Page 3 : The Lion’s Eye April 15, 2009
Eve on Campus
Major Jackson Brings Philly
Culture To Life
By Kelly Guinan - Lion's Eye Staff Writer - kag5178@psu.edu
On March 4th, the sunlight poured in through the windows of the lobby in
Tomezko, while students sat, absorbed in the rythym echoing off the glass and tile, the
rhythm of Major Jackson’s poetry. Stanzas filled with imagery of Philadelphia, espe-
cially North Philly, filled our ears, and everyone was transfixed by the musical tones of
the poetry being read to us.
Major Jackson, who even proclaimed that he had once wished to become an
MC, writes poetry that is influenced so heavily by the culture of Philly and music that
his readings sound like a rapper laying down the vocals for different tracks. No one
could deny the affect the reading had; we were all at once removed from Media and
transplanted on Broad Street, on Oxford Ave, on basketball courts scattered throughout
the city. Anyone who happened to wander in could be seen standing, listening, then
scurrying off to class late, accidently becoming absorbed in the world we were im-
mersed in as we listened to stories of pick-up basketball games and letters to Gwendo-
lyn Brooks.
Though now living in Vermont, his poetry about the city brings it to life as a
living, breathing, evolving being, and his cinematic writing and employment of imagery
brings to life the beauty of a place many would refuse to even drive through, let alone
experience and embrace it as home. Every basketball court with cracked pavement and
missing nets, every freight train with tags and throw-ups gracing the plain paint with
“splashes of color, and every school letting out crowds of shrieking kids and sulking ado-
lescents is embodied in Jackson’s poetry, and it allows students of Penn State to leave
the blissful dullness of Suburbia to experience what the streets of Philadelphia have to
offer.
ie CW We we we ee
On March 26th 2009 the Women’s Coinmizsion Luncheon was held in the Tomesko Wo m & nN of th e Ye a r
‘building. It included lunch and refreshments for students and faculty and gave everyone there the
opportunity to gather and observe women’s achievements. Theresa Walls was awarded the title of h :
“Woman of the Year.” Walls is a staff assistant in IST. She was awarded due to her dedication to her H oO n oO red at Lu n C eo n
~ job, the campus, and community. She does this all with a smile, willing to help students, faculty, and
staff. She has been employed at Penn State Brandywine for over 29 years and goes out of her way to .
improve campus life. If anyone on campus ever needs a helping hand, Theresa is there to lend it. She
initiated and organizes the A.I. DuPont Ronald McDonald House dinner every year. Congrmulnions
to Theresa.
The key note speaker at the luncheon was Dr. Afaf Meleis, author and Dean of Nursing at
the University of Pennsylvania. She also serves as Council General of the International Council of
Women’s Health Issues. She presented a Power Point presentation on the “Global Issues in Women’s
Health.” During this presentation she talked about the many problems and issues women face on
a daily basis. It was both informative and proved insight that many women may not have known
were current issues today. It was an honor and privilege to have her come and speak at our campus.
The Women’s Commission Luncheon was a very delightful event and we are grateful to all of those ;
worked on it and made it happen. | By Christina Furia - Lion 5 Eye Staff Writer
cmf269@psu.edu
Litapalooza Literary Festival a Success | a
jms1084@psu.edu
On Thursday April 2nd the Penn State Brandywine English Department and Dr.
Adam Sorkin sponsored the 13th Annual Literary Festival affectionately termed “Litapaloo-
za”. This year’s festival included, as always, open mike readings from students. Two brave
souls named Joseph Laut and Erica Naylis broke the ice by reading poems they had written
for Ms. O’Brien’s creative writing class. They were followed by special guest Brian Turner.
Brian Turner is a soldier from Fresno, California. He was deployed to Iraq in February 2003
and spent a year there. It was during this time that he wrote the poem “Here, Bullet, ” which
is also the name of his book of collected poems.
“Here, Bullet” is a powerful poem. Brian Turner said he “still does not understand
that poem” and he added that he “thinks that’s a good thing”. He went on to elaborate that
~ he was in the desert listening to the band Queen’s of the Stone Age and it just flowed from
his pen onto the paper. He stated that he folded it up and carried it in his breast pocket for
the rest of his time there. Mr. Turner was a soldier for seven years. In addition to his time in
Iraq, he was also deployed to Bosnia-Herzegovina in 1999. His poems tend to be dark yet
insightful, and are full of the strife that he witnessed on his wartime missions. Brian Turn-
er’s book won the 2005 Beatrice Hawley Award, the New York Times “Editor’s Choice”
selection, the 2006 Pen Center USA “Best in the West” award, and the 2007 Poets Prize.
Sn : After more open mike readings, Penn State’s literary Magazine Penn in Hand was
04/02/2009 distributed and the winners of their writing contest were announced. The first place poetry
dae winner was Rahel Teklegiorgis for her poem “Welcome Home,” second place went to Dana
Gibson who wrote “Honeybees,” third was Mary-Therese Capaldi’s “A Notice,” and an
—-— : EAS honorable mention went to Kate Sowinski’s piece “Aphelion.” Catherine Wahl won for her
a Poet Brian Turner discussir senwar- 0 short story titled “For Them.”
Photo b » Jennifer La ek