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Calabrese
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"The Fortress" is the 20th form of Tang Soo Do Moo Do Kwan. Marcus Calabrese, 19, took a deep breath as he began to perform this karate fighting stance before a captive audience at Wellfest. He had not warmed up because he had just left class. He looked slightly shaken, but was flawless. A fortress is defined as "a fortified, defensive structure." Calabrese's negative and positive life experiences have worked together to make him like the art form he has chosen to study.
Calabrese was born in Hampton, Va., on March 29, 1985. He is the youngest of three children and the only boy. Calabrese attended high school in Portsmouth and came to Virginia Wesleyan this past fall. He is an ACCESS scholar who plans to major in political science. "I'd like to work on Capitol Hill or in federal, state or local government one day," Calabrese said. "Maybe become a member of Congress." These words are coming from an unassuming personality with crossed fingers. Many might think that these are big dreams for such a person. Those with that reaction have never spent time with Calabrese. It is true that like many great personalities, he had a different childhood.
"My parents divorced when I was 5," Calabrese said. "But it is fine -- there is really nothing I could do about it." After the breakup of his parents' relationship, he lived with his sister Meneka, 26, and his dad, while his other sister Candice, 23, left to live with their mom. Calabrese than began the first journey of his life. He lived with his father and his stepmother in Missouri. His father was in the Air Force as a jet engine mechanic. In 1994, they were sent to Saudi Arabia. Calabrese chronicled the experience. "That is how I first encountered karate," he said. "I was imitating a move I had seen on the Power Rangers and I impressed a kid. He called his dad over, who asked me if I wanted lessons." Karate became extremely important in his young life.
"It gave me something to do," Calabrese said. "I was also tired of being beat up by my cousins." The martial arts have become a refuge for Calabrese, who takes lessons at Wesleyan as well as teaches other students. As I watched him complete the kick and punches of The Fortress, I realized that his physical moves could be applied to real-life experiences. The hand blocks serve as a defense again the pain of an unhappy childhood. The kick becomes reactionary: get them before they get you. Moo Do Kwan has given Calabrese a sense of control over what seemed to be uncontrollable circumstances. It was in Saudi Arabia that Calabrese encountered the next journey: religion.
"I was saved in the winter of 1996," he said. "It was weird because in Saudi Arabia we weren't supposed to have church." His quiet introduction to faith helped him become more adjusted to the life in which he found himself. "It was the morality of God that attracted me," he said. "That was when I really became concerned with learning the Bible." Calabrese returned to the States in 2000 and now resides with his grandmother when not at school. "I still talk to my dad a lot," he said. "A relationship between my stepmom and I is not desired by either side." Calabrese feels most connected to his grandmother.
"I know that if my parents had stayed together but not changed who they were, my life would have been worse," Calabrese said. "Things could have been very different." Calabrese came to Wesleyan for a specific reason. "I thought it was a Christian school," he said. "But I am where I am supposed to be." He is attracted by the small size of the campus. "It is like a little community," he said. "It just feels like home." He modestly lists the clubs and organizations he is involved with. "I am a member of the Political Science Association, and I am the secretary for Campus Men's Bible Study," Calabrese said. He also works in the Office of International and Intercultural Programs as the visual graphics designer.
He fails to mention that every time there is an open-mike even on campus, he is there. This is his third journey: writing. "My first speech was my own version of ‘I Have a Dream' by Martin Luther King Jr," Calabrese said. "Since then, I have done various competitions, talent shows, and also just when asked." Or when the mood hits him. A few weeks ago, he spoke about passion and how it drives people to make the decisions they do. His talk could have been angry or bitter, reflecting on his past. Rather he exhorts the audience "to stand for something positive, or they may find that they will fall for anything." He has a clear idea of what drives this journey. "God has affected my writing a great deal," Calabrese said. "I have a drive to write." He also has a drive to succeed. After spending the last few weeks with Calabrese, I realized that he is the type of leader that we all need -- someone who is close enough to the situation to empathize but removed enough to make a difference.
As Calabrese closes The Fortress on one foot, I understand that he embodies that "fortified, defensive structure," the positive qualities of a negative life journey. His body carries the skills of a warrior, the mind of a leader and the heart of a champion. This unassuming character dressed in gi bottoms and tank could be whomever he wants. Why? Because he believes that he can.
Spring Events April 30 -- Honors Convocation
1:45 p.m. Convocation Center
-- Spring Fling
3 p.m. Batten/Grille Lawn
May 1 -- Battle of the Bands
2 p.m. Batten/Grille Lawn
May 5 -- Last Day of Classes -- Coffeehouse
7 p.m. - 10 p.m. Eggleston Commons
May 6 -- Student Film Screening
6 p.m. - 8 p.m. Clarke 118
May 14 -- Baccalaureate Service
7 p.m. Haygood United Methodist Church
May 15 -- Commencement
11 a.m. Convocation Center
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| Photo by BEN RUEHLMANN Channel 46 is currently airing photos taken at various campus events. It will soon show videos of events instead. |
Virginia Wesleyan College is trying to improve its campus TV station. The station has been off the air for the past year and a half but was turned on about a week ago. It can be seen here on channel 46. "Right now the station's at the ground level," said Rebecca Desjardins, publications manager in the college communications office. "But if I got some students, it could go as far as they wanted it to." So far the TV station is just a power point presentation, but Desjardins wants to turn it into more. She plans on having programming to include athletic events and extra curricular events on campus. It would remind students of these events and it would change on a weekly basis.
"Everybody's so busy they can't attend all the events they want to," said Desjardins. "But when they get back to their room, they might be able to catch it on the television station." Desjardins believes this would make a lot of students happier and give them something to talk about. That's why she's seeking good story ideas Intercultural Program Director Leilani Atangan suggested cultural programming and talk shows. “People like to see themselves and their friends on TV,” said Desjardins. The station currently has two problems. One is the possibility of dealing with copyright laws, which should be minor since it would only be viewed on campus. The other is a lack of staff. "I'm just asking the one student in the Grill, and they have TVs to watch from if they're interested in participating," said Desjardins.
She is looking for students on campus to do the filming, recording and editing for the station. She's looking for students at any level and major who are good with cameras. So far, senior Dori Broomell is helping with the station. She has been recording lectures; she filmed Wellfest and has been getting footage of games on campus. Broomell is good at what she does, but she is graduating this semester and a replacement has not been found. No flyers have been sent out about this station because everyone's busy lately. Desjardins did send out an e-mail, but very few people responded to it. However, she still plans on sending information out when the new freshmen arrive at orientation. It is not clear where the station's going now, but maybe it will catch on if more people get involved. "I think it's a really good opportunity for students to get involved," said Desjardins. "And I think it fulfills a need of the campus."
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