The Waltonian

Throughout Eastern’s history, many things have changed and grown. In honor of this year’s centennial celebrations, we thought it important to highlight not only Eastern’s past, but also its recent growth and future. Many students attending Eastern today probably do not realize, but theatre is a recent addition to the majors offered at Eastern.

Dr. Valerie Flower played a large role in the creation of the current theatre department. While Flower did not attend Eastern herself, she had the privilege of hearing Tony Campollo speak at multiple events while going to school at Taylor University. She says, “Tony spoke passionately about Jesus and the gospel in a way that resonated with me as a theatre artist with a heart for service. At the time I found it hard to reconcile a call to serve those most in need with a call to tell stories through theatre. Tony inspired me to sit with the cognitive dissonance and to keep finding connections between my two seemingly separate callings.”

After a quarter of a century and various jobs involving theatre and education, Flower found herself working “in North Philadelphia using theatre to help students at highest risk for leaving school.” Flower saw them “begin to re-imagine their world through the power of theatre and storytelling and [she saw her] dual callings finally come together.”

Ready to bring her experience back to a college classroom, Flower heard about a need for someone to “revitalize a new theatre program for Eastern.” She shares that “coming to Eastern was sort of like coming home.”

Flower’s arrival marked a revival in theatre at Eastern, but theatre was alive and well previous to her entrance. Theatre at Eastern started as a club and eventually turned into a minor before finally becoming a BA. Flower adds, “more traditional theatre in the form of musicals like “Godspell” and “Into the Woods” or plays like “The Crucible” have been produced over the years by a devoted group of Eastern [student] thespians. That evolved into the minor in theatre and eventually the full support of our administration to offer a BA in theatre as part of the Fine and Performing arts.”

While there was much excitement over the growth of the theatre department, Flower’s entrance to Eastern came just after the Covid-19 lockdown that put a stop to most arts, especially theatre performances. Flower explains, “students wanted theatre and wanted connection and belonging, but they just went through a rather harrowing pandemic that largely cancelled theatre, so when they stepped forward with me it was courageous.”

Flower notes that she was welcomed by Dr. Steven Ford, chair of the music department and executive director of the Fine and Performing Arts Division, as well as Professor Stephen Walsh, director of dance. Together, the three continue to grow Eastern’s arts programs.

The success of the current theatre department required what Flower describes a “dream team of faculty and staff.” This team includes Bethany Miller, program coordinator and resident costume designer and David Craig, technical director, production manager and resident scenic and lighting designer.

Since Flower’s entrance, Eastern has seen a growing number of majors and minors. In addition, there is a group referred to as “Friends of the theatre” of over 30 non-theatre major students and alumni who participate in productions, courses, festivals and workshops.

Looking forward, there is more growth to come. Flower shares, “Next year we hope to offer three areas of concentration within the major: performance, directing and musical theatre. We are in the process of applying for accreditation through the National Association of Schools of Theatre which will bring us national recognition.”

When asked about her motivations for putting in so much time and effort to Eastern’s theatre department, Flower says, “We need theatre in order to process our shared human experience…a community that values theatre values individual and collected stories, the power of imagination, beauty, empathy and so much more that is essential to maintaining a vibrant society.” But, ultimately, Flower is “Motivated as a follower of Christ. Christ taught unconditional compassion for our neighbors, their stories, through parables.”

One of Flower’s fondest memories of her time at Eastern was “Receiving a note from Tony [Campollo] following a performance of “What’s Saving My Life” at Swarthmore College last winter. The play showcased the writing of playwrights at a medium security prison where we now offer an associates degree in liberal arts,” Flower said. Campollo’s note “Was confirmation of God’s faithfulness and trusting what God places on our hearts.”

It is with this understanding of God’s unconditional compassion and faithfulness that Flower invites everyone to get involved with the theatre department. She says, “Come out and join a crew, build props, stage manage, act, direct, usher . . . even if you have no experience. Come make beautiful mistakes with us!” And if being a part of the performance isn’t for you, you can still be involved by going to performances. On March 15, there will be a Capstone Showcase “Featuring preparing to launch their theatre careers,” and on April 4-6, this year’s musical “Frog and Toad” will be performed. Whether acting, building, directing or simply watching, Eastern’s theatre department has something for everyone, and in the near future, it will have even more.

“What’s saving my life right now?” That’s a question that means very different things for different people. Every person at some point in their life faces struggles that can leave them feeling hopeless or trapped in an inescapable cycle.

Dr. Valerie Flower is in her third semester of teaching playwriting at the State Correctional Institution (SCI) Chester–a medium-security, all male prison. Inspired by a sermon from Barbara Brown Taylor, a priest, author and academic, Flower asked her students to answer the question “What’s saving my life?”

In response, the students wrote scenes and monologues that encourage others to look at both the little and the big things that save them. This type of performance is an Eastern first and took place on January 25 and 26 in McInnis auditorium.

The staged reading included two students from the original class at SCI Chester who have been released, two current EU theater majors, a dance major, a music major and a criminal justice major. A local professional actor and a staff member from Eastern’s Grants Office were also involved.

The post performance discussion, titled Problems and Possibilities for Theatre Education in Prison, was facilitated by Flower. Flower shared the goal of the discussion was to “provide a wider context for championing equity in education and the arts with a special attention to the role of the Christian faith in theatre practice.”

The play was inspired by Jesus when he said: “I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me,” (Matthew 25:36). When asked if there was anything she wanted readers to know about the show, Flower responded, “While some of the monologues are heavy hearted and troubling, there is hope in the piece. These are stories that need to be heard.”

On Friday, November 15th, McInnis Auditorium was filled with music from the jazz band, the concert band, and various chamber ensembles. Jazz band, which consists of around 15 members, had some solos with the band playing underneath them. The concert band has around 20 members, and the chamber ensembles vary from duos, trios, and quartets.

All of these students rehearsed at least once a week per ensemble they participated in starting at the beginning of the semester. The jazz band met for one hour a week, the concert band for two, and the chamber groups varied. Further, the students spend time practicing on their own and some take private lessons. While many of the students are music majors, some of them chose to play in their ensemble for their own enjoyment. The students’ dedication showed in their amazing performances.

On Saturday the 16th, various vocal ensembles took to the stage. They performed “seasonal, sacred, classical, and original repertoire.” Groups like Turning Point and Gospel Choir, two of Eastern’s choral ensembles, performed. All of the groups that performed put many hours or practice into their performances. Starting at the beginning of the semester, they rehearsed as groups, while also practicing on their own time. The gospel choir, for example, practiced once a week every Monday for an hour. There are some solos within the ensembles, but no solo performers, as the fall musical festival is focused on ensembles.

Some music majors who didn’t perform worked hard too. The music department requires all music majors to help with tech at a few events per semester, so a few of the students who were not performing assisted with front of house, such as greeting people, taking tickets, and manning concessions. Some other students helped move equipment. The sounds and lights were done by the tech director Prof. Grant Birchard.

The hard work of the musicians, singers, student workers, and professors who helped put the show together are to thank for the two nights full of wonderful performances. If you didn’t manage to make it out, no need to worry because the music department puts on plenty of shows throughout the year. So keep an eye out– you definitely don’t want to miss the next chance to hear these amazing performers live!

The presidential election has just passed, did you know? If you don’t, you live under a rock. The recent onslaught of political ads on all social media platforms, commercials, billboards and everywhere else made it awfully hard to ignore. It was impossible to watch a football game, or even a YouTube clip, without seeing multiple ads spewing hate and fear at you in an attempt to sway your vote.

In recent years, political ads target fear: they try to get you to fear the other candidate. Both sides attack their opponents by trying to get people to fear them, and it makes ads even harder to tolerate.

Pennsylvania is a swing state. Due to that, we were being attacked by ads harder than other states might have been. We had both sides of the political spectrum fighting for our votes because we could go blue or red.

But are the ads effective? I’d argue no. Most people brush them off, stop listening or even turn them off when they come on. The highly exaggerated ads that don’t ever seem to be telling the full truth aren’t where most people are looking for reliable information. I suppose there is some effectiveness to them, but is the attack of ads really needed? I couldn’t even watch the Eagles game without a minimum of one political ad per commercial break. I couldn’t drive down the street without seeing a truly insane amount of yard signs, especially in medians on bigger roads. I couldn’t go a day without getting text after text about voting, even after I had already mailed my ballot. In a time where every vote counts, these ads have done nothing but leave people frustrated, discouraged, and confused.

As people settle into life on campus, whether for the first time or the third, we have time to appreciate the community found at Eastern. EU offers a unique community not found on many college campuses that is arguably one of the best things about being on campus. Whether you live on campus or commute, almost everyone would agree that our school has a strong sense of community that makes it feel like home. According to freshman Logan Sutton, “When I visited [Eastern], the community was very welcoming and made me feel at home.” I think it’s safe to say that a big part of Eastern’s community stems from the fact that it’s a Christian campus. Jenna Crowley, a senior, shares that she was “looking for a Christian university not too far from home and Eastern felt like a good fit.” Faith is an integral part of Eastern’s community. I have a professor that reads from the Bible before each class. Before each tournament starts, my team will pray. Teachers and students, in classes, clubs and day to day life, create a strong Christian community on campus. Despite many different denominations and religions living on campus, there is a sense of respect on campus that leaves everyone united within Eastern’s community.

Along with the student community, Eastern offers a community that includes faculty. Jenna additionally shared that “[she] liked the beauty of the campus and the student to faculty ratio.” One of Eastern’s many perks are the smaller class sizes. Professors often create stronger relationships with students, they care about their students and their success. Unlike bigger campuses where there could be hundreds of students in a class who will never speak to their professors, Eastern offers classes that allow students to get to know their professors and, thus, often better understand their classes. Joe Walsh, a sophomore, shared that he came to Eastern because of the scholarship and financial aid package. However, he has “stayed for the incredible music department and the campus-wide sense of community found here.”

Along with Eastern’s great community both in and outside of the classroom, the school offers incredible opportunities for academics and extracurricular activities. Jenna tells us she stayed at Eastern “because of the friends [she’s] made here” but also because of “the opportunities to lead clubs and the social work department.” Each academic department at Eastern offers great programs with interesting classes and caring faculty. Many teachers offer office hours that go beyond help in classes– they offer the opportunity for students to come and just talk. Many faculty have tea or candy or other treats to share, at times Dr. Morgan, chair of the Communications department, even has her dog Duke. Walking into the library I’ve been offered snacks by a professor I know whose office is on the second floor for no reason other than she wanted to. It’s truly incredible to see the extent of community between students and faculty.

Just as Joe loves the music department and Jenna loves the social work department, another senior, Maddie Howes, “chose Eastern because [she] could graduate in 3 years, [Eastern] made it affordable.” Eastern offers a unique program that allows on campus students to take two summer classes for free. Many students take full advantage of the opportunity to graduate early. Whether it’s to save money or move on to higher education, it’s a great program people should look into. While you still have to pay a fee, it’s nothing compared to the cost of an actual class. You can even use the program just to take lighter course loads during the school year. In addition, Eastern offers great financial aid that draws many people to Eastern. Even though some people come here for financial reasons, many people fall in love with the school.

Along with great academics, there are many opportunities for extracurricular activities. Maddie has “stayed because I made a lot of friends here and got involved in a lot of extracurricular activities.” Honestly, getting involved can make or break your college experience. Finding good groups or people and enjoyable activities that give you a break from classes and school work, even if you have a good group of friends already, is important. I didn’t get very involved for the first semester, and there was a big difference for me my second semester when I had something else to do.

Many students on campus are involved in athletics and most others are involved in various clubs and programs. Clubs, and sometimes even athletic teams, advertise around campus and through email. Oftentimes each team and club offers its own, smaller, community. I joined the golf team with no experience, and found a great, supportive community. You will usually see various athletic teams sporting their team gear walking around campus and eating in the DC together. Even some of the clubs have their own shirts to rep. Junior Abby Laird chose Eastern “to have more independence and because she had friends here.” However, she has stayed on campus for “the OCF [Orthodox Christian Fellowship] and the math department.”

Especially if this is your first year on campus, you’ve probably heard something along the lines of, “Why’d you choose Eastern?”, quite a bit. It tends to be an icebreaker or point of small talk that gets repetitive, but it’s actually a very interesting question. Even if there is some overlap, every person has their own unique version of the story that led them to Eastern. But even more interesting, is the reasons people have chosen to stay. People fall in love with the incredible community atmosphere and the friends they make. They enjoy the unique academic experiences, as well as the opportunities to get involved and meet new people. I’m one of the first people to complain about Eastern when something isn’t perfect– the parking situation for example– but at the end of the day, I’m still here because I want to be. Even though sometimes we find ourselves complaining about Eastern and what happens, or doesn’t happen, on campus, it’s nice to be reminded of the reasons we are all here.

Chappell Roan once said, “I’m your favorite artist’s favorite artist”. With the 26-year-old’s recent rise in fame, that statement seems to be coming true. Various big names have been seen dancing along to her music at festivals and concerts, including Noah Kahan. After a rocky start, Roan’s career has blown up quickly in the past year. Roan started touring for her album, “The Rise and Fall of a Midwestern Princess,” in a venue that held 600 people. Jump to August 2024 and she reportedly performed for what is possibly the largest crowd ever at Lollapalooza, a festival with around 110,000 attendees each day (CNN). Her career, however, has gained traction so quickly that people have been questioning how well she is adjusting to her newfound fame.

Recently Roan has been facing some backlash after an interaction with a fan hit the media. She reportedly denied taking pictures with a fan, and the fan in question was not happy with that. People took to social media to share their thoughts– many claiming Roan wasn’t ready for, or didn’t deserve, her rise in popularity. While some people defended her, it seemed the mass was taking the fans’ side. Chappell Roan has since taken to TikTok to share some of her thoughts on the situation, though. She poses the situation to people with a question, asking them to think, “if you saw a random woman on the street…”, would you do the same to them? She adds, “Would you be offended if she says no to your time because she has her own time?” Truthfully, it seems it’s true that she did not have time to adjust to her fame. No one, including herself, expected the rapid rise in popularity. A complete change in lifestyle is not easy to adjust to, especially when you have to undergo the change in the public eye. That being said, she doesn’t owe anyone her private time, her private life. People not respecting her boundaries, boundaries she deserves to have, hasn’t helped anyone adjust to her newfound fame.

Similarly on TikTok, Roan shares, “I don’t care that abuse and harassment, stalking, whatever, is a normal thing to do to people who are famous.” She continues, “That does not make it okay. That does not make it normal.” It seems that people are all about boundaries until they go against what they want. The internet truly makes people think they know public personas personally, when really they are strangers. Roan expresses this by saying, “It’s weird how people think that you know a person just cause you see them online…I’m allowed to say no to creepy behavior.” Now, there are arguably some positives to this false sense of a personal relationship, but it is important for people to remember that regardless of how it feels, the general public are not friends with people in the media.

Truly, though, Chappell Roan’s words just bring light to a much bigger issue within popular culture as a whole– cancel culture and a lack of boundaries. It seems that people now expect everything to be catered to exactly what they wish to see and hear. Just as quickly as someone gains fame, it could be taken away from them. If a few people speak out about being unhappy with something, it will quickly blow out of proportion and often end with someone unfairly facing consequences stemming from this cancel culture. It’s important to remember that people in the spotlight are still normal people who need to live their lives. Just as you don’t deserve to know the life story of the stranger sitting next to you in the coffee shop, you don’t deserve to know every detail of a famous person’s life.

Chappell Roan seems to now be, at the very least attempting, to use her platform to speak out about this. While others may not speak as boldly on the issue, she has shared her piece on the matter. In fact, she seems to be using her platform to advocate for many things– including the LGBTQIA+ and women’s rights. Even though people in the public eye have the platform to speak for change, they often are too afraid to do it. It seems that Roan is not one to shy away from speaking up for herself, though. It’s about time that people start respecting those who work in the public eye, and even though people aren’t happy about it, it seems that Chappell Roan is ready to fight for her right to boundaries.