Project Proposal

Shannon Gawel

Project Proposal

I’ve been wanting to do a documentary on this for a long time: My brother has a rare genetic disorder called Angelman Syndrome. It means he is missing part of his 15^th chromosome. Characteristics include a generally happy disposition, inability to talk besides “mama” “dada” etc., they love water, they have a flat back of the head, they have a hard time with balance, to name a few. He was diagnosed at 3 years old, when I was 7.

Because it has been such a huge part of my life, and has had both negative and positive influences, I think I am going to make this self-reflexive and include myself. The last documentary I did, my voice was heard in the very last segment for the first time, and my professor said I should have included it sooner and to more of an extent, since it was another personal subject. I’ll start with the diagnosis, and my parents and maybe a few family members, and record R.J. doing some of his daily routines. For example, on Wednesdays he goes to Danceability, a dance studio for individuals with special needs and absolutely loves it. I’ll then expand to a couple semi-local families with an “Angel,” and try to get an interview with the woman organizing the Angelman Syndrome Walkathon. It’s not until May, but it’s in the planning process. I will also be able to include family photos and home movies.

It would be tricky, but a few famous people have a child with Angelman Syndrome. I will contact them, just for amusement because I doubt they will respond. But I can at least say I tried.

I don’t know if it’s too corny, but I would like to call it “How to make an ‘Angel’ laugh.” It’s about living with someone who has a disability, and how it changes everything. I also just want people to understand a little more about it as well. One in 20,000 babies born have Angelman Syndrome, so it’s not that well-known.

While walking along the outskirts of University at Buffalo's South Campus, it might be easy to bypass a white trailer called "Hayes Annex C." Inside, there may be a broken vending machine and vacant offices, but at the end of a fluorescent white hallway, SBI Health Education is there, at your service.

Inside, I found Nicole Sweeney, who was more than willing to explain the many services this office has. She's been at this office for over 2 years as Assistant Director.

First of all, it is a sexual health education office, so of course there are free condoms. But on top of that, there are many educational services Nicole informed me of, such as workshops like STI Jeopardy and Sex in the Dark, where a peer educator will answer any anonymous questions students may have. They also offer counseling services for pregnancy and STI testing, as well as women's health sessions to help female students prepare for their first gynecological exam.

Nicole, however, specializes in the office's SBI Safety Services. This includes nightly walk stations in the Capen Library on North Campus and the Health Sciences Library on South. Their motto is "So You Don't Have to Walk Alone." This also includes a night-time Safety Shuttle so you don't have to leave a party alone or so you can be picked up from work when you don't have a car. She oversees all of the volunteers, stipend staff and community service students.


These services not only protect students from being robbed, but also from being sexually assaulted. That is why Nicole is involved in rape prevention. She helps with the office's events surrounding sexual and domestic violence, such as Spring semester's V-Day Campaign, which raises money to stop violence against women and girls, and Fall semester's Take Back the Night, a march down Main St. to stop domestic and sexual violence. In the office recently, many volunteers and interns have been making "Vagina Pops," which are chocolate lollipops shaped like...well, vaginas. They sell for $1, and are raising money for SBI Safety Services and the women and girls of Haiti, as part of the V-Day Campaign, which includes "The Vagina Monologues," Eve Ensler's award-winning play, and "A Memory, A Monologue, A Rant and A Prayer."

To catch more details on Nicole's job and other aspects of SBI Health Education, check out the "video" below.

Hello blogging world!

My name's Shannon and this is my blog for DMS 217.