Bridgewater State University Virtual Commons - Bridgewater State University The Comment Journals and Campus Publications Fall 9-30-2019 The Comment, September 30, 2019 Bridgewater State University Follow this and additional works at: https://vc.bridgew.edu/comment Part of the Education Commons, and the Social History Commons Volume Fall 2019 Number 1 Recommended Citation Bridgewater State University. (2019). The Comment, September 30, 2019. Fall 2019(1). Retrieved from: https://vc.bridgew.edu/comment/625 This item is available as part of Virtual Commons, the open-access institutional repository of Bridgewater State University, Bridgewater, Massachusetts. THE Fall 2019 Issue 1 September 30, 2019 Climate Strike 2: Campus Life Climate Strike BSU Seeing Eye Dogs Katherine Alix- Gaudreau Profile Smash Club 3: Opinion This Month In Photo provided by Thomas Foley By Thomas Foley tivist Greta Thunberg, who has been Team (EAT), a student run environ- Music Staff Writer travelling the globe on a mission to mental group at BSU. On Friday September 20th, stu- raise awareness for the urgent need Parody dents and activists across the world for people and politicians to take an Speakers, including Anna Lockett, took to the streets as part of an or- honest look at the growing climate President of the EAT, addressed the Horoscope ganized Climate Strike, and BSU was crisis. Dozens of students, faculty, crowd of protesters who had gath- no different. The strike was the idea and staff turned out for the Climate ered on the steps in front of Boyden of 16-year old Swedish climate ac- Strike here on campus, which was or- Hall; (Cont. page 2) Doctor Strange ganized by the Environmental Action 100 Word Rant Guiding Eye’s for the Blind. By: Brittany Oppenheimer asked varying questions about the to start the training of a service dog. 6: Sports Staff Writer organization itself and how students Training a service dog will provide can get involved with this program. BSU students a valuable and re- Red Sox Doesn’t it feel like the summer went This is what he had to say. warding volunteer opportunity that by so fast? Before students can even teaches them dedication, patience, blink, we’ve already been thrusted Oppenheimer: “What is the Guiding and the value of giving so much time Antonio Brown back into Bridgewater State Uni- Eyes for the Blind? What do they do and energy to better someone else’s versity; before the first sign of fall- and what is their purpose or goal in life. You cannot underestimate just 8: ARTS ing leaves can even hit the ground. creating this organization?” how valuable service dogs are to Though classes can be tough, there those with vision loss. Besides, just Sarah Washburn are many clubs and organizations Payne: “Guiding Eyes for the Blind having a few cute little puppies on that students can get involved in to is a non-profit organization that campus is sure to brighten the day.” lighten the stressful load of writing breeds, raises, and trains service Camille San papers, finishing projects, and get- dogs for the visual impaired while Oppenheimer: “What inspired you ting assignments in during strict also providing training and sup- to start (or bring) this organization Gabriel deadlines. port for those people who receive a to BSU?” dog from the organization. Guiding Grace Well, I can’t think of anything better Eyes for the Blind relies heavily on Payne: “When I found out that oth- to relieve the stress than one thing I its more than 1,400 volunteers. It er universities are doing this and Mastroianni know that everyone loves, puppies! cost about $50,000 to breed, train, knowing just how committed the and support a service dog through- BSU community is to service, I just That’s right, there is a new organi- out its career and a big part of this knew that the university and the zation on campus called Guiding is absorbed by the volunteer puppy students would jump at this oppor- Eyes for the Blind! This organiza- raisers. tunity. I have already had over 90 tion’s goal is to get students to help students express interest. A univer- train these pups to become seeing I hope that by creating a Bridgewa- sity campus is an ideal place to start eye dogs. Brian Payne, a professor ter State University chapter of pup- the training. You have a real diver- at Bridgewater State University, has py raisers for Guiding Eyes for the sity of environments to work in and been actively involved in trying to Blind I can create a mutually valu- so many opportunities to expose the make this dream a reality. able partnership. GEB is always in puppies to all that they might have need of puppy raisers and a cam- to deal with as guide dogs.” Recently, I interviewed Payne and pus environment is an ideal place (Cont. on page 3) Carly Mehl, Editor-in-Chief Comments? Questions? Arthur Kopellas, Creative Director Visit out new interactive website Have a story you want covered? Nick Jordan, Opinion Editor and subscribe to our weekly email Email: Carly Mehl Brian Garland, Sports Editor version of the paper! [email protected] Stefanie Baptista, Campus Life Editor thecommentbsu.com 2 The Comment | Monday, September 30, 2019 Campus Life (Cont.) Climate Strike (Cont. from page 1) from there the this movement once said, ‘we finally march set off across campus with need to treat the climate crisis like a chants of immediate call to action crisis’. I agree with this, I hope that to save the planet from actions det- these strikes force our leaders to take rimental to the climate. When asked action now, because our time to pre- what inspired her to bring the Cli- vent irreversible, catastrophic dam- mate Strike to campus, Anna re- age to our planet is running out fast.” sponded, “It was Gwen Weissinger Anna commented on whether or not who inspired me to bring the strike she anticipates this march being the to BSU. I wouldn’t have done it with- first act of a wave of activism, “Abso- out her. Her guidance has been a cru- lutely. cial part in making this happen.” Our generation of college stu- dents are outraged that the Trump The march went past the Martin administration is doing absolutely Photo provided by Thomas Foley Richard statue, finishing by the gar- nothing to protect the environment, word that described how they felt been the most rewarding aspect of dens in University Park. (cont. on pg 2) and that in fact, they are working about the climate crisis; many shouts seeing the Climate Strike on campus, to undo environmental protections of “angry” and “terrified” filled the Anna said, “Seeing it all come togeth- (cont. from page 1) Anna echoed made by the Obama administra- gardens, though a few minutes later er, seeing all the signs, and seeing all Greta’s outlook regarding the long- tion. We won’t shut up until action when asked for things that protestors the people come together to change term goals of the Climate Strike, has been taken by our government.” were grateful for, those shouts were has given me hope for the future.” “Greta Thunberg, climate activist, At the end of the march, partici- replaced with “BSU!” On what has 16 years old and the leading force to pants were encouraged to share a Thomas Foley is a Staff Writer for The Katherine Alix-Gaudreau a reasonable length. Despite what some might say about performing the accursed play, Alix-Gaudreau is neither superstitious nor afraid. “It’s a lot of opportunity for a lot of great parts; there’s some wonderful soliloquies, some great scenes, and it has witches! It has witches and murder and vengeance and all sorts of wonderful things. I thought it would be a really fun and educational way to introduce folks to Shakespeare,” Alix-Gaudreau said. Deviating from the original Scottish setting, Alix-Gaudreau is considering having the tragic tale take place in an asylum/institution- al setting, with the actors playing multiple roles in order to work more closely together as an ensemble. The play is to take place in a sort of the- ater-in-the-round, giving the audi- Photo provided by Natalie Hebert ence a full view of the show. There By Grace Mastroianni BSU with a BA in Theater and two that I’ve made available, or a lesson will be heavy amounts of audience Staff Writer Masters; one in Sociology with a that I’ve tried to teach, when they involvement, creating an intense focus in Criminology and Gender take that for themselves and do more and immersive experience for those DON’T SAY IT! The so-called Studies, and another in Shakespeare than they thought they could before, brave enough to dive into the wicked cursed “Scottish Play” will be grac- and Creative Arts. With multiple de- that sort of surprised moment for tale of William Shakespeare’s Mac- ing the grounds of BSU in Novem- grees under her belt, she has also set themselves...where they think ‘I can beth. ber, introducing the campus to the her sights on a PhD in Theater; thus actually do something that I didn’t “I’m really excited to share fateful tale of Macbeth. But were setting her on the path of tenure. think I was able to do!’ That is in- Shakespeare with a new group of you aware that our very own pro- However, this is not her first time in credibly rewarding for me.” people. Even if they have never fessor, and director, Katherine Alix- the role of a college professor.