July 28, 2013

July 28, 2013

Only a month left...

Hello colleagues!  I hope everyone summer is still going well and that you are now preparing to head back to school!

I believe by now that everyone has received their class lists, and I have to say, mine and Tanner's class looks to be pretty good.  So y'all better watch out come the retreat because we plan to dominate!

I just ordered my books for the upcoming semester and was pleased to only spend a little under $100 for around ten books through Amazon.  Unfortunately, I still had to buy a book from the bookstore that cost close to $200.  Insane!  But I am looking forward to the fall immensely.  Between Hixson, football, and other general college shenanigans, it should be a great time!  Best fall yet? I think so!

Is it just me or has this past month just flown by? August will go by quickly, and that's already looking to be a busy month!  My brother and sister, Brett and Mollie, are getting their senior pictures taken on Saturday.  They should not be old enough to be seniors, but they are!  But the good news is I believe both of them are attending Iowa State!  I just helped Mollie plan her housing.  I'll be strongly suggesting that both of them apply for the Hixson award.  Let's hope they get it!!

Also, we'll have the learning community retreat a week before classes begin.  I have a bridal shower that I've helped plan/host for my cousin's fiancee and their wedding is the weekend before school starts.  That'll be a busy week, but a good one!  Ending summer with a bang, so to speak!

As a side note, there's 34 days until the opening game of football season against UNI.  I cannot wait for the lights, the fans, the pregame video, the Weather Alert, and the sounds of  "Smoke on the Water" echoing through Jack Trice Stadium.  Oh, I can't wait!

Until next time,
Katie

July 4, 2013

July 4, 2013

America and California

Happy Fourth of July everyone!  I hope everyone has a safe holiday and is relaxing.  Today marks the 237th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, but did you know that the United States did not officially become a nation until the signing of the Treaty of Paris in 1783, ending the American Revolution,?  And actually, the Treaty was not adopted by the Congress of the Confederation until January, 1784.

Also, did you know that the original government of the United States was not the Constitution we hold by today, but rather the Articles of Confederation, which loosely organized the states and had no central head of  government?  The Articles were deemed ineffective after a short while and the Constitutional Convention took place in 1787, creating the "Great Compromise" and the Constitution we know of today.

And now you know some history about our great country! :)

I just recently got back from San Diego, California, where my oldest female cousin on my dad's side got married.  My dad's family is huge, and all but five cousins were in attendance.  (I believe at last count there are 26 or 27 cousins from 9 siblings...)  It was a great time and we Iowans/Illinois-ans/Minnesotans/Coloradans really showed the Californians how to party.  The DJ played Sweet Caroline and nearly all of Kristin's side of the reception hall (it was split between her side and Daniel's family) was singing and dancing along to it.  My aunts and uncles were deemed the "rowdy table" and even though it was a black tie affair, my uncles decided it was a great idea to put their ties around their head like bandannas.  It was a marvelous time.

Also, question: Does everyone know what the Alligator is or is this just a random thing my family does to "Taking Care of Business"?  If you don't know what it is, and you don't do it at weddings...well, you're missing out.

The weather in San Diego is absolutely gorgeous: Little humidity, NO BUGS, and simply amazing.  I would go back in a heartbeat and see more of the town and spend time discovering the history of the seaside town.

The ocean was cold and really salty and it was the first time I had been to the ocean.  We weren't able to spend a lot of time in the water due to rip tide warnings, but it was thrilling.  I didn't mind the cold so much once I got used to it, but the saltiness of the water got to me if I didn't time the jump of the oncoming wave right.

We also went to the USS Midway and saw Maverick from Top Gun on board prepping for flight.

I couldn't imagine living on a boat like that for extended periods of time!

We also went to a lighthouse and the views were simply breathtaking.  Here's a taste:

If anyone gets a chance to go to San Diego, I highly recommend it!  I wasn't ready to come back to reality and Iowa, but I really did miss my dog and a certain colleague of ours! ;)

I hope everyone is having an awesome summer and is enjoying the weather we have here!  

Until next time...

Katie

June 10, 2013

June 10, 2013

A Month Into Summer...

It's a month into summer, and I figured I'd write an update blog.

My summer has been insanely busy between classes and work at the Alumni Association.  I'm always doing something and my days get long.  Last week, I swore Tuesday was Wednesday, Wednesday was Thursday, Thursday was STILL Thursday, and I couldn't believe it was actually Friday when it was Friday.

I wish the weather would cooperate and quit raining so my parents and the rest of Iowa's farmers can finish planting.  I know we still have a couple fields of beans (that's soybeans) to do and San Diego is quickly approaching.  Every one please pray for sunshine and warm weather!! Please and thanks!

I had a pretty good weekend this past weekend.  I got to show a city boy the charms of a small town and I think he really enjoyed the simple life.  He did say Dows and Clarion was drastically different from anything he's used to, which is saying something.  To him, Ames is civilization, and wherever the heck we were at was the middle of nowhere.  Granted, my house could be considered the middle of nowhere since we were surrounded by fields, fresh air, and open spaces and not a town for miles (Dows is two miles from my house; Clarion is seventeen).

I hope everyone is having a good summer, being productive, getting that workout in, etc.  Additionally, I just posted my ISU History and Traditions blog.  Yes, it's quite long, but it's very informational and I actually had a lot of fun writing it.  History and Iowa State are two of my favorite things, so naturally this was a good fit for me.

Until next time,
Katie

The History and Traditions of Iowa State University of Science and Technology

The Traditions and History of Iowa State University of Science and Technology

Iowa State University of Science and Technology was created on March 22, 1858, by the legislature of the State of Iowa as the Iowa Agricultural College and Model Farm.  The Farm House was erected as the first building on campus (and still stands today).  In 1862, the Iowa legislature voted to accept the provisions of the Morrill Act, officially establishing Iowa State as a land grant institution, renaming the college Iowa Agricultural College and in 1898 becoming Iowa State College of Agricultural and Mechanic Arts.

The first class entered in 1869 and the first graduating class of 24 men and 2 women graduated in 1872.  The nation’s first state veterinary medicine school was created at Iowa State in 1879.  In 1959, Iowa State was officially renamed Iowa State University of Science and Technology.  The current enrollment has reached over 31,000 students (the most in the state, graciously surpassing the University of Iowa and University of Northern Iowa).

Iowa State is known for its advancements in the fields of agriculture, design, engineering, and research science.  Iowa State is one of the top research-institutes in the nation. 

DID YOU KNOW…

                Did you know that Iowa State played a significant role in the Manhattan Project (the top-secret government program that developed the atomic bombs that were used during World War II)?  Iowa State, through the Ames Laboratory, perfected a cheap and effective way to purify uranium that was used to make the bombs.  During its time with the Manhattan Project, Iowa State purified over 2 million pounds of uranium using the Ames Process.  The Ames Process is still widely used today in industry because the process is so effective and cheap compared to other processes.

                Did you know that Iowa State invented the first digital computer?  Dr. John Vincent Atanasoff and his graduate assistant Clifford Berry created the first automatic electronic digital computer between 1939 and 1942 and was known as the Atanasoff-Berry Computer (ABC).  However, credit for this discovery did not go to Dr. Atanasoff until a federal court ruling in 1973, declaring that Dr. John Vincent Atanasoff was the first inventor of the automatic electronic digital computer.  A working replica of the ABC is housed in Physics Hall.

                Did you know the Carrie Chapman Catt, a prominent figure in the fight for women’s suffrage, graduated as Valedictorian of the graduating class of 1880?  Catt Hall is named after her.

                Did you know that George Washington Carver also graduated from Iowa State?  He is prominently known for his work with the peanut plant.  Carver Hall is named after him and a small statue is erected in his likeness outside the building.

                Did you know that there used to be a train that ran from downtown Ames to campus (the Hub more precisely) called the Dinky?  The Dinky was a tiny, narrow-gauge steam engine that ran between the college and downtown Ames from 1891 to 1907.  The Dinky was replaced by an electronic trolley, which operated from 1907 to 1929.  The depot was the Hub, which now houses Caribou Coffee and the Hub Grill & Café.*

www.dso.iastate.edu/sites/default/files/imported/pa/resources/handbook/docs/history-and-traditions.pdf

                Did you know that VEISHEA stands for: Veterinary Engineering Industrial Science Home Economics Agriculture?  At the creation of VEISHEA in 1922, Iowa State was comprised of these five divisions (now called colleges).  Notably, Iowa State now has six colleges (Business, Design, Agriculture & Life Sciences, Liberal Arts & Sciences, Engineering, and Human Sciences).

                Did you know that Cy the Mascot was voted the Most Dominant Mascot in 2007 AND was named Capital One’s Mascot of the Year in 2008?  Cy was “born” in 1954.  Cy is depicted as a cardinal because of the school colors cardinal and gold, and the inherent difficulty to “stuff” a cyclone.

www.dso.iastate.edu/sites/default/files/imported/pa/resources/handbook/docs/history-and-traditions.pdf

                Did you know that the school’s original colors were gold, silver, and black?  They were changed to cardinal (NOT RED) and gold in 1899.  Let’s leave the gold, silver, and black to the University of Iowa, shall we, since our student body (in 1899) wanted “a distinctive and striking set of colors.”

www.dso.iastate.edu/sites/default/files/imported/pa/resources/handbook/docs/history-and-traditions.pdf

                Did you know that the “Cyclones” were created in 1895?  Iowa State became the Cyclones after they leveled Northwestern in 1895.  On September 29, 1895, the Chicago Tribune noted: Struck by a Cyclone It Comes From Iowa And Devastates Evanston Town.  “Northwestern might as well have tried to play football with an Iowa cyclone as with the Iowa team it met yesterday.  At the end of 50 minutes’ play, the big husky farmers from Iowa’s Agricultural College had rolled up 36 points, while the 15-yard line was the nearest Northwestern got to Iowa’s goal.”

www.dso.iastate.edu/sites/default/files/imported/pa/resources/handbook/docs/history-and-traditions.pdf

                Do you know the story behind the Campanile?

                                The story of the campanile is, in essence, a love story.  Edgar Stanton graduated with the first class of Iowa State in 1872.  He spent 50 years on campus as a student and faculty member, becoming the head of the Department of Mathematics, secretary to the Board of Trustees, dean of the junior college, vice-president, and on four different occasions, acting president.  His first wife was Margaret MacDonald Stanton, first dean of women.  When she died, July 25, 1895, she had been closely identified with the university for almost 25 years.  Stanton wanted to establish a monument so all students and friends of Iowa State would remember her.  He finally decided to purchase and have installed a chime of 10 bells in a detached tower on central campus.  President William M. Beardshear helped him choose the site, and the state legislature appropriated $7500 for the construction of the tower and its clock.  Stanton died September 12, 1920, and his will provided that after certain bequests were taken out, the residue of his estate should be turned over to the university for furnishing a memorial to him.  His second wife, Julia Wentch Stanton, and the children, decided to request that the university install 26 additional bells, thus forming a musical instrument which became known as the Edgar W. and Margaret MacDonald Stanton Memorial Carillon.

www.dso.iastate.edu/sites/default/files/imported/pa/resources/handbook/docs/history-and-traditions.pdf

                Did you know that Jack Trice Stadium is named after ISU football player Jack Trice?  Jack Trice was the first black athlete at Iowa State and died after injuries suffered during his first college game in October 1923.  The stadium was officially named Jack Trice Stadium in his honor in 1997 after extensive requests and persistence from students, alumni, faculty and staff, and other supporters.  Jack Trice Stadium is the only Division I-A stadium named after an African American individual.

                Here is a letter written by Jack the night before his first game:

“Oct. 5, 1923

To whom it may concern,

                My thoughts just before the first real college game of my life.  The honor of my race, family, and self is at stake.  Everyone is expecting me to do big things.  I will! My whole body and soul are to be thrown recklessly about the field tomorrow.  Everytime the ball is snapped, I will be trying to do more than my part.

                On all defensive plays I must break thru opponents’ line and stop the play in their territory.  Beware of mass-interference – fight low with your eyes open and toward the play.  Roll-back the interference.  Watch out for cross bucks and reverse end runs.  Be on your toes every minute if you expect to make good.

                                7:45 Jack”

                                                - Jack Trice

               

Did you know that the fight song was created by three ISU students?  “ISU Fights” was written by Jack Barker (1930), Manly Rice (1930), and Paul Gham (1932).  The timeless song:

                                Oh we will fight, fight, fight for Iowa State

                                And may her colors ever fly

                                Yes, we will fight with might for Iowa State

                                With the will to do or die. Rah! Rah! Rah!

                                Loyal sons forever true

                                And we will fight the battle through

                                And when we hit that line we’ll hit it hard

                                Every yard for ISU!

Iowa State Traditions – Iowa State University Alumni Association

                Did you know that Morrill Hall is named after Justin Smith Morrill?  Morrill Hal was built in 1890 and was named after Justin Smith Morrill, who introduced the Land Grant Act, making Iowa State possible.

Iowa State Traditions – Iowa State University Alumni Association

                Did you know that the Marston Water Tower was the first free-standing water tower west of the Mississippi River?  Today, the Marston Water Tower is surrounded by the high-tech engineering buildings and serves as a reminder of yesterday’s legacies.  Built in 1897 by Anson Marston, the first dean of engineering, the 168-foot-tall tower supplied water to the campus in its early days.  Today, the Marston Water Tower is on the National Register of Historic Places.

Iowa State Traditions – Iowa State University Alumni Association

                Did you know that the Farm House was Iowa State’s first building?  Today a museum, the Farm House was Iowa State’s first building, built three years before the college opened its doors in 1868.  The building housed students, farm help, presidents, and deans.***

Iowa State Traditions – Iowa State University Alumni Association

                Did you know that all members of the freshman class had to wear red beanie caps?  From 1916 until 1934 red “prep caps” or “freshmen beanies” were required attire for freshmen class members.  In the spring, the caps were burned in a bonfire during a “moving up” ceremony, when the freshmen officially became members of the sophomore class.  By 1934, the wearing of hats on campus had passed out of fashion, and the “prep cap” tradition was dropped.

…NOW YOU KNOW

Iowa State has many traditions that have developed over the years.

The Zodiac

Students and faculty alike walk around the zodiac in the north entrance of the Memorial Union.  If you step on the zodiac, you will fail your next exam, but this can be reversed by throwing a coin into the Fountain of the Four Seasons.

Where did this superstition develop?  The myth was developed circa 1929.  The architect for the Memorial Union figured that the millions of footsteps over the raised bronze symbols would eventually wear them down so they were even with the floor.  However, the students of Iowa State liked the raised look, so to prevent people from walking on the zodiac, they created the myth.  While you probably won’t fail your next exam if you accidentally forget to walk around it (and subsequently throw a coin into the fountain), most students don’t want to risk the chance and continue to walk around the zodiac in true Cyclone fashion. 

Homecoming

Homecoming is a big tradition, with celebrations lasting throughout the week.  The first homecoming was in 1912 and this past year (2012), Iowa State celebrated its “Cy-Tennial” with 100 Homecomings! 

Alumni first began returning home for an official Homecoming in 1912.  Since then, the celebration continues to entertain both young and old Iowa Staters with traditional events, including tailgate parties, fireworks, lawn displays, “Yell Like Hell” cheering competition, and mass campaniling.  Several times throughout the past decade, the Student Alumni Association Leadership Council has coordinated the efforts of hundreds of students who volunteer time to help Story County Habitat for Humanity build a house.

In 1912, ISU was an agricultural college with 1830 students.  The campus roads were still unpaved, Lake LaVerne was just a marsh, and Curtiss Hall was brand new.  In 1912, ISU also celebrated its first Homecoming, and event that would become an integral part of the university during the next century.

The idea was first proposed by Professor Samuel Beyer, the college’s “patron saint of athletics,” who suggested that Iowa State inaugurate a celebration of alumni during the annual football game against rival University of Iowa.  Iowa State’s new president, Raymond A. Pearson, liked the idea and issued a special invitation to alumni two weeks prior to the event: “We need you, we must have you.  Come and see what a school you have made in Iowa State.  Find a way.”

The response was greater than Pearson expected.  A reported 152 alumni returned to campus, where they enjoyed tours of campus buildings, a play presented by the sophomores, and a scrimmage football game between the freshmen and reserves.  Classes were cancelled on Friday afternoon and Saturday, and a pep meeting was held in Curtiss Auditorium that feature songs, cheers, and a debate.  On Saturday morning, the alumni were invited to a reception and luncheon at Margaret Hall to “get together and talk about old times.”

But the main event of the weekend was the football game, which was played at State Field, a parking lot west of the present University Bookstore.  Although the Cyclones lost 21-7, students and alumni celebrated that night in festivities that were destined to “light up the sky for miles around, shake the stars in their beds, and make the imps below fearful for the strength of the earth’s crust.”

Homecoming 1912 was deemed a success, and plans for the next year’s festivities began almost immediately.  Professor Beyer said, “We hope to make the custom so popular that in future years the number who come back will go far up into the hundreds.”

Beyer’s wish came true.  As ISU evolved during the next 100 years, so did Homecoming.  The celebration’s history is filled with pep rallies, parades, contests, and even riots as the ISU community has come together each year to celebrate alumni, the university, and, of course, football.

www.isualum.org/index.cfm?nodeID=49029&audienceID=1

VEISHEA

                Beginnings

The story begins in 1922, back in the days when ISU wasn’t really ISU but was called the Iowa State College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts.  The word, VEISHEA, cannot be found in any dictionary, but it has a definition that is complete, powerful, and impressive.  VEISHEA means “Iowa State on Display.”  From its meager beginning in 1922 until the spectacular event it is today, VEISHEA has served the campus, the state, and the Midwest.  This concept of VEISHEA grew out of several disunited Divisional or Excursion Days.  These individual college celebrations interrupted class work for everyone and were never particularly successful.

Professor Frank D. Paine, Department of General Engineering, named VEISHEA in 1922.  Previous to 1922, May Fete was the only all-college spring celebration.  Then, in 1922, the five colleges at Iowa State combined forces to present the university to the public as a whole.  The name VEISHEA is composed of the first letters of the five colleges: V standing for Veterinary Medicine, E for Engineering, IS for Industrial Science, HE for Home Economics, and A for Agriculture.  The representation of all schools in the name symbolizes the unity and combined effort shown during the many months of planning and preparation.

The events of that first VEISHEA included a parade, a sham battle, a Home Economics open house, a horse show, vaudeville, and the VEISHEA queens.  It might be hard to imagine each parade float drawn by horse instead of the streamlined convertibles of today’s parade.  It isn’t hard to imagine, on the other hand, that the vaudeville girls in “Scandals of 1922” were flappers of the Ziegfield influence.  Slapstick mocking of the divisions and a play called “Honeybunch” led the list of events.  No doubt the Charleston and the Big Apple sparked the chorus line.

http://www.veishea.iastate.edu/en/about_veishea/history_of_veishea/beginning

                Early History

In 1923 came the predecessor to what is now Stars Over VEISHEA (SOV), minus the stars.  Not until 1940 was the musical produced on an outdoor stage.  The VEISHEA night show featured music and dancing by the students.  The final song had a chamber of commerce-like title; “I’d rather be in Ames.”

Traditionally, in the childhood days of VEISHEA, there was the moving-up ceremony, which is absent in the recent celebrations.  The ceremony was a mock graduation during which every class graduated to the next grade.  The most spectacular part of this ceremony was the burning of the freshmen beanies.  Freshmen burned their red caps in a bonfire to signify that they were about to become sophomores in what was called a “moving up ceremony.”

A carnival highlighted the second VEISHEA and was held in the field behind State Gym.  Students from the military department rode horses and performed stunts, fortune tellers told students their future and there was a raffle of miniature campaniles.

During the 1930s, the VEISHEA Memorial Fountain was presented to Dr. Charles Friley in 1937 and in the following year, the Queen of VEISHEA, as chosen by the colleges, crossed Lake LaVerne in a gondola.

In 1941, Pearl Harbor was attacked and so was VEISHEA.  The VEISHEA committee voted to abolish the celebration, due to student apathy and the tendency of students to go home for the weekend.  Less than a week later, the motion was withdrawn.

In the 1950s, President Harry Truman lit the first torch in Ottumwa, which was carried by 127 runners who represented 25 campus organizations to Des Moines.  From there, four ISU students and a mule named Frances carried it the remaining 33 miles to Ames.  Also, in 1958, actor Ronald Reagan was a guest speaker and the grand marshal of VEISHEA.

In 1963, famous composer and writer Meredith Wilson was in attendance for the Stars Over VEISHEA presentation, “The Music Man.”  That same year, Vice President Lyndon Johnson lit the VEISHEA torch.

https://www.veishea.iastate.edu/en/about_veishea/history_of_veishea/early_history/

                Modern History

VEISHEA has matured, without losing its glamour.  The celebration has grown into a showcase of excellence at Iowa State with VEISHEA Village, exciting entertainment events, Taste of VEISHEA, and a variety of family and community events.

Moving into the 80’s, VEISHEA continued its growth.  But in 1988, the first of three VEISHEA riots rocked the campus.  Another riot in 1992 threatened the future of VEISHEA in the eyes of alumni and parents.  In an effort to control crowds and provide for more entertainment for people attending VEISHEA, a Taste of VEISHEA was created in 1993.  This celebration of food vendors and games has been successful ever since.  VEISHEA 1998, “A Time For Change,” marked a pivotal moment in history with the first ever alcohol-free celebration.  In 2004, another riot broke out in Campustown, the business district across from Campus.  When ISU President Geoffrey suspended the celebration for 2005, a new committee formed out of VEISHEA: Leaders INspiring Connections (LINC).  LINC put on some of the events put on by VEISHEA, as well as some new events with a new emphasis on community service.  One of these events was Operation Playground – the biggest contribution to the Ames Community by Iowa State students in history.  On April 16, 2005, over 500 volunteers helped build three brand new playgrounds in Ames parks – it was a tremendous success.

Because of the support from students, faculty, administration officials, city officials, and the community, VEISHEA was reinstated for 2006.  This new beginning brought many changes to VEISHEA – three stages of a diverse mix of simultaneous music being one of the newest changes.  Taste of VEISEHA was moved on campus.  Thousands of students came to campus to “Celebrate Iowa State,” the 2006 theme.

https://www.veishea.iastate.edu/en/about_veishea/history_of_veishea/modern_history/

                Traditions

                Opening Ceremonies

Opening Ceremonies mark the official beginning of VEISHEA and proves that despite the changes that occur within VEISHEA, it is still exciting each year.  The dedication of the fountain located in front of the Memorial Union was a part of the Opening Ceremonies in 1937.  In 1943, a ceremony honoring the armed forces of the United States was held on the steps of Beardshear Hall.  VEISHEA Opening Ceremonies were first broadcast over WOI radio in 1947.  VEISHEA always begins with rather elaborate opening ceremonies, including a welcome by the President of Iowa State.  Also, the Governor of Iowa often attends the ceremony.  The VEISHEA 1998 opening ceremonies featured former ISU coach Johnny Majors and the popular ISU group, the Shaggy Boys.  Today’s opening ceremonies kick off just south of the Campanile around noon each year.  They usually begin with a few words from VEISHEA’s two General co-chairs and a short welcome speech from the ISU president.  There is also a speech made by a keynote speaker and the VEISHEA scholar recipients are recognized as well.

                The Parade

Each year the VEISHEA parade has attracted an average crowd of more than 75,000 people.  From floats and marching bands to balloons and clowns, the parade can be quite the viewing experience for a person of any age.  When it first started in 1922, only departmental clubs entered floats.  As the years progressed and the parade became more popular, various other organizations began to get involved.  An average 3000 hours go into the planning and construction of each float.  A float can either be traditional, which means it is self-propelled by people under the float, or non-traditional, where it is usually pulled behind a vehicle.

                Canoe Races

In 1944, Lake LaVerne became the scene of canoe racing between dormitory, fraternity, and sorority teams.  Using pledge paddles as canoe paddles, the teams were required to dress in costumes according to a set theme for the races.  Teams would often find it difficult to navigate the canoes and end up on the rocks that surround the lake.  Today, the canoe races have developed into a joust where teams compete to see who will end up in Lake LaVerne first.

Cherry Pies

Here’s an Iowa State tradition that is older than VEISHEA itself.  The student-run bake sale by the ISU Department of Hotel, Restaurant, and Institution Management has been selling the delicious cherry pie since two years before VEISHEA came into existence.  The event originated in the 1920s during February and the cherry filling was first selected to commemorate George Washington’s birthday.  Today the sale has become one of VEISHEA’s most marked traditions.  Over 75 students from the HRIM department donate their time to keep the ritual active in VEISHEA.  In late March, students begin preparing for the sale by pressing dough and freezing pie crusts.  Approximately 8000 pies are made and expected to be sold until they are gone.  The money that is raised from selling the pies is used for student scholarships.

VEISHEA Village

The very first VEISHEA open houses were far less numerous than those of today.  Usually each college would just have one display to show the public what the particular college was doing.  As various colleges became larger and more departments were established, there was a dramatic increase in the number of open houses.  Today’s open houses are a good way for the community to learn what the different groups at ISU do.  The open houses aren’t, however, limited to just these Iowa State groups.  Many organizations from the Ames community participate as well.  Exhibits are judged within their respective colleges by ISU faculty and staff members.  Trophies are presented to the winners and a sweepstakes trophy is presented to the best overall display.  Awards have also been given in the past for the most creative, most education, and most inspiration exhibits as well.  Open Houses have become a part of VEISHEA Village, which includes the Cultural Festival, the International Food Fair, Cy’s Big Top, and over 80 open houses.

Stars Over VEISHEA

Stars Over VEISHEA is a musical staged each spring through the cooperative efforts of VEISHEA and ISU Theatre.  Students are involved with all aspects of the show, from performance to costume and set design.  The Stars Over VEISHEA committee is charged with the goal of promoting the show and working with schools and community groups to facilitate group sales.  The Stars Over VEISHEA aides assist with costume and set construction.  Stars Over VEISHEA began in 1922 and throughout the years has highlighted each VEISHEA celebration.  In the beginning, it was originally called “The Nite Show” because the musical performances took place outdoors.  They consisted of one-act musicals that were written by students.  The show was performed in the ISU Armory with a 4000 person seating capacity.  It was moved to the State Gym from 1923 to 1936 because this was one of the few locations on campus that could hold the growing number of acts and people.  In 1937, no musical was presented.  In 1939, the show was moved to Clyde William Field and given a new name, the name it continues to hold today: Stars Over VEISHEA.  However, the type of show remained a musical and was written and directed by students.  Through the war years of 1943-1945, special war shows were presented.  After the war, Stars Over VEISHEA returned to musicals and comedies and has remained a true highlight of VEISHEA.  In 1970, C.Y. Stephens Auditorium became the new home for SOV, which continues to be a focal point of the annual celebration at Iowa State University.  VEISHEA and ISU Theatre now collaborate to produce and put on the show.  Recent productions have included Bye, Bye Birdie, The Music Man, Anything Goes and Into the Woods.

https://www.veishea.iastate.en/about_veishea/history_of_veishea/traditions

Hilton Magic

On December 2, 1971, during the midst of a cold winter, 14,510 Cyclone faithful warmed the inside of their new basketball arena.  James H. Hilton Coliseum was officially open.  The men on the floor didn’t disappoint the rabid fans, as Iowa State recorded its first victory on the floor, trouncing Arizona, 71-54.

One thing that hasn’t changed over time is the enthusiasm and passion for college basketball displayed by Cyclone fans.  Hilton Coliseum has earned national recognition as one of college basketball’s most electric environments.  If the walls could speak, they would tell stories depicting the Iowa State squad overcoming insurmountable odds to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.  Fueled by the passion of Iowa State basketball fanatics, the Cyclones have been able to produce magic on the floor.

“Hilton Magic,” the power of the Coliseum faithful to produce unexpected victories, was first recognized by Des Moines Register sportswriter Buck Turnbull.  On a February 14, 1989 showdown with No. 3 Missouri, the Cyclones conjured up the spirit of the Hilton crowd to produce a stunning 82-75 victory.  The following day’s headline read “Hilton Magic Spells ‘Upset’ One More Time.”

In the article, Turnbull called for more “Hilton Magic” in the Cyclone’s upcoming bout with Oklahoma State, which had pummeled ISU 102-74 just three weeks earlier.  On cue, “Hilton Magic” displayed its powers, as the Cyclones defeated the Cowboys, 90-81, marking a 37-point reversal from the season’s prior meeting.

Hilton Magic was officially established and continues to pull off amazing victories inside the coliseum walls.  The student section is known as Cyclone Alley, and is a part of the Student Alumni Association.

                          

www.cyclones.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID-10700&KEY=ATCLID=541508

Campaniling

Since the story of the campanile is a love story, the “campaniling” tradition makes sense.  Today, the original ten bells have increased to 50, and their influence has grown exponentially.  A student officially becomes an official Iowa Stater when he or she is kissed under the campanile at the stroke of midnight.  During Homecoming and VEISHEA, hundreds of students gather for mass campaniling.  Couples kiss, the band plays, and fireworks go off at the stroke of midnight.

Lake LaVerne/Lancelot and Elaine

It is said that if you walk around Lake La Verne three times in silence with your significant other, you are destined to be together.

It was the climax of VEISHEA, 1935.  A large float, shaped like a swan and carrying flower-bedecked and white-robed Iowa State maidens, emerged from a smoke screen and glided its way to the middle of Lake LaVerne.  And the plaster swan unloosed its feathered passengers: four swans.  Two of the swans were named Lancelot and Elaine by student Jean Nesinwanger, who won $10.  Since that time, there have been numerous Lancelots and Elaines (including a pair of trumpeter swans reintroduced to their original Iowa habitat) and in 1944, 1970, and 1971 cygnets (baby swans) were born.  Swans take a mate for life unless one of the pair dies or is moved away.

www.dso.iastate.edu/sites/default/files/imported/pa/resources/handbook/docs/history-and-traditions.pdf

Cyclone Nice

Iowa Filmmakers

I hope everyone gained some knowledge about our wonderful institution.

Go State!

Katie

May 5, 2013

May 5, 2013

The End is So Very Near

Happy Finals Week guys!  We've officially (almost) made it to summer!  I hope everyone's finals schedule is nothing too difficult; and if it is, don't worry - you'll do great! :)

As I write this post on this chilly Sunday morning, I can't help but think how fast the time goes!  Honestly, the calendar says it's been four months, but it doesn't seem possible!  I've gotten to know everyone much better and our "team dynamic" is something that I am greatly looking forward to continuing in the fall.  Although I am disappointed that Tanner and I will not get to wear the color purple at the retreat, we decided that if there were alternatives, like red, we could handle it and come up with something almost as cool as Purple Squad (nothing will beat Purple Squad!).

I am officially moved into my new apartment for the summer!  I still have quite a bit of organizing to do and I was a little sad to leave my roommates and Freddy Court.  Freddy served me well this past year and unlike Larch, I will miss it (just a little).  However, I am already liking the Grove a lot better than Freddy.  I've met one of my new roommates, Meredith, and she seems really cool and nice.  I look forward to getting to know her better.  I have yet to met my second roommate, Katie (yeah, two Katie's in one apartment!).

In class on Wednesday, we played charades.  I must say, I have no idea how I knew as many as I did.  I must just be a really good guesser (which may come in handy during some finals! Ha! [just kidding, but seriously...]).  I still think the Thursday team should have won - Stephanie and Josh had some really, really hard ones to act out.  Peas and carrots!?  Impossible without words - they could have quoted Forrest Gump!! Haha.

Again, I wish everyone well during finals.  I recall a lot of us are staying in Ames this summer - Don't become strangers!  Have a wonderful summer, everyone, and if I don't see you over the summer, I'll see you again in August! :)

Until then,
Katie

April 27, 2013

April 27, 2013

Purple Squad, Packing, and Reflection

Happy Saturday Cyclone Nation!  I hope everyone is enjoying the absolutely gorgeous spring weather currently on display outside!  It's about time spring showed up! :)

I cannot believe how fast this semester has gone.  It seems like only yesterday it was January and none of us knew each other very well and now we're like family.  These past four months have been great and I hope we continue our friendly competition in the fall.  But, of course, Purple Squad trumps everything so Tanner and I will have a pretty darn good section.  Exhibit A of evidence that Purple Squad trumps everything:

Enough said! And with that, I would like to say I am greatly looking forward to the fall and working with Tanner to shape and mold the minds of the new students.  Let the competition begin!

Also, I am very pleased with how our peer mentor digital story turned out!  I had a blast filming and doing it a second time will give us some better knowledge on how to help our students in the fall with theirs!  

I've gone back and read some of my previous posts, and I have to say I didn't realize how much I would change in these past four months or how much different things from the beginning of the semester would be until now.  I believe I am much more aware of myself than I was in January and I've made several new friends (all of you guys!) that I wasn't prepared for, which is great!! :)

Finally, I've just now begun to pack for my move to the Grove where I will be living for the next 15 or so months (May 2013- [at least] July 2014).  I had no idea how much stuff I've accumulated throughout the year.  Maybe now will be a good time to downsize...Or just find new hiding places for everything at my new apartment.  

I found a quote that reflects a lot of what we've covered this semester, and I'll leave you with that:

"It is not a question how much a man knows, but what use he can make of what he knows." - J. G. Holland

See everyone tomorrow at the retreat!

Katie

April 18, 2013

April 18, 2013

Less than three weeks...

Is it just me or does everything seemed piled up all of the sudden?  With exactly 12 days left of the semester (inlcuding today, Thursday), suddenly the end is in sight, and that's a little nerve racking.  While I am most definitely ready for summer, everything I have to do is mounting.  No worries; it'll all get done. Hopefully...

This past week Brooke and Tanner led discussion on peer educators on college campuses, which was essentially a good review from everything we've done over the semester.  ISU uses a vast variety of peer educator "settings/institutions" to get students adjusted properly and help them succeed.  I am currently involved with the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Ambassadors, working mostly with perspective open option students considering Iowa State.  During their campus visits, these students meet with an open option adviser and an ambassador from LAS to discuss academics and any other questions the students or parents have about Iowa State or college life in general.  It's great to work with the advisers and when we have meetings on Wednesday mornings, there's usually breakfast, so that's enjoyable.  I also recently filmed a "majors" interview discussing my major (history) to present to prospective students who are considering majoring in history.  The Ambassadors program is a great way to get involved within your college (every college has a program!) and spread your knowledge of your college and Iowa State!

Chelsee also lead discussion on social intelligence.  The article we read defined social intelligence as "a set of interpersonal competencies built on specific neural circuits (and related endocrine systems) that inspire others to be effective." (page 76)  I found the article to be very interesting and I didn't really know that personality played such an important role in social situations and how the simple difference of having a positive outlook on the day to a negative one impacts others around you as well. 

Chelsee asked us to list two characteristics of social intelligence that we excell at and one that we could improve on.  I believe that my strongest two are inspiration and teamwork.  I believe that these are my strongest two because I am very passionate about Iowa State and I feel that shows (especially when it comes to sports and traditions of Iowa State).  I want to instill that passion for all things cardinal and gold into others and getting involved in the various on campus activities is a great way to do so.  I'm also a good team player.  I think I work well with others and being a strong leader also means that you are able to take input from team members into account and listen to what each person has to say.

Something that I need to work on in terms of social intelligence may be attunement.  I realize that I am not always the best listener and I need to work on my active listening skills.  I don't always actively listen and this is especially difficult when my mind wants to be elsewhere.  I need to consciously make an effort to be a good listener.

I hope everyone is having a good and safe VEISHEA week.  Too bad the weather has not been more cooperative.  I swear, it's like Mother Nature doesn't realize that it's spring (that snow word keeps popping up in the forecast) and that it's VEISHEA (in which nice weather should be a given for!). 

Also, as my dad has been adamantly reminding me since yesterday afternoon, student football tickets went on sale.  We're that much closer to kickoff, so get those tickets bought before you get left out!! :)  I think this will be a year that no one will want to miss!!

As always,
Go Cyclones!
Katie

April 14, 2013

April 14, 2013

Ethics and VEISHEA

I hope everyone had an enjoyable weekend.  I certainly did.  My family came to town yesterday evening and I got to go shopping and get some new outfits for work and summer (and I didn't have to pay!) and we celebrated my grandma, uncle, and mom's birthday with Hickory Park.  It was good seeing everyone and you can't go wrong with Hickory Park and ice cream.  So a special shout out to my mom as it is her birthday this week!  And to use her "newly coined" phrase: Hi-at-cha!

It's officially VEISHEA week and I can't believe it's actually here.  A little trivia here for you: If you don't know what VEISHEA stands for, it is an acronym for the colleges (at the time) of Iowa State - Veterinary, Engineering, Industrial Science, Home Economics, and Agriculture.  It is also the largest student-run festival in the nation, so there's that! :)

This past week, Cole and Haley did an excellent job bringing up potential ethical issues that we could face this fall in our sections.  These issues really got me thinking and I hope that I will be able to effectively navigate through them.  They posed the question: What are the five most important principles of ethics that are most important in your role as a peer educator?

This is a very good question.  The book lists twelve principles to enhance the quality of peer practice.  I believe that my personal top five would be:

1. Respond within the limits of your training and skill.
2. Show respect and dignity for other individuals.
3. Understand your own personal bias and avoid imposing this bias on others.
4. Knowing and managing your emotional response, while helping another, is crucial to your own well-being and to your ability to help.
5. Remember that as a peer educator, you are a role model!

These principles, to me, are very important as a peer educator.  To incoming freshmen, we will be one of the first contacts that they have with the general student population; people who, to them, are very knowledgeable to the ins and outs of Iowa State.  It will be imperative that we use that position to successfully guide our mentees through their first semester.  We must remember that we don't know everything and may have to refer them to people who do.  We must show respect for others.  This also goes for bias.  We all have bias in something (an example would be my prejudice against the University of Iowa) and we must be careful to not assert this bias when interacting with others. 

Again, props go to Cole and Haley in dealing with this difficult topic!  As Chelsee pointed out when going over additional situations, we may laugh at the prospect of what might come up, but these situations do come up and we need to deal with them appropriately.

I, for one, am looking forward to the etiquette dinner tonight.  It should be very interesting and I know for sure I will learn something (my etiquette is not always up to par...).  I hope everyone has a super fun and safe VEISHEA week - because you never know what will happen with VEISHEA! :)

Also, as another reminder, there's only three weeks left of classes, so we're finally in that final stretch!  Let the last minute paper writing, book reading, and test-taking commence!  We're almost there! :)
Katie

March 29, 2013

March 29, 2013

Finally Feels Like Spring!

First off, I want to say I LOVE THIS WEATHER!  It is such a nice refresher after a winter that did not want to give in to spring.  Hopefully, the warm weather is here to stay!  Especially for VEISHEA.  That'd be great!  Second off, I want to just acknowledge that I am incredibly flattered by my secret admirer post on the Iowa State Secret Admirer page.  It certainly made my Wednesday and was such a nice surprise after my test that day! :)  I think the page is a really good idea; I love knowing the fact that there is so much love on campus!

I think Jess and Megan did an excellent job this week going over campus resources.  I know ISU has an incredible amount of resources to help students out.  I personally have used quite a few: the Hixson building, the library help desk, CyRide, CyRide app, the Help Van, Thielen, the MWL hall desk, the maintenance request service, among several other things.  It will be good to let our recitation sections know the various student services available as well as other campus resources.  You never know when you might need something!  For example, it was a cold morning a few weeks ago a few days after a snow storm.  I had cleared off my car the evening before so I would not have to do it in dress clothes.  However, when I arrived at my car the following morning, the frost had effectively frozen my door.  I had to go back to my apartment to find a screwdriver to pry open the door.  Once I had the door open, I began to proceed to scrape the windows, but as I go to shut the door, the latch froze and refused to shut properly (or at all).  I called the help van after being stuck with my car for an hour and the guy came out and fixed it with whatever was wrong with it.  I was effectively an hour late to work, but the help van came in handy, especially on that cold morning.

A little late on this, but I hope everyone had a great spring break.  Mine was pretty good.  I went to Chicago over St. Patrick's Day weekend.  Yes, the river really was green.  Yes, there were tons of people.  And yes, I traveled with Iowa fans who gave me a lot of grief over the weekend.  However, when Iowa basically gave up what was I think a 20 point lead to Michigan State during the B1G tournament and LOST, my night was made, especially after the debacle of a game against Kansas earlier.  They told me I could walk home. (I didn't have to walk, thankfully!)

On Sunday, the men lost a complete heartbreaker to Ohio State.  I was in complete shock. My heart goes out to the guys on that squad.  We could have gone so far and the game was ours!  Ugh...Just thinking about this gets my stomach in knots again.  Moving on, the Mayor himself signed a new 10-year, $20 million contract last night!  Iowa State's man is here to stay long-term.  Great things are on the horizon here in Ames between Paul and Fred (and the other sports as well).  I look forward immensely to what the future holds in store for our Cyclones!

By the way, if my calculations are correct, there are only 155 days until the first football game of the season!  Who's ready?

Until next time, enjoy the weather, have a great Easter weekend, and go Cyclones!
Katie

March 14, 2013

March 14, 2013

And...break!

I hope everyone had a great day today.  I know I did.  The men won their first Big 12 Tournament game in eight years.  I got to wear jeans, a sweatshirt, and tennis shoes to work (normally it's business casual = dresses and high heels), which I thought was particulary awesome.  I got to watch the game with people as equally as invested into the outcome as I was.  (I work at the Alumni Association, so the staff had a game watch party in the SALC office.  Normally I watch the game in my room, pacing back and forth, and freak my roommates out when I get a little vocal at some of the calls.)  I didn't have to find lunch (Pizza!!!). And to top it off, I had Chipotle for supper.

Yes, I know Chipotle's been open for like two months already now, but has anyone had it?  If not, you are missing out.  And if you eat at Chipotle, you get to eat good, moderately healthy food!  And when you eat that food, you support local, Niman Ranch farmers (like my parents).  And when you support local, Niman Ranch farmers (like my parents), you support me! (Excellent logic, I know!)

If you don't know what Niman Ranch is, here's the exact history from their website:

http://www.nimanranch.com/niman_story.aspx

Niman Ranch began in the early 1970s on an eleven acre ranch in a small coastal town just north of San Francisco. The cattle were raised using traditional, humane husbandry methods and given wholesome all-natural feeds. Before long, Niman Ranch beef became a favorite in local grocery stores and at San Francisco Bay Area restaurants.

In 1995, Niman Ranch was introduced to Paul Willis, of Thornton Iowa. He was working to revitalize sustainable hog farming methods in the Midwest. Paul's commitment to raising hogs in a humane, old-fashioned way matched Niman Ranch's principles. Niman Ranch was now able to proudly offer beef, pork and lamb.

Today, the Niman Ranch network has grown to include over 700 independent American farmers and ranchers. Whether they’re raising hogs, cattle or lamb, they all share Niman Ranch's dedication to the strictest protocols and the belief that all-natural, humane and sustainable methods produce the best possible flavor.

• Humanely Raised by the Largest Network of U.S. Family Farmers and Ranchers
• Never Given Antibiotics or Added Hormones – Ever
• Fed Only the Finest All Vegetarian Feeds

So that's a little bit of more informaiton about me.  I'm a proud supporter of sustainable agriculture and while the work my parents do may be hard and difficult, I wouldn't ever change the way we do things just because we could make more money in confinements. 

Okay, this is getting quite lengthy, so I'll quit my PSA announcment and move on to a more relatable topic.

Shelby and Stephanie did an excellent job ths week discussing student learning styles.  In high school, we did the Gardner Mutliple Intelligences Test at least two or threes times and it was even brought up in my CI 202 class last semester (although the professor tried to denounce that students actually learn in the styles prescribed by Gardner).  According to Gardner, there are eight intelligences: musical, linguistic, interpersonal, bodily/kinesthetic, naturalist, mathematical, spacial, intrapersonal.  My personal ones are musical, linguistic, and interpersonal.

They posed the question: How can you apply knowing your learning style and the strategies associated with it to improving your academic success?  I know that I like things orderly and adequately described.  I like things laid out, perferably in a topical or chronological order.  I like my PowerPoints to have titles, and adequate bullet points that relate to the title.  I like to-do lists and I color coordinate my class notebooks/folders.  I say I'm organized, but as I write this, I'm in my room, which looks like a disaster.  I perfer things in a linear or heirarchical order.  With this knowledge I can help students who learn a similar way and create lectures and presentations with a more detail-oriented outlook.

I apologize for the exceptionally long post this week.  I hope everyone has a good spring break!  Let's BEAT KANSAS tomorrow to set the week right!
Until we all get back,
Go state!
Katie

March 9, 2013

March 9, 2013

Leadership

Four blogs in one week?  I am feeling just a tad bit like an overachiever, but that's not necessarily a bad thing.  I figure today (Saturday) is a good time as any to get my blog done for the week.

This week in class, Brady and Josh led discussion on leadership.  According to my trusty dictionary.com app on my phone (Yes, I have a dictionary app on my phone.  Who doesn't?), leadership is defined as:

1. The position or function of a leader, a person who guides or directs a group.
2. The ability to lead.
3. An act or instance of leading; guidance; direction.
4. The leaders of a group.

That definition needs to be further defined by the word lead.  Lead is defined as:

To guide  in directon, course, action, opinion, etc.; bring.

I believe this definition (out of some 30) pertains the most to what we will be doing in the fall when we facilitate our recitation sections. We will guide the incoming freshmen towards being good Hixson scholars and being good representatives of Iowa State in their courses and actions as they proceed through college. 

I also had not given much consideration to seating arrangements.  Most classrooms are set up in a theatre style setting, which makes it hard when trying to discuss something.  For example, in my HIST 360 class (US History: 1900-1945), we have lots of discussions.  However, the classroom we are in is not set up very well to facilitate that.  As a future history teacher, where discussion is an intergral part of history, a good classroom set up will be imperative to facilitate good discussion.

Tomorrow is our second retreat and I'm looking forward to the icebreakers that everyone will come up with.  Bring your thinking caps for the one Sebastian and I came up with! 

As always, have a good week next week!  It's almost spring break!  And that is a fact I am certainly most joyous about!

I'll leave you with this quote which I feel relates well to what we'll be doing this fall:

"We must not, in trying to think about how we can make a big difference, ignore the daily differences we can make which, over time, add up to big differences that we often cannot foresee." - Marian Wright Edelman

Go State!
Katie

March 4, 2013

March 4, 2013

Ending Racism in About an Hour

Tonight I attended the lecture "Ending Racism in About an Hour" which was given by W. Kamau Bell, of FX's Totally Biased.

It was a very good lecture and tied in well with Social Media Week and ISCORE.  Bell's presentation was a mixture of laughter and comedy and racism.  Bell interlaced the comedic aspect with very real notions of racism in our society.  Bell presented news stories in recent times, pictures and tweets that people have posted.  One was over Jeremy Lin, the basketball player.  We all remember "Lin-sanity" and how Jeremy Lin proved to be an excellent basketball player.  Well, Lin got into a slump where he started playing bad, and ESPN published an article entitled "Chink in the Armor."  As Bell showed a screen shot of the article, the crowd fell silent.  The context of the title was not appropriate and that was clear to everyone.

Bell emphasized that today's racism is completely different than racism of the 1950s and 1960s.  He told the crowd that he considered the stories of his mother's experiences with racism were "awesome."  He jokingly compared it to an action movie.  However, he contrasted, today's racism is more covert than overt.  People say things that are meant to be encouraging but come off as offensive.  As with the case of Jeremy Lin, a native of California.  Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream created a favor that attempted to celebrate the milestone that was Jeremy Lin with their "Taste the Lin-sanity" flavor.  It had fortune cookies in it.

Bell also went into detail about how the media created the term "post-racial."  It's a made up term, just like race is an invented notion.  Since Barack Obama became president, we have heard this "post-racial" term a lot.  America, Bell said, is in a post-racial era according to the media.  But is it?  Bell pointed out examples of sports teams and their logos: The Washington Redskins, the Atlanta Braves, the Kansas City Chiefs, the Cleveland Indians.  Bell commented that when asked about their team name, the Washington Redskins defended it by saying they had 81 years of tradition.  "Tradition?" Bell questioned, "Pretty sure the Indians were in American before 81 years ago."

Bell brought up other great points as well that really opened my eyes and reminded me of the things I learned in the ISCORE session I attended.  It brought both Social Media Week, especially with the Kansas game Twitter incident, and ISCORE together in a good way.

For anyone who wants to follow W. Kamau Bell on Twitter, his handle is: @wkamaubell.

Katie

March 3, 2013 - Part 2

March 3, 2013 - Part 2

Social Media Week

Another week has come to an end.  Has anyone else been completely surprised by how fast February went?  I mean it's MARCH THIRD already?!  Nonsense.  But I suppose time flies when you're busy "studying" to get that all-mighty degree, right?  That's what I thought.

I know this past week has been filled with the insanity that was the Kansas - Iowa State debacle.  I'm still not entirely over it, but I have to say one thing: yesterday's loss was horrendous.  I didn't watch the whole game, but the parts I did see - it was borderline ridiculous.  We needed a win, badly.  Hopefully the next game will go better and we will be more in sync.  We can't get to the tournament by losing games.

So yesterday was the Air Force ROTC's Dining Out night.  I went as a date with a neighbor and it was not a bad time.  Although no clapping was allowed (except when the Brigadier General Clinton E. Crosier, an ISU grad, bashed Iowa), which I found strange (you had to hit your spoon or knuckles against the table instead of clapping), it was a pleasant evening.  I did find out, however, that I can't ballroom dance to save my life.  I'm not a very good follower and I can't keep time.  The waltz and fox trot are lost on me.  Sorry to Isaac for not being very coordinated and being a good foot shorter than him (even in four-inch heels).

I believe that Social Media Week was a success.  I enjoyed interacting with everyone - it certainly made my week more interesting.  I'm an avid Twitter user, so I didn't really have any trouble tweeting 20-25 times in a week.  I didn't like, however, to unprotect my tweets.  However, it was only for a week, and while I gained several followers (for example, all of you, @cyrideprobz, and @PeopleOfISU to name a few), I did get favorited or retweeted by random accounts, such as Andrew Grossman, Nick Lavigne, Barack Hussein Obama (over a tweet about CyRide??), and one by Justin Bieber (not the real Biebs).  That was a little unnerving to know that my tweets were out there for everyone and random people can favorite or retweet them. 

 

I think that Kat and Tyler did a good job presenting in class over group dynamics.  I liked the sardine video, it's kind of amazing how a group of thousands can manuever like that.  It reminded me of the scene from Finding Nemo when Dory and Marvin are asking for directions.

Gotta love Pixar. :)  I also liked the activity with the poles and how we had to work together as a group to get the timing down.  It took a little bit, but we finally got the hang of it.  Props to Tyler and Kat!

Until next time.
Go State!
Katie

March 3, 2013 - Part 1

March 3, 2013

ISCORE

On March 1, I attended a session during ISCORE called "Dumb Things We Need to Stop Saying and Other Practical Steps to Increase Our Effectiveness Around Diversity," which was presented by Luiza Dreasher.

The description of the session reads: "How many conversations involving diversity have left you 'walking on eggshells?'  Have you ever said something that you wish you wish you could take back immediately?  How many times have you said nothing because you were afraid to say the wrong thing?  In this fun and interactive session, you will" (1) Understand how comments such as "I don't see color, I am color blind" impact others (despite our good intentions, and (2) Learn different strategies that will help you increase your diversity skills and competence."

I thought that this was a very informative session.  It brought up a lot of topics that I hadn't thought about previously.  It was very eyeopening.

The presenter gave us four concepts that can help one navigate the waters of diversity.

Concept 1: Intent v. Impact: The Cornerstone of Sustaining Successful Conversation
This concept talked about what to do if you do offend someone during conversation.  Don't become defensive; take responsibility for the thing that you said and apologize.  While it cannot take back what you said, the apology is a first step towards healing and understanding.

Concept 2: P.O.P. (Pile on Principle)
In this concept, we may not know the whole story behind a person's actions.  We only see a snapshot of their life at a particular moment.  Luiza Dreasher gave the example of stubbing one's toe.  A person woke up and stubbed their toe and all day people either stepped on it or had something drop on it.  Once home, the person's spouse simply grazed it and the person yelled at their spouse.  Their spouse might not know why, but the simple action of grazing the person's hurt toe sent the person over the edge.  We don't know the whole story, but we need to show empathy towards others in all situations.

Concept 3: Recognize our Privileges
This concept is based on what groups we belong to.  A great quote that Luiza shared was one by Barry Switzer: "Some people are born on third base and go through life thinking they've hit a triple."  I think this quotes explemifies what Luiza described as an "advantaged group."  Members of that group have to remember that they have been given a "head start" and that what matters most is what they do with the privileges they have been given.

Finally,
Concept 4: Raising the B.A.R. (Breathe, Acknowledge, Respond)
Breathe: Take a deep breathe.  You can't talk and breathe deeply at the same time.  This is an effective, but often underutilized method of relaxing.
Acknowledge: Ask clarifying questions: "Did I hear you correctly?  Is this what you meant when you said...?"  Be an active listener.
Responding:  Responding is different than reacting. Responding requires thought and an analysis of the situation whereas a reaction is often off-the-bat and without much thinking - it is instantenous.

I plan to use these concepts not only for the fall but also in every day life.  With America diversifying rapidly, it'll become imperative to have a background in dealing with diversity.

Katie

February 24, 2013

February 24, 2013

What a Week/end!

Hey all!  I hope everyone had a great weekend! I know mine was pretty legen- wait for it -dary! :)

 

 

Brad and Sebastian did an excellent job in class discussing with their learning session.  All the activities were very good and I believe they did a great job with each of the activities they did!  I thought the scenarios were very good and the discussion on the difference between negative goals and positive goals was good as well.  I hadn't really thought about the difference before and I will certainly be more conscientious about how I state my goals from now on.

 

Social Media Week is half over already and I have to say, it's certainly been interesting.  The interactions between everyone is great and has made the week a lot of fun.

 

The Daytona 500 and the Oscars are on today.  I've never been a big NASCAR fan, watching cars go around in a circle at 200 MPH.  But it's something to distract me from my homework, so there you go.  I'll definitely watch the Oscars tonight, although I haven't seen a lot of the films nominated.  Additionally, how about the Cyclone win yesterday?  I hope Kansas is ready for Big Monday.

 

Have a great week!

Go State!

Katie



February 17, 2013

February 17, 2013

Retreats and Communication

This past week, Coreen and I led class and facilitated discussion over advice giving versus interpersonal communication and what a helping relationship is.  I firstly want to thank all of you for being really interactive and supportive with our lesson!  It certainly made it a lot easier to do the lesson when everyone was engaged and willing to cooperate!  I will most definately return the favor as each of you present your lessons in the upcoming weeks! :)

Today we had our retreat and I surprised myself by how much fun it was!  I was basically laughing the entire time.  To everyone who had an ice breaker, y'all did a great job and those were really good ones that I'll hopefully remember for my own section this fall!  As for the digital story telling project, I am super excited to be doing the Hunger Games because the Hunger Games are like my second favorite series after Harry Potter naturally.  I'm looking forward to seeing what the script will be like and the end product. 

The lesson that Coreen and I did was all about communication.  To answer question 1 on page 122 in the textbook, I believe that the major difference between normal day-to-day communication and interactions and the qualities of a helping relationship is the style and conductivity of the relationship.  With normal day-to-day interactions, most of the time, one is laid back and uses informal language.  With a helping relationship, there are defined boundaries and a centralized system of interaction that both parties adhere to. 

In honor of Michael Jordan's 50th birthday, I'll leave you with a few quotes from him:

"I can accept failure - everyone fails at something - but I cannot accept not trying."

"I have missed more the 9000 shots in my career.  I have lost almost 300 games. On 26 occasions I have been entrusted to take the game-winning shot and I missed.  I have failed over and over again in my life.  And that's precisely why I succeed."

Have a great week everyone!
Go Cyclones!
Katie

February 10, 2013

February 10, 2013

Another Week, Another Blog Post

In sports news, the Iowa State men lost yesterday.  Needless to say, I was not a happy camper during that game.  The Ravens won the Super Bowl.  Old news, I know.  I thoroughly believe that the Buffalo Wild Wings button was pushed to give the 49ers a fighting chance.  Also, did anyone catch the Louisville/Notre Dame game last night?  5 Overtimes! Again, the Buffalo Wild Wings button had something to do with it.  The Irish won if you were wondering.

This past week in class we learned about cultural proficiency.  Easten did an excellent job of incorporating some really good tips regarding different kinds of culture and how we need to be emphatic rather than sympathetic.  For a clearer definition between the two, according to my dictionary.com app on my phone, empathy means the intellectual identification with or vicarious experiencing of the feelings, thoughts, or attidues of another, while sympathy means: (1) harmony of or agreement in feeling, as between persons or on the the part of one person with respect to another; (2) the harmony of feeling naturally existing between persons of like tastes or opinion or of congenial dispositions; and (3) the fact or power of sharing the feelings of another, especially in sorrow or trouble; fellow feeling, compassion, or commiseration.

In simpler terms, empathy means to relate with a person's experiences while sympathy means to relate to a person's feelings.  It's easy to sympathize with someone, but to emphasize with someone is a bit harder.  It's something we as peer mentors need to be conscious of as we continue our course and lead our sections next fall.

In conclusion, I will remind everyone that Valentine's Day is Thursday, in case you need to get something for your significant other quickly before then.  As a history major, I will throw in this historical fact that has nothing to do with love about the holiday.  This Valentine's Day will mark the 84th anniversary of the Saint Valentine's Day Massacre, which was the murder of seven mob associates who were caught in a conflict between the Italian mob led by Al Capone and the Irish mob led by Bugs Moran, both based in Chicago.

And with that I will leave you with this quote:
"When obstacles arise, you change your direction to reach your goals; you do not change your decision to get there." - Zig Ziglar

Have an excellent week everyone!
Go State!
Katie

 

February 3, 2013 #2

February 3, 2013

Iowa State Leadership Experience

On Saturday, February 2, I attended the Iowa State Leadership Experience, or ISLE.  It was a very good experience for me as a new peer mentor.  It made me think about a lot of things that I haven't thought about before. 

The opening keynote speaker Dr. Darin Eich was a good speaker.  His message, Innovate Yourself to Create Your Own Path, I thought tied in very well with Iowa State's "Choose your Adventure."  Dr. Eich gave us good advice that I thought related very well to what we as peer mentors will do.  We need to be creative and be innovative to collaborate, communicate, and create. 

Dr. Eich mentioned that employers look most for people who have critical thinking and problem solving skills, communication skills, collaboration skills, and creativity and innovation.  I remember in high school, my college English teacher told us the same things: that employers want creative and innovative individuals.  I believe that this is true.  In this day and age, anything that gives someone an edge can make one's career. 

The first session I went to was Creating the Team: Retreats and Team Builders for Student Leaders.  It was led by Kyle Holtman, who runs Destination Iowa State.  He gaves us good tips for team building exercises and how to plan retreats for individuals.  Holtman even offered to e-mail his tips, which I took full advantage of.  I hope to use some of these tips and incorporate them into my own recitation section this fall.

The second session I went to after lunch was The Importance of Group Dynamics for Student Leaders.  This session was led by Criss Salinas and Alissa Stoehr.  It was very informative and made me think about my actions as a leader.  They said we as leaders need to become self-aware of our actions and how our actions and words are perceived by others. 

All in all, I thought this was a good experience and I hope I can use some of the things I learned as I continue the path as a Hixson Peer Mentor.

Have a good week!
Katie

February 3, 2013 #1

February 3, 2013

MBTI

Happy Super Bowl Sunday!  I haven't really decided who I am going for yet, even though the game is tonight.  I've watched more 49ers games this season than I have the Ravens, but Kelechi Osemele, former ISU offensive lineman, plays for the Ravens.  Decisions, decisions.  However, I don't really care, because the Vikings aren't playing.

This past week in class we did the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, Step II.  I am ISFJ.  I believe that this is an accurate assessment of my personality.  Upon reading the description about ISFJs, I found it to be incredibly descriptive to myself: "They focus on seeing the facts clearly and accurately, especially those related to people. Facts are also important to ISFJs in making practical decisions. They are sympathetic, tactful, and supportive of others in need. They often notice and do little things that help others feel good and also get the job done."

I am most definitely an introvert; according to the results, I scored approximately a 28 for introversion.  By nature, I am incredibly shy and quiet.  It takes me a while to warm up to people, especially people I've just met.  As for sensing, I did not score as high as I did as introversion; only about 10.  I scored highest in the sub-categories of realistic and experiential.  Feeling was the second highest section I scored in; scoring about 23.  I like to make sure all parties involved come to a coherent conclusion that all are happy with.  If something's not right, I try to make it better. 

As for judging, I like to get things done in a somewhat timely manner.  I need to be organized, although I sometimes classify it as an organized chaos.  I like to know what is coming and have plans at least a couple hours in advance.  When we were in class doing the activity where we stood against the wall to see when we would start and finish assignments, even though it was a fictional assignment, I could not imagine starting a huge midterm paper three days before it was due.  Just the thought of that was giving me anxiety and it wasn't even a real paper!  I try not to leave anything until the last minute, especially big assignments.

I really enjoyed learning and digging into our each of our personalities.  Our group dynamics are so different but I believe we get along very well as a group!

Again, Happy Super Bowl Sunday!  Enjoy the game, or the commercials, which ever you prefer!  As my history professor has said, (and I'm paraphrasing greatly here) "How dare they interrupt the commercials with a football game!"

Go Niners! Go Ravens! Go Cyclones!
Katie