A student-produced monthly newsletter created and distributed by the Honors Student Association. Its purpose is to supplement the West Chester University community’s knowledge of the Honors Student Association’s activities and endeavors.

Director's Corner

Citizen Leadership by Dr. Kevin Dean

One of the theories of leadership we cover in introductory honors classes is classified as Citizen Leadership. With historical roots in Greek and Roman societies, civic participation functioned as foundational for a free society. In their tradition, citizens of Greece and Rome held a fiduciary responsibility for contributing to the common good. They realized participation at any level marks an exercise of leadership.

I enjoyed getting to know Harriett “Hattie” Dague, my great grandmother on my mother’s side of the family; she embodied citizen leadership. Born in 1890, she spent the first twenty years of her life as “unseen” by the country she loved. In 1920, her gender gained visibility with the passage of the constitutional right to vote. Not yet twenty-one she would wait four additional years and in 1924, at the age of twenty-four, she proudly cast her first presidential election vote for incumbent president Calvin Coolidge, who subsequently won a second term. She would live long enough to cast her ballot in fourteen additional presidential elections always seeing Election Day as cherished. I remember her pride in having the ability……..and for her a responsibility……..to engage in civic governance by using her voice. Beyond the presidential elections she never missed the opportunity/responsibility to vote in every yearly election as she believed those who served on school boards and city councils had important impacts on the local community,

“you can’t always wait for the president to solve your problems!”

For years political analysts have decried the “much talk little action” of youth voters (those under 30). But this election may have seen a transition. According to polling done by the Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement (CIRCLE) at Tufts University in Massachusetts, and reported in Inside Higher Ed, voters under age 30 made up an estimated 17% of all voters in the U.S. presidential election, slightly more than their 16% share in the presidential election of 2016. The same source indicated that youth comprised 14% of the votes cast in Pennsylvania. Further, CIRCLE claimed that 51% of eligible youth voters engaged in this year’s election compared to 42% in 2016.*

I could not hold greater pride for the results I have to date concerning Honors and voting. We surveyed first year students in HON 110 (N=41) where 80.4% cast ballots and first year honors core and bridge students in HON 352 (N=69) 96.8% voted. You all blew the average of your age group through the roof! Now, just think, if you keep this momentum up throughout your life----and in 2024 invite some friends to come along----think of the potential you have to shape your community. Business scholar Ron Heifetz tells us those who successfully navigate change and uncertainty cultivate an ability for adaption**. Scholars maintain citizen leaders cultivate adaption through education, engagement and celebration. You clearly educated yourselves on the candidates, you engaged through your action to vote and have no doubt we celebrate your devotion.

In a twist of irony, the last election Grandma Dague lived to cast a vote, 1980, marked the first presidential election where I could vote; I like to think she passed the torch. It is hard to think that 2024 will mark the 100th anniversary of the first time she was allowed to vote and how special that day was for her. It is important to me that my daughter, who has now voted in her second presidential election, knows this story. I have no doubt that each of you reading this has a marker of when a courageous ancestor, on whose shoulders you stand, overcame the barriers of sex, race, immigrant status, to gain this precious right to be seen and counted; for many I would wager it was more recent than 100 years! When we vote, make no mistake, we contribute to our future and simultaneously honor the past.

Check out this Article on Inside Higher Ed

**Heifetz, Ronald A., Alexander Garashow and Marty Linsky. The Practice of Adaptive Leadership. Boston, MA: Harvard Business School Press, 2009.

Letter From the Editor

Jodi Lamborn

The months are getting crazier and crazier, and as we’re trying our hardest to keep up, we've seem to lost sight of what has gotten us through both this pandemic and election alike: motivation. It can be hard to stay motivated throughout Zoom University, and I’m here to tell you that it is absolutely okay to lack motivation for the remainder of the semester and dedicate your winter break to bettering yourself to come back stronger second semester. Sometimes, with work piled up, it’s too difficult to amp up motivation to actually be productive. So I commend you for putting in as much effort as you have so far, and don’t doubt your ability to perform in the future because of this time.

Yes, this is real life, but these are still unprecedented times to which we are still adjusting.

Motivation may lack but even still, we are making changes in our own lives that we will reflect on as a beautiful time of growth and knowledge. Best of luck the rest of the semester,

Aid to South Africa Update

The Aid to South Africa (A2SA) Fundraiser is an annual tradition of the Honors College. In normal years, a spring carnival serves as A2SA’s major fundraising event for our three beneficiaries in South Africa: Nkosi’s Haven, H.E.L.P. Ministries Soup Kitchen, and Mosaic. In this decidedly-not-normal year, however, A2SA has moved online! We are proud to announce this year’s board of directors:

Carly Lare, Coordinator

Maddie Weaver, Assistant Coordinator

Lizzie Gittleson, Fundraising and Advancement Director

Jess Mitchell, Fundraising and Advancement Director

Abby Boquist, Director of Awareness and Visuals

Brian Lynch, Treasurer

Cassie Borzillo, Media Director

Shannon Conroy, Media Director

Zack Zajkowski, Alumni Director

Nancy Apenouvon, Alumni Director

Kaite Zeitz, Games and Activities Director

Jessie Hazell, Music and Entertainment Director

The board has begun planning a series of virtual campaigns, which will take place throughout the winter and spring semesters. Be sure to follow our Instagram (@aidtosouthafrica) and Facebook (@aidtosouthafrica) for updates on each campaign. Stay tuned for our first social media event in December!

We are determined to continue supporting our beneficiaries, and we hope you will join us once again in promoting the Honors College’s largest philanthropic event.

Barclay Friends Decorations

Becca Porter

Barclay Friends is an assisted living community in West Chester that has had a strong relationship to the Honors Student Association (HSA) for a couple years now. Under precedent times, students were able to volunteer on a more regular basis with the residents at Barclay Friends through Travel Across Generations (TAG). However, right now it may be difficult for some to volunteer in person. Therefore, in an effort to maintain that strong connection to the residents and the community, HSA’s community service coordinator, Carlyn Crisi, encouraged everyone to create Halloween/Fall themed decorations for the facility. Crisi received over 60 Halloween/fall themed coloring sheet decorations! When talking about the drop off process, Crisi said “Because of COVID I wasn’t able to see the main coordinator from Barclay Friend as I had to drop it off in the vestibule to protect the residents,” but as she was walking out she bumped into another coordinator for TAG and “she was talking about how excited and gracious they all are for what HSA is doing for them. She said the residents are loving everything we put together for them.” Freshman Abby Boquist recognized the importance of creating these decorations as she was watching “Long Night’s Journey into Day” for Hon 352. The decorations took on a new meaning for her as she stated, “Art is a form of community building. It’s ability to bring people together is especially important when we cannot serve Barclay Friends in person.” Currently, there are 25 and counting Thanksgiving themed decorations on their way with the holiday decorations just around the corner.