Students for Humanity partnered with the Faculty Student Association (FSA) and organized a Seawolves Food Drive from May 1 through May 18.

Throughout the food drive, students used their extra Dining Dollars to buy non-perishable food items from campus food services that were donated to the Stony Brook Food Pantry and Suffolk County Shelters.

Students who helped the food drive. 

The idea for the food drive started when Umair Azhar ’19, Students for Humanity President, and his friends used their extra meal points (dining dollars) and bought 50 sandwiches from the old Union Deli and then distributed them in the city to those in need.

“We want to empower college students to be able to make a difference. Our main focus is to advocate for the use of dining dollars to buy food for the people that need it most,” said  Azhar.

Students for Humanity has partnered with another student group, the Muslim Student Association (MSA), to assist with the pickup and distribution.

The SBU Food Pantry is located at Gray College, ITS Center, and it provides a reliable and stable food source to those in need. Any member of the campus community is eligible to use the Food Pantry’s services.

Read more: http://www.stonybrook.edu/happenings/oncampus/seawolves-food-drive-empowers-students-to-make-a-difference/

On Monday, March 6, 2017, more than 240 young women and their 21 chaperones from nine Long Island high schools packed the Stony Brook University Student Activities Center to attend the 2017 Women’s Conference: “Women Leaders Paving the Way for Young Women.”

The Women’s Conference was presented by the Long Island Latino Teachers Association (LILTA) and hosted by the Stony Brook University Office of the President and the Office of Government and Community Relations.

Nearly 40 women from a variety of professions offered their time and encouragement.

The day included breakfast, the National Anthem, speakers and panel discussions in which the students were able to choose from 39 successful women who were able to overcome challenges in their lives.

One of the most impactful moments of the event was when each of the nine schools had the opportunity to stand and pledge their commitment to not only finish high school, but to continue to college as well.

“Many young women need an advocate for them. They might not have a home or a community to help them. We provide support and let them know they are not alone,” said Dafny Irizarry, LILTA President. “We inspire them to dream big.”

The nine high schools participating in the program included Bellport, Brentwood, Central Islip, Copiague, East Hampton, Hampton Bays, Longwood, Sachem and South Huntington.

Read more: http://www.stonybrook.edu/happenings/oncampus/lilta-womens-conference-provides-inspiration/

Young Artists and Writers Project (YAWP) Middle School Playwriting program performed five short plays  at Stony Brook Southampton’s Avram Theater on Saturday, May 20.

The 9th annual festival represents a collaboration between student playwrights, actors and designers who have been taught and mentored by theater and writing professionals affiliated with Stony Brook Southampton’s MFA in Creative Writing and Literature, which created and sponsors the YAWP programs.

Playwrights, actors, and stage crew at the festival – a Dane Dupuis photo. 

Professional directors stage the plays, which encompass an array of genres—from comedies to dramas—with subject matter drawn from the students’ own lives.

Playwrights for the festival were drawn from YAWP playwriting classes at Eastport South Manor, The Ross School, Shelter Island School, and the YAWP Summer Conference session.

Read more: http://www.stonybrook.edu/happenings/arts/young-artists-and-writers-project-to-host-9th-annual-middle-school-playwrights-festival-may-20/