Category: Uncategorized

Volleyball Team “Drafts” Serena Scillia as a New Member

Ohio Wesleyan’s volleyball team has partnered with an organization called Team Impact. Team Impact drafts children who fight chronic illnesses to join college athletic teams. Serena Scillia fights cystic fibrosis but that doesn’t stop her from her passion, playing volleyball. Welcome to the team, Serena.

Seasons ruined, endless rehab; ACL tears are affecting OWU student athletes more than ever

By Ashley Barno, Transcript Correspondent

Ohio Wesleyan student athletes are recovering after tearing their anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) this year, preventing them from playing for their full seasons.

Senior basketball player, Brady Roesch, recently tore his ACL during a preseason practice, “I was making a jump stop and came down on someone’s foot and my knee went inward and then popped,” he said. Roesch started playing for the men’s basketball team his junior year and has never had an injury this detrimental before, he said.

“The toughest thing about tearing my ACL is the mental aspect of it all,” Roesch said. “Since I started playing so late into college, I’ve only gotten to play one full season.”

The full recovery time for Roesch’s injury is estimated to be 9-12 months, making it impossible to be able to play during his final season.

Sophomore member of the women’s soccer team, Caroline Elliot, tore her ACL during a spring play day this past April, “I had a breakaway and when I shot the ball, I slid, and my right leg got stuck in grass,” she said. “My knee bent inward instead of outward which is why my ACL tore.”

Elliot said it was frustrating to sit back and watch her team play this fall while she focused on her recovery. “It’s been really hard watching the team, knowing I am not able to play, run, or even pass a ball,” she said.” “I felt like I didn’t contribute to the team this season.”

Being on a timeline is what matters most when recovering from a torn ACL, Elliot mentioned. “I couldn’t jog until four months into my recovery, even though my body felt strong enough,” she said. “I feel ready to be back, but it’s extremely important to not push myself so I can recover properly.”

OWU Athletic Trainer, Niki Budd, says torn ACLs are the most common season terminating injuries for athletes and are even more common, specifically, for female athletes.

“Females are hamstring dominant, which means their quads are weaker and its pulls on the ACL, making it easier to tear,” Budd said.

Contact sports are the most dangerous when examining the large amounts of injuries that occur in them, but ACLs can tear with or without contact. “Majority of the torn ACLs I have seen in my career have been non-contact, especially when dealing with girls,” Budd said.

Budd mentioned “prehab,” or preventive rehab, is the most impactful way to prevent detrimental injuries, like tearing an ACL.

Student’s business powered by recyclable phone cases

By Will Anton, Transcript Correspondent

A freshman at Ohio Wesleyan University is turning heads
with a new recyclable phone case, which is only the start to
his brilliant ideas.

Jack Foley, a freshman at OWU, is trying to change the
way people protect their phones with a special twist to it.
He has created a phone case that is entirely made out of
recycled plastic from the streets of Haiti. ReYuze is the
company’s name, and it focuses on transforming recycled
plastic into phone cases. Foley originally thought of the idea
after making fun of his sister for constantly changing her
phone case.

Foley grew up around the Chesapeake area in Baltimore,
MD, and was always surrounded by water. Foley has always
been passionate about the environment, and this product
could decrease the waste in oceans around the world. The
recycled plastic Foley uses come from a small town in Haiti,
named Menelas. Every time it rains, the Haitian people must
evacuate to high ground because the streets flood with all
types of garbage. This is the main location where the plastic
is gathered before it is taken to a collection bank, which
eventually sends it to the manufacturer of the phone cases in
Maryland.

One of Foley’s long term goals is to expand the business by making more high quality phone cases and helping the people of Haiti. Foley stated that he “wants to save the
world one case at a time.”

Out of the many trash filled locations around the globe,
Foley selected Haiti because of its corrupt government
which does not prioritize cleaning the streets. Foley wanted
to make an impact. Another benefit of the company is that it
is giving jobs to Haitians and Americans.

Foley donates a dollar of every sale to the First Mile Coalition, which is the top charity in Menelas, whose mission is to educate Haitians about child labor and poverty.

Junior Lucas Smith has been using the ReYuze case for
several weeks.

“I always drop my phone, and I was worried about cracking another one. I love the feeling of the case in my hand, and it has done the job protecting my phone,” Smith said.
“There is also a place to store my cards and OWU ID. I plan
on buying another one soon.”

ReYuze has earned some great reviews and is on the
rise. Foley’s ReYuze phone cases cost only $10, and they
are available for the IPhone 6, 6s, 7, and 8. His next idea is
to make the case a “lifeproof version,” or even expand his
products beyond phone cases.

Foley has an office in the new Delaware Entrepreneurial
Center at Ohio Wesleyan University. His main goal is to
make a real impact on the amount of plastic that enters the
oceans. He also wants to stop the “garbage patches,” which
can get as large as the state of Texas.

Author discusses his book on an instance of African-American athletic success during times of segregation

 

By Spencer Pauley, Managing Editor

sgpauley@owu.edu

 

Amongst the racial turbulence going on in Columbus, OH in 1968, an all-black school on the eastside was able to win state championships in basketball and baseball in the same year. This was the subject of OWU’s guest speaker: Author Wil Haygood.

Haygood is best-known for writing the book “The Butler: A Witness to History,” which would go on to be adapted into a critically-acclaimed movie. His newest book, “Tigerland,” is about East High School’s varsity teams winning state titles during a time when segregation was still prevalent in the U.S.. Haygood was 13 in 1968 when East High won two state titles. He talked about what he remembered from that time:

“My most vivid memories were of tanks that were circling the neighborhood and national guard troops,” Haygood said. “It was a scary time for little Wil Haygood; he wanted to be the man of the house, but when you hear shots in the night, that lead to nightmares.”

OWU graduate, Gregory Moore ‘76, proceeded to sit down with Haygood in front of the audience in Ham-Will and ask questions regarding his newest book. Haygood and Moore knew each other from when they both worked at the Boston Globe. Haygood talked about the difficulties and issues that the players and coaches had to go through as a result of the segregation at the time.

President Rock Jones also talked at the presentation, mentioning that one of the players mentioned in “Tigerland” has roots to Ohio Wesleyan.

“‘Tigerland’ features an Ohio Wesleyan graduate as one of the principal participants in that story. Coach Bob Hart who was the basketball coach at Columbus East High School,” Jones said. “Hart graduated from Ohio Wesleyan in 1949 after having completed military service in World War II.”

Hart’s widow, Millie Hart, and three daughters were present at the presentation and received applause from the audience. Also in attendance was the East High title-winning baseball coach, Paul Pennell.

Moore ended the discussion with Haygood with one final question: Out of winning a state title in basketball and baseball, which one was the greater feat?

“The greater feat to me would have to be baseball and here’s why: That was a game that not very many black americans played.” Haygood said.

Haygood did note that when the basketball team won in 1968-1969, they had also done so in the previous year, which he believes was a feat of its own.

“Tigerland” is Haygood’s 8th book published and is available now for purchase.

The 14th Amendment And It’s Modern Interpretation

By Maddie Matos A&E Editor mrmatos@owu.edu

The 14th Amendment received a new interpretation as Ohio Wesleyan University hosted a guest speaker for the annual Richard W. Smith Lecture series.

The speaker was Michael Les Benedict, who has a doctorate in history. Benedict is a specialist in constitutional and political issues regarding the Civil War era. Benedict works at Ohio State University as an emeritus professor.

The Smith lecture series is hosted by the Ohio Wesleyan department of history. The lecture is sponsored by the Richard W. Smith Endowed Fund in Civil War History, a fund that has been established in honor of former professor Richard W. Smith.

Smith taught at Ohio Wesleyan in the mid-20th century. He was popular among students, with several alumni returning to campus in support of the lecture and Smith.

Over 160 people attended the event, which was held in the Benes rooms in the Hamilton-Williams Campus Center.

University president Rock Jones and professor of history Barbara Terzian gave introductions prior to Benedicts presentation. Both Jones and Terzian expressed their enjoyment of the series and Benedict, with Terzian being more emotional.

“I have been really looking forward to this,” Terzian said. “He (Benedict) is my professor and Smith, my mentor.”

Benedict began his presentation with a discussion of how important the 14th Amendment is to history, and how it still impacts the United States today.

“It was a momentous event,” Benedict said. “It took a lot of pride on the southern states to agree to it.”

The amendment gives citizenship to all people born in the United States and allows the United States Congress to enforce this law. Through the passage of the amendment, African Americans and other minority groups became citizens and gained legal rights in society.

Benedict argued that the amendment established that it was the government’s job to defend rights.

“That is why we have government, to protect our rights,” Benedict said.

Benedict also discussed the role slavery had in the United States and the early days of the nation. Stating that the Constitution accommodated slavery and treated them like property, America was doomed to crack.

“The union could no longer endure,” Benedict said, quoting Abraham Lincoln.

Abolitionists were discriminated against, Benedict stated, with hundreds of protests and threats were made against them. The southern United States even went so far as to ban abolitionist literature and enforce the slave codes.

Benedict then discussed the beginnings of writing the amendment. He talked about early drafts of the document being proposed by different congressmen, including John Bingham, a representative from Ohio.

The presentation ended with a discussion of today’s implications the amendment holds. Benedict argued that the document made the United States Supreme Court more powerful than ever, an issue that continues today.

“Only now have we come to realize that the 14th amendment perhaps gives the court too much responsibility and gives us too little responsibility,” Benedict said.

The presentation closed with questions presented by the audience. Most questions were regarding the state of the Supreme Court in modern times and how citizens can have a voice in government. Benedict answered their question with a simple statement.

“Go vote,” Benedict said.

OWU Hires New Associate Dean for Student Success

By Maddie Matos, Arts and Entertainment Editor

mrmatos@owu.edu

With yet another new hiring on campus this fall, Ohio Wesleyan University aimed to continue the pattern of student success.

Doug Koyle will be taking over the role of associate dean for student success and will work with students to ensure that the university is helping them.

“In this role, I work closely with residential life, counseling, student conduct and the Student Health Center to support students as they work toward their academic and personal goals,” Koyle said.

Koyle has worked with students in the past, at Ohio State University (OSU) for over 30 years. Koyle held the role of assistant vice president for student life and that role helped him prepared for his new job at Ohio Wesleyan.

“In his final set of responsibilities, [Koyle] provided oversight for most of the same areas he is now overseeing at Ohio Wesleyan, so his experience was almost a perfect fit,” said Dwayne Todd, vice president for student engagement and success.

Koyle and his office plan to work on improving student life at Ohio Wesleyan and listen to the critiques made by students about the campus and college life. Koyle said he hopes that his work will help students throughout their academic careers.

“I will be working with students to make sure that they have the support and care that they need and that we help them connect with the great resources that are available to them,” Koyle said.

The university hopes that through his hire, Koyle will improve issues on campus that have been persisting through years.

“The university has made a significant commitment to provide enhanced support of student success, and Doug reflects that commitment and is instrumental in our ability to achieve this objective,” university president Rock Jones said. “Ultimately the university will benefit from higher retention and graduation rates and from higher levels of student satisfaction and success.”

Koyle has a well-respected reputation among his colleagues. As part of the American College Personnel Association, the Association for Student Conduct Administration and the Association of Threat Assessment Professionals, Koyle succeeded in his roles on college campuses, and left a lasting impression on students and staff.

“Doug’s reputation among his OSU colleagues was extremely strong with many people testifying to his competency, kindness, and commitment to his work,” Todd said.

OWU Hires New Quantitative Tutor

By Maddie Matos, Arts and Entertainment Editor

mrmatos@owu.edu

Student resources at Ohio Wesleyan recently expanded with the addition of a new quantitative skills tutor.

Katie Boyd was hired by the university as the new coordinator for the Quantitative Skills Center. Students go to the center for assistance in the subjects of math and science.

The center is located inside the center, which serves as a place for students to receive help for their classes, across multiple subjects.

Boyds experiences with college student from her previous jobs. Boyd worked at Ohio State University as a teacher’s assistant and currently works at Columbus State Community College as a math professor.

“I truly love working with college students and being a part of their educational experience as they formulate their dreams and complete their corresponding, supporting goals,” Boyd said.

Working with technology will be part of Boyd’s role on campus with the new addition of TutorMe.

“Katie also has extensive computer and technology training and proficiency in My Math Lab, Math Excel, ALEKS, LaunchPad, and Blackboard,” said James Stull, assistant dean of academic advising and director of the sagan academic resource center.

Boyd will also help with the hiring of new tutors for the university’s Math Peer Tutors program. The program hires students in math or science majors to tutor students in lower level courses in those fields.

Boyd will act as a public relations representative for the center, encouraging students to get help for their courses as well as the new online tutor assistant program.

Throughout her career, Boyd has received numerous accolades, including being nominated for distinguished teacher of the year. Boyd was nominated five times for the award during her time at Hilliard Darby High School, located in Hilliard, Ohio.

Interacting with students is a key component to the center and is a key reason for Boyd’s hiring.

“Katie has a great demeanor and will connect with students, Katie is also versed in current methods of instruction, so she will work effectively with students who have a wide range of skills and individual learning styles or preferences,” Stull said.

With the hire of Boyd, the university continues its commitment to student success on campus.

“Ultimately the university will benefit from higher retention and graduation rates and from higher levels of student satisfaction and success,” university President Rock Jones said.