Welch gym consolidates equipment

By: Ross Hickenbottom, Transcript reporter

 

The fitness center located in Welch Hall has been the preferred workout location for many OWU students over the years. Lately, students have noticed missing equipment in the workout area.

Serving as a more convenient exercise facility than Edwards Gym (due to its proximity to the residential end of campus), Welch has been a favorite of non-­athletes who cannot fit a workout into their busy routines.

“After work, whether I would get off early or late, I would be able to walk over to Welch to workout very easily,” said senior Shannon Hill. “Edwards just isn’t as convenient to walk to, especially later at night.”

Although the gym has lost a significant number of exercise machines, there are plans to host small group classes in the space. These include spinning and zumba, said Kimberlie Goldsberry, interim vice president for student affairs.

“The new Simpson-­Querrey Fitness Center will also be open for all students to utilize, not exclusively athletes,” said Goldsberry.

Christopher Fink, chair of the department of health and human kinetics, does not think there should be any less opportunity to exercise in Welch, but noted that “we did consolidate some equipment so that there is more open space.”

“During the summer, because of the pending opening of the Simpson-­Querrey facility this fall, our department and athletics took a closer look at the equipment that was available in Welch,” said Fink.

“We determined that there were quite a few pieces of equipment that were broken, and that some of the single­-joint strength machines were not being used very frequently. So, we replaced the broken equipment, and to save space we purchased a multi-­station strength machine that would do all of the same exercises as the single-­joint machines, but would create more open space for fitness programming.”

Junior Trasina Diazmunoz is optimistic about these changes, as well as the Simpson­-Querrey Fitness Center.

“I plan on using the new gym, and I’m really excited to see and use the new equipment,” she said.

Once the Simpson­-Querrey facility is open this fall, students will have more workout options than in years past, including state-of-the-art cardio and strength equipment.

Future plans include maintaining hours convenient to all students. So far, this means 6 a.m. to midnight.

Taylor Swift, feminism and me

Taylor Swift at the 49th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards. Photo courtesy of US Magazine's website.
Taylor Swift at the 49th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards. Photo courtesy of US Magazine’s website.

Suddenly, it seems like being a feminist is the hottest thing you can be right now. Since Beyoncé’s proclamation at the 2014 Video Music Awards, other celebrities and musicians have been clamoring for that title. One self­proclaimed feminist is none other than Taylor Swift.

Look, I’m open about my extreme dislike for Taylor Swift. I find her to be a disingenuous, corporate machine. But I think her worse offense is her brand of feminism. In promotion for her latest album “1989,” she has gathered up a “girl squad,” for a lack of a better term. It consists of beautiful, successful and mostly white women. She practices the old adage “hoes before bros,” which is totally ok. But my problem is with how superficial her feminism is.

“Why is her feminism superficial?” one may ask. Why, let me tell you. Based on her actions as a so­-called feminist, her basic understanding of feminism is that women stand for other women.

That’s great! But she doesn’t go deeper than that. But she does seem to contradict herself.

For example, her hit “Bad Blood” seems to tell the story of a former friend who betrays her; she’s out to get revenge. Rumors are that that song is about Katy Perry. But a song spouting revenge on a woman is not very feminist, Taylor.

Or take more recently, when rapper Nicki Minaj (full disclosure: I’m a huge fan) tweeted about how her hit “Anaconda” wasn’t nominated for Video of the Year at the 2015 VMAs. Long story short, Minaj tweeted that she felt that other artists get recognized more for the same work she does. Swift then took offense to that tweet, even though Minaj didn’t call her out. The two women kissed and made­up, but the issue still stands. Swift thought Minaj attacked her, and Swift attacked back.

Look, if tomorrow Taylor Swift announces she’s now focusing on deeper feminist issues, such as the inequality women of color face or issues transgender women face every day, I’ll be on her team. But the fact her feminism just skims the top bothers me. For such a role model, Swift has a lot to learn.

OWU grad returns for photography feature

William JanTausch, class of 1969, was not in Beeghly Library to return long­-overdue books. It was his photography exhibition, “Forgotten Places,” that brought him back to campus.

According to exhibit information, “JanTausch’s photographs capture haunting images of local scenery, including an abandoned sawmill.”

The photos will be displayed Aug. 15 through Oct. 6 in Beeghly’s Gallery 2001. A reception with JanTausch will be held from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Sept. 17, inside the gallery.

“JanTausch is a resident of Delaware, and has visited the Ross Art Museum for many exhibits,” said Tammy Wallace, assistant director of the Ross.

“There are two series on display [in the current exhibit]: the sawmill series, consisting of black and white photographs of an abandoned sawmill here in Delaware County, and the abandoned barn series, consisting of color and black and white photography of barns here in Delaware County.”

Though he expresses himself through photography, JanTausch is not a professional artist.

“Although my degree was in botany­bacteriology, I spent the first twenty years of my career in traffic and distribution in the private sector,” said JanTausch.

“Then, in the 1990s, I purchased a few properties and have remained in the real estate and management field since. Ohio Wesleyan taught me to be a problem solver, to investigate and craft solutions and most importantly to ask Wallace said this event “can provide a respite from studying. It can inform, educate and delight. Some artwork can be controversial, spark conversations or encourage viewers to dig deeper into a subject.”

Admission to the exhibition is free.

HBC a ‘home away’ despite damage

The House of Black Culture (HBC) on Rowland Avenue. Photo courtesy of the OWU website.
The House of Black Culture (HBC) on Oak Hill Avenue. Photo courtesy of the OWU website.

The House of Black Culture (HBC), while due for maintenance, continues to draw students to its doors.

The house serves as a dynamic living-learning environment for people who want to explore the culture and tradition of the African-American experience.

However, over time, the physical appearance of the 40-year-old house has declined.

Some of the damages include peeling paint on both the interior and exterior of the building, issues with worms entering showers and faulty wiring (the result of a 1994 robbery).

President Rock Jones is aware of these problems.

“The issues are being addressed,” said Jones. “While we look forward to new SLUs, we remain committed to ensuring the health, safety, cleanliness and hygiene of the existing buildings as long as they are in use.”

Despite the physical problems, the sense of community and mission of the house are being well-maintained.

“HBC’s conditions are very poor to a point where things continue to fall apart or deteriorate,” said Twanisha Taylor, a senior living in the house. “However, this hasn’t interfered with the role that it plays within the minority community. It serves as a home, a safe space, a communal gathering location and a place where we identify with multiple cultures.”

The house’s Resident Adviser (RA), senior Kaila Johnson, also spoke to the house’s condition, saying that the community, not the physical structure, is what makes HBC important.

“I’m really excited to be the RA of HBC – I hope to foster and preserve the legacy of community and safe space that the house has provided over the years,” said Johnson. “Despite the damages, HBC is a home away for many students on campus, and the OWU community actively supports that and hopes to continue to build that.”

“HBC is a treasured place on the OWU campus,” said Jones. “It is far more than a building, though it is important that we care well for the building in which the community lives and interacts. I am personally grateful to all who have contributed through the years to making this a valued community on our campus.”

Psychology professor elected to office

Dr. Bunnell. Photo courtesy of the OWU website.
Dr. Bunnell. Photo courtesy of the OWU website.

Psychology professor Sarah Bunnell received the good news in June; she had been elected vice president of the United States region for the International Society for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (ISSoTL).

According to the organization’s website, “The goal [of the organization] is to foster inquiry and disseminate findings about what improves and articulates post­secondary learning and teaching.”

Bunnell began serving as vice president on July 1.

The position entails establishing quality guidelines and teaching and learning practices, as well as fostering collaboration over scholarly works.

Professor Bunnell says that she hopes that her position will help increase recognition of the scholarly teaching and learning done on liberal arts campuses and promote the value of a liberal arts education.

After receiving her PhD at the University of Kansas, Bunnell joined the Ohio Wesleyan psychology department in 2010. Bunnell teaches psychology courses at all levels.

Bunnell’s colleagues support her new leadership role. “Dr. Bunnell’s active participation and leadership in this organization has helped her promote important discussions,” said professor Lynda Hall, chair of the department.

“Over the next three years, I’m looking forward to increasing the profile of Ohio Wesleyan and other liberal arts campuses, to contribute to the larger scholarly body of work on teaching and learning and to hopefully increase student involvement in this conversation and collaborative process,” says Bunnell.

To speak to your representative, press enter

Even if you do not know where the Wesleyan Council on Student Affairs (WCSA) meets every Monday, your voice can be heard with the click of a button. At the Sept. 7 full senate, a new comment feature made its debut.

Class of 2017 representative Jessica Choate, a junior, developed and presented the online system. Students can find the interface on the WCSA website. After selecting a specific committee to contact (or the general senate) and inputting their comment or suggestion, students’ ideas are sent directly to their student government leaders’ emails.

“The online comment cards mean that WCSA is accessible to students, now more than ever before,” said Choate. “And that’s really exciting.”

Sophomore Areena Arora, chair of the academic affairs committee, informed senators about an upcoming academic forum. The forum brings “students, faculty, and administrators together to discuss a topic of general interest,” said Arora. “Last year it was about general education requirements. This year, we want as much student input as possible.”

Senior Emma Drongowski, vice president of WCSA, mentioned that the new comment feature would be an efficient way to receive feedback about the forum’s subject of discussion.

Several senators who brought lunch from the Ham-Will Food Court announced that reusable containers, an ongoing project on WCSA’s books, had finally been implemented. Students can opt for the eco-friendly carry out boxes in lieu of the standard white paper cartons.

“When a student picks a reusable container, they are charged five dollars and can bring it back to reuse,” said Drongowski. “It’s an awesome step to reduce the amount of cardboard and paper students use.”

Once a student returns the reusable container, the initial charge is refunded.

Before the end of the meeting, Public Safety (PS) officer Bob Wood also addressed the full senate. He wanted to explain the recent switch to a digital application for parking permits. He said that “because the PS staff was reduced by half,” due to budget cuts, they are “trying to think of ways to move inefficient office tasks online.”

He also mentioned that due to a lack of use, PS is considering changing the “B” parking lots behind the fraternities to “C” lots.

“It’s all about making it more convenient for students,” Wood said.

Campus for the cure

Students watch from afar as two volleyball teams compete. Photo by Susan Ugalde.
Students watch from afar as two volleyball teams compete. Photo by Susan Ugalde.

On Saturday, Sept. 5, at the Delta Tau Delta sand pit, the Ohio Wesleyan Greek community came together for charity and a little competition.

Beach Bash is an annual volleyball tournament held by OWU’s Mu chapter of Delta Tau Delta.

The philanthropic event raises money for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

The Mu chapter of Ohio Wesleyan originally established the event four years ago, prior to the national fraternity’s partnership with the organization.

Since the partnership in 2012, the national fraternity has donated approximately $250,000 to the research foundation. Over the years, Beach Bash has typically raised between $300 and $500, depending on the year.

Many fraternities and sororities on campus entered teams in the tournament. The Delts even extended a special invitation to the Small Living Units (SLUs).

Students mingle by the sand volleyball court. Photo by Susan Ugalde.
Students mingle by the sand volleyball court. Photo by Susan Ugalde.

Typically each team pays $30 to enter, but SLUs were asked to give as much as they felt comfortable giving. While the Greek associations have funds devoted to events like Beach Bash, SLUs have a limited budget.

Besides reaching out to the SLUs, the Delts hoped to attract other non­-affiliated teams to increase campus involvement. The Delts offered to complete teams with their own members so more individuals could participate.

Sophomore Alex Niswonger, a Delt, noted that “the most important thing about an event is to get the whole entire school involved.” He added that the fraternity had a great platform to spread awareness.

Sophomore Zac Worley, a member of Chi Phi, also stated that increased awareness among new students could potentially help long-­term involvement with such events.

Battling Bishops lose season opener

By: Gopika Nair, Assistant Copy Editor

The Ohio Wesleyan football team lost their season opener before a home audience to the University of Mary Hardin­Baylor (UMHB) 42­3.

The Crusaders’ victory on Sept. 5 at Selby Stadium marks the visiting team’s 55th consecutive regular­ season win, while the Battling Bishops start 0­1 this year.

“You win some, you lose some,” said sophomore Jerry Harper, a cornerback for OWU. “We just have to stick together as a family, not let this loss get to us and continue on forward.”

The Crusaders scored their first touchdown with about three minutes remaining in the first quarter, giving them a 7­0 lead.

Wide receiver Tim Shadoan, a junior, earned OWU three points with a 40­yard field goal a few seconds into the second quarter. But going into the half, UMHB increased its lead, 14­3.

By the third quarter, supporters of the Battling Bishops grew restless. Cheers of, “Let’s go OWU!” and “Come on, get a touchdown!” roared from the stands.

UMHB, however, added field goals of 40 and 33 yards in the third quarter. Putting up a fight, OWU’s senior end Cameron Pappa, a senior, led the defense in tackles. Sharing the lead was junior linebacker Keaton Leppla, who intercepted one pass and broke up another.

With less than five minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, the Crusaders brought up their score with a touchdown. The score remained at 42­3 for the rest of the game.

Sophomore Rene Garcia, a spectator, said the game was rough, but OWU’s football team has a lot of potential.

Another sophomore, Drew Singleton, said, “Every loss is a tough loss. But you [just have to] take this game, learn from it and get it next time.”

OWU’s football team reported to camp on Aug. 12 and have been training ever since, said Coach Tom Watts.

Camp consisted of practice in the morning, meetings in the afternoon and bonding activities to develop team chemistry at night, Watts said.

Captain Beau Michele, junior, said it was often difficult to get through practices but they helped strengthen the team.

“To beat the best, you have to be the best,” Michele said.

OWU is predicted to place fourth in the North Coast Athletic Conference.

“We will place where we deserve based on how hard we work throughout the season,” Watts said. “The conference is tough, and we are excited about the season. We know our guys are up to the challenge, and we are taking it one game at a time.”

OWU’s next game will be against Wittenberg University on Sept. 19 at 7 p.m. in Springfield, Ohio.

Southpaw: undisputed champ, or bust?

By: Ross Hickenbottom, Transcript reporter

 

Approaching the theater to see Jake Gyllenhaal’s most recent film, “Southpaw,” I couldn’t hold back the excitement.

The typical “dude movie” about guys beating each other up always makes for an exhilarating couple of hours in a cinema seat, and with my favorite actor starring in this one, the hype was unbelievable.

We’ve all seen the “Rocky” movies, “Warrior,” “Never Back Down,” all seeming to follow the same plot line: someone fighting for a living, losing it all, hitting rock bottom, but at the end have their one shining moment and everyone lives happily ever after, right? Right.

Anyways, now I’m in my seat, popcorn practically gone after the half hour of previews, when the movie starts… BOOM, these guys are trading haymakers, blood gushing, the notorious spit and sweat showers. This movie is intense.

Intense like it’s only two minutes into the movie and I’m white knuckling the armrests. “But that’s not how a boxing match is…” I think. “You don’t just walk up to each other and throw the hardest punch you possibly can, hoping to knock the other guy out.” Boxing is more strategic than that. But not Hollywood boxing.

Hollywood boxing can be however they want to make it because at the end of the day, there’s still thousands of people paying to see Jake Gyllenhaal get the snot beat out of him and somehow still win the contest.

He loses his wife, his house and his daughter all within a week, but still comes out on top at the end of the movie. So clichĂ©, but honestly, what else was I expecting? The typical lose it all, gain it back story is one that viewers can’t resist, and “Southpaw” was just an overloaded version of all of its predecessors in that category.

By the end of the movie, I honestly just wanted to see him knock this guy out and hear some more Eminem, but overall, I can’t say “Southpaw” was a “bad” movie. It’s just not taking Movie of the Year.