Two public events of note on the Kalamazoo College campus Friday Jan. 11. And one on Saturday.
“Everyone Has a Steak In It: Implications of How We Eat at K.” The Winter Quarter Week One Community Reflections is co-sponsored by K’s Mary Jane Underwood Stryker Institute for Service-Learning. Join students and faculty as they share personal stories and critically examine how the choices Kalamazoo College makes regarding its food vendor have lasting implications. This motivational, challenging, and informational reflection will explore the intersections and influences of food–including health, culture, race, environment, and accessibility–while inspiring us to speak out and act to create a just food system at K. Stetson Chapel, 10:50 a.m. Refreshments at 10:30. Free and open to the public.
“The Motor of Campus.” This photo exhibit features 26 environmental portraits of K’s Facilities Management, or FacMan, employees. Photos by Sam Doyle ’13, exhibit curation by Eeva Sharp ’12. Reception 6-9 p.m. in the Light Fine Arts Lobby. Free and open to the public.
The K Women’s Basketball team hosts Trine University in Anderson Athletic Center at 3 p.m. Saturday. Inexpensive and open to the public. Go Hornets!
“Diwali & Eid Celebrations” was the topic of the Week Nine (Nov. 9) Community Reflection in Stetson Chapel. Sponsored by K Desi and the Chapel Program, this Reflection sought to inform the campus community about the origins and customs of the holidays celebrated by Hindus, Muslims, and Sikhs this time of year.
Kalamazoo College students helping the campus community celebrate Diwali and Eid were (top row, l-r) Swapna Gudipati ’13, Utsav Adhikari ’14, Faiza Fayyaz ’13, Karan Kapoor ’14 (bottom row), Kinza Tareen ’13, Jyotika Singh ’13, and Sukhvir Kaur ’13.
Utsav Adhikari ’14 and Karan Kapoor ’14 lit a candle and rang a ceremonial bell while Swapna Gudipati ’13 recited the Lakshmi Puja prayer, which, she said, is typical of Diwali celebrations in Hindu culture. “In India, we celebrate Diwali by lighting candles, or diyas, around the house,” she said. “It is thought that when the light comes from the diyas, that the evil and darkness goes away.”
Kapoor recalled some of his memories of the “festival of lights,” which occurred this year between Nov. 13 and 17. “It’s a lot like Christmas, but we don’t have Santa Claus,” he said. Adhikari recalled celebrations of a similar holiday, Tihar, in his native Nepal. Sukhvir Kaur ’13 and Jyotika Singh ’13 spoke about a religious time for Sikhs called Bandi Chhor Divas that occurs around the same time as Diwali. Kaur said it is less of a holiday, and more of a day of reflection. “Sikhs do not ’celebrate holidays,’” she said, “rather, they pay homage.” Singh translated a Sikh poem about enlightenment.
Faiza Fayyaz ’13 and Kinza Tareen ’13 described Eid al-Adha, the Muslim holiday that occurred on Oct. 26 this year. Tareen spoke about the customs associated with the holiday, like sharing meat from a sacrificial animal, in thirds, between family, friends and neighbors, and the needy “in the spirit of Eid.” After the reflection, students gathered on the chapel steps to light sparklers.
Community Reflection offers a unique forum for discussion, worship, performance, and community expression each Friday at 10:50 AM (refreshments at 10:30) in Stetson Chapel. The entire campus community and general public are invited. The Week 10 (Nov. 16) the last Reflection of the Fall 2012 Quarter will be a “Thanksgiving Sing-a-Long,” in which the Student Chaplains offer a musical reflection on Thanksgiving, and gratitude for our role in preserving and establishing community in our lives.
“Remembering Maggie Wardle” was the theme of the Week 4 (Oct. 5) Community Reflection in Stetson Chapel. Featuring an annual speech by Ann V. and Donald R. Parfet Distinguished Professor of English Gail Griffin, the reflection remembered those in our community who face daily violence as well as the history of K’s own struggle to become a place free of violence.
Gail Griffin by “Maggie’s Bench” next to Stetson Chapel.
Outside on the quad, purple and white fabric adorned trees on the Quad to commemorate National Intimate Partner Violence Awareness Month. More than 100 students, staff, and faculty with purple ribbons affixed to their lapels read fliers that listed the warning signs of abusive or potentially abusive relationships. The Reflection also served as a remembrance for the campus events of Friday, Oct. 18, 1999 when NeeNef Odah ’01 fatally shot his ex-girlfriend, Maggie Wardle ’02 and then himself. In 2010, Griffin published The Events of October: Murder-Suicide on a Small Campus, a book about the violence and its aftermath.
Andrea Johnson ’15 and Brittany Worthington ’14, co-leaders of POWER, the feminist student group on campus, introduced Griffin who said although this might be the last time she presents this lecture, it’s important to continue to talk about this difficult topic. “So much of education means confronting those terrible stories,” she said. She then recounted details of the circumstances leading to the murder-suicide from both Odah’s and Wardle’s perspectives. She unraveled the assumption that Odah was an imposing misogynist, but rather a mild young man who was “one of us.” She also described Wardle as a fun-loving athlete rather than a weak victim of abuse. “Women don’t get beaten because they are weak or stupid,” she said.
Chaplin Liz Candido ’00 invited the audience to encircle Wardle’s commemorative bench outside the chapel for a moment of silence. Wardle’s mother, step-father, and grandmother were all in attendance, and they encouraged students to remember Maggie by speaking about violence on campus.
Community Reflection is part of the Chapel Program at Kalamazoo College and offers a unique forum for discussion, worship, performance, and community expression each Friday at 10:50 AM in Stetson Chapel. The campus community and general public are invited. Reflection will not be held during Week 5 (Oct. 12) due to Fall Quarter break. But Week 6 (October 19) Reflection will be “Politics and Public Service: K-Plans and Career Paths,” which will feature a panel of K alumni working in the areas of politics or public service reflecting on how their K-Plan continues to inform their lives and careers.
Participants in Week Three chapel included (l-r): back row, Arik Mendelevitz ’15; Liz Candido ’00 and Joan Hawxhurst; front row, Rachael Vettese ’15; Craig Isser ’13 and Emilie Harris-Makinen ’13.
“Perspectives on Sukkot: Celebrating a Quest for Solace and Community” was the theme of the Week Three (Sept. 28) Community Reflection in Stetson Chapel. Co-sponsored by the Jewish Student Organization, the reflection educated the audience about the Jewish holiday Sukkot and the metaphors it provides in a pilgrimage towards maturity and self-awareness.
JSO President Craig Isser ’13 offered a “crash course” on Sukkot. He said it is a harvest holiday that Jews celebrate by building a sukkah, or temporary hut, which commemorates biblical times when the Hebrew people escaped from Egypt and wandered through the desert for 40 years with no permanent housing. He said Jews decorate the sukkah with corn husks and other fall harvest staples. JSO Co-Vice Presidents Rachael Vettese ’15 and Arik Mendelevitz ’15 spoke about the history and personal importance of the holiday. They announced that JSO planned to continue their annual tradition of building a sukkah during the weekend on the quad.
“Go sit in our sukkah, and let your mind wander,” said Vettese. “Enjoy the breeze, and smell the leaves as they are changing.” Emilie Harris-Makinen ‘13 said she is not Jewish, but she has found a comforting home among her Jewish friends at K. She said the sukkah is an idea to which people of any faith can relate. “Life can be hard at times, and it can be a really big challenge,” she said, “but even the slightest shelter, whether it’s a sukkah, or just the arms of another person can help you through the bad times.”
Director of the Center for Career and Professional Development Joan Hawxhurst said she came to Judaism later in life when she adopted her husband’s faith. She said the holiday reminds her that home is with the people she loves. “Our real shelter, our real security,” she said,” is not a welcome home or a plot of land we own, the permanence that we can’t guarantee. In the end, the real home is not a place.” Chaplain Liz Candido ’00 spoke about her experience transitioning from college to adulthood. She described K as a passing shelter. “You are all living in sukkot—temporary booths,” she said. Each audience member received strips of paper with which those decorating the sukkah would link in decoration of the hut.
Community Reflection offers a unique forum for discussion, worship, performance, and community expression each Friday at 10:50 AM (refreshments at 10:30) in Stetson Chapel. The entire campus community and general public are invited.
“Let’s Talk about Sex” was the theme of the Week Two (Sept. 21) Community Reflection in Stetson Chapel. Co-sponsored by the Counseling Center, the reflection aimed to raise awareness about fostering communication, creating healthy relationships, and sexual encounters.
Director of Counseling Pat Ponto spoke first, announcing third and fourth week “Sex Weeks” featuring various forums discussing sexual health and social issues in K dorms. Ponto says working in the counseling center has offered her insight into the student’s perspective concerning sex. She says the two keys to good sexual experiences are intentionality and transparency. Counseling Center Psychologist Deb Rose said she wanted to debunk the myth “There’s no such thing as bad sex.”
Allie VanHeest ’13 introduced the new student group S3A, the Sexual Safety and Support Alliance. The team of six female K students provides a confidential peer-to-peer support network especially meat to help those affected by sexual assault. “I’m excited by the simple fact that this alliance now exists. To be a part of this group of women is even more empowering for me,” she said. Sexual Health Awareness Group’s Co-President Colin Cepuran ’13 delivered a speech about opening up conversational space surrounding sex culture at K. “We need virgins, introverts, party animals, first-years, seniors, and all the rest of you to be able to talk about their sexual needs,” he said. “Acceptance is rooted in understanding.”
Rachael La Barbera ’15, Craig Isser ’13, and Counseling Psychologist and Training Director Danielle Standish spoke about their respective experiences attempting to relate to K’s “hookup culture,” receiving a sexual education, and finding fulfillment within a marital relationship. Finally, Counseling Center Clinical Director Alan Hill informed the audience about an upcoming discussion he will be leading about men and sex. Attendees received copies of the Sexual Health Bill of Rights brochure.
Community Reflection offers a unique forum for discussion, worship, performance, and community expression each Friday at 10:50 AM (refreshments at 10:30) in Stetson Chapel. The entire campus community and general public are invited. The next reflection will be held on Friday of Week Three, (September 28), entitled “Perspectives on Sukkot: Celebrating a Quest for Solace and Community.” Co-sponsored by the K Jewish Student Organization, the event will celebrate Sukkot, a pilgrimage festival. JSO members will reflect on the importance of this festival in the faith and the metaphors it provides for creating a dwelling place in our own pilgrimage towards maturity and self-awareness. [Story and photo by Elaine Ezekiel ’13]
“Taking Chances, Making Mistakes, and Getting Messy: A Reflection on Learning from Experiences,” was the theme of the Week One (Sept. 14) Community Reflection in Stetson Chapel. Sponsored by the Chapel Program, Student Chaplains offered their advice to the audience of mostly first years about learning lessons the hard way on campus. K Chaplain Liz Candido ’00 introducing both the new crew of chaplains and the weekly Community Reflection hour, which she called a forum “reflecting on our ideals; not just saying we believe things, but learning to live in integrity with those things.”
K Student Chaplains, 2012-13
Student Chaplain Justin Leatherwood ’13 spoke about how an accidental prank war beginning his freshman year escalated into elaborate hijinks involving feeding beans to sleeping roommates and setting up a complex booby trap over a bed. These experiences, he says, helped solidify his closest friendships. “We did some pretty weird stuff freshman year,” he said. “Had we all been worried about showing our true colors, none of this awesome stuff would have happened. As we head into this new year, don’t be afraid to make mistakes, or do those strange things you love doing.” Student Chaplain McKenna Kring ’15 shared a more serious roommate anecdote from her first year about the mistake of not speaking up when problems arise. She stressed the importance of communication. “Don’t avoid,” she said, “communicate.”
Katie Ring ’15 spoke about her first non-A grade; Darren Clarke ’13 read from an essay about the mistake of unquestioning selflessness; Sam Rood ’15 extolled the virtues of sobriety after a night full of mistakes; Molly Anderson ’15 recalled her repetitive mistake of forgetting her room key; Theo Cambert ’15 talked about making the mistake of prioritizing Frisbee over academics; Alicia Schooley ’13 warned first-years to learn to socialize with professors while erring on the side of formality. Lastly, five other chaplains read submissions from anonymous upperclassmen about their biggest mistakes made at K.
Community Reflection offers a unique forum for discussion, worship, performance, and community expression each Friday at 10:50 AM (refreshments at 10:30) in Stetson Chapel. The entire campus community and general public are invited.
Jon Reeves, director of technical theatre at Kalamazoo College, will participate in the 30-year anniversary celebration of the Park Trades Center, held this weekend (Aug. 17-18) in the former warehouse that has been an art hub in downtown Kalamazoo for three decades. When he’s not guiding K students through the process of building sets for the College’s theatre productions, Jon creates fine art metalwork in Suite 123 at the Park Trades Center. He has been renting space in the building since 1989. On Friday from 5-9 PM, he will join more than 60 artists’ who will open their studios throughout the four-story building to the public to enjoy live music and refreshments, observe demonstrations, and participate in several Community Art Projects. Jon will give blacksmithing demonstrations and talk to visitors during the open house. On Saturday, he will teach basic coppersmithing and blacksmithing techniques to young students during private studio sessions.
Student Commission presented its annual awards during the Week Ten (June 1) Community Reflection in Stetson Chapel. The annual event recognizes outstanding Kalamazoo College staff, students, and faculty, and passes the torch to the elected members of next year’s Student Commission.
Mike Ignagi ’12, Tommy Jackson ’15, Colin Smith ’15 and Brad Stech ’15 from K’s improvisational jazz class opened the ceremony. Lucas Kushner ’14 read a short history of the Student Commission Awards. Kari Paine ’14 presented the William Crockett Award for outstanding contribution to the community by an administrator or staff member to Mail Center Coordinator Carol Cowper. Mara Richman ’15 presented the Francis Diebold Award, which acknowledges a faculty member who shows interest and participation in student life, to Associate Provost and Associate Professor of English Amy Smith. Douglas Colton ’12 presented the Amy Trenkle Award, which goes to the student who exemplifies involvement and leadership on campus, to Ian Powell ’12.
President Eileen B. Wilson-Oyelaran celebrated the leadership of 2011-12 Student Commission President Meredith Quinlan ‘12.
“I, for one, am looking for an opportunity to vote for you as governor, and better still as president of the United States,” said Wilson-Oyelaran, “because you are the type of leader that our country needs.”
Quinlan offered a farewell address in which she imagined returning to campus as an alumna.
“No matter what,” she said, “the people at K will always keep it what it is.”
She then administered the oath of office to 2012-13 Student Commission Executive Committee members.
Incoming president Bianca Rasho ’13 outlined her strategy of “teamwork, efficiency, and transparency” for next year’s administration. Candido asked the audience to “go in peace,” for a final time this school year.
Photographed (l-r) are outgoing and incoming StuComm board members: back row—Doug Colton ’12, Ian Flanagan ’13, Tendai Mudyiwa ’14, Darrin Camilleri ’14, Daniel Pohanka ’14, Milo Madole ’12; middle row—Hagop Mouradian ’14, Cameron Goodall ’15, Lucas Kushner ’14, Jacob Morden ’13, Ellen Murphy ’12, Alex Werder ’15, Sam Keene ’13, Darwin Rodriguez ’13; front row—Mara Richman ’15, Kari Paine’14, Katherine Stevenson ’15, Meredith Quinlan ’12, Bianca Rasho ’13, Asia Morales ’15, Martin Bergstrom ’13, and Shadae Sutherland ’14.
Open to the public, Community Reflections offer a unique forum for discussion, worship, performance, and community expression in Stetson Chapel. The next Community Reflection will be held during Week One (Sept 14) of Fall Quarter at 10:50 AM.)
(Left to right, top row) Candido ’00, Finan ’14, Stutz ’14, Wedding ’12 (bottom), Isser ’13, and Epperson ’13. Photo Credit: Elaine Ezekiel ’13
By Elaine Ezekiel ’13
“Reclaiming Crystal Ball: What Drag Means for Us” was the theme of the Week Eight (May 18) Community Reflection in Stetson Chapel. Sponsored by Kaleidoscope, members of the campus’ LGBT organization offered perspectives on drag and the annual Crystal Ball dance.
Chaplain Elizabeth Candido ’00 recalled her experiences attending Crystal Ball as a student, when the event was much smaller and more private.
Elinor Epperson ’13 discussed her experience filming a documentary about Crystal Ball 2011 and the status quo of male attire: “Women have fought hard to earn the right to wear pants, but men wearing skirts is considered abhorrent.”
Caitlin Finan ’14 spoke about choosing her first Crystal Ball costume: a surprisingly comfortable men’s suit. Kaleidoscope co-president Max Wedding ’12 described reclaiming his feminine side through drag. Craig Isser ’13, dressed in rainbow suspenders and matching platform wedges, described his pre-Crystal Ball routine: “Drag shows us how much fun, how different, how okay life can be when we start to lose the limitation of gender.”
Kaleidoscope co-president Hailey Stutz ’14 spoke about her daily struggle with identity though clothing, not just preparing for Crystal Ball.
Finally, Candido offered the audience advice on how to react to the anti-gay protester on campus throughout the week. “The protester is here not to reason with you,” she said, “Don’t allow your anger or your emotions to amplify his voice.”
Following the reflection, attendees signed a poster with an inclusive religious message, which now hangs in Biggby’s coffee shop.
Community Reflection offers a unique forum for discussion, worship, performance, and community expression each Friday at 10:50 AM (refreshments at 10:30) in Stetson Chapel. The entire campus community and general public are invited. The Week 10 (May 25) and final Reflection of the 2011-12 academic year will be devoted to Student Commission Community Awards, in which the K Student Commission honors the accomplishments of students, faculty, and staff. The new Stu-Com Executive Board will also take the oath of office.
“Sight and Voice Revealed: Unveiling the Cauldron,”was the theme of the Week 6 (May 4) Community Reflection in Stetson Chapel. With support from the Student Activities Fee, each member of the audience received a free copy of the 32nd edition of the literary magazine, which features art, photography, and writing created by K students.
Editors Cam Stewart ’12 and Rebecca Staudenmaier ’12 discussed the Cauldron’s ability to unite students across interests and talents:
“We are the community bound at the book’s spine,” said Staudenmaier.
Writer-in-Residence Diane “Di” Seuss presented the Stephanie Vibbert Award to Erin Donevan ’12. This accolade memorializes the English/psychology double-major from Class of 2003 who died during her senior year at K. The award honors a current student whose writing exemplifies the intersection between creative writing and community engagement. Seuss said that Vibbert would have endorsed Donevan’s work promoting creative writing in Botswana and Kalamazoo.
The College’s Writing Center Director Amy Newday announced the three winners of the Divine Crow Award, which is bestowed on writers of outstanding Cauldron entries. Newday said the winners “wove connections for me through time, space and experience.” They were Paul Lovaas ’13 (for his nonfiction short story “Darkrooms”), Fran Hoepfner ’13 (for her poem “to shatter when dropped”), and Kelly Bush ’12 (for her fantasy short story “Ariadne”). Each student read excerpts from their winning work.
Divine Crow Award runners-up were Umang Varma ’14, Carolyn Stordeur ’12 and Nicholas Canu ’12.
Community Reflection offers a unique forum for discussion, worship, performance, and community expression each Friday at 10:50 AM (refreshments at 10:30) in Stetson Chapel. The entire campus community and general public are invited. Week 7 (May 11) Reflection will be “Perspectives from a Global K,” in which members of the International Student Organization share their experiences and reflections about current global issues
By Elaine Ezekiel ’13