Tuesday, November 12,2013 | TechNews

 

RHA sponsors lounge event featuring Toast 8 Jam band

Kyle Stanevich
STAFF WRITER

If you wanted a place to relax, eat
chocolate, and enjoy some jazz last Monday,
then you were in luck. The Residence Hall
Association (RHA) partnered with the band
Toast 8r Jam in order to hold a chocolate
fountain and music event in the McCormick
Lounge on Monday, November 4. It was a great
turnout, steadily holding a crowd of about 30 for
the entire event. The halls up and down MSV
were filled with music, attracting interested

Person you should know

Megan
Mozina

 

Ioannas Joseph
TECHNEWS WRITER

From addressing student organization
meetings, assisting with the acclimation of
international students to life at IIT, being an
integral part of the Boeing Scholars Academy,
and even finding time to stop by UB’s coffee
house series, Megan Mozina strives to foster
strong relationships with IIT’s general student
body. Mozina serves as the Assistant Director
of International Outreach and Engagement as
well as the Director of HTS Boeing Scholar’s
Academy in the office of Student Access,
Success and Diversity Initiatives. Mozina’s duties
includes getting the word out about IIT from
an international standpoint, being an integral
part of the Syrian students initiative, assisting
international students, setting the goals and
vision of the Boeing Scholars Academy, and
getting more faculty from IIT involved in the
academy.

Mozina has a particular passion
for any type of international engagement and
cultural acclimation, having studied abroad
in Spain for a semester during undergraduate
studies, lived in South Korea for about a year
after her undergraduate studies, and served as
an educator in the Peace Corps in Honduras for
over two years after her graduate studies. This is
further reinforced by her MA. in International
Education and Intercultural Training. “I lived
in three different places abroad. . .I understand
the value of learning about other cultures as
well as learning about myself and this drives
my outreach with international students,” noted
Mozina.

Mozina came to IIT right after her
time in the Peace Corps and was particularly
attracted to the diverse team that she would
be working with as well as their passion for
education. This was further solidified by the
international dynamic of the university and the
opportunity to work in intercultural activities.
Having previously attended and worked at a

students to check out the event. This was the
second chocolate fountain event held by RHA
this semester. They brought out their fondue
fountain and plenty of snacks to dip, including
pretzel sticks, graham crackers, animal crackers,
and for the first time, strawberries. All were gone
just as fast as they were put on the table.

These events are always free and a
time to give back to the students and stir up a
bit of interest in RHA. It also provides a good
time for students to voice their concerns to
RHA, letting them know what could change
on campus, and for RHA to inform students of

ooodeaooooooo

large public university as well as a medium sized
private liberal arts institution, Mozina credits
IIT as a, “small community in a huge city with a
particular focus in technological fields.” Mozina
was a resource to the Engineers Without Borders
chapter at IIT by serving as the guest speaker
to general bodies as well as the cultural advisor
with regards to their bridge building project in
Nicaragua, given her work in their neighboring
country Honduras.

“There are so many things that our
office would like to do, but there is never enough
time with the new ideas and opportunities
which present themselves,” Mozina stated when
addressing one obstacle she has encountered
during her tenure. This has been remediated
by working in conjunction with a number of
internal organizations such as the Office of
Women’s Services, Residence and Greek Life,
and external ones such as World Chicago and
other Chicago'area organizations.

Her most memorable event at IIT,
during her short tenure, was when she went to
the airport to greet three of the Syrian students
who had faced much adversity during their
journey to IIT. “It was both an exciting and
emotional time for all of us involved,” noted
Mozina when speaking on this experience.
She is especially fond of hearing the different
successes and experiences of the students with
which she interacts.

Outside of IIT, Mozina is involved
in the Chicago Area Peace Corps and is also
a volunteer with World Chicago and with a
Battered women/children’s shelter in Chicago.
To students, Mozina’s advice was, “You’re not
only at IIT for academics, but also for your
overall growth and development. . . Get involved
in something which is related to your major and
then one which is completely different so that
you meet new people and develop those soft
skills, interpersonal and leadership skills.” To
any student interested in learning about life in
a different culture or studying abroad, Mozina
would definitely be a valuable resource.

their upcoming events. You dont have to worry
about any of that, though; you can just come for
the free chocolate.

However, this time it was not just RHA in
the spotlight, but also the talented jazz band
that Illinois Tech has on campus, Toast 8r lam.
Composed of HTS very own Luis Larco and his
friends from VanderCook College of Music,
they played for almost two hours straight,
entertaining the crowd with their wonderful
music and amazing solos. Many students
came out just to listen to a song or two, but
many others came back with a book to read

or homework to do. A few people even started
dancing, even if just for a moment. It was a great
atmosphere to relax in, washing away the stress
of midterms, tests, and deadlines. Hopefully
the band will continue to play around campus,
expanding their audience to other students and
maybe even staff and faculty.

RHA is always holding these small events.
On November 21, they will be holding a hot
chocolate event, so watch out for more info on
campus for that. If you are interested, RHA holds
open executive board meetings on Sundays at 6
pm. in the MSV East Hall basement.

 

 

C] RZZK

— of the —’

WEEK

 

 

 

Meet Ashleyann Sanabria.

 

“What do we livefor if it is not to make life less difficultfor each other”

 

Year: Fifth

Major: Architecture

Greek Aililiation: Kappa Phi Delta
Hometown: Chicago, IL

Why did you go Greek at ii’l‘?

community.

other, and make IIT awesome.

 

Leadership Positions at IIT: President of AIAS, Community Desk
Assistant, Lacrosse, New Velociity, Mies Van Der Rohe Tour Guide
Hobbies: Drawing, water color painting, sketching, taking pictures, hanging
out with friends, and family, dancing, singing, listening to music, reading

I joined Greek life because it provided me with a home away from home,
and a group of girls Who understand and agree with many things that I do.
How has Greek life developed you as a person and a leader?

I would never be as involved as I am now if not for the encouragement
and inspiration of my sisters and other members of the Greek

What would be your advice for an incoming student?

Get involved. Find what you think is worth your time doing, and get
involved with it. Go Greek. The Greeks at IIT are nothing like anyone
else in the sense that they are a group of highly motivated students who
do more than their share to not only help the community, but help each

What has been one ofyour biggest challenges at UT?

Knowing when to say no. There are so many wonderful things to be
involved with on campus that it is hard to be able to say no, and to
understand your limits. You are only one person.

What’s one of your iavorite questions to get a conversation going?

If you could be anything in the world (person, place, thing, animal, gas,
mineral, ANYTHING) what would you be and why?

Questions? Email 0rderofomegaiit@gmail.com

ORDER OF OMEGA