Day in the Life: Behind all those stories
How long does it take a UD communications student writer to be a story, rather than just writing the stories of others? Nearly four years, apparently.
Meredith Hirt, a senior business major, has been part of the staff since her first year at UD.
“We focus on the best parts of the University,” Hirt said. “The people, the places, the alumni … they’re all important to us.”
For Hirt, the typical workday consists of some writing, editing a few stories and monitoring social media. The UDQuickly blog is one of the biggest parts of Hirt’s daily assignments, as is networking.
“I really love this job,” she said. “Every day I meet new people and learn a lot about the people on campus.”
Hirt said reading flyers and communicating with everyone she comes in contact with often plays a big role in finding stories as well.
“Alumni are a big part of the readership, so making sure they’re not left out is part of my job,” Hirt said. “With the My Old House section of the website and UD Magazine, they’re a huge factor. … I am in charge of organizing and assigning the rest of the writers to cover specific houses in the student neighborhood.”
As one of the most popular sections of both the magazine and the blog, My Old House is a point of pride for Hirt, especially as a soon-to-be alumnus.
“The feature is so telling; of our current students and alumni … It shows how proud people are to be here at Dayton,” she said.
Hirt is one of six student writers on the communications team. Generally, each post idea or pitch is made to associate director of communications Audrey Starr, who began working at UD in October 2012.
“The blog features some of what you see in the magazine, but it is composed of a lot more than that,” Starr said. “It’s dynamic; a snapshot of what campus is right now.”
Hirt has learned over the years that her job isn’t like most. It is part desk work, part adventure. But all of it is something both she and Starr see as important to the culture of campus.
“We are here to share the University story,” Starr said. “We have a lot of ways to do that, and including student voices is a critical piece.”
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Day in the Life: UD’s voice to the community
University of Dayton senior Michelle Frymire heads to her job at the Kennedy Union Information Desk for a 1-5 p.m. shift and prepares herself for a day of questions.
Frymire starts every shift by clocking in and donning a polo shirt, the required uniform of student workers manning the information desk. Once at her post, the phone never seems to stop ringing.
As a business management and marketing student at UD, as well as being a member of other groups and clubs on campus, Frymire has a pretty full schedule, but she thinks her job at the information desk is ideal for her situation.
“This job is perfect to me because I know and love UD, so it is not hard to answer most of the questions that are asked and also it allows me to get a lot of my schoolwork done,” Frymire said. ” When I am not answering phones or assisting someone at the desk, I am getting my homework done or studying for a test.”
Her co-worker working with her today, senior Rafael Cajigas, who is a foreign exchange student from Puerto Rico, said the job isn’t overly difficult, but it is fun.
“It is a pretty simple job and it forces me to actually sit down and use time to get my homework done,” he said. “Also, I am a foreign exchange student so I do not know too many people and this allowed me to get to know more people, like Michelle.”
While most calls involve pretty simple questions and often just need to be directed to a specific department on campus for the caller to talk to, sometimes Frymire receives odd questions.
“Earlier today someone called and asked what my favorite meal from the sushi restaurant on Brown Street, Fusian, is because they’ve never been in the area before and haven’t eaten there,” explained Frymire. “I thought that was kind of a bizarre thing to call here for.”
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Day in the Life: Working out more than the mind
Andy Roberts got up at 5:30 a.m. this morning, like he does every morning. He made some eggs and oatmeal and headed to the University of Dayton RecPlex to teach his CrossFit class.
“It is unbelievable to me how early he gets up,” said Roberts’ roommate, Brandon Baeslack. “The rest of our roommates are sleeping in at least till 9 a.m. while Andy is just getting back from his workout.”
“CrossFit is a high-intensity workout,” he said. “Each workout is different every day, but I love teaching people and seeing them progressively get in better shape.”
Roberts teaches the class from 6 to 8 a.m. Once he is done, instead of going home, it’s time to get his workout in.
“Today I did a lot of squats,” Roberts said. “It’s a great workout to do because it works all parts of the body.”
For many people that would be a complete day, but for Roberts it is just the beginning. Roberts left the RecPlex around 9:30 a.m., which gave him just enough time to hop in the shower and make it to his 10 a.m. class.
“On Thursdays I have three classes from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.” Roberts said in a sarcastic manner. “Some of them are very interesting classes, but none of them are as great as my CrossFit class.”
Once he was done with class, Roberts had a couple hours of downtime and then it was back to the grind. He not only teaches fitness classes, but also coaches high school lacrosse.
“From about 5 to 7 p.m. I help coach the Bellbrook High School lacrosse team,” Roberts said. “I love giving insight to a game that I have had such a strong passion for, and seeing these kids improve each week makes my day.”
Once he was done with practice, Roberts grabbed a bite to eat — then was back to working out.
No CommentsDay in the life: Senior does more than just study
A typical day as a University of Dayton student doesn’t always take place on campus.
Senior Sean Fickert, a mechanical engineering major concentrating in technology, works as a contractor at the Wright-Patterson Air Force Base throughout the day and attends class in the late afternoons.
Fickert got his start at WPAFB in May 2012 as a paid intern and has since been promoted to a contractor position and works five days a week.
A typical day for Fickert is usually a long one. Fickert gets up at 6:30 a.m. to make the 20-minute drive to the base, where he spends most of his day working on the computer with special programs to construct 3-D drawings. The drawings are usually models of aircrafts or parts for the International Space Station.
Fickert spends a good amount of time at the base before returning to UD to attend engineering classes at 4:30 p.m. After a long day of work and classes, he returns to his house on Fairgrounds to have dinner and do some homework. In the free time he does have, Fickert hits the ice as a member of the UD Club hockey team.
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Day in the life: New twist on group projects
Group projects are dreaded and despised in most college-level courses, and students usually associate them with chaos, frustration, and a lot of hard work. But this semester’s retail marketing class has a unique opportunity, which changes the concept of working in a group.
Students in Serdar Durmusoglu’s class are working with managers from regional Target stores to develop fresh solutions and strategies for the retailer. One group in particular is focusing on Target’s recent expansion into Canada, the retailer’s first entry into an international market.
“This project is different in that we actually have the Target representatives come into our class and meet with us and consult with us as if we were actual members of a marketing team,” Adrienne Bianchi said. “It’s good to actually get their feedback and work so closely with them.”
The group of five students is researching Canadian customers in order to develop a more accurate idea of their purchasing patterns, lifestyles, and demographics. By gathering this information, the group hopes to develop a marketing campaign, a product assortment, and a financial plan for the Canadian Target stores.
Not only does this project allow the students to work in a unique group comprised of both students and business professionals, but it also exposes them to the internal operations of a large retailer, and gives them the opportunity to gain valuable skills for their future careers.
“This project gives me job skills and allows me to work on something that’s an actual campaign for the Target brand,” Westley Trainum, another group member said.
The group will present their proposals to their class and to the Target representatives at the end of the semester. Whether or not the group’s solutions to Target’s international expansion will be used by the brand will all depend on their final presentation. The managers will decide whose solutions are the most practical and implementable for their brand, and an overall winner will be selected from each class.
As Trainum said, “I’m not just doing something that’s a class and a hypothetical situation, it’s something that could actually be implemented by Target.”
No CommentsDay in the Life: On the road to enlightenment
While most students at the University of Dayton can roll out of bed and walk to class within 10 minutes, some commuters are hitting the road bright and early to head to campus. This morning was no exception for Ashley Dew as she headed south to make it to her 9 a.m. class.
Dew, a second-semester sophomore, is used to the 20-minute drive every morning, but on days like today, she has to be prepared for anything. The Dayton WHIO Twitter account warned Dew of a backup on Interstate 75 southbound, so she opted for the scenic route through the streets of Vandalia and downtown Dayton.
“It all depends on the weather,” Dew said. “If there’s rain or snow, I almost always take the back way. It helps to leave a little early too, just in case there are any accidents or delays.”
Dew attends classes on campus Monday through Friday, which means a lot of driving and a lot of money spent on gas. To cut down on costs, she carpools three days a week with a fellow commuter, Kyle Britton.
Another daily dilemma unique to commuters like Dew and Britton is that they often end up with a few hours to kill in between classes. The Galley has become their home during midday, where they can be found working on homework or watching TV.
As UD is more than just classes and studying every day, commuters can decide their level of involvement within the university. Britton said he enjoys the extra time he can get at home with his family and high school friends, while Dew prefers to participate in more on-campus activities.
Dew believes UD does a great job in including every student in what’s going on, she said, and she pays special attention to each email the university sends out about ways to get involved.
“I appreciate the university’s outreach to students, but overall it is up to the individual, commuter or not, about how involved they want to be,” Dew said. “My first year, I felt nervous and wondered what I could do or what I couldn’t do as a commuter. This year, I found out I could do whatever I want.”
It’s 8:45 a.m. when Dew pulls into the S1 commuter parking lot. She crosses Brown Street and heads up the sidewalk to campus, her home away from home.
No CommentsDay in the Life: Science seen differently
Science is a big component of a liberal arts education and no one escapes college matriculation without sitting in a biology, chemistry or physics class at some point.
But, at the University of Dayton, there are a group of student who see science differently — in a fantasy way. They are the Fantasy and Science Fiction Club (FASFC) and for them it’s about taking foundational science and asking, “What else?”
Tonight, at its weekly meeting, the beginning of the elections process for the club was held with nominations. The names were listed on the whiteboard in the front of the room and members were free to choose who they wanted to add to the list. The different leadership positions include: treasurer, vice president, president and sergeant at arms.
Everyone threw in names of whom they wanted for leadership positions. Some people nominated themselves, with others in the club seconding the measure. The nominees then had the choice of whether they wanted to accept the nomination. The process was fun, relaxed and carefree for people there, with a good dose of humor added to every nomination. One of the nominations for president was Cthulu, a giant monster in science fiction comic books.
“It’s an awesome place where I can be with a bunch of people who like the same things I like,” said Vice President Rachel Armstrong, a sophomore computer engineering major.
Isolde Hannan, a sophomore computer engineering major said, gesturing toward Armstrong, “I found a lot of friends here … I was like ‘Wow, there a lot of people here that I like.’ But you know it’s just random. Sometimes we play games, sometimes we watch YouTube videos. Or we do different events, like Gaming for a Cause is awesome, where we raise money to get games for kids in hospitals, and then we have the convention, which is awesome. It’s just a lot of fun, and I look forward to it every week.”
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Day in the Life: House hunting, college style
Finding housing at the University of Dayton can be a daunting task. And, being an upperclassman doesn’t always bring with it the perks you might think when it comes to edging out others in the race for bed space.
Due to a recent increase in the number of fifth-year students, some incoming seniors are receiving housing properties that are not typically given to them.
Jess Koney, 21, a junior pre-physical therapy student, says that she has mixed feelings on the issue.
“My roommates and I didn’t end up living where we wanted to,” she said, “but, we got lucky being put in a duplex next to four of our good friends. I guess I’m happy with that,” he said.
On the other hand, Alex Dent, a junior communications major, is one of many incoming seniors who has not been assigned a house yet and is currently on the waiting list. She said she isn’t happy with the system and feels that she should have been guaranteed housing for senior year.
“It’s not based on a fair scale or rating or anything,” she said “It’s the university saying ‘Better be quick on your toes and e-mail us first or you’re not going to be on the waiting list.’”
So, what exactly is the criteria for junior/senior lottery numbers?
“The main criterion for lottery position is credit hours,” said Jim Froehlich, associate director of Housing Operations.
This is the reason why fifth-years have gotten the upper hand this year, he explains.
Over 2,646 junior/senior applications were put in for housing this year. Of that number, 2,211 students had properties selected for them on lottery Friday.
To the other 435 students, there is a light at the end of the tunnel.
“We will be sending offers for housing starting today and tomorrow for the students that e-mailed us,” Froehlich said. “This will continue through next week.”
No CommentsDay in the Life: ArtStreet Cafe calls
At 11:50 a.m., a steady stream of students begin to pour into ArtStreet Cafe; quickly grabbing something to eat before they head off to their noon classes.
Most people would find the sudden rush stressful, but for Dave Steele and Sarah Hemler, both second semester seniors, it’s business as usual.
Steele and Hemler have been working at ArtStreet Cafe, a Flyer Enterprises business, since they were freshmen. Both have held executive positions for ArtStreet Cafe, but find working shifts in the cafe itself to be the most enjoyable.
“We meet so many students on campus by having jobs here,” Steele said. “There are so many interesting people and we’ve made friendships that probably wouldn’t have happened had we not had jobs here.”
In fact, Hemler and Steele believe that their long interactions with University of Dayton students set ArtStreet Cafe apart from other Flyer Enterprises businesses, such as The Blend.
“We’re our own location as opposed to being in Miriam Hall like The Blend,” Hemler said. “Because of that, not only do we have more opportunities for interactions with other students, but they’re longer and more meaningful as well.”
As Hemler and Steele continue to work on incoming orders, they reflect on their time working at the cafe. Both agree that they’ve learned time management and responsibility by having full class loads in addition to their jobs.
“Typically, our shifts are three hours and we come straight from class to work or go straight to class after work,” Hemler said. “I’ve had to learn to budget my time which I think working here has definitely helped me learn to do that.”
Steele nodded in agreement, but he said he believes working at ArtStreet Cafe has taught him much more.
“Well it’s definitely a business venture so we learn a lot of different business ideas,” Steele said. “We all work shifts but have jobs outside our shifts like buying or coming up with marketing ideas. It’s definitely going to help us in our future endeavors.”
Hemler and Steele glance up as they hear the door opening. Hemler takes position at the cash register and kindly asks the awaiting student, “How can I help you?”
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Day in the Life: A tradition of sheet signs
In a rare moment of sunshine on April 11, the girls of 601 Irving Ave. clear the cars from the driveway and find a dry spot where they spread out a large sheet.
Kim, Emma and Meghan grab some paints and brushes and begin determining just exactly what they want to write on the sheet.
Relay 4 Life is coming up this weekend and the girls wanted to show their support and promote the event by writing on a sheet and hanging it from their porch.
“Relay 4 Life is this weekend and what better way to show our support than hanging a big sheet on the front of our house,” Emma McFarland, a senior intervention specialist major, said.
Writing on sheets and hanging them from the roof is a tradition here at the University of Dayton. On any given day you can walk through the student neighborhood, fondly called ‘the Ghetto,’ and see several porches donned with these unique signs.
“I love going through the Ghetto and seeing sheets hanging from houses. It shows our school pride and is a much better way of promoting events than through flyers,” Kim Price, a senior business major, said.
As they begin their work on the sheet, the girls start discussing how important the Relay 4 Life actually is and how it hits home for a lot of people.
Nyla Morgan a sophomore and vice president of campus affairs for Alpha Phi would agree. “Relay for Life is such a great cause. Nearly everyone can say they have been affected by cancer in some way. My mom is currently in remission for lymphoma and one of the advisers for Alpha Phi also had a long battle with cancer before finally beating the disease,” Nyla was one of the instrumental people involved in orchestrating a team of Alpha Phis who have raised over $1000 for the cause.
Just as the clouds begin to once again cover the skies Kim, Emma and Meghan tack their sheet to the front of their house. Although the sun is now behind the clouds, the support and pride the girls have for UD and Relay 4 Life shines through.
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