Clark’s CPG Sees Record High Visits
The Scarlet THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF CLARK UNIVERSITY FEBRUARY 16, 2018 | THESCARLET.ORG
Content warning: This piece discusses mental health, and mentions suicide and trauma
By Kate Summers Scarlet Staff
Fitzgerald’s showing is called “Stamina” and consists mainly of pieces that effectively blur the line between sculpture and photography. Her work uses photography tools to create 3D images that combine artistic innovation and the age of technology. The “Stamina” series was Fitzgerald’s first exhibition in Worcester and her sixth independent showing in the United States. In addition to Fitzgerald’s avant-garde artistry, the work of the emerging collegiate artists displayed a plethora of different art forms and levels of mastery. Pieces ranged from politically-charged representations like “Tracksuits & Espionage,” featuring Vladimir Putin and Don-
“I’m in a place where I feel uncomfortable. There are some students I wish we could see much more frequently and we can’t,” said Megan Kersting, Director of the Center for Counseling and Personal Growth (CPG) at Clark. In Kersting’s first academic year at CPG, 2012-2013, the center saw a total of 333 students. In Fall 2017 alone, they saw approximately 435 students in one semester. “I’m in a place where I feel students are deserving of more intensive levels of care. There are some students I wish we could see much more frequently, which would lead to them having a more positive social and academic experience,” she said. Last academic year CPG saw 523 students; 99 of them were suicidal. Nationally over the past five years, college counseling centers have seen a 30 percent increase in student visits. At Clark the increase was 57 percent. Kersting says there are many reasons for the increase. “We use our devices to emotionally regulate ourselves,” she said. When people are upset or bored they use their phone to distract themselves. “Our ability to manage unpleasant emotions is really kind of going away.” Kersting said that social media is part of this. “Before we … had our one life to worry about. Now, everyone really has two lives: we have a virtual life we have to maintain … and real life,” she explained. “People think that everyone else’s life is perfect and view their own life as a failure, when in reality social media is a
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Art aficionados pack The Aurora Gallery during “The Fourteenth Annual College Show.” Photos by Olivia Knightly.
STUDENT ART GLOWS AT LOCAL EXHIBITION
Nandita Modhubonti Scarlet Staff
On a windy Friday evening, Arts Worcester, the only remaining private art gallery in Worcester County, hosted their annual College Art Show. This was the 14th year the gallery has featured artwork from Worcester college students, including pieces from students at WPI, Worcester State University, Assumption College, and Clark University. The history behind the establishment of Arts Worcester is an interesting one. Starting out as the Cultural Assembly of Greater Worcester nearly 38 years ago, it acquired its current name in 1992. The gallery continues to encourage the expression of contemporary art in its many
forms within the Worcester community. Despite numerous budget constraints and location changes, the ethos of “exhibiting and advancing regional artists” has remained intact within the organization. Currently housed in the historical Aurora Hotel, Arts Worcester is constantly hosting a variety of events and exhibitions. Along with work from local college students, this year’s College Art Show also displayed works from the winner of the Present Tense Prize, Colleen Fitzgerald. This prize is awarded by Arts Worcester to “an artist whose work exemplifies new practices, artistic risk-taking, and excellence in execution,” according to their website.