L to R: Ms. Tracy Tong, Gotham Girls Junior Roller Derby captain Isabella
Melita, Ms. Jennifer Kennedy-Orlando, Andréanna Seymore

Noted Sports Photographer, Author Visits Xavier

Veteran photographer Andréanna Seymore, author of Scars and Stripes: The Culture of Modern Roller Derby, spoke to a full house in the Meditz Family Library Learning Center on March 18.

Seymore, whose work has been featured in such publications as The New York Times Magazine, Bloomberg Businessweek, Fortune, Newsweek, and O, The Oprah Magazine, spent five years playing roller derby for the Long Island Roller Rebels. Known as “Point N Shoot” in the roller derby community, she is a passionate ambassador for the sport and its message of acceptance. During her presentation, Ms. Seymore showed slides from Scars and Stripes, shared stories about the making of the book, and introduced students to the sport around which her book revolves.

“She taught the students about roller derby—the rules, the stage names, the changes in the sport, the fans, the players, the growth of both men's and women's derby, and the injuries,” said English teacher, Book Club moderator, and Photography Club moderator Jennifer Kennedy-Orlando, who plays in a recreational roller derby league with Ms. Seymore and invited her to Xavier. 

Students in attendance said they learned a great deal about a part of American culture that was previously unfamiliar to them. “My experience of [roller derby] had been limited to 10-second intervals displayed on movies playing on HBO. I thought nothing of it,” said Soheb Osmani ’15. “However, my experience with the presentation made me understand the complex culture behind it."

"The event gave extraordinary insight into the sport and culture of roller derby,” agreed Patrick Caoile ’15. “It is refreshing to see such passionate women and men invigorated as a community about something they love so much.”

Xavier librarian Tracy Tong, who co-moderates the Book Club with Ms. Kennedy-Orlando, said the event was a true success. “It was a great turnout and a wonderful opportunity for students to learn more about a sport that is steadily growing in our country. Very inspiring!”