Rebuilding Staten Island: Habitat for Humanity Making a Difference

One year ago, Hurricane Sandy devastated parts of Staten Island.  Within days after the storm made landfall , the first meeting of the nascent chapter of Habitat for Humanity at the College of Staten Island was held.  The chapter, officially chartered in Spring 2013, was started by a group of motivated students, including Verrazano honors students, who wanted to make a difference in the local community.  Below, one of the founding members of the club shares how the CSI Habitat for Humanity chapter assisted with the recovery efforts on Staten Island this past summer.   

My name is Francesca Messina, and I am a Verrazano honors student in the Class of 2015.  I'm completing the Nursing Associate’s Degree Program at the College of Staten Island this semester and will move on to the BS in Nursing in the spring. I am the Founder and President of the Habitat for Humanity Club at CSI along with Victoria Wong (Vice President, Verrazano '16), Thomas Campisi (Treasurer), and Brett Birkbeck (Publicist/Secretary, Verrazano '16). This is a new club that was started last semester (Spring 2013) at the College of Staten Island.

Thomas Campisi (Treasurer of CSI Habitat for Humanity) and Tony Saldana (construction worker for event).

For two weeks in July (Monday, July 8^th, 2013 – Friday, July 19^th, 2013), the Habitat for Humanity CSI Chapter linked up with Petrides High School, Tufts University Lacrosse Team, and Royal Coffee, New York, Inc., to help build and repair damaged houses from Hurricane Sandy on Staten Island in Midland Beach.  We helped a total of 21 different homes. 

Michael Blyth, a teacher at Petrides High School, organized the Petrides Habitat for Humanity Chapter in 2010 and organized this two-week event in Midland Beach.  Other members of the Petrides staff, Carlos and Antonio Rodriquez, were also part of the volunteer team.  The sponsors included Petrides High School, the Tufts University Lacross Team, and Fred and James Schoenhut, owners of Royal Coffee New York, Inc. - a specialty coffee importing company.  Through their donations, the volunteer work in Midland Beach was possible.

Brett Birkbeck (Secretary/Publicist for CSI Habitat for Humanity) helping out.

One person that we helped was Thea Friscia.  Every day the volunteers would meet together at 8:00 am at Thea's home.  Miss Thea allowed the team to store tools and supplies.  We would hear about our assignments, delegate work to specific groups, and then set out in the neighborhood to start our day of work.  At noon, we ate lunch that was donated by various people we helped or people that were volunteering with us.  We would discuss what we had done, how far we had gotten, and what was left to work on.  After lunch, we went back to work until 4:00 pm.

Work that the team did included installing drywall and taping, installing new sidewalks, waterproofing damaged basements, gardening, painting, building and repairing fences, and much more.  

Some of the rebuilding team at the Closing Ceremony on Friday, July 19th, 2013.

We lived by a "code" every day that we worked.  This "code" is a quote from French Quaker missionary Stephen Grellet (1773-1855): "I shall pass through this world but once.  Any good, therefore, that I can do or any kindness I can show to any human being, let me do it now.  Let me not defer or neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again."  This code was mentioned multiple times every day throughout our two weeks.  We made sure to not only live it during that time, but we ensured that we would live by it in our everyday lives.  

The work we set out to do each day, along with our "code."

This two-week event was an amazing experience and opportunity that allowed every volunteer to discover and explore his or her potential for doing good in this world.    We not only helped twenty-one different houses in Midland Beach, but we made an impact on the entire neighborhood and an impact on Staten Island.

Portrait of the team working throughout the two weeks.  This was given to Miss Thea.

Join the CSI Habitat for Humanity Chapter to discover your potential!

During our two weeks, we interviewed for the Staten Island Advance. We also interviewed for NY1 news, met with the Midland Beach Civic Association who helped coordinate the whole project, and we also met politician Lisa Giovinazzo.
Here is the link about us in the Staten Island Advance: 
http://www.silive.com/eastshore/index.ssf/2013/07/two_weeks_of_teamwork_raises_s.html  

Here is a picture on Lisa Giovinazzo's facebook page that shows all of us working together: 
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=483816691696030&set=pb.409405352470498.-2207520000.1374799387.&type=3&theater

Appreciating The Process Of Research: A Summer Experience

Elizabeth Krawczun, a CUNY BA Epidemiology major in the Verrazano Class of 2014, spent the summer doing undergraduate research through a selective program at CUNY.  Read below for Elizabeth's reflection on her summer research experience.

Elizabeth presenting her poster.

My time in CUNY’s Summer Undergraduate Research Program (CSURP) was certainly a learning experience. Each of the twenty students was partnered with a mentor in his or her own field and spent the ten week program working alongside the mentor and a graduate student. The program culminated in a scientific poster session and presentation of the research.

CSURP accepts students who are studying in STEM (sciences, engineering, technology, or mathematics) disciplines. This summer’s group consisted of computer scientists, civil engineers, environmental scientists, a mathematician, and students in the biological sciences. I was told that I was the first “epidemiologist” in the program. Since I had very little experience in the field of epidemiology, I did not know what to expect or how such research was performed, collected, and analyzed.

I worked alongside Dr. Heidi Jones and her colleague Quynh Vo, at the CUNY School of Public Health at Hunter College. They are in the midst of performing a cross-sectional study of abortion services, procedures, and practice among providers and facilities across the United States and Canada. This information would then be used to determine if providers were adhering to the strict clinical guidelines, or if they had found evidence-based solutions that were more effective. This information could then be used to educate others and support better practices. 

     Elizabeth with Quynh Vo, MPH and Dr. Avrom Caplan

The data for the study were collected by sending surveys to over 600 abortion facilities in the US, one survey was sent to the administrator, five surveys were each sent to the surgical and medication providers who performed the most procedures in 2012. The survey included questions regarding eligibility criteria for patients, gestational limits for each type of abortion, ultrasound use, pre- and post-operative care, drug administration, antibiotic and pain management regimen, sedation and anesthesia practices, and patient follow-up procedures.

In addition, the survey included questions for clinicians about their experiences with stigma and harassment and if those affected recruitment and retention of new staff. We also asked for provider age because of a trend in aging of abortion providers, and a trend in the lack in new health care practitioners entering abortion care. This research meant to relate these findings with recent political measures and cuts to funding of programs. Because of such cuts, research is not being done by governmentally funded organizations. This survey is a means by which data can be collected and methods improved.
 

I spent most of the summer working to enter the incoming qualitative data from the clinicians as quantitative data, using CsPro computer software, and using Fisher’s exact tests for categorical variables and ANOVA or Mann-Whitney tests for continuous variables. After the first round of data entry, I had to call many facilities across the country to clarify information or to ask for them to complete the questionnaire. I came into this internship expecting to find results quickly, but I soon learned that research does not work that way. Research takes time. Even though there are no data and conclusions ready to be published, it was interesting and satisfying to see trends, and other trends that were not being collected for the purposes of the study, through data gathering and entry alone.

 

One of the goals of CSURP was to help students to understand how to communicate science to those who are unfamiliar with it. The twenty of us worked in separate labs in different departments across most of the CUNY campuses. We were encouraged to talk to each other at the mandatory weekly lectures and explain what it was that we were working on. In talking about out projects, we were able to identify areas that would be unclear to someone of a different discipline and how to adjust an explanation so all audiences could understand the research, and why it was significant and important.

The CSURP group on the steps of the Macaulay Honors College building.

The weekly lectures were held at Macaulay Honors College’s building where faculty, researchers, and those in industry came to speak about not only their professional experiences, but their personal journeys as well. Being someone who is unsure of what path I would like to follow, I found it fascinating and comforting to hear how these guest speakers came to be where they are today. The speakers represented varying disciplines and would talk about their current research and how they came to be in their field and pursuing the research they are. We would then be given an overview of this or her work. One takeaway from these sessions was being able to see how to communicate science to a general audience.

 

The program ended with a technical poster session in which we presented our summer’s research and results. Mentors, administrators, and researchers from CUNY came and listened to all of our projects and seemed impressed by what we were able to accomplish in such a short time. They were glad that many of us will be continuing pursuing research with our summer mentors. I was shocked that the poster session was an enjoyable experience, as I do not generally seek out opportunities to speak publicly. However, once I began explaining my work, I was excited and tried to tell the audience everything. I wanted to show them why they should be excited about this research too.

The CSURP group after the final poster session.

While listening to presentations, I found it surprising that the majority of students were not partnered with a mentor who had the same research interest. However, these CSURP members said they were glad to be able world outside of their area of study and became more aware of how the different aspects of STEM are connected; how only becoming familiar with one area is short-sighted and will not lead to productive research.

 

The CSURP program not only provided me with an opportunity to perform research, but also to further appreciate the process of it, and be able to communicate the work in an effective and understandable manner.

To learn more about CSURP and how to apply, please visit the C-SURP website.

Verrazano Student Representative Candidates For Advisory Committee

The Honors Advisory Committee, comprised of faculty from every academic department as well as staff from various offices on campus, meets monthly during the academic year to provide guidance for The Verrazano School Honors Program as well as Macaulay Honors College.  Professor Liu is the Director of both The Verrazano School and Macaulay Honors College here at CSI so the committee serves both programs.   We are holding elections for a Verrazano student representative to serve on the Honors Advisory Committee for the 2013-2014 academic year.

Responsibilities of the elected student representative include:

• Attend meetings (one Tuesday per month during the academic year)
• Review agenda items and minutes
• Contribute productively to conversations during the meeting
• Report back to Verrazano students
• Vote on some issues (not curricular)

This is an elected position, and there will be a representative and an alternate selected.  The student with the highest number of votes will be the representative for the current academic candidate statements are included below.

Voting will be open through Friday, September 13^th at noon.

Please cast your vote in the Verrazano office. 

Honors Advisory Committee Verrazano Student Representative Candidates 

Juliet Nana Esi Baidoo

Class of 2015

Major: Chemistry

Minor: Psychology

I am a chemistry major who does research in the neuroscience department on brain tumors, works as a Student Ambassador for the college, and also volunteers at the emergency department of the Staten Island University Hospital.  It is a bit difficult to balance these with my classes and attain the necessary grades. However, I do my very best to keep up with these and also maintain a good GPA. I have been through several experiences in life which have brought me this far and will help make a difference in the lives of many students. These experiences, coupled with my personality (outspoken, outgoing, hard working, excellent leadership and communication skills, confident, etc), makes me an excellent candidate to serve on the Honors Advisory Committee as a representative of the Verrazano student body for the 2013-2014 academic year. I therefore hope to be considered for this position because I believe I can help bring some positive improvements in the lives of many, if not all. Thank you!

Gabriella De Marinis

Class of 2014

Major: Biology

Minor: Psychology

During my tenure at CSI, I was afforded the opportunity to become a member of the Emerging Leaders Program. This program taught me the necessary and essential skills needed to become a successful leader in today’s highly competitive professional environments.  As a result of the program, I resurrected CSI’s Pre-Dental Association, which had been inactive for approximately two year, and I currently hold the top post of President.  Being the head of a new organization is very difficult and I was forced to face many obstacles along the way, but by utilizing the skills I acquired through my training and my sheer tenacity, I was able to put the Pre-Dental Association on the path to success.  As Verrazano Student Representative, I will go above and beyond the call of duty, educating prospective members on all that the school has to offer.  I pride myself on the caliber of my character and am a passionate and motivated individual who delivers on her commitments.  My motivation, enthusiasm, and discipline sets me apart from the crowd and I would appreciate the opportunity to be considered as the next addition to the Honors Advisory Committee.  Thank you for your consideration.

Megan Ernst

Class of 2014

Major: Business Management

Minor(s): Marketing, Studio Art

I am an excellent candidate for this position because I have experience as a club representative and have served as a Verrazano representative at numerous events in the past three years. I am also a very neat and organized person and am more than capable of asking effective questions and relaying information back to the study body.  As a senior, I want to stay involved in the Verrazano and CSI community after graduation. It is my goal to contribute to conversations and decisions that will positively affect the future of the Verrazano School.    

                     
Fitore Halili

Class of 2015

Major: Nursing
 
Being chosen to represent the Verrazano student body for the 2013-2014 academic year would be a great privilege. I feel as though I would be a good candidate for this position because I have worked hard to be where I am today and from my experiences, I feel like I would be able to bring new ideas to the table on how to improve this already outstanding Verrazano program. Even with a busy schedule I will make time to talk and hear what my fellow classmates have to say and I will represent the students that belong to the Verrazano school as best as I can. I would be delighted to serve on the Honors Advisory Committee and am looking forward to working even harder to make sure my classmates' questions, ideas, and concerns are heard!      

Adriane Musacchio

Class of 2015   

Major(s): Dramatic Arts, History/Secondary Education   

Achiever, leader, and hard worker are all words I can use to describe myself. As a college student I am dedicated to excelling in my academic career as well as achieving my personal goals. As a Dramatic Arts, History, and Secondary Education major, I consider myself to be a well-rounded student who understands things from several different perspectives. I believe that these are all characteristics that a representative of the Honors Advisory Committee should have. As a representative, I would bring my enthusiastic and positive attitude to each meeting, attentively review the agenda, actively contribute to conversations, truthfully share my opinions on issues, and would eagerly reach out and report back to Verrazano students. It would truly be an honor if I were chosen to serve on the Honors Advisory Committee.

New Verrazano Students On Campus

The start of a new academic year brings new faces to campus and to the Verrazano Honors Program.  Over 100 new students, including freshmen as well as internal and external transfer students, were welcomed to the program over the summer.

The Verrazano Transfer Orientation was held on the first Thursday of the semester, and it offered the opportunity for students new to the program to meet Professor Charles Liu, the Verrazano Director, and get acclimated to the opportunities and responsibilities associated with being a Verrazano student.  Verrazano upperclassmen greeted the new students and shared their experiences and advice, and students participated in activities that helped them connect with one another.  Dr. Stephen Ferst, the new Executive Director of the Center for International Service, encouraged students to make study abroad a reality and offered the support of the Center for International Service as students make plans to incorporate an academic international experience into their course of study.  It was a great afternoon, and we look forward to working with these new students over the next few years.

New students in the Verrazano Classes of 2015 and 2016.

Professor Charles Liu addressing new Verrazano students in August.

 

In addition, the Verrazano Freshman Orientation was held at the end of June.  The day included greetings from college administrators, Verrazano student speakers, introductions to the Career and Scholarship Center and the Center for International Service, and an introduction to various resources available on campus.  We're thrilled that over half of the incoming class has expressed an interest in study abroad!  The highlight of the Verrazano Freshman Orientation was the teambuilding session run by Project U.S.E. of New Jersey.  Facilitators guided freshmen through challenging and engaging activities and debriefed with the students about how to apply what they learned as they navigate the next four years.  We're pleased to welcome this new freshman class to The Verrazano School Honors Program and we wish them a successful first semester!

Verrazano Class of 2017

Verrazano Volunteers: Vincent DeSouza, Alex Hsu, and Christine Huynh

 

Orientation Leaders

The CSI shuttle bus, featuring Professor Charles Liu - the Verrazano Director!