Trying Something Different

Students enjoy the culture fair in the cafeteria last Thursday.
(Left to right) Tyler Blattel, Kori Weatherspoon, Morghan Cooper, Kortney Ward.

       This past Thursday September 20^th, was the annual Culture Fair at Avila University. The Culture fair held in the cafeteria offers a chance for students to taste different foods from all over the world for free, an opportunity many students wouldn’t have otherwise. The event was open to all Avila students and faculty for free, allowing the commuter students who usually don’t eat in the cafeteria an opportunity to enjoy different types of food and step out of their comfort zones.

      Juniors Tyler Blattel and Morghan Cooper sat with sophomores Kortney Ward and Kori Weatherspoon in the cafeteria enjoying the different cuisines from all over the world, and even though Ward stated “I think the food was better last year,” she said, “it’s still a neat experience for the students.” Blattel said “It’s such a fun day and the food is so good, I really enjoy it.” “I really enjoyed Avila’s ethnic cultural festival today!” said junior Kaleigh Sheridan as she enjoyed her food in the cafeteria with her other dance team friends, “I was able to experience all kinds of new foods” she said as she took a bite of her tasty Chinese food.

Junior Kaleigh Sheridan shares her culture fair experience.

Looking Back



Abercrombie associates MaShaun Jenkins and Roberto
Green share stories about 9/11.

Perhaps the most significant historical event of our generation is remembered on this day, September 11^th, as the day that changed the United States forever. No matter who you ask (as long as they were old enough to remember it) every person has a different memory and a different take on what happened that dark day just eleven years ago. Nick Carpenter was only nine when the towers were struck, but he could remember clearly how his day went, “I was having a regular day in my 4^th grade class. I could tell something wasn’t right due to my teacher’s body language. They never announced anything on the intercom or told us what happened. I went home that day and my mom was watching the coverage of the aftermath,” he went on to say, “I was too young to really understand the impact it had on the whole world.”

Now, eleven years later as Nick sat in his apartment he could remember the sadness he felt for those who had lost their loved ones, and although neither him nor anyone he knew directly had lost their loved ones that day, his heart still went out to the families of those who did. MaShaun Jenkins, who was thirteen the day of the attack, had quite a different experience. MaShaun grew up on military bases as both of her parents were in the army, her brother in the air-force, as well as other family members serving in other branches of the military. “We weren’t allowed to go home,” she said, “we couldn’t leave the school.” Jenkins lived on a military base at the time and the base had been temporarily locked down for safety precautions. “I remember directly after everyone was getting deployed,” thankfully neither of her parents were deployed, and MaShaun was able to return home later that night.

Roberto Green was in the third grade on September 11^th, and remembers the confusion he felt that day. “I remember when I went to school I didn’t know what had happened. I knew everyone was sad, and they weren’t telling us something, I just didn’t know what was going on.” Once Roberto got to his home he was surprised to see both his parents home, and glued to the television, this was when he realized what had happened and the significance of the day. “I’ve noticed a lot of changes since then,” says Green, “the increase in security would probably be the most significant, especially in government buildings.”

There is no doubt that the United States has changed significantly since the attacks on September 11^th, and through all the heart break and sadness still there is hope in this nation. Never before had we been challenged with such force and hatred on our own soil, and hopefully never again will we be. It seems everyone has a story about that day, whether it is a story of sadness, confusion, fear, or anger there is one thing September 11^th did do for all Americans- it brought us together as a nation and rekindled a sense of patriotism that was hidden, and born again out of the dust of the fallen towers.

Mu Sigma Pi Brings Sweet Sweet Music

Mu Sigma Pi is a student organization that encompasses all of the choral groups on campus including Men’s Glee, Avila Singers, The University Singers, and the Women’s Ensemble. Meika Mnwomah is the current president with Erika Imtfen as vice president; they are surrounded by a large board of other choir members.  “WE SING!” said Mnwomah, as well as perform at many of the campus activities such as The Steer Dinner held each year to raise money for the University. At the University Kick off Mass on Thursday morning they acted as the choir and even featured several soloists throughout the mass. This year they are proud to announce that they are performing Handle’s Messiah at their winter concert, which will be held later this year.

Mu Sigma Pi also teams up with the theatre department for many of its theatrical performances. Theatre and choir have always gone hand in hand; at the performing arts department at Avila is no exception.  This April the theatre department will be producing the very entertaining musical “The Producers” which members of both the choral and acting departments will be performing in. Vice President Imtfen said she is “most looking forward to the Messiah and the Steer Dinner,” as those are some of their larger events for the upcoming school year.

Kickin' Off the Year Right

Alongside the fountains on the beautiful Avila
      University campus, students met to eat and enjoy a
      day of relaxing and mingling at the 2012 AU
      Campus Kickoff.

Sophomore Kori Weatherspoon met with freshmen Abbey Rice and Jennifer Quezada to enjoy food and fun between classes at this year’s AU Campus Kickoff on Thursday August 30th 2012.  Students enjoyed a free picnic on the lawn of the Quad with music and lots of activities including, balloon artists and free massages. The weather was perfect as students walked from table to table learning about the different organizations on campus and ways in which they could get involved. Freshman Abbey Rice stated, “I’m really looking forward to making new lifelong friends and becoming a better person through my experiences here at Avila!”

                The kickoff was one of the first opportunities for some to get out and meet their classmates outside of the classroom setting. Student organizations also took this as an opportunity to attract new students by handing out flyers and candy and allowing students who were interested to have more information about their organization. Freshman Jennifer Quezada said that she was “looking for a fun college experience, and a chance to make a difference this year,” after seeing all the different ways in which she could become more involved on campus.