Vol. 119, Issue 16 Feb. 9, 2015
Kathryn Kellar, Editor-in-Chief
The Black & Magenta
Library renovations continue
screen or a white board and interactive board,” said Ellenberger. “The colloquium room which will seat I think Muskingum University’s about 60 to 100 people, that’s Library has been under regoing to be a very high techmodeling, so students and nology area for large group staff have been going to the presentations.” temporary library located in Another technological adCambridge Hall. vantage for students and facThe Director of Muskingulty is the usage of the eBum University’s Library, ooks. Sheila Ellenberger said, “I “We’re really investing a just was almost brought to lot of our budget into electears when I saw them take tronic research courses, such the plastic down and saw that Christine Holmes/Black&Magenta as e-journals and e-books,” beautiful brick [and] stone work. It is really gorgeous.” Construction workers working on library renovations. said Ellenberger. The library’s construction Within the last couple is coming to a close and according to weeks the construction company has when Muskingum can have 60 days to Ellenberger, the library’s faculty and put in new windows and torn the tarp make sure that the library’s structure is staff is ready to move to the building. up to code. down. The library is offering a way for othAfter the library is done being The library’s remodeling is expecters to see the reconstruction process for checked, Physical Plant may move the ed to be on schedule according to Elanyone wanting to see the change. library’s items back in. lenberger. To see the live camera feed go to “I expect that Physical Plant will be“Yes, President Steele announced to the faculty...that they’re still on sched- gin moving us in sometime in the mid- www.muskingum.edu click the library link under the Academics tab. ule,” said Ellenberger. “The latest I’ve dle of the summer,” said Ellenberger. Then click on the library renovaWith a newly remodeled building heard is that the University will take ownership sometime in the middle of students and faculty will also have ac- tions on the left side column and at the bottom of that page there is a picture cess to new technology. April.” “Students can share their presen- slide where a live feed of library renoAccording to Ellenberger, Muskingum University taking ownership is tation in a small group on a plasma vations are available. Karysa Kent Orbit Media Reporter
Faculty reacts to campus lockdown Christine Holmes News & Managing Editor Muskingum University Associate Professor of Religion, Peter Gosnell was teaching his class in Walter Hall at the time campus went on lockdown Jan.22. No one had their phones out during class, so the META alert warning campus subscribers to remain where they were or to find a secure building was not communicated. Class was dismissed as usual, and according to Gosnell, they walked by a cluster of approximately 20 students, all on their phones before exiting the building.
T H E B L A C K & M A G E N TA
“Not a single person staring at their phone looked at us heading out the door saying ‘Wait, there’s a META alert,” said Gosnell. “There’s a prowler on campus.’” Gosnell, who doesn’t own a cell phone, didn’t learn of the lockdown until he returned to his office in Brown Chapel. “One should not be required to buy a phone in order to be protected,” he said. Gosnell said as far as he is concerned, the whole alert system failed. During his tenure at Muskingum University, Gosnell said he has only received three META alerts, and only
one has been successful. “The bomb threat,” said Gosnell. “Someone took seriously the responsibility to inform others. This time no one took seriously the responsibility to inform anyone else other than to note their own little text message that there was a problem.” Gosnell said META worked last November because an administrator from the second floor of Montgomery Hall entered his classroom, telling everyone to evacuate immediately. META REACTIONS, on Page 3
The play will take place in The Sandra Wolfe Thompson Theatre, Philip and Betsey Caldwell Hall.
Theatre Department puts on play rated MA María Conforte Orbit Media Reporter The comedic six-act play “Words, Words, Words” will be presented on Feb. 12, 13, 14 and 15 in the Sandra Wolfe Thompson Theatre. The play deals with language and how sometimes it can be unsuccessful. The play is directed by the Visiting Assistant Professor of Theatre, John Kuhn. The original play is one of many pieces written by David Ives, and premiered in January 1987. All of the scenes are disconnected and different from each other. “They all deal with language, how language works and how it doesn’t work and how the effort to communicate sometimes fails or succeeds,” said Kuhn. Referring to the topic of the play Kuhn said, “we have all been in the situation where we had words fail us.” The auditions for this play were at the end of last semester, and the play counts with a cast of 19 actors that have been rehearsing for three months.
Campus raises roof with local tiles Page 4 Retention efforts succeedPage 2 Wrestling falls to Yellow Jackets Page 7
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News
Christine Holmes, News & Managing Editor
Retention efforts succeed Martin Kurtz Orbit Media Reporter
The issue of student retention, or keeping students enrolled in colleges and universities deems problematic all across the country. Muskingum is no exception. In 2011, the Admission Office noticed that their retention rate was dropping below the 70 percent threshold. Since having a 66 percent retention rate that year, they had increased the amount of students to about 71 percent in 2013. Part of that was because of the Muskie Care Pack Program that officially started in the fall of 2013. “[We created the Muskie Care Pack] with the express purpose of increasing retention from the freshman year to the sophomore year,” said Beth DaLonzo, Senior Director of Admission and Student Financial Services. The Muskie Care Pack is a program that gives first-year students an advisor who is a staff member. Advisors can point students in the right direction for any problem they might encounter and for help in mak-
“The Winds of Change” blowing onto campus Aaron Eno Orbit Media Reporter The Music Department at Muskingum University holds concerts almost every week, from single artists to full ensembles. The next concert features the Muskingum Valley Symphonic Winds on Feb. 15 at 3 p.m. in Brown Chapel. The concert is a ticketed event but free to Muskingum students. The title is “The Winds of Change” and will include a variety of music from many different composers. The concert title is based off a book by Frank Battisti called “The Winds of Change.” “I titled the concert that, after the book, and the idea is that there are pieces from as many different time spans throughout history as we could get,” explained Assistant Professor of music David Turrill. The idea of the concert is to showcase music from as far back as 1870 and as recent as 2013.
Christine Holmes/Black & Magenta The class of 2018 gathered in the Recreation Center before beginning their first year as Muskies. ing connections on campus. “In order to stay, students at any college in the nation have to make connections with some group,” said DaLonzo. The program went on a pilot run in 2012, taking a group of 115 students out of the middle ranks of the first-year class. That trial was successful. Since then the Muskie Care Pack has helped re“It’s an interesting concept and it will provide a lot of variety within the concert as far as music goes,” said Turrill. “You are going to hear great music by a great ensemble. The quality of the music and quality of the play is really top notch.” While the core of the ensemble consists of a wide variety of performers, it will also feature the skills of guest artist Stephen James on the trumpet in the first piece. The group performs three times per year at Muskingum University, is directed by Turrill, and involves faculty, alumni, students, and members of the community. These performers are all seasoned musicians and come from all walks of life. Those not used to the concert style of music may be surprised by what they hear. “I think this program has appeal to both people who know concert band music and the people who do not,” said Turril. “It’s not so serious music that you have to be a music major or a professor to get it. There’s a lot of what we call ‘accessible music.’ I think everybody will enjoy it.”
tention efforts, focusing on students who are not in the Plus Program or International Students. Those students are already provided with an advisor. Although three percent may seem low, it proved to help numbers after a few years. DaLonzo pointed out the significance of this amount. “[It helps] little bit by little bit, if
we do three percent, then three percent, then three percent, then by senior year, I’ve got nine or 12 percent more students in that senior year graduating than I had four years earlier,” said DaLonzo. “So every year, we certainly hope to increase. We don’t just want to stop at three percent rate. Right now, we are at 71 percent returners. We absolutely want to get into the higher ‘70s.” Muskingum University is still actively working towards retaining as many students as possible. “We will continue to work and we will continue to develop new programs and new ways to help these students connect,” said DaLonzo. “Even if it’s something as simple as saying ‘Hey, I saw on the B-Shank, there are students that are interested in photography having a meeting tonight. You mentioned to me that you were interested in photography. Do you want to go to that?’” DaLonzo said other contributing factors to the improved retention rate include fall Greek recruitment and the addition of new furniture and photos in the lobbies and dorm rooms of the campus residence halls.
Trumpet soloist to perform Sarah Liston Orbit Media Reporter
Despite the chill in the air, the New Concord community can expect some hot air racing through Brown Chapel. Visiting soloist, Stephen James will greet Brown Chapel on Feb. 13 with a passion for music and a talent for the trumpet. The concert, hosted by the Muskingum University Music Department, will be welcoming James to the Muskingum community. “It is exciting for us [the Music Department] to bring in guests to do recitals because it’s good for our students to hear professional musicians on all the instruments,” said Assistant Professor of music and coordinator of the event David Turrill. “This year, like all the years, we have a lot of variety of outside guests coming in, doing recitals. We have some faculty that do recitals also, I’m really excited about it.” The concert is free of charge, and anyone who wishes to listen in on Stephen James can expect a blend of different sounds. Not just because of a large repertoire, but because James will be per-
forming with several different trumpets, offering various tones. “He’s got a fantastic sound, and tremendous technique,” Turrill continued. “I think that he will dazzle our audience.” James earned a doctorate of Musical Arts from Michigan State University and his Masters of Music from Western Michigan University. He has an active life of guest solos, attending several conferences for his art, and serving as faculty at Spring Arbor University in Michigan. There he conducts the university’s brass ensemble and gives lessons to students studying brass. In Turrill’s words, the Music Department is excited to welcome James to Muskingum University. The concert promises to present a night of rich music to all who attend. “His program has a really wide variety of pieces, from pieces written 250, almost 300 years ago, to pieces that were written within 10, 15 years, so it’s a pretty wide range,” added Turrill. “He’s a fantastic trumpet player and a great guy too. It’ll be a great recital.” The concert will begin at 7:30 p.m. in Brown Chapel.
News
Kathryn Kellar, Editor-in-Chief META REACTIONS, from Page 1 Despite the fact that Gosnell was not informed of the lockdown, he does not blame META for the lack of communication. “META is a great system,” said Gosnell. “It’s not working consistently.” Professor of Biology, Jim Dooley had a similar experience with the META alert, but with a different outcome. “When I’m teaching, I don’t carry my phone with me,” said Dooley. “So I didn’t actually receive the text.” However, students in the class Dooley was guest presenting in did receive the META alerts during class and relayed the information to him. Dooley decided to finish his presentation after the alert was received, and when class was finished, he was faced with another choice. “I personally went through a little bit of indecision,” said Dooley. “There was another meeting that I was really supposed to be at, that was pretty important, and it was just across the quad in the Boyd Science Center.” Dooley decided to take the words at face value and trust the META alert, so he waited until it was safe to go outside. “You just have to roll with the fact that you’ve got feelings of anxiety and stress because you don’t have complete
information and it’s just going to be that way,” said Dooley. Library Director, Sheila Ellenberger was in Boyd Science Center, where Dooley needed to be at the time of the lockdown. She thought the situation was handled professionally. “I personally felt informed enough to know that there was something that was an emergency situation,” said Ellenberger. “I probably read into the text a little bit and understood that possibly there was a situation that was happening that the police didn’t have the time to take to send out a detailed META alert.” The META alert was sent out by Vice President of Student Affairs and Dean of Students, Janet Heeter-Bass and Associate Dean of Students, Susan Waryck. Heeter-Bass said she doesn’t spend a lot of time getting updates from the Chief of Police, Danny Vincent when sending out a META text. “I was worried,” said Heeter-Bass. “I thought we had somebody around who did have a weapon and was going to potentially be on campus.” Heeter-Bass said the META alert has a set character limit, which makes details a challenge. “You don’t have time to sit and think about how you want to word something when there’s a potential that somebody’s going to be injured,” said Chief Vincent.
Correction:
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Chelsea McCrae/Black&Magenta WMCO sign located on the second floor of Caldwell Hall.
WMCO Celebrates Birthday Chelsea McCrae Orbit Media Reporter
WMCO, Muskingum University’s radio station, celebrated its 54th birthday on Jan. 28. Regarding the 54th birthday of the station there was an internal celebration. “We are going to have a staff meeting today [Jan. 29] with some sweet treats,” said Station Manager and Associate Professor of Communication Lisa Marshall. “Other than that a celebration wouldn’t occur externally. The last celebration we had was for the 50th birthday of the station, which occurred in 2011.” WMCO signed on Jan. 28, 1961. The idea was put forth by a then student named Harold Burlingame, who is now President of the Board of Trustees at Muskingum University. One attribution to the success of WMCO is the non-profit organization College Radio Day. College Radio Day focuses on celebrating and raising awareness of both high school and college radio stations.
Muskingum University’s radio station, WMCO has been a part of for four years. WMCO being on air for 54 years is special not only for the community, but also to the campus because colleges nationwide are shutting down their radio stations. Three radio stations received national attention after two other stations were shutdown. The radio station is a student-led organization. The college and alumni partially attribute to its success. With student leadership Marshall can be considered a guide-post for the students and is there to help steer them in the right direction ethically and morally. This is a connection for Marshall to make from when she was a student here at the University. Marshall was a student worker at both the radio station and the TV station. WMCO brings the latest news, music and sports to students and the local community as well as others by streaming online.
For the “Spring Intramurals ramping up campus life” article the correct names are Robert Witosky instead of Robert Bartosiewicz, Ronta Hill-Morton instead of Ronte Hill and Adam Piciacchia instead of Adam Socket. The Black & Magenta staff regrets these errors.
Editorial Staff Editor-in-Chief:
Copy Editors:
Kathryn Kellar
Josey James
News & Managing Editor: Christine Holmes Special Sections
and Lindsey Kreamer Circulation Manager: Nick Lambes
Editor:
Faculty Advisor:
Kandee Ferrell
Lisa Marshall
Sports Editor:
This is Volume 119, Issue 16 of The
Chris Morgan Opinion Editor: Kandee Ferrell Web Editor: Josey James
Black & Magenta. The Black & Magenta is published weekly except during school holidays. Contact (740) 826-8189 or email bandm@muskingum.edu for subscription information.
Chelsea McCrae/Black&Magenta Hélèna Gladman DJing for WMCO in The Geyer Studio.
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Community Corner
Christine Holmes, News & Managing Editor
Campus raises roof with local tiles Kathryn Kellar Editor-in-Chief Muskingum University’s Library is currently under construction. Ludowici Roof Tile located in New Lexington, OH, is the tiling company that is provided for the roofing. Ludowici is a tiling company that opened in 1888. The company is known for roofing a variety of different companies, colleges and universities. Among, some of Ludowici’s clients are Muskingum University, Duke Univeristy, Yale University, and Miami University. However, this is not the first time that Muskingum University has used Ludowici tiles for campus roofing. Referencing other buildings on campus that have used Ludowici tiles for roofing Ceramic Engineer for Ludowici Alicia Cordle said, “It looks like we have been providing the same product, which is a 13 inch Spanish in clay red for a long time now. So I am assuming that they are trying to keep an aesthetic similarity between the rest of the campus.” Ludowici also has a factory on site
Katie Kellar/ Black&Magenta
Christine Holmes/ Black&Magenta
The Roberta A. Smith Library currently under construction will feature Ludowici Roof tiles. Inset: Close up of roof tiles that have been put through the kiln at the Ludowici Roof Tile plant in New Lexington. where potential buyers can get a look at how tiles are made. Inside of the factory, which consisted of many different areas, the clay that was used for tiling went through a wide range of steps. Some of which included being bro-
ken down into a fine dust, being mixed with warm, shaped by an assembly line of workers, fired into a big kiln and then left out to dry. As Ceramic Engineer, Cordle explained her favorite part of her job at
Ludowici Roof Tile. “I know this sounds cheesy, but pretty colors,” said Cordle. “It’s really fun. I really, really enjoy working with the customers, especially the ones that take a long time and then we create exactly what they wanted in the end. That’s really the crème de la crème to me.” Ludowici Roof Tile focuses on the manufacturing of roofing tiles, but they also help roofers by offering a special qualification that fits Ludowici’s standards. This process is called “crown roofers,” which means that roofers get certified by coming to the plant personally, going on a plant tour and going through a training course by Ludowici. This certification gives an extra underlayment warranty on the roofing. “To break it down Ludowici wants to provide a quality product,” said Cordle. “We have a 75 year warranty, so we try to live up to that standard. Me, personally I’m in charge of customer interface when it comes to roof design. So, I’m trying to make a person’s dream come true with a roof and something really pretty and something really unique.” Ludowici specifically offers quarry tiles, which are made out of clay.
Kathryn Kellar/ Black&Magenta A specialized piece of tile that is used for corners of roofs drying.
Kathryn Kellar/ Black&Magenta Framed photo in factory that shows different types of Ludowici tiles.
Christine Holmes/ Black&Magenta A stack of Ludowici tiles sits outside of the new library construction site.
Kathryn Kellar/ Black&Magenta Mounds of clay that will later be crushed down into a dust-like substance.
Lifestyle & Culture Page 5
Kandee Ferrell, Special Sections & Opinion Editor
“Divergent” film shows bravery
Kathryn Kellar Editor-in-Chief
The film “Divergent” showcases well-known actors that includes Shailene Woodley (“The Secret Life of the American Teenager”), Ashley Judd (“Kiss The Girls”) and Miles Teller (“The Spectacular Now”). “Divergent” follows a dystopian world set in Chicago. The world is separated into different factions based on key characteristic traits. Factions are different communities that individuals in “Divergent” have to choose to be a part of. Beatrice Prior is from selfless abnegation when it comes time for her to take her aptitude test. She then must bravely decide if she would stick in her home faction or choose change. By choosing change Beatrice would have to leave her family and start fresh. The main factions that the story follow in “Divergent” are Dauntless, Abnegation and Erudite. Dauntless is the faction that focuses
mainly on being brave. The Abnega- was a much better experience. I was tion faction focuses on the idea of self- able to pay better attention to the good lessness. Finally, Erudite is based off acting, vivid imagery, and perfect film of the idea that soundtrack. learning comes If you are above all else. the type of perAfter having son that enjoys read the book reading books “Divergent,” I for adaptations had certain exof movies bepectations for fore watchthe film adaping the film, tion. When I I would ensaw the film courage you to “Divergent” for watch the film Movie Divergent the first time first. I was not sure Mainly beof how to feel. cause there Reviewer K. Kellar There was one are certain desmall detail that tails that are they changed different, and Rating for the film that you will better wasn’t in the appreciate the book. For some film and book Lindsey Grafe/Black&Magenta reason it bothif you watch ered me that a secondary character, the film first. Eric, acted out of character in the film. When I read a book first I typicalWatching the film a second time ly have high expectations for the film
Spoiler Alert!
adaptions. In most instances I expect that the film very closely follows the book. For “Divergent” the film mostly follows Veronica Roth’s book. Shailene Woodley’s acting is in my opinion pretty near flawless. Theo James (Tris’s love interest) does a great job of portraying hard jawed Four, who is also very insecure. Woodley and James have chemistry that can also be visibly seen in interviews that they have done for the film. In this instance watching the film again was helpful. If after watching “Divergent” for the first time you don’t like it I would recommend seeing it again. Overall, I rate this film as flawless.
Check out Kathryn Kellar’s review of the next installment in the “Divergent” Series later this semester.
International perspective on top Netflix movies Yuanna Liu Columnist
Lindsey Grafe/Black&Magenta
No. 1 Hachiko: A Dog’s Story I am sure this is the most touching American movie you have ever watched. It is a story about the relationship between a Japanese dog and an American professor. It is based on a true story. No. 2 Lust, Caution If you are looking for a movie with erotica, this is the perfect one for you. It is an erotic movie beyond eroticism. It is directed by a world famous director, Ang Lee. In China, this movie was not allowed to play. No. 3 Schindler’s List It is said that it is a movie everyone should watch. If you are still unsatisfied with things around you, then you should see this horrifying movie about the Jewish Holocaust during World War II. No. 4 Three Idiots If you use idiot in the title to describe this movie, you are wrong. It is a famous, inspiring Indian movie demonstrating appropriate education, sincere friendship, and love. No. 5 The Pearl Harbor Set in World War II, the sharp contrasting scene before and after the attack on Pearl Harbor strikes our eyes as
two heroes in this movie represent two different style of men and love. At the same time, this movie shows us how decisive president Roosevelt was. No. 6 Rob-B-Hood The hero in this movie is exactly that super cute ten-month-old baby! It is said that among ten thousand babies from all over the world, the director selected an Australian boy he met in a subway. No. 7 Cape If you are interested in international love, the ocean, and music, this is a good choice for you. It is a movie with an old story in it, full of letters and beautiful words. No. 8 Roman Holiday We could totally see Hepburn’ s elegance, nobility, as well as cuteness and innocence in this movie. I always consider it is one of the movies couples will like from different ages. No. 9 Spirited Away If you love cartoons, I am sure you will love this movie created by the most famous Japanese cartoonist, Miyazaki Hayao. His movie is not only for children, but also for adults. No. 10 Perfume: The Story of a Murderer A man born with a bad odor chooses to die with the purest fragrance of perfume made of 12 dead maids.
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Opinion
Kandee Ferrell, Special Sections & Opinion Editor
I’m in the ‘awkward in-between’
As a senior, I feel that I have had every college experience that I could have ever wanted. I joined a sorority, got super involved, Kathryn Kellar went white Editor-in-Chief water rafting, zip lining, and found my passion. Trust me when I say that there are many more things that I have done that have helped to check everything off of my college bucket list. I feel that there is nothing in my college career that I have missed. I have been busy my entire college career with very little time to just breathe. My life here has consisted of running from one thing to another with nothing in-between. Yet, here I am a second semester college senior with
my entire major and minor courses finished. I now have more free time than I currently know what to do. This has given me an extreme case of the awkward ‘pre-career/post-college’ mindset. If you are a senior you know what I mean. If not, it means that you are not in your ‘post-college mindset.’ The ‘post-career mindset’ is when you dream of your future career while still in college. This is an unfortunate thing to endure. I find myself dreaming of having my own place and living in a new city, getting a fresh start. I can’t wait! I feel stir crazy like I am already an outdated model who doesn’t fit into the college puzzle anymore. Some may call it senioritis, which is also a very real sickness. I call it the ‘awkward in -between.’ I am trapped uncomfortably between my dream job and a school that I feel I have outgrown. It’s like I have these growing pains and there is nothing that I can do.
Let me tell you a secret...I’m scared. I am honest-to-goodness scared. Scared for the life that I could live. Afraid of stepping into a new unknown world. I try to wrap my head around the idea that in less than six months I have no idea where I will live, what I will do or even who I will know. Six months from now is unknown. Our entire lives revolve around a plan. After high school was college and now what is after college? I have no idea, absolutely none. Don’t get me wrong, I am so beyond excited. It’s like college is teasing me now. I do not have nearly enough time to do what I plan on spending the rest of my life doing. But I am so close to it. I can almost feel it within my fingertips. I get excited thinking about how I will soon get my own place and have the ability to decorate rooms any way that I want. I get nerdy about organization and decorating ideas in general. I get excited about being able to do what I love and get paid. There are lit-
tle things that I get excited about with this hazy potential future that may or may not occur. At most moments in this semester I find myself ready to graduate and move on. Yet, in other random moments I find myself afraid of the unknown and the possibility of failure. It seems weird to me that something that is not physically tangible can so easily instill fear within me. Yet it does. So here I am in early February, stuck in the awkward in-between. I am in-between fear and excitement. I am in-between moving on and staying here. I am in-between college and career. While I am stuck in the uncertainty I have to keep my head above water. As Dory from “Finding Nemo” would say, “Just keep swimming.” I will “just keep swimming” until I am fully above water. One day in the near future I will be outside of my box, with the awkward in-between far behind me. Nothing can stop me from getting there now. The ball is already rolling.
Senior year as told by Kandee: Just keep reading, reading, reading I am a journalist. I have passion for the one thing that I don’t have control over. If no one reads this article then it doesn’t matter that I wrote it. Kandee Ferrell I’m the Special Sections/ tree that falls Opinion Editor in the forest. If no one is around, well it doesn’t really matter whether I made a sound or not. It doesn’t matter that I love journalism. It doesn’t matter if I care about the things I write, because if no one else cares, I lose. But I do care, I care so much. I actually try. I try hard. I sit down each week and attempt to put something on paper that other people will think is worthy of the ink. I have the responsibility of capturing something true and communicating it to the world in a way that keeps college students opening a paper, which we all know is dying. The paper is dying. I’m terrified that I’ll be one of the few guests at its funeral. So, this is my request, if you’ve opened this paper, tell someone else to open it too. Please, for me, for all the other writers like me who actually care, tell your friends to put down their
Letters to the Editor The Black & Magenta staff encourages Letters to the Editor. All letters must include contact information and a name to be considered for publication. Letters will not be published anonymously. Letters must be 200 words or fewer to be considered. The staff reserves the right to edit for style, grammar and space. We will not publish any letter that we consider potentially libelous. If you have questions or would like to Christine Holmes/Photo Submission cell phones and open this paper. We are still here. We are dying a slow and painful death, but we are still here. We are working day in and day out just to make a paper, so when I see papers untouched, it causes me physical pain. To know that Christine Holmes didn’t eat so the paper would be here, that Katie Kellar checked the pages once, twice, three times, and then
again, it’s depressing. No one cares. No one. We have the one job where it doesn’t matter if we’re good. It doesn’t matter if we care. It doesn’t matter if we don’t sleep. It doesn’t matter if we cry. It only matters if people read it. So read. Read the paper. Someone you don’t know or care about made this paper. They worked so hard, and they’re counting on you. I’m counting on you.
see how The Black & Magenta is put together, please e-mail bandm@ muskingum.edu. This is a student publication. Opinions expressed in the editorials, columns are those of their authors and do not necessarily represent the opinions of The Black & Magenta or Muskingum University.
Chris Morgan, Sports Editor
Sports
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Defending OAC champs gear up for season
Muskie softball team begins winter practices with early eye on repeat Chris Morgan Sports Editor The weather outside might be frigid, but that isn’t stopping the Muskingum University Softball team from preparing to defend their 2014 OAC title with winter-ball practices. Winter-ball practices generally run about two hours long according to Muskingum University Softball Coach Kari Winters. The team usually practices every evening except for Sunday. The players get 24 hours off each week per NCAA regulations. Practices usually consist of a combination of conditioning, skill work, and overall mental preparation for the upcoming season.
“That’s really the big thing we teach the girls, to be able to mentally handle everything that we throw at them,” said Winters. The NCAA permits full practice routines during winter-ball, which gives Winters the ability to work on just about everything with her team. “It’s pretty nice,” said Winters. So far the practices have been mostly confined to the indoors due to the cold temperatures, but the team is still practicing nevertheless. “That’s kind of just the struggle of our winter-ball being in Ohio,” said Winters. Normally the players would conduct winter practices on the football turf at McConagha Stadium, but the recent snow has kept the team inside.
The team also cannot practice outside if the temperature is below freezing. This is because of the use of bats. If the bats are used in frigid temperatures, they are susceptible to breaking and possibly harming a player. The team does have indoor facilities available with a batting room set up on the second floor of John Glenn Gym. The team also has a roll-out batting cage stationed in the weight room at the bottom of the Rec Center. Winters and the team did lose last year’s lead-off hitter, Kayley Bevard, but still have eight starters returning this season. With the addition of new Graduate Assistant Victoria Rumph, Winters has no doubt the team will succeed with
the bats this year. “Rumph is a phenomenal hitting coach,” said Winters, “there’s not really a doubt in my mind that we’ll be offensively strong this year.” As the defending OAC Champions, things are a little different for the team this year. Repeating can be a difficult task, but Winters has a strong message to help the team reach their goals. “The big thing I keep telling the girls is to not be satisfied with one OAC Conference and tournament championship and always be hungry for that back-to-back feeling,” said Winters. The ladies will begin their quest to repeat as OAC champs with a weeklong trip to Florida March 8 to compete in the Rebel Spring Games.
Captain’s Quarters Wrestling falls to Yellow Jackets Super Bowl delivers a great game
Chris Morgan Sports Editor Let’s just say, first off, that was probably the best finish to a Super Bowl since the Giants defeated the Patriots in 2007. Second, What a game! In what a lot of analysts deemed as the most evenly matched Super Bowl in recent memory, the Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots delivered. Neither team could establish any kind of control in the first quarter and it showed when the score was tied at zero going into the second. The second quarter offered a bit more action starting with the Tom Brady-Brandon LaFell connection that put the Pats up 7-0. Seattle naturally answered and the teams went back and forth putting up one more score each before the half-
time break tied at 14. The Seahawks took control in the second half building a 10 point lead 24-14 going into the fourth quarter. Let’s be honest, did anyone really see that fourth quarter coming? The Patriots used a nine play, 68 yard touchdown drive to start the quarter and cut the deficit to only three 2421. Then the Pats followed that up with a 10 play, 64 yard scoring drive to take the lead 28-24. That being said, the final drive of the game was a masterpiece by the Seahawks until the very end. Aided mostly by the juggling Jermaine Kearse reception inside the five yard line the Seahawks looked to score to win the game. Marshawn Lynch tried desperately to get into the end zone on first down, and then came the interception. With the Malcolm Butler grab the Patriots secured their fourth Super Bowl title under the duo of Belichick and Brady. Say what you want about the way the game ended, but to me, it was a wonderful game.
Go to blackandmagentaonline. com for a deeper look inside the game with more in-depth analysis, plus get Chris’s thoughts and favorite memories from watching the game.
Bluhm gets lone win for Muskies with major decision
Brenna Busby/Black&Magenta Ben Barnhart-Sullivan sizes up his opponent in the meet vs. Baldwin Wallace. Chris Morgan Sports Editor The Muskingum University Wrestling team fell to OAC rival and 15th ranked Baldwin Wallace on Jan. 27 in their home opener at the Rec. Center. The lone win for the Muskies came in the 184 pound weight class with senior Malachi Bluhm securing a 15-6 major decision over Baldwin Wallace’s Gabe Mahaney. The dual meet began with the Muskies surrendering three forfeits at the 125, 133, and 141 pound weight classes. At 149, sophomore Ben Barnhardt-Sullivan suffered a loss by fall with about 30 seconds left in the second period. At 157 the Muskies suffered another loss as Jordan Kaeck fell by major
decision 20-4 to Grant Rathburn of the Yellow Jackets. The next match was a bit closer as first-year Mac Swackhammer dropped a hard-fought decision 5-0 at 165 pounds. Caleb Cox then suffered a fall to Grant Montague just over a minute into the match. Then came Bluhm’s win at 184. The next two weight classes featured pins by Baldwin Wallace with Tyler Maclellan sticking Zach Mullet at the 5:44 mark. Then Joe Belford pinned Grayson Miller with 24 seconds left in the second period. The Muskies have failed to get a team win on the year and now sit at 0-7 as a team with the NCAA Mideast Regional Tournament coming up on Feb. 28.
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Sports
Chris Morgan, Sports Editor
Lady Muskies get big OAC win
Win vs. rival Marietta puts Muskies one game out of OAC Tournament Brenna Busby Orbit Media Reporter The Muskies broke a 10 game losing streak after proving victorious over the Marietta Pioneers on Wednesday Jan. 28 in the Rec Center. Their last triumph was on Dec. 6, 2014 at home against Heidelberg. The score of the game was 76 for the Muskies and Pioneers had earned a total of 61. This Muskie win left them one spot away from the OAC Tournament. This game was also their “Shoot for the Cure” breast cancer awareness game, complete with both teams warming up in pink t-shirts. The shirts were also available for sale at the game, as well as the previous week in the Bottom of the Center. Starter Taylor Maurer scored 17 points for the Muskies and was the leading scorer for the game. Right behind Maurer was Jasmine Goings who earned 15 points on the night. Both Maurer and Goings improved
Brenna Busby/Black&Magenta Angela Darnley absorbs contact from Marietta’s Ashley Frasure drawing a foul.
The 11 Pioneer turnovers in the first half eventually gave the Muskies an advantage. The Muskies gained a 12 point lead over the Pioneers as the buzzer sounded to end the first half. The Muskies led 41-29 going into the second half. The second half showed the Muskies fighting to keep their lead. Every time the Muskies scored, the Pioneers responded with a score of their own and vice versa. Most of the second half of the game continued on like that. However, the Muskies gradually pulled away, never allowing the Pioneers to take the lead. Both the Pioneers and the Muskies were at the double-digit range for rebounds. The Muskies grabbed 33 rebounds over the course of the night while the pioneers snagged 28 during the game. After their first win in 10 games, the Muskies improved to a 4-14 record and the Pioneers left New Concord with a record of 7-11.
on their point value from the previous game against Baldwin Wallace. Maurer scored nine points that night and Goings had only scored seven points for the Muskies. The foremost scorer of the Pioneers was Morgan Liedtke. Liedtke scored
14 points total for the night. During the first half of the game the score teetered back and forth. The teams fought to gain and keep momentum. Neither the Pioneers nor the Muskies managed to gain a gaping lead.
began to play smarter, as stated by Ford. “I thought it was a collected team,” said Ford. The Muskies opened up the lead to as many as 18 points as the clock ticked down to zero to end the game. The Muskies shot 48 percent from the field and held the Cardinals to just 38 percent. The men also shot well from the three point line shooting just over 41 percent from the arc. Otterbein only shot 18 percent from three point land in the contest. The Muskies also benefited from a big performance from starting center Cody Seiler. Seiler finished the game just three points shy of Kimble’s 17, scoring 14 of his own off 6-11 shooting from the field. Seiler also led the team in rebounds with five. The Cardinals were led offensively by Matt Hughes who put up 12 points to pace the Otterbein attack. Hughes also collected six rebounds. With less than 10 games remaining in the 2015 campaign, the Muskies sit in the final spot for the OAC Tournament looking to hold on and continue their season.
Christine Holmes/Black&Magenta Break time at the game. Senior forward Logan Kimble takes a breather in the stands in the game against Otterbein on Jan. 30. Kimble ranks third in the OAC in scoring with an average of 14.5 points per game this season.
Men’s Basketball downs Otterbein, earns key OAC victory Ashley Adams Orbit Media Reporter The men’s basketball team came out on top in a thrilling 70-54 win over Otterbein on Jan. 30. It was a big OAC win for the team, according to Logan Kimble, a senior forward. Kimble led the team in scoring with 17 total points. “It was a must-win,” said Head Coach Gene Ford. “If we don’t win this, our chances to get into the tournament are slim to none.” The score was close throughout the majority of the game, especially in the first half. The Muskies and the Cardinals went back and forth throughout the entire first half, with the Muskies fighting their way to a one point halftime lead, 37-36. Coming out of the locker room the Muskies started off the second half by surrending a 5-2 run to Otterbein which led the Cardinals to open up their largest lead of the game 42-38. The Muskies then took control going on a 20-5 run over the next eight minutes to open up an 11 point lead 58-47. Within the last 10 minutes, the team