The Snapper: Millersville University » Chelsea Shank

Volunteer firefighters give back

Chelsea Shank — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 19:33:35 +0000

Last year the Millersville Fire Company responded to 365 calls, but with the recent merging of four local companies the number of responses will most likely increase this year. As the calls increase, more help is needed and the Millersville Fire Company depends on volunteers to serve the local community.
Students and graduates of Millersville University have helped to fill that need. Of the 30 volunteers, five are current Millersville students and 10 are recent graduates. “We need new members,” said Dan Hunsicker, who has been a volunteer firefighter for eight years. Hunsicker graduated from Millersville in 2008, majoring in industry and technology.
“If you look at Pennsylvania volunteers, we’ve lost about 80% of the fire fighting force,” Hunsicker said.
“If we continue this trend, in thirty years there will be no volunteer firefighters,” said Dan Bezek, who graduated from Millersville last fall. “We’d love to take volunteers.”
The shortage of volunteer firefighters can be partially attributed to the poor economy. People are working two jobs while trying to make ends meet and have less time to give. In the past, many jobs allowed volunteer firefighters to respond to calls while on the clock, but employers who permit that today are few and far between.
The goal of merging Millersville with the Highville, Washington Boro and West Lancaster Fire companies is to improve the overall quality of life for each community involved. Technically they are now all part of the Blue Rock Fire Rescue. The consolidation allows them to share resources and experience and provide a higher level of service.
“All of it is to benefit everybody – the University and the community – and for better fire protection,” said Nick Kramer, a 2009 graduate with a degree in Broadcast Communications who has been a volunteer firefighter for the past five years.
The typical firefighter volunteers between 10 and 20 hours each week. In order to become a firefighter, each volunteer is required to undergo 166 hours of training before they begin working, as a basic introduction to firefighting. “By the last day, you’re actually going and putting out fires,” said Bezek.
In addition to the initial training, each firefighter can choose to participate in more training as they desire, such as vehicle rescue and state certifications. Bezek and Hunsicker are both part of the County Rescue Task Force. To be a part of this they went through 48 hours of training for each of the following: trench rescue, building collapse, ropes and water rescue. They also completed another 32 hours on building construction.
Fighting fires never really stopped being dangerous, and the risks continue to rise as changes are made in the way buildings are constructed. “We’re in more danger because of the new construction of houses,” said Hunsicker. “As people want to build bigger houses for less money they go to cheaper materials. When 400 gallons of glue hold a building together and you apply heat to it, it melts. There’s no longer a warning time, it just collapses.”
Millersville Fire Company is one of the most progressive and the volunteer firefighters usually spend days off training or investigating new buildings to prepare for future emergencies. “If you see us driving around campus, we’re not joy riding, we’re preparing,” said Kramer.
While public fire safety seems to be on the rise, there are still plenty of odd and easily preventable calls to the station. Many responses on campus are the result of students who don’t add water to things like Ramen and Easy Mac when they put it in the microwave so it catches on fire.
“Don’t use the popcorn button as a timer,” said Kramer. Burnt popcorn is the culprit in many fires. One local fire began when someone accidentally left their popcorn in the microwave for twenty minutes instead of two – paying attention to what you’re doing is an easy way to prevent fires.
“There’s a lot of calls that if you didn’t enjoy helping people it would suck. You get stuck somewhere for four hours but you just have to remind yourself that you’re helping other people and you’re not here for yourself,” said Bezek.
“Some people don’t understand, it’s a different kind of lifestyle. You can make plans for dinner but then it’s canceled because somebody’s house is on fire,” Kramer said. While the time commitment is rough, Bezek, Hunsicker and Kramer all agreed that the chance to help people is well worth it.
If you’re interested in serving your community in this way, visit www.millersvillefire.com and click on the “becoming a member” link. Stop by on the second Tuesday of the month for their meeting at 7 P.M. to have your application notarized and be introduced to general membership. Their website mentions a great question to ask yourself if you’re still on the fence about volunteering: “what have you done for your neighbors lately?”
Bezek, Hunsicker, Kramer and the 27 other members of the Millersville Fire Company sacrifice and give countless hours to serve their community. Volunteer firefighters are hardworking heroes who do not get the recognition that they deserve.

No related posts.

Get help with papers at Chryst Writing Center

Chelsea Shank — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 19:19:25 +0000

Every writer needs a reader – or at least that is the slogan fueling the Chryst Writing Center. Whether you consider yourself a skilled and experienced writer or if you struggle to put your thoughts into writing in the first place, you will benefit from the services provided for free at the Chryst Writing Center.
In room 109B in Chryst Hall (between Health Services and the Sugar Bowl) you will find student tutors available to assist you with writing papers. The average tutoring session lasts thirty minutes and you will focus with a tutor on whatever area you are struggling with.
“We basically help students with every aspect of writing, starting with brainstorming,” said student manager Lisa Palmer. From brainstorming to structure to citations to putting on the final touches, the Chryst Writing Center will help you to improve your paper whether you are a very poor writer or an Honors student.
Students may call 717-872-3183 to make an appointment or email writing.center@millersville.edu. You are also welcome to simply stop in to schedule your appointment or try to fit into a walk-in appointment. Students with appointments will be given priority. To receive online tutoring, send your paper to mu.cwc.owl@gmail.com. Online sessions will not be as thorough as a live and in-person one-on-one tutoring session, but the extra help will still be beneficial.
Dr. William Archibald serves as director of the Chryst Writing Center. Student managers and tutors help keep the center running Monday through Thursday from 11 A.M. – 4 P.M. and on Friday 11 A.M. – 1 P.M. During these hours, students may also utilize social networking and instant messaging services available through the writing center. For AOL and Yahoo instant messaging, contact MUChrystWC. On GTalk it is MU.ChrystWC and on Facebook you can add ChrystWC.
When you use this service make sure that your question is clear and to the point. Instant messaging can be great for quick questions about specific grammar or citations. Questions concerning content and issues with your whole paper can be best answered through online tutoring or coming into the center. When you do submit a paper online, be sure to mention which areas of the paper you see as particularly problematic.
Palmer said there are usually 14 students who drop by the center on a typical day. All of the tutors are student employees who go through a training process that teaches students how to assist others based on a teamwork approach. Instead of pointing out everything that is wrong with your paper, the tutors will work with you by asking questions and helping you to figure out what needs to change. While professors can offer you some help, they usually do not have the time. One-on-one assistance in the Chryst Writing Center will make you a better writer.
While they can answer questions about wording for resumes, they usually recommend students head over to Career Services for top notch assistance with resume and other employment questions.
Amber Hartzell has been a tutor at the Chryst Writing Center since the beginning of 2010. “I needed an on-campus job and I’m an English major. I like helping students and helping their writing to improve,” Hartzell said when asked why she chose to work at Chryst.
Student tutor Shari Ramunni said, “It’s a good resource and probably a lot of people don’t know about it.”
An added bonus of getting help from the writing center is the opportunity to have your Loyalty Card punched. Ask for a Loyalty Card and once you have collected six stamps, you earn a free soda and slice of pizza from the Sugar Bowl. Your name will also be entered into a drawing for a $50 gift card to the University store.

No related posts.

Student leaders serving our nation in Millersville Army ROTC

Chelsea Shank — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 16:34:55 +0000

The Army ROTC (Reserve Officers Training Corp) is quite different than other clubs and athletic teams students can get involved in at Millersville. “ROTC is more like a three or four year internship to prepare someone to become an officer in the U.S. Army,” said Major Craig Walker. Walker encourages students considering ROTC to take the Military Science class to help them decide if they have what it takes to be a professional leader of soldiers. Taking the class does not require an Army commitment and will help students to learn about themselves and gain skills and knowledge that will help in any job or career.
“If a student is ready to make the commitment to serve our country, serve the soldiers of our Army and develop themselves into a leader, then this is the place to begin your journey. Not everyone makes the team. It is very challenging. But if you complete the program and become a commissioned officer, you will have a well paying job and an amazing career ahead of you,” Walker said.
There are about 30 cadets in ROTC classes at Millersville this semester, 23 of which have made the commitment to accept the challenge of seeking an Army Commission. Millersville is one element of the Blue Mountain Battalion, which consists of nine other local universities. There are roughly 150 cadets in the entire Blue Mountain Battalion, all training for a common goal.
ROTC is a great opportunity for people to develop themselves both physically and mentally as they are faced with new challenges. “The best parts of ROTC are too numerous to list,” said Walker. “Watching young men and women receiving their Commission as a 2nd Lieutenant and preparing to head off on their new career is a great moment. Additionally, the cadets have opportunities to attend (paid) specialized training such as Culture and Language internships abroad, Airborne (parachuting), Air Assault (rappelling and helicopter operations) and many more.”
As for the most difficult part of ROTC, Walker said that the cadets would most likely say waking up for the 6 A.M. physical training in cold weather is the worst. “Personally, I love it! I think we should do it every day,” said Walker.
“The ideal candidate is the individual who has the personal discipline, initiative, and drive to commit to becoming the best leader they can be. One who is not afraid of challenges and are not afraid to fail. They learn from their failures and continue to seek more challenges. History tells us that those who have been most successful are well rounded as scholars, athletes, and leaders. They do well in school and commit to lifelong learning. They maintain themselves physically. Finally, they assume responsibility and leadership opportunities in everything they do,” said Walker.
Junior Jon McDowell joined ROTC at the end of his freshmen year and then enlisted for one summer at Fort Knox. He is not only a full-time student and member of the ROTC, but also serves in the National Guard. The duties for members of ROTC vary according to class level, said McDowell, and junior year tends to be the most intensive. ROTC members meet almost daily and participate in physical training, academic work and administrative activities.
Every Thursday the Leadership Lab concentrates on practical hands-on application of planning, training and leading cadets on military related missions. Every semester a weekend is spent conducting a Field Training Exercise just like Army soldiers.
“My dad served and I just feel like it’s something you should do for your country,” said junior Bryce Sheaffer about his choice to join ROTC. Junior Jordan Rigel said, “Come out to ROTC, we do have a lot of fun.”
Walker himself appreciates the wide range of opportunities that the Army provided him with, and the privilege to work in a great variety of jobs in many different places. In addition to commanding troops, he considers the chance to teach, train and mentor motivated individuals and leaders to be one of the most rewarding jobs that a person can have. There are very few careers that allow a person to help others with a vision and dedication to becoming the best that they can be.
“I get to train the very leaders that will replace me. They will assume the duties and responsibilities of the Army I have helped build over the last thirty years. They will develop their own legacy and carry the Army to even greater accomplishments of service to our nation,” said Walker.

No related posts.

Organic smoothies at new juice bar win students over

Chelsea Shank — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 16:16:52 +0000

The only place on campus that may rival the popularity of the new fitness center right now is the brand new juice bar. The juice bar, located beside the Galley and around the corner from the fitness center in the Student Memorial Center, offers unique smoothies and healthy snacks.
“We have been open for a week and we’ve sold at least 1300 smoothies,” said employee Karen Swope. “We want to be known as the healthy spot. This is all organic. There is no sugar added, no colors, and no artificial flavors.” The juice bar has already had to get two shipments that they did not expect, and has been told that they are doing more business than any of the other universities with juice bars like this.
Each shake is specifically designed for pre-competition, post-workout, meal replacement or just as a healthy snack. The unique combination of natural ingredients helps with fat loss, muscle building, toning and revving metabolism. The 20 ounce recovery shakes cost $4.79 and meal replacement shakes are $5.79, while the 12 ounce simply fruit or pre-workout shakes are $3.89. Students can pay using cash, map or flex.
“They’re delicious,” said sophomore Justin Shivone. “I used all my flex for it already and now I have to pay with cash.” Shivone’s favorite flavors so far have been the Strawberry Classic and Berry Berry Good.
“Mango Tango and Strawberry Classic are the two hot commodities,” said Mike Carpenter, who works at the juice bar every day except Wednesday. They are open Monday through Thursday from 7 A.M. to 10 P.M., Friday 7 A.M. to 5 P.M., Saturday 8 A.M. to 5 P.M. and Sunday 10 A.M. to 10 P.M..
“I love it, best job ever… I worked from five to ten last night and I didn’t stop at all. I probably made about 150 smoothies, maybe more. Students seem to like it a lot,” said Carpenter.
Performance Food Centers boast the use of “whole foods engineered by nature” and the juice bar at Millersville is their newest franchise. Starting in 1999, Performance Food Centers have been helping small bistros and corporate fitness centers alike to become more profitable through the sale of healthy shakes. In addition to juice bars, Performance Food Centers have franchise opportunities for cafes and kiosks.
Since the Performance Food Centers use the skins, seeds and pulp of fruits, their shakes are not only lower in calories but higher in nutrients as well. Each fruit shake is the equivalent to three servings of fruit. Organic coffee and tea are also available at the juice bar.
To maximize the benefits of these shakes, Performance Food Centers remind consumers on their handouts that timing is a big part of whether the shake will help your body. These shakes can obviously not be your primary source of nutrition. Eating a large meal two to three hours before your workout is essential, according to Performance Food Centers. Sipping water while you work out is also crucial, but the optimum time to store glycogen is immediately after exercise.
The human body has a 30 minute window after exercising to maximize the effects of that workout. Consuming protein after a workout is a major key to gaining muscle. According to Performance Food Centers, drinking a high Glycemic beverage with a three to one ration of carbs versus protein right after your workout will replenish the glycogen your body has lost and keep your running metabolism at a high speed. The Performance Food Centers also recommend eating unprocessed whole foods every three hours to keep your metabolism at its best.

No related posts.

The future of print magazies

Chelsea Shank — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 00:31:03 +0000

According to Forbes magazine, Cosmopolitan magazine has been published since 1886 and is now in 63 countries. Even a mere decade ago, Cosmo would have been examined as a print-only product to be read only in print. But in 2010 as the field of journalism fights to move forward and technology trumps tradition, will magazines continue to be the staple for Americans that they have been in the past? The answer is yes. The way they are experienced however, will continue to evolve.
Looking at Cosmo magazine again as our example, we see that this magazine is no longer found in waiting rooms, grocery store aisles, and snail mailboxes. Cosmo reaches radio, books, research and websites. The editors of Cosmo are constantly seeking ways to continue moving their magazine forward, instead of limiting the publication to the printed magazine as many know today. Whether or not print journalism will continue to reach as wide of an audience as it has traditionally remains a highly debatable question, but no matter what happens the print publications will serve as a platform for the creation of greater products.
As new methods appear in the media industry, publishers like Hearst’s Cathie Black face new challenges. Black explains, “When we look at the contribution of all things new, we try to see how we can make it a significant revenue contributor. That’s the big unknown question at this point in time.” Hearst Magazines has been devoted to the digital-reader race and Black believes it is essential for the print industry to unite across the board in finding business strategies that the media industry has not always been forced to use in the past. Black contends for the continuation of printed magazines even in the age of digital devices becoming the new way to read.
Black also points out, “Kindle is a phenomenal entry into the marketplace, but it’s not a great reading experience, and it certainly isn’t a great reading experience for a magazine reader because we are about a graphic presentation. We are about beautiful photography, illustration and great writing, so I think that we’ll see that in this generation… there will be dozens of devices. We want to think about how we move content, illustration and photography across multiple platforms.”
The print journalism industry is well aware of the fact that readers will find entertainment and information online, and this has already become an established model. Major questions the media industry faces are how much of the reading world will convert to an e-reading device and how much they will pay not only for the device but for the content they select for it. Hearst’s Black believes that the experience of reading a magazine in print far exceeds that of any online device, explaining that, “I don’t think print is dead at all. I think we have a brilliant future, but we need to be smart and work through the issues in front of us.”
Bonnier Publishers have released Popular Science + as one of their first digital magazines and part of their continuing project transforming print magazines into products that can be enjoyed on devices like the Apple iPad. Bonnier hopes to redefine digital magazines. Popular Science + is a product that tries to transfer the old media into a new realm of social media, a process that almost seems to deny innovation. Digital magazines tend to augment their subscribers’ benefits rather than completely supplant them.
Others believe that Popular Science + has taken an existing tradition of magazines and elegantly put it on a new platform with the Apple iPad, and herein lies the controversy that will continue to exist. Only time will tell whether it is best for magazines to transfer or to completely remake themselves.
Other critics of Popular Science + call it an example of a “horseless carriage.” For the first 15 years, automobiles were horse-drawn carriages without horses and with an engine attached underneath. Equating a product to a horseless carriage is a way of pointing out the tendency of designers to attempt to use new technology without quite grasping the point of the innovation. For magazines to have a stable future, let alone a prominent future, in today’s evolving world of media, publishers must reinvent magazines in a more imaginative way.
Imagination is a necessity as the future of magazine continues to look grim. Business-to-business magazines are predicted to continue failing first, while what is ahead for more consumer-based magazines remains a mystery. The success of consumer magazines is driven mainly by advertising revenue rather than circulation value and advertising dollars continue to shift to the internet. Large-circulation magazines are hurting with the loss of advertisers and the effects of a poor economy are not doing anything to help.
Publishers all seem to agree that only time will tell whether their magazines can support the advertising that is split between print and electronic magazines. The increasing popularity of blogs is also placing stress on the print magazine industry. Special-interest websites are taking over the value of magazines, which existed primarily to reach target-audiences. The internet has taken over this need and is obviously more affordable for consumers, not to mention more convenient. The collision of this competition with the struggling economy continues to place great tension on magazine publishers.
Magazines are not as challenged as newspapers today, but the internet will continue to dictate or destroy their future.

No related posts.

Breast and Testicular cancer self-evaluations explained

Chelsea Shank — Sat, 25 Sep 2010 00:12:47 +0000

While self-examination for certain cancers will not prevent the disease, it does increase your chance of discovering the cancer in its earliest stages, when treatment is most effective. If you know your body, you can be aware of changes, which can indicate health problems to see your doctor about. Health Services provides a woman’s examination that includes a Pap smear, breast exam and pelvic exam for registered Millersville University students. They also offer testicular examinations for men. An appointment can be scheduled by calling 717-872-3250.

Self-Breast Exam Instructions
A woman can notice changes by being aware of how her breasts normally look and feel, and then by feeling her breasts for changes, or by choosing to use a step-by-step approach (see below), and using a specific schedule to examine her breasts.
If you choose to do a Breast Self-Exam (BSE), the information below is a step-by-step approach for the exam. The best time for a woman to examine her breasts is when the breasts are not tender or swollen; this is usually a few days after a menstrual cycle. Women who examine their breasts should have their technique reviewed during their periodic health exams by their health care professional.
Also, women with breast implants can do a BSE. It may be helpful to have the surgeon who completed the procedure help identify the edges of the implant so that you know what you are feeling. Some doctors think that the implants push out the breast tissue and may actually make it easier to examine. Women who are pregnant or breast-feeding can also choose to examine their breasts regularly.

It is acceptable for women to choose not to do a BSE or to do a BSE once in a while. Women who choose not to do a BSE should still be aware of the normal look and feel of their breasts, and report any changes to their doctor right away.

How to examine your breasts:
1) Lie down and place your right arm behind your head. The exam is done while lying down, not standing up. This is because when lying down the breast tissue spreads evenly over the chest wall and is as thin as possible, making it much easier to feel all the breast tissue.
2) Use the finger pads of the 3 middle fingers on your left hand to feel for lumps in the right breast. Use overlapping, dime-sized, circular motions of the finger pads to feel the breast tissue.
3) Use three different levels of pressure to feel all the breast tissue. Light pressure is
needed to feel the tissue closest to the skin; medium pressure to feel a little deeper; and firm pressure to feel the tissue closest to the chest and ribs. A firm ridge in the lower curve of each breast is normal. If you’re not sure how hard to press, talk with your doctor or nurse. Use each pressure level to feel the breast tissue before moving on to the next spot.
4) Move around the breast in an up and down pattern, starting at an imaginary line drawn straight down your side from the underarm and moving across the breast to the middle of the chest bone (sternum or breastbone). Be sure to check the entire breast area going down, until you feel only ribs and up to the neck or collar bone (clavicle).
5) There is some evidence to suggest that the up-and-down pattern (sometimes called the vertical pattern) is the most effective pattern for covering the entire breast, without missing any breast tissue.
6) Repeat the exam on your left breast, using the finger pads of the right hand.
7) While standing in front of a mirror with your hands pressing firmly down on your hips, look at your breasts for any changes of size, shape, contour, dimpling, redness, or scaliness of the nipple or breast skin. (Pressing down your hips contracts the chest wall muscles and enhances any breast changes.)
Examine each underarm while sitting up or standing, and with your arm only slightly raised, so you can easily feel in this area. Raising your arm straight up tightens the tissue in this area and makes it harder to examine.

This procedure for doing breast self-exam is different from previous recommendations. These changes represent an extensive review of the medical literature and input from an expert advisory group. There is evidence that in this position (lying down), the area felt, the pattern of coverage of the breast, and the use of different amounts of pressure increase a woman’s ability to find abnormal areas.

If you notice any of the following, contact your healthcare practitioner:

• A hard lump or knot near your underarm
• Changes in the way your breasts look or feel, including thickening or prominent fullness.
• Changes in color, size, shape or texture
• Dimples, puckers, bulges or ridges on the skin of your breast
• A nipple that is pushed in (inverted) instead of sticking out
• Redness, warmth, swelling or pain, Itching, scales, sores or rashes
• Nipple discharge, other than breast milk

Web Links for more information:
• American Cancer Society:
http://www.cancer.org/

*Breast Cancer:
http://www.breastcancer.org

*MU Health Services-Testicular-Self Exam:
http://www.millersville.edu/healthservices/files/Testicular_Self_Exam_Instructions.pdf

Testicular Self Exam Instructions
A testicular self-examination (TSE) is useful in the detection of cancer of the testicles. Testicular cancer is the most common solid tumor found in males aged 20-34 years. If detected early and treated, testicular cancer is almost 100% curable. If untreated, it may spread to the lymph nodes and lungs. Tumors are usually found on one side, but 2-3% are found in both testicles.

Most doctors agree that examining a man’s testicles should be part of a general physical exam. The American Cancer Society (ACS) recommends a testicular exam by a doctor as part of a routine cancer-related check-up.
The ACS advises men to be aware of testicular cancer, and to see a doctor right away if a lump is found. Because regular testicular self-exams have not been studied enough to show if they reduce the death rate from this cancer, the ACS does not recommend regular testicular self-exams for men. But if you have certain risk factors, such as undescended testicle, previous testicular cancer, or a family member who has had this cancer, you should think about doing monthly self-exams, and talk about it with a doctor.

Still, some doctors think that noticing lumps early is an important factor in getting early treatment. They recommend that all men do monthly testicular self-exams after puberty, just to be safe.
Each man has to decide whether to do a monthly self-exam, so instructions for testicular exam are given here.

How to do a testicular self-exam:
The best time to do the self-exam is during or after a bath or shower, when the skin of the scrotum is relaxed. To do a testicular self-exam:
1) Hold your penis out of the way and check one testicle at a time.
2) Hold the testicle between the thumb and fingers of both hands, and roll it gently between your fingers.
3) Look and feel for any hard lumps, smooth, rounded bumps (nodules), or any change in the size, shape, or consistency of the testes.

You should know that each normal testis has an epididymis, which feels like a small “bump” on the upper or middle outer side of the testis. Normal testicles also contain blood vessels, supporting tissues, and tubes that conduct sperm. Other non-cancerous problems, such as hydroceles and varicoceles (described above), can sometimes cause swellings or lumpiness around a testicle. Some men may confuse these with cancer. If you have any doubts, see a doctor.
If you choose to check your testicles, you will learn to tell what is normal for you and what is different. Always report any changes to a doctor right away.
Web Links for more information:
• The Testicular Cancer Resource Center: http://tcrc.acor.org/tcexam.html
• The American Cancer Society:
http://www.cancer.org/docroot/
• Web MD: http://men.webmd.com/

No related posts.

How to: Do Your Part to Help Mother Earth

Chelsea Shank — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 20:09:14 +0000

If you have not seen the posters around campus for a delicious organic juice, you are already confused. Drinking naked has nothing to do with the best party you will ever go to, it is merely a slogan for one of many products that support the ongoing frenzy encouraging people everywhere to “go green.” While there are plenty of trendy green products, it is not always necessary to spend money in order to save the environment. By making an effort to help the environment, you are going to end up saving yourself plenty of cash.

Turn off those lights.Mother knows best, so turn off those lights. Doing so will save money on your electric bill and reduce the strain that the excessive waste of electricity puts on the environment. The same goes for conserving water, turn it off while you brush your teeth and try to shorten your showers. If you think living in the dorms excuses you from this, think again. Spikes in cost of living on campus stem back to simple things that we as students can quit contributing to, such as wasting water and electricity.

Recycle clothes. Shop at thrift stores like Goodwill, located on Rohrerstown Road, or the Salvation Army on Manheim Pike. If you are not willing to consider shopping there, at least donate your old threads. If you are interested in swinging a profit, donate your clothes to a local consignment shop like Next to New on Lincoln Highway East (www.next-to-new.com). Yard sales are another great way to find recycled bargains or to earn money by hosting your own. Hold a swap party with friends to exchange clothes you are tired of.

Think before you print. Ganser Library usually spends over $20,000 a year on the costs of paper and ink cartridges. Students are fortunate enough to print as they wish for “free,” but stop to consider that nothing is free, someone is paying for what you print. Think about how far $20,000 could go in other ways. Decreasing print jobs saves cash and trees.

Incorporate exercise. While helping the environment can be great for your wallet, it can also be good for your body. Environmentally friendly habits yield results that keep us at our healthiest. Walking or biking around campus cuts down on the cost of driving, the frustration of traffic, and the negative effects of vehicle pollution all while adding an easy work-out into your day.

Enjoy the outdoors. Going for hikes with friends on the weekends is a cheap form of entertainment, a fun source of exercise, and an excellent reminder of how beautiful the earth you are trying to save truly is. You can find local parks and trails by visiting the Lancaster County Department of Parks and Recreation website at http://www.co.lancaster.pa.us/parks/site/default.asp or Localhikes.org.

Buy local. Shop for fresh food from local produce stands as much as possible. The George Street Café hosts Community Market Night on Wednesdays from 4-9 p.m. over the summer. Visit other local farmers markets such as LancasterCentralMarket.com, HistoricEastenMarket.org, or RootsMarket.com. Small businesses produce less waste and have much less of a negative impact on the environment than big box stores. You will get more for your money as their products tend to be higher quality and therefore longer lasting, adding to the environmentally friendly factor of small businesses. The same concept goes for eating at local restaurants instead of frequenting chains. Local restaurants like Senorita Burrita on Prince Street grow their own vegetables from seed. John J. Jeffries is an upscale restaurant on Harrisburg Pike that serves food from small organic farms within Lancaster.

Do not litter. I am going to make the optimistic assumption that maybe the people leaving their trash all across campus are illiterate, and have therefore missed every memo considering litter that have been plastering the media waves ever since I can remember. (I’d say maybe they grew up in caves, but my gut tells me cave people had much more respect for nature than these litterbugs.) With that assumption, I have a challenge for those of you who are reading this article with the importance of not littering already instilled in your minds. Consider going the extra mile by picking up the trash you see. Do not dismiss the litter on campus with the thought that “someone else will get it.” Everyone has that thought. You are somebody else. Pick it up, throw it out, bam – it took three seconds of your life, tops, to be the person who actually does something for the environment instead of just gabbing about going green for the sake of politics.

No related posts.

All About the MU Ciné Club

Chelsea Shank — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 04:58:43 +0000

Maybe you like to watch a movie and forget about it, or maybe you love to discuss the contents of what you have invested your time in watching. Perhaps you prefer to see a movie only once, or you have lists of movies you could watch repeatedly. Regardless of your individual movie-viewing quirks, it is hard to find a college student who does not enjoy watching movies.

If you are a film lover, consider attending a gathering of the Film Club, officially known as the MU Cine Club. Film screenings begin 6:30 p.m. each Wednesday in the Myers Auditorium in McComsey Hall.

Upcoming showings include Se7en on April 7, Memento on April 14, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind on April 21, and Fight Club on April 28. Students are welcome to check out the Film Club to expand their knowledge of film and film criticism.

In addition to viewing and discussing movies each week, the MU Cine Club sponsors several films in the Humanities Film Series. They also take a trip each fall to the Toronto International Film Festival.

Junior Eddie Burkhart first decided to check out the Film Club when he overheard someone talking about their trip to the Toronto Film Festival. Burkhart enjoys the MU Cine Club because, “It gives you something fun to do on a Wednesday night. It breaks up the week.”

More information regarding the club can be obtained by emailing faculty advisor Dr. Jill Craven at jill.craven@millersville.edu.

No related posts.

PRANKOLOGY: Pranks Become Students Favorite Memories

Chelsea Shank — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 04:17:18 +0000

Have you ever woken up to the sound of dozens of alarm clocks going off around you, as you quickly try to find every single ticking time bomb disturbing your sleep? Or run out the door you hit a barrier of plastic wrap sealing the doorway? When you look at the time, the time on your phone is set an hour ahead of the clocks you’ve noticed in public places. As your phone starts ringing, how did your ringtone get switched to “Achy Breaky Heart? Only your best friends know the one sound you might hate more than the voice of Miley Cyrus is that of her one hit wonder father.

There is no better excuse to play tricks on friends than on that glorious first day of April. , “We had a sleepover at my friends house into the morning of April Fools and whoever slept the longest and heaviest we were gonna prank. We took pictures and played tic-tac-toe on their faces with markers,” Leonard Blocker said.

Living on campus in a small town causes some people to find entertainment in more creative ways than others. Dorms are a great place to play practical jokes and Jamaina Leslie said, “We put hand sanitizer on all the doors on my floor.” Others, like Joey Fries, had hopes for future pranks, “You fill a bunch of plastic cups with water in a hall so if one falls they all fall – it’s one I’d like to do but it’s hard to do in the dorms.”

Legendary high school pranks also live on in the memories of many Marauders. Meteorology major Ryan Gumble said, “In high school, we froze a bunch of fruit flies because when you keep fruit flies dormant they don’t move. So they were in a big jar, and one of my friends took it home. At a sleepover, he blew them under a doorway where one of my other friends was sleeping.” At least 200 fruit flies thawed out and tormented his friend until he woke up and they finally opened the window.

English major Michelle Detwiler played pranks such as setting a glass of water on the top of doorways, or supergluing someone’s hands to a beer bottle. Her senior class prank involved setting a greased pig loose in the courtyard of her high school. Students watched while faculty tried to catch it before resorting to calling animal control services.

No related posts.

President Francine G. McNairy: A History of Caring

Chelsea Shank — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 19:14:19 +0000

Millersville University is fortunate to have a president who is not only willing to serve her campus in a diligent and prestigious manner behind the scenes, but to lead an overall inspiring life that students are fortunate to learn from.

Since her 2003 inauguration, Dr. Francine McNairy has kept Millersville nationally ranked by both U.S. News & World Report and Kiplinger’s in the midst of economic crisis. Her exuberant leadership has impacted the greater community as well, through involvement with Millersville borough and its upcoming 250th anniversary celebration.

When asked to reflect on her own greatest achievements, an increase in diversity among both faculty and students was at the top of President McNairy’s list. President McNairy takes pride in the fact that Black History Month is not an isolated event on campus, explaining that, “At Millersville we celebrate diversity on our campus all year round, not just during one month. We were honored in January to have Dr. Cornel West with us to help celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day, and the Frederick Douglass Celebration of Black Culture speakers cover diverse issues across many cultures and races throughout the year.”

Millersville University is thriving in all areas under President McNairy’s outstanding leadership. During her presidency she has finalized a $40 million capital campaign. President McNairy explains that she has also initiated the next one, “a $60 million effort with emphasis on endowment growth, a major renovation and expansion of the performing arts center, and continuation of major academic facility upgrades including technology equipment advancements in the sciences, humanities, and education.”

Yet another incredible achievement during President McNairy’s six year presidency has been the establishment of a new university vision statement. This came as the result of a strategic planning process, which President McNairy said includes, “a more intentional commitment to the University’s promise to its students, a redesign of the budget process to encourage greater constituent participation, a focus on securing new revenue sources, and the strategic process of aligning the University’s budget with institutional priorities and goals.”

A prominent source of inspiration for the students and faculty alike at Millersville, President McNairy finds her own inspiration from many people in her own life. Her own mother, Gladys McNairy, was also an activist who strongly believed in quality education for all in children in the Pittsburgh Public Schools. Gladys McNairy was the first African American woman appointed to the Pittsburgh School Board as well as its first African American president. President McNairy said, “She taught me that it was important to ‘give back to the community’ and to work hard to make a difference in the lives of others. She was a great diplomat who knew how to solve problems and create new ways of thinking and working together with her adversaries as well as co-workers.”

Another person who powerfully influences the ongoing legacy of President McNairy is one of her close friends, Marsha. President McNairy said, “For many years my friend, Marsha, was a warrior against cancer. She approached each day as a precious gift from her Creator. While she is no longer with us, she taught me to value the life that I have and to refrain from self pity. She taught me to be a cheerleader for others and to applaud every little success, because it is the small victories that build the foundation for the big successes.”

As someone with her fair share of both small and large successes, any advice from President McNairy is someone for everyone to treasure. When asked to offer some personal advice to Millersville students, she said, “Dare to pursue the road less traveled. Anyone can follow a safe path that others have traveled. Learn to take appropriate risks in life that lead to the improved quality of life for humankind. Learn to laugh at yourself. Don’t take yourself too seriously. Take time to understand as many cultures as possible – this world requires that we learn to communicate and interact with those who may not believe in the same values as we do, however, the future of the planet requires that we learn to respect and live with those who are different. We might learn that they are not so very different from us.”

No related posts.