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.
Monday, January 19, 2009
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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