Wednesday, December 21, 2011

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!

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

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! :)

Monday, December 12, 2011


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.

Sunday, December 11, 2011

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)

Friday, December 9, 2011

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)

Thursday, December 8, 2011

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.

Monday, December 5, 2011

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.