Phillip Seymour Hoffman, dead at 46. Photo from Wikimedia Commons
The image Philip Seymour Hoffman left imprinted in my mind is his exceptional portrayal of rock critic Lester Bangs in  the 2000 film âAlmost Famous.â
With needle still in arm and evidence of drug abuse throughout his apartment, actor Hoffman, 46 years old, was found dead on Sunday morning.
According to the New York Daily News, Hoffman was discovered by friend David Katz. Officials suspect the overdose was caused by heroin injections considering the 70 bags of the drug found scattered around Hoffmanâs apartment.
Hoffman was best known for his role in the 2005 film âCapote,â as well as his Academy Awards and Tony Award nominations. His ability to transform into enticing characters transports audiences to new worlds and isnât that what art is all about?
In the aftermath of  events such as these there arise two kinds of people: those who mourn the loss of a fellow human, and those who mourn the loss of an entertainment source. In the case of any death, those who care for the deceased usually experience a spat of selfishness. Especially when the death could be seen as self inflicted,  friends and family may blame the deceased for âplaying Godâ and removing themselves from the world.
Personally I see people blame celebrities for robbing us of their talents. In any case with celebrities it is not our place to criticize. We are unaware of the personal circumstances involved in the death. Particularly with Hoffmanâs case, who had been clean for two decades, the overdose was most likely unintentional.
Other drug related celeb deaths, such as that of âGleeâ actor Cory Monteith, not only raise awareness of the ever escalating drug problem in our society, but a question of why? Is there a high concentration of fatal overdoses within the world of celebrities because there is more coverage? Or is there a specific variable in that culture that pushes many actors over the edge?
We may not be able to answer why after 23 years Hoffman resorted to drugs but we can accept his passing, appreciate the performances that he has given us and not resent him for those he will not be able to.
By Olivia Lease and Haley Cooper Transcript Correspondent and Assistant Copy Editor
The Jan. 25 doubleheader against the Denison University Big Red had mixed results for the Ohio Wesleyan basketball teams.
In the womenâs game, Denison edged out the Bishops at Branch Rickey Arena with a final score of 64-72.
Although Denison was up at the end of the first half the 33-26, OWU fought hard to come back.
The last ten minuets of the game were full of chair gripping scores that made it a four-point game, but OWU slipped up in the last two minutes of the game.
Among the high scorers for the game were juniors Kristin Henning, LaNiece McRae and Sarah McQuade, scoring 16, 11 and 10 points respectively.
McQuade, second in the NCAC in assists with 4.2 per game, said the teamâs goal is to get into the top three or four spots in conference so they can have a better chance at making a run at the conference tournament.
âPersonally, we all set game goals, and mine is 12 points and five assists a game,â she said. âThat way I give my teammates the opportunity to shoot during the game, too.â
Sophomore Hannah Fedorka says her personal goals are to help her team win by making assists, run plays and score points when needed.
âI think the biggest thing that needs to be improved is our thought process,â she said.
âWe need to believe in ourselves and believe we are the better team.â
The team is doing better than last year earning a 10-8 record overall, 5-4 in the NCAC.
âThis team has a better chemistry (this year),â Fedorka said. âWe work well together, we all have the same goals, and are striving to be the best in the league.â
In the menâs game last weekend, the Bishops defeated the Big Red 83-75.
Denison led by as many as 13 points in the first half, and despite a three-pointer by senior Taylor Reiger and a two-handed dunk from senior Reuel Rogers, they would hold on to that lead, ending the half at 42-36.
Things quickly turned around at the start of the second half.
Denison sophomore Darius White led off with a three-point shot, but that would be the end to the Big Redâs success.
Two students were escorted out of the game when they became rowdy trying to show their support.
Reiger scored to tie the game 47-47. Shortly after, sophomore Claude Gray scored another basket for OWU, putting the Bishops in the lead.
White added another shot, putting the pressure on Denison and increasing the Bishop lead 51-47.
âWe started off slow defensively, but we picked it up in the second half which got us going offensivelyâ said Reiger.
Later, senior Dre White scored nine consecutive points for OWU, giving the Bishops a double-digit lead, finishing off the run at 75-64 with 3:14 left on the clock.
White and freshman Seth Clark secured the game at the free throw line while the Battling Bishops continued to play solid defense.
â(We were) very good in the second half, the first half Denison was really good and we let them shoot some open 3âs but we responded very wellâ Head Coach Mike Dewitt said.
Gray led the Bishops with 22 points, White finished with 20 points, Rieger with 16 and Clark with 11. Rogers had a team high 11 rebounds, and blocked six Big Red shots.
The menâs basketball teamâs next game is at Wooster on Wednesday, January 29, at 8 p.m.
Wooster is currently ranked second in last weekâs Division III basketball poll on D3hoops.com.
Ohio Wesleyan senior midfielder Spencer Schnellâs dream of playing professional lacrosse was realized when he was drafted by Major League Lacrosseâs Ohio Machine on Jan. 10.
Schnell said being drafted as the first pick of the eighth round and 57th overall was a humbling experience.
âI was very excited to hear I had gotten drafted, as was my family,â he said. âIt had always been a goal of mine throughout my playing career, and itâs very humbling to be mentioned alongside some of the best players in the country.â
Schnell was a 2013 first team All-American and second team All-NCAC selection who totaled 28 goals and 14 assists.
Ohio Machine Coach Bear Davis said Schnell is a strong athlete who has the ability to add depth at multiple positions.
The Machineâs 2-12 record in 2013 got them the first overall pick, used on Princeton senior Tom Schreiber. Syracuse University senior Scott Loy, who was taken 27th overall, is also an Ohio native. Davis said Ohio is producing quality lacrosse players.
âWe take great pride in researching all available players from the great state of Ohio,â he said. âSpencer and Scott both came highly recommended, and the fact that they hail from the buckeye state is a major bonus.â
Last April, Schnellâs older sister Sloan died in a fire at Dublin apartment. The death came at hectic time for the Schnells, as Spencer prepared for the lacrosse teamâs last four NCAC games that would decide tournament qualifications. Schnell said last season was in tribute to Sloan.
â(It) was very tough on me, but I was able to use lacrosse as kind of an escape,â he said. âFor a few hours a day, lacrosse is the only thing on my mind. She was always incredibly supportive of my career, so itâs added some extra motivation for me to work hard.â
Currently, Schnellâs main priority is the Bishopsâ upcoming season. The lacrosse program lost six seniors last year, four of whom were All-NCAC selections. One of the three current seniors, Stephen Coyne, said Coach Mike Plantholt has been developing a winning formula for the team and the players individually since his hiring.
âCoach Plantholt has been great over the past few years,â Coyne said. âHe helped me accelerate my game as a freshman when I needed to step up, and he has continued to develop me as a player and as a person.â
The Bishops went 13-6 overall last season, earning a 6-1 record in the NCAC and winning the championship. The team lost in the first round of the NCAA D-III lacrosse tournament. Junior Tommy Minkler said the team has been preparing to repeat as NCAC champions.
âWe have the potential to be a very dangerous team with a lot of threats on both ends of the field,â he said. âOur offense is forming great chemistry and some younger guys are really stepping up. â
Schnell will look to cap off a successful career by avenging their first round loss in the NCAA tournament. The team begins their season at Mount St. Joseph Feb. 19.
Beehive Books, located at 25 North Sandusky St., is closing on Jan. 31 because the two owners, Linda and Joe Diamond, could not find a buyer to purchase the bookstore.
âWe want something that will complement Delaware,â Linda Diamond said. âWeâve had a few offers but the business must be good for Delaware and be comparable to Beehive.â
Beehive has been open for more than six years and sells local artistsâ work, various books and magazines, coffee, and handcrafted merchandise. It hosts events such as book signings and readings by local and national authors.
Senior Naomi Abrams, member of the Interfaith House, said she used to do homework there and held a book club for her house project at Beehive.
âThe place is cozy, like everyone knows everyone, somehow,â she said. âThe owners were super accommodating and even charged us less for books.â
The Diamonds also own the space where Global Village, Button-Up and Whitâs Frozen Custard are located. Linda Diamond said their decision would not affect these businesses, stating she and her husband decided to sell the bookstore so she could focus on her job at the Health Department and because of Joeâs ailing health.
âWe had to stop and think where we wanted to spend our time,â she said.
Lisa Ho, associate chaplain and Beehive Books employee, said the Diamonds told employees it would close at the storeâs annual Christmas party.
âIt sounds kind of crass, but it wasnât,â Ho said. âThey wanted us all to know at the same time.â
Ho said the Diamondsâ search for a Beehive buyer had been public knowledge for a few months but she did not know the store would close.
Some customers are upset about the closing. Greg Myers, a Delaware resident, said he had gone to the bookstore every weekend since it opened for a latte and to read Baronâs magazine.
âIt was my Saturday morning habit,â he said. â[Beehive] has this energy. It was like a focal point for the community. You canât get that anywhere else.â
Junior Taylor Johnson, who had just started working at Beehive two months ago, said she had wanted to work there since she was a freshman. According to Johnson, the store is closing partly because of financial reasons, in addition to slow business.
âItâs like, if you really wanted to keep it open, you should have been here,â she said. âBut they get, and we all get, that this is the best decision for the owners. Itâs just sad to see it go.â
The bookâs prices have been marked down for the past three weeks and all artwork and furniture is sold.
Diamond said Delaware residents have been the most avid buyers. âPeople come in and say, âI want something from Beehive to remember it byâ and so now bits of Beehive are scattered throughout Delaware,â she said.
Diamond also said she will sell the leftover books to other bookstores, the closest of which is twelve miles away. She also said she would donate books to organizations in the town.
On the last day the store is open, the Diamonds are hosting an Irish wake so the community can say goodbye to Beehive.
âJoe and I are both Irish and we want to celebrate, not to mourn,â Diamond said.
Ho said a committee has formed to recreate the atmosphere and opportunities that Beehive offered. The Community Education and Outreach committee will meet within the next month to find a place where community members and OWU students can attend educational events. Places like Choffeyâs Coffee, Something Sweet and Barley Hopsters have been discussed as options.
These innovative rules brought new and entertaining features to the world-renowned exhibition basketball team.Fan rules included challenges such as âMake or Missâ shooting competition and âHot Hand Jersey.âThe Globetrotters allowed the stadium audience to dictate the rules of the game, giving a more hands on experience to fans.The famous Harlem Globetrotters took Branch Rickey Arena by storm last week while on their âFans Rule World Tour.â
The current epidemic of sexual violence on college campuses in an issue that is all around us, but is rarely seen and even more rarely discussed openly.
That changed last week, when President Obama took an unprecedented step in acknowledging the problem on Jan. 22, with the release of the report âRape and Sexual Assault: A Renewed Call to Action.â
The White House report, which declared that women in college are at a greater risk of sexual violence than anyone else in America, shouldnât come as much of a surprise.
This is not a just an issue that occurs in a few colleges and high schools around the nation, or in faraway countries, or just women, but a public health crisis that affects every town and every university in the United States.
Most of the time the media, as servants of the public interest, fail to focus adequate attention to the topic.
If a study found that only 12 percent of terrorist attacks (or, based on their recent headlines, Justin Bieber DUI incidents) were being reported to law enforcement, CNN would be covering it every day; if studies showed 1 in 5 people were experiencing any crime at all and it could be connected in some way to exclusively African-American men as perpetrators, Fox News would be covering it every hour.
But reframe those statistics to their original contextâcollege sexual violenceâand the numbers only receive attention when theyâre released in a study and announced by the President of the United States. Yes, individual incidents receive national press for a few days, but the overall issue and the culture continuing it are almost never brought up.
In almost every case, journalists are missing the forest for the trees, and by doing so we fail in our duty to serve the public interest and present the full spectrum of human experience, even when it is not what people want to be told.
As the editors of the independent newspaper and guardians of the public interest on this campus, we hope to avoid this oversight and focus on what really affects students on campus. Sexual violence is definitely one of those things.
It should also be noted that sexual violence is not limited to college campuses, but occurs with increasing frequency in high schools, in the home, in places of worship, in the militaryâeverywhere in our society.
But as both students and journalists, it is college sexual violence that we must focus on primarily.
Throughout this semester, and into the future, we will shine a spotlight on this under-reported issue, using a variety of tools of the journalistic trade: investigative reporting into the frequency and results of sexual violence on this campus, coverage of OWU-related events to raise awareness, and more opinion pieces from our staff, both individually and as a board.
We also welcome letters to the editor and columns on the topic from our communityâs survivor advocates with Counseling Services and HelpLine; from activists; members of the university administration; Public Safety and Delaware police officers; and from survivors themselves.
As youâve seen, there have been some changes to The Transcript, especially if youâre reading online.
This semester, our weekly standard black and white print editions will be supplemented by web-based color copies, available via email on computer, tablet and smartphone.
In addition to the online subscription, The Transcript will increase the multimedia news reporting begun over the past two semesters. We will also offer monthly commentary on the activities of your student government and green initiatives on campus, courtesy of our guest columnists.
These steps are an exciting change for The Transcript, as we adapt to the evolving media market and expand our work into new forms.
While we grow digitally, though, our staffâeditors, reporters and photographersâwill continue, as always, to follow the ethical standards and traditional techniques of professional journalism.
In the last few weeks of last semester, we as an editorial board were tested; we faced the kind of hard news stories that rarely occur on college campuses.
Two students hit by police cruisers while legally crossing the street, six days apart. The news that a now-former student had reportedly made threats against the university, and the decision whether to identify him after he was arraigned, knowing the controversy it would cause.
These stories may continue to develop over the next few weeks, and there may be similarly troubling news stories to come. As the new editor I would like to say that I support the decisions made by my predecessor, and they were in line with the high standards of professional journalism and quality news reporting we all aspire to.
At the same time, though, Iâd also like to emphasize that as student journalists, we donât enjoy having to report on stories like this occurring in our community.
The hardest article Iâve written was last spring, interviewing students whose friends and family avoided the Boston Marathon bombs by half an hour or less. I really didnât want to write up that story, but it was breaking national news with significant OWU implications; someone had to do it. I told myself that would be my last story of the semester, that I would take the last three weeks off, and then the campus was on lockdown following a fight-turned-shooting three blocks away and I had to do one more story again.
So I just wanted to say, especially since thereâll probably be more serious news stories to come, that our attitude in covering these stories is not one of joy at how good itâll look on our resume, but more âif not us, then who?â
We are Ohio Wesleyanâs journalists, the staff of the universityâs paper of record, and itâs not a job taken lightly. Our duty is to report the truth and the OWU communityâs public interest, not to the stories that groups on campusâor even the majority of studentsâwant us to talk about, or not to talk about.
While we rely on the university for funding, decisions on what to print are not made by the administration, the trustees, faculty, fraternities and sororities, WCSA or any other student organizationânot even the professors of the department of journalism can kill a story that isnât potentially defamatory if we are committed to running it.
Thatâs not a challenge to any of the groups mentioned, but an explanation of how an independent newspaper operates on a college campus.
We as a staff pursue the stories we believe best serve the public interest and the tenets of ethical journalismâseeking and reporting the truth accurately and fairly, minimizing harm, acting independently and being accountable.
For example, many among us may not enjoy the harsh reality expressed by President Obama last week, when a report released by the White House said the American college environment puts women at the greatest risk of experiencing sexual violence. Itâs not a pleasant thing to be reminded of, whether briefly on national news or in the pages of this paper. But we have a duty, as expressed in our staff editorial, to report on this, and bring it into the spotlight, as servants of the public interest.
While the section editors (News, A&E, Sports and Online) have control over their specific content, ultimately the final sayâand accountabilityâover our content is with me, your Editor-in-Chief. I take responsibility for what we publish this semester, and I welcome any inputâpositive or negativeâyou wish to offer in the form of letters to the editor, which can be submitted to owunews@owu.edu.
The week after winter break, unaffiliated men and women geared up to go through recruitment in hopes of finding a fraternity or sorority to call home.
Even though these two events occurred during the same time, they were carried out differently.
The goal of recruitment for both fraternities and sororities is to expand their chapters, and both sets of organizations carry out the processes differently. While the fraternities have a more relaxed style of recruitment, sororities have a more regimented recruitment.
Fraternities have events spanning over two weeks, culminating in men receiving bids, potentially from multiple fraternities and choosing to sign them, deferring or declining. Sorority recruitment takes place in a four-day period.
Matthew Mehaffy signs his bid to Chi Phi.
âWomenâs fraternity and sorority recruitment on this campus abide by and follow NPC (National Panhellenic Conference) guidelines when running recruitment and comprise of a formal structure taking place over a specific time period determined by NPC standards,â said senior Kathryn Pickens, Vice President of Recruitment on the Panhellenic Council.
Levi Harrell, the interim Interfraternity Council Advisor, describes fraternity recruitment as âa semi-structured formal recruitment system that last two weeks and allows unaffiliated men to go to various events hosted by all eight of our active chapters on-campus.â
The new members of Kappa Alpha Theta pose for a photo creating the Theta symbol of the kite.
Because of the different styles of recruitment, each fraternity and sorority has a different way of attracting potential new members.
Junior Garrett Van Schaick, Sigma Chi president, said that each fraternity has two dates in which potential members would be able to provide âdifferent spotlightsâ on the individual houses.
Delta Zeta women Zoe Crankshaw, Kristen Krak, and Katie Powell smile in a fake picture frame at the DZ house on Bid Day.
On the other hand, sorority recruitment is in one weekend, where all of the potential new members go to each house a period of time to get to know the women of the sorority.
Sophomore Sophia Apostolou, the incoming Vice President of Recruitment for Delta Delta Delta said she prefers the sorority style of recruitment because she feels âthat it is the best way to get to know the girls and figure out how their interests and values match up.â
Other sorority representatives agree that the system implemented by the NPC is effective in recruiting potential new members.
âWe believe formal recruitment is a fair way for the women going through [recruitment] to see each of the five houses and what fits best for them individually,â said junior Jordan Bernstein, chief executive officer of Kappa Alpha Theta.
Delta Gamma new members drop their anchors and pose with traditional Hawaiian leis.
Senior Malcolm Clark, IFC President, said the fraternity recruitment process is âconstantly a work in progress.â
âWe have been trying to implement suggestions from members from all parts of the Ohio Wesleyan community,â he said.
Junior Rodrigo Ravaglia, president of Delta Tau Delta, also suggests changes in the fraternity recruitment style. He said that âmore efficient communication and coordinationâ would prevent similar events from occurring close to each other.
Professor of Anthropology, Mary Howard, examines the damage caused by the burst pipe that flooded her office along with the rest of Elliott Hall on Jan. 8, 2014. Frigid temperatures, in combination with the age of the historic building, caused the pipe to burst. This in turn triggered the buildingâs sprinkler system. A pipe above Howardâs office was the source of the leak, causing extensive damage to her personal and professional items. âI breast fed my babies in this chair, consoled many students in this chair,â Howard said of the lounge chair that became collateral damage of the Elliott flood. âBut at the end of the day, everyone was safe. I totaled my car last year when I hit a cow, and that was something. This, this is nothing.â
When Public Safety Officer Jay McCann walked into the foyer of Elliott Hall the evening of Jan. 8, a waterfall greeted him.
âMy first feelings can be described as very emotional,â McCann said. âHere stands the matriarch of our community and the origins of OWU, and she is hurting. It was as if you could feel the pain of the building as you walked through. It was expressed by all those who saw it…..sad day.â
President Rock Jones walked through the building a few hours after the incident was reported, and said the damage he saw was âjust devastating.â
âI received a phone call probably around 11 p.m. from Dan Hitchell who broke me the news,â Jones said. âWhen we saw the extent of the damage, we realized the building had to be closed. There was still a lot of water, but you know, the building and grounds staff worked all night long and did a really terrific job working to dry the building out.â
The flooding that took McCann by such surprise was caused by a pipe in the sprinkler system that burst due to the extreme cold wave, or the âPolar Vortex,â plaguing Delaware and the rest of the Midwest over the last two months. Director of physical plant operations Peter Schantz said the flooding could not have been prevented.
âThe fire suppression system functioned per its design,â Schantz said. âUnfortunately, aspects of the design made the system vulnerable to extreme cold weather. It took the severe cold weather caused by the polar vortex event in early January to reveal the vulnerable aspects of the system. We are taking steps to change the system design to prevent this in the future.â
Those steps include immediately checking the status of all of OWUâs water and sprinkler systems. Jones said there is a concern for the buildings on campus, as the cold weather shows no signs of letting up soon. The Corns building has the same sprinkler system as Elliott.
âWe are in the midst of another, even longer, cold spell, so they (B&G) are being very diligent in making sure all of our pipes are running, but itâs a very scary time. â
Had Public Safety not initially reported the flooding thus making it possible for the water to the building to be turned off, Schantz said the damage could have been much more severe.
âWe estimate the broken sprinkler line released about 12,000 gallons of water per hour,â he said.
Thirty to 90 minutes elapsed before the break was isolated, meaning 6,000 to 18,000 gallons of water cascaded through Elliott.
âThe building and contents would have absorbed significantly more water with each additional hour that water was released,â Schantz said.
Because the buildings renovation plan is not completely finalized nor has the total damage been fully assessed, Schantz said it was not possible to disclose just how much it will cost to restore Elliott Hall in full. Hitchell told staff at their January meeting the cost could be $250,000, with the universityâs insurance covering all but $50,000, the planâs deductible.
The renovations for Elliott will not affect the construction on the JayWalk or the restoration of Merrick Hall as those projects are assigned to different contractors, but that doesnât mean the renovations will move at a quicker pace. According to Jones, delays will surely occur as buildings across the Midwest are experiencing pipe bursts, and increasing the demand for building materials.
âThe big issue that could effect us is that there were so many water pipe breaks all across this part of the country that there is going to be a surge in demand for things like carpet and drywall ceiling tiles, and fillers for cracks,â Jones said. “So, there is a significant, sudden need for the hundreds and hundreds of buildings across the Midwest that have suffered from this kind of damage.â
Renovations are already underway, but delays may arise as buildings across the Midwest are experiencing similar problems and increasing the demand for construction supplies.
Some private universities had as many as 8 buildings with burst water lines, Hitchell told faculty.
Elliott, the oldest building on Ohio Wesleyan Universityâs campus (OWU), is on the National Register of Historic Places, so all renovations must be carried out in compliance with the registryâs requirements. Jones said although OWU will receive no financial backing from the registry towards the renovations, the administration is dedicated to ensuring Elliott maintains itâs historic appearance.
âWe certainly have a strong desire to restore the historic beauty and feel of the building, and during the restorations we will be keeping that mentality,â Jones said. âAnd, as unfortunate as the flooding is, it is a chance to add some modern amenities to the building. We want to get this fixed as soon as possible, but we also want to take time to make sure we do it right.
âWeâve met with the chairs of the departments to look into improvements for the building…it does give us a chance to make them and make the building better than ever.â
Top photo by Jane Suttmeier; bottom photos by Noah Manskar Video from Jay McCann
Jones said accommodating the faculty housed in Elliot is one of his biggest concerns. The university relocated the departments of history, politics and government, international studies, as well as the Historian magazine, to the Stuart Annex and moved the Communications Department has been relocated to 4 Williams Drive, working in what Jones calls âdifficult circumstances.â
Despite the difficulty of moving and salvaging office supplies and personal items, Cole Hatcher, director of media and community relations, is staying on the bright side, saying the transition was quick enough that the department lost little to no time getting back to work.
âWe havenât stopped or even delayed any work because of the flooding,â Hatcher said. âCurrently, we are working from 4 Williams Drive in space that had been used by the Student Health Center during the Stuyvesant Hall renovation. Former exam rooms are now offices. The space accommodates our full staff and student interns. Weâve been very lucky.â
Upon hearing that no one was injured during the flooding, Hatcher said his immediate concern was for the expensive equipment the department uses on a regular basis.
âI wanted to make sure that our cameras and web streaming equipment survived,â Hatcher said. âAnd everything did, which also has helped us continue our work. Public Safety was kind enough to verify this for me as the scene was unfolding. We also had many filing cabinets filled with paper documents and photos, but those fared relatively well, too.â
Professor of Anthropology Mary Howardâs office experienced the most devastating of blows, as the pipe bust occurred in her officeâs ceiling. However, she, like Hatcher, is upbeat.
âChange is always challenging for all of us but since life is change, it makes sense to me to just go with the flow,â Howard said. âBesides, based on my observations of national and international poverty, this slight disruption seems pale in comparison to me.â
Howard said the OWU as a whole has been âincredibly kind and caringâ in helping her with the transition.
âWe owe a large debt of gratitude to the Buildings and Grounds people who must have filled dozens of dump trucks with discarded books and file contents.â
Juniors Sarah Dailey (left) and Eilee Foley in Australia, where they both studied during the fall semester.
Coming back to a college campus after a long break is usually exciting for students.
After spending a significant period of time at home, many students are happy to be back on campus, with the freedoms that comes along with being in college.
But for students coming back from being abroad for a semester, the adjustment to coming back onto campus can be more difficult for them.
Juniors Kelsey Gallaher, Lauren Moore and Lidia Mowad all participated in the University College Cork, Ireland program this past fall.
Mowad said she picked this specific program because she spent a summer in Ireland four years ago to learn about the conflict in Northern Ireland.
Junior Jordan Bernstein also spent the fall semester away from campus, but she had a different experience than other students who were abroad.
Bernstein participated in the Wesleyan in Washington program in Washington D.C., where she had an internship with Senator Kay Hagan (D-NC.)
âMy focus is on American government and I wanted to be in the heart of what I have been learning about and what I love,â she said.
Bernsteinâs roommate, junior Eilee Foley spent her fall semester abroad at James Cook University (JCU) in Australia and junior Hannah Snapp participated in the Salamanca, Spain program.
Foley said she decided to study abroad in Australia because JCU offered her fulfilling psychology courses and she also got the opportunity to live in a small town on a beach.
Each student that was abroad has said that adjusting to life back on campus after being gone for a semester has been hard.
âIt is difficult for everyone that comes back from taking some time abroad because there is a definite disconnect between yourself and the campus,â Snapp said.
âIâm still struggling with some aspects but I have incredible friends that are making the transition much better. I also have great friends who were also abroad and with whom I can talk.â
Mowad said she is feeling reverse culture shock upon her return to the United States.
âFor the first month, itâs going to be like you are just going through the motions; trying to get back into society,â she said.
Gallaher said her biggest adjustment to being back at Ohio Wesleyan is the time change; and the time difference was also a big struggle for her while she was in Ireland.
Bernstein, Foley and Moore all said that adjusting back to the pace of college life and OWU has been challenging, but they are excited to be back in the community with their friends.
One of the biggest frustrations that some of the students faced prior to returning to OWU was not knowing where they were living once they came back to campus.
âMy abroad friends and I kept calling and emailing them [Residential Life], and finally I heard on the Wednesday before classes started,â Moore said.
âIt was unnerving to not know who my roommates would be, how to pack and where Iâd be placed until then.â
Andrew Peterson, assistant director of Residential Life, said three things go into the planning of rooming assignments: where spots are open on campus, seniority or priority number and preferences of residence halls.
âThe biggest challenge is assigning people to the building/room/roommates that they want to live with or with whom they are compatible,â Peterson said.
âThe difficulty is compounded as we donât know where those spaces may be until very late in the semester when we hear about students going abroad in the spring, leaving the university or graduating.â
Additionally, Peterson said that ResLife cannot please every student all the time, and that the lack of off-campus options has nothing to do with the struggle of finding rooms for students coming back after a semester away.
Snapp said she is not pleased with her living situation and she is currently looking to move residential halls.
However, some of the other students said that they are happy with their living situation.
âLuckily, I ended up rooming with my four best friends who were all abroad too,â Foley said. âResLife came through in the end and provided us with a lovely dorm in Smith Hall.â
Every person who participated in a study abroad program said it changed their outlook on life, and may have impacted potential career goals.
Mowad said she feels more cultured and has learned to become more observant of the world.
Bernstein said her opportunity to work in government in D.C. has helped her to figure out her area of focus.
According to Snapp, she learned more about herself during her time aboard and developed a deeper appreciation for travel.
Most students coming back to campus said that they were most excited to be back within the OWU community.
Foley said she missed the simple things, like the long lunch lines in the food court and seeing friendly faces around campus.
âIâm definitely putting my all into everything I do on campus, and Iâve been open to trying new things and not letting an opportune moment slip by,â Moore said.
âThose four months went by way too fast, and Iâm going to use every day here to appreciate everything here, because college has an expiration date!â
