CURRENT FOCUS VOLUME2, NUMBER 2 A STUDENT PUBLICATION OF EMMANUEL COLLEGE NOVEMBER 1993 PATTERNS OF DISCOVERY Residence Hall FOR BETTER OR FOR WORSE? Council try into the student's major field study." teaching involved." There is also a "total By Diana Steinbock As for the benefits of the new equality in grading" in that "all three Established format, Dr. Lang says that she likes it. teachers grade a student's test...there is As Emmanuel students, most She feels that before, "Patterns" was too no grading by section only." As for the By Sonia Edghill all of us have taken or will have taken the text driven" and it was harder to teach. disadvantages, Dr. Lang feels that stu­ course "Patterns of Discovery" before Now, "there is no required discussion dents don't have the same sense of a The Residence Hall Council is a graduation. As the current "Patterns" every Wednesday ... and there's more Patterns continued on pg 3 tutor, Diana Steinbock has taken the new organization on campus. It was course for three years. She has seen many 1--...,...,.......",....--~~07::7'7:::::-:-;~~--:-:-:---:-:-:--~-------------, formed this semester with the main goal changes, but this fall the course under­ being to provide the residents of St went major reconstruction. Joseph's Hall with a channel through Most remember "Patterns" as a which they could communicate their con­ series of Monday lectures, Wednesday cerns to the administrative body. The small groups, a reading assignment each following guidelines, taken from the R.H. week, a quiz every other week, a three C. Constitution, outline the specific ways page paper every other week, and an in which the R. H. C. intends to serve the essay fmal. This lasted for two semesters student body: with up to five faculty members asemes­ 1. Give community members a voice in ter. Sound familiar? Well all of this is a the decision making process associated distant memory. with living in the Residence Hall. Currently, "Patterns" consists 2. Create a forum for social, recreational of three faculty members, Sr. Ellen and educational activities to take place. Glavin, Dr. Claire Lang, and Sr. Esther 3. Foster a community that values the McCarthy. There are Monday and diversity of each of its members. Wednesday lectures for three weeks, (2 4. Provide progmms and services UJai. lectures from each professor), then a meet the needs and concerns of the stu­ Monday discussion group and a Wednes­ dents. day essay test with a question from each The objectives outlined above are professor. Then' follows another three being facilitated by the formation of three weeks of lectures and so on until it is committees: Security, Food, and Build­ time for the essay final, and then it is ing and Grounds. Each committee con­ over; only one semester of "Patterns". sists of five members of the R.H.C., one Why was the structure of "Pat­ of whom is a member of the R.H.C. terns" changed? According to Dr. Claire executive board. The committees meet Lang. one reason was that the full-year bimonthly or as needed, w.ith a represen­ requirement of "Patterns" "delayed eo- tative from tlie administrative body in L-__ {j3L~~~~ __________~P~h~ · o~ro~b~y~~~~~~~~ order to address the residents' concerns. The Security committee meets with Mr. Lavalle of the Campus Safety office, the Interview with . .Anne Rice food cornmittee meets with Linda Nicho­ • las of P.F.M: and the Buildings and side the metaphor. When I write, I am All Rice's novels explore the Grounds committee meets with Meet By Stephanie Bouchard Lestat, discovering the complexity of idea of things not being as they seem on Chute of the Buildings and Grounds of­ the story as I go." some level. In both The vampire fice. The following is a list of the offic­ Rice's stories can be complex, Chronicles and The Witchina Hour and It's been said that an author ers and floor representatives ofeach com­ with layer upon layer of psychological, its newly released sequel, ~ , she writes from what shelhe knows- from mittee: emotional, and philosophical intensity. uses an organization called The experience. Author AnneRice is a prime Members of the Buildings and Grounds Says Rice, "I love to play with the theme Talarnasca as a metaphor for this theme. example, although one might question committee are Alicia Rarnpulla, V.P.; of things not being as they seem; to Rice, bom in New Orleans and how, since her more popular characters Cassie Mcintire, 3rd floor; Jacqueline discover what's good and evil." Her raised Roman Cmliolic, says that the are vampires. Yet, her novels are a Travasso, 5th floor; Bethany Clemmey, novels revolve around these central con- Talarnasca "is inspired by the religious reflection of herself; her struggle with RHC contlpued on pg 4 orders I was brought. up with as a child," death, sexuality, what is good and what adding "I had two aLnts that were nuns." is evil, the existential dilemma of free 1941 Anne ~ice, named Howard Allen, Created in the 758, the will and responsibility. born in New Orleans on WHAT'S INSIDE , Octoberi4th ·(Changed,name to Talarnasca, who's motto is "We watch. While Rice doesn't know what Anne in.l941) And we are always there," is a religious­ it is to be an actual vampire, her fascina­ 1961 Marries poet Stan Rice on October like organization 0/ scholars with some OPINION PAGE PAGE 2 tion with what it could be like prompted 14tb psychic abilities. These scholars collect her to write The Ipterview With the Yam­ 1966 Gives birth.to.a daughter, Michele,. paranormal evidence. the flfSt of the vampire Chronicles on September 21st SECURITY SPOlLIGHT llim - Rice says of the Talamasca, "I - from the point of view of a vampire. ·1972 Michele dies of leukemia on Aug PAGE-3 wanted to create something that had the Unlike Beam Stoker's Dracula ust 5th strengths of a religious order but was and other portrayals, Rice' s vampires 1976 Interyiew With.the Vampire pub secular . .. (and) ex ploced the supernatu­ ART REVIEW PAGE 3 are, as cited in The New York Times lished 1978 Gives birth to a son, Christopher. ral." She created (he Talamasca to be Maaazine, lonely philosophers who, on March 11 th "open and scholarly" and calls it her while debating the nature of goOd and CROSSWORD PAGE 4 1979 Feast of AU Sajnts published dream organization. "In my dreams I evil, still revel in their immortality. 19.82 Cryt£> Heayen published belong to the Talamasca - when I'm not Above all, Rice's vampires - who were 1983-5 The· Slee.Pin~ Beauty Trilon pub Lestat, Lasher or Rowan." once human like the rest of us - are lished . (on~ book per year) The Talamasca is at first pre­ BOOK REVIEW PAGE 4 metaphors that teach us what it means to 19.85 Exit to Sden andlbe Yaml2jre sented by Rice as ahighly efficient, c1ose­ be human. .l&ital published knit family of sorts. Yet, in recent nov­ "Vampires are metaphors for 1986 : :Qelip~apubUs~ed els, especially~ , Rice has presented THIS l\fONTH'S all, especially outsiders," Rice says. 1938. Thcdiui&n ofth~ Dam.n~ pub- lished some cracks in the organization's seem­ WEATHER ''1b~y have to be a metaphor for all of us 1989 The M"mm,y. or Ramsesthe ing perfection. Some of its most loyal MOSTLY COLD WITH or else the book is a failure." Damned published members, are beginning to question the INCREASING POSSmILITY OF She adds that when she writes she doesn't 1990 . The Wju:hiD~ Hour published authority figures or the Talarnasca, just­ SNOW/SLEETIFLO think about whether or not she's creating .1992 The Tale of tbe Body Thief pub as Rice herself qUl!Stioned that of the metaphors. Rather, Rice says, '''I'm in- lished RI CE continued on pg 3 1993 PAGE 2 THE CURRENT FOCUS - NOVEMBER 1993 OPINIONS ... Dear Editor, Dear Editor: I hope "Disappointed's" letter that Here is my dilemma: I have appeared in last month's issue does not big problem concerning the reflect many students' attitudes towards "childish" incidents that have res the Program Board's response to Carolyn from a lack of respect on the part of Carey's resignation. As students we do whole Emmanuel College community not have many opportunities to voice our Do I continue to just sit around upset opinions in a meaningful manner, and .disappointed by what is happening wi we have even less opprtunities to take a general cynical attitude toward actions that have an impact. The resig­ community or do I produce SOlmemlnl!1 nation of the Program Board was the constructive in order to express how ONL Y meaningful action we felt we feel risking the wrath of those otlencledl could take. The letter's author admits the by it? administration may have nudged Carolyn I am specifically referring to resign. If the Program Board had let the mass thefts of important., but Carolyn's resignation pass without a replaceable objects in the l'-"';>lU';;lI~a word, that silence would have been taken Halls, both harmless and threaten liSagreement. Ifwe had continued work­ notes slipped under and written on ing, we would have given up any "power" dents' doors, and prank phone calls. __S_h_e_S_a--=y_s_e • • She Says that we may have as students. Can you am generally referring to the By Jenn Ford By Debra Fitzgerald ask us to be so apathetic? We, the Pro­ lack of respect between both MUUC;lll~ In any society there exists a Every man deserves a good life, gram Board, had to let the administration and other students and students and stockpile of great quotes, patriotic songs What about women? I don't feel in­ know we were unhappy.