The Transcript – Page 100 – This is the archive of our old website

Veg Club brings “Supersize Me” to campus

The Ohio Wesleyan Vegetarian Club screened the documentary Supersize Me Wednesday, Feb. 11 as a way to raise awareness of fast food industry practices.

One of the main goals of the Vegetarian Club is to educate other students about the impact food has on the human body.

Sophomore Becca Manning, president of Vegetarian Club, and her fellow members have considered putting a screening together for a while now. They started doing research on what they wanted to show and it came down to Supersize Me and another documentary titled Food Inc.

“Food Inc. is a bit more educational and it goes into more detail about plant-based diets and diseases that can be prevented through a plant-based diet,” Manning said. “But we decided to go with this documentary because it resonates so well with the college student community.”

The main purpose of this showing was to show students how big of a role food plays in their lives and how foods dictate so many other aspects of health besides just body composition.

The audience reactions were very similar. Many people discussed how disgusting the fast food process is and how terrible the current obesity epidemic is.

“After seeing it for the first time, I have not eaten fast food since,” said freshman Miranda Anthony, public relations advisor for the club.

“I have been a vegetarian my entire life so a lot of this stuff is new to me,” freshman Izzy Taylor said. “My parents would always refuse to get us those fast food toys, because those really work. I think that is the worst part, in a lot of lower income neighborhoods, the safest form of entertainment and play is in those McDonald’s playhouses.”

Vegetarian Club meets every Tuesday at 6 p.m. in Hamilton-Williams Campus Center for dinner.

Theology professor dispels myths about Satan

A visiting scholar set out to determine where the idea of Satan came from in the spring lecture for the Ancient, Medieval and Renaissance Studies program (AMRS).

Speaking at Ohio Wesleyan University on Feb. 9 to a packed Benes Room, Ryan Stokes of the South Western Baptist Seminary entertained the audience of students and faculty with charisma and interesting facts which he has learned from his studies on the origin of Satan.

Stokes said he wanted to determine whether or not there are stories from the Bible about how Satan came to be who people know as the devil today.

“In the old testament, Satan was just some obscure figure of relative insignificance,” Stokes said.

In the New Testament of the Bible, Stokes said the character of Satan is much more prominent, appearing in 19 different books.

“During that time between when the two testaments were written, Satan teams up with evil spirits, Satan becomes the ‘deceiver’ and the ‘tempter’, he becomes the leader of wrecked nations, and he became the enemy of God’s people,” Stokes said.

Stokes also cleared up several common misconceptions about Satan and the Bible.

“In the Old Testament, he was called ‘The Satan,’ it was a title, not a name,” said Stokes, “and The Satan actually worked for God.”

Stokes also taught that the Hebrew Scriptures actually contain no origin story for The Satan.

One audience member asked about how the number 666 relates to the devil.

“There is honestly no discernible correlation between the number 666, and the Satan,” said Stokes, “The number six hundred sixty six, not six-six-six, had connections to a beast, but that beast was never identified as The Satan.”

A blast from the past: OWU finds historic ledgers

Documents of financial statements. Photo courtesy of Sara Schneider.

Leaking water in the VP finance vault led to the discovery of historic ledgers that date back to the mid 1800s. These ledgers are now being stored in Human Resources.

The historic ledgers were brought to the Human Resource office for dry and safe housing while the vault is being repaired.

These ledgers consist of budget operation, cash payments, scholarship records, housing records and budget books. Also included are books filled with minutes from executive meetings. One of the executive meeting minutes discussed the Funding of the Spring Street Gateway.

“If the Human Resources department cannot find another place to store the ledgers, they will return the VP Finance Vault in the basement of University Hall,” said Elizabeth Foos, purchasing coordinator for Human Resources.

These ledgers contain records of budget operation, cash payments, scholarships, housing records and budget books. Also included are books filled with minutes from executive meetings.

“It is so interesting to see how they organized the finances and all the records when the university first began,” said Foos. “It’s fascinating to think that most all the records kept today are done electronically.”

The first tuition payment on record in the ledgers dates back to 1853, which consisted of $217.00 for one semester.

Almost all of the ledgers are handwritten in script, which can make them difficult to read.

Book with old tuition costs and payments. Photo courtesy of Sara Schneider.

“I reached out to the OWU Archives to see if they were interested in the historic documents,” Foos said. “However, they didn’t show interest in the ledgers because they are not considered to be true archives.”

According to Emily Gattozzi, digital collections librarian, “the OWU Historical Collection isn’t a true university archive, so it doesn’t serve as the department of record for things like financial records.”

The OWU Historical Collection contains material such as promotional items like brochures, pamphlets and event programs; periodicals such as The Transcript, Le Bijou, OWU Magazine, annual catalogs, faculty, staff and alumni publications; and memorabilia like letterman sweaters and pennants.

Something new brewing in Delaware

Standing in the place of the old Beehive Bookstore on 25 N. Sandusky St. is the upcoming Restoration Brew Worx (RBW), Delaware’s new brewery.

In January of 2014, the Beehive Bookstore closed. Following the closing, owners Joe and Linda Diamond began searching for a business to take over the empty space. According to Rick Martine, managing partner of Brew Worx, “the Diamonds wanted the space to continue to be a place where people could gather together, talk about the day’s events and relax in a comfortable and supportive environment.” Martine has been a resident of Delaware for 18 years.

“Restoration Brew Worx is technically a brewpub, where we manufacture our own beer for sale over our bar and we also provide foodservice,” said Martine. “We will brew our beer on a 10-barrel system purchased from B Cast Stainless in Plain City, OH.”

This new system will produce 310 gallons of beer per batch and will be served in the Restoration Brew Worx storefront and in select locations around Delaware. Martine said their goal is “to brew and serve 500-700 barrels of beer in the first year.”

The storefront of the former Beehive Bookstore will undergo minor changes as RBW settles in. Martine said “Joe Diamond ‘restored’ the front in 2007. We are leaving the existing iron sign frames in place and simply replacing the Beehive sign with our new RBW sign and the existing banners with our own.”

Other changes to the store front will include a fenced patio area in front with roughly 20 seats and two bi-fold windows within the existing framework. These windows will allow RBW to open the front in warm weather, and close it in cold weather.

Martine said that inside they “are in the process of adding a new 20-seat bar and roughly 15 dining tables, changing the lighting, adding ceiling fans, a fresh coat of paint and a new floor. We have added a small kitchen, new restrooms and our pride and joy, the 10 barrel brewery in the back. The brewery will remain open to view by the patrons as we feel it offers a truly unique visual experience, not available anywhere else in Delaware. Patrons will be able to see the equipment and experience what it is like to step inside a working brewery.”

In order to legally establish a brewery in downtown Delaware RBW had to obtain a tax and trade bureau permit, state liquor license, building permits, Delaware Heath District permits and USDA approvals.

As for an opening date, Martine said “at the moment our brew system is in and going through a testing phase, but we are waiting on the tax and trade bureau to approve our brewery permit and the state of Ohio to issue our A-1c manufacturing license, which will allow us to begin brewing. Once we can begin brewing, it will be roughly 5-6 weeks for us to brew enough beer to open the doors and let the taps flow freely. We will be keeping everyone updated on our website and our Facebook page.”

“While the legal drinking age remains 21 in the state of Ohio, we are a gathering place for people of all ages who share a love of good craft beer and their families,” said Martine. “We will serve our younger patrons with a limited children’s menu and soft drinks, featuring our house-made root beer, so that Mom and Dad can still enjoy a pint of their favorite brew.”

Senior Haley Schafer said, “I am excited for Restoration Brew Worx to open. I believe this will be a great place for people to relax and hang out in town, while getting a drink.”

According to Martine, RBW “will offer a slightly different element than most of the other drinking and eating establishments around town. We will make and sell only our own beers on tap, but we will attempt to make a beer that almost everyone will find to their liking.”

Fifty Shades of “what the hell”

By: Matt Cohen and Ben Miller

fifty 1 — Photo courtesy of eonline.com.

So, you were alone on Valentines Day? Well, we were too. And we are no relationship experts, but I’m sure our experiences will draw some helpful lessons. Maybe.

Being alone really isn’t such a bad thing. No gifts means our bank accounts didn’t take a hit, no dinner dates mean we had a delicious yet affordable meal at White Castle and no disgusting candy hearts.

This Hallmark holiday has a way of making any sane person feel bad about themselves for not having a valentine, but lets be honest, it is more of a struggle then its worth.

We tried to do the least romantic and manliest things we could think of. Some that worked well in the past were howling like a wolf on top of a mountain, chopping down trees, and catching fish with our bare hands.

Alternatively, if you do not have access to this wilderness of masculinity, you could go see “Fifty Shades of Grey” with some of your buddies. It really isn’t that weird. Okay, it’s pretty weird.

We got a couple friends together and saw this “romantic” film on Valentine’s Day. I can’t believe I just typed that sentence, but it’s true.

It was a pretty awkward experience overall. Walking into the theatre with four guys sounds awkward enough, but try that after being carded because we apparently look under 17. It also didn’t help that we had no idea what we were getting ourselves into.

If you are looking for a disturbing plot line with an amazing soundtrack, this is the movie for you.

Ellie Goulding and The Weeknd highlight the movie’s soundtrack with hits that will be stuck in your head for the next couple of days – as will some unpleasant mental images, we’re sure. Nonetheless, the Fifty Shades soundtrack will definitely make a great addition to your sex playlist.

Besides the music and the dramatic billionaire life, most of the movie is centered on people being naked. Normally, a group of 20 year old guys wouldn’t complain about a little tasteful nudity on film but this was just plain uncomfortable. And it really wasn’t just a little nudity.

The characters were interesting enough, although Anastasia (the main female character) was missing some key background information. We’re sure she’s portrayed with more clarity in the books.

Christian Grey, who apparently has singular (not unlike his taste) commitment issues, is a boss. Who wouldn’t want their name on a personal helicopter and have an amazing loft with a view of downtown Seattle? It sounds very nice, and it would be if Grey wasn’t insane.

He is very creepy, to say the least, and somehow knows where Anastasia is at all times. Stalkerish, really. But hey, it seems like it’s okay if you’re a handsome billionaire. He really isn’t a good boyfriend, or a good person, for that matter.

The movie was left at a cliffhanger, which of course makes most viewers interested in seeing the next one. Not all viewers, meaning us, but there is definitely plans for a sequel and even a third one.

If you’re planning on taking your mom out to a movie like any good son would, steer clear of “Fifty Shades of Grey.” I repeat, steer clear. Unless you’re looking for a very uncomfortable experience – in that case, go for it.

IOCP keeps in contact with returning OWU students

For Ohio Wesleyan students, going off campus and studying abroad can be a challenge. The International and Off Campus Programs (IOCP) office is there to make that challenge a little bit easier.

While the number of OWU students traveling off campus or abroad changes each year, this fall 80-100 students left Delaware for the semester.

When the students return, IOCP helps them readjust to campus life by offering a returnee session, Crossing Boarders sessions, student evaluations, study abroad assessments and a number of other group activities.

“Each program has its own system of evaluation,” said director of IOCP Darrell Albon.

IOCP is also adding a group called The New Cosmopolitans, which stems from an old OWU group called the Cosmopolitans Club that existed in the 19th and early 20th century.

The New Cosmopolitans will serve as a peer-advising program for both domestic and international students. It is designed to support students interested in studying abroad through preparation and orientation.

While abroad, students stay in contact with faculty in a variety of different ways depending on the program they’re in.

“For the first five weeks I think everyone has a weekly meeting with their advisor, it’s sort of a lecture,” said senior Ian Boyle, who participated in the New York Arts Program last fall.

Boyle worked in the property shop for a public theatre, among other things. He compared it to working a full-time job.

In addition to staying in contact with faculty, frequent emails are sent out from OWU staff back on campus to keep off campus students informed.

“We want them to be fully engaged in the culture, but we want them to have a well-circumscribed relationship with OWU,” Albon said. “We really want them to be careful, it’s so easy to be in one country and live virtually in another country.”

For junior Meghan Guthrie, who took part in the Salamanca program in Spain, this was not a problem.

“I believe most (students) did have pretty good contact with professors while abroad,” Guthrie said. “It was easy to keep in touch through email about any questions/concerns we might have had.”

Albon did mentioned that some students abroad this semester were having difficulty receiving emails from OWU because of a “glitch in the system,” but that it has been taken care of.

Another difficulty in the past has been selecting housing and scheduling classes from abroad. Many students are too busy with their schedules to remember when the selecting takes place.

“It was out of the blue, it didn’t even occur to me,” Boyle said.

Boyle went on to say that once he figured out the time for scheduling, he had no problems with it. Guthrie had a similar experience.

“I was luckily able to figure things out and schedule for the classes I wanted and needed,” Guthrie said. “The only thing that made us nervous was being in a different country and having the time difference.”

OWU not accessible to all students

Senior Ryan Haddad. Photo courtesy of Facebook.

Senior Ryan Haddad has very limited mobility. In the winter time, when snow banks are piled in the middle of Sandusky Street, he cannot cross to get to class without relying on others.

Living with a mild form of cerebral palsy (CP), Haddad requires the use of a walker to get everywhere. With the help of fellow students, however, he can make it up and down smaller flights of stairs.

According to the American Disabilities Act (ADA) official website, many buildings are covered by the General Non-Discrimination Requirements, including private schools and museums.

This means many buildings, including private schools, are required to modify their structures to be accessible to everyone, no matter the size or age of the building.

A common misconception is that University Hall, and other older university buildings, are “grandfathered in” to code. According to the ADA, this is simply false.

Ohio Wesleyan President Rock Jones said the university is working on a fundraising campaign, which “includes an objective of $10 million for the renovation of University Hall, including providing full accessibility to all floors through the installation of an elevator.”

Jones added that there is no timeline for the project, as they have yet to find a donor.

An English major, Haddad has had many classes in Sturges Hall, home of the English department. To get into Sturges, Haddad has to make it down a smaller flight of stairs.

“It is difficult, but if there is someone there, then I can do it,” said Haddad. “I leave my walker outside, and I do it.”

Another difficult building for Haddad to access is University Hall. There are no handicapped accessible entrances or elevators for Haddad – or anyone else whose mobility is restricted.

“There is a steep hill that you have to get down in order to get to the chairlift, which travels from the basement to the first floor, but no further,” said Haddad. “In the wintertime, the hill is very slippery.”

“I would never go down that hill during the winter time,” he added.

Haddad said he has been inside University Hall’s Gray Chapel for special occasions, but never past the first (main) floor.

Elliott Hall also has very limited access. No elevator or chairlift can be found inside. There is a wheelchair accessible entrance on one the side of Elliot, the side that faces the Branch Rickey Athletic Complex.

Peter Schantz, director of physical plant for Buildings and Grounds, said the university has looked into costs to build elevators in Elliott and University. He also said that the costs have been “prohibitive.”

“We have been making reasonable accommodations to the facilities, such as the widened entrance to the basement of Elliott and the chair lift in the main stairwell of University Hall,” Schantz said.

Haddad said the university has been helpful in accommodating his needs. If a class which he is registered for is located somewhere inaccessible to him, the school will relocate to somewhere more accessible.

“The school has been very helpful and supportive,” said Haddad. “I am very thankful for everything they have done for me. But there is still a lot to be done. More buildings need to be accessible to everyone. There is a reason I am the only student at OWU with CP. It’s because this school just is not accessible to everyone.”

*Free t-shirt not included

Women’s basketball wins on National Day

The win against Kenyon for the Ohio Wesleyan University women’s basketball team was a win for women everywhere.

With the women’s soccer, rugby and softball teams in attendance, the women’s basketball team defeated NCAC rivals Kenyon 75-71 on National Girls and Women in Sports Day last Saturday, Feb. 7.

The win pushed the Battling Bishops’ overall record to 11-11 and their conference record to 8-6.

Senior LaNiece McRae had a game high with 23 points and sophomore guard Megan Kuether crucially connected on four free throws in the last minute to put away the Lords and add to her career-high 22 points.

“It felt great to get the win, especially since all the other women’s teams were there supporting us,” Kuether said. “The win felt bigger and more exciting because of all the support for (National Girls and Women in Sports Day).”

According to the Women’s Sports Foundation website, this year marks the 29th National Girls and Women in Sports Day. The theme of the day was the reduction of concussions in female student-athletes, something that the website reports as a major concern “among female athletes at both the collegiate and high school levels.”

The website also suggests “there is evidence of gender differences in the outcomes of concussions, with evidence suggesting that female athletes present more concussion symptoms acutely, take a longer period to recover from concussions and report a greater number of and more prolonged post-concussion symptoms than male athletes.”

OWU women’s basketball beat Allegheny 58-56 in a thriller last Saturday and now looks toward proving themselves further in the NCAC tournament.

“We will keep working hard in practice as a team and committing to defense which helped us the past few games,” Kuether said. “Hopefully it will help us peak for the tournament.”

The 8-6 NCAC record has the Bishops sitting fifth in the conference with two remaining games against Oberlin and DePauw. Oberlin is third in the conference with a 10-4 record and DePauw is first at 15-0.

Last year, the women defeated DePauw in the last game of the season to give the Tigers their only conference lost.

Student flees, arrested for distribution

An Ohio Wesleyan student was arrested on Jan. 30 for possession of marijuana after running from Delaware Police Department (DPD) officers.

Senior Asa Diskin, who lives in the Bigelow-Reed House on Williams Drive, was charged with distributing and selling marijuana in addition to possession, according to the police report.

Public Safety officer Chris Mickens said he was searching Diskin’s room when he ran out carrying bags of marijuana. DPD was on-site when Diskin left the building.

DPD spokesman Capt. Adam Moore said Diskin was fleeing the scene when the police arrived, but when ordered to stop by an officer, he voluntarily laid down on the ground and was put in handcuffs.

Senior Alex Lothstein, who also lives in Bigelow-Reed, saw him running down the back staircase and go behind Delta Tau Delta fraternity house when the police arrived.

Lothstein also commented that while he has never seen this happen before, the odor of marijuana can often be smelled from behind the house.

Diskin’s charges are still pending in court. He could not be reached for comment.

Public Safety director Bob Wood said it is uncommon for a student to flee from a drug search. He said Diskin probably panicked and ran because of the amount of marijuana that he had.

“It’s the same thing when you’re driving and you do something bad and see the blue lights and sirens behind you and you hit the gas,” Wood added. “It’s like what are you thinking, they’re gonna catch you and you’re in so much more trouble that if you had just pulled over. It’s just panic mode where you’re not thinking.”

Wood said there are around 20 cases a year when PS responds to calls and finds drugs. As part of policy, PS is required to call DPD when they find drugs because they cannot confiscate the drugs themselves.

“For me to possess drugs is just like for you to possess drugs because I’m not an actual law enforcement officer,” Mickens said.

Wood added that about 90 percent of the time the police will file a criminal charge, depending on the amount and level of emergency.

Wood said OWU often gets criticized for the amount of drug charges it processes each year, but that other institutions “process them through just the judicial and not the arrest system.”

“One year, we had 23 drug charges or arrests and another school just about our size had none,” said Wood. “But that other school had 150 judicial cases that were the exact thing but they just process them through their conduct system and don’t call the police. For drugs on campus, we almost always do both.”

Mickens and Wood said the procedures and complaints can change depending on the location and proximity to campus. Because this case happened on campus, it involved both campus security and DPD.

Cases around Sandusky Street and Clancey’s would also involve PS, but beyond that the police would normally respond.