The Buchtelite Fall 2023 Magazine Edition: Use Your Voice

Fall 2023 The ‘Use Your Voice’ Edition

Birthday Gift from Zippy p. 6 UA Celebrates a very special graduate for his 93rd birthday.

Open Letter:

Auburn Awards

My Dream

Soundwaves

Neurodiversity

in Cultural Criticism

Internship

A poem

p. 14 Alyssa Alexsonshk welcomes ND zips and NT friends.

p. 31 Students examine our culture in these works from the competition.

p. 42 A student writes about her internship with the USFL.

p. 47 A poem from 23-24 editor-in-chief, Emily Price.

From the Editor

Summer 2023 Buchtelite Staff Editor-in-Chief Emily Price Layout Editor Julie Cajigas+

Hello Readers, Thank you for picking up the Summer 2023 edition of The Buchtelite! My name is Emily Price and this is my first edition as Editor in Chief. In previous years, I served as one of the copy editors of The Buchtelite and worked in the background with my mentor Lauren Folk to edit stories and work with writers on their pieces.

This past year was incredibly challenging and my mental health had declined rapidly.

In this edition, we got some submissions that were a testament to people’s own challenges in college. I hope the work included within will do justice to the authors who were brave enough to write and create the content as

well as encourage and empower the readers.

Thank you Emily Sesto for writing the piece that helped promoted elevating student voices (see page 4 of the edition).

Thank you to all our contributors who were willing to share their pieces with our newspaper.

Finally, a big thank you to Professor Julie Cajigas (the faculty advisor for The Buchtelite) for preparing me in my role as Editor in Chief and working on the amazing layout for this edition. It takes a lot of care, time, and dedication to make this paper happen and I could not have done it without Julie’s guidance and commitment to the paper. Thank you!

Sincerely, Emily Price Editor-in-Chief

Contact Us Office: Kolbe Hall, Suite 208 Mailing Address The Buchtelite 302 Buchtel Mall Kolbe Hall, Suite 208 Akron, OH 44325-4602 www.buchtelite.com The Cover Artist: Meredith Bobrovsky, Fine Arts Major

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Contributors: Alyssa Alexsonshk, Kimberly Barlock, Mat Cruz, Natalie Dale, Olivia Kurylo, Zach Lininger,* Piper Malchok,* Ben Prithcard Madison Richards, Emily Sesto, Jon Miller,+ Connor VanMaele

2023-2024 Buchtelite Staff Editor-in-Chief Emily Price Managing Editor Nate Young Online Edition Editor Olivia Kurylo Arts & Entertainment Editor Olivia Ream Opinion Editor Emily Sesto Copy Editors Scott Kenimond and Lydia Lungu Layout Editor Nicolle Reich Social Media Editor Braydn Harris Staff Writers: Taylor Lorence, Makayla Minard, Sarah Oschman, Benjamin Pritchard Faculty Advisor Julie Cajigas Admin Coordinator William Hamilton

* Denotes contributors who wrote their features stories as part of the News writing course in The School of Communication. + Denotes UA faculty or staff contributors.

IN THE ISSUE Editor’s Note..........................................................2 Use Your Voice......................................................4 A Birthday Gift from Zippy.................................6 Words of Wisdom for the Class of 2027.......8 Poems by Emily Sesto ........................................12 Your Mental Health Matters.............................13 Open Letter: to Neurodivergent Zips..............14 Open Letter: on Using AI in Class...................20 Open AI, Generate, Done? Think Again.......24 A Love Poem to My Wife in Three Parts ........26 Exhibit: Sexology ................................................27 Auburn Awards in Cultural Criticism ...............31 Today, Yesterday and 300 Years ago...........32

The Frailty of Civility ...........................................34 Civility in Charlottesville ....................................35 Civility as a College Student............................36 Meet the EX[L] ACES ........................................40 My Dream Internship With the USFL ..............42 My CIC Photography Internship......................44 Ocean Calls, Poem by Natalie Dale ............45 Can She Stay? Gun Violence in Schools .....46 Soundwaves, Poem by Emily Price .................47 Unsung Talent in UA Athletics...........................48 Exhibit Rewind: Home is... .................................50 Friends with benefits, Poem by Emily Sesto....52 Going the Distance.............................................54

Featured Artists:

Jessika Kucera p. 32 & 44

Hannah Barnes p. 11

Meredith Bobrovsky Elise Helms p. 25

p. 13 & 52

Logan Wood p. 53

The Buchtelite

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E S U R U YO E C I VO

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pa ct o m i e g u h da a h e t i l e t Buch on you too. e h t o t g S u b m itt i n it c o u l d have on e me – and

By Emily Sesto, Opinion Editor I write about my experiences as a sexual assault survivor.

I wrote my first poem in May of 2012, and I now have thousands of poems in my head and hundreds written down.

Until recently, I had only shared my poetry online, anonymously. This year, I began sharing poems on my public social media platforms. This was a big step for me.

You must understand that these are poems I never thought I would share with the world. Who would want to see such dark, sad words?

I figured it was too ugly to share; I have never been so wrong.

If you told me six months ago that I would have submitted my poetry for our school newspaper, performed my spoken word not once but twice, and won three awards, my jaw would have dropped to the floor.

I have never done anything like this.

At the end of March, I decided to take a risk and submit my poetry to The Buchtelite, with the intent of being able to say I took an opportunity.

I did not expect anything further. My poetry 4

Fall 2023

is dark and sad, and it was the only way I could use my voice as a sexual assault survivor. Despite that, I thought it was important for my voice to be heard, so others wouldn’t feel so alone.

For a long time, I thought I was (alone).

After submitting my work, I received positive feedback from the paper advisor and the editorial team. They worked with me to not only publish a single poem, but to create a full spread featuring my work in the Spring 2023 print edition.

That experience was staggering. I knew it was happening, but it didn’t really set in until I saw it with my own eyes. My words were laid in a display that took my breath away. I know my poetry is powerful, but I never truly felt powerful until this moment.

The paper advisor recommended that I submit my work to some additional places including the Buchtel College of Arts and Sciences Celebration of Research and Creativity, and for the Ben Auburn Award in Cultural Criticism.

Running with the confidence from having my work published, I went forward and submitted to both opportunities.

Above Image: Emily Sesto Presenting at the 2023 Auburn Awards Photo by Julie Cajigas

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I have a fear of public speaking, and the BCAS Celebration of Research and Creativity was the first time I read my words in front of an audience. The initial thought of being so vulnerable in front of a room full of strangers was really intimidating, but once I got up there it felt natural and like I was meant to be up there.

There was something so powerful about reclaiming the power and control that had been taken away from me.

I received an award for the top spoken word poetry at the celebration.

Flash forward to the Auburn Awards, which still leaves me speechless.

I felt more pressure presenting at the Auburn Awards symposium, because it was more of a formal event. Seven students were selected from a pool of 30 submissions to present.

I also felt increased pressure because

I wanted my message to be heard far and wide. I was intimidated as I began to share my work, but it came naturally the more I spoke and the more I felt heard.

When the time came to announce winners, they said my name. It felt extremely shocking and almost like a dream.

I knew that my words were powerful to me, and meant something to me, but I didn’t realize how many people’s lives they might impact just by getting up there and sharing.

I recommend finding the courage to share your words. You may experience what it feels like to be heard and understood.

There was one experience that I wasn’t expecting and that was being invited to the banquet for UA’s student media outlets. I received a beautiful

glass award for outstanding creative contribution.

It was a humbling and inviting experience, and for once, I felt like I belonged somewhere.

If you take anything from my little story, let it be these two things: First, if you are suffering or struggling, there is a light at the end of the tunnel, and you are not alone.

Second, take the risk.

I’m happy to announce I have accepted the position of opinion editor with The Buchtelite for the 23-24 school year, and I urge you all to take the risk.

Share your creative work. Share your writing. Share your ideas. And, if you’re not sure what to share, we are asking for opinions on the biggest college challenge you’ve faced and how you overcame it.

Thank you!

WRITE FOR THE BUCHTELITE Join at https://buchtelite.com/join or send work to https://buchtelite.com/opinion.

The Buchtelite

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A BIRTHDAY GIFT

FROM ZIPPY J

ane Rotsching composes an email to The University of Akron, a simple inquiry driving her fingers across the letters of her keyboard. Rotsching doesn’t know what to expect, but she is determined just as her father taught her to be. Her inquiry is a simple birthday request, and one perfect for him. To make it happen, she’ll need the help of several figures, starting with the university’s registrar.

Rotsching wasn’t even sure if she would get a response to her inquiry, but after emails and calls were exchanged between various individuals at UA, a call finally came.

Overcome with shock and excitement, Rotsching listened as the University stated that they were able to help her fulfill her request. Seemingly unreal at first, the realization sunk in. Her father would not only receive a birthday gift that he would never expect, but one that would reflect the determination and work ethic he taught his seven children as he worked and raised a family.

All that is left to do: round up the family for her father’s graduation from the University of Akron.

Robert Greathouse, 93, was born in Akron, Ohio, in June of 1930. He attended East High School where he nurtured a passion for mathematics and science, and he intended to study in the school’s physics and chemistry (Top): Zippy shaking Greathouse’s hand. Photo by Olivia Kurylo. program. However, when Greathouse and his (Bottom): Photo by Julie Cajigas. parents moved, and he lost the coveted program.

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93-year-old Robert Greathouse graduates from UA

By Olivia Kurylo, Online Editor Unfortunately, his new school wasn’t as advanced in its education, and taught basic subjects with little to no math or science classes.

Feeling unprepared for university studies, Greathouse didn’t attend his own high school graduation and chose to work on his father’s farm instead. Two years later, in June of 1950, tensions rose between North and South Korea, requiring the involvement of the United States. Rather than wait to be drafted, Greathouse enlisted in order to choose the military branch he wanted to join.

Combining his interests in math and science, Greathouse trained as an Air Force mechanic, a job that would take him all the way to Okinawa where he repaired aircraft carriers fighting for South Korea and the containment of communism.

After the Korean War, Greathouse found himself back in Akron, securing a job at the Goodyear Company in its first years as a budding start-up. Wanting to learn more about the science behind the tire company, Greathouse took classes at The University of Akron beginning in the fall of 1958. With seven children at home, Greathouse’s time was spread thin, so he took classes sporadically when he needed the knowledge, and concluded his studies in 1993.

Reflecting on their childhood, Greathouse’s children recall how much education meant to their father, and, more importantly, how he passed his appreciation for learning onto them.

Four of his children earned their degrees from The University of Akron.

“We just knew that we were expected to go to college,” Mary Batyko, Greathouse’s daughter, details. “My mom was an RN, so she had some college experience, and with him going to school it just seemed natural.”

Greathouse continues to inspire younger generations in their pursuit of a college education,

especially his grandchildren. Reflecting on the impact his grandfather had on his college application process, Nick Rotsching said, “I remember when I was applying to college, myself, he did all kinds of research into the University of Akron, the College of Wooster, and some of the other schools that are around here. He helped me out so I could make that list myself and go see a bunch of them.”

While his educational journey wasn’t easy, Greathouse said the most important part of learning is keeping one’s sights on a goal.

“You have to keep your eyes on the goal. You have to establish a goal and determine how to get there, and that’s what you have to do,” Greathouse said.

With 35 years of post-secondary schooling under his belt, Greathouse received his hard earned Associate Degree of Technical Studies on Aug. 14, 2023. He was surrounded by immediate family and his new collegiate family in the College of Arts and Sciences Building Atrium.

Rotsching was the picture of pride and

happiness as she took in her father’s graduation.

“After we broke the news to dad, we asked, ‘do you want to wear a cap and gown?’” she said.

So how did Greathouse get his hands on the black cap and gown he joyfully sported?

“Luckily, we have plenty of them at our house from him to choose from,” Rotsching said.

As Greathouse encouraged his children and grandchildren to attend college, it was only fitting he donned a gown worn by someone who fulfilled his vision for his family. To complete the regalia, Rotsching’s brother went out and purchased a tassel.

During the graduation ceremony, Greathouse was beaming. After receiving his degree, he spoke on his college journey.

“I deeply appreciate the University of Akron because it was here, I was able to get the tools I needed to get ahead, and that is what the whole thing was about. Thank you very much.”

Congratulations Mr. Greathouse! The University of Akron proudly welcomes you to the Zips alumni family.

“I deeply appreciate the University of Akron because it was here, I was able to get the tools I needed to get ahead, and that is what the whole thing was about.”

(Above): Dr. Ann Usher speaks with Greathouse and his wife.

(Left): Greathouse celebrates with his family after the commencement.

Photos by Julie Cajigas

The Buchtelite

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WORDS OF WISDOM The Buchtelite staff and contributors offer tips for the CLASS OF 2027.

Nate Young, Managing Editor

Nicolle Reich, Layout Editor

My biggest struggle throughout college has been trying to feel directed, like I'm on a "path."

From other people I know I think this is pretty common, and it has gotten better over time. I really had to ask myself what I enjoy doing and can envision myself making a future out of so I can pursue that with some real passion.

Don't be afraid to expand your horizons. I've changed my majors twice now and, while it was disheartening at the time, I'm much happier with my direction. College is the perfect time to explore who you are and who you want to be as a person, don't pass it up!

Say yes to doing things even if it takes you out of your comfort zone.

Doing things that don't involve class and homework is super important when it comes to mental health. Now, go to class and do your homework but also have fun and make lots of memories. Four years sounds like a long time but there’s a moment in your senior year when you look in the mirror and ask yourself "Where did time go?" It feels like you blinked and it's over.

When you have this moment of realization you will want to look back and say, "I took advantage of being here, and made the most out of this experience." College is the only time of your life where all of your friends are in one place and only live down the street or hall. Once you graduate everyone goes on with their lives and not only is it scary, it’s a lonely feeling. The thing that’s comforting about it is remembering all the fun days and nights that you had with your friends that turned into family over those four years.

The big thing I did in college was joining Greek life. One of my friends that was a year older than me told me that I should go through sorority recruitment, I had no idea what being in a sorority meant or what people did in Greek life. But I stepped out of my comfort zone, and did it and it turned out to be the best decision I made in college. I made some of my best friends that I know I will have forever. Some of us don't live in Akron anymore and we are still just as close now, as we were then. Now I'm not saying that joining Greek life is the answer or the only thing to do but go out and find your people, join a club or get involved with an activity that interests you and do it.

Sometimes the random nights where your friend calls you at 1 am to get a Diet Coke from McDonald's turns into some memories that you will remember forever. College doesn't last forever and as much as at times you really hate school and on some days you feel alone and don't know what you're doing with your life, it's the people around you and the experiences that make it great and something you can look back on and remember.

Connor VanMaele, Contributor I am ancient and I have lots of good advice.

Don’t go to class; GPA is just a number. Eat exclusively at Rob’s for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Sleep is a cringeworthy endeavor and ultimately unnecessary because caffeine is available to you. Don’t join any clubs because they will probably take up valuable time that could instead be spent going on vigilante quests at 3am to put Spin scooters on top of buildings. If you follow all of this advice then it’s possible you have a chance in joining me as part of the Akron Elite; one time as I rode past Dr. Gary Miller, I said hello, and he responded, “that’s a nice bike.” I only tell you this because jealousy is an uncommonly powerful source of motivation. Good luck, freshmen.

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Scott Kenimond, Copy Editor One of the greatest challenges I have faced in college is being an adult learner with a health issue that is considered a disability. There have been more times than not where my health has gotten in the way of my academics. One of the ways I have overcome this obstacle is to be as transparent as possible with my professors about my health and my disability. As I move into my last year as an undergraduate student, I have started paying more attention to my body and being proactive about managing my health condition. I prioritize self-care, ensuring I get adequate rest, eat healthily, and reduce stress as much as possible. This not only benefits my health but also improves my cognitive abilities and overall performance.

Another strategy I've adopted is to leverage on-campus resources.

The University of Akron has many services to ensure that students can succeed. I connected with the Office of Accessibility, which has provided me with additional resources and accommodations, such as extended time on assignments or moving my classrooms so that I do not have to walk long distances which can affect my health. This assistance has played a significant role in leveling the playing field for me.

Another thing I have done to ensure that my final year is successful is time blocking. This method of time management makes setting aside specific periods during the day dedicated solely to studying or completing assignments easier. This helps ensure that even on days when my health isn’t at its best, I can still make progress with my studies and responsibilities.

Ultimately, facing this challenge has taught me resilience, determination, and the importance of seeking help when needed. As I approach the culmination of my undergraduate journey, I am proud of not just the academic knowledge I've gained, but the life lessons I've learned about perseverance, self-awareness, and advocating for oneself.

If I had to offer one piece of advice to freshmen, it would be to embrace adaptability and be open to change. College is a transformative period, filled with new experiences, challenges, and opportunities. As you navigate this journey, you'll find that your perspectives, goals, and interests might evolve. It's entirely natural and expected. While it's wonderful to have a plan and goals, it's equally important to remain flexible and open-minded. The ability to adapt will not only help you manage the academic and social challenges of college but will also prepare you for the ever-changing landscape of the real world. So, while it's good to hold onto your core values and beliefs, be willing to listen, learn, and adjust when necessary. It will help in becoming the best version of yourself.

Natalie Dale, Contributor A piece of advice I would give to a freshman starting fall 2023 is to outreach. Talk to everyone that you see so that you can gain connections and the people will help you later on in life with anything that you need. The staff here are friendly and will help every step of the way.

“Sometimes the random nights where your friend calls you at 1 am to get a Diet Coke from McDonald's turns into some memories that you will remember forever.”

-Nicolle Reich

The Buchtelite

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Taylor Lorence, Staff Writer My greatest challenge thus far in college has been balancing working and attending school. When applying for college, I knew I wanted to maintain a job throughout my entire four years of undergrad. But I still wanted to remain a full time student. I didn't have a job my senior year of high school, so once college started in the fall, I began to apply to jobs in my hometown. I found a great job, but in my interview, I reiterated that I was a college student, and classes, homework, and extracurriculars were my number 1 priority at this point in my life. Luckily, my manager has been nothing short of amazing when it comes to working around my class schedule. He always checks in, asks about my classes, and makes sure I am getting an adequate number of hours. I overcame balancing the two by setting a routine schedule. I love using Google Calendar, because I can input the days I work, and plan out what my week looks like for homework. Then, I can get certain assignments done on certain days. I never feel rushed and like I have ran out of time. It took a while to get used to balancing the two, but now I think I have it down!

My one piece of advice for any freshman starting is that it is ok to switch your major. I had no idea what I wanted to study in college, and on a whim, I decided to major in Chemistry my freshman year. I quickly realized I wasn't nearly as good at math as I needed to be. After taking different classes and talking to professors about my interests and possible career paths, I stumbled upon Public Relations as a major. At first, I felt guilty about leaving my major, I thought my mom would be angry that I wasted my freshman year on classes that wouldn't matter now. However, I decided to switch, and I 100% made the right decision. In college, you will be exposed to so many different people, majors, and careers you have never heard of. It is ok to dip your toes in the water, try new things, and explore a path you may not have originally thought you would be on.

After all, you want to enjoy the career you chose for yourself!

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Emily Sesto, Opinion Editor My greatest challenge has been burning out too quickly. I have a tendency to throw the only parts of me left after being a mom into school and I don't let up the entire semester. It is horribly overwhelming, and I just realized this is something that I have been doing. Since I just caught onto my bad habit, I have spent a few weeks thinking of how I can equally split myself enough, so I have time for me. Reading is my absolute favorite hobby, so I have made it my own personal goal to make sure I don't abandon this hobby during the semester. It may not seem like a large challenge, but losing yourself in something is destructive. I recovered from my eating disorder to reclaim power over myself, and I have to keep that part of me.

My one piece of advice is to accept help if you need it. From tutoring to mental health services and on. If you need help, accept it. This is going to be a new experience and take advantage of all the help that is out there if you need it. Don't think it's weak to ask for help and hold on to the fact that there IS help out there for you.

“My one piece of advice is to accept help if you need it. From tutoring to mental health services and on.”

Artist Feature: Hannah Barnes

Graphic Design & Painting Major The Buchtelite

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Poems by Emily Sesto

High school: One year in high school my teacher asked me why i never capitalize my i’s, he asked if i didn’t think i was important enough and he couldn’t have been more right.

The strong girl: My friends see me as the strong girl They don’t see my ribcage exposing my heart and spilling chaos from the inside out They don’t see my mind morphing into a battlefield They don’t see me fighting my hands from finding their way down my throat yet again They don’t see my lifelong battle of me vs me They don’t see that i’m a dropoff at the morgue dressed like a girl 12

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Your Mental Health Matters

By Emily Price, Editor-in-Chief

In high school, I remember struggling with a bout of intense OCD. It made simple tasks seem insurmountable. I spent hours on my homework to get it “perfect.”

I also struggled to read because I had to make sure that was “perfect” too and that I read every word on the page.

I drew lines on the page of Ayn Rand’s “The Fountainhead,” a summer reading assignment for AP English to help me make sure that I read every single word.

It was aggravating that I used to be able to sit down for hours and read a whole book in a day.

Now, it was difficult to finish one book in three months. My OCD eased as I started college and I learned not to listen to those overactive anxious pangs.

Nevertheless, there are no ups without downs. My mental health struggles came back last year and a conversation with Julie Cajigas, The Buchtelite faculty advisor, provoked me to write this piece. Cajigas was willing to share some of her experience with ADHD. “I spent a lot of my childhood and young adult years not realizing that I had any challenges. I was the traditional ‘gifted, not living up to her potential’ kid,” Cajigas explained.

Cajigas remembers being ahead of her peers in reading and her difficulty with organization as a child. She recalls the way she was tasked to sort out the things in her bedroom but it just didn’t happen.

“I didn’t feel like someone with executive functioning weakness,” Cajigas said. “I felt like I

was the worst thing you could be – lazy.”

Cajigas’s perspective on her behavior changed when her daughter was diagnosed with ADHD. She came to see the similarities between her daughter’s “impulsivity and the constant chatter” which reminded her of her own.

Cajigas, with her doctor, was able to find some relief in treating her anxiety with medication.

However, this year Cajigas was diagnosed with ADHD. While she was concerned with the medication used to treat it, she was able to fight her procrastination and time blindness.

“Time blindness is an inability to classify time outside of ‘now’ and ‘not now’” she said.

This aspect of ADHD is something that she explained can make it difficult to prepare for something or predict how long something may take to do as well as what order to do it.

“If you think that your brain isn’t working optimally, it’s 100% worth it to get evaluated and find out if there’s more than just the usual exhaustion, stress and frustration that comes from college life,” said Cajigas.

For the past nine months, I’ve faced an uptick in my depression, anxiety and some OCD. It has been very difficult navigating the mental health field and trying to manage symptoms related to mental health medication changes.

I encourage you to know yourself, advocate for yourself and know that what’s going on in your mind matters. It can affect so much of your life and it’s not worth overlooking or pushing aside.

“If you think that your brain isn’t working optimally, it’s 100% worth it to get evaluated and find out if there’s more than just the usual exhaustion, stress and frustration that comes from college life.”

-Julie Cajigas.

Artwork Meredith Bobrovsky Left Page: Photography from Adobe Stock.

The Buchtelite

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AN OPEN LETTER:

To incoming Zips who are neurodivergent (And, to the neurotypical incoming Zips who will be our classmates.)

Dear Zip,

I

want to warmly welcome you to The University of Akron family! Starting college can be quite daunting, especially when you have unique abilities. As someone who is neurodivergent and began my academic journey at The University of Akron in 2019, I can understand the anxiety and uncertainty that comes with starting college.

Looking back, I wish I had someone to guide me and ease my stress. You are about to become the author of the first chapter of your academic journey, and I want to share some lessons I learned to help you make the most of your experience. As an upperclassman, I am a few chapters ahead in my story, but everyone’s journey is unique. I hope that my experience can serve as a source of inspiration for you, enabling you to accelerate your progress and sidestep the obstacles that I encountered through trial and error.

I encourage all incoming freshmen to 14

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By Alyssa Alexsonshk, Contributor read this letter, but this letter is meant to be specifically helpful for incoming students with learning differences. I have a brain that is wired differently, and it’s important to emphasize that having a mind that operates differently isn’t necessarily a negative trait.

Nevertheless, I would be lying if I didn’t share that being neurodivergent can feel like an unfavorable trait sometimes.

It’s not because there is anything amiss with how my brain works but because society’s architecture was built to cater to the brains of neurotypical people.

This letter is from my perspective that will discuss the hurdles I have encountered and the lessons I have learned that allowed me to overcome them.

Accessing the Curriculum I have consistently found it challenging to excel in school because the traditional classroom environment

isn’t conducive to my learning style.

Sitting quietly, taking notes and paying attention during lectures is challenging.

To succeed in most classes, you need to do considerable reading outside of class time which can be an obstacle for me because of my dyslexia. This condition slows my reading speed and complicates my comprehension of the words on the page. As a result, I spend most of my free time outside of school working on schoolwork.

However, I have persevered and recognized the importance of putting in extra effort to succeed. My determination to overcome obstacles has taught me valuable life skills that I can apply to any challenge.

Nevertheless, it’s also essential to recognize the tools available to you, and if you can work smarter and not harder, you should take that opportunity. Here are some suggestions that can help you make the transition to university life easier to handle.

My Tips for Access and Accessibility 1. Visit the Office of Accessibility: Set up a meeting with the Office of Accessibility as soon as possible.

They can help you register and provide you with various accommodations that may be useful to you. If you have any concerns about your accommodations, don’t be afraid to reach out and discuss them with accessibility (Simmons Hall 105, access@uakron.edu, 330972-7829). They will work together with you to come up with a plan to address any issues.

2. Be Transparent: It’s important to be transparent with professors.

I suggest having a conversation with each professor at the start of the semester and sharing any relevant information that you feel comfortable sharing. This will help them understand why you might be having difficulty in certain areas and enable them to better support you as a student. Sometimes you even find a professor that is also neurodivergent, and they become a mentor or supporter.

3. Give Yourself Grace: We are all works in progress and constantly striving to improve. Life doesn’t always go according to plan, but it’s important to be prepared for the unexpected. Remember to be kind to yourself when things don’t go as planned. Instead of engaging in negative self-talk, view the experience as an opportunity to learn and grow.

4. Seek Out Resources: As a student, you have access to a plethora of resources on campus, including workshops and one-onone meetings with individuals who can provide valuable guidance and assistance, such as the Office of Accessibility, ZipAssist and the Counseling and Testing Center.

Everyone Has to Work to Learn the “Hidden Curriculum” It’s worth noting accessing the class curriculum is not only a challenge for those with learning differences when starting college. One central theme I have detected is that both neurotypical and neurodivergent students struggle with the “hidden curriculum,” which describes the habits and behaviors it takes to be successful in college that aren’t always explicitly taught.

The structure of college-level courses varies significantly from the K-12 classroom structure you may be familiar with. On the surface, it may seem like you don’t have much homework outside of class, but trust me when I say that’s an illusion. After all, formal homework assignments are much more scarce than you may be used to in high school classes.

Let me tell you a little secret that, to upperclassmen, is not so secret – if you want to succeed in your classes: your new homework must be selfinitiated, self-guided study. You now have to proactively and independently study your class materials, read your textbooks and be sure to watch/listen to any online lecture materials provided.

In my case, I had an advantage over my neurotypical classmates when it came to this. As school didn’t come easily to me, I was already accustomed to working extra hours outside of class during middle and high school to earn the grades I was shooting for. On the other hand, I’ve heard from neurotypical peers who excelled in high school with minimal effort studying that college proved considerably more difficult.

Gliding by with suitable grades without dedicating hours to studying was no longer possible, so there was a steeper learning curve. Of course, each person’s journey through life is special, like a snowflake. No two paths are exactly

Images (right and left page) courtesy of Alyssa Alexsonshk.

alike, and our past experiences shape how we react to our present and future.

As a college student, allocating significant time outside of class for studying is crucial. While it may not be the most thrilling way to spend your time, it is necessary to prevent the disappointment of unanticipated lower grades. Investing effort from the onset will result in substantial benefits. Here are some tips to master the “Hidden Curriculum” that made studying and succeeding in college-level classes more doable for me.

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My Tips for Mastering the “Hidden Curriculum” 1. Make Lists: I know, I know. Lists don’t work for everyone. That being said, one technique to help organize your tasks and schedule (particularly if you suffer from time blindness like I do) is to use the “Now, Soon, Later” model. Whenever you are first notified of a task, or first realize you need to accomplish something, determine if it needs to happen now (today, urgent), soon (in the next 2-3 days) or later (after that). Then, write it down under that heading on a daily planning sheet of paper. “Now” things should be addressed today. Things under “soon” will be moved up to “now” as tasks are accomplished and as you approach the deadline. Why does this work?

First, it gets the tasks out of your head and onto the paper, which can clear your mind for other thinking. Second, it helps you prioritize the tasks. Finally, it feels so good to cross the tasks off that it can motivate you to finish some “soon” tasks earlier than scheduled.

Facing Page: Alyssa and other members of the UA PRSSA exploring Chicago on a recent school trip to the PRSSA regional conference.

Image courtesy of Alyssa Alexsonshk.

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Fall 2023

2. Take or Get Class Notes: Some professors are fabulous and automatically provide access to slides/notes to all students taking their class; if this is the case, don’t take this wonderful gift for granted. It’s a good idea to download or print the notes before class.

This way, you won’t have to worry about transcribing every word from the lecture slides. Instead, you can concentrate on the material being taught and take brief notes for any crucial information that’s not already included in the slides or notes. If the professor does not provide slides or notes automatically, a few options are available. You can check with the Office of Accessibility to see if you qualify for a notes accommodation. If you are not registered, you can request notes from the professor directly. While some professors are willing to share their notes with interested students, others may politely decline the request.

3. Invest in Study Tools: Your time is a valuable asset that will benefit you throughout your life. By finding ways to save time and increase productivity in studying and organizing class activities, you can achieve

great success. Although this recommendation may require some sacrifice, such as declining costly outings with friends to save up to purchase higher-quality tools, it is worth investing in higher-quality tools. Here are some tools that have helped me tremendously during my college studies.

4. Speechify: This app is an absolute gamechanger regarding reading-based tasks. It’s like having a personal assistant who can read textbooks and articles for you where the voice options are fluent and sound human. You can customize the speed to your liking, so if you are like me, you can listen on 3X speed, and a reading task that may have taken you 3 hours without the app can be knocked out in 1 hour.

But here’s the real kicker: it’s also a fantastic tool for proofreading your writing. Just have it read your papers aloud and listen for any significant errors. Talk about a helpful, multiuse app!

5. Grammarly: Move over “spell check!”

This app is a game changer when it comes to catching writing errors, anything from word use to sentence structure. The best part is that the basic version of Grammarly is free. However, I do suggest upgrading to the premium version if possible because it can elevate your writing to new heights.

Additionally, Grammarly provides explanations for suggested changes which allows you to improve as a writer. It’s like having your own personal writing coach available 24/7.

6. The Notability App: If you get an iPad Pro, this app is necessary for note taking, organizing class materials and keeping a calendar. If you get class slides/notes, this app allows you to save them to the subject and then write directly on the slides digitally.

There are lots of different colors, the pen size is adjustable and nothing you write is permanent as you can select what you have written, resize and move it around the page or totally erase it. The app also has capabilities to audio record the lectures as you are taking notes, and there is even a feature that can turn writing into type text. There are also tons of templates to help with everyday task management, such as making to-do lists or even keeping a virtual calendar in the app.

The Pressure of Test Prep and Taking In most classes, the progress of students in learning the course material is measured through tests. However, tests are predominantly based on memorization, which can be a dreadful experience for individuals who face difficulty focusing. Sitting down to study and cramming one’s brain with endless definitions can be overwhelming and painful. Moreover, taking the test itself can be another problem, since anxiety levels can skyrocket, and it can feel like the hours spent studying have gone to waste. Although I try to conceal it, my testing anxiety can sometimes manifest as physical symptoms, making it more challenging to take the test.

My test anxiety ranges on a spectrum from the low end of just feeling physically sick with a racing heart rate to the severe end when I get agonizing chest pain to the point of experiencing heart attack-like symptoms. My throat feels like it’s closing as it becomes harder to breathe, and sometimes I even end up getting hives. It may sound overly dramatic, but it’s not hyperbolized; for me, taking tests is equivalent to being tortured physically and psychologically.

Although I try to appear tough on the outside (as many of us do), I am not invincible. It is hard for me to admit, but I am highly vulnerable. There are moments in life when we feel like we’ve given our all, only to be disappointed.

For some of us, that moment comes after taking a test.

We pour our hearts and souls into studying, only to walk away with a grade that doesn’t reflect our effort. And in those moments, we break down. We cry.

We wonder why we even bother trying so hard. But I want you to know that you are not alone. You are not the only one to feel like this. And even though you may feel like you’re crying alone, others

out there understand exactly how you feel. So let yourself cry, let yourself feel, but never forget that you are not alone.

Remember that a test only assesses your ability to demonstrate your knowledge on that test. If you have challenges with testing, it may not give you the best opportunity to demonstrate what you have learned. Your results on a test certainly can’t tell you if you are smart, hardworking or a great student.

Tests are often inaccurate tools for measuring knowledge learned in the classroom, particularly for neurodiverse individuals. In my opinion, this method of assessing learning is overused, especially considering that higher education is meant to prepare students for careers where they will most likely have resources to use for critical problem-solving in their day-to-day work. Sometimes it feels like more emphasis is placed on conditioning students to become human encyclopedias rather than learning how theory can be applied.

If you are not comfortable taking tests, or you struggle with testing anxiety, there are techniques and accommodations that can help you better demonstrate your knowledge when a test is the professor’s chosen method of assessment.

The most important advice I have

for the moment you are taking the test can be summed up as: don’t give up. I know that managing anxiety can be challenging and may impact your performance. But in my experience, it’s important to push through the discomfort and aim to do your best on the test, even when you know that your abilities may not be fully reflected in your performance.

When you feel anxiety creeping in, try to stay focused and just keep swimming (as Dory says). Don’t let it cause you to give up and settle for a low grade without trying. Sometimes, even if anxiety affects your performance, the few points you receive for trying can have a big impact on your overall grade.

This is especially true when your grade is on the borderline of the next level up at the end of the semester.

Looking back, I’ve realized that I have far more regrets about the times I gave up than the times I kept pushing through the anxiety to give my all.

Despite test grades not meeting my expectations every time, I continue to find solace in knowing I gave it my all.

Learning to develop grit and unyielding perseverance when faced with adversity can equip you with the necessary skills to adapt and manage the challenges that will inevitably come your way throughout your life.

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My Tips to Develop True Testing Grit (and Boost Your Grades Outside of the Test) 1. Use Your Accommodations: This may sound obvious, but, if you have testing accommodations, use them. I have experienced anxiety and sometimes felt uncomfortable using my accommodations, particularly because I worried about standing out to other students and their potential judgment. Through experience, I have realized that giving myself the best possible testing environment is more important than masking or remaining low-profile. Sometimes the extra time and distraction-free environment can be the difference between an A+ and an F for me. Using accommodations may also help you avoid a major anxiety attack that would lead to giving up.

2. Ask Questions about The Test: Ask questions to gather more information about possible misunderstandings or unknowns before the test. When you know what to expect, from question types to time limits, it’s less scary. This includes questions about class materials, a study guide for the exam or what the exam format will be.

3. Ask for an Alternative Format: If you learn that the test will be in a format that will give you anxiety or make taking the test more challenging for you, try to talk to your professor before the test, and you might be

able to work out an alternative format. An example of a format that has caused me serious mental trauma is a software called Respondus Lockdown Browser. This software has been responsible for many tears and testing challenges for me personally, and I swear that in classes that use it, students always seem to have lower marks on their tests. Why you might ask? I think it’s due to the extra anxiety that it causes during test taking. Respondus is used for taking online exams away from campus. It is built to watch you (literally) and make sure you aren’t looking off screen to cheat. It gives all kinds of alerts and warnings that pull your focus away from the test. I may be going a little rogue here, but UA, Respondus is ethically questionable, a violation of student rights and privacy, and from where I’m sitting (panicking while it beeps at me), it’s a lawsuit waiting to happen.

4. Extra-Credit: On a more positive note, many professors will be willing to help by giving you extra credit. Ask for extra credit that is project-based. It can improve your grade, but it also will allow you to prove to your professor you understand the concepts taught and class and can apply them other than just memorize them. Note: this only works if you have completed all of the homework for the course. Professors are hesitant to give extra credit when students have many late assignments or a large amount of unsubmitted work.

I know this was a long letter, and it didn’t even get into some of the social challenges that neurodiverse individuals may face in school, but I hope it helps. I’ll leave you with one last little tidbit. If you feel socially awkward or anxious, you are not alone. I found my people in student organizations, on campus jobs and in class. My biggest advice for the social element of college is: get involved in structured activities, ask your classmates about themselves and try to learn about the people you meet. Lastly, get to know your professors.

If all else fails, just come find me. I write for the Buchtelite, I’m an officer in the PRSSA chapter, I’m a member of the Fisher Sales Society and I generally hang out in Kolbe Hall or Polsky. You can also just email me at aja140@uakron.edu. I can show you around, walk to the Office of Accessibility with you and/or just meet you for coffee. I’ve had some great mentors and friends, and now I would love the opportunity to pay it forward.

Thanks for reading, my ND and NT (neurotypical) friends.

Have a fantastic year and Go Zips!

Alyssa Alexsonshk

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Fall 2023

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OPEN LETTER:

To the Student Thinking About Using AI To Write Your Homework

By Julie Cajigas, Professor of Practice

Dear student, I see you. I know that you’re probably working at least one job outside of school along with goodness knows how many other personal, family and professional obligations. I know that time is an extremely valuable commodity to you and one that you might depend on for survival more than success right now.

So, when it comes time to write that paper, essay, proposal, plan, discussion post or project, I can truly understand the appeal of AI. I’ve heard students say: •

“I’ve been using AI to write papers for a while.”

•

“Teacher’s can’t tell, so why not?”

•

“I wouldn’t use it, but working so much outside of school, it makes my life a lot easier.”

I’ve also heard faculty say: •

“It’s so obvious they are using AI and the quality is awful.”

•

“These discussion posts don’t seem to have anything to do with what we are discussing.”

And perhaps most important…

• • 20

“I’m worried that these students using AI won’t learn what they need to be successful.”

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I want to talk with you about AI, what it is, what it does, how it can benefit you and also the ways it puts you at risk. Then, I hope that you will make a fully informed decision before you enter your query or sit down to draft your paper human-style.

What is AI? What is AI? If you haven’t experimented with OpenAI or ChatGPT or even websites like Grammarly, Artificial Intelligence platforms use a computer or computer network to simulate human processes.

Human processes? What does that mean exactly? Well, writing an essay or drafting a persuasive response to a discussion post are two human processes. But, AI is doing much more. It can create convincing photo edits (take out the shirtless man behind me anyone), artistic renderings and deep fakes (Photoshop Beta, Adobe Express Beta and many more).

It can design logos (brand.io). It can fix your punctuation and word usage (Grammarly), and it can even design your website.

How does AI Benefit Us? What’s the benefit? AI is fast. Blindingly fast. Recently, out of curiosity, I used AI to help me write a cover letter for a student I was working with. I copied the complete text of their resume and the complete text of the job ad and wrote this query at the top: “Write a cover letter of no more than one page using this resume and job description below.”

The results were impressive. Perfect? No. Usable? Not

without substantial edits. It definitely sounded like a strange robot wrote it. The AI didn’t always understand which aspects of the job should be something the person would be excited about.

We got things like “I’m so excited to apply my organizational skills to filing reports and ensuring a prompt response to phone calls.” This wasn’t for an administrative job either, just one that had a few administrative duties listed.

That being said, where the AI helped me a great deal was in matching up some aspects of this person’s experience with the qualifications and providing a general structure that could be easily and quickly edited. I will likely use AI as a starting point for cover letters in the future. It saved me time and helped me make connections I might not otherwise notice.

Wow, sounds like 100% upside, right? Well, outside of my flashbacks to watching Terminator 2 as a kid and wondering when Skynet takes over, AI fills me with as much concern as excitement.

Some of that concern is about losing human jobs (look at the writer’s strike and Hollywood threatening to draft scripts with AI). An even more significant concern outside of a dystopian Matrix-like future, is that we will stop placing value in the unique, beautiful, compelling and heartbreaking contributions of human writers, artists, designers and musicians.

Pretty soon we’ll have an AI Mozart finish the Requiem he died composing and then spit out the compositions he might have composed throughout his life had he not died in seconds.

But, if we’ve seen anything from the evolution of technology in the last century, it’s that no matter how sophisticated AI becomes, it’s not quite human.

Alright, I got a little philosophical on you and dropped some 90s movie references to boot, but let’s get back to your decision. Should you use AI for your Homework?

I want to outline the risks for you. Let’s start with that cover letter. I’ve since asked ChatGPT to do some more cover letters, and I find that many times it uses the same kinds of structures.

This might not be obvious if you are reading one cover letter or even five. But, if you’ve received 90 applications for a position, it might start to become obvious which letters were written by the AI as you start to recognize certain patterns.

Get caught using AI to write your cover letter?

I’m sure a few select employers would be ok with that and maybe even be impressed. I don’t think too many of them would come from my field.

I Divide the Risks Into Five Categories: 1. You Risk Cheating Yourself Out of Your Education Is using AI cheating? Well, as you’ll find out during the syllabus review, that’s a complicated question. I don’t prohibit it 100% in my classroom because I think it can be a useful tool. That being said, if you are using it to write papers, essays, discussion posts and pretty much anything in my writing course, you are cheating... yourself.

When it comes to your education, what are you paying for? I like to think you are paying to learn, but more than that, you are paying for the opportunity to demonstrate some knowledge, skill or practice, and have an expert in that area assess your work and offer feedback.

If you’d been in my PR Writing class, you would know that I give a LOT of feedback.

Probably an off-putting amount of feedback. A big part of my goal in that course is to help students transform their writing over the course of a semester. That’s a big task. I learned to write in the most painful way possible: with a supervisor giving me highly critical, borderline unkind feedback on everything I wrote. As I’ve admitted to my students, I would occasionally cry in my car and sometimes scream in my pillow before bedtime out of frustration.

How do I teach my students? Practice, practice, practice and then - hey, some more practice.

When I give feedback, it’s at the punctuation level.

It’s at the word choice level. By semester’s end, I see the growth almost universally from anyone who makes the effort to engage in the class.

What keeps me up at night with AI currently?

The thought of my students using AI to write their news releases and feature stories and not getting any of the practice. Then, at their job interview (and yes, this is common in our industry), they are led to a geriatric looking computer and asked to write a news release or feature story (or one of a dozen other formats we cover) with a prompt and no internet. No internet, you say?

No internet means no AI. It means that the student, who didn’t take the time to practice The Buchtelite

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and get feedback and integrate that feedback, that student is not prepared.

That student is not very likely to be successful at the job interview. That student is not likely to be successful at any further job interviews. That student ends up working a retail job after four years of expensive education.

That’s what I’m saying. You are cheating yourself. You are paying a great deal to get an education, even though UA is a more affordable option. You are still making a significant investment. If I asked people what they were investing in with their tuition dollars, many would say “a degree.” I would argue that you’re actually investing in your personal growth and development. You’re investing in a liberal arts education that will allow you to be an informed citizen and consumer in a world full of problems that need to be solved for the survival of the human race (and our ability to tolerate one another).

In addition to that, you’re investing in your skill sets, your knowledge, your empathy and your ability to see the larger context in which your life exists.

Lofty right? But what’s on many students’ minds is the investment they are making in the ability to get a job, ideally one that pays well and gives you opportunities for growth so that one day you live comfortably, invest and support whatever loved ones you choose.

The value there is beyond the extra million you earn over your lifetime by having a degree. But, only if you fully engage in the process. If you let a computer learn, analyze, critique, apply and essentially process your courses for you, you’ll leave having paid for knowledge and skills that you didn’t acquire. If you let a computer do your writing for you, you’ll leave having paid for feedback and practice that you didn’t receive.

The biggest danger in the personal risk of using AI is that by the time you realize what you’ve lost, it will 22

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be too little, too late. This is the most important risk for you to consider.

How can you mitigate this risk?

Perhaps use AI sparingly and not to draft core parts of any project.

Don’t let AI think for you. You do the thinking and give it extremely complete information, and it doesn’t have to detract from your practice and feedback in school.

2. You Risk Turning in Poor Quality Work ChatGPT and other AI platforms are only as good as the information you give them. They can mimic the structure and language of what you are creating, but they aren’t sophisticated enough to analyze specific situations and to apply complex theoretical ideas to those situations. Your instructor is very likely to know if an AI wrote your project, unless you fed the AI with extremely explicit information or edited the resulting output heavily.

In one of my courses, the culminating project is a strategic plan. An AI cannot (currently) analyze the situation, audience, context and purpose of messaging and then create useful, insight-driven communication plans.

What you will get if you ask AI to write a marketing or communication plan is essentially extremely generalized blocks of text that came from other plans without any of the application that I’m looking for.

In my class, I will be grading dozens and dozens of projects and papers. If my experience is any indication, I will very likely identify patterns in the language or construction that tip me off to AI use.

If not, there’s always the quality.

The current AI platforms that I have tried to use to create communication plans are currently unable to write a plan that will earn a passing grade in my course. At worst, I’ll find you out and then we have to deal with the Student Code. At best, I’ll ask you for a million

revisions and edits, and maybe you’ll decide to avoid it in the future.

If you utilize AI for an internship interview project, or a job interview assignment, or your professional life, you risk delivering items that are low quality and filled with errors. How many times will you be able to lean on AI to do work that requires deeper thought before you lose out on a raise, a promotion or you just lose your job?

The jury is still out on that too, but I wouldn’t be at all shocked to see AIrelated firings be the next big news item.

3. You Risk Losing Control/ Ownership of Your Data When you copy and paste data into any of the AI platforms, are you fully considering what the terms and services allow them to do with your information?

Imagine putting in a project proposal to have it edited or formatted and then two weeks before the presentation of the proposal, your competitor waltzes in with the same idea and scoops you.

How did they get your idea? They don’t even know it’s yours, they fed the same proposal project into the system and it spit out what it learned in writing yours.

Could it happen? It’s hard to say, but what we can say is that these technologies do integrate your input into their larger database and algorithm, and use it the next time someone writes a similar query. What if you put in your client’s confidential information? What if you put in some very private personal information to draft a book chapter for your eventual memoir?

Recently, I led a seminar for business executives, where I brought up some of the really cool Chrome extensions that allow AI to draft your emails for you.

It even learns your voice. How? Oh, by reading all your outgoing emails.

So, be careful what you feed the AI. You may put your information in and you may see it come out somewhere else in an inopportune sort of way.

4. You Risk Your Ethical Principles Let’s talk for a minute about the ethical aspects of AI. Is it plagiarism? People around you might laugh and say no, you can’t plagiarize a robot.

Just remember, though, that the AI can simulate human processes because it has been fed with the work of hundreds and thousands of other humans. It’s basically organizing that work that was put in and spitting out combinations. Infinite combinations maybe, but it’s still combinations of the work of other humans.

From a legal perspective, you may be in the clear. From an ethical perspective, there’s a lot we aren’t clear on in terms of how much the AI is referencing human creations. Another ethical issue is, in some cases, human work was given to the creators of AI platforms based on the promise that the software would remain open source. And yes, AI platforms started as free resources, but now these platforms are trying to monetize their technology. While I understand the need to earn a living, if the software is no longer open source, then ethically, a lot of us may be using the work of an original content creator without their explicit permission.

As of now, an ethical gray area exists as to whether AI will remain open source, as to whether it must be cited, and as to whether or not the use of AI is just sophisticated plagiarism of centuries of human creators. Until these questions have been answered, the ethical use of AI, particularly in scholarly endeavors, remains undecided.

proceedings, depending on the outcome, will be on your school record. Talk about a reputational risk. As you get out into the world, you’ll begin to realize the importance of maintaining your reputation for integrity and ethical behavior.

To summarize, take it from a professor that thinks AI is really cool, and who has used it to save time and move more quickly through projects: don’t cheat yourself. Don’t cheat yourself out of the education you’re paying for, don’t cheat yourself out of job opportunities, don’t cheat yourself out of your personal ethics, don’t cheat yourself out of a positive professional reputation and just, don’t cheat.

You know what they say, cheaters never prosper. I want you to prosper, and so do the other faculty that you encounter in school.

All that said, if you can find ways to use AI

to help YOU produce good quality, insightful, ethical writing and projects, you have my full support. Let’s work together to figure out how this new technology can benefit scholarship and humanity as a whole.

I’m ready - see you in the classroom!

Thank you,

Prof C

5. You Risk Your Reputation There is some evidence that people can determine whether you wrote something on ChatGPT or AI (particularly if not well-edited). If you are found to have used this as a student or as a professional, it could risk your reputation, your brand’s reputation, and your job. If you violate the University AI Policy (see the sidebar), you will also be at risk of being reported for a Student Code of Conduct Violation.

If you’ve never read what a Student Code of Conduct Violation entails, consider doing so before using AI to complete an assignment.

The consequences for plagiarism or academic dishonesty can include everything from failing the assignment to failing the entire course. Those The Buchtelite

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Open AI - push generate - think, now I’m done? Think again.

By Jon Miller, Professor of English Director of The University of Akron Press

Beware! Never cut-and-paste text generated by AI-powered software like ChatGPT, into a work that you are going to sign, without reading it carefully and fact-checking every piece of information.

ChatGPT will produce inaccurate information about people, places, or facts.

The text that these programs make are very often full of BS. The more you ask the AI to make writing full of facts, the more you are likely to get writing that is confidently incorrect.

The text-generating AI sites like ChatGPT work like next-level, turbocharged autocomplete. There’s no thinking going on there. There’s no fact-checking going on, either. All they do is add words, one at a time, in patterns that are likely or plausible, according to their model of the language.

It’s also a good idea to always look at more than one generation in response to your prompt. Regenerate, regenerate, regenerate. This will make clear how full of BS ChatGPT can be. If you ask ChatGPT to write the same thing 100 times, maybe 60 of the answers will look about the same.

If you asked it to write something complicated, you’ll start to see how the generations contradict one another.

And a handful of those 100 generations will come out weird.

Really weird. These are the outliers 24

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or “hallucinations.” You can’t know if you have been dealt a typical response or a weird one until you look at multiple answers to the same prompt.

The more you ask an AI to do, the more likely it is that its output will include bad facts. And so, the more you ask an AI to do writing for you, the more work you make for yourself as a critical reader and fact-checker.

If you can read, fact-check, and revise more quickly than you can research and write from scratch, it might save you some time.

Always read AI-generated text carefully. Do not be someone who pollutes our conversations with misinformation. It is seriously bad ethics to be sending out emails or turning in assignments that include writing that you do not stand behind.

Read, review, fact-check, and revise until you can own it. Finally, it’s also a serious code of conduct violation to represent work as your own when you didn’t write it. Never, ever submit or publish AI-generated text right after you cut-and-paste it. You must read and repair it before you endorse it as part of your own work.

AI writing tools will be helpful for all of us going forward, but because they are so prone to write sentences that are confidently incorrect, they will probably be more useful doing little things for us, than doing whole drafts of longer things.

“Chickie” 48x48, acrylic, gold leaf and beads on canvas Elise Helms, senior painting, drawing and art education major

Lately I’ve been using my friends as a vessel to reflect on my upbringing- stories of relatives, holidays and traditions are reflected by non secular and personal iconography.

These memories are interpretations of my upbringing based on topics of death, mourning, progression.. AND being an m’fin modern woman!

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A love poem for my wife in 3 parts

By Benjamin Pritchard

tion a r a p e S f o a r ant ogether and apart. in.

T e h T : 1 t r a P e, aga both t e first tim d Radha, h n ting, for t Krishna a is x e t o n nd Existing a ever.

For Dancing

ance D r e v e r o F e Th o T n o ti a t i v n Part 2: I’s walk together today, t . s of men Come. Le e v li d e r und the stars, e b n e or for a h h t the stars, Let ’s see s, . part way all, again it o d n e h and t

n o i n u e R ’s r e v Lo Part 3: Theontrived destinations, all c Escaping owhere. n t e e m ’s the lover doned… n a b a s n exists. w o Illusio n ly n lost; o All time is brightly s n r u b n f passio mselves The fire o e h t o t in tare s. as they s her ’s eye t o h c a e with

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Fall 2023

Exhibit: SEXOLOGY

The University of Akron Cummings Center for the History of Psychology Lynn Rodeman Metzger Galleries - Through May 18, 2024

From 1933 to 1983, Sexology magazine brought news and information about sexuality and sex research to the American public. Sitting at a crossroads between sex education and sensationalist tabloid, the magazine covered a wide range of topics such as relationships, reproductive health, sexual orientation, gender identity, sex work, and sexually transmitted diseases. With over 80 original magazines on display, Sexology: Science & Sensationalism explores the contradictions and curiosities of Sexology magazine by examining its coverage of key topics that remain deeply relevant in 21st century society.

This exhibit was researched and designed by student assistants Christian Lewis and Cassidy Kuhar and by students in The University of Akron Museums and Archives Studies Certificate Program.

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HERE TO HELP. DOWNTOWN AMBASSADORS. Ambassadors Provide info, directions and safety escorts Jump car batteries and unlock car doors For ambassador services, call 330-706-7383 Monday - Saturday 7 a.m. - 11 p.m.

Sunday 7 a.m. - 8 p.m.

For non-emergencies outside of ambassador operating hours, use the Akron Police Department’s non-emergency numbers, 330-375-2181 or 330-375-2101.

PLACES | EVENTS FESTIVALS & EVENTS

K-Pop Skate Night on

Cascade Plaza

Akron Pride Festival (August 26) Pizza Fest (September 1-3) Rock the Lock Concerts (through Sept. 3) Live & Local Concerts (through Sept. 6) Rubber City Jazz and Blues Fest (September 7-9) Akron Latin Festival (September 16) Free Fitness Classes on Cascade Plaza (through Sept. 21) Skate Nights (through October 7) Downtown Fall Fest (October 21) Smells Like Snow Coffee Festival (November 4) Downtown Akron Diwali Celebration (November 12) Welcome Santa Light-Up Parade and Tree Lighting (November 24)

EAT | SHOP | PLAY

CHECK OUT THE DAP EVENTS CALENDAR FOR DETAILS.

DOUBLE GET SOME REAL FOOD! CHECK OUT OUR FOOD GUIDE.

Northside Marketplace Akron Axe House UNKNWN Rubber City Comics Green Dragon Inn Board Game Bar & Cafe Street Craftery Nightlight Cinema Musica Performing Arts Great Escape Room Akron Rubber City Comics and many more

ADVENTURES. Make downtown Akron your HQ for places to relax, eat, shop, listen to music, play and more with our downtown guides.

Photography: Mull Media, Blaak Media, Noir Creative, Chris Rutan Photography, Photographed by Talia, Shane Wynn, and DAP Staff

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Fall 2023

CHECK OUT THE DAP GUIDES TO DOWNTOWN AKRON.

ZIPS FALL IN LOVE WITH DOWNTOWN PLACES | EVENTS | ADVENTURES DOWNTOWNAKRON.COM

TRUCK Green Dragon Inn

r & Cafe

Board Game Ba

hi

Cilantro Thai & Sus

Unknwn 3v3 Courtyard Classic

Smells Li

ke Snow

Akron Pride Festival

Coffee Fe

stival

Downtown Akron Lunar New Year Celebration

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WELCOME BACK, ZIPS! It’s time to gear-up for a fantastic fall.

We hope to see you at these upcoming events!

FALL KICK-OFF: UA’S DOWNTOWN BLOCK PARTY Sept. 7 Join fellow students, alumni and friends from 5 – 7 p.m. on Main Street in downtown Akron, as we kick off fall.

Enjoy free food, drinks, music from UA’s student-led radio station, WZIP, and performances by “Ohio’s Pride,” UA’s marching band, and OpenTone Music’s Amistad Caribbean Arts Ensemble.

Learn more about the Polsky Building and Lock 3 renovations, the College of Engineering and Polymer Science student design teams, get a free print or 3D Zippy from the Myers School of Art (while supplies last), meet athletes from the UA fall sports teams, and more!

For more information, visit: uakron.edu/alumni/events

CELEBRATING 50 YEARS OF EXCELLENCE AT E.J. THOMAS PERFORMING ARTS HALL Sept. 29–30 To mark the momentous occasion of its 50th anniversary, E.J. Thomas Performing Arts Hall will feature two extraordinary performances: Friday, Sept. 29: The Akron Symphony Orchestra will present the timeless masterpiece, Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, under the baton of esteemed conductor, Christopher Wilkins.

Saturday, Sept. 30: Emmy and Tony Award-winning actress/singer, Kristin Chenoweth. She has graced Broadway as the original Glinda the Good Witch in Wicked, appeared in popular TV shows such as Glee, The West Wing and Pushing Daisies, and showcased her acting skills in movies such as Bewitched and The Pink Panther.

For more information, visit: uakron.edu/ej

100th HOMECOMING AND FAMILY WEEKEND Oct. 6–8 Join us in celebrating UA’s 100th Homecoming.

From giveaways, to cookouts, to roller skating and more, there is so much to look forward to during this year’s homecoming week and family weekend. On Saturday, Oct. 7 your Akron Zips will take on Northern Illinois at 3:30 p.m. at InfoCision StadiumSumma Field. UA students can attend the game FREE with their ZipCard.

For the full schedule of events, visit: uakron.edu/homecoming

The Ben Auburn Award in

CULTURAL CRITICISM

Mat Cruz - A 26 Madison Richards - A 28 Kimberly Barlock - A 39 Alyssa Alexsonshk - A 30

Cultural Criticism does not vilify our society. Rather, as culture adapts and changes, criticism identifies and assesses trends in the arts, aesthetics, and ideas of a human society.

The critique is limited neither to high culture nor to popular movements, it can be applied across all human artistic and intellectual achievements. Moreover, cultural criticism can take many forms and appear in a variety of media. A series of related reviews, an extended essay or article, a monograph, or a chapter in a book are some written forms; video, audio, or filmed programs may constitute cultural criticism, as may exhibitions or performances, and works of imaginative textual (poems, fiction), pictorial, sculptural, and performance art designed primarily to reflect other works of the imagination.

F

ounded and sponsored by Mark, Sandy, and David Auburn, the competition is held in honor of their late son and brother, Ben Auburn. The Auburn Award hopes to inspire cultural criticism from the students at The University of Akron.

The competition has two categories, one for general cultural criticism and one that is focused on a special topic. This year’s special topic for 2023 was “Civility.” The award competition

received over 30 submissions.

On Friday, April 14, 2023, seven students presented works of cultural criticism at the Ben Auburn Award in Cultural Criticism Symposium, held in the Williams Honors College.

Four Auburn Awards presenters submitted their work to The Buchtelite: Mat Cruz, Madison Richards, Kimberly Barlock and Alyssa Alexsonshk. Read their works of cultural criticism on the pages that follow.

Front Row (L-R): Emily Sesto,* Madison Richards,* Kimberly Barlock.

Back Row (L-R): Lennon Medvick, Mark Auburn, Mat Cruz,* Sandy Auburn, Alyssa Alexsonshk, Ben Kissinger* *Denotes Auburn Award Winners

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TODAY, YESTERDAY, AND 300 YEARS AGO By Mat Cruz T

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he United States has found itself at a crossroads in terms of education, especially in regards to social studies. Within the past decade, the pushback against educating children about gender, sexuality, and critical race theory has grown immensely and at an alarming rate, to the point where some states have already allowed immense amounts of censorship in schools. Images of empty bookshelves in classrooms in Florida serve as a grim reminder of how many people in power there are who are determined to perpetuate their own sanitized version of history. They want to erase the suffering and push for patriotism, for the mindset that the United States has overcome great wrongs and now everything is absolutely perfect as it is, that there is no need for civil unrest or protests or further teaching about our past and present failings. The holiday Independence Day serves as a sort of microcosm of this phenomenon, of blind patriotism and pride when it is not warranted or earned, of placating the masses with spectacle and comforting platitudes of being the greatest country in the world. Margaret Fuller’s “The Fourth of July” and Frederick Douglass’ “What, to a Slave, is the Fourth of July?” clearly mark the flaws in this idea. They both discuss the immense cognitive dissonance between celebrating freedom while actively enslaving people, and they make it clear that the only way for the nation to uphold its ideals of liberty and freedom is through abolition. Both pieces also Fall 2023

present just how crucial it was then and still is now to acknowledge what the United States has done wrong and where it needs to improve rather than becoming complacent, and it cannot tell a complete story without the other.

Frederick Douglass’ speech, delivered on July 5th, illustrates the stark and harsh realities of living as a former slave in the States, and it especially delves into the irony of the spectacle of Independence Day. He identifies that celebrations of white Americans, is cruel and thoughtless, and while they cheer, he hears “the mournful wail of millions, whose chains, heavy and grievous yesterday, are today rendered more intolerable by the jubilant sounds” (1067). To celebrate a day of independence while not only allowing but encouraging and supporting a system which enslaves millions of people only adds insult to injury. The cognitive dissonance between the reality of the situation and the illusion of perfection is stark and bleak, and Douglass rightly concludes by saying that, “for the revolting barbarity and shameless hypocrisy, America reigns without a rival” (1069). Similarly, Margaret Fuller reflects on the immense gap between how many white Americans perceive their nation to be versus the cruel facts of the matter. As it is now, though, the United States is corrupt and born of a broken system and desperately requires reform; nothing can change in a meaningful way if the institutions which allowed for these abuses remain standing. It is

horribly dishonest of the American people to claim to stand for freedom and liberty and justice for all when all they care for now is “expediency” even at the cost of other people’s lives (782).

Frederick Douglass’ speech continues to highlight the horrors of human rights abuses in a nation which claims to stand for freedom and liberty more than any other country in the world. It is a crucial narrative to share. Without a firsthand account of a man who escaped slavery, it would be impossible to fully conceptualize just how horrible and cruel the circumstances are.

To be told that it is an act of terrible hypocrisy to celebrate freedom while disregarding the people held in bondage for the sake of money and greed is one thing; to be told this from a man who experienced the dehumanization of slavery and is furious at the status quo for allowing it to continue to happen to others is another. It is a narrative of pain and suffering, and he repeatedly challenges the white listeners that something must be done to end slavery and that he alone has done all he can to further the cause of abolition (1068). It is up to the people in power now to enact meaningful change, more than just allowing a black man space to talk. Margaret Fuller similarly emphasizes that America can and shall improve with hard work and time, as the country “presents great temptations to ill, but also great inducements to good” (781). She also recognizes that this is no simple task; immense reform is needed before the United States can truly be a beacon of hope for the world. Not only does the country need to be led by men who are independent of “wrong, of violence, of falsehood,” but the entire system which allowed such abuses needs to be upended and reformed (781). Without enacting such radical change, there is nothing to stop the system from continuing to utilize slave labor.

Newspapers not only should, but ought to publish these two works on the Fourth of July.

These two works present a far more honest assessment of the nation than any blandly, blindly patriotic piece. The sheer, raw emotion captured within Douglass’ words is both captivating and crucial for any audience who is not directly impacted by racism or who is too far divorced from the nation’s history to recognize how greatly it is still impacted by its legacy of slavery. Fuller’s work, meanwhile, is just as necessary to create

a rallying cry around these concepts. While one could become lost within the sorrow and trauma of Douglass’ writing, Fuller’s balances it out well by presenting the idea that enacting meaningful, radical change of the system, while difficult, will repair the injustices committed. To read Margaret Fuller’s speech alone, however, would be a great disservice to those who suffered under slavery and those who continue to suffer under the racist systems still in place. One could read Douglass’ piece alone, though it could present the issue of allowing modern readers to misinterpret the point that slavery was the only source of ill; since slavery was abolished, many white Americans either genuinely do not understand or pretend to not understand why so many are still dissatisfied with America’s progress. So to present the two works together creates a full narrative that yes, slavery was abominable, abolishing it was the first step in many to create a better nation, and celebrating the false history of liberation and equality and freedom is a spit in the face to anyone still struggling with systemic issues today.

In the modern day, just as it was 300 years ago, complacency is all too easy to fall into.

Individuals have always taken comfort in placing blame upon someone or something else, that the issue is out of their hands and that they can do nothing. As such, these people celebrate their patriotism without a care or a second thought; they are not personally responsible for slavery, or the forcible displacement of indigenous Americans, so why should they care? Margaret Fuller and Frederick Douglass, however, both explain why individuals as well as governmental entities should care about what direction the nation is taking and how the individual person responds. Today, amidst the Black Lives Matter movement and increased numbers of anti-Asian, anti-Semitic, anti-Hispanic, Islamophobic, and queerphobic violence and legislation, this message remains terrifyingly pertinent. No one should be celebrating the achievements of a false history conjured up to fuel patriotism and complacency when there is still so much suffering and pain within the nation, and to do so only adds insult to injury to those who are struggling under systemic injustices today, those who struggled yesterday, and those who struggled 300 years ago.

Left Top: Senior, English Major Mat Cruz presents “Today, Yesterday, and 300 Years Ago” at the Auburn Awards before winning a $500 prize.

Photo by Julie Cajigas Left Bottom: Photo by Jessika Kucera, Senior Photography Major Above: Fredrick Douglass statue courtesy of Adobe Stock.

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THE FRAILTY OF CIVILITY TOWARD CHINESE AMERICANS Throughout American History

By Madison Richards

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Civility, formal politeness and courtesy in behavior or speech expected to be shared with everyone.

We are intelligent individuals ready to further advancements, but are put down and feared, and called communists instead.

Unconditional is implied, yet public perception sways civility as easily as the breeze moves leaves, and as swiftly as the current in a stream

We are doctors, teachers, and engineers.

We are caring, smart, and brave, yet we are blamed for a virus, and we’re beaten and ridiculed as a result.

We were dependable workers on the railways of America, being handed nitroglycerin rather than fair wages.

We are mothers, daughters, and sisters.

We are empowered women, yet we are sexualized in the media, and gunned down in our businesses

We were hopeful immigrants wanting to start over being barred from entering by the Chinese Exclusion Act.

We are 5.4 million individuals strong living in America being reduced to nothing, but stereotypes and microaggressions

We were on the outskirts and finally granted citizenship, but only after fighting in a war and even that was limited.

We exist in America, offering formal politeness and courtesy in our behavior and speech to everyone we meet.

We had a different culture waiting to be shared and understood, but instead became a spectacle and reduced to “orientals”

But we are never certain of America’s mood, and if she deigns to grant us civility, or hurt us yet again.

Above: Freshman, Engineering Major Madison Richards presents “The Frailty of Civility Toward Chinese Americans” at the Auburn Awards, before winning a $500 prize.

Photo by Julie Cajigas; Graphics by Adobe Stock

Civility… or Lack Thereof:

White Hoods and Statues in Charlottesville By Kimberly Barlock I never wanted to see a KKK rally, but I think I needed to. I needed to see more than just the videos shown on the news every night for a week about the uproar in Charlottesville. It’s been a moment in my life that continually sneaks its way into my everyday life whether through an article, a movie, or a paper written for a class. Funnily enough, I only got to witness the chaos happening that day because I was on my way to Monticello to take a tour focused on showing the lives and true treatment of Jefferson’s slaves. Driving through town we were so confused by the outpouring of people in the streets and cop cars surrounding the area.

When we neared the General Lee statue, the image of white hoods, batons in the air, and shields held by officers became burned into my mind that day, and that same image is still so vivid every time I recall the incident. The realization of what I witnessed didn’t fully hit me until college even though I was only in junior high when it happened.

Last year I took an Intro to Sociology course and hadn’t thought much about what I was learning beyond just general interest in the subject. That changed when I began to look over the final assignment where we were asked to watch a film that touched on a cultural “hot topic” and critically interpret what the movie was trying to point out. I choose a film called “BlacKkKlansman”

that focused on the character Ron Stallworth who is serving as the first Black detective at the Colorado Springs Police Department. He takes on a case that will involve exposing the KKK, and he is determined to see it through to the end no matter how dangerous.

The movie is comedic, but it also brings to light subtle tones of racism to combat the obvious racial stigmas typically joked about in mainstream media. At the end of the film, a clip is played from the “Unite the Right” rally in Charlottesville, and that was when I realized I may have witnessed something truly impactful. Spike Lee (the director) deemed it necessary to include something undoubtably real to conclude his fictional film, and I know for me, the message struck a chord.

I struck that same chord again when I took a course at The University of Akron called “The History of AntiSemitism” last spring with Dr. Michael Levin. The entire course looks at the history of Judaism, Christianity, Muslims, cultural Jews, and the hatred seen by different minority groups. I remember when we were discussing modern hatred. The Charlottesville rally was brought up and another clip was shown in class. I was too nervous at the time to discuss being there inperson during class, but I remember reflecting on it in a writing assignment later. People tend to make assumptions

if you say you’ve attended a KKK rally in any capacity. They aren’t listening for your reasoning at that point. I didn’t ever think I’d see something that became so monumental in history. I witnessed maybe thirty minutes of a two-day long ordeal that still is relevant six years later.

These experiences have shown me that people can come together to wreck and destroy, but they can also band together to create change and educate others. Spike Lee thought it was appropriate to educate through one of his movies by showcasing that what’s seen on the screen can also happen in real life. Dr. Levin created an entire course because he was so shaken up after the Tree of Life Synagogue shooting in Pittsburgh during 2018.

We can see these events and forget them, or we can do something about them. Bring up the injustice. Bring up the hatred and look it directly in the face. Bring up the things you fear most and face them head-on. Civility isn’t lost today because people are willing to speak out. It’s our job to keep civility alive, and we can’t stop anytime soon.

Above: Sophomore Child & Family Development major Kimberly Barlock presents “Civility or Lack Thereof” at the Auburn Awards.

Photo by Julie Cajigas; Graphics by Adobe Stock

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My Experience with and Thoughts on Civility as a College Student at The University of Akron

By Alyssa Alexsonshk

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Fall 2023

What follows are my collected thoughts on civility as a young and politically involved Republican and a student at The University of Akron. Also attached to this essay is an article I wrote several years ago that my faculty advisor noted had impressed her because I was able to step back from my own ideology to look at a figure who was of an opposing political party.

In 2020, I remember hearing the news that Ruth Bader Ginsburg had passed away. At that time, I didn’t know a lot about her. As a Republican with conservative views, I hadn’t followed her career closely. When I saw how important she was to so many people, I started researching what she had done and why she meant so much to so many.

After researching, I found respect for what she had done. I also learned about her friendship with Justice Scalia, who was a Republican. It showed me that those friendships can exist. That politics doesn’t have to be a barrier to human connection.

Prior to that, I thought politics was a barrier and that civility between people who have different ideologies was greatly improbable.

So, I asked my editor-in-chief, Megan Parker, at The Buchtelite if I could write an editorial about RBG’s passing and career. I knew the editor and I had different political perspectives, but we worked together when it came time to edit my story to preserve my views. At the end of the piece I said, “Often times, Justice Ginsburg and Justice Scalia were on different sides politically in various issues, they viewed each other as individuals and respected each other’s political views. Isn’t that what society needs more of these days?”

I feel strongly that it is – maybe even more now than when I wrote that piece in September of 2020. My personal feeling about civility in politics is that civility is crucial.

I didn’t always believe in civility in politics.

In fact, reading about Ginsburg and Scalia was exciting and novel to me. I used to think in early college and back in high school that all democrats were super closed-minded and would only believe what they wanted to. Now that I have met more people on the liberal spectrum, I find that many, particularly the more mature they are, are open to hearing other perspectives. They’re also willing to explain their own perspective rather than attacking the ideology you identify with. This has given me more hope that civility is indeed possible.

“I am a very strong believer in listening and learning from others.” – Ruth Bader Ginsburg I feel the ability to listen to someone else is the first step to achieving civility. I often wonder if attitudes toward civility are generational or change as you grow and mature. The younger people I’ve interacted with on both sides tend to be more extreme when expressing their beliefs, but sometimes it’s hard for them to hear the other side. When I interact with more mature people most of them are set in their ways, but they seem more willing to explain their perspective and listen to yours and admit it when you make a good argument to an opposing belief. Perhaps, the youth’s perspective comes from the excitement

that comes from the recentness of experiencing politics for the first time. Everything appears more set-in-stone when you don’t have anything prior to compare your current beliefs to, then as you get a few years under your belt you start to realize issues are much more complex. Over the years, my views have shifted and continue to shift.

Every day I learn something new that sculpts my perspective on how I view the world. For those who keep an open mind, every today is an opportunity to ascend into a better version of yourself than existed yesterday.

Civility is not only essential for us to carry out in our individual daily interactions with each other, but it is also critical that those put in positions of power and public influence communicate using civility. Media and the political leaders can help build civility and set acceptable standards that we all should strive to follow in an ideal world.

However, I find this theory is not always what emerges through practice.

When it comes to media, you might see a Democrat and Republican going at it and not listening to each other because they both are so caught up in their own ideologies. Then, when it comes to the larger population, people tend to choose their media outlets based on their affiliation. People are just being fed what they want to be fed. The bias and selection bias in media goes against the Agenda Setting Theory we learn about in communication class – “The news doesn’t tell you what to think, just what to think about.” Depending on what news station you watch, people are on the attack and degrade the opposite side. They let the emotions get the best of them. Everyone’s upset, but they’re just upset for a different reason.

It seems that now, in many cases, media also tells you what to think and does so with a lack of civility. A person can try to be unbiased and find unbiased sources, but I feel like all humans are biased about some things at the core. There’s no way to literally disconnect from your own beliefs.

Even if you try to write or report from a neutral perspective, you still have your own belief system that’s attached to it even if it’s unconscious.

“Reacting in anger or annoyance will not advance one’s ability to persuade.” – Ruth Bader Ginsburg With this quote, RBG helps us recognize the right way we as people should go about making our arguments. We should all respect the idea that the other side’s perspective holds just as much

validation in their own minds as our ideas hold within our own. Getting upset playing purely on pathos is not the way to make a point.

You see this with politicians as well. Two examples of lack of civility that played out during the State of the Union Address are Marjorie Taylor Greene shouting “Liar” at Joe Biden during his SOTU recently, and Nancy Pelosi tearing the paper copy of Donald Trump’s SOTU speech.

Even though congress is filled with adults, they sometimes seem like children fighting on the playground. Instead, they should try to keep as best as possible a level head. These are our leaders, and they are supposed to set the example and precedent for the rest of the country and the world. If you think of America from a global perspective, our politicians acting childishly and not being willing to work together makes us look like a joke.

I wonder sometimes how much of it is real and how much of it is scripted or acting. Is this incivility born out of emotion or is it a stunt to gain the favor of less educated voters. Are they attempting to get their own side riled up to get more votes?

There is no good reason to orchestrate these moments. Politicians are not being honest.

Instead, they are playing on emotions, rather than taking the harder and more ethical road.

They should use information and logic to educate and persuade their audiences. Instead, they are damaging their credibility. Even if they are not orchestrated and the emotion is in the moment, the politicians don’t apologize afterwards or say it was inappropriate. In fact, in both these cases both political leaders further justified their actions defending their acts of incivility. To me this is very unethical.

Even if you are emotional, it shouldn’t be happening during the state of the union address.

To disrupt that is disrespectful. Currently, Joe Biden is the president, and I will always respect the presidential position regardless of who is in office. When Nancy Pelosi tore the speech, Donald Trump was in that office. If you had a problem with what was said at the SOTU, express it using your first amendment right and do it in a respectful way after the fact. Make a video that goes out to your social media and followers and say hey, here’s what our president said that I don’t necessarily agree with and here’s my evidence.

There’s a time and a place to do that, but during the SOTU it’s just disrespectful. Disrespect breeds disrespect on both sides. It encourages the other

Left Top:

Senior, Marketing & PR Major Alyssa Alexsonshk presents “My experience with and thoughts on civility as a college student at The University of Akron.”

Photo by Julie Cajigas Flag graphic via Adobe Stock.

Above: Photo from Adobe Stock (Editorial Use Only)

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CONTINUED FROM A 31 side to retaliate.

“Whatever you choose to do, leave tracks. That means don’t do it just for yourself. You will want to leave the world a little better for your having lived.” – Ruth Bader Ginsburg I resonate with her point of leaving tracks, and it’s imperative we try our best to ensure the tracks we leave are leading in the direction of truth. For all of us, no matter what political affiliation, the end goal should be to help the world grow into a better, more beautiful place. Sometimes, the paths we should leave our tracks on are not the most clear or easy to endure, but in the end if our true conscience guides us to them, we should follow through.

It’s true that it is harder to get people on your side if you take time to present the logical argument, but that’s not a reason to abandon it. As a Republican, I would prefer the Republicans lose running an ethical and civil campaign, rather than win being uncivil. It’s important to note that civil doesn’t necessarily mean positive. If a politician has documented evidence that their opponent acted unethically, illegally or in any other way that would damage the country, they can present that as part of a civil campaign. In fact, it is their duty to present it. Civility is not avoiding truths about your opponent that are unflattering. When you get into that name-calling banter or spreading falsehoods, that’s not ok with me. I would rather lose while doing something ethically than win while doing something unethically.

Part of civility is being able to recognize a lack of civility not only in the opposing political party, but in your own. My friends and family know that I am a fan of Donald Trump. I believe he has done many great things for our nation, many of which have not been publicized or shared by the media.

Even though I feel that way, I can admit that sometimes I wish Donald Trump’s rhetoric could be crafted in a more civil manner. His choice of rhetoric could be perceived as a downfall because it detracts from the positive things he’s done. If he was more civil, it would be much harder for others to criticize him. Even some Republicans who defend his policy don’t like the way that he talks sometimes.

Does Donald Trump use strong, occasionally 38

Fall 2023

uncivil rhetoric that acts as a tool? I would argue that he does. Sometimes, I feel Donald Trump purposely gets people riled up to get people on his side. If he can unite people around a common enemy, people will become more loyal and more dedicated. Pointing out someone else’s flaws distracts from your own flaws. He is not the only political leader to use this tactic. I see it used by political leaders on both ends of the spectrum.

I would prefer that all political leaders run a civil campaign and treat others with civility, even if that meant not winning in the voting booth.

Without a civil campaign, even if a candidate wins in numbers, can they truly claim a win that was not earned through truth? Civility is so important because if no one is open-minded enough to even consider the other side, it would put us in a constant state of internal conflict, and nothing would ever be accomplished. Even though there is a high polarization in politics today, there are still times when congress comes together to vote for something the people want.

“Justices continue to think and can change. I am ever hopeful that if the court has a blind spot today, its eyes will be open tomorrow.” – Ruth Bader Ginsburg We all should strive to think like this and go into life knowing there will be blind spots in our perspectives. I acknowledge that there is so much I still don’t know and there are many blind spots I have that I am not even aware of yet. I like to believe possessing this mindset helps to keep me civil in my interactions even when I don’t initially agree with the other side.

We need to grow civility in politics because we need to be able to come together on things that may not completely align with our party’s beliefs to accomplish things that are good for the people in our country and in the world.

I am happy to report that college has mostly been a positive experience in civility. There have been a few difficult encounters with others who have not shown civility when communicating with me, but I don’t regret the experiences because I learned from them. Most of my experiences have been overwhelmingly positive. I have had meaningful conversations with faculty, students and others. I have learned more about differing perspectives and even adjusted some of my longheld beliefs.

Civility relies on openmindedness and the willingness to consider that your current position may need to be adjusted based on new information.

My hope for the future of politics in the United States of America and among our citizens is that openmindedness and kindness will grow and allow us to build bridges across our political differences.

Even though Ruth Bader Ginsburg didn’t hold the same political ideology as me, she did amazing things for our country, and I wanted to celebrate that.

If you’re a Democrat and a Republican did something well, you should be able to recognize that, and vice versa. For those reasons, I’m proud looking back on the piece I wrote, and I would love if other students would consider applying openmindedness to perspectives different from their own.

That will take us a big step forward in being civil.

I would like to end with one more quote from RBG. It sums up what civility means when communicating ideas with others.

“Fight for the things that you care about but do it in a way that will lead others to join you.”

– Ruth Bader Ginsburg If you communicate with civility, others will follow.

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Meet The

ACES T

Photo Courtesy of The University of Akron EXL Center

By Emily Price Editor-in-Chief

he EX[L] Center for Community Engaged Learning at The University of Akron has launched its Akron Community Engaged Scholars (ACES) Program for full- and part-time faculty and staff, who demonstrate a commitment to public impact by connecting campus and community through their teaching, scholarship, and/or significant service to formally affiliate with the EX[L] Center. The ACES program is a representation of decades of work at The University of Akron, which has been designated a Community Engaged Campus with the Carnegie Foundation since 2008.

“The University of Akron has an impressive number of faculty members who actively engage the community and offer students real-world, hands-on opportunities to learn while conducting significant professional work, research, and service that has a positive impact on Akron,” Dr. Christin Seher, Director of the EX[L] Center, said. “We are beyond pleased to be able to recognize this often-unsung work with a formal title attached to our ACES’ employment record, and to create a directory where the community can connect back with these champions of community-based learning.”

ACES

Dr. Aimee Budnik, School of Exercise and Nutrition Science

Dr. Sandie Crawford, Office of Inclusion & Equity

Julie Cajigas, School of Communication

Alison Doehring, Zip Assist

Marcia Belcher-Christine, PE, Department of Civil Engineering

Dr. Kevin Cavicchi, School of Engineering & Polymer Science

Dr. Shanon Donnelly, Department of Geosciences

Dr. Sydney Chinchanachokchai, Department of Marketing

Melissa Dreisbach, School of Exercise & Nutrition Sciences

Dr. David Cohen, Department of Political Science

Dr. Rebecca Erickson, Department of Sociology

Juan Eduardo Contreras Barberena, School of Communication

Dr. Amber Ferris, School of Communication

Dr. Mehmet Baysal, Department of Mechanical Engineering

Dr. Jennifer Bozeka, School of Education Jordan Brlan, School of Engineering and Polymer Science Theron Brown, School of Music 40

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Karen Fitzgerald, MSN, APRN-BC, PMHS, School of Nursing

Dr. Stacey Nofziger, Department of Sociology

Emerging ACES

Tannya Forcone, Department of Anthropology

Dr. Hillary Nunn, Department of English

Dr. Joseph Fox, Department of Management

Dr. Insun Park, Department of Criminal Justice Studies & Sociology

Elizabeth Hall, Department of English

Dr. Elisa Gargarella, Myers School of Art

Dr. Robert L. Peralta, Department of Sociology

Dr. Gary Holliday, School of Education Drew Ippoliti, Myers School of Art

Myrissa Powell, MSW, LISW, School of Social Work & Family Sciences

Kim Hufgard, Department of Political Science

Dr. Daniela Jauk-Ajamie, C.C.S., Department of Criminal Justice & Sociology

Mark Rittenour, J.D., College of Business Dr. Lara Roketenetz, Department of Biology

Dr. Jodi Kearns, Institute for Human Science & Culture

Dr. Christine Schneider, Department of Sociology

Jeff Klemm, College of Business

Dr. Pamela Schulze, School of Social Work & Family Sciences

Matthew Kolodziej, Myers School of Art Dr. Susan Kushner Benson, School of Education

Dr. Jennifer Stanley, Department of Psychology

Brant Lee, J.D., School of Law

Dr. J. Cherie Strachan, Political Science

Dr. Seungbum Lee, Department of Management

Dr. Mary Triece, School of Communication Arnold Tunstall, Myers School of Art

Dr. Nidaa Makki, School of Education

Dr. Gregory Wilson, Department of History

Maeve Marino, RPA, Department of Anthropology

Dr. Sheldon Wrice, Office of Inclusion & Equity

Dr. Timothy Matney, Department of Anthropology Dr. Andrea Meluch, School of Communication Dr. Randy Mitchell, Department of Biology Dr. Barry Mulholand, MBA, CFP, ChFC, Department of Finance Dr. Jenny Naidu, School of Education

Dr. Matthew Wyszynski, The Williams Honors College & Department of Modern Languages Stephanie Yuhas, J.D., Department of Criminal Justice

Andrew Kramer, Department of Anthropology Dr. Elena Popa, Department of Anthropology

Lifetime ACES Dr. Carolyn Behrman Dr. Parizad Dejbord-Sawan Dr. Kathryn Feltey Dr. Matthew Lee Dr. Richard Steiner Anoo Vyas

Dr. Baomei Zhao, CFLE, Department of Social Work & Family Sciences Dr. Julie Zhao, College of Engineering & Polymer Science

Welcome Class of 2027!

Stop by The EX[L] Center to learn about ways to partner with local changemakers and apply what you’re learning in the classroom to make a real-world impact.

(Find us in Bierce Library 168)

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MY DREAM INTERNSHIP with the United States Football League

By Casey McKeel, Contributor Internships are something that college kids take part in all over the world. Some are paid, and some are not. Some are fun, and some are exhausting. I had an internship that turned out to be the experience of a lifetime.

One day, I made the decision to grab coffee with one of my online professors. I am usually one of those many people that will not seek inperson interactions if they are not necessary. During this meeting, I mentioned that I had always thought about working in sports. That sentence turned out to be one of the most impactful things I said during that meeting.

I was at work when it started. An email from the professor I had met with came through and asked me to call her ASAP. When my manager let me take a break to call her, she told me about an opportunity she thought I would be perfect for. She found out about a public relations internship with the United States Football League (USFL), and they were desperately searching for somebody.

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I did not know what the USFL was, but I learned it was a spring football league heading into its second season.

The league had two teams playing at Canton’s Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium.

When I first got the information about the internship, I was honestly terrified. I had already planned out the rest of the school year and my summer, and this internship was not part of those plans. Nevertheless, working in sports has been my

dream since I was in middle school, and this internship would give me the opportunity to be employed by Fox Sports and work with professional football teams. How could I pass it up?

After a few phone call interviews, I received the news that I got the internship. This is where my experience of a lifetime began. I learned what my role would be. There were two USFL teams that called Canton home. The Pittsburgh Maulers and the New Jersey Generals. I was a part of the public

“Working in sports has been my dream since I was in middle school, and this internship would give me the opportunity to be employed by Fox Sports.”

Left Top: Photo taken during Championship celebration.

Left Bottom: Casey interviewing Pittsburgh Maulers head coach, Ray Horton.

Above: Casey (right) and Ava (left) on the field before the USFL Championship game.

All photos courtesy of Casey McKeel.

relations team for both teams.

One of my roles was attending the practices that were open to the media. This occurred every Wednesday. The first time I showed up, I was not sure what to expect.

I had never done anything like this before.

The Pittsburgh Maulers practiced first.

After they were done, my boss interviewed the head coach and picked a player to interview. He then told me and one of the other interns that one of us had to do the interviews for the next team. I just about passed out. I had never interviewed anyone before, and I am not the most outgoing person. As we went to more and more of these practices, I got so comfortable doing these interviews. It was something I never thought would happen.

Our other key role took place at all home games. One intern would stay in the press box during games and run stats around and make sure the media was taken care of. The other interns were on the field during the games. This role made me nervous. We had to get injury reports from medical trainers and report them to the press box. After the game, our job was to find the head coach and a player from the team we were with and take them to the post-game press conference.

This internship really taught me how to put on a brave face. I was doing so many things that I had never done before and talking to so many new people. Half of the time my heart was racing so fast, and my hands were sweating. I learned not to show it. I faked the confidence until I made it.

I also did a lot of at-home projects. Every week, I made the game notes for the game the next weekend. Game notes are what journalists use to get any information they need about the team or that week’s matchup. I had the chance to write two press releases and do a few other small research projects.

What really made this the experience of a lifetime was the relationships that I created. My team consisted of me, my boss and two other interns. We formed a close group during the season. We went to eat

together and created so many inside jokes.

This is something that I look at closely and deeply appreciate. I do not think I could have done the work I did without these people by my side. My boss, Jim Houck, always gave feedback to improve my work and always expressed his gratitude for the work I did. One of the other interns, Ava, became a close friend. We found so many common interests apart from our internship. We would talk about everything from what we were currently reading to what concert we were going to next. This friendship made going to work so much easier.

My favorite part of the season was watching one of the Canton teams, the Pittsburgh Maulers, make it to the championship game. They started off the season as the worst team in the league.

It was so special watching them grow from that to a championship team. Their head coach, Ray Horton, was another person that my internship team made a connection with. After the last practice before the championship, we all went out to lunch with him. I thought this was the coolest thing ever. I was sitting at lunch with a Super Bowl Champion while he expressed his gratitude for the work we did.

I took it all in as I walked through the hall before the championship game. This would be the last time I saw the security guard that always talked to me in the hallway. This would be the last time I worked with this amazing group of people.

I reflected on everything that happened that season and thought about how scared I had been to start this journey. Now I didn’t want it to end.

This internship taught me so many lessons. One thing I will always remember, take chances. I took a chance when I got the opportunity for this internship. I was terrified. It turned out to be the best thing that ever happened. I made lifelong connections while gaining experience in my dream job. I will be forever grateful for my time spent with the USFL. The Buchtelite

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Hello, my name is Jessika Kucera, and I’m a photographer.

I am a senior at the University of Akron majoring in photography and I expect to graduate in May 2024. I became interested in a career in photography because I love to take photos and, it’s also a career where I am confident I will find success and the opportunity to continue learning, growing and elevating my art.

A photographer can always get better, and there are many different areas to focus on, so it never gets old.

This summer I had the amazing opportunity to have a photography internship at Catawba Island Club, better known as CIC. My role at CIC is to photograph and edit images of events and for promotional materials.

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My favorite memory of working at CIC would be when I was given the opportunity to go to Put-In-Bay for a yachtsman party at middle bass.

My internship at CIC has helped me gain more confidence and a better understanding of event and sport photography.

Because of this internship, I learned many things I wouldn’t have otherwise, like lighting in various situations, different types of equipment and how to work with groups.

My goal is to eventually have experience every style of photography, and now that I’ve gained more experience at CIC, I plan to focus on real estate and food photography next.

I hope you enjoy my CIC photos.

Ocean Calls

by Natalie Dale

Drowning – plummeted into the Darkness. The Arctic waves dance across my Skin. never before has the shadowy depths been so tempting.

Tempting like the last cookie in the jar.

Tempting like the desire to be wanted.

Tempting like Father’s Love.

Tempting like the desire for attention.

T

E M P

T

I

N G

Will anyone care?

The Buchtelite

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VOICE OF THE STUDENT

CAN SHE STAY?

One UA Education Student Considers Changing Major, Leaving Teaching Due to Gun Violence in Ohio Schools

By Piper Mallchok, Contributor Sydney Humbert, a student at the University of Akron School of Education, is a primary education major. If you ask her, she’ll tell you that it is her passion to teach and work with kids. She has been studying for two years already, and though her passion for children has not changed, she is considering changing her major.

In 2o23, there have been six school shootings in Ohio. These shootings are causing some education majors at the University of Akron to reconsider their decision to work in education in the future.

“I do have many concerns working as a teacher,” Humbert said. “One of the main reasons is school shootings.”

Although there have been no school shootings in Akron specifically, there have been a significant amount in surrounding cities. These have made an impact on Humbert. Throughout the interview, she repeated she concerns about school safety and gun violence that occurred in local Ohio schools.

“As much as I would love to work with kids,” Humbert said, “I’m considering changing my major, because I’m afraid of working in 46

Fall 2023

a school.”

Greg Milo, a teacher at Akron Early College High School, said that he did not believe that education majors and future teachers should let safety in schools and the possibility of a shooting be a deciding factor in their decision to become a teacher.

“If anything, if you wanna help kids, and education is something that you’re interested in,” said Milo, “you’d think that you would be motivated to teach.”

Milo’s personal experience in working in schools as a teacher has not made him feel at all concerned with his own safety, and gun violence is not something he thinks of as a prominent issue. Rather than school shootings, Milo said his lesson plans are a more pressing issue that keeps him up at night.

Milo explained that at Akron Early College, they have meetings to talk about safety for students and that they also talk to the students themselves about how they feel about their safety in school. He also shared some common things they do to ensure student safety and prepare them for possible incidents.

“Because it’s state law, we go through those drills,” Milo said. “But

we’re different, because we’re on campus compared to other schools.”

In Ohio, it is required for schools to perform drills monthly. However, those drills are not specifically focused on potential intruder threats, which is the common concern for education students.

The most common drills that take place in Ohio schools are fire and tornado drills. Lockdown drills, which are performed in case of a possible intruder or gun threat, are held less frequently than drills focused on natural disasters.

“Lockdown drills can be helpful,” said Humbert. “Unfortunately, though, it is more likely for school shooters to be students that are already familiar with the drills that take place.”

Although Milo said he felt comfortable within his position as a teacher and rarely thought about the possibility of an active shooter, Humbert is concerned that she will not be comfortable working in a school due to concerns for her students and her own safety.

The question remains, will she change her major and walk away from teaching, or will Humbert find a way to conquer or ease her fears?

when will i be art? when can i bare this body and see shelled organ, hear soundwaves with fingertips tracing stretching sinews and bowed strings listen to that acoustic growth bellow In my bones and flesh. skin may not be smooth, but it’s seismic, it’s melody in the making.

s e v a w d n u So ly Price

by Emi

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By Zach Lininger, Contributor

A

t the University of Akron, sports play a huge role in providing opportunities for athletes to develop their skills as they further their athletic careers, while simultaneously providing students and other fans in the community with an escape from reality.

During the fall semester, InfoCision Stadium is full of life as fans gather to watch Zips football. During the spring semester, Skeeles Field becomes the center of attention as the Zips baseball team looks to put on a show for everyone in attendance.

In either situation, we always see the big sports attracting the big crowds. This begs the question, “What about the smaller sports?” What about the athletes who work just as hard but don’t get nearly as much recognition?

This is the case for many of the women’s sports here at the University of Akron.

The argument is backed up with data from gozips.com, the official athletics website for the University of Akron. Among all of the data are statistics from the fall 2022 semester as well as the spring 2023 semester.

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UNSUNG TALENT

During the fall 2022 semester, football averaged 11,199 people per home game, while men’s basketball averaged 1,922 people. In comparison, the volleyball team only averaged 213 people.

To further expand on this issue, things have not changed in the spring 2023 semester. So far this season, the baseball team has attracted an average of 177 people per home game. Looking into the women’s sports, the softball team has averaged 112 people thus far, while the lacrosse team has averaged 98 people. While the evidence isn’t as staggering, the facts remain.

After examining all the information, you can’t help but wonder, “Does this lack of attendance affect the women’s performances?” Could a larger crowd help make a difference? To help answer those questions, let’s see what a couple of the women athletes had to say.

“I think a big attendance could definitely improve performance and make athletes feel better and more supported,” said Baylee Vought, a sophomore on the Zips volleyball team. “It also brings more energy.”

Vought is not alone in these thoughts.

“I would definitely benefit from a larger crowd,” said Katie Baumer, a freshman on the Zips lacrosse team.

“Having more people in attendance at our games would motivate me and make me feel very supported.”

If more fans in attendance could lead to a better performance from the players, then what needs to change?

“I would like to see more women’s sports being funded, advertised, and supported as much as the men’s sports,” said Vought. “We work very hard to be good and represent our school well.”

As the academic year is winding down, we can look to the future, where the opportunities for the growth of women’s sports are endless. With the right amount of support, things could drastically change, and women could finally get the respect they deserve.

As we look into the years ahead you can’t help but wonder, “Will things be different, or will they continue to stay the same?” The answer: only time will tell.

Engage in campus life

Serve

our Akron community

Lead

your fellow Zips The Buchtelite

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HOME IS... EXHIBIT REWIND 50

Fall 2023

Home is… explored the many diverse definitions of “home” by bringing together a collection of community-loaned objects.

Community members were asked to contribute something that represented “home” to them. We received a range of items, from objects to images to stories. Individually, they each represent the interpretation of a single individual; together, they weave a tapestry that reveals the breadth of meaning captured by a single word: “home.”

The design and installation of Home is… was completed by Museums and Archives Studies Certificate Program student, Lacy Nicholas. The Certificate is a unique offering at The University of Akron that prepares students for work in the museum and archive professions by providing hands-on, experiential education.

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Painting Meredith Bobrovsky, Fine Arts Major Sculpture (facing page) Logan Wood, Senior, Studio Art Major

Emily Sesto

Friends with benefits: You are and always will be the monster in my closet holding hands with my skeletons.

It’s a friends with benefits type of relationship, you bring the trauma and he brings the past they both intertwine and open up the darkest parts of me, begging my demons to come out and play I tell them with a ghost of a smile on my face, back down, no matter the trauma you bring, my demons are always darker.

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The Buchtelite

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GOING THE DISTANCE

By Connor VanMaele, Bachelor of Arts in English ‘23

I

should probably do something more useful with my time than writing stories and making videos. That’s been in the back of my mind for a long, long time. Making people laugh is what I love, but some days, I find it hard to justify my dreams of going into entertainment when there’s so much work to be done in the world besides making people chuckle. Every once in a while, though, a movie or book comes my way that reminds me that my career pursuits aren’t completely selfish. This is the story of how the classic, inspirational film Rocky got me paid.

In the film, Rocky Balboa is a regular old nobody. Throughout the movie, you grow a lot of sympathy for the guy; everything in the world seems to be against him. A boxer by night and a debt collector by day, he lives in the slums with seemingly only his two pet turtles as friends. You see beatdown after beatdown pile up on poor Rocky, and you want nothing more than to see him catch his lucky break. Thankfully, that lucky break happens in two ways: by the blossoming romance with his girlfriend Adrian and by the opportunity he’s given to fight the world heavyweight boxing champion, Apollo Creed.

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Rocky knows he’s in way over his head; he’s been chosen as a novelty, a spectacle to ogle at to drive excitement for the match. Apollo Creed is willing to fight some Philadelphia nobody only because the absurdity of the matchup will create a marketing buzz around the event. Rocky’s boxing persona is “The Italian Stallion,” but he might as well be a magical unicorn for all Apollo is concerned. What sets Rocky apart from many other films like it, though, is that Rocky is not expecting to win. The most memorable part of the film for me was not the training montage or title fight, but it was watching Rocky in the quiet moments leading up to the big fight. Rocky confides to Adrian that it’s okay if he loses — he just wants to go the distance. Whether he wins or loses, he wants to be the first boxer to last all 15 rounds in the arena with Apollo Creed. The man says it best himself: “It really don’t matter if I lose this fight... It really don’t matter if this guy opens my head.

All I wanna do is go the distance. No one’s ever gone the distance with Creed, and if I can go that

“The most memorable part of the film for me was not the training montage or title fight, but it was watching Rocky in the quiet moments leading up to the big fight.”

Above Image: Courtesy of Adobe Stock, editorial license only.

distance... ya see, if that bell rings and

I wasn’t exaggerating or embellishing earlier when I said that “the classic, inspirational film Rocky got me paid,” but I guess it was the right place, right time sort of thing.

Above Image: Courtesy of Connor VanMaele.

“On the left, there’s me at work! I received the New Student Orientation “Gold Standard” award alongside and at the same time as my friend Gillian.”

I’m still standing... I’m gonna know for the first time in my life that I weren’t just another bum from the neighborhood.”

Rocky could have chosen to set his sights on winning the match, but he doesn’t. He chooses what is significant to him. And Rocky doesn’t end up winning the match, he loses it, but that don’t matter — he won the battle he was fighting for.

He proved that Rocky Balboa wasn’t just another bum from the neighborhood. He made the distance.

Shortly after I saw the film, I had a job interview for something I really, really cared about. We, the candidates, were competing against each other in a massive group interview on MS Teams (this was Spring ‘21, COVID-times) where the pool of available hires was so limited that only 1/3 of us there would have been accepted.

As soon as we started, I could feel myself shrinking... I totally lacked confidence and assertiveness in the group, and many of the candidates there seemed so naturally gifted and at ease in the hyper-competitive situation that I wondered what I was even doing there. I felt so out of place and petrified that there were moments I thought of just giving up and abandoning the online call, because I thought, why bother? I don’t belong here if this is what it takes. My fear was telling me to leave the call, but the wisdom bestowed upon me by Sylvester Stallone glimmered into my mind and that changed everything.

I didn’t need to “win” and get the job. What I needed to do was stay on MS Teams throughout the entire interview and make a genuine effort. If I didn’t get the job, that was fine. What really mattered was if I made the distance or not, and I’m happy to report that I did. I stuck out that stressful experience and proved to myself that I wasn’t going to cave into my anxiety and flee, and to be honest, that was good enough for me.

Rocky lost his bout against Creed, but in the sequel, Mr. Balboa takes the

Courtesy of Adobe Stock, editorial license only.

championship. In my case, however, I didn’t have to wait to apply again next year. Despite my lackluster performance in the battle royale, I made it to the second round of screening, where we were interviewed one at a time. I got the job, and I’m beyond grateful that I did.

During my sophomore year, one of the biggest problems I recognized in myself was my social anxiety. The position I applied for was an oncampus job where I would be talking to strangers all day, all summer long. I knew it would be a challenge for me, but if I had continued to avoid situations where I had to talk to people, I wouldn’t have been addressing what had been holding me back for years. The first few weeks of work were filled with constant blunders, but by the end of the summer I found my stride, having a newfound ease to strike up real, genuine conversations with nearly anyone I met. If I had given up in the first round, though—if I didn’t make the distance—I never would have gone on that journey. I wasn’t exaggerating or embellishing earlier when I said that “the classic, inspirational film Rocky got me paid,” but I guess it was the right place, right time sort of thing.

It was a couple years ago now that the story I’ve told took place but reflecting on it in 2023 as a senior has helped me reconcile with the lurking feeling that perhaps I could be doing something better with my time rather than writing. Art does make a difference in peoples’ lives; it did in mine, didn’t it?

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