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Nov/Dec 2013 SpelmanPaper@gmail.com The BluePrint Love, Marriage and Religion By: Morgan-Taylor Webber C2014 Marriage is defined as the formal union of two individuals (typically a man and woman) recognizable by law. However, marriage becomes more than just a union between two individuals once the term is placed in a religious context. Religion, characterized by a system of faith and worship, provides its followers with rules and practices expected to guide them towards salvation. With the presence of these rules, marriage is extended beyond a simple union, and becomes an institution or act of service that varies according to faith. Buddhists—individuals following the teachings of Buddha— consider marriage a personal and individual concern and not a religious duty. Marriage to Buddhists is an institution created by mankind to contribute to their overall well-being and happiness. In the sacred book of Buddhism, the Tripitaka, there are no specific rules on how one should conduct their married life, but Buddha does give married individuals advice on how to maintain tranquility in their home. While Buddhism allows each individual the freedom to decide for him or herself all the issues pertaining to marriage, Buddha advises married couples to refrain from committing adultery and advises that older men not have yonnaer wives, buddha gives this advice because tnese issues are considered ways to create disharmony in the couples’ family, ruining the happiness that marriage is supposed to bring. In marriage between two Buddhists, there is no distinction of who is superior between man and woman. Buddhists believe that society grows through the network of relationships that resemble interdependence, meaning each individual in a marriage is to give strength, moral courage, support, and appreciative recognition to one another and the skills they bring, demonstrating a commitment to support and protect others in the group or community. Muslims—individuals following the teachings of Allah—view marriage in a very different light than Buddhists. Muslims consider marriage one of the most virtuous and approved institutions, one that guards modest—a significant component of the Islamic faith. Raising a family outside of marriage is considered going against the religion. Marriage is considered the only way to bring families into existence. In the Islamic religion, marriage is sacred because it adheres to Allah’s commandments to continue the human race by rearing and nursing children to become true servants of Allah. Muslims believe that marriage shields them from the ‘evils’ of promiscuity, fornication, adultery, and homosexuality; issues that are thought to lead to even greater evils. Christians—individuals following the teachings of God, recognizing Jesus Christ as their savior—view marriage as an institution rooted in the divine plan of creation. They believe that God brings two baptized Christians together to become one body to be fertile and multiply. With marriage thought to be a sacrament, it is believed that the bond between two married individuals is sealed and strengthened by God’s love. Since the hands of God establish the marital bond, it is intended to be iitelong and exclusive, demonstrating permanency, faithfulness, and exclusivity. These characteristics protect God’s purpose of marriage, which is for the married couple to grow in mutual love and create the generation and education of their offspring. A constant factor found in -all of these religions is that marriage is regarded with great respect. It is an institution created to establish a union between two individuals, building the foundation for creating a family. Although the standard for marriage differs depending on religious beliefs, it remains a system founded on love and happiness. The Art of Meditation By: Morgan-Taylor Webber C’2014 Pursuing an undergraduate career offers several perks that can be used to create a better future, such as knowledge, networking, and communication skills. However, the amount of work required to complete undergraduate coursework successfully is an additional stress on top of family issues, personal issues, and other matters that you may have. Whenever stress begins to consume your being, there are several different ways to relieve the tension, but meditation just might be the best. Meditation is a practice that has been dated back 5,000 years. Buddha is one of the biggest meditation icons both in the past and present. Presently, meditation has become an active part of Western society, with people using meditation daily to relieve stress. Meditation not only can be used to treat anxiety, stress, and depression, but it can also be used as time for self-reflection. In the most stressful situations, self-reflection allows you to take a moment to contemplate the reasoning behind the current situation, alleviate the tension, and prevent the circumstance from occurring again. Every feeling and emotion lasts temporarily, so before you carry out an action that has permanent consequences center yourself, meditate on the issue at hand, and then proceed once your thoughts are clear and geared in a more positive direction. Meditation can be practiced alone, with a group, and in any location you feel most comfortable. Do not let the stresses of college weigh you down any longer. In the Lower Level of Sister’s Chapel every Thursday at noon, you can take a brief break from your busy schedule to sit for an hour and be guided through the meditation process, giving you time to alleviate yourself from daily anxieties. Use this ancient practice to achieve a state of serenity, peace, and tranquility. Tips on How to Eat Well During the Holidays By: Kevona Belcher C’2015 With the holiday season underway, most people want to indulge in baked goods and home cooked meals. Unfortunately, if you’re not conscious of your eating habits, the pounds can add on quickly. The list below provides a few simple tips to enjoy holiday treats while maintaining your weight. Exercise • If you are active on a daily basis, burning the calories you gain from holiday dinners will be a breeze. Try taking a nice long walk before and after dinner. This can also aid in digestion as well. Eat Breakfast • A healthy breakfast on holidays will help you eat less and speed up your metabolism. Low fat and protein is always the best option. Whole grain toast, egg whites, and fruit are a perfect combination that will leave you satisfied until dinner. Use Baking/Cooking Alternatives • Grandma’s recipes are most likely filled with fat and unhealthy carbs. Fortunately, there are alternatives when making your favorite dishes. Below are some suggestions: - Use olive oil instead of butter when cooking - Substitute plain yogurt for sour cream when making casseroles or mashed potatoes - Try fat free chicken broth to base turkey and make gravy Try Not to Overeat • That old saying, “Your eyes are bigger than your stomach” has a great deal of truth to it. Most of the time we want more than our stomachs can handle and feel the need to finish our plates. When you feel yourself getting full, stop and save the rest for later. Try drinking a glass of water before and during your meal. This can help reduce the amount of food you take in. FOOD & Drink 21 & UP ALCOHOLIC DRINKS By: Chelsey Washington C’2015 & Taylor Curry C’2015 Being in college with little to no parental supervision makes some college students feel as though they have the green light to indulge in alcoholic beverages. While many students have the ability to gage their alcohol intake, others fall victim to the effects of the over-consumption of alcohol. For the 21 and over crowd, drinking is great when you are safe and fun in one’s apartment or on an extravagant night out on the town. To avoid the embarrassment of the occasional stumble, slurred speech, or sick moment, here are a few wines and cocktails that prove to be a delicious alternative to gulping down Bacardi in public. • Chardonnay- this delicious, crisp white wine is perfect with a light dinner of chicken and vegetables, fish, or even light Mexican fare. • Pinot Noire - this unusually light and airy red wine pairs well with red meat dishes, Italian food, and even curry. • Mint Julep- this distinctly southern treat is a delicious way to cool off. Gently crush ten spearmint leaves and 1 to 2 tbsp. of Simple Syrup in a glass with the brim coated with 2 tablespoons of superfine sugar, fill it with crushed ice, and then pour half a cup of Kentucky bourbon in to finish. • Bloody Mary- a decadent drink perfect for breakfast that is as spicy as it is red. Combine 1 oz. of vodka, 2 oz. of tomato juice, 2 tsp. of fresh lemon juice, Worcestershire, kosher salt and pepper, and cayenne pepper all to taste. Pour in an ice-filled Collins glass and garnish with lemon. seconds and then strain into a chilled cocktail glass. For garnish and flavor, twist a strip of orange peel over the top and drop it in. Invite over some girlfriends, turn to a favorite Pandora radio station and try something new. For students aged 21 and up, now is a great time to discover drinks that appeal to specific palettes and lifestyles. As the popular sign-off of most alcoholic beverage commercials advises, “Please enjoy responsibly.” Pictures and recipes courtesy of saveur.com. Food and Drink By: Taylor Curry C’2015 Let’s be honest. Very rarely have you said to your friends, “let’s eat in the cafe tonight,” without your stomach offering up silent protest. Not only does the food taste bad but sometimes you just know what they are serving probably contains a lot of calories and not knowing exactly what you were eating is a bit traumatizing. Jasmine Payne, the Secretary of Student Affairs of SSGA talked, and Spelman’s new Food Service Director, Anna-Marie Chavers, listened. Payne first developed her own food committee that was made up of a diverse group of two students from each class, some commuters, some vegetarians, some with other culinary differences. Payne then met with Chavers to discuss proper food labels and allergy sensitive foods. She and her committee soon found out that Chavers was already one step ahead of them. As food service director, Chavers has made allergy awareness a huge priority in the Spelman cafe. She encourages students with allergies and restrictive diets to meet with her in her office so she can help them plan personalized meals for the week. There is also a special cooler in the cafe for allergy students and special food available upon request. Vegan dietary restrictions are also a priority for Chavers. While the vegan cooler in years passed looked a bit like something from the Hunger Games, the current list of options available to vegan students has expanded exponentially. The cafe now offers food like vegan coconut shrimp, vegan pizza, vegan turkey burgers, queso, bread, and a wide selection of Annie’s vegan salad dressings. Keeping the cafe inclusive to vegetarian students is also importantto Chavers and herteam. Many improvements are easy to spot, like the fresh vegetables at the stir fry station that, according to Chavers, serve multiple purposes. “The fresh vegetables we have here, in-house, make the station look nice and act as a kind of garnish, but they also let you know that these are fresh veggies we’re using.” Chavers went on to add that many of the food items offered in Spelman’s cafe are now made fresh, on the premises. “We make all our pizza dough from scratch.” The cafe has also pledged to include more healthy varieties of food and to work in congruence with Dr. Tatum’s Wellness Revolution initiative. Chavers explained that as part of the cafe’s new Healthy for Life Campaign, there are digital boards placed around the cafe that display how many calories are in the food. Spelman has even changed the way students slurp their soup: now there is always a protein-heavy choice, and a vegetable option available every day at the soup station. The hot-line has also received some changes. “Students were concerned that the hot-line was too carb-heavy,” says Chavers. “So now there are always two veggies, two meat options, and only one carb option.” And with incorporating more varieties of bread and pasta, including more whole wheat, and, in the near future, expanding the salad bar with ten more items, Chavers and her team hope to work with the Wellness Revolution to keep students healthier and happier. Lastly, both Payne and Chavers stressed the importance of feedback. Whether it’s a formal request or a note jotted down on one of the yellow “We Heard You” papers located in the cafeteria, Chavers personally goes through all of it. Payne even admitted to receiving feedback through word of mouth. “I’m a little nosy,” she joked, “I listen to regular conversations and complaints about Spelman Dining and make myself available to suggestions and concerns.” Simple things like using egg whites at the omelet station, or serving omelets all day for that matter have been included purely based off of feedback. Chavers even revealed that the “Peace of Mind” station contains improvements solely derived from the feedback of students and faculty dining in the cafe. “Feedback is so important here,” says Chavers. “It’s one thing to tell your friend about a Spelman Dining issue, or to tweet about it, but if you actually tell me, I can do something about it.” For more information on Spelman Dining, visit Spelmandining.com and receive various updates, like the menu of the day. You can also “like” the Spelman Dining Facebook page or download the CampusDish app which will soon garner exclusive access to specials for the Spelman Food Court. After Thanksgiving break, students will have access to nutrition information on what’s being offered in the cafe via the Spelman dining website. For even more information contact Anna Maria Chavers at macko-annamarie@aramark.com or Jasmine Payne at Jpayne8@scmail.spelman.edu.