How to: Give a Tour of SU

• by

It’s that time of the year when more family, prospective students, and friends will be coming to visit. What could be better than giving a quick, free, and informative tour of the University to convince them you haven’t spent the past 5 months in seclusion? So I give you a quick tour of just a few of the great things on campus and some fun information!

Maxwell/Eggers – I’m not going to run through what we already know here, the MPA/IR programs are some of the best in the country, etc.

Tolley – The “smaller castle” to couple with Crouse (AKA Hogwarts). Tolley was the third building on campus, after the Hall of Languages, and was the original campus library followed by the original administration building. During the Vietnam War, a small group of students took part in a “Teach In” where they locked themselves in the building. Since it was the administration building at the time the University was forced to close and cancel classes for a few days. Prof. Bennett, who hosted the “Teach In” still teaches history at Maxwell. Getting architectural, the roof is made completely of slate. The heavy slate roof was causing the building to collapse under the weight. When renovations began in 2005, there were no blueprints found for the building and demolition was not an option as the building had been placed on the national register of historic buildings. The solution was to selectively drill into the sides of the building to find the support beams. If you walk around the building you can see clusters of newer bricks where this drilling occurred.

Hall of Languages – The first building on campus, it was built in 1873 and is the home of the College of Arts and Sciences. The building was renovated in 1979 and an additional floor was added. However, the windows were not rearranged on the building so you can see the floor through certain windows. Realizing their error, the University responded by tinting the windows.

Carrier Dome – Replacing the former Archibold Bowl, the Dome (AKA the Loud House) was built in 1980. It can hold around 50,000 people for football games and almost 35,000 for basketball games. If you’re in the mood for some fun stomp your feet between the vertical concrete slabs on the outside of the Dome and you will hear a laser noise. If you are attending an event in the Dome, occasionally, someone will open the emergency exit doors. Since the roof is held up with pressure, walking through the exit door will quite literally push you out.

Holden Observatory – Did you know we had one?! It is the second oldest building on campus, but the coolest thing about the observatory is that it once stood where Eggers now lies. In 1991, the observatory was moved from that position (to make room for Eggers) at a rate of 4 inches an hour for three days to its current home.

Please let me know what you guys think of this! Is this helpful, is it lame? I hope everyone can get to know a bit more about their school and the history that is all around. Looking forward to your feedback. Happy Friday!

Some Post Election Ponderings

• by

Though I will be blogging about more “soft” topics, I think it is important that I say something about the election.

First, I think yesterday was fantastic for Democracy and for America. If only everyone could be so fortunate to have what many of us take for granted.

Second, we are very much in a glass box, for better or worse. Kenya, Egypt, Spain, and many other countries had reporters on hand talking about the foreign impact of our elections. I wonder how many Americans look outward the way others look toward us.

Third, we need to become more inclusive. Many of you had your Facebook feeds bombarded by people who perceived this election as a “victory” or a “defeat.” We need to move on quickly, put this election behind us, and get to work. I’ll leave you with my current Facebook status update. “As everyone complains/celebrates the election results remember that YOU could be the issue. We all say that we want a bipartisan government that is effective and efficient, but rather than play the hand we are dealt we are already retreating to our party lines declaring “victory” or “defeat.” What have YOU done to bring the country together? One America, one president. Here’s to EVERYONE being better off in 4 years time…”

Let’s look ahead, not behind. Regardless of your ballot or affiliation it is up to all of us, especially those of us in administration and public service, to listen to both sides of every argument and act bipartisan, regardless of who “controls” the presidency, senate, or house. Prof. Rosemary O’Leary teaches us to be interest-based, rather than positional. Positions are steadfast and stubborn, where interests and more collective and fluid. How many of us are interest-based on a daily basis? Who can switch the channel between Fox News and CNN and find the value to both arguments without being positional? Who among us can form a valid argument not against a position, but for an interest, especially when people are deeply passionate or positional?

Whether you “won” or “lost” yesterday, think about where you want the country to be in 4 years time. With such daunting problems facing our country we simply cannot afford to be positional, partisan, and stubborn. Surely, we can all agree on some solutions.

 

Hello current, past, and future Maxwellians!

• by

I am Nathaniel Saviet and I am one of the bloggers for the Public Administration and International Affairs programs here at Maxwell. I am a MPA student, expecting to graduate in June 2013, with a focus in environmental policy.

I am not only a current Syracuse student, but I am also an alumnus, having recieved my bachelors in biology and policy studies from Syracuse in May of 2011. While at Syracuse, I competed on the cross country and track and field (or as it is known abroad “athletics”) teams, volunteered for the Red Cross of Central New York, and was a teaching assistant for biology and policy studies classes. My academic interests lie in environmental and natural resource policy. Professionally, I am interested in working for the federal or state government, consultants, or think tanks. Before Syracuse I worked for a hazardous waste disposal company based out of Boston, MA, called Triumvirate Environmental, where I was an environmental chemist. I am originally from Worcester, MA.

I am looking forward to sharing some of my knowledge about Central New York, Syracuse University, and everything in between with my Maxwell peers! If there are specific questions you have about myself, my posts, or my Syracuse and Maxwell experiences please don’t hesitate to e-mail me or post a comment.