A three-year old club at Ohio Wesleyan University still pushes for action on issues of justice on the basis of class, race and gender.
The Young Democratic Socialist Association meets on Wednesdays at 7 p.m. to discuss and take action on social and political issues, said Carl DeScott, the current co-chair.
âOur mission is to educate and organize students and the community in order to promote movements for social justice on campus, in our community, and nationwide,â DeScott said. âOur vision of socialism is built on democratic, feminist and anti-racist ideals.â
The club was founded on the basis of democratic socialism, but it has become a melting pot of left-wing ideals where everyone is open to a range of opinions, said John Bowman, the co-founder of the club.
âThere were a few major things holding us together like anti-fascism, but our members were a whole spectrum of left-wing students with differing opinions,â Bowman said. âOne of the greatest parts of the organization is playing to the skills of different people, creating discourse and moving away from a power dynamic.â
Both DeScott and Bowman emphasized the importance of not only discussion but action as a part of the organizationâs goals.
âWhat one should expect if they were to join the YDSA is that we are a club that doesn’t just talk about politics, we act,â DeScott said. âWe choose to fight so that we can live in a more equitable and just society.â
Bowman said, âour chapter of the YDSA isnât like other political organizations that act like a book club where everyone just talks about whatâs wrong with the world. It provides a place where we can come together, organize and then act.â
Quoting U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., Bowman said, âI donât want to watch the polls, I want to change the polls.â
During the fall semester, the YDSA hosted âRock the Vote,â a concert with registering to vote being the price of admission. The organization has been preparing events for next semester, DeScott said, including hosting a veteran to talk about war and the treatment of veterans, which is will be in March. Also, the YDSA plans to collaborate with the Democrat and Republican organizations on campus to inform students about the candidates for the national primaries.
âWe are making pamphlets for each of the relevant candidates solely based on what their positions are on the issue, and collaboration will help remove any indication of bias,â DeScott said.
The club was founded in 2016 by Trevor Martin and John Bowman. âAfter the election in 2016, I wanted to try and make a change,â Martin said. âJohn and I met at the Columbus chapter of the YDSA agreed to organize a YDSA at Ohio Wesleyan.â
Bowman said during their time as co-chairs, the club organized a trip to Washington, D.C. for the Democratic Socialist Association convention, protested against Bret Kavanaugh in 2018, and laid the groundwork for the club so it could grow.
For more information on the YDSA, which has chapters in schools across America, look on the website here.
What was originally an hour-long piece written for a ballet in 1910, was transformed into an orchestral symphony at the Gray Chapel.
About 150 people gathered at the chapel on Nov. 12, where The OWU Chamber Orchestra presented âThe Lark and the Firebird.â The event celebrated the 100thanniversary of the song, âFirebird Suite.â
The orchestra performed 19th century and early 20th century compositions. âDawn on the Moscow Riverâ and âPetite suite de concert, Op. 77â were played first, followed by an intermission. The next two pieces are the reasons behind the title of this event.
Antoine T. Clark, the conductor of the orchestra, said, âThe suite was my favorite piece of the night.â
The âFirebird Suiteâ was broken into three separate movements: The Princessesâ Round Dance, Berceuse, and Finale. Each had its unique tone.
The Princessesâ Round Dance sounded very soft and relaxing. With the brass and wind instruments flowing off each other, they created a sense of calmness. The movement sounded like its name.
The Berceuse was played in a lot of minor tones, creating a tense feeling. The strings and brass bounced off each other with a sense of uncertainty.
The piece then led into the Finale. A deep, major tone was created, with all the instruments colliding together. This collision built up and then ended on a drawn-out note, creating a sense of fulfillment.
The OWU Department of Music program stated that the piece was originally created as a 50-minute ballet in 1910 by Igor Stravinsky. Stravinsky later created three shorter suites arranged for concert performance. The student orchestra played the most performed version of the suites.
The âLark Ascendingâ was the other piece.
Nancy Gamso, a university professor of music, described as a âmost gorgeous, lush piece. And so unusual.â
The music program stated the song was steeped in the English tradition and converted from English folk song into an orchestral piece. The piece premiered in 1921.
Alicia Hui, a violinist for the Columbus Symphony, was featured in the performance.
Hui performed small solos throughout, reflecting on the orchestraâs melodies. Playing extremely high notes in a unique style, the violinist created a sense of tribalism.
Gamso said, âThere were trills from the violin, like birds do.â
Ohio Wesleyan hasnât hosted a homeâs wrestling match in more than three decades.
That ended on Nov. 13 against Thomas More. The Bishops lost 19-27. The last home match was Feb. 11, 1984.
âI felt excited because I knew all of the guys on the team were excited,â said coach Paul Reid. âWrestling had been absent from Ohio Wesleyan campus for a long time. It was fun to be a part of the event.â
Sophomore wrestler Nathan Scott came from a dominant high school team where he said the home meets were always filled with energy and he wanted Ohio Wesleyanâs meet to be the same.
âI was marketing the meet really hard all over social media and word of mouth around campus,â Scott said. âI wanted everyone to experience it. A lot of people came and supported and the gym was really loud.â
Not only did Ohio Wesleyan host the first home meet in 35 years, but also this is the second season wrestling has been back on campus after being absent since 1985. The sport was brought back as a way to help bolster the universityâs student recruitment efforts and as a menâs team to balance a new womenâs team in competitive rowing, which is required under federal law.
âAt previous coaching stops in my career, I have assisted in both starting and rebuilding a program,â Reid said. It is difficult to start up again from scratch, but all it takes is hard work. Not just me working hard but the current members on the team also.â
Sophomore wrestler Bryce Wittman said Coach Reid played a big role in his decision to come to Ohio Wesleyan, but he also liked the idea of being on the first team since the 1980s and being a trailblazer for the program and the school.
The wrestling team has had four meets so far and much like any other team, it has set goals for the program as a whole.
âThe goals are the same regardless of the year or season,â Reid said. âThe expectations and standards always stay the same. Get better at every opportunity and approach everything with the right attitude and effort.â
The wrestling team will participate at the Baldwin Wallace Invitational in Berea, Ohio on Nov. 23.
In August, the India government stripped statehood away from Kashmir, turning what was an Indian state into a federally controlled enclave, according to The New York Times. Pakistan also claims Kashmir as part of its country. People worry that Indiaâs move could lead to another war between the two nuclear-armed countries.
A Pakistani and an Indian student at Ohio Wesleyan University were asked by The Transcript for their opinions about their respective countryâs position regarding Kashmir.
Sophomore Haris Ali, from Pakistan, believes that war is inevitable between Pakistan and India.
Sophomore Parampreet Singh, from India, says Indian Prime Minister Narender Modi is making the right decisions.
Azmeh Talha
Arts and Entertainment Editor
War is inevitable
Ali: Although I believe that peace talks are very important and both countries should peacefully come up with a solution to this grave issue, it has not been possible in the past 72 years. The current political situation in India and Pakistan gives us no hope that this would be possible anytime in the near future.
Chairman of the Council for Indian Foreign Policy V.P. Vaidik said the Kashmir issue can be resolved through dialogues amongst all stakeholders – Pakistanis, Indians and the Indian and Pakistani occupants of Kashmir. However, whenever efforts are made to resolve the Kashmir issue, there is always some setback.
Elections in Pakistan or in India are often the cause of postponement of peace talks as politicians use anti-Pakistani or anti-Indian rhetoric to win elections.
In 2018, the newly elected Prime Minister of Pakistan, Imran Khan, extended an invitation to India for peace talks. The two countries were set to meet in the United Nations.
However, Indian elections were close, so the Indian government changed their mind and refused to attend the scheduled talks, according to a statement by Indiaâs ex-Minister of External Affairs, the late Sushma Swaraj. India cancelled the meeting between its foreign minister and her Pakistani counterpart less than 24 hours after agreeing to what would have been the first high level contact between the nuclear-armed neighbors in three years. In a situation like this, it is highly unlikely that peace could remain in the region forever.
My analysis of this situation of war and peace has led me to the conclusion that war is inevitable. Every year there is a violation from either side which postpones the idea of any kind of peace. Pakistan and India have already fought four wars. Hundreds of border skirmishes have taken place in which hundreds of thousands of civilians and military personnel have died as a result.
The only reason that there has been no major armed conflict since 1999 is the acquisition of nuclear weapons by both countries. The international community wants peace in the region â nuclear war must be avoided at all costs â but the religious sentiments of Muslim and Hindu extremists on either side, as well the media, spread hate in the hearts of the common people on both sides.
As a result, the army and the government have to please their needs. If World War Three were to ever take place, India and Pakistan could potentially start the war.
I strongly condemn the recent violations of civil and human rights of Kashmiri people by the Indian government. From mass killings, enforced disappearances, torture and rape to political repression and suppression of freedom of speech, I do not understand how the literate population of India can elect a prime minister who encourages this behavior.
These are heinous and shameful acts and do not affect either country in any way but has ruined the lives of thousands of Kashmiris. I canât even imagine being forcefully taken away by armed forces from my mother and sister, not knowing what would happen to us.
I for one do not hate Indians. I visited India back in 2017 and had a great experience. I did not feel âout of placeâ and everyone treated our group as guests; and I go to college with Indian friends. My point being that the hatred and angst shown on social media and news channels is wildly inaccurate.
A common Pakistani or an Indian does not want war or any sort of conflict with each other.
As a Pakistani, I unequivocally believe that Kashmir should be a part of Pakistan. However, as a rational person, I think that an unbiased referendum should take place in Kashmir.
The people of Kashmir should decide whether they want to join India or Pakistan or if they want a separate nation for themselves. I might be too optimistic too believe that this would actually happen, as neither side would agree to this.
Modi took the correct action
Singh: The action of our prime minister, Narender Modi, took regarding revoking the Article 370 was really a positive and a bold action.
I know there was a huge debate about how the government of India treated the people of Kashmir, but if they had let them know about the action they took, it [would have been] impossible for the government to revoke the Article 370.
It was supposed to be something quick and instant. Thatâs how the government of India did. This step will integrate Kashmir and put it on the same page as the rest of India.
I also feel that the people of Kashmir should have been treated in a better way. However, I donât know what the consequences would have been if the government hadnât blocked the telephone lines in Kashmir. It could have been worse.
Being an Indian, I feel this is a positive for India.
Sunlight shone onto the floral wallpaper of an old Victorian themed home as Denise Randall shared where women struggling with homelessness and financial problems have found refuge in Delaware County.
Randall is the crew chief at the Womenâs City Club of Delaware, Ohio, a non-profit organization that provides a home for single women of low-income. The Clubâs house is located at 135 N. Franklin St.
Prior to moving into the house in June 2019, Randall lost her home after being catfished. To be catfished means to be manipulated by someone with a false identity on the internet. She battled severe depression and fibromyalgia. She still struggles with fibromyalgia but, as a result of her time at the Club, she is no longer depressed, Randall said.
âIf any woman is in need of a place that she needs to call home temporarily, whether that be three months or a year and a half, Womenâs City Club is always some place they should try,â Randall said.
According to the Clubâs mission statement, the non-profit organization is ââŚdedicated to providing a safe, affordable and nurturing home for single working women of low income as they transition towards a self-supporting future.â
Women who live at the Club are required to pay a weekly rent of $70, according to MaryAnn Davis, president of the Clubâs foundation board.
In addition to the Womenâs City Club itself, the organization has a foundation that is responsible for fundraising, according to Jo Ingles, secretary of the foundation board. Both organizations are registered as nonprofits and have separate boards made up solely of volunteers.
The Club houses 10 women at a time and, as of Oct. 18, the home was full, according to Randall.
Some of the women associated with the Club said the stories of women who live there highlight the need for the county to offer more affordable housing.
âI think Delaware needs to have more affordable housing,â said Robyn Davis, previous resident. âAnd I think thatâs a big discussion in this city and county.â
Lee Yoakum, a city of Delaware spokesperson, said there have been discussions among council members about the need for both affordable housing and a balanced housing stock. By this, he means housing that is not only affordable, but is also appealing to individuals looking to transition into a smaller or larger home, he said.
âWhat our goal as a city is, to make sure that our housing stock is robust and comprehensive,â Yoakum said. âPart of that is, yes, addressing the need for affordable housing.â
Yoakum also said that there are three multi-family apartment residential projects underway that are to be completed in 2020. In the last 10 years, Delaware has not had that many apartment related projects underway at the same time, he said.
Jane Hawes, director of communications for the Delaware County Commissioners, said housing and zoning are handled at the municipality and township level and the county government does not interfere.
Despite all needing a safe place to live, each of the women who stay at the Womenâs City Club have had unique experiences.
Jacqueline Oen, a basketball official for Ohio High School Athletic Association, reached out to the Club while in recovery from alcohol abuse. She began abusing alcohol after her husband died and ended up losing a lot, including herself, she said.
The Club and foundation membersâ willingness to help and provide housing and mentorship is the most beneficial aspect of the club, Oen said.
âGod led me to the Womenâs City Club,â Oen said. âI feel like He really did.â
Oen began living in the house in March 2019 and, as of Oct. 18, said she was 13 months sober.
Differently, Marlene Mckenzie, a current resident at the Club, was narcissistically abused and manipulated into moving out of her abuserâs home. After living with her son and his girlfriendâs family in Mt. Gilead, Ohio, Mckenzie found herself living in a car after learning the family was being evicted.
Mckenzie said the club helped and supported her emotionally and she doesnât know where she would be without it.
âThe Womenâs City Club is a stepping stone for us women,â Mckenzie said. âWe have been displaced in some kind of way or another, so we find ourselves here and we have support here and we have love here and it is a stepping stone for us to get back on our feet financially. But they also build you up here emotionally. They give you the drive and the ambition to go out and make yourself a little bit more self-sufficient.â
Delaware also has a Turning Point shelter that provides victims of domestic violence with a temporary place to stay, according to Robin Amstutz, president of the Club.
Sue Capretta, treasurer for the Clubâs foundation, said she believes people in Delaware are naive to the fact that women in their community are at risk for homelessness and in need of help.
âI think they know, but yet itâs never in your neighborhood,â Capretta said.
To improve such a mindset, Capretta said society needs to become less self-centered.
âI think that our society has gotten to be very me-oriented and that concept of caring for others has kind of gone by the wayside,â Capretta said. âI think that we need to get back to where we realize that, no matter how bad your situation is, thereâs other people that have a worse situation or equally as bad.â
To prevent individuals from circumstances similar to the women who live at the Club, MaryAnn Davis listed some solutions. The community should educate people about money and how to take personal responsibility, talk with parents about how to properly raise children, and find better ways to deal with mental health, she said.
Capretta said she recognizes that the circumstances of some of the women who live in the home are a result of bad choices. The members of the Club aim to give such women a second chance. Some have a history of substance abuse, according to Ingles, also public relations coordinator for the Club.
âWe want to give them a shot because someone has got to give them a shot,â Ingles said. âThat is the whole idea. You canât make someone pay forever for mistakes.â
Ingles also said being involved with the Club is rewarding and she loves to celebrate the successes.
âWe have far more success than we do failure,â Ingles said. âWhen we have success, itâs just really a cool thing to celebrate. And I live for that.â
Robyn Davis, who keeps track of electronic records for the Delaware County Board of Developmental Disabilities, lived at the Club from June 2017 until March 2019. While living at the Club, she eliminated credit card debt that she had accumulated after her two sons graduated high school and she no longer received child support. She is now a member of the Clubâs board and is on both the Resident Relations Committee and the committee dealing with mentorship partnering.
Davis is an example of one of the Clubâs successes.
The Club was originally founded in 1954 by Zuilla Way, whose husband bought the home for her to use as a social club with her friends, according to MaryAnn Davis. Following World War II, there was limited housing for women as soldiers returned to their homes and jobs, she said. So, from the beginning, the charter required the Club to offer housing for low-income women.
Many of the women who are involved in the Womenâs City Club believe Wayâs vision was ahead of its time.
Robyn Davis said, âI think Zuilla Way, that donated that house to the foundation to run, had a foresight and a vision into the future that other people probably didnât have.â
Despite its historical presence, not all individuals are aware of the Clubâs presence and mission.
âThe Womenâs City Club is one of Delawareâs best kept secrets,â said Randall, a retired nurse.
To spread awareness, the Club has put on fundraisers, such as a princess tea, and rented out the first floor of the home for special events.
âWeâve done a lot of fundraisers,â MaryAnn Davis said. âWe need to find a better way of getting the word out and also raising money.â
The Club relies on donations, grants and fundraisers to pay for renovations and other necessary home repairs. The foundation is responsible for this money, which remains separate from the womenâs rent. Rent is handled through the Clubâs treasury and is used to cover home utilities and insurance, said MaryAnn Davis.
Data show in:
2017:Â $1,161.05 in personal donations from individuals and $14,145.33 in public donations from corporations and businesses (including a $8,333.33 grant from the Delaware County Commissioners for new upstairs windows).
2018:Â $601.96 in personal donations from individuals and $1,433.30 in public/private donations from programs such as Kroger, Amazon Smiles and other donors.
2019:Â $414.31 in personal donations from individuals and $1,209.50 in public/private donations from programs such as Kroger, Amazon Smiles, and other donors (as of Sept. 29, 2019).
Additionally, the Clubâs foundation received $3,078.79 in charitable withholdings in 2018 and $5,492.80 in 2019 (as of Sept. 29, 2019).
None of the money the Club or foundation receives goes toward paying for staff or administration. All of the board members for both the Club and the foundation are volunteers.
âThey are truly a society of women who want to see other women succeed, and theyâre there when you need them,â Oen said.
The women who volunteer for the Club and the foundation aim to help the women living at the home transition into a âself-supporting future,â as stated in its mission statement.
Capretta said, âOur goal is to help these ladies move forward and to be able to get out of our house and into their own.â
One of Ohio Wesleyanâs signature student opportunities is celebrating its golden anniversary this year. The New York Arts Program will recognize its 50th year with alumni and sponsors in New York City over the weekend of Nov. 16.
The celebration will be held on Saturday, from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m., at the Childrenâs Museum of the Arts on Charleston Street. The celebration includes performances by former alumni and staff such a Peter Zummo and Lily Ann McBride.
On Friday, the NYAP will host an art opening at its Loft. Information regarding the celebration can be found on Facebook at NY Arts Program 50th Anniversary.
One of the administrators of the page, and former OWU alumna, Sally Harris, encouraged alumni to post about their time in the program, including what their internship was, where they went to school, and when they participated. The page features stories and pictures.
According to Darrell J. Albon, director of the International & Off-Campus Program for NYAP, OWU is not the only university that participates in NYAP. OWU is one of 13 schools from the Great Lakes College Association (GLCA) that participates.
The program occurs during either the spring or fall semesters and lasts for approximately 15 weeks. OWU seniors must spend their last semester on campus, so fall of that year is the latest those students can take advantage of the program. Students live in the Saint George Towers in Brooklyn Heights through the programs’ educational services housing. While in the program, students participate in at least one and usually more internships within the concentration of their program. They also attend regular seminars.
The program itself has a wide range of opportunities for students interested in the arts. There are studies in film, music and sound; theatre and dance; writing and publishing; and visual arts and art history.
Currently, 25 students participate this semester, three of whom are from OWU. Two of the NYAP alumni Harris, who participated in the program in 1975, and Helena Enders, who participated in the program in 2016, were kind enough to talk about their time in the program.
Harris, â76 and a program participant in her senior year. She said she interned at the American Place Theater, which was off-Broadway. Harris described her time in the program as fun and exhilarating, but hard work nonetheless. She said one of the most memorable experiences occurred âsitting backstage in the Green Room with the actors during a production. They were so nice and friendly to me. I felt like part of the cast – but I was basically a gofer.â
She said her internship changed every few weeks. She worked with casting directors going over resumes and headshots, on stage crews, as a receptionist and helped with costumes. She admitted the latter was a disaster. Harris was also loaned to a television production of Judge Horton and the Scottsboro Boys to help out with rehearsals at a nearby studio. That opportunity convinced her she enjoyed live performances rather than television production.
Helena Enders, College of Wooster class of 2018, participated in the Visual Arts/Arts Administration program during her junior year of college. Originally, Enders planned on interning at a museum in New York, but found she liked the idea of working with a non-profit called the International Studio and Curatorial Program better.
âMore than anything,â Enders said, âI loved going to galleries and studio visits with my seminar. It was the first time I felt like I was a part of a creative community, and that was huge for me. Those experiences opened a door to the âart worldâ that I hadn’t felt a part of until then.â
Ender said her internship was an exciting one.
âI had to package and deliver a lot of artwork,â she said. âI had no clue what I was doing, but I would have to build cardboard boxes from scratch in specific dimensions for specific pieces of art, then pack and deliver them. I definitely felt the weight of what I was doing and took care in every step of the process, but I didn’t know any of the artists whose art I was handling.
âNow, I look back at those experiences and laugh because I really had no clue how cool it was. I was carrying Shepard Fairey and Cary Leibowitz pieces on the subway during rush hour all the way from East Williamsburg to the Upper East Side. I met Vito Acconci and had no clue who he was at the time.â
Coincidentally, Enders and Harris have more in common than being NYAP alumni. Both women moved back to New York City not long after graduating. Harris worked a job as an assistant for a national press representative office for on- and off-Broadway theaters and dance companies.
Enders said, âI had found a place where I could really be myself with limitless space to grow. So I told myself that the second I was done with school, I would go back. That meant working at a doughnut shop for three months until I had enough money to move.â
Enders now works as an admissions coordinator for the program.
âWorking for a non-profit arts organization during my time at NYAP and meeting countless artists through my seminar exposed me to the many many ways I could have a profession in a creative environment,â Enders said. âThe program is also the reason I consider myself a creative at all; I have no clue what I would be doing right now if it wasn’t for NYAP.â
Both Harris and Enders had similar advice for students interested in the program.
âThe performing and fine arts are areas where there is a lot of amazing talent out there,â Harris said, âbut success is based on connections and being in the right place at the right time. Being provided with a job, a place to live and constant support in this field, in NYC, is almost too good to pass up. Itâs an incredible opportunity to make the connections that will open up doors.â
âMy advice for future students,â Enders said, âis to take risks all the time, but specifically while you have the security of your college community. Whether that means taking classes on campus that put you out of your comfort zone or coming to the NY Arts Program and doing an internship in an area you’re interested in but don’t know much about. It’s okay to be inexperienced as long as you are genuine and honest. Everyone is growing and learning no matter their age, so don’t be scared to try something new and take risks.â
As the OWU family comes together for the One OWU Gathering of Unity and Support today, I find myself reflecting on the fractures in our social order and what it means to speak of One OWU.
In recent years, we have seen growing expressions of hatred and division within our society. Those expressions find voice in the anonymity of social media, in the rallies held by hate groups, and in the deeply divisive rhetoric of elected leaders. Most recently, an outside group has come on our campus placing stickers promoting its repulsive propaganda. The FBI describes this group as being âtied to a neo-Nazi Racially Motivated Violent Extremist ideology.â
My own emotions run high when learning this group has inserted itself here at OWU. Emotions ranging from anger to fear to bewilderment have been expressed by many and reflect my own initial feelings. These are appropriate responses, though I might add these are just the responses that organizations like this seek to promote. They look to create division and sow seeds of discord. They want chaos rather than order. They seek to cloak their own profound insecurities in a blanket of self-righteous superiority finding its most grotesque expression in various forms of white supremacism and other racism, homophobia, transphobia, xenophobia, anti-Semitism, anti-Muslim sentiments, and numerous other hate campaigns.
I am deeply grateful and proud to note that on the OWU campus their presence has had just the opposite impact. Their visit here has surfaced a different set of values; values that have the power to unite rather than to divide, to heal rather than to hurt, to affirm rather than to reject, to build rather than to destroy. Rather than chaos and division, their brief stop at OWU has led to unity and support.
These values are deeply embedded in OWU. We are a community that has long appreciated the presence of difference while at our core this diverse community is one. When we speak of One OWU, we speak of a community that values diversity, equity, and inclusion. But more than valuing these principles, we understand them to be a call to action. They call us to the never ending pursuit of civil rights and social justice for all people.
That work is far from complete, including here on campus. While our values are strong, our human frailty means there are times when we fail to live up to our values, with some on campus feeling the benefit of diversity and inclusion more than others. There are times when our own words and actions are hurtful and marginalizing.
We have work to do in the area of diversity, equity, and inclusion. We have work to do in response to the call to civil rights and social justice.
When we say we are One OWU, we commit ourselves to that work.
When we say we are One OWU, we affirm the dignity of every human being.
When we say we are One OWU, we stand in solidarity, working to ensure that the strength of our solidarity is shared by all, most especially by those who are marginalized and who are the direct targets of hate.
When we say we are One OWU, we celebrate the beauty of a community enriched by the presence of individuals who experience life in many different ways, with diverse talents, identities, and expressions of the human experience.
When we say we are One OWU, we acknowledge that we are better because we are not just alike.
When we say we are One OWU, we note the unity that binds us together in our differences. We think, we vote, we worship, we dress, we dance, we play, we love, and we see the world in different ways.
And yet, we are One OWU. Because we believe that difference is a strength. We believe that respect is a virtue. We believe that love is the better way. Thatâs why we say Hate Has No Home Here.
Today this is profoundly visible through the One OWU Gathering of Unity and Support. I am grateful to those who have planned this gathering, and I am grateful to every person on campus who every day lives the values of our University and our commitment to One OWU.
Kingâs neighbor heard his cries of fear through the walls of a southern Columbus apartment just nine days before humane agents removed the beaten pit bull terrier from the building.
King was lucky. Since his rescue, he has recovered and found a new home. Not all abandoned and abused pets have the opportunity to heal like King did.
Columbus Humane seized 18 animals from a Grandview Heightâs Home on Sept. 10, 2019 after obtaining a search warrant because of reports of sick animals. The seizure included 10 cats, two dogs, two rabbits and four dead guinea pigs, according to The Columbus Dispatch. Columbus Humane seizes over 1,100 animals annually, according to its website.
Still, while animal cruelty and neglect cases are present in Central Ohio, they are a small percentage of the ways in which individuals in the area have an impact on animal welfare.
When talking about cases of intentional abuse and neglect, Charles Jones, assistant dog warden for Delaware County, said âthose are really few and far between type cases for us.â
A greater number of animals in Central Ohio are harmed by a misunderstanding of the proper companion animal care. The Ohio Revised Code describes companion animals as âany animal that is kept inside a residential dwelling and any dog or cat regardless of where it is kept.â
Jana Cassidy, executive director of the Humane Society of Delaware County, said that, although animal welfare in the area is good, more could be done to ensure residents are able to provide the right care for their pets.
âI would say, in terms of companion animals, I think that weâre doing a good job,â Cassidy said. âI think that, as a community, we can do better.â
To solve this problem, legislators in Ohio need to pass stronger laws and Central Ohio counties must provide more education and foster greater community collaboration, according to officials.
The humane societies and animal shelters in Central Ohio look to Chapter 9 of the Ohio Revised Code for information regarding animal welfare. The code states that no owner should willingly abandon or injure a domestic animal, and outlines prohibitions concerning companion animals and cruelty.
Despite such laws, human understanding and mindset about required animal care affects the way in which such humans determine how a companion animal should be treated. Cassidy said Ohio law regarding how individuals view and treat animals is not strong enough to protect animals from harm and neglect.
âWhat an animal is, by law, required to be given is access to food, water and shelter,â Cassidy said. âThe definition of food, water and shelter depends on your perspective.â
With a vague legal outline of proper companion animal care, pet owners may develop their own individual mindset on what that care includes.
Mitchell Garrett, assistant dog warden for Delaware County, said, âThere is a big push in societyâs way of how we have evolved and everything where dogs have become family membersâŚand itâs morphed into dogs are treated like childrenâŚbut there is a lot of people out there that their dog isnât their kid. Their dog is their dog.â
Many of the humane societies and animal shelters in the area aim for pet owners to adopt the mindset of their pets being like kids.
Crystal Richie, volunteer for PAWS (Powel Animal Welfare Society), said, âI would love to see more people kind of adopt that mentality that, âHey, my dog is my family. My dog is like a four-legged kid with a tail.ââ
However, with such differing mindsets, the way in which companion animals are treated varies from owner to owner.
Daniel James, another assistant dog warden for Delaware County, said, âThere are a lot of dogs that sleep on beds and couches and pillows and blankets, and then there are a lot of dogs that sleep outside in the doghouse. It depends on the owner, basically.â
Various humane societies in the area, such as the Humane Society of Delaware County and Columbus Humane, follow and encourage pet owners to follow the ASPCAâs five freedoms.
Individuals who donât adopt the mindset of their dogs or cats being family may intentionally or unintentionally neglect their pet from care and freedom that many other pet owners see as necessary.
Reproduced under the terms of click-use license, U.K. Farm Animal Welfare Council. Obtained from the ASPCA website.
Todd McCullough, director of the Fairfield County Dog Adoption Center and Shelter, in an explanation of a newly enacted dog licensing policy, shared how difficult it can be to adjust the behavior of pet owners.
âItâs challenging to change behavior of people that donât really want to change their behavior,â McCullough said.
The main priority of various shelters and humane societies is to ensure good health of the animals.
âWe really emphasize both physical and mental health for the animals,â McCullough said. âThatâs a priority for us.â
In an attempt to achieve such a goal, the humane societies and animal shelters in Central Ohio aim to place and keep animals in homes.
Data from 2018 and the first eight months of 2019 show (respectively) customers adopted:
1,239 and 815 animals from the Humane Society of Delaware County
44 and 17 dogs from the Delaware County Dog Shelter
582 and 435 animals from the Marion Area Humane Society
189 and 107 dogs from the Marion County Dog Pound
3,281 and 2,261 animals from Columbus Humane in Franklin County
426 and 238 dogs from the Fairfield County Dog Adoption Center and Shelter
Additionally, the Union County dog warden returned 25 dogs to owners in 2018 and 52 dogs in the first eight months of 2019.
In addition to adoption numbers, the shelters and societies also have significant intake numbers that represent how many animals they bring into their facilities each year.
Shelter
2018 Total Intake Numbers
Humane Society of Delaware County
1,570
Delaware County Dog Shelter
528
PAWS (Powell Animal Welfare Society)
70
Marion Area Humane Society
969
Marion County Dog Pound
481
Columbus Humane
9,804
Franklin County Dog Shelter and Adoption Center
9,303
Union County Dog Warden
72
Fairfield County Dog Adoption Center and Shelter
864
The Union County Humane Society and the Fairfield Area Humane Society did not release data for this story.
There are a variety of actions and behaviors that play a role in lowering the number of animals in need and, in turn, the number of animals brought into the various shelters. One remedy that staff at the humane societies and shelters call for is increased education. Such education may cover pet ownership, humane procedures or an understanding of overpopulation problems.
âIt kind of all goes back to education on pet ownership,â said Payton Shanaberger, shelter manager for the Marion Area Humane Society. âSo, if people kind of reach out to other organizations to get help, whether itâs financially or behavioral training, things like that, it may help animals stay in a home. And if thereâs more education, then they know how to deal with their own pets better.â
Similarly, Kerry Manion, chief humane agent at Columbus Humane, explained that an understanding on the humane requirements of animal care goes a long way in improving overall animal welfare.
âThe enforcement aspect is pretty much after the factâŚbut to prevent abuse and to teach compassion and empathy in the schools I think is needed at this point,â Manion said.
Jeff Chambers, director of communication services at the Ohio School Boards Association, said all schools are set up to meet the needs of their local community. So, each school may provide coursework on animal welfare if it is in their interest. However, he also said, because it is not something required by the state of Ohio, not all schools have time for such education.
âIn terms of bringing in speakers, probably so,â Chambers said. âIn terms of creating a whole new semester coursework for it, I donât know if they do have the time for that for most school districts.â
Manion also emphasized that knowledge on animal cruelty and neglect is important for the community to have because residents are responsible for reporting such cases to the various humane societies.
âThe vast majority of the complaints we receive are from the general public. Theyâre kind of our eyes and ears in the community to report animal abuse to us,â Manion said.
Obtained from Columbus Humane’s Website
In addition to knowledge about how to properly care for a pet and how to recognize cruelty, staff members at humane societies and animals shelters in Central Ohio call for greater education about the overpopulation of companion animals.
Richie, involved with the Ohio State Bar Association Animal Law Committee, said one of the biggest problems with animal welfare in Central Ohio is people being unaware of overpopulation. She said that many people get their dogs from breeders while other healthy, and sometimes full-blooded, dogs are available for adoption.
âThat can easily be remedied through programs and education and just making the public aware that you can get a really wonderful dog at your local shelter,â Richie said.
Education about overpopulation also ties into education about the necessity of spay and neuter procedures.
McCullough, Fairfield Countyâs dog warden, said. âCommunit[ies] paying attention and supporting the efforts of not creating unnecessary or unwanted litters is really critical.â
Data from 2018 and the first eight months of 2019 show (respectively) agencies euthanized:
250 and 185 animals at the Humane Society of Delaware County
82 and 36 dogs at the Delaware County Dog Shelter
53 and 25 animals at the Marion Area Humane Society
9 and 8 dogs at the Marion County Dog Pound
79 and 30 dogs at the Fairfield County Dog Adoption Center and Shelter
The shelters and societies do not euthanize for overcrowding or lack of space, according to officials in Delaware and Marion counties. Euthanasia only occurs when requested by owner or when an animalâs health or behavior cannot be helped or controlled.
The Fairfield County Dog Adoption Center and Shelter works hard to ensure that its population does not get too high so that they donât have to resort to euthanasia for overcrowding, McCullough said.
In addition to stronger laws and greater education, continued and increased collaboration between the community and animal rescue organizations is necessary in improving the welfare of companion animals in Central Ohio, according to officials.
McCullough emphasized the role cooperation between organizations and county residents plays.
âExamining the entire organization and reorienting it to having high standards of care for both the animals in our care,â McCullough said, âbut also the public, and forming good partnerships with people in the community and rescue groups has been also really critical.â
The humane societies and animal shelters in Central Ohio rely on support from the community.
Cassidy said the Humane Society of Delaware County wants to do better to help out its community, but it is restricted by the resources the community provides.
âIâd love to be able to do more for the community, but we are limited by the physical constraints of our building and the funding that comes along with that,â Cassidy said.
As non-profit organizations, the Humane Society of Delaware County, PAWS and the Marion Area Humane Society rely solely on donations. Columbus Humane receives some government funding for its law enforcement work, but also relies on donations.
âWeâre limited by the support of our community,â Cassidy said. âSo, the more they support us, from either fostering, volunteering and of course financially, the more we can do.â
Humane Society of Delaware County 2019 Medical Cost of an Animal
Female Dog (40-60 pounds)
Medical Cost ($)
Spay
70.00
Veterinary Exam
20.00
Heartworm Test
20.00
Rabies
10.00
DA2PPC Vaccination
12.00
Bordatella
12.00
Influenza
15.00
Flea Preventative
10.00 (per month)
Heartworm Preventative
5.00 (per month)
Microchip
20.00
Dewormer
5.00
Total
199.00
Adult Female Cat
Medical Cost ($)
Spay
45.00
Veterinary Exam
20.00
Feline Leukemia/FIV Test
20.00
FVRCP
12.00
Rabies
10.00
Dewormer
5.00
Flea Preventative
10.00
Microchip
10.00
Total
132.00
The adoption price for a female dog weighing 40 to 60 pounds is $150 and the adoption price of an adult female cat is $60. After paying for each animalâs medical costs, the humane society does not make profit on adopted animals.
Obtained from Columbus Humane’s website
Additionally, the assistant dog wardens at the Delaware County Dog Shelter emphasized the importance of purchasing dog licenses to support the shelter and ensure the safety of the dogs.
James, Delaware Countyâs assistant dog warden, said, âSo dog licenses, the funds that come from that, they run the shelter. They give all the dogs their shots, spays and neuters, they pay for gas in the trucks.â
Jones, also a Delaware County assistant dog warden, agreed. âIf you want to help your local shelter, buy a dog license.â
Franklin County Auditor Michael Stinziano proposed a pilot project that would move the annual registration deadline for dog licenses from Jan. 31 to March 31, according to The Columbus Dispatch. Officials said they hope the change will result in greater licensing compliance.
The employees at the humane societies and animal shelters in Central Ohio encourage such change and support because they are passionate about the safety and wellness of animals.
âWeâre in the profession because we care and we want to protect animals,â Manion said. âItâs our primary responsibility, and we strive to make a difference every day.â
He also emphasized the difficulty of the job. âIt takes a special person to do these types of criminal investigations because you see the ugliness of human nature,â he said.
Manion adopted King, who after being brought into Columbus Humane, failed the canine good citizenship test he needed to pass to be adoptable. Today, King spends his days at Manionâs side, whether that be in the office at Columbus Humane or camping or shopping on the weekends. Manion said he loves the pit bull terrier.
âI also hope that, you know, heâs a reminder to the agents who rescued him,â Manion said. âThe positive impact they make on animals, on the people ⌠having him here every day hopefully reinforces to them the good work that they do as they can see a success story every day in front of them.â
Ohio Wesleyan University (OWU) was one of six college campuses in Central Ohio that was targeted by a national white supremist group which is under FBI investigation.
On Nov. 1, stickers were found on campus including the academic side and Hamilton Williams Campus center, said Cole Hatcher, the director of media and community relations.
No stickers were found inside buildings. They were stuck on lampposts and signs, said Dwayne Todd, the vice president of student engagement and success.
Todd and Juan Armando Rojas, chief diversity officer and professor of modern foreign languages, do not want to name the group to prevent giving the group more attention.
âWeâre not naming it because we donât want to give them any additional publicity,â Todd said.âWe didnât want to put the name of the group in the message. We didnât want to link to their website because that just fuels them.â
âItâs not about them; itâs about our institution,â Rojas said.
The FBI sent a warning that the group was active in Central Ohio and was targeting college campuses, Todd said.
About 25 stickers were found on campus, Hatcher said. Stickers had white supremist messages on them such as âAmerica is not for sale,â âReject poison,â and âStolen not conquered.â
Hatcher said the stickers appeared and stopped in a small window of time.
President Rock Jones held a meeting on Nov. 4 about the matter. Rojas said the meeting was productive and engaging.
âWe know that similar or identical stickers have been placed on other campuses in central Ohio and the FBI in its investigation of the matter believes the stickers are being placed by individuals from outside of the campuses,â Jones said.
âThe notice that the FBI sent us showed Capital University, Ohio Dominican, Columbus State, Ohio State, us ⌠(and) Otterbein,â Todd said. âAll those schools had images from the same group posted.â
The group hit both public and private college campuses, which created a tricky situation for law enforcement due to the differences in free speech rights.
Greg Naples, supervisory special agent of the FBI, said in an email that the group is âtied to a neo-Nazi racially motivated violated extremist ideology.â
As the stickers were being taken down, it seemed as if more were being put up in their place. Todd thought somebody was still on campus, putting stickers up as they were being discovered on campus.
âAs soon as we knew what was going on, we were going around campus and removing them so Iâm not sure the majority of students ever saw them,â Todd said.
âWe would pass by a place where there werenât any and we came back and there were some.â
Todd thinks that this was a national coordinated effort on the groupâs part to go to college campuses. He also said this was a recruitment effort on the groupâs behalf to draw younger people to visit its website and join the group.
FBI agent Naples confirmed that. His email stated the group is in the midst of a campus recruiting campaign by placing the stickers on or near campuses.
âThey are all red, white and blue with various slogans and/or symbols,â Naples said in his email. âWhen a member puts up the sticker, he/she takes a picture then posts it on a PF site,â
Nothing of this sort has happened before on campus, Todd, Rojas and Hatcher said.
Hatcher recalled some graffiti on campus a few years ago and Todd recalled the Westborough Baptist Church, which is homophobic, coming to campus.
âIn one case, I think it was just random scrawling and I think there was a small amount of graffiti after the 2016 presidential election,â Hatcher said.
âThey (Westborough Baptist Church) were here once and then they threatened to come a second time but did not from what I understand,â Todd said. âI consider them a hate group but not a group thatâs a white supremist group like this.â
Todd described the most recent incident as disturbing. He was disgusted that this happened on OWUâs campus.
âFor me, white supremacy is not a new concept and I am not surprised it happened,â said Alexis Thomas, president of the OWU Black Student Union. âI am hurt that it happened, but also this is not anything new, at least for black people.â
Collective efforts have been made on campus. Todd said there has been a show of solidarity that the efforts of this white supremist group are intolerable at OWU.
âWe had people fanning out all over, looking for these things and trying to show support to students and others and weâre planning an event,â Todd said.
An event called One OWU gathering of unity and support will take place on Nov. 13 at 5 p.m. at the labyrinth with the objective to celebrate OWU.
âTo celebrate weâre here, to celebrate that weâre united and to celebrate our diversity, our inclusion efforts and to reassure everyone that if weâre here itâs because our objective and goal is to make sure everyone is embraced,â Rojas said.
Chad Johns, the interim Chaplain said The Chaplain’s Office is an interfaith office that serves students of all faiths or no faith.
âWhenever hateful and ridiculous ideologies like white supremacy arise, our response must be to stand firm against the lie that some people are superior to others based only on the color of their skin, their country of origin, their genderâŚâ Johns said. âWe choose instead to celebrate the beautiful diversity of the one humanity that we all share.â
Posters were put up across campus with slogans such as âRacism has no home here,â Hatcher said.
An email sent by Rojas to OWU students and faculty addressed the poster campaign.
âIf anyone sees something like this happen, call Public Safety right away,â Todd said.
If something of this sort occurs on campus again, Todd said Delaware police will be called. If a member of the group comes back to campus, they can be charged for trespassing and can get arrested, Todd said.
Sparks flew on Friday as a 400-pound ladle filled with molten iron was poured into the awaiting molds created by 3-D design and sculpture students at Ohio Wesleyan.
OWU art professor John Quick hosts an iron pour in Haycock Hall every semester. All students enrolled in 3-D design and sculpture participated as did a few alumni.
âI begin planning this event over a month in advance,â Quick said, âmaking my artwork and directing all activities in sculpture prior to the pour. The day of the pour I set up the furnace and all the associated equipment.
âDuring the pour, I direct all activity at and around the furnace, opening the spout (âtapping outâ) for every ladle-full of iron, and working at the furnace, making sure that it operates correctly.â
Classes went through a slightly different process and created different types of molds for the event based on the course.
âStudents in sculpture made ceramic shell molds from wax sculptures and also resin-bonded sand molds,â Quick said. âThe 3-D design students make molds by carving negative space in bonded sand blocks. We call these scratch block molds. All of the work was successfully cast.â
Because 3-D design is a prerequisite for sculpture, all the students enrolled in the upper level course have already participated in one iron pour.For most of the students enrolled in 3-D design, it was a new experience.
Sophomore fine arts major and 3-D design student Mukami Mboche said, âI really enjoyed watching the iron get poured. The color of the iron was really cool and vibrant.â
Design students arrived about 1 p.m. to begin setting up materials such as the molds and the charges, which are the buckets of iron being put into the furnace. Students enrolled in sculpture, however, had a much different experience. For Willow Smart, a junior art education major, it was her second time participating in an iron pour at OWU.
âI had to get up at 6 in the morning,â she said. âI was there by 7:30. Me and the rest of the sculpture and 3-D students just helped prepare with John.â
Alumni also helped by âpulling the cupola furnace outside and setting up bots, which are plugs basically for the furnace to stop the iron from coming out when thereâs time between the iron pour,â Smart said. Students and alumni broke the iron for melting and got the molds ready.
The pour started at 1 p.m. and was open to the public. All the molds were full and cooling by 3 p.m. Cleanup lasted until 6:30 p.m.
The OWU Iron Pour is the result of John Quickâs independent research on cupola furnaces. Quick described several conferences that eventually led to his fascination with the process and the idea of building his own furnace.
âI have been organizing and leading iron pours at OWU every semester since 1998, that is, for twenty-one years,â Quick said. âPrior to that time, I had been operating a modest bronze foundry at OWU since 1989.â
