The Observer, November 30, 2007
Volume XL, Issue 12
Student Profile: Andy Boron
Senior Andy Boron is a music education major who extends his musical ability to Speakeasy as its vice president. He is also involved in Sigma Nu, and was on the Orientation Executive Board this past summer.
Katie Chioran: How did you first get involved in Speakeasy, and how did you become vice president?
Andy Boron: It's a funny story, actually. I was looking to get involved with a cappella on campus, so I started asking some Orientation leaders I knew about what kind of groups there are. One guy told me I should check out Speakeasy, and that this guy named Jack Mack is in charge of it, and it turned out Jack Mack and I went to summer camp together when I lived in Buffalo. I ended up meeting him during Orientation, auditioned, and made it. I guess since I am a music education major, I kind of just naturally assumed the role of director, arranger, and vice president.
KC: What made you decide to be a music education major even when schools are cutting down on their music and arts programs?
AB: Yeah, that's too bad. That job market is the only one that's shrinking [for Case graduates]. I've always loved music my whole life and I love working with kids. I had a job as a playground supervisor in high school and I loved doing that, and I taught some lessons in high school. I figured it's a lot better than some other things people go to school for.
KC: Who chooses songs for Speakeasy?
AB: All of our songs are arranged by members of the group, so essentially, if you want to sing a song, just arrange it and bring it in, and we'll learn it.
KC: What did you do as an Orientation Executive Board member?
AB: That was fun. It was a full-time job over the summer. There were four students and four faculty members. We basically planned and implemented the entire summer Orientation program. It was really cool because it was a huge exercise in project management and we got to work with a lot of different offices on campus and a lot of different places in Cleveland.
KC: How did you get involved in that?
AB: I was an Orientation leader the summer after my sophomore year. Some friends suggested I stay in Cleveland over the summer so I did, and it was fantastic. I loved it. I loved hanging out with other leaders, more than necessarily the students, so I figured I'd take the next step up and then I wouldn't have to deal with students anymore.
KC: Are you a believer of before-Thanksgiving Christmas?
AB: No. Absolutely not. Although, my family is a strict believer of making me put up all the Christmas decorations Thanksgiving weekend.
KC: I let my dad handle that one. What's one Christmas song you could hear all year long?
AB: "Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays" by 'NSYNC. I thought about arranging it for Speakeasy this semester.
KC: What's one thing you'd change about yourself?
AB: Sometimes it takes a lot for me to get motivated about things. I'm involved in a lot of different things, so initially it's hard for me to focus my efforts on one thing. You get home and you're pulled in so many different directions that it's impossible to commit to one thing for more than an hour, so I'd probably wish I were a harder worker.
KC: Any big plans for the second half of your senior year?
AB: I'll be student teaching all semester. Since my school's spring break and Case's spring break don't match up, I'll be the only person on spring break here, so I'm going to do something crazy like stay at Case and run around the quad naked or take a one-man cross-country road trip.
