Author: Elizabeth Bacharach

Paige Bailey
Contributing Writer

Peace activist and photographer John Noltner challenged University students to “set aside academic life” and judgments of others to consider social justice issues in a talk on Sept. 7.  He came to discuss his most recent exhibit, “A Peace of My Mind,” now on display in the library, along with a book of the same title. This lecture was just the first in a series of peace related events to be held on campus this fall.

The “A Peace of My Mind” exhibit is sponsored by Friends of the Library, C.A.R.E., the Griot Institute for Africana Studies, the Social Justice Residential College and the University Lectureship Committee. Rocky’s Revival, a trio of musicians including Associate Professor of Psychology Bill Flack, helped to give the event a warm atmosphere that prompted contemplation.

As a freelance photographer, Noltner’s clients have included national magazines such as Forbes and National Geographic. He has worked for Fortune 500 companies and non-profit groups. Due to the economic decline, Noltner’s business slowed. Instead of becoming discouraged by the recession, he looked for a way to “feed his soul” through his work, and so the “A Peace of My Mind” project was started.

The exhibit and book feature stories from a vast array of individuals Noltner spoke with. The central question of his interviews was: “What does peace mean to you?”

Resident Fellow of the Social Justice College Amari Suskin-Sperry ’15 believes peace “can never quite be defined,” yet at the root of peace is “compromise, unity, tranquility and happiness.”

While Noltner said he is not a peace expert, he hopes to “foster a dialogue” about peace through this project. His work was influenced by his admiration for iconic peace activists such as the Dalai Lama, Mother Theresa and Nelson Mandela. His approach integrates social justice philosophies of these figures with his own artistic aims.

Noltner admitted that when he started the project, the outcome was uncertain. What he did know was that “universal truths” could be found in talking to individuals about the meaning of peace. This message is applicable to students, who attempt to navigate through questions of the future and remain uncertain of how events will materialize.

Noltner began by talking to people near his home in Minnesota. During the interview, he took a black and white portrait of the subject. He approached the interview in a relaxed manner in order to explore what each individual saw as meaningful in terms of peace.

The people he spoke with were a diverse group of 52 people. Noltner spoke with a former governor, a Buddhist teacher, an oil executive and a couple who survived the Holocaust. Through looking at the exhibit, he hopes people can “learn lessons through art and human connection.”

The human connection invoked through art was present at this event, as members of the audience read excerpts from “A Peace of my Mind.” As they read, Rocky’s Revival played The Beatles’ song, “Imagine.” Noltner believes that in “quiet moments,” people can undergo a transformative process. Because of this, there was a pause for personal reflection after the quotes were read.

The “Peace of My Mind” exhibit is linked to the philosophies that underpin the Social Justice College on campus.

“SoJo also encourages students to investigate the ways an individual can effect social change. Noltner’s work is an excellent example of how, in taking relatively small manageable steps, an individual can engage many people in a project that has a substantial positive impact,” said David Kristjanson-Gural, Senior Fellow of the Social Justice College.

While the meanings of peace varied between the individuals in the exhibit, Noltner said there was a prevalent common theme of “working for a common good.” Because of this, people “can always choose pursuing peace.” Through everyday actions, he encouraged the University community to strive for peace and to “embrace” that “we can always make the world a better place.”

 

 

Olivia Seecof
Writer

Trebecca, an updated jewelry and unique gifts store opened on Market Street in June 2012. This is the second location for Trebecca; the original store opened in Williamsport in September 1998.

The store, while not large, is packed with handcrafted jewelry in both sterling silver and 14kt yellow or white gold. On display are multiple cases of designs ready for purchase by Jen Parks and David Baker, goldsmiths of Williamsport. In addition, Trebecca sells Sherry Tinsman’s flower jewelry–delicate and trendy jewelry for all ages.

To highlight one of the handcrafted pieces, Trebecca is featuring a Lewisburg Lamppost pendant that is currently available in sterling silver and 14kt gold with diamonds.

“If it has got the Trebecca thing going on, we’ll have it. The variety of jewelry and gifts our store offers gives us across-the-spectrum price points within the quality we want to be.  We are always trying to take chances and find different things, and that is what makes us an interesting and fun store,” owner Paul Hendricks said.

 

When Hendricks refers to the “Trebecca thing,” he means the distinguished, classy and modern look to everything in the store. In addition to the local handcrafted jewelry, there are Phosphor digital watches with flipping crystals, Marlyn Schiff fashion jewelry, as seen in many popular magazines, as well as freshwater pearl bracelets and pendants engraved with Greek letters for all of the sororities on campus.

“I love the fact that they carry such classy and unique jewelry. I am especially excited to hear that they have things especially for us sorority women to buy,” Amanda Smith ’14 said.

Jewelry is not the only thing lining the display cases and shelves. Various gifts such as picture frames with impeccable wirework, stained glass Witch Balls, salad servers and cheese platters can be found at Trebecca. There are also hand-poured soy candles with interesting scent combinations, like gingered clove and jasmine, which smells just like ginger ale.

“I am excited to hear about a new store where my mom can stop in and buy things on Family Weekend and when she comes to visit,” Nicki Briggs ’14 said.

The contemporary feel of Trebecca brings diversity to the retailers on Market Street.

“We walked the town before we committed to Lewisburg, and we thought Trebecca would be a terrific asset to downtown,” Hendricks said.

“I think they are all very gorgeous. I saw several things I will come back to buy. Trebecca is beautiful and unique,” Vicki Sees, a local customer from Millvale, Pa. said of the items in the store.

Hendricks said the name Trebecca doesn’t mean anything in particular, other than it’s a combination of different syllables that when put together, “just felt right.” Hendricks also said that members of the community can look forward to the addition of fancy scarves to the store’s inventory as well as decorations for the upcoming holidays.

To add to the contemporary feel, Trebecca has free gift-wrapping in their signature leopard print paper with a black bow on any purchase.

“I want my customers to come in, take a deep breath and enjoy the experience of shopping at Trebecca,” Hendricks said.

 

Allison Busacca
Contributing WRiter

After thirteen years as Associate Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, Elaine Hopkins resigned, giving Professor M. Lynn Breyfogle the opportunity to take on the position.

Dean Breyfogle, a familiar face on campus was an Associate Professor of Mathematics at the University for 11 years before taking on the position.  Hopkins is continuing to work with the class of 2015, while Breyfogle works with the class of 2016, allowing for a smooth transition.  Hopkins will begin a year-long sabbatical next semester, at which point Breyfogle will work with first-years and sophomores (the classes of 2016 and 2017).

Like Breyfogle, Hopkins was a professor at the University before becoming dean. She taught in the French program for 19 years. Her love of France, the French language and francophone studies is apparent when you walk into her office and see a large map of France covering an entire wall. She is looking forward to returning to the French department after sabbatical.

Upon her return she plans to teach first-year students in a foundation seminar for the Languages & Cultures Residential College and, in 2015 or 2016, be the professor-in-residence for the Bucknell en France program. She is excited for these new ventures, all of which she could not have done as dean.

“Dean Hopkins loved teaching and misses it very much,” Breyfogle said. 

Breyfogle is committed to her new role on campus. As a math teacher, she helped students solve “math problems” but now anticipates that students will come to her with “human problems, such as how to manage their time at college and planning life after college.” As Associate Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, her main goal is “student success.” She wants students to “use their dean in a positive way,” stressing that she is here as a resource for students. Students are encouraged to go to the dean to resolve scheduling conflicts, to request to underload or overload classes, for deciding on a major, to understand the academic policy or just to “problem solve.”

Gloria Lee ’15 is one student who utilized the deans when she was “having trouble picking out classes.” When she decided to switch a class, the deans were “very helpful and informative.”

Hopkins believes the deans are “one of the faces of Bucknell.”

“[The dean] should represent a friendly adult on campus who can help [students] sort out problems and it is important to be seen by students and faculty as fair and equitable,” Hopkins said.

“[I am] very happy to be following Dean Hopkins and also nervous because [Hopkins] has done such a great job,” Breyfogle said. Hopkins said she has complete confidence in Breyfogle.

Daniel Park
Contributing Writer

On Aug. 30, potential new members of sororities were offered bids (invitations) to sororities. Bid day was the last recruitment event for fall recruitment and gave way to Saturday’s infamous welcome night.

Various socializing events were hosted on campus primarily by the fraternities and sororities. Though many students attended these events, the daily Crime & Fire Safety Log that Public Safety posts for any reported hazard and crime events, has been relatively unchanged from typical weeks. Several factors have been attributed to the success of the low number of alcoholic and health violations ranging from the various educational opportunities available to students on drinking safety, as well as the heightened awareness of Public Safety during that infamous welcome weekend.

“While it is difficult to say with any certainty why the numbers of violations have steadily decreased, it does coincide with some messaging we’ve shared and conversations we’ve had with students about making responsible decisions,” Dean of Students Susan Lantz said.

The emphasis the University places on drinking safely has been repeated to every student as soon as school began. Even on several bathroom doors, fliers entitled “Installments” encouraged students to “make the right choices.”

“Since the start of the semester, we have had some instances where students needed medical attention due to alcohol they consumed. Whether it be welcome night, or any other event, we are always concerned when students take part in risky behavior. We are encouraged, however, by the fact that many students have demonstrated very responsible decision making this semester, and have called for help when a fellow Bucknellian has had too much to drink,” Lantz said.

Due to the partial amnesty that the University offers to students when either calling Public Safety or 911 when intoxicated, students have been encouraged to call and make the right choices. Lantz credits students for keeping safety and health violations in check every year.

“It’s also worth mentioning that Bucknell is part of the Learning Collaborative on High-Risk Drinking (an effort of the National College Health Improvement Project),” Lantz said. 

Various websites such as www.bucknell.edu/playsmart and collaborative programs are available for students on campus in order to encourage students to lead a safe college career.

“Though the Greek system and partying are embedded in the culture here at Bucknell, it’s all about personal choices. It is mainly up to oneself to decide what is right and what is wrong. For the most part, I know what is best for me,” Justin Marinelli ’15 said.

 

Christina Oddo
Writer

Students across campus have been less than satisfied with the waiting time at the Ziegler Health Center since the start of the year. The Ziegler Health Center is currently asking students to be more patient as changes continue to occur in order to accumulate patient records electronically. Dr. Carolyn Houk ’88, medical director of Evangelical-Geisinger Health, LLC said that the changes may not be obvious to students at first because they are a work in progress. Electronic medical records will replace paper records, and the patients’ records will all be electronically filed at a central location.

Jacqueline Miller, Bucknell Student Health (BSH) operations manager, said these changes might take up to a few months.

“The first official visits will be longer; returning visits will be quicker,” Miller said.

Students complain that the wait is too long. 

“My visit lasted for an hour and forty-five minutes, of which only 5 minutes of that time I spent with a doctor,” Emily Heller ’15 said. “The rest of it I spent waiting–waiting to fill out paperwork, waiting to see the nurse, waiting to be put in a room and waiting to see the doctor and get my diagnosis … I expected that the Health Center would have appropriately organized itself and figured out how to minimize the amount of time students spend waiting. After all, why would they want all those sick people waiting around with each other?”

Other students believe the new system will bring many benefits to the University once established.

“It feels more like a real doctor’s office now, and on the first visit it takes a while to get seen, but it seems like the new system is going to have a lot of great advantages for the school,” Amanda Slaboden ’13 said.

Houk described Epic, a new electronic means of communication between hospitals and the Ziegler Health Center, as an easier means to relay information between nurses and doctors. Houk said that nurses can potentially send a message of the results of tests taken to the doctor before the doctor even sees the patients.

Houk gave another example: if a patient is very sick and needs to stay at Geisinger Medical Center, Houk could follow the patient’s course (x-rays, lab results, etc.) through electronic records. This communication between hospitals and the Ziegler Health Center continues to centralize records, making courses of tests and illnesses easier to track and follow. According to Miller, Epic is very confidential.

MyKeyCare, a private and secure online patient portal, is another new major change BSH has implemented, and students are encouraged to sign up. Students can request appointments with the Ziegler Health Center through MyKeyCare, message doctors and nurses, check lab test results and upload past medical history.

Doctors and clinicians at the Ziegler Health Center encourage patients to make appointments so doctors can spend more time with each patient. Houk said there is a designated group at the Ziegler Health Center that checks these requests throughout the day.

Houk said MyKeyCare is run by the state. MyKeyCare links Evangelical Community Hospital, Geisinger Medical Center, and Geisinger-Bloomsburg Hospital, as well as other hospitals within the five counties. Houk hopes this program will cover all of Pennsylvania in the future. Although everything is online, transferred information still requires permission of the patient, continuing the protection rights of patients. MyKeyCare meets federal privacy regulations regarding student records and healthcare, so only the students and the doctors and nurses treating the patients can see the records.

Currently, MyKeyCare and Epic are separate, but ultimately the goal is to put them together, Houk said.

Since the Ziegler Health Center has never done this before, Houk and others are encouraging feedback. Houk hopes that maybe in future there will be a phone application for making appointments and viewing wait times, etc.

Since the records are now centralized, communication is made easier. Emails through the University could easily be lost, but with a centralized record system, if an antibiotic worked well for you or if you really liked a doctor and wanted to see him or her again, these records are more easily accessible for reference.

“[The most beneficial aspect of this project is that] even after they leave here, the electronic records will follow for the rest of life,” Miller said.

The Ziegler Health Center, despite the changes, is “still trying to provide the best for students,” Miller said.

 

Katie Alt
Contributing Writer

Associate Professor of Music Catherine “Kay” Payn has been honored with a newly established scholarship fund for music students. The Catherine Payn Scholarship Fund benefits University students studying music in general, though the fund gives preference to those students studying opera.

The scholarship fund was established through a gift of alumnus Frank Lattal ’80, his wife, Gretta, and their daughter, Emily ’12. This scholarship fund is in addition to a 2010 endowment the Lattals made to benefit the Bucknell Opera Company, which also specifically credited Payn. Emily recently graduated as a vocal performance major, working closely with Payn throughout her college career.

Payn is the director of the Bucknell Opera Company, and her current students are thrilled to see her work and legacy commemorated with the scholarship fund.

“There is no one more deserving of this honor than Professor Catherine Payn,” Joanna Malaszczyk ’15 said. “She has been, for myself as well as many others, an incredible mentor, director, friend and inspiration. I am overjoyed at the installment of this scholarship.”

Kerong Kelly
Contributing Writer

One of the newest discussion forums on campus, the Bucknell Christian Association (BCA), strives to create an open forum for Christian students and faculty to express their opinions about faith as it applies to different areas of study. The BCA formed as a result of many riveting discussions regarding issues of science and faith.

“We had anecdotal experiences related to us from students about how students who are Christian at Bucknell did not always feel comfortable about expressing themselves or identifying themselves on campus because there was a sense that faculty would be critical of them,” Associate Professor of English Alfred Siewers said.

In an effort to make students feel at ease speaking about their religious preferences, student and faculty-based discussions became more frequent. The goal of the association is not to reproduce the other Christian and religious groups on campus. Rather, it is geared towards the idea of incorporating different Christian perspectives into areas of study, such as engineering, and how religion plays a role in these areas.

“We also made a conscious effort to include a very international sense of Christianity and Christian traditions,” Siewers said.

The association encompasses many different sects, such as conservative Anabaptism, Pentecostal Christianity and Eastern Orthodox.

The core group of faculty organizers, from many different departments, includes Siewers, Associate Professor of English G.C Waldrep, Professor of Civil & Environmental Engineering Richard Crago, Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering Charles Kim, Associate Professor of Religion Paul Macdonald and Professor of Russian Slava Yastremski. There is a large emphasis on diversity within the association, in order to bring different perspectives and thoughts on a myriad of issues relating to religion.

The general attitude among the students is a positive one.

“I think it’s a good resource for students. It is also a good outlet for Christian students because it’s a nice way for them to connect to students and faculty with similar viewpoints,” Charlotte Kress ’15 said.

There are a large number of upcoming events, including, “Counter-culture Christianity: Am I allowed to think that … social justice and faith go together?” which will be held on Oct. 11. As one of the newer associations on campus, the primary goals of the organization are to raise awareness and create a safe space for students to share their opinions while hearing differing ones.

 

Brianna Marshall
Contributing Writer

Plans are under way for the first annual Humanities Carnivale di Bucknell, an Arts and Humanities program set to take place on March 20-21. This two day showcase will focus on the creative process of the individual and the artistry of producing a final product whether written, crafted or performance-based. Carnivale di Bucknell is an interdisciplinary and interdepartmental endeavor with faculty involvement encompassing diverse areas such as language, classics, art and music.

“While embarking on the great intellectual adventure of Arts and Humanities, students become ‘voyager[s] in the land of signs’ (I borrow that beautiful expression from Jacques Rancière in ‘The Ignorant Schoolmaster’). It is through this fantastic journey of four years at Bucknell that they learn the complex art of questioning everything they know,” Assistant Professor of French Nathalie Dupont said.

Students are asked to question issues of identity and self-masking in keeping with the theme of Carnivale di Bucknell, an exploration of the potentially unusual or taboo. All project proposals are due on Sept. 15 and suggestions include papers, creative soundtracks, construction of masks or costumes, poetry or music performances and film essays. With a seemingly endless amount of options, creativity will be at the forefront.

“As an English and German major, I am very excited to be directly involved in the creation of the Carnivale di Bucknell, because I think it can evolve into an opportunity for the hard work of our Arts and Humanities students to be showcased and appreciated in a way that has rarely been before on this campus. It is inspiring to explore the many ways in which we think and create within and outside the classroom, and to be reminded to take pride in what we do as scholars and artists,” Stephanie Scherer ’13 said.

Bucknell University Press will publish a journal for the event, giving participants the opportunity to be selected for publication. Live performances will be posted on the University website. Exceptional projects may be considered for an Arts Council award with a monetary grant of up to $2,500 that can be used to further personal research in an arts or humanities field of the recipient’s choice.

Faculty members believe students should participate in the showcase.

“Students should keep [Carnivale di Bucknell] in mind as a possibility to enrich and to give a different perspective or depth,” Professor of English Ghislaine McDayter said.

 

Lauren Buckley
Assistant News Editor

What does your role as University Chaplain entail?

“My role as University Chaplain includes oversight and coordination of the entire religious life program, offering pastoral care where appropriate, leading chapel worship and other types of services, assisting, where appropriate, at University-wide functions and being one of the prophetic voices on campus.”

How has your adjustment to the University gone thus far?

“People have been more than welcoming. There is a great small-town atmosphere that pervades the campus and causes one to feel accepted immediately as a new staff person. I have brought some new things to the Sunday chapel service, and again, folks have been accepting and welcoming. Though I don’t know many people yet, I feel at home here.”

Where did you study and where have you worked previously with regards to university religious life?

“I attended a small college, West Virginia Wesleyan, which has a chapel designed by the same architectural firm that designed Rooke Chapel. The chapels are really strikingly similar. My graduate theological degrees are from Duke University Divinity School and Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School. The ‘Crozer’ part of that school has its roots here at Bucknell. I also have a graduate counseling degree from Duquesne University. I have served as Executive Director of Wesley Foundation Campus Ministry at the University of Delaware, and chaplain at Ferrum College, Allegheny College and, most recently, Lafayette College.”

What are your goals for religious life on campus?

“The program here is already strong and varied, but I hope to build on that. I think we can build a strong mainline Protestant group for students who have not found a place with another Christian group. I will work with others to create a really vibrant interfaith council and the programming opportunities that will follow from that. I want to work hard to be a resource to more segments of the University community, whether or not they have a religious identity or nature.”

Why is interfaith interaction important to you?

“Though I had no experience with interfaith work before graduate school, it has become one of the most rewarding aspects of my professional life. When folks from differing faith communities–and those with no faith tradition–come together and cooperate on projects involving shared values, amazing things begin to happen. They become allies for one another, even if they don’t share much in common from a faith perspective. We need that so much in these divided times.”

How does your own faith influence your work and your relationships with others?

“The most important aspect of my work, in my opinion, is to convey a sense of true hospitality to whomever I meet. That way, a person who professes no religious beliefs will still feel that I am a safe person in whom to confide. At the heart of all of the major religious traditions is radical hospitality. I think that is lost sometimes when we are busy erecting barriers between ourselves and those who do not believe as we do.”

When in your life did you realize your faith was an integral part of your life?

“I did not come from a religious family, but I did attend a church that made all of its youth feel special and at home. We mattered in the life of that church. Even though the building was destroyed by fire when I was 14 and the congregation scattered, I never forgot that feeling of being home. The next month after the fire, I decided to enter the Christian ministry and I have never looked back.”

Why do you enjoy working with young adult, college-age individuals?

“College-age folks are willing to receive new information and to consider it, and they have an infectious enthusiasm for life. I cannot imagine my life if I had remained a parish pastor. Working on college and university campuses for 25 years has re-created excitement within me for each new academic year and I am challenged  to re-examine my own beliefs on a regular basis. I have made friends with students who will be life-long friends, and I have found almost family-type relationships among faculty and staff. It’s all about community, I guess.”

What should students know about the opportunities for religious life on campus?

“Students should know that the religious life opportunities are more varied than they might imagine, and whatever stereotypes they might have about religion in general, and religious types, in particular, will quickly break down when they allow themselves to be a part of an event sponsored by our office.”

How do you collaborate with the Catholic Chaplain and the Jewish Chaplain?

“Rabbi Serena [Fujita], Father Fred [Wangwe] and I have already collaborated and we get along really well. I love working with them and their staff, and it keeps me energized. We are all a part of the same team with a common purpose and we are all committed to building strong faith communities here.”

How can students reach out to you?

“Folks may find me in my Rooke Chapel office, or in the 7th Street Cafe, the Bison or the library. I try to be available when I am not in meetings, etc. so please don’t be a stranger. I am a new guy in town, so introduce yourself when you see me, because I want to know your story.”