Welcome Back

Dear Class,

Welcome to the Spring semester. And, if you can believe it, the semester that goes the quickest. Before you know it the humidity of summer will return and your first year is over! Jake and I congratulate you and welcome you back. :)

How were each of your break's? Any good stories? I hope you each took time to be with family and to relax. :)

Each of you are registered in FYM 102 for the semester. This course is an abridged version of the fall. That being said, if you keep up with communication and complete the sparse assignments, each of you will pass with flying colors! There are some assignments which are due throughout the semester. I hope you each put some time and effort into completing them.

For the time being, I need you each to confirm your registration with Blackboard - specifically with this course. If you are having any complications, please email me or Jake. That's it for now; Jake and I will be emailing the course syllabus early next week.

One last update: I recently moved to Colorado. I now work at Colorado School of Mines as Coordinator of Student Academic Services. That being said, I am no longer a New Yorker. Marymount has been gracious as to extend the teaching position through the spring because of the nature of the course (internet and email). Nonetheless, if I can ever be of assistance to you, never hesitate to ask. I will always help as best I can - even from Colorado. :)

The picture above is where I work. :)

Colin A. Terry

Holiday Season

The holidays are a special time in New York, regardless of your religious orientation or belief. It's a time full of spirit, bright lights, good smelling candles, and crisp, snowy air!

In spirit, I thought I would forward this guide to the holiday's. It's from 2008, but many of these beautiful sites exist annually. GUIDE

Awesome Cultural Event

This awesome cultural event comes to us from the Awesome Blossoms...

Our FYM group decided to visit one of the oldest and most popular places in the city. Time Square. People from all over the world travel to Time Square. It is also the setting for tons of famous movies and stories. Here is a brief history of this place.

(information found at) http://www.nyctourist.com/time-square-history.php

Times Square was founded with the name Longacre Square in 1904. It was later renamed after the New York Times building that became the landmark of the district. Throughout the city’s history, the movement of the wealthy further up towards Manhattan meant that the places they left became high crime areas.

Longacre Square started with some few brownstones built by a developer who saw potential for new ‘uptown’ neighborhood. People moved to the area in droves, but behind them came the brothels, pickpockets and streetwalkers. Soon the area turned into a Red Light district with dozens of brothels. In 1895 Longacre Square had a new tenant, Oscar Hammerstein, who developed a large entertainment complex. the Olympia occupied a block on 42nd St, and had three theatres.During this time, a lot of new theatres opened on The Great White Way, so named for Broadway’s famous light show. The vaudeville circuit found success along with legitimate theatre. In 1904, the New York Times held a New Year’s Eve event to celebrate their successful effort to rename Longacre Square. Their building was the second tallest in Manhattan and became the symbol for a new, vibrant era. Every year since this first celebration, hundreds of thousands of people gather and wait for hours for the well known and anticipated ball drop ceremony. Times Square became the premiere theatre district in the United States during the First World War. During the 1914-15 season, 113 productions were staged all within the 13 block area. During this time, films were becoming a big part of popular culture and with them came a lot of openings of new film theatres in the square and around the city.

When the Great Depression hit, the theatres and restaurants in Times Square initially seemed immune from the economic collapse. But as time went on, many theatre owners were forced to sell or close. The theatres were converted to show popular and vastly cheaper Hollywood movies. Businesses needed something to draw people in to the area, and Times Square’s era of vice began. During the 1960’s and 1970’s, live nude shows, erotic bookstores, and X-rated movie theatres dominated the area. With this new reputation came a higher crime rate that turned the area into one of the most dangerous parts of New York. Beginning in the 1980’s, businesses and city officials began to change the square. New legislation and building condemnation began to reverse Times Square’s bad reputation. By 1993 there were 36 adult businesses, down from 140 in the 1970’s.

During the 1990’s, Times Square became a new symbol for the vibrancy of Manhattan. It is the only place in New York City where tenants are required to display big neon signs. Boasting an estimated 26 million annual visitors each year, Times Square has changed in a lot of ways since it was founded 100 years ago. On Broadway you can stop to shop in a toy store while on your way to a show of Disney’s The Lion King, a big difference from the area’s squalid years, but keeping with the area’s tradition of entertainment and commerce.

You can find just about ANYTHING in Time Square! There are hundreds of shops and stores lining the streets. In these stores you can find all types of New York gear! (Purses, T-shirts, piggy banks, postcards, pens…the list goes ON AND ON.) On our adventure we found a gift shop that was selling 15 NYC postcards for only $1!!! There are also tons of food restaurants and not to mention the notorious street vendors, where you can find anything from hot dogs, to fake designer purses. We saw people waiting in a line around the block just for some Ray’s pizza! We also were tortured to go into the HUGE M&M’s store… A 3 story store filled with nothing but M&M products…DANGEROUS.

There is also an endless supply of entertainment in Time Square. You can always find a couple street performers working to entertain the crowd for money. They range from a man dress like lady liberty, or a musician, or dancers, the list goes on. When we visited Time Square we saw some friendly children’s characters. Unfortunately Elmo and Minnie Mouse wanted to charge us a dollar to take a photo with them…I guess they are just too famous for us. On the higher end of entertainment, you can find a variety of Broadway shows located in or near Time Square. Some people wait in line all day for a chance to get tickets to a Broadway show. Time Square is the home of TKTS. This is a spot where people can get inexpensive Broadway tickets the day of a show by waiting on the large platform directly in the middle of Time Square. They must be really dedicated! This spot is turning into a big landmark in Time Square. You may also find all types of artist selling their work along the street.

Time Square seems to be always full of people! This might be why marketing and billboard advertisement in this area is so popular. If you look up in any direction, you are bound to see huge signs of advertisement! Whether its a Gap ad or an Ad for a Broadway show or an upcoming movie, the selection is constantly changing. With each trip to Time Square, you are bound to see new things, new events, new shops, new food and new people, making it one of the most cultural places in the city!

Changing Majors...Declaring?

Brew @ 2:00: Coffee Hour with Advisement

Wednesday, October 21, 2009
2:00 – 3:00pm
Office of Academic Advisement, Nugent LL

During this hour, Advisement will be offering free coffee and (of course) free advisement to anyone who seeks our services. This hour will be set aside for walk in sessions where students can discuss: Degree Progress, Major Requirements, Transfer Credits, 4 year Academic Planning, Academic Policies, and more. No appointment necessary! RED Event


Majors & Minors Exploration Week

Monday, October 26, 2009 - Thursday, October 29, 2009
In the Black & White, 12pm - 3pm

The Office of Academic Advisement invites you to take part in our Majors & Minors Exploration WEEK! For each day, Faculty and Students will represent their programs at tables set up in the Black & White. If you are Undecided, you will have the opportunity to ask questions. If you are thinking about changing your major or adding a minor, this event is your chance to get more information about other programs.

Day 1, October 26: Humanities – Communication Arts, English, Humanities, Philosophy & Religious Studies, French, Hispanic Studies, Creative Writing, Gender and Sexuality Studies, Journalism, Media Studies, and Promotional & Professional Communications

Day 2, October 27: Business & Social Sciences – Accounting, Business Management, History, International Studies, Political Science, Sociology, Asian Studies, Economics, Political Economy, Social Work, and Teacher Education

Day 3, October 28: Arts – Studio Art, Graphic Design, Art History, Photography, Arts Management, Drama Therapy, Music, and Theatre Studies

Day 4, October 29: The Sciences – Biology, Psychology, Speech-Language Pathology & Audiology, Chemistry, Environmental Studies, Forensic Psychology, I/O Psychology, Mathematics, and Neuroscience

Any Question – contact Lauren Franson, Office of Academic Advisement, LL Nugent Building

Get Out of the City...

Looking for a great way to get out of the city? To celebrate the Autumnal flavor of October and November, get out of the city and head up state. Just a quick Metro-North ride will transfer your view from cityscape to landscape.

I recommend Cold Spring New York (pictured above). I visited over the summer and it was a fairly magical, "pleasantville" place.

For more information on Cold Spring, check out: LINK

For more information on weekend getaways, check out: LINK

Secrets...

What lies beneath the surface of New York Harbor? For starters, a 350-foot steamship, 1,600 bars of silver, a freight train, and four-foot-long cement-eating worms. Find out more...Purely for your curiosity. LINK

Class the First Week of October...

Because class is canceled...FYM students may choose to attend one of the following two lectures:

Lecture #1 Monday, October 5, 1-2pm in the Theresa Lang Theatre with Professor Katie Lebesco - "Rethinking the Obesity Epidemic"

Lecture #2 Friday, October 9, 10-11am in the Theresa Lang Theatre with Professor Vladimir Pashkevich - "Consumer Movement/Activism"

In the meantime, I hope each of you continue to write in your journals and get out in the city...

See you all soon!

Mr. Terry

On the Cheap

Each group should blog on the following prompts. One blog requirement per group. Please complete before class on 10.13.

Group (1)
“It’s your anniversary with your partner and you want to spend the day together…what’s a way to have your date on the cheap?”

Group (2)
“School’s out and you need a day to yourself…what’s a way to do it on the cheap?”

Group (3)
“A high-school friend is coming to NYC. It’s his/her first time in the city…what’s a way to show your friend NYC on the cheap?”

Group (4)
“Your parents are in town…what’s a way to entertain on the cheap?”

Show me the money...

In class session four we will be covering fiscal responsibility and Free/Cheap NYC!!! This is a content heavy class session. Accordingly, I have provided the links to many useful websites.

Remember that everyone has different financial situations. The most important person of this financial diversity, is yourself. Make sure to take time, inform yourself, reach out resources, and be proactive.

Managing Debt: LINK

What's Your FICO (credit report): LINK

Consolidate College Loans: LINK

Paying for College: LINK

Paying for College (2) : LINK

Always remember: A college education will always be worth the money...

I am writing on a blog!

Hola amigas!!! I am sitting in Java city right now waiting for my class to start, and I am so excited to have this new blog! SO remember

S'mac: Best Mac and Cheese that you will ever have!
Shake Shack: Best burger, fries, and lemonade! Make sure you get the Shake Shack Sauce
Natural History Museum
Open Air Market in Union Square
Shopping on Broadway and Lafayette

DO NOT BE AFRAID TO EXPLORE!!! You are living in one the best cities so please try new things!!

See you all in class!