The Blue Streaks men’s team came into the event having won three of their last four meets, including four of their last six, and were looking to add another “W” to their tally. Luckily, the Blue Streaks were able to accomplish that task as they defeated the Yellow Jackets by a meet score of 124-104 on the day.

Freshman David Calcaterra was able to spark the Blue Streaks scoring efforts as he finished in first place in the 1,000 Free event with a finish time of 11:10.97. Senior Brennan Schloendorn finished in first place in the 200 Free event with a time of 1:48.04 while fellow senior Alex Vereshchagin also picked up an important win in the 50 Free with an impressive time of 21.97.

From there, the Blue Streaks (7-5, 3-1 Ohio Athletic Conference) finished in either first or second place in eight of the nine remaining events, thus sealing the victory for JCU on the men’s side of competition.

While the men’s team was able to pick up the always needed win over Baldwin-Wallace, the women’s team was not to be outdone as they also defeated the Yellow Jackets by a final meet score of 142-90. Since beginning the season by losing each of their first five meets, the Blue Streaks (6-7-1, 2-2 OAC) have since gone 6-2-1 in their last nine meets, and continued that same type of high grade performance against Baldwin-Wallace.

The combination of the Adams sisters, junior Julia Adams and freshman Karyn Adams, proved to be lethal as they each took first in their respective events to start the meet. Julia Adams claimed first place in the 1,000-meter Free event with a time of 11:32.31 while sister Karyn finished in first place in the 50 Free event with a time of 25.78. Freshman Victoria Watson also clocked in at first place in the 200 Free event with a finish time of 2:02.74.

Senior Brittany Krauth turned in another impressive performance, as she has done all season, as she picked up the win in the 200 Butterfly event with a time of 2:20.01. Freshman Danielle Ketterer placed second in the 1 Meter Diving event with a score of 219.35 while senior Melissa Fillmore also took second place in the 200-yard Breaststroke with a time of 2:37.17.

Once again, freshman Karyn Adams took first place in the 100 Free event (55.91) while sister Julia also picked up another first place finish in the 200 Backstroke (2:16.55). Sophomore Rachel Libertin rounded out the impressive individual finishes for JCU as she took first place in the 500 Free event with a time of 5:36.04.

After celebrating Senior Day in spectacular winning fashion, both Blue Streaks teams officially commenced the 2011-12 regular season and will now shift their focus towards the postseason. Both JCU teams will next compete in the Ohio Athletic Conference Championships held in Akron, Ohio from Thursday, Feb. 16 through Saturday,  Feb. 18.

The fact that the majority of the elected positions were uncontested shows a lack of commitment and interest in working toward making the University a better place.

Since less than a third of the total undergraduate student body voted, this demonstrates complacency and disinterest in Student Union involvement.

Members of Student Union need to step up, and accept nominations because the student body is directly affected by the issues dealt with by JCU’s student government.

There are many students who participate in Student Union, so they should be willing to assume more of a responsibility in the organization. By not running for these elected leadership positions, they are shirking their duty. The effort of those who both ran and voted in this election is commendable and sets an example for students to follow.

Students often complain about problems in the University community, yet when they get an opportunity to voice their opinion and elect the best candidates or run for leadership positions on campus, they drop the ball. It is a responsibility and right of all students to participate in the democratic process to ensure their voices are heard. Students should be excited to take advantage of this opportunity.

However, some students found they did not have enough information from candidates’ campaigns to make an educated vote. The students running for government need to make sure that their principles and goals are clearly stated and accessible to benefit the entire student body.

Elections took place at a time in the semester when students are swamped with work before the end of the term. If elections take place at a time, such as directly after midterms, when there is more of a lull in schoolwork, students will be more likely to put forth time and effort into elections.

In a report released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics on regional and state employment, 26 states and Washington, D.C., reported increases in unemployment, while only 12 reported unemployment decreases from July to August.

The national unemployment rate remained the same at 9.1 percent from July to August. At this point last year, though, the rate stood at 9.6 percent.

This report comes right after President Obama’s proposal of The American Jobs Act earlier this month, in which the main goal, according to the president, is to “put more people back to work and put more money in the pockets of working Americans.”

Most of the unemployment growth has occurred in the West and in the South.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, leading the nation in unemployment rates is Nevada, with 13.4 percent. Next highest is California, with an unemployment rate of 12.1.

Many states leading the nation in unemployment are also in the South.

South Carolina (11.1 percent), Florida (10.7), North Carolina (10.4), Mississippi (10.3), Georgia (10.2), and Alabama (9.9) are all within the top 10 highest rates of unemployment.

Georgia alone has lost 29,000 jobs since last year, and lost 18,200 last month alone.

California has had a 1.2 percent increase in the past year, but its jobless rate is still higher than post-recession levels.

Since 2009, Nevada, California, Florida, Mississippi and Georgia have all still seen unemployment grow since the recession.

Michigan, perhaps hit hardest by the fallout of the auto industry, has recovered nicely since the recession. In 2009, Michigan had a jobless rate of 13.8 percent. Since then, it has fallen to 11.2 percent.

Ohio’s unemployment rate has fallen 1.3 percent since the recession ended.

Image from The New York Times

The Cleveland region specifically has fallen approximately 1.1 percent since June 2009, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Historically, the Rust Belt has been the region that has seen the more difficult end of unemployment issues.

It seems since the recession in 2007, that trend may be shifting towards the Sun Belt and out west.

Michael Chriszt, an official from the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta’s research department explained to The New York Times why Georgia remains at an unemployment stalemate, “For a long time we tended to outpace the national average with regard to economic performance, and a lot of that was driven by, for lack of a better word, development and in-migration. That came to an abrupt halt, and it has not picked up.”

South Carolina’s unemployment woes can be attributed to a still-recovering construction and manufacturing sector.

Richard Kaglic a regional economist at the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, Va., told The Times, “The state’s lingering troubles reflect what happened when its construction and manufacturing industries were hit hard by the recession.”

It’s also interesting to note a report released by the Census Bureau earlier this month that said poverty rose to a record 46.2 million Americans (15.1 percent) in 2010.

In 2009, the year the recession ended,  42.9 million Americans were in poverty, 0.8 percent lower than in 2010.

According to the Census Bureau, poverty rate grew the most in the South,  with a 1.2 percent increase, followed by the Northeast  and Midwest (both grew 0.6 percent), and then the West (0.5 percent).

The South’s poverty rate grew double that of the next closest regions from 2009 to 2010.

Surprisingly, despite the high rates of employment in the West, it still has the lowest poverty rates.

Obama’s jobs bill seeks to tackle both of these problems. The success of his presidency as well as the success of his campaign for 2012 could very well be tied to what he accomplishes with this issue in the final year of his first term.

“Neighborhoods” is a pretty big deal. It’s the pop-punk trio’s first album in eight years, and the expectations have been mounting since the band announced that they intended to end their indefinite hiatus.

Fans looking for a return to the good old Blink-182 days of fart jokes, sex humor, and incessant juvenile behavior will be disappointed.

Those days have been over since the band’s 2003 self-titled LP. Unfortunately, those who are hoping for an effective, matured album similar to that one will be disappointed as well.

Mark Hoppus, Tom DeLonge and Travis Barker try to recapture that spirit, but while their efforts in experimentation are admirable, they ultimately fall flat.

While “Blink-182” the album may have been a drastic new direction for the band, it was still undoubtedly Blink-182. Almost every track on “Neighborhoods” is less like Blink-182, noticeable influences by Angels & Airwaves, DeLonge’s side project.

The synthesizers have been over-utilized, and many of the songs open with overly long instrumental introductions that are rarely engaging and usually repetitive.

DeLonge also continues to use reverb on his voice to an unbearable extent. This is especially noticeable on the track “Love is Dangerous,” in which he sings about the negative repercussions of an empty relationship.

Luckily, drummer Barker is just as good as he’s ever been. Easily the most musically talented member of the band, Barker has no problem setting the pace for the other members.

His beats in the album are fast and furious as usual, and their energy pulsates through every song.

“Wishing Well” is typical catchy pop-punk, but it’s a relief when you realize it’s just that. The familiar “nah nah nah nah” chorus will get stuck in your head, and you’ll be singing along if you’re seeing them live.

The album’s first single, “Up All Night,” is classic Blink-182, with DeLonge and Hoppus harmonizing perfectly like old times.

The strongest track, “Natives,” is just plain awesome. Everyone is in full form here, with Barker’s chaotic mosh-pit inducing drumming meeting with DeLonge and Hoppus’s guitar riffs perfectly.

It’s a shame that the song is brought down by the biggest weakness of the album: the song-writing has gone down a tier or two since their last album.

“I’m just a waste of your time/maybe I’m better off dead,” Hoppus sings in “Natives.” The lyrics in their last album were mostly downers, but they were well done and mature.

The word “heart” is mentioned at least once in every song, and so are trite clichés of the genre. It’s the most disappointing part of the album.

“Neighborhoods” is still an enjoyable easy listen. Hardcore Blink-182 fans will add a few tracks to their favorites, but no new fans will be gained from this album.

After a hiatus of this length, it could have been a lot worse. Hopefully, the boys are just warming up.

Somers, the library’s current director was proud to say that Grasselli is moving forward into the world of technology, merging print with digital media, however, she was quick to note that the library has an interesting past that should not be forgotten.

Josephine Grasselli, daughter of Caesar Grasselli, the noted benefactor of John Carroll, always thought the campus needed a library. From a young age she saved her money and eventually raised enough to begin work on the current building. Laurene Dicillo, JCU’s archivist, said that this was more than just a library for Grasselli, she put her heart and soul into a learning space she thought was necessary for students.

Dicillo works with the history of JCU every day. The archives, which are located in the lowest level of Grasselli, house photos, university records, faculty awards, and much more dating back to 1886 when the university was founded.

She has a handwritten list of the first students to ever be enrolled at JCU which at the time was St. Ignatius College.

“I even have a copy of the first Carroll News from 1925,” she said.  These are only a few of the thousands of items located in the archives.

During the celebration on Tuesday there was a short program that took a look into the history of the library and its directors. Marci Milota, a veteran staff member, has spent more than half of her life working in Grasselli. It was easy to tell as she spoke how much the library meant to her.

She knew each of the previous four library directors on a personal level and could not express how much they did for the library.

Milota watched the library grow into the resource center that it is today. She said “it is amazing to think of the days when we used typewriters. Today, libraries wouldn’t exist without computers.”

In 1994, the library used only 5 percent of its budget on electronics, mainly CD-ROMS.  This year over 50 percent of the budget was allotted for electronic resources. It is no surprise to the 29 staff members in the library that technology is vital to college students and their academic work. Somers wants students to make the most of Grasselli’s resources, both print and electronic.

Sophomore Christine Fleig is a fan of the Center for Digital Media, which was opened in March of 2010. She likes that the Macs in the Center have the program Final Cut.

“I’m a Mac-over-PC person,” Fleig said.

Somers is also working hard to make the library a “social academic space.”

“We encourage students to work together in study groups or visit Java City,” she said.

Some students also enjoy the quiet atmosphere the library provides.

“It’s different than a dorm,” freshman Rob Morel said. “It’s more welcoming.”

Will there be a celebration in 50 years for Grasselli’s 100th anniversary?  Somers and Dicillo both seem to think so.

“The library is absolutely essential,” said Somers. “It is such a special place for so many people.”

Fifty-four days ago, Casey Miller began his bike ride across the country in Portland, Ore. with his destination set for Boston. Until two weeks before he began, he hadn’t ridden a bike since middle school, he didn’t even know he was going on the journey until that time.

Casey has traveled the world. He has a few masters’ degrees from Harvard. He built a company that retrieved energy from garbage. You know, no big deal. He did what he thought he was supposed to do: go to college, make money in business, etc. Having accomplished those things, he wasn’t fulfilled. He sold his company and, searching for his true calling, he soon set out for Boston.

Most of us are in college because that’s just what you do once you finish high school. The path of convention is an easy one to take. It seems that once we get on that path, though, it’s easy to get lost in every possible way. We become so focused on the pressures of school that we lose a sense of ourselves and others. True human desires and character become clouded by “practical” pursuits. As the Vampire Weekend lyrics go, “We mostly work to live/Until we live to work.”

When he left Portland, Casey had no plans other than heading east. Along his journey he’s been very generously housed and fed by people from all different backgrounds all over the country. We were fortunate to be among those people.

As much as we were inspired  by him, he assured us that it was mutual. His journey has taught him a lot about human nature. He believes that when people know or find what they are called to do, they get immense joy out of giving what they are to others. He believes this is at the root of altruistic actions. Once we discover what gives our lives meaning and joy, there is little else that can make us feel better than  being able to spread that meaning and joy to others.

Does anyone do soul searching these days? I’m sure it creeps into  the minds of mostly everyone, but is it ever taken seriously? It would only seem natural to pursue what defines our core desires. But my bet is that we push things aside for a later time when we don’t have homework or a job to go to; when we have free time.

One of the most impactful, however common, insights that Casey gave us was to write our obituaries  as if we were to die tomorrow, then to write them as if we died in 50 years. If there are any discrepancies between the two, change something now because maybe you don’t have all the time left that you imagine.

Casey named his bike Socrates.  and his website is SocratesSpoke.com. The second meaning of this double entendre is the guidance and inspiration Casey found in Socrates’ quote, “The unexamined life is not worth living.” He hopes to examine his life and find out what his calling is, all the while discovering what makes people find meaning in their lives.

So what are you supposed to take from this vague critique of the constraining, culturally-imposed life compass? Examine your life so it will be worth living. Take a step back and think about what you’re doing and if it’s how you want to live and be remembered. If that isn’t the case, then do what’s necessary to become what you want, no matter how “unrealistic” or “impractical.”

Of course, not every source of meaning can be achieved from a long-term plan. Remember, you could die tomorrow. That person you want to ask to homecoming, that marathon you want to run, those places you want to see, etc. are all sources of meaning and should be pursued. You might have to go through a nerve-racking situation, save money or train for months, but all things are achievable.

In any situation you encounter in life, your allegiance is primarily to yourself. As Casey has discovered, once you help yourself and find true meaning, you’ll be more enthusiastic and better able to help others live their life to the fullest. This is what I would call success and there isn’t necessarily monetary gain.

So, get after it!

The John Carroll University women’s volleyball team spent this past weekend on the road as the team took their collective talents to Pittsburgh, Pa. The team arrived at Carnegie Mellon University on Friday, Sept. 16 with an impressive 7-3 record on the season.

However, a loss to Westminster College, a team they had beaten once already this year, dropped the Blue Streaks’ record to 7-4. In that game the team was completely swept losing three straight games 25-9, 25-19, 25-21. Junior Sarah Slagle, who has been a major part of the team’s success this season, had eight kills alone in those sets.

Also helping in JCU’s effort against Wesminster was junior Melanie Rodriguez who had 10 digs against Westminster.

The team hoped to rebound  Saturday from their loss the night before to Westminster. In their first game of the day, they faced off against the host Carnegie Mellon University Tartans.

After four hard fought sets, the Blue Streaks came up short of a win. After winning the first set of the match 25-22, JCU dropped the next three sets by scores of 25-14, 25-17, and 25-21.

Even with sophomore Gina Catania contributing with 28 assists and senior Kerry Fox, sophomore Charlotte Sykora and senior Laura Sudo combining for 27 kills, the Blue Streaks couldn’t pull out the win as they saw their record dip to 7-5 going into their final match of the tournament.

Hoping not to leave the CMU Quad empty-handed, the Blue Streaks came out ready to play against a struggling 1-9 Adrian College team. The Blue Streaks’ aggressive play allowed them to fend off the Bulldogs in four games by scores of 22-25, 25-23, 25-13, 25-21. The combination of Fox’s 15 kills and nine assists with Sykora’s 12 kills and four blocks proved to be key for JCU, as they pulled out their first win of the tournament to salvage the weekend.

“We did some really nice things in each match, but were not consistent nor efficient enough in two  of the three matches to win,” said coach Plummer. “Our strengths have been battling all the way through matches, and this weekend that strength became a weakness.  After a spirited, defensive-minded practice Monday morning, I look forward to seeing this team compete again.”

The team will start Ohio Athletic Conference play this Friday, Sept. 23 when they take on the Marietta College Pioneers.

With the return of sophomore Gina Catania from an injury, the starting lineup is now fully in place and her return should help propel the team late in the season.

“We are excited about her contributions in the setting position and allowing Kerry Fox to return to her outside hitting position,” said coach Plummer.

Winning will be key now more than ever, as nine of the Blue Streaks’ final 10 matches are against conference teams.

The ceremony captured the collective eyes and imaginations of billions of people worldwide.

For an entire generation of people, it was the revitalization of the romantic and mythical nature of the monarchy.

The feelings were fueled by the compassionate nature and charisma of Diana, who became the face of the royal family in the mind of the public.

Her high-profile charity work made her extraordinarily popular even after her divorce from Charles in 1996. Her untimely death in 1997 made her iconic.

In the years since Diana’s death, the monarchy began to take a hit in public opinion, mostly due to distaste for Charles, his second marriage and the way the royal family shunned Diana after her divorce.

Fortunately for the royal family, another marriage has thrown them back into the limelight.

Last Saturday, Prince William and Kate Middleton were married at Westminster Abbey in London, becoming the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.

Much like the wedding of his parents, William’s nuptials were estimated to attract the attention of nearly two billion people worldwide, including quite a few of John Carroll’s own students.

Freshmen Alexandria Flynn, Catie Kirsch, and Katie Mulholland woke up at 4 a.m. to watch the wedding live. Why? To be part of history, the group said. “I was interested in seeing that big part of history,” Mulholland said. “I also wanted to see the dress and especially the royal kiss.”

“It was also nice to see that Kate did her own makeup and hair.” Mulholland added.

The group added that while they weren’t able to stay up for the entire event, they made sure to watch the full recap again in the morning.

Freshmen Anna Winberg and her friend Erica Ruszczyk, also chose to stay up in the Pacelli lounge because of the history of the moment.

“It wouldn’t have been the same to watch the wedding on recap,” said Winberg. “It’s special because it only happens every few decades.”

After the wedding, William and Catherine chose to return to Buckingham Palace and forego a honeymoon for the immediate future.

The duke is expected to return to his duties as a search and rescue pilot, while the duchess will spend time with her new family and become better acquainted with her new role. The couple is expected to privately honeymoon somewhere in Scotland.

Despite William not being the direct heir to the throne, the wedding drew widespread speculation and attention from the media.

Some believe William should pass over Charles and become king.

“It’s possible that William could be the one to be king,” said Flynn.

Mulholland agreed. “I think William is more up to date with issues and easier to identify with.”

William has expressed his disinterest in the monarchy as this point in his life and he has made it clear his father needed to be king first. He seems completely content with his service to the armed forces and doesn’t appear to want more than that on his mind right now.

Whatever he chooses, it is clear that the story of William and Kate has captured the attention of millions worldwide.

The ‘60s and ‘70s are back in a big way. Bright colors, white ensembles, maxi skirts and long dresses are the must-haves this season. Also, don’t forget denim jeans; cropped, flared wide leg, and bell-bottom styles are what are hot for the summer season.

For the day time we are likely to see wide-leg jeans with a tucked-in white button down shirt and wedge sandals, or for more of a relaxed look try bell-bottom style jeans with a T-shirt and sandals. For the evening, pair a tank top and blazer with flared jeans.

The other denim trend this summer is the ‘60s crop. The pant leg ends at least two inches above the ankle, and looks great with ballet flats or a wedge sandal.

All these different types of jeans are popular in the brands Rock and Republic and 7 For All Mankind. However, if you are on a budget you can find these looks at Express, Nordstrom’s and Forever 21.

One of the best summer trends are accessories such as belts, sunglasses, handbags and jewelry. Belts can define your curves and add to the simple dress. Sunglasses are always a must have accessory for summer however; try the large farmed sunglasses. Funky colors like pink and red are also very popular this season.

One of the best summer tips that will make you stand out is jewelry.  Wearing jewelry adds an extra element to your look. Metals, floral, and vintage are the trends this season. Hand beaten metal pendants with stones and twisted wire jewelry will help you make an impact this summer. Florals are always in Vogue in the summer as well as wearing fabric rosettes, brooches, clips and bracelets. Floral motifs in glass and metal will continue to be a big hit this year as well.

John Carroll students weighed in on summer fashions. “Whatever the trend is my accessories are always sunglasses and a nice tan,” said Stephanie Czaplenski. “However, my must-have accessory this season is without a doubt the wedge sandals.” Junior Kristen Ostanski agreed with the maxi dress trend. “Floral patterns will be the trend,” she said.

The trend for jewelry shapes is going minimal. There will be large, bold, streamlined designs without too much detail.

Old vintage and antique pieces are also a trend this season.  Pieces such as pearls of different colors, floral motifs with stones, and dull gold and polished copper will be back in the forefront.

Obviously no outfit is complete without a handbag. But whatever the trend is one must not forget to buy something that compliments the outfit they are wearing. This season  is all about bright, bold colors. Metallic details and animal prints are also available.

However, the standard brown and black handbags are not to be underestimated, because they never go out of style. The designers that are featuring these key accessories for the summer are Tory Burch, Michael Kors, and Coach. If you are on a budget, Bakers Shoes, Aldo Accessories, and Blings & Things also carry these trends.

For millions of Americans, the memories of the 1995 government shutdown loomed overhead in their minds.

As the day progressed however, the possibility of a shutdown was finally averted with a buzzer-beater agreement to cut roughly $38 billion from the budget was struck barely an hour before the shutdown was scheduled to begin, keeping the government up and running for the remainder of the fiscal year.

President Obama began to explain his plan for the current budget that is under review over the weekend.

The president implied that he has a strong desire to reduce the deficit in order to repair the U.S. economy.

With many of his proposals, Obama held  true to his own party’s views, such as the desire to erase the tax-cuts for wealthy Americans enacted during President Bush’s administration.

At the same time there were a few proposed cuts which echoed the rhetoric of the congressional Republicans.

For instance, Obama expressed the need for cuts in entitlement programs such as Social Security and government-based health insurance, programs usually favored by the Democratic Party.

While the threat of a shutdown has dwindled, remaining is the possibility of a default regarding the debt ceiling.

There have been several proposals from the White House and other Democrats implying that the debt ceiling must be raised.  Although many congressional Republicans have protested this, the level of dissent most likely will not be particularly strong.

The real question is which party is believed to have benefited more from the entire budget crisis.

On one side, many of the Democrats expressed their content with the way the crisis was handled.

The congressional Democrats expressed their optimism with the possibility of spending cuts in areas they feel must be trimmed.

Some of these details include increasing taxes on Americans making $200 thousand a year or higher, as well as cuts in military spending.

The survival of federal funding for Planned Parenthood was also seen as a victory for the Democrats.

As for the White House, President Obama expressed his satisfaction with the government’s ability to work together even among differing political ideologies.

“Today, Americans of different beliefs came together. We protected the investments we need to win the future,” said the president.

At the same time, many viewed the Republicans as the victors of the budget crisis.  Indeed, the Republican Party successfully managed to receive more demands than may have initially been expected.

The White House’s decision to make cuts in Social Security and health insurance were causes that were championed by the Republican congressional majority.

It should not be forgotten in the hype of the deal, though, how political differences exposed the fragility of the federal government. “It’s showed that neither side is afraid to have a really hardballed negotiation, that closing down the government is an option on other things and that neither side is afraid to take it to the edge of the cliff,” Rep. Jack Kingston (R-Ga.) told The Washington Post.

The performing arts festival brings together Cleveland art groups and presents their new work to the community.

The event begins April 13 at the Cleveland Play House.

The celebration’s lineup was announced last Wednesday, and includes major acts such as the multi-media production “Pollock,” about artist Jackson Pollock and the solo show “Shaheed: The Dream and Death of Benazir Bhutto,” about the slain Pakistani prime minister.

Other performances include “The Real Americans,” about ‘Obama Nation’ and ‘Palin Country,’ as well as “Marigold Wars,” a drama about finding reason, peace and beauty in the time of war.

Another major act performing this year is sure to turn some heads just from its name, the band “Stew and the Negro Problem.”

Heidi Rodewald and the artist called Stew headline the band. They also were the same artists behind the Broadway musical “Passing Strange,” which Spike Lee later filmed.

Their show at Cleveland’s Fusion Fest will be a collage of song, text and video.

Lisa Craig of the Cleveland Play House believes “Stew” will be the most talked about part of Fusion Fest.

“‘Stew and the Negro Problem’ have never performed in the Midwest before,” Craig said.

“His material in pop, music and poetry are great examples of fusion for the Fest.” Craig went on to say that audiences will find the band to be one of the most surprising part of their visit to the Play House.

For Craig, the best part of Fusion Fest is its diversity. “Fusion Fest is just that, fusion in performances. There are various disciplines that are cutting edge [that will be present],” he said.

“It is a great chance to see and experiment, and just go hang out with friends and see something great.”

Fusion Fest runs through April 23 at the Cleveland Play House. Tickets are available  at clevelandplayhouse.com.

Among the various Good Samaritan acts and continuous relief efforts that have taken place in recent weeks since Japan’s earthquake and tsunami, countless fashion labels have taken the initiative to design products that benefit the country.

From T-shirts to designer bags, the list ranges from affordable to pricey, yet the theme remains the same: help the victims.

For women, designer Tory Burch has designed a T-shirt inspired by the Japanese flag, which shows seven rows of flags and hearts.

The shirt is available on the designer’s website for $29, and 100 percent of the net proceeds of each T-shirt sold through Sept. 15, 2011 will go to the American Red Cross to benefit relief efforts.

Designers such as Anna Sui created a T-shirt with the slogan “We’re all in this together” and Karmaloop.com created a T -shirt for both men and women that states, “The Sun will rise Again.” Both sell for $20.  For both Sui and Karmaloop, 100 percent of the proceeds will be donated to The Red Cross.

Senior Kaitryn Snider believes what designers are doing can benefit many in different ways.  “This is an intelligent way [for designers] to use their great influence in the world of fashion to benefit the greater good,” she said. “They merged their passion for design with their compassion for those in desperate need in Japan and it’s a win-win-win situation for the designer, the conscientious consumer, and the needy.”

Polo Ralph Lauren has created a charity polo, available for men and women for $98.  The company paired with United Way worldwide network to create “The Japan Hope” polo shirt (which comes in either black, white or navy), and to donate 100 percent of all proceeds to the humanitarian effort in Japan through the Central Community Chest of Japan.

New England-based leather company Corter has currently raised over $30,000 for The Red Cross Japan with their “Corter for Japan” leather cuff, which is selling for $20 each. Owner of Corter Leather Eric Heins said his motivation to design an item for Japan came from his longtime admiration of Japanese leather smiths.

“Their work got me interested in the craft and I started my little company because getting the things they make over in the states was very time consuming and expensive,” he said. “When I saw the news footage, and heard that a lot of my business friends [in Japan] were being affected, and I knew I could spring to action quickly, so I made a few bracelets in 20 minutes and put them for sale online.”

Heins’ design is a leather bracelet with a hand painted red button to show support for Japan.

“The leather will tan and patina uniquely to each person as they wear it, and the paint will chip away on the button over time as well,” Heins said.

“The band is simple, no branding, and the hope is that by the time the bracelet has no red paint left on the button and is a beautiful dark, worn brown, the country will also be well on its way to healing and resuming normal life.”

Well-known designers Kate Spade and Rebecca Minkoff have used their expertise to create money bags to benefit the countries victims as well.

For $18, Kate Spade’s “Support Japan Tote” features the signature spade logo, a heart, and the red circle from the country’s flag.

Minkoff has created six red bags that range in price from $295-$495 for her Japan Relief collection.  The designer has offered to send every $100 made from the handbags to the American Red Cross.

Other big-name fashion brands such as Brooks Brothers, Coach, Alexander Wang, Forever 21 and American Eagle have contributed thousands of dollars in donations to aid in the effort.

Snider thinks each of these created items shows something about the kindness of the designers.

“This shows their concern for the global community and their own awareness of the great potential they have to make an impact in disaster relief through the use of their unique talents,” she said.

In the fashion world, it seems like new trends arise every day.

Many magazines and websites tell women what they should wear, however, that certain trend may not look the same on different people.

Tyra Banks, fashion icon and host of hit television show, “America’s Next Top Model,” has started a website, typeF.com, which brings a new meaning to fashion trends.

TypeF is a website where women can input their own body statistics, which include hair color, eye color, body shape and height.

With these stats, the website is able to conclude everything from what kind of makeup you should wear, what clothes look best on your body shape, as well as how to wear certain trends according to your stats.

Tyra’s new website also includes a mini Web series called Fa-Fa-Fa-Fashion. In this series, Andre Leon Talley, one of her judges from “America’s Next Top Model” and editor of fashion magazine, “Vogue,” gives tips on how to wear seven different items of clothing. Her web series appears on a weekly basis and will stream on typeF.com.

According to Tyra Banks, the “F” in typeF.com is defined as “fierce.” On the website, Banks has a blank slate open for users of the web to come up with their own definition of an F-word and why it is important to them.

With the recent cancelation of her television show, “The Tyra Banks Show,” Banks continues to work to remain a phenomenon in the fashion world.

Despite a rumored return to the runway, she is working to conquer the business side of fashion.

To gain more experience in the business world, she is currently enrolled at Harvard, where she will complete an executive education program in 2012.

With all the experience Banks is gaining, she is seeing both sides to the fashion world.

“TypeF, was able to give me great tips that I can use that fit my body type and features for when I go shopping or even when I get ready to go somewhere,” said junior Sarah Tyler.

“The website is a really cool new concept that makes high fashion available and possible for women outside of Hollywood,” said sophomore Katie Kotecki. “It’s so hard to find clothes that everyone can wear while looking good wearing it.”

As the fashion world continues to succeed so does Tyra. And Tyra Banks continues to change the fashion world for everyone.

The OAC Championships will be hosted by Baldwin-Wallace College in Berea, Ohio. The competition will begin on Friday, Feb. 25 and will conclude on Saturday.

The men’s team finished in sixth place out of 10 teams at last year’s conference championships at Marietta College and the women’s team finished in eighth place.

Both the Blue Streaks men’s and women’s teams will look to improve upon those marks this year.

Sophomore Anthony Colbert and senior Brian Wideman will both look to build off of the success that they had at the Greater Cleveland Championships last weekend.

Each claimed two titles at the competition, combining for four of the five total titles won by Blue Streaks on the day.

Aside from those two, sophomore Mike Minjock figures to be in the mix in the long jump after breaking the school record in that event just last week.

Minjock’s classmate Pat Burns could score in the distance runs.

On the women’s side of the event, the Blue Streaks brought home four titles from the Greater Cleveland Championships.

Freshman Nicki Bohrer and sophomore Maureen Creighton both finished with an identical time of 1:21:28 in the 500 meter run to break a school record.

Their time of 1:21:28 bested the previous 500 meter record of  1:21.73, set by Markita Thompson in 2003.

The 500 meter run event was a race that the Blue Streaks excelled in as freshman Gab Kreuz took third and junior Andrea Brown was fourth to complete the JCU quartet.

Kreuz also came in fifth place in the 200 meter run.

The women’s team finished in third place in the competition with  86 team points and the men’s team finished in fourth place on their side of the bracket with a team total of 118 points on the day.

Previously, Beta Theta Pi was the only group of Greeks on campus that had yet to be recognized as an official chapter. They existed only as a colony, which is a fraternity or sorority that has just started on a campus. 

The Installation Ceremony took place on Saturday, Nov. 6 at the Marriott Hotel and only initiated Betas attended. The leadership of the national fraternity including the General Fraternity President, General Secretary, and the Board of Trustees attended the ceremony, a first in the national fraternity’s history. 

“We also had a number of our brothers from the Lambda Kappa-Beta chapter at Case Western Reserve University as well as Beta alums from all over Cleveland, from all different generations,” said JCU graduate Joel Mullner, Beta’s member educator advisor.

Directly following the ceremony, the

Installation Mass was held on campus. Betas, their families, and the JCU community were invited to attend as a celebration of the official chapter. The homilist for the Mass, the Rev. Edward Janoch, is a Beta alumnus from Bowling Green State University. Mark Ehrbar, a junior Beta, instructed the music for the Mass.

A reception dinner at Canterbury Golf Club in Beachwood followed the Mass. More than 200 Betas and friends, which represented 29 different Beta chapters, were in attendance. 

The weekend celebration was also coupled with the fraternity’s annual Carroll’s Got Talent philanthropic event. This event allows JCU students to compete in a talent show and also raises money for the Milestones Autism Center and children with autism. The Betas raised approximately $1,500 this year. 

The weekend was planned by co-chairs of the Installation Committee, sophomores John Jackson and Spencer German, along with sophomore Trenton Oczypok. 

“Although this is a time for pause and excitement, it is also a time for visioning. As a chapter of Beta Theta Pi, [we] are responsible for modeling the way and creating a sustainable environment where men can live the values of our organization. Doing so is an incredible responsibility,” said Scott Allen, the Beta faculty advisor and a vice president on Beta’s board of trustees.

Beta began at JCU in 2007 when Beta Theta Pi Leadership Consultants and Administrated Staff came to JCU, looking for the right group of males to call the Founding Fathers and to colonize the Beta fraternity. They spent 25 days recruiting men around campus.

Kyle Sobh, a JCU graduate and founding member of the campus chapter, said, “Becoming a Founding Father of the John Carroll University, now Eta Epsilon Chapter of Beta Theta Pi, has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my collegiate career and possibly my life.”

Before becoming a chapter, a colony must fulfill 30 requirements including keeping high academic standards and publishing a newsletter. Unlike a “to-do” list, these requirements are meant to be ingrained into the fraternity, and carried as a legacy. Most colonies are able to finish the requirements within three years. If they cannot finish within four years, the chapter is shut down.

According to junior Andy Lane, current president of the JCU Betas, the members have complied with all of the requirements, and have exceeded the academic standard requirement. 

 “We have maintained a GPA higher than the all-male, all-campus, and all-fraternity GPAs since our inception in 2007,” said Lane.

Many Betas are active elsewhere on campus as well. 

“Our brothers hold some of the most coveted leadership positions on campus as six of the 11 male tour guides are Betas, as well as three resident assistants, two members of IFC, the sophomore class president and the production manager of our campus radio station. Because of our efforts, the Eta Epsilon chapter was recognized with the Campus Involvement award at the 171st General Convention [of the national organization],” said Lane.

To the Betas, Installation weekend was the culmination of working to become nationally installed. 

Sobh said, “This weekend was to say, the ‘grand prize’ for all of the work and effort that we have poured into this organization and now will forever be framed in this cherished document, our charter.”

Other members of Beta looked back during the Installation weekend on their recruitment into the fraternity, and what it meant to them.

“My initial reaction when I received my bid two years ago, I was ecstatic,” said junior Greg Sloat. “It was something that I really, really felt passionate about, and that I really, really wanted to be in.”

Sobh felt that the fraternity played a large role in his collegiate experience. 

“If it wasn’t for Beta Theta Pi at John Carroll, I don’t think that I would have graduated with as many memories and enjoyable times and such close friends as I did,” said Sobh.

The ceremony is the process of making a commitment to serve as an officer on active or reserve duty upon graduation. It is required for all students who either accept a scholarship or enter ‘advanced’ courses, but for most cadets it has deeper meaning.

“[The Contracting Ceremony] sums up what I’ve been waiting for, for a couple of months now. We become part of the ROTC family,” said cadet Jeffery Turner. “I already felt like part of the family, but it puts it in writing.”

Turner, a junior at Cleveland State University, is just one of the cadets contracting that isn’t from JCU. John Carroll plays host to eight schools in the area including: Baldwin-Wallace College, Cleveland State University, Notre Dame College, Case Western Reserve University, Hiram College, Oberlin College, and Ursuline College.

Collectively the students participating in this Contracting Ceremony will receive more than $1 million in scholarships.

While money probably plays a role for some cadets, many have other reasons for contracting as well. JCU sophomore Mary Solak credits her aunt for her initial interest.

“It has been an interest to me ever since I was younger. My aunt was in the army and she was a big influence in my life,” said Solak.

Captain Matthew McGraw, scholarship and enrollment officer for the department of military science (ROTC), is excited to see people like Solak and Turner involved in the program.

“Coming off active duty it is encouraging to see people of this age with this much commitment,” said McGraw.

The Contracting Ceremony was held at 7 a.m. this morning. It was an open community event. The Rev. Robert Niehoff, S.J., and all other university presidents were invited to attend.

 The teach-in attracts between 150 and 200 participants each year. The event provides participants with information, practical skills and resources to support social justice programming.

Students and faculty from different parts of Ohio came to network with others who are involved in social justice. The event provides education and advocacy for human rights and economic justice in Central America.

“The teach-in brings in a lot of students, both college and high school. We [JCU] wanted to provide a space for IRTF to teach,” said senior Andy Trares.

According to Trares, who previously interned with IRTF,  hosting the convention at JCU is a way for JCU students to network with other students and gain a wider understanding of issues.      

“It’s exciting to see so many young people who are passionate and engaged in social issues,” said Brian Stefan-Szittai, the program coordinator.      

Stefan-Szittai put together an entire program of activities involving different workshops such as “The Body Shop,” which was about palm oils causing deaths in Colombia, or “Murals,” which educates participants about social change through public art.     

“We also do this so students in particular can network,” Stefan-Szittai said. 

People from beyond JCU and other institutions can get together and talk about the ideas that they have to improve social justice, especially in Central America, which is a focus of IRTF. 

In these workshops, people interacted and shared their feelings about what they thought social justice involves and how to help spread knowledge about these issues.

“I was interested in what it was all about and excited to learn ways that I could help those in need,” said JCU sophomore Dana Stratz.

Stratz attended the event for a class. She went to a workshop called “Exploited Labor: The Wilting Truth about Flowers in Columbia.”

The workshop discussed labor in Colombia, where workers are paid almost half of the minimum wage to work in hot garment factories for 12 hours a day, sometimes with no breaks. Some flower pickers pick around 350 flowers per hour, earning $8.25 a day.

Emily Ferron, a senior at JCU, attended the workshop on the flower pickers.

“I believe much of social justice must incorporate action and compassion, but you also need education to support others as well as to educate people about your own cause.”

Ferron said learning new ways to help others on campus is what she took away from the workshop. 

Students from other universities attended the event as well.

Elliot Phillips, a junior at Baldwin-Wallace, said he has been to IRTF workshops before and feels it helps to look at something from a different perspective.

“It’s good for the spirit. I just had to come,” said Phillips.

Phillips hopes that the IRTF programs are able to expand in the future.

The program was not the first IRTF event to take place on campus. In September, JCU hosted a Fair Trade Expo that was co-sponsored with IRTF, which led to hosting the teach-in.

Chris Kerr, Campus Ministry coordinator of social justice initiatives and immersion experiences, helped to organize the event on campus.

Kerr said, “I am glad that we can continue our partnership with the IRTF. Their efforts to engage the Cleveland community in issues of human rights and social justice are invaluable.”

Hilary Flanagan, director of the Center for Career Services said that 110 organizations would attend the event.

“The biggest thing about a career fair is actually connecting face to face with an employer,” said Flanagan.

Industries that will be represented at the fair include financial, non-profit, educational and communications.

The Boys and Girls Club of America, Cleveland Clinic, the Cleveland Museum of Natural History, MetLife Financial Services, Sherwin-Williams and WEWS News Channel 5 are some of the employers that will be present at the career fair.

Employers will be offering full-time, part-time, entry-level, internships, volunteer, temporary and seasonal work.

Students can view a full list of the employers that will be attending the career fair on Career Connection.

The exact position available from each employer is also available on www.jcu.edu/careercenter/connection.

Flanagan said that students who attend the event should bring with them organized copies of their resumes, which they can hand to potential employers.
Students can register for the event beforehand through Career Connection. Students who registered in advance will have nametags, and those who did not will be able to make one when they arrive.

All students who attend will receive a list of employers when they enter the event.

“Dress appropriately. Bring a smile and maybe, a breath mint, but no gum,” said Flanagan.

This event is for current JCU students of any undergraduate major, graduate students in any program and alumni.

I ask for your patience and apologize as I shall indeed break into song at some points during this speech. I don’t have the best voice but I learned this song back in my Jesuit secondary school in Nigeria and will love to share it with you, as I believe it still applies today. It is Steve Green’s “Find us Faithful” and we could sing this together, I invite you to join me if you recognize the words.

We’re pilgrims on the journey of the narrow road,
And those who’ve gone before us line the way.
Cheering on the faithful,
Encouraging the weary,
Their lives a stirring testament to God’s sustaining grace.

This verse reminds me of the warmth I was welcomed with during my first visit to this institution. We all know that a good education is non-existent without a suitable social environment- an environment that stays faithful to the goals of learning and service. The warm welcome I received, on that very cold and windy day, led me to believe that this campus was such an environment. An environment where doors were held, by gentlemen for ladies in hurried flights, meals were shared, on Friday nights, out on the streets of Cleveland, and time was spent, in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. A place where I frequently bumped into Dr. Welki and his kind and encouraging words, and listened to sermons from Dr. Simmons, and a place where I got to see these young and energetic professors take on unsuspecting JCU students in games of racquet ball. John Carroll has been faithful to her mission by providing a citadel of learning where education transcends mere book knowledge. Fellow students, it is now imperative that we fulfill our end of the bargain by remembering the virtues of service and leadership in the world around us.

Surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses
Let us run the race not only for the prize;
But as those who’ve gone before us,
Let us leave to those behind us
The heritage of faithfulness passed on through godly lives.

Oh may all who come behind us find us faithful,
May the fire of our devotion light their way.
May the footprints that we leave
Lead them to believe,
And the lives we live inspire them to obey.
Oh may all who come behind us find us faithful.

As we go out to continue to engage in the politics associated with the journey of life we must carefully and critically analyze not just the facts and figures, but who and what really matter: who we are advocating for, working for, what we are living for. As our John Carroll education has taught us, let us stand as a “testament to God’s sustaining grace,” running the race “not only for the prize” so that those coming after us are inspired to do the same.

How you may ask? I know that many of you showed up for those core classes in Philosophy and Religion and took notes in courses pertaining to ethics and morality. In these ways you may have understood the Jesuit mission; or you may be indifferent to the liberal education and the Jesuit mission (I hope not), I also hope you are not indifferent to a better and more just world. As such, I ask you to strive for change – to work to carry out the changes your knowledge and experiences have made you envision or visualize.

I am not asking that you trade in your capitalist philosophies for socialist ideals or that you exchange your realist views for idealist perspectives. I am not asking that you change your beliefs; I only ask that you use your talents and gifts to act considerably and committedly, and that you do so with compassion and character.

Some of you are disillusioned with the goals of this education, some of you are still wondering why you should care as we each have our own problems or because you haven’t recovered from not doing as well as you wanted in Dr. Bloom’s Accounting class. But, if you haven’t realized yet, as trite as this may sound, we are all in this together. We really are. The current economic crisis that started with the housing market is evidence that a few people’s actions can influence the fate of many. Therefore, it is important for us to take up leadership and service roles in our societies because making the right decisions will ensure collective progress and also secure individual prosperity.

After all our hopes and dreams have come and gone,
And our children sift through all we’ve left behind,
May the clues that they discover
And the mem’ries they uncover
Become the light that leads them to the road we each must find.

As we leave with memories of that Murphy snowball fight, wearing our North Face jackets and backpacks, heading into the world in those Ugg boots, tennis shoes, sandals or flip flops we dared in winter months, I hope we hold dear to us that which will never fade away–that desire to lead so that others may live.

Classmates, I encourage you to stay enlightened and empowered in the ways that John Carroll University has formed you these past few years. May those coming after us find us faithful. As some of you have started to inspire children as teachers, in a few years, many of you will save lives through the practice of medicine. I know that some amongst us will create brighter futures through science and engineering and many will defend the rights of those often forgotten in the courts of law. Some will also go into arts and into music to entertain the world, and for those of you who do, you had better sing much better than I did today.

Thank you.

Instead, today I will talk about two people whose lives were altered by the institution from which we are graduating. One was an award winning journalist from a working class family in a working class town. The second person has little in common with the first, except for a degree from John Carroll and a desire to effect change as a journalist. That person is me.

I had the opportunity to intern at NBC studios two summers ago and I was invited to a taping of Tim Russert’s Meet the Press. After the taping, I sat in a circle with the twenty other interns while Mr. Russert answered our questions about the world of journalism and the power that it wields. He told us about his interview with former Vice President Cheney the day after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. He told us about his meeting with the Pope and about his upcoming interviews with each presidential candidate running for office that summer.

“You have to ask the tough questions,” he said. “That is the only way you get the truth; the only way to make a difference.”

He then asked us each to go around the circle and tell him our names and where we were attending college. As my fellow interns rattled off Ivy League schools, Mr. Russert simply smiled and nodded. When it was my turn, I proudly said, “I go to John Carroll University.” Mr. Russert threw his hands in the air, then clapped them together by his heart and said “Go Blue Streaks!”

“Do you know, I am a Blue Streak?” he asked me.

After the taping, I continued to think about Mr. Russert’s statement, “I am a Blue Streak.” The word that resonated with me most was the word “am,” suggesting that, although he had graduated from JCU decades before, Mr. Russert still considered himself an active member of its community. He still considered himself a Blue Streak.

These words carried me back to the day I first entered this University as a student four years ago. I stood at the steps of the DJ Lombardo student center and scanned the green quad and the violet flowers on its periphery. I looked at the statue of St. Ignatius, bold and symbolic of the Jesuit mission, grasping a sword. And finally, I looked at the bell tower, the most recognizable feature of this University.

After taking in this scene, I felt as if I belonged; as if I had all the answers. Then I stopped and asked myself a question to which I did not have an answer: “What in the world is a Blue Streak?”

In order to answer that question, I want to share with you my experience of mentoring inner city school children, starting with this sentence: “My friend is poor because she got nothing in her house” Daisha, a third grade student who had failed the Ohio Proficiency exam in previous years and struggled to read a first grade level story book, read this sentence to me when asked to construct one using the vocabulary word “poor.”

After each session, my classmates and I would drive twenty minutes down the road from Diasha’s school to John Carroll University in University Heights. After taking this route several times, I realized the striking change in scenery. In less than twenty minutes, we traveled from rundown duplexes surrounded by grassless front yards and rickety fences to a multimillion-dollar college campus, encircled by elegant family homes and churches. After considering the noticeable differences between Daisha’s school and neighborhood and mine, I began to question why this was so.

For Daisha, whose mother worked several jobs and had no time to aide her children with homework, higher education may not be an option. For the children in University Heights, however, the choice of where to attend college exists as a difficult decision.

Why had Daisha been ignored? What allowed this ignorance to persist? These are the tough questions that have to be asked in order to get the truth and to make a difference.

At my last visit to the inner city school, I asked Daisha to create a sentence with the vocabulary word “wisdom.” After much deliberation, she wrote in her notebook: “If I study hard, I will get wisdom.”

Despite its grammatical errors, Daisha’s sentence reflects the crux of the Jesuit mission. This wisdom emphasized through our training allows us to ask the difficult questions necessary to effect change. Our Jesuit education equips us not only with the knowledge but the resources to highlight Daisha’s conditions and make people care about and invest in children like her. It challenges us to engage the world.

After my four years here, I know why Mr. Russert valued his experience at John Carroll. I see how he was able to channel his skill set, developed through this University, to tell the stories of the voiceless like Daisha, and how he has inspired me to do the same.

So let us return to the question of “What is a Blue Streak?” Does it mean being an award-winning journalist whose passion for and commitment to the truth produced some of the most effective dialogue in this country’s recent history? Does it mean being the winningest coach in the history of the NFL? Does it mean becoming the CEO of a fortune 500 company? A neurosurgeon? An Entrepreneur?

Sure, it means all this, but it means much more.

To say “I am a Blue Streak” is to say that while you sit atop your bunk-bed in your heated dorm room, looking at the snow covered Quad outside your window, you are troubled by the fact that just down the street, an old woman sits atop a heated grate.

To say, “I am a Blue Streak” is to say that while you stand on the steps of the student center, overlooking the manicured lawn and the purple flowers thriving on its border, you are concerned that five miles down the road, a child in a tattered t-shirt stands on the crumbling steps of his house, overlooking potholes in the road and police cars on the corner.

To say “I am a Blue Streak” is to say that while you wait in a doctor’s office with your insurance card in hand, you find it problematic that the person next to you has skipped meals to pay to see the same doctor.

To say “I am a Blue Streak” is to say that while you plant flowers outside a deteriorating elementary school, place books on the shelf in its library and play hoops with its students on a crumbling basketball court, you know you are only making a dent in solving problems of social injustice, but you sign up to do it every year because you believe a few dents will eventually make a hole.

It is traveling to New Orleans, or Louisville, or Chicago, or Guatemala, or Nicaragua on your spring break to recognize that poverty and injustice penetrate every community.

It is being the catalyst for social change and identifying situations that need to be examined further with a more critical lens.

It is to know all the opportunities you have earned and have been given and to share them with others.

To be a Blue Streak means that when you meet another person from John Carroll University, you can clap your hands, close to your heart, and say, “I AM a Blue Streak.” And that person will know, immediately, who you are.

“This is what rituals are for. We do spiritual ceremonies as human beings in order to create a safe resting place for our most complicated feelings of joy or trauma, so that we don’t have to haul those feelings around with us forever, weighing us down.” Those words are not my own. I’ve been reading Elizabeth Gilbert’s book Eat, Pray, Love, and I recently stumbled across this little insight, and I thought so that’s why we have a graduation ceremony. We could easily pack up and move out the day we finish our last final exam and receive our diploma in the mail. But today is important. Today is significant. It is the one day that we can really sit down and reflect on the past few years of our life—I mean, really, we will all be sitting here for a few hours so we might as well spend it doing something productive, right?

So we thought about the happy and the sad, but then we exhaled that last breath of air from the past. And now it’s time to let it all go. We savored our memories for all that they are worth and now it’s time to pack them up and take them with us…now, that’s not to say that we forget everything that we’ve learned and experienced. But it’s time to take the next step in our journey, to make that first stroke on our new blank canvas and look forward to the continued mural of our lives which we will assemble.

So….now what? What do we do with this world in front of us? Whether we have plans or not, I think it’s difficult to imagine exactly where we will be a year from today: It’s scary. But we have to start somewhere: this is where those packed up memories and bits of knowledge you’ve acquired come into play. Ok, now I’m not trying to give you a lesson in morality, none of us are perfect, I’m not pretending I’m anywhere near close. But there are a few things I’ve picked up along the way that I think are worth sharing today.

First, and foremost, you’ve probably heard this before, but it’s all in the little things and it’s true. You’ve also probably heard the phrase: “keep track of your pennies and the dollars will take care of themselves” (that’s for one of my very financially-minded friends.) We say it in many different ways, but it’s always important to remember. It’s smiling when you pass someone on the sidewalk, taking a minute to think about others before yourself. It’s about holding the door for a stranger—unless it’s the door of a residence hall, and in that case you are compromising the security of the building. But seriously, take that extra second to pass along that bit of kindness that could really change someone’s day. I know it always means a lot to me.

Second—now we’re going a little broader in scale—“Be the change you want to see in the world”. Yeah, that kind of sounds like a big jump from the little things. But I think it’s just as important. “Be the change you want to see in the world.” I mean, you can’t go wrong with Ghandi. We can talk and talk and talk about everything that’s wrong in the world, or the way that things should be. But it takes action, and it takes you. BE that woman or man for others that we have been hearing about for four years. And many of you already are! Take a minute and look around you and appreciate all of these wonderful people. But we all must remember that we have a responsibility to be the change we want to see in the world. It’s about the words we use and they way we treat people on a daily basis. This responsibility might seem a little scary at first, and maybe that’s why it’s so easy to say why bother. But this is where we make the greatest mistake of all: by not acting, by not doing anything about it. The power to make this world a better place lies in our hands now as it did yesterday and will tomorrow. Ok, if none of that made sense, tonight, listen to the song “World” by Five for Fighting. History starts now.

This is a little bit of a follow up to the first two, so we’ll call it: point number two and a half, when it gets tough, and it will—keep going! Now, I don’t think these grand ideas about changing the world will be easy—even if we just take the “little things” route, it’s tough to wake up every day and expect to have a positive attitude. So this is when I share my favorite new quotation which was passed along to me at the bottom of a friend’s e-mail: “People often say that motivation doesn’t last. Well, neither does bathing – that’s why we recommend it daily.” In other words, sometimes we need to take time and re-motivate ourselves whether it’s a serious time to contemplate what moves you in life or with a nap when you really need it.

Third, and finally, and this has to do with the previous two and a half points, in fact it has to do with everything: LOVE. Whatever you do, do it with love. Love for life. Love for yourself. Love, love, love. Take that blank canvas and paint it with pure love for humanity!

So, back to that song I mentioned earlier: it really does pose a great question. Yes, time to think again: take advantage of this whole sitting thing! “What kind of world do you want? Think anything. Let’s start at the start, build a master piece. Be careful what you wish for; History starts now. Start now.”Ok, now if you’re thinking you didn’t take full advantage of our little reflection time, here’s your last chance. Make it good and don’t forget anything! Breath in…Breathe out. Ok, are you ready? Well, hell, I’m not—but here we go!

My friends know that none of those feats are particularly impressive, even for an 80-year-old. The point I’m trying to make is, I was lucky enough to be privy to one of John Carroll’s best-kept secrets. Over my four years at JCU, I had the pleasure of knowing Dr. Walter Nosal.

I did not go looking for him. It was a couple weeks into my freshman year and I was in our old and now defunct science center, Bohannon. I was on assignment for my second ever story for The Carroll News and my editor wanted me to find out what’s going on in this now unused building. Visions of Watergate danced in my 18-year-old head as I explored this place. I was opening doors in hopes that I would find some corruption or anything that involved money laundering.

Unfortunately for my story, nothing of that sort was going on. In fact, nothing really at all was going on in there. And, just before I left, I took a walk down the only corner of the building I had not explored. I knocked on a door, and a voice inside told me to come in.

That was the first time I met Dr. Nosal.

When I opened his door, I grew a little concerned. I thought this guy had confused me for his grandson or something because I don’t think anyone in my entire life had ever been so outwardly happy to see me. This short, silver-haired guy with big blue eyes was standing in his office with a huge grin on his face and a hand shake firm enough to make me wince.

Dr. Nosal told me to take a seat at the fold-out table in the middle of his office, and the questions began. But the questions didn’t come from me, the reporter who knocked on his door to ask him about what he was doing in Bohannon. Instead, the questions came from him: name, major, what I do on campus, what I want to do when I graduate.

At the time, I thought Dr. Nosal was incredibly unhelpful. He let me get out maybe one question, and the only quote I got out of him was about how grateful he was to have an office in Bohannon – an office that reminded me of a prison cell without the bars.

That day, I thought I left Bohannon with nothing. No quotes. No facts. Only an impeding deadline that was less than a day away. I thought I had just met a nice old man, but I really wasn’t interested in having the “what are you gonna do with your life” talk. After all, I was just a freshman. I had plenty of time to figure it all out.

But before I left, I gave Dr. Nosal my number. And, unlike many of the females in the the Class of 2009, he actually called me.

Though he is known by few students, it turns out Dr. Nosal is kind of a big deal at JCU. His face is on the “100 years of Carroll” poster. He spent 60 years at the University, 39 of which as a professor and eventual chair of the Departments of Education and Counseling and Testing Services, the rest he spent as an “assistant without portfolio.” Once I offered to buy him a portfolio, but he told me that wasn’t what that means.

As I learned more about him and he about me, we formed a “Tuesdays with Maurie”-like relationship, except with a bit of an edge. After one summer I went into his office and he told me I had gotten a little big, said I looked like a line backer. After that visit I went running.

And while Dr. Nosal believes in the benefits of physical activity, he spent his life devoted to the activity of the mind. A fulfilling life requires what he calls the Olympics of the mind, the body and the heart.

He called me a tiny acorn, he chastised me for putting my hand in front of my mouth when I spoke, for mumbling and slouching. But he never ceased to remind me that tall oaks grow from small acorns.

I grew a lot in my four years here. Not physically, of course – I’m actually still quite short. But I think I am a lot different today than I was four years ago, and I think that’s a good thing.

Dr. Nosal observed this growth, and much of it was through the weekly editions of The Carroll News I tried to remember to slide under his door. Unfortunately I often got busy and forgot to make the delivery, despite my best intentions. When I explained this to Dr. Nosal, he reminded me that the road to hell is paved with good intentions

My time with The Carroll News shaped my college experience. I was editor of the paper my senior year, and for three years I was a columnist who subscribed to Dr. Nosal’s aphorism “Every pearl comes from an irritated oyster.”

My column, titled “You’re Wrong, I’m Rafferty,” taught me a lot. The first lesson I learned was that not everyone thought I was funny. One student wrote a letter to the editor that said, “Perhaps no one takes the time to notice, but his weekly column is wrong.”

I certainly had some critics. But that never stopped me, and because of it I think I produced a couple pearls.

In some respects we should all be irritated oysters. One day I saw a member of JCU’s cleaning staff picking off the ground a crumbled up copy of The Plain Dealer. The front-page story that day was about how AIG paid $165 million in bonuses to top executives after receiving public funds through a $173 billion bailout. A month earlier 10 members of JCU’s cleaning staff had been laid off.

Certainly we should not go through our lives as angry people, but we should graduate knowing that we are in a tremendous position to lead great lives and to help others improve their quality of life.

Every time I visited Dr. Nosal, he asked me the same questions: Whose career I would like to be predecessor to. What are my dreams? Even though I knew they were coming, I still got frustrated every time he asked me because I never had a real answer.

Most of us don’t have answers ready for those types of questions. If WE could do anything, be anything, what would WE be?

These are questions most of us don’t feel compelled to answer. A lot of us are concerned with getting a job, not our dream job.

It is fair to be worried. Things are going to get more difficult from here on out.

But, in the words of Dr. Nosal, all sunshine makes a desert.

While these times might breed anxiety, they also can free us from the pressure of jumping into an entry-level job that is off track from our dreams.

Tough times can also make us think about things a little differently. It can make us explore options we previously did not think were worth exploring. I never seriously entertained the thought of service until the past few months. The more I looked into it, the more it seemed like something I would enjoy doing. I most likely would have never given the thought of service a fair shake if I had more lucrative options.

I met Dr. Nosal in the last place on campus I expected to find a person like him. It’s funny how life works like that.

Today, we’re all going to get a college degree from a great university. We’re going to be OK. Our parents, teachers and fellow graduates are all rooting for us. Dr. Nosal assured me that even after he was 6 feet underground he would still be rooting for me. There are people in your lives who are just as enthusiastically cheering for you.

The goals we set are achievable no matter how high or low the market is. We just need to understand those goals so that we can achieve what we all should be aiming for – living a life that matters.

Thank you.