COMMENCEMENT EDITION
2016-2017
YEAR IN REVIEW The student voice of the Ohio State University
Tuesday, April 25, 2017
thelantern.com
@TheLantern
Year 137, Issue No. 27
LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
Abigail Wexner to be 5th woman to speak at OSU commencement
Congrats Class of 2017!
SUMMER CARTWRIGHT Senior Lantern reporter cartwright.117@osu.edu When Abigail Wexner, a Columbus-based philanthropist and Ohio State Board of Trustees member was asked to give the Spring Commencement address on May 7 to an estimated crowd of 11,500 graduating students and their families, her first thoughts were of terror and panic. But something caught her eye and motivated the founding board member and vice chair of KIPP Columbus to accept the challenge. “I think the person after me (on the list) wasn’t a woman and that’s important,” Wexner said. “I think it’s not comfortable, but sometimes we just have to step up and
COURTESY OF OHIO STATE
Abigail Wexner is set to speak at Spring Commencement 2017.
set an example, if only visually.” Wexner is the fifth woman to speak at OSU’s Spring Commencement in the university’s history; she follows Elizabeth Dole, WEXNER CONTINUES ON 5
MASON SWIRES | ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR
Samuel’s game-winner THE FINAL DRIVE: Curtis over Michigan OSU junior H-back Curtis Samuel (4) celebrates as he scores a rushing touchdown in second overtime to win the game for the Buckeyes on Nov. 26 at Ohio Stadium. Read The Lantern’s coverage ON PAGE 13.
PUBLISHED APRIL 7
PUBLISHED APRIL 17
Could graduates get in now? OSU awarding posthumous degree to Reagan Tokes ABBY VESOULIS Patricia Boyer Miller Editor vesoulis.3@osu.edu
Data obtained through a public records request shows more and more accepted and enrolled students are achieving higher test scores and graduating at the top of their respective high school classes. OSU seniors preparing for commencement might wonder if they would have gotten into the university if they applied today, rather than four years ago. According to a Lantern analysis, that answer isn’t “no.” But it’s not a firm “yes” either. Adding to the uncertainty of admission are applicants’ climbing test scores, a decreasing reliance by high schools on traditional class ranking systems, an exorbitant increase in applicants to OSU and trends along gender lines in admissions cycles. Climbing scores In 2006, one in five of 5,507 freshmen who went on to be en-
rolled at OSU and who had submitted their ACT score to OSU had scored between a 30 and a 36. Fast forward to last year, nearly half of the 6,635 admitted freshmen who submitted their ACT results scores in that range. Nearly two-thirds of enrolled OSU freshmen who submitted the ACT scored in the 24 to 29 range in 2006. Less than half — 45 percent of enrolled freshmen submitting the test — scored in that range last year. A 24 on the ACT is a better score than 74 percent of test takers, according to the American College Testing service, the nonprofit that administers the ACT. The national average is a 20. Only 6 percent of enrolled freshmen who took the ACT scored below 24 in 2016, whereas 18 percent were in that test score range 10 years ago. Open enrollment Before the mid-1990s, OSU was an open-enrollment university.
ADMISSIONS CONTINUES ON 5
NICK ROLL Campus Editor roll.66@osu.edu The Board of Trustees voted in favor of granting a posthumous degree to Reagan Tokes, a fourthyear in psychology. Tokes was last seen alive on Feb. 8 as she left her shift from Bodega Cafe in the Short North, before police say she was kidnapped, robbed, raped and murdered. Brian Lee Golsby, 29, is facing an 18-count indictment related to Tokes’ death and a string of robberies in German Village. He is facing the death penalty and pleaded not guilty on April 3. Tokes was remembered shortly after her death by a string of vigils and fundraisers held at campus bars to raise money both for a scholarship in her name, as well as for her family. Along with Tokes, the Board
SCREENGRAB VIA TWITTER
Reagan Tokes, left, poses with Brutus Buckeye and her sister, Mackenzie.
of Trustees voted to award posthumous degrees to Adam Doleh and Jarrod Jasmine. Doleh is to be awarded a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering. Jasmine is to be awarded an associate degree from OSU’s Agricultural Technical Institute, as well as a bachelor’s degree in Environment and Natural Resources.
PUBLISHED DEC. 8
‘Godspeed, John Glenn’: American icon dies at age 95 MICHAEL HUSON Managing Editor for Content huson.4@osu.edu John Glenn, the first U.S. astronaut to orbit Earth, has taken his rest in the heavens. Glenn died in Columbus on Dec. 8 at age 95, Ohio State confirmed. On the books, Glenn was many things: a World War II pilot, a Korean War pilot, a colonel in the
U.S. Marine Corps, an astronaut, a U.S. senator, an astronaut again, a lifelong champion of civic engagement and a doting husband. On the campus of Ohio State, he was all of those things, as well as a Buckeye. “The Ohio State University community deeply mourns the loss of John Glenn, Ohio’s consummate public servant and a true American hero. He leaves an undiminished legacy as one of the
great people of our time,” University President Michael Drake said in a statement. On OSU’s campus, Glenn’s and his wife’s names lead students down what was West 17th Avenue, and his legacy is hoped to lead students of the John Glenn College of Public Affairs even further. “I honestly believe that through this institute, the Ohio State University can be an instrumental
part in rekindling the nation’s commitment to public service.” Glenn said in 1998, according to OSU, with the announcement of the John Glenn Institute for Public Service and Public Policy, a forerunner to the Glenn College.
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As the Lantern staff put together this commencement edition — a reprisal of the year’s biggest stories — we were once again reminded what a year this was. Our campus faced a violent attack, which garnered national attention, and multiple student deaths which still leave open wounds. We are not immune to this as journalists — most notably because we are students first. We report on where we live. We report on our peers, on their successes and their tragedies. The Lantern exists for students and our community, above all else. National outlets ran our stories and photos, as well as interviewed us on our experience. News organizations sent us pizza and well-wishes. The compliments and free food were much appreciated, but not nearly as much as knowing that when students were scared or confused, they had The Lantern to turn to for information. It has been an honor and a privilege serving as editor in chief of The Lantern this year. I have been ceaselessly impressed by this year’s staff and their commitment and love for this university and informing the community we ourselves are part of. I can’t wait to see how tenaciously next year’s staff covers this campus. I hope you continue to support and hold them accountable. As always, thank you for reading The Lantern. Sallee Ann Ruibal Editor in Chief, The Lantern
PUBLISHED NOV. 15
Mirror Lake drainage begins, renovations end jump KEVIN STANKIEWICZ Senior Lantern reporter stankiewicz.16@osu.edu AMANDA ETCHISON Senior Lantern reporter etchison.14@osu.edu As of November 2016, a wall of chain-link fencing surrounds the drained Mirror Lake with the lack of water leaving stone banks dry and exposed. This latest renovation is the most sweeping, costly and transformative, consisting of a nearly $6 million, 18-month project set to extend the pond eastward and MIRROR LAKE CONTINUES ON 5