants to live a stress-filled life, Hannah believes that being an RH is “one of the best jobs to have.” If you’re someone who wants a more relaxed job environment, the Campus
Commons is the best fit for you. Tara Gorman, a junior OT major, works as a fitness center employee. Gorman loves the fact that you’re allowed to do homework and study at the same time. Gorman’s job is to check in student IDs, have new students sign waivers, and clean equipment. She has worked there for 3 semesters, and enjoys getting to meet new people every shift.
Photo courtesy of Siani Flores
The Gilmore Henne Community Foundation is a nonprofit organization that was created by NFL players, Chad Henne and John Gilmore, in 2010. The foundation’s goal is to clean up parks around the city of Reading. Both Henne and Gilmore are Wilson High School Graduates. John Gilmore played six seasons for the Chicago Bears, and three for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Gilmore retired in 2012. Chad Henne played four seasons with the Miami Dolphins. Henne signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2012 where he continues to play. According to John Gilmore, “Clean and safe parks and recreation areas are key factors in maintaining healthy communities. Beyond the physical activity that playing in a park provides, welltended parks are safe havens for young people – places
who live around the parks. So far, the Gilmore Henne Community Foundation has revitalized the Sixteenth and Hawk Playground, Barbey’s Playground, Second and Oley Playground, Temple Playground, Locust Street Park and West Lawn Playground. The Gilmore Henne Community Foundation often holds different events throughout the year where people can volunteer to help better the community. Alvernia recently helped the foundation during its Orientation Day of Service, sending students to volunteer at Second and Oley Playground and Barbey’s Playground. The Gilmore Henne also recently held their annual Gilmore Henne Railroad Run Labor Day 4k. The event drew over 150 participants to enjoy a day full of barbeque, drinks, races, and a family walk in support of the Gilmore Henne Foundation. The next annual run will be September 5,
Alvernia University Freshman at Second and Oley Playground on Orientation Day of Service.
By Olivia Cleary Contributing Writer Between school work and getting involved, not everybody is cut out to work a job during college. However, whether you are someone who wants a laid back job, or someone who wants to be in a fast paced environment with a lot to do, there is something around campus for you. Sam Mirarchi is a first year student at Alvernia. Mirarchi recently started working in the Campus Media Suite. The Media Suite is located on the ground floor of Bernardine Hall, and focuses its work on media production. Although it encourages previous knowledge in Adobe or iMovie, all who are fast paced learners with great people skills are welcome to join and improve their software knowledge. Hannah Slawecki, junior, is a Senior Resident Assistant in Clare Hall. Slawecki likes her job because each year she gets the opportunity to meet a bunch of new students and watch them grow. Being a hall RA means that you have to be responsible and able to put time as well as effort into your job.
Photo courtesy of Olivia Cleary
Crusader Jobs
Cheyenne Mazza, first year student, being trained to work in the control room in the media suite by Samuel Mirarchi.
2016. The next Gilmore Henne event will take place during Alvernia’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service where students will help to rejuvenate Second and Oley Playground. Students can get involved with the Gilmore Henne Foundation by visiting www. ghcommunityfund.com. The website lists the events the foundation operates throughout the year. Students can also visit their Facebook page called the Gilmore Henne Foundation.
Gorman said that working at the fitness center can be a job for just about anyone. The job requires little previous experience, but does need you to be a friendly people person. Being able to do school work and work at the same time gives the opportunity to complete work as well as earn money, and still have hours left in the day. Having a job in college however doesn’t mean that you can’t be involved in other activities or organizations. Slawecki is involved in many other out of class actives including the Holleran Center, education association, a number of honor societies and Campus Ministry. Like Slawecki, Gorman also volunteers her time to SOTA, Cure-sader Club, and Expeditionary Club. Applying to jobs also doesn’t mean that you have to apply for something based around your major. From creating new friendships, to being able to use the tools and skills you acquire in the outside world, having a job can open new doors to wonderful things.
#GotServiceAU
September/October 2015
sports
7 Vol. 54 Issue 1
What Will the Class of ‘19 Bring Alvernia Athletics? By Keith Noonan Contributing Writer
Photo courtesy of Alvernia Athletics
Alvernia University welcomed 405 new first year students during orientation weekend, a third of whom are student-athletes. With over 130 first years joining Alvernia’s teams, how will they shape the Crusaders’
chances in Division III play? Jon King serves as both the men’s golf coach and the director of Sports Information at Alvernia. King has two first year students on the men’s golf roster for the 2015 season. With three seniors from 2014 now graduated, King has high expectations for his new players.
Sophomore, Keith Noonan, helps the Men’s Golf Team with leading points during match play on September 28.
“We have opportunity, so I expect them to impact the team right away,” King said. “I expect them in a starting role from day one. Golf is a team game, and every time someone on the team hits the ball it counts towards the team. If I have freshman in the top 5, they will be contributing towards that.” Coach King realizes that his first year students will need to grow into their roles, but always puts academics first. “I expect them to show some growth over the fall on the golf course, and academically we want to be achieving the goals many teams have done before us, which is 3.0 team GPA,” King said. The men’s golf team could be strong this year. Senior Brett Fernandes returns to the team, as well as one junior and a few sophomores. Fernandes was the top player on the team last season. William Bonewitz coaches the women’s soccer team.
Coach Bonewitz is looking to the first year students for contributions. In many ways, they have no choice but to contribute: Of the 27-player roster, 13 are new students. “In our last game, we started four [first years] and had three more come off the bench to play key minutes,” Bonewitz said. As with King, Bonewitz puts academics above the pitch. “I expect them to continue with the team’s history of academic excellence,” he said. “Last fall’s team had an overall GPA of 3.21 and were awarded the NSCAA all-academic team.” With 10 seniors graduating last spring, track and field coach Eric Bennett had to get to work and try to get some players to complete. Bennett’s hard work yielded 26 incoming students for this fall. The first year impact “will be noticeable right away,” he said. Another wrinkle in Bennett’s upcoming season is
that the women’s team is significantly larger than the men’s team. “It will take pressure off the upperclassmen to compete in several events at the MAC Championships,” Bennett said. “On both the men’s and women’s squads there were “holes” in our team that did not allow us to compete well across all event areas. This class fills those voids, while adding depth to all areas of the team.” The first year studentathletes at Alvernia have significant opportunities to do something great. With this many new players, Alvernia’s conference rivals should be on high alert in the near future.
have a hitter/setter connection already, which can take a while to develop. Playing with Jill makes things easier on the court because she knows how I’m feeling based on my facial expressions and knows how to calm me down when I’m playing badly.” Abby O’Donnell and Alexandra Stroia spent four years together at Marian Catholic High School. The dynamic duo took two trips to the state championship match, and spent one year playing club ball together. Today, Stroia and O’Donnell are now roommates and teammates for another four years.
Stroia and O’Donnell both discussed how they ultimately came to Alvernia because of its strong academic programs. Stroia is a biology major, and earned a seat in the Early Admission Program at Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine. Meanwhile, O’Donnell is in the five-year master program for Occupational Therapy. Both women find the collegial atmosphere of their team a great benefit to their Alvernia education. “There are a lot of laughs on and off the court not only with my best friend,” Stroia said, “but also with my new friends.” O’Donnell agreed. “I think it’s pretty cool that there are three pairs of best friends because you can see how alike and different we all are.” Laura Wachowicz and Emily Smith both graduated from Exeter Township, and both women are nursing majors. Wachowicz and Smith have played with one another since they were in the seventh grade. Smith felt that the chemistry on the team has made it easier for her to make the transition from high school to college.
“I think that it’s awesome that we have three pairs of best friends on the team. It definitely made everyone more comfortable coming to a new school,” Smith said. Being in such a supportive environment also helps each woman feel less shy in a new environment. “I love seeing my best friend every day and participating in a sport we are both passionate about,” Wachowicz said. Marks thinks that the tight friendships on the team make it stronger. “The good thing about [the friendships] is that freshmen come to a new school, [and then have to deal with a] new curriculum, new teammates and coaches,” he said, “But having a best friend on the team provides a level of comfort.” Baker thinks that the team working out in this way is a dream come true. “When I found out Lauryn and I were both being recruited by Alvernia I didn’t think much of it because what were the odds that we would actually end up together at the same school?” Baker said “I dreamt about this happening so many times, and now it’s a reality.”
Three Pairs Set the Match Six out of the seven first year women on the women’s volleyball team are best friends. The six commonly consider themselves three pairs of friends: Laura Wachowicz and Emily Smith, Abby O’Donnell and Alexandra Stroia, and Lauryn Snyder and Jillian Baker. Mike Marks, assistant coach of the women’s volleyball team calls this strange turn of events simply “dumb luck.” “I didn’t realize [that we had three pairs of first year best friends on the team] until about the third match! I found it humorous but exciting to see quality players coming from quality programs,” Kelly Nicodemus, head coach, said. Jillian Baker also wasn’t thinking of forming one pair of the three-pair powerhouse when she first came to Alvernia. Baker and her friend Lauryn Snyder found themselves drawn to Alvernia because of its excellent fit. “I didn’t know exactly where I wanted to go until Lauryn and I were on campus for the first time together,”
Baker said. “I remember being in the PEC, standing against the railing next to Lauryn and feeling like this was where I was meant to be: at Alvernia playing volleyball with my best friend.” Baker and Snyder had also played at the Spooky Nook Volleyball Academy for two years prior to coming to Alvernia. “I was considering Alvernia because I loved the campus and the volleyball coach, but I still wasn’t 100% sure. Once I found out Jill was coming here, I knew I had found the right school,” Snyder said. “I love playing with [Baker],” Snyder said. “We
Photo courtesy of Bruce Sipling
By Jillian Baker Contributing Writer
During a timeout during their game against Trinity (D.C.), the members of the women’s volleyball team listen intently to head coach, Kelly Nicodemus. The Crusaders went on to beat Trinity (D.C.) in straight sets (25-9, 25-5, 25-3).
National Career Development Week Navigate Through Your Career November 16th—20th
Commuter Lunch Monday, November 16th
Monday, November 16th 6-8pm - CC Living Room
Keep an eye on our Twitter and Facebook accounts for details!
Watch Alexis and Chip on their journey to interview 30 people who have pursued their dreams, and then hear their story directly from them!
Make Your Own Detox Drink HealthCare Networking & Career Fair
Tuesday, November 17th 1:30-3:30pm - SC Private Dining Room Meet and network with some of your own industry’s professionals in a comfortable environment!
Tuesday, November 17th 11:30-1:30pm - SC 1st Floor
Semester have you stressed? Come make a FREE detox drink to help you un-wind during this stressful time!
Coffee Break
Thursday, November 19th 5-8pm - Bernardine Hall Lounge
Caramel Apple Open House Wednesday, November 18th 12-4pm - Career Development
Make yourself a caramel apple and chat with the Career Development staff and ask all of the questions you’ve been yearning to ask!
What’s better than free coffee? Nothing! Stop by to grab some info about Career Development while enjoying a free cup of joe!
Office of Career Development Bernardine Hall Suite 103 610-790-2878 career.development@alvernia.edu