Photos: Courtesy of Robert Nixon

BU student Robert Nixon went on an all-expense-paid trip to Beirut, Lebanon last summer for 10 days. This was Nixon’s first time traveling to the Middle East. 

“I have resolved to go back in the future,” said the senior history major.

Nixon went through the National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations to go on this trip and was provided funding from the university as well.

On the second night, Nixon was able to see a free concert outside in Beirut. The person singing was Najwa Karam, who Nixon was a fan of before the trip.

“A man in the crowd noticed my excitement, and leaned in to say ‘Najwa Karam number one!’ and I enthusiastically agreed,” Nixon continued.

The trip to Lebanon encompassed seeing the Lebanon Mountains, going through the Begaa Valley to visit Baalbek and spending most of the time in the capital.

When Nixon was in Beirut, he was impressed with how English was more understood than French.

“Arabic was the most commonly spoken and written language, but knowing a few basic phrases combined with English went a long way,” said Nixon.

Nixon went to Lebanon when there was some trouble in Tripoli, but the tour guides had the students avoid that area for protection.

“At that time things in the country were still fairly calm. The Syrian crisis was ongoing of course, reports about it dominated the Lebanese news while I was there, but the fighting was still mostly contained in Syria,” Nixon shared.

Nixon believes the best part came in two parts. Since this was his first trip outside the country, it was a whole new experience for him.

“The differences and the similarities in the sights, sounds, smells, culture, and people provided me with a new worldview almost overnight,” Nixon said.

Nixon also enjoyed how the program gave such a comprehensive view of Lebanon in a short time. He met government officials, business leaders, policymakers and media sources.

“So, in a way, the best part of the experience was the experience itself,” Nixon continued.

Nixon was able to empathize when gaining a better understanding of the country’s problems.

“I learned about the problems that it faces, the things that the Lebanese want to achieve and what they have already done. I got to experience a different culture, and see not only the differences from my own but also the similarities, and I learned from both of them,” Nixon shared.

Nixon encourages students to travel overseas because it provides a chance to understand the world in a whole different way.

“We aren't living in a constrained world any more, we are living in a global society,” said Nixon.

From speaker Akil Patterson coming to campus on Sunday and Monday to Breaking the Silence on Friday where students will not talk until 5 p.m., Ally Week is bringing these new events and more from April 15-19. 

The Lesbian, Bisexual, Gay, Transgendered and Allies (LGBTA) have sponsored Ally Week for over six years now.

Akil Patterson came out to his football team at University of Maryland.

Patterson will be speaking to BU athletes and LGBTA on Sunday and Monday on how students can become a support system for one another.

The LGBTA officers are Stephanie Ponsi, secretary, Naasik Fuller, public relations, Davena Taylor, co-vice president, and Karli Miller, co-vice president.

The goal of Ally Week is to celebrate the support from heterosexual people in the community, according to Fuller.

Fuller believes that having Ally Week during a time where same-sex marriage is still up for debate is crucial and hopes to have a lot of involvement from the students here.

Fuller described that Breaking the Silence on Friday will be to call attention against LGBT bullying and harassment in schools.

Taylor said some people are even planning to tape their mouths shut for the day.

The officers all agreed that their favorite event is the drag show on Friday and believe that students enjoy it as well.

“I think it’s the shock factor and because it’s something they’ve never seen before,” said Ponsi, explaining why the event is so popular.

Miller is a freshman, so this will be the first Ally Week that she’ll be participating in.

“I’m definitely looking forward to the drag show because I’m performing in it and can’t wait to see my friends perform, “ Miller said.

The LGBTA will also be doing a special collage banner on Tuesday for students to imprint their hands on the banner to show support.

Fuller believes that Ally Week and even the LGBTA are still relatively new to students here on campus.

Fuller continued, “I just want people to come out and enjoy it.”

The Voice/Cole Kresch

The Big Event took place this past weekend on Saturday, Apr. 6.  The event consisted of the BU community giving back to the town.  A variety of university-based clubs participated in the success of the Big Event.

Special interest organizations, educational and cultural clubs along with Greek Life helped to make up the workforce for the event.

Husky Ambassadors, a club established in 1985, keep the tradition alive of attending the Big Event every year.  The members believe that it is important to team up with other campus organizations to give back to the town that students temporarily occupy.

Husky Ambassadors’ mission is to improve relationships between students, alumni, faculty, administrators and community neighbors.  The Big Event is another stepping-stone allowing the Ambassadors to advance their mission.

The Husky Ambassador team was made of 24 members this year.  The group views the event as a great team building opportunity, as well as an opportunity to build relations with the community of Bloomsburg.

“We [Husky Ambassadors] have great chemistry within our group of 38 ambassadors.  We are always working together, which we enjoy.  The Big Event was another great event we were able to attend,” said Christa Irzinski, BU Husky Ambassador Press Secretary.

Check in for the event started at 8:30 A.M.  The members of Husky Ambassadors met prior for breakfast then headed to the event.  The club was assigned to clean the parking lot behind the Bloomsburg Diner.

“We were all given trash bags and gloves.  We picked up the trash and tidied up the parking spots and curbs,” said Irzinski.

The event changed check-in locations this year locating it at the new park.  There was busing from the Bloomsburg Hospital parking lot.  The event was organized with clear signage and a smoothly run check-in said members of Husky Ambassadors.

“It is important for students to show our appreciation for the community and to treat our town and its permanent residents with respect,” said Irzinksi of the Big Event.

Greek Life organization, Sigma Sigma Sigma had a similar experience to the Husky Ambassadors.  Tri Sigma gathered 18 members to help clean the community this past weekend.  Colleen Griem, chair of community service for Tri Sigma, believes helping Bloomsburg is the best way to create a good relationship with the residents of the town.

“Events like this past weekend are so important because they show the character students at BU have.  They care, they appreciate, they want to help out.  We want the town to know we appreciate them opening their town up to us because thousands of students will always considered this place home,” said Griem.

Tri Sigma gathered together on Saturday and helped clean two locations in Bloomsburg.  Eight of the sisters gathered in the woods near the Bloomsburg Hospital, while ten of the sisters helped an elderly woman at her home.

“Although we were in the woods, I really enjoyed what we were doing.  When I’m with my sorority, we can make anything fun,” said Kara Sherman, BU sophomore and Tri Sigma sister.

The girls helped pick up trash along the perimeter of the woods as well as cleaning the wooded area.  The other sisters helped an elderly woman clean her yard and move furniture she could not lift.

“Being the coordinator of community service for my sorority, sometimes it is hard to get enough volunteers for every event around BU, however the Big Event had a great turnout,” said Griem.  “The girls seemed really excited to get outside and in the nice weather.

Husky Ambassadors, Tri Sigma and a number of other organizations made the Big Event possible.  With the support of the community and BU, students were able to show their appreciation for their temporary home.