The Rules

I received this short piece from an anonymous writer a few days ago, and I thought I'd publish it with a few of my own thoughts. Laura and I want the Goblet to be a place where people can share what they know, and how they feel. We wanted this to be a slice of real Lehigh life. The following piece made me think about how difficult it really is to find your place in a sea of people. It's interesting what expectations get confirmed or dismissed when you come to college. The things you think will happen don't and the things you never thought would happen, do. Coming to college is usually the first powerful experience that changes what we think about life. The first time we have to live on own own and figure out what we want to do with our lives, who we want to spend all our time will. In my case, I almost transferred because I could not sift through what I wanted from a school. I am glad I didn't, because my second year provided me much more time to understand that if I wasn't doing exactly what I wanted to be doing, I wouldn't be happy. If I was spending time with people that made me pull my hair out, what was the point? A friend told me a saying that her mother used to tell her, "nothing's worth raising your blood pressure over." And in my personal life I've found myself much happier when I don't follow "the rules". Now, I'm not tell you all to break the law, but we don't always have to do what everyone else is doing, especially if you're not into it. So be free and be who you are! 

-Meghan Barwick '15

I came to college hopeful.

High school had been less than stellar. I never managed to figure out how to be one of those popular kids you see on TV, or which lunch table to sit at. I missed the boat as far as getting invited to parties or drinking. At times it seemed I never even learned how to hold a conversation without being awkward or an asshole. It seemed like everyone but me was following a set of rules, some subtle playbook I hadn't gotten a glance at. But every time I sat alone for a meal or spent another night home and alone, I always had college to look forward to. The promised land! Paradise! College would be where I could be myself, where the scales would be reset and I could find my people. The people I knew had to exist whose behavior I could understand. So I endured. I took the hardest classes I could, studied hard, took my SATs and did my tours. One thing led to another, and I landed at Lehigh. The first day of Freshman year I was so excited. First day of the rest of my life.  I stayed hopeful for a month or so. Then the rules began to appear again. We party every night here. We poison ourselves with everything we can drink smoke or snort. And everyone else seemed to know how to do this, effortlessly. I rechecked my schedule to see if I had missed some sort of class or seminar, and if so when the make up date would be. No such luck. I tried to fake it for a while, I went to the parties, drank whatever beverage happened to be on hand, played one game of ruit after another.  And in the middle of every crowded party I still felt alone.I couldn't understand how to spend entire night throwing balls at cups and have fun, or what the appropriate protocol for hooking up with someone you met within the last hour was. Or what hooking up even meant… Sex? Making out? Going fishing together? No one ever explained, despite the phrase's constant use. When did it become ok to wear pink shorts but not cargo shorts? What is the appropriate type of hat to wear, and how flat should the brim be? When did forcing yourself to vomit every Friday, Saturday and the occasional Thursday become fun? I think its my own fault. I made a mistake somewhere along the line maybe, or I’m just not flexible enough, too stubborn to change my ways. I think I just don’t want to play by these rules. I let myself be ostracized rather than change. I am not a wise man. I wish I had. I wish I could have, I just didn’t know how.Eventually I gave up. Surely there are people here whom I can understand, maybe just one person just as confounded by all of this as I am. I’ve heard legends of such folk, but wherever they are, they’ve hidden well. For now I have plenty of work to do alone, classes to take alone, and meals to eat alone. Welcome to paradise.

-Anonymous 

Holiday Troubles

Lehigh is a nondenominational school, as anyone who attends could tell you.  To someone unfamiliar with Lehigh, though, being unaffiliated with any religion might mean that Lehigh avoids any involvement with religion.  This, however, is very far from the truth.  Lehigh permits clubs for various denominations, allows any type of worship in Packer Memorial Church and takes the stance of allowing any religious belief rather than restricting the student body from all beliefs.  The positives of this view point are numerous.  From a rights perspective, every person has the ability to practice whatever set of beliefs they see fit.  From an academic perspective, there is no requirement to take classes pertaining to a certain religion.  Coming from a Catholic elementary school and high school where theology was easily the most boring of my classes each year, I especially appreciated this aspect.

Despite the positive aspects of Lehigh’s acceptance of all beliefs, there is one major drawback.  By accommodating all religions, Lehigh puts itself in a tough position to be accommodating for particular religions on especially important holidays.  Take Judaism, for example.  Judaism’s most serious holy day, Yom Kippur, fell on Wednesday, September 26th last semester.  The very next day was the first day of four o’clock exams.  While this timing was unusual and unfortunate, the fact remains that someone Jewish would have a very difficult time observing this “Day of Atonement.”  Yom Kippur involves fasting as well as taking the day off from work or school.  Although most professors are very understanding, Lehigh cannot accommodate Jewish students on this holy day by giving them the day off.  If Lehigh did, there would no doubt be uproar anytime a different religion needed a day off for a holiday.  This fact left Jewish students in the position last semester where, on a day meant for reflection and penance, they had to worry about missing class and about an exam the next day.

As for myself, I only recently began thinking about this issue when I encountered a religious conflict of my own.  Holy Week is the most important week in the Christian calendar.  In particular, Good Friday and Easter Sunday of Holy Week are very important.  In my experience at Lehigh, it is an inconvenience that we are not given off for either Good Friday nor the Monday following Easter.  For people with classes on Friday and early on Monday, like myself, going home to celebrate the most holy and joyous day in Christianity with family becomes a terse and stressful experience.  Easter Sunday becomes a rushed event, worrying about getting back to school for classes the next day.  To make matters especially bad this semester, Good Friday fell on March 29^th, with Easter Sunday landing on March 31^st. This year has had such magnificent timing that, like Yom Kippur, both holy days fell during four o’clock exam time. I was faced with the difficult decision of whether or not to go home to be with my family. I would barely be home two days, spending all of Saturday home but only getting to enjoy some of Friday and Sunday with my family. Then there was the fact that I had an exam on Monday that would be difficult to study for while celebrating with relatives. Ultimately, I decided to go home because I value spending time with my family during the holidays. Whether or not I will regret the decision remains to be seen (at the time of my writing this I have yet to take my Monday exam), but it is upsetting to me that it is so difficult to go home for such an important time without feeling guilty that my time could be better spent preparing for exams the next week.  Part of me understands why Lehigh can’t do anything, but another part of me wishes Lehigh would make it easier for any religion to observe their most important holidays.

There is no clear solution to these issues that arise as a result of organized religion.  Lehigh offers so many great opportunities for everyone to practice their belief system of choice, and I do not mean to sound ungrateful for those opportunities in writing this article.  I am very happy with my decision to be at Lehigh and aim not to complain, but rather raise the question: by accommodating every religion, can Lehigh really accommodate any religion when it really matters?  I like to believe there is some way, but it’s times like these when I’m rushing back to Lehigh after a hurried Easter dinner that make me frustrated it hasn’t been found yet.

-Colin Orr '15

17 Signatures

The Registrar’s webpage states “We are here to help you.”  From my experience, this has not been the case.  The page also states, “Our responsibilities include the entire registration process.”  If this is the case, then it is their responsibility to revise their inefficient processes set forth by the academic regulations. Their antiquated and inflexible system was brought to my attention when I decided I wanted to learn piano. Little did I know that learning piano first required 10 signatures and visiting four offices in three different buildings across the campus on multiple occasions.  My dissent with the Registrar, however, is not necessarily that their processes wasted my time and that of the university faculty and administration, but that the process is so inefficient that it does not align with the values a university should uphold. 

I decided I wanted to take MUS071 Private Piano Study during the second week of add/drop. As required, I collected the add/drop form from the Registrar and proceeded across campus seeking three signatures. First I stopped in Zoellner where the instructor signed my form and overload petition. I should also explain here that the reason I was overloaded was only because of credits that accompanied a winter break study abroad program, and not because I genuinely was taking on more than an appropriate course load. Next stop, Rauch Business Center. I got the advisor’s signature then proceeded to the associate dean’s office. The associate dean is understandably busy at the beginning of each semester, so I was told I would receive an email once the associate dean got a chance to put down her signature.  The next day, I returned to her office, picked up the signed form, and submitted it to the registrar. Then it was time to wait for the decision by the Committee on the Standing of Students (SOS).

I did not hear back for another three and a half weeks, when I received an email from the dean’s office. As to why I was informed of the decision 10 days after the petition was seen by the committee on Feb. 8, I do not know. So, on Feb. 18, I went to see the course instructor who told me there is no more capacity in the course. Several days later, after noticing that the Bursar had already done me the courtesy of billing me the extra $440 required to take the course that I’ve never been to, I went to the registrar to be taken off the course list. I described the situation about how I was unable to take the course due to it being over capacity and that I needed to be officially taken out of it. What does the lady at the registrar do? She hands me an add/drop form, along with a Petition form that I will need to remove the “W” that will appear on my transcript because my enrollment in the class is already “in the system.” What is this notion of a supernatural system to which we grant authority? To the registrar I say, YOU ARE THE SYSTEM. So when they say that another six signatures will be required to get out of the class I have never been to, am not allowed to take, and was already billed for, from the same people whose signatures I were required to get into the class three and a half weeks prior, I politely questioned whether it was necessary since, in actuality, I’m not even in the class.  Why do advisors, teachers, and deans need to approve something when doing otherwise would be so utterly insensible?

The quiet lady at the registrar replied saying that “this is the way our office works,” which was actually the same filler line she used when I first submitted the forms to the SOS Committee.  If people were content with “the way things are,” then nothing would ever happen.  Alumni would not be so generous as to donate their hard-earned money which the university so actively seeks out.  I hope some of this money will fund some administrative restructuring so that we do not have to continue wasting our own time making sure our own students aren’t over-stepping the university’s bounds.  If the benevolent SOS Committee approves my petition, it will be the 17^th signature in this process. I’m sure the administration would agree that they have better things to be dealing with, which is probably why the committee only meets every 2 weeks. It amazes me how unrefined this process is at such an old institution. If the Registrar is really here to help students, I have yet to see it done. It looks like I won’t be taking piano.

                  

-"Regis  Strar"

Full of Crepe

[Photo from the Full of Crepe's Facebook page]

The new off campus restaurant will leave you feeling full and satisfied.
Although Lehigh has several dining options, students living on campus can grow weary of having to eat at the dining halls for every meal. Upper Cort offers a food court style alternative to the traditional dining halls, but after countless trips, the variety seems less appealing. For those students looking for some new options and for fraternity and sorority members whose chefs don’t cook meals on weekends, venturing into Bethlehem is an attractive choice. There are always the classics like the Goose or Sal’s to get a good meal at. Yet, the line at the Goose is often out the door, and there may not always be time for a sit-down meal at Sal’s. New to the food scene at Lehigh, Full of Crepe offers a creative and quick alternative to standard fare in the form of delicious crepes served at an affordable price.

Full of Crepe is easy to miss, located on New Street between Subway and Sal’s. Once you get your first crepe here, though, you’ll never have trouble finding it again. The actual restaurant is no bigger than a dorm room, and there are only two hot plates on which the crepes can be made. The counter to place your order is located at the very front of the store near the entrance. Although it can be difficult, try not to stand too close to the entrance, or risk being whacked by the door as an incoming customer arrives. Despite the small size, there has not been a line once in all my visits; that must be a crime considering how delicious the crepes are. What is not a crime is how polite the staff is. Immediately upon entering, you are warmly greeted by the two to three workers. Every time I’ve gone, I have been offered coffee without any delay at all. Then, they patiently wait while you decide which crepe suits your tastes, even offering up some of their current favorites. I say “current favorites” because, as they explained to me, they love all their creations but cycle through favorites all the time. Prices for the crepes range from 4-8 dollars, depending on how complex your selection is. Once your order is placed, you watch as your crepe is assembled on a hot plate, cooked, and ultimately placed in a conveniently designed crepe holder. From walking in hungry to leaving happy, the process is smooth, quick, and pleasant.

Where Full of Crepe really shines, however, is in its interesting menu choices. The menu is diverse with both savory and sweet options. Whether you want a satisfying, meaty crepe or just a sweet treat, there is a crepe for everyone. Take my personal favorite, for example, the “Turkey Lurkee”. This crepe consists of turkey, spinach leaves, balsamic reduction, tomato, mozzarella cheese, and pesto mayo. The ingredients work perfectly together, sending your taste buds on a flavorful ride but also leaving you more fulfilled than any other old crepe. In a more odd combination, there is the “Christy Cristo” which consists of raspberry preserves, ham, turkey, Swiss cheese, maple syrup, and powdered sugar. Full of Crepe pushes the boundaries of this succulent crepe by adding raspberries and turkey to the traditional ingredients of a Monte Cristo, resulting in a fruity yet savory masterpiece. More traditionally yet just as deliciously, Full of Crepe serves the “Blue Plate,” a combination of eggs, cheese, and ham or bacon; the “Canuck,” simply bacon and maple syrup; or the “Moravian Sugar Cake,” consisting of brown sugar, cinnamon and butter. There’s no other restaurant that I can honestly say I want to try every item on the menu. However, if none of the menu choices are to your liking, there also is a “Fill Your Own” option. Additionally, the restaurant offers gluten-free batter for an extra dollar. With all of the appealing choices and the opportunity to customize your own crepe, you can’t go wrong.

Full of Crepe only allows takeout due to its small size. Plans are in place, however, to expand the building into an adjacent room in order to allow for in-restaurant seating. Also worth mentioning is that the restaurant only accepts cash at the moment. Taking the time to go to an ATM will be well worth it, though, once you’ve had a chance to experience this hidden gem’s food. If you are looking for a quick, delicious, affordable, and unique alternative to on and off campus dining, look no further than Full of Crepe.

-Colin Orr '15

You Will Succeed. Eventually.

[Design by Katherine Fletcher '16]

I was halfway through my second bowl of Captain Crunch last Thursday morning when I came to the realization that I have lied to myself my entire life—more or less.

I’ve gone through life thinking I was destined for greatness in everything I’ve done. My parents, so worried about the self-esteem phenomena may have bolstered me a little too high. I’m not blaming this entirely on my parents, but I’m just saying, they started it. At a young age, I knew I was going to be a country music singer. Never mind that I didn’t listen to country music, it was going to happen. I had the cowboy hat, and a voice—not a particularly good voice, but a voice nonetheless. I got some weird looks in the middle school hallway from wearing the cowboy hat 24/7, but I was a kid with a dream. I’m sure my fellow classmates assumed I was going through some strange Madonna-esque stage of life, due to the buckteeth/cowboy hat combo.

My parents encouraged my deluded behavior; maybe thinking I wasn’t serious, maybe thinking it was cute. My mom took it as an open invitation to buy me hats, which led to a terrible bowler phase I’d rather not discuss. My dad sincerely told me to follow my dreams. But, here’s the kicker, what if I’m especially shitty at my dreams? After a year or so of intense vocal training, I lost any passion I had to win a CMA; kicked the country music star dream, and picked up a much weirder pastime. I have no idea where the inspiration came from, but I decided to be a professional fencer.

“Fencing” is just a nicer way to say fake sword fighting. Twice a week I would spend evenings at the local rec center learning how to fence. Reflecting on it, I must’ve grown up near a very diverse rec center, but that is beside the point. The point is, why was I allowed to fence for a year? I was terrible, and only had an interest in reenacting the fencing scene from the Lohan Parent Trap. Wasting my time, and my parents’ as well, I sometimes wish they ‘d forced me to become a spelling bee champ or the like. To this day I’m not so great at my times tables, and perhaps it would’ve been worthwhile to focus on that instead of my Jack Sparrow impression. Realizing I didn’t have the drive for late night practice, or qualifying matches, my fencing career ended in under a year. The dream died even faster than my fling with country music.

Fast forward a decade or so, and I’ve grown. Not physically, I’m probably around the same height, minus the buckteeth. I can admit without shame that I am neither a country music star, nor a professional fencer. But, this doesn’t make me any less crazy.

A friend the other day asked me what I was going to do the rest of my life. This wasn’t as existential as you think, seeing as I’m graduating college soon and all we see is this empty continuum called “the rest of our lives”. I replied to her question in a cocky way. I would be a writer, of stories, articles, books, opuses, you know? Maybe produce a piece of literature to rival the Bible, or at least Harry Potter? My friend responded to my half sarcastic comment with sincerity, assuring me that I was an excellent writer. I was ready to accept this as fact chiseled in rock, when something snapped. Like a detective noticing when the prime witness slips, everything started to go slow motion, and there was that Law & Order “dunk dunk” sound going off in my head.

This friend of mine had never read a work of mine, and okay, okay I understand. She was being nice. But, this pseudo-compliment led me to wonder—what does it really mean to follow your dreams?

Why didn’t my parents tell me the cowboy hat wasn’t doing me any favors? They could’ve pointed me in the direction of cobbling or taxidermy, hobbies that may have better suited me than country music. But no, they encouraged my dream to the point where I thought I could do anything. I dreamed big, with no follow through.

Now in my 20s, I have to wonder if I’ll succeed at what I’ve put my mind to. Since given my first journal, I’ve been writing nonstop. I believe in myself, but in the course of this essay I’ve proven I’m not really trustworthy. I’ve given up many times before in crazier pursuits. Does it matter if crazy people believe in themselves? If a crazy person compliments his or herself in the forest, does anyone hear it?

This truth only came crashing down on me during a phone call with my dad. After raising two older girls, I think he’s become a bit of a realist towards my problems. On the precipice of tears, I explained how I am a phony (you understand, because I talk like Holden Caulfield most of the time).

“I just feel like I’m out there. In a sea. Or ocean? What’s the difference? Anyway, I’m out there, with like, no ropes or pool noodles, and there’s a storm of sharks surrounding me or something” I lamented, “I’m not sure I’m meant to do what I love.”

“You’ve never picked the clear path…” my dad said, and followed that up with a family anecdote I wasn’t entirely listening to. “You will succeed. Eventually,” my father’s soliloquy concluded with Buddha-like certainty. Not, “You’ll do great” or “I believe in you,” but with the far more ominous, something good will happen to you sometime.

I’ve been meditating on this little advice nugget for a good thirty minutes now, and I realize he’s right. I also realized that’s exactly what I’ve been preparing for my entire education at Lehigh. These past four years have taught me more about myself than I believed possible.

Through speakers and workshops, classes and lectures, I’ve been surrounded by success that didn’t always come easy. Those who find success possess the winning combination of passion balanced with determination. We have students on campus engineering cures to cancer, making amazing art, and beating Duke. No one’s calling them crazy. If we called Jesse Reno a crazy person, we’d all still be huffing and puffing up stairs instead of taking the escalator. If we called Howard McClintic and Charles Marshall crazy, we wouldn’t have the Panama Canal, or the anagram “A man a plan a canal, Panama”.

What I’m trying to say, in this long-winded rant is, my time at Lehigh has taught me to “Work Hard. Play Hard, and then Work A Lot More”. If I put my mind to it, I can use what I’ve learned here to persevere. I’m not saying success will find me in all of my ventures, but eventually, I will succeed. It won’t just be my crazy dream of writing for a living that leads me to success, but also the determined passion. I gave up my silly hobbies because I lacked the determination to continue them. This time, I’m truly passionate about what I’m doing, and I can’t imagine just giving it up.

(Final) Case and point--where you are reading this: The Goblet. It’s an idea, sort of crazy, started by students. But if it weren’t a little bit crazy, and a lot ambitious, it wouldn’t be a Lehigh idea. I’m not saying it’s easy, but I am saying, “You will succeed. Eventually.”

-Emma Diehl '13 
Check out her blog HERE.