Saunterer
S aunterer
The
Like Thoreau in Walden, we will record our sauntering here, remembering that
“if one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the
life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours.”
The
Thomas E. Bellavance Honors Program
Salisbury University
1101 Camden Avenue
Salisbury, MD 21801
www.salisbury.edu/honors
Newsletter of the Thomas E. Bellavance Honors Program
Salisbury University • December 2011 • Vol. 17, No. 2
ADDRESS CORRECTION REQUESTED
PLEASE FORWARD (if necessary)
EDITORS’ NOTE
New Experiences
By Adam Heisman &
Camille St. Regis, editors
You may find that this edition of
The Saunterer is quite different
from previous ones, and we
would like to think that this shift
coincides with and reflects the
recent changes in the Honors
Program. Previous issues of The
Saunterer have been about the
Honors Program as a whole,
detailing the various events and
accomplishments of the program
and its students. With this issue,
however, we decided to take a
different route and approach it
with the question: “What do the
Honors students have to say?”
We wanted to present the voices
of the students and give insight
into their minds and opinions.
With this edition, we aimed to
place a greater emphasis on the
people who make and represent
the Honors Program.
In a way, this gives The
Saunterer a more personal
touch. These pieces are largely
the reflections and musings of
Honors students. This new focus
reflects the desires of the interim
director, Dr. Jay Carlander. He
has told us, time and time again,
that he wants us to be more
independent and self-controlled.
The responsibility of organizing
trips and events is now placed
more on our shoulders, which
continued on page 2
A Budding Experience
By David Eberius
the atmosphere of the bus changed from a
As with most Honors trips, it began with
mellifluous siren song of slumber to a chaotic
everyone shambling over to the Honors House
smorgasbord of thoughts, both spoken and
in that classic, groggy, stumbling manner that is
unspoken, flying around the confines of the bus
the hallmark of a college student awoken
and giving everyone a sense of restless longing
before 10 a.m. on a Saturday. The kitchen was
for our destination. By the time the bus had
packed to the point where stretching one’s
pulled up to the curb, half of the people had
arms out fully without hitting someone was
already begun to eat their bagged lunches
laughable, just as it was at the Honors Student
because they realized that they couldn’t take
Association meeting two days prior. Yet, unlike
them into any of the museums.
the HSA meeting, few people were making
The moment we
noise, let alone
stepped off of the bus,
talking, and the
we were assaulted with
food of choice was
a piercingly icy wind
doughnuts from the
that seemed to ignore
Fractured Prune
our clothing and go
rather than the
straight to our once
HSA meeting
warm skin and a light
staple, pizza from
drizzle that truly –
De Pietro’s NY
pardon the pun –
Pizzeria. Dr.
dampened our spirits.
Charlotte England
At first, people were
and Dr. Wanda
huddling around the
Jester then brought
(From left) Mark Oberly, Veronica Thompson,
entrance to the bus
out the boxes
David Eberius, Megan Lechmann and Robin Karpovich
like ducklings that
containing the three
were waiting for their mother to lead so that
varieties of bagged lunches, at which point the
they could follow. I decided to take the role of
students shuffled over to the boxes, grabbed a
‘mother’ in this situation and led people up the
lunch and proceeded to get on the bus.
steps of the Museum of Natural History, where
Maybe it was the transition from the
we were dropped off, to a corner near the
crowded kitchen to the spacious outside world
entrance where we wouldn’t be in the way of
or the crisp air on our exposed cheeks, but
those who were trying to enter and yet would
everyone seemed to perk up after leaving the
still be protected from the rain. We huddled
house. Once on the bus, people gained even
together in this small alcove for a few minutes
more energy and began talking excitedly about
eating, socializing and splitting into
what awaited them in our nation’s capitol. But
manageable exploratory groups.
alas, after the initial excitement wore off, many
Once we had finished, each group went off
of the students started reading books for class,
on a quest of their own design. For some of the
listening to mp3 players or simply dozing off.
freshmen, this was the first time they were able
As we got close to D.C., people began to regain
to do whatever they wanted to do and see
consciousness and with it, their excitement.
The more awake everyone became, the more
continued on page 7
1
[email protected]
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S aunterer
The
Editors’ Note continued from page 1
enables us to make the Honors
Program more about and for us
than ever before. Now more
than ever, the students are at the
center of the Honors Program
and, by the same virtue, The
Saunterer as well.
Thus, this edition, and
hopefully future ones, places
a considerable focus on the
thoughts and considerations
of Honors students. To
complement this change of
focus, there is an informal
theme of “new experiences”
in these articles. The majority
of these articles reflect on the
new experiences of Honors
students, either academically
or socially within the Honors
Program. This semester The
Saunterer itself is one of new
experiences, for its editors, its
readers and its content.
With all this in mind, we hope
that you enjoy this semester’s
edition of The Saunterer.
EDITORS
Adam Heisman
Camille St. Regis
WRITERS
Andrea Becker
Dr. Jay Carlander
Kate Connolly
David Eberius
Pete Hicks
Ang Pabich
Chelsea Smith
Camille St. Regis
Veronica Thompson
2
Thursday Afternoons
(From left) Heather Giovenco,
Tressa Silberberg and Emily Thorpe
By Andrea Becker
The main room of the Honors House always
has something interesting going on – but
Thursday afternoons are always the best. Tea,
conversation and clacking knitting needles fill
the room, interlaced with the minor moans of
an error that, if not fixed, could ruin a project.
Luckily, those are scarce and far in between.
This particular Thursday was designated
“Birthday Day,” with two birthdays on both
the week before and the week after.
Upon arrival, it is standard procedure to
greet Pippa happily, fetch the teapot and begin
boiling water so the tea will be ready around
the time that the rest of the knitting group
arrives at the house. Two teabags and one full
hotpot later, we have steaming tea seeping on
the glass-covered table in the living room,
joined this time by a fruit tart covered in what
looks like plastic, with a towering wicker basket
full of needles and yarn next to them.
It’s a tangled mess to sort through, full of
completed squares yet to be assembled
together, single needles without matches, and
balls of yarn attached to half-done projects that
have mysteriously become intertwined. Yet
every Thursday, six people gather around the
basket and solve the puzzle, each working on
their own individual projects.
There are Christmas-colored squares and
those of eye-watering shades, two-colored and
patterned as well as plain knit. Eventually,
when someone takes the time to figure out how
these squares of all different sizes will fit
together, they’ll form a patchwork blanket.
Clacking metal and wooden needles fill the
room with small sounds, but even louder is the
chatter that goes from cooing puppies to
grouching about homework and professors.
We’ve barely started knitting before all eyes
are fixed on the fruit tart, and we decide to sing
“Happy Birthday” so we can all have a chance
at a slice of the dessert. Before it leaves the
table, a debate starts over whether the shiny
gloss atop the treat is actually plastic or
whether it is just a glaze coating. The sides are
divided 50-50, with those claiming plastic
declaring they are right. When the tart actually
makes it to the table to be cut, however, it is
determined a plastic ring surrounds the outer
edge, but the portion under contention was
simply glazed with sugar. Hah!
Evan graciously offers to “cut the cake,”
serving out slices topped with a strawberry to
the seven of us. What a wonderful host. He
continues to play mother afterward, pouring
out the tea and dousing it with milk and sugar
as the rest of us take the first bites of the
dessert. It is delicious, yet hard to eat and keep
knitting needles on one’s lap as they slide to the
floor to join the ball of yarn. It’s just as hard to
juggle the cake plate and knitting needles with
project while trying to take a tea cup and
saucer from Evan without dropping something
in the process, but we all manage somehow.
Another visitor walks in through the door
to join our no-longer-little group, making
for a nicely full room. We’re certain to get a
nice crop of squares out of the bunch if
everybody shows up next week. She even gets
the second-to-last piece of tart, although it is
without one of those nice big strawberries.
That final piece is now up for grabs, with first
to the tart getting it. Lucky her.
The rest of our time in Knitting Club passes
in companionable banter with regards to
knitting skill, what the next Honors Student
Association meeting will be about, why people
should really do their dishes, etcetera. Knitting
Club is definitely the highlight of the week.
Just Around the River Bend
By Kate Connolly
Within the first few weeks of the fall semester,
my Honors 311 Wilderness Literature class
went canoeing on the Pocomoke River.
Dr. Lucy Morrison thought it would be
a great idea for us to experience the
“wilderness” firsthand. For many of us
this would be our first canoeing adventure
and Dr. Morrison was quick to inform us
that only once before has a group of her
students gone swimming.
We were instructed to break into pairs,
ideally an experienced canoer with a newbie.
I personally have canoed this river twice
before, so I took on some fresh meat. The
first leg of the journey was a tad treacherous
due to the fallen tree branches that the recent
hurricane had knocked into the water.
Nevertheless, my faithful boat buddy and I
mastered the obstacles. Together we dodged
trunks of trees that blocked the waterway and
branches that jutted out of the water. Only
once were we marooned on an island of
storm debris, but our classmates came to the
rescue and helped us free our boat.
About halfway into our six-mile trek, my
canoe companion decided it was a good idea
to stand up and turn our canoe into a
gondola. At first I refused to take part in her
shenanigans. However, after Dr. Morrison
and her children in a nearby canoe also
dared me to stand, I relented. Much to the
dismay of the children in the other boat, we
did not make use of our life jackets.
The end of our expedition posed its own
unique challenges. There were many
instances where the river split and my first-
mate and I were forced to make life-altering
decisions. In typical Honors fashion, we
relied on a rock-paper-scissors type of logic.
By choosing to let fate take the paddle, we
successfully navigated the “wilderness” of the
Pocomoke River.
The students make it safely back to land
3
S aunterer
The
Editors’ Note continued from page 1
enables us to make the Honors
Program more about and for us
than ever before. Now more
than ever, the students are at the
center of the Honors Program
and, by the same virtue, The
Saunterer as well.
Thus, this edition, and
hopefully future ones, places
a considerable focus on the
thoughts and considerations
of Honors students. To
complement this change of
focus, there is an informal
theme of “new experiences”
in these articles. The majority
of these articles reflect on the
new experiences of Honors
students, either academically
or socially within the Honors
Program. This semester The
Saunterer itself is one of new
experiences, for its editors, its
readers and its content.
With all this in mind, we hope
that you enjoy this semester’s
edition of The Saunterer.
EDITORS
Adam Heisman
Camille St. Regis
WRITERS
Andrea Becker
Dr. Jay Carlander
Kate Connolly
David Eberius
Pete Hicks
Ang Pabich
Chelsea Smith
Camille St. Regis
Veronica Thompson
2
Thursday Afternoons
(From left) Heather Giovenco,
Tressa Silberberg and Emily Thorpe
By Andrea Becker
The main room of the Honors House always
has something interesting going on – but
Thursday afternoons are always the best. Tea,
conversation and clacking knitting needles fill
the room, interlaced with the minor moans of
an error that, if not fixed, could ruin a project.
Luckily, those are scarce and far in between.
This particular Thursday was designated
“Birthday Day,” with two birthdays on both
the week before and the week after.
Upon arrival, it is standard procedure to
greet Pippa happily, fetch the teapot and begin
boiling water so the tea will be ready around
the time that the rest of the knitting group
arrives at the house. Two teabags and one full
hotpot later, we have steaming tea seeping on
the glass-covered table in the living room,
joined this time by a fruit tart covered in what
looks like plastic, with a towering wicker basket
full of needles and yarn next to them.
It’s a tangled mess to sort through, full of
completed squares yet to be assembled
together, single needles without matches, and
balls of yarn attached to half-done projects that
have mysteriously become intertwined. Yet
every Thursday, six people gather around the
basket and solve the puzzle, each working on
their own individual projects.
There are Christmas-colored squares and
those of eye-watering shades, two-colored and
patterned as well as plain knit. Eventually,
when someone takes the time to figure out how
these squares of all different sizes will fit
together, they’ll form a patchwork blanket.
Clacking metal and wooden needles fill the
room with small sounds, but even louder is the
chatter that goes from cooing puppies to
grouching about homework and professors.
We’ve barely started knitting before all eyes
are fixed on the fruit tart, and we decide to sing
“Happy Birthday” so we can all have a chance
at a slice of the dessert. Before it leaves the
table, a debate starts over whether the shiny
gloss atop the treat is actually plastic or
whether it is just a glaze coating. The sides are
divided 50-50, with those claiming plastic
declaring they are right. When the tart actually
makes it to the table to be cut, however, it is
determined a plastic ring surrounds the outer
edge, but the portion under contention was
simply glazed with sugar. Hah!
Evan graciously offers to “cut the cake,”
serving out slices topped with a strawberry to
the seven of us. What a wonderful host. He
continues to play mother afterward, pouring
out the tea and dousing it with milk and sugar
as the rest of us take the first bites of the
dessert. It is delicious, yet hard to eat and keep
knitting needles on one’s lap as they slide to the
floor to join the ball of yarn. It’s just as hard to
juggle the cake plate and knitting needles with
project while trying to take a tea cup and
saucer from Evan without dropping something
in the process, but we all manage somehow.
Another visitor walks in through the door
to join our no-longer-little group, making
for a nicely full room. We’re certain to get a
nice crop of squares out of the bunch if
everybody shows up next week. She even gets
the second-to-last piece of tart, although it is
without one of those nice big strawberries.
That final piece is now up for grabs, with first
to the tart getting it. Lucky her.
The rest of our time in Knitting Club passes
in companionable banter with regards to
knitting skill, what the next Honors Student
Association meeting will be about, why people
should really do their dishes, etcetera. Knitting
Club is definitely the highlight of the week.
Just Around the River Bend
By Kate Connolly
Within the first few weeks of the fall semester,
my Honors 311 Wilderness Literature class
went canoeing on the Pocomoke River.
Dr. Lucy Morrison thought it would be
a great idea for us to experience the
“wilderness” firsthand. For many of us
this would be our first canoeing adventure
and Dr. Morrison was quick to inform us
that only once before has a group of her
students gone swimming.
We were instructed to break into pairs,
ideally an experienced canoer with a newbie.
I personally have canoed this river twice
before, so I took on some fresh meat. The
first leg of the journey was a tad treacherous
due to the fallen tree branches that the recent
hurricane had knocked into the water.
Nevertheless, my faithful boat buddy and I
mastered the obstacles. Together we dodged
trunks of trees that blocked the waterway and
branches that jutted out of the water. Only
once were we marooned on an island of
storm debris, but our classmates came to the
rescue and helped us free our boat.
About halfway into our six-mile trek, my
canoe companion decided it was a good idea
to stand up and turn our canoe into a
gondola. At first I refused to take part in her
shenanigans. However, after Dr. Morrison
and her children in a nearby canoe also
dared me to stand, I relented. Much to the
dismay of the children in the other boat, we
did not make use of our life jackets.
The end of our expedition posed its own
unique challenges. There were many
instances where the river split and my first-
mate and I were forced to make life-altering
decisions. In typical Honors fashion, we
relied on a rock-paper-scissors type of logic.
By choosing to let fate take the paddle, we
successfully navigated the “wilderness” of the
Pocomoke River.
The students make it safely back to land
3
S aunterer
The
Interview with Dr. Jay Carlander
Angela’s Adventures Abroad
By Camille St. Regis
By Angela Pabich
Instead of returning to the bright and shining
campus of Salisbury this fall, I decided to fly
down to good ol’ South America to camp out
for the semester. I’ve been in Cuenca,
Ecuador, for just under two months now, but I
think it’s deceiving to say that this is the fall
semester. If anything, it’s spring here. Then
again, Cuenca is nestled in a high altitude
valley among the Andes, so every day is spring,
thanks to the coolness of the mountain
surroundings and the location on the equator.
When I travel to the coast, it will be the
expected, equatorial tropical weather that one
thinks of in this region, but until then, I’m in a
mountainous springtime.
So what about my adventures so far, you
ask? I’ve been to the middle of the Earth,
Latitude 0, and have witnessed first hand that
water spirals the opposite way in the southern
hemisphere. I traversed the jungle, monkeys
and tarantulas included, and swam in the
Napo River, a watershed of the Amazon
River. I’ve visited ruins at Ingapirca, which
are the best-preserved Incan and Cañari
(pre-Incan) ruins in all of Ecuador.
Don’t let me fool you, it’s not all fun and
games in the south lands. It is, after all, an
academic semester here too, so I’ve been
attending class everyday. Hands down, the best
class so far has been my outdoors pursuits class,
for audit unfortunately, which is an
uncharacteristically exhilarating physical
education class. The syllabus includes only four
activities: rock climbing, canyoneering, camping
and horseback riding. I went canyoneering
three days ago, and in case you haven’t a clue
what this involves, it’s basically hiking through a
freezing river in a wetsuit, sliding down natural
rockslides, repelling through waterfalls and
jumping from small cliffs. It was absolutely
terrifying, but a worthwhile experience in
retrospect (although it was difficult to feel that
sentiment while I couldn’t feel my toes).
Outside of the classroom and excursions,
Cuenca offers an array of things to do within
the town. My host family’s house is
conveniently located two blocks from the city’s
only soccer stadium. Last weekend, I went to
my first South American soccer game,
between the Club Deportivo Cuenca and
Barcelona Sporting Club. I initially thought
Cuenca was playing a team from Spain, but as
it turns out, the Barcelona Sporting Club hails
from Guayaquil, Ecuador. Regardless, the
crowd was exuberant, busting with catchy, but
sometimes very offensive chants. It widened
my Spanish vocabulary, to say the least. Apart
4
Ang on the streets of Cuenca, Ecuador
Ang at latitude 0°
from soccer (futbol), the dance clubs and
restaurant/taverns fill my weekends. A gringo
bar called Inca Lounge, owned by a
Californian, hosts an open-mic night every
Wednesday in which patrons can listen to
ex-patriates and amateurs play alternative ’90s
American songs, which can be quite charming.
[Note: In Ecuador the word “gringo” means
foreigner, most likely from the States. It doesn’t
have the negative connotation that it has when
used in other countries. Most people do not
even know the origin of the word “gringo”
here, which solidifies its non-offensive
colloquial use. I’m a gringa here, it’s true.]
Canyoneering on the Rio Amarillo
My experience in Ecuador is proving to be
life changing. In my opinion, when you put
yourself in a totally new environment, you
learn maybe even more about yourself than
your new home. If anyone is on the fence
about studying abroad, my strong advice is to
do it, even if it’s not to the wondrous country
of Ecuador. If anyone wants to know
anything in particular, or even in general,
about my experience here, or about the role
of guinea pigs in the highland society, just ask
me when I return to the ’bury in the spring
(aka frigid wintertime).
I’m sure many of you are aware that we have a new director of the Honors Program this year:
Dr. Jay Carlander. Naturally, I had a few questions for the man who now sits in what was once
Dr. Richard England’s chair. Before we get to his answers, here’s a little background on what
prompted me to ask these pressing questions and how I first became acquainted with the man
behind the title.
When I first heard Honors had changed hands, I was a little disheartened. But I soon learned
that Dr. Carlander was Californian, and from Santa Barbara, like me, which lifted my spirits. At
the next Honors function I attended, I finally had the privilege of meeting Dr. Carlander. He is,
in my opinion, a vampire, and I mean that in the most flattering way possible. When we first
spoke he made a comment about “feeling old.” But how old is Dr. Carlander? Despite his
wizened state, he has the unwrinkled, youthful complexion and countenance of a newborn, and
a full head of jet-black hair. Perhaps his being a “history professor” is just a clever way of
disguising the fact that he’s been around for centuries and knows pretty much everything there is
to know about human history through life experience alone. Now without further ado, I present
to you Dr. Jay Carlander.
East-coasters always ask this question
of those of us who began life on the
West Coast, so let’s get it out of the
way before we go any further: How
did you, a native Californian, find
yourself on the opposite side of the
country? Philosophical answers are
always encouraged.
We are asked that often, aren’t we? My
answer has to do with Eros and economics.
My wife was hired to teach in the History
Department here at SU, and because I’m
rather fond of her, I followed her here. It so
happens that I also teach history, and the
History Department was kind enough to
make room for me too. And because labor
markets in academia are national, and
increasingly international, it may happen
that a Californian is hired to teach on the
Eastern Shore of Maryland. Luckily,
Salisbury isn’t that far from an ocean. I grew
up in a neighborhood that was about a twominute drive from the nearest beach, and I
don’t like the feeling of being landlocked.
Neither do I, Dr. Jay. Neither do I. We are sea
creatures at heart, us Santa Barbarians, aren’t we?
Do you feel you bring a little piece of
California to SU, or more specifically
to the Honors Program?
I think I do. Since I’ve been around, I
notice that people are saying “dude” a lot
more than they probably would otherwise.
Californians place a lot of importance on
games and recreation, so I’ve found that
Honors students’ skills at things like pingpong and pool in the basement of the
Honors House really aren’t up to West
Coast standards. I’ve been dominant at
those activities so far. On the other hand,
I think Honors students here at SU are
rightly focused on their studies and their
campus and community citizenship rather
than beating me at basement games. Which
is a good thing, because they don’t stand a
chance. Californians tend to be a little full
of themselves too.
Dude. That’s so true. Only, I’m terrible at ping-pong.
How are you handling your new
position as interim director of the
Bellavance Honors Program?
Well, I hope I’m handling it reasonably
well. It is a challenge to be one person
where there used to be two, but on the
other hand Drs. Richard England and Lucy
Morrison, the previous director and
associate director respectively, have been so
supportive and willing to help and share
their knowledge and experience with me;
I’m really grateful to them, as I am for the
help of Dr. Charlotte England. And the
new program management specialist for the
Philosophy Department and Honors
Program, Tina Melczarek, is just
wonderful. I would be nowhere without
Tina’s professionalism and knowledge of
the University. The Honors House
assistants, Jocelyn Armes and Leigh Culver,
have also been enormously helpful. And the
Honors Student Association (HSA) has
really stepped up and taken on a lot of
responsibility for planning the many events
that we have. So I’ve been lucky to have
such great support as I’ve been learning the
ropes of this demanding position.
Sounds like a tough job, Dr. Jay. Good thing you
have such a good support system.
Your title includes the non-committal
word “Interim.” What does this mean?
The word interim comes from the Latin
word for meantime or temporary (though
we should check with Honors sophomore
and resident Latinist Theo Williams on
the accuracy of this claim). The Honors
Program is in transition, as is the whole
University. It’s getting bigger and better,
and I was asked by SU Provost Diane Allen
to direct the program in the short term –
or meantime – while a permanent director
is sought who will ultimately guide the
program in the long term.
I checked with Theo. Spot on Dr. Jay, spot on.
What is your relationship with
the relentlessly witty and always
thought-provoking Dr. Richard
England, your predecessor?
Given his experience and wisdom,
I’m sort of like Luke Skywalker to his
Obi-Wan Kenobi. Or, given his accent,
maybe I’m more like R2 to his 3PO.
Richard is truly a gentleman and a scholar,
a real intellectual. In my rare spare time
I’ve been reading through his pieces in
back issues of The Saunterer, and the passion,
wit and commitment to educating students
that he evinces in those pieces make it easy
to understand why his leadership had such
a reputation for excellence in Maryland
and beyond.
Believe it or not, I did anticipate you giving an
answer that showcased your knowledge of Star Wars.
What (if anything) do you find unique
about Honors students?
Their passion for Quidditch has surprised
me somewhat, but in a good way. I think
the Honors students here are unique in the
variety of their commitments to
scholarship, the campus and the
community. This is a really active, civicminded group, and I think that’s the right
way to be.
continued on page 7
5
S aunterer
The
Interview with Dr. Jay Carlander
Angela’s Adventures Abroad
By Camille St. Regis
By Angela Pabich
Instead of returning to the bright and shining
campus of Salisbury this fall, I decided to fly
down to good ol’ South America to camp out
for the semester. I’ve been in Cuenca,
Ecuador, for just under two months now, but I
think it’s deceiving to say that this is the fall
semester. If anything, it’s spring here. Then
again, Cuenca is nestled in a high altitude
valley among the Andes, so every day is spring,
thanks to the coolness of the mountain
surroundings and the location on the equator.
When I travel to the coast, it will be the
expected, equatorial tropical weather that one
thinks of in this region, but until then, I’m in a
mountainous springtime.
So what about my adventures so far, you
ask? I’ve been to the middle of the Earth,
Latitude 0, and have witnessed first hand that
water spirals the opposite way in the southern
hemisphere. I traversed the jungle, monkeys
and tarantulas included, and swam in the
Napo River, a watershed of the Amazon
River. I’ve visited ruins at Ingapirca, which
are the best-preserved Incan and Cañari
(pre-Incan) ruins in all of Ecuador.
Don’t let me fool you, it’s not all fun and
games in the south lands. It is, after all, an
academic semester here too, so I’ve been
attending class everyday. Hands down, the best
class so far has been my outdoors pursuits class,
for audit unfortunately, which is an
uncharacteristically exhilarating physical
education class. The syllabus includes only four
activities: rock climbing, canyoneering, camping
and horseback riding. I went canyoneering
three days ago, and in case you haven’t a clue
what this involves, it’s basically hiking through a
freezing river in a wetsuit, sliding down natural
rockslides, repelling through waterfalls and
jumping from small cliffs. It was absolutely
terrifying, but a worthwhile experience in
retrospect (although it was difficult to feel that
sentiment while I couldn’t feel my toes).
Outside of the classroom and excursions,
Cuenca offers an array of things to do within
the town. My host family’s house is
conveniently located two blocks from the city’s
only soccer stadium. Last weekend, I went to
my first South American soccer game,
between the Club Deportivo Cuenca and
Barcelona Sporting Club. I initially thought
Cuenca was playing a team from Spain, but as
it turns out, the Barcelona Sporting Club hails
from Guayaquil, Ecuador. Regardless, the
crowd was exuberant, busting with catchy, but
sometimes very offensive chants. It widened
my Spanish vocabulary, to say the least. Apart
4
Ang on the streets of Cuenca, Ecuador
Ang at latitude 0°
from soccer (futbol), the dance clubs and
restaurant/taverns fill my weekends. A gringo
bar called Inca Lounge, owned by a
Californian, hosts an open-mic night every
Wednesday in which patrons can listen to
ex-patriates and amateurs play alternative ’90s
American songs, which can be quite charming.
[Note: In Ecuador the word “gringo” means
foreigner, most likely from the States. It doesn’t
have the negative connotation that it has when
used in other countries. Most people do not
even know the origin of the word “gringo”
here, which solidifies its non-offensive
colloquial use. I’m a gringa here, it’s true.]
Canyoneering on the Rio Amarillo
My experience in Ecuador is proving to be
life changing. In my opinion, when you put
yourself in a totally new environment, you
learn maybe even more about yourself than
your new home. If anyone is on the fence
about studying abroad, my strong advice is to
do it, even if it’s not to the wondrous country
of Ecuador. If anyone wants to know
anything in particular, or even in general,
about my experience here, or about the role
of guinea pigs in the highland society, just ask
me when I return to the ’bury in the spring
(aka frigid wintertime).
I’m sure many of you are aware that we have a new director of the Honors Program this year:
Dr. Jay Carlander. Naturally, I had a few questions for the man who now sits in what was once
Dr. Richard England’s chair. Before we get to his answers, here’s a little background on what
prompted me to ask these pressing questions and how I first became acquainted with the man
behind the title.
When I first heard Honors had changed hands, I was a little disheartened. But I soon learned
that Dr. Carlander was Californian, and from Santa Barbara, like me, which lifted my spirits. At
the next Honors function I attended, I finally had the privilege of meeting Dr. Carlander. He is,
in my opinion, a vampire, and I mean that in the most flattering way possible. When we first
spoke he made a comment about “feeling old.” But how old is Dr. Carlander? Despite his
wizened state, he has the unwrinkled, youthful complexion and countenance of a newborn, and
a full head of jet-black hair. Perhaps his being a “history professor” is just a clever way of
disguising the fact that he’s been around for centuries and knows pretty much everything there is
to know about human history through life experience alone. Now without further ado, I present
to you Dr. Jay Carlander.
East-coasters always ask this question
of those of us who began life on the
West Coast, so let’s get it out of the
way before we go any further: How
did you, a native Californian, find
yourself on the opposite side of the
country? Philosophical answers are
always encouraged.
We are asked that often, aren’t we? My
answer has to do with Eros and economics.
My wife was hired to teach in the History
Department here at SU, and because I’m
rather fond of her, I followed her here. It so
happens that I also teach history, and the
History Department was kind enough to
make room for me too. And because labor
markets in academia are national, and
increasingly international, it may happen
that a Californian is hired to teach on the
Eastern Shore of Maryland. Luckily,
Salisbury isn’t that far from an ocean. I grew
up in a neighborhood that was about a twominute drive from the nearest beach, and I
don’t like the feeling of being landlocked.
Neither do I, Dr. Jay. Neither do I. We are sea
creatures at heart, us Santa Barbarians, aren’t we?
Do you feel you bring a little piece of
California to SU, or more specifically
to the Honors Program?
I think I do. Since I’ve been around, I
notice that people are saying “dude” a lot
more than they probably would otherwise.
Californians place a lot of importance on
games and recreation, so I’ve found that
Honors students’ skills at things like pingpong and pool in the basement of the
Honors House really aren’t up to West
Coast standards. I’ve been dominant at
those activities so far. On the other hand,
I think Honors students here at SU are
rightly focused on their studies and their
campus and community citizenship rather
than beating me at basement games. Which
is a good thing, because they don’t stand a
chance. Californians tend to be a little full
of themselves too.
Dude. That’s so true. Only, I’m terrible at ping-pong.
How are you handling your new
position as interim director of the
Bellavance Honors Program?
Well, I hope I’m handling it reasonably
well. It is a challenge to be one person
where there used to be two, but on the
other hand Drs. Richard England and Lucy
Morrison, the previous director and
associate director respectively, have been so
supportive and willing to help and share
their knowledge and experience with me;
I’m really grateful to them, as I am for the
help of Dr. Charlotte England. And the
new program management specialist for the
Philosophy Department and Honors
Program, Tina Melczarek, is just
wonderful. I would be nowhere without
Tina’s professionalism and knowledge of
the University. The Honors House
assistants, Jocelyn Armes and Leigh Culver,
have also been enormously helpful. And the
Honors Student Association (HSA) has
really stepped up and taken on a lot of
responsibility for planning the many events
that we have. So I’ve been lucky to have
such great support as I’ve been learning the
ropes of this demanding position.
Sounds like a tough job, Dr. Jay. Good thing you
have such a good support system.
Your title includes the non-committal
word “Interim.” What does this mean?
The word interim comes from the Latin
word for meantime or temporary (though
we should check with Honors sophomore
and resident Latinist Theo Williams on
the accuracy of this claim). The Honors
Program is in transition, as is the whole
University. It’s getting bigger and better,
and I was asked by SU Provost Diane Allen
to direct the program in the short term –
or meantime – while a permanent director
is sought who will ultimately guide the
program in the long term.
I checked with Theo. Spot on Dr. Jay, spot on.
What is your relationship with
the relentlessly witty and always
thought-provoking Dr. Richard
England, your predecessor?
Given his experience and wisdom,
I’m sort of like Luke Skywalker to his
Obi-Wan Kenobi. Or, given his accent,
maybe I’m more like R2 to his 3PO.
Richard is truly a gentleman and a scholar,
a real intellectual. In my rare spare time
I’ve been reading through his pieces in
back issues of The Saunterer, and the passion,
wit and commitment to educating students
that he evinces in those pieces make it easy
to understand why his leadership had such
a reputation for excellence in Maryland
and beyond.
Believe it or not, I did anticipate you giving an
answer that showcased your knowledge of Star Wars.
What (if anything) do you find unique
about Honors students?
Their passion for Quidditch has surprised
me somewhat, but in a good way. I think
the Honors students here are unique in the
variety of their commitments to
scholarship, the campus and the
community. This is a really active, civicminded group, and I think that’s the right
way to be.
continued on page 7
5
S aunterer
The
Interview with Dr. Jay Carlander continued from page 5
Opening Up to
the Possibilities
By Pete Hicks
The Honors House may seem like a
static feature of the campus landscape,
but in reality it is a place that is
constantly open to new
interpretations. The Honors community
is designed to help students think
outside the box of normal collegiate
intelligence. Why shouldn’t its garden
reflect this expansion of thought in
new and exciting ways?
Why shouldn’t one see the gazebo
as a spinning carousel? It could be a
beautiful marvel of wood that is
constantly shifting and turning to
amuse the passersby.
The statue of a boy in the pond
beside the gazebo could be actually
moving around on his stilts. He is a
friend to the Honors students who
have class near his domain.
The leaves on the trees can change
color, shifting from red to yellow to
white like fire. The branches can slither
and shift through the air. They can
grow glowing apples before your
very eyes.
The Zen Garden could become a
vast landscape. The sun, an orb of
shifting oranges and pinks, could set
behind the gushing waterfall. The
pond can explode in splashes of color
that constantly change and mix along
the surface of the water.
The tall trees around the bench
glow red and grow ever higher. All
the while, the markings on the wood
of the fence morph into faces
wearing various expressions of
happiness and wonder.
Above unsuspecting heads, the stars
spin around in circles.
Nothing is as it seems. Students of
the Honors Program are encouraged
to think, to analyze and to explore …
to look at the world in ways that it has
never been looked at before.
So every time you go out into the
garden behind the Honors House,
open your mind to the possibilities.
Think about what you could be seeing
and use your imagination to the fullest
extent. By working your imagination
like a muscle, you can train your mind
to look at problems in ways that have
never been thought of before.
When students open their minds to
the world around them, they can
absorb more of the interesting things
being presented to them in class. By
using this gained intellect you can
make the world a better place.
6
Just a ‘Typical’ Night
By Veronica Thompson & Mark Oberly
On the outside, Manokin Hall looks the same
as any of the other boring old residence halls
in the Quad. On the inside, however, it is
quite distinct. So begins this tale of what one
may encounter during a normal, or perhaps
unusual, night in the Manokin lounge. A
thrilling saga of procrastination, regret,
ecstasy, hysterics and a liberal heaping of
camaraderie, all wrapped into a rather
unique package of the Honors LivingLearning Community.
A “normal” night starts around 6 p.m., as
the groups gather for dinner and shouts can
be heard rebounding down the halls as friends
yell at each other to hurry up. Thunderous
footsteps sound as Manokinites stomp down
the stairs to the Commons or, perchance, to
more exotic local fare. Once the ravenous
appetite of the college student has been sated,
most meander back to Manokin at a leisurely
pace. Some sprawl out on the overstuffed
leather couches and moan about the amount
of homework that still lies waiting for them;
others move downstairs to try their hands at
pool or catch up on the score of the game.
Most eventually break out their laptops in an
attempt at something that resembles studying,
though those who follow this path must be
wary, for the siren song of Facebook may soon
lure them to their doom.
As the stars begin to puncture through the
velvet sky above, the Manokin group soon
becomes manic. Soon “fieldtrips” start to
Cool Beans to provide the caffeine shot that is
required before true homework or
procrastination can begin. Once the heady
cocktails of coffee, smoothies and hot
chocolate have been purchased, the volume of
people in the lounge exponentially increases
as newfound energy must be channeled,
though it is not always channeled into
constructive endeavors. While there are
indeed a select few Honors students who hole
themselves away and burrow into a state near
hibernation with their notes, most can be
spotted clotted together feverishly discussing
upcoming projects, or, more likely, when the
next epic sojourn to the promised lands of
Goodwill and Walmart will take place. There
is, however, the ever-present danger of fiery
debates that may range anywhere from
philosophy to last night’s anime binge.
When the clock strikes midnight, there is
only one thing to decide: what Disney movie
should the students watch first from the
copious stores of RA Mary Capper? As
bickering supersedes conversation, finally a
movie is decided upon, but usually not
without an aggressively thrown puppy-dog
face and several bouts of profuse profanity
beforehand. As the melodic notes of Disney
play in the background, people fight over
prime spots on the couches. Particularly
malicious students may also sneak deadly
traps in the form of sweets into the mix –
“thanks” Mom and Dad.
During this time, one may get the chance to
see the Honors students in their natural
habitat, with an open laptop sitting untouched
as the owner stares vacantly at the TV, fingers
poised over the keys. They may only wake
from this stupor when an overloaded laundry
basket with gangly legs makes its way down
the stairs, leaving a trail of unmentionables
behind, to claim all four of the washers in
order to tackle the long-neglected, evergrowing pile of clothing. Fast approaching is
the long-avoided point of productivity, a
lonely and subdued period in which, one by
one, the number diminishes as those poor
souls grudgingly surrender to their
unspeakably large piles of homework. Those
lucky enough to escape the ghost
of homework present, fall prey to
another enemy, the grim sleeper.
The night reaches its conclusion
and the last few brave individuals
embark on one final journey: a
brisk walk around the silent
campus. Upon their return, with
legs transmuted from flesh to lead,
they stumble up the stairs to the
waiting embrace of their almost
forgotten beds. As the blankets
close around them, and the sun
begins to peek around the bricks of
Holloway Hall, they say with
obvious sincerity, “O’ Manokin,
how we love thee.”
Dude, I’m actually going to watch a Quidditch
match in a few hours. No lie.
Do you plan to take the Honors
Program in a new direction?
Only in the sense that the Honors Program
is already headed in a new direction and I
just plan to stay the course. I’m a historian
by training, and history is fundamentally
the study of change over time, so I figure I
should be attuned to recognizing the signs
of change. Salisbury University has been
changing rapidly in the last 10 years and
those changes are affecting every part of
the University, including the Honors
Program. SU has been expanding,
modernizing and attaining a higher profile
and a more competitive position in the
marketplace of universities. I take it that
I’m here to keep up the good work of the
previous directors and help the Honors
Program keep pace with the movement of
the University as a whole.
I know what the “history” thing is really about,
Dr. Jay. Well played.
program will become more systematized.
I hope to see all schools well represented
in the Honors curriculum and more
courses cross-listed with different majors.
I envision Honors students continuing to
maintain a high profile at national
conferences, and hope to see SU Honors
students winning prestigious national
awards like Fulbright scholarships in the
near future.
That all sounds great, man. I hope you’re one of
those vampires that can see into the future. That
would make you, like, a historian of all time:
past, present and future. Your wisdom would know
no bounds.
Is there anything else you would like
to reveal or tell us about yourself, to
help us get to know the real Dr. Jay
Carlander?
Though I was raised in California, I was
born in Ohio, I prefer Macs to PCs, I don’t
have a Facebook account, I believe Oswald
acted alone, I still hold out hope that the
Minnesota Vikings will win a Super Bowl
some day, I believe Abraham Lincoln was
our most important president, my little
daughters have me wrapped around their
little fingers, my favorite movie is The Blues
Brothers, and I cherish my rights to life,
liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
Thank you for your answers, Dr. Jay. I laughed, I
cried, I dreamed of riding the glassy shoulder of a
good-sized wave, and now I’m craving a veggie
wrap. Perhaps I’ll head over to the Honors House
and get my hands on some of that quality grub
you were talking about earlier.
What waves have you made already
in the Honors Program?
Well we Californians are fond of waves.
To stay with the surfing metaphor, I’ve
tried to keep the good sets rolling in and
avoid the chop. On the assumption that
food is essential for thought, I made
a change in the pizza vendor for HSA
meetings to a locally owned restaurant,
and I think student reviews of the
improvement in pizza quality have been
positive. Also, in good West Coast fashion,
I’ve been trying to
encourage healthier
I take it that I’m here to keep up the
eating by keeping the
good work of the previous directors
Honors House
kitchen stocked with
and help the Honors Program keep pace
things like organic
apples, bananas and
with the movement of the University
other quality food.
as a whole.
Gotta love positive
stereotypes about
On a more serious note, obvious hackneyed
Californians. Keep ‘em rolling in, Dr. Jay.
Twilight references and stereotypes about
Assuming we all survive 2012, how
Californians aside, we’re very pleased to have you,
do you envision the Honors Program
Dr. Carlander. You are handling your new position
five years from now?
with gusto. I will now conclude this interview at
1:44 p.m. on this Friday afternoon, reminiscing
Having survived the apocalypse of HSA
about my own history and past in Santa Barbara,
Treasurer Evan Sturman’s karaoke singing
smiling as I reflect on the point at which the
recently, I feel that we’re all well prepared
direction of my life changed course and led me
for whatever 2012 throws at us. I envision
here, filled with high hopes for the future of the
the SU Honors Program being bigger
Honors program under Dr. Carlander’s direction.
than it is now with more students and
more courses offered. I think the process
of recruiting faculty to teach in the
“
”
A Budding Experience continued from page 1
whatever they wanted to see on a field trip.
I could see the exhilaration on their faces, I
could sense the looseness of their step, I could
feel the pure joy that was radiating from
them, and I understood that they were
starting to realize what college is all about.
Seeing the transformation that was
happening in these freshmen right before my
eyes made me glad that I had become a
resident assistant because seeing and helping
people grow was one of the main reasons I
applied for the job.
Throughout the day, my group meandered
through the National Gallery’s labyrinthine
structure to discover vast arrays of artwork,
rode the moving walkway between the East
and West buildings of the National Gallery at
least four times, made the arduous trek to the
Lincoln Memorial (made difficult by the
construction on the reflecting pool), and
finally ended up at the World War II
memorial. I eventually gravitated to the
fountain at the center of the memorial and
sat right at the edge of the water. Although
they had been in a state of ecstatic euphoria
all day, it amazed me how quickly my group
gathered around me and were sobered by the
meaning of this place. We all sat in silence,
staring at the water. As I stared through the
water, deep in thought, I tried to take in all of
the emotion, all of the sacrifice, all of the
elation, all of the anguish, all of the
exhaustion, all of the meaning of this place.
After an indefinite pause, I slowly stood up,
and we began walking away from the
fountain, back to the bus, back to reality, back
home to Salisbury.
The Garden of Zen:
A Sonnet to the Honors House
By Chelsea Smith
As water trickles to the pond below,
I observe the leaves fall from season’s
change;
The trees display the many seasons’
range.
Still the leaves collect in water shallow.
The year’s excitement turned one of mellow,
While friends once close to us may now
seem strange,
All the while our simple garden arrange,
Sits peacefully and watches as times go.
Here there is no rush of work or of stress,
Here there is no anger of what has been,
Here there is no pressure for more
success.
Here there is pond, trees and quiet
again.
Here there is water for the reeds’ caress.
Here there is only the garden of Zen.
7
S aunterer
The
Interview with Dr. Jay Carlander continued from page 5
Opening Up to
the Possibilities
By Pete Hicks
The Honors House may seem like a
static feature of the campus landscape,
but in reality it is a place that is
constantly open to new
interpretations. The Honors community
is designed to help students think
outside the box of normal collegiate
intelligence. Why shouldn’t its garden
reflect this expansion of thought in
new and exciting ways?
Why shouldn’t one see the gazebo
as a spinning carousel? It could be a
beautiful marvel of wood that is
constantly shifting and turning to
amuse the passersby.
The statue of a boy in the pond
beside the gazebo could be actually
moving around on his stilts. He is a
friend to the Honors students who
have class near his domain.
The leaves on the trees can change
color, shifting from red to yellow to
white like fire. The branches can slither
and shift through the air. They can
grow glowing apples before your
very eyes.
The Zen Garden could become a
vast landscape. The sun, an orb of
shifting oranges and pinks, could set
behind the gushing waterfall. The
pond can explode in splashes of color
that constantly change and mix along
the surface of the water.
The tall trees around the bench
glow red and grow ever higher. All
the while, the markings on the wood
of the fence morph into faces
wearing various expressions of
happiness and wonder.
Above unsuspecting heads, the stars
spin around in circles.
Nothing is as it seems. Students of
the Honors Program are encouraged
to think, to analyze and to explore …
to look at the world in ways that it has
never been looked at before.
So every time you go out into the
garden behind the Honors House,
open your mind to the possibilities.
Think about what you could be seeing
and use your imagination to the fullest
extent. By working your imagination
like a muscle, you can train your mind
to look at problems in ways that have
never been thought of before.
When students open their minds to
the world around them, they can
absorb more of the interesting things
being presented to them in class. By
using this gained intellect you can
make the world a better place.
6
Just a ‘Typical’ Night
By Veronica Thompson & Mark Oberly
On the outside, Manokin Hall looks the same
as any of the other boring old residence halls
in the Quad. On the inside, however, it is
quite distinct. So begins this tale of what one
may encounter during a normal, or perhaps
unusual, night in the Manokin lounge. A
thrilling saga of procrastination, regret,
ecstasy, hysterics and a liberal heaping of
camaraderie, all wrapped into a rather
unique package of the Honors LivingLearning Community.
A “normal” night starts around 6 p.m., as
the groups gather for dinner and shouts can
be heard rebounding down the halls as friends
yell at each other to hurry up. Thunderous
footsteps sound as Manokinites stomp down
the stairs to the Commons or, perchance, to
more exotic local fare. Once the ravenous
appetite of the college student has been sated,
most meander back to Manokin at a leisurely
pace. Some sprawl out on the overstuffed
leather couches and moan about the amount
of homework that still lies waiting for them;
others move downstairs to try their hands at
pool or catch up on the score of the game.
Most eventually break out their laptops in an
attempt at something that resembles studying,
though those who follow this path must be
wary, for the siren song of Facebook may soon
lure them to their doom.
As the stars begin to puncture through the
velvet sky above, the Manokin group soon
becomes manic. Soon “fieldtrips” start to
Cool Beans to provide the caffeine shot that is
required before true homework or
procrastination can begin. Once the heady
cocktails of coffee, smoothies and hot
chocolate have been purchased, the volume of
people in the lounge exponentially increases
as newfound energy must be channeled,
though it is not always channeled into
constructive endeavors. While there are
indeed a select few Honors students who hole
themselves away and burrow into a state near
hibernation with their notes, most can be
spotted clotted together feverishly discussing
upcoming projects, or, more likely, when the
next epic sojourn to the promised lands of
Goodwill and Walmart will take place. There
is, however, the ever-present danger of fiery
debates that may range anywhere from
philosophy to last night’s anime binge.
When the clock strikes midnight, there is
only one thing to decide: what Disney movie
should the students watch first from the
copious stores of RA Mary Capper? As
bickering supersedes conversation, finally a
movie is decided upon, but usually not
without an aggressively thrown puppy-dog
face and several bouts of profuse profanity
beforehand. As the melodic notes of Disney
play in the background, people fight over
prime spots on the couches. Particularly
malicious students may also sneak deadly
traps in the form of sweets into the mix –
“thanks” Mom and Dad.
During this time, one may get the chance to
see the Honors students in their natural
habitat, with an open laptop sitting untouched
as the owner stares vacantly at the TV, fingers
poised over the keys. They may only wake
from this stupor when an overloaded laundry
basket with gangly legs makes its way down
the stairs, leaving a trail of unmentionables
behind, to claim all four of the washers in
order to tackle the long-neglected, evergrowing pile of clothing. Fast approaching is
the long-avoided point of productivity, a
lonely and subdued period in which, one by
one, the number diminishes as those poor
souls grudgingly surrender to their
unspeakably large piles of homework. Those
lucky enough to escape the ghost
of homework present, fall prey to
another enemy, the grim sleeper.
The night reaches its conclusion
and the last few brave individuals
embark on one final journey: a
brisk walk around the silent
campus. Upon their return, with
legs transmuted from flesh to lead,
they stumble up the stairs to the
waiting embrace of their almost
forgotten beds. As the blankets
close around them, and the sun
begins to peek around the bricks of
Holloway Hall, they say with
obvious sincerity, “O’ Manokin,
how we love thee.”
Dude, I’m actually going to watch a Quidditch
match in a few hours. No lie.
Do you plan to take the Honors
Program in a new direction?
Only in the sense that the Honors Program
is already headed in a new direction and I
just plan to stay the course. I’m a historian
by training, and history is fundamentally
the study of change over time, so I figure I
should be attuned to recognizing the signs
of change. Salisbury University has been
changing rapidly in the last 10 years and
those changes are affecting every part of
the University, including the Honors
Program. SU has been expanding,
modernizing and attaining a higher profile
and a more competitive position in the
marketplace of universities. I take it that
I’m here to keep up the good work of the
previous directors and help the Honors
Program keep pace with the movement of
the University as a whole.
I know what the “history” thing is really about,
Dr. Jay. Well played.
program will become more systematized.
I hope to see all schools well represented
in the Honors curriculum and more
courses cross-listed with different majors.
I envision Honors students continuing to
maintain a high profile at national
conferences, and hope to see SU Honors
students winning prestigious national
awards like Fulbright scholarships in the
near future.
That all sounds great, man. I hope you’re one of
those vampires that can see into the future. That
would make you, like, a historian of all time:
past, present and future. Your wisdom would know
no bounds.
Is there anything else you would like
to reveal or tell us about yourself, to
help us get to know the real Dr. Jay
Carlander?
Though I was raised in California, I was
born in Ohio, I prefer Macs to PCs, I don’t
have a Facebook account, I believe Oswald
acted alone, I still hold out hope that the
Minnesota Vikings will win a Super Bowl
some day, I believe Abraham Lincoln was
our most important president, my little
daughters have me wrapped around their
little fingers, my favorite movie is The Blues
Brothers, and I cherish my rights to life,
liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
Thank you for your answers, Dr. Jay. I laughed, I
cried, I dreamed of riding the glassy shoulder of a
good-sized wave, and now I’m craving a veggie
wrap. Perhaps I’ll head over to the Honors House
and get my hands on some of that quality grub
you were talking about earlier.
What waves have you made already
in the Honors Program?
Well we Californians are fond of waves.
To stay with the surfing metaphor, I’ve
tried to keep the good sets rolling in and
avoid the chop. On the assumption that
food is essential for thought, I made
a change in the pizza vendor for HSA
meetings to a locally owned restaurant,
and I think student reviews of the
improvement in pizza quality have been
positive. Also, in good West Coast fashion,
I’ve been trying to
encourage healthier
I take it that I’m here to keep up the
eating by keeping the
good work of the previous directors
Honors House
kitchen stocked with
and help the Honors Program keep pace
things like organic
apples, bananas and
with the movement of the University
other quality food.
as a whole.
Gotta love positive
stereotypes about
On a more serious note, obvious hackneyed
Californians. Keep ‘em rolling in, Dr. Jay.
Twilight references and stereotypes about
Assuming we all survive 2012, how
Californians aside, we’re very pleased to have you,
do you envision the Honors Program
Dr. Carlander. You are handling your new position
five years from now?
with gusto. I will now conclude this interview at
1:44 p.m. on this Friday afternoon, reminiscing
Having survived the apocalypse of HSA
about my own history and past in Santa Barbara,
Treasurer Evan Sturman’s karaoke singing
smiling as I reflect on the point at which the
recently, I feel that we’re all well prepared
direction of my life changed course and led me
for whatever 2012 throws at us. I envision
here, filled with high hopes for the future of the
the SU Honors Program being bigger
Honors program under Dr. Carlander’s direction.
than it is now with more students and
more courses offered. I think the process
of recruiting faculty to teach in the
“
”
A Budding Experience continued from page 1
whatever they wanted to see on a field trip.
I could see the exhilaration on their faces, I
could sense the looseness of their step, I could
feel the pure joy that was radiating from
them, and I understood that they were
starting to realize what college is all about.
Seeing the transformation that was
happening in these freshmen right before my
eyes made me glad that I had become a
resident assistant because seeing and helping
people grow was one of the main reasons I
applied for the job.
Throughout the day, my group meandered
through the National Gallery’s labyrinthine
structure to discover vast arrays of artwork,
rode the moving walkway between the East
and West buildings of the National Gallery at
least four times, made the arduous trek to the
Lincoln Memorial (made difficult by the
construction on the reflecting pool), and
finally ended up at the World War II
memorial. I eventually gravitated to the
fountain at the center of the memorial and
sat right at the edge of the water. Although
they had been in a state of ecstatic euphoria
all day, it amazed me how quickly my group
gathered around me and were sobered by the
meaning of this place. We all sat in silence,
staring at the water. As I stared through the
water, deep in thought, I tried to take in all of
the emotion, all of the sacrifice, all of the
elation, all of the anguish, all of the
exhaustion, all of the meaning of this place.
After an indefinite pause, I slowly stood up,
and we began walking away from the
fountain, back to the bus, back to reality, back
home to Salisbury.
The Garden of Zen:
A Sonnet to the Honors House
By Chelsea Smith
As water trickles to the pond below,
I observe the leaves fall from season’s
change;
The trees display the many seasons’
range.
Still the leaves collect in water shallow.
The year’s excitement turned one of mellow,
While friends once close to us may now
seem strange,
All the while our simple garden arrange,
Sits peacefully and watches as times go.
Here there is no rush of work or of stress,
Here there is no anger of what has been,
Here there is no pressure for more
success.
Here there is pond, trees and quiet
again.
Here there is water for the reeds’ caress.
Here there is only the garden of Zen.
7
Saunterer
S aunterer
The
Like Thoreau in Walden, we will record our sauntering here, remembering that
“if one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the
life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours.”
The
Thomas E. Bellavance Honors Program
Salisbury University
1101 Camden Avenue
Salisbury, MD 21801
www.salisbury.edu/honors
Newsletter of the Thomas E. Bellavance Honors Program
Salisbury University • December 2011 • Vol. 17, No. 2
ADDRESS CORRECTION REQUESTED
PLEASE FORWARD (if necessary)
EDITORS’ NOTE
New Experiences
By Adam Heisman &
Camille St. Regis, editors
You may find that this edition of
The Saunterer is quite different
from previous ones, and we
would like to think that this shift
coincides with and reflects the
recent changes in the Honors
Program. Previous issues of The
Saunterer have been about the
Honors Program as a whole,
detailing the various events and
accomplishments of the program
and its students. With this issue,
however, we decided to take a
different route and approach it
with the question: “What do the
Honors students have to say?”
We wanted to present the voices
of the students and give insight
into their minds and opinions.
With this edition, we aimed to
place a greater emphasis on the
people who make and represent
the Honors Program.
In a way, this gives The
Saunterer a more personal
touch. These pieces are largely
the reflections and musings of
Honors students. This new focus
reflects the desires of the interim
director, Dr. Jay Carlander. He
has told us, time and time again,
that he wants us to be more
independent and self-controlled.
The responsibility of organizing
trips and events is now placed
more on our shoulders, which
continued on page 2
A Budding Experience
By David Eberius
the atmosphere of the bus changed from a
As with most Honors trips, it began with
mellifluous siren song of slumber to a chaotic
everyone shambling over to the Honors House
smorgasbord of thoughts, both spoken and
in that classic, groggy, stumbling manner that is
unspoken, flying around the confines of the bus
the hallmark of a college student awoken
and giving everyone a sense of restless longing
before 10 a.m. on a Saturday. The kitchen was
for our destination. By the time the bus had
packed to the point where stretching one’s
pulled up to the curb, half of the people had
arms out fully without hitting someone was
already begun to eat their bagged lunches
laughable, just as it was at the Honors Student
because they realized that they couldn’t take
Association meeting two days prior. Yet, unlike
them into any of the museums.
the HSA meeting, few people were making
The moment we
noise, let alone
stepped off of the bus,
talking, and the
we were assaulted with
food of choice was
a piercingly icy wind
doughnuts from the
that seemed to ignore
Fractured Prune
our clothing and go
rather than the
straight to our once
HSA meeting
warm skin and a light
staple, pizza from
drizzle that truly –
De Pietro’s NY
pardon the pun –
Pizzeria. Dr.
dampened our spirits.
Charlotte England
At first, people were
and Dr. Wanda
huddling around the
Jester then brought
(From left) Mark Oberly, Veronica Thompson,
entrance to the bus
out the boxes
David Eberius, Megan Lechmann and Robin Karpovich
like ducklings that
containing the three
were waiting for their mother to lead so that
varieties of bagged lunches, at which point the
they could follow. I decided to take the role of
students shuffled over to the boxes, grabbed a
‘mother’ in this situation and led people up the
lunch and proceeded to get on the bus.
steps of the Museum of Natural History, where
Maybe it was the transition from the
we were dropped off, to a corner near the
crowded kitchen to the spacious outside world
entrance where we wouldn’t be in the way of
or the crisp air on our exposed cheeks, but
those who were trying to enter and yet would
everyone seemed to perk up after leaving the
still be protected from the rain. We huddled
house. Once on the bus, people gained even
together in this small alcove for a few minutes
more energy and began talking excitedly about
eating, socializing and splitting into
what awaited them in our nation’s capitol. But
manageable exploratory groups.
alas, after the initial excitement wore off, many
Once we had finished, each group went off
of the students started reading books for class,
on a quest of their own design. For some of the
listening to mp3 players or simply dozing off.
freshmen, this was the first time they were able
As we got close to D.C., people began to regain
to do whatever they wanted to do and see
consciousness and with it, their excitement.
The more awake everyone became, the more
continued on page 7
1
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