Prestigious English Drama Project Finds North American Home At
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December 4, 2007 Vol. 3 No. 4 thecupola news FOR MARY BALDWIN COLLEGE FACULTY, STAFF, AND STUDENTS Mary Baldwin Embraces the Real Faces of Hunger and Homelessness Mary Baldwin College freshman Stephanie Klusmann (at right) was 12 years old the first time a park in her neighborhood in Virginia Beach served as her bedroom. She became a statistic, one of the 1.6 million American children under age 18 who are on the streets on any given night. Klusmann’s experience made her a natural as one of several organizers of Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week at MBC November 12–16, an adaptation of the national awareness week. Annual events at MBC, such as a Hunger Banquet and canned food drive, and new ones, such as a sleep-out on the lawn of the President’s House, combined for a line-up to open eyes and minds. We asked Klusmann to write her reflections at the end of each day; her insights are captured here. Editor’s note: An article in Staunton’s The News Leader that Klusmann references here was picked up on the Associated Press wire and ran in papers around the state. As a result, Klusmann’s story and Mary Baldwin College’s involvement has touched many, including Thomas Jefferson Area Homeless Coalition and the office of the mayor of Norfolk, who both hope to work with Klusmann in the future. Monday, November 12 Tuesday, November 13 Working with the staff at the Spencer Center for Being on the Faces of Homelessness panel was a nerve- Civic and Global Engagement on the college’s first wracking and draining experience, but it was also Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week has been amazing. I believe the panel really reached some people energizing and has made me hopeful that people will in the audience today. It was scary sitting in front of a being up there at the table. I hope we changed the recognize the issues. crowd of strangers — some of whom knew my story perception of some people and, now that they know, they It is sad for me to think that the week’s kickoff from the Staunton News Leader’s article this morning — will want to help for the rest of this week and beyond. event, Homeless to Harvard movie night, wasn’t and answer their questions and have their stares of well attended because students might be indifferent to disbelief burn into me. I was sweating and scared and hunger and homelessness. I wonder what can be done tongue-tied, but I knew that I had to somehow get this Wednesday, November 14 in the future to promote the week more and get across: homelessness is real, it happens to the best and The Staunton newspaper had another article about the more students’ attention. We used posters, announce- worst of people, it could happen to anyone, and it’s a week of activities today — this one focused on the panel ments, and Facebook postings, but still fell short of very serious problem. yesterday — and a local television station ran a segment, my expectations. I wanted so much to explain everything to the too. The Hunger Banquet tonight was great! Dr. Dorries’ It was a fun night despite that. The people audience, but I think that would’ve been hard for them to speech was outstanding. He really got across the message who did turn out ate popcorn and soda and were understand. I realize now that I just wanted them to of the reality and severity of hunger around the world. captivated by the movie. Liz Murray [from the movie] know that I never considered myself homeless when I was The event started with each student picking a small is an inspiration and the messages throughout the living on the street or in friend’s homes; it was just a way piece of colored paper from a bag. The color of the paper film are ones I can relate to. Your parents are your of life. I was a runaway and a throwaway, but I never determined the gender and economic class of the partici- heroes, and you love them no matter what. She also thought, “I am homeless.” I don’t think most kids do. pant. I was a lower class female, living in poverty. We points out that sometimes homelessness and hunger I was extremely pleased with the community’s were told the differences between classes as we waited to can just become a way of life, a habit. I realize participation tonight. I hope the audience left with an see what food we would receive. Participants were that’s why many people can’t fix the problem; they impression they will never forget. I am so grateful to alarmed by the statistics of people who are hungry don’t see a problem to begin with. I ended this night John Wells, Helen Burke (executive director of Staunton’s around the world and in this country. Students were also hoping that the kickoff event next year will attract a homeless shelter, Valley Mission), and Barbara, a former randomly selected to be given a history and a recent ton of students! Valley Mission resident, for sharing their stories and (See HOMELESS, Page 7) Prestigious English Drama Project Finds North American Home at MBC Don’t feel remiss if the Records of Early students are excited about internship, volumes of data — which include more will entail, Menzer said. What he does English Drama (REED) project is not publication, and educational than 8,000 pages of records and nearly know is that — in addition to on the tip of your tongue, but in the opportunities; and all parties are 8,000 pages of apparatus — and MBC recruiting, academic, and exchange world of Shakespeare and early modern eager to explore exchanges of material now houses every one of them in opportunities for the college and drama studies it’s big. Really big. So big and students.” Grafton Library as a result of a signifi- graduate students in MLitt/MFA — that it jumped the border from its home Since 1979, REED has sought to cant donation from REED-USA REED-USA will work to raise funds to at University of Toronto in October and catalogue all records of “drama, president Barbara Palmer. continue the project. MBC Dean of settled on Mary Baldwin College as its minstrelsy, and public ceremony” in Palmer noted MBC’s Master of Adult and Graduate Programs Nancy United States branch. England prior to 1642. That time Letters/Master of Fine Arts in Krippel, Professor Ralph Cohen, and “MBC is the exclusive American period is critical to scholars researching Shakespeare and Renaissance Literature Professor Emeritus Frank Southerington site for the most important documen- the entertainment environment that in Performance (MLitt/MFA) program are also board members. tary theatre project going on right might have influenced Shakespeare and and its connection with American “It is an honor for our program to now,” said Paul Menzer, MLitt/MFA his contemporaries. Many studies have Shakespeare Center and approached the be linked to an academic undertaking program director and associate focused on the theatre and drama scene college about housing a U.S. base. at the university that has arguably the professor of English at MBC and in London pre-1642, but REED has Publicly announced at the annual best early modern theatre history member of the REED-USA, Inc. board expanded the documentation to the Blackfriars Conference in late October, program in the world,” Menzer said. of directors. “We’re excited about the whole of the British Isles, Menzer MBC is still exploring what its partner- Learn more about REED-USA online potential recruiting draw: Current explained. The project has published 25 ship with the nonprofit REED program at www.reed-usa.org. 2 December 4, 2007 The Cupola NEWS May Term Offers Repeat and Brand New Destinations India Links Where will you be during May Term Communication (COMM 280). close view of the sites of significant 2007? Paul Callo, assistant professor Focus on how family life, religion, scientific discoveries. January 2005 of biology, will be in Costa Rica. Martha politics, and geography shapes ▲ Italy: Renaissance Studies in Italy During his sabbatical in spring 2005, Walker, associate professor of French, culture with native Cypriot Associate (ART 343). Sara Nair James, Roderic Owen, has plans in France. Japan is the destina- Professor Andreas Anastasiou and professor of art, leads studies of art MBC professor of tion for Professor of Education Jim Professor Jack Kibler. Associate philosophy, began the in Rome, Florence, Venice, and other college’s recent wave McCrory and Professor of Asian Studies Professor of Communication Alice cities. of connections with Daniel Métraux. Araujo joins the trip to explore the ▲ Japan: Introduction to Japan (JPNS India as a visiting Mary Baldwin College’s annual relationship between culture and professor at Lady 250). Professors Métraux and Doak College, a residential women’s college in study abroad fair initiated the college’s communication. McCrory stay with students in Madurai. Owen was in the country when the Spencer Center for Civic and Global ▲ England: Virginia Program at Oxford Tokyo, tour ancient historical devastating tsunami hit the eastern coast. Engagement as an event venue and intro- (ENG/HIST 390) (Summer 2008). Kamakura and Nikko, get an May 2006 duced students to May Term educational Professor of History Mary Hill Cole inside tour of Japanese Parliament Sisters Lael ’08 and sites worldwide. A dozen MBC faculty — guides six weeks of Renaissance (Diet), and visit Japanese Nena Adams ’06 including some familiar travelers and history and literature with British and friend Anna schools.