About Cassie

I'm a junior English major. I spend way too much time watching TV, reading, and writing, but I like to think it's for some future job that hasn't even been created yet.

Choices After Dark

Posted on February 20, 2013 by Cassie

I thought my schedule was a thing of beauty. I have no classes on Monday or Wednesday until 6:50 at night, and two classes on Tuesday and Thursday from 1 to 4:10, with another class on Thursday nights from 7-10 p.m. But despite all that open time during the day, it turns out sleeping in really isn’t worth what I’m missing at night.

Last semester I took Honors Poe with Dr. Kachur – a lovely class taught by a lovely professor. That, combined with another section of Poe class, sparked a burning fever of adoration for this poignant-yet-creepy author. Of course, when a group of people feel such a common emotion, they have to do something about it and the result was a new Poe club this semester. I was ecstatic when I heard about this. Maybe some of you have seen the new show on Fox, The Following, about a cult based around Poe and have been touched by the fever of curiosity to delve into his works for yourself. Personally, I’m just happy they finally have a show where the inside jokes are meant for English majors (we’re not exactly top priority on late night TV what with Grey’s Anatomy (which I do love) and Walking Dead). But then I saw the time. Eight o’clock on Wednesday nights would be the meeting time of the club, right smack in the middle of my night class. Lucky for me those times aren’t set, but there are many other things that are immovable.

This past Thursday was the Ridington Lecture which began during my night class. There are plenty of speakers, Smart Talks, meetings, and inductions that I will miss this semester due to my class (that’s not to mention that it’s also prime TV time, which for me happens to be my best homework time). But this is not simply to play up the difficulties of having night classes and making choices between things (though this time it’s harder than should I have the chocolate or vanilla ice cream at Glar [maybe because I always pick chocolate]). It’s a lesson in time management. Life is not like the world of Harry Potter, where it is possible to be in two places at once (that’s about as far as I got in the books so that will be my last reference to them). As much as we want to do absolutely everything, there are 24 hours in the day. Your decisions for what you join and what you squeeze in are important, because each one leaves you with a little less time.

Goodwill and Westminster Fun

Posted on February 17, 2013 by Cassie

In honor of my birthday, my sister came up (from D.C.) to spend the weekend with me. We kept the Friday night calm, going to the campus showing of Sky Fall. James Bond will always have a special place in my heart, especially those played by Sean Connery. I grew up on these movies (along with millions of other people) and will never tire of the brand. We kept the night quiet though, going to sleep early. But Saturday was an entirely different story. My sister hasn’t spent much time at McDaniel, and to be honest, I don’t venture forth into Westminster and the surrounding area much either. We started with the local mall, which offers a couple key stores including Rue 21 and their chocolate shop.

Also neatly tucked in there is the local Regal movie theater. Identity Thief was playing, and if you get the time, I would highly recommend it. Jason Bateman and Melissa McCarthy are a hilarious duo that had my sister and me laughing until the end. McCarthy plays the misfit Diana who goes through life ripping off people’s identities and moving on with no strings attached. Bateman plays the mild-mannered businessman who is her victim, but who eventually grounds her as they both find middle ground. I’m not even exaggerating about its comedic value. After the movie was over, the lady in front of us stood up and let my sister know that she had an adorable laugh.

We went back down 140 to the Goodwill, which is most definitely my favorite place to shop. There are treasures untold there if you’re willing to comb through the racks and racks of clothes. I’ve always wanted to do a personal rendition of Macklemore’s song “Thrift Shop” in our Goodwill, but that will have to wait for another weekend. Ultimately, my sister and I both found cute blazers. Blazers are necessary for any young woman, for interviewing, for dressing up a cute outfit, for adding a little class to your day, and for preparing to join the working world women. With less than 100 days left of school, my summer internship is approaching way too fast. But Goodwill will certainly have me prepared for it at a quarter of the retail price.

To round out my day with my sister, I brought her back to campus after stopping for food (it’s Subway’s five dollar foot long month and there is really no sane way to turn that down). In typical fashion, we spent the last night cuddled up under blankets in my room watching episodes of Grey’s Anatomy and Nashville. That’s always how we spend our last night together. Even though D.C. isn’t far (especially thanks to the new transportation line that gets you there lickety-split from campus), I’ve never quite gotten used to saying goodbye and I don’t think I ever will. It just means she’ll have to keep visiting.

Interviewing Strangers

Posted on February 15, 2013 by Cassie

Besides being an English major, I’m also pursuing a minor in Writing as well as Journalism. Last semester, I interned with the Baltimore Sun’s Features department and got a taste for what it would be like after I graduated. To put it simply, I was terrified. After I got over my fear of driving into Baltimore during rush hour, I concentrated on just keeping up with the day to day projects. But as I was just beginning my Journalism minor, I was unprepared for interviewing people on the spot.

Small talk is not my forte with strangers. I listened a little too well to my mother when I was younger about not talking to them. I felt like I was intruding when I would call people and ask them questions, even if they weren’t personal. To make matters worse, I had a night class last semester, Intro to Journalism, where I had to do the same thing. To complete my minor, I needed to take Adv. News Reporting (Intro 2.0 basically).

Every week we have to create a new article, prepping, researching and interviewing for it. While for my first article I based it on the Vagina Monologues and the process of creating a student-led, volunteer production, my second is about student-jobs on campus and the workers’ relations to the rest of campus. To say I was nervous is putting it mildly. As I said, I don’t converse well with strangers, but this was somehow worse. These were people that I saw around campus, that served me food or helped me fetch books, people that I interacted with regularly. Would they shut me down? Would they laugh at me?

I approached each person warily, starting with general questions. But no one seemed to notice the awkwardness I expected. No one laughed or stopped me. In fact, they made jokes to lighten the mood. McDaniel students and workers alike were jovial, helpful, and surprised me. My class work technically depended all on them, but they came through. McDaniel Campus, though small, is a closeknit community at heart. The small size allows for us to be connected to everyone with only a few degrees of seperation. We can depend on that, even when we least expect it.

Turning 21

Posted on February 14, 2013 by Cassie

Birthdays are always worth mentioning. My birthday was this past Monday, the 11^th, but as any child will tell you, it lasts the whole week. Especially in college, when packages and cards arrive sporadically. But this time, it was extended for a different reason: Westminster’s night life. As my actual birthday was on a Monday, my friends took me out for dinner at Buffalo Wild Wings. A local favorite sports bar and restaurant, it was the perfect place to celebrate. As a vegetarian, they offer great options, including their black bean burger. The waitress even went out of her way to get me one of the kid crowns so that I could pretend to be a princess. For my first drink, I ordered a margarita, which was supposed to be the sweetest drink they had. Well, the waitress wasn’t quite right on that, but she still got bonus points for my crown. The good thing about being a late comer to this new age is that everyone else is already 21 and I easily pawned my drink off on to someone else.

College is about persistence and determination, though, and I wasn’t going to end my week without finding a drink I liked. I tried some at Applebee’s and some at J&P’s (each both have amazing food but I just couldn’t stand the taste of their “sweetest” drinks). Finally my friends convinced me to go to Rafael’s. Raf’s, as it is known to the locals, is a restaurant and bar, but converts into a bar and dance floor at night. There are two other bar spots in Westminster, Down Under and Johansson’s. We went at 7:30 (prime restaurant time) on Thursday (which is also college night after 9:30). Somehow, I forgot that it was Valentine’s Day. There was a special romantic menu and everything for our lovely group of seven single women. To be honest, we all had a great time, especially with the free chocolate covered strawberries and white roses. Half of our group left as they cleared away the tables (as it was now 9:30), and we moved over to the bar. Nothing has ever felt as weird in my life. But really, it’s just another part of being comfortable in the new world I’m entering. Whether I’m walking into the Baltimore Sun as an intern or a bar for a drink after work, this is what comes with being an adult. Campus is no longer both my limitation and my protective bubble. I’m grateful for the year left of college I have, to slowly venture forth and to postpone the moment I’m forced out of my nest to fall or fly. Baby steps. Even at 21.

Gala and Show: The Vagina Monologues

Posted on February 9, 2013 by Cassie

Saturday was a full day. As a member of Gamma Sigma Sigma, a service organization, we frequently make time to help out our sisters with their events when we can. One such event was the Vagina Monologues (a show held worldwide dedicated to ending violence against women). Two of our sisters were directing the production this year, and several of our sisters were members of the cast. Before the show on Saturday, however, there was a gala for the tenth anniversary of hosting the Vagina Monologues on McDaniel Campus (the fifteenth anniversary of it being held worldwide).

Naturally, several sisters showed up at the gala to lend a helping hand: selling tickets, serving food, auctioning off the moans for that night’s show, refilling the lemonade, greeting guests and alumni, etc. Although I have never been a part of the show, I was swept up in the joyous atmosphere and reunions. I was particularly amazed by Professor Carpenter’s dress. As it was a gala, people went all out on dressing up. It’s always a pleasure when alums return to campus and reminisce about old classes and teachers. I was introduced to the original directors of the production and the future (next year) director, and was amazed by the spirit of them. This was my first year watching the show (which followed the gala). I laughed, I cried, and I was truly surprised by the skill of my sisters and fellow students. I was touched by genuine depths that the production reached while dancing in and out of brief moments of levity. The final three questions of the show were the most poignant though.

A member of the cast asked: “If anyone has been the victim of abuse, rape or molestations, please stand up.” Some of the cast and a couple of the audience members stood up.

She next asked: “Anybody who knows anyone who has been a victim of abuse, rape or molestation, please stand.” The entire cast stood up, as did most of the audience.

Last, she asked: “If you are committed to making sure these things end, please stand up.” At this point, the entire theater was on its feet. Men, women, personally affected or distantly connected, we were all unified. I could not have been prouder of my community.

Join the Rush

Posted on February 6, 2013 by Cassie

There are eight social sororities and fraternities on campus. But there are also two lesser known service groups: APO, a service fraternity, and Gamma Sigma Sigma, a service sorority (although both are coed). Last night, Gamma Sigma Sigma held their Meet the Sisters event. Now I know, there are many reservations and assumptions that come with the “Greek” title, and I had many of my own. I chose Gamma Sig because not only did it look great on my resume, but it actually was a great deal of fun getting to know this wide variety of girls. My MIT (member-in-training) class even had three guys, the first in several years). But more than that, this organization is focused on serving the community through volunteer service for great local groups.

But last night was focused on getting to know the prospective, our future members and sisters. Yeah, that sounds a little cheesy, and even I was hesitant to go, what with the mounting homework teachers continue to thrust my way. The theme “Welcome to the Wild” had everyone dressed up in colorful and crazy prints, from pink leopard-spotted leggings to cheetah fur hats and every color of the rainbow in our Gamma Sigma Sigma lettered shirts. With food, snacks, and the latest top 40 pop songs playing in the background, students from all grades filtered in. A jungle path was laid out on the floor for interested students to walk along, with current members standing at each point to answer any and all questions. Afterwards, we played the classic “Rock, Tree, Bridge” for a little friendly competition. Conveniently, each team one once, which didn’t exactly appease my competitive nature, but it was a great way to end the night.

The great part about Gamma Sig is getting to know people from all of the nitches and groups across McDaniel Campus that I wouldn’t normally have gotten to meet. From girls (and guys) involved in other Greek organizations, sports teams, various majors, and a number of clubs, the people are all unique. I couldn’t ask for a greater college experience and I’m excited for our new members.

Stories from the Hill

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