By Luke Luedy

It’s 1987 in La Roche University. Students are spilling out of the dormitory, after just attending Mass. Nuns walk the sidewalks. Professors aren’t only teachers of knowledge, but humble servants of God as well. Everyone of different positions of Catholic hierarchy take dual roles of teachers as well. 

It’s now 2023 in La Roche University. Sister Rita Yeasted is now the last one there. 

The Redhawk Post interviewed Sister Rita on October 24^th, 2023. The focus of the interview was to ask how she felt being one of the last professors with ties to Catholic organizations. Sister Rita said she feels sad that things have progressed to such a point.  

The Redhawk Post also inquired her on what it is like teaching students of the modern era. Sister Rita said how students nowadays, in some ways, are much more difficult to teach in 2023 than in 1980. “I have more trouble teaching freshmen sometimes,” she said, “than I did when they were ten.” 

However, Sister Rita said that while she is disappointed somewhat on the state of both of those aspects, she is not discouraged. In fact, she said she is only more determined to keep teaching. 

For her patron saint, Saint Rita, is the patron saint of impossible cases. “When things look impossible,” she said, “I pray to her.”  

For over four decades, Sister Rita has been tied hand-to-hand with La Roche University. A student of La Roche, she received her bachelor’s degree in English in 1968. Just two years later, La Roche became co-educational.  

In addition, Sister Rita was involved in the Sisters of Divine Providence, and now is affiliated with Sisters of Christian Community. She has also written a book, on the life of a Presbyterian minister, Jon: John Oliver Nelson and the Movement for Power in the Church.  

Even now, after retiring from her position of Chair of the English Department at La Roche, does she still serve the university by being an adjunct professor. 

Times are Changing 

In the decades since she first started teaching at La Roche, a lot has changed. 

Campus itself did so significantly. Sister Rita said that before the Zappala Campus Center was constructed, students had no definite place to relax and talk. Dormitories were similarly scarce. So limited, in fact, that some students even took residence within the grounds of the Sisters of Divine Providence. 

The curriculum students had to take was also significantly different. Students were required to take classes in philosophy or religious studies. 

In addition, the English department held a much more prominent role in La Roche. Sister Rita said that English literature classes especially were held in higher revere.  

Teaching has Changed 

English classes today, however, are not as prominent at La Roche. The English Literature major has now been regulated to a minor.  

Many people, students included, view a liberal-arts major as impractical. When nearly the sum of the world’s knowledge is at one’s fingerprints through the internet, learning such information seems useless.  

Sister Rita said she thinks otherwise. “If I don’t teach this,” she said, “nobody’s going to teach it.” 

When asked about why she still teaches, Sister Rita mentioned the apathetic beliefs many students hold nowadays. In another interview with the Pittsburgh Post Gazette, she said “The anti-intellectualism of this age appalls me.” 

And with students relying more on A.I sites such as ChatGPT, they are getting no guidance, no assistance on understanding English, she added.  

“Education,” she said, “means to lead.” Even if it means teaching her students the basics of grammar, in her Freshman Composition class, so be it. Despite what critics might say, Sister Rita said that English is extremely important. She mentioned that one must know how to read and write if they wish to get on through life. 

Her guidance to the La Roche community also does not only extend to English classes. She said, “You help students not only to prepare for a profession, but to prepare on how to live.” 

Sister Rita said she offers religious and mental guidance to students as well, regardless of whether they are Catholic or not. “Jesus says,” she said, “‘I’m here for everyone.’” 

However, not all teachers in the greater Pittsburgh area share her commitment to English and students. She said that some larger universities, such as the University of Pittsburgh, are even significantly cutting down on what liberal-arts and English classes are taught.  

Because of this, she said that a sizeable number of schools don’t hold English education in high regard. 

Sister Rita said that La Roche University pays faculty some of the lowest amounts in the area, less than what some high school teachers make. But despite this and a growing disregard towards for English classes, Sister Rita continues on. 

“You do it for love,” she said, “more than for money.” 

The Future is Changing 

When it comes to her continued future at La Roche, Sister Rita said she is not stopping any time soon. “I’ve still got some years left in me,” she said. She also said that she hopes to at least teach for two more years, in order to reach an even 45 years. 

In terms of what she hopes the university to do, after she retires and decades pass, is maintain its Catholic identity. She said, “I hope that we still always attract young people who want a Catholic education.”  

Additionally, she said how she would like if there were more Catholic sisters on the faculty. She said that the university could perhaps recruit sisters from organizations outside of the McCandles area, if necessary.  

The world and La Roche University are constantly changing. Sister Rita said she keeps up with both, as she reads five newspapers a day. And even if both are changing, both for good and bad, she takes it with a smile. Even after teaching at La Roche for over four decades, she said she still has new experiences to have. 

“I find life infinitely exciting,” she said.