The Waltonian

Previously, the Phillies had a few ‘okay’ seasons. However, with three new players thriving off the adrenaline of being traded to Philadelphia, we are seeing the change begin.

For the 2019 season, the Phillies were able to sign the notable Bryce Harper, J.T. Realmuto and Jean Segura. Each of these players will bring new and noteworthy plays to the Phillies. If you follow the Phillies, you can already see the positive changes.

Bryce Harper, a Phillies outfielder, went home to DC recently as the Phillies played the Nationals. He said, in an Instagram post, that the Nationals had been his home for seven seasons, even if he walks onto that field wearing a different jersey, he has love for that team. Harper also told ESPN that he has the city of Philadelphia behind him “each and every night. And if I have that, nothing else matters.” Although he has made the switch, he seems to be love the new set of fans who continuously support him. Harper signed a 13-year contract with the Phillies, and plans to stay on for the duration of his contract.

J.T. Realmuto, the Phillies catcher, recently had a throwback experience as the Phillies played the Marlins in Miami on April 13. He played his first five major league seasons with the Marlins. The new trade allows him to be an All-Star catcher in front of much larger – and rowdier – crowds. Phillies fans are known for their intensity which is a difference compared to the crowd cheering for the Marlins, he mentioned to ESPN. Considering the season he has had so far and the city itself, he is thinking of an extension past his 2020 contract.

Jean Segura, an all-star new Phillies infielder, was traded from the Mariners and it required him to waive his no-trade deal to join. Segura signed a 5 year deal with the Phillies with an option to last him until 2023. Last season, he was named the American League All-Star, and with his new addition to the team, we can expect big things to come the Phillies’ way. Since 2016, Segura had been a big part of the Mariners after moving from the Diamondbacks, and we can hope that he will bring the same sort of ferocity to Philadelphia.

Harper has said in a recent interview that he wants to do what he couldn’t with the Nationals, bring a World Series title to Philadelphia. We can expect the players to be upping their game and determined to win a title this season.

Even though the 2021-2025 sites have not been announced, there is a meeting on Tuesday to discuss the possibility of the MLB All-Star game being held in Philadelphia in 2026. It is also not a coincidence this will be the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.

Source: ESPN

Diversity in the publishing world isn’t something that a lot of people think about, at least a lot of privileged people who are able to walk into a book store and pick up a novel whose protagonist looks like them.

In 2015, Lee & Low did the first ever Diversity in Publishing Baseline Survey in America. The first ever. Publishing, at least some version of it, has been around since the printing press, yet four years ago was the first time anyone considered doing this sort of big-scale survey with major publishing houses (think Penguin-Random House or Scholastic). This survey was released in 2016, after a year of surveying 34 publishers and 8 review journals.

The results are these. In the publishing world overall, 79 percent of people are white, 78 percent are women (cis-women), 88 percent are straight and 92 percent are non-disabled. In any take, those are overwhelming numbers. Even though women are leading in the workplace, it is often white, cis-gender, upper-class women who could get into the publishing houses.

I know that by this point you’re asking, why does this matter? Why should I look at these results and do anything about it? It matters because books are often a medium that you are exposed to at an early age, yet when you open its pages and find no characters that look or feel like you, or that these characters are some gross stereotype, what makes you want to keep reading? Better yet, what is the point?

With the way publishing works, if there aren’t queer, disabled or people of color working in the publishing houses, the manuscripts with characters of any, or many, of these identities could get shoved to the bottom of the pile.

Books and stories are a way to see yourself represented on the page, living a life you aren’t living right now. For many, that isn’t possible. How many fantasy novels have you picked up and read about a disabled protagonist? Science-Fiction? Contemporary? What about people of color? Or queer women? There aren’t many in the popular sphere of books (or from big publishing houses), not one that Barnes and Noble is stocking.

I think that we have to ask the question if the way we consume media cannot reflect the majority of people, then what is it doing?

In Young Adult and Children’s literature, there has been an influx of different stories being published. There was a lot of hype for Angie Thomas’s The Hate U Give and On the Come Up, something that might not have happened twenty years ago. But we can still see other areas in publishing, like Fiction, falling through and continuously publishing a lot of stories about the same sorts of people.

So how do we buy more books with these protagonists? Look for them. Find smaller publishing companies that exclusively publish women of color and have a staff that is the same. Actively search out books from queer or disabled writers, find books that reflect their protagonists. This is a small start, but supporting authors who otherwise do not get the publicity that the select few with connections due, is a way to begin that process.

Source: Lee & Low Books

The results are these. In the publishing world overall, 79 percent of people are white, 78 percent are women (cis-women), 88 percent are straight and 92 percent are non-disabled. In any take, those are overwhelming numbers. Even though women are leading in the workplace, it is often white, cisgender, upper-class women who could get into the publishing houses.

I know that by this point you’re asking, why does this matter? Why should I look at these results and do anything about it? It matters because books are often a medium that you are exposed to at an early, yet when you open its pages and find no characters that look or feel like you, or that these characters are some gross stereotype, what makes you want to keep reading? Better yet, what is the point?

I think that we have to ask the question if the way we consume media cannot reflect the majority of people, then what is it doing?

In Young Adult and Children’s literature, there has been an influx of different stories being published. There was a lot of hype for Angie Thomas’s The Hate U Give and On the Come Up, something that might not have happened twenty years ago. But we can still see other areas in publishing, like Fiction, falling through and continuously publishing a lot of stories about the same sorts of people.

Source: Lee & Low Books

Over spring break, the Faculty of Eastern are still on campus. Eric McCloy, our wonderful Chief Information Officer (CIO), was here, working hard, as we were relaxing.

“I did a lot of math,” McCloy said.

He spent most of Spring Break getting everything ready for the big password changes we’ve been getting emails about (APRIL 12th!). He was doing a lot of math to come up with the 16 characters we all have to change to.

He and a few other faculty members did a Pickle Run, in which they had to predict their race time. This is their third Pickle Run this year, and although they tried very hard to match their pace times to get first, second, and third place, they didn’t succeed (even with McCloy’s math!). They were right in a row though, they just set a faster pace!

McCloy also got to have brunch with his wife over Break, and since he doesn’t get to see her as often during work when we’re all here, it was good time! He also spent a good portion of the break retraining his dog, Lucy. Lucy is all over McCloy’s Twitter. He and his wife had to work out a new schedule so that she could make it through the night and not wake them up at 2 a.m. because she needs to go out!

Eastern University’s production of the Tony Award winning musical Into the Woods was performed March 28-30 in McInnis Auditorium. The musical was written by Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine, and directed for Eastern by Michael Covel. The story follows familiar Grimm fairy tale characters, like Cinderella, Jack, and Little Red Riding Hood, joined with the Baker and his wife, as their stories connect with each other in the woods. It is a dark comedy that brings a new light to old characters.

The production starred Zack Wilson as the narrator, Lynnae Stine as Cinderella, Steph Meell as Jack, Susie Moore as Jack’s Mother, Harrison White as the Baker, Morgan Leavy as the Baker’s Wife, Katelyn Rediger as Cinderella’s stepmother, Abigail Pardocchi as Florinda (Cinderella’s stepsister), Gabrielle Pardocchi as Lucinda (Cinderella’s other stepsister), Maggie Rafidi as Little Red Riding Hood, Delaney Tacka as the Witch, Morgan Thomas as Cinderella’s Mother and Granny, Rob Leamer as Cinderella’s father, Bryan Eltman as the Wolf and Cinderella’s Prince, Sydney Becker as Rapunzel, Jake Craig as Rapunzel’s Prince, Olivia Ruth as the Steward and Sleeping Beauty, and Jackie Parzanaze as the Giant and Sleeping Beauty.

With a brilliant cast of Eastern’s students, there was a lot of work that went into preparing the musical for its performances. It is hard to believe that the entire team only started teching (a term used in theater when the orchestra, cast, stage and lighting crew, all come together to be able to light and add sound to the show) the show a week before the performances. This shows incredible dedication and professionalism, as the expectations were very high for this year’s performance.

Stage Manager, Cait Wooten, was very excited about Eastern’s production. As stage manager, she is vital in calling cues for sound and music during the performance (there are over 132 lighting cues and 56 sound cues), and helping out with more managerial tasks. However, she has been around since the beginning of rehearsals and has seen the progression of the cast as the show came together. When asked about Eastern’s version of Into the Woods, she was thrilled that it followed more of the original tone of the musical.

“It’s easy to go too comedic or too dramatic, but our version does a good job of balancing that,” Wooten said.

The production did just that with its audience. They were laughing in the right places, with the Princes’ “Agony” and gasped when the Baker’s Wife died. Eastern’s cast of students brought about the emotions that Wooten explained.

Part of this was due to not just the cast, but every part of the production. The set was designed and put together by Stephen Wisely. There were two beautiful flats for Cinderella’s and the Baker’s houses, as well as a detailed set of stairs especially for Cinderella’s song in Act I, “On the Steps of the Palace.” Additionally, a lot of the props were made by Covel’s wife, including the Baker’s bread.

Gabrielle Pardocchi, who played Lucinda, was also the Costume Assistant. She helped find costumes for the cast to wear. They rented most of their costumes from Fulton Theater in Lancaster, PA, and found the others that they could not rent. For Pardocchi, it was really the costumes that made the production come alive.

When asked about the production as a whole, Pardocchi was adamant that the biggest part was the cast.

“It’s a really close community,” She said.

Eastern University’s production of Into the Woods was a successful hit. To find more theatre events for this year, you can visit the calendar online.

Over spring break, the Faculty of Eastern are still on campus. Eric McCloy, our wonderful Chief Information Officer (CIO), was here, working hard, as we were relaxing.

“I did a lot of math,” McCloy said.

On Friday, March 15, there was a shooting in Christchurch, New Zealand at two mosques, the Al-Noor and the Linwood Mosque. The attack began in the afternoon, when both mosques would be full for afternoon prayers.

The death toll, as of currently, is up to 50, with another 50 hospitalized due to injuries.

As a result of this shooting, the Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern, spoke up immediately to say that “There will be changes to our gun laws.” Although her and her staff have yet to meet, there is a planned discussion for Monday. More updates on the situation will follow this meeting in the news as New Zealand opens up discussions about gun laws and semi-automatic weapons.

The shooter was from Australia, and although he may be taken back there, it is being held firm that his trial will take place in New Zealand, as a way to answer for the terror he caused there. There was one other suspect held in custody due to evidence, but there has been nothing to link them to the attack. Arden condemned his act as “an extraordinary and unprecedented act of violence.” Arden is committed to bringing justice to the situation.

The attack was partly streamed on Facebook. Although the site shut it down, it took them 17 minutes to do so.

In the Philadelphia area, there were many places that were holding vigils. One of these places was University of Pennsylvania. There were many Eastern students who attended in order to pray for and honor those who were killed. The Eastern Community will continue to stand in solidarity with those who are affected. There are funds being set up for those who can donate financially, The New Zealand Islamic Information Centre and Victim Support, and vigils will continue to be held around the world.

Sources: CNN, The New York Times

A lot of my intern work consists of me sitting on my laptop and staring at my screen. Which, to most people, probably seems boring and dreary. This is understandable, but there are so many beautiful things inside of my internship that make up for any reservations I might have had at the beginning. I do a lot of research, entering my research into databases or typing it up into documents. Occasionally, I write blog posts or adverts for other websites. I also run our Twitter page, which gives me a bit of an excuse to do what I waste time doing anyway. It doesn’t seem exciting on the surface, but there is so much underneath of it that makes the menial tasks worth it.

There is an art to crafting and curating information for others to consume, writing blog posts with reliable links and information, using our platform to elevate others in the community who are doing good work and most of all, making sure those who need care receive the best they can get. I work for an Eastern alum and for a brand that helps caregivers find resources and create conversations, and presents helpful information and a place to connect with other caregivers.

Caregivers are a diverse group containing those who work in the caregiving industry, but also people who care for family members such as a child, their aging parents or a sister, and those who are parents of children with autism or down syndrome. There is an art to the way I gather and organize information for my boss, the way our team works together to pull off a cohesive image. The way all of our personalities blend and mesh together allows us to work and function wonderfully. That is the beauty and art in the internship I do, and I am so lucky to be able to do it alongside these wonderful women.

I have the opportunity to do work that matters to others. As part of the CareGiving team, I get to be a small part of informing new (and older) caregivers, as well as providing a platform where caregivers can speak. I am also gaining experience for my own resume that I would not have gotten otherwise. It has allowed me to find new ways to express my own creativity and has helped me understand what the freelancing world looks like. This internship is giving me the ability to help others in the future and it provides a space for me to grow as a writer and as a student, but also a person who might one day take care of her mother.

The beauty and art to my internship is not that I do something artistic every day or that I am always creating something beautiful, it is that I am growing and learning in every moment alongside other wonderful women. It is beautiful that I get to meet people who have lost loved ones and continue to remain strong and that I get to provide a space for caregivers to speak and be heard. I know that what I am doing matters to someone who is searching Google and trying to find answers or feels like they are alone in their experiences.

The ballet world has always been very white. The number of non-white dancers in top companies is a very small number, as are companies that actually supply these dancers with pointe shoes that match their skin tone is even smaller.

The amount of pointe shoes, the “toe-shoes” worn by ballerinas on stage, that ballerinas go through in a week is large. These shoes do not stay in her rotation for very long as she often needs new shoes for performances. For white ballerinas, buying new shoes is as easy getting them from their favorite company; but for Black ballerinas, it is not that simple.

Most people know who Misty Copeland is, the first Black woman to make principal dancer at the American Ballet Theater, but she joins only a small number of African American ballet dancers to make principal dancers in different companies.

However, in all of this, there are even fewer companies who make shoes for Black ballet dancers. Pointe shoes are meant to look like an extension of her feet. The only color, for a long time, was a pastel pink. Then, there were some variations on the pink color, but that was the extent of the change. When the shoes (and tights) were made, they were made for white dancers.

Black ballerinas have often had to paint their own shoes and considering the staggering amount of pointe shoes that a ballerina will buy each year, means that she is buying a lot of paint. It means she will work twice as hard outside of performances and class to make these shoes make her skin color, something most white ballerinas would never think twice about.

More recently, there has been an American pointe shoes company, Gaynor Minden, that has included more color variations in their satin. They have added three new, darker colors (opposed to their singular pink satin beforehand) to their line up. These colors, though they don’t seem like much (they aren’t), are doing more than a lot of other shoe companies who still only make pink satin and expect Black ballerinas to just paint their shoes.

There is another company making headway in having more satin colors available: Freed of London. This English company has been making pointe shoes for a long time, and in October of last year, they added two more colors to their mix: brown and bronze. While this company is even more limited than Gaynor Minden, it is also trying to be more inclusive. They work with a company called Black Ballet, which is an English dance company, to provide shoes for their dancers. Although this is important, this cannot and should not be the end-all be-all

The problem that ballerinas still run into is that they may not dance well or fit well into the company’s shoes. Even though these two companies make shoes in different colors, not all Black ballerinas shop there because these shoes don’t feel right to them. Each pointe shoe company makes their shoes differently, and a ballerina tends to stick with one company until the end of her career, because she knows they work for her feet. For Black ballerinas to be limited to two companies that actually stock their color or painting their shoes is wrong.

So while these companies should be commended for their effort to include more skin tones in their satin line up, this question arises – why is this the first time in 200 years that anyone has thought to make more colors than pink? Why are more companies not making a wider variety in shades?

Sources: The New York Times, Gaynor Minden, Freed of London, Vox

Every English major’s least favorite question is “What are you going to do with that degree after college, teach?”

I say least favorite because not everyone who decides to be an English major wants to be a teacher, rather most of us don’t. English, at its foundation, is a focus on how to read and write well, how to communicate effectively. Most of the time, the desire to excel in these things comes from a love of reading or writing when we were young. We loved it so much we decided to dedicate four years of our lives to it.

This intense love of reading or writing is the basis for a lot more jobs than people seem to think. While it is true that some English majors do want to be teachers after they graduate, many more would rather stay away from education. A popular pre-law track is English, as it prepares an undergrad student well for law school. Writing papers on novels, poems and short stories requires you to defend your thesis like a lawyer defends their client in court. There has to be evidence of your point in the text and you have to be able to effectively prove that your point holds true.

Likewise, there are managers and people in charge of companies who majored in English for this same reason. English set them up with the skills to be able to succeed in these fields. There are also English majors who do copy-editing, grant writing for professional businesses and nonprofits, and draw up contracts for lawyers. It is vital that these people know how to write effectively, which is at the core of every English department.

English teaches you how to write well, how to get your point across in either a short amount of time or a long one. English is more than teaching, it has always been more than teaching, but because it has no clear end-goal, many people question its validity as a major. There are so many options open to an English major, more than most others, that its’ infinite decisions can seem scary. For some people, it is better to have a clear end-goal for after graduation, and that is fine, they just might not succeed in the English major. A student must be aware that there is a heavy emphasis on practicing those reading and writing skills in the major, but that the professors want you to be able to clearly demonstrate your understanding and ideas throughout the papers you write.

Some people major in English because they love to read and write. English, as a major, sets undergrads up well to succeed in anything, but it also allows them to enjoy their time in college. Plenty of English majors go on to be editors for magazines, publishing companies and newspapers. More go on to do things unrelated to English directly,but the major prepares you for any sort of job because it teaches you how to communicate effectively.