Page 8 - The Behrend College Collegian - Thursday, April 28, IWB
Emergency poetry
by Will Jordan
sniff writer
Last Thursday, guest speaker written in the camps. It was written One member asked Nader what mo-
Andres Nader read poems composed by a Polish man who was killed at tivated him to do this. Nader replied
by concentration camp prisoners dur- Auschwitz. The litsi 15 parts are en by saying that he found it fascinating
ing World War 11. titled “Sing." It is about the demise that people were actually writing in
Dr. John Champagne, Assistant of the Warsaw Ghetto In the epic, the camps. “Poetry equals nourish-
Professorof English at Penn State-Be- the author spoke about his wife and ment," Nader said. Another member
hrend. introduced Mr. Nader. Andres children being deported. A couple of of the audience asked if the original
Nader is a Ph. D. candidate in Ger- excerpts from the epic are, “Tell me opera was set to music. Nader said,
man Studies at Cornell Uni- “Yes, many famous
versity. Nader received his
ba in German and French “Scream from the furnaces, young and old
Literature from Bennington ___
College and has a masters
degree in German Studies from
Cornell
He is currently working on a dis
sertation in which he uses psychoana
lytic theories of trauma to analyze
German language poems composed in
the concentration camps. As part of
his research on this project, he trav
eled to Berlin, where he interviewed
Holocaust survivors for the Yale Uni
versity Holocaust Video Archive.
The presentation was entitled “Po
etry and Trauma: Writings from the
Nazi Concentration Camps.” How
ever, in his opening statement, Nader
said that he wanted to change the title
to “Emergency Poetry ” because of the
“use of poetry in extreme situations."
He also said that by the end of the
1960’s to the 1970’5, it had been dis
covered that poetry could be used for
therapeutic purposes.
Nader then began to read some of
the poems which he had translated for
the presentation. The first poem that
he read was entitled “Imaginative
Acts.” After reading the first poem,
Nader said, “Each poem has a differ
ent history.” Some of the poems had
to be dug up while others were told
by word of mouth. “The poems cre
ate a structure about the situation in
the camps,” Nader said.
Penn State-Behrend
student Usa Fuhrman's
summer plans are out
(Lisa's taking Astronomy 010
during Summer Session.)
Almost 70 ctassn an being offend at Pam State-Behnnd in 3,4,
and 8-week sessions beginning May 13th or June 15th. Why not get
at least one class out ol the way for fal semester?
Stop by the Office ol the Registrar for a complete schedule,
or look R up on the web at
pennState
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“The Song ol the Murdered Jewish After he finished playing two se-
People" was the next poem that Nader lected parts of the opera, Nader an
read. It was the only epic that was swered questions from the audience.
where you are my people" and
“Scream from the furnaces, young
and old ”
The next two poems concentrated
on hunger and death. One of the most
powerful ways to keep the prisoners
under control was to keep them hun
gry. From a camp near Hamburg
emerged “Song to Bread." A power
ful line from this poem is, “Beyond
our longing and beyond our need...we
want bread.” Another poem about
hunger and death was entitled
"Bread.” Lines from this poem read:
“Bread is rare, bread is our gold ”
and “Hunger makes beasts of us all."
Nader then began to speak about the
concentration camps. He said that the
dead “never received proper burials."
The next poem that he read was en
titled “On the Road.” This poem
spoke about one of the long journeys
to a prison camp.
Nader then played an opera which
was entitled “The Emperor of
Atlantis." Nader explained the opera
saying that “people killed without the
proper decorum of war." “Suffering
becomes endless; Death makes a deal
with the Emperor,” Nader continued
to explain. The deal was that if the
Emperor died first, the murders would
cease.
of tills world.
How about yours?
and skilled musi-
cians were taken
hostage and they
were sent to one of
the camps where the SS troops were
not as strict
Students found the presentation to
be educational and moving. Samir
Patel, 02 Computer Engineering, said
“I felt that what he had to say was very
informative. The poems that he read
gave you a taste of the feelings of the
people in the concentration camps.
One thing that sticks out in my mind
is when he spoke about one prisoner
that was beaten. He wanted to die
because of all the pain he was in. You
felt sorry for him because he had to
die a slow death and not a quick one.”
Leah Deflin, 02 Communications,
enjoyed Nader’s readings as well. “I
loved it. The one thing that sticks out
in my mind is the poem for bread.
People looked forward to dying be
cause of the starving and suffering
they went through.”
Another student, Andrew White, 06
English, said “I thought [Nader] was
good and very insightful because it
was a subject that I did not know that
much about. The thing that sticks out
in my mind is just the fact of what
they had to go through. They had to
smuggle the poems out. It put into
perspective the struggle they had to
go through."
Features
Q & A with RA Roxzana Kelly
Roxzana Kelly, 08 Psychology, also known as Rox' hv her friends. is the resident assistant in Tigress Hall. In our
interview, she lets Behrend understand the life of an R.A. from her \ lew. This is Ms. Kelly's last semester as a
resident assistant, and she began more than 3 years ago. Ms Kelly has a lot of experience under her belt, which is
why she is a great person to inform everyone about life as an R.A.
Damion Miller: What made you decide to become an Resident Assistant?
Roxzana Kelly: I’ve been an R.A. for 3 years. Oddly enough. 4 years ago 1 had no clue as to what an R.A. was. I
remember Ken Miller asking me to come to the meeting and alter that, it was history. Alter going through the
interviews and gaining a stronger understanding of the job. 1 fell that it w as something that I could benefit from as
well as the residents, who I would be the “role model" lor. would benefit from me. As a very open and friendly
person, it was easy for me to relate to many people. As an R.A., I act as a iole model, teacher, friend, disciplinarian
and mediator.
Miller: As an R.A., how does it feel to have to give referrals .’
Kelly: When dealing with referrals and disciplinaiy actions it is necessary to handle them and not ignore them.
There have been several cases where I have referred many friends, and they have never given me any trouble about
it. They understand that is what I have to do as an R.A. Many people do not understand the purpose of disciplinary
action. Yet, I think that in order for a campus not to be in total havoc and chaos, such actions are necessary. On
campus residents need to understand that. Giving referrals is never easy and it never feels great to do it. Believe
me, it would be nice not to give any, but that is not always the ease
Miller: What is the dumbest thing someone has done in your hall?
Kelly: The dumbest thing that I can remember people in my hall doing was one night at around 1 a.m. The lobby
furniture was being rearranged by piling them up one on top of the other. At first, I was extremely disgusted, then all
I could do was shake my head because it was so stupid.
Miller: Is there ever an issue about race? How does it tiffed your role as an R.A.?
Kelly: I have never had any direct issues that deal with race. However. Ido recall at one point talking with a few
residents on campus, who have been under the apprehension that R.A.'s of a particular race, only refer other races.
That, I told them was absolutely ridiculous and not true. After saying that, they (old me that they were not speaking
from experience
Miller: What are some pointers that you can give to other R.A.'s and those who want to become an R.A.?
Kelly: First and foremost, I would like to say that after being an R.A. for so long, I’ve seen and learned a lot of
things. I feel that present and future R.A.’s need to have fun w ith their |ob, but remember that it is a job. They still
have to abide by the rules and be the role model that we are displayed as. I would also like to say that R.A.’s should
take their position seriously. There are many rewards that come from being an R.A. such as a bonding friendship
and building confidence and esteem and respect. You learn a lot about yourself and your abilities from being an R.A.
I just hope that the present and new R.A.'s can continue to build and w ork together to make our community a safe
and happy one to live in. I love my little Tigress Hall, I’ve been there for 4 years. I will miss it and all of my
residents, my crew.
Miller: Based on your pointers, is that how you have gamed your respect with many students although you are an
R.A.?
Kelly: In some way. I have a very distinct personality and lam honest. Many people appreciate and respect that.
I also understand the meaning of confidentiality. When residents come to me with issues that they need some help
and advice on, they ask me to keep it to myself and that is where it stays I have tried my best as an R.A. and as a
person to be very approachable and open-minded in all cases and issues. As for if 1 have that respect and love, you
would have to ask my residents. They can provide you with the best answer
Miller: What is the last thing that you would like to say ’
Kelly: I would like to close by saying that being an R.A. is no easy job. It has its ups and downs as everything else
in this world. But believe me, I’ve loved it for 3 years and encourage anyone who feels that they would like to
become an R.A. to do so. I would like to give a shout out to Re/ l.ile t Ken Miller i. The C'.O.s (Ross, Linda, Cheta),
Housing and Food (Ed, Al, James), and my R.A. crew, in particular: lommie. Aisha, Anthony, Lisa, Lacy, Ryan and
lastly Chris Venanski. Venanski, I miss you.
ACROSS
1 Chris of tennis
6 Cereal grasses
10 Sandwich shop
14 Taylor of "The
Nanny"
15 Org. for seniors
16 Islamic republic
17 Fish-house
menu item
19 Bathroom fixture
20 Silly billy
21 Birthplace of
Simon Bolivar
23 Asian inland sea
26 Spread far and
wide
29 "Pretty Woman"
co-star
30 Container with a
tap
31 Gather together
35 Overpowering
effect
39 Luau garland
40 Table protector
41 Court divider
42 Name for a lion
43 Frying
44 Bat wood
45 Working
Independently
48 Puppeteer Lewis
50 Allow
51 In the past
52 Writer Caldwell
55 Potential plant
56 Creator of Bip
59 Fink
61 A Great Lake
62 Gogol novel
68 Picnic pests
69 Touched down
70 Computer
messages
71 Lower digits
72 Scruff
73 Marsh grass
DOWN
1 Go wrong
2 Winners' letter
3 Call off
4 Used
transactions
5 Sawbucks
6 Bum
7 Shrill bark
8 Put up
by Damion Miller
©1998 Tribune Media Services, Inc
All rights reserved.
9 Jack of the
nursery
10 Put off guard
11 the Red
12 Actress Turner
13 Pen fluids
18 One who takes
for granted
22 Excuse
23 Old World
lizards
24 Scrub again
25 Singer Franklin
27 Mediterranean
island
28 Columnist
Landers
32 Switzerland,
generally
33 Spirit-raising
occasion?
34 Burned slightly
36 Burning
37 Actress Burstyn
38 Ushers
46 Inventor
Whitney
47 Disguise
staff M nti r
answers
on page
10
49 Trial separation? 60 Burrows and
53 Antichrist Fortas
54 Lumpur, 63 Tear
Malaysia 64 Snacked
56 Lion's fare 65 Young boy
57 River of Pisa 66 Hanks movie
58 Solemn act 67 "Cakes and _