This Tuesday at 9 p.m. in Booth Hall the BKM Hall Council will hold a meeting to discuss plans for Haiti fundraisers throughout the month of February. The initiative is called Hearts for Haiti and it’s not too late to get involved. Simply come to the meeting to hear more or e-mail in if you’d like more information but cannot attend the meeting.
In no particular order…
1) LIBRARY LOCK-IN
The 5th Annual Library Lock-In: “It Was a Dark and Brainy Night at Bird Library” is coming soon! The event is scheduled to be held on February 26, 2010, from 10:00 p.m. until 1:00 a.m.
Undergraduate students will have the opportunity to explore Bird Library after hours and compete against each other in teams of two by searching the library for answers to challenging questions. Free food will be available for all participants. First prize is a $400 gift card to the SU Bookstore, second prize is $200 and third place is $100. Other prizes include gift cards for Carousel Mall, Starbucks, Barnes & Noble, and more.
Registration forms will be available at residence hall main desks, the Goldstein Student Center, the Office of Residence Life, and at the E.S. Bird Library beginning Friday January 29th. The first 120 undergraduate students (60 teams) can participate. There is a $5 registration fee per student ($10 per team). Submit registrations forms and fees by 5:00 pm on February 19, 2010 at the Office of Residence Life at 111 Waverly Ave., Suite 200 (above the Health Center).
2) DAY OF DIALOGUE
What do you think about how some students claim that our campus is segregated? If you agree, how do we go about changing our campus culture? If you don’t agree, what do you believe is contributing to this perception?
Join a group of students who are seeking out ways to make this a more inclusive campus for everyone. Be a part of bringing about positive change. The first annual Day of Dialogue is to help learn about and improve our ability to talk to those that are different from us. The program is designed to break down barriers between students in order to foster a more collaborative, community-oriented culture on campus. Perceived differences can interfere with open communication and that can get in the way of positive change.
The Day of Dialogue will be held from 10am to 3pm (with lunch included) on February 13th. You will receive the details including a schedule for the day and locations of the sessions with your confirmation letter once you have registered. Registration sign up is at https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/DialogueDayRegistration2010
3) SCOPE MOVIES
Every Thursday and Sunday at 8:00 pm, S.C.O.P.E. and UU show movies on South Campus in the Goldstein Student Center. They have a great lineup of movies this Spring, including several double features. View the entire schedule here: http://orl.syr.edu/south/movie_schedule.html
4) OTTO VERSUS THE FLU ON YOUTUBE
Click the poster and you’ll be redirected to cinemagic.
5) OFF-CAMPUS 101
The Office of Off-Campus and Commuter Services will be hosting Off-Campus Housing 101 on Friday, February 5th at 1:30pm in Hall of Languages room 101 for students who are looking to learn about off-campus housing options for Fall 2010. The session with cover how to find an apartment, avoid a bad rental experience and everything you need to know about leases.
Words By Sarah Rollins, Booth First Floor RA
The world wide web is an amazing resource in today’s day and age… but not just to do that final research paper.
The Web has opened up a whole new generation of web surfing procrastinators! Just keep in mind that after that fifth hour looking at your entire friend’s recent photos on Facebook, googling your name or even surfing between YouTube and Texts from Last Night; there are better ways to waste your time. Think of all the possibilities out there on the Web!
Here a just a few because we all know that when it’s 4am, no one is up and, yes, even this visit to the BKM Blog was a move toward procrastination.
(In no particular order…)
Google Earth – find your house, town, friends abroad, and even explore Mars!
Addicting Games –free games, enough said!
Flickr –you know you need a new picture for your computer background!
The Onion –semi-educational, and totally addicting!
Earthcam.com –watch in real-time what is going on in the streets of major cities across the world
IMDB –a great way to fuel that obsession with Sean Feris, now that you know all the movies he is in you can put them on you’re Netflix Queue.
Failblog.org –hilarious failed moment captured by video or picture
Sporcle.com –the ultimate time waster … because no one cares that you can name all the Disney movies ever released or that you know all the jelly belly flavors
Enjoy your procrastination! And feel free to add to the list…
Words by Sundus, Booth Third Floor RA
Want to share the gift of knowledge?
VOLUNTEER MENTORS NEEDED!
International Young Scholars (IYS) is a program under the Office of Engagement Programs in Hendricks Chapel.
We’re now looking for new volunteer mentors to join this upcoming Spring semester in our Somali-Bantu mentoring program!
INFORMATIONAL MEETING NEXT SEMESTER:
TUESDAY JANUARY 26, 5-6:30pm
What is IYS?
Committed volunteers meet weekly to mentor their assigned teenage immigrant/refugee. We have a weekly planned curriculum to guide mentors, but you can bring in your own resources (newspapers, magazines…) as well or play our fun literacy games with your kid, read books, go to cultural events (ex: dance performances, ice skating), etc. You end up developing an older sibling bond with you mentee, and he/she looks up to you!
The program runs on two days…mentors choose one to commit to.
Saturdays, 8:30-11am, at Dr. King Elementary School, 416 E. Raynor Avenue
Mondays, 5:30-7:30, Centro Village Community Center, 212 Van Buren Street
Transportation is provided for SU students upon completion of a simple form.
What is IYS’s goal?
To promote literacy and academic success in a historically deprived community
Also, to connect them to the Syracuse community and to foster mentor-mentee bonds.
Who are the mentors?
Dedicated SU students, undergrad or grad! This past semester, we had about 50 awesome mentors!
Who are the mentees?
They are Somali-Bantu refugee teens, 7th -9th grade, ages ranging from 13-16. They just jumped into the US education system and many struggle, because in their home country, they were denied formal education.
Whom do I contact for more info?
Email iys@syr.edu (I, Sundus, the Booth Floor 3 RA, will get back to you asap!)
Words by Jordan, Marion Third Floor RA
Syracuse is famous for it’s not so favorable weather but that’s not something that should keep you down. Yes, the roads get slushy and the snow definitely adds a few minutes onto your traveling time from class to class. And, yes, the probability of falling increases greatly right along with the hope that you won’t and the fact that it’s extra embarrassing when you do fall… because then you have to go to class with a huge wet spot on your pants and there is no way to hide it because it takes FOREVER for your jeans to dry.
Anyway, let’s not get too bummed. One plus of having so much snow is the oh-so-fun opportunity to pull your skis and/or snowboards out of the rafters and put them to use.
Syracuse has some really great “mountains” to play around on. There is nothing like the feel of fresh powder sweeping across your face as your carving down the side of a very steep hill! 
Check out the links below for a few of the places you can shred and show your friends your skill or just sit back with a nice cup of coco and admire the view:
Labrador Mountain – Truxton, NY (RA Pick – great for snowboarding!)
SU’s Dream Week to honor Martin Luther King Jr. doesn’t end with the dinner next Sunday. Check out the week’s worth of events below for more opportunities to participate:
Monday, Jan. 25
Candlelight Vigil and Gospel Celebration
Hendricks Chapel Steps – 7pm
Students, faculty, staff and community members are invited to gather for a vigil to reflect on the legacy and teachings of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr… Immediately following the vigil, we will continue to make the dream a reality through the enjoyment of gospel music by the Black Celestial Choral Ensemble of Syracuse University.
Tuesday, January 26
Capturing the Dream: Art Display and Book Signing Reception
Schine Student Center’s Panasci Lounge – 5pm to 6:30pm
This art display will feature the work of school children from Franklin Magnet, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Edward Smith elementary schools in Syracuse. The artists’ pieces will relate to the life, legacy and dream of Dr. King. London Ladd, illustrator of the children’s book, March On! The Day My Brother Martin Changed the World by Christine King-Ferris, will be signing copies of this book. The first 25 students to arrive will receive a free copy of March On! A reception will follow.
Wednesday, Jan. 27
Documentary: “Nigger” with director Thea St. Omer
Watson Theatre – 7pm
“What’s in a word? Everything. Lest anyone think race need not be discussed and unpacked, see St. Omer’s documentary, Nigger. St. Omer’s artistry shines light on every corner of a forbidden word. This film won’t you stop talking about it. It entertains and provokes thoughtfulness. It casts a lens of remarkable people on art, history, culture and popular culture, politics, identity, ontology, and life. Nigger is beautiful”.
– Douglas Biklen, Dean of the School of Education, Syracuse University
Thursday, Jan. 28
Poetry Night
Watson Theatre – 7pm
Come listen or share your poetry with the Syracuse community. Performances by Verbal Blend, from the Office of Multicultural Affairs, also encompass this event.
Friday, Jan. 29
MLK Campus Day of Service
Schine Student Center – 9am to 2pm
“Everybody can be great, because anybody can serve” – Dr. King
Make cards for the elderly, coloring books for local children and much more alongside of campus and community members (including local school children).
Friday, Jan. 29 (continued)
Performance Showcase
The Sky Barn on South Campus – 7pm
This showcase will display the talents of various SU clubs/organizations and is a cultural exchange that will give performers the opportunity to express the dream.
