The student-led alternative church as defined in the Manual, but also allows for spiritual discussion during the testimony meetings. Photo / Kim Sheasley

Glen expressed enthusiasm about consistently high attendance at Tuesday CSO meetings. She added that it seems as if students are making good use of abbreviated quiet time on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Glen pointed out that there is a core group of students who attend Black Student Union lesson reads on Monday mornings and the joint Joe McNabb and Ferguson lesson read in the Pub on Wednesdays. Glen said: “People just drop in and spend the amount of time that they can. It’s short, but I think we’re also learning that it’s not the amount of time that you have, it’s how you use it.”
As reported in our Pilot Poll, 48 percent of students surveyed do not think 20 minutes is sufficient for quiet time, compared to 27 percent who think the time is adequate.
CSO President Lacey Crabill said she’s heard some complaints about limited quiet time on three of five weekdays, but added that she and her friends have found ways to make the time useful. According to Crabill, “…even though it’s only 20 minutes, that’s still plenty of time to focus your thought toward something and really hold on to that throughout the day. And obviously you don’t do that just during quiet time, you do that all the time.”
As many community members realize, there are opportunities to correct thought regularly throughout the day. A few interviewed for this article pinpointed specific examples. Junior Fassio Elder said: “The problem with apathy, I think, is huge in any type of involvement on campus, CS or not. I think that’s part of the mesmerism here that we need to handle.”
Senior Tim Dixon echoed this perspective when he said: “… I think honestly, because this is such a unique community and it is so powerful, has such amazing potential, that we need to be defending ourselves every day against the suggestion that Christian Science isn’t exciting or that it isn’t effective.”
Other interviewees remarked that the Christian Science environment on campus helps to foster growth and mutual support. Glen explained: “This should be just the most loving place that you would ever want to be. That’s not to say that we don’t all have sort of down times, but if we do, there’s so many people around to lift you up instead of … going down with you”
Crabill expressed the feeling that choosing to come to Principia was a definite change following years of public school education in her hometown. She especially stressed the value of friendships formed on campus and roommate relationships she’s developed over the past three years in college. Crabill said, “Even if there are times when I’m down, there’s always a good friend nearby to pick me up. It’s just such a great place to be.”

Senior and CSO President Lacey Crabill sings along with the congregation during a Tuesday CSO service. 35% of surveyed students said that they always or most always attend these testimony meetings. Photo / Kim Sheasley

Both Dixon and Elder said they’ve had many meaningful conversations with friends and acquaintances about metaphysics and Christian Science. Last spring, the two decided to start hosting “alternative” church services on Wednesday evenings and Sunday mornings at times that wouldn’t conflict with CSO services and local branch church meetings. The services were designed to encourage further spiritual discovery. But as a result of limited advertising, around 10 percent of students have never heard of them. Weekly services are still held on campus in accordance with the Manual for the Mother Church. Volunteers from the community can sign up to prepare Wednesday readings or serve as a Sunday reader for a week.
According to Elder: “CS is a crucial element of the Principia experience for me. And I think it’s kind of difficult as a student here to find ways to make use of that to its full potential. I think you really have to push yourself as a seeker of Truth in any situation.”
For Dixon and Elder, these additional meetings allow for that push toward deeper study and discussion.
While many embrace Christian Science services at Prin, others prefer to limit their participation in religious activity on campus.
One student, who chose to remain anonymous, explained: “The thing about religion on campus is that you can avoid it if you want to or you can go and be really proactive and join the CSO and go to all the lectures and use quiet time … I think it’s good that you can choose.”
This student continued: “I have no plans on practicing Christian Science in the future. I mean, it’s a great religion but it’s not for me.”
At specific times in the Prin experience, students are expected to think critically about their involvement in Christian Science both in college and following graduation. Glen explained that seniors go through exit interviews before they leave the school. As part of the process, students are asked to fill out multiple-choice surveys about their vision for future religious involvement. According to Glen, one of the questions asks quite plainly if the soon-to-be-graduate plans to continue practicing Christian Science. Although there are few records about alumni involvement in the movement, Glen remarked that a consistently high percentage of seniors say they plan to further their study.
Crabill said: “I don’t know where I’m going to be after I graduate, but wherever it is I am looking forward to finding some sort of CS community there … I know wherever I am I can still embrace Christian Science.”

Illustrations / Ken Baughman

image / flickriver.com

I don’t like Christmas music. For the most part, I think it’s repetitive and flat-out annoying. It is only catchy in that super mind-numbing way, and like every popular song that gets stuck in our heads, we never know all the words. (I dare you to try to sing “Silent Night” through to the end without the lyrics. Seriously, I dare you.) This makes me sound awful – like a true Grinch – but  I doubt that you love listening to bad covers of Christmas songs post-Halloween to New Years. Or maybe you love it (weirdo).

But seriously, folks. I’m a good Santa-fearing kid, or I was fifteen years ago, I think. I’ve seen It’s a Wonderful Life (more than once) and watch Love Actually every Christmas (I know you can’t judge it, that movie’s hilarious and emotional, or whatever). So before you’re brought down by my humbug attitude, know that there are exceptions to my “no Christmas music” policy. One such exception is Bing Crosby. Granted, that man makes every song wonderful. His oft deep and always full voice is soothing and calming even to the likes of me. His memorable recordings of songs like “White Christmas” and “Mele Kalikimaka” (a family favorite, especially for families who watched National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation) will always scream Christmas in a pleasant and non-threatening way that I can appreciate without wanting to assail my ears. The duets he performed with accomplished singers, such as the ever-awesome David Bowie on a medley titled “Little Drummer Boy/Peace on Earth” and “Jingle Bells” with Frank Sinatra, are just as worthy of a listen as his solo work.

Image / bobdylan.com

There are other Christmas songs that I like listening to that aren’t sung by Bing Crosby. Eartha Kitt’s rendition of “Santa Baby” always makes me smile (this cannot be said about overly nasal covers), and Nat King Cole’s version of “The Christmas Song” always makes me want to roast chestnuts over an open fire. Or at least sit by a fireplace and drink hot cocoa with several large marshmallows floating at the top. And I have found other Christmas songs that I also like. So, what did I do with them? I made a list of eleven songs for Christmas 2011! Huzzah!

“Frosty the Snowman,”
sung by Fiona Apple
I tend to like the covers that Fiona Apple does (check her version of “Across the Universe”) and this is no exception. When she sings it, it is not as dopey as the cartoon, yet retains the thumpity-thump-thump enthusiasm.

“Merry Christmas Baby,”
sung by B.B. King
This song speaks for itself, for real.

image / thejudyroom.com

“I Wish It Was Christmas Today,”
sung by Julian Casablancas
This particular number was originally sung by Horatio Sanz and Jimmy Fallon on Saturday Night Live. Chris Kattan and Tracy Morgan aided the song by dancing and holding the keyboard Fallon played. This song was performed again on the show with the same tune but with alterations made to the lyrics. I don’t think either of the renditions were as well received or as widely known as when Jimmy Fallon and Horatio Sanz performed the song with the help of Julian Casablancas on The Late Show last Christmas. This version is more instrumentally complicated and isn’t funny, but it is an upbeat and delightful new Christmas song.

“I’ll be Home for Christmas,”
sung by Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan’s gruff voice adds to this song’s appeal. He’s not whining or wishing you cared more. He’s just letting you know that his wondering, folky ways may keep him away from you for a bit longer. But it’s okay. We can wait for Bob Dylan. (And hey! he’s dreaming of us, right?)

“Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas,”
sung by Judy Garland
It’s a classic, and it really shouldn’t come as any surprise that it’s on the list. Garland had an amazing voice and this song isn’t an exception.

“Blue Christmas,”
sung by Elvis Presley
I had to let The King give his two cents.

“White Christmas,”
sung by Otis Redding
It is true that no one will ever recreate the feeling Bing did when he sang this song. However, Otis does bring a totally different and worthwhile perspective to this piece. In this case, the song is felt through the rhythm of soul (yup, that happened).

“Santa Claus is Coming to Town,”
sung by Bruce Springsteen
And now it’s time for the boss to get excited. His excitement is my amusement (imagine Springsteen making cookies for Santa and falling asleep by the fire. Adorable).

Image / amazon.com

“I Saw Mummy Kissing Santa Claus,”
sung by Amy Winehouse
I don’t mean to speak ill of the deceased, but I never liked Amy Winehouse. I was never into her sound, and I, along with a great deal of the public, thought maybe she should have gone to rehab. However, this song should not go unnoticed.

“All I Want for Christmas,”
by The Yeah Yeah Yeahs
This song is in no way related to the Chipmunks and speech impediments or Mariah Carey and declaring love. Well, that’s not entirely true. The song is dedicated to all the people they love and the lead vocalist, Karen O., does sing that all she wants is you. However, this song is not as overplayed (probably because they presumably wrote it) and it’s a Christmas song by The Yeah Yeah Yeahs.

“Baby It’s Cold Outside,”
sung by Zooey Deschanel & Leon Redbone
A favorite? Yes. And there are actually a lot of good pairings that have performed this duet (Bing Crosby alongside Doris Day). I like this particular version because of the vast contrast between the two voices. Don’t know what I mean? Listen to it.

So Happy Christmas (just kidding, Merry, Merry). Hope you enjoy these songs and that you also remember that although all these tunes are good, if you don’t listen to Bing Crosby, it just isn’t Christmas.

Logan, chief foreign correspondent for CBS, said her upbringing in South Africa introduced her to the realities of racial tensions under apartheid. Her family ingrained in her an innate sense of respect for all people. She was taught to develop her own voice and take action for the causes she believed in. Inspiration came from the examples of Nelson Mandela and other leaders fighting for rights, who for her represent a “living embodiment of moral courage.” As a white South African growing up at the end of the apartheid era, Logan said she learned that “the white way of doing things in South Africa wasn’t the only way, wasn’t even necessarily the right way, that you had to put yourself in other people’s shoes, and see the world through their eyes, and that’s what I do over and over and over again, and you have to be open to that, and you have to be fair.”

Logan went on to pursue journalism in her professional career as a means of exploring her place in the world and exposing the realities of life and events worldwide. Sophomore Dillon Siewert said of Logan, “I really admire her humility because she talked about how whenever she went to another place she would let the place speak to her, instead of her speaking to the place.” Logan said she learns about her environment through listening, observation, and by speaking to local people about their lives.

Traveling to Cairo, Egypt to cover the crumbling rule of Hosni Mubarak, she reported from Tahrir Square and in the course of one night experienced a violent sexual assault by a mob of 200-300 men that nearly cost her her life. By sharing the story of her experience in Tahrir Square, Logan expressed her inner strength and moral courage. During the darkest moments of the assault that night, she told the audience in Cox Auditorium, “I thought of my babies, I can’t believe that I gave up on them that easily, how could I do that to them, that’s how I found the strength to fight.”

Senior Micheal Dutton and Delali Anumu listen intently to Lara Logan on stage after her inspiring address to the campus. photo / Kelsy Brawn

In consideration of the events that occurred in Cairo, Logan remarked, “If anything good came out of it, it was the response. I never in a million years expected that there would be so much compassion, so much support, so much understanding, that was the first thing I was overwhelmed by.”

She went on to say, “more than that it was the people that came out and said, if she can talk about this, I can talk about it. If she can not deny this, then it’s okay for me not to deny it.”

The inspiration women found in Logan’s story, and her willingness to share it publicly, gave them the strength to do the same. Logan understands that the world is still working to overcome numerous problems, from poverty, to violence, to racial inequality. Speaking on this subject she said, “It is indescribable what we still do to each other, and if in some small way I can change that, I feel very grateful that I can do that.”

Senior Tim Dixon said he was “really impressed that she was so adamant that it was not something to be ashamed of. She went through a really terrible experience, but she is not ashamed of what happened, and it is not her fault. I was really amazed by that.” Her example is one we can all learn from. Her story evidences the fact that even the most traumatizing experiences don’t have to determine our lives; rather, it is our moral character that will determine the lasting effect these experiences have.

Logan is very clear that the events in Egypt will not define her. She said, “I know who I am, and I know what’s right.” She is continuing her career, traveling abroad to cover the news and learning the real stories behind world events. Junior Maddy Grendel reflected on Logan’s talk: “Lara Logan was a phenomenal speaker. I admire her bravery, her courage, and the fact that she is willing to go off again, even now. She is so focused and driven to have this professional career.” Logan’s moral courage and her determination to pursue her goals in spite of all obstacles are truly inspirational. It seems all who attended the talk came away with an inspired outlook on life.

First of all, there is nothing wrong with being a Girl Scout. Ben himself was once a Girl Scout, but he quit a week in because he thought the sash made his calves look fat. He failed to mention that the same training I received from the Scouts made me an excellent writer. You see, the Scouts trained me to be committed, unrelenting, and rugged. I see myself using the same mix of determination and coercion I once used to sell cookies when I set out to get the facts. The fact that Ben gave up the Scouts shows that he’s probably not cut out for writing, either.

I should also mention that the reason my training took three months versus a few minutes is that they saw more potential in me. They saw in me the cunning, the nerve, and the raw talent that you so lack, Ben. Why not cultivate those God-given gifts into something brilliant? It would have been foolish of Maija not to foster my abilities as she did. Your lack of serious training is indicative of your lack of potential. You were filler until something better came along. Enter: me.

Ben, if I found out you were going to be my roommate, I would immediately request a single or drop out of Prin entirely. You strike me as the sort of person who would try on my clothes and leave cookie crumbs in my bed. Nobody wants to deal with that, me least of all.

Speaking of roommates, I would now like to address my readers. It’s that time of year again, time to change what works and move in with a stranger you hardly know. If you’ve ever had a roommate, you know as well as I do that you often have no idea what you’re getting stuck with. By the time you find out that the nice girl you agreed to live with has weird sleeping habits, it’s too late. You’re stuck with sleepless nights, sighing and groaning as your roommate sucks her pillow and makes sounds like a velociraptor. In the spirit of the season, I’ve compiled a list of all the things that could go wrong with a rooming situation.

First, your roommate could have a significant other. This is bad because you will often enter the room and find them both there, either in a passionate embrace (awkward), or sitting moodily on the edge of the bed with a feeling of loathing palpitating throughout the room (doubly awkward). I find that the best way to deal with this is to throw down some rules from the get-go regarding the hours during which they are allowed to be mackin’ out. Also, be sure to specify that your room is a happy place for you. Your sanctuary is no place to make a spectacle, so if they have something to work out, it’s best to do it in the library or the Pub.

Next, if your roommate is an athlete, your room could develop a distinctive odor, similar to Frito’s and gym socks.  This will make it difficult to convince someone to break house hours with you, if you know what I mean. If this happens to you, stock up on Febreze if you want any sort of romantic life. You should also drop subtle hints like “It smells in here,” or “Do your laundry, it smells.” This is really effective because you don’t have to be blunt or rude.

Lastly, it is quite possible that your roommate will have awful taste in music. If you share a room with someone who appreciates the Barking Dogs’ “Jingle Bells,” or David Hasselhoff’s “More Than Words Can Say,” do not address the situation by making their CDs into Frisbees or taking a baseball bat to their speakers. Such destruction probably won’t make them change their tastes, but it will most definitely make them mad at you. Instead, get them to buy a pair of headphones and limit open listening to the hours you aren’t there. Again, communication is key on this one.

As for me, I’m the best roommate you could possibly have. Why, you ask? Well, I’m really easy to get along with. I can also alphabetize your closet by color and designer. I’m known for my fancy cobbler parties. You may even wake to the sound of my melodic serenades accompanied by the kazoo, just to show you I care. I’ll do all that and more. You would do well to find someone like me to room with, especially if you want to avoid the pitfalls of most rooming situations. You would also hate to be stuck with someone like Ben Frederick.

photo / fambultok.com

On November 12th, 2011 at 6pm, Washington University in St. Louis hosted the viewing of award winning documentary Fambul Tok: a film by Sara Terry about the power of forgiveness. The amount of people in attendance was exceptional and all walked away with a stronger sense of worldly progress. What made this documentary most successful is its ability to reach out to people in every part of the world. The documentary begins with a quote from a Sierra Leonean Proverb: “The family tree bends but does not break.”
From 1991-2002 Sierra Leone suffered one of the most brutal civil wars in Africa.
One of the poorest countries in the world, Sierra Leone was plagued with government corruption and an unequal distribution of resources. The conflict became notorious for the use of “blood diamonds” – which were sold to purchase arms that fueled the fighting. The country was splintered, with three different fighting forces tearing apart the social fabric. Throughout the conflict tens of thousands of women were raped, and thousands of children were made to fight, as rebel soldiers, at the expense of their loved ones. Ten thousand innocent people suffered amputations. The country lost over 50,000 people as a result of the rival warfare among rebel factions..
The first scene of the documentary previews what Fambul Tok is successfully accomplishing. A group of people is sitting around a large bonfire in a circle. A woman is speaking of the horrors of the war. There are sixteen men one of the men being her uncle who violated her. She goes on to announce that her uncle is, in fact, amongst the group of people in the circle. When he finally comes forward he asks her for forgiveness. In the moment before the viewers witness her answer a whirlwind of emotions flash before us. We feel anger that a man could do this to anyone let alone a blood relative.
We want justice. We hope that she doesn’t forgive him because we probably wouldn’t forgive him. At the same time we anticipate that the good that will unfold when we hear “I forgive you” fall from her lips. They embrace.
John Caulker, the founder of Fambul Tok, explains that the purpose of the program is to reunite families, villages, and, with great hope, the country. The organization has different groups working in different districts of the country all non-profit. Little money is given by the international community to support local reconciliation efforts. Through working with a philanthropist who shared his vision, Caulker launched Fambul Tok—a grassroots reconciliation program based on Sierra Leonean traditions. Caulker worked as a human rights activist throughout the war. After the war he served as chairman of the civil society advisor group to the TRC. He pushed for a grassroots approach to reconciliation. He articulates that it is imperative when the victim is asked for forgiveness by their perpetrator they look for traces of remorse. Only then can they experience the healing process of forgiveness. Caulker promotes this idea of “family talk” because that is what his culture was based on before the war. Entire villages were responsible for the raising of children and through this program he hopes to rebuild that trust and sense of community.
Lucky for Principia Fambul Tok will be showing spring semester, the date to be announced. Libby Hoffman, co-founder of Fambul Tok, will be in attendance and available for a Q&A after the screening. The documentary is highly recommended for all those interested in foreign affairs, politics, war efforts and the simple power of forgiveness. The film provides an opportunity for anyone who watches it to put their own issues into perspective and invoke their yearning for a more peaceful world community.

Women’s Soccer
Finishing the season with an outstanding record, Principia’s women’s soccer team has certainly kept the campus cheering for many weeks. Making it to Nationals for the third time in four years, the women have proven dedication and professionalism on the field. The season was also Jess Semnacher’s debut as head coach.
Semnacher told the Pilot the secret behind the team’s success: “The thing is: I’ve got great players. And that is really the reason that we are successful – not anything that I do, necessarily.” He added: “One of the keys for this year’s success is that we had some really great leadership throughout the whole team. The three team captains [Alicia Girbes-Pierce, Lauren Wienecke and Hayley MacWilliams] in particular did a great job reaching out and helping the younger players. Overall, we were successful because we had a great sense of patience, joy, and an expectation of excellence.”
Captain and senior Lauren Wienecke said she appreciated the spiritual basis of the team and the players: “[With CS] we had such a foundation that was so strong, that we could just build so high. There was just such love and joy constantly streaming through everybody, that I just felt like our purpose was more than just to be good soccer players, but to be good people out [on] the field.”
Captain and senior Alicia Girbes-Pierce also spoke about the presence of spiritual thought in games and practices: “Every day, just being out on the field, I think that team expresses all of God’s qualities … It is just so effortless to express these qualities when you are surrounded by a team full of loving women who love God and each other. The love on the field is always so apparent.”
Fellow senior Megan Carothers, who just completed her fourth year on the team, shared her own insights: “Our team expresses such a strong sense of sisterhood … I have never been on a team where we have all been so ‘in-tuned.’“ She continued: “The support is incredible. When a player goes down on the field, there is instantaneous Love and Truth surrounding that player. Our team always jokes around about how at our weddings the audience is going to be the entire team, but it is true. We have formed life-long friendships.”

The women's soccer team celebrate Halloween by dressing up in crazy costumes. photo / Kelsy Brawn

Men’s Soccer
Principia’s men’s soccer team impressed the community with its strong sense of brotherhood and physical and spiritual readiness.
Senior Samuel Thomas, a goal keeper and one of three team captains, explained the team dynamic, which was not only important in games, but also in the players’ daily lives: “I love my teammates and coaches. Every person on the team has an impact on myself, other teammates, the season, and my life outside of soccer.” Thomas also explained his love for the sport in the following way:  ”What I love about soccer is the competitive challenge it puts before me.  Every person out on the field is trying to beat you and you have to be competitive enough to deny them that pleasure … So defying the odds, having my teammates backs like I know they have mine, and disappointing the opponent is what I live for.” Thomas also appreciated Christian Science during his work as a competitor and as an individual: “Christian Science plays a huge role in my experience as an athlete.  Especially here at Principia College, metaphysical preparation is just as important as physical preparation.” In light of the fact that he and several others will be graduating in May, Thomas sees the importance of taking Christian Science with him into future adventures and challenges: “When playing for a soccer team not affiliated with Principia, it is even more important that I stay firm in my understanding of the falsity of matter because the argument of error presents itself even stronger.  I have to be an ambassador of Christian Science and Principia wherever I play soccer…”

Cross Country
With 15 runners receiving Conference All-Academic Team recognition, this season has been another successful one in the history of Principia’s cross country team. Winning the conference meet, the men’s cross country team achieved a long-time goal, while the women’s team ranked second only after Webster’s runners. Sophomore Wylie Mangelsdorf made it into Nationals for his first time and received All-Midwest honors together with senior Drew Clark. For the women’s team, junior Casey Powell made it into the All-Midwest Region team as well.
Coach Chuck Wilcoxen was extremely satisfied with the season, and is already excited to see where the team will go in the future. He talked about both team’s achievements: “I think our greatest successes came during moments that few were able to see and even fewer are able to know.  Every time a runner fights back against the notion that they should slow down, or quit, represents the greatest success … It is never easy, but it is so much fun.” Wilcoxen then added: “I love how the team(s) care for each other.  They are very smart about each others’ needs … much smarter than I am.  I love their generous spirits.  They are very funny… lunatics, really.  I love to hear them laugh at and with each other.”
Junior Casey Powell said she loves being part of the team. Having finished many races with excellent ratings, Powell spoke from experience when she shared ideas about overcoming limitation and the importance of having a great team: “I am really inspired by all the hard work that everyone puts in every day, all the time and dedication. There is something about seeing your teammates run, that pushes you and makes you want to go faster.”
Like Powell, Mangelsdorf underlined the importance of the team’s family spirit: “The main thing I love about cross country is the team and how the team becomes a second family.  If someone is ever struggling with something in running or school work, or just something personal, they could always look straight to a teammate and get all the support that is needed and trust that it will stay between the two of you … It is such a loving atmosphere to be in.” Commenting on his motivation, Mangelsdorf also shared: “What inspires me to perform well is simply the fact that when I am running I am getting to show my gratitude and the fact that I am running to glorify God.”

Sophomore Wylie Mangelsdorf approaches the finish line of the Cowbell Classic. photo / Kelsy Brawn

Volleyball
The Principia College volleyball team experienced a very unique season. With only one senior and four freshmen on the team, Coach Mary Ann Sprague went into the fall season with a very new team. Overall, the team finished strong with a 19-19 record and a series of impressive games against very strong teams. In an interview recorded in early November, Mary Ann Sprague shared: “We started out this season […] coming up with our group foundational pillars, and the girls together came up with spiritual growth, sisterhood, and all-out as their promises to each other. We also decided to not have any captains this year. With this small, new group we wanted 100% ownership, and I think they are working towards that nicely.” The volleyball team demonstrated talent, team spirit and a clear determination to scale up. Sophomore Christine Nacewicz shared of her experience this season: “We had such an amazing season! We started out as a completely new team so we weren’t exactly sure what to expect, but we were able to bond right away and focus our goals down to sisterhood, all out, and spiritual growth.” Like other Principia teams, the volleyball team also emphasized the importance of a metaphysical foundation for their games and practices. Nacewicz, who also serves as All-Campus Meta Head, shared: “As far as the Christian Science aspect of the game, before practice every day we would have metaphysical time and the girls could share quotes, articles, passages; anything that has inspired them. At the end of practice we would have an opportunity to express who or what has inspired us throughout the practice.”

Freshmen Tess Rountree and Savanna Sprague ready themselves for the oncoming serve. photo / Kelsy Brawn

Senior Megan Carothers spent time in Kenya teaching English, math, creative arts, and P.E. photo / Andrew Briggs

Mallory Lee, a senior mass communication major, fulfilled her internship requirement working at Love Advertising in Houston, Texas.  Lee worked specifically with one of the advertising company’s clients, Papa John’s Pizza in Houston, and worked with the account services department. As part of her internship, Lee did errands, worked the reception desk, researched and brainstormed for the company, and was in charge of finding articles each week  that food critics had written regarding the pizza industry and economy to help the company make their product more competitive.  Along with these tasks, Lee also worked with other interns on a project specific to them that involved marketing and campaigning for actual clients. The group presented their findings to the company at the end of the internship experience.  Lee said she “had to learn on the job, and they were more than willing to teach you so it wasn’t a big deal.” She added: I didn’t feel like I was at a huge disadvantage for not knowing what I was doing and a lot of the people that were there were advertising majors, so they had done stuff like this before, whereas I hadn’t.”
Senior Kristine Cline, a sociology major, is currently interning with the Riverbender Community Center in downtown Alton.  Cline is working with the “Education with Rewards” study program, an afterschool program for 6th-12th grade students. Cline explained: “This program focuses on allowing the students to have one hour of productive learning and studying and then two hours of free play around the Center.” She added that the community center used to be a bank, so there are still chandeliers and vaults within the structure that make for a very unique and engaging atmosphere for the students.  When asked about the help she received in finding this internship, Cline said Professor Jackie Burns “really bent over backwards to help me find an internship that I would like, so I’m really grateful for that.” Cline also said her experience as a daycare teacher at home was the biggest help in preparing for her work in Alton.
Laura Ainsworth is another senior sociology major currently interning with Raven, a batterers intervention program in St. Louis, and also with the youth in Wood River. Ainsworth is a facilitator for both programs and works with men who have been arrested with charges of domestic violence and youth, both boys and girls, who have been placed on probation in this violence prevention program. As Ainsworth described, “… its always the abuser, which is a really interesting twist because it’s so easy to connect with the victim or to connect with the abused that to have to work with the abuser and put a face to them and emotions takes it to the next level”.   Ainsworth said working with children in Wood River, a small rural town outside Alton, is “a very eye-opening experience because they have stories and experiences that I have never experienced and here they are sharing it with me.” She added that her job – along with co-facilitators– is to “work hard on being seen as peers to them … and we try to make as much of a safe place for everyone – both [ourselves] and the kids.”
Ainsworth stated that the variety of sociology classes here at the college helped her acquire some background knowledge for her internship, including “all the different ‘ism’s’: sexism, racism, classism, and it’s interesting to be in a place where all these things come to light … in my life I don’t deal with them as much, especially at Principia where those three are not seen as much, and then to go to a place where you can really see a difference, especially between the classes.”
Matt Donatelli, a senior political science major, has done two internships in his time at Principia, both were done purely for his own enrichment rather than for academic credit. For his first internship, Donatelli worked at the National Journalism Center run by Young America’s Foundation.  As part of this internship, Donatelli met once a week with other interns and learned about political and economic theory. For the rest of the week he worked with Radio America.  Donatelli lived in an Asher House in Washington, D.C., He explained that if Principia helped him in any way for this internship, it was in helping him find and agree to live by the standards of an Asher House. Regarding this internship, Donatelli said it was “a rewarding experience, aside from the fact that I didn’t get any school credit … [it was] still definitely worth it to me … a great opportunity to make contacts and there were good writing opportunities through that and radio, which is something I was interested in.” For his second internship, Donatelli worked with a local radio station, MS Communications.  Donatelli said this internship was something he had wanted to do, that it was “another rewarding experience where I got to push myself to limits that I didn’t know I could handle, and I handled them.”
Ken Baughman, a senior environmental studies and graphic design major, also participated in an internship for his own personal growth and benefit.  Baughman interned at the Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Center on Topsail Island, North Carolina.  There, Baughman worked with injured sea turtles at the sea turtle hospital. Baughman helped to clean the turtles, apply medication and did physical therapy with the sea turtles. He also helped with scientific research, did beach patrols looking for nests and counting eggs when they did nest transfers from one location to another, and also led tours, “working with public interaction and sharing the mission of the sea turtle hospital with all the guests… [which is] the main way the hospital is funded because it has no public funding.” Baughman credited Principia with preparing him for this internship through classes he’d taken. “I used a lot of information from my sea turtle biology class with Scott Eckert to know all the biology of the sea turtles I was working with and apply that knowledge to the work in the hospital and on the beaches.”

Senior and Pilot co-editor Ken Baughman spent the summer working with sea turtles in North Carolina. photo / Andrew Briggs

Stephen Harmon, a senior business major, interned with the minor league baseball team, the Frisco RoughRiders, in Texas.  The Frisco RoughRiders are a class AA affiliate team of the Texas Rangers.  Harmon worked with media relations, wrote game notes and recapped games for players and fans.  Harmon also conducted player interviews, which were edited by others and published in the game day handouts.  Harmon said the job required “a lot of writing, which Principia definitely prepared me for because of the writing seminar and the phases.” Another aspect of the internship was to create and manage a Facebook page and contribute to a running blog competitive with other minor league teams. Harmon also took videos of the games and put them up on the team’s website and even operated the score board for some of the games.  Harmon noted that he also had to do much of the paperwork for the team and other intern chores, but that ultimately the team wanted him to find projects to take on and make his own. Harmon was very pleased with the skills he learned and the connections he made through this internship.
Overall, it appears that the various internships these students completed were engaging, and though it is often difficult to find internships that interest or pertain to you specifically, the effort comes with its own rewards.