susanugalde – The Transcript

A cappella singers, fans come together for A Cappellooza

Julia Stone '16 of The OWtsiders, OWU's only co-ed a cappella group, performs at the 3rd annual A Cappelloza hosted by CPB. Photo by Spenser Hickey. — Julia Stone ’16 of The OWtsiders, OWU’s only co-ed a cappella group, performs at the 3rd annual A Cappelloza hosted by CPB. Photo by Spenser Hickey.

On Nov. 7, members of the Delaware and Ohio Wesleyan community came together to enjoy song and laughter at the third annual A Cappellooza.

The event was held in Gray Chapel, with music fans filling the orchestra and balconies.

Organized by the Campus Programing Board (CPB), A Cappellooza brought together groups from OWU, Wittenberg University, Denison University and Akron University.

CPB also hosted a professional guest for the night, a cappella group Street Corner Symphony.

Street Corner Symphony sang Johnny Cash to open their set, a choice that reflected their southern heritage. The group’s band members are all from Nashville, Tennessee.

Senior Miranda Dean said “they sounded pretty Southern.”

Street Corner Symphony went on to invite volunteers from the audience to join them on stage as they sang the theme song from “Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.”

Oberlin's all-female a cappella group, Just Eve, begins their set. Photo by Spenser Hickey. — Oberlin’s all-female a cappella group, Just Eve, begins their set. Photo by Spenser Hickey.

Compared to last year’s group, sophomore Maddy Bonfield believed that Street Corner Symphony “tried to get the crowd more into it.”

Senior Julia Stone, member of both OWU a capella groups, the OWTsiders and Pitch Black, mentioned that “all the groups are really supportive of each other.”

Bonfield noted that it was “cool to see the other schools…and their fan base.”

After the event, all the groups were invited for an A Cappella mixer at the Peace and Justice small living unit.

Stone said “quite a few [from Denison] showed up and we just sort of improvised music together.”

It shows to the unifying effect that A Cappellooza had on the community.

OWU grad uses economics to shape health care

William Hsiao ’59. Photo courtesy of the Harvard website.

Eleven countries and one city-state have health care systems shaped by an Ohio Wesleyan University graduate.

William Hsiao, class of 1959, returned to his alma mater this week to receive an honorary Doctor of Laws degree for his work in designing health care reforms and universal health insurance programs.

“Hsiao exemplifies the ideal of moral leadership in a global society,” President Rock Jones said.

Hsiao said “[he] was flabbergasted” when informed about the honorary degree. “To me, what I was doing [was]…what I found interesting and doing the best that I [could]. Many people do that.”

Hsiao, who received his doctorate in economics from Harvard University, shaped health system reforms and universal health insurance programs for China, Colombia, Cyprus, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Poland, South Africa, Sweden, Taiwan, Uganda, Vietnam and the United States.”

Robert Gitter, professor of economics at OWU, described him as a very humble person.

Hsiao, who graduated from OWU with degrees in mathematics and physics, said he “never thought [he] would be a teacher and a researcher.” He applied to be an actuary for the federal government.

Gitter explained that “[Hsiao] realized as an actuary he wasn’t really dealing with a lot of the big questions,” such as the impact specific economic decisions have on people and how they affect the economy overall.

Once Hsiao realized what he was missing, he went back to school. “It [seemed] like economists are the ones wrestling with those big issues,” Hsiao said.

He credited OWU with developing his interest in the larger picture. He discovered “how [ethics and moral principles] should guide our lives.” A liberal arts education “[opens] up your spirit, your mind and your interpersonal relations.”

The BishopNet we all deserve

Technology has become much more sophisticated in the past few years. While students have no problem keeping up with the new technology, larger establishments, like universities, tend to struggle.

Ohio Wesleyan is no different.

The infamous BishopNet, OWU’s wireless portal to the internet, tends to be a shared enemy all students face. Many take to social media to complain. Junior Jeremy Griffin-Jackson called it “unreliable.”

It’s not uncommon to hear horror stories of BishopNet dropping in the middle of a very important task or homework. GriffinJackson explained, “It has its moment, but then it drops you.”

Cuckoo Gupta, a transfer student, was surprised by the poor quality. She noted that “compared to [her] old school, [BishopNet] is noticeably worse.”

Brian Rellinger, OWU’s chief information officer, says that the slowed performance could be attributed to various factors. “Streaming media services place demands on the network that did not exist in 2007 when the equipment was last updated,” he said. An increase in devices per student has also contributed to the strain.

But the struggle students have been facing may soon be coming to an end.

Rellinger confirmed that new access points to BishopNet are being installed across campus. He is confident that the upgrades being made will improve wireless connectivity for all.

“New access points that are being installed are the latest generation and are replacing equipment that is approximately seven years old,” said Rellinger. “The new equipment will offer the latest advancements in wireless network performance and coverage.”

“As of Oct. 15, installation in 4 Williams Drive, Stuyvesant Hall and Welch Hall has been completed,” Rellinger continued. “All of the equipment was purchased with existing funds from Information Services, and the money was made available through various internal cost-saving measures within our department and required no external funding or budget increases.”

With upgrades nearing completion, OWU students just might get the BishopNet they deserve.

There’s more to cross country than running

It’s well known that sports put a strain on the body, but few people think of cross country as being significantly tough.

Yet cross country goes beyond running. It not only calls upon the physical strength of the individual, but on their mental endurance as well. The sport pushes the limits of a runner’s body and can lead to some serious injuries.

Training for cross country, at least at Ohio Wesleyan, takes on a “holistic approach,” said Coach Matt Wackerly. He explained that while running is clearly emphasized, the runners work on their core strength in the weight room and the pool as well.

Senior Abbey Warth, a cross country runner, detailed their workout schedule as doing “long runs” on the weekends and “lifting twice a week in the mornings.”

Junior Sarah Fowler, another runner, elaborated on the regimen. They run six times a week with “one day off.” On their day off, they typically either bike or are in the pool. Fowler added the lifting done in the weight room emphasized “stabilization and fine tuning [their] muscles.”

Senior Megan Schulze, a cross country team captain, also noted that while the workout between men and women are the same, men put in more “mileage” than the women.

Wackerly added that, among cross country runners, the most common injuries are stress injuries.

But some setbacks can be as serious as bone fractures. Diet varies from runner to runner, but Fowler and Warth both agreed that eating well is their only rule.

At the end of the school year, Wackerly gives the runners a training schedule that they are responsible for completing on their own. The running and workout intensity is built upon and grows as the summer progresses.

Fowler referred to it as “probably the hardest part of the season.” With no one holding the runners accountable, it requires committed self-discipline.

Campus for the cure

Students watch from afar as two volleyball teams compete. Photo by Susan Ugalde.

On Saturday, Sept. 5, at the Delta Tau Delta sand pit, the Ohio Wesleyan Greek community came together for charity and a little competition.

Beach Bash is an annual volleyball tournament held by OWU’s Mu chapter of Delta Tau Delta.

The philanthropic event raises money for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

The Mu chapter of Ohio Wesleyan originally established the event four years ago, prior to the national fraternity’s partnership with the organization.

Since the partnership in 2012, the national fraternity has donated approximately $250,000 to the research foundation. Over the years, Beach Bash has typically raised between $300 and $500, depending on the year.

Many fraternities and sororities on campus entered teams in the tournament. The Delts even extended a special invitation to the Small Living Units (SLUs).

Students mingle by the sand volleyball court. Photo by Susan Ugalde.

Typically each team pays $30 to enter, but SLUs were asked to give as much as they felt comfortable giving. While the Greek associations have funds devoted to events like Beach Bash, SLUs have a limited budget.

Besides reaching out to the SLUs, the Delts hoped to attract other non-affiliated teams to increase campus involvement. The Delts offered to complete teams with their own members so more individuals could participate.

Sophomore Alex Niswonger, a Delt, noted that “the most important thing about an event is to get the whole entire school involved.” He added that the fraternity had a great platform to spread awareness.

Sophomore Zac Worley, a member of Chi Phi, also stated that increased awareness among new students could potentially help long-term involvement with such events.

Edwards renovations come to a close

The Edwards Fitness Center is, in a sense, a new building. This semester is the first that many sophomores are seeing it. Its remodeled interior, though incomplete, is now modern and sleek.

Built in 1906, it is now over 100 years old. After a large donation from Louis A. Simpson, class of 1958, and his wife Kimberly K. Querrey, the Edwards Fitness Center became the focus of a large scale construction project, much like Merrick Hall.

Though students are now free to roam Merrick, Edwards remains closed. Meant to be done by the end of August, construction was recently delayed, and the building is not set to open until early or mid-September.

Athletics Director Roger Ingles commented that the delay was due to back-ordered flooring, which is set to come in on August 31. Installation should take a few days. After the flooring is placed, equipment still needs to be moved in and staff must be trained. However, that does not mean certain facilities are still unavailable to students.

The Edwards Gymnasium basketball court shortly after being re-done during the 2013-14 school year. Photo by Roger Ingles and Larry Hamill.

Ingles explained that several classes and module courses will be moved into the fitness center after fall break, if not sooner. As of the first day of classes, the weight room in the basement of Edwards is open. Certain classes, like jazzercise, are already being held in the finished basketball court. Contrary to rumors, the fitness center in its current state is open to all students.

While many students are excited about the new facilities, many are concerned about the loss of the Belt Fitness Center in Welch Hall. Though hot and musty year round, “Welch Gym” is a convenient resource on the residential side of campus. According to President Rock Jones, Welch Gym will remain open, but not to the same extent as before. A few cardio machines will remain but the space will also be used for “fitness classes and other group exercise experiences.”

With such a lengthy renovation, one would expect massive improvements; however, one student noted her disappointment. Senior Alex Cook mentioned that the now open weight room looks exactly the same as it did before. However, she did state that other parts of the building were in desperate need of improvement prior to the beginning of construction and is pleased with their progress.

Though currently limited, once construction is complete, Edwards will have new cardiovascular equipment and circuit machines. Each machine will have internet access for convenience.

The approximate times the facilities will be open are from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Mondays through Thursdays. Edwards will close earlier on Fridays and open later on the weekends.