Students, communitygather to celebrate WooctcrestMagazine

by Colleen Connor staff writer

It was a very intimate setting. The small, yellow room on the second floor of the Gryphon Cafe filled with people as students anticipated reading their essays that will be app"earingin the Woodcrest Magazine on May 2.

Seats were limited. Some students were piled on top of each other to get a good view. On April 23, Cabrini students, along with friends and family members crowded into the tiny Gryphon Cafe in Wayne to read and listen to excerpts from the Woodcrest Magazine.

The atmosphere was friendly, warm and, some might say, too close for comfort in the Gryphon Cafe last week. "This reading seems to be a little bit 111orecomfortable than it was last semester for the previous reading of the Woodcrest Magazine," senior Jennifer Ten Boom said.

"It was a lot more intimidating the last time I read for the magazine. There were lots of professors that seemed to be watching my every move."

hnmediately after Ten Boom made this comment, Dr. Jerry Zurek, Dr. Hal Halbert

Magazine will be available today at several locations on campus and Dr. Seth Frechie entered the room. "I guess I spoke too soon," Ten Boom said. Although parking was a problem, the reading in the Gryphon Cafe, which fea- tured excerpts of the non-fiction essays and some creative photo essays from various students, was a success. "I feel like we are giving back to the community," junior

Rachel Kanter said. "The reading has been a great way to share with the community the talents and hard work of the students."

There was a good tum out of people at the reading, and the students who read appreciated everyone who came. There were about 25 to 35 people who shared in the experience. When asked how she felt prior to her debut, first year student Judeanne Watters-Armenti said, "I've asked everyone to leave their squashed tomatoes and their grungy lettuce at home and it seems that they have all complied." •

Indeed they did comply as WattersArmenti spoke at ease while the room sat in silence listening to her essay about the struggles of life for her family in Ireland.

Dr. Charlie McCormick introduced each speaker and gave a brief background about both the speaker and their accomplishments with writing. This made the entire room feel more comfortable. The speakers were able to breathe a little easier before it was their tum to read.

The magazine will be av~able to students on Thursday, May 2. It will be distributed throughout campus at the price of $5.