taylor & first vol. 1 issue 2

By Joseph CiullaEditor-in-Chief This last month has been a busy one; with midterms and homecom-ing and all the other academic and extracurricular activities bombarding our schedule it has just blown by us. We have been working hard to put out this second edition and we have made quite a few changes that, we feel, help make our newsletter stand out. This is a newsletter of/by/for the residents of Taylor Place. This is your newsletter. If you want to see something featured,

let us know. We strive to become bet-ter each and every time we put out a new issue. In order for this newslet-ter to really get its full effect we need help from you, the residents. Since the previous issue there has been a lot of programming that has taken place within the residence hall. This issue will make up for lost time and get back on track to where we want this publication to be. In addition we look to highlight upcoming events for you to get out of those rooms and engage in the student experience here at ASU.

In Case You Missed It

I

In Case You Missed It...

Homecoming Week

I Shot That

Around the Block/Local Spotlight

Upcoming Events

Page 2

Page 4

Page 6

Page 7

Page 8

Sun Devil QuarantineBlood and Gore at ASU Prep

By Samantha GauvainEditor

Warning! Warning! A medical outbreak in downtown Phoenix stretching from the ASU campus to the ASU prep school has led to what ex-perts are now calling a zom-bie apocalypse. Thursday, Nov. 1 eye-witnesses re-ported seeing disfigured, and maimed hu-man-like beings traipsing down the sidewalks on Fillmore Street towards ASU’s preparatory school. These zombie like creatures appeared to be affiliated with ASU, poten-tially students, as they gathered in the football field at ASU prep. Tipped off by concerned neigh-bors and Phoenix residents, this reporter risked life and sanity in the pursuit of what could poten-tially be the story of the century. In what can be deemed an attempt by ASU to contain this outbreak, ASU prep’s football field and bas-ketball courts were sectioned off to quarantine this disease by cor-ralling the diseased students. The zombies then proceeded to carve pumpkins placed in the area into gro-tesque figures, before ASU hired agents sketched a likeness of each zombie. While this journalist was hiding from the zombies in an area outside of the quar-

antine zone, multiple humans were suc-cessful in sneaking into the area. Pinned by the zombies in the middle of the foot-ball field, the humans fought fiercely and ran to obtain the ten antidotes hidden throughout the field in case of an emer-

gency situation. The humans fought valiantly; however they were unsuc-cessful in all attempts to sur-vive the zom-bie apocalypse. With no remain-ing antidotes and the quaran-tine zone over-come by ASU

zombies, the mob on the football field dis-persed leaving remnants of the apocalypse scattered throughout the quarantine zone.

Miraculously, ASU was able to cure the mob of zombie students as they surged towards the exit of the quarantine zone in a mass comparable only to the Per-sians rising against the valiant Spartans. While the students returned to ASU’s shade garden (the potential source of the apocalypse as eyewitnesses claim to have seen humans being turned in said garden) as humans, there is concern that a similar outbreak may occur in the fol-lowing years, due to the lunar cycle and ASU’s investment in scientific experi-mentation for the benefits of its students. Zombie Apocalypse 2012, a major con-cern in the downtown Phoenix community, has ended for the time being. 2013 during Halloween time shall determine if ASU students and faculty can remain strong.

Mission StatementTaylor & First aims to provide

the residential community of the premier residence hall at ASU, Taylor Place, with anything and everything to do with student

life here at the Downtown Phoe-nix campus.

Taylor & FirstStaff

Joseph CiullaEditor-in-Chief

Bryan EustaquioDesign Editor

Samantha Gauvain Editor

RHA at DPcMarcus Jones II

Executive Director

Nick LongNational Communications

Coordinator

Miguel Martinez Director of Finance

Bryan Eustaquio Director of Public Relations

Erolinda BecerraSecretary

Davier RodriguezAdvisor

If you are interested in joining the Taylor and First staff, email us at

[email protected]

November 5, 2012 Volume 1 Issue 2

Taylor & First

You can view the this publication online by scanning the QR code.


Taylor & First

This One Time, at RHA Camp...By Bryan EustaquioDesign Editor

With our bags packed and ready to go, myself and 16 other General Council rep-resentatives from Downtown Phoenix’s Residence Hall Association were prepar-ing for the 100 mile, two hour bus ride to Prescott, AZ to attend our first-ever RHA camp. Our attendance in this camp marked the first time in ASU history where the Downtown Phoenix campus was represented, and therefore, it was the first ever RHA camp representative of all four RHAs from each ASU campus: Tem-pe, Polytechnic, West, and Downtown. Having never attended before, there was a certain air of uncertainty surrounding the event. The excitement was prevalent in the week leading up to departure, and the mys-tery of what we were going to do at camp upon arrival was even more seducing. With our legs sore, we arrived upon a fairly isolated camp with labeled cabins, numerous dirt paths, an artificial playing field, a rock climbing wall, a chapel, and a dining hall. It was approximately 20 de-grees cooler than what us desert dwellers were used to, so that was a quick relief. We settled into our cabin, and then pro-ceeded to the field to socialize. With a total of 159 RHA representatives in attendance, there was not a lot of room for timidity. Right away, we were welcomed with open arms and thrown into an RHA sub-

culture whose existence we weren’t even aware of –until now. “Roll call” was eas-ily the most intimidating as we prepared to perform an introductory Downtown Phoenix campus RHA cheer we created only an hour beforehand. There were cheers, standing ovations, and snaps for almost everything. Every other RHA was excited to have us in attendance for the

first time ever. The feeling we felt after receiving applause and even a “stand-ing ‘O’-vation” (from the Polytech-nic campus) for our Roll Call was our signal of ap-proval and accep-tance into the camp. Everything after-wards was a team, individual, and leadership building exercise. We spent the better part of twelve hours over the course of two nights and three days specifically de-voted to constructive activi-ties. Outside of that, it was up to us as individuals and as a team to make the most of what we could out of camp. If I may say so myself, that is where Downtown’s RHA excelled exponentially. My experience at camp was nothing short of ground-breaking. After camp, I now attend Arizona State University’s Downtown Phoenix campus with 16 less strangers whom I now

have incred-ibly unique bonds with. This one time, at RHA camp; we learned to shatter stereo-types, accept indi-viduals for who they are (or who they might be), put oth-ers before

ourselves, work as a team, overcome obstacles in the face of adversity, overcome fear, and to be champions of Leadership Develop-ment, Advocacy, Program-ming, and Regional Involve-ment; not only for Downtown Phoenix, but for all of Arizona State University.

For more photos from RHA Camp head over to Page 6 for “I Shot That.”

Taylor & First


Downtown Phoenix Float Building Party a SuccessBy Samantha GauvainEditor

On Oct. 25, ASU students congregated outside of Devil’s Den for the annual homecoming float-building event. Fea-turing catered food, live mu-sic, good com-pany and root beer floats. Downtown stu-dents sought to outshine other ASU campuses in the crea-tion of Down-town Phoenix in float form. The event kicked off at seven as students began constructing the float out of cardboard boxes outside of Devil’s Den on the sidewalk of Taylor Street. Duct tape was implemented to first combine two boxes for the beginnings of the Taylor Place buildings and then a series of three boxes formed the Nursing building. The float was at this point a vague semblance of the Downtown Phoenix campus but showed promise as students laboriously sought to accurately represent downtown. Inside, students were munching on spring rolls and chicken wings or devour-ing the increasingly popular, and more than appro-priate, root beer floats. While s i p p i n g their root beer floats, s t u d e n t s listened in-tently for their names to be called from behind the DJ’s ta-ble as the winners of the hourly raffle were called to the front to claim his or her prize. As the name is called, a mur-mur is heard from the crowd as each student was hoping that they would be the lucky winner, but they stay in the

hopes of winning in the coming hour. The DJ returned to his table after the raf-fle results were drawn, and commenced to play popular dance songs such as the Cupid Shuffle and the Wobble line dance. Amidst the float construction outside,

students’ feet began to tap and their bod-ies sway as they took a welcome break from their industri-ous work. The DJ wandered outside to the students, shep-h e r d -ing a flock of

dancers behind, as students passing by the entrance to Devil’s Den stopped to see what the commotion was. The float’s buildings bore an eerie likeness to Taylor Place and the Nursing complex as the dancers retreated into Devil’s Den for more root beer floats. The walls were painted red and windows, complete with shades, pocked the walls of Taylor Place while the unique structure of the Nursing Building was accu-rately represented in cardboard.

Alongside Taylor Place, students participating or merely passing by had the opportunity to sign a poster that would later adorn the float. On that same table, students worked to re-

construct the tornado-esque Civic Space Park sculpture that distinguishes the park. This chicken coop wire mas-terpiece coincided with the en-larged photo of downtown Phoe-nix mounted on a wooden frame. As the hour grew late, students began to disperse and the remaining work-ers put the final touches on the float. After stepping back to admire their work, students high-fived and posed for a picture next to their creation. The following day, the float would ride through the homecoming pa-rade as a representation of not only the creativity of downtown students but also their dedication to their work.

ASU Homecoming: A Golden Decade

Taylor & First


ASU Homecoming: Glow in the Dark; Party in the Park

By David HensleyContributing Writer Additional Reporting byJoseph CiullaEditor-in-Chief

ASU’s Homecoming dance, “Glow in the Dark; Party in the Park,” was a smash. During this eventful evening, an array of different genres that filled the air cast a vast multitude of rhythmic spells. Civic Space Park played host to this massive event. The monumen-tal sculpture, “Her Secret is Pa-tience,” hovered over the dance floor like a chandelier in a ballroom. There was a plethora of electronica music, and and what an ASU event late-ly without Psy’s recent number 1 hit on iTunes “Gangnam Style.” Also mixed in were a few 90’s throwbacks that created a spectacular ambiance. Throughout the midst of music there was also food and neon lights, which were a free and welcome addition to this neon night. The evening was so well antici-

pated that students from the Tempe, West and Poly cam-puses prevalently attended. Ami Sanghvi, a downtown phoenix freshman, also at-tended the dance. When asked what her favorite part of the dance was, “When the DJ dropped the base” was her ec-static answer. She also went on to say, “It was a good break from studying for midterms.” According to Sanghvi, the other guests were “colorful and spirited.” Lastly Sanghvi said she would love to see more dances along with free food just as the one that transpired. It can be easily concluded that the dance was successful, for it drew many students, some of who hope for more. The danc-ing, attractive atmosphere, and free products were an un-canny combination in satisfy-ing a crowd of college students.

All photos courtesy of the ASU Home-coming Facebook page.

Taylor & First


By Samatha GauvainEditor Nestled in the shops of the Arizona Center on 3rd Street and Van Buren, Café Roma offers Big Apple-esque

pizza, pasta, sandwiches and wings ga-lore that are worth the monetary invest-ment each and every meal of the week. Café Roma is within easy walking dis-tance of ASU’s Phoenix campus; a left turn down Taylor Street heading towards AMC movie theater and then a left into the Arizona Center, clearly marked by an archway bearing the title and colored flags; it is then tucked between New York and Company and Subway. There is spa-

cious seating inside, featuring a round table in the center of the room for larger parties and smaller square tables scat-tered around the room to include bar stool seats in front of the large garage window. The sidewalk/patio space used as an outdoor dining area is less accessible but available if necessary. The décor of Café Roma is nothing remarkable; it resembles an average pizza restaurant. It features sports re-lated memorabilia and neutral wall art to complement the various games and television programs playing on wall mounted TV’s, which can be distract-ing at times or irksome if the program playing is catered to a very specific au-dience rather than the average customer. The ordering style is more like a take-out restaurant rather than a traditional sit-down diner as customers order at the counter and pay for their meal before it is served. Take-out boxes are available for custom-ers on the run or for those who feel like sit-ting in the gardens of the Arizona Center. With moderate prices, Café Roma of-fers quality, yet affordable meals such as Fettuccine Alfredo, Grilled Chicken Sandwiches on homemade bread or Margherita Basil pizza by the box or slice. However, it may take a while for your meal to be ready if the stock of that particular type of pizza is running low. The wait for a meal can be exten-sive depending on the food choice and the number of customers, with-out taking into consideration the cook-

ing time for particular food items. Fettuccine Alfredo is one of the more popular choices among college stu-dents. ASU student Meg Krivanec said that “the ratio of sauce to pasta is excel-lent,” while freshman Daniel Santa Cruz said that the Alfredo is just plain good.The food is a welcome reminder of home cooked comfort delicacies and is a wel-come break from standard cafeteria grub. However, grabbing a meal at Café Roma regardless of your patience with recycled meal schedules is a sol-id plan. Lunch or dinner, investing in a grilled chicken sandwich is a deci-sion I strongly advocate for every meal. Café Roma is open Monday to Thursday from 8am to 9pm and Sat-urday to Sundays from 9am to 11pm. For further restaurant details, pic-tures and a full menu, Café Ro-ma’s website caferomaaz.com is easy to navigate and informative.

An Evening in Roma

Never know what to do with your spare time? Around The Block is a section where we highlight non-ASU affiliated events in the Downtown Phoenix area. Whether it’s music, comedy or sports you’re into we got you covered. So grab some cash and a couple of friends and take a night (or several) to go see some live entertainment.

Concerts: Wed. Nov. 7STRFKR @ The Crescent Ballroom308 N. Second Avenue

Thur. Nov. 8Thursday Locals Night @ Hard Rock3 S. Second Street

Sat. Nov. 10T.I. @ Comerica Theater400 W Washignton Street

Mon. Nov. 12Walk the Moon @ Crescent Ballroom308 N. Second Avenue

Comedy:Nov. 9-11Lavell Crawford @ Stand Up Live50 W. Jefferson Street

Nov. 16-18Craig Shoemaker @ Stand Up Live50 W. Jefferson Street

Sporting Events:Phoenix Suns BasketballU.S. Airways Center201 E. Jefferson StreetNov. 9 vs Clevleland CaviliersNov. 12 vs Denver NuggetsNov. 14 vs Chicago BullsNov. 17 vs Miami Heat

Miscellaneous:Nov. 8-11 Actors Theatre Presents: OpusHerberger Theater Center222 E. Monroe Street

Taylor & First


Taylor & First


Upcoming EventsWith the Fall 2012 semester coming to a sooner-than-anticipated ending, Residents will often find themselves scram-bling to engage with and close in on those last minute opportunities to get the best grade possible in all of their courses. With that said, should you have any time on your hands while you’re with us on campus, there is still an abundance of scheduled programming that is available for Taylor Place Residents and Downtown ASU Students.

Sometimes, we think to ourselves, “What would ASU be like if there was no programming?” It’s a scary thought, come to think of it. There would be thousands of casualties attributed to boredom. Luckily for you, there is no anticipated shortage of upcoming events. Check them out:

Sparky’s ShootoutFriday, Nov. 9 @ Taylor Place Dining Hall

FREE for all Residents, 12pmCome on out, eat, listen to music, meet Sparky, shoot some hoops, and help support ASU Men’s Basketball kick off the season! Show your SPIR-

IT and wear GOLD!

ASU Men’s Basketball Game Season OpenerStaurday, Nov. 10 @ Wells Fargo Arena, Tempe

FREE for Season Tickets Holders/Inferno Members; 5:30pmVS. Central Arkansas; Fork ‘Em Devils!

Etiquette DinnerThursday, Nov. 15 @ Hyatt Regency Hotel, Downtown Phoenix

$8 Fee, 6-8pm; Sponsored by ASU Career ServicesRHA will sponsor if 2 non-perishable items are donated

(30 Spots Available) contact [email protected] by Nov. 7 for more info.

Twilight Breaking Dawn Pt. 2 Midnight Movie PremiereThursday, Nov. 15 @ AMC24 Theaters, AZ Center

$5 Fee, the rest is compensated!Does not include snacks, drinks, popcorn.

This Thurday night’s program is sponsored by P.A.B.:

Look For it in our Next IssueThings Taylor Place Residents Say

Why DPc is Better Than TempeResident Playlists

taylor & first vol. 1 issue 2

Documents