Category: News

 

Caroline Schaeffer
Writer

On Sept. 15, Campus Activities & Programs (CAP) hosted a school-wide “countrified” Fall Fest on the Sojka Lawn, featuring performances by Tyler Hilton, Gloriana and Jack Ingram. Fall Fest was held from 1 to 6 p.m. and included a variety of different events, such as old time photos, a ferris wheel, a mechanical bull and an obstacle course. A southern dinner with mac ‘n cheese and sloppy joes was also included.

“Fall Fest is a really nice opportunity for the whole school to bond as a community with cool and fun activities offered that students can actually enjoy, and some good food,” Amelia Romero ’16 said.

It was cloudy and breezy when the crowds started to gather at the festival around 1:30 p.m., and many were wearing their most “countrified” cowboy boots, jeans and plaid shirts. Musical entertainment was provided by student band “Colin and the Hassels,” who performed popular country songs like “Wagon Wheel” and “Shake It For Me” for the early crowd.

Booths were set up all around the lawn, and students had a variety of different options when it came to entertainment. The mechanical bull and “Rattlesnake Run” obstacle course provided more physical forms of entertainment for students, while the old time photos, bracelet-making station and tie-dyeing station offered students a creative and fun way to bring home a souvenir from the festival.

The sun came out around the same time as the day’s first performer, Tyler Hilton. Hilton, 28, who is known for his role as Chris Keller on “One Tree Hill,” engaged the crowd in some playful banter and performed many of his most popular songs, including “Jenny Turn Around” and “Prince of Nothing Charming.” Hilton concluded his performance around 3:15 p.m., but stuck around afterwards to take photos with fans.

A large crowd began to gather around the stage at about 3:30 p.m., when Gloriana, a country music group from Tennessee, was set to perform. They opened with one of their main hits, “Wild at Heart.” The lead singer Rachel Reinert, encouraged cheering from the crowd throughout the band’s performance. They ended with their highest charting single “Kissed You Goodnight,” which has now sold over 800,000 copies.

A lot of students seemed to enjoy this year’s change in music for Fall Fest.

“I like the choice of country music for the festival’s theme. It was a fun idea,” Xander Vining ’14 said.

The festival began to wind down around 5 p.m. when country rock singer Jack Ingram performed to finish the day off. Ingram performed a number of upbeat country rock songs for the crowd. During his performance, students lounged on the grass and enjoyed the day’s weather with friends. The festival ended at 6 p.m., and with the kickoff of fall already under their belts, students were ready to return to their daily lives, perhaps a little more countrified than they had been before.

Elizabeth Bacharach
Senior Writer

As of April 2012, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania instituted a new voter ID law requiring voters to present a valid photo ID with an expiration date every time they vote. As University IDs do not have an expiration date on them, this was potentially problematic for students without a Pennsylvania license, passport or any other form of photo identification. The University, therefore, took action.

Starting Monday, Sept. 17, the Campus Activities & Programs (CAP) Center and the Switchboard began distributing free expiration stickers to affix to University IDs, an option under the new law. The CAP center will be giving out the stickers Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. and the Switchboard, Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 10 p.m.

“Everything the University is doing in response to the state’s new voter ID law is about making sure students who wish to exercise their right to vote this November are able to do so,” Andy Hirsch, director of media communications, said. “[That is why we] continue to publicize both the impact the new law will have and the steps the University is taking to make sure student IDs will be accepted as valid forms of photo ID.”

New stories are constantly updated and posted to the University homepage and social media channels, and campus-wide announcements have been sent out. A website has also been created focusing on voter registration that can help students understand the new law and voting this November: http://www.bucknell.edu/x79070.xml. 

Allison Busacca
Contributing Writer

Upon his arrival at the University, David Rapp-Kirshner ’15 couldn’t help getting involved.  He is currently trying to form a Green Party club, which is in its beginning stages and is probing for interest and support on campus.

His interest in this club comes from his desire to “give a voice” to the Green Party. During this 2012 presidential election, it has become clear to him that progressives, whose political views he identifies with, are underrepresented. He feels he has to settle because his political views aren’t fully represented by either of the two major political parties.

The key to the Green Party agenda is that they are “the only political party that is truly progressive on all aspects of its platform: marriage equality, universal single-payer healthcare, ecological sustainability, cannabis legalization, national debt reduction, international peace and disarmament, civil rights and human rights,” Rapp-Kirshner said.

He believes the policies of the Green Party are “the way to the brightest future for America.”

His goals for the club on campus are to raise awareness of the Green Party and its ideals by facilitating discussions and debates on topical issues where they would express their progressive viewpoints. Students from other political parties would be encouraged to come and express theirs as well. He believes a diversity of views and beliefs is important, and is something America’s current system does not allow for. He hopes the club will not only raise awareness for the Green Party on campus, but also bring scrutiny to America’s two-party system.

We already have a Democrats Club and Conservatives Club on campus. Kamran Khan ’14,  president of College Democrats (College Dems) said their main goal for this semester is “to get as many students registered to vote on campus as possible.”

They have taken several initiatives, including successfully working with the University to place stickers on University IDs so students can vote in Pennsylvania. Khan is planning a watch party for the two main debates with a follow-up discussion for students and faculty. He also hopes to schedule a debate with the Conservatives Club.

Richie Pisano ’15 of the Conservatives Club (BUCC) describes their weekly club meetings as “lively” and “encompassing of a range of political ideologies, all based in freedom and liberty.” The club has its own publication, “The Counterweight,” and it brings speakers to campus. The BUCC will be hosting Dinesh D’Souza, who will speak on multiculturalism and “The Roots of Obama’s Rage” on Oct. 1 at 7:30 p.m. in Trout Auditorium.

Rapp-Kirshner is open to any input and is hopeful that the Green Party can have the same legitimacy on campus as College Dems and the BUCC.

Christina Oddo

Assistant Arts & Life Editor

Students gathered on the Roberts, Trax and Kress (RTK) Quad at 10 a.m. on Sept. 16 for the first KATS Making Tracks 5k run and walk. Kappa Alpha Theta sorority (KAT) hosted this event for their national philanthropy: Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA). The event had 318 participants.

“This year we decided to switch from our normal event, Kicks for CASA, which is a kickball tournament to a 5k,” Sarah Dubow ’13 said.

The 5k trail began at the RTK Quad, went to Strohecker Farm Lane, past Moore Avenue to 7th Street, onto St. Louis and 3rd Street, to Loomis and back to Marts Hall.

“We ended up having over 300 people sign up for the event, which is unprecedented for our fall philanthropy,” Dubow said. “I truly attribute it to the amazing work of our philanthropy chair, Lizzie Kirshenbaum ’14, and the fact that people could just sign up individually and didn’t have to make teams like kickball. While kickball has always been a great event, the 5k was a new and exciting idea that meshes well with the athleticism and large number of runners on this campus.”

“I was thrilled to see the number of people who came out on a Sunday morning to support KAT and their cause,” Kate Albertini ’14 said. “I also always enjoy that thrill that you only get from racing.”

The Delta Upsilon fraternity (DU) brothers had the highest attendance at the event. As a result, 10 percent of the event’s proceeds will be donated to Global Service Initiative, their main philanthropy.

“All of DU ran the race and all of [Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity]’s pledge class ran it as well,” Dubow said. “My favorite part of the race was the finish line where the DU brothers cheered on each other until the last one finished, Sig Ep cheered and stuck together the whole race and friends screamed words of encouragement as each runner crossed that finish line.”

Registration prior to the event was $10, but cost $15 at the event.

“The money that we give [CASA] goes towards training advocates to help children through the court system and serve not only as a support system, but a voice for them when they are often overlooked in the trial process,” Dubow said.

Participant feedback has been positive.

“I had a lot of fun at the 5k,” Jon Drouin ’15 said. “I was really surprised by the huge turnout, and the course was solid, too.”

“The energy KAT put into the event was contagious and it was so much fun being able to support all of their hard work, plus CASA is an amazing cause,” Meaghan Foster ’14 said.

Lauren Buckley
Opinions Editor

On Sept. 13, the University announced that Stephen J. Barilar would be the new chief of Public Safety after a national search. Barilar joined the University as a staff sergeant of the Department of Public Safety in March of 2011. Barilar replaced former Chief Jason Friedberg who served on campus for six years. Friedberg left the University to pursue an opportunity in the private sector leaving current Captain Douglas Lauver as interim chief until Barilar was hired.

Where did you receive your training and where did you work prior to this position?

“Prior to coming to Bucknell I was employed by the Pennsylvania State Police (PSP). I began my career with the PSP in April of 1985 and I retired as the Patrol Section Commander in Troop N Hazleton, Pa. in January of 2011.”

What will a typical week look like in your position?

“I don’t know if there is ever a typical week in law enforcement. I plan on being a part of the Bucknell community and addressing any and all issues that are brought to our attention.”

How have you adjusted to your role as chief over the past few days?

“So far it has been a smooth transition. I am very fortunate to work with a great group of professionals in the Public Safety Department. The well wishes I have received from across the campus have been very appreciated.”

How does your position as public safety chief compare to your previous positions?

“With the PSP, I commanded three separate stations; therefore, the command structure is very similar. I have spent the last 18 months learning about law enforcement at a university, which is a unique environment. Both experiences have been very beneficial in preparing me for this position.”

How do you collaborate with the other Public Safety officers?

“I have a great working relationship with the officers here in Public Safety. They know I have an open door policy and they can come and see me or call me anytime. I am very fortunate to have the officers that we have here.”

Do you have any goals you would like to implement during your time as chief?

“I just want to continue to make our department one that earns the respect and trust of the entire Bucknell community. I want people to feel comfortable contacting our department and trust that they will receive excellent police service.”

What is the best part about working on campus and what is the biggest challenge?

“The people at Bucknell have been by far the best experience. I have been treated extremely well by the faculty, staff and the students since I arrived here in March 2011. In all of police work, the biggest challenge is to ensure the protection and safety of everyone in our community.”

What is some important advice you would like to give University students?

“Be careful–the world is a changing place and there are dangers here in Lewisburg that were not prevalent years ago. As a third-shift supervisor, it often concerned me to frequently see students walking by themselves late at night or early in the morning. I would like to see students go out at night as a group and have each person look out for the best interest of each of their friends.”

Siobhan Murray

Writer

A team of University students has developed the iPhone app Get~2~Goal, which aims to help obese people determine whether bariatric surgery is right for them, as well as track the personal weight loss goals of gastric bypass patients. Elaina Miller ’13 and Yushan Zhang ’15 worked under the mentorship of Associate Professor of Computer Science Rick Zaccone to create this app, which was released to the Apple App Store on Sept. 5. The project is a collaborative effort with Geisinger Health System’s Obesity Institute.

Geisinger contacted the University’s biomedical engineering program looking to develop a mobile application that would make information about gastric bypass surgery easily available to those considering the surgery. They had just created a program that put together data from thousands of gastric bypass surgeries performed at Geisinger and across the nation to help people compare their weight loss success and set realistic post-surgery goals.

Although Geisinger and the University’s biomedical engineering program have worked together for a number of years, this project is the first time there has been collaborative effort between Geisinger and the University’s computer science department.

They were referred to Geisinger by Zaccone. He asked computer science majors Miller and Zhang to work on the app over the summer.

“Elaina worked with me on the iBucknell app, so I expected she would be good for the job. I had had Yushan in a course, and she was a very good student. Both of them exceeded my expectations,” Zaccone said. He added that although he served as mentor for the project, Miller and Zhang did the heavy lifting.

The team started work on June 15 and finished on Aug. 15. They met with the director of Geisinger’s Obesity Institute, Christopher Still, DO, and Craig Wood, a biostatistical analyst at the institute, weekly to discuss progress and ensure that everyone involved was on the same page.

The app allows users to customize graphs and charts of their weight loss and easily email this information to physicians, friends and family.

The iOS app then had to be submitted to the App Store, a process that Miller describes as “tedious and complicated.” This process was not completed until Sept. 5, when Get~2~Goal arrived on the market as a free download for iPhones and iPads.

The app has already received positive feedback from users at the Geisinger clinic and from a medical blog discussing the app.

“When patients use the app and enter their needed information, their actual progress is oftentimes better than what was expected, making the patients extremely excited and motivated. Before, patients knew their current weight and how much weight had been lost total, but they could not see this in graphical form. Now, patients are able to monitor their weight loss over time more easily at home, and have a better chance of losing weight and keeping it off,” Miller said.

Zhang notes that the program is very user-friendly and allows users to track their progress alongside of averages.

“Users are able to actually see how they are doing with the graph and chart view. They get to know what level they are at compared to others,” Zhang said.

“I think its great that our school is getting involved in such a dynamic, new market,” computer engineering major Tyler Clark ’15 said. 

Zaccone also notes that he sees “great potential for collaborating with [Geisinger] on other projects,” and Geisinger and the University’s computer science department have already discussed developing another app for preventing obesity.

Kerong Kelly
Contributing Writer

On Sept. 17, the Bucknell Institute for Public Policy (BIPP) hosted a panel discussion on the potential outcome of the 2012 presidential election. The panel was comprised of University professors who spoke about the opposing viewpoints of President Obama and Mitt Romney on issues like healthcare and immigration. Among the panel of speakers were Professors of Economics Chris Magee and Nancy White, Associate Professor of Political Science Scott Meinke and Associate Professors of Economics Gregory Krohn, Amy Wolaver and Paula Kazi.

Initially, Krohn compared the idea of the “fiscal cliff” to Wile E. Coyote’s adventurous cliff diving experience, where he narrowly missed hitting the sharp boulders at the base of the mountain. The visual representation of the cartoon clip was not only effective, but engaging for the audience.

“I thought it was a great event for learning about specific policies, and it was good to actually solidify what my positions were. I don’t think it actually changed what I would do, but it made me realize what an average voter might think,” Ben Dorman ’15 said.

Though the event was overall very informative for some, others thought it did not encompass enough of the two candidates’ viewpoints.

“I felt that they did not do a lot in getting us to know what the general application of these policies were or the general effect they might have,” Julius Kakwenzire ’16 said.

Even though time was limited for each presenter, the presentation covered a wide range of topics such as immigration and the misconceptions Americans have about it. Kazi spoke about myths such as immigrants being a drain on the federal government’s budget, and the negative immigrant influence on wages and the employment prospects of United States workers.

Toward the end of the presentation, the panel discussed the topic of voter ID laws in Pennsylvania.

“Generally, we have kids coming from affluent families. When they come here for classes, they see some of the benefits, like what tax revenues are used for,” Kazi said.

She believes that informed voting is of significant importance to this campus.

Rock the Vote:  BSG Provides Voter Registration to Students

Brianna Marshall

Contributing Writer

Bucknell Student Government (BSG) has initiated a new program called Bucknell Rock the Vote to help students prepare for the upcoming presidential election. From Sept. 17 to Oct. 5 in the Elaine Langone Center, BSG will be providing assistance with everything from voter registration to absentee ballots. BSG hopes that the new program will encourage students to cast their votes this November.

“BSG’s goal is to increase student involvement on campus, including civil duties such as voting,” BSG Vice President of Administration Clinton Kittrell ’14 said. “It is our hope that all students will become actively engaged on our campus, in our community and in the nation.”

Participation in Rock the Vote is open to all students, even if they are completely new to the process. In addition to new voter registration, re-registration is available to those who are already registered to vote in their home counties or states and would like to vote locally in Union County. BSG members can also assist with applications for absentee ballots for nonlocal registrants. Students who are not in need of voting assistance are still encouraged to visit a Rock the Vote table to show proof of registration and be counted in their class voter registration total. Each BSG class is competing to obtain the most registered voters.

While voter assistance is always a necessity during election season, the launch of Rock the Vote is particularly important given the creation of new Pennsylvania voter identification laws. Voters in Pennsylvania are now required to present valid photo identification on Election Day. Accepted forms of identification, including Pennsylvania driver’s licenses, must display an expiration date.

“We’ve been getting so many questions and this year with the new laws, it’s a bit more confusing,” Kari Conrad, associate dean of students said.

With the help of Rock the Vote, students will be completely prepared and informed about new voting requirements. Students who are registered or re-registered to vote in Pennsylvania but cannot produce a Pennsylvania driver’s license now have the option of using their University IDs to vote. Official expiration stickers are able to be applied to student IDs by university officials, making local voting possible. Rock the Vote can assist with this necessary addition to student IDs and is capable of answering questions regarding valid identification.

Rock the Vote is providing students with the opportunity to become engaged in the world outside the “Bucknell Bubble” in a simple and convenient way. After its first week of operation, Rock the Vote has already begun to grab student attention.

“I was already planning to vote in this election, and I visited the Rock the Vote table for registration forms. I have friends who have decided to vote after seeing the Rock the Vote table. I think that it is making students more aware of the importance of voting,” Jen Heider ’15 said.

Paige Bailey
Contributing Writer

Peace activist and photographer John Noltner challenged University students to “set aside academic life” and judgments of others to consider social justice issues in a talk on Sept. 7.  He came to discuss his most recent exhibit, “A Peace of My Mind,” now on display in the library, along with a book of the same title. This lecture was just the first in a series of peace related events to be held on campus this fall.

The “A Peace of My Mind” exhibit is sponsored by Friends of the Library, C.A.R.E., the Griot Institute for Africana Studies, the Social Justice Residential College and the University Lectureship Committee. Rocky’s Revival, a trio of musicians including Associate Professor of Psychology Bill Flack, helped to give the event a warm atmosphere that prompted contemplation.

As a freelance photographer, Noltner’s clients have included national magazines such as Forbes and National Geographic. He has worked for Fortune 500 companies and non-profit groups. Due to the economic decline, Noltner’s business slowed. Instead of becoming discouraged by the recession, he looked for a way to “feed his soul” through his work, and so the “A Peace of My Mind” project was started.

The exhibit and book feature stories from a vast array of individuals Noltner spoke with. The central question of his interviews was: “What does peace mean to you?”

Resident Fellow of the Social Justice College Amari Suskin-Sperry ’15 believes peace “can never quite be defined,” yet at the root of peace is “compromise, unity, tranquility and happiness.”

While Noltner said he is not a peace expert, he hopes to “foster a dialogue” about peace through this project. His work was influenced by his admiration for iconic peace activists such as the Dalai Lama, Mother Theresa and Nelson Mandela. His approach integrates social justice philosophies of these figures with his own artistic aims.

Noltner admitted that when he started the project, the outcome was uncertain. What he did know was that “universal truths” could be found in talking to individuals about the meaning of peace. This message is applicable to students, who attempt to navigate through questions of the future and remain uncertain of how events will materialize.

Noltner began by talking to people near his home in Minnesota. During the interview, he took a black and white portrait of the subject. He approached the interview in a relaxed manner in order to explore what each individual saw as meaningful in terms of peace.

The people he spoke with were a diverse group of 52 people. Noltner spoke with a former governor, a Buddhist teacher, an oil executive and a couple who survived the Holocaust. Through looking at the exhibit, he hopes people can “learn lessons through art and human connection.”

The human connection invoked through art was present at this event, as members of the audience read excerpts from “A Peace of my Mind.” As they read, Rocky’s Revival played The Beatles’ song, “Imagine.” Noltner believes that in “quiet moments,” people can undergo a transformative process. Because of this, there was a pause for personal reflection after the quotes were read.

The “Peace of My Mind” exhibit is linked to the philosophies that underpin the Social Justice College on campus.

“SoJo also encourages students to investigate the ways an individual can effect social change. Noltner’s work is an excellent example of how, in taking relatively small manageable steps, an individual can engage many people in a project that has a substantial positive impact,” said David Kristjanson-Gural, Senior Fellow of the Social Justice College.

While the meanings of peace varied between the individuals in the exhibit, Noltner said there was a prevalent common theme of “working for a common good.” Because of this, people “can always choose pursuing peace.” Through everyday actions, he encouraged the University community to strive for peace and to “embrace” that “we can always make the world a better place.”

 

 

Olivia Seecof
Writer

Trebecca, an updated jewelry and unique gifts store opened on Market Street in June 2012. This is the second location for Trebecca; the original store opened in Williamsport in September 1998.

The store, while not large, is packed with handcrafted jewelry in both sterling silver and 14kt yellow or white gold. On display are multiple cases of designs ready for purchase by Jen Parks and David Baker, goldsmiths of Williamsport. In addition, Trebecca sells Sherry Tinsman’s flower jewelry–delicate and trendy jewelry for all ages.

To highlight one of the handcrafted pieces, Trebecca is featuring a Lewisburg Lamppost pendant that is currently available in sterling silver and 14kt gold with diamonds.

“If it has got the Trebecca thing going on, we’ll have it. The variety of jewelry and gifts our store offers gives us across-the-spectrum price points within the quality we want to be.  We are always trying to take chances and find different things, and that is what makes us an interesting and fun store,” owner Paul Hendricks said.

 

When Hendricks refers to the “Trebecca thing,” he means the distinguished, classy and modern look to everything in the store. In addition to the local handcrafted jewelry, there are Phosphor digital watches with flipping crystals, Marlyn Schiff fashion jewelry, as seen in many popular magazines, as well as freshwater pearl bracelets and pendants engraved with Greek letters for all of the sororities on campus.

“I love the fact that they carry such classy and unique jewelry. I am especially excited to hear that they have things especially for us sorority women to buy,” Amanda Smith ’14 said.

Jewelry is not the only thing lining the display cases and shelves. Various gifts such as picture frames with impeccable wirework, stained glass Witch Balls, salad servers and cheese platters can be found at Trebecca. There are also hand-poured soy candles with interesting scent combinations, like gingered clove and jasmine, which smells just like ginger ale.

“I am excited to hear about a new store where my mom can stop in and buy things on Family Weekend and when she comes to visit,” Nicki Briggs ’14 said.

The contemporary feel of Trebecca brings diversity to the retailers on Market Street.

“We walked the town before we committed to Lewisburg, and we thought Trebecca would be a terrific asset to downtown,” Hendricks said.

“I think they are all very gorgeous. I saw several things I will come back to buy. Trebecca is beautiful and unique,” Vicki Sees, a local customer from Millvale, Pa. said of the items in the store.

Hendricks said the name Trebecca doesn’t mean anything in particular, other than it’s a combination of different syllables that when put together, “just felt right.” Hendricks also said that members of the community can look forward to the addition of fancy scarves to the store’s inventory as well as decorations for the upcoming holidays.

To add to the contemporary feel, Trebecca has free gift-wrapping in their signature leopard print paper with a black bow on any purchase.

“I want my customers to come in, take a deep breath and enjoy the experience of shopping at Trebecca,” Hendricks said.