Its Earth Week!

A tradition on ESF campus for many years, Earth week is a celebrate that occurs during the week of Earth Day (April 22nd).  There are a variety of events students can attend to learn more about sustainability on campus as well as ways to live more green.  A complete guide can be found here:
http://www.esf.edu/earthweek/

Also, ESF and SU have just launched a partnership for a ride-share program.  If you are looking for a ride to/from the Syracuse area you sign up and connect with people who may be traveling around the same dates.  Here is a link for more information:  http://www.esf.edu/communications/view.asp?newsID=786

Important Dates!

Spring Break is right around the corner! weeks away.  Here are some important dates to mark down to make sure you are prepared as the semester progresses:

Spring Break: March 13th to 20th
Easter Break (no classes): April 22nd, Friday

Last Day of Classes: May 3rd, Tuesday

Final Exams: May 5th and 6th and May 9th - 11th

 

Also, for those of you planning to graduate this spring, you will want to read over this carefully.   

Academic Deadlines for Fall 2010

Action required if you wish to graduate in...	December 2010
Request Appointment for Defense of Thesis/Dissertation Examination Committee (Form 5B)	Friday, February 11th, 2011
Latest day to defend to qualify for degree	Friday, April 29th, 2011
MPS, MF and MLA students must notify OI&GS of their intent to complete the degree to be included in the convocation program	Wednesday, April 27th, 2011
Submit a final, revised, and signed version of document and associated paperwork to Office of Instruction & Graduate Studies	Tuesday, May 3rd, 2011

Please note: Consult the Instructions and Guidelines for Formatting a Thesis or Dissertation prior to submitting a final draft to your defense committee members. All committee members (Major Professor, Steering Committee, Readers/Examiners, and the Defense Committee Chair) must have a final draft at least two weeks prior to the defense. Students should notify the Office of Instruction and Graduate Studies via svandeburg@esf.edu of the date, time, and location of the defense at least 2 weeks in advance of the defense or it may be rescheduled.

Fall Time at ESF

So its that time of year again.  The summer heat gives way to cool fall days and the green leaves show their true and vibrant colors.  With the changing of the seasons comes a changing of outdoor activities for people to do.  


Instead of taking a trip to the beach.  Try checking out the Lafayette Apple Festival 
http://www.lafayetteapplefest.org/
You can see apple cider getting made and get to sample it fresh from the press.  Or learn how to make apple dumplings.  There is live music, games, and plenty of hands of activities to enjoy! 


Think you have a good sense of direction?  At Critz Farms in Cazenovia, NY you can take a hay ride, pick you own pumpkin for Halloween, and then test your orrienation skills in on of the larges corn mazes in the area.   http://www.critzfarms.com/fall.html

Lastly, is the monthly TG! This Friday, October 1st at 5pm the Graduate Student Association will be hosting a TG in Nifkin Lounge. In addition to our normal selection of pizza and Middle Ages beer, we will also have: 

NY Wine

NY grown Apples

NY produced cheese 

Crackers, Grapes, Pepperoni, and more!!!

Please join us for a relaxing evening of food and drinks. Remember, this is a TRASH FREE EVENT.  Please bring your mug!

Maymester Course: Environmental Social Marketing

EST 496/696

May 17 – May 28 (M, T, W, Th, F)

9:30am-2:00pm

Instructor: Bruno Takahashi

Recycle, turn off the lights, ride the bus, use less water, reduce consumption. Wonder how to get people to effectively and permanently engage in these behaviors?

This new 3-credit course is intended to provide students in communications, business, and public policy, among others, with an introduction to the current theory and practice in the emerging field of social marketing, and its application to promote pro-environmental behavior change.

You will learn the tools that commercial marketers successfully use to sell their products and services, drawing from a wide range of disciplines including communications, psychology, and sociology. We will focus on the ways in which social marketing techniques can be used in conjunction with other approaches such as policies, education, and information to influence voluntary behavior change. This course could be used towards communication option or methods requirements, or just as an elective.

Finding Housing

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It's that time of the year: time to find a roommate.

Here are my tips on finding housing.

Most students live in the Westcott neighborhood, off of (Outer) Comstock Ave., or in Nob Hill. If you want to be within walking distance of most other ESF grad students, look in the Westcott area. Generally, the closer to campus you live, the more undergraduates you'll find. This may mean "party time", be forewarned.

Roosevelt Ave., Miles Ave., Westcott St., Allen St., Westmoreland Ave., these are all streets that have more graduate students and families on them. These streets are not nearly as wild on a weekend night as the ones closer to campus.

The ESF Graduate Student Association just started a rent/sublet forum. Search housing, sublets, post if you're looking for a roommate:

http://esfgsa.webs.com/apps/forums/

Another site that people often use to find apartments is Orange Housing:

http://www.orangehousing.com/

Plus, there is always Craigslist:

http://syracuse.craigslist.org/search/hhh

Expect to pay from $275-$450 before utilities, up to $550 with utilities included. Good luck!

Living: Tipperary Hill

Located on the West Side of Syracuse, Tipperary Hill is a great neighborhood, only a short commute from campus. A handful of students live there, encouraged by a preponderance of split-level homes, and a young, festive atmosphere, especially around St. Patrick's Day.

Originally a predominantly Irish neighborhood of Syracuse, the area is still true to its roots, hosting the Tipp Hill Shamrock Run, and famosly the location where green beer is delivered by tanker truck to Coleman's Pub.

On a more historical note, Tipp Hill, as it is known to residents, is home to the world's only upside-down stoplight. In the 1920s, the children of Irish immigrants, in their hatred of the British, would throw rocks at the stoplight at the corner of Tompkins St. and Milton Ave to knock out the "British" red light that hung over the "Irish" green. When the city realized this problem would not go away, an upside-down stoplight, with the green on top, was installed at the intersection.

The Palace Theater

The Palace Theater, on James St. in the Eastwood neighborhood, is a one-of-a-kind venue, active in the community since its opening in 1922. It hosts current movies, 35mm cult film triple-features, and other assorted events. Recently, I caught "Invictus", the story of Nelson Mandela and the South African rugby team, at The Palace shortly after it left the main theaters. I went there with some ESF classmates to see "Total Recall" and "Conan the Barbarian", and was greeted by nerdy trivia and prize giveaways between shows.

As part of the same Brew & View series, Monty Python's "Life of Brian", "Time Bandits" and "Brazil" will be showing on Saturday, May 1. Don't miss "The Big Lebowski" on May 21.

Additionally, if you are so inclined, The Palace is generally the venue to catch a rousing Halloween showing of Rocky Horror Picture Show (something I have yet to experience).