Student Blog

Wow,  it’s been that crazy, and I’m not too sure how much more coffee I can safely consume. (Honestly, I can drink a lot more of it; I think my body would go into shock if I didn’t have it). Here’s what’s been going on.  The Veterans Exchange is having the Veterans Day Campus Cookout tomorrow on the Venice campus, in honor of Veterans Day, This Thursday, November 11^th.  We’ve sold just over 50 tickets, and we are expecting to sell more during the cookout.  We are really excited because this is sort of our maiden voyage…our first big event since we started the club this past August.  No, the ride has not been 100% smooth, but we are still afloat, and we are looking forward to hopefully continuing this Veterans Day Campus Cookout every year.

Another great thing that happened on campus today was a poetry reading by Mr. Bryan Deitrich.  If you have not read his latest collection of poetry, Love Craft, YOU SHOULD. It was (and is) AMAZING! This isn’t ENC1102 poetry, its spine tingling, fast moving, highly charged literature.  Just reading his poetry is electrifying, and to hear him read it is mind numbing.  There were close to 100 people in attendance.  So to date, I have three signed published works from visiting writers.  Last year Tim Dorsey visited, and that was great too.  There’s lots going on, always it seems.  This semester is going by almost as fast I drink a cup a coffee, and trust me, that’s fast.

I can’t talk, but I’m alive!  Sorry I disappeared for a while.  No, I wasn’t attacked by the ghost in the bathroom of the Venice Library, but I was attacked by a werewolf, and it was an absolute blast!  My voice is slowly coming back after four days of screaming. All this week I helped out the POP Culture Club with the annual Haunted House, and it was a HUGE success.  We raised approximately $1000.  It was a lot of sweat, but it was all worth it.  I worked until 10:30ish (along with several other club members) from Tuesday until Thursday night.  Last night we closed up shop at 11:30pm.  While we were all having insane amounts of fun we also had to attend classes, do our homework, and take exams.  I’m telling you right now that it WAS NOT EASY.  And I would like to give a shout out to my friend Casey (President of the Pop Culture Club) who joined me with getting two of the highest grades on our Archeology Midterm this week. We both managed to pull off A’s.  That balance I talked about earlier was extremely challenging this past week.  I think I almost broke, but I managed to keep my cranium from exploding.

Well, it’s Saturday night, and tomorrow at 9am we are taking down the Haunted House.

And now that the Haunted House is over, it’s off to the next club project: The Veterans Exchange “Toes for Joes” Sock Drive, which kicks of this coming Wed, November 3^rd at the Fall Ball.  We will be placing three boxes on campus in BLDG 100, BLDG 800, and BLDG 600.  It is our goal to collect as many clean and unopened packages of work or athletic socks as possible.  When the drive ends on November 12^th, all of the socks will be placed in Personal Hygiene Care Packages which will then be sent to local troops currently deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Well, that’s enough for now.  I’ll try not to stay away so long next time!

The Haunted House is up!!!!!!! Honestly, I wanted to help more, but I’ve done what I could, offering my limited carpentry skills, etc.  Overall, It looks really awesome, and I’m really impressed with everyone in the Pop Culture Club.   I mean they have truly done soooo much during the last two days, and it’s all in the name of school spirit, and community spirit.  Don’t get me wrong, there was some complaining (myself included) about unfinished homework, and sometimes people were a little short with each other.  But we all still found the time to laugh, and we somehow found the time to get the major construction completed.  The rest all falls into place tomorrow night, when the final black lights are in place, and the first victims walk through.  My back hurts a little bit, but it was worth it.  Well, it’s time for me to tackle some of that unfinished homework.  See you at the Haunted House!

Wow, it’s almost Christmas! Well, actually it isn’t, but you wouldn’t know that if you’ve been shopping in any stores lately.  It’s a bit much I think.  We have not even had the chance to enjoy Halloween, and eat tons of candy that we normally wouldn’t, because all the stores have what seems to be thousands of bags of miniature Snickers on sale (which I wish they didn’t, because I can’t stop buying them).  Okay, back to the Christmas thing.  So, in the store, just behind the Count Dracula costume is an Angle sitting atop a Christmas tree in the next isle. No wonder kids are so impatient these days! I really think we rush things too much.  Honestly, I haven’t even had time to start panicking about the papers I’m going to have to write in December, and now the stores are putting pressure on me!   Okay, I’m done complaining about mass consumerism. 

On a lighter note, the Pop Culture Club on the Venice Campus is extremely busy putting together their spectacular annual Haunted House.  Last year they raised over $1500.00, and they are sure to top that figure this year. I’ve been helping them out as much as I can, so I know a small bit about the details.  It’s going to be really good, and that’s all I can say.   The details are below.  Hope to see you there!

7-10 p.m., Monday-Thursday, Oct. 25 – Oct. 28, and at 7 – 11:30 p.m., Friday, Oct. 29, at the Lakeside Pavilion at SCF Venice, 8000 S. Tamiami Trail.

The event, Karnevil of Karnage, is a twisted and distorted view of carnivals, featuring a maze of gore and blackness with surprises around every corner.

A percentage of the proceeds will benefit Safe Place and Rape Crisis Center, a nonprofit agency in Sarasota that serves victims of domestic and sexual violence and promotes a violence-free community through awareness and education.

Tickets are $3. For more information, contact Pop Culture Club adviser Michelle Flynn at 941-408-1476. Maps and directions are online at scf.edu/maps.

The above information can be found on the SCF website: http://www.scf.edu/Administration/AdministrativeDepartments/PublicAffairsMarketing/NewsReleases/2010/20101015_01.asp

There’s a ghost in the men’s bathroom at the Venice campus Library.  I’ve told people this before.  They chuckle.  But I think it’s a nervous chuckle, because they’ve heard what I’ve heard.  It doesn’t happen all the time, but here’s how it goes:

I go in and it appears that I’m alone.  When I’m washing my hands I hear someone exiting one of the stalls behind me.  I wait to see who it is in the mirror. Like clockwork, no one appears, and I turn to look.  I’m alone, as always.  Obviously I’m not dealing with any kind of malevolent phantom.  Ultimately, I just wanted to document my experience.  If my blogs suddenly stop…please check the bathroom.  I might have done something to anger him.

Okay, ghost stories aside, the open MIC last Thursday was a HUGE success.  Over 30 people and 20 readers (which were all terrific)!  It was a great kick-off event for Swamp Scribes.  The next one is coming soon, I’ll keep you posted.

After the open mic a group of us when out to Chili’s.  One of our professors joined us.  It was great fun, and my stomach still aches from laughing.  Sometimes, however, I think students struggle when developing friendships with professors.  It reminds me of something from my Army days. My military superiors would often tell me: “Don’t take my kindness for a weakness.”  Yeah, it sounds harsh, but in reality, it’s the best advice a superior can offer.  Yes, you can laugh and joke with your professors, inside and outside of class; what’s important to remember is that the laughing and joking doesn’t transcend into your professor’s mind when they see your name in the grade book.

Having a good relationship with a professor doesn’t give you an all access pass to free roller coaster riding. And this doesn’t mean you can’t have a friendship with a processor. In fact, it can often enhance the college experience, and lead to important professional contacts in the future.

In a nutshell—keep it simple, real, and in perspective.  Oh yeah, watch out for ghosts too.

82 DAYS TIL GRADUATION!

If you have questions about student life at SCF, admissions or enrollment, e-mail us at studentblog@scf.edu.

Smack in the middle of week five and I’m still debating the possibility of dropping a class. Don’t worry, though: the class hasn’t actually started yet. I registered for a late-start Archaeology class which is set to start tomorrow, but I’m already in way over my head this semester, with 12 credit hours, one Gordon Rule class, a household to take care of, a lawn to mow,…and I did happen to mention I’m 23 weeks pregnant, right? Yikes, what a semester! Anyway, I need to decide shortly about the Archaeology class. It starts tomorrow and we’re supposed to have read the first three chapters. I haven’t broken the cellophane seal surrounding the book yet.

All this homework, studying, online quizzes and tests, and where is a person supposed to find time for social activities? On the one hand, I’m lucky I don’t also have to hold down a full-time job, considering the fact I am a proud recipient of the Post 9/11 G.I. Bill. I do, however, miss having time to hang out this semester without it involving lugging my wheeled backpack behind me. It’s like the little sibling who just won’t leave. I will be making time today to visit the tables for the last day of Club Rush on the Venice Campus, and hopefully I can attend Swamp Scribes’ first Open Mic tonight in the Student Union at 7pm. It’s a toss-up, seeing as my son’s first grade Open House is also tonight. And there’s a pirate theme. This is why first grade is occasionally just a bit cooler than college. Unless you’re in the Pop Culture club. They also dress-up, but the theme isn’t exactly pirates.

On that note, time to turn my Roomba on and head to class. It’s nice to have a machine vacuum for me while I’m off earning a degree. I’m only upset it took me this long to buy one. Thank you Short Story LIT, with your emphasis on science fiction, to give me the push toward robotics I always never knew I needed.

Til next time, to dig or not to dig? That is the question.

Enjoy the rest of the week,

Cherstin

Wow, Fall Frolic… The sounds of excitement and music fill the air. There are many clubs on campus eager for student involvement. Many special interests are being represented today, as I look through the crowd from behind the ‘Brain Bowl’ table, I see avenues in Science, Law, Mathematics, and Joy. Mostly joy, its the common thread. The smiles are everywhere and the live band is jamming out tunes that you can’t resist dancing to… not even sitting down. To spice things up Phi Beta Lambda is serving up coffee and doughnuts with their sign-up sheets, raising money for the cause.

Showing a club memberships can put an extra sparkle on your transfer application, to a higher institution, or when designing your resume. I love to see interesting things about people and I imagine that you can show a bit of personality by presenting what you find interesting, grabbing that communicative edge.

Here for the students are the Student Ambassadors! These awesome people lend a helping hand any time special events or volunteer opportunities come up, giving these student representatives a chance to get points towards tuition.

Speaking of interesting, the math club is exuding it’s calm-and-cool intellect into the crowd grabbing choice attention with the clean and prepared appeal. In the distance the science club is dazzling students with 21st century accomplishment, but also suggesting how to become part of the whole thing.

Oh… they started serving food! 25 cent pizza? woah! talk about being in the right place at the right time.

p.s.- You have got to check out the Sand Art crew… that is interactive.

If you have questions about student life at SCF, admissions or enrollment, e-mail us at studentblog@scf.edu.

Kaleidoscope

Last Saturday night, I thought it was Sunday night, and I almost started getting ready for my Monday classes. I haven’t done that since I was in grade school. Anyway, I think it’s because so much is going on right now. And that’s okay, for now anyway, because I’m still passing all of my classes.

There is still so much more that I want to do, and help out with, but I learned to say no.

CLUB RUSH this Wednesday and Thursday on the Venice campus! There’ll be about 20 tables lining the side of library. Reps from all the clubs will hopefully be gaining new members.

I’ll be representing the Veteran’s Club, THE VX Veterans Exchange, and the Creative Writing Club, Swamp Scribes. Speaking of Scribes, our first open Mic on the Venice campus is this Thursday at 7pm in the Student Union! Free food and drinks (not the keg stand type, but that’s okay).

With my classes, the clubs, and everything else going on in my life, I feel like I’m looking through a kaleidoscope. It’s hard to keep it all focused, but somehow I’m managing. And this brings me to another point, and I think it’s more important.

When I first began at SCF (then MCC), I felt that my age, late 30’s, excluded me from student clubs and organizations. In fact, when they did have Club Rush, I would walk by the tables, and say to myself “This is their time, let them enjoy it.” I had segregated myself. That way of thinking is just not true.

Regardless of anyone’s age, they all fall in to one category: STUDENT. That’s all that matters when you’re here, so take advantage of what the school has to offer. It makes it more interesting. And if there is an organization you think should be on campus, and it’s not here, START ONE! It’s easy.

Know what I like best about being busy, and looking through kaleidoscope glasses?

All the different colors—there’s always something interesting going on—you should take a look.

Over the weekend I received some excellent news in the mail in the form of an invitation. I was invited to the Honors Convocation on April 30th to receive an award. I knew who was behind my nomination, so upon asking the professor who nominated me, all he said was, ‘It’s to acknowledge your efforts to expand literature. Make sure you are there, and try to bring Kelly; I’ll be there too.’

Should I go?

While talking about literature, I’d like to say some things about my fellow students and the Slam coming up this Thursday at 7 pm in the Selby room of the Venice Campus.

There are some extremely good poets on campus this year. The poetry readings have been such a treat for the audience and me especially. Even though I am president of Swamp Scribes, I do not claim responsibility for the growth of participants this year. SCF had a major increase in enrollment, and there are more poets on campus this year than last.  Also, when the economy is down and free food and entertainment is offered, who wouldn’t go? Those, I think, are the three main reasons why the poetry readings have increased to over 50 audience members, and at least 24 readers (32 at the last evening reading.) If you have not been to any of the poetry readings (and even if you have), you MUST come to the Slam. I hope many poets on our campus will compete against one another.

Slams are not for the faint of heart. If you read your poetry at a Slam event, YOU WILL BE JUDGED by your peers. If you wish to compete, bring at least 5 poems to read. The Slam during the Fall brought in over 100 people in the audience. I wouldn’t mind topping that this semester. Slams are poetry readings that are designed to bring poetry back to the roots of the art form. It is not about written word, it is about spoken word. Slammers are graded based on their poem and their performance (reading) of the poem. I will be emceeing the event, so if you wish not to fall asleep, stay away. However, if you want freed pizza, soda, and entertainment, come on in!

I hope to see so many people there, we overflow the Selby Room!

While working inside the English Lab of the Venice ARC building (room 409), I received a couple text messages from my friend Tony, an SGA officer on our campus. I wanted to bring these text messages to your attention because they provide great info on upcoming stuff; one of which is coming up this Friday!

Starting at 6pm on the Venice campus, and in the Selby Room, there will be a talent show. It is free to attend, however, a donation of at least one or two dollars towards SPARCC will be greatly appreciated.

Also coming up is another SCF sponsored  trip is coming up on April 9th. This trip is available for both campuses if I understand correctly. To reserve a spot, stop by your Club Hub. Tickets are $20 with only 15 spots remaining as of 9.57am Tuesday morning (to be almost perfectly accurate).

In addition to that tid bit of information, Wednesday, April 14th, Tim Dorsey will be visiting on the Venice campus. I believe the time for that will be around 2pm. Don’t quote me on that, even though the club that I am president of is hosting the event. I told you in my last blog that I am overloaded. Give me a break… haha In any case, I met Tim Dorsey last year and he is a great guy to listen to and meet. He is a leading author in a fairly new (at least fairly new to popularity) genre of literature: Florida Weird. It’s an interesting genre. I have no other way to explain other than it includes some of the weird things that happen in Florida.

Also on Wednesday the 14th of April, and carrying over to the following day, are the SGA officer elections for the Venice campus. If anyone is interested in running for a position, I highly advise you to go into the Club Hub and find out exactly what the positions are, entail, and what is expected of you at this point.

Lastly, for now, Thursday, April 15th, at 7pm, and in the Selby Room of the Venice campus, there will be another Slam Poetry competition. It will not be exactly like the one in the Fall semester that produced over 100 people in attendance (and when SCF defeated FGCU and USF). This time the competition will be just among SCF poets. If you wish to compete, see either myself (you can find me in one of three places on the Venice campus – room 409, room 333, or Dr. Ford’s office) or Dr. Ford. basically, for those of you who have no idea what a Slam Poetry competition is, it is the performance of poetry through spoken word as opposed to written word; and you are judged on your reading/performance by peers. It truly is a wonderful experience. If you have never been to a poetry reading, or even if you have, a Slam competition will quite possibly change your opinion of poetry and poetry readings. (Speaking of poetry readings, this year has been amazing on the Venice campus. We just had a reading last week, and I will provide some feedback on that one and others.)

There are more events coming up, but I do not want to get ahead of ourselves. Remember to check the SCF calendar on the homepage. And what is that about the Guinness Book of World Records coming to our campus? Hmm…http://www.scf.edu/Administration/AdministrativeDepartments/PublicAffairsMarketing/NewsReleases/2010/20100325_01.asp

(It has to be some sort of literary crime to have so many parentheses in one blog.)