So with today being Saturday, that means that tomorrow, Sunday, August 19th will officially be our first day of WC New Staff Orientation! Don't panic, it's not an all-day Sunday thing, but Orientation will indeed begin tomorrow evening at 8:00pm with a Movie Night in the WC.
Manderson put together a schedule for the Orientation, which will mostly take place on Monday and Tuesday, August 20th and 21st. For those of you who like to think/plan ahead or are just curious what might be happening on those days, here's the schedule!
WC New Staff Orientation Schedule of Events/Logistics:
Sunday, August 19th
-8:00pm (Movie Night in the WC)
Monday, August 20th
-5:00pm (Meet in the WC for informal socializing)
-5:30pm (Introduce Orientation Helpers...When all/most WC folks are present, head over to Xavier's for pizza.)
-6:00pm-7:30pm (Pizza at Xavier's)
-8:00pm-10:00pm (Informal socializing and games (Catch Phrase!) in the WC)
Tuesday, August 21st
-8:30am (Beginning of WC Orientation Day Two (BREAKFAST!))
-9:15am (Introductions Activity/Mixer for new consultants)
-9:30am (Pictionary)
-10:15am (WC Rotations...1. Coffee (and hot drink rules) + Kitchen (dishes, usage, etc.)-led by Courtney Marti, Connor Roth, and Kelci DeHaas; 2. Publication + Committees-led by Hailley Fargo, Ariana Uding, and Peter Hegland; 3. Desk, Phone, Logbook, Timesheets-led by Ryan Rey, Sam Orvis, and Patrick Johnson; 4. Beaver, Frog, Sloth, misc. rules of the WC-led by Kobe Spencer, Ashley Collum, and Spencer Roth
-11:30am (Lunch Break)
-12:15pm (Rock, Paper, Scissors Tourney-find a partner, best 2 of 3, loser becomes cheerleader for victor, continue)
-12:30pm (First Draft: Worst First Sentence of a Book-see http://www.bulwer-lytton.com/2012win.html for inspiration)
-12:45pm (Share worst first sentences, choose the "best")
-1:00pm (First round of conferences: Making the sentence worse-one older staff member works with two younger staff members)
-1:30pm (Share new, worse sentences)
-1:45pm (Second round of conferences: combine and revise your group's two sentences to make the worst first two sentences of a book)
-2:15pm (Share sentences and choose best)
-2:30pm (Catch Phrase match with everyone outside-explain how it's like consulting...finding the right words to get the person to make the connection, have to try different approaches sometimes)
-3:30pm (Dr. Bob Introduction)
-4:30pm (Unscheduled socialization/break time-frisbee, Catch Phrase, more Pictionary)
-6:00pm (Dinner!)
So there you have it, our couple days o' fun for the WC New Staff Orientation! Sounds like a blast...might I add that the Catch Phrase activity was all my idea...you're welcome. ;) I think I can speak for all WC consultants when I say that we're incredibly excited to get to know this year's new staff! Personally, I'll have CAP training the 20th and 21st, but will try to make any of the Orientation activities my schedule will allow. And who's pumped for the WC Staff Retreat?! Camping! Yay! I can't wait to stay in a cabin...if only it was at the Boundary Waters as well. :) Maybe next year?...hint, hint. ;) Which makes me also think of you lucky ducks who attended the Orientation in the Wilderness to begin your first year at Coe. Great decision! I went on the Orientation myself and loved every, single minute of it! That was probably the best decision I made my first year at Coe. Can't wait to have all you wilderness junkies back as well!
Have a blast this official, last day of summer before Orientations begin...you won't know what to do with yourself, you'll be having so much fun and staying busy beyond belief!
- Heidi Heaton
Saturday, August 18, 2012
Friday, August 17, 2012
Heidi's Blog Update #23
Hey all, if you have not checked out our WC website page, you should have a look at the new layout, formatting, photos and information Manderson and I have been working on! I think its come a long way from what we began with and now has up-to-date and relevant information for its audience...you!
Yesterday we were working on the website from 9am to noon, took a break for lunch, and began back up again at 1pm until we stopped for dinner again around 5pm. We worked similar hours on Wednesday as well. Kobe also happened to be getting some work done in the Writing Center, and we also saw Dr. Bob stop through quickly, as well as Peter Madsen later that day! That was the most people I've seen in the WC all at one time this summer! So nice to have people emerging on campus!
Today, sometime later this afternoon and evening, Manderson, Kelly Allen, and I are having a "Fun Day." It was originally supposed to be a bike ride (well Mandy was going to rollerblade) but then I heard that I can't rent a Coe bike yet, and should probably have a helmet...so that idea turned into possibly seeing the movie, The Bourne Legacy. Of course, it's craaaazy nice outside today, about 75 degrees, so it would also seem sad to be indoors on such a great summer day. So basically the only thing we're sure of is probably getting dinner at Biaggi's. I threw a beach idea out there too, so maybe we'll end up at Palo this afternoon for some sun and frisbee throwing.
In the meantime I'll finish up this post :) and write another post for my personal blog, because I need to make a happy of blogging before I study abroad.
Hope everyone else is enjoying the excellent weather and taking a break for some fun on this lovely day!
- Heidi Heaton
Yesterday we were working on the website from 9am to noon, took a break for lunch, and began back up again at 1pm until we stopped for dinner again around 5pm. We worked similar hours on Wednesday as well. Kobe also happened to be getting some work done in the Writing Center, and we also saw Dr. Bob stop through quickly, as well as Peter Madsen later that day! That was the most people I've seen in the WC all at one time this summer! So nice to have people emerging on campus!
Today, sometime later this afternoon and evening, Manderson, Kelly Allen, and I are having a "Fun Day." It was originally supposed to be a bike ride (well Mandy was going to rollerblade) but then I heard that I can't rent a Coe bike yet, and should probably have a helmet...so that idea turned into possibly seeing the movie, The Bourne Legacy. Of course, it's craaaazy nice outside today, about 75 degrees, so it would also seem sad to be indoors on such a great summer day. So basically the only thing we're sure of is probably getting dinner at Biaggi's. I threw a beach idea out there too, so maybe we'll end up at Palo this afternoon for some sun and frisbee throwing.
In the meantime I'll finish up this post :) and write another post for my personal blog, because I need to make a happy of blogging before I study abroad.
Hope everyone else is enjoying the excellent weather and taking a break for some fun on this lovely day!
- Heidi Heaton
Wednesday, August 15, 2012
Heidi's Blog Update #22
Hey there WC blog followers!
So recent business...
Last night was our Heritage Office reception and lecture series with Professor Rick Eichorn presenting on "The Economic Crisis of 2008 and Its Aftermath." The evening began with conversation over heavy appetizers as alums arrived in Hickok lobby. I was stationed at the back door to Hickok and greeted guests as they arrived. It was a great opportunity for me to put a face with a name I had seen or been accustomed to hearing working with Kelly, but had not yet met in person. Then as small-talk and appetizers (which were very tasty and included meatballs, mini quiches, a large fruit platter, spinach and artichoke dip with bruschetta bread, roast beef and mini rolls for sandwiches, and an assortment of desserts and beverages), had run its course and as six o'clock approached, we moved into Kesler to listen to the lecture presentation. After the presentation, I once again stationed myself by a door and thanked guests for coming as they exited. It was a great evening and I think I can confidently say that all of the alums had a great time thanks to Kelly's careful planning and execution hosting the event.
Today Manderson and I are back to website business in the WC after the afternoon and evening spent at the reception mingling with alums, taking photographs, and recording the lecture series presentation. Right now it's mainly formatting errors on the site that are driving us crazy! Those horizontal lines I mentioned in an earlier blog popping up everywhere...yep, they're back again. And we had to bring back the WAC and Colere sites because for some reason they magically disappeared. Apparently depending on which computer you might be using to and what system, it can also make editing the site different. So where as the computer I've been using at the front desk for some reason could not center a quote to save its life, Manderson didn't have trouble editing on his laptop.
Now it's just a matter of finishing formatting, making the site look nice, and making sure that everything on it is updated and relevant.
Wish us luck!
-Heidi Heaton
So recent business...
Last night was our Heritage Office reception and lecture series with Professor Rick Eichorn presenting on "The Economic Crisis of 2008 and Its Aftermath." The evening began with conversation over heavy appetizers as alums arrived in Hickok lobby. I was stationed at the back door to Hickok and greeted guests as they arrived. It was a great opportunity for me to put a face with a name I had seen or been accustomed to hearing working with Kelly, but had not yet met in person. Then as small-talk and appetizers (which were very tasty and included meatballs, mini quiches, a large fruit platter, spinach and artichoke dip with bruschetta bread, roast beef and mini rolls for sandwiches, and an assortment of desserts and beverages), had run its course and as six o'clock approached, we moved into Kesler to listen to the lecture presentation. After the presentation, I once again stationed myself by a door and thanked guests for coming as they exited. It was a great evening and I think I can confidently say that all of the alums had a great time thanks to Kelly's careful planning and execution hosting the event.
Today Manderson and I are back to website business in the WC after the afternoon and evening spent at the reception mingling with alums, taking photographs, and recording the lecture series presentation. Right now it's mainly formatting errors on the site that are driving us crazy! Those horizontal lines I mentioned in an earlier blog popping up everywhere...yep, they're back again. And we had to bring back the WAC and Colere sites because for some reason they magically disappeared. Apparently depending on which computer you might be using to and what system, it can also make editing the site different. So where as the computer I've been using at the front desk for some reason could not center a quote to save its life, Manderson didn't have trouble editing on his laptop.
Now it's just a matter of finishing formatting, making the site look nice, and making sure that everything on it is updated and relevant.
Wish us luck!
-Heidi Heaton
Tuesday, August 14, 2012
Heidi's Blog Update #21
So I'm officially back at Coe since my trip home and to Annapolis, Maryland. It was an amazing time spent with the family and I couldn't have been more thrilled to see my brother after his six weeks of Plebe Summer at the Naval Academy! Compared to what he's been up to for most of his summer, I feel like a baby now ever having complained about being tired.
Now that I'm back at Coe, work starts up again with the WC and Heritage Office...and very soon CAP training as well. I'll be working for the Heritage Office today at 2pm and through this evening because we are hosting a reception for alums. I'm not exactly sure what part I will be playing yet in this reception, but I've been told I will be fed, so I'm happy to help with anything if it means a free dinner. ;) Different priorities now that I'm living in an apartment. :)
Then CAP training starts on the 20th and finishes the 21st before first-years move-in on the 22nd. Josie and I are super excited to be co-leading a CAP and FYS group and I'm sure Orientation Week will be packed full of fun activities and a good dose of competitive edge. :)
This year the CAP responsibilities do not last quite as long (aka, the entire Fall semester) because for years first-year students have been confused as to why they are still being bothered with texts and emails about group, board game nights and such when they would be perfectly content finding their own venue at which to socialize. Personally, I felt my caplets were getting sick of me by November, or maybe sooner, because I was their CAP leader and Writing Fellow for a handful of them...so needless to say, they saw me a lot. I think this year should provide a good balance between, "We care about you and want to make sure you're meeting new people and getting acclimated," and "Respond to my texts and emails gosh darn it! We've been doing this for four months!" :)
Anyways, still keeping super busy and getting ready for the Fall semester at Coe. I'm sure an update will be coming soon after the reception tonight with more news about how it went and what I was actually doing. :)
Thanks again for reading and keeping the WC near and dear to your heart!
- Heidi Heaton
Now that I'm back at Coe, work starts up again with the WC and Heritage Office...and very soon CAP training as well. I'll be working for the Heritage Office today at 2pm and through this evening because we are hosting a reception for alums. I'm not exactly sure what part I will be playing yet in this reception, but I've been told I will be fed, so I'm happy to help with anything if it means a free dinner. ;) Different priorities now that I'm living in an apartment. :)
Then CAP training starts on the 20th and finishes the 21st before first-years move-in on the 22nd. Josie and I are super excited to be co-leading a CAP and FYS group and I'm sure Orientation Week will be packed full of fun activities and a good dose of competitive edge. :)
This year the CAP responsibilities do not last quite as long (aka, the entire Fall semester) because for years first-year students have been confused as to why they are still being bothered with texts and emails about group, board game nights and such when they would be perfectly content finding their own venue at which to socialize. Personally, I felt my caplets were getting sick of me by November, or maybe sooner, because I was their CAP leader and Writing Fellow for a handful of them...so needless to say, they saw me a lot. I think this year should provide a good balance between, "We care about you and want to make sure you're meeting new people and getting acclimated," and "Respond to my texts and emails gosh darn it! We've been doing this for four months!" :)
Anyways, still keeping super busy and getting ready for the Fall semester at Coe. I'm sure an update will be coming soon after the reception tonight with more news about how it went and what I was actually doing. :)
Thanks again for reading and keeping the WC near and dear to your heart!
- Heidi Heaton
Wednesday, August 8, 2012
Heidi's Blog Update #20
Ta-Da! These door decs are the product of a verrrry long day of cutting, glueing, tracing, and coloring. Josie Visser (a new consultant addition to our Writing Center this year, joint CAP leader with me, and friend of mine) and I are both CAP leaders for the Nature of Science FYS this coming fall. Josie and I were both CAP leaders last year. I was a CAP for this same FYS of around forty students with two professors and Josie was a CAP leader of one of the other, many First-Year Seminar courses.
We're both super excited for Orientation week, coming up from August 22nd-26th, when we will officially meet the thirty-six first-years to whom we have been sending letters. Josie just recently sent out the last letter to our caplets while I made the door decs we will hang on their dorm room doors before they move into their new home away from home. I have to say I'm pretty proud of the stars in particular on these door decs. You can't tell from the photos, but they are indeed felt. :)
Josie and I will also have the pleasure of working with a smaller group of around five out of our thirty-six caplets as their Writing Fellows. A Writing Fellow is a WC consultant who assists a smaller group of first-years with papers pertaining to their FYS class, and other assignments and study tools to get them acquainted with college-level writing and expectations. We meet weekly with our small groups and students are encouraged to conference regularly with their Writing Fellow on their papers.
I worked as a Writing Fellow for this same FYS last year and absolutely loved the experience. All of the students I worked with were very diligent and hard-working, and it was much easier to discuss their course load after already establishing a relationship with them as their CAP leader. I can't wait to work with a new group of students in the fall in a similar environment.
As I've also become used to including a quick Olympic update/blurb in all of my posts, I'd like to congratulate Kerri and Misty on their third, consecutive win for gold in women's volleyball doubles at the Olympics! They're incredibly exciting to watch and fought for their gold this year, as always. Yay!
Well, I'm going to be leaving for a flight to Annapolis tomorrow morning at 7:30am, so I better hit the hay here...and probably should pack as well. :) Thanks for reading! Fall's just around the corner. :)
- Heidi Heaton
Tuesday, August 7, 2012
Heidi's Blog Update #19
Yesterday was the last day for all first-year students to submit their summer writing exercises, so needless to say, there were plenty of emails today expressing confusion, frustration, and apologies for tardiness. It seems that most things have been sorted out now though, so that's great to have that job completed. Now all my attention will be on updates for our WC website and producing our next alumni newsletter.
I logged onto our website today to work on some revisions of the layout so each page parallels the others in font style, size, and general appearance. For some reason, a lot of the pages had awkward page breaks with lines separating headings and descriptions from their counterparts and unnecessary divisions throughout the page. Most of my time on the website was spent battling the lack of clarity of gmail's set-up and not understanding how on earth one page could be double-spaced, another single-spaced, but no option was available to select spacing/alignment or to change one to mirror the other. Some of the links also open up within a different tab when they should open in the same tab depending on if it's another WC website page or separate site all-together.
Most of the website has the same appearance now between pages, but some things I need to give some further thought...but mostly get another set of eyes on because I am not nearly as tech savvy as I'd like to be. :)
I also sent a quick email to Kobe about the goings-on of my side of the Alumni Newsletter and trying to uncover contact information for graduates of '09 and '10, which still doesn't show much progress, but might be easier to track down once I'm back on campus.
Other than the culmination of the summer writing exercise, and website and newsletter updates, not much else has changed for WC business. I'm much happier with the beginnings of my personal blog now, so as I work on that blog, I'm sure it will give me more ideas for this one as well and vice versa.
Hope everyone's enjoying their summer and sleeping in while you can!
- Heidi Heaton
I logged onto our website today to work on some revisions of the layout so each page parallels the others in font style, size, and general appearance. For some reason, a lot of the pages had awkward page breaks with lines separating headings and descriptions from their counterparts and unnecessary divisions throughout the page. Most of my time on the website was spent battling the lack of clarity of gmail's set-up and not understanding how on earth one page could be double-spaced, another single-spaced, but no option was available to select spacing/alignment or to change one to mirror the other. Some of the links also open up within a different tab when they should open in the same tab depending on if it's another WC website page or separate site all-together.
Most of the website has the same appearance now between pages, but some things I need to give some further thought...but mostly get another set of eyes on because I am not nearly as tech savvy as I'd like to be. :)
I also sent a quick email to Kobe about the goings-on of my side of the Alumni Newsletter and trying to uncover contact information for graduates of '09 and '10, which still doesn't show much progress, but might be easier to track down once I'm back on campus.
Other than the culmination of the summer writing exercise, and website and newsletter updates, not much else has changed for WC business. I'm much happier with the beginnings of my personal blog now, so as I work on that blog, I'm sure it will give me more ideas for this one as well and vice versa.
Hope everyone's enjoying their summer and sleeping in while you can!
- Heidi Heaton
Sunday, August 5, 2012
Heidi's Blog Update #18
Hi WC blog followers!
Side-note before I even begin on WC business...I hope everyone's watching our US women's volleyball doubles. Yikes, they are dominating Italy right now...so intense! They just can't be beat.
Anyways, sorry, can't be watching the Olympics without actually commenting on the supreme talent every once in a while. So in WC news, our website is slowly and surely coming along, so check it out and give us comments on what you like or what you'd like to see! I'm hoping to hear back sometime this week from Kelly Russell about WC alums to start connecting with our alumni, but if you've been keeping up with the blog, here are the questions we'll be asking so you can prepare...
1. Where are you?
2. Are you married?
3. Do you have kids?
4. What do you do for money?
5. What do you do for fun?
6. Have you traveled anywhere recently?
7. What's your favorite Dr. Bob memory?
8. And share with us anything else that would be super interesting but we haven't asked you yet!
So alums, particularly from the class of '09 and '10, go ahead and give those questions some thought. We'll be looking forward to hearing from you! And we'd love a photo, so maybe shuffle through some scrapbooks while you're at it. ;)
When I return from my break at home I'll be helping Kelly Allen with a reception for the Heritage Office, so there will be lots to share about that night I'm sure. I'm really excited. That reception will be the evening of the 14th.
Thanks for keeping up with the blog! Best wishes to my fellow blogger in Norway! I'm sure Anna's adventures are way more exciting than my own right now, haha. You go girl!
- Heidi Heaton
Side-note before I even begin on WC business...I hope everyone's watching our US women's volleyball doubles. Yikes, they are dominating Italy right now...so intense! They just can't be beat.
Anyways, sorry, can't be watching the Olympics without actually commenting on the supreme talent every once in a while. So in WC news, our website is slowly and surely coming along, so check it out and give us comments on what you like or what you'd like to see! I'm hoping to hear back sometime this week from Kelly Russell about WC alums to start connecting with our alumni, but if you've been keeping up with the blog, here are the questions we'll be asking so you can prepare...
1. Where are you?
2. Are you married?
3. Do you have kids?
4. What do you do for money?
5. What do you do for fun?
6. Have you traveled anywhere recently?
7. What's your favorite Dr. Bob memory?
8. And share with us anything else that would be super interesting but we haven't asked you yet!
So alums, particularly from the class of '09 and '10, go ahead and give those questions some thought. We'll be looking forward to hearing from you! And we'd love a photo, so maybe shuffle through some scrapbooks while you're at it. ;)
When I return from my break at home I'll be helping Kelly Allen with a reception for the Heritage Office, so there will be lots to share about that night I'm sure. I'm really excited. That reception will be the evening of the 14th.
Thanks for keeping up with the blog! Best wishes to my fellow blogger in Norway! I'm sure Anna's adventures are way more exciting than my own right now, haha. You go girl!
- Heidi Heaton
Saturday, August 4, 2012
Heidi's Blog Update #17
Wow. I've just been looking through wordpress.com at some more advanced blogging services and techniques and boy oh boy do I feel inadequate now with my WC blog, haha. Hailley and Whitney were showing me their blogging sites via wordpress the other day in our apartment. I've been hoping to start a personal blog before the school year starts so I can get into the habit of blogging before my spring semester in France. Keeping up a blog while abroad will be a great way to remember the days, look back on experiences, catalog memories and photos, and allow friends and family to stay updated on my goings-on while away.
After a couple hours of navigating through blog themes, header photos, and sidebar descriptions, I was already exhausted by how much work goes into creating and maintaining a professional blog. I have a ton of admiration for my tech-savvy peers who maintain successful blogs on a regular basis. So two hours later, after some fun and slightly more frustration, I decided to return to the comfort of gmail and the Coe Writing Center blog. :)
Today I've been responding to emails from many first-year students inquiring about the summer writing exercise which always become more abundant during our deadline dates for submission. This is our last timeframe in which they can be sent so by Monday the 6th, my summer writing exercise duties will be coming to an end. I'll still have the Writing Center website, alumni newsletter, and Heritage Office to keep me busy though.
I haven't looked at the website since yesterday when I was updating it, but I'm planning to get back to work on some updates within the week while I await a response from Kelly Russell on a way to contact graduates of '09 and '10 for our newsletter.
Other than that, just enjoying time home with my family with my sister returning home tonight. And then eager to leave for Annapolis to visit my brother this coming Thursday!
Hope everyone's doing well and relaxing to their heart's content because the school year will be here before we know it.
More soon,
- Heidi Heaton
After a couple hours of navigating through blog themes, header photos, and sidebar descriptions, I was already exhausted by how much work goes into creating and maintaining a professional blog. I have a ton of admiration for my tech-savvy peers who maintain successful blogs on a regular basis. So two hours later, after some fun and slightly more frustration, I decided to return to the comfort of gmail and the Coe Writing Center blog. :)
Today I've been responding to emails from many first-year students inquiring about the summer writing exercise which always become more abundant during our deadline dates for submission. This is our last timeframe in which they can be sent so by Monday the 6th, my summer writing exercise duties will be coming to an end. I'll still have the Writing Center website, alumni newsletter, and Heritage Office to keep me busy though.
I haven't looked at the website since yesterday when I was updating it, but I'm planning to get back to work on some updates within the week while I await a response from Kelly Russell on a way to contact graduates of '09 and '10 for our newsletter.
Other than that, just enjoying time home with my family with my sister returning home tonight. And then eager to leave for Annapolis to visit my brother this coming Thursday!
Hope everyone's doing well and relaxing to their heart's content because the school year will be here before we know it.
More soon,
- Heidi Heaton
Thursday, August 2, 2012
Heidi's Blog Update #16
Back to the blog after my day of moving!
I was so proud of myself yesterday for my beastly speedy move. I had everything (except a fridge, microwave, TV, and my papasan...if you don't know what a papasan is you are deeply deprived) moved out of Murray and into my van parked out front within an hour!
Then I grabbed my new apartment key for Schlarbaum 3 from Res. Life and headed over to my room to begin unpacking...
About nine hours later, I had everything set-up in my room, wall decor and all, and was ready to make a Walmart run with two of my three roommates, Hailley and Whitney, before coming back to the apartment to move another futon and watch more of the Olympics!
It was a jam-packed day but I'm so excited to be living in an apartment now...I love Murray bunches, but it's a welcome change in environment...
So today, with the move behind me, I went back to work on Writing Center business. This morning Manderson and I met in the Writing Center to discuss the website more. We talked about the changes made to the staff page and I finished editing it. Manderson worked on the fabulous new template you'll now notice as the "notebook" template, and the rest of the day I've been updating our site, in particular the "Handout" and "WC Publications" tabs. Also while in the WC, Emily Hipps called, a graduate of Coe and past WC consultant asking for an I-drive file to be sent to her for work tutoring immigrants...very cool, Emily! Ah and the navigable tabs can now be found across the top of our Writing Center website page rather than down the side, thanks to Manderson's computer savvy.
On the Alumni Newsletter side of things, Kobe asked if I could get in contact with the class of '09 and '10 so we can feature graduates and their goings-on. I emailed Kelly Russell today for their current email addresses and will be sending out a note soon with hopes that we'll get several responses with interesting things to include in the newsletter.
This coming weekend will be our last submission date for the First-Year Summer Writing Exercise, so hopefully we receive plenty more submissions and then those documents should be all set to go for the faculty review shortly.
I'll be out of town from the 3rd through the 13th visiting with family back home and then taking a trip to see my brother at the Naval Academy! I can't wait to see him!
Then when I return I'll have a reception to work for the Heritage Office, more work hours, and a "Fun Day" for the staff to relax before the school year starts. And of course there are still door decs to be made for my caplets and then Freshman Orientation starts. It's going to be one busy fall semester, but I'm looking forward to it!
Hope you've enjoyed your first two days of August!
- Heidi Heaton
I was so proud of myself yesterday for my beastly speedy move. I had everything (except a fridge, microwave, TV, and my papasan...if you don't know what a papasan is you are deeply deprived) moved out of Murray and into my van parked out front within an hour!
Then I grabbed my new apartment key for Schlarbaum 3 from Res. Life and headed over to my room to begin unpacking...
About nine hours later, I had everything set-up in my room, wall decor and all, and was ready to make a Walmart run with two of my three roommates, Hailley and Whitney, before coming back to the apartment to move another futon and watch more of the Olympics!
It was a jam-packed day but I'm so excited to be living in an apartment now...I love Murray bunches, but it's a welcome change in environment...
So today, with the move behind me, I went back to work on Writing Center business. This morning Manderson and I met in the Writing Center to discuss the website more. We talked about the changes made to the staff page and I finished editing it. Manderson worked on the fabulous new template you'll now notice as the "notebook" template, and the rest of the day I've been updating our site, in particular the "Handout" and "WC Publications" tabs. Also while in the WC, Emily Hipps called, a graduate of Coe and past WC consultant asking for an I-drive file to be sent to her for work tutoring immigrants...very cool, Emily! Ah and the navigable tabs can now be found across the top of our Writing Center website page rather than down the side, thanks to Manderson's computer savvy.
On the Alumni Newsletter side of things, Kobe asked if I could get in contact with the class of '09 and '10 so we can feature graduates and their goings-on. I emailed Kelly Russell today for their current email addresses and will be sending out a note soon with hopes that we'll get several responses with interesting things to include in the newsletter.
This coming weekend will be our last submission date for the First-Year Summer Writing Exercise, so hopefully we receive plenty more submissions and then those documents should be all set to go for the faculty review shortly.
I'll be out of town from the 3rd through the 13th visiting with family back home and then taking a trip to see my brother at the Naval Academy! I can't wait to see him!
Then when I return I'll have a reception to work for the Heritage Office, more work hours, and a "Fun Day" for the staff to relax before the school year starts. And of course there are still door decs to be made for my caplets and then Freshman Orientation starts. It's going to be one busy fall semester, but I'm looking forward to it!
Hope you've enjoyed your first two days of August!
- Heidi Heaton
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
Heidi's Blog Update #15
Good afternoon WC avid blog followers! :)
I hope you all are watching the Olympics more than you're reading this blog though; crazy amazing the talent those athletes have! Missy Franklin is only 17 and has already won her first, individual gold medal at the Olympics! What a feat! I can't imagine ever being able to swim that fast. And the girls' gymnastics is so competitive and rigorous. Our US girls look like robots of steal with those game-face expressions. I have to be honest, I am insanely jealous of their athletic talent...and probably more specifically the insane amount of muscle they have...yikes! I remember doing gymnastics when I was little, but that career didn't last long because as soon as my older sister quit, I did too. I was in that "monkey-see, monkey-do" stage and refused to continue in gymnastics if I didn't have my best friend with me.
Haha...while I'm on this distracted road of lost thought...I remember one time when my sister and I were younger, we decided to take a karate class for some reason. We went to the first lesson and were just dying laughing at all the noises they told us to make. Any time we moved, we were supposed to shout, "Hi-yah!" or something of that sort. We couldn't contain our laughter, were barely invested in the exercises themselves, and did not return for any other sessions.
Now that I'm older though, I regret not giving dance more thought when I was little and when my friends were so involved in it. Watching the show "So You Think You Can Dance," makes me kill for that kind of training and I wish I had found a passion for dance sooner. The same goes for my gymnastics experience, and probably a few other activities, sports, etc. that I should have given more attention and devotion at a younger age. When you get into college, everyone tells you to explore your options, stay open-minded, and not to be afraid to try new things...why didn't someone tell me that when I was three! ;) And how could I have forced myself to believe them of the importance of trying new things!
Anyways, that's my little tangent...I'm sure we all have opportunities we regret not taking and secret passions that we may not have the competitive talent for but bring us happiness and joy. I suppose it's my lesson to myself to continually grow and try new things, regardless of age, talent, how intimidated I may feel, etc.
But back to today's work and WC news...I walked on over to the Registrar Office this morning to finish up the files I began yesterday. I think I only had about five or so left, so that didn't take too much time and then I migrated to the WC to finish adding the pictures to our WC website. Everyone looks lovely and I got those all posted. The information on the site is mainly up-to-date, but some things need to be rearranged and given a little more flavor. Hopefully Manderson and I will be able to get some work in on that front and in implementing the changes Dr. Bob approved of a bit earlier in the summer.
Well, time for a quick workout, shower, some laundry and packing with the Olympics on, and then the big move from Murray to the new apartment tomorrow!
TTFN
- Heidi Heaton
I hope you all are watching the Olympics more than you're reading this blog though; crazy amazing the talent those athletes have! Missy Franklin is only 17 and has already won her first, individual gold medal at the Olympics! What a feat! I can't imagine ever being able to swim that fast. And the girls' gymnastics is so competitive and rigorous. Our US girls look like robots of steal with those game-face expressions. I have to be honest, I am insanely jealous of their athletic talent...and probably more specifically the insane amount of muscle they have...yikes! I remember doing gymnastics when I was little, but that career didn't last long because as soon as my older sister quit, I did too. I was in that "monkey-see, monkey-do" stage and refused to continue in gymnastics if I didn't have my best friend with me.
Haha...while I'm on this distracted road of lost thought...I remember one time when my sister and I were younger, we decided to take a karate class for some reason. We went to the first lesson and were just dying laughing at all the noises they told us to make. Any time we moved, we were supposed to shout, "Hi-yah!" or something of that sort. We couldn't contain our laughter, were barely invested in the exercises themselves, and did not return for any other sessions.
Now that I'm older though, I regret not giving dance more thought when I was little and when my friends were so involved in it. Watching the show "So You Think You Can Dance," makes me kill for that kind of training and I wish I had found a passion for dance sooner. The same goes for my gymnastics experience, and probably a few other activities, sports, etc. that I should have given more attention and devotion at a younger age. When you get into college, everyone tells you to explore your options, stay open-minded, and not to be afraid to try new things...why didn't someone tell me that when I was three! ;) And how could I have forced myself to believe them of the importance of trying new things!
Anyways, that's my little tangent...I'm sure we all have opportunities we regret not taking and secret passions that we may not have the competitive talent for but bring us happiness and joy. I suppose it's my lesson to myself to continually grow and try new things, regardless of age, talent, how intimidated I may feel, etc.
But back to today's work and WC news...I walked on over to the Registrar Office this morning to finish up the files I began yesterday. I think I only had about five or so left, so that didn't take too much time and then I migrated to the WC to finish adding the pictures to our WC website. Everyone looks lovely and I got those all posted. The information on the site is mainly up-to-date, but some things need to be rearranged and given a little more flavor. Hopefully Manderson and I will be able to get some work in on that front and in implementing the changes Dr. Bob approved of a bit earlier in the summer.
Well, time for a quick workout, shower, some laundry and packing with the Olympics on, and then the big move from Murray to the new apartment tomorrow!
TTFN
- Heidi Heaton
Monday, July 30, 2012
Heidi's Blog Update #14
Today was a day packed full of Writing Center business. I began my WC day in the Registrar at 8am this morning to look through profiles necessary for picking students eligible for an extra Writing course.
It seems like my Writing Center job has had many "offices" lately...either my papasan in my room, laptop in place, the Olympics playing :) or the Heritage Office with Kelly Allen, the random day spent in the Public Relations office behind the front desk, and now the back room of the Registrar's Office looking through loads of files. :) It actually keeps things interesting, moving around that much. Oh!...and of course, can't forget the dear old WC itself. :)
As much history as I've mentioned this job uncovers little by little for me of our campus and its past life (alongside my Heritage Office work), it also opens up my eyes to all of the nooks and crannies on campus, the side conversations between staff, their lives and what they value.
After I worked until 4:30pm in the Registrar Office (when it closes), I headed over to the WC to work on our website for a bit. Over the weekend I worked on updating our WC consultants page so that we now have our incoming staff accounted for as well as updated information on our current staff. I'm also incorporating the photos used in this summer's newsletter to the page so not only do we all have our name, year, major(s), and hometown listed, but there's a face to accompany those facts. :)
Tomorrow what my day holds in store is another trip to the Registrar which should allow me to finish-up most of the files I have left, and then I'll head back to the WC to touch up the website again and put in some more photos of our staff. That should keep me occupied for most of the day, then I'll check back in for alls y'all ;) and then I have to move eeeevvvverything from Murray to my new room in Schlarbaum (all day Wednesday that is). :) Just moved furniture there today...with some help from Manderson (much thanks to him), and now it should be all set for me to throw my stuff into it...very excited!!
Well that should cover business for tonight...plants were watered today too by the way, so hopefully they won't die on my watch. ;)
'Til Tomorrow,
- Heidi Heaton
It seems like my Writing Center job has had many "offices" lately...either my papasan in my room, laptop in place, the Olympics playing :) or the Heritage Office with Kelly Allen, the random day spent in the Public Relations office behind the front desk, and now the back room of the Registrar's Office looking through loads of files. :) It actually keeps things interesting, moving around that much. Oh!...and of course, can't forget the dear old WC itself. :)
As much history as I've mentioned this job uncovers little by little for me of our campus and its past life (alongside my Heritage Office work), it also opens up my eyes to all of the nooks and crannies on campus, the side conversations between staff, their lives and what they value.
After I worked until 4:30pm in the Registrar Office (when it closes), I headed over to the WC to work on our website for a bit. Over the weekend I worked on updating our WC consultants page so that we now have our incoming staff accounted for as well as updated information on our current staff. I'm also incorporating the photos used in this summer's newsletter to the page so not only do we all have our name, year, major(s), and hometown listed, but there's a face to accompany those facts. :)
Tomorrow what my day holds in store is another trip to the Registrar which should allow me to finish-up most of the files I have left, and then I'll head back to the WC to touch up the website again and put in some more photos of our staff. That should keep me occupied for most of the day, then I'll check back in for alls y'all ;) and then I have to move eeeevvvverything from Murray to my new room in Schlarbaum (all day Wednesday that is). :) Just moved furniture there today...with some help from Manderson (much thanks to him), and now it should be all set for me to throw my stuff into it...very excited!!
Well that should cover business for tonight...plants were watered today too by the way, so hopefully they won't die on my watch. ;)
'Til Tomorrow,
- Heidi Heaton
Friday, July 27, 2012
Where has all the writing gone?
Instead of an update on WC work, I thought I'd just share a few thoughts...
When I'm asking, "Where has all the writing gone?" I suppose I'm also pondering how much communication has changed and continues to change year after year.
Remember when we didn't even have cellphones? I know...just barely! My mom always talks about how her and my dad would have to call someone's home phone if they wanted to ask someone out on a date and work their way through siblings or parents first before they had a chance to speak with the person they were actually intending to call. Now we have cellphones that allow us to direct contact to whomever we wish to speak. But then with cellphones came texting...and conversations that look something like this:
what up?
nm. hbu?
hw nd more hw, lol
u should just copy, jk, lol
haha, i wish, ttyl
l8r
There's barely a complete word or thought anywhere in there! When I was working with Upward Bound a few weeks ago, several of the students were talking and someone didn't know what "nd" meant in a text until another student clarified that it stood for "and." "Why can't you just spell-out 'and'; it's only one more letter," I asked, and they immediately responded that it was "cooler" to be able to text and still have your message understood using the least amount of letters possible.
Don't get me wrong, texting is an insanely easy way to get a quick message out and I use it all the time to get in touch with people, but boy is it changing how we communicate with one another. Sometimes I don't think people are even savvy to the skill of sending a professional email anymore. Where's the introductory line? The closing? Why on earth is the subject "hello"? How am I supposed to understand the significance of the email from that?
I'm certainly guilty of communication barriers too. I've just become more attuned to this change in communication recently because of my brother's induction to the U.S. Naval Academy. My brother has a "plebe summer" before he starts his academic year, but during the plebe summer he is not allowed a phone or personal computer, so the only way to stay in contact with him is through letters. Writing that first letter to him felt strange because I could not remember the last time I had sent a letter in the mail. Granted, my letters to him have to be slightly different in content than your normal correspondence because he never has time to send a reply, so they are mainly supposed to keep him thinking positively and supplying up-to-date information and chit-chat about what's going on in my life to allow him a welcome distraction every so often from the rigors of becoming part of the Navy.
Writing these letters, however, made me think more about how much an effect words can have on people, the importance of communication, and how sometimes we lose the essence of a genuine, heartfelt statement in all the jumble of letters we allow to signify words in our text messages. Texting my brother "luv u" doesn't give off quite the same feel as receiving a letter in the mail that reads, "I love you very much!"
Over the course of the summer I've also received the occasional letter in the mail from a friend or postcard and even these quick notes seem to have more impact than a text. Sending a postcard isn't just a quick thought, but a message that took time to write, stamp, mail and is patient enough not to require an immediate response that texting usually demands.
Am I going to be elated once my brother gets his phone back in Annapolis from the Navy? Absolutely! But I'm appreciative for the opportunity, although somewhat originally forced upon me, to re-experience the treasure of writing a letter. And most of my joy that he will have his own phone comes from the knowledge that I can actually call him and hear his voice, rather than consistently sending him impersonal texts.
I do realize that I am writing this post with less experience than others in our tech savvy world. I don't have a Facebook or Twitter, and I certainly recognize how valuable these sites can be in sharing pictures and staying in contact with friends and family who may be hard to visit on a regular basis; but boy do I miss the days when you were forced to talk to someone face-to-face, when relationships grew through multiple dates and outings and began and ended through human-to-human contact rather than via a change of "relationship status" online. Technology is great, changes lives positively, and ensures progress, but every now and then I like to be old-fashioned...sometimes forced into it, sometimes voluntarily...and send a letter, leave a voicemail message, or who knows, maybe go really crazy and talk to someone in person!
Anyways, just thoughts, maybe write a letter to someone who's important to you and give a try to a different mode of communication...I guarantee it will be well received. :)
- Heidi Heaton
When I'm asking, "Where has all the writing gone?" I suppose I'm also pondering how much communication has changed and continues to change year after year.
Remember when we didn't even have cellphones? I know...just barely! My mom always talks about how her and my dad would have to call someone's home phone if they wanted to ask someone out on a date and work their way through siblings or parents first before they had a chance to speak with the person they were actually intending to call. Now we have cellphones that allow us to direct contact to whomever we wish to speak. But then with cellphones came texting...and conversations that look something like this:
what up?
nm. hbu?
hw nd more hw, lol
u should just copy, jk, lol
haha, i wish, ttyl
l8r
There's barely a complete word or thought anywhere in there! When I was working with Upward Bound a few weeks ago, several of the students were talking and someone didn't know what "nd" meant in a text until another student clarified that it stood for "and." "Why can't you just spell-out 'and'; it's only one more letter," I asked, and they immediately responded that it was "cooler" to be able to text and still have your message understood using the least amount of letters possible.
Don't get me wrong, texting is an insanely easy way to get a quick message out and I use it all the time to get in touch with people, but boy is it changing how we communicate with one another. Sometimes I don't think people are even savvy to the skill of sending a professional email anymore. Where's the introductory line? The closing? Why on earth is the subject "hello"? How am I supposed to understand the significance of the email from that?
I'm certainly guilty of communication barriers too. I've just become more attuned to this change in communication recently because of my brother's induction to the U.S. Naval Academy. My brother has a "plebe summer" before he starts his academic year, but during the plebe summer he is not allowed a phone or personal computer, so the only way to stay in contact with him is through letters. Writing that first letter to him felt strange because I could not remember the last time I had sent a letter in the mail. Granted, my letters to him have to be slightly different in content than your normal correspondence because he never has time to send a reply, so they are mainly supposed to keep him thinking positively and supplying up-to-date information and chit-chat about what's going on in my life to allow him a welcome distraction every so often from the rigors of becoming part of the Navy.
Writing these letters, however, made me think more about how much an effect words can have on people, the importance of communication, and how sometimes we lose the essence of a genuine, heartfelt statement in all the jumble of letters we allow to signify words in our text messages. Texting my brother "luv u" doesn't give off quite the same feel as receiving a letter in the mail that reads, "I love you very much!"
Over the course of the summer I've also received the occasional letter in the mail from a friend or postcard and even these quick notes seem to have more impact than a text. Sending a postcard isn't just a quick thought, but a message that took time to write, stamp, mail and is patient enough not to require an immediate response that texting usually demands.
Am I going to be elated once my brother gets his phone back in Annapolis from the Navy? Absolutely! But I'm appreciative for the opportunity, although somewhat originally forced upon me, to re-experience the treasure of writing a letter. And most of my joy that he will have his own phone comes from the knowledge that I can actually call him and hear his voice, rather than consistently sending him impersonal texts.
I do realize that I am writing this post with less experience than others in our tech savvy world. I don't have a Facebook or Twitter, and I certainly recognize how valuable these sites can be in sharing pictures and staying in contact with friends and family who may be hard to visit on a regular basis; but boy do I miss the days when you were forced to talk to someone face-to-face, when relationships grew through multiple dates and outings and began and ended through human-to-human contact rather than via a change of "relationship status" online. Technology is great, changes lives positively, and ensures progress, but every now and then I like to be old-fashioned...sometimes forced into it, sometimes voluntarily...and send a letter, leave a voicemail message, or who knows, maybe go really crazy and talk to someone in person!
Anyways, just thoughts, maybe write a letter to someone who's important to you and give a try to a different mode of communication...I guarantee it will be well received. :)
- Heidi Heaton
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
Heidi's Blog Update #13
Hey all, it's me again! Can you believe it's going to be August in less than a week! I feel like the summer started off at a slow crawl but is now speeding by. Still very few people on campus, just the usual faces of student workers and the random visitor now and then...we all love each other, but miss the hustle and bustle of students the school year brings.
Heritage Office work this week has consisted of more revisions on articles for the Alumni Newsletter and today I spent a good amount of time looking through photos dating back to 1939 in the Public Relations Office. That was super entertaining to say the least. Plenty of old photos of faculty members and several current photos from this past years dances and such. Every time I complete another task for the Heritage Office I become more aware of all the history that's a part of a college campus. It's crazy to think about how many students came before me, lived in these dorm halls, went to Flunk Day on the same quad, but also how the campus has changed and grown in even the smallest ways over the years.
I recognized several photos as having the famous, "walk of shame" sidewalk on the library quad, but not as our typical desktop background (for some strange reason...why don't we have an up-to-date photo Coe), but as an actual part of campus with students roaming around and on their way to class. There were also photos of College Drive when it wasn't as furnished and paved for use, parks that were only dirt and tractors at the time, but always a constant was the smiling faces and perfect harmony between the students and their professors.
But I wasn't just perusing through photos for funsies; many of the photos I found will be used for a scrolling backdrop to our donor page for the heritage office website. Many of the faces, for me, were all a blur because I did not recognize any of our older alums, but as Kelly Allen paged through the photos I had chosen, she couldn't help but stop and smile at alums she has been in contact with and built-up relationships with for years, sharing stories with me as she perused the old photographs. I can't wait to meet these alums in person at several dinners the Heritage Office will be holding in the near future.
Also in the near future I'll have to do some more perusing but this time through some profiles for work in the Writing Center, as well as some updates to our WC website. Today I edited bits and pieces of the site, changing minor things that weren't up-to-date, like our new location in Lower Gage, and also making minor grammatical and spelling edits. Most of the work I'm hoping to save until next week when Manderson and I get together to discuss the changes we'll be making because some editing might not even be necessary if we change certain parts in any drastic way. I enjoyed watching the videos we have on our site though. It was nice hearing past WC consultants talk about our Writing Center and also how little the atmosphere has changed over the years, which I think is a testament to both the quality of our consultants and our director, Dr. Bob. The Writing Center has always been a place of great comfort to its consultants, visiting peer writers, and the occasional faculty member seeking some freshly brewed caffeine. :)
Well I believe that may be all the updates I have for now, but don't worry, there will most definitely be more to come!
TTFN,
- Heidi Heaton
Heritage Office work this week has consisted of more revisions on articles for the Alumni Newsletter and today I spent a good amount of time looking through photos dating back to 1939 in the Public Relations Office. That was super entertaining to say the least. Plenty of old photos of faculty members and several current photos from this past years dances and such. Every time I complete another task for the Heritage Office I become more aware of all the history that's a part of a college campus. It's crazy to think about how many students came before me, lived in these dorm halls, went to Flunk Day on the same quad, but also how the campus has changed and grown in even the smallest ways over the years.
I recognized several photos as having the famous, "walk of shame" sidewalk on the library quad, but not as our typical desktop background (for some strange reason...why don't we have an up-to-date photo Coe), but as an actual part of campus with students roaming around and on their way to class. There were also photos of College Drive when it wasn't as furnished and paved for use, parks that were only dirt and tractors at the time, but always a constant was the smiling faces and perfect harmony between the students and their professors.
But I wasn't just perusing through photos for funsies; many of the photos I found will be used for a scrolling backdrop to our donor page for the heritage office website. Many of the faces, for me, were all a blur because I did not recognize any of our older alums, but as Kelly Allen paged through the photos I had chosen, she couldn't help but stop and smile at alums she has been in contact with and built-up relationships with for years, sharing stories with me as she perused the old photographs. I can't wait to meet these alums in person at several dinners the Heritage Office will be holding in the near future.
Also in the near future I'll have to do some more perusing but this time through some profiles for work in the Writing Center, as well as some updates to our WC website. Today I edited bits and pieces of the site, changing minor things that weren't up-to-date, like our new location in Lower Gage, and also making minor grammatical and spelling edits. Most of the work I'm hoping to save until next week when Manderson and I get together to discuss the changes we'll be making because some editing might not even be necessary if we change certain parts in any drastic way. I enjoyed watching the videos we have on our site though. It was nice hearing past WC consultants talk about our Writing Center and also how little the atmosphere has changed over the years, which I think is a testament to both the quality of our consultants and our director, Dr. Bob. The Writing Center has always been a place of great comfort to its consultants, visiting peer writers, and the occasional faculty member seeking some freshly brewed caffeine. :)
Well I believe that may be all the updates I have for now, but don't worry, there will most definitely be more to come!
TTFN,
- Heidi Heaton
Monday, July 23, 2012
Heidi's Blog Update #12
So our Upward Bound program has finally come to an end. This summer ended up being our last summer program here at Coe due to several disappointing circumstances and this upcoming year of tutoring will be the last year for tutoring for the kids on campus. It was hard to see the teary faces Friday evening when we got back from Omaha and kids began packing up their rooms to leave. This program means so much to them and their families, builds a foundation for them to construct an academic future on, and gives them hope, confidence, and pride in their own potential as students and individuals. I was so blessed to have had the opportunity to be a part of the program for even just one year, and will not forget the difference these kids made in my life.
In other news, Manderson and I have been consulting over the WC website and conversing about how best to approach the new changes we will be making this summer. We had a phone conference the other day with him being in Wyoming (suuuuper jealous, cause that state is my home away from home) and me finishing up work with Upward Bound. We decided to devote almost every waking our of our lives to the WC this upcoming week from the 30th to the 3rd to solely collaborate on the website.
I've also had time to discuss more with Dr. Bob the goings-on of our summer writing exercise. As the students send in their submissions, I reformat them all to have 12pt font, Times New Roman, 1'' margins, and single-spaced paragraphs. Dr. Bob and I also discussed some files I will need to go through in the near future and assume this will occupy a lot of the hours of work I still need to accumulate for the Writing Center this summer.
My work with Kelly Allen and the Heritage Office is still going very well and I will be meeting with her tomorrow to discuss some revisions we have to make to the two articles I have written, as well as the third interview and article I will need to begin shortly about our last feature alumni. If you want to learn anything about the writing process, I suggest going through the process of interviewing people and writing and rewriting articles produced from these interviews. I have great respect for news-reporters because of all the time, dedication, and revision that goes into those articles. It is such a skill to write articles that can both touch your readers but yet keep the writer independent from the piece. I usually find I have an easier time writing when I can incorporate some of my own experience or nuances into the writing, but when you're writing an article featuring someone specifically, you still need to be captivating and capture the essence of that featured someone, but yet keep yourself out completely from the actual tones of the piece...very tricky business.
Also in regards to my other job on campus, I just received a list of the first-years who will be in my FYS this fall--my caplets--who I am super excited for and I can't wait to begin writing my second letter to them, as well as brainstorming themes for door decs with my co-CAP leader, Josie Visser.
So although Upward Bound has come to a close for now until I begin our last year of tutoring in the fall, I am still staying incredibly busy with the WC, Heritage Office, CAP responsibilities, and trying to incorporate some downtime into my packed summer schedule. :)
Hope your summer is all fun and sunny skies!
Your WC Correspondent,
- Heidi Heaton
In other news, Manderson and I have been consulting over the WC website and conversing about how best to approach the new changes we will be making this summer. We had a phone conference the other day with him being in Wyoming (suuuuper jealous, cause that state is my home away from home) and me finishing up work with Upward Bound. We decided to devote almost every waking our of our lives to the WC this upcoming week from the 30th to the 3rd to solely collaborate on the website.
I've also had time to discuss more with Dr. Bob the goings-on of our summer writing exercise. As the students send in their submissions, I reformat them all to have 12pt font, Times New Roman, 1'' margins, and single-spaced paragraphs. Dr. Bob and I also discussed some files I will need to go through in the near future and assume this will occupy a lot of the hours of work I still need to accumulate for the Writing Center this summer.
My work with Kelly Allen and the Heritage Office is still going very well and I will be meeting with her tomorrow to discuss some revisions we have to make to the two articles I have written, as well as the third interview and article I will need to begin shortly about our last feature alumni. If you want to learn anything about the writing process, I suggest going through the process of interviewing people and writing and rewriting articles produced from these interviews. I have great respect for news-reporters because of all the time, dedication, and revision that goes into those articles. It is such a skill to write articles that can both touch your readers but yet keep the writer independent from the piece. I usually find I have an easier time writing when I can incorporate some of my own experience or nuances into the writing, but when you're writing an article featuring someone specifically, you still need to be captivating and capture the essence of that featured someone, but yet keep yourself out completely from the actual tones of the piece...very tricky business.
Also in regards to my other job on campus, I just received a list of the first-years who will be in my FYS this fall--my caplets--who I am super excited for and I can't wait to begin writing my second letter to them, as well as brainstorming themes for door decs with my co-CAP leader, Josie Visser.
So although Upward Bound has come to a close for now until I begin our last year of tutoring in the fall, I am still staying incredibly busy with the WC, Heritage Office, CAP responsibilities, and trying to incorporate some downtime into my packed summer schedule. :)
Hope your summer is all fun and sunny skies!
Your WC Correspondent,
- Heidi Heaton
Saturday, July 14, 2012
Heidi's Blog Update #11
Hey there first-years, current WC staff, and dear alums. :) Can you believe it's already the middle of July?! This summer seems to be FLYING by with the next school year around the corner before we know it!
I only have one more week for Upward Bound and cannot believe I will be saying goodbye to the kids in only six more days. I realize I mentioned UB in previous postings but did not specify what the program actually involves. Students ranging from freshmen to seniors in high school from the Cedar Rapids area participate in the summer program which allows them to take courses throughout the week which serves to prepare them for their next high school course, responsibilities and assignments they will be challenged with in college, and allows them to accumulate high school credit as well for many of these courses. My week starts with a 6pm staff meeting on Sunday and ends when the kids leave Friday around 3pm. Then during the week we also have Core Group Activities for our approximately, ten kids, which can range from sand volleyball games, to DQ trips, to picking up trash. We also had our UB Olympics with various sporting and academic events at Upper Iowa University with two other UB programs, and on Thursdays and Fridays we have fun activities such as bowling, going to baseball games, skating, doing service, and college visits. This coming week is our last week, so when finals conclude classes on Tuesday, we will then prepare and pack for our Major City Trip to Omaha, Nebraska from the 18th through the 20th. I'm incredibly excited for the trip! It should be a blast and a great way to end the program. :)
Our day of service yesterday was a great opportunity for the students to get involved in the community and to see how easy and fulfilling it can be to give back. The group of students I accompanied went to the Habitat for Humanity office off of 6th Street where we helped sort, move, clean, and repaint furniture, as well as construct shelving units. After several hours of volunteer work and before we left for Coe and lunch, I spoke with Joe who is in charge of many of the activities at the Habitat office. He was incredibly appreciative of our help there and spoke of the amazing amount of opportunities available to serve and volunteer there. Joe mentioned needing people involved in writing to interview people, take photos and write articles for the Habitat office. He also said the students in any of the high schools nearby, as well as students at Coe, could volunteer there anytime and that they would be happy to have the extra hands.
When I mentioned I work in Coe's Writing Center, Joe was thrilled, gave me his card, and was very interested in any help we might provide to Habitat for Humanity. I was involved in our Volunteer Committee my freshman year, not this past year, but saw this as a great opportunity for our consultants, and more specifically our Volunteer Committee to get involved, particularly where it involves those interested in journalism and photography.
I have also been busy with work for the Heritage Office. I have interviewed one of Coe's Physics professors, Steve Feller, as well as two of Coe's older alums now living in Florida. I am currently working on the articles for these two interviews. Through this job I've discovered what a careful process it can be to interview others, how important it is to ask the right questions, like when we're consulting other students and need to draw-out the right thoughts that will lead to a better paper. Writing the article itself also involves lots of writing, rewriting, revising, editing...and then repeat that process. It's really interesting though to conduct the interviews and to be involved on campus in ways I haven't in the past. There's so much history behind both the campus and the people who keep it functioning.
Also just a side note for you first-years, the next timeframe to submit your summer writing exercise is approaching, July 16th-19th, so happy writing! Remember...all three responses to the prompts should be submitted in one document. Please and thank you! :)
- Heidi Heaton
I only have one more week for Upward Bound and cannot believe I will be saying goodbye to the kids in only six more days. I realize I mentioned UB in previous postings but did not specify what the program actually involves. Students ranging from freshmen to seniors in high school from the Cedar Rapids area participate in the summer program which allows them to take courses throughout the week which serves to prepare them for their next high school course, responsibilities and assignments they will be challenged with in college, and allows them to accumulate high school credit as well for many of these courses. My week starts with a 6pm staff meeting on Sunday and ends when the kids leave Friday around 3pm. Then during the week we also have Core Group Activities for our approximately, ten kids, which can range from sand volleyball games, to DQ trips, to picking up trash. We also had our UB Olympics with various sporting and academic events at Upper Iowa University with two other UB programs, and on Thursdays and Fridays we have fun activities such as bowling, going to baseball games, skating, doing service, and college visits. This coming week is our last week, so when finals conclude classes on Tuesday, we will then prepare and pack for our Major City Trip to Omaha, Nebraska from the 18th through the 20th. I'm incredibly excited for the trip! It should be a blast and a great way to end the program. :)
Our day of service yesterday was a great opportunity for the students to get involved in the community and to see how easy and fulfilling it can be to give back. The group of students I accompanied went to the Habitat for Humanity office off of 6th Street where we helped sort, move, clean, and repaint furniture, as well as construct shelving units. After several hours of volunteer work and before we left for Coe and lunch, I spoke with Joe who is in charge of many of the activities at the Habitat office. He was incredibly appreciative of our help there and spoke of the amazing amount of opportunities available to serve and volunteer there. Joe mentioned needing people involved in writing to interview people, take photos and write articles for the Habitat office. He also said the students in any of the high schools nearby, as well as students at Coe, could volunteer there anytime and that they would be happy to have the extra hands.
When I mentioned I work in Coe's Writing Center, Joe was thrilled, gave me his card, and was very interested in any help we might provide to Habitat for Humanity. I was involved in our Volunteer Committee my freshman year, not this past year, but saw this as a great opportunity for our consultants, and more specifically our Volunteer Committee to get involved, particularly where it involves those interested in journalism and photography.
I have also been busy with work for the Heritage Office. I have interviewed one of Coe's Physics professors, Steve Feller, as well as two of Coe's older alums now living in Florida. I am currently working on the articles for these two interviews. Through this job I've discovered what a careful process it can be to interview others, how important it is to ask the right questions, like when we're consulting other students and need to draw-out the right thoughts that will lead to a better paper. Writing the article itself also involves lots of writing, rewriting, revising, editing...and then repeat that process. It's really interesting though to conduct the interviews and to be involved on campus in ways I haven't in the past. There's so much history behind both the campus and the people who keep it functioning.
Also just a side note for you first-years, the next timeframe to submit your summer writing exercise is approaching, July 16th-19th, so happy writing! Remember...all three responses to the prompts should be submitted in one document. Please and thank you! :)
- Heidi Heaton
Saturday, July 7, 2012
Heidi's Blog Update #10
Wow, I'm incredibly jealous of that 60 degree weather in Norway Miss Anna! Everyone here at Coe is currently sweltering in 100 degree weather, high 80's or 90's at our low, haha. Lucky for me I have been mostly indoors on dorm duty for Upward Bound or taking the kids to movies, Planet X and other activities that provide air-conditioning. ;)
This blog update's coming at you from the WC directly as I work on converting the first-year summer writing exercises to like formats. I just finished the first chunk of submissions from our June time frame and all our first-years have kept my job relatively pain-free by mostly choosing 12 point font, Times New Roman, 1 inch margins, and single-spacing. I would like to include a quick reminder to any of you new Kohawks out there that you should include three responses, one for each prompt, in your submission. All should be completed and sent together...please and thank you! :)
I am not inhabiting the WC alone though. Today Tim Salis, a soon-to-be consultant of two years this coming fall, has joined me in the WC. He's been spending his time reading the first-year book selection, A Primate's Memoir for his Writing Fellow class-to-be. Not a bad book at all we both agreed. The author is incredibly entertaining. My personal favorite section was when he described his privacy being invaded by elephants in the middle of the night when trying to use the restroom...much to look forward to if you haven't quite hit that spot yet! :)
Ah well, time for some lunch...Tim and I decided to walk to Wendy's or something to procrastinate our work a bit and fill our stomaches!
More to come later. :)
- Heidi Heaton
This blog update's coming at you from the WC directly as I work on converting the first-year summer writing exercises to like formats. I just finished the first chunk of submissions from our June time frame and all our first-years have kept my job relatively pain-free by mostly choosing 12 point font, Times New Roman, 1 inch margins, and single-spacing. I would like to include a quick reminder to any of you new Kohawks out there that you should include three responses, one for each prompt, in your submission. All should be completed and sent together...please and thank you! :)
I am not inhabiting the WC alone though. Today Tim Salis, a soon-to-be consultant of two years this coming fall, has joined me in the WC. He's been spending his time reading the first-year book selection, A Primate's Memoir for his Writing Fellow class-to-be. Not a bad book at all we both agreed. The author is incredibly entertaining. My personal favorite section was when he described his privacy being invaded by elephants in the middle of the night when trying to use the restroom...much to look forward to if you haven't quite hit that spot yet! :)
Ah well, time for some lunch...Tim and I decided to walk to Wendy's or something to procrastinate our work a bit and fill our stomaches!
More to come later. :)
- Heidi Heaton
Sunday, July 1, 2012
The CWC Abroad
Hello from Norway!
It looks like Heidi's taking good care of the blog, but I wanted to sign in and say hi from sunny Bergen, Norway - the land of the midnight sun. I'm here exclusively for family (today marked the end of a fabulous family reunion weekend) but I still think about the good old Writing Center. The multitude of cousins, uncles, and aunts who I'm meeting for the first time keep asking "what do you study at university in the states?" I answer honestly, saying english literature, and the immediate response has been "oh, so you write a lot?" I haven't really explained the writing center yet, since there's a bit of a language gap, but I am reminded of it every time I'm asked about writing.
While everyone at Coe seems to be boiling hot, I'm wearing a fleece vest, sweatshirt, and coat most days. Bergen has been unseasonably sunny this summer, according to the locals. Most years it rains a lot, in short but strong bursts. None of the showers seem to last more than a few minutes, but everyone's said to keep an umbrella with us at all times. However it's only rained once so far! The weather's stayed around 60 degrees and pleasantly sunny the whole time - sorry, Coe people.
While we're talking about the Writing Center abroad, check out our Coe Links and Study Abroad sections in the sidebar on the right: we've listed a few of our former consultants' study abroad blogs (which are still fun to read) and have a couple current consultants' blogs in there too! It's fun to see what everyone's up to. It's a shameless plug, but our staffers are a pretty cool bunch. Check it out.
Short update, but oh well. Since I'm not at my own computer I can't add any pictures to this post, however when I get back, I'll add a shot of myself here in Norway (it's absolutely beautiful). Enjoy!
- Anna H.
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
Heidi's Blog Update #9
Today Kobe and I met in the Writing Center to discuss the Alumni Newsletter. We have been putting together a list of names of alumni to contact for updates on their bios and to get the 4-1-1 who we haven't heard from very recently. Kobe and I noticed that our current directory drops off around 2009 so that will need to be brought back up to date. Kobe's hoping to contact many of our recent alums via Facebook.
We have also officially come up with a list of questions for our beloved, past WC consultants. The questions cover where you are now, any marriages we aren't aware of, followed by kiddies if they're there, jobs, travels, and a favorite Dr. Bob story of course to add some pizazz. If I were an alum, mine would say...
1. I currently am inhabiting the campus of Coe College for three jobs, but Batavia, IL is my hometown.
2. I am not married.
3. I don't have kids, but I love them! haha
4. Jobs were mentioned earlier, but I am working for Upward Bound, the beloved WC, the Heritage Office and very soon the bookstore again as well as work as a CAP leader.
5. I am suuuper excited for my spring semester abroad in Paris, France! Yay! :)
6. And my favorite Dr. Bob story is when we went on our trip to Baltimore and D.C. my freshman year at Coe and en route to our night train from Chicago to D.C. at the train station in Aurora, IL we lost Dr. Bob while he was paying for the parking. Good ol' Dr. Bob drove all the way to Chicago to make sure we made our train and then drove overnight to D.C. to meet us for dinner the next day. It was crazy all around, but somehow we managed to get on the appropriate night train with thirty-some consultants and had a grand ol' tour of D.C. before thanking Dr. Bob tremendously for our fabulous, Indian food dinner that night after we had reunited.
Never any dull moments in the W.C., so we can't wait to hear about what you have to share alums!
- Heidi Heaton
We have also officially come up with a list of questions for our beloved, past WC consultants. The questions cover where you are now, any marriages we aren't aware of, followed by kiddies if they're there, jobs, travels, and a favorite Dr. Bob story of course to add some pizazz. If I were an alum, mine would say...
1. I currently am inhabiting the campus of Coe College for three jobs, but Batavia, IL is my hometown.
2. I am not married.
3. I don't have kids, but I love them! haha
4. Jobs were mentioned earlier, but I am working for Upward Bound, the beloved WC, the Heritage Office and very soon the bookstore again as well as work as a CAP leader.
5. I am suuuper excited for my spring semester abroad in Paris, France! Yay! :)
6. And my favorite Dr. Bob story is when we went on our trip to Baltimore and D.C. my freshman year at Coe and en route to our night train from Chicago to D.C. at the train station in Aurora, IL we lost Dr. Bob while he was paying for the parking. Good ol' Dr. Bob drove all the way to Chicago to make sure we made our train and then drove overnight to D.C. to meet us for dinner the next day. It was crazy all around, but somehow we managed to get on the appropriate night train with thirty-some consultants and had a grand ol' tour of D.C. before thanking Dr. Bob tremendously for our fabulous, Indian food dinner that night after we had reunited.
Never any dull moments in the W.C., so we can't wait to hear about what you have to share alums!
- Heidi Heaton
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Heidi's Blog Update #8
Hey hey hey there readers! Just wanted to make a quick post with kudos to Anna Hegland with help from Kobe Spencer on the fabulous newsletter that either has already greeted, or will be shortly greeting, you by mail this summer. Yikes people, lots of strange stuff we've been eating! My biggest question...and probably concern, lets be honest...is how so many people managed to work their way into consuming animal feces...hmmm? hmmm? Stories to share at the first staff meeting and over our retreat I'm sure.
Speaking of retreats, and thus conferences, I must say I am suuuper pumped for our International Conference to San Diego!! Now that I'll be a junior this year I have a guaranteed spot! Huzzah! Sadly I was not drawn for the Miami Conference this past fall but the trip to Baltimore the year before that was a blast...so very high expectations, which I'm sure will be met two-fold!
Tomorrow Kobe and I will begin work on the Alumni Newsletter, so I'll keep you posted on the goings on of that project!
Ta ta for now ("TTFN" -Tigger...cause the wonderful thing about tiggers are tiggers are wonderful things!)
- Heidi Heaton
Speaking of retreats, and thus conferences, I must say I am suuuper pumped for our International Conference to San Diego!! Now that I'll be a junior this year I have a guaranteed spot! Huzzah! Sadly I was not drawn for the Miami Conference this past fall but the trip to Baltimore the year before that was a blast...so very high expectations, which I'm sure will be met two-fold!
Tomorrow Kobe and I will begin work on the Alumni Newsletter, so I'll keep you posted on the goings on of that project!
Ta ta for now ("TTFN" -Tigger...cause the wonderful thing about tiggers are tiggers are wonderful things!)
- Heidi Heaton
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Heidi's Blog Update #7
So today we finally began official work on the WC website...kind of. :) Manderson and I met in the Writing Center now that we're both on campus and could find a free hour and began sorting through our list of possible adjustments to be made to the website. Together we went through the list and color-coded the changes according to what would be easy to quickly implement, slightly more challenging, medium difficulty and slightly time-consuming, and more challenging tasks that would also take some time. It seems like the first few things we could get a jump on would be general upkeep of the website, fact-checking, etc. as well as making easier to use tabs, and displaying our hours in a way that is easily noticeable and recurrent on every page of the site.
Other ideas we are tossing around for future updates are adding an "Events Calendar" with "Upcoming Events" which we may have found a google gadget that covers this area and would allow us to post when Sunday Dinners are and Tuesday Teas. We also looked into creating and Online Chat box which students could enter questions and thoughts in from their computers and the sloth in the WC could respond to. We also looked into creating an "Assignment Planner" for students so they can enter in the date the assignment was given in class and the date it is due, and a calendar will generate a schedule which helps them manage their time throughout the writing process until they turn their papers in. And lastly to keep our creative juices running today, we considered a scrolling consultants' advice bar at the bottom of the website page that adds personal flare and appeal.
Manderson is having a meeting with Dr. Bob either on Monday the 25th or Tuesday the 26th and I am also having Dr. Bob sign timesheets that Monday, so we will discuss with him then what he thinks is plausible to pursue in terms of updating the WC website this summer. Should be exciting to start on this new project and get the WC site looking up-to-date and frequented by viewers hopefully...since that's the point of a site like that. ;)
Other than that, not much news for now. Enjoy those WC summer newsletters as they arrive! I saw the copies that are to be sent in the WC and from what I saw, looks like Anna did quite a spiffy job and I can't wait to read mine in more detail. Can't wait to get to know you new staffers!
Happy Summer!
- Heidi Heaton
Other ideas we are tossing around for future updates are adding an "Events Calendar" with "Upcoming Events" which we may have found a google gadget that covers this area and would allow us to post when Sunday Dinners are and Tuesday Teas. We also looked into creating and Online Chat box which students could enter questions and thoughts in from their computers and the sloth in the WC could respond to. We also looked into creating an "Assignment Planner" for students so they can enter in the date the assignment was given in class and the date it is due, and a calendar will generate a schedule which helps them manage their time throughout the writing process until they turn their papers in. And lastly to keep our creative juices running today, we considered a scrolling consultants' advice bar at the bottom of the website page that adds personal flare and appeal.
Manderson is having a meeting with Dr. Bob either on Monday the 25th or Tuesday the 26th and I am also having Dr. Bob sign timesheets that Monday, so we will discuss with him then what he thinks is plausible to pursue in terms of updating the WC website this summer. Should be exciting to start on this new project and get the WC site looking up-to-date and frequented by viewers hopefully...since that's the point of a site like that. ;)
Other than that, not much news for now. Enjoy those WC summer newsletters as they arrive! I saw the copies that are to be sent in the WC and from what I saw, looks like Anna did quite a spiffy job and I can't wait to read mine in more detail. Can't wait to get to know you new staffers!
Happy Summer!
- Heidi Heaton
Anna's Blog Post #5
Current and Incoming Staffers: this post's for you. Below is an article from the newsletter (which you'll be receiving in a few days!) and we trust you'll all read it, but just in case, here's some very important information that you'll be needing.
"All new Writing Center consultants should plan to arrive at Coe on Monday, August 20 -- two days before the beginning of full Orientation Week activities on Wednesday. The schedule will be as follows:
If you are a new staff member and have a potential conflict with the New Staff Orientation schedule, please let Mike know the nature of the conflict so that alternate arrangements can be made for initial staff training.
For returning staff members: we would love to have as many staff members as possible help with the New Staff Orientation. Please contact Mike if you are already going to be on campus or you would like to come back early and help on August 20 - 21."
Got that? There's a few important deadlines that must be met. Remember to e-mail Mike by July 2!
- Anna H. & the CWC Summer Staff
"All new Writing Center consultants should plan to arrive at Coe on Monday, August 20 -- two days before the beginning of full Orientation Week activities on Wednesday. The schedule will be as follows:
- New staff members can move into their residence hall on Monday, August 20.
- New Staff Orientation will begin Monday at 5:00 p.m. with a meeting in the WC (located in Gage Annex), followed by a group meal and informal socializing.
- Tuesday, August 21, our day-long orientation will begin with a breakfast at 8:30 a.m. and conclude with a group evening meal at a local restaurant.
If you are a new staff member and have a potential conflict with the New Staff Orientation schedule, please let Mike know the nature of the conflict so that alternate arrangements can be made for initial staff training.
For returning staff members: we would love to have as many staff members as possible help with the New Staff Orientation. Please contact Mike if you are already going to be on campus or you would like to come back early and help on August 20 - 21."
Got that? There's a few important deadlines that must be met. Remember to e-mail Mike by July 2!
- Anna H. & the CWC Summer Staff
Anna's Blog Post #4
Hey all!
The Summer Newsletter is officially finished and in the mail! Current staffers: look for it in your mailboxes in the next couple of days. Alums and other interested parties: here is a PDF copy, so you can see what we're up to! It's even in color, so you can see just what a good looking staff we have here at the Coe Writing Center.
Happy Reading!
-Anna H.
The Summer Newsletter is officially finished and in the mail! Current staffers: look for it in your mailboxes in the next couple of days. Alums and other interested parties: here is a PDF copy, so you can see what we're up to! It's even in color, so you can see just what a good looking staff we have here at the Coe Writing Center.
Happy Reading!
-Anna H.
Friday, June 15, 2012
Heidi's Blog Update #6
Why hellooooo dear readers!
It's been a long while it seems since I last sent out a post so I thought I'd drop by the WC today and see what material it could provide for another weekly update. I've been incredibly busy with Upward Bound, this being the first week (though I don't anticipate getting more sleep as the program continues), but I have an hour off from 9:40am-10:50am so I decided to give the plants a check-up, distribute the necessary vitals, and hop on to the blog.
Plants so far so good...I haven't killed them yet...yay!! I think that means they've all lasted longer than the flower I had freshman year, though this could be due to the fact that one is a cactus, palm tree, and some other strange, "leave me alone, Heidi, and I'll be fine" plant. They're currently residing outside the WC beneath a much larger, and more successful plant...a tree...and sitting in the shade and mulch.
As for inside the WC, there are now several dirty cups in the sink...which yes...means the WC cannot stay as immaculately clean as when I took Clorox to it...but also that there are actually inhabitants here...yay again!!!
I booted up our trusty, front desk computer after watering the plants and gave my sis a buzz. I had just gotten off the phone when Dr. Bob popped out of his office. We both had no idea the other was there, haha, so much for sound traveling easily in the WC. We then discussed timesheets, which I will be taking care of again this month for June.
I also sent out an email to Mr. Kobe Spencer and Mr. Manderson about our website and alumni newsletter projects. Can't wait to give those a go. Should be very fun and entertaining I am sure. And can't wait to hear the news our alumni have to share!
I'll have to check in and read some updates Anna's been posting too to make sure I'm not sounding redundant, though this post is pretty person specific, but here's to keeping you entertained via our blog this summer!
Much love from the quiet, used furniture store...aka, the WC. ;)
- Heidi Heaton
It's been a long while it seems since I last sent out a post so I thought I'd drop by the WC today and see what material it could provide for another weekly update. I've been incredibly busy with Upward Bound, this being the first week (though I don't anticipate getting more sleep as the program continues), but I have an hour off from 9:40am-10:50am so I decided to give the plants a check-up, distribute the necessary vitals, and hop on to the blog.
Plants so far so good...I haven't killed them yet...yay!! I think that means they've all lasted longer than the flower I had freshman year, though this could be due to the fact that one is a cactus, palm tree, and some other strange, "leave me alone, Heidi, and I'll be fine" plant. They're currently residing outside the WC beneath a much larger, and more successful plant...a tree...and sitting in the shade and mulch.
As for inside the WC, there are now several dirty cups in the sink...which yes...means the WC cannot stay as immaculately clean as when I took Clorox to it...but also that there are actually inhabitants here...yay again!!!
I booted up our trusty, front desk computer after watering the plants and gave my sis a buzz. I had just gotten off the phone when Dr. Bob popped out of his office. We both had no idea the other was there, haha, so much for sound traveling easily in the WC. We then discussed timesheets, which I will be taking care of again this month for June.
I also sent out an email to Mr. Kobe Spencer and Mr. Manderson about our website and alumni newsletter projects. Can't wait to give those a go. Should be very fun and entertaining I am sure. And can't wait to hear the news our alumni have to share!
I'll have to check in and read some updates Anna's been posting too to make sure I'm not sounding redundant, though this post is pretty person specific, but here's to keeping you entertained via our blog this summer!
Much love from the quiet, used furniture store...aka, the WC. ;)
- Heidi Heaton
Thursday, June 14, 2012
Anna's Blog Post #3
A strange thought crossed my mind while I was once again noticing how quiet the Writing Center is during the summer: what would the Writing Center be like without the people who use it? It's quiet now, when everyone's home for the summer and we're closed for conferences, but what would it be like if we opened this fall and no one showed up? If we had Beavers on duty at the front desk, eagerly awaiting a conference, and Frogs and Sloths doing their homework at the nearby tables and couches, wondering if they're going to get to practice that new conference technique that they promised themselves they would implement this year, but no one came in. What would we do? It's interesting to think about how much we depend on the students who actually use the Writing Center as the resource that it is. But this is true for any business: without customers, there is no business. The WC is special in that we, as consultants, use it as well, acting simultaneously as customers and business-people (that's the gender inclusive word for it, right?), so we wouldn't be totally without conferences; but without outside students to come in, what would the WC be like?
Just some food for thought on this Thursday afternoon.
- Anna H.
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
Anna's Blog Post #2
Hey everyone! After a busy weekend at Bill and Kayla's wedding (we've been best friends ever since Orientation and FYS class -- and they're married now!) and some hard work cleaning up the CWC (while Heidi was busy vacuuming, I was slaving away over some of Dr. Bob's filing cabinets), I'm back on the blog. Heidi's been doing a great job of keeping everyone updated, while I'm remembering exactly why I don't have my own blog (I never know what to write about and thus, don't ever post anything).
But now it's time for another update on the summer newsletter! The response to our staff biography questions was a little overwhelming, but what else can you expect with a staff of 72! When I sent off the email requesting everyone's information I include a few words of warning: if people didn't turn in their bios by a specific date, Kobe and I would be making them up. True to my word, when three bios never turned up, Kobe and I got to work inventing some creative details about our coworkers' lives. I'm sure one day they'll be able to laugh about it as much as we are.
After a Dr. Bob sighting yesterday, the CWC has once again descended into silence. (For everyone who's wondering, it's still just me and Whitney Houston's greatest hits.) The quiet isn't so bad though. I get a lot done! For one glorious afternoon about a week ago, we had a total of four people in the Writing Center -- three of whom were working! That's right. Kobe, Heidi, and I were all in the CWC at the same time (a first for this summer!). It was kind of fun to hear how much more lively the Writing Center became :)
Regretfully, I must return to the land of file cabinets. Two down, one to go!
- Anna H.
But now it's time for another update on the summer newsletter! The response to our staff biography questions was a little overwhelming, but what else can you expect with a staff of 72! When I sent off the email requesting everyone's information I include a few words of warning: if people didn't turn in their bios by a specific date, Kobe and I would be making them up. True to my word, when three bios never turned up, Kobe and I got to work inventing some creative details about our coworkers' lives. I'm sure one day they'll be able to laugh about it as much as we are.
After a Dr. Bob sighting yesterday, the CWC has once again descended into silence. (For everyone who's wondering, it's still just me and Whitney Houston's greatest hits.) The quiet isn't so bad though. I get a lot done! For one glorious afternoon about a week ago, we had a total of four people in the Writing Center -- three of whom were working! That's right. Kobe, Heidi, and I were all in the CWC at the same time (a first for this summer!). It was kind of fun to hear how much more lively the Writing Center became :)
Regretfully, I must return to the land of file cabinets. Two down, one to go!
- Anna H.
Tuesday, June 5, 2012
Heidi's Blog Update #5
It's official! ...There are now slightly more people on campus now that May term is over. That being said...it is still a verrry slight number, but regardless, nice to have more faces to see. Today when I arrived at the WC to work, Dr. Bob was there after spending May in England. He's leaving again for a conference tomorrow and is busy as ever as our WC director.
After discussing some of the WC's goings-on, I began looking over our past Alumni Newsletters again, this time paying particular attention to the alums we have contacted in the past so we can contact a diverse group of our alums this summer to get an update on y'alls life. :) So be prepared for an email soon asking you lots of questions about yourselves. We'd love to hear from you, both recent grads...we miss you already seniors!...and you beloved grads from years past.
Well, not sure there is much else to update on. I know...preeetty exciting ;). Happy summer!
- Heidi Heaton
After discussing some of the WC's goings-on, I began looking over our past Alumni Newsletters again, this time paying particular attention to the alums we have contacted in the past so we can contact a diverse group of our alums this summer to get an update on y'alls life. :) So be prepared for an email soon asking you lots of questions about yourselves. We'd love to hear from you, both recent grads...we miss you already seniors!...and you beloved grads from years past.
Well, not sure there is much else to update on. I know...preeetty exciting ;). Happy summer!
- Heidi Heaton
Saturday, June 2, 2012
Heidi's Blog Update #4
So I thought I would take it upon myself and through the medium of this blog to announce to all of our WC alumni, current staff, and future staff that our very own, beloved, Mrs. Kayla Borseth is now married to Coe's equally adored Bill Borseth!!! Yay!!! Congratulations to the both of them! The wedding was yesterday, Friday, June 1st, and both Bill and Kayla looked stunning and joyful beyond description.
Some other WC staff members present besides myself were Anna Hegland, Kayla Musjgerd, and Haley Welby. And of course the lovely lady herself, Kayla Borseth. Very weird referring to her by her new last name, but I am so happy for her and the future that she and Bill have ahead of them. None of us could believe we were experiencing our very first, non-relative, friend's wedding. We're all growing up so fast!! haha :)
Our lovely ol' WC is just as quiet as it was pre-wedding festivities and events, but I am happy to say that it still looks nice and clean like I left it that day. Of course not much of a challenge keeping it tidy right now because there are only three of us there on an occasion, though Manderson will be joining us from England very shortly and Dr. Bob soon after that.
Anna is doing a lovely (wow I like that adjective today) job on the summer newsletter and it is almost ready for your eager eyes to see. Some of those bios will be pretty amusing...especially for you dear Ry Ry. ;) As for other events...Kobe and I are beginning to think about the alumni newsletter...aka, we both asked each other if the other had thought about it ;)...and will soon be ready to shoot out an email to all you alums and recent grads to hear about your plans and activities post Coe, so get ready to brag about yourselves! Other than that...the first-year summer writing exercise will be opening up this month, the 22nd, and we already have one first-year signed into Moodle and anticipating the submission date...good for you eager beaver!!
Well that seems about all I can muster up for news right now. Hope everyone is enjoying a summer of incredibly nice weather so far!
- Heidi
Some other WC staff members present besides myself were Anna Hegland, Kayla Musjgerd, and Haley Welby. And of course the lovely lady herself, Kayla Borseth. Very weird referring to her by her new last name, but I am so happy for her and the future that she and Bill have ahead of them. None of us could believe we were experiencing our very first, non-relative, friend's wedding. We're all growing up so fast!! haha :)
Our lovely ol' WC is just as quiet as it was pre-wedding festivities and events, but I am happy to say that it still looks nice and clean like I left it that day. Of course not much of a challenge keeping it tidy right now because there are only three of us there on an occasion, though Manderson will be joining us from England very shortly and Dr. Bob soon after that.
Anna is doing a lovely (wow I like that adjective today) job on the summer newsletter and it is almost ready for your eager eyes to see. Some of those bios will be pretty amusing...especially for you dear Ry Ry. ;) As for other events...Kobe and I are beginning to think about the alumni newsletter...aka, we both asked each other if the other had thought about it ;)...and will soon be ready to shoot out an email to all you alums and recent grads to hear about your plans and activities post Coe, so get ready to brag about yourselves! Other than that...the first-year summer writing exercise will be opening up this month, the 22nd, and we already have one first-year signed into Moodle and anticipating the submission date...good for you eager beaver!!
Well that seems about all I can muster up for news right now. Hope everyone is enjoying a summer of incredibly nice weather so far!
- Heidi
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Heidi's Blog Update #3
Dishes...dirty coffee canister...dusty tabletops...chewed gum...three spiders (that were spotted at least)...vacuum...very ripe carton of milk...
Any guesses as to what I was doing this morning?...
...If you guessed: Cleaning the Writing Center...then you're right!
The other day when I was looking through the Alumni Newsletters for ideas for this year's newsletter, I noticed some of the summer consultants took it upon themselves to tidy up the place which, as I'm sure Courtney Marti would agree, is always in need of some good ol' TLC...and a clorox wipe. :)
So this morning I woke up, grabbed my iPod and packed a lunch to-go, and headed to the WC prepared to tackle some dirt and dust. First I emptied out a coffee canister that apparently still had old coffee in it...ew people!...then took care of the dishes, scrubbed all the tabletops, desks, and counters with clorox wipes, sponges, and soap and then took to vacuuming the entire place, moving furniture (no, not the large pieces of furniture which are never to be moved ;) but the small random chairs) and organizing it into specific areas, and then I happened across a carton of milk dated to expire May 13th. Funny how fast milk spoils, because that thing was soon going to look more like cottage cheese than a liquid, haha...yep...ew!
So needless to say, I believe the WC is slightly cleaner than when I began. :)
- Heidi Heaton
Any guesses as to what I was doing this morning?...
...If you guessed: Cleaning the Writing Center...then you're right!
The other day when I was looking through the Alumni Newsletters for ideas for this year's newsletter, I noticed some of the summer consultants took it upon themselves to tidy up the place which, as I'm sure Courtney Marti would agree, is always in need of some good ol' TLC...and a clorox wipe. :)
So this morning I woke up, grabbed my iPod and packed a lunch to-go, and headed to the WC prepared to tackle some dirt and dust. First I emptied out a coffee canister that apparently still had old coffee in it...ew people!...then took care of the dishes, scrubbed all the tabletops, desks, and counters with clorox wipes, sponges, and soap and then took to vacuuming the entire place, moving furniture (no, not the large pieces of furniture which are never to be moved ;) but the small random chairs) and organizing it into specific areas, and then I happened across a carton of milk dated to expire May 13th. Funny how fast milk spoils, because that thing was soon going to look more like cottage cheese than a liquid, haha...yep...ew!
So needless to say, I believe the WC is slightly cleaner than when I began. :)
- Heidi Heaton
Friday, May 25, 2012
Heidi's Blog Update #2
So my first week on campus this summer is officially coming to a close today with some final work hours before a weekend away for Memorial Day. Wow, way too many rhyming words in that sentence, haha. This week has consisted of...
1. Collecting timesheets and having them signed by the always joyful Steve Singleton while Dr. Bob is away living up England! (We are all very jealous, though my roommate, as well as Manderson, is also in England with Dr. Bob so I'm sure I will hear plenty about the lovely trip!)
2. Watering the plants in the WC before leaving for the weekend (Anna noticed while she was here earlier in May that one is curiously expelling its leaves at an alarming rate...hmm).
3. Blogging...yay!
4. Reviewing the Moodle site for the Summer Writing Exercise for our incoming first-years with Lisa Stroschine, whose computer prowess has never failed to amaze me!
5. Glanced over past Alumni Newsletters for an idea of what Kobe and I will be working on later this summer...mostly hassling you recent graduates to hear about what's keeping you busy post-Coe. :)
6. Sorting through suggestions for how to revamp our WC website submitted by various Topics groups from this past spring.
Manderson and I will be discussing the website suggestions and figuring out how we can implement them when he gets back from England. Many of the suggestions for the website included easy-to-use tabs across the top of the screen rather than down the side to make navigation easier and maybe even adopting a "nesting" technique so we can utilize subcategories within these tabs. Comments also included revamping the website so the colors used are bold and captivating. Other suggestions I read that would really add to the flavor of our website was adding a scrolling consultants' comments bar at the bottom of the page for various consultant quotes, thoughts, and advice to peers or fellow consultants. This way our website can still have its own personality reflective of the people who work in it, but the information conveyed directly on the website's pages can avoid inside jokes and criticisms that may appear confusing or unprofessional to an outside reader/viewer. An event calendar with upcoming events, such as our Sunday Night Dinners and Tuesday Teas, would also be nice to include as well as the expectations we have as consultants of conferences and what we may or may not expect from writers looking for assistance.
As I worked this week, what I found particularly interesting were the Alumni Newsletters from years past. It's really amazing to read stories and comments of consultants from previous years and to notice that your average WC consultant personality--fun-loving, energetic, joyfully unique, passionately involved--has not changed one bit. Photos that accompany the staff newsletter biographies are still helter-skelter with next to no one looking directly at the camera but blissfully happy nonetheless. As a future teacher, it's inspiring and encouraging to read about WC alums who live in D.C. and work for the Teach for America program, or who's most fulfilling job is raising her children and teaching high school English. Not only are the stories and engagements fun to read about, the travel exploits admirable, but there are so many connections out there I don't think most consultants currently working in the WC are even aware of...I certainly wasn't until just the other day!
I was also shocked by the photos included in several of the newsletters of the various homes our Writing Center staff has had on Coe's campus. From what is now Stuart's basement bathroom, to the Peterson tunnel, to the most recent location in Gage annex, it's amazing to see how the consultants quickly adapt to each new space and how it is really the people and not the space itself that truly make the Writing Center the welcoming community it is. I'd love to include in this year's Alumni Newsletter a glance back at the past with all of these photos and maybe some reflection from Dr. Bob of what he has experienced over the years. It would also be great to include a section for "Making Connections" where WC alums can be grouped according to areas of study and work and new/current consultants have an idea of how graduates ahead of them are involved in their prospective communities.
Well that seems like enough to get me thinking for the day and hopefully for you readers as well. :) Have a wonderful Memorial Day weekend and I'll check-in again next week!
- Heidi Heaton
1. Collecting timesheets and having them signed by the always joyful Steve Singleton while Dr. Bob is away living up England! (We are all very jealous, though my roommate, as well as Manderson, is also in England with Dr. Bob so I'm sure I will hear plenty about the lovely trip!)
2. Watering the plants in the WC before leaving for the weekend (Anna noticed while she was here earlier in May that one is curiously expelling its leaves at an alarming rate...hmm).
3. Blogging...yay!
4. Reviewing the Moodle site for the Summer Writing Exercise for our incoming first-years with Lisa Stroschine, whose computer prowess has never failed to amaze me!
5. Glanced over past Alumni Newsletters for an idea of what Kobe and I will be working on later this summer...mostly hassling you recent graduates to hear about what's keeping you busy post-Coe. :)
6. Sorting through suggestions for how to revamp our WC website submitted by various Topics groups from this past spring.
Manderson and I will be discussing the website suggestions and figuring out how we can implement them when he gets back from England. Many of the suggestions for the website included easy-to-use tabs across the top of the screen rather than down the side to make navigation easier and maybe even adopting a "nesting" technique so we can utilize subcategories within these tabs. Comments also included revamping the website so the colors used are bold and captivating. Other suggestions I read that would really add to the flavor of our website was adding a scrolling consultants' comments bar at the bottom of the page for various consultant quotes, thoughts, and advice to peers or fellow consultants. This way our website can still have its own personality reflective of the people who work in it, but the information conveyed directly on the website's pages can avoid inside jokes and criticisms that may appear confusing or unprofessional to an outside reader/viewer. An event calendar with upcoming events, such as our Sunday Night Dinners and Tuesday Teas, would also be nice to include as well as the expectations we have as consultants of conferences and what we may or may not expect from writers looking for assistance.
As I worked this week, what I found particularly interesting were the Alumni Newsletters from years past. It's really amazing to read stories and comments of consultants from previous years and to notice that your average WC consultant personality--fun-loving, energetic, joyfully unique, passionately involved--has not changed one bit. Photos that accompany the staff newsletter biographies are still helter-skelter with next to no one looking directly at the camera but blissfully happy nonetheless. As a future teacher, it's inspiring and encouraging to read about WC alums who live in D.C. and work for the Teach for America program, or who's most fulfilling job is raising her children and teaching high school English. Not only are the stories and engagements fun to read about, the travel exploits admirable, but there are so many connections out there I don't think most consultants currently working in the WC are even aware of...I certainly wasn't until just the other day!
I was also shocked by the photos included in several of the newsletters of the various homes our Writing Center staff has had on Coe's campus. From what is now Stuart's basement bathroom, to the Peterson tunnel, to the most recent location in Gage annex, it's amazing to see how the consultants quickly adapt to each new space and how it is really the people and not the space itself that truly make the Writing Center the welcoming community it is. I'd love to include in this year's Alumni Newsletter a glance back at the past with all of these photos and maybe some reflection from Dr. Bob of what he has experienced over the years. It would also be great to include a section for "Making Connections" where WC alums can be grouped according to areas of study and work and new/current consultants have an idea of how graduates ahead of them are involved in their prospective communities.
Well that seems like enough to get me thinking for the day and hopefully for you readers as well. :) Have a wonderful Memorial Day weekend and I'll check-in again next week!
- Heidi Heaton
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
Heidi's Blog Update: #1
I noticed in Anna's last blog she mentioned how absolutely silent the WC is now that it's summer break. I couldn't agree more! I just got back to campus yesterday and it seems strange that all the buildings and chubby Coe squirrels are still present while the students are not. Along with Anna, Manderson, and Kobe, I'll be working in the Writing Center from May through August as one of my three summer jobs. Lucky you, you get to hear me babble once a week about all the amazingly exciting (let's hope for all of us WC staffers' sanity) activities that are taking place in the WC and on campus this summer!
My jobs this summer in the WC consist of updating the WC website, making sure people get paid (verrry important stuff there), blogging once a week of course, assisting in the publication of our Alumni Newsletter, formatting and working on the summer exercise for incoming freshman (any questions freshman and prospies...ask your's truly), and keeping our lively group of three plants in the WC healthy and happy (which could be quite a challenge seeing as I am to be blamed for the death of one unlucky flower in my dorm room last year).
Aside from those jobs, if you're interested in a few fun facts about me, here goes...
Over the course of this summer and the fall I will be working for the Writing Center, Upward Bound, the Heritage Office, working as a CAP leader, bookstore employee...yep, I think that's it. This fall I will be a LIGHT team leader for Intervarsity, our Christian organization on campus, play ultimate frisbee like it's one of my many jobs, and will also be working as a Writing Fellow again this year for an FYS class.
As for the spring semester, I am incredibly excited to be traveling abroad in Paris, France! I cannot wait! Although I am incredibly nervous at the same time to be dropped into a new country, with a different language, new family (I'll be staying with a host family), and new school (the Sorbonne- heck yes!), I can't wait to try something completely new! I am a French major, Secondary Education minor, with an English endorsement and hope to teach high school French, so what better way to be more knowledgeable on my subject than to go to the lovely and vibrant country itself! Anyone seen Ratatouille? It's going to be exactly like that, swap the cooking for school work, subtract a talking rat and add a fumbling French-speaking American student, and yep, that's basically my life in the spring! ;)
Well here's to an amazing summer and hopefully exciting updates to come! Enjoy these sunny skies and hot days. :)
- Heidi Heaton
My jobs this summer in the WC consist of updating the WC website, making sure people get paid (verrry important stuff there), blogging once a week of course, assisting in the publication of our Alumni Newsletter, formatting and working on the summer exercise for incoming freshman (any questions freshman and prospies...ask your's truly), and keeping our lively group of three plants in the WC healthy and happy (which could be quite a challenge seeing as I am to be blamed for the death of one unlucky flower in my dorm room last year).
Aside from those jobs, if you're interested in a few fun facts about me, here goes...
Over the course of this summer and the fall I will be working for the Writing Center, Upward Bound, the Heritage Office, working as a CAP leader, bookstore employee...yep, I think that's it. This fall I will be a LIGHT team leader for Intervarsity, our Christian organization on campus, play ultimate frisbee like it's one of my many jobs, and will also be working as a Writing Fellow again this year for an FYS class.
As for the spring semester, I am incredibly excited to be traveling abroad in Paris, France! I cannot wait! Although I am incredibly nervous at the same time to be dropped into a new country, with a different language, new family (I'll be staying with a host family), and new school (the Sorbonne- heck yes!), I can't wait to try something completely new! I am a French major, Secondary Education minor, with an English endorsement and hope to teach high school French, so what better way to be more knowledgeable on my subject than to go to the lovely and vibrant country itself! Anyone seen Ratatouille? It's going to be exactly like that, swap the cooking for school work, subtract a talking rat and add a fumbling French-speaking American student, and yep, that's basically my life in the spring! ;)
Well here's to an amazing summer and hopefully exciting updates to come! Enjoy these sunny skies and hot days. :)
- Heidi Heaton
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Anna's Blog Post #1
Who would have thought that the Writing Center would ever be quiet? It's amazing, really. With the academic year at Coe finished and the majority of students at home, the Writing Center has been silent for days. As one of this year's summer staffers, I've taken it upon myself to remedy that situation (mostly for my sanity, but also because it just doesn't feel right to be in a quiet WC). However I'm not particularly creative right now, so "making sure the Writing Center isn't too quiet" has turned into "play all the Whitney Houston songs."
One of my tasks this summer is to put together the Summer Staff Newsletter. Every year, the student in charge of the newsletter gets to pick a new set of questions for staff members to answer, interview-style, in order to introduce the current staff to the incoming staff and vice versa. I'm posting this year's questions below so that all you alums (and whoever else happens to be reading) can play along at home. I'll also be posting a PDF copy of the newsletter once it comes out in mid-June, so you'll get to compare your answers with those of our staff.
So without further ado, our newsletter interview questions:
1. Name:
2. Year at Coe:
3. Major:
4. Hometown:
5. Summer Plans:
6. Weirdest Thing You've Ever Eaten:
So far there have been plenty of interesting answers to question six, ranging from playground pebbles to "my grandfather's cooking" to mac 'n cheese with chocolate chips. What an interesting bunch of people we've got here in the good old CWC.
- Anna H.
One of my tasks this summer is to put together the Summer Staff Newsletter. Every year, the student in charge of the newsletter gets to pick a new set of questions for staff members to answer, interview-style, in order to introduce the current staff to the incoming staff and vice versa. I'm posting this year's questions below so that all you alums (and whoever else happens to be reading) can play along at home. I'll also be posting a PDF copy of the newsletter once it comes out in mid-June, so you'll get to compare your answers with those of our staff.
So without further ado, our newsletter interview questions:
1. Name:
2. Year at Coe:
3. Major:
4. Hometown:
5. Summer Plans:
6. Weirdest Thing You've Ever Eaten:
So far there have been plenty of interesting answers to question six, ranging from playground pebbles to "my grandfather's cooking" to mac 'n cheese with chocolate chips. What an interesting bunch of people we've got here in the good old CWC.
- Anna H.
Friday, April 27, 2012
Weekly Wisdom
The man who will use his skill and constructive imagination to see how much he can give for a dollar, instead of how little he can give for a dollar, is bound to succeed. - Henry Ford
I like how simply profound this quote is. We all have something—a talent, a fortune, a family, an education, and right now time to study for finals. What are you going to do with your something? I charge all of you to be optimistic and think of everything you could do and not just the things you can do. If I was an amazing singer I could say I will use my talent in the shower, however it is much more beneficial to think about the opportunities like joining a choir, auditioning for a talent show. More relevant to most college students, you have to ask yourself what you are going to do with your time this weekend. You can spend your time thinking about what you are going to do, or you could actually study for finals. There is enough time in the day to study for all of your finals, you just have to ask yourself how much can I accomplish in this time. You may have something as big as all the time in the world or as small as a dollar; but just remember that there are no limits to imagination, and imagination can often create something amazing in reality. So study hard and think of all the possibilities.
Thank you,
Margaret
Framed quotes can be found pretty much anywhere in the WC.
Before I started writing this post, I didn’t realize how many there actually
were, but once you start looking for them, they show up everywhere.
One of the great things about Coe is the number of guest
speakers they’re able to pull in every year. On the walls of the writing
center, there are framed quotes or excerpts of some of these guests’ works,
along with their own signature.
Last semester, I, along with the rest of the student body,
got the chance to hear from one of the speakers, whose quote now on one of the
walls in the new WC. Firoozeh Dumas, Iranian-American author of Funny in
Farsi and Laughing Without an Accent, came to Coe back in September.
The first time I heard her speak was during a presentation
she gave to all first years. Persepolis, the book all incoming students were
required to read, was written her friend, and fellow Iranian, Marjane Satrapi,
so she spoke about Persepolis. She also talked about the basics of the Iranian
Revolution and the history of Iran. It was a lot more interesting than I’m
making it sound, because Mrs. Dumas is hilarious and tied in so many funny
personal stories during her talk.
I got to hear her speak a second time during my Writing
Center class (Topics in Composition) the next day. This was definitely more
personal, since there were only twenty or so of us, versus the entire
first-year class. She talked more about her personal life and the process of
writing than she had the day before, and I definitely loved being able to hear
about things straight from a published author.
After her visit, I went out and bought a copy of her book,
Funny in Farsi, and I absolutely loved it and would recommend it to anyone. If
my recommendation isn’t convincing enough, because of this book, Firoozeh was
nominated for the Thurber Prize for American Humor- the first Iranian author to
be nominated. It’s definitely worth the time it takes to read!
By Rachel Epperly
Thursday, April 26, 2012
Stars and Spools
-Julia Pillard
The forces which come before the poet
Permit the magic of the musician
Shaping pure form in its final state
A perpetual freedom which indulged the dancer
Should I risk what lurks in the mundane
It is not as imaginative as I wondered
The acrobat freely transformed thought
Little pictures remaining cold
I am a safe distance from alarming innovation
“We used to play outside when we were young and full of
life”
This river of time settles in rhythm
Nature is a practitioner of the absolute
And will anoint my fear with fantasy
The stars of the universe appear unconfined
And express the power of distance
The sage is drawn to painful art
Susceptible to forces of cloudy power
While parachutes drift in opaque clouds
Words carry me to the holy
And express themselves on a spool of light
Thoughts on Springtime
-Julia Pillard
Dawn.
The light of the sun filters through the misty morning haze, creeping down
across the academic buildings, slithering across the lawn, and sweeping through
the branches of evergreens, aspens, and oak trees before it hits me full force.
A gentle breeze arcs around me. It’s eight a.m.
I find
it is necessary, at this time of the year, to actually sit back and reflect on
life. A lot of people do this in the autumn or New Years, but I believe it is
far more productive to do it in the spring when everything feels new and
remarkable and beautiful. Think about it. On that first day filled with
sunshine, everyone around you slips into their tank tops and flip flops,
grabbing sunglasses and a Frisbee and heading out to enjoy the warm weather.
This is the time of year when everyone comes out from their homes and apartments
to say hello to the sky and sun, to their friends, to the world once more.
Doesn’t that sound like the perfect time of year to begin again, just as the
earth itself is doing?
Iowa is
stickier than where I’m from, but the humidity cools off enough in the evenings
that taking walks around campus is just about the most enjoyable thing I can
think to do right now. The other night, while walking around campus as the
stars were coming out, I listened to people chattering, laughing, walking
through quads and tossing footballs to their friends. I heard music spilling
from the music hall, watched theatre students run, skip, and hop rambunctiously
to rehearsal, and listened to seniors elaborate on how good it felt to be
graduating…but how scared they were about what they were going to do next.
Don’t
be scared. If we live our lives wondering what comes next, then we won’t have
time to enjoy what comes at this moment. Springtime isn’t the time to think
about the future. It’s the time to think about the now; the beautiful sky, the cotton-candy clouds, the flowers peeking
out from beneath the hardened earth. So seniors, and everyone, don’t be scared.
I have found that, when you need it most, life has a way of pulling you
through. For now, why don’t you grab a Frisbee, call up some friends, and head
out into the sun again.
Monday, April 2, 2012
Formspring Fun
Hey guys!
Sorry it's been a while since we updated, but we're going to get back on track as soon as we can. For now, here is our favorite question that you asked us on Formspring:
Q: Why does the sun shine?
A: According to the band They Might Be Giants: "We need it's light, We need it's heat, We need it's energy, Without the sun, without a doubt, There'd be no you and me."
According to me: Because in this crazy, messed up world, we need a constant. We need something to brighten the days and give us hope. We need something beautiful that we have no control over, something that shows us it's possible for the clouds to burn off. Something that shows us we can still shine even if the world seems to be trying to cover us up. Because we need something to look to or wish for even in our darkest days.
Also - because it does. If we knew why everything in the world was there and how everything worked, what would be the point of living?
- Kelci de Haas
Sorry it's been a while since we updated, but we're going to get back on track as soon as we can. For now, here is our favorite question that you asked us on Formspring:
Q: Why does the sun shine?
A: According to the band They Might Be Giants: "We need it's light, We need it's heat, We need it's energy, Without the sun, without a doubt, There'd be no you and me."
According to me: Because in this crazy, messed up world, we need a constant. We need something to brighten the days and give us hope. We need something beautiful that we have no control over, something that shows us it's possible for the clouds to burn off. Something that shows us we can still shine even if the world seems to be trying to cover us up. Because we need something to look to or wish for even in our darkest days.
Also - because it does. If we knew why everything in the world was there and how everything worked, what would be the point of living?
- Kelci de Haas
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Weekly Wisdom
An average person with average talent, ambition and education, can outstrip the most brilliant genius in our society, if that person has clear, focused Goals. - Brian Tracy
Too often people sell themselves short. They say they aren’t good enough, they don’t have what it takes, and that they aren’t smart enough. But let me tell you…anyone who thinks this way is WRONG! Each and every person is good enough, each and every person has what it takes, and each and every person is smart enough. Don’t sell yourselves short. Set a goal and pursue it. Everyone has a quality inside of them that will “outstrip the most brilliant genius” and if it just takes a goal to bring it out, why wouldn’t we all set those goals (whatever it may be for you)?
In terms college life, this semester is almost over as well as so far from over. At least for me, I am at the point in the semester where getting motivated is hard. I may occasionally even think that I cannot do it because I am not smart enough. However after reading Brian Tracy’s quote, I will have the motivation to finish strong. After writing this, I am going to sit down and make some goals for myself. I may not be the most brilliant, but I certainly can work to bring out whatever brilliance is inside of me.
- Margaret Gruhler
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Book Review
‘Salem’s Lot marks
my initiation into the more contemporary horror genre, as well as my
introduction to the works of Stephen King.
I must say, if this book is a good representation of his
works, King deserves his reputation as an author. His prose is well crafted,
dialogue flows nicely, and the characters are undeniably human—they act and
think like real, flawed people. They may suffer from a few more flaws than
most, especially the secondary characters, but that seems more of the author’s
perceptions of human nature than a flaw on the book’s part.
The beginning, while interesting, was slow because King
wanted to introduce his secondary cast before he got to the book’s actual plot.
If you’re reading the book at the beginning and it seems boring, at least keep
reading until you things move past the initial meet-and-greet with the
secondary cast.
This book, despite being in the horror genre, was not scary.
I was never afraid while reading this book. Slightly unsettled, at points, but
that indicates the book was creepy as opposed to scary. That may be a product
of me reading books as a writer, which causes reactions such as surprise to “I
see what you did there” or anticipation to “I wonder how [insert author here]
is going to play this”. It allows me to better analyze the books I read, but it
means that it’s hard—if not impossible—to just sit back and enjoy the ride, and
some of the emotional highs suffer because of that. So take my comments
regarding them with a grain of salt.
That being said, I had problems with this book. I will
readily admit the book is good. However, given King’s reputation I was
excepting something great. I’m going to outline why, but I will give a slight spoiler warning because I have
to bring up what the featured monster is to do so.
Now, the monsters in ‘Salem’s
Lot are vampires. Now, I have nothing against vampires that do not sparkle.
I’ll even take vampires that aren’t ravenous monsters and are instead people
suffering under a terrible curse—so long as it is devoid of any potential fetishism.
However, I was still disappointed when I realized that King
had chosen to use vampires. Horror is dedicated to fear, and one of the
strongest fears it can utilize is the fear of the unknown. That sort of fear is
not possible with vampires. They vary based upon what mythos they appear in,
but even if Vampire A isn’t weak to garlic and Vampire B is, Vampires A-Q are
all susceptible to oversized splinters being relocated to the insides of their
chest cavities with mallets. Doing something new with vampires has become, for
all practical purposes, impossible since Bram Stoker’s Dracula.
And, while that was not my specific problem with the book,
it does demonstrate it. Nothing in the book surprised me. This is a work made
by the book, and while King is probably a master when it comes to writing
style, the actual content holds the work back. Writers need to take risks to
make books that are truly great, and ‘Salem’s
Lot does not take those risks.
That being said, this book is worth reading. It is not a great
book, but it’s as close as a book can get without taking serious risks. I haven’t seen many books crafted with the level of
writing skill King seems to possess, and that alone is reason enough to read a book. I just wish there had been a bit
more.
- Patrick Johnson
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Weekly Wisdom
“Most of us have far more courage than we ever dreamed we possessed.” - Dale Carnegie
“Courage doesn't always roar. Sometimes courage is the little voice at the end of the day that says I'll try again tomorrow.” - M A Radmacher
This week I have a couple of quotes for you to think about. I came across the first one and it reminded me of my roommate playing basketball. The team made it far this year, and it took a lot of courage. They had to be in a mindset that would in no way inhibit their teamwork. In the same way, we all need to have that mindset. If we allow ourselves to do everything we can, it will surprise you. You may try new things or try the same things in a different manner; either way, be ambitious. You can accomplish what you set out to do.
That being said…the second quote definitely needs to be states because sometimes it is scary to try new or different things. Sometimes it is just not the right time to be fully courageous. All I can say is that’s okay too. Sometimes you just need to wait until “tomorrow”, but the important thing is to be thinking about everything you can do. Too many people don’t do things or even think of things (ride rollercoasters, taking hard classes, moving away from home, etc.) because they don’t think they can, but they are wrong. If you really want to do it, and you all have the courage inside of you to do it, you will find a way even if it is “tomorrow”. You need to make a plan and you need to act on that plan. Work up some courage this week, because I know it is inside of each and every one of you.
- Margaret Gruhler
Thursday, March 1, 2012
Spring Break!
Hey guys!!
It's Spring Break in less than 24 hours here at Coe and believe me, every student knows the exact countdown to their freedom!
The blog team is off this week having merry adventures in our respective hometowns, and the CWC will make it's move to the new writing center in about six short days!
When we get back we'll give you a nice tour of the new place and some exciting stories. To fill your time while we're gone though, why don't you ask us questions on our Formspring? You can answer the question below for a chance to win baked goods! (See: The Challenge)
What is consultant Ryan Rey's most shameful moment?
Good luck, and see you in a week!
- Kelci de Haas
It's Spring Break in less than 24 hours here at Coe and believe me, every student knows the exact countdown to their freedom!
The blog team is off this week having merry adventures in our respective hometowns, and the CWC will make it's move to the new writing center in about six short days!
When we get back we'll give you a nice tour of the new place and some exciting stories. To fill your time while we're gone though, why don't you ask us questions on our Formspring? You can answer the question below for a chance to win baked goods! (See: The Challenge)
What is consultant Ryan Rey's most shameful moment?
Good luck, and see you in a week!
- Kelci de Haas
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