The Global Citizen

Rounding Out Another Amazing Academic Year!

The 2013 End of the Year Dinner and Celebration rounded out another awesome academic year. Welcoming remarks from Prof. Peter DeBartolo and Associate Dean Susan Briziarelli provided a brief overview of the vast array of projects that LGS students have involved themselves in during the Fall and Spring semesters. Damelvy Rodriquez (LGS ’10) imparted a few words about how the Levermore Global Scholars Program has shaped her post-graduate life, and Jennifer Boglioli (Co-Interim Director of Alumni Affairs) shared information with students about remaining active within the LGS community well after graduation. After all, we are a family, not simply a learning community, and family stays in touch to share developments, good news, and advice!

Reaz Khan, a graduating Senior, shares this view, and in a short speech proved how much his LGS family enriched his undergraduate career. We are proud of his accomplishments, and the accomplishments ofeveryone in the LGSP graduating class this year, and wish them success in all of their future endeavors. Having developed close relationships with many of them, I for one know that though they will be missed, that they have been well prepared by their LGS experiences to meet the challenges they will face on their professional journeys.

After dinner, students who participated in study abroad programs in Israel and Costa Rica reflected upon the things they learned, both academically and personally. Attendees of the dinner were able to listen to musical performances by Krissy Linacre (LGS ’15), Rosetta Isnardi (LGS ’15), and Edwin Maldonado (LGS ’13).

I would like to congratulate certain students who were recognized for their particularly outstanding accomplishments this year:

“LGS Senior of the Year”: Gregory Quinlan

“LGS Junior of the Year”: Ida Iselin

“LGS Sophomore of the Year”: Julianna Classe

“LGS Freshman of the Year”: Josephine Chuah

And in recognition of their outstanding participation in UN events and programs, the LGSP recognizes these Seniors with the “UN Participation Award”:

Reaz Khan

Janae Cummings

Beverly Gantt

Nahtahniel Reel

Congratulations to all of the students mentioned, and again to the Class of 2013! Your accomplishments are many, the future is bright, and your LGSP family is proud of each and every one of you!

Our Global Kitchen: Food, Nature, Culture

Foodies everywhere will be excited to hear that the Museum of Natural History has done something that should’ve happened a long time ago – they have dedicated part of their museum to food. In their new exhibition called Our Global Kitchen: Food, Nature, Culture, museum-goers can explore how food is grown, transported, cooked, and most importantly…eaten!

LGSP Students Represent at the Annual AU Research Conference!

Congratulations to the 31 Levermore Global Scholars’ students and alum who presented at this year’s Research Conference on Wednesday April 10^th, 2013. Every presenter did a wonderful job sharing their work with students, faculty, staff, and administrators. In true LGSP fashion, they proved their leadership by working on research projects addressing very diverse and interesting subjects. Here’s a list of this year’s LGS presenters, by category:

Arts:

Gregory Quinlan: “Race and Culture in American Cinema”

 
Humanities:

Marissa Marinucci: “Fairy Tales Found in Translation: Moving from Italian to English in the Works of Luigi Capuana (1839-1915)”

Afrain Boby: “Insufficient Sleep Derived from Seven-Day Diary, Habitual Sleep Time, and Actigraphy”
Erin Taub: “The Effect of Substrate Concentration on the Acitivity of CYP2A6 with the Use of High-Throughput Screening”
Emily Dernbach: “Eat What You Know: Feeding Choices of Nucella Iapillus”

Nursing:

Christina Asphall: “What is the Relationship between a Registered Nurse’s Biases to Race, Religion, and Gender and the Patient’s Perception of the Level of Care Provided? A Quantitative Study”

Social Sciences-Psychology:

Jennifer Ganley: “Therapist Self-Disclosure, Client Attachment, and the Real Relationship”
Jennifer Bacchus: “Ongoing Research Projects in “Practicum in Experimental Psychology”

Social Sciences-Other:

Abigail Paulion: “Hebrew Israelites in Brooklyn”
Adrish Tewarie: “The Influence of Artists on the Population of the World”
Cally Benison: “How Do You Define Elements of Crime in an Ever-Changing Society?”
Lauren Ciuffo: “Understanding Current Trends in American Muslim Divorce and Resiliency”
Edwin Maldonado: “The Changing Face of the U.S. Military: Drone and Their Implication on the International Stage”
Valeria Mendoza: “Exploring the Role of Music in the Transnational Lives of Migrants from Mexico in the United States”
Ryan Puglia: “Difference in Salaries in Upper Management of Companies in the United States versus Another Country”
Michelle Raider: “The Relationship between Feminism and the Anti-Human Trafficking Effort”
Erin Taub: “University Community Service and Prevention of Human Trafficking”

Multidisciplinary:

Kimberly Atkins: “Does Money Buy Happiness?”
Samantha Baker: “The Effects of Hurricane Irene on Local Business and the Recovery Process”
Valerie Cardona: “Systematic Vulnerability and the Proliferation of Sex-Trafficking in Cambodia”
Janae Cummings: “Urban Farming in Harlem as a Means for Transformative Education”
Ida Iselin Eriksson: “Peace and Sustainable Development”
Trevena Goulbourne: “Factors That Lead to High-School Dropout Rates in Jamaica”
Baneet Kaur: “Universal Health Care – Is It Better?”

Jaspreet Kaur: “Biological Factors and Roles That Cross-Cultural Play in Regards to Breastfeeding Babies”
Nicole Lesniak: “How Does Cultural Background Affect a High-School Student’s Perception and Academic Achievement?”
Kristina Linacre: “Pura Vida!”
Andrew Martin: “Accessing the Potential Dangers of Hydropower Energy in Costa Rica”
Rebecca Noriega: “Reimagining Work: Money, Jobs, and the Common Good”
Ann-Marie Ramsaroop: “Writing: Tool of Empowerment or Hindrance of Social Change?”
Nahtahniel Reel: “Civil Engineering’s Role in Sustainable Development”

And I just want to give a shout-out to the LGS students and alumni whose work particularly stood out to the judges at the Research Conference—Congrats to everyone who placed in their category!

Undergraduate Arts Poster Presentations: Gregory Quinlan – Honorable Mention

Undergraduate Multidisciplinary Poster Presentations: Kimberly Atkins and Andrew Martin

Congratulations again to all of the presenters who worked diligently and contributed to the scholarly conversation within their discipline.

You’ve made all of your LGSP colleagues so proud!

LGS Students: Impassioned, Impressive, Inspiring!

Levermore Global Scholars students are some of the most active students on campus (in my opinion of course, but I might be a little biased). Still it cannot be denied that many of our students hold positions on executive boards of clubs on campus, are heavily involved in community service, and go beyond what they are taught in the classroom toward a more immersive level of global engagement. Recently, some of our students have gained recognition for their hard work and dedication to the mission of LGS.

Reaz Khan is an International Studies major with concentrations in political science and Spanish, and a minor in Latin American Studies. He has been named a 2013 Newman Civic Fellow. Becoming a Newman Civic Fellow is a unique, and very special honor, as these Fellows represent the next generation of public problem solvers and civic leaders. They serve as national examples of the role that higher education can—and does—play in building a better world.

Melissa Fernandez was selected as one of the 40 under 40 Rising Latino Stars of NY State by The NY Hispanic Coalition, Inc. Melissa is a Biology major who currently serves on the executive board for the Latin American Student Organization and Sigma Lambda Upsilon, Sorority Inc. Melissa embodies what it means to be both an Adelphi community leader and role model.

Kristie Ranchrejee is an international studies major with minors in economics and peace studies. Her paper has been accepted as a part of the “The International Conference on Education, Sustainable Development, Leadership and Policy” at Columbia University, in New York City, held from April 17-April 19, 2013. Kristie is an LGS student and member of the LGS Student Leadership Council, president of Amnesty International on campus, and she interned at the Long Island Children’s Museum through Adelphi’s Community Fellows Program last summer.

Of course, this would be a very lengthy post if I were to try to list every impressive accomplishment of these students. I will say that I am very proud to be counted among these students and to be a part of the Levermore Global Scholars Program. There are opportunities present for every individual that wishes to be engaged to any extent, and these three students are examples of the leadership that can be developed by taking advantage of those opportunities.

Reaz, Melissa, Kristie—CONGRATULATIONS!

“Justice for Farmworkers Campaign”

            This spring, a group of NYU Law students came and presented a series of lectures pertaining to the plight of farmworkers in New York State, as part of an overall movement called the Justice for Farmworkers Campaign. The movement aims to improve working and living conditions for New York’s farmworkers, primarily through organizing and increasing awareness.

            Most of the foods we eat today come from giant corporate farms owned by huge companies rather than local “mom and pop” farms or markets. However, there has been an increasing call to buy organic, local produce once more, and this ever-shifting nature of agriculture has had a huge effect on New York’s farmworkers. Farmworkers are excluded from federal labor laws, and are not given the same protections as other workers are entitled to, and many face abuse or unfair labor practices.

            Take the case of Librada Paz – she was a migrant worker who grew up in San Juan Mixtepec, Mexico, but at the age of 15, she and her older sister crossed the Arizona desert into the U.S. to become a migrant farmworker, picking tomatoes in Ohio. She reported being sexually abused on several occasions, and now is the harbinger for improving migrant farmworkers rights throughout the United States.

            In Paz’s words, “When you work in the fields, you don’t matter.” There are an estimated 80,000 to 100,000 farmworkers in New York alone, and they are offered little to no protection under law. They are not entitled to a day of rest per week, they have no right to receive overtime pay, and they are not eligible to receive disability benefits. They are more than seven times more likely to die, and have no right to bargain collectively. Underage farmers excluded from minimum wage, and could be paid as little as $3.20 per hour.

            There is a lack of political initiative to change the laws, however, because there is an increasing marginalization of farmworkers. However, there has been a huge boom in agriculture, and in 2011, US farms posted record net incomes, yet their workers were denied basic rights and privileges. Thankfully, the efforts of campaigns like this one have increased the call to action, and in the New York Senate, there is currently a bill entitled A1792-2013 that, if passed, will grant farmworkers collective bargaining rights, workers' compensation and unemployment benefits. For now, we need to continue to campaign for farmworkers rights and realize that the very people who pick, grow, and farm our food are they themselves starving.

Because Cancer Affects Us All, Locally and Globally...

On behalf of the Levermore Global Scholars’ Relay for Life team, I want to send a BIG THANK YOU to everyone who participated in the fundraising event that was held on March 18, 2013. Whether you baked the goods that we sold, worked the table, bought the yummy dessert snacks that were for sale, or just made a very generous donation, every effort contributed to the team’s success!

For those of you who may not know, Relay for Life is the signature fundraiser of the American Cancer Society. At Relay For Life events, communities around the world come together to honor loved ones who have survived their battle with cancer, to remember loved ones who have lost their battle, and to fight back. Relay teams camp out overnight and take turns walking or running around a track or path.

"Board" on the weekends? Get involved!

This weekend, I had the amazing opportunity to participate in a community service project with Habitat for Humanity. The project was just one of the many programs and activities that the Center for Student Involvement holds as a part of the Adelphi Gives Back campaign every March. These events are aimed at promoting the importance of community service and volunteerism within the community. A group of 12 students from Adelphi University and our chaperone, Kathleen Watchorn of the Center for Student Involvement, spent the day in Roosevelt, NY working on a home for a young family. Under the watchful guidance of Habitat contractors, we got to set the ridge of the house’s roof, and put up the rafter of the house as well.

Besides the many new vocabulary words I’ve added to my arsenal (beam, plank, rafter, ridge—look at me now!) I have gained many other benefits that I’d like to share. First, I was pleasantly surprised at the array of different students that participated in the project. Within our group, there were social work majors, political science majors, student athletes, and students from a host of organizations on campus with varying interests. Despite our perceived differences, being able to spend a day with these individuals helped me to appreciate the variety of personalities present, and to learn more about myself. Balancing on scaffolding, shooting nail guns on a roof, and maneuvering a busy construction site while carrying wood planks up narrow stairways definitely builds bonds between people, and I am looking forward to developing these new friendships further.

The second benefit of this project may sound silly, but as a busy college student, I found the fresh air and the ability to work on something outside to be so much fun! Having to read books and articles, write papers, and otherwise prepare for classes is intellectually challenging and enriching, as many young people around the world are not able to do so, but it was nice to get out on a weekend and do something productive with some tools!

This leads me to the last benefit I want to mention. I loved being able to develop knowledge of hands-on skills from professionals in the field. Let’s be honest: there’s only so much you can actually learn from sitting at home on the couch and watching HGTV (that’s “Home and Garden Television”). I’m quite sure I would never have learned the things I learned this weekend from any of my economics or political science textbooks, either. 

Thank you to Kathleen Watchorn for her watchful eye and hard work right beside us students, and thank you to all of the Habitat for Humanity volunteers who headed this weekend’s community service project for your patience and willingness to teach us just some of what it takes to build a house. I know I’ll never look at a house the same!

If you’re interested in getting involved in more projects like this one, visit the Adelphi University Center for Student Involvement’s webpage and fill out the Volunteer Registration Form: http://students.adelphi.edu/sa/csi/volunteer/volunteer-registration-form.php

There’s no reason to feel bored on the weekends, especially if you’re a resident on campus. Log on, sign up, and get involved!

Congratulations, Kristie!

Congratulations to LGS junior Kristie Ranchurejee on recently being awarded the Sue Levering Social Justice Award! Kristie’s involvement on campus and dedication to improving the lives of others through activism is truly inspiring, from her work with Amnesty International to representing the LGS Program as one of its delegates to the United Nations Youth Assembly.

The Sue Levering Social Justice Award is bestowed each academic year to an LGS student of sophomore standing or higher who is a particularly active and informed global citizen. The award is given in honor of the late Susan Dworkin Levering, who was an activist, feminist and global citizen.

To read more about Kristie and the Sue Levering Social Justice Award, check out the press release on Adelphi University’s website: http://events.adelphi.edu/newsevent/sue-levering-social-justice-award-honors-adelphi-university-student-passionate-to-help-others/

Get App-y About Learning a Language!

I love the Italian language. I love the flow of words and the musical cadence of the vowels, and I love the animated way of speaking them that brings these words to life. I love the people, I love the land. I suppose you could call me an Italophile.  

Whether you possess the same love for the language you study (studied/want to study), the Levermore Global Scholars Program holds that in order to develop oneself as a global citizen, level four proficiency of a language at the university level is vital. In an increasingly interconnected world, having the ability to speak more than one language is useful to businesses, non-governmental organizations, and anyone involved in diplomatic relations—the list goes on and on.

After completing my fourth level of Italian, I felt proud of the accomplishment, but also a little anti-climactic. Was that it? After a few months of being without those dreaded verb conjugations, I had to admit: I missed being able to polish my language skills.

I knew simple language flashcards weren’t for me; they didn’t allow for the critical thinking that is necessary for language retention. The idea of lugging around a textbook didn’t appeal to me either, with my already heavy course load. I decided to turn to a stream of learning that is becoming increasingly more common: technology, and even more accessible to students, smartphones.

“Duolingo” is a free educational application that can be downloaded through Apple’s App Store, and one that I have found to be very useful in practicing my language skills. Individuals can learn Spanish, French, German, Portuguese, Italian, and English with pictures, sounds, and text. The app is very colorful and user-friendly, and includes a social component where you can invite friends through e-mail or Facebook to share your progress. The game-like interface makes the app feel a lot more like a game than a learning tool.  The Wall Street Journal even lauded it as “far and away the best free language-learning app.”

Being able to sit with a group of students and learn a language in a university setting is a wonderful opportunity. I also know first-hand how helpful it can be to have a professor to whom you can pose theoretical questions about the language. However, there is a certain degree of pressure that comes with having to speak a foreign language in the presence of others… and possibly embarrassing yourself. For this reason, though I wouldn’t necessarily recommend using Duolingo as a primary source of language-learning, I do think that it’s a great way to practice your language at home, or on-the-go.  

UNA-USA Members’ Day and 2013 Mid-Atlantic Regional Conference

On February 5, 2013, I had the opportunity to visit the United Nations Headquarters and attend the UNA-USA Members’ Day and 2013 Mid-Atlantic Regional Conference, along with a group of students in the Levermore Global Scholars Program. The overall theme of the day was “The U.S. at the UN: Opportunities for Renewal.” Topics discussed included the Rio+20 Conference on Sustainable Development, global economy and its relation to education and youth, and finding solutions to stubborn conflicts in the international arena. The morning sessions were also live-streamed to the LGS Lounge on Adelphi’s campus and American College of Norway, which allowed even more students to participate in the conference virtually.

 In between these interesting panels, we were privileged to listen to keynote addresses by UN Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson and Kathy Calvin, President & CEO, United Nations Foundation. Individual remarks from UNA-USA Southern New York Division President Jeanne Betsock Stillman, UNA-USA Executive Director Patrick Madden, and 2012 UN Youth Observer Brooke Loughrin were reflections on just how much work the United Nations does around the world and why it is so important to support such a vital organization working for global peace.
 
Extremely well-versed and well-qualified panelists answered questions regarding carrying out UN goals logistically, the most important aspects of negotiating for peace between warring parties, and how to conquer the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), just to name a very small fraction of the topics covered by the Conference.

Though every panelist and speaker contributed heavily to each dialogue, here were some particularly noteworthy highlights/quotes:
 
“There is no peace without development; there is no development without peace.”–Jan Eliasson
 
“We must incorporate sustainability into everything we do. We must envision the future we want.” –Nikhil Seth, Director of the Division for Sustainable Development, UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs
 
“I tell my graduate students [at Bard College], ‘There are two ways to change the world: through policy, or through sustainable business.’ With sustainable business, individuals build solutions within the current system… Sustainable business asks, ‘How would nature do this?’” –Eban Goodstein, Director, Bard Center for Environmental Policy
 
“There is a choice for us all, and the choices we make determine human destiny.” –Selim Jahan, Director, Poverty Reduction Practice, Bureau of Development Policy, United Nations Development Programme

Kathy Calvin (President and CEO of the United Nations Foundation) was particularly inspirational to me because of her assertion that changing societies for the better around the world must begin with the advancement of women.  This is a fact that has been reiterated to me throughout my studies in the Levermore Global Scholars Program since my time at Adelphi University, and it is something I truly believe in.
 
Women are often left home around the world to take care of children and household chores. By educating women, they are able to care for their children in a way that takes into account sanitary conditions and childhood good health practices. Mothers who have had schooling are likely to encourage their children to go to school, stay in school, and continue to the highest degree of education available to them. These educated children will go on, theoretically, to get jobs that benefit society in some way, and benefit the state’s economy.

There is an old Chinese proverb: “Women hold up half the sky.” But for those of you familiar with the Half the Sky Movement, you know that many women around the world are denied education, which is extremely important for the development of the individual, the society, and the world. How can we, as a species, pretend that we are advancing toward our fullest potential when it is clear that we are denying half of the population the opportunity to contribute to this advancement?
 
This is a question that I have found myself pondering, and one that I am inspired to explore further. Unlike many of my fellow young women on this planet, I have the opportunity to do something concrete to alter this injustice.

I am grateful to have been able to take part in the UNA-USA Members Day and 2013 Mid-Atlantic Regional Conference, and what it has done to expand my consciousness of big issues going on in the world around me. Special thanks to everyone involved in the planning and fulfillment of the Conference, especially: the Administrative Director of the LGS Program, Professor Peter DeBartolo, who acted as an enthusiastic and informative chaperone, and LGS Administrative Assistant Jennifer Ganley, for all of the behind-the-scenes work that goes into organizing any group of college students.
 
It was a truly memorable experience, and one I’ll carry with me for some time.

"Spy" Exhibition – The Secret World of Espionage

 Written by Ann-Marie Ramsaroop, LGS '14

The exhibit itself left me feeling a bit more paranoid, yet observant in my world, suspicious of all those around me. It felt like I’d never know if the person standing nearby could be, in any way, tied to the world of espionage! The hands on, interactive experience gave me and the other students an up-close and personal tour of a sub-world that is otherwise unknown to the general public. The laser maze was an example of this. Growing up, I’ve always watched and marveled at spies as they successfully navigated through lasers, and being able to do that for myself was simply mind-blowing. The adrenaline rush, the time limit of 20 seconds, and being completely immersed in the moment, were all parts of an experience I never, in my wildest imaginations, could have seen myself being a part of.  

Another fascinating aspect of this exhibit was the conversion of the simple into the extraordinary. I never would have thought that creatures that I see daily, and generally take for granted, would have been used for something as fantastical as behind-enemy-lines “cameramen”.  Neither could I have imagined that everyday household items such as umbrellas, stuffed animals, and cigarette lighters could double as lethal weapons, cameras, and film canisters.

An Election of Firsts: 2012

Regardless of party affiliation or political opinion, the election that took place this November proved to be a historic one. For the first time in American history, the House Democrats do not have a white male majority - the first major party caucus where this is true, reflecting changing demographics. More women ran for Congress in this election than ever before, and some beat out long-time incumbents backed by large-scale campaign efforts.

Twenty women, the most in our history, will be in the United States Senate starting in January. Keep in mind that a women’s bathroom wasn’t even installed on the floor of the House of Representatives until 2011 because there wasn’t a need for it. This presidential race was also the most expensive campaign program in United States history, and it marked the first time since the Great Depression that a president has won a second term with unemployment above 7.2 percent. Below are some other historic “firsts” for this country:

           First openly gay person elected to the Senate: Rep. Tammy Baldwin (D – Wis.) beat Tommy Thompson, a former Wisconsin governor and Presidential candidate, to become the first woman elected to a Wisconsin Senate seat, and the first openly gay person elected to the Senate. In her victory speech, Baldwin stated, "I didn't run to make history, I ran to make a difference.” The 113^th Congress will include six openly gay lawmakers and the US’s first openly bisexual member (Krysten Sinema of Arizona).

           First Buddhist, Asian-American woman, and Japanese-born person elected to the Senate: Rep. Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii) Hirono made history when she beat former governor Linda Lingl to senator-elect. Hirono was born in Fukushina, Japan and practices the Jodo Shinshu tradition of Buddhism.                                                            

            First Hindu in Congress: Rep.-elect Tulsi Gabbard (D-Hawaii) Gabbard was born in American Samoa and spent most of her life in Hawaii, where she joined the state legislature at the age of 21. She has stated that she will take the oath of office on the Bhagavad Gita.

            First state to have all women in top elected official positions: New Hampshire. The state’s governor seat and both House and Senate seats will be occupied by women. Democrats Carol Shea-Porter and Ann McLane Kuster beat two Republican men to represent New Hampshire in the House of Representatives, joining senators Jeanne Shaheen, a Democrat, and Kelly Ayotte, a Republican, who were not incumbents. Maggie Hassan, a Democratic state senator, was elected to the governorship.

           First states whose citizens voted to legalize gay marriage: Maine, Maryland, and Washington State. Voters in these three states approved ballot initiatives allowing same-sex unions, and Minnesota voters turned back a proposed constitutional amendment that would have prohibited same-sex marriage. More states are likely to join the bandwagon in the upcoming years.

           First states to legalize recreational use of marijuana: Colorado and Washington State.

Our Trip to the UN

Written by Titilope Alawode

After much persuasion by us students, our teacher – Dr. Steve Rubin finally got us seats to a United Nations briefing focusing on the death penalty. This marked our debut visit to the United Nations! 

We got to the UN with barely any time to spare for sightseeing, although Professor DeBartolo pointed out some notable buildings. In front of the UN, were all the 192 UN member nations’ flags. When entering the main building, we were told to throw away all liquid contents and to remove all cell phones and metal objects; we then went through the full body imaging scanner. After collecting our items, we proceeded to the room where the briefing was to take place. On our way, we were able to see a consultation room, where all of the member countries’ representatives were meeting; each country’s name was marked on a portion of the table. When we got to our briefing room we were shown the places where the translators sit.

The briefing officially started with an introduction by the moderator - Maria-Luisa Chavez, Chief of the NGO Relations at the Outreach Division of the Department of Public Information. After a brief introduction and overview of the issue of the death penalty sentence, the other speakers were introduced: Christof Heyns (Director of the Institute for International and Comparative Law in Africa and UN Special Rapporteur on Extrajudicial, Summary or Arbitrary Executions), Jose Luis Diaz (Head of Office and Representative at the Amnesty International UN Office in New York), and Madeline deLone (Executive Director of the Innocence Project).

The speakers spoke about the negative effects of the death penalty and why it should be banned in all countries, most especially in the United States. While speaking, Jose Luis Diaz said that in China the specific number of people killed by the death sentence is not usually given. When it is given, most times more people are killed than the number provided. He also told us of a recent event in Nigeria, where three people were killed without an appeal. This was against the rule of the sentence.

After the speakers were finished, the audience was given the opportunity to ask questions. A student from Manhattan College asked whether it was more reasonable and cost-effective to keep the death penalty, instead of spending money to keep criminals in prison. However, Christof Heyns responded by explaining that the cost of sentencing people to death is actually more expensive than leaving people in prison, because each person on death row has the rights to a lawyer and appeals.

I think the trip to the UN was a great! I am now more informed about the death penalty. I’ve come to the realization that many people do not know much about things going on in the world and the opportunity to experience this is one I appreciate very much. I look forward to more visits to the UN and maybe even an internship there.

Hurricane Sandy Rips Through Campus

A little over a year ago, New Yorkers had to brace themselves for Hurricane Irene – a storm that now seems like nothing more than a little rain and a few gusts of wind. This year, we were faced with Superstorm Sandy, one of the most devastating weather events to hit the Northeast in decades. The effects of Hurricane Sandy were felt everywhere from the Bahamas to southern Ontario, bringing with it heavy rains, wind gusts upwards of 80 miles per hour, and storm surges that swallowed whole coastlines. In West Virginia and parts of Maryland, the storm brought with it feet of snow, and in other areas it brought 8 to 10 inches of rain. For Long Island and Garden City, Sandy brought forceful winds, rain, record flooding, and power outages that still haven’t been fixed.

Adelphi weathered the storm fairly well, with all things considered. Nobody that stayed on campus during the storm was injured, and the campus only lost power for a day. But that’s not to say that we didn’t feel the effects of this destructive storm. Much of the outdoor artwork was ruined, huge trees were uprooted, and Alumni House was crushed beneath a large tree that looked as if it had been snapped like a toothpick. Take a walk off campus, and the destruction continued: there were houses torn in half by trees, power lines on the ground, pieces of debris everywhere, and no lights for miles.

After the storm, Adelphi and its neighboring community rallied together to help those who had been affected by the storm. On Wednesday afternoon, I walked along Cambridge to find an Italian restaurant serving free food to the community – no questions asked. I saw neighbors helping each other moving tree branches (and sadly, sometimes entire trees) from front yards and driveways, and even the students in the dorms were eager to offer whatever they had to help. A few days after the storm, Adelphi hosted a large blood drive and clothing donation, where we proved that we are able to come together to help each other in our times of need. To all those reading this, I hope Superstorm Sandy wasn’t too hard on you or your families. This is a time for reflection, a reminder to be thankful for every day, and an attestation that we can all come together to help each other, selflessly.

That Used to be Us: Thomas Friedman Lecture

Thomas Friedman is at it again – with his new book entitled That Used to be Us, Friedman looks at domestic American economics to examine how modernization in the United States is progressing far slower than in other parts of the world, saying “people have sort of gotten used to American exceptionalism.” Today, Friedman argues, America faces three great challenges: debt/deficit/entitle ments, energy and power, and how to deal with the merger of globalization and IT. Within the last decade, the world has seen its “biggest invention point” that has taken the world from connected to hyperconnected; for example, we can now follow events such as the Syrian revolution, even though the government of Syria has outlawed foreign journalists.

During his lecture, Friedman kept repeating the mantra “average is officially over,” due to the fact that globalization has created a world in which there are global competitors everywhere you look. In the labor market, employees are now looking for people who are creative, and they will only hire somebody if they absolutely have to. In order to find a job, Friedman stated that sometimes you have to invent a job, and be an “innovation officer” in today’s world.

 Friedman offered four analogies to describe how people in this new hyperconnected world should look for work: he wants people to think like an immigrant, artisan, starter-upper, and waitress. Think like an immigrant because they are “paranoid optimists,” think like an artisan to take pride in your work, think like a starter-upper to always learn, redirect and perfect yourself, and finally, think like a waitress to think  entrepreneurially. For college students, this advice will hopefully prove useful in the future when we enter the labor force.

After his lecture, Mr. Friedman stayed to talk with students and give autographs. Overall, the students seemed very impressed with his lecture, and we will heed his advice I am sure.