November 15, 2009 - by Shayna
So much has happened since
the last time I was able to write. Last week I had the honor of attending the
SCUSA 61 Conference at West Point, and it was truly amazing. There were
students there representing schools from all over the country, which consisted
of California, Vermont, South Carolina, Connecticut, etc. People traveled from
long and far to attend this conference, because it is really quite an honor to
be apart of such an historic moment. Throughout history, many leaders, state
officials, etc., have attended the SCUSA conferences, and the topic for this
current one was, ”Advancing As A Global Community: Scarcity, Instability, and
Opportunity”, and the subtopic I chose was the African Continent. I had the
pleasure of meeting some brilliant individuals within my group, where unlike
myself, most of them had lived in, or traveled to, Africa. There were students
there whom had lived in Senegal, The Gambia, Kenya, and many who have studied
abroad there in places such as Ghana, Tanzania, Kenya, etc. To be able to
discuss, and explore, different aspects of the African Continent with people
who have actually experienced the struggles the different countries throughout
Africa are facing, gave me a new insight into the Continent as a whole. Indeed
I have learned of the horrors in Africa, and theories on how the continent can
evolve, yet to have someone tell you first hand the corruption, and different
ways of life, that takes place there, changes your input on theories and how the
actual reality of what is occurring makes these theories irrelevant. Besides
boring you with details of the African Continent, the experience is really what
was most important to me. Adelphi offered me the opportunity to be apart of
something bigger than myself, I was able to meet with people from all over the
US and hear different ideas, beliefs, etc., on certain topics I have explored
throughout my academic career, and try to come up with ideas on how the world
can advance as a whole. This gave me the opportunity to evolve more as a
student, because it enabled me to escape the classroom, and the theories that I
have learned, and actually apply them to the real world, and discuss them with
leaders of the future. Also, I had the pleasure of sharing a room with two
cadets that attended West Point, and they were extremely hospitable. I
exhausted them with questions about the reasons why they wanted to attend West
Point, how they went about their daily routine, and what happens when they
graduate, etc., but they were more then willing to tell me all about it. Even
though the two girls I was staying with were a few years younger than myself, I
idolized them. They told me that all the hard work, and strict rules, they had
to endure at West Point, was worth it, because they to wanted to be something
bigger than themselves. After graduating from the school they have to serve in
the military, and they were proud to serve this great country we live in, and
this bravery really touched me. If I had never transferred to Adelphi I would
have never gotten the opportunity to experience something like this. It changed
my life, and it made me even more committed to making a difference on Adelphi’s
campus, because student leaders are the future of society as a whole, and it
all begins with ones education, and commitment to clubs and organizations they
feel passionately about.
If anyone is interested in
reading the paper my group wrote during the SCUSA 61 Conference, I have pasted
it below:
Challenges and Opportunities on the African Continent
Student Conference on United States Affairs 61
November, 2009
Current conditions in the African continent- resource scarcity, ethnic and political conflict, and public health concerns- warrant specific policy suggestions. In order to confront the region's challenges and enhance its opportunities, the Department of State will direct the United States' involvement. The U.S.'s main interests lie in the continent’s stability and the success of policies that pertain to the security dilemmas posed by failed states and continue humanitarian and development efforts in stable African societies. Working with limited financial and military capabilities, we will continue to emphasize the importance of "Defense, Diplomacy, and Development," as described by Secretary Clinton.
Concerning failed states in Africa, the number one priority for the U.S. is establishing long term security, which can only be achieved through strong institutions, safety of citizens, and progress toward a functional government. In order to ensure this objective, the U.S. must focus its resources on those conflicts that have the most conceivable prospects for success. We have identified three primary courses of action to address the insecurity created by states such as Somalia and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Pertaining to these standards the primary security concern in Africa is Somalia .The U.S. will only achieve these described goals in Somalia through dialogue. Urged by key allies in the region, this dialogue will aim to establish a cease fire, paving the way for a long term peace agreement. Once a cease fire has been established, AFRICOM should work on capacity building for African Union (A.U.) troops, which will enforce such accords. A cease fire will provide the conditions conducive to developmental activities by the United States.
Additionally refugee camps create regional instability and subhuman conditions which act as ideal breeding grounds for extremism and re-militarization of combative factions. These camps pose a threat to the A.U.’s abilities in keeping peace and bringing rival factions to the negotiating table. We recommend increasing material support and training to the host nations of these refugee camps through AFRICOM.
AFRICOM's initiatives, however, do not always provide sufficient results in all cases of failed states. In such situations, the U.S. must use diplomatic means to support humanitarian efforts in a region. This strategy will not jeopardize any ongoing kinetic force missions that currently target immediate terrorist threats.
In order to prevent stable African States from failure we suggest using both “top-down” and “bottom- up” development approaches to guide regional U.S. foreign policy. We recommend updating the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (PL 87-195) to address current challenges and to support our strongest development practices. To enhance our grassroots efforts throughout the continent we suggest reformed policies that will increase support to microfinance institutions and community-based organizations. Microfinance institutions will grant more small business and individual, low- interest loans to promote the growth of the middle class. Additionally, community-based organizations will play a role in improving communal social welfare. These organizations should address women’s issues, public health, anti-corruption, and other critical public needs. Furthermore, support of universal access to primary education will build the stronger communities, publics and states necessary for budding civil societies.
To address development on the macro level, we suggest reforming and reinvigorating the Millennium Challenge Account by focusing on transparency in the State Department’s grading process. We also advise that countries must submit budget proposals that will be approved and monitored by Millennium Challenge personnel. By creating a grading procedure that will reflect the progress of individual countries on an annual basis, African states will have an incentive to improve their current government programs.
In addition to the above suggestions, we recommend that the International Monetary Fund adopt debt- restructuring policies that would suspend loan repayment for a period of 10 years without interest. The suspension period will continue dependent upon the proper reallocation of funds to crucial social service programs. Finally, changing current policy on agricultural subsidies will serve as an advantage to the growth of African domestic economies.
Adoption of the above proposals will more efficiently utilize U.S. resources in the African continent to support its security and development to minimize human rights abuses and security threats that impede the advancement of a liberal, democratic world.
November 01, 2009 - by Shayna
Each person has their own
reasons for wanting to transfer from one institution to another, but many are
reluctant to do so because they feel as though they should just stick it out.
This is ABSURD, because nobody wants to feel as if they have no other option
but to deal with a non-pleasant situation. College is supposed to be the best
time of a persons life, because it is challenging, inspiring, intellectual, fun
filled, and hard work, which shapes students into well rounded individuals whom
are ready to succeed in every aspect of their lives.
The reasons I transferred
was because I felt I was paying a enormous amount of money to attend a
University that was not rewarding me in any way for receiving excellent grades,
nor giving me the opportunity to show my full potential. I had a great group of
friends, and the only thing that was holding me back from wanting to transfer
was my social life. This decision is one that constantly hinders students from
wanting to transfer, because they do not want to leave a group of people who
they built a strong bond with for the amount of time they were at that
institution, and in my case this was two years. Also, Sophomore year I began a
relationship with my boyfriend who attended UCONN, which made this decision
even harder. Yet, I could not let my social life, and my relationship, keep me
at a University where I was not satisfied with the institution. I had to do
what was best for me, which would help me in accomplishing all the goals I had
for my future, so I decided to take the leap and transfer. Transferring is not
as hard as people may think, all one needs to do is do some research to find a
school that seems more idealistic to you, fill out an application, go on a
tour, and wait for your acceptance letter. When it comes to Adelphi University,
this process is much more simpler than transferring to other Universities,
because Adelphi has an amazing staff who wants to make this transition as easy
as possible for you. As I have mentioned previously, I was accepted to the
University of Connecticut, and Stony Brook University, and after finding out
that UCONN did not give transfer students scholarships, and that I would have
to pay an out of state tuition, I did not feel it was worth it to pay such a
tremendous amount of money to go to such a large school. So I was left with the
option of either going to Stony Brook University, or Adelphi University. Stony
Brook University had large class sizes, which was something that I did not
like, and Adelphi had small class sizes, which was extremely important to me.
Stony Brook had a gorgeous campus, but it was very large, so getting to and
from class may be more of a hassle, and Adelphi had a gorgeous campus as well,
filled with beautiful flowers, and a great upkeep of the property, and it was
much smaller. Also, to enter Adelphi’s University after a certain hour, every
person must pass by public safety and show an Adelphi ID to be able to come on
campus. Yet, the biggest reason Adelphi won my heart over Stony Brook was
because if I had transferred to Stony Brook I would have been an entire year
behind! They were hardly willing to accept any of my credits, and it would have
been impossible to graduate on time. All of my hard work at my previous
institution would have been pointless, and this was a deal breaker in my book.
Adelphi accepted ALL of my incoming credits, which were 63 credits.
Now I am a
senior and I have fulfilled all of my requirements with a double major, and I
was able to take 12 credits this Fall semester, which has given me extra time
to study for my LSATs, and an entire Spring semester to take any electives I
choose. Transferring is not as big of a deal as many of you may think it is, in
my opinion it is a new chance for you to attend an institution you are proud
of, and have an institution appreciate you for all of your hard work. As for
me, I still speak to my friends at my previous University, and go to visit them
frequently, and I am also still with my boyfriend, and have been for 2 years
now. So if I am able to transfer and have it change my life tremendously for
the better, then you are to.
October 25, 2009 - by Shayna
Do you want your voice to be heard on campus? Then there is no better place for you then the Student Government
Association. Being apart of SGA gives students the ability to represent their
peers, and make a difference on campus. This goes for ALL students attending a
university, not just transfer students or Adelphi students. Run for a position
that you feel passionately about, whether it is a senator for the school of
business, social work, nursing, commuters, class representative, a residence
hall, secretary, or even President. You may not realize it yet, but being
elected into SGA is a big deal. Your voice becomes the voice of your entire
campus, and the association meets with a variety of faculty members, clubs,
organizations, staff, etc., who truly listen to what the senators have to say.
Change is possible, and being apart of SGA gives students the ability to be
apart of this. If you are thinking about transferring to Adelphi, and there is
something about the University that is hindering your decision on whether or
not you should come here, then speak up! Email SGA about your concerns, leave a
comment on this page so I can relay back your questions and comments, because
the great thing about Adelphi is that they care about what current and
potential students have to say. Adelphi has created a variety of committees
where students could express their likes, and dislikes, about the University
with administrators, and faculty, so they would be able to hear the voices of
students and change Adelphi for the better. Your words mean a lot more than you
realize, and for the little time it takes to speak up, it is not worth it to
dislike something about your university and feel as though you cannot do
anything about it, because YOU can. Hopefully this has made you feel as though
you can take on the world, and make a difference, and SGA DAY Wednesday October
28th from 11-3 in the University Center is just another chance for you to do so. All of
Adelphi’s Student Government Association members will be there, such as your
cabinet, and your senators. There will be food, music, and senators waiting for
you to give us your questions, comments, and concerns. This is your chance, if
you are a transfer student who wants something to change on Adelphi’s campus,
take 10 minutes out of your day to come speak up, because I promise you that
SGA will help you make a difference.
Here are some
updates/changes from Transfer Club and Tau Sigma:
November
3rd:
Food
for Thought Discussion - 1:45pm, UC 211
Talk
about your transfer experience and learn about all of the opportunities that
Adelphi University has to offer.
December 1st:
"How
to Study Abroad After You've Transferred" - 4pm, UC 313
Bowling
5:30pm
“Nobody
made a greater mistake than he who did nothing because he could only do a
little.”
- Edmund
Burke
October 18, 2009 - by Shayna
Are you a Transfer
Student? Do you feel that you have achieved academic honors and are not being
recognized for it? If so then Tau Sigma is the right honor society for YOU! Tau
Sigma is an honor society that is specifically aimed at recognizing transfer
students for their academic achievements. I was recently informed by Jen
McCabe, who runs Transfer Tuesdays, Tau Sigma, and works in the center for
student involvement located on the 1st floor in the University
Center, that once one is inducted into Tau Sigma, they are eligible for a scholarship
after filling out an application. This was the email sent to transfer students,
and Tau Sigma members, from Jenn:
Upcoming important dates and events:
November 3rd - Transfer
Tuesday - Garden City Bowling Alley
$5pp - 2 hours of bowling and
dinner AU Transportation provided to and from
Tau Sigma Induction for Spring
2009 - December 7th, 5:30pm UC Ballroom
Attached is the National Tau Sigma Scholarship
Application. Last year Tau Sigma awarded over $19,000 in scholarship to
its members. If you would like to be considered for a scholarship please
complete the attached application and email it back to me no later than Friday,
October 16th. Please note that you must meet the following criteria:
Only applicants enrolled in a college or university
for at least one academic term during the calendar year 2010 will be
considered. The applicant's future enrollment does not have to be at their
current institution and can be at either the undergraduate or graduate
level.
The Scholarship Review Committee will evaluate the
applicants based on their:
Involvement in and service to the chapter
Involvement in and service to the university
Service to the community
Academic achievement
Feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns.
If you have yet to pick up your Tau Sigma Materials please
do so immediately at the Center for Student Involvement Office, Ruth S. Harley
University Center Room 110.
Best Regards,
Jen
Join Transfer Club! Make
it your goal to be inducted into Tau Sigma! And enjoy all the rewards that come
with doing so. There are a ton of events that Transfer Club puts on, and it
gives transfer students a chance to bond with other transfer students, and even
non transfer students, and make a difference on Adelphi’s campus. If you make
it into the Honor Society they are willing to give you the chance to receive a
scholarship for all your hard work academically, and socially, for donating
your time and efforts into making Adelphi the best University it can be!
I have included a portion
of the Tau Sigma Scholarship Application that I filled out, and I hope all of
you transfer students looking into applying to Adelphi, or whom are currently
at Adelphi, take advantage of all the opportunities Adelphi has to offer.
(Portion of Application)
The
first time I heard of Tau Sigma was during my first semester at Adelphi in
Transfer Club. I was told that being apart of this club was an honor, and that
one needed to achieve academic success to become a member. From that moment
being inducted into Tau Sigma became my goal for that year, and I worked long
and hard to achieve this. The induction ceremony gave me the opportunity to see
myself as not just a transfer student, but as an Adelphi student receiving
academic honors. I plan to become more involved with the chapter throughout the
year, but Tau Sigma and Student Government Association both hold meetings at
the same time, which holds me back from attending the chapter meetings.
Although I may not be able to make the meetings, I hope that the time could be
altered so that I will be able to attend, and if not I will try to find other
ways in which I could donate time to the honor society. I want this club to be
known on campus, because it enables transfer students to not just try and blend
into the crowd at Adelphi, but gives them an opportunity to stand out from the
crowd, and be a successful Adelphi student.
October 12, 2009 - by Shayna
TO TRANSFER, OR NOT TO TRANSFER, THAT IS THE QUESTION. This was
the exact thought that went through my mind when deciding whether or not I
should transfer to a different University. This decision is not easy for
anyone, and it takes a lot of courage, and commitment, to finally decide you
are going to leave your current institution and attend another one. I was
accepted to three Universities, Stony Brook University, University of
Connecticut, and of course Adelphi University. All of these schools were special
in their own way, but I had to decide which one was able to offer me the best
college experience. The first question I asked myself was, what are the classes
like? Unlike the other two Universities, Adelphi has a very small class size.
Your teachers actually know your name, and you are able to build relationships
with them, whereas at a bigger school, you are simply an unfamiliar face in a
crowd of people. This gives students the opportunity to work closely with their
professors to get the best education they possibly can. My second question was,
will they accept all of my credits? While I would have been a year behind at
the other two Universities, I am now a semester ahead at Adelphi, because they
accepted all of my incoming credits. Also, the other two schools do not offer
any scholarships to transfer students, whereas Adelphi does, and the higher
your GPA is, the higher the amount of money is that they offer you. The Third
question was, is the staff at this University going to be able to meet my needs?
Adelphi has an amazing staff that works with you individually to make sure your
needs are met. Being a Senior with a double major I am constantly in and out of
the English and Political Science offices, and the staff’s are extremely
helpful. They begin to know you on a name basis, and this enables you to feel comfortable
going to them for anything at all. I am ecstatic that I decided to transfer,
because Adelphi has given me opportunities that have been life changing.
