Alyssa Plotnick , Lion’s Eye Staff Writer, alp5814@psu.edu

Berkey ice cream, the Lion taking selfies and multicultural trivia were part of the Brandywine Multicultural Club’s student welcome party in the Vairo courtyard during the first week of school. This club encourages people of all ethnicities and nationalities to share their cultures and is open to any student .

At the event, new and returning students enjoyed Penn State favorites including Berkey Creamery Ice Cream in Peachy Paterno and Cookies & Cream flavors, Brookies, the combo of brownie and cookie, a welcome cake and soft pretzels. During the event, international music played while students mingled. The Nittany Lion attended the event and took selfies with students. World trivia, with candy as the prize, was presented with questions spanning the cultures of the United States to Kenya. Student Yana Markedonva, a club officer, stated, “I helped with this event, so I am glad students are enjoying it.”

On Brandywine’s campus, more than 40 countries are represented sprinkling dozens of foreign languages. Now with the residence of Orchard Hall, international students can live at Brandywine. Planned trips for international students include a food tour of Philadelphia, Dave & Buster’s, Bird-In-Hand Farmer’s Market, and more. Besides the welcome party, the Multicultural Club and International Student Program arranges events throughout the year including, Game Break Days, an on-campus pre-Thanksgiving feast , gingerbread house decorating , and more. Student Alexandria Hatchett said, “I like how this club gets people to share each other’s culture and awareness.”

The multicultural, multilingual, and international programs have something for everybody. Stop in to a meeting and get involved. Look for the announcement of events through e-mail and postings around campus

Joseph Foderaro, a licensed clinical social worker, visited Penn State Brandywine on Sep. 21 to expand our knowledge on the power of establishing community, sanctuary, and a safe environment for healing.

Foderaro, who has been in the profession for over 30 years, began by explaining why it is depressing to ask someone who is struggling, “What is wrong with you?” He stated that by asking this question, we are unable to dig deep into the problems they are experiencing.

Foderaro explained that when we ask this question, it creates anger and frustration for the individual who is suffering.

He acknowledged that in order to induce long-term adaptations in the individual’s life, it is necessary to encourage them to share their life story instead of their manifestations. Foderaro demonstrated that by hearing their story, we will then be able to better understand the reasoning of their condition and behavior.

Foderaro also stated that we are still experiencing controversy among racism, poverty, and mental illness. He clarified that while talking to someone who has endured one of these social problems, it is important to lend an ear rather than us talking to them and defining the issue, they must analyze it for us.

He further justified that while treating a person who is mentally ill or who has dealt with discrimination, we must remember that it takes a great deal of courage and strength to discuss these topics.

Foderaro asked every attendee to participate in a community meeting exercise, in which everyone shared their feelings that day and their reason for attending. Many students and faculty came to this event to expand their knowledge on the sanctuary model and how it works.

“It’s interesting, I can apply it to my major, and my professors recommended it,” Christina Pentimall, a third year psychology student said.

Pentimall went on to further explain the importance of college students being exposed to the unexplored possibilities of peace and well-being for all of humanity. “Our generation will be shaping from this education, it is needed to make a difference to improve,” she said.

He suggested that the answer is not to just give them therapy and medication, we must let the people who are suffering know what is going on. Foderaro claims that if we continue to cause distress to them, then we are unable to help them heal from their past.

Foderaro states that many perceive anger as just a mental issue, when it is also a physical issue. He rendered that physical and emotional abuse at the beginning of a child’s life leads to their emotional system downgrading.

Foderaro condensed that as a result, they are forced to turn to self-harm in order to seek attention, and they begin abusing substances to uplift their moods.

Diana Dopheide, Lion’s Eye Staff Writer

dmd5846@psu.edu

After 50 years, Penn State Brandywine is now a residential campus.  Residents began occupying Orchard Hall, in brand new dorm rooms, during the week of August 14. Stayed tuned for more updates.

Mike Ryan, Lion’s Eye Staff Writer, mpr5198@psu.edu 

Working in the education system for a decade, seven of which have been here at Penn State Brandywine, Professor Colleen Guss has taught many courses about criminal justice. Before Guss was teaching the classroom, she was working in the criminal justice field herself.

After graduating from Indiana University of Pennsylvania in 2001 with a bachelor degree in criminology, she began her career as a claims adjuster for Penn National Insurance headquartered in Harrisburg. While at Penn National, she worked in the workers’ compensation office; her job consisted of conducting interviews and deciding  whether or not a claim would be paid based on medical records.

In 2002 Guss switched jobs and began working as a welfare fraud investigator for the Office of Inspector General for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, where she would conduct interviews and obtain records to determine whether or not welfare fraud was being committed.

After working for the Office of Inspector General for four and a half years, she decided to work at USIS, a security-based information and service solutions to both government and corporate customers. Guss worked as a field investigator, her position consisted of conducting interviews and obtaining records as part of background investigations for federal security clearances. During her time a USIS she worked on several government contracts.

In 2005 Professor Guss got a master degree in administration of justice from Wilmington University. In 2007 Guss began her teaching career at Delaware County Community College as an adjunct instructor, where she still teaches today, teaching three criminal justice courses. In 2010 Professor Guss began teaching here at Penn State Brandywine teaching three courses: introduction to criminal justice, juvenile delinquency, and comparative justice in global perspective.

As you can see Professor Guss has a lot of real world experience in her field, and is able to bring that experience into the classroom to prepare students who decide to go into the criminal justice field after they graduate.

By: Najla King, Lion’s Eye Staff Editor, nxk5136@psu.edu

Darrel Trent said, “My first day, I walked around the campus and I didn’t see a black face anywhere. I looked into each classroom and as I passed, still no one in sight. When I got to the end of the hall, I walked down the steps, out the door and went home.”

This was the story James Garner, aka Brother Zwadie Abdul Malik, Natalie Wells, and Barry Reddish shared during their Black History Month visit, as they shared with students, staff and guests, the experiences of what campus life was like for them as black students at Penn State Brandywine in 1968.

Being black on a predominantly white campus in the late 60s was, by far, not the easiest task, but with the help of one another and influential staff members like, campus director John Vairo, whom Penn State Brandywine’s library is named after, black students beat the odds and stayed to succeed at PSU Brandywine.

“You learned not to be disenchanted by what you heard or what you were told, but instead you did the necessary work to set the stage for those that came after you, for the black people that followed behind you. I would feel bad if I didn’t speak up or didn’t speak out because that set the tone for those following us not to be afraid,” said Trent.

This particular group of unconventional students had a number of disadvantages compared to other students. Some were married, with families, were significantly older or younger than their peers, served in the Vietnam War, or were generally discouraged to continue on to higher education.

Not only was getting their education important, but these speakers emphasized that educating young black students in the area about the values and skills required to make more happen for themselves was an important goal for the students of color.

“We developed relationships with the people in Chester, Sharon Hill, Delaware County and we would go around and tutor elementary school kids. We helped them prepare for academia and for higher education because, without that, they were only subjecting themselves to menial tasks and we wanted them to know they were better than just that,” said Brother Zwadii Malik.

The luncheon not only celebrated Black History Month but the 50^th anniversary of Brandywine joining the Penn State community in 1967.

As students, faculty and staff filled the seats in the Tomesko Lounge area to hear these heroic people speak of their experiences at Brandywine, they shed light on important highlights of campus history and who played major roles in their lives.

Former teachers and staff members like John Vairo helped to make their time at Brandywine more pleasant than one would imagine.

“I was four or six credits sort after leaving Delaware County and going to University Park. I couldn’t graduate, so I talked to Dr. John Vairo, who was the campus director and communications professor and he hooked me up. He told me to come back to Brandywine to finish up my last credits. Three times a week I would come and sit with my teacher and later I got my degree. Because of John Vairo we didn’t really have to demonstrate to make our needs heard, he helped us, and there weren’t many people like that,” Natalie Wells shared.

Tito E. Orjih, Lion’s Eye Staff Writer, teo5055@psu.edu
Curiosity, fear, and silence filled Penn State Brandywine’s Lion Den as the students watched in amazement as Donald Trump was sworn into office as President of the U.S. replacing former president Barack Obama. At the viewing party, emotions where heavy as student shed tears as the President of the Free World became Donald J. Trump. The tension could be felt in the air as students whispered remarks to each other about Trump’s inaugural address.
Trump protestors Amber Philips said, “Today is not the move, nobody can say anything to me today … today is a sad day.”
It was clear to see that there was a disunity in the room due to political views. Brandywine athlete Raheem Naughty said, “There is still racism, there is still segregation, (as a) matter of fact there is segregation on this campus.”
Students held strong political views and opinions but undoubtedly noticed the separation caused by the election.
Trump advocate and engineering student David M. Irby Jr. said, “The worst part about the election was how divided it made everyone.” Irby Jr. admits to not fully agreeing with the new president’s policies, but provides his support because he respects his tenacity. Irby Jr. said, “I like that he says what he wants to say, I always thought there was this American dream where you could just go up and say what you want to say and do what you want to do.”
Trump protestor Amber Philips said, “Social media made the election like a mediocre joke. I think it’s kind of ridiculous that I can log onto Twitter or any social media and argue with my president.”
Unbiased viewer and president of the photography club, Ezenwa Osuagwu, said, “If you look at past presidents you can tell what works and what doesn’t. I feel like other presidents have done what he’s trying to bring about and failed, but I don’t know, you never know.”
Ezenwa expressed a common theme amongst the unbiased students—the fact that they are not clear on the future and are fearful, yet excited to see what the future holds for The United States of America.

Erin Ahlefeld, Lions Eye Staff Writer, efa5068@psu.edu

On Tuesday, Feb. 14, students of Penn State Brandywine gathered together in the Lion’s Den during common hour for a discussion humorously known as Cupcakes and Condoms. The event was led by Sexologist, Dr. Justine Shuey. Dr. Shuey covered many different topics in her presentation including safe sex, healthy relationships, consent and the Five Circles of Sexuality.

“I really thought that this event was going to be a lecture on always using protection but it was a lot more than that. It was really educational and interesting and she (Dr. Shuey) did a great job of making it funny too,” said Penn State Brandywine student, Makayla Moses.

Dr. Shuey started off by introducing the most important organ in the body pertaining to intercourse; the brain. She showed the students the many ways that the brain is involved and why it is important to know as much as you can about it.

During this event, Dr. Shuey talked about much more than just using condoms as protection. One of the main topics she discussed was love. She taught about the three stages of falling in love and how love pertains to intercourse and how people are much more inclined to not use protection if they are in a “love-struck” stage.

Another key aspect she discussed was healthy relationships. The things that create a healthy relationship are safety, honesty, acceptance, respect and enjoyment.

“I think that openly discussing healthy relationships with college students is really important. We are definitely at the age where we should be creating boundaries and making sure that our relationships contain all the parts of a healthy one that Dr. Shuey discussed,” said Penn State Brandywine Student, Julia Poluch.

One topic that Dr. Shuey was very serious about was the topic of consent. She emphasized that “affirmative enthusiastic consent” is necessary when having any kind of relations with another person. She also made the point to tell everyone that silence does not mean “yes” and that “no” means “no” without any question.

“No is the end of the conversation. No does not mean ask why or try to convince me. No means no. Period,” said Dr. Justine Shuey, Sexologist.

Overall, this presentation from Sexologist, Justine Shuey was much more than just a lesson on the importance of condoms. She discussed many other topics that captured the attention of the audience. Her humor brought up laughs and the information she presented created questions among the audience and sparked an interest in the topic of safe and healthy relationships.