News – Page 39 – The Transcript

New SLUs on the block

By David Fradkin, Transcript Correspondent

It has been almost a year since Ohio Wesleyan began constructing the new Small Living Units and it will not be long until they are all finished.

The first ‘SLUplex’ located at 118 Rowland Ave. is completed and occupied by members of both the Inter-Faith house (IF) and Sexuality and Gender Equality House (SAGE).

Senior Chase Smith, member and moderator of the IF house, said he will always miss and cherish the memories shared at 81 Oak Hill, but he is very thankful for their new one.

“The A.C. is wonderful, the natural lighting is wonderful and it’s located a lot closer which makes it feel like senior living,” Smith said. “I think it’s appropriate that I moved in here my senior year”.

Another complex is still under construction at 86 Rowland Ave., which will be occupied by members of the House of Peace and Justice (P&J) and the House of Linguistic Diversity (HOLD), which was formerly known as the Modern Foreign Language House.

Moderator of HOLD, junior Audrey Castaneda Walker, who established their SLU’s new name, said she is excited to move back to the house’s original location. While their new SLUplex is undergoing construction, they have been temporarily relocated to the old IF house.

“I’m never petty about a lot of things, but I am going to be petty about this: I just want my spot back,” Walker said. “I just want to be on the corner and that would be great.”

Walker was told their SLUplex should be done by Thanksgiving and they could move in at the beginning of the second semester.

Members of P&J currently reside at their 235 W. Williams St. location, but they said they are skeptical about the transition into the new SLUplex this winter.

“There is a little bit of a pushback in my house because [moving is] scary and we are very attached to our home,” said junior Rachel Scherrer, moderator of P&J.

Scherrer also said she feels like Residential Life is trying to push for a more residential campus, which might not be a bad thing, but some students did not seem to have much input on the decision for the SLU relocations.

“One thing that my house is trying to discuss right now … with ResLife is to get some transparency,” Scherrer said. “Just so they could tell us what’s happening so there could be an open line of communication.”

A third SLUplex is likely to be built between the other structures on Rowland Avenue, but the official plans have yet to be finalized.

WCSA selects Rowan Hannan as chairperson to its Committee on Racial and Cultural Diversity

By Transcript Staff

At the Sept. 5 meeting, Wesleyan Council on Student Affairs (WCSA) announced Rowan Hannan the chairperson to its Committee on Racial and Cultural Diversity.

According to an email sent to all students by WCSA sent on Aug. 30, this 8-member committee will work to identify and address issues faced by underrepresented students on campus.

Hannan said, “I haven’t been on WCSA before. I have led clubs (PRIDE, BOMI club) and am on my third year at SAGE, but I wanted to make change at a different level. I think WCSA really has the power to shape this university and provide a louder voice, especially for underrepresented platforms.”

“I’d like to push WCSA toward a more diverse senate, and encourage other committees to consider different backgrounds when planning their projects,” they added.

In the committee’s first report to the senate, Hannan announced that the committee would be working on sensitivity training for WCSA members, creating a buddy system for international students and providing incentives for making dean’s list, among other things.

Bob Wood, director of Public Safety, announced the starting date for Colum-Bus – an initiative by WCSA and Public Safety to provide cheap transportation to Columbus on a bi-weekly basis. The first bus ride is scheduled to depart from Roy Rike parking lot on Saturday, Sept. 10 at 6:30 p.m. The round trip will cost students $5 and will make multiple trips to Columbus University Gateway. The tickets can be purchased online through Columbus Coach’s website.

Wood also announced flashing lights were established at Rowland Avenue, earlier this month, and encouraged students to use them. In his report, he also mentioned changes in campus parking; particularly changing Selby parking lots from C parking to B parking.

Senators junior Ryan Bishop and sophomore Caroline Hamlin addressed the full senate on developments being made by the Sustainability Task Force.

Bishop said one of the task force’s main goal is to get the university to hire a new Sustainability Coordinator by 2018. He said the plan is to have the student activity fee will sponsor a part of the costs for the new position.

The Sustainability Task Force meets Wednesdays at noon on the second floor of Merrick Hall. Hamlin invited senators to come to the meetings, and said it is an open meeting.

Makeover: Slocum edition

Slocum lobby under renovation. Photo courtesy of Areena Arora

Areena Arora, Managing Editor

When students return to campus in fall, they have much to look forward to. A new welcome center for the Admissions Office in Slocum Hall is one of them.

As alumni week came to a close earlier this month, Slocum was closed for remodeling. The lobby on the ground floor of Slocum is being remodeled and the inside wall is being replaced by glass panels, while no changes are being made to the other floors.

The total budget for the project is $300,000. This funding, according to President Rock Jones, comes from proceeds from an endowment that can be used at the president’s discretion for projects on campus.

Jones said, “While many campuses of our sort now are spending millions of dollars on new welcome centers, this modest investment allows us to showcase a historic building with a setting that welcomes students and creates a fabulous first impression of OWU.”

The project, scheduled to be completed by the first week of August is being done by Thomas and Marker Construction company based in Columbus, Ohio.

Sarah Burns, assistant director of Admissions said, “We’re getting a new welcome center in Slocum … It’s not going to be as modern as Merrick though.”

The Admissions office is temporarily located in Merrick Hall for the summer.

Burns said, “A new coffee bar and some new furniture is being added to make it (the lobby) more inviting.”

Susan Dileno, vice president for enrolment management said, “The building wasn’t making a very good first impression … We had issues with the lobby given that it’s very small.”

The biggest change, according to Dileno, is addition of more seating capacity to the admissions lobby and replacement of an inside wall with glass.

“We had a secret architect that came in and toured the campus, and he graded us a D in terms of Admissions space,” said Dileno. “A lot of colleges are putting up a welcome center. This is comparatively modest … and a lot of it is cosmetic.”

Along with remodeling, asbestos removal also is being done.

Peter Schantz, Director of Physical Plant Planning and Operations said, “There is asbestos that needed to be remediated in the building, but it is not the cause of the renovation … The asbestos containing material was encapsulated and does not need to be removed until such a renovation occurs.”

Burns said, “The asbestos in Slocum was underneath concrete … no one was ever in any danger from it and now it’s all gone.”

Among other changes, a mini kitchenette will be added to the lobby as well and the carpeting will be replaced by tiles.

Gabbert’s file now under review by municipal prosecutor

Gabbert. Photo courtesy of battlingbishops.com

Areena Arora, Managing Editor

The Delaware County prosecutor’s office confirmed Luke Gabbert’s file was closed earlier this week, and no charges for felony will be filed.

Julie Datko, public information officer said Gabbert’s file will not be presented to grand jury.

Earlier this year, Gabbert was found in the creek south of 28 Franklin St., on the morning of Feb. 7 and was pronounced dead at 10:40 a.m. that morning.

Hypothermia and an injury in the upper cervical spine caused his death, according to the autopsy released by Delaware County coroner’s office.

The file is currently under review with the Municipal prosecutor.

*This story will be updated as more information becomes available.

V.P. for student engagement and success is announced

Areena Arora, Managing Editor

In an email addressed to the Ohio Wesleyan community on April 29, President Rock Jones announced Dwayne Todd has been hired as the new vice president for student engagement and success, beginning this summer.

Originally from Dayton, Ohio, Todd currently serves as the vice president for student affairs at Columbus College of Arts and Design. He has been in that position since 2001.

According to a press release by Cole Hatcher, director of media and community relations, Todd earned his doctorate in higher education administration from the Ohio State University, master of divinity from Southwestern Theological Seminary in Fort Worth and bachelor of music from Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama.

Todd said, “I have wanted to return to a small residential liberal arts college setting for a long time. What specifically drew me to OWU is the deep passion for learning, the strong sense of community, and the sincere commitment of the institution to provide transformative experiences for students.”

He will join the university this summer and report to Jones, who said the breadth and depth of Todd’s 21-year higher education career will benefit OWU’s ongoing work to provide a premier liberal arts experience, according to the press release.

In November 2015, a search committee was announced with the charge of searching for a new leader of student affairs for the university, chaired by Vicki DiLillo, professor of psychology.

DiLillo is quoted in the press release saying, “Dwayne’s clear commitment to the provision of a student-centered experience guides his implementation of creative initiatives that foster a sense of community for the students he serves.”

OWU professor of 37 years dies

Matt Cohen, Editor-in-Chief

An Ohio Wesleyan professor of 37 years died the morning of Wednesday, April 27.

Professor Emeritus Edward “Jed” Burtt, 68, of Delaware, Ohio, passed away at his home. Burtt received the Ohio Professor of the Year Award in 2011, was an internationally recognized ornithologist and a member of the OWU faculty for 37 years.

In an email from President Rock Jones Wednesday morning, Burtt was quoted from his acceptance speech when he received the Ohio Professor of the Year Award.

“If I may paraphrase a politician, it takes a community to nurture a professor. Indeed, my career has been guided by this community … Thank you to my colleagues and all the students for nurturing me. I appreciate that you have let me be a part of your lives. You have been my life. Thank you for a wonderful life.”

Jones concluded his email saying, “Please join me in extending our deepest sympathies to Jed’s loving wife, constant companion and excursion photographer, Pam, who also has become a beloved member of the OWU family over the past four decades.”

Burtt requested no services. Instead, he requested contributions in support of Ohio Wesleyan’s Natural History Museum. He retired in 2014.

Car service driven by women, for women

Hope Walls, Transcript Correspondent

No men allowed: that’s the idea behind SafeHer, a new ridesharing service with only female drivers for women and children passengers.

Though highly popular, other ridesharing services such as Uber have been dangerous for women.

Uber reported five claims of rape and 170 claims of sexual assault from December 2012 to August 2015, according to Uber’s recent statement to BuzzFeed News.

SafeHer founder Michael Pelletz drove for Uber where he would pick up college girls from clubs late at night and worry about their safety with other drivers. He decided that women needed a safer option.

Due to an overwhelming response, SafeHer postponed their April 19 launch date in Boston to do one major launch across the country.

“We are going to be in every city because we realize that this is so important to so many people,” Pelletz said. “We are just getting our technology ready to handle it and will be in every city and town in the fall.”

Without having launched yet, SafeHer has already made international news.

The company has received over 50,000 emails from women interested in becoming drivers and passengers, Pelletz said.

“I never would have dreamed of this,” he said. “I’m honored to be able to share my ideas with the world.”

The service will have a unique safety feature. Drivers and passengers will be given a code word that the driver must say before the ride begins.

Similar to other ridesharing services, riders will be able to see a picture of their driver, the car model, license number and use real time GPS tracking on the app.

Drivers will also go through a more comprehensive background check than other services, according to SafeHer’s website.

“The SafeHer idea makes me feel a lot more comfortable with considering to get a ride unaccompanied,” senior Gina Groseclose said. “I think that women will feel safe being driven by other women who understand the concerns that come along with being driven by a stranger.”

Only nineteen percent of Uber drivers were women in November 2015, according to a driver report released by Uber.

“I think SafeHer will open up the job market for women as the potential of dangerous male passengers has prevented women from pursuing the good work opportunity of driving for a car service,” Groseclose said.

To encourage college students to become drivers, the company plans to work with the work-study programs at universities, Pelletz said.

There is no word yet as to whether Ohio Wesleyan will be working with SafeHer.

Pricing will be competitive with Uber. Unlike Uber, there will not be a minimum charge for a ride. The rate per mile for a standard vehicle will be 6 cents less than Uber at $1.18. The rate per minute will be 2 cents less than Uber at 18 cents.

SafeHer will also have 2 percent of each fare donated to the rider’s choice of 10 women-based charities. Customers can suggest charities on SafeHer’s website.

SafeHer changed its name from Chariot for Women on April 20 after posting a naming contest on their website.

“Because of the amazing response that we had, we realized that it’s the world’s company,” Pelletz said. “We wanted the world to name us.”

Although SafeHer isn’t available yet, OWU students are able to access safe transportation in other ways. Public Safety always has officers on duty that students can call for a ride if they feel unsafe.

FireDogz hit the Jay

Ela Mazumdar, Transcript Reporter

Ohio Wesleyan’s Public Safety (PS) is working on promoting the JAYwalk to entice students to walk on campus instead of choosing Spring Street.

Former PS officer Jay McCann’s FireDogz food truck, as well as Dan’s Deli, will be strategically placed on the JAYwalk rather than on the corner of Spring Street so that students won’t walk that direction.

“Campus and student safety are not a sudden priority, but a constant 24/7 top priority,” said Bob Wood, director of PS. “I’m not sure anyone has set a goal of eliminating the use of Spring Street, but we do like the idea of students being on campus at night where there’s no traffic and no neighbors to disturb.”

He also said vendors were approached previously about making an arrangement like this, but the attempts were not successful.

McCann, FireDogz’s owner, said he was excited to participate in a trial period to have food vendors on the JAYwalk.

“It is a very nice and safe setting for FireDogz to offer OWU students some late night munchies while at the 24-hour library, Slocum Hall or just a quick walk from the residential side of campus for some good food,” McCann said.

Since Trattoria is no longer available and the Library Café closed, this project serves as a solution for students who might want food late at night.

“I have received some great feedback from students about the food and atmosphere,” McCann said. “The added $5 coupon off is also nice for folks short on cash at the end of the academic year. I look forward to the next few weekends and hope more folks give this a try.”

The project is still just in the trial period, but those involved are enthusiastic about the opportunities this could bring.

Kurt Holmes, interim vice president for student affair and dean of students, said he thought the arrangement is an experiment.

“We might find that there is little interest in this idea and we will try other ideas,” Holmes said. “Or we might find that the [JAYwalk] can become a center of late-night activities like many urban pedestrian walkways. We might even motivate some students to propose ideas.”

Seniors and alumni reflect on OWU

Areena Arora, Managing Editor

With only two weeks left to graduation, besides academic work and designing graduation caps, seniors have much to accomplish.

While some wish to drive on the JayWalk, others want to maintain strong relationships with friends and graduate.

Senior Mackenzie Sommers’ bucket list includes going for a midnight dip in the fountain at the JayWalk. “I’m pretty cautious about this one, though, because god only knows what people do to the water in that fountain,” said Sommers.

Senior Mili Green does not have much on her bucket list. “I try to live without regrets, so I do what I can. I do want to go karaoking at Clancey’s, though,” said Green.

With nearly 100 clubs, there is always room for involvement at Ohio Wesleyan.

Senior Nate Goodhart said, “This school offers so many programs, clubs and organizations that allow for students to truly take advantage of their time here at OWU.”

Senior Sadie Parsons from California said, “I do participate in many things. However, I wish I would have acquired more leadership roles in the clubs and activities I was involved with.”

Looking back at the four years spent at OWU, some say it has been a rewarding experience while yet others have some regrets.

Sommers said, “I wish I’d written more TIPITS (Theory-to-Practice grants) and SIPS (Student Individualized Project grants). This school gives you so many opportunities to see and do the things that you are interested in.”

Green said, “I was always curious about Greek Life … but I think it was too late to rush because everyone knows I’m not for it.”

For some seniors we talked to, summarizing four years’ experience was not easy. Parsons said, “My time at OWU has been amazing and I wouldn’t trade it for anything else. I wouldn’t even take back any of the hardest times I’ve had here because I learned from them and only became a stronger person from them.”

Senior Camille Mullins-Lemieux, resident of Peace and Justice House said, “This place has allowed me to flourish as a person a lot.”

Kim Eckart, ’13, who now works as the assistant to VP of Finance and Administration said she regrets not having participated in a travel learning course and not joining a small living unit.

Haley Barber, ’13, who now works for the Community Service Learning office and Office of Career Services said, “I regret not studying abroad. That was one of the things on my bucket list … I couldn’t fit it in with my double majors in biology and studio arts.”

Kelly Rand, ’15, an intern at the Office of President, has some advice for rising seniors. “My advice to seniors is to be a little less responsible and little more spontaneous. You should enjoy time outside by the fountain with friends on a beautiful day. You can do your reading later, because you won’t be able to do that next year. Soak it all in while you can,” said Rand.

Looking ahead, in less than a month, seniors will be out in the world with an undergraduate degree. The campus they’ve come to identify as home will no longer be their residence.

Senior Shelli Reeves has her post-graduation plans made. “I will be completing my first book and travelling as much as possible,” said Reeves.

Mullins-Lemieux said, “I’m staying at a Buddhist monastery in Oregon in June … and then taking an internship in Panama at a sustainable village on their design-thinking team.”

OWU faculty wins Brick Wall award

Areena Arora, Managing Editor

The Central Ohio chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) awarded the Brick Wall Award to the Ohio Wesleyan faculty on April 20 at a Columbus barn.

The award was presented at the 67^th Annual Founder’s Day banquet of the chapter held at Amelita Mirolo Barn, Upper Arlington, Ohio.

According to SPJ’s website, the award started in 2001. “It is a dubious distinction presented to individuals or organizations that, according to chapter members, did the most to block citizen access to public records and proceedings or otherwise violated the spirit of the First Amendment during the past year.” It is awarded under the Chapter Awards category.

On Monday, April 18, OWU faculty voted 47-21 to ban reporters, including The Transcript, the university’s independent student newspaper, from covering future faculty meetings. This was unprecedented after more than 35 years of faculty meetings being open to students.

Paul Kostyu, associate professor of journalism and the department chair, was present at the award ceremony. “I accept this [award] on behalf of the 21 [faculty] who withstood the pressure to keep meetings open.”

Cole Hatcher, director of media and community relations at OWU, said, “I understand the award, but it is important to remember that it is a private faculty meeting and [faculty] have the right to close them, even if it is not a popular decision.”

Kevin Smith, member of the chapter’s board of directors, who was also present at the ceremony said, “It’s really unfortunate …[faculty at OWU] shouldn’t be ashamed of what they’re talking about. They’re being too thin-skinned and protective … SPJ is going to do what it can to help fight that.”

Adam Goldstein, attorney advocate at the Student Press Law Center in Washington D.C., said in an interview before the faculty meeting on April 18 that if the motion does get approved, humiliation is the best weapon for The Transcript.