cal-u-stories-blog

[cal-u-stories-blog]

"Child at Heart"

By: Morgan Cushey

       All you can feel is your head moving back and forth, back and forth. You’re foaming at the mouth and shaking uncontrollably. You are blind to the world around you, shrouded in heavy darkness. During the entire ordeal all you can hear are your own thoughts and the pumping of your blood as it makes its journey through your heart. All the cells and systems of your body are overtaken by an unseen force, a force triggered by a flash from the technological world.

       It’s not a description of demonic possession or an alien take over or some government mind control conspiracy... It’s how Caitlin Bickel felt at the age of 13 when she encountered her first bout of epileptic seizures. “Plasma screens and LCD monitors are my friend. They lessen the potential to trigger a seizure,” Caitlin explained. “Strobe lights, on the other hand, are not my friend,” she said, laughing. She was diagnosed with epilepsy after her first encounter with the condition. And through regular medication she has been seizure free ever since. She works through various Facebook groups and through her personal YouTube channel to help raise awareness about the condition.

       All seriousness aside, Caitlin approaches life with a child-like innocence and curiosity, sitting in her room surrounded by the childhood nostalgia from bright colors and old movie posters to her Hello Kitty alarm clock right down to her Elmo t-shirt and blue jeans.

       She proudly shows off her extensive collection of collector Barbie dolls and Beatles drinking glasses. Among her Beatles collection she has a 30th Anniversary Commemorative concert poster written in French, featuring all of the Beatles along with their reproduced signatures. “My mother listened to them when I was little. I can’t remember not liking them,” she said. Caitlin’s hard times were softened by the Beatles. They were her saving grace throughout her life. “Sometimes it cheers me up, even the sad songs, as sad as they are, make me feel better,” she explained. Caitlin enjoys the classic cool the Beatles exuded and believes that no other band could live up to their legacy. “Today’s pop music sometimes makes me sick, so the Beatles’ [music] calms that fiery rage,” she said, laughing.

       She strayed away from the talk of the Beatles and said, “If we keep talking about them, we could be here for like, ten hours.”

       I laughed at her sarcastic smirk and shifted on the small twin bed, where we sat together crossed legged, like two old friends catching up. Distracted by the incessant barking and growling outside of the bedroom door, coming from her dog Angel, or hell beast, as I like to call her, Caitlin brought me back to earth, asking me if I remembered our middle school musical, The Fiddler on the Roof, where we both played the part of Yenta the matchmaker. I began to reminisce, as she excitedly told me all about the soundtrack of the musical she had recently purchased on record. “How cool is that?”

       “Cool as can be,” I told her, smiling as I remembered her boisterous and well-acted performance as the pushy, know-it-all matchmaker. Her performance, quite frankly, blew my mine out of the water. My version of Yenta was no match for her flamboyant, loud, and pronounced way of acting, since it mirrors her personality so perfectly. This personality of zest and charisma won her the award of Most Unforgettable our senior year.

       Catlin had come very far since high school, defeating the bullies and staying true to her nature. She came to Cal U in 2010, after transferring to campus from Washington and Jefferson College. Catlin graduated from Cal in December 2012 with a bachelor’s degree in History. She plans to earn a master’s degree in Public History from the American Online University. “I always liked history, so it wasn’t something I had to think a lot about. The only thing I found pointless is discussing the history of South America, it’s always civil war this and civil war that,” she said, chuckling at her own joke.

        Her love of history is to blame when her coin collection comes into question. Caitlin has every quarter from each of the 50 states, 50 cents worth of steel pennies from 1953, and various coins from places like Singapore and Australia. She retrieved a New Zealand one cent piece to show me, holding it with care and said, “Can you believe this is as big as the Kennedy coin? That’s a lot of coin for such a small amount of money,” showing great knowledge and a true wonder for the history of the coin. She said that she enjoys learning about a country through its currency, but she also enjoys using religion as a vessel of learning, visiting churches and even reading the bible and other religious publications to learn the history of various religions.

       Catlin also enjoys making floral arrangement with silk flowers, which she gives to friends and family for holidays or birthdays. “I like to give them as gifts, but sometimes I just make ‘em for the heck of it,” she said. She enjoys letting out her creativity with silk flowers as her tool, but she also pulls out all the stops each year on Halloween.

       Ever since high school, she has dressed up in full make up and teeth as a vampire. Taking her inspiration from the classic Dracula, she donned the black cape and blood red and black velvet dress, over her chalk white makeup and sharp fangs. She said she loves the Halloween holiday because she can express her Goth girl looks without being judged.

       Her love for the bloodsuckers doesn’t end at Halloween. Her car, which is an ironically blood-red colored Pontiac G6, is decorated with “Support Vampires” stickers. Catlin gets her strong motivation by way a fictional character in the book series, Vampire Kisses. The heroine of the tale is Raven Madison and is Caitlin’s inspiration. “She’ll kick ass rather than mope,” she said. “There is no Twilight [in my collection] and there shall never be any Twilight,” she said in a dramatic and insistent tone. “It’s [the series] is so bad. All Bella does is just whine and mope,” she said, adding a few choice words about how Bella as a main character makes women look bad.

       After her rather serious rant, Caitlin calmed down and began digging through her closet. She found what she had been searching for and told me to sit down on the floor. She shoved a blue box toward me, and instructed me to pull out the cards and shuffle them. Much to my surprise, the box contained an automated Penguin, named Flipper, who would deal us our cards during our game of Pictereka.

       So there we sat, giggling like two young children. Joking and reminiscing about our friendship, scrambling to beat the clock and each other at finding the object assigned, sabotaging each other’s efforts, determined to win.

       It made me realize that although Caitlin had moved on to the grown up tasks of earning a master’s degree and searching for a full time job, she never stopped being a child at heart. I learned a lot about Caitlin that day. But nothing was as powerful as putting all seriousness aside and sitting on the floor while an automated penguin shot cards at us and told us what pictures to find. Sometimes you just have to sit back, have a good laugh, and take orders from a Penguin to realize that we don’t ever have to grow up, at least not all the way.

#California University of Pennsylvania #cal u #california #Morgan Cushey #College #University #creative non-fiction #writing #non-fiction

[cal-u-stories-blog]

Cal U Story #2

"Behind the Greeks" By: Angelique Holmes

       Alpha Sigma Alpha. Founded at the California University of Pennsylvania on November 11th, 1991. Alpha Sigma Alpha promotes high ideals and standards for its members throughout their lives by emphasizing balance among their four aims of intellectual, physical, social and spiritual development.

       Alpha Sigma Tau. Founded at the California University of Pennsylvania on May 7th, 1983. Alpha Sigma Tau aspires to foster intellectual, cultural, ethical and social development. To instill a commitment to lifelong leadership and develop women who enrich the lives of others. To promote an environment of shared understanding and respect for values, expectations and goals. To sustain relationships that transcends the collegiate experience.

       Delta Zeta. Founded at the California University of Pennsylvania on November 15th, 1958. Delta Zeta strives to enrich their members through friendship, personal development and opportunity. They try to enrich the community by making a difference. The promise to the sorority and their commitment to enrich the world are for a lifetime.

       Phi Sigma Sigma. Founded at the California University of Pennsylvania on March 3rd, 1990. Phi Sigma Sigma aims to inspire the personal development of each sister and perpetuate the advancement of womanhood. To be a dynamic sisterhood of powerful women fostering uncompromising principles, igniting positive change and embracing individuality.

       Sigma Kappa. Founded at the California University of Pennsylvania on November 21st, 1959. The purpose of Sigma Kappa Sorority is to provide women lifelong opportunities and support for social, intellectual and spiritual development by bringing women together to positively impact their communities through personal growth, friendship, service and loyalty; bound by a promise.

       Joy Helsel. Established at the California University of Pennsylvania as a freshman in fall of 1978 and a SAI employee in 1987. The purpose of Joy Helsel as Director of Fraternity and Sorority Life is to contain and manage the Greek organizations on the Cal campus. She is here to educate the organizations on alcohol awareness, anti-hazing, and multi-cultural awareness among other things.

       Joy Helsel is the heart of the university. A woman who has only ever missed one Cal homecoming in her entire life. Joy embodies the core values of Integrity, Civility and Responsibility.

       Joy as the Greek life advisor challenges us to focus on our intellectual goals first and our sisterhoods second. She guides her students to be better leaders on Cal's campus. She challenges us to better the community we live in by motivating us to participate in days such as the BIG EVENT and even creating a town clean-up day where the Greeks go out and clean up after homecoming. She also understands that each organization is different and unique.

       But most importantly, Joy provides women lifelong opportunities and support for social, intellectual and spiritual development by bringing women together to positively impact their communities through personal growth, friendship, service and loyalty; bound by a promise. Joy Helsel is a Sigma Kappa. And we all love her.

                                    Greek Alphabet of Joy Helsel

Alpha- Accomplished

            Not only does Joy run Greek life, she also used to be in charge of the Cal cheerleaders. She led her team to many victories and changed it for the better.

Beta- Blessed

            We are so incredibly blessed to have someone who cares about what happens to Greek life and who actually worries about us as chapters.

Gamma - Gracious

            Joy is gracious with us. Everyone makes mistakes and everything is a learning experience. She accepts this and helps.

Delta- Determined

            Joy is determined to make Greek life better than it is. She is always trying to improve.

Epsilon- Educated

            Joy graduated from California State College in 1983 with Bachelors in Communication Studies. And graduated from California University of Pennsylvania with masters in Communication studies in 1986.

Zeta- Zealous

            Joy herself may not be zealous about every situation but she instills that in others. She works hard so that others can enjoy Greek week and homecoming. She moves us and makes us look forward to events.

Eta- Effective

            If Joy is one thing is it effective. She sends out weekly reminders to the chapters explain what is going on and what needs done. She is also aware of what each chapter needs to keep their charter and schedules events for all Greek life to attend and use for their national requirements.

Theta- Trustworthy

            Every Greek lettered organization has its issues and problems. Joy is the person to go to when you need someone to talk to and when you need good, realistic advice.

Iota- Irreplaceable

            If Joy was not our Greek advisor then we would not be where we are today. Most Greek advisors are not involved with the everyday life of your organization. Joy inserts herself into it. She takes a more active role than most. She's irreplaceable because she cares more than most would.

Kappa- Knowing

            There are rules for everything. And someone people love to break them. But don't think you're getting away with them with Joy. She's almost all-knowing. She knows what each student tries to get away with.

Lambda- Loveable

            Joy can be intimating at first. And if you don't hold really conversations with her then you'll never get to experience that loving side of her. She's funny and conversing with her is full of surprises. The way she carries herself and the way she expresses her feelings and thoughts just make her loveable for everyone.

Mu- Motivational

            Motivation is something that every organization needs. It's what keeps them striving to do and be their best. Joy pushes each organization, even when they don't want to do something they do it because they know it's for the best. Joy motivates us because we see her vision for us. We see what she wants us to accomplish as a whole. And we strive for it.

Nu- Natural People Person

            Joy is just a natural people person. She is someone to look up to. She is in charge of around 300 students and she's the one person that everyone can go to. I have personally probably told her too many of my issues this semester. But she is always their offering support and giving me great advice.

Xi- Extraordinary

            It is extraordinary to see so much spirit in such a small person. Joy has only missed one California homecoming in her entire life. She is a symbol of our school. People look for her familiar face during the games. Joy embodies the core values of California and she lives them every day. She's our very own Ms. Vulcan.

Omicron- Omnipresent

            Joy is in charge of over 13 Greek lettered organizations. She cannot be everywhere at once. But it seems as if she is. She is omnipresent, in a way. She makes it seem as if she is everywhere. She makes it seem as if she is dedicated to only your organization and helps you the most. But in reality, she's helping everyone.

Pi- Peace

            Peace is something that a few campuses do not have with their Greek letter organizations. Sure, on TV you see that sororities are feuding trying to be number one and sabotaging each other. But let's be real. That does not happen here at Cal. Our Greek meetings are peaceful and free of slandering words and vicious name-calling. It's filled with pride for each other and peace. Joy has given that to this campus. She has taught us that we are stronger together as a whole.

Sigma- Stern

            Fraternity brothers are a hand full. All men are. So when you're dealing with them and telling them how to run their organizations its hard work. And you have to be stern. Joy is stern. She tells it like it is. And it's because she knows. She knows what works when it comes to recruiting and what doesn't. She knows what you're supposed to be doing and what you're not.

Tau- Talented

            Running Greek life is not the only thing Joy is amazing at. She was also once the cheerleading coach for Cal.

Upsilon- Understanding

            Not many people understand what is like to run a chapter. They don't know what it takes to keep a chapter thriving on a campus. Most of the time you're balancing your class work, a job and this organization. And usually you're only in your late teens and early twenties. Joy gets this. She understands the struggles of Greek life. She's been through it. And she does her best to help and make things easier.

Phi- Perceptive

            As stated above; Joy knows all. Even when you haven't told anyone, she knows. She's perceptive and can tell when something is weighing heavy on your heart. She notices when you're not feeling like yourself.

Chi- Creative

            Being in Greek life you have to be creative. You don't want to do something that everyone else is doing. And it's harder to recruit than other clubs and organizations. You have to truly catch someone's attention and then fight through all of the stereotypes. In order to do this, you have to be creative with your events. You have to plan the best and your advertising has to be amazing. You have to go above and beyond. And Joy may not plan every little detail, but she definitely guides us in the right direction and gives us great ideas.

Psi- Persuasive

            Joy is definitely persuasive. She has many students that follow her and look to her for guidance. She persuades hundreds of students to think the way she does to get things accomplished.

Omega- Outstanding

            Joy has let Greek life on Cal's campus excel. Chapters have gotten National recognition for their outstanding recruitment, signature events and service projects. Joy is simply outstanding at what she does.

#California University of Pennsylvania #California #Cal U #Angelique Holmes #Angelqiue #Holmes #Story #creative non-fiction #non-fiction #Career #Greek Life #Greek #College #University

[cal-u-stories-blog]

Cal U Story # 1

“Dogs Don’t Talk Back”

By: Samantha Morrison

       Most people would say they are busy most of the time. Almost anyone you talk to has some sort of hectic schedule that keeps them occupied. Some people have a hard time keeping up, and then there’s Betsy Clark. Her official title here at Cal U is Resident Hall Director of Halls C & E. That title itself comes with a lot of responsibility. Not only does she do things like assign rooms for two residence halls on campus, but she has several other tasks that come along with her job. Being a Resident Hall Director, or RD, essentially means you are responsible for the hall you are in charge of, and in Betsy’s case the two halls she’s in charge of.

       “People ask me that (what are some of the major duties of an RD) almost daily and my short answer is “from stamps to suicide”….meaning I may talk to someone about their mail or where to get a stamp or to mail a letter…or the next person I talk to may be talking about hurting themselves,” Betsy said. Specifically her day-to-day duties include answering phone calls from parents/faculty members, answering questions students have either via e-mail or in person when they stop in to her office during her scheduled office hours, student meetings for conduct hearings, supervising Community Assistants (CAs), attending committee meetings, and planning the next big Residence Life event. On top of those daily duties, she also attends campus events, such as Mission Day, helps conduct fire drills in her Residence Halls, helping the student CAs with incidents, paperwork for everything, and making sure that the halls are safe.

       When asked about her likes about the job Betsy said, “There are so many things I love about the job and only really one thing I dislike.” The many things she loves about her job include the huge responsibility of holding this position and the connection she gets to make with students and other staff members. Since she has a Masters in Social Work, she loves being able to connect to and help out others. This job lets her do this on a daily basis. When she was asked this question, it was hard for her to make a finished list of everything she loves about it. This job here on this campus seems to suit her so well. She continued on to say, “I love the people I work with…..what else…there is just so much.”

       One of the biggest parts of her job, one that, to many, would seem odd, is that not only do Betsy and the other Resident Directors work on campus, they live there as well. Each Resident Director has their own apartment built right into the Residence Halls. They are immersed in Cal U campus living 24/7. One of the main things Betsy said that helps her not become overwhelmed with constantly being surrounded with her work was setting clear and solid boundaries for the CAs and residents alike, like asking that residents not knock on her apartment door.

       “It’s tough because the residents can see everything you do…you would think by having an outside entrance that I would have more privacy, but it is actually the opposite. Even if a resident didn’t know what I looked like if I came through the front door, they definitely know which outside door leads to my apartment... I try to set boundaries with the residents and the CA’s from the beginning of the year, every year. Once I started setting boundaries it worked out a lot better for me.”

         Aside from being a Resident Director at Cal, Betsy is also the state Secretary for the union of SCUPA (State College and University Professionals Association). This union includes all the professional administrators on the PASSHE campuses, such as Residence Life Staff, Academic Records, Financial Aid and other departments that deal with student programming. There are seventy plus on the campus and about six hundred state-wide.

       “I was the campus President and then was offered the higher position with the state. It is a ton of responsibility and I love every minute of it,” she said, further illustrating her drive and commitment to all of her work. As if those two positions didn’t keep Betsy busy enough, she is also the advisor of Colleges against Cancer.

       Before coming to Cal U, Betsy had made her mark all across the country. She was born right outside of Philadelphia and lived in New Jersey for the first six months of her life. After that her father took a job that required them to move around for a few years until they ended up in the state of California when Betsy was three.

       “It’s interesting because he had a choice to stay in Pennsylvania and work in mining, but decided to risk it and move to California for a job they weren’t sure was going to last for more than six months. He retired after thirty years at that same work place. If he wouldn’t have stayed and continued in mining coal, we would have had a very different life I presume.” Aside from living in several different locations in California, Betsy has also lived in New York City and Phoenix Arizona.

       Aside from being well-traveled, Betsy is also well-educated. She received her undergraduate degree at the University of California, Riverside. She went to a variety of community colleges and other Universities and received her degree when she was twenty six.

       A big question people have for someone so busy would be how she balances all of her duties all while finding time for herself. Betsy says she enjoys things like shopping, baking, and traveling.

       “I enjoy spending time by myself and concentrating on my hobbies anytime I can. I also mediate which helps a lot.”

       When asked what she would be doing if she were not a Resident Director at Cal, Betsy listed a few interesting alternative careers. One was to get her license and then open her own private counseling practice. She added with a chuckle, “I also wouldn’t mind having a doggy daycare…. dogs don’t talk back.”

       Aside from interviewing Betsy, a past employee of Betsy's, Paulette Grossi, was asked to describe her in one sentence.

       “I would say that Betsy is a very strong, independent woman who always puts others above herself." Paulette also added, “I admire how strong she is. That she has gone through some pretty major things in her life, but she still is such a great person and is always there to help people.”

       All in all, Betsy Clark is an essential and dedicated member of the Cal U family. Her true passion for her work and for caring about the students here at Cal really shines through her work as well as her actions on campus.  She works hard to make student's experience at Cal U not only fulfilling but successful as well.

#California University of Pennsylvania #Cal U #Story #Samantha Morrison #Samantha #Morrison #Resident Life #RD #Career #California #Creative Non-Fiction #Non-Fiction #College #University