Campus Life – Page 2 – Teen Observer Archive

July 14, 2016July 15, 2016

Environment at American U a priority

Four years away from its goal of “Climate Neutrality” but with some students skipping participation in its greening efforts, American University has pledged to continue its sustainability efforts on campus.

Students and staff interviewed this week said the university’s commitment to environmental issues on campus including composting, recycling and the maintenance of a community garden makes it a leader in the nation.

The university “is doing a pretty good job,” said Liam Toohey, 35, who works at the Bender Library on campus.

In April, AU signed Second Nature’s Climate Commitment, a document that reaffirms the school’s goal of climate neutrality. Second Nature assists colleges and universities nationwide with efforts to become more sustainable. The document emphasizes higher education’s role in sustainability.

Signatories “believe firmly in the power, potential, and imperative of higher education’s key role in shaping a sustainable society,” according to the document.

Five months earlier, AU joined more than 300 colleges and universities in signing the White House’s American Campuses Act on Climate agreement.

The Zero Waste Policy AU adopted in 2010 also prompted the establishment of AU’s Zero Waste Club, a group of students that takes initiative in reducing campus landfill waste, as their name explains, to zero. AU’s Zero Waste Policy has called for “reducing and diverting 100 percent of the university’s waste stream.”

Most buildings on campus, offer four different ways to dispose of materials. These include bins for organic waste, trash headed for landfills, glass and plastic recycling and paper.

But, not all students pay attention to the separate bins, and that may jeopardize whether composting materials–food waste, napkins and other biodegradable materials–are treated as environmentalists hope. In the past, the University has had issues finding a composting facility that accepts mixed materials from the bins.

“People need to pay attention,” to composting bins, said Fabiola Lizardi-Clemente,17.

Allie Goldsmith, 19, a barista at the Dav, a coffee shop in the School of International Service, noted that it has been going green for as long as she can remember, and said many students at SIS do a good job paying attention to environmental issues.

“People are more conscious here,” Goldsmith said.

A sign at the coffee shop read, “SAVE the WORLD, use a MUG! Take it ANYWHERE but please, please, PLEASE bring it back to the DAV.” Another sticker pasted at the shop said, “We proudly serve TAP WATER.”

Tucked behind the SIS building, down a narrow gravel pathway, is an herb and vegetable garden, an effort by AU’s Arboretum and Gardens team to promote consumption of locally grown produce.

The garden, according to Toohey, is open to all AU faculty, and is filled with herbs from “Stir-fry Thai Basil” to “Simply Salsa Cilantro.” Other plants include curly kale and blackberry bushes.

The School of International Service building, which is LEED-certified, is renowned on campus for being a “green place.” That means its better at reducing water and energy usage.

Other buildings, like the Kogod School of Business and the Mary Graydon Center, have green roofs, helping to cut down on water runoff and boost “energy efficiency,” according to the university’s website.

July 14, 2016

Pokémon Go catches ’em all in D.C.

“Pokémon Go” has been sweeping the world’s attention and in Washington, D.C. students, professors and parents are among the millions using the app who are trying to catch ‘em all.

Players are tasked with finding Pokémon in an augmented reality with the creatures popping up on screen as they walk. The object is to catch as many Pokémon as possible, with some having more value than others.

District residents said the surge in play this week has been noticeable.

“I saw teenage boys at a park for the first time in my life,” said Aiyana Riddihough, 20, a new “Pokémon Go” user and Washington University student. “I think that’s pretty good.”

While “Pokémon Go” has encouraged players to step outside and explore their neighborhoods, it also has brought risks. The National Safety Council released on Tuesday a statement citing concerns noting people walking and driving while using the app may be putting themselves and others at risk.

“It takes people out of their environment, but also puts them in it,” said J.T. Tubbs, 21, a camp counselor at American University.

A large difference between “Pokémon Go” and other games is the freedom it presents to its users, according to Patrick Flynn, an American University adjunct instructor of film and media arts. While some applications may punish you for not checking up regularly, “Pokémon Go” allows players to catch Pokémon whenever they like.

“As the game gets on and as hierarchies develop as they always seem to do, that’s when we’ll start to see what the real problems are,” said Flynn, who said with more time more issues might arise.

The future of “Pokémon Go” may change with the beginning of the school year. High school students won’t have the same amount of time to play, however, college students will return to campuses flooded with Pokémon.

“You could, theoretically, see fraternities or clubs setting up lures and using that as a way to meet people and expand their membership, in a very organic, social way,” Flynn said.

For now, “Pokémon Go” attracts users from many backgrounds. Players don’t need prior knowledge, but for those Pokémon fans the game is like a dream come true.

“I’m obsessed,” said Dylan Kenney, 21, while catching a Pokémon on the table at a campus cafe. “I’ve played Pokémon for years, and now I can actually catch a Venonat in Starbucks.”

July 9, 2016July 11, 2016

Students stress over debt

AU Weber — Rebecca Weber, 27, an American University graduate student, reads at the campus Starbucks. Photo Credit Sami Pye.

Liz Hexler, 18, a rising sophomore at American University, shook her head as she contemplated the idea of transferring to a more affordable college.

“I already am getting a large scholarship, but it still is not feasible for me to be at American University for more than two years,” said Hexler, of Chicago.

She came with the hopes to succeed in the international relations program, but has been left angered by what she sees as excessive fees and tuition.

With college prices on the rise and more and more people applying, students are struggling to repay loans. Currently, U.S. graduates and students owe $1.2 trillion in student debt, according to debt.org.

Every second, $3,000 in student debt is acquired, and the average debt for the U.S. graduate student is $33,000, according to debt.org. In 2014, the average amount of debt at graduation rose 56 percent, from $18,550 to $28,950, according to the Institute for College Access and Success.

Joanna Sobieski, 24, a 2015 American University graduate, and Alex Mazzarisi, 22, who graduated the school in May, both supported the idea of going to community college for the first two years and then transferring to a more expensive.

“I worked three jobs, so I didn’t have the typical college experience,” Sobieski said.

Sobieski had to work numerous jobs to keep up with with all of the expenses that come with attending American, where the average annual cost is around $60,000, according to American University’s website.

After graduation, Sobieski worked abroad for a year with a very low-paying job, so she was able to postpone the loan, but now she is very stressed as to how she will repay the loan. In order to repay, she plans to work a 9-to-5 job and work retail or waitress on the side.

Rebecca Weber, 27, an American University graduate student, said when she finishes her master’s degree in international affairs, she’ll have more than $100,000 in loan debt.

“I’m not going to live where I want to live or be at the same level of comfort,” Weber said.

Others, like Mike Limarzi, 33, did not see student loans as a huge obstacle.

“They do impact, but not disastrously,” Limarzi said.

Limarzi graduated from Georgetown University, a private school in Washington, D.C., in 2004. While student debt wasn’t a struggle for him, he still pays his wife’s $500 monthly student loan.

“We have an amount to pay, and we try to pay over it each month so we finish fast,” Limarzi said. “We know how to budget.”

Sitting on a bench outside the American University library where she works, Tara Barnett, 28, explained what helped her the most with student debt after graduating from Reed College in 2009.

“I had a lot of financial aid,” Barnett said. “Without it, I couldn’t have gone.”

For many, grants and loans are the major forms of federal financial aid for undergraduate students. According to the U.S. Department of Education, over 1.9 million students receive financial aid each year. For some, it’s the only way to afford college.

“My boyfriend goes to school in Denmark,” Mazzarisi said. “He didn’t come from a well-off family, but he is still able to go to one of the best colleges in his country because it is free. He also gets paid $800 to attend.

“The U.S. can maybe learn something from that,” she continued.

July 7, 2016

Despite urban area, AU students and staff feel safe

Emergency blue light towers stand throughout American University Northwest Washington, D.C. campus and offer an extra l

An American University staffer walks by an emergency tower on campus. Photo credit Jordyn Fields.

ayer of safety and protection, but many interviewed on campus this month said they feel completely safe.

“I think on certain campuses safety is an issue but not here,” said 20-year-old Cristina Tejada, sitting at the campus Starbucks. “I feel safe on AU’s campus.”

Almost a dozen students and staff this week said crime is not one of their major concerns at American University. But nationwide, in 2014, 50,000 criminal offenses took place on college campuses, according to the U.S. Department of Education Campus Safety and Security website.

Crimes at American University’s campus have ranged from bike theft and burglary to alcohol violations and aggravated assault, according to the Public Safety website.

Incoming college first-year students at American are given tips and guidelines about staying safe in college. Tips include using the “buddy system,” getting home early, and knowing where those blue emergency towers are.

“It’s better to start with the individual because there’s such a good campus security presence,” said Denise Paolella, who works at American.

Campus police patrol cars circle campus.The school also offers a self defense class.

“I didn’t have a lot of concerns about campus safety,” said 42-year-old Joy Adams, who now works on campus. While she was a college student in Texas she said, “I was mindful of my environment by making sure I didn’t walk in dark place on my own.”

July 9, 2015July 9, 2015

Books aren’t going anywhere at AU’s Bender Library

Computer stations near print reference materials at American University's Bender Library. — Computer stations near print reference materials at American University’s Bender Library. The library offers 50 computer stations. American University library. Photo by Nima Padash

Even in our technologically advanced society, both American University students and professors think books are here to stay.

At AU’s Bender Library, Alyse Minter, 27, a librarian, said books will never go away, but on a recent July morning in the basement level five people were plugged in with print material nowhere in sight.

AU’s Bender Library offers 50 computers and plenty of spaces to plug in a laptop or smartphone, but it’s the permanent print and reference collection that really stands out to Minter.

“Some information is only in books,” Minter said.

Information is everywhere and people have to preserve and maintain this information, which would be hard to do on the computer, Minter continued.

Books have a kinesthetic feedback which you can not get from a computer, said Minter. Because of this, people learn better from books in her opinion.

Dr. Pilar McKay, 32, a professor of public communication at AU’s School of Communication, encourages technology in the classroom.

“I will use technology whenever I can,” McKay said.

Although many people think computers in the classroom may be a distraction, McKay disagrees. She uses and loves Twitter in class and focuses lectures around Power Point presentations and videos.

A 2011 Pew Research Center poll agreed.

“The average reader of e-books says she has read 24 books…in the past 12 months, compared with an average of 15 books by a non-e-book consumer,” the Pew report stated.

Audrey Schreiber, 21, prefers pen and paper.

“Laptops are a distraction,” said Schreiber, a rising senior at AU, noting she has seen students in class going on social media sites or texting.

Schreiber would buy online materials and print those out if it was cheaper than the book, but still prefers a hard copy.

“I feel like I learn better from paper than computer,” Schreiber said.

In a 2014 article in the journal Teacher Librarian, researcher Shannon Hyman wrote that to develop lifelong readers, students must be able to access a wide range of formats and materials.

“Children must see books as a friend and be surrounded by and immersed in print at home and at school,” Hyman wrote.

Minter agreed.

“We shouldn’t love books or hate computers, they should work together,” Minter said.

July 7, 2015July 7, 2015

Sexual assault on campus

Students and professors at American University interviewed this month shared their opinions on how security measures affect college rape culture and the prevalence of sexual assault on their own campuses and nearby housing in Northwest Washington D.C.

Campus rape is a problem plaguing universities and colleges across the country, and it’s receiving attention from many here. Almost everyone interviewed at AU in July said that the university’s administrative response could use improvement, but noted offenses occur off campus, too.

“I don’t think it’s a campus safety issue because from my experience with it, it’s all been acquaintance rape, date rape, happening at parties,” said Jessica Kowal, a 20-year-old AU student. “It’s not someone walking back to their dorm late at night and someone jumping out the bushes.”

Both Kowal and Carolyn Hamilton, also 20, shared personal stories detailing their dissatisfaction with administrative response. Both say they knew women who had been assaulted.

“It’s very prevalent,” Hamilton said.

But Amy Eisman, 62, who teaches in the journalism division, feels that perhaps the deficiency of effective response is due to the sheer magnitude of the problem.

“My perception is that the university is doing what it can,” Eisman said. “But it’s a huge issue that I’m not sure anybody has a great handle on yet.”

Stalls in every campus bathroom display a poster providing information for victims of sexual assault and contact information for support networks. Many of these posters also include handwritten notes that students have left each other. One scratched out the word “survivor” and wrote “victim.”

A sign posted inside a bathroom stall at American University. Photo by Zoe Searles.

“You are stronger than you know,” one reads.

The University offers sexual assault information on its website. IDs are required for entrance into the dorms, emergency telephone poles can be found every several hundred yards and safety patrol officers are stationed on campus around the clock.

There are peer support groups, of which the students interviewed spoke highly.

These groups are not limited to female discussion; Jaques Foul, 25, said that he doesn’t think males are left out of the conversation.

“I think we’re all responsible if something happens,” Foul said.

July 7, 2015July 9, 2015

AU students and faculty react to campus safety measures

By Emily Boyle — Discover the World of Communication student Naima Fonrose from Laurel, Maryland observes a blue phone emergency system on campus. Photo by Emily Boyle

American University students, staff and summer program attendees expressed both confidence and apprehension about campus safety in interviews this month.

Cassidy Luciano, a rising junior at AU, said she felt comfortable on campus with the various safety measures implemented. Though Luciano has never seen the blue “emergency” towers around campus in use, she has felt comfortable knowing they are present.

Luciano lives off campus but lived in Anderson Hall during her freshman year. While she liked having someone to check IDs at the front desk, Luciano said “sometimes I think they were a little relaxed,” attributing the laxness in the security to being in a “big city.”

Megan Piccirillo, a rising senior at AU, had no complaints about security on campus. Piccirillo noted she consistently finds public safety officers present, front desk monitors in dorms checking IDs and new technology frequently being introduced to the University.

Samantha Dumas, 19, a student at AU, has generally felt safe during her time on campus. Despite this, Dumas said that occasionally, “people are doing unsafe things behind closed doors.” Dumas did feel that resident advisers are “on top” of keeping dorms safe.

Michael Allen, an AU police officer for eight years, thinks public safety at AU has improved over the years, with many new technologies around the campus being implemented to maximize security measures. He pointed out a shelf of pamphlets that read “Personal Safety Apps.”

One of the key safety apps listed was the “Rave Guardian App.” According to Allen, the app connects students with AU police, allows tip texting and sets a safety timer for students traveling between locations on campus.

Assistant Director of Student Conduct and Conflict Resolution Regina Curran believes that AU’s public safety is improving drastically.

Curran said 14 new security officers were hired on campus. Curran said there will be a “greater presence” of officers all around AU, hopefully ensuring all students and faculty feel safe around the clock.

Curran additionally explained the function of the blue phones on campus, which “automatically call the dispatcher” and find immediate help for students in emergencies.

July 7, 2015July 7, 2015

D.C. students and residents want more, better cultural education

Residents and workers in Northwest Washington D.C. talked this month about their experiences with foreign cultures and discussed their interactions with world cultures.

Taylor Dewey, an American University student majoring in international relations, spent 4 months in Spain and England. She thinks that Spanish people know a lot about the U.S, but she thinks some in Europe dislike a lot about American culture.

Meghan Howie, 17, a high school student from Pennsylvania, stands outside a Starbucks in Washington D.C.'s Tenleytown neighborhood. Photo by Anne Yang. — Meghan Howie, 17, a high school student from Pennsylvania, stands outside a Starbucks in Washington D.C.’s Tenleytown neighborhood. Photo by Anne Yang.

“I think the people here are more naive about other people’s cultures whereas other people are always looking at the U.S. culture,” said Dewey, who like to see more knowledge and understanding of foreign cultures in the U.S.

Meghan Howie, a rising high school senior from Pennsylvania, has taken four years of Spanish plus a World Cultures class, but she thinks it’s not comprehensive of what cultures are. She has some experience visiting an uncle in Germany, but wishes she knew more.

“I feel like I’m not able to understand everyone from different countries,” Howie said.

Joanna Harris is a children’s librarian in Tenleytown and she spent two months in Japan. She was first exposed to Japanese culture by her half-Japanese friend and by watching Japanese anime as a kid.

Tenleytown librarian Joanna Harris hopes for more cultural understanding. Photo by Anne Yang.

“When I first watched it, I realized it was different from American cartoons, but I couldn’t quite put my finger on it,” said Harris, who also was surprised to see Japanese children wearing uniforms after school and taking classes at other facilities in the late afternoon time.

But Harris questioned how much one culture could legitimately learn about another.

“I think media is really reflective of a culture, but always keep in mind who is telling this story and from which perspective,” Harris said.

Radhika Puri is a 20-year-old student at Rhodes College in Memphis, Tennessee who was born in India. Puri, who speaks fluent Hindi, majors in biology and minors in business and is spending the summer interning for a public policy group. She thinks the world does a better job knowing about U.S. culture than the U.S. knows about the rest of the world.

“You go to India and you go to China, they know how to speak their language and English,” Puri said noting many in the U.S. don’t need to learn a second or third language.

July 6, 2015July 9, 2015

Campus healthy living accessible but not always desirable

Pizza display at American University's campus dining hall — Pizza display at American University’s campus dining hall, Terrace Dining Room. Photo courtesy of AU.

American University students provided mixed opinions on the selection of healthy options on campus everyday and agreed that they must work hard to stay fit.

Students find that they have to be motivated to eat healthy on campus because the options are mainly unhealthy.

“The healthy options are not right in front of you so you have to try to eat healthy,” Katie Wolf-Rodda,19, said.

Caroline Dowden, 18, considers herself a part of the group of students who go above and beyond to eat healthy. She believes that you have to get creative to eat healthy meals on campus.

Freshii is the best place to eat healthy, according to AU students. It offers green wraps which they can fill with kale, spinach, tofu, falafel and quinoa. The eatery advertises itself as having fast and healthy options.

Freshii’s most popular Pangoa salad contains avocado, brown rice, grape tomatoes, black beans, cheddar corn and spicy sauce. It may sound healthy but it still contains 770 calories, according to Freshii’s website.

AU students agree that the campus seems to be health conscious with many gym goers and joggers but the food choices do not reflect that mentality.

Other places to eat on campus include, Elevation Burger, Global Fresh, Bene Pizzeria and Subway.

“It is way easier to eat unhealthy for sure,” Anna Bomomo, 20, said.

At college the amount of fast food surrounding students can make it hard to eat healthy.

The “freshman 15” is a phrase that has been coined in the US to describe the weight gain that first year college students experience when they begin college.

“Thank God I didn’t get it,” Dowden said.

July 4, 2015July 7, 2015

Because People are People- NSLC Edition

From June 28 to July students flooded the American University campus for the second session of the Journalism, Film, and Media Arts session of the NSLC program. Here are some of their stories:

“My dream is to become a best-selling novelist and write a book that has an impact on everyone who reads it.” Abby Hadfield, 16

Coming from rural Pennsylvania, this rising high school junior has awaited the opportunity to attend the Journalism, Film, and Media Arts leadership conference since the arrival of an email in December 2014.

Abby Hadfield is attending the program as a student in the Professional Newswriting class.

While her attendance may show her experience is with news writing; however, her true dream is to “make it” as a novelist or a creative writer.

“Journalism is just a more practical form of writing,” Hadfield said.

“It’s really hard to make it as a novelist,” Hadfield said later in a brief interview just after the start of her first workshop session.

Beyond the classroom, she is involved with the school newspaper, the school literary Magazine, Girl Up, Girls Room and Interact Club.

Hadfield’s passions truly translate into her dreams for the future.

“My dream is to become a best-selling novelist and write a book that has an impact on everyone who reads it” Hadfield said.

“I would like to live in Mexico and help my country move forward as a leader.”

~Marina de la Sierra- 16

This student is one of many international students at the leadership conference and has traveled from Mexico to be a part of the leadership conference taking place from June 28 to July 8.

Marina de la Sierra found the program through her American school that encourages the students to look for opportunities to study in the United States.

“I got interested in it because I like writing a lot and I saw there was a journalism program,” de la Sierra said.

Journalism was not a career she had considered before the camp and she wanted to gain some experience.

Her openness to this opportunity has been allowing her to gain whatever might benefit her in the future.

De la Sierra is looking into working for the UN and help those who are impoverished and uneducated in the future.

She views human trafficking as a major world issue and is looking to alleviate it in the future.

“I would like to live in Mexico and help my country move forward as a leader,” she said.

“Knowing that everyone has a different mind for a different reason.”

Breezy Culberson, 21 (Not Pictured)

This 21-year-old office staff person of a leadership camp at American University has truly made the most of her opportunities and is continuing her education to attain her own dream.

Breezy Culberson works at the NSLC office and is responsible for some of the coordination and teamwork it takes to pull together such a big opportunity for hundreds of high school students.

Culberson chose to attend the Journalism and Mass Media conference in Berkley when invited, became a Psychology major in college and is inspired by the work she has a degree to do.

When asked how the conference benefited her, she said, “It looked good on my resume.”

The leadership experience was definitely of value to her as a student.

The discovery of her personality tendency, a koala, gave her a better direction as to her college choice and future career.

In the next six months, Culberson will be going back to school to continue her education and earn a master’s in psychology.

Her main reason for her fascination with psychology, “knowing that everyone has a different mind for a different reason.”

“You know if I could just play that, I would be really satisfied.”

Michael Silverglade, 17 (Not Pictured)

His experience with the leadership conference began with his sister’s involvement four years ago and now he is gaining experience in the field he enjoys, music.

Michael Silverglade’s letter came to invite him to the camp in December 2014, but his interest in playing musical instruments certainly came before that.

“In elementary school, I played trumpet… it was legit but it wasn’t very good,” he said.

He started playing trumpet in his middle school band and only expanded his involvement as he moved forward in school, adding euphonium and bass by his high school years.

He started self-teaching bass in his freshman year after he saw one of the seniors playing and started listened to more music.

He thought, “You know if I could just play that, I would be really satisfied.”

Now, Silverglade is in his school’s symphonic band, the school jazz band and a rock band made up of a drummer singer and himself on bass.

In the future, he hopes to be able to work on the business end of music by producing it and to continue playing bass.

“It’s just something I really enjoy,” Silverglade said.