Month: October 2014

Chatham BSU and R.I.S.E. raise awareness for breast cancer with “Tea and Treats”

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On Sunday, October 19, Chatham’s Black Student Union and R.I.S.E (Retain. Involve. Strengthen. Excel.) came together in Chatham’s Mellon Board Room to host “Tea and Treats.”

The event, which was held in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, was designed to not only raise awareness for breast cancer, but also to teach students how to take care of themselves and lower their risks of developing breast cancer in the future.

As students, who were encouraged to dress in business casual clothing, entered Mellon Board Room, they were met with several rounds tables decorated with pink and white tablecloths and balloons. There was also a long table along the wall with a sign-in sheet, breast cancer information pamphlets, and the tea, cupcakes, cheesecake, and other treats to which the title of the event referred.

Around 1.00 p.m., the event officially began with a welcome from Terlynn Olds, a representative of the Lambda Lambda Zeta chapter of the Zeta Phi Beta sorority, which meets at Chatham and helped to sponsor the event.

“It’s very important that we’re constantly educating ourselves on ways to protect ourselves,” Olds said, before thanking everyone for “coming out on a chilly Sunday afternoon.”

She then introduced Laura Kuster, a health equity specialist for the YWCA and the main speaker for the event.

After introducing herself, Kuster explained that the event was to be a workshop rather than a lecture and encouraged the approximately 15 students in attendance to speak up and participate in the discussion.

“People need to think about cancer as something other than a scary thing with scary treatments,” Kuster said to begin the discussion, because, “that is only one side of cancer.”

After giving students a brief overview of the anatomy and biology of breast cancer and passing around posters and visual aids to help the process, Kuster said, “we shouldn’t be teaching young women to be afraid of their breasts.”

She elaborated on this point by saying, “most of the time lumps are not breast cancer,” but rather they are cysts, which are common among young women and are harmless.

In regards to risk factors, Kuster said that being a woman, genetics, and aging are the three biggest factors. However she then pointed out that there are risk factors that people can control like smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, hormone replacement therapy, and a healthy diet and exercise. She also said that birth control slightly increases one’s risk for breast cancer but only for the duration of time during which it is taken.

Kuster went on to dispel certain rumors about breast cancer, including the belief that bras, certain types of foods, and getting hit in the breast can lead to breast cancer.

In response to this, Olds said, “I was hit in the breast and there pain so I freaked out and I thought I was dying!”

Everyone chuckled at this, but Kuster said that this was not an uncommon response, which is why women need to be educated.

The conversation then shifted to screening methods. After Kuster asked the audience why it was important to catch breast cancer early, Merissa Clark, a senior at Chatham, simply said, “so you survive.”

Despite the laughter than Clark’s response got from the audience, Kuster said that she absolutely correct, going on to explain that catching it early can eliminate the need for surgery or chemotherapy.

Kuster then said that there are three types of screening methods: the self examination, which all women should do regularly; the clinical breast exam, which should start when a woman turns 20 and occur every one to three years; and the mammogram, which should happen every year after a person turns 40.

At the conclusion of the presentation, plaques were awarded to all of the organizations involved in the planning of the event. Afterwards people stayed to eat baked good and discuss the information.

When asked why she got involved in the effort to raise awareness about breast cancer, Kuster said, “I initially got involved in it because my mom and my grandmother both had breast cancer.” She went on to say, “There have been a lot of advances in understanding [of breast cancer] recently…and there is a lot that people can do to lower their risk, unlike many other cancers.”

To learn more about breast cancer, students can visit the American Cancer Society website or the Susan G. Komen website.

Naturality hosts viewing of Linda Midgett’s documentary “The Line”

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Linda Midgett’s documentary, “The Line,” illustrates the reality of living in poverty in the United States as opposed to the commonly perceived standards. Chatham University hosted a viewing of Midgett’s film on October 23 in Eddy Theater sponsored by the Naturality campus organization.

The documentary showcases the new face of poverty in the United States, those who are living at or above the recognized poverty line. The film was funded by several organizations, such as Sojourners, World Vision, and Bread for the World.

Midgett’s film addresses the stereotypes that surround poverty in the United States and the shame that comes as a result. “The Line” gives specific faces to those who are living near or below the poverty line by following those for whom this is a reality.

Midgett had no trouble in finding subjects to focus on and feature in her film. Locating these subjects as they are dealing with poverty and hunger wasn’t the hard part, but finding those who were willing to be featured on film was not quite as easy. This issue became one of the major challenges in her film, but also served to put emphasis on one of the driving points to which it aims to bring attention.

“For me, it highlighted how much shame is associated with being in poverty,” Midgett said of the dilemma.

The film takes a unique stance on the issue of poverty in the United States. It focuses specifically on individuals and brings their loves and their stories to the screen.

“I felt like one of the most important things I was trying to do with this film was to break down stereotypes of who poor people are, what they look like, what they sound like, and the best way to do that was just to let them talk,” said Midgett of her film.

The film follows four people as they tell their stories to Midgett’s camera and the entire audience.

The viewers meet John, a man who is living in suburban Chicago and finds himself dependent of food banks to feed his entire family after losing his prized job in the banking industry, in which he was making a six-figure salary.

The viewers also meet Sheila, who grew up in the Chicago area in poverty, but has now managed to escape it. Presently in the documentary, she is facing financial instability after suffering through a debilitating accident.

Another featured person is a man named James, who has moved from New York to North Carolina in an effort to find employment, but is still barely making enough to survive on each day. Even though he is working long and difficult hours, he is still hovering dangerously near the poverty line.

Finally, the film also follows Ronald, who is working as a shrimper along the Gulf Coast. Both the BP oil spill and Hurricane Katrina have drastically altered his livelihood, making him yet another working American living near the poverty line and struggling to get by.

“As individuals, they’re all so compelling, and have such unique perspectives; just the process of listening to them, in and of itself, breaks down stereotypes,” Midgett said. “Instead of thinking of ‘poor people,’ it becomes, ‘oh, that’s Sheila, that’s John.’ The more you know people by name and know they’re human beings, not statistics, the more it changes your heart.”

Linda Midgett’s film is successful in showing that the face of poverty in the United States is no longer what people think it is or what expect it to be. It could be anyone one passes on the street.

As “The Line” shows its audience, the face of poverty has become much more close to home, and the poverty line is hovering near by anyone who has had hours cut from their works schedule or is facing unemployment.

Chatham kicks off LGBTQIA Awareness Month with pride flag installment

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In San Francisco during 1978, Gilbert Baker hand-dyed and sewed the colorful flag that is now a symbol of pride for the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Questioning, Intersex, and Asexual/Ally community, also known as LGBTQIA.

Now, over 35 years later, Chatham students, faculty, and staff are able to walk through the Main Quad to see 12 rows of colorful paper bags—two rows per pride color—representing the flag that celebrates the LGBTQIA community.

Laced with Christmas lights, the bags—vibrant with color by day—turn into a glowing symbol of pride by night to celebrate LGBTQIA Awareness Month.

“It’s a colorful representation of the fight for equality. It took a lot of work to put up, maybe five or six hours in the rain,” sophomore Alice Shy said about the installment. “There were RAs, Residence Life staff, and Student Affairs staff participating. I had to go.”

“I helped put it together. Lots of work went into it. The flag glows and each color stands for something different,” senior Cat Giles said.

The original flag had eight stripes of color but was reduced to the six colors that have been common since 1979. Though it is believed that the flag is just the rainbow, the colors actually have meaning. In horizontal descending order are red meaning life, orange meaning healing, yellow meaning sunlight, green meaning nature, blue meaning serenity, and violet meaning spirit.

“It’s the coolest thing ever. I feel like every student should see it, especially at night,” said first-year Asia Williams.

When asked about the LGBTQIA community in general, sophomore Lauren Brown was excited to address how the topic related to her.

“I’m hyped about the LGBT and the black community. Coming from an African American standpoint, this whole movement was adopted from the Civil Rights Movement so we should support them. It’s a nice thing they are doing,” she said.

Brown also recommended the TED talk, “50 Shades of Gay,” with iO Tillett Wright to anyone who wants to get more insight on the movement.

The positive feedback wasn’t unanimous, however.

“I think it’s nice for representation but I don’t really have an opinion.” sophomore Tiffany Schmitt said.

“I don’t have any strong feelings but it’s pretty and it looks nice,” first-year Imani Constant said.

That didn’t stop the optimism, however. In a group of eleven first-years, there was nothing but positive feedback.

“I think it’s wonderful,” said Alex Waasdorp, the president of the Class of 2018.

“Yeah, it’s pretty awesome,” said first-year Maura Cray-ton said. “This month is important to me because I am one.”

Another first-year, Kara Doss, also closely identified with the issue.

“This month recognizes all people who have been harassed and killed for centuries so we can all be accepted. Who even started saying that being gay was wrong? Even Abraham Lincoln had a male lover,” said Doss.

“Awareness is acceptance,” first-year Pearl McCann said.

Chatham University proves to be an environment that supports people from all walks of life, as Residence Assistant Emma Marik was proud to point out.

“I think its awesome, and it adds to Chatham’s diversity and the spirit of loving everyone,” she said.

Chatham’s kick off of the LGBTQIA Awareness Month was a success with only one grievance from Cat Giles, one unrelated to the cause itself.

“I don’t like that it uses energy. There are Christmas lights used for the glow. As a school for sustainability, I think we could have found another way,” said Giles. “But I like the cause. I think this month is a great opportunity to learn more about the LGBTQIA communities’ struggles and achievements. It’s a good thing.”

Students gather to discuss Chatham folklore for Halloween

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To get in the Halloween spirit, students gathered in the living room of Rea House on Monday, October 20, to discuss the folklore surrounding Chatham’s spectral residents.

After all the lights except an iPhone flashlight were extinguished, first-year McKenzie Gordon began the spooky evening—originally scheduled for the Labyrinth in front of Berry Hall but moved due to chilly weather—by talking about the admissions building itself.

According to Gordon, Berry Hall was a private residence until it was converted into dormitories in 1895.  Residents of the dormitory would allegedly hear a baby’s cries. The former dormitory also contained a rocking horse, which would rock on its own.

“So we don’t live there anymore,” said Gordon, in conclusion.

Next, Gordon detailed the ghosts who roam the corridors of Fickes Residence Hall making mischief.

According to Gordon, a woman jumped to her death from a third floor window, and her forlorn presence can be felt throughout the house.

A child named Billy also fell from a window, pursuing a fallen ball. Some students have seen Billy on the third floor where he supposedly tries to poke residents or engage them in play.

Finally, Gordon told of Mr. Fickes himself, who supposedly haunts residents by shuffling papers, moving belongings, and even climbing into bed next to sleeping students. According to Gordon, Fickes is, “one of the strongest presences at Chatham.”

Next, Gordon spoke of Laughlin and Rea Houses, which were connected by underground tunnels for getting, “from one house to another in the dead of night without being seen,” according to Gordon.

Allegedly, Julia Rea and James Laughlin used these tunnels to carry on an affair. When Mrs. Rea’s husband James Rea found out, he and Mr. Laughlin fought, which supposedly led to Mr. Laughlin’s suicide in his home. No one has reported witnessing the ghost of Laughlin; instead, students have claimed to feel a “presence” of the former owner.

Despite Mr. Rea’s anger at his wife’s infidelity, he too allegedly had an affair with a housemaid. When she learned he planned to fire her, the pregnant maid hanged herself in the Rea’s dining room. Residents have reported seeing her ghost from time to time.

Gordon has witnessed paranormal phenomena first-hand in Rea, like the opening and slamming of doors and the sound of knocking on walls and doors when no living things are around.

Gordon went on to speak of the ghost of Andrew Mellon, who haunts Mellon Hall.

“He lived in that house for 20 years, and he wasn’t about to let death stop him from living there,” said Gordon.

Students have reported smelling cigar smoke and hearing chatter and music in the swimming pool (now Mellon Board Room) and the bowling alley (now the Broadcast Studio) in which Mellon and his friend Henry Clay Frick used to spend time.

Legend has it that if one forgets to wave at the portrait of Mr. Mellon hanging in the building’s entrance, he or she will do poorly during finals.

Finally, Gordon told of the Blue Lady of Woodland Hall, Chatham’s most famous ghost, according to her. Woodland Hall was once a mental hospital, and a woman in a blue dress who is assumed to have been a patient has been reported on the fourth floor, usually hovering above sleeping residents. This ghost, however, has not been seen recently.

After Gordon’s presentation, other students shared their own ghostly experiences on campus.

Senior Cat Giles told a story about a classmate who woke up in her Fickes room to find a sixteenth-century party in progress. The student made a noise of alarm, the “guests” looked at her, and then she woke the next morning remembering nothing after their glare. According to Giles, this student has since transferred.

Giles also reported waking up in her own Fickes room last summer to see the Grim Reaper standing in the corner of her room.

“The whole day, I was like, ‘I’m going to die today. I’m going to Chipotle six times, since this is my last day on earth,’” she said, recounting her fear.

Fortunately, Giles survived the sighting.

The conversation progressed to paranormal experiences outside of Chatham, including those of ghosts in parents’ or grandparents’ houses, haunted elementary schools, clairvoyant experiences, and Abraham Lincoln sightings. The gathering broke up about an hour after it started with everyone ready for the holiday less than two weeks away.

Beloved author Jodi Picoult speaks at Carnegie Music Hall

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On October 20, book lovers of Pittsburgh filled up the Carnegie Music Hall to hear New York Times bestselling and award winning author Jodi Picoult promote her twenty-third novel “Leaving Time.”

Jodi Picoult is an author known for writing about the numerous shades of gray surrounding controversial issues. Fans of her work came in hopes of simply hearing about her latest creation and got even more than expected. Instead of just talking about her new book, Picoult gave readers insight into several books she has written throughout her career.

Although, from time to time, the author has dabbled in the supernatural, in a time where vampire love stories and love triangles set in dystopian societies fill the shelves of bookstores, what has made Picoult’s novels stand out is her use of real world issues. Over the past two decades she has written about things ranging from genetically engineered children to gay rights.

As a result of her self described, “lack of anguish,” instead of following the time honored writer’s rule of writing what she knows, Picoult instead prefers to write about what she wants to learn.

“I never sit down and make it all up,” she told the audience, “In fact there are times when I spend more time doing research for a novel than writing the first draft.”

The author recounted her experiences observing open heart surgery, visiting death row, living with the Amish, interviewing members of Focus on the Family, and even ghost hunting for sake of research.

Over the course of over an hour, Picoult captivated the audience with tales of haunted houses, holocaust survivors, the bond between elephants, and the experience of co-authoring a novel with her then teenaged daughter.

Although Picoult’s own life has not been riddled with the kinds of tragedies her characters have endured the subjects she explores through her writing are, on occasion, close to her heart. In fact, she has said that the trajectory of her career has reflected different points of her life.

In the beginning of her career, she says she wrote about marriage and being a daughter. She then transformed into the perspective of a mother.

“For a period of about 10 years I wrote about every terrible thing that can happen to your kids,” she said jokingly, adding, “I’m sure I’m going to be writing about putting your parents in rest homes.”

Picoult feels a great deal of responsibility in her writing seeing it as a kind of back door activism.

“There’s something that fiction can do that non-fiction cannot,” she said. “People pick up a novel and almost by accident, by the time they close that last page they are forced to reevaluate whatever opinions they had.”

From her anecdotes about her children to encouraging the audience members to write their elected officials to save an elephant, Picoult both entertained and informed her audience. Picoult’s latest novel “Leaving Time” is now available in stores.

South African Ambassador receives honorary degree from Chatham University

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On Tuesday, October 21, Chatham University welcomed Ebrahim Rasool, South African Ambassador to the United States, as a part of the Global Focus Program.

As stated on the Chatham University website, “The Global Focus program, during which the entire Chatham community spends an academic year exploring in depth the history, culture, and people of a segment of the world, has been a hallmark of the Chatham University experience for nearly a decade.”

Specifically, the 2014-2015 Year of Southern Africa aims to focus on the countries that form the Southern African Development Community (SADC): Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

Ambassador Rasool attended various sessions and speaking engagements throughout the day with students, staff, and faculty alike. His day started with an early breakfast conversation with the Chatham Scholars.

He began the discussion saying, “Figure out what you would die for, and then start living for it.” The student driven conversation addressed topics on globalization, community infrastructure, and the younger African populace, which will soon make up more than 50 percent of the continent’s population.

“We are each other’s keepers when it comes to a globalized world,” Ambassador Rasool said. Particularly in South Africa, Ambassador Rasool aims toward the common goal of forming an independent, unitary, democratic and non-racial state.

He referred to the Quran, the religious text of Islam, when saying there needs to be, “a world for all.” Ambassador Rasool’s progressive thinking advocates this is not impossible.

Following a tour of campus, the Ambassador dined with President Barazzone, and prominent members of the Pittsburgh and Chatham communities over lunch. He favored the evolution of Pittsburgh, hoping to model such development in South Africa.

“How do you not get weighed down in what you inherit? The knowledge of the past needs confidence in the future,” Ambassador Rasool said.

Speaking on the topic of diplomacy, Ambassador Rasool takes what he refers to as a triangular approach. This requires a strategic placement between the protagonist and antagonist. An even balance between past and future must be found, too, as the fear of letting go cannot overpower aspiration.

He also addressed the role women play in South African government and politics. Thirty-five percent of women make up the South African cabinet. South Africa is ranked third in the world for most women who sit in parliamentary positions, while the United States of America holds the seventy-fourth spot. Ambassador Rasool projects that the country is just a decade away from seeing a woman as President of South Africa.

A visit to Dr. Finewood’s Global Environmental Challenges course provided Ambassador Rasool with another chance to connect with Chatham students.

“Hearing about the methods the country of South Africa takes to conserve energy, I learned these measures are teaching the people they need to be more concerned about the environment they live in,” Skylar Benjamin, a sophomore student in the course, said.

An honorary degree ceremony awarded His Excellency Ebrahim Rasool with a Doctor of Public Service Degree. Remarks from Dr. Jean-Jacques Sène, Associate Professor of History and Coordinator of the Global Focus Program, and Dan Simpson, Chair of the Global Focus Advisory Board, credited Ambassador Rasool’s role in bringing modern investments to the Western Cape and development of post apartheid South Africa.

“Birdhouse Dialogues” on display at Chatham Art Gallery

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The most recent exhibit to open in Chatham’s art gallery in Woodland Hall is the product of a collaborative effort between two different mediums: poetry and art.  The verbal and the visual are brought together in this unique collaboration, showing the synergy that the two different mediums can have when they are combined.

The exhibit features mixed media painting and poetry that both inspired and shaped each other. The poetry, written by Carol Ciavonne, inspired Chatham professor Susana Amundaraín to create several drawings based on phrases found in the poem. The two artists have collaborated before and have a friendship outside of their artistic works.

LaFi Publishers originally published this specific collaboration, Birdhouse Dialogues, as a book in 2013.

Ciavonne’s poem was written as a response to another artist’s work.  Based on an actual birdhouse created by Suellen Einarsen, the poem was written in an effort to respond to the birdhouse itself and to Ciavonne’s life as it was happening in that moment.

Ciavonne sent the poem to her Amundaraín. The two artists had met in college and attended the same studio art classes. Amundaraín began creating her abstract drawings in response to the poem, all without Ciavonne’s knowledge. “I felt they were so wonderful and visual in nature that I was compelled to draw and paint what I was seeing through them,” Amundaraín said of the process. Upon seeing the drawings, Ciavonne was inspired to add even more to the poem.

The newer additions to the poetry were different than the initial piece. They were shorter and less concrete. The birdhouse began to shift and change into the dimensions of the drawings, both the real and the imaginary. The different mediums became the shorthand dialogue between the two friends, the result of their mutual admiration and love for each other’s artwork. “We always talked, but had few opportunities to meet in person; art was our natural bridge across the continent,” Amundaraín says.

Through this process their collaboration was published and current gallery exhibition came to be. The process became more than just one intended to create; it also served to bring the friends closer across their distance.

“It is possible to sense the genuine intention of bonding over time and distance, as we supported each other through setbacks and challenges, or through times of celebration, giving each other’s work a meaning that is both personal and separate from our professional goals,” Amundaraín said.  “I think it honors the value of true long friendships, as much as the value of art to help us live more exhilarating lives. “

In its current exhibition, it is brought from the page to the gallery walls and gives its viewers an entirely different experience. On the wall, the artists continue their exploration of the travel and pathways of an imaginary bird through the abstract paintings. The pieces guide the viewer’s eyes to rest on the drawings that call to mind the plumage of birds and their flights and let the viewer follow the journey of the imaginary bird.

Each piece pulls from Ciavonne’s writing, incorporating her verbal meaning into the visual. Through the artworks, the poems are given the ability to travel and play across the page, serving to both inspire and chase the drawings. Ultimately, “these particular works are the result of a playful combination of friendship, time, and a variety of mediums,” Amundaraín said of the collaborative works.

Birdhouse Dialogues is open from September 24 through October 22 in the Chatham University Gallery, located next to Café Rachel.

Community enjoys “Music and Lyrics” vocal performance

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On Saturday, September 27, the Welker Room in Chatham University’s James Laughlin Music Hall was set up with rows of chairs and a grand piano in preparation for the performance of “Music and Lyrics,” a vocal recital.

By 7:00 p.m. the room was filled with about 30 people eager to hear the vocal offerings of Stacey Brett Conner (Soprano), Chatham’s Director of Choral Activities, and Zachary Marshall (Tenor), Assistant Professor of Music at Eastern Kentucky University, accompanied by his wife Jennifer Marshall, Piano accompanist at Eastern Kentucky University.

The performers entered from the back of the room and made their way towards the piano at the front. All three were dressed in black tie attire: Conner in a floor length black gown, Mrs. Marshall in a black tea-length dress, and Mr. Marshall in a tuxedo.

The three took their places at the front of the room and performed their first piece–“Benedictus” from “Mass in B Minor” by J.S. Bach–after which Conner welcomed everyone and thanked them for coming to the performance. She then took a moment to introduce the next pieces, Shubert’s “Suleika” and “Suleika II,” explaining that the pieces were about a young woman addressing the East and West Winds about her love.

Throughout the performance, the three performed solos and duets ranging in time from Bach (1685-1750) to Jason Robert Brown (b. 1970). They also performed art songs, opera arias, sacred music, and musical theatre pieces from a wide range of countries including Austria, France, Great Britain, Italy, and America.

For the pieces in foreign languages, the program even included translations so that the audience could understand the meanings and the emotions behind the pieces.

“The Chatham performance was actually the third of a series, however, each series varied, as we would change the program to incorporate different selections,” Conner said.

She came up with the idea for the concert after talking to Mr. and Mrs. Marshall, who she met at her church.

“I was inspired to plan this recital while talking with [them] about having a repertoire prepared and needing a venue in which to perform,” Conner said.

Mrs. Marshall was the previous organist for the Christ United Methodist Church, and Mr. Marshall was the choral director at Bethany College, so the three decided to put together a recital to showcase their repertoires and perform it at all three institutions.

“As a professional vocalist, you are always learning new pieces and adding them to your repertoire; and specifically you work on varied languages, most commonly French, Italian, German, and English,” Conner said. “This is the standard for a vocal recital structure.”

Conner went on to explain that most of the pieces performed in “Music and Lyrics” were learned specifically for the show, and were chosen based on whether or not the performers identified with them and their musicality.

 “I like to perform selections that I find challenging but I know the audience will enjoy, as well as pieces that are fun to sing.”

With the practice that is required to perfect a show, as well as the process of memorizing the pieces, Conner explained that a recital typically takes several months to prepare.

However the preparation was certainly appreciated by the audience, who applauded enthusiastically after every piece.  The audience included Chatham students and staff, as well as members of the broader community.

Even the youngest member of the audience, a toddler in the front row, seemed to be enjoying himself. Conner later identified him as her son, saying, “Just so you know the youngest audience member is my son, Lincoln. He’s two and a half.”

After the performance ended people stayed to chat and enjoy the refreshments that were provided. The general sentiment among the people in attendance was that the show was a success.

Conner echoed this sentiment, saying, “I am very pleased with the performance of “Music and Lyrics.” I feel that we performed at a level that would show a mastering of our skills.”

She went on to point out the Chatham music department holds a wide variety of concerts throughout the year and encouraged people to attend.

Chatham students stunned by removal of smoking benches

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Students at Chatham University were taken by surprise recently when the smoking benches near Braun Hall were removed and replaced with signs warning of a $100 fine for anyone caught smoking.

The sudden action, coupled with the marked lack of notification about the change from administration, left students confused and angry.

“Taking away all of the smoking areas, without giving the students any prior notice, is basically saying, ‘We don’t really care about your needs,’” said junior Chloe Bell at the Chatham Student Government (CSG) meeting on October 2.

The cause for the new smoking fine was eventually addressed at that meeting, when Dean Zauyah Waite, CSG advisor and Chatham University Dean of Students, explained that Chatham is merely trying to exist in accordance with the law, which dictates that no smoking can occur within 25 feet of a building with public access.

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Photo courtesy of Phoebe Armstark

When confronted with the point that people are still smoking despite the new signs, Waite said, “enforcement is going to be tricky,” and that students, “can’t tell them to stop.” She said that all people can do for now is, “be polite.”

However, in regards to the benches themselves, Waite said, “the ground [under the benches] has really been ruined due to overuse, so we’re going to tend the ground.”

In response to this Junior Nicole Lyons said, “if we care so much about the environment we should create an area for them to go smoke. Otherwise they’ll just throw their butts everywhere.”

Despite a suggestion from Junior Phoebe Armstark about allowing people to smoke near the amphitheater by Dilworth, Waite said that creating new smoking areas is, “most likely not a move that the institution is going to take.” She said that if the institution truly believes in protecting the environment and keeping its students healthy, it would not make sense for it proved student with areas to engage in an activity that is dangerous for their health.

“There’s going to be a spectrum of opinions,” Waite said, “as the university is going through a transition.”

In answer to a question about whether or not the campus is now completely smoke and tobacco free, Waite said that, as of right now, that is not the case. Smoking is still allowed, just not within 25 feet of buildings with public access, in accordance with the law.

However, she said that “based on what’s happening nationwide, all campuses are considering this [change].”

“The folks from UPMC have to deal with it,” Waite said, in response to students’ expressions of concern.

Several students were in support of this idea. They pointed out that, for students with asthma, allergies, and any other respiratory issues, it is not fair to have people walking across campus smoking cigarettes.

Others were less pleased. Lyons pointed out that banning smoking would be, “discriminating against smokers,” because, “they’re still ‘part of our school.’”  She said that, “making people quit smoking really isn’t our place.”

Others pointed out that if the university was really concerned about students’ health, it would try to help smokers quit, rather than just banning smoking all together.

The issue is still up for debate, but the CSG plans to send out a poll to gather student opinions, and will take action based on the results.

Waite finally went on to say that though no official correspondence regarding this issue has been sent out yet, information would be forthcoming.

Waiting for Intermission: Review of “A Royal Affair”

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There’s a theme of dishonest love that attracts people to side with it, for what we can’t have, we find the most attractive. The film, “A Royal Affair” is no different.

Set in eighteenth century Denmark, the film focuses on the scandalous affair of Johann Friedrich (Mads Mikkelsen) and Caroline Matilda of Great Britain (Alicia Vikander). For Caroline, this secret tenderness is deeper than an escape from a neglected, abusive marriage; it is a chance to be free. The film is based on the erotic novel, “Prinsesse af blodet” written by Bodil Steensen-Leth.

Upon an arranged marriage to the mentally ill King Christian VII of Denmark (Mikkel Folsgaard), Caroline’s dream of an adventurous life is disregarded, starting with the removal of her prized books which were banned by state law.

King Christian begins to torment Caroline, even from the first night of her arrival in Denmark. He fires her lady-in-waiting but not without smashing snow in her face, calling her ‘a useless fat cow.’ Why? The Queen kept wishing him away from her chambers while she was pregnant with their first son.

Caroline begins to accept her dismal fate, losing hope for the life of freedom she visualized. However, when Christian hires a German royal physician, Johann Friedrich, her life begins a new hopeful chapter.

When I began watching, I didn’t expect more than a scandalous love affair of the rich and powerful. Yet, as the film continued, I noticed the camera began to focus on the corrupt politics of the court in eighteenth century Denmark under King Christian’s rule.

With no background in History or in Political Science, I began to play detective on the events during his reign. The in-depth detective work meaning I googled King Christian VII of Denmark. King Christian VII did have a mental illness that had an effect on government decisions.

The film portrayed his mental illness as if the King were a small, rambunctious child whom adults put up with but never took seriously.  But in the terms of his real life history Christian had an illness that would lead him into hysterics and hallucinations that made him physically ill, as well as mentally unstable. He would physically abuse his advisers as well as his grief-stricken 15-year-old Queen, Caroline. He took pleasure in the misery of others and loved to torment the members of his court for his own personal amusement.

Normally, my opinion of romantic films, such as “A Royal Affair,” is that there is more of a emphasis of exploiting the gossip about the rich and powerful of the time. But the history of these three historical figures kept me interested to find out what happened next with each scene.

‘An English princess married to an insane King,’ director Nikolaj Arcel’s film captures your attention to see if a mind, once insane, can be made sane, or if healing hands will be corrupted by power and influence, all in the name of love.

3/5