spring 2010

so guys the spring terms about to end and those who are freshmens are going to go home and upperclassmen are stuck at either drexel or at co-op while other enjoy the three sunniest months of the year. Any ways guys those going home enjoy your last summer off and those on co-op or in school power on.

peace

Maulik

"50 Things"

Courtesy - Ben Jones, MIT.

1. Your friends will change a lot over the next four years. Let them.
2. Call someone you love back home a few times a week, even if just for a few minutes.
3. In college more than ever before, songs will attach themselves to memories. Every month or two, make a mix cd, mp3 folder, whatever - just make sure you keep copies of these songs. Ten years out, they'll be as effective as a journal in taking you back to your favorite moments.
4. Take naps in the middle of the afternoon with reckless abandon.
5. Adjust your schedule around when you are most productive and creative. If you're nocturnal and do your best work late at night, embrace that. It may be the only time in your life when you can.
6. If you write your best papers the night before they are due, don't let people tell you that you "should be more organized" or that you "should plan better." Different things work for different people. Personally, I worked best under pressure - so I always procrastinated... and always kicked ass (which annoyed my friends to no end). ;-) Use the freedom that comes with not having grades first semester to experiment and see what works best for you.
7. At least a few times in your college career, do something fun and irresponsible when you should be studying. The night before my freshman year psych final, my roommate somehow scored front row seats to the Indigo Girls at a venue 2 hours away. I didn't do so well on the final, but I haven't thought about psych since 1993. I've thought about the experience of going to that show (with the guy who is now my son's godfather) at least once a month ever since.
8. Become friends with your favorite professors. Recognize that they can learn from you too - in fact, that's part of the reason they chose to be professors.
9. Carve out an hour every single day to be alone. (Sleeping doesn't count.)
10. Go on dates. Don't feel like every date has to turn into a relationship.
11. Don't date someone your roommate has been in a relationship with.
12. When your friends' parents visit, include them. You'll get free food, etc., and you'll help them to feel like they're cool, hangin' with the hip college kids.
13. In the first month of college, send a hand-written letter to someone who made college possible for you and describe your adventures thus far. It will mean a lot to him/her now, and it will mean a lot to you in ten years when he/she shows it to you.
14. Embrace the differences between you and your classmates. Always be asking yourself, "what can I learn from this person?" More of your education will come from this than from any classroom.
15. All-nighters are entirely overrated.
16. For those of you who have come to college in a long-distance relationship with someone from high school: despite what many will tell you, it can work. The key is to not let your relationship interfere with your college experience. If you don't want to date anyone else, that's totally fine! What's not fine, however, is missing out on a lot of defining experiences because you're on the phone with your boyfriend/girlfriend for three hours every day.
17. Working things out between friends is best done in person, not over email. (IM does not count as "in person.") Often someone's facial expressions will tell you more than his/her words.
18. Take risks.
19. Don't be afraid of (or excited by) the co-ed bathrooms. The thrill is over in about 2 seconds.
20. Wednesday is the middle of the week; therefore on wednesday night the week is more than half over. You should celebrate accordingly. (It makes thursday and friday a lot more fun.)
21. Welcome failure into your lives. It's how we grow. What matters is not that you failed, but that you recovered.
22. Take some classes that have nothing to do with your major(s), purely for the fun of it.
23. It's important to think about the future, but it's more important to be present in the now. You won't get the most out of college if you think of it as a stepping stone.
24. When you're living on a college campus with 400 things going on every second of every day, watching TV is pretty much a waste of your time and a waste of your parents' money. If you're going to watch, watch with friends so at least you can call it a "valuable social experience."
25. Don't be afraid to fall in love. When it happens, don't take it for granted. Celebrate it, but don't let it define your college experience.
26. Much of the time you once had for pleasure reading is going to disappear. Keep a list of the books you would have read had you had the time, so that you can start reading them when you graduate.
27. Things that seem like the end of the world really do become funny with a little time and distance. Knowing this, forget the embarassment and skip to the good part.
28. Every once in awhile, there will come an especially powerful moment when you can actually feel that an experience has changed who you are. Embrace these, even if they are painful.
29. No matter what your political or religious beliefs, be open-minded. You're going to be challenged over the next four years in ways you can't imagine, across all fronts. You can't learn if you're closed off.
30. If you need to get a job, find something that you actually enjoy. Just because it's work doesn't mean it has to suck.
31. Don't always lead. It's good to follow sometimes.
32. Take a lot of pictures. One of my major regrets in life is that I didn't take more pictures in college. My excuse was the cost of film and processing. Digital cameras are cheap and you have plenty of hard drive space, so you have no excuse.
33. Your health and safety are more important than anything.
34. Ask for help. Often.
35. Half of you will be in the bottom half of your class at any given moment. Way more than half of you will be in the bottom half of your class at some point in the next four years. Get used to it.
36. In ten years very few of you will look as good as you do right now, so secretly revel in how hot you are before it's too late.
37. In the long run, where you go to college doesn't matter as much as what you do with the opportunities you're given there. The MIT name on your resume won't mean much if that's the only thing on your resume. As a student here, you will have access to a variety of unique opportunities that no one else will ever have - don't waste them.
38. On the flip side, don't try to do everything. Balance = well-being.
39. Make perspective a priority. If you're too close to something to have good perspective, rely on your friends to help you.
40. Eat badly sometimes. It's the last time in your life when you can do this without feeling guilty about it.
41. Make a complete ass of yourself at least once, preferably more. It builds character.
42. Wash your sheets more than once a year. Trust me on this one.
43. If you are in a relationship and none of your friends want to hang out with you and your significant other, pay attention. They usually know better than you do.
44. Don't be afraid of the weird pizza topping combinations that your new friend from across the country loves. Some of the truly awful ones actually taste pretty good. Expand your horizons.
45. Explore the campus thoroughly. Don't get caught.
46. Life is too short to stick with a course of study that you're no longer excited about. Switch, even if it complicates things.
47. Tattoos are permanent. Be very certain.
48. Don't make fun of prefrosh. That was you like 2 hours ago.
49. Enjoy every second of the next four years. It is impossible to describe how quickly they pass.
50. This is the only time in your lives when your only real responsibility is to learn. Try to remember how lucky you are every day.

Be yourself. Create. Inspire, and be inspired. Grow. Laugh. Learn. Love.

A Lone Dragon

I am very sad to say that on April 24, 2010 I lost my faith in my fellow Dragons. Two days before that on April 22 at 3:30 p.m. I was in Korman printing homework for my Advanced Journalism class. Everything related to Drexel and other important things of mine have their home on my black external hard drive. It's my baby and I take it everywhere...or so I thought.
Not until two hours later did I realize that I had let my baby attached to the Mac across from the help desk. Frantically I ran from Creese (where I had journeyed to by then) all the way back to Korman. I glanced at the Mac and it wasn't there. I asked the students working the desk if anyone had turned anything in and they said 'no'. Disheartened I went about my day and was hoping to be contacted soon. The next day I went back to Korman and posted a note at the computer asking if my baby had been seen.

However, on April 24 I still had not been contacted by a fellow student saying they had my baby. Usually after two days I would hear something (and yes I have forgotten my baby before). After checking at Korman again I felt compelled to file a police report (my first one ever). I was told by the kind officer that an investigator would be in touch.

April 27 rolled around and by then I was panicking. What on earth could this person want with my baby for so long? I called an investigator and relayed him my story. he promised to look at surveillence video and get back to me...he never did.

Again, I went back to Korman - this time armed with approved flyers (which you may have seen around campus) - and I talked to the staff. I stressed that three years of work was on it as well as personal information. One of the workers mentioned that he saw my baby on Thursday during his shift and that he had place it behind the desk. What an interesting development! He took my number and said he would let me know. Despite this glimmer of hope, by the next day I still had heard nothing. By now I had already broken down in tears once. To start EVERYTHING over again from scratch and have no record of all my hard work???

Still I perservered. I trudged back to Korman and spoke with the supervisor and relayed her the events until then. She said she would look everywhere and email the entire staff. Which she did. On April 29, a week after losing my baby, she emailed the entire Korman staff. I waited expectantly all day, but still no news.

Then on April 30 I received a call at 9:30 a.m. from the worker I spoke to on Tuesday and he told my baby had been found. I couldn't believe it! I arrived on campus by 11 a.m. went to Korman and the worker handed me my baby from the clear lost and found box they had behind the desk. I checked to make sure and everything was still on it.
Out of interest, I asked where my baby was found and was told it appeared in the one drawer overnight...

I don't know who decided to take my baby, what they did with her, or why they took so long to return it (last time I checked it takes a few minutes to copy files) but the worst week in my life ended with the return of my baby who will never again be left out of my sight.

But the fact remains that I now do not trust other students, especially in this particular building.
I advise you all to be very careful about where you might leave things. It may be inevitable that you forget something somewhere especially if you are stressed or distracted. Should this be the case and you really want to get your baby back, stop at nothing until you do.


I wish you safe travels on your paths through Drexel. Be careful of the flames.

- Nicolle

Chocolate by the Baldman!

You went to Naked Chocolate and loved it, didn’t you? Now try this – Max Brenner! It is located on 1500 Walnut (15th Street between Walnut and Locust.) It not only has yummilicious chocolate drinks like hot chocolate, suckao, and frappes, but also smoothies and wine! Not to forget the waffles, crepes, and my favorite – Chocolate Fondue!!! Umm… If you are not in the mood for drinks and sweets, then try its sandwiches and fries! You are definitely going to love them!


(If for nothing else, then you HAVE TO go there to see the mugs they serve in – Hug mug, Alice in Wonderland mug, Kangaroo mug, etc... All of them have a story behind them! Did I mention that they have visible pipes in the restaurant which has melted chocolate flowing in them?)

Have fun! :)
-Tanvi!

Perks of Commuting

"I can't stand Drexel/ Philly! I'm so tired of it."

These are words that have been uttered by a few friends of mine over the years in a general distaste for Drexel or Philly for those of my friends who go to Penn or Temple. And it's something I can never understand.

I like the vibe of Philly and feel that there are endless (well close to anyway) possibilities to have fun and discover new things. I love just walking arounf town and discovering new aspects of Philly I wouldn't have found otherwise.

As for Drexel, except for a slight mix-up in financial aid, I do enjoy being a Dragon and I've had a great time while I've been here. So why the discrepancy in opinion of the same location?

Partly, I believe is because my friends who complain live so close to campus and have been in West Philly their entire time at school. They don't really get away to take a break from things in their surroundings they don't like. I, on the otherhand, live in Northeast Philly about 20 minutes away by train. To some this seems like a lifetime away and I am continuously told how far away it is (which I don't think it is). And I will admit that when I first started commuting from there I couldn't stand it and it seemed like such a restructuring of my life. However, now I am beginning to see it as a way of taking a little break from Drexel and University City. I can go home and relax and not necessarily run into anyone from that area or have to think about anything relating to Drexel.

So this is one aspect of commuting that is positive.

What do you think? What are your experiences?

End of Senior Design this term!

Or should I say "Senior Assumptions".

It seems that my final project as a Drexel chemical engineering senior is all about guessing the right answer. Guessing the pressure in the absorber tower, guessing the temperature of the reactor effluent, guessing what I think my design advisor is actually going to look at in our report. Is this what the rest of my engineering career is going to be like?? For all I know I've created a groundbreaking process. When in reality I probably just wiped out half a city with my chemical plant conditions. Or maybe this is what responsibility is like. For once I can't find the answers in the back of the textbook or wikipedia. It's a little unsettling.

Nevertheless, I think senior design is the best thing I've experienced in my Drexel academic life. I love my group, and I love being able to start from scratch and call the shots in an assignment. For the first time, Ive been able to incorporate my co-op experiences into my homework.
It feels good.

So, in the spirit of St. Patrick's Day coming up, I think I'll write a limerick about senior design.

When I met my senior design adviser
I looked at him as much wiser
But when we showed him our design
And only the cost was on his mind
I realized all engineers are misers!

Lauren

Philadelphia Bike Lanes Become Parking Spots

With spring finally arriving after a long, snowy winter in Philadelphia it was nice to get out and bike around the city. However I was disappointed to see this while I was biking down Spruce Street in Center City Philadelphia:



The recent construction of these new bike lanes is considered a huge victory for the city's numerous bikers. I was very happy to see the city install the new lanes, and it certainly eased my rides on the terribly crowded streets of Center City. I want to say this is just the result of drivers not used to seeing many bikers braving the icy streets, but I've seen this before the snowfall as well. I hope that Philadelphia's drivers will respect bike lanes as more cyclists hit the road as the weather improves.

Remember, you can report any problems to the Philadelphia Police Department. You can find more information on the Bicycle Coalition of Philadelphia's website. You can also support commuters here at Drexel by joining the Drexel Commuter Organization (DCOM). Don't get pushed off the road.

Justin

Franklin Fountain

I traveled to Olde Ctiy's Franklin Fountain this past Saturday Evening and they put an Apple Pie in my Milkshake. Where else can you get that??

Your NEXT H.W. Assignment: Go to 116 Market Street. And buy whatever ice cream, float, or shake your little heart desires.

http://franklinfountainphilly.blogspot.com/2009/03/energy-and-persistence-conquer-all.html

The Sweet Tooth,

Angela

(Don't) Let it Snow, (Don't) Let it Snow, (Don't) Let it Snow.....

Howdy,

It seems like no one has said "Gosh, what a gorgeous day!" in a loooooooong time. That's usually reserved for cities that don't begin with P- and end in -hiladelphia.

I'm kidding, but you know you're thinking the same thing too! I mean, we've had record snowfall this year!! OVER 70 INCHES!! Even Polar Bears are like "Dang..."

Now I might be complaining a lot because I'm used to blazing heat waves in the metropolis of Cairo, but it is pretty ridiculous how heavy the snowfall is, and there is MORE on its way. According to weather.com, we're expecting a pretty insane snowstorm to head our way. It is definitely going to be of a greater magnitude than the last one. How come Canada has a snow deficit? Why must mother nature punish the souls of Philadelphia?!

So go grocery shopping guys and gals, cuz Drexel will serve you another Snow Day whether they like it or not. Stay indoors, stay cozy, and fire up the dvds! I know I'm definitely going to watch Zombieland and probably every episode of Entourage ever. If you have any great tips on how to survive the snow storm, feel free to comment on the post below. I'll be reading them and taking notes :).

Take care n be safe!

~Yousef Ezz

Who's going to be the next President for Drexel?

The most exciting part of this term is that I have been really active with the Presidential Search Committee. As we are winding down the process, many people are curious how far the process has gone. I hope that more students or faculty staff can come to me and give their thoughts.

Search TimelineJuly 2009
January–February 2010
-Candidates Interviewed by Search Committee
-References Calls Conducted
-Candidate Pool Narrowed by Search CommitteeMarch–April 2010
Finalist Interviews
-Preferred Candidate Recommended to the Board of Trustees
-New President Named

HaeJi

Did you know

That Lady Gaga and the Goo Goo Dolls are collaborating to make a new Children's Song?

Its gonna be called 'Goo Goo GaGa'

A Midsummer Night's Dream

This Quarter I'll be spending at least half of my life working for Drexel Player's Winter Production of MidSummer Night's Dream.

It's nothing like the wordy Shakepearean script you read in High School, but a whole new edgy and exciting take.
Make sure you make time to see it!


Shakespeare meets Gossip Girl meets Dracula meets 1984. Need we say more?

Drexel Student Admission only $5

DATES:
- February 25, 26, 27 at 8:00 pm
- February 28 at 2:00 pm

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=305383356550#!/event.php?eid=305383356550&ref=mf

Post-event retrospect

Hopefully some of you made it out to the LGBT of Color discussion panel last week, or at least caught the article in the Triangle. Gay, straight, black, latino, white, it didn't matter, everyone in the audience heard something they could relate to, and learned something important. If you made it, I'd like to thank you for coming out. If you didn't, I'd like to extend my regret, it was something special.

There's a lot of stories in the city, a lot of culture. Everyone's different, and it's important to understand and respect those differences. We're not just here to learn, we're here to build our careers, and employers value people who can work with others who are different. It's been a privilege to provide the campus with events that bring different cultures together for better understanding.

See you at the next one!

Dusty

A Tip for the Masses.

Never walk around campus in High Heels after a weekend blizzard.
Just looking out for you guys.

You Never Know

This might be my new inspiration for life. Way back in June 2008 of my Freshman Orientation at Drexel, I was rooming with a stranger, a girl named Raquel from Maryland. I invited her to do somthing, but she had to meet her sister, and we didn't talk. In Fall '08 she was in many of my classes (I'm majoring in PT and she, in PA) and I would say hi and she would just go to the back of the room and ignore me. Let's just say I felt like I tried to be friends but got no response.
I honestly don't know how it happened-but just this year, we started talking. We both joked how we both thought the other one hated us. And in just 3-4 months time, we're kind of inseperatable. I supported her basketball game (where she scored the first 2 points and many 3 pointers) and its upsetting when we're not sitting next to each other in Clinical or 2 hour Anatomy lectures.
So again, You Never Know what's going to happen next. You just have to be open to new opportunities, especially since life is constantly changing. That guy or girl you felt animosity to a couple years ago could actually have alot in common with you if you're open to learning.
Happy Weekend All-
I'm off to a Panini Friday with Raquel for lunch.

Reading Terminal Rant

Ok-lemme get the main idea out and quick-I LOVE READING TERMINAL. Originally being from a small town on Long Island, NY, this cultural meca is my absolute favorite scene in Philadelphia. I make a once a week outing to get my groceries-especially the cheap produce in the back right (way better than any fresh grocer). You can also find the biggest lobster tails to man kind and the Amish are there from Thursday to Sunday. They make the best Eggnog and Blueberry Biscuits-just a little FYI.

If you're a student-Sundays and Wednesdays you get 10% off! And lots of the merchants have $7 meal deals (find them at www.readingterminalmarket.org/news/article/83).

So basically, for all you Foodies like me out there, another homework assignment is to go to Reading Terminal this week, on 12th and Filbert. And make sure you bring your reusable bag too!

-Angela

Naked Chocolate

That's right. Look at that beautiful & bountiful table. If you've never experienced Naked Chocoloate, that is your new homework assignment from me-to visit (It's on 3401 Walnut Street). Even if you don't like chocolate there's a huge strawberry shortcake cupcake, creme brulee, huge cookies, smoothies, everything a sweet tooth dreams of.

Happy Tasting!

-Angela

I should stick to my day job

Hello avid followers! 

I had started writing originally about how the beginning of the new term was going, but I realized that I was essentially boring myself. I'm going to attempt to write an impromptu poem instead. I haven't written a poem since my freshmen engineering design project, so hopefully my skillz are still sharp. 

January 4th. 

I missed my first class 

fortunately it was orgo 

a class i once dropped

and now must forego 

On to the next one 

With a teacher named Wrenn 

Followed by my worst nightmare

By a class called PChem 

But by 2:00 

I was home free

until i remembered the bursars office

was waiting for me! 

After stopping by the SORC

Greeting Kara and Jess

I met up with my friend 

to put my hold em' skills to the test 

Like Lady Gaga

my cunning poker face

put the rest of those boys 

back in their place 

Although I only came in second

I got a free game 

and the rest of the losers

bowed their head in shame

I ended the day 

With Inglorious Bastards 

A movie leaving me

in constant fits of laughter 

It was a busy day

For the start of the term 

If I follow this trend

When is there time to learn? 

Lauren 

To Speak or Not to Speak

In this winter term of 2010 I am taking a class on Free Speech and Censorship. The subject we have been touching on is self-censorship in all aspects of life. The fact is that we are trained from a young age that it is inappropriate to speak on certain subjects depending on the situation and people we're talking to. But why is it that certain subjects are taboo around certain people? Think, for instance, of your family gatherings. Are your family members open to having a conversation about politics, sports, religion, abortion, and other sensitive subjects? Or are these topics discouraged because your grandparents or parents, aunts or uncles would get offended and then angry leading to a complete shutdown of any dialogue?
Or think of your facebook page. Is there content that you don't post or privatize because you are friends with family or employers? Why do you not make this content public?
Another scenario might be that you are in a conversation in which someone says something that offends someone else, will you correct the offender or do you let it go thinking it's not your fight to fight?
As a country, the U.S. is all for Freedom of Speech, but why is it that we don't practice or allow it when it comes to topics that make us uncomfortable? In my opinion, we suffer more from self-censorship as it is based on the fear of what other people might think of us. In censoring ourselves, we take away from dialogue that it is important to fully understanding a topic and how it influences ours and others' lives. Removing self-censors, however, is something that has to be practiced. Only through practice can we get past the grip of that uncomfortable feeling.

What examples do you have of self-censorship and what do you think of it?

-Nicolle

Just a friendly face

That's all it takes to make a difference in someone's life. I helped run the Philly Marathon this past Sunday, and yes I had to wake up at 5:30 am, but it was so worth it. With over 15,000 runners, the atmosphere was exciting. Even though the only volunteer sweatshirts left were extra large, we had a great turnout of students from all backgrounds and ages and had a great time.

Just walking around, people asked many questions because they saw our 'volunteer' outfits and a bunch of transfer students I saw throughout the day asked how we Registered to help. I think its the feeling of connection to campus that makes a person feel comfortable and welcomed.

And the bonus? We all had pumpkin pancakes at the 17th floor of Millenium.

Love you all,

Angela