Dr. Marie Angelella George spoke to members of the Cabrini community regarding plans for the upcoming year.

Presenting the presidential address as part of the opening convocation to the Cabrini College community, Dr. Marie Angelella George delivered the message regarding the four main themes that are focused around a new mission statement, which the college will be working towards throughout the year.

“We are about defining a contemporary Cabrini education through excellence, social justice and transformational learning. That is what has been directing our energies and allowing us to prioritize the numerous activities and project initiatives that we could do to really harness our energy towards achieving this vision,” George said regarding the plans that have been laid out for the campus community.

Three new members of George’s cabinet have joined Cabrini College, which include Dennis Kelly, vice president of enrollment management; Dr. Anne Skleder, provost and vice President for academic affairs; and Joan Neal, vice president of institutional planning and effectiveness. Together they will work towards the new mission statement that, as stated by George, was “not to be changed but to be made more concise.”

The new statement that was announced by George during her address on Wednesday, Aug. 24, recognizes Cabrini’s roots in its faith and realizes its purpose for being.

“We are a Catholic institution of higher education dedicated to academic excellence, leadership development and social justice.  As a community, we welcome learners of all faiths, cultures and backgrounds and we prepare them to become engaged citizens of the world,” George said.

With this new and improved statement, Cabrini’s identity has been given new priorities for the upcoming year.

“By the end of the year, we want the entire campus community to be engaged in some way in the initiative dealing with mission integration,” George said, adding that the new mission statement has acted as a springboard for Cabrini’s Catholic identity.

Taking a new approach to issues regarding students, George pointed out that it is in fact the faculty and staff that must first address the mission statement before turning to the undergraduate community to deepen their sense of Cabrini’s mission.

“For the first year, we (Cabrini’s faculty and staff) have to start with ourselves.  We are, so to speak, the permanent members of the campus community.  We have to be clear about what our respective roles are, so that more students will know what it means to be more committed in their journey towards matters of social justice,” George said.

Members of George’s cabinet, including Kelly, are well aware of the poor retention rates Cabrini has seen during recent years.  They have been committed to finalizing a multi-year retention plan by the end of the year, which not only understands why students are leaving but reaches the comfortable goal of 1,500 undergraduate students deemed fit for the college.

The college even had discussions about a doctorate program.  There isn’t anything on the immediate horizon for such a program. However, George said that the most natural department to receive a doctorate program would be the education department.

Graduate education over the last three years has also grown to over 1,200 students, which has largely been due to the creation of off-campus sites.

The third theme George touched on during her presidential address dealt with matters of stewardship or the supervising and managing of the campus.

In the fiscal year of ’09-’10, which runs from the beginning of July to the end of June, the office of institutional advancement exceeded its goal of $1,035 million by five percent.  These proceeds are to be distributed throughout the Cabrini Fund that was set in place in order to help with student financial aid.

A campus master plan was also discussed that will improve facilities, grounds, pedestrian walkways, the environment of the college, classrooms and multi-purpose use areas. This master plan has a window of 15-20 years for everything to be implemented.

George went on to read an email she had received from Don Francis, president of the Association of Independent Colleges and Universities of Pennsylvania, made up of 93 private colleges within the state of Pennsylvania.  It was in response to the latest issue of the Cabrini Magazine.

“I really like the way that you have developed your justice matters mission of the college.  I still vividly remember you unveiling this theme at your inauguration and it is clear that you are keeping the college focused on the social justice mission of the college.  This really does separate Cabrini from many other institutions,” Francis said.

Everyone has a dream.  As a child, some dream of becoming a firefighter, others an astronaut or quarterback of their favorite football team.  Not Rattlesnake Daddy though.  He wanted to be a rock star.

Centered in Hollywood, Calif. Rattlesnake Daddy sets up every night at local bars and welcomes others to groove and jam with him on stage.  Using his self-proclaimed “spontaneous song composition” method, Rattlesnake Daddy plays his own music while inviting others to pick up a guitar, bongos and for the musically challenged, tambourines.

“I’ve been working towards this for 15 years.  I’m the only person I know that’s even doing this sort of thing,” Daddy said.  “There’s no one I know that strings together shows like this.  I just do whatever I feel like at the moment, always responding to what’s going on.”

Rattlesnake Daddy had been diligently working towards this idea of inviting the audience to play music with him after touring with U2 in the ’80s.

“They would invite a member of the audience to play guitar while the band played ‘Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door.’  Every time the audience member went on stage, it was like I went on stage.”

Austin Love, a member of the audience who joined Rattlesnake Daddy on stage, considered it to be a musical experience he hadn’t seen anywhere else.

“It was an interactive experience, and the overall feeling of the show was almost captivating.  He had this whole sound with the instruments people were playing that made it feel like it was the audience’s show,” Love said.

Rattlesnake Daddy had spent many years as a musician during his youth, touring with bands such as U2, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers and Willie Nelson.

“I loved being on the road, and it was great fun.  But being on the road, if you don’t have enough people coming out to see your show, you’re sleepin’ on the side of the road.  Rattlesnake Daddy can tour by himself in a Prius,” Daddy said.

“I’ve played shows with 3,000 people, and to tell you the truth, I get the same type of elation with that as I do playing for maybe 30 people at a bar,” Daddy said.

“With Rattlesnake Daddy, there’s no practicing or rehearsing.  I come with grooves I’ve already recorded, and if an audience member comes and messes up, it doesn’t matter because the music continues on,” Daddy said.

Having a one-man show that can turn into 10 people on stage who have never played together means that each show Rattlesnake Daddy plays is a unique one.  The same song is never played twice, and you can only see that show once.  The next time Rattlesnake Daddy plays, it might as well be a different band altogether.

“My feeling is that music has become so separated between the star and the audience.  I wanted to get rid of that separation, that wall.  I love people that have never been on-stage before, because they bring a freshness of spirit that can’t be faked,” Daddy said.

The type of show Rattlesnake Daddy puts on has given him the freedom to still have the grooviest, most rockin’ band in the world, while having a relationship with the audience at the same time.

“I don’t have to pay them, and I don’t have to rehearse (with) them.  It makes it a lot easier for me.  I really am just doing my thing,” Daddy said.

When asked what he would do if the venue decided it’s time to close up shop, does and whether or not he would continue to play, Rattlesake Daddy simply replied, “All I need is a wall outlet. I’ll just go to someone’s house.”

Atop the third floor of Founder’s Hall, there is a large glass-enclosed room, which most students pass by during their day without a second thought. This is Cabrini College’s Wolfington Center.

But the impact that the Wolfington Center has and the dedicated work that its volunteers do on and off campus is felt throughout surrounding communities and around the globe.

The main goal of the Wolfington Center is to connect the Cabrini community with those outside of Cabrini who don’t enjoy the same comforts many of us do.

“Our goal is to connect students with the underprivileged members in the community,” Elizabeth Sutter, coordinator of community outreach, said.

“We work very hard with the really underprivileged, trying to make an impact,” Sutter said.

With Cabrini’s new social justice curriculum came a greater duty for the college to extend its efforts past the classroom and into the real world.

Cabrini’s partnership with Catholic Relief Services and the entire community of Norristown has brought about a deeper and more effective relationship, which has made a difference in the community. Unfortunately, some students are not enthusiastic about initially getting involved with the office.

“There are some students who only come because they are required for a class. Then some students get plugged in, and are very passionate about advocacy,” Sutter said.

Shannon Keough, senior communication major, is one of the many students whose passion for social justice led her to the Wolfington Center.

“I got involved my sophomore year, because I came to Cabrini for their emphasis on service,” Keough said.

Keough said, “I applied to become a hunger and homeless leader.  We made a month-long hunger awareness campaign, which led me to become a CRS ambassador and focus my attention to food insecurity.”

Across the hall from the Wolfington Center is the Campus Ministry, where students are invited to strengthen their relationship with God, each other and themselves.

Father Michael Bielecki, the chaplain at Cabrini, wants students of all backgrounds to feel welcomed not only within Campus Ministry, but also to the college as a whole.

“We want to help Catholics grow in their faith, and those who aren’t Catholics to search for meaning in their lives,” Bielecki said.

Students that want to participate in Campus Ministry can take part in retreats that focus on others while still reaching out to a part of themselves.

“Campus Ministry can be that place that facilitates the possibility of a relationship with God, and that relationship does have an effect on your life,” Bielecki said.

Campus Ministry can help individuals whether they need a place to sit down and talk, or if they want to go out and help with issues others may be dealing with.  Whichever it is, Campus Ministry welcomes all with open arms to be a part of Cabrini College’s community.

It’s hard to imagine that a spelling bee can be filled with a conga line, a dancing literate foot and a foggy Jesus.  Yet, that’s just what the Cabrini Theatre did with their production of “The 25^th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.”

The musical, which is running through March 28, is bound to attract everyone in some way.  Its story has humor, love, struggle, friendship and victory, which are all set during a spelling bee held in a school’s gymnasium.

Dr. Thomas Stretton Jr., the show’s director, took the play, which was previously performed on Broadway, and brought it to Cabrini’s stage.

“The show is very funny but has heart as well.  I’d like the audience to leave understanding and being more sympathetic with some realities of the human condition,” Stretton said.

Characters in the play range from perfectionists to doubters and lovers to fighters that lead to a melting pot of personalities.  However, each person has a story behind them about the pressures they deal with in order to compete in the bee.

One contestant in the spelling bee is Marcy, who is a young girl who knows she is the best.  Her story tells of an important challenge that young people face; mustering enough courage to form their own identity.  Here, “controlling the lives of young people and compelling them to ‘perfection’ is wrong,” Stretton said.

Other issues touched on include being raised to think you can’t be defeated can actually be destructive, or that the loss of a parent is a sad reality we all must face.

“I realize how much work goes into a production like this and I was very impressed,” Nick Bonanni, junior communication major, said.

“The students in the theater whom you saw on the stage–and those you didn’t see behind the scenes–are incredibly hard working, talented, but most importantly, kind. I think they do extraordinary work and they are extraordinary people,” Stretton said.

The show also was able to incorporate the audience into the story by having volunteers sign up before the show to spell a word during the spelling bee.  After an audience member spelled a word wrong, the cast would break out into an elaborate goodbye song, all in good fun of course. As much as the show is about the performance, it’s also about the audience.

“We all need to have nights when we come together with others and laugh and have a good time and experience some joy–as many in the audience seemed to,” Stretton said.

With all the commotion going on during the show, some may forget what “The 25^th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” is all about.

“Underneath all of life’s challenges and opportunities, it’s important for all of us to recognize our common humanity and our individuality,” Stretton said.

This year’s 82^nd Annual Academy Awards was full of surprises as 10 best picture nominees and a divorced couple squared off for Hollywood’s most coveted award, the Oscar.  Although all of the heavy hitters were in attendance, it seemed as if the show’s flow of energy was interrupted with awkward speeches and untimely appearances.

The world’s highest grossing film of all time with over $2 billion in sales, Avatar, walked away with only three of its nine nominations.  Of course Avatar won an Oscar for Art Direction, Cinematography and Visual Effects, but did James Cameron really think his ex-wife, Kathryn Bigelow, would win Best Picture for The Hurt Locker?

Not only that, but Cameron lost to Bigelow once again when the Oscar for the best director went to Bigelow, who by the way became the first woman to ever win the award.  Avatar may reign supreme amongst moviegoers, but the Na’vi were no match for the Academy this year.

Jeff Bridges finally won an Oscar for his leading role in Crazy Heart, but it only took him five nominations to do so.  The dude should’ve won it back in 1998, and Bridges reminded us during his acceptance speech that there’s still some dude left in him.

Sandra Bullock showed up with her first nomination and left with her first Oscar for portraying the true story of a mother who gave her love to a most unlikely recipient.  Her acceptance speech showed Bullock’s humble yet humorous side as she paid homage to her fellow nominees saying, “Meryl, you know what I think of you and you are such a good kisser.”

Inglourious Basterds’ Christoph Waltz let us know, if we didn’t already, of his pride in his Austrian heritage and awe of Spanish women when he accepted his Oscar and said, “Oscar and Penélope that’s an über bingo.”  Waltz’s role as a Nazi officer who hunted Jews in Quentin Tarantino’s fantasy of World War II gave him the chance to showcase his multilingual skills, while somehow bringing serenity to an otherwise chaotic film.

A rather awkward moment, and it wouldn’t be an awards show if there wasn’t one, came when the Oscar for Documentary Short was presented.  Roger Ross Williams bolted down the aisle, leaving Elinor Burkett behind while he began his acceptance speech.  Midway through Williams’ speech, Burkett catching up announced into the microphone, “Let the woman talk.  Isn’t that the classic thing?”  Yes Burkett, it is, until you interrupted Williams on stage in front of the whole country leaving him standing with a fake smile.  Where’s the class in that?

The Academy also held a tribute clip in honor of Hollywood’s timeless classic genre, the horror film.  Opening with a spoof of Paranormal Activity, Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin’s time lapsed bedroom arrangements showed the two tossing and falling off the bed, at one point showing Martins rear up in the air and also staring down at a sleeping Baldwin.

The stars of the Twilight saga, Taylor Lautner and Kristen Stewart, who claimed the Exorcist was the last horror film to win an award, presented the five-minute tribute. The last movie was in fact the 1991 film, Silence of the Lambs.  There was also a clip of Young Frankenstein’s Peter Boyle as Frankenstein, which is a comedy and not a horror.  Now where on earth was the Academy’s head at this year?

Adding a stand-up comedy performance at Cabrini College to his already impressive resumé, Tom Cotter hit the stage for CAP Board’s Funny Bone Friday. Touching on subjects such as the life-saving Top Ramen for college students and the bitter coldness of the night’s event, Cotter’s humor was delivered so fast that if you blinked, you missed it.

Performing in Jazzman’s Café, Cotter engaged most of the audience in his bit by encouraging them to laugh at themselves and those around.

Riffing on the school’s current weather conditions, Cotter said, “It’s so cold here my nipples got here five minutes before I did.”

CAP Board hosted the event that was held on Friday, Feb. 19 at 9 p.m., with vanilla ice cream and all the makings for the perfect sundae for those in attendance.

“He liked to ask the audience what they wanted to talk about and really made it funny. He would call out people in the audience and innocently make fun of them,” Kelsey Kastrava, sophomore communication major, said.

Cotter even stabbed at his own professional career as a comedian, which most comedians will agree can be an uphill battle at times.

“Yeah sure, being a comedian is great if you love poverty,” Cotter smirked.

Cotter also went on about dealing with generation gaps while performing for college students, whereas at a corporate function he has to find the line between what’s appropriate and what’s not for the boss.

“One kid came up to me after my show and said, ‘That was the s— dude!’ Since when did s— mean good?” Cotter said.

Cotter has made quite a name for himself in the comedy world, performing skits on “Late Night with Conan O’Brien” and showcasing his stand-up on “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.” He’s also had his own special on “Comedy Central Presents” and currently has his own show, “TWO FUNNY,” which can be seen on the Woman’s Entertainment Network.

Cotter was also the winner of the “Seattle International Stand-Up Comedy Competition” by the “largest margin of victory in the history of the event,” the Boston Herald said.

Having created such a name for himself, Cotter’s reputation as an in-your-face type of comedian has taken him oversees to perform in London and Beijing.

“It was difficult at first to get used to all the nuances of Beijing’s culture, but you observe them for a while and pick them up easily,” Cotter said.

Comedians will run into hecklers, which are people in the audience who disrupt the comic’s performance by trying to be funnier than the comedian or focusing the audience’s humor onto the comedian.

After joking about dachshunds with their long bodies and short legs, Cotter said a woman left his audience in a fit of rage.

“She started yelling about how her dog had just died, and stormed out of the place. She eventually wrote the club expressing her hatred towards me and how I was insensitive. We all laughed about it because honestly, it’s comedy. You’re supposed to laugh,” Cotter said.

Cotter’s influences include the late Johnny Carson and George Carlin, whom described Cotter as “Terrific, I really mean that,” Carlin said.

Shannon Keough

Ever wondered what the ovary of an anglerfish looks like? Or maybe an incredibly detailed photo of the crystals in a snowflake? Here is an opportunity to see these and other close-ups as The Wistar Institute joins Nikon’s Small World to display winning photomicrographs taken with a light microscope.

Wistar, an independent nonprofit biomedical research institute, is holding a new exhibit, which include winning images from the 2009 Nikon Small World contest. The images will be on display from Feb. 2 to March 12, when they will then continue to be held in exhibits throughout the country.

Two members of Wistar’s faculty, James Hayden, manager of Wistar’s microscopy facility and Frederick Keeney, member of Wistar’s microscopy facility, were winners in Nikon’s contest.

Hayden, whose image was that of an anglerfish ovary, captured fourth place with a stunning spiral mix of colors in the anglerfish ovary. But for an entrant’s photomicrograph to be among the top 20 selected, the images must not only be a spectacular photograph, but must also provide informational content and scientific dexterity.

Images are judged on many levels, including their creativity of objects photographed and their significance to the scientific community. Also, aesthetically speaking, the images must combine color and composition of the structure to show the object’s beauty as a photomicrograph.

Although it is called the Nikon Small World Competition, there’s nothing small about the size of the competition. Entrants including professionals and hobbyists from the United States, Canada, Europe, Asia, Africa and Latin America have submitted their photomicrographs in hopes of winning $3000 towards Nikon equipment.

The 20 winning images from the 34th Annual Nikon Small World International Photomicrography Competition have been touring cities since October, and will continue to do so throughout this year. Stopping at The Wistar Institute gives those in Philadelphia a chance to see images many never knew existed.

The competition was founded in 1974 in order to display great works of photography using a light microscope. This year, Wistar kicked off their exhibit with lectures from the scientific community, including speakers from Columbia University and a 2008 Nobel Laureate.

This year’s first place went to Dr. Heiti Paves of Tallinn University of Technology, in Tallinn Estonia. Photographed at 20X with confocal microscopy, Paves’ image shows the anther of Arabidopsis thaliana, also known as a thale cress plant.

Paves believes his winning image was a wonderful subject to photograph because “they do not move very fast. The picture of my dreams should bring out motility of living cell, like a sports photograph.”

A dazzling array of greens, blues and reds show movement and energy consumption in Paves’ microscopic image. Paves’ image is now on display at the Wistar Institute, along with 19 other winning images and other microphotographs awarded an image of distinction honor.

Admission to Wistar is free to the public, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. until March 12, located on Spruce Street in West Philadelphia.

Ever wondered what the ovary of an anglerfish looks like? Or maybe an incredibly detailed photo of the crystals in a snowflake? Here is an opportunity to see these and other close-ups as The Wistar Institute joins Nikon’s Small World to display winning photomicrographs taken with a light microscope.

Wistar, an independent nonprofit biomedical research institute, is holding a new exhibit, which include winning images from the 2009 Nikon Small World contest. The images will be on display from Feb. 2 to March 12, when they will then continue to be held in exhibits throughout the country.

Two members of Wistar’s faculty, James Hayden, manager of Wistar’s microscopy facility and Frederick Keeney, member of Wistar’s microscopy facility, were winners in Nikon’s contest.

Hayden, whose image was that of an anglerfish ovary, captured fourth place with a stunning spiral mix of colors in the anglerfish ovary. But for an entrant’s photomicrograph to be among the top 20 selected, the images must not only be a spectacular photograph, but must also provide informational content and scientific dexterity.

Images are judged on many levels, including their creativity of objects photographed and their significance to the scientific community. Also, aesthetically speaking, the images must combine color and composition of the structure to show the object’s beauty as a photomicrograph.

Although it is called the Nikon Small World Competition, there’s nothing small about the size of the competition. Entrants including professionals and hobbyists from the United States, Canada, Europe, Asia, Africa and Latin America have submitted their photomicrographs in hopes of winning $3000 towards Nikon equipment.

The 20 winning images from the 34th Annual Nikon Small World International Photomicrography Competition have been touring cities since October, and will continue to do so throughout this year. Stopping at The Wistar Institute gives those in Philadelphia a chance to see images many never knew existed.

The competition was founded in 1974 in order to display great works of photography using a light microscope. This year, Wistar kicked off their exhibit with lectures from the scientific community, including speakers from Columbia University and a 2008 Nobel Laureate.

This year’s first place went to Dr. Heiti Paves of Tallinn University of Technology, in Tallinn Estonia. Photographed at 20X with confocal microscopy, Paves’ image shows the anther of Arabidopsis thaliana, also known as a thale cress plant.

Paves believes his winning image was a wonderful subject to photograph because “they do not move very fast. The picture of my dreams should bring out motility of living cell, like a sports photograph.”

A dazzling array of greens, blues and reds show movement and energy consumption in Paves’ microscopic image. Paves’ image is now on display at the Wistar Institute, along with 19 other winning images and other microphotographs awarded an image of distinction honor.

Admission to Wistar is free to the public, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. until March 12, located on Spruce Street in West Philadelphia.

Shannon Keough

Dubbed the “divas” of the plant world, Longwood Gardens is holding their Orchid Extravaganza, which displays more than 500 species of orchids. From Central and South America, Africa, the Himalayan and Andes Mountains to the South Pacific Islands, Longwood Gardens’ orchids are from vastly different climates found around the world.

Out of over 25,000 species of orchids worldwide, more than 3,200 species of orchids are at Longwood Gardens’ disposal for its Orchid Extravaganza, taking place from Jan. 23-March 31 in Kennett Square, Pa. Beautifully and strategically placed, the orchids, which normally can be found in the Orchid House, are taken out and distributed throughout their conservatory and the rest of the gardens.

Nancy Bowley, head of the visitor programs department, has been diligently working to make sure this year’s Orchid Extravaganza shows only the most elegant of orchids Longwood Gardens has to offer.

“We’ve been designing this year’s Orchid Extravaganza since last year’s ended, and have included orchids that have been here since 1921,” Bowley said.

1921 was the year that Pierre du Pont built Longwood Gardens’ potting shed, which is where some of their orchids are grown. Five other greenhouses are used by only a handful of horticulturalists to grow Longwood Gardens’ orchids and hybrid orchids. While more than the 25 species of orchids are native to North America; the majority are imported from outside America.

Walking through the conservatory, each room has its own distinct character. Different temperatures and levels of humidity keep the assorted orchids healthy. Also, each room has its own scent, some of which are soft and gentle to the nose, while others were meant for their visual aesthetics. However, this just helps to demonstrate how much variety the orchid species has to offer.

The moth orchid, or Phalaenopsis, is suggested as the orchid for the novice grower, which can be easily grown at home. From this there are two types of orchids, known as the epiphytic and terrestrial orchids. Epiphytic orchids grow on trees, while terrestrial orchids have their roots in the ground.

Located in the greenhouse, which is open to visitors, there are three vanilla orchids. Although these aren’t highly prized in the orchid world, the vanilla orchids are set up because of their display value. This is what most of Longwood Gardens’ orchids are about, ensuring that what’s on display fits well with its surroundings, rather than how rare or sought after they are.

Longwood Gardens offers multiple classes regarding orchids, which include how to photograph them, repotting orchids and an introduction class for those interested in growing their own orchids.

Towards the end of Longwood Gardens’ Orchid Extravaganza, from March 26-28, orchid societies and growers from countries around the world will be bringing their orchids to end the two month display of orchids at Longwood Gardens. Here you will not only be able to view them, but also purchase orchids from growers spanning from two continents.

Finally, from April 3-4, Longwood Gardens will be selling its own orchids at discounted prices to anyone that buys admission to the gardens.

For more information and directions to Longwood Gardens, visit its Web site at longwoodgardens.org.

Orchids at Longwood Gardens. photo by Trevor Wallace

Dubbed the “divas” of the plant world, Longwood Gardens is holding its Orchid Extravaganza, which displays more than 500 species of orchids.  From Central and South America, Africa, the Himalayan and Andes Mountains to the South Pacific Islands, Longwood Gardens’ orchids are from vastly different climates found around the world.

Of the more than 25,000 species of orchids worldwide, more than 3,200 species of orchids are at Longwood Gardens disposal for its Orchid Extravaganza, taking place from Jan. 23-March 31 in Kennett Square, Pa.  Beautifully and strategically placed, the orchids, which normally can be found in the Orchid House, are taken out and distributed throughout their conservatory and the rest of the gardens.

Nancy Bowley, head of the visitor programs department, has been diligently working to make sure this year’s Orchid Extravaganza shows only the most elegant of orchids Longwood Gardens has to offer.

“We’ve been designing this year’s Orchid Extravaganza since last year’s ended, and have included orchids that have been here since 1921.”

1921 was the year that Pierre du Pont built Longwood Gardens’ potting shed, which is where some of their orchids grown.  Five other greenhouses are used by only a handful of horticulturalists to grow Longwood Gardens’ orchids and hybrid orchids.  Other than the 25 species of orchids native to North America, the majority are imported from outside America.

Walking through the conservatory, each room has it’s own distinct character.  Different temperatures and levels of humidity keep the assorted orchids healthy.  Also, each room has it’s own scent, some which are soft and gentle to the nose, while others were meant for their visual aesthetics.  However, this just helps to demonstrate how much variety the orchid species has to offer.

The moth orchid, or Phalaenopsis, is suggested as the orchid for the novice grower, which can be easily grown at home.  From this there are two types of orchids, known as the epiphytic and terrestrial orchids.  Epiphytic orchids grow on trees, while terrestrial orchids have their roots in the ground.

Located in the greenhouse open to visitors are three vanilla orchids.  Although these aren’t highly prized in the orchid world, the vanilla orchids are set up because of their display value.  This is what most of Longwood Gardens’ orchids are about, ensuring that what’s on display fits well with its surroundings, rather than how rare or sought after they are.

Longwood Gardens offers multiple classes regarding orchids, which include how to photograph them, repotting orchids and an introduction class for those interested in growing their own orchids.

Towards the end of Longwood Gardens’ Orchid Extravaganza, from March 26-28, orchid societies and growers from countries around the world will be bringing their orchids to end the 2 month display of orchid’s at Longwood Gardens.  Here you will not only be able to view them, but also purchase orchids from growers spanning two continents.

Finally, from April 3-4, Longwood Gardens will be selling its own orchids at discounted prices to anyone that buys admission to the gardens.

For more information and directions to Longwood Gardens, visit its web site at longwoodgardens.org.

It’s that time of the year to enjoy turkeys, hams, pies and maybe the addition of a notch or two onto that belt. But then again, maybe this year can be different. Thanks to “Happy Healthi-Days,” a program set up by members of the Dixon Center and Cabrini students, applicants to the program can set goals for themselves to help with those second servings during the holidays.

This isn’t just a program to help individuals lose weight, however. Signing up for the program means that you can pick your goal, whether it is to lose weight, maintain your weight and, for some, even gain weight during the holidays.

Jessica Huda, fitness director for the Dixon Center, is heading this year’s program and feels it’s a good opportunity for people to plan for a healthy break.

“This year we’ve made the program so people can focus on making the holidays a healthy one, so that it’s not so much about their weight,” Huda said.

Kick-off day for “Happy Healthi-Days” was Nov. 16, and those who attended received a free Gatorade and nutritional information for the holidays. The students working the program’s kick-off day were part of Dr. Hallion’s health and wellness programming class. Junior exercise science major Rob Rabena assisted in signing individuals up for this year’s event.

“It was fun that I was able to take the material I learned in class and apply it to this year’s program,” Rabena said.

Ranging from members of the surrounding community to Cabrini’s own faculty and students, many have already signed up in hopes of fulfilling their personal goal for the holiday.

Shannon Mulhern, junior international business major, saw this as a chance to stay fit during the holidays.

“It’s the off-season for field hockey, which means now I have to try and bulk up,” Mulhern said.

Whether it’s working out in the gym, running outside, or picking the right foods during the holiday meals, setting a goal and sticking to it is the key to succeeding in “Happy Healthi-Days” program.

Even if it’s not the off-season, this can still be a time to participate in activities that will benefit healthy habits.

Training to be a lifeguard for the upcoming summer is Ciaran Wilkinson, junior business administration major. He’ll be using the program as an opportunity to help with his goal of swimming 20 laps.

“My goal is to eat more protein and exercise more,” Wilkinson said.

For those who have not yet signed up and would like to, the program is open for applicants until Nov. 20. Even for those who don’t have goals in mind, stop in and sign up. They can help find a goal suitable for everyone, and all are encouraged to join.

“This isn’t about losing weight. It’s about keeping a goal and working towards it. People are more than welcome to stop by and we’ll help them pick a goal suitable for them,” Huda said.

Imagine a couple weeks back that it’s All Hallows Eve, and what more could any child ask for than Cabrini students, s’mores and jaguars? Yes, jaguars, and an assortment of other animals as Cabrini students helped with the annual Nightmare at Elmwood Park Zoo in Norristown. Students used this as a time to give back to the community and pass out some candy to trick-or-treaters along the way.

For the past several years, Cabrini students have been in an ongoing partnership with Norristown, providing different services to the schools as well as Elmwood Park Zoo.

“SEM 300 students are able to help children with their homework after school,” Riz Ishmail, senior Spanish secondary education major, said.

Ishmail took part in Elmwood Park Zoo’s Halloween event. Along with being able to participate in the Halloween festivities, Ishmail saw this as a chance to reunite with the children from last year’s event.

“Seeing the kids again was great, and I love helping people,” Ishmail said.

Volunteer work is extremely important to Ishmail, who wishes that if “I had more time, I would volunteer more than I already do.”

Sean Mellon, a worker at Elmwood Park Zoo, went along with Cabrini students during the event.

“Having Cabrini students together with the kids was a great help,” Mellon said.

Along with the students, Mellon and Elmwood Park Zoo had different contests and crafts for the kids. Children could paint and carve pumpkins, as well as gather around the campfire to hear those beloved spooky stories while dressed in an assortment of spirited costumes.

Matt Slutz, senior English major, took this as an opportunity to visit the zoo he once loved as a child. A first time volunteer at Elmwood Park Zoo, Slutz found time to roast a couple marshmallows with the kids.

“It was a chance to reach out to Norristown’s community,” Slutz said.

Slutz also spoke with many of the parents at the event, letting them know about the programs Cabrini was offering to their community.

Elizabeth Miller, VISTA volunteer for the Wolfington Center, coordinated the event. She has been working the event for the past several years and is trying to encourage more students to reach out to neighboring communities.

“We are trying to come up with more activities students can participate in. If students have any ideas they are more than welcome to visit us in the Wolfington Center,” Miller said.

Not only can students reach out in Norristown for events like the Halloween night at Elmwood Park Zoo, but they can also help in after school programs, centers for domestic violence and homeless shelters Students can volunteer on a weekly basis, so that they may work around their schedules and still be part of something bigger in surrounding communities.

For more information, visit the Wolfington Center located on the third floor of Founder’s Hall, or email Elizabeth Miller at Elizabeth.c.miller@cabrini.edu.

Shannon Keough

From the early Egyptians to today’s popular Miami Ink artwork, tattoos have been a part of society and have allowed people to express experience or emotions through them. It can be a simple “I love Mom” on the side of the arm, or a full body set of tattoos that make someone look like a cheetah. Most people wouldn’t go that far. Instead people tend to find that happy medium and settle for something on a more personal level.

“To me, a tattoo is a symbol of what I stand for. It’s a big deal,” Eliot Bartlett, junior history and arts major, said.

Bartlett had thought for some time before getting his first tattoo. He decided on the Delta sign, which means change. Bartlett liked the idea of tattoos so much that he decided to get four more, including a grenade with the accompanying lyrics from “Against Me.” “This is advancement, this is entertainment,” Bartlett said.

On another note, Bartlett had another piece done depicting a man throwing a bouquet of flowers (instead of a Molotov cocktail), which symbolizes the peace needed to balance war, represented with the grenade. However, there is one distaste Bartlett has regarding tattoos.

“For girls, tramp stamps are not attractive,” Bartlett said.

So what about those who don’t have tattoos? Have they not gotten around to getting one, or is there another reason?

For Jessica Haurin, junior psychology major, she feels there’s more to it than having ink under your skin.

“A tattoo is too lasting, and for something like that to always be there, I feel after some time it wouldn’t be what it used to mean to me,” Haurin said.

Some people have taken tattoos to the next level, using their skills as an artist to open their own shop.

Justin Bolonski, owner of Integrity Tattoo, has been a professional tattoo artist for the past 18 years. A self-taught artist, Bolonski knew at age 12 that he wanted his entire body covered in ink.

“People hang pictures on the walls of their houses. I figure I might as well put some pictures on my skin,” Bolonski said.

Many of Bolonski’s tattoos are intricate designs that capture the eye. However, he does have one that holds meaning to it, and it’s his daughter’s name. It also happens to be on the side of his head.

Bolonski knows the lasting effects of tattoos. He sometimes warns customers not to follow through with their tattoo, because many of his customers come back a year later asking him to remove it.

In his field of work, long and tedious hours of sketching and brainstorming are not uncommon. To aspiring tattoo artists, Bolonski throws a caution flag.

“You have to love what you do, because you will lose your social life. The day it stops being fun for me is the day I stop tattooing,” Bolonski said.

Integrity Tattoo, located in Royersford, Pa., is an attractive shop complete with every tattoo magazine to help customers get a better feel for what they are looking for. If you feel your body is a canvas, stop in and say hello. Who knows, maybe you’ll walk out with some fresh ink.

Since the 1980s, weight gain in children has risen dramatically. This has opened the door to the question of the availability of junk food in schools. A number of points have been made, regarding whether or not schools have the right to make decisions on what students eat and the parent’s role in their child’s eating habits.

Yes, it is true that with junk food available for students at school that they may be more inclined to eat those types of food rather than the healthy alternative. But it is ultimately the parent’s responsibility to teach their child how to make the right choices, including when it comes to their diet.

Studies have shown that when junk food is available in schools, about 10 percent of the students’ average body mass index rises by one percent. But this isn’t to say that it is solely from the available junk food. It also has to do with the genetics inherited from parents and their own obesity.

Schools regulating the food they provide for children isn’t such a bad idea, however. If anything, it’s a step in the right direction toward educating children on healthy eating habits. If educated to make the healthy choice, students may be more susceptible to choosing a sweet piece of fruit rather than a cookie.

When a school only has the fruit, they’ll eat that fruit, if they eat at all, but might be more tempted to go to the convenience store after school and load up on all the sweets available there.

I think schools have the right to decide how they run their institutions and that includes what foods they serve. Some say, “Well schools don’t have cigarette machines on campus, so why vending machines with fatty foods?”

This is a very ignorant approach because of course cigarettes aren’t available on a campus. In any amount, they can be detrimental to one’s health.

But junk foods only in excess can cause problems. Fat and salt in moderation are necessary for a healthy diet.

As stated before, it is a parental obligation to serve their children healthy foods. If they don’t like the food offered at school, they should pack their children lunches.

Habits start at home, and if students are eating healthy at home, they are more likely to eat healthy at school.

Oppositely, if schools have a variety of foods, mostly healthy, then they might take these eating habits and introduce them to their home.

If the state and school districts begin putting regulations on students’ diets, it takes away certain responsibilities that belong to parents. It is the job of parents to raise their children, while schools must educate them along with the parents.

Schools should provide more courses that favor healthy diets, and also courses that will require students to be more physically active.