Sports
Sophomore Meghan Taylor is the first-ever Transylvanian woman to go to the NCAA tournament. pg. 6
The
Rambler
April 2, 2015 • VOL. 97 , ISSUE 22
Transylvania University • Lexington, Ky. • transyrambler.com • (859) 233-8315
Update: Pi Kappa Alpha returns to campus, again rasmith15@transy.edu
In what has proved to be a tumultuous year for the Kappa chapter of Pi Kappa Alpha (Pike), the men are once again active members. The chapter won its April 1 judiciary appeal in regards to accusations of hazing levied on the chapter in mid-February. The chapter was initially suspended on Feb. 14. They were charged with “violating the student code of conduct” and were sanctioned with suspension. The charges surrounded an alleged hazing incident which occurred in early February during pledging ceremonies in the Pike chapter room. They were able to file for an appeal in early March. Pike President junior Richard Shufelt said in an interview with The Rambler at that time that the chapter planned to gather new materials to present with their appeal. “It was certainly unnerving going through this process for the past two months,” said Shufelt in an email statement. The appeal was especially emotional for the men, as many felt that their first hearing was not a fair trial. Senior Pike member Ajibola Bakare wrote a petition called “Say Something; Give us a
Fair Trial” on Feb. 26 which claimed that “most of these allegations lacked any con-
not true.” Members said this appeal has made them feel much bet-
decision, and we’re happy that we got so much support from the Transy community,”
faith in Transy.” To other members, the decision has brought a sense
SARAH ALLISON
Rachel Smith
The Pikes seek interested potential new members at this year’s Involvement Fair. After a year of ups and downs, the chapter is back on campus.
crete evidence and we tried to defend ourselves because we knew for a fact that they were
ter about the community that surrounds them. “We’re happy with the
said senior member Jared Catron. “We’re glad the system worked and reestablished our
of relief. “It’s had me on edge and sleepless for many nights,”
Buzzworthy, Part II: What now? rasmith15@transy.edu
A series of BuzzFeed essays written by an alumna sparked various emotions from people on campus which ranged from validated to sad to angered—and sometimes, that was all within one person. The first of the essays, titled “A Black Girl’s History with Southern Frat Racism,” was published on March 19. In it, author Tracy Clayton ’04 detailed some of her experiences at Transylvania, alleging that “daily acts of racism occurred in front of my face.” In her article, Clayton specifically mentions the Transylvania Kappa Alpha (KA) Order chapter as displaying Confederate flags and being unwelcoming to students of color, particularly black students. “The experiences described by the reporter when she attended the school in 2000-2004 are unacceptable,” said current KA President junior Josh Buckman in an email statement. “There is no place for racially insensitive words or actions.” He continued, “Our fraternity's values of gentlemanly conduct and respect for others are paramount in all of our interactions on campus and with others. We are looking forward to opportunities on and off campus to promote inclusiveness. Our chapter, as a whole and as individual members, is actively getting involved to ensure we play a part in moving our campus commu-
nity in the right direction.” Acting Director of Diversity and Inclusion Serenity Wright ’05 was one reader who had mixed emotions about Clayton’s essays, and one who agreed with Buckman in that things are moving in a bit of a different direction now. “From my personal reaction, I was appalled—I was angered, I was hurt—on a lot of different levels,” said Wright. Wright said that, as someone who attended Transy at the same time as Clayton, she felt that Clayton had not done enough research into how much progress the
So now it’s just a matter of how are we going to move, and are we giong to move together? -Serenity Wright, acting director of diversity and inclusion university had made in the last 15 years. “I hear her, that it’s part of her healing process, and I get that,” said Wright. “And while I think that some students feel validated by the national publication of her feelings, it wouldn’t surprise me if some also felt discounted because there’s no mention of the hard work they’ve put in to make this
place better.” Students expressed both of these sentiments in their initial reactions to the article. “I felt very validated, because a lot of those things were things my friends and I had been saying our entire time at Transy—specifically the part when she talked about transferring,” said junior Angelica Miller. President Carey has launched a new campus diversity initiative called Project One. For more information, see page 2.
Miller, along with other members of the Black Student Alliance and several sociology students, organized a demonstration shortly after the essays were published to protest against the way the university handled Clayton’s words. “We really felt that the university wasn’t taking the article seriously,” said Miller. At the same time, said Miller, she was frustrated that the university had missed an opportunity by not acknowledging progress made by staff, faculty and students in the recent years. “(The university) could have used it as a launching pad to showcase the efforts that they have done, and instead they didn’t,” she said. “They basically closed their ranks. And that’s not useful for projecting a progressive image. It’s also not useful for validating your staff who are
doing that work on a day-today basis.” Wright, on the other hand, said she still hoped that these essays might help push her office toward bigger, more tangible change on campus. “My job right now as is, is supposed to be focused on solely student programming, and that’s not going to be enough,” said Wright. “For me, I want to continue to be a place where students can come and vent; where they can express their feelings; where they can get help; where, if they have an idea, we can use the weight of this office to carry it forward; where I can advocate for them, whether it’s socially or academically. I’m hopeful that (Clayton’s essay) continues to give amplification to all of the voices on campus working towards creating an inclusive environment.” While it might do that at some point, some students feel that there are many important dialogues which will lead to that destination. Sophomore Justin Wright, who helped organize a series of community forums alongside fellow sophomore Teddy Salazar and junior Brooke Jennett, said he feels that letting everyone react to these essays before attempting to move forward will be key. “It’s a whole systematic thing, and we need to address this,” said Parker. “If this is the place that we start, that’s great, but we need to go further.” These conversations
News Briefs
SARAH ALLISON
Rachel Smith
• The Student Activities Board sponsored Bubble Soccer as part of Spring Week. The events lasted from March 23-28 and included service activities like the Great American Clean-Up, as well as some slightly less serious events, one of the most popular of which was Bubble Soccer. •The Beck Center will be closed this weekend on Saturday and Sunday in honor of Easter. • The Rambler is currently taking applications for editor positions for the 2015-16 school year. For more information, contact Tyler Young at tyoung@transy.edu. • There will be a networking workshop on Monday, April 6. It will discuss “Using LinkedIn to build your personal brand and grow your network.” The workshop will count as a Creative Engagements event and will take place at 6 p.m. in the Campus Center Gym. Questions can be directed to Susan Rayer. • The United Nations Association-USA Ky. Division will host their annual meeting on Transylvania’s campus on April 11. It will feature a luncheon and a panel on “Women’s rights, women’s plight.” The event is open to all; it is free for students and $25 for others. To RSVP, contact Rachel Smith at rasmith15@transy. edu.
See Buzz, Page 3
Find The Rambler online at www.transyrambler.com. Single Copy Free
said Shufelt of the appeal. “I’m so thankful to put this behind us, but we look to this experience as bringing us closer than ever. Through the face of adversity you see someone's true colors.” The chapter was not allowed to meet for any reason during the abbreviated suspension, so planning, both for this year and next, and dues collection have been on hiatus for two months. “We have a lot of work to do, but we're excited to be back with our fellow Transy community,” said Shufelt. It is this potential future, and this connecion the members have, which is keeping the chapter going. “It feels great to be back honestly,” said senior member Ben Crosier. “It was a struggle for us but we’re happy to be back, happy that we were able to face some challenges and win. We’ve faced so much adversity this year and the past year, with one thing after another that we kept getting hit with. We keep persevering and diving forward and proving that we do want to be here, we do want to be successful, and we are committed to this fraternity and this campus.” Editor’s note: Additional reporting by Mattie Bruton.
Campus Life
Page 2
April 2, 2015
Carey announces ‘Project One’ diversity initiative Megan Graft
mjgraft18@transy.edu
President Seamus Carey announced the brand new diversity and inclusion initiative ‘Project One’ at 9:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Apr. 1 in the Campus Center gym to a crowd of over 100 students, faculty and staff. Project One is Transylvania’s effort to “intentionally foster and build a diverse and inclusive Transylvania Community” and to “deepen its already strong commitment to a diverse and inclusive campus,” according to flyers passed out before the start of the announcement. The project will include initiatives to diversify recruitment, speaker series and curriculum “in order to heighten awareness and sensitivity around issues of diversity.” Project One was developed over the past week largely in
response to recent events surrounding diversity issues. Carey compared diversity initiatives at Transy to the story of a pair of tourists in Rome, who thought they were headed in the right direction but, upon reaching a clearing, realized they had missed their destination by a long shot. “We had an event which forced us to sort of take stock of where we are, where we’ve been,” said Carey. “Sometimes we’re moving forward, and we feel like we’re going in the right direction, but sometimes... the paths we’re walking on might be paths of habit... convenience... prejudice... foolishness... and those paths, while we’re on them, might not feel like they’re that wrong, but they end up leading us some place we don’t want to get to.” Carey appealed to Transy students, staff and faculty to be the “ground” from which
growth will occur. He elaborated on the need for everyone to participate and have conversations to start making small steps collectively in the right direction; to build a “common road” towards a more inclusive community into which individual efforts will feed, making big changes over time. “Every small step we take is necessary, as are the stumbles,” said Carey. “But the small steps we take are not successes in themselves, just as every stumble is not the end of the road… and we keep going, as the civil rights leaders said, ‘with our eyes on the prize….’ and as we do, the past takes on new meaning all the time.” Carey said it will take courage for students, faculty and staff to start these conversations and to intentionally make an effort to understand the people around them as human beings. “This isn’t going to be
Students at AOII fundraiser
SARAH ALLISON
SARAH ALLISON
get sticky for good cause
The AOIIs used their name as an inspiration this year in one of their fundraisers. To the left, senior Kristen Pope pies sophomore Evan Reister in the face for a challenge. To the right, from left to right, sophomores Shelby Perkins, Grace Fons and Finley Yuttayong prepare for the challenges. The funds raised went to the Markey Cancer Center at UK.
easy… ‘All great things are as difficult as they are rare,’” said Carey, quoting Danish philosopher Baruch Spinoza. “We will become a model school for the country,” said Carey. “I know all of you have the ability to do this. You are the best student body I have been around... You’re going to drive this, and we’re going to help you.” The most powerful avenue for changes, said Carey, is initiative from students. “Any change that is going to be sustained over time has to come from the ground,” said Carey. “I believe that real, sustained change comes from those affected most by it.” Project One includes an organized task force led by Director of Diversity and Inclusion Serenity Wright, composed of students, staff, faculty, administration and alumni whose job it is to guide the conversation
among the campus community. Some goals of the task force are to increase levels of engagement from the surrounding community that is directly affected by campus activities, streamline communication among Transy’s various diversity-based organizations and implement additional diversity and inclusion programs and events. Carey highly encourages all students, staff and faculty to offer their input on these conversations and issues, but only in ways that will further the solution. “I don’t want any negativity,” said Carey. “This school’s too small to have people dissenting for the sake of dissent.” Diversity issues are also intricately tied to the academic mission and curriculum. Carey said that the academic experience “needs to guide the other things” and challenge students to think about these issues open-
mindedly. “You cannot go out into society and not have engaged these issues,” said Carey. Overall, Carey is optimistic about the potential for progress and the progress Transy has already made. “I am absolutely proud of the commitment to diversity on this campus,” he said. More information about Project One can be found on its website: transy.edu/ProjectOne. Carey advises students to relax, be humble and be a part of the conservation. “We need to work together - all of us,” said Carey. “You can be angry, you can be dismissive… but you’ve got to get on the same path that we’re all going to be on… we’re going to do this intentionally, and I want all of you to become leaders… when we do that, we write a whole new story.”
Inaugural diversity dinner welcomes alumni Rachel Smith rasmith15@transy.edu
The original invitations for the first-ever “Celebration of Diversity” dinner have a different date, but the concept remains the same. The dinner, originally scheduled for Feb. 17, has now been moved to April 11 at 6 p.m. The original date was one of the handful on which Transy cancelled classes due to snow. Acting Director of Diversity and Inclusion Serenity Wright helped organize the event with much help from students throughout the planning process. “The purpose (of the dinner) is to provide students of diverse backgrounds (a chance) to meet and talk with alumni and other invested faculty and staff in a shared experience,” she said, adding, “Nothing like this has ever been done before. Students were never really given a space to call their own.” Some students were sent formal invitations, but anyone can attend as long as they RSVP to Wright as soon as possible. “We started with anybody who checked a box who, coming in, checked a box other than white. Then, I reached out to RAs and other student leaders on campus as well as some faculty and just asked them to extend the invitation to anybody else who they thought should be included,” said Wright. “But we’ve really never said anybody is excluded.” The event is free to students and includes a catered dinner and a speaker, Wayne Lewis, who is an assistant professor and principal leadership program chair in the department of educational leadership
studies at the University of Kentucky. He is also affiliated with the African American and Africana studies program at the university. His current research is on the shift which universities are making away from writing diversity and inclusion as separate initiatives in their strategic
As we try and become a more inclusive environment, everybody needs to feel celebrated. -Serenity Wright, acting director of diversity and inclusion plans. According to Wright, his findings could prove very interesting given Transy’s current position with diversity and inclusion. “By having a diversity focus, an intentional separate element of diversity in these plans, it forces universities to pay strict attention to it, but… this office exists because it gets left behind,” said Wright. She continued, “I think his research now could be very telling toward what commitment universities are really making to diversity. I think it would be amazing if what he found was that the schools who have dropped the (written initiatives) have really actually made it work so that they have become truly inclusive environments, but I also think it will be very telling if his research shows otherwise.”
She said that events like this dinner are important in making sure people feel that this campus is not only a good place to get an education, but also a safe and comfortable environment to live. “As we try and become a more inclusive environment, everybody needs to feel celebrated,” she said. “That’s why you choose an institution— something about them made you feel special or made you feel drawn to them, whether that was just because they gave you more money or whether it was that you truly attached to the ethos of that place. Whatever it was, something drew you there. Something made you feel special; something made you feel included.” She said that, here, it is easy for students to feel overwhelmed by the amount of programming going on, and that this event was more about relaxing and connecting with alumni who have faced similar experiences to students today. “This dinner actually stemmed from an idea from students who really just wanted to celebrate who they were,” said Wright. Two of these students, junior Angelica Miller and senior Rayne Parker, will perform spoken word poetry to open the event. “I wanted there to be something that highlighted how truly creative our students were, and I didn’t just want it to be an, ‘Ahem, welcome.’ So I begged and begged, and they were more than willing to do that,” said Wright. She included that there would be built-in time for students to meet and talk with alumni.
Club Corner: TEAL expands enviromental action throughout campus, Lexington Kelsey Henry khenry18@transy.edu
Transylvania Environmental Action League (TEAL), led by its co-presidents juniors Kimberly Strickland and Ashley Frees, generates fun and interesting ways to spread environmental and sustainability awareness on the Transy campus TEAL meets on Wednesday nights in the Student Involvement Center at 9 p.m. Here, officers and club members discuss, plan and organize ways in which environmental issues can be resolved on and off campus. “My favorite aspect of the club is having a space and organization where we can advocate for something that is so important and long lasting,” said Strickland. TEAL easily provides multiple opportunities for
the Transy community to participate in environmental action every year. The next big project designed by TEAL is their annual Low-Impact Week during May Term. Coinciding with this year’s Spring Fling, Strickland and Frees will camp out on Thomson lawn with club members for three nights Low-Impact Week is occurring the first week of May term, April 22-24. In addition to the campout, a bonfire will be used to cook meals. Everyone is invited to participate in this event. “TEAL has shown real leadership in the area of sustainability by identifying issues of importance and engaging our community in those issues,” said Angela Poe, sponsor of TEAL and director of sustainability. TEAL holds events on campus,
in the Lexington community and throughout the state. Furthermore, the organization is attempting to establish an interdisciplinary sustainability major for incoming students. This year, campus administrators have begun to organize and plan for the installment of the major. Members of the club have offered interesting ideas to compliment the sustainability major. “We stated that we think a student in the sustainability major should have to work on one aspect of Transy's campus during their four years here to make that area more sustainable, so that the major would help give back to and improve the campus community,” said Strickland. In addition to advocating
for this interesting new major, “In the future we hope to TEAL has planted Transy’s com- become more involved in plantmunity garden for the past cou- ing fall plants and early spring ple of years. However, most of plants so that we will be here during their growth season,” said Strickland. TEAL’s environmental acTEAL students are tivism has expanded its usefulactively dedicating their ness beyond Transy’s campus. Whether rallying against fracktime and other resources ing and mountaintop removal toward the issues they or going on overnight nature care about, and, by doing hikes, TEAL students leave so, making a positive campus with a strong desire to impact on our campus protect the earth’s resources. “TEAL students are acand beyond. tively dedicating their time and -Angela other resources toward the isPoe, director of sues they care about, and, by sustainability and TEAL doing so, making a positive adviser impact on our campus and beyond,” said Poe. Strickland encourages any the plants are summer bloomers, who are interested in environso TEAL cannot cultivate them. mental issues to attend a meeting
or be placed on the email list. Because TEAL is so active on and off campus, the opportunities to participate in environmental action are endless. In fact, Strickland’s favorite aspect of the club is the activity on campus. “Protecting our environment and sustainably using our resources is so crucial not only for our future but for generation beyond us, so I really love having a venue to fight for initiatives and practices that will protect our environment,” said Strickland. For more information about meeting times and events, or with any other questions, contact Strickland at kstrickland16@ transy.edu. Next year’s events and meetings will be identified with flyers on campus and emails to those on the email list.
Etcetera
Page 3
P.S. Nevermind
Here’s your ecard for the week. Should you have one you would like to see here, email its link or a photo of it to the Etcetera Editor to ajmenes15@transy.edu.
April 2, 2015
T R A N S Y
MAD LIBS Adjective ____________________________ Profession ___________________________ Adverb _____________________________ Plural noun __________________________ Verb+ing ____________________________ Noun _______________________________ Name of store ________________________ Animal _____________________________ Food _______________________________ A liquid _____________________________
A language __________________________ Verb+ing ____________________________ Adjective ____________________________ Plural noun __________________________ Plural animal _________________________ Adjective ____________________________ Another profession ____________________ Past tense verb _______________________ Number _____________________________ A scent _____________________________
The Shopping Center As a liberal arts student, I have been trained to perceive the imperceivable. I am also an undercover detective, which means that I only get paid if I locate evidence of _______ Adjective
Image created via someecards.com by Ameka Menes
Fit for a king: part 1
Tyler Dunham
twdunham15@transy.edu
“But, my lord, with all respect, d’you have any proof?” The audience chamber, which was small but designed with acoustics in mind, reverberated with the sounds of a lyre, strings paid for the sole purpose of soothing the prince’s turbulent soul. The tapestries and various cushions were a royal lavender, constantly reminding both speaker and listener of their places in life. These dulcet tones and vibrant colors were preventative measures enacted by the king, and yet they were being proven useless by this single man and his caged pleas. A man of twenty-five, Prince Dorman had been trusted by his father to attend to the kingdom while he was away on a mission of peace. Since childhood, he had been groomed for this position, taught the ways of diplomacy and the weight of the throne. But not all was well in his lessons; paranoia had crept into his studies, whispers from servants and advisers of dark magics in the land. Becoming an adult had not dismissed these superstitions, and combined with the prince’s impetuous nature, the mere mention of witchcraft had triggered an
immediate response. Beautifully sculpted with piercing eyes, the prince’s face had become marred by furrowed brows. “There is no respect in questioning your ruler. Strange happenings, workers disappearing from the fields, famine – all classic signs of devil magic. I would not expect one such as you to know, though.” The dismissal stung the visitor’s heart. True, Marcus was not much more than a farmer, but he had educated himself in the ways of the world to the best of his ability. His appearance betrayed his youth and knowledge: twenty-eight years of tending the king’s lands had made his skin hard and his eyes empty, simple clothes that were easy to mend, the best of which were discolored from years of abuse. He did not know of magic, but he did know a fool when he saw one. “There’s no witch in my village, dear prince. Only coincidences. I know every soul there, an’ not one of them would know the first thing about makin’ deals with demons.” Shrill laughter resonated from the mouth of the prince, completely overtaking the lyre and causing Marcus to flinch away. “Of course they
Buzz must begin somewhere, and to Parker, validating experiences is a good place to start—while keeping in mind that the process is a two-way street. “A lot of people on this campus come from areas where these things aren’t something that is talked about or even thought about,” said Parker. “So we need to address that as well. It’s an educational void, an awareness void, on various issues.” These conversations must begin somewhere, and to Parker, validating experiences is a good place to start—while keeping in mind that the process is a two-way street. “A lot of people on this campus come from areas where these things aren’t something that is talked about or even thought about,” said Parker. “So we need to address that as well. It’s an educational void, an awareness void, on various issues.” Many times, groups are discouraged from attempting to fill this void because they
wouldn’t. You are peasants. But you could have been approached by a devil. Taught their ways. There is no way of knowing for sure. So to ensure that the culprit is dealt with your village is to be razed.” Marcus’ heart raced. “I can’t sacrifice one of my neighbors to make you happy. So I won’t condemn a soul who done nothing wrong. But I also won’t lay down and let this happen.” Dorman smirked. “So, what? You want me to simply forget it? Leave a sickly black spot on my kingdom to fester?” “No. I want to prove th’ quality of my people to you. Give me a task. I’ll represent them myself and complete it f’r all of us.” Silence. For all the acoustic wonders which the room provided, only the breathing of the two men could be heard. A pin dropping would have been like cannonfire. Then, the prince spoke. “Very well. If you’re so intent on this, then I’ll grant your wish. Here is your task: I want you to write a story for me. A long, wondrous tale that will lift my heart into higher planes. You have five days to do so. And on the fifth day, if your story does not satisfy me, you will bear sole responsibility for their fate.”
activity. Therefore in true _________ form I headed down to the shopping center in HamProfession
burg this weekend. Once there, I parked _______ and pulled out my ________. I watched a Adverb
Plural noun
woman tend to a ________ infant and an angry father smoke a ________ while his child and Noun
Verb+ing
wife went inside __________. I saw a business person head into store after store inquiring Name of store
after management. Most astonishingly, I was observing a(n) ________ pecking at dropped Animal
_______ when a grandma appeared magnified in my view. She dabbed ________ on her Food
A liquid
wrists and neck as she yelled at me in _________ (translated here for your convenience, A language
reader), “What are you _________ me for, you _________ bag of rotten __________?!” Verb+ing
Plural noun
Adjective
I rolled down my window and told her I was waiting for the endangered _________ to Plural animal
show up, but I may have said it wrong (my ___________ is not that good) for next thing I Same profession
knew she had smashed a dent into my hood with her ________ purse. It was at this point Adjective
that I called _____________ while she continued her angered activity, then calmly invited Another profession
her into the passenger seat for some cookies. She obliged and I stalled her until the police ___________. I knew I was in for a big payday, as I had finally caught the person who had Past tense verb
stolen the shopping center’s sacred pagoda garden gnome worth _______ million. It was in Number
her large purse, all angles and smelling of ________. A scent
Captioning Captain
Everyone loves to read a humorous caption that fits just right with its picture. Here you have the opportunity to do this yourself with the photos below. Should you come up with something that you would like to share with the rest of the Transy community, email it to the Etcetera editor (ajmenes15@transy.edu) and we’ll rerun the photo with your caption. All students, faculty and staff are welcome to participate.
From Page 1
do not want to appear insensitive, according to Serenity Wright. “I know there are white students on this campus who feel that they can’t have conversations with minority students because they’re afraid they’re going to get their head bit off or they’re afraid they’re going to be told, ‘That’s stupid,’ or ‘You don’t know. You can’t sympathize with me. You’ve never felt…’ And that’s really unfortunate on both sides, because who’s to say that person hasn’t felt any aspect of oppression?” she said. “Diversity includes a lot of different things. It’s not just, did you check a box that says you’re not white?” To Serenity Wright, this means that everyone embodies some kind of diversity; as such, it becomes a greater struggle for everyone. “We as minority students can’t just speak about these issues to ourselves,” said Justin Wright. “If we’re going to do what the university preaches about open and successful dialogue, we have
to speak about these issues that happen to minority students, and through them, we have to speak to non-minority students.” Serenity Wright said she recognized that students, faculty and staff who identify as part of a minority group are tired of taking on this burden, but she hopes that through programming like the microaggressions workshops that she has helped sponsor—the next of which is scheduled for April 30—this kind of intervention will continue getting easier. “As my first boss told me as a young teacher advocating for my students, count to 10 before you respond,” said Serenity Wright. “I think we all need to remember to take a deep breath. I don’t think there’s anybody on this campus who can say they don’t care, or who truly doesn’t care.” She continued, “So now it’s just a matter of how are we going to move, and are we going to move together?”
From where did this confrontation stem?: ________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________
About what is this fortune cookie warning?: ______________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________
Opinion
Page 4
letters to the editor
Title IX resources available to students
Dear Transylvania Community, A few weeks ago an anonymous comment submitted to the “Transy Says” feature stated “The Transy community creates a culture of silence when issues of sexual assault arise. I don’t know how to expose it or what to do. I can’t blame the girls for being scared but every time the boy gets away with it, he is enabled to do it again.” Ashley Hinton-Moncer and Ashley Gutshall would like to address these concerns and share the resources provided by our campus to help students affected by any form of violence. Ashley Hinton-Moncer is Transylvania’s Title IX Coordinator as well as the Director of Health and Wellness. Whenever a Title IX concern is reported using the Title IX report form, these reports go directly to her. Ashley Gutshall is the Coordinator for Interpersonal Violence Prevention Programming as well as the Assistant Director of Residence Life. She serves as a Title IX investigator, campus
Editorial cartoon Jesse Johnson jdjohnson15@transy.edu
Scanned by CamScanner
April 2, 2015
advocate, and Green Dot Coordinator. A major component of Ashley Gutshall’s work is to provide educational programming for the campus community around issues of violence. Some of the topics addressed include domestic violence, sexual violence, stalking violence, bystander accountability, and child abuse awareness. These issues are all closely connected to Title IX allowing Ashley Hinton-Moncer and Ashley Gutshall to work together to help bring about an end to violence in our community. Students are also able to report Title IX issues (which cover any form of gender discrimination) to any faculty, staff member, or resident advisor in order to receive help and accommodations. They can also submit reports anonymously through the Title IX Report on the DPS or Health and Wellness webpages. These reports can have as much or as little information in them as the reporter wants to share. However, the more information provided, the better Ashley
Hinton-Moncer can investigate the situation. Ashley Hinton-Moncer works through the complainant (the person who submitted the concern or who the concern is about) to help them remedy the impact of the concern, as well as prevent further harassment. These remedies can include moving residence halls, switching classes, working with professors to get extensions on assignments and many other solutions. Students also have the right to file a report with DPS or to pursue legal or judicial charges. The process is as student-driven as possible and the wishes of the student are respected as much as possible. We can understand how this may be perceived as a “culture of silence,” but often one of the greatest wishes of students who file complaints is confidentiality and we want to respect this. If any student, faculty or staff member is interested in planning a program or event around violence prevention, please contact
Here are the sayings of every-day Transylvanians I find in the boxes around campus. They are unedited, except for those that are too explicit, libelous, or esoteric. The Rambler is … superior to the Shambler! -Sir Thomas Jefferson I guess it’s ok to incriminate people without evidence. -Anonymous Amanda Schweighauser is so awesome! -Anonymous Transy wants their students to be poor when they graduate. -Anonymous Bring the … Pikes back. -Anonymous Beth in the Raf rocks! -Anonymous Sometimes when I get hungry at night, nothing is open. -No food for me L (Break my heard ’80) Library should be open at 6am! -Anonymous I have so many things that I want to say: 1. Katie Stuempfle is bae. 2. Emily Wessel is cool as (poop). 3. Tatum Isaacs is also cool as (poop). 4. I don’t want to write my Western Civ
Ashley Gutshall at agutshall@transy.edu. If anyone would like more information about Title IX, including learning more about our policies and the university response to complaints, please contact Ashley HintonMoncer at ahinton@transy.edu. The safety and well-being of our students is a primary concern. We want to provide assistance and help to anyone who has been affected by violence or who wants to get more involved in helping end these issues on campus and in our community. We know that students of any gender can be affected by violence and our job is to help make Transy as safe as possible. Sincerely, Ashley Gutshall and Ashley HintonMoncer
TRANSY SAYS
paper because history sucks. 5. Chacos > Tevas 6. Backstreet Boys > N*Sync 7. MAY TERM PLAY TERM! P.S. Happy birthday Cordelia! #piosby90 #catsby90 -Anonymous When we are unhurried and wise, we perceive that only great and worthy things have any
permanent and absolute existence, that petty fear and petty pleasures are but the shadow of reality. -Thoreau I found the image below amusing. I found it in the box, needed some more content, and made the decision to publish it. -Jesse “Hot” Johnson
CHEERS AND JEERS
Letters to the Editor Letters should be: No more than 400 words. The Rambler reserves the right to cut letters to the editor to fit our length requirements, and we may edit your letters to fix grammar or spelling mistakes. Signed, with contact information. Full name and telephone number or e-mail address is needed. Letters must be original. We will not accept form letters.
Send your letters to: rambler@transy.edu
Rambler
The
Scanned by CamScanner
Jeers to the hooligans who took all of the pens from the Transy Says boxes. One of my top 10 parts of the week is opening up all of those boxes and examining the zeitgeist of the university. When someone puts something in the box, I hastily assume at least five other people share similar sentiment. five people is 0.5 percent of the campus, so it’s a big deal, at least in my mind. So when some butt munch takes the pens from the boxes, I have to go steal more from the Campus Center, and then I must suffer nasty glares from the poor work studies assigned to Involvement Center duty. And by nasty glares, I mean apathetic glances of either confusion or awe. Like, “why the heck is this bloke taking all of the pens?” or, “Oh my stars, this handsome stud just confidently committed theft with such majesty and grace. Our children will be just as brilliant and sexy.” Regardless, the lack of pens causes bystanders unwarranted and awkward sexual tension, and also impedes upon the number of Transy Says, thus making me work harder and produce more long winded Jeers that nobody wants. Cheers to Raf patrons for always pulling through and producing the most Transy Says. If I have enough points by the end of Mayterm, I’m buying all of you guys a cookie. Jeers to August term forcing juniors into a dilemma between choosing experiencing the
last May term of the best class Transylvania has ever had the pleasure of accepting, the Glorious Class of the Year of Our Lord MMXV, or their own last May wterm. Cheers to whoever was responsible for putting the pink advertisements together so plebes like me could finally figure out what the heck they said. Something about the senior art student gallery. Jeers to the fact that the advertisements brag about their effectiveness as advertisements. Art with self-awareness and arrogance both frighten and disgust me. Cheers to Trevor Noah for getting Jon Stewart’s job as host of The Daily Show on Comedy Central. I have seen that man live, and I almost suffered internal bleeding from his brand of dry humor. Now, I have heard theories that Comedy Central has but Noah on the job only as an “in-between” host. Basically, the idea is the producers know that nobody can replace Jon Stewart, and anybody put in his stead would receive nothing but fuming hatred from Daily Show fans. So they put in somebody that not only will fail, but fail miserably, and then replace him with someone else, who will be received immediately as the host that “saved the Daily Show.” However, I will call absolute bull crap, as Trevor Noah is a very talented comedian and incredibly intelligent. Yes, no one can replace the genius of Stewart, but Noah will take The Daily Show in a new and great direction. Jeers that I only have one more edition of Cheers and Jeers, and this one was a little under par. However, due to the SGA platforms we must print, I will not have Cheers and Jeers next week, thus giving me two weeks to give you a brilliant, mindblowing experience, as intense a barrage to the senses as the printed word can provide.
Editor-in-Chief.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Rachel Smith Managing Editor.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Mattie Bruton Photo Editor.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sarah Allison News Editor.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Madison Crader Campus Life Editor.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Dave Neri ETC Editor.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ameka Menes OpinionEditor.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .JesseJohnson A&EEditor.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . JustineYentsch Chief Copy Editor.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Stacey Venneman Copy Editor.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Kaitlin Haggard Adviser.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .TylerYoung
A&E
Page 5
April 2, 2015
Multi-instrumentalist leaves legacy of devotion
A. It was an interesting story of how I got started playing [harp]. I used to really be interested in horses; I started riding horses when I was five - stereotypical Kentuckian, I know - and in second grade I kept asking my mom for a horse, but she wouldn’t budge. At the beginning of my third grade year, my mom and I went to a Louisville Orchestra concert, and we were focused on the lone harpist in the orchestra. Then, my mom promised that if I just gave harp lessons a shot and played for awhile, she would buy me my dream horse. As it turns out, mom never actually planned on buying me a horse… but fortunately, I found out that I liked playing harp much more than the
A. ...not every orchestra is used to having a harpist, and they often don’t have an arrangement for a piece with a harp part, so in high school I had to pick up another instrument on my own. There weren’t any cellos at my school, so I decided to try and learn that. I really enjoyed it for the four years in high school, so I continued to play in college as well. Q. What's the hardest part about playing harp? A. Probably counting all the rests I have in pieces. Sometimes I have 80 measures of rests before I play. But I’m only slightly joking; in reality, the most difficult aspect of playing harp is keeping track of the different pedals at the bottom of my harp. There are seven pedals, one for each note name, and three different sections of the pedal. The sections of the pedals can make whichever chosen note flat, natural or sharp simultaneously. It’s sometimes difficult to make sure I push the pedals with my feet at the right time because often I have to change multiple pedals at the same time. Q. What’s the most reward-
Senior art students show off skills before graduating from Transy SaVannah Rash smrash18@transy.edu
ing a father who instilled in them the importance of art to taking off when a box of crayons was placed in their hands. Their futures are just as varied, as many plan to go straight into the workforce while others plan on going to graduate school. As students gear up for the exhibit on April 10, they prepare more than just their art pieces. They must also prepare themselves. Students will have a speech that they must deliver to the audience during the opening. They must also prepare for criticism of their work. However, the students see this as something positive rather than negative. Campbell doesn’t see criticism as something to fear. “When someone criticizes my work, I like to ask them about why they don’t it, so I can get better,” she said. “It is a great learning experience.” Currently, over half of the exhibit has been sold to the TUSGA. The exhibition will contain all forms of art media and will have an opening reception on April 10 at 5 p.m. in the Morlan Gallery that will feature the artists and will have free food. The exhibit will be open the rest of the following week and is free to all. Students are encouraged to join and are promised an intellectually stimulating walk through the world of art that the graduating students have poured their heart and soul into.
As the seniors wrap up their final months at Transy, the graduating art majors are preparing their own final thesis through several forms of art. “The senior exhibition is the final show put on by the seniors. It can be a contemporary snapshot of their work up until the show or a composite of all their work done at Transylvania depending on how they want to present at the show,” said senior Luke Gnadinger. The senior exhibition is the “final” for Art Majors. The artists who will be presenting are Gnadinger, Stevie Morrison, Savanna Barnett, Chelsea Pharris and Richana Campbell. The students have been preparing for the art exhibit for months by choosing which pieces they want to present, which ones they plan to keep or sell, and how they want the exhibit to run. The students went through their art individually and chose the pieces that reflected their growth during their years at Transylvania. The students then came together and tried to loosely coordinate pieces to make the exhibit feel cohesive. This exhibit is more than just paying homage to the personal growth the artists have achieved the past few years, but a testament to dedication to art in the past and future. “It was hard to pick which pieces to put into the exhibit because I want them to fit together,” said Barnett. “I also wanted my art to show how I have grown and // Where: Morlan Gallery // how my art has changed over the years.” //When: April 10th-17th // The backstories for the graduating se- //Opening: April 10th, 5pm niors vary from hav- free food, admission is free//
the facts
Q. How might the nature of your instrument intersect with your personality, if it does at all? A. Playing the harp helped shape my personality because I started playing at a young age. Generally, in an orchestra, there’s only one or two harps, so a harpist has to learn to be independent and be confident in themselves. I think playing harp has definitely caused me to be more independent while playing in an orchestra and also in life in general. Q. Who are your musical inspirations? A. I would definitely say that my musical inspirations are all my lesson teachers and my orchestra directors. When I have the opportunity to see my lesson teachers perform, I’m always so impressed by their talent and how much joy can be seen on their faces while they are playing the instruments they love. I aspire to have their dedication and passion that
A. I don’t actually listen to music often outside of music classes or concerts, but I do listen to Ben Sollee because I can hear his love for music in his songs. His lyrics also harp on relatable and current topics in our society. Q. How has being involved in the music program influenced your overall Transy experience, educationally, socially?
COURTESY OF TRANSYLVANIA ORCHESTRA
Q. Tell me about your musical beginnings. What was the first instrument you played? How did you get involved with the instruments you play now?
Q. How’d you pick up cello?
A. Definitely when I’m performing a difficult piece and I finish it knowing I worked extremely long hours perfecting it. When I finish the piece and see the smiling faces of the audience members I’m performing for, all of the hours of practicing seem worth it.
they show so vividly when performing. Q. What music or artists do you like to listen to in your spare time?
A. It’s truly been a positive experience. I’ve met extremely talented people who make me want to practice harder so that I can be at their level. The Transy music program experience is very unique in my opinion because there are many people who love to play music, but also have passions for other things as well. I’m one of those people, and I’m grateful that I was able to pursue my Spanish passion while also getting to continue playing harp and cello.
Lydia Lee plays the harp (pictured) as well as the cello. She began playing the harp at first, but soon picked up the cello.
life without playing. Hopefully I could play at weddings and other events. It’s a really enjoyable instrument and it helps with stress, so I know I wouldn’t be able to stop completely.
Q. Do you plan to continue playing or be involved with music after Transy?
Q. Do you have a favorite memory from your time in Transy's music program?
A. I do plan on continuing playing harp after Transy. I don’t know how much it will be a part of my life, but I cannot imagine going through
A. My favorite memory without a doubt was when [orchestra director] Dr. Hawkins was able to make
it possible for us to have an individual session from [cellist] Ben Sollee. When he came to Transy for a concert, he had time available before and gave the entire orchestra a group lesson on how to play the style he plays in. He was such a down to earth celebrity, and helped our orchestra a lot. We even got to take selfies and awkward prom photos with him. It was an unforgettable experience I wouldn’t have had without the music program here.
Writing center workers produce a diverse musical compilation during semester SaVannah Rash smrash18@transy.edu
Write It Like Disaster is large project that focuses on the artistic aspects that writers do besides write. The project has amassed around 33 people together to make a free-to-all compilation that will be available online for 2 years. The compilation can be found at http://writeitlikedisaster.bandcamp.com/ releases. The compilation has a wide range of genres and has over 2 hours’ worth of content in it. Each song is recorded by a different artist in different conditions. One song may be recorded in a bedroom while another may be recorded in a professional studio. Write It Like Disaster is a collaborative effort between Scott Whiddon, director of Transylvania University’s Writing Center, and Stacia Watkins and Brad Walker of Lipscomb University with the help of the Southeast Writing Center Association. The project is the brainchild of Whiddon after he
began to notice people in the Writing Center talking about things they did besides writing. “So I asked, ‘What would happen if we brought these creative minds together?’” he said. The name of the project was taken from a line from Elizabeth Bishop’s poem “One Art”, a poem and poet revered by both Whiddon and Watkins. After the initial program was thought up, universities and individuals helped spread the word about the project and its intent. “It is free publicity and it looks good to have your name on a project like this. It is really beneficial to the artists,” said Whiddon. Soon after the project’s announcement and release, people began to volunteer their music, time and expertise to help the project grow and expand into what it is today. The project is finished now and has a new purpose, to impact as many people as it can.
This project shows the large amount of talent that can be found in writing centers and is often overlooked. “The project is the collaboration of so many people,” Whiddon said. “The musicians that donated their time and talent, the universities who helped this happen, the individuals who made this possible. It
is important to realize how big this project is in respects to both creative merit and people involved.” The Transylvania University Writing Center spends about 400-500 hours per semester helping students become better writers. Everyone is invited to come in and get help with their papers and more.
BANDCAMP.COM
Lydia Lee is a senior Spanish major and education minor with a passion for music. A multi-instrumentalist, she found a special place in Transylvania’s music program as a harpist, and also plays the cello. To honor her time at Transy as her senior year comes to a close, we asked Lydia to reflect on her musical experience at Transy and throughout her life.
ing part?
The free compilation is available for the next two years at http://writeitlikedisaster.bandcamp.com/
What’s new in Transy music program
Sophomore Alex Cesar (left) and first-year Timothy Baker (right) perform at the Three Choirs Concert March 29th. All three choral ensembles--Transylvania Choir, Singers, and Pioneer Voices presented their last pieces for the semester.
JUSTINE YENTSCH
mjgraft18@transy.edu
thought of owning my own horse, and I’ve been playing harp ever since. Plus, there’s way less cleaning up to do after a harp than a horse.
COURTESY OF TRANSYLVANIA UNIVERSITY
Megan Graft
The cast of winter semester’s Opera Workshop class, led by music faculty Brittany Benningfield, show their goofy side during practice. The performance, on April 7 at 7:30 p.m. in Carrick, will feature both musical pieces and opera.
Sports
Page 6
Sophomores lead ORLC Conference
April 2, 2015
Willett leads team with positive attitude Madison Crader mrcrader18@transy.edu
COURTESY OF SPORTS INFORMATION
Sophomore second baseman Lauren Willett is known by her team as a role model for positivity. She is humble in every situation in order to improve her game and to support the team. In addition, Willett has an internal drive that has helped her succeed in the game. “No matter what the situation, I try to see the positive and try to keep a positive attitude around the team,” said Willett. Even though Willett is a role model for her teammates, she still relies on them for a sense of family while at college. She describes a family atmosphere among the team members that creates a strong bond on and off the field. “A lot of people say that their teams are a family, but I genuinely feel that our team is a family when we get off of the field. I know that if I ever needed anything that they would have my back,” said Willett. This season has been sucThe men’s lacrosse team has made a total of 66 goals with their goals/game equaling 8.25. Cooper Fogle, pictured above, is a sophomore goalie for the men’s cessful so far for the Pioneers. lacrosse team and is one of the leading goalies in the conference. Fogle has the best goals against average and places on the leaderboards for saves and Currently undefeated in confergoals against. Two more sophomores, Zach Roby and Clark Watts are tied for eighth in goals scored for the ORLC, both having scored 14 goals. ence play, the Transylvania softIn the ORLC Transylvania’s record is tied with Saint Vincent’s and just behind Thiel College’s record. April 1 will be the team’s next game at Centre. The next ball team has responded well to conference match will be against Hanover on April 8 at Transylvania University. the new coaching and is going into each game on a positive note. Willett has enjoyed working with new Head Coach Shawn Hendrickson and appreciates all that he brings to the team. “We have had trouble with our coaching in the past but I feel like we have a solid foundation now that we will be able Coach Justin Corvin this has worked really hard and like the 50 freestyle that have done better but I will to build upon,” said Willett. “He Madison Crader season. Having been everyone is nervous but you Taylor swam at nationals, change that for next year.” genuinely cares for us as people, mrcrader18@transy.edu through conference in her are all a part of a nationals any little thing can make or For next year, Tay- not just as softball players. He is freshman year, and hav- family so it makes it better.” break the swimmer’s time. lor wants to be having the always looking for new ways to Taylor was not as For Taylor, her nerves defi- times she ended with this connect with us in order to get The NCAA National ing more confidence due Corvin’s coaching, happy about her perfor- nitely came in to play which season, before conference to where he knows we can be”. Championships is the pin- to The benefits of the new nacle of success for any boosted her performance mance at nationals as she affected her swimming. next season. Her plan is to coaching were evident for Wil“To start with, my be able to make the A time collegiate athlete. Transy level. She emphasized that wanted it to be. She swam let and the team in the preseason Corvin’s laid-back attitude as fast as she did in confersuit ripped which messed with improved times early has never had a swimmer back in the fall when they first and emphasis on having ence this year so she did with my head, and then on in the season. This will qualify for nationals unstarted training for this season. fun with their races really not regress, but she swam my nerves further messed allow her to go to confertil this year. Sophomore Meghan Taylor is the first helped improve the men- slower than she did in with my head,” she said. ence ready to compete at “In the beginning weeks we female Pioneer ever to tal aspect of her races and preparation for nationals. “As I was on the block my nationals and focusing on made huge strides. He has “You never want to go back foot was shaking and using conference races brought out things in people qualify and compete at relieved a lot of the presthe national competition. sure going in to a race. to a meet and swim slower not steady. Also soon as to prepare for nationals. that would not have happened “Having conference than you did three weeks we took our mark, the an“My experience this without him,” said Willett. “ Since the beginning under my belt from last year before,” said Taylor. “It nouncer stood us back up, year with nationals will He has made us realize our of the season, Taylor had made my races a lot betwasn’t a huge difference and that kind of stuff just make nationals next year potential as a good team and her eyes set on improvter this year,” said Taylor. I went 23.7 rather than a messes with me. As soon as easier if I make it because is bringing that potential out.” ing her times in each race The new perspective on hoping that she would “Also, Corvin let us play 23.3, but I am very hard on we went my start was not as I won’t be as nervous going the game for the women has make a qualifying time. basketball or soccer be- myself and I am very com- good as it could have been in to it having been there helped Willett improve her Swimmers can qualify for fore going in to the weight petitive. I hate not doing and it slowed me down for before,” said Taylor. “I want mental game in order to sucnationals by either swim- room. You didn’t know as well as I know I can.” sure. It sucks coming out of to compete for the top 10 ceed in more than just the physiWith the shorter races, the pool feeling like I could spots and not just be there.” ming an A-cut time, which you were working as hard cal aspect of the game. She as you were because you would automatically enfinds that knowing what she were just having fun with ter the swimmer into the needs to do before the pitch is it and enjoying yourself.” competition, or by swimthrown has improved her game Taylor described ming a B-cut time which in ways she did not expect. would qualify them for a nationals as a great With a humble attitude, Willett possible invite to compete. experience, but she accredited most of her success Taylor narrowly wishes she was able to the support of Hendrickson missed the A-cut time this to have someone there and her teammates, but her with her. Not having year, but received an inwork ethic has been a defining any teammates with vite to nationals via her Bfactor in her career that has alher made the race cut time of 23.34 seconds lowed her to get to this point. for the 50-yard freestyle. more nerve-wracking She has always excelled in Taylor said she feels for Taylor. In addition, the game, but her work ethic that her work ethic out of the before her race, her has allowed her to constantly pool is a major factor that suit ripped, making her play to the best of her ability. allowed her to accomplish even more nervous. “I have played softball my “Everyone there this feat. She is constantwhole life and I knew that I alwas so nice so it ly doing extra work in the ways wanted to continue playing wasn’t as intimidating gym and in the pool alongwhen I saw a lot of my friends side eating right and hav- as what it could have quitting their sports and going ing a good mental attitude. been,” said Taylor. “I more the social route,” said Wil“I think it takes a lot had a girl from another lett. “ It seemed easier to do that of willpower and deter- team know that I was instead of putting in these tons mination,” she said. “You there by myself and of hours every week and having she shook my hand bereally need to want it in to cut back on free time. Softfore the race. As intimorder to get there. I went ball was what I wanted to do idating as you think it into conference with a betso that never really mattered to ter attitude and had a lot is going to be, it is, but it more fun with it this year. “ is fun at the same time be- Taylor standing on the podium before her race at the 2015 NCAA National Championships in Hous- me. I gave up my summers for Taylor has enjoyed cause everyone is going for ton, Texas. She plans on qualifiing for nationals again next year early on so that she can train and it and traveled all the time in order for me to be the best I could working with new Head the same thing. Everyone focus on competing at nationals earlier in the season. be and now I couldn’t imagine my life without softball.” COURTESY OF MEGHAN TAYLOR
Taylor, first woman to swim for Pioneers at NCAA Nationals