NEWS
4
October 7, 2011
Mailroom move delays deliveries From For, Page 1 ‘her combination. It was a package sent by her mother from the second week of March in 2010. Like Cielinksi, she was thankful it wasn’t anything vitally important. Healy explained why this might have happened. He said, “We hold onto packages that have been here since last fall. We do it as a courtesy.” He explained there are about 60-70 packages waiting to be claimed that the mailroom is holding. If his staff sees mail that is three or four weeks old they will put another yellow slip in the corresponding mailbox.
Kerry Tatem (’13) took Chemistry at Drew this summer and had confirmation that her sleeping medication was delivered. She said she went to the mailroom for the first time and had trouble opening her box. “I asked if they could show me how to open the box and they wouldn’t after I told them it was prescription medication I need to sleep. I came back the next day and they were equally unhelpful,” she said frustratingly. About 10 days later “one guy finally showed me how to open the box and I was able to get my meds. I suffered from sleep deprivation that entire time.” Healy explained that in the old mailroom the staff spent
about half of their time helping students open their mailboxes and will no longer do so after the USPS “recommended that if the mailboxes were in better condition and worked properly a lot of time would be saved.” He continued, “It’s the responsibility of the student to contact facilities if they have a problem with their mailbox.” Students also believe the mailboxes are too difficult to open. Kate Thomas (’14) said, “It took a ridiculously long time to figure out how to open the mailbox and there was no official go-to person so you were left unable to open your mailbox. It took me 20 plus tries to successfully open the box and the directions are missing
specific ‘tricks’ to opening it.” She also believes the mailroom is confusing because the boxes are not in numerical order. Many students, including Thomas, agree that a better method to open the boxes would be to use a key lock. However, Healy believes numerical combinations are a better method. “It’s what kids are used to from being a senior in high school to college. If you go to a gym and you have a combination it’s usually numerical.” He also emphasized that it is much more economical to have a combination lock because if students lose their key it could cost up to $50 to replace.
When asked by Drew University if he would like the new mailboxes to be key locks, he replied “no.” Many students share one positive aspect of the new mailroom—its location. Karina Russ (’14) commented, “The new location of the mailroom is very convenient because I can check my mail before or after dinner. I have to go to the Commons every day, anyway.” Cilienski, Kevin Schwake (’12) and Ariel Popa (’12) agree. Chris Argese (’12) joked, “I think it’s also convenient that there is a condom machine in the front of the mailroom. Before the weekend I like to have my mail and restock my condom supply.”
Israel DIS encourages peacebuilding
From Recent, Page 1 This DIS concentrates on efforts on a personal level rather than meddling with political standings between the Palestinians and the Israelis. In result of grassroots movements in the past years, there are now bilingual schools in Israel. Following these efforts, the DIS students participated in service learning through participation observation and connecting on a personal level with both the Israelis and Palestinians. The DIS to Israel was formed by Jonathon Golden, professor of religious studies at Drew, and Professor of Religious Studies and Director of the Center on Religion, Culture and Conflict Christopher Taylor. According to Golden, there will not be a DIS to Israel this summer. However, they are aiming for next summer. One of the
highlights on this program is that it links together both the College of Liberal Arts at Drew and the Center on Religion, Culture and Conflict. The program concentrates on promoting shared living and professional cooperation among the two residents. Other than attaining an educational and life-changing experience, DIS can also make way for professional careers for students. For example Robbins, a Drew University graduate majored in Political Science with a double minor in Middle East Studies and Women‘s and Gender Studies, was offered a job during her DIS in Israel. She is currently employed as the Resource Development Coordinator for one of the organizations they studied during the DIS (Windows Channels for Communication). She has also published her
honors thesis from Drew as a book titled “What Role for Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in Peace Building?” It is an analysis of human rights priorities in peace building assistance to the occupied Palestinian territories. Golden said, “an interesting part of the story is that we are studying and visiting a region from which there seems to come very little good news. It can be difficult for people to comprehend that Israelis and Palestinians can actually live and work together—that is, until they see it for themselves.” The students not only got to see for themselves the commitment and courage of those Israelis and Palestinians working for peace in the region, but they also took part in it, working directly with some of these people. He adds, “This is experiential learning at its best.”
Photos courtesy of Melanie Robbins
Drew students participate in the Israel and Palestine Drew International Center, where they worked with grassroots organizations (above). Students visited the wall that seperates Israel and Palestine during the DIS (below).