Greetings new and returning residents alike!
Even though there is a terrible thunderstorm in Columbus right now, there is a buzz in the air as the new school year is just around the corner. As students are finalizing their move in plans, I have been getting numerous questions about what the rooms in Siebert will be like when they arrive. Therefore, I decided to add this FAQ to my blog, which I hope answers many questions much more quickly than having to wait for a response to an email. If you don't see your questions here, email me at ereilly@studentlife.osu.edu and I'll make sure to add it! I'll update these once a week on Friday, so check back on 9-4, 9-11 and 9-18 for more!
Siebert Says 8-28-2009
Dear Ed,
I am living in Siebert this year, and am wondering about bed lofts. Do I have to buy one? Are lofts not allowed? Thanks for your help.
A. Resident
A. Resident,
You do not need to purchase a loft kit. The beds in Siebert are able to be lofted by the students themselves. Should you need assistance in lofting your bed, your fellow residents are great at that, and if you still need help, our housekeeping and maintenance staff is glad to lend a hand.
DO NOT purchase a loft from bedloft.com as you do not need it. If your bed is not lofted when you arrive on September 20, make sure to consult with your roommate before you make changes to avoid any unnecessary conflicts.
Ed
Dear Mr. Reilly,
I will be living in Siebert in the fall. What does a room look like?
Sam Pull
Dear Sam,
You can get accurate floor plans of all Siebert Hall rooms on the Housing website. Simply go to http://housing.osu.edu, click on Halls in the top right corner, select Siebert Hall, and then enter your room number. It's that easy!
As an aside, I get numerous requests to view rooms before move in day. Generally speaking, we are unable to accommodate these requests, based on numerous issues including maintenance and housekeeping schedules to prepare the building for opening, and the staff being out of the building for training. Your best bet is to use the Housing website.
Ed
Hi!
I'm really excited about living in Siebert and coming to OSU! GO BUCKS! Can I move in early if I'm not on a preapproved list without penalty? See you soon!
Earl E. Byrd
Earl,
The answer is no, you can't move in early unless you have been approved by Housing (i.e., the OWL program). We understand your excitement for moving into Siebert Hall, but we need to follow the appropriate move in schedule to ensure your room is ready and that all residents have a safe and smooth transition. Any unauthorized attempts to gain entry to Siebert Hall via swiping your BuckID will result in a $30.00 per day charge on your account, so don't add unnecessary charges for being impatient. We promise you that Siebert Hall will be worth the wait when you arrive to campus!
Ed
Hello Ed Reilly,
I am VERY excited about moving to Siebert in September, but I wanted to know who my RA was going to be? Can I find this information??? I really want to get a glimpse into what my future may be like on my floor!!! Thanks!
Crystal Ball
Crystal,
You can find bios of the entire Siebert staff on the Siebert Hall website, http://sieberthall.osu.edu/ under Staff (go figure!).
Ed
Dear Sir,
I will be a new student this year. I am looking forward to partying in the halls and drinking when I get to college. There aren't any rules about this right? Party on man!
Bud Weiser
Bud,
I hate to burst your bubble, but there are rules concerning parties and alcohol. Your RA will provide you with a copy of the Residence Hall Handbook, but if you wanted to get a jump start on the policies, you can find them online at http://housing.osu.edu/current_policies_handbook.asp. To summarize about alcohol, under 21 is against the law, everything else flows (no pun intended!) from that!
Ed
Dear E. Reilly,
I was wondering where I could find more information about Siebert Hall? Thanks.
Miss Alanius
Dear Miss Alanius,
You can find all sorts of Siebert stuff at http://sieberthall.osu.edu, which last year won an award for outstanding student organization website, so you know it's good! If you still have questions, you can email us at sieberthall@osu.edu, or the Hall Director, Ed Reilly, at ereilly@studentlife.osu.edu.
You can also follow us on Twitter @Siebert Hall, on Facebook (Siebert Hall) or on You Tube. With so many choices, you should be able to have every question answered!
Ed
Friday, August 28, 2009
Friday, March 27, 2009
Explore Columbus
One of the downsides of being the Hall Director is that it is hard sometimes to get away from Siebert and campus to explore the Columbus area. Between meetings, being on call, programs and other commitments, it can be real tricky to try to steal away from campus for a little bit.
But that's why I love spring break. Without any students around, I get a little more free time since there are no meetings, judicial hearings and so on. So I decided to venture out of Siebert and headed down to German Village for dinner at Schmidt's Sausage Haus. Being a huge fan of sausage, I was eager to sample the fare at the restaurant. I was not disappointed. Once I got into the restaurant, I was seated at the bar since I was alone this evening. The bartender gave me the beverage list, which consisted of many local brews and imported German beers. The bartender then informed there was a special which would get me the famous Bahama Mama sausage, weiner schnitzel and two sides for about 12 bucks. That sounded good to me, so I ordered that with German potato salad and red cabbage as my two sides. I barely had to wait and my food was in front of me.
While I was eating, the live German band started playing. It was a great atmosphere. When my plate was clean, the bartender asked me if I wanted dessert. Schmidt's is famous for their half pound creme puffs, so how could I turn that down? As I ate the heavenly puff, the band (which consisted of accordion and tuba) starting playing the Simpsons theme song, then the Family Guy theme song, and finally, the Super Mario Bros. theme song. At this last song I had to call my brother, so I did, and he was enjoying the music as much as I was. After I hung up the phone, the band played one of the Tetris songs! I paid my bill, and left with a full stomach and big smile on my face.
I know it can be hard to explore Columbus when, like many of you, you don't have a car on campus. But I encourage you as the Spring quarter starts, to take advantage of the opportunities to explore what this area offers. Whether it is your home or your home away from home, I'm positive Columbus has something to appeal to every person! And if you want to experience Schmidt's, you can find them on the web at http://www.schmidthaus.com/index.html.
But that's why I love spring break. Without any students around, I get a little more free time since there are no meetings, judicial hearings and so on. So I decided to venture out of Siebert and headed down to German Village for dinner at Schmidt's Sausage Haus. Being a huge fan of sausage, I was eager to sample the fare at the restaurant. I was not disappointed. Once I got into the restaurant, I was seated at the bar since I was alone this evening. The bartender gave me the beverage list, which consisted of many local brews and imported German beers. The bartender then informed there was a special which would get me the famous Bahama Mama sausage, weiner schnitzel and two sides for about 12 bucks. That sounded good to me, so I ordered that with German potato salad and red cabbage as my two sides. I barely had to wait and my food was in front of me.
While I was eating, the live German band started playing. It was a great atmosphere. When my plate was clean, the bartender asked me if I wanted dessert. Schmidt's is famous for their half pound creme puffs, so how could I turn that down? As I ate the heavenly puff, the band (which consisted of accordion and tuba) starting playing the Simpsons theme song, then the Family Guy theme song, and finally, the Super Mario Bros. theme song. At this last song I had to call my brother, so I did, and he was enjoying the music as much as I was. After I hung up the phone, the band played one of the Tetris songs! I paid my bill, and left with a full stomach and big smile on my face.
I know it can be hard to explore Columbus when, like many of you, you don't have a car on campus. But I encourage you as the Spring quarter starts, to take advantage of the opportunities to explore what this area offers. Whether it is your home or your home away from home, I'm positive Columbus has something to appeal to every person! And if you want to experience Schmidt's, you can find them on the web at http://www.schmidthaus.com/index.html.
Thursday, March 19, 2009
A Personal Message to Buckeye Nation
It's my pleasure to deliver this personal message to all of Buckeye nation from Purple Eagle territory. Since many of you have become friends of Niagara University this year, I am sure you will be happy to support this request. I present the following to you, and I quote, from a fan after finding out I work at Ohio State at Niagara's NIT game:
~When you get back to Ohio State, make sure you tell them we are all rooting for them. We hope they crush the [Siena] Saints. Make it happen!~
O-H! I-O!
~When you get back to Ohio State, make sure you tell them we are all rooting for them. We hope they crush the [Siena] Saints. Make it happen!~
O-H! I-O!
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Ed with Niagara at the NIT
Despite the outcome, I thoroughly enjoyed my second NIT experience with Niagara. This one was much more exciting since it was actually played at the Gallagher Center.
I arrived on campus with mom who was also attending the game (my dad would get there later) at about 5:30pm to partake in the pregame festivities. We picked up our tickets from will call and promptly headed over to the free cookout across from the Gallagher Center. After picking up our hotdogs and beverages, we ventured into the newest building on campus, Bisgrove Hall, to experience it for the first time. Since this building took the place of my beloved Quad, it had a lot to prove to me to win me over. And win me over it did! It was an extremely state of the art complex, and exactly what Niagara needs to continue to remain competitive in the coming years.
After leaving the building, we headed over to the live entertainment just as coach Joe Mihalich was preparing to greet the revelers! He thanked us for coming out, and then headed back inside to prepare for the actual game.
At about 6:00pm we headed inside the Gallagher Center. Despite being 1 hour before game time, the general admission seating was filling up fast. Luckily we scored great seats on the aisle at midcourt. As we waited for tip-off, I was able to get my hands on a green Niagara NIT t-shirt, thanks to my connections at Niagara! I was also able to chat with one of my favorite people at Niagara, Fr. Joe Hubbard, the team chaplain, before the game got underway.
The game itself was exciting for the most part. Niagara led at half by 4. At halftime I visited with my mentor, the VP for Student Life Sheila Hausrath, one of the people responsible for getting me into student affairs. While talking with her I also spoke with the VP for Academic Affairs Dr. Bonnie Rose. Now if only I could get that contact at OSU just imagine the quality of faculty programs Siebert would have! After half, Niagara continued it's troubling trend of missing shots and believing it needs to rely on the 3-pointer to win games. While that may be true, no team will ever win if you shoot 7-27 from behind the arc like Niagara did yesterday. If that wasn't bad enough, Niagara shot an abysmal 36.5% from the field overall. They looked about as bad from a shooting perspective as they did in the MAAC championship. It's sad to watch some of the best players on the team, such as Tyrone Lewis (who missed 11-14 3-pointers) and Bilal Benn (4-10 from the field overall, two of those being 3's, and committing 5 turnovers) struggle in the big games. Niagara blew a lead as high as 9, and as high as 7 in the second half, to lose by 6 at home. Disappointment is an understatement. Frustration may be a better word.
Niagara really wanted to be considered an NCAA bubble team. When that didn't happen, they were rewarded with a 3 seed in the NIT. Niagara did not play like a 3 seed last night, and as such, they were ousted from the tournament. They clearly did not look like an NCAA bubble team. Frustrating because the team had been playing so well before imploding in the MAAC championship game when they shot 37 threes and made only a handful, and the shooting woes continued in the NIT. On the bright side, or maybe of concern, Niagara only loses one player next year, Benson Egemonye. I say bright side because the core of the team will be back, and they are good players. I said maybe concern because it is these same players that went cold in the biggest games of the year. Hopefully Niagara will fix what went wrong at the end of season this year and do even better things next season.
But like I said in the beginning, this was a great experience since it was on campus, even if I left campus frustrated and a little bit numb after the frigid temperature inside the Gallagher Center from the Niagara shooters. BRRRR, I thought this was supposed to be March????
I arrived on campus with mom who was also attending the game (my dad would get there later) at about 5:30pm to partake in the pregame festivities. We picked up our tickets from will call and promptly headed over to the free cookout across from the Gallagher Center. After picking up our hotdogs and beverages, we ventured into the newest building on campus, Bisgrove Hall, to experience it for the first time. Since this building took the place of my beloved Quad, it had a lot to prove to me to win me over. And win me over it did! It was an extremely state of the art complex, and exactly what Niagara needs to continue to remain competitive in the coming years.
After leaving the building, we headed over to the live entertainment just as coach Joe Mihalich was preparing to greet the revelers! He thanked us for coming out, and then headed back inside to prepare for the actual game.
At about 6:00pm we headed inside the Gallagher Center. Despite being 1 hour before game time, the general admission seating was filling up fast. Luckily we scored great seats on the aisle at midcourt. As we waited for tip-off, I was able to get my hands on a green Niagara NIT t-shirt, thanks to my connections at Niagara! I was also able to chat with one of my favorite people at Niagara, Fr. Joe Hubbard, the team chaplain, before the game got underway.
The game itself was exciting for the most part. Niagara led at half by 4. At halftime I visited with my mentor, the VP for Student Life Sheila Hausrath, one of the people responsible for getting me into student affairs. While talking with her I also spoke with the VP for Academic Affairs Dr. Bonnie Rose. Now if only I could get that contact at OSU just imagine the quality of faculty programs Siebert would have! After half, Niagara continued it's troubling trend of missing shots and believing it needs to rely on the 3-pointer to win games. While that may be true, no team will ever win if you shoot 7-27 from behind the arc like Niagara did yesterday. If that wasn't bad enough, Niagara shot an abysmal 36.5% from the field overall. They looked about as bad from a shooting perspective as they did in the MAAC championship. It's sad to watch some of the best players on the team, such as Tyrone Lewis (who missed 11-14 3-pointers) and Bilal Benn (4-10 from the field overall, two of those being 3's, and committing 5 turnovers) struggle in the big games. Niagara blew a lead as high as 9, and as high as 7 in the second half, to lose by 6 at home. Disappointment is an understatement. Frustration may be a better word.
Niagara really wanted to be considered an NCAA bubble team. When that didn't happen, they were rewarded with a 3 seed in the NIT. Niagara did not play like a 3 seed last night, and as such, they were ousted from the tournament. They clearly did not look like an NCAA bubble team. Frustrating because the team had been playing so well before imploding in the MAAC championship game when they shot 37 threes and made only a handful, and the shooting woes continued in the NIT. On the bright side, or maybe of concern, Niagara only loses one player next year, Benson Egemonye. I say bright side because the core of the team will be back, and they are good players. I said maybe concern because it is these same players that went cold in the biggest games of the year. Hopefully Niagara will fix what went wrong at the end of season this year and do even better things next season.
But like I said in the beginning, this was a great experience since it was on campus, even if I left campus frustrated and a little bit numb after the frigid temperature inside the Gallagher Center from the Niagara shooters. BRRRR, I thought this was supposed to be March????
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
It never gets any easier
No matter how many times you experience it or prepare yourself for it, losing still hurts. Sure I wasn't playing in the game. But the name on the front of the jersey is on my wall on my diploma. It feels like a little piece of me died when the buzzer sounded and Niagara was on the short end of a 77-70 decision.
I guess the eternal optimist can hold out hope for an at large bid. But let's be serious. Despite Niagara's final 26-8 record, 51 RPI, 2-3 against RPI Top 50, 15 road wins (most in country), 3rd best steals in the country, winning 12 of last 14 and losing in the conference title game to team with a 24 RPI by 7, Niagara is not a serious bubble contender. I'd be shocked and willing to put up my car, XBOX 360 and Wii that Niagara will not receive an at large bid.
So we wait and hope for an NIT bid. But again, I won't hold my breath, as college athletics always seem to find a way to screw over the "little guy" even if they deserve more than the "big guys" get.
I guess the eternal optimist can hold out hope for an at large bid. But let's be serious. Despite Niagara's final 26-8 record, 51 RPI, 2-3 against RPI Top 50, 15 road wins (most in country), 3rd best steals in the country, winning 12 of last 14 and losing in the conference title game to team with a 24 RPI by 7, Niagara is not a serious bubble contender. I'd be shocked and willing to put up my car, XBOX 360 and Wii that Niagara will not receive an at large bid.
So we wait and hope for an NIT bid. But again, I won't hold my breath, as college athletics always seem to find a way to screw over the "little guy" even if they deserve more than the "big guys" get.
Monday, March 9, 2009
Purple Eagles Go For Glory
It's no secret that I love my Niagara University Purple Eagles. All you have to do is take one step into my office to be bombarded with purple Niagara cups, paper clip holders, posters, numerous bobble heads and of course, my degrees.
Part of what made being a student at NU so great was the rich basketball tradition. The basketball team is a rallying point of pride for the student body and community. Niagara is in no means a sports school, but the team acts as a unifying agent in a community which has struggled with economic difficulties much longer than the current recession we are experiencing. At only $10.00 a pop for a game in the legendary Gallagher Center, almost anyone can afford to attend at least one high energy, extremely exciting Niagara basketball game.
People often times scoff at the fact Niagara is considered a "mid-major" team, and that the school is "small." While this may be true to some degree (Niagara has nearly 4,000 students which technically earns the classification of mid-sized), Niagara offers something that few if any large scale programs offer anymore: The four-year player. You can be assured that outside of transferring, you will get to watch your favorite Purple Eagle grow from his first-year to his Senior night game. The community forms attachments to the special players: NBA Hall of Famer Calvin Murphy, the late great Phil Scaffidi, All Time Canadian born NCAA scoring leader Juan Mendez, and the reigning MAAC Defensive Player of the Year Tyrone Lewis among a host of other legendary Purple Eagle players. Sure they may be student-athletes, but to so many people looking for an escape from their difficult lives, searching for something to cheer for, to be excited about, these student-athletes represent hope. The hope that every year Niagara will compete for a championship and put "Old Niagara" in the national spotlight with an NCAA Tournament appearance.
While we would like to advance to the Big Dance every year, we know that that is not a viable option. Niagara's mid-major status dictates that only the conference champion will be invited to the dance. So we savor every opportunity with have to participate in college basketball's grandest of stages. It took 35 years before Niagara made it back to the NCAA tournament during my senior year in 2005, having not appeared since Calvin Murphy lead the team to wins in the 1970 tournament. It then took only 2 more years for another appearance. Tonight, Niagara has a chance to add another banner to the rafters of the Gallagher Center. A win tonight in the MAAC championship games nets NU it's third bid in five years, a remarkable achievement considering the history cited above.
At 26-7, Niagara stands as one of the best programs in the country this year. Argue all you want about playing in the MAAC, but Niagara still had to win its games. Niagara leads the country in wins away from home. They rank third in steals. Their RPI is 51, just percentage points behind South Carolina to crack the top 50, yet ahead of Arizona and 12 spots ahead of Penn State, who people are talking about getting at-large bids. On back to back Fridays in February they beat the RPI 47 (Illinois St.) and RPI 24 (Siena) teams, both by double digits on ESPN 2 and ESPN U in front of a national audience. They have won 11 of their last 12, including 5 in a row. And yet, if Niagara loses tonight in the rematch with the RPI 24 Siena Saints, the NCAA tournament disappears. The power conferences gobble up the majority of the 34 at large bids, leave a scant few for teams about the "major" conferences to battle for. Niagara most likely has guaranteed themselves an NIT game should they lose, despite the fact Niagara will be better than, and more than likely would have beat, many teams in the NCAA tournament. But Niagara can avoid all of that by taking care of business tonight and winning the conference championship.
Despite the high stakes, Niagara stands on the verge of greatness. With their backs to the wall, star guard Tyrone Lewis heaved a desperation 30-ft 3-pointer to try and tie their game in the conference semifinals against Rider before time expired. It banked off the backboard and through the net to force overtime. Poor free throw shooting extended the contest to a second OT, before Bilal Benn made a huge steal with seconds remaining to seal the deal for the Purple Eagles in the second extra session. Niagara is ready for their final test. They understand what it means to have "NIAGARA" written across their chests. They know they play for more than just themselves. All across the country tonight, the purple faithful will be cheering their boys on to one more victory. Win or lose, we all still beam with Purple Pride for our Alma mater, our favorite team, or our hope in despair.
Part of what made being a student at NU so great was the rich basketball tradition. The basketball team is a rallying point of pride for the student body and community. Niagara is in no means a sports school, but the team acts as a unifying agent in a community which has struggled with economic difficulties much longer than the current recession we are experiencing. At only $10.00 a pop for a game in the legendary Gallagher Center, almost anyone can afford to attend at least one high energy, extremely exciting Niagara basketball game.
People often times scoff at the fact Niagara is considered a "mid-major" team, and that the school is "small." While this may be true to some degree (Niagara has nearly 4,000 students which technically earns the classification of mid-sized), Niagara offers something that few if any large scale programs offer anymore: The four-year player. You can be assured that outside of transferring, you will get to watch your favorite Purple Eagle grow from his first-year to his Senior night game. The community forms attachments to the special players: NBA Hall of Famer Calvin Murphy, the late great Phil Scaffidi, All Time Canadian born NCAA scoring leader Juan Mendez, and the reigning MAAC Defensive Player of the Year Tyrone Lewis among a host of other legendary Purple Eagle players. Sure they may be student-athletes, but to so many people looking for an escape from their difficult lives, searching for something to cheer for, to be excited about, these student-athletes represent hope. The hope that every year Niagara will compete for a championship and put "Old Niagara" in the national spotlight with an NCAA Tournament appearance.
While we would like to advance to the Big Dance every year, we know that that is not a viable option. Niagara's mid-major status dictates that only the conference champion will be invited to the dance. So we savor every opportunity with have to participate in college basketball's grandest of stages. It took 35 years before Niagara made it back to the NCAA tournament during my senior year in 2005, having not appeared since Calvin Murphy lead the team to wins in the 1970 tournament. It then took only 2 more years for another appearance. Tonight, Niagara has a chance to add another banner to the rafters of the Gallagher Center. A win tonight in the MAAC championship games nets NU it's third bid in five years, a remarkable achievement considering the history cited above.
At 26-7, Niagara stands as one of the best programs in the country this year. Argue all you want about playing in the MAAC, but Niagara still had to win its games. Niagara leads the country in wins away from home. They rank third in steals. Their RPI is 51, just percentage points behind South Carolina to crack the top 50, yet ahead of Arizona and 12 spots ahead of Penn State, who people are talking about getting at-large bids. On back to back Fridays in February they beat the RPI 47 (Illinois St.) and RPI 24 (Siena) teams, both by double digits on ESPN 2 and ESPN U in front of a national audience. They have won 11 of their last 12, including 5 in a row. And yet, if Niagara loses tonight in the rematch with the RPI 24 Siena Saints, the NCAA tournament disappears. The power conferences gobble up the majority of the 34 at large bids, leave a scant few for teams about the "major" conferences to battle for. Niagara most likely has guaranteed themselves an NIT game should they lose, despite the fact Niagara will be better than, and more than likely would have beat, many teams in the NCAA tournament. But Niagara can avoid all of that by taking care of business tonight and winning the conference championship.
Despite the high stakes, Niagara stands on the verge of greatness. With their backs to the wall, star guard Tyrone Lewis heaved a desperation 30-ft 3-pointer to try and tie their game in the conference semifinals against Rider before time expired. It banked off the backboard and through the net to force overtime. Poor free throw shooting extended the contest to a second OT, before Bilal Benn made a huge steal with seconds remaining to seal the deal for the Purple Eagles in the second extra session. Niagara is ready for their final test. They understand what it means to have "NIAGARA" written across their chests. They know they play for more than just themselves. All across the country tonight, the purple faithful will be cheering their boys on to one more victory. Win or lose, we all still beam with Purple Pride for our Alma mater, our favorite team, or our hope in despair.
Here's to old Niagara,
Onward to victory
We're out to win, team,
Every loyal, ever loyal we will be;
Get in the game and win, team,
Though the odds be great or small;
For the glory of Niagara,
We'll give our all.
Monday, January 19, 2009
Niagara Falls
Growing up in Buffalo, having relatives that lived in Niagara Falls, and attending Niagara University for four years, it's easy to take for granted the mighty Falls for which the region is named. It becomes so common place to drive over bridges that take you near the falls, the rapids or the many tourist attractions. Inevitably when people from out of town came to visit us, or friends of mine at NU not from the area moved there, they wanted to see the Falls. Usually grudgingly, we took them. This isn't to say I didn't like the falls, it's just that I saw them all the time so they weren't really special to me. I imagine it would be the same for a person living in NYC to drive by the Statue of Liberty, in D.C. past the Capitol building, or in Seattle past the Space Needle.
Even though they are old hat for me, I usually enjoy the look on people's faces when they see the Falls for the first time. So often people are just speechless. They aren't used to seeing that much water, so powerful and majestic, moving down so quickly and then racing down the Lower Niagara River up to Lewiston and so on. And usually this occurrence took place in the summer, when Niagara Falls State Park, Goat Island, Clifton Hill, or wherever we were viewing the Falls, was jammed full of tourists on a hot and humid day. We'd watch the Maid of the Mist boats travel towards the Horseshoe Falls (the Canadian Falls), people venture through the Cave of the Winds, or people just walk about the various islands to explore the history at Niagara Falls. At the end of the day, we would leave, happy for the person experiencing the Falls for the first time, but not feeling moved ourselves. This is how it has been for the last oh, five to ten years for me, every time, without exception. Until this past Sunday.
This past Sunday I had the opportunity to once again experience the Falls with people who had never seen the Falls before (with the exception of one who was there a while back). It was a spur of the moment, let's go to Niagara Falls for the day trip...in the winter, in the cold. I don't recall going to the Falls many times in the winter, so I wasn't really sure what to expect myself. I knew many things wouldn't be open, like the Maid of the Mist or the myriad of outdoor vendors peddling their wares. When I parked my car on Goat Island, you instantly heard the distinctive rush of the water, yet were enveloped in classic, fluffy white snow. The trees could be heard cracking from the weight of the ice and snow. Then we saw the Falls for the first time. You couldn't get as close as you usually could, since many of the paths were closed for the season, but you still were pretty darn close. But because of the snow and lack of people around you, it felt much like I imagined it would in the old day when settlers discovered the Falls. It literally was just you and the Falls. The snow and mist blocked out most of the Canadian skyline, and the lower/closer observation areas were covered by snow, so if you didn't know better, you would have thought it was just ice on a cliff.
As I stood there looking at the interplay between water and ice, I couldn't help but be swept away by the image. An image of contradictions. On one hand, you had huge chunks of ice both in the falls and below. Yet all of the Falls was still flowing around it. Why doesn't it freeze? Or the other questions: Where does all this water come from? Why does it keep going over in perfect unison? It was just such a beautiful sight. I was speechless, lost in the moment. I guess this must be what it is like to stare upon the falls for the first time with boyish wonder, something I probably exhibited the first time I saw the falls at a very young age. I was moved just as much as the people with me who naver experienced the sights of the Falls before.
When my time was over at the Falls, I stole one last glance at the mighty Niagara Falls, and realized it may be taken granted by those of us who live there, but it can still amaze you when you least expect it. For me, this most recent experience at a familiar sight felt like my first time gazing upon the wonder that is Niagara.
Even though they are old hat for me, I usually enjoy the look on people's faces when they see the Falls for the first time. So often people are just speechless. They aren't used to seeing that much water, so powerful and majestic, moving down so quickly and then racing down the Lower Niagara River up to Lewiston and so on. And usually this occurrence took place in the summer, when Niagara Falls State Park, Goat Island, Clifton Hill, or wherever we were viewing the Falls, was jammed full of tourists on a hot and humid day. We'd watch the Maid of the Mist boats travel towards the Horseshoe Falls (the Canadian Falls), people venture through the Cave of the Winds, or people just walk about the various islands to explore the history at Niagara Falls. At the end of the day, we would leave, happy for the person experiencing the Falls for the first time, but not feeling moved ourselves. This is how it has been for the last oh, five to ten years for me, every time, without exception. Until this past Sunday.
This past Sunday I had the opportunity to once again experience the Falls with people who had never seen the Falls before (with the exception of one who was there a while back). It was a spur of the moment, let's go to Niagara Falls for the day trip...in the winter, in the cold. I don't recall going to the Falls many times in the winter, so I wasn't really sure what to expect myself. I knew many things wouldn't be open, like the Maid of the Mist or the myriad of outdoor vendors peddling their wares. When I parked my car on Goat Island, you instantly heard the distinctive rush of the water, yet were enveloped in classic, fluffy white snow. The trees could be heard cracking from the weight of the ice and snow. Then we saw the Falls for the first time. You couldn't get as close as you usually could, since many of the paths were closed for the season, but you still were pretty darn close. But because of the snow and lack of people around you, it felt much like I imagined it would in the old day when settlers discovered the Falls. It literally was just you and the Falls. The snow and mist blocked out most of the Canadian skyline, and the lower/closer observation areas were covered by snow, so if you didn't know better, you would have thought it was just ice on a cliff.
As I stood there looking at the interplay between water and ice, I couldn't help but be swept away by the image. An image of contradictions. On one hand, you had huge chunks of ice both in the falls and below. Yet all of the Falls was still flowing around it. Why doesn't it freeze? Or the other questions: Where does all this water come from? Why does it keep going over in perfect unison? It was just such a beautiful sight. I was speechless, lost in the moment. I guess this must be what it is like to stare upon the falls for the first time with boyish wonder, something I probably exhibited the first time I saw the falls at a very young age. I was moved just as much as the people with me who naver experienced the sights of the Falls before.
When my time was over at the Falls, I stole one last glance at the mighty Niagara Falls, and realized it may be taken granted by those of us who live there, but it can still amaze you when you least expect it. For me, this most recent experience at a familiar sight felt like my first time gazing upon the wonder that is Niagara.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Siebert Says
To make this blog more fun and interactive, each week I will be answering questions or posting comments from residents about Siebert Hall on "Siebert Says". This is a great way to connect with all of you, and to let the rest of the building know what people are thinking. I won't post all of your comments or answer all of your questions, but feel free to submit questions or comments!
Siebert Says will appear every Friday!
Siebert Says will appear every Friday!
A Snowy Wednesday
As I look out my window here in the lovely confines of my Siebert office, I can't help but to recall my childhood outside of Buffalo, New York. Sure Columbus isn't nearly as cold or snowy as Buffalo, but on a day like today it looks pretty darn similar.
I don't really like the snow. I don't ski or sled or skate or snowboard or anything "snow" related. In fact, I would be quite happy if it never snowed, except for maybe a few days around Christmas.
This also reminds me of my college days, when I would look out the window, see the snow, roll back over and skip class, even though attendance counted! I don't advocate that you do that, as it was a bad decision on my part, so make sure you go to class!
It also reminds me of a time we convinced our buddy Justin that we were going to have a snow day. Justin was from about one hour north of NYC and hadn't really experienced the snow that Western New York is famous for. One night during our first year we decided to convince Justin that while it was snowing one night that it was the worst snow we had ever seen and school would be cancelled for sure the next day. We stayed up all night watching the snow pile up and waiting for the news to report Niagara University closed. Well that didn't happen, as we knew it wouldn't, and we all had a mighty laugh. But Justin got the last laugh because Niagara delayed opening for about two hours, which cancelled all his classes, but forced me to still attend mine......jerk.
Do you enjoy the snow? I'd love to hear your thoughts.
I don't really like the snow. I don't ski or sled or skate or snowboard or anything "snow" related. In fact, I would be quite happy if it never snowed, except for maybe a few days around Christmas.
This also reminds me of my college days, when I would look out the window, see the snow, roll back over and skip class, even though attendance counted! I don't advocate that you do that, as it was a bad decision on my part, so make sure you go to class!
It also reminds me of a time we convinced our buddy Justin that we were going to have a snow day. Justin was from about one hour north of NYC and hadn't really experienced the snow that Western New York is famous for. One night during our first year we decided to convince Justin that while it was snowing one night that it was the worst snow we had ever seen and school would be cancelled for sure the next day. We stayed up all night watching the snow pile up and waiting for the news to report Niagara University closed. Well that didn't happen, as we knew it wouldn't, and we all had a mighty laugh. But Justin got the last laugh because Niagara delayed opening for about two hours, which cancelled all his classes, but forced me to still attend mine......jerk.
Do you enjoy the snow? I'd love to hear your thoughts.
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
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
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
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