Suicide—it’s a topic that’s rarely spoken about, but continues to silently affect many people. According to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, 41,149 Americans took their lives in 2013. Sisters Making a Change emphasized the importance of ending the silence and stigma regarding mental illness by holding their third annual Out of the Darkness Walk on Sunday April 26,
Read MoreDance achievements highlighted at G.R.E.A.T. Day
Rather than showcase student work through posters or speeches like many other academic disciplines, the department of theatre and dance highlighted its students’ work on Geneseo Recognizing Excellence, Achievement and Talent Day fittingly through performances. Nestled in the generally quiet halls of Brodie Hall on Tuesday April 21, interested members of the community were able to enter the usually closed doors of the dance studio.
Read MoreRiviera restoration explained to town
The Riviera Theater commemorated its history with a presentation sponsored by the Association for the Preservation of Geneseo on Sunday April 12. Members of the Geneseo community gathered for the event, many of who recalled the theater’s heyday in the time before its 1995 closure.
Read MoreUse and abuse of laptops in class
Imagine that you are sitting in a lecture hall trying to take notes and you see a person nearby using their laptop to surf the web. For those couple of seconds, your attention is diverted to their “recently added photos” on Facebook, their inbox, Twitter account, that college basketball game—anything but what you are supposed to be learning.
Read MoreInvasion of Privacy: Drag queen combats social norms, advocates for acceptance
Sophomore Christopher Ramsay is known around campus as someone who refuses to conform. A psychology major minoring in biology with a pre-med concentration, Ramsay has been making waves with his wide repertoire of extracurricular activities and with his drag alter-ego “Rama.”
Read MoreIntelligent design talk explores divine creation
Geneseo’s Ratio Christi group hosted guest speaker Paul Nelson––a co-founder of Intelligent Design––on March 28. The theory is the result of the conglomeration of work of a group of scientists who have seen problems in their perspective fields when it comes to the tree of life. This theory challenges Darwin’s Theory of Evolution by examining scientific evidence that supports the existence of a purposeful creator rather than random evolution, essentially hoping to merge faith and science.
Read MoreCAS encourages student input, increases vegetarian options
Students gathered in Food Studio North to discuss campus vegan and vegetarian options on March 12 in a talk led by Campus Auxiliary Services Nutrition and Wellness Coordinator Cory Hancock. First greeted with delicious homemade black bean brownies, the students assembled in the booths at Letchworth Dining Hall and began the discussion.
Read MoreOxfam dinner makes distant issues tangible for first-world students
Most of us here in Geneseo sit down to a nutritious meal at dinnertime every evening, while people across the world struggle to put even rice on the table. It’s easy to forget about the issue of hunger when we don’t see it happening in our backyards, but what if everyone in the world was forced to eat dinner together in the same room?
Read MoreGet a lot more out of your latte
Unknown to most students, the Starbucks location in MacVittie College Union holds a plethora of “secret menu” drinks that can be concocted using the ingredients already in stock. These drinks can be a fun mix-up to your everyday order.
Read MoreChilean author talks fiction, feminism as guest speaker
The Geneseo Latin American studies program welcomed Chilean feminist, author and composer of internationally known anthology ENOUGH!: 100+ Women against Gender Bias Pía Barros to campus on Tuesday Feb. 24. In Chile, this anthology recently celebrated the publication of its fourth edition––the first to be published in Spanish and English.
Read MoreRiviera debuts with Valentine’s Day Gala
St. Luke the Evangelist Parish hosted a “Valentine Gala” event on Saturday Feb. 14 in order to celebrate the long awaited reopening of the Riviera Theater while raising money to benefit the church. The resulting ticket sales were astounding––selling 170 tickets at $50 each for a total of $8,500.
Read MoreClass Profile: Disabilities class reteaches notions of privilege
“Disabilities.” This word can resonate many different ways for different people. For associate professor at the Ella Cline Shear School of Education Linda Ware it is a layered word that must be examined deeper through a wider array of disciplines.
Read MoreStudy up on studying abroad before you go
There will come a time in every undergraduate student’s life when we must leave the comfort of campus and venture out into the “real world.” Whether it is entering into the professional field, continuing on to graduate school or other alternative paths, it becomes apparent that the time that we spent off campus is just as important as the time that we spent on it.
Read MoreInvasion of Privacy: Maintenance employee helps incoming students feel at home
As students, we know all too well how hard the transition from life at home to college can be. Many students often lean on newfound friendships to help get them through the transition, friendships that are sometimes found in unconventional places.
Read MoreFind inner peace during finals week
With finals quickly approaching, it’s important to remember to take time to unwind and relax after the hours spent studying, reading and writing papers. One stress relief option is an often overlooked exercise that seeks to create an equilibrium of the mind, body and spirit, thus lowering stress and anxiety levels: yoga. This ancient art is the perfect stress reliever for the high-pressure atmosphere that modern-day college students often find themselves in. Why yoga? According to WebMD, yoga can have a variety of positive effects. First of all, yoga helps to improve flexibility by stretching muscles and releasing tension in the body. Muscle tension naturally happens to our bodies in times of stress, such as finals week.
Yoga can also improve posture. This should be helpful to college students––we often find ourselves hunched over books and papers for hours. Yoga poses also have a strengthening aspect to them, as they often require holding one position for a set amount of time. According to WebMD, “When done right, nearly all poses build core strength in the deep abdominal muscles.”
Other listed benefits include lower blood pressure and slower heart rate. Yoga is extremely beneficial to those with heart disease or high blood pressure. People who practice yoga have also been found to have lower levels of cholesterol and triglycerides. Triglycerides are a kind of fat that resides in blood; too many of these can lead to heart attacks or heart disease. Most yoga styles also include some form of meditation technique that helps clear and calm your mind.
The campus offers a wide variety of ways for beginners as well as experienced yoga-goers to get involved. Yoga Club meets every Friday in the Knight Spot at 4:00 p.m. and anyone at any experience level is invited to join. The meeting opened up with a discussion and ended with some simple yoga poses, stretching and a self-massage. Yoga Club e-board members senior Megan Roberts and juniors Alexandra Peraino and Madelyn Sayed led the meeting.
“There are countless physiological effects of yoga,” Peraino said. “It changes how you view the world as well as how you view yourself.”
Anyone is welcome to join Yoga Club, not just those experienced in yoga. “It’s not a workout; we focus a lot on discussion and self-reflection too,” Sayed said.
Schrader Dance Studio holds yoga classes on Sundays from 6-7 p.m. and 8-9 p.m., Mondays from 9:30-10:30 p.m., Tuesdays from 8-9 p.m., Wednesdays from 2:30–3:30 p.m. and Thursdays from 9:30-10:30 p.m.
An enchanting evening with Dumbledore’s Army
Geneseo’s Harry Potter-centric club Dumbledore’s Army hosted its third annual Yule Ball on Friday Nov. 14 at the Knight Spot, providing an enchanting evening for all who came. Taken right out of J.K. Rowling’s wizarding world, the Yule Ball is the Christmas dance held during the Triwizard Tournament at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Thanks to DA, it has become an annual tradition here at Geneseo. This year’s event broke the attendance records of the past two years. Yule Ball attendees spent the evening waltzing about the dance floor to classic ballroom tunes mixed in with popular music. “People wore what is referred to in the books as ‘dress-robes,’ as well as Western business attire,” junior Cole Battaglini said. This is Battaglini’s third year as a DA member.
The evening’s festivities also included a drawing of Harry Potter memorabilia. Everything from jewelry to clothing was given away to several lucky winners.
“We are a newer organization and we are just trying to get our name out there,” Battaglini said. “We decided to keep the admission price free, as to not deter people from coming. But after the success of this event, we will be able to start doing fundraising events in which we charge admission.”
Established in 2011, the Geneseo chapter of DA is still in its beginning years and is a branch of a larger organization known as The Harry Potter Alliance.
“As a club, our mission is to take morals and values that we may find in J.K. Rowling’s works and advocate for them in our community,” Battaglini said. “For example, people often read Professor Lupin’s ‘werewolf-ism’ as a metaphor for HIV/AIDS. As a club, we may then take that interpretation and fundraise money for HIV/ AIDS research in the name of Lupin.”
Each year, DA votes on one philanthropy event to focus on. For the 2014-2015 school year, the club has decided to raise money for Chances and Changes. According to its website, the organization is dedicated to helping people “escape the traumas of abuse, to heal the emotional and physical bruises, to live in an environment of comfort and protection, to take the first step in making a change for a better, safer, happier life.”
In addition to the success of their third Yule Ball, DA’s growing impact on campus shows that the organization is a force to be reckoned with.
“Despite what most people think, we aren’t just a fan club,” Battaglini said. “Yes, we believe that fantasy can serve as an escape from the reality, but we also believe that it can have real life applications. By understanding the values and morals instilled in fantasy worlds such as the Harry Potter series, we can seek to better our own.”
Alley Cat’s journey from basement to storefront
If you have ever found yourself wandering down Main Street in Geneseo, you know what a breath of fresh air the unique small shops and restaurants are. Located on the corner of Center Street and Main Street, Alley Cat Boutique is a favorite among students and locals alike. The family-owned thrift shop opened its doors in fall 2009 as the first shop of its kind in Geneseo. Owner Connie Saffan has been an avid thrift shopper since she was a teenager. The items that the store originally opened with were in fact one-of-a-kind items that Saffan herself had collected in her basement.
When it came to choosing a name for the store, Saffan brought in her own personal experiences. Having difficulty finding work in the years prior to opening the store, she said that she “had spent the past two years wandering around unwanted … much like an alley cat.”
Now five years since the Alley Cat first opened its doors, the store has bloomed into a great destination for anyone who is looking for unique, high quality and fairly priced goods.
Saffan brings items from all over to her customers. With items ranging from flags, banners, Turkish jewelry, shoes, pants, incense, toys and costumes, the store has something of interest for any shopper.
“Last year, I sold a number of Tiffany lamps,” Saffan said. “And the college kids love the costumes.”
Throughout the years, Saffan’s list of places to buy items for the store has grown from strictly smaller shops to including wholesale sellers, customer return departments and new sale sellers. Saffan stressed how she strives to listen to what the people want, which has led to her bringing some unused items to her store such as incense.
“This isn’t Goodwill,” Saffan said. She painstakingly picks through items to ensure that the goods she brings to her business are of the best quality.
The boutique offers not only an opportunity to stumble upon something completely unique and beautiful, but also a soothing, meditative atmosphere. As soon as you enter, you are greeted with a pleasant aroma of incense, soft music and friendly service. The store is a great escape for any college student who needs a break from the stresses of everyday life.
Saffan is an avid supporter of local family-owned businesses in Geneseo and her shop is a great addition to the small town atmosphere. The next time you find yourself feeling “lost like an alley cat,” wander down Main Street and venture up Center Street to check out Alley Cat Boutique.
AGO haunted house creeps for a cause
In the looming shadow of Halloween, paranormal activity in the Alpha Kappa Phi sorority house seems to be on the rise. Terror was in the air Wednesday Oct. 29 when students as well as community members reported hearing screams coming from inside the house. The reason? The ladies of Alpha Kappa Phi had turned their 26 Wadsworth St. home into their fifth annual haunted house. The annual proceeds from this event are all donated to Bivona, a nonprofit organization that offers a “safe, welcoming place for children that have been sexually or physically abused,” according to the organization’s website. Participants in the event included students as well as families from the Geneseo community.
When first entering, participants were greeted with a bake sale on the front lawn of the house. Here, they could purchase tasty treats with proceeds benefitting charity Bivona.
But little did they know the tricks that were awaiting them inside the house; from being chased by terrifying clowns, walking through an asylum and a live exorcism. The old wives’ tale of “Bloody Mary” even appeared in the mirror of their bathroom, while the basement had also been turned into an eerie graveyard complete with flashing strobe lights.
Combining both the $3 entrance fee along with the bake sale’s revenue, last year’s haunted house was able to raise more than $300. Prior to this year’s event, the AGO girls were optimistic about raising funds and support for Bivona.
“My class is all very excited to participate in what will be our first haunted house ever,” sophomore Sinead Haegeland said. “It’s for a cause that we all feel pride in supporting; Bovina does great things for children in the Rochester area.”
“It’s always our biggest charity event of the year,” sophomore Nikki Cardno said. “We are all expected to put at least two hours of work in a day toward set-up and decorations.”
Although they receive some funding from the goverment, Bivona greatly relies on donations from the surrounding region in order to function. It is charity events such as the AGO Haunted House that allows this organization to help over 1,500 kids and their families every year.