people's place pride

This article was part of a Daily Orange feature story pitting coffee shop chains against the little guys. As the co-manager of People's Place—a non-profit, student run campus coffee shop— I took the little guy's side.

Kyle Corea, one of the managers of Funk n’ Waffles, said he wishes he could print a list of everything wrong with chain coffee shops, and how small shops like his are better. Too bad I only have 550 words.

Instead of the corporate-mandated repetition of specially selected  tracks, small coffee shops have a sound all their own. Whether it’s an old record, a surprising playlist, or a live band at Funk n’ Waffles DJ Wednesdays, you never know what tune your about to hear. The space to sit and relax at Funk n’ Waffles, Freedom of Espresso, or in the room adjacent to People’s Place is so much more welcoming than the revolving door of customers flowing in and out of chain shops.

More importantly, the goods these shops offer don’t come from a giant warehouse or industrial sized freezer. People’s Place rotates through more than two-dozen different Fair Trade, organic flavors, soaked in different brews to offer calorie-free, syrup-free, good-for-the-world flavored coffee, and Funk n’ Waffles makes every specialty drink by hand. Food is made fresh with local, organic products, and benefits other small business like Byrne Dairy and Liberty Deli.

Elysa Smigielski, a senior studio arts student, said she strays from chains because she believes in helping local businesses, and in these small shops’ mission to do the same. “I bought this mug at Freedom of Espresso for $20,” she said. “I could have gotten one at Target for $5, but I want to help these little places because they have quality products and a great atmosphere.”

Still, the small shops often offer better prices. People’s Place sells the same Tazo teas as Starbucks. The quality is exactly the same, but the price for a large tea at People’s is $0.50, compared to $2.35 at Starbucks. A large mocha is $1 versus $4.15. If you buy one cup of coffee per class day for a semester, that’s $252—which could like, totally pay for a new pair of Uggs and leggings!

But there’s more separating People’s Place, Funk n’ Waffles, or Freedom of Espresso apart from corporate chains than price. These tiny shops are an escape from a materialistic campus with a credit card and an attitude problem. They are tiny havens of caring individuals and caffeinated beverages. As a manger of People’s Place, I know that when we hire employees, we aren’t looking for how many barista jobs they’ve had; we’re looking to see if they’re going to ask customers how their day is, and genuinely care to hear the response.

Before I left to study abroad in London last semester, two of my favorite customers handmade me a coffee mug, as a keepsake of my time at People’s Place. Upon my return, peers, faculty, staff, and people I just know by their coffee orders were giving me hugs, showing me baby photos, and telling me which of my blog posts were their favorites. When you become a regular customer at a small coffee shop, you’re not just getting a quick pick-me-up to get you through a bio lecture. You’re becoming a part of an intimate family who isn’t interested in taking your money (that jar on the PP counter benefits a children’s fund).

I am overwhelmed by the impact these small shops, their staffs, and their customers have made in my time as a Syracuse student. What started as a cheap cup of coffee has made my life a mixture of Comstock and Westcott— a blend between clean-cut prep and something with a little more edge. Moving away from Starbucks or Dunkin’ Donuts changed more than just where I went on a Saturday night or what songs I downloaded to my iPod; It changed how I view myself in this world by exposing me to people who don’t try so hard to fit in. That’s an awfully big result for an 85-cent hazelnut with cream. 

Read the other side http://bit.ly/akGjtD 

the new facebook fad

I’ll admit it. I waste an unbelievable amount of time considering the quality of my Facebook profile picture. I search for a photo that says I’m exciting enough to friend request, but safe for employers to hire. I click through my own profile pictures probably more than all of my friends combined. Your profile picture isn’t just another tagged photo; it’s a representation of your identity. It’s a tiny window for the casual Facebook stalker to get to know the real you. But this week, it’s all a lie.

For the past few days, Facebook users worldwide have taken part in doppleganger week: a time to change user profile pictures to that of an actor, athlete, musician, or other quasi-famous person the user may resemble.

This Facebook phenomenon gets it name from the German word doppelganger, deriving from double (doppel) + goer (ganger). Merriam and Webster define doppelganger as a ghostly counterpart of a living person, double, or alter ego. The idea of a figurative double was the theme of Joseph Conrad’s 1912 novel, The Secret Sharer. The term is also the title of a 1993 romantic thriller staring Drew Barrymore, which the International Movie Database claims is up 132 percent in popularity this week (Google searching doppelganger anyone?)

Alejandra Nasser, a sophomore art history student, said one of her friends who changed his picture to Joseph Gordon-Levitt (500 Days of Summer) bared a close enough resemblance to the star that she wondered why her friend had a headshot as his photo. Nasser, however, chose not to participate. “As an ethnic person, there aren’t enough really famous minorities,” she said. “People would just ask me why I didn’t use America Ferrera (Ugly Betty).”

Looking through my mini-feed of Syracuse friends I’ve found varying levels of success at my peers’ endeavors. Some people find surprisingly accurate look-alikes­­­— the punky hipster who eerily resembles Ellen DeGeneres, or a messy brunette matched with the perfect phase of Britney Spears’ breakdown. Others took a humorous approach by matching a scrawny white girl with a rags-to-riches rapper, or a devastatingly handsome heartthrob with a nerdy freshman. Some of my personal favorites have come from cartoon character look-alikes like Mulan, Pocohantas, and Tommy Pickles.

Still, not everyone is playing the game right. If your so-called doppelganger has topped Maxim’s Hot 100, you’re single, and you aren’t trying to make a joke, reevaluate your participation before accepting any friend requests.

If you’re struggling to find a twin, a recent article in the NY Daily News suggested readers check out sites like myhertitage.net or use the Facebook application, Face Double to find an accurate portrayal. You could always just pick your idol and hope people think you’re a comedian and not a raving narcissist.

Blogs and online forums seem to have some controversy over when doppelganger week ends, but it seems like you’ve got a few more days. Make the most of your chance to escape reality and image search some B-list celebrities (let’s be real here, folks) for an identity change.

As for me, I’ve enjoyed the relief from my profile picture quest that’s come with having Aimee Teegarden (Friday Night Lights) represent me, but I’m ready for this week to end. Facebook stalking is infinitely harder when profile pictures are fakes. 

See what students said at http://bit.ly/cvrhJR

not everyone's rushing to rush

Tonight in Schine student center kicks off the Pan-Hellenic Society’s 2010 recruitment season, and pretty soon it’s going to seem like every girl on campus is in a house. Current sisters will be wearing their Greek insignia on the daily. This weekend and next will see record numbers of young women flocking to Walnut and Comstock in a sea of polished locks and perfectly accessorized outfits. As a senior, I’ve seen this all before. Tonight starts a strategic game of smiles, bumping into conversation, of “less eyeliner, more mascara,” and faking friendships until they turn real. It’s an annual event, and a reminder of what I’ve chosen not to be a part of.

It might sound like I’m just another sorority-hater, but freshman year I had never felt so left out. With every girl on campus showing their sorority involvement more than ever, I felt like I was the only one who didn’t rush. I called home to tell my mother I regretted not joining in, and I planned to pledge sophomore year. Sophomore year came and went and I rationalized that rushing wasn’t worth the commitment if I was going to spend a semester abroad and graduate early. Still, with Greek life thrust into the spotlight, I have wondered if I’m missing out by not rushing. Sororities have organized social events and, as my post-graduate unemployment looms in front of me, I’m sure I’d appreciate a network of sisters spread across the nation.

Maria Angelov, a junior policy studies and political science student, said she remembers hearing so many of her classmates talking about rush and feeling like everyone on campus was taking part in Greek life, except for her.  But not everyone has felt the same way. “Maybe from time to time I think it would be fun to go through and see what it’s like, but I’ve never really thought I wanted to rush,” said junior Brittany McLaren. “I know it’s not for me,” she said.

As much as I’ve always known I didn’t fit into sorority life, rush week has still always been a hard time to be GDI. But even though for these next two weeks Greek life might seem bigger than ever, sororities and fraternities only comprise of 20 percent of Syracuse University’s student body, according to the student life Web site. For those of you readers who know rush isn’t for you, here’s a reminder that you’re not alone. I’ve loved my time here at SU and I can’t imagine what it’s going to be like to leave the friends I’ve made here. It might have taken me a few years to realize, but I know that even though I’m not in a house, I’ve still made a home.

See this on The Daily Orange's web site http://bit.ly/bY3rnr

tweet, tweet

I have finally broken down and used twitter... stay updated with https://twitter.com/cegelston

no more fish and chips?

This dining hall review was my first opinion column in The Daily Orange back on campus. 

The dining center at Ernie Davis, which opened Saturday, is now the newest and largest dining center on campus; but it’s still just a dining center. It might have more food options than Sadler or Brockway, but the food remains mostly mediocre. If you have not yet experienced it’s twisting maze of hot food, salad bars, and stir-fry lines, just picture any other dining center on campus you’ve ever been to and the idea is the same.

Ernie Davis dining center’s location is convenient for students living in Booth, Dellplain, Haven, Watson or on Comstock and the proximity to many classroom buildings is especially appreciated during the cold winter months, but I don’t think it’s worth the trek if you have a closer dining center.

Melissa Weston, a sophomore public relations and political science dual major said, “I was expecting the food to be better or different, but it’s all just the same.” Ernie Davis boasts a seating capacity of 500 people, but at rush hour dinnertime it’s still impossible to find a clean empty seat. With Shaw closing earlier and Haven no longer open, the extra space Ernie Davis offers gets eaten up quickly by hungry students. Though well staffed, the center still runs out of trays, forks and food, just like any other dining hall.

I visited Ernie after class Tuesday night and found the new hall cramped with people. I kept losing my friend, even though he’s 6’6’’ and normally pretty hard to miss in a crowd. For 10 minutes I wandered around the buffet labyrinth hoping to find something especially appetizing, but was disappointed to find the same slop I ate all freshman year. The new neon green booths looked comfortable, but they were all filled. I wound up teetering on a flimsy orange stool that looked like it might break if I ate one more of my mystery Chinese chicken nuggets. I’m sure the food at Ernie Davis’s salad bar, wrap station, Edy’s ice cream machine or cereal dispensers taste just great, but the Thanksgiving stuffing still closely resembles vomit.

Overall, I think Ernie Davis dining center is a good addition to campus, giving students a new option that is, for many, closer than any other dining center. Its ability to house so many students is a major plus at such a large school, and the additional staff seems to be working hard to keep the center clean. I’m sure it will look nice when renovations and decorations are completed. Still, expectations of a gourmet meal in a cozy, relaxed environment are unrealistic. I didn’t hate my dinner at Ernie and there’s a chance I will stop in again, but I’m glad I don’t have a meal plan.

Read student feedback online at http://bit.ly/4BBJcK

almost there

one test until freedom!

host program provides better understanding of british life

I’ve been told life in London is much different from life in the rest of Britain, and this weekend I got to find out how. 

Host UK is a voluntary organization that matches up international students with willing families to stay for a weekend. SU London pays a portion of the program’s application fee, making it only 20 pounds to participate. Your host family covers all the costs of your visit including every activity you do and all your meals, though you need to pay for transportation to the family’s house. When applying you list your preferences for the area you’d like to stay in, the types of activities you’re interested in doing, and the general family composition you’re looking for. I asked to be in the countryside, preferably on a farm. I wound up in Tiverton, Devon (three hours west of London and near the coast) at a house with a barn and three chickens. It was a perfect match. 

On my first night, my host mom, Julia, and her mother-in-law, Patsy, took me to a Christmas fair in town. All the little shops played Christmas music and passed out homemade baked goods and everyone on the streets said hello to me. It was the kind of small town hospitality I rarely see in London and have missed so much while abroad. After a homemade dinner, Julia and her husband Simon sat around drinking tea and talking about the differences in US and Britain with me. I got to ask the questions I’ve been wondering about Britain, like what they think of the National Health System, their thoughts on America’s involvement in foreign wars, and why they don’t like peanut butter. My interest in their lives was matched with their interest in mine and for each question I asked about Britain they asked one about America. I asked how someone becomes a knight and they wanted to know why America is so religious. I had worried we would have nothing to say to one another, but we wound up talking until 2 a.m. 

In the next couple days we went out to a proper English tea, visited a nearby national park, drove through the countryside, and watched their favorite British TV shows. Julia showed me how to make her favorite holiday pudding and Simon taught me the meanings of British slang I still haven’t figured out. With Christmas approaching fast, I’ve been feeling torn between never wanting to leave London and missing being with friends and family during the holidays. Reading the newspaper next to a burning fire and listening to the family’s 16-year-old son talk about his weekend plans, I felt at home and homesick all at once. The couple met while studying at Oxford and have traveled all over the world. Their house was a mess of mixed treasures and their stories were from nearly every continent. 

Early on in London I learned that most Brits eat a “Sunday roast,” so I started making a weekly trek to the nearest pub. But this Sunday I sat at a packed dinner table in the English countryside and shared a home-cooked meal with a British family. When it was time to go I hugged everyone goodbye without feeling at all awkward. The Bonvoisins weren’t my real family, but they had opened up their doors to me like they were.