Rook & Rock: Don't Eat Crow

Perhaps growing up your heard Aesop's Fable about the crow that put rocks in a pitcher to get to inaccessible water that was in sight. The crow dropped in rocks to raise the water level so he could finally get a drink. (There are variations on the story.) Turns out that fable might have had more truth in it than originally thought. For the modern science experiment of a rook gaining access to floating food, and the video, click the links below.

So, are you smarter than a crow? Actually, the experiment was done with rooks, birds related to crows, and in ancient Greece they were all called by the same name. Here at Rockhurst University we'll teach you how to drop rocks into a seemingly bottomless pit so that your goals rise to the top within your reach. So what can we learn from the rook besides good moves for checkmate? The rook assessed the situation, looked at available resources, strategized and then executed a plan to achieve its desired goal. That's basically what life is all about. We have a goal and then need to figure out how to attain that goal, even when it seems to be out of our reach. A solid foundation in the Liberal Arts at Rockhurst University supplies people with the necessary rocks to fill in the void and raise the level, the playing field. We also equip you with the tools to utilize when you have strategized a plan. If the first hypothesis doesn't work, back to the drawing board and figure out what went wrong and how to improve.

Of course, at Rockhurst, being a Catholic and Jesuit university we also factor in the spiritual dimension as important and vital to a well-rounded human existence.

So why not drop a rock in the bucket and check out Rockhurst? Our Rockview is coming up October 11-12. http://www.rockhurst.edu/admission/topnav/visit/index.asp


For info on the Rook experiment read this article and then see the videoclip.

http://www.rr.com/news/news/article/rr/1501/8558655/Bird_experiment_shows_Aesops_fable_may_be_true/1

http://www.youtube.com/cellpressvideo

Texted to the Limit

Okay, well this morning I'm going to sound off. I'm driving into work at 6:30 AM and I make a right turn on a green light and about forty feet past the crosswalk I nearly hit a lady. What was she doing? Standing in the middle of the road. "Standing there doing what?" (Glad you asked.) She was standing there texting! I quickly slammed on the brakes and swerved at the same time. She looked up, stunned, and had an expression on her face like: What the hell are you doing? I was already giving her one of those looks as well, and then she realized, Oh, I'm just standing here in the middle of a main road texting, aren't I?

I know texting is all the rage, has been for quite awhile. But for goodness sakes, please be conscious of your surroundings when you text! It's even come out on the news recently how studies show that texting while driving is more dangerous than drinking and driving. In fact, your chances of having an accident are 23% higher than normal and usually lead to fatalities. http://abcnews.go.com/video/playerIndex?id=8187813

Texting in the classroom isn't a good thing to do either. You pay good money to get an education and participate in class discussions, so you can't do that very well if you're texting during class. Rockhurst University is all for technology in the classroom (http://help.rockhurst.edu/), but not that type.

Anyhow, driver beware. There might be somebody standing in the middle of the road, totally oblivious to everything else, because they're texting! And . . . it'll be YOUR fault that you hit them: involuntary vehicular manslaughter.

Chillin' in the Blazin' Heat

Well I’m back from vacation, if you could call it that. It seemed more exhausting than relaxing! Of course, since being back it’s been non-stop. We’re already wrapping up our second week of the five week summer program. Before you know it, it’ll be Fall semester already. Last I heard, we have 412 students in the in-coming class—that’s a lot of names to memorize! Thankfully, in one sense, my three classes are maxed out and that only means 85 students, a few of whom I had in the introductory class I teach. This Fall I’m doing TH 1000 Christianity I: Foundations, TH 3000 Christianity II: Development, and TH 4020 Gospel of John and Epistles. And I’ll have a new batch of advisees as well.

The summer’s just flying along. Hope you’re enjoying your time off. If you’re just chillin' and killin' time, check out our website http://www.rockhurst.edu/

Destination Disney

There comes a time when all dreams must come true. Next week we go to Florida to visit my parents who live in Ft. Myers, are there for a week, and then we're off to Disney World! My six year old daughter as well as my wife are totally excited--I'm not sure which one claims the prize for being the most excited. Even while she was pregnant, my wife dreamed of the day when we would go to Disney World. Should be a good time, of course, as a guy I'm thinking about the more practical matters of lodging, food, walking, weather, being the pack mule, etc. But I'm planning to get some enjoyment time in as well.

So "Dreams come true." Obviously one of yours has been going off to college, being on your own, maybe meeting the right guy or gal, having a blast, getting a good eductaion so you can land the job of your dreams, etc. While Rockhurst University is nothing compared to Disney World, we do have our own set of characters: faculty and staff who can be funny, charming, engaging, perhaps showing a crack in the armor at times, but nonetheless endearing. We have no Magic Kingdom but the science labs can be an adventure in themselves and you'll learn how to pull off some pretty cool experiments. Every year there's the Haunted Science Lab that creates some pretty scarey stuff as well as mind-boggling visual effects. And we have no Animal Kingdom (unless you count the dorms and their inhabitants), but in biology you'll learn about all sorts of neat creatures. And then of course there's Epcot Center, and Rockhurst can boast its own World Cultures Day fair put on by our very own faculty, staff, and students from around the globe, as well as those learning foreign languages. There's music, food, displays, costumes; Did I mention food sampling? While we don't have anything approaching Hollywood Studios we do have a great Theatre program that puts on numerous productions throughout the year and pulls off some pretty cool effects. Did I mention free food and rock concerts and carnivals at Rockhurst?

So while Rockhurst University is not Disney World, it can be a place where your dreams can come true. Check out our website. It can't hurt. http://www.rockhurst.edu/ And like Disney World, we do try to get education across in a creative way. But seriously, Rockhurst University is no theme park, but the theme we DO have running throughout the whole campus is transformative and life-giving education enabling you to make your dreams come true.

Hope you have an awesome summer (and aren't like those poor kids in southern CA stuck in school until mid-August because some administrators couldn't count to 180!) We do know how to count to 180 and beyond, at Rockhurst. No five minute fiasco here, just a time of your life.

PS We are big enough to have a map of all the locations on our university grounds. :-)

Summer Trips & Detours

Well it's summertime. Summer classes are in session and various groups are here for summer camp at Rockhurst University. So what are you doing this summer? How 'bout taking a trip to check out Rockhurst? It could be a day trip, or a stop while you're on to some place else. Sure you're just goin' to be a senior next year, but before ya know it, it'll be time to send out applications in the Fall. Ee gads, that's right! You can start applying for college as soon as late Fall. So when are ya gonna get all those trips booked in to check out schools? Now's a perfect opportunity to talk Mom & Dad into taking a trip to KC which has lots of fun things to do. And while you're in KC, drop by campus. Of course, it's always best to contact us ahead of time and set up a personalized tour of the place.

And of course, like those blasted roads that are down to one lane due to improvements, there might be some things torn up on campus to make improvements while the swarms of students are away. But isn't that what summer is all about? Detours? So make a detour to the Rock.

http://www.rockhurst.edu/admission/topnav/visit/index.asp

Five Senior Gold Medalists !!!!!

Every year Rockhurst University awards the Senior Gold Medal to the student who has had the highest GPA for four years, including the graduating semester. This year was a first: we had five, yes FIVE students who tied for the Medal by earning a cumulative GPA of 4.0. The honorees are (pictured from left to right) Andrea Therese Essner, B.A., Megan Nickels Rogge, B.S., Liam Alexander Higgins, B.A., Amanda Allyn Ross, B.S. in Business Administration, and Nicholas Andrew Schneider, B.S. Totally awesome, guys!!!

I’m particularly proud of Andrea Essner and Liam Higgins who are both Theology and Religious Studies majors. Andrea will be spending the next two years in Nicaragua as a part of the Jesuit Volunteer International Program working with children and adults who have disabilities. Then she plans to go on for a Masters in Theology. Liam will be pursuing a Masters of Theological Studies at Harvard having been awarded a full scholarship. Kudos!

Not only does a Jesuit education set high standards for academic achievement and development of the whole person, the experience at Rockhurst University empowers people to be transformed and strive to reach their fullest potential. These five gold medalists are living proof that Rockhurst provides the environment in which students can excel. Not everyone can be a gold medalist, but every student at Rockhurst is given the opportunity to be the best that they can be. Kudos to all of our graduates for having attained their goals and now following the rest of their dreams!!!

And finally, even though we had ten Theology & Religious Studies majors in all—each outstanding in his or her own way--I have to mention another Theology Major: Christopher Shaver who was the class Valedictorian. Chris graduated with a triple major: B.A. in Theology, B.S. in Mathematics, and a B.S. in Business Administration. He will teach math and theology at Regis High School in Denver as part of the Alum Service Corps.

It was an awesome class of 2009; I’ll miss them. Check Rockhurst out and become part of the awesome class of 2014!

http://www.rockhurst.edu/

Rockhurst University Nationally Recognized

One of the goals of Rockhurst is Excellence in Education. Though not always appreciated, technology in its many forms is essential for education. Well our very own Rockhurst University Computer Services has been nationally recognized as a Laureate by the Computerworld Honors Program. For over twenty years Computerworld Honors has awarded people and institutions for using information technology to benefit society.

Well this year Rockhurst is being acknowledged for its implementation of the Virtual Desktop Infrastructure which is efficient, green, and cost effective. Computer Services will also receive this award for other green technology it has integrated. Rockhurst’s motto to “make God’s good world better,” inspired by our Jesuit ideals, can be lived out in all sectors of the university.

Kudos Computer Services for applying Jesuit social justice to technology in the classroom and campuswide! Your rock! Thanks for being part of the transformational experience and modeling our mission and vision.

For more on this Global Information Technology Award click here http://help.rockhurst.edu/node/139