TheTranscript – Page 20 – The Transcript

Earthdance returns to OWU

By Hannah Wargo, Transcript Correspondent

Earthdance, the global dance event, returned to promote peace and sustainability at Ohio Wesleyan for its 8th year Sunday, Sept. 18th in the Benes Rooms of Hamilton-Williams Campus Center.

Earthdance is the “largest synchronised dance event in the world,” having been held in over 1,000 locations in 80 countries since its first event in 1997, according to earthdance.org.

The event is aligned with the United Nations’ International Day of Peace every year to commemorate and strengthen the ideals of peace and nonviolence through dance and music.

This year, several OWU student groups performed: the Introduction to Dance class, OWU Rhythms Tap Club, Terpsicorps dance club, some dancers from Orchesis 2016 and chemistry professor Dave Lever served as the DJ.

Other groups that were scheduled to perform included Bellydance Columbus, Halal Israeli Folk Dancers and Hayes High School’s dance team.

Earthdance did not just comprise of performances, but participation, too.

The event started with guests learning and performing “Dances of Universal Peace” from around the world. The leader of the universal peace dances said, “There are no mistakes, it’s not about performance dancing; it’s about feeling energies in our bodies, like sun energy or moon energy.”

Following the peace dances, there were swing dancers, line dancers and Halal dances from Turkey. All attendees were encouraged to join.

After dancing, guests could purchase a bagel from the Short North Bagel Deli Company’s food truck, or make a smoothie by pedaling the Environment and Wildlife Club’s ‘smoothie bike.’

Many of the students in attendance were surprised by the number of groups performing and the number of people present.

Sophomore Kimberly McCalmont, a member of the OWU dance groups and first-time Earthdance attendee, said, “I didn’t realize so many people were coming to this [to perform].”

Sophomore Eva Blockstein, who ran the smoothie bike at Earthdance, said, “There are a ton of people here [dancing]… I didn’t know OWU groups would be performing.”

Earthdance was presented in partnership with Sustainable Delaware Ohio, a local nonprofit charity aimed at promoting environmental, social and economic stability for the Delaware community.

There was a suggested donation of $5 at the doors of the event, $3 of which go to Sustainable Delaware Ohio. Students were also able to donate food points.

The theme of Earthdance 2016 was “Global Shift.” The Earthdance event at OWU was the only Earthdance event in Ohio, and one of eight Earthdance events happening in the US, according to earthdance.org.

McCalmont and Blockstein both agreed that Earthdance deserves more publicity and attendance.

“[They should] publicize it a bit more, ahead of time, definitely have more advertising,” McCalmont said.

Blockstein said, “I think Earthdance is really important because it’s bringing dancing and peace and the planet all together… it’s a good way to bring a community together and show us some fun things.”

All Earthdance events link up with Global Prayer for Peace, according to earthdance.org.

Earthdance Ohio hosted a separate event to link up with Global Prayer for Peace on Wednesday, Sept. 21, International Day of Peace, from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. in Peale Chapel on the third floor of Hamilton-Williams Campus Center. There, Aikido instructor Paul Linder, Ph.D., presented “Body-Based Conflict Resolution & Peacemaking.”

The Beat: Mac Miller is feeling the love on new album “The Divine Feminine”

By John Bonus, Transcript Reporter

With a new approach but familiar style, Mac Miller is back at it again with his fourth studio album.

Malcolm McCormick, better known as Mac Miller, released “The Divine Feminine” Sept. 16. This comes almost exactly a year after the 24 year-old Pittsburgh native’s last album, “GO:OD AM” came out.

On this project, the rapper and singer decided to open up and dedicate every track to feelings of and about love. While it is not uncommon for rappers to make songs about love, it is rare to see an entire hip-hop album dedicated to the topic.

In an interview with Complex Magazine, Miller talked about the main idea behind the album, which is that love and the universe are connected.

“I’ve noticed that love is just a concept, but it works with life in general as well,” Miller said. “Treating the world how you’re supposed to treat a female is awesome. It’s a deeper experience with life.”

Inspiration for the project may also stem from Miller’s new relationship with singer Ariana Grande, who features on the song “My Favorite Part.”

Miller brought a variety of other artists to the table ranging from Kendrick Lamar on the track “God is Fair, Sexy Nasty,” to CeeLo Green on “We.”

While the album may differ from past projects in its overarching theme, Mac Miller still returns with the jazzy beats and clever (and sometimes cheesy) rhymes that he has become known for in his accomplished career.

“The Divine Feminine” is available on iTunes and Spotify.

An opinion of OWU Macks: “Not cool”

By Dylan Hays, Transcript Reporter

It’s been a few weeks since I’ve been on campus here at Ohio Wesleyan. Let me tell you, my first few weeks at OWU have been amazing.

I love the campus, I love the history, the culture, the diversity, the people … well, most of the people. Before classes started, the studying became priority and before I even found a core group of friends, I was introduced to the Instagram account “owu_macks,” which as of now (Sept. 20, 11:00 p.m.) has 240 posts and 1,291 fol- lowers, and the most recent photo has a respectable 95 likes.

When I first saw this account I thought little of it – just another stupid thing we college kids do. The more I thought about it, the more it enraged me, the more furi- ous I became. It is not the subject matter itself that brings up so many feelings, but merely the fact that no one seems to be bothered by it.

During orientation we were presented were presented with different seminars on college relationships, hook-ups and sexual assault.

I greatly respected the choice to include these sessions and I think they were not only insightful, but necessary. Of course you have the guy who hasn’t really gotten out of his high school stage and is yell- ing just a couple of inappropriate jokes, but I seemed to think that these individuals were the minority and most students were more adult than that.

I loved the fact that OWU took the time to talk about this serious topic, one that most other larger universities tend to ignore until it’s much too late. Then days later, I began to really think as to why someone would make this ac- count. The truth, I admit, is I do not know. I do not even understand why someone would think it’s OK.

If you are not familiar with the account, then let me explain that the way it works. One indi- vidual will snap a photo of fellow students making out (usually at a party or other similar situation) and direct message the image to the account where it is posted with a “clever” comment.

Why does this inherently anger me? Why should a first- year student care so much? Well, why should I not care? This is my school as well, my pride, the place I hope to graduate from one day.

Should the highlight of our school be the fact that we, as students, are doing great things or the fact that two students once kissed at a party and their photo now resides on the Internet for- ever. I could go into the details of how it’s a part of rape culture and the logistics of these individuals not giving consent to have these photos posted. The thing is, I shouldn’t.

That girl you just posted a photo of? She has a family, she has hopes and dreams and one day her potential employer might see that photo. That guy in the picture? His future children might see
that; what would they think? That person you just tagged? They are now forever linked to one moment in their life that they just might not want to remember.

I’m not shaming anyone (except the individual(s) who manage the account). We all make mistakes, that’s a part of being human – but the Internet is this false intimacy that we all have become addicted to. I’m not asking anyone reading this to think twice. I am asking you to think differently

Clinton hopes for future with debt-free college experience

By Cirrus Robinson, Transcript Correspondent

Tuition for Ohio’s four-year universities rose by five percent, or by $523, since 2008.

Pressure from college-age voters and paying parents rests on the major 2016 presidential candidates to make shifts in debt percentages and the quality of higher education for future generations.

The elimination of tuition and a utopian future with debt free college is the vision that democratic candidate Hillary Clinton has prided herself on since the beginning of her campaign trail.

Facing much criticism, her administration laid a concrete plan to restore and expand Pell Grants to cover low and middle-class families in their possible debts, set an income requirement for those who would be exempt from tuition costs and to create on-campus work mandates to help relieve the cost of student attendance.

Clinton looks to galvanize millennial voters to get the majority on board with her efforts for college students.

“What we’ve been basically doing on this campus is trying to register voters on campus and make sure they are registered at the right address,” said freshman Evan Williams, a contributor to OWU’s student efforts to increase student participation in the upcoming election.

OWU students seem to favor Clinton or Gary Johnson, Williams said.

“But our real goal is to make sure people have the right address and access to information they need,” he said.”

Republican candidate Donald Trump, however, has made less explicit notions about plans for higher education in terms of finance.

His administration has given few specifics, but hint that his stance during the fall campaign will greatly contrast that of the Clinton campaign in terms of debt free tuition.

He criticizes logical backing for her motives, particularly regarding funding and legislation for loans.

“Many of the ideas on which the Trump campaign is working involve a complete overhaul of the federal student loan system,” wrote Sam Clovis, policy director of Trump’s campaign, for Inside Higher Ed.

“Moving the government out of lending and restoring that role to private banks, as was the case before President Clinton partially and President Obama fully shifted loan origination from private lenders to the government.”

This outline would theoretically allow local banks to lend to students within their geographical reach, and to wield more power in deciding which students are deserving of dollars based on not only their current status, but also what they can hypothetically achieve in the future.

This would likely make loans more exclusive based on degree of need and prospective majors, as it works toward spending less federal money on loans that will not result in economic product.

Gary Johnson, the prospective third party and libertarian candidate, has stressed the elimination of Common Core and a majority of policies that give the federal government access to all standards of education.

He proposes terminating the Board of Education to give both secondary and higher education students the opportunity to be directed and given opportunities locally, rather than under federal mandates.

The upcoming fall election leaves room for all candidates to provide their final thoughts and proposals in the college controversy.

Fresh Start rises on Sandusky Street

By Leia Miza, Photo Editor

If you didn’t know, the most delicious cinnamon rolls are being made right here in town.

Delaware’s newest cafe and bakery, Fresh Start, opened its doors to the community this past July, offering fresh baked good, pastries and Crimson Cup Coffee.

Co-Owner, Todd Daughenbaugh, Delaware resident of 14 years, said he “lived in Columbus, slept in Delaware” and aspired to finally connect with the community and start fresh, hence the name of his new business.

“I really wanted to be more connected to the community, or find something, a business that the community really needs and wants and I think we found that niche here, with great pastries, baked good and hopefully even more deserts.” he said.

Ron Lawson, manager of Fresh Start, added “The reason why wanted to open in Delaware was the fact that Buehler’s had closed down and so there was a need immediately because of that. But our heart was to bring great coffee and great baked goods anyway, and I think that’s something downtown Delaware needed.”

Photo by Leia Miza. — Photo by Leia Miza

By walking into the bakery on any morning, you will notice that business is booming. “We have people in everyday that are new but then we have a lot of people who are regular customers already. Eight weeks in, to have as many regular customers as we do, that’s a very positive sign.” said Lawson.

Daughenbaugh said it’s been amazing, and the community has been very supportive. “People really appreciate the quality and the customer service and the great products, great food, pastries and coffee, things like that.” he said.

And although, Home Slices is right down the street, competition is not something of much concern to Fresh Start.

“The only competition that we see is that they’re on the corner which is a prime location and we’re a little further up the street. But everything we do is different than anywhere you’ll find baked goods in Delaware or anywhere close.” said Lawson.

His wife, Lynette Lawson, runs the kitchen as head baker. “All of our doughs are hand laminated.. We don’t use any frozen batters or any frozen breads. Everything is made from scratch.” she said.

From her spinach rosettes to her grandmother’s cinnamon roll recipe, Lawson explains that there’s a strong demand for all the products.

Faculty approves new majors

By Transcript Staff

Two new majors and one new minor along with three new courses were approved at the faculty meeting on Sept. 19, according to several faculty members interviewed after the meeting.

The data analytics major and the data in society minor were approved in a secret ballot resulting in a 68-19 vote.

According to the written proposal, “The data analytics major will give students the ability to: (a) frame questions about an open problem, (b) develop the questions into methodologies and algorithms, (c) mine and process data to answer the questions and (d) reason ethically about use of data and the framing of questions.”

The new nutrition major received a little more opposition, yet was approved with a 64-23 vote.

“It is fairly common for the faculty to talk a lot and hash out details vigorously even when they plan to pass something,” Nancy Comorau, associate professor of English, said.

According to the written major proposal, “The major in nutrition prepares students to pursue careers in nutrition dietetics, community health, health education, food justice and advocacy, food industry work, and related graduate programs.”

“The new majors are not changing who we are, we are augmenting who we are,” said President Rock Jones. Classes for both new majors will begin in fall of 2017.

Arabic 110 and 111 were two new full unit temporary courses approved along with a new full unit computer science course called Foundations of Computer Science.

According to the faculty meeting agenda, Arabic classes will be structured like other introductory courses in the modern foreign languages department.

Foundations of computer science will serve as an introductory course to the method- ological tools used in the study of computer science, according to the meeting agenda.

Aside from two majors being approved at the faculty meeting, enrollment updates were also shared, according to the meeting agenda. Net tuition revenue went up by $541,705 with this year’s enrollment.

According to Professor Thomas Wolber, Dr. Nancy Comorau and Jones, some con- cerns about the new majors shared by several faculty members pertained to the placement of the new majors in a liberal arts setting.

Chemistry professor Dan Vogt, in response to Jones and University Governance Com- mittees’ reports, made a speech to the entire faculty. According to Wolber, Vogt talked about his disappointment with the administration’s actions lately.

Vogt also accused the administration of breaking promises and not operating in accor- dance with the faculty handbook, according to Wolber.

Vogt however, declined to comment.

Aside from the approval of two new majors, Jones updated the faculty on the state of the university. Some topics included Connect Today, Create Tomorrow funding cam- paign, enrollment numbers, 2020 planning initiatives, and much more.

Jones said he will use funding from the President’s Discretionary Endowments for new initiatives to attract and retain students, enhance the university revenue stream and strengthen the mission of the university.

He also informed the faculty of issues where the university falls short in terms of choices for prospective students. Some of those vulnerabilities, he said, include being a rural and remote campus, no high discounted rates in tuition and the campus culture be- ing highly resistant to meaningful change. He also proposed solutions to these issues.

Keep an eye out in the Transcript for stories on topics from the faculty meeting.

*The Transcript was not granted access to the faculty meeting, following a resolution passed by the faculty in April 2016. The information here was provided by sources who talked to The Transcript as well as primary documents shared with the Transcript, along with a brief press kit provided by the secretary of the provost.

*This story was updated on Sept. 22, 2016

Men’s golf wins Gatorade Collegiate

By Julia Snyder, Transcript Reporter

Ohio Wesleyan University’s men’s golf team competed in the Gatorade Collegiate in Dover, Ohio at Zoar Golf Club Sept. 3 and 4 and came in first of 10 teams.

The team shot scores of 282 and 297 respectively, earning a total team score of 579, three strokes above par, beating out Allegheny by 16 strokes.

Sophomore Adam Armstrong contributed to the total team score by shooting a combined score of 137, placing second in the tournament by one stroke.

The other three contributors were freshmen Will Efkeman, Aunders Erickson and Shane Hoben, shooting combined scores of 147, 147 and 150 respectively.

Coach Ian Miller said the team was well prepared and he is looking forward to seeing the growth of the team while working together and pushing each other to improve.

“[We] executed our plans for attacking the course and responded well to holding the lead after round one,” Miller said.

Armstrong said he feels pretty confident that the team can finish top three of every tournament.

“There should be no reason why we shouldn’t. We did really well, it’s the first tournament we’ve won since 2014,” Armstrong said.

Junior Zach Shahrokhi said he was excited about having beat Allegheny.

“We beat Allegheny, which is good because they were runners-up in the conference last year and we were happy to beat them because that shows that we’re competitive within the conference and we are capable of beating [Allegheny] in conference this year,” Shahrokhi said.

The team has six freshmen and Shahrokhi said this is the most competitive team he has played with.

“The freshman have added a lot of talent and depth to the team which has helped us to improve our consistency,” Shahrokhi said.

Miller said, “The assimilation of the freshmen into the team has been very good. We started that process last spring—getting the incoming freshmen talking and keeping up with each other throughout the summer. That has helped the returners become familiar with them and their abilities and that led to an immediate acceptance and respect.”

The team is more competitive now and they are looking forward to winning some more tournaments and playing better in conference this coming spring.

“We’re looking forward to one of our home tournaments this coming weekend and feel confident we can beat the other teams at Plum Brook Country Club in Sandusky, Ohio,” Armstrong said.

Sustainability Task Force meets to discuss goals

By Evan Walsh, Transcript Reporter

Members of Ohio Wesleyan’s Council of Student Affairs are working with faculty and administrators to make the university more environmentally friendly.

The Sustainability Task Force meets weekly and discusses those ways in which the university can prioritize sustainability.

The task force is currently led by WCSA representatives Caroline Hamlin and Ryan Bishop, but was begun independently prior to this year.

On Sept. 7, Hamlin and Bishop spoke with faculty about the possibility of hiring a program coordinator. Bishop said he feels this is an important first step in committing to the group’s goals.

“Our focus is to find someone to take this position because everyone [from academic and non-academic departments] has commitments of their own,” Bishop said. “Pushing for those big goals will be more achievable if we have someone there.”

Included in last week’s discussion was the proposed creation of an Environmental Sustainability major. This would require restructuring the curriculum of several courses and finding qualified professors.

Professors from several different departments, as well as non-academic personnel, attended the meeting. They expressed their optimism and concerns, particularly about budgetary choices.

Besides providing students with a new learning opportunity, the Sustainability Task Force’s goal is to make their “green” impact in a more concrete way.

By making changes to OWU’s residential facilities, students would apply what they learn in their classes to improve the condition of the place where they live.

Their plan is to make certain, unspecified living units LEED certified by 2018.

To encourage participation, students involved in Sustainability Task Force projects may receive academic credit.

Students familiar with the group’s goals are receptive to them and want to see these initiatives affect important changes.

According to Sumner “Chappie” Wick, “success would make us a role model for other small liberal arts schools. I’m glad that the OWU community is taking this seriously.”

Bishop said he agrees with Wick’s sentiment. “We are in a conceptual, building stage right now. A lot of our ideas are good ones but we need professional help, and money for professional help, if we want to succeed,” he said.

Breaking: CPB hires band for homecoming weekend

By John Bonus, Transcript Reporter

The Campus Programming Board (CPB) has planned an event for students, family and alumni with a concert featuring the band Cardiknox during homecoming weekend this fall.

Cardiknox, an indie-pop band from Seattle, is coming to campus on October 8. The band was formed in 2013 by Lonnie Angle and Thomas Dutton. Cardiknox released their first album, “Portrait,” in March 2016.

Earning praise from Spin, NYLON, Paste and other publications, Cardiknox has been busy touring with Carly Rae Jepsen, Phoebe Ryan and playing at Bonnaroo, a festival in Tennessee. They are currently part of an artist series that tours different college campuses and OWU is one of them.

Their song “Wild Child” from “Portrait” hit the top charts after being released in March.

An interview will be conducted with the duo in preparation for their concert on campus in October.

WCSA creates inclusion board for underrepresented students

By Anna Davies, Transcript Reporter

Ohio Wesleyan is taking steps to stop inequality in its student government with an inclusion board for underrepresented students on the Wesleyan Council of Student Affairs (WCSA).

The Student Inclusion Advocacy Committee (SIAC) “was created to address issues of underrepresentation both in our student government and on Ohio Wesleyan’s campus,” WCSA President Jess Choate said.

Junior and WCSA Sen. Ryan Bishop said, “The SIAC guarantees eight voting senator positions in our student government for people who would usually be underrepresented in the senate because, historically, they feel that …their voice would be ignored in WCSA.”

Choate said, “We worked all of last semester in collaboration with all of OWU’s cultural clubs, and honestly with anyone who had an opinion to figure out exactly what this committee should be.

Bishop said the SIAC was the idea of former senior class council president Shelli Reeves ‘16. He said he hopes the creation of the SIAC will encourage more students of dif-
ferent ethnicities to run for WCSA.

Choate said Bishop and senior WCSA Sen. senior Emma Nuiry were key advocates for the SIAC.

Bishop wants the SIAC to create a plan for future students and staff to receive diversity training. He said this term of WCSA has been mindful of ensuring everyone has a voice.

Each member of the SIAC had to have a written recommendation from at least one professional working at the Spectrum Resource Center, the Chaplain’s Office, the Office of Multicultural Student Affairs or the Associate Dean for Inclusion and Diversity, according to the SIAC amendment.

Students also had to have a written recommendation from a cultural club. The diversity groups WCSA approached were those officially registered on OrgSync.

“I personally hope that more students feel that they can step forward and voice their opinions and thoughts … when we make decisions which affect the entire Ohio Wesleyan campus community,” senior and SIAC member Shashank Sharma said.

Additionally, President Rock Jones started the academic year by sending an email to all OWU students where he said that OWU’s tradition of tolerance is currently crucial.

Jones said OWU would stand firm in its mission of using liberal education to promote tolerance.

“At the heart of our conversations will be a commitment to the dignity of every human being and a commitment to create a campus that is safe, welcoming, and hospitable, especially to those who have been marginalized or who may be victims of inhumane words and actions because of their identity,” he said.

Jones then wrote about how Branch Rickey, who graduated from OWU in 1904, fought for the end of racism in sports and treated everyone with dignity.

Jones ended his email with a list of resources for students such as Counseling Services and the Chaplain’s Office.