Roxanne Fleischer

Co News Editor

The Office of College Activities will be holding four days of Amnesty in hopes of seeing stolen items returned.

From November 20 through November 24, from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m., any items stolen from the college can be returned to the information desk in the Decker College Center “no questions asked” according to Erica Immler, Operation Supervisor of College Activities.

Vandalism in Decker College Center has been “the worst I’ve seen it” said Immler, who has been working at McDaniel College for over three years. The damage this semester mostly consists of missing items, unlike previous years in which graffiti and writing on the walls was the trend.

During the summer, six brand new six-foot tables were purchased by College Activities to lend to student groups for events. Four of these tables have been stolen; the first one went missing over Labor Day weekend and the most recent disappeared on November 3. “Every Monday I come in and ask what’s missing,” Immler said.

Each of these tables cost the college 100 dollars to purchase plus shipping. But the tables are not the only items that are missing. Live plants and floral decorations from the bathrooms have been stolen in addition to bathroom signs that were ripped down and damaged soap dispensers.

“We try to have the building look nice and to provide equipment for the campus…it takes away from other students and is very frustrating,” said Immler.

“When the budget is tight, we don’t have the money to replace things,” she said. Over all, around 1000 dollars in damage has been done over this semester alone. “It’s frustrating for people who legitimately are trying to get an event together, and we have to tell them no because we don’t have the resources to lend them.”

The increase in vandalism has created a wariness of letting people borrow things. “We have to ask what kind of damage will we be left with,” said Immler.

The Amnesty Days have been set up in order reclaim stolen items so that College Activities can continue to lend and provide for student groups. If items are later found by Campus Safety or Residence Life, students will be fined accordingly

Professor Herb Smith Nominate for President of McDaniel

Juli Guiffre

Co-Editor in Chief

Dr. Herb Smith, professor of political science and international studies, accepted a nomination to become the ninth President of McDaniel College, and submitted a letter of interest to the search committee to be considered.

“Our Presidential Search materials posted on the McDaniel College website have proven to be most effective. College alumni have become engaged in the process as a result of the web site and focus group meetings, and many have submitted names for consideration,” said Mary Lynn Durham, chair of the committee.

Last May, McDaniel College posted a surprising new aspect to our website: the search for the college’s ninth President. Over the summer, Smith received a rather unexpected phone call from an old friend.

Jim Kauffman, alumni of ’91, had called Smith to ask if he could nominate him for the job.

“We had talked about it over the years,” said Smith. “I’d say [to Kauffman] ‘I’m really happy with what I’m doing, but if the opportunity came up, I’d consider it.”

The next step for Smith was clear: “I talked with [my wife], Beth, for two weeks. You need to go into this with a strong backing from your soul mate. Beth and I are a team.”

It’s been a few short months since Smith’s decision to allow Kauffman to nominate him, during which he’s been trying to not let his hopes run away from him.

“I think I bring a great deal to the table. I’m not Mr. Perfect or Mr. Wonderful. I’m not letting my hopes run away from the realities of the situation. I’ll certainly give it my best shot,” he said.

Kauffman and Smith had kept in touch since Kauffman’s college days, when he took every single one of Smith’s courses. They have also run Boy’s State together every year since 1993.

Kauffman thinks that Smith’s connections with local, state, and federal government and, most importantly, his relationship with the students, will make him an effective President.

“At McDaniel, contributions from alumni have been lower than other schools. Without Herb, I wouldn’t still be as connected to McDaniel as I am,” he said. Kauffman also feels that the next President needs to be sympathetic toward the name change.

“I know a lot of my classmates feel they the college they went to doesn’t exist anymore. We need a President who was there that that and can address it and understand it,” he added in support for his nomination of Smith.

In Kauffman’s recommendation letter, among his nine points of support, he calls Smith “The Renaissance Man” – a title meant to evoke Smiths deep belief in liberal arts, in integrating knowledge across disciplines.

In 1967, Smith was working as a biology lab assistant at Ursinus.

“I would have been a bio major if I could have passed Calculus in high school,” he said. “We didn’t get along.”

He also bikes, fishes, and plays single’s tennis with Dr. Brian Wladkowski, associate professor of chemistry.

“Brian and I play tennis. He beats me, but it’s ok. He’s 20 years younger,” he said.

Smith recently published an article on a Sport Fishing website. Called “When Your Fishing Trip Goes South,” they article describes a fishing trip in which they hit a tropical storm and 15 inches of rain.

Smith’s office door is adorned with a Jimmy Buffet sticker, an “I’d rather be in Belize” sign, a quote from Pirates of the Caribbean, and a poem that reads “Feed the crocodiles, ride the sharks, climb tall coconut trees, raft the waterfalls.”

He also incorporates his liberal arts philosophies into his work as a teacher. Smith is faculty advisor to both the McDaniel College Democrats and the Republicans. Through his classes, students can volunteer on a campaign of their choice and design and conduct original survey research.

Smith is sought often during election season by the Baltimore Sun and the Washington Post, as well as several TV and radio stations, for his astute political analysis. He will have a book published by the University of Nebraska that he co-wrote with John Willis, called “Maryland Politics and Government.”

Smith thinks that knowledge of politics “gives us respect for diversity and a talent for honest compromise. The President has to work with the federal and state government,” he said, “and I’ve been on a first name basis with five Maryland Governors.”

His teaching philosophy is comprised of giving students choices, and creating a structured environment where learning is fun and marketable, “my Belizean philosophy,” he calls it.

In light of this, Smith, if elected, plans to attempt to implement a program incorporating five separate tracks: Leadership, Internship, Faulty/Student research, Volunteer, and Study Abroad.

Hypothetically, the school would give a savings account to each student with a surcharge of $200 or $400 dollars that would earn interest. When the student became upperclassmen, they would be able to use these savings to with one of these tracks. For example, this would make it much easier for students to afford to study abroad if that is the track they choose, or it could be used to hire full-time staff to help coordinate a research or internship opportunity.

Smith, if elected, still plans to teach a course at McDaniel, probably a seminar, and would continue to eat lunch at Glar every Wednesday, because he thinks it’s important to have access to the students to really understand how the college runs.

“I’m passionate about the college. I would love to be the President, but I love to be a Professor. If the search committee, in its wisdom, chooses otherwise…I’m perfectly content,” he said. “I’m not doing this out of driving ambition, I’m doing this because I think I’d do an exceptionally good job…I hope I’m the right person, at the right time, in the right place.”

Smith believes he has found the right time, as he said certainly 30 years ago he would not have been prepared for this.

“There’s one thing that counts for more, the most important thing in my life, that’s taught me how to be a complete human being,” he said as he pointed to something on the shelf in his office.

It was a picture of his son Tyler when he was six, learning how to fish off a jetty in Cape May. Tyler had given Smith the colorfully painted frame for Christmas last year. In white letters, Tyler had written, “To a Dad even better than he remembers.”

The search committee “met by telephone conference during the first week in October. Lead consultant David Gring reported that interest in this Search is receiving national awareness and that the pool of candidates is very strong, said Durham. “Committee members are reviewing the candidates.”

After Four Years, Phi Alpha Mu sorority returns to campus, fights to regain their good reputation

Lauren Miller

Staff Reporter

Four years ago a campus original, Phi Alpha Mu sorority, was asked to leave campus after numerous reports of hazing were brought to the attention of school officials. This year Phi Alpha Mu is making a comeback and hopes to gain back their position as a respected on campus sorority.

“Though Phi Alpha Mu’s charter was previously suspended, we worked extremely hard during the Spring of 2009 to get ourselves back on campus and recognized by the school,” according to their website ( www.phialphamu.webs.com ). “We are pleased to say that we have finished everything and are back on campus and ready for action! We look forward to carrying on the traditions of the best sorority on the hill!”

Though the sorority has had to go through numerous stages and restructuring of some of their practices in order to comply with school standards, they still maintain much of their history and tradition as the oldest sorority on campus, founded in 1926, and as a local sorority. The Phi Alpha Mus had to complete a seven step process in order to be able to come back on campus. According to Katie Hecht, President of the Phi Alpha Mus, the group had to rewrite pledging standards and change some logistical things about their practices.

They were also given the option of coming back as a national organization, but seeing as they value tradition and the core values of the already established Phi Alpha Mu group, they decided against this decision. “We anticipated them giving us many options. We weren’t interested in becoming national at all,” said Katie Hecht. “We would have said no. Other sororities transitioned and we have always stayed loyal to our ties.”

The Phi Alphas also realize that they have a lot of work to do in proving that they have indeed changed. “We know this is such a pivotal year. We’re being aware of that,” said Hecht. “We implemented an advisory board that checks up with us and keeps us in check.”

Liz Towle, who oversees greek life, believes this group of women is ready to be back on campus. “I think this group of women in the current organization is a great group of women. They recognize and understand issues of past and are working hard to move forward as a group and are doing a great job.”

Another thing Towle says is impressive about this group is the support they have from the other sororities. “The other sororities are very glad they’re back and are very supportive and encouraging of the group.”

So far in their short time back on campus the group seems to be playing by the books. Neither one of their pledges have experienced any form of hazing. “I have not in any way experienced any acts of hazing,” said Lauren Fischetti, a Phi Alpha pledge. “As an RA, I am clearly aware of what counts as hazing and know what resources I can turn to if I ever was hazed. I know that Phi Alpha Mu will never do anything that will compromise their charter and each sister truly cares about each other, including their pledges.”

Ellen Shank, Phi Alpha Mu’s other pledge feels similarly about the group she chose to join. “I know the sisters have worked tirelessly to reform their pledging in a way that keeps their history and traditions (going back 80 years) and remove anything that would be considered hazing,” said Shank. “I think they’ve found a very good pledge program that honors much of their history and traditions while keeping the pledges best interests on heart.”

“We’re honored to be back as a recognized part of the McDaniel campus and are working hard to make a positive influence on the community and are really looking forward to growing and developing while keeping our traditions and maintaining our legacy,” said Hecht. “We recognize our past reputation and are trying to move on from that and move in a positive direction.”

Hanna Barker

Staff Reporter

Circle K at McDaniel is making a comeback, with significantly more members than in past years. This community service organization had been struggling, and membership had been the biggest issue. This is true no longer, as membership tripled in one week!

“It’s really exciting to see that people are interested in helping the community,” said club President Bryannia Bongiorni, a sophomore.

Circle K is an international service organization with over 500 clubs in 17 nations that collectively perform over one million hours of service annually. McDaniel students are joining in, working with organizations such as the Humane Society, Happy Helpers, and the Aktion Club while gaining leadership experiences and making friends.

“The good thing about this club is that is can be what you want it to be,” said Bongiorni. “It can be community service or it can be social or it can be both, which is the ideal- a group of friends helping the community.”

In past years, Circle K has also helped out at a local day care, played bingo with people in a nursing home, and made dinner at the Hopkins house.

“I’m really excited to help rebuild this club, because it not only helps the Westminster area, but we help internationally as well,” said freshman Rebekah James.

The organization’s mission statement is “developing college and university students into a global network of responsible citizens and leaders with a lifelong commitment to service.” Circle K is part of the K-family, headed by the Kiwanis Club, an organization dedicated to serving the children of the world. Other members of this family include the Key Club for high school students, Builders Club for middle school students, K-Kids for elementary school students, and the Aktion club for adults with disabilities.

“Circle K is really flexible, because you can be as committed as you want to be,” said Bongiorni. “It really is what you make of it.”

Circle K at McDaniel is optimistic and enthusiastic about establishing a larger presence on campus. Meetings are Wednesdays at 9:45 p.m. in Academic Hall, Room 109. If interested in joining, contact Bryannia Bongiorni, blb012@mcdaniel.edu.

Emma Barbato

Staff Reporter

Dedication to perfection is just the beginning when it comes to the most recent addition to Westminster’s list of riveting hangout spots. Westminster Station employees don’t want to just make coffee; they want to make the best coffee.

“We did this with the intention of being one of the top ten coffee shops in the country,” the owners claim.

That’s just the start of a long list of hopes for this fledgling business; from opening a cereal bar, to supporting local musicians, everything this station does they do with conviction.

What might be the coffee shop’s biggest draw to college students is its laid back atmosphere and its openness to new ideas and a desire to try. There are a slew of instruments in the back of the shop, including a didgeridoo .

The shop owner, George Davis, invites young musicians to come and learn on, or just get a taste of something different. Davis says he wants to promote a sort of “cross pollination” between artists, or anybody with a skill who is willing to share their knowledge and maybe learn something as well.

Along with its dedication to Westminster’s artistic community, Westminster Station offers an Open mic night on Tuesdays and live bands on Thursdays starting at eight p.m.

The station has a house band that plays Thursdays, but if any local musicians, comedy acts, or even poets are interested in booking a Thursday night, this can be done pretty painlessly by emailing booking@westminsterstation.com . Or, if you are looking for something even more relaxed, just show up on Tuesday night and hang out with the local talent.

Westminster Station plans to do a lot more to reach out to the community and create a special environment where people feel comfortable and excited.

”It’s a great space for college students to hang out and play on the computers, or maybe do homework if you’re into doing homework…,” says McDaniel sophomore Shelby Parenteau.

One of the new additions is a cereal bar complete with twenty varieties of cereal for all those who like breakfast at midnight. There will also be an ice cream bar that includes all the fixings of a Coldstone Creamery, but with an additional seven flavors of whipped cream and homemade ice cream.

The business tries to remain as local as possible when it comes to their products.

“Our pies come from Baughers, and the ice cream is provided by a small creamery in Chambersburg,” say Davis.

The station is located on Englar Road and it is in walking distance from McDaniel. It opens at 4:30 a.m. and remains open until midnight on weekdays. Weekend nights, the coffee house is open until 1:00 a.m.

Westminster Station provides an alternative to the Pub or Denny’s and is an interesting twist between technology and eccentricity that isn’t normally expected off Route 140. More importantly it’s a coffee shop that is literally begging college students to get off campus and get involved.