As part of the College’s ongoing Get Out & Vote campaign, Lourdes will host a political debate and forum featuring local Democratic and Republican representatives.  

Debate information: Tom Estrella, Associate Professor of Psychology, will debate from a Republican perspective and Dr. Dale Lanigan, Assistant Professor of Sociology and Justice Studies, will debate from a Democratic perspective. Students groups will also participate in friendly debates about issues pertaining to the presidential election, state of the economy and other politically relevant issues.

Q & A Forum: Local representatives from both presidential campaigns will conduct a Q & A forum to conclude the event. Hors d'oeuvres and refreshments will be served.

The Get Out & Vote campaign is made possible through the Ohio Campus Compact Voter Engagement Grant. Lourdes officially launched the campaign on Constitution Day in September and will conclude Get Out & Vote with an election night watch party in the Ebeid Student Center.

Wednesday, October 01, 2008 3:32:12 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)    Comments [0] | 

Okay, so my semester is in full swing now-papers being due that I should have started a long time ago, group presentations that have to incorporate classroom involvement, and Math tests that I have to pass in order to meet my general education criteria so I can be admitted into my program of choice. And let’s not forget about mid-terms that are looming over all of our heads! I keep wondering why I have such bad study habits, especially considering the fact that I took a study skills class here at Lourdes, which I thought benefited me a lot! As I stated in a previous blog, I no longer do my homework the instant I get home, I no longer do all my reading that is required for class, which in some classes isn’t that big of a deal, but when you’re an English major and class revolves around discussion of the readings, you feel completely lost and pitiful in class. You don’t have anything intelligent to add to the conversation because all you can think about is the fact that YOU SHOULD HAVE READ! So instead of changing it for next time, I’ve got stuck in this cycle where it’s all or nothing. I either do so much studying and homework in one day that I’m completely exhausted by the time I go to bed, or I don’t do it at all, wishing I could get myself to open the books! Now I know that I should space out the workload over the entire week, but between school, work, and three kids- that’s hard to accomplish. I have to do it when I have the time, and you get so sick of spending any free time you have on schoolwork- all you want is “me time,” but I am beginning to realize that “me time” should consist of doing my homework so I can get the grades, eventually leading to my goal of getting my degree.

My life is not easy…in fact, I probably made it harder by getting married at a younger age, and having kids before I graduated college. However, I wouldn’t change any of it. My kids mean everything to me, and I don’t want them to miss out on activities just because I still don’t have my degree. So I try to balance it all. I allow my daughter to be involved in gymnastics one night a week, I allow her to be at cheerleading one night a week for practice, and all day on Sundays for her games, I help her with her homework nightly, and go over extra material that I feel is important for her to know and learn…and I try to spend as much time as possible with my kids when I AM home. I don’t want their lives to be changed because of my decisions…they deserve to have all of me when I am in their presence and when I’m away- they come before everything in my life, even college.

So while I am trying to balance it all-something suffers. And it’s unfortunate that it’s my study skills and preparation for class. I am going to try harder to do a better job at time management; I will do better at juggling everything I have going on. I need to get into a specific routine to where no aspect of my life suffers: marriage, family, college, or “me time.” Gosh I wish there were more hours in a day! I’m sure there are many other students out there in situations similar to mine, and I commend you for all that you do! It’s not often that people understand or sympathize with your situation, but I am here to let you know that I do. And I believe in you, and your abilities. YOU WILL MAKE IT THROUGH THIS! And when you do find that person that is encouraging and supportive of you, hold on to them---because everyone needs a little pick-me-up once in a while! So like I said in a previous post, “KEEP ON KEEPING ON!”

Tuesday, September 30, 2008 12:21:30 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)    Comments [0] | 

The next meeting for the Catholic Student Union will be Wednesday, October 1 @ 4:30 in SFH 2

CSU had a wonderful start this semester. At the organizational meeting on September 16, while enjoying pizza and pop, the group began planning for future speakers and discussion topics. For those who were not able to attend, after getting to know each other a bit over pizza, we discussed the constitution as well as possible topics for speakers/discussion and other activities that members might be interested in working with campus ministry on.  The Make a Difference Day is coming up on Sat., Oct. 25 and Lourdes students have been offered free tickets for the speaker for Foundation for Life, Jill Stanek, on the evening of Nov. 12.  Everyone is encouraged to consider involvement in both of these; more information on how CSU as a group might participate will be forthcoming.

Continuing with the momentum of the first meeting, we plan to finalize speakers and discussion topics for the balance of the semester. Members input concerning any other activities of interest will be open for discussion.

Please review the duties of officers (you can find the CSU officer descriptions in the Constitutional draft that had been e-mailed after the last meeting) and consider serving in this capacity as we are planning to hold nominations. Anyone needing a copy of the constitution draft, please contact either Dr. Brown or Chris Roper for a copy.

Once again Pizza and soft drinks will be available at the meeting.

As the old saying goes: Wherever the Catholic sun doth shine, there's always laughter and good red wine (or at least root beer). 

Tuesday, September 30, 2008 7:18:03 AM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)    Comments [0] | 

Lourdes College will host the Toledo Public School’s 2008 Latino Career Day on:

Tuesday, October 14

Franciscan Theatre and Conference Center

9:30 a.m.

Latino Career Day will feature a welcome from Lourdes President Dr. Robert C. Helmer and presentation by guest speaker Lisa Sobiecki from the Toledo Public School Board.

Over 300 students from Bowsher, Libbey, Oregon, Waite, Whitmer, Woodward and Clay High Schools are expected to attend the event.

The goal of Latino Career Day is to provide students with career options by inviting guests from the Toledo area who represent a variety of occupations. 

Presenters share their knowledge, skills and abilities with the students concluding with a brief question and answer period. The following career fields will be represented at this year’s event:

• Business, Communications & Journalism
• Education
• Information Technology
• Law
• Law Enforcement/Fire Fighters
• Medical Field
• Public Service
• Skilled Trades
• Social Work
• Theatre Arts

Monday, September 29, 2008 3:06:56 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)    Comments [0] | 

As a resident of Adrian, Michigan, I am deeply saddened by the double murder of an Adrian couple by their 17 year-old son. I would be shocked and upset by this tragedy even if it weren't so close to home, but the community is kind of like a small town, and any crime against another seems like such an assault on all of us.

My youngest son is a Junior at Adrian High School, in the same class as the teenager who did the shooting. I recognize the father from his photo in The Blade, although I probably only saw him in passing at some event. When I asked my son if he knew the boy, he said, "Yeah, that's just crazy. I can't believe it." And yesterday, I (and all the other parents of Adrian High School students, I'm sure) got a recorded phone call from the Superintendent of Schools, telling that there had been a tragedy involving a student, and urging us to hug our children and talk to them about it. Yes, it's crazy.

Several lives have been ruined by this event. I find it hard to understand that some odd or inappropriate behavior had not been observed earlier in this young man, that might have alarmed someone enough to get some help. But we don't know the secret thoughts of others, and asking what could have been done to prevent this (or to prevent something like this from happening again) is a guessing game. Terrible things happen, and can't be undone.

But horrible events like this do change us, if only in that we might pay more attention to a troubled person who needs intervention. We might appreciate our family more, and show them love we might have been stingy with before. We might think about anger and how we can learn and model anger management so that emotions have less control over us and others. We might focus on what is really important in life, and let go of the trivial, in order to make our lives more meaningful.

No, there isn't a silver lining to this cloud. But we go on living, we pray for those who have died or whose lives have been permanently altered, and, hopefully, we find a way to counteract hate and fear. I propose treating others with more love to do just that.

Thursday, September 25, 2008 3:24:10 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)    Comments [1] | 

Rosary Congress, Feat. Benedict Groeschel and

Steve Pokorny, Oct. 7-12, Cleveland, OH

Thursday, September 25, 2008 7:30:28 AM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)    Comments [0] | 

On Sunday, October 12, the Lourdes College Department of Music will present its Fall Music Showcase at 3 p.m. in the Franciscan Theatre and Conference Center. This free event kicks-off the 25^th season of Lourdes’ choral program.

The Fall Music Showcase will feature three mini-concerts of vocal, instrumental and choral music as well as a special presentation on music therapy and health by Lourdes faculty members Roberta Wigle Justice and Karen T. Biscay. The schedule for the event is as follows:

3 p.m.     Opening Concert: Lourdes College faculty, students and friends

4 p.m.     Presentation: “What is Music Therapy and What Do music Therapists Do?”

5 p.m.     Chorale Finale: “Voices of Earth,” celebrating the Earth, the human spirit and the power of music

For more information on the Fall Music Showcase or to join the Lourdes College Chorus, please contact Karen T. Biscay, Chairperson of the Department of Music, at 419-824-3772 or email kbiscay@lourdes.edu.

Wednesday, September 24, 2008 12:46:10 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)    Comments [0] | 

On Wednesday, October 8, a poetic mouse, math loving worm and an adventurous fish help Theater Vision kick-off  its 24^th season with a presentation of Leo Lionni’s Swimmy, Frederick and Inch by Inch. 

Shows at 10 a.m. and 12:15 p.m in the Franciscan Theatre.

Tickets $7 per student. Call 419-824-3999.

Click here for more about the story of Leo Lionni and Theater Vision.

Wednesday, September 24, 2008 12:40:36 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)    Comments [0] | 

Get Out The Vote! is a new LourdesWorld blog! Welcome Get Out The Vote!

Monday, September 22, 2008 11:47:54 AM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)    Comments [0] |