Ramblings from Rosemont

eCards! Woohoo!

2008-02-11T12:19:00.000-08:00

Being a web manager is interesting. There are hectic times, like when I had to redo the architecture, design, and most of the content of the ENTIRE Rosemont website within the span of 4 months.... and there are extremely SLOW times, like this past week, when I received maybe TWO web edit requests.

So, being the driven, motivated women's college graduate that I am, I always try to find new projects to keep myself busy. My latest production- VOILA! eCards! :)

Yes, I decided to implement a nifty eCard system on our site, starting with fabulous Valentine's Day cards.. you can send eCards to your friends and family here: http://www.rosemont.edu/cards

Happy Sending!

Much Valentine's Day Love,
The Rosemont Webmonster

Rosemont Students Do Winter Break!

2008-01-02T11:54:00.000-08:00

Our students always make me chuckle. In collecting picture of winter break fun, I laughed out loud quite a few times. It takes imaginative, self-assured women to come up with some of these activities (Elf Party? What??) Haha! I only wish my winter break was that exciting. I spent most of it watching past seasons of America's Next Top Model with my mom. LOL. One can never get enough of Tyra! Here are some pictures that may be a bit more interesting than reality tv. Some info about these pics from top left to bottom right: Elsina Amedova at a Pro Basketball game, Fizza Hashmi celebrating tradition with her family, Alex Benfold and Mary Kate Dugan in NYC (not the real Statue of Liberty, FYI), Gabriela Dire at a wedding, Jenni Oberlag loving Christmas gifts, Nicole Beltz and family, Amanda Gonzalez sharing Christmas with some friends, Claudia Jimenez enjoying a warm winter vacation, a cake that says ELF PARTY??, and a bunch of Rosemont students dressed as elves!

President Hirsh's Holiday Hullabaloo!

2007-12-18T11:46:00.000-08:00

Each year the President of Rosemont College throws a Hullabaloo for the community children. Faculty and staff are invited to bring their little ones to meet with Mrs. and Mr. Claus for special treats. Students and staff members help out by hosting arts and crafts tables and mini carnival games. Take a look at pictures from this year's festivities:

The Prettiest Time of Year!

2007-12-04T08:24:00.000-08:00

This year we set out some decorations for Halloween and Thanksgiving. No, "Rosemont College" isn't really carved into that pumpkin- but didn't Jess, our Director of Publications do a fantastic job photoshop'ing that in?!

Wendover Drive as you approach Rosemont's Main Entrance..

This is my favorite spot on campus- I like to lay out a picnic blanket and eat lunch right in between those two trees.

This is the first thing you'll see when you visit Rosemont! That's a view of Immaculate Conception Chapel from the College's Main Entrance.

And finally, an overhead shot of campus in the fall. From top to bottom, left to right that's Brown Science Hall, Heffernan Residence Hall, Mayfield Residence Hall, Good Counsel Hall, Lawrence Hall, Main Building, and Immaculate Conception Chapel.

Women and Technology

2007-10-31T06:26:00.000-07:00

President Hirsh stumbled upon the following article posted on the Association of American Colleges and Universities website. She forwarded it to me, knowing my passion for women's issues and technology. Feel free to read on!

Women, Academe, and the Internet: Bridging Distances, Building Careers

Internet technology has altered academic life. Faculty, students, and administrators meet in new cyberspaces, publish in evolving digital media, and connect over increasingly complex networks. These changes are not confined to academe: internet use has spread throughout the United States, and as America goes online, gender has migrated online with it. According to a 2005 report by the Pew Internet and American Life project, women, who initially lagged behind men in internet use, are now catching up. And women are using the net in different ways, particularly as a tool for facilitating human connections. But what does this mean for women in academe? How do academic women use the internet for career-building and networking? And how can internet use both enhance their professional lives and accelerate student learning?

This issue of On Campus with Women raises, and attempts to answer, these questions. The Internet is ever-evolving; its effect on academic careers remains to be established and continues to be contested. Online publishing may not yet hold the weight of traditional publishing in discussions of tenure review. Blogging, while potentially a tool for networking and career building, requires a certain restraint from professors whose posts could shed public light on their private lives. Yet our investigation shows that with a little self-awareness and a lot of tenacity, women are transforming the role of the internet in the academy--and transforming their own work as a result. READ MORE...

Oktoberfest 2007

2007-10-15T10:31:00.000-07:00

Each fall Rosemont holds an extravaganza of games, food, prizes, fun, and family & friends known as Oktoberfest. We made a short video highlighting some of the festivities- enjoy!!

-The Rosemont Webmonster

Field hockey!!!

2007-09-15T07:14:00.000-07:00

So guess who's the new Head Field Hockey Coach at Rosemont this year? That's right, yours truly! I am soooo excited to be coaching our team! I have 14 dedicated young ladies who are smart, funny, talented, and passionate about field hockey! Here's a picture of the team from a fundraiser we did called the Rambler Run for Research. It was a LOT of fun and it also raised money not only for our team, but also for the American Cancer Society.
See, each athletic team at Rosemont is required to a service project at some point in the year. This is to remind our community members that our athletes are not only a team on the field, but a team off the field as well. We care about world issues and we enjoy helping others just as much as we do helping each other. Sounds familiar... it's a message that is promoted in almost every corner of Rosemont's campus- promoting justice with compassion. It's even part of our mission statement:

Rosemont College is a community of learners dedicated to excellence and joy in the pursuit of knowledge.

Rosemont College seeks to develop in all memmbers of the community open and critical minds and the ability to make reasoned moral decisions.

Rooted in Catholicism and guided by the educational principles of Cornelia Connelly and the Society of the Holy Child Jesus, Rosemont College values:

trust in and reverence for the dignity of each person
diversity in human culture and experience
persistence and courage in promoting justice with compassion

Love,
Your Rosemont Webmonster

Rosemont College Does Baseball!

2007-08-28T09:59:00.000-07:00

I'll admit, I've never been a huge baseball fan... I prefer sports with a little more contact- football, rugby, ICE HOCKEY!! But this summer Rosemont opened my eyes to just how much fun a Phillies game can be! All together, the College officially visited Citizens Bank Park three times- The faculty and staff had a fun community bonding outing on July 24th, exchange students from Japan visited the park (and got on TV!) on August 8th, and the first year students took a giant class trip during First Year Orientation on August 26th. Of course, being a staff member, I was on the first trip.. it was so much fun! I still think baseball is somewhat boring, but I got the opportunity to spend time with my coworkers. It was a blast! Another great experience with the Rosemont Community. There's just something about this school that is so warm and welcoming- we could have been at the field for a paint-drying race and it still would have been a good time. Here are pictures from each of Rosemont's visits to the Phillies games!

Rosemont Students - Summer 2007

2007-07-08T12:10:00.000-07:00

What are Rosemont Students Doing this Summer???

Hover over the picture to see the caption

Slideshow Showcases the Summer Whereabouts of: Gabriela Dire '09, Amy Zambrano '09, Brigid Cangi '08, Julie Chicano '08, Adrienne Hertler '09, Angelica Capper '09, Alexis De Happy '09, Mara Rodrigo '09, Yesenia Lugo '09, Uzma Ahmed '10, Jasmine Sadat '10, Ebony Gibbs '10, Joselyn Jasper '10, Shaniece Boyd '10, Brooke McCain '10, and Tamara Pinnock '10.

If you're a Rosemont student who wants your picture added to the slideshow, just email me at arogers@rosemont.edu Make sure to give me your name, year, and where the photo was taken! (And the names and years of any other Rosemont students in the picture)

Love,
The Rosemont Webmonster

Myspace is Yourspace is Ourspace...

2007-06-25T10:58:00.000-07:00

Rosemont has a MYSPACE!!! I know, as the young hip 24 year old that I am, that myspace is THE place to be online. I've had a myspace for years now- I've collected friends from high school and college and all over the world. It's an awesome place to make connections and express your individuality. Now Rosemont has the opportunity to do that as well. Hopefully our myspace will serve a number of purposes:

It will get Rosemont's name out there to prospective students who might not otherwise know about the college.
It will connect prospective students, current students, and alumnae- creating one common space for sharing stories and connecting with each other.
It will channel more internet surfers to our real website, where they can email us, learn more about visiting campus, etc...

If you want to visit the myspace page to check it out, go here: http://www.myspace.com/rosemontcollege

Enjoy!
The Rosemont Webmonster

2007 Commencement!!

2007-05-23T10:09:00.000-07:00

I helped with Commencement this past weekend- it was my first Rosemont Commencement ever! What a great experience! The weather played tricks on us a little, going from beautiful-sunny-not-a-cloud-in-the-sky to dark-gloomy-big-drops-of-rain-pouring-down within a matter of only a few hours. Luckily, many people had their umbrellas and even better, the rain managed to stop long enough for us to finish Commencement without leaving out any of the traditions... including walking on stage to receive the diplomas! The graduates were glad the weather afforded them that memorable experience. But enough from me. I cannot put into words the emotions and excitement of Commencement- hopefully these pictures captured the spirit of the day!

Take Care! And congrats to all the members of the Class of 2007!!
The Rosemont Webmonster

Spring Pictures!

2007-05-18T11:55:00.000-07:00

You asked for them.. and here they are: Pictures of Rosemont's beautiful campus in the spring!

AHH!! Finals Week!!!!

2007-05-10T10:10:00.000-07:00

Ok, so as you can tell from the title of the post, this week is Finals Week!! I must say, it has been a busy, busy spring here at Rosemont! First of all, last week was the final week of classes, and the students were running around frantically trying to finish papers and get in some last minute projects. I'm not that old, so I can still remember how stressful the last week of classes can get. But despite all the hectic work and class scheduling, the students have managed to keep smiles on their faces. In fact, last week I ate lunch in the dining hall and I was greeted by a number of happy campers who seemed completely un-phased by the whole experience. They're handling finals better than I did... I guess they are getting their sleep and eating right!

Our student worker, Mara, rambled off her finals schedule for this week and my jaw dropped to the floor. She's a double major in Biology and English so she has some big exams this week- I am throughly impressed with her drive and work ethic. She studied for her Philosophy final for a total of over 15 hours this weekend!! A testament to the fact that when it's time to study, Rosemont women get down to business.

Luckily all that hard work will be rewarded... at least for the seniors... next week is Senior Week! They have trips and dances and parties and all kinds of social events planned. Maybe I'll be able to convince some of them to send me pictures- I'll post them here so you can get a sneak peak of what your Senior Week may be like.

Oh.. and by the way, I haven't forgotten about posting pictures of Rosemont in the Spring time. I would have posted some today, but it's a little overcast so you wouldn't get the full effect. Next post though, I promise.

Happy Finals Week!
The Rosemont Webmonster

NPR's Terry Gross Comes to Rosemont!

2007-04-29T10:18:00.000-07:00

This year's Presidential Lecture was given by NPR's Terry Gross. If you don't know who Terry Gross is, check her out! She's the host of Fresh Air on NPR- her show airs Monday through Friday at 3pm and 7pm on WHYY 90.9 FM (near Philly- her airing schedule may be different in other parts of the country). If you DO know who Terry Gross is, then you know that she is an amazingly articulate, accomplished woman who has given some of the most interesting personal interviews ever recorded.

McShain Auditorium was filled to the brim with more than 300 people from all over the Philadelphia area, excited to hear Terry Gross speak. Her presentation was informative and above all, incredibly entertaining as she gave the audience insights into her new book, written about her interviewing style and some of her most memorable interviews. I was blown away by the speech and I couldn't help but think of how fitting it was that she came to speak at Rosemont. After all, in my experience it has become evident that Rosemont women are articulate and accomplished, and when they have something to say it's always informative and entertaining... just like Terry Gross.

Sometimes I try to imagine what kind of women our current students will become once they leave Rosemont. Often these imaginings leave me stumped, as it's impossible to guess at what an individuals future will be. But after seeing Terry Gross, and the traits she shares with so many of the students here, I can picture vividly a Rosemont alumnae hosting a national radio show, speaking to an audience of over 300, or writing a book which merits international acclaim... just like Terry Gross... Wow! All I can say is, you go girls!

Peace,
The Rosemont Webmonster

Founders' Day!

2007-04-20T11:08:00.000-07:00

For the past two days I've been involved with some very exciting happenings on campus. First of all, the new website launched Wednesday night!!! Check it out at http://www.rosemont.edu
When I first got here, I promised to redesign the website to make it more colorful, more modern, and easier to navigate. After meeting upon meeting upon meeting, our Marketing and College Relations team agreed on the layout and concept and the rest is history! I'm glad that it has finally launched and I hope that all of you are enjoying it as much as I am.

But the even MORE EXCITING thing that's been happening on campus is Founders' Day! Founders' Day is a campus-wide celebration at Rosemont, where the faculty, staff, and students come together for shows, games, and a little community bonding. This year was especially special because my fabulous coworker and friend, Alexis Kropp, worked hard to get Lower Merion Township to declare April 19th "Rosemont Day" across the region.

It started Wednesday night with a speech by Sister Tobi Tondi about life at Rosemont. It was hilarious- you can read it here if you'd like, although I'm sure it was better in person. Then the students put on a show "The Living History" which was about the changes that Rosemont has experienced throughout the generations. It was neat to get a glimpse into what Rosemont life was like in the 30s and 40s all the way through the present time. The evening wrapped up with an amazing performance from Ram Squad, Rosemont's step and dance team. Let me tell you, those women have some talent!!

The celebration continued Thursday with Mass at Immaculate Conception Chapel, followed by an Awards Luncheon in Cardinal Hall. In addition to some spectacular food, it was nice to see the students recognized for all the hard work they've done this year. Finally, the party moved outside to the softball field where the faculty and staff played a tough game against the students. I think our team won (sorry ladies!), but we were having a bit to much fun to really keep track of the score. Plus, between innings I was too busy busting a move to the dj's tunes to really pay attention to what was going on in the game.

Unfortunately, I had to leave the game at 5pm, but on my way out I was able catch a glimpse of a serious foam jousting match, Professor Mulvihill being spun around by a mechanical bull, and some students doing the Macarena with President Hirsh and a number of NUNS!!!!!!

I had no idea that Nuns knew the Macarena.... I learn something new everyday here at Rosemont!

Much love,
The Rosemont Webmonster

Reflections on Easter

2007-04-11T08:25:00.000-07:00

One of the perks of belonging to a Catholic college is getting FOUR days off for Easter! Just kidding- I was raised Italian Roman Catholic, so I know the importance of Easter in the Christian world. It's not just about chocolate bunnies and rainbow colored eggs, it's a celebration of the resurrection of Jesus on the third day after His Crucifixion. Easter is a time for reconnecting with family and friends and feasting after a long 40 day Lenten season (during which many Catholics make a sacrifice, such as not eating meat on Fridays or giving up alcohol for the duration).

When I was in high school I was very involved in my church's youth group because my parents were active members of the church- it only seemed natural to attend Mass weekly and even go on weekend-long retreats to pray and connect with other Catholic teens in the area. However, when I left home to attend college, I was given the opportunity to reflect on my religious and spiritual convictions without the influence of my parents and I discovered (through a LOT of soul searching) that my views fell more along the lines of Quakerism rather than Catholicism.

This shift worried me, as I had already made friends through the Catholic organization on campus and I was convinced that they would reject my decision to leave the church. Luckily, the college I attended was very similar to Rosemont- an open-minded and nurturing community. I found that my friends didn't shut me out, but instead, were interested to learn about my new spiritual path! I was thankful to be in a place which allowed such differences.

From what I've seen so far, Rosemont maintains a good balance of promoting and following traditional Catholic teachings, while still encouraging students to explore and practice other religions. The Chapel holds many nondenominational services throughout the year. I've attended a number of events where readings from the Torah, the Koran, and the Bible were each given equal respect. From those experiences, I've learned that many religions are similar in teachings about kindness and love, even though the practices and traditions vary.

It's comforting to know that no matter which religion I chose to follow (even if that means no religion at all!), Rosemont will embrace me as a valuable and important member of the community. I guess that's why Rosemont is dubbed as a "community of learners" and as "Pennsylvania's only Catholic women's college, empowering women of all faiths." I've written those sayings many times on the website without giving them much thought- but... it really sinks in when you actually experience it! Ohhhh.. community! It's cheesy but I love it!

Happy Easter!... or, in the Rosemont spirit of empowering women of all faiths, "Happy Four Day Mini Spring Break!"

The Rosemont Webmonster

Invisible Children

2007-04-04T13:02:00.000-07:00

Yesterday Rosemont's Political Science Department sponsored a screening of the documentary Invisible Children (2003), which brings to light the forced enlistment of children in the ongoing rebellion in Uganda. Unfortunately, I was unable to attend the screening, but I did visit the Invisible Children website, http://www.invisiblechildren.com and discovered that this isn't just a movie, it's a movement! It's so awful to think about all those children who are forced into warfare.. I can't imagine some of the things they have to witness, let alone some of the things they are forced to do! I read all about the movement and about how many heroic people are joining forces to raise awareness. It made me so proud to know that Rosemont is involved.

In addition to getting the documentary screened on campus, I've also heard rumors that a number of members of our community are committing to an event called Displace Me, scheduled to run on April 28th, 2007. The idea is for Americans to voluntarily be "displaced" for a day so they have the chance to experience what it is like to have no home and to raise awareness of the horrific tragedy occurring in Uganda. This is just another example of how members of the Rosemont community are dedicated to our historic montra "Actions, not Words". Make sure to check the Rosemont website in late April for more information about Rosemont's involvement in Displace Me. (http://www.invisiblechildren.com/displaceMe)

Signing off,
The Rosemont Webmonster

Move over winter, here comes Spring!

2007-03-22T12:01:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone!

This week marks the passing of the official first day of Spring! Compared to the bitter cold ice storm of last week, it sure feels like spring... but the bare trees and mounds of snow still linger as a reminder that we have a ways to go until busting out the jean skirts and tank tops! I find that when warmer weather hits, I tend to slow down and take in my surroundings a bit more than usual. I guess it's hard to appreciate nature when the wind chill is 6 degrees below zero!

As I was walking around campus yesterday, I couldn't help but imagine how beautiful Rosemont will look when the flowering trees start to blossom and the leaves begin to sprout. When I came here in November, the autumn leaves were already beginning to fall off the trees, so I've never really gotten a taste of Rosemont at its finest. Still, the campus' beauty stunned me this winter- just take a look at these pictures!

Rosemont students seem to really enjoy the winter weather. Often, I saw groups of students battling in a rowdy snowball fight or building a snow woman on the "green." I even caught a glimpse of some students sledding down the hill on dining hall trays (one of my favorite winter activities when I was in college!).

Winter can be a fun time of year on a college campus, so long as you don't let those dreary days get you down! Luckily, students at Rosemont tend to help each other stay positive through the colder months and for those who struggle, the counseling center holds special programs for seasonal depression. That's a great resource to have- even I get into the occasional winter funk.

I'll make sure to post some pictures of the campus when the trees begin to flower so even those of you who are far away can enjoy Rosemont in the Spring Time! It's so exciting to know that Spring is on its way!!

Happy Spring!
The Rosemont Webmonster

My First Blog- Yay Women's Colleges!!

2007-03-15T08:36:00.000-07:00

Hi there! My name is Amanda and I'm the web manager at Rosemont College. I'm creating this blog and hope to update it often in order to give you (Prospective Students!) an inside look at what Rosemont is all about. I've only been Rosemont's web manager since November, so I'm still discovering all of the quirks, traditions, and qualities that make Rosemont special. I guess you could say we'll be learning about Rosemont together!

A little background on myself- I actually graduated from a women's college in 2004, so when I learned about the web manager position at Rosemont, I couldn't pass it up! Women's colleges are unique places... Some women choose to attend because they yearn for a single-sex learning environment (that was not me!); and some attend begrudgingly because, although they envisioned their college years packed with frat parties and co-ed class projects, women's colleges tend to give excellent financial aid packages (also not me, although, without the financial support I did receive, college would have been out of reach for me); and still some women attend women's colleges because they choose to push the nervous "this is a women's college!!!!!!" voice out of their head and, instead, focus on the fact that the college feels like home (that was me incase you didn't guess).

I can remember stepping onto campus for the first time as a prospective student and being greeted with smiles from people I didn't even know! A professor held the science building door open for me and my mother, even though we were a good 40 feet behind her! And as my mother and I searched the college map, a first year student who was walking by interrupted a conversation with her friends to ask us if we needed help finding anything. She then parted from her group to walk us to our next destination, giving us interesting facts about the architecture of the campus along the way. The initial sense of community I felt convinced me that the place was special- I fell in love with a women's college on my very first visit and that's why I enrolled.

However, no matter what the reasons for attending, all women's college students have one thing in common- the college changes them for the better. I've seen this transformation time and time again with my own two eyes! Something happens at a women's college... and most of the time you don't even realize what that "something" is until you get out in to the real world and say to yourself "Hey, I can run this place!" Women's college graduates are articulate, thoughtful, and driven. My fellow alumnae stand up for what they believe in and will go to the ends of the earth and back just to make a difference in this world. A former classmate of mine landed a coveted computer-geek job with GOOGLE at the age of 22 because she debated with the interviewer about social injustice in America. A recent Rosemont alumnae turned down a position at the White House for a position at Rosemont- hoping to give back, as a staff member, all that the college gave her as a student. It has been my experience that women's college students and graduates are consistently and continuously making bold and admirable moves in their lives.

When I applied to work at Rosemont, all my college memories came flooding back to me and I remembered that truly unique feeling of home. Since accepting the position, I've seen that even as a staff member, I get that same feeling here- my co-workers, the students I've come to know, the professors I've eaten lunch with- they are genuinely caring and intellectual individuals. I can now say that attending a women's college was amazing, but working at one makes for the best job I've ever had!

Until next time!
The Rosemont Webmonster

PS- A little info on my blogger name: Rosemont has a "mascot" of sorts.. I've met her once or twice- she's a giant lizard-dinosaur-monster, known as the Rosemonster.. so, a little creative genius and there ya go- I'm the webmonster. Haha!