Category: News

Students, faculty, family, fraternity brothers and friends gathered in Gray Chapel on Friday at 4 p.m. to honor the memory of Jakob F. Von Der Vellen, who died in a car accident March 16.
The entire lower level of Gray Chapel was occupied by members of Von Der Vellen’s family and Sigma Phi Epsilon brothers seated in the front few rows, and students lining the length of the back walls.
Students sat holding hands and waiting for the service to begin and tissue boxes could be seen spread throughout the rows.

Attendance was so high there were not enough memorial pamphlets to go around.
President Rock Jones began the memorial service and the celebration of the life of Jake Von Der Vellen by reflecting upon the 125 years of gatherings the Ohio Wesleyan community has shared together in the historic Gray Chapel.
It is the location that opens the academic year for freshmen and closes it for seniors, the building where lectures occur and Greek awards take place, and the site of moments such as the memorial service.
“The news of Jake’s death was shocking one week ago, and it is still shocking today,” Jones said. “We gather today with hearts heavy, questions with no answers, and, as the apostle Paul said, we gather with ‘sighs too deep for words.’
“Today we come together to hold one another in love, to remember Jake and the impact he had on each of us and on so many others we will never know. We will allow his values and being to give shape and meaning to our future. Now, with many faiths joining together, we can look to the future with the promise of hope, fulfillment, purpose, the gift of life and the return of joy.”
He said that only 18 months after Jake sat in Gray Chapel listening to his freshman convocation, his impact on OWU had already been enormous through his outreach in service and role as a mentor.
His modest personality was an attribute people knew well, according to Jones.
“Greek awards were held here less than two weeks before Jake’s death, and he accepted the chapter philanthropy award on behalf of Sig Ep,” Jones said. “His character being so modest and quiet, he exited the stage before the photographer could even get a picture of him.”
Jones said that it was important for the OWU community to attend the memorial together and to help one another heal. He said Jake’s life and memory would be a source of celebration and hope for tomorrow.
“We come to share memories, to feel the depth of pain of an inexplicable loss and acknowledge with gratitude the blessing of a young life well lived,” Jones said.
“We will share and cherish memories with Jake’s family here today: his OWU family and his family woven together by bonds of love are a wellspring of hope. We celebrate his life. May God of many names and lands, grant us strength at these moments, peace for these days and hope for what lies ahead.”
Shortly after, the Rev. Jon Powers, university chaplain, began the call to worship and prayer.
“As we enter this time of worship, praise and prayer,” he said, “we collect our hearts and minds to recall all the ways Jake touched our lives during this hour as we already have this past week with a particular focus on the holiness in our midst.”
Reading from a reflection letter from Associate Chaplain Chad Johns’ spring break mission trip group, Powers spoke about true holiness.
“I now know what holy is,” Powers read aloud, “Holy is the love that turns men into brothers, the ritual that binds them together, the trials and times that turn brotherhood into a verb, when silence screams louder than words.”
Father Augustine Okpe from St. Mary’s Parish then led the gathered in prayer.
“We come before you in sorrow and pain, but in confidence of your infinite mercy, oh God,” Okpe said. “Give life to Jake’s immortal soul, give peace and consolation to friends and family left to mourn his passing.”
The quiet that followed was broken by the organist beginning to play “Amazing Grace,” as those in attendance sang along.
Assistant professor of New Testament, Dr. David Eastman, read 1 Corinthians 15:50-54, and Fr. Okpe read John 14: 1-3, 18-21 to those gathered.
The first passage was a message about the mortality of Earthly life and the more beautiful immortality of the next. The ending of the passage said that immortality would eventually triumph over death.
The second reading said that those who die first prepare the way for their loved ones who will one day join them.

Sophomore Alexandra Oney sang an original composition, “Untitled” with piano following the readings.
After a few moments, Powers took the podium again to introduce the beginning of testimonies in memory of Jake.
“There is no way any one of us can capture the kaleidoscope of personality or the vibrancy that was Jakob,” Powers said. “I invite you to take a moment and close your eyes and be present with Jakob that last time you were with him, the last moment of conversation or of quiet or of fun or classroom or studying. Just go there for a moment and recollect and sit with it.”
The chapel was silent.
“I invite you to hold the moment, hold it precious and weave that experience with what the next speakers are about to share,” Powers said.
Mona Spalsbury, office manager for the student involvement office, took the podium.
“Anyone who knew Jake knows he’d hate all this special attention,” she began, a few members of the crowd laughing.
She said when Jake was hired his freshman year, his resume said that at his previous job he answered the phone, greeted people and filed paperwork. However, she said his phone skills consisted of “Hey, student involvement office,” and when asked who had called, he would say, “I don’t know.”
Spalsbury said Jake was quiet when first hired.
“The first few months he used to duck in and out of the office quickly to avoid my motherly, annoying questions. Did you go out this weekend? With who? Any girls? Did you do your homework? Second semester he was more open to conversation and even started asking me how my weekend was. We always talked ever since. I told him he looked spiffy at Greek awards and his face turned red. When he shared the news of his Presidency in Sig Ep, we screamed and clapped and got him all embarrassed.”
Spalsbury said she used to make Jake build shelves and move club gear all around Ham-wil, but that he always did it with a smile.
Tearfully, she continued, “To Mr. and Mrs. Von Der Vellen, thank you for sharing your son with us and allowing us to watch him grow and for raising a boy with fantastic morals and a shining smile. Love, Nancy (Rutkowski), Dana (Behum), Dawn (Wright) and I (student involvement office staff). Thanks for letting us know such a fine young man.”
Taking the podium once more, Powers introduced Jake’s family.
“Jake had a father and mother who were the salt of the Earth and loving sisters,” Powers said. “He came by his goodness honestly.”
Kent Von Der Vellen, Jake’s father, spoke next. He thanked the Sig Ep brothers, faculty, staff and student body for their overwhelming love and support, saying it was a great source of comfort. He said he felt a great amount of pride hearing each of the speakers say how important their relationship was with Jake and how he found it personally so humbling.
“Jake avoided doing things for recognition. He did them because he cared. He excelled at all he did. He didn’t brag. He just did it.”
He said Jake did well in school, without ever being told to do his homework. He always made honor roll and graduated in the top five percent of his high school class. Jake participated in Medina High School’s band, tennis team and NHS. He was on the homecoming court, a mentor for middle school students and a Link Crew member, helping freshman adjust to high school life. Jake loved sports. He had a passion for Medina’s Relay for Life, as he was the OWU 2012 Relay For Life Chair. Relay for Life was scheduled to commence and be dedicated to Jake later Friday night.
“It was so appropriate that Jake was involved in the Big Brother, Big Sister Program because that was the role he always played. He was a big brother to two sisters, Katie and Kerry, and always the oldest among friends and family and outnumbered by girls. He took it in stride, playing ghost in the graveyard and flashlight tag with his younger cousins.
Von Der Vellen said Jake and his two sisters were always very close.
“He loved his sisters. The three of them stayed up late at night playing video games. They watched Youtube videos together, laughing at skits. He would hangout at his sisters’ bonfires with their friends and get to know everyone. He was a man of few words, always contained and under control. You had to work to get him to laugh, but his sisters could. We treasure these moments.”
According to Von Der Vellen, Jake regularly made time to talk to his mother and keep updated on family life. He and Jake used to play catch together in the front yard for hours and they always stayed close. Von Der Vellen ended by saying what the community could do to honor Jake’s legacy.
“Jake volunteered time and used his leadership role to encourage others to get involved and he gave strong hugs. That’s how he showed he cared. All of us want to honor him. It’s an end, but a call to action. Next time you can help someone, remember to do what Jake would have done. Thank you all for being a part of Jake’s life.”
Sig Ep sophomores Greg Hock and Jason Lonnemann spoke on behalf of the brothers to bid Jake farewell.
“Jake was a genuine person that put others before himself,” Lonnemann said. “He was the most dedicated and passionate person I knew and I am honored to speak on behalf of my brothers. Jake had a passion for Sig Ep and kept thinking of new ideas to make it the best it could be. He loved his little brother (from Big Brother Big Sister). He taught us how to be an honest man, brother and friend. I think I speak for all of the brothers when I say we miss him, but are grateful for the time we had with him.”
The all-female a capella group, Pitch Black, sang “I’ll Fly Away” while those in attendance sat in deep reflection. Powers then began his closing remarks.
“God of all light, yesterday we committed brother Jake’s body back to Earth and then committed his soul to your eternal care… Fly away now Jake. Hover over us like God’s Holy Spirit and Jake, God will raise you up on eagle’s wings, bear you on the breath of dawn, make you, Jake, to shine like the sun and hold you, Jake, in the palm of God’s hand,” Powers concluded.
Jake’s seated family and Sip Ep brothers stood, lowered their heads and slowly filed out of the chapel while the rest of the crowd sat in solemn silence looking on. As the organ played, students hugged one another, stood together and exited the building in silence.

Students have an opportunity to view foreign films, learn about world languages and increase cultural awareness free of charge this spring with the Modern Foreign Language House.
MFL is hosting a mini-series of foreign language films over the course of the spring semester. Films are being shown that represent the different languages spoken by residents of MFL and that are relevant to languages studied by students, according to junior Ali Castelero, one of the MFL residents in charge of organizing and putting on the house project.
An assortment of movies will be shown intermittently the next few weeks.
The first film of the series, “Frida,” was shown in English on March 1, at MFL. “Frida” is a 2002 film starring Salma Hayek that depicts the life of Mexican artist Frida Kahlo.
Senior Audrey Hudson attended the event and said a number of people outside the MFL community were there to view the film.
“I thought the event went pretty well. Lots of people came and many had to sit on the floor,” she said. “The movie was excellent, and was a great choice for the MFL film series.”
Hudson said the movie touched upon many topics including foreign language, Latin American studies and art, which she said are all subjects residents of MFL are passionate about. She said the film captured the attention of students who weren’t particularly interested before in these topics.
Castelero said the event was well-received.
“I think overall it went well, and the people in attendance enjoyed it,” she said. “It was a good group of people and a good size for watching a movie.”
There will be events throughout the remainder of spring semester.

Last week students had the opportunity to listen to fellow students talk about their internships and give advice about landing one at the annual Student Internship Panel offered by Career Services.
The panel featured four students who had all participated in different internships last summer.
The students were seniors Celeste Taylor and Tim Carney, junior Chris Brooks and sophomore Rachel Vinciguerra.
Taylor interned with the United States Senate in the office of Senator Sherrod Brown.
For her internship, she was responsible for answering phones, reading and sorting mail and occasionally went to Senate briefings.
She advised students interested in a future on Capitol Hill to pursue an internship because of the highly competitive nature of the field.
“If you want to get a job on Capitol Hill or with the government, you should get an internship because this field is highly competitive and networking matters,” Taylor said.
Carney was a research intern with City Voter, a small startup company which runs best of polls for local media outlets.
His advice to students is that the intern’s attitude is what determines whether or not the internship is worthwhile.
“Just because your job title says ‘intern’ doesn’t mean that that is all you are,” Carney said. “An eager attitude can make your internship a fruitful experience.”
Brooks was a student research assistant with the OSU Wexner Medical Center where he analyzed data for an ongoing project and made sure everything was in order for safety checks.
He said that his internship will be useful as a resumé builder when he applies for medical school.
“My internship puts me ahead of other medical school applicants who don’t have research experience that they can put on their resumé,” Brooks said. “I also got to be a co-author on a paper, which is something that not everyone can say they’ve done.”
Vinciguerra was a production intern and work study coordinator with Summer Stages Dance.
There she laid dance floor, plotted lights and managed the artists.
She said that she got a great experience out of the internship and was offered her job back.
However, she said her internship showed her that this is not the job she wants to do in the future.
“I thought I wanted to pursue arts management, and the internship was enjoyable, but it showed me that this is not what I want to do,” Vinciguerra said. “I don’t regret taking it though.”
The panelists all agreed that networking is vital to obtaining an internship, and a crowd member asked how students can develop a network.
Taylor said standing out from the crowd can help with getting into the network.
“If you have no connections, do something else that stands out,” Taylor said. “Send a thank you note and show that you are more than just a sheet of paper.”
Carney agreed with Taylor and said often small companies are a good alternative to internships for students without connections.
“Small companies need help and don’t want to go through the effort of posting an internship,” Carney said. “Email their HR or CRO and find out if they are hiring. It’s a matter of stepping outside of your comfort zone.”
Another crowd question focused on whether freshmen have any hope of getting an internship.
Brooks said for science internships, age is a factor, but volunteer work is always an option.
“In the sciences it’s harder when you are younger because you don’t have the courses they want you to have,” Brooks said.
“I would recommend volunteering because you can get almost the same experience and networking as you would with an internship.”
Carney said that age is only a factor for certain fields, and it is more about the student’s work ethic.
“The smaller the company, the less harsh they are on resumé experience,” Carney said. “It’s not how old you are, it’s how hard you will work.”
Nancy Westfield, the assistant director of OWU Career Services, said her advice to students is to apply to multiple internships and to talk to people to create a network.
“I would advise students to apply to as many internships as they have time to apply for and to talk to as many people as possible,” Westfield said. “The value of an internship cannot be overstated because it helps students to develop confidence which makes them much more marketable.”

Sisters United joined forces with the Women’s Resource Center, VIVA, SUBA and Rafiki Wa Afrika to raise awareness of HIV/AIDS in women of color on Monday in the Hamilton-Williams Atrium.
Students read poems and cited facts about the HIV/AIDS epidemic during the program.
Sophomore Kimberley Trought, Caribbean representative of Rafiki Wa Afrika, emceed the event, stating facts and statistics of the HIV/AIDS epidemic between performances.
“Today is HIV and AIDS Awareness Day,” Trought said. “Together we must raise awareness to fight the misconceptions of the disease and strive to educate those around us.”
Sophomore Nola Johnson, president of Sisters United, organized the event to educate students on campus about the prevalence of HIV/AIDS.
“Young people think that they’re invincible,” Johnson said. “They think the disease can’t touch them. But it can, and it does.”
Sophomore Kate Johnson, representing the Women’s Resource Center, said that one in 500 college students have HIV. She also said that condoms greatly reduce the risk of spreading the virus.
“The Women’s Resource Center has plenty of free condoms,” Johnson said. “Condoms alone can help control the spread of HIV on college campuses.”
Chaplain Jon Powers said HIV/AIDS is a mystery of the scientific and social world.
According to Powers, five people die of AIDS every minute. Additionally, nine new infections of HIV occur every minute. These statistics are doubled when it comes to people in the black community, Powers said.
“This disease particularly hits people of color,” Powers said. “There are layers and layers of need and we are tipping the iceberg of this need today.”
Trought said she hoped to dispel some of the misconceptions of HIV/AIDS.
“Homosexuality is not the only way HIV gets spread,” Trought said. “It’s a disease that can affect anyone in any relationship. (HIV is) a disease that has no face.”
Powers said awareness events are a good first step in combating a social issue.
He said some of the hardest things to come together and discuss, such as HIV/AIDS, are the most important.
“Awareness of HIV is the beginning, but it’s not enough,” Powers said. “HIV is rampant and it is not going away. We need more than condoms and HIV awareness. It is important to provide support and care for those affected by the disease.
“We need funding for research, medical care clinics,hopsice care and in orphanages for childen who have lost parents to AIDS.”
Powers said the stigma of HIV/AIDS is not the same as it was when he first dealt with instances of HIV on campus in the 80s.
“Because of awareness, we’ve broken down some of the stigmas about HIV,” Powers said. “Many of us know someone who has HIV or AIDS or who has died from the disease.”
According to Johnson, the Delaware General Health District is administering free, oral HIV tests at the Student Health Center next Monday from 1-3:30 p.m.
Students can call the Health Center to make an anonymous appointment at 740-368-3160.

Senior Nick Peranzi is this week’s Greek of the Week. Aside from his significant contributions to the Greek system, Peranzi possesses all of the qualities one looks for in a Greek student: incredible intelligence, stunning good looks, a voice fit for radio and the ability to pick things up and put them down.
He is a 2012 graduating class trustee, member of the senior class council, former-Alpha Sig president and economics management fellow.
Fun fact: His only weakness is gluten.

Sagan courses in 2011 and 2012 provided opportunities for students to engage in travel learning in Costa Rica, through two different courses of study.
Students from a course in Tropical Biology traveled to Costa Rica over spring break to study “the biology and ecology of tropical organisms and complete independent research projects,” Linda O’Horo wrote on the Ohio Wesleyan website. This course was co-listed as botany-microbiology and zoology.
Junior Aubrey Alamshah was one student who took the course and traveled to Costa Rica.
“It’s one thing to talk about the high tree diversity or the low amount of light that hits the forest floor, it’s another to actually be in the middle of it,” Alamshah said.
“We visited three different places, all at different elevations. Tirimbina was in the lowland rainforest, Poca Sol was in the mid-elevation, and Monteverde was at high elevation,” she said.
“I did most of my research at Monteverde on hummingbirds, and they were really amazing”
She said that in Ohio, only two types of hummingbirds can be seen and they are very small.
In Monteverde, she was able to see seven different species that differed greatly in size, shape and color.
“You had everything from the tiny Green Hermit with a bill that was so long and bent that he couldn’t land on the hummingbird feeder, to the giant Violet Sabrewings which were about as long as my hand and bright purple,” she said.
Alamshah also loved the country itself.
“Costa Rica is a really laid back country,” she said.
“They just don’t stress out about everything like we do in the United States, it was really nice. I know that I could definitely learn a lot from them,” she said.
This was Alamshah’s second travel learning experience.
“(Travel learning) not only makes it so much more interesting (to learn), but easier to remember and understand,” she said.
“I honestly think that this is the best way to learn any subject.”
Senior John Riverso was also in the course.
“Pocosol probably had the most impact on me due to its isolation from civilization; it was the most pristine site, and really opened my eyes to what needs to be saved,” Riverso said.
“Seeing things for yourself is an altogether more enriching experience. I wish I had taken advantage of other travel learning courses in my time at OWU.”
Economics Professor Andrew Meyer taught last year’s course that traveled to Costa Rica titled Sustainability, Ecotourism, and Eco Certification.
According to O’Horo on the OWU website, the point of this course was “to examine issues including climate change, natural resource degradation, economic development, environmental quality and tourism—all through the lens of sustainability.”
Meyer said his goal in teaching the course was to help students “formulate what they think the important factors are in determining whether an ecotourism project succeeds or fails, both environmentally and economically.”
Economics Professor Alice Simon also went on the Costa Rica trip last year. She said the biggest impact that the trip had on her came from the rain forests which were amazing to see and from the coffee plantation where values of family pride and doing work by hand were visible.
Junior Andrea MacVay was one of the students on the Economics Costa Rico trip.
“During our trip to Costa Rica we learned about specific policies the country was enacting to promote ecotourism and to protect the environment,” she said.
“We took guided tours through the Cloud Forest, learning of the great biodiversity there, and were able to experience first-hand the principles of ecotourism and the beauty of Costa Rica. Aside from learning a great deal of the biology and history of the country and its environmental practices, we also learned of different efforts to protect endangered species there.”
MacVay said that hiking in the rainforest and up to a waterfall were her most memorable experiences from the trip.
She also said courses that come with a travel experience are important because they help to re-enforce ideas learned in the classroom.
She also said there were benefits of traveling to other cultures for personal reasons.
“Experiencing new and different cultures helps broaden your perspective on life – you get to see how other people live, and what they view as important,” MacVay said.

Ohio Wesleyan boasts over 130 clubs, providing students with a number of interest groups to join. This year, thanks to student activity fees, every club is permitted funding.
Junior Marshall Morris, Wesleyan Council on Student Affairs treasurer, presented the budget information in two meetings last week.
This new system adds more transparency and allows both WCSA members and students to track club budgets better.
In previous years, clubs requested funds from WCSA in large, full school year sums, but this year, the budget committee decided to divide club funding by semesters to cut overhead costs.
Using OrgSync’s tools, students can easily apply for fall club funds. A list of club forms is nested within each club’s profile.
Senior Matthew Hill, president of the Medieval & Renaissance Recreational Combat Association, said he likes the new semester-by-semester funding system.
“I like that it will get clubs thinking about new programming in advance, and better planning can always make the difference in ensuring a good event,” Hill said.
Junior Ashley Madera, a vice-president of VIVA, is unsure if the new funding process for clubs will be entirely effective.
She said some future expenses are hard to predict, especially if a club intends to host a speaker.
“I think it is difficult for clubs because not all of the events we host are annual events,” she said. “Some events, like screenings or bringing a speaker, cannot be (itemized) because it sometimes requires talking to people a whole year in advance, and estimating the costs for speakers which could involve travel, honorariums, and other expenses.”
The new funding system takes many precautions against misuse.
The entire path to funding is lined with forms. There are forms to request extra event funding, to ask for supplemental funding and to reallocate event surplus.
Junior Kamila Goldin, a member of the WCSA budget committee, implored students to pay attention to which forms they complete.
“All we want to do is throw money at you. … Just fill out the right forms. It makes our lives easier,” Goldin said.
Clubs must turn in budget forms by Friday April 6, at 6 p.m. to receive funding.