No matter whether you go to Lourdes, UT, BGSU, Owens, or any other college, there is one universal trait that every single college student should possess.  Every college student needs to know how to lie to a professor. 

There is always the essay that you did not do, the project that you have not quite finished, or the exam that you simply could not find the time to study for.  Something else always seems to occupy your time causing you to set aside your college studies.  Perhaps it was the game that went into overtime, a sudden weekend trip with your friends to Columbus, or the 16 hour nap you took on your day off work.  Maybe you were catching the Monk marathon on television, searching for the perfect pair of shoes to go with that fabulous new outfit you just bought, or shooting hoops with your buddies in a pick-up game.  Your time magically slips away until you are walking into class empty-handed, wondering what you will do.  You do the only thing that you can do - you lie.

The trick here is to lie convincingly.  Professors are masters at spotting a lie, so you must carefully review the criteria needed to be a convincing liar to pull it off successfully.

___________________________________________________________

Stayed tuned for the next two segments in "How to Lie to a Professor" and learn how to master body language, eye contact, and the lie itself.

A Powerpoint presentation will be available for student usage at the conclusion of the series.

Monday, August 06, 2007 7:48:29 PM (Atlantic Standard Time, UTC-04:00)    Comments [0] | 

Our office is working with Laura Ott, recruiter for internships at Lourdes. We are creating a third internship. We had great success with our marketing intern and web intern positions.

The new internship we are offering is also geared toward marketing. The person will be responsible for keeping all content updated on the following webpages: college relations, online newsroom, development, special events and alumni affairs. The person will also work closely with the grants department to create a web presence on lourdes.edu.

Anyone interested? If so, let me know.

Take care.

Monday, August 06, 2007 6:01:42 PM (Atlantic Standard Time, UTC-04:00)    Comments [1] | 

And I'm not talking about some sort of illicit employment. 

I got a job.  A real job.  Sayonara, doctor's office that I have loathed for the past five years.  Hello, St. V's.

I landed my dream job.  Oh, I am cloud nine right now.  And it's been two weeks since I've found out I got the job.  YAY!!!

It has been my mission since April to get into St. V's.  I love that hospital.  I had a clinical rotation there this past winter and fell in love with the place.  The nurses I worked with were outstanding and the atmosphere is awesome.  So I applied.  Three times to be exact.  And I finally got a call last month for an interview.  Needless to say, that went perfectly swell, and here I am, about to start orientation in 9 hours!

I want to be an ICU nurse when I grow up.  That is, when I graduate in a few short months, I want to be on an ICU floor.  This job is my foot in the door.  You are now formally introduced to me, Kim, the new Advanced Nursing Assistant of the med/surg ICU.  There is a God!

Getting my foot in the door at a major hospital is a plus.  I would recommend any nursing student who has gotten passed Basic Skills to work at one.  You get a ton of experience that you would never get in just a regular nursing clinical. 

Now to the bad part:  I am working 7pm to 7am.  Twice a week.  That's not bad, but it will be a HUGE adjustment since I am not accustomed to staying up all night.  It'll work out.  I am not too concerned about. I am just excited!!!

Sunday, August 05, 2007 11:11:35 PM (Atlantic Standard Time, UTC-04:00)    Comments [3] | 

 If you've read my profile, you may have noticed I come from Washington State. That's about as different from Ohio as any two places can be - my home state has both beautiful mountains and brutal deserts, and Ohio...doesn't. My family came from the East, of course. My Mom's family were a pioneering bunch who took the Oregon Trail and settled the Willamette Valley in Oregon. But not all my family left the East....

 I discovered recently that I have relatives living here in Ohio. They are the caretakers of the family Bible that sailed from Scotland to New York and eventually ended up in Ohio. It contains the family history of the man who left Scotland for the United States, before the United States existed. It has names and dates, births and deaths, and all the spectrum of one family's existance. And it's here, not far away, somewhere near Cleveland.

 My Ohio relatives are having a family reunion, and I have been invited via a second cousin who lives in Oregon but keeps in touch with her Ohio relatives. I am of two minds. One, a person can never have enough relatives, and should be firmly grounded in the family history, to pass on to future generations. But on the other hand, I will literally not know anyone - not one person. And that is a daunting feeling.

 Going to college after a long time away from school is like that, actually. When I made the decision to pursue my education, I already had 2 children and a life. On one hand, I knew that a degree would be beneficial should I ever find myself without a husband, and a person can never have too much education. On the other hand, I would be older than most of the students and even a couple of my professors, which was a rather embarassing realization. What had I done with my life, while my professors were pursuing their education?

 But I took that leap, and here I am. It was scary, it was like jumping into a deep lake without knowing what lies at the bottom. But it was exciting, too. It was opening a door with anticipation and that thrill of discovery.

 On August 19th, I will be taking another leap, and travelling to meet relatives I didn't even know I had until a week ago. Life isn't worth living if we are not willing to jump in the lake on occasion. Jump in.

Sunday, August 05, 2007 9:29:09 PM (Atlantic Standard Time, UTC-04:00)    Comments [0] | 

You know what the best thing about having your own blog is?  You can blog about anything you want.  I can write about anything that comes to mind.  I have to admit, not all my Lourdes blogs will be about Lourdes and Admissions.  From time to time I will throw in a blog about something I feel that is important.  Today is one of those days. 

For those of you who have spent any amount of time with me, you know I am a huge baseball fan and my favorite team is the Detroit Tigers.  Lets be honest, my office looks like a Detroit Tigers gift shop.  I simply can't describe the feeling I get when I walk into a baseball stadium.  It's like a rush.  I know it probably sounds crazy to you, but that is just how passionate I am about baseball.  It is one of my life goals to hit every ballpark before I die.  I have been a fan since the early 80's when my dad would take us to games at Tigers Stadium.  I was actually at a play off game in 84'.  But that was back when baseball was about the game and the love for the game, not the shady game it has become today.

Today baseball plagued by outrageous player salaries, dirty umpires, giant player egos, the whole Yankee organization in general, the ridiculous prices for tickets AND concessions at stadiums, etc.  I could go on forever, but the big problem in baseball is...you guessed, steroids. 

Steroids in my mind is basically another word for cheating and it's why I'm so fired up tonight.  Barry Bonds tied Hank Aaron's home run record of 755 home runs tonight.   Which sounds pretty hard to do right?  Well it shouldn't be when you are a cheater.  Of course Bonds denies steroid use, which I think is absurd.  Have you ever seen pictures of him before he got good?  He was just your average size baseball player.  Now you look at him and his head looks like a giant pumpkin up there.  And his neck is the size of my waist.  You just don't get that big working out.  It's impossible.  He said that he never "knowingly" took steroids.  Question...who doesn't know what they are putting into their body?  Is that kind of like when Lindsay Lohan was caught with cocaine in her pocket and she they weren't her pants and she didn't know who's pants they were?  I know I often don't know who's pants I'm wearing.  Seriously do people realize how absolutely stupid they sound?  What makes me SO mad about this whole thing is that Bonds is celebrating like he is a hero.  He is acting like he didn't cheat.  What kind of message is he sending to kids?  So my  question is when Bonds is listed in the record books, will there be a little asterisk next to his name and at the bottom of the page it will say **yeah he broke the home run record, but he did it by cheating.  And what makes me even more upset is that baseball is just letting him continue to play like nothing has happened.  I don't understand why no one is putting a stop to this.  How can you knowingly let a player cheat?  How can we take Hank Aaron's record away from him by some big cheater? 

I know to many of you this probably seems so silly to get worked up about, but that's just me.  I get worked up about the injustices of in the world.  Do not even get me started on health care.  We could be here all day.  And I know this seems like a small injustice, but it's baseball....America's favorite pastime, and it's turning into a circus. 

As much as I love baseball, I will not step foot in the Baseball Hall of Fame.  The Baseball Hall of Fame banned Pete Rose from ever being voted in.  Why?  For cheating?  No.  Not even close.  They will not let him in because he bet on baseball games.  That's it.  He did not cheat, he did not fix games, he simply placed bets.  And now he's banned for life.  Until Pete Rose is voted in, I will not ever see the hall of fame.  And I'm sure now that Bonds has tied and will likely break the record, he will be voted in.  Is this right?  I sure don't think so.  Thoughts?  Comments?  Am I being to hard on Bonds?  Should he be banned from the hall of fame and baseball entirely?  What do you think?  I would love to hear. 

Kelly

Sunday, August 05, 2007 12:08:36 AM (Atlantic Standard Time, UTC-04:00)    Comments [2] | 

2:06am

Raspberries. Go watch the video while it is still posted. Understand why everyone from Cobain to Axe Rose to Springsteen pay homage to the greatest power pop band of all time.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=WkRuepFRDn0

Saturday, August 04, 2007 2:05:42 AM (Atlantic Standard Time, UTC-04:00)    Comments [2] | 

1:16am

Bridges are generally safe. You would never know this if you have been watching the various news networks. Think about it...how many collapse in relation to the number of bridges that exist? Still the robots who report the news have been running around screaming "The sky is falling"..... The sky is falling."

And another thing.....the media enjoys recounting over and over and over terrible moments. The soulless idiots who populate the news services love a gruesome story.  

" tell us again how you saw the lady trapped in her car banging on the window as her life slowly left her body"

" what expression did she have on her face when you came upon the body?"

" when you first heard the news that your mom had been crushed under the bridge what was your reaction?"

Also placing the faces of the deceased into a photo montage with some slow, life draining Yanni music will really get you a spike in the ratings.

Think I am kidding? Why would Larry King have the "I will be dead in 48 hours" live appearance of Tammy Baker? Vulgar voyeurism. " Gee honey look how bad Tammy  looks...I feel much better about my wretched existence now...at least I am not a barely animated corpse"

The website Smokinggun.com had an article a while back about that show where the alcoholic-manic carpenter finds some desperate family and rebuilds their house for free. The show's producers outlined in memos the kind of diseases they were looking for so that they could get a particular emotional response from the audience.

You must understand that virtually everything you are exposed to in the media is crafted to turn you into a post-modern version of Eliot's Hollow Man.

TJE

Saturday, August 04, 2007 1:43:42 AM (Atlantic Standard Time, UTC-04:00)    Comments [1] | 

Now that I have introduced myself in my profile and forewarned you about my blogs, this is my first real blog.  I know you are excited.

Are you currently a student at Owens and you would like to transfer to Lourdes but you are confused about the process?  Don't worry, you are in luck and there is still time before fall semester starts!  There are a couple of ways you could transfer from Owens, of course you could apply online or we could send you an application in the mail, but if you are looking for that personal one on one attention that Lourdes is well known for, you need to go see Robin Riley-Casey (or RC as we call her).  RC is actually housed right at Owens, yes right at Owens.  Could we make it any easier  for you?  RC works for Lourdes College, but her office is at Owens.  That way Owens students can stop by in between classes and get the information they need.  Not only will you be able to apply when you meet with RC, but she can also tell you what you really want to know......WHAT TRANSFERS TO LOURDES.  Oh yes it's true.  She will be able to go over your Owens transcripts with you and tell you what transfers and what you have left to take at Lourdes and then set you up an appointment to register.  It's like a one stop shop!  Not only can RC do all that, but if you are not sure of what you want to major in, she can also discuss different options with you and lead you down a career path that is right for you. 

Not only can RC do all this for you, but she is also one of the most amazing people you will ever meet.  She is extremely passionate about education and helping students.  You could not ask for a better advisor (well of course except for me :)  She will do everything in her power to help you succeed.  I would attach a picture of her if I had one so you would know what she looks like, but she probably wouldn't like that, and she could totally take me if she wanted too   Now how can you see RC?  You can either stop by and see her, or you can call and make an appointment.  Of course she takes walk-ins, but she tends to get busy, especially this time of year so making an appointment is a good idea!  Her office is CH 130  at Owens.  You could email her at rcasey@lourdes.edu or call at (567) 661-2566.  So what are you waiting for, transferring from Owens couldn't be easier!   

Now if Lourdes is actually closer to you than Owens, of course you could stop by and see me.  Or if you would like to apply online, you could do that as well at http://www.lourdes.edu/future_students/?s=9.  If you like paper applications instead of online applications, please do not hesitate to call me at 419-824-3917, and I can send you one right away.  We will need your transcripts from Owens or any colleges you have attended, and we can certainly request those for you.  However if you are looking to start in fall, you might want to get those as soon as you can to speed up the admissions process. 

Don't forget, classes start August 27th, so either stop by and see RC, or give me a call so we can make you part of the Lourdes family today

Kelly

Friday, August 03, 2007 11:13:18 PM (Atlantic Standard Time, UTC-04:00)    Comments [0] | 

4:02 am

• College should be fun. If it stops being fun...it is time for a serious talk with yourself

• College is a rather expensive investment. Use it wisely. Come to class...ask questions....challenge the professor. Believe nothing simply because the professor said it is true. Seek other sources. Become intellectually curious and come to each class with relevant and interesting issues to discuss. Being a slack-jawed doofus whose main purpose in life is to find the next party is not cool. If that describes you...please do not sign up for my class.

• Do not fall asleep in class. That nap is costing you way too much money. Same goes for instant messaging friends and purveying porno....you didn't pay thousands of dollars to look at some internet trollop.

• If you miss an exam or assignment do not lie or make up a story. I know when you are lying. I was teaching college before many of you were alive, do you really think I'm that clueless? Be honest...you may be pleasantly surprised at the result.

• Professors do not get emotional satisfaction out of your pain or distress. This is my job and my primary sources of emotional support or frustration are not in class or at work. I have had my students express every possible emotion both verbally and in writing and it has never had any effect on their grade. I do admit being pleased when students do well in class but this is a vicarious pleasure.

• Related to the previous item....professors do not try to write "tricky" exam questions on purpose. Whenever I hear this it brings an immediate smile to my face. I imagine myself sitting at my computer with a wild look on my face          " I'LL GET THEM THIS TIME...HAH HAH THIS QUESTION WILL REALLY STICK IT TOO THEM!!!! "

• If you are pursuing a degree primarily to make a lot of money I would suggest signing up for long-term mental health counseling. There are so many things problematic with pursuing a degree as primarily a money item that it can only mean that you are heading for Zoloft/Prozac/Buspar/Lithium Carbonate land. There is good money in televangelism, organized crime and internet pornography. Academia should be about other things. 

• Since you have decided to make Lourdes your college destination take time to find out why so many folks have made this place their life's work. Many faculty have been here for a very long time. Ask them why?

Friday, August 03, 2007 4:02:30 AM (Atlantic Standard Time, UTC-04:00)    Comments [3] | 

3:07AM

Sharon died this past week. I despise death. I despise change. Both are inevitable...but so are taxes and I despise those too.

Sharon and I shared so many wonderful moments over the years. I remember stopping into her office over in Lourdes Hall (now Bob Turek's office) and hashing out the latest political news and controversies. I remember her hunched over an IBM Selectric typing our NCA report all the while telling me of the evils of Ronald Reagan.

My favorite memory of all was at the first Franciscan Follies. Sharon donned a baseball cap and proceeded with a satire of my teaching/life/political philosophy. Part of the skit was "my" announcement of a 2:00am class on the genetic basis of being a Republican. It was hilarious and great fun.

As I have moved along my own life's journey, I find myself embracing a more libertarian stance than a traditional Republican one. Because of this shift, our political debates lost some of their sting and I ended up agreeing with Sharon more often than in our early years.

I purchased her book of poetry last spring.

I already miss her.

Friday, August 03, 2007 3:15:32 AM (Atlantic Standard Time, UTC-04:00)    Comments [1] | 

So classes start soon, and there are probably a lot of new students milling around, wondering what they got themselves into. No worries. I was you, a year ago, and I learned many valuable lessons that I am passing on to you.

 Lesson number one: Beware the fat squirrels. No, really. You'll see them, edging closer and closer to you, flanking you, beady eyes fixed on whatever food you have in your hand. There is a reason why the squirrels are so fat. Be observant, watch carefully, and you, too, may learn the secret.

 Lesson number two: Get to know the library. Go browse around some quiet afternoon. Find all the rooms, play with the computer, get to know the layout. You can thank me later.

 Lesson number three: Parking is a problem. Get to campus early, unless you enjoy hiking. And by early, I mean, at least 10 minutes, but preferably the night before.

 Lesson number four: Take your religious classes early, your first semester, if at all possible. You'll appreciate Lourdes so much more if you do. Trust me on this.

 Lesson number five: Take a walk around campus some nice fall afternoon. Inside and outside. Look at the architecture, the artwork, the shrines, the trees. This is probably the prettiest campus in the state, if not the nation. Take time to appreciate it.

 Lesson number six: Do not be afraid of your professors. The entire staff is extremely helpful, and the people who are teaching you are approachable. There are some amazing people here, hanging out in the classrooms - get to know them.

 Lesson number seven: Take a class you never thought you would take at least once.

 Lesson number eight: Put your advisor to good use. They are here to make sure you take what you need to take, when you need to take it.

 Lesson number nine: Don't be afraid to ask, 'What building is this?' Or get a map. For a small campus, this place can be surprisingly confusing.

 Lesson number ten: Smile. You made a good choice when you decided to come here. Enjoy your time here, make friends, learn, and feel secure in the knowledge that you are getting a top-notch education, worth every penny of the tuition.

 And don't forget to beware the fat squirrels!

Wednesday, August 01, 2007 10:36:53 PM (Atlantic Standard Time, UTC-04:00)    Comments [2] | 

Robin has joined the LourdesWorld Blog Center as a new alumni blogger!

Wednesday, August 01, 2007 4:49:15 PM (Atlantic Standard Time, UTC-04:00)    Comments [0] | 

Lourdes College 50th Anniversary year kicked off with much success! Recently, three departments at Lourdes have received important grant funding.

The Department of Theological Studies received an Ohio Learning Network grant which will be used to revise two traditional courses - Christian Ethics and Introduction to the New Testament -to technology enhanced courses. To read more visit: http://www.lourdes.edu/content/files/1382/PR_OLNGrant.pdf/

Theater Vision received an Ohio Arts Council grant. This grant will be used to provide dynamic curriculum-based theater arts education opportunities through Theater Vision at Lourdes. To learn more go to: http://www.lourdes.edu/content/files/1401/PR_OACGrant_07.pdf

The Department of Nursing received, for a second consecutive term, a Career Ladder grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health and Resources Administration (HRSA). This 3 year grant will be used to help increase nursing enrollment at Lourdes, continue enhancements to the department, and to help improve the diversity of practicing nurses. For more information visit: http://www.lourdes.edu/content/files/1400/PR_HRSA_07.pdf

Wednesday, August 01, 2007 12:54:27 PM (Atlantic Standard Time, UTC-04:00)    Comments [0] | 

The Department of Art at Lourdes College will exhibit works of art in partial fulfillment of the Bachelor of Arts degree by Kelly Eridon, July 30 to August 14, 2007, at the Lourdes College Franciscan Center. An opening reception with the artist will be held on Saturday, August 4, from 5 to 8 p.m., in the Franciscan Center Boardroom. 

For more information visit: http://www.lourdes.edu/content/files/1415/PR_ArtExhibit07.pdf 

Wednesday, August 01, 2007 12:36:52 PM (Atlantic Standard Time, UTC-04:00)    Comments [0] | 

I have often used the phrase in the Office of Admissions, "I am not good with the words."  I have to admit, I am a terrible writer.  Every time someone asks me to write an article, newsletter, important email, etc., I pretend that I didn't hear them, that way I don't have to do it.  I have a hard time putting my thought down on paper (or blogs).  So when I was asked to blog, I was quite surprised, but excited.  I think blogging is going to be fun and I think being a recent college grad, I can relate to a lot of Lourdes students and what they are going through.  Trust me, I went through it too in college.  So if you can put up with my rants, my terrible misspellings, grammar, and a lot of digressing, you will enjoy my blog.  If there is anything you would like me to blog on, please leave a comment or email me at kreichert@lourdes.edu. 

Stay tuned and enjoy!

Wednesday, August 01, 2007 9:56:17 AM (Atlantic Standard Time, UTC-04:00)    Comments [0] | 

Okay.  Grades were posted today.

I have already vented to Jenna for the past 2 hours, and I just got off the phone with my mother.

I think I am in shock and incapable of processing the news.

I knew that I had in A in Consumer Behavior.  I was worried about the grade for my internship.  I was ready to accept an A- or even a B.  I was in no way prepared for the grade I was given.

If you have read my previous posts, you know that I strive for perfection.  I know that I did not write my final paper to the best of my abilities, but I still believed it was an average, college level paper.  However, I know that I did very well with the actual work that I performed for the internship itself.  This is how I rationalized a grade no lower than a B.

I had to prepare myself for the possibility of a B.  I have never in my entire life ever received anything less than an A for a final grade in a class.  I repeatedly had to assure myself that my world would not end, and my academic life would not come crashing down upon me if I received something less than perfect.  Meditation and visualization have kept me from stumbling into an anxiety attack over the past week. 

As I scroll down the webpage to view my grades, my breathing starts to accelerate.  I come down to Summer Semester 2007 and my eyes fall upon my grades.....

My brain does not register what my eyes are clearly viewing.  Then it sinks in.  My chest starts to hurt, my palms start to sweat, I start shaking, and my breathing becomes even more rapid.

A C+..........

What!?!

How did that happen?  I don't understand.  That means that my paper had to have been below average, and frankly, that is just not possible. 

Now I'm starting to get lightheaded. I need a cigarette.

Damn - I stopped smoking.

I might need to take a semester off to recover.  My 4.0 GPA of 3 years has now dropped to a 3.93.  I will never be able to recover that again. Ever. Nevermind - I might need two semesters to cope.

Tuesday, July 31, 2007 6:19:19 PM (Atlantic Standard Time, UTC-04:00)    Comments [2] | 

When I was in college, I always found it difficult to write the introduction to a paper…where on earth should I begin? Of course, this was before the days of word processors so you couldn’t just jump into the middle and worry about the intro later.

So while I’m waiting for some feedback from people (or for some inspiration), I suppose that I could introduce myself. I’m Sister Barb – a Sylvania Franciscan and the Campus Minister here at Lourdes College.

A funny thing happened on my way to becoming a Campus Minister…I started off as a math instructor (Ok…this is where you either cheer or make one of those ‘oh, yuck’ faces.) In fact, I was a math instructor long before I ever became a Sister of St. Francis (that’s right…I wasn’t born a Sister). But life takes a few unexpected turns here and there, and God is full of surprises.

Probably one of the most difficult parts about leaving the classroom and becoming a campus minister is that I actually see FEWER students. Think about it, when I was in a classroom I had a captive audience several days each week…and the faces changed every semester! Now I have to go out in search of people. That’s a big change when you consider that a huge part of what we Franciscans are all about is building relationships. So now you know my challenge for the coming year...get to know more students!

Hopefully, this blog will give more people a chance to hear about all of the opportunities that are available to Lourdes students through campus ministry. Join the conversation!

Enough for now…and in the spirit of Francis of Assisi, I wish you pax et bonum, pace e bene, peace and all good!

Tuesday, July 31, 2007 6:09:45 PM (Atlantic Standard Time, UTC-04:00)    Comments [1] | 

You missed out on tons of fun if you didn't go to the Alumni Social Sunday (July 29th)! It was my daughter's (Sheena) idea to get the tickets & participate in this event. I was worried that my guide dog, Iris, would be a bit stressed out over the whole ordeal. But, once she found out that she would get her picture taken & see friends, faculty, & staff from Lourdes she was one happy camper! Oh, I forgot! She wanted me to tell everyone that the food was just fabulous! Aarf!

I agree with Iris. It was wonderful to talk with faculty, staff, students, & alumni who I have haven't seen in a while. I fact, Iris assisted me with that very thing. She would notice someone that we knew, such as Sister Shannon & lead me to them to a short visit. What a pup!

It was such a joy to see everyone enjoying themselves! Sister Shannon did a wonderful rendition of the National Anthem. The kids were able to run the bases after the Mudhens won the game. There was even a boy out there running bases with his assistance dog. The fireworks display was fabulous; much better than I had expected.

I would encourage all Lourdes College alumni to go to these events. You'll have a good time, I promise!

Here's Muddy!

Muddy with my husband, Bill

Muddy cheering the crowd on!

My nephew, Keith

My soon to be sister-in-law, Inga

This is Iris. She didn't understand why she couldn't go on the field & chase after the ball with the guys. She also wanted to chase after a cat that wondered on to the field!

Tuesday, July 31, 2007 12:53:56 PM (Atlantic Standard Time, UTC-04:00)    Comments [3] |