Category: News

A new food truck will be fueling the streets of Columbus this spring, thanks to a recent OWU grad and his partner.

Andrew Tuchow, ’13, and his business partner, Andy O’Brien, are opening their food truck starting April 1 of this year.

Tuchow graduated last May with a double major in neuroscience and psychology, while O’Brien graduated from the Ohio State University with a major in food business.

The two have been friends for a long time, and came up with their business plan over dinner last March.

This is when they realized they had a shared interest in making healthy eating more accessible.

At the time, O’Brien was working on a project for his school that was primarily for athletes. His idea was to use modern day nutrition to help athletes eating at his concept restaurant fuel their bodies better, and therefore get more out of their workouts.

Tuchow saw potential in expanding this idea outside the realm of just athletes. That started the initial planning towards the development of “Kinetic.”

Tuchow said he came up with the name for the food truck “after a solid amount of thought and effort.”

“We wanted the name of our place to capture everything that we wanted to put into it,” said Tuchow, “that it’s nutritious, modern, local, active and simple- we think the name can cover all that.”

Tuchow said the two decided to invest in a mobile food truck, because of the lower overhead costs to it as compared to a traditional restaurant.

“We also believe in the food truck movement and how connected you can feel to the trucks because they can be so personable,” said Tuchow.

Deciding to start a business together was “almost a no-brainer” said Tuchow. But the process has been long and arduous for the pair. Tuchow said he has much more respect for small business owners now that he has to deal with paperwork, legal filings, funding, and “thinking of every little component that goes into it.”

The Menu

Kinetic will have some pre-set bowls, like a buffalo chicken or stir fry bowl, and a selection of smoothies that are aimed to have specific health benefits, such as antioxidant-rich or protein dense.

Some of the sides will include things like grilled pita and hummus, fruit skewers and roasted almonds. The options for sweets include a banana cookie (gluten free and vegan) and a walnut chocolate chip cookie.

Price range for some of the items like the bowls will depend on the protein like $7 for chicken, $8 for steak or tofu. Smoothies will vary as well- $4 for a 16oz and $6 for 32oz. The sides will range from $3 to $5, while the sweets are set at $2 a piece.

The two are working together on the menu; however, O’Brien has the final say in what makes it and what does not.

Tuchow said all the creations are made with natural ingredients, and will be locally sourced as much as possible. They also hope to source from food purveyors who source local or those who take a stand for sustainable practices.

Getting the Word Out

Tuchow said they hope to set up in Columbus and its surrounding suburbs.

“What this really means is that we want to share our food with anyone and everyone,” Tuchow said. “We plan on catering graduation parties, business lunches, sports games, festivals and so on.”

The pair also wants to find locations by OSU’s campus and in the Short North. Tuchow said they also hope to provide food for those running 5ks and marathons, setting up shop during special events.

As their truck gets closer and closer to opening, Tuchow said the pair is using social media to their full advantage to get the word out.

“We are creating small incentives and rewards for following or interacting with us via social media,” he said. “One such incentive is if you grab one of our stickers and place it on campus (OSU, OWU or anywhere else), then take a picture of it and tweet it at us, you get 20 percent off you purchase at the truck.”

Kinetic had its first food tasting on Saturday, February 22, at Tuchow’s home in Hilliard, Ohio.

“It went really, really well,” said Tuchow, “It was nice and informal and we had great people join us.”

One of the microphone starts to fail as soon as they begin their performance. But that doesn’t stop them.

They are Pitch Black, OWU’s all-women a cappella group and this is one of the International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella (ICCA)’s five Great Lakes Quarterfinals, at Centerville High School.

It is Saturday night, Feb. 22, and in almost an hour the results of the competition will be announced, with Pitch Black taking third place.

Technical Trouble

But right now sophomore Emily Slee has to use a microphone that keeps switching on and off.

“It happened in the middle of my solo, and I could tell the mic had cut out,” Slee says afterward. “…With show business, you just have to keep performing.”

In the audience, freshman Alyssa Clark is not happy to hear the microphone fail.

“When the mic cut out a little piece of my heart shriveled up and cried in a corner,” she says.

They only have twelve minutes to perform their three song set, and as far as ICCA is concerned, everything hinges on those twelve minutes.

They’ve been working toward this for the past four months, but they didn’t prepare for technical difficulties. No one thought this would happen.

They power through it, but when it comes to song two, things only get worse.

As soon as they start, spreading out across the stage, the MC tries to hand a new microphone to junior Emma Buening – but hers is fine.

It’s another junior, Brianna Robinson, who’s holding the microphone that doesn’t work – and she’s a lead singer for song two.

She also has no idea there’s anything wrong.

“Because the sound on the stage compared to the sound in the audience is so different, I only knew when I had the microphone in my hands that it was turning on and off,” Robinson says afterward.

Halfway through the first verse, it switches to full power. It looks like everything is fine; the audience cheers.

But as soon as they quiet down, it cuts out again, then comes back on.

Soon, one of the judges is at the base of the stage waving his arms. Robinson stops, is handed a new microphone and a chance for a fresh start.

Five minutes on stage, and they have to go into their starting arrangement and begin again.

But this is not a setback.

“Having them interrupt the performance lit a fire in each of us and only made us come back stronger and more fierce in the second round,” says Pitch Black president Anna Jones, a junior.

For Buening, the second shot is appreciated but not critical to their eventual success.

“I think we would have still rocked it, just not as loudly,” she says.

Inside Arrangement

All their songs are arranged by group members, a process that requires turning the instrumental background beats into vocal sounds.

And when they sing, they are anything but static.

They walk all over the stage, sway back and forth and use synchronized gestures to match the music.

While the choreography requires a lot of practice – it took ten hours, and involved the help of junior dancer Buzzy Biddinger – the music is still number one.

“The judges look for choreography that emphasizes certain aspects of the music but does not take away or distract from the song,” as Jones explains it.

“The most important thing is energy and I think we were able to use the choreography in addition to our individual personalities to put on an energy-filled performance.”

At the end of “Tonight I’ll Be Your Sweet Dream” they cluster together, all looking up at Emily Slee’s arm pointing to the ceiling.

Their “Wrecking Summertime” mashup closes with Robinson and Jones lowering their microphones, looking at each other in the center while the rest of the group stands to either side.

But “Can’t Hold Us” is where they all get moving.

The catchy rap tune by Macklemore and Ryan Lewis, featuring Ray Dalton – all three independent stars from Seattle – is well-suited for choreography.

Stomping and clapping are a natural simulation of the beat, and the group uses them and other arm and leg movements to accompany the singing of sophomore Maeve Nash.

Buening and Robinson spit lyrics too, particularly on the chorus, but Nash is the one who leads it off and carries the most.

At the end, they all strike poses, with Jones, Buening and sophomore Maddie Stuntz pointing into the crowd.

Choreography isn’t the only addition they bring to their rendition – they’ve personalized the lyrics too.

“Return of Pitch Black,” is how Nash starts off, replacing the original “return of the Mack.”

They also add in a Beyonce reference and call out “Pitch Black ICCA,” but their most popular change – whether here or in shows on campus – is to say “that’s what you get when OWU raised you!”

Breaking Through The Ceiling

For the women of Pitch Black, choosing the song itself is a statement as well.

“We really wanted to do something that wasn’t really considered a woman’s piece,” says freshman Kelly Summers the night before. “We wanted to add that girl power – we can rap too.”

Lead singer Nash expands on this.

“We wanted to do the song because we wanted to take a song to ICCA that’s like, women can rap and do cool songs too,” she says.

This sentiment makes its way into the introduction they tell the MC to read before they come on stage – that they are “breaking the glass ceiling, one song at a time.”

Buening, the other lead singer of ‘Can’t Hold Us’, says she was motivated to add that in by their song selection.

“(Can’t Hold Us) is an empowering (song) for us because we’re women,” she explains. “It was kind of our secret weapon, I think, because it showcased that we can pull off a challenge…Female groups are at risk of being confined to doing they are expected (to do), which is too limiting for the amazing talent in our group.”

Third-Place Triumph

The competition is enjoyable for everyone; as awards announcer Matt Shirer, ICCA’s Great Lakes producer, says – this is about being with people who love a capella.

First, they start with individual awards, and Best Vocal Percussionist is up first.

“For outstanding vocal percussionist…Maeve Nash of Pitch Black,” Shirer announces.

All of Pitch Black crowds around her after she’s given her certificate. Shirer goes through the other individual awards, and before you know it he’s on team awards.

“For third place, Pitch Black,” he announces again.

They go wild; jaws hit the floor and arms fly in the air.

“I was speechless!” says Brianna Robinson. “I didn’t expect it at all. Not because of any doubts I had about Pitch Black but because of the enormous talent that ICCA sees every year.”

They credit a key source of their success to support from their friends and family in the OWU community; students traveled over an hour and a half each way to see them compete.

Freshman Abby Soeder was one of them.

“I decided to go to the a capella competition because it sounded like the TV show Glee, and it was a lot like it,” she said.

The presence of so many students fueled Pitch Black’s fire, especially after the microphone debacle.

“It meant more to us than we can ever express to have support from our friends and family,” Jones says.

“Having them cheer us on from the audience truly motivated us to put on a good show and definitely added to the energy in the room.”

Robinson says she was overwhelmed by all the support.

“It is an amazing feeling to know that Pitch Black is not just a club that the 13 members just go to every week,” she said.

“It is something that we and the people who support us love dearly.”

After an arduous election process, current Ohio Wesleyan seniors chose Jake Miller to represent their class on the university’s Board of Trustees.

The month-long election process consisted of 10 percent of the graduating class signing a petition for the candidates. Next, campaigns were held and seniors voted online using myOWU.

Members of the Board of Trustees are responsible for overseeing and managing university operations.

Julia Hatfield, assistant director of alumni relations, said there three graduating class trustees serve at any given time, and they are considered full Board members. Therefore, she said, they have full voting privileges on the Board, attend full meetings and participate on committees.

“The (graduating class trustee) is meant to serve as a voice for students and younger alumni who would not otherwise have a representative for their interests on the Board,” Hatfield said.

During his three-year term, Miller hopes to assist the board in making decisions that will benefit students.

“Because I have been able to participate in a number of different organizations on campus, I have a good understanding of what Ohio Wesleyan does well and also what can be improved,” he said. “I hope to bring up discussions on ways to improve the day-to-day life at Ohio Wesleyan by improving things like residential life and food services.”

President Rock Jones said he believes Miller will be an excellent representation for students.

“Jake has been a strong leader as a student on campus, and he will take those same leadership skills to his service as a trustee,” Jones said.

“He will continue the long-standing tradition of graduating class trustees who participate fully and actively in all deliberations, decisions and activities of the Board of Trustees.”

Teach For America, a national organization that accepts all majors, was on campus seeking new teachers to go to low-income communities and bolster education.

According to their mission statement, Teach For America is “growing the movement of leaders who work to ensure that kids growing up in poverty get an excellent education.”

The program is a two-year commitment, in which corps members teach grades pre-K through 12th in 49 urban and rural regions across the country.

Just eight percent of kids growing up in low-income communities graduate from college by age 24, according to research conducted by Postsecondary Education Opportunity.

Detroit, Las Vegas Valley, Memphis, Mississippi and Oklahoma are some of the regions in which the need for teachers is particularly high this year.

Senior Samantha Rammaha, a music and English double major, will be joining the program in Memphis after graduation. Currently, she is assigned to be teaching English as a second language and will receive a full teacher’s salary.

Rammaha said she might stay for a third year, but also wants to do “non-profit work supporting immigrants.”

An applicant must have above a 2.5 GPA and receive a Bachelor’s degree. Members also will have to pass the tests to get certified to teach for 2 years.

Application Process

There are three major parts to applying for the Corps: an online application, phone interview and a day-long final interview. The process lasts about a month and a half. Today (Feb. 20) is the last deadline to apply for the upcoming school year.

Qiana McNary, the manager of recruitment for Teach For America at Ohio Wesleyan, said to spend time on the essays in the online application.

“Think long-term and show them that you are committed to this work,” she said.

Rammaha said she “reached out to an alumna from (her) sorority for any advice about the program and application.”

McNary graduated from OWU in 2007 and taught early childhood in Chicago with the Corps for three years after graduation.

Love was in the air last Wednesday for SHO Your Love Day, culminating in the second annual “Cutest Couple” competition.

The event was hosted in the Hamilton-WilliamsCampus Center and raised 614 food points to pay for food for future tailgates and other events sponsored by the Spirit and Homecoming Organization (SHO).

Sophomore Brittany Spicer, SHO’s public relations chair, said  SHO puts on events throughout the school year to help raise school spirits.

“We put on SHO Your Love Day to boost the morale of students, especially since this is the time of the semester that students begin to stress about upcoming exams,” Spicer said.

Spirit Event Coordinator, sophomore Meghan Finke, said the event had “a little something for everyone.”

“We had free cookie decorating, free hot chocolate and have a Valentine making station where students could make valentine’s and have them delivered to your friends’ mailboxes,” she said.

 

The “Cutest Couple” competition featured four couples; seniors Cate Bailey and Spencer Schnell, seniors Caroline Block-Wilkins and Drew Daigneault, junors Brittany Hupp and Tom Horsfall and junior Philippe Chauveau and sophomore Lizzy Wynne.

“The main component of our event is a cutest couple contest, where we have students nominate couples weeks in advance, then vote using their food points,” Spicer said.

With 242 votes, Hupp and Horsfall won the title and a gift certificate to 1808.

“Brittany and Tom won because they are truly OWU’s most adorable couple,” Finke said.

The couple said being nominated and winning as an awesome feeling.

“Tom and I act pretty weird 90% of the time, but the fact we can act weird and be still be considered ‘cute’ is a beautiful thing and just one of the many reasons why we love this school,” Hupp said.

This year the Sagan National Colloquium (SNC) is asking for students’ artistic abilities in a new, inclusive competition. The title for the thirtieth Sagan National Colloquium is H2OWU: Water in Our World.

Assistant Professor of History, Ellen Arnold, is heading the project.

“This competition is our first official event of next year’s SNC,” Arnold said. “More importantly, though, the winning logo will become the visual hallmark for the colloquium, and will be highly visible on advertising, publicity and our online presence.”

Arnold said she has two goals for this year’s Sagan National Colloquium.

“First, to find an outstanding logo that will help convey the importance and energy of studying water and that will highlight the creativity and artistic abilities of OWU students,” Arnold said.

“My second goal is to raise campus awareness of the upcoming SNC, to generate interest in the issue of water, and to encourage students to become involved in the SNC from the start.”

According to the website for the logo competition, the logo should be in both color and black and white. It should also work in different sizes for different objects and must include the title of the lecture series. The logo can either be handed in through a hard or digital copy. The final day to submit the logo is Feb. 28 at noon.

Junior Rachael Pridemore is the Sagan Colloquium publicity assistant and has been working long with Arnold on the competition.

“One of the biggest challenges I’ve run across is actually advertising sufficiently; it seems like there aren’t as many places to put fliers anymore,” she said.

Pridemore said that she has been trying to put fliers around campus and submissions in the OWU Daily to get students interested in the challenge. Both Arnold and Pridemore said they hope this competition will continue on in the future.

A recent petition put forth by blogger Vani Hari has revealed that Subway uses a plastic-based additive in their bread commonly used in yoga mats.

The additive, which is called azodicarbonamide, is described by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as a “dough conditioner,” intended to strengthen dough and improve elasticity.

The FDA guidelines also say the chemical can be used as “an ageing and bleaching agent in cereal flour.”

Discussion of the additives use has principally focused on a 1999 study conducted by the World Health Organization (WHO) where a bi-product of the additive, biurea, resulted in the deaths of a number of rats during testing.

For the purposes of the study, the rats in question were treated with concentrated amounts of the additive to determine the effects.

Urethane, another byproduct of the addictive, is listed as a carcinogen by the FDA but has not been connected to it’s use as a dough conditioner.

“We are already in the process of removing azodicarbonamide as part of our bread improvement efforts despite the fact that it is a USDA and FDA approved ingredient,” said Subway, in a recent statement. “The complete conversion to have this product out of the bread will be done soon.”

Azodicarbonamide is also used in the buns at McDonald’s and Burger King however neither has incurred the same backlash as Subway.

“This is an interesting case, because Subway purports to make all of their bread fresh every day (thus no concerns about preserving or shelf life), but the speed and efficiency with which they do it is likely enhanced by this additive,” said Christopher Fink, assistant professor and chair of the Department of Health and Human Kinetics.

“It’s difficult to lump all kinds of additives together, however, it is interesting to consider why they are present.”

Fink also said the process followed by the FDA to approve such additives for use is “quite rigorous, generally speaking” and that “there isn’t any evidence for danger for humans” when asked about long-term health concerns.

Fink also urges students avoid knee-jerk reactions to being told about something being added to their food.

“All of that being said, I would urge people to consider again the reasons for these additives…” Fink said. “While it is certainly an oversimplification, (author Michael Pollan in his book ‘In Defense of Food’) provide(s) some good guidance. He says: ‘Eat Food (real food). Not too much. Mostly plants.’”

The manager of the local Subway on Sandusky declined to comment on this story, but Subway said all local franchises would follow the example set by corporate.

Students were auctioned off all in the name of charity last Thusday for Rafiki Wa Africa’s annual date auction.

Junior Sharmalee Gooden, president of Rafiki Wa Africa (Rafiki Wa), said a total of $185 was raised during the date auction.

“The money raised from this and all events hosted by Rafiki wa Afrika goes to the Ghana Student Education fund,” Gooden said. “GSEF provides financial aid to students who cannot afford to go school.”

Freshman Jocelyn Munoz said she decided to volunteer to be in the auction because she supported the cause.

“I put myself in (the children’s) shoes and realize how a few hours of my day can make a difference in their lives,” said Munoz. “Plus, I thought it would be fun.”

Sophomore Mary Peterson had a similar reason as to why she decided to participate.

“I have several friends in Rafiki, and I enjoy supporting their cause,” she said.  “Also, I participated last year by buying someone, so I thought it would be fun to be on the other side.”

Among those who were auctioned off for the cause were senior Samantha Walter, sophomores, Abby Hanson and Mary Peterson and freshmen Elise Baer and Jocelyn Munoz.

Walter said her boyfriend won the auction when she was up for bidding.

“He graciously bid $30 on me, which goes directly to charity,” she said. “We attended the date party the night of the auction and it was so much fun! They had food and drinks and it was nice to just spend an hour with him, not worrying about homework or anything else.”

Baer’s experience wasn’t based so much on a romantic undertone, but rather a familiar one.

“My older sister actually outbid my boyfriend,” Baer said. “Marilyn (Baer’s sister) and I had a lovely dinner together which was great, because we do not get to spend a lot of time together, so this was a great opportunity.”

According to some in attendance, Rafiki’s auction did not have as strong a turn out or organizational feel as it has in the past.

“In my opinion, the date auction didn’t go as smoothly as past years,” Walter said. “However they still raised almost $200 for the charity, which is great.”

Gooden said the low attendance of just about 35 people was anticipated.

“It was expected since the event was on a Thursday and not many people are in HamWill at the time,” she said.

Walters said the dates bought in auction were held in Crider Lounge later that night.

“Rafiki Wa had Chartwells cater the date event; they served appetizers and everyone mingled while we ate,” said Walters. “They did a great job making it such a cool atmosphere.”

College students deal with large amounts of stress and anxiety throughout their time in school.

However, with techniques of being mindful, that stress can be lifted.

On the weekend of March 7 through 9, the Spring Break Mindfulness Retreat will be held with facilitator Daron Larson. The retreat is being sponsored by the Chaplain’s Office.

“Mindfulness refers to a variety of techniques that use ordinary sensory experiences, thoughts, and feelings to develop specific skills of attention,” Larson said.

Tammie Edwards, chemistry lab manager, helped organize the retreat with Larson and the Chaplain’s Office; she has been practicing yoga for years and has studied with Larson.

“Mindfulness to me means constantly bringing myself back to the present moment,” Edwards said.

She also stated that she wanted to have this retreat because she “believes mindfulness is a good tool for college students to have and use.”

“The ultimate goal is to be able to be mindful in everyday activities,” Edwards said.

Edwards also said the main point of mindfulness is “practicing focus.”

Chaplain Jon Powers said that he hopes this retreat will teach students how to be “more focused and less stressed.”

“I want them to pick up a few practical strategies for cultivating attention that fit their unique needs, interests, and frustrations,” Larson said.

“It would be cool for them to leave with a better idea of the relationship between discomfort and suffering.”

Edwards expressed how she hopes to do more retreats in the future.

Additionally, she said Counseling Services is looking to start a mindfulness group.

The full retreat will cost $20 for students, but the Friday night session will be free.

During the rest of the weekend, there will be chances to practice the skills Larson will teach.

The Hamilton-Williams Campus Center was home to another kind of V-Day this February 14.

As part of an international movement, Ohio Wesleyan students joined forces with countless others around the world who are members of One Billion Rising, a campaign of the V-Day movement against sexual and domestic violence against women.

This year’s One Billion Rising was a worldwide event where women and men stood up for justice.

Its name comes from V-Day statistics that one in three women will experience violence in their lives, and that there are around three billion women alive today.

The event is connected to “The Vagina Monologues” and “Butterfly Confessions” which will be performed at Ohio Wesleyan University on March 28 and 29.

 

Eve Ensler, the author of “The Vagina Monologues,” started V-Day in 1998 and One Billion Rising in 2012.

Every year on Valentine’s Day, this event works to end the violence and raise support for local projects and programs that aim to help those abused.

One Billion Rising at Ohio Wesleyan consisted of a description of the core values of V-Day, readings of selected monologues and ones written by students, and the opportunity for students to hold signs explaining why they rose for justice.

Junior Annie Pappenhagen read a monologue based on interviews with Oglala Lakota women from Pine Ridge Reservation.

“I have been interested in indigenous issues since I was 16 and have spent a fair amount of time on Pine Ridge and Rosebud reservations (located in South Dakota,)” she said.

“It is important when dealing with women’s issues that we don’t forget about the intersectionality between race and gender.”

Sophomore Margot Reed read a monologue “They beat the boy out of my girl…or they tried,” about transgender issues and violence community members and allies experience.

As an expansion on V-Day, Ohio Wesleyan will perform Ensler’s “The Vagina Monologues” and Yetta Young’s “Butterfly Confessions” on March 28 and 29.

The performances were advertised by fliers thrown down from the second floor of the Hamilton-Williams Campus Center; they also contained statistics on rape.

“A lot of people argue that “The Vagina Monologues” and V-Day itself aren’t as inclusive as they could be, and I totally agree with that,” Reed said.

“So I’m happy that the ‘Butterfly Confessions’ are now a part of the show this year at OWU.”

“We now have so many more women involved and it reaches a whole new, bigger audience and it’s just fantastic,” she said.