“I think that being able to meet with and talk to such an accomplished writer is an invaluable experience for our students.  Knowing that writing is a sometimes frustrating process for even the most well-known writers can be incredibly reassuring.  It is also an incredible privilege to be able to talk with such a successful writer about her strategies and experiences.  And then, of course, literature is never as alive and relevant as when read by the author herself,” observes Cathy Romagnolo, Associate Professor of English.

Russell, novelist and 2012 Pulitzer Prize finalist for Fiction, recently visited the campus as part of the Agnes O’Donnell Poets & Writers Series.

The series “brings two or three authors to campus each year for readings, workshops, and book signings,” explains Betsy Gonzalez, Adjunct Professor of English and Director of the Agnes O’Donnell Poets & Writers Series.

“The series is funded by a gift from Agnes O’Donnell, Professor Emerita of English, who remained active in the department after her retirement in 1987 and until her death in 2008.  It is sponsored by the Green Blotter Literary Society.”

Russell’s visit impressed student Michael Cripps ’14.

“The thing that she said that has stuck with me the most is whole idea of taking a very familiar idea, something that absolutely everybody in the world knows about, and transforming it into something else entirely, something unfamiliar, and something that challenges preconceptions,” he says.

Russell, 31, is a native of South Florida. She is the recipient of the Mary Ellen von der Heyden Berlin Prize and was awarded a fellowship at the American Academy in Berlin.  She is currently living in Philadelphia and is teaching at Bryn Mawr College.

Russell’s first book of short stories, St. Lucy’s Home for Girls Raised by Wolves was published in 2006 and drew acclaim from the National Book Foundation.

Russell’s second publication and first novel, Swamplandia!, was a finalist for the 2012 Pulitzer-Prize for Fiction.  Swamplandia! is the story of a 13-year-old girl, Ava, whose family is succumb to tragedy when her mother falls ill.  Her family is falling apart, drifting in their own separate ways, and it is Ava who embarks on a magical journey to bring them back together.

However, in a surprise twist in the literary community, and for the first time in 35 years, the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction was not awarded in 2012.

Russell’s latest release, Vampires in the Lemon Grove, is a book of short stories.  Her short stories are a combination of realism and the supernatural, yet the themes and morals of the stories are ones in which any reader will be captivated.

For aspiring young writers such as Marquis Bey ’14, Russell’s visit provided a creative spark.

“She has inspired me to continue to write, to not be afraid of the daunting task of writing a [2^nd] novel.  She has showed me that that as a writer I am the master of my own mental domain, and what I say goes.  I took away a drive to create,” Bey says.

Russell read passages from Vampires in the Lemon Grove.  This event was open to all students and faculty.  Following her read-in, Russell did a book signing in the LVC bookstore.

For more information on the Agnes O’Donnell Poets & Writers Series visit http://www2.lvc.edu/greenblotter/visiting-writers-2/

Melissa Pavone ‘14, Contributing Writer

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What’s NSSE?

NSSE (pronounced “Nessie”) is a survey that is extensively used at colleges and universities across the country to measure student engagement in learning and living activities.  It collects valuable information about how students spend their time, how they view their interactions with faculty and other students, opinions of what is gained from classes, and more.

Why Should I Care?

There is no better feedback about what and how our students are doing than their own honest and candid assessments.  Your input may play an integral part in raising important issues, facilitating change and introducing new dialogs that will make LVC a better place for you, your colleagues and future students.  Plus, 4 student respondents will win $50 Barnes and Nobles gift certificates that can be used at LVC’s bookstore or at any Barnes and Nobles! 

Why Does LVC Care?

This is the kind of information that is vital to the college’s continuous improvement processes.  The results of this survey will confirm things we’re doing well, but more important, it will highlight areas that may need attention.  It will enhance our comprehension of the experiences students are having on our campus.

So, if you received a NSSE invitation and have not yet completed the survey, please do so today!  If you deleted the original and reminder messages, please email me at mcghee@lvc.edu and I will email you a link to the survey.  Your feedback is valued and your time appreciated.

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On May 1^st,  students will be celebrating the last day of classes by stripping down to their underwear, or as limited clothing as they feel comfortable, and dashing a half-mile around campus.

For the fun of it? Of course! But also for charity. Tau Kappa Epsilon will donate all clothes collected at the Undie Dash to the Lebanon HOPES, a homeless shelter in Lebanon.

“This is college,” said sophomore and TKE Undie Dash chairman, Jason Dietz, “students should be able to have fun while benefiting a good cause.”

College is a time for making memories and doing plenty of crazy things, however, the thought of running around in underwear can be very daunting to most people, which is why the Undie Dash wants to make it clear that students are by no means required to run in their underwear, but rather anything they feel comfortable in.

“This is a charity event first and foremost,” Dietz said.

Also, while students are prancing around campus in their undies, they can be picking up hours to put toward a personal or group goal for service hours.

“This isn’t just an event for Greeks. This is something we want the whole campus to come out and enjoy on their last day of classes,” Dietz said.

So what are you waiting for?  Grab clothes you don’t want anymore and buy some cute undergarments for the event of a lifetime.

TKE will also be giving away prizes, like Victoria Secret gift cards and more.

TKE and Phi Sigma Sigma will be pairing up Tuesday, March 26^thfor a Trash for Cash, where all proceeds will go to the Lebanon HOPES program.

So get your undies ready for Lebanon Valley College’s first annual Undie Dash.

Mallory Minor ’15, Staff Writer

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Nick Pantalone (Courtesy: PennLive.com)

The Lebanon Valley College community is mourning the death of sophomore Nick Pantalone after his losing a long and hard-fought battle with cancer.

Nick, 19, died early Sunday morning at Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center. He was surrounded by his family.

It was three years ago that Nick was diagnosed with desmoplastic round cell tumors, which is an aggressive cancer generally affecting young adolescent boys.

Nick has undergone more than 25 rounds of chemotherapy, had several surgeries and has participated in experimental studies. Despite the undeniable struggles these medical procedures entail, everyone who knew Nick praised his positive attitude and bright outlook on life.

While battling his cancer, Pantalone refused to let it slow him down and was involved in extracurricular activities. Aside from participating in musicals and plays, he managed to procure the valedictorian seat at Cedar Cliff High School.

He worked at Hersheypark and  dreamed of becoming a manager at an amusement park. Nick was a dual major, studying Accounting and Business Administration. His father, Vince, is the football team’s defensive coordinator.

News of Nick’s passing flooded social media with tweets and Facebook posts.

Fellow sophomore Lauren Brumbach posted, “You were one of the most genuine people I’ve ever met. You inspired me to live a happier life. I will never forget meeting you and listening to your story. You have touched so many lives and I feel truly blessed to have known you.”

Junior Tito Valdes remembers Nick as a great friend and inspirational person. “My heart is aching today. Today, a great friend and inspirational person to all of us who knew him left us to be in a better place.”

Senior Amanda Hanna, who is also one of the organizers for Relay for Life had a special message for Nick. “Nick, you will always be our inspiration and why we will continue to fight back and Relay year after year until a cure is found.”

The LVC Relay for Life page posted this on Facebook: “Today, heaven gained one truly amazing angel. Nick Pantalone, an LVC student, one of our previous survivor speakers, and someone who has been a true inspiration to all those on our campus and especially at our Relay For Life, passed away after a courageous battle against cancer. Nick will always remain as a beacon of strength, courage, and hope for all of us. Please keep the Pantalone family in your thoughts and prayers at this time ‘For every fight won, for each battle lost, for those still fighting, we continue to HOPE for a CURE!’ ”

Pantalone passed away just over a day after this year’s LVC Relay for Life.

While most of us take our health for granted, Nick knew it was important to always live life to the fullest. His father shared a one of Nick’s favorite quotes, which came from the Pixar movie, “WALL-E.”

He would say, “I don’t want to survive. I want to live.”

It is clear to anyone that had the privilege of knowing Nick that he really took this to heart.

In an interview with the Valley News one year ago, Nick said, “I’ve never had a problem with not staying upbeat because I’ve always had things to look forward to. I don’t let this cancer change a part of me, so I continue living my life to the fullest. Whether its school musicals, or working at Hersheypark, or vacation, I always have things to look forward to.”

It is impossible not to be deeply moved by Nick’s story.

Kayla Capone, ’14 a fellow LVC concert choir member sums it up perfectly, “Nick, you truly knew how to live. May we all learn from you.”

Friends and family are encouraged to attend the visitation on Tuesday, March 26^th from 4 – - 8 p.m. at St. Theresa’s Catholic Church in New Cumberland. Students are also welcomed to attend the funeral mass, also at St. Theresa’s on Wednesday, March 27^th at 2 p.m.

Students may sign up on Redbook for bus transportation to the funeral service on Wednesday. The bus leaves from Sheridan Avenue at 12:30 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, Nick’s family encourages memorial contributions to the Four Diamonds Fund, P.O. Box 852, Penn State Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, PA 17033.

Hannah Tuttle ’14, Staff Writer

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(Courtesy: Freedom Rings)

Freedom Week has ended here on the campus of Lebanon Valley College, and La Vie has full coverage of the events and controversy from the past week. Click the links below to be taken to that individual story.

A wrap-up of LVC’s Freedom Week, by: Hannah Tuttle ’14

‘LVC Memes’ Facebook page sparks controversy over Freedom Week, by: Carli Weldon ’14

Editorial: Freedom Week at LVC, by Carli Weldon ’14 and Raelynne Preston ’16

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Kuntz, 39, has been the Director of Residential Life for the past eight years. Prior to that, he was the assistant director for his first five years. He is married and lives in Lebanon with his wife and two sons.

The responsibilities of a Director of Residential Life include communicating with staff and individual students about college life and to enforce rules concerning dormitories and safety on campus.

Kuntz does not have another job offer. He is considering  job opportunities within student affairs and others outside higher education.

However, Kuntz is no stranger to this type of situation. “Thirteen years ago, I told Hanover College (IN) that I would not be returning for a third year without having another job lined up and the result was 13 fabulous years here,” he said, “I am confident that I will find my next challenge in the near future.”

Throughout the years, Kuntz still remembers his first interview with the school. “My flight to LVC was delayed due to bad weather.  I ended up switching flights, but my luggage was already checked.  I arrived at 10:30 p.m. with no luggage and a stain on my pants.  Luckily, one of the summer RAs let me borrow a dress shirt and stain remover for my pants.  My luggage did not arrive on campus until an hour before my interview was over,” he recalled.

Kuntz worked the stroke of bad luck to his advantage. “Needless to say, I was quite embarrassed interviewing with these high level administrators while not wearing a suit and tie,” he remembered. “Dean [Rosemary] Yuhas later told me that due to the way I conducted myself despite the travel fiasco, she knew that I could handle the job.”

Dueling Dutchmen, a series of competitions between residence halls ranging from cooking contests to pie-eating contests, was originally conceptualized by Kuntz. With the help of Brandon Smith, a Residential Life area coordinator, the duo created a way for students to interact and compete with other residence halls on campus.

Dueling Dutchmen is not the only thing that Kuntz would like to leave behind. When asked about his legacy, he said, “Upon arriving at LVC, it was important to me to get to know the students so that I could understand the culture here.  I attended numerous events and programs to engage and demonstrate that the students really mattered to me.  It really made a difference in the quality of their experience.”

He also worked closely and formed relationships with the residential assistants (RAs). Isaiah Luck, class of 2014, is a first year RA. He recalls being shocked when he received an abrupt e-mail at the end of January stating that Kuntz was not returning.

“Jason Kuntz was in charge of residential life since my freshman year, and I found it odd that he is leaving now. He did not mention anything over winter training. The first time I heard about it was when I got an e-mail,” Luck stated.

Kuntz will finish his stay at Lebanon Valley early in the summer according to Dean Gregory Krikorian. Krikorian added, “The position has been open for 6-8 weeks, advertised nationally and today was the last day for applications. They have been narrowed down to 8-10 applicants.”

Cody Manmiller ’16 cdm002@lvc.edu , Hannah Stone ’16 hes002@lvc.edu

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While Freedom Week has come and gone, members of the LVC community as well as Freedom Rings members have deemed it a success.

With a good turnout to each and every event, Freedom Rings President Claire Hejnas ’14 had assumed that only members of the club would have attended. She was more than happy to see predominantly non-member participation.

Bethany Mary ‘15, Vice President of Freedom Rings was excited about student and staff involvement. “Some professors told their classes and encouraged their students to get involved too.” Adding that the Color walk, which took place on Thursday, was also a Dueling Dutchmen event, which she believes added to participation.

Other events held throughout the week included staged suicides which took place in the cafeteria on Tuesday, a drag show on Friday night as well as a showing of the Rocky Horror Picture Show at the Allen Theater.

Many students are aware of the LVC Meme page on Facebook. In the midst of Freedom Week, a post was made that many students found to be offensive and distasteful, especially during this week. The meme poked fun at LVC flying the rainbow flag throughout the week in place of the American flag and that they feel it was shoving Freedom Week down their throats.

Hejnas, however, said she was pleased with all of the positive things said about Freedom Week.

Mary had this to say about the meme: “To me, it’s not about whether the [Meme] page had the right to do it. It’s about whether it was the right thing to do, and I don’t think it was because a lot of people were unnecessarily hurt by it. I don’t think it’s funny to shut people down and try to keep them invisible during the one week they especially hope to see tolerance.”

President Thayne acknowledges that the LVC meme page is simply not a good context to have a serious conversation about anything. “It is very clear, however, that we have to continue our community and societal dialogue about sexual identity and diversity.”

In overall regards to the success of Freedom Week, Mary, Hejnas, and President Thayne all agree that it was definitely a success.  President Thayne attributes the success to the organizers and everyone who participated.

“The organizers sponsored a series of events and activities that drew attention to the issues and did so directly and indirectly.  I liked the approach taken by those who put the week together.”

Next year Freedom Rings will be celebrating  its 20^th anniversary at LVC. Members of the club have some ideas to improve Freedom Week for next year. They plan to advertise sooner and make some of their events more elaborate and involved than they were this year, hoping to continually create success for this week for years to come.

Mary said “I just hope the attention this Freedom Week has gotten, both positive and negative, really makes people think about their reactions to these issues and the way they perceive things. We’re not challenging opinions. We’re just trying to make sure everyone’s opinions are well informed.”

Hannah J. Tuttle  ’13

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The meme pictured here was controversial this week on the Facebook page. (Courtesy: LVC Memes)

At the end of LVC’s Freedom Week, there was a meme posted on the LVC Facebook meme page poking fun at the amount of emphasis placed on this event.

The meme that was created showed a sequence of pictures from the movie “Race to Witch Mountain.” The first image is of Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson with a quote bubble saying, “I support gay rights and all, but I hate when opinions are rammed down my throat.” Next is a picture of Anna Sophia Robb responding with, “LVC has rainbow flags flying all week.” The meme then concludes with The Rock’s face looking surprised and disturbed.

The meme started a discussion on Facebook about the picture. There were 150 comments posted beneath the photo. What started out as a healthy discussion of two opposing sides ended up as an argument between LVC students.

A lot was said in regards to this meme. People were not so much offended by the meme itself, but what other LVC students and alumni were saying. Many people believed that the meme was acceptable and that it represented freedom of speech.

However, some of the comments were viewed by some as attacking the LGBT community, rather than sparking discussion. There were comments made about how LVC needs to promote a “straight week” or a “white history month.”

According to the creator of the meme, who is unknown, the point of the meme was, “to be poking fun at how the college sometimes over-promotes events and/or organizations, NOT demeaning or putting down any group of people.”

The argument progressed so far with some people saying that the webpages needs to be taken down.

All of the comments that were said made it clear that there was no problem with the picture itself but rather the comments made by other LVC students in regards to Freedom Week. But not all comments that were made were negative.

Sidewalk chalk was spread across campus after the argument started on the LVC memes page.

One student who is an active supporter to the LGBT community said,” I’m gay and a big supporter/part of freedom week and I don’t take offense to it. The fact that there is a meme for freedom week is great! Any Publicity is good publicity and hey the meme is not all bad it could be worse.”

Some students view the meme negatively, others see it as a good thing, and there are many who have no opinion on the matter. It is clear though that there was a lot to be said on the subject of Freedom Week.

After the events that occurred in November regarding a picture with racist connotations, some of the students were upset at some of the more close-minded statements that were made. One student said, “Considering LVC just dealt with an issue involving a “picture” last semester, people should know better. There is a difference between Humor and Asinine idiocy.”

A healthy conversation is a great way to learn about other people’s opinions. Greg Krikorian, vice president of student affairs and dean to students said that, “discourse and conversation about many topics is important and useful in broadening understanding. Among LVC’s basis value system is a respect and appreciation for differences. We support a broad range of groups, events and organizations. I encourage our students to be respectful, kind and act in a civil way.”

President Lewis Thayne said that, “I think a humor page is never a good context to have a serious conversation about anything.  It is very clear, however, that we have to continue our community and societal dialogue about sexual identity and diversity.”

Carli Weldon ’14

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Freedom Week at Lebanon Valley College was created with the intention to promote equality and freedom for all people. Regardless of race, gender, or sexual orientation, the week was a celebration for all. The goal was a simple one: To promote tolerance; to accept human uniqueness.

The students here worked hard at putting together a fun and educational week for everybody recognizing the value that each person has. However, there was a meme created poking fun at the week, which resulted in the loss of the family feel at LVC.

The meme itself was not an issue, for anyone involved. Recognizing that meme’s sole intentions are to create humor on controversial topics, the picture was not the problem here. What created such a stir were the comments made on the picture.

It became evident that some of the students here at LVC have strong opinions regarding the promotion of diversity on campus. Even after the Unity March that occurred last semester, many people still failed to recognize the impact that their words and actions can have.

There were comments made stating that LVC needs to promote a “straight week” and have a “white history month.” But what many seemed to have misunderstood is that Freedom Week was not “gay week.” It was a week promoting everybody, so why were so many students against this?

The comments made by some were extremely disheartening to see. After all the work that our peers, not the administration, put into this week, they were mocked and reminded of why is it easy to not speak up against the norms of society.

If LVC is such a family community, then we should respect the views of others. Even if it were to have been a week promoting homosexuality, who cares? These are our brothers and sisters, family and friends.

Nobody in the discussion generated by the meme is right or wrong in this instance. Everybody is entitled to their opinions and may say or do whatever they wish. What is important to emphasize though is that we all stay opened minded to each other. We cannot let ignorance get in our way.

LVC’s goal is to help us all strive in a diverse world, but if we cannot be accepting of the people we call family, then how are we ever going to be successful?

No, we do not need to promote a “straight week” or a “white history month.” We do not need to promote anything that requires the labeling and grouping of individuals as we all stand for more.

Freedom Week should not have been an issue. The promotion of equality in any aspect is not a negative concept. Through understanding and the gaining of knowledge of one another, we can bring about a new discourse.

Many people around campus couldn’t care less about the meme and the discussion that it cause, and if this is the attitude that we want to adopt about issues regarding discrimination, then fine.

But remember, we have the power of change. This generation has the power to create a world better for all, full equality, love, peace, and understanding. And honestly, who wouldn’t want that?

Carli Weldon ’14, Raelynne Preston ’16

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Freedom Week, organized by the Freedom Rings group, will be held March 11-16. (Courtesy: Freedom Rings)

When it comes to acceptance and tolerance of the LGBT community, Lebanon Valley College is fortunate to have an in-house support group.

And it’s aptly named – Freedom Rings.

March 11 -16 has been designated Freedom Week here at the Valley. The goal of Freedom Week is to teach, in a fun way, the student body about diversity, equality, acceptance and culture.

Like any other college club, Freedom Rings sponsors events to raise awareness and to promote activities that shine a light on the organization.

“We also use Freedom Week so that people who aren’t exactly ‘out’ can put faces on those who are just like them and or accepting in case they need a support group,” says Freedom Rings President Claire Hejnas.

Freedom Week is full of events to bring awareness to LVC.

On  Monday, March 11, Freedom Rings members will color the campus with ribbons and chalk to kick off the week. Metz has also agreed to serve GBLTs, which is just a BLT on rainbow bread. There will also be a table with a jar of Skittles where students can pay a quarter to guess the number of Skittles. The closest guess wins.

“Tuesday is stage suicide day. Here we will outline bodies on the sidewalk with stats about suicides for the LGBT community,” Hejnas explains.  There will also be two skits in the cafeteria, one at 11:30 a.m. and another at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday will feature the showing of the movie “Jim Bold” in Chapel 101 at 7p.m. Dr. Darrell Woomer from the Religion Department will be a guest speaker.

Wednesday is a bit slower of a day with advertising for the drag show contest that will be held on Friday, as well as the announcement of the Skittles contest.

“Thursday, we are simulating a color walk that is done in Philly. There will be six different stations around campus and you can buy a white shirt and sponge paint different colors on the shirts or [individuals] can bring their own white shirt to sponge paint,” Hejnas says.

“This is also our NO H8TE campaign day where we will take pictures of people with tape on their mouth that have NO H8TE on their tape or written on their face. We also teamed up with a service house to do a poetry slam this night at 8 p.m. at the C-store.”

Wrapping up the week on Friday is Happiness Day. Students can wear smiley face stickers around campus and attend the drag show immediately following the comedian on Friday night. After the show, you should plan to head down to the Allen Theater for a showing of the “Rocky Horror Picture Show” at midnight. Doors for the show open at 11:30 p.m.

Finally on Saturday will be a luncheon for Freedom Rings members and alumni.

With all of the events planned and hard work that went into preparing for the week, it’s obvious that members of Freedom Rings are passionate about their club and care greatly for their cause.

“I never regret making the step of joining the group because everyone in the group is a wonderful individual who I would do anything for because of their great character,” says Ryan Holland ’16.

Freedom Rings has high hopes for Freedom Week and hopes that it will help inform students that they’re just like the rest of us.

It’s easy for students to get involved. Anyone can attend any of the events throughout the week.

“We want to educate and have fun teaching about the LBT culture and dismiss all the misconceptions about the community and really teach that we are just like any other person. You will see that we just sparkle a little bit more than most people in the best way possible,” Hejnas says.

For another perspective on tolerance, please see “In the (Broom) Closet” at http://paganismfordummies.weebly.com/blog.html

Hannah Tuttle ’14, Contributing Writer hjt001@lvc.edu

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