2.17.21

HAMLINE UNIVERSITY | ST. PAUL, MN | 2.17.21 | VOL. 131 | NO. 11 | HAMLINEORACLE.COM

Religio, literae, libertas After months of being in limbo, the religion department no longer exists at Hamline.

Audra Grigus News Editor agrigus01@hamline.edu In May 2019, members of the religion department were called into Dean Marcela Kostihova’s office and were told that their department was being “sunset” — a term used to mean eliminated or discontinued. In the fall of 2020, the department was officially eliminated and realigned into the global studies department.

Mark Berkson, a professor in the religion department for 20 years, said that he looked for answers and a way to make a case for the continuance of the department, but the decision was deemed “non-negotiable” by Marcela Kostihova, the Dean of the College of Liberal Arts.

“Nobody asked for my opinion or my recommendation for anything,” Berkson said. “There had never been a committee recommendation about this, no one had looked into it, there had been no review, it was simply an administrator making an announcement that a department, that has been a part of Hamline for a very long time, a well-regarded department, was simply being eliminated and merged into something else.”

Kostihova said she did consult with faculty, even though she did not have to.

“If I was making changes to a program, then that’s a process that has to go through a faculty committee, but administrative realignment is an administrative decision,” Kostihova said.

However, some believe that the religion department should have a proper review with the combined input of students, faculty and staff.

“There’s a program review going on, my hope would be that religion can be involved in that just like every other program and be reviewed in a fair and transparent way,” said Nancy Victorin-Vangerud, the university’s Chaplain and Director of the Wesley Center. “And if out of that, restructuring needs to happen, I want to support our academic leaders in being creative and adaptive.”

According to Kostihova, the elimination and realignment

PHOTOGRAPHER| AIDAN STROMDAHL, ORACLE The Hamline seal sits over the doorway to the old Hamline library in Giddens Learning Center. Religio refers to religion, literae to literature and libertas to liberty and the liberal arts.

“We were founded with ‘religio’, that was seen as essential in understanding the world in a higher education, collegiate level study,” Victorin-Vangerud said. “‘Religio’ has been in our DNA as an area of study from our founding.”

happened due to “the departure of several of our faculty,” citing that there can be no one-professor departments, which the department would be with just Berkson, as well as “the reduction of the number of students who are seeking a major and minor.”

As reported by Berkson, in spring 2021, there are 23 religion majors, 247 students currently enrolled in religion classes and all 4-credit courses are filled to capacity. While Berkson was the only full-time faculty member in the department for the past two years, he shares the load of the religion department in large part with visiting religion faculty Amanda Furiasse, adjunct and co-advisor for the Oracle Trevor Maine and Victorin-Vangerud.

The program was not granted permission to hire new full-time professors, despite Berkson requesting it with the retirement of professor Earl Schwartz and the leaving of professor Deanna Thompson.

With the loss of departmental status, there are concerns for autonomy, connections with other institutions and their departments, ability to hire faculty in the future and budgetary authority.

“The strength of a department, to the extent that the university remains committed to at least a partial departmental structure, is that it allows for independence, with focus, fortified by a budget,” Schwartz said.

Kostihova has expressed that “we haven’t trimmed the budgets, or taken any restricted or unrestricted funds from religion.”

While the department no longer exists, the religion program itself remains, now under the global studies department.

see RELIGION page 3

For student reactions, impact statements and personal experiences in the religion program, see page 2

To learn about the new pending HUSC resolutions, see page 3

2 News

EDITORIAL & PRODUCTION Editor-in-Chief Carmen Danz Managing Editor Molly Landaeta News Editor Audra Grigus Business Manager Elizabeth Lowe Ad Manager Julien Halabi Design Editor Melanie Hopkins Social Media Director Ella Smith Web Editor Aidan Stromdahl Opinion Editor Mien Le Sports Editor Cathryn Salis A&E Editor Olivia Koski Variety Editor Andrea Lindner Copy Editors Eliza Hagstrom, Lydia Meier Illustrator Leo Coughenour Senior Reporters Kelly Holm, Anika Besst, Robin Doyscher Reporters Nicole Ronchetti, Sarah Sawyer, Ethan Hermann, Jilly Wortman, Leslie Perez, Jack Fischer, Z Martinez, Leslie Perez, Lyla Lee, Kathryn Robinson, Hayden Hayes Senior Columnist Emily Brown, Will Nelson Columnists Hafsa Ahmed, Andrew P Weston, SJ Welch Senior Photographers Melanie Hopkins, Antonio Risso Photographers Lauren Thompson, Emily Lall, Cait Quinn, Aidan Stromdahl, Dasiyah Franklin-Carter Distributor Robin Doyscher

The Oracle | WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2021

Response to realignment Students, past and present, respond to the realignment of the religion program.

Audra Grigus News Editor agrigus01@hamline.edu From day one of his jewish ethics class, as a first-year, current senior Nick Cobian was hooked on religion. Cobian took the class on the recommendation of a friend and never would have expected that he would find himself studying it, along with communications, for the next four years.

“I think there are a lot of students that take these classes, just to see what they’re about, because I think the entire topic relates to everybody’s life in some capacity whether or not you are strictly religious or not,” Cobian said.

Cobian is not the only student to find themselves unexpectedly studying religion.

“My first class was intro to religion with Mark Berkson and that was it, that sealed the deal, I took every class I could with this man,” said Elaina Tueffel, who graduated in 2020 with degrees in religion and anthropology. “I don’t know what I would have done without the religion department. I was able to go to conferences and go to other states and go to retreats, the religion department gave me more of a family and the anthro department gave me my career.”

Hamline students and their families were proud of the department, and in 2019 they gained another when the religion program was recognized by the Bachelor’s Degree Center for being one of the top 25 programs in the nation for religion, sitting at 16.

“I am first generation, so when I found that out, I told my dad and he loves to brag about me… and he was like, ‘I’m also going to brag about that,’” said Estefania Jauregui,

a senior and double major in religion and history.

The first time students became aware that the department may face elimination was in the spring of 2020. In the fall 2020 semester, the religion department was officially “sunset,” and the religion program was realigned under the global studies department.

“I think it really takes away any freedom that we have,” Cobian said. “Especially putting it in the global studies department.

I understand you can’t put it in the biology department, but you might as well, because it waters it down just as much.”

For the first 100 years of a religion program at Hamline it was partnered with philosophy, according to Dean Marcela Kostihova.

“To me, the biggest change with the shift is that religion went from a humanities to a social science,” said Walker Brault, a 2019 graduate with degrees in religion and chemistry. “I think this brings an entirely separate view of religion into the conversation.”

Students had not been made aware of this administrative change until recently.

“No one was consulted, none of the students, and the university runs because of the students,” said Jauregui. “We pay and we weren’t consulted on anything. I had to get an email from my professor and not the administration.”

There is some doubt about how lack of interest could be a reason for the elimination and realignment of the department.

“I really don’t know why religion would be one of the first ones to be targeted, if you see the numbers, religion was doing so good,” Jauregui said. “Everyone kind of wants to take the classes. The classes that I’m in right now, they’re all packed. They’re like 20-30 students.”

Cobian tried to look at this elimination

and alignment objectively and still finds himself at the conclusion that “none of it makes sense.” Now that the religion program is no longer independent, their hiring power, which they are approved for by the administration, has gone away.

“With Hamline not hiring any new professors, there was a lack in courses,” Tueffel said. “[Berkson] basically was the only professor, so he couldn’t teach all of his courses, and then we got Amanda, so it was easier for him to teach. But with two professors in one department, they can’t really keep up on all that.”

This lack of independence also impacts who controls the budget and where it ultimately goes. Religion students are required to take a 1-credit colloquium class, and within that class students are provided meals.

“That’s one of the most beneficial courses that the religion department offers for majors and minors,” Tueffel said. “Granted we don’t need the dinner, but we need the dinner.

It makes such a difference. It also helps students who are adults living off campus paying for their own food.”

According to Berkson, “colloquium is one of the ways that the department builds community.” But since the budget is no longer their own, they will have to get permission for future use. This is just one of the many concerns students have about the future of the program, and students are still pushing for the department to be given a chance to make their case.

“Hamline should absolutely give the religion department back to itself,” Tueffel said. “I understand they have to make money because they’re a business, which is also a joke, but unless they’re going to merge every single three different majors… it’s not okay.”

Advisers David Hudson, Trevor Maine

POLICIES

T he Oracle has been published by Hamline

students since 1888. The paper is funded through a student fee levied by the university’s Student Media Board. We are a public forum. The opinions expressed within are not necessarily those of the student body, faculty or staff. We do not discriminate in employment.

Our mission To cover news, trends, events and e nte r t ainm e nt re l ev ant to H am lin e undergraduate students. We strive to make our coverage accurately reflect the diverse communities that comprise the student population.

Corrections The Oracle welcomes correc tions of quotational and factual errors. Please send such commentary to: oracle@hamline.edu and place “Correction” in the subject line.

Direct advertising inquiries to oracle@hamline.edu.

The Oracle accepts most print and insert requests.

1536 Hewitt Ave. MB 107 St. Paul, MN 55104 oracle@hamline.edu hamlineoracle.com issuu.com/theoracle1888 (651)523-2268

PHOTO| AIDAN STROMDAHL, ORACLE Professor Mark Berkson and his students (top to bottom (L-R): Mark Berkson, Nicholas Cobian, Madalyn Hembre, Jaraide DossaviAlipoeh, Estefania Jauregui, Fatumo Mohamed) stand together knowing the religion program has been realigned into the Global Studies Department.

News 3

The Oracle | WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2021

Times are a’changing for HUSC

Two new student congress resolutions have been made, changing role titles and fund bylaws.

Anika Besst Senior Reporter abesst01@hamline.edu

Since the fall semester of 2020, two major HUSC resolutions have been made. One of which changes the titles of president and vice president and the other to make rules and regulations to the Collaboration Fund.

The co-president resolution will be voted by students from March 2 to 4. If this passes, the titles will be referred to by large as “co-presidents,” starting with the rest of this semester.

In the co-president resolution, it breaks down the roles into internal and external presidents adhering to the responsibilities they each cover. The current “president” role will become the “external president” which applies to meetings they attend with the administration or trustee members, while the “vice president,” to be “internal president,” relates to all they do within general assemblies and other HUSC and student connections.

“I would describe it as making the titles of our executive team more equitable and to match with what our roles really are. Cece and I are more co-leaders than any sort of hierarchy. We have the same amount of responsibilities… so it’s just to be more equitable in our titles,” said Kaia Ziegler, president of HUSC and co-author of the resolution.

Multiple HUSC members mentioned this would help both roles to be seen as equal which would encourage there to be an additional students in meetings with the Board of Trustees and administration, allowing for more student representation for the entire Hamline student body.

“What you want out of [this] is to have an equitable administration, so if we are [an] administration that says we want to have accessibility, transparency and equity, I think that falls into not only stipends, not only into time and opportunity and delegation of roles but also falls into titles and how they are perceived by people,” said Grace Ryan, former HUSC executive board member, current technology coordinator and public relations chair.

Another student organization on campus to operate with this co-president model is Dance Marathon. HUSC observed Dance Marathon when making this resolution as well as talking to past HUSC presidents and vice presidents, staff and advisors on campus.

Religion

PHOTO| COURTESY OF GRACE RYAN Current vice president Cecelia Miller (L) and president Kaia Zeigler (R) have proposed change their HUSC positions to be co-presidents, pending the success of their resolution.

“I hope it demonstrates to the rest of the student body that HUSC is willing to grow and change when necessary ...[T]hat’s what we have been aiming to do a lot this year and the past recent years,” said Raina Meyer, sponsor of the resolution and HUSC political affairs committee chair.

The other resolution makes regulations to one of HUSC’s funds. HUSC has a number of different funding categories that each serve unique purposes: Contingency, Conference, Challenge and, the newest, Collaboration. The Collaboration Fund is not only for monetary support but also offers HUSC’s help with advertising, support and volunteering.

“I wanted to introduce this bill because I think the distribution of HUSC funds directly impacts the student body since we are fully funded by the student fee,” said Cecelia Miller, HUSC vice president and co-author of fund resolution. “We want to make sure student money is going back to students in the best way possible as they

(continued from front)

“We were not, at this point, proposing any kind of reductions to the program, elimination of the study of religion, or the ability of students to do the major or minor,” Kostihova said. “I’m not willing to take the chance that because it’s dwindling, and the number of faculty is shrinking, that it’s not supported appropriately.”

There is some concern for other motivations behind the elimination of the department.

“My worst fear is if there’s a suspicion or devaluation of religion, as an academic subject, because it’s a controversial area,” Victorin-Vangerud said.

Schwartz has his own theories.

“The administration has been relatively frank about this with admissions concerns,” Schwartz said. “That placing that religious heritage too close to the front of what Hamline is about might discourage enrollment in certain potential sectors of what could be identified, unfortunately, as a market. It has to do less with identity and more with first impressions.”

Students and faculty can expect to see continued administrative changes to their departments in the future.

have entrusted us with the keeping and distributing of the funds they provide.”

Historically, some of the money from this fund has been used for events that HUSC partnered with or for research projects student’s conduct that can benefit the whole student body. Due to COVID-19, creative ways of using such money are encouraged since in person events are more complicated.

“I hope that a lot more students apply. I think it is one of those under-utilized funds at this point with a lot of room for students to do a lot of good work. So really it is about making sure students know it exists and making sure that a lot of different people can use it for a lot of different things,” said Jessie Luévano, economic affairs chair.

If there are any questions or concerns about these resolutions, HUSC can be reached at husc@hamline.edu or at their website https://www.husc.hamline.edu/.

“It’s not that religion is being targeted more or differently than any other program, there are a number of other programs that are in a similar situation, it’s just that the faculty here are not necessarily as receptive to change as faculty in other areas,” Kostihova said.

Berkson’s one request has been for a fair chance to fight for the existence of the department.

“What I won’t accept is a decision being made without any faculty input, which completely denies the very idea of shared governance, which the institution claims to value,” Berkson said. “To me, it was a due process question, we were never given a process. My demand ever since has been ‘let us have a process.’”

Berkson also expressed a fear that if a lack of due process can happen to them, it could happen to other departments as well.

“It’s a fearful time and I think faculty in all the departments and programs have a certain amount of fear and trepidation with what’s going to happen to our future as a university,” Victorin-Vangerud said.

Religion has been a central part of Hamline’s identity, as a Methodist-affiliated university, since its founding. The department worked in conjunction with philosophy for the first one hundred years and has been independent ever since.

“I think it is in the university’s interest in very, very important ways to think and rethink carefully what loss of the department would mean,” Schwartz said. “What it means academically, as a part of the university’s mission; socially, as a place in the larger social environment of the campus community; and I think in the life of alumni, in relationship to the larger community.”

4 News

The Oracle | WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2021

Political platforms, the pandemic plan Campaigning and voting for Hamline’s student congress have changed in response to the pandemic.

Nicole Ronchetti Reporter nronchetti01@hamline.edu To face the organizing challenges created by the pandemic, HUSC has changed its election process to both align with COVID-19 safety measures and accommodate some of the resulting difficulties that potential candidates might encounter.

Now entirely virtual, information about the upcoming election has been shared primarily through email and HUSC’s social media accounts, letting students know when the process began and how to get involved.

Hamline students interested in running for an elected position had to complete their application electronically, including the portion requiring candidates running for president and vice president to collect signatures from their peers showing their support.

This portion of the process had the most significant change made to it this year.

Previously, candidate teams were expected to gather 50 signatures, but the number has been reduced to 15 signatures collected on a google form to help students meet their goal without in person campaigning.

“In the past, students have been able to walk around campus and talk to students about their platform,” said Raina Meyer, a sophomore and HUSC’s Political Action Chair.

One of the considerations that led to this requirement being decreased was the concern that it would be harder to raise awareness and engage with other students in a virtual setting.

“We decreased the amount of signatures, just because we figured it would be a lot harder to get people to sign online,” said Cecelia Miller, junior and vice-president of HUSC. Miller explained that because so much of life has been forced to move online, it can be difficult for students to keep track of everything that comes through their email, including important information around student elections.

“Most people are just so overwhelmed with the number of emails and social media that are being pushed, so it’s really hard to get outside participation and opinions from different groups of students,” Miller said. “It’s so easy now to just not read an email.”

Because of this, both HUSC and any potential candidates have to adapt to the new version of campaigning and sharing information, including the strengths and weaknesses of online communication.

“The campaigning aspect of everything is going to be a lot more challenging,” said Kaia Zeigler, a junior and president of HUSC. “People are going to have to do a lot more targeted outreach.”

Illustration | LEO COUGHENOUR, ORACLE HUSC has been working on different strategies to help address this problem, primarily through virtual events and social media, though emails will remain an important part.

Among them are two presidential debates where the candidate teams can answer questions from students and explain their platforms. The events, the final of which will be held on Feb 23, will be recorded and later posted for easy access.

The voting itself will take place over two days beginning on March 2, and like in previous years will be done online with a link sent out through email. Along with the elections for HUSC positions, there will also be a constitutional amendment under consideration that changes the leading roles of HUSC to the internal and external president.

“It’s really important to be involved in this election,” Meyer said. “Make sure you keep an eye out for HUSC related emails.”

Make your voice heard Check your email for information on candidates and further instructions on how to vote spring 2021!

The Oracle | WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2021

Ad 5

INQUIRE AT ORACLE@HAMLINE.EDU

6 A&E

The Oracle | WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2021

The Supremes’ profound effect on popular music The group’s influence on music as a whole can be felt throughout our modern times.

Robin Doyscher Senior Reporter sdoyscher01@hamline.edu With the death of Mary Wilson, one of the co-founders of the soulful supergroup “The Supremes,” American pop-culture media has been reflecting on the influence of this very popular Motown group on music as a whole. Motown had a profound impact on pushing Black music further into the collective consciousness of society, as well as normalizing Black artists as bonafide celebrities.

The Supremes were originally known as “The Primettes,” and were a quartet composed of Mary Wilson, Diana Ross, Florence Ballard and Betty McGlown. The girls met when they were 15 years old, and through neighborhood connections found themselves doing backup vocals on more established Motown singers’ records. Eventually, Barbara Martin replaced McGlown and thus, The Supremes were born in 1961. Signed to Motown Records, the group would rival The Beatles in popularity. They were the first American group to have three number one hits from the same album: ‘Where Did Our Love Go’, ‘Baby Love’ and ‘Come See About Me’.

Even though The Supremes would have ten total members over the years — Ross’s sudden solo career and other factors would push the group in many different directions — the group managed to stay relevant in popular culture in a way most Motown artists would have killed for. Part of it was their glamorous image —the sparkly beaded and crystal-covered dresses, big hair turned up to eleven and their ballroom queen aesthetic, pushed by the marketing genius and Motown founder known as Berry Gordy Jr. The movements of later Disco, 80’s funk and

PHOTO | COURTESY OF NEW YORK TIMES

“The Supremes inspired new generations of songwriters to see themselves as the stars of their own artistic galaxies. ” R&B would be shaped by The Supremes. From Beyoncé to Kelly Rowland to The Pussycat Dolls, in a world where Black women, and all women of color, are not always given the opportunity to shine as brightly as they deserve, The Supremes inspired new generations of songwriters to see themselves as the stars of their own artistic galaxies.

Black girl groups modeled after The Supremes would see a PHOTO | COURTESY OF POPRUNNERS surge in popularity. Both TLC and ‘Where Did Our Love Go’ was The Supremes’ second studio album, Destiny’s Child were seen as worthy successors that pushed for a more released in 1964. Three of the group’s albums reached the number one modern take on R&B. Thanks to spot on the Billboard 200. this constant evolution of Black art,

the 2010’s have seen the rise of female rappers to heights that were once thought unachievable. The Supremes broke the glass ceiling and allowed many talented Black women to follow them to the upper echelons of fame and acclaim in America’s music industry.

PHOTO | COURTESY OF NAPLES DAILY Mary Wilson was a founding member of The Supremes, as well as a best-selling author and prominent activist. Wilson passed on February 8 of this year at age 76.

A&E 7

The Oracle | WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2021

Unproductive criticism film review: Malcolm and Marie Netflix celebrates Valentine’s Day with a visceral depiction of abuse.

CONTENT WARNING: Mentions of psychological abuse Ethan Hermann Reporter ehermann03@hamline.edu The decomposition of any once-promising relationship is an experience that leaves the participants with conflicting yet complex feelings, and “Malcolm and Marie” is no different.

Sam Levinson’s (creator of Euphoria) take on a verbally abusive relationship offers an authentic window view into a calamitous bond between John David Washington’s Malcolm and Zendaya’s Marie. Initially, the caustic exchange is a powerful representation of a relationship where “unhealthy” as a description would be an understatement. The lovers accost each other with lacerating words. They belittle each other. They gaslight. They attack insecurities. They are equally cruel. This demonstration of pervasive harm in relationships is as fascinating and intriguing as it is distressing. But, like a decaying relationship, the early stages of infatuation are the superficial layer that does not last. At a certain point in “Malcolm and Marie,” it becomes apparent that the entirety of the film’s substance is in the couple’s bickering.

Once the film’s value withers, the viewer is in the same position as the film’s titular characters wondering why they are staying.

If there is anything to take away from the one hour and forty-six-minute diatribe, it is that Sam Levinson’s poignant criticism of toxicity in relationships lays considerable groundwork for conversation. There really are no sides to be taken in the characters’ dissonance because their irrevocable verbiage functions as a highlight to the complexity of an abrasive relationship rather than to question who’s right and who’s wrong.

This is what the film is most successful at. There is never a point where the viewer is told what to think or how to feel because its purpose is solely to evoke a genuine reaction to a common problem in relationships. Because the film refuses to pander, the audience is forced to make their own assessment of the situation and introspectively discuss the film’s themes. The movie is quite simply a fight that the viewer is thrust into. As Malcolm exclaims, “Cinema doesn’t need to have a [obscenity] message. It needs to have a heart and electricity.”

While I think Malcolm is right, he is calling attention to the film’s overwhelming flaw. A film does not need to have a message or a narrative, it is purely a medium of expression, arguably the highest form, so there is no checklist or uniform to abide by. That said, expression can lack depth and is not safe from criticism. As engrossing as it is to witness such an accurate imitation of something, the act gets stale. Malcolm’s explosive lambasts are entertaining, Marie’s palpable pain is PHOTO | Courtesy of NETFLIX effectively harrowing and John David Washington and the display is life-like, but there is substance fleeting Zendaya star in Netflix’s new film every second the audience ‘Malcolm and Marie’. begins to realize those are the only tricks this pony has. The film offers a conversation, but it is not participating in it.

The performances in this film are irrefutably what carries it. Washington fully shows his potential in the craft with his constant control of voice and impressive ability to recite longwinded rants, and Zendaya is captivating as she showcases her range. Together they create an interaction so real that you forget you are watching actors. To Levinson’s credit, the pair are working with a script that allows them to exhibit their skill. The verbose back in forth is almost musical regardless of whether or not it is meaningful. If it weren’t for Marcell Rev’s gorgeous cinematography, I would say Levinson’s lyrical prose is better suited for theater. The choice of Black & White encapsulates the film’s simplicity and accentuates the dialogue as the focal aspect of the movie. Despite the film’s lack of substance and weaknesses in social longevity, “Malcolm and Marie” is not short of some success. The accurate portrayal of abuse is excruciating to watch and the nuanced performances elevate that authenticity.

STUDENT PUBLICATIONS The Fulcrum

Instagram: @fulcrumjournal

Untold Magazine Instagram: @hamlineuntold

Her Campus

Instagram: @hercampushamline

HU Radio

Instagram: @hu_radio

STAFF PICK OF THE WEEK TOPIC: St. Paul Coffee Shops Lydia Meier Copy Editor

Nina’s Coffee Café

PHOTO | COURTESY OF VARIETY John David Washington’s “Malcolm” and Zendaya’s “Marie” portray a complicated romance, fraught with mutual psychological abuse.

“In terms of atmosphere, Nina’s is unparalleled.

Serving cortados and cappuccinos in a 19th century building on Cathedral Hill, the space is open and bright. I reccommend trying the ‘F. Scott’ coffee from an arm chair in the indoor balcony.”

8 Opinion Cancel culture: a response to a bigger issue

The Oracle | WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2021

and complex. There is a new scandal almost every day on YouTube and TikTok. Some are funny like Jake Paul wrestling an actual wrestler…and winning for some reason. But, most scandals are serious and often harmful to people.

It would take all day to list all of the YouTube scandals that just happened during the pandemic and honestly, some of them are super disgusting.

But whenever a YouTuber Emily Brown Senior Columnist ebrown15@hamline.edu

Freedom of Speech is not a free pass for online bigotry and abuse.

A POPULAR PHRASE that is often thrown around on the internet is “cancel culture.” In 2019, John McDermott of “The New Yorker” defined cancel culture as: “People who have been thrust out of social or professional circles in this way — either online or in the real world or sometimes both — is “canceled.” Cancel culture has an effect on both a big and small scale. Some of the most infamous examples of being canceled are Bill Cosby and Harvey Weinstein. Cancel culture isn’t a new idea — the name is. With the rise of cancel culture, there has been backlash.

While cancel culture exists with celebrities, I want to focus on influencers because I think it’s more interesting

“The myth of cancel culture being toxic is rooted in racism and oppression.” messes up and gets rightfully called out for their mistakes, their fans come out of the woodworks to defend them, regardless of what they did.

So, what are people being canceled for? Racism, ableism, bigotry, false accusations — and that is only a handful of things.

One of the most popular examples of cancel culture on YouTube is Logan Paul going to the Japanese Suicide

Forest, filming a dead body and uploading it to YouTube.

While he got the backlash he rightfully deserved, he still managed to bounce back. He still has millions of subscribers and his own podcast.

There have been countless people who get “canceled’’ and are still on YouTube and living it up in multi-million dollar mansions. In fact, multiple people online rely on cancel culture to stay relevant.

Scandal sells, always has and always will.

There has been this narrative around cancel culture that is toxic and it censors people unfairly. Two common phrases I hear are “how can you expect people to grow?” and “This is unjust censorship.”

At t h i s p o i n t , c a n c e l culture has become a meme.

Whenever YouTubers get called out, they often say that “cancel culture is toxic.” But, it’s really oppressed people holding their oppressors accountable for the stuff they say and do.

The myth of cancel culture being toxic is rooted in racism and oppression. So, when a person says cancel culture is toxic, they really want to say “I’m angry that I just can’t spread my bigotry and abuse all over the place.”

Counter cancel culture is toxic and hypocritical. We need to raise up the voices of the oppressed and hold the oppressors accountable.

Speakout What do you think about Hamline’s COVID-19 preparation plan dropping down to Level 2?

Anthony Meng Sophomore “As a student who is currently remote and at home, I find the shift in Hamline’s COVID-19 preparation to be really good news. It is clear that members of the Hamline community are working hard to not create spikes in transmission rates. However, even with this shift in mind, we cannot remain complacent and ignore public health measures.

Keep wearing your mask (over your nose!), social distance and make wise choices! Hopefully, we’ll return to some level of normalcy. But, we still have work to do!”

Mae Yurecko First-year “I think that dropping down to level 2 is a good step towards moving forward. Also, I think that it might have been a little too soon to drop so low since we will probably get another surge of cases.”

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.

The Oracle does not edit Letters to the Editor, but reserves the right to withhold publication of letters.

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

Mark Berkson Professor of Religion Department “It’s nice to know that we’re moving in the right direction, and with the vaccine rollout underway, we have reason to be hopeful. But we have to remain vigilant and not let our guard down, as one lapse can change everything. Masks are our friends! The more we remain safe and follow the guidelines, the faster we can return to normal, which will be a cause for jubilant celebration.”

Opinion 9

The Oracle | WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2021

In defense of horse girls and Nickelback fans

Will Nelson Senior Columnist wnelson08@hamline.edu

Why you should embrace your ‘guilty pleasures.’

I SAW AN ant on the floor of the bathroom last Tuesday morning. His path wound wildly and randomly across the tiled floor, making loops and switchbacks. After several minutes of watching, he was in the same place he started.

I briefly wondered why he was taking such an inefficient path. But I quickly realized that he must not know when he’s gone in circles. If I’m not

careful, I’ll occasionally end up doing the same thing when I’m walking in the forest. It’s hard to tell where you’re going from where you are.

What seemed obviously misguided from my angle on the toilet seat was perfectly logical from millimeters above the crisscrossing tile.

Maybe, I thought, that’s what my life looks like from above.

How would I know if I’m going in circles? Am I wasting away my life?

Sitting on the toilet, in crisis and close to tears, I thought back on a tweet posted by some soccer player in 2015: “Life is too short to pretend you don’t like Taylor Swift’s songs.”

Thinking about that tweet made me feel a lot better. When I first decided that I liked Taylor Swift, some of my friends at the time — indie kids — ridiculed me for it. They’d mock me for having superficial music taste, then go back to gatekeeping Tame Impala. I’ve noticed that they’ve gotten awfully quiet about their distaste for Swift since Folklore dropped, but that’s beside the point — I realized that it felt better to be

scorned for my taste than to try to suppress it.

I began to understand horse girls– they’re aware of the stereotype surrounding them, but to acknowledge them and change their behavior would mean suppressing their passion for something. They understand that taunting is preferable to bending to the will of society.

Horse girls are based.

It’s the same way with Nickelback fans. It’s fun to laugh at them, but at the end of the day, they’re the ones who’ve managed to hold out against the colossal pressures of a culture that’s hellbent on invalidating their personal taste.

Throughout society, there are instances of this happening — some more serious than others.

The idea of ‘guilty pleasures’ is horrifying. It implies that there are certain things — TV shows, bands, general interests — that popular culture holds in such low regard that anyone who likes them should simply pretend like they don’t. It’s a serious suppression of individuality and self-expression and probably shouldn’t be taken as lightly as it is.

We carry on making secret playlists, using Incognito tabs to watch romcoms or animes and acting embarrassed when someone catches us singing Kelly Clarkson in the car as if we’re okay with living that way.

But I think it’s unacceptable.

If you like something, like it hard. Show it. Tell everyone you know about it. Talk to your lab partner about the Percy Jackson fanfic you’re into. Explain the evolution of One Direction’s discography to your coworkers.

Never feel embarrassed or guilty about something you enjoy, because people who are obnoxiously passionate about something are still infinitely more interesting than people who aren’t passionate about anything at all.

Maybe we are just like that ant, running in meaningless circles on the gritty bathroom floor of a college dorm. Maybe our lives don’t lead anywhere at all and the only thing we can do is enjoy ourselves. Why waste time feeling bad about liking something?

Fighting off the winter blues

Hafsa Ahmed Columnist hadmed10@hamline.edu

How to make it through until spring.

THE SHORT AMOUNT of light throughout the day of light throughout the day and the dark, murky mornings really bring melancholy to the already cold winter. Feeling this sense of dread and sadness with light notes of exhaustion throughout most of the winter can be common in most of us. I personally feel most alive during autumn and summer,

where the warm hug of sunlight and light breezes are so unlike the frigid temperatures of winter.

Oftentimes, it’s winter that keeps me in these slow dull episodes, but I wondered if there were other cases as well. Extreme cases that go beyond the feeling of season blues can be categorized as SAD when diagnosed by a professional.

SAD, also known as Seasonal Affective Disorder, is a mood disorder characterized as having to deal with similar symptoms of depression during a certain period or season of the year. To be diagnosed with SAD you need to have at least five of these nine symptoms: having less energy, trouble concentrating, fatigue, greater appetite, wanting to be alone, sleeping more than usual and weight gain. Although, the symptoms need to happen for the same period of time/season for at least two years to cause worry or a need for a check up.

These symptoms can also vary depending on what season the disorder takes effect. Winter to spring is the most common,

but some people do show these symptoms in the summer. SAD is also inheritable within a person’s family, with women ages 18-20 being most affected by this disorder.

Men do experience SAD but their symptoms are often varied and hard to point out.

Even if you do not have such an extreme case, with the lack of sunlight,increase of workload and stress throughout the semester, it’s natural for many students to feel the winter blues. Here is some information to help you combat these winter blues, or at least live through it until spring comes.

It’s important, like with many other mental and emotional things, that we see it as a problem, and recognize if it has been repeating itself. If you or a friend’s winter blues happen around the same period of time for two or more years, please seek help from a professional.

Other things that often help are opening the curtains to let sunlight in, taking a breather outside to help you get some light and staying connected with

loved ones for support. A regular bedtime is crucial when it comes to helping these sluggish days. If you’re reading this, I am not saying to drop your assignment or late night 2 a.m. research paper, just simply try to find a better time.

Creating balance is important as well, so create a bit of a routine to help. I am a more lenient and timely person but I despise time block schedules. To help with scheduling, I make a list of three to four priorities and a few maybes.

Please, don’t forget above all that your mental and emotional well being also need to be looked after and that it’s okay to get the winter blues.

If you or someone you know may be dealing with SAD or any other mental issues, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration can help. They are a free 24/7 treatment referral and información service in both English and Spanish.

SAMHSA’s National Helpline – 1-800-662-HELP (4357) https://www.samhsa.gov/findhelp/national-helpline

10 Sports

The Oracle | WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2021

A new workout space for the new year Hamline creates a new space for students, staff and faculty to workout in a COVID safe environment.

Jilly Wortman Sports Reporter jwortman01@hamline.edu

PICTURE THIS: IT is a new year and your resolution is to partake in a healthy lifestyle.

However, we are still in the midst of a global pandemic and you, a Hamline student, do not know where you can work out in a safe environment.

Look no further thaan the Bush Aerobic Center.

It is up and running for all students, faculty and staff. Since Walker Fieldhouse and the normal weight room is being reserved for student athletes, Hamline has converted Bush Center and both of the racquetball courts in Walker Field House into individual weight rooms.

There is a registration process that every person must complete to reserve a time for working out.

“The reservation process was really easy,” said first-year cross-country athlete and Oracle writer Hayden Hayes.

A reservation can be made up to a week before your desired time and each time slot is for a fiftyminute period. There is also an option to join a waitlist for a time slot that has already been filled.

In this new COVID-friendly gym, there are two treadmills, two elliptical machines, one bike and a weight room fully supplied with all weight equipment, all of which have been properly spaced out.

In order to keep the people of Hamline safe and healthy, there are multiple guidelines for this new

gym set up. Masks are always required, even while working out. They are also asking every person who uses a piece of equipment to wipe everything down once they have finished using it.

“The student worker also wipes down all the equipment after each shift which is really nice,” said Hayes.

Along with those guidelines, they also have a limited number of reservations available. For the aerobic center, there are up to five possible people at a time. Meanwhile for the weight room, there are only two reservation spots available.

“I was actually all by myself each time I have gone because of the number of times available,” said Hayes.

Another step the recreation center is taking is they will have a student worker monitoring the door at the top of each hour to allow students in, this will prevent foot traffic and keep capacity at a minimum.

The hours for the Bush Aerobic Center are 8 a.m.-8 p.m. every Monday through Friday and 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Sundays. At this time, they are not open for operation on Saturdays. Those interested in registering can do so by logging into imleagues. com and selecting the “Aerobic & Weight Room Reservations” tab on the top of the screen.

PHOTOS | CATHRYN SALIS, ORACLE TOP: Each machine is equipped with sanitizing wipes to prevent the spread of anything from one machine user to the next. Each user is asked to wipe their machine down after use and the Rec Desk employees also ensure the cleanliness of each machine.

BOTTOM: Exercise machines have been moved to the lobby of the Bush Walker Building, separated from the rest of the building with cloth fencing and ample signage. Each machine is distanced appropriately to keep users safe.

PHOTOS | CATHRYN SALIS, ORACLE TOP: The Bush Walker Building lobby provides an excellent view of the Giddens Alumni Learning Center and Old Main as well as lots of sunlight for the users of the Aerobic Center to enjoy.

BOTTOM: Informational signs and posters are spread throughout the lobby with instructions to make a reservation at the Aerobic Center and other services provided by the Recreation Desk at this time.

The Oracle | WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2021

Weekly MIAC round-up Cathryn Salis Sports Editor csalis01@hamline.edu

Men’s Basketball vs Saint Mary’s (Feb. 1, 2021) L 66-77 The Hamline men’s basketball team lost to the Saint Mary Cardinals in Hutton Arena after leading the first half in an intense back-and-forth. In the second non-conference game of their season, the Cardinals seemed to have caught a second wind at the start of the second half as the Piper’s shooting accuracy fell.

The first half ended at 39-33, with Pipers holding the largest lead of the game so far. However, in the first three minutes of the second half, the Cardinals scored 11 points and kept their lead the rest of the match.

Junior Luke Siwek outscored all athletes in the match and put on an impressive show in the first half, shooting 75.0% and gaining 22 points for Hamline. Other starters included senior Micheal Dillon with his first double-double of the year, Sophomore Marshall Holland shooting 100.0% in his free throws, Junior Jake Larson and Trey Prince.

Men’s Hockey vs Augsburg (Feb. 4, 2021) L 2-5 After leading for two periods, the Pipers fell to Augsburg in the final frame after the Auggies scored 4 times, tying it up within six seconds after taking the opening faceoff. The Auggies scored the first goal of the game but Hamline answered in the second period, scoring their only two goals of the game.

Hamline goalie sophomore Kevin Lake had a career-high of 38 saves in net, but was pulled in the end of the last frame to add another skater. Auggies took advantage and scored on an empty net to finish the game at 5-2.

The two goals for Hamline were scored by sophomore Andrew Erwin

Sports 11

Events WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 17 Women’s Hockey vs. St. Thomas St. Pauil, Minn.

7:30 p.m.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 18 No events.

PHOTO | COURTESY OF HAMLINE ATHLETICS and first-year Joe Collins. This was Collins’s first career goal at Hamline.

Junior Brenden Sheehan, senior Zak Lambrecht and sophomore Erik Dahl all recorded assists.

Women’s Swim and Dive vs Gustavus Adolphus (Feb. 6, 2021) L 13.0-281.0 The women’s swim team faced Concordia, Augsburg and Gustavus in this meet hosted by Gustavus, falling to Concordia and Gustavus but finishing ahead of Augsburg.

Sophomore Sarah Wood led the team. Wood placed second in the 200 Breaststroke with a time of 2:40.61 and third in the 100 Breaststroke with a time of 1:12.88. Wood joined sophomore Sidney McCutchen, junior Lilah Fischer and sophomore Aubrey Chavarria to finish 7th in the 200 Medley Relay with a time of 2:07.18.

Sophomore Courtney Broyles placed third in diving on the 1M and 3M boards.

Men’s Track and Field vs Saint John’s (Feb. 7, 2021) Last, 55 points The men’s track and field team competed against Saint John’s and Division II Southwest Minnesota State,

PHOTO | COURTESY OF HAMLINE ATHLETICS

earning third place with a composite 55 points. The Johnnies won the meet with 100 points and SMSU got second with 84 points.

Junior Thomas Amburg set a personal record and won the long jump event with a distance of 5.86m. Senior Joe Martin won the shot put event for the Pipers against 16 competitors with a distance of 17.18m. Martin’s victory included beating five athletes from SMSU. Junior Zach Angstman won third place in the 60-meter hurdles with a time of 9.01. Angstman only fell to two runners from SMSU. Women’s Track and Field vs Saint Benedict (Feb. 7, 2021) First, 115 points Hamline Pipers competed against Saint Benedict and Division II Southwest Minnesota State, besting both teams with 115 points in total.

Saint Benedict earned 97 points and SMSU ended the meet with 76 points.

Senior Helen Dolan placed second in the 3000-meter run with a time of 10:05.79, which broke a ten-yearold record by almost 8 seconds and currently ranks fifth in the nation.

In the same race, first-year Hannah Olencheck finished third with a time of 11:01.18 and junior Emma Mader finished fifth at 11:03.73.

Junior Alexandra Maddux won the 800-meter run with a time of 2:17.65, a time which currently ranks third in the nation. First-year Lucy Hoelscher placed third (2:27.39) in the same race.

Senior Shanoah Harren won the pole vaulting competition with a height of 2.90m. Sophomore Jen Valley won the long jump with a distance of 5.30m, which ranks 15th in the country.

The Hamline throwers also had an impressive meet, highlighting junior Alexandra Kolstad placing second of fourteen in shot put with a distance of 12.03m. Junior Madison Fiecke took third in the weight throw and set a new personal best of 14.87m.

Get more recaps and livestreams online at hamlineathletic.com

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 19 Men’s and Women’s Track and Field at St. Thomas St. Pauil, Minn.

TBA Men’s and Women’s Swimming and Diving vs. St. Thomas St. Paul, Minn.

6:00 p.m.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 20 Men’s Basketball at Augsburg Minneapolis, Minn.

2:00 p.m.

Women’s Hockey vs. Saint Mary’s St. Paul, Minn.

2:00 p.m.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 21 No events.

The Oracle | WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2021

Variety 12

The prolonged virtual disconnect How the lack of communication and connection has affected students.

Leslie Perez Reporter lfarreraperez01@hamline.edu We are still learning virtually during a pandemic that has lasted almost a year. Many students have a more challenging time communicating, connecting and collaborating with professors and classmates beyond the virtual barrier.

For instance, senior Julia Peterson, a history and biology double major, believes that having an inclusive discussion and getting help online is difficult.

“It can often be frustrating if you need help with something, but you’re in a call of 20 people, and other people are talking,” Peterson said. “My history major is a bit easier. It was fairly easy to switch to online class discussions on topics rather than doing it in person.

Biology can be a bit tougher, especially if you’re trying to work through a lab at home and you can’t just call a professor over to help.”

Ju n i o r a n d t h e a t re m a j o r Ajah Williams says that trying to communicate with some professors has been difficult.

“One of my professors just does not Last semester, it was apparent some answer their emails, and the others classes are more challenging to teach intermittently do so. I only have one online. Communication, connection professor who is super personable,” and collaboration within those classes Williams said. are not at their prime.

For Williams, virtual learning has Communication and Media Studies also strained collaboration in her Professor Suda Ishida decided to let classes. public speaking students choose if “It is hard to understand body they wanted to give their speeches in language or voice inflections with person. technological issues such as freezing “Last semester, when we went or choppy voices to read into what online for our public speaking classes, is really going on. For theatre, it is although all of my students did their much more difficult. best to deliver their “I spend hours Last semester, I was in a speeches, it appeared hybrid dance class, and just sitting in the to be difficult for them it was just difficult to to adjust lighting and computer staring background noise, as only be moving with my at a screen with peers once a week, and well as maintaining distanced at that. Theatre e ye c o n t a c t , g o o d people’s faces is a very collaborative posture and using field, and virtual learning virtually plastered hand gestures,” Ishida and creating online said. “I believe that on.” artwork is much more in-person classes help difficult,” Williams said. people learn to build interpersonal In addition, students like senior Ian connections and allow them to interact Olson feel the lack of motivation from with their peers and professors more being online affects their learning. effectively than online classes. Digital “Being virtual has made learning detachment and digital disconnection difficult in the aspect that motivation can affect the quality of interpersonal is at an all-time low. Something just relationships. Media and technology feels less involved, which could just be are tools, but they can be a doublebecause I don’t get to move as much edged sword. Some can excel, the because I spend hours just sitting on others will not.” the computer staring at a screen with Ishida believes that interaction people’s faces virtually plastered on,” and quality of discussions between Olson said. students are limited online.

“Not being able to interact with their audience in person deprives students of the opportunities to enhance their learning experiences in communication,” Ishida said. “It’s much harder to talk with students in virtual classes [versus] in person.”

Similarly, Music Professor George Chu understands the limitations of communication, connection and collaboration in the music department during this time.

“Because of limited in-person contact, we don’t have as full an experience as we used to in this small university that prides itself on interpersonal connections and small classes,” Chu said. “Not being able to share our collective efforts with live audiences also affects all of us. We yearn for the day to again connect through live music with our friends, colleagues, family and the greater Hamline community.”

A common theme among students is the need to be more engaged in their virtual classes to feel more connected.

“I think something professors can do is keep things interactive for their students, so that class is close to as engaging as it is in person. It can be difficult, especially with larger classes, but it helps students connect better with the content and their peers,” Peterson said.

Would you be my quarantine?

COVID-19 has changed much of normal life here at Hamline.

However, students say that Valentine’s day looks the same for them this year despite the pandemic.

Kathryn Robinson Reporter krobinson12@hamline.edu Valentine’s day — a day of flowers, love, chocolate and loneliness. Many hate Valentine’s day for just that reason. The impending fear of dying alone while countless couples kiss and show love all around you is enough to make anyone shudder at the thought of February 14th. This year was no different. With many feeling more isolated than ever before, Valentine’s day was just a reminder of the disaster that was 2020.

Even though many restaurants are open again for indoor dining, many Hamline students still stayed in this Valentine’s day. Carmen Garcia, a firstyear student, spent the day getting takeout with a friend and watching a movie.

“A relaxed Valentine’s day was my

plan for this year,” Garcia added.

ILLUSTRATION | ANDREA LINDNER, ORACLE Takeout and a movie were common themes for this year’s Valentine’s day. ones having a relaxed Valentine’s day.

First-year students Erika Albrecht and “Even without COVID guidelines, Raul Ortiz also enjoyed a relaxed day I’d probably do something similar,” together.

Garcia said.

“We made red velvet cake pops and Because of COVID-19 travel some chocolate-covered strawberries,” restrictions, many long distance Albrecht said. “We also watched a couples also were not able to spend movie and we plan on stocking up on the day together. Lily Willier, a firstthe discounted Valentine chocolates year student, and her long-distance this week,” Ortiz added. boyfriend did not spend the day When asked if this year’s Valentine’s together. day was altered because of COVID-19, “It’s been hard, but we stay many agreed that it was not. connected and have been able to “Honestly last year we did the same Facetime,” Willier said. thing as this year,” Albrecht said.

Although many spent the day Albrecht and Ortiz weren’t the only relaxing at home with friends or a

significant other, the majority of students did nothing. When polled, 56% of Hamline students that answered said they did not have plans. Some even sent messages saying “I’ll be spending the day crying” or that Valentine’s day was stupid. While these may have been lighthearted comments, this day is seen negatively by many.

Valentine’s day can be a lonely day, especially if you are single. While it should not just be a day for couples, it often is. Cameron Regan, a sophomore at Hamline, felt like he did not have much to do on Valentine’s day because he is not in a relationship.

“I dislike the idea that Valentine’s day can only be celebrated if you are in a relationship,” Regan explained.

Although Valentine’s day may have looked a little different this year, the loneliness and isolation were still problems for many students. It’s important, especially nowadays, to appreciate and love your friends and family. Even though the pandemic has forced us to physically distance ourselves from one another, there is still hope left in this season of love.

Most importantly, remember to love and to be patient with yourself and those around you.