Category: News

By Olivia Lease and Kallie Winston

Transcript Correspondents

On April 14, the faculty dining room in Hamilton-Williams Campus Center was filled with people, including a large number of freshmen, eager to discuss and learn more about transgender issues.

Seniors Skylar Drake and Nora Anderson held another Trans-ition Your Outlook event, as the previously first one conflicted with other campus events.

At the start of the meeting, Drake and Anderson addressed three terms: cis, trans and non-binary. The word “trans” commonly means across from one another, while “cis” is the opposite of trans. A “non-binary” individual is someone who does not identify as male or female. Commonly, transgender and non-binary are used interchangeably.

Drake explained that she and Anderson were “cis” women who wished to shed light on the issue of non-binary individuals on the OWU campus.

“I am a cis woman who does not know enough about transgender issues,” Drake said. “I have seen how my friends who are transgender are affected when people do not know their preferred pronoun usage.

Anderson explained the correct pronoun usage is he, she, or they for any person. One must refer to another individual with the pronoun he, she, or they choose.

Ashley Biser, politics and government professor and chair of the Committee on Women and Gender, attended the event. Biser said Ohio Wesleyan’s current integration of the issue is “sporadic.”

“There are many people who are very supportive, there are many people who don’t know a lot, there are many people who would like to learn and there are some people who are sort of oblivious to this issue,” she said.

Junior Liz Dickson said they attended the event because “it is personally really relevant to me.”

“I identify as genderqueer and I am constantly misgendered in and outside of the classroom on this campus,” Dickson said.

Dickson transferred to OWU from another institution partially because their previous university had no gender-inclusive housing.

The issue of OWU’s lack of all-gender housing and gender-neutral bathrooms was brought up in the discussion.

Regarding OWU’s first steps toward more gender inclusivity, Dickson said, “For me, preferred gender pronouns are a serious issue.” Something they plan on working on next semester is starting the conversation with faculty on the importance of preferred pronouns.

Dickson said they are misgendered often.

“Because I present as more feminine but my identity is genderqueer and I have gender neutral pronouns, people don’t ask me and that is actually really frustrating,” Dickson said.

Dickson brought up in the discussion that a person’s gender presentation may not match up with their gender identity because of the discrimination they experience.

“I am a transgender individual and I would prefer to go by they, their and theirs,” Dickson said. “If you do not know what someone prefers to be called, or if you cannot tell what gender someone is, just ask them.”

Dickson said the issue applies to OWU for multiple reasons.

“Every black issue is a transgender issue, every class issue is a transgender issue, every issue (regarding) disabled students is a transgender issue because…all of the different ways our identities intersect, there are actually so many issues on this campus it becomes,” they said.

The event had only a few faculty members in attendance, which raised the question: are these issues the faculty are discussing?

Biser said it is a part of the Committee on Women and Gender’s discussion but it is not necessarily something that faculty in general talking about, although she thinks there is an interest in being more inclusive.

“We talk about women, we talk about gender, but we are still learning how best to talk about transgender issues and how best to make sure that all students feel welcome on this campus,” Biser said.

Drake said she was pleased with the turnout, but she and Anderson hoped more faculty members would have attended.

“(We) hoped that more faculty would come, but were we to plan this event again I think we would individually invite more faculty to insure that professors knew the event was going on.”

Dickson was displeased with the faculty turnout.

“I was actually kind of angry that there were no women’s and gender studies, sociology or psychology professors there because it was sponsored by the sociology department,” they said.

Drake said she has no plans to personally organize similar events, as she is graduating this spring.

“I hope someone else will,” she said. “I think our student community is excited and willing to pursue these issues further.”

In regards to the non-binary turnout, Anderson said the pair was happy the discussion included trans and non-binary perspectives.

“One of the problems that Skylar and I discussed was us, as cis women, leading a discussion about an issue we have the privilege to not be affected by,” Anderson said.

“This is rightly led by trans and non-binary individuals, and I’m glad they were there to lend their voices.”

Dickson agreed, but emphasized the importance to persist with the issue.

“It was a good discussion” Dickson said, “I think we have a long way to go.”

Recent graduates have the lowest donation rates amongst all alumni, and  the Alumni Office is trying to change it.

On average, 20 percent of graduating classes participate in giving back, however that is much lower amongst young alumni. This year 6.4 percent of young alumni donated.

Part of the lower rate stems from less secure financial situations among recent graduates.

From student loans to tight budgets, many alumni feel like they can’t afford to donate so early.

“While I feel motivated to donate without a nudge, I can understand the reality of not giving back as the norm,” said AJ Alonzo (’13).

Gloria Clark (’11) said she understands the university’s need for donations in order to function. She said she feels a personal connection with the school, and the times she had were positive enough to warrant giving back. Sentiments such as this are what the Alumni Office is looking to foster.

“Particularly with our young alumni what’s important isn’t the amount that is given back, but it is building a culture of philanthropy,” said Pablo Villa, (’13), Young Alumni Program Coordinator.

Villa, who also serves as the university’s Phonathon Coordinator, touched on many of the other benefits that come from alumni giving. US News and World Report take alumni donation participation rates into consideration when creating their college rankings, meaning higher donation rates can help improve OWU’s rankings.

He added that donations received could go towards improving the student experience while also strengthening academics.

This in turn would make the degree already held by alumni have an even higher value, and so there are benefits to graduates as well.

In an effort to increase donation rates, the Alumni Office coordinated the 2014 Young Alumni Challenge. Officially held from March 1 through April 1 of this year, the challenge was a competition between past 10 graduating classes for highest amount of donor participation.

Participation was the focus, as each class was measured based on the percentage of their class that gave. While the completion lasted just one month, gifts made earlier that calendar year were also included.

For the winning class, they would have their gift matched by Ellen Simpson ’77. The class of ’12 won with 41 donors comprising 11 percent participation.

With the Alumni Office gaining 136 new donors during the challenge, they will look to repeat the challenge next year and Villa hopes the sense of camaraderie built will spur giving in the future.

“In my opinion the events thrown have been successful for getting young alumni to give back, with us young alums especially those with bars,” Alonzo said.

“Anything that has a more personal feel like letters in the mail and face to face interaction, make a big impact.”

Clark pointed out that those efforts are what need to increase, as phone calls are not working.

“While it may be effective with older alumni who may have fallen out of touch, we just graduated and those calls aren’t pushing us to donate,” she said.

“I think promotion of events has helped, and the emails coupled with social media work out well.

“Hopefully they will build on this even more and announce the winners of each challenge at graduation or put a banner up in HamWil to let the campus know.”

Career Services began a new initiative this semester in an attempt to reach out to more students. The “Career Pit Stops” are a mobile operation that travels to academic buildings to make Career Counselors more accessible for students.

Nancy Westfield, assistant director of Career Services, said she has drop-in hours from 1-3 p.m. every day, but that there are a lot of students who have class during those times.

So far this semester, the Pit Stops have included Sanborn Hall, Edgars Hall, Schimmel-Conrades Science Center, Phillips Hall and University Hall.

Sophomore Natalie Wood, a music major, said she spends a lot of time in Sanborn and said she appreciated Career Services’ effort. Because Sanborn is far from the rest of academic campus, the music students often miss out on opportunities students can access in HamWill.

“We [music majors] often feel neglected by some of the campus services, so it was really nice that they came to us,” Wood said.

“I don’t think many music majors have the time to make an appointment so it was nice for several of them to be able to talk to some career [counselors] on the fly.”

Students can get help with resumes, cover letters, job and internship searches and networking at the Pit Stops.

If students need a more detailed meeting, they can sign up at the pit stops for a follow-up appointment in the career services office.

“We are thinking about extending the hours next semester, in order to reach out to even more students,” Westfield said.

Westfield said she cannot determine how effective the Pit Stops are until the end of the semester.

Community Services Awards
Carly Zalenski ‘15
Shelby Alston ‘14
Sijia (Scarlet) He ‘14
Men’s Basketball Team
Rachel Vinciguerra ‘14
Kelsey Ullom ‘14

WCSA Awards
Liam Dennigan ‘15
Jerry Lherisson ‘15
Darryl Phelps

Student Involvement Awards
Campus Programming Board
Lisa Garvin
SANGAM
Hazel Barrera ‘14
Nola Johnson ‘14
Kelsey Brewer ‘14
Jocelyne Munoz ‘17

“W” Association Awards
Ian McCaslin ‘14
Margaret Greff ‘14

Meek Leadership Awards
Marissa Alfano ‘14
Martin Clark ‘14
Jake Miller ‘14
Jenna Ortega ‘14
Rachel Tallmadge ‘14

Outstanding Meek Leadership Awards
Nola Johnson ‘14
Andrew Paik ‘14

Guy Sarvis Award
Prabhjot K. Virk ‘14

By Megan Dill and Jenna Periandri
Transcript Reporter and Transcript Correspondent

In just under a month, Ohio Wesleyan University’s class of 2014 will be entering into a new chapter of their undergraduate careers with an array of emotions, but not without support from OWU.

The Office of Career Service has made great strides to make sure this year’s seniors follow their postgraduate goals.

“Through individual counseling, creative programming and technological services, we help students to identify and enhance networks and skills necessary to achieve career goals and to become actively engaged in a global society,” states the Career Service Mission Statement.

According to senior Adrian Pekarcik, OWU has helped him to prepare for the future with career planning and lifelong decision-making.

“The job search is competitive, but I have found some places thanks to the OWU career center,” Pekarcik said. “I am waiting on two jobs [for] which I had phone interviews.”

Pekarcik said he hopes to do botany research in regards to restoration ecology.

Career Services has effectively helped a number of seniors with job experience through advertisement on Twitter and Facebook, helping them lead to jobs after graduation.

In regards to Career Service’s “internship advertising” Facebook page, the following was posted on Wednesday:

“As a senior, the Bishop Externship experience has shown me that not only do I have the skills to perform in a professional environment, but I can also thrive in one,” said Nicole Dianzumba.

“It took some of the edge off the anticipation of graduating.”

Senior Jenn Frey is still waiting for a job after graduation in hopes of the Career Services can help. “

Currently, I have nothing lined up, yet I’ve applied to over 40 jobs, some of which I found through OWU Career Services,” Frey said. “As of right now, I am excited for graduating and moving on to the next chapter in my life.”

Senior Emily Hostetler is another undergraduate that has been helped by OWU in so many ways.

“From internship to job experience, and more, the faculty and OWU Career Services has helped me to find programs in my area of study,” she said.

“I don’t have anything lined up for after graduation, but I have some awesome opportunities in both research and journalism.”

Senior Anthony Fisher will be moving on to work at investment banking firm, Madison Street Capital. Fisher believes that grades are far less important than networking when it comes to finding a job.

“What sets you apart are not how well you did, it’s who you met,” said Fisher. “I’m a capable human being with a decent at best GPA. I got the internships and opportunities because I met people or knew them and asked for help.”

Senior Tim O’Keeffe has two jobs in the works. He’ll be working as an exotic animal trainer in Missouri this summer and will then start a career as a NBC production assistant for a new drama, ‘Babylon Fields’.

“I decided to defer law school to pursue this opportunity,” said O’Keeffe. “I never thought I would be in the TV industry but when I saw a unique opportunity I really wanted to seize it.”

OWU Career Services is available daily with information on Twitter, Facebook, and in their main offices on the third floor of Hamilton-Williams Campus Center.

Senior Sadie Slager said she’s eager to start working for OWU as a research associate in Mowry Alumni Center and to remain in the Columbus area.

“I’m really excited for the opportunity to give back to OWU in this way because I am so passionate about this university and all the opportunities it has provided me,” Slager said. “I think if I hadn’t been offered this opportunity at OWU I would have searched for something similar at another university or institution, so I am very happy that the job is at my future alma mater.”

A couple blocks away from Selby Stadium there’s a store that is, for some, considered to be more than a place to get goods.

The Common Ground Free Store Ministries is a free store, which means everything is completely free of charge for the patrons of the store.

“Our mission statement is to share in God’s gifts with the community,” said Sherri Fitzpatrick, volunteer manager.

“We do this by meeting local need for food, household items, clothing, shoes, toys, etc. to whomever needs it.”

They provide  free goods to about 21,000 people in Delaware County, according to Lori Falk, the executive director of the Common Ground Free Store Ministries.

They also served more than 18,000 meals in 2013.

Falk said there is a meal served each day the store is open, and the store is open four days a week.

“We serve 100-125 hot meals every day the store is open, making us the largest free community meal provider in the county,” Fitzpatrick said.

The food is provided by the volunteers and cannot be prepared in the organization’s kitchen, so the meals are considered to be “a community potluck,” according to Falk.

“Common Ground Free Store Ministries is a partnership between Delaware County churches, business, civic organizations and caring citizens,” according to the Free Store’s website.

Falk said this organization is faith-based, with over 30 church partners and a synagogue involved.

Falk also said there were over 1,200 volunteers that came through their doors in 2013.

The Free Store gets donations from citizens of Delaware, plus Panera Bread, Kroger Grocery Store and Ohio Wesleyan University.

All the donations are tax deductible, and the organization is a non-profit.

Falk said this free store is the only common ground free store that she knows of.

She said there are other free stores in surrounding counties, but they all cater to different needs.

Some give out mattresses and bedding, while others focus more on home goods.

There are many types of goods that the Free Store gives, ranging from infant clothes to books.

Falk said there is a limit on how many items people can take at one time, and the store has a computer system that tracks the numbers.

Falk also said the average amount people come in to get items is once or twice a year.

According to the February 2014 Ohio Poverty Report, Delaware County was had a poverty rate ranging from 4.7 to 7.9 percent.

According to Fitzpatrick, the Free Store has about 20 families that come regularly to eat that are homeless or what would be considered “transitionally homeless.”

“We have transiently served hundreds more over the life of the Free Store,” Fitzpatrick said.

“They (the homeless) say they come not just because they can get food, but because we are loving and they don’t feel judged,” she added.

By Spenser Hickey and Jija Dutt
Managing Editor and Transcript Reporter

A month after Culture Fest’s ignition of unity, Inter-faith House (IF) members carried out a spiritual remix.

Junior Brianna Robinson organized Night of Unity as her house project for the second year in a row.

She said the concept is to provide a safe space for students to share their faith, spiritual journey or lack of faith.

“It is a time for everyone to learn and grow together,” Robinson said.

Night of Unity featured a variety of faith traditions, including denominations of Christianity, Judaism, agnosticism and atheism.

Performances included  dance, readings, singing and instrumental music.

Other IF residents, Better Together members and the Chaplain’s Office all helped organize the event.

Robinson said this year’s event was more successful, with approximately 40 people in attendance; planning began around two months ago.

“I am a true believer in unity and how we are all really better when we work, learn and love together,” Robinson said.

She added that her main goal was to reach out to as many people as she could.

“I wanted to get people to talk about (faith and unity,)” she said.

“Communication is key for change.”

Senior IF resident Rachel Vinciguerra took part by choreographing a dance and later reading a portion of “Pale Blue Dot” by Carl Sagan.

The dance, performed by students, was set to “Storm Comin” by The Wailin’ Jennys, a Canadian band.

The dance focused on themes of faith and loss of faith in New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina, while the reading looked at the Earth’s position in space and the triviality of religious conflict on it.

“I think it’s really neat that two presentations…that are so different fit so well into one program,” she said.

She said she loves Sagan’s scientific perspectives and that the event shows  both commonalities and unique experiences on faith.

At OWU, Vinciguerra said that interfaith dialogue can be hindered by the misconception that only religious people can participate.

“That is not true at all and I wish that was something that was more widely understood,” she said.

“I would love to see more people who don’t subscribe to a particular religion participating in these events because they have critical things to say, things that I think we all need to hear.”

“Interfaith to me means an open and understanding community where we can all grow and learn from each other,” Vinciguerra added.

“It doesn’t mean that we all agree all the time, it doesn’t mean that we ignore the differences between our beliefs, but it means that we embrace those differences and learn more about ourselves and others in the process.”

“Not everyone in this room knows each other – I know that for sure – but we’re here together,” Robinson said in her closing speech.

The Ohio Association of Teacher Educators (OACTE) gives out the annual award of “Ohio Student Teacher of the Year.” This year, senior Kelly Maier won the honor and is the second Ohio Wesleyan student in the past few years to do so.

Maier, who plans to go into special education after earning her undergraduate degree, was nominated by Professor of Education Amy McClure.

McClure said in order to nominate Maier she had to turn in a letter of nomination, reference letters, and a detail of Maier’s teaching to the OACTE. The association is made up of faculty from 50 Ohio-based colleges. All can nominate a student for the award.

According to the association’s website, “The purpose of the (OACTE) is to advocate for and provide leadership in teacher education in the state of Ohio by working collaboratively with the public and private teacher education programs in Ohio.”

Maier said she only knew about the nomination because McClure needed her permission, but she was not expecting to win.

“I was elated when I called Dr. McClure and she told me the terrific news,” Maier said “At the time, I did not realize the multitude of student teachers who had been nominated for the award.  When I found out how many schools had submitted student teacher applications, I felt exceedingly honored that I had been chosen.”

Maier said she is proud of the award and hopes it, along with previous achievements, help her in her future. McClure agrees that the honor will definitely benefit Maier’s future endeavors.

“This should help Kelly get a job,” McClure said. “She has also been nominated to compete for National Student Teacher of the Year.”

“Currently I am planning on obtaining my Masters of Education in special education following graduation,” Maier said. “In particular, I want to specialize in behavioral and emotional disorders.”

Maier said she wants to work with children to help make their futures more successful.

“This is a population of children who has not made the same academic and social developmental gains as their peers,” Maier said. “I want to conduct research to find why this is so and provide interventions in order to help these children create their own definition of success so that they can reach and surpass their potential.”