By: Jayme Fisher

According to my.eastern’s course description, Computer Graphics (FAPA-160) is “designed to provide the basic skills necessary for the successful use of an industry standard graphics program, Adobe Photoshop and is specifically intended for the inexperienced student.”

Computer Graphics is one of my favorite classes at Eastern University. The sole purpose of the class is to teach you how to use Adobe Photoshop. Thus, this is not like most classes held on campus. 

I took it during the spring semester of my freshman year, and I am so glad I did. As someone who is pursuing a communication degree and will hopefully work in this field, knowing how to use Photoshop well is an incredible skill to have in my toolbox.  

When I took the class, it was taught by Vicky Huang, however, now it is taught by Rebecca Quinn. The class focuses on the basics of computer-based image sourcing and creation, manipulation and use of special effects.  The goal is to create familiarity with resources and skills needed for designing, drafting and editing projects within Adobe Photoshop.  

The class focuses on basic design concepts like unity, balance, rhythm and color and how they can be integrated into projects. The course’s design is to increase skills for those who have some experience with Photoshop and offer a solid introduction to those who are inexperienced.

The class material starts off very simple and easy to grasp.  This is because Adobe Photoshop is a complex and overwhelming software to someone who knows nothing about it.  My professor started by teaching us the basics and assigned simple projects that would enforce each of these concepts. 

Beginner concepts in the class were things like creating shadows, manipulating lighting or changing the color of someone’s shirt. I remember specifically when there was an assignment where we had an image of a man looking at a giraffe. Our assignment was to change the color of the man’s coat and change the color of the giraffe. Looking at it now, that is a very simple task, but at the time, I was struggling to get it done.  

The projects would progress into things like combining images together. For example, I needed to have two images: one where I liked the sky and another where I liked the land portion of the photograph. Huang taught us how to combine two images, so I was able to make the beach in Florida look like it had the Northern Lights. 

Another project we did was one that focused on manipulating one image. We took an image of a purple and pink sneaker and split the image apart and made it look like it blended into paint. This project was really challenging because we had to break apart an image and then blend each part into what looked like paint.  

I absolutely loved this course and I would recommend it to a friend. It taught me how to use complex software and add a valuable skill to my resume.  Computer graphics will be offered for the upcoming spring semester with two different sections. Section one is Thursdays 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. while section two is Thursdays 7:15 p.m. to 9:45 p.m. You should definitely take this class!

Sources: my.eastern.edu

By: Jayme Fisher

On Oct. 19, Emma Green, a reporter for the New Yorker, Kathy Lee, a retired university professor and David King, a retired university president will be speaking at Eastern University. Green will be the main speaker, but Dr. Lee and Dr. King will also be speaking. 

Green is a staff writer at The New Yorker, where she covers cultural conflicts in academia. She was previously a staff writer at The Atlantic, where she covered religion and politics and led a series called “The Atlantic Interview.” Her reporting was regularly featured on “The Experiment,” a podcast collaboration between The Atlantic and WNYC.

Dr. Lee taught political science for 38 years before retiring from her position as professor of political science at Whitworth University in Spokane, WA. She taught at Eastern for 17 years and chaired the department. She earned her Ph.D. in political science at The Johns Hopkins University and her J. D. at Temple University. Her areas of focus included women in politics and American political institutions. She did her undergraduate work at Wake Forest University.

Dr. King served as President of Malone University for 13 years before retiring. He also served at Eastern University for 20 years before moving to Malone in 2012. Dr. King has been an advocate for higher education and served in leadership roles on initiatives with the Council for Christian Colleges & Universities, the Christian College Consortium, the Association of Independent Colleges & Universities of Ohio and the Ohio Foundation of Independent Colleges. He has also served as Chair of the President’s Council of the Great Midwest Athletic Conference and Chair of the Board for the Association of Independent Colleges & Universities of Ohio.

Dr. King and Dr. Lee became friends during their time at Eastern and have continued their friendship since leaving the university. They connected because Dr. Lee shared her sexuality with Dr. King, who had to support her quietly as Eastern’s policies would not have allowed it. 

Dr. Julie Morgan, the Chair of the Communication Department, invited the three to come to campus after reading Green’s article “The Hidden Life of a Christian-College Professor” published by the New Yorker.  This article explores Dr. Lee’s journey of coming out as a faculty member at a Christian college where there was a possibility of losing her job. Over a five-year period, Dr. Lee wrote updates to Green with the potential for the story to shine a light on this sensitive topic. The speech will expand on the article and investigate how wide the Christian higher education community’s welcome is towards LGBTQI people. 

Green will be focusing on Christian colleges, specifically institutions within the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities (C.C.C.U.). The council is America’s most prominent association of evangelical Protestant schools and holds a very firm theological stance that is not affirming for the LGBTQI community. 

Most schools within the C.C.C.U have faculty and staff sign an agreement that marriage is between a man and a woman. However, Dr. Lee worked at Whitworth University, which was one of the few colleges that did not require staff to sign such an agreement. Instead, Whitworth did not take a stance on the LGBTQI community. Despite this, Dr. Lee was still unsure of whether or not she could be “fully” out at the university. 

Green takes Dr. Lee’s story and uses it to shine a light on this discussion about the C.C.C.U.  At the event, Dr. Lee will be sharing her story while Dr. King will discuss how a leader of a university has to navigate such a sensitive topic.  On Oct. 19, the three will be speaking in the Warner Library Atrium at 7 p.m. All students and faculty are invited to attend.

By: Jayme Fisher

On Sept. 27, Eisai announced in a press release that the results of a trial saw a breakthrough in Alzheimer’s disease treatment. The drug used in the trial was lecanemab, which is an experimental monoclonal antibody designed to break down clumps of toxic proteins in the brain that are argued to be responsible for the cognitive decline of Alzheimer’s disease, according to New Atlas. 

The results were from a Phase 3 trial led by Eisai and Biogen that recruited around 2,000 participants who were in the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease.  This meant that the participants were only showing a few signs of cognitive impairment. Half of the participants were given nightly lecanemab infusions every two weeks for 18 months while the other half were given placebo infusions. 

The trial’s goal was to measure cognitive decline using the Clinical Dementia Rating-Sum of Boxes (CDR-SB). After the 18 months concluded, the group given the lecanemab infusions showed signs of slower cognitive decline compared to the placebo group.  Members of the lecanemab group showed 27% slower cognitive decline. 

Those in the Alzheimer’s disease research community have suspected for a long time that amyloid beta proteins are one of the causes of the disease, which is what lecanemab targets. Bart De Strooper, from UK Dementia Research Institute said, “This is a very encouraging result for the Alzheimer’s research community, demonstrating that we are moving in the right direction by targeting clearance of the amyloid beta protein.” 

The Wall Street Journal explains that Eisai and Biogen’s trial results will not be released until November, however, the results are sparking hope for those suffering from the disease. 

Despite the hopeful breakthrough, it is important to note the drug’s potential side effects. The Wall Street Journal reported that 12% of patients in the lecanemab group developed swelling and bleeding in the brain.  Side effects like these show that the advancement is fairly new and still needs more testing and thorough research. 

Furthermore, the drug, since it needs fortnightly infusions, is not an affordable treatment. This means that, if approved, many patients might be unable to receive the treatments due to the mere cost. However, New Atlas reported that Eisai and Biogen are working on developing a subcutaneous version, which would allow patients to self-administer the drug at home. 

The results of the study are exciting and are bringing hope to the Alzheimer’s community.  There is still more work to be done, but progress is progress. The Wall Street Journal reported the full results from the Phase 3 Trial will be released in November, which will provide more clarity.  In addition, the Wall Street Journal reported that the Food and Drug Administration is set to decide if lecanemab would be approved in January. 

Sources: New Atlas, Wall Street Journal

By: Jayme Fisher

For those of you who don’t know, students have an opportunity to take courses at other institutions. You may be wondering why you would ever do this, but sometimes, there could be a class you really need/want to take, but Eastern doesn’t offer it. 

For example, Cabrini offers a class called “Video Production,” which gives students a hands-on opportunity to craft and design film productions and utilize software like Adobe Premiere. I wanted to take this course because Eastern’s video production did not teach Premiere. So, I reached out to the Registrar and my advisor to get the process started. However, this process gives the illusion of being difficult and confusing.  So, let’s break down the ins and outs of taking a course at another university. 

There are two different “categories” for taking courses at another university.  The first category is Taking a Course Elsewhere, which means the class needs to be taken at an accredited university and can be completed at any time. The second category is the Affiliate Program, which allows full-time undergraduate students (at least 12 Eastern credits) to take a course at Cabrini University, Rosemont College or Valley Forge Military College. 

Starting with Taking a Course Elsewhere, Annie Webb, the freshman and transfer specialist in the Registrar’s office, says, “Students can take courses at any accredited university.”  

For example, if there is a class offered at another institution near a student’s home, students can sign up to take it. However, Webb emphasized that it is important to get the class approved through the Registrar prior to registering for the class. 

To get the class approved, Webb says, “Students should start with the Permission to Take Coursework Elsewhere form which explains the process for approval. Then they can look at colleges or universities that are close to their homes or institutions that offer online courses. Students would search the other school’s course offerings on that school’s website to determine if there’s a course that looks interesting or might satisfy a general education or major course requirement at Eastern. Then, the student would complete the Coursework Elsewhere form, being sure to include the course description so that we can properly evaluate the course. Once we receive the form in the Registrar’s office we will reach out to the student to let them know if their request was approved or not and inform them how the course would be transferred once it’s completed.”

As a tip, Webb said, “Students should work with their academic advisors to determine if another course would satisfy a major requirement.”  

Turning to the affiliate program, full-time traditional undergraduate students are eligible to take courses at affiliated colleges like Cabrini University. 

Senior Assistant for the Registrar Bria Minister said, “Full-time traditional undergraduate students registered for at least 12 Eastern University credits may request one course per semester at no additional tuition (fees for course materials may be assessed by the host college). The courses taken and grades earned are reported on the student’s Eastern University grade report and academic transcript. Grades are calculated into the session and cumulative grade-point average according to Eastern’s quality point schedule. Students follow Eastern’s registration and drop/add procedures but are subject to the academic calendars, policies and regulations of the host institution. Transportation arrangements are the responsibility of the student.” 

Signing up for taking a course at an affiliated institution is different from taking a course elsewhere. Instead, students fill out the “Affiliate Registration Form” and send it to the Registrar. 

If students are interested in learning more or taking a course outside of Eastern, then they can contact the Registrar to get the process moving. The process may seem like it is difficult to navigate, but your advisor and the Registrar are valuable resources for students to utilize. 

By: Jayme Fisher

At Eastern University, there are many different resources that students can utilize that will set them up for academic success. One of the most prominent resources that some students don’t take advantage of is the Cushing Center for Counseling and Academic Support, which is usually referred to as CCAS and is located in Walton 210. 

Eastern’s webpage says CCAS “…is committed to serving Eastern University students who need academic, psychological or disability services support to realize their potential during their college experience.” 

If any traditional undergraduate student feels they need extra support, or a “cushion” during the academic year, CCAS is a valuable resource. Within CCAS, there are four areas of service: disability accommodations, the writing center, counseling services and tutoring services.

Starting with disability accommodations, Eastern understands that some students may struggle more than others in a college setting. Whether they need extra time taking a test, extra help outside of the classroom or more one-on-one assistance, CCAS will be able to support you and guide you through the entire process. 

Typically, once a student has approved accommodations through CCAS, all they need to do is tell their professor, who works with the student to figure out how they can help them.  Students can reach out to the CCAS (ccas@eastern.edu) to learn more about accommodation options and how to apply for them.  

The next resource CCAS offers is the writing center, where writing assistants work with students in a personal, one-on-one environment, helping students improve writing basics such as punctuation, structure and documenting sources. At the writing center, writing assistants identify areas of strength and weakness and solve problems with written expression. The writing center’s goal is to help students improve their writing skills and become more proficient in reviewing and revising their own work. 

As someone who was once a writing tutor (I could no longer continue as time did not allow it), I think this is a highly useful resource for students. The writing center allows students to bring their papers and assignments to trained writing assistants who can help them get their paper to the next level. Writing assistants work one-on-one with the students to make sure each of their concerns are addressed and to help them feel confident before submitting an assignment or essay. 

As a tip for first year students, if students struggle with following specific formats like MLA or APA style, the writing assistants are trained in these formats and will be able to check and help students create citations for their assignments. 

The writing center offers in-person and online appointments, so students can even get writing assistance from the comfort of their dorm room. To schedule an appointment, students should go to the WCONLINE webpage (you can find this by going to Eastern.edu and searching “writing center”) and pick an appointment slot that works for their schedule. 

Moving on, CCAS also offers counseling services to students for free. If anyone is struggling with their mental health, either in academics or in their personal life,  counseling services can be super helpful. 

Tamalei Sharp, a senior psychology major who has been using the counseling services, said, “The counseling service helped me to have a place to open up about things with an unbiased opinion and gave me useful resources to help with my anxiety.”

In terms of scheduling an appointment, Sharp said, “It is super easy to schedule and set up. All I had to do was fill out some forms about myself, why I was seeking counseling and what times I was available. Within a week, I received an email about if a certain time was good to start meeting with one of their counselors.”

To get access to the forms that Sharp filled out, students should email ccas@eastern.edu and request signing up for counseling services. 

Finally, CCAS also offers peer-on-peer tutoring services. Eastern’s CCAS page says, “The CCAS peer tutoring program offers students in traditional undergraduate programs support outside the classroom in most undergraduate subject areas from other students who have performed successfully in those subjects.” 

Tutors help students with things like note-taking, time management and study skills. Emily Beck, a marketing tutor, said, “As a tutor, I help students by learning the information alongside them, so they can eventually learn it themselves.” Beck emphasized that the tutors are not teachers, but are a support and guidance system for them to help cultivate better study skills. 

If students want to request peer tutoring, they need to fill out the peer tutor request form, which can be found by searching on Eastern’s webpage or emailing CCAS. Tutoring is arranged by appointments for in-person or online tutoring. 

Sources: Eastern.edu