Sept ember 2015
I ssue 7
The Vit ruvian
Lourdes University's Premier Arts & Sciences Journal
Sept ember 2015
The Vit ruvian
I ssue 7
Mission St at ement
As a Lourdes University student organization, we will
strive towards the same excellence in written and visual
communication that is the goal of university learning
outcomes. The content of the Vitruvian shall reflect the
integrity, intellectual curiosity, and service to global
society that is inspired by the evangelical pursuit of truth
inherent within Franciscan ideology. The Vitruvian is born
of the necessity for awareness and will spark an interest on
campus and ignite a global conversation.
Purpose
The Vitruvian will strive to empower the individual
with knowledge of both the local and global communities
and create a stronger individual and community at large.
The Vitruvian will create the necessity of awareness
and in turn will spark a movement of readers who begin
on Lourdes Campus and travel their thoughts around the
world.
The Vitruvian is born of the necessity for awareness
and will spark an interest on campus and ignite a global
conversation.
Sept ember 2015
I ssue 7
The Vit ruvian
Th e Truth A bout Our V i rtual Sel v es
by
4
Bri ttany Col l i er
Poetry Day Wi th Si ster Patri ci a Sch napp
by
6
Jenni f er L. Brow n
M y Road to Col l ege Presi dent
by
Si ster A nn Franci s K l i mk ow sk i
8
WYSP - Th e Dark ness
by
Syd K l em
11
Ex ci tement of th e Unk now n
by
K ati e Bartl ett
13
Water f or th e Th i rsty
by
Patri ck Pi ck eri ng
15
Ph otos Courtesy
of Ch ri stoph er Rei d
3
Sept ember 2015
I ssue 7
The Vit ruvian
Th e Truth A bout Our V i rtual Sel v es
by
Bri ttany Col l i er
On the Internet we have the
to our own vanity.? Basically we aim to
ability to be whoever we want to be.
please other people because when
Hiding
computers,
they are pleased by whom we are or
smartphones and tablets enables us to
what we do, it makes us feel as though
conceal parts of ourselves that we
we are doing something right. This
don?t like, and change them into
brings about a feeling of worthiness
something we do like. We can cut,
and acceptance, but is that really
paste, Photoshop, and edit everything
warranted or accurate if someone is
we do, and the frequency of this is
pleased by a false version of you?
becoming more and more apparent on
How
social media websites today. What
pleased with you, if you aren?t being
began as a tool for networking and
genuine?
behind
can
someone
be
genuinely
keeping in touch with others has
One of the most dangerous
morphed into a dangerous platform
aspects of using social media today, is
for
that we don?t actually have a way of
personal
advertisement
and
embellishment. Essentially, we are
knowing
handpicking what we want others to
communicating with is who they say
if
the
person
we
are
see and intentionally or not, we are
constructing fronts that may deflect
from or hide who we really are. But
why do we do this? Why do we think
it?s necessary to hide certain aspects
of ourselves? The answer is simple: we
aim to please.
Maria
Edgeworth,
prolific
novelist and teacher once wrote: ?All
the pleasure we feel in pleasing others
arises from the gratification it affords
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Sept ember 2015
I ssue 7
The Vit ruvian
they are. This is a huge problem
who we appear to be does not actually
because these websites aren?t just
change who we are. Today?s world is
used for staying in touch with old
all about fighting for acceptance and
friends anymore. People are using
equality for all people, so why aren?t
social media for things like finding
we accepting of ourselves? Life is not
dates, buying and selling different
perfect and neither is any person. Like
things, business marketing and of
the saying goes, ?you can be the
course personal advertisement. The
ripest, juiciest peach in the world, and
Internet isn?t a safe place to set these
there?s still going to be somebody
things up because of the fronts that
who hates peaches?. We might aim to
people construct. While most people
please
seem to have good intentions and
remember is that you can never
don?t mean to actually hide huge parts
please everybody. At the end of the
of themselves from the rest of the
day the best thing to do is to be
world, there are others who are doing
honest with yourself, other people,
the exact opposite. There are people
and embrace your individuality.
but
something
to
always
in this world who intentionally and
meticulously construct
fronts that
enable them to deceive whoever they
want for whatever reason they want.
The Internet has turned into an
essential part of our everyday lives,
but unless we begin to step away
from trying to please everyone by
changing who we appear to be, it?s
going
to
continue
to
be
very
dangerous. We need to acknowledge
that
we want
to
please people
because when done successfully it
raises our self-esteem, but what we
also need to realize is that changing
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Sept ember 2015
The Vit ruvian
I ssue 7
Poetry Day Wi th Si ster Patri ci a Sch napp
by
Jenni f er L. Brow n
Last Semester, Lourdes University
was blessed by the presence of Sister
Patricia Schnapp, published author, poet,
and English Professor at Siena Heights
University. Sr. Pat
has received
recognition for her teaching and for her
volunteer work at Gus Harrison prison,
and is founder of and volunteer at Share
the Warmth, a homeless shelter in
Adrian, Michigan. Before Sr. Pat treated
campus attendees to selected readings
from her poetry publications, Alleluias
and Amens and Out of the Shadows, I had
the pleasure of sitting down with this
inspiring woman for a brief interview.
As I prepared for my discussion, I
imagined
myself
interrupting
a
habit-clad nun deep in graceful
meditation and asking her to reflect on
her divine calling. Although I did in fact
ask a similar question, it was not
answered by someone fitting my
idealized vision. Save for the simple
cross hanging about her neck, her
external appearance did not cast light on
her religious convictions. This being my
first official interview as a Vitruvian
journalist, I was certain that my subject
could see my confidence shrinking into a
childlike embarrassment. Despite my
flushed features, Sr. Pat remained poised,
gracious, calming, and reassuring;
reminding me that one of the best things
about an interview is ?there are no wrong
answers.? My blood pressure rejoiced
when I recollected that there are also no
stupid questions.
Sr. Pat was first introduced to the
prison ministry by Father Ronald Kurth,
and early in her service, volunteered at
the Lucas County jail. She has ministered
at Gus Harrison since it opened its doors,
offering communion services for Catholic
inmates and 12-week English courses. At
this point, Sr. Pat leans in close to me and
whispers excitedly that one of the most
exciting parts of her prison ministry is
her ability to preach at these services ? a
privilege usually reserved for men in the
Catholic faith.
Through her work at the prison and
her service at Share the Warmth, Sr. Pat
witnesses people struggle with some of
the most desperate points of their lives. I
asked how she helps them to stay
positive during these difficult moments,
and how she inspires them to remain
optimistic for the future. Sr. Pat delivers
one confident word: ?Hope.? She
explains that one of the mottos at Share
the Warmth is: ?keep people alive until
they can find Hope,? but admits that ?you
don?t win them all.? Some will repeatedly
come in drunk or high on drugs no matter
how hard the volunteers work toward
rehabilitation. What ultimately matters is
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Sept ember 2015
The Vit ruvian
that the people who need these services
can be comforted by the knowledge that
someone cares. I asked Sr. Pat how she
maintains her positive outlook in light of
witnessing this continual struggle. Her
eyes smile at me from across the table
and she reminds me that ?you need to
keep a sense of humor.? Her face returns
to its calming state and she confides that
in addition to the tangible results, her
charitable work is emotionally satisfying.
She knows that no matter what, the men
and women that come into the shelter
are grateful for her help.
I asked Sr. Pat to discuss the
perspective of her book Out of the
Shadows, a collection of poetry which
emerges from her experiences with
prison
inmates.
She
immediately
declares that ?humanity? is at the core of
these reflections. Her prison ministry has
instilled within her a belief that ?no one
should be defined by the worst thing
they have ever done;? that we are all
bigger and represent more than our
worst crimes.
I ssue 7
community, or the homeless community,
she keeps her experiences in perspective
through her literature so that we all might
raise our heads and rejoice in our
humanity.
A special thank you to the Sylvania
Franciscan Village and Sister Janet Doyle
for inviting Sr. Pat to the Lourdes campus. I
also want to thank Dr. Kate Buetel, the
Lourdes? English Department, and the
Literati student organization for its efforts
in making Sr. Pat?s visit enjoyable for all
who were present.
If anyone would like to find out more
about Sr. Pat?s ministries, or would like
information on helping out with the Share
the Warmth shelter, feel free to email Sr.
Pat at pschnapp@sienaheights.edu.
In addition to her full chalice of
volunteer work, lesson plans, writing, and
morning prayers, Sr. Pat is passionate
about nature and is currently working on
a book of poems focusing on this theme.
She is also currently updating her
doctoral dissertation, ?The Liberation
Theology of James Baldwin.?
Whether Sr. Pat is ministering to the
prison community, the educational
7
Sept ember 2015
The Vit ruvian
I ssue 7
M y Road to Col l ege Presi dent
by
Si ster A nn Franci s K l i mk ow sk i
I entered the Sisters of St.
Francis when I was 22 years old. I had
had
three
years
of
Catholic
elementary education, spent my high
school days and early adult life
singing on the adult choir in my home
parish of St. Stanislaus in Wyandotte.
I knew the Sisters at St. Stanislaus as
teachers and choir directors and spent
time after choir practice talking to the
Sisters at the back porch of their
home. It was from these conversations
that a love for the Sisters grew, and in
young adult life, after attending a
retreat in Detroit, and my experience
in life of my home parish, I was drawn
to the Sisters, and the persons they
revealed to me. It took me until I was
21 and after the death of a dear
friend, before I took the steps to join
the congregation of the Sisters of St.
Francis in Sylvania, Ohio. I worked for
two different companies in my
hometown of Wyandotte, Michigan for
a total of three and a half years, and
surprised everyone when I joined the
Sisters in 1953.
My initial spiritual formation as
a Postulant was six months long, with
two years as Novice and then
continuing formation took place
through the annual retreats, and with
numerous special Conferences the
Sisters of St. Francis provided to
imbue me with a dedication to the
Mission Statement.
In addition,
participation
in
community
governance through the Chapter of
Mats and General Chapters, which
were held every four years, gave me
the spiritual grounding that was the
background for the ministry to which I
was called by God and the leadership
of the Sisters.
My high school was an all
business curriculum with typing,
shorthand, business machines, and
bookkeeping because I had no
expectation of going on to College.
The three years that I worked in an
office doing that kind of work left me
with an idea of what working for a
living entailed. After entering the
community, the leadership of the
Sisters saw to it that I received my
liberal arts courses in due time. My
College degree is a Bachelor of
Science in Education, with a major in
business education was earned at
Bowling Green State University. This
prepared me to teach all the business
courses in a high school, which I did
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Sept ember 2015
The Vit ruvian
I ssue 7
for ten years at St. Ladislaus High
School in Hamtramck. During that time
I was the moderator for a Business
Leaders Club of America, which
organized the students to compete in
contests at the State level. We won
every year in areas such as
parliamentary
procedure,
public
speaking and over-all excellence in
Chapter activities.
My
master?s
degree
was
completed during the time I taught in
high school, which I earned at Bowling
Green State University. After ten years
of teaching high school, I was
assigned as principal of a Northeast
Minneapolis
elementary
school.
During those four years, I attended
some excellent programs in group
process and dynamics, and active
listening. These experiences prepared
me to work with groups of all kinds.
After four years in elementary
administration, I was assigned to
Cardinal Stritch High School as
assistant principal where I began to
use the skills in group dynamics and
process. Then in 1977, I was asked to
prepare for college administration
and earned a PhD in Higher Education
Administration and Supervision from
the University of Toledo and was
assigned to Lourdes College in 1979. I
served at the College in three
positions and in 1983 became
President where I served for 17 years.
Needless to say, my skills in working
with
groups
were
sharpened
considerably.
Lourdes College (then) was a
developing institution and had a
history as a two-year liberal arts
college. To transform it into a four-yea
r
degree
granting
institution
successfully, was the work of
countless persons: faculty, staff,
administrative leadership, and board
members who embraced the mission
of the College and worked to enhance
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Sept ember 2015
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its presence in the local community.
Throughout my 17 years as President,
the College was blessed with faculty,
staff, administrative leaders, lay
volunteers, and devoted students.
Each time a particular need arose, the
right person or persons became a part
of the Lourdes roster of personnel
College had
an
excellent
reputation for quality education, and
the work of the years was to build on
that record. Each degree that was
developed and offered was based on
extensive market research, so that
successful enrollment growth was
assured. After beginning with two
associate
degrees
and
two
baccalaureate degrees, the work
turned to adding a nursing completion
degree, a bachelor?s degree to which
we added majors as faculty became
available. Two major tasks of the
early years were to develop
fund-raising capabilities and the
service area of student services. The
growth in enrollment was based on
our service to the adult learner.
Before leaving the College, my
administrative team focused on which
master?s degree should be offered.
The master?s degrees in Education,
Organizational
Leadership,
and
Nursing were added early in the
2000?s.
I ssue 7
I served as President from 1983
to 2000 and since 2000, I have taught
in the Master?s of Organizational
Leadership program, teaching the first
course in leadership theory and
practice.
In
addition, I
have
maintained my work with groups of all
kinds, such as, the Toledo Sister Cities
International and Toledo Poznan
Alliance. I have also served as
resource person to the Sisters of St.
Francis through membership on the
Local
Chapter
Conference
Representatives group, developing a
training tool for group leadership. My
ministry in these 14 years since
leaving the College has been focused
on ?going joyfully among the people,?
by serving as a facilitator, planner, and
member of a variety of groups.
In 2015, I will celebrate my 60th year
of membership in the Sisters of St.
Francis.
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Sept ember 2015
The Vit ruvian
WYSP - Th e Dark ness
by
Syd K l em
My name is Syd Klem, and I?m
writing this to prevent you from playing
bad video games. The first step is to stop
playing bad video games. The second is
to start playing good video games. To
that end, I?m going to tell you why you
should play The Darkness.
The Darkness is a story-focused
first-person shooter (FPS) set in a moody,
atmospheric rendition of New York City.
Though its cover art may seem deceiving,
it is not a brainless action game. The
Darkness is a fantastic addition to the FPS
subgenre
of
first-person
action-adventure games- a subgenre
represented by the likes of Half-Life,
Metroid Prime, and Bioshock. FPAs
certainly involve shooting, but they are
also notable for using the first-person
perspective and the intimate, fast-paced
gameplay it invariably offers to better
connect a player to their world. If you
have any interest in video game
storytelling, immersion, atmospherics,
then you need to play this flawed but
admirable effort.
I ssue 7
and Jackie?s illegitimate uncle. Paulie had
a gentlemanly disagreement with his
nephew over some money, so he
responds by deploying an army of dudes
in suits. Jackie obviously wasn?t having a
good day, but the mob also made the
mistake of attacking him on the day
when a primordial demon known as The
Darkness awakened within him.
As the player takes control, Jackie
is
a
dual-pistol
wielding,
hell
spawn-summoning death machine. But
he?s also a fantastically realized
character, portraying the realistic
psychological ramifications of a man with
a body count and a grudge. Jackie fights
figurative and literal demons on a
rampage through downtown New York,
culminating in a disturbing, ambiguous
conclusion.
Jackie?s
boastful
street-smarts and quiet introspection
make him a fine ambassador between
the player and the story. And as a player,
being immersed in that story is
incredible.
The game begins as mafia hitman
and black metal enthusiast Jackie
Estacado is chased through a midtown
tunnel and blown through a window. This
attack was part of an assassination
attempt by Paulie, the leader of the mob
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Sept ember 2015
The Vit ruvian
As a game lauded for its immersive
world construction, The Darkness?s would
rightfully be expected to have a stellar
audiovisual presentation. Despite its age,
the game?s graphics and sound are still
highly impactful. Though the facial
animations are dated, almost everything
else in this NYC doppelganger still looks
gorgeous. The lighting is particularly
noteworthy, naturally transitioning from
source to source. The realistic lighting
isn?t just for show, either. It impacts the
gameplay, since Jackie?s Darkness
powers are drained by the light. After
completing my fifth playthrough of The
Darkness for this review, I still haven?t
noticed a single blemish in the interplay
between light sources and Darkness
powers.
While the game?s use of light rays
and shadow still works, the rest of the
gameplay is a bit rustier. In fact,
gameplay is probably the weakest point
of the game. Aiming can feel sluggish
and awkward. Some of the Darkness
powers are almost useless. There is no
sprint function, relegating movement to
a brisk jog. It?s a bit of an awkward game,
occasionally to its detriment. Fortunately,
those fairly superficial issues are the
extent of The Darkness?s gameplay flaws.
One of the biggest reasons I
recommend The Darkness is because of
how tactile the experience is. The game?s
visceral feel is the result of it being a
game from 2007- a time when games
I ssue 7
didn?t have to be afraid of having an
identity. The Darkness?s identity is largely
focused on facilitating player immersion.
To that end, you won?t spend a lot of time
in menus. You won?t mash the X button to
move an obtrusive slab of metal out of
your way. You won?t allocate ?points? to
upgrading your ?skills;? a shamefully
uncreative design trope so many modern
action games have fallen into.
Most modern games tend to have
simple,
static
worlds
with
cold,
overcomplicated mechanics. The Darkness
hails from an age when the opposite was
the norm- a simple set of mechanics that
are used to interact with a sophisticated
world. There are only four Darkness
powers, but the game puts each of them to
use in a multitude of ways. The first power
obtained, ?Creeping Dark,? allows you to
control a demonic serpent that can slither
over anything. This ability can be used for
finding items, solving puzzles, and
stealthily eliminating enemies. It?s one of
many mechanics that permits variable
interaction without erecting artificial
barriers between the player and the world.
You should play The Darkness if you
want to relive a time when video games
could be linear and story-focused without
feeling like sightseeing tours. Its
thoughtfully crafted story, imperfect but
solid
gameplay,
and
spellbinding
atmosphere will leave you with an
experience like no other, if nothing else.
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Sept ember 2015
The Vit ruvian
I ssue 7
Ex ci tement of th e Unk now n
by
K ati e Bartl ett
Thinking about the future is
something I catch myself doing quite
often. It?s usually clouding my thoughts
as I wake up in the morning, and while
I?m driving, and before I fall asleep each
night. Don?t let me fool you though, as
someone who worries most of the time
anyway, pondering over my future has
certainly been intensified during this
past year as I have been making plans to
attend Graduate school. Entering my
final year as an undergraduate student
has been the most joyful and frustrating
phase of my life thus far. My feelings of
excitement were overshadowed by
anxiety of the anticipation of what was
to become of me after I graduated. It
didn?t help either that conversation
about the future was almost a given in
any social interaction. So what are you
going to do once you graduate? What if
you don?t get accepted into Graduate
School? These types of questions were
commonly asked of myself over these
past few months, and I suddenly felt the
pressure of the future sitting on my
shoulders all over again each time I was
forced to talk about it.
I think it?s difficult for any young
adult to know for certain what they
want to do with their future. After
failing my freshmen year of college at
an institution out of state and changing
my major about three times, I find
myself in a place that I had never
thought was possible. Once I had made
up my mind that I wanted to go to
graduate school, I frantically began
searching for information online about
different English programs I was
interested in. The application process
seemed the most daunting of a task to
finish, but I found the most support
through my professors here at Lourdes.
After all, it was through them that I felt
inspired to teach just as they do, which
ultimately prompted me to pursue
graduate school as an option for my
future. The whole process had really
begun the summer before my senior
year. It was then I scheduled a date to
take the dreaded Graduate Record
Examination and then attempted to
organize all of the materials necessary
for each application, with deadlines
prompted just after the first of the year.
It was a little overwhelming in the
beginning with trying to complete
applications all while meeting the
demands of my current classes and
working part-time. However, once I
submitted each application, I felt some
of the pressure lift from my shoulders
as I could only wait for a response.
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Sept ember 2015
The Vit ruvian
During this period of waiting, I
found myself thinking less about the
future and more about the life
surrounding me at the present. After all
of it, I am more than grateful to be
attending Wayne State University in the
fall as a graduate student. But if there?s
anything I learned from this whole
I ssue 7
experience, it would definitely be that
as much as one tries to make plans for
the future, some things are just beyond
our reach. The anticipation of the
unknown can sometimes be used as the
cause of our excitement, rather than our
anxiety.
14
Sept ember 2015
The Vit ruvian
Water f or th e Th i rsty
by
Patri ck Pi ck eri ng
Water for Ishmael is ?a faith-based
non-profit? local organization that works
directly with internationals who are either
displaced or in a refugee status. I was able
to meet up with Mitchell Machir on behalf
of WFI to get a better understanding of
what exactly they provide for the
internationals that come to our area. The
three primary goals that Water for Ishmael
strives to achieve for internationals is to
build a welcoming community, share the
hope and love of Jesus Christ, and empower
them with the skills to be successful.
Mitchell began to tell me about the story of
a Vietnamese refugee named Dwayne and
his family. This is the story he shared.
I ssue 7
joy was radiating in our office- especially
when they could speak their own language
with one of the staff members who spent
years in that region.
With no friends, little English and
knowledge of American culture, the road to
acceptance and belonging is long. Without
people like you they cannot succeed in their
new home!
Now enrolled in our English school,
they are receiving quality English education
from teachers who care for them and even
spend time with them outside of the
classroom. So far, two of the five have found
jobs. We are actively connecting this family
to people that will empower and love them.
Dwayne was a political activist
fighting for freedom from one of the last
communistic societies in the world. His
family fled from Vietnam 25 years ago.
They became wanderers. No
acceptance, no belonging, no security. The
lack of these were what they faced for 25
years in 3 different countries. Out of
desperation, Dwayne applied with the United
Nations for his family to be resettled as
refugees to the United States knowing that
less than 5% of all refugees worldwide ever
get resettled.
?God brought us to America!? was
Dwayne?s recurring statement when we met
him five days after arriving here. The family?s
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Sept ember 2015
The Vit ruvian
I ssue 7
If you can, try to imagine being in the
place that Dwayne and his family were in.
Imagine having to flee the place you have
called home because of your beliefs, as well
as having no idea where you could go.
There is an almost insurmountable amount
of work to even get into the U.S. and that is
only half the battle. You and your family
would have very little to no money, and
only the bare essentials to prove that you
are legally allowed to be where you have
been placed. You would not have any
friends to lend a helping hand let alone talk
to. You would not have a place to live, or
way to get around. Additionally there is not
a clear path forward in this new culture.
Finally, the lingering reminder of having left
everything known behind would create an
unnerving and isolating feeling.
to learn as much English as they can and
attempt to assimilate into our culture. This
includes learning to drive as well as many
other nuisances that we often are unaware
of. Families are able to meet the
requirements for temporary housing during
this six-month period, but those who come
to the U.S. alone have to find alternative
options. However, internationals who are
considered an ?anchor? often have family
already in the area that they can live with. It
is the ?free cases?, or people without any
ties here, in which volunteers prove to be
crucial. This again is where many volunteers
through Water for Ishmael come through.
Help can come in the form of temporary
housing, helping internationals learn to
drive and get a driver?s license, or again by
simply conversing with them.
This is where people like Mitchell
Machir and the many others at Water for
Ishmael step in. They have three main
programs to help internationals assimilate
and prepare them for living in our culture.
They provide internationals with the
American School for Women and Children,
the American School Evening ESL (English
as a Second Language), and Conversation
Partners. We spent a long while discussing
the conversation partner program. This
program is volunteer driven and consists of
meeting with internationals for an hour or
so a week. The purpose of these meetings is
to simply sit down and talk with them.
Outside of helping internationals
learn English, Water for Ishmael helps them
look for jobs. Although airfare for the
incoming internationals is paid, it is a
temporary loan and payments start 6
months after they have arrived. In this
six-month period, many internationals have
In the last 10 years, there have been
internationals from 130 different countries
come into the Toledo area. Through
programs like Water for Ishmael?s
conversation partners, we have the unique
ability to gain new perspectives of our
world right in our own backyard. This
partnership is beneficial to both individuals
involved. Many of the internationals that
come into our country, through Water for
Ismael, can feel isolated, and having the
ability to talk to someone new and see a
friendly face once a week can mean a great
deal. Outside of the conversation partners
program there are many ways to get
involved, or donate to Water for Ismael.
Feel free to check out their website
http:/ / waterforishmael.org/ , as well as their
Facebook page.
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Sept ember 2015
The Vit ruvian
I ssue 7
The Vitruvian is a student run journal that is always seeking
further input and opinions from faculty and staff here at
Lourdes University.
We are always accepting articles in the form of interviews,
reviews, and editorials. Additionally, we would love to invite
art students to submit their work. At the Vitruvian we wish to
showcase all forms of expression including photography and
design.
If you would like to contribute in our upcoming issues, please
contact either Dr. Noah Roderick (nroderick@lourdes.edu), or
Patrick Pickering (patrick.pickering@mymail.lourdes.edu)
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Sept ember 2015
The Vit ruvian
I ssue 7