Thursday, October 22, 2009
Light the Night Walk
I interviewed with Seth Mantie of CCBL Tuesday, in order to learn more about the successful Light the Night walk which took place Last Thursday night at the Boston Common. Seth informed me that Lasell had impressive participation/ representation, having had the biggest team out of 27 colleges, even big inner-city school colleges! We raised almost 1800$ for the Leukemia Lymphoma society as well and it was a unifying experience despite the cold. How impressive!!!
Fall Interviews
Wow.. This semester is flying by!
In the midst of school, work and figuring out what my life will consist of post December graduation, I have been learning a lot of very interesting things through interviewing people and writing for this internship.
Michelle and I interviewed Mairead Van Heest of Sodexo dining in order to get the scoop on how Lasell's dining has become "more green". I learned many things from this interview. As a student that dines in the cafeteriea, I was suprised that I had not heard of many of the things Mairead told us. After the interview I noticed that the tables started having informative fliers on them, regarding the changes Lasell has made.
I learned that the trey belt they installed this semester is more energy efficient because it allows for students to not have to use a tray in order to send their dishes back into the kitchen. I also learned that excess vegetable oil is being recycled and used to heat homeless shelters this winter. Lastly, regarding heat, NStar has agreed to use Lasell for a pilot study this spring, allowing for students to control their own heat consumption. Lasell in turn, is going to offer their students prizes for having the most energy efficient residence hall.
Some other things I have learned include Lasell's purchase of sustainable fairtrade coffee and Nalgene bottles that offer each student a refill of a 16 oz. beverage for the price of a 12 oz. beverage once refilled. There are also now candy bars available at the campus center whose benefits go back toward stophunger.
Last but certainly not least Lasell is going to offer a can drive, with hopes of entering the Guinness Book of World Records.
In the midst of school, work and figuring out what my life will consist of post December graduation, I have been learning a lot of very interesting things through interviewing people and writing for this internship.
Michelle and I interviewed Mairead Van Heest of Sodexo dining in order to get the scoop on how Lasell's dining has become "more green". I learned many things from this interview. As a student that dines in the cafeteriea, I was suprised that I had not heard of many of the things Mairead told us. After the interview I noticed that the tables started having informative fliers on them, regarding the changes Lasell has made.
I learned that the trey belt they installed this semester is more energy efficient because it allows for students to not have to use a tray in order to send their dishes back into the kitchen. I also learned that excess vegetable oil is being recycled and used to heat homeless shelters this winter. Lastly, regarding heat, NStar has agreed to use Lasell for a pilot study this spring, allowing for students to control their own heat consumption. Lasell in turn, is going to offer their students prizes for having the most energy efficient residence hall.
Some other things I have learned include Lasell's purchase of sustainable fairtrade coffee and Nalgene bottles that offer each student a refill of a 16 oz. beverage for the price of a 12 oz. beverage once refilled. There are also now candy bars available at the campus center whose benefits go back toward stophunger.
Last but certainly not least Lasell is going to offer a can drive, with hopes of entering the Guinness Book of World Records.
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Lunch with Liz Walker
Before Liz Walker gave her breath-taking speech on Tuesday, Michelle and I (joined by a couple of other faculty) sat down in Valentine dining hall for a lunch chat with her. My first thought: what a powerful lady. Her presence alone radiated power as she probably stood at least a foot taller then myself, and knew how to start, entertain, and animate the conversation! What a lady, I thought. We chatted about a trip to Israel she had made, and her overall humanitarian work, Liz's activates for Women's rights, poverty, Sudan and domestic violence. She is also part of a church group. I was tremendously inspired by her sophistication.
And then it was time for her speech. Michelle and I grabbed a video camera from IT and made our way up to De Witt where we occupied the first row. Her speech gave me the feeling that you get at weddings and graduations. She related the subject of connection to how everyone in the world is connected, and brought up the irony and importance of real life. The irony being that there are so many people living their lives stressed out everyday, on their cell phones, making money,listening to static that the world has created for itself, forgetting to pay attention to their inner- most voices.
Walker calls these "voices" callings, that we cannot neglect. She based her speech around three themes: taking risks, answering your callings and connections in order to educate us about the importance of finding your innermost passion and taking risks in order to do what you feel you were meant to do on this earth. Discussing the true essence of life and continuously quoting Martin Luther King, Walker did an amazing job of making me realize A) how lucky I am and B) How I can't let my life pass me by without following my calling. I personally feel like I know what I was put on this planet to do. Walker said that callings were what your contribution to the world was meant to be, considering that we are all connected, in conjunction with everyone else.
Having lunch with Liz Walker prior to her speech showed me how humble she was on top of inspirational and proactive. I really look forward to hearing Liz speak again. What a lady!
And then it was time for her speech. Michelle and I grabbed a video camera from IT and made our way up to De Witt where we occupied the first row. Her speech gave me the feeling that you get at weddings and graduations. She related the subject of connection to how everyone in the world is connected, and brought up the irony and importance of real life. The irony being that there are so many people living their lives stressed out everyday, on their cell phones, making money,listening to static that the world has created for itself, forgetting to pay attention to their inner- most voices.
Walker calls these "voices" callings, that we cannot neglect. She based her speech around three themes: taking risks, answering your callings and connections in order to educate us about the importance of finding your innermost passion and taking risks in order to do what you feel you were meant to do on this earth. Discussing the true essence of life and continuously quoting Martin Luther King, Walker did an amazing job of making me realize A) how lucky I am and B) How I can't let my life pass me by without following my calling. I personally feel like I know what I was put on this planet to do. Walker said that callings were what your contribution to the world was meant to be, considering that we are all connected, in conjunction with everyone else.
Having lunch with Liz Walker prior to her speech showed me how humble she was on top of inspirational and proactive. I really look forward to hearing Liz speak again. What a lady!
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Lasell's Sukkot
Today I celebrated the Jewish festival of Sukkot for the first time ever! Located directly to the left of Carpenter house, the tent- like, topless Sukkot occupied about an 8'x 10' block. Barbara Asinger did a fabulous job of gathering candy apples and hot apple cider for the celebration and Michelle and I sat in and observed the holiday as students passed through. I learned that the celebration was created in order to show appreciation for the sweetness of life.
I love attending unexpected events such as this, considering I am not jewish...and look forward to more to come. It is important for me to attend these events also in order to write more vividly about them in describing to the community how Lasell is becoming more spiritually diverse.
When I first got into the Sukkot, it was so nice just being able to feel the cool fall wind blowing through my hair and looking at the foliage. The event gave me a feeling of prosperity, with proof that one does not need to necessarily be Jewish in order to appreciate the celebration of another religion.
I love attending unexpected events such as this, considering I am not jewish...and look forward to more to come. It is important for me to attend these events also in order to write more vividly about them in describing to the community how Lasell is becoming more spiritually diverse.
When I first got into the Sukkot, it was so nice just being able to feel the cool fall wind blowing through my hair and looking at the foliage. The event gave me a feeling of prosperity, with proof that one does not need to necessarily be Jewish in order to appreciate the celebration of another religion.
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Lasell has a new campus!
And alas I finally saw it... getting out of my car behind McClelland I walked onto the courtyard area that now constitutes the front of East and West. I had only seen it from afar, and hadn't had the opportunity to stop over by that part of campus .. so finally seeing it was quite the experience for me.
At a glance I thought "It is now almost like Lasell College has a stronger pulse." The campus seems so much more alive, with the new workout area overlooking the courtyard... guitar players, skateboarders and socializing students inhabiting the first enclosed, lighted area...ALL promoting a new sense of community. What a fabulous way to get Lasell students to connect with each other more!
While I had ventured over to this new territory simply to grab a book from a friend living in West, I thought about how different my college experience would have been, had that area existed when I was an underclassman. Feelings of jealousy and pride are the only things that I feel when I think about what could have been, thinking about the progress Lasell has made over the years.... becoming a four year college, going co-ed... all of the recent improvements Lasell has made, becoming more competitive and accommodating..... I am only left to conclude that I could not be happier to be helping Michelle out with Lasell's PR at such a progressive/imperative time.
At a glance I thought "It is now almost like Lasell College has a stronger pulse." The campus seems so much more alive, with the new workout area overlooking the courtyard... guitar players, skateboarders and socializing students inhabiting the first enclosed, lighted area...ALL promoting a new sense of community. What a fabulous way to get Lasell students to connect with each other more!
While I had ventured over to this new territory simply to grab a book from a friend living in West, I thought about how different my college experience would have been, had that area existed when I was an underclassman. Feelings of jealousy and pride are the only things that I feel when I think about what could have been, thinking about the progress Lasell has made over the years.... becoming a four year college, going co-ed... all of the recent improvements Lasell has made, becoming more competitive and accommodating..... I am only left to conclude that I could not be happier to be helping Michelle out with Lasell's PR at such a progressive/imperative time.
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