THE HONORS HERALD The New York City Pforzheimer Honors College at Pace University Volume 7 Pace University 1 Pace Plaza W207-209 New York, NY 10038 P: 212-346-1697
Issue 3
March 2018
Owen McGonigle ‘21 Kalimera, everyone! Over winter break, several students from the Pforzheimer Honors College travelled through the country of Greece. Over the course of 12 days, these students, accompanied by Honors College Director, Dr. Jaclyn Kopel, and Honors College professor, Dr. Brown, ventured through various cities and towns within the country. Through visiting museums, archaeological sites, and towns, the students were able to learn a lot regarding the history and culture of the country. The trip started in Thessaloniki, situated in the northern region of Greece. Thessaloniki, a relatively new city in Greece, holds a vast amount of Jewish history, as a large amount of the Jewish community moved to the city after the year 1492. From Thessaloniki, the group travelled by train to Athens, a six-hour ride down the coast. Along the way, Mount Olympus was visible. We couldn’t see the Gods, but you know how they like being secretive and all. In Athens, the group visited the ancient Acropolis, which hosts temples such as the Parthenon and the Erechtheum. After our few days in Athens, we began the “travel” portion of the tour, during which we stayed in a new town with each new day. We started by traveling to Corinth, our first stop on the Peloponnese.
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Herald Staff Holly Thayer Editor-In-Chief
Nicki Kern Associate Editor Ties Jansen Associate Editor Mohini Gobin Honors Council President Dr. Susan Dinan Dean Dr. Bill Offutt Faculty Advisor Dr. Jaclyn Kopel Director Jessica Reed Program Coordinator Lindsey Lee Thesis Advisor
Herald Contributors Alexandra Brand Amberlynn Foote Carolyn Smith Dr. Bill Offutt Dr. Jaclyn Kopel Dr. Susan Dinan Elizabeth Powell Holly Thayer Jessica Long Jessica Holt Madison Oberndorf
Mohini Gobin Nicki Kern Nicolette Carbonetto Noura Boustany Jost Owen McGonigle Samantha Smith Sarah Rebecca Gibney Savannah Apple Servando Martinez Ties Jansen Veronica Albarella
The Honors Herald is a student run newsletter circulated to the students of the Pforzheimer Honors College at Pace University on the New York City Campus. The members of the Herald Staff review all articles. The opinions of the articles do not necessarily reflect those of the staff or the Pforzheimer Honors College. Pforzheimer Honors College 1 Pace Plaza W207-209 New York, NY 10038 www.pace.edu/honors-college
Honors students in Greece
A Letter From The Editor Dear Readers, Thank you for once again picking up our publication. In this edition you will find tales from study abroad, interviews, information about Honors programs, Honors shenanigans, internship experiences and tips, as well as thesis prep. I would like to thank all of those who contributed to this edition, especially the editors. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as we enjoyed making it. Happy Reading, Holly Thayer
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After Corinth, the group traveled to Nafplion, a quaint port town. Being in Nafplion allowed the group to experience true Greek culture, without the distraction of tourists and tourist traps. After Nafplion came Olympia, where the original Olympic games were held. The group was even able to run on the original course of the Olympics, as seen to the left. After Olympia came Delphi, home of the ancient Oracle of Delphi. As ancient Delphi is located on a vast hill, the group was challenged in climbing to the top, which measured to be the height of two Empire State Buildings! Upon leaving Delphi, the group travelled back to Athens, where they spent the last two days reflecting back on everything they had learned and experienced over the course of the trip. Now back home, the group is still reflecting on what they had witnessed over the 12 days.
Contents Honors Students Travel to Greece! 1-3 Interview with Honors Professor 4-8 The Project Innovation Project 9 An Interview with the Honors RA’s 10-12 Being A Commuter At Pace 13 My PPA Freshman Experience 14-15 The Best Laid Plans 16-17 Think the Honors Thesis is Scary? 18-19 Honors Has Their Head in the Game 20-21 NCTA 2018 22 Honors Food Review 23
A Night to Remember: Grammy Awards 24-25 Internships 26-29 Study Abroad 30-31 Night at The Museum 32 Travel 33-37 Opinion 38-39 Art 40-41 Meet Honors Council 42-43 Honors 44-47,51 Accomplishments 48-50 Final Notes 52-53
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Interview with Honors Professor: Dr. Kristen di Gennaro
Nicki Kern ‘19
In your Honors ENG 201 class we spend a lot of time breaking down traditional rules/expectations for writing. Is there a rule/expectation that the students have expressed heavy displeasure for that you like, or something you teach us to question but you use in your own work? Usually it’s just the opposite in that I find it’s students who prefer to stick to traditional writing “rules” that I would challenge in many writing situations. One example is the “rule” to avoid passive sentences. This rule doesn’t take into account the context surrounding the sentence or the genres and situations in which the passive may be more natural. As far as rules that I pay attention to, I still hesitate before using “I” in my scholarly writing but often find that it works just fine. And I feel pretentious following some very prescriptive or outdated rules, such as using “whom” in informal writing situations. So I still struggle with choices just like students, but I think this is a good thing because it illustrates awareness of context. I’d rather students struggle with choices from raised awareness than simply write without paying any attention to context even if they accurately follow all the prescriptive rules they’ve learned. Are there other Honors courses you teach? I’ve only taught ENG 201H, but I’ve served as an Honors thesis advisor for a few students, and look forward to having do so again for anyone considering topics on language or linguistics issues. Why teach Honors courses? Honors students are both challenging and fun to teach. I like engaging with such highly-focused students and seeing them discover that writing, and being a good writer, is not as simple as they think it is. I also like learning about students’ research interests, both for my course and for their theses.
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Why English and Linguistics? I actually came to English through a roundabout way. As an undergraduate, I majored in Italian language and literature. After completing my BA, I moved to Italy for a few years where I taught English to Italians. This experience not only developed my interest in teaching, but also in the study of language more generally. When I came back to the US to complete an MA in Italian language and literature, a classmate introduced me to the field of linguistics. After studying theoretical linguistics, I switched to applied linguistics, which is more directly concerned with real-life language issues in everyday situations (including teaching and assessing writing). Looking at language through the lens of linguistics means focusing on language not only as a means for communicating ideas, but also as data, to examine what people do with language and how. I also like the preference linguists have for objective analysis over evaluation and judgment. It’s about describing and explaining how people actually use language in certain contexts, not about how people should use language. And with language behaviors constantly evolving, there’s always more to discover, to describe, and to attempt to explain. Why did you move to Italy after undergrad? I went for my junior year abroad to Italy and met this guy who later turned into my husband. So I returned to spend more time in Italy. Where did you live in Italy? Mostly in Rome. What is/was your favorite place in Rome? I can tell you my favorite food I get whenever I go to a restaurant there is spaghetti carbonara which you can’t get here. Unless I make it in my house. Anywhere in Rome is wonderful. The Piazza Navona is a really wonderful Piazza. It doesn’t get enough attention but Piazza Navona is really cool. Also there’s a castle, Castello Sant’Angelo where Galileo was imprisoned for a while.
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Interview with Honors Professor Dr. Kristen di Gennaro cont.
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Nicki Kern ‘19
My understanding is that the Linguistics section of the English department has expanded recently. How has it expanded? What still needs to be developed? The English major now includes a track in language and linguistics, so we’ve developed several courses in this track, including an introductory course (ENG 205), and specialized courses on how English works (ENG 213: Structure of English and ENG 302: Composition Theory and Practice) but also courses examining language in everyday situations (ENG 341: Language in Society and ENG 300: Language and Gender).
What made you want to become a professor? There isn’t any one moment that I can think back to. Most of my decisions (what to study, where to go), were not planned, but happened as I discovered places and subjects and became aware of what I enjoy. But I’ve always liked the idea of teaching. I guess being a professor allows me to share my enthusiasm with others through both teaching and writing about research. What is your favorite class to teach? It’s impossible to pick a favorite because I’m really lucky to be able to teach courses I love, or I find a way to love the courses I teach. I teach a version of ENG 201 each semester, so I’ve put in a lot of time into thinking about what this course is about, and for a while, it was my favorite course. When I first taught ENG 302 several years ago that became my favorite. And then I taught ENG 300, and that was my new favorite. And then … you get the picture. My current favorite is ENG 205: Introduction to Language and Linguistics, which we offered for the first time last fall and I hope we can offer each fall term. I like courses that attract a range of students, from freshmen to seniors, English majors, and students from other majors.
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Is there a class that you would like to teach that you are not able to? What are the roadblocks? As we develop the language and linguistics track, I hope we can eventually offer courses on how English has changed over time (history of English) and how English currently varies worldwide (World Englishes). And I hope we can develop more methods for students to conduct primary research on language issues. The only roadblock is that the number of faculty with expertise in language and linguistics is limited, so the number of courses we can offer any one semester is also limited. Is there a class at Pace (any department) that you wish you could take? I’d love to sit in on some other courses in the English department to see where we can draw connections between our course content. Likewise for courses in Women’s and Gender Studies and Communication Studies. Is there an Honors thesis topic you hope to see presented or would like to advise on? Great question! Any topics that aim to examine language would interest me. A former student wrote his thesis on prescriptive versus descriptive grammar instruction, and there’s so much that can be done with this topic in ways that go far beyond grammar, such as the use of gender-neutral pronouns and linguistic discrimination. Many language issues are much more complex than they seem initially, which makes sense since language users are complex individuals. Do you have any advice you’d like to give juniors starting to worry about their Honors theses? Think about, and then talk about what interests you with anyone who will listen, and use these conversations to see what sort of questions come up that you can then turn into research questions.
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Interview with Honors Professor Dr. Kristen di Gennaro cont.
Nicki Kern ‘19 What is the book/article/etc. you have written that you are most proud of? I’m really pleased with a paper I co-authored with a former student, Chelsea Ritschel, in which we examine the relationship between catcalls and compliments. We presented the paper at a conference last spring but it hasn’t appeared in print yet. I’m also proud of the articles I’ve published on Generation 1.5 students’ writing, since it is cited frequently and seems to be making an impact on awareness and policy changes for second language students who are also long-term US residents. Is there anything you would like prospective Honors students to know? Come discover language and linguistics!
When you were little, what did you think your job would be? If only I could remember! I went to the High School for Engineering and Science (in Philadelphia), so I guess at some point I thought I’d go into the sciences. But I was always interested in language; I just didn’t realize it was something I could study until much later. Favorite movie? Hard to say. Movies I’ve watched several times and would be happy to watch many more times are Rear Window, Mediterraneo, and Trolls (for the music). An easier one is my favorite singer – Sade. What is your favorite place in New York? Places that evoke memories of my childhood visiting my grandparents in Queens. If you could take Michelle Obama out to dinner, where would you bring her? Arturo’s pizzeria in Maplewood (NJ) – that might be the only way to get a table there, since the line is usually way too long. Their pizza is probably the best this side of the Atlantic. On the off chance you have free time, what would you do? I love to sail, I used to think I’d do more with sailing but I just don’t get to anymore. Also I don’t have a boat. I learned how to sail on the Hudson actually. I was even offered a job with the New York City Yacht Club.
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Servando Martinez ‘19 This past year, I had the opportunity of a lifetime. I had never been outside of the US and certainly did not expect to do so any time soon. When I first heard about the Project Innovation Project (PiP) program, I initially thought that I could never partake in a project so complex and profound. Nevertheless, I took the opportunity to apply and waited in anxiety until I heard back. From that moment forward, I had no clue what journey I was about to embark on. I had the privilege of flying to Austria with a few other Pace students to participate in PiP, a program sponsored by the Seidenberg School of Computer Science and the Pforzheimer Honors College (bless your soul, Jackie!) When we arrived in Austria, it felt like I was in a film. The architecture, culture and food that I was immersed in were incredible and, honestly, enlightening. We participated in a few activities where we were required to create an innovative product within a certain period of time. I had no idea what I was doing. To be fair, I was competing with folks who majored in engineering, computer science, mathematics and architecture. To say the least, this Communications major was stressed out. Since then, I have had the opportunity to work within an international company, Logic Data, alongside 6 other students. These students hailed from Albania, China, Slovenia, Austria and Sweden! We have been working together to create a revolutionary product and have continued to capitalize on the process of design thinking. We recently had the opportunity to present to various students and faculty members at our Halfway show, highlighting the progress we have made thus far. Additionally, the students from Europe recently arrived at Pace to work on the product diligently for approximately two weeks. Throughout this process, I have had the honor of learning conflict resolution, problem solving and critical thinking skills, while also learning how to collaborate with an international team remotely. When I first arrived at Pace, I had no plans to ever study abroad or take a travel course because I knew I couldn’t afford it. Nevertheless, I have still been given the opportunity by Pace University to explore things I never thought I could have the chance to. Austria took my breath away and I could not be more thankful for Pace, Honors and the NYC Design Factory for allowing me to take part in this incredible journey.
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An Interview with the Honors RA’s H: Hayden Dabbs J: Jamie Rizzo G: Gabe Navarro
Nicki Kern ‘19 Samantha Smith ‘21 Carolyn Smith ‘21
What floor are you an RA for? H:Three and four of Beekman (upperclassmen) J: I am the RA for Floor 5 in 182 Broadway Residence Hall. It is the Classic Civilization Learning Community/ Honors Floor and also team Slytherin in the Honors House Cup! G: 182 Broadway Floor 6 (go Hufflepuff!!!) Why did you choose to become an RA? H: I was really interested in the RA lifestyle and felt I would mesh in easily with the requirements for the job. J: I chose to become an RA because I felt empowered and motivated by my RA (on floor 5 last year) and I wanted to be able to create the same kind of environment for my own residents. G: I love interacting with students and being a resource for them during their first year on campus. My RA made such a positive impact on my college experience and I wanted to be able to give that same experience to my residents! What has been your favorite thing about being an RA? H: You get to interact with a lot of people on a daily basis so it gives you a better scope when it comes to handling situations and helps you become a better contributor to society. J: My favorite thing about being an RA is the community it has given me. I love being able to have other RAs to lean on and constantly getting to know new people. G: Meeting and interacting with so many different students. It’s such an interesting position in that you’re exposed to a variety of backgrounds, cultures, identities, and experiences. I love interacting with people and hearing their stories. I also love when I’m able to help someone through a difficult time. It feels really good knowing that you’re making an impact on people’s lives! Pictured: 182 Broadway
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What is your favorite event that you have hosted? H: Two weeks ago we hosted a screening of The Room, which is a horrible movie, and attendance was through the roof. It was my highest attended event. J: Hm, this is a hard question. I think my favorite event was the first one I held as an RA. It was a "Toga Party" where my residents dressed in togas made out of their bed sheets and made the pantheon out of crackers. It was very exciting for me and they seemed to enjoy themselves as well! G: I hosted an event called “Cereal”ously in Love around Valentine’s Day. We made valentines and ate a whole bunch of different types of cereal. It was a simple event but so many people came and it was fun to just relax and spend time with the community. How is being an Honors RA different than being an RA on a non-themed floor? H: It’s not that different; the difference is going to be evident through your residents. Typically Honors residents are more focused on getting their Honors requirements and academic requirements so they’re generally very busy people. But I also have non-Honors residents who live on the floor. J: As someone who is in Honors on an Honors' floor, I am able to provide my residents with resources and events that they may not have known about otherwise. I can see how dedicated and empowered my residents are because they are surrounded by like minded people. G: I feel like the main difference is that Honors students are more involved than other students in terms of jobs, internships, and academics. Because of this I have to be extra vigilant in paying attention to the community on the floor and making sure that everyone has the proper resources and is taking care of themselves. Honors students strive to be the best in everything they do and sometimes that can be overwhelming. I need to make sure that I am providing for the community in a way that minimizes stress and caters towards each resident’s needs and abilities. What advice would you give a prospective student who is nervous about dorming? H: Don’t be nervous about dorming, because it’s the RAs’ job to make sure you’re comfortable. Most people are nervous about dorming because they think they’re not going to be heard on an issue or they can’t change something, but part of the RAs’ job is to make sure the resident is accommodated to an extent. Pictured: 33 Beekman
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An Interview with the Honors RA’s cont. J: It's okay to be nervous! Going to college is a big change and living without your family, possibly hundreds of miles away from them, is as well. My best advice is don't afraid to be honest about your living habits with your prospective or current roommates. If you sleep ‘til 2pm everyday or if you wake up at 6am, make sure you're communicating with them because it can make a big difference in the vibe of the living environment! G: Living on campus is such a big part of the college experience and really helps you to grow as a person. I would just say to dive-in and take advantage of all the programs, resources, and opportunities within the residence halls. From these experiences you will learn so much about yourself and about others. Everyone feels nervous when they first move on campus, so don’t be shy! I would also tell them to find community in whatever way that looks like for them. For some people that is a large group of friends, but for others it may just be 1 or two really good friends….it looks different for everyone. The important thing is to find a place where you belong and to not compare your experience and community to others What advice would you give to someone who is thinking about becoming an RA? H: I would say if you are good at working in teams and you have a knack for solving problems that are tailored towards making people feel more at home in an environment then the RA position is in your wheelhouse. The RA position is a lot of work so you definitely earn the title, but it’s a very, very good experience in a multitude of ways. J: Definitely talk to your own RA about their experience and think about why you want to be one too. If you believe you would be a good fit, just apply and be yourself! If you're nervous about the logistics, check out the career center to attend resume and interview workshops to help you along the application process. G: APPLY! This job has changed my life and I’ve gained so many skills that can translate into whatever I do next. It is such a rewarding and challenging job that really helps you to grow personally and professionally. I would also say to keep applying if you don’t get the position but you’re still interested in becoming a RA. I had to apply 3 times before I was accepted. There’s nothing wrong with that and they definitely love to see people who return year after year. It shows that you are interested in the position and want to be a part of this community. If you don’t get it, try and obtain some other type of work so you can build your resume and skills!
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Being A Commuter At Pace Veronica Albarella 18’ For some Pace students, commuting to campus is the best option. It is a great way to save money, but it does have its challenges. It takes additional time to travel, transportation expenses, and, of course, dealing with the often unreliable public transit. Nevertheless, commuting can be very beneficial. Everyone’s experience with commuting can be different. Many students I know live in apartments throughout Manhattan and Brooklyn. The easiest way to get around in that case is by using the subway. Personally, I live at my parents’ home in New Jersey. This helps me save on living costs, but it is a bit of a longer commute. I take NJ Transit from the local station in my town. Through Pace, I used a student discount to get a monthly train pass. This discounted pass can be accessed through the Pace website for anyone who will be using NJ Transit to travel to and from school. I take NJ Transit to Newark Penn Station and then get on the PATH train. I do not have a monthly MetroCard, so I just reload my card as I go. This takes me to World Trade Center and then I walk to Pace. Overall, the commute takes me about one hour. For a busy student handling both work and school, the extra commuting time can take a toll. However, I try to make the time as productive as possible. I read whatever is assigned for my homework, check through my email, listen to music or podcasts, or even catch up on some sleep. I have been commuting for almost two years and, by now, I basically have the train schedules down to a science. The only time commuting is truly a problem is when there is an issue with the trains. There have been a few occasions when I have been stranded at a station because my train was cancelled and I had to figure out a different route or gotten stuck on a train for thirty minutes for some problem on the tracks ahead. Once or twice I have also stumbled on to the wrong train after a long day and had to figure out what to do. These problems can force me to be late to class or late getting home, but generally things go smoothly. Ultimately, there are many options to weigh when deciding whether to commute or live on campus. It can be a bit of a hassle at times, but it is an effective way to save money, which is crucial for most college students. Commuting can be a wise choice for many students.
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My PPA Freshman Experience Ties Jansen ‘21 I walked down William Street with my parents one last time on September 2nd, 2017, my move-in day for the fall semester. I was quickly memorizing where all the good spots were before I was left by myself. Red Mango, Rosella’s, Beekman, and, of course, the PPA Building. Then we arrived at One Pace Plaza and I turned back one last time to hug my parents before making that definitive step into adulthood. I felt clammy because of the nerves building up in my stomach until I seemed ready to burst right open. Then my parents walked back to their car, and I was left alone to deal with life in New York City. I felt like a baby bird that had just been pushed out of the nest to fend for itself. Little did I know I would soon be meeting some of the most inspiring people I have ever known. I met the majority of the BFA Freshman class on Convocation Day right before the ceremony. I was instantly intimidated. I met people who modelled professionally, had published plays, and had been on Disney Channel. And here I was, this green 17-year old from Westchester with an unimpressive resume and even less impressive stories to tell. “How would I ever be interesting to these people?” I asked myself. I spent my first few days socially terrified, but nevertheless excited for what I would learn from these people. Classes started four days after I arrived, and we got split up into two sections. My section always started their Wednesdays and Fridays with Design Perspective at 9 AM. Design Perspective would prove to be one of the most demanding classes I’d ever taken, yet the rewards I reaped with gratitude. Throughout the semester we looked at four different plays, each from a different designer’s point of view. We learned about the processes of costume, lighting, sound, and set design to eventually understand how we as actors could work with these people. Next we had movement, in which we explored our own bodies and how they behaved in different physical circumstances. We would give and receive massages one day, travel through imaginary water the next, and learn some yoga, Alexander technique, and Lecoq along the way. The last class in the Wednesday block was Vocal Production, in which we learned about the anatomy of the voice, how to breathe efficiently so we could speak optimally, and some basic information on phonation and articulation that
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we would explore even more in Voice and Speech next year. The Wednesday block of classes got me to know these people, play with them in spaces, and realize how disciplined and intellectual they all are. The class where we got to know each other most, though, was Acting. Every Tuesday and Thursday we’d set foot in Room 306 of the PPA building and go through rollercoasters of emotion and physical exhaustion together. Whether we’d have to plank and say a monologue at the same time, compete in moving boxes across the room, or bring our own personal baggage to create scenes, I felt more and more connected to my peers every day. By the end of the first semester, I felt fully accepted as a part of the PPA community. Now in our second semester we continue Acting II with scene work from contemporary plays. We also continue with Movement and Vocal Production, and Design Perspective has been replaced by a Script Analysis class, in which we read a new play every week and take apart certain scenes from them to more deeply understand the motivations and actions of the characters. I am filled every day with curiosity as to what we will be doing next and what my peers will bring to the table. I have been and continue to be challenged by my teachers, and I am nothing but grateful for being egged on by them. I am so happy to be a part of such an inspiring community, and I am convinced that the three years that are left will shape me as an artist and as a person like no other period in my life.
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The Best Laid Plans Madison Oberndorf ‘18 Doing my Honors thesis early was both the best and worst decision I made for my senior year. I knew what I wanted to do for my senior thesis by the end of my freshman year. I thought I knew what I wanted to do for it the moment Jackie first told me that there was a thesis when I was on a tour I took while still in high school, but of course that was a little premature. I was inspired by an Honors class I took that was taught by my eventual thesis advisor, and for a year and a half after I merely talked about this theoretical project and my theoretical advisor without actually doing anything to start the process. Being a student aide for the Honors College, I got an insider look at students doing their theses year after year. I heard the horror stories and the success stories, and a fair amount of the success came from people who had decided to complete it early. I needed to be a success story. So finally, halfway through junior year, I laid out my plan to the professor of the inspiratory class and asked her to be my advisor. She agreed, and we fleshed out, morphed, and began the project that would eventually be my thesis, with the intention to present in December 2017. That semester continued smoothly, and the project was turning into something real, and something I couldn’t stop talking about. I was really proud and excited…. and then the roadblocks started coming. Every thesis process will no doubt have its ups and downs, but two things happened at the end of my junior year that caught me off guard. One: I found out that the psychology department required a thesis from me as well, one that would normally double as an honors thesis, but, since I was doing that early, would have to be a separate paper (basically I needed to do two theses). And two: my advisor was leaving Pace to work at another university in a completely different part of the country. Boom.
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Thankfully, both problems were resolved due to the awesomeness that is Jackie, Bill, and the Honors Thesis advisor at the time, Pam, as well as some really great professors. My advisor was happy to keep working with me remotely, with the intention to come back for my presentation in December. Throughout that semester, we kept in constant contact through email and Skype. I am so thankful to her for that, and to Honors for allowing it to happen. As for my other problem, compromise was reached, though not in a way that was 100% ideal for me. In the end, I would write two theses, but the second would still be using the data that I gathered for the first paper. So essentially, most of the hard work would be out of the way. While writing two major papers was not how I planned to spend my senior year, I don’t regret presenting my Honors thesis when I did. If I hadn’t started the process early, I wouldn’t have gotten to work with the professor who inspired me in the first place. I wouldn’t be able to go and present my research at conferences such as the Northeast Regional Honors Council conference and the American Psychological Association convention in San Francisco. I probably wouldn’t be working towards getting my research published either. Even doing two papers, though not ideal, has given me a chance to really know my subject, the data I’ve collected, and the overall research process. It has only made me a stronger student and, hopefully, a stronger candidate for graduate school.
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Think the Honors Thesis is Scary? This is How I Prepared for it! Mohini Gobin ‘18 There are only three requirements to stay in Honors: maintain at least a 3.3 GPA, take 8 (or 6 for those who join Honors after their freshman year) Honors courses and complete an Honors thesis. Complete an Honors thesis. That last point is what many students might stumble on if not prepared. My advice: START EARLY. I was lucky to enter a field of scientific research [Biology] which gave me some structure as to when I would start the research that would contribute to my Honors thesis. Luckily, my mentor during my first week of freshman year presented me with a volunteer position at a research lab at Pace, Haskins Lab. Little did I know that this would be one of the key opportunities that has led me to be a second semester Senior who has already completed and presented her thesis in Fall 2017. My exposure to different types of research had aided in my thesis process. Aside from volunteering in the Animal Lab at Haskins, from another connection with a professor from my learning community, Dr. Matthew Marcello, and one of his senior researchers, I was able to start genetic based research using a model organism called C. elegans. This was a great opportunity to dip my feet into a research field that I didn’t really know much about. I started with reading academic articles and practicing basic skills necessary for the experiments. For my sophomore year, I applied for the Undergraduate Student Faculty Research Program (UGR) through the Office of Student Success (OSS), and was awarded it for both my sophomore and junior year. In this program I conducted research with a faculty member, wrote blog posts with updates on my research and presented at the end-of-year research showcase with students in different disciplines from Pace. One of the most rewarding takeaway from those two years were learning how to explain my research to those who are not in the same discipline. I was able to explain reproductive biology to students in PPA or Lubin successfully and this type of ability to grasp a concept in a way to master it and explain it to other is what the Honors Thesis is all about. From three semesters of consistent volunteering, the lab offered me a research position and by the end of my sophomore year, I applied for the Dyson Student-Faculty Undergraduate Summer Research Program to start doing research at Haskins. The project I was working on is funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates foundation and was based on developing a new method for testing drugs using hollow-fiber technology. Throughout the summer, I dedicated five days a week to research where I performed many experiments testing various drugs from different collaborators. By the end of the summer, I had lots of data and had grasped the technique well. From there, I decided to do my Honors thesis on this topic. Again, one of the requirements for the research program was to present at the Society of Fellows Annual meeting, where I met alumni, staff and faculty from Dyson and shared my research once again, in addition to writing a research paper with the summary of what I had achieved so far.
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Leading up to my junior year, I planned my classes so I would be able to work on my thesis, while applying concepts necessary in research and in writing a paper. In spring 2017, I took BIO 490 which is a grant writing class and ENG 201 Honors which was designed to help students write their Honors thesis proposal. I learned a lot from BIO 490 because I helped me figure out what exactly I was looking at for my paper. It narrowed down my topic and helped me focus on the broader impacts of the project. I continued my research, funded by the Honors College Thesis Grant and the Dyson Student-Faculty Undergraduate Summer Research Program, during the summer and by the fall, I was ready to piece everything together. I had papers every couple months summing up my results, in addition to posters I created for the presentation I did at Pace and at other conferences in the Northeast region. During the semester of writing my thesis, my biggest challenge was expanding my paper to reach the 25 page minimum. Most research papers and academic articles are clear and concise, maybe 5-6 pages at most. What helped me was outlining my thesis and creating sections and subsections to break each topic down. This also helped me when I was putting my powerpoint presentation together. As it was approaching December 13th 2017, I felt prepared and ready to present in front of my parents and sister, Honors family and friends. And now, it’s my last semester and I’m getting ready to present my thesis at the Society of Fellows Annual Meeting and the Northeast Regional Honors Conference (NRHC) in addition to condensing my paper to be published. Now even though I’m a science major, there are still common themes those in other disciplines can follow! Tips for freshman, sophomores and even juniors: 1. Start early! Figure out what classes can help you organize your ideas early to get a head start. 2. Apply for research programs at Pace. UGR and the Dyson Summer Research program are great opportunities to help the research process and to present. 3. Take classes on topics you’re interested in if you don’t know what you want to write about. Talk to faculty within your discipline of interest and see what kind of research they are doing. Maybe you can join their research group. 4. If you’re a science major, start your research EARLY, like sophomore year early. 5. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. There are many tools available to you including professors, the writing center, library and more.
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FEATURES
The Honors Herald
Holly Thayer ‘18 I was 9 when the first High School Musical (HSM) premiered on Disney Channel. When I say this had a big impact on me, I mean it. The next four years of my life revolved around this franchise. I had it all: shirts, posters, books, board games, and of course the soundtracks and movies. I was DEVASTATED when the tour did not come to my state. This being said, I was pretty excited to hear that the spring Honors movie night would be High School Musical. I have been going to the movie nights since my freshman year, and this would be my last honors movie night, ever. Being a part of Honors Council, I signed up to help to set up for the event. We decorated Lecture Hall North to be a mini-East High, and we delivered. There was a science lab section to match Gabriella and Taylor’s Science Decathlon, a theatre section equipped with the callback sheet and Sharpay’s autograph, and a gym fit for the Wildcats. The walls were also lined with stars and even the tablecloths had Gabriella, Troy, Ryan, Sharpay, Taylor, and Chad on them. To match the blow-up basketballs, myself and a few other Honors Council members, Maddie, Mohini, and Carolyn, set out to make a basketball hoop out of whatever we could find in the Honors office. It was not easy, but we succeeded by using cardboard, ribbon, pipe cleaners, and lots and lots of tape. I am proud to say that this hoop is still standing and in the Honors Office. For food we had the usual pizza and soda, but there were also an assortment of pastries to honor Zeke. We had a variety of cookies and even an apple danish and cherry scones! Make a spill? Have no fear! Gabriella was there (no seriously, Troy and Gabriella were on the napkins)!
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FEATURES
The Honors Herald
Before the movie started there was a round of trivia, I was able to get a few correct, but my 9-year-old self would definitely be disappointed in my performance. Thankfully there were a lot of other HSM fans in the audience because they were able to correctly answer the questions and every question counted for house points! After trivia the movie started and I spent the next hour and a half singing along and whispering comments about things that now seem ridiculous but that I never noticed before (in one scene Chad wears 3 watches and none in the next). When we came to “We’re All in This Together” the lecture hall broke out in dance as many of us remembered the moves from our childhood. The Honors movie nights have always been some of my favorite events, but this one seemed even a little more special. In Honors, we are all in this together and I will always cherish being able to look back fondly at all of the honors events that I have attended, especially as I will be breaking free from Pace in a couple of months.
Honors Council member Nicolette showing off Gabriella’s science decathlon section
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FEATURES
NCTA 2018
The Honors Herald
Sarah Rebecca Gibney ‘20
At the beginning of this semester, I had the pleasure and privilege of attending Kappa Delta Sorority’s National Collegiate Training Academy (NCTA)! NCTA was established in 2012 as a way to help develop the skills of collegiate members about to step in leadership positions within their chapter. NCTA has been held by National Kappa Delta every other year; in converse with the National Convention, which takes places every biennium. Over the years, NCTA programming has been designed to provide key chapter officers and advisors the chance to hone their leadership skills, learn more about the duties of their offices, and improve chapter management. This year NCTA took place at the Hyatt Regency Orlando in Orlando, Florida from January 26th to January 28th. More than 1,000 Kappa Delta’s attended, including not only collegiate members serving on their council but also chapter advisory board chairmen and housing volunteers from chapters across the country. I was lucky enough to be selected to attend NCTA this year as I am currently serving as Vice President - Membership of Pace University’s Eta Iota Chapter of Kappa Delta, along with our Vice President - Member Education, our Vice President - Finance, Chapter President, and our Chapter Advisory Board Chairman. The whole weekend was honestly a whirlwind. We left very early Friday morning and were checked into our room by early afternoon; we took time to explore and then got ready for our division meeting and dinner. Dinner was a blast because not only was the food delicious but Cara Mund, a Kappa Delta alumnae and Miss America 2018, surprised us with an appearance and shared how her Kappa Delta experience helped shape her life and career! Saturday was when a majority of the training happened. We had large group seminars that focused on topics such as safety and collaboration, but we spent most of the day split up for workshops that focused on topics specifically for our positions. That night was an awards gala where our former Vice President - Membership was nationally recognized with the highest honor a collegiate Kappa Delta member can receive and our former advisor, who is currently serving as the National Vice President - Finance, announced that she has endowed a scholarship specific to Pace’s Eta Iota Chapter! It was so exciting! We were all brought back together for Sunday morning’s session where we focused on our attention to our ritual, our values, and our sisterhood. Then we flew home a couple hours later! At the end of the day, there’s nothing better than getting to escape the freezing New York weather, especially when you head to Florida for a leadership development conference for an organization that is dedicated to empowering women and preparing them for success! Beyond the incredible tools I was given and the awesome experience I had, I was astounded by how many extraordinary women I met. I left Florida with overwhelming pride and joy in being a Kappa Delta. This trip has most definitely been a highlight of my college journey so far and I am so grateful to Kappa Delta for providing it and so many other opportunities!
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FEATURES
The Honors Herald
Honors Food Review: Poke Green Nicolette Carbonetto ‘21 Today I reviewed the food at our friends Poke Green on Fulton. It was AMAZING! 5/5 Stars, would definitely recommend. For the base I got a big portion of brown rice that was cooked perfectly. They have an option to choose any two proteins for $12.95 or three for a little more. I got chicken and shrimp which were both flavorful and perfectly cooked. My favorite part would probably be the unlimited toppings on the bowl. I got fresh mango, edamame, crab salad, crispy onion chips, and wontons. After a difficult choice out of the multiple sauces they have, I finally decided on the Poke Juice which is a combination of siracha, mayo, orange juice, soy sauce, vinegar, sugar and a special sauce. This house sauce is the perfect combination of sweet and spicy and really ties the bowl all together. Even if you are not a big sushi person I would still recommend this place! Their chicken is awesome, and you can go fish free if you wish! They give huge portions that pack a big flavor, all while being a healthy option. All of the ingredients are fresh and perfectly cooked. The staff was super friendly and they helped me make the perfect bowl with their amazing suggestions. The restaurant is also very clean, which is a major bonus. Out of all of the Poke bowls I have had, this one is by far the best. There are plenty of options for everyone and I would highly recommend this restaurant!
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FEATURES
The Honors Herald
A Night to Remember at the 2018 Grammy Music Awards
Amberlynn Foote ‘21
Chills swept across my skin as I entered the Madison Square Garden venue and saw the 2018 Grammy Awards stage standing before me. As cheesy as it sounds, the realization that I was breathing the same air as Beyoncé, Jay Z, Bruno Mars, and practically every other big-time celebrity literally took my breath away. As a seat filler, my job was to occupy empty seats in the audience as instructed by the producers. Whether I was sitting in the chair that belonged to a random person who simply purchased a ticket to the awards and was currently in the bathroom, or if I was sitting in Kendrick Lamar’s seat while he was performing or accepting an award, I had no control over. My job was simply to do as I was told.
Attempting to stay out of everybody’s way while still trying to take it all in, I nearly squealed as Lana Del Rey, who looked like a god-sent angel, sat right behind me. While awkwardly staring at her in infatuation, I felt a pull on the bottom of my dress. A little girl, who just so happened to be P!NK’s daughter was pulling on my dress. No more quickly than I could react to what was happening was the moment cut short, and the individual whose seat I was sitting in arrived.
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FEATURES
The Honors Herald
As the night progressed it became even more incredible because it entailed live performances by Kendrick Lamar, Lady Gaga, Childish Gambino, Logic, and Kesha, just to name a few! By 9:00 PM, just past the half-way point of the show, I found myself being placed in the second row where I remained for the rest of the night. Trying to play it cool was even more impossible than you could imagine with Migos, Cardi B, and Nick Jonas sitting right behind me, along with Jamie Fox and Childish Gambino to my left, and no other than Jay Z, Beyoncé, and Blue Ivy (AKA the royal family) a few seats away to my right. Apparently my adoration for Logic’s hit song 1-800-273-8255 was evident during his performance, because Jamie Fox encouraged me to “Stand up and sing with my boy Logic!” as he joined me in doing so. Reflecting on the experience, I feel like I am retelling a dream when I say that I danced and sang along with Jamie Fox to Logic’s live performance at the 2018 Grammy Awards. In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if years down the road people don’t believe me when I tell the tale. Upon conclusion of the show, a producer approached me and invited me to the pre-filming of the tribute to Elton John performed by Lady Gaga the next day which will air sometime in April. Seeing Lady Gaga perform live for the second time in two days and partaking in the audience that will be featured on television was the cherry on top of my Grammys experience that was truly an honor and the opportunity of a lifetime.
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INTERNSHIPS
The Honors Herald
The Internship Safari: How to Hunt Down Your Dream Internship and Target Connections Alexandra Brand ‘18 I moved to NYC from Georgia with hopes of securing my dream internship at NBCUniversal. As a wee freshman at Pace, it seemed like an insurmountable task. No matter how many internships I applied to, I didn’t even receive a rejection email, let alone a paid internship offer. The day I got the email welcoming me to the NBC internship program for my last semester of senior year, I knew my hard work had paid off. Here’s what I learned in all my internship experiences: Make your own internships before joining the big leagues Since the large companies I applied to were looking for upperclassman with prior internship experience, I decided to find unpaid experiences that could look great on a resume. As a freshman, I scoured the event-posting platform Eventbrite for film or TV festivals that I could contact to ask if I could volunteer for the event. I volunteered at the Brooklyn Film and Arts Festival, and because a single person was running the event, the volunteer experience allowed me to have more responsibilities than I would normally in a festival experience, which made for a great foundation for my resume. I also asked my personal connections for any unpaid help they needed. Through word-of-mouth, I learned a friend-of-a-friend who wrote children’s books needed a social media assistant. Volunteer opportunities like this allow you to build your portfolio of work and take on a lot of responsibility for transforming a brand, event, or company. When companies don’t give you a chance, you have to make your own opportunities.
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INTERNSHIPS
The Honors Herald
Find your dream company and knock on any door that will answer So, you have found that amazing company you have to work at in the future! You don’t need to find an internship listing or application to get started. Knock on any door that will answer at that company. Reach out to employees of the company on LinkedIn and ask about their experience working there and how they got to be where they are today. Start by searching for alumni of Pace that work there, then search for people in your field that work there, and if none of them respond, contact various employees to ask for more information (politely and honestly) about their experience in the company. I got an interview at an ABC television show because of this method. You never know who could put you in contact with a recruiter or forward your resume to the right person! Persistence is key: The first time I applied for a summer production internship at The Chew on ABC, I was a freshman. I didn't gain acceptance into the program until my junior year: Start early and keep applying even if you think you don't have a shot, if you are studying abroad, or for some reason it doesn’t work out, because that commitment to the company will show dedication and work ethic, which they will recognize when they consider you for future positions. At The Chew I was the only intern that did not have a referral by someone who works at the company, and it was only because I kept applying every semester and keeping in contact with people at the company. Apply to a wide range of small and large internships: This is crucial to building your resume and not wasting any time after your dream internship doesn’t work out. When you apply to internships, seek a few guarantee internships (whether those are unpaid or not), a couple of 50/50 chance internships, and a reach internship. Strive for your goals, but have back-ups because you don't want to miss out on having a great growth experience. Remember that it WILL get easier after landing your first large company internship. Each big-name will lead to you getting closer and closer to your goals.
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INTERNSHIPS
The Honors Herald
Jessica Long ‘19 This Winter I had the pleasure of completing a Real Estate Tax internship with KPMG, one of the Big Four accounting firms in the US. After signing my offer letter with the firm, I was given the opportunity to apply to what they call the Global Internship Program (GIP). GIP sends interns to KPMG locations around the globe for four week rotations in the middle of their internships in hopes of offering them work experience on a global scale as well as the opportunity to build an international network. After completing a written application and participating in a phone interview, I was accepted to the program from a pool of 900 interns nationwide (only 21 of us were chosen) and was assigned to a location that I had always been dying to visit: Zurich, Switzerland. I grew up an avid skier in Vail, Colorado as well as a huge food enthusiast since my parents have always been restaurant owners. Switzerland always seemed like the perfect place for me because it has all of my favorite things in one place! Skiing, amazing food, both urban and rural type environments, and unbelievably nice people.
The experience I had in Switzerland was a unique one since I was there both for business and for leisure. I got my fair share of international work experience, which was amazing, and I also got to travel on the weekends to various locations. I spent two of my three weekends there exploring other cities in Switzerland (Basel, Luzern, and Geneva) and one of my weekends exploring London and the English countryside!
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INTERNSHIPS
The Honors Herald
Getting to work with people from lots of different countries was a really valuable experience and one that was definitely a huge learning curve. It is interesting to see how people communicate with others when doing business in other parts of the world and I was grateful for the opportunity to get to improve my communication and interpersonal skills. My boss was from the UK and my assigned mentor was from Finland. I also had the opportunity to work with people from Germany, Poland, France, and Fiji! Zurich is a quaint city tucked in the foothills of Northern Switzerland in the German speaking region of the country, just minutes away from the Swiss Alps. Zurich has the perfect mix of the modern day city feel and the old town European feel. I have never felt more at home in a place that I had never been before. The public transportation system is quick, clean, and mostly on time, making it easy to explore the various neighborhoods in the city as well as other Swiss cities. Lake Zurich lies in the middle of the city and is the perfect place to relax on a covered boat ride during cold winter days or to take a dip and cool off in the summer.
Another one of my favorite Swiss cities that I visited was Luzern. It was about a 45 minute train ride from where I was staying in Zurich so my friends and I went there for a day trip. Luzern has two of the highest summits in the Northern part of the country, Mt. Pilatus and Mt. Rigi. These summits take you up above the cloud lines to get some sunshine. It is the perfect place to go when there have been too many cloudy days in a row in the cities. We visited the top of Mt. Rigi where we went to a mineral bath and spa for the day and watched the sunset over the Alps. That was followed by a delicious Italian dinner in the city center before returning home. It was a picture perfect day from start to finish! My four weeks in Switzerland were ones that I would not have traded for anything in the world. I am so grateful that I had the opportunity to go to such a beautiful country and get a taste of what it would be like to live and work there. I have no doubt that I will be returning to Zurich at some point in the future (hopefully sooner rather than later) whether it be for work or for play‌ hopefully for both! If you haven’t visited Switzerland before, I highly recommend it! You definitely won’t regret it.
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STUDY ABROAD
The Honors Herald
Elizabeth Powell ‘18 This past winter break, I was lucky enough to spend my time adventuring in Seoul, South Korea. On Christmas morning, I headed to the airport and started the 20 hour trip (including layovers, delays, and trains, oh my!) to Korea University. Last summer, I taught myself hangul, the Korean alphabet. Armed with only a few basic sentences and the reading abilities of your average Korean 4-year-old, I packed up and got ready to study Korean in the classroom. As a senior, I am in the midst of my thesis about modern Korean history. Since I want to continue my studies post-grad, I decided it was time to learn the language. For the three weeks of break, I spent 3 hours every weekday morning sitting in my Korean 1-D class. The 10 of us were just proud to have made it beyond 1-A on the placement exam! I was learning dozens of new vocabulary words every day, then going with friends all around the city, testing out our new knowledge in every convenience store, restaurant, and cosmetics shop. In my first three days at the Korea University International Winter Campus (IWC), I quickly learned that American students were the minority in this program. The friends in my classes were from Australia and Singapore, and my three best friends were from Ireland, Belgium, and China. Not only did I get the chance to experience the best of Korean culture, but learned funny Australian slang, heard about the best things to do in Singapore and shared Chinese candies from my roommate with my Irish friend. It was truly a global experience, and I made sure to answer all the questions about American culture; such as ‘revising,’ I often explained, is completely different from ‘studying’ in American linguistics, though the rest of the world uses them almost interchangeably.
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STUDY ABROAD
The Honors Herald
The most memorable part of the trip though were the countless moments when true Korean culture was shared with me. I got to try on hanbok, traditional Korean formalwear and wander around one of the SEVERAL palaces in Seoul. Fried chicken is completely different in Korea and honestly needs to become the next trend in the U.S. I learned the correct way to open soju, how to win at Titanic, and to NEVER turn down an offer from an elder, even if they’re just one year older. My time in Korea also gave me the chance to explore incredible museums, see the Olympic Flame in person, and peer at North Korea through binoculars at an observatory inside the Demilitarized Zone. I saw a statue to Psy and Gangnam Style, rode an insane roller coaster at Lotte World, and (accidentally) hiked a small mountain in the middle of Seoul to see an amazing 360 view of the city from Namsan Tour.
I learned just as much inside the classrooms of Korea University as I did in the wildly different neighborhoods of Seoul. Thanks to the Honors Study Abroad Grant and the Honors Thesis Grant (I didn’t just visit those museums for fun!), I was able to make the most of my senior winter break. Thank you for giving me the trip of a lifetime; 감사합니다 Honors!
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FEATURES
The Honors Herald
Night at the Museum
Savannah Apple ‘18
Nearly five years ago, as a high school senior, I was anxious to decide where I would be going to college in the fall. After being accepted to Pace and the Pforzheimer’s Honors College, I was invited to experience Pace through an overnight. So with graduation looming, I jumped on the opportunity, eager to host one last time. This year, Pace decided to do the overnight experience a little differently. Instead of prospective students spending the night in the residence halls, this year they would be sleeping under the whale in the American Museum of Natural History. After playing two truths and a lie with the prospective Honors students (it’s an overnight tradition!), we headed uptown to the museum. At 6pm, the museum closed its doors with us locked inside, Teddy Roosevelt welcoming us with open arms. First, we had dinner under the planetarium among the planets. After dinner, we were free to roam the museum. The museum closed and we had access to almost every exhibit so we were free to explore sans lines and crowds. Walking around the museum after hours was more than a little spooky. A few times, I found myself alone and anticipating the museum to come to life. In the Lunar Lounge, they kept us full of cookies and entertained with all three Night at the Museum’s playing on loop. Some brave souls decided to stay up all night. Maybe they were convinced that if they stayed awake long enough, the museum would come to life. But around 1 am I was ready to sleep, so I snuggled up in my cot with a prime space under the whale, soothed to sleep by the sound of the ocean. What a truly unique and incredible experience that I will remember for years to come! It was so great to meet prospective Honors students and bond with my fellow Honors friends. And while the museum may not have come to life, I will truly never forget my night at the museum.
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TRAVEL
The Honors Herald
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TRAVEL
The Honors Herald
Honors Philadelphia Trip 2018
Jessica Holt ‘21
For Spring Break this year, I was lucky enough to take a trip to Philadelphia with the Honors College. It was a three-day trip full of history, architecture, and of course, lots of food. We started our trip at Reading Terminal Market, which is a hub for all things food. We all waited in the wrap-around line for Beiler’s Doughnuts and almost all of us left with a box of a dozen. We did have to carry them around with us all day, but it was worth it. Then, we headed to the Masonic Temple where we were given a tour of the interior. Each room was decorated in a different style for a specific purpose and they were all really striking and beautiful. After that we made our way to Love Park for a classic Honors photo in front of the Love Sculpture. Next, we headed to one of my favorite places from the whole trip which was the Magic Gardens. The Magic Gardens is a mosaic art exhibition made by Isaiah Zagar. The mosaics make up a maze-like path that is really beautiful to walk through and acts almost as an optical illusion. There is also a small gallery of some of Zagar’s other works inside. That was our last scheduled event for the day, so naturally, we went to get more food. Jackie took me and some other students to the mac and cheese place restaurant Mac Mart. which is owned by a former Pace student. I ordered the Buffalo mac and cheese and it was quite possibly the best mac and cheese I have ever had. (I even went back and got two more orders before leaving). If you’re ever in Philly, check it out.
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TRAVEL
The Honors Herald
Our second day in Philly began with either a trip to the Philadelphia Museum of Art or the Eastern State Penitentiary. I chose to visit the latter, so we walked from the hotel to the massive, historic prison sitting in the middle of modern-day Philadelphia. We took an audio tour through the prison and got to see cool things such as the hospital wing and Al Capone’s cell. After that, we took a bus to the Old City for lunch and then split up into more groups for the next event. This time we had the choice between Independence Hall, the National Constitution Center, and the African American Museum. I chose to go to the National Constitution Center, which is a museum about the history of the United States government and houses historic copies of the U.S. Constitution. We also got to see life-sized statues of the signers and sign a digital version of the Constitution ourselves. Then we headed over to the Museum of the American Revolution which is a fairly new museum that has really cool exhibits such as the actual war tent that George Washington used during the Revolution. Finally, we ended the night with the amazing all-you-can-eat dinner at Maggiano’s. We all ate more than we probably should have, but the food was amazing and it was such a generous gift from the Honors College. Our final day in Philly began with my other favorite part of the trip which was a tour of City Hall and chance to go to the top in the Observation Deck, right under the feet of the William Penn statue! City hall is one of the most beautiful historic buildings and it also has a very interesting history. The Observation Deck offered a beautiful view of downtown Philadelphia. The final thing we did was split up into groups once more. Half of us went to the Rodin Museum and the other went to the Academy of Natural Sciences. I got to go to the Academy of Natural Sciences and it was really cool because along with still exhibits, they also had live animals and a butterfly conservatory. We also were able to walk to the Cathedral Bascillica of St. Peter and St. Paul, which was right across the street from our hotel. This is the most beautiful church I have ever been to and I am so glad we were able to stop by. We then boarded the bus and sadly left Philadelphia, but we were all completely exhausted so it was bittersweet. If you have the opportunity to go on a trip with Honors I would highly recommend. We all had a great time!
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TRAVEL
The Honors Herald
Around The World with Jackie Jaclyn Kopel ‘10
In January I got the opportunity to travel to Greece with some of my Classic Civilization students. Dr. Brown and I had spent close to a year planning and organizing the trip. We were going to travel to 10 cities within Greece in 11 days and if you counted our stopover in Munich it was 11 cities in 11 days. We knew it would mean a lot of time on the road, a lot of running around, but also an amazing opportunity to see as many historical places as possible. We started the trip in Thessaloniki, which is where my family lived before they came to the United States. We actually stayed in a hotel in the area in which they used to live. I could feel their spirit with us while we were there. I really enjoyed sharing Thessaloniki with my students. I got to take them to my favorite bakery where they enjoyed their first, of many, spanakopita and tiropita. We took the students to the Archaeological Museum and Byzantine Museum, both of which had improved slightly since I last visited. Our tour guide for the museums and our walking tours was named Daphne. She was extremely informative about the city's past and was also a little sassy, which we enjoyed. The tours of the churches and the accompanied commentary were definitely a highlight. In addition to the numerous museums, churches, and ruins we visited, we also got to go to the American College of Thessaloniki. We had an incredibly fascinating lecture on the history of Thessaloniki, which involves Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. We also got to go the Jewish Museum, which was meaningful for me as I found the names of family members who died in the Holocaust. We all wished we had a bit more time in that museum, but we had a lot to see and do.
March 2018
TRAVEL
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Jackie?
The Honors Herald
A 6.5 hour train ride brought us to Athens. I was able to point out Mt. Olympus to my students on the ride, which was even prettier than I last remembered. In Athens we joined up with Queen Laura, King Nestor, and the Amazing Panos who guided and drove us for the rest of our journey. While I enjoyed sharing Thessaloniki with my students because it was my homeland, I loved watching them react to the sites we saw from Athens on. As a teacher, I have always tried to bring my travels into the classroom. It always gave me such joy when students I taught in high school chose to travel or study abroad in locations I had taught them about. Their messages were always filled with such excitement that what they were seeing was exactly what I had told them. So the same thing applied here. It was incredible to watch my students' faces light up when they saw buildings and art they had read about.
Due to the holidays and the time of year we went, we had Greece almost to ourselves. This meant we had numerous once in a lifetime moments. We took over the Theater at Epidaurus for well over an hour and sang opera, Broadway, and Disney hits to test the acoustics. We took over the old Olympic stadium and ran a race. We made videos with sound (usually not allowed) on top of the Acropolis. We had breakfast facing the Acropolis every morning in Athens. We had shoes made for us at the famous sandal maker. We had photo shoots at the top of the various mountains (hills depending on who you ask). The list could go on and on. The best part about having the sites to ourselves is that we could close our eyes and picture that we went back in time. The people we met, the food that we ate, the sites that we saw, the experiences we had, and the memories that we made were all incredible. After we left, we felt like we were King Nestor, and Greece was now our country too. Efkharistรณ kai yasas Greece.
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OPINION
The Honors Herald
Noura Boustany Jost ‘18 I am anti-Valentine’s Day. Many people think that anyone who is anti-Valentine’s Day has to be single, but I promise that’s not the case. I’ve been in a relationship for almost two years now, and I’m still not a fan of Valentine’s Day. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not anti-love. I love seeing posts supporting relationships, I love celebrating love, I love knowing that everyone is happy. However, Valentine’s Day has become a Hallmark holiday. Restaurants are more expensive, florists raise their prices. It’s a cash grab that has become an exploitation of love rather than a celebration of it. Last year, the revenue on Valentine’s Day was over 17 billion dollars. That money could be put to much better use. Many people are unaware of the actual origin of Valentine’s Day. Though the exact timing can’t be pinpointed, much of the holiday is from the Ancient Romans. They used to celebrate a holiday called ‘the feast of the Lupercalia.’ This feast was basically a fertility festival. Men would whip women, couple up, and have sex for the night. Women would line up for the “matchmaking lottery.” Some of these matches were just for the night, some (with pregnancy especially) would end in marriage. There was also an execution of two men named Valentine, which is where the name ‘Valentine’s Day’ comes from. The famous valentine that is often discussed helped marry men against the emperor's wishes because he believed that people should be allowed to be married if they were in love. He was set to be executed on February 14th, hence the date. Saint Valentine’s day and the Feast of Lupercalia became one holiday overtime, and a day of fertility turned into a day of love. There are many reasons not to like modern Valentine’s Day. Studies show that Valentine’s Day is one of the times with the highest rate of suicide. Actually, many people associate Valentine’s Day with depression and sadness. Furthermore, some couples have commented that Valentine’s Day becomes an excuse in the relationship to drop romance the other 364 days a year.
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OPINION
The Honors Herald
This year for Valentine’s Day, my boyfriend and I mostly celebrated the day after. Here’s why I’m about celebrating it the next day:
Flowers are 50% cheaper Chocolate is 70% off Restaurants are back to their usual prices There are so many less people out and about
The best gift my boyfriend gave me? The card he made telling me how much he loved me. It didn’t cost him anything to make it. I’m not here to ruin anyone’s Valentine’s Day. However, here are a few fun ways to celebrate Valentine’s Day without adding to the billion dollar industry.
Celebrate on a different day Homemade gifts Homemade cards Have a romantic dinner at home Vouchers or Love Coupons Classic Mix Tape! Get a plant together and take care of it over time, as it grows it represents your love growing! Have a picnic Watch Bob Ross and paint Give each other massages Have a board game night
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ART
The Honors Herald
Owen McGonigle ‘21
On January 27th, 2018, I was able to see The Phantom of the Opera for the tenth time in my life. Oh yes, I have wasted hundreds of dollars in order to see the same show 10 times. To be honest, I don’t think it’s too weird. I just like to think that I am very dedicated. Just the day prior, The Phantom of the Opera on Broadway celebrated 30 years on Broadway at the Majestic Theatre on West 44th Street. This is an amazing accomplishment for a Broadway show, and only furthers Phantom’s title as the longest running show on Broadway. The Phantom of the Opera follows the story of a 16-year-old girl named Christine Daaé, who is in the ballet at the famous Opera Populaire in Paris. Christine’s father has died, but he has promised her that he would send her the angel of music. This angel of music does appear, and begins to coach Christine on vocals. This angel is actually the Phantom, who has fallen madly in love with Christine. When Christine’s childhood sweetheart comes back into the picture, a dramatic love triangle ensues, with Christine in the middle. The Phantom of the Opera is truthfully a story of lust vs. love, something that I can go on about for days, but will spare for the sake of this review. However, I must go into my love for this show. From the set to the score, I love everything about it. The music is so beautiful, yet haunting, and I can have it on repeat for days. Every time I have seen Phantom I have enjoyed it just the same. Christine is also a soprano’s dream as she boasts some of the prettiest musical theatre songs for a soprano. On the other hand, the role of the Phantom is such a great tenor role.
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ART
The Honors Herald
The set of this show is quite stunning as well. The whole boat scene as the Phantom and Christine venture into the lair is just beautiful. All the fog and candles take the audience somewhere else. And of course, we cannot forget about the chandelier that rises and then eventually crashes above the audience. I adore the rooftop scene, in which the audience can look out past the opera house and see the skyline of Paris. It is just so pretty to look at as Christine and Raoul sing, “All I Ask of You�. The Phantom of the Opera is my absolute favorite show on Broadway. The music, set, and characters are all stunning, and offer up a highly enjoyable experience to the audience. I would definitely head back up to the Majestic Theatre for an eleventh time, and I would recommend anyone to go for their first.
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HONORS
The Honors Herald
MEET THE Madison Oberndorf ‘18 Major: Psychology Minor: Women and Gender Studies VP of Honors Council. Psychology Researcher. Honors College Student Aide
Mohini Gobin ’18 Major: Biology Minor: Neuroscience & Psychology Honors Council President. Researcher at Haskins Lab. Intern for The BELLE Project. Honors College Student Aide. OHRL Office Assistant and Desk Attendant. Peer Leader. Tri-Beta. PPHS. UGR Recipient. Society of Fellows.
Holly Thayer ‘18 Major: Communication Studies Minor: Marketing Editor-in-Chief of Honors Herald. Top 100 Scholars. Presented at Society of Fellows. Lover of dogs.
Nicki Kern ‘19 Major: English Language & Literature, concentration in Writing Minor: Creative Writing, Philosophy, Classical & Medieval Studies Co-chair of Newsletter Committee. Studied Abroad in Greece. Student Assistant for Math, Social Sciences and Philosophy Departments. Society of Fellows Candidate. Lover of Reading and Writing.
Ties Jansen ‘21 Major: BFA Acting Co-chair of Newsletter Committee. Content Creator of Pace Odyssey. Alpha Lambda Delta Society. Lover of Languages. Owen Cahan ‘20 Major: Mathematics & Jessica Holt ‘21 Economics Major: English & Member of Newsletter Environmental Studies Committee. Math Research. VP of Pace Against High School Tutor through Animal Cruelty. Alpha Pace’s Upward Bound program. Lambda Delta Lover of All Things Math and Science.
Nick Krawczeniuk ‘19 Major: Computer Science Working on SQUAD Project Development Project with NYC Design Factory, Porto Polytechnic and Warsaw University of Technology.
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HONORS
The Honors Herald
HONORS COUNCIL Honors Council is the student government organization of the Honors College. Its duties include: planning events, promoting events, being the liaisons of the students and the Honors College, and creating the Honors Herald. Meet our current members and learn how they are involved outside of Honors! Xander Tielemans ‘20 Major: Psychology Co-chair of Programming Committee. VP of Peace Action at Pace U.
Sydney Meehan ‘20 Major: Accounting & Arts and Entertainment Management Treasurer of Honors Council. Honors Council Student Aide. Intern at Artech Holdings
Alexandra Romano ‘19 Major: Business Economics Minor: Environmental Studies Development Coordinator of Honors Council. Remote Manager on the Product Development Project for Safera. Setter Spirit Ambassador. Operations and Accounting employee at Kaufman Astoria Studios. Yesha Chahwala ‘21 Major: International Management International Student. Member of Honors Council. Member of National Residence Hall Honorary.
Nicolette Carbonetto ‘21 Major: Elementary Education Amberlynn Foote ‘21 Minor: Psychology Major: Biology Member of Honors Minor: Neuroscience Council. Her Campus. Psi Co-chair of Public Relations Chi. Legend Yearbook. Committee. Alpha Lambda NSSHLA. ASPIRE Delta Society. Student Volunteer. Kid’s Soccer Research. Volunteer at Coach at Super Soccer Haskins Lab. Tri-Beta. Stars. Student Teacher at PPHS. Spruce Street Elementary.
Carolyn Smith ‘21 Major: Mathematics & Economics Member of Programming Committee. ASPIRE Volunteer. Excited for her next 3 years at Pace!!
Winnie Zhao ‘20 Major: Environmental Science Minor: Ecology, Sustainability, East Asian Studies Member of Honors Council. Botany Researcher.
March 2018
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6 60 Questions in
The Honors Herald
Seconds
with the Honors Staff
We asked the Honors Staff the same 6 questions, and here are their responses. What is the best piece of advice you have ever received? Dean Dinan: Follow your heart, I realize this is hopelessly cliché. Jackie: Trust your instincts Bill: It takes a long time to wait forever. Jess: You should leave college a changed person. If you don’t, you should ask for your money back. You won’t get it back, but you should still ask – Bill Offutt Lindsey: Don’t compare your insides to someone else’s outside. Maddie: It just takes some time. You're in the middle of the ride. Mohini: It’s okay to fail. Remember it can only go up from there. Sydney: It always seems impossible until it’s done.
What is a nontraditional or mythical animal you would want as a pet? Dean Dinan: A Pegasus please. Jackie: A phoenix Bill: a gryphon (also spelled griffin or griffon) Jess: I just really want a doggo already! Lindsey: A dragon Maddie: A cat... but who comes when I call. Mohini: I’m not a huge pet person, but I guess a unicorn would be cool. Sydney: An elephant! But dragons are cool too.
What's your ideal vacation? Dean Dinan: Walking around a new city and learning about a new place. Jackie: Two weeks city hopping in Europe with no one emailing or calling me. Bill: Sitting on a beach, with close friends and large quantities of adult beverages Jess: Anywhere I can lay on a beach, go hiking, and practice yoga at the rise and set on the sun. Lindsey: A week on the beach with a huge stack of books. Maddie: Beach, book, beverage. Mohini: Exploring nature, somewhere with mountains and waterfalls with no technology but good friends Sydney: Anything with a lot of nature (minus bugs) and architecture.
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HONORS
What is one thing you want a prospective student to know? Dean Dinan: We want you to be successful and to become the most marvelous you your can be, so let us support and help you as you navigate the university. Jackie: That Pace Honors was the best educational experience I had in my 25 years of being in school. Bill: They he/she will belong, that they will be joining something like a beloved community Jess: It is ok if you do not know what you want to do – explore! Lindsey: That the best part of Pace is the faculty. Maddie: Get involved with Honors. It'll become your family. Mohini: Don’t be afraid to ask questions. There are numerous resources for you, especially in Honors. Sydney: College is about change, so when it comes, accept it wholeheartedly.
The Honors Herald
vs. Would you rather go swimming in the East River or not wear shoes while walking on the sidewalk? Dean Dinan: Neither. I guess I would opt for the sidewalk. Jackie: I've walked around NYC without shoes before. Sometimes you have to save your shoes in the rain. I had socks on though. Bill: I'd not wear shoes while walking on a sidewalk covered in broken glass and dog poop rather than go swimming in the East River Jess: If I could have a raft in the East River, I suppose I’d come out alright. The sidewalk though, not so much :-( Lindsey: Swim in the East River. Maddie: Remember in the Simpsons movie how that squirrel swam in the Springfield lake and came out with a million eyes? I'd rather do the no shoes. Mohini: Wear no shoes while walking on the sidewalk. People do that all the time all around the world. Sydney: Not wear shoes while walking on the sidewalk.
What is a class at Pace not in your discipline that you would want to take (or teach)? Dean Dinan: I would love to take a dance class. I have two left feet, so this is probably not a great idea, but I love watching people express themselves through movement and I would to have some understanding how people interpret movement as thought and emotion. Jackie: I always wanted to take Pace's restaurant management class. Bill: Altered States of Consciousness Jess: I would love to explore the new graphic design minor – it’s new and wasn’t an option when I was a student. Lindsey: A class about pop culture. Maddie: I really wanted to take a Graphic Design class but it never happened. Mohini: If only Pace had a class about how to survive as an adult after college Sydney: Probably a mythology course (if we have one).
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I can't die. Then Jackie will have to fill out a lot of paperwork.
HONORS
The Honors Herald
Your soul has been taken over by the Sims
I’m going to turn into Rosella’s Pizza.
What's your serial killer trait?
March 2018
HONORS
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The Honors Herald
I love sitting on ancient ruins
You could have a unibrow
You stupid Americans and your dogs
This is my favorite church with my least favorite people.
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The Honors Herald
ACHIEVEMENTS
From our Current Honors Students and Alumni
Molly Farrell-Savage ‘21 Working for Costume shop of Bucks Rock Performing and Creative Arts Camp
Veronica Weinstein ‘19 Intern at HBO, Music Rights & Clearance
Mariah Simpson ‘20 Retail Marketing Intern at Sony Music
Kelly Ng ‘19 Programs Intern at American Theatre Wings & Client Services Intern at AKA NYC, a Broadway Advertising Agency
Amy Dworsky ‘19 Radio Intern at Elvis Duran and the Morning Show
Servando Martinez ‘19 Digital Media Intern with The Center
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Angelica Roman ‘19 Legal Assistant Intern for Her Justice
Allie O’Donoghue ‘18 Touring and Events Intern at Columbia Records
Alexis Molnar ’17 Playing "Lexi" in NBC's new musical drama Rise
HONORS
Sydney McGinn ‘19 Intern at New York Transit Museum
Gabriel Navarro ‘18 Attending Colorado State University for graduate studies in the Student Affairs in Higher Education program
The Honors Herald
Reilly Hickey ‘18 Co-Producer for the current Broadway Revival of Once on This Island
Shade Qualiey ‘15 Editor-in-Chief of Volume 42 of the Fordham International Law Journal
Asher Levine ‘10 Received the Rising Star Design Award from the Fashion Group NYC
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HONORS
The Honors Herald
The Northeastern Regional Honors Council is an organization that is dedicated to the encouragement of support of undergraduate honors learning. This year the theme of the conference is The Renaissance of a “Lively Experiment”: Seeing Anew, and it will be taking place in Providence, RI. The following four students have been accepted to present at the conference and represent Pace University NYC! Anna Marinina is a sophomore with a Computer Science major and a minor in Art. She’s involved in Pace's Women in Tech club and often participates in Design Factory workshops. The title of her presentation is "BookBox" and it's an idea for an app and non profit organization that is meant to aid in education at refugee camps by allowing anyone to easily donate or buy necessary books for children. It’s an idea that could also be implemented in the United States for students in low-income areas or temporarily displaced communities where students can't attend school for a few months. Madison Oberndorf is a senior Psychology major and a Women and Gender Studies minor, and works in the Honors College as a student aide, and serves as VP of Honors Council. She’s from Kearny, NJ, and was raised on movie musicals and Broadway cast albums. She never knew she could incorporate her love of theater into her prospective field of psychology until she took an honors class, View pointing Emotions. This class explored the psychology behind theater and acting, and inspired her thesis. She will be presenting, “Creating, Maintaining, and Releasing Characters: Predicting Burnout in Actors.” This study explores the variables, such as acting method, age and education, that could possibly predict the experience of burnout in an actor.
Noelle Howard is a Junior Economics major with minors in Finance and Pre-Law, originally from Clayton, NY. Her involvement includes: VP of Operations of Kappa Delta Sorority, member of Beta Alpha Psi and a presenter on its nationally recognized Best Practices team, delegate in Model UN, and works in Pace University’s Enrollment Management and Marketing office. Her project is titled: “Refugees in Need: The Children’s Community Center.” Her team developed and presented an innovative solution to problems faced by refugees. The Children’s Community Center is a proposed new NGO that aims to provide an emergency response to refugee children. The CCC aims to relieve the daily mental traumas of the refugee camps through the collaborative interaction of the different children within the camps. Mohini Gobin is a Senior Biology major with minors in Neuroscience and Psychology originally from Long Island, NY. She’s involved as President of Honors Council, a student aide of the Honors College, works for the Office of Housing and Residential Life, performs research at Haskins Laboratory, and she’s a student representative for the NRHC student activities committee. This will be her eleventh conference and she’s excited to be presenting in front of a new crowd. Her project is titled “A new approach to drug discovery for the treatment of Cryptosporidiosis” which is about developing a novel method of drug discovery for parasitic research.
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With 328 points from first semester and 31 points from second semester, GRYFFINDOR has a total of 359 points.
With 217 points from first semester and 10 points from second semester, HUFFLEPUFF has a total of 227 points.
HONORS
The Honors Herald
With 254 points from first semester and 27 points from second semester, RAVENCLAW has a total of 281 points.
With 270 points from first semester and 13 points from second semester, SLYTHERIN has a total of 283 points.
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Bill’sCORNER
FINAL WORDS
The Honors Herald
History's been leaning on me lately; I can feel the future breathing down my neck And all the things I thought were true When I was young, and you were too Turned out to be broken And I don't know what comes next In a world that has decided That it's going to lose its mind Be more kind, my friends, try to be more kind… You should know you're not alone And that trouble comes, and trouble goes How this ends, no one knows So hold on tight when the wind blows…
Like a beacon reaching out To you and yours from me and mine Be more kind, my friends, try to be more kind Frank Turner, “Be More Kind,” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VwtAjv04 pt8 My daughter, living in Ukraine in the Peace Corps, sent me the link for this song today. It says what I think I’ve been trying to say ever since I went to college, ever since I began teaching in college, since I began advising in college. It’s what I want for my life, it’s what I want for yours, it’s what I want for Pace and Honors, it’s what I want for the US and the world.
From me and mine—my loved ones Nancy, Mary, and Seth, plus my parents and my sisters and their families, plus my Honors family—this is all I ever wanted to say and do for you: Be more kind, my friends, try to be more kind.
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FINAL WORDS
The Honors Herald
~A Word From the Dean~ One of the things I love most about my job is getting to know first-year students. I teach UNV 101 to a group of Honors students on both campuses each fall, have been meeting individually with my former students this week, and have been seeing them at Honors events. I have heard stories of wonderful winter break adventures, and time spent with family and friends. I am struck by how different everyone is from the folks I met at the beginning of September. The students are more confident and they are much more settled into their college reality. Some have changed majors and others have changed names. A few have studied abroad and one has a fabulous internship lined up for the summer. It is an honor to be part of the lives of young adults who are so enthusiastically embracing their futures. Thank you!
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