The Transcript

By Maddie Oslejsek
Transcript Correspondent

The Assessment Committee and Provost’s Office at Ohio Wesleyan are offering $15 to 125 first-year students who complete an online test that measures critical thinking skills.

The Council on Aid to Education developed the test in 2000 and called it the Collegiate Learning Assessment (CLA). It has since been updated to CLA+, a version that provides students with their scores and an explanation of where those results place them academically at their own institution and nationwide.

The test is split up into two parts. In the first part, students are presented with a problem along with documents and data related to the question. They must choose a position and use the materials given to support their stance. The second part involves reading short sections and answering multiple-choice questions.

After completing the hour and a half long test, students receive $15. The cash payment for participation is the incentive the university is using to try to get students to take the test. So far, 115 of the needed 125 first year students took the test. The remaining ten students can sign up to take the CLA+ before the online portal closes Friday.

Barbara Andereck, the assistant provost for Assessment and Accreditation and an administrator on the Assessment Committee, said the goal for the test is to benefit students and their learning by allowing the university to determine where it is strong in educating students and where it needs to improve.

More than 700 institutions in the United States and internationally have used these assessments to keep track of the difference between growth in student learning at their college or university compared to other institutions, according to the Council’s website.

Though colleges have continually measured student learning within courses, Andereck said, there is an external push to assess student learning and outcomes outside of the classroom to demonstrate students’ improvements throughout college in skills such as problem solving, scientific reasoning, critical reading and critiquing an argument.

OWU plans to use the data from CLA+ to improve the curriculum and teaching at the university.

“Without a regular and systematic assessment program institutions are in danger of having negative reviews from their accrediting agencies,” Andereck said.

The Assessment Committee hopes to have general data related to last year’s CLA results to share with the campus later this academic year.

By Lexy Immerman
Transcript Correspondent

The Medieval and Renaissance Recreation Combat Association (MRRCA) is revamping their activities this year, teaching members to handle a variety of medieval weapons and spar with each other in the hopes of preparing members for competitions.

The MRRCA has been around for almost thirty years, according to captain and senior, Thomas Mueller, but this year is different.

“We’re getting it more formalized, and doing a lot of stuff that they just didn’t do before,” he said. “We want people to leave at the end of the year having rudimentary knowledge of how to use a sword. So far it’s working.”

The association strives to learn historically accurate techniques for medieval and Renaissance-style fighting, and to apply those techniques in various game scenarios to develop strategic thinking and enhance their abilities.

“There were six of us in beginning,” Mueller said. “It wasn’t very formal, and no one knew anything for real. [Mark] Wicker, the instructor this year, has done sword training since he was 14 or 15. We have just started sparring.”

According to Mueller, the club was previously against sparring and, as a result, “no one learned anything.”

Wicker is bringing new light into their practices.

“We’re learning more from someone who knows what he’s doing rather than using a small bit of knowledge passed down over the years or learning from books on our own,” said Christy Mendiola, a junior and co-captain.

The MRRCA has about 20 members who routinely attend practices, which are held at the grassy area outside Stuyvesant Hall on Thursdays and Fridays from 4:30-5:30.

“I’ve always been interested in medieval history and that stuff, and combat is something that is easier to practice than building things or farming, something that I can experience firsthand rather than reading a book,” freshman Colin McGarry said.

Sharing similar interests, freshman Evan Fitzpatrick, said that he used to be interested in medieval history, and enjoys learning the swordplay.

“Basically it’s beating […] each other with fancy plastic,” he said.

The “fancy plastic” described is hand-and-a-half swords or broadswords, daggers, spears, and shields, made from polypropylene. Although they are safer than real metal, but they still pack a hit, which is why anyone sparring wears armor.

The armor is comprised of thick, padded leather suits paired with fencing helmets and protective gloves like the kind construction workers wear. In addition to the plastic weapons, the association has bamboo and wooden swords, some of which are donated from alumni.

“You will get hurt if you take a clip to the hand,” said freshman Jonathan Bethiel. “But our armor is thick leather, so getting hit by a sword doesn’t hurt that bad.”

In addition to weaponry, the group will also be learning grappling and hand-to-hand combat. Bethiel used to fence and practice martial arts, but was interested in medieval combat because it was such a novel concept. 

“I mean, who will mess with you if you’re carrying a broadsword? That wins fights,” he said.

Senior Victoria Licata also used to do fencing and swordplay.

“I’m a medieval studies minor, so this is in my field of study, plus it’s fun and a good workout,” she said.

Typical practice activities include members sparring against each other using different weapons, doing drills, and practicing forms, slices, and blocks to form muscle memory. During sparring, opponents generally wield bamboo swords, exchanging a calculated flurry of blows designed to take down an opponent. Unlike in fencing, where a light touch to the body wins a point, medieval combatants put enough force behind their blows to knock their opponent to the ground. After sparring, combatants are red-faced, sweaty, and breathing heavily from the exertion, and nursing a few bruises.

“We will be trying to expand in a couple of years,” Mendiola said. “We know there’s a similar organization at Ohio State that we want to get in contact with.”

Until then, members of the MRRCA can be seen having rapid sparring matches on the lawn outside of Stuyvesant, honing their skills and practicing their passion.

By Shakira Braxton
Transcript Correspondent

Rock Jones announced a $75 thousand surprise gift in October, donated by an OWU alum’s family to serve as a space for meditation.

In late October, OWU students were informed that the university received a gift of a labyrinth. The labyrinth is a surprise gift donated by the husband of Kathe Rhinesmith, class of ‘64.

Rhinesmith not only graduated from OWU, but has also served on the Board of Trustees since 1999, and has acted as chair of both the Board of Trustees and the Alumni Board.

“This gift was Kathe’s husband’s idea and not one which we solicited.  He is making it to honor her long-standing commitment to OWU and the significance of labyrinths in her life,” said Colleen Garland, Vice President of University Advancement.

When asked about the gift and other areas of OWU the money could be contributed to Garland said money from donations can only be utilized for the donor’s vision.

“The gift is not one which could be redirected to other purposes and it will cover the entire construction costs so that no OWU funds will be used,” Garland said.

“However, it’s important to note that the family does support the OWU Fund every year which helps students directly.”

The Labyrinth is expected to be completed by May, just in time for Alumni Weekend and commencement.

The labyrinth is suspected to add a nice additional aesthetic to OWU’s 200 acre campus; but the right place has not yet been finalized. However, the north side of Merrick Hall along the Delaware run has been suggested as a promising location for the labyrinth.

Studies of labyrinths have show effectiveness in reducing anxiety, and have also have been referred to as a “prayer/meditation walk,” reported Dr. Hebert Benson, founder of Mind/Body Medical Institute at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston.

A labyrinth is an innovative structure to use as a meditation area on a college campus. OWU will not be the first university to introduce a labyrinth on campus, but will be amongst a select few.

“We all benefit from quiet places where we can withdraw from the noise and activity of daily life for quiet reflection and renewal of the inner spirit,” said President Rock Jones.

“A labyrinth is such a place.”

The Delaware bar scene’s Ohio Wesleyan representatives no longer include just students, thanks to a classic rock band comprised of four OWU professors.

Professors Erin Flynn, Mark Gingerich, James Franklin and John Stone-Mediatore are the members of The Stolen Fire, which was created in the fall of 2011.

Stone-Mediatore and Gingerich began playing music together before the other two members joined in on the fun. When the search for other musicians began, Stone-Mediatore knew exactly where to go. He had played with Franklin in bands before and knew of his talent. Franklin quickly joined the band, leaving a frontman as the band’s only missing component. The trio heard about Flynn’s captivating and energetic performances through the grapevine, and once Flynn was on board the band was set to get started.

“Just everything clicked, these guys are really good musicians and all of us have been in bands before,” Franklin said. “We could just sit down and play music that sounded good.”

The band’s name comes from Greek mythology.

“Prometheus stole fire from Zeus to give to humankind,”  said Stone-Mediatore, a literature professor. “I like the literary angle of that story.”

All the professors are thrilled with how the band has turned out and love getting together on the weekends to jam out in Stone-Mediatore’s basement studio. “It’s great, I think it’s been going about perfect.”  Franklin said.

“We’ve all been playing in bands since we were really young, so it’s really important to us,”  Stone-Mediatore said.  “We have a great time.”

Many students know the band because they have seen them perform live at Clancey’s Pub on Saturday nights. Stone-Mediatore said he is overjoyed every time they get a chance to perform in front of students.

“Students have so much energy, and that’s really great for us because it helps us play better,”  he said. “It’s really special because it enables us to have fun with the students and get to know them not just as students, but as people.”

Franklin said he is a little more unsure than Stone-Mediatore about playing in front of his students.

“It can be a little strange, we’re the professors and their our students,”  Franklin said.  “We see each other in a whole different way than you do in the classroom.”

Along with Clancey’s Pub, the band also performs at Roop’s Pub and at events hosted by the university.

By Haley Walls
Transcript Correspondent

Typhoon, a new Asian fusion restaurant, is coming to downtown Delaware in mid-November in place of Chandra’s Bistro at 10 N. Sandusky St.

The menu consists of mainly handcrafted Chinese, Thai, and Asian dishes, according to the restaurant’s website. All ingredients are MSG-free and are not pre-processed.

“We use a lot of fresh ingredients as local as possible,” said TJ Wellman, part-owner. “One thing you’ll notice is that we use fresh fish, whereas Chandra’s used frozen.”

The restaurant will serve local beers on tap as well as traditional Asian beverages like sake. Each entrée will be served with white or brown rice cooked fresh every order.

Typhoon will have various options for gluten-free and vegetarian eaters. All of their Asian entrées can also be made vegetarian-friendly by substituting meat for tofu or vegetables, Wellman said.

Wellman and his business partners Xue-gong and Xue-qin Chen also own Royal Ginger, a sister restaurant of Typhoon located in Polaris. The trio previously owned Ginger Asian Kitchen in Athens, Ohio before recently selling it to new management.

Renovations of the restaurant began on Oct. 16. The restrooms have been updated and only slight changes will be made to the dining space, such as changing paint colors and restoring the original wood, Wellman said.

The dining room will seat 40 to 50 people with an extra 12 to 15 seats at the bar. There will be an outdoor patio for use in warmer months.

In addition to traditional dining, Typhoon will offer online ordering for carryout. It will also be available for private parties and events.

The owners purchased the equipment left in the building from Chandra’s Bistro and took over the lease. They also acquired the previous restaurant’s liquor license.

Chandra’s Bistro opened in 2007 and closed near the beginning of October for family related reasons.

The owners of Typhoon are looking to hire 7 or 8 experienced servers. They are bringing in employees from Royal Ginger to help with the restaurant’s opening.

Wellman said they hope to have the restaurant open by Nov. 11. It will be open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thurday and open until 11 p.m. on weekends.

Commencement this spring may take place on the Merrick Hall terrace, as long as construction stays on schedule.

“Merrick Hall as one of our oldest and most historic buildings is a natural backdrop for commencement, the most important event of the year,” President Rock Jones said.

Peter Schantz, the director of the physical plant, said the intention has always been to have Merrick as the site for commencement. The question is whether it will be ready in time for the upcoming ceremony in spring 2015.

In the past, commencement has been held on Phillips Glen and the patio of Phillips Hall was used for the stage. While not positive about how long commencement has taken place there, the Provost Chuck Stinemetz said he graduated there in 1983.

“The decision to move commencement to Merrick Hall was driven by both the physical challenges of holding graduation in the existing site and the advantages afforded by the Merrick site,” Stinemetz said.

There were many difficulties with the site at Phillips, such as faculty seating, line of sight for families and photography Stinemetz said. By moving commencement to a more central location in the quad area they hope to eliminate most of these problems.

“We are currently planning for graduation to take place in front of Merrick,” Stinemetz said. “However, we do have back up plans including the possibility of it returning to the Phillips patio or taking place on the lawn in front of University Hall.”

Construction at Merrick is on schedule at this time, but there have been some unforeseen challenges, which are to be expected in a nearly 150-year-old building Schantz said.

For example, constructions crews had to replace the water service to the building, which they were not anticipating.

While the terrace is in place, there are other aspects that need to be completed before the area is ready for commencement. They plan to install a new door on the south façade of the building in the center of the terrace. Also, a new driveway will hopefully be going in this fall in front of the site.

 

Delaware County is getting a new outlet mall, but the impact it will have for the city and Ohio Wesleyan University community seems underwhelming.

Jointly controlled by Tanger Outlets and Simon Property Group, the new mall is tentatively set to open beginning in 2016. The Simon-Tanger outlet mall will be placed on the east side of the interchange between Rts. 36/37 and I-71. The addition of this outlet mall would be halfway between the existing ones located in Lodi, Ohio, and Jeffersonville, Ohio. All the required zoning proposals for construction and implementation have been approved, but what does this mean for the county, the city, and the OWU community?

Once construction is complete, the outlet mall will be a new and increased means of tax revenue for Delaware County and its residents.

“Broadly I think what it’s doing is helping make Delaware County a destination location for shopping,” said Delaware County auditor George Kaitsa. “We collect sales tax so that would be additional revenue to the county and the outlet mall brings a different product line to the area.”

Kaitsa emphasized how the outlet mall is a welcome addition that would not hamper business from either Polaris Fashion Place or the city of Delaware.

According to the Economic Development Director for Delaware City Sean Hughes, the outlet mall has potential to increase economic awareness and profit to the city.

“A lot of people get scared when you have a mall come to your community because they think that’s going to draw potential customers away from my business,” said Hughes. “With this situation, because it is an outlet mall, I foresee that it will do the opposite. It will bring attention to our community as those customers are coming for a very specific purpose: to shop. While they’re here, it is our responsibility to market ourselves as a place where they can continue their shopping experience and have a great entertainment experience in addition.”

The challenge that Hughes admitted to is getting those coming from the south in Columbus or from east of the location to bring them the extra miles over to downtown. “One way or the other, they’re going to be coming through the area spending money,” Hughes said, “You are going to be bringing people with disposable income to the area period and the outlet mall folks project that 9% of the traffic that goes to the mall will be coming through the city.”

Hughes also noted that the city would not be receiving much of the tax revenue profit associated with this profit. To understand this, consider that the city derives its revenue from income tax while the county derives its revenue through sales tax. “Will any of that money trickle down in terms of programming for us for the city? Probably not,” Hughes noted. These funds are mainly directed towards developing infrastructure usually around the district associated with the tax according to him.

For OWU students though, the impact of the outlet mall seems minimal. Professor of Economics Bob Gitter noted that the mall would create a lot of jobs and increase revenue, however there still would not be much of an impact.

“I don’t think it’s going to effect students in terms of job opportunities. I don’t think that students are going to be looking for something in retail at that level. Since we’re not a public university, it’s not that we’re going to get tax dollars out of it. I just don’t see it having that much of an impact in terms of finances, in terms of jobs, and in terms of revenue for Ohio Wesleyan.”

Public Safety officers at Ohio Wesleyan are currently bucking a trend occurring at other Ohio colleges – they are not armed.

Although PS has three officers licensed to carry a weapon, they do not while they are on duty for OWU. Those officers are PS Director Bob Wood, investigator Richard Morman, and officer Andrew Roy.

“Absolutely there is a trend moving towards arming campus safety,” Wood said. “Three to five colleges a year are going from unarmed security to armed police officer departments.”

Officers are permitted to carry weapons only after receiving accreditation through the Ohio Attorney General’s Peace Officer Training Academy (POTA). Rick Amweg, executive director of the Center for P-20 Safety & Security at the Ohio Board of Regents, said the number is close for the past couple of years but is unsure if the current trend will continue.

“In Ohio, there is a slight trend in the same direction, primarily in the private college area,” he said.

Amweg cited Otterbein University, whose police department became fully commissioned by the state in 2012, “a good example of an institution that just recently changed from unarmed security to armed police on their campus.”

Wood said he is unsure if his officers will one day carry weapons. College police departments are looking to the International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators for guidance, he said. “This is one of the top things on the burner.”

Many campuses have blended forces of some officers who are qualified to carry weapons and others who are not, he said.

Those sorts of departments have budgetary implications as well, according to Amweg.

“A blended force is the way many institutions are going, primarily for budgetary reasons,” he said. “Police officers are typically more expensive than security officers. For that reason, many institutions with police also have security officers to take care of security and safety matters that do not require law enforcement.”

Neither Denison University, the College of Wooster, Kenyon College nor Oberlin College have fully commissioned or armed departments, although Wooster’s chief is licensed.

Denison and OWU have commissioned but unarmed directors of campus safety. Oberlin and Kenyon are also unarmed units.

“The main reason (to reconsider arming campus police forces) is that the incidents occur so quickly that a matter of ten or fifteen or thirty seconds means lives that can be saved or lost,” Wood said.

Incidents like Columbine and the Virginia Tech shootings give pause, Wood said.

“Do we wait outside while he’s stabbing our students in a building?” Wood said. “Do we go in and attack a guy with a knife with a can of mace? I think we’re compromising safety by not at least exploring the need of being armed.”

Toby Hoover, the founder of the Ohio Coalition Against Gun Violence, said the organization believes guns on campuses will “continue to build a culture of violence and fear.”

“People have choices to decide the kind of world we want to live in and guns provide a false sense of security,” he said. “It’s not a proven fact that more guns is safer.”

Verne Edwards, the Ohio Wesleyan journalism professor who mentored many of the department’s most successful graduates in his 34-year career, died Wednesday.

Edwards joined the faculty in 1952, teaching and advising The Transcript, according to a statement from University President Rock Jones. He taught students who went on to win Pulitzer Prizes and Emmy awards before retiring in 1986.

“If we judge educators by the success of their former students, then Verne Edwards stood at the top of his profession,” Jones wrote in the statement.

Details for Edwards’ memorial service are forthcoming. Read Jones’s full release below.

Dear OWU Community,

I am writing to share the sad news that Professor Emeritus of Journalism Verne Edwards, a legendary member of the Ohio Wesleyan faculty, passed away yesterday. His daughter tells me his family spent time together during his final hours reading his favorite pieces, including tributes from his beloved students.

Verne joined Ohio Wesleyan in 1952, and he served as the Journalism chair and advisor to The Transcript for more than 30 years before retiring in 1986. His students remember Verne as their mentor and expert teacher who held them to the highest standards of journalistic excellence and moral integrity. He received the Bishop Herbert Welch Meritorious Teaching Award in 1972.

It is no exaggeration to say that Verne Edwards helped to shape the face of American journalism by training an all-star team of some of the nation’s finest and most prominent journalists. His students have won Pulitzer Prizes and Emmy Awards and have held positions of leadership at many of America’s major newspapers, news magazines, and television news outlets, as well as leading corporations, nonprofits, and universities. If we judge educators by the success of their former students, then Verne Edwards stood at the top of his profession.

A memorial service is being planned for a later date.

Please join me in sending our deepest sympathies to Verne’s widow, Dolores, and their entire family. Verne will be deeply missed, but his influence will live on through his students, his colleagues, and all the lives he touched.

Rock