Discovery Program - Welcoming our new students!

This year, the Hofstra Discovery Program will welcome its 6^th class of excited incoming first year and transfer students on Saturday, August 23rd.  The Discovery Program is a dynamic and interactive program for students who wish to be actively engaged through advocacy, community service, outdoor recreation and service.  One of the benefits of participating in the Discovery Program is being able to experience what Hofstra University has to offer through early campus involvement.  Upon checking in, students will be welcomed by outgoing and excited Discovery Leaders who will be there to help the students transition as they embark on this new journey.  Our Discovery Leaders are all previous Discovery students who once stood in the very same shoes as our new students.  Our leaders are so excited to meet Hofstra’s incoming Discovery students.  We spoke with two of our DiscoveryLeaders about what they are looking forward to most about this year’s Discovery Program.  

Here’s what they had to say:

“As we draw closer to the start of the Discovery Program, I can’t help but feel excited. Something about being back on campus, and the chance to welcome new students to our community at Hofstra is something that I am really looking forward to. There is nothing more satisfying than knowing my time is going to make a difference in this group of new students lives, and knowing that we as Discovery Leaders are helping lead students down a path of service, commitment, and involvement around campus. From my experience with Discovery, my friends and I who participated in the program were some of the most involved people on campus. We got involved with clubs, jobs, TA positions, and more, and I really look forward to seeing the newest group of students take on positions around campus as well. I can’t wait to see everyone, and look forward to meeting the newest addition to Hofstra University.” – Alexander Cain, Discovery Class of 2013

“I am most looking forward to providing the students with opportunities to get involved with community service. I am also excited to see the friendships that are created and to watch them grow throughout the year. We're getting close and I am very excited!!!!!!!!!” – George Calvo, Discovery Class of 2012

We look forward to continuing the tradition of the Discovery Program and are very excited to welcome new leaders to the Hofstra community.

Submitted by Jarryn Mercer, Assistant Director, Student Leadership and Activities

Essence of Place Exhibit

Essence of Place Exhibit  

               Don Resnick

Continues until August 15, 2014

Hofstra University 

Emily Lowe Gallery

We’ve all wished for a quick escape to a place of absolute peace, especially if you find yourself in a bustling city like the big apple or its equally fast paced suburban neighbors. How about going somewhere nearby that promises to invoke a quiet and tranquil atmosphere?

The Hofstra University Museum is currently hosting an exhibit of an internationally known landscape artist known as Don Resnick. The “Essence of Place” exhibit contains works by the artist that are set in coastal areas, influenced by his home on Long Island along with Maine, where he went on vacation.

The exhibit features a digitally scanned copy of one of Resnick’s sketch books, a fun game called “The Great Art of Caper” and iPods with playlists of the music that inspired the artist himself to paint these serene, colorful, and soothing works of art.

This exhibit is a true testament to the museum’s commitment to display works of Long Island artists and, according to Beth Levinthal, Executive Director of the Hofstra Museum, “speaks to protecting and preserving the beauty of Long Island through canvases that provide us with moments of quiet tranquility, or that burst with infinite majesty.”

 

Don Resnick (American, 1928 - 2008), Marshes, 1983, Oil on linen, 40 x 50 in. Gift of David Resnick and Iwonka Piotrowska, Hofstra University Museum Collections, HU2009.9 (c) Don Resnick. (Above)

Don Resnick (American, 1928), Sketchbook, Ink on paper, nd. Courtesy of the Estate of Don Resnick (Right) 

2013-2014 Social Club of the Year: Entertainment Unlimited

This post is the first in a series highlighting the accomplishments of the organizations that have received the honor of being chosen as one of the 2013-2014 Clubs of the Year.

       Entertainment Unlimited had an exciting and successful year, full of fun trips & events for all Hofstra students! Every weekend, we provided free movies to students in the Student Center Theater, ranging from popular Oscar winning films to throwback favorites, and even offered a full concession stand of candies, drinks & popcorn! On Oscar Night, we even threw an Oscar viewing party, complete with free food, sparkling cider, a photo booth and prizes! In addition, every Friday at 4 p.m., we gave away free food to students, which was a big hit! Throughout the year, we offered a variety of fun trips for students, some of which were free and others ranging in cost from $5-$25. Some of our most popular trips among students included Once on Broadway, Six Flags Great Adventure, Kinky Boots on Broadway & a Yankee Game!

         In addition to regular on-campus programs, Entertainment Unlimited planned and executed some really cool special events for Hofstra students to enjoy. In addition to our yearly Burlesque Show in Hofstra USA, we added a Casino Night to the calendar. Many students came to the event, and enjoyed a free hot food buffet, a raffle that included an iPad, and a variety of Casino games taught to them by professional dealers! It was a night not to be missed! In May, we also worked together with Hofstra Concerts to plan Hofstra Music Fest, a yearly music festival held on the intramural fields that is free for all Hofstra students. Thousands of students came out to hear Young the Giant, SZA, ASTR & Vic Mensa rock the stage. In addition to the music, there was also a free barbeque & Red Bull, air brush tattoos, and inflatables, like a giant slide and obstacle course. This is by far our most popular event of the year, and everyone had a great time!

          If you are interested in taking part in the planning of trips and events like this, be sure to stop by our meetings every Wednesday night at 8 p.m. in room 143 of the Student Center. In addition, make sure to like us on Facebook (Entertainment Unlimited), as well as follow us on Twitter, Instagram & Vine (@HofstraEU) to keep up with our busy calendar of trips & events!

Guest Student Blogger: Taylor Sinkway, Vice President of Entertainment Unlimited

Hofstra Hall Makeover

On my first day at Hofstra, I was taken on a campus tour by a soon-to-be junior who proudly showed off all of Hofstra’s finest facilities (including where you can get a spectacular view of New York City…stay tuned!).  I was quite impressed with the modern technology of the classrooms as well as the resources available to students.

After living in Italy for 4 years, I have become utterly fascinated with history and very partial to any structure or artwork that can tell me a great story. It wasn’t surprising to me that I would fall in love with the original building of the university; what my tour guide described as “The home of Mr. and Mrs. Hofstra,” Hofstra Hall. As I looked at the quaint, white, Quaker-like building under renovation, I knew I wanted to dig deeper.

I learned William Hofstra was born in Holland, Michigan and had been previously divorced before he married his second wife around 1895. Kate Mason Williams was a widow and 7 years older than Will. After they were married they moved to New York.  They were a wealthy and generous family that sustained their reputation alongside the Vanderbilts, the Astors and other noteworthy families of the time.

Hempstead, Long Island was a great transportation hub in the early 1900s, which made it easily accessible to New York City and the ideal location to build a spacious estate to house Mr. Hofstra’s collection of luxury cars and Mrs. Hofstra’s horses, cats, dogs, and parrot.  Hofstra Hall, referred to by the family as “The Netherlands”, was built for Mr. and Mrs. Hofstra and completed in 1904.

In 1935, two years after Kate’s death, the home became New York University’s Nassau College- Hofstra Memorial.  There were 159 day students and 621 evening students, who were for the most part Long Island locals.  The college progressively grew and became Hofstra University on March 1, 1963.  Today, the building is home to administrative offices including Development/Alumni Affairs, General Counsel and University Relations.

The aesthetics of the building as well as the layout and structure are almost identical to its original blueprint. Some changes and repairs have been made through the years. However, the largest renovation started recently in April 2014. The roof has been replaced and construction for a new stoop, new double panned windows, and all-new white vinyl cedar shack siding has already begun. All of the work is taken care of by Hofstra’s very own craftsmen from the Facilities department.   Additional measures have been taken to ensure the building is more energy efficient, long lasting, and that the aesthetic appeal holds true to the memory and legacy left by Mr. and Mrs. Hofstra.

The renovations are expected to be completed by the end of July. Stay tuned for photographs of Hofstra Hall’s final makeover!

Photographs and research courtesy of Hofstra University Archives .  

-Rosa Mannino

Hofstra Versus Zombies: Spreading Infectious Fun in a Prestigious Campus

Members posing before entering into battle

Casey Reardon, awarded the
“Alex Demarest” Award in Spring 2014

On a campus so oriented toward helping you succeed academically, it’s nice to have a social club dedicated to providing fun events for students on campus. Welcome to Hofstra University versus Zombies, a club that is not only designed to bring the horde of undead to Hofstra’s doorstep, but is also an excellent opportunity for students of all majors to come together and have an amazing time during their college years. We are the Nerf and zombie experts here at Hofstra University and we provide lots of fun activities outside of class. One thing that really makes our club special is the game of Humans versus Zombies that we host every semester.  Humans versus Zombies (aka HvZ) is a five day game of survival tag that begins on Wednesday and continues until Sunday. There is no break, meaning that human players must watch their backs during both the day and night. A human is marked by a bandanna on their arm or leg while a zombie is identified with a bandanna on their head. During the first 48 hours of the game, an original zombie lurks around the Hofstra campus to “infect” (tag) other players in the game. During this time, human players are not allowed to defend themselves and the original zombie is unmarked within the crowd, meaning that players must find alternative routes to their classes and residence halls. Once the appropriate time has passed, the game enters a "free play" mode. players that were infected become a part of the undead horde while humans can now defend themselves with Nerf blasters and/or sock flails. Players then participate in five missions during free play. Those who are still human must fight off the zombie horde until the end while those who are infected join the horde and try to infect former friends. One of the greatest aspects of Hofstra versus Zombies is that players begin to work with each other to "survive" against the undead, making long lasting friendships as well as fun stories to share outside of class. This brings our club together and turns our meetings into community gatherings that become one of the highlights of club membership for many people. 
In addition to Hofstra versus Zombies, we also host social gatherings such as Thankskilling, HUvZ Night Out, Zombie Ball, and much more. We are the largest club on campus with 213 members and are always welcoming more every semester. Suggestions for new events and ways to improve are always welcome and we are willing to accommodate our members with any time restrictions they may have. Personally, I cannot stress enough the importance of the community we form here at Hofstra versus Zombies. If you don’t believe me, just watch what our members thought of our 2013-2014 academic year.... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QCWLexAl5gk 

Thank you!
-Sincerely, Sunny Kim '16, Vice President of HUvZ

Three students entering the fray