Phoebe Christine Bush – Page 16

Thomson Store offers fresh new produce

By Morgan Christie
Transcript Correspondent

Thomson Corner Store now offers students a selection of fresh fruits and vegetables, including blackberries, strawberries, raspberries, romaine lettuce, russet potatoes and red onions.

Freshman Haley Gerrell said she is happy with the new products because healthy options in the store were “much needed.”

Freshman Emily Romig also approves of the recent additions.

“Getting fruits and vegetables really improves Thomson Store because having options that don’t have preservatives or come in packaging that extends the expiration date by months gives all of us a chance to eat healthier,” she said.

Freshman Nicole Ebert said the products are a great addition for those who regularly eat fruit, to which she is enjoying the easy access.

While the store’s addition of fruits and vegetables did not surprise Gerrell, who said there was a lot of push for healthier items, Ebert said she was surprised by their availability.

“They had a survey sometime last semester, I think, about the C-store,” she said. “They must have really taken students’ answers seriously.”

Romig said the addition of the new items was a “welcomed surprise” which she felt was necessary. The addition of fresh berries and vegetables was a “logical next step” generated by the high demand for the fruit the Thomson Corner Store sells in a small basket at the checkout counter.

Though the selection of fruits and vegetables is starting off small, Gerrell said she thinks the Thomson Corner Store will eventually expand into more healthy food options. Ebert said she’d like to see grapes as a part of the future fruit line.

Romig, however, is content with the selection for the time being.

“The selection isn’t too extensive but after having almost no fresh produce, this is an improvement,” she said.

Ebert said the demand for the products appears to be high enough for the fruits and vegetables to remain in the store. She said she has seen a lot of students buying the fruit.

Gerrell agreed with Ebert—she said the fruit sells quickly and employees are always restocking it.

OWAC offering prime Edwards parking spot in raffle

By Sadie Slager
Transcript Correspondent

The Ohio Wesleyan Athletic Council’s spring fundraising endeavor includes a different type of incentive: a parking spot.

OWAC is sponsoring a raffle each month for an “A” parking spot in front of Edwards Gym. Coaches, professors and campus faculty may enter the raffle for $1 per ticket and may buy as many tickets as they would like. The winner will be able to use a designated parking spot exclusively for the entire month.

OWAC advisor Marge Redmond said she thought of the raffle idea because of the lack of parking available in front of Edwards and OWAC is hoping to keep the raffle as its main fundraiser in the future.

Sophomore Daylin Stevens, an OWAC representative for the women’s field hockey team, said each varsity team has two OWAC representatives who work together to come up with fundraising ideas such as the raffle.

Stevens said OWAC settled on the idea of a raffle most likely because of the limited number of parking spaces available in the front lot of Edwards Gym. She said these spots are coveted not only for coaches and faculty, but for students as well—students cannot regularly park there, and many student-athletes frequently utilize Edwards Gym.

“If tickets were available for students to purchase, I would definitely buy some since they are only a dollar a piece,” she said.

Redmond said students would probably be interested in the parking spots in front of Edwards Gym as well because they have classes in the surrounding buildings and tend to illegally park there.

Stevens said the raffle’s proceeds go toward OWAC’s yearly endeavors and sponsored events.

This spring, OWAC is sponsoring multiple projects and events including Division III Week, a diaper drive and the Bishop Champion Games, which will be on April 7 at Selby Stadium, according to Redmond.

“This is a track and field competition with other events such as a hula hoop and cheerleading contest for special needs children,” Redmond said.

Redmond the “red rattle campaign,” which will aid local families, is scheduled for April 21.

“All athletic teams have agreed to help raise awareness and funds for the Liberty Community Center,” she said. “The proceeds from this campaign will go towards supplying diapers to families with young children who need some assistance with purchasing a necessary item that is not covered by food stamps.”

‘Green Week’ to educate students and staff on sustainability

By Emily Hostetler
Transcript Correspondent

With smoothie machines powered by bicycles, dancing and prizes, Ohio Wesleyan’s first Green Week aims to promote sustainable thinking on campus and in the Delaware community.

During the week of March 25-29, daily events will be held on campus to educate students and staff about living a more environmentally friendly lifestyle. Green Week team participants will attend events to earn points to win the competition and first prize: choosing what sustainability project will be funded by the week’s proceeds.

Junior Erika Kazi, president of Environmental & Wildlife Club (E&W), said there are 25 teams registered, totaling 125 individual participants, but the events aren’t limited to those who registered.

“Green Week is an initiative by students for the purpose of educat(ing) members of the OWU community about sustainability projects on campus and an opportunity for them to learn the impact that they can make as individuals,” she said.

Each day of the week has a specific sustainable theme of events.

Monday, March 25, will focus on water and energy, featuring free water bottles for those who complete an energy quiz and a banner making competition.

Tuesday, March 26, will be centered on local businesses. Students will have the opportunity to speak with local businesses and try some free appetizers from local restaurants, along with beer and wine for those over 21, from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. in Bishop Café.

Wednesday, March 27, will educate students on composting and being mindful of their trash. Free tote bags will be given to those who stop by the composting station to learn about the benefits of composting at OWU.

Thursday, March 28, will focus on alternative transportation, such as biking. A bike-powered blender will be available to make smoothies for 3 food points and students can sign up for afternoon bike rides while learning about the Bishop Bike program. Free sporks will be given to those during the afternoon bike riding session.

Friday, March 29, will be based on energy conservation by turning off the lights. Free “when not in use, turn off the juice” stickers will be handed out and the Lights Out Program will be initiated, in which the unneeded lights in the Schimmel Conrades Science Center will be turned off. The Tree House will be holding a “Thrift Shop Party” where students are required to donate an item to enter the party.
Saturday, March 30, a Free Store will be held at the Tree House with all of the items collected at the Thrift Shop Party.

Kazi said she received a $500 grant from Outdoor Nation, a non-profit organization geared towards helping millennials reconnect with nature, and 100 water bottles from CamelBak.

She then reached out to other organizations on and off campus to help sponsor the events, including Shareable, an online magazine about sharing items to be more environmentally friendly; the OWU Sustainability Task Force; E&W; the Environmental Studies Program; the Tree House; Wesleyan Council on Student Affairs; and the Philosophy Department’s Andy Anderson Fund.

Kazi said that while she is most excited for the bike-powered blending machine that will be available for students and staff to make their own healthy and sustainable snacks, the whole week is about learning to live sustainably.

“Green Week is the perfect proof of the potential we have as a small liberal arts college and as members of the Delaware community to get together to learn and have a good time,” she said.

Junior Sarah Jilbert, an Environmental Studies major who is planning the events with Kazi, said Green Week’s purpose is to educate while keeping the activities fun and interesting.

“The state of our environment and the negative direction it’s heading is becoming increasingly important,” she said. “This week is a chance for the community to learn about alternative ways to live in order to become more environmentally friendly.”

The week’s activities will focus on educating the participants while keeping them interested in what they are learning.

“Green Week is important to me because it’s a chance to make a difference in the way people think about sustainable issues,” Jilbert said. “Students at OWU don’t generally have the most positive outlook on the importance of sustainable issues, and this is my chance to show them that thinking about them can be fun, and make a difference.”

During the activities, the Green Week teams will be challenged to think of new ways to become more sustainable in their daily lives.

“A healthy, sustainable lifestyle doesn’t just mean composting, recycling and turning off lights,” Kazi said. “It’s about friendships, sharing, having fun, and most importantly, community.”

Founder of Mi Esperanza inspires students

A student at the Mi Esperanza center near Tegucigalpa, Honduras, uses one of the organization’s new computers.

By Emily Feldmesser
Transcript Correspondent

A mission trip to Honduras impacted the life of the woman who started the Mi Esperanza organization, but it has also changed many Honduran women’s lives.

On March 4, Janet Hines, Mi Esperanza’s founder, came to speak to Ohio Wesleyan students about her organization and how it impacts the lives of Honduran women and her own life.

Translating to “my hope”, Mi Esperanza hopes to empower women in Honduras by educating them and then helping them find jobs.

“This organization is not only a passion, but it’s a part of me,” Hines said. “Not a day goes by that I don’t talk about the organization.”

Hines spoke of a mission trip she took in 1998 with her youngest son. She felt “an overwhelming amount of emotions” when she went and saw the conditions that people were living in.

Hines is the aunt of junior Jenna Reeger, a member of the Interfaith House. The event was Reeger’s house project.

“The speaker is a strong Christian and she was inspired to found the organization because of her faith, which is why I wanted to share her story as my house project,” she said.

Mi Esperanza offers sewing classes, a beauty school and computer classes, and the women receive diplomas upon completion of these classes. Hines said these diplomas are the only degree that some these women will ever have.

The classes that Mi Esperanza offers are free for the women; students are only required to procure their own transportation.

Hines said she wants to add literacy and English classes to the organization.

The work that Mi Esperanza is doing is being recognized by local businesses and hotels, which then help the women get jobs to support their families.

In the sewing classes, the women make their own patterns and designs, which turn into bags, purses and wallets that are for sale through the organization.

One aspect Hines wanted to do was to educate the mothers. She said “their children’s education would become very important to them once they realize how education has impacted them.”

“If you’re helping the moms, you’re helping six or seven kids along the way,” she said. “…We love what we do and we love to share it. I’m really excited for what the next 10 years hold.”

Mi Esperanza also helps women who graduated from their program start their own businesses by givinh them microloans. Using microloans, the women are able to hire other people in the community, providing more jobs. The women pay back the loan to the organization, which will in turn help other women.

“Mi Esperanza brings hope to women, young and old, by giving them educational and financial tools that enable them to change their lives and the future of their children,” according to the website.

Freshman Bill Boaz said he thought Hines’s speech was “inspirational.”

“It’s a beautiful organization doing beautiful things,” he said.

Freshman Ali Phillips said she found the event “eye-opening.”

“I’m very surprised to see what’s going on there,” she said.

Taking Care: Why sufficient Counseling Services are vital to the health of the OWU community

By Anonymous
Transcript Contributor

Counseling wasn’t something I ever thought I would ever need.

Blessed with a healthy mind and a privileged life, I had no need to see a psychologist or psychiatrist, or even visit my school guidance counselor. I was content with my life and everyone and everything in it. My brother had an anxiety disorder for as long as I could remember, but he and my parents managed it well.
When I was 16, my parents told my brothers and me my dad was struggling with depression, but he was dealing with it in a healthy way and making a lot of progress. Mental health didn’t seem like a threat, but then it was. In a few short months my dad unraveled. He lost his battle with depression just before my seventeenth birthday.

When it happened, I felt like my life was in pieces. But seeing a counselor every week helped me put the pieces of my life together again. It was the reason I was able to sort through my thoughts and process what had happened.

It gave me the determination to get out of bed and go to school. It brought my family back together again, and we are now stronger than ever. I came to Ohio Wesleyan because this was the only college I felt could truly support me.

When I came in for my interview as a high school senior, I was comforted and supported by a woman who was supposed to be questioning me, not telling me that I would be happy here, at home here.

I was told this is a community filled with love and unity, and I could tell it was. My visit to OWU reassured me that this is a school that nurtures and helps its students grow.

I’ve been here for two years now, and although I am growing, I’m also still grieving. I still am not perfect, I still need help, and I know I’m not alone.

When I first tried to make an appointment with counseling services, I was frustrated because they told me they couldn’t take me for two months. I decided I couldn’t wait and would go home to see my therapist when necessary.

But not everyone is as lucky. Not everyone can leave to see their doctor whenever they want, and not everyone has the money to afford professional help. When students can’t get an appointment right away, many of them find themselves not getting it. And that has to stop.

Everyone should be encouraged to take care of their mental health, and have the opportunity to receive individual attention.

The death of a loved one, trouble at home, sexual assault, addiction, a mental disorder or anything that overwhelms and paralyzes a student from being their best self is a problem. We need to start recognizing that the brain is an organ and it can fail us. When our body is sick, we have the resources on hand to help it heal. Why don’t we have the same for our mental health?

The counselors here are simply remarkable, which is why it is such a shame that they do not have the staff to cater to the demands of our student body. A mental health problem doesn’t wait for a time of your convenience, so a waitlist for counseling shouldn’t be happening either. If students are hurting, they should be encouraged to reach out, and they should be welcomed with open arms.

The initiative for more funding for Counseling Services needs to be supported. You might not realize the necessity of counseling, but do you really want to wait until you do? Don’t you deserve to have this incredible resource available to you when you need it?

If you haven’t already, sign the petition sponsored by the House of Peace and Justice to prioritize Counseling Services. Contact your WCSA representative, email an administrator, or both. We need to demand that an increase in funding for Counseling Services becomes a priority.

Ours is a school that takes pride in its strong, loving sense of community, and we need to actively work to keep it that way. Let’s keep OWU students happy and healthy. Let’s get everyone access to Counseling Services.

Steubenville’s victim isn’t up for debate

By Elizabeth Childers
Managing Editor

“As the defendants sobbed and their attorneys fought back tears, an Ohio judge convicted two high school football stars of raping a 16-year-old girl and sentenced them to juvenile prison Sunday, but the case that cast an ugly light over a small town and its athletes is not over,” begins an LA Times article published March 17.

CNN is currently taking some heat over discussing the same case without mentioning the victim and the impact on her life, instead focusing on the defendants whose lives have been “ruined” because of their conviction.

It’s amazing how some towns get put on the map. As a native Ohioan, I had never heard of Steubenville until this past winter, when the terrifying rape of a sixteen year old girl was brought to light by social networking and the group Anonymous, spurring investigation and trial.

The trial ended this month with two young men being declared “delinquent,” the equivalent to guilty in juvenile court. And the media’s stance on this event was, to me, mildly surprising.

My first surprise was the fact they were tried in a juvenile court for an adult rated crime. The boys, ages 16 and 17, were eligible to stand trial as adults. The Ohio State Bar Association states a “child” may be charged as an adult when committing a serious felony and is over the age of 14; and in some cases, like when multiple offenses have been committed or a gun has been used, it is required by law to transfer them out of the juvenile system. These regulations are complicated, and the law did not require them to be transferred, but the court could have made it happen.

By not transferring them, the boys were given significantly lighter sentences, though the damage done to their reputations would be permanent—at least until two years after the crime when they can ask the court to seal their records, because of the case’s juvenile status.

My second surprise was that both the media and the court had sympathy for these rapists. Not only did they sexually assault this girl—it was documented on social media, like the YouTube video of teenagers joking and laughing about the victim and talking about the rape.

The facts of the case were pretty accurately described by tweets, Facebook posts and photos (a new precedent for use of social media as evidence). The New York Times did an interesting piece about a particular blogger who had been involved in bringing attention to the case—Alexandria Goddard.

“Her expertise creating social media profiles of teenagers whose parents want to know what their children are doing online gave her a distinctive window on the situation,” the Times wrote. “She applied her social media sleuthing skills to the online conversation about the victim and the events leading up to and around the Aug. 11 party. ‘Within about two hours, I had a pretty decent outline of what was going on that night,’ Goddard said, after finding the names of the high school football team members on a school Web site and then discovering their public Twitter streams.

Goddard, after her research, said she was sickened by what was done, and the fact it was reported in real time and none of these people deigned to stop what was happening.

I feel the same. There was more than one crime being committing here, and it’s hard to say which is worse: the rape, or the apathy towards it.

The lawyer of 16-year-old Ma’lik Richmond, the younger of the two boys convicted in this case, says there will be an appeal requesting he not join the sexual offender’s list for the rest of his life because, and I quote, “At 16, the brain is not fully developed.”

That may be true. It’s why you have to be 25 to rent a car in most states.

But to say it excuses sexual assault sounds a lot like the “boys will be boys” argument that often discredits the severity of their actions.

Then for two other teenage girls to threaten the victim on such a public place as Twitter and Facebook is almost absurd. Are we still a culture who actively punishes the victims of crimes by continually victimizing them? The unfortunate answer to that question is obvious.

The girl was drunk, and didn’t remember the events after the fact—hence why social media and what was pieced together by Goddard was crucial to the conviction. And while she had a personal responsibility to keep herself safe, that did not entitle these boys to violate her once she was unable to make her own decisions. The golden rule to partying is to only do it with people you trust. Obviously, the victim trusted the wrong people. Was it her fault? No.

Men must bear the burden of action and knowledge to end violence against women

Three weeks ago, as my house project for the House of Peace and Justice, junior Women’s House resident Gus Wood and I put on the V-Men Workshop, a component of the V-Day movement designed to start a conversation in a male space about the role men play in the problem of violence against women and girls.

The workshop asked a lot of tough, insightful questions about masculinity, manhood, gender, sex and relationships to women. There was a wonderful amount of productive discussion about how we can be active male allies to the movement for ending violence against women and girls.

Despite the quantity of good conversation and how much everyone got out of it, turnout was disheartening.
All my male housemates were required to be there —they accounted for seven of the attendants. Only eight others showed up.

On a campus of roughly 835 men, 15 cared enough to sacrifice even an hour of their time on a Saturday afternoon to talk about themselves, the women in their lives and what they can do to end the abhorrent violence that affects women worldwide on a daily basis.

Granted, it was a Saturday afternoon, and a busy one at that—Delta Gamma’s Anchor Splash, the first round of the Division III NCAA basketball tournament and OWU’s Got Talent all happened that day.

But 820 men on this campus couldn’t bother to dedicate a second of their busy day to unpack the culture that shapes their hearts, minds and actions as men, and how that same culture affects women in much less favorable ways.

Rape, sexual assault and other insidious forms of violence against women and girls are problems men must have a hand in solving. Men are the perpetrators of 95 percent of sexual crimes. According to the Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network (RAINN), one in six women will be sexually assaulted in their lifetime, overwhelmingly at the hands of a man. RAINN statistics also show that someone is sexually assaulted in the United States every two minutes. It is impossible to see these statistics and deny that men don’t have a role to play in dismantling this system of violence.

On top of the sheer number of sexual crimes committed in this country, we live in a culture that condones rape and other sexual violence, both through its silence and overt misogynist bias. RAINN says 54 percent of rapes go unreported—not because rape isn’t a big deal, but because survivors are so often stigmatized, attacked and shamed for what happens to them.

Only in a rape culture is a woman interrogated with a stock list of questions to determine whether a rape was her fault: what was she wearing? How drunk was she? Who was she with? Did she lead him on? This convention of victim blaming upholds not only our society’s system of misogyny, but also its system of racism, heterosexism and cissexism. If someone doesn’t have white, male, heterosexual cisgender privilege, they are always at fault. Think Trayvon Martin and CeCe McDonald. Think Steubenville.

Steubenville was not the young woman’s fault. The perpetrators’ lives are not being ruined. What happened and continues to unfold in Steubenville is the result of a destructive, harmful, violent cultural system that’s reinforced by individual action.

This culture of shaming the victim—this rape culture—made it okay for the case to be ignored for months, for it to be laughed at, for its media coverage to be grossly unfair.

But Trent Mays and Ma’lik Richmond participated in rape culture by doing what they did. They violated the unconscious young woman and dragged her from house to house. They were unrepentant for their actions. They plan to appeal the conviction and continue to claim they did no wrong.

Trent Mays and Ma’lik Richmond are men. They are who rape culture privileges. But while men support and benefit from rape culture, they have the power to dismantle it.

At OWU, the responsibility falls on the 820 men I did not see on March 2 to be aware of the power they have. It is our responsibility as men to create a safer world for the women in our lives. If we don’t, the situation will only grow more dire.

We cannot do this through silence. We must do it through our words and actions—so speak up.

Noah Manskar
Editor-in-Chief

Music professors encourage students to ‘dream big’ in recitals

By Jane Suttmeier
Transcript Reporter

The Department of Music held a recital for sophomore Zoann Schutte, senior Veronica Duff and sophomore KaitLynn Lynch on March 9 in Sanborn Hall. Instrumentalists Lynch, Schutte and Duff performed for one of the many student recitals this year for their major requirements. Sandra Maynard, academic secretary for the department of music, said she plays a large role in making these events happen.

Maynard said Schutte, Duff and Lynch had to go through in order to put together the recital, perform and receive credit for their work.

“Students must complete an ‘Application for Recital’ – available in my office and also on the music website (http://music.owu.edu) and have it approved by their applied instructor, then by their accompanist (if applicable) weeks or months prior to their recital,” Maynard said. “That form comes to me and at that point they choose a date for their performance and it goes on our departmental calendar.”

Maynard said the average student recital is on a Thursday afternoon and lasts 45 minutes. They usually feature 3 to 5 students, depending on the length of the piece they’ve chosen. Schutte said she chose a piece by Willson Osborne called “Rhapsody for Clarinet” because it was different than the classical pieces she usually performs.

“I enjoyed it most because it was unaccompanied and very avant garde, she said.

Unlike Schutte, Lynch was accompanied by sophomore Connor Stout on bass and Mariko Kaneda on piano for her soprano saxophone piece, “Bachiana Brasileiras #5” by Heitor Villa-Lobos.

“My performance was different than others because it included a cello along with piano accompaniment,” Lynch said. “It was kind of out of the ordinary playing it on soprano saxophone, but the end result was great.”

Lynch said she has been working on the piece since November.

“Villa-Lobos took street musicians and combined it with the feel of classical music,” she said. “It’s a very musical and beautiful piece.”

Maynard said she works hard to make sure the work students do in the music department gets the attention it deserves.

“The music students work so hard preparing for their recitals,” she said. “I feel that it’s important to advertise/recognize their recital dates. Doing it for them validates that it’s important to someone other than themselves.”

Schutte said she had been working on her piece by Osborne on and off for about 8 months, and that it was originally written for a bassoon.

“I played an arranged version for clarinet,” she said. “The piece also featured some very interesting time signatures you wouldn’t usually see in music, such as 16/8 time.”

Maynard said the recital process is important for students who are majoring as well as planning careers in music.

“It’s really quite a nice production and it happens almost every week during the school year,” she said. “The students learn what goes into composing a professional program, which will be helpful in marketing their talents down the road,” said Maynard. “Leftover copies of the programs go into the performing students’ files, as part of their record.”

Schutte and Lynch said they plan on pursuing music in their futures.

Lynch said she plans to make music for the rest of her life,and hopes to get a doctorate as well as own a recording studio.
“I’d love to make a student’s musical dreams come true,” she said.

Schutte and Lynch said they also follow the “dream big” motto.

Schutte said she would like to play for large orchestras and hopes to end up working with the Walt Disney Company.

“I’m currently studying music education but I also have interests in performing on multiple instruments,” she said.

Maynard said the music department is a “close-knit group” because there are only around 60 music majors.

“I do feel close to the students and am perpetually amazed at their talents and skills,” she said. “I am very lucky to work with such a wonderful group of students and instructors.”

Maynard also said there are around 100 students who take musical lessons in Sanborn Hall.

“I get to interact with each of these students at some point….and enjoy it very much,” she said.

Maynard said the music department’s 7 full-time and 15 part-time instructors are dedicated to keep up its success in Sanborn Hall, which it has existed since the 1900s.

“They work very hard to recruit new students and then to help each become the best musician and best person they can be,” she said.

Maynard said she uses advertising to create higher attendance to recitals, but the music department is always looking for new ideas.

“Because they are primarily held during the day and because we’re located so far from other buildings on campus, we (unfortunately) don’t have many guests attend the student recitals,” Maynard said. “We’d like to change that.”

Students sculpt to fight hunger locally

By Sophie Crispin
Transcript Reporter

Students joined Habitat for Humanity in the fight against hunger on Monday, March 4 by making and donating bowls to Habitat’s annual Soup for Shelter event.

Led by junior Elizabeth Warner and senior Haley Figlestahler, the student volunteers met in Haycock Hall to make bowls for the event. Once finished, the group donated the bowls to be sold at Habitat’s Soup for Shelter, scheduled on March 20.

This is the first year both Warner and Figelstahler have been involved with the program, which they learned about in their Ceramics 1 class. OWU students join a wide range of students, some as young as elementary school, in making bowls.

Habitat for Humanity volunteer and Soup for Shelter co-chair Emily Calvert explained what a community effort the program is.

“Students of all ages make these bowls and give them over to our Soup for Shelter volunteers, and soups are donated from several local sources, including restaurants, the community market, and retirement homes. St. Mary’s School allows us to use their cafeteria kitchen,” she said.

In its eleventh year, the Soup for Shelter fundraiser consists of selling both soup and the donated bowls to community participants. The dinner raises awareness about local homelessness and the efforts made by Habitat for Humanity, as well as funds for the Delaware County affiliate.

“Last year we raised a record $10,000 in three hours … and the funds stay right here in Delaware,” Calvert said.

The program charges attendees $10 for a meal and $15 if they want to keep their bowl. Though in her first year of participation, Figelstahler also plans to attend the fundraiser in support.

Both she and Warner appreciated the combination of community service, involvement, and creativity.

“This is a huge way to not only involve the community in a service project, but also involve local artists. It gets their work noticed and appreciated,” Figelstahler said. “People get to see works that are made from all kinds of local artists.”

Ohio Wesleyan has been affiliated with Delaware County’s Habitat for Humanity since 1989.

“We continue to have a strong relationship with OWU, where the campus chapter is very active,” Calvert said.

Soup for Shelter will take place on Wednesday, March 20 from 4:30 pm to 7:30 pm at St. Mary’s School Commons, located at 60 E. William St.

Track athletes earn All-American honors at DIII Indoor Track and Field Championship meet

Photo from communications; Emily Amburgey competes for the Bishops in the high-jump in a meet earlier this season. Amburgey received All-American honors at the DIII Indoor Track and Field Championships when she cleared 5’5” and placed sixth. Her fifth place finish in the outdoor high jump also helped her to earn her All-American title. Seniors Ethan Freet, Silas Jolliff, Matt Martin and sophomore Brian Cook also received All-American honors for their performances at the meet.

By Graham Lucas
Transcript Correspondent

Ohio Wesleyan dominated at this year’s Division III Indoor Track and Field championships where five Battling Bishops earned All-American honors. The distinguished two day event from March 8 and 9 was held at North Central College’s facility in Naperville, Ill.

Senior Emily Amburgey received her All-American honor by clearing 5’5” in the high-jump that tied for sixth place. Amburgey also earned the All-American title her freshman year by placing fifth in the outdoor high jump. She said earning the honors this time around was even more special than the first.

“I think it meant a lot more to me because it had been such a long time since I was an All-American my freshman year,” Amburgey said. “I was able to see my hard work finally pay off again. It was well worth the hard work and the wait.”

Amburgey’s efforts gave the OWU women’s track team two and a half points, earning them 54th place at the Championship meet. Amburgey said she deals with the pre-meet pressure in a whole different way.

“I always go into every meet with the same competitive mindset, no matter what the stakes are, and I always get nervous no matter where I am,” Amburgey said.

“All my coaches know I love to laugh and joke around, and that helps me get my mind off matters at hand. It’s quite the sight to see at a meet like the national championship. Everyone is so serious and focused and here my coaches and I are laughing and joking around. We get a lot of weird looks from competitors, but we get the job done.”

Seniors Ethan Freet and Silas Jolliff placed third and fifth respectively in the 400-meter dash. Head Coach Kris Boey told the athletics website two All-Americans in one event is a rare occurrence.

Freet, a transfer from Cincinnati University two years ago, has built a successful career at OWU. Freet is a five-time All-American as a Battling Bishop and was just recognized as the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) regional Track Athlete of the Year.

Senior Matt Martin and sophomore Brian Cook teamed up with Freet and Jolliff to earn second place in the 1600-meter relay. The finish was an all-time best for OWU, something Cook said is a “great honor.” Freet told the athletics website the experience has been incredible.

“To finally be able to go out and put a race together at the national championship meet with those three guys was a little overwhelming,” Freet said in an interview.

“We have been working for years to do what we did, and it felt great being able to finally have the four of us on the podium together.”

Those efforts, along with sophomore Matt Hunter’s ninth place heptathlon finish earned the men’s team 18 points and seventh place in the final standings, an OWU best. Martin said the senior aspect intensifies the whole experience.

Coach Boey, who has produced 15 All-Americans and 271 NCAC champions during his career at OWU, told the athletics website he is proud of his team.

“The thing that was most impressive was that each of our athletes bettered themselves in spite of the nerves associated with the championship,” Boey said in an interview.

“Simply stated, they competed like champions at a national championship meet. We’re proud of what we accomplished over the last several days at the indoor NCAA championship. Our men’s and women’s programs were well-represented by first-class student-athletes.”