RCL Blog

This post was authored by undergraduate student Alberto Diaz for Professor Christine Wilson's CRWS 105 class. It is part of a “Student Speaks” series on the RCL blog.

Often, media is seen as entertainment. Whether that be music, movies, or books, media is a source of distraction. Some films, however, don’t just entertain, they challenge you, provoke you, and force you to think about your own world. Adam McKay’s, The Big Short, does just that. On the surface, it’s a two-hour comedy-drama about a group of investors who shorted the housing market during the 2008 financial crisis, also known as the Great Recession. During this time unemployment rates and home foreclosures rates that had not been seen since the Great Depression. (Coghlan et al.) Beneath the celebrity cameos, unique satire, and fast paced narration, the film portrays Wall Street’s irresponsibility and government failures. As a first-year business major, and as someone who has dreamed of entering the financial world since high school, this movie hit me differently than other pieces of media I’ve had to engage with for a class. Although the movie did a phenomenal job at breaking down the 2008 housing crisis, it wasn’t just about learning history; it was about confronting questions about the future. My future. Our future. That is why I recommend The Big Short: because it not only makes a complex economic crisis accessible, but it also forces viewers to reflect on ethics, responsibility, and what it means to live with integrity in a world that may reward the opposite. 

A Brief Overview

Without spoiling too much, the narrative of The Big Short follows a handful of individuals who “beat” the system: Michael Burry, Mark Baum, Jared Vennett, Jamie Shipley, and Charlie Geller. In one way or another, they discover the instability of the housing market and they “short” it or bet against it; hence, the title The Big Short. It starts with Michael Burry, an awkward but brilliant hedge fund manager. He discovers that mortgage-backed securities are built on unstable subprime loans, and he invests millions against the housing market by creating credit default swaps. This unorthodox prediction at the time attracts the attention of Jared Vennett, a slick trader who partners with Mark Baum, a skeptical hedge fund manager determined to expose the truth behind Wall Street’s recklessness. Meanwhile, two young investors, Charlie Geller and Jamie Shipley, stumble upon Burry’s proposal and, with help of a retired banker, profit from the coming disaster. As these characters investigate, they uncover layers of corruption such as banks approving loans without verification, waiting agencies granting undeserved AAA scores, and regulators looking the other way. When the housing bubble bursts, their bets pay off, but the victory feels hollow as millions of ordinary Americans lose homes, jobs, and savings. (McKay).

Entertainment Meets Ethics

I won’t lie. The unexpected celebrity cameos throughout the movie that explained financial jargon were humorous, entertaining, and informative. But why were they needed? Easy answer: ordinary people don’t understand them. Most likely, you might not be a business major, and you’ll find yourself Googling terms like “credit default swap” just to make sure you understand them just like I did. As I was doing this, I realized that it was challenging me. It was provoking me to dig deeper. This led to me questioning the system. Why are these terms so hard to understand? Why are people taken advantage of? The film helped me answer these questions, as I’m sure it can do for you. It led me to realize it isn’t fair. It motivates me. Instead of using the knowledge I will acquire here throughout the next four years to take advantage of people, I want to use it to educate them and protect them.

Breaking the Fourth Wall

Ryan Gosling. What an outstanding performance from an outstanding actor. His character, Jared Vennett, often speaks directly into the camera at the audience, mocking the complexity of finance and the public’s blind trust in institutions. It felt personal. The movie was made for millions of people to watch, but it felt as if he was only talking to me. He was asking me: “What are you going to do about this?” It was no longer just about Burry, Baum, or the banks, it was about me, about us. Whether we like it or not, we are part of this system. As a first-generation student my answer was this: “I’ll pursue my education and make strive to make sure neither I nor others become the next victims.”

My Next Steps

Here’s where my recommendation becomes personal. Watching The Big Short didn’t discourage me from pursuing a career in business. It motivated me even more. Not in the way you might think. (Relax I’m not going to turn into a scammer). I don’t want to be like the characters in the film who profited while millions lost everything. I don’t want to measure success only in dollars and I don’t want to see people as numbers on a graph. I want to build a career that reflects my values: family, empathy, and responsibility. I want to be proud of not just what I achieved, but of how I achieved it. The film also reminds us of the importance of financial literacy. When we don’t understand the risks buried in the system, we can fall victim to consequences such as losing homes and savings. Financial literacy is one of the most important tools we can give people, and I want to be part of spreading it. Through my career, my community, and my personal life. That’s why I’m determined to push myself, so I’m prepared to step into this field and not just succeed but make a difference. 

Conclusion

In the end, The Big Short is not just worth watching, it worth carrying with you. It reminds us that knowledge is power, that questioning systems is necessary, and that responsibility is not optional. As I step into the business world, I see this film as both a warning and an inspiration. A warning about what happens when greed goes unchecked, and an inspiration to be better. I look forward to not just elevating myself but more importantly: my family, my community, and the people around me. If you decide to check out The Big Short from the Rebecca Crown Library, enjoy it, learn what happened, but, also, ask yourself: what happens next?

Works Cited

Coghlan, Erin, et al. “What Really Caused the Great Recession?” Institute for Research on Labor and Employment, 18 Sept. 2019, irle.berkeley.edu/publications/irle-policy-brief/what-really-caused-the-great-recession.
McKay, Adam, director. The Big Short. Paramount, 2015

Whether you are mourning the loss of the long and sweltering summer days or reveling in the upcoming holiday season, this can hopefully be a time for us to take a breath of crisp, cool air and snuggle up with some good books. Here are 5 of my favorite cozy books to read this season.

1. Anne of Green Gables by L. M. Montgomery
    
October was a beautiful month at Green Gables, when the birches in the hollow turned as golden as sunshine and the maples behind the orchard were royal crimson and the wild cherry trees along the lane put on the loveliest shades of dark red and bronzy green, while the fields sunned themselves in aftermaths.

Anne reveled in the world of color about her.

“Oh, Marilla,” she exclaimed one Saturday morning, coming dancing in with her arms full of gorgeous boughs, “I'm so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers.” (Montgomery, 1908)

Synopsis: Marilla and Matthew Cupbert, siblings who live on a Canadian farm named Green Gables decide that they will adopt a young boy to help out with farm chores as they increase in age. However, they are surprised to meet Anne Shirley, the orphan who was sent instead. She is covered in freckles, has red-hair, and most importantly to the Cupberts, she is a girl. Will she be allowed to stay at Green Gables? Follow Anne and revel in her dreams, mistakes, and childhood in this coming of age story in Edwardian Canada. 

This is my absolute favorite book, in part thanks to its ability to connect to its readers. Anne is so undeniably human, having a temper, being self-conscious, and making mistakes. But we also get to see her learn what family means and grow to discover who she is and what she wants to be. If you saw and liked Netflix’s Anne With an E, you are sure to like the classic tale that inspired it.

2. The collected poems of Emily Dickinson

The morns are meeker than they were, / The nuts are getting brown; / The berry's cheek is plumper, / The rose is out of town. // The maple wears a gayer scarf, / The field a scarlet gown. / Lest I should be old-fashioned, / I'll put a trinket on. (Dickinson, “Autumn”, n.d.)

Synopsis: Emily Dickinson (1830-1886) is a major American poet. Though only nine of her poems were published during her lifetime, the large collection her sister discovered and published posthumously are loved and celebrated by many. Her poems often feature her distinctive formatting and punctuation and many have a whimsical tone. 

I first read Emily Dickinson’s poetry in 8th grade and since then I’ve loved it. As her life impacted her work, her view of death goes from being a gentle being to being something more fearsome, but her poems are so particular that it is really like seeing into her soul.  

3. Niksen : The Dutch Art of Doing Nothing by Annette Lavrijsen

When I’m at home alone, I love to lay down on the sofa and watch my Birds. I bought the painting several years ago, from Japanese artist Hidenori Mitsue, who took his inspiration from The Goldfinch by old Dutch master Carel Fabritius – and it never ceases to surprise me. As time passes by, I watch how the light falling in through the high windows continually changes its colours and shadows, and at times creates the illusion that my birds will take off, escaping the canvas and flying out the window. (Lavrijsen, 2020, p.127)

Synopsis: “Niksen is a simple Dutch philosophy for anyone looking to slow down, relax and daydream. Designed to combat our always-on world, it teaches us simple ways to incorporate active rest into our daily lives. Nowadays, doing nothing can feel almost impossible. Overwhelming workloads, social pressures, omnipresent smartphones and family commitments leave you exhausted, frantic and stressed. The Dutch have a simple ‘be idle’ solution: Niksen shows you how to resist the daily grind, ditch your endless to-do list and reclaim peace of mind” -Back cover. 

Similar to hygge, the Dutch embodiment of coziness, niksen embraces the quiet and sometimes lonely aspect of doing nothing, while bringing mindfulness and creativity to improve one’s life in these moments. Especially with the fast-paced and constant working of the American lifestyle, this book reminds us to take some time to slow down and seek out the joy of doing nothing (sign me up!).

4. Kiki’s Delivery Service by Eiko Kadono, Emily Balistrieri (Translator)

I’ve come to believe that everyone has some type of magic inside them. If a person can find their magic and lovingly cultivate it, they’ll truly feel alive every day. There is magic inside each and every one of you, too— I believe that. (Kadono, 2021)

Synopsis: 13 year-old Kiki leaves her home in order to spend a year learning her trade as a witch. With Jiji, her familiar and a sarcastic black cat, she learns how to live on her own, build friendships, and overcome obstacles in her way.

Studio Ghibli fans can now read the newly-translated version of the book that inspired the beloved film! A combination of witchy and cozy means this is a perfect book for the upcoming fall season. It is filled with magic and friendship and is a delightful, quick read.

5. The Hobbit, or, There and back again by J. R. R. Tolkien

There is more in you of good than you know, child of the kindly West. Some courage and some wisdom, blended in measure. If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world. (Tolkien, 1937)

Synopsis: Bilbo Baggins has always lived in his cozy hole in the ground until he gets pulled into an adventure to reclaim the palace inside a mountain. Encountering trolls, goblins, and more, follow Bilbo on his adventure and discover the charm and love of hobbits.

Though this book features more action and danger than the others, it truly is a cozy classic. Fans of fantasy will delight in reading The Hobbit (and The Lord of the Rings), especially as Tolkien is considered one of the founders of the modern fantasy genre. With themes of home, friendship, and goodness, The Hobbit is a heartwarming tale perfect for reading this autumn.

A Bonus Movie:
6. Amélie / Le Fabuleux Destin d'Amélie Poulain (2001)

Amelie has a strange feeling of absolute harmony. It's a perfect moment. A soft light, a scent in the air, the quiet murmur of the city. A surge of love, an urge to help mankind overcomes her.

Synopsis: Amélie, often lonely and quiet, discovers joy in helping others. As she begins a journey of philanthropy, she also learns more about her neighbors and herself in the process. When it is time for her to go after love, will she be courageous enough to do it?

Like the first novel I selected for this list, this movie is my favorite! The cinematography is so unique and it really helps us see the magic of everyday life. I think all of us can relate at least a little to Amélie and this movie is such a wholesome adventure.

What did you think about the books selected for this list? Do you agree? Disagree? Would you add any others? Let us know in the comments!
 

Boo! Spooky season is just around the corner and it's always fun to scare oneself with a frighteningly good book. Whether tucked away under the covers or telling ghost stories with friends (I'm looking at you, Mary Shelley), here are five mystery/thriller/horror books to enjoy this Halloween.

1. Truly Devious by Maureen Johnson

Look! A riddle! Time for fun! / Should we use a rope or gun? / Knives are sharp and gleam so pretty / Poison’s slow, which is a pity / Fire is festive, drowning’s slow / Hanging’s a ropy way to go / A broken head, a nasty fall / A car colliding with a wall / Bombs make a very jolly noise / Such ways to punish naughty boys! / What shall we use? We can’t decide. / Just like you cannot run or hide. / Ha ha.
Truly,
Devious

Synopsis: Years after the tragic kidnapping of Albert Ellingham’s family and a threatening letter from Truly Devious, Ellingham Academy is opening its doors once again to students. In these halls, students are encouraged to become experts in different subjects: Stevie Bell, first-year student, decides to become an expert on the Ellingham cold case. Can she solve it? What will happen when Truly Devious seems to strike again?

I read this book last autumn and was so enraptured with it that I finished the series within a week. It was very easy to read and really brought out my curiosity to try to solve the case before Stevie (spoiler: I didn’t). The book jumps between the past and the present, depicting the day and aftermath of Alice and Iris Ellingham’s disappearance. Piece together clues and bring out your inner-Sherlock Holmes to solve this fun murder mystery! If you like the first of the series, don’t forget to read the others!
 

2. Carmilla by J. Sheridan Le Fanu

For some nights I slept profoundly; but still every morning I felt the same lassitude, and a languor weighed upon me all day. I felt myself a changed girl. A strange melancholy was stealing over me, a melancholy that I would not have interrupted. Dim thoughts of death began to open, and an idea that I was slowly sinking took gentle, and, somehow, not unwelcome possession of me. If it was sad, the tone of mind which this induced was also sweet. Whatever it might be, my soul acquiesced in it.

Synopsis: “Isolated in a remote mansion in a central European forest, Laura longs for companionship until a carriage accident brings another young woman into her life: the secretive and sometimes erratic Carmilla. As Carmilla's actions become more puzzling and volatile, Laura develops bizarre symptoms, and as her health goes into decline, Laura and her father discover something monstrous.” - RCL catalog

Written 26 years before Dracula, Carmilla is the OG vampire novel. Not only that, but we also have queer representation, making this novel way ahead of its time. I'm also a huge fan of unreliable narrators, and as Laura's mental and physical state deteriorates, we are unsure what is reliable and what is not. Read this classic in print at RCL or online!

3. Through the Woods by Emily Carroll

Bell's mother told her about monsters. She told her of the man-shaped thing that lurked in the cellar of her childhood home. How its bone-white face, with its piano key teeth and burnt-out eyes, would peer up from the bottom of the steps. “The adults never heard a sound though, and never spoke of the creature's sweet, wet voice.”

Synopsis: This graphic novel is split into five stories, each one thoroughly spooky and macabre. As the back cover states, “Come, take a walk in the woods, and see what awaits YOU there.”

I love a good graphic novel, and this is no exception! Wonderfully illustrated, these skin-crawling stories kept me captivated until the last page. I think my favorite story was "A Lady's Hands are Cold" because it reminded me of a mix between Jane Eyre and The Tell Tale Heart, but every story is so intriguing and mysterious. I wonder what your favorite will be?

4. The Stepford Wives by Ira Levin

That’s what she was, Joanna felt suddenly. That’s what they all were, all the Stepford wives: actresses in commercials, pleased with detergents and floor wax, with cleansers, shampoos, and deodorants. Pretty actresses, big in the bosom but small in the talent, playing housewives unconvincingly, too nicey-nice to be real.

Synopsis: Joanna Eberhart, a promising photographer, moves out of NYC to live with her husband and children in a small town called Stepford. However, things soon take a turn for the worst. The Men’s Association seems to meet all the time and the other wives slowly turn into stereotypical housewives. What is really going on? And what will happen to Joanna?

I’ll be honest, I watched the movie first (a huge book-lover’s faux-pas), BUT I thought it was so thought-provoking that I needed to read the book. Levin, also author of Rosemary’s Baby, is known for his feminist horror genre. A more modern adaption or twist on the novel is Don’t Worry Darling (2022), but I recommend also watching the 1975 film of The Stepford Wives (note: don’t waste time watching the 2004 film; it changes the plot completely and is generally disappointing). It is a masterpiece mix of thriller and science fiction and gives similar vibes to The Handmaid’s Tale. 

5. Works of Edgar Allan Poe

If still you think me mad, you will think so no longer when I describe the wise precautions I took for the concealment of the body. The night waned, and I worked hastily, but in silence. First of all I dismembered the corpse. I cut off the head and the arms and the legs.

I then took up three planks from the flooring of the chamber, and deposited all between the scantlings. I then replaced the boards so cleverly, so cunningly, that no human eye — not even his — could have detected any thing wrong. There was nothing to wash out — no stain of any kind — no blood-spot whatever. I had been too wary for that. A tub had caught all — ha! ha! (from Tell Tale Heart)

Synopsis: Edgar Allan Poe is known for his gothic writing style with titles such as The Raven, The Cask of Amontillado, and The Masque of the Red Death. Read all of his works with this online copy and experience some true horror classics!

The first time I read Edgar Allan Poe was in eighth grade when we read Annabelle Lee and Tell Tale Heart. These two were good to start out with, as they showcased Poe's range. My personal favorite is The Cask of Amontillado (lol don't we all wish we could bury someone alive?), and if read closely enough, you can almost feel as suffocated and entombed as Fortunato. With over 100 stories and poems, there is sure to be something enjoyed by everyone from the legendary mystery and horror author, Poe.

A bonus short film:

Possibly in Michigan (1985)

This one here smells great! / Which one? / Mmmm, smells like mothers crazy sister Kate / Oh you think so? / Yes I do, it smells so good! / She couldn’t have been that crazy, I don’t think so / Oh you don’t think so, huh? / No! / Well she put her poodle one time, in a microwave oven [. . .] / But it exploded, and they were both found dead. (from Perfume song)

Synopsis: “Possibly in Michigan is a musical horror story about two young women who are stalked through a shopping mall by the cannibal named Arthur. He follows them home, and here the victims become the aggressors." - YouTube description

I first watched this mind-trip of a film in my English 101 class and to say it was utterly bizarre is an understatement. In an almost surreal way that Salvador Dali would approve of, Cecelia Condit brings together the uncanny and the uncomfortable with an iconic soundtrack. It is under 12 minutes and is definitely a good conversation starter (to say the least). 

What did you think about the books selected for this list? Do you agree? Disagree? Would you add any others? Let us know in the comments!
 

This post was authored by undergraduate student Nafia Khan for Professor Christine Wilson's ENG 335 assignment, Writing as Social Action. It is part of a “Student Speaks” series on the RCL blog.

When I get caught up in life's responsibilities, hobbies that are important to me like painting fall by the wayside. That's why it was refreshing to have a class solely focused on creating art and reconnecting with aspects of my “inner child.” That class was PSYC 247: Intro to Art Therapy.

Intro to Art Therapy was one of my favorite classes taken at Dominican. Taught by Professor Joan Cantwell (MA DePaul University), it was a unique take on a college course. Not only did I experience art therapy firsthand and get a better understanding of what patients go through, the class became a safe place for me to become vulnerable and learn about myself. 

One class session particularly stands out in my mind. The topic was exploring our “inner child.” It was an unexpectedly difficult topic for me, and I remember avoiding my work that week. Just as therapy is most needed on the days you don't feel like going, I later recognized the importance of that session's material. Having never explored the concept before myself, I hadn't realized how difficult “inner child” work could be for a patient. Overall, the immersive approach of the class was challenging but insightful.

Additionally, PSYC 247 provided space to discover things about myself beyond what I could get from everyday experiences. Every session we were assigned writing or discussions based on the art we had created. The week we discussed the “Inner Child” I created my favorite piece of the course (featured photo). 

The class helped me realize I struggle to find safe spaces for myself, and now that is a topic I discuss with my therapist. Where do I truly feel safe? In class, I reflected on my love for nature, and specifically water. Water in all forms – rain; oceans; lakes. So I painted a jellyfish and starfish. Instead of representing a specific place, these water creatures embody a state of mind: my safe place. That week I wrote in the journal: 

To be a jellyfish and float;

To be a starfish and glide…

In a sense, PSYC 247 became a safe place for me, too. It provided a break from my regular coursework in that, while it didn't feel like typical class, I was learning so much! I have even more respect for therapy clients than I did before, because therapy (of any kind) is not easy work. 

The experiential learning and supportive attitude of my professor helped change the way I think about learning in general. I had found previous art classes difficult because of how critical teachers were of my art. So I told myself, “I love art too much to take a class for it. Taking a class will make me hate it." Nonetheless, Professor Cantwell's approach was different from my previous art teachers. She always encouraged my work, even when the output was different than our expectations. 

To this day, Art Therapy is one of my favorite classes I've taken. I went into it not expecting to feel as many emotions as I did. While I think everyone can benefit from art therapy, I understand the things that work for me might not work for everyone. However, if you enjoy creating art, learning about psychology, or could use a safe place to explore your inner world, PSYC 247 might be the place for you. 

It was for me.

Cover photo by the author

If you had no idea why your typical classes were not held yesterday, you missed out on an incredible event of research, scholarship, and overall passion for learning.

On Wednesday, over 100 students presented posters on various projects related to their field of study. Many others took part in a lightning talk (ten minutes plus 5 minute Q&A), standard talk (20 minutes plus 5 minutes Q&A), or a panel of minimum four students (45 minute talk plus 10 minute Q&A). 

Students submitted a 200-word abstract about their project event while registering, and each project had at least one faculty advisor (all poster presentations are listed on this pdf).

First Year Experience: Assessing Library Use and Library Behaviors

The Instruction Interns at Rebecca Crown Library, of which I am one, devised a survey of first-year CRWS (Critical Reading, Writing and Speaking) students to assess students' self-reported knowledge and confidence about library usage. Completed by 49 students, the survey contained one quantitative, three Likert-scale, and two open-ended questions. Rewardingly, we found 73% of students reported feeling confident using the library's resources.

Personally, this was an incredibly rewarding experience. Receiving honest responses from students, which ranged from “the librarians are always helpful" to “I'm too scared to ask for help,” was a powerful connection to the experiences I have had teaching about library resources during my time as an Instruction intern. While many students can find group projects daunting, there is joy in accomplishing something meaningful using a team effort. Overall, discovering one's strengths and weaknesses in a team setting is an invaluable professional skill.

A Wide Range of Research at the SI Expo

Following our hour of poster presentation, I spent the next hour perusing posters in Parmer Hall's first floor. Knowing how much passion went into my group's project, I felt uniquely tied to a community of scholarship amidst these young professionals. 

The first poster I observed was at table 11, Luis Nieves' “Exploration of Music Therapy Effectiveness for Chronic Pain in Hospitalized Children.” Having thought a lot about the emotional power of healing in my personal journey, hearing Nieves speak about the importance of honoring young patients' humanity was inspiring. I next walked to table 6 where Rose Kennet spoke eloquently about "Politics, Religion, and Fandom: a Study of Overlapping Online Fan Communities." Having recently attended a seminar at the International Children's Book Fair in Bologna, Italy about fandom in children's literature, I was intrigued about this topic. 

At Table 7, Katarzyna Zawislak's poster was titled “Beyond Just Fun and Games: An Overview of Sexualization in Play.” I had many questions for Zawislak about the way some toys for children are marketed using adult-like sexualized techniques. Last, I spoke with Liliana Matias and Brianna Perez on their impactful topic, “Building Bridges: Mentors’ Attunement to Mentees’ Experiences with Racism.” As a white person who has considered entering the field of children's librarianship, opportunities to become more racial sensitivity are incredibly valuable to me.

There were many more fascinating projects I simply did not have time to explore. One was Nafia Khan and Kyle Jennette's “The Relationship Between Adverse Childhood Experiences, Neighborhood Resource Deprivation, and Learning and Memory Performance in Older Adults" at table 8, while another was Mo Malinowski's "Changing Notions of 'Family' and Estrangement."

So many incredible topics and presenters – day of glory, indeed!

Standard Talks: Using Adaptive Technologies in the 21st Century

My last stop was Parmer 113 to hear two 25-minute standard talks followed by Q&A. 

First, Honors Management Studies student Aldo Cervantez spoke about “Empowering Small Business: a Social Media Consulting Journey." Leveraging his passion for consulting, Cervantez built a Wix website to help a small business in Berwyn, IL grow their marketing outreach. The new site promotes the restaurant's eye-popping dishes and more effectively caters to a newly targeted customer demographic. Cervantez also helped overhaul the digital presence of an auto mechanic small business in Berwyn by utilizing an effective brand palette and highlighting the business's fascinating history of milk distribution.

Last, multidisciplinary artist and archival student TJ Moaton led an emotionally impactful talk about the ethics of “death technology” in “The Tech Afterlife: the Ethics of End-of-Life Technology.”

“How do you want to be alive? How do you want other people to be remembered when they die?” the presenter asked.

Moaton discussed resources such as deathcare management software Plotbox, the cremation diamonds of EverDear, and memory preserving app Lalo. Afterward the audience offered several insightful comments and questions, as well as personal anecdotes regarding what the grieving process looks like in the 21st-century.

The Scholarships & Ideas Expo is a wonderful event for inspiration, networking, and creative sharing among young professionals in the DU community. Check out information about the SI Expo and consider taking advantage of this amazing opportunity next spring.

Featured photo by Megan Hoppe

This post was authored by undergraduate student Sandra Magdaleno for Professor Christine Wilson's ENG 335 assignment, Writing as Social Action. It is part of a “Student Speaks” series on the RCL blog.

During my freshman year at Dominican, I was convinced there was nothing to do on campus. I was from the South Side of Chicago stuck in a northwest suburb. I expected to be bored. 

The following summer, my boyfriend made me play pickleball with him. I hated it! It was hard and there was a lot of running back and forth. Maybe it’s because I didn't know how to play, or maybe it’s because he was way more competitive than I was, but I did not enjoy it. 

When my sophomore year started, I made it my goal to make more friends on campus, but quickly realized I am not a very social person. I accepted an invitation to play pickleball with some people I had never met, figuring it would be a good way to meet new people. Even though I didn't get any better at playing during the year, it was so much more fun than it was in the summer.  

I played with these new friends two to three times a week (rain or shine -- and turns out it's hard to play in the rain!) for the entire first semester until the outdoor courts closed in mid-November. Sometimes we asked other people to play, but we rarely got an answer. And if we did, it was a “no sorry” or “can't.” Needless to say, it got boring playing with the same three all the time, but with the outdoor season coming to an end, we still wanted to play as much as we could.  

As four 19-year-old college students, we didn't (and don't) have the money for some type of gym membership. So we thought: “how can we keep playing, and for free?” 

Dominican has a lot of clubs, but most seem to focus on majors or career paths and not something active. So why not try to start a pickleball club? We could get a place on campus to play indoors, maybe even get funding for the club to host events and get equipment. Best of all, we could get more people to play with.  

So we began to figure out how to start a club on campus. I always heard it’s not hard. All you need is three core members and an advisor. So we made a constitution, found an advisor, and recruited people who wanted to be part of the club. After submitting our paperwork to the Office of Student Involvement (OSI), it took about two weeks to get approved. Then it was official: DU had a pickleball club!  

Since creating the club, we have had four events in the Igini Sports Forum using equipment given to us by DU athletics. We have also put in a request to the Student Government Association (SGA) to receive funding for this year to get shirts for an end of the school year event we are planning. We have even had other clubs reach out to use to collaborate on events.  

Looking back, Dominican had plenty of clubs I could have joined my freshman year. However, I'm glad nothing grabbed my attention. Not only did it motivate me to make new friends, but we created something on campus other students could join in as well. It wasn't hard to form our own community on campus; it just took a little bit of determination (ok, and a bunch of emails to secure space, etc.). But it has been totally worth it.

Now I get to play pickleball year-round and meet more people on campus who have similar interests as my friends and me. I'll see you on the court!

This post was authored by undergraduate student Angelica Perez for Professor Christine Wilson's ENG 335 assignment, Writing as Social Action. It is part of a “Student Speaks” series on the RCL blog.

Each new year, I find it important to set aside time to slow down so I can give energy and attention to the things that interest me most. This year my goal has been to start my own blog and write more consistently while also paying attention to the many ways other creatives perform the art of storytelling.

This has led to a desire to be more critically creative. To that end, I like to revisit stories I have already read through their visual adaptations. As a writer and artist, much is gained from observing the way human nature is portrayed in various forms of media. Last fall semester, I kicked off my senior year by reading Laura Esquivel’s 1989 novel Like Water for Chocolate, which was adapted to film a few years later.

Like Water for Chocolate follows the life of Tita de la Garza, a young woman from a matriarchally run home in Mexico around the early 1900’s. As Tita and her older sisters grow up to be socially considered women, each decides differently how they want to lead their lives. The story portrays how some people appear to have an ultimate destiny decided for them that they may find unfortunate. Such is Tita’s predicament. Early in the story her mother, Mama Elena, decides Tita is to stay home and take care of her until death, which she claims is Elena’s duty as the youngest daughter.

Despite her misfortune, Tita is the only one of her sisters to learn the recipes of Nancha, the maid who helps run the de la Garza household. Throughout the story, Tita’s cooking is a labor of love: she holds the power to deeply affect people emotionally through her food. In family gatherings where she is joyful, her food uplifts everyone's spirits as if she sliced a piece of her elated soul into each bite. Sadly, the practicality of her work forces Tita to cook while slowly losing the ability to live a fulfilling life that honors her desires and dreams. 

Tita is haunted by a love for her neighbor Pedro Muzquiz, whom she isn’t allowed to marry out of sole obligation to her mother. In a cruel twist of events (spoiler!), Mama Elena elects her eldest daughter, Rosaura, to marry Pedro, which he does in a desperate attempt to stay close to Tita. The clearest example of Tita’s powerfully longing and aching heart comes during Rosaura’s and Pedro’s wedding ceremony. The sorrow from Tita’s tears affects the wedding cake batter; as the guests eat, they are overwhelmed by a melancholic force and shed their own tears thinking about past loves before they become sick. In this way, food is a vehicle for painful memories and the experiences Tita has gone through.

In the book, more detail is given about each recipe’s ingredients and the nature of Tita’s long-suffering spirit. For its own part, the movie features an overall warm tone in its imagery: the lighting in any given scene is a glowing orange, and the frames give an airbrushed feel. The wardrobes with lacey dresses and hats are also amazing to behold. 

Both versions of the story center on the conflict which arises from the strict “traditional” values Mama Elena attempts to enforce. In what becomes a pivotal moment in the book, Tita no longer cares only for herself but for her niece Esperanza, Rosaura's daughter. Unlike Tita, Rosaura’s desire to keep the “family” together is to preserve a social self-righteousness that includes a hint of jealousy. Yet Tita, knowing what it is to have deferred dreams and desires, harbors much love for Esperanza and hopes her niece will have the opportunity to live a full life.

A theme running through both book and film adaptation is the possibility for improvement through incremental change. As the main analogy, cooking calls for small tweaks and improvements over time as a recipe is preserved. Conversely, Mama Elena quite literally lingers as a ghost because she cannot rest knowing that what she left behind was changing. In a lovely conclusion, Tita’s cookbook is passed on to Esperanza and her own daughter who are thereby given direct access to the trials, lessons, and legacy of Tita de la Garza.

Cover and thumbnail photos were taken from https://www.hbo.com/like-water-for-chocolate/season-1/6-northern-style-chorizo

This post was authored by undergraduate student Gina Reitsma for Professor Christine Wilson's ENG 335 assignment, Writing as Social Action. It is part of a “Student Speaks” series on the RCL blog.

When I graduated college the first time around, pre-COVID, I vowed I’d never go back to school again. I had just spent four years getting a two-year associates degree at a community college. I was only a part-time student, but I still struggled with keeping my head above water. My mental health had taken a nosedive in 2016, somewhere between starting my first job at a local Walgreens and the “Pokémon go to the polls” incident. I had been tracking my mood on a new period tracking app and realized that I marked most days with a blue frowny emoji. I then decided it was time to try seeing a therapist. 

Even though I started my therapy journey while I was in school, I still struggled. If you’ve been to therapy before, you’ll know that the first year or even the first couple years are a bit rough. Your mind is still getting used to the new thought patterns and reframing that you’re trying to hammer into it. You’re undoing all the unhealthy coping mechanisms learned throughout your childhood. It’s hard work, it’s tiring, and sometimes, I’d rather just go back to sleep. I was still having panic attacks, still falling behind on my homework, and still dealing with many crippling phobias.

In 2019, my mental health was drowning me yet again and I considered dropping out of school. I was encouraged to stick with it because I only had one semester to go. I needed that god-forsaken piece of paper that supposedly proved I was worth something to employers. So I did it. As soon as I graduated with an Associates in General Education, I immediately felt relief. Throughout my academic career, I had this giant boulder of pressure on my shoulders. It was finally being lifted. 

My journey wasn’t over yet, though. I continued going to therapy every week while picking up part-time jobs. While attending college, I got a job at my local library in the circulation department. It started out as a shelving position, but I quickly moved up to a service desk position. I loved working at the library, but without a Master's degree in Library and Information Science, I could never be full-time. But I did not want to go back to school. I couldn’t have that boulder be dropped back on me again. Instead, I picked up other jobs that might fill the gap. I worked at a doggy day care and I walked dogs; I even tried retail again. I was miserable everywhere I went. 

After all the trial and error and dipping my toe in other career fields, I realized the library was where I wanted to be. I decided I couldn’t leave the library in favor of somewhere that would give me full-time hours and health insurance. I was not going to be the person that hated their job, that dreaded Mondays, that contemplated quitting every week like clockwork. 

At this point in my life, I had already made tremendous progress with my therapist. I started taking medication for my depression and was discovering that I also had ADHD. This progress opened up many more resources for me. I read books and watched videos about how to manage ADHD which seemed to help me. My mental stability began to even out. I was, dare I say…happy. I finally felt like I could take something else on, something challenging. I knew it was time to take the next step; I applied to Dominican University.

Therapy has taught me a lot in 8 years. Eight years ago, I couldn’t see myself surviving well into my adulthood. I wasn't able to picture myself turning 30. Now I can. I’m 27 now and I truly wouldn’t be here today without the help of CBT and a good old SSRI. Sometimes I feel too old to be getting a bachelor's degree, that I should have done this years ago. But that’s not true. I bring a different perspective to the discussions in my classes, the perspective of someone who has entered the so-called “real world” that our professors talk about. I have a real goal for my education now. I’m not the same 18-year-old that was being pressured to choose what I was going to do with the rest of my life. 

How’s that for reframing?

Editor's Note: Dominican's Wellness Center offers free counseling services. Please visit their website or email wellness@dom.edu to find out more about their services. 

Candace Fleming, award-winning author for Children's picture books and young adult nonfiction and fiction books, spoke at the 13th Annual Butler Lecture Series at Martin Recital Hall on Tuesday. Her lecture was followed by an audience Q&A, then a book signing alongside illustrator Eric Rohman who has illustrated many of Fleming's works.

In introductory remarks, Butler Center curator Jennifer Clemons described Fleming as a "friend to the University and Center,” having helped establish the Butler Center 15 years ago. Previous series speakers have included Kyle Lukoff (2024), Ebony Elizabeth Thomas and Renee Watson (2021), Andrea Davis Pinkney (2018), and Jane Yolen (2014).

Visceral Creativity 

A theme throughout Fleming's address was tactile experiences during the processes of research and writing. When writing drafts, Fleming said she uses cheap blue pens. That way, after a hard day of writing, with blue ink stains on her arm she can truthfully say, “I'm blue…I wrote today." 

Fleming also told a story from her youth, having just had her heart broken at a high school dance. Her mother's comfort came by means of a story from her own youth when she learned about the tragic disappearance of pilot Amelia Erhardt. Fleming remembers hearing how her mother “watched, waited, willed Amelia home” helped pull her from her own trifles and recognize the profound ways stories can be a window to empathize with feelings and experiences we don't participate in firsthand.

Like many creative souls, Fleming thrives on new experiences through travel to inspire her research. A trip to Egypt provided sensations of sand skittering beneath her feet and the dark, quiet of the tombs which informed The Curse of the Mummy: Uncovering Tutankhamun's Tomb.

Visiting Alexander Palace in St. Petersburgh, Russia allowed a critical shift in Fleming's perspective. Experiencing firsthand how close the palace gates were to the village and everyday life was a window into how the last czar family of Russia had created a psychological distance between themselves and those they were charged to lead. She then recognized that writing the award-winning The Family Romanov would need to include peasants, soldiers, and Revolutionaries to tell the story truthfully.

Finding the Story

“Searching and finding is not natural to me," said Fleming. When Dominican professor Cecilia Salvatore asked about her research process, Fleming admitted “It's so messy.”  Sometimes an unexpected spark opens the path for a project for the author. After taking six full pages of notes on Faberge eggs, Fleming joked, the author turned course to research the exciting tale of the Russian Revolution.

Fleming described the research for what was initially meant to be a true crime story to be like lifting a rock.  In The Rise and Fall of Charles Lindburgh, Fleming would write about the “underside” of a man's life who, while known to most as a national hero, was also part of a secret society of eugenicists and had secret families. “Research can take you to shocking places, and I wasn't ready for it,” she said.

Fleming prefers to do research with primary sources. “That's where the telling, intimate things are.” She begins a project by discovering which institution carries the most primary sources on her current topic of interest. Even if many documents are available digitally, Fleming prefers the hands-on experience of sifting through them. In researching for what would eventually be Amelia Lost: The Life and Disappearance of Amelia Earhart, Fleming parsed through hand-written letters of sympathy to George Putnam. This allowed her to read the endearingly personal notes Erhardt's widower put on the envelopes of these letters.

Fleming explained she has only begun to focus on nonfiction for young adult audiences in the last 5-8 years. She has a widely spanning oeuvre which includes many picture books as well as nonfiction and fiction books for older children. When an audience member asked whether writing nonfiction or fiction offers more rewards, Fleming said “I need them both.” She enjoys people's responses when she admits a fact-based story of danger and excitement like The Family Romanov is followed up by a picture book called Bulldozer's Big Day.

A Reliable Guide

Beyond being an author of high stature, Fleming is passionate about providing true stories to young readers. Her goal is to provide escapism so enticing her readers will gobble it up in one sitting like a cake. She recognizes that teens are daily awash with information, and she sees her role as guiding them through narratives and wild seas. 

At the same time, she trusts teens to wrestle with contradictions founds in her stories which embody the human condition. Such as depicted in Death in the Jungle, her forthcoming book about the 1978 “revolutionary suicide” of Jonestown. Despite some adults questioning whether such material is fit for teens, Fleming views the tale cautionary yet human, and one she trusts her teen readers to empathetically wrestle with

As a hopeful author of books for youth, these campus events are incredibly inspiring. Make sure to check out the SOIS Signature Events page for future awesome lectures on campus.

More Candace Fleming books found at Rebecca Crown Library: