The First Post!

So after much deliberation and design, I finally get to write my first blog entry! I thought I would start by expressing my hopes for this blog. Ultimately I hope that the residents and friends of Siebert Hall gain valuable insight into how Siebert Hall runs and why we care so much about the things we do. Next, I hope that everyone who reads this blog learns a little bit about me. Many of the students already know me, but to some, I am still that creepy guy that sits in an office and clearly looks like he's 30 (I'm only 26 thank you very much). If those students read something that connects them to me, and they feel like they want to talk to me more, than this blog was successful. Finally, I hope to entertain. I know there will be many devout followers of this blog, so I hope you enjoy reading each post!

Each week I'll have a guest person post on the blog, usually an RA. So I hope you check back frequently, as I hope to update at least once a day.

Where to start? Well since I work at a university, I thought I'd start with my days in college. In August 2001, I enrolled at Niagara University as a double major in Theatre and English. I was the third generation of Reilly to attend Niagara, following in the footsteps of my grandfather and father. My first residence hall was Clet Hall, which housed the theatre students and honors students (just like Siebert!), and also was connected to the Leary Theatre and dining hall, the Clet Commons. Also in Clet was the Rathskellar, the campus bar. I lived in room 1316, right at the landing of the third floor floor by the stairs. We had community bathrooms, no air conditioning, and we used our room phones (gasp!) Of course, the room phones enabled us to prank call our fellow residents!

September 11th, 2001 was a day I will never forget. Niagara Falls has a major miliarty air reserve base right down the street from NU, and the Niagara Power Project is right next door to NU. As a result, the campus was completely locked down, and all the roads leading to campus were barricaded. Although planes were grounded, many military planes flew overhead to the base, causing many students to fear what could be happening. Being a Catholic college, many of the students got together for a candlelight vigil outside the chapel. I remember a giant C-130 transport plane flying overhead, which helped to reinforce that this was real and not a dream. I recall my entire day:

8am-9am: Work at work study job at NU library
9am: Return to room, but I didn't turn the TV on
9:40am: English class, where a classmate said a plane crashed into the WTC (I thought it was a little Cessna plane)
11:10am: Go to First Year Niagara class, where we learn about the crash in PA, that classes were going to be cancelled.
11:30am: Head back to hall, turn on TV, see what has happened.
12:00pm: Lewiston Road/104 shut down, NU locked down
12:30pm: CBS news lists the top terrorist sites in the US after WTC; Niagara Power Project listed as Number 1 (since it provides power to NYC).
1-8pm: I call home, and my grandparents who live in Niagara Falls. I can't go to their house because we are locked down. I remember just an eerie silence all over the area.
8pm: I attend the candlelight vigil outside the chapel. Many people are crying. Many are scared.

That is a day I will never forget. One month into college, and I had to deal with something so emotional and difficult.


I had a pretty similar first year as many of you outside of that tragic day. I made many friends and got involved in student life. I made the Dean's List my first semester (which I kept my whole career). My second semester I applied to be an Orientation Leader (accepted). When room selection rolled around, my good friends Ian Tweedie, Justin Vanderbeck and I hoped we could sign up for 1330, a large triple in Clet. Ian was the first to register, and we got it!

Sophomore year Justin and I ressurected the campus radio station WRNU. My other friend Bill Patti and I had the most popular radio show on the network, Two in the Box. Bill and I convinced the dining commons to offer "Late Night Dining". Justin and I continued our radio/sound domination by focusing on making our live music series extremely popular. By junior year, each event would attract over 150 people. And believe it or not, I was almost thrown out of class for sleeping (I was sleeping, but the professor just threw out Ian and Justin for some reason :-) ) I applied for the Orientation Executive board and was selected.

Junior year Ian and Justin, along with our friend Dan Schmidt, moved into apartment 3D on campus. We had a great time together, including going to Orlando for spring break. We threw a lot of parties for our friends, including a New Year's Party. We smuggled in a real Christmas tree (it was against policy). The Niagara basketball team had an NIT game at home (although it was played at University at Buffalo Arena). I went to the game against Troy State and we won! How exciting! At the end of the year I applied to be Orientation Co-Chair, and was selected!

Senior Year I had a single in Clet, 1301, which my other good friend Jay Tamborini lived in sophomore year. After a 35 year drought, the NU basketball team won the MAAC championship and head to Arizona for the NCAA tourney. I flew on the team plane (since I was "in charge" of the N-Zone student section) and attended the game. In addition, my dad, who works for a TV station in Buffalo, also came along to document the event. What a great way to connect past and present NU students, and a father and son! We lost the game, but we definitely gave Oklahoma a scare. At least Clark Kellog picked us for the upset!

At this point I was Orientation Co-Chair, Program Director of WRNU, lead sound designer for the NU theatre, light operator for Live Music Series, Campus Ministry retreat leader, N-Zone "leader" (I was recognized on Senior Day at center court by the AD with an embroidered NU travel bag) Campus Programming Board member, Student Grievances Committee Chair, Pax Christi Vice President, twice named to Who's Who Among Students at American Colleges and Universities, a member of Sigma Alpha Sigma Honor Society, and a member of the Academic Senate and University Judicial Board. Sadly, all good things must come to an end, and in May 2005, I proudly received my degrees and became a proud alum of Niagara University! Up next was graduate school at the University of Dayton, but that's for another blog.

So as you can see, long before I was the Hall Director, I was a student just like you! If you get bored, check out my alma mater at www.niagara.edu. It's beautiful campus and wonderful place that helped make me the person I am. Go Purple Eagles!!!!

~Ed