BOSTON – It’s finally December and college students throughout the country are nearing the end of their fall semesters − finals week is just around the corner! This is crunch time; but how can students remember everything they’ve learned thus far, with holiday excitement in the air and winter weather weakening their immune systems?Staying physically, mentally and emotionally healthy during finals week is crucial. Some students resort to hair pulling, nail biting, comfort foods and hibernation to cope with their stress, but there are many more effective ways to prepare for final exams.

“When everything comes to a head and is due during finals week, I can get easily overwhelmed,” says Christopher Lopez, a junior at Boston University, “So I try to  spread out my workload the week before to avoid some of that stress.” Continue reading →

BOSTON–In an economy like this, it is important to understand how we came to this point and how it is still making an impact. On Nov. 5, 2008, a classroom at Simmons College was filled with a small group of 10 college students gathered for a night to discuss how our economy is being affected and how the United States is facing the possibility of a recession.

The event, “Red Zone,” was hosted by the Boston chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated. The speaker and member of the organization was senior Jazmin Flete, an economics and finance student at Babson College.

The night began with refreshments and snacks. Using a PowerPoint presentation, Flete elaborated on some of the crisis issues our economy is facing, such as the bailout President Bush approved, the sub-prime mortgage meltdown, and the Rescue Plan (Tarp). The slides displayed images and questions on the economy today. Continue reading →

On Oct. 17, 2007, disbelief struck the small town of Paducah, Ky.  Josh Heine, the 18-year-old recent graduate of Paducah High School, was seen speeding in his uncle’s stolen Porsche, going in excess of 100 mph.  Suddenly, Heine lost control of the car, sending him off the road and directly into a tree. The force of the collision expelled Heine, who was not wearing his seatbelt, out of the car.

By the time paramedics arrived, they believed Heine was not going to make it to the hospital.  He stayed with the paramedics and fought his way to the hospital.  Once there, the doctors immediately began the process of getting him air-lifted to Vanderbilt Hospital in Tennessee; this was halted when they were not able to get him stable enough to be lifted to another hospital.  At this point, doctors already knew of at least 12 broken bones.

Heine had no feeling below his neck, prompting the use of an X-ray.  The results were disturbing; Heine had fractured his C4, C5, and C6 vertebrates, and doctors said he would never walk again.  After undergoing a series of surgeries to help with shattered bones in his arm, Heine was then found to have a broken pelvis and began the use of a catheter. Continue reading →

BOSTON–In a recent meeting, the Greater Boston Convention and Visitors Bureau launched a new program called 3-2-1 Connect designed to attract event planners to coordinate their event in Boston.

In collaboration with the Boston Convention Marketing Center, 3-2-1 Connect links three hotels, two shopping destinations, and one world-class convention center: the Sheraton Boston, Westin Copley, and Marriot Copley hotels, the Prudential Center and the Shops at Copley Place, and the Hynes Convention Center. Continue reading →

There are many events that occur at Suffolk University throughout the year, but one of the most celebrated is Fall Fest, a variety show performed every year by Suffolk students showcasing their talents. Fall Fest has been part of Parents’ Weekend at Suffolk for years, providing students a chance to give parents and peers a glimpse into who they are. A number of individual and ensemble acts perform to a theme that changes every year.

This year’s Fall Fest was themed “Going Back to the 80s.” Each performer was dressed in 80s garb and several acts related to that poignant decade. One of these numbers was a Madonna Medley, featuring three performers singing three of Madonna’s greatest hits.

Samantha Hartlen, senior at Suffolk, sung “Like a Virgin” in that medley. “It was so amazing to be a part of the show, especially that act,” said Hartlen. “Madonna’s music was so influential; I mean, her music is still impacting us today.” Continue reading →

 WATERTOWN, Mass. — On Saturday, Nov. 8, the Suffolk University chapter of Best Buddies held their annual Thanksgiving Dinner in Watertown, Mass. It was an overcast autumn day, but the gloomy weather didn’t stop anyone from having a terrific Thanksgiving celebration.Kayla Shepherd, a Best Buddies officer, said, “This is my favorite (Best Buddies) event, the buddies have an absolute blast and everyone gets to enjoy a great meal.”

Buddies from both Watertown and Malden showed up to the event which was comprised of roughly 30 people. This event has been a huge success for Best Buddies in the past and once again lived up to its name. Continue reading →

BUFFALO, NY – It was a weekend of litigation, passion, and best of all, victory for Suffolk University’s Mock Trial Team as they travelled this weekend to the University of Buffalo for an invitational competition.Suffolk’s Mock Trial Team A competed against 11 teams from across the country, including University of Michigan, Vanderbilt University, and University of Connecticut, and emerged victorious, winning first place and taking home numerous awards.

The winning team consisted of Captain KyQuan Phong, Captain Alaina Spaziani, and members James Duffy, Kyle Brach, Katia DeStefano and Alexander Rittershaus. Continue reading →

BOSTON — Students from a service learning organization at Suffolk University presented Perspectives: From One Lens to Mind’s Eye on Thursday Nov. 6 in the fourth floor lounge of the Donahue Building at 41 Temple Street. The event featured a photo exhibit with pictures taken by various homeless people in Boston, a discussion led by one of the photographers, and light refreshments.Jon Paton, a senior community service scholar of Suffolk’s Organization for Uplifting Lives through Service (S.O.U.L.S.) coordinated the event. The exhibit has been a popular event since its inception six years ago and Paton has organized the event for the past two years.

“My goal is to put out the message that not every homeless person is someone in need of a home, but someone who needs a normal life, not sleeping on the street or on a friend’s couch,” Paton said. This event is part of Hunger and Homelessness Month at Suffolk. Continue reading →

BOSTON — Most Americans would probably agree that the First Amendment is an integral part of our society. The freedom to express ourselves, to say and do and write what we want within the limits of the law, is what makes America what it is. How would we feel if that right was taken away?

Dr. Bryan Trabold, professor of English at Suffolk University, lived in Cape Town, South Africa, from 1998 to 1999. His study of the Apartheid through the eyes of two South African newspapers of the 1980s, the Weekly Mail and the New Nation, helped to solidify his dedication to honesty through media and bringing the truth to the masses.

Trabold’s lecture, “Writing Space and Resistance in Apartheid South Africa,” which took place at Suffolk University’s Sawyer Library Poetry Center on March 25^th, centered around the two newspapers and their rebellion against censorship. The newspapers used unique tactics to publish information that the South African government wanted to hide. They attempted to balance upholding the law with sharing information that they felt citizens had the right to know. Continue reading →

BOSTON — As a freshman, Lindsay Pelzar came to Suffolk University as an enthusiastic media major. Although skeptical about the lack of media equipment, Pelzar gave Suffolk the benefit of the doubt in hopes for a better future.

“As a media major, the absence of a studio here was a weakness for the school in my eyes,” Pelzar said. “But I chose Suffolk in hopes that the future would bring new developments.”

Luckily, she was right.

On February 25, 2008, Suffolk University’s Department of Communications and Journalism proudly announced the grand opening of its brand new HD studio. Located at 73 Tremont St. next to the Suffolk Welcome Center, the state-of-the-art studio looks out onto one of the busiest streets of downtown Boston. Continue reading →

BOSTON — She has been waiting 20 years, 364 days, 23 hours, 59 minutes and 59 seconds for this very moment. Three, two, one, here it is. Now her life is exactly what she wanted it to be.

Caitlin Anne Julia Sullivan is now officially a 21-year-old junior at Suffolk University. Born February 13, 1987, she felt like she was never going to turn 21.

Counting down the days, she remembers starting when she was only 18. “I remember turning 18 and 19 and not caring at all about my birthday, just waiting and wanting to turn 21,” says Sullivan. Continue reading →

BOSTON — Walking into 326 A Street in Boston, Mass., you realize right away that this is not your typical office. Twelve desks, cluttered with fabric samples, colored pencils, Diet Cokes, drawings, legends, and schedules are immersed in the mess. Suffolk interns with stressful looks on their faces are bustling about, crossing paths with each other as they try to make their deadlines.

Directing the scene, making sure that everyone knows what they are supposed to be doing, and when to get it done by, is an energetic and stylishly dressed redhead named June Ericson. Continue reading →

BOSTON — What would you do if you were asked to hug two complete strangers? That’s exactly what audience members attending Suffolk’s presentation, “Discussing Diversity with Ruthie Alcaide from MTV’s “The Real World: Hawaii” had to do.

After being asked to “find two people you have never met, and then give them both big bear hugs,” the audience giggled nervously and then shared awkward pats on the back.

This discussion took place on Tuesday, March 25, as a part of Suffolk University’s “Unity Week .” Ruthie Alcaide, from MTV’s infamous TV show “The Real World: Hawaii,” came to Suffolk to talk about acceptance and diversity. Continue reading →