Transy Rambler, February 18, 2016

Sports

A social media frenzy indicated the Transy community’s strong feelings toward choosing a new athletics mascot. Pg. 5

The

Rambler

February 18, 2016 • VOL. 98, ISSUE 17

Transylvania University • Lexington, Ky. • transyrambler.com • (859) 233-8315

Shane McKee leaves Transy for Texas

akmartin19@transy.edu

Shane McKee, director of student involvement and leadership, has announced his departure from Transylvania within the next few weeks.

“I am leaving because my wife and I had lots of conversations and we want to start our own family and we feel like the best place to do that is near family, so we are moving to Texas in the area that I grew up in,” said McKee. McKee has worked at Transylvania for three years in student involvement, where he oversaw all student organizations, intramurals, fraternities and sororities as well as advises Student Activities Board, IFC and Panhellenic.

McKee has also been involved in various activities such as giving input into Greek housing and new Campus Center plans, interviewing for premier Scholarships and serving on the Project One and University Risk Management committees.

For two and a half years, Aaron Roberts, assistant director of student involvement and leadership, has worked alongside McKee. “When Shane told me he was leaving, I was happy and sad at the same time. Happy because this is best for his family. Sad because I’m

saying goodbye to a friend and mentor,” said Roberts.

“Shane has indeed made an impact on me. Shane helped me to challenge the process of everything coming across my path. Asking ‘why’ questions, challenging assumptions, and seeking how to make things better envelopes this impact. In other words he’s helped me think outside the box.”

In regards to the impact McKee has had on the campus, Roberts explained that McKee’s influence lies in “unleashing talent and harnessing an individual’s strengths to make people and systems better.”

For McKee, one of the greatest things at Transylvania is its students.

“My favorite part of working at Transylvania is the students. It is the brightest, most engaged group of students I have ever worked with so I will miss that,” said McKee. “I will miss the closeness and connections that I have with students, the intellect that students have, the way that I can mentor students but also can be challenged by students.”

Not only have the students had an impact on McKee, but he has influenced many students to become better leaders. Senior Ryne Hardesty, president of student activities board, emphasized how much McKee has impacted him.

“In terms of working

Emily Dent

emdent19@transy.edu

PROVIDED BY SHANE MCKEE

Aaron Martin

Biology professor tenured

Shane McKee (second from right) posing with members of Interfraternity Council, from left: senior Chase Coleman, junior Michael Soder, assistant director of student involvement and leadership Aaron Roberts and senior Jordan Lloyd.

together, he’s helped me be- is how much Shane actually come a better leader, he’s helped me really develop my leader- “My favorite part of working at ship skills and really find out who I actual- Transylvania is the students. It ly am,” said Hardes- is the brightest, most engaged ty. “He’s been a role group of students I have ever model and a mentor worked with so I will miss that.” for me and someone I know I can go to with -Shane McKee, Director of problems to help talk through and figure Student Involvement and out the best situaLeadership tion.”

Furthermore, Hardesty explains that McKee brought some- cares about everyone. The thing to Transy’s campus impact he’s had, in my opinthat was not there before. ion, on the university is he’s “I think something a brought that level of care to lot of people don’t realize a different level than it was

before. He’s really focused on how to make students better leaders, but also how to make them be more effective as people in general,” said Hardesty.

McKee’s greatest achievement from his time at Transy is the newly-established Pioneer Leadership Program.

“My proudest accomplishment, by far, is the Pioneer Leadership Program.

It was one of the reasons I came here, so working with Aaron to create that, to implement that, to see the fruits of our labor has been extraordinary,” said McKee. See Shane, Page 3

Dave Shannon reflects on 39-year Transy career Megan Graft mjgraft18@transy.edu

MEGAN GRAFT

It was a typical day for Dr. Dave Shannon, professor of mathematics, as he sat in his office in the Brown Science Center. Junior Andrew Ellis wandered in with a quick question about sequences. He fielded a call from a college textbook publisher, reminiscing about the days when textbooks were upwards of $5.

After this semester, Dr. Shannon will retire after 39 years at Transylvania.

“It’s time,” said Shannon. “It’s not without apprehension, you know. I enjoy what I’m doing… I’ve been at this for about 50 years.”

Shannon was hired here in 1977, 11 years after teaching his first calculus class. In the years ahead, he doesn’t plan on ending his mathematical endeavors in any sense, being involved Professor of Mathematics Dr. Dave Shannon assists one of his students, junior Andrew Ellis, with his homework outside his office in research projects, readin Brown Science Center. Dr. Shannon will retire this semester after 39 years at Transylvania. ing math books and solving problems.

“I can continue doing etry, aren’t Shannon’s only scale projects.

“Every morning we Transy, Shannon’s favorite mathematics, and that’s the contributions to Transy “I’ve had an opportu- would get up to jog or walk, memories come in the mogood news in by any nity to be not just a faculty and tell stories and talk ments when he was solving all this,” he m e a n s . member, but get involved in about our responsibilities on problems, math or non, with said. “That’s As Dean the all the activities of the the search committee,” he other teachers, students and The joy comes in finding how I started of the college,” said Shannon. said. “But getting to know administrators. Seeing his students who get excited life, and I will C o l l e g e He also served on the him and being able to have former students follow his certainly not about the same thing you for two search committee for a new interesting conversation that chosen career path is espestop doing get excited about and pursuy e a r s , president in the 1980’s, covered anything from poli- cially fulfilling for him. ing it that.” he got to building strong friendships tics to college life to teach“The joy comes in findTeaching n u r t u r e and having meaningful con- ing to baseball, it was cer- ing students who get excited and research- -Dave Shannon, professor f a c u l t y versations with other faculty tainly something I look back about the same thing you get of mathematics ing mathematand work in the process, including one on very fondly.” excited about and pursuing ics, particularwith the history professor whom he Amid the variety of it,” he said. ly the areas of commutative staff and the board on larger- lived near and got to know.

See Shannon, Page 3 experiences he’s had at algebra and algebraic geom-

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“I’m just so incredibly honored,” said biology professor Dr. Becky Fox about receiving tenure at Transy.

Dr. Fox, who graduated from Arizona State University and went on to receive her master’s and doctorate from UC Davis, explains tenure as, “basically a recognition of outstanding teaching, service, and research… when a professor becomes a permanent member of the faculty.”

In order to receive tenure, a professor must fill out an application during their sixth year of teaching that includes “a self-reflection or a narrative” about how the faculty member sees their career while at Transy and a statement about their philosophy and style of teaching and how they’ve grown as a teacher.

Applicants must also turn in a similar narrative about their research and how their research has progressed, along with a statement about what they’ve done for Transy outside of the academic setting. This part, Dr. Fox said, shows “a lot of behind the scenes work that doesn’t go on in the classroom.”

Dr. Fox, who is in her sixth year at Transy, looks back wondering where the time has gone.

“I can’t believe I’ve been here that long, it still feels like not very long ago I was interviewing for this job,” she said.

Transy is the first school at which she has been part of the full-time faculty. She said she was “brand, brand new” when she started at Transy.

Dr. Fox said that her most memorable experience while teaching at Transy was seeing the first group of students that she had since their first year graduate.

“Having seen them from the time they came in straight out of high school to growing to become these incredible people… I mean, that was huge,” said Fox. Another memorable experience was taking a group of four students to the National Animal Behavior Conference in Alaska.

“I’ve had a ton of fun; there’s been so many cool experiences it’s hard to pick just one,” she said.

However, on an everyday basis, Dr. Fox loves to see light-bulb moments where a student finally gets a concept and the rest of the students start bouncing ideas off of each other.

“I just really love that,” she said.

The best part of receiving tenure for Dr. Fox is knowing that she gets to stay here at Transy.

“I have great colleagues and I love working with Transy students,” said Fox. “Just getting to be in a classroom with you all is so much fun.”

Campus Life

Page 2

February 18, 2016

Kelsey Henry khenry18@transy.edu

Laura Bryan, dean of the university and vice president of academic affairs, spoke on Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2016, as a guest to the “What Matters to Me and Why” series, stating that attempting to help others realize their full potential is her higher purpose in life.

“All I do is based on values,” said Bryan. “I characterize myself as a humanist, and I believe in the values of integrity, in being moral and ethical, and being held accountable and responsible for what you do, [in] honesty.”

Growing up on a dairy farm in Ohio, Bryan was inspired by her paternal grandmother. This grandmother had received a Bachelor’s Degree from Ohio State University and encouraged Bryan to find a higher purpose in life.

Through her own education at Ohio State, Bryan found a passion for organizational psychology and uses this passion to help students realize their full potential.

“My grandmother always said to me: find a higher purpose in life and devote

your life to it,” said Bryan.

“And through my story, I’ve learned that my higher purpose in life is to contribute to a community and a society, to make the world a better place by helping all of you succeed.”

Another inspiration for Bryan is Lillian Moller Gilbreth, an organizational psychologist whose narrative exemplifies perseverance.

Gilbreth used the information from her two dissertations to find more effective ways for workers to accomplish their goals. Similarly, Bryan uses her training as an organizational psychologist to help faculty become their best, in turn allowing students to accomplish their goals.

“She grew up during a time that was very difficult,” said Bryan. “What she experienced, I find what I went through and many students experience today, discovering who you are, and that’s what I think that value is of a liberal arts education.”

She attributes her leadership skills to her experience with 4H and her strong work ethic to constantly managing her family’s dairy farm. Often working long hours, Bryan believes that

KELSEY HENRY

Dean Bryan speaks on her life purpose, inspirations and leadership experience

Dean Laura Bryan, Vice President of Academic Affairs, converses with sophomore JT Henderson after her “What Matters to Me and Why” talk.

these characteristics only strengthen her ability to fulfill her life’s passion of helping others at Transy.

One experience that allowed her to believe she could make an impact occurred while she was in the Czech Republic under

the Fulbright Scholarship.

Bryan was asked by the University to speak at their commencement ceremony.

Having memorized the portion of her speech in Czech, she delivered her speech without expectation for any applause, an act discouraged

Admissions works to provide best experience for students Kiara Walker kswalker17@transy.edu

rkelamin19@transy.edu

Admissions Counselors pose by the Picture Yourself a Pioneer board where visiting students can sign and post a picture of their visit.

‘Hey, we’re here to answer any questions. You said that you’re interested. We want to be able to be here to help you.’ Ultimately, we’re kind of the face of Transy and we want to make sure that we’re providing that customer service aspect the best that we can.”

After admittance to Transylvania, top students have the chance to interview for the premier scholarship.

These chosen students are likely visiting and interviewing on campuses with a varying population and campus size, but the admissions staff consistently emphasizes the internal community as an important facet of Transylvania’s campus to appeal to students.

“I think people like the community that they see when they get here— that they feel when they get here,” said Director of Enrollment Communications and Multicultural Recruitment Johnnie Johnson.

“We’ve all spoken at some point about the individu-

alized attention that they get—that they’re going to experience here. Even when you talk with current students, what I hear is what we showed them when they were a prospective student is the same as what they’re getting now—so it’s not fake.”

Not only is the existence of this close-knit internal community appealing, but the approachability of the community also interests prospective students.

“Accessibility to professors, that’s something that they may or may not be able to get anywhere else,” said Admission Counselor Alex McConnell. “Again just looking on TNotes today…you were able to eat with Dean Bryan in the cafeteria today if you wanted and I’m not sure that you can get that at other schools.”

The unique position of Transylvania’s internal community aligns well with Transylvania’s position in relation to the external community.

“It’s not often that you find a really small liberal arts school in a large city,” said Admission Counselor Kelly Murner. “So it’s nice that we have the perks of a small school, but also the benefits of living in a larger city and the accessibility of a larger college like UK, so we get some of their perks, too.”

Through the admissions staff, whether on-campus or off-campus, working to create the best possible experience for prospective students, Transylvania has been able to resonate in a way that moves beyond being an educational institution.

“One thing that I hear from my students when they are either making the decision or saying that Transy’s at the top of their list is that Transy feels the most like home to them,” said Admission Counselor Carly Wynn.

“So I think it’s a combination of all of those different elements and probably a lot more.”

dividuals can succeed,” said Bryan. “My passion in life is through pushing myself I am able to help others succeed. I truly believe that I am here to help you, to help people with whom I interact to realize their potential.

And that’s what I believe.”

Muslim students seek acceptance through ‘Coffee for a Cause’ event Raaziq El-Amin

KIARA WALKER

Prior to a prospective student’s decision to attend Transylvania, the admissions office acts as the lifeline between him or her and the campus. Throughout the year, the department typically tackles recruitment from two fronts: visiting and counseling.

“From the visits perspective, my colleague Janice [Rajcan] and I—she’s the visits coordinator—we are kind of the frontline of defense in terms of the faces that prospective students see when they walk in the door,” said Assistant Visits Coordinator Denise Hall. “We as well as Sarah [Guinn]… supervise the tour guides, the overnight hosts—so we work closely with them.”

As students are engaged on-campus by the admissions staff, department counselors travel during the fall to meet prospective students. Following the fall traveling season, these counselors spend the winter focused on applications from prospective students.

“After travel season it is then application season and during travel season is also application season, so there’s a lot of overlapping that happens,” said Admission Counselor Annie Wilson Grisham. “Once we get back, our biggest priority is to communicate with all the students that we met on the road. So we have inquiry cards that then get processed so that we can get those students into the system so that we can start getting them information.

“We’re also making calls to all of our students who have started an application but may not have finished or students who have visited but have not done an application. So lots of reaching out to the students to say

by the country’s history of oppressive rule. However, after Bryan delivered the speech for the second time, one woman was so moved she burst forth in applause.

“That’s what matters to me is that we have a society, community in which all in-

On Thursday, Feb. 25, a group of Transy’s Muslim students are encouraging their peers, faculty and staff to come together for an hour of understanding and enjoyment with the help of free North Lime donuts and Starbucks coffee.

The event, which will take place from 9-11 p.m. in Conference Room A of the William T. Young Campus Center, hopes to give students the opportunity to feel comfortable with asking questions they may have about Islam, in order to dispel false information that is commonly portrayed in the media.

“We want to show the Transy community that we are Muslims and we are here. We are normal just like everyone else,” said junior Ghazal Jawed.

Due to a small student population, Muslim students are an underrepresented group on Transy’s campus. With this in mind, students like Siddiqi and Jawed hope to increase the campus consciousness of their experiences at Transy.

Stating that Muslims, like other minority groups, are often on the receiving end of microaggressions, these students plan that by making students more aware of the things they say and do, this event will discourage hurtful comments and actions toward Muslims.

Jawed and her fellow students hope that with such a large amount of animosity toward Muslims, the discus-

sion will help attendees realize how peaceful Islam really is and how similar it is to other religions. The idea for the talk was introduced

by Associate Dean for Religious Life Wilson Dickinson, who plans to bring Muslim faculty, staff and students together to discuss a way to bring attention to the obstacles they face.

“We are not here to force you to believe something you don’t want to believe, we just want the chance for our voice and our perspective to be heard,” said junior Hussain Siddiqi.

Students such as Ghazal and Hussain aim to respond to negative attitudes about Islam through educating others.

“Please attend, don’t be shy, and ask questions, if you have any! We just want to interact with as many students as possible and want to have meaningful conversations that are actually factual,” said Hussain.

Jawed says that students can help by “being aware and being careful with their words—more conscious of what they are saying.”

Transy students, faculty and staff are bringing forward a desire that Muslims all over the nation are expressing: acceptance, peace and an understanding of what Islam really stands for. Although not confirmed, it is possible that events such as this one may become a regular occurrence. For more information regarding the event, contact Wilson Dickinson at tdickinson@transy.edu.

Etcetera

Page 3

Roses

The schooner eased into the crowded port, like a half dead cat seeking after much faster prey, black sails hung of mildewed masts, while rotting planks creaked and groaned, the whole affair, waterlogged and brine encrusted, looked like it would soon fall apart and sink into the dark water.

As it moored, soundlessly, crew unseen, with only the moon and stars lighting the darkness, a single figure stole from the vessel, skulking about for a moment and looking out to sea then, silently he stole into the empty streets of London.

The Abney Park Cemetery was normally beautiful with the hazy dawn light filtering through the smog of thousands of chimneys and smokestacks. But this morning something was deeply wrong. Feelings of dread and horror congealed in the mind of Alvin Chapawaith, one of the cemetery’s grounds men. Around him lay a strangely terrifying tableau. Mounds of earth covered the ground at the base of every grave in the cemetery, in the hollow left by the missing dirt lay coffins in varying states of decay, some mere toothpicks held together with grime, others robust sarcophagi of iron or stone, each and every one laid wide open, even the doors of the Mausoleums were ajar. Alvin approached a headstone and kneeled before it, what had been carved into the stone, superimposed over the name of the deceased sent chills down his spine. A strange interwoven pentacle and beneath it a scramble of characters he vaguely recognized as Greek, he squinted to read them and made out what looked like a single word: “Raised”. Puzzled, he eased himself up and glanced at the coffin, what he saw within deepened his growing alarm. On the very edge of panic he scrambled

up and rushed to next grave over, and then the next, holding back a scream he rushed to the nearest mausoleum, ran through its open door and sank to his knees in front of the casket within. Every grave was the same, a meaningless word and strange symbol carved across the dead man’s name, and a coffin filled with Black Roses.

In cemeteries across London variations on this scene played out, from Highgate to Westminster Abbey, everywhere, whether the tombs of the wealthy and powerful to the shallow pit dug for the beggar, the same symbol, the same word was carved, scratched or scrawled, the grave opened, the body gone and in its place dozens of Black Roses. And across London, the same words were on everyone’s lips: where were the dead?

Three days later a Criminal crept through the back alleys of Whitechapel, the great crime filled slum in south London. He was a hard man, a tough man. He was terrified. In the street behind him the dead thronged, packed in an enormous crowd. Two centuries of the dead looking for relatives, looking for homes taken by new people, looking for work. This terrified him less than two things, firstly there was their smell, not of rot and decay but of flowers, in fact they smelled of roses. Which led to the second thing that terrified them, the dead were disfigured, their foreheads mutilated by strange symbols, their finger nails and teeth, and their bones where they showed, gleamed in light, brassy and glinting, but worse, far worse were their eyes. The Dead had no eyes as the living thought of them; in their place they had lush, full, blooming roses.

Black roses.

As the weeks passed London descended into chaos. The dead filled the

streets, the hideous smell of roses filled the city, the police were helpless, unsure what to do. The army was terrified and desertions were high. The royal family cowered in Buckingham palace, terrified of the royal dead gathered outside the palace gates, who could say who was the true monarch when their predecessors yet lived?

The living fled the newly formed Necropolis. Not out of fear for the lives, none of the dead had yet harmed the living, and would never do so, but their oppressive, terrible presence, their awful, sickly sweet smell, and their horrifying appearance driving men to madness. And so the living fled, running to other cities, the royal guard evacuated the Royal Family to their country estates and left the palace to the dead.

London was a city for the dead now.

The stranger sat beside the coach’s driver, who had long since given up speaking to him, looking back at the city he had visited for so little time. He wore no coat but somehow no one would think he would need one.

He wore all black, save for a pale cravat and grey hat.

All around the coach refugees trudged beginning to lighten up, they were leaving the Necropolis behind, and deaths pall was withdrawing from them. The man smiled, he would find a new ship and leave for a new city, and begin a new project. For now he simply sat. Reaching into his pocket and took a flower from his pocket and placed it in his hat band, feeling content. The coachmen tried to ignore the stranger, but with a shudder he could not help but notice that the flower in his passengers hat was a coal black rose.

With retirement, Shannon looks forward to the flexibility to travel in seasons other than summer alone. His wife, who teaches computer science and mathematics at Centre College, is also retiring this year, and they plan to go on math-related trips together.

“People find that odd, I suppose,” he joked. “But the beauty of it is if you go to a math conference, for example, often there are lots of people that you know from various experiences over the years, and you get a chance to meet them again.”

Shannon especially enjoys travelling to countries with different cultures. He lived in India for six months while studying under his Ph.D. adviser, who was native to that country.

Besides travelling, Dr. Shannon also plans to continue gardening, woodworking and, especially, reading.

“I enjoy biography of people… who have made a difference,” he said.

“People who were faced with a choice, or an issue, and learning how they resolved it or came to grips

with it.”

His favorite biographies include those of United States founders and formers, such as John Adams, and innovators in math and science, such as Alan Turing, Steve Jobs, Ada Loveless, and Claude Shannon, to whom he assured he is not related.

Overall, mathematics, of course, remains his favorite reading subject.

After he departs Transy, Dr. Shannon was quick to say that what he’ll miss the most are the people.

“Transy, one of its strengths is the smallness, so you get to know the students pretty well.

You often have them in several classes, and you become good friends over the time,” said Shannon. “[Also] my colleagues, people I teach with, the staff.”

While he leaves “not without apprehension” for himself, he is confident that the school is being left in good hands, hinting at the newly hired math faculty member for whom he said has “accepted at least verbally” and “the contract’s in the mail.”

“He’s very enthusiastic, he wants to get involved in lots of aspects of college life,” he said.

“His particular interest is biology and mathematics.

I think he’ll add a new dimension to the life of Brown Science and the student life on campus, so I’m excited.”

Shannon said that, in this sense, he doesn’t have to “feel bad about leaving.”

“We have lots of young, new faculty who bring lots of energy and new ideas, and that’s the way the academy should be,” he said. “It’s not a place where it should be set in concrete.”

Dr. Shannon said that in general, he has gotten up every morning and relished coming to work, adding that, “I’ve had a good ride.”

“The college has been generous to me,” said Shannon. “The fact that I can spend my life thinking and doing mathematics, and getting young people involved in it, how fortunate can one be? I guess you can say God has smiled on me.”

Matthew Thornton mmthornton17@transy.edu

Shannon

Isaac Batts

February 18, 2016

Love/Hate Relationship

ibatts19@transy.edu

I hate you.

Your face always scrunches up When I say that.

I hate the way you leave With excuses of homework And tiredness that I need to use.

I hate the way you walk ahead of me And only periodically turn around To check if I’m still there.

I hate how you never invite me To watch you practice anymore.

David Neri

I hate how how kneel on the side Of your bed to do homework Rather than sitting in a chair Or on the bed like a normal person.

I hate how you still have Christmas decorations Hanging on the walls Above your bed.

I hate you.

But after all, it’s a hell of a lot Easier to say I hate you Than it is to say

A Moment’s List

dbneri16@transy.edu

• A dark and dusty basement lined with old forgotten books, And light shimmering in coned bulbs and tinted windows

• The cold sting of the stone floor, stabbing the underside of my two bare feet in the imagined Cocytic waters.

• In the distance the sounds of The light load of late laundry and the huff of the air compressor, new, in the crook.

• The aftertaste of Camel, cauterizing and staining both our throats, shot from the barrel of two white rolled guns.

• The duality of soft smoke scented air and the musk of a library, ever Unidentifiable.

• But more important, The Man is there, sitting down across the old tranquil silence which links my father and I

Shane

From Page 1

Carrie Mahagan, first year and Pioneer Leadership Program participant, expresses how much the program has helped shape both herself and her peers.

“I have seen Shane leave the same impact that he has had on me on a multitude of other students,” said Mahagan. “Shane has worked incredibly hard to expose the potential within these students, mostly firstyears, and revealed to them the skills that they did not at first see in themselves. As a result of Shane’s determination, Transylvania now has more confident, promising future, and even present, leaders.”

Although McKee has taught many lessons

throughout the program, Mahagan pinpoints the most recent lesson as her favorite, “that you should never be afraid to take a risk. Even if it means leaving behind a place of security and comfort, the chance will be worth it in the future if you trust your instincts, abilities, and those you love.”

There are no set plans yet of who will take McKee’s position, however, Roberts is confident the office will continue to prosper.

“I think without Shane, Student Involvement maintains its course contributing to our academic mission. The process, end goal, and outcomes remain constant,” said Roberts. “The next director stands on his

shoulders and those of his predecessors, and I see only positive things for the office.”

In regards to a final message to the campus, McKee said, “I am very fortunate to have been a very, very small piece of the historic tapestry of Transylvania. I’ve enjoyed every minute of it. I’ve learned so much. Transylvania and the faculty, staff and students will always have a place in my heart. I will always stay connected to the students and staff. I’m excited about the future of Transylvania, and I’m also excited about what my future holds.”

Sudoku IV: The Quest 4 Peace From Page 1

Solution to Feb. 4 Puzzle

Opinion

Page 4

February 18, 2016

Mascots fail to represent true identity of Transylvania Letter to the Editor Transylvania University, tutor to the west, pioneer of the frontier and as of Monday, home to either “Cassius” the horse or “Boone” the wolf.

In an effort to rebrand the schools 200 year image, the University has decided move on from the historically accurate “pioneer” moniker for its student-athletes and on to something new, catchy and hip with the kids. I am all for

trying new things, expanding and changing courses of action like rebranding, but as a former Transy studentathlete, this misses the mark.

If the administration was creative and courageous, how about play off of the vampire lore of the University and choose a bat or even Dracula.

I would be curious to know how many hours, dollars and committee meetings these two mascot choices went through to be nominated.

Were the student athletes

asked for their opinion? Was the history department asked what figure best represented Transylvania in its storied history?

Was the art department asked to design the figure that best embodies Transylvania? I hope they were, but I fear that I might be wrong.

You see, Transylvanians are not just pioneers in the traditional since of covered wagons and Daniel Boone figures forcing their way west through the frontier.

They are pioneers in every since of the word. Pioneers come in all shapes and sizes.

The Pioneers of Transylvania University do not look like horses or wolves. Pioneers look like Coach C.M. Newton who recruited the first African American athlete to Transylvania before going on to win an Olympic Gold Medal.

Pioneers look like athlete Happy Chandler for bringing in Jackie Robinson to be the first African American to

play in professional baseball as Commissioner of the M.L.B. Let us not forget the pioneering history of our athletics programs as well.

Transylvania students played the first football game in the entire South. The women’s basketball program was one of the first of its kind. The Pioneers of Transylvania University have too many names, genders, faces, creeds and colors to be encapsulated by one single mascot.

Every student-

athlete at Transylvania is a pioneer in their own right This rebranding has the potential to kindle a new energy on campus, not just for its athletes but also for all of its students and alumni. Yet, by choosing a singular, static mascot, the effort to rebrand fails to encapsulate the true spirit of a Transylvania Pioneer.

-Jordan Lloyd ’16

Should Transy continue research for a new mascot?

Yes, we need one to fit our values

No, the Pioneer is enough

Yes, other options are better

No, we could use the money elsewhere Vote at TransyRambler.com

Trump proves his ability to market himself Donald Trump is a brilliant marketer.

That cannot be disputed. Over his 47-year public career he has not only built himself a multibillion dollar fortune, but has also built a brand around his name. Even before he began his run for president, his name was among the most recognizable in the United States. There are massive skyscrapers in New York and Chicago named for him. His hair has a Facebook page.

Donald Trump is great at

to the Clinton Foundation.

The Clintons attended his wedding reception in 2005.

In 2008 he endorsed Hillary Clinton for president. During the 2012 election Trump condemned Mitt Romney’s immigration plan as “too harsh” and admitted he hired illegal Mexican immigrants at his golf courses.

In an interview with Tim Russert in 1999, Trump described himself as a liberal.

Trump has said that using this interview against him is “unfair” because of how long ago it was. After all, sixteen years is an eternity. To be

fair, if you go back another sixteen years Trump was a Ronald Reagan supporter.

According to the Center for Responsive Politics, Trump as made major donations to both major parties. In fact of his ten largest contributions, six have gone to Democrats and four have gone to Republicans.

Trump has always been very vocal about his political views; he just seems to have a hard time deciding exactly what those views are.

During this campaign season, his tax plan has been praised by liberals.

McConnell expresses his party’s ‘beautifully honest truth’ on Scalia Tristan Reynolds tpreynolds19@transy.edu

I’d like to take this opportunity to thank Mitch McConnell. I am truly grateful for his timely, pointed, and decisive action after the death of Justice Antonin Scalia. His upright decision to be honest with the American people, to directly declare that the republican Senate majority would refuse to hear any appointment Pres. Obama might make to fill Scalia’s now-vacated seat on the Supreme Court should be applauded. We need more of that in Washington.

Of course, to refuse even a hearing to the President’s nominee is a gross dereliction of Constitutional duty. As Article II states, the Senate has the responsibility to “advise and consent” to the President’s nominee. That doing so requires at least a hearing does not seem a controversial statement.

The irony, of course, is that Justice Scalia considered himself a strict originalist who adhered to the precise original intent of the Constitution in his rulings. Sen. McConnell’s announcement flies in the face of Article II, and were Scalia alive today, hearing the Senate Majority Leader declare that the Senate will not fulfill its Constitutional responsibilities might just do him in all over again.

But McConnell’s statement shouldn’t come

as a surprise. After all, in a century that began with one of the most fiercely controversial Presidential elections in history, and that has only grown more partisan since, the fact that a Senate majority which is opposed to a President would stonewall said Presidential actions should come as no surprise. There’s no reason for McConnell to allow an Obama appointment— it would only anger his base, and allow Obama to tout a ‘win’ against the Republicans. There is, in other words, no incentive to govern across the aisle.

Sen. McConnell simply made what was implicit—that a Republican Senate would not confirm or even consider a Democratic nominee— into explicit text. In doing so, he simply expressed the naked, beautifully honest truth.

Partisanship and constitutional governance are fundamentally opposed.

The American constitutional system, as it has evolved, allows for any one party in government to render all others impotent.

A President, who acts nowadays more as a prime minister of his congressional party, can use veto powers and instruct his congressional allies to filibuster legislation.

The party in opposition to the President can likewise deploy these parliamentary tactics to confound the President’s legislative

agenda. Judges and Justices serve at the whims of the partisans on Capitol Hill (it is worth noting that in our era of no surrender, there are more vacant seats within the federal judiciary than at any point in modern American history). The federal bureaucracy is now controlled moreso by executive fiat than Congressional approval (this is a bipartisan trend, going back essentially to FDR’s war policies). In other words, only a government where all parties are in agreement is able to function in the constitutionally prescribed manner. Needless to say, a government with all actors in agreement does not now nor has ever existed.

Which brings us back to Scalia. In attempting to apply the original intent of the Constitution, he indulged the worst fantasies of the founding fathers. Madison, Jefferson, Morris, Hamilton, Adams, and all the rest imagined a government of pure, incorruptible, nonpartisan statesmen serving a platonic ideal of the common good. Their vision was fundamentally unworkable—political parties and partisanship developed from the first meeting of Washington’s Cabinet. Our government has only grown steadily more partisan since then; consequently, the Constitution has become

moreso and moreso unmoored from the daily realities of running the country. While a corollary effect of this is that originalism as a legal doctrine looks sillier and sillier each passing day, the main effect is that the government itself has begun to be governed less by codified law and more by shaky informal oral tradition.

Consider the brewing brouhaha over Scalia’s replacement.

Republicans are invoking the “Thurmond Rule” which states that Justices are not to be confirmed in election years.

The most routine House bills are discussed in relation to the “Hastert Rule” that a majority of the majority party must support any bill in conference before that bill is even brought to the floor. And of course, budget proposals are always conceived with a nearly infinite number of implied political principles in mind. In short, Constitutional governance is a thing of lip service.

So when Sen. McConnell declares that the Senate is simply going to ignore its Constitutional obligations, he is not forging a dramatic and dangerous new path. He is just being honest about what has already occurred— the Constitution is dead.

Scalia, of course, loved the “good old dead Constitution.”

He initially said the United States should let in Syrian refugees before infamously deciding to ban all Muslims from entering the country.

Trump has also said he would aggressively pursue campaign finance reform, a definitively liberal position most popularly supported

by Bernie Sanders. In 2015 he was named Planned Parenthood’s “favorite Republican” and was publicly pro-choice before beginning his run for president.

What exactly are this man’s conservative credentials again?

Trump has clearly taken advantage of conservatives who are scared about the direction America is headed.

He has used charismatic language and inflammatory claims to appeal to this group and gain their support.

Looking at his record and the way he has flip-flopped over the past 30 years, it is clear that Trump is a politician who does what’s best for himself. He is just doing a really good job at selling himself as someone else.

-Donovan Finan ’19

Nachos back in the Raf REJOICE!

Letters to the Editor Letters should be: No more than 400 words. The Rambler reserves the right to cut letters to the editor to fit our length requirements, and we may edit your letters to fix grammar or spelling mistakes.

Signed, with contact information. Full name and telephone number or e-mail address is needed.

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Send your letters to: rambler@transy.edu

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Letter to the Editor

selling himself.

Trump supporters say that one of the things they find most appealing about him is that he says what he believes and does not compromise.

He is viewed by them as a true conservative, not a Washington politician who does whatever a poll tells him.

Here is some information those with this opinion might not have. Donald Trump was a registered Democrat from 2001 to 2009. He said he considers Bill Clinton to be the best president of the last 30 years. He has made donations of over $100,000

Editor-in-Chief........................................................Megan Graft Managing Editor..........................................................David Neri News Editor........................................................Madison Crader Campus Life Editor...............................................Aaron Martin ETC Editor.....................................................Matthew Thornton OpinionEditor.................................................................Tyler Lega A&E Editor......................................................Natassja Woodrum Sports Editor.........................................................Lance Antoine Copy Editor...................................................................Isaac Batts Adviser..........................................................................Tyler Young

Sports

Page 5

Feburary 18, 2016

TRANSYLVANIA UNIVERSITY

TRANSYLVANIA UNIVERSITY

‘Mascot Madness’ sparks social media frenzy

Cassius the Horse was one of mascots up to vote on during mascot madness

Lance Antoine alantoine19@transy.edu

Transylvania University shared a Facebook link to vote for a new athletics mascot at 9 a.m. on Monday, Feb. 15 to the school’s students, faculty and alumni under the tagline, “Transy Mascot Madness.”

Originally, there were two options: Cassius the Horse or Boone the Wolf. At 5:01 p.m., a third option was added, “#neither,” which was a response to extensive social media commentary and which garnered at least 80 percent of the votes by the end of the day.

Voting was set to end in March, but at 2:41 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 16, President Seamus Carey announced in an email that “In light of the responses we have received, we will start over.” By the time voting had closed on that day, the final votes stood at 164 votes for Boone, 240 for Cassius and 2,062 for neither, the latter receiving 84 percent of the total.

Social media played a crucial role in the progression of events since the release of “Mascot Madness.” Carey commented on the wealth of feedback from the Transy community in his email.

“I’d actually never experienced such intense loyalty at my other schools and I quickly realized that this interest and care is in large part a result of your work and commitment to this

University,” he wrote. “I also realized that your loyalty and care are fueled by a sense of community well-being and not just self-interest.”

On the Friday before voting began, Transylvania previewed its release in a Facebook post, which had students and alumni guessing.

One page follower asked, “Why are we changing?” Another wondered if “vampires is an option.” The release of the poll, though, caused the true whirlwind of activity.

One of Transy’s most recent and well known alumni, Matt Jones of Kentucky Sports Radio, took his opinion to Twitter.

“There really is no reason for my alma mater Transylvania not to have a Vampire as the mascot,” he wrote. “We have to get @ Transy on board with this “Vampires” mascot thing.

The people want it!”

The two tweets got a combined 106 retweets and 460 likes in just one day. The impressive thing about Jones is that he is followed by 147,300 people around the world, so the Transy mascot issue is being broadcast to many different individuals.

The horse is named for Cassius Clay, who attended Transylvania and served on horseback in the Kentucky 1st Cavalry. Cassius was a pioneer for emancipation, publishing an anti-slavery newspaper in Lexington and

spending much of his life advocating for abolition.

In his description Cassius was linked to the State aesthetic and pride: “Lexington is forever linked to the horse, a model of grace, strength and speed with a rich history in the area. The horse is a notoriously hard worker and one of our fastest animals, but it is also highly intelligent and works closely as a team with its rider. There may be no other creature on earth more breathtaking to watch in competition.”

However, while Cassius focused on external culture, Boone was portrayed as far more insular: “The wolf is the ultimate teammate— loyal and fearless. They travel and hunt in packs with unmatched intelligence and a spirit of cooperation.

Although incredibly agile and strong, wolves are brilliant communicators, relying on one another’s unique howls as they work together to find prey. They venture out into uncharted territories and blaze new trails through the woods.”

The wolf is named for Daniel Boone, the beloved Kentucky pioneer who was known to have encountered gray wolves—which are indigenous to the state— during his travels.

Around noon on Monday, it appeared Cassius had a solid lead, and it did not look as if Boone was going to catch up anytime

Boone the Wolf was the other animal option to vote on during mascot madness

soon. A buzz then erupted among students, who seemed to have views all over the spectrum about how they felt on the mascot choices. Within a few hours of vocalizing their opinions there was a third option added to the voting poll, neither. It is clear now that voting has closed that the neither option was favored by a landslide.

When asking around campus there were a wide range of responses.

“I really don’t feel as if either mascot embodies the spirit of Transy,” said firstyear and lacrosse player Ryan Staley,. “I don’t see why we need a mascot at this point in time because we’ve gone this long without one. Although, if we managed to find one that does fully embody the Transylvania spirit, I would not be against endorsing it. I guess I don’t really see why we really need one.”

Another first-year and member of the Student Government Association, Presli Neal, said, “Neither the horse or the wolf represent Transy. I understand the reasoning why a mascot would be important to campus, but we need to find something that represents campus better. I’ve heard a lot of people talking up the idea of having a bat as a mascot from a lot of people and I’m not such a huge fan of that.”

Senior Zach Maughmer

began a petition on change. org around 1 p.m. on Monday to change the mascot to a Rafinesquii big-eared bat, which garnered 313 signatures as of Wednesday.

“We have the opportunity to choose a unique mascot that emphasizes Transylvania’s history, pays respect to an intellectual pioneer from our University who made significant contributions to science, as well as promote interest in and conservation of a native, threatened species,” wrote Maughmer on the petition website. “The Rafinesquii bat would not only make a great statement for Transylvania, but would also look great on a tshirt [sic] and foster curiosity and conversation about our amazing institution. We believe that the mascot of our University should reflect the thoughtfulness embodied by its students!”

Junior Julie Graf started another petition around 10 a.m. advocating a vampire mascot. Her cause for starting the petition was, “At the very least, let’s ask the university to open the floor for further discussion of the mascot issue, so that the student body and others who support the university can develop a creative solution that everyone can take pride in wherever they go.”

Like many other students it seems as if Graf and the people standing

behind her petition think that the students should have more of a say in the process and that the mascot needs to embody Lexington as well as Transylvania better as a whole.

On the “Mascot Madness” page on transy. edu, the introduction explained that the reason for the election of a new mascot was both to choose “an animal that has close ties to the pioneer nickname but more importantly exemplifies what being a Transylvania Pioneer really means” and that “represents our Pioneer student-athletes.”

Carey explained in his email that the name “Pioneers” is not changing, but rather having a mascot figure added to it. He referenced “Peppy the Pioneer,” a mascot that was discontinued almost 20 years ago, to show that athletics was in need of a new representative. “…our athletics programs [has been left] without a defining mascot figure for nearly two decades,” he wrote. “Our athletic teams felt strongly that they would benefit from having one—a mascot around which families, students, and even children in the stands could rally.”

Due to the quickly developing nature of the story, updates will follow in Issue 18 of The Rambler on Thursday, Feb. 25.

72-96. On Wednesday, and a couple blocked shots the Pioneers then took on and with a little under 12 conference rival Franklin. minutes to play in the half, The team came out hot as the game was tied. It would Lowell Gordon hit a wet take a minute for either three pointer less than a team to make a move, but minute into the game, to be just like before Stansberry shortly followed by Parker would make a jumper to Stanseberry’s layup and regain the lead. With six a tip in minutes

by Isaiah left in the Pollard half Cooper It was a great and before Theobald honor to join the 1,ooo would make you could blink the point club with all the both of his P i o n e e r s great players that have free throws had a solid to stretch played here before me a Pioneers two to seven lead. lead to Lowell -Alex Jones s e v e n would go points. on to hit a layup and Pollard would Franklin would sink a jump shot only to then match pace and put be copied by Stansberry themselves right back into to make the score eight to the game and come within 13. The Pioneers would just two points by the end then struggle off a turnover of the half thanks to James

Polston’s three pointer.

Heading into the locker room, Transylvania held a 37-35 lead. Both teams would come out hungry and trade points, staying within three or four points of one another, with Franklin usually coming out on top.

At one point Franklin had a solid lead, but after Cooper Theobald hit a key jump shot with just under seven minutes to play, the game would be knotted up at 64.

Transy would then go on top early on, while in the end John Beineke of Franklin would force overtime when he made a key layup with 12 seconds left in the game.

In overtime, Franklin fired first to gain the lead, and that would be too much as Transy could not seem to tie or go back up on top.

Brett McCory sealed the

win for Franklin when he made his free throw with 11 seconds left. Senior, Derek Jefferies said “It was really a disappoint loss, but we’ll work hard because we know what’s on the line. We hope you all come out and support the team on Saturday when we play Manchester at home. If we win, we make the playoffs and if we lose the season is over.” The Pioneers will take on Manchester at the Beck Center on Saturday at 3:00 p.m. The last time the two teams met was on the road last month where Transylvania won 78-74.

Men’s basketball at crucial point

Lance Antoine alantoine19@transy.edu

On Feb. 13 the men’s basketball team lost on the road at Defiance, but for the Pioneers it was actually not a total loss.

Junior guard Alex Jones scored his 1,000 career point and is the second on the team to accomplish the feat this season. When asked about this milestone, Jones stated his pride in the accomplishment; “It was a great honor to join the 1,000 point club with all the great players that have played here before me.” Jones put up an impressive 28 points during the course of the game against conference rival Defiance College.

The game went on at an even back and forth pace for the first five minutes or

so, but sadly that would not be the case for the rest of the game. The Yellow Jackets went on an eight and zero run to pull away, and from there on that would be the pattern of the game as by the end of the half Defiance was up by a large 30 points.

Transy seemed to not be able to find their groove on the floor as they were a mere 27.6 percent shooting from the field and 12.5 percent from the arc during the first half. At the 16:46 minute mark came the basket from Jones that would seal his spot in the elite 1,000 point club. Jones’s basket lit a spark for the Pioneers as they were able to find some sweet spots and hammer away Defiance’s lead to 12 points with 14 minutes left, and then again at the 12 minute mark. The final score would end up being

A&E

Page 6

Febuary 18, 2016

Cabaret brings love-themed showcase Tristan Reynolds

Transy choir opened the show with a lively rendition of “Gimme Some Lovin.’”

particularly well represented in the lineup. The choir numbers were especially upbeat and uptempo affairs.

For example, the penultimate song, “Taylor the Latte Boy” (sung by soloist Grace Jung), was a comic ballad followed by a choral rendition of the B-52s’ “Love Shack”.

Students auditioned for Cabaret in early January, and

rehearsed for slightly over a month not only their music, but choreography as well.

The integration of movement by the choirs gave the concert a slightly looser feeling than other performances offered throughout the year.

The opening and closing numbers, which involved all three Transy choirs, were particularly filled with

dance, creating an energetic staging to bookend the show.

In addition, the use of drums and guitar in the pit and onstage added a variety to the musical sound. Sophomore Tim Baker used an acoustic guitar to special effect in an arrangement of Taylor Swift songs. At just over an hour, the concert itself moved briskly from one piece to

Junior Nicole Craigmile and sophomore Tim Baker teamed up for a Taylor Swift song mashup.

The all-female a cappella group Grace Notes sang a Taylor Swift medley arranged by junior Justine Yentsch.

PROVIDED BY MACKENZIE MIRRE

Involved student musician still finds time to pursue passion for concert band and orchestra

“Hi, Mom!” Mackenzie Mirre ‘18 exclaims in interview.

Natassja Woodrum nwoodrum18@transy.edu

Transylvania has a host of talented student musicians; among those individuals is sophomore, Mackenzie Mirre.

another, keeping the evening from slowing down.

Overall, the concert was pervaded by a sense of fun, and served as a fine showcase of the musical talent of Transy students, groups and choirs. Lively and inventive musical performances demonstrated both solo and group talent, with a lovely theme throughout.

MEGAN GRAFT

and individual aspects for a self-contained storytelling experience.

The large numbers also involved the integration of all three choirs: the Transylvania Choir, Transy Singers, and Pioneer Voices. The selected pieces were entirely contemporary, with a mixture of pop tunes and showbiz-style numbers with Taylor Swift being

MEGAN GRAFT

Transylvania students had a passionate weekend— at least, they did Saturday night. The annual Cabaret performance showcased the “showiest” musical talent of the student body. This year, since Cabaret was held only one day before Valentine’s Day, the theme of the night presented was love. It featured a variety of students and student organizations, including all three Transylvania Choirs, a cappella groups, and individual performers. Held in Haggin Auditorium, the large hall accommodated a sizable audience of both Transy students and faculty, as well as the general public.

The show itself alternated between large group numbers, performed by the choirs, and smaller pieces showcasing individual student talent. However, the larger numbers did contain solo sections which showcased the abilities of individual singers. “Summer Lovin’” – from the film and stage musical “Grease” – in particular mixed the group

MEGAN GRAFT

tpreynolds19@transy.edu

“I’ve been surrounded by [music] forever – as long as I can remember,” Mirre stated. She spoke about how her whole family has been involved in music in one way or another. With two older sisters in band all

through school, it was only natural that Mirre would follow in their footsteps.

After growing up taking piano and oboe lessons, Mirre played oboe in her middle and high school bands and went on to play in Transylvania’s Concert Band once she arrived on campus her freshman year.

Mirre is also one of the youngest members of the Central Kentucky Concert Band; “The Central Kentucky Concert Band is widely recognized as the premier, adult concert band in the Commonwealth, as well as one of the finest ensembles of its nature in the southeastern United States,” as stated by the Central Kentucky Concert Band’s website. People in attendance at rehearsals start at the college level, and go well beyond retirement age. The CKCB’s last performance was their Christmas concert presented right here on Trany’s campus in Haggin Auditorium. They

are also known to perform at the Lexington Opera House.

An anthropology major – and pursuing a minor in both history and religion – Mirre juggles her academics with her passion for musical performance and though she said it’s hard, she makes

“I think it’s good to have a sort of creative aspect of school that goes beyond writing papers

-Mackenzie Mirre ’18

it work. Mirre admitted, “I think a lot is required of music students….”

However, she said her secret is: “When I get into the mindset of ‘I’m really tired and I don’t want to be here’ I have to remind myself that I really enjoy doing this.”

Even with her busy schedule, Mirre manages to still pursue her love of playing. “I think it’s good to

have a sort of creative aspect of school that goes beyond writing papers….being in a group that plays music together and relies on each other can make beautiful sounds,” Mirre explained.

She believes that playing in a band fosters team building and leadership skills.

When asked whether or not she plans to continue playing after graduation and into adulthood Mirre said that she does intend to stay in touch with her musical side, even if it isn’t a part of her career. She stated, “I would really like to [keep playing] if the opportunity arises.”

She plans on participating in musical organizations whether they be large, farreaching like the Central Kentucky Concert Band or just a small group of friends in the community. She hopes to never lose her abilities or passion for music.

Upcoming A&E dates to know Tens X Transy showings Friday & Saturday at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday at 2 pm in Cowgill.

Radio TLX post-Valentine’s Day Event Sat. 9 p.m. in Rosenthal Commons.

BYTE Gallery digital poetry collection.

Final “Beethoven’s Odyssey” performance Sunday, 3 p.m. in Carrick Theater.

Poet Claudia Rankine to give Kenan Lecture Feb. 29 at 7:30 p.m. in Haggin.

Global Video Game Concert with Tommy Tallarico at EKU on March 10.

On Feb. 11 it was printed that John Ferguson is a UK grad. While he did attend UK for four years, this is not correct. It was also indicated that the production coordinator he replaced was male, but she was in fact, female.