Friday, D c.9, 1994 Vol.XLI, No. 13 CabriniColl g Radnor,Pa. 19087
Senior garnished with honors. by Laura Testa staff writer
This year's
Mother
Ursula
Award will be presented at com-
photo by Jim Gr,gory
Doug Eppler receives the Mother Ursula Award at the Senior Dinner on Friday, Dec. 2. in the mansion dining room.
mencement to Douglas Eppler, Jr. The Mother Ursula Award is given to the senior who has best fulfilled the ideals of the college through academic achievement, participation in extracurricular activity and leadership and service to fellow classmates and the college. A $250 award will also be awarded to Eppler at commencement. Eppler was announced the winner of the award at the Senior Dinner on Friday, Dec. 2. Eppler was not even aware that he was a finalist until he was on his way to the dinner. The other two finalists. were Trish Schuler and Melissa Tobias. "I was really excited to be nominated," Tobias said. "I didn't even
know I was a finalist until I walked in the door and people started congratulating me." Schuler also did not know she had been nominated until she walked in the door of the mansion the night of the dinner. "I was really surprised that I had been nominated," Schuler said. "I expected Melissa (Tobias) to win, because you just expect things from some people." Ballots were handed out at the dinner, where the final vote was made. "Both Doug and Trish are good peopl~," Tobias said. "I would have been happy to see either of them win." "It's a fantastic feeling to be given an award like this by my friends and classmates," Eppler said. "I guess it was so great because it was my peers who had nominated
me," Tobias said. Eppler is an English/ communications major with a 3.9 GPA. He has received the Alumni Scholarship award and been on the dean's list since 1991. He is also a member of the Honor Society. Eppler has received two commendations for the highest class average, two Mastronardi Service and Leadership awards, and department awards in communications at Cabrini. Eppler has been involved with WYBF-FM, Loquitur, Cabrini Theater, the 1mprov comedy troop, Kappa Sigma Omega, T.A.X.I., the yearbook, Campus Ministry, Comment magazine, the college and community chorus and the Spirit Day committee. "It's easy for me to give back to a school that has given me so much," Eppler said.
'Play therapy' takes holiday twist by Regina MIiier arts & entertainmenteditor The vast atrium houses the hustle and bustle of every day life. People in streetclotheswear steth~. Little peoplewearpajamas.Awomansitting at a McDonald's bench feeds a child drapedwith a bib. The littlewheelchair fits securely under the table. The restaurant is situated in the path of the . elevators. One sharp tum rightdirects visitors to the elevatorsahead. Upstairson the fourthfloor,through a doorway that only skinny-tallpeople could pass comfortably, sits a very important person. She plans daily activities and purchases toys, gadgets, computers, tapes, electronic games, videos and plain-oldbooks. She seeks out diversion and fun for every single child-patient that walks through the front door. At the Children'sHospitalof Philadelphia. Director of Child-Life Services,FranRitter,awaitsthenextquestion: How can you poomblykeep all of these sick kids happy? Play therapy is the answer. Childlife servicesprovidesplay to kids of all ages.
''Mcschildrenre~develqxnentally while they are in the hospital setting." Ritter said. "The kids need consistency in their lives, they do not need surprisesand need to know what to expect" Child life takes a developmental
look at each childand adapts aprogram or curriculum to each child's need. "There is all kinds of bodily disfigurement," Rittersaid.'The loss of motor control becomes a real issue for us all when we arebospilaliz.ed, and particularly for children who have just made those developmentalgains." All the programs and curriculum are basod on education. Researchand feedback drives the child-lifespecialists to focus in on a child's needs and form a plan of care for that child. One aspect of the service inc(~es the connection with the commtlnity and brings healthykids into the hospital Thestaffreachesouttothecommunity. "We have two adopted schools," Ritter said, "and we provide programs for these children. It helps us in child life because we get to see normal kids and see what our kids are facingwhen they go into the real world." Besides the every day plans that Ritter's staffneed to chart on the medical record, creativity and public relations play an important role in the success of this department Plans for gearing the department toward home are on the horiz.on. ''Well, I am taking a deep breath becausehospitals are takingsuch a big shiftnowadays,"Rittersaid."So much is happening on an outpatient basis. Seventy percentof our childrenhave a chronic disorder of sort, so they have
phocoby The Children'>Hoopi1alof Philadelphia
Each year, motorcyclists from around the country contribute toys to The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia for the upcoming holidays. repeatedadmissionsto the hospital,as well as repeatedadmissionsto the outpatient department" Ritter said in additionto a budget, she has a special fund for donations. Poets, tap dancers,guitaristsand singers line the entertainmentlist. 'The clown Auntie Fay does not looklike a typical white facedclown," Rittersaid. "I do not even like clowns forthehospitalpopulationbecausemost children do not like them, and clowns are so gregarious and rambunctious.
Children do not need that inflictedon them because we are all so invasive enough. I hate them (the kids) to be invaded emotionally,as well as physically." A movie listshows the diversity availableforthechildrenandtheirfamilies. The children have access to a closed-circuit1V in their rooms. The company,Swank,editsallnewfilmsso thehospitalcanshowtopfilmsthroughout the year. "Outpatientpatientshave acontinualmixofvideosanditgoeson
Inside ... ·Week at a· Glance... SPECIAL
pg.7
Check out the story about life on a turkey farm.
PERSONALS pg.5,8
FRIDAY t/9:30p.m. WCGA, Mike Crissen Concert.
pg.16
Find out who won the best of ... at the Award Banquet. -
.
see more THERAPYon pg.4
Dec.9 to 15
THURSDAY SATURDAYSUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAYWEDNESDAY t/9a.m. Reading Outlets Shopping Trip.
See what festive messages your friends left in our holiday issue.
SPORTS
alldaysotheycanhavequalityviewing instead of Montel Williams and Sally Jessy Raphae~" Ritter said. Childlifealsosuppliesactivitiesfor the holidays.Rittersaidherdepartment tries to fcx:uson all holidays because thereisawiderangeofpatients,andshe does not want to be disrespectfulor upset anyone.
-
113p.m.Christmas Concert in the Chapel. t,1"57p.m. Student Art Exhibit in the Library. e19p.m.WOC/ XAVMovie Night: ''Grinch & Frosty." ·-
.
-
t,1"8a.m.Mass in the chapel. v'6p.m. Decorating Contest; judging the residence halls.
v'lOp.m.-v'6p.m. Christmas dinner in the coffee, hot chocolate, and snacks caf. available for "exam nourishments" in the caf during exam week.
EXAMS
BEGIN
...