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Spring 2005

BONUS ONLINE CONTENT:
Senior Scholars Day
Graphic Design Work
SU CASA Service Adventure

Presidential meal plan

President L. Jay Lemons engages with students during one of his regular student lunches. Sharing in a light moment is Nicole Sangiorgio ’05, a corporate communications major from Altoona, Pa.

Visit almost any college campus in the country, and you’d be hard pressed to find a president passing a sequined satin wand to students and asking them what they’d wish to change about their university. But, then again, L. Jay Lemons isn’t your typical college president and Susquehanna University isn’t your average college campus. The “magic wand question” is part of the lunch hour conversation Lemons regularly shares with students. He randomly invites about a dozen students to break bread, pretense and protocol for one hour of their college careers and tell him exactly what they think of SU.

Lemons says the lunches are “weekly affirmations of vocation” for him that provide opportunities to learn why students were attracted to SU, what they like best about the university, and how they would make Susquehanna an even greater institution. “Happily, their comments often reflect the direction of our strategic plan such as increasing student participation in study abroad, increasing campus diversity, and making improvements to campus facilities like the complete renovation of the campus dining hall, scheduled for this summer,” Lemons said.

During a recent lunch conversation, several students talked about the close-knit community and immediately feeling at home when they came to Susquehanna. They commented on the helpful guidance they’ve received from the faculty. The answers were a college president’s dream, and when students addressed things they’d like to see improved, Lemons was eager to listen.

The atmosphere was relaxed. Lemons’ tongue-in-cheek manner helped to stimulate discussions. He spoke with humor about the statue of 19th century Danish philosopher Soren Kierkegaard in his office and showed the students how it holds the magic wand. Then, in trademark fashion, Lemons turned the joke into a touching lesson in life as he quoted Kierkegaard saying, “The deepest form of despair is to choose to be someone other than oneself; the opposite of despair is to will to be that self which one truly is.”

Graphic designers dominate regional competitions

Susquehanna’s upstart graphic design program, only in its third year of existence, turned some heads at two design and advertising contests this spring. In both the GFAF ADDY and Art Directors Club of Metropolitan Washington Real Show competitions, SU students walked away with more awards than entrants from any other represented school.

View graphic design student work by clicking here.

Academic program updates

New minor:
Asian Studies In this interdisciplinary program, students can pursue in-depth study of Asian cultures, literature, history, religions, philosophies, businesses, media practices, arts, and languages. The minor allows students a broader engagement with non-Western cultures, and provides the foundation for graduate studies in Asian Studies and careers in government, law, politics and business.

New name:
Earth and Environmental Sciences The geological and environmental sciences department has changed its name to earth and environmental sciences. Recently hired faculty have brought broader areas of expertise to the program, and with courses such as meteorology, ecology and oceanography, the department focuses on more earth sciences than just geology. The new name is also more consistent with the fields the majority of recent graduates have entered.

Jounalist stresses world views

Lisa Ling

Students packed the Degenstein Center Theater on March 1 to hear Lisa Ling, host of the National Geographic Channel’s documentary series Explorer, speak about her international career in journalism during the 2005 Sigmund Weis Memorial Lecture. Ling, who started her career at age 18 with Channel One News and gained widespread fame as co-host of Barbara Walters’ talk show “The View,” drew upon her personal experiences of traveling the world and encouraged the audience to broaden their horizons and embrace a global perspective.

Senior Scholars Day

Summer Reading List

Top pick:
Hunger of Memory: The Education of Richard Rodriguez by Richard Rodriguez
As part of the inaugural Susquehanna Reading Program, all faculty, staff and first-year students will be receiving copies this summer. Classroom discussions and a visit to SU by the author will follow in the fall.

Susquehanna faculty and staff also suggest:
Autobiography of a Face by Lucy Grealy
A “genuinely moving account of growing up ‘different’.”
— Gary Fincke, professor of English and creative writing, director of the Writers’ Institute

East of Eden by John Steinbeck
“A story of life experiences and the continual contest between good and evil.”
—Heather Loomis, administrative assistant to the Department of Music

The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
A “compelling story of two ‘brothers’ in pre-Taliban Afghanistan.”
— Helen Nunn, director of financial aid

Shakespeare by Michael Wood
A “vivid, compelling portrait of Shakespeare’s life and the world he lived in.”
— Kathleen Gunning, director of the library

White Like Me: Reflections of Race from a Privileged Son by Tim Wise
“What’s it like to be white in America? Tim Wise shares his personal stories of coming to grips with his own racial identity.”
—Brian Johnson, director of multicultural affairs, special assistant to the president

Students embark on a service adventure

Each year since 1999, a group of SU students and staff have participated in the Susquehanna University Central America Service Adventure (SU CASA) for two weeks of service with the inhabitants of Nicaragua and Costa Rica. Working alongside healthcare providers in Pavas, Costa Rica, in January 2005, Carey Schneckenburger ’06, from Manlius, N.Y., takes a young boy’s vital signs, while Alli McMullen ’06, from Swansea, Mass., records his medical history. View more images from the 2005 SU CASA trip online by clicking here.

Alumni Q&A
Young filmmaker directs his future

Garrett Thompson ’00

Garrett Thompson, a 2000 graduate who studied broadcasting, recently directed an 18-minute short film titled “Hope’s Choice” which won several awards including a college television award from the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences and aired on Showtime for the 2005 Black Filmmakers Showcase. He recently completed a master’s degree in cinema-television production from the University of Southern California.

What made you decide to become a director?
I always from a young age had an interest in working in the entertainment field, because of the creativity it takes and because I enjoy the challenge and excitement of working in a field that never has a day that is the same. The unknown scares some people but for me it is something I really look forward to and enjoy.

What about “Hope’s Choice” do you think is really special?
What I hear from most people is that they appreciate the lesson that it teaches or shares dealing with choices and consequences, especially for young people growing up with difficult situations. People love the revelation at the end.

How did Susquehanna prepare you for what you’re doing now?
It gave me a very broad base of areas within communication as well as cultural studies that came in very useful in giving me a well-rounded liberal arts perspective. It has helped my writing, character development, and storytelling. The main thing a film school looks for is students with well-rounded varied experiences, even if you have no formal film training. They can teach you the film aesthetic, but your stories have to come from within you and the life situations you have been exposed to.

What was one really positive experience you had with a Susquehanna faculty member?
Dr. James Sodt … was my P.R. professor. He was a great teacher who was able to motivate our entire class with his personality, caring attitude, and, most importantly, strong knowledge of the subject matter and ability to effectively communicate it with us. I really learned a lot from him and he definitely made me a stronger critical thinker.
—Interviewed by Erin Markel ’07

Hoopsters pay homage to president

While clever team names are nothing new to SU’s intramural sports program, one moniker on the Spring ’05 schedule stood out. In an e-mail to Susquehanna President L. Jay Lemons, Kyle Sanders ’05 explained: “Because of your ongoing support and contributions to Susquehanna University and its students, a select group of my peers and I have honored you by naming our intramural basketball team “The Jay Lemons.” The Jay Lemons tore up the court in 5-on-5 basketball, and were undefeated until suffering a season-ending loss in the semi-finals. Team members are, left to right, front row: Piotr Wrobel ’08, Eric Gilroy ’05 and Chris Ross ’05; back row: Tony Irizarry ’07, Jason O’Hara ’06, coach Michael Hilton ’07, Michael Brunner ’05 and Kyle.

How to Make the Most of Your Campus Visits

Student tour guides can provide a wealth of firsthand information. Be sure to ask questions!

Between the ivy covered buildings and classrooms full of desks and chairs, campuses can start to blend one right into the next. Beyond bringing a camera or a camcorder to record your visit, the best thing you can do is discover what really sets schools apart from one another. It also doesn’t hurt to bring along a notebook and take notes after each visit!

Here are some things you might want to look into when visiting, as well as a number of questions to ask that will help you sort through those piles of college brochures creating a new carpet on your bedroom floor.

Faculty and academic facilities: Access to your professors and to specific learning and research spaces is crucial to the time and effort you’ll spend learning at any college or university. What’s the average class size? The faculty to student ratio? Will you be taught by full-fledged professors or graduate-level teaching assistants? Are the facilities, equipment and research space accessible to you as a first-year student, or are upperclassmen given first priority? Library: The library can quickly become the place where you spend a good portion of your waking hours. Is there adequate study space? What are the daily hours? Are a number of services, such as the card catalog and subscription databases, accessible through the campus computer network? What about interlibrary loan programs? Does the college or university have a media library, or a music library? How many librarians are on staff and how accessible are they?

Computer labs: How many labs are there and where are they located? How many workstations are available for student use? What hours are the labs open? Are they all staffed in case there is a need for troubleshooting? Is it recommended that students bring their own computers to school? Are there fees to use any of the services? Be sure to check out the school’s Web site - is it easy to navigate? As a student, you may be expected to access a good portion of information through the campus network.

Residence halls: This is going to be your home away from home, so give it a thorough inspection. Is housing guaranteed all four years? Do all first-year students live in the same residence hall? Who has access to the dorms and how? Are all residence halls co-ed? Do students live in doubles or triples? Are there a variety of different living options (singles, suites, lofts, etc.)? Are there any rules about visitation? Can you connect to the Internet and the campus computer network from your room? Does the residence hall (including its bathroom facilities) appear to be clean and in good condition? How many students live on campus?

Dining facilities: This is very important as it will be your major source of nourishment and mealtime hilarity with friends for the next four years. Try to eat on campus during your visit so you can get an idea of what cuisine is typically dished up. What are the hours for each meal? Are there different meal plan options for you to choose from? What are some typical choices offered at each meal? Are there any other places to eat on campus that are covered by the meal plan(s)?

Athletic facilities: These are key, even if you’re not going to be a varsity athlete. Depending upon what’s available at the college or university you attend, you may discover a sport or an athletic talent you never knew you had! Is there a variety of modern, safe equipment for ALL students to use? What are the daily hours? Is there a pool you can use? What sorts of fitness classes are offered? Are there club sports and intramurals?

Career development: Yes, even before you settle on a college, you might want to give some thought to your eventual career. What special career development services does the school offer? What is the placement rate for recent graduates? How many go to graduate school and how many enter the workforce? What percentage of students complete internships and how do they find these opportunities?

These are the very basics of all there is to observe at each institution. You may also wish to inquire about specific campus activities and organizations, the health center, tutorial services and campus security. As you walk around and get answers to your questions, look beyond the manicured lawns and white columns to ask yourself: Does this feel like a place that can offer me the four years I’ve always thought I would spend in college?