The Tatler 20091for printing.pub (Read-Only) - Claflin University

Volume 8, Issue 1
A Publica�on of the Department of English and Foreign Languages
at Claflin University, Orangeburg, S.C.
Sue Silverman, Dr. Gavin, and students.
Author Sue Silverman Is Met With Praise
By Lisa Young
The English and Foreign Languages Department at
Claflin University received a pleasant treat when awardwinning
author Sue Silverman paid the university a visit. Best
known for her memoir, Because I Remember Terror, Father, I
Remember You, Silverman held a book reading and signing on
March 18, 2009. This memoir is a candid account of Silverman’s
young life enduring repeated sexual abuse by her own
father. The book was read collectively by some upper-level
English classes within the department. In it, Silverman recounts
her memories of being consistently molested by her father
since the age of 5. Perhaps one of the most shocking revelations
in the memoir is learning that her father was a respected
government official. There is sometimes the tendency to box
sexual offenders into a certain category of how they might act.
Written in captivating language, Silverman’s memoir proves
such stereotypes wrong. Perhaps this is one reason the book is
the winner of the Associated Writing Programs Award for Creative
Nonfiction.
On Silverman’s first night at Claflin, she read excerpts
from the memoir and conducted a book signing. This event was
met with much praise, and brought out many students and faculty
members from the various schools on campus.
English major Tyesha Gary who decided to come
along with a friend, although she was not in any of the classes
that read the book, felt as though Silverman’s visit was important
in many ways. Gary stated, “Sue Silverman led a very
interesting life, but the way she relayed her experience made
her situation seem very real. I am glad that she is providing the
September 2009
forum for others to talk and think about sexual abuse because it is
very common.”
After reading from Because I Remember Terror, Father,
I Remember You, Silverman entertained questions regarding her
mother remaining mute during the calamity and her sole sister’s
unwillingness to talk to her about the situation. Silverman
acknowledged that, ironically, the side effects from the sexual
abuse led to her becoming a sex addict. She chronicles this painful
journey in her book, Love Sick: One Woman’s Journey
Through Sexual Addiction. Silverman won even more acclaim
when Love Sick was made into a hit Lifetime movie. The author
read excerpts from Love Sick in addition to her poetry chapbook
entitled “Hieroglyphics in Neon.”
To host an author as engaging and outspoken as Silverman
only strengthens the intellect of the students in the English
department because it provides a direct connection to the content
being covered in their classes. work that they cover.
Claflin University’s Seventh Annual Pedagogy
Conference in Language Arts
Claflin University’s
Seventh Annual Pedagogy
Conference was held
on October 29-31, 2008,
in Minister’s Hall. Several
sessions addressed the
subject of teaching in a
country other than one’s
own. The importance of
understanding culture as
Mrs. Phelps, Dr. Phelps, and Dr. Pace.
relevant to the teaching of the Sciences and Mathematics was this
year’s highlight. The two workshops by Dr. Gregory Phelps of
Lindsey Wilson College, Columbia, Kentucky, addressed the
subject of classroom management as related to intercultural communication
and intergenerational communication.
With the assistance of Dr. Miriam Chitiga, the workshops
registered about thirty teachers from South Carolina public
schools and about the same number of college professors from
South Carolina institutions.

Sigma Tau Delta, Spring 2009 Induction
By Jasmine McClenton
Sigma Tau Delta International English Honor Society
was founded in 1924 at Dakota Wesleyan University
in Mitchell, South Dakota. Since its establishment the organization
has strived to fulfill the central purpose of bestowing
honor upon students and professors in the discipline
of English Language and Literature. The society currently
has over 750 active chapters throughout the United
States, the Caribbean, and Europe (www.english.org).
To add to the nearly 8,500 members that are inducted
into Sigma Tau Delta each year, the Alpha Iota
Zeta chapter of Claflin University proudly announced its
seven new initiates on April 27, 2009. In the presence of
four of Claflin’s most esteemed English professors, Department
Chair Dr. Ronnie Hopkins, Dr. Mitali Wong, Dr.
Sharynn Etheridge-Logan, and Ms. Linda Hill, three of
them members of Sigma Tau Delta themselves, a promising
addition was made to the small chapter.
Since its last induction, under the leadership of
chapter president Shellisa Coates and academic advisor
Dr. Etheridge, the society has been successful in various
undertakings including a campus-wide book drive. With
the incorporation of its newest members, Diana Bloome,
Vanessa Thomas, Lisa Young, Kiara Drummond, Erin
Swinney, Kiara Drake, and Elizabeth Shaw, the chapter
has arranged to fill next year with an array of showcases
for the talent and dedication that emanates from the students
and faculty of Claflin University’s Department of
English and Foreign Languages. With sights set on achieving
greater campus presence and furthering the universal
goals of Sigma Tau Delta, Alpha Iota Zeta remains true to
the principles of sincerity, truth, and design.
Sigma Tau Delta inductees, members, and advisor.
Page 2
Law School Admission
By Antoine Marshall
The Law School Admissions Test, better known as
the LSAT, is a five part exam that law schools use to gauge
an applicant’s credentials for law school. Administered only
4 times a year, the test consists of two logical reasoning
sections, a logic games section, reading comprehension
section, a writing section, and an experimental section. The
exam only uses the logical reasoning, logic games, and
reading comprehension sections for scoring, and range
from 120 to a perfect score of 180. Each question answered
correctly counts as a point toward your raw score, which
determines your scale score. Many highly qualified students
with high GPAs miss out on the school of their choice
because of this complex test.
In my opinion, the most important section for test
takers to study for and do well on is the logical reasoning
question, simply because of the fact that it constitutes almost
half of your scaled score. Logical reasoning questions
state an argument, and depending on the question, ask you
to reinforce the argument, weaken the argument, what can
be assumed from the argument, or explain a discrepancy
from the argument. Most mistakes in this section come
from not reading carefully and assuming that things are true
that the question does not mention.
Reading comprehension is the section that most test
takers are most familiar with. If you took state exams
through elementary and high school, the SAT, or ACT then
you are familiar with reading comprehension. In this section
a passage or essay is given, followed by a series of
questions to see if you can comprehend the material.
Studying the logic games section is probably the
most awkward section for test-takers. It is awkward, because
most students have never faced questions of this
style. But its awkwardness allows for rapid improvement
during studying, and out of all sections, it is easiest to raise
your logic games score.
With the writing section at the end, the test lasts for
a whopping five hours on average. And if you didn’t think
the test wasn’t difficult enough due to its format, the test
creators make it even more difficult by adding a strict time
limit, and a non-scored test section. For each section you
have 35 minutes to answer 24-30 questions, and even the
fastest test takers have trouble finishing each section. The
sample section is sure to be within the first three sections
that you take, but test makers have become masters of hid-

ing it. To all prospective law school students, it’s best to
do as well as you can on all sections, and not even try to
figure out which section is the un-scored sample section.
Studying for this behemoth of a test is a chore for
most. Because of the amount of study time required for a
decent score, many students opt to take the test in July or
October, giving them the summer to study for it. This
also allows for early score reporting, so that applications
can be sent to schools in a timely manner. Some students
spend thousands for a Kaplan or Powerscore class in order
to prepare.
Being a late decider that I would attend Law
School I didn’t take my first exam until December, taking
only Thanksgiving break to study for it (which in itself is
difficult when you’re spending time with family). After
not getting the score I was shooting for, I took the exam
again in February, using Winter Break to study. If you
are interested in law school, I advise that you take the
July or October exam, both for the benefits a summer
break of studying will give you, as well as you can send
out your applications earlier (early applications will be
dealt with in another article). If you have the money to
spend on a training course, I would recommend Powerscore.
After taking a free sample course under both
Kaplan and Powerscore, I found that Powerscore gave
better insight, and provided a better setting for learning
the test. If you don’t have the money, then you can use
my test studying strategy; buying sample tests and taking
as many tests as you can to get familiar with tests got me
used to the grueling length of the test. Hopefully this article
help you secure your perfect 180, and into your dream
school.
Newsletter Staff
Editor
Patrice Cooper
Staff
Lisa Young
Jasmine McClenton
Antoine Marshall
Kiara Drake
Elizabeth Shaw
Tyesha Gary
Faculty Advisors
Dr. Mitali Wong
Ms. Sharon Gile
Page 3
Have You Considered Studying Abroad??
By Tyesha Gary
In the fall semester of 2008, I studied abroad in
London, England. It was the most exhilarating experience
of my life. As an English major, I took advantage of the
opportunity to see Shakespeare plays at the Globe, and of
course I visited Buckingham Palace, The Eye, The London
Bridge, Big Ben, Hyde Park, and so many other historical
landmarks and architectural designs. In Paris, I toured the
Louvre Museum, the Notre Dame Gothic Cathedral, and
the marvelous Eiffel Tower, just to name a few.
Though the experience was an invaluable one, preparing
to study abroad was no easy task. For any prospective
study abroad students, I would suggest a couple of
things. First, if you plan to study abroad during the academic
school year, you should make sure that transferable classes
are available so that you will gain course credit (you
want to make sure that it will not interrupt your projected
graduation date). Secondly, speak with both your academic
advisor and study abroad advisor, as
they should be able to guide you in
the right direction as inform you of
the legitimate study abroad agencies.
Dr. Donald Pace is now the study
abroad advisor on our campus. Most
importantly, you need to make sure
that you will have enough funds to
finance your semester (or year)
abroad. Claflin will pay up to the “Big Ben”
amount that you are awarded for tuition, room, and board,
here, but if the abroad fees exceed what you are awarded, it
is your responsibility to pay the balance using either a
scholarship, loans, personal savings, or a combination.
Once you have done the above, you should be well
on your way to experience a world outside of your own,
experience multiculturalism at its best, and ultimately
achieve personal growth, make new friends, build professional
relationships, and take home a genuine appreciation
for various people’s ways of life.

Interview with Dr. Juan Carlos Hernandez-
Cuevas
By Kiara Drake
With thirty years of teaching experience,
Dr. Juan Carlos Hernandez- Cuevas is one of the Department
of English and Foreign Language’s newest faculty members.
Born in Mexico City, Mexico, Dr. Hernandez earned his
teaching degree in Elementary Education from La Escuela
Nacional de Maestros (The National School of Teachers) in Mexico
City. He received his B.A. in Arts and Letters and minored in
Black Studies at Portland State University in Oregon. Dr. Hernandez
later earned a M.A. in Latin American and Spanish Literature
from the same institution. He received of his Ph.D. in Spanish
American Literature cum laude at the University of Alicante
in Valencia, Spain. Though responsible for educating and enlightening
students today, Dr. Hernandez spent over eight years as a
scholar. To those who tire of eight o’clock classes, oral presentations,
and term papers he often says, “If I can do it, you can do
it.”
Dr. Hernandez obtained a reverence for knowledge from
his mother. She recommended various literary works to her children
early in their lives and encouraged them to spend time perusing
the library shelves. Dr. Hernandez’s appetite for education
was whetted further during visits to his mother’s classrooms. She
taught at the middle and high school level and taught at the collegiate
level later in her career. Ultimately, her ability to access her
students’ imaginations and curiosity inspired her son to become
an educator.
Dr. Hernandez embarked upon his teaching career in
Mexico, but continued teaching Spanish language, literature, and
culture in the United States. He realized that Spanish would one
day make its way into mainstream American society. “In 1980, I
realized that Hispanic culture would have an impact in the postmodern
world,” he said. Dr. Hernandez wanted to be a facilitator
of this advancement. One of his greatest challenges in the classroom
is illustrating the uniqueness of various Latin cultures. He
seeks to provide his students with a global perspective, reaching
beyond their limited perceptions of the world.
Over the years, Dr. Hernandez never questioned his calling
to teach despite the racism and discrimination he endured
while a student in both America and Canada. He found that gaining
respect required more effort than his White counterparts had
to produce. Often, he was overlooked and excluded from campus
activities. Therfore, Claflin’s familial environment has greatly
appealed to him. Here, he has seen the willingness of professors
to aid students in their progress; Claflin is more aligned with his
desire to directly impact individual students.
When asked what he sees himself doing in ten years, Dr.
Hernandez replied that he will be writing and doing literary research.
An avid writer, he has published many works.
Page 4
Interview with Ms. Annette Grevious
By Elizabeth Shaw
Ms. Annette Grevious, an honorable
member of the Claflin faculty, is
passionate about the performing arts. Her happiness is
found within theatre and encouraging art education. Certainly
much interest has developed around this accomplished
woman, in a field once dominated by men, as she
has been a Helen Hayes Award Nominee, which is an aspired
position for many performers.
Her first realization of having a passion for the
performing arts was when she was 8 years old. She and her
grandfather performed a 30-minute complete improvisation
in her mother’s living room. She found interest in taking on
personas other than her own. As she acted as different people
in a completely different place for those thirty minutes,
realizing that she really enjoyed fantasy, pretending, and
having the opportunity to become someone else.
She is the alumni of several prestigious institutions;
as she received an associate’s degree in Speech and
Drama from Gainesville College in Gainesville, GA, a
Bachelor of Arts degree in Theatre from Brenau University
in Gainesville, GA, and a Master of Arts in Theatre Performance
from the University of Louisville. She added,
“Gainesville College and Brenau University had a joint
theatre program, which operated under Gainesville Theatre
Alliance”.
Because she is an accomplished faculty member of
Claflin University, it was only right to discuss her transition
from the stage to the classroom. When asked about her
other profession, Grevious exclaims that she wanted to
teach since she was a young child. She found herself always
respectfully imitating her teachers. She began her
teaching route at a young age as she would teach her Barbie
dolls lessons, develop assignments for them, and even grade
them. She developed leadership skills early on, due to her
persistence to act as the teacher, when playing “school”
with neighborhood friends. Soon after which, she utilized
the concept of combining both of her passions, by “teaching
theater”. In fact, she predicts that even if she made it “big”,
she would still want to teach.
The Helen Hayes nomination was for Outstanding
Ensemble, and Ms. Grevious has been admired for a show
she performed in, in Washington, DC, Intimate Apparel.
Although the cast was really small, of about six actors, it
was a very strong production. Not only was this the act of
the performers, Grevious quickly compliments, “the awesome
script”. With only a short rehearsal period of two
weeks, the six member group dynamically flourished during
this stressful period, and they managed to develop a nice
bond and strong show. Ms. Annette Grevious is not only an
attribute to educating others, but also to the field of
performing arts.