(Web Edition) Vol. 119, Issue 20 March 6, 2015
Kathryn Kellar, Editor-in-Chief
The Black & Magenta
Muskingum says goodbye to beloved professor Christine Holmes News & Managing Editor Muskingum University lost a professor, director, and mentor when Visiting Assistant Professor of Theatre, John Kuhn died suddenly on Feb. 28. Kuhn was affiliated with the university since his first production at Muskingum, “La Ronde,” in 2000. He was hired full time in the Communication, Media, & Theatre Department for the 2014-2015 academic year after serving as a part-time faculty member and directing various productions. “We were looking forward to a continued affiliation with the [Kuhn and Muskingum] University,” said Chair of Communication, Media, & Theatre Department, Gene Alesandrini. For several theatre students, Kuhn changed their lives both on and off stage. “I’ve never met someone who inspired so many people and was so effective in getting people to just be swept up in this passion for theatre like he had,” said junior theatre student, John Webb. Webb was currently working on his fifth production under Kuhn’s direction. Webb said Kuhn was there for him in his hardest semester, believing in
“ C o m p a n y, ” him when Webb “Oedipus Rex,” couldn’t do it and most recenthimself. ly, “Words, Words, “I feel really Words!” blessed that I She was also got the chance part of the current to work with production Kuhn him and to meet was directing, “Bye him, and that Bye Birdie.” he was part of According to my life,” said Lauck, the proWebb. “Because duction will conI’ll carry him tinue. and the lessons “John would he taught me for be terribly disapthe rest of my pointed if it didn’t. life.” Ohio Theatre Alliance So the show goes Muskingum University As- John Kuhn gives feedback to young on,” said Lauck. sociate Profes- actors at Ohio Theatre Alliance North “One of the things that is sometimes sor of Com- Central Regional Auditions on Jan. 17. hard for people to munication & Theatre, Ron Lauck had worked with believe is that we’re not indispensable, Kuhn since Kuhn’s first production at and theatre especially proves that over and over again that the show will go Muskingum, “La Ronde.” “He’s always been the guy that’s on, with or without you.” Webb said when the cast met to dispicked up the slack in the department when someone was on sabbatical, cuss the future of the production on when were short an adjunct, he was al- March 2 there were feelings of intense ways there,” said Lauck. “He’s just a sadness mixed with anger and not unreal stalwart individual and always did derstanding in the room. He said rehearsals may get tough such a great job filling in.” Sophomore Olivia Brown partic- and they may feel like they won’t want ipated in five productions directed to go on, but they will for Kuhn. “John’s perseverance and John’s by Kuhn including “Almost Maine,”
spirit fills that theatre,” said Webb. “I think his spirit has touched all of us in a way that we’re going to go on because that is what he would want.” “Bye Bye Birdie” will open April 16 as scheduled under the direction of Alesandrini. According to Alesandrini, the production will be dedicated entirely to Kuhn. “I think that John was both a tremendous colleague and mentor,” said Assistant Professor of Music and Voice Area Coordinator, Olga Perez Flora. She worked alongside Kuhn as Music Director for “Company.” She and Kuhn also teamed up for the production of “Bye Bye Birdie.” “The best word that I can use to describe his educating style is gentle,” said Flora. “He was always open and willing to listen to all sides no matter what a student was dealing with and it was very admirable. I certainly feel that the students feel a great loss with his passing.” Lasater Funeral Homes in Mount Vernon handled Kuhn’s arrangements. According to his obituary, there was no funeral service, but a public “Celebration of Life” will be observed in Columbus in late spring. Counseling Services and Muskingum University Chaplain Will Mullins are available for students experiencing grief.
Gene Ford retires from coaching Chris Morgan Sports Editor
Muskingum University Mens Basketball Coach Gene Ford announced his retirement Monday, March 2. Ford is a 1974 graduate of Muskingum University and was the head coach for the Muskies for the last eight years. His retirement marked the end of a 39-year coaching career. “It’s the right time,” said Ford. “I’ve had [almost] 40 years of basketball and enjoyed every minute of it.” Ford believes that the timing was
T H E B L A C K & M A G E N TA
perfect for the school, stating that it gives Muskingum plenty of time to find the next head coach. Ford is a charter member of the Muskingum Athletic Hall of Fame, being inducted in 1980. Ford was a four-year letter winner for the Muskies in his time as a student-athlete, and was also an All-American honoree and three-time All-OAC selection. Ford also helped lead the Muskies to two Ohio Athletic Conference conference titles. Ford finished his playing career with 1,717 points, which still ranks second
all-time in Muskie history. Ford looks back on his coaching career with thankful eyes, stating the time he spent with players was the most important to him. “They get ahold of you and communicate with you from time to time and that just makes you feel good,” said Ford. Ford will not be involved with the search for his replacement, leaving the decision up to the administration, including Athletic Director Larry Shank. See FORD RETIRES, on Page 3
MAS:BSU Page 2 Choir Spring Tour Page 3 Baseball preview Page 4
Payton Patterson/Black & Magenta Gene Ford throws his hands up during a game on Jan. 14.
News
Page 2 Concert Choir Spring Break Tour Dates Friday, March 6 at 7:30 p.m. Epiphany Evangelical Lutheran Church Richmond, Va. Sunday, March 8, 11 a.m. worship service First Presbyterian Church Durham, N.C. Sunday, March 8 at 4 p.m. Chapel in Pines Presbyterian Church Chapel Hill, N.C. Monday, March 9 at 7:30 p.m. First Presbyterian Church of Asheville Asheville, N.C. Tuesday, March 10 at 7 p.m. St. Luke’s Lutheran Church Marietta, Ohio Monday, March 16 at 7:30 p.m. Muskingum University Brown Chapel New Concord, Ohio
Christine Holmes, News & Managing Editor
Choir hits the road for tour Sarah Liston Orbit Media Reporter The Muskingum University Concert Choir will be on the road on their annual tour, gracing various places with their itinerary before reaching the destination stops of Richmond, Va., Chapel Hill, N.C. and Asheville, N.C. The official date of the tour began on March 5, when the choir left the Muskingum campus, and will run through much of spring break, returning on March 10 and ending with a home concert on March 16. Two separate choirs will be performing the concert choir and the chamber singers. Both are directed by Assistant Professor of Music, Zeb Highben. The Concert Choir is made up of 48 voices, while the chamber singers are a group of 17 that have auditioned from within the Concert Choir. The performers come from many different backgrounds. “I would say probably about maybe [30 or 35] percent of our Concert Choir are music majors or music minors,” said Highben. “Everyone else participates in choir, maybe they take a half an hour of voice lessons a week, but they’re not necessarily music majors or music minors.” Both choirs have been rehearsing in preparation for the tour. Tour stops include concerts at churches and performances at schools including, Claymont High School, Indian Valley High School, South Elementary School in the Dover School
Sarah Liston/Black & Magenta The Muskingum University Concert Choir in rehearsal for spring tour. District all in Ohio, except for Chapel Hill High School in North Carolina. “They’ll sing folk songs and compositions from Germany, Argentina, Ireland, and Russia,” said Highben. “They’ve got some love songs that they’re singing, pieces that are in Gaelic and Latin and Spanish and German languages. Some pieces that are from really great poets like Sara Teasdale and Walt Whitman, and composers like Frank Ticheli and Abbie Betinis and Fanny Mendelssohn, who is the sister of Felix Mendelssohn.” The musical itinerary for the main tour has already had some performances in Columbus on Feb. 22, and Coshocton on March 5.
Muskingum and New Concord residents looking to attend a performance by the concert choir and chamber singers have a chance to see the program as well. The choir’s home concert will be on Monday, March 16 at 7:30 p.m., in Brown Chapel. “Anybody who wants to come support the choirs and hear what they took on the road, should come on Monday evening at 7:30, and hear their tour program,” said Highben. “That’ll be the last time they perform it before we put the wraps on the 2015 tour.” The March 16 performance will be the final time to attend a concert while the choir is on tour.
Students without roommates required to consolidate or pay Rachel Schlarb Orbit Media Reporter
Students living alone in a doubleroom at Muskingum University were charged with finding a roommate in the middle of the 2015 spring semester. There were 53 students who needed to find a roommate or pay out their room by Monday Feb. 23 and be moved into their new room by Friday Feb. 27. An email was sent out after winter break informing students living alone and paying for a double that they needed to find a new roommate. “Over winter break we housed a lot of transfers in half empty rooms and we continue to get transfers up through the first day of school,” said Director of Residence Life, Andi Kelley.
Students were required to either find a roommate or pay for the other half of the room. “[Students] are still only paying for one of the two spaces in the room, but are able to use the entire room,” said Kelley. “If we allow students to remain in that room alone, without paying for the other space in the room, we are not being equitable with students across campus.” If any student wanted to stay in their current dorm room, then they had the option to pay for the other half of the room. “It would cost $1,305 extra to buy out the room for one semester,” said Kelley. “Because of the timing in the semester, the cost is less, equaling about $800 for the remainder of the se-
mester.” In order to prevent students from having to move to an entirely new location on campus, Kelley helped any student stay in their current dorm building or even the same floor. “We try to keep people in the same building so that they don’t have to move far, and even in the same hall if possible,” said Kelley. “Then they don’t have to leave their community or building.” Moving is a very inconvenient task for busy students. “I was not happy about it,” said Muskingum University first year student Corlee Hall. “Last week was very stressful for me anyway and wondering if I had to move or not made it more stressful.”
Hall had been without a roommate since the end of the fall semester. Residence Life’s goal was to consolidate all rooms before spring break.
Rachel Schlarb/ Black & Magenta
Christine Holmes, News & Managing Editor
News
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Local author to preview debut novel at Muskingum Jie Yu Orbit Media Reporter Scott Navicky, the author of “Humboldt, or the power of positive thinking” will give an author talk on March 19 at Muskingum University. Navicky was born in Cambridge. He has dreamed of being a writer for a long time, since he was about eightyears-old. After he earned a masters degree in Art History at the University of Auckland. He later went to New York City and worked in an art gallery. Later, he began his career as a writer. “It took me years and years,” said Navicky. “Until the Humboldt was published, I figured out how to be a writer.” Along with writing Navicky also enjoys spending time reading fellow authors. William Shakespeare and James
Editorial Staff Editor-in-Chief: Kathryn Kellar
News & Managing Editor: Christine Holmes Special Sections Editor: Kandee Ferrell Sports Editor: Chris Morgan Opinion Editor: Kandee Ferrell Web Editor: Josey James Copy Editors: Erin Fetters and Lindsey Kreamer Circulation Manager: Nick Lambes Faculty Advisor: Lisa Marshall This is Volume 119, Issue 20 of The Black & Magenta. The Black & Magenta is published weekly except during school holidays. Contact (740) 8268189 or email bandm@muskingum.edu for subscription information.
all the aspects of Joyce became primaAmerican society, ry inspirations for his but I want to do a writing. humor.” Aside from reading, Positive thinking he is more willing to is the main point listen to music rather of sarcasm in the than watch movies or book. television. “Everyone is thinkNavicky’s inspiration of ing positively about his debut novel originated the issues that are from Candide’s optivery serious, ignoring mism philosophy. other elements that The main character are not issues,” said in Humboldt is a young Navicky. soybean farmer called Navicky wantHumboldt. ed to convey that It narrates how Humboldt transformed from Muskingum University Public communication is a poor Amish farmer Relations “being able to talk to people about sato murderer to CEO to prison inmate through a succession of tiric use, in a humorous and enjoyable unrealistic adventures. In the novel, fashion.” Over the past year, Navicky has givNavicky told the stories sarcastically. “There is a good quote from Horse, en some talks to promote his novel. In January 2014, he recorded a se‘Tell the truth laughingly,’” said Navicky. “I want to tell truth about ries of videos in New Orleans. FORD RETIRES, from Page 1 “I just wish the next coach the best,” said Ford. “Hopefully he can be successful.” The move came as no surprise to Shank, as Ford had communicated his plans with the athletic department before making his final decision. “It wasn’t a last minute decision,” said Shank. “It’s something Coach has thought about and I understand his decision.” Shank also said that he wasn’t expecting a decision so soon. “I didn’t think it would be this year,” said Shank. He also had high praise for Ford, being very appreciative of the work Ford has done at Muskingum. “Everything that was asked of him, he did,” said Shank. “He was very good with everyone in the department.” Shank also shares a personal friendship with Ford and has one final message for the departing coach. “I’m going to miss him,” said Shank. “He always had a very positive outlook on things.” The search for Ford’s successor is already underway according to Shank. He said the University will continue to accept applications for the position for the next couple of weeks, then the field would be narrowed to the top choices and the school will proceed from there.
In the videos, he was reading some sections of Humboldt in front of various local landmarks which appeared in the novel. Last February, when Navicky planned to publish the book, the greatest difficulty for him was to find a publisher. “The amount of people who read books are shrinking,” said Navicky. “[But] I still think you have connections with your readers. You may not get a huge quantity of readers, but you do have a good quality of readers.” Navicky also encouraged college students to cultivate their interests in writing. “It’s intimidating to really get into writing,” said Navicky. “The more [you] fight with words, the more [you] want to play with words.” At the Author Talk, Navicky will read some selections from “Humboldt, or the power of positive thinking” and share his own experience about writing and publishing.
Student Senate chooses MAS:BSU as February organization of month Maria Conforte Orbit Media Reporter The Multicultural Association of Students: Black Student Union (MAS:BSU) was nominated for organization of the month for February 2015 by Muskingum University’s Student Senate. This organization promotes cultural, social and political awareness throughout Muskingum University. The organization unites the community of multicultural students, and develops educational, special interest, and social programs that promote awareness to the greater community and fosters change in hopes to further the cause of equality. “It is an organization for everybody, but it is mainly for people with different types of cultures and status,” said the President of MAS:BSU, Khalid Muhammad. “[Being nominated] was a great feeling, especially because MAS:BSU never had that type of honor, so when we found out that it was us it was really great, because we work[ed] really hard this semester and we are going to keep pushing forward,” said Muhammad. About his presidency for MAS:BSU, Muhammad said, “at first I thought it was going to be difficult, but then all that took was a person who cares, and if you care, then the people behind you will follow.” The organization plans of doing a lot of varying activities on campus. “We are trying to do a lot of different things in a lot of different area fields,” said Muhammad. They hosted Valentine’s Bingo and have plans for other events for the rest of the semester. “Since I became president, we tried to do activities that haven´t been on campus yet,” said Muhammad. “Coming up [this] month we are hosting All Women Fashion show for Women’s Empowerment Week. When we were planning activities, we realized that there has never been an activity for women.” MAS:BSU is planning future events for campus, one of which involves raising awareness for diabetes.
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Sports
Chris Morgan, Sports Editor
Muskie Softball makes final preparations for season Winters and squad begin OAC Title defense with spring break tournament
Chris Morgan Sports Editor The defending Ohio Athletic Conference Champion Muskingum Softball team is preparing to begin their title defense in the 2015 season. The Muskies will start the season off with the Rebel Games in Winter Haven, Fla. during spring break. The Muskies will play 12 games over the span of six days at the tournament against teams of varying skill level. “We have six really talented teams that we’re playing and six kind of average teams so it’s going to be a pretty good schedule,” said Head Softball Coach Kari Winters. Winters enjoys making the trip to Florida every year and sees it as a great learning opportunity for the team. “The most important thing is that they know how to compete,” said Winters. The team returns eight of the nine starters from last year’s championship squad, with the lone loss from the starting lineup being stand-out left fielder Kayley Bevard. However, Winters has high praise for this returning group and believes they can pick up right where they left off. “I’m really optimistic about the tal-
ent that we’re going to start off with,” said Winters. “They clearly won at a high level last year.” Despite returning most of the key starters, Winters said that some key spots are up for grabs with this year’s group. Among those positions are second base and third base. Sophomore Jessica Matthews and Senior Carissa Johnson are the incumbents at second and third base respectively and are the favorites to win the jobs this season.
Winters thinks that the competition is good for the team and looks forward to seeing how the position battles unfold. “It’s been fun to watch them battle it out,” said Winters. Winters also has a plan in place to fill the void in the outfield left by Bevard. Muskingum University sophomore Haley Dotson is slated to be the starter for the Muskies in left field this season, but will also see time as a pitch-
er, where she spent the majority of last season. “Haley has a great level of versatility to her,” said Winters. “She’s fun to coach.” The Muskies also return Sarah Browning to lead the pitching rotation this year. Browning was the starter in the circle and pitched a complete game in the OAC title game against Ohio Northern last season. Winters has a lot of high praise for Browning coming into this season as the ace. “Sarah looks probably the best that she’s looked for the three years that she’s been here at Muskingum,” said Winters. “She just has that confidence to her now that she has an OAC championship title game under her belt.” Behind Browning, Winters will have returning starter Kristin Gill as the number two pitcher, along with Dotson, Senior Jessica Poff, and a couple incoming first years. Winters is hopeful that she won’t have to dig too deep into the rotation on any given day. “My goal is to not have to rotate five or six pitchers,” said Winters. “I’d really like to see our top pitchers kind of hone it down.” The Muskies will look to repeat as conference champions this season.
Four players from last year’s starting lineup graduated. Thompson looks to get leadership from a few different players this season. “We have a good core this year coming back,” said Thompson. Brett Robberts was an All-OAC selection in 2014. According to Thompson, Robberts will hit in the middle of the lineup this year. Another key player is Joe Shumar. Shumar is slated to play in the first base and designated hitter roles this year. “We’re strong up the middle with Matt Lynn at shortstop and Dallas Allen at second base,” said Thompson. “You know, we got Christian Leitenberger out in centerfield.” Among those returning is D.J. Taylor, who is not pitching, but returning in a student-coach role. “D.J. was a perfect candidate,” said Thompson. “He knows the game, he’s good around the guys, and he’s going to be where he helps as a student and
coach this year, and he’ll do a good job with it.” The team has been practicing indoors, as they try to work around the weather. Thompson looks forward to getting some quality action from first-year players this season. “Our young guys we’ll find on the mound,” said Thompson. “You know, we have guys like Jarin McIntosh, Tristen Knight, Parker Evans, and Kyle Schmitgen. We have some guys that’ll come out on the mound, and if they throw well for us, I think we can be successful.” The team’s first game will be on March 8, against Montclair State. Thompson talked about the spring break schedule and how it will affect the team. “It’s going to be a competitive schedule,” said Thompson. “It’s going to be something that we’re going to have to get after early on, and be able to compete, but the question is when you have questions in your rotation
and bullpen, things like that. I’m not sure playing nine games in seven days is really conducive, but we’re going to find out on the fly and see how good we are.” The main difference between this year’s team and last is the unity of the team. “[It’s] team chemistry,” said Thompson. “I mean, we’ve got a good group of kids that all get along and have a common goal in mind. The question is going to be are we good enough to win. ..It’s going to be if [the team] comes together. If the guys in the middle of the lineup can produce runs and our young guys can support our older guys on the mound, I think we’ll be successful.” The spring tournament will feature games against Montclair State, Ohio Wesleyan, and Wabash College. Other conference teams will also be in Florida at the same tournament, but the Muskies will not play them. The Muskie’s first conference game is a double header scheduled for March 21, against Capital.
Chris Morgan/Black & Magenta Kristin Gill follows through on a pitch during a live throwing session in preseason practice. Gill was 8-4 with a 3.07 ERA last season for the Muskies.
Muskingum Baseball looks to improve on last season
Martin Kurtz Orbit Media Reporter The Muskingum Baseball team is looking to improve on last year’s 16-20 overall record and 7-11 record in The Ohio Athletic Conference. The team is looking toward their spring break trip to Florida, where they will be playing nine games in seven days at the Snowbird Classic in Port Charlotte, Florida. At the same time the team will be trying to answer questions about their rotation, which lost Alex VanDine, Austin Miller, and Bryce Curry. “We’re going to be young on the mound early on,” said Baseball Head Coach Gregg Thompson. “But I think we will be deeper once we figure out how to use everyone.” Out of the returning pitchers, Derrick Barker, Chris Hertrick, and Dillon McDermott will be pitching at the top of the rotation. On the hitting side, there are many starters returning this year.