I am so pleased to see so many familiar faces in this outstanding and supportive video from my alma mater, the University of South Carolina! It certainly does get better, and I am proud to know that things have continued to improve for the LGBTQ community in Gamecock country!
I became a FourSquare user on September 11, 2009, while visiting Austin for my interview for my current fantastic job at The University of Texas at Austin. My friend Tim had integrated his Twitter account with FourSquare, and introduced me virally to the location-sharing concept, which didn’t seem to have a large following at the time. Miami and Austin happened to be two of the fifteen cities allowing check-ins, so I continued the ‘game’ upon returning home - but it didn’t get interesting until I moved to Austin.
In March, FourSquare introduced an enhanced (and MUCH better) iPhone App during SXSWi in Austin, and the game exploded as thousands of people converged in Austin for the conference. This (older) article from Mashable highlights the reasons why I support location-sharing (within reason, and with considerable consideration for safety and privacy). I particularly like number five, as it relates to higher education.
Enjoy!
GLEE-Inspired Flash Mob at Ohio State
The opening of the brand new Ohio Union at The Ohio State University paid homage to GLEE, with a fantastic flash mob dance, set to the GLEE Cast rendition of Journey’s Don’t Stop Believin’. Thanks to my friend and colleague Kristen for sharing. Awesome!
In Spring 2011, the University of Texas at Austin will open our new Student Activity Center. I am starting a movement to include a GLEE-inspired flash mob for our opening, too! Would you like to see a Longhorn Flashmob, too?
I’d met other important writers in other creative-writing classes. Somehow I’d always ended up wanting to write like them: to be minimal like Amy Hempel, angular like Madison Smartt Bell, noble like William Trevor, mysterious like Carole Maso, fragile like Brett Singer, bold like Ellen Currie. But there was something so undeniably singular about Grace Paley—her twinkle, her sneakers, the stain on her shirt—that, for the first time, I wanted to write like me, though I had no clue what that meant.
“
| — | Mary Beth Caschetta, in her article: Considering a Writing Program’s Worth - The Chronicle of Higher Education |
Check out this article about the various diverse Greek-letter organizations at Florida International University (my former employer), and others around South Florida! Great press for some good student groups!
Thanks to my friend, Steve Rothaus, for sharing this positive news on his Gay South Florida Miami Herald blog.
Starbucks Consolidates Card Programs for Easier, More Rewarding Loyalty Program
October 30, 2009 - Starbucks announced via Twitter a plan to consolidate their customer rewards programs, eliminating the annual fee component of the Starbucks Gold Card and providing what appears to be stronger loyalty rewards through their new three-tiered program.
Original Gold Card members will continue to receive their membership benefits until December 31, 2009 or until the membership expires - whichever lasts longer. This means I will continue to get my 10 percent discount off of every Starbucks purchase for a month-and-a-half after my card was originally set to expire. Thanks, Starbucks!
During the Fall 2008 semester, I discussed my addiction to Starbucks with my First Year Experience classes, giving them a tangible (and personal) example of an area where I could improve my finances. In the lesson about financial health, I shared that I learned from mint.com that my all-too-regular lattes made Starbucks my most frequented business. I had three outstanding students with whom I became close in my First Year Experience course, who purchased a Gold Card in my name as a fantastically fitting gesture of their appreciation, telling me that the use of the card would let me continue my trips and help ease some of my guilt. (Thank you Darien, Kelley, and Monica!)
Come to think of it, I don’t really know of the three of them even realize how much more money I’ve probably spent because of the rewards I’m getting, but I’m sure Starbucks is thrilled. At least now I don’t have to renew the membership. :o)
Full details about the program here: Starbucks Consolidates Card Programs for Easier, More Rewarding Loyalty Program
(Photo courtesy of Words About Things)
About Starbucks
Since 1971, Starbucks Coffee Company has been committed to ethically sourcing and roasting the highest quality arabica coffee in the world. Today, with stores around the globe, the company is the premier roaster and retailer of specialty coffee in the world. Through our unwavering commitment to excellence and our guiding principles, we bring the unique Starbucks Experience to life for every customer through every cup. To share in the experience, please visit us in our stores or online at www.starbucks.com. (from article)
I was surprised to see this shirt at Old Navy this weekend, among a handful of other college shirts! Of course, I had to buy it… :o) I love that Old Navy is supporting colleges and universities by selling these shirts, but am also very aware that the only institutions represented were those with great football programs and strong athletic followings, and not necessarily inclusive of all institutions. Obviously, they’re focused on sales potential, but I’m curious as to how much of an impact this plays in college aspirations for high school students.
Do you think this has an impact? If so, how do you think it impacts college aspirations?
Share your opinion, and join the discussion!
When working with college students, there are times when it is important to have some tough yet realistic conversations to help them better understand the impact of their choices. “I know you love Grey’s Anatomy, but your science and math grades really aren’t cutting it. Perhaps studying medicine isn’t the best option…”
As the economy continues to struggle, college graduates are entering a poor job market just as they’re hitting student loan repayment periods. USA Today provides this fantastic article that - although not very positive - provides that realistic view of the financial struggles many college graduates are experiencing.
The article gives a glimpse into the history that brought students to this situation, and provides the reader with an understanding of some of the potential impacts on graduates’ pocketbooks.
(Thanks, calidre, for sharing.)
“Thousands of college graduates are facing a student loan crisis.The job market is shrinking, and the sour economy is preventing employers, parents and relatives from helping those who are behind on payments.
Student loan defaults are at their highest rate since 1998, and likely will go higher. And though federal student loans offer some payment modification options, private loans are far more onerous, because even filing for bankruptcy rarely wipes out the debt.”
(Visit the link above to read the full article)
Welcome to The Book Club!
During the summer between my first and second years of graduate school, I interned at Suffolk University in Boston. My co-intern rekindled my love of reading, and I picked up a fantastic summer read, Three Junes by Julia Glass, which I flew through before having to head back to South Carolina to finish my Master’s.
Upon graduating in May 2007, I found I had much more time to pursue pleasure reading than before, and began to read avidly. I had originally thought my newfound love of reading was, in fact, new, but upon further reflection, realized I had quite the extensive history with reading - both for pleasure and academics.
As a child, my private elementary school participated in the Pizza Hut Book It! Reading Incentive Program, which turns 25 this year. Genius, really. After all, what’s a better incentive to read than pizza? I recall reading the entire Indian In the Cupboard book series (to this day, my favorite children’s series). I also remember my Dad’s encouragement and support of this hobby. Having purchased The Chronicles of Narnia, he offered to reward my finishing the series by purchasing a toy of my choosing from Wal-Mart. (I chose the Bang-a-Rang Attack Raft from the movie Hook…)
Being that my love for reading began with Pizza Hut’s program, it only made sense to unofficially name the Higher Education Book Club after the program.
Book It: The Higher Education Book Club began in Fall, 2007 when Allison and I decided to read Blink together. It slowly grew to its current membership of 19 dedicated higher education professionals on our campus. We meet every other week to discuss the book we’re currently reading, and find ways to apply it to our personal and/or professional lives. So far, the club has read (and I recommend) the following:
Blink by Malcolm Gladwell
The Starbucks Experience: 5 Principles for Turning Ordinary Into Extraordinary by Joseph Michelli
The Dip: A Little Book That Teaches You When to Quit (and When to Stick) by Seth Godin
Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert
The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch with Jeffrey Zaslow
The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Díaz
A Piece of Cake by Cupcake Brown
Funny in Farsi by Firoozeh Dumas
Goat: A Memoir by Brad Land
Beyond Book It and other personal reads, I also loosely participate in a book club with friends from South Beach, whom I first connected with through the chorus, when I have the time to dedicate to another read.
Posts tagged with The Book Club will share insight into the books I’m reading, and provide you with a glimpse of what turns me on to an author, a plot, a character, or other things literary. Some may be full-fledged reviews, where others may share an inspirational quote or thought-provoking moment, or possibly just to a reference to a recommended read.
Recommendations always welcome. :o)
Happy Reading!
“By 2020, Latinos will make up 22 percent of the nation’s college-age population, according to demographic estimates today. The critical question is whether Latinos will actually reach college and, once there, succeed.”
This fantastic article discusses the importance of President Obama’s nomination of Sonia Sotomayor to the Supreme Court, and how this nomination is challenging public opinion on affirmative action. Brown supports her claim that,
“Society is strengthened when leadership in the White House and state houses, in corporate boardrooms and federal and state courtrooms, and on campuses and in classrooms more fully reflects and acknowledges the challenges of the least well served of our population.”
Brown refers to a recent report from Excelencia in Education that highlights how many Hispanic-Serving Institutions like Florida International University have increased participation of nontraditional students (part-time, lower-income, commuting, older adult students of color) - a category in which most Hispanic students fit (according to the article).
This is part of why I love my job - working for an institution that truly serves the needs of Hispanic and Latino students, and provides impressive access to higher education.
Check out the full article by clicking the link above.
