To Drink or Not to Drink

Another choice that students are often asked to make involves the use of alcohol. On hand to help them make wise decisions was Mike Green, a recovering alcoholic who told a few stories – some funny, some sad – to drive home the point that all kinds of things can happen when students drink.

“It was amazing,” Brooks said. “He described his own struggle with drinking, but instead of condemning people who drink he talked about the difference between having a one-night problem and being an alcoholic. He called upon people like me, who are substance free and don’t drink, and suggested that if we know our friends are going to drink we shouldn’t condemn them for it, we should offer to pick them up and be there to spot them. That way we know they’ll get home alive because we’re going to be the one taking them home.”

Green also called upon the people who do drink. “He opened a lot of people’s eyes,” Landis said. “He didn’t condone drinking, but said that if you’re going to drink just don’t drink to get trashed. If you do that’s when things happen and people get hurt. So you need to be smart about the things you do.”

“It was really good,” Daney agreed. “He didn’t just say ‘don’t drink;’ he talked about real life experiences. One of his key messages was to be careful and look out for your friends.”

Do I Know You?

Whether students choose to drink or not, sooner or later they’ll meet someone who seems to be just a little bit different.

Resisting the temptation to jump to conclusions and prejudge others was the lesson behind “You Don’t Know Me Until You Know Me,” presented by actor Mykee Fowlin. Fowlin used characterizations to illustrate some of the differences between people and to present perspectives from a variety of ethnicities, lifestyles and cultures.

“I absolutely loved it,” Brooks said. “He was so real and so talented, and he covered just about every type of person, ethnicity and race. He dealt with real issues. Being bi-racial, I especially got something out of it because I’ve dealt with all that stuff. People expect me to choose white or black. Hearing him talk about it and have a character that’s exactly like me, actually voice what’s going on in my head and what I feel, was really amazing.

“He definitely made a point,” Brooks said. “Before I thought most of the people here were open minded and accepting. But if they weren’t before they are now.”

Beyond the Confines of Campus

On Friday afternoon the students boarded 12 charter buses for a tour of Reading and some of its key buildings and sites. The tour was the first session of Freshman Forum, a research project that teaches the students the meaning of “interdisciplinary” and how an interdisciplinary approach enables a fuller and deeper understanding of an issue. This year their research will focus on different aspects of life in cities large and small, including Reading.

Before the buses left campus the students were welcomed by Reading Mayor Tom McMahon, who encouraged them to learn
all they can about the city. “You’ll be getting an introduction to a city that we’re proud of,” he said, “and we’re happy to have you here.”

As the buses wound their way through Reading, volunteer tour guides from the college and local government described what the students were seeing. Each bus stopped at one of six featured sites along the way. Depending on which bus they were on, the students disembarked for a more-extensive tour of the Reading Public Museum, the Pagoda, City Hall, the Historical Society of Berks County, FirstEnergy Stadium or the Sovereign Performing Arts Center.

Not only did the tour give the students a quick look at some of Reading’s attractions, it also helped change some perceptions they may have had. “My view was a little biased,” Brooks said, “because every time I told people I was going to school in Reading they’d talk about how bad it is. But once I saw it and heard the mayor speak about how they’re fixing it up I realized that it’s nice -- especially the area around us and even the downtown. Before I had the impression that I’d never be able to leave campus, but my viewpoint totally changed. I’m sure I won’t be walking downtown at midnight, but I’m less scared of the town that’s around me than I was.”

The tour was a revelation for Landis as well. “Before I had a bad impression of Reading,” she said. “I was afraid I was going to walk into the wrong area. The tour showed me that the city has lots of nice areas and lots of nice restaurants. Some of the students who live in Reading were on my bus, and it was nice to hear about Reading not only from the tour guide, but also from the people who live here.”

First Impressions, Fast Friends

After a Sunday spent at Dorney Park or settling into their dorms, the students had time to reflect on the weekend before.

“Overall, I thought the program was very well done,” Daney said. “The POP groups were great because they let you react to what you’d seen and done. I wouldn’t change anything; everybody did a great job.”

“I was afraid it would all be sitting down and listening to boring lectures all day, but I found it to be a lot of fun,” Landis said. “There could have been a couple more breaks, but the hectic schedule kept us on pace and doing what we needed to get done.”

“The best thing about the program was that it forced us to meet and buddy up very quickly,” Brooks said. “After spending a weekend with my POP group I felt like I’d known them for months. So now we only have to worry about our classes and not how to make friends. Without the whole weekend that wouldn’t have happened. We would have the quietest hall in the dorm, but now we actually have the loudest because everyone’s so friendly.”