bar·ter   Audio pronunciation of "barter" ( P )  Pronunciation Key  (bärtr)
v. bar·tered, bar·ter·ing, bar·ters
v. intr.

To trade goods or services without the exchange of money.

v. tr.
To trade (goods or services) without the exchange of money.
[Middle English barteren, probably from Old French barater. See barrator.]


Q: Can I exchange my art for healthcare?
A: Woodhull Medical Center recognizes that artists possess special talents that can lift spirits, bring hope, and provide a momentary break from one’s concerns. Performances or artistic activity enjoyed by individuals or groups of hospitalized patients are desirable. For each hour of performance or artistic activity, 40 credits worth of health care services will be added to your personalized health care account. Credits may be exchanged for an equivalent value of health care services in dollars. When you need health care at Woodhull, the fee (your fee scale will be determined at your first visit with a Financial Counselor) will be charged to your health care account. For example, if you performed or provided artistic activity for one hour, your health care account would contain 40 credits. If your doctor visit costs $20 (as determined by your fee scale), 20 credits will be deducted from your health care account. The result? A free doctor visit plus enough credits left over for another free doctor visit or prescriptions! Interested? The financial counselor will help set you up for an interview with Woodhull staff to discuss your performance plan. Please see the application for the art exchange program at-tached, and please bring a completed application with you to your first meeting with the Woodhull Creative Art Therapy Department.

For further information: Woodhall Artists’ Q&A

I am in love with the concept of barter. In the past month, I’ve explained over and over to one Lubin student after another how passionately I hate money. Whoever said it was the root of all evil probalby wasn’t lying. Sure, it seems as if I blow it out of proportion. After all, I do have a job and I am using money in my day-to-day life. However, the hatred of money resonates within me.

Last Monday, I spent six hours at my student aid position at DoIT, where I did absolutely nothing but waste away on the InternetsTM. The idea of sitting there doing nothing and getting paid a princely sum of $9/hour baffled me to such an extent that I decided to skip work for the next two days.

I didn’t do anything important or productive loafing around in my room for most of those two days but at least, I wasn’t getting paid when I clearly didn’t deserve it.

I’m sick of a 9-5 job, where I do little to nothing and get paid far more than I deserve. On the other hand, I’m looking forward to working at the Honors College in the fall because at least, I’ll be interacting with people. Maybe, I’ll actually be helping someone there. Previous employees will probably scoff at this but, honestly, the crew that worked there during my first two years at Pace: Art, Katy, and Michal, made a significant impact on my college experience. I’d consider all three my friends now. Each of them have taught me something, whether it’d be “one space, not two in articles” (Art), the art of flailing among many other things (Katy), or exploring abandoned places (Michal). I’ve appreciated each of them and I can only hope that someone would appreciate me in that capacity when in reality, all I’ll probably be doing is getting an easy paycheck.

I am infatuated with my other job of the summer, being an orientation leader. Every Thursday and Friday of July, I’ve felt like a hero. I have learned how to be a team player. I have learned about many different races and orientations of people. I have lived in perpetual appreciation of humans in the near-48 hours I spend at Maria’s Tower from Wednesday evening to Friday afternoon.

The incoming freshmen class has gone far in restoring my faith in education and in life. It’s not just fresh-eyed naievete or the excitement bubbling within them because they are relocating to a cultural mecca. They’re passionate and open minded and trusting. Could you really ask for more?