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 4 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 5 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 6 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 8 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 9 Sept ember 2015 The Vit ruvian 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. 10 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 11 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. 12 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. 13 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 15 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. 16 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) 17 Sept ember 2015 The Vit ruvian I ssue 7