Cherry Blossom Weekend in DC

Hey everyone!

So for the Easter break, my family and I went to Washington, D.C. to visit my aunt, uncle, and their two little girls. And it just happened to be Cherry Blossom weekend (which we usually miss every year)! All of the cherry blossoms in D.C. were in full bloom. It was a really wonderful scene to behold... not only because of the gorgeous flowering trees, but also because of the hordes of happy people enjoying the first real spring weekend with family and friends. There were hundreds of kites and frisbees. People were snapping pictures and laughing and eating ice cream and just having an all around wonderful time. It really was a great way to spend a long weekend.

This brings me to my advice for the day (in my old, almost graduating age)... make sure when you get a break, you really do take a break. Try to set aside all of those end-of-the-semester worries and really take a breather. I've found this to be really important especially for Easter break, because after that it is full speed ahead to the end of the semester! Then you'll actually be refreshed and won't burn out when it matters.

Stop and smell the cherry blossoms!
And then it's back to the grind.

~Bianca

Here are some pictures from last weekend.
1) A picture my dad snapped of the Capitol while riding a Segway!
2) A close-up I took of the cherry blossoms down by the tidal basin.

The Annual King Lecture

If you do so happen to come to Siena, I can guarantee that you will, at least once, find your way to the Martin Luther King Lecture Series. I raise this only because tonight I attended the Series for the second time during my stay here at Siena. The lecture is, as they say, kind of a big deal. It is organized and supported by a number of respected community leaders, and the speaker always has a distinguished record of accomplishment. This year's lecture was given by Dr. Charles Ogletree, a Harvard Law Professor and Director of that same institution's Center for Race and Justice.

Professor Ogletree delved into the hope of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and how that hope can continue to be put into practice today. His lecture was filled with a number of anecdotes about his interactions with the nation's leaders, including the President himself. It was a real privilege to hear from such an important leader in the field of law, and its relationship to race. I am always glad for the opportunity to listen to the scholars that Siena brings to campus. It is definitely one of the added benefits of going to College!

Take Care,
Mike DiSiena

Blocks,Bubbles, & Lady GaGa..

I'm so glad to be back home with my family! I hope you enjoy my adorable baby cousin Matthew. He is the best part of home. The weather is beautiful so I hope you are all enjoying it too! At the same time its funny I do miss Siena!! And can't wait to get back, and can't wait to see a certain someone ;] ( Yep that's you Michael Ellement)


-Liv<3

Random Musings on the Passing Scene

Hello all. The last time you heard from me, the Mock Trial Team and the Siena Basketball Team were on their way to their respective tournaments (for some reason or another, the Basketball team seems to have gotten more press). In any case, I can say, while we didn't advance, we represented Siena well and gave a good showing. As a four-year member of the Mock Trial Team, I can say that our team performed the best that I have ever seen at the National Tournament in White Plains, if not for a few points here or there, we would have advanced even further. The same holds true for the Men's basketball team, which fought to the very end against Purdue, a team that at one point was ranked third in the entire country. In any case, I think we Saints can all be proud of both performances.

Now that Mock Trial is completed, I can participate again in our school orchestra. I think I may have mentioned this before, but I am the resident percussionist. Tonight was the first practice I was able to attend this semester. We're playing a very nice piece of music that I was totally unfamiliar with before: Mendelssohn's Piano Concerto in G . We're not exactly the Boston Pops, but I've always appreciated the opportunity to play in the orchestra.

On a completely different note, I would mention that, as Jefferson once said, the tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time. In that spirit,the Siena Student Senate has asked a few students on campus, myself included, to review and alter the Senate Constitution in order to better meet the needs of the Siena student body. I've very much enjoyed being a part of the process, and hope the changes will be beneficial to the student body. That means you if you come next Fall!

Take Care,
Mike DiSiena

A Trip Down Memory Lane

So, I was recently reminiscing about my time here at Siena, and I came across a thoroughly embarassing video that I wanted to share...
This is a video from my sophomore year, where a few of my friends and I decided to "perform" at Fall Fusion. Now if you're not familiar with Fall Fusion, it's a really fun show that the Asian Students' Association (ASA) puts on in the fall semester. It's full of performances by the Step Team, the Bhangra Team, individual dancers, musicians, and there is even a fashion show!
So this is a couple of us science major nerds doing a science major nerd themed dance. I'm the one that comes on with a blue backpack at the beginning. (And Indira didn't want me to tell you this, but she's in this too... she's the one that sits up at the front of the stage in the beginning) Shhh :-P

I'm really technologically challenged when it comes to this stuff, so I hope this works...

I'm off to study for my Biochem exam tomorrow! Ah! Talk to you all soon!

~Bianca

Sunshine!

Hey Everyone,

I had every intention of leaving you a video post today but, being me, I forgot my webcam at home. Maybe next week I can snatch my boyfriends computer for a few minutes to leave one for you.

It's a beautiful spring day here in Loudonville and I plan on breaking out the flip flops today :). My CSIS class ended last week, so now on Tuesdays and Thursday I don't have class until 4! Now, most people would sleep all day I'm sure (especially if you're like me and were up studying until 2am) but I find that incredibly non productive. This week is midterm week for me so it's a little hectic, but I must say... the sunshine is making me feel a lot better.

This past weekend I went home for Huntingtons St. Patricks Day Parade. The Parade ends at our restaurant, so for the occasion Verizon sponsors tents to be set up in our parking lot. It's pretty cool. Z100 was there, as well as ESPN and we were sponsored by Guinness. One of my favorite parts of working in the restaurant industry is all the free paraphernalia you receive from sponsors. Over the summer, Bacardi did a lot of events at Macs so I have about 4 Bacardi shirts, a muddler, cups, mints etc. Now, I have some Guinness supplies to add to the pile. I also might have an internship as well. Verizon was very impressed by all the marketing I did for the event (Yes, even from school I still work there. I'm responsible for the website, e-mail blasts, coming up with different promotions, writing letters to potential clients, proof-reading EVERYTHING, and "other) so they talked to my Dad about offering me an internship. This would all be contingent if they have spots open, but I'm crossing my fingers.

Alright everyone, I'm going to finish studying for my Econ Midterm this afternoon.

Until next week!

Leanne

Time for an Adventure

Hey everyone!

I want to start off by saying how much I loved your video, Liv! You did a beautiful job on the set... I'm hoping to go see Perfect Pie this weekend! I hear it's really good.

Anyway, sorry guys that I've been so MIA lately! This is a crazy crazy crazy time! Right now I'm in the middle of a pretty tough semester. I'm teaching my Philosophy of Language class on Tuesday, so I'm trying to prepare for that, working on a term paper, studying for Biochem and trying to learn the intricacies of glycolysis, trying to figure out how do draw faces in my drawing class, choreographing 5 dances for the kids that I teach for their recital that's coming up in June, finishing up my senior thesis on just war theory (which I should have done in 2 weeks, yay!), trying to figure out where I'm going to graduate school for my Ph.D. next year, AND fundraising for my conservation expedition to South Africa this summer.

Yep, that's right... I am going to South Africa this summer with Operation Wallacea! You should definitely check it out! I was looking for an adventure after I finish my undergraduate education here and before I begin my graduate education, and a friend of mine told me about OpWall... which is a really amazing organization that holds research programs in places like Indonesia, Honduras, Egypt, Mozambique, Madagascar, Peru, Cuba, and of course, S.A. So I'm going there for about a month to help with monitoring endangered species, assessing damage to habitats, and aiding in the development of effective conservation programs! I've never been outside of my timezone before, so this is going to be a little scary for me. But it is definitely going to be worth it.
As I said though, I'm trying to get some funds together as it is pretty expensive to travel to S.A. (the World Cup is going to be there at the same time) as well as cover expedition costs. So I'm applying for a bunch of scholarships, and trying to get support from local companies. Does anyone have any suggestions??

Anyway... I'm off to teach some little ballerinas, but I'll talk to you all soon. Wish me luck!

~Bianca

My Virtual Tour of My Second Home On Campus

Whirlwind!

Hey Everyone!

I'm so sorry I haven't posted in weeks... Like my title says.. this semester has been a WHIRLWIND! Can you believe it's already half way through the semester?

Life has been good over here. I've been busy with RA-Reapplications, Pathfinder Coordinator Interviews (yes, sadly it's time to pass the torch), Presidential Scholars and, of course, school work. It's incredible how getting involved can keep you so busy.

I'm very excited because tomorrow is my 20th birthday. I've reminded my mom for weeks now that her baby is now turning 20 and leaving the teenage years behind her. I still can't believe how quickly time flies.

But, I must run- I'm running entertainment for Presidential Scholars and the movie is about to start.

Until Next Week!

-Leanne

Happy Day!

Alas, the weather is finally starting to get warm! It's a toasty 42 degrees right now, which is warm compared to our past few weeks. It's refreshing to be able to go outside with only a hoodie on and not need to bundle up! I'm expecting to see a lot more people walking around outside and smiling. Warm weather always puts me in a good mood!

Right now, I'm watching my roomate Bianca pace across the room. She's practicing her speech which she will be delivering in front of all the presidential scholars who are coming to Siena. These perspective students are in the process of deciding whether or not they would like to attend Siena. They come on Sunday and stay overnight with a Siena host student. Lucky them, it also happens to be the same day as a huge basketball game! Our men's basketball team is currentlly in the MAAC tournament. I'm not sure who they play today, but we expect a win! Thats why Admissions is taking all of the presidential scholars and their hosts to the game... for free! It will certainly be an exciting game! I'll have to see if I can get tickets still...

Well, I wish Bianca the best of luck with her speech. Although she is a fantastic public speaker. She's also auditioning to be the speaker at our graduation! And I also wish the Men's Basketball team luck, although they probably don't need it either. I guess today is just an overall happy day. Warm weather, speeches, and basketball.

Don't you wish you could be a Siena student??

Until next time,
Indira