The Lion's Eye

George Davis, Lion’s Eye Staff Writer, gad5190@psu.edu

Students at Penn State Brandywine lined up to consider joining any one or many of the featured clubs at the Involvement Fair on August 31 during common hour. Brandywine offers a wide variety of clubs that appeal to the many interests of students.

Teachers and staff encourage students to join different clubs to enrich their time here on campus. Students are able to expand on their interests, meet new friends, and have a great time.

Just a few of the interests represented in this semester’s Involvement Fair were: sports, politics, environment, writing, music, languages, cultures and technology. After students signed up for some desired clubs, they were treated to a meal that gave them the strength to sign up for more clubs.

Leaders of the Brandywine Events and Activities Service Team (B.E.A.S.T), Alan Norrigan and Tammy Katz, had much to say about their club. “Our club is about having students be able pick from a wide variety of activities at Penn State Brandywine,” said Norrigan. They both hope to have many new students join in extracurricular activities this year.

Campus freshman here were interested and excited to see the variety of clubs they had the opportunity to join. Freshman, Alex Bradley, said, “I have an interest in different types of technologies so I decided to join the Information Sciences Technology club (IST).”

One of the most popular clubs here at Penn State Brandywine and across all Penn State campuses is THON. THON is a 46 hour dance Marathon at University Park. Before the dance marathon however, students team-up to raise money for families who are fighting pediatric cancer. Students organize numerous fundraising efforts including “canning” and canvassing to raise money “for the kids.” Dancers are then selected from each campus to participate in the weekend-long dance marathon.

Five Brandywine students were running the THON table, each of them very knowledgeable about the whole project: Samantha Glancey, Allyson Pyle, Derrick Osborn, Kevin Cardella and Alexis Protor were each very excited to let the whole campus know what THON is all about. They encouraged students to sign up and to help raise money for a great cause.

Gary Miller, associate director of student affairs, joined Penn State Brandywine on July 31. “I want students to get motivated to go out and meet new people, mingle and join new clubs, to get involved and enjoy their time here at Penn State,” said Miller.

Overall, with so many clubs to choose from, students will definitely be able to find something that interests them and that will give them something to do when they are not studying for classes. Joining different clubs helps students make friends and memories that will last a lifetime.

Breath Hand, Lion’s Eye Staff Writer, bkh5174@psu.edu

The newly-minted Sustainovation Club announced its receipt of a Pepsi mini-grant, unveiled community projects, and introduced community partners at its well-attended first-ever meeting held in the student union.

An estimated seventy students attended the recent kick-off meeting for the new club, whose name and mission incorporates the ideas of sustainability and innovation into one body, the Sustainovation Club. At the meeting Dr. Laura Guertin, professor of earth science, shared the line-up of community partners in addition to Pepsi, with whom the club would be engaging. These partners include neighbors Ridley Creek State Park, Tyler Arboretum, as well as the Media Food Bank. In addition to a presentation by Dr. Guertin, representatives from Ridley Creek and Tyler Arboretum expressed their excitement concerning the upcoming collaborative projects.

In his brief address to the crowd Gary Stolz, DCNR Park Naturalist for Ridley Creek State Park and White Clay Creek Preserve said, “Trees sustain us, if you’re here and enjoy breathing oxygen, thank a tree!” This before inviting and encouraging all those attending to come for a walk in the park, an inevitability for those active in the club. His enthusiasm for nature was evident as he expressed his thanks for the club’s ongoing efforts to assist in updating existing tree markers at the park and create the interactive app and web presence slated to be completed in the spring.

Among other projects on the docket for the club is participation in Tyler Arboretum’s Pumpkin Days festival (October 14 & 15), at which the club will staff an interactive Sustainability Research Station. In the spring semester, assisted in part by the Engineering Club, the club participates in the nationally recognized CanstructionU project to benefit the Media Food Bank.

A primary mission of the club is to seek out community partners with whom to work on projects related to the United Nations’ seventeen Sustainability Goals to be achieved globally over the next 13 years. The Sustainovation Club has a jump-start on its mission thanks in large part to two factors: the participation of two club advisors in Penn State University’s Sustainable Communities Collaborative and the receipt of a one-year $5000 mini-grant from Pepsi. In the grant-seeking process Brandywine campus competed against many other Penn State campuses, some of whom ultimately received larger, three-year grants. Over the course of the next year Brandywine campus has the opportunity to become eligible for even more funds after satisfying the initial grant requirements. This seems very likely, considering the projects slated for the next two semesters.

The Sustainovation Club looks to be off to an exciting start, aided by broad administrative and faculty support including participation by those in Information Technology Services, Communications, Geology, Biology, Engineering, and Library Services. So, if you are interested in any of those subjects, the environment in general, or are in need of a project to satisfy a capstone experience or for an assignment requiring community volunteerism, this club may be the one for you. After their big splash onto the scene, we expect to hear more from this new club.

Ian Kerrigan, Lion’s Eye Staff Writer, izk5047@psu.edu

Brandywine’s counseling services took to the student union lawn on Tuesday, September 5, to show students helpful ways to prevent being overwhelmed by stress—both on and off campus.

Cirque de Stress was the beginning of Suicide Awareness & Prevention Week that Student Affairs conducted from September 5 through September 8.  Events for the week also included free mental health screenings, and a show called “SMILE,” which was a comedian’s experience on his depression.  The week ended with a workshop about suicide awareness and prevention led by Sara Ralph, LPC, a local mental health provider.

Tuesday’s events ranged from engaging games, visiting stress pets, and on-site advice for coping with stress and difficult emotions that come with any amount of course work.   Coordinating the event was Brandywine counselor Jennifer Toadvine, Ph.D., whose resides in in the office of student affairs.  Among the tents on the Student Union lawn were fun carnival games, students playing cooperative games with each other, and a raffle, for prizes, like a yoga kit.

Toadvine offered advice to all students in the event they feel overwhelmed by their course loads and any stressors that came from outside school.  “The first thing is to acknowledge that you are being stressed, know what is stressing you, and talk about it,” said Toadvine.

“The best way to relieve stress is to have fun and find a way to distract yourself, be with friends and avoid creating stressful situations,” was Toadvine’s advice on preventing future stress.

Also at the events were several dogs that act as “stress pets,” providing a calming element in the midst of stressful moments.  Animals like these are able to detect when people are either upset or lonely.  “The connection formed between owner and pet leads to emotional support and de-stressing.  Any animal will do and the best thing is to find a connection with any animal,” was Toadvine’s opinion about how to successfully have an animal make life easier.

For any additional help on relieving stress or help with school life, the counseling center is in room 207 of the Student Union Building and Toadvine can be reached through her PSU email jut46@psu.edu.

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.