The Transcript

The Issue: Ukraine 

Another deadline has passed in the ongoing Ukrainian crisis. The Ukrainian government wanted pro-Russian militants out of the country’s east. The deadline was set for Monday, April 14, but nothing was done to reinforce it.

According to the New York Times, the government in Kiev threatened to use force in order to restore its authority in the eastern part of the Ukraine, but the Russian government warned against it.

The United Nations Security Council held an emergency session on Sunday, April 13, and the US warned it was likely to impose further sanctions against Russia if nothing is done about the occupation of the east, according to Al Jazeera. According to the Associated Press (AP), Ukraine’s acting president, Oleksandr Turchynov asked for the deployment of United Nations peacekeeping troops in the east.

However, “peacekeepers would have to be authorized by the U.N. Security Council, in which Russia holds a veto,” AP said.

The Issue: Nigeria

A homegrown Islamist extremist group is being blamed for an explosion that occurred at a crowded bus station in Nigeria, according to the New York Times.

The explosion happened in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, during the morning rush hour on Monday, April 14. Al Jazeera said at least 71 people are dead and as many as 124 are wounded.

Boko Haram, the terrorist organization, “has been attacking schools, government sites and civilians for years,” the New York Times said.

According to AP, “One official said he believed the bomb buried in the earth while emergency management agency said the explosives were apparently hidden in a vehicle.”

Boko Haram’s goal is to make Nigeria an Islamic state with Sharia, which is Islamic law, according to AP.

Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan was quick to blame the attack on Boko Haram, however, a police spokesman said “no one has claimed immediate responsibility for the explosion, and that an investigation was underway,” the New York Times said.

The Issue: Climate Change

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, which is a part of the United Nations, warned that governments are not doing enough to “avert profound risks in coming decades,” the New York Times said.

This report has signaled that the Earth is in a critical position, according to the New York Times, with greenhouse emissions rising faster than ever, and an intensive push over the next 15 years is the only way to bring those emissions under control.

According to the BBC, “scientists will also cautiously endorse a shift to natural gas [as] an alternative to carbon intensive sources.”

The BBC also reports that, “…if significant action isn’t taken by 2030, global temperatures could rise by more than 2 degrees C.”

The vast diversity within the graduating class of Ohio Wesleyan Fine Art students was displayed for all to see this weekend at the Ross Art Museum.

The mixed media now exhibited in “Happenings” ranges from photography and paintings, to booklets and jewelry with each piece telling a distinct and unique story.

Senior Ha Le said she was most excited and honored to display her four portraits of family members.

“They’re the center pieces of the show and they’re hung on the wall right opposite to the entrance,” Le said.

“My parents are coming for my graduation so I can’t wait to walk them through the show.”

Another senior featured in the gallery, Melissa Ward, said she was thrilled to have five of her pieces shown.

She also said that she was excited to display a technique she has become “obsessed” with over the past year.

“I draw with a painted brush dipped in ink onto canvas,” Ward explained.

“I have a large un-stretched canvas drawing of cow skulls and a book created with the ink and canvas featuring an idea of dancing,” she said of her art presented in “Happenings.”

In order to prepare for the senior show, students formed a board with various responsibilities assigned such as Reception Chair, Executive-Installation Chair and Publicity Chair, among others.

Tasks involved fundraising for free wine, appetizers, and the musical accompaniment of student band Wahoo! Sam Crawford to supplement the opening.

“Besides actually creating the art works,” Ward said that she, along with most of the other students, were responsible for framing and displaying their pieces.

“I had a solo show at the Werner Art Gallery,” said Ward.

“And that helped me in prepping for the senior show because I had to have many of the same works finished and framed.”

Similarly, Le said that she put on an individual show earlier in February and framed many of her pieces for that.

“I also signed up to help set up the show,” said Le. “I have some art handling experience from the Gallery Management class I took last year.”

Le also said that she helped to fundraise and promote the exhibit across campus.

Across the 18 seniors that will be featured in Ross through May 11 each has their own vision and background behind their work.

Concise booklets with photos and statements of each individual student were available to make the exhibit easier to digest by spectators.

The booklets also featured a collective artist statement expressing the basis for “Happenings”:

“A celebration of our moments- both the ones that happened at Ohio Wesleyan University, and the ones that happen continually in our work. Though we say a bittersweet goodbye to our peers and professors, our art keeps the memory of our collegiate experience alive.”