Tag: news

By Reilly Wright, Managing Editor

With food from Ethiopia to China and performances from South Korea to India, celebrations of diversity and culture intersected Saturday at Ohio Wesleyan’s annual Culture Fest.

Each year, the event is hosted by Horizons International, the student-run cultural club that supports OWU’s international community. Carrie Kubicki, the club’s sophomore president, said Culture Fest emphasizes OWU’s international students, dating back to some of the first students from India.

“It’s an event that is meant to bring everyone together so that our differences can be celebrated and appreciated,” Kubicki said. “I believe that it’s a very integral part of the traditions and history of OWU since international students have been such a staple community.”

This year’s celebration began with Chaplain Jon Powers speaking on the power of unity before transitioning into the eleven cultural performances, split with an intermission for food.

Performances included dances from Rafiki Wa Afrika, the student group promoting African-Caribbean culture, and Viva, the Latin American cultural group. There also were solo performances such as junior Spencer Zhang with the piano and junior Ana Pakraski with an Indian Temple Dance.

Alexander Sánchez, one of the solo vocal performers, said he thought Culture Fest was a great way to not only showcase his singing, but also his love for Puerto Rico, his homeland.

“I believe that [Culture Fest] serves as a space to acknowledge the diversity of cultures that is fostered here at Ohio Wesleyan, which I believe is especially necessary considering that we live in a predominantly white town,” Sánchez said.

Kubicki said Horizons is welcoming any potential members to not only welcome international students, but also so events like Culture Fest can become more integral to the OWU experience.

“I would like to see [Culture Fest] expand into becoming one of the most important events of the year at OWU and perhaps expanding it to include an educational week to teach the community about international educational awareness,” Kubicki said.

By Aleksei Pavloff, Transcript Correspondent

The weather is 24 degrees Fahrenheit in Delaware, Ohio. The sun has yet to rise giving Alexander Pacilio a head start to the day.

His fraternity brothers, friends and family call him “Xander.” He walks out of his room on the first floor of the Phi Delta Theta house at Ohio Wesleyan University. The house neighbors other fraternities in a circle with a large grass island in the middle. The water fountain right outside his room hisses and hums as he places his red protein shaker bottle under the sensor to get water. He coughs.

Xander’s currently in the middle of the lacrosse season and being a teacher’s aid at a local high school in Delaware, Ohio. His teachers and classmates recognize his work ethic and organization both on the field, on the classroom and at home. Some students have difficulties organizing sports with teaching. However, Xander has adapted to the struggle and is the only lacrosse player who is also student teaching on the side.

Xander is not only a senior and lacrosse player, but also a teacher. Well, sometimes. He is student teaching at Delaware Hayes High school. This is a requirement of the education department at OWU. Students, in the spring semester of their senior year, must student-teach and lead classroom lessons six times during the semester, according to Sarah Kaka, an assistant professor of education. They do not have to take any other classes except for a seminar class.

Xander is the only lacrosse player that is in the education program, according to Kaka.

The night before, as he sat at his desk, he said he wants to be a high school social studies teacher. He added that being a teacher was one way to help people, which he enjoys.

He opens the side door of the house which shares a parking lot with Phi Kappa Psi, a closed fraternity house. He’s been warming up his car for five minutes in the bitter cold. He throws his blue lifting bag in the back seat. He turns on the radio. Bon Jovi is quietly playing. He slightly turns it up.

“I only like one song,” he says. “But I love Howard Stern.”

The Howard Stern Show comes on the radio after he plays with the switches on the stirring wheel of his grey 2012 Ford Focus. He drives to Edwards Gym, which is one of the places to workout on campus. Sometimes he’ll lift with the team during the week. The weight room opened up just as Xander parks his car.

He and one person at the front desk are the only people in the room. He walks toward the back where the elliptical machines are and places his bag down on the ground.

Xander takes an initial swig of his red shaker bottle. He gives a face as if he is sucking on two WarHead Extreme Sour Hard Candies. His face puckers. He takes another swig. He puckers again. Now he chugs the rest of the bottle. He releases a sound that would signify he is happy only if it wasn’t for his slightly disgusted look.

He occupies a bench rack by placing his bag on the side of one. The rack is located furthest from the door, in the corner of the room. He rides the only stationary bike for 10 minutes. He is wearing a grey OWU lacrosse sweatshirt and slightly darker grey sweatpants. He looks like he is ready to train with Rocky Balboa. He doesn’t smile. After the bike, Xander takes off his grey sweats. Turns out, he is wearing two more layers underneath.

He has to be at Delaware Hayes High School around 7:30 a.m. The only time he can lift on his own is earlier before school starts at Hayes. Flamm says that teaching takes a certain level of commitment and organization. Before Xander went to lift, he wrote up what he was going to do in the gym.

A group of people begin to enter the weight room. The swim team usually lifts around the same time as he does but they never stay as long, Xander says. They don’t distract him from lifting.

“This is basically the only time I can lift on my own,” Xander says.

He wants to be a teacher and wanted to be ever since he was a junior in high school, he says.

“Xander was inspired by one of his teachers in high school,” Xander’s academic advisor Michael Flamm, a professor of history, says. “He loves working with young people.”

All the people he respected when he was young were teachers. After graduation he says he hopes to be a teacher working in Columbus.

Xander says he likes the area and spent a whole summer in Delaware (Ohio) which is just 30 minutes north of Columbus. Just last night, he was working on a lesson plan for three separate high school classes. The subject is “U.S. studies.” He seems to punish the weights and move around the weight room with a purpose.The night before, while making the lesson plan, PowerPoint wasn’t working on his MacBook, he complains. He continues to lift aggressively. After 45-50 minutes in Edwards, Xander begins to pack and put on his sweat stained lacrosse
clothes. He slowly makes his way up the stairs to the lobby breathing loudly and hard with each
step he makes. Now, he is ready to teach.

Education majors at OWU must do some student teaching before graduation. He says he likes it, so far. He has done it for two weeks at this point. But Xander has more than just student
teaching to worry about. He is also a senior lacrosse member and has played the game for 14 spring seasons in total. Student teaching cuts into lacrosse but only on Wednesdays from 4-5:30
p.m. unless there is a game. Then he is allowed to miss class.

“I like to know what I need to do so (lifting) is quick,” Xander says.

Xander parks his car and walks into the Phi Delta Theta fraternity house. He presses his wallet on the door scanner. As it shows a green light, he clenches the handle and swings the door open while letting out a big heavy sigh. He walks past the latest fraternity composite that shows his name and his picture on the top row. “Secretary” appears under his name and picture. He
walks past it. He’s since been elected president of Phi Delta Theta.

“Xander did everyone’s job and I have no clue how he did it,” Andrew Gouhin said during one Chapter Advisory Board meeting. Gouhin is now the acting president.

Xander slowly opens his bedroom door and turns on the light. He throws his workout bag on the couch at the foot of his bed. He is still the only one out of 30 people, in his house, who is awake. Shaking his protein in his red bottle, Xander walks downstairs to the dining room. He opens the door to reveal a messy, unorganized and cluttered dining hall. He complains about how
people need to take care of the kitchen. He also complains about how those messy people are the reason the kitchen is locked. He usually keeps his food in the kitchen but had to move it last night before the kitchen steward locked it again. His breakfast was stored in a blue Bud Light case with duck tape covering the edges. He put it together to deter his house mates from taking his food while they spent whole night drinking and socializing. He puts on a collared shirt, dress pants and puts on his OWU lacrosse jacket. He is ready for school.

Flamm says Xander is a natural at teaching and helping out others. One of his greatest qualities is his ability to coach and teach, says Flamm.

“We need more people like him.”

By Kienan O’Doherty, Editor-In-Chief

Yet another major talent will try to take Ohio Wesleyan University by storm.

Hasan Minhaj, comedian and senior correspondent on “The Daily Show with Trevor Noah,” will perform at Ohio Wesleyan University’s Bishop Bash 2018.  He will take the stage at 7 p.m. April 7 in Gray Chapel.

Minhaj’s performances have been described by critics as “electrically witty, of course … [b]ut he doesn’t so much wisecrack as amplify the exasperation he feels over the state of things around him. … The comedy comes from compassion, from a hope for improvement.”

Minhaj announced recently that he would be launching a weekly talk show on Netflix summer, making him the first Indian-American to host a weekly comedy show.

“I’m thrilled to be joining the Netflix family as the country braces for another election season,” Minhaj said in a prepared statement, “and like you, I cannot wait to find out who Putin picks this time.”

Of Minhaj, Netflix’s vice president of content, Bela Bajaria, told reporters: “He’s a phenomenal writer with a distinct point of view. He is a brilliant performer, who is hilarious both on stage and off. And, more importantly, he isn’t afraid to share his thoughtful voice and unique perspective.”

In addition to appearing on the “The Daily Show,” Minhaj also has appeared on Netflix’s “Arrested Development,”HBO’s “Getting On,” and Comedy Central’s “@midnight.” He served as host of the 2017 White House Correspondents’ Dinner, and his first stand-up comedy special, “Homecoming King,” debuted on Netflix last year.

President’s Club President Paul Heithaus is beyond excited to have Minaj come to campus.

“It’s a dream come true,” Heithaus said. “This is something I’ve looked to find in Bishop Bash throughout my entire time at Ohio Wesleyan. I’m thrilled that President’s Club and the Campus Programming Board (CPB) could partner to bring in and individual who is making his way into the mainstream beyond his work with “The Daily Show” on Comedy Central”

General admission tickets for Minhaj’s Ohio Wesleyan performance are $5. Tickets are free for Ohio Wesleyan students and employees with a valid university ID. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m.

Bishop Bash 2018 is sponsored by the President’s Club and by CPB, a student organization that brings a wide variety of events to campus, including festivals, a cappella concerts, comedians, and novelty acts.

By Maddie Matos, A&E Editor

Leadership roles on and off campus provide new insight to professors who will serve as a Fellow on the American Council on Education (ACE). 

Dale J. Brugh, professor of chemistry at OWU was nominated for the role by President Rock Jones.

Brugh was accepted onto the council and Jones will also serve as mentor to Brugh during his time on the council.

The American Council on Education’s purpose is to “strengthen U.S. higher education by identifying and preparing faculty, staff, and administrators for senior positions in college and university leadership,” an OWU press release said.

Brugh completed a lengthy application process after the nomination, with applications and interviews throughout the fall and early spring semester.

Brugh will be one of forty-five people on the council, making his acceptance well appreciated.

“I feel honored and excited.” Brugh said. “It is a great opportunity to learn more about how higher education institutions work and to improve my ability to contribute,”

Being on the council will prevent Brugh from teaching for a year. Instead, Brugh will complete activities for the council that will strengthen his work as a professor and leader on campus.

“While I am [an ACE] Fellow, I will participate in retreats, interactive learning opportunities, and visits to campuses and other higher education-related organizations.” Brugh said. “I will also be placed at another higher education institution for the entire year. There I will work on projects relevant to that institution,”

The council picked their fellows off criteria relating to the skills that they have presented, and how those skills will serve them in the future. Participants in the program often become senior officials at their institutions.

“ACE Fellows are selected based on their potential to positively impact ‘the effectiveness, innovation, and direction’ of higher education.” Jones said in a press release. “Dale has shown repeatedly that he possesses this ability,”

Brugh has experience with leadership roles on college campuses. He is the chair of the Faculty Personnel Committee at OWU, which reviews and updates faculty members on campus.

Brughs also assists in the selection of new majors and minors, update course scheduling and help student acceptance into graduate programs.

By Jacob Paxson, Transcript Correspondent

“A new nation needs to step up to combat climate change during the United States’ absence as leaders under the Trump administration,” Joshua W. Busby said.

Joshua W. Busby, Ph.D is a University of Texas-Austin associate professor and senior research fellow for the Climate and Security Center, spoke at Ohio Wesleyan University in the Hamilton-Williams Campus Center on Thursday, March 22 during an event sponsored by the International Studies Program and the Arneson Institute for Practical Politics and Public Affairs.

There were around sixty people from the OWU campus and Delaware area who engaged in the discussion and were genuinely interested in his speech about the current state of climate change globally and the work being done to combat the issue.

Busby began with the issue of the United States’ intent to withdraw from the Paris Climate Agreement, which countries sign to pledge a decreased percentage of annual gas emissions, removing themselves as a large player in reducing pollution and potentially being a large overseer of other countries to make sure they keep their agreements.

He still stated optimism about the future of the United States’ role in preventing climate change as an official withdrawal can’t take place until 2020 immediately after the next presidential election.

Although Busby fears the negative impact that the Trump administration’s vacancy will have he offered ideas for candidates to relieve the duties of the United States giving confidence that the problem will lessen between now and 2020 without United States leadership.

“This is a global issue that impacts everyone’s lives negatively and that should make them want to help,” Busby said. “We need commitments be enforced for reducing emissions; the current state of policy is not very official and countries to not need to uphold their pledges.”

He stated that the leading candidates to help prevent the current course of temperature increases annually are: China, India, Northern California and the European Union. These areas have worldly influence and can cut their own emissions to help further the process.

Despite stating that an effective leader emerging is the best solution, Dr. Busby does bring up some issues that could make reaching this solution difficult.

“It is difficult to prevent everyone from polluting with much of the pollutants coming from private actors and there are 190 countries to try to convince that they need to reduce their annual emissions,” Busby said. “Natural gas is the present and very problematic, but it is difficult to transition to fully renewable energy; the middle east would lose most its income being forced to change means of production,”

This transition being unable to happen quickly and having a challenging time convincing all countries to heavily regulate pollutants makes it difficult to lower annual emissions. This is a
main point he states as to why climate change needs a strong leader and attention as a bunch of smaller problems in which countries will work together to combat the problem.

“The top four countries account for 60 percent of the emissions in the world and two of them, the United States and China are not playing a productive role in trying to cut their own emissions and help hold other countries accountable,” Busby said.

He said that many of the major polluters are not cutting back on emissions, climate change advocacy meetings are not very productive and there isn’t nearly enough funding with only $10 billion raised between 2015-2018 where the expected value to combat climate change is $100 billion annually.

“We need to address climate change and understand the problem better. With a leader to successfully enforce lower emissions the problem can be mitigated,” Busby said. “The plan for the future is to be highly ambitious in 2020, have the United States reclaim leadership to bring about change at the Paris Climate Agreement Global Stocktake in 2023.”