News – Page 69 – The Transcript

Music historian talks life in the 1960s

Music historian and former publicist for The Grateful Dead, Dennis McNally, spoke on Tuesday about the power of music to unite and change cultures.

Hosted by Ohio Wesleyan University’s Arneson Institute for Practical Politics and Public Affairs, the talk was, in part, a promotion for McNally’s new book, Highway 61: Music, Race, and the Evolution of Cultural Freedom. McNally’s presentation mirrored his book, following the evolution of music from southern blues to rock n’ roll. His presentation also showed the bridges made over cultural divisions during this journey.

All of this, McNally asserts, came to a head in the 60’s with anti-establishment movements against status quo concepts of sex, religion, politics–especially during the Vietnam war–and race in America.

McNally also took the time to relate the subject to the state of the music industry today. After admitting that he did not spend much time listening to contemporary music, he lamented that the modern industry does not allow the same room for creativity that allowed bands like The Grateful Dead to find their voice in the 60’s.

“It’s easy to forget, (The Grateful Dead) had two huge flops before they got big, y’know?” McNally said. “The label stuck with them back then, though you couldn’t blame them if they hadn’t, but today?… The business is just a horror. So commercialized, most guys get one shot and then they’re done.”

McNally went on to lament this turn in the music industry, especially as this age of technology has enhanced the ability for people with a message to send that message around the world.

Pointing to subjects like marriage equality and climate change as examples, McNally argued that a push from the musical community of today could affect greater social change than ever before if those gatekeepers and artists would allow the message to mature and escape in a form that was appealing to the public.

Independent bands both in America and abroad provide some sense of hope for that vision, at least to McNally.

“There’s this band in Mali called Tinariwen,” McNally said. “They’re using Malian music, sang in French, using american rock n’ roll instruments with modern rock modalities. They’re playing blue notes, because they invented them….and they’re a rock band. A hell of a rock band.”

To conclude, McNally warned about the potential for even these pockets of positive musical influence to become over commercialized and robbed of meaning, and the chorus of “noise” that the internet age has brought along with it has more positive benefits.

“(Positive messages losing their meaning) is a danger, I don’t think that’s reason enough to keep you from putting out a positive message,” McNally said. “You can only say what you feel and in as sincere and heart-felt a way as possible…That there’s always a risk that it’s going to get blurred with endless side noise.”

McNally’s book is available now in the campus bookstore. The next Arneson Institute speaker will be film director and poet Sini Anderson, who will be screening her documentary “The Punk Singer” on Wednesday, Oct. 8th.

Delta Gamma does a week of good

Students around campus focused on giving back last week as part of “Do Good Week” presented by Delta Gamma (DG).

Delta Gamma’s motto is Do Good and Delta Gamma nationally encouraged chapters in the US and Canada to Do Good during the Week of September 15.

“It also enables chapters to encourage others on their campuses to adopt Doing Good as a way of life, as we Delta Gammas have done,” said Mariah Bockbrader, the president of the ___ chapter of DG.

The sisters of Delta Gamma primarily used social media to promote ways for others to do good and get involved, as well as giving examples throughout the week of how they have given back to the community.

“We Delta Gammas strive to live by the motto of Doing Good, and are happy we have an entire week dedicated to helping OWU strive to live by the same motto,” Bockbrader said.

DG’s Vice President of Foundation, Ali Phillips helped to plan the majority of the week’s events and stated “Do Good week differs from a normal philanthropy event because it’s focus is more on bringing awareness to our motto, which is Do Good. This week really highlights what we as Delta Gamma’s stand for and we used this week to bring awareness to the OWU campus.”

Since the focus was primarily awareness, DG did not raise money throughout the week, Phillips said.

Examples of volunteer work DG’s participated in throughout the week include: bingo at Willow Brook Nursing Home and spending time with the Miracle League in Columbus. Senior Abby Reynolds event donated her hair to Locks of Love, as her act of good for the week.

“I’ve done it once before so it had kind of been in the back of my mind until do good week came around,” Reynolds said. “I knew I wanted to do something good, and I thought this would be the right thing.”

Additionally, members tabled in the Hamilton-Williams Campus Center and had a sheet for the campus community to sign with examples of how they chose to Do Good throughout the week. The table also had a large glass bowl filled with ideas of how to pay it forward and Do Good throughout the rest of the semester.

Senior Lauren Moore said this week helped her to realize “how committed DGs are to service.”

Tri Delta fundraising exceeds expectations

One sorority raised more money for its philanthropy last academic year than all other Greek organizations on campus combined.

Delta Delta Delta sorority (Tri Delta) surpassed their goal for raising money for their philanthropy, St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital. Last spring, Tri Delta raised over $25,000 in one semester, making them Ohio Wesleyan University’s leading Greek organization in terms of monetary contributions.

The sorority put on various fundraisers last year, the first being the organization’s “Sincerely Yours” letter-writing campaign to encourage family and friends of the OWU community to donate to St. Jude’s.

“Each girl is required to do a certain number of [letters], but most girls go above and beyond and write a significant number more,” said Dara Markus, Tri Delta’s philanthropy chair. “That is the main way we raise that money.”

Tri Delta’s annual spring philanthropy event is Pasta for Life, an all-you-can-eat pasta dinner with a $5 admission charge, and raffle basket bidding.

“Pasta for life was a very successful event [last spring], I had a great time and I learned a lot about St. Jude, also that ice cream bar was amazing,” sophomore JT Knoble said.

St. Jude has been very grateful for Tri Delta’s contributions on a national level. In 2010, the sorority pledged as a national goal to raise 15 million dollars in five years; they accomplished their goal in 3.5 years.

“The women of Delta Delta Delta are to be congratulated for their fundraising accomplishments,” said Dana Behum, OWU’s Greek advisor. “Their ability to partner with local and national organizations in order to raise such an impressive amount showcases their organizational skills, enthusiasm for the cause and passion for improving the lives of others. As a Greek community, we are fortunate to have such focused and compassionate members serving local and national philanthropy efforts.”

Tri Delta has high hopes for the upcoming semester. They are partnering with Sigma Chi fraternity for their second ever Kicks for Kids philanthropy event. The kickball tournament that will take place Oct. 5.

“We will head in a positive and aggressive manner this year so we can do as much for St. Judes as possible,” Markus said.

Kappa Alpha Theta gives English professor national honor

“I grew up in New Jersey, though I usually try not to admit that,” said English professor, Nancy Comorau.

Comorau has been selected by Kappa Alpha Theta sorority’s national headquarters as “outstanding faculty of the year,” after being nominated by the members of Ohio Wesleyan’s Theta chapter, according to OWU Theta president, senior Jordan Bernstein.

Comorau began teaching at OWU in the fall of 2009, where she specializes in post-colonial literature, “which covers the places in the world where the British colonized, and usually left,” she explained.

Before Ohio Wesleyan, Comorau got her undergraduate degree in English from Wake Forest University. After Wake Forest, she got her Masters degree in English at Villanova University. After Villanova, Comorau taught at the University of Maryland – College Park as a graduate teaching assistant, which is where she got her PhD.

“My plans are to continue doing what I’m doing,” said Comorau. “I’ve built a roster of postcolonial courses in the department,” she added.

Comorau will be leading her third travel learning course throughout Europe in May of 2015. She and her class, “Slouching Towards Empire: The Literary Politics of Ireland,” will be traveling to Ireland.

“We were just ecstatic that Dr. Comorau won outstanding faculty member when over 135 chapters sent in applications,” Bernstein said. She said that the ladies of Kappa Alpha Theta chose the professor who has had the biggest impact on the chapter.

COW Week aims to promote diversity

The Citizens of the World (COW) house plans to promote its mission of bringing cultural diversity and awareness the week of Oct. 20.

The members of the Small Living Unit (SLU) have planned a variety of events each portraying messages the house wants to share.

“I hope for the best, but I’m just going to be passionate about what I’m personally doing and what we are doing as a house and hope that it rubs off and reflects well to others,” said junior McKenna Brewer, a new member of COW.

While the overall goal is for the house to share its message, the OWU community will also be able to communicate their own personal interpretations of these ideas through “I Stand For.” The event will allow students to make shirts that announce their personal values. According to senior and house moderator Kerrigan Boyd, “these shirts are an avenue for the campus to actively vocalize their social and cultural awareness passions.”

For those who are interested in participating in less hands on methods, two documentaries will be screened on campus during the week. The first, “In Whose Honor,” addresses the problem with having culturally offensive depictions of Native American mascots, and the issues of merchandising and appropriation towards Native American symbols and culture. The other, “The Coca-Cola Case” raises awareness about unethical actions of major corporations abroad. Both movies will be brought to campus in the hopes of spreading awareness about major social and economic issues.

COW is also planning to hold events raising awareness for education issues.

To end of the week, the house hopes to host a celebratory feast with an assortment of food from various cultures around the world and will actively celebrate cultural diversity through food.

VIVA begins Hispanic Heritage Month

Programs to include films, discussion on immigration and closing dinner

Sophomores Cajsa Ohlsson and Aletta Doran talk during the dinner, which also included music and instructions in traditional dance and a group performance of the Macarena. Photo by Spenser Hickey

Hispanic Film Series Schedule

All films will be shown in the Benes Rooms of Hamilton-Williams Campus Center from September 18 to October 2.

“7 Cajas” (Seven Boxes) – Sept. 18 at 6:30 p.m. Country: Paraguay.

“Arrugas” (Wrinkles) – Sept. 24 at 6:30 p.m. Country: Spain.

“Un Cuento Chino” (Chinese Take Away) – Sept. 29 at 6:30 p.m. Country: Argentina.

“También La Lluvia” (Even the Rain) – Sept. 30 at 6:30 p.m. Countries: Spain, Mexico, France.

“Pan Negro” (Black Bread) –Oct. 2 at 6:30 p.m. Country: Spain

Groundskeepers to replant trees over three year span

As construction went underway for Merrick Hall and the Simpson-Querrey Fitness Center, Buildings and Grounds removed several trees and shrubs from the surrounding areas to create more space for expansion and work.

Delaware city ordinance requires that trees with a diameter of 6 caliper inches or more at chest height must be replaced. This excludes trees cut down because of disease or trees that came down on their own. .

Due to the number of trees removed, B&G needs to replace a total of 180 caliper inches, according to Peter Schantz, the director of physical plant for B&G. They plan to replant 90, 2-inch diameter trees to meet that goal.

“We are developing a plan over the next three years to monopolize on the tree planting seasons, one of which is in the fall and one in the spring, to plant 15 trees each opportunity,” Schantz said.

The lilac bushes along the path outside Merrick are not part of the replanting project. The bushes and other shrubs are not wide enough to fit the six inch rule.

“In a couple of cases there were things that were the only one on campus, such as one [shrub] by the fitness center,” David Johnson, professor of botany-microbiology, said. “We will probably look for some other way to have that return to campus outside of this project.”

A horticulturist, Mike Ecker, from Dawes Arboretum visited campus Oct. 9 to help determine locations for the replanting, according to Johnson.

“We had decided back in the summer to have a consultant come and look at the situation and what we needed to do,” Johnson said.

“We’d like to add to the diversity of tree plantings on campus through this project,” Johnson said. “Anytime you plant too many of one thing it’s a scenario for having any kind of disease or pest problem wipe them out.”

In the past, all 65 ash trees on campus became infested with Emerald Ash borer and died.

The Ohio Wesleyan campus itself is a small arboretum. It contains a collection of species of plants and trees that are labeled. The botany-microbiology department produced guides through student research for visitors to use as they explore the Jane Decker Arboretum on campus.

Downtown record store set to move

The Endangered Species Record Store, the self-proclaimed last record store on Earth, is moving to a new location starting Sept. 28 to 11 W. Winter St.

Endangered Species first opened its doors at the current location on 12 N. Sandusky St. in November of 2010. Pat Bailey, the owner of Endangered Species, has been in the record-selling business for at least 29 years. He cited his reasons for moving in an earlier interview with the Delaware Gazette as mainly expansion. They published the article on Sept. 4, 2014. Stacey Kess wrote.

“We’ve been bursting at the seams for two years,” Bailey told the Gazette. “When we are done with the move, we will be the largest record store in central Ohio, if not the state.”

A few weeks ago, the sale of physical album saw its worst decline to date, as only 3.97 million of them were sold according to Rolling Stone and Billboard magazines. Overall, album sales for this year are down 14.6 percent and digital albums are also declining with a drop of 11.8 percent. Many believe this is due to the affect that online streaming and free downloading sites—both legal and illegal—have on the music industry.

This doesn’t appear true for Bailey and Endangered Species, however. According to the Delaware County Auditor, the new site he is moving to has 5,324 square feet instead of the 2,483 square feet at his current location on Sandusky St.. This represents an increase of almost 3,000 square feet.

According to the Gazette, Bailey said he wants to have 30,000 albums out for customers every day. Most importantly, he noted the expansion could also bring the possibility of a few new jobs.

“The goal is to be the destination record store in Ohio—and we’re in the heart of Ohio,” he told the Delaware Gazette.

Endangered Species is moving next to Choffey’s Coffee and Confections and right across the street from Bun’s Restaurant. If you would like to help Pat Bailey move to his new location then please call the store at (740) 417-4776.

Peru trips continue for a decade outside of spring break program

A soup kitchen in a shanty town before being rebuilt by the Peru program.

The soup kitchen after being rebuilt by the Peru program with the condition that they would also make breakfast for children going to school.

A classroom built with money raised by the Peru program. The classroom was built after the Peru trip was cancelled.

The oven was donated by an alum, OWU students, and Plazolles.

Mentally disabled students working in a bakery made possible through the donation of an oven by an alum, OWU students, and Plazolles.

This story was updated on Sept. 26, 2014.

Patricio Plazolles is the Program Officer for the Woltemade Center for Economics, Business and Entrepreneurship and spends his summers building businesses and other opportunities for disadvantaged communities in Peru.

The effort began in 2001 as part of Ohio Wesleyan’s Spring Break Mission Week program where a group of students travel abroad to do charity work in other countries every March. Plazolles would travel to areas surrounding Lima, Peru, with 10 students to learn about the culture and do work for the betterment of those communities.

“The students used their backgrounds to contribute to the communities,” Plazolles said. “We had an arts major with us who taught welding to some students there, others taught English in the evenings. Then the students themselves would learn to milk cows and just get to know the people there…The point was to understand the conditions of those people.”

With more funding, Plazolles and the Peru program built classrooms in a school outside of the second largest city in Peru, including a new kitchen with industrial appliances where cooking staff had previously used a tin shack with a hot plate to prepare meals. As if the transformation weren’t enough, Plazolles explained how jump starts like these in the community could lead to fundamental changes in people’s lives.

“They started a soup kitchen in the new facility and charged very little, as much as the people there could afford,” Plazolles said. “Then they bought a DVD player…then a TV…and now they have movie nights.”

For Plazolles, the point of starting these businesses is not turning a profit; money and materials he donates to schools and startups are just that, not loans. Enabling people to work for themselves without having to worry about paying anyone back for giving them that second chance is at the center of his philosophy.

“Why would I take back something I gave you after you’ve built this for yourself?” Plazolles said. “It is sustainable, they will alway have this, and they don’t have to pay any interest or things like that.”

The last Peru trip took place in 2004 before the program was cancelled, but Plazolles has continued to travel to Peru and do work every summer. Most recently, Plazolles started a bakery in a school for developmentally disabled people that allowed the school to provide occupational opportunities for the students. With more funding, Plazolles would like to open the program to students who are too old for the school, rather than them having to return to homes with few opportunities.

In 2011, Plazolles was awarded the Peruvian Pride Award for Peruvians abroad who have made great contributions in the U.S. and Peru. The money Plazolles collects for the equipment and other charitable efforts comes from individual donations. OWU alumni and students have all contributed and Plazolles keeps notes of the students and where they are from to show people in Peru where their donations come from.

Donations made are used to buy equipment before turning it over to communities in Peru, they do the work from there themselves. Donations can be left in the urn in Plazolles’ office that he calls the “Tree of Wishes” and any amount — pennies or dollars — is welcome.

When asked about the Peru trip making a return to Mission Week, Associate Chaplain Chad Johns, who is in charge of the Mission Week program, responded in a statement echoed by Chaplain Jon Powers.

“My assumption is that the Peru team hit a lull in interest and then faded from student consciousness. As far as I know, there have been no recent attempts to revive the team.” Johns said. “However, since I’ve been here, we have had teams to El Salvador, Nicaragua, Haiti and Belize.”

With enough interest and a formal proposal, the trip could make a return, and OWU students could once again accompany Plazolles on one of these trips to make a difference in the Peruvian community.

Queso for CASA supports children’s legal advocates

OWU’s Kappa Alpha Theta chapter held Queso for CASA on September 22 to support their national philanthropy, Court Appointed Special Advocates. Photos courtesy of Spenser Hickey.