February 17, 2017

The Oberlin Review

FEBRUARY 17, 2017 VOLUME 145, NUMBER 15

Local News Bulletin News briefs from the past week Oberlin Heritage Center Offers Tour Guide Training Workshop The Oberlin Heritage Center is offering a training workshop for volunteers interested in becoming tour guides for its historic sites tours. The session will be held from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the OHC’s Monroe House Saturday, March 11. Volunteers will receive an overview of Oberlin’s history since both the city and College’s founding, including information on the people who once lived and worked in the historic buildings featured in the OHC tour. To preregister for the training, contact OHC

by March 3.

Oberlin Rotary Club Hosting Annual Pancake Breakfast The Oberlin Rotary Club is holding its 25th Annual Pancake Breakfast Sunday, March 5 at the Oberlin High School Cafeteria from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. The all-you-can-eat event will fund a variety of local and international causes, including polio eradication, student-exchange programs and the provision of medical supplies abroad. Tickets are $6 per person and children under five are free. Tickets may be purchased at the door or in advance from any Rotary Club member.

College Debate Team Dominates Tournament The Oberlin College Debate Team claimed first- and second-place victories at Bowling Green State University’s debate tournament last weekend. Six of the 20 members competed in a set of two teams at the competition, with underclassmen leading the winning team. Teams debated topics about both domestic and international affairs. This was the second tournament that the College’s debate team has competed in this year.

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Krislov Named President of Pace University Alexis Dill Melissa Harris, News editor Oberlin College’s top administrative spots are up for grabs as searches ensue to replace President Marvin Krislov and Vice President of Finance and Administration Mike Frandsen.

Krislov, who announced his impending departure in September, will leave for a new post as president of Pace University in New York City beginning Aug. 1. His decade of service as the College’s 14th president leaves a legacy of, alongside notable controversies that gained traction in national media, capital-planning projects like the Peter B. Lewis Gateway Center’s creation and a record-breaking fundraising effort.

Although Krislov said that he had limited knowledge about Pace before the opportunity came across his desk, he grew increasingly interested in the institution. Many students at Pace are working-class, immigrant and first-generation college students, underscoring one of Krislov’s primary passions when it comes to higher education: accessibility.

“I didn’t know a lot about Pace, but the more I found out the more excited I was,” Krislov said. “I wanted to do something where I felt I could make a difference. I’ve been very interested in access, opportunity and diversity issues, and Pace is a campus that really puts that at the center.”

Many have been quick to point out that Oberlin and Pace seem to share little in common, raising questions about the two distinctive student bodies and sharply differentiating campus environments.

Still, Krislov said that the institutions, despite their surface-level differences, have some similar core

President Marvin Krislov announced Tuesday that he will become the eighth president of Pace University.

After 10 years at Oberlin, he will begin at his new post on Aug. 1.

Photo by Rick Yu, Photo editor

values.

“Traditional college-age students today have a different set of demands and concerns, and I think technology has really changed the way people think and work,” Krislov said. “There’s also, for at least some students and families, a lot of anxiety about what the future looks like. But some of the things that Oberlin does so well [includes] creating community and bringing people together in meaningful ways. … At Pace, it’s a different type of community in that not everyone lives within five minutes walking

See Finance, page 4

Cleveland State Report Reveals Housing Deficiencies Olive Sherman A recent study of Oberlin’s housing shows that the city has

an aging housing stock and lacks affordable housing for seniors and low-income residents. City Council will reference the study, conducted between May and De-

This graph shows the percentage of households in different cities receiving cash public assistance, supplemental security income and food stamps, in blue, red and green, respectively.

Image courtesy of Kirby Date, Cleveland State University

cember 2016 by Cleveland State University, when considering future policies on housing as well as when the city creates its new comprehensive plan this year, a plan that is revised every 10 years and sets the priorities for city government.

Even though the report wasn’t expected to provide immediate ideas for policy improvement, City Councilmember Linda Slocum was pleased with the result and the direction it provides.

“They told us from the beginning that [the study] wasn’t a solution; that it wouldn’t tell us what to do,” Slocum said. “But it gave us more direction than I had thought, and I’m grateful for that.”

One of the main issues — aging houses — was identified through exorbitant city spending on repair and maintenance. CSU’s report indicates that 36 percent of the city’s houses were built before 1939 and 64.8 percent built before 1969, making Oberlin’s housing stock substantially older than the average in Ohio. In Lorain County,

Cutting-Edge Chromatograph The College invested $430,000 in new equipment for the Chemistry and Biochemistry departments to help advance on-campus research.

to campus, and even on the different campuses and there are also multiple campuses.”

As Krislov will soon depart from Oberlin, College junior and Student Senator Thobeka Mnisi said that he has reached out to her hospitably.

“On a personal level, I felt nothing but fondness toward him,” Mnisi said. “He had extended gracious hospitality to me my first semester, constantly making time to meet with me and listen to me rant

Leading the Pack Track and field sweeps NCAC Athlete of the Week awards.

Good Talk, Bad Talk Biweekly variety show kicks off at the 'Sco.

See page 2

See page 15

See page 12

INDEX:

Opinions 5

This Week in Oberlin 8

Arts 10

Sports 16

the percent of houses built before 1939 and 1969 were 15.7 percent and 51.2 percent respectively. This has led to a significant amount of wasted money because of faulty heating, cooling and old appliances, according to Councilmember Sharon Soucy.

“When I ran for council, I put flyers on people’s doors, and that was when it really struck me that our housing stock is aging,” Slocum said. “It is my number one concern for Oberlin housing, currently.”

The report also found a lack of adequate housing for middleincome seniors, low-income families and young families seeking starter homes. High tax rates are also a problem. According to one PowerPoint, 48 percent of Oberlin is not taxable because it’s owned by either the College, churches, parks or municipal institutions.

According to the report, Oberlin’s African-American population has dropped from 18 to 15 percent See City, page 2

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The Oberlin Review, February 17, 2017

College Embraces New Technology, Research Karen Weiner The College’s Chemistry and Biochemistry departments have added two new pieces of equipment to allow students and professors to separate compounds down to extremely small sizes to study their makeup.

These large and expensive devices, known as chromatographspectrometers, will help the two

departments in conducting research. Seeing as the previous models were 16 years old and have been broken since last year, professors and students using the machines were excited to get replacements.

According to Chemistry and Biochemistry Professor Robert Thompson, the improvement between the old and new machines is “like thinking about what your

phone was like 15 years ago — a huge difference.” Thompson said that the main improvement is in sensitivity, as the new chromatograph-spectrometers can detect particles 500 times better than the old models, meaning it can identify much smaller substances.

In basic terms, the chromatograph first takes a substance and separates the compounds

Chemistry and Biochemistry Professor Robert Thompson poses with one of the College’s new chromatograph-spectrometers. The equipment replaced 16-year-old machines.

Photo by Rick Yu, Photo editor

by polarity so that they can each be categorized and easily recognized. Then, it further separates the compounds by using lasers to blast them apart. Thompson explained that the process is a gradual shrinking in scale from one larger compound.

“A chromatograph takes a mixture and separates all the individual compounds and dilutes those one by one out of the chromatograph, and one by one those compounds get identified and quantified from the master compound,” he said.

The instruments cost $430,000.

According to Thompson, the cost was covered primarily by a fund started 30 years ago specifically intended for the purchase of instruments for the Chemistry department, along with contributions from alumni and from the College.

Thompson was additionally able to get a 40 percent discount on the purchase. He explained that normally the department would have tried to get a grant before purchasing such expensive instruments, but the old instrument failed last summer. Given that it is used widely in teaching and research, the department wanted to replace it as soon as possible.

One of the instruments is known as a liquid chromato-

graph-spectrometer, needed mostly for identifying waterbased substances, while the other is a gas chromatograph-spectrometer, useful for compounds with lower boiling points that evaporate more easily.

Andy Abely, a post-doctoral student working with Chemistry Professor Jason Belitsky, has been using the new gas spectrometer to study certain substances and noticed the improvements.

“Anecdotally, it has about a 100 percent better detection limit, so we can detect things at much lower concentrations,” Abely said.

Thompson has also seen benefits in his study of fruit pesticides. With the old instruments, Thompson had to add additional pesticides to the fruit in order for the machine to work properly.

Now he can use the fruits in their original condition.

Scientists are also excited for the replacements because of their versatility. Chemistry Professor Rebecca Whelan, for instance, is using the liquid spectrometer to identify compounds in the secretions birds have on their wings.

These instruments will not only be useful to professors conducting research; according to Professor Thompson, eventually every Chemistry major will use these instruments at some point in their college career.

City Council to Address Affordable Housing in Oberlin Continued from page 1 since 2000, partly due to a lack of smaller, affordable family housing in good condition.

“One of the things that deeply concerns me is that in the last census we lost 200–300 members of the African-American community,” Soucy said. “[Oberlin is] defined by [its] diversity, so this is really concerning for the future.”

Oberlin's Director of Planning Carrie Handy and councilmembers stressed that while the report was not intended to prompt immediate decisions on future housing policies, it was necessary to back up claims that overall renovations need to be made.

“Honestly, I wasn’t surprised [by the results],” Handy said. “I work a lot with housing code enforcement, and I knew we hadn’t had new housing stock in the last 10 years at least, so we’ve needed to give some attention to it.”

According to Handy, the need for the housing report came about after the city was unable to agree on development of the Green Acres property a year ago.

“There were a lot of comments made during the Green Acres planning process that we didn’t need affordable housing or we needed some other type of housing,” Han-

dy said. “We really wanted to know what the demand was. You look at demographic trends with certain people aging while you’ve also got millennials and need to cater for everyone.”

Green Acres was a proposed mixed-income housing development that was going to be located on a large open property on the east side of town.

According to Soucy, one solution for the affordable housing problem for seniors and low-income families could be the creation of a new plan for Green Acres.

“We thought the Green Acres housing project was something everyone could agree on, but when it got so contentious, the project stopped,” Soucy said. “Instead of basing it on speculation, we’re basing it now on the need demonstrated in the study.

According to Ben Franklin owner Crista Long, a working group of Oberlin residents separate from city government is advocating for the establishment for a community land trust, which would allow a nonprofit corporation to develop affordable housing, community gardens, civic buildings, commercial spaces and other community assets on behalf of the Oberlin community.

One townsperson worried about the future of housing for elderly residents is Ginko

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Gallery owner Liz Burgess, who wishes there were more options for those who can’t afford to live in retirement communities like Kendal at Oberlin.

“My selfish interest is for those of us who are aging in Oberlin and, there’s Kendal retirement community, and there’s Section 8 apartments, but those of us in the middle who can’t afford a continuing care community but have just enough assets that we don’t qualify for some of the subsidized housing,” Burgess said. “We’re worrying for our futures.”

As liaison to the city’s housing committee, Slocum is working on a plan for residents to acquire low interest loans so they can move into better housing situations.

Since aging housing is also a risk to sustainability, she also hopes residents become more aware of programs to better conserve power, such as the EnergySmart program.

On the positive side, the report found Oberlin to have market strengths in its inclusive, small-town lifestyle and culturally diverse amenities and attractions, including the College. Improving local schools and overall affordability in line with most of Lorain County were also listed as strengths to help the city attract new residents.

Although CSU urban planners Kirby

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Date and Kathryn Hexter mostly carried out the project, the organizers received some input from the city as well as a Housing Study Steering Committee of community stakeholders, a Community Open House and interviews with residents and business owners. CSU also analyzed data taken from the U.S. Census and looked at other communities in northeast Ohio and several college towns along the East Coast to make comparisons.

The project cost the city $22,566, according to Handy. Handy, who managed the study along with the CSU workers, said there weren’t any specific geographic areas that accounted for the aging houses and lack of elderly or low-income housing.

“We did a property conditions survey a couple years ago, and it was really scattered all over,” Handy said. “There wasn’t a pattern where you could say, ‘This neighborhood was the worst.’”

Handy said that the results were first reported in late December, but since then the study managers have released several PowerPoints analyzing the data. She added that a final document assembling all the reports would be released in late February.

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The Oberlin Review, February 17, 2017

Page 3

Off the Cuff: Zoé Samudzi, Medical Sociology Ph.D. Candidate Zoé Samudzi is a Medical Sociology Ph.D. student at the University of California, San Francisco, where she specializes in issues related to transgender people’s impediments to receiving adequate health care. Aside from policies and oppression related to transgender people, Samudzi has also conducted research related to race, sex workers and communities that suffer from HIV. Her talk is titled, “Conceptualizing Oppression: Umbrellas and Webs,” during which she will discuss how political systems affect transgender peoples’ access to health care. The talk today will be held at 5 p.m. at Wilder Hall, Room 101.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

What is your lecture going to be on tomorrow?

At first I was going to talk about trans health, because it’s my focus, but I think it would be more useful to contextualize trans health in these larger systems of oppression, and in doing that, help people understand the ways in which our identities as oppressed people and as oppressors can be fluid in ways that make us complicit in oppression and ignore that oppression. I wanted to set the stage for that and talk about how these things impact trans communities.

Your talk is about racial capitalism.

What does that term mean?

People often talk about capitalism and class structures, but they don’t talk about the ways poverty is racialized. Or the ways the American political system was built on the genocide of indigenous people and the enslavement of African people. Racism is intrinsic to this system we have, and I want to make sure that’s very clear in my talk.

What did you mean about fluidity and

Security Advisory A resident of Huron, Ohio, David K. Schindley, has been arrested on suspicion of spying on and recording cell-phone video of Oberlin College residential buildings as well as other residencies in the area from January and early February. According to the Clery Timely Warning Notice issued on Feb. 16, “Law enforcement has taken custody of known recordings and has or will contact affected individuals of the spaces that were identified.”

Thursday, Feb. 9 11:55 a.m. Safety and Security officers assisted a staff member who fell on a West Lorain Street sidewalk and injured their hand. They declined medical treatment.

6:29 p.m. Officers responded to assist a staff member who fell on ice in the parking lot between King Building and Dascomb Hall, injuring their hand, lower back and knee. No medical treatment was given on the scene.

complicity in oppression?

For example, I’m talking about trans folks and health. I’m a Black queer woman, I’m oppressed on the basis of my queerness, my Blackness and my womanhood, but I’m a cis woman. So my body and identity are privileged within that kind of structure of knowing gender and identity that places my body as normal and trans bodies as abnormal. As an academic, it means I have tremendous power to define how I understand trans people to live in the world and exist in the world. I have access to these dominant discourses, and I can perpetuate the structural oppressions to trans people in the work that I do.

What are the ways you think you can reduce that oppression?

What I’m interested in doing is working around discourses in the academy, and looking at the ethics and ways we do research as cis folks. For me, that means making research design that is really participatory and highlights the ways communities articulate their needs, as opposed to satisfying my own questions and biases.

How did you get interested in the field and studying health care for trans people?

I was trying to figure out the fieldwork for my master’s degree, and I was doing a program in South Africa [with] a sexworker education and advocacy group. I was interested in working with the transwomen sex workers who were there, and the more I talked to them, the more I became keenly aware of my own obligations to help the community as a cis person.

Do you think in recent years there’s been enough increased awareness about rights for trans folk to make you confident in things getting better down the line?

No, and I wish I could be more confident in saying I did. I think it’s amazing we

9:15 p.m. Officers responded to a report of an odor of burnt marijuana on the first floor of Noah Hall. Contact was made with the occupants of the room, who admitted to smoking marijuana. Several ashtrays were confiscated.

Saturday, Feb. 11 1:23 a.m. Officers assisted a student ill under the influence of marijuana in Dascomb Hall. The student was transported to Mercy Allen Hospital for treatment.

2:30 a.m. Officers assisted a student ill from alcohol consumption in South Hall. The student declined transportation to the hospital and was able to walk on their own. The student was transported to their dorm.

7:28 a.m. Officers assisted an ill student in the Allen Memorial Art Museum. The student said they had not eaten, was given Gatorade and transported to their room at their request.

11:12 a.m. Science Center faculty reported graffiti inside and outside of the Science Center. The graffiti, written in chalk, was found on doors and walls inside the building, the brick wall outside and on sandstone. Facilities Operations staff responded for clean up.

What are the main issues you’d like to fix about health care for transgender people?

One of the big problems when it comes to health care is that there are only a handful of medical schools that are explicit about teaching doctors how to give care to trans folks. One issue that drives community health disparities is that people will anticipate transphobia and then just won’t go to the doctor. So it’s not about ‘let’s have gender-sensitivity training,’ it’s about having a whole medical understanding of what do people mean when they say ‘I am a trans person,’ and then how do you ask questions to further what their needs are.

Zoé Samudzi is a Medical Sociology Ph.D. student who focuses her work on transgender peoples’ ability to access health care.

have fantastic folks like Laverne Cox and Janet Mock being Black women, trans and out in public while being unapologetic. But at the same time, as with any group that’s gaining visibility in the civil rights space, there’s a tremendous amount of pushback.

Now you have Donald Trump saying he has every intention to roll back whatever little access to civil rights that trans folks have.

I was recently at the World Professional Association for Transgender Health, and they invited Kenneth Zucker to present there, a guy who is a proponent of reparative therapy. His main clients are the parents of trans kids who want their kids to not be trans. Even though his work has been discredited, WPATH still gave him space to legitimize what is ostensibly child abuse. So maybe we do have more visibility for trans people, but visibility doesn’t mean much if it’s not being supported by material systems. I want to say things are getting better, but I know way too many girls in prison who are just getting beaten up on a regular basis to feel any confidence to say that.

5:05 p.m. A visitor to campus reported the theft of their wallet from the Heisman Club Field House lounge. The wallet contained cash, miscellaneous cards and an ID. At 10:37 p.m., the visitor called and said the wallet was recovered, with all items were intact.

10:59 p.m. A student reported an unknown person who threw a bottle at a Goldsmith apartment window, breaking it. Officers responded to the area, and a facilities technician responded to repair and clean up.

Sunday, Feb. 12 12:24 a.m. Officers assisted a student ill from alcohol consumption on the first floor of Noah Hall. The student was transported to Mercy Allen Hospital for treatment.

1:26 a.m. Officers responded to a noise complaint at a Pleasant Street Village Housing Unit and observed an unauthorized party. The residents were contacted, and the party was closed down.

2:30 a.m. Members of the Oberlin Police Department made contact with an intoxicated student wandering around their parking lot.

The student was transported to their room in

Are you pretty sure Trump will roll back the rights for transgender people? What kind of policies could he take away?

With public health and health insurance, people can get gender-reconstructive surgeries covered by medical insurance. If that insurance gets chipped away, what is people’s access to hormones and to surgeries going to look like? Because they’re really expensive, and if they don’t have private insurance what will they do?

What’s the main theme you hope to get across in your talk?

The main message I want to get across is that Trump is a problem, but he’s not the only problem. We always talk about impeachment and that stuff, but we’re not properly recognizing what would happen.

Trump gets impeached, then we get Mike Pence, who is appalling, then you have Paul Ryan, and everyone in the government is appalling. We shouldn’t be focusing on a single figurehead of a larger problem even though we’re focused on him being very monstrous.

Interview by Louis Krauss, News editor Photo courtesy of Zoé Samudzi

South Hall.

12:40 p.m. A resident of Barrows Hall reported occupants of a room on the second floor smoking contraband. Contact was made with the occupants of the room in question and both admitted to smoking marijuana. Officers observed that the smoke detector was bagged, and the bag was removed.

2:24 p.m. Officers and members of the Oberlin Fire Department responded to a fire alarm at a Goldsmith apartment. The alarm was triggered by smoke from cooking. The area was cleared, and the alarm reset.

Tuesday, Feb. 14 6:37 p.m. Officers assisted a staff member who fell down steps, injuring their ankle at a house on South Professor Street. The staff member was transported to Mercy Allen Hospital for treatment.

9:44 p.m. Officers responded to a report of the odor of burnt marijuana on the first floor of Barrows Hall. Contact was made with the occupants of the room in question, who admitted to smoking marijuana. A jar, containing a small amount of marijuana, was confiscated.

News

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The Oberlin Review, February 17, 2017

Student Senate Pivots in Favor of Activism Sydney Allen Production editor

As a group of newly elected representatives settle in, Student Senate is increasingly embracing its institutional influence and activist sentiments — a shift from just a few years ago when student interest and participation in Senate was at a low.

Last week’s Senate election brought 25 students to the spotlight as they jockeyed and campaigned for one of the eight open seats on the 15-person Senate. Engaging in student activism was a common theme across the board.

At Sunday evening's plenary session, some new priorities included working with Oberlin College Office and Professional Employees in the face of budget cuts, protecting those that will be affected by the Trump administra-

tion’s new initiatives and continuing to push for a student representative on the Board of Trustees.

Student Senate Liaison and College junior Thobeka Mnisi, who was re-elected this cycle and received more votes than any senator in recorded Senate history, spoke to how the group is asserting itself as student body representatives.

“At this point, it really would be to the detriment of the student body if we didn’t at all consider ourselves as a political body, because we don’t have the option to be apolitical because of the direction the country is going,” said Mnisi. “And also because of the significant number of students who are directly affected by the decisions that the administration has already made, but also has expressed intention of making in the future.”

Student Senate met for the first time since elections in Wilder Hall Sunday evening. The new group is introducing a focus on student activism.

Photo by Rick Yu, Photo editor

Last semester, Senate took strong stances on controversial topics, publishing a resolution to boycott Gibson’s Bakery and campaigning for a student-representative position on the Board of Trustees. Senators also wrote a statement to the student body condemning the actions of Oberlin Alums for Campus Fairness.

Newly elected College sophomore Kai Joy said she believes that Student Senate must be outspoken. Last week, Joy was a co-writer of a list of demands requesting greater transparency from administrators.

“Recently, Student Senate has been seen as this group that’s supposed to be representative of the student body, but at the same time isn’t supposed to take any political stances,” Joy said. “At this point in time, with regard to what’s happening in the nation, with regard to what’s been happening on campus in the last few years, … I don’t think we can afford to be apolitical any more.”

In her campaign statement, College sophomore Cecilia Wallace, also new to Senate this semester, discussed the body's potential for uniting activist organizations around campus.

“How do we help people doing overlapping activist work find each other, so they can team up?” Wallace said. “Senate can play a huge role here as friendly info gatherer [or] repository — I want this to happen and want to help.”

However, some students are still skeptical of Senate's ability to enact change.

“My view on Senate is that essentially no progress has been made to politicize it as an institution since [Defending Oberlin Financial Accessibility] a few years ago,” College senior and former Senator Jordan Ecker wrote in an email to the Review. “I view Senate’s apoliticism as conservative, and their status as a fundamentally administrative body as a deliberate strategy on the part of the administra-

tion to dilute and blunt student’s political efforts. … The largest change Senate could enact would be to become properly political, that is viewed by the student body as a political organization spearheading confrontation with the administration.”

Despite the criticism, others who have been involved with Senate feel optimistic about the group's future.

“There is no question that Senate is a more legitimate and more powerful institution then when I came onto it in the fall of 2015,” said Jesse Docter, College junior and Senate's Strategic Planning Liaison. “At this point we have much more access and channels of communication with the Board of Trustees and the administration. I think that our relationship with activists is a lot better. I think we’ve come a long distance from our reputation as the body that passed the cigarette ban for instance.”

A number of student groups echoed Docter's positive outlook on the new Senate group and are hopeful about its potential support in their activist endeavors.

“I believe that this new push by Student Senate to get more involved in activism on campus is crucial, and I hope it does not fizzle away,” said College sophomore Juan Contreras, co-chair of La Alianza Latinx. “La Alianza Latinx recently signed the Students Building Community Power petition and has distributed [its] lists of demands. We hope that Senate follows in this direction and reaches out to student activist organizations in shaping their goals moving forward into this semester and the future years.”

Senate welcomes new members, including Wallace and Joy, College sophomores Samuel Waranch, Elie Small, Hanne Williams-Baron and Dani Miriti Pacheco. College first-year Duncan Reid was re-elected and named treasurer.

Finance Director Leaves for Wittenberg Presidency Continued from page 1 about the injustices of the world and ways that Oberlin harbored those, inviting me to is house for Rosh Hashanah despite my being outwardly Christian and consistently making an effort to understand my interests so he could connect me with people who could help me realize my goals.

I've also taken a class with him, in which he was very accommodating of my unique experiences as an international student even though it was an American Politics class and am currently taking an Education Policy class with him where he's being just as accommodating on my non-traditional background.”

However, she was also critical of Krislov’s handling of certain conflicts on campus.

“With regards to responding to controversies, I felt like he always tried to remain impartial even on situations where I think partiality would have been more judicious,” Mnisi added.

“I was frustrated with the lack of response in 2014 when students were protesting and mourning the deaths of unarmed Black men across the country. I felt like a public address of some kind was in order, but it never came. … I think the president has the responsibility to set the tone about how such contentious issues are discussed, and that's something that could've been better handled.”

After a very public application for the presidency of the University of Iowa last fall and 10 years at the College, preparations have long been underway to find Krislov’s successor. Conversely, Frandsen’s exit for

the presidency at Wittenberg University after just three years at the College comes as a surprise. He will take over at the Springfield, Ohio, campus starting July 1. Frandsen’s predecessor, Ron Watts, filled the role for 37 years.

Frandsen said he did not initially plan on the quick turnaround at Oberlin but said that becoming president of a university has long been a career goal.

“I came to Oberlin knowing that the next step in my career would be to a presidency,” Frandsen said. “Wittenberg has given me a tremendous opportunity to do that at a place I really connected with and believe in. It came sooner than I expected.”

He landed the position over nearly 90 other applicants as the result of a six-month national search. Wittenberg has been without a permanent president since Laurie Joyner left for Saint Xavier University in Chicago in November 2015. Wittenberg’s Interim President Dick Helton has held the post since January 2016.

Frandsen described Wittenberg’s presidential search as similar to Oberlin’s ongoing hunt for Krislov’s replacement. He said he had phone calls with staff members, faculty and students of the 15-member search committee, which was led by Tom Courtice of TBC Search Consulting, LLC. Although an exciting milestone for Frandsen, his wife and two daughters, he said the decision has also been bittersweet. Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences Tim Elgren expressed how Frandsen will be missed at the College.

“Mike has had a strong impact in a short period of time,” Elgren said.

“Mike has helped Oberlin College. Its board, administration, faculty, students, staff [and] alumni face some hard financial realities. His has been a steady voice working to develop broad understanding of the necessity to bring our institutional spending practices in line with our resources.

Wittenberg is fortunate to have [attracted] a leader with his integrity, vision, passion and compassion.”

Frandsen said he hopes to leave a lasting impact on other people on campus as well.

“I have great colleagues among the faculty, staff and board, and I have had the chance to work with great students, though only a few,” Frandsen said.

Of the many ways Frandsen has participated at the College, he said his favorite time spent with students was when he took the Steel Drum ExCo and performed alongside students of the College and Conservatory.

“I hope people will say I had a positive impact and that I conducted myself with honesty and integrity,” Frandsen added. “I hope I improved communication on campus and in my division, not only about finances, but also between people.”

As Frandsen departs from the College, Presidential Search Committee Student Representative and doubledegree senior Jeremy Poe said he appreciated Frandsen’s effort to make financial information accessible to students, but maintained some criticisms of the way Frandsen handled the precarious financial situation he inherited.

“When Frandsen came to Oberlin a few years ago, he soon began giving

presentations to campus constituencies, something he has continued to do until the present,” Poe wrote in an email to the Review. “Those presentations, and his availability for questions, have for students been very useful for understanding the finances of this school and how administrators and the board are thinking about them.”

Still, Poe added that he disagreed with some of the philosophies that Frandsen seemingly perpetuated in his role at the College. “[Frandsen] was a proponent of the analogy ‘students are customers,’ a position I strongly disagree with,” Poe said. “He went along with a strategic planning process that diminished the institution's ability to adjust to a challenging financial situation. He certainly didn’t cause many of the problems at Oberlin. The present financial situation may not be his fault, but he was

responsible for the school’s finances.

It is unfortunate that he is leaving at a time of mounting questions and concerns in the community.”

Zachary Crowell, a former senator, OC ’16, also believes that Krislov was committed to addressing student concerns and that Frandsen also worked towards making financial information more transparent. However, as an organizer for Defending Oberlin Financial Accessibility, he also expressed how the two could have performed better.

“I believe one area of improvement would be less reluctance to improve upon the status quo, especially with marginal issues,” Crowell said. “However, even on smaller and virtually cost-less issues, like which [Campus Dining Service] workers were allowed to eat meals on breaks, it took student demonstrations to get any change to the policy.”

Opinions The Oberlin Review

February 17, 2017

Letters to the Editors

Immigration Ban Undermines Urban Values To the Editors:

My grandfather, Albert Joseph Bialek, came to the United States from Poland in 1910. According to the Ellis Island website, he boarded the ship Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse in Bremen, Germany. He had just completed his service in the Austrian Army. Poland, at that time, was divided into three spheres of influence by Austria, Prussia and Russia. Upon being discharged, he returned to his father’s farm. Officers from the Austrian Army made an attempt to re-enlist him, but tradition dictated that he could remain at home so long as he was sorely needed on the farm. Immediately after the officers departed, Albert’s father gave him his brother’s travel documents and instructed him to immigrate to the United States. His father knew that war was coming and he didn’t want to lose his son to it. It took me awhile to locate my grandfather on the passenger list because I had forgotten he was traveling under the name Jan and not Albert.

Given that Albert entered the United States under the name Jan Bialek and later burned his immigration papers, it is evident he was by defini-

tion an “illegal immigrant.” He went on to become a very hard-working brick mason and law-abiding citizen, raising 12 children with the help of his Polish wife, Mary Bialek née Mazan, and the rest, as they say, is history.

Just as Cleveland is a city of neighborhoods, so is the United States a country of immigrants.

In fact, all of the major cities of the U.S. at one time served as incubators for immigrants to not only become accustomed to the ways of this country but also to intermingle with each other, which was often prohibited in their native homelands.

It’s a shame that the inner cities were handed over to the absentee landlords following World War ll.

Just imagine how much stronger and united our country might have been had this unofficial tradition continued.

Gentrification is not the answer. Preventing immigration is not the solution. Intense vetting is acceptable during these challenging times, but to unfairly deny one person access to the United States makes us all orphans again. As a popular song by Graham Nash goes, “Let me in, immigration man.”

– Joe Bialek Cleveland resident

Administration Neglects Mental Health Needs Marissa Maxfield Contributing writer Psychiatric and counseling services on college campuses typically receive inadequate attention compared to other areas of health care, and Oberlin is no exception. While past disparities can be attributed to the invisibility of mental conditions and suppressive social influence, ignorance is not a viable excuse. It’s time for the institution to stop putting mental health on the backburner.

In a Feb. 6 article published

by STAT News, Megan Thielking reported a lack of mental health resources on campuses nationwide. From small colleges to major universities, “Students often have to wait weeks just for an initial intake exam to review their symptoms,” Thielking wrote. “The wait to see a psychiatrist who can prescribe or adjust medication — often a part-time employee — may be longer still.”

Many students have had similar experiences at Oberlin, with many giving up on the Counseling Center altogether. Long wait times, ambiguous walk-in and break hours and lapses in communication on behalf of

staff make it difficult for students to connect with medical professionals.

The Counseling Center is located on the western edge of campus, a trek for students without cars, particularly during the winter. When I was a first-year, I was reluctant to run into anyone I knew on my way to therapy, and the conspicuously distant location discouraged me further. Were it more central to campus, I wouldn’t have had to worry about being late to class after an appointment or getting there in rain or snow.

I have known I needed treatment since before orientation, but it wasn’t until February 2014 that I finally made the dreaded hike. In my initial assessment, I met with a therapist who recommended I try medication along with cognitive-behavioral therapy. After suffering from an anxiety disorder for years, I was relieved to receive a treatment plan and eager to begin.

Frustratingly, I had to wait a month before I saw a psychiatrist who could set me up with a prescription. Oberlin had only two psychiatrists at that time, and the standard wait time for a new patient was several weeks.

But I was lucky to be seen by a

psychiatrist at all, since according to the results of a survey by the Association for University and College Counseling Center Directors, only six in 10 college counseling centers have even a part-time psychiatrist available.

Within two weeks of beginning Zoloft for my anxiety, I felt 50 percent normal and 100 percent hopeful. For the first time, a future seemed possible. I could speak in class without breaking a sweat or losing my train of thought. I could eat in the dining halls with friends without my throat closing up and wanting to vomit. I spent less time hiding because I could sit in public spaces without worrying about how I looked or who was judging me. I was so grateful for the Counseling Center and my newfound ability to engage in life as a college student. However, many students have experiences that are not as successful as mine.

College is extremely stressful for any dedicated student, and even more so for Oberlin students. No matter the strength of our resolve or capabilities, we need resources and we need fidelity from those providing See Counseling, page 6

Submissions Policy The Oberlin Review appreciates and welcomes letters to the editors and op-ed submissions. All submissions are printed at the discretion of the Editorial Board. All submissions must be received by Wednesday at 4:30 p.m. at opinions@oberlinreview.org or Wilder Box 90 for inclusion in that week’s issue. Letters may not exceed 600 words and op-eds may not exceed 800 words, except with consent of the Editorial Board. All submissions must include contact information, with full names and any relevant titles, for all signers. All writers must individually confirm authorship on electronic submissions. Op-eds may not have more than two authors.

The Review reserves the right to edit all submissions for clarity, length, grammar, accuracy, strength of argument and in consultation with Review style. Editors will work with contributors to edit pieces and will clear major edits with the authors prior to publication. Editors will contact authors of letters to the editors in the event of edits for anything other than style and grammar.

Headlines are printed at the discretion of the Editorial Board. Opinions expressed in editorials, letters, op-eds, columns, cartoons or other Opinions pieces do not necessarily reflect those of the staff of the Review. The Review will not print advertisements on its Opinions pages. The Review defines an advertisement as any submission that has the main intent of bringing direct monetary gain to a contributor.

Page 5

The Oberlin Review Publication of Record for Oberlin College

Editors-in-Chief Tyler Sloan Oliver Bok Managing Editor Kiley Petersen Opinions Editor Sami Mericle

New President Should Prioritize Communication Oberlin is undergoing an administrative makeover with President Marvin Krislov and Vice President for Finance and Administration Mike Frandsen both departing this spring. With these two major transitions, the College is approaching a decisive opportunity to address students’ major concerns with administrative shortcomings.

The primary concern with the current administration is the opaque ways in which significant decisions are made. The College’s top-down decision-making process leaves students mostly out of the loop until it’s too late to voice dissent or offer valuable insight into how actions might impact day-to-day student life. One of the most viable ways this can improve is by opening up more channels of communication between students and administrators. In a new president, we hope to see a good communicator, as well as someone who can engage the community at this critical moment in the College’s history.

By good communicator, we don’t mean that the new president should be adept at deflecting criticism or saying as little as possible in the most words — rather, the opposite. The next president will have to articulate a clear strategy for how the College will navigate its financial difficulties. More importantly, the next president will also have to lead open conversations about that strategy and be willing to adapt it to fit the community’s needs. While it can be tempting for leaders to not publicly articulate lofty goals for fear of failure, falling short is far preferable to offering no direction at all.

Additionally, the next leader must be prepared to deal with students as equals and stakeholders, not as powerless customers. As one of the groups most directly affected by changes in College policy, students deserve a voice in decision making — which is why the Editorial Board has repeatedly called for student representation on the Board of Trustees. In this vein, the next president must treat students’ opinions with respect and an open mind, even when they contradict what administrators or trustees believe.

In multiple meetings, trustees have cited their own experiences protesting — board members fondly recall how in 1986, students slept in a “shantytown” they constructed around the Cox Administration Building to protest apartheid and demand divestment from corporations associated with South Africa — and we urge them to consider the frustrations they felt and the ways in which they used to draw attention to important issues. We reject the narrative of acting like coddled millennials who simply do not know better, and to put us in that category undermines the education we are receiving at Oberlin.

The next president should also have a clear sense of the community’s most deeply felt priorities and publicy commit to pursuing them. At the top of the list, reflected in both the Strategic Plan and student interest, is the College’s commitment to increasing compositional diversity. Though combating the evolving and increasingly inaccessible landscape of higher education, Oberlin cannot become a school that only the wealthy and white attend.

The institution should build on its progressive legacy by playing a leading role in alleviating institutional racism and structural inequality.

These challenges will not be easy to surmount concurrently.

Still, Krislov’s successor must also understand that we cannot afford to slide down the list of peer schools in terms of faculty compensation. Exceptional faculty is absolutely central to the school’s mission, and attracting distinguished professors is much harder when the College’s offers are not competitive. In contrast to all the other dubious lists of “best” schools, quality of faculty is a ranking that actually bears significance. If this means more budget cuts down the line, we ask that students be consulted in a meaningful way.

Editorials are the responsibility of the Review Editorial Board — the Editors-in-Chief, Managing editor and Opinions editor — and do not necessarily reflect the views of the staff of the Review.

Page 6

Opinions

The Oberlin Review, February 17, 2017

Student Senate Strives to Centralize Activism Meg Parker Contributing writer This op-ed is part of the Review’s Student Senate column.

In an effort to increase communication and transparency, Student Senators provide personal perspectives on recent events on campus and in the community.

Student Senate is an inherently political body. Former Student Senator and College sophomore Kameron Dunbar wrote an op-ed for the Review last December about Senate’s role as a political actor, including its freedom to take preemptive action and stances on contentious issues on and off campus (“Senate Activism Vital to Political Resistance,” Dec. 2, 2016). Now, almost three months later, it has become obvious that Student Senate has embraced that role and will continue moving forward as a political body.

Our capacity to act as a political body is dependent on your involvement. So far this spring, you have been involved. In past elections, we have barely met quorum of 20 percent of the student body and have needed to encourage students to run for Senate. That was far from the case this semester. I thank the 25 candidates who ran for Senate and more than 800 students who voted in our most recent election. You are aiding us in our goal of being a representative and impactful political actor on campus.

Additionally, of the senators who ran, 10 publicly named making Senate a nucleus of student activism as a goal. This means making Senate, and individual senators, a central organizing platform and a place for students to work through in their efforts to make reforms on campus.

I personally want to march with you as you protest the repeal of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals policy. I want to stand with you as you support organized labor on campus. I want to work with Dean of Students Meredith Raimondo, Interim Title IX Coordinator Rebecca Mosely and the rest of the Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Committee as we explore capital planning to add more genderneutral bathrooms in campus buildings.

Every action Senate takes is a political action. Whether it’s demonstrating in the streets for sanctuary campuses, condemning racialized violence or meeting with faculty, staff and administrators to evaluate departments and the role of the liberal arts in educational philosophy, our goal is to improve students’ lives.

Fundamentally, Senate’s role is to advocate for and protect the needs and wants of the student body. Our desire is to do that through building meaningful relationships with our constituents and the adults who have entered the field of higher education with the desire to illuminate future generations. A unique aspect of Student Senate is that there is one Senator for roughly every 200 students.

We have the capacity to build meaningful relationships with our constituents so that we can best serve students as we all engage in the College’s and the nation’s political system. Senate is distinctive in its position as both a bureaucratic body and a conduit for activist agencies aspiring for change.

Many of you have taken the first and easiest step toward involvement by voting in our most recent election.

Now I ask for something a little harder. I am extending an invitation to every member of the student body to come to Azariah’s Café from 9 to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday every week to voice concerns and aid us in our efforts to utilize student power. Oberlin is unique in the ways students have a voice in the room where it happens, to steal a phrase from writer and actor Lin-Manuel Miranda. While we lack representatives on the Board of Trustees, much to the chagrin of Student Senate, we can be in many of the rooms where decisions are made on campus.

New sophomore Senators Kai Joy and Cecilia Wallace have taken on the role of committee liaisons and want to put you in those rooms. Joy and Wallace have the privilege of appointing students to the committees that make decisions around Winter Term; Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion; and Dining. Through a short application and interview process, you could be in the room shaping decisions on campus. Let your voice be heard and help us participate in activism and resistance over the next four years. Let this serve as the call to action that inspired you to join the Green EDGE Fund, Student Honor Committee, the Community-Based Learning Committee or the Financial Aid and Admissions Advisory Committee, to name a few opportunities.

Brian Tom

Kasich’s Opioid Regulations Backfire Jackie Brant Contributing writer Every five hours, someone overdoses on heroin in Ohio.

One in every nine deaths from heroin overdoses in the U.S. occurs in Ohio, leading the nation. In Lorain County, approximately 140 people died from heroin overdoses in 2016, according to The Chronicle-Telegram.

On the other hand, according to The Columbus Dispatch, Ohio has lower rates of oxycodone and hydrocodone overdoses than many other states. Oxycodone and hydrocodone are prescription opioids, usually distributed in pill form. These painkillers are closely linked to heroin and can have similar effects on users when abused.

While the relatively low rates of oxycodone and hydrocodone overdoses in Ohio are seemingly positive statistics, these low rates could be related to the high heroin-overdose rate. Four of five heroin users began their addiction through abusing oxycodone or hydrocodone. In 2011, Ohio Governor John Kasich attempted to combat the prescription opioid epidemic by busting “pill mills” — rings of corrupt doctors who illegally prescribe prescription opioids — and limiting the prescription of opioids to a three-day supply, among other policies. These initiatives make it difficult for patients who need painkillers to

get their medicine, and caused the price of opioids on the black market to skyrocket.

While Kasich succeeded in reducing the overdose rate for prescription opioids, many individuals have switched from using prescription opioids to heroin due to the increased difficulty of purchasing prescription drugs and price hike. Heroin is much cheaper than prescription drugs; according to Novus Detox Center, one dose of oxycodone typically costs around $80, while 20 doses of heroin typically cost $100.

Unfortunately, while the effects of prescription opioids and heroin are comparable in many ways, users are more likely to overdose on heroin than on prescriptions, according to Novus Detox Center. Because they are pharmaceuticals, prescription opioids are laboratory pure and measured. Heroin is often cut or laced with other dangerous substances, causing inconsistencies in strength. This inconsistency is what makes heroin so dangerous, especially for inexperienced users. Furthermore, according to Medical Daily, heroin has a 1 to 5 ratio, meaning that it only takes five times a single dose of heroin to cause an overdose. In comparison, cocaine has a rate of 1 to 10 and marijuana has a ratio of 1 to 1,000.

While it is no doubt a positive that prescription opioid abuse is down in Ohio, the increase in heroin abuse now must be addressed. Heroin is one of

the most addictive drugs, with one in four people becoming addicted after just one hit. The withdrawal symptoms are also some of the most brutal of all drugs, making it excruciatingly difficult for users to recover. Although recovery is different for everyone, a solution for many people is extensive rehabilitation.

Often, rehab centers only require one or two months of stay. While many rehab centers would argue that the drugs are completely out of users’ bodies after a month or two, a couple of months is not enough to ensure individuals a foundation for rebuilding their lives without substance abuse.

Another option to rehab is medication-assisted treatment. MAT is a hybrid of mental health therapy and medication-assisted detox. Certain medicines like methadone can be instrumental in decreasing withdrawal symptoms and dependency on heroin and prescription opioids. Making MAT readily accessible to addicts would help many fully recover.

While rehab works for many users, recovery options should be individualized, especially when these cases are brought to a courtroom. From my experience working with courtrooms in Houston over Winter Term, court-ordered rehab is typically one-size-fits-all; this is unrealistic for the complicated nature of these addictions. The more personalized treatment individuals can get, the better their chances at recovery are both physically and emotionally.

Counseling Center Failings Threaten Student Health Continued from page 5 them.

While Oberlin has made a nice show of awareness and destigmatization of mental illness, the Counseling Center has remained inadequate despite high demand and an increasingly concerned student body. In order to truly be the place of inclusion, fruition and progressive action that we pride ourselves on being, Oberlin needs to make institutional improvements when it comes to mental health.

A petition to relocate both the Student Health Center and the Counseling Center surfaced last year, but has since died. Our silence as a student body and greater community enables the administration to

kick it under the rug. We cannot accept inaction and allow it to become the norm. We must speak up and tell our stories, if not for ourselves, then for future generations of Oberlin students.

In an era in which the perpetuation of many stigmas is diminishing, the window of opportunity is waiting to be opened. Whether or not real change will occur depends greatly on the actions of institutions such as Oberlin. As a leading academic institution with a history of pushing social boundaries, we have the authority to make our voices heard and the potential to reach campuses and audiences throughout the country. We students have not been and will not be silent. It is time the administration answers our pleas.

Opinions

The Oberlin Review, February 17, 2017

Page 7

Russian Connections Warrant Investigation Nathan Carpenter Columnist One of the most disturbing stories to come out of the brutal 2016 U.S. presidential election cycle was that Russian operatives, publically encouraged by then-candidate Donald Trump, had allegedly hacked the Democratic National Committee in an attempt to tip the scales towards Trump, a much more pro-Russia candidate than former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

In the wake of the election, significant evidence has emerged of further inappropriate actions by Trump’s campaign team and Russia — actions that could easily be characterized as treasonous. On Tuesday, for example, The New York Times published a story revealing private contact between Russian intelligence officials and senior members of Trump’s team, including former Campaign Manager Paul Manafort, throughout the course of the election.

Another troubling piece of evidence is the recent exposure and subsequent resignation of National Security Adviser Michael Flynn, who announced Monday night that he would step down from his post after only 24 days. The resignation came quickly on the heels of news that Flynn had potentially misled members of the Trump administration, including Vice President Mike Pence, about the details of his conversations with Sergey Kislyak, the Russian ambassador to the U.S., that took place during the final weeks of the Obama administration.

The conversations between Flynn and Kislyak concerned how relations between the U.S. and Russia would change under the Trump administration, specifically regarding the lifting of sanctions implemented by the Obama administration after learning that Russia had been behind the hacking of the DNC. Flynn also discussed possible areas of cooperation between the two countries.

At face value, potential collusion between Flynn and Russia is troubling. Russia interfered in November’s election after being egged on publically by Trump — for a member of the Trump team to privately discuss lifting the sanctions that were imposed in retaliation for those actions threatens the integrity of our democratic process.

Therefore, in the wake of Flynn’s resignation, it is important to examine these questions: How much did Trump know about Flynn’s communications with Russia as they were happening? Is it truly possible that Trump was ignorant of conversations between Russia and his own national security adviser?

The answers to those questions are inevitably damning. Either Trump actively encouraged one of his top advisers to place an inappropriate phone call with the Russian ambassador or he has lost control of his administration.

Following Flynn’s resignation, California Representative Adam Schiff, the ranking member on the House Intelligence Com-

mittee, released the following statement: “The Trump administration has yet to be forthcoming about who was aware of Flynn’s conversations with the Ambassador and whether he was acting on the instructions of the President or any other officials.”

In an interview Tuesday, Schiff doubled down on his statement, saying that it was “unlikely” that Flynn was “acting as a free agent.”

It is worth noting that Flynn’s resignation is not the first of its kind among ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

How much did Trump know about Flynn’s communications with Russia as they were happening? Is it truly possible that Trump was ignorant of conversations between Russia and his own national security adviser?

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Trump’s inner circle — Manafort also resigned last August in the midst of a controversy over his own connections to Russia.

The common thread? Both men had ties to the Kremlin and both had Trump’s ear.

The possibility that Trump was fully aware of Flynn’s phone calls is not a baseless conspiracy theory, especially as reports are now surfacing that the Department of Justice notified the Trump administration a month ago that Flynn had participated in a

potentially troubling conversation with the Russian ambassador.

In spite of the Justice Department’s warning, Flynn remained in the President’s highest confidence until the end, according to Trump advisor Kellyanne Conway hours before Flynn’s resignation.

Given the copious evidence of suspicious activity between Russian officials and several senior members of Trump’s team, Flynn’s resignation must prompt a renewed commitment to investigating Trump’s ties to Russia. It is important that the American people know exactly how much Trump knew about Flynn’s communications with Russia and exactly when he knew it.

At this point, the sum of the known evidence gives great cause for concern. If Trump is truly concerned with being tough on Russia, as White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer claims, then it is difficult to understand why his administration ignored warnings from the Justice Department that Flynn was having troubling conversations with Russia that Trump claimed to be ignorant of.

The pressure on Trump to be upfront and honest about his administration’s dealings with Russia must be a bipartisan effort. Democratic leaders have already affirmed their commitment to get to the bottom of Russian interference in the 2016 election. Republican Senators Lindsey Graham and John McCain have as well. Now is the time for Republicans to get tough not only on Russia but on Trump himself.

Oberlin Should Look to Universities as Financial Models Jordan Joseph Contributing writer It’s no secret that the College is facing a dire financial situation caused in part by an overreliance on tuition as revenue.

This crunch was exacerbated due to the unusually high number of enrollment withdrawals over the summer. Unfortunately, administrators have decided to place the brunt of the cuts on academic departments, a decision which will ultimately do more damage than good to the school.

As the Review reported last week, many jobs were left unfilled following the College’s Voluntary Separation Incentive Program (“Administrators, Unions at Odds on Cuts,” Feb. 10, 2017). Usually in a buyout, veteran workers who have seen years of raises are offered severance packages and replaced with employees willing to do the same work at a lower cost.

Instead, many employees were not replaced at all, leaving their work to be redistributed to other staff members.

One such department that recently suffered cuts — though not through the VSIP program — is Cinema Studies. As the Review reported in September, the department recently lost two staff members, including Facilities and Production Coordinator Sophie Harari. Her role was not insignificant. Her ability to manage the production aspects of the major gave professors the freedom to focus on enriching the major experience. Cuts like these, while seemingly inconsequential to those outside the major, diminish the quality of the department. This makes

students unhappy and degrades the school’s reputation, which eventually leads to less funding as potential applicants — particularly those who could pay full tuition — choose different schools.

To help with the budget crisis, Oberlin should look toward universities as models. Public universities receive less of their revenue from tuition as they are more heavily state subsidized than liberal arts schools and also receive larger contributions from alumni on average. Research universities also have the luxury of profiting off of work completed in their master’s programs. By investing in research, these universities have a source of income that does not derive solely from tuition but instead is a product of various royalties and licensing agreements.

Yes, Oberlin is a liberal arts college, so it can’t pursue as many research opportunities as larger universities, but it could take a play from their book. The College could conceivably start a master’s program and offer master’s students positions teaching entry-level college courses. In many departments at Oberlin, especially small departments like Cinema Studies, tenured professors are spread thin by teaching entry-level courses as well as more difficult gateway classes and private readings. With the recent loss of 32 of 190 administrative assistant positions, professors have been forced to take on a greater workload, and students will inevitably suffer.

With the introduction of fellowship positions for master’s students, departments would be

better staffed for less cost and tenured professors would have the ability to focus on classes predominantly taken by majors. Some might argue that the quality of classes would suffer, but ultimately the addition of more staff would make smaller departments more accessible to students. There are many smaller departments, such as

Cinema Studies and Gender, Sexuality and Feminist Studies, that garner huge amounts of interest, but simply don’t have the capacity to accommodate so many students. Investing in a few of these departments could incentivize students who might have chosen other schools over Oberlin.

When facing a financial cri-

sis, it makes sense that the College would change departments that serve fewer students. However, cuts like these will ultimately harm the educational experience of many students and thus the College itself. Instead, the administration should investigate more creative forms of generating profit, looking to larger universities as a model.

Travel Looking for a little adventure? Organizations like NOLS and Where There Be Dragons offer group backpacking and cultural immersion programs.

Summer Sun, Something’s Begun

For a cheaper option, Greyhound has bus routes all over the country — stay in a hostel or with friends for the weekend and explore a new city. Check out Switchboard to connect with alumni who may have extra room.

Intern Summer is the perfect time to build your résumé. There are jobs and internships across all disciplines.

For ideas, check out Obie Opps online or stop by the Career Center — dropin hours are in Stevenson-Longman Commons on Monday through Friday, 3–5 p.m.

Work At A Camp Working at a summer camp can be a very rewarding experience. There are sleepaway and day camps all over the nation, presenting traditional experiences and specialized ones such as art, music or science.

If kids aren’t your forte, there are also opportunities to work in camp kitchens.

As our damp, post-shower hair freezes in the cold, many of us are starting to dream of warmer days.

Never fear, they will be here before we know it!

Although it continues to snow in Oberlin, many summer programs and jobs are already beginning to accept applications.

Whether you are looking for something relaxing, adventurous or challenging, there are enough options for everyone to do something interesting this summer!

Here are a few suggestions.

Stay At Oberlin Many possibilities for research exist right here on campus. Reach out to a professor of a subject you are interested in and ask if they know of any opportunities in their department.

WWOOF

O B E R L I N

WWOOFing (World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms) is a great way to travel to a new country while giving back to the community that welcomes you.

There are programs both in the U.S. and abroad, and most offer room and board in exchange for your work on the farm. More information at wwoof. net.

Try Something New If you are staying at home this summer, there are plenty of ways to keep your mind engaged.

Create art, join your local pick-up sports team, try embroidery or learn to play an instrument.

Layout and Text by Izzy Rosenstein, This Week editor

Calendar: S t a r g a z i n g O b s e r v a t o r y a n d P l a n e t a r i u m , P e t e r s H a l l F r i d a y , F e b . 1 7 7 – 9 p . m .

Various telescopes will be available to look at the stars and planets. The planetarium will be open if clouds obscure the views.

B a s k e t b a l l v s D e P a u w P h i l i p s g y m n a s i u m S a t u r d a y , F e b . 1 8 W o m e n @ 1 p . m .

M e n @ 3 p . m .

Come and support the Yeowomen and Yeomen as they take on the DePauw University Tigers.

R o u n t a b l e D i s c u s s i o n : T h e F i r s t 1 0 0 D a y s o f t h e T r u m p A d m i n i s t r a t i o n D y e L e c t u r e H a l l M o n d a y , F e b . 2 0 4 : 3 0 – 5 : 3 0 p . m .

Oberlin professors Renee Romano, Jennifer Fraser, Charles Peterson, Jafar Mahallati and Marcelo Vinces will be conducting a roundtable discussion on notable moments from the beginning of Trump’s presidency.

A n E v e n i n g w i t h P a u l B e a t t y F i n n e y C h a p e l T u e s d a y , F e b . 2 1 7 : 3 0 – 9 p . m .

S t u d y A w a y I n f o S e s s i o n W e d n e s d a y s , 4 : 3 0 p . m . a n d T h u r s d a y s , 1 2 : 3 0 p . m . u n t i l M a r c h 1 5 P e t e r s H a l l 2 1 2

P u s s y v s . P u t i n A p o l l o T h e a t r e W e d n e s d a y , F e b . 2 2 7 – 9 p . m .

6 o n 6 : V i o l a s P l a y B a c h B i e n b a u m I n n o v a t i o n a n d P e r f o r m a n c e S p a c e T h u r s d a y , F e b . 2 3 8 p . m .

This convocation features poet and novelist Paul Beatty, who writes about race and politics in America and has won multiple awards for his work, including The Sellout.

Interested in studying abroad next year? Learn about the application process, program selection, costs and deadlines.

One night screening only! This documentary follows the story and activism of Russian punk band Pussy Riot. A discussion with journalist Masha Gessen will follow.

A viola performance of Bach’s preludes, Boureés, Gavottes and Minuets in The Hotel at Oberlin’s new concert venue.

Travel Looking for a little adventure? Organizations like NOLS and Where There Be Dragons offer group backpacking and cultural immersion programs.

Summer Sun, Something’s Begun

For a cheaper option, Greyhound has bus routes all over the country — stay in a hostel or with friends for the weekend and explore a new city. Check out Switchboard to connect with alumni who may have extra room.

Intern Summer is the perfect time to build your résumé. There are jobs and internships across all disciplines.

For ideas, check out Obie Opps online or stop by the Career Center — dropin hours are in Stevenson-Longman Commons on Monday through Friday, 3–5 p.m.

Work At A Camp Working at a summer camp can be a very rewarding experience. There are sleepaway and day camps all over the nation, presenting traditional experiences and specialized ones such as art, music or science.

If kids aren’t your forte, there are also opportunities to work in camp kitchens.

As our damp, post-shower hair freezes in the cold, many of us are starting to dream of warmer days.

Never fear, they will be here before we know it!

Although it continues to snow in Oberlin, many summer programs and jobs are already beginning to accept applications.

Whether you are looking for something relaxing, adventurous or challenging, there are enough options for everyone to do something interesting this summer!

Here are a few suggestions.

Stay At Oberlin Many possibilities for research exist right here on campus. Reach out to a professor of a subject you are interested in and ask if they know of any opportunities in their department.

WWOOF

O B E R L I N

WWOOFing (World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms) is a great way to travel to a new country while giving back to the community that welcomes you.

There are programs both in the U.S. and abroad, and most offer room and board in exchange for your work on the farm. More information at wwoof. net.

Try Something New If you are staying at home this summer, there are plenty of ways to keep your mind engaged.

Create art, join your local pick-up sports team, try embroidery or learn to play an instrument.

Layout and Text by Izzy Rosenstein, This Week editor

Calendar: S t a r g a z i n g O b s e r v a t o r y a n d P l a n e t a r i u m , P e t e r s H a l l F r i d a y , F e b . 1 7 7 – 9 p . m .

Various telescopes will be available to look at the stars and planets. The planetarium will be open if clouds obscure the views.

B a s k e t b a l l v s D e P a u w P h i l i p s g y m n a s i u m S a t u r d a y , F e b . 1 8 W o m e n @ 1 p . m .

M e n @ 3 p . m .

Come and support the Yeowomen and Yeomen as they take on the DePauw University Tigers.

R o u n t a b l e D i s c u s s i o n : T h e F i r s t 1 0 0 D a y s o f t h e T r u m p A d m i n i s t r a t i o n D y e L e c t u r e H a l l M o n d a y , F e b . 2 0 4 : 3 0 – 5 : 3 0 p . m .

Oberlin professors Renee Romano, Jennifer Fraser, Charles Peterson, Jafar Mahallati and Marcelo Vinces will be conducting a roundtable discussion on notable moments from the beginning of Trump’s presidency.

A n E v e n i n g w i t h P a u l B e a t t y F i n n e y C h a p e l T u e s d a y , F e b . 2 1 7 : 3 0 – 9 p . m .

S t u d y A w a y I n f o S e s s i o n W e d n e s d a y s , 4 : 3 0 p . m . a n d T h u r s d a y s , 1 2 : 3 0 p . m . u n t i l M a r c h 1 5 P e t e r s H a l l 2 1 2

P u s s y v s . P u t i n A p o l l o T h e a t r e W e d n e s d a y , F e b . 2 2 7 – 9 p . m .

6 o n 6 : V i o l a s P l a y B a c h B i e n b a u m I n n o v a t i o n a n d P e r f o r m a n c e S p a c e T h u r s d a y , F e b . 2 3 8 p . m .

This convocation features poet and novelist Paul Beatty, who writes about race and politics in America and has won multiple awards for his work, including The Sellout.

Interested in studying abroad next year? Learn about the application process, program selection, costs and deadlines.

One night screening only! This documentary follows the story and activism of Russian punk band Pussy Riot. A discussion with journalist Masha Gessen will follow.

A viola performance of Bach’s preludes, Boureés, Gavottes and Minuets in The Hotel at Oberlin’s new concert venue.

Page 10

Arts The Oberlin Review

February 17, 2017

‘Roots’ Celebrates Jewish Food, Family Trees Julia Peterson Production editor At first, the timing of Tu B’Shevat, the Jewish new year of the trees, seems like a strange choice. After all, it’s the middle of winter, and there are no leaves or buds to be seen. Although we can’t see it, this time of year is when root growth begins again after a period of dormancy. This theme inspired Wednesday’s event “Roots: Exploring Jewish Identity Through Family Stories & Culinary Traditions,” held in the atrium of the Adam Joseph Lewis Center for Environmental Studies.

For College first-year Nina Harris, who sits on the Chabad student leadership board and was the primary organizer of the event, College senior Isabelle Harari speaks at “Roots: Exploring Jewish Identity Through Family Stories & Culinary Tradiconnecting the growth of trees tions,” an event Wednesday put on as part of the “How Do You Jew?” series.

Photo by Brian Rubin, Photo editor with an exploration of Jewish identity through food and storytelling pacted their Jewish identity. the middle … and she’d coat them As students shared their family’s was a logical match.

On Wednesday night, a small with powdered sugar,” Epstein immigration narratives and how “We wanted to do something group of students gathered with said. “I remember every Shabbat, these recipes became meaningful to celebrate Tu B’Shevat,” she said. Chabad Co-Directors Rabbi Sh- my mom would make them, and traditions passed down through “We came up with this idea of ex- lomo Elkan and Devora Elkan in me and my brother and my sis- generations, a secondary theme to ploring identity through your fa- the AJLC to try some of the reci- ter would be standing by the oven the event soon emerged. Everyone milial relationships — ‘How does pes and tell stories of how the food waiting for them to be done to have told a story about love. Some of your family’s roots [sic], or your came to be important for them and Nanny’s cookies.” the stories were romantic — the family history, impact your Jewish their families. The event featured Reflecting the historical and in- brownies served came from a wedidentity?’ And like all Jewish prac- traditional Jewish dishes, including tergenerational nature of the event, ding recipe — while others centices, we had to include food be- matzoh ball soup and noodle kugel, Epstein contacted her grandfather tered on the love between siblings, cause that’s just pivotal to Jewish and some more surprising offerings before submitting the recipe and such as College senior Anna Weiss’s holidays.” including banana bread with choc- discovered another layer of the sto- story of how her grandmother reTo gather the recipes that would olate chips, brownies, soft-boiled ry behind the recipe. connected with her great-uncle 30 be prepared and served at the event, eggs and sugar cookies.

“Nanny … would just walk years after they had both survived Jewish students were encouraged The recipe for the cookies was around the house with a little bas- the Holocaust. Rather than simply to submit family stories and reci- contributed by College junior ket, and my grandpa and his sib- telling the history of the recipes pes through a form on the Oberlin Anabel Epstein, who contextual- lings would have to earn the cook- that were being shared, the food Chabad website. When submitting ized them with a story about her ies from her,” Epstein said. “So it’s was a starting point for larger nara recipe, students were asked to re- great-grandmother. just this long legacy of these cook- ratives about family connections. flect on what they knew about their “My great-grandmother — we ies being seen as gold when re“I was honestly very surprised,” family’s immigration to the United called her Nanny … would make … ally they’re just these simple sugar Harris said, reflecting on the States and how that history has im- sugar cookies with apricot jam in cookies.” themes that had come up in many

of the stories. “I thought it was really interesting. … There were a lot of different stories about love.”

The “Roots” event was part of the ongoing “How Do You Jew?” series, which has highlighted many forms of creative art including photography, creative writing and spoken word. The overarching motivation of the series is to facilitate dialogue and storytelling around Jewish identity.

“The biggest charge of this event is creatively talking about … Jewish identity,” Rabbi Elkan said. “One of the reasons for the overarching series is to make people feel … that it’s OK to talk about these types of things. … We want [people] to know that they should be empowered in who they are as a spiritual entity and be comfortable in sharing that with others.”

“From how I see this event, it’s a unique opportunity to reflect on generations before us and honor them, where we come from,” Epstein said. “Although it is a religiously affiliated event, I consider it more historical.”

The hope, according to Rabbi Elkan, is to continue to collect these types of recipes and eventually create a family story cookbook for the Oberlin Jewish community.

“Food and Jewish celebration are so intertwined,” Rabbi Elkan said. “So many holidays — and every single week, even, around the Shabbos table — we celebrate with delicious food, … community and family. So many people have their grandma’s matzoh ball soup recipe, or their brisket, or their noodle kugel, or whatever it is that really hits home for them.”

Henson Delivers Memorable Performance in Hidden Figures Christian Bolles Columnist An oft-ignored ingredient of successful filmmaking is the importance of managing expectations. It’s the coating on the cinematic pill, and it distinguishes movies that appeal to a wide audience over those that find a smaller niche. There are many successful films that subvert their premises, yet divide viewers in doing so; La La Land, which begins as a glitzy musical and transitions to a relationship drama halfway through, is one recent example that garnered critical praise but widespread criticism from general audiences.

Somewhere on the other end of the spectrum rests writer/director Theodore Melfi’s Hidden Figures. Hidden Figures is a vehicle for a story and quite a good one: Three Black women working at NASA in the early ’60s played key roles in edging out Russia in the space race, yet went largely unrecognized. It’s also a vehicle for stars — namely, Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer and Janelle Monáe. The film performs as well as any viewer could hope — it succeeds in being itself, and given the scope of its narrative, that’s no small feat.

A sub-par script waters down a revelatory story, but the fantastic central cast elevates its every word, resulting in a satisfying mixture of colorful period visuals and punchy plot beats that fulfill the promise of its setup. Hidden Figures is exactly what it should be: a feel-good

prestige drama that tells a memorable story with worthy performances.

It wouldn’t feel right to credit Melfi with Hidden Figures’ success. His directing is competent, but his screenplay isn’t nearly as ambitious as the plot, initially presented in the book of the same name upon which the film is based. At one point, a character tells another, “Stop quoting your slogans at me.” The same could be asked of the script, which consistently reaches for a level of cleverness that Melfi simply can’t conjure; when Katherine (Henson) tells a coworker that she was given until the end of the day to complete her work, the coworker responds, “The end of the day around here is yesterday.” It’s a witty retort, but ultimately doesn’t add much to the film.

Similarly, the script often tries to appear to make bold statements about racism and notions of freedom through wordplay rather than substance, as when Mary’s (Monáe) husband tells her, “Civil rights aren’t always civil.” While a clever turn of phrase, a better writer would go to some effort to drive the point home, either by addressing anti-Black violence as an undercurrent of the film’s events or by giving a glimpse into the husband’s life that examines how his belief in hands-on resistance is at odds with Mary’s more reserved approach to combating systematic racism. The screenplay does neither, but fortunately, the directing takes advantage of the charged premise.

Melfi knows how much power lies in the

image of a Black woman walking into a room full of surprised white men: it’s the driving emotional force behind Hidden Figures and rightly so. The course of the film sees its three heroines work their way up to a place of respect among their colleagues at NASA, and the sheer satisfaction of watching them prevail is like candy, a confection that the film knows exactly how and when to dole out. Ultimately, this is a tale of pure inspiration, and Hidden Figures deals that feeling in spades.

It helps, of course, that these are characters worth caring about beyond their genius. Katherine is the ostensible protagonist; her incredible gift for all things mathematical propels her into Space Task Group, a body working to calculate flight trajectories for spacecraft, making her story a compelling centerpiece. The film struggles to lend the same attention to Dorothy (Spencer) and Mary, both occupying well-told but peripheral subplots that could have used more screen-time. However, the actors compensate well by breathing life into their characters.

A seasoned veteran, Spencer’s talent is wellknown in the industry, and she delivers a reliably excellent performance here. Even more impressive — but not surprising to anyone who’s seen her short but sweet role in Moonlight — is Monáe, whose cutting wit and poise consistently steal the stage. Initially a singer/songwriter, her range of talent is truly unique. Monáe’s Moonlight love interest, the unstoppable Ma-

hershala Ali, is also featured in Hidden Figures, and brings all the understated power audiences have come to expect.

The final notable supporting performance is delivered by the legendary Kevin Costner as the head of the STG. A surprisingly progressive, tough supervisor with a gum-chewing habit to rival Sean Spicer’s, Costner’s embodiment of Al Harrison is a joy to watch, while also being subtle enough to avoid vying for attention with the real star of the show: Henson. It’s no exaggeration to suggest that Hidden Figures is worth watching for her performance as Katherine alone. Able to display impressive endurance, fiery resistance and quiet hurt in turns, Henson supplies a perfect cornerstone for an already imposing central cast that rivals Moonlight’s ensemble. It’s rare that a single awards season contains two such incredible casts, but here they are.

Hidden Figures is gorgeous, with popping colors and a meticulously honed ’60s aesthetic.

It’s a beautiful way to frame an expansive story that, by its emotional third act, becomes a compelling tale of triumph that will satisfy anyone willing to overlook some initial rough patches of sparse character work. All told, it’s a gripping, vital film that has brought a criminally overlooked story into the limelight, grossing over $144 million worldwide already. Though Hidden Figures could have used a better script, its brilliant cast deserves every accolade granted this awards season.

Arts

The Oberlin Review, February 17, 2017

Page 11

On the Record with Musicologist Maria Willams Professor Maria Williams was born and raised in Anchorage, AK. She received a Ph.D. in Ethnomusicology from University of California, Los Angeles and currently directs the Department of Alaska Native Studies at the University of Alaska, Anchorage, where she teaches courses in Alaska Native and world music. She recently produced a documentary called A Beautiful Journey, which chronicles Athabascan Elder Daisy Demientieff’s 750-mile journey in search of roots for her tribe’s indigenous basket-making rituals. She came to Oberlin Monday as a recipient of the Bettman Family Fellowship, and gave a lecture titled “Indigenous Expressive Culture and Environment in the 21st Century: The Role of the Artist in Alaska.” Williams is an enrolled member of the Tlingit tribe in southeast Alaska.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

In your lecture, you mentioned that the education system in the United States doesn’t cover indigenous culture and Native American life.

It’s a hidden history. I think in general, Native American history is not covered very well, and when it is covered, it’s very … Hollywoodized.

When I went to school, [the narrative] was “The Native Americans invented popcorn and they helped the Pilgrims!” and no one covered the bitter history about land loss and epidemic diseases that had a detrimental effect on the indigenous population. I just feel like we’re missing the boat in terms of being proud of our history as Americans. [It] includes Native American history, African-American history [and] the Atlantic slave trade, and I just feel if we were able to look at the land a little bit differently, … maybe we would be better environmentalists. So I think the history needs to be taught better in the K–12 system.

You said that when you started to look into Alaskan Native American life, you felt it was really healing for you. How so?

When I was taught Alaskan history it was “The Russians were here, and then there was a

reservations? What land did [Native Americans] traditionally live on? The indigenous worldview looks at everything as connected. In the academic sense you would say it’s very interdisciplinary — it’s a more woven worldview. Some people compare it to a spider web … you touch one strand and all the other strands wiggle. But it’s true that [while] we live in a very interconnected world, we just don’t view it that way; we compartmentalize everything into different sections.

Ethnomusicologist and Director of Alaska Native Studies at the University of Alaska, Anchorage, Maria Williams gave a lecture Monday titled Indigenous Expressive Culture and Environment in the 21st Century: The Role of the Artist in Alaska.

Photo courtesy of Maria Williams

gold rush, and then we became a state and then we discovered oil.” But what about … [how] in 1945, Alaska was the first state to have an antidiscrimination act because of two Alaska Native women activists? When you read about this history, you understand these sayings like intergenerational and multigenerational trauma. Covering … all that stuff, the present made sense to me, looking through the lens of the past. In this healing journey, as we try to move forward in this positive way, we still have to look back [and] know where we came from.

How do you think that we can incorporate all of this knowledge into school curriculums?

I look at people who do research. There’s certainly a lot of people out there that have written books about … some really interesting [groups] like the Iroquois Confederacy [that] had a huge influence on the founding fathers. If things like that can be heralded a little bit more, then people will begin seeing … Native Americans very differently. One of the things I talked about yesterday was the indigenous worldview, which is a little more holistic in nature. A bigger step than just incorporating … indigenous histories into our regular curriculum is … understanding who … Native Americans [are]. Why are there these

I do feel that K–12 education is a very different place than higher-ed in terms of incorporating the indigenous world view, especially because in K–12 public schools you get learning standards and testing.

The Western classroom as we know it today was based on the 19th-century industrial [workforce]. [Teachers] were training people to be workers, show up on time [and not] question anything, … but unfortunately we haven’t moved past that model. I look at the Maori in New Zealand — they revolutionized their schools in the [’80s by letting] Maori elders into the classroom so [students could learn] some of the language.

The possibility of having parents or extended family in the classroom [helps]. The [Maori] actually have a whole educational philosophy where they incorporate their societal values into the learning, and I can’t say the Western classroom does the same. I think it would have a profound effect on the children as they move through the system; they might start thinking differently.

I kind of hate to ask this question, but I think it’s interesting because we do have Betsy DeVos as our new education secretary. Is there a way we can talk about doing all of this without federal support?

I think [one way would be] if local people got more involved in school board elections [and] paid a lot of attention to the school board candidates. The school board can potentially have a lot of sway. Also, as Americans, we’re not exposed to other models. We need to start pressuring

for changes, and some of these are small: Does school really need to start at 8 a.m. for these little kids? [We should create] a curriculum that’s reflective of the local history.

Let’s talk more about cultural revitalization.

How have you seen that manifested?

I’ve seen a huge revitalization in traditional dance practices — certainly in Alaska [and] also in other parts of the United States. When I lived in New Mexico, the young people [seemed] to embrace their identity [more]: There isn’t any hiding of who you are; the shame is gone. But the other manifestation of revitalization is language.

In Alaska, now, a lot of young people … are studying their native languages.

Can you say more about dance, how that has played out and what it looks like?

As I mentioned in my lecture [Monday], dance was kind of hidden. You would never do anything to bring attention to your Nativeness, [but] now you see people wearing their traditional Native clothing, just because they’re proud to be Alaskan. I would say even some older people have gone back and joined dance groups because it’s something they’ve always wanted to do, and they return to drumming and singing.

Can you tell me about the difference between dancing in a private setting versus dancing at a festival or on a stage?

If you are from a village in Alaska … and your dad is a drummer, … you come to practice one day, and you just start to do the motions [as a young child]. Then gradually you learn the songs and the regalia is made, and then you have an opportunity to go to a dance festival. Dance groups grow and split up and it just blooms.

I was really interested and really moved to see the Alaskan Natives at the Standing Rock protests and I was wondering what you thought it meant that the different Native groups are See On The Record, page 12

Faculty, Guests to Perform Collaborative Electroacoustic Pieces Gillian Pasley The TIMARA basement is uncharted territory for many Oberlin students, even those who frequent the Conservatory. Known for pushing the boundaries of electroacoustic composition and experimental performance, the department is internationally recognized for its impact on the history of electronic music — it was the first conservatory program in the world to focus on electronic composition. The program has a legacy of accomplished and prolific alumni and faculty, and at 8 p.m. tonight in Warner Concert Hall, Oberlin students will get a chance to witness this tradition in a recital featuring TIMARA faculty and guest composers.

The recital features faculty members Peter Swendsen, OC ’99, Tom Lopez, OC ’89, and Aurie Hsu, OC ’96; pianist Thomas Rosenkranz, OC ’99; and many guest composers. Former TIMARA faculty member Lyn Goeringer will premiere a fixed-media piece, and some audiovisual fixed media pieces of Eli Stine, OC ’14, Leif Shackelford, OC ’06, and Asha Tamirisa, OC ’10, will also be projected in the concert hall.

Swendsen, associate professor of computer music and digital arts, said that audience members should expect a wide variety of music.

“Some … might seem familiar in certain ways, [some] might have some tonal content or melodic content and some [won’t] have those familiar things.” He added that the pieces will contain sounds from “materials … that we encounter all the time — just because we’re barraged with sound from so many sources — but we don’t necessarily always [imagine] onstage in a concert hall. So I think [listeners should come] with a sense that you might hear things that you don’t always hear in that environment, but if you take a step back you might realize that they’re part of our experience every day anyway.”

Swendsen’s piece, A sound does not view itself as thought, was created in collaboration with Rosenkranz, an alumnus of the Piano Performance department and a longtime friend of Swendsen’s. The piece was composed as a solution to the difficulties posed by geographic separation: Peter wanted to make a piece with Rosenkranz, an “incredible improviser,” but he was in China at the time and was only able to perform with a piano and an iPad. The result of this challenge was 73 short sound segments ranging from half a second to 20 seconds in length. These segments are saved in a playlist in iTunes, and every file has an album cover that depicts a tiny part of the piece’s

score. Rosenkranz knows each fragment, but the playlist is put on shuffle, so he doesn’t know what order they will come in.

“The little fragments that he sees sometimes represent what is heard and sometimes represent a suggestion for what he might play, so it’s a kind of playful flashcard dialogue where the sign pops up and he has to decide what to do with it,” Swendsen explained.

Hsu, visiting assistant professor in TIMARA, will perform (in) visible, a composition for prepared piano and electronics. “(in)visible is based on a set of improvisations that reflect on abstract concepts such as sleepwalk motion, beauty in unity, echoes, spinning, an invisible dancer, mystic chords, protest rhythms and sympathetic tones. I find ‘hidden’ rhythms and sonorities in the resonances of actions such as playing mallets on bolts, buzzing washers, ping pongs on strings, playing harmonics and using an ebow to vibrate the piano strings, Hsu wrote in an email to the Review. “The electronic part is constructed using these rhythms and sonorities, which in turn influence elements of the acoustic piano part.”

Lopez, associate professor of computer music and digital arts, will present a piece for piano, electronics, and, intriguingly, postcards. The piece finds its inspiration in Picasso’s The Dream and

Lie of Franco, a series of 18 individual prints and an accompanying prose poem. Lopez described Picasso’s piece as “his first real political stance against the fascist regime of Franco.” Lopez’s piece, which will pay homage to the Picasso while making a statement of its own, is titled The Dream and Lie of Trump. “[I’m] using electronics to get sounds out of the piano that don’t sound like a piano,” Lopez said. This is effect accomplished by digitally processing the sound produced by the piano using a laptop. “The piano seems to generate all these sonic landscapes that are actually electronic,” he added.

When asked how a listener unfamiliar with electroacoustic music might approach the piece, Lopez hopes its emotion will be clear.

“If nothing else, what I hope a non-Conservatory listener might get out of it is that it’s really angry.

Someone could comment and say ‘this is a really bombastic, angry, resistant piece of music,’” he said.

“Regardless of whether you understand the composition or where the sounds come from and how they’re made, hopefully the emotional intent of the piece will be audible.”

For those unfamiliar with the department, it can be confusing to approach new music in a concert setting. Although electroacoustic

music emerged around the mid20th century, the casual listener probably has not had much exposure to the genre.

“There may be familiar and unfamiliar sounds and sometimes non-traditional musical forms in this genre,” Hsu wrote in an email to the Review. “My advice is to listen with open ears and focus on listening for patterns and timbres that appeal to your sensibility. I like to compare listening to new music to trying new foods. Sometimes new tastes grow on you!”

Swendsen agreed. “I think maybe [it could be seen] as an opportunity for our ears to do something that our eyes do all the time, which is to encounter and then process with our brains really different kinds of sights,” he said. “Every environment gives our visual system a lot to deal with. When you think of how you go through your day, you’re seeing so many different things all the time — colors and textures. We encounter a lot of sounds, but I don’t think our ears are pushed in as many different directions as our eyes are on a regular basis. So in a way you might think of [this recital] as an opportunity to do that exercise for your ears.”

TIMARA Faculty and Guest Recital takes place tonight at 8:00 p.m. in Warner Concert Hall, located at 77 West College Street. The recital is free.

Arts

Page 12

The Oberlin Review, February 17, 2017

Slow Train Hosts Romantic Annual Multilingual Poetry Event Katie Lucey Some say that love is a universal language. This idea was explored Monday evening at Love in Many Tongues, a multilingual poetry reading at Slow Train Cafe.

The Oberlin Center for Languages and Cultures organizes Love in Many Tongues each year as a way to promote the dozen languages offered at Oberlin — as well as others not offered — while simultaneously celebrating Valentine’s Day. Oberlin students, faculty and community members read poems and sang songs in a wide array of languages — ranging from Mandarin to Russian to Bissau-Guinean Creole — as well as their English translations.

Rosalind Soltow, the administrative assistant for the Center for Languages and Cultures, has planned this event for the past three years.

“The whole theme of the event is to express love — whatever that may be,” Soltow said.

Poets conveyed this theme in a variety of ways. College senior Jean-Paul Gilbert described a poem he recited from memory in Russian as a “very ‘friend-zone’ poem.”

Brandon County, a visiting professor of French, read Ndongle Akudeta’s untitled sonnet in Bissau-Guinean Creole, a Portuguese-based language mostly spoken in Senegal.

“What I find most interesting about this poem is … it’s a love sonnet both to a person, and … to the language and country it’s from,” County said.

Other poets, whose passion for their

respective languages came through in their crisp diction and emotive reading, expressed different kinds of love. Some readings spoke of motherly love, others of love lost and still others of rekindled passion.

One standout performance was by College senior Sarah Chatta, who performed “Guest,” a Russian poem by Anna Akhmatova, with intense expression and emotion. She spoke of the “darker kind of the love” that the poem espouses, particularly with the lines “I asked: ‘What do you want?’ / He replied: ‘To be with you in hell’.” The audience of about 40 people sat enraptured by her reading; afterwards, the room went completely quiet, then erupted into applause.

Those who attended the event enjoyed not only the stellar performances, but the diversity and beauty of all the languages represented as well.

“I really like how it was in many different languages,” said Francesca Giordani, a Language teaching assistant in Italian, who decided near the end of the night to read lyrics to an Italian song.

“You sit and listen and try to guess what they’re saying.”

Sirine Madani, a French language teaching assistant from France, agreed.

“Even if you don’t understand what they’re saying, you can feel the pain of some of the poems,” she said.

Throughout the night, the mood of Slow Train changed in response to what was being read. Sometimes it dipped to match thematically darker works, as it

College senior Sarah Chatta performs at Slow Train for Love in Many Tongues, a multilingual poetry reading organized each year by the Oberlin Center for Languages and Cultures to celebrate Valentine’s Day.

Photo by Bryan Rubin, Photo editor

did when College junior Hassan Bin Fahim read an Urdu poem entitled “Before We Become Unfaithful.” Other times it soared, as was the case when Madani read “The Children Lovers” by Jacques Prévert.

“I chose to read this poem because it’s very simple, but very pure,” Madani said before reading the poem in both English

and French.

Most who performed at the event were involved in some capacity with the Languages and Cultures Center. For some, participating in the event was a way for them to share their love of languages.

Others saw the event as a creative outlet for the deep connection they felt to the poetry they read.

“For me, it was more than just reading a poem,” said Language Teaching Assistant Maria Tsedrik, who performed “I like…” by Marina Tsvetayeva in Russian.

“It was a way to express myself.”

Others saw Love in Many Tongues as an opportunity to fill an intrinsic need to speak their native tongue.

“When you are teaching in a foreign country, … you have this special need to share your language with other people,” Madani said.

Ultimately, Love in Many Tongues demonstrated Oberlin’s commitment to diversity and respect for different linguistic cultures. It was refreshing to see students, faculty and community members all sitting in rapt attention, ready and willing to listen to different languages and open their mind to foreign cultures. On the eve of Valentine’s Day, many different perspectives gathered under one roof and united under a single thematic banner — love.

“I think it’s important in this space and in this time too,” Madani said. “We hear a lot about the election and Trump, and I think we just need to promote diversity, languages and love.”

On the Record with Maria Willams, Musicologist at University of Alaska Continued from page 11 standing up for each other?

What’s so exciting about Standing Rock and that whole [NoDAPL] movement is the fact that … it all started on Facebook, [not mainstream media]. I was impressed that there was so much solidarity with that, solidarity among all people — Native, non-Native [and] international people [who] traveled or donated money. People could see this is wrong. Why do they want to put a pipeline under the Missouri River? That’s crazy. They’re forcing this poor Native tribe to deal with any oil spills that would affect them … because they’re throwaway people, basically. The fact that

when they learned about it, people were so passionate about that social justice and … environmental justice, it just gives me hope in humanity.

What do you think is the role art plays in contemporary society?

I think … artists in general are very powerful people. I come from a society [in which] we used to have shamans, and in some cases I think artists are kind of shamans, because they can see things that we don’t see as ordinary people. They can see what can be versus what is already there, and that’s an unusual gift. Whether you’re a poet, painter, dancer or composer, … artists are always go-

Good Talk, Bad Talk

College seniors Amara Granderson (left) and Maya Elany and College sophomore Michelle Chu (middle) perform on Good Talk, Oberlin’s live, biweekly sketch comedy show put on during spring semester. Hosted by Elany, the show opened its second season Monday night in the ’Sco with a montage set to “Don’t Stop Believin’, ” before diving into the episode’s theme: a spooky whodunit that follows a search for the show’s previous host, Jessi Gaston. What was initially posited as a murder mystery ended in humorous hijinks and a good-cop, bad-cop routine, as the plot unfolded to reveal that Elany accidentally sent Gaston on a yearlong cruise.

Text by Daniel Markus, Arts editor Photo by Mary Madison

ing to be out there … [and] can open doors for the rest of us to see things from a different lens.

You said yesterday that creativity is in everything we do.

I feel like we’re trained to think that creativity belongs only to people in art school … when in essence we’re all super creative.

If you take that energy and creativity and allow people to think of themselves as [the] super creative beings … we are, then it opens up our way of thinking differently about how we proceed … in our lives. Creativity makes us think of reality as a lot more nuanced [and] makes us better analytical thinkers and problem solvers.

The Oberlin Review, February 17, 2017

Arts

Page 13

Inflatable Trio Navigates Complex Soundscape Victoria Garber Arts editor The Dance department held an in-progress showing of Inflatable Trio, a collaboration between dancer and director Lionel Popkin, OC ’92, and TIMARA Professor Tom Lopez, OC ’89, as well as dancers Samantha Mohr and Carolyn Hall, OC ’91, Monday night in Warner Hall’s dance studio. The ensemble will premiere the finished piece next Thursday in Los Angeles, complete with costumes, lighting and a short introductory film, elements that were notably — though not disruptively — absent from the Oberlin performance.

“Choreographically and soundwise it’ll be a lot the same,” Popkin said. “The main structure … will be very similar, but I think there’ll be just a few more nuances and perspectives in it. It hangs together pretty strongly from [the choreography and sound] elements.”

The dance is set to Lopez’s soundscape, which incorporates recordings of everyday sounds like washing dishes, whistling kettles, thunderstorms and ping pong with sections of bagpipes and nebulous electronic sounds similar to a wineglass chorus.

“Many of [the sound elements] may have helped to place the performers in a particular space, like a kitchen — or in an activity, like playing ping pong,” Lopez said. “The more ‘musical’ elements also help develop the performative world, perhaps with emotional or energetic trajectories. But none of this is specific; when the audience hears ping pong balls, no one is mimicking ping pong on stage.”

The piece itself combines unusual styles of movement — from crab-walking to a half-stork, half-ballet stepping motion — and a set of inflatable yellow furniture for an enjoyably unique viewing experience despite minimal costuming and lighting effects. Even when the three dancers’ movements seemed unrelated, almost disjointed, they displayed an impressive level of stage awareness that somehow held their disparate choreographies together. This was one visible product of just how closely — and how long — the three dancers have been working together, both physically and artistically.

“If there’s a lead position that would be me [as the director], but it was an extremely collaborative project,” Popkin said. “I sometimes have a really clear idea of what I’m doing and sometimes I have absolutely no idea and we’re trying a ton of stuff. … I re-

Lionel Popkin, OC ’92, and Carolyn Hall, OC ’91, with Samantha Mohr, perform Popkin’s Inflatable Trio, a collaborative dance set to music by Associate Professor of Computer Music and Digital Arts Tom Lopez, OC ’89.

Photo by Hugh Newcomb

spect both of their compositional eyes quite a bit.”

All three dancers — as well as Lopez, when he was able to attend rehearsals — contributed to the choreography through a dynamic process of trial and adjustment. Lopez added another layer of give and take with the score, which took shape alongside the dance itself.

“Our process was a mix of back and forth,” Lopez said. “I watched dance that had no music before I shared my initial ideas. And when Lionel heard my music, it changed the direction of his choreographic work. In return, my music changed, and so on. For me, that is the most rewarding aspect of this work, letting someone else’s ideas influence mine and vice versa.”

Popkin attributes his directorial style and collaborative career in part to his roots in Oberlin’s Dance department, where he was surrounded by artists from every field of performance.

“With TIMARA and the [Conservatory] there, for most of my career I’ve always worked with original music, and because of the kind of training I [got], the collaborations with the dancers is very important,” Popkin said. “Everyone bringing their own intelligence to the artistic process is really important, and I think that’s something that comes out of my early introductions to how to work.”

In fact, his artistic relationships with Hall and Lopez also trace their origins to their time as Oberlin students. Popkin and Hall have been working together on and off for nearly three decades, having begun their collaborations at Oberlin in 1988. He and

Lopez had done a project together in 1989, but hadn’t worked together since. Lopez has an extensive background mixing diegetic sound, such as recordings from recognizable environments, and nondiegetic sound, which is precisely what Popkin needed.

“I was looking for someone who I felt could go between both,” Popkin said. “Because there’s an element of the narrative in the piece that needs a kind of movie scoring to it, so that you’re dealing with the real material of what’s happening on stage but also the kind of underscore emotional overtones. There are plenty of people who can do that, but not a lot that do it for live performance.”

Despite Lopez’s ideal qualifications for the project, however, it was coincidence that brought the two back together for Inflatable Trio after so many years.

“I weirdly happened to be at a convention talking to his brother-in-law, who’s a choreographer based at the University of Utah, and suddenly Tom flashed into my head,” Popkin said. “[Samantha Mohr] was helping [me] out with another project when we started. She was there from the very early rehearsals for this piece. … The three of us have been working on it for about two years together.”

The shifting relationships and motivations of the figures portrayed on stage weren’t always as easy to trace through the dancers’ movements, which ranged from relatively symbolic of friendship to very abstract.

“I did feel like some aspects of the performance resonated with me,” said double-degree sophomore Helen Hé,

a TIMARA student who attended the performance. “I don’t know how to phrase this anymore, [but it seemed to portray] subtle insanity … chaotic relationships and not taking oneself too seriously.”

Physical connection was a recurring theme. The dancers paired off to navigate the stage around the scattered inflatable furniture, at times with a more traditional, fluid grace, at others with steps vaguely reminiscent of a Monty Python “Ministry of Silly Walks” routine. At one point, Popkin appeared to be Mohr’s sole physical support; after rolling around on the floor, Popkin’s body became a dynamic structural support for hers as she lay limply across him, hanging by her knees from his shoulders when he stood.

During these scenes, one dancer would be left in the wings. At other times all three would move in perfect unison with their arms wrapped tightly around one another’s shoulders, taking on a sort of conglomerate personhood.

“This piece started [with] me sort of thinking about how we orient ourselves in a space, in terms of how we find ground but also how we use other people and objects to do that,” Popkin said. “What are the kind of spheres that we set up around ourselves to give us support, and do they work or not?”

The furniture amplified this theme by grounding it in a domestic space.

The air in these set pieces became just as significant, giving the staged environment the capacity to breathe with the dancers, who used breath as a kind of scenic reset.

“A breath was how we oriented ourselves in the space, and touch was how we oriented ourselves to people and things, so we kept going between those modes to think about how we would develop the material,” Popkin said.

For a piece with fairly grounded themes, however, the score and the figures brought to life on stage rejected neat categorization. Even with a single domestic environment as the stage for every interaction, Popkin considers family too strict a set of roles to project onto the piece.

“I don’t think there’s one of us you can point to and say, ‘Oh, they’re the mother, they’re the grandmother, they’re the cousin twice-removed on the father’s side,’” Popkin said. “I [don’t] think those kinds of relationships are really clear in dance — try saying ‘in-law’ or ‘twice-removed’ in movement — but I think there’s this sense of almost roommates that starts to pervade in the piece. We’re all in the same domestic space together, working it out.”

Inflatable Trio is a piece that deliberately occupies a challenging middle ground with regards to the question of whether the meaning of a work should be measured by its creator’s intent or by the impact it has on an audience.

“It’s still very abstract,” Lopez said.

“When there is a musical texture, it doesn’t pinpoint emotion. The audience is invited, actually required, to interpret the performance through their own life experience.”

Hé, who also spoke to Popkin after the performance, came away with a similar impression, that each individual should give their experience watching the piece a personal meaning. “[Popkin] told me it means whatever I want it to mean,” Hé said. “I honestly don’t think I want it to carry any heavy meanings, because the performers seemed to have a lot of fun, and that’s the most important part.”

Of course Inflatable Trio’s creators have specific ideas they projected onto the piece, but belaboring an audience with a list of meanings they should take away from a performance is neither viable nor productive, especially given the often abstract nature of modern dance.

“Ideally, if you’re clear enough, there’s a connection between how the audience sees it and what you’re intending,” Popkin said. “But I think the idea that there’s a ‘correct’ way to read a piece went out of style with James Joyce.”

Ariel Miller

Sports

Page 14

The Oberlin Review, February 17, 2017

In the Locker Room

Men’s Lacrosse

This week the Review sat down with men’s lacrosse seniors Kinori Rosnow and Eric Hager to discuss their enthusiasm for the upcoming season, the impact they expect rookies and sophomores to have on the team and the ways the squad has changed since last year.

EH: Every single team we play is different, and getting exposure to as many different playing styles as possible is incremental to getting better. The out-of-conference games change for us every year, so we are always experiencing something new.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

What are your thoughts on the team’s first two games this weekend against John Carroll University and Baldwin Wallace University?

KR: [In] the John Carroll game, [it] will be fun to see how we can adjust in-game because we don’t know much about them. The Baldwin Wallace game is going to be indicative of how well we have grown from last year.

How excited are you and the team for the upcoming season?

Kinori Rosnow: Extremely. We have a very different dynamic this year, and I’m excited to see how that translates to the field. This year is my last year, and it’s a team that I’m really excited to work with.

Eric Hager: I’m so incredibly excited. We have a lot of young talent on the team. I think that our freshman class, our sophomore class and our junior class — they’re all very promising players and great athletes. There are only three of us in the senior class so we really need their help, and I think they’ve been doing a great job of supporting us.

What will the impact of losing last year’s leading scorers [Alex Wagman, OC ’16, and Nick Lobley, OC ’16] have on this year’s team?

EH: The fact that we don’t have two players who account for 75 percent of our goals forces us to include everybody. It forces everybody to contribute. I’m really excited to see how that develops throughout the season.

Kinori Rosnow (left) and Eric Hager What is the team dynamic like with just a few seniors?

KR: It requires everyone to take roles at any given time. You don’t always have to be the leader in every situation. But as a result, everyone is stepping up, and it’s harder to fall through the cracks when you have a role like that. Even if it’s a small thing like just making sure gear gets out on the field, you can’t just be passive.

What are the differences between last year’s and this year’s team?

KR: Last year, we had a lot of talent, and so that talent was very pointed in specific directions. The dynamic this year has been everybody getting better at everything they do. It feels like we are more rounded.

EH: There’s no LeBron James on the team, so to speak. [We can’t] pass him the ball and [think] he’s going to score every goal. Everybody has to do their job. I think that the difference … is that this year’s team is a team. Sometimes I question whether that was the case last year.

What are your team’s goals for the season?

KR: The goal that seems to be the trend from this team is that we want to be a team that works together.

We have different character goals.

Some of them involve attention to detail, for example. We try to keep ourselves ordered and organized at all times.

EH: There are big goals and then smaller, more attainable goals. We

can always say our goal is to win a national championship, but there are steps to that — Little things specific to lacrosse, like clearing. [We want] a higher clearing percentage than we [had] last year. There are so many little goals that we have to achieve if we want to get to where we want to be.

How will the non-conference schedule prepare your team for success in the North Coast Athletic Conference?

KR: We have good, solid athletic competition out of conference.

It will help us work out the kinks and see another group of guys. We had a scrimmage this past weekend, and it showed us a few things that we can work out immediately.

What will it take to make the conference tournament and continue to see this program improve?

KR: It’s going to come down to execution. I feel like we are pushing each other and ourselves. If we just execute correctly, we can win any game on any given day.

EH: It’s about just going in and realizing that you can beat any team you play. It really comes down to believing you can win.

Interview by Darren Zaslau, Sports editor Photo By Bryan Rubin, Photo editor

Yeowomen Best BWU, Fall to IUP

Editorial: NWSL Hits Mainstage

Continued from page 16

Continued from page 16

cheered the Yeowomen on enthusiastically. Junior Audeh and first-year Delaney Black lost a decisive bout 8–4 at No. 2 doubles. The last two matches on court were the first and third flights, which both went to tiebreakers.

In a No. 3 match filled with momentum swings, McDermott and Hay fell to an early 5–2 deficit, but fought back to go up 7–6. Attempting to break their opponents’ serve, the Oberlin duo was unable to close out a match point. They eventually fell in the tiebreak 7–2.

All eyes then turned to Court 1, where the veteran team of Hughes and Brezel was in the midst of a tiebreak battle against the 15th-ranked Division II doubles team in the nation. The duo got up to a quick 6–0 lead in the tiebreak before IUP answered with two points. Brezel and Hughes then closed it out at 7–2 to save the Yeowomen from a doubles sweep, a feat Brezel said she was particularly proud of.

“That was one of the most complete matches mentally and tenniswise that we have played,” Brezel said.

Heck also had a strong showing for the Yeowomen as she tallied the final point of the day, earning her fourth win of the season in straight sets at the sixth flight. She credits her hot start to her teammates.

“When everyone is out there giving 100 percent, it’s really motivating

to keep fighting even when things get hard in a match,” Heck said.

The rest of the Oberlin squad did not fare as well as Heck, as the Yeowomen dropped the other five singles matches. Brezel came out on the losing end of the closest singles set, 7–6, and would go on to drop the second 6–2. Audeh was bested in the No. 2 match against IUP’s Luise von Agris, who is ranked 50th in Division II singles. Hughes and McDermott were also bested in their respective No. 1 and No. 4 matches.

Despite the loss, Head Coach Constantine Ananiadis said he likes to schedule more difficult teams early on in the season to help the Yeowomen long term.

“Once you’ve seen the ball come back hard at you from DI and DII players, playing the likes of Kenyon in April shouldn’t seem too tough,” he said in an email to the Review.

Ananiadis added that while Heck’s 4–0 day and Brezel’s Player of the Week accolades were impressive, some other members of the team showed “minor, yet significant, improvements and highlights that might not necessarily have translated in wins.”

The team has three home matches within a 24-hour span this weekend, starting with Kalamazoo College at 5:30 p.m. today. Saturday, the Yeowomen will face Hope College at 1 p.m. and Ashland University at 4:30 p.m.

sports in 2014. And while live TV coverage of women’s basketball improved slightly in 2014 as compared to 1989, virtually no improvements were shown in sports news and highlights shows. Women are now less frequently objectified in sports coverage, but objectification has been replaced by neglect. “[Since 1989] overt sexism has been replaced by a general absence of women altogether,” the study reads. “Women’s sports are rarely covered, and when female athletes are interviewed in any depth, it’s to portray them as mothers or girlfriends, including to stress those roles over their role as an athlete.”

This lack of coverage and perpetuation of stereotypes is particularly egregious when juxtaposed with the success of women’s sports in the United States since the study was first conducted. Since 1989, American fans have witnessed perhaps the greatest era in women’s sports history. Serena Williams has become the most decorated tennis player in history. The U.S. has absolutely dominated women’s basketball, winning gold at the past six Olympics. And Americans have earned the aforementioned three World Cups in women’s soccer, as well as four Olympic gold medals. That dominance at the professional level has contributed to greater women’s participation at the youth, high school and college levels, which has grown dramatically over the past few decades.

Despite increased participation, interest and success among women in sports, network executives justify neglecting women by saying that they simply do not watch sports. Those executives have some statistics on their side.

According to studies conducted by ESPN, the

average woman watches around 90 hours of sports per year on television, while the average man watches over 200. Countless cultural factors could contribute to that discrepancy, including differences in viewing preferences.

That same ESPN study shows that many women prefer more narrative-based sports programming that shares athletes’ stories. But because women are largely excluded from sports news shows, women viewers don’t have access to that kind of coverage.

A+E aims to fill that void with the newly created NWSL Media, the name for its new partnership with the league. Although at first, its women’s soccer coverage will be limited to live games once a week, A+E plans to overhaul NWSLSoccer.com, improve the league’s social media presence and create NWSL iPhone and Android apps.

Lifetime understands the nuances of women’s programming, and NWSL Media seems poised for success. This unprecedented effort geared toward expanding women’s sports programming should grab the attention of outlets like ESPN, showing that they can no longer ignore a virtually untapped market of women’s sports fans. President and CEO of A+E Nancy Dubuc, who rowed crew in college, seems to understand the importance of reaching out to that demographic.

“As a former college athlete, I know the importance of sports in the lives of women and girls,” she said. “I couldn’t be more thrilled to join forces with NWSL and U.S. Soccer to ensure professional women athletes are elevated as the entire country can watch and be inspired by their strength and athleticism.”

Sports

The Oberlin Review, February 17,2017

Page 15

Track, Field Collects NCAC Athlete of the Week Awards

Junior Ana Richardson was named the NCAC Field Athlete of the Week after winning the women’s weight throw in the All-Ohio Championships last Saturday.

Photo courtesy of OC Athletics

Julie Schreiber Staff writer Currently ranked 15th in the nation, Yeowomen track and field racked up record-breaking performances Feb. 11 at the All-Ohio Championships, as junior Lilah Drafts-Johnson set two school records. Propelling the women’s team to a fourth place finish, Drafts-Johnson earned her NCAC Sprinter/Hurdler of the Week honors.

“Lilah Drafts-Johnson was an absolute star,” said Head Track and Field Coach

Ray Appenheimer. “She’s been working so hard. It was great to see her mark these [records] off her checklist.”

The Melrose, MA, native smashed both the 200- and 400-meter records.

She sprinted a time of 25.90 seconds in the 200 and ran a time of 57.12 in the 400. Last season, Drafts-Johnson was an NCAA Division III All-American 400 hurdler.

“I don’t think that there is a team that works harder than ours,” said DraftsJohnson. “I see my teammates pushing themselves every day, and not just on the

track, but in their academic life, putting in hours at Campus Dining Service shifts and volunteering in the community. I think we have a great community and are constantly rooting for every member of our team to succeed in all areas of their lives.”

Breaking onto the scene, first-year Shannon Wargo also had a great showing, earning an NCAC Distance Runner of the Week nod for her conference-best time of 5:10.26 in the mile run. Wargo beat her previous best mark of 5:17.17, recorded at the College of Wooster Fighting Scots Invitational Jan. 28.

The Yeowomen had tremendous performances on the field as well. Junior thrower Ana Richardson was named NCAC Field Athlete of the Week, adding to the Yeowomen’s conference honors tally. Richardson secured a win in the weight throw, posting a mark of 56 feet and 7 1/4 inches and claiming seventh place in the shot-put with a score of 4107 3/4.

“Our throws might be the best in the whole conference,” Appenheimer said.

Elsewhere on the field, junior Annie Goodridge contributed a collective 14 points in the triple jump and the long jump while senior pole vaulter Ave Spencer cleared 11–03 and placed fifth overall.

Just last Friday prior to the All-Ohio Championships, the team competed at the annual Baldwin Wallace Mid-February Invite. The Yeowomen finished third out of 13 teams with 82 points.

Oberlin dominated in the distance events of the day. Former Division III NCAA Cross Country National Championships competitor Linnea Halsten won

the 5,000 meters at 18:34.09 while sophomore Vanessa LoChirco claimed second place at 18:57.64. Junior Sarah Urso and sophomore Sarah Ridley came in fourth and eighth place, respectively, placing four Yeowomen in the top 10.

On the men’s side, the All-Ohio Championship featured notable performances from sophomores Daniel Mukasa and Grant Sheely. Mukasa placed eighth in the pole vault, clearing 13-05 1/4. Sheely placed sixth in the 3,000-meter race and echoed Drafts-Johnson’s sentiments about his teammates’ efforts in their respective events.

“Strong leadership from our captains [boosts] a team that has a lot of people pushing and putting effort in from all sides,” he said. “You have runners from the faster side of things who push really hard and lead by example, but also there are runners who may not be our number one in any event but they try harder more constantly than some of the top runners, and it’s those people that really make the team better.”

Highlights from the Baldwin Wallace meet for the Yeomen also include strong field performances. The throwers were led by sophomore Sam Meads, who finished second in the weight throw with a toss of 47–03. Sophomore Chauncey Simmons threw the shot-put 42-04 3/4 to claim sixth place. The Yeomen finished in 10th place in the 13-team field with 28 points.

Next on the slate for the track and field teams is the Greater Cleveland Championships in Berea, Ohio, today. They will then lace up for the Kent State Tune Up in Kent, Ohio, tomorrow.

Huskies’ Dominance Hurts Competition, Interest in Women’s Basketball Jack Brewster Columnist The University of Connecticut Huskies cemented the longest winning streak in the history of NCAA women’s basketball Monday night with a landmark 65–55 win over the University of South Carolina.

The Huskies have broken the previous win streak record three times.

This spring, they will vie for their fifth straight NCAA championship, which would be their 11th title since 2000. The Huskies are as close to a dynasty as it gets.

But while their current win streak and dominance in recent years is fantastic for their fan base, the Huskies’ supremacy is damaging NCAA women’s basketball.

Dynasties are only healthy for the growth of a sport up to a point. The Huskies are winning so often and by so much that they are making women’s basketball uncompetitive and therefore uninteresting.

After the UConn women beat Mississippi State University 98–38 in the NCAA tournament last year, Boston Globe Sportswriter Dan Shaughnessy took to Twitter to voice his opinion.

“UConn Women beat Miss St. 98-38 in NCAA tourney,” he tweeted. “Hate to punish them for being great, but they are killing women’s game. Watch? No thanks.”

His tweet was met with outrage from UConn diehards, women’s basketball fans, and Geno Auriemma, head coach of the Huskies.

“When Tiger [Woods] was winning every major, nobody said he

was bad for golf,’’ said Auriemma in response to Shaughnessy’s tweet.

“Actually he did a lot for golf. He made everybody have to be a better golfer.” But Auriemma’s comparison of the UConn women to Tiger Woods is farfetched. While Woods had an unbelievable streak of dominance from 1999–2002 in which he won 27 PGA tour events and seven major titles, his run pales in comparison to the UConn women.

Woods won majors by close margins and lost his fair share of tournaments during the three-year time period.

From 2001–2003, UConn won 70 games in a row, breaking the longest winning streak in NCAA women’s basketball history. From 2008–2010, the team broke its own record and shattered the longest men’s basketball winning streak set

by University of California, Los Angeles by winning 90 games in a row.

And as of Tuesday, the Huskies have won 100 games and counting.

But more importantly, the Huskies have continually crushed their opponents in lopsided wins.

Consider the NCAA title games of the last four years. Last season, UConn beat Syracuse University to win the national championship by a score of 82–51. In 2015, the Huskies defeated Notre Dame University 63–53. In 2014, they also played Notre Dame, slaughtering them 79–53. And in 2013, they topped University of Louisville 93–60.

So far this year, the team’s average margin of victory is over 32 points.

I’m all for dynasties, but sports

are only interesting when the game is at least somewhat close.

UConn’s dominance has had a direct effect on the number of people who watched the championship games in the past few years. Last year’s championship game clocked in at 2.972 million household viewers, a decrease of 4.1 percent from the 2015 title game and 33.6 percent from the championship game in 2014.

For a sport that is constantly struggling to grow its fan base and attract viewership, UConn’s win streak has hurt women’s basketball overall. No other team will be able to rival UConn if the Huskies continue to grab virtually all of the highest-rated high school players. Since 2011, every number one ranked recruit has gone on to play for the Huskies. Until other teams can snag some number ones and begin to compete, viewership of the title game will continue to decline and the growth of women’s basketball will remain stagnant.

In some ways, of course, the domination of the UConn women is a plus for women’s basketball.

UConn enjoys sizeable crowds at its games and good publicity. The team’s current winning streak has drawn extensive coverage from ESPN and other outlets, and its players have no doubt become a shining example for young women’s basketball players across the country. It also goes without saying that their streak is one of the most remarkable achievements in sports right now and in NCAA history.

But too many blowouts equals not enough viewers.

“Competition is why we watch sports,” Shaughnessy said in a column written shortly after his con-

troversial tweet. “Without that drama, sports would be no different from the theater, ballet, or symphony.”

Sports The Oberlin Review

Page 16

February 17, 2017

— women’s Tennis —

Women’s Tennis Splits Home Opener Sam Harris Women’s tennis swept the Baldwin Wallace University Yellow Jackets 9–0 in its first win of the season Saturday before falling to Division II Indiana University of Pennsylvania 7–2 later that afternoon. Led by veteran players but bolstered by a strong rookie class, Oberlin’s record stands at 1–2. Though the spring season has just begun, the squad has faced nonconference competition at all levels.

“We have already seen some of the top players in Division III, as well as some strong Division I and Division II players,” first-year Rainie Heck said. “Competing against that level of player has helped us raise our game to match it.”

In a morning matchup against Baldwin Wallace, juniors Mayada Audeh and Jackie McDermott used aggressive net play to win the first match of the day at No. 2 doubles. Audeh attributed the 8–0 victory to solid team chemistry.

“We love playing doubles together,” Audeh said in an email to the Review. “Since we’re such good friends off the court, it makes playing together fun and it’s really easy for us to communicate and work together.”

The squad continued on to sweep all three doubles matches. Junior Sarah Hughes and first-year Lena Rich

Lifetime Promotes NWSL Jackie McDermott Sports editor

First-years Lena Rich and Rainie Heck shake hands just after match point. The duo won an exhibition doubles match at No. 4 8–2 against Indiana University of Pennsylvania. The Crimson Hawks defeated the Yeowomen 7–2 in the second match of a home-opener double header last Saturday.

Photo by Ray Condon

wielded their biggest weapons — their serves — to take the top flight 8–3, while senior captains Emma Brezel and Olivia Hay notched an 8–2 victory at No. 3.

The singles matches were no different with the Yeowomen taking all six flights. Brezel, Audeh and Heck played in the top half of the lineup while first-years Delaney Black and Lena Rich played Nos. 4 and 5. Hay

rounded out the lineup at No. 6. Each player finished their match in straight sets, but singles play was highlighted

by Emma Brezel in the top flight.

Brezel went on to win North Coast Athletic Conference Player of the Week.

As the team headed into the afternoon match against IUP, ranked No. 28 nationally in Division II, Brezel said she tries to instill a sense of fear-

lessness in her teammates.

“I just remind[ed] everyone that just because a team is D-I or D-II or higher-ranked than us, it doesn’t mean we don’t have a chance,” she said.

Doubles against hard-hitting IUP proved a tough challenge for Oberlin, although the sizable home crowd See Tennis, page 14

— Swimming and Diving —

Yeowomen Take Fifth in Conference Finale James Cato The swimming and diving teams shattered 20 personal records and two school records at the North Coast Athletic Conference Championships Feb. 8–11 at Denison University. Despite being low in numbers, the women captured fifth place overall while the men clinched eighth.

“I think that everyone really put in their best work this past weekend,” said senior freestyler Maddie Prangley. “We saw a lot of improvement in things that we had been working on throughout the season, and it was amazing to see the payoff. Everyone had a great attitude and was excited to race, and that really showed in the water.”

Prangley crushed the program record for the 1,650-yard freestyle on her first official attempt, adding to her three existing program records.

The quartet of Prangley, classmates Nora Cooper and Vera Hutchinson and first-year Sarah Dalgleish notched a top-10 mark of 3:35.60 in the 400-yard free relay. Dalgleish also fought through rookie jitters to break her personal record in the 100-yard freestyle with a mark of 55.38.

“It was all about controlling myself and not getting nervous,” she said. “I was able to hold it together, and I could see that my teammates were cheering me on, so I knew I had a good race.”

Cooper was also dominant individually, taking the women’s 100-free B-final with a 53.41 mark while senior Alice Blakely snapped her personal record in the 100-yard individual medley in her preliminary run. First-year Alex Grande and sophomore Rachel Poyle were successful in setting new personal records during the 100-yard individual medley with times of 104.61 and 110.08, respectively.

Head Coach Andrew Brabson said he was pleased that the women’s team was able to hold its own at the competitive meet.

“Only having 13 scores and being able to place

Senior Maddie Prangley swims the freestyle at the NCAC Championships. Prangley broke the 1,650 freestyle program record with a time of 17:32.28 to secure a seventh-place finish.

Photo courtesy of OC Athletics

fifth in a really tough conference was great,” he said.

Although the men landed further down in the rankings, Brabson commended their performance as well.

“We improved a spot from last year, and a lot of the guys got personal bests,” he said. “From an individual standpoint, we did very well. It was a solid meet.”

Led by first-year Jack McKeown, the Yeomen accrued more than 10 top times. McKeown set a personal record with a mark of 2:01.48 in the C-final of the 200 backstroke.

Rookie Michael Lin continued his successful season by qualifying for the A-final in the 200-breast with a time of 2:08.63, earning him eighth place. Earlier this year, Lin posted one of the top-10 fastest times in school history in the butterfly leg of the 200-yard individual medley with a time of 1:59.73. Brabson said

the rookies had a big impact throughout the season.

“On the men’s side we have a very young team,” he said. “We do have a number of first-years who really did well and gained a lot of experience this year.

We’ve seen a lot of our freshmen stand up and start to take leadership roles.”

As the season draws to a close, Brabson will turn his focus to recruiting. The men’s team has no juniors; it is populated with six rookies, one sophomore and two graduating seniors. The women’s team will also have a void in leadership at the end of this year when it graduates the most successful women’s swimming and diving class in school history. The outbound women have accounted for 11 school records and three of Oberlin’s top-four NCAC finishes.

“It’s going to be tough to replace them, but our outlook is strong,” Brabson said. “We’re in a rebuild mode now.”

Game 7 of the 2014 World Series. The Golden State Warriors’ Championshipclinching Game 6 victory over LeBron James’ Cleveland Cavaliers. The 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup. Which one had the most viewers? Hint: The answer will defy the myth that no one watches women’s sports.

While two of the biggest games in baseball and basketball had 23 million viewers, an astonishing 25 million Americans tuned in to watch Abby Wambach and Carli Lloyd hoist the FIFA Women’s World Cup trophy as the United States triumphed over Japan to secure its third world championship.

Now, those viewers will have a new platform where they can watch their favorite women’s soccer stars. Earlier this month, the National Women’s Soccer League, now in its fifth year, closed a deal with A+E Networks, owner of the Lifetime channel, to expand its media presence.

Lifetime will show an NWSL game of the week every Saturday starting in April, and its parent company, A+E, purchased an equity stake in the league, becoming its media partner and committing to raising its profile. The move has great potential to not only grow women’s soccer’s viewership, but also to cater to an underserved market of fans and demonstrate the benefits of dedicating more air time to women’s sports.

The myth that women’s sports are unpopular is perpetuated and reinforced by a lack of media coverage by major outlets. A University of Southern California study found that women’s sports were covered less in 2014 than in 1989 on ESPN’s SportsCenter and Los Angeles broadcast affiliates. SportsCenter dedicated just 2 percent of its air time to women’s See Editorial, page 14