9/22/21

HAMLINE UNIVERSITY | ST. PAUL, MN | 9.22.21 | VOL. 133 | NO. 1 | HAMLINEORACLE.COM

Controversial attire: Public Safety’s new uniforms This summer, Hamline Public Safety (HPS) switched their uniforms from a polo shirt to a bulletproof vest, prompting some students like Ruqa Martins to ask “who’s shooting?”

Jack Fischer Senior News Reporter jfischer01@hamline.edu What does safety on campus look like? What should it look like? Who feels safe, and who feels threatened?

Hamline students are questioning the university’s approach to safety, with the new investment of updated Public Safety uniforms.

Kenzie Harstad, a junior at Hamline, started a Change.org petition asking Hamline Public Safety (HPS) to return to their old uniforms. The petition has gathered just over 125 signatures as of this reporting.

Harstad writes that the “uniforms changed from a regular polo to a bulletproof vest and police-issued belt.”

Harstad is a New Student Mentor (NSM) and started the petition after she heard from her first-year students, particularly students of

color. These students experienced multiple “unsettling” situations with HPS, and their appearance and presence on campus in general has caused discomfort.

“It was an unwelcoming environment and it made me really upset because these are my students,” Harstad said.

Ruqa Martins, a junior and Resident Assistant (RA) on campus, was put off by the change in uniform.

“You wearing bulletproof vests, implies that someone is shooting.

Who is shooting?” Martins said.

The sudden change comes as the Twin Cities is seen as ground zero for the future of policing and safety after George Floyd, an unarmed Black man, was killed by Minneapolis police officers.

ILLUSTRATION| SENA ROSS, ORACLE

see UNIFORMS page 2

Turn and face the strange change Hamline professors and administrators grapple with change amidst faculty turnover and sabbaticals.

Lydia Meier News Reporter lmeier05@hamline.edu In the ever-evolving reality of COVID-19, Hamline has seen changes that affect the whole community. From professors on sabbatical and retiring, to a new chaplain, Interim Dean of the School of Business and Interim Provost, change seems to be everywhere.

“Certainly I would say… there have been more faculty departures--and many of those have been retirements-but more faculty departures than in previous years… That turnover’s been significant,” Dr. Ryan LeCount, chair of the Sociology Department said.

LeCount has taken on the role of Interim Director of the Social Justice Program after the former director, Professor Valerie Chepp, departed.

ILLUSTRATION| SENA ROSS, ORACLE Chepp left Hamline in June 2021, after

accepting a position as an Associate Faculty Qualitative Researcher at the Cleveland Clinic.

Professor Matt Sumera spent the summer preparing to take over one of the classes Chepp taught before she left.

“It’s just been sort of constant change since I’ve been [at Hamline],” Sumera said. “I think every semester there’s been some kind of change, for good and for bad.”

Professor Valentine Cadieux, head of the Environmental Studies program, has also worked closely with Chepp.

“The changes we’re seeing at Hamline are not just at Hamline either; they’re across higher ed more broadly… Which makes it a little easier sometimes not to freak out about change because you’re like, okay, this is like a whole ecosystem that’s changing,” Cadieux said.

Dr. Beth Gunderson stepped into the position of Interim Dean of the School of Business this summer and notices that change has marked her life in necessary ways.

“Change is a part of life,” Gunderson,

see CAMPUS CHANGES page 2

2 News

The Oracle | WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2021

UNIFORMS

(continued from front)

EDITORIAL & PRODUCTION Editor-in-Chief Andrea Lindner Managing Editor Elizabeth Lowe News Editor Anika Besst Business Manager Julien Halabi Multimedia Editor Jacob “Coby” Aloi Web Editor Aidan Stromdahl Opinion Editor Vacant Sports Editor Cathryn Salis A&E Editor Olivia Koski Variety Editor Eliza Hagstrom Copy Editors Lydia Meier, Jordan Perzichilli

“Especially in the wake of [Floyd’s death], I feel like them having bulletproof vests with like, no explanation is kind of scary especially with students of color, Black students, Muslim students, all that, because sometimes we are targeted by cops,” Martins said.

Martins also expressed that she was frustrated by the infrequent and sporadic communication from HPS. “ I feel like it would have been important, if they like, put out some type of statements, ‘hey, like you might notice a change in uniforms, we acknowledge like the fear and that, but this is the reason why,.’” Martins said.

The Oracle was unable to arrange an interview with HPS but received a statement from Melinda Heikkinen, the Director of Public Safety.

“Several months ago it became apparent that the uniforms being worn at the time were not fit for purpose. After considerable research, selected uniforms that fit better, support a far more professional appearance,

allow staff to wear vests outside their shirts, and are less expensive than those they replace.” Heikkinen wrote.

Heikkinen disputes some of the claims raised in the Change.org petition.

“HPS is here for our students; I have never stated, and would never state otherwise and I’m concerned that was heard in a conversation I had with a student. This claim in the petition is hurtful to me and staff members, who give their time on days, nights and weekends to help keep students safe, in addition to being inaccurate.” Wrote Heikkinen in response to a quote Harstad wrote on her Change.org post.

Harstad wants to see several changes enacted on campus.

“First and foremost I would like to cover up or get rid of the bullet proof vest,” Harstad said.

She would also like to see the batons disappear from HPS’s duty belts.

Martins says HPS feels disconnected from the Hamline community, with bulletproof vests making them seem even less approachable. She wants to see them introduced during first-year orientation and give students a chance to meet officers individually.

Finally Harstad wants to engage HPS in a greater dialogue on our campus.

She wants to see more transparent communication, and envisions a “barbecue neighborhood night, where HPS does not come in uniform, like normal, off duty,” Harstad said. “So students have a better bond with them, like professors, and students can express their concerns about HPS, and they can answer those questions and describe their job in greater detail.”

“The HPS staff cares deeply about how it is perceived and the quality of its work on campus. No one begrudges students the right to petition or engage with the administration of their public safety department. In fact, we encourage it. I welcome the opportunity to talk with students and community members to share positive ideas,” writes Heikkinen to end her statement.

If you are interested in signing Harstad’s petition you can do so by going to: tinyurl. com/HamlinePetition. Heikkinen said she encourages students to share their ideas and you can do so by emailing her at mheikkinen01@hamline.edu, or the HPS office at security@hamline.edu.

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CAMPUS CHANGES (continued from front)

said. “To think you can avoid change is pretty pie-in-the-sky.”

Dr. Jeff Turner of the Theatre & Dance Department is witnessing changes as well.

He became the chair of the department in the fall of 2020, in preparation for previous chair Bill Wallace’s retirement in the spring of 2021.

“It’s definitely more change… than I’ve experienced in my twenty years,” Turner said.

The Theatre & Dance Department also lost teaching artist and costume shop supervisor MaryBeth Gagner in August. According to Turner, the Hamline administration decided that they were not going to replace Gagner’s position, which has changed the department.

Additionally, Professor Laura Dougherty of the Theatre & Dance Department is on a three-course release, or what Turner calls a “mini sabbatical.”

Dougherty is not the only

professor on sabbatical this year. Cadieux, Art professor Allison Baker and sociology Professor Sharon Preves are all on at least semester-length sabbaticals. These professors will have the chance to catch up on skills, understand changes in their fields of study, conduct research, and pursue further education, Cadieux explains.

Interim Provost Andy Rundquist, who also moved to this position this year from his previous post as Associate Dean of the CLA, explained why students might be seeing more sabbaticals this year. “To be clear, there’s way more sabbaticals this year than last year because we made different budgetary decisions,” Rundquist said.

“That’s actually really exciting professional development that Hamline is going to benefit from.”

However, sabbatical leaves, as well as faculty turnover, have left many departments searching for ways to fill the gaps.

“The pressures of having to do a little bit more with less faculty members is part of that story too,” LeCount said. “Other colleagues at the institution are offering

courses that would have been otherwise taught by Dr. Chepp or Dr. Preves.”

He is grateful for the structures in place that make it easier to deal with these changes.

The Theatre & Dance Department has hired a new production manager, guest scenic designer and costume designer.

“We’re just adapting to the new normal and figuring out the best way to serve our students and provide them with exciting opportunities,” Turner said.

Although these changes may seem sudden to students, in many ways Hamline is reaching for new heights.

“Change is inevitable, whether that’s at Hamline or in the world at large,” Sumera said. “No one is guaranteed any kind of stability anymore in the world, and we can either fight tooth and nail against that, or we can acknowledge that change happens and we can try our best to ensure that what comes out on the other side is productive and helpful.”

News 3

The Oracle | WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2021

Burning a hole in student’s pockets, in theory Hamline work study wages have increased to $12.50 based on St. Paul’s minimum wage ordinance.

Anika Besst News Editor abesst01@hamline.edu Senior Taylor Krassas had spent her junior year hearing whispers of a large pay raise for Hamline’s workstudy students. Some rumors said students would one day receive $15 an hour in coordination with the St. Paul minimum wage ordinance.

It was not until the summer of 2021 that the rumors were confirmed and the first major pay raise was implemented with work study wages going from $11.50 to $12.50 per hour.

“The work-study wage is in coordination with the St Paul ordinance for a minimum wage so we are in a transition period now until 2023,” Payroll Coordinator Halsey Aitchison said.

These increment increases are based on how many employees a company has. Hamline falls into the “Large Business” category which includes businesses having 101 to 10,000 employees meaning the wage will reach $15 by July 1, 2023. These increases will happen every summer with accordance to the academic year.

Work-study is part of a student’s financial aid package, with students either receiving federal or Hamline funding.

With the latest wage increase happening over the past summer, students enjoy having more money for the same amount of time working. Krassas, who works for the Central Service Desk, Piper Xpress and the theatre Box Office, has noticed the benefits of the extra pay when paying bills and buying groceries.

“It’s nice to be able to have a little bit of extra cash in my pocket and still work the same amount of hours,” Krassas said. “I think it’s the right thing [for Hamline] to do especially since, especially at Hamline, finances are a really big issue for a lot of students here.”

These thoughts were echoed by junior Nolan Sherburne who is the light shop manager in the theatre department. As someone who plans to pursue a career in this field, he thinks the work-study program provides a small setting example of what post college could possibly look like. With his managerial role paying him more than his employees, this experience could become a reality for him.

PHOTOS | TALEAH ALLDRITT, ORACLE Above: Manor Hall houses the Payroll Office which is responible for the distribution of paychecks, along with other responsibilities.

Below: Anderson Student Center experiences the Hamline community in all capacities whether it be work study postitions, academics, activities or socializing.

“I am glad to be paid more than I was before, more money is always good. I also know that in different professional jobs, managers often make a little more than other employees so that concept isn’t that strange to me,” Sherburne wrote in an email interview.

Students also hope this is the first of many steps the school continues to make. Senior Theo Hoang, who works for Student Administrative Services, believes Hamline could have done more with everything going on in students’ lives.

“Due to COVID[-19] I think we are deserving of a little bit more... but I understand that if there’s anything that was holding them back from the funds that they could provide, I understand that part but I just need some reasoning,” Hoang said. “I understand it’s weird to follow the St. Paul city’s minimum wage rules but I think students are working hard, and the work and school life balance is like unproportional for us to handle.”

While the hourly wage increased, the overall budget did not, meaning that, in some cases, the number of hours students can work may be more limited than in the past.

“Departments are allotted a certain dollar amount of that work-study that they can use for their student employees, and depending on the department and the need and the usage of that money in years past, that number gets decided each year,” Aitchison said. “So potentially, if the minimum wage is going up and the budget number is not going up, supervisors just have to calculate the number of hours that they have given the total work-study dollar amount that they’re awarded at the beginning of the year.”

This was the case for members of the Hamline Theatre and Dance department, such as Sherburne.

“While I am glad to be paid more, the theatre workstudy budget was not increased, which means I have to cut down my weekly hours by 30% so I don’t go over budget,” Sherburne wrote. “In theatre a lot of time is spent tweaking and adjusting every little thing so that performances can go without issue, and it is definitely stressful knowing I have 1/3 less time to work on productions.”

Coming back for this academic year and their workstudy positions, not all students heard of the change.

Junior Savannah Lyytinen who works at Hamline’s Starbucks enjoys the raise now that she knows about it.

“I’m glad they did that, but they could have communicated it better. I think it would help with other students that are thinking about applying, maybe it would give them more incentive to apply then,” Lyytinen said.

4 A&E

The Oracle | WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2021

Make room for new discoveries Hamline students work with faculty to present at the Hamline Interdisciplinary Research Symposium.

Andrea Lindner Editor-in-Chief alindner02@hamline.edu Every year, students are given the opportunity to participate in Summer Collaborative Undergraduate Research. Students spend 10 weeks of their summer working on a project that they will then present at the Hamline Interdisciplinary Research Symposium during the fall semester.

Junior Maddie Sowinski and Sophomore Josh Sedarski are two students who worked on a research project over their summer. They collaborated with physics professor Dr. Lifeng Dong on optimizing the sensitivity for lead detection in drinking water using Raman spectroscopy.

“Our research focused on finding an accurate and sensitive detection method which is more affordable and accessible—meaning that it can be used in a wide range of communities, especially those that often aren’t targeted for testing,” Sowinski said.

While both Sowinski and Sedarski said that they enjoyed and appreciated the experiences that they had, they also experienced a lot of challenges.

“We were so excited to try all of the ideas we had proposed for nearly all of them to not work out. With

a lot of patience and perseverance, we tried to use these frustrations as motivation to keep searching for what we could find,” Sowinski said. “However, near the end of summer, we finally had a handful of solution combinations that we saw promising Raman signals for, which was very exciting and rewarding.”

Sedarski shared a similar outlook to the situation as his partner did.

“You will fail, and failure isn’t a bad thing. When you’re trying out a new approach to a particular problem, there’s likely a limited pool of information to draw on and so it’s hard to get it completely ‘right’ the first go-round. But even if you fail in this situation, you still learned valuable information that will help you and others get that much closer to a workable solution,” Sedarski said.

While people may typically equate research to the sciences, undergraduate research opportunities are not limited to the STEM fields. Sophomore Ruby Schroeder spent her summer writing a musical based around people with disabilities in theater.

Schroeder’s musical features sections where performers can fill in the blank with whatever applies to them, devised sections where performers can create their own scenes based on a prompt and spots where the script can be adjusted to fit the needs of whoever is performing.

Schroeder, who identifies as disabled herself, noticed challenges in working with her composer Nina Stone, in terms of understanding what disability means.

“It was a lot of me assuming things were common knowledge and her having revelations,” Shroeder said. “That was really great collaboration and I think that’s where a lot of the design came out of.”

She hopes that her audience can better understand the disabled community through her work.

“The point of the musical was not to inspire people in the disabled community [to see] that they can do this, rather it is to show people who have internalized ableism in our society and show them that it is entirely possible and also incredible, very valuable to art, society and community,” Schroeder said.

The Hamline Interdisciplinary Research Symposium will take place in the Anderson forum on September 23 from 11:20 a.m. to 12:40 p.m.

ILLUSTRATION | ANDREA LINDNER, ORACLE

A&E 5

The Oracle | WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2021

Theatre’s enduring soul Despite budget cuts and staffing changes, the head of the Hamline Theatre and Dance Department has high hopes for this year—and big plans.

Robin Doyscher Senior Reporter sdoyscher01@hamline.edu Hamline’s Theatre and Dance Department has faced numerous shake ups over the years, but the current 2021-2022 school year has brought a lot of personnel and direction changes. The Oracle reached out to department chair, Jeff Turner, and program director, Kaori Kenmotsu, to learn about the various plans for productions and adjustments.

The first major change was the retirement of Bill Wallace, the Production Manager and former chair of the department.

Turner has since worked to reshape the department with the absence of Wallace.

“I think he initially announced that he would retire in May 2022. And then in October of 2020, he decided that he would retire a year early,” Turner said. “So that kind of threw us for a little bit of a twist.”

Turner elaborated on how the change has brought about some challenges when it comes to hiring new faculty.

“The concern that certainly we are grappling with is that the administration did not give us permission to kind of start a new hire to be able to hire a design faculty. And, you know, theater programs basically… require a design faculty member,” Turner said.

The current theater scene in the Twin Cities has many personnel whom the department has acquired as guest choreographers and artists. Turner explained that the metropolitan aspect of the Midway area has brought a lot of new blood into the department to help fill the gaps.

“Luckily, we live in the Twin Cities. And we have access to teaching artists and working artists and professional theater artists, who we are able to bring in and provide really wonderful opportunities for our students to learn from working professionals, as well as getting that kind of variety of perspectives

and points of view,” Turner said.

Such guests include Lisa Imbryk, a freelance costume designer and a Hamline alumni with an MFA in costume design. Imbryk has worked with various museums in the Twin Cities. Another new recruit, Justin Thomas, is an academic from Iowa who has worked as a professional lighting designer in larger regional theaters.

Kenmotsu, current senior lecturer and notably the lead choreographer and instructor of Hamline Dance Ensemble, expressed a lot of enthusiasm for the current year despite the losses the department has faced.

“I think we service a lot of students through our production.

With the dance ensemble and the dance program, we serve a lot of students who are not necessarily majoring in theater and dance, but we give them opportunities for artistic work,” Kenmotsu said.

Kenmotsu also stressed the importance of dance as an artistic medium, and the amount of creative freedom the students acquire as essential for its function.

“I think of it more as a co-op, rather than a collective, rather than me as the artistic director, and I direct everything. I see it as a partnership with the students to say, who wants to develop work, how can I support you?” Kenmotsu said.

Kenmotsu announced that new creative partnerships will also involve several Hamline alumni. ”We had so many amazing artists that had graduated from the ensemble, and then they go, for three or four years, into the world and do their own thing. What would happen if we were able to bring in three former company members and pay them?”

Kenmotsu said. ”We actually create a partnership, and a bridge with former company members and current company members.

So like this year, I’m bringing in Mario Ochoa, Kaemella Foster and Sariah Darvillier. They graduated last year, and the year before.”

Hamline’s Theatre and Dance Department, despite various setbacks, plans to return this year with many large-scale productions from both the dance ensemble and its theater, including Our Town, which will likely be shown in November.

Between the new students and new staff, 2021 may prove to be an invigorating year for the Hamline arts programs.

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Jaws 2 “The Jaws movies are the best, specifically Jaws 2. A cinematic masterpiece about the underwater masterpiece: Sharks.”

PHOTO | ANDREA LINDNER, ORACLE Hamline Theatre and Dance prepares for an eventful fall semester in spite of staff changes and other challenges faced by the department.

6 Opinion The trend of militarizing campus security

The Oracle | WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2021

communities.

Now, on one hand, I can see the rationale of more streamlined uniforms given the general political unrest of the Twin Cities (in no small part due to the death of George Floyd), and likely the return of a near full student body back to campus.

However, Hamline is just another university joining the many colleges and universities that have either explicitly or implicitly militarized their campus security officers.

Especially given the fact that campus police have a lot of power and jurisdiction within the bounds of their universities and yet less

Robin Doyscher Columnist sdoyscher01@hamline.edu

The trend of giving public safety more police-inspired uniforms is yet another step backwards in addressing America’s systematic problems with organized law enforcement.

My first day back at Hamline almost fully in-person brought with it two shocks to my system: one, were there always this many people on campus? And two, those public safety officers sure look very different, huh?

It seems that Hamline University has recently changed the look of Public Safety officers to fit more in-line with America’s current standard of policeissued uniforms. Gone are the light brown and beige tones of the former uniforms’ polos, and in are the black bulletproof vests with belts that can potentially hold police weapons.

A recent change.org petition with around 130 signatures states that the uniform change is disturbing given the amount of highly publicized police brutality within our own

“Many students of color, who may have to deal with over-policing in their daily lives offcampus may not feel comfortable with this type of environment being replicated at Hamline.” municipal accountability than regular officers. After George Floyd’s death, many colleges across America including in Michigan, California, Illinois and Connecticut called to disarm or even entirely disband their campus police forces. Many of these campus security officers receive weapons and equipment as forms of federal aid as well.

Hamline University’s place within the greater Twin Cities is within the

thriving cultural hub of Midway, a very predominantly Black, Latine, and Asian area. Many students of color, who may have to deal with over-policing in their daily lives offcampus may not feel comfortable with this type of environment being replicated at Hamline––even if public safety does not act the way America’s police do.

It’s difficult to admit, but a part of me did feel a bit more nervous, and not because I have committed many financial crimes at the height of the 2008 housing crisis (for legal purposes this is a joke), but because I have never truly felt more comfortable with increased police presence, or increased police equipment around. I understand Hamline’s idea, but we have to think about the precedent we’re setting. Students should not feel as though they might be surrounded by potential criminals, and public safety officers should first and foremost be dedicated to the welfare of the student body. Sure, I’m sure there’s at least some annoying PoliSci student that we’ve all wanted to see body slammed into the asphalt, but that’s an intrusive thought, not an actual invitation.

We have an actual opportunity to uphold the tenets of policing that America has seemed to forget–– protect and serve. So, Hamline, please make the decision to let our campus security at least look more inconspicuous, if not for the sake of the students, then for the sake of letting our greater Midway community neighbors know that we are dedicated to displaying the core values that our nation claims and fails to adhere to.

We want to hear from you.

Letters must include submitter’s full name and graduation year (when applicable), be submitted electronically at least three days before publication and must not exceed 700 words.

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The content of the Opinion section does not necessarily reflect the views of the staff.

E-mail submissions to: oracle@hamline.edu With questions, contact: Drew Science 106

Speakout What do you think about the new Public Safety uniforms?

Brian Perez Cortez Sophomore “I’ve never personally had an interaction with Public Safety during my time at Hamline, but the new uniforms make it less likely that I will ever choose to interact with them.”

Donald Birttnen Senior “I think that the uniforms are a bit concerning, they went from being a noticeable public officer to resembling an officer in riot gear.”

Jessie Luévano Senior “I think that the uniforms themselves are not inherently bad, and I understand the need for the bulletproof vest for the officers’ safety. That being said, the all black design and similarities to SPPD uniforms are tone deaf and do cause legitimate fear and a feeling of uneasiness given the community’s sensitivity to the police force and civil unrest last summer. I don’t think that the design was intentionally fear inducing, I just think it’s a bad design given the circumstances.”

Opinion 7

The Oracle | WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2021

Why does the South get so much hate However, one particular conversation stands out to me as the most thought-provoking.

Jacob “Coby” Aloi Guest Columnist jaloi01@hamline.edu

Incest jokes and a sense of northern superiority casts the South in an unfair light.

Over the summer I had the pleasure of working in Boston. Quite honestly it is now one of my favorite cities in the United States and I will definitely be going back soon. I met many interesting people from various walks of life and had lots of deep and intriguing conversations.

Late one night while on an on-call shift, myself and three other colleagues got on the topic of the University of Alabama Football team. For context, all of my colleagues were either New Englanders or West Coasters, and I was the sole islander present. After I said the obligatory “Roll Tide!”, one of my coworkers made a comment about how all the fans of the Crimson were dating their cousins and committing incest. I was taken aback by such a blatant example of northern supremacy thinking.

My colleague’s remark is just an example of the countless jokes I’ve heard made at the expense of the southern United States. Classist, ableist and quite honestly bigoted blanket statements are made about places like Mississippi and Georgia all the time, but truth be told I’ve never understood it.

I think of the south much like I think of the rest of the United States. The hatred I’ve seen from a lot of Northerners, especially liberal-minded white ones, is strange and in many cases uncalled for.

Of course, you cannot separate the south from its dark past. Slavery, Jim Crow, segregation and continued injustices plague the south, and dispropotionatly affect the working class and people of color- to be more specific, Black folks. These have never been and will never be a joking matter and something I believe we should all take seriously.

However, I feel like the majority of the country uses this as justification to mock southerners while not acknowledging their own racist history. Redlining,

Dred Scott, Rodney King, the Central Park seven and the murder of George Floyd are a reminder of how prevalent racism is in America, regardless of location.

Yet, there is this sense of entitlement and superiority the rest of the country has over the south.

Since they were sneaky about their racism they have the moral high ground to look down on the south as a land of inbred, idiotic and bigoted people. To do so is not only hypocritical, but also discounts what the south has created for themselves and that America benefits from.

To me, the south is the home of Jazz. It is the birthplace of soul food, the Miami sound machine, Dolly Parton, Selena, and countless of other movers and shakers in American Culture. It was home to Dr. Martin Luther King, Rosa Parks and the Tuskegee Airmen. As a man of color myself, the south has always been a symbol of culture and a hub for artists looking to connect with their roots.

It is irresponsible to cast any place in a single light, and then use that very skewed idea of a place as a reason to mock it. We have to keep a realistic view of places, we cannot glorify them and we cannot demonize based on narrow concepts rooted in years of normalized bigotry and mockery. The South has its issues, but it also has a vibrant and passionate community and culture, with a long tradition of influential people.

So next time you want to tell an incest joke about Tennesse, maybe skip it and listen to some Dolly Parton instead, you might change your tune.

ILLUSTRATION | ANDREA LINDNER, THE ORACLE

8 Opinion

The Oracle | WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2021

A superlative point towards making progress

Dean Young Columnist dyoung04@hamline.edu

How carefully defined goals are key to making meaningful change.

Recently I began reading the works of English writer Gilbert K. Chesterton. It started out of curiosity; I had heard his name and seen his work in bookstores, but I knew nothing about him or his message. During one free afternoon, I walked up to the third floor of Bush library, blew the dust off a faded book jacket, and began investigating what this writer had to say.

It turns out he said quite a bit--authoring 100 books, 5 plays, and over 4,000 newspaper essays, in

addition to other works. As might be expected from such a prolific output, he covered a diversity of topics: everything from Kipling’s poetry to his essay “Cheese” (wherein he extols cheese’s superb poetic capabilities, among other virtues). While I do not agree with all of Chesterton’s views, one idea in particular that I read that afternoon caught my mind and held my attention; this idea was on the topic of change.

Chesterton recognized that progress must have a recognized end goal in order to determine it’s direction. To say merely that we are “for progress” is not adequate, as we must also know what type of progress we are for; and to know this, we must know where we are aiming. In other words, our principles must guide our progress. Too often, we recognize the need for progress, but have not determined the details for the best possible end; or as Chesterton put it eloquently, “As enunciated today, ‘progress’ is simply a comparative of which we have not settled the superlative.”

The point is well made. We are far better off in our goal for progress if we take the time to determine the best direction, to search through its objective and examine its nuance. The precision and clarity to be gained from this should alone warrant its undertaking. There are some (such as I) who disagree with Chesterton on the type of desired progress, but this does not negate his point; in fact, it makes the point.

In order to have this disagreement, we must recognize the type of progress we wish to underwrite. By better understanding the desired achievement of our change, we will be better prepared to make it happen.

I recently had the opportunity to listen to President Miller address some Hamline students; one of the points she emphasized was the vital need to effect change in the community now, even as we are students. I think her point makes the same case. The first step to enacting the type of progress for which Hamline is known begins with carefully considering the object of our desired reform. The better we know our end goals, the better we can advocate, defend and campaign for our principles, and carry those principles with us into the surrounding community. To simply settle for any wind of change will not always prove productive, and may at times be counterproductive (think of times where simple change has led to one step forward and two steps back). Regress is known to masquerade as progress. When asked if we are “for progress,” after an enthusiastic “Yes!” we might do well to ask in response, “To what end?”

The call for progress is no longer necessary; Hamline has a proud heritage of recognizing the need for productive change. It is now up to us, as young scholars and engaged community members, to determine what that productive change entails. It is within our capacity - and up to our responsibility - to determine the superlative of progress. Given the nature of change, it may be difficult (or even impossible) to know the precise outcomes of anything we affect; yet we must nonetheless know our direction and aim.

Chesterton may have been on to something. Let’s find that superlative.

Small school socializing: dos and don’ts

Will Nelson Senior Columnist wnelson08@hamline.edu

Seven tips for navigating Hamline’s bizarre and treacherous social straits.

E v e n a f t e r t w o years here, socializing at Hamline still feels like walking the surface of one of Jupiter’s moons to me.

With it’s ever-shifting cliques, stark athlete/non-athlete dichotomy, fantastical rumor mill and saga-like melodramas, it’s hard to pinpoint exactly what makes the social scene at Hamline feel so strange– but there’s no doubt that it can be difficult to navigate, especially for first-years.

Heightening this problem is Covid, which has prevented a large percentage of ‘socializing’ from occurring at all, leaving many students feeling isolated and in the

dark.

Though I feel underqualified to do so, I thought I’d write a list of tips that could be helpful to underclassmen, who might feel lost and confused. This is by no means an exhaustive list; just a few things that I’ve found to be beneficial in my limited experience.

1. Be aware of how your background and identity are affecting an environment.

Every space you enter– be it a classroom, dorm room, dining hall or party– you bring with you a specific presence that you must be cognizant of. Race, ethnicity, ability, gender, sexuality and religion all help to make up your identity. If your identity affords you some form of privilege, that fact should never stray far from your mind. Also remember that the only person with a responsibility to educate you on how this privilege should affect your behavior is you.

2. Don’t spread rumors, it’s a small school.

At Hamline, word spreads like COVID-19 at a frat party. Be careful what you say, and be careful who you say it to, especially if kindness is something you value. Besides, it’s bad karma.

3. If you have bad friends, let them go.

There is a vast multitude of good people at Hamline, and no need to waste your time with the bad

ones. If you find out your friends are toxic– or even just not socially compatible with you– find new ones. You don’t owe them anything.

4. Know when to listen and when to stand up.

This one ties back to tip number one. Given your identity, there are times when it’s appropriate to speak out about your experience, and times when you should listen to others and amplify their voices.

There’s nothing more obnoxious than a guy mansplaining feminism to a group of people who have been experiencing misogyny their whole lives. Sometimes it’s best to sit quietly and pay attention.

5. Connect yourself with wellconnected people.

Whether or not you befriend wellconnected people can make or break your success at Hamline.

They have the ability to set you up with resources that will ensure you come out of your college experience a well-rounded and capable adult.

By ‘well-connected people’ I don’t just mean professors– chat with the dining hall workers and the cleaning staff. It’s good to have friends. There are also students who are particularly influential around campus. Look to org leaders and HUSC reps. You’d be surprised at the places it’ll get you.

6. Don’t exaggerate normal things for the sake of drama Hamline University is the most

sexually repressed community I’ve ever been part of (more on this in a later column). I believe that a big part of this is because, since we’re on such a small campus, things get pretty quiet and students have the tendency to grasp onto regular occurrences like sex and oversensationalize them.

Because of this, the community has an inflated perception of the significance of situations like this, and students are hyper-cautious to enter into them. While sex can be incredibly emotionally significant and shouldn’t always be taken lightly, it doesn’t have to be this way for everyone.

7. Lean into your individuality Due to the smallness of this school, it can be terribly easy to find yourself slipping into a certain ‘genre’ of student– liking the same things your friends like, dressing a certain way, following behavior and linguistic patterns… While it’s perfectly ok to enjoy the same things as others, it should never be done in a way that makes you feel ingenuine. No matter who you are, I guarantee you’re tenfold more unique than you think you are. You only have four years here, get weird with it.

I believe these tips will not only lead to a more fulfilling social life at Hamline, but also promote a more tolerant, pleasant and welcoming community for all.

Sports 9

The Oracle | WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2021

Catching up to speed

Hamline athletes have been busy with competition as the fall semester has brought new students, relaxed regulations and a closer-tonormal season.

Cathryn Salis Sports Editor csalis01@hamline.edu All updates are as of Saturday, 9/18. For the most accurate and up to date stats, visit hamlineathletics.com.

Competition came back swinging with the arrival of the fall semester, and Hamline athletes, already weeks into training in preparation for it, are more than ready.

After an entire year without in-season games, the football team is hungry for any and all competition. The Pipers started strong, earning their first home win over Crown College on September 4. The final score was 54–38. Outside of Klas Field, Hamline had organized a cookout for students coming to watch the game and to increase the festivities for the opening game.

The turnout of students was great and the energy in the stadium was high. The Piper football team has two more games coming up before the Homecoming game against Saint Scholastica on October 2.

The women’s volleyball team has been crushing the competition lately, currently 6 and 3 overall. The Pipers played a tournament on September 10, hosting four St. Paul teams at Hutton Arena. Half of the wins the volleyball team currently holds were collected at this tournament. Only against Whitman have the Pipers played more than four sets per game.

The UW Lacrosse tournament spans Friday and Saturday, 9/17–18. Five teams are attending and the Pipers are hoping to walk away with a win or two from this tournament. This will be the last tournament-style competition the Pipers will play in until the MIAC playoffs in November.

The pseudo-season the soccer teams had last year did nothing but fan the flame of competition for both the men’s and women’s players. The men’s team is currently standing at 2–4 and the women’s team is 3–1.

The men’s soccer team has a sizable incoming first-year class, welcoming six new players to the field. Overtime has been necessary in four of the six games played, reflecting the Piper’s relentless fight. Conference games are just around the corner for the men’s team and Hamline is ready to show off our new jerseys to the MIAC. The women’s team started the first day of the semester with a 4–0 win over UW-River Falls at home, and has won every home game since. Non-conference games will end before October starts and the Pipers are looking forward to continuing their two-game winning streak.

The cross country team has four invites this season before the MIAC and NCAA championships start at the end of October. The

PHOTOS | AIDAN STROMDAHL, ORACLE TOP: The new jerseys for the Piper soccer team are unlike any other jerseys on campus. The retro font is unique to this team.

BOTTOM: Senior Robert Cooper of the Hamline men’s soccer team jumps up for a header in the match against Augsburg on September 15, 2021.

w o m e n ’s team competed at the Bethel invite and took

fifth place out of five.

Sophomore Alexandra Maddux took 25th place in the 5K race, leading the Pipers. Hamline walked away with 139 points.

The men’s team also competed at the Bethel invite and put Hamline in place 6 of 7, scoring 184 points. First-year Aric Brodie took the lead for the Pipers in the 5K and finished in 32nd place.

Men’s and women’s tennis teams traveled to Waverly, Iowa to play Wartburg College and Grand View University in a three-team tournament on September 11. Both Hamline teams left with an 0–2 record and are looking forward to the ITA Midwest Regional Tournament on the last weekend of September.

Unlike last year, students are allowed to attend games and support their school in their athletic endeavors. Competition is not the same without the spectators and the Hamline athletic community encourages members of the community to show up and engage with Piper athletics. Learn the Piper Clap and support peers on the field!

PHOTO | AIDAN STROMDAHL, ORACLE The women’s soccer team is having much success on the field with a winning record so far in the season. The team welcomed 11 new players to the field in August, includining first-year Liana Woo from Centennial, Colorado. She played 90 minutes against St. Olaf College, proving to be a massive asset to the team.

PHOTOS | AIDAN STROMDAHL, ORACLE GRAPHIC | LYDIA MEIER, ORACLE The ever-changing regulations and guidelines may become confusing for many students, but the rules for spectators this semester are simple.

10 Sports

The Oracle | WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2021

The future of non-athletics Despite the lifting of certain restrictions, the Bush gyms and weight rooms are still restricted to athletes only. What is available to non-athlete students who need to get their pump on?

Cathryn Salis Sports Editor csalis01@hamline.edu The incoming first-years compose the second Hamline class to start their school year without access to the traditional facilities our athletic buildings offer under normal circumstances.

Once again, Hamline non-athlete students find themselves unwelcome in the gyms and weight rooms of the Walker Field House due to COVID19 restrictions.

Thankfully, the Bush Aerobic center is still set up and open to all non-athlete students and staff.

To those returning this year, the Bush Aerobic center is a familiar facility and the protocol is old news. However, there have been a few changes.

The pickleball courts that were used for individual weight rooms in the spring 2021 semester are no longer being used by Campus

Recreation. Some free weights and two benches have been moved up to the Bush lobby with the rest of the equipment.

Currently, the equipment available to users includes a rack of free weights, two benches, two treadmills, two elliptical machines, one rowing machine and one stationary bike. There are disinfectant wipes at each station and users are asked to clean their machines before and after use, just like a normal gym.

Similar to last semester, users must wear a mask at all times while using the space.

Even while working out, masks are expected to be worn correctly the entire time. This is to maintain a safe space for all users and adheres to the COVID-19 regulations that Hamline follows.

Reservations are highly encouraged however not required this semester. Reservations for 50 minute slots can be made on IMLeagues.com.

You must sign in with your Hamline username and password to access the Campus Recreation page for Hamline. On this page, students can also sign up for intramural sports, an offering that wasn’t available in the last three semesters.

The Aerobic Center is open on weekdays from 7:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m., with the last reservation closing at 8:00 p.m.

Campus Recreation front desk employees are

attending the Aerobic Center and make sure to sanitize the area in the 10 minute break between reservations in order to ensure cleanliness and maintain the safety of the users.

Despite the restrictions that have been affecting campus life for three semesters, temporary facilities such as this are important for the mental and physical wellbeing of the Hamline community and are a testament to the lengths admin is willing to go to support their students in this time.

For a full list of resources and offerings, visit hamline.edu and explore the Current Students tab. Staying active and involved is a great way to maintain social connections and Piper pride despite the ongoing pandemic.

Taking care of one’s body, mind, and physical health is incredibly important during this time.

These spaces are made for this purpose and for the wellbeing of the users.

PHOTO | AIDAN STROMDAHL, ORACLE The Bush Aerobic Center has many posters in the area reminding users of the regulations they are required to adhere to.

PHOTOS | AIDAN STROMDAHL, ORACLE Despite some changes in the set up, the Aerobic Center is very similar to the way it was arranged in the previous semester. Facing the Old Main lawn, the center gets plenty of natural light through the huge front windows. Privacy for the users of the center is maintained by the shades that can be adjusted to fit one’s preference.

The Oracle | WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22,2021

Variety 11

Student’s favorite activities on and around campus Now that campus is bustling with activity again, students share their favorite activities, as well as advice for first-year students.

Kathryn Robinson Variety Reporter krobinsson01@hamline.edu Campus is full of students again rushing between classes, sports and other activities. Many may have forgotten what activities Hamline has to offer, especially since the campus has not been operating at full capacity for over a year. While there is much to do on campus, there is also much to do off campus. Here is a list of many popular spots for Hamline students, as well as words of wisdom from students themselves.

PHOTO | AIDAN STROMDAHL, ORACLE Groundswell cafe, coffee shop and award winning bakery is located in the Hamline Midway area, on the corner of Thomas and Hamline Ave opened in 2009 with the goal of building a stronger community and giving people a cozy place to get to know each other.

Groundswell, located right in the heart of the neighborhood, is a delicious spot to grab a cup of coffee, a delicious sweet treat or a meal. Just a half-mile walk from campus, it is a wonderful place to meet with friends, study or eat. With their many vegan and vegetarian options, it is a great place for all to enjoy.

PHOTO | AIDAN STROMDAHL, ORACLE The blue garden allows for students to grab some fresh air and enjoy the scenery. Here students will find trees to provide shade, benches to take a seat, and a beautiful waterfall sculpture.

On Campus: The Anderson Center is often buzzing with students. The first floor has a Starbucks, Leo’s Corner (the C-Store) and study space. The second floor is the dining area, and lastly, the third floor has more study space and an outside terrace.

Students often love the Anderson Center because of its large open windows, outside space and comfortable study areas.

Lexi Borgesen, a senior, loves to get outside when she can. “Getting outside PHOTO | AIDAN STROMDAHL, ORACLE definitely makes my serotonin go up, especially when I’m stuck inside in class and work,” Borgesen said.

Known for its friendly staff & great variety of Korean and Asian food items. Kim’s Getting outside is something many students find important, and luckily Hamline Asian Market is conveniently located on 689 Snelling Ave. N. has a beautiful campus to do so. “I love going for walks and hanging out in the [Blue] Garden,” Sophomore Carmen Garcia said.

Kim’s Asian Market, Ding Tea and Master Noodle are also popular restaurants.

The Blue Garden is located near Bush Memorial Library and Old Main. Its “I love Master Noodle and right next door is Ding Tea, one of my favorite Boba wonderful nature and serene waterfall make it a perfect spot to relax after a long day. shops,” Garcia said.

Not only does the Midway area offer many food options, but also many places Off Campus: to go to feel like you’re escaping the city. Como Park Zoo and Conservatory is right next door to Hamline and it has many walking paths, sites to see and a zoo to visit.

The Midway area is teeming with both city life and nature escapes. The It is a great affordable option for many students. restaurants on Snelling Avenue and around the Midway area are favorites for Being a first-year student can be a challenging time. Meeting new people, Hamline students. Gingko Coffeehouse is right down the road from Hamline and juggling classes and work and finding things to join can all be hard enough, let is extremely popular among students. alone trying to figure out fun things to do.

“I love Gingko and I go there to do homework,” Borgesen said. They offer “Go to events on campus when they happen and meet new people. Also, if delicious coffee, food and treats. you’re able to get a job on or off campus that will really help with meeting people,” Borgesen said.

Garcia also has some advice for students as well.

“Explore!” Garcia said. “Whether that is with friends or on your own, getting more comfortable in the new environment and community brings a lot of peace and comfort.”

Have fun exploring on and around campus. Please remember to wear your mask inside buildings on campus when you are not eating, as well as follow any local businesses mask and saftey precautions that they may have.

PHOTO | AIDAN STROMDAHL, ORACLE Ginkgos coffee is a great place for students to go study, hang out, and grab some food or drinks. Ginkgos also has live music for its attendees to enjoy while recharging.

Variety 12

The Oracle | WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2021

Girlbossing into the new year The Women’s Resource Center hosts its annual open house to welcome students back with info and button making.

Eliza Hagstrom Variety Editor ehagstrom01@hamline.edu

“Gaslight, Gatekeep, Girlboss,” is printed on eye-catching pins on the third floor of Anderson Center.

Laughter and chatter fills the floor as students come to the Women’s Resource Center’s (WRC) open house.

This event took place on Friday, September 10 from 1 p.m. - 3 p.m.

At this event, students could make buttons, get a wide array of free items and learn about what the WRC does for the campus.

The goal of the event was to both raise awareness of what the center provides to students.

“We talked about the resources that we provide,” Senior sociology and women’s studies major Casey Anderson said, “And just let the students get to know us student workers as well as our new graduate assistant, Reona [Nowden, a grad student from the University of Minnesota Twin Cities studying Maternal and Child Health].”

This is Anderson’s first semester

working with the WRC as the Communications Specialist.

The center provides many resources to students.

“The big ones are free tampons, and pads, and then sexual health products such as condoms, lube, dental dams and pregnancy tests,” Anderson said, “menstrual cups, reusable pads and other similar products [are] in our office as well.”

In addition to showcasing what they provide to students, the event had a pin maker allowing those who came to make as many buttons as they wanted. A wide variety of magazines, papers and prints for people to make were also provided.

“There were so many fun buttons made,” Anderson said, “And it was such a good time to get to know some of the new faces on campus.”

There were freebies, including menstrual product bags, condoms, pens, stickers and pre-made pins.

These items are still available for

PHOTO | ELIZA HAGSTROM, ORACLE An array of stickers and buttons set out for students to take at the WRC event. people to get at the WRC whenever they want. The WRC may have women in its title, but it is open to any and all students who seek out support from them.

The office is open 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Thursdays, and every other weekday it is open 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. Outside of the hours that the office is open, there are also sets of drawers by the office doors with various items for students to take. Alongside these products are many sources about a wide array of issues or topics that students may want information about.

“I would suggest stopping by to reap the benefits of those,” Anderson said. “You can also stop in and our staff can help you with any other resources you might need.”

PHOTOS | ELIZA HAGSTROM, ORACLE LEFT: A pamphlet of services that the WRC provides. RIGHT: Casey Anderson posing with her “Gaslight,Gatekeep,Girlboss” pin.

MIDDLE TOP: Magazines provided for button making at the event. MIDDLE BELOW: Buttons that students could take set

out at the event.