So, about this time of year there is a buzz around campus. For each year I have been at Alfred, I noticed that the students really have no concept of how short a semester really is, and what little time we have here. So, student organizations start punching out all their last minute events and goals, students start wrapping up their semester with papers, homework, and exams.

While I am just as busy as everyone else, I am not stressed because their is my Senior year and I am savoring my last experiences here at Alfred. I’d like to lead you to a few Alfred University resources that have set me at ease:

The Women’s Leadership Academy
http://www.alfred.edu/wlc/

The Career Development Center
http://www.alfred.edu/cdc/

Yesterday was a sad day for many in our student body. There was an apartment fire on main street and, while nobody was seriously inured, both apartment renters and business owners lost all their posessions. Though it was an unfortunate event, I am impressed at how it has brought the community together. To get a better idea of what I mean read this:

“Our latest information is that seven Alfred University students were permanently displaced by the fire. Those seven all lived in apartments above either West Side Liquor or the Alfred Sports Center.

There are another nine people who were living in apartments in the yellow brick building that has The Collegiate, Kampus Kave and Hair Care on the first floor. That building sustained heavy smoke and water damage from the fire. Tenants will be allowed into their apartments today to reclaim as many of their possessions as possible, but they will not be able to live there until the fire clean-up and restoration are complete. Those who were living in the red brick building, which houses Alex’s and the Panda Express restaurant, are able to return to those apartments. Fire and code officers have determine the building is safe for occupancy, and utilities have been restored.

The University is providing on-campus housing at no charge for the rest of the semester to all students who were permanently or temporarily displaced by the fire. AVI Fresh, the University’s dining services contractor, has provided free meals for those students.

Any students who lost books, computers and course work are being asked to contact their professors to let them know they were affected by the fire so that accommodations may be made for this semester.”

This comforts me to know that I am in a community where everyone is willing to come together and accomodate those in need.

On a happier note we have a new way to tour our campus and it’s really fun!

Bike Tour

Did you know that 60% of youths who know Jesus turn away from God during their four years of college?

Alfred University has its own Christian Chapel services on campus; they are through Intervarsity Christian Fellowship every Sunday at 11am in Susan Howell Hall. This year, I am the President of Intervarsity Christian Fellowship(IV), but in the past I have been the comunications rep., bible study leader, and head of many service projects.

I know that choosing a college is difficult and when you get here it’s just plan busy, but when I came to college I was especially concerned about my spiritual life. So, I searched around a little. I tried out a few of the Christian fellowships on campus, but in the end I went to IV. What makes all of our christian organizations particularly special is that, in such a small community, we are able to develop a family with our friends at Alfred University, Alfred State, and in the Alfred community.

If you want to learn more about IV you can visit our website, which needs updating, (http://people.alfred.edu/~ivcf/IVCF_Intervarsity.html), our facebook (Alfred Intervarsity Christian Fellowship), or you can e-mail me at ajf1@alfred.edu

Other spiritual life content is located at: http://my.alfred.edu/index.cfm/fuseaction/student_affairs.spiritual_life.cfm

This is a link to a video I made for one of our chapel services: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TFFNLCtcGu4

IV strives to be completely student run, but we do have voluenteers who help us throughout year. It is a great way to stay active and an easy way to make friends. I’ve always found discussion open and my experiences positive. There is openness to debate and a willingness to support every student spiritually. So think about attending, or think about where you’re at, just never stop asking questions : )

Salutations

I’m late to join our team of bloggers, but I have a lot to add : )
My name is Ashley Fantigrossi; I’m a senior marketing student in the College of Business (http://business.alfred.edu/) with a minor in fine arts.

Student Clubs and Organizations

I am the president of Intervarsity Christian Fellowship (http://people.alfred.edu/~ivcf/IVCF_Intervarsity.html), and Club Historian for the American Marketing Association (http://auama.wordpress.com/). Getting involved in academic and interested based clubs has been a wonderful experience for me at Alfred University.

Work

I have a few jobs on campus: blogging, marketing assistant, production assistant, and I offer my room to be shown to transfer students. So those are the ways I bring in some cash while I’m at school. Throughout my time here I have had other jobs like: note taking and office assisting. Here are some examples of my work:

Marketing: http://www.alfred.edu/podcasts/index.cfm, http://www.myspace.com/alfreduniversity
Production: Alfred University Individuals Inspired

I’ll give more updates later on my experiences in the: Study Abroad Program, Women’s Leadership Academy, Home Coming Court, American Marketing Association, Intervarsity Christian Fellowship, Robot Club, The Marketing Dream Team, and much more …