#interview 4

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“...On campus we have trees... I’d probably say we put them there ourselves, but I don’t think that disqualifies it as nature...”

And, most importantly, it was a safe and supporting place to engage students in the process of creative work and critical discussion. College is often derided as an “ivory tower.” But being separate from the cacophony of the outside world to focus on students was a true gift provided by Saint Rose.

It will become a more fractured institution where departments, programs, and individuals compete for survival based on assessment metrics. Student success will be measured by job placement not intellectual growth. This will be the saddest period for Saint Rose in the 30 years I’ve been here. I’m already mourning colleagues who will disappear, and the loss of the Saint Rose I knew and loved. The deep satisfaction of knowing I belonged at Saint Rose as I walk the campus is gone.

Now I’m fighting for that mission against an administration that does not recognize the faculty’s right or expertise in any real decision-making capacity. I feel reduced to a data point in a top-down corporate environment. It’s an awfully sad de-evolution of the Saint Rose Difference.

I would have preferred that the administration followed our longstanding shared governance agreement and brought faculty to the table from the beginning. Instead, the administration now makes unsupportable accusations about faculty, and communicates with platitudes, euphemisms, and half-truths.

Students. Interacting with students is like drinking a brain-stimulating elixir. Every student's painting or drawing reveals a totally unique mind at work. I learn from students every day. How lucky I am, but phew, it’s exhausting! As I look back over my 30 years at Saint Rose, it is the students, with all their energy, intelligence, creativity, and audacity, that I cherish most.

Question #1: How long have you been on roleplay? I’ve been on roleplay since 2007, so about 8 years now.   Question #2: I see you're in a new relationship with someone. What makes you two work so well? Yes, Scotty! I think the fact that we were such great friends before dating makes the chemistry between us so feasible. We were just talking all the time and there was so much laughter and it was just real. I’d stay up late just to talk to him and for him, it was worth it. He let me in, and that’s that I could ever ask for.   Question #3: Have you ever gotten hate and has it ever affected you? I have gotten hate. At first, it really bothered me. I thought I could be likable by just about everyone and that really opened my eyes and burst my bubble. Now, it is what it is. I can’t control what people think and I cannot make everyone like me. As long as I’m myself, I know I’m being the best I can be.   Question #4: If you could change one thing from your past (on roleplay) what would it be? I honestly don’t think I’d change anything from my past. Your past makes you who you are and I’ve really learned a lot from what I’ve gone through. Question #5: How would you describe yourself? I think this is the hardest question, haha! I’d like to think that I’m very honest, open, and caring. If I can help someone, I’m going to try and do that. I love to listen to people talk, so when I’m skyping with others, I’m the person that stays really quiet.   Question #6: Tell us a little about your top. Why are they your friends? Scotty is my number one because he’s the best person I know. Gordon and I have known each other for about a year and he’s my best friend. He’s always very real with me and will tell me how it is, even if it might hurt my feelings. Audrey is my sister and I’ve known her for a long time. She’s always been so supportive and when I thought it was time to maybe join a family, she didn’t hesitate at all in asking me. Chandler is my roommate in real life and we’ve been best friends since 2003. Copeland and I bonded over Pete Wentz, Brendon Urie, and Supernatural. We tend to fangirl together. Jaimie and I have a love for the Avengers cast, so we bonded through that. Marzia and I were venting to each other about One Tree Hill, and boom, hello beautiful friendship. Danny, Kassidy, Austyn, Beckham, Kota, Colby, Dylan, Crystal, Daxton, Dominic, and Henry all have been very supportive and I couldn’t ask for anything better from them.   Question #7: Have you had it with all the drama that has been coming up about your boyfriend? I think people are always going to think what they think and you just have to get over it. Someone doesn’t like him. I don’t quite understand it because I think the world of him, but it happens. I’ve seen that I, myself, have upset some people but I can’t help what they think. I’m happy for the first time in a while and I can tell that he is too. Isn’t someone’s happiness more important than hate? Question #8: Is there anything you'd like to say to anyone from your past, now, or any advice you'd give someone who plans to roleplay in the future? I think I’d like to tell people from my past that I’m not the same. I’ve grown up, matured, and I think that I’m a different person. As I’m growing up in life, I’m realizing what matters the most and I think that’s for the best. For people new to roleplay, you’ll meet some amazing people, and maybe a few bad apples. I know that I’ve met one of my very best friends from roleplay and I can see her being in my life for the rest of my life.