Archives: On Campus
Lynn knot on WPTV’s Malloy tonight. NBC’s Meet the Press host next?
Tim Malloy, the veteran news reporter for WPTV in West Palm Beach, will reportedly be donning a Lynn University necktie tonight on the station’s newscasts. The Emmy winning newsman recently received the tie as a gift from old friend (and longtime Lynn VP) Greg Malfitano. Our own Mr. Malfitano apparently gave Malloy a Lynn tie as a holiday gift this year and he chose to knot it on this morning. Who can blame him? Everyone looks good in Lynn blue!
The “Lynn tie” is a Ben Silver brand tie (and also a sash) that was commissioned by President Emeritus Dr. Donald Ross several years ago. You’ll see a lot of these ties and sashes around campus on commencement, for example (the Big LU bobblehead is modeling mine in the photo).
The university knot is hugging some pretty impressive necks these days. As you might have heard, in just the past few months NBC’s David Gregory has taken one home (no word yet if it’s made it to Meet the Press) and author and Larry King Live regular Robert Lacey also has a Lynn tie in his closet now — a tie he reportedly claimed he’d wear the next time he was on CNN.
Of course, this tie isn’t to be confused with the OTHER Lynn tie – of the Vineyard Vines variety. Those are cool too, and are available in the bookstore. Anyone doing some last minute shopping, I have neither the yellow nor the blue, but would love them both! (Just saying.) 
Are you a fan?
I’m not talking Phillies or Yankees, or Dolphins or Eagles, or even Heat or Knicks … I’m talking a fan of Lynn University on Facebook. We’re edging toward our goal of 2,000 fans by the end of the fall semester –and here we are, just 15 fans away.
So, help us out! First of all, don’t tell me you don’t “do” Facebook, because everyone seems to these days. And if you’re even reading this, you probably have some connection to Lynn, so come on … just do it! Click on the page above and become a fan today!
Lynn baseball championship t-shirt lands in the Baseball Hall of Fame – kind of
National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum president Jeff Idelson recognizing Lynn University’s first-ever NCAA Division II baseball national championship, along with Fighting Knights senior women’s administrator Sara Quatrocky, at the Baseball Winter Meetings in Indianapolis, Dec. 9.
The shirt will actually just reside in Idelson’s office for a day or two, but hey, at least it made it “into” the Hall of Fame and Museum building. As for Ted, he’s probably still thawing out from that cold Midwest air. The thaw shouldn’t take long, however, with our record-breaking heat back here in South Florida.
MLS champ Alexandre back on campus with a gift in tow
Senior VP Greg Malfitano (l) and President Ross (r) with MSL champ Alexandre.
Just a year removed from his senior season on the Fighting Knights men’s soccer squad, Jean Alexandre was back in Boca Wednesday bearing a little gift for President Ross – a ball signed by Major League Soccer champions Real Salt Lake, Alexandre’s team. RSL beat the Landon Donovan and David Beckham-led Los Angeles Galaxy in a 5-4 shootout on Nov. 22 to win the club’s first-ever MSL title, a game in which Alexander enjoyed some real action.
The Fighting Knight standout was the #12 pick in this year’s MSL draft. Shortly before joining the club, he spent some time on the world stage playing for the Haiti National Team this past summer.
Congrats Jean! As for that ball, next time you’re in the President’s Office you’ll find it on Dr. Ross’ bookshelf next to photos of his children and a Lynn University belt buckle (not available in stores, folks. Sorry.)
That's Jean's signature front-and-center. Go Real!
For more on Jean, check out this interview he did with the “Keepin’ It Real” RSL fan blog at the start of his rookie season. No word on whether he still likes snow after a fall and winter in Utah. Do tell!
The helicopter (parent) has landed – with a thud?
Time magazine just put out a story: “The Growing Backlash Against Over Parenting.” Its content teaser says, “The end of helicopter parents: The ‘slow parenting’ movement argues that the American obsession with child safety and success hurts the kids.”
I knew it was just a matter of time … that the helicopter would come crashing down (so to speak). I saw the “movement” brewing MANY years ago – like back in the 1980s when my son was just a toddler. The over scheduling, overprotecting, overbearing – parent. Now, I promised that I would take it easy on my fellow blogger Jason, who is a self-described “heli” parent. But this topic was one I actually addressed “back in the day” when I had just become a parent and the editor of a newsletter for young parents (one of my first editorial jobs, by the way). And here’s what I wrote in 1983 – not exactly Time magazine, but I think I was on the right track:
“… the vast and varied activity agenda that came across my desk led me to wonder about ‘The State of the Pre-Schooler’s schedule in the 1980s.’ Planning September’s schedule was beginning to take on the qualities of college registration day of freshman year …”
So here we are in 2009 – almost 2010 – and we are doubling back and looking to see how we can clip those helicopter wings and stem the tide of parental obsession of kids’ safety and success.
The Time article is long, but very worth reading as it is both revealing and relevant. I could go on, but better to read it for yourself. I’ll just end here with this short piece I pulled from the article.
“I think for a lot of parents, college admissions is like their grade report on how they did as a parent,” observes Madeleine Rhyneer, dean of students at Willamette University in Oregon. Many colleges have had to invent a “director of parent programs” to run regional groups so moms and dads can meet fellow college parents or attend special classes where they can learn all the school cheers. The Ithaca College website offers a checklist of advice: “Visit (but not too often)”; “Communicate (but not too often)”; “Don’t worry (too much)”; “Expect change”; “Trust them.”
Ironically, I am an alum of Ithaca College. I remember it well (even though we’re talking 1969 here). My parents dropped me off at freshmen orientation and picked me up 4 years later. No helicopter hovering back then … And I guess I turned out alright.
Read the article and tell me if you agree, or even if you don’t read it, tell me what you think anyway.
Lynn lights up the holiday season
One of my favorite parts of the holiday season is the lights – lots of lights. As a little girl I grew up with the Chanukah “lights.” We lit the candles on the menorah each of the 8 nights and then my brother and I would run around the house looking for the carefully hidden present. My friends thought I was lucky to get 8 gifts, but I was always in awe of the beautiful Christmas tree next door with its twinkling lights and what seemed like tons of gifts underneath. My family also had some traditions that let us enjoy the other lights of the holidays – including a holiday tour of the neighborhood houses in all their lighted splendor and the trip to New York City to view the mother of all Christmas trees in Rockefeller Center.
The Schmidt lobby is already looking festive.
“At Lynn University diversity, collaboration, teamwork and all different religions and beliefs are second nature and part of our community lifestyle. Service and community is what makes us who we are,” said Omar Herrera, one of the coordinators of this new Lynn event.
So, no matter what you celebrate this holiday season, there’s nothing that says it better than “let there be light.” I tried to refrain from using this old cliché, but I cannot help myself – ‘tis the season!
So, what are some of your family’s holiday traditions?
Return to sender, address unknown
When Elvis had a letter returned marked “no such number, no such zone” he pledged (in his hit “Return to Sender”) “This time I’m gonna take it myself and put it right in her hand.”
Well, right before break we had two recent editions of Lynn Magazine returned and, much as we’d like to, I don’t think we’ll be returning them personally. Their original destination: Botswana.
I wish I’d been along for the ride. Botswana is bordered by South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia and chances are, our little editions crossed the Kalahari at some point. This is a place that the Botswana Tourism Board calls “the very best part of Africa.” I have some friends here at Lynn who might argue that claim, but certainly it’s a country we’d have liked to see ourselves. And of course, a place where we wish the latest Lynn news was reaching.
So if you’re in Botswana, friends and alums, and didn’t see the latest editions, it wasn’t for lack of trying! Drop editor Liz McKey ( lmckey at lynn.edu) an email and we’ll see what we can do. Next time, maybe she’ll show up to deliver them personally (what say you to that, Liz?!).
The lakeside patio is “for the birds”
I love eating lunch outside this time of year when the humidity has all but disappeared and there is a light breeze off the lake. And I’m not the only one, because there are plenty of students out there. But the real crowd is not of the human form, but rather of the bird breed. So, if you don’t mind sharing your space with a posse of ibis who are not at all shy about checking you – and your food – out, then carry your tray on out.
It’s actually quite interesting getting this slice of wildlife during mealtime. The ibis are busy stalking any possible morsel of throwaway food; the birds in the trees are making quite a cacophony waiting to swoop down on their prey, and even a stray duck or two waddles by to survey the scene. I saw one ibis with a piece of foodstuff hanging out of its mouth. He goaded the others to follow him, and then flew away and dropped it into the lake (lucky duck). They reminded me of a bunch of kids taunting each other on the playground.
And the students have taken quite a shine to feeding their little wildlife friends, which I’m sure can’t be a good thing. Even in protected zoos there are signs about not feeding the animals, etc. So, I imagine those tossed French fries and burger buns can’t be very good for them. Plus, because they know they’ll be fed eventually, you have birds literally breathing down your neck.
So, what’s the consensus: to feed or not to feed? Just what are we doing to our Lynn bird population, besides making them nice and plump?
David Gregory talks to students – and me
Okay, not me personally, but I was in the audience in the AG when David Gregory spoke to the students prior to his Dively lecture at Lynn. In the course of my career, I have had the opportunity to meet and greet and hear many “name” speakers (the “wall of fame” in my office is testament to that). They always seem larger than life, and in David Gregory’s case, that is literally true. He’s a tall, lanky and very friendly-looking man, with an affable personality to match. I detected no “star” or diva-like tendencies during his time talking to the students, rather just the opposite. He was very engaging, open and real. So, here are a few of my notes from that session:
• On the current journalism scene: He was amazingly blunt when answering the question from a student about the job market in that field. “Bad,” he said. Local news has plummeted, but he said “the walls have been broken down on the production side” (describing an intern using a flip camera to capture a story), allowing for more outlets and opportunities.
• On social media: He realized he needed to reach out to a younger audience, and clearly understands and embraces today’s communication tools, with 1,388,481 Twitter followers (but who’s counting?). He recognizes that Twitter is part of the universe, but it isn’t the universe.
• On a college education: Today’s students expect information to find them. He talked about the importance of a strong liberal education, the need to be well read, write well and be a good critical thinker – even if you don’t know what you want to be (which he did since the tender age of 15). Great advice, I thought.
• On his career: The job of journalist seemed exciting, he was naturally curious and wanted to be a participant; never wavered from his ambition. He’s been at NBC since the 1990s; covered the White House and his first presidential election (2000) during which he remembers “lots of partying including disco balls and margaritas on the plane.” He describes his job as moderator of Meet the Press as the best he ever had, but a very difficult and challenging one – “a real gift.” He said preparing for interviews is rigorous; you want to make news; get people “in the moment;” and he identified Hilary Clinton as his best AND worst interviewee.
If you were at the student session or the actual Dively lecture, feel free to share your impressions here.
Breaking News: Plan to “Supersize” university squirrel population revealed!!
Is this a simple case of littering, or a larger university conspiracy? (Read on to find out.)
Liz McKey, editor of Lynn Magazine, is – in what spare time she has – a fan of writing and reading mystery novellas. So perhaps she alone would have suspected something sinister was afoot when she came upon this scene in the Schmidt staff lot last week. What appeared to be a simple case of littering – and a squirrel intent on making the most of the act – caught her attention.
Acting on her tip, I started sniffing around. Literally. A visit to the scene (one of the admissions office’s visitors spaces) revealed nothing but a spot of mustard and a discarded napkin (the squirrel’s?). Next, I set out to discover if the staff lot was under surveillance (”No, should it be?” said Mike Mayer, director of security). With no camera footage to reveal the source of the McDonald’s bag, I was left to following a hunch. A sinister hunch.
Knowing that our squirrel population, though cute and curious, was a source of occasional consternation due to their affection for jumping power lines and transformers (and causing more than their fair share of power outages), I went to the university’s auxiliary services director to see if he might have some intel to offer. Boy did he.
Matt Chaloux, who also piloted the winning raft in last week’s “Anything That Floats” boat race (see video evidence here), apparently felt the need to get his secret operation off his chest. This is what he told me via e-mail:
“You have caught us. In the Office of Auxiliary Services never ending effort to reduce the disruption of power on campus caused by squirrels getting onto the power lines, Auxiliary Services staff have been baiting campus with a variety of Mickey D’s delights. It is our objective to cause significant weight gain to the squirrel population so that their ability to climb trees and utility poles is hampered to the point of causing no further outages. A socially conscious group on campus has been seen sneaking food from the Sunshine Cuisine Healthy Choices line in the cafeteria to counter our efforts however. The battle wages on.”
Battle lines are apparently being drawn. And we all may be forced to pick sides. Me? I’m with Matt and his team (and my fellow blogger Laura Vann, who was once stuck in an elevator during one of those squirrel-induced outages). Say we: “Eat well, little buggers.”
You heard it here first, folks. I am now clearing desk space for my Pulitzer!