How important is technology to you?
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The technology that’s been used in our daily life has developed rapidly. Nowadays, technology helps us function almost half our lives in this era. Technology is used in many aspects of our daily life, especially among young people. Cell phones, Laptops, iPods. It seems like that students just can’t live without these delicate, metal and hi-tech devices. Let’s take a look at how important is technology to students in Juniata.
Katie Shedlock, ’13, McLean, Va.: “My laptop is the most important device I use, and then comes my cell phone. I almost take my laptop everywhere I go, because I have everything I need on it and it’s a very useful device.”
Shelby Connor, ’13, Boulder, Colo.: “I use my cell phone and laptop both a lot. I go to group meetings often, and my cell phone is very useful when I need to contact someone.”
Sheena Kroskey, ’13, Loretto, Pa.: “I don’t think I can live without my laptop. I have everything on my laptop, and that’s pretty much the only technology device I really use, expect for electronics like the light or the microwave. Since it’s such a small campus, I hardly use my cell phone, so most of the time I don’t even know where it is at.”
Lingzi Mao ’12, international student from China: “The laptop would be the technology that I use 24 hours a day. I don’t use my cell phone over here that much; instead I e-mail people more often.”
Sammi Wang ’13, international student from China: “Laptop and cell phones are really important to me. And sometimes I think cell phone is more useful, because my dad in China calls me very often, and my cell phone lets me talk to him wherever I am.”
-Helen Hu ‘13, online jounalist
Hand at 12 and Thumb on the 5: Is Texting while Driving a Threat?
The New York Times published an article about a young woman in Britain killed by a driver who was text messaging. Further, legislation has been put into motion, making text messaging while driving, illegal. Students share their thoughts about texting and driving:
Do you text while driving? If you do, does it seem to interfere with your driving?
Nicky Deak ’12, New York, N.Y.:
“No, I don’t text while driving, I tried it once and I was really distracted. So yes, it does really interfere with my driving. Actually, I don’t own a car or even have a full license yet.”
Sarah McCann ’12, New Kensington, Pa.:
“Yes, I do, sadly. I’m sure it does interfere with my driving a little, but I try to make sure that it doesn’t. I only do it at red lights or on straight stretches of road.”
Ed Sinnes ’12, Waldorf, Md.:
“I don’t drive much, but when I do, I sure don’t text, I give it to someone else or I leave it alone.”
Ken Noga ’11, Vernon, N.J.:
“I only text when driving when I’m absolutely certain I can handle the situation. So I would say it does not interfere with my driving.”
-Joe Aultman-Moore, Juniata Online Journalist
“NoShavember”: The Hairy Truth
It is now the infamous time of NoShavember or maybe you know it as “No Shave November.” Regardless, Terrace residence hall is bringing in the season with competition. The boys on the third floor have dedicated themselves to not shaving their facial hair until Nov. 23. They are competing for categories like “the lumberjack”, “patchy the pirate”, and “most valiant attempt.” Some of the girls in Terrace and Tussey are also competing in the realm of hairiest legs. The participants gave their opinion on what the worst-case scenario would be, why they’re growing their hair, and what award they are going for.
Jared Haidet ‘13, Mechanicsburg, Pa.,
The worst-case scenario probably would that it wouldn’t grow. I’m split between the two main categories. I want to do the rabbi look, or the Amish farmer look. I’m hoping it turns out well. I’m participating because, coming from a Catholic school, we were never allowed to grow beards, ever. This is the first time I get to see how big it can get. I was compelled.
Harris Dunlap ‘13, Seattle, Wash.,
I’m going for the Mountain Man Award. I’m doing it for the fun of it. I guess the worst case scenario is that it gets itchy and I have to shave it off, or I go around scratching my face all day… like ‘scratch’ me Elmo.
Jacob Gordon ’10, Altoona, Pa., and Nick Galante ’11, Center Valley, Pa.
We’re just doing it to try and win again. We did it in East last year, among the suites, and by the end of it, we were the only two participating. Everyone else couldn’t grow a beard or their girlfriends said “no”.
Joe Penzo ‘13, Grassflat, PA,
Worst-case scenario is that I’m going to light a grill and burn my beard off. It could happen. I’m growing it because beards are awesome. It hurt me to get rid of my beard before the competition. I’m going for the lumberjack. I want to grow a really sweet beard.
Annie Alexander ‘13, Pittsburgh Pa.,
Being braid-able is my award and main motive. Worst-case scenario would be a shiny leg contest because I would fail. Best-case scenario would be a dog costume contest. I’m growing it because who isn’t down for a friendly competition?
-Erin Kreischer ’13, Juniata Online Journalist
Studying Abroad in England: A Brit Different
Interview with Alyssa Erb, from Hollidaysburg, Pa., who recently studied abroad in England.
Where and for how long did you study abroad?
I studied at York St. John University in York, England for three months in the fall of 2008.
How did you decide on a destination?
I wasn’t sure where I wanted to go exactly, but I knew I wanted it to be some place in the UK. I went and talked to Jarmila Polte, who was then the head of study abroad, and told her I wanted to be part of theatre and thought I wanted to be somewhere in the UK. She suggested York St. John, and when I talked to Andy Belser, the head of the theatre department, he suggested there as well because we were trying to start a relationship with them.
What was the environment and culture like?
The environment and culture were somewhat similar to here, but I found people there were a lot more honest and blunt about things. People were also really fascinated by my being an American and the culture of America.
What was your favorite experience you had while there?
I think my favorite experience while I was there was being able to travel to so many places. I got to go all around England as well as Dublin, Edinburgh, Paris, and Barcelona. I also go to see a lot of great theatre in all of the countries I went to.
What was the most profound thing you learned?
The most profound thing I learned while I was there was just about being in a different place and how to deal with another culture and being by myself and learning how to really kind of be independent.
Do you have any advice for those considering a trip abroad?
The advice I have for anyone going abroad is just do it. I would recommend studying abroad to anyone and everyone. Be open to other cultures and learn as much as you can while you’re there.
-Samantha Stroup ’12, Juniata Online Journalist
Presidential Peace Prize: Obamania, or “Nobel” Cause?
President Barack Obama was recently awarded the Nobel Peace Prize on October 9, 2009. However, it is still under heated debate whether or not this award is well deserved. To find out, we asked Juniata students’ opinions on the matter.
Michelle Medina ’12, Plattsburg, N.Y.: I think it is lame for Obama to get the prize when he hasn’t even done anything yet. Other people probably deserved it more than he did. It is cliché because he is the first African-American President.
Hannah Miller ’13, Hanover, Pa.: I think it is silly because while he promises to be a good leader and has taken steps in the right directions, he has done nothing definitive yet to bring peace. I also think the only reason he got it is for not being George W. Bush.
Joshua O’Brien ’10, Albany, N.Y.: Currently, he has not done enough to deserve it even thought he has shown a lot of effort, such as reaching out to the Muslim world. Hopefully, it will hold him to higher standards in the future as far as his policies are concerned.
David Grim ’12, State College, Pa.: In terms of foreign policy, I think he has done a good job reaching out to foreign countries and trying to establish a positive reputation for the U.S. abroad, but I don’t think he has done anything significant to deserve it. Other U.S. presidents who received the award were Jimmy Carter, who worked with conflicts for decade, and Woodrow Wilson who created the League of Nations. But when considering people like Mother Teresa, Martin Luther King Jr. and Kofi Annan, he hasn’t done anything to come close to deserving to be mentioned with them.
-Sam Stroup ’12, Juniata Online Journalist
Liberal Arts Literature: Keeping up with the Times
Juniata provides free daily New York Times to its students. The goal is for students at a liberal arts school like Juniata to stay up-to-date with the happenings of our society. What do some students think?
Do you read the New York Times here at school?
George Braun ’10, Westfield, N.J.: “Occasionally, although I know a lot of the political science kids do read it quite a bit.”
Anna Henzy ’13, Elkins Park, Pa.: “Not much, but I am glad that they offer it here.”
John Curry ’12, Greenwich, Conn: “I read it every day. I always got it at home, so it’s a routine of mine. I enjoy the Tuesday Science Times in particular. “
Alex Cooper ’11, Bridgeton, N.J.: “No, I don’t read it much, but I do have some friends who do.”
Nick Talisman ’12, Bethesda, Md.: “I don’t usually read the paper version, but I do keep up on NYT.com”
-Joe Aultman-Moore ’12, Juniata Online Journalist
Studying Abroad: Which Country Would You Like to Go to?
Studying abroad is always a good way for a change of the environment we engage in now. It is also a special experience that you can truly immerse in a culture and learn a way of living that differs from yours. Juniata College provides many opportunities for students to study abroad. Let’s take a look at which countries would Juniatians like to go to and why.
Sammi Wang ’13, international student, China: I really would like to study either in England or Egypt. I always loved the old European style buildings in England. They are really pretty and very different from the architectures in China. And the unique old scenic in Egypt really attracts me to go there and visit.
Jasmine Jade ’13, Michigan: I would like to study in Barcelona, Spain if I had a chance. The biggest reason is because they have a great anthropology program, which I’m studying right now. And I love the culture and the country!
Ansely Xiao ’13, international student, China: Japan or England would be my first priorities for studying abroad. Mainly because the Japanese culture is similar to the Chinese culture, so I always wanted to learn more about their customs. I personally love shopping, and I heard about many of the brands I like sells really cheap products in England, so that is a big reason for me to study there!
Lisa Ley ’13, Wexford, Pa.: I really would like to go to Germany, because I really want to be fluent in German and I love the culture too! I started to learn German since high school, and I always wanted to be bilingual.
Chao Nguyen 12’, international student, Vietnam: Scotland is the place that I really want to study in. I like to travel, and I really would like to St. Andrew’s University in Scotland.
-Helen Hu ‘13, Juniata Online Journalist
Parks and [Re]Creation: Rejuvenating National Treasures
Emphasizing their 100th anniversary, Glacier National Park adopted the slogan, “research, discover, preserve, celebrate- be part of the legacy.” David Hsiung, professor of history, was called upon to be part of Glacier’s legacy. This summer, Hsiung lived at Glacier as a historian in residence to research the park’s history and help promote a diverse way of public interaction. He shares his experience:
Did you view the PBS national park series? What did you think about it?
I watched parts of it; it was 47 hours long so I only saw bits and pieces. It featured gorgeous photography and I knew some of the talking heads and historians. It was neat seeing them on camera. These beautiful, thoughtful ideas just come flowing out of their mouths.
Do you feel that America places enough importance on their National Park system?
At one level, Americans don’t value the parks enough in that they are under-funded. Every park has infrastructure, bridges and visitors’ centers that are falling apart. There needs to be a huge infusion of money. In another sense, Americans love the parks almost to death. The crush of people, air pollution caused by vehicles, solid waste generated by coffee cups and trash are putting a strain on parks that in some places, they can’t handle.
What does it mean to be a historian in residence at Glacier?
They gave me housing and I volunteered my time to help the park. Their staff members weren’t really trained historians, so I used my skills to research and write 10 mini-biographies for the students of schools that come into the park during the school year. It was fun doing the research, but doing the writing was agony. I had to keep it two pages max for each mini-biography.
What surprised you the most about your job? Was it the experience or the information that you uncovered that left you with the greatest impression?
The greatest impression was probably the location. I had not been to Glacier before and I enjoyed the enormity of the place, the mountains, the majestic peaks, the beautiful trails where I would have to ‘schooch’ to the side of the trail so a mountain goat could go by. That was great! Sadly, they predict that by 2020 there wont be any more glaciers there.
The other memorable thing was that my boss at Glacier was an old buddy who I first worked with in the Panhandle of Alaska in 1986. To reconnect with him, share old times and insult each other again and go on hikes together again, was great. He’s the reason that Juniata has a connection to Glacier.
If you had the power to create a national park, where would it be, what would it entail and what would it be called?
The kinds of parks I’ve been mentioning are natural wonders. However, probably more visitors go to historic sites like Gettysburg and the Statue of Liberty then go to some of the scenic parks. So I think some sort of national park site based on history would be my choice. Maybe the racial discrimination and oppression between the end of the civil war and the civil rights movement. Perhaps I would name it after Ida B. Wells.
-Erin Kreischer ’13, Juniata Online Journalist
Vegetarianism in a Nutshell
It seems that these days more and more people are giving up meat and going for their veggies. Proof of this can be seen around Juniata’s College campus. Not only is our food service increasing the number of vegetarian options available to accommodate this growing population, but there is currently a new club on campus—the Vegetarian Alliance. Claire Holzner, the faculty sponsor for the club, gives her opinion on the benefits of cutting meat from our diet and advice on how to do so.
Why did you become a vegetarian?
I became a vegetarian because I do not want animals to suffer and die so I can eat, because eating meat is not necessary. Instead of adding to the level of misery in this world, I wanted to be able to add to the level of compassion. Factory farming is extremely cruel to animals. Although I initially became a vegetarian for animal reasons I discovered that there are so many other reasons that it is overwhelming. Environmentally, production of meat is very wasteful of land, water, and fossil fuel — and the meat industry is the number one emitter of global warming gases. Meat is inefficient: you must feed an animal 10-20 calories to get one calorie out for human consumption. If Americans cut back on their meat consumption by just 10 percent then there would be enough grain to feed all the people in the world who currently don’t get enough to eat.
What advice would you give to someone who is trying to become a vegetarian or vegan?
I would advise one to conduct research and become educated. If you feel secure with your decision not to eat meat, it will make these situations easier. I would suggest bringing your own food to events like these, such as soy burgers. Don’t see being a vegetarian as limiting—there are so many great recipes available. One of my personal favorite cookbooks is “Veganomicon: The Ultimate Vegan Cookbook,” by Isa Chandra Moskowitz and Terry Romero. Try to cook for your friends and family, so that they can enjoy vegetarian food as well.
What foods do you eat to make sure you get all the right nutrients?
The key in any vegetarian diet should be lots of vegetables, grains, and beans or other protein sources. In my diet I try to eat a lot of dark green veggies because they are rich in vitamins, iron, calcium, and are a great source of fiber. I also suggest eating soy, tempeh, and tofu. Taking iron, calcium, and especially B12 supplements is probably a good idea.
What are common misconceptions associated with being a vegetarian or vegan?
Sometimes there is the misconception that vegans care for animals more than we care for people and that is not true. It’s about human suffering as well as animal suffering. Another misconception is that vegans have no fun and that they are very severe and puritan. That is not true as well; I know a lot of vegans who have a lot of fun. There are so many recipes out there that being a vegan can actually be adventurous.
-Liz Roberts ’10, Juniata Online Journalist
Is Your Time Managed Properly?
College life has always been loaded with academic studies that cause an increase in student stress. Many first-year students are plunged in to the frustration of no sleep and time management problems. Some students might have adjusted to the new educational environment over a short period of time, but others still might be struggling. Jared Smith, residence director, shares some advice for students to apply their time reasonably.
Q: How many hours should a student use to for studying each day?
A: It depends on the number of credits for each student. People with more credits obviously need to study more. But it also depends on the subject and material and how people feel their learning style is. Generally, for each credit hour you may want to study three hours outside of class. And also, people come here as a full-time student, so it’s reasonable for them to be studying most of the time during the day.
Q: What is a good strategy for reducing the overwhelmed feeling students sometimes get?
A: It also depends on the time of the semester. For instance, right now obviously the mid-terms are coming up, and the time that people will feel overwhelmed trying to get things turned in before the fall break. One way that people can reduce the overloaded feeling is just to stay on top of it and be organized. Even having a regular routine in that kind of organization in your day of life can really help you to feel having a good handle on things. Using planners, calendars, or even your cell phones to write down deadlines for assignments can help people be prepared for whatever is coming up.
Q: What are some good ways to manage time properly?
A: Again, it differs for everybody. However, it’s important to start get organized, the dean of students office always have free organizers for students to use. Regular studying time and routine is very important, it can be as simple as that but can be very easily overlooked. Most of the students’ study until late at night and it’s best for them to stop whenever they they are done. Sometimes getting too stressed out and being loaded with tasks for the day can cause the quality of the work to go down. Wait until the last minute to finish your work is a really bad idea, instead I recommend students get whatever needs to be done under way soon after the work is assigned.
Q: What study methods do you recommend?
A:. Generally speaking, rewriting and organizing notes helps a lot. For many people it helps for them to actually teach whatever they learned to another person. Getting out of your room helps students to study better. There are many classrooms opened during the week after around 4 p.m., and they provide a better atmosphere for studying.
-Helen Hu ‘12, Juniata Online Journalist
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