Month: January 2015

Review of graduate reading series, Word Circus

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“There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you,” Maya Angelou once wrote in her novel, “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings.”

This was undoubtedly the case for the writer’s attending the Chatham MFA Creative Writing Program’s reading series, Word Circus, at the Most Wanted Fine Art Gallery on Friday, January 23.

The gallery, set up with several rows of chairs facing a small stage adorned with a music stand and a single microphone, seemed immediately to be the perfect venue for the event.

With its mixed media pop-art, soft light, and quasi-industrial grunge inspired décor, it set the tone for the raw pieces of prose and poetry that were to be read throughout the evening.

Though it seemed like the kind of place one might find a group of stereotypical starving artists, it was unlikely that any of the artists in attendance were starving, given the large assortment of cheese, chips, crackers, desserts, wine, and of course–because what small scale artsy hipster gathering would be complete without it–a case of Pabst Blue Ribbon.

As the lights began to dim around 7:30, and the people who were casually chatting around the room began to take their seats, it became clear that, though the space was small and the weather outside less than pleasant, the event had managed to draw a nearly full house

After everyone was seated, Alex Friedman, the host for the evening, took the stage amidst a round of applause.

“You have to woo for everyone if you’re going to woo,” he joked before welcoming everyone, specifically thanking the two professors in attendance–Heather McNaugher and Marc Nieson–for coming.

Before bringing the four graduate student featured readers to the stage, Friedman explained that, in preparation for the event, he had asked all of the readers some questions about themselves.

The questions, full of witty and sarcastic humor, included things like which artist they would want to paint their portraits, and why they chose to pursue a career in, “making things up in an obsolete medium.”

The first featured reader, Michelle Sinclair, who would want to be painted by either Frida Kahlo or Andy Warhol and who writes because, “everyone has their flaws,” began the evening with her piece of prose entitled, “Knit for Naught.”

As she stood under the blue tin ceiling of the gallery, Sinclair wove–or knit, as the case may be–an engaging storyline, making the audience feel a full spectrum of emotions.

Her soft voice rose and fell as she took the audience through flashbacks about the main character, Shirley, an avid knitter who, towards the end of the piece, the audience discovers is still heartbroken over the loss of a child.

Sinclair was followed by Taylor Smith, who said that he would want his portrait done by Stanley Kubrick in the style of “2001: A Space Odyssey” and who, according to Friedman, “was voted Most Likely to be Merlin or Gandalf” in high school.

Smith began with a somber poem about heartbreak and change, his voice resonating through the room as he read.

The audience responded well, laughing enthusiastically when he got to the first line of his final poem, which read, “In the winter time, Buddha is hiding in the bushes, spying on the neighbors again.”

Leila Zonouzi, the third featured reader for the evening, indicated that she would want her portrait done by the comedian Louis C.K.

Upon taking the stage she explained that she would be reading a selection from of larger piece on which she is currently working.

The tone of her piece, which was about the events of a woman’s day, was somber, and her attention to imagery and detail seemed to give the piece a life of its own.

In response to the question of why she chose to be a writer, the final featured reader, Alison Taverna, gave a comical response about how her dream of being a professional unicyclist didn’t pan out.

As soon as she got on the stage she began joking with people in the audience, saying, after one of her poems, that she, “really wanted to drop the mic on that one.”

The close knit group of people in attendance made it feel more like a family gathering than a public reading, which had the potential to make outsiders feel alienated–except for the fact that the welcoming atmosphere made that outcome impossible.

Towards the end of her set, Taverna read a poem inspired by Justin Bieber’s new haircut, and in it she said, “It’s okay, sometimes, to be mistaken for who you are.”

This theme of being who you are was felt throughout the event in everything from the featured readers portion to the open mic portion–during which six people went on stage to share their work–and even during the breaks in between when everyone gathered together to chat and enjoy each other’s company.

Word Circus is a monthly event and information about the next one, occurring Friday, February 20, can be found on MyChatham.

Waiting for Intermission: Review of Blackhat

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Set in the developing world of cyber terrorism, “Blackhat” starts out with a nuclear plant explosion in China. In America, not long after, the Mercantile Trade Exchange gets hacked. With the only leading evidence fried in the heart of the nuclear plant, Chinese and American agents collaborate to bring incarcerated cyber criminal Nicholas Hathaway (Chris Hemsworth) to the game.

What reason do they have to take the convict out of prison? To get inside the mind of the criminal they’re trying to take down. However, even with the watchful eyes of the FBI guards and his shiny ankle bracelet accessory, would you trust Hathaway to do the right thing if you give the unlawful genius your computer?

As the film progresses, there’s no clear reason as to why Hathaway is there, or what he had done to be thrown into the American slammer in the first place.

During a quiet conversation, Hathaway states that he did a little hacking, but no one explains what exactly he was hacking. As for why he was brought to the FBI’s attention in the first place, was it because he was friends, roommates, and brothers-in-computer-arms with Chen Dawai (Leehom Wang), a military officer of China’s cyber warfare unit?

Later on in the film, it seems as if the reason for Hathaway to stay with the project is for Dawai’s sister, Chen Lien (Tang Wei). Why would Hathaway risk his life to help America and China defend themselves from a faceless yet powerful villain?

Somewhat obviously, Hathaway makes a deal with his American captors: if he gets the cyber terrorist, he goes free. Yet there’s no explanation as to why Hathaway isn’t already allowed to walk the streets a free man. After some tension between the FBI agents, the young military officer, and his sister, the FBI reluctantly agree that Hathaway is an asset, and ultimately, they let him run the show. Traveling from America to China, Indonesia, and Malaysia, the plot seems to make more sense as more and more people keep dying.

Even with the unsteady camera shots and the (nauseating) movements of cuts, I enjoyed the film. The character introductions and backstories left me wanting to know more about the people I should care about in the film, but I felt that I could focus more on why the characters were together.

The love connection between Hathaway and Chen Lien was a little obvious to me, but it didn’t detract from the main point of the film. The plot kept me guessing–not about what was going to happen next, but why. Why were the antagonists killing people and destroying governments? And, unlike most action films I’ve seen, I didn’t know the real villain of the story until the very end. Straight to the action and slow to the point, I feel that the film “Blackhat,” directed by Michael Mann, is a good film to watch more than once.

Foodie on the Half Shell: Go easy on the Salt

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I don’t usually head over to the Garfield area in Pittsburgh unless I’m going to visit friends. It has all the potential in the world to be “with it,” with Spak Brothers and Verde as its food destinations that offer interesting foods with vegan options. Let’s get real though…most of the buildings are boarded up as if the big freeze is coming, and even Bottom Dollar is closing over there. Oh no! What will we do without a Bottom Dollar? No, seriously though…what will we do?

Well, instead of spending $50 dollars on food that will last you a week at Bottom Dollar, try going down the street a bit and spend $50 on a meal that will last you one night at Salt of the Earth. Well, that doesn’t sound exactly economical, but it’s fun!

Step into an open floor plan with long communal tables, where you can see your food being cooked up against one wall and your drinks being made up against the other. The building is small, but the design opens up the restaurant to feel larger.

I personally hate communal sitting. I know it’s the new thing, but I enjoy a sense of privacy, and I think it’s just an excuse for the wait staff to be lazy. I got lucky, and I came with a large party of ten and we took up an entire table. I was comfortable sitting with my family and friends, and I didn’t have to worry about awkward elbow- room or someone asking me to pass the salt. Like no, I will not pass you anything—I’d actually prefer pretending you are not sitting right next to me.

Aside from the seating design, Salt has a lot going for them, but a few things holding them back.

Their menu is impressive looking and everything sounds trendy and delicious, like fish with grapes and foie gras. After reading that most of the chefs that I respect around Pittsburgh enjoy Salt, I was prepared for a “wow” reaction. The fireworks did go off for the sashimi starter that was made of unidentified fish. It was small—made for just one person, but the flavor was impressively large. With curried florets of al dente cauliflower and tart grapes, a lullaby of soft and crunchy and sweet and spicy all came together nicely.

Skip the romaine starter–it is just a boring Caesar salad.  Instead, try the fried Brussels sprouts if you are in the mood. They are nothing fancy, just delicious and greasy.

As for the “mids,” I was not impressed. I could have been trying the wrong dishes, though. I had the risotto as my entrée, which sounded promising. I imagined layers of flavors with the sweet potatoes, the lemon, and the roasted garlic. Unfortunately, it was a one-ton bowl of mush.

Don’t even bother with the mussels—you can make them better at home. When it comes to their entrees, stay safe and try their cheeseburger. It is simple yet divine, with handmade American cheese and tons of pickles all on a brioche bun. Simple is best.

What are really important, though, are their desserts. Salt redeems themselves with their sweets. They worked with different layers of flavors and textures. I had their brownie dessert, which came with ice cream that tasted like you picked a banana off of the tree itself, and peanut brittle. The concoction worked and I am happy I had it…although I am nervous that the dessert tasted amazing just because I was so bummed out by the other courses.

I think the take home about Salt is that they are truly a comfort food restaurant trying to be a contemporary American restaurant. Their hamburgers and fried Brussels sprouts are fantastic. What they should also be serving is rustic mac and cheese and modern meatloaf. I bet they would knock that stuff out of the park. Even though I feel strongly, my family would disagree…mainly because they all ordered the burger, I think.

A perfect dinner there would be a medium rare cheeseburger with a side of fried Brussels sprouts, ended with a brownie dessert. Stick to the simple stuff at Salt. They are still figuring it out.

Chatham takes interest in Circle of 6 phone application

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With recent awareness campaigns about the prevalence of sexual assault on college campuses, the smartphone application Circle of 6 has been developed to prevent sexual abuse and dating violence before it even begins.

The application is designed to allow users to quickly and discretely contact their circle—comprised of six friends—if they are in an uncomfortable situation.

Selecting the car icon sends a text reading, “Come and get me. I need help getting home safely,” and the sender’s GPS coordinates.

The phone icon asks the user’s circle to, “Call and pretend you need me.  I need an interruption.”

Finally, the chat icon sends a text saying, “I’m looking up information about healthy relationships and respect. Just letting you know.”  According to Circle of 6’s website, “This keeps your circle informed of what’s on your mind, but doesn’t ask for immediate action.”

In emergencies, the application’s exclamation point icon can be used to access national hotlines and customized local emergency numbers.

In 2011, the application won the “Apps Against Abuse” technology challenge sponsored by the White House.  In 2012, it came in second place in the “Ending Violence @ Home App Challenge,” funded by the Avon Foundation for Women.

Some colleges—including University of California, Los Angeles; Hobart and William Smith Colleges; and Williams College—have adopted Circle of 6 U, which is geared specifically towards college students.

Chatham University has not yet adopted Circle of 6 U.  Instead, students are encouraged to try the Circle of 6 application, and Student Affairs and Assistant Professor in the Doctor of Psychology program Dr. Britney Brinkman are conducting a research study on Chatham students’ impressions about the application, the nature of their conversations about safety with close friends, and their attitudes about their role in preventing sexual assault and relationship violence.

“Essentially, it’s a pilot to see if rolling the application out campus wide would be beneficial to students,” said Assistant Dean of Career Development Dr. Sean McGreevey.

Although preventing violence is the application’s main goal, it also promotes discussion and trust between friends.

“There is power in communities having conversations about how we all can contribute to safer environments,” said McGreevey.  “The application asks users to have conversations with six close friends. There is power in those conversations.”

“The stigma surrounding [sexual assault and intimate partner violence] often makes it difficult for people to engage in conversations about them,” said Brinkman.

Brinkman also hopes that through these conversations, students can, “shift away from conceptualizations of sexual assault and relationship violence that assume women are responsible for avoiding violence.”

“Rather, we hope to spark dialogues about the role all community members—female and male—can play in creating safe environments and being proactive, supportive bystanders,” she said.

To help promote conversations and new ways of thinking, Chatham is holding several training sessions focusing less on using the application itself—which is designed to be simple to use—and more on, “how we can come together as a community and leverage the technology towards community solutions,” according to McGreevey.

“It’s not about the application, it’s about how the technology can enhance our community’s efforts to bring the conversation to the table, empower people to intervene as bystanders and give users a way to contact help if they need it,” he said.

Training sessions are scheduled for Tuesday, January 27 and Monday, February 2.  McGreevey hopes these sessions will attract groups of students, “to participate so we can elicit student feedback and potentially adopt the application as a campus.”

“Sexual assault and relationship violence is a critical issue for all campuses,” he said.  “Ultimately, we just want to continuously evolve in ways that best serve the Chatham community.”

CSG discusses changing Chatham’s Alma Mater, motto, and more

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The Chatham Student Government (CSG) convened an unusual meeting on Thursday, January 22, when the rules of governmental conduct were temporarily suspended to allow for a candid discussion about semantics.

With the coeducational transition occurring in the Fall of 2015, the government was faced with the logistical issue of whether or not to change the Chatham University motto and Alma Mater to ensure that they appropriately represent the newest members of the Chatham community.

After Jenny Schollaert, CSG Executive Vice President, read through the Alma Mater line by line, the Senate determined that it did not, in fact, use any gendered language–the only pronoun in it being a plural possessive.

“I think some people might think it’s too girly,” Skylar Wilcha, Class of 2015 President, said, but the Senate agreed that this was not sufficient ground to change it.

The motto was a different story.

The Chatham University motto, as it stands, reads “Filiae Nostrae Sicut Antarii Lapides,” which translates to, “That our daughters may be as cornerstones, polished after the similitude of a palace.”

While the quote clearly uses gendered language, the Senate seemed fairly opposed to the idea of changing it.

Eir Rovira, a member of CSG, pointed out that the graduate students who have been at Chatham for years already have never had a problem with the University’s motto.

“If we change all of theses things,” Rovira continued, “it’s like saying Chatham has never been a college for women.”

Others suggested allaying the controversy by attaching the motto to Chatham’s new Women’s Institute.

There was also a suggestion of changing the word “daughters” to something less gender specific.

However, when Erin Smith, Executive Vice President of Communications, took a poll to see who actually knew what the school’s motto was, very few raised their hand–an indication to the CSG that the issue is not a particularly pressing one.

Also on the agenda for the meeting was a discussion regarding the future of the Chatham University tradition of Fall Serenade, as well as the viability of Chatham’s current class colors moving forward.

In regard to the issue of class colors, the CSG once again seemed to be unanimous in their opinion that there is nothing gendered about Chatham’s current class colors of pink, green, red, and yellow.

“We have to create a culture where wearing pink or yellow or green is a normal thing,” Sarah Jugovic, Executive President, said.

Wilcha agreed, pointing out that, “we’re not living in the 60’s.  Men wear pink all the time.”

Gradually the conversation shifted to the question of whether or not the Fall Serenade was, “too girly,” which prompted a strong reaction from the Senate.

“This coming from Chatham, of all places, is kind of disappointing,” said one member.

In response to a suggestion that they change the tradition to something like a barbeque, Chloe Bell, a member of CSG, “Is a barbeque man enough?” She continued, “This is silly.”

Though many in the Senate agreed that the discussion was absurd, Jugovic pointed out that she was just trying to get a “temperature” for how the Senate was feeling about the issues, saying, “We, as a government, just need to talk about it and take a unified stance on the subject moving forward.”

She then mentioned that when Vassar College transitioned to coeducation, their color simply shifted over time from pink to crimson.

This made people question the point of even discussing the matter at all, with many pointing out that even with a unified stance, there is nothing to stop the administration from changing these things in the future.

This conversation came to a sudden halt when Phoebe Armstrong, Class of 2016 President, joined in to say, “That puts no worth to the 150 years that we’ve been teaching women to be leaders,” which received an enthusiastic response from the rest of the CSG.

Though the members of the Senate all felt similarly about the issues at hand, it was determined that further discussion is necessary, and as a result, no decisions on the subject have yet been made.

Students gather for annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service

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On Monday, January 20, Chatham University community members participated in a day of service in memory of the late Martin Luther King, Jr., and his dedication to the importance of serving one’s community.

University students gathered in the Athletic and Fitness Center and signed up to volunteer at Nine Mile Run, Kelly Strayhorn Theater, Friends of the Riverfront, and the Student Conservation Association.

Classes were cancelled and around 100 students and faculty came out in support of the cause. Many students were excited to participate in the service day and stated how doing these types of projects renewed their sense of community spirit while lending their hands to help others.

As students signed up for their respective volunteer work, the atmosphere was filled with joy as people conversed over a light breakfast and coffee, and stated their own personal reasons as to why they got up early to volunteer.

Denesha Moorefield, a sophomore, spoke on the importance of giving back and how structured community service was beneficial. She went on to say how community service is often, “not something you think about everyday, so it’s nice to get a chance to get out there and help.” Moorefield volunteered the previous year and was happy to serve her community again in a different way.

Although the weather wasn’t ideal, Moorefield expressed her excitement. She went on to explain that despite the cold, “it is a lot of fun, and you’re there with all of your friends which makes things more enjoyable.”

Moorefield encouraged members to give their all and appreciated those who came out to help, but also reminded others that service isn’t only a one time thing and that you should, “give a little everyday.”

Lauren Brown, another sophomore, chose volunteering at Nine Mile Run. Picking up trash around the creek was part of the Nine Mile Run volunteer initiative.

Upon arrival, Brown was not equipped with the right attire but was eager to change so she could actively participate in the service project. Brown stated that she, “was here to help” and was more than willing to do the, “dirty work.”

She also gave a more personal reason for participating, saying, “As a biology major I see how the way we interact with the environment affects the wildlife that inhabit these said environments,” and pointing out the positive impact clearing trash has even though it may seem miniscule.

She went on to say, “having the capability to help someone, or the environment is the kind and right thing to do.”

Brown was happy with the turnout and was glad that everyone who participated with her shared her same enthusiasm to serve the community.

Overall the theme of the day was service and the many volunteers were seen with smiles on their faces as they whole-heartedly gave back to their communities.  While projects differed between groups, many came back to campus sharing the same sense of spirit and were happy they chose to get out of bed and give back.

Little Red Riding Vogue: Rick Owens shocks Paris Fashion Week with nudity

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If you aren’t already familiar with the designer Rick Owens, you will be now. Owens, a California native, has had a label since 1994 and showed his first runway collection in September of 2002 at New York Fashion Week. Most recently, he showed his work during Paris Fashion Week.

On Thursday, January 22, Owens sent pantless male models down the runway. I know what you’re thinking. Pantless? Really? Yes, really. In fact, some of the pieces had holes cut out in the crotch area. It wasn’t some slip up; Rick Owens just really wanted Paris Fashion Week to see some male genitalia.

Whether he wanted to shock the crowd or if it was really just the design he liked remains to be seen. Either way, the Internet is going crazy over it and I can’t blame them.

Owens has always been known for his grunge-glamour approach to fashion and the pieces he showcased at Paris Fashion Week maintain that style. For those who aren’t familiar with his work, think Alexander Wang.

Overall, the look was intriguing, but of course, this collection has now been made unforgettable by the addition of the publicity.

Some of the pieces featured chest cut outs as well—although we live in a society where male chests are acceptable in public. This does, however, raise the question of acceptable nudity?

The fashion world is one of the few places where nudity can be respected as art. Plenty of designers showcase pieces where women’s chests are visible. Maybe Owens is trying to take another step forward with nudity in fashion. The real proof will be if female models in fashion start flaunting dresses with crotch holes, too.

By the people, for the people: CSG weekly update

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The Chatham Student Government (CSG) meeting on Thursday, January 22, began, as usual, with reports from the CSG officers.

This included an update on the Undergraduate Budget Committee (UBC) from Sam Elbaz, Vice President of Finance.

She reported that at there were three requests for funds at the last UBC meeting–an individual request, a request form Sigma Tau Delta, and a request from the Class of 2015–but only two were granted. The individual request was awarded $400, and the Class of 2015 was awarded $1,040. She also reported that the UBC will be voting on an issue with the travel funds amendments and that afterwards it will move to a vote in the CSG.

The meeting then took a turn when Sarah Jugovic, CSG Executive President, moved to suspend Robert’s Rules–the rules of governmental conduct–in order to have an open forum discussion about the possibility of changing the University’s alma mater, motto, and class colors, as well as changing the tradition of the Fall Serenade.

The discussion was a heated one, and persisted for nearly an hour.

For the most part, the Senate seemed to unanimously agree that the changing these things would be an assault to Chatham’s 145 years of history.

With the meeting nearly at its end, Jugovic encouraged the Senate to move on to other topics, promising that they would continue the conversation in a later meeting.

The Senate then briefly discussed other issues around campus, including the fact that access to the women’s restroom on the third floor of the library requires a key from the PACE Center, meaning that it is only accessible when the PACE Center is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The irony of the situation was not lost on Chloe Bell–a member of the CSG–when she mentioned that, “the men’s bathroom next door is always accessible.”

According to Jenny Schollaert, CSG Executive Vice President, the issue was brought up to administration.

Also discussed was the matter of take-out boxes in the dining hall, specifically their inefficiency, and the fact that they cost $5.00.

“Why should getting food to go cost you $5.00 extra?” asked Bell.

Many brought up the idea of bringing back the paper take-out boats, which were supposedly removed because people were stealing food.  Several members of the Senate, however, attributed the food theft to the change in the location of the registers.

As Elbaz pointed out, before the move, “there were no issues at all.”

As a result, Jugovic determined that more study was needed before any decisions could be made.

Other ideas about making food more accessible were opening the McCrady Café–in the Athletic and Fitness Center–a few evenings a week, opening the smoothie bar in Eddy Theatre, and adding more options in Café Rachel.

There was also a brief conversation about the CSG bulletin boards around campus, and whether or not the CSG should keep them or give them to other organizations.  It was determined that more discussion was necessary.

The final topic of conversation at the meeting was that of the CSG sponsored event at Relay for Life.  After a vote, the Senate chose to rent a mechanical bull for the evening.

The CSG meets every Thursday on the PCW Room, and all meetings are open to the student body.  Check MyChatham for times, and any further information regarding these meetings.

Why “The Interview” is almost justification for digital piracy

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Cyber crime is one of the fastest growing (and most lucrative) illegal activities in the United States. Figures from the FBI put overall damages as a result of cyber crime activities at around 0.2 to 0.8 of the US GDP (somewhere between 24 and 120 billion dollars annually).

Due to these factors, cybercrimes like digital piracy are among the most heavily prosecuted in the country (although there is a concurrent low rate of arrests due to the nature of the crime and the sheer volume of people involved even as accessories).

Given that cybercrime and digital piracy are theft, I will allege that I don’t approve. This is, after all, related to peoples’ livelihoods. However, there are circumstances where not only do I approve of it, I would argue that it’s a civic duty to pirate the heck out of something. Case in point: Seth Rogen’s latest travesty, “The Interview.”

One of the first life lessons the average person learns, either via firsthand experience or watching some other poor idiot try, is that poking a hornet’s nest with anything is a very bad idea. Smashing an individual hornet is fine; there are very rarely repercussions for it. It’s when you get bolder after smacking the first hornet and decide to go after the nest that it becomes a problem. Usually, you’ll get stung so many times that you regret being alive–if the stings don’t kill you as an example to everyone else.

In this scenario, the hornet’s nest is North Korea, and Seth Rogen, James Franco, and Randall Park are the collective moron with a stick. And, carrying through with the hornet analogy, the stings are the capability for nuclear warfare. If you can imagine that, you’ll realize just how bad of a very bad idea “The Interview” was.

The Sony hack that almost ended the release of the aforementioned movie was a case of civic responsibility in an attempt to prevent World War III, rather than an attack on the freedom of speech. Here’s a tip: There’s freedom of speech, and there’s being an idiot. And then there’s Seth Rogen and James Franco.

“The Interview” makes fun of a man who is painted by the media as a silly buffoon and who is great for being the butt of a joke, while simultaneously forgetting that he has nuclear capability and is suspected of more military attacks than most neighboring countries (with the caveat that no one can prove it because he’s supposed to be a silly little comedic figure who threatens nuclear war but doesn’t do it because he’s after something).

Kim Jong-un looks and acts like a buffoon. He is a great source of comedic news for the rest of the world to laugh at. His leadership and how he acts allows the rest of the world to point and laugh while forgetting that North Korea is a perpetrator of one of the longest on-going series of human rights abuses in the modern world.

Instead of going to see “The Interview” in theaters and supporting two morons who make fun of a country where people are literally tortured, imprisoned, and subsequently worked to death in labor camps alongside three generations of their family for doing things like listening to even a few notes of the wrong music, spend the money you’ve saved on Liberty in North Korea (LINK), a group that helps North Korean refugees, instead.

“The Interview” is not freedom of speech. It is not a comedy. It is a travesty.

Don’t make an effort to see it, and spend the money you saved on something worthwhile.

Foodie on the Half Shell: New Years resolutions for a foodie

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My New Years resolution for 2015 was all about food–as is everything else in my life. I wanted to get healthier, maybe lose the 20 pounds I gained in the last two years, and limit my eating habits to a more vegan-friendly diet. I knew I had to write down concrete resolutions, though, if I ever wanted to see them put into action.

  1. Vegan before six. (Which pretty much means at dinner I eat cheese, because cheese is everything.)

  2. Work out two to three days a week. This may not sound like a lot but I have realized if I put my expectations too high, I get really sad when I don’t work out a lot and end up not going.

  3. No drinking during the week. It’s just healthy to drink less in general!

  4. Cook seasonally.

For the first two weeks, I am happy to say I have been successful in my endeavors. I have felt amazing eating so much produce rather than cheese and carbs. I hope to fill up the column this semester with all types of vegan and seasonal ideas. The seasonal inspiration is mainly from a cookbook I picked up in New York City over winter break. The book is called “In Season,” by Sarah Raven. Each chapter is devoted to different types of produce that are in season in certain months. It comes with some amazing recipes to get you really excited about what is sustainably growing during the different seasons.

My recipe I would like to share with you today is not entirely in season, but it’s not completely out of season either. I made a butternut squash with goat cheese and thyme, baked with breadcrumbs and parmesan on top. It is best served with a simple pasta or large green salad.

What you will need for a main dish for one person, or a smaller dish for two people:

1 butternut squash

1 Tbs of thyme

2 Tbs of goat cheese

¼ cups of parmesan

¼ cups of breadcrumbs

Olive oil

Salt and pepper to taste

Start with setting your oven to 400 degrees. Cut the butternut squash in half, lengthwise. Scrape the seeds and guts out. Rub olive oil and salt and pepper on the two fleshy halves of the squash and place them both face down on a cookie sheet. Put in the oven for about 45 minutes to an hour or until the flesh is soft. When finished baking, take the squash out and let it cool until you are able to handle it.

Scrape the meat out of one half of the squash, leaving a layer of flesh remaining. Scrape the other half out completely. Put the scraped out contents into a bowl with the goat cheese and thyme. Check seasonings and add more salt and pepper if needed. Stuff the shell with the layer of flesh remaining with the goat cheese and squash mix. Sprinkle with parmesan and bread crumbs, and drizzle it with a little bit of olive oil to finish it off. Pop in the oven with the setting on low broil. Take out when the top is browned.