Invasion of Privacy: Frances Sharples
The time has finally come. After three years of unyielding labor, unwavering devotion, and innumerous sacrifices, senior English major Frances Sharples, The Lamron’s beloved editor-in-chief, is retiring their title and moving on to a sea of opportunities as they prepare for their graduation.
Having worked with the school newspaper since freshman year, Sharples took a more direct path to editorship than most, moving from staff writer to managing editor in one step. It wasn’t long before Sharples found themselves in the top seat as editor-in-chief: “I was the only person around and I kind of got thrown in headfirst as a result of that. I didn't know anybody who was on e-board, like, then or going into like the next e-board that I was going to be a part of.”
While taking on these new responsibilities in such a short amount of time was certainly a challenge, it proved itself immediately to be incredibly rewarding for Sharples, thus compelling them to continue their journey with the club.
“The first in-person print that we did when I was editor-in-chief was also one of the first in-person prints that we did after COVID–so none of us knew what was going on. None of us knew how to use [Adobe] InDesign. It was awful. And I came home at like two in the morning [when we were finally done] and laid on the floor of our common room of our dorm and was like, ‘This is the best runner's high I've ever experienced in my life,’” recalled Sharples. “I had been crying and panicking all day, worrying that it wasn't gonna happen. And then when it did… I [felt like I had] accomplished something. That was when I was like, ‘Okay, this really means so much to me and I need to be a part of this.’”
With this being said, because of this “whirlwind” of promotion and the difficulties the pandemic posed for The Lamron, it wasn’t yet clear where the club fit into Sharples’ life outside of meetings and printing: “I remember [the previous editor-in-chief] saying ‘I found some of my closest friends here’ and I thought ‘What are you talking about?’ Like, I knew the e-board on the screen and in virtual classes but I didn’t know anyone personally.”
Fortunately, over time, it became apparent that Sharples was a natural fit for the role they were thrown into, and as they reflected upon their experiences, they noted how their relationship with the club and its members has changed over time.
“I will now say that I have to completely agree [with the previous editor-in chief],” said Sharples. “I love everyone here so much. It’s so funny that Kaitlin, [The Lamron’s future editor-in-chief], keeps using the line that ‘we’ve really become a family this year’ because I think we really have…I genuinely feel like I have a connection with everybody on e-board in a way that I did not anticipate at the start of like being involved in The Lamron and I'm really, really grateful for that.”
The facilitation of this family-environment, of course, would never have been possible without Sharples. As Matt Keller, The Lamron’s Arts & Entertainment Editor, spoke about in his invasion, moments like stopping a meeting to watch “Man or Muppet” and doing “rose and thorn” every day to check in on how the members are doing are just tiny examples of how Sharples created an environment where writers could not only hone their craft but also have fun doing so. Whereas writer’s meetings used to be barren, the Thursday meetings are now routinely filled, and this participation is a testament to how Sharples’ inviting and enthusiastic nature draws in a wide range of people from the campus community.
“It's just so awesome to see that there are people who genuinely want to be involved in this and we've created something that people actually want to engage in, which we did not have during COVID,” Sharples reflected. “I’m just happy people want to be here.”
Apart from The Lamron, Sharples has made positive contributions to the campus culture in a number of ways. Whether it be through their engagement with the English department or, most prominently, their founding of Iris Magazine, Geneseo’s first and only queer literary mag, Sharples has continuously led their college career with the utmost integrity and passion.
Of course, Geneseo has left its own impact on Sharples, particularly within the English department:
“I'm so grateful for the way that our faculty have shaped the way that I will see the world forever. And I think that one of the hugest ways that they do that is by showing you there's no one way to think about anything,” said Sharples. “It's such a wonderful way to view the world, where you want to question everything and you want to find the deeper meaning. Who wouldn't want to live like that? Who doesn't want to live with love, wanting to learn more about the world and to engage with it in these different ways at every turn of your life? That's amazing.”
When asked specifically about their mentors within the department, Sharples was quick to name a few: “I have to name-drop Dr. Doggett and Dr. Woidat… Professor Caroline Beltz-Hosek, too, and Beth McCoy. Professor Rutkowski. Incredibly brilliant. They showed me that my voice matters.”
Sharples founded Iris in their sophomore year, a feat few can compete with, and the club has been releasing editions steadily since with eight editions total thus far. Opening the door for marginalized voices, whether in The Lamron or Iris, is at the heart of Sharples’ work on campus: “I love it so much. It's so important to me. It's so important to Geneseo, even if they don't think so. It's so important for us to be able to have a space for writers and other people who just care about the density of the community to come together and talk about it.”
As with most to-be graduates, Sharples isn’t afraid to poke fun at the future and where they might find themselves in the coming years.
“I would give all of my organs to just, like, be a desk jockey at [National Public Radio],” Sharples quipped. “That is the dream. But I’m really excited to get a pet and to be more independent.”
A revelation shook the very foundations of The Lamron when Sharples was asked a fun fact about themselves, saying, “I’m a lefty,” a fact that would seem inconsequential to most but also a fact the interviewers didn’t know despite being close to Sharples. “No one ever sees it coming,” they said. “People aren’t supposed to be left-handed according to society, so I’m actually breaking binaries in so many ways.”
Whether it be due to their left-handedness or their accumulated skills, it is clear that Sharples truly does continue to go against the grain with grace. It is perhaps because of this that they have been able to gain insightful perspectives on the things that matter most in life.
When asked about the concept of love—a question that was also posed to senior psychology major and managing editor Emma Mincer in her own invasion—Sharples offered a captivating perspective through which to consider how love moves through us and through the world: “I feel like love is just like an energy in our universe that people choose to engage with in different ways and with different people at different times. And I think that the way that people choose to approach love completely impacts the shape of their life and like what they do with their lives.”
Of course, as a graduating senior, Sharples was also asked to give advice to the younger students of The Lamron and of Geneseo at large. Their advice was just as sound and thought-provoking:
“Lead with your heart. Whatever you're going to do, do it with genuine passion and engagement, and give it everything that you have, because there's so much here,” Sharples urged. “[Move] through college in a way that is intentional and…just care about the things that you're doing. Do things that you care about, and if you don't care about it, why are you doing it? And love people love, love, love, and try to do things that make you happy even if you don't think you have time to. Drink lots of water, and write for The Lamron.”
To bring all of their poignant wisdom into an intersecting outlook on life, Sharples was able to speak on their vehement love of fish and how fish can serve as a guide to life. While it may sound strange to you, dear reader, fear not: Sharples made the connections between humans and fish extremely clear.
“Fish are so—in my opinion—representative of community. In the way that I try to approach life in every single way I think of, like, swimming with the school of fish; you're all going through the same thing, but you each have such an individual experience,” Sharples explained. “I feel like a little fish swimming in a stream of love and I try to soak it up however I can whenever I can… I think everyone should be trying to incorporate fish mentality into their lives.”
Through their time with The Lamron and beyond, Sharples has truly mastered the art of fish mentality. In the way that they seamlessly create community among people and through their presence as an individual, Sharples is a true embodiment of what it means to be a fish.
We have had the highest honor of getting to know Sharples through The Lamron and beyond. They have proven time and time again to be not only an incredibly dedicated individual and leader, but also a loyal and loving friend. As they move on to the next chapter of their lives, whether it takes them near or far from where we are today, we are most confident in saying that their impact on the world will remain an inspiration to us all. We cannot express our gratitude enough for getting to swim alongside Sharples over the last several years and soak up the love that they continuously radiate into our lives. Just keep swimming, Sharples.