Education Blog

Hello everyone,

The library is more crowded now than it has been all semester, but I enjoy studying around a lot of people.

A few weeks ago I discovered by accident a field of chipmunk burrows. On several occasions, I’ve noted chipmunks darting in and out of the holes in the ground. I haven’t told anyone the location, as they could easily be disturbed.

Unfortunately, the chipmunk field has been discovered, though not by word of mouth. The past few nights that I’ve left the library around midnight or 1 am and walked past the field, a small, black and white cat crouches under an oak tree, carefully watching the ground full of holes.

It locks eyes with me as I go by. The cat looks soft and friendly, and I have tried unsuccessfully to pet it. I have seen this cat a few times on campus- always late at night. Once was in a flower bed by Coulter, another was on the steps of the One Stop. And it surprised me one night by popping its head out of a ditch as I walked by.

“What are you doing in there?” I asked. But it only watched my eyes.

If my dad knew this cat, he would have already named it. He is the best person I know for coming up with great animal names. The cat is yet another character- another friend even- that I have met at Cullowhee. It helps make the place special. I do not wish it luck, however, in its quest for a midnight snack on the field of chipmunk burrows.

Until next time,

Nathan Marshburn

In case you haven’t noticed, there is quite a bit of talent on this campus. I wish I could have written this blog before Lucky Stiff went on stage, but unfortunately the show only ran from November 8th through the 11th. It was a delightful musical comedy about a man who gets shot in Atlantic City. The all-student cast did a superb job. I recognized many of them from around campus.

You might not expect that Greg Kennedy, a sophomore I’ve seen in Dodson cafeteria and in the audience at a couple of music recitals, would have such a booming singing voice and be able to fake dying in such a hilarious manner.

Benny Enfinger, a senior who judged floats with me during the homecoming parade in Sylva delivered great one-line insults on stage with such smoothness, in addition to being very light on his feet for dance routines.

Rachel All, a senior education major who studies quietly in a corner of the library many nights, transformed on stage into a sexy Monte Carlo show girl with a great French accent. Her roulette wheel outfit was truly dazzling. If you saw her in The Nerd, then you may not have even recognized her in Lucky Stiff. Her portrayal of such different characters was very impressive.

And Mark Hudson, a junior whom I have not met but seen many times walking on campus, sang so well and moved seamlessly between the straight man and comedic requirements of his part. The song and dance he performed with the “dead man” in a wheelchair was a feat of athleticism and coordination.

The others in the play such as Christy Waymouth, Dayna Damron, Patrick Detloff , Bethany Rowe, Cord Scott and Bryan Nicholls were also superbly cast. I just haven’t met them or seen them on campus. Perhaps their costumes and makeup were so good that I have not recognized them.

It is a shame that the play did not run longer. I would have gone to see it again.

So don’t underestimate whom you might be eating with in the cafeteria or sitting beside in the computer lab. Some of the people on this campus are real stars.

Until next time,

Nathan Marshburn

Wow, things are winding down fast. I’m completely done with the work required for one of my classes, and I’m counting down to the last couple of things I have to turn in for my other two.

Thanksgiving was nice as I ate a lot of food and visited with cousins, aunts and uncles. I hope it was pleasant for everyone else as well.

The Christmas tree in the lobby of Madison dormitory where I live is beautiful. I look forward to Christmas, but a break over a month long is probably a little too much for me.

This Saturday, December 1st, is the Great Smoky Mountain Toy Run. It should be a fun event. I’ll have to show up late as the LSAT is that morning, but get in touch with Melissa or one of the other officers for details. We plan to go to Asheville for dinner afterwards.

Until next time,

Nathan Marshburn

It’s half past midnight in the library right now. They just shifted the hours so that the building stays open until 2 am. Soon it will be open 24 hours for exams. I’m seeing people I don’t usually see here this late, and you can feel their stress. But I’m smiling because I’m almost done with everything for the semester. And the stress here is nothing compared with the stress of the real world. It’s amusing to watch some of these students cram and rush.

Stop Kiss, a play by Diana Son, hit the stage last week. I saw it on Friday night. Once again, our theater department displayed some great talent. It was truly an enjoyable experience.

Bravo to the director, student Sarah Lipham, for selecting a story that should challenge people’s beliefs. Though the play contained a few four letter words and some adult themes, it was not obscene. Stop Kiss raised concerns about some controversial issues. A few people laughed during the play at inappropriate times– but then they realized it. This is what you want when you are trying to get them to see issues in a new light.

The two lead actresses also did a great job. “Callie,” played by senior Hannah Case and “Sara,” played by junior Stacie Wilson, worked well together on stage. A scene where they try to coax a cat named Caesar out to sleep on the bed with Sara is hilarious. And later, the scenes at the hospital were both sad and touching. Each actress showed a maturity beyond their years with the depth they brought to such dynamic roles.

So, to everyone involved with the production, thank you. I enjoyed the evening and afterwards spent a lot time considering what the play meant. I hope to see the director and cast in future productions at WCU.

Until next time,

Nathan Marshburn

Have you seen the Christmas tree on the second floor of the University Center, close to the mail room? It’s large and pretty with ornaments of purple, gold and white. There is another Christmas tree in the library near the circulation desk. And then there is one in Madison Residence Hall where I live. I stopped to look at these trees often to appreciate being in Cullowhee during the Christmas season.

Earlier this week, I took a ride down Locust Creek Road and found the trailer where I lived for part of my time as an undergraduate. It’s been seven years since I’ve seen that place. I last left it in May 2000 to head to my job in the Great Smoky Mountains in Tennessee.

Who knows if I will ever be in this part of the world again for Christmas? I would not mind being here again next year and finishing a Master’s degree. But if all goes according to plan, I will be in law school for the fall semester 2008. It is entirely possible that I will never see the Christmas trees on campus or drive down Locust Creek Road in December ever again. Even if I want to come back to this area to practice law, I’ve learned never to take the next moment for granted. Without trying to sound morbid, I’ve seen enough of this world to know that death will always surprise me, and there are no guarantees, no protections from when it decides to pay me a visit.

But anyway, I probably would not have understood that as well as an undergraduate. For most people at WCU, your whole life is ahead of you and the world is right at your fingertips. So enjoy the Christmas season in the beautiful sanctuary that is Western and Cullowhee, Sylva and Dillsboro. Once your exams are over, take a look at the Christmas decorations and the campus and remember you were here in December 2007. It will be a special memory you can take with you for the rest of your life.

Until next time,

Nathan Marshburn