The staff at The Buchtelite looks forward to sharing our latest edition with our readers. We again reached out to students of various disciplines to compile a number of essays and creative works, instead of focusing solely on news.
This semester marked many changes for our staff. We have welcomed new faces while simultaneously bidding farewell to some incredibly talented people.
I hope you enjoy the contributions of our newest writers and join me as I wish those graduating this semester the best in their future endeavors.
You have all helped to expand the The Buchtelite into something that better reflects our campus and I thank you.
We have continued to foster collaborations with the community in and around The University of Akron and want to extend an invitation to other writers, photographers, journalists, designers, and artists. Your voice matters.
Buchtelite Staff
Editor-in-Chief & Layout Editor
LeKesha Parkman
Managing Editor
Summer Torok
Copy Editor
Ashleigh Kanengeiser
Arts & Entertainment Editor
Mckenzie Uhrig
Social Media Editor
Stephanie Fairchild
Faculty Advisor
Julie Cajigas
Cover Art:
Artist: Alexia Avdelas is a junior at UA majoring in painting and drawing, minoring in illustration. The artwork on was created with oil on canvas.
According to the artist, “This piece is a visual representation of how psychedelics effects the vision and environment of the user. The environment includes a mix of human and sea life, all conjoining and interacting with each other to create an illogical space. The subject matter is symbolic of the environment and the psychedelic hallucination is an extreme visual representation that is relevant to the environment.
LeKesha Parkman, Editor-in-Chief
Administrative Coordinator
Brenda Reichert
Staff Writers: Jaina Gedeon
Abigail Geiser
Contributors:
Alyssa Alexsonshk
Contact Us
Office: Kolbe Hall, Suite 208
Mailing Address
The Buchtelite
302 Buchtel Mall
Kolbe Hall, Suite 208
Akron, OH 44325-4602
By Email: editor-in-chief@buchtelite.com
Emily Price
Sammuel Grom
Sydney Stroll
Isabella Anderson
Sarah Minear
By Abigail Geiser, Correspondent
After a brief period of what seemed like reconsideration, The University of Akron joins multiple universities in the state of Ohio to implement a vaccination mandate for students, faculty, and staff.
UA’s protocols were updated on Oct. 26, after they announced their intent to reconsider their policy, to require “all members” of the University of Akron community “be fully vaccinated by Dec. 13, 2021,” and provide proof of vaccination, or be approved for an exemption, according to the announcement.
Exemptions may be requested for medical reasons, sincerely held religious beliefs or reasons of conscience, but must be approved by the university before Nov. 19. The process for requesting an exemption has now been streamlined so the request no longer has to be notarized. Only a “short statement” that outlines the reasons of religious belief or reasons of conscience, and documentation from a licensed health care provider for medical exemption is required, said the announcement.
In addition to vaccinations, the university is also keeping its current indoor masking requirement in place, as well as requiring face coverings on all forms of public transportation, keeping in line with CDC
requirements.
In the updated protocols that UA released on Oct. 26, the university also announced that “as of Oct25, 2021, 70.3% of employees have verified that they have been fully vaccinated; 60.9% of students have verified their vaccination status.” Students have mixed feelings about the mandate. “I feel that those numbers speak to the complexity of this issue and why we need to choose a path of empathy and education rather than enforcement,” Jack Ohliger, a graduate student in the NEOMFA Creative Writing program and TA oncampus, said. “I believe that many are understandably looking for someone they can trust, so they can feel more comfortable about making this decision. I believe that our academic faculty, through empathy, education, and relationship building with our students, can act as that trustworthy party.
“I feel disappointed,” Cadence Dangerfield, a third-year commuter student, said regarding the percentage of vaccinated employees and students. “I think the mandate is what UA needs – I was disappointed that UA did not immediately require the vaccine.”
Dangerfield plans on taking a combination of both online and in-person courses in the spring
After UA announced updated protocols for COVID vaccination on Oct. 26, 2021, students at the university share their opinions on the decision to implement these mandates.
2022 semester. It is all of the university’s COVID-19 protocols that have impacted her decision to take inperson classes – not just the vaccine mandate.
“I think that if the mask mandate were to be taken away in the spring, I would require the ability to take all of my classes virtually,” Dangerfield said.
Dangerfield is not the only student who feels that university’s COVID-19 protocols affect her scheduling for next semester.
Kayla Brewer, a senior child and family development major who currently works in the Office of Accessibility and commutes to the university, said that she will be taking her courses all online in the spring 2022 semester.
“In all honesty, the protocols do not make me feel any safer going in person,” Brewer said. “In a school setting with so many people I think it should be a vaccine mandate,” Brewer explains, “but [still] I don’t want to be around many people.”
The University of Akron originally told students at the beginning of the year that if they verified their vaccination status, they would not have to participate in the randomly-selected COVID-19 testing as an incentive for getting vaccinated.
However, this piece of policy has been updated with the new protocols to also include vaccinated individuals who have potential exposure to the virus, as well as vaccinated individuals who fit several other criteria.
“Those individuals who do not provide the required documentation or who request and receive an exemption will be subject to up-to-twice-weekly testing protocols, as will others, including some who are fully vaccinated and for whom there is reason to believe such testing is warranted,” the new protocols state.
Reasons for testing being warranted mentioned in the protocols include, but are not limited to, an individual’s potential exposure to others who have tested positive and share facilities, density of congregate living environments, wastewater monitoring in the residence halls, multiple cases in a classroom, and activities with higher risk of close contact.
Adam Salzwimmer, a Spanish major who lives off-campus, said that UA “could have done better with incentives.”
“If I don’t want to go through the hassle of getting COVID testing, then get vaccinated,” he said. “That was essentially the only University produced incentive that I had. And most of my coworkers who
are not vaccinated do not mind getting tested one bit.”
Salzwimmer feels there’s another important question about the mandate.
“Ultimately the question with the mandate is, will employees be let go if they don’t get vaccinated and will students not be able to attend classes if they are not vaccinated?” he said.
Other students, like senior Sarah Young and freshman Elsie Stoller, share a different point of view on the new COVID-19 protocols at the university.
Young, who lives off-campus said, “If I were going, I don’t think I would feel any safer. The vaccine doesn’t guarantee that you won’t get COVID or spread it to other people.”
Young plans on graduating this fall but said if she were to continue going to college in the spring, she “may consider switching schools” due to the vaccine and mask mandate at UA.
Stoller shares similar concerns about the updated protocols.
“I am concerned that UA will lose a lot of its students if the mandate really goes through. My concern for getting COVID is nonexistent,” she said. “In fact, I am substantially more afraid of the mask and vaccine mandates than actually getting COVID,” Stoller said.
With divided opinions on COVID-19 protocols, it is not hard to imagine how difficult it is for university officials to navigate a decision on how to keep the campus and its students safe.
The university’s updated protocols will be initiated by the spring 2022 semester and hopefully provide a space where students feel safe returning to more in-person classes and on-campus opportunities.
(Right) Image description Photos via Alyssa Alexsonshk
“I think the mandate is what UA needs – I was disappointed that UA did not immediately require the vaccine.”
-Cadence Dangerfield
“In all honesty, the protocols do not make me feel any safer going in person. In a school setting with so many people I think it should be a vaccine mandate,” Brewer explains, “but [still] I don’t want to be around many people.”
-Kayla Brewer
University of Akron’s Theatre Guild presented their production of “12 Incompetent Jurors” during the fall semester of 2021.
The comedic play is a satirical take on “12 Angry Men.”
The plot centers on the jurors as they deliberate the sentence for a man brought to trial for allegedly stealing 6 cats.
Typically, the theatre guild presents one production per semester and differs from The University of Akron’s theatre program.
Secretary and Co-Director of “12 Incompetent Jurors” Jacen Conlan describes the student–led organization as focusing less on academics and more on community and support.
According to Conlan, the main stage includes more theatre majors and academically focuses on teaching theatre. The theatre guild, on the other hand, puts less emphasis on tradition and usually only utilizes the participation of students.
“We tend to be more inclusive on involvement of our productions. We don’t favor or prioritize based on majors. In fact, we don’t even ask for that information during auditions. We base our casting solely on what we see in the auditions,” Conlan said.
Marketing chair Dorothy Fleming, who is also featured in the play as a juror, enjoys the freedom of stepping outside of herself for a while.
“As someone who is anxious and gets stressed out a lot, it’s nice to step out of that. To experiment and be someone else,” she said.
Conlan, who has experience with directing, came across “12 Incompetent Jurors” after reading another production written by playwright Ian McWethy, and he sent it to President/Co-Director of “12 Incompetent Jurors” Emily Kay McNeeley.
12 pages in, McNeeley stated that while she still needed to finish it, she knew the play would be perfect for them.
For Halle Newman, “12 incompetent Jurors” marks a nice shift in tone. Newman was drawn to the play and described it as “pure fun.”
“The last show we did was very serious and kind of heavy,” she went on to say.
Conlan is a collaborative director and enjoys teaming up with others to put on the best production possible. He allows those on set with him to share their ideas and frequently includes their contributions. “As it turns out I don’t know everything,” he joked.
In 2018, he co-directed a play with another UA graduate titled “How I Learned to Drive.” The show covered heavy subject matters such as sexual assault, child grooming and family issues. It premiered during sexual assault awareness month, and he enjoyed having full creative input.
They worked in conjunction with Coalition Against Sexual Assault, another student organization
Above Image: Co-Directors Emily Kay McNeeley and Jacen Conlan Image via LeKeshaParkman
Side Image: Image via Sonder Quest on Unsplash
on campus.
For UA students interested in joining The University of Akron Theatre Guild membership is possible even for those without formal training.
McNeeley stressed how inclusive the organization is, noting that any and everyone is
“I feel more relaxed around new people. Even when old people leave and new people come in, I still feel that level of comfort because we all share something in common,” she said.
Along with feeling more confident, Fleming experienced her stand-out moment for college during the production of “Its a Long Story.”
“Halfway through the rehearsals I realized joining was a really good decision. I’d made more friends and created connections. I felt more confident and finally felt like I would miss college. I’ll be happy to look back on it.”
While McNeeley stressed the important sense of community, for Conlan it’s best summed up in this way:
encouraged to join.
“Anyone can come to our meetings. Meetings for the guild are held every other Tuesday. Officer meetings are on the opposite Tuesday. Anyone looking for more information is encouraged to attend,” she said.
Active member status is granted through attending meetings for a semester. Those with conflicts on meeting days can still contribute to the group through fundraising events and tabling at the student union.
The benefits of The Theatre Guild vary for each student.
Newman developed a better level of comfort within herself.
“The skills that come with being able to apply every aspect of yourself to something, being able to stick to deadlines, memorizing lines, blocking, and cues. Just knowing that you have to be a part of this production all ties together in an experience that I don’t think you can get anywhere else.”
Meetings are held at 5 p.m. every other Tuesday in room 138 at The Buchtel College of Arts and Sciences.
For more information contact uatheatreguild@gmail.com
Above Image:
The cast of “12 Incompetent Jurors”.
Image via Dorothy Fleming
Bottom Image:
The cast of “12 Incompetent Jurors”.
Image via Kendra Strickland
“The skills that come with being able to apply every aspect of yourself to something, being able to stick to deadlines, memorizing lines, blocking, and cues. Just knowing that you have to be a part of this production all ties together in an experience that I don’t think you can get anywhere else.”
- Jacen Conlan
In high school, Brad Cover did what many students do, he worked at a pizza place. After going to college and returning, he stopped back to pick up a pie at his old spot in Cuyahoga Falls. The owner of what was then Guy’s Pizza told him the shop was for sale.
Following a successful restaurant concept in Cuyahoga Falls, Brad Cover partnered with entrepreneur Chris Sedlock to reinvent pizza and beer in Akron.
the shop. After two years, they made some big changes and introduced an adventurous menu with a completely new set of recipes. That’s when Twisted Tomato was born.
Students at The University of Akron can now experience the “crazy twisted menu,” as Cover calls it, as well as the new beer wall at the recently opened second location at 325 South Main.
But Cover couldn’t have done it alone. His new location was inspired by an entrepreneur on the hunt for a partner.
Chris Sedlock owned a building in downtown Akron, and wanted to fill the space with a pizzeria and beer wall.
He went on a car ride to pitch the idea but couldn’t find the right pizzeria. He happened to stop and grab pizza at The Twisted Tomato. It wasn’t long before Cover and Sedlock were touring beer walls and planning a collaboration.
“I go back and tell my wife, hey, they’re selling Guy’s Pizza, I was like I’m really interested in buying,” said Cover. “She said no, you’re not buying a pizza shop.”
Eventually, despite her hesitancy, his wife started coming up with ideas, and the pair ended up buying
On Oct. 19, they celebrated the grand opening of Twisted Tomato Pizzeria & Beer Wall. People from all over Akron gathered to celebrate the grand opening, and Mayor Horrigan of Akron came to cut the ribbon, welcoming the new business to downtown Akron.
If you love beer and pizza, Twisted Tomato & Beer Wall is the place for you. The restaurant’s menu features a different pizza each month. The pizza of the month for October was the Pumpkin Pizza. They
decided to roll this pizza over into November to make sure customers had a chance to try it.
The Pumpkin Pizza has pumpkin sauce, provolone and mozzarella cheese, caramelized butternut squash and onions, crumbled Italian sausage, and is sprinkled with Italian seasoning.
The Tomato also has Wing Wednesday, where regular wings are just 85 cents and boneless wings are 75 cents.
“We’re really bringing the ‘twisted’ to Twisted Tomato with our beer wall,” Cover said. Their extra-large beer wall includes 36 self-serve taps. Beers are never repeated; each time a keg runs out, it is replaced with a new one. The taps feature craft beers and IPA. Wine and seltzer are also on the menu.
On the beer wall, each tap has a screen, where you can see the price and description for each brew.
Twisted Tomato also has what they call their social media wall. It is a painting of ‘pizza wings’ where customers can take pictures together to post on social media. Every Friday on Facebook, they go live to spin the ‘Wheel Deal,’ which unlocks a special deal for that day.
Close to campus and downtown attractions, the shop offers dine-in, takeout and delivery through Door Dash, Grubhub, or through Twisted Tomato itself.
Hours are 10 a.m. to midnight daily, and the beer wall is 20% off Monday through Thursday from 3 to 5 p.m.
To learn more and see what’s happening in this new eatery near campus, the co-owners suggest checking out their Instagram @twistedtomatoofficial and use the hashtag #twistedtomatoofficial to tag your ‘pizza wings’ shots.
The Twisted Tomato is also on Facebook, where you can use the hashtag #twistedtomatopizzeria to share your pizza selfies. Their official website is www. twisted-tomato.com
The moral of the Twisted Tomato story is to look everywhere for inspiration, even the starter job that helped you earn some pocket money in high school or some tuition money in college. Just like Brad Cover, you could find success where you least expect it.
Many students, including myself, have found themselves feeling bogged down by the weight and effects of the on-going COVID-19 pandemic. Even with campus opening back up this fall, some students are struggling to maintain a sustainable and realistic lifestyle.
Some students have been affected by the current U.S. labor shortage, leaving them feeling obligated to work longer hours, pick up more shifts, and put aside schoolwork to help organizations stay afloat. Others are feeling the wrath of the steadily increasing inflation in the economy that is driving up the cost of everything from housing to groceries.
And still, some are struggling with COVID-19 itself. From contacting the actual sickness, causing them to miss work and classes, to losing loved ones to the disease or the need to become a caretaker.
College students are finding themselves working multiple jobs this semester to keep up with the cost of living while balancing a heavy course load, internships, organization obligations, and more. All while the dark cloud of COVID-19 still lingers in the air above us, many have found that their mental health is struggling.
Abigail Stopka, a senior public relations major, has found herself working long days and late nights, juggling three jobs and a full course load.
“This semester, I’m working about 30 hours a week doing tech support for Spectrum from 1:00 p.m. to 12 a.m., and I usually stay up until about 4:00 a.m. catching up on school assignments after work,” Stopka said.
She also has class all day on Monday and Wednesday until 6:30 p.m. and on the weekends, works at WQMX as a DJ in the mornings while finding time to squeeze underwriting work for WZIP.
“Fridays are my only days off but I’m usually so busy, I often find myself playing catch up or sleeping all day instead of enjoying myself,” Stopka said.
When asked about her mental health, she says she’s doing better than last semester.
“Before the semester begins, I really have to mentally prepare myself for what’s to come. Sleepless nights, the stress of deadlines, trying to retain information… it’s hard. My mental health is a roller coaster throughout the semester. On weeks where I have a lot to do, it’s easy to fall into a depression but I’ve been pretty good at picking myself back up.”
Stopka also shared that there isn’t a lot of room for decompression in this lifestyle, as her little free time is often spent catching up on errands like grocery shopping, cleaning, and doctor appointments. Last semester, she found her grades suffered and although her days seem filled this semester, she took on fewer classes and dropped a few hours at one of her jobs this fall.
The current state of the economy has hit her
If you’re feeling overwhelmed this semester, know you’re not alone. Please make time to take care of yourself, regardless of how full your plate may be. You matter.Above: Abigail Stopka working late on coursework for her Public Relations Campaigns class. Image via Stephanie Fairchild.
the hardest, leaving her worried about even turning on her heat this winter.
Gas, groceries, and utilities are where Stopka is struggling the most, as her gas bill has already doubled, and she has yet to turn on the heat yet in her small, one-bedroom apartment.
She is also concerned with the labor shortage affecting the community.
“I like going to coffee shops to work on homework and a lot of them have been closing early or closing inside completely,” she said.
For a glimmer of hope, Stopka shared what she’s most looking forward to when things settle down and she has less on her plate.
“I can’t wait for time to just live and be by myself. I think the hardest part of this lifestyle is that my time is obligated to everyone but me. I can’t wait to wake up one day and have absolutely nothing to do,” she said.
For most college students, graduating means they will be taking on more, but for Stopka, the thought of only working one job will be a breath of fresh air.
Her advice to students in a similar situation this semester is to just keep going.
“As hard as it is, this is all temporary. Every semester and every class is one step closer to the finish line.”
John Albrecht, a senior electrical engineering major, taking 15-credit hours this fall, is happy to see people back on campus this semester.
“Unfortunately, COVID-19 has caused most of my classes to remain online this semester but being on campus a little bit has really helped my mental health. It’s so nice to see so many people back on campus.”
While Albrecht is currently not working, he is actively pursuing jobs for his upcoming graduation date. On the weekends, he finds time to relax, watch YouTube videos, or work on projects he enjoys that aren’t related to school.
Due to his heavy course load, the few hours of non-school-related activity he does have doesn’t feel like enough, leaving him with just 12 hours or so per week to focus on himself.
Albrecht is most looking forward to the next chapter of his life post-graduation and is focused on finding an ideal place to work. He encourages students that are juggling a heavy workload to make their time count.
“Make sure you are invested in whatever you’re doing,” he said. “Whether that by studying, relaxing, or hanging out with a friend. Distractions take away from the moment.”
Laney Miller, a third-year senior public relations major, has found herself juggling more than most this semester.
As a member of the dance team and two student organizations, pursuing a minor in Marketing, working both a job and an internship, taking a full-time course load, and serving as an ambassador for the university, her anxiety has been through the roof.
“My mental health is never great during school,” Miller said. “I could spend hours studying and still feel not prepared or like I am forgetting something. On top of that, senior year is even more stressful, with the constant thought of ‘what am I going to do once I graduate?” she said.
She feels as though COVID-19 has affected the college experience for her the most this semester in particular.
“I’m happy to see they are doing some events rather than none, but with the university’s cut budget, they have gotten rid of some things to
save money and I feel like that takes away from us students,” she said.
As for her grades, Miller shares that she would rather be sleep- deprived than receive a bad one.
“This year, I did submit a paper late and was disappointed in myself,” she said. “It was 4:00 a.m., and I couldn’t keep my eyes open anymore, I just fell asleep. I typically stay on top of my grades no matter what, but my mental health does not benefit from it.”
To decompress, she enjoys journaling and putting all her thoughts into words, especially when she feels worked up.
“Sometimes I have complete mental breakdowns, crying on the bathroom floor, but honestly, it really helps me sometimes to get it all out,” Miller said. “I also try to let myself have a day to myself once a week, where I don’t have to worry about work or school. But some weeks, there just isn’t time.”
When things settle down for Miller, she can’t wait to just spend a day with her family. Her best advice for students in her shoes? A planner.
“You need a planner,” said Miller. “You need to write things down or you will forget things. A planner will keep you organized and help you meet all your deadlines.”
Personally, this reporter is taking 13-credits this semester, including a 6-credit internship where I work approximately 21-25 hours per week. I also
work part-time at a bank 20-25 hours per week, and I am serving as a reporter and social media editor for The Buchtelite.
Inflation of things like gas and food has had a serious effect on me this semester and I would be working more if I had the time. The increased cost of everything is starting to make an impact on my budget.
My mental health fluctuates, but I’ve noticed my depression and anxiety are currently at an all-time high as I try to juggle my workload —especially as I near my December graduation date. I know I’m not alone in my post-graduation anxiety, constantly worrying about what’s next for me.
Like Stopka, I am most looking forward to some “me time.” When I have downtime throughout the week, I constantly feel anxious like I’m forgetting to do something or feeling guilty for watching Netflix instead of prepping for the week to come.
I think the most important thing to note for anyone else struggling right now, regardless of your situation, is that this too shall pass.
The University of Akron offers free and confidential personal, career, group, and educational counseling for current students, both in-person and online.
There are also other 24/7 community services available to everyone, including but not limited to the Suicide Prevention Hotline (1-800-273TALK), the Crisis Text Line (text START to 741-741), Portage Path Psychiatric Emergency Services (330-762-6110), Portage Path Psychiatric Support Hotline (330-434-9144), and more.
If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health, there are ways to get help.
Remember that you are not alone, and I think I speak on behalf of everyone here at The University of Akron when I say your perseverance and resilience are outstanding. We are so proud of you, please keep going.
The art piece is called “Troubled Souls” depicting two artists facing their emotions and doubts that will eventually consume them.
I am the final girl in a horror movie running away from the killer that has been tormenting her for the entire movie, but that killer is the growing to-do list on my computer.
I feel like Laurie Strode running away from Michael Myers, and my Michael Myers is the mass amount of work that I must do every day. Or like I’m Nancy Thompson being hunted down by Freddy Kreuger when she is sleeping, just like the stress dreams hunt me down on a nightly basis.
I am very lucky that I have a great group of people supporting me and I am grateful for that, but there is always that voice in my head that tells me to do more in an almost sadistic type of way.
Many nights I find myself staring at the ceiling and trying to recuperate from the long day wondering why I did this all to myself and I always end up just convincing myself to sleep it off and the cycle continues.
By Jaina Gedeon, Film Critic Images via Wyatt Reding23 credit hours, an on-campus job, an internship, writing for the school newspaper all led me to 12 hour or longer workdays, leaving no time for emotions. What could go wrong? Well, it feels like everything is going wrong. It may not seem like it from my good grades and extensive resume, but I created a day-to-day horror that I can’t escape.
One of my favorite horror movies is “The Blair Witch Project” and there is a quote that resonates through me during this time, and it is, “I’m scared to close my eyes; I’m scared to open them.” Whether I am awake or sleeping, these stresses of getting homework done, securing a good job after college and hitting my deadlines never really leave my headspace. Finals never really seem to finalize. Imposter syndrome is another villain that hunts me down. Imposter syndrome is doubting your skills and feeling that everything you have achieved is fraudulent and you do not deserve it. That evil voice just tells me that I didn’t put in the work, and I do not deserve anything I get, even though deep down I know that I nearly break myself for all this work daily.
Even with all this horror, I must remind myself that there is a final scene to my movie of college.
One day I will be able to look back at my college years and be able to show myself that I was able to make it through and try to prevent making the same mistakes of overloading myself into adulthood.
My biggest piece of advice to anyone whether you are in college or not is to take a break. At the end of the day, your health and wellbeing are way more important than if you were able to complete an extra project or work overtime. Being able to take breaks is not going to come right away. I am trying to still work on this myself.
One of the best resources I have taken advantage of is the counseling center through UA. Talking through your stresses and problems works wonders whether you think you need it or not. I am a firm believer that everyone should go through counseling.
As I enter my final semester of college in the spring, I am reminding myself to slow down and enjoy my last semester; but I’m afraid I am going to create my own Michael Myers or Freddy Krueger all over again with the final 21 credit hours I need to complete.
At the end of every great slasher film, the final girl escapes the killer and makes it to safety, which for me, is my spring commencement.
When I graduate, I am going to be able to impress colleagues with my two degrees and great job experience, but will it be worth it?
Images via Wyatt RedingI have no clue... the script is still being written.
semester once they graduate. Both were heavily involved and valued members of the editorial team who credit the paper for giving them valuable skills and experiences that will help them be successful in their future endeavors.
Fairchild stated, “I wasn’t very involved in organizations throughout high school or college, but I’ve always known I loved and was good at writing. Joining The Buchtelite was one of the highlights of my college experience and I’m sad to leave it behind. It helped me broaden my scope as a writer and taught me valuable skills, including social media management for my future career. Everyone I had the pleasure of working with was amazing, kind, and talented. And I owe a special thank you to our advisor, Julie, for believing in me and always pushing me when I needed it.”
By McKenzie Uhrig, Arts & Entertainment EditorAs a fashion merchandising major at the University of Akron, for almost four years I have been able to dodge the frequently asked question, “why did you choose UA?” I never had the answer and for every person that asked I had a different answer. I listed different tangible aspects I loved about the university, Exchange Residence Hall, my bathroom in Quaker, the Rec Center, and Shrank South, just to name a few.
With graduation coming up in December I have been reflecting more on my experiences. Now, I’ve come to realize that I chose UA not for its tangible offerings but for their intangible ones.
The UA community works to empower and help its students and faculty throughout their time with the university and even graduation. This community mindset is what has kept me at UA throughout these years despite everything the world has thrown at me. I have met some of the most friendly, honest and trustworthy people during my time at the university. I expect many will be in my life for years to come.
One part of my UA experience that will stay with me forever will be my time serving as The Buchtelie’s Arts & Entertainment Editor these past few semesters. Unfortunately, I will be leaving The Buchtelite after my graduation in December 2021.
As a future fashion editor working in fashion journalism, the experience of writing multiple articles, conducting interviews and creating content has been invaluable in teaching me skills required in my career field. I will also be able to say I have published pieces that I can use in my portfolio in the future.
Aside from the practical applications The Buchtelite has given, it provided me with a network of like-minded students who shared my love of writing and publishing. I loved working with my fellow students and our faculty advisor, Julie Cajigas, throughout my time with the paper.
The Buchtelite’s Social Media Editor, Stephanie Fairchild, and Copy Editor, Ashleigh Kanengeiser, will also be leaving the paper at the end of this
“I was a transfer student to UA in the fall of 2019. After doing well in my first semester, I wanted to get more involved on campus, make friends, and do something with words. I saw Stephanie post about The Buchtelite on her social media, and with a push from a friend I thought to myself, why not? Being a new copy editor and joining The Buchtelite during the COVID-19 pandemic was a particular challenge, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything. I’ve loved gaining editing experience and learning from every article we’ve published over the last year. I only wish I had joined sooner,” said Kanengeiser. Fairchild and Kanengeiser perfectly capture how I imagine most members of The Buchtelite feel, including myself. My experience with the newspaper has put into perspective what the university offers its students.
Now, after almost four years I feel like I’m finally ready to answer the question “why did you choose UA?” UA provides a community environment where everyone can find their group of people, while providing the necessary skills and experiences to become a thriving individual in their career. UA has offered me numerous skills and advantages I plan to implement in my work and career path. While the journey to graduation wasn’t necessarily an easy one, it was one that taught me more about who I am as a person, what I stand for and what I want out of life.
I would like to thank everyone who has helped me get here to this point, my parents, sister, family, roommates and of course The Buchtelite team.
The students helped design Cultural Carry-On: America’s Literal Baggage, an exhibit of American culture, which will run through May 2022 in the Drs. Nicholas and Dorothy Cummings Center for the History of Psychology at The University Akron.
By Emily PriceDirector Dr. Jodi Kearns received a particular collection of bags from a family summer of 2019. This collection would give students a wonderful opportunity to learn more about cataloging items in museums and archives and handling museum pieces. The students in the Museums and Archives Certificate program took on the project and worked steadily on the exhibition. While this plan was in store for students, no one could foretell the global pandemic that hit in March 2020. To carry out this promise for the family donors and give the same learning opportunities to students, Dr. Kearns, students, and staff needed to employ a safe and creative approach. The University of Akron’s Drs. Nicholas and Dorothy Cummings Center for the History of Psychology provides access to uncover human experience through art,
collections, documents, media and more. Within the Center’s Institute for Human Science and Culture (IHSC) division is the Cultural Carry On: America’s Literal Baggage exhibit. This piece highlights one offspring of culture: bags.
Designed by University of Akron undergraduate students in the Museums and Archives program, this exhibit is not only a display of an extensive personal collection from Lee L. Forman but also a monument of devotion during difficulty for the students and staff involved in its construction.
Now a recent graduate in psychology, Christopher Ha vividly remembers the time when he received the email that campus was closing. His final class before the closure was the course for the Museums and Archives certificate. Ha related how the sudden closure left students feeling insecure and stressed.
“Unfortunately, COVID hit the semester we were supposed to install [the exhibit] so the whole plan of physically installing it went to the wayside and we picked up a virtual kind,” History major graduate Kristie Zachar recalls.
Zachar, already a student assistant in the Cummings Center, was taking on this project to serve as her capstone piece for the Museums and Archives Certificate.
According to Ha, this new approach involved students plotting out the collective design of the exhibit (such as lighting and display cases) as well as the specific pieces of their chosen theme.
Ha was also working on the Cultural Carry-On: America’s Literal Baggage project as a part of the Museums and Archives Certificate which complemented his interest in the fine arts.
With Lee L. Foreman’s collection spanning over 12,000 bags, there was no doubt that students
could each find something that resonated with them.
“I wasn’t getting particularly jazzed about it until I started seeing what was in the collection,” Zachar said, “Ok, there is so much more in this than shopping bags.” Zachar also elaborates how bags are often a small part of our daily lives, and how they speak volumes about our culture through the ads represented on them.
Lee L. Forman, a graphic designer, started her collection with Bloomingdale’s limited-edition shopping bags. However, the collection extended vastly to other bag-like items as well. While sifting through the collections, Zachar found items that fit her interest in pop culture and 21st century history.
“One of the bags that first caught my attention when they talked about the collectionthey had a record sleeve that was signed by all four Beatles. I was like woah, they have what? I picked [the record sleeve] and a cheeseburger bag signed by Elvis.”
Ha selected items from the Lee L. Forman collection that fit a musical theme. “My topic initially started off as music, then evolved into the history of recorded music — going back to wax rolls and early phonograph records to modern day CD streaming,” Ha says.
Unfortunately, not all students who were involved in creating the digital planning for
the exhibit had the opportunity to see it come together physically in the Cummings Center.
Zachar also put in several hours in person for the project amid COVID-19. She expressed how challenging it was working alone.
“It was difficult working with a mask on during COVID with this big exhibition space — alone in the stacks, but history is my big interest. So, a lot of the stuff I was finding was something that tapped into my interest.”
Zachar worked on the project during the fall semester and some of the spring. Kearns explained that Zachar worked closely with the curator, Fan Ugalde, for the installation. Finally, the decisive moment had come, and the project was completely installed in the physical exhibition space and ready for the public on July 16, 2021.
“Not only as the Director, but as a teacher, it was a relief to see all the hard work that students do being put on and into a public space for people to enjoy. Not just for the students, but for our promise to the donor. That was really special to finally see it be installed,” Kearns said.
Kearns also explains how the installation also brought back students from the class and those who worked on the collection outside of the class to see their work completed.
Zachar and Kristie were among the students who returned as the Forman family traveled from the Washington D.C. area to see the results of the students’ hard work at the official opening.
The Cultural Carry-On: America’s Literal Baggage is currently housed in the Cummings Center until May 2022. If students or staff have further questions about how they can get involved in the Cummings Center and its upcoming projects, contact Director Dr. Jodi Kearns at jkearns@uakron.edu.
By Isabella Anderson, Special to The Buchtelite
into one of the most elite choral ensembles in the world.
VOCES8 currently tours globally and performs about 110 concerts every year. With their international platform, VOCES8 has chosen to inspire singers through performances, as well as through their educational programs, choral scholarships, summer school, and London music education hub.
Listening to their presentations at The University of Akron, it was clear that VOCES8 are passionate advocates for music education.
“It is absolutely vital for every child to have music education, and I believe it is essential that every school understands that and understands that it is not just a concept that needs to be believed but one that needs to be delivered,” Smith said.
Have you ever had a fantastic educational experience when you least expected it?
“Being able to work with VOCES8 felt surreal,” Music B.A., Kaitlyn Gaughan, said. “These are musicians who have been role models to many singers, conductors, and choral ensembles all over the world… for them to come to Akron, Ohio, having this fun energy and laughing with us, working with us, was something I never saw coming.”
For Gaughan, it was truly that sort of fantastic experience.
Monday, Oct. 18, The University of Akron School of Music welcomed the globally renowned choral group, VOCES8, to offer the university’s choral ensembles a workshop masterclass.
To open the experience, CEO of the VOCES8 Foundation, Paul Smith told the story of VOCES8 and how the group became popular worldwide.
VOCES8 originally began as a group of friends who sang together for the holidays. After singing together for a while, they entered and won an a cappella competition in Italy.
That achievement pushed the group to become more professional and selective in their repertoire, planting the seeds to what would grow
According to Smith, the group perceives the three main problems in music education tend to be lack of time in the curriculum, lack of funding, and fear.
“We spend our time trying to tackle those three issues,” he said.
VOCES8 themselves were lucky to have great music educators, explained Artistic Director and member Barnaby Smith. He said that he learns more thinking as a music educator, and his favorite part of working with students is learning from them.
The artists demonstrated this commitment to education by making their masterclass available to all music students, as well as visiting high school students who participated in Zips to UA Music Day, an annual event at the university held for students who are interested in furthering their studies in music education or music.
“VOCES8 is not only a group of extremely talented vocalists and musicians, but also a wonderful group of educators,” senior music education major, Lauren Eckersley said.
Not a vocalist by nature, Eckersley was nervous to be working with the well-known choral group, but felt they did a wonderful job relating to
(Left Top):A member of VOCES8 coaches the students on stage at Guzzetta Hall. (Bottom Right): A member of VOCES8 coaches the students on stage at Guzzetta Hall. Images via Andrew Paa.the students. “They showed a true passion for music education and sharing their knowledge with others,” she said. “I learned so much from the experience and can’t wait to pass on the knowledge to my students one day.”
Throughout the question-and-answer portion of the masterclass, VOCES8 discussed their travels, hobbies and what it is like being traveling musicians, as well as providing helpful tips on vocal health.
Soprano Andrea Haines said in addition to eating healthy and exercising, because the body is a singer’s instrument, hydration is also key. Haines also pointed out that a benefit of wearing masks during COVID-19 is the recycling of humidity, which can keep the vocal folds hydrated.
After the Q&A, the artists offered a performance workshop. VOCES8 shared their warmup routines that focused on rhythm, tempo, canons, and leadership.
Leadership is crucial in singing ensembles. In UA’s choral program, an important saying is that there are the same number of leaders in the room as there are singers. That was reinforced during the performance workshop and later, at the VOCES8 performance at E.J. Thomas Performing Arts Hall.
“They really showed us what we’re capable of and did so with ease,” Jennifer Jesser, Chamber and Concert Choir alto, said.
“The way they guided us to create sounds we’d never made before as a choir with simple descriptions, incredible demonstrations, and unique gestures - I didn’t realize just how much I could learn from a gesture,” she said.
VOCES8 was comfortable and highlighted their fun side while teaching and providing helpful feedback to the ensembles. They showed their unique personalities throughout the rehearsal as they demonstrated different sounds and how they related to the goal of the music.
The vocal ensemble encouraged University of Akron students as they were preparing for their first live performance since COVID-19.
“Having UA Choirs hear VOCES8 not only gave them perspective of sound and excellence but renewed a sense of joy in singing that I think COVID might have dimmed,” director of choral studies at The University of Akron, Dr. Marie Bucoy-Calavan, said. “I know they also reinvigorated me and ignited a fire for us to rebuild the choral program after the
onset of the pandemic.”
According to attendees, VOCES8 carried a positive, welcoming feeling that reminded students that they are more than a famous group of people, they are genuine human beings who are passionate about what they do, why they do it, and enjoy everyday activities like cooking, running, and going to the pub.
The VOCES8 singers provided feedback and helpful information that University of Akron Choirs will go on to use in their rehearsals moving forward. Then they welcomed the student singers to what would be their first in-person appearance since COVID-19 the following day.
As a student choral singer at The University of Akron, this reporter was deeply impacted by the experience.
Being able to perform with VOCES8 as my first live performance in almost two years, with my former high school in the audience, was an overwhelming feeling. It felt like a milestone. I had gone from a teenager starting out to an adult performing with some of the world’s top singers. My emotions were flying the moment our piece ended, and we immediately received a standing ovation.
I never realized the depth of loss I felt when not performing until I was able perform in front of a live audience again. Many thanks to Dr. BucoyCalavan, The School of Music, and VOCES8 for that feeling of fulfillment.
(Bottom Right): A member of VOCES8 coaches the students on stage at Guzzetta Hall.
By Samuel Grom
Just a few years ago, the Drs. Nicholas and Dorothy Cummings Center for the History of Psychology opened a new feature on its first floor. The museum is a hidden gem that displays all its facets for students to witness and learn from. With wood floors and warmly painted walls, the environment delivers a calming effect akin to that a psychiatrist hopes to instill in their sessions, making for the perfect setting to learn.
This winding path of psychology’s strides and missteps decorates each wall and corner of its sections with information and artifacts.
Just right of the main lobby sits the museum’s entrance. Once inside, guests are confronted with three animated-informationgraphics with attention gripping facts like the creator of Wonder Woman being the inventor of the lie–detector test. This brings guests to the museum’s first section, Psychology as a Profession. In this area, the walls are lined with psychology’s timeline, displaying the practice’s development. Here, one can find an early straight jacket, and even take pictures in a classic therapist’s sofa with a picture of Sigmund Freud looming over you.
Right around the corner, after a quick sit to watch some movie clips, guests enter the Psychological Assessing Section and come across the museum’s first interactive exhibit. Modeled after real tests used in immigration hubs like Ellis Island designed for measuring intelligence use without language, you can assess your intelligence based on these dated methods.
Tucked in the museum’s corner is the smallest section, Psychology as Used in Industry. In this little pocket, the walls are lined with the history of the subject’s main contributors like Harry Hollingworth with his work on the effectiveness of firearms advertisements. The main attraction is an efficiency test modeled after one designed by
Alfred Binet. There’s also a little side exhibit of a stereoscope and its inventor Charles Wheatstone.
Leaving the third section, guests walk back through the testing section and enter Psychology as an Agent of Social Change. The most eye-catching feature of this section is its use of video data. Two display screens hang from the walls, one showing interviews of children describing their favorite dolls as part of a study into the sense of inferiority Black children were forced to adopt as a result of societal racism specifically, during Brown v. Board. The other is of several children beating an inflatable clown doll in a study of child psychology as effected by violent media. They even have a miniature version of the doll in question.
The penultimate section is a sight to behold. Taking up most of the museum, Psychology as a Science exists in several rooms with subsections like The Stanford Prison Experiment and animal linguistic training. With the largest collection of subject-specific artifacts, you can look at the rusty relics of psychology’s achievements and sordid past.
Interactivity is perhaps the most important aspect of the final section. In What it Means to be Human, guests have their mental confidence challenged before being asked to answer the question ‘what makes a human’ and hanging their answers on lines of metal wire and leaving with a few thoughts on their mind.
Overall, the museum is a wonderful addition to what the campus has to offer. It creates a relaxing environment that encourages guests to follow at their own pace and take in all they can, not only leaving with information concerning the past, but planting the seeds of questions regarding the future as well.
Senior Ellie Payne
Metalsmithing and Jewelry Major
Sophomore
Laura Gorman
The University of Akron’s College of Business celebrates women during Entrepreneurship Week 2021 with a panel of UA Alums.
By Alyssa Alexsonshk
Have you ever been in a room with someone who is extremely passionate? If so, chances are you know the feeling when a passionate person’s energy starts to be contagious. A wave of excitement spreads across everyone in the room as they become deeply engaged and ready to learn.
This scenario happened at the Entrepreneurial Women in Business Event put on by The University of Akron’s College of Business and Montclair State University to celebrate Women Entrepreneurship Week 2021.
The event was held on Friday, Oct. 22 from 8 to 11 a.m. in the Goodyear Classroom of the College of Business Alexander Professional Development Center and was sponsored by Fitzgerald Institute for Entrepreneurial Studies & Fisher Institute for Professional Selling.
Activities of the event included breakfast, networking, panel discussion questions, small group breakouts, and mentorship opportunities. Attendees were able to make new connections with panelist, faculty, and other students
The panel for the event was composed of three entrepreneurial women. Courtney Gras, Melanie Brunty, and Keyana Artis-Chunn are each alumnus from The University of Akron and had their own unique stories to share with the students and faculty.
Aurelia Soreel Turner, 4th year master’s in accounting accelerated program, was one of the moderators for the Entrepreneurial Women in Business Event. She is also the President of the Women in Business student organization at The University of Akron that helped make the event possible.
“I think building those relationships like they talked about the whole time is what’s important,” Turner said, “Not networking, it is building relationships that leads you to the next thing and connects you to the next thing.”
Panelist Courtney Gras is the Director at Techstars and a 2013 graduate of The University of Akron with a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering. Gras shared her perspectives and why these events are important for growing minds.
“I believe these events inspire and instill confidence in students,” Gras said,” Sometimes all it takes is hearing one new perspective to change somebody’s career trajectory for the better.”
Gras offered a glimpse into her path of becoming an entrepreneur and how The University of Akron influenced her journey.
“I’d say entrepreneurship chose me. I never thought I wanted to be an entrepreneur, but while I was studying electrical engineering, I got involved in a research project that turned into a product,” Gras said, “A professor encouraged me to enter a pitch competition, and I fell in love with the startup world shortly after.”
The panelists’ stories had an impact on the students who attended the event. One student attendee Armani Shepherd, a Senior at The University of Akron and psychology major, shared her inspiring takeaways from the event.
When discussing the honesty in Gras’s choice to leave NASA, Shepherd said, “A lot of people would wonder why someone would leave a job like
NASA, but even though the name is huge, it was not bringing her satisfaction anymore. I think that should be a topic of conversation more often, it’s ok to leave if it is not bringing you joy.”
Lauren Redhead, a sophomore marketing and sales double major at The University of Akron, shared how she was going to implement the lessons learned at the event into her life.
“The panelists encouraged making a to-do list or some sort of schedule to stay organized and focused on what you need/want to accomplish. The women also expressed the important of finding and maintaining a balance,” Redhead said “The combination of these takeaways has already helped me as I map out what I need to do at the beginning of every day and week so that I do not get discouraged or overwhelmed with my busy schedule.”
To help attendees remember important lessons from the event, action cards were given out at the end. All were encouraged to complete the cards to help guide them to take action and be resilient in their entrepreneurial journey.
Dr. Joseph Fox, Professor of Practice at The University of Akron College of Business and Management Director of the Fitzgerald Institute for Entrepreneurial Studies Department of Management was one of the faculty members who worked to put on the event.
“We should certainly put event like this on in the future, continue highlighting the success of excellent professionals and connect student with stories on how to hand adversity and be more resilient,” Dr. Fox said.
The event was the first to celebrate Woman in Entrepreneurship Week held by The University of Akron, however, there is hope that it will not be the last. If this event sounded like something you would like to attend there may be future opportunities in the College of Business for personal development events.
They say every word has been said, every thought has been had, every song, sung But how can that be?
In an ever-changing world, with ever-changing words, every thought spoken or sung?
People are still people, that make more people, more minds minds much like the universe, ever-expanding.
The new Selfie Studio is located in Akron, Ohio.
and can attest that their one-hour private time slots are a standout. “COVID-19 shaped our business model and ended up helping,” Sayre said. “Thank you, pandemic!”
While the two were putting in extensive hours of work to get the studio together to open, social media savvy helped kick their idea into high gear.
By Summer Torok, Managing EditorAisley Herndon is a sophomore at The University of Akron, majoring in advertising and minoring in public relations. Allie Sayre is a full-time wedding and elopement photographer. The two, it seems, were destined to meet.
Sayre worked at a bank with Herndon’s Mom, and they became close work friends. Once Herndon’s Mom realized Sayre was a photographer, she knew she had to introduce the two girls.
At first, the duo just wanted a regular photography studio, but when this space became available, they got creative. The two dreamed together of a place where a community could be built around photography and fun.
That’s when the idea for a selfie studio, a relatively new concept in the world of studio photography, was born.
A selfie studio is a new type of entertainment venue. Selfie studios allow anyone, regardless of skill, to take photos with professional lighting and fun backdrops.
One reason they decided to open this style studio was because of COVID-19. Herndon has traveled to many selfie studios across the country
Herndon was becoming TikTok famous. Herndon and her best friend did a 32-day photo challenge, where each day they had a different theme and posted it to Tiktok. Her videos began blowing up and she currently has 130.1k followers.
On May 1, 2021, the duo opened Studio 31, at 752 Canton Rd. in Akron, Ohio.
Studio 31 consists of three floors, the top floor is where the office and boudoir suite are, the main floor is where the regular photography studio is. In the regular photography studio, you can find more professional backdrops. Then finally, the basement is home to ‘The Babe Cave.’ Studio 31 has become best known for ‘The Babe Cave.’ Two sets in The Babe Cave get changed every month, making it so every six months it’s a whole new selfie studio.
One set that everyone loved was their cloud wall. Another was the Harry Styles themed set.
“It is very interesting to see how many people come from all over just to see it,” Herndon said.
The Babe Cave showcases pictures of previous and returning clients in the studio. They hope that changing the sets will increase the likelihood of clients returning.
“As a model, it’s important that I can get
a variety of sets for different looks when renting a studio,” a returning customer, Juniper Vixen said.
“I love how affordable it is, and it’s a cool place to go with friends.”
The sets take a lot of work to create. For some sets, it is harder to find the props than others. For example, Sayre was searching through Facebook Marketplace for some inspiration. She came across this vintage hair dryer, that was from a salon in the ‘60s. That’s when the idea for the set came to life. After finding the dryer, they found out a salon in Kent, Ohio was changing their décor, so the pair stopped and bought 2 chairs.
“I really love the monochromatic aesthetic for this set,” Sayre said.
for Akron CHAARG, which is a health and wellness community on college campuses.
“Every Akron CHAARG member that went got great pictures and had an amazing time,” CHAARG member, Hailey Wisniewski said. “We definitely want to go back!”
The Babe Cave was given a spooky makeover for Halloween this year. The sets stayed the same but added some spooky touches.
Another special event that turned into a considerable success was Studio 31’s Halloween event. On Oct. 30, customers were able to register for 15-minute shoots in their costume. For just $10 per person, they had professional photos taken by Sayre and received an online gallery of shoot photos.
“We saw lots of people who were really excited to embrace spooky season and play in the sets, Sayre said. “We loved being able to create in the space.” What’s next for Studio 31?
In the future, Herndon and Sayre want to start expanding their reach into hosting more events, and micro weddings. “While The Babe Cave will always be a staple with our rotating selfie sets, we really want Studio 31 to be a place where memories are made and celebrated,” Sayre said.
Regular prices for The Babe Cave are $21 per person, per hour for groups of 10 or less. Groups over 10 qualify for event pricing and get a discount. When a customer books the Babe Cave, they receive a temporary access code that grants access 10 minutes before and after the booking. The customer’s group are the only ones in the studio during the hour.
Studio 31 can also host birthday parties and any other events you may want.
The very first event held at Studio 31 was
Community (n). a feeling of fellowship with others, as a result of sharing common attitudes, interests, and goals. (Oxford English Dictionary)
In the heart of Highland Square lies a community, an oasis, an escape for those to be greeted with open arms and accepted for who they are, as they are.
“When people step in the doors of Yoga Squared for the first time, we hope that they immediately feel welcome,” said founder and owner Nicole Woodford-Shell. “We want people to feel like they are seen and heard, and that they are able to show up fully as themselves.”
Yoga Squared, founded in 2016 by Nicole Woodford-Shell and co-owned with her wife, Kate Woodford-Shell, has become a bright spot for many lives in the Akron community over the past five years.
Julia Thomas, a student at Yoga Squared, was looking for a healthy outlet that could also serve as a safe space.
“Yoga Squared, to me, is one of the best communities I’ve ever been lucky enough to be part of,” Thomas said. “No matter who you are, you have a place there, and that just doesn’t happen everywhere.”
Offering 50 classes weekly, Yoga Squared’s
mission is to make yoga accessible and affordable to all, and to increase the health and well-being of the Akron community.
They are ready to welcome the community and guide them on their journey towards healing and strength, both mentally and physically.
“It’s really a space to feel and express everything while also letting it roll right off when it’s necessary,” Thomas said.
People turn to yoga for a multitude of reasons. Whether it is anxiety, depression, feeling lost, needing an outlet, or longing for a sense of community, one’s yoga mat can become their safe space.
For some, there is a common misconception that yoga is just stretching or being able to do fun tricks, but there is an internal shift that happens when one begins to understand the importance of their own breath.
Starting his practice only a few years ago, current employee at the studio, Connor Handley, found yoga to be the breath of fresh air that he had been longing for.
“I never realized I was holding my breath out of fear until I started my first yoga class, and in general it brought upon physical changes but even
(Above) Kate WoodfordShell providing extra assistance and healing to a student at a community yoga class.more importantly, mental changes,” Handley said. “It was the mental shift of realizing how important the breath is; how it can allow us to sit in silence or talk through difficult conversations. Yoga did more than ‘transform’ my life, it saved it.”
Within their first two years of business, there were ideas of what Kate and Nicole hoped they would be able to introduce to the studio and how the space would continue to grow. These ideas, however, soon became a reality.
“We realized quickly that through these visions, steady intentions, consistency, and hard work day in and day out we could make anything happen,” said co-owner Kate Woodford-Shell.
Since its opening in 2016, Yoga Squared has doubled their space, holds Yoga Allianceapproved teacher training programs, launched an international retreat program, and provides healing services, which include massage and reiki appointments, as well as an infrared sauna.
They have also opened Zen Space in Highland Square, which serves as a smaller studio for gentle flow classes, meditation classes and private sessions.
“It has been sacrifice after sacrifice but it is beyond worth it to see so many people establishing yoga practices, studying formally, traveling the world, and making new connections in a city they’ve lived in all their lives,” Kate said.
Yoga Squared is community-driven. Throughout the year, the studio collaborates with local restaurants and businesses, such as Akronym Brewing, El Patrón Tequilería & Cuisine, Akron Art Museum, and so many more, to showcase and highlight local businesses in the Akron community.
The Woodford-Shell’s know firsthand the power of healing in a community and how important it is to feel a part of one. This power is brought to life in their students, employees, and teachers.
When different people interact, it is a beautiful thing to witness the blossoming of new relationships, creating a deeper understanding and appreciation for the people who live right in your backyard.
“Over time, we hope that Yoga Squared becomes a second home, where people can show up authentically and be supported through any phase of life,” Nicole said.
Dec. 5, 2021 will mark Yoga Squared’s 5th anniversary. When looking back, Kate and Nicole have been able to accomplish so much in such a short amount of time thanks to their support system.
For them, it still feels like they are just getting started.
“As we reflect on the past 5 years, it’s amazing to see how far we have come but it’s also refreshing to think about how much really hasn’t changed,” Nicole said. “We still feel the same sense of wonder and awe, and we have a deep desire to keep working hard to optimize our offerings for our community that we love so much!”
To celebrate their upcoming anniversary, the studio is hosting a Holiday Market on Dec. 3 at R. Shea Brewery, located in Downtown Akron. According to their website, it will be an evening of community and collaboration that will highlight Northeast Ohio’s best makers, who are driven by wellness and/or love for local business. For more event details, visit their website at yogasquaredakron.com.
“I feel very honored that people choose to spend their time and other resources at Yoga Squared. I will never take it for granted,” Nicole said.
Everyone needs a bright spot in their day, month, year, or whatever it may be and suite A + B in the heart of Highland Square will always be there to catch you if you fall, be a shoulder to cry on, and will always be your biggest cheerleader.
To learn more about Yoga Squared and to book a class, visit yogasquaredakron.com.
(Below) Owners of Yoga Squared, Nicole WoodfordShell (left) and Kate Woodford Shell (right), lead a free community yoga class to kickoff Highland Square’s annual Porchrokr Music x Arts Festival.