Author: Admin

Students celebrate Brazilian Carnival in Anderson

Admin

At lunchtime on Tuesday, February 11, the Laughlin Intercultural Living Learning Community and Student Affairs celebrated the Brazilian holiday Carnival at Anderson Dining Hall.

A craft table stood in the center of the dining hall, amongst tables of people eating and chatting. Brightly colored feathers, sequins, and stickers covered the table, and students were encouraged to make and decorate paper masks with these materials.  Beads and string were also available for making colorful necklaces and bracelets.

Popular Brazilian music blared from a speaker in the center of the table. One artist featured on the playlist was Brazilian pop star Anitta.

Student Affairs and the Intercultural LLC chose to celebrate Carnival because of its significance in Brazil, the home country of seven students currently studying at Chatham.

“We want to make [students of all nationalities] feel comfortable and at home,” said Ciarra Karnes, Graduate Assistant for Student Affairs. “We thought it was important to celebrate things that are important to them.”

Carnival is one of Brazil’s most famous holidays, and “festivities are intense, day and night,” according to a flier distributed at the craft table by Student Affairs.  Carnival occurs from the Friday to the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday and the onset of Lent.  This year, it will begin on February 28 and end on March 4.

The celebrations of Brazilian Carnival differ from region to region. According to Brazilian student Gabriela Raquel, larger cities like Rio de Janeiro and her hometown São Paulo host parades. In these parades, different samba schools (or large groups who perform the samba style of dance) come together to compete.

They perform on parade floats, and their dances “tell a story for the people.” After two days of parades, the winning group is determined.

In the northern city Bahia, celebrations focus on music rather than dance.  According to Raquel, famous singers perform music of the axé genre on trucks that drive in parades.

Despite being the focus at Tuesday’s celebration, masks are found in only a few Carnival celebrations, according to Raquel. Children from all parts of the country may make paper masks to wear. Adults in the northern city Fortaleza also wear masks and perform the frevo dance style with umbrellas.

Brazilian Carnival attracts millions of participants and observers each year.  According to Student Affairs’ information, Rio de Janeiro’s Carnival celebration attracted 4.9 million people last year, 400,000 of whom were not Brazilian.

“It makes me want to go to see Carnival for myself,” said first-year Megan A. Cooper. “Having Brazilian students to talk to was interesting because I got to see it from the point of view of someone who has actually been there.”

In addition to the craft supplies and conversation, Student Affairs supplied food for those who participated. This food was not Brazilian; rather it represented a mix of Southeast Asian cultures. Chicken satay and scallion pancakes were among the dishes provided.

Chatham hosts poetry reading featuring Joy Katz and Anne Fisher-Wirth

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On Tuesday, February 11, a small crowd of Chatham students and faculty gathered in Mellon Board Room to hear poets Joy Katz and Anne Fisher-Wirth read their work. The Chatham University MFA in Creative Writing Program sponsored the event that was not only a poetry reading, but also a book signing.

The event started with the introduction of both poets. Joy Katz, who also teaches at Chatham, was the first one to read her work.  Katz read a selection of poems from her latest book “All You Do Is Perceive”. When talking about the meaning behind the title of the book Katz said, “The book is about perception,” as she is interested in how people misperceive.

The first poem Katz read was initially about two people that meet, and how one keeps following the other around. Katz said that the poem was about narcissism and that it was a self-hating poem. The second poem was called “Suicide Cascade”. Katz said that this poem was about things not looking like what they really are. She also mentioned in the poem that it was about the saddest time in her life.

The third poem was called “Buffalo” and Katz said that it was about her childhood. The fourth poem was called “The Imagination Drunk with Prohibitions” and throughout the poem Katz compared two situations, with one being more embarrassing than the other. Katz called it a grandmother poem.

One of the last poems that Katz read took place in a concentration camp in Prague that Katz visited in 1992. The last poem ended where the previous poem left off. “There were a few; the one about the concentration camp in Prague. That one I really liked,” Roberta Borger, a graduate student, said when asked which poem was her favorite.

Anne Fisher-Wirth was next to read her poems. Most of the poems that she read were from her most recent book called “Dream Cabinet”. The first poem Fisher-Wirth read was about her mother’s journey on her way to college. The second was called “Heretic Narrative”. Fisher-Wirth said that the poem was about how she has been chain smoking since she was 13 years old and how she had kept it a secret.

Before reading the third poem, “Sweet Gum Country”, Fisher-Wirth said that she had students in the past that did environmental projects about the neighborhood they grew up in. The poem starts off with addressing two of those students and continues on to discuss poverty and people’s experiences in Mississippi where Fisher-Wirth currently lives.

The fourth poem was called “Overall a Mist of Sweetness” and it talks about her time in Washington State. It discusses different experiences she had with nature. The fifth poem was called “Southern Music” and it was about one of her neighbors, a teenage boy that talked in animal voices. Fisher-Wirth said that this poem would be easier to read if she were drunk–but that she wasn’t–and the audience laughed.

Fisher-Wirth then showed the audience a PowerPoint which was a collaboration that she is working on with a photographer. Fisher-Wirth wrote poems to go along with the photographs that were shown on the screen; she also read some of the poems. Fisher-Wirth said that the collaboration wasn’t yet finished.

After the reading was over there was a short Q&A with the poets. “I thought it was really exciting to hear Joy read. I hadn’t heard her read before so it was nice to hear her,” Tess Wilson, a graduate student, said when asked what she thought about the event.  “All You Do Is Perceive” and “Dream Cabinet” are available in stores now.

Black Student Union Showcase: a new Chatham tradition?

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On Friday, February 7, the Black Student Union rocked Eddy Theatre with their first Showcase-–a series of performances honoring African-American art and culture.

The show started when DJ Flipwave played rap through the speakers while audience members filed in their seats. A few minutes later, hosts Jay Oriola and Jasmine Parker took the stage. Doing a bit of stand-up, they introduced the evening’s performers, who hailed from Chatham University, Carnegie Mellon, and the University of Pittsburgh.

Divided into thirds, the Showcase began with the section entitled Coming to America in which a number of moving spirituals, African dances, and religious poems were presented. Diamond Gorman opened with a short song that was then followed by the Ya’Baso Dance Team, Some of God’s Children Gospel Choir, a faithful rendition of Sam Cooke by Charles Davis and more.

One of the night’s most memorable moments was when the theater went dark with only a couple of lights from backstage casting a streak of blue upon the stage as the Willie Lynch Syndrome Speech was read by an unseen cast member.

Although the speech (once purported to be an authentic transcript from the 1700s) was written sometime in the 20th century by an anonymous author, it was chosen by the BSU to highlight the mistreatment and dehumanization of Africans in the early days of slavery. The theater, which had before been filled with cheers and laughter, fell into a hushed silence.

The following section, The Awakening, moved into the 20th century when African-American art gained a larger following. Audiences went wild seeing the two step selections by the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity and the Anointed Steps of Faith, and applauded Diamond Gorman (covering Etta James), Charles Davis and Some of God’s Children as they returned to sing again.

What stood out most in the second act was Cramer’s acoustic performance. Described by Oriola as having an “angelic-like voice,” the entire audience was stunned by the soul she put into both her vocals and her guitar playing. After she exited the stage, a video presentation called “I Was Here” played.

These moving pieces were followed by a brief Intermission that included a raffle drawing. Three different guests won Chatham University merchandise from the Bookstore before the final act–Modern Day and Age–began. Another short video presentation played before Jeremiah Davis returned for a second poem called “God’s Painting” that touched metaphorically on issues of race and diversity.

Soulstylz danced before high schooler Essence Criswell took the stage to deliver one of the best spoken word performances of the evening: “Hair”. Host Jay Oriola — an excellent comedian–came up and performed his own piece of poetry called “Poets” that explained the life and perception of artists, a subject that many people in the audience connected with. Finally, Cramer came on to steal the show once more before Ya’Baso closed out the show with the popular “Kukere”.

With all luck, the Black Student Union Showcase will become an annual Black History Month event at Chatham University and will be enjoyed–with new, but equally moving, numbers and performers–for years to come.

Swimming and Diving: Cougars best PSU-Altoona and Franciscan University

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The Chatham University Cougars’ swimming and diving team bested both PSU-Altoona and Franciscan University on Saturday, February 1. The Cougars defeated PSU-Altoona 186-62 and Franciscan 160-102.

The star of the Cougars’ diving team was Alexis Rectenwald who broke school records in both the one-meter and three-meter dive competitions.

Rectenwald racked up 253.90 points in the one-meter dive, with teammates Emily Hinson and Kianna Hedjazi taking the second and third place positions, respectively. Rectenwald again finished first in the three-meter dive, scoring 249.00 points. Hediazi and Hinson took the second and third place slots with 244.90 and 210.80 points.

Chatham won eight events in the pool, including the 200-yard medley relay and the 200 yard freestyle relay which both took first place.

First years Theresa Schrider and Elina Lankinen showed their skills, with Schrider winning the 100-yard breaststroke and Lankinen taking first in the 200-yard breaststroke.

Junior Hilary Lotz took first in the 100 and 200-yard breaststroke competitions. Sophomore Melissa Puskar took first in the 50-yard freestyle.

Chatham University’s Senior’s Night was extra special for Paige Carrigan who got first in the 500-yard freestyle, breaking her personal best time with 6:01.37. She was honored alongside Tasha Jordan who also competed.

“SQUATified” builds muscle and awareness for world sanitation

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On Thursday, January 30, students gathered in the Athletic and Fitness Center’s Gymnasium for “SQUATified… with World Sanitation?,” a squat fitness class including discussions about world sanitation and water supply issues.

The event was hosted by students Taylor Gombar and Emily Schmidt, who are members of the 2013 cohort of the Vira I. Heinz Program for Women in Global Leadership, a leadership-building program for summer study abroad.  The event served as Gombar and Schmidt’s Community Engagement Experience, a component of the VIH Program in which participants use knowledge acquired during their study abroad experience to benefit their community.

“When Taylor and I were discussing ideas for an event, we were trying to find parallel experiences between our trips,” Schmidt said.  “The one thing on which we could agree is that sanitation practices in our countries took different forms and held different positions of priority, especially noticeable when compared to the U.S.  We realized that this was true all throughout the world, and we felt like this was something we would like to educate our peers about.”

At 7 p.m., students and guests arrived in the gymnasium, which was decorated with toilet paper streamers and poster boards of photographs from Gombar and Schmidt’s study abroad experiences at East China Normal University in Shanghai, China, and Richmond University in Florence, Italy, respectively.

Attendees were encouraged to bring sanitation products to be donated to Light of Life Rescue Mission, which helps poor and homeless locals.  People donated items, including soap, toilet paper, and bathroom cleaner, and made financial contributions.

Gombar began the evening with a presentation on the lack of toilets and sanitation products around the world.

“The concept of sanitation arose from my investigation in standards of living as well as my experience with ‘Squatty Potties,’” Gombar said.  “I had to carry around toiletry-sized soap and toilet paper.  I watched many women use the Squatty Potty and just walk out of the bathroom without a single thought of washing their hands.”

After Gombar’s presentation, Doctor of Physical Therapy student Zachary Roberts led the first segment of the squat class, accompanied by Gombar and Schmidt’s playlist of “the best music for butt workouts.”  The exercises ranged from simpler moves, like air squats and lunges, to more rigorous moves involving jumps, and each participant was supplied with a paper cutout of a toilet seat to do squats over, to reinforce the sanitation message.

After the first set of exercises, Schmidt gave a presentation on the world’s water supply.

“I was most surprised at the rate of improvement of the water situation around the world,” Schmidt said about her research.  For example, according to Schmidt, a child dies every 21 seconds because of a water related illness.  In 2009 a child died about every 15 seconds and in the 1980s a child died about every six seconds for the same reason.

“Still a disheartening fact, the difference is colossal.  That is serious progress that I did not know was being made, and it gives me hope for the future,” she said.

The second half was much more intimate, as many people had left for other engagements.  A second round of squat exercises (this time including weights) followed, and the event ended with a final presentation by Schmidt about sanitation.

Schmidt’s main goal for the event was to educate her peers on the global issues of sanitation and water supply.

“One thing I did not want to do was make people feel guilty for having constant and endless access to water and soap,” Schmidt said.  “Rather, we wanted to make people consciously consider the importance of water and to realize the water and sanitation issue that exists in the world.”

Gombar was similarly motivated and pleased with the event.  “We educated 17 men and women, ages 17-62, on the importance of collective sewage tanks and purified water.  Our literal ‘butt-kicking’ event exemplified the strains of unmodernized sanitation systems.”

Students dance their way to a healthier lifestyle

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The AFC gym was bumping the night of Monday, February 3, with high-energy music and lots of sweat as Chatham University’s departments of Health and Wellness and the Office of Student Affairs are now offering a new high-impact cardio class called Kam Jamz Fitness. The class meets every Monday at 5:00 p.m.

The class’s instructor, Melanie Niskach, described the class as, “a high-impact cardio fitness class filled with the top hot music [and] modern moves that come from Insanity, P90X, plyometrics, anything to get you sweating and have a good time while you’re doing it.”

The class was created by Kamela Niskach, and is a blend of many workout programs, with moves reminiscent of Zumba, hip hop dance, as well as the aforementioned Insanity and P90X. The moves are synched to several upbeat songs that are sure to keep your feet tapping and your hips shaking.

Though the class does involve lots of high-impact moves, there are always alternative options for those who may not be as skilled in the art of the burpee, or whose knees do not allow for the squats and jumps being performed at their highest level.

The one-hour class passes quickly, feeling, at times, more like a dance party than a workout class. The gym often has upwards of twenty people (men and women) participating in the class, however the environment is very welcoming. While most of the class consisted of students and faculty that had attended before, newbies were encouraged completely, and none of the moves were too difficult for a first-timer. In fact, all of the routines were basic enough to pick up quickly, while still packing quite the cardio punch.

Kam Jamz is a great place to begin working out in a fun and exciting way. It is also a great option for anyone looking to spice up a boring routine while still getting a fantastic cardio workout.

The art of seeing: modern technology meets creativity in a local iPhone photography exhibit

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Common wisdom would have people believe that the creation of art is only for the elite: people with extensive training and pricey equipment at their disposal.  However English artist, Hilary Robinson, proves in her new exhibit, “Pittsburgh je t’aime”, that all one truly needs to make art is a smart phone and an eye for beauty.

Currently based out of Middlesex University in London, Robinson spent several years in Pittsburgh where she was the Dean of the College of Fine Arts at Carnegie Mellon University, as well as serving on the boards of several local art establishments.

Robinson’s exhibit, located at the Pittsburgh Filmmaker’s Galleries in Oakland, displays a collection of over 100 photographs, all of which were taken on her iPhone, and printed on a commercial printer.

The photos, which were taken in various Pittsburgh neighborhoods–specifically Lawrenceville, depict views of the city that are easy to miss if one doesn’t pay close attention.

They include images of graffiti, close-up shots of small discarded objects, interesting patterns in fences and doorways, cracked plaster on buildings, and contrasting compositions between natural and urban elements of the environment.  These still-life photos capture a certain raw beauty in the bustling urban environment to which Pittsburgh plays host; drawing attention to the simple intricacies that can so easily go unnoticed among the distractions of people’s everyday lives

As her artist statement explains, Robinson took many childhood visits to her great-uncle’s cottage, where she learned to pay attention to the small details of the world.  He knew the land inch by inch, and she would accompany him on walks around the fields where he worked as gamekeeper.  It was his devotion to the land, and the environment, that inspired Robinson’s keen eye, because he taught her “lessons about how to look, about the democracy of looking, and about the knowledge gained when you really see something.”

Photo Credit: Katerina Sarandou

Photo Credit: Katerina Sarandou

What Robinson does in this exhibit is present the viewer with a whole new way of seeing.  Her images capture the idea that beauty is everywhere, and that to see it one must move past simply seeing, and learn to truly observe his or her environment.  Her love of the city is clearly evident, and the images convey a sense of knowing a place intimately, and appreciating the fleeting beauty of such an environment.  As a result, each individual photo seems to capture, not a scene, but a moment in time.

The theme of her images is perpetuated in the gallery where they are displayed, and in the manner of their presentation.  The photos, taken on an iPhone and printed on photo paper, are attached to small metal binder clips, and hung on nails sticking out of the whitewashed walls of the gallery.  Likewise, the gallery itself has rather rough, industrial feel; reminiscence of Lawrenceville’s industrial past.  Nothing about the display draws attention to itself, but rather puts all of the emphasis on the photos in a way that they almost become an organic part of the environment of the gallery.

Robinson’s exhibit clearly displays a reverence for the world around her, and rather than letting her artistic expression be stifled by modern technology, she embraces it in a way that is unique to her style.  If viewers should take anything away from this show, it is that art is art is ubiquitous, and that art is accessible to everyone.

The Filmmaker’s Galleries is located at 477 Melwood Ave., and is open Monday through Friday.  “Pittsburgh je t’aime” will remain there through Feb 21, with a closing reception on Monday, February 17 at 5:30pm.

Waiting for Intermission: Review of “Ride Along”

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Some films are emotional game changers. Audiences react powerfully to these films, develop a new perception on the nature of human existence, and then cheer when these films sweep awards season.

Then there are other films designated solely for consumption. They fill ninety minutes, lower the brain a few IQ points, and are quickly disposable upon leaving the theater. Despite the critical description, audiences sometimes need movies from this latter category. Tim Story’s newest film “Ride Along” performs a decent job being the so-called ‘distraction film.’

The film follows Ben (Kevin Hart), a security guard trying to secure a marriage blessing from his girlfriend’s overprotective brother James, a police officer for the Atlanta Police Department (Ice Cube). This journey entails a police ride along, soon turning into a hunt for a notorious weapons dealer. “Ride Along” will never land a spot on AFI’s list on top 100 comedies, but it has just enough moments of good acting and general hilarity to offer a viable distraction from the outside world.

For the first half of the film, “Ride Along” appeared to only be as good as its trailer. The trailer centered around three main jokes, all focusing on Kevin Hart’s height. These repeated cheap jokes form the backbone of the first half and are told within a half hour. Other jokes become extensions of the original trailer or are unnecessarily excessive. The humor can be a slight disappointment from the deliciously raunchy comedy packed in Hart’s repertoire.

Moving from the humor, lack of plot consistency weakens the overall pacing of the film. One such moment occurs with Hart lecturing a student about skipping school. The scene is set up to showcase Hart’s strength in lieu of physical prowess, but then loses importance after that scene. The film attempts to make some references to this earlier scene, but they are not direct enough to suggest continuity. In addition, random cinematography choices, such as relaying unimportant texts on screen, further stilt the pacing in the film. The movie stretches itself out to accommodate for a predictable plot structure.

Surprisingly, the film manages to find its footing. Underneath the shallow moments of humor are the chemistry displayed between actors in the film. Ice Cube and Tika Sumpter, who plays Ben’s fiancé in the film, create a sibling dynamic both funny and easily relatable. The dynamic between Ben and James also creates some natural moments of hilarity, often funnier than the jokes manufactured for the film.

Other acting performances by John Leguizamo and Laurence Fishburne nicely round out the genuinely funny cast of characters. By the end of the film, the jokes become crisper and the plot inconsistencies are largely smoothed over. These last-minute strengths do not erase the stagnation of the first half, but it is enough to keep audiences from checking their phones in the theater. No matter how much natural humor, manufactured jokes show the holes of a thin plot.

Don’t go see the film if you’re planning on paying for it at the theaters. Find it when it comes to HBO or FX. It will at least be an alternative to the eighteenth screening of “X-Men”.

Rating: 2.5 out of 5.

Foodie on the Half Shell: Greek yogurt? So last year…

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There is good news about the yogurt world, and it’s a little something called skyr. We all fell in love with Greek yogurt when it started hitting our grocery shelves with fun new flavors. The idea of thick and creamy, but low in fat hits anyone’s ears the right way. Skyr, however, an Icelandic dairy product, is taking yogurt to the next level. It has 0% fat and is thicker and creamier than any Greek yogurt I have ever had.

I first had skyr during my orientation at my job at Whole Foods. We get to “taste and rate” and try some different foods that are sold at our store. The flavor was “pumpkin spice” by an excellent skyr brand called Siggi’s.  It is a bit fluffier than custard, but still retains that consistency. It has a bit of sour taste, but I mean that in the best of ways! If you pair it with a sweet flavor, the taste is spot on. Not too sweet, and not funky at all.

After my first encounter with skyr, I did not look back. I get Siggi’s all the time! If I really want to doctor it up, I will throw some fruit and raw chocolate granola in there. “Hubba hubba! How you doin?” That’s what I have to say about that.  The only bad news is that Whole Foods only carries the small cups, not the big tubs. When I buy yogurt, I usually like to get the big tub to save on packaging (and money). I did hear from a little birdy, though, that the co-op in Shadyside might sell big tubs.

So, I have been talking about skyr like it is a yogurt, but it’s technically not; it’s a cheese. What this means is that it takes three times more milk to produce than regular yogurt products, which makes it denser in calcium. Still no fat, but more nutrient dense? I’ll take it! Another cool thing about skyr? It’s a Viking-age delicacy. So, if you all of a sudden feel the need to wear fur and questionable hats, don’t be surprised. It’s just your inner Viking coming out.

To finish this off in a health-oriented way, I want to give some examples of what we can substitute skyr for to make all of our favorite foods a little better for us. This honestly goes for Greek yogurt too, but that’s not the topic of the article! Plain skyr can be used as a sour cream substitute in anything at all–such as on top of tacos and baked potatoes, or for making your mashed potatoes a little creamier without all of the fat and calories.

I also like to use the plain flavor for making my veggie dips. Just add your favorite packet of dressing seasoning to skyr, and you have quite the popular dip. Also, adding this instead of yogurt to your smoothies will result in a much more satisfying snack. Stay trendy this February and dip that spoon into some skyr. And don’t forget pomegranate flavored stuff, and kale…and uh, quinoa. Ya know, the other trendy stuff. Thanks for reading everyone! Next week we’ll be thinking about a certain flirty holiday coming up, and the goodies that go along with it.