Grad list April 24.indd

Transcription

c l a r k e
c a t a l ys t
spring 2013 issue 34
DON’T BE THIS GUY:
How to act in
the Crusader Cafe’
Back on campus after
5 deployments to Iraq
and 3 marathons
vertically challenged
two students go to extremes
being cuttie
How Clarke
alums can help
you get that job
and more
it’s not as easy as you think
Clarke
Football
get ready!
PLUS: Freshmen bucket lists, senior regrets
Congratulations 2012-2013 Clarke Graduation Candidates
Undergraduate
Candidates
(Dec. 2012)
Kasey M. Finken
Jennifer K. Harrington
Kristen E. Anhalt
Angela L. Besler
Catharine E. Birch
Laura M. Blocklinger
Chelsey A. Boyer
Ashley R. Brehm
Jessica L. Brenner
Justine M. Brown
Craigory A. Christopher
Chad Coakley
Stacey L. Cervantes
Brittney L. Duschner
Brian Edward Eiffes
Gustavo Esquivel
Stephanie K. Freese
Travis Jesse Gabehart
Tiffanie A. Gorham
Ashley A. Gunzel
Tresa Heber
Bridget R. Heer
Chelsea T. Heitkamp
Cassie M. Jackson
Shaun E. Jones
Molly P. Kelchen
Kaitlin Christine Kilburg
Tara L. Klossner
Cody S. McClain
Daniel W. McNamara
Charles D. Nunn, Jr
Marlene V. Reuter
Juan J. Roman
Randalyn G. Rubner
Greg F. Schuster
Shannon L. Stedwell
Christina A. Stumpf
Michael Allan Till
Jason G. Waddell
Gregory M. White
Kelly A. Wiezorek
Eric D. Winch
Tina L. Zielinski
Jesse James Bakey
Melissa J. Gaber
Ellen E. Clewell
Leah J. Fern
Lori A. Dalberg
Joan M. Runde
Jolene Stackis
Masters Candidates
(Dec. 2012)
Jonathon D. Beers
Nathaniel W Gilmore
Jenna G. Houselog
Kyle V. Vejraska
Undergraduate
Candidates
(May, Aug. 2013)
Zachary P. Althaus
Mary K. Anderson
Erin N. Anthenat
Sara T. Arthofer
Lindsey K. Baker
Mirek Baran
Diane L. Baumgartner
Amanda J. Bonney
Amy L. Bowden
Bridget A. Bowman
Christopher R. Brewer
Rebecca J. Brosnan
Rebecca A. Brown
Maria L. Covington
Brian F. Cross
Erin M. Daly
Rahni Kay V. David
Jeremy J. Deweerdt
Joseph Edward August
Dietrich
Patrick A. Dirks
Jon C. Drury
Samantha L. Dugan
Jantz D. Elliott
Brianne M. Fagan
Lucas W. Flynn
Shannon N. Gallagher
Cody W. Gallagher
Ivy L. Galle
Alexis A. Gibbs
Jeremy A. Goodall
Dawn Grimstad
Lucas E. Grymonprez
Meghan D. Harrison
Ian P. Hart
Melissa J. Hartl
Holly M. Hosch
Daniel J. Hoyt
Michelle Ardine Jamison
Hattie R. Jonson
Kristin E. Kachlik
Sarah Jo Kelley
Ashley E. Kirner
Dawn M. Klostermann
Joseph L. Kosciw
Sammantha A. Mammoser
Chad L. Maro
Kelly L. McAllister
Darren McCarthy
Jordan Rey A. Mendoza
Scott A. Mestan
Sydney R. Mueller
Abby L. Nauman
Brian P. O’Donnell
Tyler Oehmen
Jacob L. Petersen
Abbey L. Peterzalek
Nicole L. Pollock
Raymond E. Pottebaum
Jacob A. Rios
Lynn E. Roth
Lindsey J. Roussel
Rolando G. Sanchez
Dustin C. Sandberg
Tara R. Sargent
Michael D. Schindel
Kayla S. Schnoebelen
Kim N. Shanley
Jill Rose Sieverding
Nathan Sipe-Powell
Brandon J. Sobojinski
Jennifer L. Streif
Brenda K. Strub
Peter J. Sullivan
Jeremiah P. Sullivan
Adam C. Szurkowski
Destiney K. Tebbe
Kyle R Telecky
Daniel J. Tringale
Luke D. Van Meveren
Emily A. Verhagen
Julie A. Walsh
Cory A. Weinschenk
Brian E. Weiss
Tessa A. Westpfahl
Dawn Wolf
Roberto C. Dominguez
John Paul Hentges
Kimberly T. Then
Jessica R. Bixby
Tessa J. Crist
Timothy E. Doser
Amber A. Kickbush
Megan K. Schwitz
Kaveria A. Allen
Kayla M. Baker
Erienne M. Becker
Kathryn L. Bergman
Aurora A. Buschkamp
Drew D. Carroll
Mary C. Collier
Nicholas J. Cone
Elizabeth A. Eiseman
Trevor L. Franck
Bailey K. Halvorsen
Audrey A. Hentges
Drew B. Higgins
Julianne Michelle Keith
Meghan K. Mulloy
Jordan E. Palmer
Katherine E. PhilippGuerra
Jonathan R. Schoening
Lindsay R. Schueller
Miguel M. Silva
Jessica Michelle Sloan
Nicole A. Sullivan
Courtney Jo Traser
Brittany Genevieve
Twohill
Bradley J. Weimerskirch
Alexandra Elizabeth Beck
Catherine R. Bormann
Amanda J. Burbach
Emily D. Capesius
Amy M. Chapman
Kelly M. Cleary
Alyssa A. Cooper
Kaila C. Dalen
Sara M. Davis
Stacie Lynn DeMoss-Schloemer
Kari Lynn Denahy
Stephanie J. Eslinger
Rachel C. Fischer
Kim Gilbert
Aubrey E. Hammes
Kevin A. Hartzog Jr.
Audrey J. Hurley
Brittany A. Jacobson
Chelsea M. Jelinek
Samantha C. Johnson
Olivia J. Johnson
Karla Kass
Danielle Diana Keys
Shelly J. Klein
Sara A. Knopik
Bridget A. Koehler
Taylor A. Konichek
Ariel Lynn Leonard
Mary E. List
Hannah E. Miller
Lauren M. Palmer
Cortney M. Pasker
Elizabeth M. Pecora
Diana B. Rice
Krista M. Richman
Brittany Rose Runde
Karena A. Sauser
Shawn A. Shumaker
Ashley L. Till
Faith Elizabeth Till
Caitlin Renae Wagemester
Kaitlyn M. Wallenhorst
Amy E. Warner
Callie M. Young
Laura E. Zelinskas
Barbara L. Zenz
Masters Candidates
(May, Aug. 2013)
Nichole M. Ambrosia
Christy A. Atkinson
Amanda M. Junk
Michael P. Mahoney
Stephanie A. Peters
Colin R. Rust
Christopher Ahl
Colin J. Allison
Marie L. Duster
Katherine Anne Kluseman
Molly M. Lammers
Kirk M. Lebeck
Nathaniel A. Lech
Diana C. Miller
Francis V. Milot
Eric Pollard
David T. Riniker
Laurie Skattum
Jeffrey M. Szalkowski
Tanya T. Tjarks
James L. Uppena
Amanda S. Addison
Maddalena L. Alfano
Katherine Shand Andersen
Tiffany M. Braun
Nicole L. Bridges
Erin Elizabeth Brown
Dana M. Clasen
Amy S. Connolly
Kara L. Fenne
Melinda Lyn Duncan
Foreman
Toni L. Gau
Darcy M. Glasker
Lisa M. Jansen
Angel R. Keller
Sara J. Kraus
Jodie L. McDermott
Kaye Lee McGrath
Kelly J. O’Reilly Alber
Melanie Ann Ramsey
Richelle M. Roethler
Edna M. Scherbring
Jennifer A. Seibert
Jacklyn M. Shovlain
Kaitlyn L. Tipsword
Cheryl A. Wagner
Megan Webber
Doctorate of Physical
Therapy Candidates
Michelle A. Bahl
Nicholas Joseph Bass
Elizabeth A. Beighley
Miranda J. Boss
Julie Christina Boyum
Kevin Andrew Bradt
Brant Michael Chambers
Tyson T. Droessler
Adam Duane Eiseman
Darcie Lynn James
Ashley A. Johnson
Jessica L. Lippens
Benjamin M. Maiers
Kevin J. Marchant, II
Kayla Jo Meyer
Kristin M. Obert
Cory Martin Oswald
Paige Elizabeth Petersen
Sarah A. Reidy
Brett Richard Reuter
Allison L. Riesberg
Kevin Matthew Steussy
Tiffany Ann Kamakaehukai Michiyo Truckenmiller
Dana N. Wells
Jared Allen Wichers
Caitlin E. Woods
Christopher James
Wooley
Jacob Steven Zanger
Clarke Catalyst 2013 1
CATALYST 2013
Editor’s Letter
editor
Erin Daly
assistant editors
Joe Arms
Michael Francis
Kevin Murphy
Rolando Sanchez
design assistant
Hilary Van Praag
photographer
Taylor Shively
contributing writer
Tyler Oehmen
illustrators
Hannah Goldsmith
Emily Schlueter
advisor
Diana Russo
I
t’s hard to believe, but the end of another school year is upon us,
and with that the expectation of another volume of the “Catalyst.”
Getting the 2013 volume of the magazine into readers’ hands
seemed a monumental task at the start of this semester; our staff
was even smaller than last year’s, we didn’t have a photographer at
the beginning, and a few of our staff members had never written
for magazines or used our layout program before. But thanks to the
creativity and dedication of our staff, the talents of a few outside
contributors, and hours of editing and designing, the 2013 “Catalyst”
is finally here, and I couldn’t be happier with the final product. This
year’s magazine features an eclectic mix of personalities and perspectives that I think you will enjoy.
There are many people to thank for making this volume possible, so
I’ll do my best to make sure I mention them all. First of all, I thank
the staff writers for their hard work and for making the stories in
these pages the best that they can be. Second, I thank our photographer, Taylor Shively, for helping the “Catalyst” cause by providing us
with images to help our stories come to life. I also thank our outside
contributors, art majors Emily Schlueter and Hannah Goldsmith,
whose illustrations added humor and whimsy to the writers’ stories,
and Tyler Oehmen, a two-time “Catalyst” veteran, who made sure
that Cuttie’s on-and off-court personality shines through in writing.
I also extend my thanks to everyone on and off campus who made
this magazine possible through agreeing to be interviewed for our
stories. The following pages would be pretty dull without your generosity and help.
And, of course, a special thanks is owed to our advisor, Diana
Russo, for her support and guidance. She spent countless hours sorting out the nitty-gritty details of this magazine, from font choices to
layout decisions to editing and proofreading stories. I also thank the
chair of Clarke’s communication department, Abdul Sinno, for his
support, and President Joanne Burrows, SC, and Provost/Vice President of Academic Affairs Joan Lingen, BVM, for their continued
support of this magazine.
Welcome to the 2013 “Catalyst.” Enjoy!
~Erin Daly
The “Catalyst” is a student-produced magazine for the Clarke
community. Opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect the
opinions of Clarke faculty, administration or staff. No part of
this publication may be reproduced without the expressed
written consent of the Communication Department. Questions or comments should be addressed to Diana Russo,
Communications Department, MS 1801, Clarke University,
Dubuque, IA 52001.
4 Clarke Catalyst 2013
CONTRIBUTORS
erin
daly
hilary
van praag
rolando
sanchez
michael
francis
kevin
murphy
joe
arms
taylor
shively
taylor
shively
CATALYST 2013
CONTENTS
6. Badass
Back on campus after 5 deployments to Iraq.
by Kevin Murphy
8. California Types
(Seen them lately?)
by Hilary Van Praag
10. Vertically Challenged
Who’s the tallest/shortest of them all?
by Rolando Sanchez
13. Tales out of School
Clarke profs beyond the classroom.
by Joe Arms
16. First Down for Clarke Football
It’s happening.
by Michael Francis
18. Clarke Sparkles
Photos by Taylor Shively
20. To Do:
Freshmen bucket lists
by Hilary Van Praat
21. Being Cuttie
It’s complicated.
by Tyler Oehmen
25. A Family Affair
T imeSaver includes family.
by Kevin Murphy
27. If Only
What seniors would do differently.
by Michael Francis
28. Heating it Up
Benchwarmers do it all.
by Hilary Van Praag
32. Updates from Abroad
Word from faculty Fulbright Scholars.
by Erin Daly
34 My View from Behind the Counter
Give them a break.
by Rolando Sanchez
36. Making Connections
Alums can help you find a job.
by Erin Daly
39. Nia Arrives
...After a long bus ride and good interview.
by Rolando Sanchez
Clarke Catalyst 2013 A
BADASS
Returning to Clarke after five deployments to Iraq
story and layout
by kevin murphy
photos contributed
T
he day of September 11, 2001 is a day that
people will never forget because of the tragedies that occurred. Those tragedies are what
inspired Clarke transfer student Jason Davis to join
the military.
Jason is a 38-year-old veteran born and raised in
Dubuque who attended Clarke University before
the military, and is now back at Clarke. Jason came
back to school because the job market was so tough.
Before he went into the military he also attended
Simpson College and Loras College. He played football at Simpson for three years and basketball for
a year at Clarke. He admits to not being the most
focused student, but when he started attending Loras,
his priorities changed and he started working on his
classes more.
Now at Clarke, Jason doesn’t mind being an older
student. “I enjoy being the older guy in class,” he says.
“I feel I have a lot to offer because of my experience.
Plus, I appreciate the opportunity and I am humbled
to be back in school full time. I would never take this
for granted.”
Jason is studying to get his degree in business
and is focusing on classes more now than he used
to. “I believe the learning environment now is more
conducive to learning and more closely correlates to
the real world,” said Jason, who has the post 9-11 GI
Bill, which helps out with his tuition.
In 2005, when Jason was 30 years old, he joined
the military and was stationed at Fort Lewis in Washington. He started with the infantry and then went
into special operations. Less than six months after
basic training he was deployed to Iraq. “First time I
was deployed I was excited to go over there and do
my part,” he said. “Being deployed really always had
my family worried but they were proud of me for
serving our country.”
Jason’s family consists of his wife, Sarah, a nurse
at Finley Hospital, and 2-year-old daughter, Grace.
“It was very hard on my family,” Jason said. “My wife
was a nervous wreck because she knew the nature of
my missions and understood the circumstances and
risks. We would go for four months, be back at base
for six months, but only three of those months were
spent at home.”
In the military, Jason, a platoon army sergeant,
was in the 75th Ranger Regiment, and the majority
of his missions were direct action missions. He says
he “got to jump out of airplanes and helicopters all
the time.” “Our special operations unit had two tasks,
“
”
With over 500 direct action combat raids under my belt, I felt like
percentages were against me and my boys.
air field seizure operations and direct action
missions. The direct action missions were for
high-value targets and had to be first okayed
by the president.
On borrowed time
Above: Clarke student
Jason Davis with two
comrades in Iraq.
Right: Jason with
his wife, Sarah. and
daughter, Grace.
Davis had five deployments to Iraq and says
the four and the fifth were the most difficult.
“They were the hardest because I felt I was
going, ‘outside the wire’ on borrowed time,”
says Jason.
One of the things he really liked about the
military was being part of something so big,
but it came with immense responsibility.
“With over 500 direct action combat raids
under my belt, I felt like percentages were
against me and my boys. My best friend in my
platoon was killed in action while we were on
a mission together and that weighed heavily
on me, especially when I took my boys out on
missions. I had a strong feeling of responsibility to bring them all home safely to their families. Many of my guys had a wife and children
of their own., said Jason.
“Being in the military you have to sacrifice
a lot for your country,” he says “Physically and
mentally, Special Operations was very challenging, but I enjoyed that part. The hardest
part was not being available for my family.
Not only was I deployed a lot, but when I was
here in the states, I was always working. For
months of my time I was on call and couldn’t
travel over 50 miles from my base because we
could be told to deploy anywhere in the world
within 18 hours.”
In his free time Jason enjoys running.
He has participated in three marathons: the
Seattle Marathon, the Portland Marathon, and
the Run for the Troops Marathon in Dubuque,
and he plans on running more. He didn’t enjoy
running as much when he was younger until
he was in the military and he started to log his
miles. He found it was something to get his
mind off the war.
“Being in the military was the most challenging thing I have done in my life: I learned
a lot about people and myself,” said Jason. “It
changed my life tenfold for the better. I got to
travel all over the world and see many different
perspectives on life. My favorite part was being
a part of such a huge cause and collaborative
experience and knowing you weren’t doing it
on your own.”
Many veterans struggle with adjusting to
everyday life after being in the military. “It’s
been very challenging,” says Jason.“I had a
lot of responsibility in the military. I was the
direct supervisor for 12 Rangers, leading them
on combat missions. Here in the states I would
teach classes to over 200 soldiers at one time.
Transitioning to civilian life and not having all
that responsibility has been tough. Plus, experiencing and witnessing everything I did in
combat changed my view of the world both in
a positive and negative way.”
Coming home
Jason earned a Bronze Star Medal among
other awards. As for the future he plans on
earning his degree in business administration
management and getting a job in the area to be
close to his family. He chose a business degree
so that he could get a good-paying job and
provide for his family. Jason also plans on participating in more marathons in years to come.
Jason left the military after eight long years
of duty. “After our daughter was born, my perspective and my life goals changed,” he said. “I
didn’t want to continue to put myself in harm’s
way knowing my family needed me, and most
importantly, I needed them. I felt I served my
country honorably and I owed it to my family,
and myself to be available for them.” Ë
Cali’
Clarke
Beach
Sonia Colavita
Hermosa Beach
“Coming to school at Clarke, I wasn’t used to people
not understanding the slang we use in California.
Some of the typical things I would wear such as jean
shorts, rainbow roxy sandals, or slip sanuks and a
racer back shirt, they would usually make the comment, ’Oh, cause you’re from California.’”
Sporty
John Hendrington
Fresno,California
“Coming from California people always say I talk different,
dress nice, which leads some people to stereotype me
as a player. On a typical day you’ll see me wearing
some Levi or True Religion jeans along with my Nikes or
Jordans, topping it off with a Cali sports team hat.”
Swag
c
story by hilary van praag
photos contributed
illustrations by emily schlueter
Urban
Rolando Sanchez
Chula Vista
“Being from Southern California or as others say, the
“Mexico Border,” I usually get the typical stereotypes of
people thinking I’ve been a member of a gang (ha!).
People may get this image based on what they see me
wearing most days: jeans, and for the shoes, I gotta go
with the Timberlands, one of my fitted hats or a snapback, and the big T (graphic to match the hat).”
Skater
Anthony Razo
Long Beach
“People see my typical wardrobe of skate shoes
with tube socks and how I throw on some Levi
jeans or Dickies shorts, a nice clean T-shirt, and
definitely a hat. And don’t let me forget to add
that it all has to match. Then they hear I’m from
Cali and they automatically think I own every
pair of Vans and that we need to look good 24/7,
which I can’t disagree with.”
Vertically
Challenged
The long and the
short of it for two
Clarke students
story and layout
by rolando sanchez
photos by taylor shively
Growing up can be hard enough, but when you
stand out more than others, it can be especially
difficult. For Clarke students Sam Mills and
Kourtney Miller, their height is what makes
them special.
Sam Mills, 18, is a computer information systems
major from Sacramento, Calif. Like many others at
Clarke, he came here via athletics.
Q
: What brought you to Clarke from California?
And how have you adjusted to life in Iowa?
A
: I was given an opportunity to continue my volleyball career as well as receive a good education, so I
took a chance and accepted the offer to come to Iowa.
Iowa is different in many ways, especially the climate.
The biggest challenge is being away from the family
and close friends back home; it is so expensive to fly
home. I see a lot of people I know on campus that get
to go home for the weekend and visit their families
but I understand my reasoning for being out here,
my passion for volleyball and the thought of making
them (family and friends) proud is what keeps me
going.
Q
: So, exactly how tall are you? And have you
always been the tallest one in the group?
A
: I am 6'10." Growing up, I was always the tallest one in the group, but nothing out of the ordinary
until I reached my freshman year of high school. I
had grown six inches over the summer and walked
in first day of high school at 6'5." Every year I grew a
couple inches, and here I am, unsure whether I still
have more growing to do.
Q
: Does height run in your family? Or are you
just lucky being 6'10"?
A
: Height does run in my family; my grandfather
was 6'7," my mom is 5'10," and my sister is 6'1." So
we got our fair share of height in my family.
Q
: How long have you been playing volleyball?
Did you play any other sports?
A: This is my sixth year. I started toward the
end of middle school. I played basketball for eight
years, before I started focusing more on volleyball
my sophomore year of high school. I fell in love with
volleyball; it became my passion and I embraced it.
Left, Clarke freshman Sam Mills with
junior Kourtney
Miller. Below, Sam
and Kourtney in
the driver’s seat.
Q
: What are some of the advantages and disadvantages of being short?
A
: I would say there are several advantages. I
look younger, which will definitely be an advantage
when I’m older. Right now, though, it is a disadvantage except for when I want to be younger so I
can get things cheaper. When I was 17 my family
and I went to Disney World and they said I was 12
so we saved money. I can fit into kids clothes and
shoes, which is nice because they are cheaper and
sometimes have cuter stuff than the adult sections.
Another advantage is that I get told I’m cute all the
time. I am always going to be shorter than guys! I
have learned to embrace my shortness and realize
that it makes me unique and it also gets me noticed.
One disadvantage, of course, is not being able to
reach things up high. The driver’s seat in my car has
to be up so far, and it looks silly because it is up so
much farther than the passenger seat. Another disadvantage is trying to find clothes that fit. I struggle
with pants; they are always way too long and I have
to get them altered.
The biggest disadvantage I would definitely have
to say is short jokes! I get so sick of them. I used to
take them really personally and they hurt my feelings, but I have learned to let them go more now. I
have also learned to laugh and go along because
if I don’t look irritated, then people stop. I am also
not always taken seriously, especially by little kids
because many of them are almost as tall as me. My
half sister is 12 and her shoe size is bigger than mine
and we can wear some of the same clothes.
: Being so tall, What are the advantages and
disadvantages?
: The advantages are: I can reach almost anything that is out of a normal person’s reach, but that
can also be a disadvantage because I am always the
go-to guy for anything high up. My height gives
me an advantage in volleyball, and when it comes
to crowds, I can see over everyone. Disadvantages:
There are always those who feel they need to make
unnecessary jokes about my height, but I have
grown to ignore those people and realize they are
the ones with the disadvantage. I am also always
confused for a basketball player.
Q
: So what adjustments do you have to make at
Clarke because of your height? For example, in your
dorm room, in classrooms, hallways?
A
: Because the bed isn’t made for someone of
my height, I have to adjust the way I sleep. I try to
curl myself up and a get in a comfortable position,
which unfortunately leads to really bad cramps in
the morning. Certain doorways are too short for me,
so I have to duck or tuck my head under when I pass
through. It becomes subconscious after a while, and
I don’t even notice that I do the adjustments I do.
Riding in a car, I have to push my seat back farther
than many people and adjust the rear view mirror.
Q
: It is so early in your college career, but where
do you see yourself in the future?
A
: Enjoying my college volleyball years and
graduating with a degree in computer information
systems and starting a career.
For Bellevue, Iowa native Kourtney Miller, 20, a business administration major, things are different. She
stands 4'11" tall.
Q: What brought you to Clarke?
A: I visited my senior year in high school and
liked it but thought I wanted something bigger so I
decided to attend the University of Northern Iowa.
After one semester, I knew I had made the wrong
decision and knew in the back of my mind that I
would end up at Clarke one day. I then attended
Northeast Iowa Community College in Peosta for
three semesters to save money. Then, I got to thinking about Clarke again and I also really wanted to
dance. I visited and knew it was the right fit for me.
I loved everything about it and everyone was so nice
and helpful!
Q
: Growing up were you always the shortest one
of the group?
A
: I was regular height through grade school and
then everyone kept growing and I sort of stayed put.
Q
A
Q
: You cheer lead and dance for Clarke. Which
do you enjoy more?
A
: I enjoy both of them a lot, although I had
never cheered before coming to Clarke. I danced on
my high school dance team so I have prior experience in that area and I just love it!
Q
: Does shortness run in your family or were
you just lucky to be 4'11"?
A
I’m doomed for shortness; my mom is really
short, my grandma and great grandma are also, so
is my grandpa, and several of my aunts on my dad’s
side.
Q
: More than halfway through college, where do
you see yourself in the near future?
A
: I am not sure exactly what I want to do, definitely something in the business world. I am currently employed at Prudential Retirement here in
Dubuque and I really enjoy it. However, I am only in
a temporary position and my time is almost up. I’m
hoping to be rehired and if possible work there after
I graduate. Ë
scoop it. com
Tales Out of School
Three Clarke professors who have a surprising
side to life beyond the classroom
story and layout by joe arms
As an undergrad, Knock was a history and political
science major. He then went on to earn his Ph.D. in
American
History at Notre Dame. In between his
f you walk the hallways of Clarke University and
studying
he
bought his first cookbook and brought it
roar, “Who can make me the best apple pie?”
back
to
the
dorms
with him. Although he didn’t have
Michael Knock, Ph.D., would be the first to answer
a
formal
kitchen
to
bring the recipes in the book to
your call with a humble smile on his face and a tin pie
life,
he
used
the
cookbooks
to “imagine what I could
pan in hand. Knock is a history professor at Clarke.
do
with
them.
”
However, there is some interesting history of his own
After finishing grad school at Notre Dame, Knock
that he may not teach his students. Michael Knock
had
some difficulty finding a permanent teaching job.
has a, “developed interest in the history of food”, and
This
led to his decision to apply to the University of
writes a weekly food column for the Iowa City Press
Iowa’s
School of Journalism Masters program. During
Citizen, a column he hasn’t missed writing since
his
time
in Iowa City he became a full-time reporter
August 2004.
Michael Knock: Keeper
of history and recipes
I
Clarke Catalyst 2013
for the Iowa City Press Citizen. Then in 2004 Knock
was asked to become the new food writer, and he
gladly accepted.
His journalism endeavors do not conflict with his
professorial duties. He’s able to balance his weekly
food column with his teaching. In addition to teaching and writing, Knock is currently trying to create
an oral history of his hometown Melvin, Iowa. His
goal is to talk to the citizens, all 211 of them, and
record the history of the town with their memories.
The town was started by the increase of small farmers moving into the area. However, wealthier families
are now buying up multiple farms. “Agriculture built
the town, and agriculture is now killing it,” he says.
Knock is hoping to capture the history of his
hometown so that others may learn from it. He’s
hoping to share his life through his food column so
that others may learn from it. He’s hoping you try a
slice of his apple pie so that you can learn his history.
Favorite movie: “The Royal
Tenenbaums”
Favorite book: “The Beat Queen”
by Louise Erdrich
Favorite food: Apple pie
Kent Anderson: Episcopal priest
C
larke University philosophy professor Kent
Anderson was born in Chicago, Ill. but raised
in South America. After finishing high school in
Venezuela, Anderson attended Trinity College in
Texas and graduated with a double major in philosophy and history. He went on to receive his graduate
degree in philosophy from DePaul University.
During one of his English Renaissance lit classes,
Anderson read the Book of Common Prayer, which
is the indispensable worship resource for Episcopalians. This was the first event that directed
Anderson’s life toward his role at St. Johns Church in
Dubuque.
After graduating from DePaul, Anderson found
himself teaching at Clarke. Here is where his faith
strengthened. “The Christian community here in
Dubuque strengthened my faith.”
For years Anderson continued to teach philosophy
and attend church. In 2009 he was ordained as an
official Episcopalian priest. Every priest in charge of
a congregation is involved with baptisms, confirmations, marriages, and burials.
They must also instruct both parents and godparents in the significance of Holy Baptism, the responsibilities involved, and how their obligations are to be
discharged.
There is a strong tradition of ministry work and
teaching within the religion.
Philosophy, the subject Anderson teaches, helps
him articulate life’s biggest questions. To Anderson,
the relationship between philosophy and religion is
similar to the relationship between math and engineering. “Math helps you think scientifically; philosophy helps you think theologically,” he explains.
Whether he’s in a church or a classroom, Anderson is always teaching. “As a priest one of my primary roles is to teach.” As a professor Anderson’s first
duties are to have faith in his students.
Favorite movie: “Babette’s Feast”
Favorite book: “The Great Divorce”
by C.S. Lewis
Favorite food: Chicago deep dish
pizza
Sunil Malapati: Director of people and chemistry
S
unil Malapati has been a chemistry professor at
Clarke University for eight years. Many know him
simply as a professor, but he has another side to him.
A more “dramatic” side, if you will. When Malapati
isn’t teaching young minds about the chemistry of
the world, you may find him teaching minds (both
young and old) how to act with the proper chemistry
on stage.
Malapati’s theatrical beginning took place in Big
Rapids, Mich. He was an adjunct professor at Ferris
State University and was also involved in choir singing. On one particularly bold day, he decided to
audition for the school’s production of “Dracula.”
They offered him the role of Van Helsing, the beginning of a long and ongoing involvement in the world
Opposite Page: History professor
of theater.
Michael Knock cuts a cake he
After moving to Dubuque, Malapati immersed
baked for his European History
himself in the local art scene. He discovered Fly By
class. Philosophy professor Kent
Night Theatrical Productions, the Dubuque One Act
Anderson conducts services at
Play Contest, and the Dubuque Fine Arts Society.
St. John’s Episcopal Church in
Dubuque. This Page:
These communities allowed him to follow his pasChemistry professor Sunil Malasion for directing. Although directing was his end
pati appears in a 2007 Clarke
goal, he says he knew that, “the more you understand the makings of a play, the better you can direct.” production of “And Flights of
Angels,” an adaptation of ShakeHe attended playwright classes, created sound
speare’s “Hamlet ,”with 2009
designs, continued to act and spent time in art galalum Megan Svensen.
leries—all to better understand the theatrical process.
He did his homework.
Malapati says, “I’m always learning.” His acute
attention to detail is something he tries to pass on
to his students whether in the classroom or on the
stage.
Favorite movie: “Finding Nemo”
Favorite book: Anything by
Shakespeare
Favorite food: Sunil’s Fenugreek
chicken with rice and green beans
Clarke Catalyst 2013
First Down for Clarke Football
I t ’s h a p p e n i n g
story
storybybymichael
michaelfrancis
francis
illustration
illustrationbybyHannah
hannahGoldsmith
goldsmith
T
he prospect of Clarke having a football team
says
Vosberg.
is interest
to explore
whetherathor not
we
have
majors“The
thatgoal
are of
to student
has long been a hot topic. That discussion is
we
have
majors
that
are
of
interest
to
student
athletes. The addition of a large number of new students
part of a five-year strategic plan dating from
letes. The
addition
a large number
of new students
would
require
moreofprofessors
to accommodate
the
May 2012 to May 2017. This plan includes the possiwould
require
more
professors
to
accommodate
the
growth in numbers.”
This
plan
includes
the
possibility
of
developing
new
growth
in
numbers.
”
bility of developing new athletic teams, other majors,
Many students may be surprised to know that the
athletic
teams,
other majors,
and facility
upgrades.
Many
be surprised
know
that the
and facility
upgrades.
The Football
Committee
was
plan
is tostudents
establishmay
lacrosse
as a newto
sport
at Clarke
The
Football
Committee
was
created
as
a
subcommitplan
is
to
establish
Lacrosse
as
a
new
sport
at
created as a subcommittee of the Strategic Planning
before a football team. Lacrosse will be put in Clarke
place
tee
of
the
Strategic
Planning
Committee
in
2012,
and
before
a football
LaCrosse
be established
Committee in 2012, and was made up of 10 faculty
and
recruited
for team.
prior to
having awill
football
season.
was
mademembers
up of 10 from
faculty
and staff
members from
and
recruited
for prior
to having
football
season.
and staff
various
departments.
Clarke
has been
in talks
about the
possibility
of a
various
departments.
Clarke
has
been
in
talks
about
the
possibility
of a
It was a long process and it took over two years
partnership with the Dubuque Community School
It
was
a
long
process
and
took
over
two
years
for
partnership
with
the
Dubuque
Community
School
for the Football Committee to establish a plan and
District to allow the university use of Dalzell Field at
the
Committee
establish
a plan
and then
DistrictHigh,
to allow
theisuniversity
of Delzell
thenFootball
have it approved
bytothe
Board of
Trustees.
The
Senior
which
currentlyuse
being
rebuilt. Field
Cer- at
have
it
approved
by
the
Board
of
Trustees.
The
first
Senior
High,
which
is
currently
being
re-built.
There
first year was spent researching the possibilities, and
tain additions are needed in order to make the field
year
was
spent
researching
the
possibilities,
and
the
are
certain
additions
needed
in
order
to
make
the
the following year was spent taking the research and
usable as a college football field and for track and
following
year
was
spent taking
the
field events
usable such
as a college
football fieldallowing
and for Clarke
track
information
and
making
sense of
it.research and
field
as a pole-vaulting,
information
and
making
sense
of
it.
and
field
events
such
as
a
pole-vaulting,
allowing
Michele Vosberg, education professor and
to expand its track and field program. The walking
Michele
professor and
Clarke tolocation
expand the
track
and
field appealing
program. The
member
ofVosberg,
both theeducation
Football Committee
andmember
Stradistance
of the
field
is very
to
of
both
the
Football
Committee
and
Strategic
Planwalking-distance
location
of
the
field
is very appealtegic Planning Committee, said that the main goal of Clarke
ning
Committee,
said that
thegenerate
main goal
of having
ingCurrently
to Clarkethere is nothing in place for exactly
having
a football team
is “to
vibrancy
and a
football
team
is
“to
generate
vibrancy
and
spirit
on
Currently
thereathletic
is nothing
in place
for exactly
spirit on campus through athletic expansion and to
where revamped
facility
upgrades
will be
campus
through
athletic
expansion
and
incorporate
where
revamped
athletic
facility
upgrades
will be
incorporate ways to grow student involvement.”
put in. However, there is a campus master plan
that
ways
to
grow
student
involvement.
”
put
in.
However,
there
is
a
campus
master
that
“There are many initiatives that need to take place
includes suggestions on where new facilitiesplan
might
“There
are
many
initiatives
that
need
to
take
place
includes
suggestions
on
where
new
facilities
might
be
before developing a college football team,” said
be added. There is a lot to be done and it will be
before
developing
a
college
football
team,
”
said
Strateadded.
There
is
a
lot
to
be
done
and
it
will
be
awhile
Strategic Planning Committee member and Athletic
awhile before these upgrades are under way. “It is
gic
Planning
memberplan
andisAthletic
Direc- important
before these
under way.
“Itaisfive-year
imporDirector
CurtCommittee
Long. “A strategic
a way the
to upgrades
know thatare
although
this is
tor
Curt
Long.
“A
strategic
plan
is
a
way
the
unitant
to
know
that
although
this
is
a
five-year
university can position itself for the addition of footplan, it doesn’t guarantee football at the end ofplan,
the it
versity
can
position
itself
for
the
addition
of
football.
doesn’t
guarantee
football
at
the
end
of
the
fifth
year,”
ball. “There are many new and exciting things footfifth year,” said Vosberg.
“There
are
many
new
and
exciting
things
football
will
said
Vosberg.
ball will bring to the university. Football will have an
After the upgrades are under way, the next move
bring
to theimpact
university.
Football
will havespirit,
an immedithewill
upgrades
are aunder
way,
the nextstaff.
move
immediate
on male
enrollment,
and
forAfter
Clarke
be to hire
football
coaching
“A
ate
impact
on
male
enrolment,
spirit,
and
vibrancy
of
for
Clarke
will
be
to
hire
a
coaching
staff
for
football.
the vibrancy of campus life.”
head coach will be hired a year before the season and
campus
life.” Improvement Plan is the biggest step
“A
head coach
hired
a year
before
The Capital
recruiting
will will
thenbetake
place,
” said
Long.the season
The
Capital
Improvement
Plan
is
the
biggest
step
and
recruiting
will
then
take
place,
”
Long.
in getting things established. This plan is designed to
Students around campus expressedsaid
mixed
feelings
in
getting
things
established.
This
plan
is
designed
to
Students
around
campus
expressed
mixed
add facilities and make upgrades to support growth
about a potential football team. “I don’t think feelings
Clarke
add
facilitiesThe
andkey
make
upgrades
to support
growth
potential
football
don’t
think “I
Clarke
in athletics.
areas
being focused
on are
the
isabout
readya for
a football
team,team.
” said“ITre
Wagner.
in
athletics.
The
key
areas
being
focused
on
are
the
is
ready
for
a
football
team.
I
think
they
should
locker rooms, the weight room, and various other
think they should focus on improving the sports we
locker
larger weight
room,
and various
focus onhave.
improving
the sports
we already
have,
” said
supportrooms,
areas. aCurrently
Clarke
has enough
resi-other already
” (The Football
committee
noted
that
It
support
areas.
Currently
Clarke
has
enough
residence
Tre
Wagner.
“It
is
important
to
know
that
the
existdence hall rooms to house the additional students
is important to know that the existing sports will not
hall
house
theestablishing
additional students
ingnegatively
sports willaffected
not be or
negatively
affectedtaken
or have
that rooms
would to
come
with
a footballthat
team.
be
have anything
away
would
come
with
establishing
a
football
team.
anything
taken
away
with
the
addition
of
football.”
The athletic side is a key focus of the plan, but a
with the addition of football.)
athletic
key focus
of With
the plan,
Robert
Prado
said,Prado
“I think
that
football team
team is
is
lotThe
needs
to beside
put is
inaplace
as well.
the but
pos-a
Student
Robert
said,
“ Aa football
lot
needs
to
be
put
in
place
as
well.
With
the
posexactly
what
Clarke
is
missing;
this
is
a
great
plan
sible addition of 70 students for a football team, work exactly what Clarke is missing; this is a great plan
sible
addition on
of 70
students
for a football
because football
football isis the
the only
only main
main sport
sport we
we don’t
don’t have.
have.””
is proceeding
possibly
developing
new team,
majorswork because
is
proceeding
on
possibly
developing
new
majors
We
don’t
have
football
back
home
in
Germany,
said
aimed toward student athletes. “These majors are not Franz Winkler said, “We don’t have football back
aimed
majors
are not
Franz in
Winkler.
“ But
I love
watching
it in
America
chosen,toward
and westudent
may orathletes.
may not“These
need new
majors,
”
home
Germany.
I love
watching
it in
America
and
chosen,
and
we
may
or
may
not
need
new
majors,
”
and
am
excited
it’s
in
the
future
of
Clarke
University.
says Vosberg. “The goal is to explore whether or not
am excited it’s in the future of Clarke.”University.
”Ë ”
Clarke
ClarkeCatalyst
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clarke sparkles
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photos by Tyler Shively
photos by taylor Shively
To Do: Freshmen Bucket Lists
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Being Cuttie
I
It’s more complicated
than you think
story by tyler oehmen
n the Clarke athletic department
there is always an unlucky coach or
staff member who gets the bonus
responsibility of finding someone to step
into the suit of Clarke’s official mascot,
Cutlass T. Crusader (more affectionately
known as “Cuttie”). It’s not a hard job,
but it is most certainly a pain in the
you-know-what.
It seems simple enough, yet no one
seems to want to put his or her body into
a hot suit that many others have worn
and that, while you are inside, makes you
wonder if you have left Dubuque for a
hike in the Sahara Desert. And then there
is the question of why someone would
want to put themselves into a furry suit
and entertain hundreds of people in the
Kehl Center when it feels like the wearer
“
I would say that Jon Heidler was BORN to be a mascot.
is actually at the base of a volcano. The staff member
in charge this year is head women’s soccer coach
Tyler Watkins. Lucky for Watkins, however, Clarke
has found someone who actually wants to be Cuttie.
Over three years ago, an 18-year-old Jon Heidler
set foot on the campus of the newly renamed Clarke
University as a freshman and began his college life. It
would define him.
“I’ve always been outgoing,” said Jon. “I always
want people to remember me. I know I am certainly
awful with names so I want to leave an impression.”
Single Jon is born
He did. That first day at Clarke, and for many days
onward, Jon began to introduce himself to his contemporaries. With a sly smile, a nod, and often a
handshake, he would walk up to a female and utter
the six words that would shape his future at Clarke:
“Hi, I’m Jon and I’m single.”
“Single Jon” was born. Always wanting to leave
an impression, Jon continued to plug the notion
that he was single, eating up all the attention it got.
Across campus you could have a conversation that
would go like this:
“I was waiting in line to get my food when Jon
started talking to me.”
“Jon who?”
“You know, Single Jon.”
“Oh! I know him!”
This proved to be sometimes problematic for Jon.
First, everyone knew his relationship status without
checking Facebook. Second, no one knew who he
actually was. After all, he was “Single Jon” or, to
some, “Jon Single.”
“I actually had someone try to look me up on Facebook but could not find me because they thought my
last name was ‘Single,’” Jon said.
In no time, everyone knew who Single Jon was, but
few could pick Jon Heidler out in a police lineup.
Things really took off when the organizers of CONNECT orientation week put on their annual air band
show for freshmen. Jon’s band had finished performing, and, with a packed Jansen Music Hall, his band
mates pointed at Jon in unison exclaiming “Ladies,
this is Jon and he’s single!”
“I love it,” said Jon about being known as Single
Jon. “I didn’t start introducing myself as that to get
a girlfriend; I did it to leave an impression. Being
known for that tells me I did.”
As it turns out, he had plenty of other things to be
known for. You couldn’t go to a Clarke game without
Coach Chris Uffman
”
seeing Jon in the stands. Jon was known for showing
up to Clarke sporting events wearing face paint, and
LOTS of it. He applied the paint to his face in incredibly decadent designs and vibrant colors. It certainly
succeeded in garnering attention from the crowd.
One day, Jon, the now junior biology major and
member of the Clarke bowling team, was asked by
his coach, Chris Uffman, the lucky staff member in
charge of Cuttie, to help him out at Clarke Day at
the River Museum in downtown Dubuque. Uffman
had asked two bowlers to be Cuttie that day because
someone had bailed on him at the last minute.
Jon thought it would be gross to put on the mascot
suit after someone else had worn it so he offered
to take both shifts. But he thought it would be fun
being a mascot. He put on the suit and it was meant
to be. Seven hours later, the day was over and Jon
had been so caught up in the action he had forgotten
to take his one-hour break. A beautiful relationship
between an outgoing bowler and a lion suit was
born.
“I would say that Jon Heidler was BORN to be
a mascot,” said Uffman. “He is very animated by
nature, and given the additional anonymity that the
full-body suit affords, Jon Heidler plus Cuttie is a
recipe for high energy shenanigans”
Uffman has seen Jon transform from Jon of the
past to Jon today.
“Jon has definitely grown since he began his time
here,” continued Uffman. “Oddly, being hidden in
the suit may have helped him to come out of his
shell a bit. He seems a bit more confident walking
around campus, even if he isn’t covered in fur. It
takes a special person to be Cuttie and to do as great
of a job as Jon does. It is easy to go through the
motions and just wear the suit, but Jon embodies
the persona. A good mascot needs energy, character,
and the ability to stew in your own sweat for hours
at a time.”
A new Cuttie
Cuttie had become a new mascot. He was now a
consistently fun-loving goofball and people noticed.
Cuttie was becoming a real celebrity at home games.
As time went on, Jon would have more and more fun
as Cuttie. ( In reality, it should be said that “Cuttie”
was having more and more fun.)
“When I am in the suit, I am Cuttie,” said Jon. I
forget that I’m Jon. If you’re at a game and yell ‘Hey,
Jon,’ I won’t even realize you’re talking to me. But if
you yell for Cuttie, I’ll hear it.”
Since Jon has begun to inhabit the lion’s skin,
people have really begun to notice.
“Jon Heidler has given Cuttie an identity,” said
Clarke Athletic Director Curt Long. “Jon’s energy
and creativity is visible in Cuttie’s persona. Cuttie
is happy and enthusiastic. He enjoys dancing and is
acrobatic. Fans and the Crusader community have
come to expect Cuttie to be lovable and approachable, and they are curious to see what Jon has
planned for each performance.” As for “Single Jon,” the man inside the suit, over
three years after his CONNECT week debut, he is
still known on campus as “Single Jon,” even by students who were not around when he first earned the
nickname.
“I don’t introduce myself as being single anymore,”
said Jon. “I go along with it if people still refer to me
as that.”
When asked what people know him as more,
“Single Jon,” “Jon Heidler,” or “Cuttie,” he throws his
given name out the door right away.
“Definitely not Jon Heidler,” he said. It would
have to be a toss-up between Cuttie and
‘Single Jon.’”
Taking its toll
Living the life of “Single Jon”
has taken its toll at times, though.
Sometimes people would get the
wrong impression and mistake
him for some sort of womanizer. Luckily, Jon felt that went away once people
took the time to actually get to know him.
Other times people were quick to judge him
based on his nickname.
“Over the years I have learned both from
being known as ‘Single Jon’ and being ‘Cuttie’
to not care what others think,” said Jon. “I’ve
learned a lot and that was a big one.”
Yet there is one glaring problem he still has: “I’m
still single,” said Jon.
But the day Cuttie and “Single Jon” became one
was a landmark day.
“Once I was done that first day of being Cuttie,
Katie Bahl, director of Alumni Relations at Clarke,
pulled me aside and told me how good of a job I did,”
said Jon.
“Now Single Jon” was someone, or something, new.
Even better, his old skills surfaced to help him out.
Jon owns a pair of hockey skates.“Being Cuttie has
opened up a few opportunities for me,” said Jon. “I
got to skate as Cuttie on the ice during intermission
“
I get bolder and have more
ideas every time and need to
process through my head if
those ideas are good
or not.
”
the Philadelphia Phillies before every appearance in
of a Dubuque Fighting Saints game and play hockey
the suit.
against 14 other mascots!”
The Fighting Saints have since offered Jon a position as a part-time Bernie the St. Bernard mascot for
Mascot School?
the team. For Jon, being known across campus by
“People have told me I should leave Clarke and go
everyone is what Clarke is all about. Because of its
to mascot school,” said Jon. Others have told me to
small size the campus is a tight community, and Jon
not graduate so I can be Cuttie for years to come.”
is proud to be a part of that.
It’s hard when you get constant praise to not think
“To be honest, Cuttie has changed much more
even bigger.
than Jon Heidler has,” said Jon. “When I am Cuttie, I
“I’ve always wanted to become a vet,” said Jon.
get bolder and have more ideas every time and need
“But I’d be lying if I said the thought of being a proto process through my head if those ideas are good
fessional mascot hasn’t run through my mind.”
or not.”
While Jon has found ways at Clarke to transform
Following one of those instincts, Jon once
himself
into a better person, he has transformed
climbed the referee stand after a volleyball match
himself
physically as well.. Jon has lost about 50
and tried to jump off and onto the bleachers.
pounds
in the past year and he is incredibly proud
“That would have been a bad one,” laughed Jon. “I
of
it.
come up with an idea and then started to process
“I wanted to go scuba diving,” he said. “That is
what would happen. There I was up on the ref stand
what
prompted the weight loss. I wanted to look
debating whether I should jump or not. It’s a good
good
in a wetsuit.”
thing that I didn’t.”
In
the
fall of his freshman year, Jon never thought
Cuttie will run into a few issues here and there.
he
would
be known by three different names at
He has been known to have his head fall off, which
Clarke.
Nevertheless,
he took what he got and ran
happened once when celebrating a basketball vicwith
it.
You
used
to
see
“Single Jon” at every Clarke
tory. The feet of the suit are worn out, making it difsporting
event
with
his
face painted with crazy
ficult to wear. But Jon always learns new things from
colors
and
designs.
Not
anymore. No one has seen
his experiences. He even has a mascot role model
Jon at a game in a couple of years. Ë
of sorts. He watches videos of the Philly Phanatic of
TimeSaver student shares
Clarke experience with family
story and layout by kevin murphy
photo by taylor shively
A Family
Affair
Gabe Dominguez
in the SAC with his
father, TimeSaver
student Roberto
Dominquez.
”
As an older adult my family has been my passion and will continue to be so, but
now I can add Clarke University to my list of things that matter to me.
”
— Roberto Dominguez
Growing up, the word “college” wasn’t even in Roa high value on education and the sacrifices we make
berto Dominguez’s vocabulary and wasn’t something while holding down jobs and raising families can at
he ever thought about throughout high school.
times make it difficult to stick to a rigid schedule.”
Roberto is a 44-year-old TimeSaver student who has
Roberto comes to Clarke to study in the Atrium. “I
like to do homework here because of the peacecome back to school at Clarke to get his degree.
ful
atmosphere,” he said. He sometimes brings his
Roberto is originally from Joliet, Ill., and was work11
and
14 year olds with him so they can get their
ing at Storage Tech when they needed someone to
homework
done too. He says they really enjoy going
take a job in Dubuque on a two-year contract so he
up
to
Clarke
with their dad.
decided to go for it. He worked the two-years but fell
in love with the city of Dubuque and stayed.
Roberto now works at IBM downtown as a systems A family of soccer fans
service representative and has been working there
Roberto and his family are a very big soccer family.
for 17 years. “I maintain a territory that stretches
“As a child I grew up watching soccer; my father and
from as far west as Mason City, east into Illinois, and uncles played in leagues and the kids went to most
north to parts of Wisconsin and south to Clinton
games,” he says. “Although we didn’t play organized
and Dubuque,” Roberto says. “I work with busisoccer, we had our own games and always enjoyed
nesses and ensure their systems are performing by
the sport.” His children all have played or will play
doing hardware repairs and upgrades. I provide our
and Roberto also coaches. “We’re big fans of the
customers with 24/7 services.”
Clarke soccer team; we didn’t miss a game this year,”
His job has no specific hours-per-week limit so it
he says.
is difficult to manage with his courses. “On average
Roberto coaches his children in the AYSO club
I work 60 hours a week, but I really love my job,” he
league and has coached five teams at a time. He has
says.
been coaching soccer for 17 years. “Coaching means
doing something that takes my mind off of work
Coming to Dubuque
and more time I can spend with my children,” said
Roberto met his wife, Dawn, an R.N. for Hospice of
Roberto.
Dubuque, when he first came to Dubuque and she
As for the future, graduation is coming right
was part of the reason he stayed here. Roberto and
around the corner in May. “Part of the reason I went
Dawn have four children together, ages 3, 4, 11 and
to college was to be a good role model for my chil14. Roberto also has two children, 27 and 25 years
dren and show them that you can go to college and
old, but they are already moved out.
earn a degree; it is possible,” said Roberto. “Going to
“The children are a lot to handle with our busy life- college has made me interested in education and I
style but we get through it everyday,” he said. Rober- want to do something involved in that field,” he said.
to is working toward a bachelorsin applied studies/
“Otherwise I will just apply all the education I have
leadership and management. “It consists of mostly
received into the work I do now.”
business classes,” he says. “It is a way to implement
Roberto says he is a true role model for his chilour experience and emphasize knowledge that is
dren and has enjoyed his time at Clarke. “As an older
helpful in advancing a career into management. I
adult my family has been my passion and will conenjoy my major; it really touches on a lot of different
tinue to be so, but now I can add Clarke University
aspects that go along with a liberal arts education.”
to my list of things that matter to me,” says Roberto,
“Being a TimeSaver student, I have enjoyed the
“I feel as though I have become a part of Clarke. It
teachers, the way they treat students with respect
gave me an opportunity to learn and that’s all I asked.
and value our experience,” Roberto says. “Most
I am proud to be a part of this organization and the
teachers will be understanding and flexible because
values it holds. I will be sad to leave as a student but
they realize that TimeSaver students in general place
proud to forever be associated with Clarke.” Ë
“Looking back on
my time at Clarke. I
would have stayed
a year on campus. I
missed a lot of events
and other activities
living off campus.”
—Sergio Cruz
Sports Management
Major
“I would have started
freshman year with
an accent. Just speak
with a cool accent for
two weeks around
everyone and then
just stop using it to
see what people do.”
—Tyler Oehmen
Communication Major
“I would have studied
more as an underclassman. I would have
done this so I feel more
prepared to go out into
the real world in three
months.”
“I would have spent
more time with my
friends. I spent a lot of
time worrying about
getting enough sleep
to actually have some
fun.”
—Mary Collier
Athletic Training Major
— Bailey Halvorsen
AT/PT Major
If
Only...
Seniors tell what they would have done differently
story by michael francis
layout by joe arms
“I would have liked
to come here for more
than just this year. I’m
from Venezuela and
I like it here and it
helps that the people
are very friendly.”
—Luis Reyes
Sports Management
Major
“I think it would have
been fun to be part
of the rowdy Benchwarmer crowd at the
basketball games. I
was a trainer for the
men’s team so I had to
act professional.”
—Aurora Buschkamp
AT/PT Major
“I would have liked
to advance in the
playoffs for basketball.
We had too good of a
team to go out in the
first round.”
—Kris Brooks
Philosophy Major
“I would have spent
more time with the
guys on the basketball
team. Now that the
season is over I realize how close we all
were.”
—Luke Cassidy
Sports Management
Major
Heating
It Up
Senior Ian Hart leads
the Benchwarmers
in doing the wave
during Breast Cancer
Awareness Night at a
basketball game.
Benchwarmers fire up the action
at Clarke basketball games
story and layout by hilary van praag
S
o it’s game day as the Clarke Crusaders basketball team takes on the St. Ambrose Bees right in our very own Kehl center at
Clarke University. You walk through the glass doors with a lei around your neck, your bright Hawaiian button up shirt, and
your hula pants and sandals. You enter the gym where you see your fellow classmates dressed in the same attire. You can
already hear some of the chants from the Benchwarmers as both teams take the floor to warm up. You head down the stairs to
make your way through the student section where you find the perfect front row spot to stand with the other Benchwarmers. As
the game begins, the first time out by the Crusaders calls for “the rollercoaster,” when leader Ethan Abney stands in front of the
crowd as the rest of us sit down and pretend like we are on a rollercoaster, following what Ethan does. As halftime comes around,
Crusaders and Bees are at a tight match up. The Crusaders are
now on defense, as the Benchwarmers begin the chant “D-DD-DEFENSE, D-D-D-DEFENSE.” It’s the Crusaders with a
steal! As Kris Brooks goes up for a lay up, he is fouled and will
be going to the line. All the Benchwarmers put their hands up
and start the spirit fingers while the shot goes up…and “swish.”
Crusaders are now in the lead. As the game is coming to an end,
the Benchwarmers pull out their keys and start shaking them,
targeting the St. Ambrose Bees to “start the bus.” 5, 4, 3, 2, 1…
And the Crusaders come out with a victory! The players gather
in front of the Benchwarmers student section and start the infamous chant “C-What?” “CU!” “C-What?” “CU!” What a great
win for the Clarke basketball team and the Benchwarmers.
Who are we?
Benchwarmers is a student organization whose goal is to bring
life to the student section during Crusader games and to help
invigorate the team. The group was started by former baseball
player and business major Justin Hass in fall 2009. Any student
at Clarke is welcome to the Benchwarmers student section and
encouraged to dress according to the theme to make things fun.
Benchwarmers tries to create the best atmosphere for the players and fans during the game. To keep things interesting, the
Benchwarmers have a different theme for each game
such as Hawaiian night, CEO strictly business, neon, white
out, camouflage, pink for breast cancer, ugly sweater, gold rush,
‘merica, hobo, and many more.
Abby Markham, junior nursing major in the Benchwarmers,
says, “Being a part of the Benchwarmers I feel at home; it’s a fun
group to be a part of on a Wednesday night game.” Many students enjoy being a part of the Benchwarmers because it makes
the games more enjoyable. The Benchwarmers do many things
to make a difference at the games. There are a variety of different
chants yelled throughout the game such as: “Scoreboard, scoreboard...” “Start the charter,” “You got swatted,” “Air-ball,” and
many more. Some of the favorite themes for basketball games
have been a white or gold out, Hawaiian/luau out, and Cholo.
Students have said when they go all out with dressing up according to the themes for the games, they are much more enjoyable
for them.
From the other side of the court
The teams say they can feel a difference in the environment
when the Benchwarmers show up. Most athletes try to get many
students and faculty to go to the games for support. “The Benchwarmers have a great impact on our team,” says basketball player
and athletic training major Charles Deneen. “All the fans add
to the excitement of our games and give us the extra adrenaline
to play at a maximal level. They also have an adverse effect on
our opponents through their heckling and cheering. The St.
Ambrose game is a great example because when the crowd went
wild during their free throws, they missed quite a few. We have
the best fan base in the conference hands down and we hope
that it continues.”
“
Tyler Oehmen, communication major and the music coordinator at the sporting events, said, “The Benchwarmers do a
wonderful job when they really try to get the people in to it. But
it’s not every game. It’s really disheartening going to a big game
and seeing everyone sitting down quietly. When people let go
and get into games, they are 100 percent more exciting and gives
a true advantage to Clarke. Ethan Abney does a great job leading
the crowd sometimes, but Clarke and the fans are at their best
when everyone is there and being LOUD!”
Overall, everyone can see that the Benchwarmers take on a
huge role at Clarke University. Vivian Bannon, campus visit
coordinator in Admissions, says, “The Benchwarmers have a
huge impact on the sports teams. They keep the crowd going.
When the Benchwarmers are present, the players hear all the
cheering and yelling which gets their adrenaline going and
they play much better. When they are not present, you can feel
how dead it is in the air and that is hard on the players.” The
Benchwarmers make a huge difference for our sporting events at
Clarke and they hope to keep this tradition going. So, make sure
you follow @CUbenchwarmers on Twitter for the latest news
and themes to help support the Clarke Crusaders! Ë
The Benchwarmers make a huge difference
for our sporting events at Clarke and they
hope to keep this tradition going.
”
Opposite page: Shorts
Night at a basketball
game; Benchwarmers
president Ethan Abney joins the crowd
at Neon Night. Below,
Corporate Night.
Updates from Abroad
Two Clarke professors share their Fulbright Scholarship adventures so far
layout by erin daly
photos contributed
'Hʋɠ&Oʋʁȴɏ&ʝPʛʦʜLʤɨ
Clarke history chair
Lynne Niznik with
students at the University of Limpopo-Turfloop Campus,
South Africa
Wish you were here! The temperature is 86 degrees, it is
Thinking, Differentiated Pedagogy, Intellectual Curiosity
sunny, and the trees are in full bloom with the most wonand Research Writing.
derful scents imaginable!
Secondly, I am active in the creation of a program resultThe University of Limpopo is much larger than I
ing from a directive of the South African national governexpected. It is about 864 acres and tucked into mountains. ment to establish a developmental program for first year
Approximately 20,000 students are enrolled with about
“at-risk” students who arrive at university underprepared.
5,000 first years. I live in a huge home surrounded by
Most students at the university come from rural, impovmountains that I view from my balcony overlooking the
erished local areas of South Africa and neighboring counswimming pool and have lots of room for visitors!
tries. I coordinate and teach the Life Skills component. I
My work is in two unique programs: The Centre for
have 360 students divided into only two sections!
Academic Excellence and the Extended Degree Program.
I miss you and love you!
With my colleagues in the CAE I offer workshops for faculty and students on Active Learning, Assessment, Critical
32 Clarke
ClarkeCatalyst
Catalyst2013
2013
/ʪʜȸɏ
+ɰɸOɛ&Oʋʁȴɏ)ʢȲʑQGɡ
Clarke art history
professor Bryan
Zygmont beneath
the Zygmunt Bell
in the cathedral in
Krakow, Poland
I have been in Poland since February 1.
On the one hand, it seems as if I have just
arrived. On the other, my mind attempts
to convince me I have been gone for an
eon. This comes from the excitement of
living in a foreign country with new and
stimulating things to see and do, and the
sadness that comes from being away from
family and friends, the Wunderbeagle,
and my job at Clarke that I so love.
The semester here at the University of
Łódź is moving along at a quick pace. I
am teaching two graduate-level classes,
and the students have been nothing short
of delightful. Many have come up to me
after class and thanked me for my “American style of teaching.”
The Polish style of teaching, it seems,
involves sitting behind a desk and droning on as did the history teacher in
“Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.” I might drone,
but I do so in front of the desk. As Clarke professors
are wont to do, I aspire to begin conversations during
the course of a class. They were a bit surprised by
this at first—what a concept! A teacher who cares
that they are awake!—but they have responded wonderfully well. I have even convinced some to call me
Bryan, although the majority of them cannot bring
themselves to do so.
There are many reasons why my particular academic discipline is among the greatest in the world,
but here is one: going really cool places and seeing
really cool things makes me better at my job. If
you’ve taken ARHS 133 with me (Prehistoric to
Gothic Art) and remember the Sainte Chapelle stories—“silence dans mon chapelle, s’il vous plait”—you
know this to be true.
And the great part about living in Łódź, Poland?
I’m a short flight or a slightly longer train ride away
from some really cool stuff.
I want to see lots of it.
I spent much of my first six weeks here making
trips about Poland; I’ve been to Warsaw three times
and to Krakow twice. But it’s high time to spread my
Fulbright wings a bit, and plan other trips. Bigger
trips.
I have visited Prague and Munich, and in the next
several weeks I will visit Paris and Amsterdam. I
might squeeze in a trip to Berlin for good measure,
too. And after the conclusion of the semester (which
won’t happen here until the end of June), The Lovely
Wife and I will do some travelling. I really hope to
visit Spain and learn about the interaction of Christianity and Islam in places such as Córdoba. But I
would also like to catch the night train from Krakow
to Vienna and explore what many people call “The
City of Music.” But don’t tell my wife. This is a secret.
I send you all my happiest good vibes from Poland
and best wishes for the successfully conclusion of the
spring term. Do widzenia!
%ʢ\ʋɚ
The view from behind the counter
at the Cru’sader Cafe’
story by rolando sanchez
illustration by emily schlueter
I
magine waking up at 5:30 a.m. on a Tuesday morning before the trash man gets to
your house and the snow plow is barely
touching the main streets. While most students
are sleeping and the athletes in their respective
sports are building an appetite during their
morning workouts, the Crusader Café staff is
hard at work, doing a variety of tasks to ensure
a smooth day for its customers.
Then imagine confronting the occasional
customer who isn’t as patient or helpful as he
34Clarke Catalyst 2013
or she could be: Don’t be that customer.
From the moment I walk into work on
a Tuesday morning, I am greeted by fellow
employees, Stormy, Laurie, Jeannie, Tammy
and Jayne. A funny thing about these greetings—they seem to always lead to a long list
of tasks I have to complete.
Since Tuesday morning is “truck day,”
when the SYSCO company truck drops off
boxes of food, it means I get the honor of
stocking the freezer. As a college athlete, lifting
“
We don’t have maternal senses
when it comes to knowing the milk
machine needs to be filled.
weights is on my everyday agenda, so having to
stock a couple 50-pound boxes is a piece of cake,
but when it is several 50 pounders, it can be monotonous and surprisingly tiring.
Once I finish about 45 minutes of stocking boxes
in a 7-degree freezer, I get started on preparing
pizza. On average, it will take me three minutes to
do a pizza. The dough is already prepared; I spread
the sauce, cheese, the toppings, and wrap it up to
put in the fridge for a later bake. I actually take
pride in making the pizzas because I see people
eat pizza every day, and I figure if I am going to be
making something, I want it to be the best.
After making pizzas for an additional 30-40 minutes, I am rewarded with a ten-minute break and
complementary breakfast, usually consisting of a
plate full of diced potatoes, four eggs, and some
bacon, and I can’t leave out the Frank’s Red hot
sauce mixed with ketchup for my eggs. After 10
minutes of “Sportscenter,” it is back to making the
money.
I wash dishes until my shift is done. Now anyone
who has worked at a fast food joint knows how fast
dishes pile up. All of the many utensils required
for preparing so much food need to be soaped,
scrubbed, rinsed, and put in disinfectant.
Don’t be this guy
When it comes to the other side of the counter, I
have found many Crusader Café customers feel
their needs are greater than those of other customers. They are wrong: just because a number after
yours is called does not mean we started making
their food before yours or that we forgot about you.
It simply means whatever you have ordered takes
longer.
”
For example, if you decide to order a chicken
cordon bleu, it takes the longest of all of our entrées,
8 to 10 minutes. So if you are in a hurry, I suggest
you get a quick and easy sub and a salad or soup.
Anything that has to be grilled or deep fried will
take longer.
And then there are those who complain about
how long their food takes to arrive when it is actually already prepared and ready, but they are not
listening closely to their number being called on
the speakers, after being called two, three, and even
four times on occasion.
We do have rush hours
Furthermore, during rush hours, if you are one
of 50 customers, bear with the staff; they are trying
to prepare your order as quickly and smoothly as
possible.
Be understanding of the situation. If your
food takes slightly longer than usual, I’m sure
your college education can help you figure
out that there are 50 customers to six workers
and the process might be slower than desired.
And, if the chocolate or regular milk runs
out, just let one of the workers know that it
is out, because even though it is our job to
make sure there is milk, this does not mean
we have maternal senses when it comes to
knowing the milk machine needs to be filled.
A simple “Excuse me, Rolando, the chocolate
milk is out,” beats walking off disappointed
then returning in five minutes and finding
the same empty machine.
It would be helpful if you keep in mind
that we want to give you your order just as
much as you want to get it.
MAKING CONNECTIONS
New program matches students
with alumni mentors
story and layout by erin daly
36
“
Having someone focused on making sure a student is
set up to succeed can prevent him or her from feeling lost.
—Becky Herrig
.
W
edding bells have a different meaning
for Clarke student Shelly Graybill; the
junior communication major wants to be
a wedding planner. Luckily for her, a new program at
Clarke has given her the opportunity to test her skills
in her dream field. This year, Career Services and
Alumni Relations have teamed up to begin an alumni
mentor program.
Becky Herrig, assistant director of Counseling
and Career Services at Clarke, says the program was
born from the suggestions of Clarke graduates who
were eager to reach out to current students and to
assist them in their college journey. From there, the
alumni relations office helped match the graduates
to students in similar fields and with similar career
aspirations.
“The alumni mentoring program offers the student an instant connection to Clarke,” Herrig says.
“Having someone focused on making sure a student
is set up to succeed can prevent him or her from feeling lost.” The program gives the students the chance
to work with their mentor on resume and cover letter
writing, job shadowing, and smart business and professional practices.
Shelly was paired with JoAnn (Lavenz) Giese,
Wedding Director at the Grand River Center in
”
Dubuque, for her mentorship. Giese, a 2004 Clarke
graduate, is the go-to person for couples who want
to get married or have a reception at the Center and
helps handle many of the details of couples’ special
days. These details range from booking weddings
and receptions to coordinating rehearsal dinners and
bridal showers to working with the chefs at the River
Center and helping with the River Center’s annual
bridal show. Giese says that Clarke reached out to
her because many students were interested in her
line of work, and she jumped at the opportunity. “I
wanted to help my alma mater in any way possible,
so of course I said ‘yes,’” says Giese. She wanted to
give students the opportunity to see for themselves
the kind of work her job entails and to see if they
would be a good fit for the work.
The mentoring program is different than the
internship program that Career Services currently
offers in a few ways. The mentoring program cannot
be used to earn credit, for example, and it lasts a
whole academic year rather than a semester. While
a few students are shadowing mentors in Dubuque,
many have mentors all across the country, maintaining contact with their mentors through phone calls
and Skype. Mentorships also place more emphasis
on professional development than internships do, as
Wedding Director
at the Grand River
Center JoAnn Giese
(left) and Clarke
junior Shelly
Graybill.
the mentors and students discuss
things like resume writing and
building a network of connections,
which may or may not happen
during internships.
Making it happen
“
Once the word gets out about
the program, I don’t see how anybody could say no. —Shelly Graybill
”
get a job.”
Shelly’s mentorship has also
helped her see how central being
able to connect with clients is in
her chosen field, which she says
can sometimes be challenging. “I
realized the importance of being
able to relate to people and making
their views your ultimate goal,” she
says. “What you personally want
doesn’t matter; your client needs
to be happy and it is the job of the
director to make that happen.”
Shelly’s desire to be a wedding
planner made her a natural fit
for a mentorship with Giese. “I
have always wanted to be a wedding planner, but it was always
pushed aside” she says. “I figured it
couldn’t be made into a career, so
I found other things I was interEager to hire her
ested in.” She came to Clarke as
The professional connections that
an athletic training major, but it
Shelly has made have also been a
didn’t take her long to decide that
rewarding part of the mentorship.
it wasn’t for her and to realize that
She was able to meet area wedding
her longtime wish wasn’t going
planners at the January bridal show,
away. She changed her major to
and she recently got a job at Cheryl
communication and decided to
Ann Bridals in Dubuque through
pursue her dream career.
her current internship at the
“I want to be a wedding planDubuque Chamber of Commerce.
ner because I love making people
“Nothing bad will come from being
happy,” says Shelly. “I would be
paired with an alumni mentor,”
helping the couple create the hapShelly says. “Once the word gets
piest day of their lives together.”
out about the program, I don’t see
Shelly had already met Giese
how anybody can say no.”
through a mutual friend before her
Katie Bahl, Clarke Alumni
mentorship. When Giese learned
Events Manager, is excited about
of her interest in wedding planning, this new opportunity and hopes to
she invited Shelly to her own wedsee it grow. “This year we had eight
ding, which she planned herself,
student/alumni matches,” says Bahl.
this past November. Shelly says that “A lot of time was spent trying to
being acquainted with Giese before match the students’ needs and
interests with those of our
her mentorship started helped her
alumni. It was impressive that all
feel more relaxed and confident
eight of the alumni we asked to
about her mentor experience, but
participate said ‘yes.’ They were
the casual relationship hasn’t preexcited to get more involved and
vented her from learning some of
share their expertise with the
the nitty-gritty details of the wedstudents.”
ding planning business and good
The program is also designed to
professional practices.
help the mentors; by being paired
Shelly attended a bridal show in
with students with different backJanuary that included a tour of the
grounds, mentors can grow in proRiver Center, food tastings, and
more, to get a sample of the kind of fessional skills such as the ability to
work that Giese does every day. She motivate others.
Although she has only been
says that her mentorship experipaired with Shelly since late in the
ence has given her tips for getting
fall 2012 semester, Giese says she
hired in the wedding planning
sees lots of potential in her mentee.
industry.
“I talk to JoAnn about my resume “She is very dedicated to her studies
and eager to learn,” says Giese. “I
and if she would hire me,” Shelly
wish she was graduating this year
says. “She really gave me conso I could offer her the position of
fidence that what I have on my
my assistant!” Ë
resume is good and will help me
Nia Arrives
From graduation to a first job
story and layout by rolando sanchez
T
o get to her interview at Clarke last summer,
Nia Wilson, new Americorps VISTA worker at
Clarke, would end up borrowing $160 so she
could take a bus from Indianapolis to Dubuque since
her car had broken down just weeks earlier. “I got on
the bus at like 2 a.m. with a pillow, a bag, a hair wrap
on my head, and jogging clothes,” says Wilson. After
nine hours she was finally in Dubuque.
“It was so hot and when I stepped off the bus I
didn’t know who to look for to take me to Clarke,” she
continues. Clarke sent (now retired) Career Services
staff member Martha Intveld to pick her up. “Let me
say, this woman has seen me at my worst,” Wilson says.
“She brought me to the Crusader Café, and I went into
the restroom and changed into my suit and took my
hair wrap off. Everybody was surprised at how well
put together I was considering I had a nine-hour bus
ride, but only Martha knew the truth.”
Graduating college is a huge accomplishment for
anyone, but the scary part is what is going to happen
after. For Nia Wilson, getting that highly anticipated
job out of college came sooner rather than later.
Wilson, 23, grew up in Gary, Ind., and would later
attend college at Franklin College in Franklin, Ind.
She majored in sociology and was a member of many
clubs on campus. “I fell in love with sociology because
I attended a liberal arts college and I had positive
encounters with a variety of the sociology professors,”
she said. “I noticed that if I learned more about how
people functioned in groups, the knowledge would be
beneficial in any career path.”
Having a passion for her education has given
Wilson the opportunity to see and meet various
people along her path to employment. “I have been
blessed to have met a lot of contacts through the job
application process: networking with people in the
field you are pursuing is the best thing you can do to
set yourself up for success,” she says.
After graduating last May, Wilson started looking
for jobs right away, applying for positions at several
universities across the nation. One afternoon she
received an email asking her if she was still interested
in a job at Clarke that she had applied for earlier.
She replied with a yes, and she received a reply back
moments later telling her to be at Clarke at 11 a.m.
two days later.
“I became confused, and wondered if they read my
application because I live in Indiana,” said Wilson. “I
can’t just up and be in Dubuque at a snap of the
fingers.”
“
She knew that she really needed a job and riding
the bus all the way from Indianapolis would win her
some type of points.
New Americorps
staff member at
Clarke Nia Wilson
in the campus
Multicutural
Center.
She was slightly nervous
about the interview but she had
confidence because she knew
that she really needed a job and
riding the bus all the way from
Indianapolis would win her
some type of points. “My motto is if I can get a faceto-face interview, I can definitely get the job,” says
Wilson.
Wilson’s confidence would pay off; she was offered
the position. The tough part was trying to figure out
where she wanted to go. Unknown to Clarke, she had
already been offered a position in Remer, Minn. The
people from Remer wanted her to contact Clarke and
call off the interview, but she had already purchased a
ticket to Dubuque. “I didn’t get to officially meet the
people from Remer; I just had a phone interview, says
Wilson. “The Remer folks gave me until the Tuesday
after my interview at Clarke to make a decision. The
problem was by Tuesday I had still not heard from
Clarke.” She had to contact Clarke and tell them that
she didn’t want to rush the process and she was really
interested in coming to work at Clarke, but that she
had already gotten an offer from someplace else. “I
wouldn’t feel comfortable telling them no if there was
not a possibility of me getting hired at Clarke,” says
Wilson. How Clarke won her over
That’s when the battle started over her. “Clarke told
me that they were going through the technical motions but it looked like everybody really wanted me
there.” Wilson says. “They just couldn’t let me know
officially until the next day.” Unknown to either side,
both places were telling her to contact the other and
tell them she already made a decision to go with
them. “I decided to take the job at Clarke in order
to stay in an educational environment and because
Dubuque was so beautiful,” says Wilson.
Wilson says she has found the real world isn’t the
big bad wolf most college graduates hype it up to be.
Thinking the real world would chew her up and spit
her out, she discovered that it was quite the opposite.
40
Catalyst2013
2013
40 Clarke
Clarke Catalyst
”
“The real world has embraced me in a way that I
wasn’t sure it actually did to people,” says Wilson. “I
am very thankful that this job has connected me to
positive people, experiences and skills.”
Wilson is also a community partner for the Multicultural Family Center in downtown Dubuque. At
Clarke she helps build the foundation for the Service
Learning program, while at the Multicultural Center
she helps with volunteer recruiting and retention.
Creating cultural awareness.
Besides her regular 8 to 5 job at Clarke, Wilson takes
time out of her day to assist at B.S.U. (B.L.A.C.K.
Student Union) meetings and events to help raise
cultural awareness at Clarke.
While attending Franklin College, Wilson was a
member of their B.S.U. club as well as a member of
the swim team, and S.A.S.O.M. (Student Association
for the Support of Multiculturalism), and Student
Congress.
She was most proud of her membership in the
B.S.U. “I got to enlighten faculty and students about
African American issues and history,” says Wilson.
Because of her experience she was one of the advocates approached on how to structure the organization here at Clarke.
Wilson strongly believes that cultural awareness
is needed at Clarke, and the introduction of the
B.S.U. this year is just a start of what it will become.
“Cultural awareness is not only important to African
American people, but it is important to all people
in order to keep their histories and beliefs relevant
amongst other groups of people,” says Wilson.
Even though Wilson has landed a job she loves,
she still has dreams for the future. She is open to the
possibility of volunteering for the Peace Corps.
“It is a wonderful organization and the opportunity would give me a chance to serve numerous
people abroad,” says Wilson. She also has hopes of
attending graduate school. “My belief and confidence that I will be successful no matter what has
helped me make it this far. Persistence and drive will
help you be successful.” Ë
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ill WI 53818
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Grad list April 24.indd

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