Life at PhilaU

That’s right PhilaU’ians– I said OPEN BAR.  Our very own Philadelphia University Phi Psi Professional Textile Fraternity is hosting an open bar at Mad River in Manayunk this Thursday, December 1, 9 pm to 11 pm.  All you need is good friends, ID, and $20.  The 20 dollar fee covers your $5 cover charge and unlimited well drinks, beer, and wine.  Drink responsibly, and only if your homework is done (of course).

In case you didn’t know… Phi Psi is a professional textile fraternity, exposing members to different aspects of the fashion and textile industry– which means amazing networking opportunities, awesome industry field trips, and access to exclusive speakers (not to mention a fantastic addition to your resume).  Boys and girls, FM, FIM, FD, TD, Interior Design, and Textile Engineering majors all welcome. 

Shout out to our girl Audrey Kender, Phi PSi’s very own fundraising coordinator for the down low on the event!

Over the next few weeks, the community service department of Philadelphia University will be hosting an Alternative Gift Fair. Students, faculty and staff can make a donation to an on-campus club or local organization that is making a difference. Wish lists have been provided to see where the donations will be spent. To make a donation, look for the AGF table in Kanbar or Hayward during breaks between classes. Another way to donate is to stop by the Student Development Office (Kanbar 317).

The Philadelphia University Global Medical Brigades and Habitat for Humanity are two student groups that are taking week long trips to help out in Spring 2012. GMB will be traveling to Panama in May to give health care to hundreds of people in surrounding impoverished areas. By donating to GMB, the group can bring more health supplies to hand out to patients. The Habitat team will be going to Montgomery County, PA for an Alternative Spring Break to help build homes for those in need. Donations made towards the Habitat group will go towards the construction costs of rebuilding homes.

The local organization that will also be benefitting from AGF is The Northern Home for Children. Located on Ridge Avenue, the home provides a safe haven for elementary students in the Philadelphia area. The after school program gives students a positive environment to be assisted with homework, play games and have a healthy dinner. Donations made to this organization would be spent on school supplies for these students.

Have a great Thanksgiving and remember to give to others this holiday season!

On Wednesday, October 26^th, in the spirit of Halloween, a group of 45 Philadelphia University students mustered their courage to take on Terror Behind the Walls at Eastern State Penitentiary in downtown Philadelphia.

Terror Behind the Walls is a haunted attraction set in an already allegedly haunted locale, the location lending to the creepy atmosphere where undead prisoners and prison personnel roam.  The students took on the seven haunted attractions within Terror Behind the Walls with courage and guts, and managed to make it out alive – with a story or two to tell.

Halloween is always an exciting time on campus. October is filled with great events that are specifically targeted to illustrate the spirit and charm of the season.

On Thursday, October 27th Philadelphia University students showcased their creative talents by participating in “Kanbar’s 1st Annual Jack-O-Lantern Contest”. The festivities took place in The Kanbar Living Room.

This event was sponsored by the Kanbar Campus Center and planned by Sophomore Mechanical Engineering major Trevor Dority. Trevor is also a Program Assistant in the Student Activities Office. A total of 13 students entered the contest trying to win the big prizes, which were $100 gift cards to the University Bookstore. Prizes were awarded for the Most Unique, Most Unusual and The Scariest. After nearly 100 votes the winners are:

Most Unusual: Amanda Swingle Most Unique: Kyle Witmer Scariest: Tyler Harden

Interview with Molly Blaisse
Fashion Merchandising, Junior
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1. Tell us a little about yourself here at PhilaU.

I am a third year fashion merchandising major. I participate
in cheerleading here at school, and I am also a member of FAME.

2.  You recently attended the Tommy Hilfiger event here on campus, tell us some highlights from the occasion.

I really liked listening about his road to success and
appreciated his tips for entering and doing well in the business.

3. You recently found out that you got an internship with Tommy Hilfiger; explain the process you went through to achieve that.

I saw a posting for the position on the Careeerlink website
and applied through there. I also reviewed practice interview questions and
prepared what I wanted to say.

4. What did you wear to your interview?

I wore a black skirt, pink button down shirt, and coordinating
necklace.  I also wore black tights and flats.

5. What do you plan to accomplish at Tommy Hilfiger, and what are some plans for your future?

I hope to learn a lot about the visual merchandising side of
the fashion industry. I also hope I will develop my styling and artistic skills
though creating displays, decorating windows and dressing mannequins.  In regards to my future career, I am currently interested in Buying or Visual Merchandising.

PhilaU gives us the power to do.  Take a second, though, and imagine a life
willing you no power at all—a life that instills in you that you are a “failed human being.”  Imagine family members suppressing your interests… no tap dancing lessons, no piano… no design.

This was the life of Mondo Guerra as he grew up in his traditional Mexican Catholic home in Denver, CO.  As a small boy, Mondo knew he was drawn to the arts.  Taking up piano (only after agreeing to play baseball simultaneously under his mother’s ultimatum) opened up the young Guerra’s world.  From piano,
Mondo fell into theatre arts, then into the marching band.

Mondo always felt most comfortable with his mom, sister, and grandmother.  One night after a
performance, Mondo came home to his grandparents’ house still wearing his theatre makeup.  Horrified, his
grandmother made him wipe it off before his grandfather saw.  When Mondo turned 18, he came out to his
mother about his sexual orientation.  Her response—“Don’t tell the family, and I am not telling your father.”  There are expected gender roles in the Latin community that Mondo was having a hard time conforming.

He needed another outlet.  Locked away in his bedroom, a young Mondo found sanction in
fashion.  In his spare time, Mondo began secretly reinventing things he saw in editorials.  He would pilfer articles from local thrift stores, sneaking them into his room, constructing his new duds with a glue gun.

As Mondo grew up, he found himself in college, where he discovered a fashion mentor.  After
entering a contest with the help of his mentor, Mondo found himself in NYC.   He felt invincible.  He was practicing fashion, working 12 hours a day and living the party scene in the big apple.  One night, however, after a certain encounter, Mondo found out that he had been infected with HIV.

His life on the top was soon on a landslide.  Finding himself back in Denver, Mondo felt
alienated, lonely, and depressed.  He moved back in with his parents and found himself lost each night in a
bottle.  He knew the disease had come to define him.

Then on Christmas Day, 2009, Mondo had an epiphany.  As he lay in a hospital bed dying, he was
suddenly determined to recharge his life.  He decided to regain control of his creativity and the passion that had once ran through his veins.  At this point he had held his secrets for ten years—from design, to sexuality, to AIDS.

Today we know Mondo Guerra as a season eight contestant of Project Runway, famous for his positivity design (pictured above).  He is famous for releasing his secret to the nation during episode 10.  As Mondo faced a crowd of hopeful PhilaU designers, he left the room with this, “Be honest with you as an individual.  If you’re a creative individual, let that really show every day.  That’s all.”

Freshmen elections were held recently in the Ravenhill Dining Hall on September 21^st
at 5:30 pm… and with a school of 75% girls, the candidates were all– oddly
enough– men.

The speeches kicked off with the evening’s host Alec Brock, Vice President of
Communication for SGA.  First up, Eric Smith.  Erik began his speech with a promise for
better toilet paper, which really got the crowd rolling.  Next topic:
healthier foods—adding non-steamed veggies and berries to the students’
diet.  He advocated for more vegetarian
options, more cereal choices, and most importantly MORE CHOCOLATE MILK.

Next up was the other Eric, Eric Bayer.  Bayer persuaded the crowd with his
no-nonsense, straight to the point, approach.  He promised to take his job seriously and encouraged his fellow classmates that every idea was a good idea—not to mention he would make sure as Freshmen Class President that we would see a Bonfire Night here at PhilaU.

C.J. Wallowitch serenaded his onlookers with a clip from “Lean on Me.”  Wallowitch promised to not only be a president, but also a friend in school.  “Our motto is powered to do, and together we have the power to do anything.”

Our next candidate, Andrew Kelly, kept it short and sweet, stating that he just wants us all to have a good time.

Last, but not least, Do Nguyen, the more charismatic one out of the bunch, bellowed into the mic promising a better fundraising system that would stimulate more events here on campus.  “Only Do can have the power to do.”

Photo Courtesy of Nicole Vital

Rachel Ko, a Freshmen Physician Assistant major, landed the right roommate when she
paired up with Freshmen Nicole Vital, a fellow PA major.  With Rachel’s 18^th birthday the
first week of their college classes, Nicole knew she had to do something to
make Rachel feel right at home.

On the day of August 23, Nicole received an unexpected text from a new
acquaintance—Mrs. Ko.  The text instructed Nicole to be outside the dorm at 5:30 pm.
While Rachel attended a fine feat at PhilaU’s very own dining hall, her
new roomie grabbed a drive-by cake from the Ko’s and setup camp outside of the
dorm… along with a few friends and a new tea set.

The crew awaited Rachel’s return outside of Scholler Hall behind a stone wall.  As the PhilaU newbie approached the dorm, she was ambushed with her very own surprise PhilaU birthday.