What’s New: Traditional Undergrad
Chris Cahill plans to graduate from Keuka College in four years use and use his marketing degree to kick-start his career as a singer-songwriter.
And he doesn’t plan to let his disability get in the way.
Cahill has Tourette Syndrome, a neurological disorder characterized by repetitive involuntary movements and vocalizations. According to the National Institutes of Health, Tourette Syndrome tics can range from simple anomalies such as repeat blinking, shrugging, grimacing or throat-clearing, to more complex movements or sounds that could include parroted words, phrases or even profanities.
Despite the social trauma this disease can cause, Cahill has been no shrinking violet when it comes to discussing his Tourette Syndrome with fellow students and professors.
“I have talked to all of my professors and a good majority [of my classmates] about it,” he said. (more…)
Commemoration: Invoking Dr. King’s Spirit
It’s a tragedy that so many of today’s commemorations honoring the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., the slain civil rights leader, have become tame, stately memorials.
So says Rev. James Miller, an emeritus member of the Keuka College Board of Trustees, who will speak at a 7 p.m. ceremony honoring Dr. King, Tuesday, April 5 at Norton Chapel. April 4 is the 43rd anniversary of Dr. King’s assassination.
“The meetings, assemblies, and gatherings that Dr. King always led gave us marching orders,” said Rev. Miller, whose professional service as a Baptist minister started in that era. “We’re into memorial services today, and that’s a tragedy, because that’s not the best [way of] honoring Dr. King’s legacy. We’ve got to continue [carrying out] the marching orders.”
King delivered the baccalaureate address at Keuka College in June 1963.
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Skip the Suntan, Serve Soup Instead
Last year's team served with Bethel Bible Church in Hixson, Tenn.
Ten Keuka students and two staffers will get an up-close-and-personal view of life in the trenches for those serving the homeless population of downtown Cincinnati during their Alternative Spring Break, March 27 – April 1.
According to statistics from the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless, 1,300 – 1,500 people are homeless each night in Cincinnati. Striving to meet their needs, along with Franciscan monks and others will provide students a very different perspective from the stereotypical sun-and-fun spring break vacation. Alternative Spring Break has become something of a tradition for students here, who made service trips in prior years to locales including Hixson, Tenn. , Boston, Mass. and multiple Florida cities to tackle landscaping, painting, simple construction projects, and more.
The Keuka team will be hosted this year at Tau Community House by Franciscans for the Poor, where simplicity, communal living and service – exemplified by monks in the Franciscan order – form the thread of daily life. After serving in city soup kitchens, shelters, on simple construction projects and elsewhere as needed each day, the students will hear firsthand accounts each night from men and women battling homelessness and those working with them.
Tour of Israel Captivates Cohen
Brandon Cohen can now say he has literally followed in his father’s footsteps.
Years ago, Cohen’s father celebrated his bar mitzvah with a visit to the Wailing Wall, or Western Wall, in Jerusalem, a remnant of the Jewish Temple destroyed by the Romans in 70 A.D. The elder Cohen placed a letter to God among the cracks, and in January, his son did the same thing, while on a tour of Israel with other Jewish college students through the Birthright Kesher organization.
To Brandon Cohen, a Keuka sophomore and Marlboro, N.J. resident, that moment was a powerful one.
College ‘Adopts’ Fort Drum Platoons
Keuka College has “adopted” two platoons from Fort Drum’s (Jefferson County) 10th Mountain Division.
Both platoons— the 10th Combat Aviation Brigade (CAB) S-3 and one from the Division of Public Affairs—are being deployed to Afghanistan this month.
“’Adoption’ means offering support to our troops while they are serving overseas,” said College Chaplain Eric Detar of this project, a joint effort of the Center for Spiritual Life (CSL) and Rotaract Club. “As a campus, we will send care packages, letters, and will be there for the soldiers when they return. ‘Adoption’ also means praying for, and remembering, the troops and their families while their loved ones are away.”
College Raised More than $4,000 for Haitian Relief
In February, Keuka College’s Center for Spiritual Life (CSL) began collecting donations to assist the victims of the earthquake in Haiti.
“We chose to raise funds for an organization called ShelterBox,” said College Chaplain Rev. Eric Detar.
College Honors Victims of Holocaust
The College took time today (Friday, April 9) to honor victims of the Holocaust.
The Center for Spiritual Life and Office of Multicultural Affairs sponsored a Holocaust Remembrance Service during the noon hour near the World War II memorial.
Holocaust Remembrance Service
A quotation in the Hall of Witness at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
The Center for Spiritual Life and Office of Multicultural Affairs are sponsoring a Holocaust Remembrance Service Friday, April 9.
The service will be held outside of Hegeman Hall (lake side) at noon, and will include a presentation by Professor of History Sander Diamond as well as a time of reflection.
Keuka College Links with Shelter Box to Help Earthquake Victims in Haiti
Keuka College is thinking inside the box to help earthquake victims in Haiti.
“There are many organizations and agencies in Haiti that are assisting with recovery efforts in that devastated country,” said College Chaplain Rev. Eric Detar. “Our challenge was to find something or someone that we could all support, and it’s always gratifying to see how your gift is being used. With that in mind, we believe Shelter Box is the perfect project.”
Focus on Service
Is there something more than me?
Why is there suffering in the world?
These are some of the big life questions, according to College Chaplain Rev. Eric Detar. They are also questions that are addressed through community service, which is why service opportunities are a major focus of the Center for Spiritual Life (CSL).
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