THE CURRENT FOCUS VOLUME 8. NUMBER 2 A student publication of Emmanuel College. Boston OCTOBER 1997 Kris Niendorf joins Emmanuel College as Mick Cochrane, Author, Visits Emmanuel Melissa Eckhardt said. Associate Dean! Cochrane also emphasized On what was otherwise a the mystery that comes with writing Director of Residence gloomy Monday afternoon, Dr. a novel. Comparing the beginning Life and Housing Mick Cochrane was framed in sun­ of writing a novel to snowglobes, Theresa Consoli light as the first rays of the da-y he stated, "I didn 't know where the appeared beyond the wall-length snowflakes were going to fall." In Emmanuel's new Associate window of St. Joseph's Foyer. As respect to this mystery, Cochrane Dean/Director of Residence Life he spoke, aspiring students saw this said, "I don't think readers can be and Housing, Kris Niendorf golden light dawning not only on surprised when writers aren't sur­ comes to the college with 14 years campus, but also in their futures. prised to some extent." This, too, When Cochrane, Writer-in of experience in higher education. has to do with patience, and letting Residence at Canisius College in yourself go where your work takes Her most recent position was that Buffalo, New York, came to you, he said. of Associate Director of Resident Emmanuel on September 30 to Cochrane made the writing Life at Worcester Polytechnic meet with students and faculty, he Mlck Cochrane was born and raised process human, said students. "Part emphasized the importance of dis­ In St. Paul, and Is Wrlter·ln·Resldence Institute (WPI) where she worked at Canlslus College In Buffalo, New of the process of being human is cipline and patience in the writing for three years. York. having to wait," commented Sister process. Michelle. According to Cochrane, It is, however, an earlier For students who often feel Mter writing fi~tion since patience and -a love of writing are that completion is the most impor­ pOSItIOn which led her to his college days and only now fin­ tant aspect of a project, and that all a writer needs to be successful. ishing his first novel, Flesh Even if success had not come by Emmanuel. Niendorf worked at a getting there is the trouble, this Wounds, Cochrane has had first women's college in Missouri for advice was valuable. In a brief means of publication, the success hand experience in the importance of writing and completing a work five years and has always wanted interview after the talk, student and of patient discipline. Cochrane discussion attendee Sister Michelle would have been success enough, to return to an all-women's col­ informed the group that a page to a Cochrane said. Halm said that hearing that one lege to be a part of women's edu­ page and a half was about all he should be patient with the process The event, which garnered would write in one sitting--a sitting cation. and with oneself was something she twenty-one attendees, was spon­ that was approximately seven Niendorf's aim here at "needed to hear.... The thing that sored by the English Literature and hours long. Said Cochrane, impressed me the most was the Communication Arts Club and the Emmanuel is to "put Residence " ... write a page a day, that's a book whole sense of being patient," she Office of the Dean of Students. Life on the map." Niendorf in a year." believes Emmanuel can do that by began working for Worcester making it "a place where people Poly technical Institute (WPI). Our Haunted Halls want to live." Niendorf hopes to - What has Niendorf been increase the number of resident Rebecca A. Consentino doing since arriving at students on campus. Emmanuel? She started the year [Editor's note: The ghost stories in this article were told by various members of Niendorf is extremely the Emmanuel community in candid, confidential interviews. Some of them with -the RA orientation/training open to students stopping by to should be familiar to you: they've been handed down from year to year by program which was more exten­ see her and talk with her. She upperclassmen. Others are astonishingly new; all are purported to be true. sive and intense this year. enjoys working directly with stu­ These stories were told to different members of The Current Focus staff, which Of course, like all the dents and hopes to get to know means they're all hearsay: none of us has ever seen a ghost! So keep your eyes members of the Resident Life everyone quickly. When asked open, and be sure to tell us if anything spooky happens to you.] staff, Niendorf has been out there how she felt here, Niendorf said it In honor of Halloween, Ghost Story #1: The ghost of among the students. One of " ... feels like I have been here 7 students decorate the donns with St. Joseph Hall Niendorf's favorite ways to sup­ years rather than 7 weeks .. .! want pictures of ghosts and pumpkins, For many years now, res­ port students is by participating in and string fake cobwebs along idents have believed that a ghost students to feel welcome to come the Athletic Department where the hallways. But traditionally, haunts the back-wing bathroom and ch~t..." the closer we get to midnight on of the second floor of St. Joe's. she has been serving as score­ Niendorf's qualifications October 31, the more we contem­ It is said that in the past, resi­ keeper for various sports teams. include a Bachelor's and a plate the phenomenon of ghosts. dents have looked into the mirror This month, Niendorf will Master's degree in Psychology And Emmanuel seems to have and seen an unfamiliar girl with be starting an infonnal discussion from the University of Evansville more than its share of ghost sto­ long, wet hair stepping out of the abol;lt Relationship Issues on cam­ ries. I present to you the follow­ shower. When the resident in Indiana, where she is originally pus. Everyone is encouraged to ing seven spooky stories for your turned around from the mirror to from. attend and share their thoughts consideration and contemplation face her, the girl disappeared. A Niendorf moved to as we approach Halloween: Please see Haunted Hails, page 3 and experiences. Boston three years ago when she PAGE 2 THE CURRENT FOCUS - OCTOBER 1997 OPINION Commentary: Mourning a Princess lost .Thank you ... Jenna Wilkinson "Sixteen years ago, in remembered at the funeral service Then on July 29, 1981, The staff of The Current Focus splendour and high hopes, the held for her on September 6, in less than a month after her twenti­ would like to express our sin­ young woman stood with the man Westminster Abbey. She was eth birthday, Diana Spencer wed cerest thanks to the Student of her dream in St. Paul's buried privately on a small island Prince Charles, heir to the British Government Association and Cathedral to take marriage vows. at her family 's estate at Althorp. throne in a fairy tale wedding the greater Emmanuel commu­ The world was carried away by There have been many remembered and watched by mil­ nity for their support of the stu­ the mixture of beauty, simplicity, theories as to the nature and the lions of people all over the world. dent publications. As noted in and pageantry. And now this. cause of the accident which She was the first English woman our last issue, The Advocate Diana, Princess of Wales, is caused the death of the princess, to marry the current heir-apparent. and The Current Focus faced dead," the Reverend Michael but that is not the point I choose to to the crown in 300 years. _Happy serious budget problems at the Saward, Canon of St. Paul's pursue. additions to Diana's seemingly beginning of the academic year. Cathedral in London, said of the Diana was and will con- perfect life were her two sons: We worked with Student princess on the day she died. tinue to be a shining example of . Prince William Arthur Philip Government to find a creative Where were you when the women we, as Emmanuel stu- Louis, born June 21 , 1982; and solution to our problems. you first heard the statement dents, strive to be. Prince Henry Charles Albert Although we have been given "Princess Diana is dead?" That David, born September 15, 1984. somewhat smaller budgets for question, I have no doubt, will From then on the woman the ·1997 -98 academic year, we very quickly become as meaning­ the world called the Queen of believe that through creative ful to our generation as the ques­ Hearts began to grow and change cost-cutting and fundraising, tion our parents ask: "Where before our very eyes. She were you when JFK was shot?" matured from the shy kinder­ the integrity of these important This year the world ~as garten teacher, whose innocence publications will be maintained. seen the passing of many w~)llder­ was proven by the "scandalous" Many thanks for your support! ful people whose contribution to photograph taken of her without a the world will not be soon forgot­ slip under her skirt shortly after ten. Our lifetime the announcement of her engage­ is littered with ment to Prince Charles, into the the deaths of so strong, polished, independent many great peo­ woman the world will continue to ple, but few will admire for years to come. touch the world We all know who Diana Diana was known for as did the was as a public figure.,: but did we many things, but perhaps her best untim~ly .