Friday, November 20, 2009

The Institute was well represented in Kairos XVII

The Saint Ignatius Institute sent ten representatives to Kairos XVII this past weekend, to great success. A grand time was had by all. ULTIMATE FRISBEE, football, much dining and the enjoying of one anothers company, banana battles, and a little reflection when we had time. For all those unable to come this semester, I remind you that there is another Kairos next semester, as well as SII's very own retreat. They are both offer quite a deal of fun and camaraderie. As a veteran of both, I heartily recommend participation in either or both.

Friday, November 13, 2009

Murder Most Foul!

Last Tuesday, November the tenth, at approximately seven hours post-meridiem, at a reading of his will in the library of his estate, Kalmanovitz, Mr. Body collapsed to the floor, dead, of poison in his fine Irish whiskey. The guests in attendance were all likely culprits, yet by the ensuing confusing it was clear that they were not bonded in conspiracy. And so it meant that only one, or perhaps some small conspiracy, amongst them could be responsible. Was it:

Prof. Plum, childhood friend of Mr. Body, who was seen in heated argument with the master before the meeting in the Library? Prof Plum's affections for Ms. Peacock was well known, and he did not hide his jealousy at the two's marriage, and he hid poorly his glee at the two's separation. Yet could no have been guilty of this most heinous crime; for he was with Mr. Body the whole evening, and had not access to the fine Irish whiskey the whole night.

Ms. White, maid to the master, and desperate for a way to pay for her son's operation? She did have access the the fine Irish whiskey all night. But killing her employer would not gain her anything, for why would a lowly serving wretch be in the will of a giant of industry such as Mr. Body?

Ms. Peacock, Mr Body's spurned former wife. Jealous of his new trophy wife, perhaps she killed him out of spite. It even looked as thought she tried to frame Mr. Body's new toy, Ms Scarlet, by hiding poison in her purse. Yet, maybe the poison was left for her to find, in the hopes she would incriminate herself by trying to frame her younger counterpart. Again, though, circumstance exonerates her, for she is of the opinion that a lady should never pour her own drink, and so was never near the bottle or her ex-husbands glass.

Ms. Scarlet and Mr. Green, then, our conspirators! She, Mr. Body's fiance, youthful and selfish, he, Mr. Body's lawyer,intelligent and unscrupulous. She knew she would be in the will, for her lover, MR. GREEN surely told her. Being nearer her age, shrewd Mr. Green would undoubtedly make a better make for the vivacious Ms. Scarlet. And when one factors in the hefty inheritance,
one has an equation for marriage at it's most leisurely - and DAMNED! If we integrate this function, however, we find that the two would be murders were too busy trying to creating life to bother themselves in the business of ending one.

Who could it be, if it were none of these guests?

Only Col. Mustard! Mr. Body's most trusted adviser. He was the one who provided the fine Irish whiskey in the first place! He was the one who would inherit not the estate, but the entire conglomeration which Mr. Body headed! Col. Mustard was the assassin, his only motivation, greed!

Friday, October 23, 2009

Ancient Night!

















Action Shot! Quin and Kyle rearrange furniture in preparation of the festivities! Kyle would go on to amuse the audience with ancient humor!


































Devon, Kyle, Andrea, and Lionell perform a skit that demonstrates that none of them should ever be allowed access to the One Ring.


















Prof. Oele, who organized the evenings festivities, and Prof. Kuperus debate whether or not Socrates deserves all the hullaballoo. Prof. Kuperus holds that we should really call him "Suckrates," for all the good he's done. Prof. Oele calls that statement b***shit.























Quin tries to pull of the juice box connoisseur look.


















Steve and Barbara!

Friday, October 9, 2009

First Gala of the Year!

Last Friday was the the first Gala of the year, and boy, did every get all gussied up! We had quite the turnout, and when you couple that with delicious food and a poetry reading courtesy Prof. Schramm (though that really is a triple), having a bad time is harder than peeling a potato with a feather. Feast your peepers on some of pictures capturing the event. Everyone comes out a real looker.













Saturday, July 25, 2009

FAQ's

What's up?!!!! So I thought in between watching episodes of The Office and Arrested Development I would take some time to blog today! Wahooo! Exciting, I know. I know a lot of people have questions about the institute, so hopefully this blog can serve as a forum to enhance your knowledge! Let's see here...I guess I'll just list some FAQ's, because I can't think of a witty transition, the answers are a combination of the online brochure and my own thoughts:

  • What is SII? - The St. Ignatius Institute (SII) offers an integrated liberal arts curriculum in which the primary curricular threads - history, literature, philosophy and theology - are organized to follow an historical sequence. The Institute is designed for those who want the solid foundation of a Catholic liberal arts education in the Jesuit tradition...Basically it's a chance for you to study the classics and develop yourself further as a person (not a bad deal)
  • Do you have to be Catholic?- NO!! I'm not Catholic and I'm in the institute! While there is Mass on Tuesdays, it is optional (but speaking from a non-Catholic, never-been-to-mass-before-college viewpoint, it's a very nice, intimate service that adds to the overall experience). The important thing is to have an open mind and a desire to learn.
  • Is SII a major? - No, The Institute's program does not comprise a "major." Instead, it is an alternative core curriculum substituting SII classes for the University's core in all areas except mathematics and science. To complete requirements for the baccalaureate degree, each Institute student must also complete one of the majors offered by the University, as well as any additional courses required by specific undergraduate colleges. Institute students are enrolled in majors from all sections of the University: science, business, nursing, humanities, and social sciences. With few exceptions, students are able to complete the SII program and a major within four years.
  • How are SII classes different?- A unique feature of this program is the seminar/lecture combination. Each semester, a seminar deals with a specific curricular area and time frame through the discussion of pertinent great books and their authors. Concurrently, the same area is systematically treated in a lecture course. All SII courses incorporate primary sources as much as possible. This is an academically challenging course of study geared towards students who want a rigorous academic college experience while living and studying in a community. The Institute also sponsors lectures for the wider University community on topics of contemporary importance... personally my favorite part of the institute is the seminar style classes (wahoo, I can only take sooo much lecture, and the small size, it's great to really get to know your professor and have discussions with your peers.
  • Do you have to live on the floor?- Nope, while it is encouraged for students to live on the SII floor (2nd floor Phelan) it is not required. In addition to SII being a particular academic course of study, it is a residential learning community within the University. Students enrolled in the SII are invited to live on the SII floor in one of the residence halls. In addition to the advantage of living with students who are taking the same classes as oneself, this community comes together once a week for an evening of reflection, dinner, and fun. Other aspects of the residential living community include the students performing community service activities together, attending social events and outings, and having opportunities for prayer and reflection. All aspects of the residential living community of SII are optional but are encouraged as ways to integrate the academic and social aspects of the collegiate experience.
I hope this helps with your questions! SII truly is an excellent experience and I would not trade it for the world. It changed my college experience for the better, the classes are illuminating, the professors fascinating, and the people you meet will be by your side in and out of class for the long haul.

Adios,
Kailey

Friday, July 24, 2009

Welcome!

I figured I'd follow the trend and say hello too! My name is Kyrstin, and like Teresa and Kailey, I too am a junior at USF and have spent the last two years in SII! I have lived on the SII floor for the past two years as well and I am majoring in International Studies.

I really hope everyone is excited for orientation! And if you have any questions about SII or USF please feel free to drop me an email. I can't wait to meet everyone!

Have a wonderful day!

Kyrstin
kthorson2@dons.usfca.edu

Tuesday, July 21, 2009

Greetings!

Hello and welcome!

My name is Kailey and I have (like Teresa) been in SII for the past two years. I hope that you find this blog to be informative but mostly interesting. Feel free to contact us for any questions pertaining to USF, The Institute, or San Francisco...or life in general, although I'm not sure what kind of answers you'll receive on the latter. With this being said, I would like to leave you with this website I found while stubling.

http://www.platosallegory.com/

Kailey

Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Welcome New SII Students!

Hello!

I'm Teresa Garcia. I'm a junior and I've been in SII for the past couple of years. I was also the resident advisor for the SII living learning community this past year.

I'd like to welcome all of you to our SII family! I know you'll learn a lot in your next few years of college and have a ton of fun along the way, especially if you choose to live on the SII floor. You'll become very close friends with everyone!

Don't hesitate to drop me an email if you have any questions or if you just want to say hi!

Cheers,
Teresa
teresacgarcia@yahoo.com

Friday, April 24, 2009

SII Gala 2

We had our second SII Gala tonight in the Handlery Room at Lone Mountain.  

For dinner we had creamy chicken, pasta, wild rice, asparagus and eggplant parmesan. For dessert, we had a specially made SII strawberry cake.

Our guest speaker was Dr. Peter Novak, who gave a very exciting talk about the performance of Shakespeare in American Sign Language.

It was a great way to spend an evening with SII students and professors, as well as lovely non-SII guests.

 
  
  
 
  
  

  
  
 

Sunday, April 19, 2009

Agatha Christie Night

Thanks to everyone who came to our first ever Agatha Christie Film Night. It was a great success and we thank Fr. Recio for his wonderful intro to Christie and the murder mystery genre. Further, it was awesome to watch the classic film Death on the Nile. You all looked beautiful and handsome in your 1920s attire. Even if you didn't dress up, thanks for coming and you looked beautiful and handsome anyway!

Giants Game

We all got together to root for the Giants last Friday at AT&T Park. It was a great game and we beat the Diamondbacks 2-0.

 
 

 
  
  
 

Thursday, April 16, 2009

Agatha Christie Murder Mystery Movie Night

****This is NOT a re-enactment of a murder mystery.
It is a film night.****

Come to SII's Agatha Christie murder mystery film night!

When: Sunday, April 19 @ 7:30 p.m.
Where: SII Office, KA 144
Attire: 1920s cocktail-wear encouraged
What: A wonderful evening of an intro to the murder mystery genre, an exciting film, delightful company and (of course) free refreshments!


Dress up in 1920s cocktail attire and join us for an evening of murder, mystery and fun as we watch a classic Agatha Christie film.

The movie choices are Nemesis, Death on the Nile and The Secret Adversary. Post a comment to vote for your favorite.

Fr. Recio will give a brief intro to the film and to Agatha Christie's role in the murder mystery genre.

As always, refreshments will be provided! Bring your friends. Thanks and see you there!

Sunday, April 5, 2009

New Curriculum

Hello everyone! Just a heads up in case you haven't checked your mailboxes: SII is making some changes to the curriculum.

In the past students were required to complete five courses in addition to USF's core curriculum: Medieval Philosophy, Medieval Literature, Modern Philosophy, Modern Literature and the SII Senior Seminar.

Due to study abroad and the need to take courses for majors/minors, students may find it difficult to complete these courses. As a result, the classes were often under-enrolled. Therefore, SII is no longer requiring students to take these five courses.

Instead, SII will require students to take one symposium for each academic year they are on campus. Because SII is a Great Books program, each symposium will be a two-unit course in which a small number of students will work with a professor to discuss and learn about significant primary texts in the Western tradition.

I got all of this info straight from the letter we were sent. More information will be available this Tuesday, April 7 at 6:30pm in the SII Office (KA 144). See you then!

Mucho <3,
Teresa

Tuesday, March 3, 2009

SII Stuff

Hello!

I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend. All of us who were able to attend the SII Spring Retreat had a great time. Who doesn't love their own room and bathroom???? If anyone has pictures from the retreat feel free to post them!

Here are the happenings for the week:

Tuesday Night:
Fr. Kendall will celebrate mass with us at 6 pm
Following Mass, we will play Charades. I hope many of you will join us.

Other Items to Note:

March 5, Thursday: SO FAR FROM MEXICO CITY, SO CLOSE TO GOD
LM 100, 9:30-11:30am
Author and journalist Sam Quinones. So Far From Mexico City, So Close to God: True Tales of Why Mexicans Migrate.

Thursday, March 5, 4 - 5:30, Xavier Chapel, Fromm Hall -- How about an SII group attending this?
"Beauty and Love in Plato, Frankfurt, and Wojtila" by Dr. Giovanni Ferrari
Dr. Giovanni specializes in Ancient Philosophy, Greek Culture, Ancient Poetics and Rhetoric at UC Berkeley.

8th Annual Global Women's Rights Forum. (Good events for SII Students) A whole series of events!!
MONDAY, MARCH 2: IMMIGRANT WOMEN'S RIGHTS IN CALIFORNIA
Berman Hall, Fromm, 6-8pm
The 8th Annual Global Women's Rights Forum presents the Women from Lideres Campesinas Organization in Salinas and Bernadette Herrera and Elaine Villasper of the Filipino Community Center in San Francisco. These groups will be discussing Immigrant Women's Rights in California. This event is free and open to the public.
TUESDAY, MARCH 3: YOUTH ORGANIZING AGAINST HIV/AIDS AT HOME AND ABROAD
Berman Hall, Fromm, 6-8pm
Participants: Joya Banerjee, Founder, Global Youth Coalition on HIV/AIDS; Shamillah Wilson, Sowilo Leadership Solutions (South Africa); and Kyle Kitson, LYRIC: Lavender Youth Recreation & Information Center (San Francisco).
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 4: GLOBAL PERSPECTIVES ON RELIGIOUS FUNDAMENTALISM
Berman Hall, Fromm, 6-8pm
Global Perspectives on Religious Fundamentalism: Assessing the Impact on Women. Participants: Teresia Hinga, University of Santa Clara; Maria Suarez Toro, FIRE: Feminist International Radio Endeavour (Costa Rica); and Lois Lorentzen, Chair, Theology and Religious Studies, USF. Moderator: Lilian Dube, Theology and Religious Studies, USF
MARCH 5, Thursday: WOMEN IN THE NEWS: PART OF THE PICTURE OR A DIFFERENT PICTURE?
UC 102, 1:30-3:30pm
Presentation by Maria Suarez Toro, FIRE: Feminist International Radio Endeavour (Costa Rica).


This looks really interesting!
Thursday, March 5: (MORE) NOT FOR SALE PRESENTS BACKYARD ABOLITIONIST TOUR
Presentation Theater, 7-9pm
"Backyard Abolitionist" Tour will be a multi-media event featuring recording artist Brant Christopher and Not For Sale Campaign President David Batstone. Come enjoy a night of entertainment with Not for Sale as Brant and Dave weave together stories, songs, pictures, and videos about the modern-day slave trade and the current abolitionist movement.

Have a great week!

Thursday, February 26, 2009

Saint Ignatius Scrapbook

Hey everyone! Here's a little digital scrapbook I put together. It has some of my favorite pictures from last year and this year. After you click on the project below, use the little arrows beneath the book to flip the pages, and make sure to turn the volume up. Enjoy!

Love,
Teresa

Click to play this Smilebox photobook: Saint Ignatius Institute
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Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Welcome!

Hello St. Ignatius Community!!!!!!
Writing from the SII office in wonderful San Francisco, Kyrstin T., Kailey D., and Christine P., would like to extend a most exuberant welcome! We hope that this blog keeps you caught up on the happenings of the Institute and provides a outlet for your blogging needs.

News:
It was great to have so many of you come to the SII Dinner on Friday night. We hope to have another dinner this semester so stay tuned. If you have an idea for a topic for the talk, please let me know. Thanks. For those of you who missed this first dinner, I hope you can come the next time.

For this week. . . .
Tuesday night Mass will be celebrated by Fr. Sean. This is a good way to begin your Lenten Season so I hope many of you can come.

Do you know that USF has a Human Rights Film Festival this week, Tuesday - Thursday? On Tuesday, following Mass, we invite you to attend Trouble the Water with the SII community. The film will begin at 6:30 in Presentation theater. For a complete schedule of the festival as well as information on the individual films, please visit: www.usfca.edu/mediastudies/hrw SII is one of the sponsors of the festival.

This week-end is the SII spring retreat. We have eighteen students attending

Other News:
  • What's with the Phelan Phunk? Nothing says welcome home like that special scent.
  • Feelings about the door locks? Who's been locked out so far? What were you wearing?
  • What's your favorite thing to not eat from the Caf?
  • Wahoo! Fire Alarms, they are awesome aren't they?
  • The Retreat! OMG OMG OMG, Free food and a room/bathroom alone, helloooo quality solo time :)
  • Also, what's with the .5 ply toilet paper? Let's stage a coup d'etat.




Well that's it for now friends. Feel free to respond with your questions, concerns, misconceptions or bad jokes. I hope that the week is going well for you and that the sun stays.


Love Forever,
Iggy.