3
THE SAINT | WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2011
NEWS
Celebrating diversity through words and beliefs Residence Life LLC’s host this year’s This I Believe: A Celebration of Beliefs, an opportunity for students, faculty, and staff to read aloud their This I Believe essays
By Laura Rico The Saint Reporter On December 9, from 9 to 11 p.m. at the Cook Carriage House, Aquinas students and faculty will have the chance to read their This I Believe essay. Inspired by the common read, This I Believe II by Jay Allison and Dan Gediman, individuals will share a brief essay that describes an idea that they firmly believe in. Following the presentations, there will be a group discussion that will allow for the speakers and audience to discuss the readings. This year marks the third time the Aquinas community has come together to share and listen to a principle they have come to be committed to. In the past, the Celebration of Beliefs event has generated a packed house and has had over 30 readers share their essays. Associate Dean of Student Affairs and Director of the Common Read Jennifer Dawson said, “This is an opportunity to talk about what we believe as a community. Hearing students express their opinions is very powerful.” In addition, this year ’s event is sponsored by the Residence Life Living Learning Communities, which includes Woodcock, Knape, Meijer, and Apartment A. There will be information regarding applications to live in an LLC at the event. This event provides a great opportunity for students currently working on writing their essay to listen to what their classmates, professors, and other Aquinas faculty have come up with. The 125th anniversary that the Aquinas
COURTESY AQUINAS COLLEGE
A chance to share her story: Sophomore Bridget Salisz was one of the participants in last year’s This I Believe: A Celebration of Beliefs event. Her essay reflected the highs and lows of her father’s battle with cancer. community continues to celebrate offers the perfect occasion to come together and share stories that serve to unite and inspire individuals, especially as the spirit of the holidays quickly
approaches. Overall, this event is sure to generate discussion on what values individuals, young and old, and from various different backgrounds have come to
place above all others. Anyone who is interested in sharing their essay is encouraged to come and sign up to read on December 9 at the Carriage House.
New fitness programs are here for the winter season Heath and Wellness initiatives now offering Body Combat, Yoga, and Zuma at the Sturrus Center By Hillary Najor The Saint Reporter At the Sturrus Sports and Fitness Center and in St. Joseph’s Fitness Center, many fitness classes are offered for students to stay fit, active, and relieve stress throughout the busy school year. The three types of classes offered, stemming from past interest and popularity, are Body Combat, Yoga, and Zumba. On Mondays at 5:15 p.m., Body Combat is offered at the Sturrus Center. It is similar to Pilates in the types of
exercises used, with the objective to strengthen the core. The instructor, Jennifer Stauffer, ties in free weights and ball exercises to mix it up. Then on Tuesdays, the ever-popular yoga is offered at 5:15 p.m. in St. Joe’s Fitness Center, located in the basement. This class offers the traditional styles and poses that yoga is founded upon. The goal is to center the mind and body through meditation, breathing and posture. On Wednesdays at 9:30 p.m., Zumba is offered at the Sturrus Center. Zumba is a Latin inspired dance fitness class using
Exam Cram is here to serve
By Laura Rico The Saint Reporter
The holidays are just around the corner, which also means that finals are just ahead. A week of irregular sleep, stress, and overall cramming is up ahead for the majority of the AQ population, but students should be aware of the events that are scheduled to help them relax and overall perform better on their exams. Beginning on Saturday, December 3, and up until Wednesday, December 14, there will be events sponsored by various Aquinas departments in a combined effort to make the coming exam days easier. Events include fun entertaining ones such as: Winter Formal, Men and Women’s Basketball and Hockey games, Ice Cram (Cream) social, a presentation from The Dating Doctor: D a ve C o l e m a n , A r t s a n d C r a f t s night, and the annual Christmas Concert presented by the AQ Music department. Other activities include great ways to relive stress such as: Tai Chi, a Moosages and Relaxation station, and Yoga and Yogurt activities. S t i l l m a n y o t h e r e ve n t s o f f e r students a chance to fuel up on coffee and snacks, or a great place for students
to study, specifically in the Commuter Lounge and the Grace Hauenstein Library. Program and Building Coordinator for Campus Life Timothy Ramsay said, “[We] want to provide healthy studying habits and fun study breaks.” Sponsored by Campus Life, the biannual Exam Breakfast will be offered Monday, December 12, from 10 to 11 p.m. in Wege and is free to all students who bring their AQ ID. Students can expect a hot meal to keep them will energized throughout the night. Sophomore Jade Chavez reccomends getting there early to beat the crowds. said, “The food was delicious [last year],” he said. Back by popular demand, Student Senate has sponsored the Library to be opened for 24 hours from December 10 through the 14. Sophomore Molly Cook said, “Take advantage of the library and don’t be afraid to stay up late to study, but make sure you take time to relax and do fun things too because it will make the process seem less stressful!” Exam cram t-shirts are available at the Campus Life office starting December 5 through the 9. The cost is $5 each and can be paid with cash or check.
News Editor Monica Rischiotto
mostly Latin music, incorporating some hip-hop music to jive to. These classes have had a respectable following of students attending, but new students are always welcome and encouraged to try out one of these classes. Students should not fear going to these classes if they are new to working out because these classes have a warm and positive environment towards all students. “We love to have new participants. The instructors make you feel very welcome, and you will have so much fun,” said Annie Szcepanek, the building director at
Sturrus Sports and Fitness Center. “You don’t have to be an expert to be able to do these classes, and the instructor can always modify the workout for you if you are new to the class.” All classes run an hour long. Walkins are welcome. The cost is $4 a session. Purchasing a punch card is also an option, which costs $25 for nine sessions. Punch cards are located in the Sturrus Center, or available from Veronica Beitner in the Health and Wellness Center located in lower Wege. Now take a break from studying, relieve that stress, and be active.
GR Press makes cuts The Grand Rapids Press terminates dozens of writers, changes printing schedule By Katherine Mata The Saint Reporter The Grand Rapids Press announced earlier in November plans to merge with MLive Media Group to create a new media company. Over a hundred journalists at The Grand Rapids Press were handed sixty day notices of their employment termination. The loss of jobs of over a hundred journalists is sad for the community, but the change still brings some hope. “It’s not a surprise for me,” said Aquinas College journalism professor Rob Kirkbride, and added, “and I look forward to what is to come.” The journalists laid off pose a question for graduating students looking to enter the journalism career: is journalism dead? “Journalism is not dead,” emphasized Kirkbride. “There will always be a need for writers. However, journalism is changing dramatically. The skills needed are not the same five years ago.” Kirkbride now teaches his journalism students the skills t o c r e a t e a n d e d i t we b s i t e s f o r publishing news. While newspapers are still available to the public, the internet is providing quicker and easier access to the news. Journalism students need to be aware of the inevitable changes and be prepared to embrace it. Instead of delivering to subscribers seven days a week, The Grand Rapids Press will be available for delivery three days a week. Now more news, sports, and entertainment coverage will be streamed online for quick, easy access to everyone. Once The Press merges with MLive Media Group, new journalists will be hired. The change has huge advantages for The Grand Rapids Press. The main factor is cost. While it may be a painful change, the cost of having a printing plant and delivering seven days a week is incredibly expensive. Another advantage to readers is the easier access to news on the internet. While this change has some good advantages, it will frustrate many looking to enter the what was once considered a traditional journalism career. “There are no [more] barriers of entry,” said Kirkbride, “[Now] anyone with a computer and a website can [potentially] be a journalist.” However, students should not be discouraged. Professor Kirkbride wants aspiring journalists to take this opportunity to realize their value and success in journalism. “If a journalist can realize their value as personal collectors of information, they will be successful,” said Kirkbride, suggesting that journalists will always add value to the community, whether it is through published newspapers or online articles.
Calvary artwork coming to Aquinas library Construction in the piazza preps library for Chris LaPorte’s winning ArtPrize piece By Monica Rischiotto News Editor Many may have noticed walking into the library this past week all of the construction taking place in the front piazza area, The new addition to be placed on the wall will be well worth the work, According to Pam Luebke, Public Services librarian, the 2010 winninng ArtPrize piece, “Calavary, American Offi cers, 1921” created by Aquinas professor Chris LaPorte, will be showcased in the front library entrance. Laporte, an adjunct in the art department in his eighth year here at Aquinas, was inspired to draw the piece aft er the unexpected death of his father. What resulted was a 28 foot wide drawing, depicting a
E-mail saint.editor@aquinas.edu
photograph of 53 uniformed World War offi cers all done in pencil. The on campus maintenance crew both designed and installed the glass case the will hold the life size drawing, and the case will hopefully be used in the future to showcase more artwork as well, following “Calvary.” “Calvary” has been showcased throughout the city, including the Grand Rapids Art Museum and will eventually be on display the Urban Institute of COURTESY AQUINAS COLLEGE Contemporary Art, whose building is currently under Winning ArtPrize piece comes home: Chris LaPorte will construction in downtown have his 2010 ArtPrize winning piece “Calvary, American Grand Rapids. For the next Officers, 1921” showcased at the Aquinas College library 6 - 1 2 m o n t h s , h o we ve r, for the next 6-12 months. “Calvary” will make its home
Phone (616) 632-2975
Website www.aquinas.edu/thesaint