Campus Life
Hyponotsit Richard Darshwood puts eight transy students to sleep. See page 2
The
Rambler
March 10, 2016 • VOL. 98, ISSUE 20
Tuition increases due to deficit caused by past low enrollment
Madison Crader mrcrader18@transy.edu
Last week, students received letters from the university stating that the tuition, room and board for the 2016-2017 school year was going to be raised to equal about $45,430. This is a four percent increase from the tuition rates for the 2015-2016 school year. The tuition for the current school year was also increased from the year prior, so the tuition rates have been at a steady incline. In addition, even with the tuition increases, faculty and staff have only seen a one percent increase in salary in the past few years. The letter sent out to students and parents ensured that even though the school is making some changes, Transylvania is just as committed to providing excellent liberal arts education to its students. “We have to raise the tuition to cover costs,” said
President Seamus Carey, “The increase is not going to bring us any surplus, it is just going to help us break even.” Transylvania’s Vice President for Business and Finance Marc Mathews assured students in the letter that he was going to do everything possible in order to keep the tuition rates below the national average for a private institution. Mathews commented on the reasons behind the tuition increase and its necessity for the future of the university. “Ideally, we would love not to increase tuition as we know it imposes a burden on existing students,” he said. “However, tuition does need to increase annually to cover the normal increases in the costs of operations such as salaries and benefits and utilities. We try to make cost reductions in any areas that we can to offset these increases.” Having to cover the costs of salary is difficult
because the university has to the enrollment numbers been running at a deficit that have created a financial for the past five years due deficit, the tuition increase to a decline in student en- will do some good. In order rollment. While the tuition for the school to continue increases need to cover the providing the education cost of salary and benefits and services it provides, the for faculty and staff, there tuition needed to increase. has only “Part been a one of the I think a lot of percent challenge i n c r e a s e people are upset and of how to in salary figure out in the past annoyed by the fact what to few years. that there hasn’t been charge for “[The tuition is to a significant raise. decline determine in enrollhow much ment] has -Tim Soulis you are caused a spending decrease and how in overall revenue which much you are taking in. I has limited the funding think an issue is people are for salary increases,” said not aware of why tuition Mathews. “Staff have suf- keeps going up. So the issue fered from the same lack of of concern is, where does salary increases as faculty. the money go?” said WritAll employees have been ing, Rhetoric and Commuimpacted by the decline in nication professor Gary enrollment.” Deaton, “I think it bothers While the faculty un- everybody that we are not derstands the decline in en- getting bigger increases. rollment and the need to cut There is a strong sense of shared sacrifice so people are willing to accept that we are running at a deficit. We [the faculty] have done a lot to try and get the quality and number of students we want at Transy. People are willing to put forth effort and they are willing to share the sacrifice but I also think that morale is boosted when your efforts are valued. Money is only one way to show that your work is valued, but it is an important way.” Mathews said that the back, an increase in salary most benefit on campus and benefits is something from the tuition increase is that is desired by the gen- going to be in “a continuaeral majority of faculty and tion of the level of service staff. that is provided to students “I think a lot of people today.” are upset and annoyed by the fact that there hasn’t been a significant There is a strong raise,” said Theater professor Tim Soulis. “The sense of shared sareality is the president crafice, so people are has said the school is run by enrollment. A couple willing to accept that years ago we had a really we are running at a bad class where enrollment was significantly deficit. down. A lot of things are going to have to be put -Gary Deaton on hold with wages and benefits and things like that until we get our enroll“It is a really complex ment backup. I know the issue,” said Soulis. “It’s not president would want to see just the issue that tuition an increase in salaries, and goes up, so salary goes up. if there isn’t then people are There are also a lot more going to start leaving for people working here than better fortunes.” when I started here 20 Tuition dollars only years ago. I think that is cover about 65 percent of an indication of the need the total cost for running to provide more services to the university. The remain- the students and that costs der of the funds come from more money. You can’t just endowment earnings and slice up the pie when there gifts from alumni. Since the is no pie left to slice. It is increase was necessary due not a simple solution.”
Transylvania University • Lexington, Ky. • transyrambler.com • (859) 233-8315
Cult Classic film ‘The Big Lebowski’ returns to campus
Philosophy professor Peter Fosl and sophomore Toland Lacy pose in costumes of characters from the movie “The Big Lebowski”: the former as The Dude, the latter as Walter. Fosl, an avid fan of the movie and editor of The Big Lebowski and Philosophy, organized Lebowskifest. The evening began with refreshments and a showing of the cult classic, and finished with some trivia, the winner of which would win a copy of Fosl’s book.
Symbolic Naturalization Ceremony demonstrates Transy’s mission statement David Neri dbneri16@transy.edu
While many will be saying fond farewells to the campus Friday March 9 as Spring Break begins to Transylvania students, the University will also be hosting a number of new faces, at least for a couple of hours. As part of a yearly partnership between the University and the Lexington court system, Haggin Auditorium will host the naturalization ceremony of about 150 Lexington residents as they move through their final process in becoming U.S. citizens. “It is a wonderful opportunity for these new citizens’s to experience Transylvania and our campus. At the same time it is a great opportunity for our campus community to participate in and observe this important patriotic ceremony,” said Marc Mathews, Vice President of Finance and Business who was one of the main individuals involved in organizing the event.
In addition to hosting the event, some Transylvanians will also take part in the process. The event, which will begin at noon, will start with an address by President Carey as well as by Transylvania Senior Vivian Tsai. Tsai, who went through the Naturalization process when she was 18 pointed out the mixed emotions that such an event can cause in its participants, reflecting on her own experiences: “It is like you are excited, but you have to give up something to become a citizen. You cannot retain everything… I think a lot of people take their citizenship for granted, you are born here and you automatically have quite a lot, for those who must go through it, it can be difficult.” Following these introductions, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services court official will do a call of the many countries represented at the ceremony at which point
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Judge Karen K. Caldwell will swear in the new citizens. This yearly naturalization ceremony is beginning to become a tradition for Transylvania, with the current event being the third year Transylvania has opened its doors for the event. As Mathews points out, this is due to a combination with Transylvania’s connection to the community and alumni efforts. “About 20 years ago we hosted the event once. [However] three years ago, due to inclement weather, several of the normal monthly ceremonies had to be cancelled. Judge Caldwell, who presides over these ceremonies, asked us if we could host due to the need for a large venue to accommodate the many individuals who had been scheduled to be naturalized at earlier dates. Judge Caldwell is a 1977 Transy graduate and current member of our Board of Trustees.” See Naturalization, Page 3
Campus Life
Page 2
Hypnotist brings night of entertainment, laughter
March 10, 2016
‘Transy Talks’ strives toward campus unity Kelsey Henry
AARON MARTIN
khenry18@transy.edu
Hypnotist and magician Richard Darshwood entertains the audience by hypnotizing eight Transylvania students. The show consisted of magic tricks in the beginning. During the hypnotist portion, Darshwood had the participants imagine themselves in both extremely warm and cold conditions, on a game show, and in a police car chase.
Diversity series celebrates variety of staff members Raaziq El-Amin rkelamin19@transy.edu
Transy is taking its diversity and inclusion efforts a step further with the Staff Engagement Team’s Diversity Series. Begun in mid-February, the Diversity Series features Transy staff members emphasizing their diverse qualities. “Diversity is not just about racial and ethnic background; nor is it just about religion or sexual orientation,” said Director of Enrollment Communications and Minority Recruitment Johnnie Johnson. “It’s also about diversity of thought, ideas, point of views and cultures. I hope people will continue to open their minds to differences and be willing to celebrate those differences, not just tolerate them.” The goal of the series it to have increased communication between staff and
faculty on a more intimate level. “Hopefully this spurs a conversation when people see each other instead of the traditional, ‘Hi, how’s your day going?’ Maybe people say, ‘Hey, I read that you really like to try different restaurants. Have you tried this one?’” said Johnson. Already, the series has displayed three staff members: Kim Naujokas, Natalie Hernandez and Mambuna Bojang. Johnson said his favorite, so far, has been Bojang’s. “Mambuna’s story sticks with me because he was the most recent, but also because of his background,” said Johnson. “His family life, his journey to America and the lessons he’s learned from his father are very powerful.” In Bojang’s interview, he shared how he grew up
in Gambia, West Africa, and came to Kentucky to visit his brother, who attended Berea College. After spectating at a soccer game between Transy and Berea, Bojang became interested in exploring Transy. He attended Transy from 1992 to 1996, earning a degree in Computer Science. A short time after, he came back to work in the IT department. Bojang shared that his father is an influential figure in his life because of the lessons he taught him about respect and hard work. Interviews such as Bojang’s allow Transy staff, faculty and students to better understand one another and what makes us unique, while presenting commonalities among us. The idea for the initiative began after a diversity workshop that took place over the summer. The Staff
Engagement Team decided that they wanted to continue to focus on diversity. Johnson says that Transy is always working to increase diversity among faculty and staff. Students can help with the series by contributing ideas of diverse staff and faculty that should be featured. Suggestions can be sent to Johnson via email at jjohnson@transy.edu. “We advertise in all the right publications and websites, but it would also help if people who work here would spread the word about Transy and how great it is to be a part of this team,” Johnson said. “We need people to refer their friends and colleagues to help us grow the candidate pools for the different positions.”
Biology research gives students opportunities, field experience Aaron Martin akmartin19@transy.edu
Transylvania prides itself in the multiple out-ofthe-classroom opportunities its students receive. One such opportunity has been presented to senior Caitlin Raley and first-year Mary Wallace through a biology research project studying the invasive vine wintercreeper. Raley started this project in June 2015 and will continue doing work on it, while Wallace will begin work on it this summer. Raley explained she started the research to discover the effect wintercreeper has on invertebrates. “The purpose of this experiment was to determine if the presence of Euonymus fortune, or wintercreeper, an
invasive vine from China, had a negative impact on the abundance and diversity of forest floor invertebrates,” said Raley. Her work consisted of setting traps in areas both with and without wintercreeper to collect invertebrates. Raley intended to compare the various samples and invertebrates present to determine if the presence of wintercreeper had any effect on them. However, Raley soon narrowed her focus to studying only the spiders within each area. The next step for Raley was to identify the various species collected. “I had to become familiar with dichotomous keys to figure out what spider I had before me. This process included using a microscope to look at the various identi-
fying parts of a spider, from the number of claws to the types of genitals,” stated Raley. “Once identified, the spider was recorded on paper as well as digitally. At the end of identifying all the spiders I performed various data analysis to deduce whether the plot type, with wintercreeper or without it, had a significant impact on the spider community.” Through her research, Raley actually discovered wintercreeper did not have an effect on the spider community, but the research will continue with Wallace. “It did not [have an impact], the reason for which I am not completely certain, although I do have my hunches. Mary is set to pick up where I left off and will go through this same process in the summer of
2016,” said Raley. Raley’s interest in this study is actually surprising, considering her original fear of bugs, but her curiosity outweighed her fear. “It may come as a surprise to you that I detest invertebrates, mostly the idea of them touching my skin freaks me out,” stated Raley. “I wanted to work on this project because wintercreeper is under studied, and I wanted to know more about its place in the ecosystems which it has invaded. Essentially the desire for knowledge, and a compulsion to ferret out the truth were what drew me in.” However, Wallace was interested in the entire project immediately after hearing about it, even though her original plan was to work on a different project. See Biology, Page 3
“It makes me nervous in a sense that you don’t know what you’re going to get,” said Senior Ashton Ogle. “But also that’s really cool, I think, to have a program like this.” Residence Life will host Transy Talks on March 23 from 5-7 p.m. in Carrick Theater. The event seeks to bring the Transy community together and will include 11 speakers including staff, faculty, coaches and students. The event will include a 10-minute speech from each speaker with a 10-minute intermission. Resident Life asked the speakers to address an issue they are passionate about. For example, Assistant to the Dean of the University and Visiting Psychology Professor Mike Nichols will present a talk on perspective. “We have invited several faculty, staff, students, coaches, administrators to kind of give a TED-esque sort of talk,” said Ogle. “We’re telling them 10 minutes, give us something that you’re passionate about, something that you’re knowledgeable about, anything that you think you would, one, enjoy talking about for 10 minutes, and two, something that you might think that students would really like to hear.” The speakers were chosen with the specific purpose of including a variety of topics. This assortment of speakers, Ogle believes, will capture all audiences and tie the campus community together. Of the faculty/ staff speakers, there are seven including Nichols, Associate Professor of Religion Carole Barnsley, Director of Public Safety Gregg Muravchick, and Vice President of Athletics Holly Sheilley. “We wanted to do something different,” said Ogle. “We also wanted to work on that bond we have with faculty and staff, and try to get more programs on that side of campus, on the other side of Broadway. So in an effort to do that, we decided we’d do something similar to TED Talks. We are calling them Transy Talks.” Ogle hopes this event will enable students to see their peers and the faculty outside of their usual context and understand something they are passionate about. The student speakers include juniors Teddy Salazar, Henry Kramer and Dakota Porter and senior Nick Blackwell. “I think it’s going to be so cool to get so many different topics to talk about,” said Ogle. “For example, one of our students is giving a talk about why he loves to dance.” She is most excited to see how the speakers will challenge the audience’s expectations through their
presentations while also strengthening the Transy Bubble. Personally, Ogle is interested to see what topics will be presented during the event. “It’s so cool to get all of these different backgrounds of people,” said Ogle. “We have people, like Kyle Dunaway who has no idea what he wants to talk about yet. He said, ‘Well, I want it to be funny, so I got to think.’ So I think it’s going to be really cool to have this serious aspect, the academic aspects, the personal. I think there is going to be a big mix of different interests.” Listed as a Creative Engagements event, Residence Life hopes to primarily attract students to the event in attempt to foster a campus wide community feeling. Faculty and staff are also invited to attend in attempt to bridge the gap between the academic side of campus and the residential side. “So our main audience we are trying to capture is the student body, but we are also expecting some faculty and staff members and some coaches,” said Ogle. “And it’s a Creative Engagements event, so we are also trying to tie that into the first year experience.” A TNote was placed online to attract speakers; however, Residence Life also compiled a list of potential speakers and invited some to speak. Unexpected popularity raised the amount of presenters from eight with 12-14 minute speeches to 11 with 8-10 minute speeches. The speakers were chosen with the specific purpose of including a variety of topics. This assortment of speakers, Ogle believes, will capture all audiences and tie the campus community together. Ogle along with the rest of the Residence Life team has been preparing this idea since August; yet, they first considered the idea to be too far-fetched. The popularity the event has already received has opened the opportunity for potentially committing to an annual plan for Transy Talks. “I think it’s really great anytime to get students in front of their peers to give presentations,” said Ogle. “I think it’s great professional experience and practice and it’s also really neat for your peers to see you do that. And it gives you that respect for your peers and that admiration of, ‘Wow, that’s really cool, I didn’t know that about you,’ or, ‘You did a great job.’ I’m really excited to see the students, faculty, staff and coaches to work together to put on the event.”
Etcetera
Page 3 Matthew Thornton mmthornton17@transy.edu
Half melted chunks of concrete and tile, flaming scraps of carpet and raw animal roars of pain and rage spun out and away from the grappling figures that staggered around the middle of the room. Gouts of white flame spilled out from the heart of that deadly embrace. They withered and died along the ruined floor, gouging tiny molten troughs through the rubble and swirling into strange colors, each tiny conflagration painting the room with a multicolored strobe, fire red and copper green dancing across the walls, transforming the room into a club whose music was the bellow and crash of battle. They danced to that deadly beat, leaping and rolling, the bullish madman all rage and sheer animal strength, blurring to and fro adding yet more debris to the cloud that already filled the air, an unwilling partner to the tiny blond firebrand that stepped sedately just past his attacks, a rusty avatar of justice, whipping and tormenting him with scorching actinic whips and hammer blows of shining cinders. Time seemed broken, standing still whenever they touched, a flash of light or roar of rage burning an image into the air before they turned and resumed their battle, melting back into a flooding river of sound and light and heat. I stood transfixed, dimly aware that those around me that could still move were running for the unblocked
entrance, some trying to help the battered recipients of the Bull’s ministrations, while others tripped over prone forms in their rush to escape. Some of the former tried to drag me with them to shake me out of my reverie, while the latter bumped into me or nearly bowled me over as they let go of all thoughts except the horse and terrified “RUN” echoing up from their midbrains, as their forebrains sat curled and subbing in the cells of their craniums. But I couldn’t tear myself away, the calming blanket of shock descending on me as I gave up on understanding, on instinct, on anything but watching, holding onto that one act as something that I could do as the world unraveled around me. I’d come to the bank this morning to get a check. One check singular, because no one needs multiples, no one uses them. But my work needed a check to set up a paycheck direct deposit so I’d got in my car and driven up Heptad Street, listening to the voices on WFPB (“The Voice of Concord!”) chatter about elections and jobs reports and The False Peters reunion tour as I turned onto cloudy avenue and parked in front of the bank. All that I had wanted was a check. Instead I’d been caught up in an unbelievably strong lunatic’s quest for chicken wings. It was so utterly out of anything I’d experienced, anything I’d prepared myself for, that it appeared to have short circuited any ability I had to make decisions. So I stood,
Biology “When I decided I wanted to go into research as a possible career, I had talked to Dr. Bray about how to get involved. A month or so intothis semester, I got an email from her saying Dr. Adkins needed a student researcher and that I had three days to get the grant proposal in,” said Wallace. “He was originally looking for a student for his bat project, but after having talked to Caitlin about her project, I was much more interested in that, so we changed the proposal.” Wallace is further interested in the research as simply an experience in her intended career field. “This project is an amazing opportunity to get my feet wet in research. Being a biology major, I’m excited to get some hands on
White Phosphorus
every screen in the little cartoon command center behind my forehead flashed overload and little nerve-men milled around in a panic. I was as inert as the unconscious security guard that lay crumpled behind the splintered and broken teller’s desks. I was shaken out of my reverie by beams of silvery light and two hundred pounds of screaming lunatic flew through the air inches from my face. I reeled, stumbling as the thick padding of cottony shock fell away from my mind. I surfaced from its cloudy embrace just in time to see the Bull get up. His face was a splotchy mess, rage staining it the color of raw liver while there were burns and scorch marks painted in bizarre spiky lines. The capillaries in his eyes had burst, either from his constant rage-fueled screaming or the pummeling of his adversary, transforming them into ruby orbs of pure unbridled fury. His eyes lit up when he saw me, like a bully that sees a favored victim, or a cat spying a fat and defenseless bird. With a cry that was equal parts laugh and screech of triumph he got up and started toward me, picking up speed, until he was nothing more than a cackling blur. He hadn’t gone more than ten feet before a burst of light caught him and once again threw him back. Someone pushed me out of the way from behind. Turning I saw her, more clearly than I had before. She was short, barely coming up to my shoulder, and next to the Bull she looked like a toy. In the From Page 2
learning in and outside of the lab,” stated Wallace. “I right now am planning to go to grad school when I leave Transy, and this will give me great experience and help me to decide what to do after.” Similarly, Raley credits this entire project to helping her advance in the field of biology. “It increases my attractiveness to potential employers for jobs that I am currently seeking such as Biological Science Technician, and Park Ranger. I believe what I have learned, and the tools this research has armed me with, are invaluable in the search for a job that employs my degree,” said Raley. Josh Adkins, part-time instructor and lab coordinator in biology, has seen the research project impact Raley in many ways. Ad-
kins has known Raley since her sophomore year and has witnessed her progress in the field. “It really has been an experience of watching her grow from just student to a real researcher,” said Adkins. Adkins further explained that any project like this, whether it be in science or the various other fields at Transylvania, has a significant impact on the students involved. “It fosters a very open academic atmosphere. It helps students really apply things they learned in class to the world outside of theclassroom,” stated Adkins. “There is no better way to learn than to mmerse yourself in the study.”
Fear and Loathing in Transylvania Andrew Walters aswalters19@transy.edu
This world is a frightening place, I doubt if I should ever come out of it alive. If one more person asks me what I plan to do when I graduate, I doubt if they will make it out of the conversation alive. My triumvirate of 15-page research papers is intimidating enough, let me procrastinate in peace. Being in school my entire life has become natural, but the pay isn’t all that great. Soon, coffee shops will no longer be my primary workplace. No more burning the midnight oil to fuel a hopeful and hopeless endeavor to reduce Che Guevara into a night’s worth of word vomit. I don’t want to know how much my major pays annually, or how many college grads work part-time jobs. All I do know is that I’m not voting for Trump, anything else is of minor importance. “I had been working 9 years when I was your age” is always a lovely way to begin a conversation. A woman chatted me up at work, adding, “I give you kudos for work-
ing and going to school, most people just sit back and let the student loans pile up and complain about it for the rest of their lives.” She told me if her sandwich isn’t messy as hell, then she doesn’t want it. What kind of person goes to a fresh and healthy sub shop and demands a hulking, sloppy sandwich? This sort of outlandish preference I found to be distinctly revealing of the woman’s character. It didn’t end there. The lady hung around, interrogating me about my political views and telling me how she had worked in foodservice all of her seemingly humdrum life. This sort of obnoxious blathering and passing of judgment on sandwich making folk, settling for only the most grotesque of sandwiches makes me think she was a Trump enthusiast. It’s not the political conversation that vexes me, many times I instigate it. Her pretentiousness was even allowable, but when you insult someone’s sandwich artistry...you’ve crossed the line. If verbal jousting over the relevance of a college education with sandwich experts for 30 min-
March 10, 2016’
utes and sporadic political feuding ever becomes part of my daily routine in my declining years, DNR. 20 hours per week is ample time to witness the malicious, regrettable real world that awaits with open arms. If the real world were a pair of pants, they’re the bedazzled bootcut jeans from not long enough ago. “I hate to say this, but this place is getting to me. I think I’m getting the fear.” I think I will hunker down in the comfort of my own facade of “college student” as a permanent occupation. Why can’t knowledge be the real currency? Paper and gold aren’t useful in everyday life. Kentucky is a hell of a location to experience this crisis of existence. There is more than enough ignorance to go around, but just enough natural beauty to keep you from running away. But on the bright side, we will always have these 4 years (maybe longer depending on how much fear and loathing you have) to reminisce about the world making sense on paper, it’s in the praxis that something is lost in translation.
melee of battle she had looked like a knight in rusted armor, but what my half delirious mind had painted as a breastplate was just a deep red shirt, emblazoned with a bright white P. She stepped forward with her face drawn, all line and flat anger. She looked like a teacher about to castigate a troublesome student or a nanny prepared to deliver a well-earned spanking. Beneath close cropped blond hair her eyes sparkled, seeming backlit with silvery flames. She raised an arm and pushed me further aside, gentle but firm. She spoke then a voice that cut to the point as efficiently and coldly as a surgeon’s scalpel. “Move please, you might get hurt if you stay where you are.” Still dumbfounded I continue to step away, until I felt a wall, solid and unyielding behind me. But I still could not take my eyes away. Distantly, over the Bull’s heaving breathes and the crunch of rubble as the woman stepped toward him, I could hear sirens. My savior stepped up ‘til she was no more than a foot from the heaving madman. He looked up, face blank in his fury-choked mind an obstacle like her was anathema, unable to be solved with the simple formula of ‘roar, smash, repeat.’ Ruby eyes squinted as he tried to raise himself. The woman squared her shoulders, raised her arms. Her hands were balled into fists, surrounded by an argent phosphorescence that seemed to swell as her face tightened into a deep, deep frown. White embers gathered around her
forearms, swelling until her arms seemed to end in giant scintillating clouds of fire. The lunatic was still rising, but before he could get to his feet she struck, a great mailed fist catching the Bull in his chest, launching him backwards, crashing into and part way through the wall of a banker’s office. She launched herself at him again, fists trailing motes of burning light in her wake. She landed on top of him and struck, hitting him again and again, launching him through the air in great arcs, all the while utterly silent, breathing not a single word. The Bull was nothing but a problem to be dealt with, words would simply be a distraction. The woman let her shining fists do the talking for her, their thundering strikes the only explanation that the Bull deserved. They continued like this, until she stood over his crumpled and twitching form in front of the shattered doorway, surrounded by sparkling glass and shattered office equipment. The strobing regularity of police lights spilled over the scene, the monotonous whine of sirens washing away the sounds of fighting. The Bull tried one final time to pull himself upright, scrabbling in the heaps of debris. He was met again with a titanic shimmering hammer blow. He crumpled back down, hoarse moans spilling from his crumpled form. The woman turned to me, and again she didn’t look like a severe but plain dressed woman, but a knighted in rusted armor, backlit in the doorway
by the flash of police lights, standing victorious over her vanquished foe. She smiled, steely resolve slipping for a second. I felt myself smiling back. She nodded, and even from across the room I could see that strange silver fire in her eyes. She turned then and stepped over the moaning madman, through the shattered remains of the doorway and into the grey morning. Police spilled into the room after her, barking commands, and training guns on corners and doorways and the pummeled and broken Bull that lay before them. They flooded into the shattered lobby, kneeling over wounded or firmly reassuring the nervous faces that rose from behind overturned desks. I could feel shock descending on me again and my gaze slid over the whole surreal scene, the perplexed and nervous officers, the room reduced nearly to gravel and toothpicks, to the floor carved with melted furrows and strange curving tears. I ignored the sirens, the authoritative statement of the police, even the officer approaching me from the doorway, mouth open in some pointless reassurance. I simply slid back into watching. At my feet I saw a flutter. A scrap of paper, stuck beneath one of the now ubiquitous chunks of concrete. I nudged the stone out of the way with my toe. It was a single, blank check. Oblivious to the fresh chaos around me, I knelt to pick it up.
Poetry
From Page 6
“Some people have an idea of poetry as this very structured, exclusive thing that is only valid if it’s perfect,” he said. “The truth is
that the way to write good poetry is to write a lot of bad poetry first.” Whatever their methods, TU SpeakOut’s mem-
bers proved themselves courageous, talented and heartfelt at this week’s “Sex in the Pit.”
Naturalization
From Page 1
While the ceremony is an example of the university’s involvement with the Lexington community, some argue that the benefits of hosting such events goes beyond bursting the Transy bubble. “[This is] a partnership between Transy and Judge Caldwell’s office. Usually they have it every month in the courthouse but [three years ago] they were looking to make it more special and she reached out to Transy to help her do that,” said Director of Diversity and Inclusion Serenity Wright. “I think it is a symbolic ceremony which directly repre-
sents our mission statement and values as well as our institutional initiatives.” Students and other staff members also seem to have lined up to help the event go off without a hitch. According to event and Marketing coordinator Angie Rice, there have been no shortage of volunteers. “It is wonderful, it is an event which comes to Transylvania for several years now, multiple departments come together to make it happen and it is an event which the community looks forward to every year so we have no shortage of help” said Rice. “I encourage ev-
eryone to come and experience what a naturalization ceremony is. It is such a poignant moment in these new citizen’s lives and it is happening here on campus.” In the end, most see the activity as rewarding not just for the participants themselves but for all who choose to attend. “I think if people have not been to a naturalization ceremony, they should come. They should recognize the perseverance of these men and women required to get them to the ceremony,” said Wright. “It is a good educational experience.”
The Puzzler
Sudoku VI: The Undiscovered Country
Opinion
Page 4
Capitalism provides freedom that Marxism advertises Letter to the Editor
and large, actually, many disenfranchised people are in their position through no fault of their own. But a massive chunk of them are in their states of being through their own doing, and they feel that a Marxist society will make it easier for them to achieve what they unable, and often unwilling, to
Marxism, in itself, is a worse form of greed than such thinkers claim Capitalism to be, in that it strives for something that it envies for--a classless society with total equality-over the bountiful blessings and opportunities that capitalism has produced. I’ll call it “Marxist “Not everybody in poor Greed”. What is it? It is not being satisfied with positions are there the way of progress as it through their choices; currently is and believing a Marxist system can do the privileged will help better by shooting for them on their own acthe unobtainable and cord...” unrealistic. In essence, -Drew Preston this “Marxist Greed” is constituted by a vying for totally equal opportunity, because, as I see it, the obtain. There is constant that “the proponents of a system complaining means of production are aren’t self-sufficient or concentrated in the hands self-motivated enough to take advantage of of the privileged minority,” the opportunities that or that “the working classes Capitalism already (usually a codeword for provides them with. Of when leftists don’t want to course, this is not always face the music and refer to the case for everybody; by them as prodigals, which constitute a large majority
of said group) are robbed of their opportunities by the bourgeoisie!” Believe it or not, the ability to gain a stake in control of the means of production or raise yourself up and out of a low position in society is already in place--YOU must take the initiative to capitalize on your opportunities and blessings, and if the more fortunate want to help you, they will do so on their own accord (psst... it’s called charity and philanthropy), NOT through being forced to recognize their privilege or better state of being. In the West, and in capitalist societies in general, one is already free; free to become successful and free to make one’s own life and financial choices. Marxists claim that a “freer self and freer society” should be striven for. The fact of the matter is that capitalist society and the self that dwells within a capitalist society can be no freer than it already is. I repeat: Not everybody in poor positions are there
through their choices; the privileged will help them on their own accord and it will be anticipated that they can work themselves out of their place in due time. But the vast majority who squander opportunity at every corner seem to make up the bulwark of Marxist advocates, and as such it shouldn’t be surprising that they whine about Capitalism. On a separate note, they do it at a social level too via Cultural Marxism, in which they think such methods can act as an engine of recreating society for those who failed to emerge the victors of civilizational competition. -Andrew Preston ‘17
afpreston17@transy.edu
March 10, 2016
Stay safe over Spring Break with these reminders from Health and Wellness • Establish a code before you go so you and your friends can each other know if they had too much to drink. • Check four “PUBS” signs to determine if the situation is an emergency. Puking (while
passed
out),
Unresponsive
to
stimulation (pinch or shaking), Breathing (slow, shallow or no breathing), Skin (blue, cold or clammy). • No candy or suckers from strangers on the beach or bars... laced with hallucinogens keep all drinks covered at bars. • To AVOID Beg Bugs, set luggage on bathroom tile then go investigate beds. If you see bugs call immediately and ask to switch rooms/hotels... if you see dark brown gunk on the mattress that’s bed bug
Alliteration, Analogy, and Adaptation: Lessons Learned of ‘Mascot Madness’
feces. • SUNSCREEN - always use AT LEAST SPF 30 and reapply every two hours. Don’t forget to put sunscreen on your lips, scalp, and ears! • It is illegal to have open containers in the
At some point, usually (but not always) the first day (I wouldn’t want to be guilty of a “foolish consistency” knowing what Emerson says about that!) of my Communication classes we will discuss the 4 pillars of “Communication Competence:” Cognitive aspects (learning stuff), attitude (WANTing to be good), behavior (“Equifinality” reigns; there is never only ONE good way, but not all ways are equally good), and Praxis (bringing it all together when it counts). These concepts are worth repeating because they are so significant, not only in the classroom, but in our everyday lives. Even if you don’t choose to take Communication courses (causing me to quote my favorite movie, Monty Python and the Holy Grail: “You make me sad”), you have done well by choosing Transylvania. Two of the primary beneficial results of this Liberal Arts education are a “tolerance for ambiguity” and a creative and critical consciousness. In reading Rambler writings regarding the recent “Mascot Madness” experience here at Transylvania, I couldn’t help but contemplate the ways that the frames described above played a role, and what lessons we can learn. 1. C r i t i c a l Consciousness Counts! Congratulations especially to the students and alums who not only (as President Carey noted in his letter of response) care immensely about Transylvania, but also think deeply about it. It wasn’t just THAT people responded, but also HOW they did so that was worth appreciating. Most
was no opportunity to listen because no information was sought. After the shortlived “choosing” (Maybe if we had a “Sorting Hat…”) process, though, the listening was intensified and effective. 6. P r a x i s Pragmatizes Principles: Perceptually, it may not have mattered what the choices were, the fact that the community was suddenly presented with a forced choice between only two options made the negative response fairly predictable. There is a Persuasion principle, Psychological Reactance Theory, that says we HATE to have our freedoms limited, and that played out here. Now, though, we have a chance for MANY voices to be heard (like Matt Jones’s and Jody Robinson’s!) in the pages of this paper and elsewhere. We know what the criteria are: Diversity, Recruitment, Athletics, Communication (this is MY editorial, after all!) and that they all matter. So, Kudos to all Transylvanians for exemplifying creativity and critical thinking, for recognizing when we needed to change course, and for communicating effectively. What should our mascot be? It is not my purpose to argue for a choice here, but merely to remind us that Balance, Attitude and Thinking are all very important as we move forward (no subliminal messages intended…) -Gary Deaton
passenger area of your vehicle on a public road. Even if empty. • Remember all sexual activity requires CONSENT: as voluntary, positive, SOBER agreement between the participants to engage in specific sexual activity. Thanks and have a healthy and safe spring break!
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
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importantly, it was what educational parent (if that we’re hoping students are metaphor doesn’t work learning applied outside the for you, please realize I classroom. did graduate, twice!, from 2. L e a r n e d a place whose nickname Leadership Levitates! is “Mother Miami”), but Let’s be honest; mistakes also live the learning they were definitely made in this accrue. Thus, e.g., assuming process (a couple of which I that knowledge gained in will touch on below), BUT a survey about a general since none of us are perfect topic can then be applied to (well, maybe Dr. Furlong, something as specific as a but that might just be a new mascot, or that a symbol rumor he propagated using a primarily designed to combination of “The Force” represent athletics wouldn’t and artificial intelligence), be of concern to everyone the question (other than is a recipe for reflection, “to be or not to be”) is not response, and (sometimes) whether we err, but how we recrimination. respond. 4.Attitude Those of Adjustments us who All “Kudos to all Transyl- Adapt! w e r e in all, Mascot h e r e vanians for exempliMadness has d u r i n g fying creativity and been a positive “ t h e (as I hope troubles” critical thinking, recog- this editorial are well nizing when we need indicates). We aware have reduced to change course...” t h a t uncertainty -Gary Deaton by increasing President He Who Shall Not be Named would communication (music to not have so quickly started THIS guy’s ears!!) and have over, would not have made exemplified argumentative himself and his staff readily discourse in ways that we available to Rambler writers wish we could pass on to for discussion of the process both our politicians and (e.g., a First Year reporter the pundits who pontificate was banished from Volde upon them. One thing is – that is, the President’s both clear and pleasing: all office for a year after of the voices involved desire writing a critical article), the same terminal value - the and would not have been so best Transylvania possible. forthcoming about where we 5. B e h a v i o r s go from here. While those Become Better! Basically, administrators involved in the best lesson we can the process were surprised learn from the “Macot by the response, they showed Madness” experience is the grace and aplomb in their Communication Concern return to the drawing board. that is most crucial, but most 3. C o g n i t i o n s often curtailed: Listening. Constantly Curve! In the articles I read about Coordinating a process like the process, it seemed to “Rebranding” is a significant me that there were times challenge anywhere, but when people might have especially in a school that is been “hearing” each other (a part of its place’s Prehistory physiological process), but and that has community weren’t really “listening” members that not only (a psychological process), identify closely with their and/or times when there
Editor-in-Chief........................................................Megan Graft Managing Editor..........................................................David Neri News Editor........................................................Madison Crader Campus Life Editor...............................................Aaron Martin ETC Editor.....................................................Matthew Thornton OpinionEditor.................................................................Tyler Lega A&E Editor......................................................Natassja Woodrum Sports Editor.........................................................Lance Antoine Copy Editor...................................................................Isaac Batts Adviser..........................................................................Tyler Young
Sports
Page 5
March 10, 2016
TRANSYLVANIA ATHLETICS
Girls lacrosse grabs first win of season in a blow out style fashion
All three of the women’s lacrosse captains recently posed on photo night displaying the Pioneers’ home uniforms and sticks for the 2016 season. The Pioneers are currently 1-2 on the season.
Megan Graft mjgraft18@transy.edu
The women’s lacrosse team won their first season game against Muskingum 14-2 on Monday, Mar. 7 after two pre-season losses to Capital and Calvin. Going into their next match against Trine this Saturday, Mar. 12, the team feels optimistic about continuing to put up the W’s. From their pre-season loss to Capital through their win against Muskingum, Coach Lauren Bickford sees the team constantly improving. Part of this comes from gauging the team’s strengths and weaknesses in the preseason games. “[Capital] comes out
strong every year, they have a very strong program,” said Bickford. “I wouldn’t say it was a bad game for us. I always like to open up with a strong team anyway so that we can start isolating our weaknesses and seeing what we need to fix, what we need to adjust, so that we can get better for our conference play.” Bickford describes the Pioneers’ game against Calvin, which was lost in overtime by one goal, as a “heartbreaker.” “We bounced back from that well, though, going into Muskingum,” she said. “It was nice to really start to see the changes happening and the improvement that we’ve had so far.”
Their game against Muskingum saw improvement in their attack game and a number of stellar plays across the board. But it was for her defensive prowess in the Pioneers’ game against Capital for which senior Lydia Shaughnessy won Ohio River Lacrosse Defensive Player of the Week. “It made me really happy, really proud of the way that it started,” said Shaughnessy. “I know we didn’t begin with a win, but having that added award to our team in general was really good for us.” “We were certainly pumped,” said Bickford. “[Shaughnessy] has been a trailblazer for us as far
as this program has gone, because she was in that first recruiting class that started the program… it’s been great to see her develop throughout the years, and I feel like she’s really taken on a strong role this year.” The seniors on the team were first-years when Women’s Lacrosse became a sport at Transy. Because of this, Shaughnessy looks forward to making the rest of this women’s LAX season the best one yet. “I’m anxious for [this season], but I’m excited for it,” said Shaughnessy. “I want to make it the best that we can do, especially with the seniors graduating where it’s the starting of the team – we’ve been here through
it. So we want to make sure that we leave on a good note… make sure it’s left in good hands.” The team is diverse in age, with seven first-years, a few sophomores, one junior and five seniors. Most of the energy in practice has been spent getting the first-years acclimated to college-level play. “I think they’ve adapted very well so far… it’s been certainly nice to already see them getting stats on the board, on the defensive and offensive end,” said Bickford. With a 1-2 record, the team is looking to make a 500 record before going into Spring Break. The team will be travelling to Hilton
Head over Spring Break to play two games against outside-region teams from Massachusetts. “It’ll be nice to get a taste of the level of play from other regions,” said Bickford.The Pioneers are also looking forward to their game against rival Mount St. Joseph, with whom they’ve had historically close games. Like last year, the Pioneers are picked fourth, but hope to prove themselves and jump into the top three. “We think that we have a strong shot as long as we have the right mentality and continue improving for each game,” said Bickford.
Baseball has eventful, split weekend Lance Antoine On Saturday, March 5 the Transylvania men’s baseball team swept Berry College in a double header. The Pioneers won both games with scores of 12-8 and 6-5. Trey Simpson was on the mound for the Pioneers and allowed Berry to score three runs in the first inning alone. Thanks to some hot bats by Transylvania, the team would score six runs in the top of the second inning in what seemed like a hit parade. Simpson would not allow Berry to score over the course of the next four innings. After the sixth inning at bat Transy had a comfortable 10-3 lead. Berry however would not be silenced as they put up four runs heading into the seventh inning. After answering to Berry Transy had put up another two runs and closing pitcher Braden Johnson came in to pitch and retired the Berry batters in a 1-2-3 inning. Unlike the first game, the Pioneers batters came out swinging right away as they tagged on two runs in the first inning, but would not score again until the fifth inning. Berry would take the advantage and put up points on the board every inning. After an inning full of sacrifice the Pioneers found themselves on top again with a 5-4 lead. In the top of the sixth is when the Pioneers would take the offensive lead for good, setting the tone for the final score. Adam Boone found himself as the battling first pitcher
TRANSYLVANIA ATHLETICS
alantoine19@transy.edu
First year pitcher and outfeilder Hogan Jones takes the plate during Transy’s most recent home game loss against Spalding. Jones bats left and throws right.
of the game where he would use his arm defensively to do everything he could for Transy. He was relieved by Tom Banahan who would finish up the game on the rubber. On Sunday March 6 the teams would play one last game against each other, but unfortunately it did not go in the Pioneers favor as
they lost 11-2. Berry would put up five points in the first inning, which was just too much for the Pioneers, who would not touch home plate until the sixth inning. Berry forced six errors, and smoked a whopping 11 runs off of 14 hits. On March 8, Transylvania would be called the home team for the first
time all season, as Pioneer baseball has officially returned to Lexington. They faced a well toned 5-2 Spalding and battled until the last inning, well at least until the sun went down. Due to Transylvania’s home field not having lights, the game length is decided by the sun. Sadly, the sun was
not too kind to the Pioneers as it set after the seventh inning right as Transy was finding their sweet spot. The final score was Spalding 11, Transylvania 12. Transy fell behind early, but slowly battled their way back into the game. Spalding scored two runs in the first third and sixth innings while putting up
three in the fourth and one in the fifth and seventh innings. Transy scored one run in the second and third innings, and four points in the sixth and seventh innings. The Pioneers are back in action at home Saturday March 12 when they face off against Otterbein in a doubleheader. First pitch is at 12:00 pm.
A&E
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March 10, 2016
Lilly prepares for senior recital on clarinet
A&E events coming up this month “Dirt Poets: Conceptual Clay” open in Morlan Gallery until Mar. 29 Trasylvania Singers & Pioneer Voices present Chapel Concert Series in Old Morrison Chapel on Mar. 22 Mason Lilly performs senior recital on Mar. 24 in Carrick Theater
MEGAN GRAFT
ImprompTU show on Saturday Mar. 26 in the Campus Center
Senior Mason Lilly hard at work practicing his clarinet in the band room in preparation for his upcoming senior recital on Mar. 24.
Provocative “Sex in the Pit” spoken word poetry slam hits on hard topics Natassja Woodrum nwoodrum18@transy.edu
Sex always proves to be an interesting conversation starter, especially in college. That is exactly why TU SpeakOut decided to hold a poetry slam, titled “Sex in the Pit”, on the subject.
“We wanted to find a topic that was not only provocative, but one that also impacted each of us, specifically as university students.” -Justin Wright, Junior Ideas of love, intimacy, sex, sexuality and even abuse are all things that college students are faced with. President and co-founder of TU SpeakOut, junior Justin Wright said, “We thought of using sex and intimacy as themes because we wanted to find a topic that was not only provocative, but one that also impacted each of us, specifically as university students.” “We wanted to make a big impression for our first show of the year,” poet and first-year Trevor Kassis said. “There’s a lot that can be done with [sex].” The event, which took place on Saturday, Mar. 5, was originally titled “Sex in the Chapel” because it was scheduled to be held in the Old Morrison Chapel. However, for undisclosed reasons, the group was not permitted to perform in the chapel at the last minute. Instead, they were relocated to the Faculty Lounge in the Mitchell Fine Arts building – affectionately known as “the Pit.” The relocation, however, provided the team with an interesting staging opportunity. Upon entry, it was immediately apparent that the audience’s seats were arranged in the shape of a penis. Wright explained that it was a representation of how relevant the topic
of the event was and how it included everyone and how greatly it “penetrates” the lives of college students, as Wright joked. Several students participated in the event including Vice President and co-founder of the group, Martha White, sophomore, as well as first-years Joey Howard, Kat Gillespie, Kassis, Amberlee Stemmer, and senior Hannah Jacky. Each student read at least one poem out loud to the large crowd in the room. There were poems about sex education, sexuality, love, depression, sexual abuse and even suicide. Some of the pieces were lighthearted, like Kassis’ “Sex Ed,” a satirical representation of a typical sexual education course in high school. Told from the perspective of a high school gym teacher speaking to students about sex, the poem warned against STDs, pregnancy and all the other ‘horrors’ that result from sexual activity, preaching abstinence instead. Hilarious, quirky and over-the-top, Kassis’ poem pointed out all of the ways in which high school students are lied to when being taught about sex. In contrast, Gillespie wrote a powerful poem about sex and anxiety titled, “Undress Me.” The poem brought up the kinds of insecurities one might face when being intimate with a partner, and how heightened those insecurities become for people with anxiety. Gillespie also performed another piece called “Devil on my Shoulder” about her struggles with sexuality and religion. “I personally chose to write about [these topics] as I have experienced it because those things have played large roles in my development as a healthy, comfortable adult,” said Gillespie. “I wanted to be able to show that sensuality
is difficult for some people due to a combination of outside factors.”
“It was a super supportive atmosphere,”
-Kat Gillespie, First-year
In preparation for the poetry slam, the TU SpeakOut organization got together and listed possible poem topics and discussed them with one another. “We came together with the topic in mind and then brainstormed as many related topics as possible,” said Kassis.
“It was a super supportive atmosphere,” Gillespie said. Although talented, each individual put large parts of themselves on display. Writing poetry is a very personal activity and most finished poems go through quite a bit of editing before they are presented in a
Electronic Music Student Recital on Mar. 29 in Coleman, Mitchell Fine Arts Center Tr a n s y l v a n i a Theater presents “She Kills Monsters” by Qui Nguyen opening Mar. 31 in Little Theater. Tickets on sale now!
forum such as a poetry slam. Gillespie’s advice for upand-coming poets is, “don’t be afraid to write bad poems. If something doesn’t work, redraft it. Keep one line, or one word, and try again.” Kassis agreed. See Poetry, Page 3