V O L U M E 1 4 , I S S U E 5 M A R C H 2 0 1 2

PACE UN I VERS I TY ,

P LEASANTV ILLE

• Janetta Rebold Benton, Ph.D.

Honors College Director

• Christopher Walther, M.S.

Senior Honors Advisor

• Diana Cavallo

Editor-in-Chief

SCHOLASTICA

I strongly encourage you to include at least one travel ex-perience in your undergraduate years--not a vacation of luxury, relaxation, or glamour, but an

adventure in another culture. You will return with new ideas and a better understanding of your own culture and way of life. Because my academic area of specialization is the history of art, I frequently travel to research and lecture. My own recent travels include China, Korea, and Japan this past summer. England was my location during the Thanksgiving break. Although Russia might sound like an unlikely destination for a winter break trip, I was the lecturer on a journey sponsored by the Metro-politan Museum of Art--the highlight was a formal ball on New Year’s eve in Catherine’s Palace outside St. Petersburg, where each guest could pretend to be czarina or czar for the night! In April, I will be the lecturer for the Smithsonian Institution on a trip along the Danube River, stopping in Germany, Austria, and Hungry. And in June, I am off to research in Romania and Bulgaria. As a student at Pace University, various travel possibilities are readily available to you. Dr. Lawrence Hundersmarck is offering a 3-week, 6-credit course during May and June to Rome. This academic year, there are courses that include trips to France, Portugal, Argentina, Greece, Russia, Spain, and Venezuela. I have led Honors College travel courses to England and

France in previous years; please let me know if you would be interested in Honors travel courses to these and other locations! For more information, you may email the Travel Course Office at travelcourses@pace.edu. Inter-ested students should meet with their advisor prior to going to the Study Abroad Office to speak with Ms Cyn-thia Cullen, Pace’s person in charge of international programs, study abroad, and international students. Her office is located on the top floor of Kessel Student Cen-ter (CCullen@pace.edu, 914 773-3425). A novel travel experience is offered by “Semester at Sea,” which in-volves taking college-credit courses while traveling from port to port on a ship. Please note that studying abroad at another university for one semester counts as one Hon-ors course. The highly prestigious and competitive Fulbright Awards, sponsored by the US Department of State, are intended for the year after you graduate (or shortly thereafter) and may be used for research/study abroad or to teach Eng-lish for a year. See www.Fulbrightonline.org.

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

Honors College

Fall 2012 Course

List

2-3

Remaining

Spring Honors

College Events

3

Professors 101 4-5

Honors College

Research Grant

Information

6

Honors Event

Reviews

7

Organization

Spotlight:

ASPIRE

8

Student

Showcase

9

Words of

Wisdom for the

College “Moment”

10

History of the

Environmental

Center

11

Nutrition and

Your Brain:

Foods that Increase Memory

12

Better Ways to

Spend Spring

Break

13

Reminders 14

While March may seem an eter-nity away from final exams and projects, rest assured that the anticipated Spring Break week will be here before you know it! This month’s “Few Words” column is also dedicated to encouraging Honors College students to recognize and take advantage of the internship and academic opportunities available to you through Pace. There are many resources designed to help students narrow their internship and scholarship lens of focus based on their interests and ma-jors. Make an appointment to visit the Career Services cen-ter and meet with an advisor to

review your resume and learn to write cover letters for both in-ternships and jobs applications. Pace’s E-Recruiting website is another effective tool that lets you search for positions from the comfort of your dorm. There are countless scholarships that exist for stu-dents, and they could be yours if you take some time to research and apply for them. On the Pace website’s A-Z Index, under “S,” students in both undergraduate and graduate programs are of-fered information about scholar-ships. There are also links listed to various outside sites like: www.FastWeb.com and www.college-scholarships.com

that work to give students a financial ad-vantage to-wards their college educa-tion. I hope that all of you are enjoying the routines of this semester and especially the Honors courses you are taking. In this issue, you will have the opportunity to learn more about the Fall 2012 Honors Courses, the Spring 2012 Honors College professors and obtain some very invaluable “Words of Wisdom” from Dr. Joseph Pastore!

TRAVEL, TRAVEL, TRAVEL! From Honors College Director, Dr. Janetta Rebold Benton

A Few Words From Editor-in-Chief, Diana Cavallo

P A G E 2 S C H O L A S T I C A

Fall 2012 Courses Pforzheimer Honors College, Pleasantville Campus

Honors courses are designed to be innovative and challenging, may be interdisciplinary, focus on great works, cover issues of current interest, or present a topic with a faculty member with specific subject expertise. Honors courses are open only to Honors College students. Students who are not in the Honors College may be permitted to register for an Honors course with written permission from the Director of the Honors College, contingent upon the student’s GPA and available course space. For additional information, contact Dr. Janetta Rebold Benton, Pforzheimer Honors College Director, at 914-773-3848 or JBenton@pace.edu.

1., 2. LEARNING COMMUNITY: THE PERSON, 7 credits total Prerequisite: None

PHI 110 INTRODUCTION TO PHILOSO-

PHY, 3 credits. Fulfills: AOK 2 or 5 Day: T 2:30-3:25pm, R 2:30-4:30pm, Lawrence Hundersmarck Course description: This course offers an examina-tion of some of the major philosophical problems and an introduction to some of the great figures in the history of philosophy. Focus is on questions concerning the sources of knowledge, the meaning of moral and other value judgments, the nature of the human mind, the justifications for political authority, and the intellectual presuppositions of religious belief.

PSY 112 INTRODUCTION TO PSYCHOL-OGY, 4 credits. Fulfills: AOK 5 Day: M 1:25-3:25pm, T and R 1:25-2:20pm, Robert Keegan. Course description: This course provides an intro-duction to the science and profession of psychology, including research, human development, personality testing and assessment, abnormal psychology, treat-ment of psychopathology, health and wellness, social cognition, and social influence. Learning Community description: This course ex-amines the most influential ideas regarding what it means to be human that have emerged from the traditions of religion, psychology, and philosophy.

3., 4. LEARNING COMMUNITY: MANAGING

LEGAL AND ETHICAL BUSINESS CHAL-LENGES, 6 credits total Prerequisite: None Honors LAW 101, 3 credits Fulfills: Inquiry and Exploration; Lubin core Day: M 10:10am-12:10pm, W 11:15am-12:10pm, Peter Edelstein Course description: You cannot succeed unless you know the rules. This course introduces the basics of law that affect all careers. Coverage of topics is very broad and immediately relevant. Subjects include contracts, torts, crimes, and more. PHI 121 ETHICS IN THE WORKPLACE, 3 credits Not open to students who have taken PHI 115, except by permission of the Department Fulfills: AOK 5 Day: M 9:05-10:00am, W 9:05-11:05am, Len Mitchell Course description: This course offers a survey of some of the key issues that face corporate stake-holders--from shareholders to the general public. Two classical theories of ethics, Utilitarianism and Deontological ethical theory, and the relationship between justice and the market system are studied. The following are examined: ethical issues involv-ing the relationship between the employee and the company, such as whistle-blowing; discrimination; affirmative action; sexual harassment; issues involv-ing the consumer and employee protection, such as product and occupational safety; and finally issues involving the relationship between the corporation and society, such as corporate responsibility. Learning Community description: This course con-siders how the classical tradition in philosophical ethics and Anglo-American common law have developed to address business issues, and whether our legal system now fosters a marketplace, as well

as a workplace, that is both legal and ethical. Stu-dents apply principles of ethics and law to aspects of contemporary commerce.

5. LEARNING COMMUNITY: INT 197 TOPIC:

BAROQUE BRAVURA (1600-1700): PAINT-

ING LESSONS FROM THE MASTERS, 3 cred-its total Prerequisite: None. Fulfills: AOK 4 Day: W 1:25-4:25pm, Kim de Beaumont (Art His-tory), Kate Marohn (Studio Art) Course description: This course combines the study of the history of 17th-century European painting (ART 211 BAROQUE ART) with work in the studio (ART 145 PAINTING I) where students learn to paint in the manner of the Baroque artists they are studying. Students have an opportunity to explore, in their own painting, the effects of color, light, and atmosphere using the techniques of mas-ters such as Caravaggio, Rembrandt, Rubens, Velasquez, and others.

6., 7. LEARNING COMMUNITY: BUILDING

AND SUSTAINING BUSINESS RELATION-

SHIPS THROUGH COMMUNICATION, 6 credits total ENG 201 WRITING IN THE DISCIPLINES, 3 credits Prerequisite: ENG 120 and sophomore standing Fee: $20, Fulfills: Foundation requirement Day: M 11:15am-12:10pm, W10:10am-12:10pm, Linda Anstendig, Course description: This course focuses on writing effective essays and research papers in disciplinary modes and in students’ fields of interest. Included are interviews, analysis of journal articles, and appropriate documentation style formats. Students work collaboratively, approaching issues from the perspective of their chosen majors. MAR 250 PRINCIPLES OF MARKETING, 3 credits Prerequisite: Sophomore standing Fulfills: Inquiry and Exploration; Lubin core Day: M 9:05-11:05am, W 9:05-10:10am, Karen Berger Course description: Through an introduction to the complex and dynamic field of marketing and its systems, this course examines marketing's place in firms and society. Considered and analyzed are marketing research and strategies for product devel-opment, pricing, physical distribution, and promo-tion, including personal selling, advertising, sales promotion, and public relations. Learning Community description: Communication skills are essential to creating customer relationships and value. Using case studies, students analyze current marketing practices and related issues. Stu-dents learn how to develop a marketing plan using research and writing skills and undertake other forms of business communication.

8. ART 102 ART HISTORY: ANCIENT

THROUGH GOTHIC, 3 credits Prerequisite: None Fulfills: AOK 2 or 4, Writing-enhanced course Day: T 12:20-3:25pm, Janetta Rebold Benton Course description: This course offers an introduc-tory survey of the major monuments of Western art from ancient history through the Gothic period. Works of art are studied with special attention given

to the development of style as well as the various techniques and qualities of each medium. The prin-ciples, basic methods, and terminology of art his-torical analysis are introduced. Includes a trip to The Metropolitan Museum of Art. (This course may be taken independently of ART 103.)

9. CIS 101 INTRODUCTION TO COMPUT-

ING, 3 credits Prerequisite: None. Fulfills: Foundation requirement Day: M 10:10-12:10am, Sylvester Tuohy Course description: This course provides guided, hands-on exercises with a variety of computer-based tools through two hours of structured computer lab. Students are introduced to new technologies and complete web-based projects in problem solving, programming, and spreadsheets. The lecture, discus-sion, and online component of this course promote understanding of the fundamental principles of information technology, preparing students for the systems and tools of the future.

10. CIS 102Q PROBLEM SOLVING USING

LEGO ROBOTICS, 3 credits Prerequisite: None. Fulfills: AOK 1 Day: R 1:25-3:25pm and one hour online, Professor TBA Course description: This course introduces students to basic problem solving and project management techniques which can be applied to building, pro-gramming, and managing the creation of robots using the LEGO Mindstorms Robotics system. Students spend a significant amount of time outside the classroom in activities designed to share the robotics skills they have learned with younger stu-dents to excite them about studying science and technology.

11. CRJ 305 CRIMINAL LAW

Prerequisite: None Fulfills: Inquiry and Exploration Fulfills: Inquiry and Exploration Day: W 9:05-11:50 am, MaryEllen Martirano Course description: This course provides an intro-duction to American criminal law through discus-sion of statutory law, common law, and case law regarding criminal behavior. The first part of the course covers general principles that apply to all criminal law including the nature, origins, structure, and purposes of criminal law, constitutional limits, principles of liability, the doctrines of complicity and inchoate crimes, and the defenses of justifica-tion and excuse. The second part of the course cov-ers major crimes against persons, property, public order, morals, and crimes against the state. 12. ENG 120 CRITICAL WRITING, 4 credits Prerequisite: None Fee: $20. Fulfills: Foundation requirement Day: T, R 9:05-11:05am, Maude Meisel Course description: This course emphasizes the development of argument and analysis as students work with a variety of literary and nonfiction texts. Students learn advanced research skills including methods of documentation, the use of library and internet resources, and the integration of primary and secondary sources into their own essays.

P A G E 3 V O L U M E 1 4 , I S S U E 5

Remaining Spring 2012 Honors College Events

Presentations by the National

Multiple Sclerosis Society and

Muscular Dystrophy

Association

Tuesday, March 20, 2012 3:35-4:30pm Leinhard Lecture Hall, Leinhard Hall The Muscular Dystrophy Association combats neuromuscular diseases through programs of world-wide research, comprehensive medical and support services, and far-reaching professional and public health education. The National Multiple Sclerosis Society mobilizes people and resources to support research for a cure and to address the challenges of everyone affected by MS. Co-sponsored with Golden Key International Honor Society and Lambda Sigma Honor Society.

Honors Writing Competition

Entries must be submitted to the Hon-ors Office on the 3rd floor of Mortola Library by Monday, March 26, 2012. Enter by writing an essay or poem

(may include artwork) explaining: “How has being a member of the Pforzheimer Honors College en-hanced your University experience?” The essay should be approximately 500 words! Prize: $100 American Express Gift Card and your work will be published in SCHOLASTICA! Please contact Prof. Christopher Walther at cwalther@pace.edu if you have any questions.

Honors Easter Egg Hunt with

the Pleasantville Cottage School

Children

Saturday, March 31, 2012 11:00-1:00pm *Reservations required*

Gottesman Room, Kessel Student Center Join children from the Pleasantville Cottage School as we enjoy an afternoon of dying Easter eggs and an Easter Egg hunt on the Choate House lawn. Co-sponsored with Golden Key International Honor Society.

A New Millennium: Hunger

Banquet Tuesday, April 10, 2012 6:00-8:00pm Gottesman Room, Kessel Student Center Join us for our hunger banquet as we learn about the effects of poverty and hunger on children in Africa from World Vision, a humanitarian organization dedicated to working with children, families, and their communities worldwide to reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty and injustice. Tickets may be purchased through the Pforzheimer Honors College for $6. All proceeds will be donated to the US Fund for UNICEF. Co-sponsored with PSY 233 Psychology of Civic En-gagement and Golden Key International Honor Society.

Pilates Workshop

Thursday, April 19, 2012 4:00pm *Reservations required* Aerobics Room, Goldestein Fitness Center

Pilates improves mental and physical well-being, increases flexibility, and strengthens muscles through controlled movements done as mat exer-cises or with equipment to tone and strengthen the body. Relax all your pre-final stress and anxiety by attending a Pilates workshop with Prof. Laurice Nemetz. Please wear comfortable clothing.

Honors Independent Research

Conference

Thursday, April 26, 2012 6:00-8:00pm Pizza will be served Conference Rooms A/B and C/D, Kessel Student Center Come listen to fellow Honors College students speak eloquently about the results of their Independ-ent Research. If you are interested in presenting a paper or project, please contact the Honors College Office at (914)773-3848 or e-mail cwalther@pace.edu. Co-sponsored with Golden Key International Honor Society.

Trip to the Metropolitan

Museum of Art

Saturday, April 28, 2012 *Reservations Required* Visit the MET with Dr. Benton as she guides you through the

Impressionist and Post-impressionist painting col-lection. The Pace bus will leave the North Hall parking lot at 10:00am, and return by 3:30pm.

Honors Awards Dinner Friday, May 4, 2012 6:00-8:00pm *Dinner will be served* Gottesman Room, Kessel Student Center *Reservations required* Graduating seniors will receive their Honors medallions (to be worn at graduation) and their Honors College certificates. This event is open only to graduating seniors of the Pforzheimer Hon-ors College and each senior may invite two guests.

3848 or

13. HIS 131 THE ASIAN WORLD: AN HISTORICAL SURVEY, 3 credits Prerequisite: None Fulfills: AOK 3 Evening: W 6:00-8:45pm, Ron Frank Course description: This course offers a survey of Asian history with emphasis on the traditional Asian world order and modern transformations of Asian societies under the impact of Western cultures.

14. NEW COURSE! NUR 271A PERSPEC-

TIVES ON PREMATURE BIRTH, 3 credits Prerequisite: None. Fulfills: Inquiry and Exploration Day: M 4:35-7:30pm, Nancy Fazio Course Description: This course focuses on the theoretical foundations for a holistic approach to risk assessment and health promotion for the indi-vidual, family, and community who are at-risk for a preterm birth. Emphasis is on assessment of the at-risk family, and the detection and prevention of preterm birth, and the antepartal, intrapartal, and postpartal woman who is delivering a preterm in-fant. Focus is placed on public awareness strategies that can be used to reduce the incidence, and in-crease the awareness, of preterm birth including community educational programs and innovative local service programs.

15. NEW COURSE! PSY 276 THE PSYCHOL-

OGY OF INTIMATE RELATIONSHIPS, 3 credits Prerequisite: None Fulfills: Inquiry and Exploration Day: T 11:15-12:10pm, R 11:15-1:15pm, Ross Robak Course description: This course examines personal relationships, focusing on what Psychology has learned about a very important part of everyday human functioning. A number of different topics are addressed, including: (1) identifying the goals and subject matter of the most recent psychological findings in the field; (2) reviewing and critically examining theoretical perspectives and (most impor-tantly) empirical findings in specific areas including marriage, happiness, and fulfillment in relation-ships; (3) examining how these theories and find-ings can be applied to everyday life.

UNV 101 FIRST-YEAR SEMINAR: INTRO-

DUCTION TO UNIVERSITY COMMUNITY, 1 credit, 3 sections. Required of all first-year students Day: F 10:10-12:10pm, Christopher Walther, Charlene Hoegler, Joseph Pastore

HONORS INDEPENDENT RESEARCH COURSES, 3 credits. Prerequisite: Junior or Senior standing, 3.3 GPA minimum

With the written approval of the appropriate profes-sor, department chairperson, and Director of the Honors College, a student may select a topic that is not included in the course offerings for guided research. The student meets regularly with the pro-fessor to review progress. To receive Honors Col-lege credit, the results of this independent research must be presented at the annual Honors Independent Research Conference. Students may have their papers published in Transactions, the scholarly journal of the Dyson Society of Fellows, and also may be available through Pace University’s Digital Commons. HONORS OPTIONS COURSES, 3 credits, Prerequisite: None The Honors Option is designed for Honors-level work in a non-Honors course. To receive Honors College credit, an additional paper (10-20 pages), project, or presentation is required. Written approval from the appropriate professor and the Director of the Honors College are necessary. Honors students are limited to two Honors Options; other Honors course requirements must be completed in Honors courses. The Business Honors 495 course for seniors may also count as an Honors College course if you present the results of your research at the Honors Independent Research Conference.

Fall 2012 Honors Courses

S C H O L A S T I C A P A G E 4

Professors 101 Meet the Professors Teaching Pforzheimer Honors College Courses this Semester

Dr. Linda Anstendig–

ENG 201 Writing in the

Disciplines Dr. Anstendig, of the English and Modern Lan-guage Studies department, has taught full time at

Pace since 1989, serving as Director of Writing, Co-Director of Writing Across the Curriculum, and an Associate Dean of Dyson College. She is currently the Co-Director of the Pace Electronic Portfolio Program and Executive Assistant to the Dean of Dyson College. Dr. Anstendig has taught many Honors College students and has mentored a number of Fulbright appli-cants and Dyson Society of Fellows Con-ference presenters. She continues to be inspired by her students in courses such as English 201 and American Literature—“The New American Dream: Literature and Cultural Diversity.” Her publications include a text, Writing through Literature, numerous journal articles, and book chap-ters on writing, technology, and civic en-gagement issues. Awards include the Kenan Award for Teaching Excellence, the Dyson College Distinguished Faculty Award, and the University Award for Dis-tinguished Faculty Service. Dr. Anstendig hopes that many Honors College students will create and develop their electronic Portfolios to showcase and reflect on their best academic work, extra-curricular ac-tivities, and experiential learning.

Prof. Dan Bender– LIT

211C Early World

Literature

Most people know the famous saying by Des-cartes’, "Cogito ergo sum." In Jeopardy if you answered, "What is, "I

think therefore I am?” you'd be $100 richer. Descartes’s maxim is deep and thought-provoking. But it's missing some-thing: Action. In the Early World Litera-ture course I'm teaching for the Honors College, we take literature as a spring-board: from idea to solutions, from what is to what could be. This month we studied the ancient Greek poet Sappho. Our course looks for Sappho-like solutions to real life problems--in Greece, February 2012. I'm proud to be a professor in the Honors Col-lege. Since I want Honors students to feel challenged, I'm especially happy to present this new kind of lit course. Call it the "new humanities.” In 2009, a NY Times

article described this movement in teach-ing literature by saying: "Humanities needs to compete with real world disciplines, such as business and medicine." Good, but how? The world looks for solutions to problems, comfort in times of sorrow, guidance in terms of practical wisdom. The bottom-line in my teacher biography is: Descartes is alright, but actions make the difference.

Prof. John Cronin-

ENV 296O Environ-

mental Roots and

Rights: The Practice

and Principles of

American

Environmentalism

Prof. David Ekstrom–

NUR 221 Cultural

Diversity In Nursing and

Health Care

Prof. Ekstrom has been a nurse since 1975 and a teacher since 1984, teach-ing both undergraduate and

graduate level programs. He completed his BA in Biology at Oberlin College, BS in Nursing at Columbia University, and MA and PhD, both in Nursing at NYU. His PhD was completed in "Research and The-ory Development in Nursing Science," and his dissertation, "Gender and Perceived Nurse Caring in Nurse-Patient Dyads," won an award for excellence in Feminist Research at NYU, making him the first male to receive this award. Prof. Ekstrom has also researched the fathers of children with special needs, as well as the benefits of international experiences for nursing students. Most of his clinical nursing ex-perience has been in pediatrics, but he has worked in the ER, nursing management, and nursing in oncology and pediatric car-diology departments. He was the Co-Coordinator for Pace’s New York Campus Combined Degree Program and spent time as the LSN Director for Student Interna-tional Affairs. His current scholarly inter-ests include men's health, gender-specific nursing interventions, and men in nurs-ing. He is teaching undergraduate Funda-mentals of Nursing, as well as both the undergraduate Honors College Culture and Diversity course, and an online graduate Culture and Diversity course. In his spare time, Prof. Ekstrom sings with the New York Choral Society at venues like Carnegie Hall.

Dr. Paul Griffin– PSY

271 Psychology of

Morality Dr. Griffin is an Associate Professor in the Psychol-ogy Department. Although he teaches most of his courses at the graduate

level, he very much enjoys the excitement (and sometime anxiety) found in many undergraduate courses. This is his third time teaching for the Honors College, pre-viously creating an Honors course called Positive Psychology and Happiness. Al-though much of his research has centered on issues pertaining to well-being, mean-ing, and grief, he has become increasingly interested in issues pertaining to morality. What better way to further explore this issue than by teaching a course on the sub-ject? Given the extremely positive experi-ences of his previous courses with Honors students, he expects the same level of thoughtfulness in this one as well.

Dr. Lawrence

Hundersmarck– RES

202 Great Ideas in East-

ern Religious Though

Dr. Hundersmarck says he has had the honor of teaching at Pace for the

past 28 years. As the former chair of the University-wide department of Philosophy and Religious Studies, he has taught a vari-ety of courses in these disciplines. Inter-ested in the religions of the world and the history of Eastern and Western thought, he has lectured throughout the United States and in Europe. He is currently looking for Honors College students who are inter-ested in experiencing all of the most awe-some and unforgettable sights of Rome, the Eternal City, for the INT 197 course he will be teaching next year. This course spends 3 glorious weeks in Rome dur-ing May/June 2013. Be sure to register quickly this November as the course closes very fast. He is also an avid skiier, so ask him about skiing when you next see him.

Professor Mark

Kramer– SCI 160H

Meterology

Prof. Kramer received a B.S. and M.S. in Meteorology from

New York University,

P A G E 5 V O L U M E 1 4 , I S S U E 5

Professors 101 Meet the Professors Teaching Pforzheimer Honors College Courses this Semester

School of Engineering and Science. He has extensive experience as a consultant and project manager in air pollution, cli-matology and meteorology and solves applied problems for major industrial firms and government agencies across the U.S. In addition to teaching meteorology, Prof. Kramer provides consulting forensic mete-orological services to attorneys and insur-ance firms. In 2011, he was appointed to the National Weather Association’s Educa-tion Committee, which selects college students majoring in meteorology for scholarships and K-12 teachers seeking funding for educational grants in atmos-pheric sciences. Prof. Kramer has also published in peer-reviewed scientific jour-nals and is credited with documenting man-made snowfall from natural draft cooling towers. He has been the invited meteorology event writer for the New York and Connecticut Science Olympiads from 2000 through 2012. He was recently selected by the Board of Directors of the New York State Science Olympiad to re-

ceive the Outstanding Service Award.

Prof. Timothy Maloy-

SCI 160H Meterology

Prof. Maloy earned his BS at the State University of New York at Plattsburgh in 1968, and his MS at West-ern Connecticut State Col-

lege in 1973. He taught for the Lakeland School District from 1968-2001, and was an advisor to Lakeland High School Weather Club from 1975 to 2002. Profes-sor Maloy was a member of the American Meteorological Society Atmospheric Re-source Agent from 1991 to 2002. He joined Pace University as an Adjunct Pro-fessor for Meteorology and Oceanography in 2001.

Dr. Ellen Mandel–

COM 200 Public Speak-

ing

Dr. Mandel has been a college professor for the last 44 years. Her courses include Public Speaking that covers interviewing, reducing speaker anxiety,

and a slew of other communication issues. She also teaches Language Development in the Elementary School Child for Pace’s School of Education, in addition to the Honors College for the past dozen years,

as she particularly enjoys working with the creme ' de la creme. She is a graduate of Brooklyn College where she received a Bachelors and Masters of Science in Speech Pathology, and also obtained a Master of Philosophy and Ph.D. from Co-lumbia University. Dr. Mandel works for several charitable organizations including the Susan G. Komen Foundation and the Relay for Life, which is part of the Ameri-can Cancer Association. She enjoys spending her free time with her family including her two “brilliant, adorable and handsome” grandsons, Matthew, six, and Jacob, three.

Dr. Constantain

Marinescu– ART 201

Art History: Ancient

Greek Art

Romanian born, Dr. Mari-nescu, serves as Assistant Professor of Art History on the New York City campus of Pace Univer-

sity and has long been an adjunct there. He obtained his B.A., M.A., M. Phil, and Ph.D. from Columbia University. Dr. Marinescu’s primary position is curator at Fortuna Fine Arts on Madison Avenue in Manhattan, where he specializes in both ancient Greek and Roman art. Dr. Mari-nescu also writes and researches scholarly exhibition catalogues for the gallery.

Prof. Veronica

Portas– CIS 102W

Web Design For Non-

Profit Organizations

Dr. Joan Walker– EDU

201K Expertise: What

is it? Why do we want

it? How can we get it?

Dr. Walker has examined how people learn in a variety of settings. She has studied how bio-medical engineering

students at Vanderbilt and Northwestern Universities learn design, and how public school children on Long Island learn his-tory through dance. Her current research and teaching fuses cutting-edge interactive technology, psychology, education, and the performing arts. This multidisciplinary

approach immerses future educators in simulations of professional practice where they may experience real-time decision-making under no-fault conditions. Dr. Walker is particularly interested in using technology to prepare teachers for the so-cial and emotional dimensions of teaching, such as communicating with families about student learning and forging positive teacher-student relationships. She holds a Ph.D in psychology from Vanderbilt Uni-versity and bachelor and master of music education degrees. For ten years she di-rected a nationally accredited child care program in Nashville, TN.

Dr. Marie Werner– SOC

200 Social Class

Dr. Werner of the Sociol-ogy department has been at Pace for 32 years, begin-ning at the Pace White Plains campus and then migrating to Pleasantville.

She did some hard time at Pace New York, but her heart is definitely in the garish pink building overlooking the Pleasantville campus. After completing a B.S. at the University of Connecticut and a M.A. at NYU, Dr. Werner began her professional career with as a high school teacher in Yonkers. Finishing a Doctorate in Educa-tion at Columbia University was a major achievement, but it was her time teaching at Hunter, Brooklyn, and Bronx Commu-nity Colleges in the late 1960s that led to her most meaningful degree, a Masters in Social Work, also from Columbia. Her doctoral work was on the developing women's movement in the late 1960s, but more recent work, such as a Masters in Sociology, was in sociology, with a con-centration on race relations and immigra-tion issues. Dr. Werner has been an adviser to such groups as Sigma Gamma Rho, African Students at Pace, and now the Student Veteran Association. She spends a great deal of off-campus time with her six grandchildren – three boys and three girls – definitely her rewards for having survived two serious bouts with cancer. Dr. Werner is thoroughly convinced that her best intellectual conversations and insights come from her lunch group. Her most meaningful conversations and in-sights come from her students.

S C H O L A S T I C A P A G E 6

Pforzheimer Honors College Research Grant The Honors College offers students the opportunity to undertake search with a $1,000 funded grant.

The Pforzheimer Honors College Research Grants are designed to support and encourage Honors College students in research. Students devise and undertake worthy research projects in collaboration with Pace University faculty mentors. The stipend, up to $1000, may be used on or off campus to support research expenses or travel abroad related to the student’s research interest. This award is intended to foster a culture of undergraduate student research at Pace that both enhances student learning and engages larger numbers of faculty members in guiding students in research.

This grant is open to student-faculty teams from all fields of study.

ELIGIBILITY: The student must be a currently enrolled full-time undergraduate student in the Pforz-heimer Honors College of Pace University. The student must be a sophomore or junior,

have maintained an overall grade point average of at least 3.3, and have prior experience either in completing a significant research or writing project, participating in an internship, or engaging in community service or occupational involvement rele-vant to the proposed research. The faculty member must be currently employed by Pace University as a full-time faculty member, and have previous experi-ence working with students in supervised research or academic projects.

THE PROPOSAL: Grant proposals should include: a project description written in a manner understandable by those in different disciplines, a statement of objectives and anticipated outcomes, a timetable for fulfillment, and a budget detailing principle items with brief explanations. If the proposal involves participation by human subjects, it must undergo IRB review using the approved Uni-versity processes. Budget items may include: start-up costs, equipment (e.g., software), travel, photocopying, entrance fees (i.e., museums or archives), and other necessary and appropriate expenses. The student is required to provide a resume and other personal information. He/she should also identify other sources of funding available or solicited to support the proposed research project (e.g., a student who receives a Lang fellowship will not be eligible for an additional Honors College Research Grant).

FUNDING, DURATION, AND OTHER INFORMATION: Award amounts shall not exceed $1,000. Projects may commence as early as July 1, 2012 and will continue throughout the 2012-2013 academic year. Student/faculty teams are encouraged to use the summer months, if possible, for concentrated research. Grant recipients report on the results of their re-search at the Honors Independent Research Conference held each year at the end of April or beginning of May. All equipment, databases, and non-perishable materials of a substantial nature purchased with these research funds shall be the property of Pace University and the Honors College. Grant applications by qualified students must be submitted to the Honors Col-lege office on or before April 5, 2012. A committee will evaluate proposals and will recommend grants. Awardees will be notified by the end of April. Hard copies of the application are available in the Honors office. The elec-tronic version is available on the Honors College website. Note from Dr. Benton: Please let me know if you intend to apply. If you wish to talk with me about your research project and how to write a good proposal, I will be happy to help. Please stop by the Honors office, Mortola Library, 3rd floor, or phone (914) 773-3848, or e-mail jbenton@pace.edu.

Attention: All current Honors College sophomores and juniors:

Consider the Honors College Research Grant to your Resume!

V O L U M E 1 4 , I S S U E 5 P A G E 7

Basketball Game By Danielle Gore

Riverkeeper Presentation By John Mannhart

The enthusiasm at Pace’s Women’s Basketball Game was heightened by the amazing energy brought by the children of the Pleasanvtille Cottage School! To start the semester off, the first Honors College event was Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 5:30pm in the Goldstein Fit-ness Center where we watched our Set-ters take on the Owls of Southern Con-necticut State University.

A group of Honors College students arrived just around 5:30pm to await the children from the Pleasantville Cottage School. As the children entered the gym and were brought down to the front seats they were very elated that they would be sitting right by the court. The children were so eager about the game, that it was infectious and soon we were all very excited. The team must have felt our energy, because they were playing their hearts out and as such, were leading in the game for most of the time.

As time outs were called and the music started playing throughout the gym, the children began singing and even rapping along to every lyric with us; it was truly a great time! I appreci-ated that the numbers were small because, even though we were at a sporting event, we were still able to talk and get to know the children a little. If you have ever been to a basketball game at

Pace you know that’s the place to go for free T-shirts. Well, when it came to half time, also known as, “free T-shirt time,” the children were ready to do whatever it took to get a T-shirt. One of the boys incredibly managed to catch two shirts? He was nice enough to share one with a classmate, but some children were now looking somewhat sad. These expressions were quickly gone, thanks to our advisor, Christopher Walther, who was also in attendance, who got a T-shirt for all the children and handed them out as they were getting leaving.

By the end of the game, we all learned each other’s names and became acquainted. We were all sad when our time was up. The children had a great time and so did I. Sadly the Setters lost, but played well. Anyone who did not get a head start on their events by attending this game surely missed out.

The Goldstein Fitness Center, with a special clock tower in memory of Pace

student, DJ Henry.

On Wednesday, February 22, 2012, in the VIP room of the Goldstein Fitness Center, the students of the Pforzheimer Honors College were treated to a engaging and informa-tive presentation from Ms Dana Gulley, the Outreach and Develop-ment Coordinator of Riverkeeper Inc. The first thing Gulley did was explain what the Riverkeeper Inc. organization actually is. Riverkeeper is a member-supported “watchdog” organization, dedicated

to defending the Hudson River and its tributaries, and protecting the drinking water supply of nine million New York City and Hudson Valley residents. For more than 44 years, Riverkeeper has been New York’s clean water advocate. The organization has helped establish globally-recognized standards for waterway and watershed protection and has served as the model and mentor for the growing Waterkeeper movement that includes nearly 200 Keeper programs across the country and around the globe. Gulley then discussed a few of the biggest movements Riverkeeper has going on right now, including the attempt to block the “fracking initiative” in New York state. Fracking is a technique used to access natural gas locked in rock formations. A mixture of chemicals, water, and sand is injected underground to “fracture” shale formations and unlock the natural gases. This technique would contaminate our water supply because the toxic

waste generated would ultimately be mixed in with drinking wa-ter. Riverkeeper is staunchly fighting fracking and has sent over 600 pages of technical comments to the New York Department of Environmental Conservation, encouraging the public to mobilize their opinions as well. A major movement that Riverkeeper advocates for is the Indian Point Campaign, which opposes the renewal of the nuclear plant’s license. Indian Point is ranked the most dangerous nuclear plant in the United States with twenty-million people living within 50 miles of its base. If a dangerous situation were to occur at Indian Point, there would be astronomical effects on these residents. Riverkeeper and the State of New York have intervened and are currently trying to stop Indian Point from get-ting their license renewed. Gulley ended the presentation by offering students the opportunity to volunteer and become active in the Riverkeeper organization. Students are able to participate in different events that Riverkeeper hosts, volunteer their time or apply for an intern-ship. If you are inter-ested please visit the official website: www.riverkeeper.org.

Ms Gulley speaking about Riverkeeper Inc.

Honors College students in the VIP Room, standing room only.

S C H O L A S T I C A P A G E 8

Annual Hunger Banquet

Organization Spotlight: ASPIRE By Catherine Whelan

The Organization Spotlight section is dedicated to highlighting the outstanding achievements of the organizations, clubs, and academic societies in which Honors College students participate. Let us know who you would like to see highlighted next. Email Diana Cavallo at

dc76795n@pace.edu with the appropriate contact information.

Do you want to become more involved on campus or help recruit prospective students to Pace? Come to the Welcome Center, lo-cated in Marks Hall, and join ASPIRE! ASPIRE stands for Alumni, Stu-dent, and Professors Influ-encing Recruitment and Enrollment. Started in

2007, ASPIRE works to help recruit new students to Pace University in many different ways. We help volunteer at Pre-view Weekends and Open Houses, interacting with families and students by sharing our experiences and answering ques-tions. Last semester, we held programs such as Adopt-a-Pace Setter, where we acted as email pen-pals to help incoming students get acclimated at Pace. My favorite program was Home for the Holidays, when each ASPIRE member went back to our high schools to share our Pace experience. This semester ASPIRE is hard at work coming up with new ideas

to reach out to prospective students and make incoming stu-dents feel welcome at Pace. However, none of this would be possible without YOUR help! We are reaching out to current students who would like to volunteer at BOTH Preview Weekends. The dates are March 25-26th and April 1-2, 2012. At Preview Weekend it is ASPIRE’s job to become the “blood flow” of the event. We help escort visitors to where they need to be and help make them feel comfortable. Preview Weekend can only be as successful as the people we have running it, so the more the merrier! In addition to volunteering for BOTH dates, each person who volunteers at BOTH weekends will be entered into a raffle to win 2 to 4 FREE YANKEE TICKETS! Come out and enjoy a fun day interacting with prospective students and help others experience Pace University through your eyes! Please contact Madison Lee at aspireplv@gmail.com to learn more about volunteering for Preview Weekend and come to our information session on March 23rd in the Wel-come Center (located in Marks Hall next to Willcox Hall) at 1:30pm!

ASPIRE’s mission is to incorporate Pace students, professors and alumni experiences to recruit incoming students.

Event Details

Tuesday, April 10, 2012

6:00-8:00pm

Gottesman Room, Kessel Student Center

Join us for our Hunger Banquet as we learn about the effects of poverty and hunger on children.

Tickets are $6 and may be purchased through the Pforzheimer Honors College office,

Mortola Library, 3rd Floor.

All profits will be given to the US Fund for U.NI.IC.E.F

V O L U M E 1 4 , I S S U E 5 P A G E 9

Student Showcase

The Student Showcase allows Honors College students to get to know more about their fellow Honors College members’ campus leadership, academic successes, and career goals. Please let the SCHOLASTICA staff know who you would like to see showcased next: your classmate, roommate, or even yourself! Please e-mail your suggestions to Diana Cavallo, at dc76795n@pace.edu. Include the contact information of the student you are nominating, and the reasons why you feel they

deserve to be recognized.

Kelly Ann Povero is a Political Science major and Italian Studies minor graduating in May. From Odessa, New York, Kelly has enjoyed her beautiful hometown’s waterfalls, parks, and the view of Seneca Lake. After graduation, she plans to attend graduate school for Peace Studies and International Development. While she has not decided where she will be studying, she has applied to American University, UCLA, and European schools like Euro-pean Peace University in Austria and the University of Manchester in the UK. Kelly aspires to work with an international

organization like the United Nations in the future, as she loves world affairs, peace, and security issues. “After I get through all of that,” she says, “I would eventually like to become a professor.” Kelly is a highly active student on campus. She is the cur-rent President of Nu Zeta Phi sorority and the Executive Administra-tor for the Pace Westchester Model United Nations team, participat-ing in eight conferences representing various countries. This semes-ter she will represent Ghana in the Commission on Narcotic Drugs. “I can’t choose just one memory of my time at Pace,” Kelly notes, “I suppose that the greatest thing I’m taking away from this experience is the people I’ve met along the way. These people have impacted me every single day, every decision I’ve ever made. From my sorority sisters to professors and simple acquaintances that

say ‘hello’ on their way to class, they’ve all made my college career that much more enjoyable.” Like many of our Showcased Students, Kelly advises first-year students to become as involved as possible on campus. While she recognizes that college is primarily an academic experience, Kelly reminds students that it is also an opportunity for individual growth. She recommends taking part in many of the Honors College events from trips to presentations that provide insight on many inter-esting topics. Volunteering and participating in community service work with other campus organizations will also benefit students in the future. Kelly highlights the professors of the Political Science department for their dedication to enhancing her learning experience at Pace, “It's an honor to have them teach you,” she explains. She gives a special thanks to her mentor and advisor, Dr. Greg Julian, who continually teaches students about solving world issues and how to make life better for future generations. She also highly recom-mends Professor George Picoulas, whose interesting insights and exciting debates, makes classes both fun valuable and enjoyable. As a graduating senior, Kelly is grateful for the immediate recognition that the Honors College provides her with when applying for jobs and to graduate schools. Being a member of the Honors College proves that a student is responsible, diligent, and good with time management, all skills that Kelly has developed during her four years at Pace. Attending a number of Honors events per semester also exhibits the ability to balance schoolwork with campus involvement.

Kelly Povero

Martin Totland was born and raised in Bergan, Norway and is a senior, major-ing in Media and Communication Arts. After graduation, he plans to return to Norway and prepare graduate school applications, while possibly spending some time in the Navy. He hopes to become a film maker/writer and to return to New York for Master’s de-gree studies. Martin has been an active member of campus life since joining

the Pace community. He is one of the founding brothers of Alpha Chi Rho fraternity and has held several positions in this organization since his first year, including President. Martin has also held the title of Opinion Editor for The Pace Chronicle since the beginning of this school year. “My favorite Pace memory has got to be traveling to Argentina with fellow students during spring break in 2009,” Martin remembers. This travel was part of an Argentine History and Cul-ture course, and he and his classmates spent eleven days exploring the country. “I love traveling,” Martin continued, “and Argentina is an incredibly rich and diverse country, offering something for every traveler.” Students should try their best to plan a study abroad ven-ture during their undergraduate education and use Martin’s positive experience as an example to follow. He reminds first-year Honors students to take advantage of the many Honors College events offered on campus, within and out-

side of your interest areas. He also recommends keeping track of the number of Honors College courses students are enrolled in to meet their requirements. Martin acknowledges that college life is far dif-ferent from high school and as Honors College students, first-year members will have more expected of them academically. “Take charge,” he advises, “and get your work done, but have fun.” As an avid student, Martin identified key courses and pro-fessors to study with during a student’s time at Pace. He suggests enrolling in courses with Professor Michael DeRario and Professor Howard Weishaus. Martin appreciated Professor DeRario’s enthusi-astic and knowledgeable approach to film production and to helping develop his students’ understanding of this subject. For students with majors outside of the Communications department, he recom-mends taking very worthwhile courses with a popular professor among students, Professor Weishaus. “He is a great teacher and really nice guy who knows what he’s talking about,” Martin notes. Like many Honors College students, Martin has had the opportunity to attend many interesting and informative speeches and presentations, as well as Honors College trips and events. Some of the many events Martin has attended include the Make-A-Wish Foundation Presentation, the Wolf Conservation Center Presentation, the Honors College Six Flags trip, and the Honors College United Nations Trip. He notes that these experiences made a difference in his Pace experience and encourages first-year students to participate in all of the events, presentations and trips that Honors offers to them.

Martin Totland

S C H O L A S T I C A P A G E 1 0

Words of Wisdom for the College “Moment”

By Dr. Joseph Pastore

I was honored to be asked if I would compose a few thoughts and sugges-tions for the student readers of SCHOLASTICA to follow during their time at Pace. A key suggestion would be to model yourself and your academic career after other success-ful students in your midst. In taking such advice, you will find yourself doing all of the things that you have been encouraged to do since the day

you arrived at Pace University: work hard, play hard, get and stay involved, study abroad and develop your multi-lingual and cultural skills, experience an engaging internship, seek research with faculty mentors. You know the prescription and many Honors College students are successfully doing just that. So, bear with me as I depart from the traditional pre-scriptive homily, important as it is, and attempt to offer some-thing a bit more poetic, feeble as it may be. I want to turn your attention to the moment and to the community we share. It is a moment and a community characterized more and more by our inclination to live “nano-second” lives, cast in “nano-storied” messages, bugled to ever widening social networks through tweets and texts bounded only by the pragmatics of our micro-devices. In effect, our lives are shaped and con-trolled by our perception of two funda-mental factors: time and space. Time. We seem convinced that the management of time is best achieved by speed. We drive fast and we are often impatient with those who don’t. We eat quickly in “fast food” restaurants or consume our food “on the run.” We cannot afford the time, or the cost, of eating slowly. More and more it seems we have little time to read the New York Times, even when it is free for the taking, preferring to catch-up with Yahoo, CNN or Google sound bites. It is a good thing that Tolstoy, Dickens, Sandburg, Rand, and Proust

are not alive today to see how little time there is for long novels, how-ever insightful. The staccato rhythm of our lives is somewhat paradoxical when we consider our uniquely human pursuit of happiness. Yes, happiness is sometimes found in the moment, but that moment is made richer by a sense of anticipa-tion and, later, by its recollection—both of which rely upon the need to

pause and savor time. And, when we fail to take the time to savor the past and ponder the future, we risk living a life, as Alvin Toffler feared, of temporary commitments to things, places, and, most sadly, to people and communities. Space. While time allows us to relish the moment—past, present, and future—space speaks to our range of existence and to our quest for another human pur-suit: freedom. Just as we are inclined to quicken time, we are inclined to broaden our space. Our broadened sense of space may mean that while we are physically present in one set-ting, we are emotionally present in another. Consider how often we blindly pass one another on campus draped in a headset or immersed telephonically with someone totally removed from our current space and environment. Consider how often we sit together over a quick lunch, each of us fixated upon a small screen engaged with someone in a remote community. To the extent you are eager to speed up your life and to expand your existence, you are doing just what you are inclined to do at this wonderful and privileged moment in your life. Your behavior seems reminiscent of your first egg hunt when upon hearing the signal you ran off, basket in hand, to gather the most eggs over the widest space in the quickest period of time. Yes, I hope your time at Pace University allows you, metaphorically, to gather as many different eggs as fast as you can from as wide a space as possible. But, your college ex-perience should also be seen as an opportunity to learn the importance of slowing time and narrowing space so as to fully enrich the experiences of both. In that sense, you will have reaped the treasures of time and leisure afforded the early Greeks, from which much of human understanding evolved. My additional advice to you is to find cause to pause in the quiet of Mortola Library or to engage intellectually and socially with a true, not virtual, friend in a space no bigger than a bench by Choate Pond, where you may be distracted, but only by the bleating of a lamb in the distance. And, in doing so, I hope you come to a point in your life where you learn the importance of a patient, lifetime commitment, in all its forms, to things, places, and people you have thoughtfully come to cherish.

“Turn Your Attention to the Moment and the Community We Share”- Dr. Pastore

Dr. Pastore suggests finding time to enjoy peaceful Mortola

Library and Choate Pond.

Participating in encouraged

activities at Pace builds detailed

student resumes.

V O L U M E 1 4 , I S S U E 5 P A G E 1 1

The Environmental Center

By Professor Angelo Spillo

Greenpeace formally comes into existence, legislation forces US cars to run on unleaded fuel and Apollo 14 lands on the moon: it’s 1971 and on a young college campus an old aban-doned farm has just been resurrected. Students, faculty and staff came together with no impetus other than the preserva-tion of something they felt was important. They volunteered their time and used their skills to repair, restore, and revive the dilapidated buildings and the abandoned landscape. The 1700’s farmhouse and property were rejuvenated and became the Pace University Environmental Center. Forty-one years later, the old farmhouse and other buildings are still standing and continue to foster the original goal of promoting environmental education for people of all ages and in all majors. A small staff worked at “the farm” and with a contingent of student volunteers, the Center grew with a collection of farm animals and wildlife exhibits. By the late 70s the Center was comprised of Equine and Environmental divisions. Horses were housed on campus and riding lessons and stable management classes were offered. For a period of several years there was even a credit-bearing equine certifi-cate program and by 1980 Pace sponsored an intercollegiate riding team which is still active today. In 1999, the equine division was eliminated due to budgetary constraints, removing the horses from the Pleasant-ville campus. New ideas and initiatives were implemented and the Environmental Center is more active and involved today than it ever was. This small oasis in the middle of a thriving campus continues to provide solace for students, beauty for art classes to sketch, and a place for children to come nose to nose with a goat! “The farm” has grown and evolved in many ways. Prior to this restructuring, the Center focused on out-side community outreach involving harvest fairs, school group visits, children’s nature classes, and fishing seminars. During the fall of 1999 the Environmental Center became part of the Dyson College of Arts and Sciences and efforts became more focused on Pace students and academics. Staff began teaching credit Environmental Studies and UNV 101 courses. The Center has served as the “home” for the student environmental club while staff members provide academic advisement. The Center’s bird of prey collection, established in the 1980s was expanded and became the signature part of programming. Student volunteer numbers increased and new community collaborations with various school systems and citizen groups were initiated. Internal exchanges with other

departments developed a number of annual programs such as Earth Month and Environmental University Day and summer environmental programs for local high school students. A physical rebirth was also taking place at this time. The green grounds of the Environmental Center had trans-formed into a beautiful landscape that has become a key char-acteristic of the Pleasantville campus. Under the canopy of the amazing 50 foot American Elm tree lies a series of theme gardens and flower beds. The western perimeter of the grounds blends into a diverse nature trail providing a special place to walk and enjoy the songs of birds or smell of wild grapes. Currently the Center is busier than ever. A small staff consisting of James Eyring, our Assistant Director and Master Falconer, Betty Sclocco, our secretary, and myself have, collectively, over 100 years of experience working at the Center! We are supported by a group of amazing students and volunteers who in many ways resemble a family. Thou-sands have come through the Center over the past three dec-ades as program participants, students, or families casually visiting the animals. Visitors now have the added feature of the newly constructed Marty McGuire Museum, dedicated in memory of an extraordinary Environmental Studies student, which houses an assortment of exhibits including various amphibians, reptiles, and mammals. Mona, our 10 feet plus Burmese Python, is a major attraction. In the near future, the Environmental Center will be moved to a new site on campus as part of the University Mas-ter Plan. The old farmhouse will be picked up and set on a new foundation and other buildings will be reconstructed to better meet our needs. An energy efficient classroom building will replace the “Cottage” class-room, complete with solar pan-els and other energy conser-vation consid-erations. Excit-ing opportuni-ties are ex-pected to emerge and the Center will once again be redefined. As was stipulated by those who refurbished the desolate farm site in 1971, we will continue to provide quality environmental education to all who come to us. And as it does today, the physical presence of the old farmhouse will serve as a reminder of our lost connection to nature in this hurried present day world. Perhaps John Muir, an American author and advocate of wilderness preservation, said it best, “When one tugs at a single thing in nature, he finds it is at-tached to the rest of the world.”

Nutrition and the Brain: Foods that Increase Memory

By Alexander Theodores

P A G E 1 2 S C H O L A S T I C A

The human brain is one of the most complex de-vices to have ever been studied throughout his-tory. We are constantly unveiling its many mys-teries and functions, yet much remains to be dis-covered. Memory has become a popular re-search topic and recent studies show that engag-

ing in physical activity boosts our memory and brain power. Memory is dependent on a healthy brain, which has a lot to do with what we choose to eat. In addition to sleep and minimization of stress, food plays a huge role in how effective our memory functions. It is well known that healthy foods help the body work to its best potential, but often overlooked is the fact that the same is true for brain functions, such as memory. There are certain foods that help increase brain function, as well as foods that slow it down. Many doctors are advising their patients to increase the amount of omega-3s in their diets. Evidence indicates that omega-3 fatty acids are particularly benefi-cial for brain health. Omega-3 fatty acids can be found in fish, especially cold water fish such as, salmon, tuna, halibut, trout, mackerel, sardines, and herring. Obviously, not everyone is a fan of seafood, so other sources of omega-3 are available in fish-oil supple-ments. These supplements can be found on most supermar-kets and drug stores shelves. Walnuts, ground flaxseed, flaxseed oil, pumpkin seeds, and soybeans are other natural

places to find omega-3. Visiting the super-market can be an en-tirely new experience by adding omega-3 to your shopping list. Doctors also recommend increasing fruit and vegetable consumption. The benefits of adding these foods to a diet

are well-known, but not everyone knows the benefit it has on the brain. Fruits and vegetables are packed with antioxi-dants, substances that protect your brain cells from damage. Brain cells can deteriorate over time and it is always a good idea to strengthen these cells with natural foods. Most fruits and vegetables can provide this service, but some specific foods are leafy green vegetables such as spinach, broccoli, romaine lettuce, Swiss chard, and arugula, and fruit such as apricots, mangoes, cantaloupe, and water-melon. Most people would agree that alcohol consumption can only hurt brain functions, and this assumption is correct. Alcohol not only kills brain cells but weakens brain functions like memory. However, in modera-tion, alcohol can actually improve how efficiently the brain works. Red wine appears to be the best option, as it is rich in nutrients that boost blood flow in the brain. For those of us under age, grape juice, cranberry juice, fresh grapes, cranberries, and peanuts are good trade offs from red wine. While consuming the foods and nutrients that can in-crease memory, it is also impor-tant to lessen the consumption of foods that can diminish it. Research shows that saturated fats can increase your risk of dementia and impair concentration and memory. The pri-mary sources of saturated fat are animal products such as red meat, whole milk, butter, cheese, sour cream, and ice cream. Decreasing these foods will help maximize the results that consuming the memory boosting foods will have. Aside from the positive impact this can create on the brain’s functionality and memory, there are many health benefits to be felt by increasing healthy, memory-conscious food and eliminating foods that are high in saturated fat. Memory is a difficult function of the brain to completely understand and study, however many innova-tive research strides have been made that enable us to improve the brain’s efficiency and, therefore, diminish its deterioration. Changing food and eating habits alone has become a prime method. It is important to keep proactive food choices in mind when deciding what to cook or purchase for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The long-term benefits of a healthy brain are invaluable, especially in younger generations.

Cold water fish like salmon are great

sources of Omega-3 fatty acids.

Fruits and vegetables also work to help brain

functionality.

Studies show that red wine actually helps create blood flow in the brain

when consumed in moderation, of

course.

The complex areas of the human brain.

Better Ways to Spend Spring Break By Samantha Johnson

V O L U M E 1 4 , I S S U E 5 P A G E 1 3

The countdown is over and spring break is finally here! The much-needed reprieve from the stress and chaos of the spring semester has arrived! Af-ter months of cold weather, being indoors studying and finishing

homework assignments, this week-long break from the Pleasantville campus is just what students need before returning to classes for the last stretch of the academic semester. There are many ways out of the ordinary in which you can enjoy your break including road trips, mini-vacations, relaxing and spending quality time with family members. I invite you to follow these ideas to plan a spring break that forces you to take a break from your con-stant campus and academic schedules. Do something memorable, something you can be proud to share with the Pace community upon your return. There are a wide range of opportunities available for the unique or “Alternative Spring Breaks.” This phrase that usually refers to volunteering or performing some kind of service, as opposed to the stereotypical Spring Break ventures that are plastered across the media. To forego the typical college spring break and offer your time to a community ser-vice venture is a truly ad-mirable and commendable act that will surely be re-warding. While vacations begin and end quickly, the work done on an alterna-tive spring break lingers with the people it posi-tively affected, yourself included, forever. Some alternatives to going to the beach during break are very inexpensive and accessible to many students. Not-for-profit organizations, such as Habi-tat for Humanity, offer service opportunities for high school and college students during their spring break weeks. Last year, the organization had over 10,000 stu-dents participate in their alternative spring break pro-grams. The United Way is another very large and recog-nized charity and volunteer organization that offers alter-native spring break options every year. In 2011, students went south to the Gulf Coast to assist in the reconstruction of many residential communities suffering from hurricane damage. The cost to participate was only $250 which in-cluded student housing and meals for the duration of the trip. Students were also able to travel to El Paso Texas and

team up with the Lower Valley Housing Corpora-tion to help build homes for families in need. The cost for this trip was only $150, includ-ing lodging and meals as well. This year, The United

Way is offering students the chance to team up with the United Way of Essex and West Hudson Northern New Jersey. This opportunity will bring college students from across the country together in Newark to participate as tutors and mentors for the local children at the Boys & Girls Club of Newark. This program will allow to stu-dents to who live in the tri-state area to still remain active during their week off, without traveling too far. Registra-tion for this alternative spring break option is still open! If you are interested in the spring break programs mentioned or want to learn about many others like them, please visit the following websites: LiveUnited.org/alternative spring break, and Habitat.org/collegiatechallenge Alternative Spring Break options can also be found here at Pace! The Center for Community Outreach and Research offers students a re-warding way to spend their spring break through service. Pace students will be able to make a positive difference and impact on the world by combat-ing hunger, homelessness, and poverty in New York City. The duration of this program is four days and is free of cost for all participating students. If you are interested in learning more about Pace’s alternative spring break, feel free to contact the CCAR Program Coordinator, Caitlin Kelly, via email at ckelly2@pace.edu. Giving up your week of relaxation or your trip to warmer weather may not be for everyone, and it certainly does not have to be. For those who seek an alternative, non- conventional spring break, please do not be discour-aged– it exists! Spending your time focused on giving back to needy people and communities will benefit count-less individuals, and as your service will most definitely be personally rewarding and worthwhile. It will be a memorable break, for sure, and something you can be proud to say you did over your break, instead of simply working on your 2012 tan.

Since 1976, Habitat has worked to eliminate global

poverty housing and homelessness.

For over 100 years, the United Way has collected funds for local charities and coordinated relief

services.

The P f o r z h e ime r Hono r s C o l l e g e i s h e r e f o r YOU !

B r i n g u s y ou r Que s t i o n s , C ommen t s , a nd C on c e r n s .

Office Location 3rd Floor

Mortola Library

Pleasantville Campus

Please come visit!

Phone (914) 773-3848

Fax (914) 773-3896

Email JBenton@pace.edu CWalther@pace.edu

Office Hours

Director, Janetta Rebold Benton, PhD

Monday– Friday 1:30-5:30pm

(No Wednesday hours)

Senior Advisor, Christopher Walther, MS

Monday 9am-4pm

Tuesday 9am-6pm

Wednesday 9am-2:30pm

Thursday 9am-5pm

Friday 9am-5pm

In order to receive Honors College credit in an Honors College class, students must have a final grade no lower than a B–.

Welcome to the Honors Study Room!

Stop by and catch up on some homework, take advantage of our snack selection, and

browse through the scrapbooks!

Did you know….

Taking a foreign language course at the 280 level or above the counts as an Honors course?

Thank you for reading the March 2012 SCHOLASTICA!

Out to Lunch…..

with your Honors

College professor! This is your chance to take your favorite Honors College professor out to lunch, somewhere between McDonald’s and Tavern on the

Green, on us!

Call the Honors College Office for more information!

• Visit www.pace.eu

• Select the letter H in the A-Z

Index.

• Click on “Honors College”

• Then click on “Pleasantville

Students”

• Finally, select “ Newsletter”

Find Scholastica Online! Register for the Fall 2012 Semester!

Don’t forget to register for the Fall 2012 Semester! Undergraduate Registration begins

on April 9th.

Schedule an appointment with your

academic advisors and plan your courses in

advance!