Transylvania Rambler--Sept. 25, 2014

A&E

Morlan Gallery displayed an exhibit about the graffiti of Lexington, the “street tested” art of the city. pg. 4

The

Rambler

September 25. 2014 • VOL. 97 , ISSUE 3

Mattie Bruton

mebruton17@transy.edu

Liberal arts colleges all over the country are in a crisis of enrollment, and Transylvania University is no exception- the fall of 2014 incoming first-year student class of is 274 students. This is very below in average in size, and down 26 students from last year’s class.

Enrollment is a major goal of the campus strategic plan, which sets a goal of total enrollment of 1500 or higher by the year 2020.

Currently, Transylvania has a total enrollment of 1100, and if first-year enrollment does not increase drastically from this year’s numbers, this goal will be out of reach.

While it is impossible to pinpoint one exact cause of low enrollment numbers, a variety of different factors are thought to have contributed. One of these factors is the recently contested

sylvania. Vice President and Dean of Admissions Brad Goan said that many people today are beginning to doubt the value of college in general, and especially liberal arts colleges.

Competition from large state universities is also a complicating factor.

“Students that are here by and large and their families understand what they’re paying to come to Transylvania’s going to be worth it,” said Goan “I think our challenge in the recruitment marketplace is that not enough students and families see that. And they look at the sticker price of a state university and they say ‘oh, that looks like a better deal.’”

Goan said that current admission goals for next year aim for matching the 305 students of the 20132014 first-year enrollment, and that current admissions predictions indicate that it is See Enrollment, Page 3

Greek spirit reigns on men’s bid day

SARAH ALLISON

Enrollment declines, strategic plan suffers value of schools like Tran-

Transylvania University • Lexington, Ky. • transyrambler.com • (859) 233-8315

Phi Kappa Tau brothers show support and appreciation for their pledges on men’s Bid Day, the culmination of rush at Transylvania. Greek recruitment is now over, and all eight chapters of Transylvania’s greek community are excited to welcome new members. The event happens every year, but each time, the new groups bring their own flare and excitement. This year, Phi Tau welcomed 20 new members, Kappa Alpha has 12 pledges, Pi Kappa Alpha welcomed 20, and Delta Sigma Phi has 28 new brothers.

Costco hosts Transylvania Appreciation Day for community members Rachel Smith

rasmith15@transy.edu

Transylvania students were invited for a special appreciation day at the Lexington Costco Warehouse on Fitzgerald Court this Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 20-21.

“A lot of times we’re not able to reach a whole group of people because they might be too large,” said Lexington Warehouse Costco spokeswoman Kayla Petralia.

“We instead invite the group to come to us.”

According to Petralia, this is because Costco does not advertise, meaning the only way they can get their message out is through word of mouth. Typically, representatives from the company will go visit businesses to spread the word and offer services.

“A lot of people in this area still don’t know what Costco is,” Petralia said. “We explain who we are and what we do.”

The Lexington Warehouse branch of Costco

opened just last October.

Among those who had not been to Costco before was senior Rayne Parker, whose debut trip was on Sept. 21.

“I went because I had never been to Costco before so I wanted to see what it was like, and also there are things that I bought, that I thought would be best just to buy them all at once,” Parker said.

Petralia noted that when Costco visits businesses, the company representatives bring information and spe-

cial offers for membership signups, including a $10 cash card for a Gold Star membership or a $20 cash card for an Executive Gold Star membership.

Since some places are too big or widespread, like college campuses, Petralia said Costco will sometimes invite groups to shop without a membership card, but offer the same services.

Costco is often a convenient alternative for college students because they sell wholesale products at a

“significantly lower markup on everything,” according to Petralia. She said the typical markup at Costco is only around nine percent, whereas most stores mark up prices at least 30 percent.

She also noted that Costco products are not strictly bulk items.

“They refer to it as ‘sensibly sized,’” she said. This means most products come in a bulk package, but they have smaller packaging inside to allow people to take out only what they need and

store the rest.

Parker had a slightly different story. When asked if there would be a membership purchase in the works, Parker responded, “Definitely not.”

“I was contemplating it before I saw the cost of the memberships,” Parker said, noting that many of the products offered at Costco are just too big for college students.

“I also do not foresee myself going back there until I am in a family of at least five,” Parker said.

MEGAN GRAFT

Writing Center strives to connect with more students

Juniors Elizabeth Burton and Jared Brewer discuss consulting tactics with Writing Center Director Scott Whiddon.

Megan Graft mjgraft18@transy.edu

Transylvania’s Writing Center (WC) has undergone several changes in recent years that they hope will benefit students across all

disciplines and grade levels in all stages of the writing process.

The staff of the WC is working to develop the perception that the WC is not a remedial center, but a space

to work collaboratively on a wide variety of writing tasks.

“Changing that narrative makes this a really inviting space for everyone,” said Scott Whiddon, who has been the director of the WC

since 2009. “We’re trying to make that message much more explicit.”

Whiddon wants to make it clear that the WC is a facility for everyone, and junior WC staffer Elizabeth Burton,

along with fellow staffer senior Emily Martin, are helping to change the perception of the WC through revamping their social media presence.

“It’s something we’ve been lacking a little bit in the past,” said Burton. “We want people to know what we are.

We want people to know that we’re not just these paperfixing trolls who live in the dungeon of Haupt; we’re students here too, with our own stuff we’ve got to work on.

“By expanding our social media presence, we’re trying to really show that we are a part of the Transylvania community,” she said.

The WC has reworked their Facebook page (Transylvania University Writing Center), and has recently created a Twitter (@Transy_ WC) and an Instagram (@ transywritingcenter). They track the hashtag “#TransyWC” across all three media.

One project Burton and Martin are working to create is a “Humans of the Writing Center,” modeled after the popular “Humans of New York.”

“We want to show that diversity of experience of the people that come in here and

Find The Rambler online at www.transyrambler.com.

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the people who work here,” said Burton. “We really want to humanize the Writing Center.”

Learning how to communicate with people and approach writing as a process is a large goal of the WC. They seek to make writing “less scary,” said Burton, especially for first generation college students, first-years and ESL students. Expanding resources for international and ESL students is something the WC seeks to do in the near future.

“This is a space for creativity and not just academic growth, but personal growth, too,” said Burton. “We want to be a network of support for students that they might not have otherwise… Writing is not an isolated event.”

Another thing the WC has worked to expand is the diversity of disciplines for which they provide help.

“Our staffers are from all across campus,” said Whiddon. “We’re a campus that writes. Transylvania has a rich culture of writing that permeates through every major, every program, every club, every aspect of campus. How does a chemist or See Writing, Page 3

Campus Life

Page 2

September 25, 2014

Lorin Martin

ljmartin17@transy.edu

For Constitution Day, an American federal observance that commemorates the formation and signing of the U.S constitution on the day of Sept. 17, 1787, a panel of four people from diverse backgrounds gave speeches on the constitution.

The theme of the discussion, which was held in the Campus Center, was, “What does the Constitution mean to you?”

The panel included retired United States District Judge Jennifer Coffman, Lexington-Fayette Urban County Councilmember Chris Ford, political science professor Don Dugi and Transylvania University Student Government Association (TUSGA) president Tyler Baker.

During the discussion, the group, touched on current scholarly debates, recent Supreme Court rulings and Transylvania’s own student government constitution.

Koffman was the first to speak and discussed the importance of the amendments in our own lives.

“When you walk out of this room and onto the sidewalk, you can do so without the fear of being arrested without probable cause… In other countries they are not free from such fears,” said Coffman. “You can drive your car without

fear that you will be pulled over, again without probable cause. You can live in your home or your apartment or your dorm room without fear of unreasonable search.”

During the panel, Koffman also pointed out the ways in which different groups seek to have the constitution interpreted.

“The case of Marbury vs. Madison established the principle of judicial review, so courts can say what the constitution means,” she said. “There are debates going on right now between various scholars and even a couple of justices on the supreme courts as to whether the constitution should be interpreted according to its original intent or whether it’s a living document.”

In the same vein, Dugi also focused his speech on constitutional interpretation: “It signifies an instrument for constituting the United States, specifying the relationship between people and government and specifying as much as possible the limits of government in that relationship,” he said about the Constitution.

“But constituting is a process not a product,” he said.

Rather than thinking of the document being made up of a series of commands as its originators may have intended, he suggested thinking of the Constitution as a living document.

SARAH ALLISON

Constitution Day pannel discusses interpretation

Retired U.S. Judge Jennifer Coffman (left), speaks to students in the William T. Young Center for Constitution Day. Panel also included TUSGA president Tyler Baker, professor of political science Don Dugi and Councilmember Chris Ford (not shown).

“Those who make, interpret and enforce the law ought to be guided by the meaning of the United States Constitution as it was originally written, that’s nuts,” said Dugi. “Rather I see the Constitution as beginning an evolutionary process, hopefully moving in the direction of a better constituted society.”

In support of his argument, Dugi quoted the piece “Some Truths are Not

Self-evident” by Howard Zinn, attempting to show that the actions of people are what ultimately determine the amount of liberty and freedom in the U.S. “The proper question I believe is not how good of a document it is or was, but what affect does it have on the quality of our lives,” he said. “The constitution is of minor importance compared to the actions citizens take, especially when those

Transylvania wireless network TUAIR undergoing planned replacement

Madison Crader mrcrader18@transy.edu

RACHEL SMITH

As of September, Transylvania University has begun the process of getting rid of the current wireless network and switching over to a newer, updated system.

The limited, nine-yearold wireless connection system, TUAIR, has maxed out its capacity of 100 access points, leaving parts of Transy unable to connect to the wireless network.

The new network is currently being set up and will have complete connection across campus by the end of October.

Before the decision to change wireless networks was made, the TUAIR network did not have the capacity to reach all of Transy. This left places like Clay Hall and the Rosenthal Apartments unconnected.

This was an inconvenience for the students living in those residences.

First-year student Carl Jay Ousley, who currently resides in Clay Hall, said, “For the first part of August term, I had to resort to using my phone as a mobile hotspot, which did not work out well. Now that Clay has TUWIFI, I am able to access the internet and stream video.”

The new connections system, TUWIFI, has a higher capacity for access points, so everywhere on campus will have access to the network.

Jason Whitaker, Vice President for Information Technology, is the staff member in charge of the set up for the new network.

Noticing that the current system is aged and limited, he asked the Board of

Trustees to use capital funds to replace the system in order to provide better coverage across campus. Last spring, the board was able to commit to replacing the network.

“The new system provides secured, encrypted wireless access on TUWIFI for computers, smartphones and tablets, as well as open access for other types of devices such as DVD players, gaming consoles, and AppleTVs on the TUDEVICES network,” said Whitaker.

This will be beneficial for those students who currently feel the need to use a router in their rooms. The network will run better than the router because there will not be connection

are necessary will no longer be degraded, because the campus system controls all of the connection settings and individual networks will no longer interfere with each other.

In order to ensure that the new system runs properly, the information technology department will be working to make sure that all of the individual routers on campus have been shut down.

“You will see a vigorous effort on our part to shut these routers down,” said Whitaker. “For every router

Once all locations across campus have been connected, then the Information Technology Department will be monitoring and measuring the new signal to ensure that it is working properly.

If there are complications regarding the new network once connected, IT asks that students contact them about their issue.

Student feedback is crucial and will ensure that the network is functioning properly and will help make internet connection simpler and easier for all Transylvania

University students, faculty and staff.

Switching over to the new network is fairly simple. When the wireless connection on a device finds TUWIFI instead of TUAIR, then the new network is available in that location.

Once that option is available, disconnect The new wireless connection system will reach all parts of campus, from TUAIR, turn as demonstrated by the new access points (pictured above) popping up all over campus. Previously, spots at Transy did not have wifi due off all independent to Transy reaching the max number of access points, then capped at routers and connect to 100. The new wifi system is called TUWIFI, as pictured above right.

TUWIFI. If there are any complications, interference from the other you see around you, that detailed instructions and routers nearby. signal is possibly interfering assistance connecting are Wireless signal in the with your connection to the available at 1IT.transy. places where these routers Transy campus system.” edu and helpdesk.transy.edu.

actions are joined in social movements.”

The panel also spoke their views on a number of recent Supreme court rulings.

Towards the end of the panel, the group shifted focus to matters on Transy, such as Haupt Plaza as the free speech zone on campus.

“The thing that I want to touch on is our right as students, our right as U.S. citizens to assemble to have free and open speech,”

said Baker. “We have that ability here at Transylvania University in our free speech zone. You have the right to have a zone where you can speak freely, you can protest, to boycott.

“I encourage you all to do that, to be politically active, to take advantage of the space that you have within the framework of the first amendment here at Transylvania.”

Hello all: A quick letter to the Transy Campus

My father once told me not to let all the things around you slip by; I feel that in a way the old man’s makeshift adage applies.

Transy has, as long as I have been on this campus, remained a bit of a juxtaposition in my eyes, coming together on some things, becoming disjointed on others; following up bursts of boundless enthusiasm with sharp bouts of apathy.

It is in bridging this gulf where I always mused that our job as journalists and editors came in.

Let’s start with an introduction- my name is David Neri, Junior, Louisville native (yes I pronounce it lulvul) and WRC major (soon will be adding German to that as well). I’ve technically been working for the Rambler since my first Fall Semester here, although I realized after the fact that I did not take it seriously until my first Winter Term (see bout of apathy above).

You do not have to introduce yourself to a newspaper, that would be weird.

Now that greetings are out of the way, we can move on to the much more important question of what you can expect from the page in the coming months.

Like many forms of media, the Rambler is here

to connect people and the splashes they make inside the Transy bubble to one another. It is a medium of expansion, allowing the events and individuals to not remain isolated but instead be known across Transy’s campus and become a permanent part of our collective history. It is a media which, in the end, is supposed to connect us to one another, and I try to keep this in mind as I write and edit the articles on my page.

So I end this short letter to you all with a couple promises and a request.

First, I promise I will work to keep you connected with the other parts of Transy as much as possible be that people, organizations or events. Second, I promise that I’ll do my best to deliver the news fresh and clearly as possible. All I ask is that you let me know what you feel about the news Campus Life provides, both in quality and content.

I’m asking that if you have an opinion, throw it out there, positive or negative I’d still like to hear you out and it’s about time the rest of the community did too. There’s an ocean out there peoplelet’s make some waves.

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Fish tale

Ethan Goodrum edgoodrum15@transy.edu

This week’s prompt was as follows: write a story as if you are in the mind of a fish.

The catch (pun intended) is this story must feature a submarine, a mad octopus, a sewage pipe and fourteen pence.

I could see the swimmer above me, simply floating on their back, lounging on the gentle waves a little ways off shore. Fortunately for me, it was still deep enough out here to swim undetected.

I licked my gleaming pearly whites, giddy with excitement, as I set the needle on my Underwater Record Player™ and the theme from “Jaws” began its slow crescendo. The swimmer would hear it just in time for me to have them over for dinner.

However, a wave of sonar suddenly began blaring into my ears (and yes, sharks have ears).

“Come in, Bruce, Bruce, come in...” came a voice riding the sonar as the frequency finally adjusted itself. Of course, just when

THINK

↑

I was about to have a snack, the boss has to call me into work! “Bruce, there’s an emergency in Sector 04!”

I sighed and responded “Ten-four, HQ, I’m on it,” mumbling under my breath, “I’m on my lunch break! No respect!”

Taking the needle off my Underwater Record Player™ and stowing it away, I left the swimmer behind and swam out to the open ocean, headed directly for Sector 04.

As I neared the destination, I spied an old sewage line running along the ocean floor, a rent in the metal casing spewing dangerous amounts of concentrated... sludge...into the water.

A small submarine was hovering a short ways off from the leak, and upon seeing me it sped over.

“Thank Poseidon you’re here, Bruce!” said one of the crew inside over the sonar projector. “It’s Doctor8 Octo! He’s planning on poisoning the area with that sewage leak. We can’t take him out ourselves; if we fire any torpedoes we’ll just blow the whole pipeline.”

Etcetera

“Doctor Doctor Doctor Doctor Doctor Doctor Doctor Doctor Octo?!” I gasped.

“The mad genius octopus with eight doctorates? I thought we took care of him back in the Titanic Case.”

“So did we, but it seems we didn’t stop him for long. Can you handle him, Bruce?”

“You can count on me, HQ,” I said, saluting as I swam down closer to the pipeline. Spotting the mad doctor-to-the-eighth power, I swam towards him, mouth open wide. It seemed I was to get that snack after all.

By the time the eight-legged evildoer saw me, it was too late, and I swallowed my meal. I could hear him demanding to be released from inside my stomach, that his genius exempted him from legal restrictions and a bunch of other malarky. I only hoped he enjoyed his new home, down there with the dolphin carcass, license plate, fourteen-pence piece, and plastic flamingo I’d eaten.

↑

IT CAN DO YOU

better?

You’ve got the prompt, now grab pen and paper/typing device and see what you can come up with. Then send it to ajmenes15@transy.edu and we’ll run it here. All students, faculty and staff are invited to give it a go.

Enrollment likely this goal will be reached.

Class size is only one aspect of the enrollment strategic plan, however. The plan also calls for Transylvania’s student demographic to be composed of 50 percent outof-state students, 12 percent students of color, and eight percent international students by the year 2020. The plan also calls for increased academic quality of admitted students.

Goan said that, despite low enrollment numbers, the class of 2018 is outstanding in these other areas. Nine percent of first-years are international students, nineteen percent identify as a racial or ethnic minority, and thirty one percent are out-of-state students. These numbers combined make the class of 2018 the most diverse group in Transylvania history.

This year’s first year class is also of high academic quality.

“That’s one of the things I’ve been incredibly

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impressed with- the quality of students at Transy,” said University President Seamus Carey, “They’re really outstanding.”

President Carey has made increasing enrollment numbers one of his highest priorities. He has already begun traveling to meet with prospective students and their families, and is implementing several measures that he hopes will boost enrollment. He hopes, for instance, that the hiring of new Vice President of Communications Michelle Sparks will help draw more students to campus.

“She’s already making a big difference and a big impact on campus with telling our story,” Carey said, “I think that’s a big part of what we can do- effective communications in telling the story of Transylvania.”

Carey is optimistic that, while many liberal arts schools are suffering lately, Transylvania will still be able to find ways to increase

Writing a biologist make their way in the world? By writing and giving presentations.”

The WC provides several workshops specific to certain disciplines. One upcoming workshop will work with Student Government Association members on how to brainstorm and develop proposals. Another is a pre-health seminar, which helps students with their applications to medical school, pharmacy school, physical therapy programs, etc.

One change Whiddon wants to make in future years is to offer bigger units on discipline-specific writing

enrollment and thrive.

“There’s still a big demand for really good liberal arts education,” Carey said, “If you look at really popular liberal arts schools across the country, they have pretty big waiting lists of students who want to get in but can’t.

So it seems to me that it’s not the demand is not there.

The demand is there- we just have to become a part of that equation so that people want to come here,” Carey also issued a call to current Transylvania students to do their part by spreading positive word of mouth about the school and improving campus morale.

“If you walk onto a campus with a really collegial and cohesive spirit about the place, that resonates with prospective students and their families,” said Carey, “And I think that exists here at Transylvania, and I think it can get stronger, and I think that if it does, then I am very confident that we will have very strong enrollment.

From Page 1

tactics within the WC practicum course. Jared Brewer, a WC staffer who specializes in assisting science and technology majors, explained this process.

“It’s basically consulting with existing consultants,” he said. “We know all this about writing, now how do we apply it to actual people in the world? It’s a dynamic sort of process of learning how to take the classroom and apply it to real life, which is really what the liberal arts is all about.”

While walk-ins are welcome, students are encouraged to make appointments

at the Writing Center, since the schedule becomes increasingly hectic as the semester progresses. Appointments can be made either by stopping by Haupt Rooms 12 and 15 to make an appointment with Becky Mills, calling (859) 281-3594, or by emailing bmills@transy.edu.

Writing Center hours: Haupt Humanities: M-F 9:30 am to 5:00 pm Academic Center for Excellence (ACE - lower library): Sunday, TTH 8:00 pm to 10:00 pm

September 25, 2014

Flash fiction: Scenes from a Museum Matthew Thornton mmthornton17@transy.edu

“Now we come to one of the newest pieces in the exhibit, this almost completely intact transitional Egyptian canoptic Jar. Note how its design is similar to that typically associated with later specimens but etched with markings typical of the Vril-Ya civilization, found on other Vril artifacts and on the major sits in Antarctica.

This particular Jar was uncovered by an OSI funded dig near the ruins of the ancient city of Tanis, and is believed to have been made at around the same time as the staff of Khemet when Vril-Ya trading expeditions in the Indian Ocean region and the Fertile Crescent were common. Now, if you’ll following me into this next room we can see some excellent ‘shining spears,’ typical of the period following the end Vril trading expeditions…”

The crowed flowed around Frank, a low murmuring drifting with them as they followed the docent, fascinated school children enthralled by his every word, surrounded by relics of one of the oldest known human civilization.

While their chaperones and teachers walked beside them keeping questing nine year old fingers from destroying a dusty old pot worth more than they would ever make in a lifetime, tourists clung to the edges of the group struggling to understand language either too foreign or too complicated for them to understand. Frank stood still though, transfixed, staring at the Jar. It was not something that would normally hold his attention for long, a terracotta vessel about two feet tall, its top an animal head so eroded by time that it was unidentifiable. But the carvings that ringed it below its sand polished neck looked as fresh as the day they’d been etched into the fresh clay, loops of glyphs winding down to its base, their lines jutting and swooping in angles that seemed subtly alien, completely out of place on their red earthy canvas.

But Frank simply could not look

away, and he stood all but slack-jawed as his gaze traced every weird swoop and arc as the sounds of the tour group drifted away. His body thrummed with a sudden nervous energy. When the last sounds of the group dwindled away, Frank still stood, arms shaking slightly, caught by the sight of the Jar. And then, it came, echoing off the inside of his skull, sounding impossibly far away, but somehow, impossibly, from within the jar. hello frank He sucked in air, a sudden shard intake of breath that broke the silence of the room, louder in his ears than a jet engine. Frank spun around looking for somewhere, anywhere else that the voice could have come from. down here frank Frank stared at the Jar. He checked the room again. Nothing.

Panic gnawed at the edges of his mind.

Eyes wide, he leaned over the jar and in the tiniest whisper he could summon, said, “Did you just talk?”

Again, he thrummed with nervous energy; he felt ridiculous and euphoric at the same time, disparate thoughts clashing in his mind as he shook slightly. And then in a wave of vertigo the voice returned. yes Frank jumped nearly a foot at that, eyes still wide, gaze flicking to every corner of the exhibit hall, to the doors and back to the Jar. He swallowed, and around a tongue suddenly as thick and dry as old leather he whispered again.

“Wh-What are you?”

Vertigo washed over him again, the feeling somehow tinged with amusement, and at the very edge of his hearing a chuckle, warm and cheerful, echoed. a traveler. i wanted only to observe, to watch, to sight-see you would say, but i was sealed up, trapped in this tiny prison. i am blind here and alone and this vessel grates at my soul. but then you came frank, your mind called to me. you are my key, my freedom.

With each word the voice grew louder, closer, the sense of vertigo swelling. Frank could feel himself teetering on the edge of

panic. He was aflame, nerves screaming, muscles tensed. With every fiber of his being he wanted to run, to scream in pure, primal terror like an ape in full flight from a panther.

But he couldn’t move, not even a finger, as if someone had come up behind him while he looked at the Jar and set him in cement. He could feel every bead of sweat on his body, every dust mote bumping his skin, every hair drifting in the artificial wind of the museums AC. And all the while, as Frank stood trembling, silently screaming, the voice continued, growing deafening, vertigo no longer a feeling but something raw and uncontained and solid enough that it cut him like a knife. think of it frank, think of it, you are my key, just as i am the gate. i am not ungrateful frank, i will reward you, you will receive whatever you wish once i have watched, once i have observed, once i have seen the sights. a tip you would say a gratuity. yes, you have been so helpful to me frank, i thought i would never get to see anything on this world. but you guided me frank, yes, and i thank you. i am so exited for this, i work hard frank and i deserve to have a fun vacation.

Black, blacker than the space between stars tinged Frank as the voice prattled on, unmistakably delighted.

His vision tunneled, the Jar becoming his entire world, until it was only the Jar glowing in that howling blackness.

The lid shattered.

Eyes spilled out of the jar, spilling out in a spreading fractal on a wave of blackest black, pale lunatic globes with tiny pinprick pupils, rolling wildly – this filled Frank’s vision. Then among the eyes were mouths, opening and closing in time with the booming, cheerful voice of the thing that had been in the Jar. Thousands of mouths clamped in manic, childlike, sharp toothed grins, as countless eyes spun and twisted. From those mouths came the voice again, loud enough to shatter diamonds: finally! i tell you frank, that is the last time i use that travel agency!

Introducing Sproull Scatter-brained Aspiring writer Real-life muggle Attracted to Alan Rickman Socially awkward Perpetually hungry Rollercoaster fiend Optimistic to a fault Um...

Liberal feminist Laughs like a hyena

Our newest contributor will revive poetry for the Etcetera page, a feature not beheld in this domain for over two years.

Junior Sara Sproull enjoys acrostics. So she wrote you one by way of introduction.

Expect to see her first piece of work (since her short stint as News editor last year) in next week’s issue which - in case you hadn’t guessed - will be poetry. Although she may also choose to submit other creative endeavors to the Etcetera page, make sure to check back to keep tabs on her writing prowess.

Opinion

e d i t o r i a l Marajuana stigma must change On July 27, 2014, the editorial board of The New York Times made a bold statement like only they are capable of doing.

With its piece “Repeal Prohibition, Again,” the board called for marijuana legalization in the U.S. It had everything it needed to make its message clear—a bold headline, a clear thesis and even a cool background where the stars of the American flag turn into marijuana leaves.

Though The New York Times is seen by many conservatives as leftist, it is also one of the leading daily publications in the U.S. and one of the most highly-circulated newspapers in the world. The New York Times, arguably the voice of the nation, asked the federal government to reevaluate the way it looks at marijuana.

We, the members of the Transylvania community, should take up that burden as well.

Every first-year who comes through Transylvania’s doors experiences a long set of seminars, whether it was during Orientation Week or August Term. One of the keynote seminars in this time is Think Your Drink.

With Think Your Drink, the folks with CHOICES, Health and Wellness and Public Safety avoid an issue which many preventive programs face. Instead of focusing on abstinence methods, the Think Your Drink program is a progressive one in that it focuses on safe methods and training for potential problems which might arise while drinking.

Transylvania even seems quite proud of the fact that our residence halls are wet.

Alcohol seems to be something we embrace as part of our culture. Even if people do it underage and illegally, as long as they are safe and responsible, we seem willing enough to turn a blind eye.

Yet, where is this logic when applied to marijuana use?

It is undeniable that the cultural climate in the U.S. toward marijuana is changing. A USA Today article from January of this year said that 20 states have thus far legalized medical marijuana, while Colorado and Washington have both legalized recreational use, as well.

On top of that, though there is some debate on the physical effects of marijuana in the scientific community, it is certain that, when compared to the physical symptoms of dependency on tobacco and alcohol, marijuana is relatively less harmful.

Yet, due to archaic stigmas remnant from the “Reefer Madness” era (which,

letters to the editor

don’t forget, was 15 years before we thought ducking and covering would protect us from atomic bombs), we maintain that not only is the illegality of marijuana is just, but also that if we keep ignoring the problem, it will go away.

On the contrary, many students engage in the activity recreationally. In their National Survey on Drug Use and Health

It is more important that a person be exposed to the potential risks ... than that we try to pretend the issue isn’t occurring just so we can wash our hands of it.

from 2012, the most recent study available, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration of the U.S. said that about 18.7 percent of people aged 18-25 had smoked marijuana within the past month.

With the consideration that, most likely, some of the survey takers who said “no” had smoked in the past, and that Transylvania is a liberal arts institution who values progressive minds, it is likely that the numbers are even

higher on this campus.

The study also suggests through survey research that the numbers of people who use marijuana recreationally are increasing, up from 17.3 percent in 2002. The implication, then, is that this is an issue that is not going to go away by itself.

To clarify, we are not suggesting that the university administration make marijuana legal on campus. Of course, that is an absurd thing to suggest, given that it is still illegal federally and in the state of Kentucky.

However, the stigma surrounding marijuana on campus needs to change.

Marijuana is often dubbed a “gateway drug” by preventive programs like D.A.R.E. Alcohol, on the other hand, is not. This is in large part due to the fact that people like the folks from Think Your Drink at Transy are willing to talk to alcohol users like they are adults who understand the risks of what they are doing, but consciously choose to do it.

Marijuana can serve as a gateway drug to other, worse behaviors if the people who choose to do it are not aware of the risk that escalating, both to higher amounts of marijuana and to other drugs, brings with it.

It is more important that a person be exposed to the potential risks, as well as materials and skills for handling those risks, than that we try to pretend the issue isn’t occurring just so we can wash our hands of it.

This is our logic when applied to underage drinking. This should be our logic

of the few spaces on the residential side of campus that is likely to stay, so we ought to make it the best that it can be.

The Transylvania University Student Government Association (TUSGA) has taken on the task of recreating Forrer Courtyard into an area for students to socialize, enjoy an outdoor haven, study and more.

Working with the Sustainability Council and the Transylvania Environmental Action League (TEAL), TUSGA initiated a dialogue among students that brought to light a great deal of concerns regarding seating, integration with the Caf, space for arts, accessibility and more.

With such a large amount of student input, we arranged to meet with Mr. Buddy Cowgill, the chairman of the Buildings and Grounds Committee of the Board of Trustees. He was thrilled to see such an involved dialogue among the students and urged us to keep moving forward.

With Mr. Cowgill’s consultation, we decided that the next step would be a design

charrette on October 2 at 7 p.m. in Thomson Lobby hosted by TUSGA and TEAL. At the charrette, students will work with four different design firms to interactively voice their needs and wants on campus to make a lasting change.

This charrette is an excellent opportunity to continue to engage the student body and establish a model with which dialogues can easily be started among all parts of campus, including Old Morrison, the students, commuter students, faculty, staff, the Boards and more.

Transy students are lucky enough to be part of a university that is small enough to include all stakeholders. We would like to urge all students to attend the charrette to give the student body a stronger voice and broaden the scope of those involved in creating Transy’s future.

-Samuel Crankshaw, TUSGA Executive VP -Patrick Moore, Senator, TUSGA Senate

War in Iraq was justified

Let me begin by saying how disgusted I am at how politically correct it has become for the politically left to suggest that the world would be better off if Saddam Hussein still ran Iraq. When do they do this, you ask? Every time they criticize President Bush for the decision to invade Iraq and depose Hussein. Now the left asserts that because no weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) were found that President Bush intentionally misled the country about the reasons for war. To the contrary, I would respectfully remind Democrats that Hussein utilized chemical weapons numerous times in the 1980s and 1990s as means by which to commit mass genocide against hundreds of thousands of unarmed men, women and children. This documented and globally recognized human rights atrocity took place against the ethnic Kurds of northern Iraq and still holds the record for the greatest loss of

乾杯とやじ

Jeers to these writers for forcing me down to a single column.

Cheers to RadioTLX for coming back online. I can now achieve my quota of campus media outlets to spur my egotism.

Jeers to the GRE for being an Orwellian vocabulary test with some evaluation of percentage equations and frequency distribution charts. Despite my entire academic career to this point, my graduate study hinges solely on my knowledge of words like adumbrate or legerdemain.

Cheers to Kendrick Lamar’s newly released album. It’s hella poppin’ fresh.

Jeers to the hiatus of JoJo no Kimyō na Bōken that will last until January. The world needs more or this:

Editorial cartoon

Courtyard needs your voice

With all of the great changes happening on campus, there are also several confusing rumors distorting plans for those changes, which the student body knows little about.

Forrer Courtyard, however, provides a unique opportunity for the entire campus to get involved in change and establish a model for making change that can eliminate the many unknowns that circulate today.

Forrer Courtyard is one of the most heavily trafficked areas on campus – trafficked, but not visited. And that is exactly the problem.

The courtyard is a missed opportunity.

It may seem small, but that is only because it is designed in such a way that we can only use the narrow sidewalk that simply serves as a corridor between Front Lobby and Back Lobby.

On an urban campus as small as ours, it is essential to maximize our limited green spaces.

Moreover, Forrer Courtyard is one

September 25, 2014

human life of any single chemical weapons attack on civilians. Given this, is it really the position of Democrats that we as a nation should have trusted Hussein when he told us he had no WMDs, especially in a post9/11 world? I would respectfully contend, as would most reasonable people, that it would have been utterly foolish to have done so.

Further, considering the United States gets most of its oil from Canada and Central America, the claim by the left that President Bush took us to war in Iraq for oil is absurd. But what they also forget is that Hussein went to war for oil multiple times.

He did this first in Iran in the 1980s and then again in Kuwait in the early 1990s. He then threatened oil-rich Saudi Arabia until the United States, under President H.W. Bush, stepped in to drive Hussein out of Kuwait and deter his further aggression.

Now my liberal friends are always

talking about how America should share power with the rest of the world and with other nations who have views different from our own. What better way to have achieved this “progressive” vision for the world than to have allowed Hussein to remain in power, annexing his weaker neighbors (and their oil) and thereby giving him more power over the U.S. and the West? Perhaps this was the left’s motivation for opposing the Iraq war.

This level of naivety and hypocrisy by a major political party should disturb all of us.

Finally, I hate war. I believe it is the manifestation of everything wrong with humanity. But I also believe it is sometimes necessary and I think that the Iraq War, however imperfect, accomplished the noble and necessary goal of ridding the world of a genocidal savage like Saddam Hussein.

Jared Catron, ‘16

Cheers to Emma Watson for telling the world what needs to be said at the United Nations level, despite the adversity she could potentially face for her valiant words and actions.

Jeers to that blasted sig viral video for making me all bitter that during my several years at Transy I have never become Peoplemagazine famous and never will, unless I gather my six friends and lip-dub a video of a popular song.

Cheers to the first sorority that will agree to put together a lip-dub video to a Slipknot song and let me take the credit for the idea.

Juxtapose typical sorority behavior! Break gender norms! All I want to do in life now is be People magazine famous.

Jeers to parent weekend for effectively shutting down the possibility of anything crazy happening on campus this weekend.

Cheers to Game of Wines for giving me something to do off campus, especially a Westeros themed something involving wine.

Jeers to the road work on Upper Street.

Detours make the magical trip to Red Bang Bang much less magical.

Cheers to the amount of letters and articles I’ve been getting. It certainly makes my job easier.

Letters to the Editor Letters should be: No more than 400 words. The Rambler reserves the right to cut letters to the editor to fit our length requirements, and we may edit your letters to fix grammar or spelling mistakes.

Signed, with contact information. Full name and telephone number or e-mail address is needed.

Letters must be original. We will not accept form letters.

Send your letters to: rambler@transy.edu

Rambler

The

Page 4

Editor-in-Chief.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rachel Smith Managing Editor.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mattie Bruton Photo Editor.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Sarah Allison News Editor.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Madison Crader Campus Life Editor.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dave Neri ETC Editor.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ameka Menes OpinionEditor.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .JesseJohnson A&EEditor.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . JustineYentsch Sports Editor.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . John Mays Chief Copy Editor.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Stacey Venneman Copy Editor.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Kaitlin Haggard Adviser.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .TylerYoung

A&E

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September 25, 2014

OFFICE OF COMMUNICATIONS

Home Free’s “Crazy Things you don’t want Life” Travels to Transy

A capella group Home Free comes to Transy with their country-influenced style.

Mattie Bruton mebruton17@transy.edu

Columbia Records recording artist Home Free will perform in the Mitchell Fine Art Center’s Haggin Auditorium Oct. 20 at 7:30 p.m.

The performance is part of the Dorothy J. and Fred K. Smith Endowed Concert Series. The series was founded by the late

Dorothy J. Smith in 2007 as a way to bring top-quality musical performances to Transylvania’s campus. The concert series hosts one performance a year, with performances varying in genre from year to year.

“We try to get a mix from year to year with classical and pop artists, but we always look for groups that have wide appeal for the Transylvania community

as well as the Lexington community,” said Professor of Music Greg Partain.

Partain served as the Chair of the committee which selected Home Free as this year’s performance.

Home Free was one of 15 groups the committee considered for this year’s performance. Partain said that the group quickly rose to the top during the selection process for a variety of reasons.

“Along with wide appeal, it is really critical with any group that they display a very high level of musicianship, and they certainly fit that criteria,” Partain said.

Home Free is a fivepiece a cappella group which gained recognition after winning Season 4 of NBC’s series “The Sing-Off.” The band is currently touring nationally, promoting and performing songs from their debut album “Crazy Life.”

Home Free has performed more than 80 shows this year, most of them during the Sing-Off Live Tour, which traveled

to 32 cities and played 36 shows. The group has also played at renowned festivals like the CMA Music Awards.

When she created the concert series Dorothy J. Smith specified that all performances had to be free for the Transylvania community, and so there is no cost to attend the Home Free performance. Though the performance is free, reserving tickets beforehand is still required. Tickets will be available in the William T. Young campus center up until the day of the concert if they do not run out. However, since there is a limited amount of space in Haggin auditorium and approximately seventyfive percent of the available tickets have already been given out, Partain encouraged those hoping for tickets to make haste.

To get tickets, Transylvania students, staff, and faculty should go to the William T. Young campus center and show their Transylvania ID. There is no way to reserve tickets online.

PRHBTN works include Eduardo Kobra’s Abraham Lincoln mural that was painted on the back of the Kentucky Theater last fall. This year, Associate Professor of English Karema Todorova and Professor of Art Kurt Gohde have worked with PRHBTN to bring notable street artist Andrew Hem to Lexington.

Fisher has acknowledged the potentially controversial nature of a graffiti exhibition.

She said that while public feedback about the event has been largely positive, a few people have found the exhibition of a potentially illegal act as art to be distasteful.

Fisher said that “Street Tested” was designed with the intent to question the line between social transgression and artwork. On opening night of the Lexington Gallery Hop, a performance piece was displayed which illustrated this concept- the piece began as a large graffiti piece that, as the night went on, was marred by

other smaller tags and then eventually buffered over completely.

“Morlan Gallery is a laboratory of thinking; it’s an extension of the classroom, and we like to encourage this kind of discourse,” Fisher said.

Though a highly contested art form, graffiti is hardly new. Fisher pointed out that graffiti has its origins in ancient Greece and Rome, and has been influenced throughout the years by artistic movements like Dadaism and Pop Art. “I would encourage people to critically view the show,” said Fisher. “Even though they’re walking into a gallery they still need to have their thinking caps on and be critical viewers and critical thinkers and ask, ‘Is this artwork?’ And I certainly think it is, but I’ve received emails that say ‘no graffiti is artwork.’ I think people should intellectually explore what’s in the gallery, and don’t just take for granted… (that) this is good art.”

to miss Justine Yentsch jsyentsch17@transy.edu

What: Family Weekend Concert When: Sept. 27, 7:30p.m.

Where: Haggin Auditorium, Mitchell Fine Arts Building As a part of Transy’s family weekend events, the university’s music groups will perform in Haggin Auditorium. Featured groups include the Chamber Orchestra, Jazz Ensemble, Transylvania Choir, Transylvania Singers and Pioneer Voices. (Free Event) What: Student Talent Coffee House When: Sept. 27th, 9:30p.m.

Where: Thompson Lobby Students will perform a variety of talents in the relaxed atmosphere of Thompson Lobby.

What: Home Free Performance When: Oct. 20th, 7:30p.m.

Where: Haggin Auditorium, Mitchell Fine Arts Building As a part of the Smith Endowed Concert Series, Home Free, a five-man country a capella group that won Season 4 of NBC’s “The Sing Off,” will perform pieces that showcase both their vocal ability and humor. Get your ticket before it’s too late! Tickets are available at the William T. Young Campus Center.

Mattie Bruton mebruton17@transy.edu

Morlan Gallery is presenting “Street Tested”, an exhibition featuring the work of local graffiti and street artists, until Oct. 17.

Admission is free.

The exhibit features the work of Lexington graffiti artists BRRR, Coupe, LeftHanded Wave and Mine.

Mike Dronez is the curator, creator of Dronex and perhaps Lexington’s most well-known street artist.

Even people who have never heard the name Dronex have likely seen his signature tag of a dog-like creature somewhere in the city.

“He picked artists who he thought had really paid their dues in terms of graffiti,” said Morlan gallery Curator Angela Fisher, who invited Dronez to curate the event.

The exhibit has been immensely successful.

When the exhibit opened last Friday, “Street Tested” was the second most popular

Google search term in the city of Lexington. Fisher said that, in her fourteen years at Transylvania, only one

When the exhibit opened last Friday, “Street Tested” was the second most popular Google search term in the city of Lexington -Angela Fisher exhibit has sold more pieces.

Fisher said that the exhibit was created to accompany this fall’s PRHBTN festival. PRHBTN is a festival founded by John and Jessica Winters, which brings highly talented, nationally renowned streetartists to Lexington. Notable

Stiletto Brass Quintet brings new spin to classics

SARAH ALLISON

Morlan Gallery displays “street tested” art

The Dronex work draws in visitors fascinated by the alternative art displays

?

Something you want to know about the mayoral candidates?

SARAH ALLISON

Send your questions for the candidates Baker atatjtbaker15@transy. to Tyler The Rambler rambler@transy.edu, and they might be asked at the live debate.

The Stiletto Brass Quintet, made up of five accomplished women, played a high-energy set at its concert last week that included both modern and classical works

(859) 233-8315

Consider our number on your wall.

We might not have Jenny, but feel free to call us with tips, suggestions or general grumblings.

Sports

Page 6

September 25, 2014

Humphries seeks to change culture of Transy field hockey John Mays jsmays18@transy.edu

Sarah Humphries, head coach of the field hockey program, minced no words when saying her goal was to reshape and rebuild the program to be in the Southern Athletic Association Championship game within three years.

While this is Humphries’ first year as a head coach, she has been a student of the game for much longer.

Spending her college career playing as the starting defensive left-back at Centre College, Humphries is accustomed to success, having made the National Collegiate Athletic Conference tournament as a player.

This is Humphries’ fourth season on a coaching staff, having spent two years as an assistant at Earham College, and one year as an assistant at Transylvania last year before being named the new head coach.

Transylvania’s field hockey has not had the brightest tradition in the past, especially in recent years.

“We went eight-and-eleven last year, and that was the best season in a while,” said Humphries.

The undoubted cause of Transy’s field hockey struggles is a lack of roster depth.

On the active roster this year,

there are 13 players, and 11 players are on the field at a time.

Depth problems arise due to recruiting. Field hockey recruiting in the state of Kentucky is next to obsolete, as the only city in the state bolstering high school teams is Louisville. “The east coast is a hot-bed for recruits,” said Humphries.

The primal roots of Transylvania’s recruiting

I’m positive about where this program is going especially as we step in a new direction.

-Head Coach Sarah Humphries and on-field struggles are a result of not having had traditions of success to pitch to recruits and the student body, which would generate interest in the program. Past and current program success is a central factor in determining why field hockey has yet to be successful at Transy, yet thrives at a school like Centre College.

The result of a lack of

student interest in a struggling program is evident when many in the area hear field hockey for the first time and mistake it as another moniker for lacrosse.

“Success is key in getting recruits around the country to hear about your school,” said Humphries. “If you have current players telling players back home about Transy, it generates interest.

If you have recruits visit and fall in love with the campus and the direction of the program, they’ll tell their teammates back home and that generates even more interest.”

When asked her strategy for attracting potential recruits, Humphries says she pitches that, “as a new player, you will have the ability to come in and turn the program around. You can help build this program from what it is into what it will be.”

To start creating a culture of success, Humphries’ outlook for this season, she says, is to continue to develop the mindset in her players of, “We can win, we will win,” that has been missing in the program for quite some time.

“I’m positive about where the program is going,” Humphries said, “especially as we step in a new direction.”

15 Things You Oughtta Know About...

Field Hockey 1 MONIKER FOR LACROSSE.

FIELD HOCKEY IS NOT ANOTHER

3

2 consists of two 35-minute halves.

The regular duration of the game

There are 11 players on the field, consisting of a goalie and ten field players, during regulation.

4

If after these two 10-minute periods,

5 the score is still the same, the game

6

proceeds to penalty strokes, in which one attacker takes on the goalie.

7

On Transy’s field, the sideline boundaries are the red sidelines.

10

12

8

13

In order to score, a player must shoot a shot, or “stroke,” from within the attacking circle that surrounds the goal.

A foot fault is when the On Transy’s field, ball touches a player’s 9 the blue back-lines foot, which is illegal. that the goals sit on signify the backline boundaries.

If a foul occurs on defense within

If a foot fault or foul occurs outside the attacking circle, the offensive team is allowed to advance the ball from the spot of the violation.

On a penalty stroke, a player takes the ball from the end line and passes the ball to their teammates at the top of the attacking circle, at which point then play resumes. The defense outside the attacking circle can join the play once the ball is live again.

If the score is tied at the end of regulation, two 10-minute periods are played, with only seven players on the field for each respective team.

the attacking circle, a penalty stroke is awarded. On a penalty stroke, four defenders may accompany the goalie, but the rest of the defense must wait outside of the attacking circle.

Similar to soccer, teams are organized into specific formations that fit the identity and attributes of the team.

11

Transy runs a 3-4-3 formation. This formation consists

14 of three attacking forwards, four midfielders organized in a shape resembling a diamond, and three defenders on the defensive back-line.

15

Ideally, Head Coach Sarah Humphries would like to run a 3-34 formation, similar to the formation she played at Centre College. This formation would consist of three attacking forwards, three midfielders and four defensive backs.

John Mays jsmays18@transy.edu

The Transylvania women’s tennis team is now in the full swing of its traditional season.

“In the fall we get most of our conference matches in, but in the spring non-traditional season we probably get more matches because that’s when most other programs are actually playing their traditional seasons,” said Chuck Brown, head coach of the women’s tennis program.

The traditional season typically ends sometime in October. Because tennis is conventionally a spring sport, Transylvania plays its non-traditional season in the spring, mostly against teams outside of the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference.

Kicking off the season in early September with a tournament at Depauw University in Indianapolis, the women’s team had the opportunity to garner experience against Division II competition like Bellarmine, Depauw and Ha-

nover. According to Brown, the team has reason to be optimistic about their chances in the HCAC this year.

“Last year we finished second, but this year it’s a toss-up between five schools: Manchester, Franklin, Transy, Hanover and Rose-Hulman” said Brown.

Overall team depth will be one of the team’s biggest advantages this year. With key veteran players returning, like 2012 HCAC Most Valuable Player junior Claire Mielcarek and her doubles partner junior Megan Dixon, Transy has enough proven leadership to contend with any team in the conference.

Key first-year additions Lillian Williams and Mary Grace Amato, doubles partners in high school at Franklin County, are also expected to make a big impact at the three and four seeds and as a doubles team.

In addition, junior Jessica Shotwell, sophomore Sophie Head, junior Jenna Nidiffer and senior Katie Porter will all contribute key time, playing matches critical to the overall success of

the program this year.

On top of returning veteran leadership and bright young talent, Transylvania is at a distinct coaching advantage with 15-year head coach Chuck Brown at the helm.

Stability and experience at the head coaching position during Brown’s extended tenure manifest in the form of multiple HCAC Championship banners hanging up around the game courts.

Consistent play and high-caliber coaching will be a must if Transy hopes to repeat the successes of the 2009 and 2012 seasons, years in which they won the HCAC Conference Tournament.

If Transylvania is crowned the winner of the HCAC conference tournament, the team will advance to the Division III National Collegiate Athletic Association Women’s Tennis tournament. If Transylvania can advance this far, they will face cream-of-the-crop competition against Division III programs from all across the nation.

SARAH ALLISON

Women’s tennis getting TU Fitness Challenge aims to shape up community into the swing of things

The Beck Center is where most activities in the TU fitness challenge take place.

John Mays

SARAH ALLISON

jsmays18@transy.edu

The women’s tennis team is poised to be a contender in the HCAC this year thanks to its depth.

The TU Fitness Challenge is now underway and will continue until Oct. 20. The TU Fitness Challenge is a unique challenge in that the event is not a competition, but rather a personal challenge “to start off your year creating good habits before you don’t have time to exercise,” said junior Erin Triplett, who is coordinating the challenge.

The challenge is separated into two tiers: athletes and non-athletes. This set-up is expected to help prevent previous outcomes, where in-season athletes traditionally dominated the challenge.

Students should keep track of their progress by making a tally every time they complete an aspect of the challenge. Various options for

physical wellness are eligible for scoring.

As a non-athlete, options for fitness include attending a group fitness class, taking the stairs, doing 45 minutes of physical activity, running a mile, getting seven-plus hours of sleep, drinking eight glasses of water in a day, doing 30 minutes of cardio or doing three ab workouts in a day.

As an athlete, options include attending practice, avoiding dessert, attending a group fitness class, taking the stairs, doing one hour of physical activity outside of your practice, running a mile, reaching seven-plus hours of sleep, drinking eight glasses of water in a day, doing one hour of cardio or three ab workouts in a day.

However, the stipulation exists that a participant cannot “double dip” tallies for more than one individual event. For

example, if an athlete attends practice and runs a mile, they may mark the practice, but may not also mark the mile.

In addition to the personal incentives connected with cultivating healthy physical habits, the TU Fitness Challenge also offers tangible incentives for reaching specific milestones.

For non-athletes, a sticker is awarded at 35 tallies, a keychain at 70 tallies, and a water bottle at 100 tallies. In the tier for athletes, a sticker is earned at 50 tallies, a keychain at 80 tallies, and a water bottle at 120 tallies.

To receive weekly emails pertaining to the rules of the specific challenges of the week or to register contact Erin Triplett either in person at the Beck Center or through her email address, entriplett16@ transy.edu.