(3-12-10) Spring
When we freshmen first arrived at Lock Haven University
we were warned by many upperclassmen that the winters in
Lock Haven could be brutal. They were not joking. When
the winter months arrived the snow began to fall and the
air turned freezing cold. The days seemed to drag on at
times and we felt like the semester break would never
arrive. Then, after a month break, we returned to the
same cold environment.
However, before we could even blink the weather changed
direction. The air grew warmer and the birds began to
chirp. The grass became greener and the trees
blossomed. Spring has arrived! The beautiful weather
had placed the entire campus in a happier mood.
Professors and students alike are smiling and laughing
with friends. Many students can be found playing games
in the grass or just enjoying the sun while they study.
Now that the weather has improved the semester is flying
by. Before we know it the spring semester will come to
a close and we’ll be heading home. Until that day
arrives however, we will continue to smile and enjoy the
sun as it fills our lives with joy.
_______________
(3-5-10) Egg Hunt
Today was
the annual Global Honors Egg Hunt; a fierce competition
between all the Freshman Discussion Groups. The FDGs met
at the Honors House this evening and began the race.
Winning meant a pile of FDG War points and bragging
rights. The hunt kicked off with all the groups
searching the front yard of the Honors House for an egg,
any egg, with a number written on it. Inside the egg
awaited a clue which would lead the group to a new egg
also containing a clue. The students had to run around
campus and attempt to decipher the clues and try to be
the first to return to the house.
Once they
arrived at the house the second part of the egg hunt
began. An egg drop commenced. At the beginning of the
egg hunt each group was given a bag of supplies. They
could then use these to secure an egg and drop it from
the Honors House balcony. This was done three times
with the hopes of keeping each egg pristine. The group
then had the opportunity to pick up bonus points, if
they were willing to drink each egg that survived the
fall. Some individuals swallowed the eggs easily while
others did not. The entire Global Honors Egg Hunt was a
blast for all who participated.
_______________
(3-29-10)
Battle Cancer with Bingo
On Wednesday night the Health Science Club hosted a
bingo to raise money for Relay for Life 2010. The bingo
was entitled Battle Cancer with Bingo and was held in
the MPR room at the PUB. Multiple tables were set up
with small bits of corn spread over the tops to be used
as bingo markers. When players arrived at the door and
paid they were given bingo tickets along with a raffle
ticket for a chance to win some extra prizes. In honor
of cancer awareness, individuals wearing the color
purple were given a discount for bingo. The players had
the opportunity to win many fun prizes that could be
used around the town of Lock Haven. Some prizes
included free movie rentals from The Scoop, coupons for
Subway, gift certificates from Weis Market, free
t-shirts from the Lock Haven Bookstore and many more.
Bingo Players also had the opportunity to buy extra
tickets for the raffle in the hopes of winning one of
the two prizes offered. After the first four bingo
games a ticket was pulled a winner was named for a free
oil change. Then at the end of the bingo the second
winner was named and given a gift certificate for a free
lunch and cake from Dairy Queen. Refreshments were also
provided. Players could help themselves to free cookies
or popcorn and buy water to moisten their dry BINGO
yelling throats.
The bingo itself lasted two hours and the competition
was fierce. Bingo was called many times and winners
were awarded their prizes. Second place winners were
given a small consolation prize. And at the end of the
night many individuals went home with a few coupons,
t-shirts or hats. The bingo was an entertaining way to
raise money for those who have or are currently battling
cancer and a reminder to remember those who have fallen.
_______________
(3-22-10) Moonlight on the Water
This past Saturday was the semi-formal at Lock Haven
entitled Moonlight on the Water. The dance was held in
the MPR room in the Parsons Union Building. Many
students attended along with dates from various
Universities. It was a fun time for all as refreshments
were served and music played all night. Numerous
students laughed and sang along with the popular music
the DJ played. The room was decorated in a beach
theme. With sunglasses, fans and lays placed on every
table. The dance floor was filled with beach balls and
balloons in the shape of stars and moons. The
decorations were beautiful in an uncomplicated way.
The refreshments were just as wonderful. The table was
filled with various types of fruits from bananas to
strawberries to grapes. Many sweet treats were also
available. With marshmallows, pretzels and gram
crackers all of which could be covered in chocolate from
the fountain. Two types of frozen drinks were also to
be had by the dancers. Delicious strawberry and pina
colada flavored icy drinks.
The dance was filled with dresses of assorted of
colors. All of the young women present took great care
in dressing for the event and it showed. Their partners
were also very handsome. Many gentlemen wore dress
pants along with shirts to match the dresses of their
partners. The semi-formal as a whole was an exciting
experience that was enjoyable for all.
_______________
(3-8-10) Spring Break
March has finally arrived! Although February only has
twenty-eight days the month seemed drag on. With many
snow delays and cancellations the second month of 2010
was somewhat unpleasant. However, February came and
went and it is now the first week of March. This may
not seem like anything special, but March brings with it
the promise of Spring break. The first week of March we
students have classes, but next week we have time off to
enjoy ourselves. Although the weather has yet to warm
up the entire campus is buzzing with plans for Spring
break. Some students will be traveling to the warmer
states like Florida and others will actually be
traveling out of the country. And other students are
planning on just returning home to their families for a
long awaited week of rest and relaxation.
Before that can happen however, we must complete our
school work for this week. With the snow last Thursday
and Friday campus was closed and no classes took place.
Therefore, many professors are attempting to get as much
work done as possible before an entire week off. This
can cause some real stress for students and professors
alike. It appears that every time you step onto campus
someone is worrying about an exam or paper they have to
finish before Friday. While this may seem crazy and
demanding, students have to remember that they do indeed
have a full week off with no homework, hopefully. It
may seem like Friday is years away, but it will arrive
soon enough. And then shortly after that the semester
will be finished. Just remember to work hard and cross
your fingers that this week will fly.
_______________
(3-1-10) Thin
This week’s schedule was very full at Lock Haven.
Housing assignments took place on both Wednesday and
Friday. There were multiple speakers scheduled,
although some were cancelled due to the weather. Both
the Main and Clearfield campuses were closed on Thursday
and Friday. And on Wednesday night the Hope Center gave
a presentation on eating disorders screening the movie
“Thin.” This was a great opportunity for the students
to see how eating disorders can affect many
individuals. I had never viewed this movie before and
found it to be very interesting.
“Thin” is a documentary that focuses on a few
individuals who suffer from anorexia and bulimia. The
film focuses on the women’s personal lives and what
causes them to develop such a condition and the
treatment that takes place to help them maintain normal
healthy lives. Some of the women had difficulty with
treatment while others excelled. There were older women
and young girls as well. Watching the movie was an eye
opening experience.
There are many times in health class that one may
discuss eating disorders and the effects on the body,
but it never seems real until you actually see a
full-grown woman who only weighs 70 pounds. It was
difficult to watch as the patients had to fight and
force themselves to choke down a small salad and a
single piece of pizza. It appeared like the act of
eating actually caused them pain. They weighed less
than a young child and still they saw themselves as ugly
and fat. You can never fully understand such a disorder
when you only read about it in a text book. Physically
seeing these women helps one to understand what they go
through. After watching this documentary one can truly
see how these women feel and perhaps hope to make a
difference in the lives of individuals who suffer from
anorexia and bulimia.
_______________
(2-22-10) Clubs
Many students travel to Lock Haven each fall to start
their life at college. Some are returning students
while others are new students eager to start college and
fly the nest. Everyone’s reasons for coming are
different. Some choose Lock Haven because it is close
to home, some choose it because it is far from home and
some choose it because the Rec center has an awesome
rock-climbing wall. Regardless of the different reasons
many students realize upon arrival how wonderful Lock
Haven University is. They offer a great class
environment, friendly professors and students alike.
Another positive aspect of The Haven is the many clubs
and intramural sports that they offer. Whether you are
interested in dancing or fencing there is a club here at
Lock Haven for you.
Personally, I am involved with the Council of
Exceptional Children and the Health Science Club. Both
clubs are extremely different, but also excellent.
Weekly meetings are held to discuss upcoming events in
each club. The CEC holds monthly parties for
children with special needs. These parties give the
kids and young adults an opportunity to socialize and
just have fun. We dance, sing, eat and make many
crafts. It is great company for each and every person
who attends.
The Health Science Club is equally as interesting. We
work on ways to raise money for health related issues.
During breast cancer awareness month we sold pink
ribbons to raise funds for those who suffer from breast
cancer. Currently we are fundraising for the Relay for
Life. We intend to hold a bingo and sell food to raise
as much money as possible. Fundraising is not all we do
however. Recently the HSC traveled to Philadelphia to
view the Body Worlds exhibit. While in Philadelphia we
sent books to the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.
Each club provides a chance to make a difference and new
friends. There are hundreds of clubs available at Lock
Haven which makes it easy to pick the right one for
you. Joining clubs helps meet new people and gives you
something to do with your free time as well. I urge
each student to join at least one club that interests
them and see how it turns out.
_______________
(2-15-10) Snow, Snow, Snow
When I arrived at Lock Haven University one of the first
things I heard was that the winters in Lock Haven are
covered in snow. Living only an hour away from the town
of Lock Haven, I have experienced many similar winters.
This past weekend the snow finally arrived. The storm
covered the area in white dust. Some people stayed
locked up indoors while others ventured outside to play
in the snow. Although Lock Haven was coated, the
sidewalks were quickly cleared for the students and when
Monday rolled around, everyone was ready to head to
class.
Then, the weather reports began calling for another snow
storm to arrive Wednesday morning. Whispers of
classes being delayed or even canceled ran through the
University. When the campus woke up Wednesday morning
however it was to the normal schedule of classes.
Although it had snowed classes were going to resume. It
may seem difficult to walk through the snow, but at the
same time it is delightful. The campus now resembles a
winter wonderland. This blanket of snow is an
entertaining time in disguise. The storm gives students
an opportunity to have some fun with what may normally
seem like a boring day. Those who are new to snow may
seem it as exciting or annoying, but in the end this
snow can be fun.
_______________
(2-8-10) First Exam of the Semester
As the new semester arrives it brings with it excitement
like seeing friends, meeting new professors and
attending club meetings. One thing the semester does
not bring with it is the enthusiasm of exams. Students
enter their new courses ready to see what waits in the
months to come, but one thing they may choose to ignore
is how many exams the professor is going to give
throughout the semester. The first few days of classes
are normally devoted to explaining the syllabus and the
requirements of the course. Some professors announce
that there will be no exams at all. This usually comes
as a pleasant surprise. However, some professors like
to inform students that they will administer multiple
exams along with a final exam at the end of the
semester. This is not happy news. Nonetheless,
students leave their new courses ignoring the fact that
the first exam is just around the corner.
When the first exam approaches some decide to begin
their studying extremely early. They may make note
cards or spend each evening studying the material for
hours. While others put off studying until the night
before. Regardless of what study techniques one uses it
does not change the fact that stress and anxiety
envelope each student. You may ask why this is. If a
student studies for an entire week in advance they have
no reason to be nervous. The stress is caused by the
simple fact that with a new professor you have no clue
how the exam will be set up. It may be simple multiple
choice or it could be short answers or even essay
format.
You arrive to class on exam day and sit there trying to
get a few more seconds of studying in. The professor
walks in and asks you to put all materials away. He
passes out the exam and you sit there waiting for your
paper to reach you. Staring down at the paper you read
over the questions. You realize you know the answer to
number one and number two also. Suddenly the exam no
longer seems so frightening. After fifty minutes pass
by you are finished with the exam and feel refreshed.
With one exam down and countless exams to go you no
longer feel so stressed because now you know what to
expect and all you can think is, bring the exams on.
_______________
(2-1-10) Christmas
At the end of December every student at Lock Haven
wanted the semester to end so they could travel home for
Christmas break. It seemed like the final week of the
semester moved as slow as molasses and the break would
never arrive. The fact that this was the same week of
finals did not help at all. The entire campus was
stretched to its breaking point as people stressed over
tests, final projects and essays. However, after five
short days the fall semester finally came to a close and
students began the journey home. Parents were
everywhere as they helped their sons and daughters pack
for home.
Christmas break lasted an entire month. During this
time some students worked while others just enjoyed the
time with no test or essays. It was a great time to
catch up with family members and friends that you hadn’t
talked to since the semester started back in August.
Along with the break came Christmas and New Years, both
of which were great times to enjoy some home cooking.
This was a month of no stress and no worries. Yet, the
vacation flew by and before we knew it, the time to
return to Lock Haven University had arrived.
The first week back was just as fresh and exciting as
the first week of fall semester was. This was a time to
explore new classes and a chance to catch up with
college friends. Quickly, we fell back into routine and
found our new classrooms easily. This time walking into
the class and staring at the professor seemed less
frightening as before. There was a comfort that we had
not known in August. The classes appeared interesting
and the professor appeared strict, but kind. We are
into the second week now and it feels as if we’ve been
here for a month already, but do not take it the wrong
way, this is a great feeling.
_______________
(12/11/09)
Finals Week
With the semester coming to a close many students are
restless to head home for a long awaited break.
Christmas vacation gives us all a chance to spend some
time away from exams, papers and lectures. Some may
spend their time off just laying around the house and
others may spend it trying to earn a little extra
money. But all students will be spending some quality
time with family and friends.
Before students can head home however, they must spend a
week being pushed to their breaking points. This week
is known as finals week. An entire week dedicated to
finishing up courses with the last exam of the
semester. This week may seem like it is full of stress
and pressure. For some it may be and for others it may
seem like a piece of cake. Everywhere you look it seems
everyone is preparing for finals, professors and
students alike. Although the anxiety become thicker and
thicker it is important to remember to not stress too
much. This can cause you to only do worse. Remember to
relax study hard and do your best. And most of all
remember that after that last final you are free for an
entire month!
_______________
(12/4/09) The Honors Program
Being an Honors Student is a privileged that not all
students are rewarded. However, it does not come
easily. The acceptance process involves essays,
interviews and recommendations. But when you receive
that letter in the mail that says you have been accepted
in to the Honors Program at Lock Haven there is no way
to describe what you feel. Obviously you must have been
a hard working student in high school to be accepted to
the program in the first place. You may have even been
in the National Honors Society or on the Honor Roll each
semester. While this is wonderful and a sign of
achievement it does not compare to the happiness you
will feel when you get your letter from the Honors
Program. This feels like the real deal. You’ve been
accepted into a college honors program! It may seem
scary at first; not knowing what will be expected out of
you. Thoughts may race through your mind like will you
be writing thousands of papers and taking extremely hard
exams? However, once you arrive at the University and
meet the other Honors Students those feelings soon
disperse. The Honors Program is like a huge family that
wants to see you succeed in school. Everyone works
together. Being an honor student means that you are
involved with many aspects of the University from
classes to community service.
The classes you take as a freshman Honors Student may
appear frightening at first, but you’ll soon learn
otherwise. The professors are truly concerned with
increasing your knowledge and teaching you new ways to
think. Unlike other professors they will give each and
every student the attention they need and ask for. The
honor classes are also much smaller than others so you
are given the chance to know your professor on a
personal basis.
Meeting new individuals is also very easy when you are
an Honors Student. This is because you will see most of
your fellow freshmen twice a week or more. Chances are
you will attend classes together, activity groups or
even FDG’s. You are given the opportunity to make new
friends and create strong bonds that will last a
lifetime. Being involved in the Honors Program is a
great way to start off your college career.
_______________
(11/29/09) Back After Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving vacation is a great time to relax with
family and friends. It gives each student an
opportunity to return home for about a week and visit
family. For some students who live a far distance away,
this is a long awaited trip. For other students, it is
just another weekend trip home only this one last
longer. Regardless, each student at Lock Haven
University is excited to travel home and see everyone.
The time goes by too quickly and before we know it, we
have to travel back to school and start classes again.
Thankfully, we only return for three weeks and we are
off towards home again. However, those three weeks in
December promise hard work and lots of exams.
The last three weeks in December are when classes begin
to wind down. Some professors begin to assign less work
while others begin to pile it on in an attempt to submit
more grades. Chances are you have both of these
professors. It may seem hard to focus when the promise
of Christmas vacation seems so close but you will make
it through before you know it. Finals are another
challenge. That last week before the semester closes
all you want to do is day dream about going home, but
instead you have multiply finals. It may seem like all
we are going to do is study, study and then study some
more. However, we have to remember that with hard work
the reward will be even greater. Luckily, being an
honor student helps to make the stress of finals week a
little easier. We have one another to study with and
stress with.
So, although we just spent the last week relaxing and
now it seems like we have to dive right back into
working, remember that before you know it the semester
will be over. You will be heading home for some well
deserved rest and relaxation. And can return in January
for a fresh start and new classes.
_______________
(11/23/09) Relaxing with FDG
It’s that time of year again! The
holidays are fast approaching and everyone, students and
professors alike, cannot wait to go home for a few days
of vacation. It’s a time when we all get the
opportunity to visit with family and friends. We can
relax and enjoy the company of our family. However,
until that time comes we are bombarded with exams,
essays and finals. For roughly the last two months of
the semester our plates are completely full. It seems
like all the professors take this opportunity to give
every last minute assignment they can. Our lives never
slow down. We are constantly working for one class or
sometimes more.
Luckily, there are two hours a week
when Honors students get to slow down and relax with
friends. Freshman Discussion Groups allow us to have
some fun during the week without having to worry about
classes. Each week we meet for two hours to have fun
together doing some activity. Each week my FDG, the
Cows, find some way to enjoy ourselves or, for those
tiring weeks, unwind. Recently we watched movies during
the week to relax after decorating the Honors House for
Halloween. The following week we played charades
together. We also combined with another FDG to play a
game of dodge ball.
No matter what activity we do FDG
provides the opportunity to enjoy ourselves with
friends. Whether its movies, games, walking or lunch,
FDG gives us the chance to forget about the distractions
of college. It is a special time of week that is set
aside to spend with your Honors family. Freshman
Discussion Groups are a great way to loosen up with
friends.
_______________
(11/16/09) Heisman for Healthcare
Heisman for healthcare is a month long even where
organizations from Lock Haven, such as the Global Honors
Program, Health Science Club, Physicians Assistant
Students and Haven Achievers, work to promote health.
From October to November each club or organization
participates in some activity which relates to health.
For example, this year Honors went on a door-to-door can
food drive and also collected bags full of health
products like toothpaste and feminine products which
they then donated to the Women’s Center. While Health
Science Club sold pink ribbons for breast cancer and
also collected can food items. Each individual group
helps in a different way that draws attention to
healthcare awareness.
At the end of the month all the groups meet in Downtown
Lock Haven in Triangle Park to present what they have
done. This mass of people is known as Sleep out for
Healthcare. It runs from three o’clock Friday to nine
o’clock Saturday morning. Throughout the evening the
Physicians Assistants students presented on breast
cancer and cardiovascular disease. These presentations
were to educate individuals on the risk of each. They
were well done and very enlightening.
Each group is also given a table where they can place
posters they have made. These posters normally discuss
some health topic like HIV awareness, Homeopathic
medicine or MyPyramid. They also have a poster that
summarizes what each group did throughout the month for
the Sleep Out. Then they present the poster as a
group. The Health Science Club, Haven Achievers and the
Honors Program were the three groups to present. After
the presentation the Heisman for Healthcare was
awarded. This year the Honors Program took home the
gold!
Another fun activity of the evening is the cardboard
city. Each group has the opportunity to make a gigantic
cardboard house. Triangle Park is transformed into a
small Hooverville. Everyone goes all out to make their
house the best in the park. They vary from small forts
to large homes with doors, hallways and furniture. The
houses are then judged and a winner is picked. These
houses are where some of the individuals choose to stay
the night. The Haven Achievers were the winners this
year.
The fun does not stop after the Heisman is awarded or
after the houses are judge. A scavenger hunt, ultimate
twister and movies are still to come. The excitement
lasts all evening long until everyone decides they are
too tired to stay awake. Nevertheless, this fun
energetic event is a great way to involve both the
public and students in healthcare issues. It is a way
to make learning easy and entertaining for all. And the
excitement of an award doesn’t hurt either.
_______________
(11/9/09) Help from Honors
Halloween decorating, costume parties, research papers,
exams, Thanksgiving, Christmas shopping and much more.
This is the hectic life of a college student. As the
air around Lock Haven University becomes colder and
colder many students are dreaming of returning home for
the holidays and finally taking a break from classes for
a week. But for me and my fellow students the semester
is just beginning to speed up. Professors are piling
more and more work on their classes the closer December
gets hoping to fill our minds with vast knowledge about
the world around us. With research papers and multiple
exams, college life seems harder than ever. On the
other hand, with the help of the Honors Program classes
are no trouble at all.
Being an honor student helps to prepare you for what
college courses are really about. This is not high
school and for some, the classes may seem very
frightening, but if you’re a student who works hard for
the grade college can be a breeze. Well, maybe not a
breeze, but definitely better than the cyclone other
students get caught up in. Being an Honors student
means that you know how to work efficiently in class.
Many college freshmen tend to procrastinate or skip
classes because they feel they can get away with it.
But it is not that simple and being in the program
helps freshmen enter into the transition between high
school and college.
The Honors courses are much smaller than other classes
at the college. Fewer students mean more attention and
an easier environment to learn in. You get to know your
professor and your professor gets to know you. Honors
courses are much nicer than a giant lecture with close
to one hundred students in it. The courses are a great
way to make new friends since you may have class with
the same students that are in your Freshmen Discussion
Group. The courses provided in the Honors Program are a
wonderful way to learn and become efficient in college.
The program also provides a spot to relax and study away
from distractions. The Honors House is always open to
students who want a place to study, read, write or just
relax between classes. They also provide a small
computer lab in case you have to print a paper or check
your email in a hurry. This small comfort is a great
way to settle in when you are feeling home sick.
Overall, the Honors Program is a great way to start off
your college years. The courses, the professors, the
house and most of all the people all make your time at
Lock Haven University worth it.
_______________
(11/22/09)
Meeting with the University President
Recently, I had the
opportunity to meet with Dr. Keith T. Miller, Lock Haven
University President. An email had been sent out to all
students informing them that Dr. Miller would be holding
open hours throughout the semester for all students,
from freshmen to seniors, to come and meet with him on a
personal level. When I received this email I was
immediately intrigued. Never would I have imagined that
I would have the opportunity to meet the President of
Lock Haven University. The next day I mentioned the
email to my friends and asked if any of them were
planning on going. To my surprise they all answered
no. I could not understand why they wouldn’t take this
opportunity. It is not every day you get to meet
someone who is so important to Lock Haven. I told them
I had every intention of going to the open hours, so I
marked my calendar with the date and waited.
Finally, the day came.
Last Thursday I journeyed to Sullivan Hall room 203 and
waited to meet Dr. Miller. On the walk there I suddenly
became extremely nervous. My mind was flooded with
crazy thoughts. I imagined Dr. Miller asking me
questions that I could not possibly answer almost as if
I was heading to an oral exam which I had not studied
for. A time or two I contemplated just turning around
and heading back to my dorm. Instead I marched into his
office, sat down and waited. Again, I became nervous,
but that all changed when Dr. Miller’s secretary kindly
smiled at me. I relaxed for a bit, but the butterflies
came back, then Dr. Miller walked past and he also
smiled and asked how my day was going. Right away I
knew this would be no trouble at all.
When the time finally
arrived that I could go into his office I was surprise
that the other students waiting entered with me. I
wasn’t aware that this meeting was going to be held with
multiply students, but I am glad it was because the
atmosphere was much more relaxed. There were two other
students present with me and throughout the next hour
three more entered into our conversation.
As a group we got to know
one another and we just talked like old friends about
how our year was going, what we liked about Lock Haven
University, what programs we were involved in and many
other topics popped up. It actually turned out that I
was not the only Honors Student there to meet Dr.
Miller. I met a senior who had been in the program his
entire college career and together he and I explained to
all the other students what the Honors Program was all
about. There was another freshman girl present who was
very interested and hoped to become a part of Honors
next year.
We also met a student who
had come to the University through the exchange
program. Her home was in China, but she had also
attended school in Germany. She talked about her
experiences and what it was like to travel to foreign
lands to get an education. She helped to persuade other
students to try studying abroad. For an hour, it went
on like this. We shared ideas and experiences with each
other and just enjoyed ourselves with Dr. Miller.
Meeting Dr. Miller was a
wonderful experience that I would recommend to all other
students. He was a wonderful man who made it easy for
us to talk about ourselves. As a group we shared a lot
of information, some of which was informative and some
of which was just for fun. Overall, it was an enjoyable
time that I will remember for the rest of my life. I am
happy to say that after I graduate I will be able to
tell others that I met the President of my university.
Fortunately, you can also; Dr. Miller will have other
open hours throughout the remainder of the semester. I
would recommend for all students!
_______________
(10/26/09) Freshman Discussion Groups
Decorating
With the Honors Halloween
Party fast approaching each Freshman Discussion Group is
buzzing around like a swarm of bees decorating each
room. The normally quaint house is now drenched in
mayhem and fright, from the downstairs living room to
the upstairs bathroom terror echoes throughout. Each
room in the house was assigned to a Freshman Discussion
Group and their task was to decorate it based upon a
theme of their choosing. Throughout the month, room by
room, the house has transformed into a little house of
horrors. This past Thursday my FDG put the finishing
touches on our room, the upstairs bathroom.
As a group we met on
Thursday to decorate our room in a Salem Witch Trials
motif. For a total of three hours we worked and joked
together while our room slowly transformed into the town
of Salem, Massachusetts in 1692. Jointly we
collaborated on what we thought was the best approach to
take. We then began our decorating. To start we
decided to darken the room by hanging trash bags on the
walls, ceiling and floor. Our first step towards Salem
was complete. We then placed trash bags throughout the
shower with the word “Guilty” written in blood or
really, red paint. We also placed stocks and chains in
the shower to represent the ordeals the so-called
witches were put through. For an extra touch we decided
to add a judge, a black cat and some hay. At the end of
the day the usually normal bathroom had been converted
into a small town filled with black magic. Also, we had
spent the evening laughing together and enjoying the
company of friends. While Halloween may seem
frightening to some, to those of us in the honors
program it is a way to pass the time with a good friend.
However, we were not the
only ones changing the house into a frightening sight.
Many other FDG’s have put time and effort into making
over their rooms as well. Some of other themes include:
an evil hospital, an evil carnival, The Ring and much
more. Each individual group has done a tremendous job
at turning the rooms into horrific, yet amusing,
sights. The entire house blends together into a sea of
Halloween horrors. Therefore, the party goers must
remain cautious on Monday night or they may just end up
getting lost at sea…
_______________
(10/19/09) Halloween at the Honors House
What do
ghouls, witches, zombies and vampires have in common?
The same thing that blood, candy and ghosts have in
common, they are all signs of that wonderfully spooky
holiday, Halloween. That’s right it’s that time of year
again when Halloween is the whisper on everyone’s lips.
And that whisper rings through the Honors House
terrifying those who dare to enter the frightening old
building.
This is my
first Halloween with the Honors Program and I am happy
to say that they are as crazy about the eerie holiday as
I am. Each October the Honors Program plans multiple
activities to bring the spirit of the living dead alive
at Lock Haven. From decorating the Honors House, to
throwing a ghostly party for all the Honors students,
the program fills every moment with excitement and
fright. Luckily there are activities for Halloween
enthusiast and antagonist alike.
If you are the
type of person (like me) who takes pleasure in every
spine-chilling aspect of Halloween, you would enjoy
volunteering at Spook Haven, a local haunted house that
runs every October in Lock Haven. Many Honors students
go here to volunteer. Upon arrival you are decorated
with make-up and placed in a costume. You then spend
the night in a room of the haunted house scaring whoever
dares to enter your domain. This provides the Halloween
fanatics in the Honors Program an opportunity to enjoy
themselves while completing their community service
hours. Spook Haven is a great way to enjoy yourself
while helping the public and indulging in your own
Halloween fascination.
However, if
you find Spook Haven a bit too scary for your taste, you
can always participate in other activities that focus on
the brighter side of Halloween. Recently the Arts and
Crafts Activity Group decorated the outside of the
Honors House for Halloween. The decorations that cover
the house may seem frightening, but the process of
decorating it was not. As a group we spent an hour in
the sun running around the front yard amusing ourselves
with various hand-made decorations. Together we made
ghosts out of newspaper and plastic bags, a giant spider
out of trash bags filled with leaves, a scarecrow out of
hay and old cloths and many other decorations. Also, we
placed spider webs throughout the yard along with
cardboard tombstones. It was an amusing day spent with
friends, centered around the charming side of Halloween.
Another
Halloween activity that can be enjoyed by both types of
Halloween fans is the annual Halloween Party. For the
past few years the Honors Program has thrown a party for
the Honors Students. They provide refreshments for the
students along with some entertainment. Games, such as,
cider pong, bobbing for apples and pumpkin piñata can be
played at the party. There are many other pleasurable
activities to partake in. You can choose to join in on
the costume contest or just come as yourself. This will
be my first year attending the party and I am very
excited to see what else is in store. Regardless of how
you feel about Halloween, whether you’re keen on goblins
or prefer Casper the friendly ghost, the Honors Program
makes it a joyful experience for all!
_______________
_files/image001.gif)
Taylor Zimmerman