Co-Editor-in-Chief Taylor Posik
Co-Editor-in-Chief Chris Tutt
The typical program evaluation for a student at SNHU is quite robust and makes the college experience worthwhile. However, given the complexity of each individual program, students need to take certain classes to fulfill their course requirements to ensure they graduate on time.
When navigating the course catalog, students will find all of the classes required, but some are only offered in certain semesters, and in some cases, certain years. This makes registration very competitive and many people, underclassmen specifically, are forced to restructure their desired course schedule.
An example of this is Advanced Creative Writing (ENG-431), which caps at fifteen available slots. This is a required class for all students majoring in Creative Writing and English. While most students are only required to take the course once, students with a concentration in fiction, for example, must take the course twice.
Because of the course’s high demand, the university needed to open a second block. Without opening this second block, many students would have been denied a requirement needed to graduate.
Students who need general education courses but are unable to take a campus class have the option of Sophia Learning. Running at a lower cost, students can take Sophia courses to earn credits toward their degree. However, it does not provide students with valuable learning experiences that can only occur in a classroom
setting.
For freshmen, it may seem like not getting into a specific class is no big deal because they still have three years left; however, it starts a ripple effect. The longer they have to wait to get into a class, the less likely they are to fulfill that requirement and graduate on time. Students within an accelerated program are especially vulnerable to the impact of being unable to get into a course they need, which can push off their intended date of graduation.
Many classes have prerequisites that make course sequencing very important. Students are required to take these classes before meeting other course requirements. Students face the risk of not getting into a specific class if it is only offered at a certain time and they haven’t taken the prerequisite. An option available for those unable to complete requirements is the Petition to Amend Degree Requirements. This option can be used for students that want to do an independent study or need to fill a class.
For students who can’t take classes for reasons out of their control, the university will grant completion for that requirement through another course or an independent study with a mentor. While this can be helpful, it leads to students not getting an engaging or desired education in their program.
The lack of course offerings may be a small piece of a bigger problem: the university may not be hiring enough professors. There isn’t a problem with students signing up for the classes, so what if there is a lack of faculty that SNHU is not informing the community about?
It may be because there are few applicants, or the university may be lacking in its ability to promote certain positions. Adjunct professors are a great option for universities given their experience; they can give students first-hand knowledge of a field they are currently working in.
Regardless, the issue with course offerings needs to be fixed to ensure the progress of the student body within their respective programs.
SNHU is hosting the Out of the Darkness Campus Walk on April 1, which is an on-campus event that aims to raise awareness and funds for mental health and suicide awareness. The walk will be taking place at the Green Space and is open to anyone who wants to support the fight to prevent suicide.
Mental health is an ongoing issue that is focused on at SNHU by creating easy and accessible help for our community, as well as by spreading the word about mental health misconceptions. People often suffer in silence and at SNHU it’s a priority to take urgent action to prevent silent suffering.
The organizer of the Out of the Darkness Campus Walk and SNHU student, Stephanie Matte (‘23), spoke more about this event and what it means to the SNHU community. Matte goes into detail about the importance of attending this walk to show support for those struggling with mental health.
“We all know that mental health is such an important thing. We all feel stressed and anxious sometimes, about grades, our social lives, [and] dating, but you don’t have to be afraid to talk about it. This event is designed to help end the stigma around asking for help and support when you need it,” said Matte.
She went on to discuss different activities that will be taking place during the walk, such as guest speakers, music, raffles, and free food.
“We hope you can join us on Saturday, April 1st for this amazing event; anyone is welcome to create a team and walk with us while fundraising to benefit the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention,” said Matte.
SNHU looks forward to hosting this event and many other future events that focus on this ongoing issue of mental health and suicide awareness. SNHU encourages all to join and show their support.
Elise Fasano
Tracy Dow is the Director of the Center for Project-Based Learning (CPBL) within the new program at SNHU, the Learning Engagement and Academic Innovation (LEAI) program. She was asked to join and decided it was a great fit for her.
She liked how LEAI fit in with her graphic design background, and that it matched well with the studio classes she teaches. She hopes it will encourage students to further their learning in and out of the classroom.
“It seemed like a natural flow with [the] graphic design studio and project-based learning. It all seemed to fit together very nicely,” said Dow.
The LEAI program aims to improve teaching, learning, and student experiences. The team manages faculty development work and other practices they engage in on campus. They are also tasked with improving oncampus student retention and persistence. There are multiple offices and teams within this program.
With her new title at LEAI, Dow is able to meet more people and interact with the talented individuals on campus, especially in the CPBL.
The CPBL helps further students’ learning. Their mission is to provide new pathways for students and faculty to engage in experiential and project-based learning. It helps promote the value of these practices to those on campus and external partners involved with SNHU. Dow will be running studios and providing hands-on experiences to help students learn.
Dow has also been a faculty advisor for Graphic Design and Media Arts since being a staff
member at SNHU. She has a BA in Graphic Design as well as an MBA. Before coming to SNHU in 2008, she worked as a graphic designer.
“Advising is very fun,” said Dow. “You get to know [the] students you have very well and start to know what they need before they see me.”
Dow has years of experience in advising from seeing all these students through their college years. Her experience and talent allow her to help her students achieve their fullest potential.
“I get to see all the new faces [in the] program and see all the
great work the students make,” said Dow.
When asked about her favorite classes to teach, Dow answered with Basic Design and Color Theory (GRA 101). She enjoys teaching this course because it demonstrates the basics of design, and students get to learn and be creative.
She is reachable in her office located in Robert Frost, room 309, or by email at t.dow@snhu. edu.
“I like [my work] a lot. It is definitely hard to get a job here, but there is a lot of great talent,” said Dow.
SNHU will be holding its second annual Humanities Festival on April 12 from 2-4pm on the Green Space. At the event, students will be provided food, games, and the chance to win prizes. Activities include the poetry slam, ethics games, art making, chess tournaments, and more.
Fine Arts Intern, Samuel Befumo (‘24), discussed the benefits of attending the Humanities Festival.
“Last year, [the Humanities Festival] was the first big community event that brought the campus together since Covid. The Festival showcases the humanities programs on campus and allows for students to experience the humanities in
a fun and educational way,” said Befumo.
He also spoke on what students can gain by attending the festival and by getting involved with it.
“There are many student-run activities that will be running during the Humanities Festival, including a student design team that is making the banner and posters for the Festival. There is involvement from campus clubs such as Creative Writing Club, Radio SNHU, Gaming Club, and Chess Club,” said Befumo.
SNHU showcases the variety of the history of arts and humanities. Befumo spoke on how learning about these topics may allow students to expand their interests.
“Students can broaden their horizon and learn new interests. There are many activities that students can do to find out more about themselves and find something that they may not have realized interested them before. They can also gain knowledge with History Trivia, a Spelling Bee, and an International Language Booth,” said Befumo.
He concluded with his final thoughts on what this event really does for the student body.
“The Humanities Festival will bring the greater SNHU community together. It is a fun event with plenty of interesting activities that focuses on student involvement and student engagement,” said Befumo.
The Cupboard, located in the Student Center between Copies Plus and The Last Chapter Pub, has been undergoing operation changes due to a shortage of high-demand supplies.
According to the information page on alumni.snhu.edu, “The Cupboard provides a reliable source of food and basic personal necessities for any SNHU student, staff, or faculty member who is in need, ensuring that everyone in our community can live, learn, work, teach, and thrive by meeting their basic needs.”
Kadie Dickson, Assistant Director for the Office of Student Involvement (OSI), oversees The Cupboard’s operations.
“We designed the community cupboard to be a space where people could always come with very few to almost no barriers. You have to request access and then so long as the Student Center was open, The Cupboard was open,” said Dickson.
However, there has been an increase in demand for supplies within The Cupboard, resulting in many shelves being left bare. Team members are looking to other food pantries and campuses, such as Families in Transition in Manchester, NH, for guidance to improve operations for The Cupboard.
“It’s a shame that anyone struggles with food insecurity, especially on a college campus. I think it’s great that we have something like The Cupboard to help alleviate those stresses. I also think it’s great that we’re taking a look at different dining solutions, as well, that will
hopefully help, but I think we could be doing more for our students,” said Justin Vanasse, who works as an AmeriCorps VISTA on campus.
Prior to this semester, members of the SNHU community were able to enter The Cupboard freely. However, regulations were put in place for the time being to maintain stock levels. A staff attendant will be available to assist anyone that is looking to enter The Cupboard.
A 1-2 bag limit will also be in effect. Bags will be provided by the staff attendant, and personal belongings will be prohibited from being brought into The Cupboard. Limits on basic necessities will also be put in place.
There will also be a restriction to one visit per day. Guests are prohibited from opening and using the products.
“I think we’re moving in a more beneficial direction for everybody,” said Vanasse. “Before, I think [The Cupboard] was operating in a way that wasn’t sustainable for the capacity that we had, and that was apparent by the amount of complaints we were getting from students, staff, and faculty alike about the amount of food that was in the pantry and how quickly it was going.”
Student employees within the Student Center assist with the stocking process of The Cupboard.
“I am the most blessed to have such hardworking students that not only do this job because it’s their job, but I know that they are so very passionate about
closing the gap on the need for our students,” said Dickson.
SNHU partnered with the New Hampshire Food Bank to provide The Cupboard with supplies. According to Dickson, The Cupboard has been receiving up to 1500 pounds of food per week.
“What I just love about Food Bank is that we have ethnic meal, international student options that cater specifically to that audience, which makes it feel just a little less tone deaf,” said Dickson.
The Cupboard also receives a year’s worth of dental products from Northeast Delta Dental. However, supplies did not last for the intended time.
Supplies are not only purchased through the Food Bank but also received through funding and donations. Faculty and staff have the opportunity to donate “a portion of their biweekly paychecks, which pretty much entirely carries the budget I have to work with for the space,” according to Dickson.
“Something that has been really devasting me about this experience is that I have noticed, because people know how misused that space has been this semester, my donations have been significantly plummeting,” said Dickson.
In September, The Cupboard received 425 pounds of donations from over ten donors. For January, donations dropped down to around 25 pounds, with only two donors providing goods.
“I do think it’s a reflection of our community digesting that this space is being misused and
that their efforts could be more intentionally spent elsewhere...I believe that really reinforces in Spring boards on why we need to change the infrastructure of The Cupboard as a whole,” said Dickson.
While The Cupboard is welcome to all members of the SNHU community, it is especially geared toward the international student population.
“Our international student populations can’t benefit from government-sanctioned food pantries...because it impacts their immigration status, so that is another reason why we have this fierce responsibility to ensure that we can sustain these goods more intentionally because we know that we have an international student population that only grows larger,” said Dickson. She also added that approximately 400 international students have enrolled for the spring semester.
Dickson reflected on how the pandemic has affected the use of The Cupboard. She discussed how, during the pandemic, SNHU community members took more than the permitted amount, often leaving the shelves bare.
“It was a huge reflection of terror. I feel that on Tuesdays when we load the space, students see it being loaded in and they have that fear. ‘What if I don’t secure this right now? What is the next week going to look like for me? Or perhaps it’s something along the lines of ‘I know I have a doctor’s appointment next Tuesday, so if I don’t get into this space right here, right now, I could face up to two weeks without having anything,” said Dickson.
While The Cupboard has been facing lower stock, its occupancy levels were also affected. The Cupboard is typically able to allow for five or less people; however, there will now only be one person permitted at a time to enter the space.
“We went into the space to
find...sixteen students in The Cupboard at the same time. Not only were they feverishly putting things into their bags in very intense quantities, but there was a lot of consumption happening within the space,” said Dickson. “We don’t want people to feel like they can’t utilize this space. Keeping that privacy is something that is really important to us.”
Vanasse discussed how there is a team actively looking for a new location on campus to house The Cupboard. One potential option for The Cupboard’s relocation is the unused space in the new SETA building.
“We’re looking at new spaces, and we’re hoping to move the pantry,” said Vanasse. “The pantry space right now, we view it as temporary, and we’d like to move it to a different space that [is] larger, it looks nicer, to help eliminate that stigma of entering a closet to get free food.”
The Cupboard is always looking for donations. They will accept monetary gifts as well as food and personal items. The full list can be found at https:// alumni.snhu.edu/make-a-gift/ cupboard.
The Cupboard is open Monday through Friday from 9am to 1pm, and 3pm to 7pm. However, hours of operation are subject to change. An online appointment system being constructed will be available to community members upon its completion.
Vanasse also discussed the longevity of the operations for The Cupboard. He said, “I think it’s a short-term solution until we determine that it’s effective.”
The concierge desk in the Student Center is available to answer questions and accept item donations to The Cupboard. They do not accept monetary donations. Inquiries can also be sent to The Cupboard email at thecupboard@snhu.edu, Kadie Dickson at k.dickson1@snhu. edu, or Justin Vanasse at gva_j. vanasse@snhu.edu.
“Our goal is to be able to challenge our students, to time manage more intentionally, but also provide multiple offerings of ways to support themselves,” said Dickson. “As a community, we can be the change. We can just do a better job of listening in of what we need and when we need it.”
HBO Max released the first episode of their adaptation of The Last of Us on January 15. The series follows two survivors, Joel (Pedro Pascal) and Ellie (Bella Ramsey), going through post-apocalyptic America.
The television series is based on the video game saga of the same name, which was released and rose to popularity in 2013. The first game has won various awards such as Game of the Year from the SXSW Gaming Awards in 2014 and Best Narrative from the Game Developers Choice Awards in the same year.
How will this adaptation live up to the legacy that the video game has built over the past decade?
The first episode of the television series opens in 1968 with a broadcast of two health specialists discussing the central pandemic that the series is focused on. The virus, called the Cordyceps brain infection (CBI), infects and turns its victims into zombies.
The opening scene of the episode is not in the video game. This new addition is a broadcast discussing an impending pandemic to an audience who has experienced a real-life one. The specialists’ warnings about the virus add to the impact of the world we are about to enter.
The game starts off with Joel and his daughter, Sarah’s (Nico Parker) introduction rather than a news broadcast. The HBO Max series includes this intro, which takes place in 2003.
After the broadcast, it cuts to Sarah embarking on her daily
routine. She makes her father and uncle breakfast, goes to school, gets Joel’s watch fixed, pays a visit to her neighbors, goes home, and then to bed. Throughout her day, little hints are sprinkled in that the virus was coming, such as the hand tremors her classmate was experiencing. At the end of the day, she goes to bed, only to be awoken by distant sounds of explosions.
The flashback sequence in the game starts right when Sarah wakes up, however, the moments after are nearly identical. She is reunited with Joel, who went to bail his brother, Tommy, out of jail and they all try to escape Austin, Texas from the infected humans that began to horde into town. The attempt to escape is a failed one as soldiers hold Joel and Sarah at gunpoint. Sarah is shot by one of the soldiers and she dies in Joel’s arms.
Sarah’s death carries more weight in the television series than in the video games. In both instances, it is heart-wrenching to watch a young child die. With the adaptation, Sarah’s death is more sympathetic because we grew attached to her as a character. Because we watched her go through her daily routine in the show, her dying is like losing a beloved character. Sarah’s demise happens within the first thirty minutes of the debut episode and already sets the tone for the entire series.
We are taken into Boston 2023, a world destroyed by the apocalypse. Joel and his friend, Tessa (Anna Trov) are
smugglers. They are assigned to smuggle fourteen-year-old Ellie out of the Quarantine Zone (QZ), where those infected are forced to stay in. The QZ is more lived in than in the games, which is basically abandoned.
Ellie is revealed to be special at the end of the episode. She was infected by CBI, however, she hasn’t turned into a zombie. She was kept at the QZ to monitor any symptoms. Joel and Tess discover this as they’re trying to smuggle her out, and instead of having the conversation split between the escape and her initial confession, the television series has Ellie confess quickly.
The exit, rather than high-stakes and exciting, is underwhelming. The main plot of Ellie is that she is immune to the virus and therefore wanted by the Fireflies, a group of rebels causing destruction in Boston. In the games, this is also a central plot and Ellie’s key to survival.
The series demonstrates adapting a video game into a television series with a new light. It focuses more on the story rather than the action. We see all perspectives rather than just Joel’s which allows for more rounded storytelling.
The creators of the show did a good job making sure the main points of the game weren’t changed, such as Sarah’s death being central to Joel’s character development and Ellie’s immunity.
The Last of Us airs on HBO Sunday nights at 9:oo pm EST and is available on HBO Max at the same time.
The Robotics Club is a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) club founded in 2022. The club allows students to apply their knowledge to real-world situations.
“The club is intended to teach students about STEM in physical and applicable realworld scenarios, with a focus on robotics,” said Arthur Aznive (‘23), the president and founder of the Robotics Club.
The Robotics Club has around 30 members. When asked about the club’s goals, Aznive said, “We want to teach people how to apply theory and understand how the real world works in terms of software,
mechanics, and physics.”
Vice President of the Robotics Club, Joe Sedutto, also talked about what the club has to offer.
“We want to push practical hands-on stuff a lot, focused on getting people to use what they learn here at SNHU. I personally feel like a lot of stuff taught at SNHU isn’t applied enough in classes, so we’re aiming to improve that by offering a club where students of any major can apply their skills,” said Sedutto.
The Robotics Club is currently working on the Micro Mouse robot; when finished these robots will be able to find their way through a maze. On March 4th and 5th, the club built
an 8ft by 8ft table maze for the Micro Mouse robot.
With the Robotics Club being a new club, Aznive and Sedutto both have big plans.
“We want to pursue more exhibition robotics (for entertainment, show, and competition bots) (e.g., sumo bots and battle bots),” says Aznive. “Ideally, we want to compete competitively in Battle Bots and be able to show off our robots here at SNHU.”
The Robotics Club meets weekly on Tuesdays at 5pm in the CETA main foyer. For more information, email President Arthur Aznive at arthur.aznive@ snhu.edu, or join the club’s Discord Server.
The office of International Student Services (ISS), located in the Green Center, room 108, helps international students with their time at SNHU. Once international students are on campus, the office supports them through the process of being an SNHU student.
“The students are first supported by International Admissions. This includes receiving their initial immigration documents and receiving support while they apply to the US Embassy in their home country for the student visa,” said Director of ISS, James English. “Once the student arrives on the SNHU campus, then our office begins supporting them. That includes check-in, orientation, immigration advising, cultural transition, and programming.”
Approximately 510 international students are studying on campus, and another 128 are employed off-campus. The office provides multiple services to international students to help support them through the process of immigrating and getting the appropriate documents and licenses.
“We provide immigration support, which mainly includes maintaining each international student’s immigration record in the US government’s SEVIS system (Student and Exchange Visitor Information System). We also help students apply for Social Security Numbers and NH driver’s licenses; work authorization for internships and after graduation employment; cultural transition advising; and long-term immigration advising,”
said English.
There are five professional staff in ISS, including English. Leanne Bowden is the Assistant Director of International Student Engagement, Dawn Sedutto is the Senior Immigration Specialist, Jackie Penrod is an Immigration Specialist, and Dakotah Stiles is the Office Manager.
The office provides support for international students by assisting them through the transition so they can be successful personally, academically, and professionally.
“The immigration support we provide ensures students have the legal platform to study and
work in the United States,” said English. “We also assist with cultural transition, so they can adapt to life in the United States. This might include workshops on topics like winter driving and avoiding scams. We also deliver internationally themed programs on campus, to amplify our international students’ voices.”
The international student population contributes significantly to the diversity of the campus community. They bring a wealth of knowledge and unique experiences which enrich the learning experience for everyone at SNHU.
Adriana Timberlake (‘23) scored her 1,000th point for the SNHU women’s basketball team in an 8143 victory over The College of Saint Rose on February 11th at the Stan Spirou Field House.
Timberlake acknowledges that this accomplishment has been a long time coming, even stating that she has played basketball since she was four years old.
“I have been around basketball my whole life,” said Timberlake. “My brother plays...and my dad played. My brother plays division 1 at Towson University and my dad played at Boston University.”
Head Coach Karen Pinkos of the women’s basketball program has been with SNHU for 18 years and has witnessed Adriana grow into the player she is now.
“Adriana has grown up and matured on and off the court. She is a very skilled player with speed and shooting being her two strengths. This year, she has become a very good leader and was named one of our co-captains...As a coaching staff, we have seen [Adriana’s] communication skills grow which have helped her become a more confident person as well as become a more mentally tough player,” said Pinkos.
Pinkos discussed how the significance of Timberlake’s 1,000th career point reflects the work she has put in during her time with SNHU women’s basketball.
“[I’m] super proud of her 1,000 point milestone,” said Pinkos. “She has worked hard to become a better scorer and has reached this in three seasons! It’s a shared proud moment among the coaching staff and her teammates.”
Timberlake was unaware that
her 1,000th point was so close until her roommate told her.
“My roommate, Jenna Roche, had told me I was pretty close about a month before I had scored my 1,000th point, but I did not know when I was scoring it that I was that close,” said Timberlake.
Timberlake mentioned how excited her teammates were when she finally reached the milestone.
“My teammates went crazy and were so excited that I had scored my 1,000th point. They all knew how many points away I was, but I had no idea,” said Timberlake.
The energy in the air after her milestone-achieving shot at the game on SNHU’s home court was felt by everyone in attendance.
“The energy in the gym was at a high. Not only had I scored but we were winning the game, so it was a very good atmosphere. It was during the Pink Day game which is a game that we play to raise awareness [for] breast cancer, so the gym is usually packed during this game,” said Timberlake.
Coach Pinkos also spoke on how the energy in the room shifted upon Timberlake reaching her milestone.
“Her teammates and coaches are her SNHU family. When one player succeeds, we are all extremely happy and proud for that player. The team screamed and yelled during the game once she hit the second free throw which put her at 1,000 points,” said Pinkos.
Pinkos spoke on what the celebration was like post-game, for both Timberlake’s accomplishment and the team’s victory.
“The locker room was fun as the coaching staff may or may not have dumped a few cups of water on her as the team cheered on. I’m sure [Adriana] will keep this entire day as a memorable one for a lifetime! It was special,” said Pinkos.
Being a senior, Timberlake reminisced on the teammates and leaders who have helped her along her journey to success.
“Being a senior is a great feeling because all the years leading up to it, I had looked up to some amazing senior leaders and always wanted to fill their shoes as the time got closer,” said Timberlake.
Timberlake plans to come back to SNHU as a fifth year and play her last year at SNHU as a graduate student.
