HOTSHOT

Name: George W. Brenton, IV
Class Year: 1985
Major: Business Administration
Current Occupation: Vice-President, American Lighting Corporation

1. Favorite Hill memory as an undergraduate
The days surrounding when Robin and I got engaged. Asking her to the Sig-Ep formal, getting tossed into the Westminster Municipal pond (or whatever it's called) and her candlelight.

2. Favorite Hill weekend activity
Saturdays in the fall watching WMC football & tailgating.

3. Favorite Glar food/or day in Glar:
Steak night.

4. Name someone from WMC, whether a fellow classmate, professor, or staff member, who has inspired you. Why?
Dr. William McCormick, Principle of Accounting professor, Dean of Academic Affairs--I was intimidated before the first class I had with him because he was the first professor I had related to my major and he was "The Dean." Five minutes into the class I found there was no reason for my initial trepidation.
He had a clear and relaxed way of conveying the material. He showed me that no matter the title, you could be professional and a real person at the same time.

Tired of the usual vacation to the shore or a nearby state for a family reunion? Next summer, why not use that week off to be enlightened by what Common Ground on the Hill has to offer.

Join Walt Michael '68, executive director and founder of Common Ground on the Hill, his family of volunteers, and everyone who makes Common Ground what it is. Don't fret, you'll see a lot of familiar faces; each year several alumni join in on the fun.

Finally learn that yoga you have been putting off. Construct a Native American flute step by step. Learn the art behind African dance. Find your Muse and write a poem...

I first learned of Common Ground on the Hill during a Jan-term class. After doing further research for a Phoenix article and talking to prior participants, I knew I wanted to be a part of Common Ground.

I went to the orientation on July 1 not knowing what to expect. I had elected to do Common Ground and receive two credits, so in addition to the in-class assignments, I also decided to take pictures and collect materials for a scrapbook.

I admit, I was not taking pictures solely for the scrapbook or for Gold Bug use, I had become addicted to the Common Ground cause. It's hard not to when you get up for the 7 a.m. yoga class, go to workshops from 9-5:30 and then return to campus for the nightly concerts at 8 p.m. It is even harder when one runs the poetry jam session at the American Music Festival at the Carroll County Farm Museum for two days.

Sitting in watching the young participants of the Global Village work on their African Shakeres while they spoke of how much fun they were having at their first, second, third, or even fifth CGOTH also fueled my addiction.

By the end of the first week, I was a little closer to the Common Ground I sought, but I still needed that second week. Besides, I had learned about the Creation Story and the significance of the cedar tree, now it was time to construct my own Native American flute. There were also more pictures to take, more stories to hear, and more Common Ground "All Stars" to listen to at the nightly concerts.And at the end of the second week, I had a large collection of things for the scrapbook that awaited me.

Yes, this year's Common Ground has left an indelible mark on me, and eagerness for next year's CGOTH has begun!

Photos from Common Ground

A Bit of Green and Gold spotted at the Bird Bash #2
by Staci L. George '03

In addition to the normal orange and black pride abundant at Camden Yards, the Oriole's July 3 game against the New York Yankees also had a sense of green and gold Terror pride, as Alumni Affairs hosted Bird Bash #2.

Alumni and their guests began the evening with a pre-game party in the Garden Terrace, with all the Boog's pit beef sandwiches, Bambino's baked beans, and cold beverages they could consume.

The pre-game party was also a time for the alumni to introduce their guests to other alumni, and wait for an old story about college life on the Hill to be told. There was also some catching up to do for those who had not seen each other in a couple of years.

A little before 7 p.m., everyone headed for the WMC cheering section to find their seats, ready to relax and watch the O's topple the Yankees.

Early in the game, Jeff Vinson '81 said that this event was "great" because lots of different class years attended, the food was excellent, and all that was left was an Orioles victory.

When they were winning 5-3 in the fifth inning, an O's victory was likely, but then the sixth inning began and the Yankees began to take over. Most fans thought the O's would be able to get the game back with a few home runs. However, despite all the "Let's go O's" cheers, they lost 10-6.

Nonetheless, the Bird Bash #2 was a success; the consensus was that everyone had a lot of fun regardless of the final score and that it was a great opportunity to meet up with former classmates.

Photos from the Bird Bash

Their bike trip was supposed to be a way to get the word out and raise support. It did. Over $3,000 was pledged to the Johns Hopkins Children's Center and local businesses and organizations helped out by donating items the two would need for their trip. (None of the money needed to carry out the trip came from the $3000 pledged, but other sources.)

It was supposed to be a fifty day bike trip from the east coast to the west coast with few, if any bike problems. Planning the trip, devising a travel route, and getting sponsorship was thought to have been the hard part. Or so they thought!

Shelley Sorensen '03 and Steve Sharkey '02 have returned to Maryland after an upsetting decision to shorten the trip due to a multitude of bike problems day after day.

They made it through the Appalachians and into Kentucky, but not without a share of problems. As of June 23, they were west of the Mississippi traveling through Cape Girardeau, Missouri. After the Ozarks, they'd be traveling through the Rockies.

Sorensen said that one bike shop employee after another assured them that they would be able to make it through the Rockies, but they would have to go to a bike shop at the top and bottom of each mountain. Not only would that have cost a lot of money (which was out of their own pockets, not the sponsors'), but it would also cost a lot of time.

Sorensen said she and Sharkey spent two days weighing the options and trying to decide what to do.

On one hand, they did not want to give up and let the children down if their sponsors decided not to donate the money due to the shortened trip. And on the other hand, their calculations showed that they had spent a lot of their own money, which was more than they had anticipated when budgeting the trip.

The only alternate route was to go through the desert. Without a follow-along vehicle to carry water, food, and provide as a place to escape the hot sun, this was impossible.

They made the decision to end the trip on June 26 and spent some time visiting family in other states before returning to Maryland.

While they were gone, Mitch Alexander, director of College Activities, sent a check to the Children's Center. To date, about $1,500 of the $3,000 has been received. Sorensen and Sharkey are giving people the option not to pay since the trip was not finished.

Sorensen said that they have yet to meet any of the children the money will benefit; however, she is looking forward to when her newly formed student organization Heroes Helping Hopkins can have a toy and book drive and deliver the collection to the children.

"I hope to go to the center often to meet with the kids and actually do activities, anything to brighten their day," said Sorensen.

In addition to a toy and book collection, Sorensen has a bike trip along the perimeter of Maryland in mind for next year, where members of Heroes Helping Hopkins will raise money and bike with her.

"We are really trying to get this organization going and off to a great success!" said Sorensen.

On the next bike trip, whether it is coast to coast or just around Maryland, Sorensen said she will "definitely budget a little bit better...And probably take more pictures."

Check out more info on Heroes for Hopkins.

Football, Football, and yes, More Football! Plus opportunities to meet WMC President Joan D. Coley

Ravens Picnic: Saturday, August 4 at 9:00 a.m. in WMC's Bair Stadium. Continental breakfast and lunch will be served. See the Ravens band and cheerleaders perform and later watch the Ravens play a scrimage.

There will even be a question and answer session with the team. Cost is $15.00; $7.50 for kids 3-10; free for those under 3. Hurry deadline for purchasing tickets is July 27.

Ravens Bird Bash: Sunday, September 9 at 10:00 a.m. Pre-game party at the Camden Club in in Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Then walk to PSINet Stadium to see the Ravens take on the Chicago Bears in their home opener.

Cost is $69 for the pre-game party and game ticket. Deadline for ordering tickets is August 31.

Green Terror game @ Jacksonville University in Florida: Friday, November 2-Sunday, November 4. Join fellow alumni as they watch Green Terrors take on the Jacksonville Dolphins. Cost is $500, which includes roundtrip airfare from Baltimore to Jacksonville, two-night accomodations in the Jacksonville Marriot, air-conditioned motor coach travel throughout the weekend

meals, and loads of fun. A $250 deposit is due by July 27, and final payments made by August 27.

*** To purchase tickets for any of the events above, please call (410) 857-2254. All events are on a first come, first served basis.

Presidential Tour beginning in August: Alumni can meet the new president at a dinner in Easton, MD or in Salisbury, MD this August. Plus other opportunities later in the year!

They call him “The demon barber of Fleet Street.” His is a tale of vengeance…and a tale of love. He is Sweeney Todd (Charlie Smith), and there are only two more opportunities (July 20 and 21) to meet him at Theatre on the Hill.

The Theater Bug caught the show on Thursday evening. Confused early on by the fact that the house lights were still on, people were still trying to find their seats, and there were characters at the edge of the stage staring at everyone. They were posed, and the only thing moving was their eyes. Very eerie!

Soon the house lights were dimmed, everyone was seated, the music began, and the chorus introduced the plot of murderous barberism and culinary crime of Sweeney Todd.

Todd returns to 19th century England after being unjustly exiled to find Judge Turpin (Will Woodrow), the man who framed Todd.

Todd also returns to find his wife (who he will not recognize is the beggar woman portrayed by Carolyn Castiglia and his daughter Johanna (Julie Reiber). He stumbles into the meat pie shop of Mrs. Lovett (Kayte Curtis) and she fills him in on what has happened since he left town.

The two of them begin to mastermind the revenge that will do justice to the judge, and will bring Todd’s daughter back to him.

If you think you know the whole plot now, think again. It’s time you visited Theatre on the Hill and Fleet Street’s meat pie shop and the barber shop above. If you have not wronged Sweeney Todd, there is nothing to fret. Maybe!

Tickets for Sweeney Todd and other Theater on the Hill performances can be purchased at the Hill Box Office: 410-857-2448.

Look for the next issue of the Gold Bug on Friday, August 3, 2001.