Sara Blair Matthews: Teaching creative writing beyond bars
December 4, 2013 by Anna Jones
Have you ever wondered what being inside a prison is like? Everyone sees prisons in television shows and movies, but no one can truly understand the complexities of the system without stepping inside to see for themselves.
Most people would be too intimidated or scared to venture near a prison, but Sara Blair Matthews '15 frequently volunteers at the State Correctional Institution (SCI) at Muncy, an all women prison, to teach creative writing to inmates.
SCI Muncy is one of two all-women penitentiaries in Pennsylvania. What started as a training school for impoverished women in the 1920s turned into a correctional institute in 1953. SCI Muncy is in charge of programs like Female Diagnostic and Classification Center, Capital Case Inmates, and Close Security.
Matthews has been involved with volunteering and working at the prison since taking her first-year Law and Society sociology class. Since then, she has been trying to find ways to get involved with helping out at not only this prison, but also one near her home in Houston. This past summer, she wrote articles for a nationwide prison magazine. This required her to speak with prisoners about their experiences so she could share them with the public.
Matthews became re-involved with Muncy this year by talking to Troy Edwards, the Muncy's Reentry Service Coordinator. Matthews said that he was enthusiastic to have her volunteer, as they are always looking for help, especially in teaching unconventional subjects to the inmates. Edwards said he is excited about University students getting involved and volunteering at Muncy.
"Community involvement in the incarceration process is a must," Edwards said. "Having the Bucknell students involved at Muncy provides our population the opportunity to communicate and collaborate with outside entities, and develop positive relationships … oftentimes, their first positive relationship."
Edwards told Matthews that she could teach whatever she wished, and instructed her to choose something she was passionate about. Edwards encouraged her to let her passion show through her teaching.
"I knew that I would enjoy teaching creative writing," Matthews said. "I have always been interested in the subject, especially in regards to poetry. I also thought it would be worthwhile for the inside students, and I felt it would be a good outlet for them to express themselves."
When Matthews brought the idea to the school, she got a faculty member to advise her on the project, which also enabled her to count the project as course credit. She turned to Professor of English Ghislaine McDayter, who excitedly agreed to help her out.
"She needed to find an adviser to help her and I was very happy to step into the role since I thought the project was so innovative and important," McDayter said.
Matthews looked forward to teaching because she knew her class would give the inmates a unique experience.
"Specialized classes like these are rare," Matthews said. "They mainly do life skill classes, like GED classes in prisons, so this is a good way for the prisoners to engage in something different."
Matthews' creative writing class started at Muncy in September. Her classes take place once a week and last an hour and a half. To open class, Matthews begins by having a discussion with her students about the past week, including discussing the previously assigned homework. She then gives them writing prompts for them to explore and discuss.
"My classes are discussion-based," Matthews said. "I act as more of a proctor than a teacher."
Matthews said her class started with 17 students, and has dwindled slightly to 10 consistent students each week. Of the returning students, Matthews said they are very supportive of one another.
"Everyone is happy for each other and encouraging of each other's work," Matthews said.
Even outside sources can see the positive effect of Matthews' project.
"The impact of Sara Blair's work at Muncy was felt on day one," Edwards said. "The positive culture she's created and fostered through her involvement at Muncy is exactly what our population needed, and is directly in line with the Department of Corrections' goals and objectives relating to Re-entry Services."
The students in her class are obviously different from University students. Matthews said that the students are a mix of people who have been convicted of numerous crimes. The inmates include a range of people, some who will be released soon and some who have life sentences.
There were two requirements to join Matthew's class: inmates had to be on good standing at Muncy and could not be released from the prison before the course ends on Dec. 10.
Despite the history of her students, Matthews said that she has never felt scared or intimidated during her time teaching. The classroom is simply an open room with no guards. She said there are offices outside of the classroom that are looking in, so if anything were to happen, officers would be ready to help. Matthews said that it is usually just her and her students in the classroom, and that she has never felt threatened by her students.
"I never felt intimidated or like I didn't trust them," Matthews said. "They respect me and what I have to say. Plus, most of the people are choosing to be there, so they are just grateful that someone from the outside is taking time out of their life to teach them."
This nine-week course culminated in a final reading showcase that was held on Dec. 3. Matthews said that each of her students read a five or six minute sample of their work from the semester. The audience included other class members, and even friends and family, some of whom traveled across the country to hear the presentation.
"The final reading was phenomenal," Matthews said. "The women in my class really reached deep with their work and weren't afraid to share their personal stories. It was a really powerful reading, and I think their friends and family were blown away by what they had to say. I know I was."
In the future, Matthews said she wants to get more students involved in the teaching. Her goal is to start her own club with the help of the current Empowering Voices club. She also plans to work with the Office of Civic Engagement, where students could meet as a group after each visit to discuss the impact of their experiences.
"The Muncy project initiated by Sara Blair is a fabulous way for students to learn about themselves, their community, and our judicial and penal systems," McDayter said. "I cannot express how impressed I have been with Sara Blair's work on this project; she has shown herself to be intellectually and emotionally generous, incredibly self-motivated, and remarkably level-headed."
Edwards was equally impressed by the success of Matthews' class.
"[Sara Blair] accepted the monumental challenge of developing a syllabus and taking a group of ladies at Muncy State Prison on a journey they will not soon forget," Edwards said. "There will be change in the future, and Bucknell and Sara Blair are poised to ensure their strides and future plans are included in those changes."
For more information about the project, or if you are interested in getting involved, please contact Sara Blair Matthews at sbbm001@bucknell.edu.
Filed Under: Arts & Life
Luckey Charms: November, America's Month
November 4, 2013 by Anna Jones
Will Luckey
People think July is the most patriotic month because it has the Fourth of July. In reality, after that holiday, nothing about July really screams America. July actually sucks because it is perpetually humid and the only sporting events on are baseball games, Wimbledon, and the Tour de France. They only allow whites at Wimbledon—and when has "whites only" been an American thing? It's too early to care about baseball, and the Tour is only interesting when someone gets run over in a stampede of Euro-trash cyclists. The French girls always look snooty too. I'll take AJ McCarron's girlfriend over them any day for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
November is easily the most American month. First of all, college football reaches its peak with all of the rivalry games. These games represent everything great about America. For starters, they bring back interstate aggression. At football games, Missouri fans constantly mock Kansas fans over "Bleeding Kansas," when Missouri slave owners killed hundreds of abolitionists in Kansas before the Civil War even started. In Oklahoma, we are reminded just how far capitalist success can get you in this country. Billionaire T. Boone Pickens has donated over $400 million to Oklahoma State, allowing the team to attract the nation's best players with a state-of-the-art venue, illegal cash deals, and a plethora of other gifts.
By November people stop gushing over colorful leaves and pumpkin spiced lattes, and it is still too early for everything to get wrapped in a bow or have peppermint sticks dipped in it. November has none of that frilly Hallmark nonsense, only remembrance of veterans and a celebration of the harvest.
Veteran's Day is Memorial Day without the start-of-summer distractions. And we don't have to wear flowers on our lapels like Canadians or Brits, so that's nice too.
Thanksgiving is the most American celebration of all. You get to gorge yourself at four in the afternoon and then get in fights with your extended family. The Dallas Cowboys and Detroit Lions always play at home, which is fitting. The Cowboys are America's team and play in a billion-dollar stadium. Detroit leads the nation in violent crime, aggravated assault, and murder.
Speaking of murder, there are also the pilgrims. Not only did they abolish socialism in America, they innovated the American idea of "do-it-yourself." The original Mayflower contract made everything in Plymouth communal. Every man had an equal share in everything; it was Karl Marx's wet dream. But after basically all of them died they went every man for themselves. Capitalism worked and soon the colony grew. Newcomers did not have it easy. First, they had to do away with the lazy tree huggers squatting on their land. In a way it was the first battle against Occupy Wall Street.
That's November, I guess. Yeah I just rambled a bit but whatever. Get a flu shot. Thank you veterans.
ACE gets student body into Halloween spirit
October 23, 2013 by Anna Jones
Arts & Life Editor
The University began to get into the spirit of Halloween last weekend with many holiday themed events. One of the largest, Spooktacular, was hosted by Activities and Campus Events (ACE) on Oct.18 in Larison Dining Hall. Over 300 students attended the Halloween-themed event.
The event began with a Zombie Run that ended at Spooktacular. Students who ran in the Zombie Run finished the run, then hopped over to the ACE event to enjoy all it had to offer. Once the event was over, students could participate in the kickoff of the weeklong Zombies vs. Humans game, sponsored by Outdoor Education.
Spooktacular featured Galloway House's intense haunted house, sponsored by the University's theater club, Cap and Dagger.
For students who wanted to get in the Halloween spirit in a less scary way, Spooktacular had plenty of food and activities. Guests of the event could make and eat their own candy apples, decorate pumpkins, and even decorate masks. There were also competitions for eating a donut off a string. The movie "Casper the Friendly Ghost" played in the background, acting as a throwback to childhood Halloweens.
Though ACE's event is over, the University still has plenty of Halloween events to participate in, so don't miss out on the fun.
ACE's next event, DIY Bison Pride, is tomorrow from 9 p.m. to 11:45 p.m. in the ELC Hearth Space, so be sure to stop by to decorate cookies, make t-shirts, and even glaze your own University "B."
Fall break retreat makes deep impact on participants
While most students traveled home or to New York City for fall break, a handful stayed right here in Lewisburg. Forty-five students from all grades participated in the annual Common Ground retreat that lasted for five days at the Cowan Conference Center just minutes away from campus.
Common Ground is a forum for students to discuss and create a dialogue about issues involving race, gender, and sexual orientation. This year's retreat was led by 12 facilitators and overseen by Director Ana Gabriela Aguilera Silva '14, and Assistant Directors Alexander Vining '14 and Anthony Gomez '16.
Any student is eligible to participate in the activities offered by the retreat.
"Not only has Common Ground been the best activity I have done [in my four years at Bucknell], but it has challenged me as an individual, opened my eyes to the struggles and stories of others," Kate Albertini '14 said.
"[The retreat] made me a better person, and single-handedly [gave] me hope for the future," Albertini said about the deep conversations involving personal issues.
"Everyone should experience Common Ground–no one ever regrets [his or her] decision to do so," Albertini said.
OHLAS Gala brings together community in support of Hispanic students
The Organization for Hispanic and Latin American Students (O.HLAS) partnered with the Spanish Department to host their first annual OHLAS Gala on Oct. 19. The party was held in the Terrace Room and had plenty of Latin cuisine, as well as poetry and music.
People from the entire Lewisburg community were able to enjoy art, music, food, and to discuss Latin American issues throughout the evening. Students from all across campus worked the event, setting up before and socializing with the guests during the event.
"Each table represented a different country and there was no assigned seating so people could mingle with one another as they learned about the countries [at each table] and the culture of [those] countries," OHLAS member Cheyenne Mendes '16 said.
Prior to the event, there was a pre-reception from 6 to 7 p.m. in the Samek Connections Art Gallery. José Galvez, the first male Mexican-American journalist to ever win a Pulitzer Prize, had many of his photos on display in the gallery.
The sold out event lasted about an hour and a half. It was the first time that OHLAS hosted this gala, but they hope to hold the event each year from now on.
"I think the gala was a success as it incorporated people from all over the Bucknell community … It was a brilliant way to address some Latin American issues around the world and even in our communities," Mendes said. "I have never been so proud to be a Hispanic student as I [was] that night."
Despite star-studded cast "Escape Plan" falls flat
Andrew Marvin
There's a time for intellectual stimulation and there's a time for purely entertaining trash. "Escape Plan" is trash. It's difficult to dismiss it outright since it functions as easy, unchallenging fun. Previews made it look like the second coming of the action-junkie Christ: where else can Rambo and Dutch work together to escape a modern-day Alcatraz? Unfortunately, all of the punch-throwing, one-liner-spewing, helicopter-jumping charisma in the world can't fix a film made from a thin concept and with half-baked execution. This movie might revolve around the personality of its stars, but those stars are so consistently entertaining that their personality is a given, while their material is so weak that even they can't carry it.
What makes a no-frills action movie like "Predator" or "Cliffhanger" different from a no-frills action movie like "Escape Plan?" They all work from high-concept premises, finding a situation-of-the-year for the protagonists to fight their way out of, and are so far removed from any sort of realism that at any moment you'd expect the cannon fodder to start bleeding green. Despite these similarities, "Escape Plan" doesn't compare to the excellent films that Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone churned out at the heights of their careers. Those two are not to blame. Both are great fun to watch, still exuding the macho magnetism that established their careers.
The problem here is one of style: slick, modern, and boring. This film has been sold as action-driven exploitation, but comes across more as a slow, cautious, average blockbuster. There's not much style behind the substance, and shaky cameras, de-saturated color pallets, and quick cuts don't count for style. These are modern techniques for modern sensibilities, not the cheesiness that "Escape Plan" should have reveled in. It feels unfamiliar–flat, cold, and lifeless. It also seems a bit cynical, forgoing the cheerful bloodshed of films like "Conan the Barbarian" in favor of a grim-faced solemnity that feels wildly out-of-place in a movie about muscular guys killing less muscular guys. "The Expendables" has similar problems with style, but at least it can crack a smile while pumping baddies full of lead.
Still, all of the films that these two stars have made over the last few years have suffered from one overbearing flaw: they are all supposed to be comeback films for stars who don't need them. Audiences still love these actors, so why should every film have to be the one that rejuvenates their still-lucrative careers? Why not just accept that they can carry films that are based off of good material? Instead of trying to imitate or modernize the films that made Schwarzenegger and Stallone famous, anyone who has the good fortune of getting to direct a movie starring these people should go about it with the same degree of sincerity that older directors did. They should aim to make a good movie that just happens to have these names on its posters instead of an otherwise weak star vehicle.
"Escape Plan" doesn't try to be good in its own right. It tries to ape the good movies that its leads used to regularly star in. The intention of bringing older-style action back to the big screen is admirable, but flawed. Action isn't dead, but our culture has forgotten what quality trash is. We have to forget our standards for modern action and remember what made those older films so good: they were made with heart, not from a formula. They weren't necessarily ambitious, but they weren't afraid to try new things and break their own rules. Even when they weren't innovative, they were at least made with a certain level of quality. Sure, Schwarzenegger and Stallone are great, but having those two on board doesn't mean anything if they don't have a good crew behind them. We would be better off looking to revive the careers of directors like John Carpenter or John McTiernan than of capable action stars.
University prepares to welcome home alumni
Jen Lassen
The University's annual Homecoming celebration kicks off today, with events lasting until Sunday, Oct. 27.
Students, alumni, and families can start Homecoming weekend on a good note by watching songwriter Christopher Williams '92 in Bucknell Hall tonight at 8. Williams comes from Nashville and is also known as a talented storyteller and entertainer. All are welcome to enjoy his free concert.
Prior to Williams' concert, the women's volleyball team takes on Army in Davis Gym at 7 p.m. The Bison Club will induct five athletes (Molly Creamer '03, basketball; Gene Depew '71, football and head baseball coach; Ian Joseph '01, baseball; Becki Marshall '02, cross country/track & field; and Jennifer Zimmerman '00, field hockey) into the Hall of Fame during a commemorative dinner celebration in the Terrace Room at 7 p.m. Tickets are $20 per person.
Also this evening, the Class of 2013 will celebrate their Zero Year Reunion at the Lewisburg Hotel with hors d'oeuvres and drinks. Tickets are $25 at the door.
Saturday's events will start with a tour of Academic West at 9:15 a.m., guided by Associate Provost Robert Midkiff, and Campus Tours at 10 a.m., led by tour guides (meet outside of Freas Hall).
The day continues with an alumni book signing with Eric Hart '01 for his book "The Prop Building Guidebook: For Theatre, Film and TV" at 10 a.m.; then, author Jack Wheatcroft will host a signing for his book "The Disappearance of Felix Kulp" at 11 a.m. Both signings are at Barnes & Noble. Everyone is invited to take a walk on the Poetry Path at 10 a.m. to experience Downtown Lewisburg through poetry readings and recordings. Meet inside the auditorium at Bucknell Hall.
Following tradition, the football team will play their annual Homecoming Football Game at 1 p.m. in Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium vs. Lehigh. Before the game, visit the tent next to the stadium for the Homecoming Tailgate and Little Bison Kid's Zone for food, games, and other activities. Tickets for adults are $15 each; youth (age 3-18) are $10 each.
Other athletic events for the weekend include women's soccer vs. Holy Cross at noon at the Emmitt Field at Holmes Stadium; men's and women's swimming vs. Pittsburgh at 1 p.m. in the Kinney Natatorium; men's soccer vs. Colgate at 4 p.m at the Emmitt Field at Holmes Stadium; and women's volleyball vs. Holy Cross at 5 p.m. in Davis Gym.
Students, alumni, and families can also check out many other events on Saturday. These include GALABI & Fran's House Meet and Greet at 2 p.m. at Summit House; Costume Studio Grand Opening and Reception at 4 p.m. in Coleman 252; International Commons Grand Opening and Reception at 4 p.m. in Coleman 151; Residential College Alumni Event (free refreshments and hors d'oeuvres) at 4 p.m. in the Smith Quad; Engineering Student Research Symposium and Reception at 4 p.m. on the Second Floor of the Elaine Langone Center; Black Alumni Association Reception at 4:30 p.m. in Seventh Street House; and "The Unfinished Journey–Then and Now: 10 Years of the Civil Rights Trip" reception and forum at 5 p.m.in the Freas Hall Lounge.
Saturday of Homecoming concludes with a concert featuring longtime friends Emmylou Harris and Rodney Crowell to celebrate their new album "Old Yellow Moon." The concert begins at 7:30 p.m. in the Weis Center.
On Sunday, The Gulden 5K Run/Walk and Brunch is at 10 a.m. (9 a.m. registration). The race loops around the Mod Fields and returns to the KLARC for the finish. The Run/Walk includes a catered brunch for all participants and spectators. At 11 a.m., the Rooke Chapel Ringers will celebrate their 30th Reunion with a Performance in Rooke Chapel.
With a variety of activities and events, this year's Homecoming Celebration boasts a well-rounded itinerary with something for everyone. Take part in celebrating our University and the people who make–and have made–it such a special place.
Luckey Charms: Things To Expect on Homecoming Weekend
We have a saying in my family: "Don't spare the old homestead, mother. Burn the f#@%ing place." It means don't be a nostalgic wuss. But it's always good to come home, and I am definitely excited to see the alumni coming back to campus for homecoming. This is just a taste of what you can expect this weekend:
You have a chance to catch up with some old friends
Maybe you will go golfing with some of them
You get to ogle that senior broad from your first-year econ class once more
Maybe she will notice how much you have changed since then and finally talk to you
But no …
Oh screw her, she doesn't look that great anyway
You will be shown between six and 10 business cards
You will hear all about how awful the "real world" is
You will learn that wearing a tie during the week does not necessarily make you more mature
Even though they might think they are royalty; showing up with their high-finagled finance talk, fountain pens, court jesters, dressed all frilly and powdered up
They might refer to you as peasants, and you absolutely cannot look them in the eye
Sometimes they even claim prima-nocta on first-year girls
They might barge into their old first-year room and claim "Noble Dominion" over your Vladimir
They will break all of your windows–and anything you thought was safe, really
You will learn what French-cuffs are, and how "the point of a wife is to help you put them on"
Friday night your girlfriend will sleep with an alumni (but it's okay, they had a thing when she was a sophomore and he was senior)
On Saturday you try to cry a little about last night in private, a nice alumni sees and lets you dry your eyes with his $90 Brooks Brothers pocket square
Now the guy who slept with your girlfriend slaps you with a white glove, and you have to duel him with pistols at the Super Saturday for her honor
It turns out 17th Century flintlocks are harder to work than you think.
But he brings you a Yuengling while you're being bandaged up, and then takes you out to Skeeter's in his leased BMW.
You talk about his job and he connects with you on LinkedIn, vaguely mentioning an internship
I guess despite the fact that they take to our campus like the Visigoths on Rome, the alumni are fun
Modern dance company brings passion and talent to performance
October 9, 2013 by Anna Jones
Christina Oddo
Camille A. Brown and Dancers brought modern dance to Tustin Dance Studio in a master class as well as the Weis Center stage for an evening performance on Oct. 5.
"Camille A. Brown & Dancers are incredibly talented," Aliyah Johnson '14, who attended the master class, said. "They moved unapologetically and gave me everything I needed. I felt revitalized and I got my confidence back. In class, Camille encouraged us to go all the way. I remember her saying something like 'I'd rather you be too much than not enough, and I have to pull it out of you.' So I got comfortable and gave her all of me and a little bit extra! For me, the class and performance was a breath of fresh air."
The class consisted of technique and performance work that was evident and prominent throughout the evening on the Weis Center stage.
"Brown taught a phenomenal master class to some of our dance students, accompanied by the talented Phil Haynes," Assistant Professor of Theatre and Dance Dustyn Martincich said. "The class focused on precise but individualized movement. She emphasized the history of the movement and encouraged dancers to explore their individual style. These values are inherent in her repertory seen on the Weis Center stage."
The performance featured Brown's "New Second Line," highlighting the essence of jazz in New Orleans, as well as two solo works titled "The Real Cool" from "Mr. Tol E. RancE," and "Evolution of a Secured Feminine."
"It was fantastic discovering Camille A. Brown and Dancers," Associate Professor of Dance Kelly Knox said. "The dancers lived fully in their physical power, stretching dynamically to the edges of the movement and exuding the music through their extended limbs."
The evening also consisted of a duet titled "Been There Done That," and Brown's first work for the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre, "The Groove to Nobody's Business."
Camille A. Brown and Dancers focuses on theatricality as well as musicality in performance, and digs deeper into relationships, as well as other themes that span across time and reveal truth.
"With a poignant theatricality, the dances were accessible, resonating with clear motivations and recognizable human relationships," Knox said. "I also truly appreciated the theatre and movement history that Brown's dancers embody; it reminds me of the creative approaches my own colleague, Dustyn Martincich pursues in her teaching and research."
Poetry, along with visual art and music of different genres, helps to create the energy of the performance. The goal of the dancers is to engage them in new ways.
"And the music! I ran out of the theatre and downloaded about 10 Betty Carter songs so I could relive the evening."
"The whole show featured the work of a talented and passionate artist who really practices what she preaches," Martincich said.
The Weis Center's next performance will feature Vieux Farka Touré on Oct. 16 at 7:30 p.m. at the Campus Theatre and will be free and open to the public.
Seniors learn proper etiquette in preparation for graduation
Steph Bernabei
Crystal Bailey, the director of the Etiquette Institute of Washington, spoke to a room full of eager, soon-to-be graduates on the evening of Oct. 9. She presented the basics of how to "wine, dine, and act fine" throughout various courses.
Over 200 members of the Class of 2014 crowded into the Terrace Room for the Senior Etiquette Dinner. The dinner, hosted by the Career Development Center (CDC) as an installment of their "Life After Bucknell" series, comprised of a cocktail hour followed by multiple courses.
This year's dinner had an outstanding turnout compared to previous years, with students actively engaging in the presentation throughout the night. During the cocktail portion of the evening, students were free to mingle throughout the room and practice their conversational skills with friends.
Bailey and various other faculty members from the CDC engaged in conversation with the students, giving them personal attention and addressing their questions before the formal presentation.
After everyone sat down, Bailey commenced the presentation, debunking myths about how to properly shake hands, stressing the importance of seasoning your food only after tasting it, and emphasizing how important it is to follow up personally with people you have met.
Bailey projected her demonstration in the front of the room for the students to follow along throughout the soup, salad, main, and dessert courses. During the presentation, she fielded questions from the students. While the talk mostly covered basic etiquette, those who were more experienced were happy to brush up on their skills in a somewhat informal manner with their friends.
After the dinner, the attendees felt more confident in their next steps in the search for a job after graduation.