375 Longwood Ave.    Boston, MA    02215       P: 617-632-2729     www.colleges-fenwway.org

        Fall 2008                                                                              

What's Inside

• The Importance of Voting

• Cross Registration

• COF Block Party

• Environmental Forum Spring 2009

• Intramurals Launches New Site

• Third Annual Turkey Trot

• COF Takes 1-0 Lead in BU/COF Grudge Match
  
  
• COF Performing Arts Expands Offerings
  
  
• New Staff Joining COF

Get Involved!

Election events can be found here:

http://www.colleges-fenway.org/

 

The Importance of Voting

By Julia Medieros, Emmanuel College '10

Voting is a fundamental right given to all American citizens once they reach the age of eighteen. It is an American tradition, since the birth of our nation, for citizens to go to the polls and express their opinions. The right to vote is one of the core parts of our identity as Americans. By voting, we are following in the footsteps of generations before us. It is significant to note that there are many people across the globe who do not have this right and have no say in how their governments are run. 

Everyone should take time to vote, particularly in this election. The United States is experiencing times of turmoil and is losing its status as one of the most powerful in the world. Because of the immense conflicts that plague our nation right now, it is especially important to be informed about the issues and to develop opinions about how best to resolve these issues. It is your responsibility to be informed and to choose a candidate that you believe can best cope with the problems at hand.

If you still are not convinced, consider this: as young Americans and college students, we are directly affected by a number of issues: the rising cost of education, less availability of loan money, healthcare costs which we will have to incur upon graduating, the abortion debate, the loss of jobs and creation of new jobs, the inability to afford a home after graduating, astronomical costs of driving our cars and heating our homes, global warming, and so forth. All of these issues, if not dealt with properly, will continue to burden us for years to come. Since these issues can profoundly affect your life, it is so important to decide what matters to you, find a candidate who reflects your opinions, and get out to the polls on November 4th to have your voice heard. 

 

COF Intramurals Launches New Website

Colleges of the Fenway Intramurals released a new website this school year. The site, hosted by EZFacility, allows participants to register online for all intramural activities. Other features of the site include roster management, waiver forms, preformed game cards for each event, compilations of statistics for each game, multiple report functions, officials schedules, classified ads which allow players to find teams or allow teams to find players, links to sport specific websites, complete standings and statistics for each team, easier to read schedules, and much more.

Around COF
Weekly Newsletter

Listing of events open to students, faculty and staff.

If you would like to see your COF event or lecture posted in this bi-weekly newsletter, please e-mail your information to cofadmin@colleges-fenway.org. 
Please write “AROUND COF” in the subject line of your e-mail. OR, post the event on the COF Calendar, which you can find on our homepage, and the event will be automatically added to this newsletter. 

DISCLAIMER: Colleges of the Fenway is not responsible for information changes after release of the newsletter. Information will be posted as received. 

Questions can be directed to Tania Green at the same e-mail address. 

Visit the Colleges of the Fenway Calendar of Events
ONLINE 

Cross Registration

Are you interested in taking a class at another college?  Maybe you are an engineering major who wants to explore your creative side with a class at MassArt & Design.  Or maybe the Spanish requirement you need for your last semester is already filled.  You can cross register at any of the Colleges of the Fenway institutions. 

Courses to Check Out

Emmanuel
From Modern to Postmodern: Art Since 1940
Irish Identities: Literature and Culture
History through Fiction: Event and Imagination
Latin American Liberation Theology

Simmons College
Principles of Financial Accounting
Your Money Your Life
Socially-Minded Leadership
Principles of Marketing
Managing the Diverse Workforce

Visit out web site: http://www.colleges-fenway.org/CourseDirectory/Default.asp to view the complete list of course offerings.

COF Block Party

 

 

If sausages with peppers and onions, BBQ chicken, veggie burgers, chicken fingers, French fries and fried dough were not enough to lure 1600 Colleges of the Fenway students to the annual COF Block Party, then it must have been the Spin Art Frisbees, photo key chains, and airbrush tattoos.    The Block Party provided students with an opportunity to meet people from other colleges and enjoy food and fun.  Local vendors including WBCN, Jam’n 94.5, WFNX, Sam’s club, Bank of America, Perfect Tan, the Museum of Fine Arts, the Longwood Galleria, Global Prints and Student Universe were also there.  Students entered the Constitution Day Contest where they answered questions about the Constitution and its signing.  Participants were entered into a raffle to win a brand new bike. Arthur Post of Wentworth won the grand prize.  To end the night on an adventurous note, COF featured “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull” for the drive-in movie.

Environmental Forum Spring 2009:

Meets on Wednesdays from 5 – 7 pm at Simmons College

No Cross-registration needed

Environmental Forum is a two credit course offered to all students in the Colleges of the Fenway.  Weekly lectures of contemporary environmental issues will be given by local, regional and national experts.  The theme for this year will be Sustainability.  The course also includes a Service Learning component, which focuses on a local environmental topic area, and a field sampling and assessment exercise.

Students in this course will

·  learn how to collect information to evaluate environmental issues

·  assess science, social and economic-based perspectives to develop approaches to environmental solutions

·  develop life-long learning tools and techniques for environmental problem solving

·  incorporate sustainability principles into everyday life

One theme of this course is to demonstrate that environmental problems are best solved by the collective expertise of a wide range of informed individuals.  In offering this course, COF hopes to attract a diverse makeup of students in varying programs from the COF community.

This course is part of the COF Environmental Science program curriculum. 

For more information about this course or the joint COF Environmental Science Program, contact Michael Berger at bergerm@simmons.edu or visit our web site at

http://www.colleges-fenway.org/environsciences.htm

COF Global Education Opportunities (GEO) Center
Brings International Events to the Colleges

The Global Education Opportunities Center works closely with the international admissions staff, international student advisors, and international programs directors throughout the COF to promote internationalization of the COF campuses.  This fall semester, the GEO Center organized some exciting events with great turnouts from all the COF schools.

• The International Welcome Reception for new and returning International students, hosted by the International Programs Office at Emmanuel College, was in early September.  A student from each COF college shared a tip for incoming international students, such as to get involved with student organizations. Faculty, staff, and students from all six campus attended and enjoyed both international and American snacks—including mini peanut butter and jelly sandwiches! 
• The COF Study Abroad Fair, held at Emmanuel College, was coordinated by the GEO Center in collaboration with the COF study abroad advisors.  Over 275 COF students met with study abroad representatives to plan their upcoming semesters and summers abroad in all parts of the world.  All students registered for a raffle; prizes included flight vouchers, t-shirt, travel guides, and other exciting prizes.
• “Traveling Sola: Tips for Wandering Women” was a workshop about safe travel featuring speaker Stephanie Greist, author of “100 Places Every Woman Should Go.”  Twenty five students and staff heard great ideas, such as using a leg money belt for carrying valuable documents and money.
• “Keeping the Experience Alive” workshop for returned study abroad students reviewed what was learned abroad and how to integrate study abroad experiences into their lives.
  
  

Upcoming GEO Center Events this fall semester:
(see www.colleges-fenway.org/global for details)

• “Multicultural Perspectives Abroad Lunch” for students of color who are interested in studying abroad
• “Travel and Careers: Marketing Your International Experience”
• Pre-departure orientations for semester and travel course students
• Info tables across the COF for COF Travel courses
• Global Ambassador Program speakers bureau for returned study abroad students who help promote study abroad on the campuses
  
  

Register for a COF Faculty-Led Travel Course

Due dates for COF Travel Courses are now!

Want to study Spanish in Oviedo or Granada, Spain? 
Epic literature in England?  Women’s leaders in India?
Choose from 25 travel courses this spring semester and earn course credits
while traveling abroad for 2-4 weeks!

What is a travel course?

• Travel is with a COF faculty and group of students for 10 days to four weeks during vacation periods (winter break, spring break or summer).
• Cross-registration is easy as part of the student’s course load.
• Class meetings are held during the semester before departure to academically prepare students for the travel component.
• Travel package costs can be covered through federal and state financial aid and are tax-deductible.  Some campuses offer scholarships.

Visit www.colleges-fenway.org/global for more information.

Third Annual Turkey Trot

Colleges of the Fenway Intramurals, in conjunction with MCPHS’ Recreation and Wellness, is hosting the 3rd Annual Turkey Trot on Saturday, November 8th. The 5K Fun Run/Walk benefits the Greater Boston Food Bank. Cost for the event is a 5 canned good donation to the Greater Boston Food Bank and t is open to all COF Faculty/Staff/Students and their families. Over the past two years, we have raised close to 2,000 pounds of food. 

The Turkey Trot takes place at the Back Bay Fens and starts on the track at Clemente Field (directly across the street from Simmons’ Main Campus Building). Registration begins at 9:30am and the race will start at 10:30am. All registrants who preregister on-line by Wednesday, November 5th, will receive a long-sleeved t-shirt. All participants are encouraged to attend the post-race party at Cambridge 1 on Boylston St for pizza, salad and refreshments as well as great door prizes. Gift Cards to the top 3 male and female finishers will also be awarded at the post-race party. This year, there will also be free PowerAde for participants.

To register go to: https://login.ezfacility.com/APP/OnlineRegistrations/Register.aspx?CompanyID=966&GroupID=43593 to register online for the event. If you have any questions or want more information, e-mail Brad Tittrington at btittrington@colleges-fenway.org.

 

 

 

COF Takes 1-0 Lead in BU/COF Grudge Match

The first contest for the Grudge Match took place this summer as EUOFF from Wentworth faced BU’s Giggity Giggity in summer softball. EUOFF got out to a first inning 12-0 lead and never looked back as they cruised to an 18-12 win. EUOFF team members include Amber Peel, Rachel Laster and Liz Edstrom of Simmons and Wentworth students Chris Wante, Stephen Prudhomme, Dan Prisco, Mark Riemitis, Ross Notaroberto, Jacob Mercer, Brian Sullivan, Rick Zito, Mike Patane and Chris Shay. The next Grudge Match opportunity will occur in the fall as the top men’s and co-rec teams from Colleges of the Fenway’s flag football league will compete against BU’s champions. The participants from each Grudge Match receive event t-shirts and a plaque will be located in both the COF Intramural Office and BU’s Intramural office with teams engraved to commemorate each match.

 

COF Performing Arts Expands Offerings

Let’s get it started! In addition to the COF Orchestra, COF Chorus and COF Theater Project, we’ve expanded the COF Dance Project to two nights per week! This includes a brand new hip-hop class, taught by Sandra Shih Parks, in addition to ballet and two sections of jazz.

For you instrumentalists out there, there are two new options for you. Our COF Jazz Band is in full swing! This big band features both jazz standards and modern favorites, with a dash of salsa. Or join a chamber ensemble! If you’ve always wanted to play in a string quartet, a woodwind quintet, or an ensemble of your design, now’s your chance.

Schedule of Performances:

 

COF Orchestra, Kathleen Berger, Conductor
Fall '08 Concert featuring Beethoven's Symphony No. 5
Thursday, 11/20/08 at 7:00 PM
Alumnae Hall, Simmons College      

COF Theater Project, Tom Davison, Director
American Dreams: One-acts and writings by Sam Shepard, John Patrick Shanley & more. Featuring "Forensic and the Navigators" & "Icarus' Mother" by Shepard & "Out West" by Shanley.
Friday, 12/5/08 at 8:00 PM
Saturday, 12/6/08 at 2:00 PM
Sunday, 12/7/08 at 2:00 PM
Tower Auditorium, MassArt 

 

COF Jazz Band Inaugural Concert & COF Chorus, Ray Fahrner, Director
Ceremony of Carols/Shout for Joy
Saturday, 12/6/08 at 7:30 PM
Emmanuel Auditorium, Emmanuel College

 

COF Dance Project, Directed by Kristen Young and Sandra Parks

Dances this Side o' Town '08

Hip-hop, Jazz and Ballet

Friday, 11/21/08 at 7:00 PM

Roxbury Community College, Main Stage

Rehearasal Schedule:

COF Jazz Band
Contact Ray at rfahrner@colleges-fenway.org or 617-521-2075.

COF Chorus Open Rehearsals
Tower Auditorium, MassArt · 621 Huntington Ave, Boston.

COF Dance Project
Every Tuesday:     6:45 PM  Modern jazz w. Ms. Young, 8:00 PM Hip-hop w. Ms. Parks,
9:00 PM Hip-hop w. Ms. Parks
           
Dance Studio, Admin Building, Emmanuel College · 400 The Fenway, Boston.

Every Wednesday:  7:00 PM Ballet and 8:15 PM Modern Jazz    
Dance Studio, Holmes Sport Center, Simmons College · 300 The Fenway, Boston.
Contact Sandra Sparks For Hip Hop: sandraparks07@gmail.com
Contact Kristen Duffy Young for Modern jazz & Ballet: kduffy945@gmail.com

For more information visit:
http://www.colleges-fenway.org/performingarts/

 

NEW!
COF BULLETIN BOARDS

Looking for something to do on one of the COF campuses?
 
Don't know where to look?
 
Check out the COF Bulletin Board on YOUR campus! 

LOCATIONS:

• Emmanuel - Admin Building, Ground Floor, in new restaurant 

• MassArt - Kennedy Building (1st floor next to elevator, 2nd floor outside and in Student Center)

• MCPHS - Outside Student Activities

• Simmons - Across the hall from Student Activities Office (same side as box office)

• Wentworth - Beatty Hall (1st floor near elevator)

• Wheelock - Student Center (closest to Alumni Patio)

  ~

Colleges of 
the Fenway

Emmanuel

MassArt

MCPHS

Simmons

WIT

Wheelock

NEW STAFF JOINING COF

Tania Green

Tania Green joined Colleges of the Fenway in August as Program Assistant.  Before graduating from Gordon College, this past May, as a Barrington Scholar with a degree in Communication Arts (Writing and Media), Tania was highly involved with the Communication Arts department-- serving as president of Lambda Pi Eta, the Communication Honor Society and producing a Gordon-event advertisement for the Walden Media film Amazing Grace. 

Passionate about social justice issues, Tania interned for New Profit Inc., a large nonprofit that allocates funds and consulting to nonprofits across the country and for MataHari: Eye of the Day, a small NPO that provides counseling and legal services to victims of human trafficking and labor exploitation.

In her spare time, Tania researches for Dr. Ivy George’s forthcoming book on international adoption and writes, produces, and acts in commercials for local businesses.

She is excited to work for Colleges of the Fenway and welcomes students to visit and learn more about COF activities.

New Global Education Opportunities Center Staff

Claudeline Jean-Baptiste

Claudeline Jean-Baptiste is the graduate intern for the GEO Center. She is a native of Boston. She is currently researching and writing for her Capstone Paper. Her Masters degree will be completed in International Education from the School for International Training in Brattleboro, VT. Claudeline earned her BA in Sociology, Criminology and Law with a minor in Paralegal Studies from Suffolk University. She is from a bi-cultural home with both parents the Island of Hispaniola, where she traveled to numerous times during her childhood. She has regressed in her fluency of Spanish, is fluent in Haitian-Creole, and at an intermediate level of French. Stop by the GEO Center so she may practice her languages with you.

Mary Boyington

Mary Boyington, Assistant Director of the Global Education Opportunities Center, works closely with staff and faculty at the Colleges of the Fenway to promote study abroad, welcome international students, and encourage internationalization of the six campuses. Mary is a native of New Orleans and completed her graduate studies in French and Francophone Literature at the University of Louisiana-Lafayette.  Before coming to Boston, Mary was promoting foreign languages and international relations at Pomona College, one of the Claremont Colleges in California, and she has been working in the field of international education for eight years.  Mary's background includes directing a faculty-led program to Paris, teaching French and Humanities courses, study abroad advising, as well as working with international students and scholars.  Her personal interests include cooking and wine tasting, trivia, and playing the viola.  She is looking forward to working with students and faculty across the six campuses.

We are pleased to welcome Sandra Parks who joins Kristen Duffy Young as COF Dance Project instructor.  Sandra teaches the Tuesday night hip-hop class at the Emmanuel College dance studio at 8:15 PM.

Ms. Parks received her BFA in Dance Performance from Tisch School of the Arts, NYU, and MFA in Choreography and Dance from Smith College, MA  She is originally from Taiwan, where she received her training in ballet, Chinese dance, jazz, hip hop and modern dance, and she danced with Four Seasons Ballet and Wu-I Dance Company. Upon graduation from NYU, Sandra toured nationally and internationally with a Broadway production of the King And I. In addition, she has been the lead dancer and choreographer for more than 75 different concerts in Atlantic City, Boston, Las Vegas and New York City since 1996. She directed her own hip hop company in New York City for over 5 years. After she moved to Boston, she danced with Bosoma Dance Company, Dance Collective, and Impulse Dance Company.

Sandra started her teaching career in 2000.  She has taught at Boston University, Smith College, Top Center for Dance education and many other performing arts schools in New England and New York City. She was invited to teach master classes in Taipei, Taiwan in the summer of 2004 and 2006. In addition to the Colleges of the Fenway, she is currently a faculty member at Belmont High School, Boston University, MassMotion Dance and Mass Movement/Young Audiences of Massachusetts.

Colleges of the Fenway
375 Longwood Ave.
Boston, MA 02215

P: 617-632-2729
cofadmin@colleges-fenway.org
www.colleges-fenway.org