BY ERICA MILOSH

Nichols students seized the opportunity Oct. 1 to travel to New York City as a part of the College’s “How Women Lead” course. During the trip, the 12 female students toured companies to meet with female executives and participated in cultural activities.

The two chaperones on the trip were Jean Beaupre, assistant professor and faculty director for the Institute for Women’s Leadership at Nichols; and Human Resource Management Professor Libba Moore. The two co-teach “How Women Lead.”

“We wanted to expose students to good examples of female professionals and the challenges they face in the workplace,” explained Beaupre.

The women of Nichols were able to meet with six executives at Cammack Health in Manhattan and ask questions about career paths, gender issues, and work-life balance. Cammack Health is a small company with about 40-50 employees that stresses equality among men and women professionals.

Mary Daly, a junior accounting major and business communication minor at Nichols, said she received valuable advice from the executives at Cammack.

“(One executive) told us not to reject an opportunity if we feel that we’re not capable, because there are resources to help us through it,” she said.

Mary also learned that it’s important to find a job that feels right and that it’s okay to say no sometimes because there will always be other opportunities.

Savannah Goodrich, a senior general business major, realized what type of work environment she’s attracted to during the tours.

“I think it is really important to me to work at a small company someday. I would rather be known as a person, by name, rather than a badge ID number.”

The second corporate tour was at MetLife, a massive company with over 10,000 employees. Students met with three female executives in a large conference room overlooking the Big Apple to discuss the “Lean In” movement. Lean In is a book written by Facebook CFO Sheryl Sandberg that aims to teach women in the workplace empowerment skills, and it has grown into a nation-wide movement. MetLife has promoted Lean In Circles since the concept was introduced a few years ago and is making progress toward gender equality in the company. Overall, MetLife finds importance in letting all of their employees grow within the workplace; there are chances to advance and change positions so employees aren’t restricted to one department.

The students were able to talk about their own Lean In Circle that has started on the Nichols campus. The Lean In Circle is designed to be a safe place for women where they can share their experiences and learn to assertively promote themselves.

Besides business tours, students were able to see other parts of the city such as the 9/11 Memorial and enjoy a meal in Little Italy. They also made a trip to Broadway to catch the theatrical production Kinky Boots. The professors felt it was important to expose students to all different aspects of the city.

Mary explained how the trip brought the class together.

“We were able to grow as individuals and as classmates throughout the trip, and it makes the ‘How Women Lead’ class much more fun, because we all bonded in New York.”

Each student was required to research the companies prior to the New York visit and write a reflection about the experience afterward. The trip was also offered last year, but funding determines the agenda on a year-to-year basis.

BY ERICA MILOSH

On Oct. 23, Student Involvement  provided the Nichols community with a fun, artistic, and relaxing event in Fels Student Center. Students and a few staff and faculty were able to enjoy their Friday night by painting an autumn scene on canvas.

The painting instruction was lead by “Just Paint,” located on Shrewsbury Street in Worcester, Mass. Its owner, Susan Dunshee, says she enjoys putting on these events to expose adults and children to art. Local artist Mustafa Najm helped Susan to teach the art lesson. He gained his experience by teaching art at universities in Iraq.

Fels lounge was filled with a light-hearted atmosphere as students tried out their painting techniques. The event was directed toward seniors, but others were also welcome to join. Overall, 50 people participated.

Carmen Garcia, a junior criminal justice major, had a great time working on her masterpiece.

“It’s easier than I thought it would be, but the details are hard,” she said. “I’m glad I came; this is different from other events.”

First-year student Karan Saini, a business communication major, was grateful to take a break from midterms.

“I needed this distraction from homework,” said Saini.

Everyone’s artwork varied; some students stuck to the instruction, while others experimented with colors and techniques.

Senior class president and international business and finance double major Sean Hoey was one of those who strayed from the herd with his creative painting.

“I am the next Pablo Picasso,” he said. “I’m not sure what any of this is, but it looks good to me.”

Most students wrapped up their masterpieces just after 10 p.m. The overall reaction to the event was positive. It was a great opportunity for students, professors, and staff to get to know each other outside the usual professional or academic setting. Any stress from the busy semester seemed to dissipate among the amateur artists. Many students expressed interest in holding another paint and sip night, or trying something else creative.

Those 21 and older were welcome to sip wine whilst they painted. Police officers were present in Fels to check IDs and to make sure anyone who was allowed to drink was doing so responsibly.

Erica Milosh is a Nichols College senior English major and a contributor to Bison Chronicles.

BY CATHERINE HOEY

In the spirit of Halloween, Nichols College students were treated to a few tricks (or WERE they?) by ghost hunter and medium Chris Fleming. Nichols’ Campus Activities Board brought Chris to campus on Oct. 16. This was his second year on the Hill. During last year’s on-campus ghost hunt, students joined him at Academy Hall to see if they could spot any spirits; this year, they checked out the Guest House.

First off, here is some background on Chris. He started to see ghosts at the young age of five; he described them as little creatures that would come out of his walls. He would try to tell his parents about what he saw, but they told him he was just having nightmares and to simply ignore them. Once these creatures began transforming into larger ones—and actual human manifestations—Chris could no longer bare it. His parents started to believe him when he grew older; his mother was actually interested in ghosts and paranormal things. One day his mom decided to buy a Ouija board to determine what sort of paranormal activity her son was witnessing. This turned out to be a mistake, however, as Chris almost became possessed.

You’re probably wondering how someone can almost become possessed. Well, when he and his mother were using the Ouija board he started to levitate off his chair. His mother panicked and started to yell prayers at him until he returned to a normal state.

Our ghost-hunting adventure on Oct. 16 involved the Nichols College Guest House, which is known to be haunted. Before we even walked into the circa-1700s brick house, Chris said he could sense the ghost of a woman standing at the second-floor window. When he used the ETP (a device used to communicate with ghosts) we could hear her saying “Oh no, they are coming in.”

The house has two levels. On the first floor, right when you walk in,there is a small hallway and then a living room. The room over is the dining room. Then next to that room is a little sitting area and the kitchen. The house has two staircases; upstairs there is a master bedroom and another bigger bedroom. Between the two rooms there is a bathroom. Down the hall, there are two more rooms.

When we proceeded into the house and sat in the living room Chris asked how many ghosts there were in the room with us and we all heard seven through the ETP. At first they were angry that we were there, but once he explained that we weren’t bad people and why we were there, they were much nicer. The ghosts actually started to joke around. We were able to hear all of the ghosts through the spirit box (another device used to communicate with ghosts).

There was a horse figurine on one of the coffee tables, and some of the students asked the ghosts to move it. In return, the ghosts told Chris to stand. When he stood, the horse moved. We were shocked by what we had just witnessed.

As the event neared its end, Chris allowed us to ask questions and see if any of our loved ones were present in the house. One of the student’s brothers came through the spirit box; he died five years ago in a car crash. It was so sad and moving that more than half the room started to cry. The student asked him a few questions and one was about their new niece that their sister just had. She asked him to be sure to look over her.

Last year, I wrote in the Bison Chronicles that I would never again partake in ghost hunting, but I am glad I changed my mind. I did not find that this year was as scary as last year, but it was still amazing to witness what had happened in the Guest House. Only fifteen people are allowed to go on the ghost hunt. This is my second year participating in the hunt and I have two more to go; fingers crossed I am picked again!

Catherine Hoey is a Nichols College sophomore undeclared and works for Nichols’ Office of Marketing and Communications.