Cash Flow Cyber...

It's been an ongoing issue, but at the last RSA meeting as well as Monday's SGA meeting; the changes in the Cyber were brought up.

What some may not know, the Cyber was designed with a focus on being a cash flow service - meaning not for heavy use of meal exchange. But students have been using the Cyber for meal exchange when they should be going to the dining hall.

Amy Preston and other executive board members of Resident Student Association met with Chartwells a few weeks ago to discuss these issues. As RSA representative at the SGA meeting, Preston informed attendees that Chartwells wants to reduce traffic to the Cyber and encourage people to go to the dining hall for meal exchanges. To this effect, that is why there is now a limit of 2 meal exchange transactions at one time at the Cyber.

Preston also mentioned that Chartwells employees at the Cyber were having to stay until midnight cleaning up - and that wasn't a part of their job description. As a result, hot food service has been changed to end at 9:30 PM (while closing is at 10 PM) to allow more time to close up.

At the RSA meeting, an executive board member said that the clean-up crew was behind on their duties because security was kicking them out - due to staying two hours more past closing time.

With all the changes, it's hard to keep up with what can be ordered on meal exchange and what can't be. The chicken caesar salad and outtake sandwiches were on meal exchange, but then they weren't. They may be back on meal exchange, I don't know, but I feel it could just as easily get shifted around the next day with the way things have been working. I'm glad that the pizzas and subs allowed on meal exchange are clearly labelled. I understand the supreme pizza not being allowed on meal exchange (with all the ingredients on it), but I usually order that and have found myself ordering something different or just going to the dining hall.

I understand the need to encourage meal exchange use in the dining hall - that's what it's primarily there for, but you never know what to expect there. Even with the buffet selection, some days the food choices are not worth a meal exchange. For example, today I only grabbed dessert from the dining hall before heading to the Cyber for dinner. Nothing else was worth getting.

What you might not know:
A little over half of the money made in the Cyber goes back to Dominican (out of $10, only $4.50 goes to Chartwells).

Peace vs. Hate..."The Laramie Project" Demonstrations.

Students, faculty and staff members of Dominican University gathered hand in hand, forming a human peace sign on Sunday, March 1. The demonstration was successful in overcoming the powerful hate messages from members of the Kansas-based Westboro Baptist Church. The extremist picketers stood on Division Street as they protested DU's production of "The Laramie Project," a play based on the real-life aftermath of the murder of Matthew Shepard, a homosexual college student from Wyoming.

Watch this video to see video coverage from the protest and counter-protest.

Dominican Court: Housing Plan Unveiled

Students at Wednesday's RSA meeting look at the apartment unit floor plans displayed on easels.

This past Wednesday at Resident Student Association's General Meeting, Rob Babcock and Evy Koutzas from Residence Life gave the details of the housing plan which will go into effect next fall. A new construction apartment complex, Dominican Court, has been reserved for Dominican students. It's on 7700 W. North Ave. in Elmwood Park. The walk to and from Main Campus (if you choose to walk) is shorter than the walk from the Priory to the Main Campus.

With the housing shortage continuing to be an issue for the university, the chance to house up to sixty DU students at these apartments is a way to help alleviate the problem. The number of freshmen coming in next year is continuing the growth trend. While the housing is shifted around on the Main Campus (for example, 40 beds on the 3rd and 4th floors of Centennial being reserved for freshmen), the housing lottery this spring will have the additional option to live at Dominican Court.

Each apartment unit has a full kitchen (includes dishwasher, refrigerator and microwave). There is also a washer and dryer in each apartment, though you have to pay per use. The heat, water, gas and electric is included in the lease payment, but students will have to pay extra for internet and cable. With the full kitchen, students are not required to sign up for a meal plan at Dominican. Instead, students can go on the commuter meal plan (50 flex dollars).

The apartment lease starts from August 22 to May 15. The three options are 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom; 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms; and 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms. Below are photos of the display boards showing the floor plans so students at the meeting could get a better idea of what to expect.

The pricing of the apartment lease is yet to be determined, but it will most likely be higher than rooms on campus.

For more information, students should contact Evy Koutzas at (708) 714-9185.

This is why I love the Dominican Staff

As I walked through Parmer Atrium yesterday the sound of loud laughter caught my attention. It was our wonderful Dominican faculty decorating the Christmas tree. They were having such a great time I was almost envious. It put a smile on my face, so I figured it was a good time to capture the holiday moment...and yes, she is shaking her butt at me.

Flower Power....After the Snow

With this season's first snow fall decorating the landscape, and Christmas lights glistening all around, one can't help but appreciate the winter wonderland. Just how long will the snowflakes and icicles last?

I love the winter snowflakes and ice (ice rinks, that is) has been a part of my life since I can remember. (My entire family is obsessed with hockey.)

Anyways, Monday I snapped this photo in Parmer Hall's fourth floor women's restroom.

Weird, huh??

I know that Parmer's a science facility (among other things), but I thought all plants and flowers were kept in the green house. Since the old science building is a little out dated, is Parmer's women's restroom becoming a new botanic garden?

Stars Fall to Rival Concordia

The Men's Basketball team came up short versus rival Concordia Chicago Tuesday night. Team captain Dan Borys scored a team-high 20 points, but it was not enough, as the Stars lost 75-41. This 34-point loss leaves the Stars' record at 2-5, and 0-2 in the Northern Athletics Conference. The Stars will try for their much needed first conference win against Marian University Saturday at Dominican.

(Team captian Dan Borys, photo courtesy of dustars.cstv.com)

On the week before finals...

"I always dread the week before finals since my sophomore year," says senior Gwen Geever. She's a Business major and while she has only one final during finals week, she has five group presentations this week.

Considering her major, this is no surprise. I know how important it is to have good presentational skills in the business world - my sister is in marketing and there is always an annual presentation she has to do along with the rest of the marketing team. It is a big deal and there's no room for mistakes.

So while the opportunity to practice essential presentation skills is beneficial, Geever finds it hard to schedule meetings with all the groups she is a part of. She works two jobs - 15-20 hours during the week and 25-30 hours during weekends. While she's a resident, most of her group members are commuters. And while she's free in the evening hours, commuters - especially the ones who have to drive far - probably wouldn't want to go back and forth from home to school just to meet in the evening.

I know that if I'm finished with classes for the day and don't have a night class, I'd want to go straight to my room and relax. Who doesn't think that no matter if you're a resident or commuter?

I'm grateful that at least I don't have all of my papers due in one week - some were due last week or the week before. Though I wish all my papers had been due last week so I could have this week more or less free to focus on studies for finals week. I have two presentations as well, but if some people have up to five presentations in one week; then two doesn't look so bad in comparison.

Good luck to everyone as finals week approaches!

Student opinion: Trayless Tuesdays

On Trayless Tuesdays, residents are hit the hardest because they eat most frequently in the dining hall. I know that I almost dread going to eat in the dining hall Tuesdays because there will be no trays. I know it may be a good thing for the environment, but I'm not fond of that extra trip to get a drink - unless I can manage to balance everything in one trip.

But is it really helping the environment and we should just deal with the inconvenience or have other problems arisen as a result?

Senior resident Anne Marie Barrett gives her thoughts on Trayless Tuesdays (transcribed from video interview):

"...there have been more spills, more breaking of plates than I have ever seen because of trayless Tuesdays. And I would like to know if they really are conserving water. How much water they are conserving? And how much money they have to spend on paper towels to pick up the messes and plates that have been broken?"

Barrett also says that she sometimes sees paper plates, which she thinks is just as wasteful.

"So, it’s like why would we have paper plates on trayless Tuesdays when you know, we’re trying to help the environment. It’s just – I don’t know – kind of seems like a contradiction."

Barrett explains what it's like on Trayless Tuesdays...

Neon Beauty

Jean Bevier, assistant professor of Graphic Design, explains the concept behind her interesting installation currently being exhibited in the O'Connor Art Gallery as part of the [Re]visions Faculty Exhibition, on display through December 15.

Sustainability Program to Debut Next Semester

http://blog.cogapp.com

As reported in one of my previous posts, Dominican has a brand new program for sustainability currently in development.

"We're approaching sustainability in an informal, but definitely focused way," said project manager Dawn Morse. "We're going to make it fun, and get people involved."

According to Morse, the project's origins can be traced back to the construction of Parmer Hall in 2007. Parmer's structure follows the LEAD criterion, or Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. LEAD is a set of guidelines created by the U.S. Green Building Council that focuses building design on sustainable practices, such as using local materials for construction and using recycled materials in building construction. Parmer Hall has many features which comply with LEAD, including efficient mechanical systems designed to reduce waste, engineered ditches to process storm water without using municipal processing methods, and occupancy sensors designed to turn off lighting, heating and air conditioning when rooms are unoccupied.

With Parmer Hall being Dominican's first official "Green building," it was decided the other buildings on campus could also be more environmentally friendly as well. Older windows in Power and Lewis Halls were replaced recently, to keep more cool and warm air inside the buildings. Campaigns to monitor water use and recycling have also been established. Modifications were also recently made to the heating system in Lewis Hall so that the same aging system could also be converted to support a central air system for the building.

Morse believes reusing existing structures and supplies on campus is key to the program.

"To reuse something is one of the best sustainability things you can do," Morse said of the Lewis heating and air system. "Now we're putting it into a framework of what we can afford and what's important to the world."

Along with construction and recycling initiatives, it was decided that students could also get involved. The program is currently seeking volunteers and an intern willing to lead the program forward.

"We're aiming at younger students, someone who's going to be here a while," said Physical Plant director Dan Bulow. "We want to keep it going."

According to Bulow, the primary goal of the program will be to work with students to develop programs, structures and ideas to make Dominican a more environmentally responsible campus. Students in the program will conduct measurements of energy use on campus, research benchmarks for energy use for schools of Dominican's size, and collaborate with Physical Plant and the university administration on environmentally friendly programs.

According to Morse, students will factor heavily in making new decisions on buildings, and that will start with student involvement in sustainability efforts.

"Getting students involved will be key," said Morse. "With a lot of people doing a little, you can still have a large impact."

The program will see an official launch next semester.

Avoiding the subs at the Cyber comes to an end

After growing sick of the subs at the Cyber Cafe last year, I couldn't even look at them this semester and chose the pizzas or the dining hall food over it. Too many times last year I went and ordered the Philly Chicken sub to the point where I really rather not eat that anymore.

This year, a friend of mine said they chose the subs over pizzas because the wait wasn't as long. Logically, it takes longer for the pizzas to be made. But the only reason I opted for the pizza was due to the fact that I could eat it without contemplating throwing it out.

Yesterday (Tuesday), after my 5:30 P.M. night class, I had no choice but to order a sub. I had missed dinner in the dining hall, and two hours before the Cyber closed - there were no pizzas. This may have had something to do with this being right before Thanksgiving break, so maybe traffic was expected to be decreased?

I know at least one friend of mine who was planning to hightail it out of here right after night class Tuesday. I told him I was planning to get something from the Cyber for a late dinner. He said he'd just get something from McDonald's on his way back home. I probably would too if I had the option - I do like their crispy chicken sandwiches...

But despite the sometimes not so great selection in the dining hall, I prefer going there because at least there are more options - it's not just a sub/pizza with chips or fruit. Though a few times, the only thing worth eating was the potatoes or quesadillas; there's always salad. You can't really mess up salad, right?

The Cyber was open until 2 P.M. because of Thanksgiving break and they had limited options (sausage/pepperoni pizza or turkey/ham & swiss sub). I could have ordered a pizza, but I just went with a sub again. I'm guessing months of avoiding the subs has done its job - my appetite for them has returned. The subs are better in moderation though - I really don't think it's a good idea to eat them often during the week because you will grow tired of them.

Anne Marie Barrett, a senior at Dominican, weighs in on what she has heard from others on the food at the Cyber.

Donate Clothing and Get Something In Return

The Clothing Swap, an event put together by Resident Assistants Jamie Zwijack and Stephanie Foley, allows residents to donate clothes that they don't wear or don't want as well as giving them a chance to find something for themselves out of the items there.

Residents can donate any clothing, accessories or shoes and then come to the event in the Coughlin Commons Resource Room (the CCMPR) Thursday, Dec. 4th, from 7 P.M. to 9 P.M. to sort through what's there on the tables. Everything will be sorted by gender and size.

It's a chance to get free clothing/accessories/shoes as a reward for donating clothing.

"It's nice to know you're donating to charity but you can also come and find new things for yourself." says Jamie Zwijack on what she hopes people will get out of the event.

There will be bins available in the Coughlin Commons starting Monday, Dec. 1 through Wed., Dec. 4 for residents to drop off clothing items.

The ultimate goal, according to Zwijack, is to donate clothes to charity. Any leftover items will be donated to charity.

The Clothing Swap did take place last year, but a publicity mix-up caused the event to go forward mostly through word of mouth. Also, it was through Resident Student Association as a Hall Rep program. This year, the two RAs are doing it as one of the programs that RAs have to do each semester (6 programs each semester).

The people who did come and participate last year thought it was a really cool idea despite the last minute publicity. Zwijack is hoping that this year with publicity up earlier, that this clothing swap will be an improvement over last year's.

Clothing items that are gently used or not worn at all are preferred. Zwijack said that any roughly used clothing (i.e. stains are on them) will probably not be laid out on the table, but may be donated to charity.

Rather than just dropping off clothes to donate to charity - who hasn't seen the bin near the Commons desk allowing people to do just that? - the Clothing Swap goes a step further.

Zwijack hopes this will bring people together through coming to the event and "find[ing] new treasures" as the flier says.

Last year, most of the items were scarfs, hats, gloves and a couple pairs of shoes.

The timing of this event (right after the upcoming break) is to give residents a chance to dig stuff out from the back of their closets during Thanksgiving break. That'll make room for clothing received at Christmas...

And though that task of sorting through clothes in your closet might not be fun, at least you know you'll be doing a good thing by donating to charity. The Holiday Season is upon us, after all.

Mini-raffle at October's RSA meeting

With Resident Student Association's December Auction coming up in early December, here is a video clip of the mini-raffle that RSA does at every general meeting.

Attendees who sign in are eligible to win free stuff - not as exciting and big as the Auction in December and then in the spring (where you can win gift baskets, iPods, even a mini-refrigerator) - but it's still fun to win something.

This is from October 29th's RSA meeting - the Executive Board is dressed up in their Halloween costumes since it was only a few days before Halloween. Meetings are every other Wednesday at 10 P.M.

dominiNET Promo

Today, Charlotte and I were on a mission: get the word out about dominiNET.....to DU students. Tom and Megan also helped promote our blog. Fliers were posted all over campus. We also handed out promo fliers to about 100 students. Hopefully, students will become familiar with our blog. We encourage all readers to please leave comments!!

Check out this video to find student's first reactions to dominiNET.



I hope students will agree with Javier and become regular dominiNET readers. And commenters.

Footage of the SGA Town Hall Meeting

Here is some brief footage from the Student Government Association Town Hall Meeting that took place Monday night, Nov. 17.

Thanks to students interviewd: Ali Wesowlowski-SGA President
Zach Holtman

Bullet Investigation....Part 3

So, once again, River Forest police were at Dominican inquiring about the fired bullet that was found. My original posting stated that the bullet was found Thursday, Nov. 6. This is a factual error. In fact, the bullet was found Tuesday, Nov. 4. I apologize for the mix-up.

That said, the police are still working on getting to the bottom of the finding. R.F.P.D.'s Deputy Chief Kendra Sullivan was finally reached for comment. "(Dominican University) asked us to look into this. It's still under investigation. Officer Fields is following up in conjunction with our detectives." Yesterday, Officer Fields, the community liaison for DU and R.F.P.D., contacted Ashton Baran to meet where the bullet was found. Baran walked Fields step-by-step as he and Conrad Sewinski did when they noticed the bullet.

The original posting, not only led campus safety to alert police, but police also spoke with Trudi Goggin, dean of students, and Norah Collins, assistant dean of students. Goggin said: "The fact is, there was no sign of damage to Dominican property that indicated a gun was fired here. There is no proof based on what was turned. Someone could have taken the bullet from a shooting range, put it in their pocket and dropped it there accidentally."

I am still waiting for a copy of the police report. I submitted a Freedom of Information Request Friday, Nov. 7, and have not yet received it.

DU's Still Got Edge

Last Tuesday, Suzy posted about a free sample that had been passed out, Edge. Edge is an Ecslpise shave gel with a pinkish tint. Suzy observed, as many students and faculty did, that the free sample was used for graffiti all over campus. It was sprayed on the lockers near Cyber, in the mini quad, the trash can in the commons and even on cars in the parking lot.

That was last Tuesday. Yesterday, I saw that the Edge Effect is still around. Check out these pictures of Edge graffiti on a car in the parking lot near the gym.

Holiday Helping Hands at DU

"No one can do everything, but everyone can do something," Taylor Eshleman, president of Students Exploring Rewarding Volunteer Experiences, says is one of her favorite quotes.

Dominican University's Service Learning and University Ministry have been encouraging the Dominican community to follow Eshleman's footsteps. The helping hands of DU will bring joy to many in Chicagoland this holiday season. Service Learning will be sponsoring Thanksgiving families through the Thanksgiving Baskets by providing all the necessities of a true holiday meal. Serve, sponsored by University Ministry, will be holding Adopt A Kid to provide needy children and adults with presents for Christmas. Watch this video package to find out how.

Chicago's Media Down the Street from Dominican

After a long 8-hour day at Dominican yesterday, I was anxiously driving home. I was hurrying spend time with my mom (who was visiting my sister and I) and to walk my dog, Romeo. Plans changed, as they often do when a hungry journalist is ready for a story. I saw ABC 7's live truck at parked on Augusta right in front of Concordia University. I wondered, "Hmmmm......Why is 7 here?" So I turned around, parked and approached the photographer.

After I told him about my internship at NBC this summer, he was glad that a random person wasn't bothering him (as countless, nosey people do when out on a story). He was excited that a fellow journalist was there. Not just a bum. So we spoke, he told me John Garcia was in the truck and I asked him questions: Was there breaking news? Did something happen? What's going on?

He filled me on about Concordia's huge press conference that was held earlier that day.

Fifth Third Bank offers sixth graders in the the surrounding area possible opportunites to attend Concordia University for free if they can maintain their grades throught middle school and high school. Click here to watch ABC 7's John Garcia for more.

Centennial Hall: Bruised and Broken

As the semester comes to a close Centennial Hall damages have not disappeared, as residents and their guests continue to take poor care of their home. Check out the video below for details on the situation.