With the holidays just around the corner, Drexel University is pushing philanthropic efforts on Giving Tuesday, the international day of giving Nov. 27 that opposes the consumerism of Black Friday and Cyber Monday.

Andi Bricklin, associate director of digital marketing, explained that the focus of this year’s Giving Tuesday is to raise funds for food security while also showcasing charitable efforts across the university.

“You take a day to give back to people who really can’t celebrate all those holidays — that’s really what the spirit of Giving Tuesday is about,” Bricklin said. “This is a really good opportunity for us to talk about the civic engagement things that we do.”

While funds are being raised for the EAT Cafe and Drexel Food Lab, two organizations concerned with feeding the community, Bricklin said the pinnacle of these efforts is the Alumni Turkey Project. The project helps underprivileged neighbors of the university to enjoy the tradition of gathering for a holiday meal with loved ones, by providing families with frozen turkeys and nourishing accompaniments to complete the meal.

“We’re asking people to give the gift of tradition,” she said. “We all celebrate our own traditions — and not everyone is always able to do that, so if we can give the gift of tradition to other people, it’s really more than monetary.”

A donation of $25 provides one family in West Philadelphia with a meal. All proceeds are used to support about 40 organizations that aim to help people in our community, like elderly individuals struggling with housing and food insecurity, those afflicted with HIV/AIDS, individuals in temporary or transitional housing, victims of domestic violence, as well as those who are served by Drexel’s Dornsife Center for Neighborhood Partnerships and 11th Street Family Health Services.

“The people that receive them really do need them — and they look forward to them every year,” Bricklin said.

Last year the project raised over $43,000, providing turkeys to hundreds of local families. This year, Bricklin says they are aiming to raise $45,000 to purchase about 1,800 turkeys, which will be distributed Dec. 13 by university volunteers.

“It’s a simple thing that you can do to change somebody’s life,” she said. “It really does help.”

Bricklin explained that giving turkeys has a more direct impact than traditional fundraising endeavors.

“You really see where your gift is going,” she said, noting how those who are interested in supporting these efforts can donate online or by writing a check.

Now in its 45th year, the turkey project is the longest standing alumni tradition that the university has and it coincides with the core values of the university, Bricklin said.

“It’s really an area that a lot of people support because it’s what Drexel is about — being the most civically engaged university in the county. That’s what the turkey project is about.”

Giving Tuesday also marks “Thanks for Giving Day,” a philanthropy awareness opportunity for students to thank a donor for their Drexel experience. From 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Dragon Statue and Perelman Plaza, students are invited to write messages to donors.

“Philanthropy funds so many things on campus — not just scholarships, not just buildings, not just names on a plaque — but student programs, student life, athletics, buildings, facilities; the things that keep the lights on,” Bricklin said.

And this, she said, relates to the mission of the turkey project.

“Something like the turkey project really shows what that gift [can do] and events like ‘Thanks for Giving Day’ make you realize some of the things you benefit from are intangible but necessary,” she said.

Overall, she said that these manifestations of university philanthropy align with what this national holiday is all about.

“This is really in the spirit of Giving Tuesday.”

Faculty and staff across the university are coming together in a collaborative effort to elevate mental health on campus using the framework of the Jed Foundation.

The university’s partnership with Jed, a non-profit that aims at pinpointing and addressing causative mechanisms of suicide, unifies efforts being executed throughout the university to address growing concerns of anxiety and depression amongst adolescents, according to Annette Molyneux, assistant vice president of Student Life and director of the university’s Office of Counseling and Health Services.

“Everyone is doing something because people on campus recognize that there’s an issue here and we have to figure out how to address it,” Molyneux said. “It’s about trying to connect all the pieces on campus where people are already engaged and doing excellent work to address mental health concerns.”

Molyneux stressed the importance of engaging faculty and staff across the university — not merely counseling staff — in the fight to increase student wellness.

“You can’t just depend on the counseling center to do this job — it doesn’t work. It’s a full campus responsibility,” she said. “That’s the primary goal and focus of the Jed initiative: to try to get the campus to own responsibility.”

The Jed initiative has connected critical sectors of the university including representatives of the university police department, facilities, the provost’s office, athletics and from the medical school and Center City campus. In addition, it has emphasized support from deans across the university who have consequently garnered reinforcement from their faculty members and professors.

“These are spheres of influence that we need to make sure we’re connecting,” she said, explaining how the initiative draws on identifying what’s already being done and finding ways to support pre-existing efforts so they can be expanded and replicated in other areas of the university.

Overall, she said, it seamlessly merges various endeavors that share a singular purpose in a way that maximizes a student’s resources through connections they already have throughout the university.

“We don’t need to take over anything; we’re just trying to bring people together,” she said. “It’s not about trying to have everyone do something in one particular way. We have a reservoir of best practices we can offer, but people here have areas that they’re really skilled at and they know their students; they know their area of expertise.”

In order to tackle mental health concerns in a well-rounded way, an array of task teams have been formed, she said. Each team has a particular purpose and includes members from across campus that are responsible for pulling in people from their particular area of expertise to engage as much of campus as possible.

“Our committees are all really skilled, talented people and they are from all areas of campus,” she said. “It covers a wide range.”

Though all members are part of the strategic planning team that works to ensure overall productivity of the group’s efforts, there are also more specific committees geared at addressing explicit components of the mental health equation, like developing life skills and fostering resilience as well as promoting social connectedness. There are also specific teams dedicated to identifying students at risk, increasing help-seeking behavior and providing substance abuse and mental health services. Lastly, she explained, there is a committee dedicated to restricting access to potentially lethal means.

Molyneux explained how they are also in the process of pulling together a wellness committee, because in the end, she wants to see campus having a true wellness focus, though she noted there are lots of pieces to this aspiration.

Ultimately, she explained, this needs to encapsulate a culture shift focused on empowering students to be able to survive unanticipated challenges. This, she said, requires helping students to reframe their attitudes while also teaching skills involving coping and resilience to survive — and learn from — failure and other disappointments.  

Moreover, she said wellness activities need to dominate campus to help distressed students detach and relax from anxiousness and depression. She said there needs to be designated areas where students can disconnect and that students also need to understand the importance of sleep and staying socially — not just digitally — connected despite their busy schedules. Addressing drug and alcohol abuse problems is also crucial to advancing overall campus wellness, she added.

“We’re trying to integrate all that in, managing the incredible anxiety and depression that students walk around with,” she said. “It’s just about addressing these issues and being really upfront and open about it.”

While she noted that Drexel students in particular express high levels of stress due to hectic schedules and high expectations, she said that it is a national problem that needs to be further acknowledged.

“Our students nationally struggle with anxiety and depression to a level we’ve never seen before. It’s a national crisis,” she said.

Ultimately, the Jed Foundation and Drexel’s partnership with the program is a response to this growing issue.

“Students are presenting extraordinarily high levels of anxiety and depression and we’re all struggling with trying to figure out what’s going on and how do we deal with this,” she said. “It’s a necessity — we have to do something.”

While she noted that changes won’t happen overnight, she said that great strides will be made if everyone continues to work together.

“Culture change takes a long time. It’s a slow process but its moving and the fact that we have such great support from our upper administration makes a huge difference,” Molyneux said. “What is really encouraging to me is how excited, energetic and passionate people are about addressing this issue. Our faculty and staff are really wonderful people who are really committed to taking care of their students, and they’re eager to learn ways to try to help.”

Patriotism filled the streets of Philadelphia as the Drexel Veterans Association and members of the Veterans Task Force represented Drexel University in the 4th Annual Philadelphia Veterans Day Parade Nov. 4, as part of the university’s Veterans Appreciation Month.

In celebration of veterans and other members of the military community — just ahead of the official holiday — thousands of participants made their way from 16th Street and John F. Kennedy Boulevard to 5th and Market streets, surrounded by gratfied cheers, waving flags and lively music.

“A lot of people came out to show their support,” Colton Smith, a junior studying mechanical engineering who marched in the parade, said.

Smith, an Army veteran, said the parade seemed much bigger than last year’s, which led to a better experience overall. He explained that the increase of size was apparent not only in the large crowds gathered on the streets, but also in the number of organizations and companies that came out to join the festival that marked the end of the parade on 5th and Market.

Otis Hill, a senior studying legal studies and a former Navyman, agreed that this year’s parade seemed to surpass last year’s, noting that it lasted longer.

This year, over 150 organizations totaling over 3,000 participants  were involved in the parade.

Representatives from Drexel’s veteran services team tabled to share information about the university’s veteran resources alongside an array of other veteran-oriented organizations, including the Military Assistance Project, Veterans Multi-Service Center, National Federation of Black Veterans Network, New Beginnings and Women Veterans ROCK!

The festival portion of the parade was a favorite among many of the Drexel students who marched, including Stephen Rohr, a junior studying mechanical engineering and technology.

Past an assortment of food trucks, there was a beer garden with live music, which Rohr, a U.S. military veteran, said was the perfect place to unwind with the other veterans.

“The atmosphere was great,” former Marine, Austin Svoboda, a psychology major, added.

Svoboda said he was impressed by how many people attended. He was also happy to see the variety of organizations tabling, which he said included companies that were recruiting veterans, as well other businesses that showcased discounts and other services offered exclusively to veterans.

Overall, he was happy to witness the community support — a shared feeling amongst many of those who happily marched in the name of Drexel.

“I saw a lot of support today,” Ethan Sewell, a pre-junior economics major who served in the Marines, said with a smile.

“It was cool to march in it and see all the Philadelphians who came out to support us,” Matthew McKeever, a pre-junior studying marketing, added.

McKeever, who served in the Navy, said his favorite part was when parade officials announced the university’s name during the march.

“It was nice to be recognized as a school,” he said.

About 30 people represented Drexel in the march, according to Anwar Hasan, a mechanical engineering sophomore who served in the Air Force.

Hasan said he also enjoyed meeting up with everyone. Not only did it connect them with members of the community, he said, but it also gave veterans at Drexel an opportunity to spend time together.

Andrew Sauter, an electrical engineering freshman, was also happy to spend time with other Drexel veterans.

“There was a good veterans presence,” the Navy veteran said. “It shows veterans at Drexel are involved and it also showcases the community.”

Overall, he said it also coincides with the university’s overall dedication towards the military community.

While he enjoyed being connected to fellow veterans, he said he’d like to see even more veterans come out next year.

“I’m excited to see how we grow,” he said.

A junior film major got an insider’s perspective of two cities historically entrenched with bouts of violence — Dublin, Ireland, and Amman, Jordan, — during a 10-week study-abroad program about the roots of conflict and subsequent peace processes.

After three classes totaling 19 credits, Brian McCann not only acquired new outlooks on the countries and their peacetime affairs, but was also inspired from an artistic standpoint.

“People can get fresh perspectives out of this and new ideas,” he said.

The first phase of the program, which took McCann to Dublin, explored the ethno-nationalist conflict in Northern Ireland during the late 20th century, a period known as The Troubles. The resolution of the conflict has yielded lasting lessons in peace, although tensions  — characterized by Ireland’s departure from its former British rule — are still apparent in the country today, according to McCann.

The course he took in Dublin examined prominent issues in contemporary conflict resolution and was taught by a man who had personally endured The Troubles.

“He was involved intimately in everything that was going on,” McCann explained. “You got to see the whole kit and caboodle from somebody who had been through it.”

In Dublin, McCann said he got to witness a variety of sites that were important to the formation of the Irish Republic, including the Kilmainham Gaol, where many Irish revolutionaries were imprisoned, and the Glasnevin Cemetery, where many of these same figures rest today. However, as part of the program, he also ventured outside the capital city into Derry and Belfast in Northern Ireland, which is part of the United Kingdom, since these two places are closely associated with the most contentious parts of Irish history.

The most personalized perspective of conflict he was exposed to was during the class visit to Derry, which is where the Bloody Sunday Massacre of 1972 occurred, in which British soldiers shot unarmed civilians during a peaceful protest. They visited the Free Derry Museum and had discussions with its curators, who are direct family members of those who died in the massacre.

Near the museum sits a landmark, the Free Derry Corner: a wall that not only recognizes the country’s conflict-ridden history, but other global conflicts as well. During McCann’s visit it was painted with the Palestinian flag — a mere coincidence that underscored the connectedness of these seemingly different conflicts and this particular study abroad program.

“That just blew my mind because we were about to go learn about that,” he said.

McCann said his exposure to The Troubles made him think about how we can change global dialogues about conflict. He explained that while it gave him a new perspective on extremism, it also showed the value of compromise, which, he said, is sometimes overlooked in modern-day conflicts.

The second phase of the program explored conflict resolution and management, focusing on case studies across the Middle Eastern region from the lens of Jordan, a neighbor to the conflict between Israel and Palestine.

“I didn’t know much about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and I figured jumping right from a country right next to the thing going on would be a good way to learn,” McCann said.

Jordan has accepted a wide number of Palestinian refugees throughout this ongoing struggle that can be traced back to Jewish immigration that first began in the early 20th century.

McCann got to interact with those who witnessed the effects of the conflict firsthand, as his class, which was about managing conflict, was taught by a former Jordanian ambassador to Israel who had worked on the peace treaty between Jordan and Israel. His homestay was also with a couple that had been forced out of Palestine.

In addition to this course, there was a third phase in which he got the opportunity to learn Arabic. Though he noted it is a particularly hard language to learn, since there are many varieties of the language, he is continuing back at Drexel.

Overall, he said the biggest takeaway from Jordan was what the thought process and rationale of terrorists in the Middle East really was.

While he yearned to learn more about Middle Eastern divergences, he was also lured by Jordan as a unique destination. He explained how he did harbor a slight fear of entering the Middle East — which changed while he was there — but he wanted to do something completely different than most study abroad programs and very away from the typical European adventure.

“It wasn’t the standard, stereotypical study abroad course where you go to Europe for two weeks and come back with an accent,” he joked.

But the fact that this program was paired with Dublin, he said, was just another seller — since he didn’t know much about Irish history either. He now has a better understanding of these historical issues and he said his exposure to these dynamic conflicts has also inspired him artistically.

“It’s definitely something I’ve drawn inspiration from,” he said.

The landscape of Amman and its unique layout was particularly moving, he said, and he definitely thinks it will manifest itself within his future film projects. Two particular sites — the ancient Amman Citadel that sits in the center of the hilly, modern city and Lawrence’s Spring in Wadi Rum — left him especially in awe.

While he was inspired by the geography of Jordan, he said he was equally inspired by the history of Ireland and its story of departing from British rule may present itself in his future work.

Overall, he said he would highly recommend the program to others, especially anyone with an interest in global politics or history or who wants to see more of the world.

“The best part was the general ball-busting in terms on the perspective I had on the world since I had not travelled much before,” he said. “It was also a wake-up call of ‘you know those places you always hear about in the news? They actually exist!’”

But he said those who are considering partaking in this experience should eliminate any assumptions they might have about the two destinations and their historical conflicts.

“Go in knowing that you know nothing,” he said. “Just be ready to be very surprised, be ready to have everything you don’t expect to happen, happen, and be ready for these places to be very different from the places you imagined.”

Drexel University will honor the military community during Veterans Appreciation Month Nov. 1-13 through an array of events that not only support student veterans, but also aim to connect non-military members of the Drexel community.

The plethora of activities planned throughout the two-week period underscore the importance of the military community across various university sectors, while also representing the university’s continued dedication towards supporting this specific population.

“The military affinity is something that is very special at Drexel,” Rebecca Weidensaul, the assistant vice president of the Office of Student Life, said. “The goal of the military appreciation month is to really celebrate the military community at our university.”

Weidensaul, who oversees the Office of Veteran Student Services, said it’s important to generate pride to help build authentic connections for all faculty, staff and students who have military service or are from military families.

“It’s another way for Drexel to shows it appreciation of the sacrifices military members have made past, present and future,” Andrew Stoffer, a U.S. military veteran and the Office of Veteran Student Services ambassador, added.

This year’s celebratory events will extend across various parts of the university, spanning a large range of topics and overall purposes.

“When thinking about the programs we were going to offer, we wanted to have a menu of programs that would attract everyone,” Weidensaul said. “There is something for everyone.”

The celebration kicks off with the 4th Annual Serving Those Who Served Luncheon Nov. 1 from 12 to 1:30 p.m. The luncheon will be hosted by students and faculty from the Drexel Center for Food and Hospitality Management, which Weidensaul said is representative of how support is garnered across all levels of the university.

Beyond supporting military members, she explained how it is important to attempt to better understand the military community. One event, a lunch-and-learn to be hosted by the Office of Equality and Diversity, Human Resources and the Office of the Provost, will attempt to showcase what it means to be a military-friendly campus. At the event, which will take place Nov. 6  from 2 p.m. to 1:30 p.m., attendees will also receive a sticker — similar to an ally sticker — to communicate that they are military-friendly.

“It’s a professional development opportunity for faculty and staff to learn more about the United States military culture and what our student veterans have experienced,” Weidensaul said.

Another goal Weidensaul and her team are continuously addressing is helping to unite student veterans with opportunities post-graduation, and there are several events that speak to this.

The Veterans Colleague Resource Group at Drexel will be holding a Military Mixer and Networking Lunch Nov. 5 at Wahoo’s Tacos from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

There is also a panel of military-affiliated alumni about launching an entrepreneurial career as a veteran Nov. 7 from  p.m. to 8 p.m at the Paul Peck Alumni Center. This annual program, which is open to alumni, students and employees who have served in the military, will explore topics related to the transition from military to civilian careers in order to help them progress professionally.

One of the most important events, Weidensaul said, is a breakfast and observation that will occur on Veterans Day Nov. 11, which also happens to be Family Weekend. Hosted by Drexel Army ROTC, the Veterans Task Force and Office of Veteran Student Services, the breakfast, set to take place from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., will feature military traditions, patriotic music and remarks from members of our university’s military community.

“We seize the opportunity to ensure families know that this is important to our universities and that we’re happy to sponsor an actual event on the national holiday,” Weidensaul said.

These events also percolate into the other two campuses. There will be a Veteran and Military Dependent Meet and Greet Luncheon at the Center City campus on Nov. 6 from 12 to 2 p.m, as well as a Veterans Health Forum that will take place on the Queen Lane campus Nov. 13 from 5:30 to 7 p.m., which will discuss caring for veteran patients in health-related fields.

According to Weidensaul, one of the most impactful events that has become a trademark of annual Veteran Day celebrations at the university, is the Philadelphia Veterans Day Parade, which will take place Nov. 4. All veterans and military dependents at Drexel are invited to join the Drexel Veterans Association and members of the Veterans Task Force in the parade in what has become a favorable tradition for the university.

“We really came out strong as one of the first Philadelphian schools to really embrace this opportunity and show our pride,” Weidensaul said. “Now, every year we have the greatest number of student veterans represented, and when people see us in the parade, it’s really impactful.”

In accordance with these events, over 600 flags will be installed on the lawn beside Perelman Plaza and Gerri LeBow Hall to recognize veterans who are currently enrolled at the university.

Weidensaul said efforts to support the military community are historically embedded into the university as a result of the ROTC program — which is celebrating 100 years this year. Today, she said, there are nearly 1,000 student veterans and military dependents at Drexel.

While the university first commenced its yellow ribbon program — a provision of the Post-9/11 GI Bill that helps students attend private schools at little or no cost — in 2009 and has annually celebrated Veterans Day, she said this is the first year the tradition has manifested into a prolonged, almost two-week-long celebration.

“I’m just really proud of how far we’ve come,” she said. “In the last four years, we’ve really amped things up.”

Stoffer said these events are essential in connecting student veterans to the resources they might need, such as help with GI Bills, finding co-ops and even pairing them with mentors.

The events simultaneously build necessary recognition of the large veteran-base at the university, he added.

“I definitely think it draws awareness that there are more veterans at Drexel that people wouldn’t realize unless they were at one of these events,” he said. “It’s one of those things that brings people together in a unique way.”

However, Weidensaul said these events only represent a slice of continuous, year-round efforts, and she encourages members of the Drexel community to go out of their way to interact with student veterans beyond this two-week period. These students, she said, are extremely talented individuals who ultimately diversify the study body with their global orientation, experience with technology and vast commitment to civic engagement. Many students can learn from their experiences, as well as their overall tenacity, she said.

“The military culture is based on growth mindset and grit, which is something we can all learn from,” she said. “There are few people who take oaths when they accept a job or position. This is truly emblematic of the character and commitment required to serve in the U.S. Armed Forces.”

Overall, she said these events punctuate the ongoing efforts to engage and integrate Drexel’s military students, faculty and staff.

“It’s a continuation of the support we’ve always received at Drexel,” Stoffer added.

Drexel was recently ranked No. 30 in Military Times’ 2019 list of Best for Vets Colleges, and Stoffer said the fact that Drexel is a military-friendly university is one of the primary reasons he first came to the university. He said he has been thoroughly impressed with the resources he has been connected to upon his arrival.

“There’s never been a situation where I couldn’t go to someone — or two or three people — for help. Ever since I’ve been here, I’ve gotten nothing but support,” he said. “Events like these make me appreciate being at Drexel. They continue to amaze me how much they do for the veteran community. I didn’t expect to have half of what is available to me, and every time we have one of these events, it’s just amazing.”

For a full listing of events during Veteran’s Appreciation Month, visit https://drexel.edu/studentlife/student_family_resources/veterans/events/.

A junior’s summer abroad at the London College of Fashion pushed her to reconsider her post-graduate options despite a daunting battle with culture shock.

As soon as Abigail Mosse commenced the two-month program in fashion design, she realized London — the destination she always dreamed of — wasn’t what she had always imagined, although she soon learned her way.

“It took a little bit to gain my footing. In the beginning I felt really out of place — I didn’t know the rules and it was just really weird,” she said. “As time went on, I grew to learn that I am more adaptable than I thought.”

From the beginning, Mosse welcomed changes. She even decided on the footwear design track the school offered, since it isn’t  an option at Drexel University. The three classes she took totaled 12 credits and gave her the opportunity to create her very own shoe.

However, she was soon overwhelmed by the difference in British and American culture.

“I didn’t realize how much of a culture shock it would be,” she said, noting how even small things like simple lingo and grocery shopping differ greatly from what she is used to in the States.

She admitted she often relied on other Drexel students in the program, and in the beginning, even had thoughts of going back home.

“I felt like I had to cling onto my friends and I was just terrified of being lost in this city that I didn’t know how to get around in,” she said. “But as time went on, I got a lot more comfortable.”  

Once she mastered the city’s public transportation system, she said it really began to grow on her. She even started exploring places on her own.

“It was a big lesson in how to be independent,” she said.

In addition to visiting London’s top sites like Hyde Park, Tate Museum, the Victoria and Albert Museum, The Harry Potter Experience and The National Gallery, she ventured outside of London into Brighton. This quaint beach town turned out to be one of the highlights of her experience abroad.

She also had the chance to go to Paris — an excursion that was included in the initial program fee — and decided to take a mini trip with her friends to Amsterdam as well.

Before her London experience, Mosse, originally from a small town near Salem, Massachusetts, had never been out of the country. But the more she stepped out of her comfort zone, the more poised she became.

“It definitely made me more confident,” she said. “I feel much more assertive now.”

After a few weeks, she even started to prefer many elements of British culture, like British chocolate and London’s tube system, although she said she did miss certain parts of American culture like larger portion sizes and iced water — something she never even thought about before. Looking back at the experience, she said that both countries have benefits and drawbacks.

“There’s some things I prefer over there and there’s some things I prefer here in the States,” she said.

One of her favorite aspects of British culture was the focus on sustainability throughout the fashion industry. She said this would be helpful as she pursues a career in fashion, and noted how her exposure to students from other American universities has also changed her personal design process. She adopted many of the product design students’ practices, like doing more preliminary sketching and taking more comprehensive notes.

While Mosse is still deciding the exact job she would like within the realm of fashion, for now, she is seriously considering moving to London after graduation.

“It’s a city I can live in for an extended period of time,” she said. “It’s some place I could sustain myself and be comfortable living in.”

While she is surprised how this bumpy journey ended, she recommends that other students attempt to stretch themselves like she did, and to take advantage of the study abroad office while they can.

“It’s so hard to travel after you graduate but they set it all up for you and it’s so much easier to get that experience before you graduate.”

She hopes that every student can have a similar experience and offered one last piece of advice:

“Just do it and let it change you. Don’t be resistant to it; be open to it,” she said. “At some points it’s going to be really hard. At some points it was hard for me, but I’m so grateful for the changes it has generated in me.”

A team of Drexel University students, alumni and professors recently ventured to Dornbirn, Austria — the birthplace of the Drexel family — to explore the family’s history.

The team’s experience digging through archival evidence while interacting with the ancestral city first-hand revealed distinct parallels between the family’s past and the university today, which can embolden the institution moving forward, according to Eric Zillmer, who helped unearth the connection to the region.

“Going back for us is to celebrate the legacy of that relationship between the Drexel family name and Drexel University,” Zillmer, psychology professor and director of athletics, said. “It’s about understanding our past and using our past as a catalyst for the future and making students part of that.”

As soon as Zillmer began his career at Drexel in 1988, he became interested in the origins of the Drexel name. Suspecting that it possessed Austrian ties, he reached out to city officials of Dornbirn in 2009, who immediately confirmed that Francis Martin Drexel — father of university founder Anthony J. Drexel — was indeed born in the small town in 1792. He immigrated to Philadelphia in 1817.

Zillmer was thrilled and the city officials were even more impressed.

“They just couldn’t believe that this name from their hometown — a small town of 50,000 people in the foothills of the Alps — would have made such a big impact in the United States of America. They were really proud of that,” he said.

For the past nine years, Zillmer has worked to establish a partnership with the city officials to unveil the true history of Drexel. While he has visited the city at least once every year, performing preliminary research through extensive readings and conversations with archivists, he eventually recruited history department head Scott Knowles to get three history students involved.

“In telling these stories we connect history to a real place, and we immerse ourselves in the documents and in the places where that history unfolded. It’s a powerful experience,” Knowles said.

Zillmer said it’s particularly powerful to students since a university’s history becomes a part of their educational investment.

Roxzine Scott, an executive assistant at the university who is also currently enrolled in an online general studies program with a minor in history, said she couldn’t pass up the opportunity to attend.

“Going to Dornbirn, Austria, to learn about the Drexel legacy was the perfect way to add to my educational experience at Drexel,” she said. “When I received the announcement about the opportunity, I knew I had to register.”

Isabella Sangaline, a fourth-year history major, also couldn’t resist taking a chance in the program and she said the experience turned out to be worth it.

“Going on the trip was such a rich experience, in many ways,” she said. “It is essentially hands-on learning for history majors. You’re constantly in discussions with historians from another country with different perspectives. It adds depth to the education you’re receiving by giving an international perspective.”

The team had one overarching research question: figuring out why Francis Martin had left Austria in the first place.

Zillmer explained that this was surprising since he left a seemingly luxurious life as an upper-middle-class citizen with various properties, a large house and a dazzling education. However, the team hypothesized that his departure was sparked by the chaos of the Napoleonic Wars.

Ultimately, they didn’t have enough data to suggest this conclusion, since there were not comparable tax records with which they could accurately compare the family’s assets over time, according to Zillmer.

Yet, the team still learned a lot about the family as they explored the Dornbirn Archive, which boasted a wide array of documents dating back to the 1700s, according to Scott.

In addition to seeing original pictures of the Drexel family tree — which they had to handle delicately while wearing protective white gloves — they also learned that Francis Martin had lost two siblings.

Most important, Zillmer contended, is that the Drexel family narrative is consistent with what the university embodies today.

“We really feel like a part of their culture has stayed the same at Drexel University,” he said.

The family, he said, has always been bold and creative, but never pretentious, despite tremendous aspirations.

He explained how the university’s global footprint is epitomized by the Drexel family. Francis Martin was educated in Italy and Switzerland and spoke five languages. This, Zillmer said, coincides with Drexel’s strong wordly presence today.

“The blueprint for Drexel has always been international,” he said.

Moreover, he said that the ancestor’s interests can be representative of university programs today. Francis Martin was simultaneously a painter and a business person; a true manifestation of how the arts and science seamlessly fuse together at the school. Many of his paintings hang in the Drexel Picture Gallery today.

Lastly, Zillmer explained, the university’s focus on applied learning stems not only from the Drexel family itself, but also the city of Dornbirn more generally, where citizens are constantly thinking outside of the box.

Francis Martin, with the help of his son who many of us are familiar with, had started transatlantic investment banking through Drexel and Co. during the industrial time of Philadelphia, becoming an esteemed businessman. Zillmer said this is reflected across many components of the university, like the established business program and renowned co-op system.

However, he said that there are modern-day lessons that we can take from the values of the Drexel family. The Drexels wanted to create education for all — men and women alike — and created an endowment so people across all levels of income could attend. Zillmer said we need to get back to that to enforce equal opportunity in education.

But beyond the specific Drexel connection, the trip was an opportunity for learning about Austria and the practice of history.

Sangaline said she enjoyed learning about the differences of the roles and perceptions of historians in the U.S. versus Austria. One of the most interesting things, she said, was the abundance of proactive public history programs in Austria. She was also intrigued to learn how historians in the country are using virtual reality technology to make history more accessible.

“Learning about the history of Dornbirn was just as fascinating as learning about Francis Martin Drexel,” she said.

The city office had arranged for the group to use a cable car up the mountain Karren for an astonishing view, in addition to various tours, including of Jewish quarters in Hohnemens and the medieval city of Feldkirch. They also visited museums including the Bregenz Modern Art Museum and a temporary photo exhibit of Frida Kahlo.

Scott said these experiences definitely added value to her overall experience at Drexel.

“Not only was traveling to Dornbirn to learn about the Drexel legacy a history lesson, but the overall experience allowed me to participate in daily lessons about language, arts, cultural, communications, culinary, nature, transportation, architecture and religion,” Scott said. “It was such a unique experience — something that I will never forget.”

Zillmer wants to continue to build the relationship with Dornbirn and to offer an annual trip to students. Ultimately, he hopes to see a Drexel Institute for Austrian Culture — a depository to memorialize everything that has been done and a mechanism to grow the program further.

“Looking ahead, we envision an annual research experience for undergraduates where they investigate Jewish history, economic/industrial history, WWII/Nazi history and of course the history of the Drexel family,” Knowles added.

Sangaline said she’d urge other students to try it out if it becomes a university tradition.

“I would recommend the trip to anyone,” she said. “Students, not just history majors, would absolutely benefit from going on the trip. I would suggest that if it is offered in the future, and you are able to go — absolutely do it.”

“Other students would benefit from this type of experience,” Scott added. It was more than a lesson in history; it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience.”

After listening to student feedback through a variety of channels, including in-person and online surveys, Drexel University’s Campus Dining Services has enhanced the university dining program for the 2018-19 academic year to maximize its offerings while simultaneously improving convenience for students.

A wide array of changes have already been executed within Drexel’s Urban Eatery, the Northside Dining Terrace and the Handschumacher Dining Center, and newly refined meal plan options have also rolled out.

“We’re always looking for improvements,” Kristina Coble, the general manager of Aramark said, noting that Aramark has been consistently receptive to student feedback since it took over as the university’s designated food provider in 2016.

One of the biggest requests Aramark has heard from students has involved increasing options for vegans and vegetarians across the dining portfolio, according to Assistant Vice President of Campus Services Don Liberati.

An increased variety of meatless proteins have crept into all platforms of Urban Eatery — exemplified by the new Beyond Burger at Ignite and the Chobani creations option at Downtown Grounds — and there is also now a designated section that exclusively offers vegetarian and vegan options.

U.C. Veg — which replaced the former deli — is a manifestation of the growing interest in plant-based nutrition on campus. With options like roasted butternut tartines, roasted chickpea gyros, roasted stuffed turk’y, vegetarian crab cakes, vegan Caesar salad wraps and chocolate zucchini cupcakes, the menu is seasonal and ever-changing since it sources only local products.

“It’s our new shining star,” Coble said. “We’re getting a following and that feels good.”

In addition to expanding their meat-free options, Liberati said that the desire for more fruits and vegetables was another key theme commonly voiced by students.

In response, they now offer a new program called Farm Share, which is essentially a farmer’s market that will occur every other Wednesday from 1:30 – 3:30 p.m. on the Race Street Lawn. Students can use their meal swipes, cash, dining dollars or dragon dollars to purchase local fruits and vegetables, and Aramark’s on‐campus dietician, Kellsey O’Donnell, also provides corresponding recipes.

The Farm Share program will be running through November, though O’Donnell said that they are considering choosing an indoor location to continue efforts into the winter since it has been well-received by students so far.

“It feels better when you’re eating fresh and local,” she said, explaining that the entire enhanced portfolio will be showcasing fresher ingredients.

Coble said that the portfolio also focuses on offering a wider range of options so that students can experience more variety.

That is the premise of Street Fare in Urban Eatery, a weekly rotating restaurant concept that features an extensive selection of cuisines to broaden options. While this section itself is not new, there will be two new restaurants this fall including the Latin-inspired “Mi Comida” and “Ever Grains”, a salad‐bowl concept.

“It’s a monotony breaker,” Coble said.

Northside has also seen changes in its menus that contribute to the team’s goal to diversify options. Chick-fil-A received a full renovation that included a menu expansion, which now offers grilled nuggets, grilled chicken cool wraps, side salads, spicy chicken sandwiches and chocolate chip cookies. The neighboring Sushi & Hot Bowls station also expanded its menu to offer hot rice bowls and yakisoba noodle bowls.

“It’s become much more of a lunch destination,” Amanda Noll, the director of brand engagement and marketing, said.

The Hans has also seen minor changes in its menu, she said, but the most significant change is that it is now open on weekends from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., offering a special brunch menu.

Noll said the new hours illustrate how they are working on increasing convenience for students.

The newly improved meal plan options are yet another representation of the team’s dedication to improve accommodations.

Not only are there no longer any time restrictions regarding the meal swiping system, but there is also a new meal plan option, the Hans All Access Dining Plan, which gives students unlimited access to the Hans in addition to 20 meals per week to use at Urban Eatery, as well as dining dollars. Alternatively, there is also a plan that includes 14 swipes per week with additional dining dollars, she said, and it’s up to the student to decide which plan better suits their individual needs.

Students will also begin to have more seamless ordering experiences as the team works to implement more technology throughout the portfolio, according to Coble. Several sections of Urban Eatery, including U.C. Veg and Ignite, now have ordering kiosks where students can place their orders for added convenience and accuracy, and Liberati said they will continue to invest in further technology within their dining portfolios.

Liberati said this change, as well as the others, will be continuously monitored and adapted as the dining services team consistently makes modifications to escalate the dining experience for all students.

“We’re always adjusting based on feedback,” he said, noting that there are many more changes to come.

Noll added that they are also always looking for new additions. At the moment, she said they are currently working on adding acai bowls to the offerings, which will likely roll out in the sushi bar during the spring term. She said they are exploring various other options like adding kombucha and hot entrees to the vegetarian section, although these ideas have not yet been finalized.

“We’re really proud of what we’ve done, but we have a swirling list of things to still do,” Liberati said.

Students can continue to provide the Campus Dining Services team feedback at YourDiningVoice.com or by emailing campusdining@drexel.edu.

Preliminary construction has started at Calhoun Hall to accommodate the growing number of students at Drexel University and to possibly become the new epicenter of the university’s Pennoni Honors College.

Selective internal demolitions have already commenced and major construction work will start on the property before the end of the year to be officially equipped for student occupancy by September 2019, according to Vice President of Real Estate and Facilities Donald E. Moore. While renovations are being conducted within the pre-existing framework of the facility, he noted that there are plans for an addition that could become the heart of the honors program hopefully by 2020.

“It’s a mild adaptation to a building that we feel has really good bones and something that is going to continue to stand the test of time,” he said.

The revitalization of the hall — which closed after the 2014-15 school year — comes at a time in which university admissions have skyrocketed, invoking the necessity of increased housing options for the rising number of students.

The facility will be aimed at the freshmen population, offering around 350-400 beds that will most likely be set up like other traditional, first-year halls on campus, according to Vice President and Dean of Student Life Subir Sahu.

They want housing offerings to encourage students to stay closer to campus because it is important for students — and underclassmen in particular — to have easy access to university guidance and support, according to Moore.

“Any time you can bring more students to campus, there’s a lot of benefits to that,” Sahu added, noting that it increases in school spirit to create a unique campus vibe.

Besides the hall’s potential to connect students to campus, Moore said the space would present an exciting opportunity for the honors college, which currently operates mainly from the fifth floor of MacAlister Hall.

“Overall, it is something that has been being planned for a while to give the honors college a home — but in addition to that, to maximize the use of our existing facilities,” he said, explaining how he hopes the space can become the centerpiece of the honors student experience.

Beyond this addition, Moore said there would be more collaborative spaces within the renovated hall.

“Students can be together — yet apart — if they choose to,” he said.

American Campus Communities Inc. is currently acting as the lead developer of the construction project, leading the overall design, construction and construction management of the work that has to be done, although Sahu noted that their association with the hall may only be temporary.

“There’s been no decisions about who is going to own and operate the facility. Those conversations are ongoing,” he said. “Right now, the focus is just on getting the hall up and running.”

Moore, who said that ACC’s service was desirable due to their preexisting presence on campus and rapid response time, explained how a decision would be reached by the end of the year after running numbers to come up with most reasonable and financially feasible option. In the meantime, ACC can continue renovations due to a pre-development agreement.

In addition to ongoing conversations about ACC’s future involvement with the space, potential considerations for Myers Hall after the reemergence of Calhoun are also being discussed, according to Sahu. Last March, the university announced that Myers would close, only to announce in June that it was needed to accommodate the influx of freshmen.

“We’re going to look at our full housing portfolio and get everything online and see what we need from an occupancy standpoint and also see how we can strengthen our housing options for students, so Myers will absolutely be a part of that conversation,” he said.

Moore said they would be working on a master plan to ensure they are delivering the best student experience possible.

While there are many more decisions to be made moving forward, for now, Sahu said he is just happy there has been movement with the Calhoun project.

“I have a soft spot for the residence halls so it has been sad to me that Calhoun has been unoccupied for a few years,” he said. “It’s awesome that we’re going to have all of our halls back online.”

A summer exchange program in Seoul, South Korea, encouraged one student to step out of her comfort zone to better understand the country’s culture, which ultimately sparked a better understanding of herself.

Minel Cannucciari, a third-year student studying marketing, first embarked on the four-week exchange program offered by Drexel’s study abroad office, which would send her to Hanyang University, with reluctance. Though she was anxious about travelling by herself for the first time and learning to fit in with an entirely new culture, the trip culminated into the experience of a lifetime.

“I came out with a new perspective,” Cannucciari said.

Raised in Syracuse, New York, which she says lacks diversity, her study abroad experience allowed her to interact with a wide variety of people for the first time.

Though the program primarily consisted of other exchange students, rather than South Koreans, she explained how she still met students from across the globe — namely Singapore, China, the United Kingdom and Canada.

Cannucciari noted that she is typically a shy person, but was encouraged to open up and talk to strangers, which exposed her to many unique perspectives.

“It was really interesting and it was cool that even though we’re so far apart [in the world], there’s things that we can relate and talk about,” she said.

With her newfound friends, she quickly began to immerse herself in South Korean culture, visiting renowned destinations like the Gyeongbok Palace, Namsan Tower, CoEx Mall and Bukcheon Village, in addition to many museums, like the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, K Museum of Contemporary Art and the National Folk Museum of Korea.

In between exploring neighborhoods such as Hongdae, Dongdaemun and Insadong, Cannucciari said she also attended several university events, including a boat cruise.

But while she enjoyed the company of the students she met from the program, she also learned how to do things by herself, gaining an exhilarating sense of independence and realizing how much she loved to explore alone.

Caught in the excitement of these transformative experiences, she said she was compelled to do things she normally wouldn’t do back in Philadelphia, like trying san-nakji — live octopus — at a street market.

“It was an odd sensation, but really cool at the same time. If I was here, I would have never tried it,” she said.  

She also enjoyed other classics like Korean fried chicken and barbeque and more traditional dishes like kimbap (sushi), japchae (noodles), jjimdak (braised chicken), soondae (pig intestine) and patbingsu (shaved ice).

Throughout this culturally immersive journey, she still was earning credits towards her business degree and minor in communication. While she chose to take business communication, business statistics, and negotiations and disputes —  totaling 13.5 credits — she explained that students could tailor it to their needs, as the program offers many different classes.

“They have a really good mix,” she said.

She said she purposely chose a shorter program so that she could obtain a surface exposure to the country to see if it was something she’d like to someday see again and to help her determine if she’d want to do more international travelling. However, she now wishes that the program had been longer to get an even more thorough understanding of the culture.

“It was a really short amount of time; there were people I would have liked to get to know better, places I would like to go and to have to jam-pack everything in was kind of rough,” she said. “By the time I was just feeling like I was getting integrated into the daily motions, I was already leaving,” she said, especially since she spent the first week fighting jet lag from the 13-hour time difference.

In the end, she said she’d highly recommend the program, especially to anyone who is hesitant to commit to a full term abroad.

She said she is still surprised it all happened, though she is very proud she came out more self-reliant and culturally knowledgeable than ever.

“It made me feel really proud that I was able to do something like that,” she said.  “If you had asked me a couple of years ago, I would say I wouldn’t be able to do this, but actually doing it has opened my eyes.”