Tag: community

Raptors and Owls and Bears, Oh My!

footnotes logo This month’s Footnotes program features a visit from Jean Soprano who will introduce us to Kindred Kingdoms, an organization dedicated to the care and release of injured birds of prey and black bears in Central and Northern New York.

The organization is a not-for-profit formed in 1997 by Jean Soprano and Len Soprano. Kindred Kingdoms Wildlife Rehabilitation Center provides the best medical treatment with the least amount of stress possible for injured and orphaned wildlife. By building shelters on their 40 acre site, KKWRC offers the best conditions to allow the animals to heal in their natural habitat surrounded by foliage, fresh air and all the sounds of nature to which they are accustomed. The ultimate goal is to care for wildlife and get them healthy and strong enough to be returned to the wild.

In 2012 Kindred Kingdoms rehabilitated and released 5 bald eagles and 19 black bears.

Come hear more about this incredible facility and the dedication Jean and Len have poured into it for more than 16 years.

To attend the event, please RSVP online.black bear being released

Friday, September 20th at 3pm in LSB 105

A Chance to Make Your Voice Heard!

UBE Let Your Voice Be Heard
UBE Let Your Voice Be Heard

Undergraduates for a Better Education (UBE) is a student group advocating for change within the University on issues such as advising, teacher quality, course availability, and internship credit and they have created a survey for students to provide feedback on their educational experience at SU. The survey can be taken here: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/UBE.

UBE facilitates a connection between the students and administration. UBE will take the issues you face in your academics and advising and bring them to the administration’s attention.
They ask that you view the survey as a way to be part of creating a change and making a difference; the administration is listening, and what you have to say is important!

All answers are anonymous; only group data will be reported. You can like them on Facebook too! https://www.facebook.com/UndergraduatesForBetterEducationSyracuseUniversity

Questions or concerns? Contact Emily Ballard at emballar@syr.edu

Honors Students Engage With Traditional Artists During Folk Arts Fieldtrips

Students at the Schweinfurth Art Center in Auburn, NY
From left to right: Kenny Arbuckle, Katie Headley, Sadik Yaqub, Habiba Hassan, and Sara Cho Sangeun pose at the Schweinfurth Art Center in Auburn, NY

 

We’ve always heard that in the liberal arts tradition of the West, one needs to know about a wide range of things to be a complete citizen and that those who are to be educated and productive members of society have to be exposed even to things that they may (initially) deem not worthy of attention. Honors students in Professor Felicia McMahon’s course, “Folk Arts , Festival and Public Display” recently visited the Schweinfurth Art Center in Auburn, NY where students were introduced to  traditional artists of the region as well as refugee communities in Central New York. The previous week the students visited Syracuse’s African International Restaurant, a popular gathering place for new immigrants from Somalia and other African countries. As Professor McMahon  emphasizes, “To know the soul of a people, learn about their folklore.”

The Christmas Bureau: A Time of Giving

Hello Honors Community!

Writing today with a message from your fellow student, Mary-Jo Robinson: 

Although the holiday season seems to be far away, it IS approaching very quickly.  During these challenging economic times, many people are struggling to provide even basic needs for their families; making the joy of the holiday season out of reach.  Many in the Syracuse community will find themselves unable to buy food for the holidays, much less gifts for their children.  To help fellow community members in need, caring citizens from across Central New York come together every year at the Christmas Bureau to fill in the gaps for families who just cannot afford gifts.

The Christmas Bureau is a coalition led by the United Way of Central New York and the Salvation Army of the Syracuse Area.  This program is working very hard this year to provide for nearly 7,000 children this holiday season. 

Here is how you can help with this effort.  The United Way of Central New York is hosting its second Stocking Stuffer Drive in an effort to collect gifts to be given at the Christmas Bureau this year.  The United Way has provided us with a box here in the Honors Main Office for collection of goods and the below list of stocking stuffer ideas.  Starting on Friday, November 9th, we will collect stocking stuffer donations until Friday, December 7th. 

Here is a list of potential items to be collected:

Colored Pencils                               Crayons                               Pez

Coloring Books                                Markers                               Yo-yo

$5 Target Giftcards                       Playing Cards                     Books

Hair Accessories                            Stickers                                 Socks 

Stuffed Animals                              Play-Dough                          Nail Polish

Lip Gloss/Chap Stick                    Character Cups                  Fruit Snacks

Character Band-Aids                    Matchbox Cars                  Candy

Disposable Camera                        Glow Sticks                          iTunes Giftcards

Thumb Drive                                    Wallet                                    Journal

Keychains/Lanyards                    Hot Chocolate                    Kids toothpaste     

With your support, we will be able to fulfill the holiday wishes of thousands of children in need.  If there are any questions, you can contact me at 207-267-0650 or via email at mkrobi04@syr.edu. Thank you for your support, Honors Community!  

 -Mary-Jo Robinson

First “Honors Footnotes” Event Is a Hit!

On Thursday, October 18th, Honors Core Faculty member and chair of the Magazine Journalism Department, Melissa Chessher, hosted the inaugural “Honors Footnotes” event – a guided tour of Oakwood Cemetery, led by Sue Greenhagen, a member of the Historic Oakwood Cemetery Preservation Association, a local historian, and a retired librarian from Morrisville State College .Designed by one of America’s earliest landscape architects, Howard Daniels, Oakwood Cemetery opened its gates on November 3, 1859. The 160 acres of this outdoor museum feature a Gothic style mortuary chapel, 19th- and 20th-century architecture styles, including works by Horatio Nelson White and Archimedes Russell, and hundreds of 150-year-old trees, which showcased their fall colors. Sue Greenhagen (who, along with her sister, are known as “the cemetery chicks”) has spent years researching those buried in Oakwood. In addition to the general history and featured architects just mentioned, the tour highlighted a few of the more notable characters including an abolitionist, a robber baron, a Civil War commander, and several celebrated writers, artists, and philanthropists!

In a sentence: “Honors Footnotes” are small events hosted by Honors faculty or staff that encourage informal interaction around a variety of topics! Stay tuned for future opportunities!

Oakwood Cemetery - Honors Footnotes
Inaugural “Honors Footnotes” group posing during their tour of Oakwood Cemetery
Honors group listens to guide during Oakwood Cemetery tour
Honors group listens to guide during Oakwood Cemetery tour