Fall 2015 by Forum Magazine

ForumMagazine A UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND STUDENT PUBLICATION

Ronald Crutcher: ENTERING A NEW ERA PG. 20

FALL 2015

20 things

TO DO BEFORE YOU GRADUATE PG. 24 URFORUMMAGAZINE.COM

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ForumMagazine Our mission at Forum Magazine is to create an impactful, revealing and balanced magazine designed and reported with students in mind. In awarding time and space to the most impressive people and projects, we hope to make something that strengthens the community by inspiring pride in every student, faculty, and staff member at the University of Richmond. Through sections focused heavily on career advice, national issues, superlatives, and culture, Forum will be a place for conversation—both serious and light hearted—that leaves students with a deeper understanding of both the college world and beyond.

Editor in Chief MCKENNA JENSEN Executive Managing Editor MOLLY ROSSI Publisher JOE HAN Business Manager ALEXANDER BEMAN Advertising Managers TONY DA LOMBA, KATIE FUNK Director of Photography CALEB TROY Lead Writers TRACY AKERS ELLIE POTTER Assistant Lead Writer DYLAN MCAULEY Design Assistants DYLAN FOX SHANNON HOUCK Distribution Manager ELLE MOSHOVA Social Media Assistant NENE DIALLO Head Copy Editors KARISSA LIM HANNAH SULLIVAN Staff Reporters RACHEL BRINGEWATT, MIA HAGERTY, CARNEY JUDGE, KARISSA LIM, MIRANDA MARTINEZ, LIANA SALEH, HANNAH SULLIVAN, MARIANA WEBER, ASHLEY WILDA Staff Photographers KELLY BONAVENTURA, GARRETT FUNDAKOWSKI, MIA HAGERTY, ELLEN OH, MONIKA PAYERHIN, DANA RAFFERTY, MARIANA WEBER Copy Editors MARIA PSARAKIS, LIANA SALEH, MISSY SCHROTT, HANNAH SMALL

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*LOOK FOR NEW STAFF MEMBERS BEING FEATURED THIS NOVEMBER!

( CONTENTS ) on campus

5 10

DEAR MR. PRESIDENT

Spiders share their thoughts and expectations for Ronald Crutcherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s term as university president. Listen up! UNWRITTEN RULES

8:15 is a coffee shop, not a time. It gets confusing! Check out a few upsoken rules on campus.

14 Students are taking their SPIDER STARTUPS

departments in our world

CHAPLAINCY PILGRIMAGES

Asking different questions opens the door to selfdiscovery.

25 YEARS

#DOITFORTHEKIDS

The human brain does not fully develop until the age of 25. How does this impact our life decisions and the success of our relationships. By Tracy Akers

futures into their own hands, kick-starting entrepreneurial initiatives.

20 Is the system broken? Why POLITICAL APATHY

college students are not voting.

features

Every year, students raise thousands of dollars to send children to camp. Read all about what goes into the Camp Kesem experience. By Ellie Potter

BEFORE YOU GO

ON THE COVER PHOTO BY KELLY BONAVENTURA

Here are 20 things you have to do before you graduate from the University of Richmond. By Carney Judge URForumMagazine.com

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( ) ON CAMPUS

Commander in Chief Spiders welcome University

of Richmondâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 10th presdient: Ronald Crutcher.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY KELLY BONAVENTURA

BY MIA HAGERTY

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( ON CAMPUS ) FALL 2015

Dear Mr. President, As the University of Richmond enters a new era of leadership, Forum Magazine spoke with students to uncover their hopes for the future. With a long legacy behind him, here are some of the thoughts and expectations Spiders have for their new president as Dr. Ronald Crutcher takes his place in Maryland Hall. Dr. Crutcher is many things: a nationally known proponent of a liberal arts education, an accomplished performance cellist, and a successful university president. This fall, he will add the University of Richmond’s 10th president to that list. At Wheaton College, President Crutcher was known for his visibility on campus, whether it be at sporting games or arts events. Furthermore, his work with students on a personal level through the avenues of student government and his personal mentor group distinguished him as a president that was highly attuned to students’ wishes. With the turnover of the presidential position comes the promise of change for our campus. Forum Magazine surveyed a wide variety of students to understand how Dr. Crutcher’s unique skills could be leveraged to forge Richmond’s future. Currently, Richmond is ranked the 32nd liberal arts college in the nation (according to U.S. News and World Report) but many students believe this number should be higher. “As a campus, we already have the tools in place: a great curriculum, athletic variety, a diverse student body, and an amazing and

beautiful campus with a myriad of facilities designed to enhance the student experience,” said Angelo Suggs Jr., president of the Richmond College Student Government Association. “Now, it’s just a matter of exposing more people to who we are and ensuring that they know our name.” With President Crutcher’s impressive 10 years at Wheaton College, driving massive capital campaigns and promoting the college’s name, he will certainly ensure the university’s upward trajectory. Every student we spoke to agreed that President Crutcher could continue efforts to diversify the student body that President Ayers first set in motion seven years ago. By simply being our president, people say, we are leading by example rather than using rhetoric and strategic admissions recruiting to do so. “Having an African-American president will attract people who were not previously looking at Richmond,” senior Courtney Britt said. “I’m sure he is going to do more to incorporate diversity whether through programs geared towards inclusion, or more minority scholarships and grants.” While Dr. Ayers has made massive strides in diversifying the student body, students are still aware of the fact that we fight hard against the stereotype of being labeled as “white,” “privileged,” and “apathetic” as a student body. For what is considered a very small school, University of Richmond boasts more than 175 clubs on campus, offering a variety of interests and groups that students identify with. “The vast number of clubs on our campus are an integral part of a student’s experience, and I would love to see the university give some additional support to clubs in the next few years,” said Olivia Karahan, president of the Westhampton College Government Association. Students would also like Dr. Crutcher to bring his unique background to enhance the visibility of less well-known groups. “I would love to see a greater campus understanding of the BGLO’s (black Greek letter organizations) on campus,” junior Ken Robinson said. “As President Crutcher is my fraternity brother, I hope that his campus-wide prominence will educate others about our organizations.” Despite the university’s wealth of passionate and talented artists, there is still a lack of interest from the community as a whole. “A number of students only set foot in the Modlin Center for the Arts during freshman orientation,” said Jonathan Knabe, a junior Theater major. “It would be awesome if we had more students come to our shows.” Students believe that Dr. Crutcher’s own musical background could propel the arts at Richmond to the spotlight. “Even when he speaks, his music background shows,” Suggs said. “He is very deliberate, selective, and patient as a communicator, and you truly get the feeling that this is someone who has utilized those same attributes in his path towards mastery in the field of music.” Students are more than ready for changes to the Arts department, citing a renovation of the Booker Hall interior, a second dance studio in the Modlin Center, the creation of a Fine Arts Week, and performances by President Crutcher as ideas for promoting the arts at Richmond. Many students expressed the desire for our academic infrastructure to foster interest exploration. “We live in a

“He is very deliberate, selective, and patient as a communicator, and you truly get the feeling that this is someone who has utilized those same attributes in his path towards mastery in the field of music.” – Angelo Suggs, President of RCSGA 6

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FALL 2015 ( ON CAMPUS )

time where it’s the norm to drop everything and run with an impassioned idea and pursue a dream,” said Ian Oh, president of the Robins School of Business Student Government Association. “I would love to see University of Richmond adopt more of an entrepreneurial spirit with students feeling comfortable with not necessarily knowing what the next move is.” On the national stage, Dr. Crutcher has spoken up as a strong proponent of a liberal arts education in education publications in the past. As the only university with the unique blend of five schools, both President Ayers and the students have cited their integration as one of the big bullet points for change on campus. Senior Jay Tekwani suggested revamping the general education requirements or allowing a non-major class to be pass-fail. “A lot of

my friends don’t venture too far from their comfort zones because they really care about their GPA, and I think we need a system that encourages students to move outside of them.” Students across every possible division of our university are eager to welcome Dr. Crutcher to our campus. More importantly, they have full belief in his ability to make changes in the academic, extracurricular, and social spheres of campus. “I don’t believe that anything is out of Dr. Crutcher’s reach,” Karahan said. “I think he will provide a unique perspective having worked at a number of liberal arts institutions, and will be able to take what he has learned to make lasting improvements to the university.” Whether we want a campus with more handicap-accessible pathways or one with

more Spider pride, we need to ask for it. President Crutcher has a long track record of engaging with students and bringing forth campus change. As students, it’s our job to ask him to make statements, participate in campus life, and most importantly, welcome him to our campus.

Sincerely,

Your Richmond Spiders URForumMagazine.com

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Undergraduate Profile

Undergraduate Enrollment Goal

811 811

Actual Undergraduate Enrollment

*Information averaged between 25th and 7th percentile.

3.79 30-33 2078 Grade Point Average

ACT Score

SAT Score

A Lower Acceptance Rate: Help or Hinderance? STORY BY MIRANDA MARTINEZ When I decided to apply Early Decision to University of Richmond, my guidance councilor prepared me for the seemingly impossible task ahead. As a high school student from the Deep South seeking to attend a university on the east coast, she warned me of the competitive pool of students I would be up against. When I was accepted to UR, the acceptance rate was 32 percent. I was one out of 3155 accepted, and eventually as students began enrolling that number became 816. The average SAT score was a 1319, and the average ACT a 30. Recently, the university decided to lower the acceptance rate to 29.5 percent, a significant decrease from previous years. This means fewer students will get an acceptance letter next year. Yet it remains unclear whether these changes will help or hinder the university. The University of Richmond has always been a competitive school. Students from all over the world compete for unique opportunities like the Richmond Guarantee or Summer Research Funding. Some apply for the chance to major in Leadership Studies at Jepson School of Leadership, others for the

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abundant research opportunities in Gottwald Science Center. Reducing the number of accepted students not only increases the value of a University of Richmond diploma, but also the university’s national reputation. Sophomore Dylan McAuley remarks, “By accepting fewer students, we will be accepting more competitive applicants who will contribute even more to our campus life. The University of Richmond is as excellent a liberal arts college as any other in the top tier, but, in order for others to realize that fact, we have to take steps to enroll the best and brightest students across the United States and around the world.” Many UR students believe that the new acceptance rate will not hinder the university, but rather shine a light on the bright minds of future incoming classes. With Richmond’s growing reputation and greater selectiveness, it is only a matter of time before Richmond truly basks in the limelight. An increase in national reputation gives University of Richmond an edge in choosing top students from around the country. But how will this effect competitiveness in prospective Rich-

mond applicants? In recent years, the phrase “college frenzy” has become a nightmarish reality. Reports indicate that high school students are beginning the college process as early as freshman year. Parents are spending hundreds of dollars touring colleges and universities around the country, all in the hope of gaining a seat at a prestigious school. Even though there are around 5,000 colleges and universities in the U.S. providing enough seats for students seeking a college education, it is still desirable to seek the limited spaces at the top. This growth in competitiveness stems from increases in highly selective colleges, small seat numbers, and a vast pool of applicants. At Richmond, the number of seats available for the class of 2019 was 800, a 20-seat drop from the class of 2018. “The slightly lower acceptance rate,” says Gil u“reflects the increasing number of students who are interested in Richmond, an increase in applications, and the fact that the size of our firstyear enrollment goal remains stable at 800 students.” While competitiveness continues to grow on a national scale, some UR

students do not believe the new acceptance rate will greatly affect the competitiveness of incoming students. Sophomore Angela Lam states, “I don’t think it’ll spark competitiveness because the students who come to Richmond usually already have a sense of what they want to achieve and that they want to do well.” It’s true most Richmond students are known for being well prepared to handle their course-load once arriving on campus. Gil Villanueva, the dean of admissions, strongly supports the student body as being, “some of the most academically-prepared students in the U.S. and abroad.” Regardless of the new acceptance rate, UR students will still graduate as some of the brightest and most successful graduates in the country. However, the lower acceptance rate will decrease the competitiveness of on-campus housing, a change many

students are eagerly awaiting. Of the 816 students enrolled in the class of 2018, 428 of them are women. Because female freshmen dorms Lora Robins Court houses 270 women and Moore Hall houses 150 women, 8 women had to be housed in Robin’s Hall, an upperclassmen dorm. In the past few years it has be a recurring trend to house the overflow of women

FALL 2015 ( ON CAMPUS ) known “college experience.” However, overcrowded dorms and inability to claim apartments has left many wondering whether on-campus housing is still worth pursuing. Commenting on Richmond’s housing issue, an anonymous student states, “In recent years our university has had difficulty in keeping students on campus. In the past, housing was guaranteed for each student. However, as more students apply and accept admission to UR, the current student population has difficulty in attaining housing.” But with a new cap on incoming students, finding an available space may no longer be a problem for students. Yet, regardless of potential benefits, it remains unclear whether the new acceptance rate will yield any significant changes to Richmond – perhaps it won’t affect the current student body at all. But for now, UR can expect to see fewer and fewer new faces each fall.

Reducing the number of accepted students not only increases the value of a University of Richmond diploma, but also the university’s national reputation. in Robin’s Hall. Perhaps within future classes of 800, the smaller number of female freshmen will alleviate the need to use an upperclassmen dorm. “With less people,” says Angela Lam, “housing might definitely become an easier process.” On-campus housing, a popular choice among UR students, eliminates stress of commuting and generates the commonly

November 12, 2015

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Spider Startups AN INSIDE LOOK AT UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND ENTREPRENEURSHIP STORY BY TONY DA LOMBA

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FALL 2015 ( ON CAMPUS )

very year, University of Richmond ranks among the nation’s top universities for its varied academic programs. The Robins School of Business particularly receives noteworthy attention. Recently, Business Week Magazine selected the Business School as number 16 for undergraduate business schools, while Bloomberg Businessweek selected the program as first in international business education. With such noteworthy programs, Richmond students are prepared to spearhead the business world. Some students, though, have already begun to establish their business initiatives. To support Richmond students with creative ideas, UR annually hosts a competition to pitch an innovative startup, aptly named the Business Pitch Competition. Nicholas Creegan, a recent alumnus and winner of the 2014 competition, found success with his startup Taps: a project that explores his interest in craft beers. Creegan explains that he first thought of Taps when he “recognized that there was an expanding market within the industry and worked to address some significant hindrances to sales and the consumer experience.” Taps functions as a search engine for craft beer, integrating voting and sorting algorithms to “allow enthusiasts and new drinkers to explore beers using anything from their preferred tastes to their planned activities for the day.” Creegan has worked with his long-time friend, who has a background in computer science, to develop the application. Additionally, Creegan cites UR as a resource in his business venture. He remembers working extensively with Eric Martin, director of the innovation and entrepreneurship program, and Susan Cohen, assistant professor of management, “who have both been incredibly helpful given their expertise in innovation,” Creegan explains. He specifically refers to their networks in the community who offer advice concerning marketing and patent law. Creegan and his partners look forward by seeking technical talent to help finalize the project, but he plans to converse with potential advisors before beginning public promotion. “The greatest partners for us,” Creegan explains, “are breweries, stores and bars across the country. I am always looking to have more of those conversations to get feedback and discuss potential partnerships.” Creegan now looks to “work with a startup or some resource for startups to observe how others [businesses] grow and sustain their ventures.” He says that such a career path would allow him to “translate that expe-

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( ON CAMPUS ) FALL 2015

“We will just have to trust that after we leave Richmond we will be working on what we believe to be the best use of our time, as more educated and experienced entrepreneurs than we are now.” – Will Klingner

rience into a successful business of [his] own.” Similarly to Creegan, Jeffrey Weinert and Will Klingner, both juniors and executives of Delta Sigma Pi business fraternity, have looked to develop an application. The two have conceived KAZM, a startup that “studies trends and delivers the product that the market is looking for before they actually ask for it,” Klingner explains. Weinert and Klingner are currently developing on a specially designed keyboard “that allows the typist to have better brain recognition of what he or she is typing while increasing typing speed and decreasing errors,” Weinert explains. The two have also consulted with Eric Martin over the past two years. According to Klingner, Martin has “breathed fresh new life into the entrepreneurship at this school, and it has made a difference for many aspiring young entrepreneurs.” With the guidance of UR faculty and the help from their business fraternity, the two applied and received UR Summer Fellowship grants to develop their project. Weinert has devoted his summer to design the keyboard and test them on students of elementary school teacher Dorothy Suskind at St. Christopher’s School in Richmond. While Weinert focused on product testing, Klingner worked to program the application and to reinforce its database. The partners plan to consult with venture capital firms in the city of Richmond upon completion of their projects over the summer. They hope to travel to large cities to introduce the application to sample groups of ambassadors, further increasing the promotion of their product.

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Klingner and Weinert are flexible with what happens to KAZM in the years to come. “We could be doing something entirely different by graduation,” Klingner says, “We will just have to trust that after we leave Richmond we will be working on what we believe to be the best use of our time, as more educated and experienced entrepreneurs than we are now.” Weinert agrees and adds in that “with the pace of technology, keyboards may be obsolete in five years, so it is important to capitalize on this opportunity now and take it as far as we can.” Following the trend of creating apps, recent alumnae Eliza Breed and Brooke Wilson have also begun their work on a new application. Their project, The Look, “connects students on campus in an organic and safe environment,” Breed explains. She says that their goal is for “students to meet each other in a way that feels familiar to them.” Like Weinnert and Klingner, Breed and Wilson have consulted with Eric Martin. As per his advice, Breed and Wilson applied for the Business Pitch Competition and placed second in the contest. “Martin was tremendously helpful and supportive of us through the entire process,” Wilson adds. Breed and Wilson are now searching for a coder, knowing they “need to make sure he or she is the right person but most importantly, someone with the same vision.” “That can be a lot more difficult than it looks,” Breed comments. Meanwhile, Breed and Wilson are also directing their attention to social media to reach a wider range of consumers in preparation of their finalized application.

The two entrepreneurs hope that their startup can one day develop into their careers, but for now, they are pursuing other interests. “This way,” Breed says, “we can also allocate some capital and hopefully set aside some of our earnings and put it towards our startup.” Killian McGiboney, a junior, created his own startup not with an application but a drone. His company, Future by Drones, streamlines drone videography and photography to document “all sorts of establishments from schools, to golf courses, to really whoever needs the service.” McGiboney remembers his interest in digital media as inspiration to begin Future by Drones. “I’ve always been into film and photography, and this is a way to pursue it outside of the norm.” Thus far, McGiboney has received support from UR in the form of collaborating with Forum Magazine to record a drone tour of campus and working with the administration to document campus’s construction. For McGiboney, “It’s like chasing a dream to the point where that dream becomes a reality.” He currently looks to continue building his portfolio as well as working with a company in downtown Richmond, Nimble Pitch, to create “super interactive, personal experiences through virtual tours and custom webpages, which has helped add another dimension to [his] overall product.” Whether it’s craft beer or a new method of videography, Richmond students are realizing what they’re passionate about. Our entrepreneurs are taking advantage of UR resources while establishing a name for themselves and for their innovations.

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richmond rules: STORY BY LIANA SALEH

Library Floors:

My first week at Richmond was a strange one. All my preconceived notions about college were ones that I’d formed from movies featuring standardized universities swarming with either loud, letter-shirt wearing frat boys or quiet wallflowers who began to thrive after joining an acapella group. I came in expecting parties with kegs and red cups and exams that would send me into hiding for days on end. However, what I could never have predicted, what no movie could have prepared me for, was the weird and quirky and unique personality this campus has. Students were doing things that absolutely confounded me and accepting strange behaviors that I could not decipher. There was no handbook for what was happening, OAs did not address these unwritten rules, and I was in the dark. Yet two weeks later, I could hardly pinpoint what I had found so strange to begin with. I was becoming one of these mysterious college students. I was becoming a Spider. So for all you confused, little freshmen, and for all you veterans who have carried the culture on, I list below only a few of those strange, unspoken rules that make us who we are.

Downtown Thursdays:

We only ever venture to downtown Richmond to bars or clubs on Thursday nights–a strange but accepted practice that we do not realize is odd until talking to our friends from home and being confronted with the confused “But why only Thursdays?” Esteemed almost-alumni Lil’ Dicky has even been known to reference his Thursday night clubbing days.

8:15:

This is a coffee shop, not a time. This can get confusing to say the least.

D-hall Seating:

Several social blunders finally tipped me off to the realization that D-hall is divided socially by its three rooms. The first room features an array of sorority and fraternity men and women wandering in and out of their respective Greek social spheres. What is odd about this room is the fraternity tables, which have somehow been claimed as territory that they will defend with their lives. The second room features dining athletes, and the third room is everyone else. It is a very high-school type system that could use an upgrade.

A sacred system that reflects both our love for academia and our love for procrastination. Do not venture to the second floor if you plan on making any sound louder than the flip of a page. Do not even go there if you have allergies; sniffling will be disruptive. The first floor is purely a weekday social scene and not a study area, no matter what you tell yourself. For more relaxed but still focused studying where you can whisper to your friends without severe looks of disdain shot your way, the basement floors are ideal.

Parking Tickets:

DO NOT park where you should not be parked. A small but ruthless red Smart Car WILL give you a ticket.

Lodges in the Daytime:

Unless you’re attending a day event, do not under any circumstances go to a lodge in the daylight hours. You will be alarmed and repulsed, and this mistake will ruin their mysterious Friday night allure.

Tabling in the Commons:

Nomenclature:

We have lots of loving nicknames for places and things, for example D-hall (where we eat and procrastinate in equal amounts), the Commons (where we get Tyler’s wraps and do other miscellaneous things), Gotty (where the souls of science students go to die), Mount Modlin (a hellish structure one must ascend to reach about 30 percent of the campus), urwin (our collective wi-fi enemy that lives and dies in sporadic turns), and the lodges (party huts allotted to us by the school). Some of these nicknames are more loving than others.

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Not-So-High School Friend Groups:

It doesn’t matter what you are or are not a part of. Social circles span all organizations and all years. And when we graduate, we all leave with friends from all walks of life. We may be split up by D-hall rooms (as unproductive as that habit seems) but I know that on our campus, Greeks are theater kids, theater kids are athletes, athletes are science majors, and any other combination you can think of. There is progress to be made lessening rifts between groups, but we are well on our way.

Where every organization on campus has a chance to be heard. You are either tabling and have the first shift, desperately searching for the white tables and people to help you set up, or you’re the person running breathlessly through the commons on the way to class trying to keep conversation short. Either way, it’s a way to advertise our passions to our friends and colleagues up close and personal.

Campus Birds:

They are our friends. We respect the ducks, the geese, and Triceragoose. They love us and we love them.

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( ) IN OUR WORLD Pilgrimages: How Difficult Questions Can Open the Door to Self-Discovery

PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF PATTY BLAZE & MADDIE WITTICH

BY RACHEL BRINGEWATT

URForumMagazine.com

( IN OUR WORLD ) FALL 2015

Life sometimes seems to be all about figuring out the “right” answer to the next question. We have desires to determine paths in life that will help us find fulfillment and happiness. We ask ourselves questions like: “What is my purpose in life? What should I put my faith and belief in?” These difficult questions can be daunting, but exploring these questions can also open the door to self-discovery. “I don’t pretend we

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have all the answers. But the questions are certainly worth thinking about.” This quote from Arthur C. Clark is an interesting sentiment, and it is one that University of Richmond’s Chaplaincy program seems to embrace wholeheartedly. Deep questioning and thorough exploration is at the root of the Chaplaincy’s pilgrimage program. Over the past four years, University of Richmond students have gone on twelve pilgrimages to many locations around the world. UR students have traveled to South Korea, France, Morocco, and most recently Israel, Poland, and the United Kingdom. Chaplain Kocher explains, “The purpose of the Pilgrimage program is to help students to grow more deeply in their own faith traditions while learning from those of different faith backgrounds in a global context. Often this happens in the midst of communities where faith is a source of peace and hope, and also a source of violence and discord.” While no journey or individual experience is the same, students and faculty group leaders are united by a common desire to learn from one another and ask difficult questions. Asking questions does not necessarily lead to the perfect answer, but learning and growing occurs through the process of asking them. “Can we

truly forgive each other? What are we called to do in this world? What if you had to hide or change your religious identity? How can you remain connected to your sense of religion and spirituality when God seems to have abandoned you and your prayers are left seemingly unanswered?” These are just a handful of the questions that students posed during their pilgrimages. Although students didn’t always find concrete answers to their queries, they benefited from the thought exercise. Student Ryan Lerda is quoted on the St. Cuthbert’s Way blog saying, “Sometimes you have to go through something risky to get to something beautiful. I kind of peacefully realized that no good question will be definitively answered. Maybe some questions were answered, but they led to more and better questions.” The St. Cuthbert’s Way pilgrimage was designed for long hours of contemplation as well as conversation. Participants traversed 62.5 miles over the course of the trip–following in the footsteps of St. Cuthbert. Their adventure started in Melrose and ended at the Holy Island and Lindisfarne. Long walks, amazing sights, new cultural experiences, encounters with strong, passionate religious figures, and deep discussions with their peers are central pieces in all of the pilgrim-

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age programs. Patty Blaze, who traveled to Israel, said, “Going on a pilgrimage might seem scary and out of your comfort zone, but taking in a different culture and looking deeper into your beliefs is a truly unique experience that helps you grow as a person. The experience made me a more thoughtful, independent, confident, and complete person all around.” Members of the Israel pilgrimage focused on the history behind the Abrahamic religious traditions and looked at how Muslims, Christians, and Jews live side by side in the Holy Land. Maddie Wittich, who went on the nine-day Poland pilgrimage, came back to Richmond with a new perspective as well. After visiting many museums, churches, Jewish concentration camps, and other significant places in Krakow, Warsaw, and Lublin, Maddie realized how much history can teach us. She explained, “Poland drove home the importance of remembering all aspects of history. Be that moments of pride, or moments of embarrassment. If we erase events like the Holocaust from history we are wiping away the memory of millions of people and the essential lessons to be learned.” The pilgrimage program is designed to bring students, who are eager to grow more deeply in their faith, together in a safe but challenging community environment. Applications for

spring and summer pilgrimages are accepted in the fall, and selected students must enroll in a .5 unit course in the spring to prepare for their trip. The academic piece is something that was recently added to the program, but the Chaplaincy staff believes it has been incredibly beneficial. It gives students the chance to form relationships with peers and group leaders before leaving

UR and gives them important background for their pilgrimage experience. If you are looking for a program that offers you the opportunity to step out of your comfort zone, form new friendships, and grow in your faith by providing an environment where tough questions are wholeheartedly accepted, look for applications on the Chaplaincy website this fall.

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( IN OUR WORLD ) FALL 2015

VOTER APATHY POLITICAL POISON FOR COLLEGE CAMPUSES: WHY RICHMOND STUDENTS STOPPED CARING

STORY BY DYLAN MCAULEY

ince the inception of the United States, the right to elect our nation’s leaders has been the cornerstone of American government. Some see voting as simply a chance to make one’s voice heard, a way to protest against other candidates, or even a civic duty that one must participate in no matter what. Yet these beliefs towards the institution of voting are being replaced by something new: apathy. In the 2006 United States midterm elections, 26 percent of all eligible voters between the ages of 18-29 voted. This already low turn-

out rate dropped even further to 21 percent in 2014, according to the Center for Information & Research on Civic Learning and Engagement. According to the same study, youth voters make up approximately 1/5 of the American voting population, however, they only account for 13 percent of votes cast. Reluctance to vote has become a trend in American politics among American youth who are no longer choosing to cast their ballots. Even though political campaigns target college students and work to maintain a presence on college cam-

“Political apathy on campus is greatly due to the discouragement and disappointment students have in our government.” –Chairwoman Stephanie Zemanek, University of Richmond College Republicans 20

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puses, they are failing to get out the vote. A sense of apathy toward politics has become an increasingly acceptable pattern of behavior for college students, and yet college students are amongst the most effected by the decisions made in Washington.

nderstanding why a generation facing over one trillion USD in student loan debt would give up the chance to vote is rather difficult, especially when this same generation will likely never see the social security it pays for, and would do almost anything within its power to fight for civil rights. Today’s college students can expect to shoulder most of the burden of the decisions made today. They will be left with an unsustainable economic reality and an increasingly complicated geopolitical situation, and yet on Election Day, they stay home. College students feel helpless and believe that the system is broken or at least flawed. They look at a mountain of debt, increasing social tension, and incompetent leadership and increasingly believe that there is nothing that can be done and therefore choose to do nothing. Voting was once seen not only as a privilege, but also as an obligation. People truly believed that every vote counted. Today, the American people tend to feel indifferent toward voting and often carry with them a belief that their vote does not matter either for the reason that their vote is but one out of hundreds of millions or that, no matter who wins, the outcome will likely be

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the same. This is a trend that is becoming more apparent each year on college campuses across the nation.

t University of Richmond, it can be easy to find an event with a political agenda; however, it can be difficult to find one that is well attended. The University of Richmond College Republicans and the Young Democrats consistently host events with low turnout. The University of Richmond College Republicans’ spring 2015 speaker series suffered from low involvement, and the Young Democrats failed to hold their executive elections after a year of significant controversy. When asked about on-campus voter apathy, University of Richmond College Republicans Chairwoman Stephanie Zemanek said, “Political apathy on campus is greatly due to the discouragement and disappointment students have in our government. Between a lack of political transparency and a Secretary of State who deletes public records, is it surprising that America’s students are more distrustful of government than ever before? We students are apathetic towards government because it feels as though the government is apathetic to those issues most important to us.” University of Richmond Young Democrats Acting Chairman Richard Jennis responded, “We believe a key reason for the decrease in extracurricular participation on Richmond’s campus and many others, is a hesitance regarding disagreement. Many groups on campus are affiliated with a cause, a belief, or an identity. Young Democrats is certainly one such group. Colleges throughout the nation are restructuring course material, canceling speaking seminars, and limiting student discussion for fear of pejorative conversation. Never has it been more clear that colleges need more organizations devoted to respectful conversation that is still deeply meaningful. University of Richmond Young Democrats aspire to show that serious, ideological conversation and a hospitable environment are not incompatible.” This is no one’s fault, and it is not a result of poor planning. Try as they might, on-campus political organizations are feeling the pain of student apathy.

voted membership, and leaders with a strong vision for the group,” said group founder and Richmond alumnus, Joseph Kessler. “University of Richmond students tend to be averse to activism, so the ground wasn’t fertile enough for Young Americans for Liberty to grow. As a result, we struggled to recruit a sizable membership. I hope these shortcomings don’t deter Young Americans for Liberty members or other Spiders from being advocates for political causes. Our students are lucky to have the overwhelming support of our administration, faculty, and nationwide student networks,” added Kessler.

niversity of Richmond has found itself in a state of low political involvement for a variety of reasons. Students aren’t voting because they don’t care or because they think their government doesn’t

care about them. They feel that voting really doesn’t matter anymore and that they can’t make a difference. This is an unfortunate new mindset that all on-campus political organizations must combat. That fight, however, will be difficult, because it carries with it the weight of a nation weary of so many problems and new challenges at home and abroad. In fact, most experts agree that today’s youth can expect to live a worse life than their parents did for the first time in American history. During one of the nation’s most challenging time periods, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt once said “Nobody will ever deprive the American people of the right to vote except for the American people themselves and the only way they could do this is by not voting.” Perhaps in 2016 there will be a shift in youth voting patterns, but if not, the American democratic tradition could face significant difficulties.

“Nobody will ever deprive the American people of the right to vote except for the American people themselves and the only way they could do this is by not voting.” -President Franklin Delano Roosevelt

n fact, no on-campus political organization has suffered more than Young Americans for Liberty. Young Americans for Liberty is a Libertarian group that has had a small, relatively consistent membership, but this past spring it was decided that the club would likely have to shut down due to low involvement. “Young Americans for Liberty has not officially been disbanded, although it will become inactive unless members step up to the plate to resolve recurring issues. Like all political groups, Young Americans for Liberty needs a few key ingredients to survive: a politically active and aware student body, a large and de-

15 in

American voters are

eighteen to twenty-nine

13%

...but make up only

of votes cast in 2014.

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( IN OUR WORLD ) FALL 2015

Spider soccer and the residual effects of the women’s world cup BY CHARLIE BROADDUS On one special Sunday night in July of 2015, a women’s sport became a must-watch television in the United States. That night, the United States Women’s National Team defeated Japan 5-2 to capture the FIFA Women’s World Cup and the popularity of women’s soccer soared to unprecedented heights in the U.S. Carli Lloyd became a household name, and most of our nation fell in love with a group of female athletes playing a generally overlooked sport. Since the World Cup victory, the Women’s National Team has been soaking up the public spotlight and growing in popularity. At the Excellence in Sports Performance Yearly Award (ESPY’s), ESPN’s annual awards show, the team was named the Most Outstanding Team. To win that award, the Women’s National Team beat out the champions of the NBA, NFL, NHL and college football. All four are male leagues. Team awards are not the only recognition the players are receiving, though. Alex Mor-

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gan, the 26-year-old star of the Women’s National Team, made history in late July by becoming the first female athlete ever featured on the cover of EA Sports’ FIFA, the premier videogame for soccer fans. So what does all of this appreciation for the U.S. National Team mean for the rest of the women’s soccer community and, more specifically, Richmond soccer? The residual effects from the U.S. Women’s World Cup victory will heighten appreciation for women’s soccer all over the country, including on the University of Richmond campus. Sure, this was not our nation’s first World Cup victory. But with the 2015 victory came a level of intrigue and appreciation for women’s soccer that the U.S. population has never shown before. Morgan, Lloyd, and many other star players gave the rest of their female soccer community something they have been working toward for decades: nationwide respect. For many casual sports fans—and believe me, I watched my Twitter feed throughout the Cup—this year’s championship run showed that a woman’s sport can have all the same excitement and likability that a man’s sport has.

People all over the country tuned in to watch the Women’s National Team bring home the Cup, and those people included everyone from intense soccer fans to people who rarely or never watch sports at all. The World Cup Final reached a peak of 22.86 million viewers on Fox, which shattered the previous record for soccer television ratings in the U.S., according to NPR and TV Media Insights. Those ratings are comparable to Game 7 of the 2014 MLB World Series, which attracted 23.5 million viewers, according to NPR and Forbes. For anyone who has been to a Richmond soccer game in recent years, it may be hard to imagine a crowded stadium for a Sunday afternoon or Thursday night game. But let’s be fair to the women’s soccer team—Richmond students rarely come out to see their football team play. At the very least, though, a subtle increase in respect and appreciation will be visible around Richmond’s campus. Perhaps a student who has never seen the women’s soccer team play will attend a game. Or maybe a student will notice a female soccer player around

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campus and feel an unrecognizable yet heightened admiration for the athlete. As a member of the University of Richmond’s community, it would be unrealistic to expect women’s soccer to fill Robins Stadium, or for all the players to become celebrities around campus. That simply does not happen at Richmond—not with football players, not with men’s basketball players, and not with any other athletes. But we can expect one change: just as the Women’s National Team brought women’s soccer to a popularity similar to major male sports, Richmond’s soccer team could grow into a sport that the Richmond community is at least partially invested in, much like men’s basketball and football. Although Richmond soccer will not immediately overcome the student body’s lack of interest in sports, they will likely reap small immediate benefits from the Women’s National Team’s success. A few generally uninterested students will make time to attend a game because Carli Lloyd proved to them over the summer that a soccer goal could be just as exciting as a touchdown. A few dozen students

might recall their summertime World Cup excitement and decide to spend a boring Thursday night at Robins Stadium cheering on their school’s soccer team. Any change in attitude that the student body has toward Richmond soccer will, in all likelihood, be subtle and only slightly noticeable. Not much more can be expected from a student body that spends Saturday afternoons in the library rather than at football games. But Richmond’s soccer players could see plenty more faces in the stands this season, even if most of them are not Richmond students. Instead, the greater Richmond community could provide the most substantial boost in support. Let me tell you why. The World Cup victory likely had its heaviest impact on potential and current female soccer players. It seems a complete certainty that youth soccer leagues will have more female players than ever before in coming years. After all, Lloyd and Morgan showed little girls all over the country that they could become national heroes. With more female soccer players comes a heavier investment in the sport as a whole.

More parents will be spending time at practices, learning about the game, and perhaps gaining appreciation for the sport along the way. Communities will be forced to invest in the sport if more girls want to play it. So what does this mean for Richmond soccer? Most young athletes—football players, baseball players, gymnasts—idolize those who came before them. Soccer players will dream of being just like Carli Lloyd, or maybe like that Richmond soccer player they watched score three goals on one Sunday afternoon. In this way, Richmond soccer players will become role models for a larger population of young girls, and parents will be more inclined to bring their children to watch those role models play. Richmond soccer will benefit from the U.S. World Cup victory in multiple ways. The team will warrant a heightened respect from the community and will likely see more support at games and around campus. And they can thank Carli Lloyd’s hat trick and Alex Morgan’s stardom, because those are the heroes who brought intrigue and respect to women’s soccer.

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24 23 22 21 20 19 18 17 16 15 1

25 years

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14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

STORY BY TRACY AKERS 25 years to fully mature. Most of us will graduate from University of Richmond far before this sacred bell begins to toll – the day we enter our 25th year of existence.

ART COURTESY OF CALEB TROY

The

human brain takes approximately

Right now, seniors are reaching more sophisticated levels of thinking compared to their freshman years, and current freshman are managing their emotions on entirely different levels than they did at the beginning of high school (Young Adult Development Project, 2008). As our brains continue to add and prune neurons, we’re developing the more consistent version of who we will be at the dawn of birthday number 25 (Young Adult Development Project, 2008). By the age of 30, we start to stiffen our perspectives –in other words we become more consistent with our beliefs, our understanding of who we are as emotional or intellectual beings, and we begin to identify the relationships we do or do not want to invest in. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) agrees with a number of researchers who often say that “the rental car companies have it right” (Young Adult Development Project, 2008). MIT states “The brain isn’t fully mature at 16, when we are allowed to drive, or at 18, when we are allowed to vote, or at 21, when we are allowed to drink, but closer to 25, when we are allowed to rent a car” (Young Adult Development Project, 2008). This doesn’t necessarily mean that we shouldn’t be driving, voting, or drinking, but what it does do is give us something important to consider. How many of you as freshman entering college entertained a couple of thoughts about finding a steady boyfriend or girlfriend — maybe some people even imagined finding a relationship that might lead into marriage (and some of you already have).

This is a point that is harder for researchers to address. Is there an age for walking down the aisle that leads to not only a longer, healthier marriage, but to one where both parties are happy, truly content, and invested? It’s a pretty deceiving concept to think about. There are so many statistics claiming that both males and females marrying in their late 20s have a better chance at avoiding divorce than couples getting married after high school, during college, or right after they grab that undergraduate diploma. There are statistics claiming that relationships are more likely to end sooner rather than later if the couple goes off to any sort of grad school, medical school, or military branch right after college — the workload, college debt, and pressure of still figuring out the basics of who you are become too stressful — despite whether or not the couple is apart pursuing entirely different goals and careers or if they are living together. Other studies claim that whatever career or schooling after undergrad isn’t as great a factor; a lot of couples benefit from the intellectual, financial, and emotional support from their boyfriend or girlfriend, or their husband or wife. Some numbers claim that couples getting married in their early or mid twenties have a greater chance at success than marriages in the 1970s or 1980s (Wong, 2014). This is partly due to a rise of feminism. Nowadays both husband and wife share household responsibilities and both parties work for a living and create a mood of mutual respect for one another as a result (Wong, 2014). Many couples today have started to believe that

marriage is a lame institution that they rather not take part in. So what’s the answer then? If there’s so many numbers out floating around and more studies than we can count on our fingertips, then sifting through the social qualms that surround marriage today becomes difficult. Couples marrying early get ridiculed or praised. Couples marrying later in life get ridiculed or praised. Maybe there is no magical age at all. Forum wants to engage in an intellectual, open, and maybe even emotional discussion with the student body. Tell us about your relationships right now — are you married? Engaged? Going steady? Single? Or do you have absolutely no idea what’s going on? Tell us what you’ve done to maneuver through this crazy four year period where we’re trying to grow intellectually and emotionally, while trying to balance school work, jobs, extra-curricular activities, social lives with our friends, and, for some of us — romantic relationships — all with a future in the distance that won’t stop looming over us anytime soon. Visit our site on your smartphone, and join the discussion.

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part i: Freshman goggles 1) Take a Breath College is a big step. You are pushed out of your comfort zone and have to start over in a completely different environment. New academic pursuits, social circles, and lifestyle changes (for example doing laundry) can be overwhelming at times. Don’t be surprised if during the drive to campus you consider begging your parents to turn the car around and take you home out of fear of the unknown. Before moving in, meeting your roommate, and trying to figure out the exact layout of Richmond’s beautiful campus, have a moment to take a breath and remember that this is just another step in your life for which you’re likely prepared.

2) Expand/stretch your limits You took a breath, great. Freshman year specifically the first few weeks is one of the most unique experiences you’ll have in your entire life. Every-

thing is new: peers, classes, living arrangements etc. Now, college is very different from high school. In high school, there may have been pressure to act a certain way or do certain things that you think are social norms, but at college there are no social norms. If you like doing an activity, do it. Don’t be afraid of judgment from others because there are always going to be more people on your side than against it.

3) Try something new There are a ton of things to do on Richmond’s campus. I doubt your amazing high school had everything that Richmond offers. But if your high school Quidditch team is also number one in the state, I guess I spoke too soon. During Spiderfest, all the clubs and organizations will be put on display so you can decide which ones you are interested in. If there is something that remotely sparks your interest that you haven’t done before, just sign up. The worst that can happen is that they send you an interest email.

4) Get involved Joining organizations is a great way to meet students who share similar interests as you. Although your roommate and OA group are assigned, you might not feel that those are the people you want to spend most of your time with, which is fine! Getting involved in activities is a great way to meet students both in your year and in higher years that can hopefully give you more insight into Richmond’s campus life.

5) Take a wide range of courses Going into a liberal arts school, you may not have decided what exactly you want to major in yet. Because Richmond is a liberal arts college, you are free to take courses across all disciplines, so I suggest you do just that during your first year on campus. Getting exposure to all different mediums might give you a nudge in the right direction for what your future career goals could be. Also, don’t forget about those pesky general education requirements.

Before you go Story by Carney Judge

part II: sophomore slump 1) Prioritize your interests Now that you survived your first year at Richmond (with ease, I’m guessing), it is time to focus a bit more on the academic and extra-curricular activities that matter most to you. I’m not saying that you need to declare your major when you arrive on campus for your second year, but the Registrar’s office will want a major by the end of the year. It’s important to pick and choose the things in your academic and extra-curricular life that match your most prevalent interests. But fear not because there is still plenty of time to change your mind.

2) Narrow down your major options You shouldn’t declare a major blindly be-

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cause your FYS was really cool, but you could probably eliminate some of the choices you know you aren’t interested in. So after getting rid of some options, go from there. Talk to academic advisors and professors in the discipline you are thinking about. Feel free to talk to older students too, since they are the ones who are in the major already.

3) Stay open-minded Although you do have to start narrowing down your academics, don’t completely disregard some potential interests and follow a strict path. You aren’t even halfway through your Richmond career yet, so if you want to pursue a dance major at the end of your sophomore year, go for it.

4) Look at summer opportunities The Richmond Guarantee funding is a great source for students hoping to pursue unpaid or low-pay internships during the summer. If you are interested, try to look for summer op-

portunities that are within your major/minor ideals and go for them. Hands on experience is the best way to gauge whether you can see yourself pursuing a career in a specific field, and summer opportunities often provide that.

5) Keep your life in balance College has a lot going on. You are essentially living on your own (with the help of Dhall, of course) and it can often be difficult to keep everything in check. Make sure you don’t let your academics slip because you are too involved on campus and don’t seclude yourself to the library because you’re pursuing that perfect 4.0. If you are having health issues, don’t ignore them and seek help at health services or Counseling and Psychological Services. Richmond has ample resources for outreach; it is always okay to ask for help. Academics often pick up in difficulty during sophomore year, and it’s important to try to keep everything balanced and under control.

part iii: third-year reality check 1) Study abroad if possible Richmond is a great school in terms of study abroad. With more than 60 percent of students studying abroad and programs in over 100 countries, the university really allows students from all majors to take part in the abroad experience. Tuition remains constant whether you are studying in Virginia or Brussels, so if you ever had an inclination to travel and to study overseas, take a look into the Richmond study abroad programs.

2) Actually be committed to a major Okay, so you should have your academic pursuits narrowed down enough by now to declare a major or minor. After doing so,

make sure you are on top of all the required courses you need to fulfill the major and even get involved in activities that complement your career goals. So, if you’re an English or Journalism major, feel free to write for Forum Magazine.

3) Continue to try new things Although you are on the backend of your Richmond career, it’s never too late to get involved in different activities. If you have been on the club soccer team for the past two years and realized you hate everything about soccer, drop it and pursue things that actually interest you. You are only at Richmond for four or five years, so make sure you are spending your time doing the things at Richmond that genuinely pique your interests.

4) Look for leadership roles So you are already writing for the Colle-

gian, editing for Forum Magazine and you work vigorously on Relay for Life. Great. Potential employers love to see leadership on a resume so try to look for leadership roles in the activities you already know and love. Not only will it look good to employers, but it actually can be a positive personal experience.

5) Match summer plans with career Junior year summer is usually known for internships. That’s just the truth. Juniors are expected to be looking for internships during the school year and landing the best one by the time summer comes around. If you haven’t utilized the Richmond Guarantee funding yet, apply for that and let potential employers know that you could intern for free since you have the funding. Apply far and wide within your field; you never know which one you’ll have the most interest in.

20 things to do before you graduate from college part IV: Senioritis 1) Make sure you are doing what you need to do in order to graduate There are a lot of things you need to do before you graduate. One of them is actually applying to graduate - who knew? Make sure you don’t spam the Registrar emails that give you step-by-step instructions on how to graduate in the spring. Don’t forget to keep up with course requirements as well. Leaving all of your gen eds until the last minute won’t make for a fun year.

2) Take a more active role in your clubs/sports You are a senior on campus and as a seasoned Richmond student you should be

able to show younger students the ropes in your activities. You know how a newspaper article is edited and you should show it. Don’t check out because you know you won’t be here next fall, but rather take advantage of the time you still have to make your extra-curriculars extra-awesome.

life outside of Richmond and college, but don’t get too caught up in the unknown that might be ahead; enjoy this last year don’t push through it and wish it away. I think you’ll regret it.

3) Relish every moment on campus

Pretty self-explanatory. It might be helpful to start talking to as many professors or employers as soon as you can and make sure you gather all the tools you need to be successful after you leave campus.

Speaking of not being there in the fall, make sure you take the time to appreciate all that you have at Richmond (and I’m not just talking about the panini station and Triceragoose). Spend time with your peers, friends and professors who you might not be seeing very much of after graduation, but don’t be afraid to continue reaching out to new people. If you haven’t yet, make sure you take full advantage of what the city of Richmond has to offer, whether that be the downtown nightlife or the bar scene in the Fan. Start envisioning your

4) Start applying for jobs/graduate school

5) Graduate! (The cap and gown pic before the lake is optional) Reflect on the past but prepare for the future. Remember all that you’ve achieved during your college time and be sure to thank all the little people who helped you along the way.

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Serving Kids, Finding Purpose.

Camp Kesem STORY BY ELLIE POTTER Erica Fitchett was unsure she wanted to return to Richmond for her sophomore year. She had only three weeks before school would start again which meant only two weeks before Camp Kesem, a week-long, free camp for children whose parent or guardian was has or had cancer, began. Fitchett had volunteered to be a counselor for the camp, but was seriously considering dropping out of Camp Kesem in addition to college. Finally, her parents “subtly convinced” her to go to camp. “I ended up at camp via guilt,” Fitchett said as she felt an obligation to this organization she had made this commitment to. “And then I had the best week of my life, and it totally changed my perspective on college too,” she said. Fitchett said she initially joined Camp Kesem because she had never been to summer

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camp and thought it would be fun to go even as a college student. Yet she was initially offput by the seeming disarray of the meetings. She said she felt that this was another pointless venture just as she was starting to believe college was. Yet her week at camp changed all that as it provided “an idea of structure” her freshman year had lacked. “I had been going to the meetings, and I felt that what we were doing was pointless, and it kind of made me feel like that’s how all of college was,” Fitchett said. “But once I really got into Kesem I realized that there was a point behind it all, and it was a good driving force behind the entire year. “It gave me something to motivate me through the year to get to the end of the summer. It gave me something worthwhile outside of just learning for myself.” Three camps later, Erica Fitchett, now a

senior, will serve as this upcoming camp’s director. Her favorite part of the week is the first day of camp when all the campers and counselors return to Westview. “I really and truly think about camp every day all year, and it’s in that one moment when we are all finally back together, that’s really cool. I think about these kids every day.” MY EXPERIENCE This past summer was my first time working as a counselor at Camp Kesem. I returned from my semester abroad my junior year and decided I wanted to get involved in something a bit more meaningful, something that was not simply a resume-booster or a social activity. My grandmother had also just gone into remission after her second time battling cancer. I figured Camp Kesem would be a cause I could

PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF CAMP KESEM, UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND

get behind, and I was genuinely surprised by some of the things I learned while working as a counselor. I will not lie to you and say I had the perfect cabin or that working with kids is never a chore. For some people dealing with children for 24 hours a day is the most incredible job in the world. I am just not one of those people. But I was moved by camp more than I realized once I returned to campus. I worked with the youngest cabin of girls, which meant we spent more time discussing friendship bracelets than cancer. But there was one evening when one camper asked that we discuss their parent’s cancer at our “cabin chat.” So one by one these little girls, aging from six to 10, went around the circle briefly talking about their parent’s cancer. Most chose to participate, but at least one little girl refrained. All the counselors knew she had lost her guardian to cancer within the last year or so. We learned that several of the girls actually know each other through their mom’s breast cancer support group called “The Boobers.” My youngest camper said she did not know what kind of cancer her mother had. I think she was too young to fully understand the situation. This evening resonated with me. These little girls had and were dealing with much greater problems in their nine years than I have in my 21. Despite any frustration with my campers for refusing to get out of bed in the morning, failing to listen or any of the sass, that one evening made it all worth it. The campers at Camp Kesem are special. They are children dealing with problems no child should ever have to deal with, especially not alone. And that is what Camp Kesem really is: a support system among children and parents who understand

each other’s pain and a group of college students who work to provide some relief from worry and illness, if only for a week. HOW CAMP HAPPENS In order to attend camp each counselor must raise $500 which is enough to fund a week’s stay for one camper and counselor so that Camp Kesem will always be free for families battling cancer. This was sophomore Chris Brodsky’s first year working as a camp counselor as well. Brodsky said he joined in late April, rather late in the semester to try and scrounge up $500 before the July 1 deadline. Brodsky also described himself as “not a camp person” and was not thrilled in the slightest at the prospect.

speaking before four masses. “I realized that it wouldn’t have taken too much effort on my part to raise a significant amount of money, so I said, ‘All right, my goal will now be $5,000.’” He exceeded that goal as well making him the number one individual fundraiser for camp this past year. “I think it’s a great opportunity for people to, I don’t want to say give back,” he said. “But just appreciate that you’re going to see people who are constantly smiling, constantly running around, having fun… you have no idea what kids are going through. “It’s just a testament to being cognizant that a lot of people go through really horrible things, and it’s so important to keep that in the

“Itgavemesomethingtomotivatemethrough the year to get to the end of the summer. It gavemesomethingworthwhileoutsideofjust learning for myself.”

- Erica Fitchett Yet Brodsky ended up raising approximately $6,600 for the cause. He went to five churches near his home in central New Jersey with fliers explaining who he was and a brief introduction to Camp Kesem. He asked church leaders if he could make an announcement before or after the services advocating for donations. Brodsky then stood outside of the church with a basket collecting any cash or checks the parishioners opted to donate. He raised $2,200 in one day after

front of your mind as much as possible.” THE MAGIC Senior Marissa Parker was has been a co-director for Kesem for the past two years. There is one family particularly involved with the Richmond chapter and the daughter has been a camper since the chapter was founded. Parker said that at one fundraising event she heard the camper explaining the importance of Camp Kesem and said that she thought of

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Parker as a big sister. Despite all the coordinating, fundraising and logistics that go into making camp a reality, Parker said, “You’ve got to do it for your little sister.” “When [campers] say how much Camp Kesem has helped them, or how happy they are to come back to camp, especially when parents say things like that, ‘They’ve been talking about it all year, it’s they’re favorite week of the year,’ all that means so much,” Parker said. “Because it is only one week, and we work so hard the other 51 weeks of the year, but we know that it has such an impact that it makes it worth it.” Parker said that Kesem defined her college career also in all the friendships she has made through the organization. She recruited many of her friends to be counselors in addition to meeting people she worked with to the point where most of her friends now have some sort of association with the group, she said. She loves how Kesem is made up of people from all different majors and interests, but they can all share Kesem as a commonality. Ultimately Parker said she would describe Camp Kesem as “magical.” “I think it really is magical. Every year we have to raise a ton of money, like we work so hard, and sometimes I think it is literally magic how we are able to do that,” Parker said. WHY IT’S IMPORTANT Camp Kesem is the only organization who caters to this group of people, Fitchett said. “The reality of the situation is that cancer exists, and I don’t want it to, and there are hundreds of charities out there who are just as worthy as Camp Kesem of getting money because they’re combating that issue,” Fitchett said. “But the thing for us is it’s there still, and while it’s there, there are people suffering every day who really need the help that we can provide.” Fitchett also said that leadership positions

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in Kesem helped her develop professional skills she would not have imagined. One of her goals as incoming director is to re-brand Camp Kesem as offering more to students than simply a fun week at camp. Kesem has a two-fold mission to both support children and their parents as well as to help college students develop real-world skills, she said. “The things that I have learned from Camp Kesem go way beyond being a summer camp counselor,” she said. “I’ve learned how to write a budget, I’ve learned how to handle myself in a professional atmosphere, I’ve learned how to interact with people in corporations and businesses outside of just being on campus. These are things that are really useful for people in lots of majors, and I don’t think peo-

ple think about that.” On the final day of camp this past summer one particular little boy truly moved Fitchett. He was incredibly upset about leaving camp, and she spent much of her afternoon calming him down and convincing him that everything would be fine and that she would see him soon. Ultimately, she realized how much this little boy needs Camp Kesem. “Just hearing him talk about how much he wanted to be at camp, and how he literally is dreaming of buying the campsite because that to him would be the best case scenario in his life,” she said. “That was an incredible thing to me, it was a really hard thing to hear, but it was an incredible moment too.” #DoItForTheKids

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