Friday, December 14, 2012

Helpful Hints for Getting Your Student Through Finals

Final exams are trying; not only for the students, but also for the parents, who are there each step of the way, hoping and praying their student gets through the week in one piece. Leading up to the home stretch, it's important that your student realizes you're there for them. Whether they're preparing for graduation or finishing their first semester, here are a few things that you can do to help them get over the last hurdle of the semester:

  1. Check in the weekend before exams to help put things into perspective. Whether you can share your own experiences or just remind your student that you're there to support them, a reassuring phone call or a quick chat can work wonders. As I'm sure many of you have discovered over the past few months (or past few semesters), just lending an ear can help put your students at ease. That said, once Monday comes around it would be best to...
  2. ...give your student space during exam week. What was a reassuring call before tests get underway may become a well-intentioned distraction when your student is in the thick of his or her exams. Make sure your student has enough space to focus on the task at hand--they've made it this far into the semester, they can handle the last week.
  3. Remind your student of the events Hofstra will be running during Finals. Throughout the week of finals, Hofstra will be running a series of events called "Stress Busters." They're a great way to take your students' minds off of what may seem like endless studying and constant...well, stress. If you would like to find out more information about these events and how they can help your student, visit our website.
And remember, it's only one week.  Your students will get through it just fine...and you will get through it too.

Friday, December 7, 2012

Political Cartoons on Campus


Yes, the semester is nearing its end, but there is still plenty to do on campus for students and their families alike. Since October 1, we have been fortunate enough to have an exhibition showcasing classic and contemporary editorial cartoons.  The collection, entitled "Political Slant: Editorial Cartoons," includes examples of five contemporary artists--including current Newsday contributor, Walt Handelsman--as well as several woodcuts from 19th-century master, Thomas Nast. The exhibit includes early draft sketches as well as examples of fully-finished digital prints from the contemporary cartoonists.

Walt Handelsman (American, born 1956)
Economic Indicators, 2012
Digital print, 10 5/8 x 16 1/2 in.
© Walt Handelsman, Newsday, 2012



Each cartoonist uses caricature and symbolism to push forward their editorial opinions. Some of these images are so affecting, that they become part of our national iconography: Nast, for example, was the first to portray the Democratic and Republican Parties as a donkey and elephant, respectively. Far removed from Nast's stark detail, the five cartoonists on display convey their messages through vibrancy of color and more cartoonish styles of drawing. The one constant, however, is humor, and through their work, each cartoonist brings their own sense of humor to the fore. Whether it's Mike Keefe's broken escalator of upward mobility, or Walt Handelsman's frumpy museum-goers bemusedly observing a post-modern painting of 2012's economic indicators, you cannot help but enjoy their ability to underscore the absurdity of current events.

Mike Keefe (American, born 1946)
Upward Mobility, 2011
Digital print, 7 5/8 x 12 in.
Courtesy of the artist

The exhibition will be up in the David Filderman Gallery (ninth floor of the Axinn Library) until December 21, so if you decide to surprise your student with a late semester visit or even as your helping to pack everything up for the holidays, you can stop by and enjoy a good laugh courtesy of some quality cartoons.

Steve Kelley (American, born 1959)
Homework Supercommittee, 2011
Digital print, 10 ¼ x 16 in.
Courtesy of the artist
 




Wednesday, December 5, 2012

A Look Back on Hofstra's Hurricane Response


The impact of Superstorm Sandy was undeniably devastating: many were displaced and the feelings of lost power far transcended not having electricity. And even now, weeks after the storm, public transportation and infrastructure are still undergoing maintenance. Yet, in the immediate aftermath, as beaches eroded and homes were lost, many within the Hofstra community stepped forward to help those in need, and though Thanksgiving has already come and gone, there are so many students and staff members who deserve recognition and thanks for their contribution to the relief efforts.

Hofstra staff members, Kerri Tortorella and Colin Sullivan,
organize hurricane relief donations in Long Beach.

Assistant Director of Residential Programs, Jennifer Spade, for example, helped organize the services provided to students, faculty and staff affected by the storm. At the peak of the relief effort, by working together with the Dean of Students and Director of Off-Campus Living and Commuting Student Services, Anita Ellis, Jennifer and Residential Programs were able to house about 80 members students, faculty and staff who lost their homes in vacant rooms in on-campus residence halls. Anita, herself, was steadfast in her effort to make sure that students in off-campus residences were okay following the storm. She drove throughout the area, checking to see if they needed supplies, if they were in contact with their landlords and if they knew about Sandy's List, an online directory that allowed students both on and off campus to offer temporary housing to students who were without heat and power in the wake of the storm. Two days following the storm, an email was sent to students informing them of this offer and by November 1, storm victims were already moving into temporary housing. At its peak, the service provided aid to over 70 students. Hofstra students also housed friends and classmates through other, more informal efforts, to ensure their fellow students had a warm place to stay while the surrounding area recovered.

There are also those, students and staff alike, who went to the areas most affected to make sure donation materials got where they were needed most. People like Kerri Tortorella, Director of Communications for Student Affairs, who helped organize the main donation drop-site in Freeport, and the students who traveled to Long Beach for clean-up and collections proved what a wonderful community we have.

Hofstra students and staff gather to prepare supplies headed
to Freeport in aid of those in the City of Long Beach affected
by Hurricane Sandy.



This semester has certainly been unique to say the least, and it has been especially trying for the parents and families who hoped everything was okay. We sent emails and updates through social media to keep everyone abreast of the situation, and we could not believe how strong the response was. Hofstra parents donated generously to our Supply Drive and Community Disaster Fund, which directly aided students, faculty and staff affected by the storm. Families from all around the country—from nearby towns all the way to California and Washington State—volunteered their services to make sure everyone affected got back on their feet. We also received countless calls from concerned parents traveling from as far as New Jersey to help with the relief efforts on Long Island.

We are constantly reminded how giving each of our Hofstra family members is, and we could not have made such a strong recovery if it were not for the efforts of everyone involved.

Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Hofstra's 2012 Holiday Toy Drive: JUST 1 can make a difference





In case you missed my post on Facebook, I'd like to let you know about our annual Toy Drive. Until December 7, Hofstra is hosting a Toy Drive to support the Interfaith Nutrition Network (INN), which provides aid to needy families on Long Island. We're reaching out to all members of our Hofstra community, including parents to support this year's toy drive. We realize that lately things have been difficult and challenging for so many, particularly now following the hurricane.  

We're asking that everyone consider giving Just 1 new, unwrapped toy to make a difference in one child's life. There are no restrictions on the toy selection, except that it must be new. Something as simple as a coloring book can be a meaningful gift to a child who perhaps has never had one before. No gift is too small and each will go to a child in need this holiday season. 

For those who would like to donate, you may give your toy to your student to drop off at either the Fitness Center or the Student Center (near the bookstore). If you prefer, you may also mail toys to the Office of Parent and Family Programs, Attention: Mary Coleman, 200 Phillips Hall, 128 Hofstra University Hempstead, New York 11549-1280.

It only takes Just 1 gift to make a difference in the life of a child… TOGETHER let's make it happen!

For any questions, please contact me, Mary Coleman, at 516-463-4698 or mary.coleman@hofstra.edu.

Wishing you all an early happy and healthy holiday season,

Mary Coleman, assistant director, Office of Parent and Family Programs

Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Thanksgiving at Hofstra

With one of our nation's most celebrated holidays on the horizon, we would just like to wish all of you a very happy and satisfying Thanksgiving. For those of you who have students staying on campus, Hofstra has a great list of ideas and information to keep them occupied during their break here; but for those whose students will be joining them at the table, we wish them safe travels and a joyous time back home.


Now is a time when we give thanks for our families, and we are certainly thankful for everyone in our extended Hofstra family, which has given us so much not only in the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy, but everyday we reach out. So, thank you all and have a happy, healthy but most of all safe Thanksgiving.

Monday, November 19, 2012

Interview with Delta Alpha Pi President, Brian Singer

Brian Singer is the President of Delta Alpha Pi, an honor society associated with Services for Students with Disabilities, and he was generous enough to sit down with me and discuss what his honor society does and how it works to reach out to students with disabilities and get them involved in their community.

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Thank you for coming, Brian.  So first off, could you please give us some basic information about Delta Alpha Pi?
Certainly.  Delta Alpha Pi is an honor society here on campus that inducts students who are registered with the Services for Students with Disabilities office and have grade point averages higher than 3.1.  We're relatively new, started in 2010, and I am actually one of the only original members remaining.  A lot of our inductees graduated throughout these past couple of years, but we're about to add 22 new members to our ranks this semester; and because we've had so many students graduate, we've actually been inducting on a semesterly basis.

That's fantastic.  It's great to know this is really a thriving piece of campus life.  Tell me, what does your society do for its members? What kind of events do you hold?
Well, again, since we're still pretty new on campus we're still trying to get involved in more events, but we did co-sponsor "Jail-and-Bail," which was a fundraiser event that we worked with Hofstra Goes for Gold and OSLA, where the proceeds went to Special Olympics.  Students were able to purchase "warrants" out for another students arrest.  Public Safety would find the individual based on the details provided in the warrant and bring them to a wooden jail which was set up in the middle of the student center.  The jailed student would then have to raise "bail" money by any available means to be released.  Everything was completely voluntary, we were able to raise $6,600 for special Olympics, and we plan on making this an annual event!

That sounds like a lot of fun for a great cause.  Do you do any other kinds of outreach?
We also get connected with employers in the area to make sure our members have opportunities to find jobs after leaving campus.  It's great because a lot of the employers actually reach out to us because they know we provide that resource for students with disabilities and these employers are eager equal-opportunity employers.  When we meet, we want to make sure we provide all of the services our members need and keep them informed about what is available for them.  If they're looking for it, it's out there.

How often do you meet?
We try to meet about once every month.  Obviously, we want wheelchair accessible rooms and we understand some of our members have trouble getting around so while we want to meet as often as possible, we don't want to make things difficult. And as I said before, we use our meeting times to inform our members and make sure they know what's available to them. In the early days our meetings were based a lot on our e-board (the Treasurer, Secretary, Vice-President and President), but now that we've been around for a while and we're organized, we want to focus as much as we can on our members.

What advice would you give to the parents and families of students with disabilities?
My advice would be that parents should tell their students not to be afraid to step out of their comfort zone.  They shouldn't be afraid of the stigma of having a disability, they should be confident and overcome it.  They should learn to be their own number one advocates.

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If you have a student with a disability and would like to learn more about what services Hofstra University can offer him or her, please visit the Services for Students with Disabilities website here: http://www.hofstra.edu/StudentAffairs/stddis/index.html

Thursday, November 15, 2012

Hofstra University Celebrates Diversity

Quotes such as this one from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. adorned
the Plaza Room screens as Hofstra celebrated diversity on campus.
November is Diversity Awareness Month at Hofstra and on November 14 during Common Hour, we held our annual reception celebrating all of the different facets and faces that make up our wonderful University's community. Throughout the event, students, staff and faculty in attendance received a wonderful opportunity to reflect upon their differences as well as their similarities while listening to speakers and taking part in activities.


Students and staff tune in to keynote speaker Julie Yindra during
the Diversity Awareness Month reception, Wednesday afternoon.

Speakers at the reception were each able to provide their own salient perspectives to the role and importance of diversity. "The first encounter one has with diversity as a child is recognizing difference," purported keynote speaker Julie Yindra, Director for Services for Students with Disabilities at Hofstra. "When I was six, I realized not everyone spends their time in a hospital. When I was eight, I realized not everyone was white. When I was twelve, I realized not everyone had a two car garage...but diversity isn't really about difference, it's about sameness. By appreciating our differences we can begin to learn that we are the same."

In her address, Ms. Yindra was able to touch upon a crucial element that diversity provides not only to this campus, but to life in general: by embracing others who may not look the same, or speak the same native language, or dress the same, people are able to build greater connections and create stronger bonds within a community. "You can't just live inside yourself," said one student in attendance. "You have to expand your horizons. And events like this, they help you do that."

Hofstra aims to create a welcoming and diverse atmosphere for each of its students and employees. For more information on what Hofstra has planned for your students throughout this month, visit the Office of Multicultural and International Student Programs website: http://www.hofstra.edu/StudentAffairs/omisp/index.html or check out our events calendar: http://events.hofstra.edu/

Tuesday, November 13, 2012

Preparing Your Student for Winter on Campus

As the nor’easter that we faced last week and the dropping temperatures prove, winter is almost upon us! For some, this means making snowmen and snow angels, and building snow forts for snowball fights; but for others it means long commutes, shoveling snow and being cold all the time. On campus, snow storms make campus extremely beautiful: there are a lot of fields where students can build their snow forts and snow men and all of the snow covering the trees makes campus look awesome! That said, there are a lot of supplies that students who live on campus can really use to help get through the winter months. You can help out your student by making sure that they have what they need to get through winter when they come home during the winter.

Probably the most important item that your student needs is a good pair of winter boots. During winter, campus can get very slushy and wet, and walking to class in sneakers becomes one of the most uncomfortable things your student can do. A lot of students bring a pair of sneakers in their bag and put them on once they get to their classes. Some other things that your student is going to want are a warm jacket, hat and gloves. During winter, Hofstra becomes very windy, and the tall buildings only serve to tunnel the wind, making a cold day even colder.

For those of you whose students have cars on campus, make sure they have a brush to get snow off their car during the winter. Also, make sure that your student knows to clean off their car after a snow storm, because if they don’t that snow will freeze to the car and getting it off will be next to impossible. A lot of students also keep shovels in their car as well, just in case they get stuck and they need to dig their car out.

Also, make sure that your students know about all of the fun activities that go on around the community during winter. Some of the best opportunities available are ski trips run by local businesses. For around $100 (about $150 if you need to rent gear) many businesses, like Sundown Ski and Snowboard(http://www.sundownski.com/ski_conditions.htm), run day ski trips to Vermont and New Hampshire. Included in the price is transportation, a lift ticket and breakfast. They are a great experience and a great way for your student to get off of campus to explore a little bit.

Winter at Hofstra is a great experience and one that a lot of students look forward to every year. Just make sure that your student is prepared for the winter months, and always make sure that they stay safe!


-Craig Camara, Class of 2014

Monday, November 12, 2012

Just Sing: A Life Well-Lived



Last May, during one of many Hofstra’s events, I stopped breathing along with all of the attendees. Hofstra Vocal Jazz Ensemble started performing. The precision, flawless harmonies, sheer joy in performing – the four singers sounded and looked as if they had descended from a silver screen’s heyday musical. One of the singers, Pete Teleha, towered above his peers in height as his bass voice complemented other voices perfectly. I knew Pete: he was also a founding member of The Dutchmen, Hofstra’s all-male a-cappella group as well as a member of the coed Sigma’cappella. He arranged many of the a-cappella song they sang. I had heard him sing with his Dutchmen in February during the Siblings Day. And, I knew that he was a Class of 2014 Honors College student, a Phi Beta Kappa Honors Society member, and a math major. “What an accomplished young man,” I thought.

Yesterday, as I was driving to campus, listening to Lucinda Williams’ “Blessed” on autoplay, I had a pit in my stomach. I dreaded attending Pete Teleha Memorial Concert, and facing Suzanne and Chris, Pete’s parents. What could I possibly say or do to even attempt to ease their pain? Perhaps I should just stand in the back and not bother them at all …. “I’ll just listen to all his music brethren and honor his memory,” I said to myself. I still cannot accept that Pete died on July 28 of this year, struck by a car on Hempstead Turnpike. I keep telling myself “that’s life” and that “death happens every day” but I still cannot accept such tremendous loss to our Hofstra family. 

Pete Teleha Memorial Concert "Just Sing," November 11, 2012
The standing-room-only concert turned out to have been the most joyous and heart-felt event I’ve participated in recent years. Yes, life-affirming joyous! Pete’s friends, our Hofstra students, exhibited such an amazing display of talent, true friendship, and gratitude for Pete’s life that I was stunned beyond words. Sigma’cappella, Hofstra Vocal Jazz Ensemble, Pete’s brothers from Phi Delta Theta, and The Dutchmen displayed their awesome talents but, in addition, sang straight from their hearts. Talented film students created a deeply-felt and, at the same time, funny video tribute. All of them sang for Pete and about Pete.

Suzanne and Chris were another inspiration. With enormous gratitude, Chris in his tribute said he hoped that the concert would be a joyous occasion, a celebration of his son’s life. Suzanne asked me what she could do for Hofstra and our community.

Dean Warren Frisina said, his voice cracking from grief, that he'd always thought that the voice and not the eyes were a window to a person’s soul. The concert proved him right.

Suzanne had emailed me two months ago, a month after Pete died, to contribute an important advice to all parents. She was thinking of our Hofstra family while her family was in the midst of grieving. Here is her advice: “This is an important safety tip for all parents of college students (or older children): have your kids write down all of their passwords to their computers, debit cards and anything else they might have passwords for. Place the page in an envelope, seal it and put the envelope away in a safe place, promising that you not open it as a curiosity or use it to "snoop". I hope and pray you never have to open it, but this way you will have it in the event of something unexpected happening.” Suzanne had needed to hire a hacker to retrieve Pete’s compositions and writing. Hers is an excellent advice for us parents who don’t want to think about these things, ever.

I will sing an additional line with Lucinda Williams:
We were blessed by Pete Teleha, who took our breath away with his song.

-Branka Kristic

Friday, November 9, 2012

Commuting Through a Winter Wonderland?

Wow, winter came early this year! With much of the area still reeling from the impact of Hurricane Sandy, mother nature decided to deal us yet another blow by sending in a mid-autumn snowstorm. I can say from experience how weather like this wrecks havoc on a morning commute, and I can also tell you how important it is to make sure your commuting student is prepared for changing, erratic seasons. So, I've prepared below a few helpful tips and reminders to make sure your student can make it to and from campus safely.

1. Pack an ice scraper, snow broom, shovel, extra pair of gloves, de-icer. Now, these are particularly important if your student has a car. Jostling for parking and scraping clean one's windshield are not daily occurrences for anyone planning to take a bus or the train.  That said, many students who commute have their own car on campus and when the snow falls or rain turns icy they need to make sure they can clean off their windows without losing feeling in their fingers (again, I speak from experience here). You would be surprised how many times I got out of class to find my car looking like something the abominable snowman would drive and I had nothing but a tennis racquet to dig my tires out. De-icer spray may seem like a suburban comfort, but it totally saves the day. Scrape and spray some if on the windshield, and bam, your student is ready for safe driving with clear windows and mirrors.

2. Have them download a flashlight app or give them the real thing. Even if your student doesn't drive a car into campus, this is a handy item to keep around. The interior of a car after a snowstorm is dark so again if your student has to clear his or her windows after a storm such as we had this week, a flashlight would allow them to find their handy ice scraper without much fuss. The best thing is, there are flashlight apps for smart phones so if you don't have a pocket flashlight that your student can use, suggest that they download a free flashlight app (there are tons). The LED lights which accompany phones are quite powerful so these can be even more helpful than a garden-variety flashlight.

3. Urge your student to give themselves extra time. This is the single most important thing for a commuter to do in times of inclement weather. Whether your student needs to check an updated MTA/LIRR schedule or just needs to leave the house before that second cup of coffee, it is imperative that they give themselves enough leeway to deal with the possibility of heavy traffic, poor road conditions and less public transportation.

4. Encourage them to make friends with resident students. Sometimes classes end late. Sometimes the roads are dangerous. And sometimes a residential friend can be a student's savor when Father Winter huffs and puffs a nor'easter their way. Stay worry free when your student is warm on campus watching the snow fall with a cup of hot cocoa from C-Square.
 

Thankfully, the weather in the coming days is slated to be much more pleasant than it has these past couple weeks. Still, these are always things you should keep in mind for your student to make sure their trip to and from campus is as safe and enjoyable as possible.

Tuesday, November 6, 2012

Greetings From The Increasingly Coastal Connecticut



Photo courtesy of Fairfield Police Department


Greetings From The Increasingly Coastal Connecticut
By Lauren Bove, P'16

We now have power, cable, Internet and a cold fridge full of rotten food but still so many are in the dark and struggling to get by. My neighborhood in Fairfield lost power on Monday late afternoon. It was expected—which was why we were all rushing to pack away potential projectiles around the yard; and hungrily sucking up that last bit of electricity for cooking, work, charging devices and whatever else. Thanks to the ubiquitous and increasingly alarming news reports, we prepared for days prior. But what can prepare you for the unpredictable stress, mixed emotions, devastation and sadness—along with acts of kindness and camaraderie that occur after a storm like this?

Sunday, the night before the storm, the local high school opened up for evacuees and those in need. To my surprise, the parking lot was full of cars by 8 p.m. The waiting was the hardest part. Glued to the TV set masochistically, we watched the increasingly dire warnings issued. Officials in the know bandied about scary descriptions. Things overheard: “Worst ever”, “Like nothing in our lifetime”, “Largest”, “Fiercest”, “Devastating”, “Life threatening” and much more.

We got the message. The storm was a recipe for disaster and it wasn’t to be like any other. A Frankenstorm was coming—a mélange of weather with a soft, gooey tropical hurricane center, surrounded by rich, dark Nor’ easterly winds. If life was truly like a box of chocolates, we would have taken a dubious nibble of Sandy, shove her back in the box to shrivel up and toss out with the trash. (Along with the gelées we never liked and that dreadfully sour lime truffle. Why do they still make those?)

The storm hit Monday as expected, then dog-legged left. Sandy didn’t even have the courtesy of interjecting “Fore!” before she hit us. At that time it wasn’t clear what was happening in the rest of the east coast. We experienced winds that bent trees in suspiciously precarious positions. Flashes of light lit up the sky, from what we can only guess. The sound of a passing freight train lulled the family into a fitful sleep. My bedroom is located in the shadows of a 100-year-old maple. I kept envisioning the thing being blown over on top of me. To my surprise, I did not wake up with a mouthful of branches.

The morning brought all those in our neighborhood out to survey the damage. We must have looked like a staggering hoard of zombies, squinting at the ostensibly inappropriate sunlight. Without coffee or much sleep, it was determined by consensus that, “It could have been worse”, which was heartbreakingly the case for so many. The afternoon and following days since have been spent: searching for Wi-Fi, huddling around working electric outlets in Starbucks and the home of friends with generators, eating unusual combinations of foods—dried cranberries and peanut butter on a graham cracker got two thumbs up in our house.

Naturally, in our house, finding out how the Hofstra campus was fairing and preparing was of upmost importance. Thankfully the Hofstra Facebook page and email blasts kept us in the loop. I was able to speak with my son, a freshman living in the Netherlands, and he assured us that Hofstra was taking care of the students and planning for their safety. Food was never scarce, power was restored quickly and I’m quite sure there will be many stories to tell and lots to be thankful for this Thanksgiving.

After the storm more than thirty homes on the coast in Fairfield have been deemed uninhabitable. Neighborhoods and homes in New York and New Jersey as well as the surrounding areas have been totaled. My girlfriend’s home on Long Beach Island is a memory. Flooding on the beach in town floated a family member’s car and home away. My parents are still without electricity… but like they say, we’re at our best when things are at their worst. We will persevere. To everyone in the area and especially to our Hofstra family: May you always have walls for the winds, a roof for the rain, tea beside the fire, laughter to cheer you, those you love near you, and all your heart might desire.

Thursday, October 25, 2012

Hofstra Roller Hockey

One of greatest opportunities available to Hofstra students is the chance to play on a club sports team: they get to travel, engage the community and build friendships that will last their entire lives. One of the most popular, active such teams on campus is the Hofstra Roller Hockey Club. Hofstra marketing major and B-squad goalie, Craig Camara, describes the team below.
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Started 11 years ago, Hofstra’s Roller Hockey team is one of the most successful sports clubs at Hofstra. We consist of two different squads: a Division I team and a B team, which practice and travel to tournaments all around the East Coast together. Coached by native Long Islander, Jim Tamburino, Hofstra’s Division I team finished in third in the Eastern Collegiate Roller Hockey Association (ECRHA), qualifying them for the Nationals tournament in Salt Lake City. Hofstra’s B team also saw a lot of success in the 2011-12 season, finishing the regular season in the second place behind eventual B level national runners up West Chester University.

In addition to its successes at the rink, the Roller Hockey Team does a lot for the community as well. Every year, we team up with the St. Baldrick’s Foundation to raise money for children battling cancer. Along the way, players shave their heads in solidarity with these brave children battling for their lives. In addition to this, we organize a Special Olympics Floor Hockey event each year and has a dodge ball tournament in the works for November to raise money for the team.

Next weekend, Hofstra travels to Glastonbury, CT for the first week of the regular season. Division I will open the season against bitter rivals Stony Brook and West Point, while B opens up against Stony Brook and Northeastern. From there, Hofstra will also have Events in Feasterville, PA, Sewell, NJ, Richmond, VA and two weekends at their home rink in Bethpage, NY. Despite the strength the team already has, we are always looking for new members to come out and play regardless of playing ability or experience.
 

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If you have a student who you think would be interested in playing, please have them contact the team by emailing hofstrarollerhockey@gmail.com, liking the team on Facebook, or following their twitter feed.  Also, make sure they keep up with the other sports clubs on campus through the Fitness Center website.

Thursday, October 18, 2012

This past Tuesday, for the second time in as many general election cycles, Hofstra University hosted a Presidential Debate, and the campus was jumping.  Several on-campus viewings were held, from the Student Center to Hofstra USA, and each of them was packed to the hilt as students, staff and guests rushed to be a part of this special occasion.
Throughout the day, hundreds of students were able to enjoy coverage from countless media that flocked to campus in preparation for the night's big event.  They were also privy to expert panels discussing debate theory, pre-debate town halls, and Issue Alley for which 26 student groups set up displays in order to educate their peers about issues important to them.  All of the excitement, however, came to a peak when the two candidates made their way onto the debate floor and proceeded to trade barbs in heated exchange after heated exchange.

Everyone turns their attention to the screen as President Obama
and Governor Romney make their way to the debate stage.
It was remarkable to be on campus during the debate, and witness a over year's worth of hard work pay off in a single night.  We couldn't be prouder in our student body, our staff and everyone else who made the debate possible.

Tuesday, October 9, 2012

Fall Festival: Family Weekend

This past weekend Hofstra University held its annual Fall Festival. This event always gives Hofstra families a chance to enjoy some quality time together throughout the weekend over food and music right on campus, but it could not be possible without the incredible efforts put forth each year by Parent Volunteers. Every time we hold this event, it is amazing to see how much Hofstra Families are willing to do to help us make the weekend run smoothly. From blowing up balloons to decorate the plaza room, to helping direct guests on campus, to helping set up the tent for our Sunday Barbecue, Hofstra Parents always go above and beyond what is asked to make sure everyone gets the most out of their time during these sorts of events. So, thank you to all of our Parent Volunteers, who made Fall Festival 2012 such a success!

Friday, September 7, 2012

Interview with Hofstra Student, Taryn Teurfs

If your student is serious about working in broadcasting, there is no better place to polish his or her skills than Radio Hofstra University. Regarded by many to be the best pre-professional broadcast training in the world, WRHU-FM offers a potent mix of deep rich training in state of the art studios, amazing on-air and off-air opportunities, constant mentoring by numerous in-house broadcast professionals, powerful networking sessions with industry leaders & thousands of Hofstra radio alumni. The WRHU staff have been honored with numerous (over 60) awards (many national) over the past few years. Since WRHU is located near Manhattan, staff can learn and grow at Hofstra with internships at the most exciting cutting edge broadcast companies in New York City. No other college radio station in the world can match the WRHU experience.

Taryn Teurfs (pictured below) is the host of Radio Hofstra University's alternative/indie program Airwave. She was kind enough to sit down with me and share her story on how she got so involved in Hofstra's on-campus radio station, WRHU.

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Before we begin, could you introduce yourself?

My name is Taryn Teurfs, I am a junior here a Hofstra and a Computer Science major.

Computer Science? So, what got you involved in the radio station?

Well, I heard about WRHU before applying from my sister who worked there when she went to Hofstra--and she told me that if I worked at the radio station I could engineer my own show, which really appealed to me as a wonderful opportunity. It was a one-in-a-lifetime opportunity and something I wouldn't be able to do if I went to a specialized school. So, I wanted to take advantage of that chance.

With that in mind, could you speak on the application process?

Sure, during our New Student Orientation they took us on a tour all around campus--including the radio station (located in Dempster Hall). When we arrived there, they had applications ready and told us to take one if we were interested. So, I filled one out and around late August I heard back that I was accepted. Following that, there was a training class that went, I believe, the entire fall semester of my first year where they introduced us to what goes into the programming here. Once I completed that, I was able to put in a request to host--you send in a demo of you doing takes with different cuts of music and then a list of your top four choices. They're normally very good about giving you your first choice of show.

Now, you host Airwave at WRHU, which broadcasts alternative rock, correct?

Yes, that's right.

So, would you say that genre is your favorite type of music?

Well, I listen to Z-100 just as well as what's on my show, so I do like the modern, poppy songs as well; but I really do enjoy indie-rock too. You don't get to hear it too often, so it's really unique. I really enjoy getting the chance to play it during my show, and I think it's good to get that sound out there. But, personally, my favorite artists have to be Ella Fitzgerald, Jimi Hendrix, Kate Nash, and Kanye West--and as far as bands go, I really like The Script, Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin.

You mentioned earlier how great an opportunity it is to be on the radio; is there anything you would like to say in closing about the importance of having a campus radio station?

Of course. We have much more than music at the station. Some of the other shows, such as the Women's Show, are great platforms that I really like, and give students a chance to get their voices out there. There's such a variety of people and opinions, it's really a wonderful resource to have. Not only for the opportunity it gives students who work there, but for the ways it lets them get their views across.

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Airwave can be heard on WRHU (88.7 AM) Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays at 7:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m., and online at www.wrhu.org.