Have a great Summer! -The Rambler Staff
The
Rambler
May 19, 2016 • VOL. 98, ISSUE 24
Transylvania University • Lexington, Ky. • transyrambler.com • (859) 233-8315
Clinton rallies Transylvania for votes Madison Crader mcrader18@transy.edu
MADISON CRADER
This past Monday, Transy’s campus was alive with political attention from all around Lexington, the state, and the nation in general. The night before the democratic primary election for the 45th President of the United States, Hillary Clinton did some campaigning on campus by holding a rally in the Beck Center Gym. However despite its placement on campus, much of the crowd was filled with older women and voters in the 45-60 demographic. The crowd was eager to hear the former secretary of state speak. Based on Clinton’s speech, she wanted to brand herself as a proponent of young people, talking about how her economic plan will create jobs available for young people once they graduate college. She also talked about how she wanted to place more emphasis on skills training, and less emphasis on the dire need to go to college in order to get a job. Clinton also appealed to retention of coal within the state of Kentucky, and also made a joke about UK Basketball. People lined up outside the Beck Center, eager to make their way inside. While most were there in support of Clinton, some people held up Bernie Sanders signs while outside the
Delegate Hillary Clinton rallies the crowd in the Beck Center on Monday, May 16, 2016, with passionate words and a little bit of assistance from some of Transy’s own.
News Brief
Enrollment down for class of 2020 Though Transylvania’s incoming Class of 2020 was intended to start an increase in enrollment over the next seven years, there are currently only 260 first-years, so little students that up to six August Term teachers will be forced to drop their classes. This brings up the questions of how the incoming class’s dynamic will be affected by its smaller size and whether or not there will be any campus-wide impacts of such a small first-year class.
Bryan looks forward to sexual assault survey data SaVannah Rash srash18@transy.edu
On April 3, the President’s Office of Transylvania University released an email to students asking them to take part in a Campus Climate Survey. This survey pertained specifically to how safe students felt on campus, with an emphasis on how to prevent sexual assault and to help those victimized by it. This initiative has been overseen by the Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of the University Laura Bryan. “Transylvania University is dedicated to providing a safe work and study environment for staff, students, and faculty,” said Dean Bryan. “It is the right of the individual to feel emotionally and physically safe, and this survey can help us better understand
how to better service our campus community.” The timing of the Campus Climate Survey was determined by two factors. The first factor was that Transylvania University fosters a campus that supports individual rights and is free of violence. The second factor was that the Office of Civil Rights suggests that campuses conduct Climate Survey to help gauge how safe students feel on campus and to help prevent violence on campus. As of now, only preliminary data has been received. The full data will not be available until next fall, but the preliminary results are looking hopeful according to Dean Bryan, who said, “We believe that we have a good representation of the student body.” See Survey, Page 3
every attendee seemed to have in common was an excitement for the opportunity to see the rally. Inside the event, campaigners for Clinton passed out signs for people to hold up behind the stage where Clinton would be speaking. Certain
students and members of the campus community were seated behind the stage and could be seen holding the signs on the televised segments of the rally. The event started with a young woman and University of Kentucky student working
for Clinton’s campaign in the state. She spoke of her experiences growing up and of how she learned her work ethic from her mother, who went off to work while her father stayed at home to raise her. Many of the older
See Clinton, Page 3
Project One utilizes community-wide efforts Jennifer Pinto jpinto19@transy.edu
When thinking about anything related to Project One, Associate Dean for Diversity and International Student Experience Serenity Wright is probably the first name that comes to mind, seeing as she is the self-proclaimed “hub” of the project. However, throughout the winter semester, Transylvania University’s Project One has been a campus-wide effort towards cohesion and diversity, with many behindthe-scenes efforts coming together in order to meet President Dr. Seamus Carey’s high expectations. Though Project One has been a hot topic this school year, there are a lot of people that have been involved that have not been front and center, include Dr. Jeremy Paden, Dr. Kremena Todorova and Professor Kurt Gohde, and Americorps Vista for Sustainability Jennifer Lancaster. Paden has been involved with the a series of 12 endowed lectures, which focus on providing diverse voices to the campus community. A big goal was discussing with people topics to which they might not otherwise be exposed. “We looked at how a conversation about diversity
could be worked into different extracurricular and cocurricular programs,” Paden explained. “We’re trying to open up windows into the world.” Todorova and Gohde have also been very involved with Project One, with their biggest collaboration being the Superhero Day that they put on for the students of three different Lexington elementary schools with the help of Wright; this was an event intended to empower the children by bringing out the inner superhero in every one of them. Todorova said that the project came about in a very “organic” way. The Community Engagement Through the Arts class also helped to make the day an unforgettable one for the kids by making a unique cape for each child, and Project One even sponsored the buses that brought the children to Transy’s campus. Lancaster contributes by offering open yoga and gardening at the London Ferrell Garden in Lexington, as well as by teaching to elementary school kids every week. A few of the other ways that people have been getting involved in Project One is with the College Empowerment Program and Latino Leadership Program for local high school students,
faculty talks about diversity in the classroom, and two faculty-led book clubs. Which brings up another question: what is up next for Project One? “There is a lot coming up,” Wright shares. “We should always be growing,
Katie Coyer ‘17 enjoys Superhero Day as a part of the Community Engagement Through the Arts class that has been taught by Dr. Kremena Todorova and Kurt Gohde for nine years.
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and we intend to.” With lots of things in the work to continue Project One’s successful first year, there is no telling how much growth can be accomplished and how many leaps and bounds can be made as an entire community.
KREMENA TODOROVA
event, and other attendees could be overheard speaking out against the politician. Salesmen scattered the streets selling Clinton based merchandise, spouting witty puns about her, and her possible future presidency. However, one thing that
women in the crowd chanted and hollered in agreement with the young woman’s story. It was clear to see who was in support of Clinton, and who was not. Some attendees stood with arms crossed and lips pursed, while others were cheering with excitement and support. Following the introductory anecdote, Clinton came out on stage with Secretary of State of Kentucky Alison Grimes and Former Governor Steve Beshear. Governor Beshear spoke first by asking the crowd, “Are we ready to win?” This statement was followed with an opening summary of what the governor believed to be the successes of the Democratic Party within Kentucky. “We took our unemployment from 11 percent, all the way down to 4.9 percent,” said Beshear. “We jumped into the education pool, and said ‘let’s get moving,’ and we got moving. We are now among the top ten states in the country for high school graduation. Also, for the first time in history, every single Kentuckian has access to health care, and we are not going to give it up. Let me tell you, these are Hillary Clinton’s priorities.”
Campus Life
Page 2
May 19, 2016
Begin to start improving Campus & Community Madison Crader After the departure of Shane Mckee earlier this school year, Natahsa Begin will be taking over as the Director of Campus and Community engagement. Begin will work with two other assisting staff members in order to oversee community engagements and will also work to correspond and collaborate with students in order to carry out the duties of her office in the most successful way possible. The new director will also continue to develop university-community partnerships, support for the faculty interested in community based scholarship, community based work study, and other community related issues. In addition the office will continue to expand and develop its relationship with the campus via working with student organizations, student affairs programming, Pioneer Leadership, Greek Life, SAB, and TUSGA. “Our ultimate goal is to foster student learning, engagement, and leadership in civic life,” said Begin, “All efforts will be guided by the pillars of equity, dynamic learning, collaboration, leadership development, and community impact.” At the start of her time in this office, Begin’s immediate goals revolve around initial assessment and learning. “It is important for
COURTESY OF NATASHA BEGIN
mrcrader18@transy.edu
Natasha Begin works at the Great American Clean Up with other members ofthe campus community. Events like this will be a a part of her role in campus engagements.
me to understand how things have been operating; where are needs that are unmet and where are there assets that are being under-utilized,” said Begin, “Long term, we will be focused on creating a strong and cohesive experience that empowers and supports the growth of students. I believe our students are incredibly capable of generating positive impact for our community, both on campus and within our community. The role of our office is to provide structure,
support, and resources to allow students to maximize their potential and experience. These goes include all student endeavors, including Greek Life.” Begin also has ideas for growth and areas for improvement within the office. These ideas for growth stem from her belief in the potential and high quality of students she will be working with. “I think an area of growth is for us to pull some of those efforts together to
create more cohesion and collaboration. We can also provide much more training and support to students and student groups to allow them to feel empowered and flourish” said Begin. Begin wants to ensure that students that have ideas for advancement have the tools to be able to have their ideas utilized. “I think often times people have the desire and willingness to create positive change but we cannot assume that people have the
tools to to accomplish it,” said Begin, “Our role is to provide a space of learning, opportunities to put skills to use for our community (engagement), and reflection to consider lessons learned and how we might be able to accomplish even greater things the next time around.” Serenity Wright will be supervising Begin in her endeavors within her new office. Begin and Wright will continue to assess the office, and make changes over
the spring and the summer. Communication from the office regard to any changes that are made will come in the next few months. In addition, Begin will be reaching out to students in order to inform them about opportunities to learn more about the changes.
and a poem that was written by her roommate [Tiara Brown]. You may be aware that the senior class has a challenge where they’re raising funds for a pavilion in her honor and they will be wearing silver cords— those who contributed and met that challenge—will be wearing silver cords and that information will be in the program. We view it as although we are sad about her short life, we want to celebrate her life by celebrating her accomplishment—that she did make this accomplishment and her family will join us in celebrating her accomplishment.” Due to the Dean’s Office being in charge of organizing and coordinating the entire commencement, the office played a major role in the decision of how to honor Stewart. As the Dean’s Office is responsible for aca-
demic programs, policies, and requirements, the office also began the process for the the approval of Stewart’s posthumous degree. “We are responsible for setting up the degree,” said Dean Bryan. “The registrar’s started that with contacting the faculty and submitting a petition to the academic standards committee and then it went to the full faculty for approval and then the Board of Trustees—both the president and I approved—and then it went to the Board of Trustees and then I decided with her family how the degree would be awarded during commencement.” Although Dean Bryan was not personally close with Stewart, she still is aware of the importance of Stewart to Transy’s campus and sees remembrance of her during commencement
as a not just a way to celebrate and honor Stewart’s acts as member of this community, but also as way to celebrate and honor her life. “My understanding is she, you know, she was very lively and played an important role in the community and in her class,” said Dean Bryan. “I think it’ll [the commencement ceremony] give everybody an opportunity to celebrate her as an individual and as a member of this community and to recognize that she worked really hard and earned her degree. I think it gives everyone a chance to—even though we’ve all been mourning her loss—it gives us a chance to celebrate her life, who she is, and what she was able to accomplish here at Transy.”
Kiara Walker
programs were great and raised the knowledge level for many of us about art,” stated professor of Political Science Don Dugi. Wolsk has also had an impact past the educational level. Lin explained that Wolsk has served as both a mentor and friend for her here. “She’s actually one of the major reasons I was so excited about this job and in the ten years I’ve been here, that idea never changed,” said Lin. “I’ve already started to miss her.” Wolsk has impacted numerous members of the Transylvania community, but she too has felt affected by her fellow campus members. “Transy gave and gives me glorious colleagues-both faculty and staff--and has given me,too, an endless parade of engaging, winning students,” said Wolsk. Shannon has been working at Transylvania for 39 years and has made an equally large impact on his students and fellow faculty members. “Dave Shannon has given a lot to Transylvania, both as a faculty member and acting as dean,” said Dugi. “One of the things that I have always admired about Dave is his willingness to give students all the time and assistance they need to succeed in his courses, recognizing that mentoring is teaching too.” For Shannon, one of the best parts of his work at Transylvania centers on his students. “I have had many, many wonderful students who worked hard in my courses and are now doing or will do great things in their careers. I hope I have inspired them to be the best they can be,” stated Shannon.
Transy bids farewell to Transy to Award Stewart Posthumous Degree four retiring Professors Aaron Martin akmartin19@transy.edu
While the Class of 2016 has decided to remember and honor Transy Senior, Mary Katherine “Katie” Stewart, with this year’s Senior Challenge of funding the Mary Katherine Stewart Pavilion in Back Circle, the Dean’s Office also has been preparing for how to honor and remember Stewart at the 2016 Commencement Ceremony. “She [Stewart] did earn her degree and the faculty unanimously approved her receiving her degree posthumously and the Board of Trustees approved the degree,” said Vice President of Academic Affairs and Dean of the University, Laura Bryan. “Her family will attend commencement to receive the degree in her honor. We will also have, in the program, a memorial for her
See Stewart, Page 3
SAB to organize Student Events Raaziq El-Amin rkelamin19@transy.edu
After making changes to its constitution Student Activities Board will take on a new role on campus. According to Director of Campus and Community Engagement Natasha Begin, “SAB will be the governing body that approves all student organization programming and events that lie within a certain level of approval.” While on of the main goals of restructuring responsibilities is to create more collaboration between campus initiatives, the organization will also stand as a funding resource. “Student organizations who wish to
host an event or program will have the option of going in front of SAB to petition for funding,” shared Begin. Student Activities Board has been selected to take on such responsibilities because of its efficiency in program planning and implementation. By increasing collaboration between campus organizations, they will be more effective and more sustainable. “It seemed only natural that as we work to move away from being an over-programmed campus to one that encourages more collaboration and intentional programming, that this body be looked to for their expertise and be structured in way that can better support our
student organizations,” said Begin. Along with its new role of supporting student program, Student Activities Board will continue to coordinate events such as Welcome Week, Raf Week, Stress Fest, Crimson Affair, and Spring Fling. “Members of the campus community can assist SAB in their efforts by taking the time to review the new structure and procedures in place once they are announced at the beginning of July,” recommended Begin. Begin also reiterates that students are the driving force behind SAB, with Aaron Roberts and herself overseeing the organization and providing support.
Begin added, “I am looking forward to these changes and think that SAB has the leadership, vision, and enthusiasm to help move our campus community forward in all the best of ways. I feel strongly that this new model will allow for more innovating programming and support for student organizations to allow our campus to be more successful as a whole.” All student organizations are encouraged to take advantage of SAB’s new role on campus. For more information, contact Student Activities Board president Alexa Quiroz at anquiroz17@ transy.edu.
kswalker17@transy.edu
As graduation approaches, the Transylvania community must say farewell to the senior class of 2016. However, the campus must also bid goodbye to four other Transy members. Four professors will be retiring at the end of this May Term including mathematics professor Dave Shannon, English professor Anthony Vital, art history professor Nancy Wolsk and physics professor Rick Rolfes. Each professor has made their own individual impact on Transylvania. When Wolsk first started working at Transylvania thirty-eight years ago, her work load was significantly different than it is now. “In 1978, I arrived at Transylvania as a part-time adjunct, teaching one art history course each semester and serving as director of the Morlan Gallery,” stated Wolsk. She continued in this position for many years with just an M.A. Then from 1988-1999 she studied and finished a P.H.D. After that, Wolsk with her colleagues to create the art history major on Transylvania’s campus. “Before I came here Nancy, with the help of the Studio Art faculty members, actually developed and designed the Art History major,” said Art History professor Wei Lin. Wolsk taught the importance of art not only to the Transy students, but fellow faculty members as well. “Not only were her insights important for our students but for our faculty as well; her presentations as part of the academic affairs
See Faculty, Page 3
Etcetera
Page 3
Matthew Thornton
Valravn
Concord was a city rapidly falling asleep, anxious energy draining away with the sinking sun. It was an election night, November grayness staining everything, the cold of the coming winter seeping into the bones of people and buildings. Rain fell in a misty blanket across the darkening streets, coating cars in greasy droplets, leachingleeching away any bit of excitement that had remained at the end of a slow, bloodless, nearly uncontested campaign season. It was an off year, no midterm congressional runs, no presidential bids, not even a gubernatorial race. All that had been up were a few half-forgotten state legislative position and a mayor’s race that had been decided over six months before. Polls had been closed for hours, volunteers swiftly stripping them of voting machines and tables and roll upon roll of selfcongratulatory stickers. Across the city people got on with their lives, the only real acknowledgment of the day the mad rush of students to finish homework they’d
avoided on their day off and the muted, bored celebration put on by the re-elected mayors campaign, the self-satisfied banners strung about a half-filled bar a block from city hall desperately trying to drag some bit of excitement from the rapidly dissipating crowd of Concordites, their carefully engineered diversity all the more artificial as they left in clumps and cliques. Geoff Fitch stood beside the bar, his back to a banner proudly stating “4 more years!”, distractedly waving at campaign staffers that filtered out by him, halfheartedly accepting their congratulations for running such a tight campaign. All he could think about was how bored he was. The first campaign that he’d run for Bobbi Stone had been the toughest of his career, full of clashing debates, fiery editorials written by his friends at the Signaler, leaked photos of their opponents mistresses and countless sleepless nights spent marshalling speech writers and making sure T-shirt shipments went through. It had been the best year of his life. The second campaign had
been a little calmer, but still a haze of near constant scurrying action, defending Stone from storms of mudslinging attacks and the hell of a precinct-by-precinct recount. This year had been different. They’d run a tight campaign, so tight that no challenger had really come forward. There had been contenders, but no one serious. So for the past year Fitch had gone through the motions, letting the boredom wash over him. He was happy for Stone of course, but he was relieved that it was over. He leaned back, casting his mind forward, trying to figure out what he would do next. Maybe it was time to get out of Kentucky, somewhere bigger, tougher. He was dragged out of his daydreams by the crash of breaking glass. A bundle of dingy black feathers heaved and twitched on the floor, surrounded in splinters of broken glass but apparently untouched. The bundle shook itself, rising to reveal a bedraggled raven. Fitch knelt to look at it as it hopped around, poking at the shards of glass
Beshear continued by commenting on other things that Kentuckians should be proud of about their state. Among these were appeals to UK Basketball and coal. Clinton and Grimes also made such references in their speeches. However, the basis of the speeches involved domestic strategy regarding job creation and the retention of the affordable care act. Grimes’ comments were very similar to Beshear’s, reiterating the same types of ideas about policy, but from a female politician’s perspective. In addition, Grimes commented on the tenacity of Hillary Clinton throughout the campaign. “I told Hillary there would be a party waiting for her in Lexington,” said Grimes. “I thought I was one of the hardest working campaigners out there, but I must say this woman (pointing at Clinton) has not stopped, and she won’t stop until she is in the White House.” However, Grimes’ speech eventually steered in a different direction from the former Governor speaking on Clinton’s reputation during her time as Secretary of State and blaming politics for diminishing the accountability of Hillary Clinton after she left her post, stating that, “ When she left office of Secretary of State, she had the highest satisfaction rates and was considered to be one of the most trusted politicians in office. Since then, politics has gotten in the way.” Those politics were on display with protestors outside of the rally. A
United States Marine on the street corner outside the event holding up a sign that said, “Clinton is a war criminal.” This man was unable to be found for comment following the rally. One of the hottest topics of conversation was the Affordable Care Act. Clinton opened this topic of conversation by saying, “Kentucky did a better job than any other state with participation in the Affordable Care Act.” This comment was followed by a short anecdote about a man who has benefited from the act. Clinton continued, “I will defend the Affordable Care Act and ensure that you will continue to have medical insurance.” Above all, Clinton wanted to seem accountable to the voters. She also used this moment to make a statement about the potential Republican Nominee Donald Trump. “I want you to hold the people who ask for your vote accountable,” said Clinton. “I want you to hold me accountable when I tell you that I am going to try to do my best to actually deliver for you.” In addition to mimicking the rhetoric of Trump, Clinton also made claims against the policies of the Republican Party. “We were on the track to pay down the national debt if we had chosen to do so, but what happened? We got a Republican administration. It was exactly what they said they would do. It is important that you listen to people who ask for your vote. It is heartbreaking that the
people who are running to be President today, in particular the Republican nominee, want to go back to failed policies.” Clinton continued to discuss in detail her domestic and economic policy plans, in addition to commenting on foreign policy. Clinton said that diplomacy was the best way to get things accomplished abroad. Following her statements regarding her policy Clinton said, “I will find common ground, but I will also stand my ground as Commander in Chief.” The rally continued in this way, and ended with cheers and music like Rachel Platten’s “Fight Song”, promoting female strength. It was a mixed group of voters at the rally. Many of the crowd members, and the older women in attendance were dancing and thrilled with the information that they heard at the rally, while those who said they disagreed with her policies stalked out of the gym shaking their heads. Some of these attendees commented about Clinton is trying to appeal to groups she supposedly doesn’t care about, and misrepresents her economic policy by being in support of the “little man” but relies on big businesses like Goldman Sachs for her plans. The next day at the polls, both Clinton and Sanders walked away with 27 delegates each, with Clinton having a narrow lead of voting percentage 46.8 to 46.3 for Sanders.
mmthornton17@transy.edu
Clinton
From Page 1
and looking about with bright, searching eyes. There was another crash, and he spun just in time to see another bedraggled bird land in a shower of glass. The few staffers and supporters that remained in the bar were backing away, trying to avoid glass as another bird tumbled through the window. This wasn’t right; the birds shouldn’t be moving fast enough to smash through the windows like they were, and even if they could they shouldn’t still be alive. There were more crashes, one after another, the window finally collapsed into the bar. Ravens hopped and cried, glaring at anyone who dared to come towards them. There were cries from outside, a cacophonous cackling and the sound of wings. There was a moment of stillness as the sounds continued to build. Then, chaos. Ravens swooped through the open window, tumbling over each other in a tide of croaking birds. They clawed and bit at the panicking crowd, and Fitch was buffeted by shrieking campaign staffers as they rushed toward the back of the bar. The
Surveys
While the survey did ask several questions regarding the race and sex of its participants, it did not take personal data or link surveys to individuals who took it. This allowed the survey to be anonymous so that it could reap the most beneficial and truthful results. “We hope that more students came forward and
Stewart
Kim Naujokas, Executive Assistant to the Dean of the University, who has also been integral in the entire process of planning commencement, finds a similar impact and message in what will be occurring for remembrance of Stewart at the ceremony. “I think it also shows that we, as a university, we value all of our students and we want to give the community and her
Faculty
There has also been a strong connection between Shannon and his fellow faculty members as well. “I have had the privilege to work with many dedicated and wonderful colleagues both on the faculty and on the staff. I have truly been fortunate,” said Shannon. Similarly, his colleagues and coworkers feel the same amount of gratitude for being able to work with him and will truly miss his presence on campus. “I was sorry when Dave moved to Danville because it meant fewer opportunities for social interaction—and I am even more distressed that he is leaving the college,” stated Dugi. Multiple Transy professors have published works and professional recognition, but to have one’s work reach international recognition is not something most
May 19, 2016 mass of birds continued to build, a whirling mass of feathers and claws and gnashing beaks. Suddenly it seemed to shrink in on itself, collecting into a vaguely human-sized mass of birds that seemed to bleed darkness out in wispy tendrils. Amid a susurration of feather on feather it formed into a figure, vaguely man shaped, a figure of feathers and darkness. It began to stride forward, toward the terrified crowd trying to force its way through the back door. A pair of police whirled, calling for the figure to stop and fumbling with buttoned holsters. It continued forward, unbothered as they yelled and finally fired at it. The bullets whizzed through it in puffs of feathers and darkness. Then suddenly the figure leaped forward, arm out stretched to point at Bobbi Stone, the mayor surrounded by a knot of friends. The figure wrenched them aside, hurling them backwards and to the sides. It seized Stone, a terrified shriek spilling from the ordinarily composed woman. In silence the figure dragged the mayor toward the glass strewn front of the
bar. The officers bellowed, and stone beat at figure. Both did nothing. Blood flowed from where the figure held the mayor. It paused, then let out a deafening shriek, the cry of a thousand birds spilling out from it. The figure slammed Stone to the glass strewn floor, and in a flurry of darkness and feathers and blood tore into her, ripping and tearing and slashing. The police fired until their guns clicked emptied, to no effect. The figure gathered itself, Bobbi Stone’s broken body at its feet, and a pool of blood flowing outwards. Wisps of darkness spilled out from it, and suddenly it burst back into a mass of birds and spilling back out of the shattered window, in a deafening beating of wings. Fitch was left standing in a shocked crowd, surrounding by shattered glass and blood and countless dingy black feathers.
said what they needed to say because of the survey. I worry those individuals who might be afraid to come forward with their experiences because this is a small campus and they don’t want people to know,” said Bryan, “We want to make sure that students know the avenues for getting help, that all the help they receive is
protected and kept private through Title IX, and that Transylvania University is dedicated to preventing violence and protecting those influenced by it.” More information about the results of the survey, any changes around campus influenced by the survey, and additional information will be published when it comes.
family, also, the opportunity to recognize the hard work she did and what she accomplished,” said Naujokas. While the remembrance of Stewart on behalf of Transy’s community is an important part of the commencement ceremony, Dean Bryan also emphasized the importance of this moment for Stewart’s family. “I think the family is very concerned that
everyone celebrates their achievements and that, you know, they’re glad, they’re thankful, they’re very grateful that we want to include Katie in the commencement so the family can celebrate for her,” said Dean Bryan. “The family wants everyone to know that they don’t want this to take away from their celebration, that they want to be part of the celebration— everyone’s celebrations.”
can boast, however, Vital can do just that. “In recent years, his published works on ecological and environmental issues have received international recognition, something that is no small feat given his position as a humanities scholar,” stated professor of sociology Brian Rich. Another element Vital brings to the campus that only a few professors can claim is an aspect of diversity. “Within and beyond the classroom, he has always been an advocate for diversity and inclusion on our campus and in the wider world,” said Rich. “As a native of South Africa and its former system of racial apartheid, he has brought a wealth of knowledge regarding institutional racism and other ills to bear on important issues that we have dealt with at Transy.”
His teaching style makes Vital stand out among his students. “He is passionate about the material that he teachers and makes it so interesting even for those that know nothing about Africa,” said first-year Pearl Udahemuka. “He’s also the sweetest person. He cares so much about humanity and wants his students to be the best they can be, to be human.” Rick Rolfes made a great impact in the physics department. Unfortunately he and his colleagues were unavailable for comment. These professors made their mark on this campus, and will be remembered by the students and professors who got to know them during their time at Transy.
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Opinion
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May 18, 2016
Choose or Lose, KY Speech & Debate George Lakoff, of “Don’t think of an Elephant” fame, have put effort into explaining why this is, the fact remains that because of this system well over the 72,000 independent registered voters within Kentucky are left with a hard choice: either compromise on their beliefs in order to gain a voice in deciding the contenders for the general election, or stand by a set of beliefs which do not align
eleven states hold closed primaries, while all other states use a variety of methods including open, semi-open and semiclosed primaries. All of these methods allow for independents to vote in one of the two primary election. This of course does not mean that these systems do not have their own problems, however, these are problems that can and should be remedied without cutting into the veins “... many Kentuck- of the democratic without ians went out to cast process, disenfranchising the their vote... the current vote of some of its citizens. They only definition for ‘many’ wish to stand by a is about 20% of regis- set of beliefs which tered voters.” do not conform to either the Republican or Democratic -Dave Neri, Managing dogma. In a country whose first Editor president spoke in his farewell address with the two major parties of the importance of and in doing so resign independence and the themselves to be counted problematic nature of such as one of the unpatriotic parties, all I can really say is that there needs to be a non-voters next election change. season. In the United States of America, a country that David “Sasquatch” styles itself a democracy and Neri, builds up the importance Managing Editor of every vote, this is not a choice a citizen should have to make. Citizens who are otherwise active politically, who inform themselves on the candidates, who go to the rallies and do their best to find the candidate who is looking to tackle the issues they find important should not be discounted because of party affiliation. It is not a choice that must be made in other parts of the country. Only
Tristan Reynolds tpreynolds19@transy.edu
Let’s invite a Nazi to campus. Let’s hear what he has to say. Then we can dismiss him because he’s a Nazi, and everything he had to say was terrible. Nobody should ever have sympathy for Nazis. The tenants of Nazism— completely aside from their utter lack of foundation in any observable reality— are hateful, bigoted, and nonsensical. Our hypothetical Nazi should be protested, picketed, and spoken out against. None of that, however, means that we shouldn’t, as a community, entertain them before dismissing them. It just means that we’ve already entertained them. So maybe we shouldn’t invite a Nazi after all. Obviously, Nazism is a hyperbolic example. I seriously doubt that anyone on Transy’s campus is sympathetic to the rambling racist rigmarole of Adolf Hitler. We’ve already decided that the ideas are wrong. But, in order to do that, we had to consider for at least a moment what those ideas were. In high school history classes many of us read excerpts of Mein Kampf, and were repulsed by what we read. But in order to be repulsed, we had to read. The same is true of other bad ideas. Take the proposition that the working classes should rise up in violent revolution and overthrow the bourgeoisie. Here’s a list of reasons that’s a bad idea: it’s generally lead to totalitarian
Don’t Wage War on the Poor Michael Maggard mgmaggard19@trrans.edu
In today’s political discussion, we often hear from the right that there is “no such thing as a free lunch.” This phrase has become a mantra for the right, and, generally speaking, is used in reference to entitlement programs and government benefits like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), or “food stamps” as they are called by some. These programs aimed to help the lower and middle class have been labeled by the right as “free lunches” and “handouts,” creating a negative connotation around the use of taxpayer money for the sake of public assistance. These attacks have corrupted the way that many view government spending for the lower classes. According to this view, a two parent family working low wage jobs and forced to depend on public programs are slandered as “lazy” and “entitled.” Some on the right even call them “leeches” on society. The rhetoric of the right has created a war on those in poverty. The right has overgeneralized them, creating a picture of
people who are nothing but “sponges” and totally disincentivized from working and supporting themselves. The argument to cut programs such as SNAP is fully centered on the notion that many of its recipients refuse to contribute to society. The right has waged this war out of an apparent concern for budgetary spending. They are convinced that spending is out of control. In reality, this principled fiscal conservatism does nothing but masquerade their
countless corporations who receive billions of dollars in subsidies from the government? The Boeing corporation receives $13.2 billion annually, and state, local, and federal governments provide more than $110 billion of subsidies overall, of which the largest recipients are multinational conglomerates. Additionally, the United States spends more than $600 billion on its military totaling more than the next seven countries combined. Where is the government spending critique from the right? “The rhetric of The truth is the right has created that excessive a war on those in military spending and corporate poverty.” subsidies are -Michael Maggard left out of the discussion, so the right scapegoats poor people as the cause of our ever growing national blatant class warfare as debt. supposed idealism. We must acknowledge Sadly, the people who the fact that there are people are so quick to complain who abuse the system, but about recipients of these we must also understand benefits usually fail to that the vast majority highlight much clearer of recipients of welfare areas of wasteful spending. benefits are working Why is it that they are people in need. According so quick to attack poor to the Center on Budget people who benefit from and Policy, “more than entitlement programs, 80% of recipients work in but fail to mention the the year prior to or after
receiving SNAP.” In families with children, “...more than 60% [of recipients] work.” The plain truth is that many of the people who receive “free lunches” are working, but they make very little money. These working poor are employed by the very same corporations that receive taxpayer funded subsidies even as they pay starvation wages. So instead of attacking these people with false claims such as that they are “lazy,” we should be advocating for policies to lift them out of poverty. All in all, we must change the way we approach policy discussions regarding welfare programs. Instead of immediately assuming that the majority of poor individuals are inherently lethargic, we must look at the reality of the issue and find ways to elevate people from poverty. Rather than looking for the nearest government social program to cut, we should look at other areas where the spending is much more unnecessary. In the words of Franklin D. Roosevelt, “The test of our progress is . . . whether we provide enough for those who have too little.”
The Rambler is looking for talented and passionate writers for Opinion next year. Contact Tristan Reynolds at tpreynolds19@transy.edu for more information!
states in the past, it almost always involves the violent purging of so-called counterrevolutionaries, and uprisings and civil wars in general tend to hurt and kill large numbers of people. But even listing reasons why something is a bad idea requires considering that idea. It requires a space to
change that. I want to hear every silly, nonsensical, ridiculous notion you have. I want to air it out, and debate it, and shine a light on it. I want this section to become the place where really serious, stimulating intellectual conversations and debates occur. Let’s bring on the ideas, and let’s put them to the test. Let’s hear eloquent, impassioned defenses of “Let’s hear elopositions outside the norms, beyond quent, impassioned pale, and defenses of positions the unimaginable to ourtide the norms, the self-satisfied beyond the pale, and enlightened mind. Let’s hear what unimaginable to the you have to say. Up self-satisfied enlight- to and including the fascists, the ened miond. Let’s communists, the hear what you have to theocrats, and the anarchists. say.” Especially the fascists, the communists, the -Tristan Reynolds theocrats, and the anarchists. I can’t do this on my own. So air ideas, whether they be I’m asking you, readers, common or controversial or to join in. I want to, in the even, yes, bad. Because not next year, hear from the shy all controversial ideas are voices on campus. I want bad. Past controversial ideas to hear from the kids in the include female suffrage, back of the class. I want gay marriage, civil rights, to hear the marginalized and freedom of speech, voices. I want to hear from the press, and religion. you. Write something. Controversial ideas need Write about what you’re a space to breathe, where passionate about. Write the good and bad can be against something you’re debated and separated. passionate against. Let’s I want this Opinion hear it. Section to be that space. I’d We’re all waiting on like to think it is currently, you. but ultimately I have to admit that it’s been pretty tame so far. I want to use my tenure as Opinion Editor to
Have a great summer! Start paying down your crippling student debt!
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May 17 has come and passed. It was a day where many Kentuckians went out to cast their vote for who should face the now forgone Republican candidate Donald Trump in the general election for the presidency. According to the Herald Leader, the current definition of ‘many’ is about 20% of the registered voters. Now to be fair, this figure is a bit misleading, as it factors in voters who are not part of the Democratic Party and who, due to Kentucky’s closed primary system,, cannot vote in the Democratic primary. Many of these individuals instead chose to vote in the Republican primary, which took place earlier in the election season. However, even factoring out these voters, the fact remains that a number of people who are not Republicans, for number of reasons, chose or were otherwise unable to cast a vote for their choice of who should move on to the general election. I am one of these people. I was one in 2012, and barring a much needed change in the manner in which Kentucky conducts its primary elections, I will be for as long as I remain in the state. America’s political culture, for the most part, forms itself as a binary. It holds at any one time two major parties who often frame the issues they discuss as part of an entire political ideology. Individuals who hold ideas on issues that cross party lines are left in the dust of the mainstream. While a number of scholars such as
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May 19, 2016
COURTESEY OF TERRY JUSTICE
Spring sports bring in mutliple awards
The lacrosse team poses with the ORLC tournament championship trophy. The team defeated Washington and Jefferson and Thiel to win the ORLC tournament for the second time in two years.
Lance Antoine alantoine19@transy.edu
Perhaps the spring team with the best season may have been the women’s softball team with their impressive 26-13 record. The team ended up falling short in the conference tournament and was unable to capture a title. Even though they didn’t get the gold, there was no shortage of personal wins. Jamie Lutes was named HCAC Pitcher of the year. Krista DeBurger won HCAC MosT Valuable Player. Lastly, Coach Shawn Hendrickson was named HCAC Coach of the Year. Lutes pitched 93.1 innings
for the Pioneers and racked up 45 strikeouts as well as an ERA of 2.70. Her 13 wins were good enough for second in the conference. DeBurger ended the season with a batting average of .408 and saw action in 39 total games this season. She also led the league in runs with 43, home runs with 15, and bases with 97. Hendrickson finished the year at 14-2 in conference play and led the team to their first regular season title in five seasons. Among other award winners were Jessica Powell, Meg Liter, and Shelby Gambrell who were all named to HCAC second
team. Jenna Stiles won HCAC honorable mention and Katie Hulsman was named to the HCAC AllSportsmanship Team. Much like the softball team, the men’s baseball team put together an impressive post season, but fell short in the conference tournament. Also in common with the softball team, the baseball team claimed HCAC Most Valuable Player in Trey Simpson, and Coach of the Year in Chris Campbell. Simpson led the league in stolen bases with 22 and boasted the best batting average at .383. Tom Banahan and Jared Williams also earned
first team HCAC honors. Kody Ross, Rex Rogers, Hunter Jones, and Braden Johnson were named to the HCAC second team. Connor Blevins and Kameron Schwartz were given HCAC honorable mentions. Another team with a very impressive record was the women’s lacrosse team. The team finished with a 13-4 record. The team fell short in the conference tournament, and their season ended with perhaps their best year of play in program history. Rachel Harrison headlined the post season awards with ORLC Offensive player of the year. Emma Oliver brought home
ORLC newcomer of the year as well as being named first team all conference. Julie Ward was also named first team all ORLC as well as KatherineStachowski. Kate Winklemeyer headlined the ORLC second team for the Pioneers. Jessica Bier and Lydia Shaughnessy rounded out the award category snagging a pair of honorable mention. Finally, the men’s lacrosse team ended the season as regular season champions as well as winning the ORLC tournament. The highest honor went to goal keeper Cooper Fogle who won ORLC Defensive player of the year.
“ I would just like to say the award is a reflection of the cohesion and unity of our defense. We are teammates and brothers who play as one with the ultimate goal of preventing goals. I’m very lucky to be surrounded by such outstanding men who have my back as I have theirs”. Fogle along with Alex Wessleman were named ORLC first team. Zack Riggs, Rob Rhea, and Sam Ives were all named to ORLC second team. Ben Erwin, Ben Rogers, Clark Watts, Josh Mesmer, and Matthew Parker were all given ORLC honorable mentions.
a combined 24 over par after the first day of play. The first day belonged to first year student, Blake Young, who shot a team low four over par, and was in the top 40 individual performers after the first day. Jeff Meade was six over par and was in the top 70 players after the first day as well. Yet again the Pioneers faced rough weather conditions, but it was nothing they had not faced before, as this was the team’s tenth straight appearance in the NCAA Championships. The Pioneers improved on the second day and shot an impressive 17 over par. That score was good enough to bump the team up to a comfortable thirteenth place. The second day belonged to senior Nick McCarthy who shot a 72, only one over par. That was good enough for McCarthy to earn a 36 best individual player during the second day. McCarthy was followed by Blake Young who scored a total of 78 on the second day, which placed him at 11 over par overall. On the second day no Pioneer shot over 5 over par which is very impressive and shows the great consistency of the team. In the third round, senior Casey Gilligan led the
way. The team in total shot 28 over par, good enough to move up to 14 place right before the final round. The final round brought the Pioneers to a final score of 1,236 good enough to finish 12 in the nation. This is the best score the Pioneers have seen since 2014 when they finished eighth overall. The best individual performance of the tournament belonged to Nick McCarthy who finished with a final score of 81 and finished 36 overall as an individual. To put a cherry on top of his career McCarthy was also named an All-American to round out his career. In the last 10 years Transy has produced 17 All American golfers. McCarthy, along with teammate Jeff Meade were also named to the All Region team. McCarthy had to meet very strict requirements to become an All American such as a 3.2 GPA, an average competition stroke under 79.0 and participate in half the rounds of an NCAA Championship tournament. The future looks very bright for the golf team as they can only improve on all the accomplishments they met this year.
COURTESEY OF TRANSYLVANIA UNIVERSITY
Highlights of golf team’s NCAA tournament run
The golf team poses by the final standings on the last day of NCAA tournament in Rochester, New York. The team finished top 15
Back in the end of April, the Transylvania University men’s golf team won its tenth straight HCAC title. The team was led by Casey Gilligan, Jeff Meade, and Nick McCarthy. The team competed for the conference title at Honeywell Golf Course in Indiana. Gilligan
had the team’s best overall score finishing with a final of 302 after for rounds of top notch play. Transy won by a total of 11 strokes finishing with a score of 1,210 enough to top runner up Mt. St. Joseph who scored 1,221. On top of the veterans of the team, the Pioneers have two
solid young guns in Blake Young and Zach Treilobs. The weather may have altered the scores slightly, as the Pioneers had to battle through the wind and the rain for the most part of the tournament. Their win hear promised the team a spot in the big dance, the
NCAA DIII Men’s Golf Championship. The Pioneers traveled to upstate New York, Rochester to be exact, to pursue the dream of winning a national title for the school. After the first round of competition the Pioneers sat promptly at 20th overall. The team shot
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A&E
May 19, 2016
Transylvanians around the World: May Term Study Abroad 2016
Sosority sisters Alexa Burke ‘17 and Madison Crader ‘18 travel to Ireland and hike Blackhead Hill Hunter Overstreet expiriences Birds of Prey at Ailwee Cave in Ballyvaughn, Ireland
Students admiring the inscription of Jerusalem as the center of the World
Ireland Digital Travel Writing Class enduring 50 mph winds on Blackhead Hill
Isreal study group taking abreak from the hike and the heat in Wadi Qelt
Hiking through Tel Dan Nature Reserve in the Dan River
Professors Scott Whiddon and Kerri Hauman gaze over the “mini cliffs” of Ireland.
Paola Garcia interacts with Ape Sapiens in Louisville