The Facts:

Mock Trial has provided an opportunity for students to gain experience in a legal setting through the enactment of a trial. They combine debate, legal studies and acting to build a realistic case that is presented and tried in front of judges with teams across the nation. This outstanding group has competed at the national level for three of the past four years and is currently recognized as one of the top 40 teams among hundreds in the nation.

What to Expect:

The Mock Trial Organization will be traveling to the University of Pennsylvania this weekend to compete against the strongest teams in the Northeast; so make sure to wish the members of Mock Trial good luck before they test their skills this weekend!

Interested?

Anyone interested in public speaking or acting, and interested in learning more about the law can contact Brittany Crowley or visit their CCC page for more information.

Continue Reading

The Facts:

University of Rochester’s only co-ed a cappella group, After Hours, is an award-winning group that focuses on contemporary a cappella music. They have been spreading the love for music to our community and its surroundings since their beginnings in 1998. Last year, they competed in the International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella (ICCA) and made it all the way to the Quarter Finals at Rutgers University. They also had the opportunity to meet Ingrid Michaelson and perform their rendition “The Chain” for her and her band.

What to Expect:

You can see After Hours perform in their fall concert on November 5^th at 8:00 PM in Strong Auditorium.  They also perform various times throughout the year at different campus events; so don’t miss the opportunity to see this outstanding group sing their hearts out!

Interested?

People interested in joining After Hours or learning more about their upcoming events can contact Alaina Sawyer (alaina.sawyer@rochester.edu).

Continue Reading

The Facts:

The Music Interest floor, located on the ninth floor of Wilder Tower, has been a community of musicians and music lovers since 1976. As a non-profit organization the musicians are dedicated to promoting music at the university as well as in the community of Rochester. MIF is partially responsible for the “Schoolhouse Rock” fundraising concert that benefits Rochester city school music programs. MIF also flexes their charity muscle by hosting a benefit concert at the Rochester Psychiatric center.

What to Expect:

Future events include a joint performance with the Gregory St. Blues band as well as other MIF member performances. MIF’s continued dedication to charity work incorporates their love of music and is impressive for a special interest housing group.

Apply now to live on MIF next year! Members get the luxury of rocking out with other music lovers in addition to doing community service.

Interested in living in MIF?:

Contact:

Margaret Close mclose@u.rochester.edu

or Hayley Hoffman hhoffman@u.rochester.edu

Continue Reading

The Facts:

Circle K International, an outstanding group known for their contribution to the Rochester community, is a collegiate service organization that promotes fellowship, leadership, and service. Their members work to uphold their basic ideals: to foster compassion and goodwill towards others through service and leadership;   to develop the abilities of themselves as well as the abilities of the people they work with; and to dedicate themselves to the realization of mankind’s potential. They are a part the CSN- the community service network, as well the Brighton’s Kiwanis Club.

Quick pic on their last trip!

What to Expect:

Circle K does service projects all year long. Some to look out for are Make-A-Child-Smile, Better World Books, Alternative Spring Break, and Let’s Go Green. Make-A-Child-Smile is a project in which members of Circle K create brightening  and encouraging cards for terminally ill children. They are currently planning on fundraising to send gift baskets to the children for their birthdays. For Run a Better World Book Drive, they collect books in support of literacy programs in the United States and overseas.

Alternative Spring Break is another option for those looking for an interesting and exciting Spring Break. This venture provides those who attend with the opportunity to do community service events in Kiptopeke State Park in Virginia. Lastly, Let’s Go Green is a project that involves a network of local Circle-K’s in the Central Lakes district.

More events include service at food kitchens, nursing homes, and the Salvation Army.  Circle K meets every other Sunday at 5pm in Wilson Commons 507. New members are welcomed.

Circle K spent last spring break planting trees and doing other volunteer work.

Relaxing after a hard day's work.

Interested?

People interested in joining can email: Imoh Ikpot at imoh.ikpot@rochester.edu

F0r more information visit Circle K on the Campus Club Connection.

Continue Reading

The Facts:

ROC the Raas has arrived! Bringing the campus a fantastic flair of Indian style dance since 2006, they have been continuing to give us something to talk about. Originating in the Indian state of Gujarat, Raas fuses dandiya and garba. Dandiya is a style of dance done with two sticks in which a partner’s sticks are usually struck, and garba is a dance generally done in a circle and the movements are repeated. ROC the Raas is a group that competes as well as hosts cultural events. This year, ROC the Raas placed second in Muqabla, a dance competition at SUNY Buffalo that features Indian performance groups and allows them to compete. Last year ROC the Raas placed first.  They also host events such as TundRaas, which is an annual Indian dance festival.

ROC the Raas at SUNY Buffalo Muqabla competition

What to Expect:

ROC the Raas is currently four years old, but is continuing to grow and in the future they hope to attend many more competitions. The team began as a group of 8 girls but has expanded to a co-ed group of 26.

Interested?:

Contact: Tara George (tara.george@rochester.edu) or Nicole Sciarrino (nsciarri@gmail.com)

Continue Reading

The Facts:

SALSA has been spicing up campus for the past 25 years by spreading awareness of cultural, social, and educational knowledge of Hispanic culture through events, such as Tropicana, Latino Heritage Month, and Day of the Dead. SALSA is comprised of two additional groups, SALSEROS and SALSITA. SALSEROS is a performance dance group. The sizzling sounds of Merengue, Bachata and Salsa fill the air when they present campus with the opportunity to learn steps of Latino dances during their event, Bailamos. SALSITA, a junior e-board for SALSA comprised of first year students and freshmen, is a group responsible for events, one of which is the SALSITA fashion show in the spring, in which the proceeds go to charity.

S.A.L.S.A. raising awareness.

What to Expect:

The goals of S.A.L.S.A.  is to promote cultural, educational, and social awareness about the Latino culture to the rest of the campus community. Through working together, they strive to enrich the campus with Latino heritage, to demonstrate the unity and all the values that exist within the Latino community.

Guest of a S.A.L.S.A. event get serenaded.

Members of S.A.L.S.A. painting the tunnels to advertise for Tropicana.

Interested?:

Contact: Xochilth Cosme (xcosme@u.rochester.edu) or Patricia Mendez (pmendez2@u.rochester.edu)

Continue Reading

The Facts:

The D’Lion Organization is one of the treasures of undergraduate student life at the University of Rochester. With its long history  (over 50 years) at the University, the organization has established itself as an essential component of promoting community spirit within the residence halls and the University as a whole.  D’Lions decorate halls, help celebrate residents’ birthdays, as well as organize and run various events.  As a service organization they respond to the needs of the community and to those of the individual.

What to Expect:

Located on freshman halls, D’Lions are responsible for promoting hall spirit and creating a comfortable living atmosphere. They accomplish this by planning programs and decorating, among other things.

Throughout campus the D’Lion organization sponsors multiple blood drives as well as many other community service projects including helping out on Wilson Day. They aim to create programs that the entire campus can take part in.

D'Lions getting ready to move in Freshman

Vasily Liapis’12, Rebecca Donnelly’12 and Trey Socash’12 getting ready for a D’Lion sponsored Fill Fauver Men’s Soccer Game.

Gannett 4 D'Lions, Nikita Bourque ’12 and Lauren Forbes’12, show off their decorating skills.

Interested?

Contact Rebecca Donnelly (rdonnell@u.rochester.edu) or Leah Peres (lperes2@u.rochester.edu)

Want to See More?

Check out the D’Lions website.

Continue Reading

The Facts:

The University of Rochester Freshman Orientation Outing Treks program, informally known as UR FOOT, has been a very popular orientation program since its establishment in 2005.  What started as a small-scale program, initially run as a side project of the outdoor group, has grown into its current state as a student association-recognized club, large enough to accomodate 64 class of 2013 freshman! We aim to give freshman the opportunity to experience a 3-day, overnight, outdoor trek – annually scheduled to take place the weekend just prior to the University’s planned orientation program.

What to Expect:
More UR FOOT visibility on campus and in the community and an increase in the number of treks offered next year, including more canoeing and biking treks!

Chris Jensen ('10) at Marcy Dam in the Adirondacks

Andrew Flack ('09) and Steve Rosen ('10) at the peak of Mt. Marcy

Interested?

Contact Derek Crowe (dcrowe13@gmail.com) or Andrew Flack (flack.andrew@gmail.com)

Want to See More?
Check out UR FOOT’s website.

Continue Reading