Who is the individual your group picked? Why did you pick this individual? Saturday, Feb 5 2011

For Freshman Seminar class, our service learning project is dealing with dead people in St. Louis Cemetery No. 2. We were given a list of well known people that were buried in this particular cemetery and were instructed to pick a person to do research on. The individual that my group chosed was Jacques Philippe Villerie. We originally were going to choose the K. Does, but someone beat us to it. The only reason that we were going to pick the K. Does was because the teacher suggested that someone in the class should do them. So then we were on the hunt for another person to research so when we get to the cemetery, we could do a report on video about the lucky person we picked. As we all were scanning the list of names, a group memeber pointed out Jacques Philippe Villerie. She kept saying that Villerie sounded so fimilar. I knew myself that I had never heard of this man or any part of his name. She then realized that Villerie was a street in the city of New Orleans, Louisiana. The only thing that my group could think about Jacques Philippe Villerie was that he had to be an important person in New Orleans, Louisiana to have a street named after him. We figured that maybe it would be good to research Jacques Philippe Villerie because he had sometime of recognition in New Orleans. I did not know any of the people that was on the list so picking Jacques Philippe Villerie meant nothing special. Once we looked up Jacques Philippe Villerie on google, we found some semi- interesting stuff, but not much. We discovered that he was the first native born governor in New Orleans, Louisiana. We also saw that he died in 1830 and had eight children. Hopefully as research continues, we will find more interesting things about Villerie so that we can do well in explainn who he was and why he was so important.

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From what you’ve read for this week, speculate how Save Our Cemeteries might play a role in the promotion of a just and humane society? Saturday, Feb 5 2011

From what I have read this week, I believe that Save our Cemeteries play a major role in the promotion of a just and humane society. Having a just and humane society does not just include the living. Once someone dies, they are not forgotten. I feel that the dead deserves much more respect than it gets. Once a person is dead, they no longer have a “voice”. It is important that people pay their respect to the dead because they depend on the living in a sense to keep them a live. Save our Cemeteries organization takes time to make sure of that. It is not just nor humane to let the cemeteries in New Orleans, Louisiana, and also world-wide to die.

In cemeteries, people go steal precious possessions of the dead, vandalize their grave site, remove body parts, and are even affected by nature. Sometimes the person get caught, but sometimes they do not. With natural disasters, no one is to blame for the mess, but someone has to clean it up. The dead is supposed to RIP, Rest In Peace. how is it that someone expects them to RIP in they are constantly being disturbed? Save our Cemeteries has been put into effect to try to limit, because it is almost impossible to stop, the inhumane behavior and or treatment of people in cemeteries. Save our Cemeteries join with volunteers in an attempt to save the cemeteries in New Orleans, Louisiana. They have session where people go and recover names off of tombs, clean up the trash left behind, and any other form of vandalism they also clean up. Save our Cemeteries believe that we should in fact as humans help to keep the cemeteries up to par. If no one keeps the cemeteries clean and presentable, where will the generations to come be buried?

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Describe a memorable funeral you’ve attended. How did this make you reflect on your own place in the world? Saturday, Feb 5 2011

The last memorable funeral that I have attend was my grandmother’s funeral. It was over winter break of 2010 that I experienced such tragic times. Attending this funeral only made me think about myself and my family. I could not help but feel extreme grief because it was my grandmother that had left me.  It first made me think about myself because her death was so unexpected. I will never forget that day because I was so caught off guard. At the funeral, I was tearing up first because that was my grandmother that had died, but also because this situatioin opened my eyes to the way I was living my life. The funeral was in a sense an intervention. It made me wonder, ok what if your time is coming soon. It is time for me to change. No need in living a purposefully sinful life because what if I do not wake up tomorrow? I would not even have time to repent for the wrong that I have done. I know we all sin but the things that I was doing, had no excuse. It also made me think about my family. The way that I acted of course affected my family, but I never looked from their perspective. It was always my way or no way. I hate to admit that it took someone so dear to me to past for me to straighten up and realize that I was only cutting my days short tremendously. I began to look back and tally the wrong that I was doing compared to the right and the wrong was tipping the scale. I just came to realization that this is not the way GOD would want me to live my life. He granted me the choice of freewill, but I took that to another level. It was time for me to get my life together and til this day that is what I strive to do.

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What are your thoughts about Xavier and its mission after your first semester? Sunday, Dec 5 2010

When I first came to Xavier University in May 2010 for Laginappe I was nervous and still unsure if Xavier was the school that I wanted to attend. By the time it was time for school to start I had decided to give Xavier a try. The first week of freshman orientation we had to check in to the dormitories. There were students there that assist us with moving in and directing us around campus. I felt then that Xavier was a very friendly place and that I would love to be apart of this school. These students cut their summers short for a whole week to take time to aid to the freshman class. As the semester went on, I continued to see the great enthusiasm of Xavier and I also learned Xavier’s mission statement. Xavier University’s mission statement encourage its students to help to promote a just and humane society here at Xavier and also Xavier’s surrounding community. It also encourage its students to serve. Xavier has put in place several opportunities for service projects. Xavier has made requirements for clubs and organizations to meet a certain amount of hours throughout the school year. My thoughts about Xavier University had drastically changed from Laginappe to the end of the semester, but from the first week of freshman orientation, I knew that Xavier University was the place where I would love to further my education. Xavier has done an excellent job living by its mission statement. Here at Xavier the environment is very peaceful and it provides each individual student regardless of race, religion, or social background with the same opportunity. That opportunity consist of being able to be an effective leader, spread their knowledge with the world, be able to serve their community, and become a successful individual in their chosen career field.

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Pick three other students in your section and leave detailed comments on their blog for weeks 6, 7, or 11. Comments need to demonstrate engagement with the text Sunday, Dec 5 2010

Mrojasro #6

 Dannixula #6

Antonioroberts #6

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Email to my Favorite Teacher Saturday, Dec 4 2010

Dear Ms. Hannah Baker

For Freshman Seminar class, one of our assignment blogs required us to email our favorite teacher so far here at Xavier. I at the time have six teachers and you are the number one teacher on the list.  I can honestly say that you are my favorite teacher so far here at Xavier University. As a teacher, I can see your true passion to teach. You instill in your students great success and encouragement. You are very humble individual I have great respect for you. Before I came to college, I had not received an A on my paper since my freshman year in High School. I did not believe in myself that I was a good writer, but it turns out that I believe I am an excellent writer and have great potential to do even better. You have guided me towards a path of success.

I appreciate your passion that is demonstrated through your teaching. Anytime I may have question you are quick to answer. When ever I was stuck on how to express myself through my writing or even had writers block on a paper you were always available to assist me. When I had ideas, you helped to put them in order. I appreciate the many teaching skills that you possess.

You are also my favorite teacher because you are easy to talk to. Coming in as a freshman in college, I was hesitant on approaching my teachers, but you were different. You had a down to earth type of personality. I knew from the first day of class that you were going to be a great teacher. I also knew that if and when I had a problem with anything in your class that you would assist me to the best of your ability. For the many qualities that you possess and just for being an awesome teacher, I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

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Farmer tries to balance his desire to treat individual patients with the need for his attendance at high profile meetings. Which of these two is ultimately more important? Saturday, Dec 4 2010

In the book “Mountains Beyond Mountains” by Tracey Kidder, Farmer tries to balance his desire to treat individual patients with the need for his attendance at high-profile meetings. Being in this situation, Farmer was placed under a lot of stress and pressure. He tried so hard it seemed to please everyone but in reality he was not able to. He wanted to spread his gift of knowledge and also surgical skills worldwide to who ever was in need. It began to weigh heavy on Farmer when thoughts began to go through his mind, whether or not he should be with the sick child finding a cure or off to a meeting spreading his gift of knowledge. If I were Farmer, I would ultimately choose to follow what I desired most. Farmer had a passion for helping people in need. People that had no or limited source of income and people who did not have  access to adequate healthcare. I think that Farmer should continue to follow what he most desire and believe in which is to treat individual patients oppose to his required attendance at high-profile meetings. The patients can not travel with Farmer one because they are severely sick but above all, they can not afford to. When Farmer goes and have meetings, the people that he goes and meet with, they are able to come to him to hold meetings or they can even have a meeting over the computer. It is crucial that Farmer stays with his individual patients because they rely heavily on him and also because Farmer has already dedicated his life to them, it makes no sense to let them down now. I understand that the meetings are also important and that Farmer’s knowledge is beneficial to other countries, but I just do not agree with Farmer leaving his patients to go have a meeting.

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Interview a Xavier Senior about his/her Thoughts on Xavier’s Mission. Saturday, Dec 4 2010

I interview senior Kendra Beard. Kendra Beard is a senior here at Xavier University. She has been here now for five years.  She was a Biology/Premed student but changed her major to Biology after deciding to change her career plans. I first asked her about her experience her on Xavier’s campus; if she was active or not. I also asked Kendra how she felt about Xavier University’s mission statement. If she agreed with it? If she feels that it has been properly implemented and if she would help to ensure that people lived by St. Katharine Drexel’s dream. She responded first with stating that she is a very active student here on campus and strongly live by Xavier’s University mission statement. Xavier University’s mission statement promotes a just and humane society for its student and also its surrounding community. Kendra stated that Xavier mission statement is very important not only for its students and community, but for the students to take with them in the real world. The experience that Xavier provides its students is one that goes beyond the time here at Xavier. It  is a life long mission statement that all of its students, ones that graduated and even ones that did not graduate will live to promote. She also stated that because of the mission statement, she has become more accepting of others. She stated that she found her self more drawn to people of her race and rarely associated with any others. After coming to Xavier where there is a plethora of ethnicities, she found that she had a lot of thing in common with people of background and culture. I found out while interviewing Ms. Kendra Beard that we had the same thought about Xavier’s mission statement. It is very important that as a Xavierite that we help to promote this mission statement so that St. Katharine Drexel’s dream never dies. She has provided us with a sturdy foundation and it is up to us to continue to build up.

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Do Some Research on St. Katharine Drexel. Do You Think She Would Be Happy with Xavier Today? Why or Why not? Saturday, Dec 4 2010

St. Katharine Drexel was an American nun born in Philadelphia. She was also a philanthropist and an educator. Drexel believe in equal opportunity for all.  She had a great prospective on life and encouraged unity amongst all races. She highly addressed that fact that minorities were treated unequally and encourage just and humane treatment for all. Minorities such as Native Americans and African-Americans were the types of people that she reached out to. It was important to her that they had the same opportunities as the majority. She dedicated her life and inheritance to her beliefs. During her journey to equality amongst all, she established a religious group known as The Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament. The Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament was a group formed with an ultimate purpose of serving the Lord. She also founded Xavier University, the only Historically Black Catholic University.

If St. Katharine Drexel was alive I believe that she would be extremely happy with Xavier University. The mission statement of Xavier University ultimately states that as a Xaverite one should want to help form a more just and humane society through service. St. Katherine Drexel, the founder of Xavier University will be happy to see that not only the students but also the faculty are promoting equality amongst all students. All the students at Xavier University are provided with the same opportunities. Alongside of promoting equality amongst all races and cultures, Xavier University also strongly enforce service. Service at Xavier consist of giving back to the community regardless if it is with time, presence, or money. This college heavily enforce service hours in whatever club or social group. I remember distinctly the first week as a freshman, Xavier provided buses for the student to go out to clean up neighborhoods, paint buildings, plant gardens, feed the hungry, along with other service opportunities. The point behind it all is that Xavier University is still making St. Katharine Drexel proud although she is not alive, her dream and aspirations still are.

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What role does money play in Farmer’s quest to provide health care? Friday, Oct 8 2010

     Money plays a huge role in Farmer’s quest to provide health care. He had thought he had used up all his resources because he knew that the South Carolinians could not provide as much money as he needed because he had went to them for help before. Of course as persistent as Farmer was, he did not give up. He had previously put in a request for a few thousand dollars from a charity and had received it.

   Farmer had so many different ideas rambling in his head that he wanted to turn into a reality but he knew that he had to find money beyond what he had. Just when he thought that he was at a stand still a man named Tom White decides that he wants to grant someone who is going to feed the hungry in Haiti. This qualification made Farmer the perfect candidate. Farmer met up and mingled with Tom White and he found out that White was loaded with money. He owned his own construction company in Baltimore, Maryland. As Farmer began to spend time more and more time with him, he warms up to him. Days go by and White decides that he wants to be apart of Farmer’s quest.

     Just when Farmer was unsure as to where the money was going to come from to fund the man ideas that he had planned, Tom White showed up in the nick of time. White also as a kind gesture offered to build a brand new clinic. Farmer was at one point searching drastically for money. He had a problem before because he was not the best person to put together a fundraiser. Luckily, Farmer had no need to go that extra mile. Ultimately, money was a very important factor in Farmer’s quest to better Haiti. Had he not received the money he probably would have still been searching and his plans would have been on hold.

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