Volume XXIII, Issue 5
November 30, 2016
penmenpress@snhu.edu
Manchester, NH
TOWNHOUSE STAFF helps Boston's Homeless
Rebecca LeBoeuf Editor in Chief
November 30, 2016: National Mousse Day
News | Front & 3-6
Black
Editorial | 2 Opinion | 7-8 Arts & Entertainment | 9-11 Creative | 12 Penmen Abroad | 13 Health and Wellness | 14 Sports | 15-16
Featuring: SNHU Celebrates International Education Week | Page 3 New Art Gallery Exhibit | Page 4 Pop Up Newsroom | Page 5 The Ugly Truth | Page 7 The 'Arrival' of Sci-Fi | Page 9 Have Optimism When Times Are Uncertain | Page 14 Athlete Spotlight | Page 16
Emily Lamplough
Cyan Magenta
What's Inside:
Five Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) Townhouse Resident Assistants (RA) and the Assistant Resident Director (ARD) collected toiletries and winter gear to deliver to the Friends of Boston’s Homeless organization and distributed bagged lunches to the hungry on the streets of Boston on Saturday, Nov. 19. “It definitely puts you outside of your comfort zone,” sophomore RA Katie Kelly said about the day. RAs must participate in staff development opportunities as a part of their job. “We are given so much money to throw programs and take trips, and we just all decided to change directions for a moment and think of better ways to spend our money,” Emily Lamplough, the ARD of the Townhouses said. Lamplough hoped she made a difference in someone’s life through this volunteer project and showed her staff how to use what they have to help others. “Change doesn’t always come
Left to right: Julia Repaal, Adrian Ramos, Katie Kelly, Megan Palmer, and Derek Vanat. from million dollar donations, it comes from challenging the attitudes on how we view people that are different than us, and how we treat people who do not have what we have.” Senior RA Derek Vanat was surprised to see that many people on the streets did not trust the group. “[Is it] because of past experiences? Or their distrust in humans? Is it a survival mechanism, to watch your own back
until given a reason to proceed otherwise?” he wondered. The Townhouse staff decided to take on this volunteering opportunity for several reasons. “We are all incredibly privileged to be at this amazing school, living on campus and experiencing college life. While we might not all be financially stable, we are all still here, which is a lot more than many others can say,” Lamplough said. “For
those who know Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, in order to be successful in life, you need to have a stable start. Without a shelter or daily meal, a person will never be able to live their dreams.” Senior Julia Repaal, the administrative RA, participated in this volunteer opportunity to inspire more people to help oth-
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Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week Rachel Romeo Staff Writer
The Center for Community Engaged Learning (CCEL) put on Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week, which traditionally falls on the week leading up to Thanksgiving. The week is designed to bring awareness and support to those who struggle with poverty. Affecting communities across the nation, hunger and homelessness limits families from coming together during the holiday season. Here at Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU), many organizations around campus are coming together to get involved. Starting on Monday Nov. 14 and running through Saturday Nov. 19, students were encouraged to attend and participate in a variety of events held throughout the week.
The week kicked off with the “Faces of Homelessness Panel,” located in the ACC First Floor Learning Commons. The event began at 5:30 p.m. and students could hear from people who have experienced the struggles of homelessness and the ways in which they are currently trying to end it. Sophomore Kristen Boyd said, “ I thought it was very eye opening to see that someone who is doing so well in life could wake up the next day and find that everything is gone.” The panel highlighted specific strategies to limit the percentage of homelessness within the Manchester area. Junior Stephanie Anderson said, “It was cool that we were able to hear both sides of homelessness, the people who work everyday trying to help to make things better and from people who actually experienced
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homelessness and received these services. It was disheartening to hear the stories of how the panelists became homeless.” Wednesday, Nov. 16, students attended the “In Her Shoes” Domestic Violence Shelter simulation. The simulation was run through the Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA). This organization is considered the largest multicultural women’s organization in the world. Their mission is to eliminate racism and empower women. Participants at the event where exposed to the thoughts and actions of domestic violence victims to better understand what it would be like to walk in someone else’s shoes. By attending the event, students were given better insight and awareness of how serious domestic violence is in society. Additional events through-
out the week included “A Look into Their World,” “Stop Hunger Now,” and other various volunteer opportunities. “A Look into Their World” consisted of a themed journey that provided students with a better understanding of what it’s like to be hungry and homeless. The event was three Penmen Pride points and students were asked to donate socks during the event. The socks will be donated to the Manchester Homeless Center. “Stop Hunger Now” was an event that the OUTREACH Association put on in the Miles Room in the Dining Center. This is where students package about 10,000 meals to send to people in need. Hunger and Homelessness Week brings awareness to issues facing the surrounding Manchester area and how students at SNHU can get involved.