INFORMING THE BALDWIN WALLACE UNIVERSITY AND BEREA COMMUNITIES IN PRINT SINCE 1913...
INFORMING THE BALDWIN WALLACE UNIVERSITY AND BEREA COMMUNITIES SINCE 1913
JANUARY 24, 2024
since 1913
the
BWEXPONENT.com
print edition
vol. 109 no. vi
...AND WE WANT TO KEEP IT THAT WAY As the art director for The Exponent, the vast majority of my job at the paper is to work on the
As print circulation has continued to fall nationally year after year, The
design of the print editions. This involves coming into the newsroom around 9 a.m. on a Saturday
Exponent has defied these expectations, often leaving us to consider how to
morning and working in front of my computer until late in the evening (or, sometimes the morning
best balance the emphasis we should place on our digital versus printable
of the next day). Having left Loomis 185 (where our newsroom is located) at 2, 3, and even 4 a.m. on
news product. While we have seen success through our digital platforms,
deadline days, I know how hard The Exponent team works on the print editions. However, it is not
the value of producing a printed newspaper is one that should not so easily
the quality of our (multiple award-winning-at-the-national-level) paper that is under debate. The
be forgotten.
financial responsibility, however, is.
It is difficult to find outlets that allow us to escape from the hectic digital
Last week, the executive board met with the university administrators. We were asked to work on
world that has consumed our daily lives. Many of our peers have relayed
reducing the vendor print cost, whether that be through re-negotiating our print contract, increasing ad
to us that picking up one of our print issues has become that digital detox
sales, working with donors to support the cost or other various means that we could find. Independent
they crave, providing a break from their rigorous school schedule without
of the University, we have been working to increase the business operations of our organization for
plugging right back into the digitial world through their cell phones.
the past two years, so these asks are not new ideas.
The Exponent consistently finds less than 100 copies of our print issues
The administration kindly assisted us in exploring options that we had not yet begun to work
sprawled across our newsstand locations in Berea when we look to replace
on. However, they have neither provided us with specific instructions nor a tangible timeline for an
them with 1,000 more of a new issue, a sign that the print issue is being
official university decision regarding our funding.
well received in our community — not just on campus. The connectivity a
They have not provided us with a savings goal but have told us that they will continue to “support”
physical issue brings is not to be underestimated.
our print editions. It was not clear if that meant through financial means or otherwise. We are grateful
Local print provides the opportunity to deal firsthand with the issues
for the assistance they have provided us thus far, and we hope that by sharing this information, we
as they impact those around you and provides visibility to issues that may
can maintain our legacy of transparency with the University, the greater BW community, Berea and
have otherwise been overlooked. Searching for an issue online makes the
Greater Cleveland and most importantly, our beloved readers.
local angle news story become one in a million amongst your networks’
As members of an academic entity of the University, we are used to working in a professional
busy algorithms.
capacity within the University and with external organizations. But at what point do we cease to be
One location that is always out of copies is Generations of Senior Living
students and start to be employees of the University? At what point does responsibility shift to the
Home Berea, our favorite location to deliver newspapers. Every time we
administration? Are we, as students, solely responsible for the 111-year legacy of The Exponent? Or
deliver newspapers to their facility, we already see the residents speaking to
is the administration responsible for upholding it as well?
each other about the topics we covered in that issue. Seeing our work have
I don’t have the answers to these questions, but neither does the University. So, at this point, all
this type of impact is what really matters. Our aim is to provide a sense of
I can do is focus on what I have control over. Designing an impactful paper with my team for the
community engagement to people who seek to stay connected — in print
consumption of you, my dear readers, is my top priority. The stories in this issue, as in every issue, are
and online.
important. Our stories aim to include as many voices as possible to ensure that the truth lies somewhere within our pages. I hope I can continue to amplify these truths to you through straightforward and unique visuals that you can continue to hold in your hands every other week.
One resident of Generations of Berea, Dorothy Purdy, is a life-long Berea resident and subsequent life-long enjoyer of our print edition. “Many, many years, I’ve lived here, and I’ve enjoyed the print news,”
If you are willing and able, please visit bwexponent.com/donate to help us continue to deliver our
Purdy said. “I want to keep it coming. My grandchildren went to BW. It’s a
print edition. We, along with many BW students, alumni, parents, local journalists, local businesses
great community and I want to know everything about it, and the printed
and Berea residents, will forever be grateful for your faithful support in The Exponent.
Exponent is the best way to find out about it.”
– ALEXIS WATKINS Art Director
– SIMON SKOUTAS, HANNAH WETMORE AND SUNAINA KABADKAR Executive Editorial Board
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THE EXPONENT | WEDNESDAY, January 24, 2024 | BWEXPONENT.COM
THE BEREA COMMUNIT Y’S PA P E R O F R E C O R D
STUDENT EDITORIAL STAFF
Executive Print Editor Simon Skoutas exponent@bw.edu Executive Web Editor Hannah Wetmore Exec. Business Coordinator Sunaina Kabadkar Executive Art Director Alexis Watkins Managing Editors Benjamin Michael Hall Tommy Maroon Meredith McCord Kayla Muro Ursula Saadeh Ella York Staff Writers Ryan Acevedo Bailey Croft Bryanna Feagler Israel Gole Jason Heisler Nick Irelan Simon Jones Emma Lambert Madelyn Liberati Annie Lindley Sage Mullins Isabel Rivera Sophia Rossero Justin Verhosek Maria Vurbic Mae Werstler Layout Editors Elise Coble Hailey Noszek Photographers Ethan Kish Allison Reed Cartoonist Halle Vargo
FACULTY ADVISOR
Huixin Deng, Ph.D. hdeng@bw.edu
NEWSPAPER POLICIES T h e E x p on e nt i s t h e student-run 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 biweekly basis during the academic year. Questions or concerns about the content of articles or other material published herein should be directed to student staff of The Exponent or the faculty advisor. The office of The Exponent is located in Loomis 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 be submitted by the Monday before publication date and not conflict with the university mission. Articles and photographs in The Exponent, letters from readers, columns, cartoons and other elements within these p ag e s d o n ot necessarily reflect the position of B aldw in Wa l l a c e University.
Berea Tim Hortons plans placed Reporter's Notebook: Berea City Council on indefinite hold
By JASON HEISLER Staff Writer
Plans for a new Tim Hortons restaurant at 799 Front St. have been placed “on indefinite hold,” said Mike McCourt, Berea's building official and zoning administrator. The fast-food coffee shop was set to be built on the site of a former Burger King location, which closed in recent years. "The developer advised the city that the Tim Hortons project has been placed on indefinite hold," McCourt said. The Planning Commission originally approved plans for the restaurant in May 2022, shortly after Burger King vacated the property on Front Street between Rocky River Drive and Bagley Road. "After a city-required 20-day waiting period, construction of the 1,600-square-foot Tim Hortons structure could begin 90 days thereafter," according to reporting from Cleveland. com article announcing the plans in May of 2022. A possible grand opening was anticipated by the end of 2022 but construction never commenced. "It's a very unique and difficult site because of the angle of the roads," said agent Mark Zelnik of Zelnik C onsu lt i ng at t he May meeting. "We will try to be respectful with using less of the site and less impervious surface and adding a little more green space."
Over half a year later, the site remains untouche d. McCourt said that inflation and labor shortages are factors that likely caused Jason Heisler, The Exponent developers to halt plans The vacant Burger King building where a nationwide. Tim Hortons was once expected to open. " T h e recent rate of inflation and Paige Ackerman also said that labor shortages have caused the students would benefit developers, not just in Berea, from the Tim Hortons. but across the nation to "I was re ally lo oking reconsider projects," McCourt forward to having that location said. as a place to study with some W i t h n o m o v e m e n t coffee," Ackerman said. on the site since May, the Wa r d 1 B e r e a C i t y property owner, Burger Councilman Leon Dozier Sr. King Corporation, could said he had no specific ideas opt to sell the vacant land. for replacing the stalled Tim McCourt said he believes Hortons plans but would "look they will more likely seek a into the impact this may have" new franchise under parent on the surrounding area. company Restaurant Brands "Burger King was there and International, which owns the left; we had no control over Burger King, Tim Hortons, their decision," Dozier said. Popeyes and Firehouse Subs Ult imately, t he holdbrands. up shows that unexpected The news disappointed delays and closures are still s om e B a l d w i n Wa l l a c e an unfortunate local reality, University students who were even amid Berea's continued eager for a new coffee shop development. Yet, officials nearby. remain committed to working "It's kind of sad because with partners like Restaurant where I live in Parma, there's Brands International to not really a Tim Hortons encourage business growth, around," said junior AYA when possible. education student Liz Tellado. "It would have been nice to have something close to campus and work.” Senior psychology student
By ANNIE LINDLEY Staff Writer
passage of Issue 2 prompted BW to create a new addition to the Student Handbook. “[The handbook] prohibits ‘off-campus possession, use, manufacturing or distribution [of marijuana] outside the parameters of Ohio state law,”’ Crain said. Issue 2 also included a provision that would allow local governments to decide if they would allow the opening of marijuana dispensaries in their communities. The Berea City Council has not yet voted on any particular measure, but Ward 4 Berea City Councilwoman Erika Coble, who represents a portion of BW, said that as Berea voted 67.4% in favor of Issue 2, she would not oppose marijuana in the community. “It is a law, so I don’t believe we should try to hold it back from happening in our community, but I don’t know what that would look like,” Coble said. In 2017, when the City of Berea voted on a moratorium against the potential issuing of licens es for medical marijuana dispensaries in the state, some council members voted for the moratorium to prevent the medical marijuana dispensaries from turning into recreational marijuana dispensaries. B erea currently has no medical marijuana dispensaries, but the closest medical marijuana dispensary to the BW campus, The Rise,
Operations Lieutenant of the Berea Police Department, Tom Walker, said that while the Berea police department will be working against the black market sale of marijuana, the possession of marijuana under 2.5 ounces has been challenging to criminalize within Berea over the last few years since CBD became more prevalent. “With hemp, there is really no way to tell the physical difference in the properties of the marijuana from the hemp and CBD without testing in a lab,” Walker said. “There really was no avenue for us to have that test to determine the THC content which would legally allow that to be prosecuted as marijuana in a court.” Walker said in the last three years, less than six criminal citations have been issued for marijuana possession each year because of a potential difficulty in enforcing marijuana policy with the prevalence of CBD. SB 86 changes Issue 2 as it reduces the amount of THC content for extracts from 90% to 50%, lowers the number of plants per household from 12 to six, increases the state excise tax and eliminates the Adult Use Tax Fund, which would send money to local communities through different funds such as the Cannabis Social Equity and Job Fund. Under Issue 2, 36% of tax revenue would have gone directly into the Social Equity and Jobs Fund to
On Jan. 8 and Jan 16., Berea City Council met for their weekly meetings. On Jan. 8, Mary Brown was elected president pro tempore. Alycia Esson was elected back as the Clerk of the Council. Council Committee and additional appointments were announced by Ward 3 Berea City Councilman Jim Maxwell. On Jan. 18 the council addressed questions regarding Is s u e 2 . T h e 6 - m ont h moratorium on whether the Council would grant permits for medical marijuana dispensaries to
open within the community is over, and they discussed the implications of zoning for medical dispensaries. They discussed the Shade Tree Commission grant, which funds a tree inventory on public property, including parks. The inventor y has begun, and they are determining the health status of local trees. The council adopted their annual MLK resolution t o h on or t h e 2 0 2 3 - 2 4 anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.’s birth. The council also adopted an ordinance to support services for the city of Berea’s engineering department for construction and post-construction oversight.
BW welcomes new interim provost
By KAYLA MURO Managing Editor
With Provost Stephen Stahl’s recent retirement, Baldwin Wallace University welcomes Interim Provost Thomas Sutton until the spring of 2026. Sutton has been at BW for 25 years serving as a political science professor and has previously acted as the interim dean for the Schools of Social
Sciences and Humanities and Faculty Senate President. “[Being provost] involves really supporting experiential education, internship opportunities, rigorous classes that also provide support so that students can succeed, standards for students as well as for faculty that are expected to be met. And we do have that. It's really a matter of maintaining that,” Sutton said.
Recreational marijuana faces challenges for availability
By SIMON SKOUTAS Executive Print Editor
As the Ohio legislature stalls in their efforts to revise Issue 2, the ballot issue legalizing marijuana throughout the state of Ohio, some questions remain as to the future of the federally controlled substance that could bring in tax dollars for the Berea City government. With the Ohio Senate passing Senate Bill 86 on Dec. 6, 2023, the state awaits a response from the Ohio House regarding the potential changes to Issue 2, including a timeline that could allow recreational marijuana to be sold within three months of the bill’s passage. Regardless of the state’s advances, as mar ijuana is currently considered a Schedule I substance under federal law — the same category as heroin — it will not be available on the Baldwin Wallace University campus or at campus-affiliated events. Léna Crain, the dean of student affairs, said that for institutions that receive federal funding, such as BW, the Schedule I classification creates a situation where — despite its legality off campus property — within the bounds of the institution, including at off-campus events, marijuana is not allowed to be used, possessed, manufactured or distributed. Crain also said that the
in Lakewood, Ohio, plans to start offering recreational marijuana as soon as possible. The timeline for when recreational marijuana can begin its sale depends on the next steps of the Ohio House. SB 86, a revision to HB 86 which was originally meant to revise the state’s liquor control laws, was urged into passage by Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, but the Ohio House has not yet voted on the bill. Bride Rose Sweeney, the D emo crat ic Ohio St ate Representative of Berea, said that while she hopes that recreational marijuana is soon available and that the House can decide by February, she believes the Senate rushed SB 86, changing its original meaning in the process. “There’s a balance between making sure we get it right and not taking so long that people get used to a black market,” Sweeney said. “I would say that the senate rushed the process and, in many ways, on items that were clearly written in Issue 2 they eliminated.” However, state senator Jerry Cirino, who opposed the legalization of marijuana and cosponsored SB 86 said that a black market will always exist. “The black market thing is a sort of red herring that the other side likes to bring up,” Cirino said. “If we legalize it, we’re not going to have a black market. I don’t think so. There’s going to be a black market no matter what.”
aid communities that were disproportionately impacted by the war on drugs by supporting bail reform, youth development, criminal justice reform, violence prevention and legal aid. However, under HB 86, this program would not receive financial support. Sweeney said she does not support these changes to Issue 2, and she said that she wants to ensure that tax revenue makes its way back to the local municipalities. “It seems like the majority of the House wants to make sure this money is going back to local municipalities for certain programs like social justice equity programs,” Sweeney said. “It would make sure that some of this money can be used for legal aid, expungements, people who have been criminalized and cannot receive jobs.” However, Senator Cirino said that changing Issue 2 is within the purview of the state legislators. “Do you think the voters really knew what the tax structure was going to be when they voted on Issue 2?” Cirino said. “When they voted on Issue 2, people voted for or against on the basis of the immediate availability of marijuana on a recreational basis. That’s all they really cared about.”
BWEXPONENT.COM | WEDNESDAY, January 24, 2024 | THE EXPONENT
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Governor DeWine signs executive order banning gender reassignment surgeries for minors after vetoing HB 68, broader gender-care bill By ISRAEL GOLE Staff Writer
On Jan. 5, Governor Mike DeWine signed an executive order banning gender reassignment surgeries for minors in Ohio. The order comes amid contentions surrounding House Bill 68, which has a much broader scope, dealing with issues such as surgery, cross-sex hormones, pubertyblocking drugs and separating school sports based upon biological sex. Despite the bill passing both Ohio’s House and Senate, it was vetoed by DeWine on Dec. 29, 2023. “A l t h o u g h I v e t o e d Substitute House Bill 68, I stated clearly in my veto message that I agreed with the General Assembly that no gender transition surgeries
should be performed on anyone under the age of 18,” DeWine wrote in his executive order. However, DeWine decided to veto HB 68 after speaking to medical professionals. “I listened to physicians and counselors who provide gender-affirming care at five of Ohio’s children's hospitals,” DeWine said. “I also listened to physicians who advocate for pausing gender-affirming care until more research on the long-term health effects is conducted.” DeWine also said that his reasoning behind the veto was because he did not want the government to intervene in the decisions of the parents. “Were I to sign House Bill 68 or were House Bill 68 to become law, Ohio would be saying that the State — that the government — knows better what is medically best for a child than the two people who
love that child the most — the parents,” DeWine said. On Jan. 10, the House voted to override DeWine’s veto. Now all that remains to be seen is whether the Senate will do the same, with the next Senate session taking place today. Bride Rose Sweeney, the D emo crat ic Ohio St ate Representative representing Berea, said that she was not in favor of either HB 68 or DeWine’s order. “I don’t know why he did that. I do not support the bill, I do not support the executive order,” Sweeney said. While Sweeney was not in favor of the order, she said that she agreed with DeWine’s decision to veto HB 68, and she believes she knows why the governor struck it down. S w e e n e y s a i d t h at a multitude of Ohio citizens came to DeWine against this bill, and she thinks that their
testimonies had a great effect on him. “It was Ohioans that shared their stories, that shared how wrong this was,” Sweeney said. “There was one individual that came in and said, ‘I run a multiple million-dollar company, I make all these decisions, but you guys don’t trust me to make a decision what’s the best for my child?’” Sweeney said. Sweeney said she is concerned about what may happen if the veto is overridden and the bill is passed. She said that she believes it would put children at great risk and in perilous danger. “We can never give up when we’re talking about children’s lives,” Sweeney said. However, State Senator Jerry Cirino, (R-Kirtland) said that he was in favor of HB 68. “I voted for the underlying bill in both cases and so my plan is to continue to support
the bill, which means that I will vote to override the governor's veto,” Cirino said. Regardless of his support for HB 68, Cirino said he was not exactly satisfied with the governor’s executive order because of its potential for dissolution. “It is an executive order, and a future governor can change that with a stroke of a pen,” Cirino said. “So, it's not, I think, a good way to run the government with executive orders.” Cirino also said that he disagrees with the line of reasoning that the government should not involve themselves in parents’ decisions, because he said that the government is already often involved in decisions to protect children. “The state has purview over education for children. It has purview over custody of children in adoption, the adoption process and so on,”
Cirino said. “So, we're engaged in protecting children in a number of areas.” Cirino also addressed the second part of HB 68 regarding women’s sports, which was originally called the Save Women’s Sports Act. This would separate school sports by biological sex, regardless of students’ gender identities. If the Senate votes to override the veto, HB 68 will go into effect 90 days after the official vote. While DeWine is against HB 68, he said that he can understand both sides of the issue and its complexities. “It is very important that we all remember that all those on each side of this issue truly and sincerely believe their position best protects children,” DeWine said. “These are truly complex issues, and reasonable people can draw vastly different conclusions.”
Investment Club portfolio breaks $1 million after adopting new strategy By RYAN ACEVEDO Staff Writer
At the end of the fall 2023 semester, the Investment Club’s portfolio reached a new record of over $1.003 million after a new investment strategy. The Invest ment C lub is an on-campus student organization that allows students the opportunity to practice investing real money as they manage a portfolio. Dane McNulty, the president of the Investment Club and senior finance and accounting double major, said that the organization’s new record has been 17 years in the making. “It all started with Kevin Jacques. He was the original faculty advisor for the club and they started out with
approximately $150,000,” McNulty said. “Throughout this time, the different executives and board members would give an executive pitch on companies and their stocks and add them to the portfolio. What you see is a culmination of those pitches dating as far back as 2006.” While the Investment Club has been building their wealth for nearly two decades, Ryan Rivera, the former chief investment officer of the club, said that a recently implemented strategy has allowed them to soar to their new heights. “Our portfolio consists of 28 stocks, which is made up of 26 equity stocks, one EFT stock and one mutual fund,” Rivera said.“Recently, we’ve enacted a brand-new strategy this past summer that has been doing
very, very well. The Investment This allowed Club plans to continue us to re a l ly growing their numbers push past that and their portfolio. one-million“Really what the dollar mark. investment club is all This strategy is about is application, called a covered applying everything call.” that we’ve learned in T h e the classroom about Investment finance, business, Club had accounting and really interviews Allison Reed, The Exponent just taking all of that with the ARD Studets participating in an investment club together and applying German Radio meeting. it to actual trading, station in New actual investment into York City regarding their conditions, we’ve actually the stock market and related predicted output in the short- seen a rise in that portfolio investments,” McNulty said. term for 2024 and long-term value currently according When plotting their expectations. to the Excel that we track investments, Rivera said that “Over the long term, the hovering around $1,024,000,” there are rules that they follow. portfolio is expected to Rivera said. “We can see the “We have a pretty strict increase in value by an average continued rise and maybe not upside rule when we do our of between eight and twelve stagnate. A lot of it depends on modeling for the club,” Rivera percent,” McNulty said. the recent federal interest rate said. “So, when we run our “With the current market decisions.” financial valuation, we run all
of our modeling, and then we determine that this stock is less than a 10 percent upside, then we reach out to invest. It needs to be 10 percent or greater upside potential based off of our evaluation for us to even consider the trades.” The Invest ment C lub continues to increase its work with other traders and companies. They are currently investing in companies such as Meta, Uber, Steel Dynamics and many others. “Every single aspect of our strategy has been successful,” R i v e r a s a i d . “ We h av e successfully made realized profit over $14,000 in the last four to five months.”
Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Commememoration Candlelight Vigil on Thursday and the Social Change Submit on Saturday. Alaina Giovengo, t he student resource coordinator in the David & Frances Brain C enter for C ommunit y Engagement, was in charge of the pop-up pantries during MLK week and took part in much of the planning. “It’s essentially us bringing w hat is at t he C ampus Cupboard to different places on campus,” Giovengo said. “The reason we do that is to make it accessible to everyone.” Items at the pop-up pantries include toilet paper, dish soap, detergent and body care products such as toothpaste and deodorant. The pop-up pantries also feature food items, including fruit cups, bread, microwave meals and perishables. “People won’t be successful working toward these goals if they don’t have their basic needs taken care of,” Giovengo said. “People deserve those
basic rights, but we need to give them the resources to have those.” Another aspect that contributed to the implementation of the pop-up pantries was that these events allowed the pantries to be accessible to a wider audience. Many of the events are open to the public, allowing people from the Berea community, in addition to BW’s own students and staff, to take what they need. “It can be accessible to students, and then faculty and staff,” Giovengo said. “And also the community because there are events open to the entire Berea community.” The first pop-up pantry o c c u r re d at t h e B e re a Community Prayer Breakfast, held at Mt. Zion Baptist Church on Jan. 15 at 9 a.m. It was set up right in the lobby of the church, so students and community members could take items as they left the ceremony. The Berea Community Prayer Breakfast also featured
throughout the week, including a National Day of Racial Healing Student Jacket Circle on the evening of Jan. 16 at the Lindsay-Crossman Chapel, as well as on Friday afternoon. Students were able to go and have discussions with their peers about their experiences. Following the Candlelight Vigil, there was a Lecture Panel hosted by the MLK Commemoration Committee, where anyone could ask the panelists questions and talk more about this year’s theme, “It Starts with Me.” Panelists include Myeshka Wat k i ns , t he e xe c ut ive director of the Cleveland Peacemakers Alliance, Craig Hovey, the executive director for the Ashland Center for Nonviolence at Ashland University and Otis Moss Jr., a civil rights leader and friend of King. The celebrations ended on Saturday with the Social Change Summit, sponsored by the Center for Community Engagement.
Campus celeberates MLK day through week of events By MARIA VURBIC Staff Writer Throughout the week of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Baldwin Wallace University honored the inf luential American minister and activist through a series of events and community engagement. Each day presented a different event that students, faculty and the community of Berea could partake in. The theme for this year’s celebration was “It Starts with Me: The Quest for Peace and Justice 60 Years Later.” This theme encourages students, staff and other participants in the events to think about how they can continue to strive for social change and reform. B W ’s C e n t e r f o r Community Engagement was directly involved in the MLK week events through the use of pop-up pantries placed at several of the events, followed by the Berea Community Prayer Breakfast on Jan 15., the Refresh and
Ethan Kish, The Exponent
Left to right: Elanna Su and Lauren Weber took part in the Racial Healing Student Jacket Circle event during MLK week. keynote speaker, Jay T. Hairston Sr., who delved into several of King’s famous speeches and talked about their impact and what they mean for people today. He also talked about how King inspired him to become the person he is today. “Dr. King, number one, i ns pi re d m e to pu rs u e excellence in everything I do,” Hairston said. “He inspired me to pursue justice, peace, equity and inclusion in every aspect
of my life and my community.” Hairston, formerly BW’s assistant dean of students and associate diversity officer and director, was previously in charge of the MLK week celebrations during his 30 years at BW. He expressed how glad he was that BW is continuing with the tradition. “I am especially happy to see that it’s continuing,” Hairston said. “It’s important and essential to our community.” Other events continued
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THE EXPONENT | WEDNESDAY, January 24, 2024 | BWEXPONENT.COM
The Expression
Arts and Culture Coverage from The Exponent AT THE MOVIES
‘Saltburn’ is one of the most delightfully disturbing films of the decade SAGE MULLINS Film Critic
A f t e r T i k To k s o f moviegoers’ reactions to “Saltburn” went viral, the psychological thriller-comedy became one of the most popular films of last year. Despite this growing trend on social media, does the film deserve the hype it has received? Though it could be hard to watch, “Saltburn” is a fascinating story of obsession, humor and thrill that had audiences leaving theaters with their jaws dropped. The movie is directed by Emerald Fennel, an Academy Award-winning screenwriter known for “Promising Young Woman,” a revenge story of female empowerment. Taking
a whole new direction from her previous work, “Saltburn” centers on the supposed friendship between Barry Keoghan’s Oliver Quick, a college student at Oxford, and fellow student, Jacob Elordi’s Felix Catton. When Oliver is invited to spend the school break with the Cattons, his obsession, jealousy, manipulation and infatuation with Felix grows. It is important to note that the movie went viral for what many consider to be shocking content. With scenes of graphic sexual encounters as well as disturbing forms of manipulation and coercion, this can be too much for some viewers. Not only can the material be hard to watch but there are a l s o l ong , g r aph i c displays of nudity. However,
the content's uncomfortable nature makes “Saltburn” the movie it is. Without these scenes, “Saltburn” would lose the unique intensity that sets it apart from others in the thriller genre. A movie that pulls off such bold subject matter needs convincing performances. Barry Keoghan, who received a Golden Globe nomination for t his role, p er fec t ly portrays an estranged college student whose effectiveness as a character depends on dangerous and complicated emotions. Jacob Elordi shines as Felix, expertly handling a role that requires a demanding range in both comedy and drama. The movie also features stars such as Rosamund Pike, who was also nominated for a Golden Globe, Carey Mulligan and
Richard E. Grant. They share the screen with Hollywood newcomers Allison Oliver and Archie Madekwe, who have no problem keeping up with the legends beside them. The cast delivers stellar, complex performances that only help to heighten the mysterious, tense undertone. One of the biggest highlights of “Saltburn” was the visuals. With settings as magnificent as the Saltburn estate and the University of Oxford, it seems impossible for the production staff to go wrong. However, the camerawork not only captures but also elevates the beauty of the film. The directing and cinematography do a fantastic job of keeping the film dynamic and aesthetically pleasing.
The costume also aids in creating enticing imagery, with fabulous use of color and fabrics that portray not only the essence of “Saltburn” but the characters themselves. Both, tied together with the enchantingly eerie score, deliver an excellent setting for the deranged events to unfold. The experimental, artistic nature of the film accomplishes its goal: leaving audiences stunned in a unique, creative way. However, the film’s intention is unclear. Though it can potentially be a character study displaying how infatuation can lead to destruction, the film does not go deep enough into Oliver’s life to tell us where his obsession stemmed from. The film would benefit from a different approach to explaining the plot. Instead
of spelling out the twist at the end, leaving the audience nothing to contemplate after the movie, the film should dive deeper into Oliver’s preoccupation with Felix. Exploring Felix’s character and Oliver’s motives is necessary to get the character study that the movie should have been. Though not meant for those easily bothered by disturbing and explicit sexual content, “Saltburn” is an intriguing, entertaining and complex piece of art that keeps audiences’ eyes glued to the screen the entire way through.
turned sour, must learn to tolerate each other when they both end up at a destination wedding in Australia. What surprised me the most about the film was the fact that it was based off of Shakespeare’s “Much Ado About Nothing,” which wasn’t immediately clear, and honestly made a lot of the choices in the film — such as the Shakespeare quotes everywhere — seem quite random until I realized the connection. The choice to use “Much Ado About Nothing” as a heavy inspiration for the film
held the movie back from being something original and fresh, as it ended up forcing the plot into one specific direction, when it would have been more beneficial to take the story to exciting, new places. D espite t his s etback, S w e e n e y a n d Po w e l l’s chemistry shined through the predictable and somewhat boring plot, giving this film its unique charisma. Powell’s 40-year-old frat boy provides the perfect contrast for Sweeney’s little miss perfect, and despite each of their characters' flaws, the audience
just can’t help but root for Bea and Ben every step of the way. This film did not fall short on the comedy side of the rom-com, either. While it did indeed have its fair share of awkward jokes, the majority of the movie was genuinely funny, providing the type of conversational wit that has been absent from rom-coms for a decade. The jokes about Ben being afraid of flying were especially appreciated, given Powell’s previous role in “Top Gun: Maverick.” The setting for the film was nothing short of beautiful, as the sunny and sandy Australia
provided the perfect flowery setting for both a classic romcom and a loose “Much Ado About Nothing” adaptation. Mixed with the stunning costumes, this film created the perfect romantic atmosphere that definitely pleased the eye. However, the film’s desire to make sure the audience saw absolutely all of Australia led to the film being somewhat over the top at times. Rom-coms are supposed to be quaint, not showy, but the filmmakers seemed determined to show every landmark Australia’s got. I mean, the film had a huge helicopter scene twice.
If that’s not a bit extravagant, I don’t know what is. All in all, “Anyone But You” is a cute, feel-good film that is definitely worth the watch. It brought back the fun, light hearted feel that has desperately been missing from theaters for far too long, so if you have some extra time on your hands, “Anyone But You” is not a bad way to spend it.
“Saltburn” is now streaming on Amazon Prime Video.
‘Anyone But You’ brings rom-coms back to theaters in funny flick ELLA YORK Head Film Critic
Sydney Sweeney and Glen Powell make a convincing attempt to bring rom-coms back into the limelight with their latest movie “Anyone But You.” While the film is not free from its awkward moments, it proves to be a charming and funny flick that will ignite excitement among audiences for the rom-com renaissance. The film centers around Bea, played by Sweeney, and Ben, played by Powell, who, after a brief relationship
“Anyone But You” is available to watch in theaters now.
BWMT alum, Dan Hoy, makes Broadway debut in ‘Harmony’ By ELLA YORK Managing Editor
Baldwin Wallace University alumnus, Dan Hoy, made his Broadway debut in the musical “Harmony,” which closes on Feb. 4. Hoy was given the opportunity to serve as the assistant dance captain along with working as a swing and principal understudy in the musical — an opportunity he attributes to his education at BW. “Harmony” tells the true story about a group of six men called the Comedian Harmonists who were half Jewish and half Gentile during the rise of Nazism. Although they were Europe's top selling recording artists in the late 1930s, their successes in music and film were wiped from history when the Nazis came into power. “We like to say that they’re the most famous musical group that you’ve never heard of,” Hoy said. Hoy had the chance to
perform the role of Ari “Lesh” Leshnikoff, one of the six Canadian harmonists, due to an emergency that prevented the original actor from performing halfway through the musical. “Halfway through Act Two, it's like, ‘You're on. Go. Good luck,’ and so the preparation that kind of goes into that is challenging.” Hoy said. “But it's also very rewarding. When you get to kind of see that preparation come to fruition, it feels really nice. Hoy’s journey to Broadway began at BW. When he was a senior at the University, he had done a masterclass with the casting director for the “Cats” National Tour, even getting to host them. “I had been their host, taken them to dinner, gotten to kind of get to know them a little bit,” Hoy said. “And so when I went in for that audition, they already kind of knew who I was, and we were able to connect and kind of get right down to work.” After booking the “Cats” National Tour in 2019, Hoy
t he audit ion. He credits BW’s bachelor of music program, and especially Victoria Bussert, the director of BW’s music theatre prog ram, for his success during that call. “Her whole ph i l o s ophy… w as , ‘I'm going to throw ever ything in the book at you so that when you go into New York, it's going to feel like a cakewalk’,” Hoy said. Hoy re c a l l e d a Courtesy of Julieta Cervantes from DKC/O&M semester where he Allison Semmes as ‘Josephine Baker’ sits atop a piano while the to ok an audition Company of “Harmony” gather around her. workshop class with Bussert where she had was supposed to start working at Idaho Shakespeare when he a selection of songs one would on a show called “Between was awarded the opportunity use during an audition. Each The Lines” in March of 2020, to do “Harmony.” student picked up random but the production was “Broadway came-a-calling, audition books and had five delayed until 2022 due to the and you’ve got to say ‘yes’ when minutes to learn the part, COVID-19 pandemic. the opportunities knock,” Hoy maybe in a key they’ve never After that, Hoy worked on said. sung. a few regional productions Hoy said the audition “I felt very prepared at every and was in the middle of process for “Harmony” was audition setting I've ever been working on “Natasha, Pierre “a little crazy” due to some in because nothing's ever & the Great Comet of 1812” unexpected surprises during going to be as intimidating as
getting five minutes to learn a song you've never heard in your entire life that's nowhere remotely in a key that you're usually singing,” Hoy said. Hoy also credits his years spent on theory work in the program, as the music side of music theatre has really helped him throughout his career. As for “Harmony,” Hoy said that his favorite part of the musical was the power in telling a true story, and the biggest lesson he’s learned is to always be prepared and to know where you belong within the company. “It's b e en a const ant reminder to me that every production truly does take a village, esp ecially on Broadway,” Hoy said. "Harmony" opened on Nov. 13, 2023, and runs until Feb. 4.
BWEXPONENT.COM | WEDNESDAY, January 24, 2024 | THE EXPONENT
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Graphic design seniors share diverse artistic journeys at showcase By BRYANNA FEAGLER Staff Writer
B a l d w i n Wa l l a c e University's graphic design seniors showcased their design projects Monday in the exhibition themed "ECLIPSE" This project is based off the rare space phenomenon occurring this April as well as fitting their transition from student life to the professional world. Coordinated by associate professors of the art studio department Erica Lull and Sara Wichtendal, the exhibition also serves as a platform for students like Riley West, Charlize Bernhart, Sophia Morabito and others to reveal their graphic design skills. With a chosen theme centered around the eclipse, it also signifies the alignment of creativity, skill and innovation in the works presented by each senior student, West said. “It’s a collective effort that mirrors the collaborative spirit of our graphic design program,” West said. West said that the student elected theme also holds a deeper meaning for herself
Courtesy of Anna Haberstro
Seniors Sophia Morabito and Riley West hang up West’s designs for her display. and her fellow students. “It symbolizes our transition from student life to the next chapter of our lives,” West said. “It’s not only about showcasing our designs, it’s about emerging ourselves as professionals in the field.” West said she looks forward to showcasing her semester l e ng t h proj e c t e nt it l e d “Extreme Experience.” This involved building a brand and designing an original logo, a trifold brochure three packaging projects as well as
designing a website for the brand. “The project helped me as a designer to find new ways to find solutions to problems,” West said. Lull, who is the digital media design coordinator, emphasized the studentdriven nature of the exhibition. “I coordinate the program and teach the majority of the courses in graphic design,” Lull said. “However, students have the autonomy to choose the theme, brainstorm ideas and
make decisions collectively.” Lull said that her role is in the portfolio preparation review course, which occurs in the fall 2023 semester to prepare students for the senior graphic design exhibitions. The course involves teaching students to create portfolios and collateral materials. “It’s not just about technical skills; It’s about preparing them for the professional world, from resumes to business cards as well as writing thank you cards to the people they’ve interviewed,” Lull said. Wichtendahl, who is an assistant professor in graphic design and the director of the Hive Design Group, said that the students put in a lot of hard work throughout the exhibition process. “This is their show…it’s a really nice collaboration and combination of their four years of work,” Wichtendahl said. Wichtendhal said her role in the exhibition includes her involvement with co-teaching the portfolio preparation course and to help oversee the exhibition in conjunction with Lull. Bernhardt, a senior graphic
design student, provided insights into her favorite project she will be showcasing at the exhibition — a long form brochure on white-collar crimes. “The project is one of my favorites, because I was up all night for multiple nights, making every little detail make sense and ensuring the reader would be interested in what I’m trying to say,” Bernhardt said. Bernhardt’s project involved collaging images inspired by true crime and office settings. “I like to add that element of creativity, whether it’s humor or personality, into my designs, even for projects with serious themes,” Bernhardt said. Morabito, a recent alum from fall 2023 who double majored in graphic design and interactive design said that in preparing for the exhibition, they split up the roles so that they could put their full effort into ‘Eclipse.’ “For the exhibition, I was responsible for creating and developing the email marketing and TV graphics while others were in charge of different roles such as creating pins, buttons, stickers and
brochures…we really divided up a role to make it even so that we could have a good theme and overall good outcome for our show,” Morabito said. One project Morabito highlights within her work is the redesigning of signage using icons and wayfinding systems in the Ritter Library this past year to create a more efficient and organized space. Lull hopes that attendees have an appreciation for art, but specifically for graphic design and the level of work and commitment that goes into the artform. 'ECLIPSE' opens on Jan. 22 and runs through Feb. 9 with the closing reception on Feb. 9 with the graphic design students from 5-8 p.m. at Fawick Art Gallery.
BWMT tempts audiences to ‘Ride the Cyclone’ in Beck Center collaboration By URSULA SAADEH Staff Writer
Courtesy of Victoria Bussert
Danny Bo, Alexa Lopez, Izzy Baker, Zoë Lewis, Zach Mackiewicz, Eileen Brady, Elliot Bloch, Trevor Gill-Snow rehearsing for "Ride the Cyclone." “I love working with someone else. It’s so crazy how one person can be played so many different ways.” With a small cast, assistant stage manager Stephania Montini said the double-casting makes it easier for the actors and crew members to form relationships and work together to create a show with great spectacle and a lot of heart. “It's a great experience,” Montini said. “I'm excited for it all to come together and for the show to happen. I love working with all different kinds of people.” Working in the Beck Center for the Arts allows students to work with grand sets and exciting te chnica l elements t hat are otherwise unavailable at BW, such as a fully functional Ferris wheel and projections, MacDonald said. Running for three weekends at Beck Center for the Arts provides students with experience working in a professional environment for a limited run, preparing the students for future opportunities with a similar structure. “I think it’ll be interesting to have a show run for three weekends,”
Montini said. “That's not really something I've worked with before.” By performing “Ride the Cyclone” at the Beck Center, BWMT students can share their talents with the wider Cleveland community, taking audiences on an “emotional rollercoaster” that will have them questioning their values while humming their favorite tune from the show, MacDonald said. “I hope that they may come to see a comedic show in a different way,” Baker said. “This show has a lot of [fun and comedy], but I think it has a lot more, and I hope that they can see that there is a way to do that in both ways.” “The audience probably should prepare to be led on a ride,” Baker said. “Life really is just a ride, and you go to so many places and meet so many people. But in the end, it's all about the journey, and it's all about the ride itself.” “Ride the Cyclone” will run from Feb. 9-25, excluding Mondays and Tuesdays. Tickets can be purchased at beckcenter.org/shows/ride.
Illustration by Halle Vargo
Baldwin Wallace University musical theatre students seek to enchant audiences in the regional premiere of “Ride the Cyclone,” running for three consecutive weeks at the Beck Center for the Arts. Directed by Victoria Bussert, BW’s director of music theatre, “Ride the Cyclone” opens with the Amazing Karnak, a fortune-telling automaton who serves as the show’s narrator. He tells the story of six teenagers who died while riding The Cyclone, a malfunctioning roller coaster. The teens arrive in Karnak’s limbo and are given the chance to compete against one another in a game of life and death, where one of them can return to their life. Sophomore music theater student Kyle MacDonald, who plays Ricky Potts in the Maverick cast, said that although the show explores heavy themes of death, it is a very “fun, quirky, out-there musical” that is “unlike any musical [he’s] been a part of.” Within its 90-minute run time, each character performs a showstopping routine about why they should be the one to return to life. The numbers are heavily choreographed and show off each character’s quirks. MacDonald said that he even learned how to play the accordion for this role. “I get to play the accordion in one of the numbers, which is new for me and very exciting,” MacDonald said. Four of the six main roles are double-casted, meaning that two students perform their role on alternating nights. These cast members learn from each other and gain new interpretations of the script. Ocean is one of the characters that is double-casted. Izzy Baker, sophomore music theater student who plays Ocean in the Raptor cast, said that working with another person is an enjoyable experience.
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THE EXPONENT | WEDNESDAY, January 24, 2024 | BWEXPONENT.COM
Life & Styles
Some first-years embrace leadership, others play it slow By KATHRYN RAUBOLT Contributing Writer
Coming into the fall 2024 semester, first-year students are divided between those who already jumped into leadership positions and those who wish to understand their place on campus before they become heavily involved. Rylee Gorrell, a first-year media production student is a student who decided early on to become a leader. Gorrell stepped onto campus in August 2023 as director of social media for Girl’s Club, a newly formed student organization focusing on “creating a space for women in sports, women who want to work in athletics and women who are interested in sports,” Gorrell said. After applying over the
summer, Gorrell landed the position before her first day of classes at Baldwin Wallace University, starting her fall semester as a leader oncampus. “I was completely blown away that our president chose to have me on the board, especially with how young I am compared to everyone else, but I wouldn’t trade it for the world,” Gorrell said. In addition to being on the executive board, Gorrell is also involved as a student athlete on the track and field team, videographer for the football team and a member of WBWC-FM for her media production major. Gorrell said that while she loves being involved, finding a way to “keep my head on my shoulders and take time out of my day for each part of my life equally” has been her greatest challenge since starting at BW.
A ls o ste ppi ng i nto a social media board position, Elisa Gauntner, first-year arts management and entrepreneurship, and theatre: dance and movement double major, became marketing co-coordinator of the Yellow Jacket Activity Board in October 2023 during her first semester at BW. YJAB is a student organization that aims to plan social programs for undergraduate students. Gauntner aids in creating promotional content for events planned by the organization. Gauntner said she was hesitant to apply for the position because she worried that she had not been on campus long enough to be in a leadership role “so early on.” After talking with her friends and orientation leader, she said she decided to apply because “there isn’t a hierarchy like
Center; however, the group primarily meets at Coe Lake. “Coe Lake has been the nicest,” Holler said. “You get to watch [the sun] rise right over the lake with all the trees and it’s really pretty.” Nov. 24 was the last day the group met for the fall semester, and because of the cold weather, Croft said she decided for the group to meet inside the Knowlton Center, where they could watch the sunrise through the large windows while staying indoors. “We are going to keep Rise going throughout the semester, hopefully,” Croft said. “We’re able to do that because we had our last viewing in Knowlton, and it worked fine because we were able to stay warm and see the sun.” Holler said that in the weeks leading up to finals it was a nice way to relax by staying connected, healthy, and surrounded by friends and scenery. “Along with getting up early, it’s good for you and your body,” Holler said. “[It’s a] beautiful way to start your morning.”
Emmanuelle Geremy, a senior international exchange foreign language student, said that seeing the sunrise was a beautiful and overall wonderful experience. “I’m originally from the Caribbean, so I’ve watched it from there,” Geremy said. “I would say the one thing that’s different is that it’s cold here.” Although The Rise is not an official club on campus, the group is public and open to new members. They primarily meet at Starbucks and walk together to the rise location. Croft said that she hopes to grow the organization in the spring semester by applying to become an official organization. “I’m going to apply for a charter and try to become an official club so that we can get funding for food so that we can have breakfast at the Rise, and I think that would be a really cool way to get more people to come,” Croft said.
Students wake up early for sunrise watching initiative By KONNER HINES Staff Writer
The Rise, a sunrise watching group that started on Nov. 5, returned to campus Jan. 12 to watch the sunrise from the Conservatory of Music. The Rise was founded by sophomore English student Bailey Croft. The new student group encourages students to challenge themselves by getting up every Friday to watch the sunrise. Bunny Holler, a sophomore education student, began joining the group on Friday mornings and said that it has been a nice way to connect with new friends. “At first I was a little hesitant because it was so early,” Holler said. “But it’s so nice to just get up early once a week and see people I don’t usually get to see…even if it is early, it’s worth it.” So far, the group has seen the sunrise from Strosacker Hall, the steps in front of the BW Conservatory of Music and from inside Knowlton
Editor’s note: The founder of The Rise, Bailey Croft, is a staff writer for The Exponent.
high school” and she knew that people were going to help her with the position. However, while some firstyear students decide to take on leadership roles within their first year, not all follow the same path. Leah Kania, sophomore vocal performance student, waited until the summer before her second year before formally stepping into any of her current roles on campus to “build important connections and build a support system.” This semester, Kania is involved in many things across campus including being sophomore class president, an orientation leader, a FirstYear Experience peer leader, chair of the academic affairs committee in the student senate and secretary of Bella Voce. “I’m definitely glad that I took the first year to
get ready and prepare for these leadership positions,” Kania said. “It was also very valuable to learn from the upperclassmen who were in these leadership positions before stepping into them myself.” Jonathan McPherson, a first-year BFA acting student, also said that he plans to wait until later in the academic year to find a role that suits him and to strengthen his time management skills before becoming more involved and applying for formal leadership positions. “I want to make the most out of my college experience here, but I also don't want to take away from people who’ve spent the time working to be in leadership roles,” McPherson said. “That's why I'm taking my time this first semester to recognize myself and what I can handle before I overstep
my bounds.” Claudine Grunenwald Kirschner, director of first year and second-year experience, hosted a leadership lunch i n e a r l y No v e m b e r t o encourage conversations about leadership. She said that starting the conversation early-on in a student’s first or second year is important because “there are many steps to leadership.” “ There are a mi l lion different ways to experience that leadership,” Grunenwald Kirschner said. “And while there's very specific roles that sort of tap you as a quoteunquote leader, there's other roles that are far more nuanced in terms of leadership and are just as important as well.”
By ARUNDEL STEVENS Contributing Writer
there are opportunities for institutional support, like grants and funding, which attempt to create equity between men and women. C h r i s t i n e Va r g a , t h e associate director of campus recreation programs, said that although women are empowered to join and pursue careers in athletics, more women aren’t necessarily in the higher leadership roles. “I’ve spent years where I was the only female in the department. And, we go to conferences, and it’s all males and I’m the only female,” Varga said. Varga said that women also tend to face unseen barriers. For example, Varga said she stepped away from her career ambitions to raise children, a disruption that many men in her position would not experience. Varga said that BW needs a women’s resource on campus for female students to find role models and support. “People don’t necessarily have those mentors readily available, but I think just starting some conversations and talking to other women is
really necessary,” Varga said. “It’s not gossip, no, it’s talking through some stuff and getting your thoughts organized and then taking it to somebody who can position you to handle that conflict.” Chelsea Donovan, the program manager for executive and professional education, said that communication is key for gender conflict. “In the end it is important to realize that you, no matter who you identify as, you should be able to take up that space, you should be able to still show up,” Donovan said. Donovan also said that people should not be afraid to talk about their accomplishments. “[Individuals] often don’t give themselves enough credit for what they can bring to the table.” It is important to move past any imposter syndrome and know that “anyone has the ability to elevate their career,” Donovan said.
Female faculty on campus overcome disrespect, forge careers
When Xiamara Hohman, a visiting assistant professor of English at Baldwin Wallace University, was refused funding in graduate school, she was told that she could rely on her husband for funding. For Hohman and other faculty on campus, these types of disrespect often come with being a woman in authority positions. “Motherhood and academia can sometimes be at odds with one another,” Hohman said With labor expectations in the home weighing mostly on mothers, meeting expectations of tenure and grading at the same time can be difficult for women in ways that are not often true for men, Hohman said. Hohman said that having a supportive group of other women and learning to “find joy in these spaces” is essential when dealing with these instances of disrespect or inequality. Additionally, she said
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BWEXPONENT.COM | WEDNESDAY, January 24, 2024 | THE EXPONENT
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Student musicians branch out of sanctioned ensembles By RYAN ACEVEDO Staff Writer
Baldwin Wallace University is home to many upcoming musicians, actors, singers and performers. Many of these artists perform with their ensembles or with a cast and crew on stage. However, some of these musicians have stepped off the ensemble track and began their own solo career of writing, composing and producing their own music. Jack Lutz, Ty Bogikes, Joe Brown and the brothers Gideon and Hank Temple make up a collection of musicians and songwriters that have emerged as upcoming artists in their respective genres. They were each asked three questions regarding their journey and processes. These are their responses. When and how did you start your musical journey? Jack Lutz: “I got into music from a really early age. I don’t necessarily have a musical family, but my dad has always just been a big music fan. He would teach me about music like rock and took me to
concerts, even when I was like only seven.” Jack said that he received his first guitar around the age of four. Ty Bogikes: “So my parents put me into piano lessons when I was six, and it wasn’t really my choice. They just said, ‘You have to do this, and you’ll thank us later.’ I didn’t thank them for a long time.” He further said that once he got into high school, he took his music career more seriously. Joe Brown: “It was actually through band. I started playing the trombone in sixth grade. Before that, though, I was always an avid listener of bands that I grew up with which gave me a lot of inspiration. In high school, I branched out into choir and show choir, then picked up the guitar my senior year.” Temple Brothers: “Well, our mom is a great singer and can play chord piano. So, for us, it started really young. We did little kid piano lessons, but we really found our footing with writing music when I was eleven and Gideon was fourteen. We attended a workshop and wrote a song” Hank Temple said. “We started writing before we really knew basic chords and things like
that. Theater was also another way we got into it,” Gideon Temple said.
What inspired you to create your first EP/first songs? Jack Lutz: “I’ve always been a guy that’s done band projects, like my high school band. When we all spread apart and went to different colleges, I knew it was time for something new.” Jack further stated that he attempted to start a band here at BW when he first got here but was unable due to the large amount of people he wanted to work with. “So, then I had a vision to do a solo project, and then I can just get different people that do collab song with me and stuff like that.” Ty Bogikes: “I was first inspired to start writing my own music when I sat down with an idea. You hear songs on the radio and you’re like ‘Oh I wonder what it takes to actually write that.’ So, I went up to my dad and asked if we could write a song together.” Later on in life, Ty discovered rap and hip-hop and started writing raps, which, led to him writing more songs. Joe Brown: “For me, it was out of necessity. The Cleveland
area is very dry in terms of pop music. It’s hard to find people who are making the same kind of music as me and produce this stuff because it’s a very rock and hip hop dominated area.” Temple Brothers: “Well, we had been writing songs for a while, and during COVID-19 we had done a lot of collaborative writing with a bunch of different people. But then the summer before Gideon came to BW, I went through the classic six week sixteen-year-old relationship, and I went through the feels and wrote some music. We spent that year producing, mixing and mastering it out,” Hank Temple said. “It was a kind of DIY process in a way, and you know, we did a lot of production, and then we had a lot of help from our friend who is a producer in our hometown. We look back now and see that it was a very DIY project, but it makes us more excited for our newer projects and collabs,” Gideon said. What are some of the challenges you’ve faced when taking on the task of a solo album? Jack Lutz: “It’s mostly scheduling. Studio time is
harder to get since our mixer is in high demand. On top of that, collaboration is quite hard. When writing my own stuff, I can write and record demos whenever I want to. But with collabs, I can’t always meet with the guys to write or throw ideas around.” Ty Bogikes: “One is a lack of knowledge. You really have to learn a lot to successfully record things. Another is booking studio time. I mean, good producers are few and far between, so it’s tough to actually get into the studio. The biggest one is self-confidence.” Joe Brown: “My biggest challenge is not having another set of ears. I’ve been fortunate to have friends like Jack and my friends back home to listen to my stuff. The other challenge is not giving too much away and drawing people in. All the greatest songwriters are talking about themselves, while others like to talk about others.” Temple Brothers: “The biggest challenge is we didn’t really know how to do anything. The whole process was a process of experimentation. We look back on it and realize that we are capable of so much more now,” Hank Temple said. “It
was like a snapshot of where we were at that time as both musicians and producers. Now we get to work with Jacob Mooney, who has way more experience in producing,” Gideon Temple said. Lutz, Bogikes and the Temple Brothers have been collaborating this past year on projects such as “Waste of My Time” (Lutz and Bogikes) and “Can’t Help Myself ” (Lutz and the Temple Brothers). Brown has three singles currently out with more to come. The Temple Brothers, alongside their collab EP with Lutz, are also working on their musical “Star Machine,” which will have its first full read through later in the spring semester.
2023 Year in Review In 2023, Baldwin Wallace University and the Berea community have been involved in numerous events highlighting local festivities, the success of BW alumni and this year's trends in film, fashion and local music. Despite 2023 being an eventful year for student engagement, Ohio politics has been a major focus as well, with the state still working through its stance on abortion following the overturning of Roe v. Wade in 2022. The Exponent also uncovered that BW is facing the challenge of an approximate $20 million deficit, while also working through other on-campus challenges.
Read The Exponent’s 2023 Year In Review at bwexponent.com/2023inreview/
Campus partners with local toy drives to give back over holiday season By KONNER HINES Staff Writer
Baldwin Wallace’s Brain Center partnered with local toy drives to keep the spirit of giving back in the 2023 holiday season. T h e c ampu s d on at e d over 200 items to help local
children receive the items on their holiday wish lists. Manimone Sengvoravong, a senior neuroscience student, is the student director of Students Engaging Reflecting and Volunteering Ever y year. Sengvoravong said that the passion to collaborate with other organizations is seeing the way it can help the community.
“What inspires me to work with these organizations is having the opportunity to learn and grow from them and give back,” Sengvoravong said. “I think it is a way for students and faculty to get involved without a heavy commitment. Outside organizations love to collaborate and this helps build the relationship between us.”
The organizations used for the 2023 drive are West Side Catholic Center, located in Cleveland, and Cuyahoga County Division of Family and Children Services, which is also known as Hope for the Holidays. Anne Antes, a first-year acting student, said she wanted to give as much as she could this holiday season, making a
total of seven donations. “I hope it gives them joy,” Antes said. “It’s a small thing that can make a big difference. Even if you don’t donate there’s ways to help or be involved in the conversation.” Sengvoravong said that for those who did not donate in the 2023 holiday season, there are still other opportunities to help out.
“Do not feel guilty about being unable to participate,” Sengvoravong said. “There are other ways to get engaged outside of monetary service. Also, asking for help and asking questions is always a great start. ”
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THE EXPONENT | WEDNESDAY, January 24, 2024 | BWEXPONENT.COM
SPORTS
New varsity STUNT team to start competing in spring semester
Rec Center receives new golf simulator
BW STUNT, a new varsity sport for the upcoming 2023-24 season is set to have its inaugural match on Feb. 2 at Trevecca Nazarene University's Trojan Fieldhouse against Walsh University and Malone University. STUNT was announced as an upcoming varsity sport in late 2022 by Steve Thompson, the director of athletics. According to USA Cheer, STUNT stands out as one of the rapidly growing female sports in the nation and is a unique sport that eliminates the crowd leading aspect of cheer, instead focusing on cheer’s technical and athletic components. STUNT incorporates partner stunts, pyramids, basket tosses, group jumps and tumbling. Gretchen Toddy, the head STUNT coach, has coached cheerleading since 1985 and said that as STUNT’s mechanics resemble those of cheer, t he skills are transferrable. "STUNT has taken the athletic components of cheer and re-crafted them into a four-quarter game that meets all requirements for Title IX," Toddy said. "So, in essence, I have been coaching these skills as they have developed over
The B a ldwin Wa l l ace University golf teams received a new addition to their training equipment with a golf simulator installed in the Lou Higgins Recreation Center over winter break. The golf simulator presents an opportunity for both men’s and women’s teams to practice effectively and recieve instant feedback, especially during the winter season. Thompson said the simulator will offer similar features to other indoor simulators in the Cleveland area, providing golfers instant feedback on swing speed, launch angle, spin rates and carry distance right here on campus. Sophomore golf athlete
By NICK IRELAN Sports Editor
the years." The elements such as pyramids and tumbles are put together in short routines that both teams must perform headto-head on the floor simultaneously. The team that executes the skills most effectively claims the round and the corresponding point. Toddy said the STUNT team has been preparing physically as they approach the new season. "Skill training begins Nick Irelan, The Exponent with physical training," The BW STUNT team practices Toddy said. "STUNT their skills in the Ursprung athletes must have a Gymnasium. solid base of strength and flexibility to perform NCAA C onvention, the the skills safely. Coach Frank NCAA approved the proposal Rusieki, lead strength and to designate Division III conditioning coach, assists STUNT as an emerging in training our athletes in the sport. According to the weight room.” NCAA, emerging sports are The physical training for "a women's sport recognized STUNT includes STUNT by the NCAA that is intended specific programs, such as to help schools provide more tumbling classes, Toddy said. athletics opportunities for Toddy said she advocates women and more sportnot only physical training sponsorship options for the for the team but also mental institutions, and also help training. that sport achieve NCAA "I also train on mindset. championship status." The mental game, I believe, is even more important than the physical," Toddy stated. BW STUNT is set for their "Without a great level of trust, first-ever home match against a STUNT athlete will not be Heidelberg University on Feb. appropriately equipped to 23. succeed." During the recent 2024
By NICK IRELAN Sports Editor
Zach Hritz said that he sees the simulator as “a huge turning point” for both golf teams. “The golf simulator is going to be a really big help to grow our skill level,” Hritz said. “One of the hardest parts about golf is the amount of time we spend away from the sport due to bad weather. I think this simulator will help us maintain our skill going into the following season.” Thompson said he believes the simulator will be a critical piece to the recruiting process for golf athletes since all of BW’s key competitors have at least one simulator integrated into their facilities. Though the golf simulator will bring new training equipment to the golf team, the golf simulator will be installed on one of the five racquetball courts in the Lou Higgins Recreation center, which, will mean that the
Racquetball team will lose one of their courts. “We did consider those implications," Thompson said. “We looked at several different locations, but there was just no other available space to be converted that could hold a simulator. We understood that it meant the racquetball team would lose one court and that would impact them. It will force them to adjust practice schedules and plans to accommodate their team and adjust their home tournaments with one less court available for use.” Despite the University’s budget c uts p otentially affecting other programs, it did not impact the construction of the simulator since it was a donor-funded project through gifts of alums, friends and family to the men’s and women’s golf teams.
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