Volume 120 Issue 19 Friday, February 19, 2016
OrbitMediaOnline.com
French professor says “au revoir” to Muskingum Tyler Olinger & Kayla Rausch Orbit Media Reporters
Lindsey Kreamer/ Black & Magenta Jean Morris, Associate Professor of French at Muskingum University will retire from her positions at the University after two decades at the end of the academic year. Morris is currently also the advisor to the French Club on campus.
After more than two decades of sharing her passion for the French culture with generations of Muskies, Jean Morris, Associate Professor of French, celebrated her last Mardi Gras with her students at Muskingum University. Morris will retire at the end of the 2015-2016 school year. “It’s hard for me to believe that this [Mardi Gras] will be the last one,” said Morris. In 1994, Morris arrived at Muskingum University to teach French, and became the advisor of French Club. When she first got to the college, Muskingum did not have a steady exchange relationship with any universities located in France. After sending letters to a number of French universities, looking for an exchange partner, the
University of Toulon, in southern France, said they were interested in a partnership. Morris went to France and saw Toulon’s campus and a representative from University of Toulon came to Muskingum. By 1998, the two schools started their program and had students traveling back and forth. “It’s been going strong every year since then,” said Morris. Morris teaches French classes ranging from Beginning French I all the way to Senior Seminar. As advisor to the French Club, she has helped shape the club by doing a number of activities including service projects and celebrations. She has brought French culture to local New Concord. Morris is feeling mixed emotions concerning her upcoming retirement from Muskingum. “I’m kind of sad, especially when I am around students and I am thinking ‘Oh well this isn’t go-
ing to be part of my life anymore,’” said Morris. “It won’t be the same as being at Muskingum and getting to know people because you are working with them.” Despite her sadness, Morris is looking forward to being able to go on new adventures. “I will have more time to spend with my family who live out of state,” said Morris. “So I think about that when I feel bad about retiring from Muskingum.” French Club President, Katlyn Miller, has worked closely with Morris during her time with the French Club. “I’m not going to lie, it breaks my heart a little bit,” said Miller. “We have a close relationship advisor-student wise, she’s one of those advisors [that] I can go to for anything.” Muskingum accepted applications for a Visiting Assistant Professor of French until Feb. 15.
laborate and work together on different projects and assignments. “This is our center,” said White. “I think that [it] helps with the collaboration.” The offices and classrooms all have a lot of natural light from the large windows and high ceilings. According to White, it creates a very open and inviting environment for students. In addition to the classrooms, there are a number of comfortable nooks and quiet spaces that allow students to study as well as socialize in the building. “We want to support learning in [as] many ways that we can and now the environment is really conducive to learning,” said White. White said that after talking
with a number of students from different majors they have shared their enthusiasm for the new environment as well. The new location also has a lot of new technology and resources that are now available for the Education Department that were not accessible in Montgomery Hall. In the classrooms some of the technology includes LCD projectors, SMART Podiums, and monitor screens that allow for the students to share their information for everyone to see when working together in a group setting. White said that the new facility is something that the department appreciates having because of all that it now allows them to do. “We feel very just fortunate to
have this new facility [for the department],” said White. White feels that with the Education Department now located in the Library it will help with recruitment to the school for future education candidates. “It will definitely be a benefit... the commitment that Muskingum University has made to the future, and providing this amazing space,” said White. The Education Department and White look forward to spending many more years in the Roberta A. Smith Library. She expects the new space to help current teachers and future teachers with their professional growth in their field during their time at Muskingum.
Future educators find new home in Roberta A. Smith Library Kristin Gill Orbit Media Reporter The Muskingum University Education Department has found a new home on the second floor in the Roberta A. Smith Library. The new location allows for more open spaces in the classrooms, new technology, and collaboration spaces for everyone to make use of. The Education Department recently moved from Montgomery Hall over the winter break and officially opened in January with the start of the spring semester. Rae White, Chair of the Education Department, enjoys the new space. White said that the move into the Library was very exciting for all the faculty and
staff. She calls their new space “just phenomenal.” Before the move, Education Department classes were located in a number of different buildings. Now, most of the classes are all grouped into one place. The physical move itself allowed for the department to clean out old materials that weren’t needed anymore. The department either recycled or donated the extra items. It also allowed the department to prioritize instructional materials according to White. The new space offers a number of new features for students, faculty, and staff. The Education Preparation Center allows all of the faculty members and the students to col-
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News & Opinion The Black & Magenta • Orbit Media
New Concord brings in change Student jumps ahead Brenna Busby Editor-in-Chief
Logan Weaver Orbit Media Reporter
New Concord Village Council voted to fill three positions for the Village and Bob Baier was sworn in as the newest addition to the New Concord Village Council at the February Council meeting. Two of the positions include an Administrative Assistant/Utility Billing Clerk and a Seasonal Water and Wastewater Plant Operator. The last position vote allowed the Mayor to appoint a full-time and part-time officer in the New Concord Police Department. The New Administrative Assistant/Utility Billing Clerk, Joy Johnson, is expected to begin in her new position Feb. 22. Among her numerous duties she will be handling the billing for the waste and wastewater plants in New Concord. Johnson will also act as an administrative assistant to New Concord Village Administrator, Charlotte Colley, New Concord Police Chief, Trevor Hayes, New Concord Fiscal Officer, Lynn Marlatt, and the New Concord Income Tax Department. “She will generally help out with various different projects and things that happen around here,” said Colley. Johnson is from New Concord and was narrowed down from the 80 applicants that applied for the position. There were 14 people
For many young students, a typical day might consist of riding the school bus, doing homework, or playing video games. But for Thane Johnson, a day of studying environmental geology and regional geography at Muskingum University is his normal schedule. “When I was picking out classes [for the 2015 fall semester], the process my mind was going through was ‘Geohazards…that sounds interesting. I’m just going to pick that,’” said Johnson. “Then suddenly, I just loved geology. I had no idea what I was getting into.” Johnson is currently in his second semester of attending classes at Muskingum. “It’s a nice, small campus,” said Johnson. “It’s not like you have to walk long distances anywhere and it’s not too far from my home. It’s just so amazing.” About two years ago, Johnson
Editorial Staff
Editor-in-Chief Brenna Busby Assignment Editor Christine Holmes A&E Editor Lindsey Kreamer Sports Editor Chris Morgan Copy Editor Kayla Rausch Circulation Manager Aaron Eno Faculty Advisor Lisa Marshall Orbit Media Newsroom (740) 826-8379
Christine Holmes/ Black & Magenta Village Solicitor, Scott Eickelberger (left), swears in new Village Council member, Bob Baier, (right) at the Council meeting Feb. 8. that were called about the position The seasonal position that and only six that were brought in Council voted on was to tempoto be interviewed. rarily replace an employee that is “It was a pretty big task to get expected to be out of work at the through,” said Colley. “We had so plant for 12 weeks due to a nonmany really great applicants that work related injury. it was a great problem [to have].” Colley said that the spot had to In the absence of the former be filled due to a certain number Administrative Assistant/Utility of hours that a plant operator must Billing Clerk, Colley said that ev- be at the plant per day. eryone in Village Hall pitched in “This seasonal position is goto help with the extra workload. ing to fill in for him while he is However, Colley cites that gone so that we have the approthe lack of manpower is one of priate amount of coverage at our the reasons that the 2015 annual water and wastewater plants,” report at Village Council will be said Colley. moved from March to April. Also, a part-time officer was “We are just so far behind that moved to a full-time position there is no way to get it done on leaving a part-time position open. time,” said Colley. Someone from the auxiliary ranks will move up the ladder into Follow Orbit Media a part-time position with the New News Twitter @Orbit907News Sports Twitter @Orbit907Sports Concord Police Department. These new positions were votMusic Twitter @Orbit907Music Facebook Facebook.com/Orbit907News ed on at the Village Council meetYouTube OrbitMediaTV ing on Feb. 8 in Village Hall. Instagram @Orbit907 The next Village Council MeetPeriscope @Orbit907News ing will be on Monday, March 8. SoundCloud SoundCloud.com/Orbit907
Muskingum Crime Log February 8 - University Police checked on the welfare of a student in Kelley Hall. The student was deemed OK. February 10 - The EMS was needed at Thomas Hall. February 12 - The EMS was needed at the Student Faculty Center. - The EMs was needed at Kelley Hall for an injured student. February 13 - A traffic stop was made. A citation was issued for a suspended license.
Christine Holmes/ Black & Magenta Thane Johnson is a current student at Muskingum University. and his family moved to Ohio from Delaware. Shortly after the move, his mother noticed a difference between her son’s old school and his new one. “Thane was very frustrated in the public school, he was bored in the classroom here in Ohio,” said Carrie Johnson. Carrie doesn’t think that her son is recieving any special treatment from the people around him. “He is treated just as any other college student on campus. I don’t think the professors have ever talked on him on a personal basis and said ‘wow, that’s great that you’re going to college at the age of 12,’” said Carrie Johnson. Thane is in the seventh grade, taking classes through the Buckeye Online School of Success. Thane’s plan is to graduate from high school in 2021, while at the same time he plans graduate from Muskingum with his bachelor’s degree. Thane hopes to earn his doctorate by age 25.
Arts & Entertainment The Black & Magenta • Orbit Media
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tr Cinema Cen Aaron Eno Orbit Media Reporter
There was a lot to celebrate in the last few weekends in the media and entertainment realms. Whether you were a fan of who won Super Bowl 50 or not, we all really win with the plethora of commercials that debuted. The movie promo for Jason Bourne was my favorite, and my pick of best commercial goes to Death Wish Coffee simply because I actually bought some of their product after seeing the spot. Whether you spent the weekend alone or with friends or a special someone, Valentine’s Day weekend still happened. One thing is for sure though, “Deadpool” decapitated its competition with a huge open. “Deadpool” made nearly nine times more than “Zoolander 2” over the weekend. The film has also made nearly two and a half times its production budget, this makes the movie one of the biggest successes for an R-rated film. With more big hits yet to come this year, moviegoers shouldn’t come away disappointed.
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Greeks show pride to LGBTQIA+ community Kate Meddings Orbit Media Reporter The Greek community and Equality Alliance have worked together to create a Greek Pride Week at Muskingum University from Feb 8-12. “The Greek community wants to support our own LGBTQIA+ [lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning, intersex, and asexual] members as well as members of the LGBTQIA+ community who want to consider Greek Life,” said Greek Life member Elizabeth Hartman. Hartman brought up the idea of the Greek Pride Week first to Stacey Allan, Director of Greek
Affairs, and then also members of Equality Alliance. “When I talked to other advisors at other universities, their Greek community does not embrace the LGBTQIA+ students that are on their campus,” said Allan. “After talking with LGBTQIA+ students who are also Greek on our campus, they don’t have those feelings, they feel like they are fully embraced and loved within the Greek community.” The Greeks showed their acceptance of the LGBTQIA+ community with a number activities and informational meetings throughout the week. Each day there was a planned activity or way to get involved.
Starting on Monday Feb. 8, students could find the “Pride Member of the Day” by looking at the GoGreekMU Facebook page for a member of the LGBTQIA+ community recognized for their contributions to the Greek Community. Feb. 8, Greek organizations also participated in a banner-making contest to show their pride that were displayed outside of Allan’s office. The FAD club took first place in this event. Feb. 9, for students to show support, they could stop by the BOC between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Awareness ribbons were handed out at that time, and students had the opportunity to pledge to take a stand to end bullying and
violence against members of the LGBTQIA+ community. Wednesday, Feb. 10, the Greek organizations hosted a leadership session in the Large Auditorium of Boyd Science Center. Equality Alliance spoke about what it means to be transgender and be accepted by a place within the Greek Community. Feb 11, the Greeks could wear their favorite Greek letter shirt and join together for an all Greek Pride picture on the steps of John Glenn Gym at 11:30 a.m. The week wrapped up Feb. 12 with a table in the BOC for a list of Safe Spaces that have been self-identified by faculty and staff that students could stop and visit.
picture of somebody, and your job is to put a sticker on them without them knowing,” said Roberts. “They have then been ‘killed’ and you absorb their target and try and get that person.” Each individual player will only be looking for one other individual person instead of a free for all. Roberts said the new game has fewer boundaries allowing for indoor and outdoor play, which he said works better due to the spring semester often bringing colder weather and less people out. “Private” areas are considered out of play, such as bathrooms , dorm rooms, and classes. “We’ve kind of been playing around with the idea of doing something different in the spring semester for a while now [to replace HVZ],” said Roberts. Sticker Assassins was the game that received the most votes among the club members. “I think it’s going to be a little
more competitive because you’ve got people who are more focused on kind of subtle manipulation,” said Roberts. The game will go on until there is only one person remaining.
The winner will be crowned the “Master Assassin” of the Sticker Assassins and is awarded with a prize that will be presented by the Game club. The game begins this week.
Sticker Assassins hit Muskingum’s campus Anna Kramig Orbit Media Reporter
Muskingum University Game Club is introducing a new campus wide game this semester known as Sticker Assassins. This game will be replacing the Humans versus Zombies (HVZ) game that is usually played on campus. In previous semesters, Muskingum University students could be seen running around campus engaged in a modified game of tag known as HVZ in which marshmallows and rolled up socks were used to tag another person. According to Muskingum University Game Club President, Brad Roberts, in Sticker Assassins, the idea is similar to HVZ, but less intrusive. Instead of socks and marshmallows, players are armed with stickers to place on their targets throughout the week. “The way it works is that at the beginning of the game you’ll get a
Ah, byWilderness! Eugene O’Neill Directed by James Bohr
Performed in the Sandra Wolfe Thompson Theatre, Caldwell Hall
Thursday, Feb. 25 Friday, Feb. 26 Saturday, Feb. 27 Sunday, Feb. 28
8 p.m. 8 p.m. 8 p.m. 2 p.m.
General admissions is $5. Students, faculty, and staff are admitted free with a valid University ID.
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SPORTS
The Black & Magenta • Orbit Media
Mens Lacrosse prepares for upcoming season Alicia Moore Orbit Media Reporter
The mens lacrosse team has already begun their preparation for the start of their second official season at Muskingum University. “The guys are really coming out and competing every day,” said Nick Gallagher, Head Mens Lacrosse Coach. There has been a big period of growth leading to this season since their formation last year. According to Gallagher, the players have gotten more comfortable with their positions and have returned with new leadership and new goals. “We are practicing really hard
and have made great strides from last year to this year,” said Adam Piciacchia, Muskingum University defenseman. “Our biggest strength has been our strong work ethic and ability to build to team chemistry. Our most glaring weakness is our lack of numbers and our inexperienced youth.” One of the strengths Gallagher mentioned was Phillip Dappen, the goalie for this season. According to Gallagher, Dappen played as a goalie last season, but has really stepped up this year with the loss of senior Taylor Masterson to shoulder injuries. “Dappen is going to be a mainstay for us for the next three years in the goal,” said Gallagher.
Though the team is down to only one goalie, Dappen eased Gallaghers nerves after he played in the fall scrimmages. This year, the team had adopted the phrase “CAS,” standing for conditioning, attitude, and skill. According to Gallagher, the idea behind the saying is if the team is better conditioned, if they keep their attitude up, and if they improve their skill level they will be more successful overall in the 2016 season. “I think the CAS sets a good standard for our team and gives us something to strive for. It helps us to stay motivated and withstand any adversity that we as a team may encounter,” said Piciacchia.
The team has many goals for the season, including getting their first Ohio Athletic Conference win, ending at .500 or above as a group, and being successful every
people can get together no matter the nationality, no matter where you’re from,” said Meehan. Quenan Martin, Spanish International Student, is one of many students who played alongside Meehan in the games. “This event helps you by making friends and learning about other cultures [at Muskingum] because we have Spanish, Columbian, Chinese, [and] Americans [playing],” said Martin. Regardless if one plays soccer or not, Martin said students can come and talk to people, and make friends while learning about other cultures present at Muskingum. As an international student himself, Martin said international students sometimes have a problem connecting to the American student population because of shyness and the differences in their cultures. “Coming to this event, I feel like we connect international students with American students and
that’s always good, they feel like they are at home,” said Martin. Muskingum students played game after game competing and connecting with their fellow Muskies during the night. Each match was met with support and sportsmanship from the players to the spectators. Even Muskie soccer players got involved in the action, such as womens soccer sophomore Stephanie Siwicki playing in some of the matches. Both Meehan and Martin enjoyed the personal level of appreciation they got from the game which made the night so successful and fun for the students as well as the importance that soccer plays in bonding students together. “No matter where you’re from, you’re going to love soccer, and that’s what is great about the game,” said Meehan. International Soccer Night provided students a place to share that love for the game.
Zach Vinski Orbit Media Reporter
International students host indoor soccer night Steven Sable Orbit Media Reporter
International Soccer Night united students from various countries with a common interest in playing soccer. John Glenn Gym hosted matches between teams consisting of a mix of American and international students on Friday, Feb. 12. International Soccer Night let students of all different backgrounds get to know their fellow Muskies through soccer. The event added to the events that the international student community already puts on each year to help bring their cultures to Muskingum and bond with fellow students on campus. Antonio Meehan, Muskingum University junior, is one of many students who got to meet a number of his friends through the event Feb. 12. “My favorite part of the international soccer night is all these
time they are on the field, whether that ends in a win or not. The men will be in action starting Feb. 29 at home against Alma at 4 p.m. to kick off their season.
Black & Magenta Archive The Muskie Mens Lacrosse team starts their season Feb. 29 vs. Alma.
Muskie Indoor Track continues season Muskingum University’s Indoor Track and Field team had success competiting in the Bob Shannon Invitational Feb. 6 hosted by Denison University. The mens team finished fourth out of the 10 teams that participated in the meet. “Bob Shannon has been a good meet for us the last couple years,” said Jacob Gleason, Indoor Track and Field Head Coach. Junior Chris Lardie helped the men out with a first place finish in the triple jump. First Year Casey Phillips also had a good day with a second place finish in the 60-meter hurdles. The womens team also had some standout individual performances even though they placed sixth in the 10 team field. Hailey Ferguson took first place in the 400-meter dash. Julie Fobes and Kimberly Tay-
lor had second place finishes in the 3000-meter run and high jump respectively on the day. “We’re starting to show a little bit more of who we really are [as a team] and are making some progress,” said Gleason. Darrell Briggs competed in the All-Ohio Multi Championships Feb. 6-7 at Denison. Briggs took part in a heptathlon that included seven different events and placed second in the six-man field. “I’m really impressed with how he [Briggs] handled himself,” said Gleason. Briggs competed in a decathlon last year during Outdoor Track and Field season but this was his first heptathlon. As the team continues to compete this season, Briggs has a little time left to better himself before his next multi event coming after the conference championships Feb. 26-27 that will be hosted at Marrietta College.