The Cost of Freedom

Janine Harouni
Final Event Blog

Two weeks ago I had the opportunity to attend a showing and discussion of the documentary “The Boys of Baraka.” This film was about a handful of Baltimore boys living in the inner-city. They were all hand picked by a special program to study abroad in Africa for two years from the 7th to 8th grades in preparation for high school. The goal of this program was to take bright students who were at high risk of not graduating high school because of personal and environmental complications. The idea is that by taking students out of the harsh circumstances of drug use, broken homes, poverty, and crime and placing them in an educational and encouraging environment the children would be set on the right track. The Baraka Program gave these boys the opportunity to be exactly that- boys.

So often in inner-city areas children are not able to be children. While working with choice tutoring this semester I worked with children who had their innocence stolen from them at such a young age. I once asked a student if she had fun trick-or-treating. She looked at me in total shock. “Are you crazy” she asked “I would get shot if I walked around my neighborhood at night.” I just sat their in disbelief. How could an eleven or twelve year old not celebrate Halloween? Why is it that I had that opportunity? Is it just because I was lucky enough to be born into an upper middle class family in a good neighborhood? She and I did nothing to deserve our roles in life. Yet, she must suffer?

These were exactly the issues the movie touched on. After one year in Baraka the boys traveled back home for summer break. Immediately there was a noticeable difference in the boys’ behavior. Most stayed inside anxious to get back to the Baraka School. They were all aware that in just one year so many of their friends had become “trouble.” One scene showed a Baraka student staring out his window observing a group of boys no older than he. “Drug dealers” he remarked quietly to himself “all drug dealers.” Later that summer they learned that due to tension in Africa the Baraka school was being shut down and the boys would have to finish their 8th grade in Baltimore. “Sending our kids to school in Baltimore is sending them to jail” one mother exclaimed when she heard the news.

Her reaction may seem dramatic to some but after working with juvenile offenders in Baltimore this semester I can whole heartedly agree with this mother. According to the movie “61 percent of Baltimore's African-American boys fail to graduate from high school and 50 percent of them go on to jail.” Just tonight at Choice I spoke a boy turning 17 this month. When I asked him what he wanted for Christmas he paused for a moment. “To be free” he said. He has spent his past three Christmases and birthdays in jail.

I went home and thought about what he had told me. I plan to stay involved with programs like Choice as long as I possibly can. I think that I am so lucky to have been born into a loving, encouraging, and safe environment. Too often people take that for granted. Choice has opened my eyes to the social justice issues that prey on the most defenseless of Americans- children. All I can do is treat the symptoms for now and continue my education so I can one day work to cure the cause. And this year I will share my Christmas wish with that tutee and hope that each child in America has the opportunity to be truly free.

Gabrielle Miller
On November 15th Bishop Aquila spoke here at Loyola College on behalf of club “alive”, and informed students about the respect owed for the dignity of each individual human being. Mainly, Bishop Aquila discussed the importance of understanding the current and devastating issue in society, abortion. He encouraged the decision to choose pro-life, in respect to the ethical code of life devoted to every individual. Bishop Aquila also spoke about other morally questioned issues, such as the death penalty, stem cell research and genocide.
Bishop Aquila affirmed that God bestows dignity and value to each human when he creates human life, and therefore it should remain solely in the hands to make decisions on which individuals are worthy of life or death. A major problem in contemporary society is that younger generations are raised with the notion that things like abortion and other government chosen policies are considered to be acceptable and standard practices. However, just as Bishop Aquila reminded his audience, it is extremely important to hold onto our Catholic and Jesuit beliefs, and to continue to encourage others to also seek to choose pro-life without pressuring moral decisions upon others.
This speech provoked me to think back to an event that my senior class attended in high school, the pro-life march in Washington, D.C. I remember this vividly because I had been previously injured in a track meet, and as a result had to experience the march on crutches. However, this hindrance proved to be a blessing in disguise. It was incredible to sit back and watch all of the people gathered together to express a common goal, the preservation of life. I was able to speak to one girl in particular, who was only a year older and had a three-year-old baby. I was so moved by this girl’s story, because she showed me what it means to be strong, and expressed her desire to have the child regardless of the consequences out of respect for that individual’s life. She mentioned that her boyfriend claimed that he worried the baby would not be given fair opportunities, and that throughout her pregnancy her own parents encouraged her to obtain an abortion. However, she chose to have the baby, and said that even though being alone in such a major part of her life, she did not regret her decision one bit and that her child was the greatest blessing in her life. I was amazed at her strength and looked up to this girl knowing that she could stand strong and continued to encourage other girls in her position to make a similar choice, not only for themselves, but in regard to this new human life. This proved that the correct choice can be made, even though society provides an "easy alternative" to difficult situations.
The human conscience is defined as the inner voice which persuades a person to make decisions, and provides us with the ability to decipher between acts of good and acts of malice. This mental perception of morality is often blurred and influenced by actions in society, and therefore it is essential that new generations are reminded of the importance of morality. The Jesuit mission aims to restore justice in an unjust world, this statement applies to helping those in need in addition to enforcing education for the future.

Walters art museum

The Walters Art Museum is a great Baltimore attraction. I have a particular love for art and the history which it supplies the world. Since arriving to Loyola College I have wanted to get off campus to see the many art museums Baltimore has to offer. The problem was last year I didn’t have a car. Even with taking two semesters or art history I never reach my destination of the art museum circle. This year has taken a turn for the better; much better. So far in this semester I have been to the Visionary Museum, the Baltimore Art Museum print room and the Walters Art Gallery with my teacher as our personal guide. Each museum has been extremely different but affected me differently.

Since I had really wanted to see what the Walters had to offer, last weekend some of my peers from my Northern European Renaissance class and our teacher ventured down Charles Street to the Walters. This was also my first time driving around Mt. Vernon area. The George Washington monument was pretty neat to see up close. I liked how the traffic circle was old cobbles stone bricks. The street we parked on had a nice little garden patch. It was nice to see some trees where in Baltimore there aren’t many city parks with a lot of green space. The Walters was my only destination planned for trip to the Mt Vernon area.

After I was done my day at the Walters, I fortunate enough to expand my wonderful day when I stumbled down a flight of steps. I was shocked to have discovered such a unique looking place. What is sold in Red Emma’s is slight to the people who inhabit the space. Red Emma’s is a relaxing bookstore and coffeehouse that serves fair trade coffee, vegan munchies and organic food. This is not your typical bookstore; it is even funkier than The Evergreen. Red Emma’s was my fabulous finding for the day. Along with a variety of liberal reading the shop focuses on radical politics and changing culture. Making the economics and politics of our society more just became a noticeable concern for the worker owned collective after only a brief visit. With the three tiny tables, one small coffee bar and three computers, the books hardly fit in the underground shop. The atmosphere and the structure of the bookshop made the space feel more

Being in Red Emma’s made me look at the judgments made on people just by the clothes they wear and the places they hang out. Red Emma’s inspired me even more than the art I had studied earlier that day. When I stepped into the bookstore with my North Face jacket and UGGS I thought I was going to die with from all the glares that came my way. Observing the people that were occupying the bookstore was mostly the artsy or hippie type. Many of the men had wacky haircuts and dresses in tight jeans, with almost everyone I saw having visible tattoos. The style of the hair and the clothes they wear might be a lot different but that doesn’t mean our views are significantly different. I am a big advocator for social justice and poverty in Baltimore but it might not look like it by the way I dress. Just browsing the books I thought how interesting Red Emma’s was and my connection to it. I want to be more artsy, carefree, and revolutionary. I find myself stuck in too many norms here at Loyola. Feeling out of place actually felt kind of good for once in Red Emma’s. I know it is my own personal perception and judgment but I think most of those customers in the coffeehouse are extremely intelligent and passionate about what they do in life. I find I am attracted to those types of people. I am very intrigued and I really like to gain knowledge from all type of sources.

Red Emma’s gave me the feeling of excitement and intellectual stimulation. It was as if I wanted to read every book on the shelves because I knew they would all be challenging and resourceful. I enjoy people and places that are out of the ordinary Loyola scene. What is interesting at Red Emma’s is that finding liberal gurus isn’t that out of the norm for Baltimore. This just proves the point made about the Loyola bubble. I hope I can concert my efforts into meeting some radically charged individual living in Baltimore. I realized art I can look at anytime but Red’ Emma’s is what I am looking for in life; something out of the ordinary.

Boys of Baraka

I recently held an educational event on campus with some of the other service coordinators; a showing of the movie Boys of Baraka. Before the event, I watched the movie myself so that I’d be better prepared to show it to whoever came to our event. Though I sat down expecting a decent film, I did not expect to feel as moved or as inspired as I did. The documentary revolves around a special program for young aged, black boys in Baltimore. Twenty boys are chosen for the opportunity to spend their middle school years at an intensive school in Kenya, Baraka school. Unfortunately for the group of boys being filmed, they are unable to return for their second year after the summer break because of the escalating political situation there. Despite that, the filmmakers still manage to follow the boys into the beginning of their high school careers.

One of the first scenes of the film is a woman speaking to the boys about why they should apply for the school. She explains that the boys have three outfits they could be wearing on their eighteenth birthday: an orange jumpsuit (jail), a nice suit (dead), a cap and gown (graduated). According to her statistics though, they have almost no chance of getting the cap and gown. “61 percent of Baltimore's African-American boys fail to graduate from high school; 50 percent of them go on to jail.” (www.pbs.org) The boys that got accepted into the program were extremely enthusiastic about it in the beginning. Even when they came home for the summer they didn’t associate much with the other boys in the neighborhood, because they didn’t want to get pulled into any of the numerous bad scenes. When they heard the school was closed, it was heartbreaking to see the boys’ reactions. For them, it was yet another time in their lives that the people they relied on had failed them. It was yet another time that they were abandoned. Unfortunately, the Baraka program did not establish anything for the boys in Baltimore. Though, for example, one scored the highest on his math exam than anyone in Maryland and was therefore accepted into a competitive high school, another was sucked into one of the huge public schools and most likely wouldn’t graduate.

After watching the film that Sunday afternoon, I could not wait to share these boys’ stories with as many people as I could. Even though I am involved in service at Loyola, and meet people in similar situations to the boys the movie is unique in my life in that the audience gets to see them grow up. The audience hears their voices change and sees the attitudes improve and dissolve. I knew my volunteers would adore the film, simply based on previous conversations we’d had. Even though they work directly with adults in Baltimore they have a good grasp on the entire picture. That is to say, they understand that the adults they tutor are there, most likely, because they were once in the Baltimore city public schools.

Though not everyone who came for the film showing stayed for the discussion afterwards, I eventually decided I was content with the sequence of events. We had advertised heavily that there would be free food, which was a major draw for much of the audience. At first I was frustrated that they didn’t stay, and didn’t do their best to get the most out of the event. After thinking about it though, I decided that I’m glad they came and at least saw the movie. Many of the people there seemed not to travel in circles that would talk about the issues addressed in the film. Whether or not they stayed for the discussion the movie still forced them to reconsider their opinions about society, Baltimore specifically, and their role in it.

Cristo Rey

This Friday past, I went to volunteer at Cristo Rey Jesuit High School. I have been going weekly since about the end of September. I knew at the start of this year that I wanted to volunteer this year, I wanted to volunteer to get the full Loyola experience. I was having trouble finding a volunteer opportunity that I felt suited me. When I heard about Cristo Rey, I immediately wanted to know more about the initiative.
The position I signed up for was homework help because I was told that was where the most help was needed. I remember my first day being nervous that I would have to help the students with math. I hate math, I have always hated math, so needless to say I was worried. I was relieved when the student I was helping, Xavier, pulled out history books, my major. I really liked helping Xavier with understanding the concepts he was learing, Ancient Greece.
I believe that it is less tutoring and more so talking to the students that make the impact on them. Down the road they will not remember the person that just helped them with homework one time, they will remember the person that talked to them, got to know them, asked them questions about themself, and was able to answer questions about things other than school work. I remember Xavier asking me what I felt the biggest difference between college and high school was. My response was that in high school you are taught facts and undisputed information, however, in college you are given facts, but you must use those facts and apply them into arguements. Another difference I believe is that in college there is not anyone to hold your hand and pull you through. In high school, teachers will hassle students to get their work done, in college, however, the responsibility is solely the student's. You must be able to manage the workload yourself to be successful.
Another good thing about volunteering at Cristo Rey, is being able to see the Jesuit ideals put into action. "Cura Personalis" or care for the whole person is especially prevalent in the halls of the school. The school is structured so that each student gets individual attention. Even the homework help is structured with one tutor per student. The school also instills a good work ethic into the students through a weekly internship the students participate in. One day a week they work 8 hours at a local business as an intern. The business in turn subsidizes part of the students tuition.
The concept of this school is brilliant and it is good to see that the concept is actually being put into action. I look foward to returning to Cristo Rey next semester and hopefully in a larger capacity. Through helping the students there, I gain a better sense of who I am and the person I want to be. I am very satisfied with my volunteering experience at Loyola, and look to carry my experiences with me into the future.

Michael Waskiewicz Event Analysis

On November 15th I attended a lecture in the Alumni Memorial Chapel that was held by the ALIVE club and was given by Bishop Aquila.  The ALIVE club is a student organization that is committed to showing respect for the dignity of all human life, and this is exactly what Bishop Aquila's lecture had to do with.  This lecture had to do with a few topics that are constantly discussed in the news today.  Bishop Aquila established a connection between our Catholic faith and the heavily debated pro-life issue.

Bishop Aquila is very set on his beliefs in pro-life, and his beliefs against pro-choice.  He believes that the Bible teaches us that it is morally wrong to take the life of something that God has created.  I personally agree with Bishop Aquila against pro-choice and believe that abortions should not be allowed to be performed in most instances.  The Bible teaches that God sacrificed his own life for all Catholics.  It is morally wrong to in any way harm ourselves or another human being.  

The only reason any one would need to get an abortion is due to an unwanted pregnancy.  This means that it is necessary to lower the number of unwanted pregnancies so that there is not as much of a debate about this issue.  I personally believe that the only instance in which an abortion should be allowed to be performed should be in the case of rape.  Most unwanted pregnancies are completely unavoidable, but in the case of rape, there is no way for the woman to avoid becoming pregnant because she did not give consent.

Bishop Aquila also spoke about the death penalty.  The death penalty is given as a sentence to those who have committed terrible crimes and taken the lives of others.  It is illegal in many states, but not all of them.  Bishop Aquila believed that even though the death penalty is punishing terrible people that it is still immoral and should not be used under any circumstance.  I share the same exact views that Bishop Aquila does.  I believe it is much more of a punishment to have the criminal spend the rest of their lives in prison instead of ending their lives early and not making them live with a guilty conscience for the rest of their lives.

Personally I agree with everything that Bishop Aquila talked about in his speech.  I agree with his beliefs about pro-life for the most part, and completely agree with his view on the death penalty.  I learned a lot from Bishop Aquila's speech and it will cause me to do more research on my own into what is going on with the death penalty and the pro-life debate in todays society.

Habitat Event Blog

Emily Hauze

Over this past weekend, I volunteered with Habitat for Humanity. The national program’s main goal is to help to less fortunate in order to decrease the prevalence of poverty in cities, such as Baltimore. Not only do the projects of Habitat for Humanity benefit the person the house is being made for, but it helps create a sense of community. Habitat is made possible fully by groups of volunteers whose purpose is to serve others. As I was participating in the construction of the house, I felt like my time and effort were more valuable than if I had just given money to the program. Watching the teamwork of my fellow volunteers was an amazing sight to see because we were coming together as a unit for a good cause. Like the Jesuits value, experience will teach you more about yourself and helping others than anything else.
The physical labor at the house being built for Habitat for Humanity is incredible. A simple part of a house, such as a window or door frame, that many people do not acknowledge very often requires a tedious dedication and determination. My appreciation for the roof over my head increased with each task I was assigned. The whole experience made me realize how much work people put into building a house or any building for that matter.
My participation in this Habitat for Humanity event reflects many of the ideas supported by Peter-Hans Kolvenbach. In the essay we read for class, I found the following quote to accurately represent the goals of Habitat expressed by Jesuit ideals: “Saint Ignatius wanted love to be expressed not only in words but also in deeds.” It is extremely important that both service and justice are enforced in order to make change in not only Baltimore but all over the world. As I worked that day, I knew I was serving myself as well as serving others by providing a person with a home that I had been so privileged to have during my lifetime. Another example of giving to those less fortunate was prevalent in the article “Serving Up Hope” about the couple who gave jobs to recovering drug addicts at their restaurant. The opportunity of being given a second chance can not only be appreciated by those who receive it, but by the providers of that chance as well. For the man that is receiving the house made by Habitat for Humanity, he is also being given a second chance and I am glad to be part of an organization that allows him to have it.

Our Moral Obligation

Simply by being Loyola students, we are automatically faced with a moral obligation to uphold the Jesuit ideals of being educated to serve others. At Tuesday night's Green and Gray discussion of Homelessness and Poverty, this moral obligation was brought up by Dr. Snow of the philosophy department. Besides the points that were brought up about the situation of poverty and homelessness in America and Baltimore, I thought it was very benefical to connect this discussion to Loyola students.

Personally, I do feel a moral obligation to help those in need. Without this help, people who are homeless and struggling with poverty cannot better their own situation. The delimma that faces the community and homelessness and poverty is that this situation cannot be resolved without the effort of individuals. Even looking at the bigger picture of the world, not just within poverty, people must be available to help others. No one person can exist solely supporting themselves. This is the crux at humanity's core is that the human race exists as a collective of individuals working together. The homeless and people in poverty are not excluded from their place within the human race, so, in theory, they should always be able to have people around that can help them if needed.

The problem that exists in American society is this balance between solidarity and subsidiarity, which was also mentioned at the discussion on Tuesday night. Living in a capitalist society places an emphasis on the individual, what an individual can do to better themselves, how much money an individual makes, what stuff an individual buys, how that single individual is viewed by others. However, our sense of Catholic solidarity reminds us that we are not alone to live in this world and that we have an obligation to help others. This obligation extends to the people who are in the most need, especially those without homes or the money to fulfill their basic needs, especially considering the amount of people today that are not earning a living wage.

When thinking about my own place within the world, I must remember that my Jesuit education places a moral obligation upon me to help those around me and not be self-centered in my ideals. This is important when being education, because it is this education of the whole person that determines how an individual will view the world. A jesuit education aims to make the individual student aware of the world around them in a way that they will mold and change it into something greater and better.

Christmas Time

The Christmas season is a time when people and communities come together to celebrate the past year and the bird of Jesus. Also know as the giving season, Christmas time highlights those who care about others and help those who are less fortunate. Sadly, people have forgotten the true meaning of Christmas, and have become wrapped up in what costly gifts they will be receiving. My recent tour to see the Christmas lights in Hampden reminded me that the season of Christmas doesn’t require lots of money to be spent on gifts. The most important thing is to celebrate with the ones you love and to give gifts that truly mean something and will make others happy.

On Monday night, my FE 100 class spent the night by going to dinner and walking through “Miracle on 34th Street” in Hampden to enjoy the Christmas lights. The street of houses spends a great amount of time hanging Christmas lights and decorations for the city of Baltimore to view, and even for people all over the world. It looked somewhat like a giant carnival with all of the lights. Strands of lights even hung across the street from house to house. My favorite decoration was a giant Ferris wheel that had different winter animals riding it. Even though it was absolutely freezing, the sight really put me in the Christmas spirit.

At dinner, my advisor, Sara Scalzo, talked about the effort and hard work put into the decorations. She explained to us that the street of houses gives up a lot to put these lights up. They don’t have the best style living, and with these lights, their electricity bills are high around Christmas time. Despite the cost, they continue to celebrate the Christmas season with their lights for the city to see and enjoy.

Seeing these lights reminded me of the importance of the Christmas season. It isn’t about giving expensive gifts. It is simply about celebrating the season as a community. In high school, one program I was in charge of was Adopt A Family. Each grade was assigned a family and was required to bring in gifts throughout December to give to their family for Christmas. Every student, including myself, felt such a great sense of giving during this activity. For me, my experience with this was even more rewarding. I was able to deliver some of the gifts to the families, and to see their reactions and gratitude was unexplainable. At that point in time, I realized that even through giving, the feeling you get in return is sometimes so much greater then receiving a material present.

I feel that the residents on this street of lights truly enjoy the Christmas season for all the right reasons. They must enjoy the feeling of giving to the community, even though they might now have a lot. Just to see people viewing and enjoying the attraction they created must give them a sense of what Christmas is really about. As Christmas approaches, we must make sure we don’t lose sight of what Christmas is supposed to mean, and focus on helping those around us who might now be as fortunate. We mustn’t worry about the gifts we are receiving, but worry about the gifts we are giving and the effects they will have on the people around us.

Event Analysis

Will Appelt
Event Analysis
Dr. Ellis
English
Children as Role Models

During the Thanksgiving Break I participated in the charity that I’m always involved with, the Andy Foundation. The Andy Foundation helps to raise money for medical research and equipment. The event was a fun little football clinic sponsored by the NFL. All the kids in the community came out to help sponsor the event and it was an exciting a day. We broke the children into groups and I was in charge of one of the groups. Having ten kids screaming and running around was a lot of work, but rewarding. I really connected with all of them and they seemed to look up to me. During the event the children went through fun football obstacles that were donated by the NFL and the kids really seem to enjoy it. During our break we all went to get lunch as a team and the kids who normal didn’t hang out with those in the group really started to bond. I made sure no one was left out of the group and the kids started to get a sense of community and friendship. The kids were very open toward others and always seemed inviting, so my job was easy. After, lunch we went back to the planned activities and I saw something that was quite amazing. One of the boys who were having trouble with an obstacle was getting frustrated and down on himself. One of the other kids in the group saw this and started doing the obstacle with him while the rest of the kids cheered him on. When I saw this I was amazed to see this other child helping just for the sake of helping. The child who was struggling showed great appreciation towards him and it seem like a friendly relationship evolved. These two kids were talking and having a fun time with each other for the rest of the day. Watching the kids have a good time and helping them out real put joy in my day. At the end of the day when the event turned to a close, some of the kids introduced me to there parent and told them about the good time they had. I was so happy at the fact that these kids appreciated the event and me as there coach. It made me feel real good and I felt like a positive role model. The parents were also so appreciative of me babysitting for them. I saw it more as a learning experience about kids and realized that these kids could teach some adults about helping others. After recognizing the acts of kindness and help that

Olivia Bell-Event Analysis 12/5/07

Olivia Bell

Understanding Literature

Dr. Ellis

December 5, 2007

Event Analysis 12/5

This past week I took part in my very last service learning for the semester at Guilford Elementary School. It was an experience unlike any other and I think I can truly say that I will miss going there on a weekly basis. Each week I would spend about two and a half hours in a fifth grade classroom assisting with math or reading activities. I would help with group work, homework, and even give tests and quizzes. This past Tuesday felt like any other as I continued with the typical work within the classroom. Before I left to return to campus however, something special happened.

After dismissing all of the students from my classroom and exchanging a few words with the teacher about what was going to happen during the rest of the year, she gave me a hug and sent me off for one last time to sign out. However, when I got to the room where the sign out sheet was located, I found tables filled with pennies on them. Then it hit me. We were asked to stay and help roll pennies if we had time after school. They were from all of the students that attend Guilford and were to help raise money for their new playground. In addition to raising money, it allowed for each student to feel as though they helped contribute to their new toy and would hopefully make them treat it as best they could. Although it was not the first thing on my “to do” list, I hung around with a few other Loyola students and helped to roll pennies. I decided this was my way of coming to serve with all I had.

About an hour later, we had finished rolling all of the pennies and had come to a total of almost four hundred dollars. Ms. Ervin, a faculty member at Guilford that helped to make it possible for Loyola students to come and teach, was in the room with us counting the coins. When she tried to announce the total amount that we had rolled, her voice began to crack. Tears quickly filled her eyes as I got chills up and down my body. She could not even begin to express how grateful she was.

I couldn’t believe it. It was my very last day at Guilford, my very last minute, and I was still being touched by the people around me. It was absolutely amazing to see how something as simple as giving my time to roll coins, meant so much to another human being. My goal before beginning my service learning was to somehow make a difference in the classroom with the fifth grade students, but never for a second did I think I would be able to have such a great effect on people outside of that room.

I hope to somehow continue with service next semester and hope to have as great an impact as I did at Guilford. The look on Ms. Ervin’s face is one that I will never ever forget. In the future, it will continue to remind me how the littlest things can mean the world to someone and how important it is to always come willing to share everything you have with the others around you.

Medieval Times

Nina Marchetto
Understanding Literature
Event Analysis
December 3, 2007


This past Friday I went to an event hosted by Best of Baltimore, we went into the Hanover to Medieval Times: dinner and tournament. The whole experience was so entertaining and a chance for me to see what else was offered in Maryland other than the inner harbor shopping and dragon paddle boats. The ability to have these things introduced to us, freshmen, is such a great idea because we are new and the school is trying to get us acclimated still throughout the whole year and it really does help first year students. I also learned the effects of planning ahead and time management throughout this field trip.
Friday evening most kids are getting ready to go out and party with their friends, try to fit five or six people in a cab and go find some place to have some fun. Instead I was convinced I would start studying for the numerous exams I have coming up along with all the papers and the few class exams I still have before finals; but alas my friends got the best of me and told me to go to medieval times with the best of Baltimore group. I had planned on going but I did not plan properly, and before I could hand in my confirmation slip it was all full. Somehow I managed to get myself on the bus and attend medieval times with the rest of my friends.
The bus ride there was pretty uneventful other than the fact that everybody’s body was jumping with excitement for eating with your hands watching people joust and have good old fashioned violence experience for a Friday night out. One of the memorable moments even before the tournament and dinner started was right when we walked into the mall there were people giving out debit gift cards to our group; best of Baltimore had no idea who they were or what they were giving us. It was just free twenty dollars, which was odd. The gift was great, but it made me realize how easily people try and give you anything and how easily people conform. I know I only took that card because I saw everybody take that debit card, just tells you how easily people are willing to accept something they know nothing about.
The whole experience from eating with our hands, even soup! (Obviously the bowl had a handle so you could sip it like a drink) and being able to hear the accents and see the games and turmoil that the Medieval times once had. It was a really enriching experience to see what else is out there from Baltimore, although on our own transportation may be difficult its good to see there are more exciting things than the gallery shopping center, or the aquarium. This was my first Best of Baltimore trip, and I’m now realizing how many other opportunities I missed out on. This group really broadens your horizons and like I said before teaches you of other things that just on campus functions and inner harbor festivals. Also it forces you to branch out even further than your normal comfort zone and meet new people along with faculty that are on the trip with you. Overall it was a very good experience and the next best of Baltimore trip I believe will be even more eye opening in terms of what’s available for things to do in Maryland, not just Baltimore.

Medieval Times

Nina Marchetto
Understanding Literature
Event Analysis
December 3, 2007


This past Friday I went to an event hosted by Best of Baltimore, we went into the Hanover to Medieval Times: dinner and tournament. The whole experience was so entertaining and a chance for me to see what else was offered in Maryland other than the inner harbor shopping and dragon paddle boats. The ability to have these things introduced to us, freshmen, is such a great idea because we are new and the school is trying to get us acclimated still throughout the whole year and it really does help first year students. I also learned the effects of planning ahead and time management throughout this field trip.
Friday evening most kids are getting ready to go out and party with their friends, try to fit five or six people in a cab and go find some place to have some fun. Instead I was convinced I would start studying for the numerous exams I have coming up along with all the papers and the few class exams I still have before finals; but alas my friends got the best of me and told me to go to medieval times with the best of Baltimore group. I had planned on going but I did not plan properly, and before I could hand in my confirmation slip it was all full. Somehow I managed to get myself on the bus and attend medieval times with the rest of my friends.
The bus ride there was pretty uneventful other than the fact that everybody’s body was jumping with excitement for eating with your hands watching people joust and have good old fashioned violence experience for a Friday night out. One of the memorable moments even before the tournament and dinner started was right when we walked into the mall there were people giving out debit gift cards to our group; best of Baltimore had no idea who they were or what they were giving us. It was just free twenty dollars, which was odd. The gift was great, but it made me realize how easily people try and give you anything and how easily people conform. I know I only took that card because I saw everybody take that debit card, just tells you how easily people are willing to accept something they know nothing about.
The whole experience from eating with our hands, even soup! (Obviously the bowl had a handle so you could sip it like a drink) and being able to hear the accents and see the games and turmoil that the Medieval times once had. It was a really enriching experience to see what else is out there from Baltimore, although on our own transportation may be difficult its good to see there are more exciting things than the gallery shopping center, or the aquarium. This was my first Best of Baltimore trip, and I’m now realizing how many other opportunities I missed out on. This group really broadens your horizons and like I said before teaches you of other things that just on campus functions and inner harbor festivals. Also it forces you to branch out even further than your normal comfort zone and meet new people along with faculty that are on the trip with you. Overall it was a very good experience and the next best of Baltimore trip I believe will be even more eye opening in terms of what’s available for things to do in Maryland, not just Baltimore.

Medieval Times

Nina Marchetto
Understanding Literature
Event Analysis
December 3, 2007


This past Friday I went to an event hosted by Best of Baltimore, we went into the Hanover to Medieval Times: dinner and tournament. The whole experience was so entertaining and a chance for me to see what else was offered in Maryland other than the inner harbor shopping and dragon paddle boats. The ability to have these things introduced to us, freshmen, is such a great idea because we are new and the school is trying to get us acclimated still throughout the whole year and it really does help first year students. I also learned the effects of planning ahead and time management throughout this field trip.
Friday evening most kids are getting ready to go out and party with their friends, try to fit five or six people in a cab and go find some place to have some fun. Instead I was convinced I would start studying for the numerous exams I have coming up along with all the papers and the few class exams I still have before finals; but alas my friends got the best of me and told me to go to medieval times with the best of Baltimore group. I had planned on going but I did not plan properly, and before I could hand in my confirmation slip it was all full. Somehow I managed to get myself on the bus and attend medieval times with the rest of my friends.
The bus ride there was pretty uneventful other than the fact that everybody’s body was jumping with excitement for eating with your hands watching people joust and have good old fashioned violence experience for a Friday night out. One of the memorable moments even before the tournament and dinner started was right when we walked into the mall there were people giving out debit gift cards to our group; best of Baltimore had no idea who they were or what they were giving us. It was just free twenty dollars, which was odd. The gift was great, but it made me realize how easily people try and give you anything and how easily people conform. I know I only took that card because I saw everybody take that debit card, just tells you how easily people are willing to accept something they know nothing about.
The whole experience from eating with our hands, even soup! (Obviously the bowl had a handle so you could sip it like a drink) and being able to hear the accents and see the games and turmoil that the Medieval times once had. It was a really enriching experience to see what else is out there from Baltimore, although on our own transportation may be difficult its good to see there are more exciting things than the gallery shopping center, or the aquarium. This was my first Best of Baltimore trip, and I’m now realizing how many other opportunities I missed out on. This group really broadens your horizons and like I said before teaches you of other things that just on campus functions and inner harbor festivals. Also it forces you to branch out even further than your normal comfort zone and meet new people along with faculty that are on the trip with you. Overall it was a very good experience and the next best of Baltimore trip I believe will be even more eye opening in terms of what’s available for things to do in Maryland, not just Baltimore.

Medieval Times

Nina Marchetto
Understanding Literature
Event Analysis
December 3, 2007


This past Friday I went to an event hosted by Best of Baltimore, we went into the Hanover to Medieval Times: dinner and tournament. The whole experience was so entertaining and a chance for me to see what else was offered in Maryland other than the inner harbor shopping and dragon paddle boats. The ability to have these things introduced to us, freshmen, is such a great idea because we are new and the school is trying to get us acclimated still throughout the whole year and it really does help first year students. I also learned the effects of planning ahead and time management throughout this field trip.
Friday evening most kids are getting ready to go out and party with their friends, try to fit five or six people in a cab and go find some place to have some fun. Instead I was convinced I would start studying for the numerous exams I have coming up along with all the papers and the few class exams I still have before finals; but alas my friends got the best of me and told me to go to medieval times with the best of Baltimore group. I had planned on going but I did not plan properly, and before I could hand in my confirmation slip it was all full. Somehow I managed to get myself on the bus and attend medieval times with the rest of my friends.
The bus ride there was pretty uneventful other than the fact that everybody’s body was jumping with excitement for eating with your hands watching people joust and have good old fashioned violence experience for a Friday night out. One of the memorable moments even before the tournament and dinner started was right when we walked into the mall there were people giving out debit gift cards to our group; best of Baltimore had no idea who they were or what they were giving us. It was just free twenty dollars, which was odd. The gift was great, but it made me realize how easily people try and give you anything and how easily people conform. I know I only took that card because I saw everybody take that debit card, just tells you how easily people are willing to accept something they know nothing about.
The whole experience from eating with our hands, even soup! (Obviously the bowl had a handle so you could sip it like a drink) and being able to hear the accents and see the games and turmoil that the Medieval times once had. It was a really enriching experience to see what else is out there from Baltimore, although on our own transportation may be difficult its good to see there are more exciting things than the gallery shopping center, or the aquarium. This was my first Best of Baltimore trip, and I’m now realizing how many other opportunities I missed out on. This group really broadens your horizons and like I said before teaches you of other things that just on campus functions and inner harbor festivals. Also it forces you to branch out even further than your normal comfort zone and meet new people along with faculty that are on the trip with you. Overall it was a very good experience and the next best of Baltimore trip I believe will be even more eye opening in terms of what’s available for things to do in Maryland, not just Baltimore.

Medieval Times

Nina Marchetto
Understanding Literature
Event Analysis
December 3, 2007


This past Friday I went to an event hosted by Best of Baltimore, we went into the Hanover to Medieval Times: dinner and tournament. The whole experience was so entertaining and a chance for me to see what else was offered in Maryland other than the inner harbor shopping and dragon paddle boats. The ability to have these things introduced to us, freshmen, is such a great idea because we are new and the school is trying to get us acclimated still throughout the whole year and it really does help first year students. I also learned the effects of planning ahead and time management throughout this field trip.
Friday evening most kids are getting ready to go out and party with their friends, try to fit five or six people in a cab and go find some place to have some fun. Instead I was convinced I would start studying for the numerous exams I have coming up along with all the papers and the few class exams I still have before finals; but alas my friends got the best of me and told me to go to medieval times with the best of Baltimore group. I had planned on going but I did not plan properly, and before I could hand in my confirmation slip it was all full. Somehow I managed to get myself on the bus and attend medieval times with the rest of my friends.
The bus ride there was pretty uneventful other than the fact that everybody’s body was jumping with excitement for eating with your hands watching people joust and have good old fashioned violence experience for a Friday night out. One of the memorable moments even before the tournament and dinner started was right when we walked into the mall there were people giving out debit gift cards to our group; best of Baltimore had no idea who they were or what they were giving us. It was just free twenty dollars, which was odd. The gift was great, but it made me realize how easily people try and give you anything and how easily people conform. I know I only took that card because I saw everybody take that debit card, just tells you how easily people are willing to accept something they know nothing about.
The whole experience from eating with our hands, even soup! (Obviously the bowl had a handle so you could sip it like a drink) and being able to hear the accents and see the games and turmoil that the Medieval times once had. It was a really enriching experience to see what else is out there from Baltimore, although on our own transportation may be difficult its good to see there are more exciting things than the gallery shopping center, or the aquarium. This was my first Best of Baltimore trip, and I’m now realizing how many other opportunities I missed out on. This group really broadens your horizons and like I said before teaches you of other things that just on campus functions and inner harbor festivals. Also it forces you to branch out even further than your normal comfort zone and meet new people along with faculty that are on the trip with you. Overall it was a very good experience and the next best of Baltimore trip I believe will be even more eye opening in terms of what’s available for things to do in Maryland, not just Baltimore.

Medieval Times

Nina Marchetto
Understanding Literature
Event Analysis
December 3, 2007


This past Friday I went to an event hosted by Best of Baltimore, we went into the Hanover to Medieval Times: dinner and tournament. The whole experience was so entertaining and a chance for me to see what else was offered in Maryland other than the inner harbor shopping and dragon paddle boats. The ability to have these things introduced to us, freshmen, is such a great idea because we are new and the school is trying to get us acclimated still throughout the whole year and it really does help first year students. I also learned the effects of planning ahead and time management throughout this field trip.
Friday evening most kids are getting ready to go out and party with their friends, try to fit five or six people in a cab and go find some place to have some fun. Instead I was convinced I would start studying for the numerous exams I have coming up along with all the papers and the few class exams I still have before finals; but alas my friends got the best of me and told me to go to medieval times with the best of Baltimore group. I had planned on going but I did not plan properly, and before I could hand in my confirmation slip it was all full. Somehow I managed to get myself on the bus and attend medieval times with the rest of my friends.
The bus ride there was pretty uneventful other than the fact that everybody’s body was jumping with excitement for eating with your hands watching people joust and have good old fashioned violence experience for a Friday night out. One of the memorable moments even before the tournament and dinner started was right when we walked into the mall there were people giving out debit gift cards to our group; best of Baltimore had no idea who they were or what they were giving us. It was just free twenty dollars, which was odd. The gift was great, but it made me realize how easily people try and give you anything and how easily people conform. I know I only took that card because I saw everybody take that debit card, just tells you how easily people are willing to accept something they know nothing about.
The whole experience from eating with our hands, even soup! (Obviously the bowl had a handle so you could sip it like a drink) and being able to hear the accents and see the games and turmoil that the Medieval times once had. It was a really enriching experience to see what else is out there from Baltimore, although on our own transportation may be difficult its good to see there are more exciting things than the gallery shopping center, or the aquarium. This was my first Best of Baltimore trip, and I’m now realizing how many other opportunities I missed out on. This group really broadens your horizons and like I said before teaches you of other things that just on campus functions and inner harbor festivals. Also it forces you to branch out even further than your normal comfort zone and meet new people along with faculty that are on the trip with you. Overall it was a very good experience and the next best of Baltimore trip I believe will be even more eye opening in terms of what’s available for things to do in Maryland, not just Baltimore.

Hispanic Apostolate

Very early every Saturday morning I wake up around 8am. I struggle to tear the sheets away from my body and wake up for the day. I hop in the shower and meet a group of volunteers at around 9:15am. We speed down the highway and end at Broadway street. From 10am until 12pm I volunteer at Hispanic Apostolate. It is a division of Catholic Charities. I along with a few other Loyola students teach English to adult Hispanic men and women. However, anyone struggling with English can attend and get help. The center also offers free legal help as well as health services. The center really is an asset to the community, and the people who utilize the facility really are dependent on it. Students can attend classes as they please, you never know who is going to be there. They may come everyday of the week for a month and then not come back for several months. Most have built going to classes into their daily or weekly routine.
Volunteers arrive and wait for the students to be placed in their learning level. There are beginners, moderate and advanced learning levels. Some volunteers get different students every week. This past Saturday as the volunteers were waiting around to get students the volunteer coordinator called me first and said that I had a request. One of the students who I usually work with had requested me to be his teacher. Daniel, a middle aged man had requested me again to work with him. This made me feel so good because it means that I am in some way making an impact on his life. It makes me feel like I am not just waking up on Saturday as a requirement for my Spanish class but I am making a difference beyond Loyola. Two other students joined us and we worked on pronunciation, past and present differentiation. We read looked things up in the dictionary etc. It was a great class and I don't even speak Spanish well at all. The experience just further solidified my realization that I should be a teacher. I am so busy all the time, but for some reason I enjoy going to teach. The Jesuit ideal teaches that we should bring our whole self to everything we do. Although I never feel like waking up early on the one day I don't have to I do. Not only that, but I also am able to function well enough that student request me to teach them. When something is your vocation, you don't have to make as much as an effort than if you really didn't like it as much. I am able to bring my whole self to teaching no matter how tired I am. I feel so blessed.

Last Blog Event-Jesuit Dinner

Olivia Silvestri

Whether it’s students or faculty, every member of the Loyola College community has a story or reason why they chose Loyola. On October 30, 2007, I attended a Jesuit dinner led by Father Jack in the fourth floor programming room. The theme of the dinner was “Becoming Who You Are.” In addition to Father Jack, three other members of the Loyola community shared their life journey with us that landed them here at Loyola College.

After hearing Father Jack, a female freshman, a male sophomore, and a French professor tell their individual stories, I realized mine was less interesting and troublesome. Out of the four stories two struck me the most—the sophomore’s and the French professors.

The sophomore came from a bad and violent area in Washington D.C.; Loyola gave him the opportunity to change and make something of his life. In the beginning, his transition was not easy. He even contemplated transferring to the University of Maryland at College Park, but after realizing his progress at Loyola he knew it was where he had to be right now.

The French professor vowed she would never be a French professor because it was her mother’s profession and was not something she was interested in becoming. After coming to the United States and marrying her husband, she had several jobs, but none that made her happy. One day she came across that Loyola needed a French instructor, and decided if hired to give it a try. Although she never wanted to be a French professor, it is the job that makes her happy and is the reason why she is part of the Loyola Community.

My story is simple. I visited Loyola and loved the beautiful and small campus, but it was not my first choice. Northeastern University in Boston was the college I had my hopes set on; however, I was not accepted. Even though I was extremely disappointed, I looked forward to attending Loyola because it was my second choice. After being here for almost a full semester I could not be happier. Loyola has been great to me so far. I am pleased with mostly everything around campus, and I am thankful for my dorm room, which I could consider luxurious after seeing some of my friends dorm rooms at their colleges. Loyola is one stop on my life’s journey and I hope it will lead me to success in the future.

Attending Loyola College, we are lucky to receive a Jesuit Education. A Jesuit Education strives to make its students well-rounded individuals, who can grow to serve and teach others. They do this by focusing not only on academics, but also on the body and soul. In addition, a Jesuit Education incorporates diversity, service, and justice into the classroom. This is an important aspect, known as the Magis. The Magis means, “doing more for Christ” and by making the classroom more than just a learning place, the Jesuits provide their students with this opportunity.

No matter what reason you are at Loyola, it is one stop on your journey of “Becoming Who You Are.” Hopefully, your experience here will be benefiting, providing you with success for the future. I believe that the members of the Loyola College community will make the most of their experience by taking what they learn at Loyola, and using it on their life journey.

Peter Leuthold Leuthold 1
Dr. Ellis
12/02/07
Event Analysis

Pro-life Lecture by Bishop Aquila

On November 15th, I attended a lecture by Bishop Aquila held by Loyola’s Alive club. The main issues discussed were the connections between being pro-life incorporated in our Catholic faith along with similar topics such as the death penalty, stem-cell research, and genocide.
This was a very interesting lecture to attend for me because the night before I had to research information on abortions, and therefore, it was relevant and fresh in my memory. As a Catholic, I am strictly against abortions (pro-life), and believe that they are morally wrong. Bishop Aquila spoke about how important our lives are because we have been sacrificed by God and so we must never think about harming ourselves or the lives of anyone else. Bishop Aquila depicted abortions, one of the most controversial topics in the United States, as a threat to our society. While listening to Bishop Aquila I immediately thought about the principle of Double Effect regarding abortions, something which all Catholics are required to follow. For example, the action of the agent must be a good one. The pregnant woman must also have the right intention and the evil effect cannot be the means to the good occurring. These two statements indicate that in order to avoid abortions we must reduce un-wanted pregnancies.
Another important issue which Bishop Aquila felt was necessary to mention was the death penalty. He claimed that the death penalty was created by the government in order to punish those who have themselves committed murders in their lives, but that he still feels that they are against what God would have wanted. Those people who deserve to be killed should simply remain behind bars until their death. Along with the death penalty, stem-cell research
Leuthold 2
and genocide were also touched upon regarding our Catholic faith. Bishop Aquila stated that like abortions, the death penalty, stem-cell research, and genocide are all morally unacceptable for Christians revealing that they must be avoided, and should not be accepted in our communities throughout the United States. I agreed with many of the points which Bishop Aquila was lecturing about because I have been raised in a very Catholic family. Attending a private Jesuit high school, and now Loyola College, my Jesuit values have been shaping me to be who I am today. Without the influence from my family and friends, I feel as if my views on controversial topics such as abortions could be different, but as of now I will always be against the killing of an embryo.
When I attended Bishop Aquila’s lecture on November 15th, I was able to reflect on my life as a Roman Catholic in a Jesuit Institution. Knowing that Bishop Aquila was connecting the idea of being a pro-life activist with our Catholic faith made me feel that my Jesuit values have been helping me to become closer with God, and have had an influence on my peers. When I was a sophomore in high school I participated in a pro-life activity with our pro-life club where we traveled from New Rochelle, New York to Washington D.C. in order to promote the ideas of not having abortions, making them illegal. This event had an enormous impact on all the people driving past us.
Thus, at Bishop Aquila’s lecture on November 15th, I learned many different things regarding abortions, genocide, stem-cell research, and the death penalty. From a Catholic perspective, they are all morally unacceptable in our society. Being pro-life is something which has had a big impact on my life because of the issue of killing an embryo which I consider murder. I feel as if the death penalty is wrong; however, it may never fade out in the judicial
Leuthold 3
system. Bishop Aquila was very successful in his argument that as Catholics, we must continue to strive in becoming closer to God, and continue to remain against controversial issues such as abortions.

A Jesuit Thanksgiving

Over Thanksgiving break, I took part in a college-aged volunteer group in my area, REACH. This group is designated to offer college students with volunteer opportunities over their college breaks and make them ‘reach’ out to the less privileged. Some events include trips to the nursing homes on Valentines Day, and visiting orphanages and hospitals around Christmas time. The group units the community through celebrating the holidays, some people might say that the holidays are the loneliest times of the year, but REACH bridges the community together to act as a family as we celebrate together.

This year for Thanksgiving we helped out at a soup kitchen for the homeless. The soup kitchen offered families a place to go and enjoy a meal with friends and family.
The soup kitchen allowed me to see how the people were satisfied in celebrating Thanksgiving in a local high school cafeteria. It made me appreciate what I have, and let me evaluate that holidays are special because of the people you celebrate it with, not where or when you celebrate it. REACH holds a place in my heart, because we formed a family within the community, and allowed everyone the opportunity to celebrate the holidays in a special way no matter where we are and the amount of money we use to decorate and spend on food.


I really enjoy taking part in the group because it allows me to feel more connected to my community. Not only do the students form a close bond, but we learn a lot about the community we grew up in. Loyola has allowed me to become more interested in the lifestyles around me. Although I have lived in Oakland my whole life, being a part of the Jesuit lifestyle has showed me what is out there, and this volunteer group has opened my eyes to the different realities that have been present in my life, but I never saw until I became a part of the Jesuit tradition.


The Jesuit tradition has left a life long imprint on my life, and allowed me to pass the tradition of service to those around me. The Jesuit lifestyle impacts everyone around you and is contagious. Considering that two of my three sisters decided to join the group, made me feel that I had a Jesuit impact on their life because now they look at the world and question what they can do to assist in the unification of all people. This goes to show that service as an experience has an impact on ones life, not only in the sense of helping the community, but recognizing that we are all alike.

This domino effect of service, made me come to realization that service shouldn’t be like pulling teeth, it should be an experience that you want to take part in. Service is the cycle of life, and by helping others, you help yourself in the understanding of life as a whole. The specific experiences hold a place in your heart forever, and each have an effect on your life, no matter the amount of time you put in, but more importantly the amount of effort and heart you contribute to the experience.

last event blog

For my final event blog I attended a lecture on November 15th, by Bishop Aquila held by Loyola’s club ALIVE. The basis of this lecture was the issue of pro-life and its relationship to our Catholic faith. I decided to go to this particular lecture because this is an extremely important issue in our society today regarding politics and religion.
Bishop Aquila was very firm in his strong beliefs against pro-choice, declaring himself as unconditionally pro-life. He explained that we, as Catholics, are called to a constant ethic of life, and that things such as abortion, stem cell research, and genocide are all evil and morally unacceptable. He went on to say that dignity of human life is determined by God and thus is always to be protected; dignity is bestowed by God in creation and not by government.
I personally struggled with many of the opinions expressed by Bishop Aquila, specifically those in reference to abortion and the death penalty. I have been, and probably always will be, fully against the death penalty. When I was a senior in high school I visited Rahway State Prison on a field trip for a psychology class and we were given the opportunity to talk with the men known as “lifers” because they were in jail for life because of murder. These men run famous programs like scared straight to help troubled kids, and are only submitted into the program because they have shown true repentance for their sins. As I sat five feet from convicted murders, talking with these men in an open room, I truly saw them as just fellow human beings. This visit boosted my stand against the practice of capital punishment, and I truly agreed with Bishop Aquila on this point as he said that there is no revenge in the heart of Christ, so there should be no revenge in the heart of a Christian. However, I have been pro-choice for quite some time now, as I have learned more about our government and society. Bishop Aquila even stated my views exactly in his lecture when he touched on people who are pro-choice for abortion but oppose other issues, such as the death penalty, and asked where the logic was. He also added that many people may not want to impose their morality on others in some areas, which also pertained to me. Bishop Aquila did not change my views, although he did truly make me confront my conscience.
Bishop Aquila touched on the issues of conscience in today’s society, explaining that conscience is now understood as opinion. He added that there is great confusion with conscience as to what is good and evil. He believes that this can lead to a culture of death and that a culture of life would have a good understanding of conscience. The Bishop explained that conscience is not a person opinion; rather it is the inner voice of a human being that moves a person to do good and avoid evil. I truly agreed with him on this standpoint of conscience because I do believe it is separate from issues of difference in opinions.
The issue of freedom versus truth was also discussed in Bishop Aquila’s lecture. He explained that society has formed a false idea of freedom that has become separate from truth. He believes that, for Catholics, there is a clear relationship between truth and freedom, proclaiming “the truth will set you free.” I, too, believe there is a distinct difference and significant relationship between the concepts of truth and freedom.
As a final event blog for this semester of understanding literature, this was the only event that truly made me consider how my political views effect my religious beliefs. Again, although I did not fully change my standpoint on abortion and pro-choice, I have fully come to understand both sides. I continue to stand against the death penalty, however cannot be fully pro-life when it comes to abortion.

Who has the right to dictate our lives with such conformity?

Lately, I've been feeling the intense crunch of figuring out my life. I second guess the importance of my major in my life until I can be absolutely sure, if only for a few weeks, that what I am doing at this moment is cohesive with the things that I value and the way I see my life working. In actuality, it shouldn't really matter. My mother majored in history, and yet, she ended up being a technology manager. My mother and my brother are pushing for me to get an internship next summer when I've actually never held a paying job and really don't have any motivation to get one.

So I ask again, Who has the right to dictate our lives with such conformity? The careers that I'd actually be motivated to do would either pay next to nothing or pay millions. Who has the money and the time to travel around the world photographing different cultures? I feel as though my choices are not as easy as others. They do not fall into the categories of regular jobs. Instead, I have to create these careers to live off of, both in physical monetary values and inner spiritual values, with no framework.

I'd rather tell my mother these things. I'd rather tell society these things. That happiness cannot fit into a 9-5 work day. That it's better to live a happy, simple life in my eyes than to live a complicated but fulfilling life in theirs. But like Lisa Parker's "Snapping Beans", I am the girl that cannot tell the great mysteries and conflicts of my mind to my mother, even when we're close, picking green beans in the summertime and drowning the japanese beatles in soapy water by the pool in our backyard.

I'd rather not be telling lies about my ideas of my life to strangers in order to keep things simple. I'd rather not be the girl sitting in the guidance counselor's office in sixth grade telling this strange woman the first career that comes into my mind because I had no idea. After a while I have to wonder what lines become blurred, and what I actually have a passion for and what I've told myself I have a passion for.

The things that I love to do cannot easily be manuvered into careers. I have a high creativity complex that seems to dictate my life. I love to have conversations with people, one on one, with hardly any barriers separating our thoughts and words. "It was what I was born for- to look, to listen, to lose myself inside this soft world." I am an observer, mostly. I view the world through my unique eye. To use all of these things together is, by far, my most challenging adventure because I have to create this life for myself from stratch. There is no framework to go by, no already created careers that fall almost perfectly in place. I am the playtpus that clearly mammal, yet distinctly different, and in order to be happy, I have to be in the water instead of on land.

Janine Harouni

Event Analysis

This week at Choice was especially meaningful because I was in charge of putting together the educational material we were to work on for the evening. As fate would have it our area of study for this week was History, a subject I have dreaded since the third grade. Personally, I have never truly understood the importance of History. This mentality is aptly reflected by the fact that I, a soon to be second semester sophomore, have yet to take my Introduction to History course, (a class commonly taken first semester freshman year).

As I looked at the face of my youth who struggled to piece together the parts of a historical illustration I found on the internet I could tell she was less than amused with the assignment. I encouraged her to verbally identify all that she saw in the picture and then interpret what she thought each part meant in the context of the historical time period. My suggestion was greeted by a blank stare.

“Why do I have to learn this” she asked. I was dumbfounded. “I will never use any of this in the real world.” She was right. I was looking into a mirror. How could I tell her that I whole heartedly agreed with her when I had created the assignment myself? I paused for a moment to collect my thoughts. What could I say?

“Why do you think you need to learn this?” She frowned from across the table and folded her arms. This girl wanted answers. The situation reminded me of the two poems we read for class “The Path to the Milky Way Leads through Los Angeles” and “A Bedtime Story.”

In “The Path to the Milky Way Leads through Los Angeles” the speaker realizes that her path in life is wherever she is at the present moment. Although there is so much in Los Angeles that she hates, she must find the beauty that exists and grow stronger from her experience. At my youth’s present moment she needs to graduate high school and her less than satisfactory History grade will prevent her from doing so. Just like the speaker, my youth must experience her present moment to its fullest. She must take all of the good with all of the bad and all of the easy with all of the difficult. This is what makes you who you are. And, this sometimes means working extra hard on a subject that troubles you. In the end you might find that not only do you succeed with the class but that you are more confident in your abilities as a student.

In “A Bedtime Story” the young girl must figure the answer out for herself. Just as it was not easy for the old woman to realize that her misfortune was a blessing in disguise, the young girl must open herself up and be willing to find the answers. The things that give us the most fulfillment in life are usually the things that are not easy. If you truly work hard and allow yourself to be open to all of the possibilities life holds in store, then you will find real happiness and fulfillment. If the old women hadn’t faced neglect and rejection she would have never experienced the beauty of the night so fully. If my youth does not go through the struggles of a difficult History class she may never feel the joy of accomplishing something that you never imagined you could. Happiness comes only to those who search for it.

“Learning a subject that is challenging for you teaches you to think. You may not apply what you learn in History to your everyday life but you will certainly apply what you have learned from learning History in every endeavor. You will not only be a stronger person for persevering you will be a wiser person for finding the answers yourself.” And with that response she picked up her pen and continued her work.

Event Analysis

Emily Hauze
Event Analysis

Last week, I attended a lecture by Stephen Kuusisto, a writer who has been completely blind his entire life. His thoughts and ideas express a strong sense of optimism which he has towards living life and the fact that his disability does not limit him from moving forward everyday. He described a place in which he referred to as the “Plant of the Blind”. This fantasy placed no need to cure blindness because it was accepted as normal. People are given the opportunity to talk about what they do not see, rather than what they do. I believe Stephen created this alter reality as a way to accept his blindness. I was drawn to Stephen Kuusisto’s lecture because I am currently pursuing a minor in Special Education. After learning about the pressures and stresses that people with disabilities face daily and then hearing about a blind man who has overcome these factors, the combination results in inspiration. I saw courage and accomplishment in Stephen as explained that even though he is blind, blindness is not connected with fear. This belief shows just how strong Stephen is.

The idea of wanting things that are seemingly impossible to attain is a theme in Langston Hughes’ “Thank You, Ma’am” but also in Stephen Kuusisto’s lecture. In Hughes’ work, the old woman says “I were young once and I wanted things I could not get.” The woman tells this to the boy who tried to steal her purse in order to explain to him that we can not always get what we want. She is expressing the idea that through experience, we will realize what is most important and to focus on what is personally attainable.

Stephen has accepted the fact that he will never gain his sight. For example, he depicted an encounter he had with a travel agent. The travel agent asked him why he wanted to travel if he could not see. In Stephen’s perspective, traveling was “see by ear”. Although he can not experience the sights, he can experiences the sounds of traveling and being in new places. For both Stephen and the characters in “Thank You, Ma’am”, life is about making the best of what is given to you and accepting things you can not change.

Stephen’s lecture and stories connect with Mary Oliver’s poem “Mindful” in many ways. He describes the world as “haunting and beautiful”. Mary Oliver’s poem states “it is what I was born for—to look, to listen, to lose myself inside this soft world—to instruct myself over and over in joy and acclamation”. This quote connects with both Stephen’s lecture and with Langston Hughes’ short story. It is only through experience that self acceptance is reached.

These themes reflect the strong values of the Jesuit beliefs. The poem, lecture, and short story all support that idea that experience shapes personal development.

Event Analysis Michael Waskiewicz

On Thursday November 8 I attended a talk given by Dr. Robert Miola a professor here at Loyola College.  Dr. Miola is a graduate of Fordham University, and has published twelve books.  Dr. Robert Miola focussed his discussion on Shakespeare and the Jesuits, specifically how they were depicted during Protestant England.  This talk also focused on if Shakespeare himself was a Catholic, and how poorly the Jesuits were viewed as in this time period.

William Westin and Henry Garnet were two Jesuit priests from the Protestant England time period.  Both of them openly practiced their beliefs and accepted the consequences that came with this.  William Weston was a priest who was known for the exorcisms that he performed.  Many of the people at this time did not believe that they were real, and believed that they did not do anything.  He told the story of a man who Weston was attempting to help.  The man said that God had left him and that he saw the devil.  He claimed that his mind was terrorized by sin.  Weston read this man the Ten Commandments in order to help him, and it worked.  The devil disappeared from his visions.  This story proved that Weston could really perform exorcisms, even though many of the public did not believe this was true.

Henry Garnet had the reputation of being a liar.  Many people viewed him as a fraud and he was accused of equivocation.  He did not get into trouble for this charge, but he was later accused of treason against the queen and was put to death.  Garnet devoted himself to Saint Augustine and Saint Ignatius by performing daily prayer and self-reflections.  He was devoted to being a Jesuit and followed the Jesuit mission and practiced Catholic beliefs.  Today Garnet is viewed as a martyr for practicing his faith and accepting the consequences of death, no matter what the cost.

Dr. Miola also brought up the debate about whether Shakespeare was a Catholic or not.  There is no definite answer to this question, but there is some evidence that shows that he may have been a Catholic.  In Shakespeare's plays "Macbeth" and "Hamlet" there are references to purgatory and even directly to Jesuit priests.  At the end of the story "Macbeth," Macbeth, himself becomes a Jesuit.  Shakespeare also mentions purgatory in "Hamlet."  Shakespeare may have hidden his religion and kept it quiet because he did not want to have to go through the same hardships and troubles that both William Weston and Henry Garnet had to endure.

During that time period Protestantism was the only accepted form of religion.  In today's society people are free to choose their religion, and any religion is accepted.  Today's society follows the Jesuit mission of attempting to create justice in the world by giving people the freedom to choose whichever religion they like.  Weston and Garnet both suffered a lot during their lives in order to spread the word of god and the Jesuit mission.  Shakespeare, Catholic or not, introduced Catholicism into some of his stories which introduced Catholicism a little more to the public.  All three of these men were dedicated to changing the society of that time period, in order to make freedom of religion more available to the public.

Immigration Panel

Meggie Girardi

Last week I went to the panel talk on immigration. There was a professor from Loyola, a Legal Aid’s lawyer, and a lawyer who works at a law clinic and gives free legal advice through the University Of Maryland School Of Law. I was able to hear the Legal Aid worker speak who works for CASA de Maryland, a non-profit organization that helps the Spanish speaking population with legal advice such as documentation, getting jobs, and creating a stable environment for their families. CASA's vision is for strong, economically and ethnically diverse communities in which all people especially women, low-income people, and workers – can participate and benefit fully, regardless of their immigration status.
The Legal Aid lawyer, Lisa, said that all throughout law school her professors, colleagues, and society dangle $150,000 a year over her head. Meaning when she was in law school all of her friends were studying to become research lawyers or went into private practices. She decided to be a social work lawyer. She said the difference between her and her friends is that she loves her job and is passionate about what she does. I think it’s important to do what you love and love what you do, before money gets in the way. Her friends are making the big bucks but they hate the work they do all day. Lisa also stated that she is the only lawyer that works for CASA de Maryland and there is a two year waiting list for her legal services.
Most of the cases she deals with are of immigrant worker rights. Even if undocumented immigrants are hired and follow through with their work, they should be paid in full. Businesses seem to think that just because worker are undocumented means they don’t need to receive pay. I wish more people would see the need for social work lawyers. It’s hard, demanding work but the people who desperately need legal services are those who can’t afford it. I am fairly naive to the law world, I do know that lawyers cost a lot of money but I was shocked at the two year waiting list for CASA de Maryland service. Every two months Lisa has to not accept new clients because she has so many cases to deal with already.
I guess one of the political science classes had to take a survey the week before the panel came to Loyola. One of the questions was similar to, “Have you personally ever encountered an undocumented citizen?” I was shocked at the large majority of Loyola students said, “No”. Its interesting because if you have never been in a restaurant, Wal-Mart, or Macy’s then “yes” maybe you have never encountered an undocumented citizen. As we all know that is highly unlikely. I feel that Loyola as a whole could become more aware of these issues but the panel was a great step in the right direction. The immigration issue has become important to me for a few different reasons. One I realize that the rights of a person are being violated. It is basic idea of valuing a human being and giving people respect.
Only this year have I become more familiar with the immigration issues of the United States and developed a better understanding of what legal and undocumented immigrants go through. I am traveling to Mexico over Christmas break with 20 other Loyola students with the Project Mexico team. I am looking to explore and educate myself on social justice issues faced by people in developing countries. I find it extremely important to reflect on what I experience in the light of various beliefs, values, faith, and expertise that each member will bring to the team.

Because of our talk on Tuesday about our calling in life and our vocation, I am constantly wondering what I was meant to do with my life. I can hopefully narrow down the huge world around me to things I am interested in, as being my future. I loving doing community service, interacting with people. Maybe through my Project Mexico emersion trip I will find something I am called to do. I hope through the reflective part of this class and my experiences at Loyola I can come to find my passion. I truly believe that we were all made with a certain talent that can benefit the world and the people around us. This class is really allowing me to truly learn a lot about myself.
Now that I have the chance to reflect upon immigration issues that are vital today, I realize that upon going to this panel and thinking about the immigration system in Baltimore, I have can connect my service, my college education, the city of Baltimore, all to each other.

I feel that throughout life I’ve always been one to stick with my own opinions. I’ve never done something just to follow the crowd, but rather because I really wanted to do it. I think today, people need to recognize what their emotions are telling them to do, rather than ignore what we want deep down inside just for a different result. This is something that I must keep in mind for the future while planning a career.

Last Thursday, I attended Shakespeare and the Jesuits Part II. Dr. Robert Miola, a professor in the Classics and English Department, spoke about the claims that many people make about William Shakespeare being a Catholic. Many people believed this because of the analyzing of his works, in particular, Macbeth and Hamlet. In the play Macbeth, the main character, Macbeth becomes a Jesuit in the end. Another Catholic reference comes in the play Hamlet, through the mention of Purgatory.

Miola also discussed the two Jesuit priests during the time Shakespeare lived. These two priests, William Westin and Henry Garnet, were not viewed the same way Jesuit priests are viewed today. These two men were criticized as being fake, and were even sometimes thought of as practicing witch craft. Westin once performed an exorcism on man, by making him read the Bible. The devil eventually left the man and was no longer the extreme sinner he was before. This exorcism showed some that Westin really was a priest, but many still thought of him to be a fake.

Garnet was unfortunately killed for treason and was held for equivocation the last few years of his life. Equivocation is the use of ambiguous expressions in order to mislead someone. Garnet believed though that no one should equivocate, which is what many people did during this time period. Although many were Catholics in England at the time, Queen Elizabeth enforced Protestantism. In order to keep their lives, the public attended Protestant services to please the Queen. These people were guilty of equivocation, acting as one thing but really were something else. Garnet often got angry because he believed that you cannot deny who you really are.

Our class discussion on Tuesday about what we want to do as a career brought great fear to me. This has been the most common asked question in the past couple of years, and ironically, my least favorite question. I have not found one thing that I absolutely am thrilled about or am definitely sure that I would want to spend the rest of my life doing. And sometimes, if I do find something that could be a career possibility, mainly because of the money I will make, it is not something I love. Ashya’s story about her tutoring situation shed light onto the fact that if there is something you are passionate about and are extremely talented in, you must pursue this. Don’t do something just because of the money you will make or because of the status you will have. You have to listen to what you want to do and who you really are.

These two examples, Garnet’s beliefs on equivocation and Ashya’s discovery of her plans for the future, remind me that I must be patient when choosing plans for the future. I must listen to my passions and make sure I am not denying them, just to achieve something that I think is greater. If you choose something you are passionate about and really enjoy, you more than likely will make a bigger impact on someone than if you chose a career because of its face value. Like Garnet believed, you cannot pretend to be something you aren’t.

Shakespeare and the Jesuits

Gabrielle Miller
The reputations Jesuit priests in Protestant England, during the time of Shakespeare, were viewed in a very poor and negative sense. However, today society’s views completely contrast these previously instated statuses. England’s dominant and primarily Protestant religious beliefs overpowered and excluded any other forms of practiced religion during the time. Catholics and many other religious minorities were oppressed and feared executions, and as a result often lied to conceal their religious beliefs as means to save themselves from death. Dr. Robert Miola, Fordham University graduate and Loyola College professor, discussed Shakespeare and the Jesuits in his speech. Dr. Miola focused on two specific Jesuit priests, Henry Garnet and William Westin. Each of these men had negative reputations, and society viewed them as frauds and liars. However, neither Garnet nor Westin chose to conceal their religious beliefs, and bore the consequences in return.
Henry Garnet was acquitted for equivocation, and later was arrested and killed for treason against the queen. Garnet practiced essential traditions of Jesuit lifestyles, such as education and prayer. He conducted daily examens as means of self-reflection, and studied and devoted himself to Saints Augustine and Ignatius. Garnet refused to declare himself guilty of equivocation, and continued to pursue his Jesuit mission and Catholic beliefs. This devotion to religion despite the consequences, should allow Garnet to be viewed as a martyr standing up for his faith, rather than a fraud resisting Protestant beliefs and norms.
Similarly, William Westin was considered a fake, because society did not believe that he was capable of performing the exorcisms that he claimed produce. In example, of Westin read the Ten Commandments out loud to a man who was being possessed by visions of the devil, and cured him as a result. Westin believed that suffering is what brings people closer to God, and so he used his abilities to alleviate suffering as means to aid others.
Dr. Miola brought up a commonly debated question, whether or not Shakespeare was a Catholic himself. Although this question has yet to be definitely answered, it can be inferred that Shakespeare was Catholic because of his references to Jesuit priests and purgatory in two of his plays, Macbeth and Hamlet. Garnet and Westin were condemned for their open beliefs in Catholicism, and it is a great possibility that Shakespeare may have chosen to conceal his religious beliefs in order to avoid persecution. However, both Garnet and Westin defended their faith and chose not to give into the pressures to convert to Protestantism, even if they were mistreated and persecuted in return.
Presently, religion is a universally accepted, and as members of society we are encouraged to embrace this diversity. The Jesuits mission is to educate and strive for justice in the world. As students in a Jesuit institution, we are encouraged to become well-rounded individuals. We are called to strive not only to improve ourselves, but also help to improve the lives of others in the process. However, contemporary society holds much more freedom than it did in the period of Protestant England. Garnet and Westin were viewed negatively, and all acts of compassion and piety were ignored in return. Despite the discrimination, these men proved to be true Jesuits who chose not to give into society, and rather to continue to live out their mission. Because they chose to give their lives in order to defend their beliefs, these men made it possible for Jesuits to live and practice freely today.