The Exponent Print Edition: April 5,2023

INFORMING THE BALDWIN WALLACE UNIVERSITY AND BEREA COMMUNITIES SINCE 1913

the

APRIL 5, 2023

BWEXPONENT.com

print edition

since 1913

vol. 108 no. x

Ohio’s proposed campus ‘free speech’ bill sparks debate among professors, students Courtesy of Sen. Catherine Ingram

By SIMON SKOUTAS Managing Editor On March 15, Senate Bill 83, a bill that would withhold state funding for private universities if they require diversity, equity and inclusion training and do not show proof of encouraging “intellectual diversity” and “free speech” on campus, was introduced in the Ohio Senate.

According to the language of the bill, "'intellectual diversity' refers to multiple, divergent and opposing perspectives on an extensive range of public policy issues widely discussed and debated in society at large, especially those perspectives that reflect the range of American opinion, but which are poorly represented on

campus."

Matthew Ward, professor of political science, said that the bill’s vague language might encourage self-censorship. “[The bills] can mean anything,” Ward said. “And that’s the point, is to not necessarily enforce that law, but to make people wary because it is so broad so they self-censor. I think that’s the real goal of these because I don’t think they’d stand legal muster.”

Senate Bill 83’s primary sponsor, Ohio State Senator Jerry Cirino (R-Kirtland), said that the bill was inspired in response to “wokeness” on college campuses.

“They’ve gone off on a tangent away from their mission of educating students,

teaching them different sides of an issue, and not what to think but how to think,” Cirino said. “These campuses have gotten very woke, and they’ve jumped on the bandwagon and are now moving into the area of social engineering and indoctrination.”

Ward said that while there is evidence to back up the belief that university faculty are generally more ideologically liberal, they are falsely equating the makeup of the university with the intentions of university professors.

“These sort of people have been out of college for a very long time,” Ward said. “So I think they think it’s sort of like a communist den of wolves. It’s very Cold War mentality.”

Cirino, who represents the

18th district and serves on the Workforce and Higher Education Committee, said that the intent of the bill is to encourage students to learn and think for themselves.

However, Sen. Catherine Ingram, a Democrat from Cincinnati and Cirino’s colleague in the Workforce a n d Hi g h e r E d u c at i o n Committee, said that students already know how to think for themselves.

“It’s a response to a problem that doesn’t exist,” Ingram said.

“I’m not really sure what the intent is other than a power grab over the outcome of postsecondary education.”

The former leader of BW’s College Republicans, Sarah Giddings, said that there is a “liberal bias” within

the University’s faculty that impacts the classroom experience.

“I had already had some situations in class where I had teachers start to treat me differently once they find out I’m Republican,” Giddings said.

The current president of College Democrats, Madelyn Pyles, said that while she understands the experience of the Republicans who feel that their voices are being shunned, she said that this perception does not seem to match reality as Ohio becomes increasingly conservative in the polls.

“I don’t really know why there’s this perception that you know, the conservatives have it rough,” Pyles said. “I don’t want to sound mean,

but I think white Christian conservatives have pretty much held the majority.

They’re empowered.”

Last year, a Federal judge blocked a bill in Florida that was aimed at free speech on college campuses. Ward said that while he expects Senate Bill 83 to pass in Ohio, he could see it being struck down.

“I think it’ll pass because the legislature is overwhelmingly R e p u b l i c a n . It’s b e i n g sponsored by Republicans and the Governor is a Republican,” Ward said. “I think that the courts won’t though because the same law was passed in Florida, I think a less restrictive one actually, and the judge struck it down and said it was basically Orwellian.”

ResLife: Private bathrooms may be Yale University mental health policy coming to more residence halls attracts community attention

By ALEX MINYARD Staff Writer

INSIDE

W i t h N o r t h H a l l ’s renovation came innovative changes to how dorm living looks and feels, especially in regard to community bathrooms. The bathrooms in North Hall were renovated to provide more privacy to students.

Rather than the openlayout communal bathrooms, which are common in most dor mitor y ha l ls across campus, the new North Hall restrooms consist of pods designed for single use, complete with a sink, toilet

and shower in a lockable room.

B o b B e y e r, s e n i o r director of Residence Life and Housing, said that the Covid-19 pandemic has highlighted students’ desire for this added privacy, and students living in North Hall have been happy with the change.

Mugs Johnson, a s ophomore BFA acting major, currently lives in North Hall and said that the bathrooms create a sense of independence.

“I feel so much more independent in these bathrooms,” Johnson said. “It adds a bit of humanity.”

Johnson previously lived in Heritage and said that as a transgender individual in a women’s bathroom, while they didn’t fear for their safety, they were scared of other students’ reactions.

They said they received “weird looks” and didn’t always feel welcome in the bathroom they were most comfortable using. “ [ Nor t h Ha l l’s n e w bathrooms] help everyone feel more comfortable,” Johnson said. “It’s great for gender inclusive housing.”

B e yer s aid t hat it is Residence Life’s priority for SEE RESLIFE >> PAGE 7

By MADELINE DWYER Contributing Writer News of Yale University’s new mental health policy, which affords students in mental health crisis the option of taking an academic leave of absence for up to four semesters with no penalties, has garnered attention of the BW community, with some hoping certain policies are replicated by the University.

Andrew Smith, a junior political science student, is an active member of BW Active Minds, which aims to reduce the stigma associated with mental illness and create

an environment for open discussion of mental health.

Smith said he believes the new Yale policy is an important step.

“It’s absolutely a good thing.

Academic leave for mental health should be a universal policy. Every university should have that,” Smith said. “The mental health crisis at BW is lingering, it’s problematic and it’s something that needs to be addressed as soon as possible.”

Smith attended the student town hall on mental health with Timeka Rashid, BW’s vice president for student affairs, in the fall of 2022.

Smith said that at the town hall, students reported that

TikTok on the clock ... and the party might stop

they felt isolated and without a sense of belonging, but that it was clear the University was working to combat this.

“A universal university mental health policy needs to be implemented at BW, one that gives excused absences for mental health reasons, the ability to join a class online with no questions asked,” Smith said. “There also needs to be the appointment of a mental health director at the school — a permanent, salaried position.”

O t h e r s t u d e nt s h av e expressed similar concerns.

Lauren Frank, a sophomore SEE POLICY >> PAGE 2

A resurrection of 'Thebes'

Once cancelled by Covid-19, 'The Burial at Thebes' finally appeared on the Kleist Black Box stage.

Lawmakers call for a ban on TikTok as embattled social media company's CEO is grilled at House hearing.

PAGE 5

PAGE 3

NEWS 2 Berea Townhouse renovation

THE EXPRESSION 4 'Bare' and 'Dungeons & Dragons'

LIFE & STYLES

6 Diva Night

SPORTS

8 Racquetball

2

THE EXPONENT | WEDNESDAY, April 5, 2023 | 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 Editor Sunaina Kabadkar Managing Editors Cole Graham Matthew Morales Emily Muench Austin Patterson Simon Skoutas Hannah Wetmore Art Director Alexis Watkins Web Editors

Chase J. Gilroy Henry Haas Isabel Rivera

Staff Writers Griffin Arnold Caitlin Bowshier Kelly Coyne Dina Dakdouk Olivia Garrett Chase Gilroy Raejanae Martin Meredith McCord Gloria Mireles-Barrera Chris Moran Kayla Muro Kathryn Raubolt Sophia Rossero Ursula Saadeh Ella York

FACULTY ADVISOR Huixin Deng hdeng@bw.edu

NEWSPAPER POLICIES The Exponent is the 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 and 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 pages do not necessarily reflect the position of B aldw in Wa l l a c e University.

New psych course name reflects field's evolving language

By KATHRYN RAUBOLT Staff Writer

Starting this semester, the class PSY-302 Abnormal Psycholog y has b e en renamed and cataloged as “psychological disorders” in a move to reflect new and changing terminology within the psychological field.

The change was discussed by t h e D e p ar t m e nt of Psycholog y and held unanimous support, leading to the new name for the course.

Brian Thomas, chair of the psychology department, said that the new name was partly in response to a major change that occurred in 2021 and 2022 within the American Psychological Association.

One of the oldest APA journals, the Journal of Abn or m a l Ps y c h o l o g y, recently changed its name to the Journal of

Psychopathology and Clinical Science after 115 years.

The new name for the journal began with the January 2022 issue, and the news spread worldwide, being picked up by most mainstream news outlets, according to Thomas.

Universities nationwide have been moving away from the term “abnormal psychology” within their course names and offerings over the recent years, with BW being a recent addition to the movement.

The course holds the same catalog number and similar content but has a few changes to help further a more positive conversation around the topic.

“The course content and learning outcomes will remain largely the same but with additional care and emphasis on how we characterize and talk about individual differences in

how people think, feel, and act,” Thomas said. “The term ‘abnormal’ is no longer used in the statistical sense of being outside the fat part of the bell curve and has taken on more negative connotations over time, which do not reflect the objectivity that any good science should hold as a core value.”

S t u d e nt s w i t h i n t h e department pursuing a major or a minor in psychology were informed in one of the routine emails created

by Thomas and sent out by the admin specialist, Barbie Chapin.

Thomas shared that he hopes the psychological field continues to change and grow, contributing positively to the human race.

“My hope is that the field will always reflect on our shared history, the good and the bad, and be ready to change when necessary,” Thomas said. “I believe that

m o s t , m ay b e even all of the greatest challenges that we face as a sp ecies are problems that Psychological Science can play a role in overcoming.”

T h o m a s f u r t h e r emphasized that names matter Kathryn Raubolt, The Exponent and changing Home to the Department of Psychology, the course name is a step towards Malicky Center is where students are c r e a t i n g a currently taking PSY-302. department and environment where we environment that continues help each other adapt to to adapt and change with the emerging trends in the way field and time. we think and talk about the “In my opinion, words, and entire, fascinating, wonderful names, in this case, matter, diversity of the human and that it is our obligation experience.” to take every opportunity to provide up-to-date training,” Thomas said. “Part of that means creating a learning

POLICY: Professor raises potential pitfalls of Yale policy Continued from page 1 communication sciences and disorders student, works as a resident assistant and is a resource for those under her assignment. She said from her experience working with students, she has seen an uptick in mental health issues university-wide.

“College can take such a toll on student mental health, as so many students feel pressure to be everything— to do well, to have fun, to be involved,” Frank said. “They feel their entire future depends on how they perform in college and it’s a lot to deal with.”

Upon hearing about the Yale University policy, Frank said

she would support it. She also spoke highly of BW’s efforts to put its students’ mental health first.

“BW does a good job at always reminding us that we are people, not students, first,” Frank said. “The school implemented R.A. ‘buzz-ins,’ where R.A.'s make one-onone appointments with their residents, offering them the opportunity to voice concerns, ask for help and just to feel seen and heard. My residents seem to really enjoy this time.”

Despite its advances in mental health resources, Frank said she has seen places where the University could use improvement. She said some of

her residents had told her that although the University claims to have counselors available 24/7, when they attempted to contact them, they were put on hold for extended periods.

The B a ldwin Wa l lace Counseling Center declined an interview due to scheduling issues.

Although most students see the Yale University policy’s benefits, some believe it has its downfalls. Joseph Tarantowski, a broadcasting professor in the Department of Communication Arts & Sciences, said he agreed with the Yale University policy but did so with “immense” caution.

“When disengaged, one can feel like a failure, and this too can take a toll on mental health,” Tarantowski said.

“So it is very important that students who may choose to leave remain focused on healing through a combination of therapy, drugs and quality time spent with family and friends.”

As a professor and daily aspect of some students’ lives, Tarantowski said he had experienced an uptick in mental health issues among college students. He said that he knew the suicide rate was up, which is enough reason for people to be concerned.

In his classroom and beyond,

he works to do what he can to assist students with their struggles.

“Some faculty members engage with their students on a more personal level. Some have a fence up, viewing it more as an ‘us vs. them,’” Tarantowski said. “I want to have the largest amount of impact on the greatest number of students I can. I try to foster an atmosphere that this is our class, not my class.”

For assistance with mental health, students can contact the Student Health Center at (440) 260-4399, utilize the 24/7 hotline, or reach out to an R.A., a roommate, a friend or a family member.

Berea Townhouses slated for Reporter's Notebook: Student Government June renovations

By BROOKE WHITLOCK Contributing Writer Berea Townhouses, the currently vacant apartment-style residence hall located on the corner of Seminary and East Bridge streets, is scheduled for renovation in June.

The renovation will allow Baldwin Wallace to reopen its apartments to juniors and seniors.

Plans include upgrades to apartment kitchens and bathrooms as well as new flooring and furniture.

K r i s t i n B r e w e r, assistant director for the Office of Residence Life, shared her enthusiasm about the upcoming renovation.

“We are really excited about this renovation, our second in only a few years,” Brewer said.

The renovations are expected to finish by Fall 2024, just in time for the new academic year.

“Berea Townhouses sits in a unique, prime location right next to Coe Lake,” Brewer said.

“This renovation will only add to its appeal, making it one of the most desirable places to live on campus.”

The townhouses were first built in 1944 and were used as an apartment-style living space for BW students unt i l t he C ov id-19 pandemic in March of 2020. From then until May 2022, the To w n h o u s e s w e r e utilized as an isolation space for students that tested positive for the virus. It has been nearly a year since students have been able to step foot in this building.

Many students that lived in the Townhouses while it was offered as a residence alternative have since graduated, but senior psychology major Christina Vitakis still has memories of the building. Before the

pandemic, she stayed in the Berea Townhouses on multiple occasions to cat sit for a sorority sister.

“It was such a cool way to feel independent while also still being connected to campus,” Vitakis said. “I can see why upperclassmen loved living there.”

Ella Chandler, a firstyear early childhood and special education major currently residing in a Heritage Hall dorm room along with many other first-year students, said she was looking forward to eventually moving up to apartmentstyle living.

“I’m looking forward to the renovation being done so I can live there my junior or senior year,” Chandler said.

By KAYLA MURO Staff Writer

On March 21, Of f icer Tim Washington of BW Safety and Security attended the weekly Student Senate meeting announcing that Kohler Hall and Bonds Hall have both recently been broken into.

Washington emphasized the importance of students reporting situations if they feel unsafe and gave tips on self-defense. Despite

BW remaining a safe campus, it is important to be aware of one’s surroundings and educated on how to stay safe, Washington said.

As of March 23, the Baldwin Wallace Supreme Court ruled that faculty members cannot be involved in selecting members of student organizations.

Student government class officer elections will be held on Wednesday, April 5. Voting will be conducted through students’ BW email.

YOUR ORGANIZATION COULD BE ADVERTISED HERE! Advertising opportunities are available for both print and digital media. Contact The Exponent for rates and more information: exponentads@bw.edu

BWEXPONENT.COM | WEDNESDAY, April 5, 2023 | THE EXPONENT

3

SUSTAINABILIT Y

BW Earth Week organizers Willow Project approval causes spread word on social media consternation among students over environmental, equity concerns

By MEREDITH MCCORD Staff Writer

Earth We e k celebrations at Baldwin Wallace University have gained support through on campus groups and through social media.

Earth Week, which will run from April 17-22, is a way for students of any major to participate in activities based on improving people’s understanding of living sustainably in a campus setting.

This event was originally run through a separate organization, T h e E a r t h We e k Coalition, outside of BW. During that time, BW students assisted with Earth Week activities at various locations with assistance from the national coalition.

Currently, Earth Week is independently run

by BW students, with games and activities that aim to teach their peers about how they can live their lives in a more sustainable way.

This year, Earth Week is taking to Instagram to spread information regarding sustainability

tips, environmental news and Earth Week i n for m at i on on it s account @bw_earthweek.

The account resurfaced for this year to provide information about the upcoming Earth Week celebrations said Jill Fleisher, professor of environmental sociology.

“It gives students something to get excited about,” Fleisher said.

According to Emily Shelton, Earth Week social media intern, the account has a current following of about three hundred individuals and businesses.

In addition to having a social media account dedicated to spreading information for this e ve nt , E ar t h We e k s t u d e nt v o l u nt e e r s are working on other methods to gain support.

Vo l u n t e e r s a r e working to get the word out to as many people as possible before the event. The volunteers are making posters, setting up tabling events and planning activities for students to participate whilst also maintaining the social media accounts associated with the event.

“If you want a successful event, you have to do it all,” Fleisher said.

While volunteers are working hard to ensure that information is spread about the event itself, more people are working with other oncampus groups behind the scenes to ensure that event is supported in other areas.

One of the events on the first day of Earth Week is a screening of the film “Microplastic Madness.” The Northeast Ohio Sierra Club and Sustainable Berea are working with Earth Week volunteers to promote this film during the week.

One of the focuses that organizations have been working toward for this year’s Earth Week is encouraging students to learn about and reinforce positive behaviors regarding sustainability.

“We get wrapp ed up in the severity of environmental problems, but you feel less hopeless when we have ways to be positive,” Fleisher said.

By SOPHIA ROSSERO Staff Writer

The Willow Project — an oil drilling plan in Alaska spearheaded

by ConocoPhillips — received its approval to move forward by the Biden administration on March 13. This venture is controversial, sparking a flurry of online petitions and activism, particularly among young people.

Olivia Powell, a sustainability major, said that the approval was “shocking” to hear because Biden made a campaign promise of ending all new oil drilling on federal lands and has touted his goal to cut carbon emissions in half by 2030.

T h e Wi l l o w P r o j e c t i s controversial because, like many issues involving the delicate balance between the need for energy independence and other serious concerns, it is complicated.

“Initially, my reaction to the news of President Biden green lighting the Willow Project was very disappointing,” said Emma Stamper, a member of the Baldwin Wallace sustainability committee, “but with reflection, I have grown to understand that this topic is extremely complex.”

This oil project is going to be massive, and CNN reported that 600 million oil barrels can be extracted from the Alaskan land.

This much oil can aid the United States in becoming less reliant upon oil exports from other countries.

Another argument frequently made in support of the Willow Project is that it will create jobs.

CNN reported that three Alaskan lawmakers discussed the project with President Biden, expressing a desire to move forward with the project.

However, some students believe that the economic gain is not enough of a reason to approve the project. Stamper said that while this venture will relieve America’s oil supply chain woes, “It’s important to consider the environmental impact it will have.”

Stamper said that the project will produce massive amounts of greenhouse gas emissions.

“It will take everything we have to mitigate these emissions,” Stamper said, “such as carbon capture and negative emission technology.”

The environmental impacts this project will induce are not the only issues students have with this venture.

Powell said that the Willow project has many social implications as it includes drilling on federal lands at five sites, which could threaten wildlife habitats and food availability in towns like Nuiqsut with large indigenous

populations.

“Indigenous communities are going to be those directly affected by this,” Powell said.

Additionally, those who live near the project site could experience changes in health as a result.

Another issue mentioned by Powell relates to the recent report that the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change sent out in March.

The latest report from the IPCC, titled “AR6 Synthesis Report: Climate Change 2023” concludes that it is probable that the global temperature will reach above the 1.5 degrees Celsius mark.

Powell said that Earth cannot sustain a temperature above the 1.5 degrees Celsius mark “if we want to maintain a habitable Earth.”

S t a mp e r s a i d t h at i t i s important to vocalize concerns to representatives.

“Imagine how much movement we can make if every college student made their voice heard,” Stamper said. “It may even help speed up the process of our energy transition.”

BW hosts local middle school writing tournament

By CHASE J. GILROY Staff Writer

On Saturday March 11, Baldwin Wallace University hosted the Power of the Pen creative writing tournament on campus while students were off on spring break.

Power of the Pen is an organization set on instilling a love for writing in middle school students around Ohio, and over spring break, BW had the opportunity to host its northeastern regional competition.

Guy Farish, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, was one of the BW faculty members who oversaw the event.

“The enthusiasm was just crazy. The students were just so excited, cheering each other on with the awards,” Farish said.

“Some professors also came down to give the students writing prompts and give them some exposure to what it’s like writing for a college professor, which was nice,” Farish said.

Helping to set up the event was English professor and

Associate Dean of Humanities Denise Kohn, who sent out emails to creative writing and English majors who would be willing to volunteer at this year’s event.

“This is our third-year sponsoring Power of the Pen, but because of Covid our sponsorship of the event in the past has been completely virtual,” Kohn said. “They have been having virtual tournaments over the last two years, so everyone was excited to be able to do it in person.”

Over the years in which BW sponsored Power of the

Pen virtually, staff provided small stipends for the events as well as recording multiple professors describing the creative process for the the middle school students who were involved.

Since BW hosted t he event in person this year, middle school students across northeast Ohio were able to come to campus and use BW facilities as well as interact with several BW professors and faculty.

Solé Hall-Hamilton, a senior English and education student at BW was one of

the volunteers at this year’s tournament.

“It was just nice to see all their faces. I'm from Virginia, and I've never had anything like Power of the Pen ever, so it was just really cool to be a part of something like that,” Hall-Hamilton said.

Volunteers were responsible for helping the students sign in for the event, as well as guiding them across campus to the various facilities in which activities were being held.

“As a volunteer, it was exciting. I'm an educator, of course, so I get really excited

just seeing kids get all bubbly and happy,” Hall-Hamilton said. “Some of them were really stressed, so it was nice being able to help them and reassure them.”

As it stands, the final statewide competition is set to take place at Ashland University later this year, though it is BW’s hope that Power of the Pen will continue to come to them in the future for continued hosting and sponsorships.

U.S. lawmakers debate TikTok ban as privacy concerns threaten popular app concerns.

The motivation behind the potential ban comes from TikTok’s connections with TikTok is currently facing their Chinese parent company threats from the United ByteDance, an entertainment States government regarding company who has been a nationwide ban accused of handing data from of the app across American users to the Chinese devices over government. data security At a U.S. House of Representatives Energy and Commerce Committee hearing held on March 23 in which the chief executive officer of TikTok, Shou Zi Chew, was questioned, Democratic United States Representative from New Jersey, Frank Pallone, outlined the House’s data concerns.

“While TikTok videos Meredith McCord, The Exponent provide a new way for people TikTok faces a possible U.S. ban due to security concerns. to express their creativity and

By MEREDITH MCCORD Staff Writer

enjoy the videos of others, the platform also threatens the privacy and security of the American people,” Pallone said.

Throughout the hearing, Chew, refuted these claims r e g a r d i n g B y t e D a n c e’s connections with the Chinese government.

“ByteDance is not owned or controlled by the Chinese government,” Chew said.

Despite these concerns for the security of American data on the platform, assurances have been made that American data is housed on American soil and is not subject to foreign influence, Chew said.

In an initiative entitled “Project Texas,” TikTok is working to have American data moved and stored with

an American company acting as a third party to ensure American user’s data is safe from foreign interference.

“Today, TikTok user data is stored, by default, in Oracle’s service,” Chew said, referring to the Texas-based cloud computing form tasked with keeping user data.

According to Chew, this plan to move and store American data so that it would be on American soil and overseen by a board of Americans would “eliminate” the need for concern that any TikTok data could be subject to Chinese law.

“Only vetted personnel operating in a new company called ‘TikTok U.S Data Security’ can control access to this data,” Chew said.

Since this congressional hearing did not result in a clear solution about what needs to be done about the social media platform, TikTok is not yet banned in the U.S. This hearing comes after a series of bills were proposed that would allow the banning of any app considered to be a threat to national security, including social media apps like TikTok. One of the bills proposed, the Restricting the Emergence of Security Threats that Risk Information and Communications Technology act, would give the President the authority to ban TikTok without dealing with the struggles faced in previous attempts.

The White House has

already expressed its own concerns surrounding the security of the app and has signaled support for the bill being proposed to Congress mandating that TikTok sell to an American company or be banned in the U.S altogether.

“We have concerns about the app, and that’s why we are calling on congress to act,” said Biden's press secretary, Karine Jean-Pierre.

Despite this support from the White House, the bills that would allow for TikTok to be banned in the U.S are still pending the decision of Congress before a ban can officially be placed on the app.

Currently there is not a date set for when a final decision is to be made regarding TikTok’s availability in the U.S.

4

THE EXPONENT | WEDNESDAY, April 5, 2023 | BWEXPONENT.COM

The Expression

Arts and Culture Coverage from The Exponent AT THE MOVIES

As ‘Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves’ hits theaters, ‘thrilled’ fans share thoughts on beloved role-playing game ELLA YORK is The Exponent's head film critic.

America’s most popular tabletop role-playing game sprung onto the big screen this spring as the highlyanticipated “Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves” released in theaters March 31.

The ac t ion come dy’s official synopsis describes it as following a band of adventurers on a quest to recover a lost relic, but their plans go awry when they encounter the wrong people.

According to the film’s star Chris Pine, the movie is a tonal mix of “Spinal Tap,” “The Princess Bride,” and “Game of Thrones”

with a touch of “Goonies.”

Directed by the men behind the popular action-comedy “Game Night,” the film is sure to have its fair share of clever humor and meta-references.

“Honor Among Thieves” is the first Dungeons & Dragons film to be released since the third installment of the original trilogy landed in theaters more than a decade ago, and naturally, fans were excited about its release.

Carolyn Rohr, a sophomore studio art major and long time D&D player, had been following the movie since its announcement and was “thrilled” to see it in theaters opening night.

“I’m most excited about the creatures that they are putting in, the practical effects,” Rohr told The Exponent

in an interview before the film’s release. “They have shown off some of the more famous Dungeons & Dragons monsters, the Gelatinous Cube, the Mimic, the Owl Bear, but there are also less well known things and playable races that are getting screen time, and that’s just so exciting.”

Rohr has been playing D&D for the past five years, and has been heading up games with other BW students since the beginning of the academic year. As a fan of the older D&D stories, Rohr said she is excited that the new film will give the D&D characters and lore adequate representation in mainstream media.

“They've done a really good job of sort of finding the essence of D&D, the feeling

of being at a table without isolating it to only people who have D&D experience,” Rohr said. “They’re doing it in a way that is enjoyable for both people who have played it before and those who haven’t.

I’m just really excited for it.”

Emma Goliat, a sophomore middle childhood education major, said she was most eager to see the movie portray the difficulty of teamwork that comes with playing D&D. “You have so many people that have so many ideas, but you can only do so much, and it can get very chaotic, but it’s also very fun and engaging,” Goliat said.

Goliat started playing D&D when her cousin was running a campaign during her freshman year at BW. According to Goliat, the best

part of playing D&D is its adaptability, and that it can be altered to fit any age or group.

“You can really do anything with it, there’s no boundaries,” Goliat said.

D&D has been getting a lot more mainstream exposure in recent years with shows and movies such as “Stranger Things,” “Gravity Falls” and “Onward.” It’s exciting seeing more people interested in D&D, Rohr said, as it shows that the game is more than “just dice and nerdy confusing lingo.”

“Dungeons & Dragons is such a not only immersive storytelling experience but is also a communal one,” Rohr said. “It is a story you are building with the people around you.”

Ac c o r d i n g t o R o h r,

D&D fosters creativity and individuality. The different players make the game a unique experience each time it is played regardless of whether the party is using prewritten stories or making them up from scratch.

Playing D&D also helps people learn communication and empathy, Rohr said, as it allows party members to bond and form deep connections with each other.

“There is something so innately human about some of the things you can learn and experience that, especially after the pandemic, is kind of hard to find that sort of connection anywhere,” Rohr said.

BWMT brings story of empathy to Playhouse Square in pop opera ‘Bare’

By URSULA SAADEH Staff Writer

Baldwin Wallace music theatre students brought vulnerability and operatic drama to Playhouse Square's Helen Theatre with "Bare" from March 31 to April 2.

Directed by Laura Berg, an assistant professor of acting and directing in the music theatre program, this production marked the 16th anniversary of BWMT and Playhouse Square's annual spring partnership.

"Bare" is a pop opera that follows the relationship between Peter and Jason, two queer men attending St. Cecelia's Catholic Boarding School. With a plot that mirrors t h e school's

production of "Romeo and Juliet," the characters find themselves confronting their own identities.

"I think the central point of this story is the love that exists within this relationship that they are told is not right or, in this context, not Godly, because it's not the right kind of love," Berg said.

Assistant stage manager Elise Hill said that "Bare" explored the differences between faith and religion and what that meant for characters who are struggling to find their place in a society that has already judged them because of their identity and reputation.

"The show really debates the difference between [faith and religion] and helps you realize that love is love, no matter what your beliefs are," Hill said. "I think it's just the idea [that] you need to have faith in not just yourself but in the

universe."

Trevor Gill-Snow, a musical theatre student who played Jason, said that their character fit into the "traditional box of masculinity" and dealt with the expectations placed on him because of how he presented himself and his successes while also hiding the fact that he's gay.

Gill-Snow said they were able to draw on their own exp er iences as a que er individual.

"I think just the fact that people already assume what I am despite the fact that I identify as something else [is] something that I really draw on when I'm playing Jason," Gill-Snow said.

The cast and crew of "Bare" partook in a highly collaborative process with Berg, who crafted the production based on what she saw in the rehearsal room.

"I actually feel like my job as a director is similar to what I imagine that of a sculptor," Berg said. "I basically get a giant block of marble,

which is my cast and crew and design team, and then I just get to start shaping."

This was B erg's f irst directorial project within the musical theatre program. GillSnow said that they and the other cast members learned to utilize various acting techniques that they do not normally get a chance to practice.

"One thing the director has stressed a lot is stillness and acting, which I really respect. It kind of makes me think of film acting, and that's something I really admire," Gill-Snow said.

"So having to use that genre of my acting technique is really fun."

Berg said that it was a joy to work with a group of students who were playing students on stage because they could relate to that age group's struggles, and she said it was important to have cast members who are part of the LGBTQ community share a story that is personal to them.

"I think that one of the most exciting things is just being a queer actor playing across from a queer actor in a queer love

story," Gill-Snow said. “It's super fun to just be able to put that on a stage because there's not a lot of shows that do that.”

"Bare" is a pop opera, which means that, like a classical opera, the show is primarily sung-through, and the plots are dramatic with high emotional stakes. The music in the show has a pop and rock influence.

"All of the stakes are really high the whole time," GillSnow said. "The show was really written for the singing to be acted through, and the cast really does a great job of doing that, so I think it all adds together to be something really special."

Collaborating with Playhouse Square allowed the students to work in different spaces beyond their college campus and learn to adapt to new settings, and Hill said that she was ver y

excited to work at Playhouse.

"For me, I just love being able to create in different spaces and being able to move from space to space," Hill said.

"So, moving from Kleist Dance Studio to Playhouse is going to be a big change and really challenging. But I know in the long run, I will learn a lot, and it'll just be great for all of us to just expand our creativity."

By performing at Playhouse Square, the story of "Bare" was shared with a wider audience and aided in the theater's mission to build empathy, which Berg said may be the "only hope we have of changing people's minds."

"As we become adults, we are forced to question the things that we thought were true, and so my big hope for the audience is that as they leave this experience, they are left questioning," Berg said.

"If we could inspire even one more person to become an ally in that fight, to understand how important it is to stand up to that level of … insidious oppression.

That would be my dream."

Jayanti Upadhyay, The Exponent

The cast of "Bare" rehearses several scenes from the show.

BWEXPONENT.COM | WEDNESDAY, April 5, 2023 | THE EXPONENT

5

Music faculty balance teaching duties with busy performance schedules

By STEFFI BURDICK Contributing Writer

Faculty members of the BW Conservatory of Music, many of whom have busy performing careers of their own, implement time management strategies to balance their time teaching classes and lessons while individually practicing for their own gigs.

Carol Ross, a violin and viola private lessons teacher and faculty member of the BW Community Arts School, said she likes to look at the “big picture” of her week’s schedule to plan her practice time.

She finds that organizing a lot and sticking to the schedule as best as possible is beneficial, though it is important to be flexible. “[Your schedule] is not always going to work out that way, so you have to have plan B or C or D,” Ross said.

K h a r i Joy n e r, a s s i s t a nt professor of cello, chair of string studies and a sought-after soloist and recording artist, utilizes organization to balance his busy

weeks. He said that any visual representation of his schedule with Outlook’s calendar and physical planners are beneficial to him; he often recommends them to his students.

Another strategy Joyner said he uses is setting a certain goal or objective and assigning a specific amount of time to complete it when he practices.

"That helps me gain a lot of clarity over what that goal is, making sure that I accomplish it,” Joyner said.

George Pope, lecturer of flute, takes a similar approach. He said he organizes how much time he must practice, then prioritizes what needs to be practiced after he warms up.

A daily part of Joyner’s, Pope’s and Ross’ schedules involves instructing their students through applied and private lessons.

They all expressed how teaching students has been a positive experience.

As a BW Community Arts School faculty member, Ross works with elementary, middle

and high school students who come to BW’s campus for their lessons. She said that one of the best things about teaching is “getting to watch [students] learn and be excited about playing.”

Joyner said that he incorporates many ideas discussed in his students' lessons into his own practice sessions. He also said that all BW students inspire him in how they apply their skill sets.

“It’s making me think about my teaching in a certain way or even my own process of how I think about this particular aspect of music,” Joyner said.

Jackie Kaminski, a first-year cello performance and music education major, has lessons with Joyner every week. She said she has enjoyed learning from him and “adores” him.

“In my lessons, he’s constantly trying to get me to think about the cello on a deeper level,” said Kaminski.

Te a c h i n g a l l o w s t h e s e instructors to do what they love and share their knowledge with their students.

“My favorite thing about my job is when I get to observe the light going off in my student’s head when the explanation and the demonstration is finally clear … That’s the joy of being a teacher,” Pope said.

In addition to teaching students, these music faculty members must balance their time to prepare for individual performances. Many of them participate in performance opportunities on campus as well as off.

Joyner said he has performed in many faculty-led ensembles and collaborated with his colleagues in different departments of the Conservatory. He also has worked with his physics department colleagues to bring music concerts to the Knowlton Center, which started in Fall 2022.

Pope has performed many times over his career in the C onser vator y. He had his farewell faculty recital on March 19 before he retires at the end of this semester.

Some faculty members have

performance opportunities that occur off campus. Joyner said he recently joined an ensemble called Linking Legacies.

“We do concerts that are linked to our roots, either here in Ohio or other things that unify us. … They’re very fun to help in my professional area of development and growth,” Joyner said.

Khari Joyner, assistant professor of cello Photo

by Steffi Burdick

Theatre ‘The Burial at Thebes’ production department’s redefined after Covid cancellation ‘Crimes of the Heart’ celebrates sisterhood

By BRYANNA FEAGLER Contributing Writer

Austin Patterson, The Exponent

By CAITLIN BOWSHIER Staff Writer Editor’s note: A previous version of this article was posted on bwexponent.com on March 24.

Baldwin Wallace’s theatre department presented a staged reading of Beth Henley’s play “Crimes of the Heart” on March 24 and 25 in the Loomis Hall Acting Studio.

“Crimes of the Heart” follows three sisters from the Southern United States, Lenny, Meg and Babe, as they navigate womanhood in the 1970s. Catie Popelka, a freshman acting and directing major, especially appreciates the emotional aspect of the piece and its focus on female relationships.

“I think ['Crimes’] just portrays sisterhood so well, and I think that’s something you don’t get to see a lot in pieces of media,” Popelka said.

“And it’s a very difficult piece to watch in a way, because there are a lot of upsetting things that happen to the sisters throughout their life.

But it’s just so interesting to see how, no matter what the sisters go through, they’re always sisters. And they went

through it together.”

The cast of “Crimes of the Heart” was composed of six students including Popelka as Meg Magrath, Bella Issa, a sophomore acting and directing major as Chick Boyle and Elena Thompson, first-year BFA acting major as Babe Botrelle.

Popelka told The Exponent in an interview before the show’s run that the experience “is definitely going to be intense,” but she was excited to make her debut on a BW stage.

Due to the staged reading format of the show, rehearsal times were significantly shorter than that of a typical production. The first read through of the script was held on March 14 — less than two weeks before opening night.

Issa originally found this shortened timeline to be somewhat daunting.

“It kind of feels a bit like tech week, only you haven’t had any of the rehearsal time before,” Issa said.

For the staged reading, the cast was asked to provide their own costumes, as well as hair and makeup, since they did not have the crew of a full production. Issa noted that this allowed each actor to further their character work, as they explore the styles of the

time period.

“As a staged reading, we’re breaking it down to just the characters and the script, but the costumes are going to definitely help bring that character I’m playing to life,” Issa said. “It will add another element of realism to [the show].”

A challenge to performing the play’s material according to Thompson was that it is set in the American South.

“Our director [Martin Friedman] would like us to use a Southern dialect, and I’ve never done that before, so I’m trying my best,” Thompson said. “But I do think that even if it’s a challenge, it’s super fun to play around with.”

Another hurdle for the actors that Popelka noted was maintaining connection between characters during performances, while still relying on a script.

“I think staged readings are personally very difficult, because you have to portray emotion while still being on book,” Popelka said. “It’s kind of a careful balance.”

Photo caption: Connor Krohn and Elena Thomson read from the script during rehearsal.

“The Burial at Thebes,” Seamus Heaney’s adaption of Sophocles’ tragedy “Antigone” finally had its bow in the Black Box Theatre in the Kleist Center for Art & Drama. The production ran from March 29 to April 2.

Directed by Keira McDonald, an associate professor and head of the BFA acting program, “The Burial at Thebes” is based on the Greek myth 'Antigone.' The play explores the concept of being caught between principles and laws and struggling with choosing what is right.

Antigone, the main lead, then faces significant consequences and family drama when she decides to defy the King.

The production team and cast had to overcome a few challenges created by the cancellation of the original production of the play by Covid-19.

Joshua Kass-Amsterdam, a senior acting BFA major who plays Creon in the play, was cast in the initial production before it was canceled due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

“The production felt like it was

being ripped away,” KassAmsterdam said. “It was tangible of what we had lost before we knew what would be lost.”

Kass-Amsterdam said that seeing the show through to the end has shown that the world is “changing and adapting, including its imperfections.”

McDonald said that the production went through its own series of changes.

“I have a different set of designers working for me [now],” McDonald said. “[The play has] evolved and changed, and I’m happy with it now as I was happy with it back then.”

McDonald described her planning process in each rehearsal which started with a discussion that proceeded to staging. Following this form, the team would work from broad ideas to small details.

“I help the director get a realistic idea of what we can accomplish in four hours, which is how long we rehearse in a day,” said Kelsey Malone, a junior stage management major and the production stage manager of the production. “The director takes notes while running the show and we go back and fix the things that aren’t working.”

Jason Luck, a junior theatre tech and design major, was the set designer for “The Burial at Thebes.” He said that the process behind creating the set was like having pieces to a puzzle and

figuring out ways to incorporate specific ideas.

“There are three big steps: In the beginning, there’s a lot of drawings. Then once those drawings get approved, you move into drafting. The final step is technical week,” Luck said.

S ome key features of the production’s set were the incorporated statue and the pillars used for the background.

“We named the Greek statue Jocasta, who is Edipus's mother and the wife in the tragedy,” Malone said.

McDonald said that the statue originated when Jeffrey Herman, now the head of the theatre department, had designed the production of “Antigone” around 20 years ago.

When des cr ibing t he background set design for the pillars, Luck imagined from the research and clues that he gathered the scene should look “strict but crumbling.”

This also reflects Creon’s moral code in the plot.

Kass-Amsterdam said that “The Burial at Thebes” had a message to tell its audience.

“I hope the audience will take away this idea that you can be wrong and that’s not the end of the world,” Kass-Amsterdam said. “It’s never too late to change and adapt.”

Ursula Saadeh, The Exponent

Top right: Maggie Solimine rehearsing a scene from "The Burial at Thebes."

Bottom: Members of the chorus.

6

THE EXPONENT | WEDNESDAY, April 5, 2023 | BWEXPONENT.COM

Life & Styles TAP hosts Diva Night amid challenges and tense social climate

By KAYLA MURO Staff Writer

On March 18, BW’s Theatre A r t s an d Pe r for m an c e organization hosted Diva Nig ht, an annua l drag competition that enables students of any major to perform in an intimate, accepting setting.

Jeff Herrmann, Department of Theatre and Dance chair and a Diva Night judge, said that he hopes to provide a safe space for all students on campus.

“We have a wonderful atmosphere on this campus, and I want to see that continue,” Herrmann said.

Events like Diva Night provide a space w here students can experiment

with things they haven’t done before, which is very important especially during a time w hen drag and LGBTQ expression are facing legislative threats in multiple U.S. states, said Tracy Grady, music theatre lecturer of voice and member of the judging panel.

The performance, typically lo cated in the Student Activities Center, moved to the Kleist Center for Art & Drama lobby this year. The theatre department has access to two stages on campus, which are in constant use, Herrmann said.

“With a drag show, we wanted to keep that intimate audience interaction,” said Emily Polcyn, senior acting major and president of TAP. “That’s why we decided to

go in the lobby, and I think it ended up really well. We’re trying to bring more events, especially theatre, into Kleist so we can have more of that centralized community in there.”

A stage was set up in the lobby, and it was surrounded by throw pillows for comfortable seating.

Groundlings Café was open wit h ref reshments and mocktails for students while watching the performance.

The relaxed environment created a “wonderful little cabaret night,” similar to the atmosphere of a small offBroadway show, Herrmann said.

Nine competing performers took the stage that night in front of five faculty judges and about a

Alex Minyard, The Exponent

Ruby Madness, the host of Diva Night, interacts with the crowd in the Kleist lobby. hundred audience members.

“It’s really special we get to really beautiful thing to see at First place was awarded to have a place to [perform drag] a time like this, where people Bennie Bender, second to openly and loudly and with don’t want to see that.”

Tobias Yeung, third to Trevor departmental support and Patchen and an honorable with such a great turnout,” Editor’s note: Gilroy is a mention to Chase Gilroy.

Polcyn said. “It was just a Staff Writer for The Exponent.

The Love Buzz: How to lose a girl in ten days, according to women at BW

By OLIVIA GARRETT Columnist First impressions are crucial in any relationship, but not everyone aces them — so just how, according to women at BW, can they go wrong?

Many of us know and love the famous 2003 romantic comedy, “How To Lose A Guy in 10 Days” starring Kate Hudson as spunky journalist Andie Anderson and Matthew McConaughey as charming advertising agent Ben Barry.

As an assignment for her magazine column, Anderson

is given ten days to do her worst and drive Barry away.

The Exponent took a less problematic, more modern approach to this idea.

Navigating love and dating as a woman in your early twenties can be difficult.

Failed relationships are bound to happen as a part of that exploration. I spoke to women across campus about their personal experiences with failed relationships and just how, in their opinion, things can go wrong within the first week of dating.

Fo r A l a i n a Hay e s , a sophomore English major, an

overload of affection within the first week is “a major ick … it’s too much.”

An eager leap to romantic gestures soon after meeting is cause for alarm to a lot of people, including senior creative writing major Meagan Chandler.

Chandler shared a story usually only heard of in romcom films. While on holiday with her family in Rome, she met a man working at a gelato shop, who immediately began to serenade her. When they later got together for a drink, Chandler said, “He was very touchy-feely, very over the

top.” But who gets the chance to have a whirlwind Italian romance? They’re on short supply, so far as the general population is concerned.

“I thought, ‘Alright, I’m in Italy, it’s for the story,’” Chandler explained with laughter. Yet, as the night progressed, this Italian ice cream man became even more unabashed about his feelings.

What could have been a meetcute for the history books quickly turned into a night full of red flags for Chandler.

“He [told me] ‘I think I love you,’ and I was super freaked out,” she said. “He was really

intense.”

Chandler also said that wanting to move too quickly prevents her from taking a relationship further.

“When s ome one isn’t trying to get to know me or respect me as a person at all, but still wants to [hook up] ... that’s a good way to lose me,” Chandler said.

The age-old question of who should pay for the first date popped up in more than one conversation.

“If you ask me out [and don’t offer to pay], that’s a deal breaker,” said sophomore English major Grace Krieger.

Hayes agreed with this. “I ended up paying for a first date I went on …” Here she trailed off, but showed clear indication of dismay. Hayes described the date as “a whole ick in general.”

From a disagreement about payment to overbearing gelato men, the women I spoke to had plenty to say about their experiences with dates and relationships gone wrong.

If you have a story you’d like to share with The Love Buzz column, contact oseaman20@ bw.edu.

Clothing choices reflect lifestyle, responsibilities on campus

By ARTA TASHI Contributing Writer

BW students and staff make a conscious decision every day to dress in clothing that is most fitting for their lifestyle on campus. S ometimes, clothing can indicate what responsibilities a person take on in their day-to-day life.

J o e Ta r a n t o w s k i , broadcasting professor and chief operator of WBWC 88.7 The Sting, said, “I’m just as likely to be wearing jeans, or cargo pants, or some other work-related clothing made by Carhartt because I never know when I’m going to be pulling wire or fixing something on my knees or under a desk.”

Specifically with faculty me mb e rs , cl ot h i ng c an be representative of the department you instruct for.

Tarantowski said he tends to dress very practically and comfortably. He said his look may be different “if you compare me to maybe the people in math who are usually

wearing slacks and buttondown shirts, or the business department who often wear jackets and ties.”

When it comes to commuter students, practical outfit ideas are important for travelling long distances.

Sydney Broucek, a BW junior biology major and commuter, said she tends to choose “bigger tops and loose pants that make me feel comfy because I can’t go and change quickly since I don’t live by campus.”

Practicality is also an important factor for any staff member whose main duties consist of hands-on tasks.

Tarantowski said he will have to plan on wearing soft clothes, such as sweatpants, in order to avoid making any background noise when recording on a microphone.

Others make certain clothing choices based on how well it exemplifies themselves and their organization in a proper manner.

Matt Beck, a BW sophomore media production major and

member of the men’s soccer team, tries to put though into how he dresses every day.

“I know I represent more than just myself when I'm with or without the team,” Beck said. “So usually, I try to represent myself as well as I can for class” Beck said he dresses pretty casual and is “usually sporting a sweatshirt and some sweats … graphic tees and ripped jeans.”

For people in positions of leadership, the way they uphold themselves through their physical presentation can set a guideline for others wishing to follow the same path.

“For regular broadcasts, I like to show up business casual, which means a polo and khakis, and I want to hold my fellow broadcasters to the same standard in the future,” Beck said.

Leaders can also choose to present themselves in a formal manner, in order to be taken more seriously.

Someone who is seen by a

large audience of p e opl e at sporting events can opt for attire that combines athletic wear and formal elements.

Beck said when he is bro a d c a s t i ng at tournament games for the Ohio Athletic Conference or the NCAA, he likes to wear his favorite Nike Dunks paired Photo courtesy of Anthony Fusco with a suit jacket Matt Beck, right, sophomore media production major, pictured next and a T-shirt to Anthony Fusco, left, junior media production & digital marketing underneath. major, pose while broadcasting at the Division III Women’s Basketball Tarantowski Tournament. said he will sometimes dress much more formal on exam days “just to scare people.”

“The first time they see me in a tie, they kind of freak out after bwexponent.com seeing me not wear a tie,” Tarantowski said.

Visit our website and never miss a story!

BWEXPONENT.COM | WEDNESDAY, April 5, 2023 | THE EXPONENT

7

110 YEARS OF THE EXPONENT 2023 marks the 110th year that The Exponent has informed the Baldwin Wallace University and Berea communities. In our recurring series, we highlight the rich history of the Berea Community's Paper of Record.

By AUSTIN PATTERSON, SIMON SKOUTAS & HANNAH WETMORE

1921-22 2022-23

Pictured right is the 1942 edition of the “Sexponent,” an April Fools’themed edition of The Exponent. Many past Exponent editors-in-chief commemorated April Fools’ Day by publishing a spoof issue featuring puns and satirical gags as a way of reflecting on the campus culture and society at large. Exponent staff would manufacture outrageous headlines and articles to capture readers attention. The jokes went beyond headlines and articles: even the bylines and mastheads featured fake and altered names. Other parody issues have been run under different names, including the “Eggsponent,” published at the beginning of spring semester in 1981. While some of the more pointed jabs were sure to rankle members of Baldwin Wallace’s faculty and administration, they had little recourse. For much of The Exponent’s history, the paper was funded by students and operated independently without University input. Although the University now funds The Exponent, the staff continues to operate with complete editorial independence.

Pictured top left is the 1921-22 Exponent staff in deep concentration, taken about a decade after The Exponent’s founding in 1913. The staff has grown substantially since the paper’s early days. There are currently approximately 40 staff members working for The Exponent, along with contributions from students enrolled in journalism classes offered by the Department of Communication Arts & Sciences. Pictured bottom left is a group of The Exponent’s 2022-23 staff at the weekly editorial meeting. On the left sits Justin McMullen, the Executive Editor. Standing behind him is The Exponent’s faculty advisor, Huixin Deng. Kneeling in front of the desk with a camera in hand is Austin Patterson speaking to Sunaina Kabadkar, who is scribbling on a reporter's notepad. Writing on the whiteboard stands Alexis Watkins. Next to Watkins from left to right are Hannah Wetmore, Simon Skoutas, Ursula Saadeh, Paul Weber, Raejanae Martin and Sophia Rossero.

Standing in front of Rossero and leaning over the conference table is Kayla Muro. Sitting at the conference table and facing the camera from left to right are Chris Moran, Chase J. Gilroy and Isabel Rivera. With their backs to the camera, from left to right, are Ella York, Alex Minyard and Kelly Coyne.

Variety of programs aim to make campus welcoming place for women

By HANNAH WETMORE Managing Editor Female students at BW have made a great effort to cultivate supportive and welcoming spaces where women can come together and help each other in their collegiate and post-college career paths.

Such efforts include the newly founded Women of Knowlton Club, which focuses on underrepresented groups within the field of STEM, and a pilot professional development program for sophomore

women in collaboration with the David and Frances Brain Center for Community Engagement. “[The goal of the Women of Knowlton club is] to take some women who are part of the organization and going to high schools, mostly underfunded high schools, or women-only high schools to help do STEM-based tutoring to encourage girls,” said Kyla Koos, a sophomore physics and applied math double major and the club’s founder.

Although Koos witnesses a lot of strong female leadership across campus, she sees the

importance of having a STEMbased, woman-focused club in a male-dominated field at BW. “I have some days where I'm like, ‘You know what? I'm going to do great.’ But then there are some days where there's a male student in my class or male advisor who's been like, a little not nice to me recently or degrading, or I'm not doing as well as some of my classmates,” Koos said.

Koos explained that she sometimes wonders if she should switch her majors, but having female support around her can help build her confidence.

Woman of Knowlton is not the only new BW program looking to carve out a space for female-identif ying students to connect and grow with one another. Sophomore communications studies major Bella Doyle, started a program for sophomore women as her Brain Center fellowship project.

Sophomore Alyson Hand, an arts management and entrepreneurship major, i s p ar t i c ip at i ng i n t h e sophomore women’s program.

After completing the interview process, Hand was matched up with an alumna and mentor

whom she meets with once a month.

“We have so many strong professors and teachers and other faculty and staff that are willing to help us, and I like to call it girl power,” Hand said.

“We all kind of work together even if it's not even talked about, I think that's something really special BW has, and I haven't seen it at a lot of other schools.”

BW’s faculty and staff also feature many strong female leaders who each play a distinct role on campus. One such leader is Denise Kohn, associate dean of humanities

and English professor. In addition to being a strong leader and female role model, she recognizes the significant amount of other faculty and staff who are strong examples of female leadership on campus.

“I can think of Tamika Rashid, Erica Walker, Susan Van Horst and Beth Heiser in the Conservatory; vice provost Dr. Lisa Henderson and Jill Fisher in social science.

"I feel really fortunate to work with so many incredible leaders who are women on this campus,” Kohn said.

RESLIFE: Students report preferring private dorm bathrooms Continued from page 1 a l l re s i d e nt h a l l s t o have these types of private bathrooms, or something close to it.

“We recognize that it is an issue, and we are trying to get more bathrooms to have this privacy for students,” Beyer said.

While students praised the renovation efforts of

North Hall, they also told The Exponent they would be eager to look for the same changes in other residence halls on campus.

Kevin Bubnick, a junior arts management major and resident assistant, has lived in Klein Hall in Davidson Commons, Lang and the Amelia Harding House for Sustainable Living.

“I’ve definitely felt weirded out or uncomfortable in communal bathro oms,” Bubnick said. “The transition f r o m K l e i n t o L a n g ’s communal bathrooms was rough.”

Bubnick is now an R.A. in Harding, where each room has a Jack-and-Jill-style bathroom that is shared with the room next door. Bubnick

has noticed that students seem to prefer the privacy of the hall’s shared bathrooms over their own adjoining bathroom.

“The private bathrooms on each floor have been really popular for students,” Bubnick said.

Nelia Rose Holley, a junior acting and directing major currently living in Findley,

said some extra privacy would be warranted.

“Some of the shower curtains don’t fully close and that is something I’m worried about all the time,” Holley said. “I think that one thing people really value is having their own personal space when they’re using the restroom and showering — that’s your ‘you’ time. It’s kind

of rough to go from having that safe space for yourself to then not.”

Beyer said that Residence Life recognizes these concerns.

“Residence Life is right in line with what [students] are asking for. We want to see these changes,” he said.

BWEXPONENT.COM | WEDNESDAY, April 5, 2023 | THE EXPONENT

8

SPORTS

Racquetball team places first in two divisions at national tournament

By MOLLY CANCIAN Contributing Writer

The BW Racquetball Club had a successful season with an overall first-place finish in Division II and a first-place finish in Division I women's doubles at the USA Racquetball National Intercollegiate Championships in Columbus from March 1518.

Julia Stein, a junior biology and public health double major, and Angie Case, a sophomore art education major, were the two BW racquetball players on the winning women’s doubles team.

C a s e an d St e i n b ot h competed in women's singles as well. Stein finished first in the Blue Division of Women's #1 while Case finished third in the Gold Division of Women's #2, Hawthorne said.

"I was confident that Angie and I were going to do well because I think we did pretty well at the [Mideast Racquetball Conference] tournaments, and we were playing boys the entire time, and we were matching up pretty well against them. So, I was like, ‘You know what? We got this!’" Stein said.

"I was nervous at first, but I was gaining confidence as I went in because I think I was underestimating my skill level," Case said.

For head coach Andy Haw t h or n e, t h e te am ' s overall success this season was “unexpected.”

“There's some years you expect our team to kind of trounce everybody, and there's certain years that are definitely rebuilding years,” Hawthorne said. “And we’re kind of at that rebuilding phase with the exception of Julia, and to see some of the kids succeed was tremendous.”

Hawthorne said the team's best female players compete in the men's division during the season due to their advanced skill level.

Hawthorne said that Case and some of the other players are planning to keep training during the off-season and that the hard work the players have put in is what has made the team successful.

“The fact that they are willing to come out here and practice without me … to get them here, three, four days a week plus tournaments is fantastic,” Hawthorne said.

Stein also attributed the team's success to the players'

attitudes and enthusiasm.

“Racquetball is just such a different vibe than any other sport because it's as serious as you make it,” Stein said. “So, these kids were having fun, they didn't make it into a job because it doesn't have to be a job or anything. You're just having fun, and that's why we're successful because they want to be there.”

Stein said her favorite memories from the season were getting to know her teammates better during the trip to nationals and that she would like to see more team bonding implemented in the future.

“There’s just fun little things that you can do with a team that you get to experience at nationals that's completely not racquetball related. It's just team building and team bonding, and I think that was definitely my favorite part of the season,” Stein said.

Stein said that a challenge the team has faced is the intimidation that the beginners on the team sometimes feel.

"I think it's a good challenge because it's kind of fun watching them experience all the firsts within a couple months," Stein said.

Hawthorne also said that

intimidation is a challenge when recruiting players.

"We're still having issues with getting people involved with the sport. I think that some people hear about us and think that you have to be a superstar to be on the team, but then you look at our team and … Angie has the second most experience on our team, and she's only been playing for 18 months,” Hawthorne said.

Hawthorne said that Case's performance at Nationals is one of the team's biggest accomplishments.

Case said she is happy with her improvement and that the team’s commitment played a large role in their success.

"I'm pretty proud of our team. I think we did a great job, and our results were amazing," Case said.

Reflecting on the season, Stein is grateful for Hawthorne’s dedication to the team.

"He's the best coach, and he's just such a great mentor.

He doesn't yell at you or get mad at you ever. Everything he says is from a place of wanting you to get better," Stein said.

Photo courtesy of Andy Hawthorne

Sophomore art education major Angie Case, left, and junior biology and public health double major Julia Stein, right, pose at the USA Racquetball National Intercollegiate Championships on March 18.

BW athletes speak on managing workload during seasons

By QUIS KELLY Contributing Writer

Students who participate in athletics are commonly known as student-athletes, but sometimes the responsibilities and commitments for the “student” conflict with the “athlete” and vice versa. The Exponent invited a few student athletes to share about their busy schedules and discuss how they have balanced school and sports during season.

S ophomore chemistr y major Carly Kern, who plays lacrosse, broke down what a day looks like for her.

“I wake up and study for about an hour before I go to do research at 9 a.m. ... until noon, meaning I miss the 11 a.m. team lift. Then [I go to] Spanish and lab before practice at 3:30 p.m. Practice ends at 6:30 p.m., then dinner and homework,” Kern said.

The players, coaches and university faculty tr y to work around class schedules to reduce conflicts. Lauren Comack, a sophomore finance major and member of the women’s lacrosse team, said she has experienced many of these instances. Her class meeting times will interfere with travel departure times, meetings or practices.

Additionally, many athletes battle long-term injuries that require therapy to help with pain or discomfort.

“Personally, I’ve had issues with my back recently,” Kern said. “It’s the worst when I’m sitting down, so even putting in three hours of study time is hard.”

With a busy class load, it can be hard for injured athletes to find enough time to properly care for their injuries.

“I prioritize recovery,” said Taylor Miklos, a sophomore neuroscience major. “Finding

time to get treatment, extra exercise or stretches, or even just ice baths is hard.”

BW’s sports management program helps students begin their careers by offering networking opportunities like hosting trips to major sporting events.

CJ Kessler, a junior sports management major, said he sometimes cannot attend soccer events because of the commitments he has due to his major.

Despite the long hours that are put in and the sacrifices that these athletes make, when asked how much they love their sport, all responded with either an eight or nine out of 10.

C oma ck s ai d pl ay i ng lacross e was wor th the struggle, and she will always remember the memories she’s made.

Photo courtesy of Quis Kelly

Baldwin Wallace athletes participate in 24 varsity athletic sports at the NCAA Division III level and in the Ohio Athletic Conference.

Men’s volleyball team passes 20-win mark against Wittenberg Yellow Jackets split following two contests with three remaining in regular season

By TOMMY MAROON Sports Writer On March 18, the Baldwin Wallace Yellow Jackets men’s volleyball team were able to sweep the Wittenberg Tigers and earned their 20th win of the campaign. However, things were not as easy as one might expect for a sweep, as all three sets were very tight and competitive.

The win propelled the

Jackets to their 12th straight set win dating back to March 11 when they blanked Wisconsin Lutheran.

Junior accounting major and outside hitter Michael Beard said that their victories have been a result of hard work and leadership.

“A lot of hard work and practice. Coach [Kyle Mars] is putting together a great game plan, and we’re just going out there and executing,” Beard said.

BW won the first set 25-23, the second set 25-19, and the third set 25-21. Right when everyone thought Baldwin Wallace would win the third set with ease, Wittenberg came back and made the set look interesting.

The Tigers scored four straight points, leading to Coach Mars burning a timeout before the team grouped together and got the last point of the game to win it.

Beard led the Yellow Jackets

with 21 points, 16 kills and nine digs.

The Yellow Jackets made their lives harder with selfinflicted errors, including 19 service errors, six more than the Tigers that day.

The win, and a follow up 3-2 victory against Adrian (Mich.) on March 21, set BW up for a big matchup with its conference foes the Mount Union Purple Raiders on March 25.

“It’s probably gonna be our

biggest game of the year and certainly our most impactful home game,” Beard said. “They lost to Wittenberg [on March 17], so they’re gonna have a chip on their shoulder next weekend, and we gotta take care of business.”

The Yellow Jackets fell short against Mount Union, suffering just their fourth 3-0 sweep. The scores of the three sets were 25-21, 25-14 and 29-27.

BW’s three remaining

regular season fixtures include away stints at Fontbonne (Mo.) and Wabash (Ind.) and an April 6 home finale hosting Indiana’s Trine University Thunder.

Follow The Exponent on Twitter @bwexponent