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Life at the University Store: Towson Pride

by Katie Barth

by Katie Barth

Every now and then I’m reminded of why I love working at a college. I work for the University Store in marketing, and I focus primarily on sending messages out to the public, whether that be a status update on our store’s Facebook page, an ad on our website, or simply showing up to events and being involved. There are times when I can’t help but be moved by something or someone. This week, for instance, I have been doing quick photo shoots with students all centered around spring. We have all this cute and fun new product in bright colors and fluorescents but that isn’t what my focus is. I want to show the general feel that I get from Towson, and that I hope others get too.

As we all know, our University has changed quite a bit over the past 10 years. We have opened new academic buildings, enrolled new students, built new residence halls, grown significantly in numbers and have taken on a new President, all while facing a huge budget crisis. In spite of these enormous changes, however, the feel of our “Towson” has remained the same. Throughout this time of change the University Store has adapted and has tried to keep up. I see a significant difference in the store from when I started ten years ago to now.UStore celebration

We are no longer just at our desks or hiding in a back office; we join you, the TU community, out on campus and celebrate you as much as we can. I have made a point to reach out and find students to model our clothes, to represent our product and to look great doing it. Our Facebook page is completely filled with images of students, faculty and staff wearing the product and enjoying their University in whatever way they choose. Our website celebrates our campus in much the same way. We have also taken on a new look in the actual store, removing the clunky customer service counter and replacing it with two streamline desks in two different locations in the store. The new, open sales floor makes room for new products and new activities. We look forward to the potential this fresh space offers our customers and us.

The store has also dedicated much of its time and money to supporting student groups, sponsoring events, doing community service and exceeding customer service expectations. Our store consists of full-time staff members (12 of which are TU alumni) and student employees. We are learning about our campus community and are committed to it as much as any other department.

We are very fortunate that our Towson brand is such a great one because it means our products are  more than just  sweatshirts or  hats They represent the college careers of students as a unique experience. It is a source of pride.

Towson is home for me in many ways. I met my partner here, I got my degree from here and I have worked here for (going on) 10 years. Towson is every day for me. These students are just a few of the smiles I have seen blossom and become something great right before my eyes, and that is definitely something to feel proud of. The University Store will continue to find new ways to highlight, engage and celebrate Towson University’s campus community. We hope you will join us in doing so.

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April 26, 2013 0 Comments Short URL , Auxiliary Services

Charge Your Electric Vehicle on Campus

By Jaslynn Hutley

By Jaslynn Hutley

Electric vehicle charging stations will be available on campus free of cost beginning late spring 2013. In order to contribute to the Go Green Initiative, the University will install over 15 charging stations throughout campus. The charging stations will be available to both TU affiliates and to visitors on campus. All individuals who wish to use the charging stations must have a valid TU parking permit Monday-Thursday 6 a.m. – 8 p.m. and Friday 6 a.m. – 3 p.m. The charging stations will be located in all of the campus garages and in the Administration Building parking lot.

These stations are a part of the ChargePoint network. ChargePoint® is the largest online network of independently owned charging stations operating in more than 14 countries. For electric vehicle (EV) drivers, ChargePoint provides state of the art features, including the ability to locate, reserve and navigate to unoccupied charging stations with online tools and with mobile applications for iPhones and Androids.   For more information about the charging stations’ network and for instructions regarding how to sign up, please visit our webpage.

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March 29, 2013 0 Comments Short URL , Auxiliary Services, Sustainability

Just Another Day At The Beach For E&CS!

By Pamela Mathias

The thermometer registered a chilling 21 degrees.  Wind cut into their skin like razorblades.  Sand and snow swirled recklessly through the air, chaffing their faces and bare limbs.  As they  entered the frigid water, the high pitched screams and cries of shock pierced the beach.  Frigid Swim

No, this  isn’t the latest Hollywood horror story.  It’s the body numbing experience of 10 Towson University representatives from Event & Conference Services.  On January 25, 2013, their team, better known as the “Ice Guys,” participated in the Corporate Day portion, of the 17th Annual Special Olympics of Maryland, Polar Bear Plunge.

“My feet were completely numb and I couldn’t feel my legs.  But, I felt so proud to be standing next to my co-workers as we were shivering,” Brooke Jacobs stated.   “As a team, we came together and raised so much money and had so much fun!  The support from our friends, family and University family was awesome.  It was an experience that I will never forget.”

The dedicated E&CS team raised over $5895 in donated pledges for their willingness to take on the icy waters of the Chesapeake Bay.  The brave team consisted of six professional staff members, three student staff members and one staff member’s daughter.

The Team (l to r): Brooke Jacobs, Adam Weaver, Jordyn Reese, Haley Walsh, Bill Murphy, Jessica Laatsch, Kelsey Marshall, Tom Judd, Beth Walsh, and Jason Deckelbaum.

The Team (l to r): Brooke Jacobs, Adam Weaver, Jordyn Reese, Haley Walsh, Bill Murphy, Jessica Laatsch, Kelsey Marshall, Tom Judd, Beth Walsh, and Jason Deckelbaum.

Tom Judd declared: “The best part of doing it was knowing that we raised thousands of dollars for the hardworking Special Olympics athletes just by jumping into some cold water!  They are so appreciative of every dollar that is raised.  It makes the whole event so worth-while.”

Special Olympics of Maryland has hosted their Summer Games for the past 8 years at Towson University.   Many of the Event & Conference Services staff work closely with the participants and create some wonderful memories.

“Our department gets to know the Special Olympics athletes during their time each summer on our campus,” added Adam Weaver.  “Raising funds by plunging is an easy way to give back to them and provide money for experiences that they may not be able to have otherwise!”

Will the E&CS team fight the elements and plunge again next year?

“Absolutely,” said Beth Walsh. “Just try and stop us!  Plans are already being made to exceed the funds raised this year! “

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February 15, 2013 0 Comments Short URL , , Auxiliary Services, Diversity

National Pie Day

By Stacy Elofir

By Stacy Elofir

January 23, 2013 was named National Pie Day by the American Pie Council.

Being an avid pie lover and knowing that many employees at the University Store are like minded, we decided that participating in this major event would be fun, team building and yummy.  I often dream up some crazy ideas, but nothing would ever be accomplished without my dedicated staff.  In this case I handed off the National Pie Day celebration to Carey Bonvegna, one of our Course Material Buyers and baker extraordinaire.  She took the idea and ran with it. Thank you, Carey!

Carey sent out a clever flyer, managed the “pie list”, made sure we had utensils and space for the pies, and enlisted her fellow pie loving co-workers to participate.  January is a busy time here at the University Store.  We have a lot to do in this week before the students return to campus full-time, and our main focus to prepare for their arrival, but a little pie never hurt anyone!

National Pie Day at the University Store

National Pie Day at the University Store

Our little celebration was a great success.  We had Coconut Custard Pie, Apple pie, Cherry pie, Pecan pie, Whoopie pie (amazing, by the way!), Tomato pie, Pizza pie, Chicken Pot Pie and more.  I think it is important to share our talents and fellowship with the people we spend so much time with every week.  I am now scouting the internet for other strange occasions that we can celebrate. We may make one up, too!  After all, Soup Day was a big hit, too.

Stop by the University Store — something is always happening here!

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January 25, 2013 1 Comment Short URL Auxiliary Services

Party Tips for the Holiday Season

By Beth Valle

The holiday season brings lots of exciting and eye catching decorations! But how do you know what’s tasteful and what’s tacky? When it comes to catered events and café and food operations across campus, Chartwells Dining Services follows a few simple rules which can be applied to any function, and we would like to pass them on for personal use at your holiday parties.

1. Simplicity is key. A few simple, well placed decorations can make more of an impact than displaying everything you own. Less really can be more! When it comes to food stations or table arrangements, remember to let the food speak for itself. Find décor that will accent but not overpower. Vases filled with holiday ornaments can add nice color while keeping things contained; they also add height to a table or display. You can also give a great look to a buffet station by adding boxes under the table cloth and then placing platters and trays on the boxes, giving a flat table a whole new look! Try to avoid sparkly garland and tinsel. Although very festive, it can give an inexpensive feel – leave that for the tree!

2. Holiday flowers are another great merchandising décor. They are plentiful, usually packaged in a pretty foil cover, and provide rich coloring. Remember that poinsettias are poisonous – so keep them away from the food!

3. The use of basic colors versus what’s trendy this year can allow you to reuse decorations year after year, which is always easy on your pocketbook! Keep in mind that winter is a full season, so choose colors that can carry you throughout the entire season and not just a holiday. Depending on your audience, it might be wise to stay away from religious theme décor, and stick with more universal items instead. For example, a ‘winter wonderland’ theme instead of a Christmas theme is almost always appropriate.

4. Functionality is always something to consider. Especially in the food service and catering business, we want to be sure we decorate in a way that still allows us to perform our jobs, which include setup, serve, refill stations, etc. Keep this in mind if you need to clean around your décor.

Hopefully this article provided you with a few tricks that you will keep in mind when decorating this season, and we hope all your parties are a success! If you find you need a rest, please visit our locations and enjoy our festive décor and holiday themed food and beverage specials. May your holidays – and decorations – be merry and bright!

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December 13, 2012 0 Comments Short URL , Auxiliary Services, Vacations

Sandy’s Tenacious Behavior

For many of us, Hurricane Sandy was a just long weekend – no power, no work and nothing to do but stay out of the rain. But for others, including Facilities Management and Auxiliary Services, Sandy meant extra work. Many university employees were putting in extra time to ensure the safety and security of the Towson campus through the hurricane. They deserve some special recognition and a round of applause.

Across the university, administrators implemented emergency procedures to protect the campus from the storm. Dining services and Facilities management were tasked with the difficult job of protecting the students whom live on campus, ensuring they had adequate food and shelter.

Facilities personnel worked throughout the storm managing leaks – that were caused by the abnormal wind and rain – in residence halls. No serious issues arose as a result of such efforts.

Emergency communications were also top-notch, providing clear directives to Towson faculty, staff and students.

Towson University bounced right back after the storm and opened up Wednesday morning for business as usual.

Thankfully, Sandy didn’t come anywhere near the Derecho that hit our campus this past summer. Despite the storm’s tenacity, our faculty, staff and student population came out unharmed.

Thank you to our Facilities Management, Auxiliary Services and Police Department teams for maintaining the university’s safety.  

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November 1, 2012 1 Comment Short URL Auxiliary Services, Facilities, Public Safety

Movie Buff

by Katie Barth

When I was a kid I could memorize anything. If I watched a movie once I had it memorized. My parents would marvel over how quickly I absorbed movie lines and how I could recite them with the same inflection as any character. After graduating from TU in 2005 with a degree in (surprise) Theatre, I stayed on to work at the University Store and manage the “Towson Blockbuster”, Tiger Reels. As you might imagine, I love my job…

Tiger Reels is a tiny shoebox of a store located in the middle of the first floor of the Union building. When I first started managing Tiger Reels it had just transitioned from VHS to DVD. We are now bursting at the seams with DVDS, Blu rays, Wii, Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 games. Every rental is free with a TU ID, which means faculty, staff and students all rent for free!

Tiger Reels, located in the University Union

Our little store packs a big punch. We provide multiple copies of new movies. When their popularity wanes, we sell them off for dirt cheap. In addition to being “Towson’s Blockbuster,” we also provide educational material such as: documentary films, required films for TU courses, instructional recordings and personal interest films such as exercise videos. We carry indie films, classics and  have specialty genres like African American Cinema, LGBTQ Cinema and Bollywood! We often collaborate with student groups, faculty and departments on special events that feature films or games. There is something for everyone!

I refer to Tiger Reels as a “student run” facility, which means the students who work there arrive in the morning, open the store and keep it up and running all day. I provide the employees with new products to enter into the system and they do the rest. At a time in our world when technology is constantly providing us with entertainment at our finger tips, our little store still seems to boom with business. Student groups have even asked for us to put our store inventory online to better serve the campus community.  We have become a social center where faculty, staff and students come with their friends to pick up their favorite films and make a night of it. Our store is a casual, fun atmosphere where anyone can come and hang out. Occasionally you can even hear the staff and customers burst into song, singing along with their favorite Disney film. For me, Tiger Reels is one of the few places on campus where our huge TU population feels small: where everyone seems to know everyone else.

So for my fellow movie buffs, get over to Tiger Reels and check out what we have. I guarantee you will find a film to take home. Oh, and if you see me…feel free to test my memorization skills!

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August 31, 2012 1 Comment Short URL , , Auxiliary Services

Two Thumbs Up for Virtual Permits

By Jaslynn Hutley

Parking Services began using virtual parking permits for the first time this academic year. The department used a License Plate Recognition (LPR) system which enabled better management of the parking resources.  The LPR system involves an electronic database consisting of cameras that are used to scan license plates and ensure that vehicles are parked on campus correctly.

When first introduced last April, the virtual permit system claimed to have many advantages including immediate registration, diminishing the use of physical hangtags, better enforcement and a significant decrease in parking citations.

After its first year, the virtual system indeed accomplished these goals.  Faculty, staff and students were able to purchase permits online and register up to three vehicles to their permit, making parking on campus more convenient.  The LPR also facilitated enforcement which led to more parking availability for paid permit holders.

With virtual permits, there is no longer a need for actual hangtags, which sometimes can be a hassle when you drive multiple vehicles to campus. The decrease in use of physical hangtags, except for vendors and TU vehicles, has also resulted in a decrease in the use of funds for mailing and printing permits.

Virtual permits not only cut down on costs, but they cut down on citations as well. Parking and Transportation experienced a 10% decrease in issued parking citations for this academic year compared to the 2010-2011 academic year.  So let’s have two thumbs up for fewer citations!

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June 1, 2012 0 Comments Short URL , , Auxiliary Services

Fond Memories of TU’s Employee Picnic

By Donna Auvil

The Annual Employee picnic is right around the corner!  This year’s event will be held on Friday, June 1 from 4 to 8 p.m. on Burdick Field.  Joe Oster, Associate Vice President of Auxiliary Services, and his team have been hard at work planning this year’s event to make sure everything is perfect for the entire TU campus and their families! 

The employee picnic started in 1995 and was originally planned by the employees of the Office of Human Resources.  The original picnic was held during the work day and was only for employees.  For a nominal fee, you were able to attend the luncheon held on the University Union patio.  According to Mary Anne Czyz, Director of Finance & Administration for OTS and Anna Herr, retiree of Fiscal Planning & Services, the original picnic was known for its mad dash to the buffet so everyone ensured they  got their lunch.  Dessert was provided by the cake contest and other events included fundraisers like the dunking booth, cow bingo and “pie in the face.” 

2011 TU Employee Picnic

In 1999, the picnic was turned over to Auxiliary Services.  A committee of very creative and hard workers was formed from various A&F departments.  Auxiliary Services was able to increase the budget and the picnic grew to also include families.  This also marked the beginning of choosing a theme for the annual picnic.

Over the years, we have had many different themes.  Who remembers the “Day at the Beach” picnic of 2000 that was held in the courtyard of Prettyman Hall?  This was the first introduction of the sand pit and boy did the kids love it!  The sand has been a popular addition to all picnics now, regardless of theme. 

One of the most popular themes was “The Rodeo.”  Sadly, that year the rains took over and we moved everything into the lower level of the garage.  But the rain didn’t stop the fun we had with hay bales, games and lots of music. An amazing time was still had by all. 

Speaking of rain, Joe Oster and Landscape Services Manager, Paul Thomas, are famous for watching the weather starting a week out from the picnic’s scheduled date.  They are constantly watching the radar and doing their dance to the sun gods to bring good weather.  Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t, so start doing your rain dance now for June 1!  Like a true Boy Scout Joe is prepared to make a location change to the garage at any minute if necessary. 

Two years ago, there was talk of cancelling the picnic due to budget constraints, but the committee wouldn’t have it!  We needed this event to celebrate with our friends from campus.  Despite a major slash to the budget, another great event was held.  We went back to our roots and held an Old Fashioned Picnic complete with sack races, balloon tosses and hula hoop contests. 

Kids hanging out in the sandbox!

I know this year I am looking forward to catching up with old friends and colleagues that I don’t get to see that often, and my teenaged son is ready to chow down on the awesome menu: pit beef, smoked ham, hot dogs, beans, macaroni and cheese, corn on the cob and so much more!

This year the theme is “Catch the Towson Wave.”  Get ready to check out the boardwalk for a photo booth, face painting, and a balloon artist.  A special thanks goes out to the awesome group of employees that pitch in every year to help with this massive event.  Come out on June 1 to show them some love, eat ‘til you burst and celebrate TU!

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May 11, 2012 1 Comment Short URL , , Auxiliary Services

Have you seen that Gnome?

By Stacy Elofir

Right before Spring Break the Office of Student Activities and the University Store decided to bring a little March Gnome Madness to Towson University. This was the idea…10 crazy days, 10 student winners, 10 hiding gnomes all over campus. A daily scavenger hunt to find those escaped gnomes. What a fun thing to do to get students involved before Spring Break and partner with departments all over campus.

 All of the departments that we contacted were excited and willing to participate. Each hiding place had its own set of clues given from each area. I was so glad that I didn’t have to write the clues; I am really bad at that sort of thing. What I didn’t know is how great each clue would be and that each clue would reflect the flavor of the department.

Cook Library wrote, “You can always get help wherever you roam. Just Ask a Librarian how to locate a journal and you’ll find that gnome.”

The Glen wrote, “In a room all made of glass, I am in the center of attention, Hansel and Gretel would not venture near.”

One of the TU gnomes used in the scavenger hunt.

Another gnome hiding on campus!

Student Affairs, Center for Student Diversity, Athletics, the Center for the Arts, Burdick Gym, The Career Center, and HRL all got involved. I had this clue from one auspicious office, “This aspiring gnome is learning how Towson’s executive office runs.” Can you guess where he was found? I am inspired by the teamwork and the ability for us as staff to do something fun for our students and that showcases the spirit of our school. Thank you, all who participated, helped, cheered and laughed with us. Now let’s come up with something else we can do together. It breaks up the day and it inspires us to do more!

Oh…and these guys are available at the Ustore. Give a Gnome a Home!

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May 4, 2012 1 Comment Short URL , , Auxiliary Services

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