Striking out for one of their own

By Grant Cayton

Transcript correspondent

ggcayton@owu.edu

The Ohio Wesleyan University softball team is banding together to support one of its own.

Shelley Johnson, assistant softball coach at OWU, was diagnosed with stage 3c ovarian cancer last October. After her diagnosis, the team rallied to help her, dedicating their annual Strike Out Cancer event to helping pay for Johnson’s treatment. As a part of their effort, fundraiser was held at the Hamburger Inn, of Delaware, on April 4. They will also donate all proceeds of a double header, scheduled for April 13, to Johnson’s treatment.

Johnson expressed her thankfulness for the support of her team.

“I feel very fortunate by having all of the team support. Not everyone going through this has the family support that I have, let alone an entire additional team.” Johnson said. “From the current team and coaches wearing teal bracelets, alums sitting at chemo with me and sending cards and books, to parents of former players sending their support, I feel lots of love from my OWU softball family,” Johnson said.

Sophomore Baylee Small, a member of the softball team, is happy to help Johnson in her time of need.

“I get the opportunity to support her all while playing the game I love, and that’s an indescribable and memorable experience,” she said.

Small described Johnson as an incredibly supportive person. “Shelley is the most selfless person you will ever meet,” Small said.

The team has struggled with not having her around to encourage and support members. “Not having her unmatched humor around recently has been difficult, but we have full confidence that Shelley is gonna beat this and be back in full swing,” Small said. According to Kayla Richard, interim assistant women’s softball coach, the Strike out Cancer event has been affiliated with the National Fastpitch Coaches Association in the past, and that last year, the team worked with Play4theCure, a program created by the National Foundation for Cancer Research. This year, she said, the team is working on its own so that all proceeds raised at the event go to Johnson. The doubleheader will be held at 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. at Margaret Sagan Field on April 13. The team will play against Allegheny College, and Johnson will throw the first pitch herself.

Have a sweet tooth?

Black Student Union displayed this poster in Smith Hall promoting their late night delivery service that will be held on April 11th from 7:00 PM to 11:00 PM. There will be fried oreos, taffy grapes, and funnel cakes ranging from $2-$5! Order these tasty treats while you can!

OWU fraternity raises money for fellow student and moms foundation

By Leah Crawford

Transcript correspondent

lccrawfo@owu.edu

Men and women of the Ohio Wesleyan University community came together this past Saturday to raise money for U.S. troops, and support one of their own.

The brothers of Phi Gamma Delta (Fiji) hosted a soccer tournament for the students of OWU to participate in called Kick It with Fiji on March 30.  The event, benefitting two different organizations, was held in the Edwards Gym due to inclement weather. Each team donated a minimum of $50 to participate with all proceeds being donated to the philanthropic causes.  

“Serving others is one of the main principles of Greek Life but especially for Fiji,” Jordan Auriemma, Fiji’s philanthropy chair said.

The event’s purpose was to raise money for The United Services Organization (USO) and the Heidi Steitz educational fund.  Franklin D. Roosevelt founded USO in 1941 and it currently assists over 4.9 million members of the military and their families.  The donations made to the Heidi Steitz educational fund were made in honor of Heidi Steitz who recently lost her battle with cancer.  

“I love my friends in Fiji and it was so thoughtful of them to donate some of their proceeds to my mom’s educational fund,” Kenzie Steitz, a junior in Delta Delta Delta (TriDelta) at OWU said.  “It means so much to [me] and my family and we greatly appreciate the generosity of the boys of Phi Gamma Delta.”

Members of both the Greek and Non-Greek communities of OWU were invited to participate.  The tournament was held in a round robin style with the semifinals being held at the end of regular play.  Then there was the final game where the ladies of Delta Gamma (DG) took home the gold, winning the tournament overall.

“Fiji’s soccer tournament was such a fun event! I loved being able to participate while being surrounded by the Greek community,” DG sophomore Katie Konopka said.  “Winning definitely felt good but being able to support someone within our own community was what really mattered.”

TriDelta followed DG in second place and the ladies of Kappa Kappa Gamma (KKG) came in third.  

Chicano artist speaks about art, walkouts and comics during his speech

By Grant Cayton

Transcript correspondent

ggcayton@owu.edu

From cowboys to cars, from paint to prints– nothing is off limits for this artist.

Carlos Fresquez, Chicano artist and associate professor of painting at the Metropolitan State University of Denver, came to Ohio Wesleyan University on April 2 and spoke with students about his artistic experiences. A exhibit of Fresquez’s paintings entitled “Desde Aqui, Desde Alli” was also presented in Beeghly Library. Fresquez’s lecture discussed various moments of his life that inspired his artwork, and how his art in turn affected his life.

An extremely important moment to Fresquez occurred on Sep. 16, 1969 when he participated in his first walkout at just 13 years of age, he said.

The students that participated in the walkout were protesting the treatment Chicanos faced from teachers and other authority figures. This walkout was one of the first times he saw others take pride in their heritage instead of being demeaned for it, Fresquez said.

“These teachers are not putting me down, someone brown like me is bringing me up,” Fresquez said.

The issue of connecting with his culture played a large part in Fresquez’s speech and went over well with the audience.

“He really connected with the audience when he said he was searching for his culture,” sophomore Hannah Hearn said.

Fresquez’s heritage played a large part in inspiring his art, but it was not the only influence; television shows such as Batman and the Munsters, street tags, murals, and punk album covers all played a part in shaping his style, he said.

Fresquez’s art is often vibrant, with bright colors that catch the eye. While some paintings depict a scene or event, many resemble collages with different images mixed together. Fresquez often borrows from outside sources that have meaning to him when creating his art. In his work “Angela”, the left side of the painting is dominated by recreations of a comic book, and the Frito Bandito character appears in the background.

Fresquez also puts his own spin on others’ works of art, as shown in his “Salon de los Ilegales” series, where he inserts a silhouette of a family running into landscape prints found in thrift stores. The image of the family was taken from a street sign Fresquez saw, warning motorists to watch for families running across the street. Fresquez has created several galleries and exhibits.

According to his website, he has contributed to the Nelson Centre Museum of Fine Art, the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center, and many more. He has also received over thirty honors and awards, according to the website. To Fresquez, the artistic process is inherently personal.

“Art should be a reflection of society and our experiences. I think an artist should respond to what’s important to them,” he said during an interview before the lecture.

Fresquez was also asked about his advice for aspiring artists.

“Fear no art. Don’t think about doing it, just do it,” he said.

Local OWU student and Delaware child create lifelong bond

By Caitlin Jeffersons

Transcript correspondent

cmjeffer@owu.edu

A significant impact continues to be made on the lives of Woodcreek Elementary children each week through the volunteer work of Ohio Wesleyan University students.

Freshman basketball player Nick Carlson participates in the Big Brothers Big Sisters program with his teammates by taking on the role of a ‘big brother.’ The Big Brothers Big Sisters program is a one on one, school-based mentoring program. Mentors are assigned to children facing adversity so they can receive help with their social and emotional growth. The program goal is to help children reach their full potential when they graduate from the program.

The time Carlson spends at Woodcreek is with his ‘little brother,’ Logan Calkins, a 9-year-old student. Carlson involved himself in Big Brothers Big Sisters because it is a long-time tradition of the OWU men’s basketball team.

The friendship between Carlson and Calkins began at the beginning of the fall semester.

“I have worked to develop our relationship by trying to make conversation as relatable as possible and about his likes and dislikes so he can understand and contribute to it,” Carlson said.

The first time meeting Carlson was intimidating for Calkins, but he now looks forward to each time they meet.

“I was scared at first because it was weird to meet a stranger and Nick is so much taller than me,” Calkins said. “I get excited now though because I get to play with him at lunch.”

Some activities Carlson does each week with Calkins involve critical thinking games, soccer and online math homework, while developing Calkins’ communication and relationship skills.

“Nick has helped me with my online math [program] and I have gotten better at math because of his help,” Calkins said. “I get along better with my family and my friends too.”

Carlson was not intimidated upon meeting Calkins because he looked forward to making a difference in the classroom and at home for Calkins. Carlson aspires to be a teacher after college graduation and this program has allowed him to practice teaching skills while impacting Calkins’ development.

“I feel we have definitely made progress,” Carlson said. “He was shy and timid at first but we are getting to be good friends on a deeper level.”

Their journey to developing this friendship has not always been easy throughout the program. When they are having trouble communicating, Carlson practices techniques to help Calkins, like pulling him aside from a group of people or giving him different directions during critical thinking activities.

“Nick is easy to talk to and whenever I am sad, Nick helps cheer me up,” Calkins said. “He is easy to understand.”

Calkins feels he can better connect with his classmates now and always looks forward to the program.

The Big Brothers Big Sisters program at Woodcreek is organized by Match Support Specialist Angie Clifton. Clifton is a former teacher at Woodcreek with an early education background. She was offered this position and was excited to continue her work with children.

“I enjoy working with kids and I have a heart for this school,” Clifton said. “I love seeing them succeed because I get to hear their success stories in and out of school and how they benefit at home.”

Clifton insists that this program is more than just getting together each week and that it is not just the relationship piece. The activities that pairs work on help with academic success, character development, social interactions and perseverance.

“Nick and I have a lot in common and I am happy I met him,” Calkins said. “It went from Nick being a complete stranger to him being my good friend.”

Artist Carlos Fresquez comes to OWU

OMSA had Carlos Fresquez come to OWU to talk about his artwork that has been displayed in the Beeghly Library. He visited on April 2, 2019 at 6:30 PM in the Bayley room. Fresquez presented a slideshow that started from his younger days to the present on how he experienced racism, which is in some of his art and how he was influenced by pop culture. Go take a look at his artwork!

United Methodist Church: What does it mean for OWU?

Updated April 6, 2019

By Avery Detrick

Staff reporter

aedetric@owu.edu

The United Methodist Church (UMC) voted to uphold the churchwide ban on same-sex marriage and LGBTQ individuals as clergy members.

According to the Akron Beacon Journal, a group of 864 appointed delegates, clergy members and laypeople voted on Feb. 26 at a UMC conference held in St. Louis, MO. Taking 5 days of deliberation, the decision to continue the ban came from religious views against the sanctity of same-sex relationships.

In 1972, the UMC officially barred “self-avowed practicing homosexuals” from becoming clergy members. Same-sex marriage is also prohibited within the church.

“I don’t think it’s surprising given the make-up of the conference,” Ricky Sammartino, an Ohio Wesleyan University sophomore and practicing member of the UMC said. “I think it’s very disappointing to a lot of people, but I think it reflects the fact that outside of the United States the attitudes towards homosexuality aren’t as progressive as they are here.

“Being organized at an international level instead of simply [at] a national level makes social change hard,” Sammartino said.

The decision of the UMC leaves many questions involving how LGBTQ members of the church will react, especially on a local level.

“Asbury UMC and William St. UMC here in Delaware are officially reconciling congregations (as are many Columbus congregations), which are congregations that have official commitment to the full inclusion of LGBT persons in the life of the church,” Associate Chaplain Chad Johns said.

“OWU and Methodist Theological School in Ohio (MTSO) have also had long-standing commitments to support full inclusion in the church as well as a commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion on campus,” Johns said. “I’m confident these communities will continue in those commitments.”

Johns raises worries on how the international decision will have a ripple effect that impacts local institutions despite their commitment to inclusion.  

“I suspect we’ll see a lot of communities navigating what it means to be fully inclusive and United Methodist,” Johns said.

Rock Jones, president of Ohio Wesleyan and of the University Senate of the United Methodist Church, sent out an email on March 7 sharing his thoughts about the decision with the university.

“Like many of you, I was hopeful the General Conference would vote to permit same-sex couples to be married in the church and to accept gay people into the clergy,” he said.

Jones discussed how many of the university’s values and culture has grown out of its history with the UMC, so there are potential impacts on campus of this anti-LGBTQ decision.
“As we look to the future, however, I think it is important to note that the General Conference’s vote has no impact on OWU’s deep commitment to diversity and inclusion … Nor does it have any impact on our governance, which is independent of Church control.

“I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to lead a campus that expresses full support of the LGBTQIA+ community, including full inclusion in every form of leadership,” Jones said.

The plan is to be discussed in the April meeting of the UMC general conference.

“We already know from previous rulings that parts of the legislation have been ruled unconstitutional and other parts will likely pass review,” Johns said. “We don’t know yet about other parts. The real challenge for the church will be figuring out what to do with implementing a fragmented plan.”

If the plan is ruled constitutional by the judicial council, the new rules will take effect starting Jan. 1, 2020.

More repairs!

The stairs leading into the academic side of Ohio Wesleyan are closed down for repairs. Students have to use the side ramp to get to classes and there are signs warning the students of the shut down area. Be careful and hopefully the stairs will be fixed soon!

Fifteen feet too long

By Kienan O’Doherty

Transcript Correspondent

kcodoher@owu.edu

Always keep your pants up. And make sure you wear a belt.

Austin didn’t, and he shattered his ankle falling 15 feet into a construction site. The result: surgery priced at $45,000.

At 6 feet 3 inches tall and 215 pounds, Austin is nowhere near a small human being. A varsity athlete in high school, he was a member of the OWU track and field team before chronic shoulder pain ended his athletic career early. So, naturally, one would think it would take a lot to seriously injure a man of his size.

Unfortunately, at times, Austin is also a college student. He’s the type of kid that comes to college and fully embraces the college drinking stereotype. Sometimes he drank more than was needed, more common among college students than not. We have not used the subject’s full name in this story.

This was certainly one of those times.

It’s typical Saturday night at Ohio Wesleyan University. Students gather in dorm rooms for the “pregame:” otherwise known as drinking before the party. Then in groups, some large, some small, students move to where a party was located, taking full advantage of their outside voices while conversing. Post party, it is time to move to the bar scene in Delaware, which in many OWU students’ minds is Clancey’s Pub, a bar which opens up to kids aged 18+ each Friday and Saturday.  

The main route students take to the bar is down Spring Street: passing a closed Napa Auto Parts, a paint store, and a lit up Fuller Memorials, tombstones and all.

Austin is in a group that opts to take a different route. They walk down West William Street, where William Street United Methodist Church, Tim Horton’s, and a former school are located. Cars speed by so fast, to the students it seems like they leave their headlights behind. Usually one would see Austin wearing a long-sleeve button down underneath a vest, his jet-black hair gelled to perfection with V76 by Vaughn. But tonight, Austin has borrowed a Patagonia quarter-zip from a friend, and a Zac Brown Band cap covered his hair. They’re swaying back and forth, struggling to walk in straight lines. Up on the left is the only Domino’s in town.

The Domino’s.

At this point, with 100 feet until they pass Domino’s, Austin decides to pull down is Lucky brand pants, perfectly comfortable with this in public. He only walks 10 more feet before a cop sees him.

The cop is going the opposite direction. But he turns around as fast as Austin pulled down his pants. His tires are screeching, blue and red lights flashing, siren blaring. That is when Austin pulls up his pants and started running as fast as his new Prada driving shoes could take.

Sprinting.

He stays to the left of the Domino’s, passing through two parking lots that are separated by chains, which Austin clears with ease and keeps running. At the end of the second parking lot Austin hops over a fence and sees an apartment that looks eerily like a trailer home.

Wanting nothing to do with where he was, Austin hops back over the fence and runs through the parking lots again, this time arriving at a different fence in the back-left corner. It takes him little time to climb over the fence. Which maybe was a little too fast.

He drops eight feet from the top of the fence and lands on his face. From that fall he has obtained new scratches. He starts laughing as he sees he has fallen into a backyard.

Completely disoriented, Austin looks around for any of the familiar flashing blue and red lights and starts running toward the street. It is pitch black, so he doesn’t even know where the street is. He turns, sees a house, and drops.

15 feet.

Austin just fell into the foundation of a new house.

He is knocked out for five minutes and is still disoriented when he regains consciousness. He sits up and immediately realizes that his left leg felt numb.

Using his senses, Austin tries to drunkenly get a sense of his environment. All he feels are dirt and a concrete wall. The pitch black made it nearly impossible to see, and he tries to hear any noise.

There is complete silence.

He slowly stands up and tries to take two steps. When he attempts the first step, his ankle turns left. When he attempts the second, the ankle turns right.

It is 12:30 a.m.

Austin calls his house phone back in Franklin Lakes, N.J. His mother picks up, and Austin calmly asks for his father.

“Did you break it?” asks his father. Austin lets out his noticeably contagious laugh.

His friends start calling him, and he tells them what happened. Due to the advancement in modern technology, he can send them his location, hoping to aide them in the search.

One problem. The police were still looking for him as well. Not just officers, but a K-9 unit was called in.

Since falling, he has been in the foundation for 45 minutes. All that he was with him are his phone which is full of games and his JUUL, a revolutionary and common cigarette substitute among college students.

He chooses the game Angry Birds, a game played more by children than adults, and is counting down the minutes until he either dies or is found.

That’s when the bright beam of a flashlight comes from a yard over, making its way down the fence. The beam enters the yard and finds the ditch, where it shines right on Austin. Behind the beam is a police officer.

He asks, “Are you the kid that fell into a ditch?”

Looking at him dead in the eye, Austin replies:

“No, he’s next door, I’m just making sure that everything looks okay from down here.”

With a look of disgust on his face, the officer makes a call, to which all the cops on the search show up to this one hole. Austin’s friends have now shown up as well.

For the next 20 minutes, nothing happens.

Then Austin goes into shock. He feels cold, nervous and starts sweating. The only thought on his mind is the thought of death.

The officers get the fire department to put a ladder down on the other side of the ditch, 20 feet away from where Austin is located.

Being forced to get out on is own, he crawls across the uneven ground to get to the base of the ladder. The officers and firefighters are offering no help, and he must make it up the ladder himself.

With the Zac Brown Band cap in one hand and JUUL in the other, Austin slowly ascends the ladder, cursing continuously as he gets closer to the top.

His broken ankle is hitting each rung of the ladder on the way up. Austin’s pain tolerance is high, but this is the equivalent to two Mack trucks hitting his ankle over and over again. His good friend Zane described his ankle “[equivalent] to a three iron.” That’s how fragile and how broken the ankle really is. To make matters even worse, his ankle gets caught in between two rungs.

Austin has had enough of people doing nothing to help.

He stops everyone and bellows in his deep, New Jersey accent:

“Whoa, whoa, whoa, when I get out of here, am I getting a ton of morphine?”

The officers look at Zane, who shrugs, and the officers tell him he is.

Austin finally gets out, is put on a stretcher, and is wheeled out to the street.

The street that he started running on is no longer a street, it’s a commotion filled nightmare.

The first responders closed off the street, and each flashing light from the emergency vehicles present illuminate the pitch-black sky. Lights of white, red and blue bounce off buildings and can be seen from almost a mile away. Austin was loaded into the ambulance, questioned, and given a citation for reckless underage drinking.

He admits to drinking one 40-ounce bottle of beer. His blood alcohol content is 0.24, three times the legal limit.

It’s now 4 a.m. at the hospital, and Austin was watching one of his favorite shows, Rick and Morty. A doctor and two nurses enter the room, informing him that his ankle needed to be relocated. As they try to hold him down, Austin panics, knowing full well what was about to happen.

He begs for more medicine.

And begs.

And begs.

The two nurses grab him by the shoulders and pin him down. The doctor grabs the ankle, pulls it out and puts it in the proper place.

Austin passes out.

And all the initial police officer was going to do was to tell him to “pull his damn pants up.”