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News

Roughly 600 attend internship and job fair

By Ally Kebba
Contributing Writer

Roughly 600 students attended the fourth annual Internship & Job Fair held by the Career Development Center (CDC) on Tuesday. The event provided an on-campus opportunity for students to meet alumni, gain information about a variety of industries and learn about possible internship and job opportunities. The fair took place from 11:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. in Davis Gym, which was decorated in orange and blue for the occasion.

“The CDC was [particularly] more successful this year [due to] more student outreach, more direct promotion, and because the students are understanding at younger and younger ages that it is beneficial to learn about possible career paths and opportunities as soon as possible,” said Alison Ordonez, Assistant Director of Alumni Relations & Career Service.
The CDC reached out to employers and organizations on their public site and through The BRIDGE, a password-protected site that links University students and alumni with recruiting employers. The CDC also contacted alumni and parents who wanted to make students aware of available internship and full-time job opportunities. Of the nearly 200 employers representing 63 different organizations, roughly 60 percent were University alumni.
To prepare for the fair, students could work on their résumés or have them critiqued by attending the Résumé and Cover Letter Workshop and Resumania, both held by the CDC. Many students who took advantage of such opportunities felt more equipped and were able to speak confidently with potential employers.
“Resumania was really helpful because I was able to get individual attention to help me improve my résumé and cover letters,” Annie Goldman ’14 said.
Other students agreed that the preparation sessions held by the CDC before the fair helped to calm students’ nerves.
“Initially I was overwhelmed at the prospect of going to the fair because I felt unprepared, but after attending I realized that everyone is nervous and it was a step in the right direction towards becoming more comfortable in my job search,” Sarah Riessen ’14 said.
The CDC attempted to attract all students to the fair by inviting diverse organizations, offering a wide array of professional and volunteer opportunities. Many organizations sought out students of all majors and interests.
“At first I thought only engineers and people interested in the world of finance would benefit from attending, but I was proven wrong when I realized there were entrepreneurs and volunteer opportunities as well,” Riessen said.
Representatives from Geisinger Health System, Phyllis A. Scott, Donna Laroya and Grace Onkst, described the fair as “wonderful,” explaining that students came prepared and looked professional. Many employers suggested that students attending future career fairs be outgoing, personable and confident.
“Don’t be shy, we’re here to help!” Laroya said.
For more information regarding upcoming CDC sponsored events, visit http://www.bucknell.edu/x2573.xml or The BRIDGE through myBucknell.
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News

“No Texting While Driving” pledge reaches 541 people

By Daniel Park

Writer

Lori Brennet, along with the University’s Workplace Safety Committee and Bucknell Student Government (BSG), recently sanctioned the “No Texting While Driving Pledge” with the goal of urging students and faculty to avoid texting and driving simultaneously. Each year, the committee sponsors a different campaign; last year’s was seat belt safety. The committee posted the pledge two weeks ago on myBucknell for University students, fellow relatives and faculty. It also mailed out a windshield decal and red letter urging students and faculty to avoid texting while driving.
The pledge itself takes roughly 30 seconds to complete and asks for a person’s name, email and checkbox pledging to not text while driving and to commit to spreading awareness of the campaign. A total of 541 people have participated so far: 374 students, 163 employees and four friends and relatives.
“Sixty percent of young teens admit to risky driving habits and of that 60 percent, 46 percent say the root cause is texting,” the committee said. “There is no doubt that teens have the highest percentage of distracted drivers which lead to fatal crashes.”
The committee knows that this is a prolific problem that occurs not only in heavily populated cities, but here in Lewisburg as well. Though there is no law regarding talking on cellular phones or sending text messages while driving in Pennsylvania, there are emerging statistics that blatantly show the correlation between cellphone use and car crashes.
“In Pennsylvania, roughly 1,300 cellphone related accidents occur annually simply because teens aren’t fully aware of the dangers of driving while texting … It really is an important topic that should be dealt with seriously. Spreading awareness can reduce auto related injuries and deaths drastically,” the committee said.
Several states have already attempted to pass bills on regulating the texting-while-driving conflict, such as one that would make texting while driving a secondary offense.
“This pledge has been supported not only on several college campuses but also in other work areas such as hospitals and offices. It really is an important topic that should be dealt with seriously. Spreading awareness can reduce auto-related injuries and deaths drastically,” the committee said.
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Headline News

Plan for Prominence system discontinued

By Carleen Boyer

Assistant News Editor

The Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs has recently decided to remove the Plan for Prominence (P4P) system of accreditation for fraternities and sororities. It will be replaced with the Standards for Fraternity and Sorority Life, which will remove various requirements such as community service and mandatory attendance to certain speakers for Greek organizations.
“One of our goals is to move away from a ‘checklist’ model and create a process that gives chapters and individuals ownership for their experience,” said Amy Badal, Associate Dean of Students.
The P4P program first went into effect in 2002. It consisted of 11 “strategic goals” which were developed by the Greek Life Strategic Planning Steering Committee. The goals consisted of various items which were intended to strengthen the overall benefits of a Greek experience at the University. Individual organizations would earn “points” depending on various categories of the strategic goals. A given sorority or fraternity had to be in “good standing” with a score of 90 points in order to be granted full campus privileges.
Some aspects of P4P were criticized by the Greek community.

“You’d get these speakers where pretty much every fraternity and sorority went to it because it was required. Sometimes it was hard to relate to the speaker, and when you get all of these people that have to go to something, you get this rude behavior,” said Grant Zeller ’12, Recruitment Chair of the Interfraternity Council.

With P4P gone, Greek organizations no longer have to meet certain standards involving community service.
“I feel like maybe it’s a little friendlier, a little more of a community. On the other hand, there are some things that worry me. I think we’ll have to see which organizations hold themselves to high standards, and which don’t. There are definitely going to be fraternities and sororities on different ends of the spectrum,” Zeller said.
Individual sororities and fraternities now must pick one specific charity organization in which to dedicate their time. For some organizations, this is a concern. Chi Phi typically sponsors a Special Olympics event every year, but some are worried that with new changes, it won’t be able to stand as their single organization.
“With Special Olympics, it’s only four hours one day a year, so you can’t really use that as an organization despite the fact that we [Chi Phi] have a committee for it. I don’t think that having everyone pick one organization is the best way to go about changes,” Zeller sad.
Not all students are opposed to the changes, though.
“I’m not convinced that P4P really helped to increase sorority and fraternity involvement on campus. Sure, we had a certain number of events to host and attend each semester, but with so many requirements to meet, Greek students often felt like they were being forced to attend events just to be able to check them off a list,” said Julia Giordano ’13, president of Chi Omega Sorority. “Having each chapter focus on one local organization—and forming a (hopefully) longstanding relationship with them—is definitely more along the lines of the direction we should be heading.”
Categories
Arts & Life

Griot Institute: Jones speaks to students

By Heather Hennigan

Writer

On Thursday, Jan. 26, author Tayari Jones spent the day on campus, engaging with students in a personal, relaxed discussion group and a formal reading of her most recent novel, “Silver Sparrow.”

Students were able to meet Jones during the discussion group and learn about her personal life.

Her lecture briefly touched upon many facets of her life, including her early childhood, her educational experiences and the beginning of her writing career. During the recounting of her life’s many ups and downs, she elaborated on one of her personal beliefs: “Everyone,” she said, “pays their dues, but just at different times. Some people start out with a privileged upbringing and encounter a bumpy road along the way, others hit roadblocks early on until things smooth over later, and the really lucky ones get to pay a little bit at a time–-but no matter what, we’re always paying them.”

Jones also explained her inspiration for “Silver Sparrow,” which features a man, two daughters, two wives and the double life they live, though only one family knows about the bigamy.

Jones began by explaining her own life inspired the plot, and added with a laugh, “My father’s not a bigamist, he’s a political scientist!” In reality, Jones actually felt privileged over her two older half-sisters, who had grown up in a more oppressive era with single mothers and minimal interaction with their father, while she was born 10 years later into a stable family environment with a father who had become much more devoted.

The discussion wrapped up with a question-and-answer session, where a participant asked Jones if she began writing “Silver Sparrow” with a complete plot in her head. Without hesitation, Jones replied, “No, not at all!” and explained that if she had an end in mind, the book was done–-there was no room for a true story if the author knew where it was going to go.

Though she called her do-it-as-you-go writing style a bit risky, she assured the audience that she wouldn’t have it any other way. When asked what made a good story, “Raise the stakes. Take an event and ‘crank it up’-–add a little more drama or depth,” Jones said.

Without the usual pressure of a fancy speech or a big crowd, the discussion group was able to engage in Jones’ speech and presentation. Even though it was a smaller, more low-key event, it was an enriching experience for all in attendance.

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Arts & Life

Mark Doty answers life’s important questions

By Juliet Kelso

Writer

How is it that humans exist if everyone disappears?

Questions like this have the capacity to follow an audience beyond the limits of the auditorium. On Tuesday, Jan. 31, Mark Doty’s audience experienced this phenomenon.

Doty, the University’s Poet-in-Residence, read a compilation of his own works, beginning with some of his most recent material for a packed house of students and faculty. His casual vibe reverberated through Bucknell Hall as he began with a light-hearted explanation for his first selection, a vibrant poetic narrative focused on his dog.

Most pieces Doty read seemed effortlessly intricate. He typically began with a deliberately specific subject, but with sure familiarity, and captured the attention of the audience with philosophical or revealing depth.

His language—minimalistic, yet refreshing—was a nice contrast amongst the stuffiness and ambiguity often found in poetry. Nearly every poem contained at least one moment of humor; not the kind that makes you smile to yourself, rather a chorus of laughter that forces the reader to pause for a moment and allow the audience to indulge.

Along with his clever humor, the audience experienced a multifaceted connection to Doty.

Doty’s honesty allowed him to share elements of his path to arriving at a poem. An audience or a reader often does not have the privilege of knowing the poet’s thought process or true inspiration. Doty supplied his listeners with at least a brief background story for each of his selections; relieving, with his lack of far-fetched or grandiose explanations which have become so habitual of the artistic spheres.

The two major sources Doty noted that he draws from are animals and Walt Whitman. His passion for animals is reflected in his poetry, revealing an undeniable union with nature.

If you missed Doty’s reading or attended it and enjoyed yourself, he will be giving a “Conversation With Mark Doty” on Tuesday, Feb. 7 at 4 p.m. in the Willard Smith Library in Vaughan Literature Hall.

Categories
Arts & Life

Jupiter String Quartet performs impressive set

By Courtney Bottazzi

Writer

On Friday, Jan. 27, the University was graced with the performance of the Jupiter String Quartet with guest artist Jon Nakamatsu.

The program, held in the Weis Center for the Performing Arts, consisted of Franz Joseph Haydn’s Quartet in F, Op. 77, No. 2,  Bela Bartók’s Quartet No. 6 and Antonin Dvorak’s Piano Quintet in A, Op. 81. Before Bartók’s piece, the audience was given the back story of what was happening in the composer’s life at the time the piece was created, as well as what feelings were to be expected from hearing the music.

Throughout the piece, the gifted musicians were able to flawlessly recreate the composer’s emotions and captivate the audience. The quartet’s seamless movement through the pieces becomes even more awe-inspiring with the knowledge that two of their original members, Meg Freivogel and Daniel McDonough, were absent due to the impending birth of their first child. Liz Freivogel and Nelson Lee were joined by Freivogel’s younger brother, Jay Freivogel, and Lee’s husband, Denise Djokic. The substitution of familial relationships enhanced, rather than hindered, the performance; from the violent crescendos to the graceful fall of their bows at the end of a piece, the quartet seemed perfectly in sync.

The audience, entranced by the music, tilted their heads back to listen to the beautiful notes unfold. An additional and truly fascinating dimension of this performance could be found in watching these talented musicians.

The live performance offered something that an audio recording could never capture. By watching their body language, one could visually see the attitudes of certain pieces, the playfulness of others and the enjoyment felt by the quartet while reacting to and with their fellow musicians.

When Nakamatsu took his seat at the piano, it seemed impossible that he could join the others and still maintain the previously effortless communication. Nakamatsu blended in wonderfully with the quartet and provided an amazing ending to the evening’s performance.

“Laura (my fiancé) and I thought it was a great performance, especially given that half the group were fill-ins. I hadn’t heard the Bartók before, but that was probably my favorite selection of the evening. We agreed that it was the ‘exposure’ piece of the night, the one that they figure that most people haven’t heard or might find ‘challenging,’ and so it gets bracketed by beautiful, accessible pieces,” said Matthew Slater, assistant professor of philosophy. 

Slater and other faculty members also hoped students would begin to take full advantage of the incredible musicians the University hosts.

“I was also happy that this performance was better attended than, say, Jenny Lin’s performance last fall. We really get magnificent musicians coming through, we have a great space in which to host them, and it blows my mind that we’re not packing it full of students and faculty each time out,” Slater said.

The University continuously brings musicians, artists and authors to campus to try and provide some cultural air supply to the students in our bubble. With performances such as that of the Jupiter String Quartet, we can greatly enrich our college experience simply by walking across campus and lending an ear.

Categories
Opinion

Students should not feel pressure to dress

By Jen Mok

Contributing Writer

College. It is supposed to be different from high school and the previous years of our youth. We may have all worn those Lacoste polo shirts, those Juicy sweatpants, popped our collars and had closets full of Abercrombie and Hollister duds. The tastes and trends that dominated our closets may or may not have changed. Whatever the case is, we have all once dressed a certain way to keep up with the social scene in one way or another.

During the four years of college, the social jungle and hierarchy that may have been daunting in high school is supposedly less apparent and students are more evolved: open-minded individuals willing to branch out into the real world. The individual refines and molds his character with experience and reaches a certain level of comfort with himself. The resulting changes include an increased intelligence level (we hope), perspectives and of course fashion. These adjustments are self-determined, with some influence from the college campus we belong to. Or are they?

There are jokes and rumors that our university is a school full of clones that have that certain preppy look. When we say preppy we don’t mean the Lilly Pulitzer and bright pink manifestation. It’s a different prep–-a sort of chic, East Coast, crisp and very J.Crew catalogue prep. And in all reality, there is a truth in this. The girls have their J Brand Jeans, J.Crew cardigans, Frye and Hunter boots while the boys have their Ralph Lauren button downs, Sperry shoes and Under Armour … well, you get the idea. The real question is not if the majority of our student population dresses this way, but if there is a certain pressure to dress this way. I feel as though our student body is knowledgeable and open-minded enough to not judge heavily on an individual’s appearance. While there may be a slight pressure to dress to meet the status quo, it is ultimately an individual’s independent decision.

A lot of students come from the New York tri-state area consisting of New Jersey, New York and Connecticut. They then, of course, have a common sense of style. Others foreign to this Northeast-metro fashion culture may feel a bit of pressure to change their style on arrival to the campus.

It is natural and completely understandable to want to change your style according to those around you. It is not just a way of fitting in but an easy way to feel more welcomed in a community. Changing your image is one way to feel more connected and accessible to others. However, many are more prone to alter their image due to their high attentiveness to certain alarming, small differences. One student may change one detailed aspect of their appearance, be it a small change in footwear or the way they wear their scarves. Many students are conscious of their differences and whilst not pressured or judged to change them, they feel more comfortable in changing to fit the majority. It is inevitable that some of us are less at ease when we view clear differences in others and ourselves. To relieve such stress, it may be best to simply change what we feel is starkly contrasting and unfitting for a setting.

On the other hand, not achieving the same preppy look does not automatically make you an outsider to the University community. Different styles are appreciated and on some levels even encouraged amongst peers. Fashion is not only a way for someone to express his or her creativity but it is a reflection of one’s culture. Where we are from and who we are, are sometimes best represented by the clothing we wear. No one is looked down upon for embracing a more edgy look or a very laid-back, casual t-shirt-and-jeans combination. We all know that you should be comfortable with what you are wearing. Your clothes are what you have to wear throughout the day and it is how you allow others to perceive you. In short, there is no pressure to dress “Bucknell appropriate” but there is no doubt that a big percentage of the student population have, what I label, an east-coast Chic Prep style.

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Arts & Life Columns Cooking Corner

Cooking Corner: Roasted Garlic Vegetable Alfredo

By Katie Mancino

Writer

 

Roasted Garlic Vegetable Alfredo

Many Italian dishes are made unhealthy (and delicious) by heavy creams and cheeses. This dish keeps the creaminess by using an egg yolk, but lightens it up by using fat-free milk in place of whole milk. The garlicky roasted vegetables add a ton of flavor to the sauce and the pasta to help make this a truly satisfying and easy dish.

 

Ingredients:

1 cup eggplant, cut into strips

1 1/2 cups zucchini, cut into spears (about 2 medium/small)

4 medium cloves garlic, minced

1/3 cup onion, sliced (about half a small one)

1/2 Tbsp light whipped butter (less than half the calories of regular butter)

1/2 cup fat-free milk

1/2 cup pasta water (This is really important because of the starchiness. Make sure you reserve it before draining pasta.)

4 oz dry pasta

2 Tbsp parmesan cheese

1 egg yolk

 

1. Heat oven to 400 F, spray pan with nonstick spray, chop veggies. Put on tray and spray again; top with salt, pepper and Italian spices
2. Cook pasta while veggies are baking; let them bake 15-20 minutes until mostly soft and browned
3. Melt butter over low heat, add water and milk. Bring up to medium-low heat; add salt, pepper, a dash of red pepper flakes and Italian spices
4. Whisk in egg yolk. Keep stirring for one minute so it cooks but doesn’t scramble.
5. Add pasta. Cook another minute, then add veggies, toss and cook one more minute
6. Garnish with parmesan and enjoy!

Makes 2 servings:

296 calories, 54 carbs, 6g fat, 14g protein

Categories
Opinion

Too much sharing on the internet

Riley Schwengel

Contributing Writer

Last Tuesday, I had the pleasure of attending the lecture John Legend held in the Weis Center for the Performing Arts as part of the Beyond the Box lecture series on creativity. I thought the lecture was fantastic and the music truly awe-inspiring. There was just one hitch to an otherwise flawless lecture: during Legend’s performance, dozens of flashbulbs illuminated the music hall as people scrambled to get their very own pictures of John Legend playing the piano.  I found the constant flashing distracting, annoying and incredibly rude to the performer who had given some time out of his very busy career to come and speak to us.

As I sat in the audience, trying to adjust to the last flash of light that just obscured my vision, I began to wonder why people were taking so many pictures. I realized that a good amount of these pictures would be going up on Facebook, Google+, Twitter or whatever social networking site the photographer subscribes to. These pictures would be posted to prove that he or she had attended such a performance and so friends and family could comment with trite comments such as, “So lucky!” “Wish I was there!” and “Hope it was fun!” But to what end? Why couldn’t these people just be content with listening to the music instead of making sure they got a good picture for the folks?

The social media of today has brought everyone’s lives closer together; people can share ideas, stories, films, pictures and art without even leaving their homes and communicating face to face. I believe we have taken this gift of Internet expression and bastardized it; we just share too much information. Go onto any average person’s Facebook profile or Twitter account and you can see the evidence. Statuses give us mundane information like “I hate Mondays” “Shopping with the girls!” and “I miss my girlfriend.”  Accompanying such frivolous updates, there are also millions of photos of people posing at the park, at a party, at a ball game, eating chips, making pizza, watching TV, and the list goes on and on. Many people I know can’t go out to eat without snapping an inane amount of the trivial experience, and I ask, why? Why must we share every piece of information that we have in our day? Can’t we just be happy living our lives? Must we force other people to live it too, through pictures and messages?

I’m going to make a plea to the many Facebook addicts and social media hounds. Stop it. Use these great tools that we have been given for the truly fantastic and unordinary experiences you may encounter, not for mindless drabble. If you have some great news or an intelligent response to a current event, go ahead and post it, but if you are going to the mall, just turn off your computer and go to the mall. If you’re having a good time with friends, just continue to have a good time; there is no need to make sure everyone and his or her mother knows about it. And if you find yourself at a John Legend concert, put away your camera or smart phone and enjoy the music; you can tell your friends all about it when you see them in person. Trust me, they’ll believe you.

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Arts & Life

Oscar buzz focuses gaze on “The Descendants”

By Carolyn Williams

Writer

After sweeping the Golden Globes, all eyes are turned to Alexander Payne’s “The Descendants” at this year’s Academy Awards, where it is nominated for five Oscars, including Best Picture, Best Actor and Best Director.

Adapted from Kaui Hart Hemmings’s novel of the same title, the movie deals with a family in transition. Matt King (George Clooney, “Ocean’s Eleven,” “Up In the Air”) is in the midst of a real estate decision which will shape the future of Hawaii. As descendants of Hawaiian royalty, the Kings are making history by deciding to sell off a massive tract of land for an enormous personal profit, and the choice of who gets it falls squarely on Matt’s shoulders.

However, Matt’s immediate family is considerably distracted by the coma and imminent death of Matt’s wife, Elizabeth. Wounded in a boating accident, Elizabeth has been comatose long enough for her living will to mandate ending her life support, and it is this crisis which brings the dysfunctional Kings back together again. Matt’s daughters, he begins to realize, are far beyond the realm of his parental preparation. Between Scottie (Amara Miller), a feisty 10-year-old caught bullying classmates, Alex (Shailene Woodley, “Secret Life of the American Teenager”), an outspoken teenager recovering from drug abuse, and Alex’s unusual friend Sid (Nick Krause), Matt is in well over his head.

To add to an already unpleasant situation, Alex’s return from boarding school brings some unwelcome news: Elizabeth’s affair, unknown to Matt till now. Furious and also conflicted, after all his wife loved this man, Matt, his daughters and the ever-uncouth Sid set out to find her lover, allowing him the chance to say goodbye to the woman who loved him, and, more importantly, giving the family a chance for closure with the woman they’re about to lose.

Beautifully following the plot of Hemmings’s novel, “The Descendants” delivers both grief and unexpectedly joyful humor, creating a unique dichotomy which received mixed reviews amongst viewers.

“While the commentary on family dynamics was at once interesting and engaging, the humor detracted from the serious issues at hand,” Kate Wilsterman ’14 said. 

The majority seem to find the film’s offbeat comedy entertaining.

“‘The Descendants’ would be characterized as a depressing movie if it weren’t for the subtle humor and the family moments that make it unfailingly honest and memorable,” Ava Giuliano ’14 said. 

Regardless, “The Descendants” is the must-see film of the moment, and with good reason. Between Clooney’s impeccable performance in the lead role, and the truly excellent supporting cast (specifically Shailene Woodley, whose sass and anger carry any lagging moments), the movie’s many nominations are well deserved; it only remains to be seen what the Academy’s final word will be later this month.