Winding Down the Road

“The best teacher is experience and not through someone's distorted point of view”

― Jack Kerouac, On the Road

The Crossroads LLC has had quite the semester. Following in the beliefs of Jack Kerouac that experience is crucial for learning the LLC has had a number of activities to better understand the class. This program has been an examination of the Counterculture of the 1960s and the evolution of the Beat Generation.

From Dharma Bums to Naked Lunch, Crossroads have discussed the evolution of the Beat Generation and their many different styles of writing that emerged from it.

To increase their knowledge of this 1960's Counterculture, the residents of the Crossroads LLC have gone on many exciting field trips. After our initial LLC kickoff involving tie-dyed shirts and music the class progressed to more adventurous trips.

Woodland Pattern

One of the many trips the Crossroads LLC took was to Woodland Pattern Bookstore. This bookstore is said to have one of the best poetry selection in the Midwest and has extensive jazz performances. The residents had the opportunity to peruse the extensive Woodland Pattern inventory and learn about the local Jazz community and see a performance.

Shambhala Meditation Center

Another on of the trips the Crossroads LLC took was to the Shambhala Meditation Center. Here the residents involved in the LLC learned about the different types of meditation that the literary figures of the Beat Generation were involved in.

The Crossroads Living Learning Community has had an exciting semester.

I hope you continue to follow our adventures and watch us grow as a community.

See you in 2012!

What classes should I take? Honors LLC is planning for next semester

It's around that time in the semester where all of us start planning (and hopefully not panicking) about what classes to take next semester. Many of the Honors House students have been asking me what Honors classes I would recommend to take or which I wouldn't. However, my response to the students may not be helpful in narrowing down classes because I have to tell them that all of the Honors classes are great! Honestly, I have not heard of one Honors classes that hasn't been really intriguing, fun and informative. I've taken three Honors courses from three different professors and because each professor is unique, I learn unique things from each of them. I think the LLC students have learned that we may not love every professor, instructor or TA we have, but we can learn something from all of them and make the best out of every class we take because after all, it's up to us to learn. I think most of the students have their schedules all figured out for next semester now and are looking forward to completing finals, enjoying winter break and getting back to campus!

Have a great winter break everyone and see you in 2012! :)

Last week, my LLC students (particularly my ASL 1 students) had a study day to prepare for their final exam. The main thing when learning ASL is practicing, and being comfortable in conversation. So we played some games in the lounge to practice their facial expressions, and other games to help them sign on the spot. It was fun, I ordered pizza for everyone, so that was fun in itself.

Honors LLC loves Discovery World!

Hi!

As I said in my last post, the Honors LLC took a trip to Discovery World last Friday, probably one of the most fun things we have done so far this year. There were 13 of us total (including RA Kelly and me) so we had a fairly large group and we were lucky in that we nearly had the place to ourselves. We went to the incredible aquarium in the lower level where we got to touch sting-rays and fish, play inside (an almost real) submarine, and learn all about the Great Lakes. We also went upstairs and got to explore a ship, experience MATC's weather simulator, and learn how water is purified and used for drinking. Then, we went to the machines section where some of the students did the pilot simulator and practiced flying airplanes, while other students learned how various small machines work. Finally we went upstairs and had a blast with the static electricity exhibit (it was hysterical watching RA Kelly's hair stand on end) and most of the students, including me, go to lay on a bed of nails.

I had never been to Discovery World before and I'm so lucky that I got to go for the first time with all the amazing Honors LLC students.We had an amazing time and learned a lot. I can't wait to go back again.

--Molly (Honors LLC Mentor)

End of the Semester for Honors LLC!

Hi everyone,

With the semester coming to an end the Honors LLC has been very busy studying, scheduling for next semester and decorating our LLC common area (you guys seriously need to come check out the construction paper fire place!) . The students have been working extremely hard on school yet still find plenty of time to hang out with each other because as one student told me, "I'm excited to go home for the holidays, but I don't wanna leave the LLC!" I'm so happy that the students enjoy spending time together. I think every time I stop by the floors, there are at least 10 people hanging out in the lounge. It's awesome!

On another note, today we will be heading Discovery World today for a little fun before the final week of the semester. We are all really excited to spend some time together while enjoying one of the wonderful things the city of Milwaukee has to offer. I'll try to get some pictures of the trip to show everyone!

Have a great weekend/end of the semester! Don't study too hard :)

--Molly (Honors LLC Mentor)

Human Rights Day: Freed Iranian Doctors

This month the Beyond Borders LLC went to an event that was hosted by Center for International Education.  We were able to sit down and hear the amazing experiences that Doctors Kamiar and Arash Alaei shared with the audience.  We were able to learn about their efforts in Iran to help with AIDS and HIV that eventually lead them into prison as political prisoners in the most notorious Iranian prison, Evin.  We also learned about their efforts while in prison to help the other prisoners and some of their own personal battles.  We were all amazed by their strength and perseverance that they had through everything from doing the clinics fighting AIDS/HIV, to imprisonment, to deportation from their home land.  The Beyond Borders LLC is revving up for next semester with all new ideas, competitions, opportunities and fun things to do.  See you all next semester.

Lab Rats Planetarium Trip!

On Friday the Lab Rats went on an outing to the Manfred Olson Planetarium to view the 2012: Fact or Fiction show. I recommend that anyone who has concerns about the 2012 predictions go to this show, which takes place on every Friday at 7 through December 16th and costs $2. The show completely put my fears about 2012 to rest! 2012: Fact or Fiction takes five theories about how the world will end and then gives detail about how each theory is nothing to worry about, and then ends with a star show that first shows the stars as they would be seen from Milwaukee and then shows them as they would be viewed in the country. I learned the location of several constellations that I had known little about before, like Cassiopeia. The Lab Rats had a blast and I recommend this presentation to anyone who has nothing to do this Friday night.

So close and yet so far in the Honors House!!!

We have only 2 and half weeks left of classes plus a week of exams before winter break and the end of the semester!!! Just about everyone is feeling the stress and beginning to prepare for the exams. To try and have some fun before the end of the semester we have a few fun things going on! Next week friday a group of us are going to Discovery World on the lakefront!

a few days later, on saturday, another group is going to see the Nutcrakcer at the Milwaukee Marcus Center!

In keeping in tru Honors House tradition our house could not go with out being decorated for the Holidays! Alyssa Zasada spent a weekend putting together our fabulous Fireplace and Mantle,

and a large group of us had a lot of fun making the snowflakes and a mess ;)

We will never stop having fun! Well anyway I hope you all have a awesome rest of the semester and winter break!!!

RA Kelly

Architecture Tour of Downtown Milwaukee

Who says you need to go abroad or to another big city see significant architectural works?

This semester, the Architecture LLC had the opportunity to do a walking tour of downtown Milwaukee with none other than the Dean of the UWM School of Architecture and Urban Planning, Dean Bob Greenstreet. "Greenstreet", as the architecture students call him, took our LLC on a 3 hour walking tour downtown, pointing out Milwaukee's most significant architectural buildings.

Having lived in Milwaukee all my life and being a 6th year architecture student (BSAS and working on my Masters degree), I assumed I had seen and heard about most of the important buildings within the downtown area... Well I was definitely wrong. Dean Greenstreet's tour showcased little known spaces as well as the usual suspects. We had the chance to see spaces some people will never get to see! All of the students really enjoyed the tour and had fun getting to know the Dean of the school.

Hello, my name is Lucas Rentmeester and I'm the Architecture LLC RA. This is my 3rd year as an RA for UWM University Housing and my 2nd year as an LLC RA. I'm also a senior Architecture undergrad student at UWM.

I’ve been really enjoying having the Architecture LLC and helping my residents/students. Thus far this year we have done a tour of down town Milwaukee with Bob Greenstreet the Dean of the Architecture school. As well as, various project/model help nights. I look forward to the rest of this semester and spring semester and the various events we will have. (Sorry for the late post... first time blogging)

End of the Year

Well the semester is wrapping and the residents are busy getting their final projects done. From this semester the residents explore the art of making 2D art forms. They went though the color wheel and playing with all the possibilities of color. They explored playing with space and shapes. With these foundations they are getting ready to adventure on making their own kind of art. I can’t wait to see what they will create in 3D concepts.

With the LLC being about community and living together, community was taken into the classroom. This semester residents worked on doing art in the community. The focused on the River west area, which got the residents loving the area that they are living in. From the classroom, community in the art and design LLC is very strong. Residents have all semester spend many hours in the lounge work on their homework together. The lounge is very active place at all hours. With this activie they have created friendships in this community.

You Don't Always Need To Know Where You Are Going

Since this was my first year as a LLC mentor, I was glad to hear that I would be working with the Creating Your Future LLC. I am all too familiar with what it feels like to be unsure about your major and what you want to do after college. Since I already took the journey my students would be just starting on, I was very excited to be a resource for them. If anything, I could relieve some of the stress I felt when I entered college.

My main advice for students who are unsure of what they are going to major in is DO NOT WORRY...actually...be excited. Since you have no idea what you want to do you can take whatever classes you want and explore topics you never knew existed. My freshmen year I was able to take a variety of classes ranging from a political science class with a United States focus to a global studies course that opened my eyes to many international issues that I began to take interest in.

During my four years of college so far I have been a political science major, a global studies major and completely undecided in between every decision I have made. Now I am wrapping up my psychology degree and trying to double major in documentary journalism. As you can see, I still don't really know what I want to do with my degrees or in college, but I stay stress free by taking my own advice. Relax and enjoy college! It is more about the complete experience you get rather than a specific course of study. I have learned more from the people I have met, becoming my own independent person and exploring all avenues of life. For this reason, I think being undecided is the best major you could possibly be!

Community Leadership LLC!

Hey all!
Hope everyone's Thanksgiving was spectacular. The Community Leadership LLC, along with some friends from the res halls, continued to live up to their name all month. It all began with the RAKathon and continued with independent volunteering as well as some great ideas for the upcoming months, like "Don't get sick!" tips and adopting a family for the holidays. We wrapped up the month with a potluck style 4th North community Thanksgiving Dinner.

Winding Down

The Creating Your Futures LLC has been hard at work this semester.  The residents have been working very hard in their classes,with the last few weeks studying for midterms and now the residents beginning to get ready for finals.  In the Planning Your Major class, the residents got to learn how to create a resume.  The instructor took them through the basics of creating a resume and then some tips to really stand out from others.  Then, on November 9th, the residents got to have a local business person come in and speak to the class about interviewing.  The residents all found it really helpful and are planning to use what they learned to try to find a job on or around campus. 

Other than this we have had a few social events in RiverView lately and have a couple more coming up including a skateboard/longboard design competition, a ping pong competition, and our community specifically will be having a video game night in a couple weeks to celebrate the end of the semester and relax before finals get into full swing.  Before we know it, it will be time to pack up and head home for winter break! 

***Just a little tip to prepare for success for next year, make sure you meet with your academic adviser before you schedule classes!  Meeting with your adviser can help keep you on track and help you graduate on time! 

International Education Week

The past month was filled with many event that truly corresponded to the Beyond Borders LLC.  This events were those put on by the Center for International Education for the International Education Week.  The LLC took full advantage of these events by going to them.  The week started off with the Careers Across the Map: Working in International Education on Monday, November 14th.  During the middle of the week on Thursday the residents went to the International Bazaar where they were able to sees the different student organizations that have international aspects associated with them.  Dina Wolf even created a fun game with it by giving out goody bags to those residents that did come to the bazaar.  Then on the last day of International Education Week the LLC residents were invited to the Global Networks: Global Studies Fellow Colloquium where they could enjoy amazing food while listening to faculty members of CIE talk about their research projects and their goals for them.  Also on Friday, there was a fantastic program called How's it Going? U.S. Holidays were they were able to try different foods that coordinated to different holidays celebrated in the U.S. by different cultures while learning fun facts and the origins of the holidays.  The next event is another pairing with the Center of International Education with celebration of Human Rights Day on Tuesday, December 6th at 7pm in the Wisconsin Room.

60 Second Film Contest

Hey everybody! The Film LLC recently had a 60 Second Film Contest. Here were the rules:

You have to break off into teams of no more than 4 people.

Each team was then given this quote:

"I was looking for that shop

where the shopkeeper would say,'There is nothing of value in here.'
I found it and did not leave.
The richness of not wantingwrote these
poems."

Each team had four hours to create a video 60 seconds in length. No more. No less.

Each team was given an obstruction to follow: for example, one team was not allowed to shoot on campus, another was not allowed to have any shots of more than 6 seconds in length, etc.

Immediately after the video was completed, the videos were screened in front of an audience and panel of judges. Everyone was allowed to vote for the audience favorite...except filmmakers were not allowed to vote for their own, of course. The votes were tallied, and an Audience Award and the Grand Jury Prize winners were given trophies.

It was a lot of fun. We had lots of residents (even from other floors) come to watch the four films that were produced. All in all, it was a great event. Everyone is looking forward to the 12 hour film contest coming up in the spring!

I have placed a link to the Film LLC's facebook page so you can watch the videos that were made. There are more pictures up there as well.

Innovation House at Discovery World!

Hey all!

Three months into the semester and the Innovation House has some awesome things going on!

The highlight of the semester has got to be Discovery World! Ten Freshman including myself our half way through a program at the interactive Science Museum designing Lego Mindstorm Robots! Every Monday night for three hours, we design, test, and build Robots that utilize bio-mimicry. What I mean by bio-mimicry is that we are designing robots to mimic a plants action. You might not think plants move, but they actually do! The Venus Fly Trap closes its leaves to capture bugs and insects for food, the traditional bean plant moves its leaves around to maximize sunlight intake, and the exploding cucumber plant launches/explodes its cucumber when touched by something. The most exciting part about this whole process, is figuring out how you can design a robot to accomplish your specified plant task. And that is what we are working on! I will try to post some pictures if our finalized robots when we complete them! Stay tuned :)

Ross

Fun Events!!!

Hey everyone! The weather is really starting to turn and a lot of people are looking for indoor activities for fun. I want to post up a few ideas I have for things to do that are close to UWM. One thing I have really enjoyed in the past and would love to go to more is MAM after dark. Once a month, on a Friday night, the Milwaukee Art Museum offers a night of special activities, exhibits, food, drinks, and friends. This website has a list of the upcoming events: http://mam.org/afterdark/?page_id=63.  They also have a lot of artists' talks that the public can attend. If you are an art student don't forget to get your free museum pass in the art office! You pay for it through differential tuition so go use it!!

It's an Elephant!

So we had an event tonight. It was called "It's an Elephant!". Basically, you had to gesture a picture to someone, and they had to gesture to someone else...like the game telephone. I was trying to build there signing skills, using different kinds of classifiers. We had about 10 people come around so that was exciting! It went over pretty well with everyone; it was interesting to see how people interpret things so differently. Event=Success!

Architecture LLC / Environmental & Global Sustainability LLC

Hello! My name is Kyle Bilot and I am a First Year Mentor working with the Architecture and Environmental & Global Sustainability LLCs!

A little about myself... this is my 6th year on campus at UWM. I graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Architectural Studies degree in May 2010 and I am currently working on my Master of Architecture degree (graduating this spring). In Summer 2009, I had the opportunity to study abroad in France, Italy, and England, which was an absolutely life changing experience.

I have been involved with the First Year Center and LLCs for 3 years now. Last year, I was the mentor for the Environmental & Global Sustainability LLC, and this year working with that LLC again as well as the Architecture LLC. I love working with the LLC students. It is a very rewarding experience to get to know the students and see them transform over the course of the year. Watch for some updates of what our LLCs are doing in the near future!

Beyond Borders on a Field Trip

Sweet Water Organics Trip

        On October 21st, the residents and students in the Beyond Borders LLC took an amazing trip to Sweet Water Organics and even around Bay View.

       We first started off at Sweet Water Organics where we learned one of the most unique ways to grow food.  At Sweet Water they use Aquaponics to create their food.  It is one of the most creative ways that I have seen to create food.  They do not use any soil but water and fish.  This system not only helps grow food but helps with growing fish.  They are able to sell both the fish and food to create a profit for their business.

        The building that they use is an old factory in the city of Bay View.  They completely cleaned out the building and revamped it to create what they have now.  While they do Aquaponics outside they also do it outside with small greenhouses around the outside of the building.  Sweet Water is trying to expand their efforts to the outdoors to try to use as little amount of energy as possible.  They also have another system of organic food that is outside: honey making.  They were able to create a system in Wisconsin that lasts even into the beginning of winter where bees are able to create organic honey.  The whole time that the students and residents were at Sweet Water they their eyes were glued to the different things that the company is doing inside and outside.  Some of them were even being studious and taking notes the whole time.  

        After Sweet Water we were taken around Bay View and shown it by the teacher of the LLC class, Aims McGuinness.  He was able to show us some of the historical sites around Bay View like the Father Groppi's family store.  Many students bought different and unique items like sausage that is made in the family store and many, many pastries.  The reason we stopped at some of the historical sites like the Grippi store and where May Day originated because they talked about these different things and how they connected to globalization.  The students and even I were amazed by the plethora of knowledge that Aims had about the history of Milwaukee.  Every moment was a learning experience, even when we were able to go into the the Basilica of St. Josaphat.

Half way there!!!

Well everyone we are half way to the end of the semester! We have been having tons of fun on the Honors House so far! We have had Dr. Schuster from the Honors College come to talk to the LLC students about how to be successful in the Honors College. We had a Busy Student Relaxation day in our lounge were we banned homework from the lounge for a few hours, dimmed the lights, listened to some calming celtic music and had a tea party! It was a big hit and we hope to do it again real soon! We have been spending the past week or so decorating the lounge for a Halloween house decorating contest! I have post some pictures below (all pictures taken by the fabulous Ryan Radtke)

WE WERE THE WINNERS OF THE SANDBURG COMPETITION!!!

We have also been planning a big trip to Discovery World mid November which should be some real fun! but more on that next time!

That's all I have for now keep chugging everyone! Another half to go!!!

RA Kelly Keuper

The Lab Rats recently started a program for anyone who wished to participate. Andrew, the mentor for the LLC, brought plastic cups, bean seeds, and dirt. Anybody who was interested received several seeds and a couple of cups of dirt. The basic premise is that participants had to record anytime they water their bean plant and at the end of the semester there would be a competition to see whose had grown the most.
The Lab Rats went wild decorating the cups. A competitive spirit arose as the Lab Rats started to tease each other. We all are definitely in this to win!

Introduction

Hi! My name is Ivy Lee Klarer and I grew up mostly in Mount Horeb, WI, outside of Madison. This is my fourth year at UWM and I will probably have one more semester after that before I graduate with a bachelor of fine arts in sculpture, and jewelry and metal-smithing. I have never lived in the residence halls, but have visited friends there and enjoyed it. I am a freshman mentor for the students in the art and design LLC at Riverview and Cambridge.  Things I do in my barely existent spare time are work on my art creations and ideas, cook, listen to music, go out with friends, be outside, and relax. I also love to travel!! Mostly I am doing school projects and working my three jobs, which are all things I enjoy!

Over the past month the art community has had some amazing events. To start off October the residents were able to do the art walk of River West. Almost every resident were able to participate in this event. They were able to learn about the River West community and see how artist in Milwaukee function. This was also got residents more comfort with this community.

Then residents were about to participated in the free Thursday at the Milwaukee Art Museum. For some of the residents it was their first time ever going to the museum. This created something new for them to try. They were very engage with leaning about the building and all the artwork inside. With that it brought up the question of “what is art”. The question is going to hunt art student forever. Even I’m trying to figure out this question. No luck so far answering this question.

Now the big event in the art community is Gallery Night, which is October 21^st and 22^nd. Gallery Night is where artist’s opens up their studios and share their creations. It is event all over Milwaukee with many types of arts. Some resident took the time to travel to these galleries to see what is out there. There were able to see what the 3^rd ward is all about. They seem to enjoy the 3^rd ward with it’s older building and the people that in that community.

MAM Day

The Film LLC and Art LLC teamed up to go to the Milwaukee Art Museum recently to enjoy one of Milwaukee's fine art sources. We had a great time touring the museum and seeing all that it had to offer. There was so much to see that we barely saw half of the museum's art work...and some of us even got lost in the endless rooms

that the museum breaks off into. In the end, everyone was happy they went.

BOWLING!

So I put together a bowling event for all of my lovely LLC residents. We went to the Union and did some hardcore bowling. That was about it :) It was a lot of fun, and a lot of people showed up for it so that is always a plus.

Helping Hands in Health Care LLC

Hello! My name is Nikole Rude and I am the mentor for the Helping Hands in Healthcare LLC. I am looking forward to working with Alayna, the RA for the LLC. This is my third year here at UWM. I am majoring in Kinesiology pre Physical Therapy and plan on going to graduate school to get a doctorate in Physical Therapy. I am from Fond du Lac, Wisconsin and am living off campus on Murray Ave but our LLC is in Sandburg, North tower.

Our first event we had was Mario Cart with fatal vision goggles. We had a blast and enjoyed meeting and getting to know some of the students. We plan on hosting a number of events but they currently are in the making but I will definitely post when we have some things set in stone :) Our next event will have to do with zumba though!