Category: Featured

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Featured Sports

Bison Quarterback Brandon Wesley

Alex Wagner

Senior Editor

Quarterback Brandon Wesley ’14 has become a staple of the football program since his arrival to Lewisburg in the fall of 2010. After just three seasons, he is either at or near the top of many Orange and Blue all-time career statistics lists, including pass completions (first place with 461), passing yards (second with 4,926), and total offense (second with 5,401 yards.)

But the number that is most remarkable, and makes all of the other statistics possible, is 32. That is the number of consecutive games that Wesley has started at quarterback for the Bison leading into the 2013 season.

It is no secret that football is an unforgiving sport that sees more than its fair share of injuries. Although they do not get hit nearly as often as other players, quarterbacks are regularly on the wrong end of crushing tackles. But Wesley has managed to stay healthy through three grueling seasons by making the right decisions.

“I attribute my consecutive start streak to my ability to play smart and knowing when to give in and take what the defense gives me,” Wesley said.

Weighing in at 195 pounds, he also knows that he is one of the lightest guys on the field on any given play, which doesn’t work in his favor when it comes to preventing injuries.

“I’m relatively light compared to a lot of guys out there on the field,” Wesley said. “I’m reminded of this before every game when Coach [Joe] Susan comes up to me and says, ‘Good luck, skinny.’ He usually says it in a joking way, but there is a lot of truth to it.”

It is also important to note that Wesley has such a long streak because he started the final 10 games of his first-year campaign. During that season he put up very impressive numbers. He finished 68 for 1,699 total yards. These statistics helped Wesley to five Patriot League Rookie of the Week awards on his way to becoming the Patriot League Rookie of the Year.

Although there have certainly been some bumps in the road, he has ultimately benefited from being thrust into the starting role at such an early stage in his career.

“Being a starter since my freshmen year gives me a lot of confidence going into this season, knowing that I have a complete understanding of the offense and what the coaches expect from me,” Wesley said.

One particular game at Lafayette from two years ago stands out in his mind not because of his individual performance, but because of the daunting weather conditions surrounding a great team win.

“During that day I saw the most snow I had ever seen in my life. I couldn’t believe we were even attempting to play that game,” Wesley said. “I remember asking people, ‘Are you sure they are going to make us play in this?’ Fortunately, we ended up winning the game despite me not being able the feel my fingers and toes. I couldn’t have imagined coming out of there with a loss.”

Wesley knows that despite his strong performances in the early years of his career, he will need to put together a strong senior campaign if he wants to become a truly accomplished quarterback, and he has a clear idea of how he wants to step up his game.

“One of my personal goals this season is to become a better student of the game and focus on the small details that will help improve my game,” Wesley said. “Coach Susan always tells us to strive for perfection and the only way to be perfect is to do the little things right.”

Wesley and the rest of the Bison will certainly be looking to perfect the minor details of their game as they head into their third game of the season this weekend against Sacred Heart, after a win over Marist and a loss to Cornell earlier this year. The Orange and Blue will be sure to rely on the experience of their veteran quarterback to help guide them to victory.

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Arts & Life Featured

BDC Spring Legacy Concert

Christina Oddo

News Editor

The Department of Theatre and Dance and the Bucknell Dance Company (BDC) will host the Spring Legacy Dance Concert Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. in the Weis Center for Performing Arts.

This year’s concert will feature work by student choreographers Kelsey Fletcher ’14 and Anna Loveys ’13, as well as work by faculty and guest artists Sascha Radetsky, American Ballet Theatre soloist, and Nicole Bradley-Browning ’97.

“This year as a choreographer was way more meaningful for me, mostly because I will be graduating,” Loveys said. “This was my last chance. Ultimately this piece is about gratitude and acknowledgement. Life is all about relationships and the connections we make with others who come in and out of our lives. Bucknell has been my home for the past four years. The relationships and connections I have made here are some of the most meaningful. This piece is going to honor the friendships, relationships and connections I have made.”

“I am honored to have been chosen to choreograph for the legacy concert,” Fletcher said. “It feels wonderful to be an integral part of a remembrance of the roots of the dance department. I think it is really important to know where you came from and being a part of this concert helped me to find that both within the dance department and for my own self.”

Bradley-Browning believes it was a distinct honor to return to the University to participate in the construction of the concert and to particularly have the opportunity to work with the seniors. Bradley-Browning staged a piece that brings the seniors together, ultimately honoring their time as dancers at the University before they part ways.

“I staged a dance entitled, ‘us’ … ‘us’ offers the dancers the chance to share moments of joy, support and the bittersweet nature of endings and new beginnings,” Bradley-Browning said.

The concert will also celebrate the legacy of dance through a piece choreographed by José Límon, a pioneer of modern dance, as well as through a re-imaging of “First Blush” by Associate Professor of Dance and Co-Director of the BDC Er-dong Hu. “First Blush” was originally choreographed by Danna Frangione, the late first director of dance at the University.

“Returning to Bucknell provides me with the gift of being able to reflect upon all of the numerous opportunities for growth and development at the institution, but even more so, the faculty and staff provided for me as a student, a visiting choreographer and a visiting professor,” Bradley-Browning said. “The relationships that I had with my mentors, the late Danna Frangione, and Er-Dong Hu helped shape who I have become as an artist, educator, colleague, advocate for the arts and mentor for my very own students.”

This specific piece by Frangione and Er-Dong also incorporates contributions by Kristy Kuhn ’00, and features 20 alumni dancers, as well as costume design by Emily Riggins ’10.

“It has been a great pleasure for me to work with my students and fellow colleagues in the Theatre and Dance Department as a team to commemorate the legacy of the dance program,” Er-Dong said. “This concert brings joy and excitement by celebrating the history of dance through the blending of generations with the return of 20 alumni.”

“This show brings together the works of past and current students and faculty of Bucknell,” Loveys said. “It is the culmination of years of dance and the hard work it took to get to this level of dance that Bucknell is able to offer today.”

Former President Gary Sojka will be giving the opening address for tonight’s concert, and President John Bravman will be opening the concert tomorrow night.

“As the newest addition to dance faculty, I’m grateful to be a part of such a beautiful legacy,” Dustyn Martincich, assistant professor of theatre and dance said. “Getting to work with passionate and talented artists is such a gift. From the beautiful and collaborative spirit of the students and colleagues in the department, to the generous support from alum and the Bucknell and Lewisburg community, it really will be a weekend of celebration.”

“This experience has been extremely meaningful to me,” Loveys said. “The Weis Center is a breathtaking venue and to be able to leave my final mark on this stage with some of my best friends leaves me speechless.”

Tickets are $10 and $5 for students and can be purchased at the Campus Box Office or online.

“I think the audience can expect a great show,” Fletcher said. “The dancing is as strong as it always is, but there is a feeling of family in this show that I don’t think the audience has seen in the past.”

“The dance program at Bucknell is unlike any other that I have ever known,” Bradley-Browning said. “The opportunities afforded to the students are remarkable. The dances performed are breathtaking. The relationships established are lifelong.”

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Featured

Bucknell Brigade

 

Photo courtesy of Brad Meyer.
Photo courtesy of Brad Meyer.

Christina Oddo

News Editor

The average Nicaraguan does not get more than a third-grade education and some only receive two gallons of water per day for drinking, cleaning and cooking. Since 1999, the University has been trying to do its part to change this statistic.

 

Photo courtesy of Brad Meyer.
Photo courtesy of Brad Meyer.

 

This past winter break, University students and faculty traveled to Ciudad Sandino, a city right outside of Managua, Nicaragua. The Bucknell Brigade service-learning trip occurs in the winter and spring every year and partners with a non-profit Jubilee House Community (JHC) to help with projects in Ciudad Sandino. University volunteers help to raise money for the free health clinic in Nueva Vida. Medicine and supplies are brought to Nicaragua and volunteers are involved in manual labor and other related projects while on the trip.

“Progress is certainly being made in Nicaragua since our first experience in 1999, but the problems of poverty are still quite staggering,” Janice Bulter, director of the Office of Service Learning said. “It helps our students to gain a new perspective to see what is happening in developing countries and how U.S. policies affect others.”

The Brigade began in 1999 as a response to Hurricane Mitch. The partnership with a resettlement community in Nicaragua has continued ever since. In fact, the facility of Nueva Vida was built primarily by the money raised by this student initiative.

“My involvement with the Bucknell Brigade since January 2010 has dramatically shaped my Bucknell journey and my life in general, so I was beyond excited for the opportunity to return to Nicaragua!” Katie Janda ’13, co-leader said. “Coming back as a senior, it was incredible to see how the community of Nueva Vida has changed in three years; more paved roads, more stable housing, but also more trash lined the streets and filled the local dump. However, while we worked digging trenches and painting benches at the clinic and the Jubilee House Community compound, the hope and perseverance of the Nicaraguan people was ever present.”

This winter, the Brigade put in a sidewalk to make the transportation of goods easier for the people of Ciudad Sandino, and painted benches to go inside the medical clinic that the Brigade helped develop.

“As a returning member of the Brigade this time, I was encouraged to see all of the progress that had been made and projects that Bucknell had completed since my last trip,” Jenna Masi ’13, co-leader said. “However, returning for the second time was a harsh reminder of all that I take for granted in my life.”

The Brigade continues to leave its mark in Nicaragua, and just as University participants have been greatly affected and influenced by the trips, so have the people living in Nicaragua.

“While we were working in the clinic, I had the opportunity to speak with a woman, who was 23-years-old, who was at the clinic with her three children one, three and five,” Kasha Scott ’14 said. “She told me a little bit about her life story, and how she had been relocated to Nueva Vida after Hurricane Mitch displaced her from her home on the shore of Lake Managua. She is originally from Mexico, and her mother still lives in Mexico. She said that it was her dream to come and visit the United States because it was such a beautiful country.”

“One of the best parts of both of my trips was seeing the tremendous impact Bucknell has had on the community of Ciudad Sandino,” Masi said. “Everywhere we went, we saw signs dedicated to Bucknell and the work we have done. Seeing the projects that past Brigadistas have worked on and the impact they have made was inspiring. Nicaraguans and the JHC volunteers think highly of Bucknell and the work we have been doing there for the past 14 years. It made me so incredibly proud of the commitment Bucknell has made, and I felt honored to be a part of something that has been so meaningful to the people of Ciudad Sandino.”

The volunteers would agree that their job extends beyond the realm of manual labor and projects. The group learns more about the history and culture and most importantly, the people.

“Our group was deeply moved by the grace, generosity, strength and joy of all that we encountered,” Janda said. “It was an honor and a privilege to work and learn alongside Nicaraguans and my fellow Brigadistas, and just like in January 2010, I know my life has once again been changed by this experience.”

“I strongly encourage all Bucknellians to utilize the amazing resources our school has to offer and consider thinking outside of the ‘bubble,’ get their hands dirty and serve in ways they never thought possible,” Janda said.

A group of future Brigadistas, including new student and faculty faces, look forward to the next Brigade trip in March.

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Arts & Life Featured

Bucknell Dance Company Fall Concert

 

Matthew Hacker | The Bucknellian
Danielle McKenna ’13 and Jack D’Aquila ’14 in guest artist Michael Foley’s piece.

Christina Oddo

The Department of Theatre and Dance is proud to present the Bucknell Dance Company (BDC) Fall Concert. The show will take place tonight and tomorrow at 8 p.m. in the Harvey M. Powers Theatre.

The concert will feature many different styles of dance, including ballet, modern and jazz. Associate Professor of Dance Kelly Knox, Assistant Professor of Theatre and Dance Dustyn Martincich and Associate Professor of Dance Er-Dong Hu choreographed for the show. Students Chelsea Dieck ’13, Christine Rossiello ’13 and Courtney Lambert ’13 also choreographed, as well as guest artist Michael Foley.

Matthew Hacker | The Bucknellian
Dancers perform a piece choreographed by Courtney Lambert ’13.

“[Foley’s] kaleidoscopic partnering work constantly shifts and lifts bodies through space,” Knox said. “We also welcome Professor Barry Long from the Music Department, who contributes jazz interludes to the steamy world of a femme fatale jazz work–and incidentally plays live trumpet in Friday’s concert.”

Long will play his own compositions live throughout Martincich’s piece, “Guilty,” in tonight’s show. Four male students from the Theatre Department will also be performing in “Guilty.” Rossiello has incorporated the reading of the poem “Birthday” by Andrea Gibson into her piece, “Within. With You.”

“This concert is different from others in that it incorporates such a large spectrum of different types of dance, replete with intricate personalized costumes and powerful music, all of which I can assure will keep the audience intrigued throughout,” BDC member Abbey Slobodin ’15 said.

Costumes and lighting will prove to be present and powerful throughout the concert.

“This particular concert employs design as a choreographic element in several pieces, whether it’s the stylistic trench coats and hazy backlights reminiscent of film noir in Dustyn Martincich’s piece ‘Guilty’ … or the industrial light towers that dissect the space in Er-Dong Hu’s ‘Transitions.’ This concert takes full advantage of the design talent in our department,” Knox said.

Furthering the theme of design as a core element of the concert, Knox’s piece, “Perspective Subordination,” will encompass projected live images of the dancers partnering with themselves.

Choreographing for the show this semester has been a rewarding and challenging experience for Er-Dong Hu.

“It has been a joy working with nine dancers as well as the opportunity to combine my artistic vision with such unique lighting design,” Hu said. “I have challenged myself to create ‘something different’ that has an ‘East meets West’ style that is also highly technical and demanding for the dancers.”

The BDC has been working relentlessly over the past months to make the concert a success.

“The hardworking and dedicated company has been preparing for months: late rehearsals, adjusting to props, specific stylistic changes and executing movements not only with technique but with pure passion for the art of dance,” Slobodin said.

Student dancers who delve into the world of choreography often encounter rewarding experiences. Lambert commented on the physicality of dance, the uniqueness of the body and the inherent differences between dancers.

“Every dancer moves differently and has his or her own style,” Lambert said. “While this makes every dancer essentially unique, it makes choreographing that much harder. It is rather difficult to put the movement from my own body onto someone else’s in precisely the same manner. However, this uniqueness is what makes this experience so rewarding. When my movement is portrayed by my dancers in the way that I envisioned it to be, I literally cannot help but smile with happiness and gratitude.”

Lambert, who has appeared in numerous dance showcases, has experienced something new as a part of the group of BDC choreographers this semester.

“I am so honored to have been able to choreograph for BDC this semester. I will be honest, I was a little hesitant at first considering the packed semester I had ahead,” Lambert said. “I realized, though, that I would never get this opportunity again, and as a senior this is probably my last time choreographing a piece at Bucknell. I was lucky to have such an amazing group of dancers in my piece who are all extremely talented and have worked so hard to get to this point. I look forward to seeing my vision in its entirety come to life this weekend.”

“This fall has been a fantastic journey watching the seven diverse pieces of the concert come together,” Knox said. “It’s impossible to say what aspect is most rewarding, but I can tell you that after the first showing, when I saw all of the pieces as works in progress, I was struck by the immense creativity and dance talent we have in our program and I feel lucky to be a part of it all.”

Tickets are $5 for students and $10 for general admission. Tickets can be purchased at the box office: (570) 577-1000 or online: www.bucknell.edu/boxoffice

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Arts & Life Campus Events Columns Featured Music

Arts & Life Editor Christina Oddo ’14 sat down with Matthew Scannell, lead vocalist and guitarist for Vertical Horizon, before the concert on Oct. 26 at Uptown.

Arts & Life Editor Christina Oddo ’14 sat down with Matthew Scannell, lead vocalist and guitarist for Vertical Horizon, before the concert on Oct. 26 at Uptown.

How did you write the song “Everything You Want?”

“I was living in NYC and money was really, really tight, so it was like a time bomb ticking; when is this all going to crash and burn? One night at around 3:30 in the morning, I was asleep, but I heard this mantra. I thought, wow that’s really cool, I like that. I said I really should, being a ‘song writer,’ get up right now and write this down. But I thought, well it’s so good that I will easily remember it in the morning. I don’t have to get up now. And that never ever happens. You never ever remember anything in the morning. I roll over and I go back to sleep, like you do when you get a great idea. About an hour later, I heard the chords. I thought, I really should get up and write this, but I’m really tired. I’ll remember it in the morning. Then at about 5 o’clock in the morning, I heard the music, the mantra and the chorus all at once, and the lyric was there; everything was there. I said I have to get up now. I thought, this is cool. This is a good song and I need to get up and actually write it down. And it came out very quickly. Sometimes they’re easy like that, or really hard, like ‘Best I Ever Had.’ ‘Best I Ever Had,’ I probably worked on for about six months–coming back to it and going away from it. I knew it was a melody that felt right, but I didn’t know how to get there. And I was experimenting with it in third person. Ben Gross, who was working with us on the record, suggested that I use first person. And he was absolutely right. Instantly the song just came together, and created itself after that I guess.”

How do you prepare for a show?

“Unfortunately, I’m not a natural singer so I have to work at it, and I hate that. I have to rehearse and I have to do warm-up exercises. I take vocal lessons from a vocal coach in LA, and I keep the vocal lessons on my phone. I run down a vocal lesson before I go onstage, so usually about 25 minutes before we go on stage I’m singing and making all kinds of awful noises in the dressing room. And I definitely won’t let you record that!”

What is your favorite part of performing live?

“I love the interaction. I love it when people sing with us. I think that’s the biggest honor. I love the intimacy of that–even when it’s a big group of people. It feels like we’re unified. And the fact that it’s my music is a complete honor; that never fails to amaze me. I love that.”

What is your main inspiration for your music?

“Generally speaking, my experiences inspire me. They are things that I’ve gone through. Every once in a while I’ll write about something I imagine happens out there in the world, more of a story-style song. But most of my songs are first-person experiences, things that have happened to me, whether they are good experiences or bad experiences. They’re all the more real, and the lyrics feel all the more real, because they are things that have been lived. I am able to put a little bit more of my heart into it.”

What was your favorite album to create?

“‘Everything You Want’ was certainly one of the most important for us to create. It was the one that really raised the profile of the band, and made people around the world aware of our music. The latest record we are working on now, which will be out hopefully in the first quarter of 2013, is to me the most enjoyable thing we have ever done. It is the most laid back, the most natural we have felt in the studio. I think we are really comfortable with where we stand as a band. We are not forcing anything; we’re just letting it be. But at the same time, musically, we are reaching new places that are stylistically getting into some fresh territory for us: a little bit more influence from electronic music, dance music and a little more up tempo. Sometimes we tend to be in the mid-tempo songs. And I love quicker songs that really propel you, so this record has been a real thrill for me.”

What’s going to happen after this album comes out?

“We will certainly tour behind this record, and that probably means internationally as well. I know we are going to Asia in January, and maybe we will be able to play some of those new songs then. We will see how far we can take this record. I just plan for us to be able to keep doing this for as long as we can. In the music business it’s easy to make a plan and then realize, oh crap, we need to change the plan. I think for me, we agree to keep the goals very simple; the goal is to continue to play for our fans, and continue to be grateful because ultimately it’s the fans who enable us to play music, and it’s the only thing I’ve ever wanted to do in my life. It’s a please-and-thank-you kind of thing continuously for us. I am getting more into working with other artists as well. I hope to over time become a producer. That’s a really fun thing for me to do. And it doesn’t necessitate me being on a tour bus or in a bunk somewhere. I can be in my own bed.”

What artist would you want to work with in the future?

“The artists I want to work with are probably artists I haven’t heard of yet–that sense of wonder at hearing something brand new and exciting. I’m on a huge Elbow kick. I love that band. I just got the new Miike Snow record. I think that’s very interesting. I love working with women, too, because I am so used to the things I do as a man, that it is really refreshing to hear a woman’s voice. I’ve done it in the past a little bit, but it would be nice to find someone fresh and exciting and see what we could do.”

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Arts & Life Featured Study Abroad

A Year in Amman: Studying Abroad

 

Courtesy of Laura Razzuri ’14

Laura Razzuri
Contributing Writer 

I arrived in Amman at three in the morning. Jetlagged, nervous and incredibly excited, I made my way through customs and into a new world that, for the next year, I would call home. On my drive to my apartment I looked out and saw all the shops, restaurants and big city lights. There was a beautiful balance of modernity and tradition, and I could feel the call to prayer reverberating through the city. I knew right then and there I had picked the perfect place to study abroad. Living in Amman was going to be challenging, yet the challenge was exactly what I was looking for.

Amman is the capital of Jordan, right at the center of the Middle East. Jordan isn’t in the “safest” of neighborhoods, as it shares borders with Israel-Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Syria and Iraq. Despite the unrest in the region, Jordan has been relatively calm. In a region so volatile, Jordan considers itself the eye of the storm, experiencing peace compared to the extraordinary changes happening around it. As an interdepartmental Middle Eastern studies major, there has never been a better time to study Arabic and the Middle East. I was encouraged by my advisors to take full advantage of the opportunities I would have in Jordan.

Courtesy of Laura Razzuri ’14

I have been studying Arabic at the University for the past two years. Despite it being a small program with no official minor yet, it is on the forefront of Arabic language study. Arabic is one of the most difficult languages to learn, and what many don’t understand is the difference between Modern Standard Arabic (Fusha) and the Colloquial language (Ammiyya). Traditionally, most universities only provide courses in MSA, which is the formal written language used in official documents. On campus, Assistant Professor of Arabic Martin Isleem also teaches the Levantine Dialect (Palestinian, Jordanian, Lebanese and Syrian) in tandem with MSA. Ammiyya is the language that dominates everyday interactions. For those who want to live in the Arab world, learning Ammiyya is more than necessary.

Courtesy of Laura Razzuri ’14

In my program in Jordan, I am the only student who has taken a formal class in dialect. The incredible advantage I have over my peers is my ability to communicate with local Jordanians. I am able to give directions in taxis, order food at restaurants, navigate grocery stores and bargain for good prices. It is amazing how quickly I became comfortable living in Amman. I cannot thank Professor Isleem enough for emphasizing the importance of learning colloquial dialect. I have been placed in the most advanced courses due to great preparation I had before coming here. It has made all the difference in my experiences here in Jordan so far.

For my first semester, I am in a Diplomacy and Policy Studies program. My professors are notable former diplomats that provide great insight into the field, with a Middle Eastern perspective. Every week I get to meet former Prime Ministers, Intelligence Officers and members of the Royal Family. I also have been placed in an internship. I work for a local non-profit that focuses on fighting corruption. I am getting firsthand experience in working abroad in the Middle East. Next semester I am taking courses at the University of Jordan. It will be a full Arabic immersion program. I will get to live with a family and truly work on my Arabic language skills.

It has never been a more perfect time to study Arabic and the Middle East. Middle Eastern culture is widely misunderstood, and the best way to break the barrier of cultural understanding is through language. Arabic itself is a critical language and will only continue to grow in importance. The region itself is facing remarkable changes and it’s only wise to be on the forefront of this up and coming area of study. I am thankful for having such a strong background in Arabic language and for the support the University has provided me in exploring my academic interests.

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Arts & Life Featured

Live from Lewisburg: Q&A with Kenan Thompson

Christina Oddo
Arts & Life Editor

Arts & Life Editor Christina Oddo ’14 sat down and talked with Kenan Thompson after his stand-up performance, part of the 2012 Center Stage event, which took place on Sept. 29 on Sojka Lawn.

What is one of your funniest memories from when you were on “Kenan and Kel?”

“There are a lot. I remember one time me and Kel went to the mall just to see if anyone would recognize us. And we like stood in the middle of the mall for like an hour … nobody ever did [recognize us] … that was one of the dumbest things ever to try and test how famous we were. That’s what you do when you’re young.”

What is the best part about being on SNL?

“SNL is a special place. The main thing … is the alumni. It’s like going to college. I never graduated from college. I went for a couple of years and things didn’t go according to plan, so I ended up leaving. But being attached to all of those names … where we walk into our offices there is the wall where there’s a head shot of each cast member from the beginning. To walk through their history every day is unbelievable.

On the other side, being an actor, you don’t have to worry about your next season necessarily … it doesn’t happen [on SNL]. The main thing that I love the most are the people I work with. My cast mates are some of the greatest people I’ve met. We all have a very similar understanding of what we’re doing. We spend a lot of time together so we are very close. [They are] people I’ve known for 10 years now.”

Who is your role model?

“A lot of people. Really, really smart people intrigue me. It’s hard to pick one role model. When I was a kid I would be like ‘Bill Cosby!’ But I’m grown up now and I’ve read about art and literature, and I’ve been a few places. I look up to Obama, he’s the first black president … that’s huge, whether or not you agree with the issues at hand. As far as role models, my mom is one. I look up to my wife all the time, my family, the people who know me for being myself, instead of being who I am on TV. It’s kind of different; I’m a little laid back. I look to these people the most for honest reactions.”

What is your favorite part of your job?

“I’ve been myself. For 20 years, pretty much; it will be 20 years next year. A lot of the roles I’ve played have been in the vein of comedy so it’s been easy for me to just be me. What’s funny to me, even though it’s a different version of myself–like I am a little quieter I guess–I still get to be my sense of humor. That’s been my main blessing.”

What did you enjoy most about performing on campus?

“I loved it. I’ve never done an outdoor show before. I thought that was the coolest thing in the world. You could hear me. People were active; they were participating. The drive down was unbelievable. Fall foliage is just starting to come out. A lot of cops–I didn’t like that–but we made it. It just seemed like a magical night.”

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Arts & Life Featured

A journey around Israel

 

Ben Kaufman | The Bucknellian

Ben Kaufman
Presentation Director

I went to Israel this summer for the first time on a Birthright trip through a program called Mayanot. It was truly a wonderful experience to get to see everything that I have learned about Israel come to life.

I signed up with a friend from my high school, and was lucky enough to be on the same trip with my fraternity brother, Dan Gelbard ’13. It was very refreshing to have a familiar face on the trip, and we ultimately represented our fraternity and the University. There were 40 people on our trip, including people from New York, Georgia, California, London and many other places across the globe. Our trip leader was a Harvard student and we also had three Israeli leaders, all of whom were instrumental in giving us all the knowledge and help we would need during our journey.

The teaching component of our trip started the minute we arrived at the airport. The leaders gave us basic information about Israel and what to expect for the next few days. Twelve hours later, we arrived in Israel and began the journey of a lifetime. The leaders emphasized the importance of learning about our ancestors, as well as traditions of the modern Israeli people, while on the trip. I kept this in the back of my mind as I began my journey through Israel. We were lucky enough to see great sites, including Ein Gedi, a waterfall in an oasis in the middle of the desert.

Two particular events of the trip stand out to me. The first was meeting a man named Avraham in a small town called Tzfat, which is known for its spiritual nature. A lot of the people there practice Kabbalah, work and live there. Avraham, originally from Detroit, moved to Tzfat in his 20s after he started reading and learning about Kabbalah. The study of Kabbalah inspired him to drop everything he had in America and come to Israel to further his studies. Now, he makes paintings with verses of the Torah imprinted on it, as well as images expressing his own interpretation of a person’s name. I have never met someone who was so happy and content with life. He was very relaxed and satisfied with where his life had brought him, and he taught me to be happy with what I have in life and who I am.

The most meaningful part of my trip was when we stayed in Jerusalem for Shabbat. We were lucky enough to go the Western Wall on Friday night and experience Shabbat with the rest of Israel. I had never felt such a strong connection to my Jewish culture than I did on that day; I had never seen so many people brought together for one common reason. Although it may seem, from the outside, that a visit to the Western Wall is a quiet, individualized moment, there is actually a sense of inescapable community when you are there. Prayers are done both within yourself and with everyone around you. People are singing, dancing and praying all around, and there is always someone to put their arms around you and invite you to join them in their time of prayer. It was at this time that I really grasped the importance of the Birthright trip.

If I hadn’t gone on this trip, I never would have understood the emotional tie associated with being Jewish. Before this trip, Judaism was never a personal connection, but rather a label or something I would bring up to a friend in passing. This trip made me realize that there is a whole group of Jewish people that have overcome obstacles and dangers, creating the strong group of people we are today. Going to Israel gave me a greater appreciation for the Jewish religion. For thousands of years, people have tried to take Israel from the Jews, and every time they have failed. It is important to understand the significance of Israel, and that it is the one place that every Jewish person has in common as a point of righteousness.

Categories
Featured Football Men Sports

Coach of the Year


By Eric Brod
Senior Writer

Great leaders often define themselves in times of controversy or crisis. For head football coach Joseph Susan, the defining moment of his early career as coach of the Orange and Blue could have come this season.

After the team finished 1-10 in his first season, Susan knew he had a tough task ahead of him in revitalizing the football program. Just one year later, the Bison, propelled by a newfound tenacity and team unity under Susan, improved to 6-5 overall (2-3 in league play) and set the tone going into the 2012 season as a contender in the Patriot League.

“Each team is buying into the system that Coach Susan is trying implement with the Bucknell Football program,” said tight end Terna Ityokumbul ’13.  “I think it’s also another year running the same plays and not just running the plays to run them, but knowing what each person’s role in the play is and seeing the overall picture.”

To improve by five wins in one season with just an 11-game schedule is no small feat for any team, and takes a strong and supportive leader to get players to buy into a system after producing just one win in the prior season. 

“I believe the biggest difference in our team this year was the way our players bought into how we approach the game. It is not an overnight process,” Susan said. “The impact of how we strength train, how we condition, how we study the game is one that takes time to build.”

Susan said trust among the players and coaches is essential to building a successful football program.

“There was a lot more trust in one another [this year]. [Players] also developed a lot more self-confidence. That is crucial to being able to play together,” Susan said. “Trust is a word that has depth of meaning when it comes to tying 95 players, nine coaches, five trainers, six managers and other support personnel into one vision.”

Quite possibly the greatest change in the team was seen on defense, where the Bison held the FCS’s highest turnover differential in the regular season at +27. The Bison also recorded their first shutout since 2001 with their 21-0 win over Fordham.

“One of the biggest changes was how we did with the ball,” Susan said. “We led the nation in turnover margin. It is something we teach, and something we practice every day. Our players have to trust the system for it to work.”

Bryce Robertson ’12, who led the nation in interceptions with 13, said Susan worked with the players to build trust and change the overall mindset of the team through his SAM concept. SAM stands for “Selfless, Accountable and Mentally tough,” and everything that Susan has implemented into the program revolves around these three ideas.

For Robertson personally, Susan’s teachings were a major factor for him having one of the top seasons for a defender in the entire history of the Orange and Blue football program.

“A good amount of the success I had this season can be attributed to Coach Susan’s teaching this past year because much of it was a direct result of buying in to his way of doing things,” Robertson said. “I was always selfless in the way I approached each game, and did what I could do to be the best at my position in order to be accountable to my team every time I was called to perform.”

For Robertson and his teammates, Susan’s effectiveness can be attributed to his unwavering toughness in all situations.

“In choosing one memory I would say that the time when he suffered a wipeout one game on our sideline would be the winner,” Robertson said. “The play was heading towards our sideline directly at Coach Susan. Right before the ball carrier reached the sideline he was undercut by a defensive player who then undercut Coach Susan. After the play he calmly rose to his feet, looked around and smiled. From that day on I had a new outlook on the difference between pain and injury.”

It is clear that Susan has the Bison heading in a positive direction as they look towards building upon the improvements made throughout the 2011 season. With a strong defense and a rising offense led by running back Tyler Smith ’13, Susan expects the Orange and Blue to achieve new levels of success in 2012.

“There is one goal for our program: for every player to work to be the very best they can be. The human element comes into play and we cannot allow distractions to change our course,” Susan said. “There are no awards for second place. We are working to win championships. We will win the right way. Our players will be leaders on and off the field. They will be leaders beyond their time at this special place.”

Without a doubt, the Orange and Blue football team has a tremendous leader in place to guide it for many years to come.

Categories
Featured News

Runners Up for People of the Year

By Olivia Seecof

Writer

Professor of English Saundra Morris, Lauren Rambo ’12 and Pat Zailckas ’13 are this year’s runners up for People of the Year.

In addition to teaching English, Morris serves as a Posse Mentor for the 2011-12 Boston Posse Five. In the past, she has administered the Social Justice Residential College. This year, she helped lead the Occupy Wall Street/Lewisburg March and participated in the Black Student Union March for Trayvon Martin. Morris also served on the LGBT Advisory Board. She publishes on and teaches American poetry with specialties in Ralph Waldo Emerson and American Romanticism.

“I am glad that The Bucknellian and students have honored what I try to achieve–a combination of academic rigor, professional publication, love for my students and Posse Scholars, passion for my subject and devotion to issues of social justice,” Morris said.

Her students see this commitment and dedication.

“Professor Morris is my English adviser and, more importantly, my mentor.  Her dedication to students is infectious, her commitment to holistic learning is unparalleled and her love for Diet Coke is unrivaled,” Liz Yale ’12 said.

Rambo is the current president of Activities and Campus Events (ACE), a member of Chi Omega Sorority, an intern in the Office of Admissions and a research student in the Bucknell Baby Lab and Child Language Research. She has been closely involved with all four of these organizations throughout her college experience and has earned multiple leadership roles in them.

“All of these things have made my experience at Bucknell what it’s been. [I’ve] enjoyed being a part of the changes that all of these activities have gone through. Bucknell has been so important to me over the last four years,” Rambo said.

“Lauren is a phenomenal leader on campus. She is incredibly dedicated, passionate and positive about all she is involved in. Around campus many know Lauren as a great leader, but more importantly as a kind, genuine and deserving Bucknellian,”  said Callie Frieler, assistant director of campus activities and programs. “As the President of ACE this past academic year she was instrumental in restructuring and planning our large series events. As a senior she will be greatly missed. She has had quite the impact on campus as a student leader as well as a mentor for her classmates to look up to.”

Zailckas is enrolled in the five-year chemical engineering and management dual-degree program. He is a brother of Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity, and this is his second year as an active member of the Interfraternity Council (IFC). Last year, he was secretary and this year he is president of IFC. Zailckas also participated in Bucknell’s Institute for Leadership in Technology and Management (ILTM) and attributes much of his growth as a professional and leader to this program; he said it was a “crash-course on effective leadership and management techniques.”

“Although I have had plenty of success this year as IFC president, I really do owe a lot of it to the entire IFC executive board as well as Kevin Foster, assistant director of residential education for fraternity affairs, for all of their dedication and support in working to initiate overdue positive changes within the fraternity system here at Bucknell.  I cannot thank these men enough for helping me become the leader I am today,” Zailckas said.

“Pat and I have known each other since freshman year, when we found out we were going to be roommates. He’s a genuine guy who is dedicated to his studies and trying to make a difference on the Bucknell campus, especially in Greek life,” Dotun Odewale ’13 said.

Congratulations again to Morris, Rambo and Zailckas on being this year’s runners up to The Bucknellian’s People of the Year award.