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Bishops finish football season with a flurry

By: Brian Goldaber, Transcript Correspondent

It’s not how you start, but how you finish.

The Ohio Wesleyan football team finished its season on Nov. 14 with a 59-28 win against the College of Wooster. The blowout win marked the culmination of an up and down season that fills the Battling Bishops with anticipation for next fall.

The win against Wooster raised OWU’s record to 55. While a .500 record may not seem impressive, those close to the football program think otherwise.

After losing three of their first four games, the team rallied to win three of its last four behind some stellar offensive and defensive performances.

“It took us a little while to get rolling, but once we found our groove and started playing good football, we got really tough to beat,” junior quarterback Dom Orsini said.

The Battling Bishops also faced the toughest part of their schedule at the beginning of the season. They opened the season with difficult losses to Mary Hardin-Baylor, who was ranked third in the nation and the perennially tough conference rival Wittenberg University.

The season finale was also a great way to send off some of the seniors on the team. Finishing the season on a strong note was satisfying for the graduating seniors to finish their football careers.

“A win like this was a great way to go out,” senior captain Zain Kieffer said. “Even though we got off to a bad start to the season, we knew we didn’t suck. It feels good to beat up on teams in front of my whole family. Couldn’t have asked for a better end to football.”

The team has 11 seniors, but the majority of the team will be back next fall.

“The end of this season leaves us all hungry for next fall,” Orsini said. “We’re keeping most of our offense and a lot of key contributors on defense. Now that we have a whole season under our belts, the sky’s the limit.”

This off season promises to be a productive one for the Battling Bishops, as head coach Tom Watts has placed the team on a strict workout plan. The players must keep up with strength training, conditioning and speed and agility drills until next fall to ensure that they come back ready to win.

How to be sober (and have fun) in college

By: Liz Hardaway, Transcript Correspondent

You’re at a party at a popular fraternity. People are bumping into each other, slurring jokes, trying to laugh over the noisy upbeat dance music. Almost all the guests are toting the signature red solo cup, sipping on what is either a mystery jungle juice, or a typical Jack and Coke. Shot glasses line the wooden bar to your right and some guy who took at least six shots of tequila leans his hand on your shoulder, and asks if you would like to partake in their fun.

But is that really the only way you can have fun at school?

Of course not. College is about new experiences, and though that can include testing your limits, the hangovers get exhausting and maintaining fully functional motor skills can be surprisingly rewarding. So, for the weekends when you just don’t feel like getting hammered but still want to have a banger time at your smalltown liberal arts school:

Say no

Ultimately it’s your decision whether to drink, but if you don’t want to, be firm about it. Be confident about your decisions. After saying no, if someone is still trying to convince you to drink, they aren’t being a good friend.

“If you know and can articulate to peers why you are not partaking, they should respect that your value system is guiding your decisions,” says Melinda Benson, a Residential Life Coordinator.

No matter how many times your friends say you’re a better dancer drunk or you really do kill that karaoke stage when you sing, if you don’t want to drink, you shouldn’t have to drink. End of story.

Be social

When you look back on parties, football games, or any social event, it wasn’t drinking alcohol that made it a fun memory. Usually, this actually makes your memory a little fuzzy. From the parts you do remember, the socializing and activities are likely what made the memory special.

“No one has fun at a party, sober or not, if they’re standing in the corner by themselves,” says junior Nate Dedek, the social chair of Delta Tau Delta.

Being sober does not hinder the ability to have fun and socialize. A punch line would be more coherent, a story would be told more linearly, and it’s easier to meet people when you can actually articulate your words. Also, contrary to whatever vodka tells you, people are better dancers sober. “You don’t have to be intoxicated to dance. It’s easier to get into if you don’t have to worry about spilling a drink,” says Benson.

Think of the consequences

Sure, alcohol can be fun in moderation, but it also tends to make people lose control. A sober person would not behave the same way around a police officer as a drunk person. Run-ins with the law can turn a quarterback on a football team to a benched player or jeopardize a student’s future job opportunities. If a fraternity or sorority hosts an alcoholic event without registering it through the school, the consequences could range from fines to being kicked off campus.

“Before you get in a tough situation, spend some time reflecting on your values, and then let those guide you,” says Benson.

Join a club

Clubs are a great way to get involved on campus, meet new people, and have fun. C.L.E.A.R. (Choosing and Learning Environment with Alcohol Respect) is one of the main clubs at Ohio Wesleyan that strives to create a university environment not focused around alcohol. Riding roller coasters at King’s Island or attending a Columbus Blue Jackets game are just a few of the events C.L.E.A.R hosts in order to promote safety and sobriety.

“I think that students knowing that you don’t have to drink to fit in is a big way of knowing that it’s okay not to cave into peer pressure and do what everyone else is doing,” says junior Jeanette Chang, the president of C.L.E.A.R.

Alcohol should not be condemned, but it should also not be the epitome of a college experience.

In moderation, alcohol can be a good way to celebrate an achievement or let loose. However, personal safety and comfort are the most important factors in any situation. So, if you really don’t feel like entertaining the hot messes at the frat party, you can always ditch it and go see that new James Bond movie everyone and your grandpa has been dying to see.

*Free t-shirt not included

Out of State/International Students' Struggles by Mili Green '16. — Out of State/International Students’ Struggles by Mili Green ’16.

One Acts set to thrill audience

By: Leo W. Psenicka, Transcript Correspondent

If you plan on attending One Acts in December, there is a lot to look forward to.

The One Acts are student driven. The playwriting class produced the scripts that the directing class can choose from. Even the actors are students, with the occasional professor.

This year, the One Acts will take place on Friday, Dec. 4 and Saturday, Dec. 5. One such play is “Eremiel and Beelz”, written by junior Gabe Caldwell and directed by junior Emily Poltor.

“Eremiel and Beelz” is a comedy about an angel named Eremiel and a demon named Beelz. The play is Caldwell’s second script to be featured in One Acts. He said his inspiration came from “Good Omens,” a book by Terry Pratchett, which is about an angel and demon who are best friends.

“Beelz is really good at doing his job which is ‘bad.” Eremiel is bad at his job which is ‘good,” Caldwell said. “The central tension of the show is whether nature trumps purpose, good or bad.”

Poltor said she wanted to direct the play since she first read it. The script was “fastpaced,” good for her directing style and had likable characters.

“What stood out to me in the script is that the characters are supernatural beings,” said Poltor. “I thought that would present a unique artistic challenge.”

Because the characters are supernatural beings, Poltor looked for actors who had the skills to portray that. During auditions and callbacks, she searched for actors who were “not afraid to put humor into the script” and were experienced enough to learn the roles in the limited rehearsal time.

Freshmen Doris Ottman was cast as Eremiel and Ares Harper was cast as Beelz.

Harper was excited to be cast in One Acts. His favorite part about One Acts is that the work is done by his peers. He liked Poltor’s directing style because she was open to experimenting with characterization and takes input from her actors. However, he was surprised to be cast as Beelz.

“I’ve always wanted to play a villain. You don’t get much more ‘villain’ than a devil,” Harper said. “He’s … a big, manly character. I don’t usually get cast as that.”

Ottman, his scene partner, enjoyed working with him. She was equally surprised to have been cast as Eremiel.

The character interested her because he does not embody the stereotypical idea of what an angel should be. For Ottman, the biggest challenge of playing Eremiel is making the supernatural events seem normal.

“You have to make the supernatural seem natural,” Ottman said.

As the playwright, Caldwell appreciates how Poltor cast his characters. He thinks both actors are perfect for the challenges of the script.

“They can pull off the dramatic side…the comedic timing of the dialogue and the serious side,” Caldwell said. “Timing is harder to train, and the director needed to understand that.”

The directing class spends the semester preparing for One Acts, which is their final project.

Directors are responsible for organizing callbacks so they can choose their actors. They are also able to use elaborate props and work with lighting designers, sound designers, and the stage manager. The goal is to see the play come to life during the performance.

“People never get to see how much effort goes into the finished, polished product,” Poltor said.

Each day of the One Acts features different shows. “Eremiel and Beelz” will be performed on Dec. 5.

Jazz fills Gray Chapel

By: Katie Kuckelheim, Transcript Correspondent

Ohio Wesleyan’s Park Avenue jazz ensemble performed Tuesday, Nov. 17 in Gray Chapel and was directed by faculty member Larry Griffin. They played a large variety of jazz pieces, from smooth to classic uplifting pieces.

According to freshman Espen Stalder, a trumpet player in the ensemble, the jazz band rehearsed twice a week for an hour and a half to prepare for the performance.

Freshman Emily Sutliff, a trombone player, said, “We worked really hard on these pieces and I think it’s great that we all came together as a band even though this was really difficult music.

We did our best and everyone had a great time.”

After intermission, Griffin introduced Rachel Ballitch, a vocalist, to the stage who sang six songs with the band including “Over the Rainbow” by Harold Allen.

When asked about how jazz differs from other types of music, sophomore tenor saxophone player Zachary Worley said, “You can express yourself more. You can do a lot more with jazz than classical … You can do what you want, what you feel.”

Music education major and audience member Mary Wadell added, “I think the best part of it is that so much of what we hear is actually improvised … they can do anything they want, express how they feel. And I think that’s brought out most in their ability to improvise in jazz, which is really unique to the style.”

This ensemble will not perform again for another year.

“There’s usually two [jazz band concerts]. But Dr. Griffin is going to be on sabbatical…” said senior Logan Baker, a trumpet player in the ensemble.

Griffin added, “The band rehearses twice a week. However, next semester when I’m on sabbatical, we’re not scheduled to have a band. There is an individual that would like to rehearse the band once per week. However, I have not finalized my plans for the semester at this point.”

President Rock Jones said, “I thought they were terrific. There was great energy. Lots of new faces in the band this year and they did really well.”

The music department puts on many performances every year, the next being Tuesday, Dec. 1 at 8 p.m. at Jemison auditorium in Sanborn Hall. Admission is free.

Eleventh annual Economic Outlook Conference held

By: Evan Walsh, Transcript Correspondent

Panelist Ben Ayers. Photo courtesy of the OWU website.

Folks pay a lot for financial advice.

Ohio Wesleyan students who attended the eleventh annual Economic Outlook Conference on Nov. 17 didn’t have to. This Tuesday, a panel of prominent economists led a lecture and answered curious students’ questions about the future of the economy.

Students like junior Brooks Gilmore, an OWU Economics Management Fellow, were pleased they went.

“I’ve come every year I’ve been at OWU. I’ll come next year, too, because I think this is an opportunity for students to take advantage of a learning experience outside of class,” Gilmore said.

Like the name might suggest, the Economic Outlook Conference anticipates what we can expect our economy to do at a local, national and global level.

Their projections for economic success were predicated primarily on the rising levels of employment and the Federal Reserve controlling hyper-inflation to maintain the strength of the dollar.

Panelist George Mokrzan. Photo courtesy of the OWU website.

Each of the three panelists were genuinely optimistic about the immediate and long-term success of the economy.

However, during the question and answer part of the conference they came to a disagreement about the extent to which the economy will grow and the effects of government policy.

Senior economist at Nationwide Economics Ben Ayers, compared the national gross domestic product with changing levels of employment.

His research validated his suspicion that employment and GDP are those forces most responsible for making our economy a consumer economy.

George Mokrzan, the director of economics at Huntington Trust agreed with Ayers’s assertion that employment across the country has helped the recovery process. Still, he noted that regional improvements in the “rustbelt,” as it still mistakenly called, are actually ahead of the national average.

Panelist Mark Schweitzer. Photo courtesy of the OWU website.

Mark Schweitzer, senior vice president at the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland, was the last to present. He touched upon some of the previous comments with respect to the Federal Reserve policies that control the economy’s pace of recovery.

“The Volcker Rule and other monetary moves will slow inflation without hurting consumption,” Schweitzer said.

Some stuck around to speak with the panel members for their insight as professionals.

“Employment prospects for students are much higher now than they were a few years ago,” Mokrzan said. “There is still a premium on higher education, so stay in school.”

The conference, held in the Benes Room, was put together by the Woltemade Center with members of the economics department moderating.

Jour Board calls for transparency

By: OWU Journalism Board

As members of the Ohio Wesleyan Journalism Student Board, we strive to uphold the Journalism Code of Ethics–one of the staples of this code being to report the truth and to minimize harm while doing so. It is never a reporter’s goal to misquote or exploit comments made; in fact, it is the exact opposite. As journalists we strive to understand. The decision to leave students out of the November 16 faculty and staff meeting is something we cannot comprehend.

Based on the precedence set by Verne Edwards, students at Ohio Wesleyan deserve to know what is discussed at faculty and staff in meetings. We understand the right of faculty to issue an executive session, however it must be justified. In this instance, the faculty neglected to conduct such a session yet still denied the entry of students.

True transparency between the university and students is hard enough to come by. It’s imperative that students are not barred from attending the meetings in which their education is discussed. It’s understandable for faculty members to want to be able to speak freely, but students do not need to be excluded for this to occur.

A faculty meeting is news. A faculty meeting in which students are excluded is news. As journalists it is not only our duty, but our passion to cover such events. Those who happen to be subjects of an issue do not have the right to determine whether or not it is newsworthy.

Nobel Prize winner, OWU alum Sherwood Rowland honored

By: Ross Hickenbottom, Transcript Reporter

The Heritage Day display for Sherwood Rowland.

Ohio Wesleyan alumni all over the world have received awards in recognition of their accomplishments. Whether for sports, science research, education, politics, social activism, literature or entertainment, these awards are prestigious. But one award trumps all the rest: the Nobel Prize.

Frank Sherwood Rowland, class of 1948, received the 1995 Nobel Prize in chemistry for his cooperative “work with chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and their impact on the Earth’s ozone layer,” according to Connect2OWU. In other words, he proved to the world that mankind can (and is) depleting the ozone.

During his formative years of research he was affiliated with the department of chemistry at the University of California, along with Paul J. Crutzen and Mario J. Molina, his co-winners.

The school community celebrated the 20th anniversary of Sherwood’s award on Nov. 13. The celebration was named “Noblest Achievements: Environment Echoes of Sherwood Rowland” and was held in the atrium of the HamiltonWilliams Campus Center from 12-1 p.m.

Sherwood was a member of Delta Tau Delta, the men’s basketball team and was the sports editor of The Transcript during his time at OWU. With this in mind, OWU chose junior Evan Katz, a member of Delta Tau Delta and senior Ben Miller, a journalism major, to speak on Rowland’s behalf.

In his speech, Katz shared some unknown and impressive facts about Sherwood, including the fact that “Sherwood Rowland entered the first grade at the age of 5, skipped the fourth grade, entered high school at 12 and graduated a few weeks before his sixteenth birthday.”

In an interview at the 2005 meeting of Nobel Laureates in Lindau, Germany, Sherwood described his post-high school graduation decision to attend OWU, “After graduation from high school in 1943, almost all of my male classmates immediately entered the military service,” Rowland said. “However, because I was still well under the compulsory draft age of 18, I enrolled at Ohio Wesleyan and attended the university year-round for the next two years. During these war years, only 30 or 40 civilian males were on campus, plus about 200 naval officer trainees and 1,000 women. With so few men available, I played on the university basketball and baseball teams and wrote much of the sports page for the university newspaper.”

A model man for many, if not all Ohio Wesleyan students, Sherwood Rowland’s contributions to the world remind us all of our potential.

Now, Delaware. Next, Oslo?

Faculty: you need to talk

By: The Transcript Editorial Staff

At their Nov. 16 meeting, members of the faculty voted not to allow student representatives, including a Transcript reporter, into the room. Following the online publication of a story covering that decision–the cover story of tomorrow’s issue–many students, alumni and faculty began engaging in discussion on social media sites and in comment section of the story on The Transcript’s website. Some accusations were made, some facts were disputed and many members of the OWU community expressed their discontent. And the faculty needs to talk about it.

Let’s get this out of the way first: why are faculty upset about student presence in their meetings? The faculty are not enemies of the first amendment, they are not conspiracists or villains. In fact, plain student attendance at faculty meetings is not the issue at hand. Faculty are upset because OWU business, their business, has appeared in the Delaware Gazette on more than one occasion.

Since the first gathering in September, the Delaware Gazette has been publishing all Transcript coverage of the monthly faculty meetings. You can also find these two stories on The Transcript’s website. You see, The Transcript has a sharing agreement with the Delaware Gazette; any story or photo we publish, they have the right to use. And vice versa. It’s important to note here that even if the Delaware Gazette did not have the right to use our exact stories, any information published online would be available to them. If they wanted to write a story about the meetings using our online or print coverage as a source, they could. That’s how the media works.

Some members of the faculty are concerned that allowing Transcript reporters to cover the meetings, and thereby allowing the Gazette to do the same, might compromise the privacy of the forum: faculty will not be willing to share their real thoughts or feelings for fear of being quoted in a newspaper, and perhaps more importantly, OWU’s private dealings will be made public.

Faculty with this mindset believe that there should be an official meeting space for internal discussion. And they believe that that meeting space should be at the faculty meetings.

At The Transcript, we believe students should be given the privilege of knowing what the faculty decide in their meetings. We are as invested in this school as they are, and information between the two groups needs to be shared. That’s why we have the Wesleyan Council on Student Affairs (WCSA) to represent our interests to the faculty and administration. But we have The Transcript to keep the powers-that-be honest. Journalists represent the student body as much as WCSA does. And to only allow WCSA into the meetings would be to trade one administration for another.

Here’s the problem: faculty need to decide whether student representatives (all student representatives) can be allowed into the faculty meetings. And if they allow The Transcript, their meetings will be public, period.

OWU student harassed, followed by unknown suspect

By: Cuckoo Gupta, Transcript Correspondent

An OWU student was briefly stalked and harassed by an unknown man who followed him from Rowland Avenue to Smith Hall on the night of Nov 3.

The man, allegedly 18 years old, is a native of the Delaware community. He yelled profanities at and physically pushed junior Andrew Smith.

“I had never seen the man before that evening,” said Smith. “He said he was disgruntled about being arrested after getting in a fight with someone.”

The man was accompanied by a friend who “looked as if he did not want to be there,” said Smith.

He tried stopping his aggressive acquaintance “multiple times.”

“Based on the victim’s report, it appears to be a case of mistaken identity,” said Richard Morman, an investigator for Public Safety (PS).

After entering Smith Hall, Smith called PS, who contacted the Delaware Police Department (DPD). PS works “closely with the Fire Department and Delaware Police to keep the community safe,” according to their website.

Smith was satisfied with PS’s handling of the situation, and said he felt “safer” once he was with them.

Director of PS Robert Wood said, “We take many steps to help ensure safety. We have a 24/7 public safety presence on campus. And we partner with DELCOM (our county’s central 911 center).”

“PS officers also provide escorts to students who are alone or have a specific reason to be concerned for their safety,” Wood explained. “We have emergency phones located at various spots on campus that can be used to reach us.”

The emergency phone has been used “very few times” in the past 10 years. The student escort system also has been seldom used.

Wood said that most of the times officer escorts are requested for convenience more than for safety.

“It is important to remember that regardless of what the PS department and administration does, individual decisions we make every day have a greater impact on our individual safety,” Wood said.

The student life webpage has a number of instructions on safety tips and measures that can be taken by the students and staff, in situations like Smith’s. The tips range from reporting any suspicious activity or safety incident immediately to securing yourself in a safe place and staying sheltered until you receive an all-clear message.