The Exponent Print Edition: April 10, 2024

Alumnus wins Democratic primary for Ohio state representative

By ISRAEL GOLE Managing Editor

In Ohio’s March 19 primary election, Democratic candidate for Ohio state representative and Baldwin Wallace University alumnus Chris Glassburn secured the Democratic nomination against his opponent, TJ Mulloy, for the 15th House District.

The 15th House District, currently held by Democrat Richard Dell’Aquila, was redistricted out of this new district, leaving the seat up for grabs over Brooklyn, Brook Park, Linndale, parts of Cleveland, parts of Olmsted Township and North Olmsted.

While a Democrat currently holds the seat, the Ohio State legislature is held by a Republican majority, leading Glassburn to attempt to make a difference regardless of minority status.

Glassburn has maintained communications with Bride Rose Sweeney, the Democratic Ohio State Representative representing Berea, throughout his political career. Glassburn said that she is an example of a Democrat who

can make change.

“She’s been evidence that, even in a minority, Democrats can make a big difference,” Glassburn said.

Glassburn said he hopes to stand in the way of attacks against people’s rights from the legislature.

“We should be standing in the way of any further attacks on women and LGBT rights infringements and voting rights infringements,” Glassburn said. “I hope the Democrats can stop that in terms of continuing to work with Republicans in the state house.”

Glassburn has been engaged in state and local politics since leaving BW, going on to serve as a North Olmsted Councilman and former Ohio State House Representative.

Glassburn graduated from BW with a degree in history, choosing this major because he wanted to learn “how to govern,” and “what went right or wrong” in the history of politics. Throughout his time on campus, Glassburn was also a member of the WBWC radio station.

Sweeney said that Glassburn’s mentorship has been a huge contributor to her

political success.

“His experience is what has allowed me to be so successful…I’ve passed more bills than any other Democrat, more than plenty of other Republicans,” Sweeney said. “Part of that is my approach and having good mentors like Chris.”

Sweeney also said she looks forward to having someone like Glassburn in the state legislature, who is focused on action.

“We have to work with Republicans to get things done, and he’s willing to do that for the betterment of his district,” Sweeney said. “Chris is going to be a fighter. He will not back down.”

His two colleagues, President of Council Lou Brossard and Councilman Chris Scarl also said that Glassburn chooses to work diligently on what he cares about and they will be sad to see him relinquish his seat on the council.

“What I like about Chris is that he’s not afraid to ask the tough questions,” Brossard said. “He’s not afraid to dig, but yet he still works very collaboratively within our group and with the

administration.”

“He’s one of the most knowledgeable people that I’ve come across that knows about the city, state and federal laws,” Scarl said. “He is well versed. Him being the chairman of our finance committee has turned our city around.”

Scarl said that while Glassburn will be missed at the city level, he expects great things from him at the state level.

“I think he’s going to be great when he gets to the State House,” Scarl said. “We will hate to lose him at city council, but in the long run, he’ll do great things for us at the state level.”

Glassburn has previously served in the Ohio House of Representatives and said that, while he was there, he was able to get a lot done and anticipates more successes in the future should he get elected.

“What we’ve seen Bride and some of the House Democrats be able to do, especially in the last two years, makes a big difference,” Glassburn said.

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Senior Art EXITbition

Three seniors displayed their artwork from Feb. 22 through March 22.

Glassburn said that he passed a bill allowing children to stay on their parent’s health care until age 26, but admits that he had the majority in the House to pass it.

Nonetheless, Glassburn remained optimistic that legislatures can serve their local communities while in the state house.

“Even in the minority, Representative Sweeney was able to pass changes in school funding that have brought actual additional dollars to districts like North Olmsted and Brook Park,” Glassburn said.

Sweeney said that she looks forward to working with Glassburn and that the state

legislature needs somebody like him. Glassburn will face off against Republican and Brooklyn City Council man Aaron Borowski in the November general election later this year.

Simon Skoutas, The Exponent Ohio state representative candidate Chris Glassburn greets the public while holding his child during a fundraising event at Fat Little Buddies on March 14.

Chair of theatre and dance

Jeff Herrmann to retire

“I wanted to go somewhere that had a really exciting theatre department, so I came to Baldwin Wallace in 1997,” Herrmann said.

By ADAM BAUERLE Contributing Writer

Jeff Herrmann, chair of the Department of Theatre and Dance, is working through his last semester of teaching and leading a production season.

Herrmann said he first came to Baldwin Wallace University after realizing a small school he was located at in Georgia was not going to grow.

“I wanted to go somewhere that had a really exciting theatre department, so I came to Baldwin Wallace in 1997,” Herrmann said.

He has been a scene and lighting designer for many years, as well as helping bring productions to life throughout his time at BW.

In his last semester at BW, one production that Herrmann worked on was “Sweat,” which ran from March 20 – 24.

Herrmann collaborated with senior theatre design and technical student, Jason Luck, on ‘Sweat.’

“[Luck] will be designing that production,” Herrmann said before the production. “I will be observing him and guiding him through the process for designing ‘Sweat.”’

Luck has known about this project since spring 2023 and had time since to

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design the set in order to make it come to life this semester. He worked in the shop seven hours a week split between two days, so the set for “Sweat” could be built.

Luck said he was excited to have the opportunity to work with Herrmann in his final semester.

“I learn so much from Jeff,” Luck said. “Whenever I hit a snag, I know I can go to Jeff for help.”

Reporter's Notebook: Student Government

By ANNIE LINDLEY Staff Writer

The Student Senate held their weekly meeting of the 114th session on March 26.

Student Body President Brenna Holiday reported after meeting with President Bob Helmer and Vice President of Student Affairs Timeka Rashid; they stated that Diversity Equity and Inclusion will not be cut, and the claims people have heard are merely rumors. The Academic Affairs Committee is discussing potentially moving the drop date back. The committee will be conducting research regarding the drop date at the end of this semester and during the fall semester. They also reported that the budget issue is improving.

Dean of Students Léna Crain was there to report on different campus wellness initiatives. First, she presented

By ANNIE LINDLEY Staff Writer

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Letters to the editor are encouraged as a method to bring issues of concern into the public eye. Letters should be typed, limited to no more than 300 words, include a full name and include a phone number for confirmation.

Letters may be submitted via email to: exponent@bw.edu. All letters must be received by 5 p.m. the Friday the week before any publication week.

Black music rushes the WBWC airwaves with ‘Rhythm Roots Restored’

a new well-pack that will be named “Be Well at BW,” which will come to campus next semester. It is a bag filled with different wellness coupons and samples and will also have different BW wellness programs and resources. She also reported that during the month of April, every Tuesday will be known as “Till Tuesday,” where she and the Cleveland Rape Crisis Center will be in the Student Union from 11 a.m.- 1 p.m. to share awareness, advocacy and support. The “Red Flag Campaign” will be happening from April 8-12. On April 18, there will be a safe zone training session. On April 25, from 12-3 p.m. in Sandstone 2, BW will be participating in the virtual clothesline project.

Junior Senator Amanda Schaefer was appointed as the chairperson of the Campus and Environment Affairs Committee. Sophomore student Derek Larner was reappointed and sworn into the Student Senate.

Reporter's Notebook: Berea City Council

By JASON HEISLER Staff Writer

When two WBWC 88.3 The Sting DJs noticed a lack of Black artists in the station's rotation, they decided to take action by starting ‘Rhythm Roots Restored,’ a new Friday evening radio segment celebrating the rich history and diversity of Black music.

Cheyenne Johnson, a junior media production student, first noticed a need for the new segment before enlisting the help of Konner Hines, a first-year marketing student, to bring the project to life.

"I noticed that we just don't play much music from Black artists," Johnson said. "Whenever I would tell family or friends about the station, the biggest question I would get is 'Do they play any Black artists?' or 'Do they play this artist?' and I would always have to answer, 'Sadly no' to those questions."

With Black History Month as inspiration, Johnson aimed to use the radio platform to highlight the influences and accomplishments of Black musicians across genres.

Choosing the music and developing themes for each week's show is an ongoing collaborative process between the two students. Hines often proposes creative concepts they can build a playlist around, like pitting iconic artists against each other in a "Prince vs. Michael Jackson" battle.

"Planning, honestly, is very sporadic," Johnson said. "Konner would suggest themes, and I would just look to see what artists we had in the station for inspiration."

The driving force behind ‘Rhythm Roots Restored’ is to represent the full spectrum of Black musical excellence. From jazz to hip-hop, Motown to neosoul, the segment aims to shed light on the pioneers and trailblazers who shaped American music.

"I want to show the vast genres of Black music from many different time periods," Johnson said. "I believe it's just as important to hear the hits from the 1950s as it is to hear modern-day artists."

Both students hope their efforts to amplify Black voices on campus radio will encourage greater cultural awareness and appreciation among WBWC's listenership.

Articles and photographs in The Exponent, letters from readers, columns, cartoons and other elements within these pages do not necessarily reflect the position of Baldwin Wallace University.

that the ordinance will stand and move on to its second reading. The council adopted Ordinance 2-6, regarding the budget and expenses for the rest of the 2024 fiscal year.

On Tuesday, the Berea City Council met for their biweekly meeting. Ordinance 3-5 had its first reading. Ordinance 3-5 is an ordinance prohibiting adult use cannabis operations including cultivators, processors and dispensaries in the city of Berea. This topic was heavily debated, with a Berea citizen giving their input. The council determined

The Shade Tree Committee met this week to discuss the finalization of the Barberry Project and the trees that will be planted. They received a grant to do an inventory and record the number and types of trees around the city. On April 26 they will be planting trees for Arbor Day.

"The overall purpose is to celebrate Black music and how far it's come," Hines said. "A lot of genres like country music and rock were created by Black people, and as other cultures popularized these genres, it became mainstream. We're trying to take it back and reflect on what was the original root and how it's progressed."

The show has featured a wide array of styles, from the disco hits of the 1970s to modern pop and R&B tracks. However, Johnson and Hines said they are making an intentional effort to go beyond just playing the most wellknown artists.

"It's another thing when it comes to a lot of Black alternative artists; you don't see that a lot, and we really wanted to highlight those," Hines said. "We plan to highlight specific categories while still maintaining our voice and our culture."

"I just kind of hope that people feel more comfortable with their culture, their skin and who they are," Hines said. "I think the biggest thing about Black music in general is that it's not just Black music. It's music, and anyone should be able to groove or jam or do whatever they want."

Airing every Friday from 6-7 p.m. for the remainder of the semester, ‘Rhythm Roots Restored’ will continue to represent Black artists to WBWC’s listeners.

"I want people to have more appreciation for Black music," Johnson said. "If even one person adds some of these classics to their playlist, then I'm happy."

Editori's Note: Konner Hines is a staff writer for The Exponent

Courtesy of Jeff Herrmann Chair of the Department of Theatre and Dance, Jeff Herrmann.

Courtesy of Konner Hines WBWC 88.3 The Sting located in Loomis Hall where Rhythm Roots Restored is aired.

Celestial event brings together campus community

By JASON HEISLER Staff Writer

Baldwin Wallace University students gathered for the rare opportunity to witness a total solar eclipse on Monday in the George Finnie Stadium.

"Solar eclipses happen somewhere on Earth twice a year on average. Since the path is narrow, they are rare for any particular location on Earth," said Gary Kader, director of Burrell Observatory at BW.

Kader said the path of totality for this eclipse passed over a population of 32 million, significantly more than the 12 million covered by the 2017 eclipse. The next total solar eclipse in Ohio will be visible in the year 2099, underscoring the unique nature of this celestial event.

The City of Cleveland braced

"Compared to the 2017 eclipse that traveled from the West Coast to the East Coast, this one will travel diagonally from Texas through Ohio, then along the Great Lakes to the Atlantic."

for this astronomical spectacle through copious amounts of planning surrounding the Cleveland area.

One of the biggest issues that city officials prepared for was the massive crowds that would be attending this event.

Before the eclipse, the City of Cleveland expected anywhere from 140,000 to 200,000 visitors packing the area from Edgewater Beach to The Great Lakes Science Center, equal to roughly three Browns games simultaneously, according to an article by FOX

TikTok ban moves to Senate after landslide House vote

By MEREDITH MCCORD Managing Editor

On March 13, the United States House of Representatives passed the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act, a bill that would ultimately regulate the use of TikTok and similar apps controlled by a considered foreign adversary.

While this bill would not completely ban the app in the U.S. if signed into law, it would force TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, a Chinese media company, to “divest itself of a vast majority of the ownership of TikTok,” said Illinois’ Democratic Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi.

This bill was created in response to concerns regarding Americans' data privacy along with the growing speculation regarding ByteDance as a Chinese owned company under the Chinese Communist Party.

“The CCP is an adversary of the United States, and this legislation [the PAFACAA] narrowly, thoughtfully and directly addresses the national security threat and protects Americans' data,” said Florida’s Republican Representative Kat Cammack.

With issues of ownership at the forefront of this bill, there is also an important emphasis on “solving the correct problem,” said Ohio’s Republican Representative Warren Davidson.

If TikTok “divests” their interest to an American company that the U.S. government determines is not a foreign adversary, the application would continue operations in the U.S.

“Our intention is for TikTok to continue to operate but not under the control of the Chinese Communist Party,” Krishnamoorthi said.

Despite the claims that this bill would solve some data privacy issues that might exist with Chinese ownership, other concerns regarding content moderation also exist with the passage of this bill.

“The people that are sponsoring this bill today claim that the real issue is ownership, but who owns this company? It’s not 100% owned by ByteDance. 60% of it are owned by investors including American investors. 20% are owned by the founders, and 20% of it are owned by employees, over 7,000 employees,” Davidson said.

While speculation regarding TikTok and their data privacy policy has grown throughout

the last year, data privacy policies of other social media platforms, including American owned companies, have been called into question as well.

“This bill is not just limited to TikTok, it is a corrosive power that can be applied to others [apps],” Davidson said.

One of the proposed solutions is to treat TikTok and other social media platforms that have been called into question the same as other social media platforms.

“It is important that we don’t treat TikTok differently than other platforms. If we are going to address this issue, we’ve got to take the same approach to all social media platforms, we can’t just single out one,” said California’s Democratic Representative Robert Garcia.

Despite 352 votes in favor of passing the bill, and only 65 opposed, there are a few more steps required for it to be signed into law.

While this bill passed through the House, it still has not passed through the Senate. If it passes through the Senate, then the bill would go to the President’s office before it is signed into law.

8.

The Cleveland Police Department prepared by having districts fully staffed across the city, to handle the crowds and public safety concerns.

Free solar eclipse glasses were also provided to attendees at BW's event while supplies lasted.

Kader and the Cuyahoga Astronomical Association members were on hand with telescopes to help explain the phenomenon and point out visible details during totality.

"We will be explaining what is happening with the eclipse and will be pointing out what can be seen during totality," Kader said before the eclipse. "We will also have a video of the BW Beatles."

In addition to the educational opportunities, BW's event featured concessions, activities and entertainment to create an engaging atmosphere. In addition, the university's "Moon Pies" from the BW Bakery were sold at the event.

For Harrison Gilberti, a fourth-year vocal performance student at BW, the prospect of the campus coming together for a shared experience was exciting.

"It'll be a cool bonding experience for the BW community," Gilberti said before the event. "It is nice to know that the university is like, 'Hey, you don't have to do this. But if you want, we're all going to be in the stadium. We'll give you glasses so you can experience this.'"

Some students, faculty say campus lacks enough sustainable initiatives

By SOPHIA ROSSERO Staff Writer

While Baldwin Wallace University provides several sustainable programs in its dining hall, some students still think more could be done campus-wide.

Matt Regula, the dining services assistant director at BW, said that the Lean Path Program is something they “came across last semester.” Beginning at the start of the 2023 spring semester, the Lean Path Program works to prevent food waste. Regula said its goal is simple: to “have less plate waste than yesterday.”

Additionally, Grind2Energy, which began on BW’s campus around seven years ago, has been turning food scraps into energy and fertilizer. This system is not only used by BW but several other universities as well, such as Kent State University.

Regula said that this “diverts food from landfills” and that it also has reduced the number of trash pickups on campus, which has saved the university money.

Last year alone, Grind2Energy at BW diverted 40 tons of waste, and, according to Regula, the amount of waste diverted has increased every year.

In addition to Grind2Energy, green boxes— the reusable to-go boxes in the Union—first appeared on the BW campus around 15 years ago and provide a sustainable dining option.

From fall semester to spring semester, Regula said that he has seen a huge jump in sales. Last semester, they sold 20 boxes. This semester, in about two months, they have already sold 42 boxes.

Marie Oravec, coordinator of nutrition and student relations at BW, said she believes the sales progress could be a result of the incentive program. Students who buy a green box are handed a punch card, and every time they use it, a hole is punched in the card. On the thirteenth use, they are gifted a free meal.

Other sustainable initiatives have been put in place, including eliminating plastic wrap in the kitchen by using reusable lids, eliminating waste in the Colony Café, using less plastic, having bulk condiments instead of plastic packets, using cup bowls rather than paper and the Coffee on Demand program, eliminating the amount of coffee waste in Strosacker Hall.

As for other sustainability

goals, Stamper said that the sustainability committee is “trying to tackle heating on campus.” She also said she hopes a Green Revolving Fund, a fund designed to be put aside specifically for sustainability projects, will be implemented one day.

Furthermore, Stamper said that BW needs a Climate Act Plan and that the school should include sustainability in their university plan.

“I think that having sustainability in the strategic plan for the university would be huge,” Stamper said. “That would be a giant leap in the right direction.”

Stamper also said she would love to see the FirstYear Experience courses have a sustainability module and have student workers be paid for their work on the sustainability committee.

According to the Princeton Review, data from the 2022 College Hopes & Worries Survey said that 77% of people said the university’s environmental dedication would impact their decision on going to that school.

“Sustainability provides a sense of hope and purpose for people,” Stamper said, “That’s one of the things I try to bring into the committee.”

School restructuring brings position changes for deans, associate deans

By SIMON SKOUTAS Executive Print Editor

Gabe Swarts, the current associate dean of the College of Education and Health Sciences, was appointed as the new dean of the School of Humanities, Education and Social Sciences on Feb. 28 after a decision to disband the CoEH as a means to save money by eliminating some administrative positions.

Throughout the rest of the year, the school disbanding is set to take place unless a new decision is made, with the Department of Health Sciences becoming the School of Health Sciences, and the School of Humanities and Social Sciences absorbing the Department of Psychology, the Department of Counseling and the Department of Education.

Interim Provost Tom Sutton, who was part of the Transformation Work Group

that made the decision over the number of schools, said that the main reason for the decision was because it would reduce costs by having fewer administrative positions since the current dean of the College of Education and Health Sciences will be relocated along with the removal of all associate dean positions within the schools.

“That basically shrinks the amount of administrative roles and overhead, which saves money,” Sutton said.

Sutton said this decision made sense because it was a way to trim costs without affecting students.

“I think that what students will see in their own experience will be fairly minimal in terms of change, and that was the big priority for all of us,” Sutton said.

Dittmore said he is disappointed about the decision insofar as after he was hired at BW after a similar role at another university, he

has been working to build a working identity for the CoEH within what he said are “disparate” programs.

“I’m disappointed that I was brought into BW from outside the University to develop this college, and I’m disappointed that I don’t have the opportunity to continue that work,” Dittmore said.

Nonetheless, while Sutton said it is unfortunate that this identity building will come to a halt, he said the identities are most importantly held at the departmental level.

“It’s important to understand that most of the work and identity of faculty are at their department level,” Sutton said. “That’s really where the day-to-day [work] happens.”

The original plan of the Transformation Work Group included the Department of Health Sciences joining the School of Science and Engineering, but at the end of March, a group of

faculty in the Health Science Department asked Sutton to keep their department as a separate entity and keep their working identity maintained.

“I take the faculty concerns very seriously when it is possible and all these changes were due to budget concerns,” Sutton said.

Sutton said there will not be a change to the costs regardless of whether or not the School of Health Sciences remains its own entity.

Prior to the reorganization, Dittmore worked above Swarts as the dean of CoEH that Swarts answered to as the associate dean, but now, the associate dean positions will no longer exist, which Swarts said, will mean "more work to come" for department chairs and deans.

“I was a full-time associate dean with a full calendar, so the problem is ‘Who does this work now?’” Swarts said. “It’s going to flow up to the deans, and it’s going to flow down

to the department chairs, and we’re all going to have to shoulder more in the coming years, and it’s going to be stressful, and I’m aware of that taking this new position that I’m signing up to have longer days.”

With the associate dean positions being eliminated, the Associate Dean of Humanities, Denise Kohn, the Associate Dean of Social Sciences, Jill Stephens-Fleisher and the Associate Dean of Health Sciences Jared Pennington will be relocated within BW.

Swarts graduated from Baldwin Wallace University in 2003 as a social studies major with a concentration in history, so he said his background in education, the humanities and the social sciences is what allowed him to step into the role.

“I have a lot of connections to BW and a lot of connections around, so I think that was an attractive quality that I had when I applied for the

position,” Swarts said.

The Faculty Senate is now in the process of conversations regarding the apportionment of senate seats under the expected new arrangement of schools.

“They’re going to be choosing new senators or reallocating senate seats through the rest of this semester, and then the new arrangement is going to start in the fall,” Sutton said.

The Expression

Arts and Culture Coverage from The Exponent

AT THE MOVIES

‘Damsel’

SAGE MULLINS

Film Critic

adds another addition to list of bad Netflix originals

On March 8, their newest collaboration brought us the fantasy-action movie “Damsel.” Though not a bad film, Netflix failed to deliver a fairy tale with execution that matches its predecessors.

The film follows Princess Elodie, whose father placed her in an arranged marriage to a prince of another kingdom, much to her dismay. Though the matrimony was meant to bring positivity and wealth for both families, Elodie soon finds the union was much worse than she could ever imagine. The film is better if you go into it

without knowing the conflict, so avoid reading the Netflix description for maximum effect. The film doesn’t feel like anything that you haven’t seen before. The princess comes from a kingdom with a harsh climate and little resources. An arranged marriage goes awry. The heroine is an incredibly selfless eldest daughter who acts as a motherly figure to her siblings. She has a dead mother whose memory motivates her throughout the movie. It is saddening to see a movie with the potential for a unique heroine to be filled with cliches. Nonetheless, Elodie persists as being a

Senior Art Exhibition

powerful character. Her badassery is evident in almost every scene. She does not rely on anyone else to solve problems; however, her lack of development and backstory is evident and doesn’t stand apart from other princess protagonists in the media.

With that being said, the writing in “Damsel” is very corny. There is an uncanny similarity if you pull up any other dark fantasy with a somewhat similar premise -which you’ll find many of -- it sounds like the screenplay was written with Chat GPT. The dialogue does not develop the characters and only furthers their lack of originality.

Though Millie Bobby Brown is a powerhouse actress

showcases artists' experiences

With no set theme, exhibition highlights wide array of student work.

By RYAN ACEVEDO Assistant Managing Editor

During this year’s Senior Art Exhibition, three senior art students presented their work in the Fawick Art Gallery from Feb. 22 through March 22.

The pieces, created by Alexis Clark, Jessica Stevenson and Sarah Castrigano, showcased the creativity and experience gained through their time in the Studio Art Program at Baldwin Wallace University.

Planning the exhibit was the first step for these three artists.

“I think we talked, the three of us, and pretty much came up with our individual themes. By the end of our junior year, I think we already sort of established what direction each of us was going into, and we went from there” Castrigano said. “I think just each individual body really rapidly developed over the course of the year, especially during fall semester.”

Each piece of art in this exhibition shows off various pieces, from clay sculptures to prints. Each piece captures a different style and identity that encompasses the whole, as well as the individual who created it.

“We had to take a main concentration. Our junior and senior year was a time for us to gauge what kind of media we wanted to do,” Clark said. “We took those ideas and thought about how we could incorporate them into our different mediums.”

While each student had a concentration, there was no set theme for this exhibition.

“We didn’t have to pick just one idea,” Clark said. “We had some other ideas that we were able to add to the show. It adds to the whole exhibit.”

Inspiration came from many different places, such as how Stevenson was inspired by her close friend.

“My friend is definitely like the procession piece,” Stevenson said. “One

of the pieces is actually my sister. It’s a prom picture that I decided I was going to morph into this portrait of her and I’m super proud of it.”

While showing off their skills, this exhibition was also an experiment with new techniques.

“I think my favorite is the piece with the two birds in a nest,” Castrigano said. “I didn’t spend the most time on that… it happened really fast and there was a good flow. I just love how it came out. I was experimenting with the glazes, and everything worked out and survived.”

Castrigano said that one of the benefits of the program is finding one’s flow with creating art.

“I think that’s the best thing to come from the studio arts program here,” Castrigano said. “It’s just being in the studio and consistently making art, and I think I don’t want to lose the momentum that I’ve gained here.”

While producing art in the studio throughout college, some of the seniors changed their paths.

“Coming into the program, I wanted to be an animator, and I thought that taking my art and putting it in film would be a cool medium to do,” Clark said. “Then, as I was kind of going through college, I decided in my junior year that I would rather teach kids to be an art teacher and kind of teach them what I learned here.”

who radiates talent and star power, her performance isn’t enough to make up for the basic dialogue. Even Angela Bassett, who has an Academy Honorary Award, is not enough to save the film.

The performances are not bad but sometimes feel unbelievable. The cast also features familiar faces Nick Robinson and Robin Wright, who give decent performances but, like the rest of the cast, don’t meet their usual standard and don’t contribute much to the film.

Dark fantasies heavily rely on world-building. “Damsel” is no different. The setting does contribute to some good cinematography and pretty visuals, but in certain scenes,

it is obvious that they use a green screen. Sometimes, you can see the actors standing out from the background as if they don’t belong there. The special effects are similar in that their use leaves a lot of authenticity to be desired. Since Netflix films are known for their large budgets, viewers expect higher quality.

Though the film has flaws, it still has entertainment value. The film's action is exciting and keeps you on the edge of your seat. The high stakes keep watchers engaged in how the film will end.

Typical of the genre, the costuming is elaborate and aesthetically pleasing with actors adorned in gems and detailed fabrics. Though

it lacks originality, fantasy films seem to be decreasing in popularity within the film industry, so “Damsel” might be a good option if you are looking for an easy-to-watch, short flick that can appeal to various audiences.

Additionally, the lighting is very dark. If you are in a room with a lot of lighting, watch the film at night or shut the blinds.

With the potential to be a good pick for family movie night, “Damsel” remains an unoriginal fantasy film filled with cliches.

“Damsel” is now available to stream on Netflix.

BWMT seniors showcase theatrical talents to launch professional careers

By URSULA SAADEH Staff Writer

Baldwin Wallace University

musical theatre students are on their way to New York City this spring to perform their senior showcase on April 15-16 at New World Stages, where they will present their talents to industry professionals.

The music theatre students have been preparing for their showcase for the entire spring semester, crafting a 50-minute performance that best markets the senior class and shows off what they bring to the industry.

Senior music theatre student Maggie Solimine said the showcase helps prepare students for a career in acting.

“It's kind of like a nice introduction to the industry, and hopefully we’ll leave with representation and make that transition to being a working actor easier,” Solimine said.

According to senior music theatre student Keaton Miller, BWMT’s senior showcase is one of the most attended school showcases, and the students have had a 100% success rate in getting signed on by an agent for the past five years.

The showcase includes a group opening number, closing number and individual sections to highlight each student. The seniors each sing two song cuts

that represent the types of roles they fit best. The students met with BWMT program director Victoria Bussert throughout fall 2023 to discuss their marketable talents and solidify their song cuts.

“Each student gets about three minutes to three and a half minutes of stage time to showcase their best talents,” Miller said. “In those two songs, you show two contrasting aspects of your performance ability, and then peppered throughout, we have different abilities shown, like dancing.”

Miller said he wants to highlight his strengths as the “All-American leading man,” especially because there are many upcoming musicals that showcase this type of role. His second cut reveals a more “intimate” and “softer side” of Americana. Solimine, on the other hand, said she wants to show off her “powerhouse” vocals.

As the showcase draws near, Solimine said that seniors can feel intense pressure to make sure they perform perfectly, fearing that one misstep can lead to no representation. She said that it is tough for the seniors to not question their song cuts, but it is important to trust their instincts.

“It's really just one day, and there's a lot of pressure put on it, but it’s supposed to be for you,”

Solimine said. “It can be really stressful and feel like a huge deal, but at the end of the day, it's really just a good way to get your career kick-started, and it’s not really by

any means an end-all be-all.”

As the seniors are preparing to leave BW and head into the next journey of their lives, they look back at the memories they made at BW fondly, expressing love for the music theatre program and an admiration of the work they’ve put into launching their careers.

“It's about taking that moment to realize that you've put in the work [and] you've put in the time,” Miller said. “I look back with pride. I look forward with excitement.”

The close-knit senior music theatre class will perform together one last time at the showcase, rooting for each other and cheering them on.

“I'm gonna miss them, and I'm gonna miss performing with them. But that's also the beauty of theatre,” Miller said. “Something isn't beautiful because it lasts, and I’m grateful that I’ve had the time to share the stage with them one last time.”

The BWMT seniors will perform their showcase for family and friends on April 27 in the Kleist Center for Art & Drama. The event is free, and tickets are available at bw.edu/events.

Ursula Saadeh, The Exponent Artwork by Sarah Castrigano.

Benjamin Michael Hall, The Exponent BWMT class of 2024 rehearses for their senior showcase.

‘In the Next Room (or the Vibrator Play)'

By BRYANNA FEAGLER Staff Writer

The Baldwin Wallace University theatre and dance explores female sexuality in their staged reading series "In the Next Room (or The Vibrator Play)" of the Kleist Lobby Center for Art and Drama, which opened on Feb. 27 and ended on Feb. 28.

"In the Next Room (or The Vibrator Play)" is a charming comedy by Sarah Ruhl, first performed in 2009. Taking place during the 19th century amid the era's burgeoning electricity innovation, the narrative delves into inquiries surrounding female sexuality. It follows the journey of a Victorian doctor who adopts the revolutionary electric vibrator as a remedy for female "hysteria." Alongside his exploration, his young wife undergoes significant self-discovery, culminating in a tale where love emerges as the ultimate savior.

Gioianna DiGiorgio, a

sophomore BFA acting major, plays the role of Catherine Givings in the staged reading. She describes her character as a "frustrated housewife."

"She had just given birth to a daughter, but she doesn't have enough milk to feed her, and she's struggling with her sense of identity and womanhood," DiGiorgio said.

DiGiorgio also said that the staged reading also involves the relationship between her and Dr. Givings.

"The plot is about her trying to understand what love and connection mean to her and trying to reconnect with her husband because their relationship is cold. But, by the end of the play, they get to find each other again." DiGiorgio said.

Andrew Timmins, a junior acting major, is playing the role of "Dr. Givings" in the staged reading who is working "in the next room."

"'In the Next Room' is a complicated story, in my opinion…The story is about a couple, many years ago,

finding equal power and equal balance for them in their own house." Timmins said.

Timmins said he finds that he managed to take stories that are larger than life and relate them to the audience that is watching today.

"Much of her symbolism goes towards modernizing things but not losing the story that she is telling. ‘In the Next Room’ is a modern play that wouldn't have happened long ago. But the story happened for hundreds of years; I would say thousands of years." Timmins said.

Timmins said his favorite part about playing Dr. Givings is that while he is the antagonist for part of the show, he is not out of his own will to do wrong. He likes to be oblivious and ignorant but not malicious.

"He is a loving and caring person and utterly oblivious to what is happening in his wife's mind for most of the show. He doesn't understand how to be in a successful, cooperative relationship," Timmins said.

explores female sexuality of late 1800s

DiGiorgio said her favorite part of playing Catherine Givings is her willingness to connect to other people.

"I am more of a shy person who has a hard time making the first move in [a conversation, but Catherine is right there. She's excited to learn about other people while also loving to talk…I feel that's something I can learn from her." DiGiorgio said.

DiGiorgio finds this role a unique experience from other roles she's been in before because she can relate to her character's journey.

"I'm a little nervous because I feel, like Mrs. Givings, I'm also on this journey of figuring out what sex means to me. I've always been somewhat uneasy with the subject, but I'm playing the part who's also going through a similar state of questioning identity as I am… It's very freeing in a way, but also pretty nerve-wracking." DiGiorgio said.

Cat Hughes, the production stage manager for the show and a senior stage management

student, said how audience seating is designed can impact the stage reading setting.

"We usually have it set up like any typical proscenium arch stage, with the actors positioned here and the audience there, unlike the various themes where people were intermingling, which is feasible for a staged reading,” Hughes said. “However, we maintain a clear line between audience and performer rather than having them wander around with binders. I believe it beautifully conveys the stories for the stage readings.”

Lauren Berger, a sophomore BFA acting student, who reads the stage directions in "In the Next Room," describes her experience as unique based on the first rehearsal.

"We worked with our intimacy coordinator, and she was incredible because this play deals with an intense and sometimes humorous subject matter,” Berger said. “Many of our actors have to perform sexual acts on stage, so having an intimacy coordinator is

essential for ensuring that we all feel comfortable with what we're doing,”

Berger said something that inspired her while reading the stage directions in this staged reading is recognizing that the process is fun and keeping it manageable.

"Keeping it very much on the light and sunny side, this play is a comedy. Of course, darker subjects and heavier moments occur throughout, but the overall tone is meant to be funny. It's about acknowledging that these characters are experiencing things that happened back in the day." Berger said.

DiGiorgio said she hopes the audience takes away the idea that nobody has all the answers.

"These are answers that we never may find, but the search is all the more wonderful and what it means to be human," DiGorgio said.

MAINSTAGE SPRING PERFORMANCES

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MERRY WIDOW: BW Opera

Benjamin Michael Hall, The Exponent Gabriel Hill, The Exponent

Benjamin Michael Hall, The Exponent

SWEAT: Theatre

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Life & Styles

Alpha Phi hosts Red Dress Gala to fundraise for women's heart health

By BRYANNA FEAGLER Staff Writer

Baldwin Wallace

University’s Alpha Phi hosted their annual Red Dress Gala at the Columbia Ballroom on March 23 to fundraise for women’s heart health.

The event included a sitdown dinner along with speeches, raffles and silent auction baskets.

Bailey Croft, a sophomore English major and the vice president of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion within Alpha Phi, played a major role in the hosting of the event.

“I was elected onto the Executive Board, which was a huge honor and responsibility,” Croft said. “Stepping into this role was daunting as it involved event planning and soliciting donations –– tasks I had never undertaken before.”

Croft said that although the task at hand seemed daunting at first, she grew during the process and eventually succeeded.

“It was intimidating at first, but I chose to believe in myself and tackle the challenge headon,” Croft said. “Despite being scared of planning somehing so big, I relied on the support of my sisters.”

Emma Lambert, a first-year international business student and the director of Diversity in Alpha Phi, said this was her first year experiencing the Red Dress Gala. She said that one

aspect she enjoyed about the gala was the opportunity to network and meet others.

“It’s a nice event at a beautiful venue where guests can dress-up, have dinner, and celebrate philanthropy.” Lambert said.

Besides Croft and Lambert, other chairmen, including Abbey Bolton, Olivia Lane, Alexis Watkins and Lauren Golias, were involved in developing the Red Dress Gala.

Watkins, a senior communications studies major, said this was the third Red Dress Gala held since the COVID-19 pandemic and that the gala has evolved over the years due to the improved team communication.

“The biggest difference from before COVID-19 to now is the venue that we switched to that we like a lot more… Our advisors have been saying that it has been a much better experience for all of us,” Watkins said.

Watkins said she thought Croft did a great job planning the event.

“I can only imagine how different it must be for Bailey now, but I truly believe she’s set up for even greater success,” Watkins said. “Being involved in this event is not only enjoyable but also rewarding, particularly in supporting the younger members of our chapter.”

Watkins said that it "means a lot" to her to see the younger

class continuing to plan this event.

“Personally, Bailey holds a special place as my ‘G little,’ so being able to offer support and share my knowledge with her and others while contributing to women’s heart health, a cause close to my heart, makes the experience even more meaningful,” Watkins said. “It’s truly fulfilling to continue being a part of an event that has been such a significant aspect of my life.”

Lynn Murray, the chapter’s advisor who has been involved in the Alpha Phi foundation since 1997, said the Red Dress Gala provides a great opportunity for its members to learn how to plan and run events successfully, opening up doors for future career opportunities.

“I’ve had women who went into event planning, and they use their experience planning the gala on their resumes to sell themselves when seeking jobs,” Murray said.

Lambert said one challenge in developing the gala was "coordinating efforts."

“Everyone’s schedules are packed, especially during critical times like midterms week, which coincided with ticket sales,” Lambert said.

Croft said a personal challenge for her when prepping for the Red Dress Gala was immediately initiating planning for the event as soon as she got elected vice president of Diversity,

Equity and Inclusion in November of 2023.

“Planning for it [the gala] starts the minute you get that position… I’ve never had to plan such a big event in my life,” Croft said. “I’ve never had to pay so much attention to detail or keep track of so many things or manage so many people, which is why I have a team of chairmen.”

To overcome the challenge of coordinating participation during busy times, Lambert said Croft took the initiative during the organization’s chapter meetings, which helped leverage vacant spots for selling tickets.

Croft said she was able to overcome the challenge of planning the event by remembering the purpose behind the gala.

“I’m doing all of this so that there will be money that we can give to the Alpha Phi Foundation and to have a success event that my sisters can be proud of,” Croft said. “I overcame a lot of those challenges by saying I have to be strong because this is an event that’s going to reflect my chapter and I want to make sure it’s a good one.”

Croft hopes that along with having an opportunity to serve a charitable purpose, the attendees also enjoyed themselves.

“I want attendees to leave

feeling happy about their decision to come,” Croft said.

“I hope the event is enjoyable and entertaining, with opportunities for people to win prizes through activities like the basket raffle.”

Lambert said she hopes that attendees take away how easy it is to help the community.

“It’s essential to recognize the value of supporting other groups on campus, regardless of affiliations,” Lambert said. “We’re all striving towards philanthropic goals, each with our unique causes, yet united in our efforts to better our community and the world.”

Watkins said the importance of women’s heart health is a big message that they hope

attendees take away from the gala.

“It’s crucial to highlight the under diagnosis of heart conditions in women compared to men. Much scientific research has been focused on men, setting a standard that may not fully apply to women and leading to significant disparities in healthcare. This issue deeply resonates with me since becoming a sister of Alpha Phi,” Watkins said.

Editor’s Note: Bailey Croft, Alexis Watkins and Emma Lambert work for The Exponent.

Black Girls Rock foundation amplifies Black women's voices

‘I think even the name is just like to me, a battle cry…We do all these amazing things, and it's almost like if we don't celebrate ourselves, who will?’ Associate Director of Cultural Programming Inclusion said.

By KONNER HINES Staff Writer

Black Girls Rock, a foundation celebrated and endorsed by celebrities and Black women nationally, seeks to continue to make Black women feel safe and accepted on the Baldwin Wallace University campus.

In 2006, model Beverly Bond founded “BLACK GIRLS ROCK!” Since then, people — such as superstar Rihanna and former First Lady Michelle Obama — have used their positions to spread the movement on a national scale.

Maya Polk, a sophomore international studies major, is the President chair of BW’s chapter of Black Girls Rock, an extension of BW’s Black Student Alliance.

“I create and run events, manage the Instagram and help BSA as far as their events go,” Polk said.

BW’s chapter of BGR began in 2010 with the goal of amplifying and recognizing

Black women for their accomplishments and community service.

Courtney Robinson, associate director of Cultural Programming Inclusion, said that incoming students are often excited and encouraged to see a group on campus that serves this specific community.

“When I see first-year incoming students, they are so excited when they see that we have a program specifically for Black women on campus,” Robinson said. "Having a safe space, a special space and dedicated programming for our Black women is super significant and important. I think it makes more people feel at home.” Black Girls Rock hosts engaging events throughout the school year. Their first one, this past January and February,

were their “Bake and Decorate” and “Galentine’s” events.

“I was just trying to get people here…just enjoy everybody's presence. We ended up playing cards for more than half the time, which was fine with me,” Polk said about the “Galentine’s” event.

“I kind of just want to spoil the girls on campus, because some people don't necessarily celebrate Valentine's Day or have someone to celebrate with. I want everybody to be able to get their little necklaces or little heart candies and just have a good time.”

Taylor Woods, a first-year early childhood education majort and member of the Black Girl’s Rock staff, said that committees such as Black Girls Rock and Men in Action ––BSA’s subcommittee for Black male students ––are especially important on a campus that consists of mostly white students.

“We’re on a majority white institution…we don't have a lot of Black girls here,” Woods said. “It helps Black girls or Black boys be able to have a space or outlet to where they feel heard and where they're able to just be themselves.”

While Black Girls Rock is primarily targeted toward Black women, it is open to everyone.

“I always say everybody is welcome. Some of the girls that I'm friends with that aren’t Black come,” Polk said. “Show your support, even if you want to just hang out the whole time or hang out five minutes.” Robinson said that Black Girls Rock is a vitally important part of BW because of its uplifting nature amidst a culture that is not always encouraging.

“I think even the name is just like to me, a battle cry… We do all these amazing things, and it's almost like, if we don't celebrate ourselves, who will?” Robinson said.

“You need that encouragement because everything you're getting from the outside is bringing you down, and this is a space to lift you up.”

Courtesy of Kayla Scruci

Left to right: Bailey Croft and Olivia Lane speak at the Red Dress Gala.

Konner Hines , The Exponent Taylor Woods (third from left) with the attendees of the Bake and Decorate event.

Economics professor advocates for AI literacy in classrooms

‘AI will give answers, their job is to interpret the answers, and that’s it,’ said Suresh Paul, visiting assistant professor.

By BRADY CANCIAN Contributing Writer

As platforms like ChatGPT are becoming more efficient as educational tools, a visiting assistant professor in the School of Business, Suresh Paul, wants to see more artificial intelligence literacy taught in Baldwin Wallace University classrooms.

Paul, a data analytics specialist and programmer by trade, has been working with AI since 2017 and founded his own company, Algorithm Basics LLC, in 2021. The company runs AI models for small businesses.

Paul said that through his experience, he is seeing a disconnect between the teaching methods in the classrooms and what is needed in the workforce when it comes to AI training and literacy.

“The way computing skills are a job requisite, AI is going to become a requisite, so every class

needs to use AI, and teachers must basically guide students the right way to use it,” Paul said.

The next two years will host the introduction of custom ChatGPT models, which will be more personalized and “tailored to students’ needs,” Paul said.

These models will function professionally and provide services to students, such as developing a study plan based on given course data.

Sasha Marzev, a current student in Paul’s microeconomics course, works with AI in his classroom.

“It’s like a virtual tutor, but more accessible,” Marzev said. “It caters to your educational needs and builds upon your own questions and answers.”

For his economics courses, Paul said he encourages his students to use AI as a formula sheet to save time on assignments.

“There are a lot of formulas in economics, and I don’t believe in them memorizing any of them,” Paul said. “AI will give answers,

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their job is to interpret the answers, and that’s it.”

Marzev said these economics classes are heavy in case studies and long word problems and that without AI, her homework would take up to half-an-hour longer.

“If we’re having trouble understanding a word problem, we can plug it into ChatGPT to simplify,” Marzev said. “It helps me get through the assignment step-by-step, so I don’t waste time trying to understand it.”

However, Paul did address the limitations of AI.

“You have to always take it with a grain of salt,” Paul said. “If you ask it something outside its database, it will not know the answer, but it doesn’t have the humility to say ‘no, I don’t know the answer,’ so it’s going to make stuff up.”

Women’s volleyball team speaks on new ‘double-contact’ rule

By NICK IRELAN Sports Editor

On Feb. 20, The NCAA Playing Rules Oversight Panel approved a new rule regarding double contacts in women’s volleyball games that has sparked debate among Baldwin Wallace University athletes.

According to the NCAA, the new rule set to take effect in the 2023-24 season allows “women volleyball players to contact the ball more than once with any part of the body in a single attempt on a team’s second contact when the ball is played to a teammate. However, if the ball is played over the net in this type of scenario, it would be ruled a fault, and the team would lose the point.”

This announcement struck panic across various media platforms from current players and coaches.

BW Women’s Volleyball junior setter Kat Blazetic said they believe it is unfair and disrespectful to all of the athletes’ continuous training over the years.

“The rule change of eliminating the ‘double contact’ rule was very shocking to me,” Blazetic said. “I believe that the world of women’s volleyball is very technical and taking away such a rule, kind of takes away what we as women’s volleyball players work for our whole career.”

According to the NCAA, the reason for addressing this topic is that “double contacts have sparked intense debates between coaches and volleyball officials during matches.”

The NCAA believes that eliminating this judgment call would bring more consistency to the game and increase the

continuation of the play, resulting in a more entertaining game for the players and fans.

Blazetic, along with many volleyball athletes, strongly disagrees. Following the announcement, social media platforms were overrun with discussions about the perceived negative consequences of this change.

“I believe the new rule will harm the quality of fairness in the game,” Blazetic said. “I say this because it takes out the whole meaning behind women’s volleyball, which is all about technique and precision.”

Graduate Assistant Coach of the BW Women’s Volleyball team and former setter for Maryland Eastern Shores Sophie Chacon said they believe this change will positively impact women’s volleyball.

“I believe that allowing doubles in the game makes it more enjoyable,” Chacon said. “The previous rule regarding doubles was problematic because it was subjective, and referees had varying interpretations of it,

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resulting in inconsistency."

Chacon agrees that this change will elevate the level of competitiveness in the game. She recalls how the ‘double contact’ rule had a detrimental effect on the momentum of her collegiate games as an athlete.

“During my time playing at UTEP, one of our setters committed ten double touches in a single game, which led to us losing in the fifth set,” Chacon said. “Unfortunately, the referee was not consistently calling them. Having a double touch can change the momentum of the game and the attitudes of the players, as volleyball is a sport that heavily relies on momentum.”

Additional rule changes discussed in the meeting involve the option to designate two liberos per set, though only one can be on the court at any time. Furthermore, the NCAA has expanded the allowance for wearing jewelry during matches.

athletic directors discuss

district changes

By BAILEY CROFT Assistant Managing Editor

On Feb. 15, the Ohio High School Athletic Association approved a proposal to employ a new formula that will determine how many divisions will be offered in the postseason tournaments of High School sports.

Athletic Director of Olmsted Falls High School, Rob Coxon, attended both meetings held by the OHSAA.

“From their perspective, the committee of the OHSAA is trying to be in more alignment with what other states offer,” Coxon said. “If you go to their website, you can see the number of divisions the other states have.”

The new divisions will go into effect in Fall 2024

OHSAA

and will affect OHSAA General Sports Regulation 17. The changes will result in boys' and girls' soccer having five divisions, and girls' volleyball, boys' and girls' basketball, and softball and baseball having seven. There are no changes to the number of football divisions.

John Justice, athletic director at Berea-Midpark High School, said his biggest concern is the new changes potentially taking away from student athlete experience and postseason games.

“The change for us is that the sports are gonna see more divisions,” Justice said. “It’s good from the standpoint that you don’t have to win as many games to get to district or regional ... We’re talking about affecting the experience the kids are going to have in the postseason.”

Both athletic directors believe the new changes will not greatly affect their respective high schools.

“For [Berea-Midpark High School], it doesn’t change what division we’ll be in, it’ll just kind of change what the tournaments look like for us,” Justice said. “I’m indifferent right now, because I want to see how it goes.”

“It’s not going to change us too much,” Coxon said.

“Whether we’re three or four divisions in certain sports, we’re going to increase to seven divisions or five. That doesn’t change what we do. We’re still going to provide the best opportunities and the competition they can handle on their level.”

Counseling Services hosts ‘Art for Queer Self Expression’ to support LGBTQ+ community

Participants bead jewelry, bookmarks at event hosted by Colors+, Allies partnership.

By MARIA VURBIC Staff Writer

Counseling Services hosted a workshop event called “Art for Queer Self Expression” aimed to provide a safe space for Baldwin Wallace University’s queer community to engage in both art and counseling services on March 26.

Timothy Hall, assistant director of Counseling Services, and Sophia Kallergis, director of Counseling Services, oversaw the event. They organized this event to engage the LGBTQIA+ community at BW while also providing resources to encourage therapeutic self-expression.

“We decided to host this event in order to provide a space for LGBTQ+ students to connect with one another with the opportunity for artistic self-expression guided by a counselor from Colors+,” Hall said.

Colors+ is a queer youth center located in Fairview Park, Ohio. They strive to aid the LGBTQ+ community by providing resources, counseling services and an overall sense of community.

BW Counseling Services partnered with Colors+ to host an event that would provide an open space for the LGBTQ+ community, facilitated by someone who specializes in working with these students.

“Our goals for the event were to create a safe and affirming space for students to express themselves through art and to collaborate with Colors+ to bring in a facilitator who specializes in working with people who identify as LGBTQ+,” Hall said. “It was our hope that students would feel supported and valued and that the event would be an encouraging moment leading into the pressures that the end of the academic year can bring.”

Counseling Services also partnered with the student organization, Allies, for this event. Allies is a BW organization that provides a safe community for LGBTQ+ students. They host events for these students and their allies and educate others on issues regarding this community.

Faculty Advisor for BW Allies, Ana de Freitas Boe, was also involved in organizing the event.

“The event is really a workshop, in which participants will use art for the exploration of issues about queer identity and queer community,” Boe said.

The main activity of the event was beading, allowing participants to make jewelry and bookmarks using the colors of their identity’s flag. Each identity in the LGBTQ+ has its own flag, utilizing different colors and patterns for each one to distinguish them.

“It’s really focused on the art,” Boe said. “But art can be this really powerful form of self-reflection.”

Although much of the event’s focus was on the art, the therapy aspect was also an important part of the event. Through “Art for Queer Self-Expression,” BW Counseling Services sought to foster a better support system for the LGBTQ+ community at BW.

“We value the opportunity to support many diverse groups of students on campus,” Hall said. “This was an opportunity to support BW’s LGBTQ+ student community.”

Hall also expressed the need for events like this at BW to support students.

“LGBTQ+ students are at a higher risk for mental health concerns,” Hall said. “So, it is an important area for outreach and support.”

Courtesy of Erik Drost

The BW Women's Volleyball team plays a match prior to the rule change.

Women’s Racquetball team claims multiple National Titles at 2024 USAR Intercollegiate National Championship in Tempe Ariz.

By NICK IRELAN Sports Editor

As part of the annual USA Racquetball National Intercollegiate Championship held from March 15-18, Baldwin Wallace University achieved a high overall ranking regardless of only some of the potential players competing in the tournament.

Each year, the BW Racquetball Club selects its top six men and women to represent the school at the tournament. With only four of the women being able to attend, the club faced a challenge in a tournament that tallies points per individual.

This year’s team is reinforced by the return of two key athletes, including senior team captain Julia Stein and junior club president Angie Case, alongside the addition of two promising newcomers, first-year Mallory Bible and Natty Trunko.

At last year’s nationals, Stein and Case took home the gold medal for doubles after a nearly two-decade drought.

Stein said she took training

seriously than in previous years since it was her final year competing at the collegiate level.

“I would go in the mornings to practice serves and drill by myself,” Stein said. “I focused on eating healthier and practiced visualization and affirmations, which ended up really benefiting me mentally.” Case also dedicates her preparation to the Racquetball Club’s Head Coach Andy Hawthorne and the team’s persistence.

“Even though it is a club sport, we practiced for two hours three times a week,” Case said. “Everyone tried their best to make it to practice which benefited us all. Especially Coach Andy, who volunteers his time to make us all better.”

The 2024 USAR Intercollegiate Nationals took place in Tempe, Ariz., hosted by Arizona State University, from March 13 to March 16. The initial two days were deemed successful for the women’s team, with Julia clinching a win in her first three matches as the No. 6 seed, propelling her to the finals.

Additionally, Stein and Case

were awarded a top seeding, earning them a bye in the first round. The duo secured a decisive win in the semifinal doubles match against Brigham Young University, earning them a spot in the finals.

Stein’s match kicked off the third days’ events. Before this, Stein had never reached the finals throughout her collegiate career, marking a significant milestone. The last female BW athlete to claim a singles gold medal was in 2009.

Stein faced off against a familiar opponent, Erin Slutsky from ASU. The two were former teammates of the junior USA team.

“I have played against her in doubles but have never faced her in singles,” Stein said. “I was also familiar with her style of play as we have known each other since both being on Team USA in 2018.”

In the first game, Stein surged ahead with a 6-0 lead. Despite Slutzky’s sporadic points, Stein maintained her dominance, securing a 15-8 win. However, in the second match, Slutzky swiftly claimed a 7-4 lead and extended it to a

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[3] This year's BWMT and Playhouse Square partnership show

[5] A new rule approved by NCAA Playing Rules Oversight Panel for Volleyball

[7] Grind2Energy makes BW dining more _____

commanding 12-6.

Following a brief timeout and chat with Hawthorne, Stein returned with a refreshed strategy. Slowly but steadily, she clawed her way back, eventually tying the match.

With tensions rising and Slutzky losing her aggressive edge, she ultimately succumbed to Stein’s pressure.

With 2 points left for Stein, Slutzky conceded the match by storming off the court in frustration, leading to Stein’s victory.

“On my 13th point, Erin was crowding my swing and made contact with my racquet,” Stein said. “She threw her goggles onto the floor, they shattered, and she walked out of the court, telling the referee that she forfeited the game. It was upsetting winning to a forfeit, but I know I had the momentum and would have finished it in that second match.”

Following Stein’s championship win, she geared up for her next final doubles match with Case. Stein said she was primed and ready to hit the court, while Case started to feel the nerves creeping in.

I was definitely nervous,” Case said. “Julia had just won her singles final match a few hours before we were up to play our doubles final. I knew if we won this, Julia would win singles and doubles for her senior year, so the pressure was on.”

The showdown was BW against Oregon State University.

With Stein’s previous win in singles boosting her confidence, the duo dove into the match with determination.

The first game was a nailbiting battle, with both teams fiercely competing, ultimately resulting in OSU edging ahead and ending the first game 1511.

The second game kicked off just as intensely as the first, with neither side giving an inch of leeway. With the score tight at 10-7 in favor of OSU, BW found an opening and rallied back to level the playing field at 11-11. With grit and determination, BW powered through to claim a hard-fought 15-13 win for the second game, pushing a tiebreaker.

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“Going into our finals game,

The tiebreaker kicked off with BW quickly gaining an 8-4 lead, setting the stage

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G B P D J B B F W I F S T S P K X P Q D

O B N J C C L G C M K I R B H X X I T A

I N T H E N E X T R O O M E A R N O I M

O F D F Q G J D T M K B C O S L A N K S

Z D K X I J N F I C T A V U R T L S T E

W J I V A N U F H L E E K E X P O J O L

N M Z Y U T I B P S O N I F A Z D R K W

A J R A F B M K O H M S S A A Z K P E M

for the showdown. BW maintained their momentum, finishing the tiebreaker with a 11-5 victory, sealing the match with a gold medal.

“Our teammates were louder than anyone else there cheering us on,” Stein said.

“Although I don’t pay much attention to cheering during the match after I look back, I appreciate the support from my teammates immensely.”

The Women’s team ended up taking third place overall out of 10 teams. The men’s and women’s teams took fifth place overall out of 19 teams. Case and Bible joined Stein as All-American athletes after receiving fourth place in their divisions.

WORD BANK

RHYTHMROOTSRESTORE

NATIONALCHAMPIONS

INTHENEXTROOM

RACQUETBALL

DAMSEL

GLASSBURN TIKTOK

RHYTHMROOTSRESTORE NATIONALCHAMPIONS

INTHENEXTROOM RACQUETBALL GLASSBURN

DAMSEL TIKTOK

DOWN

[1] Surname of the theatre professor retiring this semester

[2] Alpha Phi's annual philanthropy event

[4] A production brought to the BW stage in March

[6] New rule changes to come for High School sports from this organization