Invasion of Privacy: Incoming communication professor brings unique expertise to campus

Communication professor Sarah Brookes may be new this semester, but she is already making a positive impact at Geneseo. Students hold her in high esteem—in her short time here, she has become a noticeable asset within the department.

Hired for her academic background and experience as well as her unique quantitative perspective on mass communication, Brookes is currently teaching COMN 102: Principles of Public Speaking, COMN 251: Mass Media & Society and COMN 388: Mass Communication & the Individual. Students in her courses enjoy Brookes’ upbeat personality and interactive style of teaching. They make the effort to approach her after class for further discussion about topics from her lessons. Students can effortlessly express excitement at the possibility of future research endeavors under her guidance.

Similarly, Brookes has found the students at Geneseo impressive and rewarding to teach. “I’m impressed with students’ engagement in the material rather than just looking for information about what’s going to be on the next exam,” she said. “I’ve been struck by the level of professionalism of the student body here. For example, the emails I receive from students are overwhelmingly polite and respectful, which means a lot to faculty.”

After receiving her Ph.D. from The Ohio State University in 2013, Brookes taught courses at the University of Maine for the past two years. While she explained that she enjoyed her time there, she was thrilled to have the opportunity to be a part of the small, close community that is Geneseo. “I went to a small private school for my bachelors, so I got used to a tight-knit community like this,” she said. “I knew I wanted to go back to something like that.”

Brookes brings a fresh outlook on the field of communication studies to the table, adding range to the department. “My quantitative social sciences perspective complements the current strengths of the department. My specific area of focus would be considered entertainment media psychology—specifically regarding mass communication, particularly entertainment communication,” Brookes said. “I work from a psychological, social sciences standpoint.”

Brookes moved to the Rochester, New York-area only a week and a half before this semester’s classes began. She was able to adjust to a new living environment and working environment simultaneously. Although she has not had an extensive amount of time to explore the Geneseo community, she noted that she has eaten at various local restaurants such as Mama Mia’s and Euro Café and loved both experiences—especially because she adores pierogies.

“I’m still getting used to the campus and the area, but so far everything’s been really great,” Brookes said. “The campus is beautiful. I don’t know that I’ll ever get tired of the view over the hills, especially during sunset.”

Brookes described her academic journey as one filled with zeal for teaching and delight for her area of study. She explained that she took an internship after earning her bachelor’s degree and credited it for her realization that she wanted to go back to school for her masters, then Ph.D. That ultimately led to her becoming a professor because she “never wanted to leave school.”

“It’s nice that my favorite thing in the world—entertainment media—has become my career and that I get to pass it on to other people,” Brookes said. “As cliché as it is, this saying is very applicable: ‘If you do something you love, you’ll never work a day in your life.’”

Lauderdale promotes healthy lifestyle, illness prevention methods

Geneseo Health Services offered the first free flu shot clinic on Wednesday Sept. 16. There will be five clinics in total offered throughout September and October, taking place in different locations around campus in order to be as accessible as possible.

“We generally try to target September and October for flu shots,” Lauderdale Center for Health and Counseling nurse manager Deborah Penoyer said. “The flu usually hits when students come back after winter break. That’s why we have the flu shot in the fall—to prepare your body for the winter months.”

It’s hard to stay healthy in a university environment where students experience not only stress and lack of sleep, but also constantly come into contact with a plethora of germs from all across the state. Throw cold temperatures and rainy weather on top of close living quarters and one’s immune system barely stands a chance.

The fall season is generally recognized as the time of year when illnesses start becoming pervasive. The chillier, wetter weather seems to lead to an inevitable battle with the occasional cold, and sometimes other unfortunate illnesses: the flu, bronchitis, pneumonia and other dreaded afflictions. Whether the harsher weather is actually to blame or not, taking precautions to remain healthy can make a big difference.

The most recognized advice for staying germ-free is to wash hands frequently. It is also essential to maintain a healthy lifestyle and to fight illness. “If you’re on the go all the time, getting run down and not keeping a good support network, it is very hard on the body. Without those checks and balances, stress hormone levels rise and take a toll on your system,” Penoyer said.  “Sometimes when students are stressed and they’re not figuring out their schedules or having trouble transitioning to the campus atmosphere, they lose sleep, which can be very taxing.”

Another aspect of a healthy lifestyle that also serves to ward off maladies is exercise. “Exercise is medicine,” Penoyer said. “Eating well-balanced meals and getting plenty of fluids is obviously very important, but maintaining a good exercise regime is just as important.”

Regardless of lifestyle choices, everyone is susceptible to falling ill. Getting a flu shot is a smart thing to do to stay well, especially with the upcoming fall and winter months. Penoyer expressed hope that all students will get flu shots.

“Last year, even with the vaccine being less potent than normal, we still had low incidents of the flu because students took advantage of the clinics,” she said.

Master Teachers program hosts panel colloquium

The New York State Master Teachers program brought master teachers from surrounding middle and high school districts to Geneseo to host a panel discussion for pre-service teachers on Tuesday Sept. 15. Of the 625 teachers in the program—80 of whom Gov. Andrew Cuomo named earlier that day—10 from the Finger Lakes region made up the panel.

“Master Teachers is a new program, so this is the first time our cohort has been able to host a panel discussion for students,” Master Teacher panel leader Aimee Rose said. “We were very appreciative of the School of Education at Geneseo because it’s been very supportive.”

Held in the Newton 202, the event had great attendance. The audience was primarily made up of students in the education major, which is currently the largest subject of study at Geneseo. Although the seminar was mandatory for those currently fulfilling their student teaching requirements, attendees were eager to ask questions and to learn from the panel.

Prior to the commencement of the panel discussion, audience members were handed Post-it notes and encouraged to write down their questions and put them on the board at the front of the room. The master teachers each took turns addressing various questions by incorporating them into the overall conversation. This allowed for an organic dialogue to develop, inspiring intermittent two-way communication between the panel and student audience.

Advice from the committee included personal teaching stories, interview experiences and general guidance about topics such as mentality in the classroom and presence on social media. The formal topics outlined—as stated on the event flyer—were “time management, lesson planning, classroom management and connecting with students through relationship-building.” They urged students to step out of their comfort zone in the classroom and to not be disheartened when a lesson plan goes poorly once in a while. The individual accounts of the master teachers offered the audience of pre-service teachers veteran perspective and reassurance.

The New York State Master Teacher Program has a foundation teaching science, technology, engineering and math subjects. All of the master teachers fall into one of those disciplines. In addition to sharing general secondary education teaching advice, panel members provided specialized counsel regarding their respective subjects to the audience.

Following the event, panel members were available to chat with students and provide additional insight. Many audience members took advantage of this and stayed after the seminar adjourned. Tables at the back of the lecture hall were set up with documents and examples of class handouts and assignments. The master teachers’ passion for education and their desire to help younger generations succeed was evident. They spoke enthusiastically about their work and were adamant in their portrayal of it as not just as a career, but as a livelihood.

“I hope that some of our real world experience was able to give students in the audience some confidence and motivation as they continue their student teaching, as well as some extra motivation and ideas,” Rose said. “They should feel free to reach out to us.”

Career Corner: Newly launched Encore initiative helps students dress for success

The Department of Career Development offers many vital services to students: resume and cover letter building, interest exploration, job and internship search help and now an additional resource; the department has launched its first-ever Career Closet called Encore.

College students often do not bring many business-appropriate clothes with them to school as they generally have little-to-no need for them and wish to consolidate when packing for the year. In situations where students find themselves in need of professional attire, the purchase of an entire expensive outfit specifically for one occasion seems superfluous. Attempting to remedy this issue, the department implemented Encore this semester.

This exciting adjunct serves as a clothes-loan facility for any student in need of an appropriate outfit for a professional affair such as an interview, networking event or award ceremony. “We want to prepare students not only mentally but also give them an awareness of professional physical appearance to further encourage their success,” career counselor Heather DiFino said. “This concept was brainstormed out of the idea that we want students to feel prepared in every way possible.”

Located in the office of the Department of Career Development, Encore is comprised of both male and female apparel sections, each with clothes ranging from business casual to professional. Some shoes are also available. Students may borrow up to one full outfit for a 14-day time frame. Encore is open Mondays and Wednesdays from 1-3:30 p.m, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10 a.m.-3:30 p.m. and Fridays by appointment. During these office hours, mentors are there to help students choose clothes appropriate for their specific needs.

The clothes Encore has are largely comprised from donations from faculty and staff, collected for this particular venture during this past spring and summer. Encore is still accepting donations this semester, however. Two mannequins––“Kyle and Kelly Knight”––are currently displaying two available outfits in the closet and they will be making regular appearances around campus showcasing Encore clothing.

DiFino reflected on the work and care that contributed to the closet’s creation. “I did a lot of research for about a year looking into what other schools offered to help students with interviews and such, and I found many other schools have career closet type resources in place,” she said.

The introduction of Encore into the Geneseo student community is a terrific addition to the helpful services the Department of Career Development already possesses. Students can now feel comfortable that they can receive preparation assistance for professional junctures regarding their appearance, as well as their outlook and approach.

“We never want students to feel hindered in their success simply because they do not have a suitable outfit,” DiFino said. “Our goal is to limit obstacles and help students feel confident in their ventures.”

Invasion of Privacy: Biology professor offers distinct perspective on teaching, lifestyle

Through extensive involvement on campus, participation in the outside community and his passion for eco-friendly lifestyle choices, professor of biology Gregg Hartvigsen is a unique member of the Geneseo community. Hartvigsen recently earned the Drs. Carol and Michael Harter Endowment for Faculty Mentoring Award for mentoring over 200 students during his time at Geneseo. He is dedicated to his work and to aiding students in their success. “It’s very rewarding helping students advance their careers,” Hartvigsen said.

Before being hired as a quantitative ecologist at Geneseo in 1998, Hartvigsen earned a PhD in biology from Syracuse University and spent three years researching ecological modeling at Princeton University. At Geneseo, he makes it his priority to engage in as many organizations as possible.

With his latest project, Hartvigsen demonstrates his ability to engage with students in unique and stimulating ways. “Right now I’m working with students in the Humans vs. Zombies group in collaboration with Lisa Smith from the math department—analyzing the Humans vs. Zombies data and building a model we can use to make the game more fun,” he said. In addition, he is an advisor to the juggling club, the women’s hockey team, the biology club, the outing club and the guitar club among others. Hartvigsen is also on the Campus Auxiliary Interviews board and is a past chair of college senate.

Despite the time commitments he has on campus, Hartvigsen admirably finds ways to contribute positively to the community outside campus as well. He is a past president of the Genesee Valley Conservancy—a land trust that protects more than 16,000 acres of the Genesee Valley. Enthusiastic about environmental health and protection, Hartvigsen endeavors to \ minimize his carbon footprint and to live as sustainably as possible.

“The last time I drove to a job was in 1987. So since then, I either walk or I ride my bicycle,” he said. “I have always lived near where I work to reduce the use of fossil fuels. That has always been important to me. Also, a couple of months ago, my wife and I covered our house in solar panels. These types of things are important to me.”

Hartvigsen took an unusual trip he took after leaving his first undergraduate program during the middle of his junior year. “I’ve always been kind of wild. I went hitchhiking for two months all over the country—10,000 miles,” he said. “I finally ended up in Boulder, Colorado and I decided I was done. I liked it there. I was looking for a beautiful place to live and Boulder, Colorado was it.”

He gives this expedition credit for his present mentality and achievements. “That’s when I realized I really liked nature and started hiking, so I went back to college and basically never left college,” he said. “I’ve been interested in ecological systems ever since. If I didn’t have the experiences of that trip, I certainly wouldn’t be the professor I am today.”