The Exponent Special Edition – Sept. 21, 2022

INFORMING THE BALDWIN WALLACE UNIVERSITY AND BEREA COMMUNITIES SINCE 1913

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SEPTEMBER 21, 2022

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since 1913

vol. 108 no. 1

County judge temporarily freezes “Heartbeat Bill”

Law banned abortion after fetal heartbeat is detected; clinics can provide abortions for two weeks from Sept. 14

By SIMON SKOUTAS Managing Editor Cleveland-area abortion provider and sexual health clinic Preterm has temporarily resumed operations after a judge stopped the so-called “Heartbeat Bill” that banned abortions once a heartbeat is detected in a fetus.

On Sept. 14, a two-week restraining order was placed by Hamilton County Judge Christian Jenkins after the American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio filed a lawsuit against the bill, which was one of the most restrictive new abortion bans in the nation, on behalf of abortion clinics such as Preterm, Sri Thakkilapati, interim executive director of Preterm, told The Exponent.

The lawsuit argued that the state constitution protects

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

INSIDE

Letters to the editor are encouraged as a method to bring issues of concern into the public eye.

Letters should be typed, limited to no more than 300 words, include a full name and include a phone number for confirmation.

Letters may be submitted via email to: exponent@bw.edu.

All letters must be received by 5 p.m. the Friday the week before any publication week.

abortion access in Ohio.

“It’s the same kind of, or similar, interpretation of the privacy rights that Roe originally succeeded under,” Thakkilapati said. “That the state constitution guarantees a right to privacy and that includes bodily autonomy and the ability to make decisions about a person.”

Now, Preterm can resume providing abortions and seeing patients through 21 weeks of pregnancy, Thakkillapati said. For 14 days from Sept. 14, the day that Jenkins froze the bill, the temporary restraining order renders the heartbeat bill unenforceable.

“Starting this Friday [Sept.

14.], we will start seeing patients,” Thakillapati said.

The abortion ban, which was signed into law by Governor Mike DeWine in 2019, took effect in June after Ohio

Austin Patterson, The Exponent Following a two-week restraining order on Ohio’s restrictive abortion law, Ohio abortion providers like Cleveland’s Preterm can temporarily see patients seeking the procedure.

Attorney General David Yost asked a federal court to dissolve an injunction against the

law immediately following the Supreme Court’s overruling of Roe v. Wade.

The number of abortions provided by Preterm decreased by over half in the

months since the bill went into effect, Thakkilapati said.

“We’ve reduced volume by about 60 percent,” Thakillpati said. “So, we’re still seeing about 40 percent of the volume, but we’ve had to turn away a lot of people”.

Preterm normally provides abortions on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, and will continue that schedule for the next two weeks, Thakillapati said.

Thakillapati said the patients that Preterm was already in contact with to receive care will be prioritized for access.

Preterm provides abortion access to many patients throughout the state, including some from Berea, Thakillapati said.

SEE HEARTBEAT >> PAGE 3

Editor’s Note: A new chapter for The Exponent

Big changes are coming to The Exponent. Our new Executive Editor is here to catch you up.

By JUSTIN MCMULLEN Executive Editor

This special edition marks the beginning of a new era for The Exponent. This introductory issue is a preview of our exciting next chapter.

As we start to produce content again, you may notice that there’s a lot that’s new. We’ve moved into our new headquarters inside Loomis Hall, introduced a fresh new look inspired by our past, and are in the midst of designing a new, improved web and mobile experience over at bwexponent. com (coming soon!).

Soon, you’ll see us expand our digital footprint with more frequent content and revamped engagement on all major social media platforms.

That’s a lot of changes, and change takes time, especially the big ones. Bear with us as we work out the kinks on all these new and exciting changes – we’re a work in progress.

Courtesy of WKYC-TV This is McMullen’s third year on staff of The Exponent and first as Executive Editor.

What will not change is our commitment to telling honest, deep-impact stories about the issues that you care about as BW students and Berea residents. We are strengthening our commitment to quality, unflinching reporting, fun entertainment coverage and everything in between.

I can’t wait to share with you the new and improved Exponent, and we appreciate your

patience as we work diligently to ensure that everything we produce exceeds the standard of quality you’ve come to expect since we first started informing the community in 1913.

We’re changing because, simply put, the world around us is changing. The media landscape has shifted, decimating many vital sources of local news. We believe that we

RESPITE FOR LOANEES

SPECIAL COVERAGE

MEET YOUR CLASSMATES

President Biden in August announced a change in his student loan relief policies. The Exponent explains how this could impact you.

Following the Supreme Court’s overruling of the right to abortion, The Exponent takes a look at the new post-Roe landscape.

We’re spotlighting everyday members of the BW community in our photo series “Humans of BW.”

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can – and must – play a key role in filling in the information gap in our community.

As such, we are allocating significant resources to reporting outside of the walls of our campus, and further into the City of Berea.

I am also mindful of the ways in which misinformation can run rampant in today’s discourse, especially in the younger generations. It is my hope that The Exponent will provide trustworthy information, but also give our peers important tools to expand their media literacy and better interact with the news they consume every day.

Stay tuned as we begin to roll out these changes over the coming weeks and months.

Over the course of the year, we will constantly innovate to better serve our readers. We value your feedback in this endeavor. Please email comments and suggestions to exponent@bw.edu if you are so inclined.

We are working hard to grow our staff to make our ambitious goals a reality. If you’re interested in a well-paid position — we are actively recruiting staff writers, social media and business specialists — please contact us at exponent@bw.edu to learn how you can join.

We’re proud to serve our community, and it is my sincere hope that we’ll produce something you all can be proud of too. Thank you for reading. There is a lot more to come.

Follow Us on Social Media @bwexponent

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SPECIAL ISSUE CAMPUS NEWS ������������������������ 1-2 SPECIAL COVERAGE �������������������� 3 STUDENT LIFE ������������������������������ 4

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THE EXPONENT | WEDNESDAY, September 21, 2022 | BWEXPONENT.COM THE BEREA COMMUNIT Y’S PA P E R O F R E C O R D

STUDENT EDITORIAL STAFF Executive Editor Justin McMullen exponent@bw.edu Senior Editors Sunaina Kabadkar Managing Editors Autumn Allan Hannah Wetmore Simon Skoutas Austin Patterson Emily Muench Art Director Alexis Watkins Business Manager Zach Ottenweller exponentads@bw.edu Staff Photographers Isabella Doyle Ursula Saadeh Staff Writers Adrianna Young Alise Hansen Chris Moran Dina Dakdouk Dustin Johnson Ethan Fischer Gloria Mireles-Barrera Kathryn Raubolt Paul Weber Rihab Shahin FACULTY ADVISOR Huixin Deng hdeng@bw.edu

NEWSPAPER POLICIES The Exponent is the studentrun newspaper of Baldwin Wallace University, which is intended for the entire college community. The Exponent is funded by the Department of Communication Arts & Sciences as well as advertisements. The Exponent is produced by the student staff on a bi-weekly basis during the academic year. Questions or concerns about the content of articles or other materials published herein should be directed to student staff of The Exponent or the faculty advisor. The office of The Exponent is located in Loomis Hall Room 185. It is the right of The Exponent to print all material deemed newsworthy and gathered in a fair and unconditional manner. No advance copies of stories will be shown, and reporters' notes are considered confidential. No "off-the-record" information will be accepted.

ADVERTISING POLICY Anyone wishing to advertise in The Exponent should email the advertising director at exponentads@bw.edu. Ads must not conflict with the university mission.

Articles and photographs in The Exponent, letters from readers, columns, cartoons and other elements within these pages do not necess ar ily reflect the position of Baldwin Wa l l a c e University.

Borrowers to receive up to $20,000 as part of Biden’s Student Debt Relief Plan

By ALISE HANSEN Staff Writer

In late August, President Joe Biden’s administration announced the rollout of his plan to eliminate $10,000 of debt for those who have taken out federal student loans and earn under $125,000 a year or $250,000 a year for households, allowing many Baldwin Wallace students and alumni to potentially save thousands of dollars.

Borrowers will be eligible to receive up to $20,000 of relief if they were recipients of the Pell Grant, a need-based grant that aids lower-income undergraduate students.

The cutoff date for loans eligible for relief is June 30; any loans taken out after that date will not be eligible for the program.

There have already some ways that students have been able to pay off their student loan debt, BW financial aid counselor Laura Boswell said. Biden’s student loan debt forgiveness plan goes even further.

“There are multiple programs out there to help pay for student loan debt, but [Biden’s plan] is expansive and will cover more,” Boswell said.

“I think it’s great that students who are Pell Grant eligible are getting double the amount; everybody [within the eligible

income bracket] will get something, but those who demonstrate extra need are getting more.”

Politically, response to the program has been mixed among Congress; many Democrats have approved of the plan while simultaneously advocating for greater expansion of it, arguing for at least $50,000 worth of cancellation. Meanwhile, some Republicans were calling for the withdrawal of the plan entirely.

An application to receive loan forgiveness will launch by early October, and borrowers can expect to receive relief within four to six weeks of filling out an application, the U.S. Department of Education said in an August press release.

Anyone who wants to apply for loan forgiveness before the payment pause ends should do so by Nov. 15, the Department of Education said.

“I’m curious how this is going to roll out and what the application is going to be like,” Boswell said. “Our hope is that the people who are eligible will be able to find the application and apply for it easily.”

In early 2020, a pause was put on student loan payments due to the financial strain the Covid-19 pandemic put on many Americans. The pause has been extended several times since then and was recently extended

again through Dec. 31. Student loan payments are set to resume in January 2023.

Approximately forty-five million Americans have student loan debt, and Americans owe $1.7 trillion in student debt nationally.

The cost of college has been steadily increasing at a rate higher than the rate of inflation, with some estimates setting the average cost of tuition as over 700 percent higher today than in 1970 when adjusted for inflation.

“The important thing to remember when you’re weighing taking out a loan, whether it be for an education, a car, a house, etc. is to make sure that the debt you incur doesn’t exceed the benefit of your investment,” Boswell said. “It’s different for each person and family, so it’s an important conversation to have as you’re weighing taking out a loan.”

More information about the student loan relief plan can be found at studentaid.gov.

Renovated North Hall opens

By ZACH OTTENWELLER Business Manager

North Hall is now open to students following some recent renovations as part of a long-term plan to update and improve the residence halls on campus. North Hall was first opened in 1960 and this is the biggest change the building has experienced since.

Some of the major renovations done to the building include: salon-style genderneutral bathrooms, air-conditioning, an elevator, an expanded kitchen and lounge space, a STEM classroom and minor tweaks to the bedrooms.

Kristin Brewer, assistant director of recruitment and said the buildbwexponent.com communication, ing was renovated as part of a strategy to refresh North Quad, which included last year’s opening of the Austin E. Knowlton Center, BW’s new science, technology, engineering and math building.

“Many students enjoy living Advertising on the North quad and those opportunities are halls have not been updated in a while,” Brewer said. “Given available for both that, and the proximity to the print and digital newly constructed Knowlton media. Contact Center, it made sense to focus on North Hall.”

Business Manager The bathrooms at North are Zach Ottenweller now gender-neutral and salonfor rates and style, giving students their own stall with a toilet, sink, and more information: shower said Todd Heft, the asexponentads@bw.edu. sistant director of training and supervision for the Office of

THIS COULD BE YOU!

Residence Life.

These bathrooms were “created in a way to make students feel more comfortable in a private environment regardless of identity,” Heft said. North Hall is a living-learning center with a focus on STEM students as many of the classes they take are in buildings within the vicinity.

“You can have food and people sharing food together, while another group of students could be playing video games or board games”

TODD HEFT

Assistant Director, Residence Life

Heft mentioned that the classroom located inside of North Hall is not currently being used for a class, but they hope to have classes there in the future or use it as a space for the STEM Scholars Program.

Heft said his favorite part of the newly renovated dorm is the open kitchen that connects to the large gathering area.

“It lends itself to a more open community building, because you can have food and people sharing food together, while another group of students could be playing video games or board games,” Heft said.

The addition of the elevator to this building has allowed more accessibility on North Campus as well as giving the building ADA Compliance.

JacketCare health portal rebrands as TimelyCare

By GLORIA MIRELES-BARRERA Staff Writer

JacketCare, a free, on-demand, virtual health service, recently had its name changed to TimelyCare. The name changed, but the 24/7 service to Baldwin Wallace Students for counseling, wellness and physical health services remains the same.

The name change came after two years with BW and success with TimelyCare’s partnerships with other colleges such as Ohio State University, Case Western Reserve University and University of Notre Dame. The name, TimelyCare, replaced the individual name that each school had for the service.

Lisa Weber, a registered nurse for BW Health Services, said the Health C enter

originally partnered with TimelyCare using the name JacketCare. This deal came after Sophia Kallergis, director of Counseling Services at the Health Center, agreed to learn more about the services and pricing.

“The company was somewhat new at the time and they authorized colleges to utilize an emblem or a mascot type thing,” Weber said. “So, it was called JacketCare because of the emblem here or the mascot is a yellow jacket.”

TimelyCare emerged during the pandemic as more people were stuck indoors and quarantine put a spotlight on mental health issues. The company, TimelyCare, started reaching out to colleges nationwide, including BW, to try their services.

Lauren Bara, director of the

Health Center, said 75 percent of students seek TimelyCare for mental health services, but TimelyCare is still not as popular as the Health Center.

Weber said TimelyCare is supplemental and is not meant to replace in-person care.

“It’s free for them to use, but it doesn’t replace the good old, once-a-year check-up, [and] talking with someone [in person],” Weber said.

However, TimeleyCare is a good fit for students seeking more medications, Weber said.

“If you have a medication already that you’re taking or it’s something you’re familiar with, or need a prescription refill, I think TimelyCare might be a very good option for that,” Weber said.

Weber said TimelyCare responds quickly to students

with educated physicians and nurse practitioners that provide health services that can examine students through a device.

“They get a physician or a nurse practitioner asking them questions… Some of them are like video calls, so they can see you, look in your throat or [other] kinds of things,” Weber said.

“After checking the student’s symptoms they decide if a prescription is needed. They’ll ask the student about their nearby pharmacy and will call to get the antibiotic or medication the student needs.”

When a student seeks TimelyCare, it sends confidential records to the Health Center staff which are only accesible to Weber and Bara. They will look at the records and ensure that students receive the necessary assistance for their problem.

“So if it’s an injury that they

need to be seen for, TimelyCare will refer to us and then we’ll have them come in and actually see them [at the Health Center],” Weber said.

Included in the app are opportunities to gain information and assistance on wellness. The wellness subjects include losing weight, eating healthier and sleeping better.

The Health Center is working on promotional materials to get the word out about the name change. Previously, they created merch, pens, accessories and offered contests with prizes.

Weber said the Health Center made efforts to spread the word to students and educate them about the free services that the Health Center and TimelyCare can provide.

BWEXPONENT.COM | WEDNESDAY, September 21, 2022 | THE EXPONENT

THE EXPONENT SPECIAL COVERAGE

NAVIGATING A POST-ROE OHIO Abortion access severely curtailed in Ohio; Some options available outside state borders

By HANNAH WETMORE Managing Editor

With this year’s ruling by the Supreme Court in Dobbs v.

Jackson Women’s Health Organization, which overturned the precedent set by Roe v. Wade, people in Ohio face much uncertainty as to their options when it comes to considering the termination of a pregnancy.

Some may find the only alternatieve oprion would be to venture to surrounding states for access.

The so-called “Heartbeat Bill” was signed into law by Governor of Ohio Mike DeWine in 2019, declaring the performing of an abortion once a fetal heartbeat has been detected – typically at six weeks – to be illegal to the extent of federal charges except in cases where it is necessary to prevent death.

On Sept. 14, an Ohio judge blocked an Ohio ban on abortion allowing abortions until pregnancy meets the 20-week mark, but this change is only

temporary existing for only two weeks from the ruling.

The states surrounding Ohio offer a variety of abortion access laws that could give some options for those financially able to travel; one such state is Michigan. Michigan state law has had an abortion ban on the books since 1931, but the courts have ruled them unconstitutional so no authority can enforce the law. Michigan’s Attorney General Dana Nessel and Governor Gretchen Whitmer, a Democrat, said that they will not enforce the ban.

Additionally, Nessel issued an executive order for agencies within Michigan to not work with those in other states wishing to prosecute out of state women that seek an abortion in Michigan. For some women, this provides a good option for those who can travel. From Berea, Ohio, it is around a twohour drive to Michigan.

Indiana is another neighboring state which may provide Ohioans greater access under very limited circumstances. It

recently passed a ban with exceptions for cases of rape, incest, fatal fetal abnormality or in cases where the mother’s life is at stake. (Ohio law bans most abortion with the only exception being to save the life of the mother.)

Pennsylvania is another possible option for individuals seeking abortions who can travel; although, they are limited at 24 weeks gestational age. Abortion access in Pennsylvania is not protected by law, and there are certain restrictions, such as requiring dissuading counseling from the state at least 24 hours prior to the procedure.

Democratic Governor Tom Wolf has vetoed an outright ban proposed by the Republicandominated legislature. Wolfe also issued an executive order to protect abortion providers and those seeking abortions from other states.

When the Dobbs decision created harsher abortion regulations across the country, two Ohio prosecutors signed a joint statement promising to

not prosecute abortion-related crimes, but this does not guarantee access to abortion.

Abortion clinics, such as Cleveland sexual health clinic Preterm, are still following Ohio’s abortion bans since the physicians would be at risk of prosecution from Ohio’s Attorney General David Yost.

Although there are options for women seeking abortions in some neighboring states, most women do not know they are pregnant within the gestational limits set by most states. A report by the Center for Disease Control titled “Trends in Timing of Pregnancy Awareness Among US Women” said that the average woman does not know she was pregnant until five weeks.

This varies among each patient, but it means that most will not know they are pregnant within the appropriate time to get an abortion. This, in combination with the new laws and limits and placed on abortions, makes it incredibly difficult to get one.

Heartbeat: Doctors must follow state law Continued from Page 1

“We see about a quarter of the patients in this state,” Thakillpati said.

“I know we’ve seen people from Berea. My guess is that some of them have been involved as students.”

Thakillapati said that doctors are bound to follow the laws regardless of whether they agreed with them, but she said Preterm’s participation in the lawsuit was its physicians’

form of protest.

“The risk is so high that I don’t of any physicians challenging the law [by continuing to provide abortions],” Thakkilapati said. “I know people are engaged in our lawsuits, so we have a lawsuit at the Hamilton County Court challenging the constitutional legitimacy of this law under the Ohio State Constitution. So, there are physicians involved in challenging the law that way.”

Special Coverage

THIS SUMMER, ABORTION ACCESS ACROSS THE COUNTRY WAS THROWN INTO UNCERTAINTY AFTER THE SUPREME COURT REVOKED THE CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT TO ABORTION THAT HAD BEEN IN PLACE FOR 50 YEARS. MANY IN OUR COMMUNITY MAY BE UNCERTAIN OF HOW THE NEW REALITY OF A POST-ROE WORLD IMPACTS THEIR LIVES. FOR ONLINE EXCLUSIVES AND COMPREHENSIVE COVERAGE DEDICATED TO NAVIGATING REPRODUCTIVE HEALTHCARE IN OHIO IN THE AFTERMATH OF THE OVERRULING OF ROE V. WADE, VISIT BWEXPONENT.COM/ABORTION.

Analysis: Abortion, other controversial issues highlight stark idealogial divide between Ohio gubernatorial candidates

By CHRIS MORAN Staff Writer

This election season, Ohioans will face a choice between two candidates who are in many ways ideological opposites – especially concerning hot-button issues like abortion – to serve as their next governor.

Nan Whaley, a Democrat and former Mayor of Dayton, and Republican Governor Mike DeWine are the candidates facing off in November. DeWine has overseen big changes in Ohio’s abortion laws, signing the so-called “heartbeat bill,” which bans abortion after a fetal heartbeat is detected, into law in 2019. The law was blocked by an injunction until late June when the Supreme Court overruled Roe v. Wade. (A recent temporary restraining order has since temporarily paused enforcement of the law.)

The recent Supreme Court ruling on Dobbs v. Jackson has wiped out the constitutional protection for abortion that Roe v. Wade provided. Leading

up to the November midterms, Democrats, like Whaley, have seized on the opportunity to argue that abortion rights now hinge on which legislators and executives are in power.

“A broader post-Roe shift in the midterm landscape,” journalist Hannah Knowles wrote in a Washington Post article in early September, “... has turned what many once anticipated would be a Republican wave into a more competitive fight nine weeks before Election Day.” Now that the Supreme Court has overruled Roe, the ball is effectively wholly in each state’s court to determine its own laws regarding abortion rights. This means that states like Ohio, which already had restrictive policies under Roe, could seek even more restrictive abortion regulations.

Whaley is making a concerted effort to mobilize prochoice voters. She takes a strong stance on abortion rights on her campaign website, dedicating a whole page to the issue.

“Now more than ever, Ohio

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needs a pro-choice, Democratic Governor who will staunchly protect abortion access — especially for people who face greater barriers to access,” Whaley said. “Abortion is on the ballot in 2022.”

Whaley’s website points out that following the recent Supreme Court decision, the choice of governor will be important on the abortion issue.

“The next Governor Photo Courtesy of Nan Whaley for Ohio Photo Courtesy of Ohio Office of the Governor of Ohio will likely be the last line of defence Incumbent Governor Mike DeWine, left, is downplaying his position on abortion rights as his challenger Nan in protecting abortion Whaley, right, looks to mobilize pro-abortion voters. rights in our state,” Whaley said. site does not mention the issue, on Whaley in the polls. Ohioan ton in August 2019, criticized By contrast, DeWine’s DeWine, along with Attorney respondents prefer DeWine at Dewine’s inaction on gun-recampaign has left his position General David Yost, moved 52.2 percent, while 36.5 percent form despite making a promise on abortion more ambiguous. quickly to trigger the abortion prefer Whaley. to “do something” the night of His website, unlike Whaley’s, ban.

The candidate’s division the incident. At a vigil for those makes no explicit reference to Despite the Dobbs v. Jackson extends to gun policy. Under who died in the Dayton shootthe abortion debate. Dewine ruling potentially increasing the DeWine, gun laws have become ing held in late May, Whaley atand other state Republicans competitiveness of the race, poll less strict. Civilians over 21 can tacked DeWine for not taking a appear to be winning the numbers have DeWine solidly concealed carry without any stronger stance on gun rights. abortion debate but seldom ahead of Whaley. According to permit or training.

“He gave up without a fight talk about it.

FiveThirtyEight, as of Sept. 11, Whaley, who was the mayor when the politics got too hard,” Although his campaign web- DeWine has a 15.7 percent lead during a mass shooting in Day- Whaley said.

BWEXPONENT.COM | WEDNESDAY, September 21, 2022 | THE EXPONENT

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Students of all majors create original theatre pieces in 24 hours

By URSULA SAADEH Staff Writer

On the evening of Sept. 9, Baldwin Wallace students gathered in the Kleist Center for Art & Drama ready to undertake an exciting challenge: writing, directing, and performing a short play in only 24 hours.

The 24-Hour Theatre Festival was a two-day event in which students explored theater by collaborating with peers and faculty. Students signed up to either be an actor, director or playwright and spent the festival honing their skills in that particular area.

Participation was open to any BW student who was interested

in theater — no audition necessary.

Rachel Gold, a senior acting and directing student, produced this year’s festival with help from assistant producer Hanako Walrath, a senior musical theatre student.

Gold said that this festival was a great opportunity for students to test their theatre skills and meet people involved in the department, while breaking the barriers of class year and major.

“Everyone is just an artist putting together a festival,” Gold said. “It’s very low stakes and it’s not a huge time commitment, so I think that opens the door for a lot more people to participate.”

During their first day, stu-

dents attended workshops hosted by faculty and other professionals in the industry related to acting, directing and playwriting. After their busy hours of learning, students stayed overnight in Kleist to get the full 24-hour immersive

experience.

Playwrights wrote their scripts overnight, taking inspiration from the costumes and props that the actors brought with them. The next morning, students met with their assigned groups and began pre-

paring the short plays, bringing their scripts to life.

After mere hours of rehearsal, the students performed their plays for an audience filled with friends, family and theaterenjoyers. Actors like Kaitlin Smith, a sophomore acting and directing student, were excited to share their comedic and dramatic work with the audience.

“It was a little nerve-wracking because it’s very hard to do so many things in such little time,” Smith said. “It was also very exciting because you’re putting on a show that’s never been done before and … has never been put on in front of an audience.”

The 24-Hour Theatre Festival is a BW tradition that was

Rodriguez said.

It has been two years since Wellfest was held in person. In 2020 the event was virtual and in 2021 it was scrapped entirely, so this year it was a “big launch,” Rodriguez said.

The Outdoor Adventure Program Club, a group overseen by Assistant Director of Campus Recreation Christine Varga, was also on site to provide demonstrations of activities like kayaking, paddleboarding and slackline.

“We really try to focus on the balance that students need to get outside, to learn, to explore and to play,” Varga said. “Everything we do you need zero experience [for]. We provide all

the equipment, all of the safety and all of the instruction.”

The Outdoor Adventure Program club has three to five programs a week with a wide range of activities, including archery, white water rafting and more.

In the winter, they either move indoors or run cold-weather activities like tobogganing and ice climbing.

“There’s usually something for everyone and for the person who’s not as adventurous, we have just chill time in our hammocks,” Varga said.

The easiest way to find out about these activities, said Varga, is to use the new app CampusGroups.

“Students can add them-

selves to the Outdoor Adventure Program group and then they’ll get emails,” said Varga.

“A lot of students are like, ‘I don’t want to commit to something that’s every week.’ You basically sign up to get emails about what’s going on and if you want to show up, you follow the registration guidelines. And if you don’t, you delete the email.”

Outdoor programs are not the only activities Campus Recreation offers. They offer club sports, intramurals and free group fitness classes. They also will partner with student organizations on campus to put on special events. Even Greek life organizations get involved, said Fenton Moore, intramural

Austin Patterson, The Exponent (Left to RIght) Lindsey Burke, Bradley Hughes, Bella Issa and Gioianna DiGiorgio perform their play “(Not) Everybody Lives.”

created 20 years ago by Chair of Theatre and Dance Jeff Herrmann. Inspired by a conference he attended, Herrmann brought the idea of producing theater in 24 hours back to a much smaller BW Theatre and Dance department.

Herrmann said that as the department has grown larger and gained more students, there is a struggle to offer opportunities for all of its students. The festival is a way to provide an opportunity for any student to participate and perform on the BW stage.

“We want everybody to feel like they can be part of the Theatre and Dance department,” Herrmann said. “It’s a great way to start out the school year.”

sports graduate assistant.

“Currently, flag football, we have two fraternity teams competing in that and I know that there will be fraternity teams for basketball and volleyball as well,” Moore said.

Studies have widely shown the importance of spending time outdoors on mental and physical health. Outdoor programs provide opportunities for students to socialize and connect with nature, Varga said.

“It lowers stress, depression and anxiety. And we all know that students experience a lot of that,” Varga said. “It’s also a boost [to] energy, increases your focus and your happiness and just is overall fun.”

Wellfest highlights opportunities to stay healthy, have fun

By SUNAINA KABADKAR Senior Editor

On Sept. 16, the Wellness Advisory Council, Campus Recreation, Health Services and Counseling Services co-sponsored Wellfest, an event that highlighted available health and wellness resources for students and faculty, at the Lou Higgins Recreation Center.

In addition to a variety of vendors from on and off campus, Dining Services brought in their fall farmers’ market and provided food demonstrations and tastings. A therapy dog named Enzo also made an appearance, and student group

Exercise is Medicine highlighted the new fitness equipment for the Rec Center.

“Students, as well as faculty and staff, may not have been aware of the interactive capabilities of some of our new equipment, so they’re trying to introduce them on campus,” said Jacqueline Rodriguez, health promotion director.

Wellfest also featured a table that covered faculty wellness, including information on a faculty initiative for the month of October called “Walktober.”

“It’s a walking step challenge for just employees so they can also sign up there. We usually include some of our benefits that employees enjoy,”

Humans of BW: Students tell their stories as a new year begins

Our new recurring photo series gives a glimpse into students’ lives in their own words. Know someone who should be featured? Email exponent@bw.edu As told to: URSULA SAADEH, ALEXIS WATKINS, HANNAH WETMORE & SIMON SKOUTAS

Claire Fischer

Kevin Bubnick

Quin (Mugs) Johnson

Bryce Cooney

Class of 2025

Class of 2024

Class of 2025

Class of 2024

Major: Graphic Design

Major: Arts Management & Entrepreneurship

Major: Acting

Major: Political Science

Minors: Sustainability and Studio Art “It feels so good to be back on campus.

It’s nice to be back in a routine and have a schedule to work on, and I enjoy being back in classes… I’m really excited for Homecoming because now that I’m more involved on campus I get to be more involved in Homecoming, and it’ll be super fun.”

Photo by: Ursula Saadeh

Minors: Applied Business and Film Studies “One time I called a Domino’s in Berea, California instead of Berea, Ohio and they didn’t know what flex was.

So I get off the phone and I go, ‘Why? What happened?‘ It [Siri] called the Dominos, Brea, like B-R-E-A, California and I was talking to them for literally like ten minutes being like ‘What, you don’t know what a swipe is?’”

Photo by: Alexis Watkins

“I am a creative, I am a poet a song writer an actor a director, a writer. I make things and I like to make things and I need to make things. That is what most of my time ends up being. I think I feel way too many things all the time and I need to put those things somewhere and usually that ends up being the medium of art”

Photo Courtesy of: Heather Stumpf

Minor: Legal Studies “Find what you’re passionate about and there’s probably a club for it. I knew I was interested in government, so that’s what I did.”

Photo by: Simon Skoutas