in this issue
	News From the Office of Event Management Michael Ogazon and Mid-Year Commencement Ceremonies Andrew Rodriguez and the Sigma Lambda Beta - Celia Cruz Memorial Lisa Carollo and the Ninth Annual Phi Epsilon Spaghetti Dinner Geri Solomon and the Axinn Library Lecture Series

Michael Ogazon and Mid-Year Commencement Ceremonies

"We have volunteers from all over campus on Commencement day. Everyone feels that we are here all year long helping the students to achieve their goal, this is their shining moment," said Michael Ogazon, Associate Director of Campus Life Operations, about the Midyear Commencement Ceremony. This year the event takes place at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, December 21, 2003 in the Hofstra Arena. About 800 students with 4000 of their family and friends will fill the Hofstra Arena to honor the accomplishment of the students and the honorary degree recipients. Michael is responsible for coordinating most of the event. He will order and distribute academic attire for the faculty and students including robes, caps and hoods designating the degree of each school. This is done by working closely with the Office of Financial and Academic Records prior to and during the final evaluation of each student's records for Robe Distribution in the Student Center the week of graduation. Michael also develops the extensive work request document specifying the equipment and labor, including the electric, cleaning, delivery of furnishings, flags, banners, table skirts, flowers, photography, needed for the event. This request is a complete listing of all instructions for many departments that come together for one of the largest events on campus. It is a "fine-tuned and evolving" document. "It allows everyone involved with the planning of the event to look in one place to see what will go on; The Provost and Deans Offices, The Office of Campus Life, The Office of Event Management, Plant Department, Sports Facilities, Playhouse Facilities, The Department of Public Safety, Technical Services, and Hofstra Dining Services help us to improve commencement from one year to the next." Michael is the Associate Director of Campus Life Operations, assisting the Director of Campus Life. Working closely with the Office of Event Management, Dean of Students, Office of Residential Life and Hofstra Dining Services among many other departments, one of his primary concerns is assisting them in the coordination of services to Hofstra students and visitors. For more up-to-date information about the commencement ceremonies, click here... »

Andrew Rodriguez and the Sigma Lambda Beta - Celia Cruz Memorial

Andrew Rodriguez is the vice president of the Hofstra/ Xi Beta chapter of Sigma Lambda Beta. "This is a multicultural organization and our programs promote cultural awareness. We ask our members to research their own culture. What I find so interesting is that despite our cultural differences we are all so similar." In early November, the group sponsored an evening of dance, food and music in memory of Celia Cruz, the Latin performer who passed away this year. "The event was a huge success", he said. The event was co-sponsored with the Phi Iota Alpha student organization and the Office of Student Activities. Several alumni, including the dance instructor and the DJ, participated in the event. The program was part of a series of free events that took place during a week in November, designed by the group to provide social interaction of members with other students. Andrew explained, "We like to get to know the individuals that come to our events. When we know them better we then get a little more formal to find out if they are interested in becoming members. We give them information to help them decide." The Hofstra group, which is part of a national network of organizations, was started in 2000 and remains active today. The goals of the group include educating students and others about culture and providing social activity for students and community service at Hofstra and in the local area. On Thanksgiving morning, the members will meet with other students to deliver food to people who are dying of AIDS and cancer, in conjunction with the God's Love We Deliver organization. The members will go together to package pre-cooked food and deliver to addresses that they are given. "You learn to appreciate Thanksgiving even more", he said. To learn more about Sigma Lambda Beta ... »

Lisa Carollo and the Ninth Annual Phi Epsilon Spaghetti Dinner

"You realize you are going to school to learn and have fun: but in the long run, when you look back at the things that you've done I find this to be the most rewarding thing I've done, to be able to help." Lisa Carollo, along with her co-chairperson Fran Gutierrez, recently coordinated the Ninth Annual Phi Epsilon Spaghetti Dinner at Hofstra USA. Lisa is the philanthropy chairperson for the sorority. She became a member of the organization in her sophomore year. She tried for the Philanthropy position and did not get it at first but she tried again and this time got the vote. "I just knew that I needed to do something within the sorority to feel like I helped. I wanted everyone to know what it means to me and how it touches everyone else's life. It is rare for an event to take place for nine years at Hofstra! It's a long term commitment and we have stuck by it. We have had something so strong," she said. Phi Epsilon gives 100% of the proceeds to several different Breast Cancer research and advocacy organizations. They also give two $500 scholarships to students who were affected by cancer. How did they get people to attend the dinner? Although it was difficult and they tried many different approaches, they felt the event was a success. "We are a part of a Greek community and they were there for us. We also had the football team because we knew them. We put up signs in the Atrium and we announced the event in class. It's so rewarding, it really is. We all take pride in what we do." Lisa also mentioned the constant help and support of Arianne Berrito and Anita Ellis from the Office of Student Activities, who worked directly with the Office of Event Management and the staff at Hofstra USA. More about Hofstra's Fraternities and Sororities ... »

Geri Solomon and the Axinn Library Lecture Series

Geri Solomon spoke of the many last minute details that still, after her 11 years planning events for the Joan and Donald E. Axinn Library, do come up and must be handled. "Did you know that the bookstore will come to the event and set up a book sale if your speaker is an author?" She explained that not only do the authors appreciate the ability to distribute books and to provide the audience with an opportunity to see them, but often will sign autographed copies. Geri is the Assistant Dean and University Archivist who, along with the Special Collections Department staff, is responsible for the annual presentation of the Axinn Library Lecture Series. This year's event took place on November 5th when visiting lecturer Jane Brody, the Popular Science journalist and author of many books on personal health, spoke to a large audience in the Leo A.Guthart Cultural Center Theater. Said Geri, "She's a dynamic speaker. She was funny and casual but informed, and all of those things make it a great evening." A very special event preceded the lecture, specially designed for Hofstra students. The Master Class involved students who were chosen by their professors to participate. They prepared for the class by reading and doing research in anticipation of talking with the author in a private audience. "This was a chance for both the lecturer to get to know the institution and then for the students to get to know the person. The students considered it an honor to be involved and this was a wonderful way for them to make a connection." Geri and the Special Collections staff have planned many events at Hofstra but Geri says that there is always something new each time. To inform the students of the events, she found a way to send announcements to students with flyers being placed in the Residence Halls. She got the necessary approval from the Office of Student Activities for the posting of the flyers and placed advertisements in the Hofstra Chronicle. Signs were placed in the Atrium and outside of the Student Center and the Library to provide directions and to inform students and others who were in the area that may not have been aware of it. She also worked with other offices, including the Hofstra Cultural Center, to get the word out. "People that go to one event will typically go to other events," she said. Geri and the Office of Event Management worked together with several last minute needs, designed to promote the event and inform the public, including the enlarging of the event program cover which was used for signs placed in the Student Center and the Axinn Library to explain the details of the event. The Office also provided the headphones that allow those with hearing impairments to hear the lecture along with the comments and questions that usually follow. For more information about the West Campus Library ... »