Volume 3, Number 8 The Harper College Honors Society Newsletter May 1993 Student activities open doors Why aren't you involved in uncharted territory of Harper dissipated quickly as I student activities? was introduced to many people and learned more If you ask a student this ques- about publicity and promotion. tion, they often respond, "I Getting involved at Harper gave just don't have the time. me a variety of experiences I will I go to school, I go to use in my future career, and work, and then I go *A# the public future jobs including cooperat- home." relations chair, 1 ing with others to achieve a NEWSFLASH: hadjob reeponel- common goal. The people bflitfes f could never In many ways, student involved in activities prepares you for student activities hope to get had \ out&idethe job world. Career oppor- have the same tunities become available ft Honors Society busy schedules! because of the experience. As remembers school" However, they the public relations chair, I had ft Expo Highlights squeeze in the extra job responsibilities I could never ft Investigating activities. hope to get had I applied outside Galaxlee I have been involved in school. I received low-level job training and my ft Galactic Quiz student activities since high experiences helped me decide on the career field I ^r Heavens in your school and these experiences will enter. future have enriched my education, my In my second year at Harper on the Program ft Opinons social life and, I hope, my Board, I was the planning and research executive, professional career. and my responsibilities changed. I was now respon- I came to Harper from out of sible for obtaining marketing information about district, so I knew no one. people who attend and don't attend our events. For Student activities would allow example, I worked with others to survey the audi- me not only to meet people, but ence attending as they entered the auditorium for a would give me new experiences. Toad the Wet Sprocket concert. I applied and received the Honors students, many concerned with scholar- Program ships, will learn being involved in student activities "The creative conquest of space Board public is a major plus on any scholarship application. Not will serve ae a wonderful substi- relations only does it show you're open to new challenges tute for war." executive and experiences, it shows a concern for your school, tV James McDonnell 1967 $T position. My and an enthusiasm for enhancing your college fears of the experience. continued on page 12 Pagel Honors Society remembers the past and looks forward to the future Congratulations to the Kappa, and spouses or friends of members of either ,x Honors Society and Phi organization are always welcome to join us. Past i: Theta Kappa for a wonder- activities included a concert at Ravinia, and trips to Q fully successful Environ- the Shedd Aquarium, Adler Planetarium, Museum of Science and Industry, the Botanical Gardens and M- mental Expo, and to the O Brookfield Zoo. Several of our alumni joined us for several Honors Society our traditional end-of-the-summer picnic. members elected to the A summer service project remains undeter- Student Senate for next mined. Several people are interested in working for year. Habitat for Humanity, HFH, during the summer .c This was the most active months. If you want to know more about this, **E year for the Honors Society yet, contact Pat Fitzsimmons. Please share your activity e and it's been a lot of fun for me ideas with one of the officers. Since U- getting to know so many of there are always new people, we the Honors Society mem- can repeat activities but maybe bers. For those of you you have suggestions we might who are graduating, I not otherwise consider. will miss you all. Good eomefunand Final plans, will be posted luck and keep in touch. on my office (F-334 B) door or Our president, Pat people . windows, and we will try to get Fitzsimmons plans to be events posted on the closed around for the summer circuit television sets around before starting her studies at campus. Please make a routine to DePaul University in the fall. check there at least once a week. Ifs the most Thanks for all your hard work, effective way to get announcements out during the Pat! summer. ft Looking Forward & ft Get Involved ft We will be planning for Please consider getting involved in Harper's Honors summer activities in late May Society. We will need new leadership. We're plan- and welcome your sugges- ning to continue our weekly discussion/conversa- tions. We will again plan tion meetings, but the times and dates will depend activities with Phi Theta on the schedules of those people who actively participate — especially those willing to serve as officers. You can be as active as you wish — some of our 'regulars' have come late after their classes let out. Those of you who applied for transfers to selective universities and for virtually all scholar- ships know most applications ask for extra-curricu- lar activities and community service. Your involve- MERCURY ment outside classes could make the difference between you and another student with the same GPA. You might just have some fun and meet stimu- Mercury, the eun'e closest lating people whose paths you might not otherwise neighbor if the solar system's cross. smallest planet. It Is not much bigger than our moon. —Dr. Elizabeth Anne Hull Page 2 Expo highlights environmental concerns national board of the Nature Conservancy. She spoke of her 20 year involvement in conservation issues. I hope some of the photos I took during the event will come 3 out. Everyone worked hard for this event and should be con- gratulated for their efforts "above and beyond the call of duty." Volunteers showed up the day of the conference to direct people to the various activities. Si It was a wonderful, fun, and ' a Corcoran answers volunteers' questions at exciting, event that couldn't have Environmental Expo. been accomplished without all of you! Well, if s been an amazingly busy month, to say Gayle Corcoran has already volunteered to chair an Environ- the least! We just finished the Environmental mental Expo next year. She'll Expo. It was a great success; everything we had need all of the help she can get so hoped for and more. please volunteer. You'll have a If you weren't able-to join us, here are a few wonderful time! highlights: —Pat Fitzsimmons *- Nine speakers shared their views of several issues including local prairie stewardship, our planet's status and endangered species. -& Booths and displays were staffed by people who were knowledgeable and quick to 'It will free man from the remaining chains of gravity which still tie him to the planet." respond to questions. A nutrition center, staffed by natural foods specialists, offered nutritious snacks w —Werner von Braun. 1956 on the and natural soda for sale. importance of space travel. •& # The Astronomy Club sold some great tee-shirts, the proceeds going to their new plan- etarium building fund. A time capsule was dedi- cated and will be placed in the cornerstone of the new building. For a list of the contents contact Gayle Corcoran, Marilyn Perry, or Dr. Larry Kent, Venue \e surrounded by Phi Theta Kappa Advisor. poisonous gas -fr The video "Ferngully" ran continually clouds, so It reflects a for the many children in attendance. A ten-part lot of sunlight. This makes Venus the series called "The Race To Save The Planet" also ran brightest continuously in a classroom. object you can see In the sky * The keynote speaker was Wendy besides the sun and Paulson, a Barrington resident, and member of the Page3 selves." Sipiera says. toward understanding because Astronomy 101, Monday Class on Monday night, April new theories, explanations and and Wednesday 6:35-9:35 19, introduced students to the occurrences arise daily."! may read pm D 239 ^s^rtoillllllllll orgin of the solar system. Sipiera an article before class one day and Professor Paul Sipiera simplifies complex ideas with have to restructure my entire illustrations on the board. His lesson because of the new informa- The day is gone and stars fill the lecture is interspersed with new tion." Sipiera explains. sky — ostensibly unchanged, findings and theories. One theory Sipiera really hopes students unchangeable. Their flickering he offers is from an article he wrote learn not to read science thinking it lights arouse curiosity. What star about the origin of an asteroid belt is fact. Instead, he wants them to is that? Is that even a star? Where which splits the solar systematically question did they come from? system in half (it falls anything worthwhile. Paul Sipiera, professor of between Mars and A textbook, Sipiera geology and astronomy, investi- Jupiter). We not enough maintains, is not gates these questions and many Sipiera says always fact or others about the inhabitants of his asteroid belt to memorize even right. the sky with students in As- theory came out want But how tronomy 101. Sipiera hopes to of discussions many students interest students so they continue with Astronomy have time to astronomical studies on their 101 students who systematically own. couldn't under- question as- "It's not enough to memorize stand theories from tronomy for them- something. I want them to the l)ig guns/ Sipiera selves? think." Sipiera enthusiastically says/'If you look at complex ideas Astronomy 101 student Carol explains. He believes students simplistically, the complex becomes Mazikowski says these expecta- really learn things on their own clear." So Sipiera looked at the belt tions are high because this is an —through personal discovery.