(Left to right) The four students who attended the national competition are Lidia Mowad, Jordan Bernstein, Rhiannon Herbert and Katherine Berger. Photo courtesy of Michael Esler.
The Ohio Wesleyan Moot Court teams did not expect great success at nationals, and they certainly did not expect to get robbed on their last day of travel.
OWU sent two teams to the national Moot Court competition in Miami, Fla. The first team consisted of seniors Jordan Bernstein and Lidia Mowad. Juniors Rhiannon Herbert and Katherine Berger made up the second team. Each pair went far in the competition, and according to Mowad and Berger, they were surprised at their success.
“No, I did not expect it,” said Mowad. “But the best part was that the founder of the Moot Court Association of America judged us and gave us the winning ballot. So really, how much better can we do?”
On the last day of their trip, both teams went on an airboat tour.
The boat went through “the Florida Everglades looking at alligators,” said Herbert.
“We left everything in the car because we did not want to bring any valuables on the boat.”
When the group arrived back at the car, two purses, a backpack and a briefcase were missing. All of the luggage for their flight was still in the car.
“When I noticed what was taken from the car it was just a moment of sheer panic,” said Berger. “I just thought ‘there is no way,’ I’ve heard about this happening to people, but I never expected it would ever happen to me.”
In many of the stolen bags were wallets with credit cards and IDs. This made boarding the return flight difficult. But after going through a Transportation Security Administration background check, they were able to fly home.
“I kissed the ground in Ohio when I got off the plane,” said Berger.
Everyone that lost property in the robbery had cancelled credit cards. Some even wiped their cell phones remotely with software. As for the rest of their personal property, they are responsible for its replacement.
The Ohio Wesleyan Performing Arts Series welcomed A Portable Theatre to the Chappelear Drama Center for a night of classic ghost stories.
As stated on their website, “APT is a non-profit, professional theatrical touring company based in central Ohio.”
The performance, which took place Jan. 24, was titled “Tales from the Grave” and functioned like a live radio play. It featured such ghost stories as: “The Signal-Man” by Charles Dickens, “The Cask of Amontillado” by Edgar Allan Poe and “The Body-Snatchers” by Robert Louis Stevenson.
The APT actors taking part in the first ever performance of “Tales from the Grave” were Damian Bowerman, Ed Vaughan, Jonathan Putnam and Jon Farris. Geoffrey Nelson who acts in other APT performances was playwright and director.
Though the stories were meant to be scary, there were also elements of comedy and sound effects that left the audience roaring with laughter. Comedy was often portrayed during the radio commercials that were acted out in the beginning and between each ghost story.
“I liked the comedy, it helped give contrast and a lighter mood,” junior Ciara Cooperider said. Cooperider was one of over 100 audience members.
The sound effects came from home made and store bought props including dry peas in a box, a kazoo, bricks, bells and a rainmaker.
“I also liked the fact that you had to imagine what was going on and the noise (sound effects) adds to that,” Cooperider said.
As “Tales from the Grave” came to a close with a round of applause from the crowd, the actors took a brief intermission before coming out for a Q&A. While answering questions from fans of the performance who stuck around, the four actors along with Nelson discussed rehearsing, coming up with the props and their nostalgia for performing.
“I really liked it, it was really good,” said Jimmy Russell, a senior at Delaware Hayes High School. “It was a good take on classic radio plays.”
Wall in Smith Dining Hall where a television used to hang.Wall in Smith Dining Hall where a television used to hang.
On Oct. 24, 2014, the Thomson Corner Store was broken into and $100 was stolen from the cash register. The intruder gained entrance to the store by smashing one of the door’s windows. This mode of entry is consistent with many break-ins that would take place in the months to follow.
On Dec. 2, a window in the Smith Dining Hall was smashed, although nothing was taken. The Hamilton-Williams Campus Center was broken into on Dec. 13. This time the intruder entered by breaking a door. Initially, nothing was found to be damaged or missing.
“On Dec. 14, it was discovered that a TV had been taken from The Marketplace,” Richard Morman, an investigator for Public Safety, said. Morman believes the stolen TV was not discovered until the following day because The Marketplace was far from where the intruder had entered.
On Dec. 23, the Thompson Corner Store was broken into again. This time the intruder made away with an envelope of $50.
The following day, Smith Dining Hall was burglarized yet again. The same window that was smashed during the earlier break-in was destroyed with a brick. A television valued at $500 was stolen.
Three days later, on Dec. 27, an intruder gained entrance to Welch Residence Hall through an open window. According to Robert Wood, director of PS, the window was in the Welch kitchen. There PS officers “found a safe that was broken into, however was empty.”
On Jan. 9 Smith Dining Hall was burglarized for the third time. Another television was stolen, bringing the count of stolen televisions to 3. According to Morman, “Chartwells is currently in the process of replacing them.”
PS officers and investigators are working diligently to figure out who is responsible for the break-ins. Wood said they “have persons of interest” who they believe are connected to the case.
“There is no indication of these persons of interests to be OWU students because students were on their winter break during the time of the break-ins,” Wood said.
“During this time, Public Safety struggled with the decision of whether or not to send out a Public Safety alert to Ohio Wesleyan students,” Morman said. He elaborated that it is the responsibility of PS to not only keep students safe, but to avoid unnecessary panic.
“The breaks-ins on campus are extremely concerning, however, I am confident that Public Safety will soon find the people doing this,” senior Ali Smith said.
PS does not believe these incidents to be indicators of great danger. Regardless, Morman advises students to “go by your instincts; if you see something suspicious, report it.” Wood said to take precaution and “never let anyone into the buildings on campus.”
A new initiative to focus on international student enrollment was introduced at Monday’s faculty meeting.
President Rock Jones and Susan Dileno, vice president for enrollment, informed faculty about a partnership with EC English Language Centres, which would house international students on Ohio Wesleyan University’s campus while they completed an English as a second language program.
“Partnerships are powerful ways to increase enrollment,” Dileno said.
The program is meant to attract international students who were initially denied admission to the university based on their English skills. Through this program, students would be conditionally accepted to OWU and then fully enrolled once a predetermined ability level is met.
Students in the program would pay tuition to EC, but would pay room and board to OWU. In addition, EC would pay the university for the use of teaching space on campus.
Essentially, the students would be integrated into campus life at OWU, but not enrolled in university classes until their individual goals are reached in the program.
There is no guarantee that these students will attend OWU after completing the program, but the partnership will provide revenue for the university.
EC offers their own centers, independent of colleges and universities, across the world. There are only two other universities that have centers on their campuses: The State University of New York at Oswego and at State University of New York at Fredonia.
Class Changes
Faculty also approved a motion presented by the Academic Policy Committee to change class schedule times, allowing a second class time to be offered Tuesday and Thursday afternoons.
Currently, the only time slot available these afternoons is from 1:10-3:00 p.m. With the new policy, classes will be offered from 1:10-2:30 p.m. and 2:40-4:00 p.m.
Further discussion will take into account labs, studio courses and seminars that might have originally used the original time block.
The motion also added a time slot Monday and Wednesday afternoons from 2:10-4:00 p.m. Furthermore, evening classes will begin at 6:30 p.m. everyday instead of 7 p.m.
By: Editor-in-Chief Emily Feldmesser and Managing Editor Adelle Brodbeck
Held in the arms of his 19-year-old brother, Nicholas Eber entered the Delaware County Court House Monday morning to be sentenced for the stabbing of Anthony Peddle (‘14).
On Dec. 12, 2014 Eber was found guilty on counts of attempted murder, felonious assault and aggravated burglary for events that took place at the Chi Phi fraternity house in May. On Monday, Jan. 26, 2015 the charge of felonious assault was dropped.
Judge Everett H. Krueger sentenced Eber to six years for attempted murder, and three for aggravated burglary, both to be served concurrently. This means he will serve both sentences at once, spending a total of six years in prison. Upon release from prison, he will serve probation for five years. Eber must pay restitution to cover the remaining cost of Peddle’s medical bills.
Krueger emphasized the importance of the court’s objective enforcement of the law. He declined to consider the weight of Eber’s petition of innocence, compiled by his mother Christine.
The families and friends of both victim and defendant were present during the sentencing. Melissa Peddle, the victim’s mother, told the courtroom of her and her husband’s hardships since the stabbing last spring.
“We are both disabled veterans,” she said. “We suffer from severe depression and PTSD.”
She continued to comment on the fact that Eber’s attack on her son has, and will, continue to affect her family’s livelihood forever.
During his mother’s speech, Anthony Peddle could be seen wiping tears away from his eyes.
“Shouldn’t Mr. Eber’s sentencing be as long as Anthony’s?” Mrs. Peddle said.
Anthony Peddle told the court how his mental state has been altered by Eber’s actions. Peddle said he is unable to be alone and has trouble sleeping through the night.
“I still have a sledgehammer and screwdriver under my pillow,” he said. Before Eber addressed the judge, his attorney Joel Spitzer made his last remarks.
“For the most part he was a law-abiding citizen,” Spitzer said of his client. “If Nick wanted to ‘finish the job’ so to speak, he had the opportunity.”
In a brief statement, Eber attempted to convey his remorse. “I have been trying to live my life the way I’m supposed to,” Eber said. ”Go to school, get a job, start a family. I did everything I was supposed to do, and this still happened.”
Three members of Eber’s family spoke, including his father and younger brother. His father, Patrick Eber, said, “Nick has always been one of the most responsible people I know…I just ask for mercy.”
His brother John spoke of their relationship and how Nicholas Eber taught him to face high school bullies without using violence.
After Krueger handed down the sentence, Eber declared he would go through with the appeal process and requested an attorney.
As Eber was escorted out of the courtroom, he asked a deputy if he could say goodbye to his mother. Upon the deputy’s rejection, Mrs. Eber began to sob, and whispered to her son, “Stay strong, I love you.”
Even after the sentencing, she continued to proclaim Eber’s innocence.
Junior Katie Patrick as Eva leans on the shoulder of junior Margot Reed as Helga.
By Dr. Thomas Wolber
From Feb. 18 to 22, Ohio Wesleyan University’s department of theatre and dance will perform Kindertransport, an award-winning 1993 play by British author Diane Samuels. To read it was difficult, in more ways than one, so it might be appropriate to provide some historical background and context so that the audience might develop a fuller and more accurate understanding of what the author is trying to accomplish. The goal of this article is to establish a framework, not to reveal any specific plot details or to comment on the production.
Most Americans take it for granted that their lives are safe and secure, stable and predictable. That is not the norm in many other countries, and that has not been the norm in human history. Today, there are more than 33 million internally displaced persons (IDPs) who were forced to flee their homes as a result of conflict. If you add the millions more who have crossed international borders to save their lives, the staggering number is over 51 million, the highest since World War II. Astonishingly, half of them are children. Many refugees never reach safety during their passage – they are killed, or drown or die of starvation and diseases. In addition, many countries eye migrants with suspicion and hostility or deny them entry altogether. Even those individuals or families who do reach a safe haven often end up in temporary refugee camps where they are treated like lepers and languish in legal limbo for years and decades, unable to work and become productive members of society again.
World War II was one of those horrific times in world history, when some 55 million people perished and tens of millions more were forced to flee their ancestral land either as a result of combat or the redrawing of political borders. For example, millions of Germans and Austrians fled Nazi Germany and went abroad, not all of them Jewish. At the end of the war, millions more Germans were uprooted and had to abandon their former homes in areas that are now part of Poland or the Czech Republic to seek safety in western Europe.
The wrenching fate of one of those refugees or migrants is the topic of Kindertransport. In 1938 and 1939, after the “Kristallnacht” (the Night of the Broken Glass) and before the outbreak of World War II, nearly 10,000 German-Jewish children were evacuated to England. Many of them would never again see their parents who stayed behind and perished in concentration camps such as Buchenwald or Dachau. Thus, little Eva (only nine years old at the time) becomes separated not only from her parents, but from her language, religion, culture and identity. Over the years, she adjusts, but it is very clear that throughout her adult life she remains haunted and scarred as a result.
She never recovers from being uprooted, and her profound loss leads to lifelong depression and melancholy. She has difficulty relating to other people, including her own daughter. The mental anguish and emotional damage of Eva (or Evelyn, as she calls herself later in life) is one of the main motifs of the play. There are others, but they all have their origins in the original dispossession and dislocation. For example, just like Eva’s life is like a broken and dysfunctional piece of crystal, so the language of the play is fragmented and tortured. Eva’s unspeakable suffering is so great that she prefers the protection of forgetting over the pain of remembrance. She was too young and vulnerable to bear the separation and indicates at one point that she would have preferred to die alongside her parents rather than being shipped to England. The idea of survival rings hollow if the price is lifelong agony.
Despite the obvious references to Hitler and Nazi Germany, the play is not primarily a historical play – it is a complicated narrative in which past and present, history and mythology are interwoven. It contains many biblical references to the Old Testament, all of which are relevant for a deeper understanding of what it means to experience separation and how to remember it: In Genesis, Adam and Eve are cast out of Paradise, thus becoming the world’s first migratory family.
Passover commemorates the Exodus from Egypt. Living dispersed in exile (“galut” in Hebrew) has been part of the Jewish identity throughout history: “Though shalt be a diaspora.” But one related question the play does not pursue and address – where is God in all of this? Why does he not reveal himself and why does he not “look after” and “take care of” little Eva despite her repeated desperate cries for help? Maybe God is present and provides for Eva in disguise, unrecognized and unacknowledged? Perhaps he chose to remain hidden to allow us to overcome our dependency on him? Perhaps – to quote Nietzsche – he is dead and we humans have to learn to do without him? The “deus absconditus,” one of theology’s oldest mysteries, remains an unanswered and perhaps unanswerable question.
Kindertransport is the story of but one human refugee. Eva was an innocent Jewish child, but innocent Native American and Mexican children, Palestinian and Syrian children, have met and are still meeting similarly tragic fates. Multiply Eva’s sorrows and sufferings by fifty million, and you start getting an idea of the kind of economic and political, social and psychological toll the modern refugee problem exacts on humanity.
Come to think of it, dispossession and dislocation is probably as old as humanity itself. Europe’s map was redrawn multiple times during the turbulent migration period (400 to 700 C.E.) during the decline of the Roman Empire. And wasn’t North America largely settled by people seeking refuge from Europe’s religious persecutions and wars, and later due to institutionalized slavery? And it is well known that Australia’s history dates back to the forced deportation of British prisoners. And, who knows, some day we might find pockets of humanity living in outer space, scattered by choice or involuntarily in the solar system and beyond.
To some extent, migration is thus part not only of Jewish identity but of the human race in general. At the very least we should show understanding and compassion for the victims of both forced and voluntary migration instead of maligning and loathing “the poor and huddled masses” seeking to save and improve their fragile and miserable lives.
Another take-home message from the play might be the idea of peace – the necessity to turn swords into ploughshares. The cost of war is too great to sustain for any length of time, and non-aggression is preferable to violence in almost every circumstance. If the world finally learned to live in peace and harmony, with or without God, then plays like Kindertransport would no longer have to be written and performed.
Dr. Thomas Wolber is an associate professor of German at Ohio Wesleyan. He teaches all levels of German language, literature and civilization. In addition to those subjects, he specializes in comparative literature and environmental studies.
Daniel Haybron speaks to a crowd of students, faculty and staff in the Benes Room.
Even though incomes in the United States have nearly tripled since World War II, Americans are not much happier, according to a college professor who studies happiness.
“We as policymakers need to look at how policies affect citizens’ quality of life,” said Daniel Haybron, an associate professor of philosophy at St. Louis University.
Haybron came to campus Jan. 20 to share his views about the morality of happiness and public policy. He describes his work as at the intersection of value theory and psychology.
According to Haybron, a number of nations including Bhutan, UK, France and, most recently, Germany are making happiness a major policy goal. Instead of focusing on gross domestic product, these nations now emphasize gross domestic happiness.
While focusing on the assertion happiness should be taken into account in policy, Haybron also made it clear happiness should not be the only or most important thing. At a minimum, society should use its resources to help the sick, disabled, marginalized and poor. He described this as the belief we should all take care of each other because we are our brother’s keeper.
Haybron primarily discussed the moral objections of adopting a happiness policy, and evaluated those objections from a philosophical perspective. While individuals are not owed assistance or increased happiness, he said, people should feel a duty to be good citizens. This would help create a better society and increase overall happiness.
“I thought it was an interesting topic, though I was hoping he’d get down to the nitty-gritty of how he collects data and what it has proven internationally,” sophomore Rachel Morley said.
Beyond just the realm of public policy and societal happiness, Haybron touched on individual happiness.
“If you want to be happy, don’t be just going after happiness all the time,” Haybron said. “Instead do things that are worthwhile.”
The presentation was sponsored by the Arneson Institute for Practical Politics and Public Affairs and was the first of its events this semester.
For institute director Sean Kay, Haybron’s visit held sentimental importance as well; the two graduated from high school together.
“I’ve watched him within the past few years especially take off as a national philosophy rising star, so I was well aware of what he was doing,” Kay said. “And with the university I’m trying very consciously to look at and show public policy through different frameworks of thinking.”
The next institute-sponsored event, “Unstable Majorities, Polarization and the Contemporary American Electorate” will feature Stanford University professor Morris Fiorina and take place on Mar. 25.
I cannot believe I’m old enough to be the editor-in-chief of The Transcript. I know it sounds silly, but I still think I’m 15 years old and in high school, not a 21-year-old junior in college. My high school paper consisted of three of us, which ultimately resulted in its demise upon our graduation.
I’ve wanted to be a journalist since I was in fourth grade when I first really watched the nightly news. I wanted to be the person who gave the news. I also wanted to be a veterinarian, but that is besides the point.
Ever since I found out it was possible to be a journalist, I tried to become one. I’ve written for every publication I could get my hands on. And when looking at colleges, I made sure there was a journalism program available, which is one of the reasons why I ended up at Ohio Wesleyan University.
I cannot believe I’m at the helm of a publication that has shaped my college career for the better. Without The Transcript, I would wander aimlessly through campus without any direction whatsoever.
The Transcript has been a part of my life even before I enrolled at OWU. When I visited potential colleges, I would read each of their newspapers. And through The Transcript, I found out one of my camp friends was the daughter of one of my dad’s work friends.
I realized it was such a small world, all through this publication. All the other schools I looked at had publications, but none were of the quality of the Transcript. Nor did they have that connection like the The Transcript did.
I joined The Transcript when I was a nervous and unsure freshman. The first meeting I went to, I was intimidated by the people who surrounded me in that computer lab.
They all seemed like such journalists and like they knew what they were doing, and they would see right through my charade. I wanted to be as involved as possible, and I wrote any chance I got.
Sure, I wasn’t an amazing writer, but slowly my writing improved and I became more self-confident. With the help of my fellow reporters, I knew what questions to ask when interviewing subjects.
And those people who intimidated me with their reporting skills became such an integral part of my life. I cannot imagine them not being in my life, and I’m grateful I spoke up in those meetings.
My predecessors are among my closest friends and confidants; they are the people who made my passion for journalism grow even stronger. They push me to be a better writer, editor and person. They encourage me to branch out and tackle stories that I would normally not take on. And without them, my love for writing would not be like it is now.
I want to encourage any scared freshman that wants to write to come to our meetings. I want them to have the amazing experience and meet people who will change their lives. Don’t be intimidated like I was; you’ll find your groove and become the writer you aspire to be.
To me, The Transcript is much more than a publication. It’s a way of life; it’s a passion. It’s what you stay up all night working on, what you stress out about, what makes you feel proud of yourself.
As cliché as this sounds, I cannot imagine my college career without The Transcript. I know I would not be the jaded yet optimistic person I am.
Album cover for “What A Beautiful World, What A Terrible World” by The Decemberists. Photo courtesy of Amazon.com.Album cover for “Froot” by Marina and the Diamonds. Photo courtesy of Amazon.com.
2014 has come to an end and the new year is upon us. With the close of each year, Best Albums lists begin to crowd the Web. But instead of looking back to the music of the recent past, here is a compilation of some noteworthy albums to look forward to in the upcoming months.
Who: The Decemberists Album title: What a Terrible World, What a Beautiful World Release month: January Why it matters: The Decemberists are notable for their ability to tell fantastical tales in just a few short minutes and their mastery of the alt-pop genre. Their unlimited creativity will no doubt surface in their seventh studio album. As many critics are already claiming, this album is set to harken back to the band’s elegant skills through a compilation of simplistic songs about terrible beauty.
Who: Sufjan Stevens Album title: Carrie & Lowell Release month: March Why it matters: An artist known for more than just his barely pronounceable name, Sufjan Stevens will be taking a much anticipated turn back to his folk roots with his newest album. As mentioned in a press release for the album, “Carrie & Lowell” will explore themes related to “life and death, love and loss, and the artist’s struggle to make sense of the beauty and ugliness of love.” Steven’s first album since 2010 is also set to feature collaborations with artists such as Laura Veirs, Sean Carey, and Ben Lester.
Who: JEFF the Brotherhood Album title: Wasted on the Dream Release month: March Why it matters: These Nashville brothers have been putting out sing-along punk rock jams for years. “The most fully realized JEFF the Brotherhood album,” as dubbed by member Jake Orrall, is set to exhibit early-90s vibes and some of the duo’s most conscious songwriting yet.
Who: Bjork Album title: Vulnicura Release month: March Why it matters: It is still up in the air whether Bjork is a real person or just an alien sent to Earth to make avant-garde dance tunes; either way her new album is bound to be a contemporary masterpiece. Teaming up with the Venezuelan producer Arca, who recently worked with powerhouses Kanye West and FKA twigs, can’t hurt either.
Who: Marina and the Diamonds Album title: Froot Release month: April Why it matters: Marina Diamond is is most often recognized for the miniature black heart that marks one side of her perfectly blushed cheeks and for creating kitschy pop songs mocking the commercialism of romance. Now the front-woman of Marina and the Diamonds says she will be releasing a more serious and introspective album. Diamondis told music website Line of Best Fit that she hoped to produce a much more “reflective” album focusing on topics such as difficult relationships and struggles with mental health.
Who: Frank Ocean Album title: TBA Release month: TBA Why it matters: Ocean’s dip into solo work with his first album “Channel Orange” was wildly praised. After the debut in 2012, not much has been revealed about Ocean’s plans for other additions to his discography. Although there have been many rumors circulating about the artist’s intentions without any confirmation, it seems that 2015 will finally be the year some new work surfaces. Ocean has sent out multiple teaser messages divulging information about his time in the studio with producers such as Hit-Boy and Rodney Jenkins and even released an original song, and a cover of The Isley Brothers’ “At Your Best (You Are Love).”
Jason R. Downey (’02) and Elizabeth Long Downey (’06) donated $250,000 in November. Photo courtesy of Connect2OWU.Evan and Barbara Corns recently donated $505,000. Photo courtesy of Connect2OWU.Don and Danielle Hudler (’56) donated property “with a potential value of $10 million.” Photo courtesy of Connect2OWU.
Many donations have been pouring into Ohio Wesleyan the past semester. Recently, an anonymous couple challenged alumni to match their donation of $250,000.
Thursday’s gift, according to an email sent out from President Rock Jones, was from Ginny and Mark Shipps, both of whom graduated in 1971.
Colleen Garland, vice president for university advancement, said the gift marked the tenth of the 12 total commitments in the gift-match plan. These funds are allocated to the Hubbart/Shipps Family Legacy Scholarship Endowment.
Jones said the challenge was designed to secure 12 commitments of $250,000 to total $3 million.
Most recently, two large donations have come in. Evan (’59) and Barbara (’98) Corns donated $505,000, making the total amount the couple has donated to their alma mater $10 million. Neither of the Corns returned phone calls for a comment.
In addition, according to a press release from the university, Don and Danielle Hudler (’56) donated property “with a potential value of $10 million.”
At the end of last semester, another gift of $250,000 was donated to Ohio Wesleyan from anonymous donors. This gift, according to Garland, establishes a new endowment fund to support OWU faculty, as part of the “Connect Today, Create Tomorrow” campaign.
The campaign is aimed at raising $200 million over the next seven years and began July 1, 2014 Garland said, and has been very successful thus far.
“It is important to have a lot of early-on success in these campaigns,” said Garland in a phone interview.
Last year, two donations of $8 million each were designated to repair the defunct Merrick Hall and renovate Simpson-Querrey fitness center.
Jones said the last time we had a gift match challenge of this magnitude was the $5 million gift match challenge, which raised $10 million to rebuild the then-defunct Stuyvesant Hall. That project was completed in 2012.
This past November, Jason R. Downey (’02) Elizabeth Long Downey (’06) donated $250,000, making them the youngest couple to make such a large donation, according to a statement from the university’s communications department.
