Month: November 2015

Civic & Community Engagement Course

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By David Brown, Lion’s Eye Staff Writer, dvb5451@psu.edu (editted by Lion’ Eye Web Staff)

 

Civic and Community Engagement is a course that stands out here at Brandywine, not only making an impact locally, but internationally as well.

Course adviser, Dr. Lynn Hartle is the reason the course has taken off in the last couple of years, and she has no plans to stop now.

This course has, most recently, been providing voting registration education and assistance. The course is also known to help communities with their needs by participating in events such as food drives and community engagement.

Upcoming in the spring, Hartle’s class will host a Social Justice Fair to educate attendees about societal and community issues and provide ideas on how to help improve the situations. Topics planned include: women’s rights, minority rights and perspectives about the under-served.

Civic and community engagement can be taken as either a major or a minor.  Its goals are to assist with community service and provide diversity training. Activities have included assisting with cleanup in the community, assisting with food drives, establishing community gardens, and helping with community education.

Dr. Hartle, is enthusiastic about the impact of the course.

“The impact in the community is a small one, but every year it becomes more noticeable,” Hartle said.  “The minor itself is important for helping students practice relationships and providing them with experience in all sorts of different fields that will later help in the work place. The point of this course is to get people to act like a community.”

The course also offers international service projects in Paris, London, Italy, Ireland, and, for the first time, Cuba. Registration for the Cuba service will begin in the spring semester. The two courses needed to become involved are CIVCM or CAS. Come explore CIVCM.

 

Career Day Event Offers Opportunities to Students

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By: Brooke Byrne, bzb5183@psu.edu, Lion’s Eye Web Staff

On Wednesday, October 28, students had the opportunity to network with several businesses that came to campus to participate in Career Day.

Company representatives from Wawa, Vanguard, and others set up tables in the Tomezsko lounge, and students were able to introduce themselves, exchange information, and leave their resumes. The hour of networking was preceded by an informative question-and-answer portion in which students could ask the representatives questions about the interview process and what to avoid including on their resumes.

A lot of planning goes into an event like this. Christine Allen, the Coordinator of Career Services, and everyone in the Career and Advising departments assisted with inviting employers, creating a directory for students, marketing the event and much more.

“It takes a team of many to pull off an event like this,” Allen said. “We also depend a great deal on faculty to encourage students to attend. And, of course, we’re very appreciative of the employers who come out to campus to discover talent for their organizations.”

In the past, the Career Service department held two smaller events throughout the semester. This semester’s event was different. It was held in the larger venue, the gym, and included the question-and-answer portion to create a more welcoming event. All of this planning seemed to have paid off as 75 students attended and met with employers from 14 different companies.

“The feedback was extremely positive from both students and employers this semester and has been since we changed the format a few years ago,” Allen said.

With this new format, students could feel more comfortable approaching tables, and they had more time to converse with employers to get to know them and their company better. Victor Lin, a sophomore at Penn State Brandywine majoring in Information Sciences and Technology, learned about what kind of students businesses are looking for.

“There are plenty of employers from different types of industries, and many of the industries seek out different types of majors,” Lin said. “It was a great experience, and I would definitely attend again if there are different companies next time.”

Career Day will be back on campus next semester for students to get some first-hand experience at networking. Whether one is looking for an internship or a job, campus resources and events like Career Day are a great place to start.

Online Registration Taking A New Path

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By: Paul Alberici, Lion’s Eye Staff Editor, paa5102@psu.edu (updated by the Lion’s Eye Web Staff)

The online registration service for Penn State students is getting a brand new upgrade that will be known as “Lions Path.” This new system will be replacing, “eLion,” the long-standing registration system.

This new system is actually called “PeopleSoft” and its project name is “Lions Path.” This new system will operate somewhat differently from e-Lion. It makes registering for classes feel almost like online shopping because registering students use something like a “shopping cart,” and at check out students have their class choices.

Lions Path will also eliminate a lot of the paper aspects for students. The processes of “change of major” and entrance into certain programs will now take place in this new system. Payment status, semester classification, and unsatisfactory academic status will be changing with the implementation of the new system. This system is not just for Brandywine, it is University-wide, meaning that there will be some changes in class times and scheduling.

“Most of the changes should be more user-friendly to the student, but there are other advantages to using a vendor-provided system,” Registrar Joanna McGowan said. “The vendor will provide system upgrades and the campuses within the University will operate together . . . allowing more integration.”

“All campuses will now have common course times,” McGowan said. “So Brandywine’s course scheduling times will be a little different.”

This new system will be fully implemented for the Fall 2016 registration, so that when students are registering for Fall 2016 this Spring, they will be using the new system. However, registration for Summer 2016 will still be with the old e-Lion system.

As with all change, those acclimated to the old system will be learning this new way along with all the new students. This puts them both on the same level of expertise–absolutely zero. However, the new students have an advantage this time because they will be learning along with everyone else.

“I am told that there will be support for all students,” McGowan said. “Current students will need the most support because they will be using two systems; incoming students will just learn on the new system the same way current students learned eLion.”

This new system will update an outdated system.

“Our current computer system is home-grown and over 30 years old,” McGowan said. “It was no longer able to keep up with student, staff/faculty, and technology needs, and it is no longer practical to constantly manually implement work arounds and updates.”

It remains to be seen how effective this new registration system will be, however it looks like it will be bringing some much needed updates to registration.

K Cups are Sustainable

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By: Deja Footes, Lions Eye Staff Writer, dmf5475@psu.edu (updated by the Lion’s Eye Web Staff)

On Wednesday October 7, a K Cup decorating event was held on the campus lawn during common hour in front of the Commons Building.

As classes were letting out, the lawn filled with several students who were ready to start decorating K Cups. They painted them with various designs, including one with different colored polka dots, and one with a pumpkin to fit the Halloween theme. Even though this wasn’t an art contest, a lot of students showed their artistic skills.

Most importantly these cups were being painted for a good cause. Once these K Cups were decorated, they were donated to the nearby Tyler Arboretum for use during the holidays. The Tyler Arboretum is one of the oldest and largest arboreta in the northeastern United States.

This event was based on a campus read book called Garbology: Our Dirty Love Affair With Trash. Participating in the K Cup decorating allowed students to learn “sustainable practices, and practice positive actions based on themes in the book.”

In the midst of this fun event, basketball player Kevin Zwolak enjoyed getting to be an artist.

“It was nice to decorate the K Cups,” Zwolak said. “I’ve never done this before. It was also nice to create art because I don’t really do it a lot. I’m happy we are painting for a good cause.”

Sounds like all the hard work he did paid off. Be sure to stop by the Tyler Aboretum down the street to lookout for the K Cups.

Entrepreneurship Club Prepares for Sharks

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By: Michael McCarrick, Lion’s Eye Writer, mqm5415@psu.edu (updated by the Lion’s Eye Web Staff)

When watching the hit ABC competition show Shark Tank there are intriguing qualities to it.

On one hand it’s fascinating to watch entrepreneurs create and sell an interesting idea and product to the wealthy “sharks” considering investing in it. And on the other it is entertaining to watch someone present a poor idea and watch them get ripped to shreds by the business owners. The show also presents the tough but rewarding enterprise of entrepreneurship, when an independent businessperson has an idea and product they believe will make living more convenient while enabling them to make money. Here on campus there is an opportunity to prepare for this experience with the Entrepreneurship Club.

In club meetings, students majoring in business, IST and engineering have brainstormed ideas for products that serve as solutions for everyday problems. They took inspiration from kickstarter campaigns for new products, such as a device used to cut the lid off soda cans and a pad attached to the top of toilet paper where an IPhone can be placed in the stall of the bathroom.

They may seem odd initially, but in a changing society there are certain situations that need to be addressed and people can make money from them. Students themselves thought of ideas that could be used on campus, including an umbrella rental system.

“The club’s purpose is to facilitate learning and developing entrepreneurship skills with like-minded individuals to give them a share of real world experience,” club President and student Evan Schwartz said. “Students should join the club to see what it’s like to run a small business and be able to work for themselves.”

By the end of the semester, members of the club will attempt to pitch business ideas to school leaders in a similar style to Shark Tank. With all the planned preparation and meetings, students have ample time to thoroughly process and present business ideas to the sharks at Brandywine.

Meetings are held Tuesdays and Wednesdays at common hour, in 209 Tomezsko. Whoever has ideas or aspirations to succeed in business should explore the experience of the entrepreneurship club.

Doctor Who Series 9 Review

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By: Michael McCarrick; Lion’s Eye Writer, mqm5415@psu.edu (updated by the Lion’s Eye Web Staff)

Whovians unite! The continuing adventures of the twelfth Doctor are shown in the ninth season of the BBC’s most popular show: Doctor Who.

While it’s the ninth season, it’s actually a continuation of the original show that began on November 23, 1963 and lasted until 1987. The show was then resurrected in 2005 and in 2010 finally spread popularly from England to America.

Those who have never watched Doctor Who but are interested in watching don’t have to go all the way back to its very first episode in 1963. Instead they can either start with the first season of the reboot in 2005 or skip to the beginning of Season 5 on Netflix or BBC OnDemand.

The fascinating thing about the show is that while it’s always centered on the main character who calls himself The Doctor, the show constantly changes stories and actors to refresh the series. The actor playing The Doctor can change because of the character’s ability to regenerate and look like a different person with a different personality.

The Doctor is played by Scottish actor Peter Capaldi who is entering his second season as the rouge Time Lord. Traditionally, The Doctor has a human companion who goes on adventures with him, and in this season it is Clara Oswald (played by British actress Jenna Coleman) who is in her final season of the show. This thirteen-episode-season will undoubtedly feature strange locations and creatures with heavy themes of science, philosophy and emotions. Admittedly, some premises will likely be brilliant hits and a few will be off-putting misses as has sometimes been the case, but fans of the show will adore them anyway.

The season begins with a ten minute prequel clip showing The Doctor in a medieval castle trying to meditate, but he’s procrastinating by forcing his friends to dig for water outside. It ends “teasing” about a battle in which he took part that made him feel ashamed.

With the season premiere it is revealed that he had saved a little boy from a battlefield of creatures who pulled their victims underground to kill. That little boy he saved grew up to be Davros, the creator of the most evil species in the universe known as The Daleks, the same race which killed The Doctor’s people — The Time Lords.

Now Davros is dying and summoning The Doctor, Clara, and Missy. Missy, previously known as The Master, is a former friend turned archrival of The Doctor who has battled for centuries over the fate of the civilizations, a villain in the same vein as The Joker, Moriarty, and Lex Luthor.

In discussions with fellow Whovians, they all agreed that Michelle Gomez, the actress playing Missy, is absolutely fantastic in the role as a psychotic and intelligent Time Lord (now Time Lady). Giving the best performance in the show, she will undoubtedly inspire thousands of Cosplay outfits at Comic Cons around the country.

After two gripping episodes of The Doctor’s struggles to save his friends and defeat The Daleks, the next adventure is another two-part story taking place in an underwater station. Here they join a group of soldiers who are being haunted by mysterious ghosts, and it’s unlikely that all of them will make it out alive. The Doctor will do all that he can to keep that from happening.

The endless saga of Doctor Who will also feature a guest appearance by British actress Maisie Williams, who plays Arya Stark on Game of Thrones. The series is bound to unveil unique creatures and complex characters all leading up to another wild, crazy, and emotional finale. New Episodes of Doctor Who air on BBC America on Saturday nights at 9:00 p.m.

Inside The Bates Motel

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By: Michael McCarrick, Lion’s Eye Writer, mqm5415@psu.edu (updated by the Lion’s Eye Web Staff)

When the sun sets at this time of year, a large meadow down the street becomes the scariest place on earth, with a history of terrifying myths about monsters, killers, and spirits.

The Bates Motel and Haunted Hayride at Arasapha Farms in Glen Mills is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, and its goal is to make the experience more memorable than ever.

The Bates Motel is more than just a money-making business; it’s a family celebration of horror and Halloween. The cast of actors playing the wild characters in the corn maze, hayride, and haunted house aren’t classically trained or struggling theater actors looking to make some quick cash. They’re just regular people, a cast of characters who all have one thing in common: they love to dress up and scare people.

It takes a long time to get into makeup, and some have to don a mask made of rubber or plastic. The outfits, no matter how ludicrous, are put on, and, as the sun sets, they sneak past the customers, find their spot, and wait, and wait for the first victim.

The Bates Motel is just one attraction customers need to go through to get the full experience; they also need to visit the Haunted Hayride and Corn Maze. For the hayride, customers get on a large tractor full of hay and go on a long ride through a medieval castle, graveyard, slaughter house, hillbilly neighborhood, and an underground tunnel. Actors are simultaneously popping up from behind with screaming, blasting animatronics.

The last part of the ride shows the Headless Horseman galloping by on a real horse where customers exit while listening to the theme song of Ghostbusters.

Following the hayride is the corn maze, with a dark, tight tunnel as an entrance. This time people can have one-on-one interaction with actors and explore the horrific world of the circus, Wild West saloons, swamps, and much more. Look out for scarecrows, it’s hard to tell which one is a full of hay and which is a person!

Finally, there is the Bates Motel House itself, a tighter and darker path of horror. Anywhere a customer goes someone is watching and waiting in the wings. Chills and thrills abound as they encounter ghosts, cannibals and a live coat-hanger!

Penn State Brandywine students Nick Raffaele, Herbie Williams, and Anne-Marie Bruce have full access to the farm every night because they are employed and paid actors of the attraction.

“I wanted to work on Arasapha Farms because I was always into Halloween; it’s my favorite holiday,” Nick Raffaele said. “I wanted to work there but wasn’t 18 yet, so I made my own haunted attraction in the woods. Once I turned 18 I signed up. I always love to entertain and scare people.”

Now that he is able to work there, Raffaele has nothing but good things to say about the environment. “Everyone who works there is really nice,” Raffaele said. “You’re able to be something you’re not. It’s cool to become a zombie and act as that character to scare people.”

Professional scarecrow and student Herbie Williams enjoys the job as well. “I like meeting new people, making friends and seeing everyone,” Williams said. “I like seeing their [customer’s] reaction: whether they run or not, or are just not scared at all.”

The actress known as “the girl in the rising chair” with a fork in her neck, Anne-Marie Bruce, loves working there, too. “It’s really fun to scare people, and even though I’m a small girl, I’ve made men scream and run in terror,” Bruce said. “The whole staff is like a big family; they’re all really friendly and helpful.”

This year’s Bates Motel trip was a success and will be back for students to enjoy next Halloween season.

Marketing Club Markets to Students

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By: Michael McCarrick, Lion’s Eye Writer, mqm5415@psu.edu (updated by the Lion’s Eye Web Staff)

Everyone goes through their day being confronted by advertising, whether it’s on a wall or a billboard or on a screen, they see it even if they don’t look for it intentionally. While some might view advertising as a necessary evil, there are others fascinated by the creativity and business opportunities marketing has to offer.

Brandywine has a club specifically for those people.

In September, the marketing and advertising club held their first meeting of the semester in an effort to schedule and announce upcoming events for the next several months. And the facility member representing the club is marketing professor Lori Elias.

There were plans for the club to have a volunteer event at the Harvest Festival in Newlin Grist Mill this semester in early October but the event was canceled due to rain. Events students attended this month included a panel discussion on October 22 with Brandywine alumni, where members asked those who work in marketing about the business and their experiences. There is a field trip to QVC studios on November 10 where the first 20 people to sign up will be able to tour the building and look behind the scenes of the popular shopping channel. It’s becoming an annual event as students who attended the QVC trip last year enjoyed it a lot. With these events the marketing club hopes to attract as many students interested in the world of advertising.

“The club’s goal is to get new members and do as many on and off- campus activities as possible,” Club President and student Kailyn Vollmuth said. “If there are students who are business majors, then marketing is a big part of their degree, and the activities are great for resume building.”

Those taking a course in marketing or considering it as a career should check out the club for the opportunities it provides. The next club meeting will be held on November 14 in Tomezsko 209 during common hour. Anyone interested in participating should also bring a friend to allow them to experience it as well.

Students Take Flight on Study Abroad Trip

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By: Tom O’Donnell, Lions Eye Staff Editor, two5047@psu.edu (updated by the Lion’s Eye Web Staff)

Penn State Brandywine offers students a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to expand their education internationally with the study abroad trips.

In the fall of 2015, Penn State Brandywine offered the trip to Paris. In the spring of 2016, Penn State Brandywine will be offering a trip to Ireland for interested students. Students are able to travel to international locations and receive credits and a grade for taking classes.

Penn State Brandywine offers students two opportunities to take advantage of these trips: one trip in the fall and another in the spring, each for a week as part of an existing class. Previous locations have included London, Greece and Italy.

“Taking the trip to Italy was one of the best experiences of my life.” PSU Brandywine alumni Jimmy Bevan said. “I learned many things in the classes while experiencing another country’s culture,”

Typically trips cost approximately $2,000 or less. There are also additional excursions available at an extra cost. Traveling during the off season allows Brandywine to keep the cost of the trips low. Students are also able to bring down the cost even more with the assistance of a scholarship offered by Brandywine.

The classes abroad are all taught in English so students needn’t worry if they do not speak another language. There are also several teachers on the trip able to interpret the native language for students.

Students from other Penn State campuses enrolled in the same classes will also be on the trip.

Penn State Brandywine began offering the week-long trips in 1996 in order to broaden student’s view of the world and other cultures.

Students must enroll in up to two general education classes to participate in. Some of the classes offered include: ARTH 100/INART 001; HDFS 431; KINES 081; LING 100, MGMT 445/499, PHIL 001 and PHIL 006.

To register for the Penn State Brandywine Global Programs, students must first complete a Drop/Add form showing approval of both instructor and adviser. Students who wish to enroll in two classes must have permission from the Director of Academic Affairs. All details are available at http://brandywine.psu.edu/global-programs.

For more information regarding the trips, feel free to contact Lisa Yanonis at lay10@psu.edu or Dr. Paul Greene at pdg4@psu.edu.

Woman’s Soccer Faces Tough Task of Semi-Final

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By David Brown, Lion’s Staff Writer, dvb5451@psu.edu (updated by the Lion’s Eye web staff)

The Brandywine Nittany Lions have shown strong determination while on the verge of competing in the championship match.

The women’s soccer team has dominated so far this year with an overall 4-2 record and a 4-1 record in conference games. The squad has had no trouble scoring with an average of 2.3 goals per game and scoring 14 total goals in only a six game span. Brandywine’s offense averages 18.2 shots per game and this has been the problem for opposing teams.

Freshman and key defenseman Ami Iannello praised the coaching staff.

“(The coaches) have been so amazing,” Ami Iannello said. “They really take into consideration everyone’s different skill levels and apply the proper training techniques to build up the overall play of our team. We have all developed individual relationships with our coaches and these bonds just increase the overall team chemistry and playing abilities.”

It’s that chemistry that Iannello said that keeps getting better.

“From the beginning, our coach told us he wanted to build a ‘family’ type atmosphere and we really have one,” Iannello said.

The team has proved their obvious chemistry by the amount of offense they contribute and with a somewhat struggling defense giving up 12 goals total this season.  The squad uses their offensive talent to make up for any defensive issues.

“We have only gotten this far because we are really cohesive,” Iannello said. “We trust each other, do our part, and rely on one another.”

Iannello explains how the team prepares for an important match.

“We are taking these past couple days and healing our bodies since many players, including myself are injured,” Iannello said.  “We are doing team yoga and watching film of our opponents.”

Brandywine played PSU Mont Alto at home the first game of the season and won 5-2.  They are now resting their injuries to prepare for the away match they face Penn State Mont Alto. With Brandywine 1-1 on the road, the team hasn’t gotten to see much action while their away and it will be interesting to see if injuries play a role in the upcoming matches.

With Mont Alto only 3-6 and averaging 1.3 goals per game and 25 goals against, one can’t help but favor Brandywine’s aggressive offense for this matchup.